June 3, 2025
Public Works
DATE: June 3, 2025
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM: Daniel Chavarria, PE, Director of Public Works
Robert Armijo, PE, Deputy of Public Works Director / City Engineer
Jason Lacey, Parks & Landscaping Superintendent
Avinesh Nadan, Finance Manager II
Gabino Arredondo, Project Manager
Subject:
Preliminary Engineer’s Report and Intent to Levy
Assessments for Marina Bay Landscape and Lighting
Maintenance District (MBLLMD) for Fiscal Year (FY)
2025-2026
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The fiscal impact to the City for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 relating to the Marina Bay Landscaping and Lighting
Maintenance District (MBLLMD) is $962,774. Of this
amount, $457,458 relates to a 50 percent contribution
towards salaries and benefits of Full-Time employees
that is expensed directly in General Fund. The remaining $505,316 represents cash contribution towards
MBLLMD. This amount shall be allocated as a transfer-
out expenditure from the General Fund in the FY 2025-
2026 budget (Account String: 01917090-400901) into the
MBLLD Fund as an operating transfer-in revenue
(Account String: 11533931-391994).
This amount reflects the City's 42% share of total District costs, as determined by the Engineer’s Report based on
general benefit analysis and additional discretionary
support for regionally significant public amenities.
AGENDA
REPORT
June 3, 2025
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
April 1, 2025
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
On April 1, 2025, the City Council authorized the
preparation of the annual Engineer’s Report for Fiscal
Year 2025-2026, outlining the proposed improvements
and associated costs for the Marina Bay Landscaping
and Lighting Maintenance District (LLMD). The
preliminary report has been completed and is now
presented to the City Council for review, preliminary
approval, and to formally declare the Council’s intention to increase the annual assessment.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: ADOPT a resolution approving the preliminary Engineer’s Report for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 for the Marina Bay
Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance District
(MBLLMD), declaring the City Council’s intention to
increase the annual assessment in the MBLLMD, and
setting a public hearing about the proposed increased
assessment for June 24, 2025, at 5:00 PM in City Council Chambers at 440 Civic Center Plaza in the City of
Richmond – Public Works Department (Daniel Chavarria
620-5478/ Robert Armijo 620-5477/Jason Lacey 620-
6920).
DISCUSSION:
On July 28, 2009, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 83-09, approving the formation of the new Landscape and Lighting District and the founding Engineer’s Report, establishing the rate of assessment, authorizing annual increases thereof, and ordering maintenance services within the Marina Bay Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance District (MBLLMD) (Attachment 1). The rate of assessment for this District must be confirmed annually by the action of the City Council.
In accordance with Section 12.60.240 of the Richmond Municipal Code, and in accordance with State law, the first step in this process is to order the preparation of an Engineer’s Report of assessment for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. As required by Section 12.060.250 of the Richmond Municipal Code, a copy of the report and a property owner response form is mailed to all owners of real property subject to the annual benefit assessment as a subsequent part of the process. The City Council is then asked to hold a public hearing and accept the Engineer’s Report to then finalize the process.
As directed by the City Council on April 1, 2025, the City Engineer has caused to be prepared an Annual Levy Report for the MBLLMD for Fiscal Year 2025-2026
June 3, 2025
(“Engineer’s Report”). The Engineer’s Report generally describes existing and proposed maintenance and substantial changes to be made to existing maintenance within the District (Attachment 2). The Engineer’s Report also estimates the costs of such maintenance. The total cost for the operation of the MBLLMD in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-2026 is $1,263,425. Of this amount, $758,109 will be funded through assessments levied on benefiting properties within the district. The City’s contribution, totaling $505,316, reflects the general benefit provided to the community by the public improvements and associated maintenance activities. This amount will be allocated from the General Fund in the FY 2025-2026 budget. The City also contributes 50 percent of the salaries and benefits of Full-time employees estimated in the amount of $457,458 that is paid directly from the General Fund.
The Engineer’s Report includes a detailed General Benefit Analysis that concludes the City’s overall share of the District’s annual maintenance costs—including both baseline general benefit and additional City support—should be approximately 42%.
This amount is based on a comparison of park access across the City, service cost equivalency, and the regional significance of the Marina Bay improvements such as trails, waterfront parks, and the Rosie the Riveter Visitor Center. The full rationale for the City’s general benefit and discretionary support is outlined in Part II of the Engineer’s Report.
The City’s contribution reflects not only the legally required general benefit share but also a discretionary commitment recognizing the exceptional regional significance of the improvements within the District. The Marina Bay parks, trails, and streetscapes serve as high-visibility amenities attracting visitors from across the city and beyond, including access to National Park Service resources and the Bay Trail. These characteristics result in broader community use and warrant a proportionally higher general benefit contribution.
To meet the costs, the City Engineer recommends that the City Council increase assessments from those levied in Fiscal Year 2024-2025 by an inflation rate of three percent (3%), as permitted under Resolution No. 83-09. City staff recommend that the City Council preliminarily approve the attached Engineer’s Report and adopt a resolution stating its intention to increase assessments and announcing that a public hearing on the proposed assessments will be held at the City Council’s regular meeting of June 24, 2025, at 5:00 PM (Attachment 3 and 4).
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 - Resolution 83-09
Attachment 2 - Engineer’s Annual Levy Report for the Marina Bay Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance District Fiscal Year 2025-2026
Attachment 3 - Proposed Resolution Approving the Engineer’s Annual Levy Report for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 for the Marina Bay Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance District, Declaring the Council’s Intention to Levy and
June 3, 2025
Collect Assessments in the District, and Announcing a Public Hearing Regarding Assessments
Attachment 4 - Notice of Public Hearing