City Council
259 N. Wilma Avenue
Ripon, CA 95366
MEMO
To: Honorable City Council
From: Kevin Werner, City Administrator
Date: 07/14/2026
Subject: Landscape Maintenance Districts - 4th Annual Resolution RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Requesting Council adopt the Resolution determining the amount of and approving the levy of annual assessments for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 for the City of Ripon’s ten Landscape Maintenance Districts.
BACKGROUND:
Pursuant to the provision of the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972, Part 2, Division 15 of the Streets and Highways Code of the State of California and Proposition 218, the City Council conducts proceedings as outlined below for the formation of the City of Ripon Landscape Maintenance Districts.
Formation of Landscape Maintenance District Check List
Step Description
1 City Council adopts the resolution of intention to undertake proceedings for the formation of an assessment district directing the City Engineer to prepare a report in connection with the proposed formation of the assessment district. (1st Formation Resolution)
2 City Council adopts the resolution approving the Engineer’s Report in connection with the proposed formation of the assessment district, declaring its intention to form an assessment district and setting a time and place for a public hearing. (2nd Formation Resolution)
3 City Council adopts the resolution ordering the formation of the assessment district. (3rd Formation Resolution)
4 City submits required documents to County to set up new tax code required to levy the assessment.
Upon formation of an assessment district, the City is required to go through a process to approve the levying of the annual assessment district fees. The following table outlines the steps required to approve the levying of the annual assessments.
Annual Levy of Landscape Maintenance District Assessment Check List Step Description
1 City Council initiates the Landscape Maintenance District proceedings and adopts a resolution directing City Engineer to prepare the Engineer’s Report pertaining to the annual assessments. (1st Annual Resolution)
2 City Council adopts (1) a resolution giving preliminary approval of the Engineer’s Report, and (2) a resolution declaring its intention to order the levy and collection of the annual assessments and setting a time and place for a public hearing. (2nd & 3rd Annual Resolution)
3 City Council adopts a resolution determining the amount of and approving the levy and collection of the annual assessments. (4th Annual Resolution) 4 City submits required documents to County to levy annual assessments for the coming fiscal year.
The attached resolution is the 3
rd step in the process to levy assessments for the City of Ripon’s ten Landscape Maintenance Districts for the coming fiscal year. Upon approval of the resolution, the City shall submit the required documents to the County to levy the annual assessments for the coming fiscal year.
FISCAL IMAPCT:
The following table summarizes the projected fiscal year 2026-27 financials for each district.
L&L District
FY 2026-27
Beginning
Balance
FY 2026-27
Revenue
FY 2026-27
Expenses
FY 2026-27
Transfers
Capital
Proj
FY 2026-27
Ending
Balance
FY 2026-27
Recommended
Assessment
Changes
Dutch Meadows Maint. Dist. $ - $ 4,540 $ (13,165) $ 8,625 $ - $ - N/A - Original district did not include annual
adjustments for inflation.
Countrywoods Maint. Dist. $ - $ 7,809 $ (16,665) $ 8,856 $ - $ - N/A - Original district did not include annual
adjustments for inflation.
Farmland Maint. Dist. $ - $ 3,350 $ (9,460) $ 6,110 $ - $ - N/A - Original district did not include annual
adjustments for inflation.
Main St. Maint. Dist. $ - $ 10,344 $ (71,020) $ 60,676 $ - $ - N/A - Original district did not include annual
adjustments for inflation.
Jacobs Landing Maint. Dist. $ 18,429 $ 5,701 $ (7,660) $ - $ - $ 16,470 N/A - Original district did not include annual
adjustments for inflation.
Boesch-Kingery Maint. Dist. $ - $ 6,061 $ (14,970) $ 8,909 $ - $ - N/A - Original district did not include annual
adjustments for inflation.
Carolina's Maint. Dist. a $ 28,536 $ 15,986 $ (16,450) $ - $ - $ 28,072 Proposed 2026-27 increase from $262.50 to $275.62 per parcel (5%).
Cornerstone Maint. Dist. b $ 85,353 $ 14,783 $ (14,700) $ - $ - $ 85,436 Proposed 2026-27 increase from $130.36 to $136.88 per parcel (5%)
Vineyard Maint. Dist. c $ 190,774 $ 64,939 $ (53,250) $ - $ - $ 202,463 No change proposed in the $488.26 per parcel assessment for 2026-27.
Alexandra Maint. Dist. $ - $ 5,817 $ (7,900) $ 2,083 $ - $ - Proposed 2026-27 increase from $301.62 to
$306.14 per parcel (1.5%).
a. The City Council approved a temporary reduction in the assessment. The calculated 2026-27 full assessment is $353.24 per parcel. b. The City Council approved a temporary reduction in the assessment. The calculated 2026-27 full assessment is $288.90 per parcel. c. The City Council approved a temporary reduction in the assessment. The calculated 2026-27 full assessment is $623.46 per parcel.
Six of the landscape districts did not include language that allows the assessment to be indexed over time to account for inflation. This has resulted in the expenses for these landscape districts exceeding the revenues each year. For those districts that no longer have a fund balance, funds are transferred from the General Fund to cover the deficit. For those districts that do have a balance available, that balance is used to cover the financial deficit.
Four of the landscape maintenance districts did include language that allows the assessment to be indexed over time to account for inflation. Staff is recommending that the:
Carolina’s Maintenance District assessment be increased from $262.50 to $275.62 per parcel (5%) to cover the recent increase in expenses. The recommended balance for this District is $40,000.
Cornerstone Maintenance District assessment to be increased from $130.36 to $136.88 per parcel (5 %) to cover the recent increase in expenses. The recommended balance for this District is $80,000.
Vineyard Maintenance District assessment to remain at $488.26 per parcel. The revenue in this district is currently exceeding the expenses, but it is a new district and the fund balance necessary for future capital replacement is $300,000. Alexandra Maintenance District assessment be increased from $301.62 to $306.14 per parcel (1.5%) to cover expenses and begin to establish a capital replacement fund (the goal of this district is $20,000). This district was recently established and does not have a balance available for future capital replacement.
Attachments:
1. Engineers Report_LMD FY26-27
RESOLUTION NO. 26-27
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
RIPON DETERMINING THE AMOUNT OF AND APPROVING
THE LEVY OF ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR
2026-2027 FOR THE CITY OF RIPON'S TEN LANDSCAPE
MAINTENANCE DISTRICTS LOCATED IN THE COUNTY OF
SAN JOAQUIN, CALIFORNIA
WHEREAS, heretofore pursuant to resolutions adopted by the City Council of the City of Ripon, the assessment districts noted in the table below were formed creating assessment districts pursuant to the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972 for the maintenance of general landscaping and irrigation systems in the City of Ripon; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. 26-2, the City Engineer was directed to prepare and file with the City Clerk an Engineer’s Report pursuant to Section 22565 of the California Streets and Highways’ Code, including the districts’ boundaries, a description of the work and improvements for which the assessments are to be levied, the method of assessment spread, estimated maintenance costs, an assessment roll, assessment diagrams and boundary maps, and the proposed annual assessments for Fiscal Year 2026-2027; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. 26-20, the City Council of the City of Ripon generally approved the Engineer's Report previously filed with the City Clerk for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 and set the time and place for a public hearing on the proposed annual assessments for said maintenance districts; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ripon, after all proceedings have been duly and regularly conducted as required by law, as follows:
1. The City Council of the City of Ripon hereby confirms and approves the Engineer’s diagram and assessment dated June 9, 2026, on file with the City Clerk of the City of Ripon, and hereby adopts, said Engineer’s diagram, district boundaries and annual assessment as set forth therein, pursuant to Section 22631 of the California Streets and Highways Code.
FORMATION OF LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE DISTRICTS
District Name
Council
Acceptance Date Resolution No.
Dutch Meadows #89-1 November 7, 1989 89-60
Country Woods Unit No. 2 & Zumstein Estates Subdivisions #89-2 January 2, 1990 90-1 Farmland Estates #92-1 June 2, 1992 92-30
Main Street Landscape Maintenance District #94-1 June 7, 1994 94-36 Boesch-Kingery Estates #96-1 April 2, 1996 96-17
Jacobs Landing #98-1 May 5, 1998 98-37
Carolina’s Landscape Maintenance District #02-1 August 6, 2002 02-77 Cornerstone 1 Landscape Maintenance District #07-1 April 7, 2007 07-36 Alexandra Place #17-2 June 12, 2018 18-55
The Vineyards #17-1 June 12, 2018 18-54
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Ripon hereby declares that the Engineer's Report, assessment diagrams, and boundary maps, which include all lots within said districts and all proposed future lots shown thereon, shall constitute the assessment district areas subject to the levy of annual assessments upon each parcel and its owners within said boundaries, as set forth in said Report.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that said assessments shall be collected as the annual assessment for fiscal year 2026-2027 to pay the costs and expenses of maintaining and servicing the improvements described in the Engineer's Report.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Clerk is hereby directed to file a certified copy of the boundary maps, Engineer's diagrams and assessments, and this Resolution with the County Auditor of San Joaquin County for the collection of said annual assessments for Ripon’s ten Landscape and Lighting Maintenance Districts for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, as set forth in the Engineer's Annual Report on file with the City Clerk as of June 9, 2026.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Ripon this 14th day of July, 2026, by the following vote:
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Dean Uecker, Vice Mayor
SECONDER:Daniel de Graaf, Council Member
AYES: Barton, Uecker, Restuccia, Zuber, de Graaf
THE CITY OF RIPON,
A Municipal Corporation
By ________________________________
GARY BARTON, Mayor
ATTEST:
By: ___________________________
LISA ROOS, City Clerk