City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: MAY 20, 2025 FROM: FINANCE DEPARTMENT WARD: 7
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION DECLARING INTENTION TO LEVY AND COLLECT ASSESSMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025/26 WITHIN LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE DISTRICT 88-1 (SYCAMORE HIGHLANDS); APPROVING PRELIMINARY ENGINEER’S REPORT; AND SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED ASSESSMENT FOR JULY 15, 2025, AT 3:00 P.M.
ISSUE:
Adopt a resolution declaring the City’s intention to levy and collect assessments for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025/26 within Landscape Maintenance District 88-1 (Sycamore Highlands), approving the Preliminary Engineer’s Report, and setting a Public Hearing for final approval of the levy of special assessments within the District for July 15, 2025, at 3:00 p.m.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Adopt a resolution declaring the City’s intention to levy and collect assessments for FY 2025/26 within Landscape Maintenance District 88-1 (Sycamore Highlands), approving the Preliminary Engineer’s Report; and Set a Public Hearing for final approval of the levy of special assessments within Landscape Maintenance District 88-1 (Sycamore Highlands) for July 15, 2025, at 3:00 p.m.
BACKGROUND:
On March 4th, 2025, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 24226, ordering the preparation of the attached Preliminary Annual Engineer’s Report for Landscape Maintenance District 88-1 (Sycamore Highlands). The attached report outlines the estimated cost of maintaining the landscaping and administration of the District for FY 2025/26 as well as the method of apportioning those costs to the property owners within the District. The City assesses all parcels within the District annually, regardless of development status.
In September 1988 Landscape Maintenance District 88-1 was formed under the provisions of the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972. The District was originally formed in conjunction with a Development Agreement for the Lusk-Highlander project. Pursuant to the requirements established by Proposition 218, Landscape Maintenance District 88-1 was then confirmed by property owner ballot in July 1997. The original construction of the improvements was funded by the Highlander Community Facilities District 90-1. The Landscape Maintenance District 88-1 was formed to assess property owners for the ongoing maintenance costs associated with those improvements within the district area.
DISCUSSION:
The procedures of the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972 require the adoption of a Resolution giving approval to the Preliminary Engineer's Report and setting a required Public Hearing. The attached Resolution sets the public hearing for 3:00 p.m. on July 15, 2025.
The District formation process sets an annual assessment increase based on the cumulative percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban consumers (CPI-U) for the Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, California Standard Metropolitan Statistical area as published by the US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics ("the Bureau"). In December 2017, the Bureau discontinued the original index and replaced it with two new indexes (Riverside -San Bernardino-Ontario and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim). Starting in FY 2019/20, the City began using the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario Index, as it most closely mirrors local assessed valuation changes.
Using the prior index, the adjustment was calculated based upon a combination of the cumulative increases in the original index as it was in December of each year over the base index in December 1996 of 158.3. The original index ended with a cumulative increase of 63.75% over the base year. To use the new index, which publishes every other month, the escalation period was changed to January and began at a scale of 100 for FY 2018/19. Adding the cumulative percentage increase of the new Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario Index of 33.99% to the ending cumulative increase of the original index of 63.75% results in a cumulative percentage change total for both indexes of 97.74%. Using this methodology, the maximum allowed assessment for FY 2025/26 is $114.69 ($58.00 base year increased by a cumulative factor of 97.74%).
At the end of each fiscal year staff review actual expenditures against collected assessments, and any unspent balance remains with the District to cover expenditures in the following year. The estimated landscape maintenance costs for FY 2025/26 for the District are $141,201. There is an existing agreement between the City and Castlerock Apartment Homes (formerly Riverside Sycamore Apartments) which allows the property owner to maintain a section of landscaping, receiving proportional credit for the property. That credit for FY 2025/26 is estimated to be $9,060.34. The annual assessment for the 2025/2026 fiscal year is $114.69 per residential parcel or equivalent dwelling unit (EDU), which is the maximum allowed assessment. This, minus the Castlerock credit, equals a total proposed annual assessment of $111,361.90. The difference between estimated costs and estimated revenue indicates a contribution of $29,839.10 to be covered by the General Fund and any remaining funds from FY 2024/25.
The District is scheduled to expire in FY 2026–27. As the expiration date approaches, staff will coordinate with the Finance Department and City Management to evaluate available options moving forward. Additional information will be provided at a later date.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This item contributes to Strategic Priority 5 – High Performing Government and Goal 5.3 – Enhance communication and collaboration with community members, to improve transparency, build public trust, and encourage shared decision-making.
This item aligns with each of the five Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust – The preparation of an annual engineer’s report and levy process complies with the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972, under which the Landscape Maintenance District No. 88-1 was formed. This process provides transparency for community members upon whom the assessments are levied each year.
Equity – In order to maintain the improvements within the Landscape Maintenance District No. 88-1, the annual maintenance cost is funded through an annual levy calculated based on the special benefit shared by each parcel within the district.
Fiscal Responsibility – Assessments are levied annually to pay the costs associated with maintaining enhanced improvements within the district. This ensures the additional cost of maintaining enhanced landscape improvements is borne primarily by the property owners that benefit from them.
Innovation – Utilizing Landscape Maintenance Districts is an innovative way to offset the cost of maintaining certain improvements within a specified area of the City and which benefit a select group of property owners.
Sustainability & Resiliency – The formation of a Landscape Maintenance District provides a transparent and equitable way to fund and report on maintenance improvements that provide a special benefit to a select group of property owners. The annual engineer’s report and levy process helps to ensure transparent reporting to members of the community, and within the district.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact for the estimated landscape maintenance costs within the District for FY 2025/26 are $141,201; the assessment per EDU will be $114.69. Although the maximum allowable Sycamore Highlands LMD assessment is proposed, the credit due to the Castlerock Apartment Agreement and additional city obligations will require an estimated General Fund contribution in the amount of $29,839.
Prepared by: Meline Carranza, Debt and Treasury Manager Approved by: Sergio Aguilar, Deputy Finance Director
Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Edward Enriquez, Assistant City Manager/Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer
Approved as to form: Rebecca McKee-Reimbold, Interim City Attorney Attachments:
Resolution
Preliminary 2025-2026 Sycamore Highlands Landscape Maintenance District Engineer’s Report Sycamore Highlands Maintenance District Round 2 ● Page 2