Agenda Item: 10
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: January 24, 2023
SUBJECT: LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING DISTRICT ANNEXATION 2023-1 (FORMER REALTY EXECUTIVES PROPERTY - SOLEDAD
CANYON ROAD AT WHITES CANYON ROAD) - RESOLUTIONS
OF INTENT AND INITIATING PROCEEDINGS
DEPARTMENT: Administrative Services
PRESENTER: Kevin Tonoian
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council:
1. Adopt a resolution initiating certain designations in connection with the annexation of Assessor Parcel Number 2803-030-046 into Streetlight Maintenance District, Zone B, and to levy assessments beginning in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24.
2. Adopt a resolution declaring its intention to annex Assessor Parcel Number 2803-030-046 into the Santa Clarita Streetlight Maintenance District, Zone B.
3. Set a public hearing for February 14, 2023, at a time and place to hear comments on this proposed action, and close the time period to receive ballots.
BACKGROUND
The Santa Clarita Streetlight Maintenance District (SMD) is responsible for funding the City of Santa Clarita’s (City) street lighting system. This system is comprised of 17,598 City-owned streetlights located throughout Santa Clarita.
The City’s SMD is governed by the laws of the State of California, including the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972, Part 2, Division 15 of the California Streets and Highway Code commencing with Section 22500, and in accordance with Article XIIID of the California Constitution and the Proposition 218 Omnibus Implementation Act.
All parcels receiving special benefit from the streetlight system financially contribute to the SMD. The composition of the SMD encompasses parcels that are assessed at either the Zone A or Zone B rate.
Parcels contributing to Zone A are part of the original district formed by Los Angeles County prior to the City’s incorporation and pay an annual fixed assessment rate of $12.38. The assessment methodology for parcels located in Zone A does not include a consumer price index (CPI) escalator provision. As a result, state law does not allow the City to increase the assessment rate levied on parcels located in Zone A without first securing property owner approval.
Parcels annexed into the SMD following transfer from Los Angeles County to Santa Clarita in 1997 contribute to Zone B and pay an annual assessment rate that can be adjusted each year by the change in the CPI. The current maximum assessment rate for FY 2022-23 is $93.91 per equivalent benefit unit (EBU).
On August 23, 2022, Master Case 16-207 was approved by the City. As a condition of this approval, the applicant was required to annex the parcel associated with this project into SMD, Zone B. The applicant subsequently contacted City staff with a request to initiate annexation proceedings.
The process for annexing parcels into the City’s SMD typically includes the preparation of an Engineer’s Report encompassing multiple development-related applicants and a 45-day noticing period in advance of holding a public hearing where ballots are opened and tabulated. In circumstances where an individual property owner desires to initiate proceedings, state law provides the applicant with the ability to waive the 45-day noticing period and staff with the ability to process the annexation without preparing an Engineer’s Report.
At this time the property owner associated with Master Case 16-207 has elected to waive the required noticing period for the purpose of consenting to the annexation of territory into the SMD (see Attachment A). Further, the property owner has consented to cast a ballot authorizing the levy of assessments against the property in the annual amount identified in Attachment B.
Accordingly, staff’s recommendation is for the City Council to initiate proceedings associated with SMD Annexation 2022-2; declare its intent to commence an assessment balloting process, whereby the property owner will be presented with the option to annex into SMD Zone B; and schedule a public hearing for the regular meeting of February 14, 2023, for the purpose of annexing Assessor Parcel Number (APN) 2803-030-046 into SMD, Zone B.
Subsequent to this process, the approved annexation of this territory into the SMD will be referenced in the Landscape and Lighting District Engineer Report prepared in conjunction with the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Annual Levy of Special Districts.
Finally, the recommended actions before the City Council are consistent with state law prescribing the specific steps be followed to annex parcels into special districts and in full compliance with the requirements of the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972 and the Proposition 218 Omnibus Implementation Act.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other direction as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
Costs associated with this annexation will be borne by the applicant conditioned to annex into the Streetlight Maintenance District.
ATTACHMENTS
SMD Annexation L100 - Resolution of Initiation
SMD Annexation L100 - Resolution of Intent
Attachment A - L100 Petition-Consent-Waiver
Attachment B - L100 Ballot
Map