Agenda Item: 1
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
PUBLIC HEARINGS
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: October 14, 2025
SUBJECT: SANTA CLARITA LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE DISTRICT
ASSESSMENT INCREASE FOR ZONES T44 (BOUQUET CANYON),
T48 (SHADOW HILLS), AND T62 (CANYON HEIGHTS)
DEPARTMENT: Administrative Services
PRESENTER: Andrew Adams
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council:
1. Conduct a public hearing on the proposed assessment increases for the City of Santa Clarita Landscape Maintenance Districts, and open and tabulate the ballots.
2. Adopt a resolution declaring the results of the property owner protest ballot proceedings for the levy of increased assessments in Zones T44 (Bouquet Canyon), T48 (Shadow Hills), and T62 (Canyon Heights) within the Santa Clarita Landscaping and Lighting District.
3. If no majority protest exists, adopt a resolution for Zone T44 (Bouquet Canyon), confirming the Assessment Diagram and assessment for the zone, and authorizing the levy and collection of increased assessments, including annual consumer price index adjustments, effective Fiscal Year 2026-27.
4. If no majority protest exists, adopt a resolution for Zone T48 (Shadow Hills), confirming the Assessment Diagram and assessment for the zone, and authorizing the levy and collection of increased assessments, including annual consumer price index adjustments, effective Fiscal Year 2026-27.
5. If no majority protest exists, adopt a resolution for Zone T62 (Canyon Heights), confirming the Assessment Diagram and assessment for the zone, and authorizing the levy and collection of increased assessments, including annual consumer price index adjustments, effective Fiscal Year 2026-27.
BACKGROUND
The City of Santa Clarita (City) administers and manages 62 Landscape Maintenance District (LMD) zones covering over 2,300 acres of landscaped areas, including street medians, parkways, paseos, parks, monument signs, and more than 60,000 trees. These zones are funded through special assessments authorized under the Landscape and Lighting Act of 1972.
Assessment rates for LMD Zones T44 (Bouquet Canyon), T48 (Shadow Hills), and T62 (Canyon Heights) have remained static for over 25 years, primarily because these zones were established without annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustments in their assessment methodologies, and any increases now require property owner approval under Proposition 218. The County of Los Angeles transferred these zones to the City in Fiscal Year (FY) 2012-13. As a result of the original assessment structures, the City has been unable to automatically adjust rates to keep pace with rising costs for labor, water, equipment, and infrastructure maintenance. This funding limitation has constrained maintenance activities, including irrigation system repairs, tree trimming, upkeep of brush and plant life, and fire prevention measures in the non-irrigated areas of the zones.
As shown in the following chart, there is an annual shortfall within each zone, with Zones T44 and T48 experiencing the greatest impact, as evidenced by their negative fund balances as of June 30, 2025. Without additional revenue, these shortfalls will continue, further limiting the City’s ability to maintain service levels and invest in necessary infrastructure improvements.
Zone Fund Balance
(6/30/25)
Average Annual Shortfall
(Last 10 fiscal years)
T44 - Bouquet Canyon ($233,813) ($23,300) T48 - Shadow Hills ($385,449) ($28,466)
T62 - Canyon Heights* $128,832 ($7,233) * Note: Zone T62, while maintaining a positive fund balance, is trending negative, as evidenced by the average annual shortfall.
Over recent years, service levels have been reduced as a cost-containment measure, which has led to resident concerns about deteriorating landscaping, aging infrastructure, and inconsistent maintenance. The proposed assessment increases are necessary not only to restore service levels and address deferred maintenance, but also to prevent ongoing annual shortfalls, ensuring sustainable funding for the long-term upkeep and enhancement of landscaping improvements tailored to the unique needs of each zone. If approved, the updated assessment methodology for each zone will also incorporate an annual CPI adjustment, as reflected in the Engineer’s Report, enabling rates to keep pace with rising costs over time.
Outreach Efforts
Beginning in March of this year, staff implemented a comprehensive outreach plan as outlined below to ensure property owners were informed and engaged:
• March: Citywide Press Release announced the initiative and the need for assessment increases.
• April: Brochures mailed to property owners, explaining the rationale and inviting participation in outreach sessions.
• April-June: Outreach sessions held, five sessions in total (three in-person, two virtual) addressing questions and providing detailed information. • June: Doorhangers disseminated to each property, encouraging participation in outreach sessions and sharing information.
• June-July: Door-to-door outreach conducted two weeks prior to ballot mailing and one week after ballot mailing to facilitate discussions with property owners.
Through these efforts, nearly 50 property owners from the three zones participated in the outreach meetings, raising concerns about the lack of maintenance in their communities, highlighting issues such as deteriorating landscaping and aging infrastructure. Some noted that the City should have addressed these deficiencies earlier. Feedback received also reflected a general understanding and support for an increased assessment, though many expressed dissatisfaction with current service levels and reluctance to approve significant increases.
Additional concerns included the methodology used to calculate assessments, the potential discontinuation or further reduction of City maintenance in the event of a failed ballot measure, and a strong interest in sharing information with neighbors. Staff also received multiple phone calls over the past few months from residents with questions about the assessment increases, as well as numerous questions following the distribution of the ballot. Staff addressed these concerns through direct follow-up, outreach sessions, and the distribution of informational materials. In general, there was overall support for an assessment increase to address both current and future maintenance needs in each zone.
Proposed Increases
Below is a summary of the proposed assessment increases by zone:
Zone Parcels Current
Rate
Proposed
Rate Increase Annual Revenue
Increase
T44 - Bouquet Canyon 302 $300 $ 600 $300 $ 90,600 T48 - Shadow Hills 105 $455 $1,125 $670 $ 70,350 T62 - Canyon Heights -
Residential
214 $600 $ 875 $275 $ 58,850
T62 - Canyon Heights -
Commercial *
1 $600 $ 875 $275 $ 4,910
Total 622 - - - $224,710
*Note: The commercial parcel in Zone T62 (1.764 acres, APN 3244-119-054) is assessed at 3.57 Equivalent Benefit Units (EBUs) per acre (6.2974 EBUs total), proportionate to special benefits conferred, as detailed in the Engineer’s Report.
These increases will directly improve the care and safety of the landscaped slopes and trees behind and adjacent to homes in each zone. Funding would allow for increased landscaping manpower; timely response to resident requests; and replacement or repair of aging irrigation systems, pumps, enclosures, V-ditches, backflow devices, and related infrastructure. The increases would also strengthen fire prevention through brush clearance on non-irrigated slopes
and improve tree care, including trimming and health monitoring. Together, these improvements would restore service levels, address deferred maintenance, and sustain the functional and aesthetic benefits, including slope stabilization, erosion control, wildfire risk reduction, and property buffering, that directly serve the assessed parcels in each zone.
Special vs. General Benefit
The proposed assessments have been calculated to reflect the special benefits conferred to each parcel within the zones, consistent with the Landscape and Lighting Act of 1972 and Proposition 218. The Engineer’s Report identifies and quantifies the improvements maintained within each zone, which include irrigated slope landscaping, trees, drought-tolerant plantings, turf areas, irrigation systems, walls and fencing, and non-irrigated areas designated for fire clearance. These improvements are typically located within public rights-of-way or landscape easements adjacent to private parcels and provide direct, measurable benefits to those parcels, including aesthetic enhancement, erosion control, slope stabilization, wildfire risk reduction, and property buffering.
District funds are used solely for the maintenance and servicing of these improvements, including labor, water, electricity, materials, contracting services, and administration, ensuring that assessments are proportionate to the special benefits received by the assessed parcels and do not fund general public benefits.
Legal Process
1. California’s AB 2257, effective January 1, 2025, requires property owners to submit written objections to proposed assessment increases prior to the public hearing as a prerequisite for filing litigation challenging the rates. In compliance with this requirement, the City mailed ballots and informational sheets to property owners in Zones T44, T48, and T62 on July 31, 2025. The deadline for submitting written objections was September 15, 2025. The City received no timely written objection meeting the requirements of AB 2257. However, the City received one letter from a property owner expressing concerns regarding Zone T62, which is included as a reading file attachment for reference.
2. In accordance with Proposition 218 (Article XIII(D), Section 4 of the California Constitution), the City Council will provide property owners a final opportunity to submit written protests before the close of public testimony during this public hearing. The City Clerk, or designee, will tabulate the ballots received. A majority protest exists for any of the three Zones if the weighted value of ballots submitted in opposition to the proposed assessment for that Zone exceeds the value of ballots submitted in favor of the proposed assessment for that Zone.
If a majority protest exists in any zone, the City Council may not approve the proposed assessment increases for that zone, and existing rates will remain in place, which will result in significant service reductions and lead the City to consider vacating the zone and transferring maintenance responsibilities to individual property owners. In such a case, staff would return to the City Council at a future date with a recommendation. If no majority protest exists in a zone, the City Council may adopt the attached resolution, ordering the levy of increased assessments for that zone, including an annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustment, effective Fiscal Year 2026-27.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other direction as determined by the City Council.
x
FISCAL IMPACT
If ballots support the proposed assessment increases, Landscape Maintenance District (LMD) Zones T44 (Bouquet Canyon), T48 (Shadow Hills), and T62 (Canyon Heights) will see increased revenues. These funds will ensure continued landscape maintenance and related services in these communities.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution Declaring Results For All Zones
Resolution - Zone T44
Resolution - Zone T48
Resolution - Zone T62
Zones T44 T48 T62 Aerial Maps
Response to Resident in Zone 62 (available in the City Clerk's Reading File) Engineer's Report Zones T44 T48 T62 (available in the City Clerk's Reading File)