Santa Maria
Citywide Parks Assessment Report
City Council Meeting
June 4, 2024
www.FinanceDTA.com
Wallace Group
Project Scope Recap
• The team visited each of the selected
28 parks and completed field
assessments
• Provided assessment and rankings for
the park assets, including cost
analysis, improvement
recommendations, and O&M costs.
• Reviewing the Assessment Districts
and exploring methods for
consolidation.
Assessment Example
Assessment Example
Capital Improvement Program
• Costs for upgrades required for
all 4 and 5 CIPs were developed
• Costs for 1, 2, and 3 rankings
were not established as either
these facilities do not need
upgrades, or they are 10 years
out
• Soft costs are included in the
assessment.
Capital Improvement Program
• CIP costs for rankings 4 and 5
• $72,718,800
• Program funded over 7 years
• ~$10.4 mil per year
• CIP costs to escalate by CPI every year
• After 7 years, funding would continue to then capture future CIPs as an on- going CIP Program.
• Condition Assessment to be completed every 5-7 years
• Additional Options for Council to Explore That Would Adjust Rates:
• The Program can be expedited or slowed to adjust annual charge to residents • Bonding can be pursued to fund projects quicker and reduce annual charge to residents
Operations & Maintenance
• The Report Includes a thorough
analysis of the park system including
labor, annual equipment, utility costs,
and material costs within the park
system.
• Assesses the systems O&M budget vs.
industry benchmarks.
• Projects future costs based on gap
analysis & future park expansion.
Operations & Maintenance
• O&M Costs were estimated based on 4 levels of service (LOS) categories. • These categories are derived from national survey data provided by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) which surveys various other communities and cities. • Top Tier performers (or 100% LOS) are based on the highest LOS noted by other communities. • Proposed City Annual O&M Budget based on four tiers:
• Top Tier LOS: $12.0 mil ($93,000 per acre)
• 85% LOS: $10.2 mil ($79,000 per acre)
• 70% LOS: $8.4 mil ($65,000 per acre)
• 55% LOS: $6.6 mil ($51,000 per acre)
• Current City O&M Budget is $61,300 per acre, or approximately 65% LOS • The O&M is funded out of General Fund
• This does not include the four Landscape Assessment Districts • Only includes parks that are currently on-line, does not include the Sports Complex or pocket parks currently in design
• Note, buildings associated with Park facilities are covered by Public Works Department Summary of City’s Existing Assessment Districts
9 Existing Maintenance AD Benefit Zone Improvements Associated with Benefit Zone Special Assessment Amount NW LMAD No. DS-9
Cherry Blossom Special Benefit Zone Landscaped medians and open space, park site, specialty lighting associated with frontages $463.31 per APN North Preisker Ranch Special Benefit Zone Landscaped roundabouts, medians, open space, park site, specialty lighting associated with frontages $341.88 per APN NE LMAD No. DS-10
Suey and Donovan Special Benefit Zone Landscaped medians (estimated 33,725 square feet) $294.53 per dwelling unit Rivergate Roemer Special Benefit Zone Landscaped medians and open space, park site/basin, specialty lighting for medians and frontage easements $239.35 per APN Donovan Estates Special Benefit Zone Public easement areas, the park site and retardation basin $300.69 per APN La Ventana Special Benefit Zone Public easement frontage areas, interior street enhancements and shrub/weedy portion of basin $424.88 per APN SE S. Miller St./College Dr. LMAD No. DS-6
Crossroads Commercial Special Benefit Zone Public landscape easements (medians and roundabouts) $194,848.09 per APN [3] Crossroads Residential Special Benefit Zone Landscaped easements, drainage swale, bike trail, park sites, specialty lighting $462.04 per unit/tenant space Bradley Square Special Benefit Zone Roundabouts, frontage, frontage landscaping $302.70 per APN/tenant space Enos Ranch Commercial Special Benefit Zone Public landscape easements, medians, landscaping $159,685.22 per APN [3] Enos Ranch Residential Special Benefit Zone Landscaped parkways, tree lined roadways, landscaped medians, historic Smith-Enos House, park site $183.67 per APN/tenant space SW LMAD No. DS-11
Westgate Ranch Special Benefit Zone Public landscape easement frontages, medians, roundabout, both multi-purpose trails and parkways $375.61 per APN/tenant space Cherrywood Special Benefit Zone Public landscape easement frontages, pathway, pocket park $384.51 per APN Coyway Special Benefit Zone Public landscape easement, landscaped storm water retention basin $6,796.00 per APN [3] Rose Garden Village Special Benefit Zone Median, public easement frontages, multi-purpose trail, park site, basin, street trees $439.54 per APN/tenant space Acquistapace Special Benefit Zone Median, public easement frontages, multi-purpose trail, open space, Sonya Basin, street trees $274.29 per APN Stowell Center Plaza Special Benefit Zone Repayment of loan to resurface parking lot, parking lot maintenance, trash pickup, cleaning, landscape maint. $555.74 per 2,500 SF of retail space Village at Westgate Ranch Special Benefit Zone Public easement areas along street frontages and basins, street trees $471.72 per APN/tenant space C-4 Development Special Benefit Zone Landscape storm water retention basin at McCoy $19,629.00 per APN [4] Summary of City’s Existing Assessment District
• Note: Wallace Group has not completed a condition assessment on these existing assessment districts.
• Analysis assumes that the funding currently generated for these ADs is adequate
City Land Use Totals
11 Land Use No. of Units/Acres Percentage of Total
Single Family Residential 28,999 42.4%
Multi-Family Residential 16,560 19.4%
Commercial/Retail 45,818 33.5%
Industrial 7,943 4.7%
TOTALS--- NA 100.0%
City-Wide Funding Options
• There are three options for the formation of a Parks Funding District • Option 1: City-wide Assessment District (AD) for capital costs and O&M of all parks • Excludes existing ADs
• Additional General Fund contribution would be required to cover General Benefit Requirements for an Assessment District ($ amount not currently identified) • Option 2: City-wide Community Facilities District (CFD) for new capital costs and O&M of all parks and public spaces
• General Fund Contribution of $827k to remain
• Option 3: City-wide District for capital costs and O&M of all parks and public spaces • All costs borne by residents, no contributions by City General Fund • Within each of the three options, the O&M costs have four alternatives based on level of service
Cost Per EDU Comparison
Financial Impact Summary
• Existing Assessment Districts:
• Impacts 8,320 parcels
• Funds $5.5 mil ($4.9 from residents,
$0.8 from General Fund)
• Annual cost per parcel vary
depending on AD
• Ranges from $183 to $555 per APN
• Existing City Parks O&M Budget:
• ~$8 mil ($61,800 per acre)
• 65% LOS
• Funded by the General Fund
Option 100% LOS 85% LOS Notes
1 $327 $301 Ex. AD to remain
2 $400 $374
3 $413 $386
New Park Assessment Comparison
Cost per RSF
Option Ex ADs New Park Assessment
1 $827,000 Unknown Special Benefit
2 $0 $827,000+
3 $0 $0
City Contribution Comparison
Funding Mechanisms
Funding Mechanism Pros Cons
Assessment District (AD)
• Majority vote of landowners
weighted by assessment needed to
pass as opposed to 2/3 vote for a CFD
• Burden lies with City to show special
benefit to each parcel
Community Facilities
District (CFD)
• Does not require strict benefit
principles as in an AD
• CFD special tax can be levied for
“general benefit”
• Need 2/3 vote of registered owners in
CFD (assuming more than 12
registered voters)
Further Review
• Alternatives
• Possible funding alternatives for an all-City Park Fund:
• Option 1 – City wide Assessment and Existing Assessment Districts Remain • Option 2 – CFD that includes the Existing ADs and includes existing $827,000 from General Fund
• Option 3 – City-wide District that includes the Existing ADs and excludes any General Funds
• Includes review of Level of Service at 100%, 85%, 70%, or 55% or other Staff
Recommendations
Option 1 Backup
Option 2 Backup
Option 3 Backup