COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Dennis Smitherman, Interim Director of Recreation and Parks
DATE: June 2, 2026
SUBJECT: Adoption of a Resolution to Rescind Resolution 2026-76
Description:
The City Council will consider adoption of a Resolution rescinding Resolution No. 2026- 76, intention and setting a new date for the public hearing to consider the 2026 -2027 landscape district assessments.
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a Resolution:
1. Rescinding Resolution No. 2026-76, which previously declared the City Council's intent to levy and collect the 2026-2027 landscape assessments and set a public hearing date; and
2. Approving, or reaffirming approval of, the Engineer's Reports for the 2026 -2027 landscape maintenance districts and special benefit zones assessment proceedings; and
3. Declaring the City Council's intent to levy and collect assessments for the four landscape maintenance districts and the Special Benefit Zones for Fiscal Year 2026 - 2027; and
4. Setting a new tim e for a public hearing on July 7, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. , or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard.
BACKGROUND:
During the 1980's, the City of Santa Maria established four geographic Landscape Maintenance Districts with Broadway and Stowell serving as the center point. The four "Master Districts" consist of the following: the South Miller Street/South College Drive Landscape Maintenance District created with Resolution 81 -298 on August 4, 1981; the Northwest Landscape Maintenance District with Resol ution 88 -154 on December 20, 1988; the Northeast Landscape Maintenance District with Resolution 89 -51 on May 2, 1989; and, the Southwest Landscape Maintenance District with Resolution 89-50 on May 2, 1989. The creation of these districts enables the City of Santa Maria to levy and collect assessments for the purposes of maintaining the public landscaping and parks, and for nuisance abatement within each district.
Within the four "Master Districts," there are Special Benefit Zones (SBZ). Each SBZ was created at the time when a new development was built, in order to provide for the 2 perpetual maintenance of additional public improvements associated with the development of each project. These public improvements include retention basins, parks, sidewalks, graffiti abatement, pest abatement, street trees, and all public thoroughfare landscaping. The cost for maintaining the public improvements vary, based on the type and extent of public improvements in a given subdivision. This cost is distributed among all assessed properties within the specific SBZ and collected annually through property taxes.
Under the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972 ("the Act"), the City is authorized to provide and maintain landscaping, public lighting, appurtenant facilities, park and recreational improvements. By following the procedures set out in the Act, as well as Proposition 218 and its implementing legislation, the City can assess property owners for the special benefit received as a result of installing and maintaining these improvements.
Assessment law, in particular Proposition 218, allows only the special benefit received by properties to be assessed. General benefits received by the public are not recoverable using assessments. The Engineer's Reports apportion or spread thes e special benefit amounts to the properties to be assessed.
Amounts are assessable to property under the Act for one fiscal year. Each year, the City conducts assessment proceedings under the Act. In order to collect assessments going forward, the City mu st adopt the required resolutions, provide notice, hold a public hearing, consider all oral statements and written protests, and then consider final confirmation of the diagrams and assessments.
DISCUSSION:
On May 5, 2026, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-76, declaring its intent to levy and collect the 2026-2027 landscape assessments. Staff now recommends that the City Council rescind the prior resolution and adopt a new resolution of intention, setting a new public hearing date.
The recommended action resets the hearing schedule and allows the City to complete the annual levy proceedings on the new date. The action before City Council does not constitute the final levy of the assessments. The final levy will return to the City Council after the noticed public hearing.
The process of annexation, calculation, and assessment levying in the Landscape Maintenance Districts is outlined in the California Streets and Highways Code, which the City of Santa Maria follows in these proceedings. Streets and Highways Code section 22624 requires the legislative body, after approval of the report, to adopt a resolution of intention declaring its intent to levy and collect assessments and setting a time and place for a public hearing.
Because the assessments are proposed to be levied in the same or lesser amounts than in a previous year, notice of the hearing may be given by publication of the resolution of intention pursuant to Streets and Highways Code section 22626(a) . Even when there is 3 no increase to the assessment, Streets and Highways Code section 22629 requires the legislative body to hold the public hearing at the time and place specified in the notice.
At the public hearing, all interested persons shall be allowed to hear and be heard, and the City Council shall consider all oral statements and all written protests. Following the public hearing, if a majority protest has not been filed, Streets and Highways Code section 22631 authorizes the City Council to adopt a resolution confirming the diagram and assessment. Adoption of that confirming resolution constitutes the levy of the assessment for the fiscal year referred to in the assessment.
Fiscal Considerations
The action before the City Council itself does not levy the assessments. The proposed action rescinds the prior resolution of intention and resets the required public hearing process for the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Landscape Maintenance District assessments.
The attached supportive documents present the spe cific financing related to each of the Landscape Maintenance District Assessments for the Master Districts and the SBZs. If the assessments are later confirmed by separate Council action, the assessment rolls will be submitted to the Santa Barbara County A uditor/Controller for placement on the property tax roll.
Impact on the Community
Landscaping along the City's major arterials and surrounding residential and commercial developments in the City is a positive indication of the quality of life in Santa Mar ia and its aesthetic appeal. Accordingly, the City's landscaping provides for the community's enjoyment, neighborhood cohesiveness, and beauty.
The assessments provide for perpetual care of these public areas and safeguard the assets of surrounding proper ty owners. Resetting the public hearing date will allow the City to complete the annual assessment process and continue maintaining public landscaping, parks, medians, parkways, street trees, retention basins, and related improvements.
ATTACHMENT(S)
A - Resolution - Rescinding Resolution 2026-76
B - Exhibit A to the Resolution - Engineer Report Northwest C - Exhibit B to the Resolution- Engineer Report Northeast D - Exhibit C to the Resolution - Engineer Report Southwest E - Exhibit D to the Resolution - Engineer Report Southeast F - Exhibit E to the Resolution - FY26-27 District Assessment Rolls G - Exhibit F to the Resolution - Landscape Maintenance Districts Map