COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Ramon Galo, Director of Recreation and Parks
DATE: July 7, 2026
SUBJECT: Adoption of a Resolution Declaring its Intent to Levy and Collect the 2026 – 2027 Landscape Assessments and Approval of the Engineer’s Reports
Description:
The City Council will consider adopti ng a Resolution confirming the Fiscal Year 2026 – 2027 Landscape Maintenance District and Special Benefit Zone assessments without applying the previously proposed Consumer Price Index increase.
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a Resolution confirming the Engineer’s Reports, Assessment Diagrams, and Assessments for Fiscal Year 2026 –2027 for the City of Santa Maria Landscape Maintenance Districts and Special Benefit Zones and Authorizing the Levy and Collection of Assessments.
BACKGROUND:
During the 1980’s, the City of Santa Maria established four geographic Landscape Maintenance Districts with Broadway and Stowell Road serving as the general 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 Resolution 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 purpose of maintaining public landscaping, parks, medians, parkways, street trees, retention basins, nuisance abatement areas, and related public improvements within each district.
Within the four “Master Districts,” the City has also established Special Benefit Zones.
Each Special Benefit Zone was created in connecti on with new development to provide for the maintenance of additional public improvements associated with that development.
These public improvements may include retention basins, parks, sidewalks, graffiti abatement, pest abatement, street trees, medians, public easement landscaping, and thoroughfare landscaping. The cost for maintaining the public improvements varies based 2 on the type and extent of improvements in a given subdivision or development area. This cost is distributed among assessed properties w ithin the applicable district or Special Benefit Zone and collected annually through property taxes.
Under the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972, the City is authorized to provide and maintain landscaping, public lighting, appurtenant facilities, park and recreational improvements, and related improvements. By following the procedures set out in the Act, as well as Proposition 218 and its implementing legislation, the City may assess property owners for the special benefit received as a result of maintaining these improvements.
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 levy and collect assessments for the next fiscal year.
DISCUSSION:
At the June 2, 2026, City Council meeting , the City Council rescinded the previously adopted resolution of intention that would have moved forward with the Fiscal Year 2026– 2027 Landscape Maintenance District and Special Benefit Zone assessments including the Consumer Price Index adjustment. Council also directed that the item return without the CPI increase and set this meeting as the public hearing for consideration of the annual assessments.
The purpose of tonight’s public hearing is to consider the levy and collection of the Fiscal Year 2026–2027 Landscape Maintenance District and Special Benefit Zone assessments without applying the previously proposed CPI increase. This action allows the City to continue the annual assessment process while providing additional time for staff to review the proposed increase, evaluate the assessment structure, and ensure that the City has completed its due diligence before recommending any future increase to property owners.
The Landscape Maintenance Districts and Special Ben efit Zones remain an important funding source for the ongoing maintenance of public landscaping and related improvements throughout the City. These assessments fund, in whole or in part, the maintenance of medians, parkways, street trees, retention basins, parks, nuisance abatement areas, public easement landscaping, irrigation systems, and other improvements that provide special benefit to assessed properties.
Alternative(s)
The City Council may choose not to confirm the assessments. This alternative is n ot recommended because the assessments provide funding for the maintenance of public landscaping and related improvements within the districts and Special Benefit Zones.
The City Council may provide alternative direction to staff regarding future review o f the Landscape Maintenance District and Special Benefit Zone assessment structure.
3 Fiscal Considerations
Confirming the Fiscal Year 2026 –2027 Landscape Maintenance District and Special Benefit Zone assessments without the previously proposed CPI increase will result in the City foregoing the additional assessment revenue that would have been generated by the adjustment. The assessments will continue to provide funding for eligible district maintenance costs, including landscaping, irrigation, street tre es, medians, parkways, retention basins, parks, utilities, contract services, and related district operations.
Impact on the Community
The Landscape Maintenance Districts and Special Benefit Zones support the ongoing maintenance of public landscaping and related improvements that contribute to neighborhood appearance, community character, and the overall quality of life in Santa Maria. Proceeding without the CPI increase allows the City to continue funding these essential maintenance services while avoidi ng an assessment increase to property owners for Fiscal Year 2026 –2027. This approach provides additional time for due diligence and review while maintaining transparency with the community and continuing the annual assessment process.
ATTACHMENT(S)
A. Resolution- Confirming the Fiscal Year 2026–2027 Landscape Maintenance District and Special Benefit Zone Assessments Without the CPI Increase
Exhibit A- Engineer Report Northwest
Exhibit B- Engineer Report Northeast
Exhibit C- Engineer Report Southwest
Exhibit D- Engineer Report Southeast
Exhibit E- FY26-27 District Assessment Rolls
Exhibit F – Landscape Maintenance Districts Map