ACTION:
____________________________
Clerk/Secretary
Department: Finance Item No: C7
Prepared by: Lori Ruiz, Senior Accountant Meeting Date: April 22, 2025 Approved by:
Mike Sylvia, Finance Director/Treasurer
John Conley, City Manager Agenda Location: Consent Calendar SUB
JECT: ENGINEER’S REPORTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025/26 LEVY OF ASSESSMENTS RECO
MMENDATION:
1. Adopt City Council Resolution No. 2025- , approving an Engineer’s Report on the City of Vista Landscape and Lighting District No. 1 assessments for the 2025/26 Fiscal Year, declaring its intent to levy and collect assessments, and setting the date for public hearing.
2. Adopt City Council Resolution No. 2025- , approving an Engineer’s Report and determining the cost of services and the amount of assessment to be imposed on all assessable property within the City of Vista Street Maintenance District No. 1 for Fiscal Year 2025/26 pursuant to the Benefit Assessment Act of 1982 and setting the date for public hearing.
3. Adopt City Council Resolution No. 2025- , approving an Engineer’s Report on the City of Vista South Melrose Landscape Maintenance District assessments for the 2025/26 Fiscal Year, declaring its intent to levy and collect assessments and setting the date for public hearing.
CORRE
LATION TO CITY COUNCIL GOALS: Fiscal Responsibility.
PRI
OR ACTION: On March 25, 2025, adopted City Council Resolutions No. 2025-46 (Landscape and Lighting District No. 1), No. 2025-47 (Street Maintenance District No. 1), and No. 2025-48 (South Melrose Landscape District) ordering preparation of Engineer’s Reports for Fiscal Year 2025/26 Levy of Assessments (Vote: 5-0).
ST
ATEMENT ON THE SUBJECT: The City has three assessment districts that require the annual preparation of Engineer’s Reports. An Engineer’s Report has been prepared that estimates costs and determines the assessment amounts for each parcel within the districts. Staff recommends the City Council receive and approve the Engineer’s Report for each district, declare the intent to levy and collect assessments, and set a public hearing date of June 10, 2025, to receive public comment. These proceedings relate to the Fiscal Year (FY) beginning July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2026.
Ci
ty of Vista Landscaping and Lighting District No. 1. The City of Vista Landscape and Lighting District No. 1 was formed to provide funds for the operation and maintenance of the streetlights, traffic signals, and public landscaping systems throughout the City. All parcels within the City boundary benefit from these services. The annual assessment rate(s) are based on use and size of the property. For a typical single family dwelling, with a parcel area of less than 0.45 acres, the basic annual assessment rate is $13.51, which consists of $5.62 for street lighting, $3.88 for traffic signals, and $4.01 for landscaping. Properties that receive a greater benefit pay a higher annual assessment. For FY 2025/26, the assessment rates AGENDA
REPORT
CITY COUNCIL
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
SUCCESSOR AGENCY
BUENA SANITATION DISTRICT
JOINT POWERS FINANCING AUTHORITY
04/22/2025
C7
MEETING DATE: APRIL 22, 2025 PAGE 2
SUBJECT: ENGINEER’S REPORTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025/26 LEVY OF ASSESSMENTS will not increase from the prior year. In order to continue providing the current level of services during FY 2025/26, it is estimated this district will be subsidized by the General Fund in the amount of $275,000.
Historically, the District revenues have been consistently less than the expenses.
The Engineer’s Report is attached as Exhibit 4, and a map of the district is attached as Exhibit 5.
Ci
ty of Vista Street Maintenance District No. 1. The Street Maintenance District No. 1 was formed to assist in providing street maintenance and street sweeping services throughout the City. All parcels within the City boundary benefit from these services and are grouped into zones based on their level of service.
The annual assessment rate per zone for FY 2025/26 for a typical single-family residence is as follows:
• Zone 1 (no street sweeping) - $3.72
• Zone 2 (street sweeping 2 days per month) - $11.10
• Zone 3 (street sweeping 4 days per month) - $18.48
• Zone 4 (street sweeping 8 days per month) - $33.24
These r
ates are the maximum amounts that can be assessed. For FY 2025/26, the assessment rates will not increase from the prior year.
The Engi
neer’s Report is attached as Exhibit 6, and a map of the district is attached as Exhibit 7.
Sout
h Melrose Landscape Maintenance District. The South Melrose Drive Landscape Maintenance District was formed in 1989 to finance maintenance for the medians, parkways, and slopes along South Melrose Drive, Sycamore Drive, and certain areas of connecting streets. The District encompasses only those properties that receive direct benefit from the maintenance. There are five benefit zones within the District, which are determined based on specific maintenance requirements within each zone.
City
staff, in coordination with external consultants, have determined that Proposition 218 prohibits the City of Vista from increasing the maximum assessment rate for each zone. These maximum rates were originally established when the District was formed and were further limited to the assessment amounts in place at the time Proposition 218 was enacted in 1996. While the maximum rates cannot be increased, research has confirmed that the actual assessment rate may be raised up to the established maximum.
Over the years, the nature of expenses incurred in each zone has evolved. Based on an analysis of the proposed FY 2025/26 District budget, the assessment rates per zone for FY 2025/26 are recommended as follows:
• Zone 1: $105.
31 per Equivalent Dwelling Unit (EDU).
• Zone 2: $118.15 per EDU.
• Zone 3: $31.80 per EDU.
• Zone 4: $35.17 per EDU.
• Zone 5: $3.35 per EDU.
The Engineer’s Report is attached as Exhibit 8, and a map of the district is attached as Exhibit 9.
La Mi
rada Landscape Maintenance District. This maintenance district was formed to fulfill development conditions, which require maintenance of the La Mirada Canyon area. This district maintains the existing habitat and conditions, provides for watering of the manufactured slopes, and provides for studies of possible future uses.
The ass
essments for this district do not fall within an exemption under Proposition 218, therefore no Engineer’s Report is prepared. For FY 2025/26, staff recommends no levy of assessment for this district; therefore, an Engineer’s Report is not required. There are adequate reserves to provide for the maintenance costs of this district in the coming year. A map of the district is attached as Exhibit 10. 04/22/2025
C7
MEETING DATE: APRIL 22, 2025 PAGE 3
SUBJECT: ENGINEER’S REPORTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025/26 LEVY OF ASSESSMENTS Compliance with Proposition 218. Proposition 218 provides that certain assessments existing prior to November 6, 1996, are exempt from the procedures and approval process otherwise required for assessments, if there is no increase in the amount of the assessment (Article XIII D, section 5). The Engineer has reviewed the assessments and has concluded that the assessments contained in the Engineer’s Reports meet the requirements for exemption from the procedures and approval process, as provided in Article XIII D, Section 5, and as further defined by State law. Therefore, staff recommends that all assessments be maintained at the prior authorized assessment rate or be suspended for the current year. For all the Districts listed above, once district reserves are exhausted, any expenditure amount above the current assessment levels would need to be funded by a transfer from the General Fund. A Proposition 218 election would need to be held to get approval from the property owners to raise the assessment rate within the District(s) in order to relieve the General Fund of this financial burden. Without a General Fund transfer or successful Proposition 218 balloting, the only other option to balance expenditures in excess of available assessment revenue in each district is a reduction in service levels to the level equal to the assessment revenue.
F
ISCAL IMPACT: Amounts to be included on the San Diego County tax assessor’s roll will be presented at the June 10, 2025, Public Hearing. Estimates of assessment revenue for FY 2025/26 are as follows:
City of Vista Landscape and Lighting District No. 1 $ 1,357,494 Street Maintenance District No. 1 $ 327,988
South Melrose Landscape Maintenance District $ 122,648 Tot al estimated assessment revenue for FY 20 25/26 $ 1,808,130 The La
Mirada Landscape Maintenance District will have an estimated reserve fund balance on June 30, 2025 of $354,621. For FY 2025/26, expenses for the district are budgeted at $7,457. The estimated reserve fund balance on June 30, 2026, is $357,862.
E
XHIBITS:
1. City Council Resolution No. 2025 , approving an Engineer’s Report on the City of Vista Landscape and Li
ghting District No. 1 assessments for the 2025/26 Fiscal Year, declaring its intent to levy and collect assessments, and setting the date for public hearing
2. City Council Resolution No. 2025- , approving an Engineer’s Report and determining the cost of services and the amount of assessment to be imposed on all assessable property within the City of Vista Street Maintenance District No. 1 for Fiscal Year 2025/26 pursuant to the Benefit Assessment Act of 1982, and setting the date for public hearing
3. City Council Resolution No. 2025- , approving an Engineer’s Report on the City of Vista South Melros e
Lands
cape Maintenance District assessments for the 2025/26 Fiscal Year, declaring its intent to levy and collect assessments, and setting the date for public hearing
4. City of Vista Landscape and Lighting District No. 1 Engineer’s Report (Parcel listing on file in City Clerk’s office)
5. City of Vista Landscape and Lighting District No. 1 Map
6. City of Vista Street Maintenance District No. 1 Engineer’s Report (Parcel listing on file in City Clerk’s office)
7. City of Vista Street Maintenance District No. 1 Map
8. City of Vista South Melrose Landscape Maintenance District Engineer’s Report (Parcel listing on file i n
Cit
y Clerk’s office)
9. City of Vista South Melrose Landscape Maintenance District Map
10. La M
irada Landscape Maintenance District Map
04/22/2025
C7
RE
SOLUTION NO. 2025-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CHARTERED CITY OF VISTA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING AN ENGINEER’S REPORT ON THE CITY OF VISTA LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING DISTRICT NO. 1 ASSESSMENTS FOR THE 2025/26 FISCAL YEAR, DECLARING ITS INTENT TO LEVY AND
COLLECT ASSESSMENTS, AND SETTINGTHE DATE FOR PUBLIC
HEARING
The City Council of the City of Vista does resolve as follows:
1. Findings. The City Council hereby finds and declares the following:
A. On March 25, 2025, the City Council of the City of Vista (the “City”) adopted Resolution No. 2025-46 ordering the preparation of an engineer’s report for the assessments to the City of Vista Landscape and Lighting District No. 1 pursuant to the provisions of the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972 (the “Act”) commencing with section 22500 of the Streets and Highways Code.
B. Pursuant to section 22623 of the Act, the Engineer has filed in the Office of the City Clerk, and submitted for review by the City Council, a report entitled “City of Vista, Landscape and Lighting District No. 1, Engineer’s Report, Fiscal Year 2025/26” (the “Report”), dated March 2025, prepared in accordance with Article 4 of the Act, commencing with section 22565, for the assessments to be levied within the District for the 2025/26 Fiscal Year.
2. Action.
A. The Report is approved.
B. The City Council declares its intent to levy and collect assessments on the assessable parcels within the District for the Fiscal Year 2025/26 as described in the Report.
C. The improvements to be provided are generally described as street lighting, traffic signals, and landscape improvements for the maintenance and operation of streets, all of which are more particularly described in the Report.
D. A public hearing by the City Council shall be held for the purpose of considering the proposed assessments, at which any interested person shall have the opportunity to appear, or to submit written comment.
E. The public hearing is fixed for Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 5:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the City Council takes up the matter. The public hearing shall be conducted in the City Council Chambers located at 200 Civic Center Drive, Vista, California, or remotely utilizing teleconferencing and electronic means consistent with State of California Executive Order N-29-
20. F. Pursuant to Streets & Highways Code Section 22626(a), the City Clerk shall cause a copy of this Resolution to be published in the manner required by Government Code Section 6061 at least 10 days prior to the date of the hearing. [Continued on page 2.]
04/22/2025
C7
EXHIBIT 1
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CHARTERED CITY OF VISTA
PAGE 2
3. Adoption. PASSED AND ADOPTED at a meeting of the City Council held on April 22, 2025 by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
WALTER CHUNG, CITY ATTORNEY
By:
JOHN FRANKLIN, MAYOR
ATTEST:
KATHY VALDEZ, CITY CLERK
By:
APPROVED
Walter C. Chung
20250410130812
04/22/2025
C7
RE
SOLUTION NO. 2025-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CHARTERED CITY OF
VISTA, CALIFORNIA, DETERMINING THE COST OF SERVICES AND THE
AMOUNT OF ASSESSMENT TO BE IMPOSED ON ALL ASSESSABLE
PROPERTY WITHIN THE CITY OF VISTA STREET MAINTENANCE DISTRICT NO. 1 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025/26 PURSUANT TO THE
BENEFIT ASSESSMENT ACT OF 1982 AND SETTING THE DATE FOR
PUBLIC HEARING
The City Council of the City of Vista does resolve as follows:
1. Findings. The City Council hereby finds and declares the following:
A. On July 9, 1991, by adoption of Resolution No. 91-122, pursuant to the Benefit Assessment Act of 1982 (the “Act”) commencing with Government Code 54703, the City Council approved the levy and collection of an assessment on all assessable property within the City for the maintenance and operation of streets including street sweeping, street striping, and pavement rehabilitation and created a street maintenance benefit district known as the City of Vista Street Maintenance District No. 1 (the “District”).
B. The District was formed prior to the passage of Article XIIID of the California Constitution and is exempt from the procedures and approval processes required under that article so long as there is no increase in the rate of assessment. The District has not increased its rates since July 1, 1997, and they remain the same at the present time.
C. As no increase in assessment has occurred, the 1997/98 Engineer’s Report Method of Assessment and subsequent rates are the currently approved method and rates for the District. The Assessment Engineer has reviewed the 1997/98 method of assessment and application to ensure the annual assessment is calculated in accordance with such method of assessment. The Report and corresponding assessment roll for Fiscal Year 2025/26 reflects any revisions required in accordance with the method of assessment.
D. The Engineer has caused a report to be prepared, entitled “City of Vista, Street Maintenance District No. 1, Engineer’s Report, Fiscal Year 2025/26” (the “Report”), dated March 2025, which has been filed in the Office of the City Clerk and submitted to the City Council for review.
2. Action.
A. Pursuant to Section 54717(c) of the Act, the City Council hereby determines that the amount of assessment hereby imposed upon each assessable property within the City, for Fiscal Year 2025/26, in an amount authorized in accordance with Proposition 218, is as described in the Report.
B. The assessment imposed by this Resolution shall, pursuant to Section 54718, (a) of the Act, be collected along with the general property taxes and in the same manner and subject to the same penalties and priority of lien as other charges and taxes fixed and collected on behalf of the City.
04/22/2025
C7
EXHIBIT 2
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CHARTERED CITY OF VISTA
PAGE 2
C. A public hearing by the City Council shall be held for the purpose of considering the proposed assessments, at which any interested person shall have the opportunity to appear, or to submit written comment.
D. The public hearing is fixed for Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 5:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the City Council takes up the matter. The public hearing shall be conducted in the City Council Chambers located at 200 Civic Center Drive, Vista, California, or remotely utilizing teleconferencing and electronic means consistent with State of California Executive Order N-29-
20. E. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54716(b), the City Clerk shall cause a copy of this Resolution to be posted in at least three locations and published in the manner required by Government Code Section 6066 at least 14 days prior to the date of the hearing.
3. Adoption. PASSED AND ADOPTED at a meeting of the City Council held on April 22, 2025 by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
WALTER CHUNG, CITY ATTORNEY
By:
JOHN FRANKLIN, MAYOR
ATTEST:
KATHY VALDEZ, CITY CLERK
By:
APPROVED
Walter C. Chung
20250409155410
04/22/2025
C7
RE
SOLUTION NO. 2025-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CHARTERED CITY OF VISTA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING AN ENGINEER’S REPORT ON THE CITY
OF VISTA SOUTH MELROSE LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE DISTRICT
ASSESSMENTS FOR THE 2025/26 FISCAL YEAR, DECLARING ITS INTENT
TO LEVY AND COLLECT ASSESSMENTS, AND SETTING THE DATE FOR
PUBLIC HEARING
The City Council of the City of Vista does resolve as follows:
1. Findings. The City Council hereby finds and declares the following:
A. On March 25, 2025, the City Council of the City of Vista (the “City”) adopted Resolution No. 2025-48 ordering the preparation of an engineer’s report for the assessments to the City of Vista South Melrose Landscape Maintenance District pursuant to the provisions of the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972 (the “Act”) commencing with section 22500 of the Streets and Highways Code.
B. Pursuant to section 22623 of the Act, the Engineer has filed in the Office of the City Clerk, and submitted for review by the City Council, a report entitled “City of Vista, South Melrose Landscape Maintenance District, Engineer’s Report, Fiscal Year 2025/26” (the “Report”), dated March 2025, prepared in accordance with Article 4 of the Act, commencing with section 22565, for the assessments to be levied within the District for the 2025/26 Fiscal Year.
2. Action.
A. The Report is approved.
B. The City Council declares its intent to levy and collect assessments on the assessable parcels within the District for the Fiscal Year 2025/26 as described in the Report.
C. The improvements to be provided are generally described as median maintenance, parkway maintenance, and slope maintenance, all of which are more particularly described in the Report.
D. A public hearing by the City Council shall be held for the purpose of considering the proposed assessments, at which any interested person shall have the opportunity to appear, or to submit written comment.
E. The public hearing is fixed for Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 5:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the City Council takes up the matter. The public hearing shall be conducted in the City Council Chambers located at 200 Civic Center Drive, Vista, California, or remotely utilizing teleconferencing and electronic means consistent with State of California Executive Order N-29-
20. F. Pursuant to Streets & Highways Code Section 22626(a), the City Clerk shall cause a copy of this Resolution to be published in the manner required by Government Code Section 6061 at least 10 days prior to the date of the hearing. 04/22/2025
C7
EXHIBIT 3
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CHARTERED CITY OF VISTA
PAGE 2
3. Adoption. PASSED AND ADOPTED at a meeting of the City Council held on April 22, 2025 by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
WALTER CHUNG, CITY ATTORNEY
By:
JOHN FRANKLIN, MAYOR
ATTEST:
KATHY VALDEZ, CITY CLERK
By:
APPROVED
Walter C. Chung
20250410130946
04/22/2025
C7
EXHIBIT 4
City of Vista Landscape and Lighting District No. 1
Engineer’s Report
P
arcel listing on file in the Office of the City Clerk.
04/22/2025
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EXHIBIT 4
NMelroseDr
Mar VistaD r
Olive Av
Thibodo
Rd
E BobierDr
Vista Village Dr
S Santa FeAv
Shadowridge Dr
Sycamore
Av
NSantaFeAv
SMelroseDr
W Vista Wy
BusinessParkDr
Sun set Dr
SMelroseDr
SMelroseDr
EVistaWy
Ã78
Ã78
Landscaping and
Lighting District No. 1
Last Saved: 4/26/2017
0 1 20.5 Mi
District Boundary
I
04/22/2025
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EXHIBIT 5
EXHIBIT 6
City of Vista Street Maintenance District No. 1
Engineer’s Report
P
arcel listing on file in the Office of the City Clerk.
04/22/2025
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EXHIBIT 6
NMelroseDr
MarVistaDr
OliveAv
ThibodoRd
EBobierDr
VistaVillageDr
SSanta
FeAv
ShadowridgeDr
SycamoreAv
NSantaFeAv
SMelroseDr
WVistaWy
BusinessParkDr
SunsetDr
SMelroseDr
SMelroseDr
EVistaWy
Ã78
Ã78
StreetMaintenanceDistrict
LastSaved: 4/26/2017
0 120.5 Mi
DistrictBoundary
I
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EXHIBIT 7
EXHIBIT 8
City of Vista South Melrose Landscape Maintenance District Engineer’s Report
P
arcel listing on file in the Office of the City Clerk.
04/22/2025
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EXHIBIT 8
Sycamore
Av
BusinessParkDr
SMelroseDr
SouthMelroseLandscapeMaintenanceDistrict
DistrictBoundary
MaintenanceZone1Boundary
s s s s s
s s s s s
s s s s s
s s s s s
MaintenanceZone2Boundary
MaintenanceZone3Boundary
MaintenanceZone4Boundary
MaintenanceZone5Boundary
LastSaved: 4/26/2017
I
0 1,000 2,000500 Feet
04/22/2025
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EXHIBIT 9
SycamoreAv
Poinsettia
Av
La Mirada Dr
BusinessParkDr
Park Center Dr
Grand Av
SMelroseDr
La Mirada Canyon
Landscape Maintenance District
Zone A
Zone B
District Boundary
Open Space
Last Saved: 4/27/2017
I
0 1,000 2,000500 Feet
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EXHIBIT 10