Yorba Linda Street Lighting and Landscaping Maintenance District Engineer’s Annual Report
Fiscal Year 2022/2023
Zones that were balloted for increased assessments included Zones L-2A, L-2K, L-2L, L-2N, and L-2P. The protest ballot proceedings resulted in Zones L-2A, L-2L and L-2P approving the proposed increase to their maximum assessments and those approved new maximum assessment rates were reflected in the fiscal year 2017/2018 Report. In the remaining two Local Landscaping Zones (L-2K and L-2N), there was a majority protest for the proposed assessment increases and those proposed increases were not implemented. As a result of these majority protests, the City Council subsequently directed City staff to implement steps to minimize service levels and reduce the overall cost of maintaining the improvements in these two Zones.
In addition, the fiscal year 2017/2018 Report also incorporated the overall service level and cost reductions that had been implement for Local Landscaping Zones L-2E, L-2P, L-4A, and L-5A which were previously balloted for increased assessments but did not approve those increases.
The steps taken to reduce costs, targeted specific improvement areas within each Zone. In many cases, various improvement areas previously being maintained through the District assessments were removed as Zone improvements, reducing the overall maintenance area within those Zones. Additionally, in some Zones, reduced levels of maintenance were implemented in specific areas which may have include limited tree management such as tree removal for dead/diseased trees, weed abatement to meet fire clearance requirements, rodent control, and best management practices (BMP) installation for erosion control when necessary.
These services were to be provided on an as-needed basis similar to the baseline servicing identified for establishing general benefit costs. The extent of the areas being reduced to the minimized maintenance service level and the areas that will continue to be maintained at regular services levels or at a modified service level was based on available assessment revenues and varied for each Zone.
On June 26, 2017, the property owners within Local Landscaping Zone L-1B approved a proposed new/increased assessment through a second Property Owner Protest Ballot Proceeding. However, at the request of property owners in Zone L-1B, the new/increased assessments that was approved incorporated the elimination of specific improvement areas that had been previously maintained as part of the Zone improvements in order to reduce costs and associated assessment rate. The fiscal year 2017/2018 Report incorporated the improvements, budget, diagram, and assessments for Zone L-1B outlined in the Engineer’s Report prepared in connection with the new/increased assessment that was approved and adopted by the City Council at the conclusion of the Ballot Proceeding.
Fiscal Year 2018/2019:
In fiscal year 2018/2019 the following District changes were addressed:
As part of the City’s ongoing efforts to clarify and ensure that the annual District assessments are consistent with the substantive provisions of the California Constitution Article XIII D and the provisions of the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972, and in part as a result of planned service reductions for specified improvement areas within the District, it was determined that the overall extent of the improvements to be maintained within the previously established Local Landscaping Zone L-2N (originally established in fiscal year 2013/2014), was different for the overall residential developments as compared to the non-residential properties on Eastside Circle near the entryway to the Zone on Esperanza Road (Esperanza Road/Hidden Hills Road).
Therefore, as part of the fiscal year 2018/2019 annual report, the residential properties and development area east of Eastside Circle were established as a new Local Landscaping Zone L-2V and the remaining non-residential properties accessed from Eastside Circle remained as Zone L-2N. While this reorganization of the Zone did not increase the previously adopted maximum assessments allowed, the new Local Landscaping Zone L-2V and new boundaries for Local Landscaping Zone L-2N provided a more accurate reflection of the proportional special benefits that properties received from the local landscaping improvements.
Yorba Linda Street Lighting and Landscaping Maintenance District Engineer’s Annual Report
Fiscal Year 2022/2023
Although the reorganization into Local Landscaping Zone L-2V and the revised Local Landscaping Zone L-2N did not increase the previously adopted maximum assessments allowed, on May 1, 2018, the City Council initiated proceedings and declared its intention to expand the improvements and servicing (maintenance) for Local Landscaping Zone L-2V and to ballot the properties within Zone L-2V for a new or increased assessment. At the fiscal year 2018/2019 annual public hearing, the outcome of the ballot proceeding for Local Landscaping Zone L-2V was unknown and the Annual Engineer’s Report was adopted, approving the maximum assessments for both Zone L-2N and L-2V at the same previously authorized adjusted maximum assessment rate. Subsequently, at the August 7, 2018, public hearing for Zone L-2V, property owner ballots regarding the new/increased assessment were tabulated and majority protest did not exist. The City Council approved and adopted the new Maximum Assessment and fiscal year 2018/2019 assessment for Local Landscaping Zone L-2V which included a modified Assessment Range Formula (New inflationary adjustment) and by reference these changes to Local Landscaping Zone L-2V were incorporated into the Annual Report for fiscal year 2018/2019.
Fiscal Year 2019/2020:
In fiscal year 2019/2020 the following District change was implemented:
In fiscal year 2015/2016, the primarily non-residential development area within Local Landscaping Zone L-1A located north and northeast of La Palma Avenue, and south and southwest of the railroad right-of-way running east and west through Zone L-1A (originally established in fiscal year 2013/2014) was established as Zone L-1F with the residential developments north of the railroad right-of-way being retained as Zone L-1A. At that time, it was determined that the improvements being maintained within the original L-1A Zone were the result of and directly associated with the residential developments north of the railroad right-ofway and the properties in the new Zone L-1F primarily received direct special benefit from just the arterial landscaping on La Palma Avenue and the properties within Zone L-1F were no longer assessed for local improvements. In fiscal year 2019/2020 Local Landscaping Zone L-1F was dissolved pursuant to the provisions of the 1972 Act and any fund balance remaining in that Zone’s account were transferred and applied to the fund balance of Arterial Landscaping Zone A-1.
No other notable or consequential changes to the District and/or improvements were proposed or implemented for fiscal year 2019/2020.
Fiscal Year 2020/2021:
In fiscal year 2020/2021 the following District changes were implemented:
Pursuant to the provisions of the California Constitution Article XIIID the City Council conducted three separate Property Owner Protest Ballot Proceedings for new/increased assessments in three underfunded Local Landscaping Zones. The three Local Landscaping Zones that were balloted for increased assessments included Zones L-2G, L-4A, and L-2E. The separate protest ballot proceedings resulted in approval of new maximum assessments and new assessment range formulas (increased assessments) commencing in fiscal year 2020/2021 for Local Landscaping Zone L-4A on May 5, 2020, and for Local Landscaping Zone L-2E on May 19, 2020. However, at the conclusion of the public hearing on February 18, 2020, for Local Landscaping Zone L-2G, the ballot tabulation resulted in a majority protest for the proposed assessment increase. Therefore, in accordance with previously adopted City Council policy, City staff began implementing steps to minimize service levels and reduce the overall cost of maintaining the improvements within Zone L-2G for fiscal year 2020/2021 including the vacation of specific landscaping easements on private property as outlined by the City Council policy.
Yorba Linda Street Lighting and Landscaping Maintenance District Engineer’s Annual Report
Fiscal Year 2022/2023
At the Annual Intent Meeting on June 16, 2020, the City Council preliminarily approved the Annual Engineer’s Reported which reflected the proposed vacation of approximately 374,473 square feet of improvements (342,587 square feet of sloped/mostly-sloped area and 31,886 square feet of flat/moderately-sloped area) within Local Landscaping Zone L-2G, which reduced the overall maintenance costs for the Zone. However, as part of that approval, the City Council indicated it would delay the vacation proceedings if property owners within the Zone could garner sufficient petition signatures to re-ballot Zone L-2G for an increased assessment. Prior to the Public Hearing on July 21, 2020, the City received sufficient petitions to warrant the re-ballot of Zone L-2G and the Annual Engineer’s Report was revised to assume the postponement of the vacation process and reflect the continued maintenance of the existing Zone L-2G improvements. Subsequently, the City conducted a second Property Owner Protest Ballot Proceeding for a proposed new/increased assessment for Zone L-2G commencing in fiscal year 2021/2022. At the conclusion of the public hearing on November 17, 2020, the ballot tabulation resulted in a majority protest for the proposed assessment increase. Therefore, the City resumed proceedings to vacate specific landscaping easements on private property as soon as possible and implemented reductions in the levels of maintenance in specific areas as needed to reflect available assessment revenues including limited or modified tree management such as tree removal for dead/diseased trees, weed abatement to meet fire clearance requirements, rodent control, and best management practices (BMP) installation for erosion control when necessary. These services may be provided on an as-needed basis similar to the baseline servicing identified for establishing general benefit costs. The extent of any additional service level reductions as well as the specific locations and service level reductions were determined by the Public Works Director based on available assessment revenues and in accordance with City Council policy.
In addition, commencing with fiscal year 2020/2021, the landscaping and related improvements that are specifically associated with the Old Pomegranate Trail as well as the landscaping and related improvements adjacent to the Susanna Bixby Bryant Museum and Botanic Garden (previously maintained as part of Zone L-1D) were removed as District improvements. With the elimination of these improvements from the District, Local Landscaping Zone L-1D was reconfigured to include only those properties in proximity to the remaining landscape improvement areas within Zone L-1D and that receive a special benefit from those remaining improvements.
Fiscal Year 2021/2022:
In fiscal year 2021/2022, as part of the ongoing annual review of the improvements associated with each Zone, and to ensure consistency throughout the District, various improvement areas presented in “Part V- Assessment Diagrams” and the improvement descriptions in “Part I - Plans and Specifications” of the fiscal year 2021/2022 Report were updated to accurately reflect the landscaping areas and associated square footages currently being maintained in each landscaping Zone. As part of these updates, some improvement areas at the intersection of Valley View Avenue and Lakeview Avenue in proximity to Lakeview Elementary School, as well as on Bastanchury Road in proximity to Yorba Linda High School have been reclassified as arterial landscaping improvements rather than as local landscaping improvements. Also reflected were revised improvement areas to be maintained within Local Landscaping Zone L-2G commencing in fiscal year 2021/2022 after the second majority protest to increase the assessments in November 2020. These new improvement areas incorporated the elimination of the various vacated easements and service reductions necessary to bring the annual expenditures for L-2G in line with available revenues.
LMAD Capital Projects Funding Availability Analysis
City-Wide City-Wide City-Wide City-Wide City-Wide Landscape Landscape Landscape Landscape Landscape Arterial - A1 Arterial - A3 Arterial - A4 Arterial - A7 Arterial - A8 Zone L1A Zone L1E Zone L2A Zone L2B Zone L2D Irrigation / Smart Controllers
2022/23 50,000.00 - 50,000.00 50,000.00 30,000.00 10,000.00 30,000.00 30,000.00 50,000.00 2023/24 15,000.00 30,000.00 25,000.00 4,146.18 20,000.00 20,000.00 2024/25 30,000.00 25,000.00 10,038.91
2025/26 30,000.00
2026/27
2027/28
2028/29
Total 50,000.00 15,000.00 90,000.00 50,000.00 100,000.00 30,000.00 10,000.00 34,146.18 50,000.00 80,038.91 Landscape Renovation
2022/23 25,000.00 50,000.00 25,000.00
2023/24 600,000.00 5,000.00 61,188.79 60,000.00 12,000.00 350,000.00 4,000.00 640,641.81 20,000.00 2024/25 5,000.00 10,000.00 61,225.47 4,000.00 20,000.00 2025/26 3,383.90
2026/27
2027/28
2028/29
Total 600,000.00 13,383.90 71,188.79 - 121,225.47 37,000.00 350,000.00 8,000.00 690,641.81 65,000.00 Trails Surface and Fencing
2022/23
2023/24
2024/25
2025/26
2026/27
2027/28
2028/29
Total - - - - - - - - - -
Total Planned CIP 650,000.00 28,383.90 161,188.79 50,000.00 221,225.47 67,000.00 360,000.00 42,146.18 740,641.81 145,038.91
LMAD Capital Projects Funding Availability Analysis
Irrigation / Smart Controllers
2022/23
2023/24
2024/25
2025/26
2026/27
2027/28
2028/29
Total
Landscape Renovation
2022/23
2023/24
2024/25
2025/26
2026/27
2027/28
2028/29
Total
Trails Surface and Fencing
2022/23
2023/24
2024/25
2025/26
2026/27
2027/28
2028/29
Total
Total Planned CIP
Landscape Landscape Landscape Landscape Landscape Landscape Landscape Landscape Landscape Landscape Zone L2G Zone L2H Zone L2I Zone L2J Zone L2M Zone L2O Zone L2Q Zone L2R Zone L2S Zone L2T 20,000.00 50,000.00 30,000.00 20,000.00 50,000.00 20,000.00 20,000.00 10,000.00 20,000.00 30,000.00 30,000.00 15,000.00
20,000.00 50,000.00 60,000.00 50,000.00 - 65,000.00 20,000.00 20,000.00 10,000.00 20,000.00 25,000.00 25,000.00 10,000.00 25,000.00 16,000.00 25,000.00 9,000.00 15,000.00 25,000.00 38,702.21 54,880.91 20,000.00 15,000.00
30,000.00
- 25,000.00 93,702.21 64,880.91 25,000.00 36,000.00 40,000.00 9,000.00 15,000.00 25,000.00 - - - - - - - - - -
20,000.00 75,000.00 153,702.21 114,880.91 25,000.00 101,000.00 60,000.00 29,000.00 25,000.00 45,000.00
LMAD Capital Projects Funding Availability Analysis
Irrigation / Smart Controllers
2022/23
2023/24
2024/25
2025/26
2026/27
2027/28
2028/29
Total
Landscape Renovation
2022/23
2023/24
2024/25
2025/26
2026/27
2027/28
2028/29
Total
Trails Surface and Fencing
2022/23
2023/24
2024/25
2025/26
2026/27
2027/28
2028/29
Total
Total Planned CIP
Landscape Landscape SAVI Ranch Landscape Landscape Landscape Zone L2U Zone L2V Zone L3 Zone L4A Zone L5B Zone L5C
20,000.00 20,000.00 10,000.00 30,000.00 25,000.00 645,000.00 39,500.00 40,000.00 268,646.18
65,038.91
30,000.00
-
-
-
20,000.00 20,000.00 - 10,000.00 69,500.00 65,000.00 1,008,685.09 23,000.00 5,000.00 20,000.00 25,000.00 50,000.00 398,000.00 15,000.00 50,000.00 100,000.00 2,046,413.72
150,000.00 280,225.47
64,500.00 67,883.90
-
-
-
- 23,000.00 5,000.00 35,000.00 75,000.00 364,500.00 2,792,523.09 83,000.00 100,000.00 183,000.00
-
-
-
-
-
-
- - - - 83,000.00 100,000.00 183,000.00
20,000.00 43,000.00 5,000.00 45,000.00 144,500.00 429,500.00 3,801,208.18 Total