Recommended FY 2022-2024 Operating Budget and CIP

Lighting and Landscape District 229.8351

Division Description Lighting and Landscape District (LAD) funds are derived from special property assessments to support City maintenance services in park and landscape areas within residential developments that were originally included in the LAD. Proper maintenance of the properties benefits the owners. Assessment charges are collected by the County on property tax rolls and remitted to the City, less administrative fees. There are currently 19 subareas in the LAD that include a total of 748 properties. Each lot within a specific subarea is assessed the same amount. The City manages the expenses of each of the subareas to maintain a positive fund balance and avoid, if possible, the need for assessment rate increases. Nevertheless, over the past several years accumulated increases in maintenance costs have necessitated an increase in assessment rates. To date, most rate increases have been within the original range of assessment rates set at the time of annexation. For FY 2022-23, it is proposed that the assessment be raised for the Sparhawk, Diana Estates, and Oak Creek subareas to cover the ongoing maintenance costs. District maintenance is done primarily by contract, however, since 2020 a limited number of Assessment District subareas have been maintained by City teammates. This is due to the inability to find quality contract resources within the fiscal constraints of specific subareas. The level of maintenance at each subarea varies based upon the needs of the subarea and funding available. In some of the subareas, a negative fund balance exists. Pursuant to Prop 218, ballot measures were conducted in some of the subareas in the past that did not pass. City teammates have also reached out to residents of the subareas, but in most cases, residents expressed an unwillingness to increase the assessment rate. In early 2020, residents of the Mill Creek subarea provided for an increase in assessment cap, improving the situation for this subarea, but at the same time Jackson Meadows #6 voted against the proposed assessment cap increase. The City will continue to coordinate with various subareas to attempt to improve the financial situation of the subareas where a negative fund balance exists. As an alternative to increasing funding, maintenance services in the identified subareas will continue at reduced levels limited to annual weed abatement only. This strategy will support reducing these negative fund balances. FY 2020-21 and 2021-22 Accomplishments • Made improvements in several Districts that had a positive fund balance to improve the landscape and safety of the area • Held meetings with several Districts to discuss the overall maintenance of their area and ways to continue to enhance as the budget allows • Worked with Mill Creek Assessment District to increase the assessment to be able to maintain a positive fund balance and better maintain the district • Internally started to maintain several Assessment Districts with part-time teammates which has helped improve the subareas’ quality of maintenance

174 PUBLIC SERVICES