Honorable Mayor and Members of the Hermosa Beach City Council Adjourned Regular Meeting of June 11, 2019
Title
HERMOSA BEACH LANDSCAPING AND STREET LIGHTING
DISTRICT 2019-2020 ADOPTION OF RESOLUTIONS REGARDING
THE ENGINEER'S REPORT AND SETTING JULY 9, 2019
FOR A PUBLIC HEARING
(Acting Public Works Director Lucho Rodriguez)
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Recommended Action:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt the attached Resolution approving the Engineer's Report for Hermosa Beach Landscaping & Street Lighting District 2019-2020 ("District") made pursuant to the requirements of Resolution No. 19-7177; and
2. Adopt the attached Resolution declaring the City Council’s intention to order certain improvements and to levy and collect assessments within the District for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020; and setting July 9, 2019 to accept public input on the matter of the proposed assessment.
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Executive Summary:
The Hermosa Beach Street Lighting and Landscaping Assessment District was created in FY 1989-90 for street lighting and median maintenance purposes pursuant to Street and Highway Code Sections 22500-22679. The Landscaping and Street Lighting District must be renewed annually.
Background:
The Landscaping and Street Lighting District provides for the maintenance and operation of the citywide street lighting program and landscaping within street medians and parkways. The Landscaping and Street Lighting District must be renewed annually.
When the District was originally formed in FY 1989-90, the assessment amount was set at $16.84 per dwelling unit. In FY 1995-96 the assessment amount was increased to $54.82 with the exception of senior citizens, for whom the $16.84 amount was maintained through a rebate program. Due to a surplus of funds in FY 1997-98, the assessment amount was reduced to the present amount of $41.45. This surplus of District funds was able to cover the increasing costs of services up until FY 2003-04. Since this time, the District has been running a deficit, requiring supplemental revenue subsidy from the General Fund.
Analysis:
The Landscaping and Street Lighting District assesses all property owners in the City in order to provide funding for the maintenance and operation of the citywide street lighting program and landscaping within the street medians and parkways. The City Council must confirm the annual assessment each year to be placed on the tax rolls to be collected by the County Tax Assessor.
This year’s assessment amount is set at $41.45 per dwelling unit, which has not increased since 1996. With the passage of Proposition 218 in 1996, this amount cannot be increased without the approval of the affected property owners through a ballot procedure under the majority protest rule. This means that the proposed assessment would be defeated if more than 50% of the ballots received are opposed to the increase.
The adoption of the attached Resolutions is necessary at this time so that a public hearing can be held to take testimony on the assessments. The first Resolution approves the report prepared by the Acting Director of Public Works acting as the Assessment Engineer. Its adoption confirms that the report has been prepared prior to the public hearing. This report, enclosed in the resolution herein as Attachment No.1, covers matters relating to the District and is on file in the office of the City Clerk.
The adoption of the second Resolution provides for the setting of a public hearing for
July 9, 2019 at 7:30 PM. At the conclusion of the public hearing, staff will provide Council with a Resolution it may adopt ordering the assessments.
General Plan Consistency:
PLAN Hermosa, the City’s General Plan, was adopted by the City Council in August 2017. PLAN Hermosa was divided into seven elements, each with multiple goals. The relevant goals to the Hermosa Beach Landscaping and Street Lighting District are contained within the Mobility, Parks + Open Space, and Infrastructure Elements:
Mobility:
2.1 Prioritize public right-of-ways. Prioritize improvements of public right-of-ways that provide heightened levels of safe, comfortable and attractive public spaces for all non-motorized travelers while balancing the needs of efficient vehicular circulation.
2.4 Sustainable landscape. Use consistent and sustainable landscape and streetscape designs that reflect the city’s community identity; showcase local assets and the community’s unique and vibrant culture.
Parks + Open Space:
10.3 Green space co-benefits. Recognize the many positive qualities provided by landscaping, trees, and green space including reduced heat gain, controlled stormwater runoff, absorbed noise, reduced soil erosion, improved aesthetic character, and absorption of air pollution.
Infrastructure:
1.1 Infrastructure systems plan. Establish and adopt an integrated, holistic systems approach to guide infrastructure development, improvement, maintenance, and resilience.
1.4 Fair share assessments. Require new development and redevelopment projects to pay their fair share of the cost of infrastructure improvements needed to serve the project, and ensure that needed infrastructure is available prior to or at the time of project completion.
Fiscal Impact:
The General Fund would contribute $175,932 to the Landscaping and Street Lighting Assessment District Fund to maintain the Landscaping and Street Lighting Assessment District for 2019-20.
Attachments:
1. Resolution approving the District, with Engineer’s Report attached
2. Resolution appointing a time and place for the public hearing
Respectfully Submitted by: Lucho Rodriguez, Acting Public Works Director
Concur: Leeanne Singleton, AICP, Environmental Analyst
Noted for Fiscal Impact: Charlotte Newkirk, Accounting Manager
Legal Review: Mike Jenkins, City Attorney
Approved: Suja Lowenthal, City Manager