TO: ADAM PIRRIE, CITY MANAGER
FROM: JEREMY SWAN, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
DATE: JUNE 11, 2024
Reviewed by:
City Manager: AP
SUBJECT:
Title
APPROVAL OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER’S REPORT AND ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE 2024-25 LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING DISTRICT ANNUAL ASSESSMENT OF $219.31 PER ASSESSMENT UNIT (FUNDING SOURCE: LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING DISTRICT FUND)
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SUMMARY
On February 27, 2024, the City Council adopted Resolution 2024-10, authorizing the preparation of the 2024-25 Engineer’s Report for the voter-approved Citywide Landscape and Lighting District (LLD). State law requires an annual update for the levying of Landscape and Lighting District assessments. The annual report includes the proposed budget for the services provided under the LLD, which includes the maintenance of landscape, parks, the urban forest, and streetlights. The report is complete and is included for the City Council’s review and consideration as Attachment A.
As permitted in the enabling resolution (Attachment B), the Engineer has determined that the change in the February 2023 to February 2024 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim Area Consumer Price Index (CPI) represents an increase of 3.36 percent. The application of this change to the LLD assessment would increase it from $212.19 per assessment unit (AU) to $219.31 per AU for 2024-25.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the City Council:
A. Conduct a public hearing to receive public comment;
B. Accept the Engineer’s Report prepared by Willdan Financial Services; and
C. Adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA, CONFIRMING A DIAGRAM AND ASSESSMENT, AND LEVYING THE ASSESSMENT FOR THE 2024/25 FISCAL YEAR IN CONNECTION WITH LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING DISTRICT NO. LL001 PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF PART 2 OF DIVISION 15 OF THE CALIFORNIA STREETS AND HIGHWAYS CODE.
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ALTERNATIVE TO RECOMMENDATION
In addition to the recommendation, there is the following alternative:
• Request additional information.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The formula used to calculate each parcel’s LLD levy is based on a standard assessment unit. Single-family residential parcels less than 11,500 square feet in area are considered one (1) assessment unit. From this base, all other land use designations are assigned assessment units based on the established formula (the complete formula is contained in the attached Engineer’s Report, pages 12-13). The annual increase in the assessment amount is limited to the increase in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim Area Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the twelve-month period of February to February. The CPI increase for this period is 3.36 percent.
The assessment per AU for 2023-24 was $212.19. Applying an increase equal to the CPI increase of 3.36 percent would increase the assessment to $219.31. This new assessment amount would result in $111,673 in additional revenue, bringing the total LLD assessment revenue to $3,280,713 for 2024-25. The total proposed LLD maintenance costs for 2024-25 are estimated at $4,662,749.
Revenue from the LLD assessments will fund approximately 70 percent of eligible LLD program expenditures, with approximately 30 percent subsidized by the General Fund.
Below is an overview of the estimated expenditures and related funding for 2024-25:
The cost to complete this report is estimated at $1,557. These costs are in staff time and are included in the operating budget of the Community Services Department.
ANALYSIS
LLD Scope of Services
The preliminary $4,662,749 LLD program budget covers the maintenance of landscaping, the urban forest, and street lighting improvements throughout the City. A description of the maintenance activities that occur within the LLD is included below.
Developed Parks
The City has 21 developed parks, totaling 154.7 acres that are maintained through the LLD. The estimated cost to maintain City parks next fiscal year is $1,769,756. Typical maintenance activities for City parks include:
• Turfgrass mowing and edging
• Repairing irrigation systems as required
• Cultivating and aerating turfgrass and groundcover as necessary
• Renovating turfgrass and sports fields as necessary
• Fertilization and pest control as necessary
• Ongoing weed abatement
• Litter removal
• Trimming of trees and shrubs
• Daily janitorial services for park restrooms
• Graffiti removal as necessary
• Playground equipment inspections
• Vandalism and fencing repairs as necessary
Street Medians & Rights-of-Way
The City has 95 median islands, totaling over 10 acres, and over 50 acres of public right-of-way that are maintained by the LLD. This includes landscaped grounds in the Village and Plaza and around the Village Parking Structure. The estimated cost to maintain these landscaped areas next fiscal year is $1,348,884. Typical maintenance activities for medians and rights-of-way include:
• Turfgrass mowing and edging (parkways only)
• Repairing irrigation systems as necessary
• Cultivating ground cover as necessary
• Fertilization and pest control as necessary
• Ongoing weed abatement
• Litter removal
• Trimming of shrubs as needed
Urban Forest
The City maintains approximately 25,000 trees. The estimated cost to maintain the urban forest next fiscal year is $1,059,414. Typical maintenance activities for the urban forest include:
• Grid and Select Trimming
• Young Tree Care Program
• Removal and replacement of diseased, dead, and/or hazardous trees
• Reforestation
• Integrated Pest Management Program
Street Lighting
There are 2,509 City-owned and 306 Southern California Edison-owned streetlights within the LLD. The City is required to pay the energy costs for all streetlights located in the public right-of-way within the City limits, regardless of ownership. These expenses are funded by the LLD. In addition to electricity costs, the LLD pays for maintenance and repair of streetlights, which are performed by a private contractor or by Southern California Edison. The estimated cost for the maintenance and electricity associated with streetlights next fiscal year is $474,880.
Annual Process for Levying Assessments
Although Claremont voters approved continuing the LLD in 1997, State law requires an annual procedure for levying assessments in accordance with the same procedures the City has followed every year since 1990. This process includes a noticed public hearing to establish the rates and the maintenance plan. The City Council completed the first step in the annual procedure on February 27, 2024, when they authorized Willdan Financial Services to prepare the annual report by adopting Resolution No. 2024-10 (Attachment C).
The second step in the annual process is the review of the preliminary Engineer’s Report. On May 14, 2024, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-19 (Attachment D) stating the City’s intent to levy and assess fees in 2024-25 and set a public hearing date of June 11, 2024.
Following the public hearing, staff recommends that the City Council adopt the Engineer’s Report and authorize the new assessment of $219.31/AU. The report will then be submitted to the County Auditor-Controller for collection of the assessment on the November 2024 and April 2025 property tax bills.
RELATIONSHIP TO CITY PLANNING DOCUMENTS
Staff has evaluated the agenda item in relationship to the City’s strategic and visioning documents and finds that it relates to the following: Council Priorities, Sustainable City Plan, Economic Sustainability Plan, the General Plan, and the 2024-26 Budget.
CEQA REVIEW
This item is not subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
COMMISSION REVIEW
On May 1, 2024, the Community and Human Services Commission reviewed the Engineer’s Report and unanimously recommended that the City Council apply a levy of $219.31 per assessment unit for 2024-25. An excerpt from the approved minutes from the May 1, 2024, meeting is included as Attachment E.
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
The agenda and staff report for this item have been posted on the City website and distributed to interested parties. If you desire a copy, please contact the City Clerk’s Office.
Submitted by: Prepared by:
Jeremy Swan Cari Dillman
Community Services Director Community Services Manager
Attachments:
A - Engineer’s Report
B - Resolution Confirming and Levying the 2024-25 LLD
C - Resolution 2024-10 - Authorizing the Preparation of the 2024-25 LLD
D - Resolution 2024-19 - Intent to Levy and Setting a Public Hearing Date
E - 05-01-24 CHS Commission Meeting Minutes (Excerpt)