TO: ADAM PIRRIE, CITY MANAGER
FROM: JEREMY SWAN, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
DATE: FEBRUARY 24, 2026
Reviewed by:
City Manager: AP
SUBJECT:
Title
ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING WILLDAN FINANCIAL SERVICES TO PREPARE THE 2026-27 LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING DISTRICT ANNUAL REPORT (FUNDING SOURCE: LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING DISTRICT FUND)
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SUMMARY
State law requires an annual procedure for levying Landscape and Lighting District (LLD) assessments. The first step in the process is to authorize a qualified engineer to prepare the annual report. Willdan Financial Services will prepare the 2026-27 Landscape and Lighting District Annual Report for the City Council’s consideration, as required by resolution (Attachment). The annual report includes the proposed budget for the services provided under the Landscape and Lighting District, which includes the maintenance of right-of-way landscaping, parks, trees, and streetlights. Upon completion, the report will be presented to the City Council for consideration.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the City Council adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA, DIRECTING WILLDAN FINANCIAL SERVICES, AS ENGINEER OF RECORD, TO PREPARE AND FILE THE 2026-27 ANNUAL REPORT PERTAINING TO LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING DISTRICT NO. LL001 (PURSUANT TO THE LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING ACT OF 1972).
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ALTERNATIVES TO RECOMMENDATION
In addition to the recommendation, there are the following alternatives:
A. Request additional information.
B. Delay authorization to begin work on the 2026-27 report.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The City’s annual Landscape and Lighting District budget includes $7,035 to prepare the annual LLD report, including engineering services, data processing, printing, filing, and map duplication.
The staff costs to research the issue, prepare documentation, and complete reports are estimated to be $1,630. These costs include staff time allocated to the project and are included in the operating budget of the Community Services Department.
ANALYSIS
In March 1990, the City Council established the LLD in accordance with existing State law to help pay for the cost of maintaining public landscaping and street lighting. All noticing and public hearing requirements were met during the formation of the LLD. The required process for adjustment of the annual LLD assessment, including public hearings, has been followed each year since that time.
In November 1996, the California electorate approved Proposition 218, which made changes to State law governing Landscape and Lighting Districts. To comply with the full extent of this law, the City Council placed a ballot initiative, known then as Measure A, on the March 4, 1997, local ballot. The initiative asked Claremont voters to ratify the existing district. Voters responded affirmatively.
The City Council is required to adopt a resolution annually authorizing an engineer to begin work on the LLD assessment. The City has contracted with Willdan Financial Services to prepare the annual Engineer’s Report. The work required to prepare the Engineer’s Report includes updating the LLD parcel and land-use database and preparation of a written report. The City is required to update the parcel and land-use database annually to capture any parcels that need to be added to the annual assessment or to record changes in land-use designations within the district in the prior year. The annual report describes the prior year’s changes within the district. It also provides an overview of the methodology employed for charging each assessment unit the annual fee, and it sets the rate applied to each parcel.
The preliminary Engineer's Report is scheduled for presentation and review by the Community and Human Services Commission on April 1, 2026, and subsequent presentation to the City Council on May 12, 2026. If the preliminary report is deemed appropriate, the City Council may adopt a resolution of intent to set fees and set a date for the public hearing to adopt the assessment for 2026-27.
Consistent with the provisions of Measure A, the report will recommend an assessment fee adjustment based on the change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Based on data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the engineer may use the change in the CPI from February 2025 to February 2026 as the basis for this adjustment. The February-to-February CPI is used to meet the August 2026 deadline of delivering the annual assessment to the County Assessor’s Office for placement of the assessment on property owners’ annual property tax bills. The adjustment is bound by the change in CPI, and the annual LLD assessment cannot be adjusted higher than the February-to-February change in the CPI.
To complete the LLD assessment process, a public hearing must be held, which staff anticipate will occur at the June 9, 2026, City Council meeting. The engineer will attend this City Council meeting and be available to answer questions. The hearing will give the public an opportunity to comment on the planned maintenance work proposed for the coming year and on the proposed assessment. Changes may be made to the Engineer's Report until the close of this hearing. The City Council will then consider adoption of the 2026-27 Engineer's Annual Report and LLD assessment for 2026-27.
The proposed 2026-27 LLD assessment timeline is outlined below:
February 24, 2026: Authorization requested for Willdan Financial Services, the LLD Engineer, to begin work on the Preliminary Engineer’s Report.
April 1, 2026: Preliminary Engineer’s Report is presented to the Community and Human Services Commission for review.
May 12, 2026: LLD Engineer presents the preliminary report to the City Council for review. The City Council considers the adoption of the resolution of intent to set fees for 2026-27 and sets the date for the public hearing.
June 9, 2026: Public hearing is conducted to consider the adoption of the Engineer’s Annual Report and approval of LLD assessments for 2026-27.
August 2026: Assessment information is delivered to the County Assessor for placement of assessments on property owners’ annual 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 applies to the following City Planning Documents: Council Priorities, Sustainable City Plan, Economic Sustainability Plan, General Plan, and the 2024-26 Budget.
CEQA REVIEW
This item is not subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
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
Attachment:
Proposed Resolution