TO: COMMUNITY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION
FROM: JEREMY SWAN, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
DATE: APRIL 2, 2025
SUBJECT:
Title
LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING DISTRICT ENGINEER’S REPORT AND ANNUAL LEVY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-26
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SUMMARY
On February 25, 2025, the City Council adopted Resolution 2025-10, authorizing the preparation of the 2025-26 Engineer’s Report for the voter-approved Citywide Landscape and Lighting District (LLD). Resolution 2025-10 is included as Attachment A. State law requires an annual update for the levying of Landscape and Lighting District assessments, and the first step is the preparation of the Engineer’s Report for 2025-26. The annual report includes the proposed budget for the services provided under the LLD, which includes the maintenance of landscape, parks, trees, and streetlights. The report is now complete and is included for the Commission’s review and consideration (Attachment B).
As permitted in the enabling resolution, the Engineer has determined that the change in the February 2024 to February 2025 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County Consumer Price Index (CPI) represents an increase of 3.109 percent. The application of this change to the LLD assessment would increase it from $219.31 per assessment unit (AU) to $226.13 per AU for 2025-26.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the Community and Human Services Commission recommend that the City Council adopt a Resolution approving the Engineer’s Report and ordering a levy of $226.13/AU for Fiscal Year 2025-26.
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ALTERNATIVES TO RECOMMENDATION
In addition to the recommendation, there is the following alternative:
• Refer the matter back to staff for further information.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Assessment Unit and CPI Adjustment
The formula used to calculate each parcel’s LLD levy is based upon 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 upon 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-Riverside-Orange County Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the 12-month period of February to February. The CPI increase for this period is 3.109 percent.
The assessment per AU for 2024-25 was $219.31. Applying an increase in keeping with the CPI increase of 3.109 percent would bring the assessment to $226.13 per AU. This new assessment amount would result in $130,632 in additional revenue, bringing the total LLD assessment revenue to $3,406,152 for 2025-26. The total LLD maintenance costs for 2025-26 are budgeted at $4,858,309.
Revenue from 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 proposed expenditures and revenues for 2025-26:
2025-26 Maintenance and Expenditure Plan 2025-26 Revenues
|
Developed Parks |
$1,767,387 |
|
LLD Assessments |
$3,406,152 |
|
Street Medians & Rights-of-Way |
$1,394,862 |
|
General Fund |
$1,452,157 |
|
Trees |
$1,196,257 |
|
Total Revenues: |
$4,858,309 |
|
Street Lighting |
$ 489,988 |
|
|
Administration Costs |
$ 9,815 |
|
|
Total Expenditures: |
$4,858,309 |
|
The costs to research this issue, prepare documentation, and complete this report are estimated to be $853. These costs are in staff time allocated to the project and are included in the operating budget of the Community Services Department.
ANALYSIS
The proposed $4,858,309 LLD program budget covers the maintenance of landscaping and the urban forest, and street lighting improvements throughout the City. A detailed 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 during Fiscal Year 2025-26 is $1,767,387. Typical maintenance activities for City parks include:
• Turfgrass mowing and edging
• Repairing irrigation systems as needed
• Cultivating and aerating turfgrass and ground cover as needed
• Renovating turfgrass and sports fields as needed
• Fertilization and pest control as needed
• Ongoing weed abatement
• Litter removal
• Trimming of trees and shrubs
• Daily janitorial services for park restrooms
• Graffiti removal as needed
• Playground equipment inspections
• Vandalism and fencing repairs as needed
These activities may change during the year, pending Council direction and given the potential for the return of drought conditions.
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 during Fiscal Year 2025-26 is $1,394,862. Typical maintenance activities for medians and rights-of-way include:
• Turfgrass mowing and edging (parkways only)
• Repairing irrigation systems as needed
• Cultivating ground cover as needed
• Fertilization and pest control as needed
• Ongoing weed abatement
• Litter removal
• Trimming of trees and shrubs as needed
These activities may change during the year, pending Council direction and given the potential for the return of drought conditions.
Urban Forest
The City maintains approximately 25,000 trees. The estimated cost to maintain City trees during Fiscal Year 2025-26 is $1,196,257. The budget includes funding for the reforestation program, which in previous years has been grant-funded.
Typical maintenance activities for the urban forest program include:
• Grid and Select Trimming
• Young Tree Care Program
• Removal and replacement of dead, diseased, 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 City. The City is mandated 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 the maintenance and repair of streetlights, which is performed by a private contractor or by Southern California Edison. The estimated cost for the maintenance and electricity associated with streetlights in Fiscal Year 2025-26 is $489,988.
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 25, 2025, when they adopted Resolution No. 2025-10, authorizing Willdan Financial Services to prepare the 2025-26 annual report.
If the Community and Human Services Commission approves the staff recommendation, the item will be brought before the City Council at the May 13, 2025 meeting. The City Council would then consider setting a public hearing to review modifying the annual levy. Staff anticipates that the City Council will set the public hearing for the June 10, 2025 meeting. As part of the public hearing, the City Council would consider the Engineer’s Report and the recommendation to increase the annual assessment by $6.82 to $226.13 per assessment unit. Following City Council consideration, if approved, the report will then be submitted to the County Auditor Controller for collection of the assessment on the November 2025 and April 2026 property tax billings.
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
Attachments:
A - Resolution No. 2025-10
B - 2025-26 Engineer’s Report