Report Prepared by: Jeffrey Frederick, Public Works Manager-Tax Services
Title
SUBJECT: Maintenance Districts Assessment Ballot Proceeding - Campus North, East College Homes, Fahrens Park I, Hansen Park, Olivewood, Pleasanton Park, and Yosemite Village Maintenance Districts
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers recommending to City Council to authorize assessment ballot proceedings for identified underfunded maintenance districts.
RECOMMENDATION
Public Works, Roads, and Infrastructure Subcommittee - Discuss and provide direction for recommending the City Council to proceed with assessment ballot proceedings for the Campus North, East College Homes, Fahrens Park I, Hansen Park, Olivewood, Pleasanton Park, and Yosemite Village Maintenance Districts.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to other than recommended by staff (identify specific findings and/or conditions amended to be addressed in the motion); or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Refer to staff for reconsideration of specific items; or,
5. Continue to a future meeting (date and time to be specified in the motion).
AUTHORITY
City Council Administrative Policy and Procedure C-8 permits City Council to establish Standing Committees, Subcommittees, and Ad Hoc Committees comprised of less than a quorum of its members.
City Council Resolution No. 2026-12 established the Public Works, Roads, and Infrastructure Standing Committee. The resolution also states that the subcommittee shall operate as an advisory committee to the City Council.
DISCUSSION
It has been determined the Campus North, East College Homes, Fahrens Park I, Hansen Park, Olivewood, Pleasanton Park, and Yosemite Village Maintenance Districts require a special ballot proceeding prior to Council’s approval of these particular district’s future budgets. Property owner approval is required in advance of any increase in annual levy.
Previous ballot proceeding results for the Campus North, East College Homes, Fahrens Park I, Hansen Park, Olivewood, and Pleasanton Park maintenance districts were presented to Council on February 2, 2026; the property owners voted not to approve an increase to their assessment. Yosemite Village also had a previously failed ballot proceeding in February 2013.
Public Works staff continues to be proactive in maximizing available revenue by turning off irrigation systems during non-summer months, suspending the monthly landscape maintenance services contract, reducing employee maintenance labor hours at each Districts’ storm pump station, working with volunteer service groups when available, and utilizing city park personnel on occasion.
Although these austerity measures were adopted, an assessment ballot proceeding is necessary at this time to sustain existing landscaped areas and/or cover storm drain pump maintenance and operation expenses.
Storm Drain Only Districts
East College Homes and Yosemite Village maintenance districts were formed in the 1980’s with the intent of maintaining storm drainage improvements within the subdivisions. With the adoption of Proposition 218, starting July 1997, increases to assessments required voter approval. Neither of these storm drain districts have a Consumer Price Index (CPI) built into the assessment, meaning their assessment has not increased in roughly 30 years. The cost of service, however, has continued to increase and the available funding is insufficient for the essential services to these districts (such as electricity for the storm stations).
Landscape Only District
Pleasanton Park No. 2 maintenance district was also formed in the late 1980’s with the intent of maintaining landscaped areas in the district fronting Childs Avenue, South M and South N Streets. This district does not have a CPI built into the assessment, and the assessment revenue has remained the same for the past 30 years. The original formation budget included litter pick up, irrigation, weed control and cultivation, pruning, fertilizing, and replacement plants as necessary. The cost of basic service has continued to outpace the limited funding available in this district. The district’s level of service has been reduced to quarterly landscape cleanups only. There is not enough funding for regular weed control, replacement of plants/shrubbery, or even watering of vegetation. Without an increase to the assessment, the district will need to have services further reduced to semi-annual/annual cleanups in the future.
Storm Drain & Landscape Districts
Campus North, Fahrens Park I, Hansen Park, and Olivewood maintenance districts were formed with the intent to maintain both storm drainage and landscape improvements. Campus North maintenance district currently has a CPI built into the assessment, however, the increased maintenance costs exceed the annual CPI increase. The remaining districts do not have CPI increases built into the assessment.
Staff is seeking support and direction from the Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure Subcommittee in moving forward with ballot measures to these underfunded districts. Outreach to property owners will be a priority to explain the necessity of increasing assessments.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
Balloting expenses are recovered in the approved assessment levy from the District’s operating fund, if successful. Conversely, if unsuccessful the General Fund would need to cover the expense.
ATTACHMENTS
1. District Boundaries Maps
2. Maintenance District Budget Summary FY26-27
3. Presentation