Report Prepared by: Jeff Frederick, Tax Services Manager
Title
SUBJECT: Assessment Ballot Proceeding Voting Results - Quail Creek, Oakmont #3, Northwood Village, East College Homes, Oakbrook, Pleasanton Park, Merced Auto Center, Ridgeview Meadows, Fahrens Park I, Olivewood, Campus North, and Hansen Park Maintenance Districts
REPORT IN BRIEF
Accept ballot results on the proposed increase in assessments to property owners in the Quail Creek, Oakmont #3, Northwood Village, East College Homes, Oakbrook, Pleasanton Park, Merced Auto Center, Ridgeview Meadows, Fahrens Park I, Olivewood, Campus North, and Hansen Park Maintenance Districts
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Accepting assessment ballot proceeding results for the Quail Creek, Oakmont #3, Northwood Village, East College Homes, Oakbrook, Pleasanton Park, Merced Auto Center, Ridgeview Meadows, Fahrens Park I, Olivewood, Campus North, and Hansen Park Maintenance Districts; and,
B. Approving per unit annual increase in assessment levies to Quail Creek Maintenance District from $142.07 per unit to $198.18, Oakmont #3 Maintenance District from $115.97 to $191.20, Northwood Village Maintenance District from $39.46 to $162.02, Oakbrook Maintenance District from $11.09 to $18.34, and Ridgeview Meadows Maintenance District from $32.48 to $78.03, subject to annual Consumer Price Index adjustments; and,
C. Approving no increase in assessment levies to the East College Homes, Pleasanton Park, Merced Auto Center, Fahrens Park I, Olivewood, Campus North, and Hansen Park Maintenance Districts.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Accept ballot results, approving increase in annual levies to Quail Creek, Oakmont #3, Northwood Village, Oakbrook, and Ridgeview Meadows and no increased assessments to East College Homes, Pleasanton Park, Merced Auto Center, Fahrens Park I, Olivewood, Campus North and Hansen Park Maintenance Districts; or,
2. Authorize another assessment ballot proceeding for; East College Homes, Pleasanton Park, Merced Auto Center, Fahrens Park I, Olivewood, Campus North and Hansen Park Maintenance Districts or
3. Refer back to staff with specific direction.
AUTHORITY
Chapter 26 of Part 3 of Division 7 of State of California Streets and Highways Code provides the applicable general law for Maintenance Districts; and,
Article I (alternative method for the levy of benefit assessments) of Title 13, Division VIII, of the Merced Municipal Code dealing with Maintenance Districts, provides for subsequent modification to existing Maintenance Districts; and,
Initiative Measure (Proposition 218, Sections 2,3,4,5, and 6) approved at the November 5, 1996 election, and also known as, the “Right to Vote on Taxes Act” provides for assessment ballot proceedings.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Addresses Council’s priority of Financial Strategy and Outlook by conducting the Proposition 218 process to address unsustainable maintenance districts.
BACKGROUND
The Public Works Department determined the Quail Creek, Oakmont #3, Northwood Village, East College Homes, Oakbrook, Pleasanton Park, Merced Auto Center, Ridgeview Meadows, Fahrens Park I, Olivewood, Campus North, and Hansen Park Maintenance Districts do not have sufficient fund balances to cover operation and maintenance service costs necessary to maintain the District.
A summary of the current and proposed assessment amounts required to maintain the current level of service are listed below:
District Name Current District Proposed District
Assessment Assessment
|
Quail Creek |
$52,425.00 |
$73,129.00 |
|
Oakmont #3 |
$35,718.00 |
$58,890.60 |
|
Northwood Village |
$6,629.00 |
$13,609.00 |
|
East College Homes |
$3,262.00 |
$6,243.00 |
|
Oakbrook |
$7,638.00 |
$12,638.00 |
|
Pleasanton Park |
$4,843.00 |
$12,896.00 |
|
Merced Auto Center |
$3,855.00 |
$4,238.00 |
|
Ridgeview Meadows |
$11,464.00 |
$27,545.00 |
|
Fahrens Park I |
$5,400.00 |
$70,934.20 |
|
Olivewood |
$1,532.00 |
$5,996.40 |
|
Campus North |
$15,225.00 |
$49,019.00 |
|
Hansen Park |
$4,177.00 |
$8,001.20 |
In order to increase levies an assessment ballot proceeding must be held to obtain property owner approval in advance of any increase in the annual assessment levy.
Therefore, the City Council adopted Resolution # 2025-64, on Monday, November 3, 2025, authorizing an assessment ballot proceeding for these identified Districts.
Council opened and concluded the Public Hearing January 20, 2026, and authorized staff to tabulate the ballots and report the results at its Tuesday, February 2, 2026 scheduled Council meeting.
DISCUSSION
The City Clerk’s office tallied the ballots on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, in the Sam Pipes Room of the Merced Civic Center, which was open to the public for viewing and the results are as follows:
|
DISTRICT NAME |
BALLOT RESULTS FAILED/PASSED |
APPROVED |
OPPOSED |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quail Creek |
PASSED |
53.8% |
46.2% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oakmont #3 |
PASSED |
57% |
43% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Northwood Village |
PASSED |
96.1% |
3.9% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
East College Homes |
FAILED |
33% |
67% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oakbrook |
PASSED |
96% |
4% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pleasanton Park |
FAILED |
12.5% |
87.5% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Merced Auto Center |
FAILED |
35% |
65% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ridgeview Meadows |
PASSED |
69.5% |
30.5% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fahrens Park I |
FAILED |
21.5% |
78.5% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Olivewood |
FAILED |
29.7% |
70.3% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Campus North |
FAILED |
34.2% |
65.8% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hansen Park |
FAILED |
47.1% |
52.9% |
The Fiscal Year 2026/2027 for the Quail Creek budget will increase to $73,129, Oakmont #3 budget will increase to $58,890.60, Northwood Village budget will increase to $13,609, Oakbrook budget will increase to $12,638, and Ridgeview Meadows budget will increase to $27,545, as approved by the property owners of these Districts.
East College Homes annual budget will remain at the currently approved amount of $3,262, Pleasanton Park annual budget will remain at the currently approved amount of $4,843, Merced Auto Center annual budget will remain at the currently approved amount of $3,855, Fahrens Park I annual budget will remain at the currently approved amount of $5,400, Olivewood annual budget will remain at the currently approved amount of $1,532, Campus North annual budget will remain at the currently approved amount of $15,225, and Hansen Park annual budget will remain at the currently approved amount of $4,177 for Fiscal Year 2026/2027 due to the failure to obtain voter approval.
Maintenance service levels will continue to match existing revenues resulting in possible reduced or discontinued landscape irrigation, turf mowing, edging, pesticide application, shrubbery pruning, weed abatement, storm drain pump inspections, maintenance, and repairs for those Maintenance Districts with failed assessment increases.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
Ballot preparation and mailing notice costs are not reimbursable to the General Fund from East College Homes ($892), Pleasanton Park ($769), Merced Auto Center ($240), Fahrens Park I ($1,476), Olivewood ($368), Campus North ($2,322) and Hansen Park ($715) due to the failed ballots.
However, the ballot preparation and mailing notice costs are reimbursable to the General Fund from Quail Creek ($2,918), Oakmont #3 ($2,187), Northwood Village ($270), Oakbrook ($2,127), and Ridgeview Meadows ($2,262) since the ballot proceedings for these Districts were successful. At this time, no appropriation is necessary. The reimbursement to the general fund will be included in the Fiscal Year 2026/2027 individual maintenance district budgets.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Presentation