TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Steve Lederer - Director of Public Works
REPORT BY: Michael Karath - Staff Services Analyst II
SUBJECT: County Service Area No. 3 - Adoption of Resolution accepting Preliminary Engineer’s Report, approving service plan, and setting a public hearing to levy assessments for Fiscal Year 2024-25
RECOMMENDATION
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Adopt a Resolution to accept Preliminary Engineer’s Report, approve the service plan, and schedule the public hearing for June 11, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. to levy assessments of $143,312 to fund services in County Service Area (CSA) No. 3 for Fiscal Year 2024-25. (Fiscal Impact: net zero, CSA No. 3; Discretionary)
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BACKGROUND
In 1997, CSA No. 3 property owners held a Proposition 218 election that approved an assessment methodology that included enhanced fire service and street services (median landscaping, street sweeping, and street lighting). The methodology included ceilings on expenditures for street-related services, but did not include an inflation adjuster. Over time, rising prices eroded the buying power under the ceilings, leaving CSA No. 3 unable to make periodic repair, replacement, and upgrades of aging streetlights and neglected landscape medians and unable to attract vendors for some street services.
In 2023, CSA No. 3 property owners were asked to reauthorize the tax assessment and assessment methodology, which necessitated a Proposition 218 election held on July 18, 2023. The property owners voted 63% in favor of continuing and increasing the assessment for County-provided street services (including eliminating the expenditure ceilings). The Board of Supervisors determined enhanced structural fire protection services were no longer necessary in CSA No. 3, and did not submit that assessment to the property owners for a vote. CSA No. 3 property owners are now covered by the County’s basic fire service that does not require an assessment specific to CSA No. 3.
The Engineer’s Report prepared by DTA is included with this item, and calculates a total assessment of $143,312 for Fiscal Year 2024-25. A breakdown of the total assessment by parcel is included in Appendix A to the Engineer’s Report. A copy of the Engineer’s Report will also be on file with the Clerk of the Board and available for public review. If the assessment is approved by the Board on June 11, staff anticipates combining the assessment with existing fund balance to pay for backlogged repairs, upgrades, refurbishments, and other infrastructure work as part of the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget proposal for CSA No. 3.
Requested Action:
Adopt the resolution to:
1. Approve the service plan for CSA No. 3 for FY 2024-25 (attached to resolution);
2. Accept the Engineer’s Report for CSA No. 3 for FY 2024-25;
3. Schedule the public hearing for the levy of assessments for June 11, 2024, at 2:00 p.m.
4. Direct the Clerk of the Board to publish notice of the public hearing pursuant to Chapter 3.10 of the Napa County Code; and
5. Designate Michael Karath of the Public Works Department as the person for the public to contact with questions regarding the assessments.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
No |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
Levy of assessments is necessary to continue providing services |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Future fiscal impact: |
CSA No. 3 will be able to provide adequate street services. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
CSA No. 3 will not be able to provide adequate street services and area will deteriorate. |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.