TO: Napa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District
FROM: Richard Thomasser - District Manager
REPORT BY: Sarah Geiss - Supervising Staff Services Analyst
SUBJECT: Engineer’s Report - Rutherford Reach Benefit Zone
RECOMMENDATION
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PUBLIC HEARING - Authorization Of The Rutherford Reach Benefit Zone Assessment District For Fiscal Year 2025-2026
Conduct a public hearing to accept the Engineer’s Report for the Rutherford Reach Benefit Zone Assessment District 2008-01 for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. (No Fiscal Impact)
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BACKGROUND
On November 18, 2008, the District Board adopted a Resolution which established formation of a Benefit Assessment District that spans a 4.5-mile reach of the Napa River south of the City of St. Helena, extending from Zinfandel Lane in the north to Oakville Cross Road in the south. The Resolution also levied assessments for the Benefit Zone to fund various aspects of maintenance. The purpose of the assessment process was to establish a mechanism to provide continued annual funding for maintenance benefiting the residents and landowners within the Benefit Zone and to support the Rutherford Reach Restoration Project. The Benefit Zone includes 41 parcels located along both sides of the approximately 4.5-mile reach of the Napa River south of the City of St. Helena. The objectives of the Rutherford Reach Restoration Maintenance Plan (Maintenance Plan) are to reduce bank erosion and to maintain the function of in-stream habitat enhancement structures and control target non-native invasive plant species, to the extent practicable, within the riparian corridor.
The District’s governing statute has special legislation that sets forth the procedures the District must follow. In order to levy an assessment, if required for a given Fiscal Year, to continue funding the District’s programs, the District Board must hold annual protest hearings to hear any protest against any proposed assessments and the Engineers Report. Therefore, this public hearing begins the process by reviewing any proposed assessments and the report. Once the District Board conducts the public hearing, accepts the Engineer's Report and adopts the Resolution, the process is complete and the assessment district is authorized. Additionally, a copy of the Notice and the Resolution will be delivered to the Clerk of the Board.
The District believes it is in the best interests of the Assessment District, and the affected property owners, to not levy an assessment for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 as a sufficient fund balance exists to carry out required annual maintenance and monitoring activities proposed in the Report. Therefore, no assessments will be levied for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
No |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
The assessment process for the Benefit Zone began in 2008 with the intent to establish a mechanism to provide continued annual funding for maintenance benefiting the residents and landowners within the Benefit Zone. Today's actions are the prerequisites for the acceptance of the engineer’s annual report as to the Rutherford Reach Benefit Zone Assessment District 2008-01. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Consequences if not approved: |
Routine maintenance activities in the upcoming fiscal year will not be completed. |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: This action is statutorily exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15273 (Rates, Tolls, Fares, and Charges), in that the amounts to be levied and collected shall be used for purposes detailed in the District Engineer's Report, which fall within section 15273, subds. (1), (2), and (4).
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