TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Steven Lederer, Director of Public Works
REPORT BY: Michael Karath, Staff Services Analyst II
SUBJECT: Fiscal Year 2024-25 - County Service Area No. 3 Budget and Assessments Hearing
RECOMMENDATION
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PUBLIC HEARING 2:00 PM -Fiscal Year 2024-25 County Service Area No. 3 (CSA No. 3) Assessment and Budget
Conduct a public hearing to consider testimony on the Fiscal Year 2024-25 assessment of $143,312 and adopt a resolution authorizing and levying the assessment, and on the recommended budget for a total appropriation of $387,650. (Fiscal Impact: $233,610 net expense; 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 expenditure ceilings for street services (median landscaping, street sweeping, and street lighting). Over time, however, inflation 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.
Pursuant to a Proposition 218 ballot process conducted on July 18, 2023, property owners in CSA No. 3 authorized a new assessment and methodology for street services, approved by the Board of Supervisors in Resolution No. 2023-95. Enhanced structural fire protection services that had been provided in CSA No. 3 was discontinued.
On May 21, 2024, the “Engineer's Report” for FY 2024-25 was submitted to the Board in compliance with Chapter 3.10 of the Napa County Code. After receiving the report, the Board, by resolution, declared the County's intent to levy assessments for CSA No. 3, set June 11, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. for a public hearing to consider any protests to the proposed assessments, and designated Michael Karath of the Public Works Department as the person to answer questions regarding the assessments.
The Engineer’s Report proposes a total assessment for Fiscal Year 2024-25 of $143,312.00, allocated among parcels of real property in CSA No. 3 receiving street-related services. The amount of the assessment allocated to each parcel is included in the Engineer’s Report. This public hearing is to hear and consider any testimony in favor or in opposition to the proposed assessments. The proposed assessments were calculated using the assessment rate methodology and special benefit analysis approved by a vote of the property owners in CSA No. 3 in 2023.
Today’s public hearing is also to review the recommended budget for CSA No. 3 for Fiscal Year 2024-25. The recommended budget is larger than the proposed assessment for Fiscal Year 2024-25 because it includes expenditures from available fund balance to rehabilitate, repair, and refurbish deteriorated landscape islands and streetlight poles that could not be satisfactorily maintained under the former expenditure ceilings.
Procedural Requirements:
1. Open the public hearing to consider any objections or protests to the proposed CSA No. 3 assessments and recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2024-25;
2. Staff reports;
3. Public comments;
4. Close public hearing;
5. Motion, second, discussion and vote on proposed resolution imposing the assessments for CSA No. 3 for Fiscal Year 2024-25;
6. Continue item on the recommended budget to Tuesday June 25, 2024, consent calendar.
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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Where is it budgeted? |
Fund 2800005 |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
Establishing the Annual Budget |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Future fiscal impact: |
Funds will allow clean-up and refurbishment of infrastructure and for general services to be administered |
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Consequences if not approved: |
Property owners will not receive services |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed actions are categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15301 as the operation, repair, maintenance or minor alteration of existing public facilities, or are not a project pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378.