TO: Napa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District
FROM: Richard Thomasser - District Manager
REPORT BY: Sarah Geiss - Staff Services Analyst II
SUBJECT: Resolution of Intent to Levy Assessments - Rutherford Reach Benefit Zone
RECOMMENDATION
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PUBLIC HEARING 9:00 AM - INTENTION TO LEVY AND COLLECT ASSESSMENTS FOR RUTHERFORD REACH BENEFIT ZONE DISTRICT 2008-01
Conduct a public hearing to accept the Engineer’s Report for the Rutherford Reach Benefit Zone Assessment District 2008-01 for Fiscal Year 2024-2025, adopt the Resolution of Intention to Levy and Collect Assessments for Fiscal Year 2024-2025, and authorize the notice of protest hearing. (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 the assessments to continue funding the District’s programs, the District Board must hold annual protest hearings to hear any protest against the assessment. Therefore, this public hearing begins the process by reviewing the assessments. Once the District Board accepts the Engineer's Report and adopts the Resolution, another Notice of Public Hearing will be published in the newspaper noticing the date, time, and place of the protest hearing. Additionally, a copy of the Notice and the Resolution will be delivered to the Clerk of the Board. The protest hearing will be held May 14, 2024 at 9:00am and is the final step in the process to approve the assessments.
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 renewal of annual assessments needed to fund the Rutherford Reach Benefit Zone Assessment District 2008-01. The assessments generate $98,160 annually which is used to conduct maintenance activities in support of the Napa River Rutherford Restoration Project. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Consequences if not approved: |
The assessments are the main revenue source for maintenance needs in the Benefit Zone. If not approved, no funding will be available for routine maintenance activities in the upcoming fiscal year. |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: This action is statutorily exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Title 14, California Code of Regulations, 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 subsections (1), (2), and (4) of section 15273.