To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: TED SEMAAN, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
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ADOPT BY TITLE ONLY, RESOLUTION NO. CC-2104-026, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ORDERING THE CITY ENGINEER TO PREPARE AND FILE A REPORT PURSUANT TO THE LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING ACT OF 1972 SECTIONS 22500 ET SEQ. OF THE CALIFORNIA STREETS AND HIGHWAYS CODE DESCRIBING THE MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENT OF STREET LIGHTS AND LANDSCAPING IN THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH, CALIFORNIA, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING JULY 1, 2021, AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2022
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As part of the annual process to levy and collect assessment fees for the City’s Street Landscaping and Lighting District, the City Council is required to adopt a resolution ordering the City Engineer to prepare and file a report on the proposed assessments. Staff intends for the City Council to receive the report on May 4, 2021, and hold a public hearing on the assessment on June 1, 2021.
BACKGROUND
Section 22500 et seq. of the Streets and Highways Code requires the City Council to annually adopt a resolution ordering the City Engineer to prepare and file a report on the proposed assessments for the Street Landscaping and Lighting District. If so ordered, the report will be completed in the next few weeks and will include a diagram of the assessed area, plans and specifications for any proposed improvements, and an analysis of assessment district operating revenues and expenditures.
Typically, the report is presented to the City Council for review in May each year with a recommendation to adopt a resolution of intention to levy and collect assessments, and to schedule a public hearing in June to consider final approval of the District’s proposed assessment for the coming fiscal year.
The City’s Street Landscaping and Lighting District is a citywide district that includes approximately 20,000 parcels that are divided into Zones of Benefit per the Street and Highways Code. Zone 1 includes parcels situated along residential streets and Zone 2 includes those situated along boulevards and within commercial areas. It is estimated that 80% of all parcels are within Zone 1 and 20% in Zone 2. For FY2020-21, the Zone 1 assessment is $1.48 per foot of street frontage, or $59.20 for a typical 40 ft. parcel. The Zone 2 assessment is $3.02 per foot, or $120.80 for a typical 40 ft. parcel.
The District was formed in 1983 under the requirements of the 1972 Landscaping and Lighting Act. The District operates and maintains the following public improvements: 5,127 Street Lights (3,228 of which are owned and operated by Southern California Edison and 1,899 of which are owned and operated by the City); 102 Signals (55 Traffic, 23 Flashing Yellow Beacon and 24 Flashing Red Beacon); and 21.85 Acres of Landscaping. In FY 2020-21, the District operated at a deficit and received a $856,367 subsidy from the General Fund. It is anticipated that in FY 2021-22 a similar subsidy will be required.
As described above, a typical home in Redondo Beach with a frontage of 40 feet pays approximately $59.20 a year for street landscaping and lighting under the District’s assessment methodology. This has not changed since 1991, despite costs to operate the District exceeding revenues. In 2006, the City sought voter approval under Proposition 218 to raise the assessment to pay for all District costs. Redondo Beach property owners voted against the proposed fee increase.
The City Council received information about the process to increase the assessment as part of the FY 2020-21 budget review process. The budget response report and attachment (BRR 17 & 17A) detailing the process to increase the assessment is included for convenient reference.
COORDINATION
The attached resolution has been reviewed and approved as to form by the City Attorney.
FISCAL IMPACT
The cost of preparing this Engineer’s Report is included within the Public Works Department’s adopted FY 2020-21 Annual Budget, and is part of the Department’s annual work program.
APPROVED BY:
Joe Hoefgen, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. RESO CC-2104-026 LANDSCAPE & LIGHTING ACT
2. FY 2020-21 BRR 17 & 17A