REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF BOARD GOVERNED COUNTY SERVICE AREAS
AND RECORD OF ACTION
November 15, 2022
FROM
BRENDON BIGGS, Director, Department of Public Works - Special Districts
SUBJECT
Title
Various Actions Pertaining to Increased Property Related Service Charge for County Service Area 70, Zone R-21 (Mountain View)
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of County Service Area 70, Zone R-21 (Mountain View):
1. Adopt the certified results of the mailed ballot property owner election held on November 11, 2022 regarding the proposed increase of an annual property related service charge from $90 per parcel to $349.86 per parcel (with an annual inflationary increase of up to 3%), effective Fiscal Year 2023-24, for road maintenance and snow removal services.
2. Adopt Resolution that:
a. Repeals Resolution No. 87-315 initially establishing an annual property related service charge of $90 per parcel for road maintenance and snow removal services.
b. Authorizes a new property related service charge of $349.86 per parcel (with an annual inflationary increase of up to 3%), effective Fiscal Year 2023-24, for road maintenance and snow removal services.
3. Reaffirm that the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector is directed to place the $349.86 per parcel service charge on the property tax roll beginning in Fiscal Year 2023-24, subject to Board of Equalization approval, to fund road maintenance and snow removal services for County Service Area 70, Zone R-21 (Mountain View).
(Presenter: Brendon Biggs, Director, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). All costs associated with the property related service charge increase of County Service Area 70, Zone R-21 (Mountain View) (Zone) are being paid by the property owners within the Zone. The Zone currently generates annual revenue of $2,160 (24 parcels at $90 per parcel) through the existing property related service charge. The new service charge will generate annual revenue of $8,397 (24 parcels at $349.86 per parcel, with an annual inflationary increase of up to 3%) effective Fiscal Year 2023-24. The increased revenue is needed to fund road maintenance and snow removal services. The inflationary factor is a key component to help offset increased cost of service in future years.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Zone was formed by the Board of Supervisors (Board) on August 17, 1987 (Item No. 65) to provide road maintenance and snow removal services for approximately 1,290 feet of roadway of Mountain View Boulevard in the Big Bear area. At that time, a $90 per parcel annual service charge was established, pursuant to Resolution No. 87-315, to fund the services for the Zone. However, there was no inflationary factor built into the service charge and therefore the $90 annual charge has remained unchanged. With the annual cost of inflation over the past 35 years, the lack of corresponding increase in revenue has resulted in reduced services being provided to the Zone, further degrading the road surface. Without an increase to the annual service charge, the Zone’s sustainability and solvency is threatened.
Property owners residing on Mountain View Boulevard contacted Department of Public Works - Special Districts (Department) staff regarding the provision for enhanced ongoing maintenance and snow removal services. Following meetings, informational letters, and public surveys, a written notice of public hearing, pursuant to Proposition 218 requirements, for the proposed increase to the property related service charge was mailed on August 11, 2022 to the owner of each parcel to which the increased service charge would be proposed. The notice included the:
• Amount of the charge proposed to be imposed upon each parcel
• Basis upon which the amount of the proposed charge was calculated
• Reason for the charge
• Notice of the September 27, 2022 public hearing date, time, and location on the proposed increased service charge
The Board, on September 27, 2022 (Item No. 82), conducted a public hearing upon the proposed increased property related service charge to hear and consider all protests against the proposed increase. No protests were received. Therefore, at the conclusion of the public hearing, the Board determined that a majority protest of property owners did not exist and thus adopted Resolution No. 2022-134 authorizing a mailed ballot election of property owners, pursuant to the requirements of Proposition 218 and the California Constitution, Article XIIID, Section 6(c), to establish the service charge revision to $349.86 per parcel effective Fiscal Year 2023-24. The Resolution established November 11, 2022, as the mailed ballot election date to be voted on by property owners within the Zone.
The Department is returning to the Board to adopt the certified election results for the Zone’s proposed service charge. The ballots were mailed by an independent election provider on October 10, 2022, and subsequently returned and received by November 11, 2022 (the official election date). The proposed property related service charge was approved by a majority vote of the property owners in the Zone.
Approval of this item will adopt a resolution repealing portions of Resolution No. 87-315, related to the service charge of $90 per parcel, and establish a revised service charge of $349.86 per parcel (with an annual inflationary increase of up to 3%) for road maintenance and snow removal services. Pursuant to Board action dated September 27, 2022 (Item No. 82, Recommendation No. 3c), the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector is directed to place the proposed service charge of $349.86 per parcel on the property tax roll beginning in Fiscal Year 2023-24, subject to approval from the California State Board of Equalization. This item reaffirms that action.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on November 1, 2022; Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector (Linda Santillano, Deputy Chief, 382-3189) on October 25, 2022; Finance (Tom Forster, Administrative Analyst, 387-4635) on October 25, 2022; and County Finance and Administration (Paloma Hernandez-Barker, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on October 28, 2022.