Staff Report
PREPARED BY: MATT MORLEY
Director of Parks and Public Works
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Finance Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 05/02/2017
ITEM NO: 8
DATE: APRIL 17, 2017
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING ASSESSMENT DISTRICTS 1 & 2
A. ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE ENGINEER’S REPORT FOR
FISCAL YEAR 2017/18.
B. ADOPT A RESOLUTION OF INTENTION TO ORDER THE LEVY AND
COLLECTION OF ASSESSMENTS FOR LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING
DISTRICT NO. 1 - BLACKWELL DRIVE BENEFIT ZONE
C. ADOPT A RESOLUTION OF INTENTION TO ORDER THE LEVY AND
COLLECTION OF ASSESSMENTS FOR LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING
DISTRICT NO. 1 - KENNEDY MEADOWS BENEFIT ZONE
D. ADOPT A RESOLUTION OF INTENTION TO ORDER THE LEVY AND
COLLECTION OF ASSESSMENTS FOR LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING
DISTRICT NO. 1 - SANTA ROSA HEIGHTS BENEFIT ZONE
E. ADOPT A RESOLUTION OF INTENTION TO ORDER THE LEVY AND
COLLECTION OF ASSESSMENTS FOR LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING
DISTRICT NO. 1 - VASONA HEIGHTS BENEFIT ZONE
F. ADOPT A RESOLUTION OF INTENTION TO ORDER THE LEVY AND
COLLECTION OF ASSESSMENTS FOR LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING
DISTRICT NO. 1 - HILLBROOK DRIVE BENEFIT ZONE
G. ADOPT A RESOLUTION OF INTENTION TO ORDER THE LEVY AND
COLLECTION OF ASSESSMENTS FOR LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING
DISTRICT NO. 2 - GEMINI COURT BENEFIT ZONE
H. SET JUNE 20, 2017 AS THE DATE FOR THE PUBLIC PROTEST HEARING
FOR THE ASSESSMENTS
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RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Town Council:
1. Adopt a Resolution (Attachment 1) approving the Engineer’s Report (Attachment 8) for FY
2017/18.
2. Adopt a Resolution (Attachment 2) of intention to order the levy and collection of
assessments for Landscape and Lighting District No. 1-Blackwell Drive Benefit Zone.
3. Adopt a Resolution (Attachment 3) of intention to order the levy and collection of
assessments for Landscape and Lighting District No. 1-Kennedy Meadows Benefit Zone.
4. Adopt a Resolution (Attachment 4) of intention to order the levy and collection of
assessments for Landscape and Lighting District No. 1-Santa Rosa Heights Benefit Zone.
5. Adopt a Resolution (Attachment 5) of intention to order the levy and collection of
assessments for Landscape and Lighting District No. 1-Vasona Heights Benefit Zone.
6. Adopt a Resolution (Attachment 6) of intention to order the levy and collection of
assessments for Landscape and Lighting District No. 1-Hillbrook Drive Benefit Zone.
7. Adopt a Resolution (Attachment 7) of intention to order the levy and collection of
assessments for Landscape and Lighting District No. 2-Gemini Court Benefit Zone.
8. Set June 20, 2017 as the date for the public protest hearing for the assessments.
BACKGROUND:
On April 18, 2017, the Town Council initiated the annual process of renewing the Landscape
and Lighting Assessment Districts 1 & 2 for the fiscal year commencing on July 1, 2017. In
particular, the Council adopted Resolution 2017-013 directing the preparation of the Engineer’s
Report for the two districts. A copy of the Engineer’s Report is provided as Attachment 8.
DISCUSSION:
In accordance with Resolution 2017-013 and pursuant to the requirements of the Landscaping
and Lighting Act of 1972, the attached Engineer’s Report contains the following information:
1. Plans and specifications for the maintenance of the existing improvements and for
proposed new improvements, if any, to be made within the assessment districts or
within any zones thereof;
2. An estimate of the costs of said proposed new improvements, if any, to be made along
with the costs of maintenance or servicing, or both, thereof, and of any existing
improvements, together with the incidental expenses in connection therewith;
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DISCUSSION (cont’d):
3. A diagram showing the exterior boundaries of the assessment districts and of any zones
within said districts and the lines and dimensions of each lot or parcel of land within the
districts as such lot or parcel of land is shown on the County Assessor’s map for the
fiscal year to which the report applies, each of which lots or parcels of land shall be
identified by a distinctive number or letter on said diagram.
4. A proposed assessment of the total amount of the estimated costs and expen ses of the
maintenance activities and proposed new improvements, if any, upon the several lots or
parcels of land in said districts in proportion to the estimated particular and distinct
benefits to be received by each of such lots or parcels of land, resp ectively, from said
improvements, including the maintenance or servicing, or both, thereof, and of the
expenses incidental thereto.
The recommended actions will maintain the assessments at each of the benefit zones at the
historic level, with no additions or reductions as these funding levels are appropriate to address
regular ongoing maintenance as well as capital maintenance as needed. Once the Council is
satisfied with the information provided in the Engineer’s Report, the process of renewing the
assessment districts for FY 2017/18 will continue. This includes setting the date and time for
the Public (Protest) Hearing for June 20, 2017.
Scope of Work
The projects in the table below were approved by Council in FY 2016/17 and consist of both
routine maintenance activities as well as more substantial deferred maintenance projects that
will use a portion of the available fund balances in the respective Benefit Zones. The projects
were started in FY 2016/17 and may continue into FY 2017/18.
Town staff will mail a Notice of Intention to Levy Annual Assessments for Fiscal Year 2017/18 to
all property owners. This notice will include the public hearing date, time, and location.
Property owners may file a written protest to the Clerk Administrator at 110 East Main Street,
Los Gatos, CA 95030 no later than the public hearing of June 20, 2017.
Benefit Zone Allocation Project Description
Blackwell Drive 7,500$ Median island landscaping renovation
Gemini Court 10,000$ Sound wall repair and painting; lighting repair
Kennedy Meadows 30,000$ Pathway resurfacing and repair of pedestrian bridge
Hillbrook 15,000$ Landscape renovation
Santa Rosa Heights 10,000$ Pathway and retaining wall repairs
Vasona Heights 10,000$ Lighting and pathway repairs
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DISCUSSION (cont’d):
The Council may also direct that modifications be made to the Engineer’s Report, if it so desires.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that the Town Council adopt the attached seven resolutions to continue the
annual process of renewing the Landscape and Lighting Assessment Districts 1 & 2 for Fiscal
Year 2017/18.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The landscape maintenance costs that are shown in this report for FY 2016/17 reflect the
current landscaping contract costs. Prior to the final approval of the Town’s budget in June,
staff will reconcile the maintenance cost figures to reflect the new upd ated costs.
There are no direct fiscal impacts on the Town's General Fund as a result of administering the
Landscape and Lighting Assessment Districts. All of the costs associated with the districts are
recovered via the assessments levied against the property owners within the districts. There
are no proposed increases in any of the parcel assessments for FY 2016/17 that would require a
ballot vote under Proposition 218.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachments:
1. Resolution Approving Engineer’s Report for FY 2017/18.
2. Resolution of Intention to Order the Levy and Collection of Assessments - Blackwell Drive
Benefit Zone.
3. Resolution of Intention to Order the Levy and Collection of Assessments – Kennedy
Meadows Benefit Zone.
4. Resolution of Intention to Order the Levy and Collection of Assessments – Santa Rosa
Heights Benefit Zone.
5. Resolution of Intention to Order the Levy and Collection of Assessments – Vasona Heights
Benefit Zone.
6. Resolution of Intention to Order the Levy and Collection of Assessments – Hillbrook Drive
Benefit Zone.
7. Resolution of Intention to Order the Levy and Collection of Assessments – Gemini Court
Benefit Zone.
8. Engineer’s Report for FY 2017/18.
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Distribution:
Town Staff will mail Notices of Intention to Levy Annual Assessments for FY 2017/18 to all
property owners within the districts.