Landscape, Lighting, and Street Maintenance Services

These districts play a central role in delivering special benefits to properties—like safer roads, enhanced traffic flow, and attractive public spaces—well beyond the general benefits that everyone enjoys.

NOTICE REGARDING CITY OF VISTA

Vista Citywide Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance Assessment District No. 2025-2 Notice of Public Hearing

Total Proposed Fiscal Year 2025-2026 District Assessment: The total amount of the proposed assessment chargeable to the entire District for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 is $1,590,997.83.

Total Improvement Costs to be Assessed		Total Special Benefit Points		Maximum Assessment Rate per Special Benefit Point
$1,372,566.01	/	44,296.797	=	$30.99

This information, found on pages 2 and 3 of the Notice of Public Hearing and Assessment Information, contains an error. The correct information is shown above. The correct information was used in all calculations, and there is no impact to the parcel assessment on the ballot or in the notice. The separate Vista Citywide Street Maintenance Assessment District No. 2025-1 is unaffected.

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Frequently Asked Questions About the Citywide Assessment Districts

If you have received your ballot and have questions, here are answers to some of the inquiries that your neighbors have had.

Why is this happening?

You own property in two assessment districts that fund a portion of the Citywide street maintenance and landscaping and lighting maintenance respectively. While costs have continued to increase over the years, there has not been an increase in the assessment rates in over 25 years. In order to address cost increases and maintain service levels, the City is proposing to form replacement assessment districts. If approved, the new assessment districts would replace the existing assessment districts beginning 7/1/2025.

Two important items to note:

The new assessment districts will now include industrial and non-residential property that benefits from these services, allowing the costs to be shared among additional parcels. While the budget for these services is significantly increasing, more parcels are now included in the districts.
The formation of new districts will set a required annual contribution from the City to pay for the determined general benefit. Currently, a contribution from the City to these services is determined annually and is not required.

Why Does a New District Have to be Formed?

Costs have increased over time and the assessment has not increased in over 25 years. The current assessment does not include an inflator to allow for the rate to increase to keep up with inflation.

In 1996, California voters passed Proposition 218. This impacted the assessment process by making it necessary for local governments to comply with the provisions of Prop 218, including requirements related to the engineer’s report and the separation of general and special benefit, allocating special benefit proportionately among parcels in the assessment district, and assessing public property for special benefit received. Most engineer’s reports written and approved prior to Prop 218 do not meet the strict requirements that were added to California’s Constitution with its approval. Since an assessment district cannot charge property owners beyond what has been determined to be the maximum assessment rate in the initial Engineer’s Report, a new district must be formed with a new assessment rate maximum for there to be a rate increase within the assessment district.

What will the new assessment districts fund?

Is there an annual inflator in the new District?

How will it be billed?

Will my rate go up each year?

How was the assessment calculated? Where is the Engineer’s Report located so I can review it?

The Engineer’s Reports can be viewed below or in the data center.

For specifics on your assessment rate, you can find your address in the webmap at the bottom of this page.

Specifically for the LLMD, each parcel was assigned land use benefit points based upon the land use classification, for example residential versus non-residential. Additionally, each parcel was assigned a lot factor based upon the size of the lot in relation to the average lot size for the District. As a result, certain parcels will experience different assessment rates based upon individual land use and lot size.

Specifically for the SMD, each parcel was assigned land use benefit points based on the land use classification, for example residential versus non-residential. Additionally, each parcel was assigned a trip factor based on based on the average daily trips for the parcel’s land use. As a result, parcels with the same land use and number of units will pay the same assessment.

Why are some assessments increasing and other are decreasing versus the current assessments?

The assessment methodology for the new districts is required to reflect current understanding and guidance regarding assessment engineering, which is different than the existing districts’ methodology. Because not all parcels in each District are identical in size and other characteristics, some will receive more special benefit than others. The formula to use for lot size and land use has been devised to determine the proportional special benefit received by each parcel. Differing levels of special benefit can largely be attributed to differences in lot size and land use. The formula considers multiple factors to compensate for any disproportionality that might have resulted from relying exclusively on a single factor. We take guidance on this topic from multiple instances where California courts have opined on special benefit analyses that have been challenged.

If a property owner lives on a private street, why are they still paying the assessment, why do they benefit?

What is special/general benefit?

What does “weighted ballot” mean?

Each ballot is “weighted” by the assessment amount shown on the ballot. For example, if your assessment amount is $50 and your neighbor’s assessment amount is $100, your ballot is weighted at half the amount of your neighbor’s. Another way to say this is that you have one “vote” per dollar of assessment, so property owners who pay more have more weight when the assessment ballots are counted.

Sample Ballot and Instructions

Instructions and sample ballot for Vista Citywide Street Maintenance Assessment District No. 2025-1 and Vista Citywide Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance Assessment District No. 2025-2 are below.

Landscape and Lighting District No. 1 (LLD 1)

- Why It Exists: Formed in 1992 to oversee citywide street lighting, traffic signals, and the maintenance of landscaped areas along streets and medians.
- Key Services:
  - Operation of over 4,000 streetlights and 100+ traffic signals
  - Ongoing landscaping of medians, parkways, and other public spaces
  - Ensuring road visibility, safety, and a green, welcoming environment

Street Maintenance District No. 1 (SMD 1)

- Why It Exists: Established in 1991 to fund street sweeping and some street maintenance needs.
- Key Services:
  - Regular street sweeping to reduce pollution and debris
  - Minor street upkeep to preserve road conditions and traffic flow
  - Maintaining a cleaner, safer environment for motorists and pedestrians

How These Services Benefit You

Street Lighting

Reduces nighttime accidents and crime.

Traffic Signals

Supports efficient mobility for all road users.

Landscaping

Enhances public spaces and combats urban heat effects.

Street Sweeping & Maintenance

Prevents pollutants and sustains property values.

Proposition 218: Understanding the Legal Pathway

Under Proposition 218 (Articles XIII C and XIII D of the California Constitution), the City must:

Demonstrate Special Benefit: Each property should pay only for the direct advantages it receives (like improved safety or aesthetics), separate from general citywide benefits.
Prepare an Engineer’s Report: This document details the scope of work, estimated costs, and the method used to calculate each property’s share.
Hold a Public Vote: Property owners cast a ballot on new or increased assessments. Ballots are weighted by the amount each parcel would pay.

Timeline for Proposition 218 Proceedings

Below is a generalized outline. Exact dates will be determined once City Council directs staff to proceed.

Fall/Winter

2025-02-17

2025-02-12

March 10 and 18, 2025

2025-03-25

2025-03-28

2025-05-13

Summer

Engineer's Reports

Professional assessment engineers finalize or update cost estimates.

Survey Deadline

Vista Citywide Assessment Districts Survey closes.

Virtual Community Meeting

Host a virtual community meeting to provide information regarding formation, preliminary rates, and answer community questions.

In-Person Community Workshops

March 10 & March 18, 6PM at the Vista Civic Center. RSVP here.

City Council Intent

Resolutions of Intention are presented and discussed at a public meeting.

Ballot package mailed no later than this date

Residents and business owners have at least 45 days to return ballots.
A public hearing follows to share feedback and tally votes.

Public Hearing

City Council holds Public Hearing and City Clerk tabulates the Assessment Ballots

Final Outcome

If a majority of weighted votes are in favor, the assessment can be levied.
If not, the City must consider service reductions or alternative solutions.

The City of Vista is facing challenges in maintaining current service levels

The Funding Challenge

Both districts were established decades ago when maintenance costs were significantly lower. For example:

In 1992, when the LLD was formed, the costs of electricity, materials, and labor were much less than they are today.
The SMD faces a similar issue: assessments set in 1991 no longer match the current costs of maintaining Vista’s growing road network.

Impacts of Underfunding

Current funding levels are insufficient to maintain the desired service standards, which can lead to:

Reduced Service Frequency: Less frequent street sweeping or landscaping cycles could affect community cleanliness and safety.
Deferred Maintenance: Delayed repairs to lights, signals, or streets increase long-term costs and could lead to safety risks.
Community Decline: Unkempt public spaces can reduce property values, discourage economic activity, and diminish neighborhood appeal.

Join the conversation

Please subscribe for updates and opportunities to share your priorities as the City works to maintain our current service levels and explore community-desired improvements. This includes incorporating Integrated Pest Management into our landscape maintenance practices, reducing the use of pesticides, and making our community more environmentally friendly. Your participation can make a real difference! Together, we can ensure a brighter, safer, and more sustainable future for the City of Vista.