City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a resolution initiating proceedings for a
proposed increase of assessments within Landscaping Maintenance District No. 1,
the levy of annual assessments therein, and ordering the preparation of an
assessment engineer’s report. Staff also recommends the City Council approve a
professional services agreement with NBS Government Finance Group dba NBS to
prepare the engineer’s report for the proposed increases to the annual assessment
levies for Landscape Maintenance District #1 for Fiscal Year 2009/10, in an amount
not to exceed $11,000;
A budget amendment requires a four-fifths vote
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
LMD#1 consists of two zones (Studio Estates and Ballona Creek east of Overland
Avenue adjacent to Jefferson Business Park) and was created for the purpose of
providing on-going maintenance of landscaping within the District. Location maps
will be included in the ordered Engineer's Report. The assessment includes costs
for providing complete maintenance, administration, and preparation of the
Engineer's Report.
On May 4, 2009, staff will be recommending to the City Council to approve the
Engineer’s report, declare its intention to increase the annual assessment levy by a
Meeting Date: 04/20/2009 Item Number: A-7
AGENDA ITEM: FOUR-FIFTHS VOTE REQUIREMENT: (1) Adoption of a
Resolution Initiating Proceedings for a Proposed increase of Assessments within
Landscaping Maintenance District Number 1, the Levy of Annual Assessments
therein, and Ordering the Preparation of an Assessment Engineer's Report; and
(2) Approval of a Professional Services Agreement with NBS Government Finance
Group (dba NBS) for the Preparation of the Annual Assessment Engineer’s
Report and (3) Approval of a Related Budget Amendment
Contact Person/Dept.: Mate Gaspar/PW Phone Number: (310) 253-5602
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [] Attachments: []
Public Notification: Master E-Mail Notification (04/15/09)
Department Approval:
Charles D. Herbertson (04/09/09)
City Attorney Approval:
Carol Schwab (by H. Baker) (04/16/09)
Chief Financial Officer Review:
Jeff Muir (by N. Kimball) (04/15/09)
City Manager Approval:
Jerry B. Fulwood (04/16/09) City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
majority ballot process of the property owners within the District per Proposition 218
requirements, and setting the date, time and place for the Public Hearing.
This year, based on a preliminary evaluation, staff is considering proposing the
assessment district be modified to provide for an automatic annual increase based
on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) plus 2%. If approved by the property owners in
the District, the annual CPI increase would be applied with an additional 2%
premium each year until the total revenues generated from the District match the
annual expenditures and the funds have a positive balance.
As stated earlier, the assessment process is much more difficult and time consuming
when increases are proposed. In order to complete the Engineer’s Report by the
deadline for inclusion in the upcoming 2009/10 tax rolls, it is recommended that the
preparation of the engineer’s report and other related assessment services be
conducted by a professional consulting firm.
NBS is a consulting firm that specializes in the processing of the annual assessment
levies to assessment districts for many agencies in the region. Recently, the
Redevelopment Agency contracted with NBS to prepare a proposed landscape
assessment district on Washington Boulevard near Meier Street.
NBS is proposing to conduct their professional services for an amount not-to-exceed
$11,000.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
The Landscaping Maintenance District No. 1 budget should be 100 percent self-
supporting for all expenditures. Property owners within the District are charged their
fair share of these costs, as will be described in the Engineer’s Report.
If the increase to the assessment is not approved by the property owners within the
district, then services will be decreased accordingly to stay within the existing
assessment amount.
Culver City Municipal Code Section 15.01.045 states that incidental expenses
incurred in conjunction with assessment districts include the cost of preparation of
the engineer’s reports, assessment, printing, advertising, posting, and mailed
notices. There is funding available in Fund 425 – Landscape Maintenance District to
accommodate the professional services agreement with NBS. This funding includes
receipts from the respective assessment district annual levies, and therefore would
be appropriate to use for this purpose. City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
ATTACHMENT:
1. Resolution
MOTIONS:
1. Staff recommends the City Council adopt a resolution initiating proceedings for a
proposed increase of assessments within Landscaping Maintenance District No.
1, the levy of annual assessments therein, and ordering the preparation of an
assessment Engineer’s report.
2. Approve a professional services agreement with NBS Government Finance
Group dba NBS to prepare the engineer’s reports for the proposed increases to
the annual assessment levies for Landscape Maintenance District #1 and
Higuera Landscape and Lighting Assessment District for Fiscal Year 2009/10, in
an amount not to exceed $11,000;
3. Approve a budget amendment to appropriate funds in the amount of $11,000
from the Fund 425 Landscape Maintenance Assessment Districts reserve to
object account 42533100.612800 – Engineering Services (four-fifths vote
required);
4. Authorize the City Attorney to review/prepare the necessary documents; and,
5. Authorize the City Manager to execute such documents on behalf of the City.
MEETING DATE: 4120109
AGENDA ITEM: Adopt a Resolution Initiating Proceedings for a
Proposed increase of Assessments within
Landscaping Maintenance District No. 1, the Levy
of Annual Assessments therein and Ordering the
Preparation of an Assessment Engineer's Report
ATTACHMENTS
Pages |109| Resolution
1-32.RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA, INITIATING PROCEEDINGS FOR
A PROPOSED INCREASE OF ASSESSMENTS WITHIN
LANDSCAPING MAINTENANCE DISTRICT NO. 1, THE LEVY OF
ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS THEREIN AND ORDERING THE
PREPARATION OF AN ASSESSMENT ENGINEER'S REPORT.
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Culver City has by previous
Resolutions formed and levied annual assessments for Landscaping Maintenance District No. 1
(the "District"), pursuant to provisions of Chapter 15.01 of the Culver City Municipal Code
(CCMC"), that provides for the levy and collection of assessments by the County of Los
Angeles for the City of Culver City to pay for the maintenance and services of all improvements
and facilities related hereto; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to increase assessments within the District;
and, has determined that all parcels within the District receive special benefit from the
improvements; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council has retained the consulting firm of NBS for the
purpose of assisting with the proposed increase in assessments and preparing an Assessment
Engineer's Report relating to proposed assessment increases within the District, which will take
effect for Fiscal Year 2009/10 (the "Engineer's Report"), to be filed with the City Clerk, in
accordance with CCMC Section 15.01.055.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Culver City, DOES HEREBY
RESOLVE as follows:
1. The City Council hereby proposes to increase assessments within the
District to pay for increased costs to service and maintain the existing improvements with the
District.
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282. The City Council hereby orders the preparation of the Engineer's Report
n accordance with the requirements of the CCMC Section 15.01.055, to be filed with the City
Clerk for submission to the City Council. The Engineer's Report shall be prepared by NBS and
approved by the City Engineer, prior to filing with the City Clerk.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED this day of 2009_
D. SCOTT MALSIN, MAYOR
City of Culver City, California
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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., MARTIN R. COLE, City Clerk CAffOL A. SCHWAB, City Attorney|101010101010101010 10
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