TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file a report on the results of a survey to determine the level of support from property owners for a vector control funding measure in areas of the City not currently covered by a benefit assessment, and
Authorize City Manager, or designee to direct the City’s consultant, SCI Consulting Group, to proceed with the preliminary development of the engineer’s report and ballot preparation to establish a benefit assessment district at the rate of $8.21 per Single Family Residence per year and return to City Council for final review and approval in May 2019. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On October 2, 2018, the City Council approved a contract with SCI Consulting Group (SCI) to research the feasibility of establishing a benefit assessment district to fund mosquito and vector control in areas of the City not currently covered by a benefit assessment. Similar to establishment of a Business Improvement District, the process to establish a benefit assessment is subject to Proposition 218 (Prop. 218), which involves multiple steps, including surveys, data analysis, an engineer’s report, mailed ballots, City Council direction, and a public hearing. If approved, the assessment is included on the property owner’s annual tax bill. Thus, an important timing consideration is the Los Angeles County Auditor’s (LACo Auditor) requirement to have any new levies submitted by August 9, 2019. Meeting the LACo Auditor’s requirement is a key driver in establishing project milestones, as identified below:
As part of the process, SCI conducted a survey to determine the priorities and level of property owner support for a vector assessment in unassessed areas of the City. To that end, a survey was mailed out to the property owners of approximately 20,000 parcels (out of 79,000) in the unassessed areas of the City. The survey was mailed out on January 18, 2019 and provided information to property owners on the vector control program and assessed their r...
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