TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to vote in favor of the proposed Mosquito and Vector Control Program (VCP) benefit assessment district measure, on behalf of the City for the parcels owned by the City that are subject to the assessment, sign ballots, and submit them to the City Clerk prior to the conclusion of the July 2, 2019 public hearing; and
Receive supporting documentation into the record, conclude the public hearing to consider the establishment of the VCP benefit assessment district; close the balloting at the conclusion of the public input portion of the public hearing; direct the City Clerk to tabulate the ballots and report the results of the tabulation to the Mayor and City Council during the July 16, 2019 City Council meeting. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On May 7, 2019, the City Council approved a Resolution preliminarily approving the Engineer's
Report, providing notice for today's public hearing, and directing SCI Consulting Group (SCI),
the assessment engineer, to proceed with the mailing of ballots to property owners within the
boundaries of the proposed Mosquito and Vector Control Program (VCP) benefit assessment
district on May 17, 2019, at the rate of $8.21 per Single Family Equivalent per year.
The Engineer's Report details the benefits from the proposed assessment, the method of
assessment, an estimate of cost and budget for the assessment, and justification of the
proposed assessment.
The proposed VCP benefit assessment will provide new or enhanced services to control
mosquitoes and other vectors in the VCP service area of Long Beach. This enhanced level of
service would provide year-round control of invasive mosquitoes and other vectors using
environmentally sound methods, and would monitor vector-borne diseases, such as West Nile
virus, Zika, Typhus and other emerging vector-borne diseases impacting public health.
If approved, the proposed VCP benefit assessment will be included on the September/October
2019 annual property tax assessment for parcel owners in the proposed service area. It is
anticipated that the City would be assessed a total of $5,916 for all City-owned parcels in the
proposed VCP benefit assessment district for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY 20).
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 this requirement is
a key driver in establishing project milestones, as identified below:
May? City Council meeting with request to approve Prop. 218 procedures,
Engineer's Report and direct mailing of ballots.
May 17 Mail assessment ballots (must be out 45 days).
July 2
City Council public hearing. Closes balloting and calls for
tabulations.
July 3-15 City Clerk tabulates ballots.
July 16
City Council meeting to announce ballot results and, if approved,
establish VCP benefit assessment district and order levies.
August 9 Submit assessment levies to LA Co Auditor for FY 20.
December 2019 Assessment funding provided to City Treasurer.
The purpose of today's public hearing is to give all interested parties the opportunity to hear,
and have heard, comments regarding the proposed VCP assessment and the assessment
ballot proceeding, to conclude the 45-day balloting period (as required by State law governing
the procedures for benefit assessment ballot proceedings), and for the City Council to accept
any additional ballots. The balloting period officially closes at the conclusion of the public
comment portion of today's public hearing.
Following the close of the public comment portion of the public hearing, the City Council will
direct the City Clerk to tabulate the ballots and report the results of the tabulation to the Mayor
and City Council during the July 16, 2019 City Council meeting.
At its July 16, 2019 meeting, the City Council may consider, provided a majority protest does
not exist (i.e., a majority of weighted ballots cast are in favqr of the measure), a Resolution to
levy the assessments for FY 20. If a majority protest exists, the assessments will not be levied,
and no action will be required by the City Council.
The proposed assessments will initially generate an estimated $753,474 for FY 20. In future
years, the assessments may continue to be levied, at the discretion of the City Council, and
the rate of assessment may be increased by the annual change in the Consumer Price Index
(CPI} for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim Area, not to exceed 3 percent, following the
preparation of an updated Engineer's Report and the City Council's conducting a public hearing
on the continuation of the assessments.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Amy R. Webber on June 18, 2019 and by
Revenue Management Officer Geraldine Alejo on June 17, 2019.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on July 2, 2019, to conduct the public hearing, close the
balloting period and begin tabulating the results. Results are scheduled to be reported to City
Council on July 16, 2019. If approved, the City Council may authorize the VCP benefit
assessment at its July 16, 2019 meeting. All associated assessment documentation must be
presented to the LACounty Auditor by August 9, 2019.
FISCAL IMPACT
If approved, the total level of funding for the proposed service area will be $847,784 for FY 20.
Of this amount, $753,474 is estimated to be generated from the VCP benefit assessment
district and a general benefit contribution of a minimum of $94,310 is projected to be provided
by the Health Fund Group. For City-owned parcels located within the VCP benefit assessment
district, the City's total assessment is estimated at $5,916 and funding for the assessment will
be based on the facility. If needed, a request for appropriation to support the general
contribution or the City's assessments will be requested as part of the budget process. In future
years, the assessments may continue to be levied at the discretion of the City Council and the
rate may be increased by the annual change in the CPI for the Los Angeles-Long BeachAnaheim
Area, not to exceed 3 percent annually. This recommendation has no staffing impact
beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council
priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
KELLY COLOPY
DIRECTOR
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER