DATE: April 21, 2026
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Director of Maintenance Services
SUBJECT
Title
Stratford Village Proposition 218 Hearing: Proposition 218 Public Hearing to Receive and Tabulate Property Owner Ballots Regarding the Establishment and Levying of a New Assessment for the Stratford Village Flood Control Facilities Improvement Assessment District (MD1); Adopt a Resolution Establishing the New Stratford Village Flood Control Facilities Improvement Assessment (MD1-2026); Approve the Final Engineer’s Report; and Order Levy and Collection of Assessments for Fiscal Year 2027
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
That the City Council conducts a public hearing pursuant to Proposition 218 to consider objections and protests to the proposed Stratford Village Flood Control Facilities Improvement Assessment (MD1-2026). If tabulation of the property-owner ballots results in approval of the proposed assessment, that Council adopts a resolution (Attachment II) establishing the proposed Assessment, approving the Final Engineer’s Report (Attachment III), and ordering the levy and collection of the approved assessments for Fiscal Year 2027.
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SUMMARY
Maintenance District 1 (District) was established in 1995 as a financial funding mechanism to fund the operation, maintenance, and the capital repair and replacement of the Stratford Village Storm Water Lift Station (SWLS), the critical flood protection infrastructure for the neighborhood. Thirty years later, the funds generated from the annual assessment revenue are no longer sufficient to provide proper operation, maintenance, and the capital repair and replacement of the District’s storm water drainage and pumping infrastructure. To meet this need, staff recommended a Proposition 218 assessment balloting procedure to propose a new assessment at the January 27, 2025, City Council Meeting.
On January 27, the City Council took formal action to initiate the Proposition 218 election process. Since then, ballot materials were mailed to all property owners of record 45 days prior to this Public Hearing. This Public Hearing on April 21 is to receive the ballot tabulation and consider objections and protests. If it is determined that the assessment ballots submitted in opposition to the proposed assessments do not exceed the assessment ballots submitted in favor of the assessments (weighted by the proportional financial obligation of the property for which ballots are submitted), staff recommends the City Council take action to approve the imposition of assessments for fiscal year 2027 (July 2026 through June 2027) and each fiscal year thereafter. The levy and collection of the assessments would continue year to year until terminated by the City Council. Pursuant to the Council’s approval, the assessment roll will be forwarded to the County for collection with annual property taxes.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment I Staff Report
Attachment II Resolution
Attachment III Final Engineer’s Report