Prop 218 Vote for L1B
Proposition 218 Balloting
On October 17, 2023 the City of Yorba Linda's City Council approved a report that included action items pertinent to the balloting of Proposition 218 assessment increases for local landscaping zone L-1B. The action included approval of initiating proceedings to levy an increased assessment in L-1B, approval of the focused Engineer’s Report pertinent to the assessments, and a declaration of the City’s intent to ballot property owners in the zone. A public hearing date was set for the Tuesday, December 5, 2023 Council meeting, at approximately 7:00 p.m.
Balloting materials will be mailed out to property owners in the zone no later than October 20, 2023. Property owners are given until the close of the Public Hearing during the Tuesday, December 5, 2023, City Council meeting to return their signed and marked assessment ballots (per the directions included on the ballot and notice documents, completed ballots can be submitted to the City Clerk in-person or by mail to City Hall ). At the Public Hearing, the returned assessment ballots received prior to the close of the Public Hearing will be tabulated, weighted by the proposed assessment amount on each property, and the results announced. Additional information on assessments and how to submit ballots can be found on the mailed ballot and accompanying notice, a sample of which is provided below.
Click on the following link to view a sample Ballot and accompanying Notice documents.
This document is a sample and not an official ballot. Official ballots and notices will be mailed to the property owners of record for each Assessor's Parcel Number within local landscaping Zone L-1B. Please contact LMAD staff at the email address or phone number at the bottom of this webpage with any questions pertinent to the Proposition 218 process.
Proposition 218 Process
A full description of the Proposition 218 Petition and Balloting process can be found on the City's dedicated Prop 218 webpage. In general, when a specific Local Landscape Zone’s budget is in a deficit scenario or trending to be in the next fiscal year, a Proposition 218 ballot measure may be warranted. Zone L-1B currently requires such a remedy to correct projected budgetary constraints. Prior to any ballot efforts being undertaken, Council has required that a petition be initiated by property owners within the Zone and then be signed by 50% (+1) of property owners. If the requisite number of signatures are garnered, the owners are provided a ballot to vote on either of the following or a variation thereof:
- Yes = To increase their assessment in their zone and retain the existing maintenance service levels; or
- No = To keep the same assessments and reduce the maintenance service levels.
In general, with a Local Landscape Zone No-vote against increasing their assessments, the City will then reduce the amount of landscape maintenance areas it maintains in that Local Landscape Zone and vacate (relinquish) certain City landscape maintenance easements. A condensed flowchart explaining the Proposition 218 petition and balloting process can be viewed here.
Property Owner Petition Efforts
The property owner-led petition process wherein volunteer's circulated to request signatures within local zone L-1B was completed on October 2, 2023. The community-led effort involved property owners advocating for signatures, and City staff coordinated signature verification. Zone L-1B successfully secured at least 348 signatures necessary (which is approximately 55% of EBU’s in the zone, where 50%+1 is needed) to conduct a Proposition 218 Balloting process. The City’s consultant, Willdan Financial Services, validated the gathered signatures.
City staff answered community questions that were addressed to the email address and phone number listed at the bottom of this webpage. The lead petitioner for the effort was Joe Ham, who is a property owner within the zone. He and other volunteers petitioned for an assessment increase in the zone and will canvassed the community for signatures of support through early October. Additional Proposition 218 information and zone budgetary history can be found in the section above.
Community Meeting
A second community meeting for Zone L-1B was conducted virtually via a Zoom webinar meeting on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. The meeting provided a recap of the Proposition 218 information discussed for Zone L-1B at the first community meeting, an overview of the Community Survey results, and a discussion regarding the next steps for the Zone. Additional information and the next steps for the petition process can be found above and within the PDF below.
View the L1B Community Meeting Number 2 Presentation
Community Survey
A community survey was provided to Yorba Linda property owners residing within the boundary of LMAD Local Landscape Zone L-1B. The survey attempted to garner owner input regarding landscape maintenance and assessments for the zone. The survey allowed property owners within Zone L-1B to provide feedback to City staff regarding proposed maintenance options discussed during the community meeting. Property owners were able to scan a QR code with a smartphone or click on a hyperlink to complete the first survey between January 23, 2023, and the extended deadline of Tuesday, February 28, 2023. Survey availability notices were also sent via email to addresses subscribed for LMAD Zone L-1B updates and those who provided their email address to LMAD staff.
Survey results have been tabulated and analyzed. Please visit the Community Survey Results Informational (PDF) to review the survey results.
Local Landscaping Zone L1-B (History)
This Zone is located in the eastern corridor of the City of Yorba Linda. Properties within this Zone share and receive special benefits from the maintenance, servicing, and operation of approximately 1,182,740 square feet of designated landscape improvement areas. During the development of the Fiscal Year 2016/2017 Engineer’s report, it was identified that a substantial assessment increase would be required to eliminate General Fund subsidies. Zone L-1B was one of twelve Local Landscaping Zones that were balloted for an increased assessment during Fiscal Year 2016/2017 due to budgetary issues. A balloted assessment increase for the Zone failed, but a citizen group successfully petitioned the City Council to allow for a revised maintenance and budget scenario to be developed and considered via a future ballot in lieu of vacating landscape areas.
On June 26, 2017, the property owners within Local Landscaping Zone L-1B approved a proposed new/increased assessment through a second Property Owner Protest Ballot Proceeding. The approved increase included the temporary “fallow” level maintenance of some areas within the Zone to avoid vacating landscape easements. This reduced level of maintenance for portions of the zone lowered expenditures for several fiscal years. As a part of the Fiscal Year 2022/2023 Engineer’s Report, staff notified Council of an impending need for a Proposition 218 process. This process is being initiated and will culminate in modified assessments for property owners or reduced maintenance levels.
The first community meeting for the current Proposition 218 effort was held on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, at 6 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room at Travis Ranch School. City staff provided a PowerPoint presentation (PDF) and answered questions regarding the upcoming Proposition 218 process. A second community meeting, was held virtually in June of 2023 and additional information can be found above.
View the Community Outreach Letter L1-B (PDF)
More Information Coming Soon!
Check back to see updates regarding the Proposition 218 process for LMAD Zone L1-B. Want to receive periodic updates regarding the Proposition 218 Process? Subscribe to receive LMAD Zone L-1B updates, or email the City's LMAD group with any questions, or call (714) 961-7170.
Determine Your LMAD Zone
To determine if you live in an LMAD Zone, visit Map Yorba Linda and search for your property address. You can also view the Map of LMAD Local Zone L-1B as a PDF attachment. The PDF attachment displays the boundary lines for properties within the Zone, along with interior street names.