Title
Department of Transportation, Maintenance and Operations Division, and Environmental Management Department recommending the Board receive and file the Annual Written Report of Benefit Assessments/Service Charges for the Zones of Benefit within County Service Area 3 for vector control and snow removal services.
FUNDING: County Service Area Benefit Assessments/Service Charges. (100%)
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Chapter 2.5 of the California Government Code, also known as “County Service Area Law," contains the regulations for establishing and governing county service areas. The County is authorized to form Zones of Benefit within a County Service Area. County Service Area 3 was established by Resolution 9-63 on January 21, 1963, to provide “control or destruction of insects injurious to plant life,” and “the eradication of insects which could introduce dangerous infection or communicable diseases” within the City of South Lake Tahoe and unincorporated areas of the Tahoe Basin, which together form the South Lake Tahoe Vector Control District (District). The District encompasses approximately 195 square miles of El Dorado County. The benefit assessments/service charge for Mosquito Abatement is $6 per parcel.
Two snow removal Zones of Benefit within County Service Area 3 were formed to fund snow removal from roads within the County Maintained Mileage System and to offset the cost of acquiring snow removal equipment utilized within the Zone boundaries. The benefit assessment/service charge for the West Shore Snow Zone of Benefit is $50 per improved parcel. The benefit assessment/service charge for the South Shore Snow Removal Zone of Benefit is $20 per improved parcel. The West Shore and South Shore Snow Removal Zones (West Shore/South Shore Zones) include the unincorporated area of County Service Area 3.
In 1989, the City of South Lake Tahoe and the County entered into a Joint Powers Agreement (Agreement) for the purchase of snow removal equipment for the City. The Board adopted Resolution 240-89 which 1) formed a Zone of Benefit, the boundaries of which are contiguous with those of the City, and 2) established the benefit assessments/service charge of $20 per improved parcel, for the purpose of funding the capital cost of snow removal equipment replacement necessary for snow removal services in the City. The Agreement is effective until terminated by future action of the Board. The City of South Lake Tahoe conducted a hearing on June 3, 2025, for consideration and approval of continuing the City's benefit assessments/service charges.
Funding for the South Shore Snow Removal Zone (South Shore Zone) in the unincorporated area of the Tahoe Basin has not kept pace with increasing equipment acquisition, and operating and maintenance costs. The benefit assessments/services charges have not changed since 1983. South Shore Zone funds are not sufficient to allow for equipment replacement at best practice intervals.
The annual report for CSA 3 is to be applied to the 2025-26 tax roll as summarized in the detailed report titled "CSA 3 Direct Charge Annual Report Details FY 2526.”
All of the benefit assessments/service charges are a continuation of the pre-existing benefit assessments/service charges that have been in place and collected since prior to the effective date of Proposition 218, which was approved by the voters in November of 1996. The continued assessments are not subject to a vote. County Counsel has previously determined that, so long as they are not increased and there is no change to the methodology by which the amounts are calculated, these benefit assessments/service charges are exempt from the procedures and approval process of Article XIIID of the California Constitution, under Section f(a) of the Article. Any increase in any assessment or service charge will be subject to the appropriate vote requirement or procedure to adopt that increase.
Under Chapter 3.30 of the County Ordinance Code, Transportation must annually prepare and submit to the Board of Supervisors a written report on the Zones of Benefit within the County Service Areas. That report must contain a description of each parcel of real property receiving the particular extended service and the amount of the charge for each parcel for such year computed in conformity with the procedure set forth in this chapter authorizing collection of such charges on the tax roll. The attached report is prepared in compliance with Section 3.30.020 of the County Ordinance Code.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board may opt not to receive the annual report; however, this would be in violation of Section 3.30.020, Annual Report.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Environmental Management Department
County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Receive and file as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The proposed benefit assessments/service charges will provide revenue to fund mosquito abatement/vector control services on the East Slope, snow removal services and equipment for the West Shore/South Shore zones, and costs related to zone administration for FY 2025-26. The total assessments projected for 2025-26 are $136,758 for mosquito abatement/vector control, $136,480 for South Shore snow removal services and equipment, $92,100 for West Shore snow removal services and equipment, and $234,260 for the City of South Lake Tahoe snow removal.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Priority: N/A
Action Item: N/A
CONTACT
Rafael Martinez, Director
Department of Transportation
Jeff Warren, Director
Environmental Management Department