Questions for City on Prop 218
Mar 27, 2021 20:07:06 GMT -8
Post by kchang on Mar 27, 2021 20:07:06 GMT -8
Background Information on Prop 218:
www.diamondbarca.gov/870/Assessment-Districts-Prop-218
The following Q&A information is contributed by the Woodglen II HOA Board VP.
Will the ballot be called Prop 218 again?
This will be another Prop 218 process and the ballots will be similar to the 2019 ballots. The ballots will have the words "Official Assessment Ballot" with a reference to the new landscape assessment district number.
Can you please confirm the deadlines we need to be aware of?
A schedule of the Prop 218 procedure will be presented to the City Council and the public at the April 6th meeting, so the dates related to the Prop 218 process/procedure provided below are all TENTATIVE at this point.
Will the City absorb the $13,600 cost associated with the ballot? (We will try to give you an updated "Yes" pledge number from our canvassing homeowners before the April 6th meeting.)
The City Council will initiate the 2021 Prop 218 process for a new District 41 at the April 6th meeting. The dissolution of the existing district is planned to be completed on May 4th. The $13,600 cost will be recovered as part of the increased assessment fee of the new district.
When will the Engineer's Report is presented to the City Council and approved?
On May 18th, the City Council will review and discuss the Engineer's Report. The report will be available as part of the meeting packet on the City's website a few days before May 18th. Also, on May 18th, the City Council will set the date for the public hearing at which time ballots will be tabulated and the outcome of the balloting proceeding will be known. The public hearing date is tentatively scheduled for July 6, 2021.
Is the Engineer a City employee or a third party?
The Assessment Engineer is a third-party consultant.
When will the ballots be mailed?
The ballots will be mailed by the end of May.
Are the ballots mailed to the homeowner's address or the property's physical address?
Ballots will be mailed to the property owners' addresses as listed on their tax bills. The address could be in District 41 or not.
What is homeowners lose or displace their ballot, can they get another?
Yes, upon receipt of a written request delivered to the City Clerk.
When is the deadline for the property owners to return their ballots, and what if they are on vacation?
The ballots will be counted if they are delivered to the City Clerk before the close of the public hearing on July 6th.
Does the return ballot need a stamp for return postage?
No, but the City Clerk has to receive them before the end of the public hearing on July 6th.
Do you count the votes as they come in or wait for a specific date?
The assessment ballots will be counted on the public hearing night.
If you do count them as they come in, are you able to share the YES vs. NO numbers, so we know whether we need to ratchet up our efforts?
The votes are not opened/counted before the closing of the public hearing.
In the July 6th Council meeting, Prop 218 has to be tabulated and victorious by this date?
Correct. The assessment passes by a majority of the ballots cast and returned (50% plus 1).
On August 15th, LA County calculates assessment fees?
The amount of the assessment fee will be calculated and provided in the Engineer's Report which will be available before the May 18th meeting. LA County includes the fee in the property tax bill after the City Council confirms the levying of the new assessment and adopts its resolution.
www.diamondbarca.gov/870/Assessment-Districts-Prop-218
The following Q&A information is contributed by the Woodglen II HOA Board VP.
Will the ballot be called Prop 218 again?
This will be another Prop 218 process and the ballots will be similar to the 2019 ballots. The ballots will have the words "Official Assessment Ballot" with a reference to the new landscape assessment district number.
Can you please confirm the deadlines we need to be aware of?
A schedule of the Prop 218 procedure will be presented to the City Council and the public at the April 6th meeting, so the dates related to the Prop 218 process/procedure provided below are all TENTATIVE at this point.
Will the City absorb the $13,600 cost associated with the ballot? (We will try to give you an updated "Yes" pledge number from our canvassing homeowners before the April 6th meeting.)
The City Council will initiate the 2021 Prop 218 process for a new District 41 at the April 6th meeting. The dissolution of the existing district is planned to be completed on May 4th. The $13,600 cost will be recovered as part of the increased assessment fee of the new district.
When will the Engineer's Report is presented to the City Council and approved?
On May 18th, the City Council will review and discuss the Engineer's Report. The report will be available as part of the meeting packet on the City's website a few days before May 18th. Also, on May 18th, the City Council will set the date for the public hearing at which time ballots will be tabulated and the outcome of the balloting proceeding will be known. The public hearing date is tentatively scheduled for July 6, 2021.
Is the Engineer a City employee or a third party?
The Assessment Engineer is a third-party consultant.
When will the ballots be mailed?
The ballots will be mailed by the end of May.
Are the ballots mailed to the homeowner's address or the property's physical address?
Ballots will be mailed to the property owners' addresses as listed on their tax bills. The address could be in District 41 or not.
What is homeowners lose or displace their ballot, can they get another?
Yes, upon receipt of a written request delivered to the City Clerk.
When is the deadline for the property owners to return their ballots, and what if they are on vacation?
The ballots will be counted if they are delivered to the City Clerk before the close of the public hearing on July 6th.
Does the return ballot need a stamp for return postage?
No, but the City Clerk has to receive them before the end of the public hearing on July 6th.
Do you count the votes as they come in or wait for a specific date?
The assessment ballots will be counted on the public hearing night.
If you do count them as they come in, are you able to share the YES vs. NO numbers, so we know whether we need to ratchet up our efforts?
The votes are not opened/counted before the closing of the public hearing.
In the July 6th Council meeting, Prop 218 has to be tabulated and victorious by this date?
Correct. The assessment passes by a majority of the ballots cast and returned (50% plus 1).
On August 15th, LA County calculates assessment fees?
The amount of the assessment fee will be calculated and provided in the Engineer's Report which will be available before the May 18th meeting. LA County includes the fee in the property tax bill after the City Council confirms the levying of the new assessment and adopts its resolution.