HomeMy WebLinkAbout21933 - RESOLUTIONS - 6/13/2007 RESOLUTION NO. 21933
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, EXPRESSING CONCERN
OVER THE COACHELLA VALLEY MOSQUITO AND
VECTOR CONTROL DISTRICT'S PROPOSED INCREASE
IN THE MOSQUITO, FIRE ANT AND DISEASE
ASSESSMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2007-08.
WHEREAS, The Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District (District) was
established in 1928 as an independent special district in Riverside County; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of the District is to protect public health and reduce the risk of
mosquito and other vector-borne disease and mosquito nuisances for all Coachella
Valley residents; and
WHEREAS, the District currently provides mosquito, eye gnat, roof rat, and other vector
and disease control services throughout the Coachella Valley; and
WHEREAS, the District's funding is generated by a percentage of the 1% property tax
collected from Coachella Valley property owners; and
' WHEREAS, in Fiscal Year 2004-05, the District received $4,893,030 in revenues and
reported expenditures of$4,633,265 resulting in a fund surplus of$259,765; and
WHEREAS, in 2005, the District's Board of Trustees initiated proceedings to place an
assessment on property throughout the District for the purpose of raising revenues
related to mosquito, red imported fire ants, vector and disease controls services, as well
as funding to supplement the related costs of equipment, capital improvements,
services and facilities necessary and incidental to mosquito and vector control
programs, and
WHEREAS, the Mosquito, Fire Ant and Disease Control Assessment (Assessment),
which was approved by property owners, established the maximum assessment rate of
$16.00 per single family home per year; and
WHEREAS, the Assessment may be increased each subsequent year by the Los
Angeles-Riverside-Orange County Consumer Price Index (CPI) not to exceed 3% per
year; and
WHEREAS, in Fiscal Year 2005-06, the first year following property owner approval of
the Assessment, the District reported revenues of $8,756,814 and expenditures totaling
$7,264,894, resulting in a fund surplus of$1,491,920; and
' WHEREAS, the District ended Fiscal Year 2005-06 with a reserve fund balance of
$11,861,235; and
Resolution No. 21933
Page 2
WHEREAS, in Fiscal Year 2006-07, the District's Board of Trustees increased the ,
Assessment by 3% to $16.48 per residential unit to reflect the change in the consumer
price index; and
WHEREAS, from 2003 to 2006, the District's reserve fund has grown by 30% from
$9,163,644 to $11,861,235; and
WHEREAS, during the same period, most public agencies in California have
experienced negative growth in their reserves due to increased costs and less
revenues; and
WHEREAS, the District's Board of Trustees is proposing to increase the Assessment by
3% to $16.96 per residential unit for Fiscal Year 2007-08; and
WHEREAS, if approved, the new Assessment will generate an estimated $2.7 million in
revenue to the District; and
WHEREAS, the District is projecting a reserve fund balance in excess of $13,000,000
as of June 30, 2007; and
WHEREAS, the passage of Proposition 218, The Right to Vote of Taxes Act, in
November 1996, established new requirements for the imposition of new taxes, '
assessments, and property-related fees or charges, as well as for increasing of existing
taxes, assessments, and property-related fees or charges; and
WHEREAS, under Proposition 218, no assessment may be imposed which exceeds the
reasonable cost of the proportional special benefit to the parcel; and
WHEREAS, Proposition 218 further prohibits the collection of fees or charges based
upon potential or future use; and
WHEREAS, the District's Assessment appears to be generating more revenues than
actual expenses; and
WHEREAS, the District has ample reserves to cover any potential cost increase or
unforeseen expense; and
WHEREAS, the District may be violating the intent of Proposition 218 by assessing a
fee against property that exceeds the actual costs of providing service to the properties
within the District.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Palm
Springs, California, does hereby express concern over the Coachella Valley Mosquito ,
and Vector Control District's proposed increase in the Mosquito, Fire Ant and Disease
Assessment for the Fiscal Year 2007-08.
Resolution No. 21933
Page 3
' BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Palm Springs,
California, strongly encourages the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control
District's Board of Trustees to consider other options, including the use of its reserve
fund, which is estimated in excess of $13,000,000, instead of increasing the
assessment on property owners to cover the costs related to mosquito, red imported fire
ants, vector and disease controls services in the next fiscal year.
ADOPTED THIS 13T" DAY OF JUNE, 2007,
David H. Rea anager
ATTEST:
_ r
/J9mes Thompson, City Clerk
v
' CERTIFICATION
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss.
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS )
I, JAMES THOMPSON, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, hereby certify that
Resolution No. 21933 is a full, true, and correct copy, and was duly adopted at an
adjourned regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Springs on the 13rh
day of June, 2007, by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmember Foat, Councilmember McCulloch, and Mayor Pro Tern
Pougnet.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Councilmember Mills, and Mayor Oden.
ABSTAIN: None.
James Thompson, City Clerk
' City of Palm Springs, California