Residents Question City on Assessment District

A handful of residents turned out to question the city’s proposed Park Maintenance Assessment District on Monday night during the first of two public hearings on the ballot measure.

City officials have sent ballots to all of Garden Grove’s 35,000 property owners asking if they are willing to continue paying an assessment for park maintenance. Officials hope to separate park maintenance assessments from lighting fees by dividing its current Lighting and Landscaping Assessment District into two entities.

The vote was prompted by the passage of Proposition 218 last year, which requires not only that the park maintenance assessments be held separately from other fees, but that property owners--not registered voters--approve the assessments.

The city currently collects about $700,000 in assessments earmarked for park maintenance with a like amount contributed from the general fund.

During the city’s public hearing Monday night, residents questioned officials on how the assessments were derived, while others suggested that volunteers be used to maintain the city’s 15 parks.

Councilman Bob Dinsen, the only council member vocally opposed to the district, questioned a public information program designed to explain the ballot measure through fliers, mailers and telephone calls.

“The information [already] sent with the ballots was so confusing it’s small wonder those receiving the ballots were confused,” Dinsen said. “I can’t support spending more tax dollars on something that will give out more biased information.”

The second public hearing on the matter is scheduled for June 9, the same day ballots are due to the city. The City Council, voting as a property owner, is expected to cast the city’s votes in favor of the new assessment.