[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6328628,"mediaKeyId","2318529-b41247b7044dfb0d1abde4d7d99e52b0","parentId",2318529,"title","Council approves formation proceedings for two maintenance assessment districts tied to Apple Avenue development","audioSeconds",234,"startMs",10061000,"endMs",10295000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2318529-b41247b7044dfb0d1abde4d7d99e52b0&start=10061&end=10295","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2318529-b41247b7044dfb0d1abde4d7d99e52b0/thumbnail_10061000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6328628/Greenfield-City/Monterey-County/California/Council-approves-formation-proceedings-for-two-maintenance-assessment-districts-tied-to-Apple-Avenue-development","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328628-2e16ec0ef1182ed8d94d91df7bb736f5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175082&Signature=k6-UiS8s1UarNd55QlnjN9616e1vNuvoQdADYdHn4kqJAXNGpRgGZ5w-hQsgD8OX7QmXCFG5Wbbvr7fvv9~VK4duQiDzO824gv6nBhWUWRPx3Nx7oB3ubOSLVOeoB629dJ72M5hygV0dBlW-qllMqvNWumUflpdYYp3qqfmgJcO6X95NNitVVqCSpIys8qWPkD4ABFHOwJkorjDrar7suIHo0r7hmMMq3ilLeaEltWlbc6ULeLXsPu~rgfMzKiBPT~NkS-yRIHHs2xPkY8XnT5JRONSQ6JLs6HOOXZ9s5Ta271IglH~CFa~NCSGQdD-Vr7QlqnIK02UNuEihoLxOQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Greenfield CA","date","2025-02-16T08:54:53.597Z","article","The Greenfield City Council voted to initiate proceedings to form two special‑assessment districts connected to recent subdivision approvals.

Key actions taken

- Landscape and Lighting Maintenance Assessment District No. 4: The council adopted a resolution initiating proceedings to form LLMD No. 4 for the Apple Avenue homes subdivision. The resolution accepts the engineer’s report, directs staff to mail ballots to the property owner(s) as required by Proposition 218 procedures and sets a public hearing for April 8, 2025, to validate ballots and take remaining formation actions. Staff told council there is no immediate city budgetary impact; the district would fund ongoing landscape and lighting maintenance.

- Street and Drainage Maintenance Assessment District No. 4: The council adopted a resolution initiating proceedings to form a street and storm‑drain maintenance district covering Walnut Boulevard, the Bridal Center parcel and the Apple Avenue homes. The council accepted the engineer’s report, directed staff to send ballots to sole property owners and set an April 8, 2025 public hearing to validate ballots and confirm assessments under the Benefit Assessment Act of 1982.

Vote and procedure notes

- Both resolutions were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. The motions and seconds were recorded in the meeting transcript but the council did not record a roll‑call tally of individual yes/no votes in the public record during the voice votes. Staff indicated that, after ballots are returned and tabulated, council will confirm results at the April 8 hearing.

Why it matters: The adopted resolutions start a Proposition 218 ballot process required for forming assessment districts that levy ongoing maintenance assessments on benefitted properties; formation (and final assessment amounts) depends on the ballot results and the April 8 validation hearing.

Actions (as recorded at the meeting)

1) Action: Initiate formation of Landscape & Lighting Maintenance Assessment District No. 4
- motion: \"I move to approve.\" (mover not specified in transcript)
- second: recorded (second not named)
- outcome: approved by voice vote
- notes: staff to mail ballots to property owner(s); public hearing set for April 8, 2025 to validate ballots and confirm assessments.

2) Action: Initiate formation of Street & Drainage Maintenance Assessment District No. 4
- motion: recorded as moved and seconded (movers not specified)
- outcome: approved by voice vote
- notes: staff to mail ballots to the two property owners; public hearing set for April 8, 2025 to validate ballots and confirm assessments.

Clarifying details

- Legal basis cited in staff reports included Proposition 218 procedures, the Landscape and Lighting Act of 1972 (for LLMD) and the Benefit Assessment Act of 1982 (for street and drainage assessments). Staff said there is no immediate financial obligation to the city's general fund because assessments will be collected from benefitted properties if the districts are formed.

Ending

Staff will return on April 8, 2025 for the public hearing to validate ballots, confirm diagrams and, if ballots favor formation, finalize the assessment proceedings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","February 11, 2025 - City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The council adopted resolutions to initiate formation of a Landscape & Lighting Maintenance Assessment District No. 4 and a Street & Drainage Maintenance Assessment District No. 4 tied to recent Apple Avenue and Walnut Boulevard subdivisions.","taxTitle","Greenfield City, Monterey County, California","taxId",71906,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6328637,"Public Works details wastewater repairs, generator hardening, Walnut Avenue bikeway and dog‑park planning",386,6912000,7298000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2318529-b41247b7044dfb0d1abde4d7d99e52b0&start=6912&end=7298","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2318529-b41247b7044dfb0d1abde4d7d99e52b0/thumbnail_6912000.jpg","/articles/6328637/Greenfield-City/Monterey-County/California/Public-Works-details-wastewater-repairs-generator-hardening-Walnut-Avenue-bikeway-and-dogpark-planning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328637-78a6abbf9f300997ee6709dd98c5c9d8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175082&Signature=AC2OhQOOMY2kBPX8ApR9P6CFcDqAnHIIgvJ-1u11S5SA1iJDg7Kt60owCNT2hmDUMhY75ZxKMTl-JtNnZWj38BZUDaDxu-KdTGi4negbf~YdlodiMBrjxC0a9L2W5uUL7UjxX3ZKZnfEqF-yZG4QpR3HZh52auzhmbCjtVei-3iNpzKXAdF2pTbUUKbGNGwkfr8iBrSJ7fcj8s9WHeJybzFAUauRs~ws~F9LE4FNSoQ6EMs2SjgrlyrRa7l23-SYYHr8X1ssVbtDbeul7ILow3Z5yTupU-poCx-I5AI-Qk7UJq9FW19OXjmQ7A0QBPZBR6BvH6LX9GFsAztlon1Qlg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Public Works representative updated the City of Greenfield on multiple capital projects, completed work and items in design. The presenter said several projects finished in 2024 and early 2025 and reviewed current construction and design efforts.

Completed projects and recent milestones

- Recent completions listed by staff included: wastewater-treatment belt‑press temporary improvements (Sept. 2024), Apple Avenue consolidation (Oct. 2024), Twelfth Street improvements (Oct. 2024), CCTV sewer work, fire-station portable generator (Nov. 2024), Tom Rogers Museum phase 1 (Jan. 2025) and replacement of the City entry sign (Jan. 2025).

Under-construction and near-term items

- Wastewater repairs and temporary spray disposal fields: Staff reported construction of temporary spray fields to handle wastewater while permanent work continues and said the fields were tested to handle roughly in the order of 100,000 gallons per day during trials (operation limited to non‑inclement weather). Staff noted the Regional Water Quality Control Board revised the city's notice of applicability and that spray‑field operation must stop immediately if rain occurs.

- Generator-hardening project: The city is hardening generators at multiple lift stations, the fire station and wastewater plant (work to wire the police department generator was also reported). Construction and site preparation were underway with an estimated generator delivery timeline that placed completion activity by mid‑2025; staff said the estimated overall completion month was July 2025.

- Walnut Avenue pedestrian and bikeway improvements: Construction began Jan. 21 and the project is expected to finish in June; the work includes a small section in Caltrans right-of-way.

Planned design and procurement

- Year 3 pavement maintenance: Staff restructured the project after bids were rejected in 2024, developed a base bid with alternatives and said the contractor expects to start work in spring (completion anticipated by June).

- Tyler Lift Station: Staff said Tyler is among the city's oldest, at capacity and past useful life; an RFQ for design was being prepared and staff expected to advertise and select a design consultant in the spring with a multi‑month design schedule thereafter.

- Water-tank repairs: Both tanks at Korp Yard and Oak Tank were professionally inspected and staff will solicit proposals for recommended repairs.

Other items and community questions

- Staff said they will issue an RFQ for landscape architect services to evaluate landscaping and lighting maintenance districts and that a dog‑park design (grant‑funded with a local match) will focus on Patriot Park pending state approval and final siting.

- Commissioners asked about fire-hydrant replacements and street valve access; staff said a valve in the street prevented immediate hydrant replacement and the city was awaiting a contractor quote to complete the work.

Ending

Staff said they will return with the traffic-impact fee update in March, continue design procurement work and provide periodic project updates on the Public Works Facebook page.","A Public Works representative gave the City of Greenfield a project-by-project update on wastewater repairs, generator hardening for lift stations, the Walnut Avenue pedestrian and bikeway improvements, pavement maintenance and dog‑park planning.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6328641,"Residents, Community Water Center urge action after tests find high nitrate and 1,2,3-TCP in wells",106,3462000,3568000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2318529-b41247b7044dfb0d1abde4d7d99e52b0&start=3462&end=3568","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2318529-b41247b7044dfb0d1abde4d7d99e52b0/thumbnail_3462000.jpg","/articles/6328641/Greenfield-City/Monterey-County/California/Residents-Community-Water-Center-urge-action-after-tests-find-high-nitrate-and-123-TCP-in-wells","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328641-9947d2e503c6265be8ba047a3a986fe3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175082&Signature=Hr4gf-e2ISx2Led7WWVnBLOIkv7bfb98qP-2unWkULWfP~f~XHl63nwfSPTwC62J07SUkCBdjiCsYtI2ZdZxJcO9yP-ww-qH8X8GFyQWEmYfA6TPZmGz-BVvWSumcSh5VfpAyh9e6JeZ6Jgry1VOUi1p9E9Plk4DpaIHOQnUJeSM0c0Pgtknpsh7pU~6xVpWHTTOyJbDWFOxyCLl2YdN7bF2ZYyS-X0rj~XgqJkd02WSg46IgFca8A5e2u~uhZ-etvA599QTOdUGKT6UB~rPoBvRSmfo76jZ0g1CpsrSBBIu2UquG9JoP6LHV0kb6V36kWRmxltRWXP8JjXYnZSIJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tony Carrillo, a resident who lives outside Greenfield city limits on Walnut Avenue, told the council his neighborhood is working through a coalition called Safe, Clean, and Affordable Water in Greenfield and that \"many of the wells in our area are contaminated with high level nitrates and some with 1, 2, 3 TCP,\" making the water unsafe to drink.

Pedro Henriques, a community solutions advocate with Community Water Center, said the Center completed a draft feasibility study by GHD Inc. that recommends a potential long‑term drinking-water solution for the affected households. He said the work was funded by the State Water Resources Control Board’s Safer program and that the draft was first shared with the council on March 12, 2024. He told the council the study was shared again with city staff and regional partners on Jan. 28, 2025, and that Community Water Center expects to bring details back to the council for an informational item after soliciting community and partner feedback.

Why it matters: Contamination of domestic wells with nitrates and 1,2,3‑TCP presents a public‑health concern for households that rely on private wells. The presenters asked the city to coordinate with state and county partners and to consider options identified in the feasibility study.

What was requested and next steps

- Community Water Center asked for continued coordination among City of Greenfield staff, Monterey County, LAFCO, Supervisor Lopez’s office, and the Department of Water Resources.

- The presenters said they plan more outreach to households on Walnut Avenue, Pine Avenue and nearby streets (Twelfth, Thirteenth and Fourteenth Streets) and indicated an intent to return with study findings in a forthcoming informational report after additional community review.

Clarifying details from the meeting

- Contaminants named: nitrates (high levels) and 1,2,3‑TCP (trichloropropane) were both cited by residents and the Community Water Center.

- Study and funding: Community Water Center said a draft feasibility study by GHD Inc. was funded by the State Water Resources Control Board Safer program; the draft was initially shared with council on 03/12/2024 and again with staff and partners on 01/28/2025.

Ending

Speakers said they would continue community outreach and coordinate with city staff and regional agencies; no formal council action was taken at the meeting.","Tony Carrillo told the council his neighborhood coalition, Safe, Clean, and Affordable Water in Greenfield, has identified domestic wells with high nitrate levels and some 1,2,3‑TCP contamination.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6328645,"City attorney-led Brown Act training reviewed meeting rules, teleconferencing and social media limits",4101,159000,4260000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2318529-b41247b7044dfb0d1abde4d7d99e52b0&start=159&end=4260","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2318529-b41247b7044dfb0d1abde4d7d99e52b0/thumbnail_159000.jpg","/articles/6328645/Greenfield-City/Monterey-County/California/City-attorney-led-Brown-Act-training-reviewed-meeting-rules-teleconferencing-and-social-media-limits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328645-a9ef8a4892a3167521a9edab2ecb45ef/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175082&Signature=ksFAzEvfpNZjiBwVUI9VyzrULWnQhlyAaJZggN5GV0G5mxcCGXHRD0-fQ9zRhjY7iHaTeavf1cy4qSW9XL~cIQ1HXVhjhDKwLihbEI1L4DLt5bA1MW05Y4-g9oYvwfjg0fH85oT7bADVTChoEa640jJze6s5t2TQ6AmtXvVsIbEXqfEvPX8B~3cJt4iA4QMsYNxBuqtEd-yau5gU~8~ixUgvQ~PTU-KH~o4uXSyji2hVeDhW3xCIMZBy9yK7jWmg9tdhMXfZndHAxJC6lpU~I177Fxcdyo7c5tjOV9enZhdF2HXlvr1TjrWFcUlKvsRjRDlUajJTqA2TjHVp4Q-aLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jennifer, a presenting counsel who led the Brown Act session, told the City of Greenfield City Council and Planning Commission that the Brown Act \"says that actions and deliberations be taken openly and in public,\" and she outlined how the law shapes posting, public comment and closed sessions.

The training summarized key rules and local practices the body must follow. Jennifer said regular meeting agendas must be posted 72 hours before a meeting (24 hours for special meetings) and described the law's definition of a meeting as \"any congregation of a majority of members at the same time and location to hear, discuss, or deliberate on any item within the public agency's jurisdiction.\" She emphasized that \"you don't have to actually make a decision for it to be a meeting\" — mere discussion can trigger Brown Act obligations.

Why it matters: The Brown Act governs how Greenfield's elected and appointed bodies may communicate and decide public business. Violations can lead to nullification of actions, court-ordered remedies and, in some cases, criminal penalties. The session highlighted practical areas that have caused uncertainty for local officials: serial or \"chain\" communications, social media interactions, teleconferencing rules that changed since COVID, public comment protocols and proper use of closed sessions.

Notable clarifications and audience questions

- Serial communications and “hub-and-spoke” chains: Jennifer explained that a series of one-on-one or hub-mediated messages that, taken together, involve a majority of a body can amount to an unlawful serial meeting. She advised officials to avoid reply-all email threads that reveal colleagues’ positions.

- Social media: Jennifer described a newer statutory development: likes or comments on social-media posts can, in some situations, be treated as Brown Act communications. She cautioned that, if a post concerns a matter within the body's jurisdiction, interactions can create impermissible deliberations even if only two members are involved.

- Teleconferencing: The presenter reviewed standard teleconference rules (posting the remote location on the agenda, open public access at that location) and newer options created after COVID. She summarized available exceptions — declared state-of-emergency, \"just cause\" (childcare, caregiving, contagious illness, disability, or official travel) and emergency circumstances — and noted limits on how often some exceptions can be used per year. She also noted a recent attorney-general opinion allowing long-term remote attendance as a reasonable accommodation for disability, but said the opinion has not been reconciled fully with Brown Act mechanics.

- Public comment and decorum: Jennifer explained the interplay between First Amendment protections and meeting decorum: members of the public may speak and record, but they cannot disrupt the meeting or speak outside established public-comment times. She described a de-escalation sequence (warning, brief recess, clearing room) that can be used when an audience member is disruptive.

- Closed sessions and confidentiality: The training covered permissible closed-session topics — negotiations on real property, pending litigation, certain personnel matters, labor negotiations, limited public-safety and cybersecurity discussions — and stressed that disclosure of closed-session content is a Brown Act violation and can have legal consequences.

What the council asked and the presenter’s practical advice

Council members asked whether attending conferences or facility tours (for example, a cannabis facility tour attended by three commissioners) could create violations; Jennifer said such attendance can be a violation if the subject matter falls within the body's jurisdiction and the gathering effectively results in collective discussion outside a public meeting. Commissioners asked about voting while teleconferencing; Jennifer said some teleconferencing modes require on-camera roll-call votes or two-way communication and that the majority of the body still must be physically present for many remote-attendance options.

Ending

Jennifer offered to provide her slides and said staff could follow up with written references. The training concluded with an invitation to contact counsel for clarifications before taking actions that might implicate the Brown Act.","A two-hour Brown Act training given to the City of Greenfield council and planning commission reviewed open-meeting requirements, teleconferencing exceptions, social-media guidance and penalties for violations, with staff and commissioners asking questions about field trips, serial communications and reasonable accommodations.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6328632,"Recreation and Science Workshop preview programs, community center outreach and Aquarium trip volunteer needs",5006,3553000,8559000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2318529-b41247b7044dfb0d1abde4d7d99e52b0&start=3553&end=8559","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2318529-b41247b7044dfb0d1abde4d7d99e52b0/thumbnail_3553000.jpg","/articles/6328632/Greenfield-City/Monterey-County/California/Recreation-and-Science-Workshop-preview-programs-community-center-outreach-and-Aquarium-trip-volunteer-needs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328632-40c316e7166d60a74dfeae8611734544/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175082&Signature=kWHNyoBIkgZcH0uwF8K03w9PVK1uT6LukF24wXjgxqspUzRmePa4QsfrR2sqoAG9Vzb9KjdudOktVCKpRx9-52JTF9O9L6PrK-dI5hgIjaCWOY0UlUtUV63Swoyngo1q2b9Bv9Yw0e5zdgFS2wqeB6dYy-HMLGjo3L~knvyHxW2lU-jt93Ae-tk~Gc513X9AvNVK-WjNY5W4ddIRbuPwYcJsTgCYfA~MnFTc~f0YtET6xhoIIL~-W7j64LLYQu4jPWrotcZja42MJfZJaklgvWwQyHv7YdPpco0Ip7uTkbrsiRabUn5uMYTGhQMI0eouWaBrc71O-WkhAZNGUNO1MA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Recreation Manager Jesus Perez and Jose Sanchez of the Greenfield Community Science Workshop presented an overview of year‑round programs, seasonal offerings and outreach plans and invited residents to a community meeting about the city’s new community center and park project.

Community meeting and project outreach

Jesus Perez said the city will host a public meeting on the new community center and park project at the Royal Sickle Academy cafeteria on Tuesday, Feb. 18, with a presentation from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. followed by Q&A to 7 p.m. He said NJ Architects and city staff will present project updates at a future council meeting and that refreshments will be provided.

Year‑round and seasonal programming

- Recreation: Perez listed ongoing programs that include youth basketball (about 180 kids this season), youth softball, adult fitness (Zumba; step-and-weights), senior bingo and arts-and-crafts, the video-game homework club, folklorico and ballet at the Cultural Arts Center and state‑funded Avatar Arts free programs.

- Science Workshop: Jose Sanchez described the workshop at 45 El Camino as an \"open, library‑style\" science center that operates 50 weeks per year and provides after‑school science, school partnerships, bike repair and outdoor field trips. The workshop coordinates roughly 20–25,000 learning experiences annually across school-based and drop‑in programming.

Outdoor Equity Grant trips and volunteer needs

Sanchez said the Science Workshop runs about 20 outdoor trips per year (examples: Monterey Bay Aquarium, Pinnacles, Yosemite, kayaking at Elkhorn Slough), and that annual participation varies by trip (aquarium buses often carry about 50 participants; camping trips serve smaller groups). He estimated the program serves hundreds of participants annually (roughly 600–700 across all trips in a typical year) and asked for volunteers to help with logistics and meal service on aquarium trips; adult volunteers require background checks and the city processes fingerprinting for volunteers.

Other items and facilities

Perez said the recreation office is at Patriot Park’s community center and noted coordination with the county pool program; staff said they have discussed offering pool programming if county facilities open. He confirmed the city is planning to evaluate Patriot Park as the likely dog‑park location (final site and design pending grant and state approvals).

Ending

Staff asked interested volunteers and residents to contact the Recreation Department (office phone provided) and to attend the Feb. 18 community meeting for details about the new community center and park.","Recreation staff and Greenfield Community Science Workshop summarized year‑round and seasonal programming, announced a community meeting on the new community center and park (Feb. 18, 5:30–7 p.m.), and asked for volunteers to help with upcoming outdoor trips including a Feb. 22 Monterey Bay Aquarium visit.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves formation proceedings for two maintenance assessment districts tied to Apple Avenue development

Public Works details wastewater repairs, generator hardening, Walnut Avenue bikeway and dog‑park planning

Residents, Community Water Center urge action after tests find high nitrate and 1,2,3-TCP in wells

City attorney-led Brown Act training reviewed meeting rules, teleconferencing and social media limits

Recreation and Science Workshop preview programs, community center outreach and Aquarium trip volunteer needs