[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6530285,"mediaKeyId","3677182-c667ef6c3d613d9181b4ebccbe57316f","parentId",3677182,"title","Council asks staff to propose phased return to full assessments for Landscaping & Lighting District; public hearing set","audioSeconds",712,"startMs",566000,"endMs",1278000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3677182-c667ef6c3d613d9181b4ebccbe57316f&start=566&end=1278","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3677182-c667ef6c3d613d9181b4ebccbe57316f/thumbnail_566000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6530285/Ridgecrest/Kern-County/California/Council-asks-staff-to-propose-phased-return-to-full-assessments-for-Landscaping-Lighting-District-public-hearing-set","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530285-c7041b37305d23493cea634551d5f264/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162101&Signature=UXJ7iuKsSLSpzGrfuFSsHBxaZ8BgeHR2WcTz5My0khJUzwG6xFWQktM6KMb5HAJm7AoMow-GyTCukGAJSM77ZiN8Bmc5Nt4pdhkqPFF~fqoK01Jij0ko5smWm3fnocJVFBFWS0BhxVAx-plqyknoGAl3pAZtboQCauW6-StyE3cvbn1B0m7tTawYcIkH8wWlg2BgFyl~MQLBEU~AAHSVUrjHT9EOOxlEqiEk-fwtK2nie8XvFbSSCkiuxgGuEarHdwGxuqKkAJwjI2pHgYhoCHEq-kh9DCE4rtLE0-HXeEr-a8EH2OUWq4SK0yphX2yB8aTEc0x-htx5QlB44NsSSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Ridgecrest","date","2025-06-05T14:21:29Z","article","The Ridgecrest City Council Wednesday voted to set a June 18 public hearing and asked city staff to develop a recommendation for how to roll a previously capped assessment for Zone 3 of the consolidated Landscaping & Lighting District 2012-1 back to its full amount.

The discussion centered on a single zone that has been receiving a reduced assessment (a cap) while other parcels in the district have borne higher costs; staff said reinstating the full assessment on the six capped parcels would shift more of the district's cost onto those parcels and reduce the general fund contribution currently covering the difference.

Travis Reed, a city staff member, told the council the consolidated engineer's draft report was prepared two ways to show the difference in assessments and that the city could either continue the cap with a general fund contribution or reinstate the full assessment. \"We consolidated the report into 1 item, so that way all of our assessment districts are covered under 1 report,\" Reed said. He described Zone 3 as the area around Walmart and said the staff report showed the difference in assessment outcomes.

Reed said the choice to keep the cap would require a general fund contribution of roughly $11,000; reinstating full assessments would spread the cost to the capped parcels. Reed also explained the district uses an Equivalent Benefit Unit (EBU) calculation and that the original maximum assessments increase by a cost-of-living factor (3% per year) though the council may levy less than the maximum.

Several councilmembers favored phasing a return to full assessments rather than an immediate, full reinstatement. \"We could tier it in,\" Reed said when asked about options; other councilmembers suggested rolling in over multiple years (examples offered included phases such as 25/50/75 or 50/75/100) to give property owners time to adapt. One member noted the capped parcels had received the reduced assessment for roughly eight years and that reserves had covered costs for several years until recent deficits.

The council moved and seconded the staff recommendation to set the hearing and asked staff to return with a specific phased plan for how the fees would be rolled in; the motion passed 5-0. Several councilmembers also urged staff to use the June 18 hearing to collect public comment and finalize a recommended phase-in percentage and timeline before returning to council with a draft implementation schedule.

Staff clarified that the city typically targets a reserve balance (staff said a rough target for residential zones was $30,000) to cover unexpected repairs; when reserves reach the target, the city reduces reserve contributions and the per-parcel assessment can drop accordingly. Reed noted the maximum assessment is set at formation and increases annually by the adopted inflation factor, but the council determines the actual levy each year.

Because the council set the hearing, property owners will have an opportunity at the June 18 meeting to comment before council decides whether to maintain the cap, reinstate full assessments, or approve a phased approach.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting 6/4/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Ridgecrest City Council Wednesday set a June 18 public hearing and asked staff to propose a phased plan to return Zone 3 of Landscaping & Lighting District 2012-1 (the area around Walmart) to its full assessment level.","taxTitle","Ridgecrest, Kern County, California","taxId",52022,"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},6530289,"Ridgecrest council sets June 18 hearing to continue drainage assessment district process",257,308000,565000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3677182-c667ef6c3d613d9181b4ebccbe57316f&start=308&end=565","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3677182-c667ef6c3d613d9181b4ebccbe57316f/thumbnail_308000.jpg","/articles/6530289/Ridgecrest/Kern-County/California/Ridgecrest-council-sets-June-18-hearing-to-continue-drainage-assessment-district-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530289-cd1c7c2c10ff27298f7ec7fb9f83be52/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162101&Signature=U4J8mFQcqfdmYujm~-u6J5zRcxaiLnS1m5snqRf28EDcxq6TnWUfY-bLGMc1AsRVb5kWpr1bYdZGIXNX7UtmAnkgDWjHh0jl2qBx1tcqovPPbMhwCpFPqIs68LVfA5g53gAm1LDesUccs-jvgpel5CRgpefOfJhe9VcvCb~vdDOhjFYkXDbzVux75ByY1Dylstk1U2Ya3166V2yMihrLumcPJPV9JdSXbJtG9OwAZp7k0E~u4w4TdR4mdM9jBQNyK2AC0HNv8C-qJMj9-nzSNKQk-3Yih5Y~B1CygKFMcoRgE4RpJ8chvIFBYyYlM-4ymItc3gV0gIaz4VgTIc70GA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ridgecrest City Council voted Wednesday to direct staff to prepare an engineer's report and set a public hearing for June 18 on the proposed levy and collection of assessments for Drainage Benefit Assessment District 2016-1 for fiscal year 2025-26.

The action, approved unanimously, does not levy new assessments. Staff said the vote simply places the proposed assessment on the June 18 agenda so the public and property owners can comment before the council makes any levy decision.

Travis Reid, a city staff member speaking on the item, told the council the drainage assessment covers drainage infrastructure in newer areas around College Heights Boulevard, including a D.R. Horton tract and other adjacent vacant parcels. \"What's covered in these are anything and everything that you can think of that's related to drainage. The sump that you see when you drive up College Heights Boulevard, as well as storm drain, and, slope embankments,\" Reid said. He emphasized the item before the council was only to set the public hearing and that no immediate assessment would be imposed.

A councilmember noted a clerical error in the draft resolution that listed the public hearing date as June 4, 2024; the council corrected the date to June 18, 2025 before voting. No members of the public spoke on the item at the meeting.

By setting the hearing, the city will publish the engineer's report and allow property owners to appear and comment or file protests at the June 18 meeting. If the council later chooses to impose or adjust assessments, that would require additional formal action following the public hearing.

The council approved the motion to set the hearing and authorize staff to prepare the engineer's report by a 5-0 vote.

Council members and staff said they wanted property owners and other stakeholders to have the opportunity to review the engineer's report and speak at the hearing before the council decided on any levy.","The Ridgecrest City Council directed staff to prepare an engineer's report and set a public hearing for June 18 on the Drainage Benefit Assessment District 2016-1 for fiscal year 2025-26; action was procedural and passed 5-0.",{"_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},6530280,"Council introduces zone map amendment for vacant parcel on North Downs; first reading passes",328,1284000,1612000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3677182-c667ef6c3d613d9181b4ebccbe57316f&start=1284&end=1612","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3677182-c667ef6c3d613d9181b4ebccbe57316f/thumbnail_1284000.jpg","/articles/6530280/Ridgecrest/Kern-County/California/Council-introduces-zone-map-amendment-for-vacant-parcel-on-North-Downs-first-reading-passes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530280-fbf19b07d235b4816a18a2b6e4b6d7bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162101&Signature=Gb0fmaD18rGPgSyKsnCBnepB3pwmdlpE-XTRUVx2F6k-rPHDGV~i3LaAOjevg4Z1L26BgEhDROJAG1mkxSjWH8su5lNzCSUuSQYZJLadA~n0plDhe58VzTVgpv0SO7SiZjrTBIzY1AJmXuEPFOv3edrhWnt0cKpYLheoKBwIzzOjubB6GynAx5kolIZMEjabFZRgC7dZWOpjQr7loexUioQB3R61y-DPdM-2FriAv1byraaVZ5vJJXrOiEhiFjm2nSdiOzmsaMakGwzePxe9sbXf5TINjYzKjLbHgVmGMFExcDIOKxbnR9ebttwp8mHShiXYShb6AWSkJ1K7clT93w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ridgecrest City Council on Wednesday introduced an ordinance to amend the zoning map for a privately owned vacant parcel on North Downs between West Ward and West Graff, moving the parcel from RSP (public use) to Commercial Neighborhood.

Heather, a city planning staff member, said staff initiated the zone change after finding the parcel had been labeled public use (RSP) on the map, potentially because the parcel south of it is owned by Sierra Sands. \"The property owner is aware of it and is pleased with us moving forward,\" Heather said, noting the parcel is vacant and the owner is actively marketing it for sale.

Planning staff told the council the parcel's size, frontage and lot depth conform to the zoning code and that its general plan designation already lists the site as Commercial Neighborhood, so the proposed rezoning would bring the map into conformance with the general plan. The proposed ordinance requires two meetings under the city's code; Wednesday's action was the introduction and first reading by title only.

Councilmembers asked whether there had been public comment at the planning commission; Heather said a representative of the property owner attended the planning commission hearing and no other public comments were reported. The owner is working with a realtor and has no specific development plans, Heather said.

The council voted 5-0 to introduce the ordinance by title and waive full reading. A second reading and a further vote are required before the zone map change would be final.

The council did not specify the property's APN in clear form during the meeting; the staff report included parcel identifiers but the transcript rendering of the numbers was unclear. The planning staff report and the planning commission record will be available in the city's agenda packet for those seeking parcel-level details.","The Ridgecrest City Council introduced and approved an ordinance to amend the zoning map for a privately owned vacant parcel on North Downs between West Ward and West Graff, moving its designation from public use (RSP) to Commercial Neighborhood; first reading passed 5-0.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council asks staff to propose phased return to full assessments for Landscaping & Lighting District; public hearing set

Ridgecrest council sets June 18 hearing to continue drainage assessment district process

Council introduces zone map amendment for vacant parcel on North Downs; first reading passes