Live Oak Council Approves Assessment Proposals for Five Landscaping Districts

The August 4, 2025, Regular City Council Meeting in Oakdale focused on the assessment proposals for various districts, including Live Oak, Rhineland Court, Sunset Meadows, Sterling Hills, and Murdoch Court. The meeting began with a presentation detailing the number of parcels in each zone, the authorized assessment amounts, and the proposed changes.

For the Live Oak district, the maximum authorized assessment is $331, with a proposed assessment of $62. This low cost is attributed to homeowners taking responsibility for maintaining their mow strips and paying for their landscaping water. The city primarily covers expenses for street lights and tree pruning, which occurs every five years.

Rhineland Court is proposed to have its assessments set at maximum levels due to its small size, while Sunset Meadows is projected to break even without any proposed increase, despite having reserves to manage unexpected costs. Sterling Hills also will not see an increase but is expected to face a $2,700 deficit, which can be absorbed by its reserves.

Murdoch Court, another small district, has historically had one property owner cover mowing costs, but homeowners have recently taken over this responsibility. Despite this, the district is projected to have a $600 deficit, manageable through its limited reserves. The proposed increase for this district is $1 per month.

City staff requested the council to adopt resolutions for the levy and assessments as outlined in the staff report. It was noted that these assessments would not impact the general fund, as each district is responsible for its own costs.

The meeting concluded with an opportunity for public comment, where concerns were raised about the timing of the proposals and the lack of options for changes. The council had previously discussed these assessments in prior meetings, indicating ongoing dialogue regarding the financial management of the districts.