LMD
FAQ
Additional Information:
Landscape Maintenance District –
Lower Stonecrest (LMD)
1. Why
did the City originally tell us that it would cost us each $1,350
a year to maintain the LMD? Why did the City then change it to $700?
The $1,350 fee
was determined based on the California Department of Real Estate’s
1998 estimate that maintenance of HOA landscaping costs a minimum
of .25 cents per square foot. There are 54.05 acres of landscaped
area in Lower Stonecrest, or 2,354,418 square feet. At .25 per square
foot, the total cost is $588,604 or $1,350 per residence.
The estimate
of .25 per square foot is based on landscaped areas meeting certain
standards. At the time that the City inspected the Stonecrest LMD,
it did not meet many typical standards. For instance, there were
no flow meters which can lead to slope failures if there is a line
break, many slopes are steeper than typical, there was excessive
pressure in the pipes, there is inadequate maintenance access, and
there are areas without easements. If the LMD is brought up to the
standards upon which the .25 square foot is based, all of these
items would need to be corrected, maintained, and the higher fee
assessed.
After hearing
from Stonecrest residents that they did not want to pay the higher
fee, the City agreed to take over the facilities and maintenance
of the LMD as it exists today, instead of making the improvements
that would require the higher fee.
2.
Why can the County maintain the LMD with a $700 cap but the City
wants to increase the cap with inflation?
The County will
not be able to continue to provide the same level of service that
exists today if the fee cap remains at $700. According to the County
LMD budget, the estimated total cost to provide landscaping services
for 2004-2005 was $341,000. With about 453 residences, this equals
about $752 per residence. Residences have been paying less because
the County was using the Stonecrest LMD fund balance to subsidize
the fee. This fund balance was $1,079,108 in 1999-2000. The County’s
estimated fund balance for 05-06 is down to $270,157. This fund
balance will be gone next year. Therefore, because the LMD fee
cannot be increased above $700 to cover the $752 per residence cost,
adequate funds will not exist to provide the current services or
improve and/or replace broken equipment. Services will be cut. As
the cost of providing landscape maintenance rises due to increased
fuel costs, labor costs, etc., services will have to be cut even
more.
The City will
have the ability to increase the $700 cap consistent with inflation
and be able cover these costs so service does not decrease.
3. Can
the County continue to maintain the LMD once it is annexed?
 Click
here to read a letter
from the County of L.A. to the City of Santa Clarita explaining
this process.
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