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Conduct a noticed Public Hearing and consider adopting a resolution setting the Green Valley Open Space Maintenance District Levy of Assessment for FY2025/26; Approve the Engineer’s Report; Confirm the Diagram and Assessment; and Order the Levy of Assessment for the Landscape and Lighting Maintenance Assessment District
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Published Notice Required? Yes __X__ No _ __
Public Hearing Required? Yes __X__ No _ __
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Resource Management recommends that the Board of Supervisors:
1. Conduct a noticed Public Hearing and consider adopting a resolution setting the Green Valley Open Space Maintenance District Levy of Assessments for FY2025/26;
2. Approve the Engineer’s Report;
3. Confirm the Diagram and Assessment; and
4. Order the Levy of Assessment for the Landscape and Lighting Maintenance Assessment District.
SUMMARY:
In October 1990, the Board created the Green Valley Open Space Maintenance District (District) following a majority vote of property owners in favor of its formation. At that time, the Board also entered into an agreement with the City of Fairfield and the Solano Land Trust to levy an annual assessment in the District with monies raised would be used by the Solano Land Trust to acquire and maintain open space lands in the Green Valley area along with funds raised by the North Cordelia Community Facilities District No. 2 in the City of Fairfield. This agreement is described in more detail in the discussion section below.
On June 3, 2025, pursuant to the provisions of the Landscape and Lighting Act of 1972, the Board scheduled a public hearing for July 22, 2025 and adopted two resolutions regarding the FY2025/26 Green Valley Open Space Maintenance District assessments (Attachment D). One resolution directed the preparation of the Annual Engineer’s Report (Resolution No. 2025-132) and the second stated the Board’s intention to order improvements and levy assessments for the Green Valley Open Space Maintenance District (Resolution No. 2025-133). Today’s actions are to hold the duly noticed public hearing to consider adopting a resolution (Attachment A) setting the levying of assessment which, if approved, will total $170.00 per lot for FY2025/26, an increase of $2.50 from the FY2024/25 assessment, and consistent with the agreement between the County, the City of Fairfield, and the Solano Land Trust; to approve the Engineer’s Report (Attachment B); to confirm the Diagram and Assessment; and to order the Levy of Assessment.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the Department’s FY2025/26 Working Budget. This action has no impact to the County General Fund, with funding provided through an assessment levied under the Green Valley Open Space Maintenance District.
DISCUSSION:
Concurrently with the creation of the Green Valley Open Space Maintenance District in October 1990, the Board entered into an agreement with the City of Fairfield and the Solano Land Trust which provides that: (1) the Board will levy an annual assessment in the District in an amount which will increase $2.50 each year from 1989-90 base year of $80; (2) the City of Fairfield will levy a special tax annually on property in the North Cordelia Community Facilities District No. 2 in the same amount per parcel as the County district assessment; and (3) the monies raised from both districts will be used by the Solano Land Trust to acquire and maintain open space lands in the Green Valley area. The Engineer’s Report identifies assessment revenues will total $118,490 based on 697 assessed parcels.
The Solano Land Trust (SLT) has prepared a report on the Green Valley Land Conservation Project (Attachment C). The report includes a proposed budget for FY2025/26 and a financial summary. In its report, the SLT provides highlights of significant work completed at the Patwino Worrtla Kodoi Dihi Park (formerly Rockville Trails Preserve), which was partially funded by Green Valley Assessment funding.
While the SLT owns the park, Solano County Parks manages visitor access Fridays through Mondays. All amenities, including parking for vehicles and horse trailers, restrooms, shade structures, a kiosk, picnic tables and benches, and a nature garden, are now complete. Infrastructure for livestock grazing is also in place, and some additional signage is underway. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on August 21, 2024, and the park opened to the public on August 23, 2024. From August 24, 2024, through May 31, 2025, attendance totaled 5,906 visitors, as reported by Solano County Parks.
In the Lynch Canyon area, the SLT now owns and manages two adjacent properties (the Brown and Souza properties). A public access and natural resource management plan is in development and is expected to be completed by July 2026. Starting in July 2025, the SLT will begin public engagement with contractor support to address safety and access issues. The goal is to open the expansion area for public access by 2029.
Public Noticing Requirement
Notice of the public hearing and Resolution 2025-133 was published at least 10 days before the scheduled hearing in the Fairfield Daily Republic, as resolved in Resolution 2025-133, adopted June 3, 2025.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to levy the assessment and direct staff to prepare amendments to County’s 1990 agreement with the City of Fairfield and the Solano Land Trust to either reduce or terminate the assessments. Staff does not recommend this alternative since the District was supported and formed by a majority vote of the property owners within the District and the funds are being used for their intended purpose.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The City of Fairfield prepares the draft Engineer’s Report and administers the program in conjunction with the Solano Land Trust under the 1990 agreement. The Department of Resource Management has reviewed the Engineer’s Report and supports its adoption.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION