Livermore’s Downtown has experienced a revitalization!  In 2005, the City of Livermore invested approximately $12 million in public improvements in downtown Livermore. Reconstruction of First Street included narrowing the street, construction of diagonal parking and outdoor dining areas, the Flag Pole Plaza and fountain, new street trees and landscaping.  Downtown Livermore is a great place to see and be seen.  New private development includes the new retail buildings on First Street and the new cinema.  Coming soon will be the Livermore Valley Center Plaza, the new performing arts theater and much more. To ensure a sustained funding source for maintenance services downtown, the City is taking the required steps to form a Downtown Landscape Maintenance District (DTLMD).

Downtown Landscape Maintenance District:

In July 2006, the City Council approved moving forward with the formation of the DTLMD. In response to public testimony, the City Council approved measures to ease the impact of assessments on downtown property owners.  Assessment phase-in and assessment deferral were among the measures approved by the City Council in July.  Landscaping and amenities that will be maintained by the DTLMD include the Flag Pole Plaza, Livermore Valley Center Plaza, Lizzie Fountain Plaza, Carnegie Park, pocket parks, Iron Horse Trail and pathways, bluestone sidewalks, flex zone parking and dining areas and the fountains.

Owner Occupied Deferrals:

For owner occupied residential properties within the proposed district, the City will be offering an option for assessment deferral.  Under this option, property owners can choose to enter into an agreement with the City to defer their assessments until such time as their property either sells or develops. Assessment deferral could be continued for property sale or transfer to a family member. Any residential property owner that is interested in this program can contact the City for additional information.

Commercial Property Assessment Phase-in:

For commercial properties that had operating businesses during construction of the First Street Streetscape improvements, assessments will be phased in over a three year period with 0% the first year, 50% the second year and 100% in the third year and beyond. 

The next steps:

On February 12, 2007, the City Council adopted a Resolution of Intent to form the Downtown Landscape Maintenance District.   Ballots were sent to all property owners within the proposed district on February 20th and February 21st.  Property owners will have until April 9, 2007 to vote to either support or oppose the formation of the Maintenance District.  A public hearing will be held on April 9, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at 3575 Pacific Avenue.  Ballots may be turned in until the close of the public hearing on April 9, 2007.  On April 10, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. votes will be tabulated at City Hall.  The tabulation of votes is open to the public.  On April 23, 2007, City staff will return to the City Council to report the results of the vote.

 If you have any questions regarding the proposed Landscape Maintenance District, please contact:

 Kevin Duffus or Lorraine Purcell, City of Livermore Engineering Division at (925) 960-4500.

Click on the following links for additional information:

Engineers Report

2007 Presentation

Preliminary Boundary Map

Frequently Asked Questions 

What is a Landscape Maintenance District or LMD and why do we have them?
A Landscape Maintenance District (LMD) is created to pay for the costs of on-going maintenance of public landscaping that provides special benefits to parcels in given areas of the City. The district provides services solely for the benefit of those parcels located within each district. These 89 districts benefit about 25% of the City. Formation of LMD is governed by the Landscape and Lighting Act of 1972, Part 2 of Division 15 of the California Streets and Highways Code.

There are many benefits associated with the landscaping within the LMD:

• Improved visual aesthetic appeal of nearby parcels.
• Improved dust control.
• Enhanced adaptation of the urban environment within the natural environment.
• Improved erosion resistance.
• Improved drainage and flood control.
• The special enhancement to the value of property, which results from the above benefits.

How much do I pay for the LMD?
Since each district’s costs are based on the area and length of lot frontage along First Street and number of lots within the district, you will need to review the Engineer’s Report determine your assessment.

What is an Engineer’s Report?
An Engineer’s Report is a document prepared annually by the City under the requirements of the Landscape and Lighting Act of 1972, Part 2 of Division 15 of the California Streets and Highways Code.   In order to levy and collect special assessments within the districts, the City must prepare an Engineers Report which provides details on the improvements that are maintained and the estimated budgets for each district.

Who do I contact if I have a question about the Engineer’s Report?
If you have any questions, please call Lorraine Purcell, Associate Civil Engineer, Engineering Division at (925) 960-4500.

What is an “enduring cap”?
An “enduring cap” is a maximum assessment that will remain effective from year to year. The enduring cap is a calculation of all direct and administrative costs, plus a 10% contingency, spread evenly across all parcels or acres within each of the districts, with an inflation adjustment of the Consumer Price Index plus 1%. Without an enduring cap, the previous year’s assessment as modified for inflation by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) serves as the assessment cap for the new year, which may be significantly less than what is required to fully maintain the district’s landscaping.

What are the direct costs that are used in calculating the cap?

• Personnel Costs – Wages and benefits for the people who perform the work.
• Materials – Or supplies, including soil, rocks, plants.
• Water – For irrigation.
• Utilities – Including electricity and phone for running automatic or centralized irrigation systems.
• Equipment – For on-going maintenance and future purchases of items such as mowers, trimmers, etc.

Who do I contact if I have a question about the maintenance?
Please contact Public Works Department, Maintenance Division at (925) 960-8020 or fill out the on-line request form.

Who maintains the landscaping within the LMD?
City Maintenance crews (Public Services Department) perform the majority of the maintenance.  City crews are supplemented with the use of private landscape contractors. Prior to 2003, the City put out to bid and contracted out all the work to private landscape contractors.

What kind of maintenance do the City crews do?
For turf areas: mow, edge, aerate, fertilize, adjust/check/repair irrigation system, weed control, litter pickup, clean hardscape (meandering paths, concrete pathways) areas, and rodent control.

For groundcover areas: prune, edge, apply post/pre-emergents & plant growth regulators, fertilize, litter pickup, adjust/check/repair irrigation system, weed control, rodent control and dead-heading (removal of dead blooms).

For shrub & tree areas: structural pruning, sucker removal, pest/disease control, sight/sign clearing (removal of branches or trimming shrubs that might impair line of sight when driving or blocks signage), fertilize, clean hardscape areas, adjust/check/repair irrigation system, apply post/pre-emergents, litter pickup, staking/bracing/removal, weed control and rodent control.

For non-vegetated areas (open space): litter pickup, apply post/pre-emergent (selected areas), fire abatement.

Additional work as needed: playground inspection/repair, decorative light inspection/repair, inspection for acceptance of new sites, vandalism and graffiti cleanup.

Who do I contact if I have more questions about the Landscape Maintenance Districts?
If you have any questions, please call Kevin Duffus, Associate Civil Engineer, Engineering Division at (925) 960-4500.