Merit raise for Yorba Linda City Manager; some city fees increased; final revote for landscape maintenance zone fee hike now taking place

A merit raise for City Manager Mark Pulone, a restructuring of fees paid by residents for some city services and a re-vote to set higher maintenance fees in one of the city's local landscape zones are recent actions taken by Yorba Linda's City Council.

First, Pulone, who began his city service in 2013, is now earning a $241,022 annual salary, up 5 percent. Pulone's latest contract amendment calls only for the salary hike, with health and retirement benefits – listed as $67,888 in the city's required report to the state – and term – through October 2021 – remaining the same as last year.

Second, a small number of fees in the city clerk, finance, library and parks and recreation departments have been revised, while more significant fee adjustments in the planning, engineering and building departments await action after completion of a new study.

The fees increased will bring in an additional $50,000 in revenue, “primarily attributable to the recommended increases to parks and recreation rental fees,” noted a report by Finance Director Scott Catlett.

The proposed fee increases to be recommended for planning, engineering and building matters “may in some cases be substantial,” Catlett stated, adding, “At that time the council may wish to consider a gradual implementation of fee increases over a number of years, with cost recovery beginning at a lower percentage and increasing toward 100 percent each year.”

According to Catlett, “the fees for planning, engineering and building are now 12 years old,” and “because they are based on the cost of providing these services in 2005, the amount of revenue generated by the fees is clearly less than the cost of providing the service.”

With some fees up to 30 years old, officials stated an intent to update fee schedules every three years. Also, the city manager has authority to apply consumer price index increases at his discretion, with appropriate notification to the council.

Third, property owners in the northwest section of the city, including Vista Del Verde residences, are in the process of voting on increases in yearly landscape maintenance fees to $1,088 from the current $493.

The 759 parcel owners in the underfunded Zone 5a are voting by mail, with ballots due Nov. 7, the day of a public hearing set before the council. Passage requires a majority of the zone's assessed valuation. The zone includes 745 residences and 14 undeveloped parcels.

Property owners in several of the city's 33 local maintenance zones voting on assessment hikes the past couple of years requested re-votes after initial tallies turned down increases.

The current vote is expected to be the last re-vote for these underfunded zones. A petition with 270 signatures was submitted seeking a new ballot, well over the 194 required. If successful, the increase will be added to 2017-18 property tax bills from the county or, possibly, billed separately by the city.