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Foothills Sentry


Tuesday, February 10, 2015


Santiago Hills special district fees may have to go up


By Tina Richards Homeowners in Santiago Hills and Hillsdale will soon be asked by


the City of Orange to approve a rate increase for landscaping, main- tenance, lighting and irrigation in the common areas of the neighbor- hood. It would be the first rate increase since the maximumannual rate was determined in 1987. Santiago Hills in East Orange is unique in that it is only one of two


neighborhoods citywide that pays an annual landscape maintenance fee to the city. Most common areas in the city’s neighborhoods are maintained by homeowners associations. When Santiago Hills was built in 1987, it was assigned “special district” status wherein an annu- al fee appears on property tax bills for landscaping services provided by city contractors. Residents, however, do not pay for the 27-acre city park that abuts White Oak Road or the elementary school. Santiago Canyon College pays its share of the landscape assessment. The other special district, Sycamore Crossing, pays the city to main-


tain its open space and a portion of Santiago Creek. Several years ago, homeowners in that development investigated options to take on the responsibility for those areas themselves. According to Community Services Director Marie Knight, residents dropped the idea when they couldn’t find a landscape service more affordable than the city.


No cost of living increases In the 27 years since Santiago Hills was built, the cost of utilities,


labor, water and supplies has gone up. The neighborhood assessment has risen by just one penny, from $369.43 per year to $369.44. Those living in condos pay less. Because the fee schedule was capped in 1987, the annual assessment cannot be increased without the approval of voters. “The current rate is no longer enough,” says Parks and Fa- cilities Manager Dana Robertson. “We have, since 2007, had to cut services and watering schedules. The irrigation system is 25 years old, but we don’t have the funds to replace it.” Since the cost cutting began, residents have complained about dy-


ing trees and shrubbery, brown lawns, weeds and plants that need to be replaced or removed. Burnt out street lights along the paseos have not been immediately replaced, drawing additional ire from neighbors. A previous attempt to raise rates in 2007 failed. Voters were asked


to approve a hike to $432.52, but the ballot measure didn’t pass. “That tells me our outreach wasn’t enough,” says Marie Knight. “We didn’t do a good enough job of explaining why the rate increase was neces- sary.” This time around, the city hopes to convince residents of the need for an increase via public meetings, direct mail and conversations with anyone who wants to learn more. “I’m available,” Knight says. “I’ll meet with small groups over cof-


fee, I’ll come to you. Just let me know when and where.” “This is a must win,” Robertson explains. “Even with an increase,


we’ll still be treading water. It’ll take several years to catch up and just get even again.” If the fee hike fails again, the city will be forced to make further cuts, which will lead to more dead trees, brown grass and complaints from neighbors.


Common areas in Santiago Hills and Hillsdale are maintained by the City of Orange, and paid for by property owners via an assessment on their tax bill. Rates are still based on 1987 pricing and have not kept up with inflation.


Go native? The city is considering a more drought-tolerant


plant palette. It is planning to redo the entry area at Chapman and Newport with native plants and those that require less water. “It’s all going to de- pend on what the community thinks,” says Knight. “Drought-tolerant plants are not green and lush like people are used to. And because those plants grow slower, the grounds often look sparse until the vegetation fills in. People don’t want it to look like weeds.” An eventual transition to native landscaping, how-


ever, will also cost money that the special district is not currently providing. In January, residents of Santiago Hills and Hill-


Photos by Tony Richards


sdale were asked to complete a survey designed to glean neighborhood attitudes and concerns about the common landscaping, and to give the city a ballpark idea of how much (if any) of an increase homeown- ers will accept. Even with a rate increase, Santiago Hills is, ac-


cording to Marie Knight, getting a good deal. She cites information from the California Association of Homeowners Associations indicating that aver- age HOA fees in Orange County are $400 to $450 per month. Dues for an HOA that mostly maintains landscaping, as the city does, could be lower. For Santiago Hills, the special district fees are annual, translating into a little over $45 per month per home- owner, and about $30 a month per condo.


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