West Covina Man Hopes to Launch Revolt Against Tax for Landscaping

Frank Barbagallo is hardly a tax revolter to rival Howard Jarvis and Paul Gann, the pair who upset the state’s political landscape in the late 1970s.

But the 33-year-old West Covina resident wants to start a taxpayer’s revolt that would affect the city budget much like Proposition 13, which slashed local property taxes.

Barbagallo says West Covina is misusing more than $1.5 million in annual taxes collected from hundreds of homeowners for landscaping. Some homeowners have been paying between $400 and $650 annually for nine years and have been getting nothing in return, he said.

On Monday, Barbagallo is scheduled to address the City Council about his concerns, and the city staff--which denies Barbagallo’s allegations--is set to respond.

“We’re paying money for no services,” Barbagallo said. “If you’re going to charge someone for service, you damn well better provide it.”

The maintenance districts, established over the past 20 years in five of the city’s newer subdivisions, are intended to ensure that developers provide greenery, which the city subsequently maintains.

Researched Records

After an extensive review of city records, Barbagallo said the city has spent little or no money on landscape maintenance in his neighborhood. Although Barbagallo said the same thing is taking place in all city maintenance districts, his research concentrated on his East Hills neighborhood and two adjoining tracts.

In his neighborhood, part of Maintenance District 6, there are 240 households that pay a combined $130,000 to the city each year, he said. In District 7, 400 homeowners pay $200,000 annually, and in District 4 homeowners pay about $1 million in landscape assessments, he said.

City officials say residents are receiving all services for which they are paying.

Harry W. Thomas, public works division manager, said homeowners in Barbagallo’s neighborhood are paying to maintain 91 acres of “common open space” around their upscale, hillside homes.

Of the common acreage, only about eight acres are intended to have actual landscaping and irrigation, Thomas said. The remainder is to stay in its “natural state” with only fire prevention and other minimal maintenance, he said.

“I get the impression that there may be some feeling that the whole 91-acre area was supposed to be landscaped,” Thomas said. “Since that didn’t happen, maybe there’s some dissatisfaction about that.”

Landscaping Slowed

Barbagallo said that the city has not provided brush removal or fire protection measures in the areas designated as “natural state.”

Thomas acknowledged that promised landscaping on the eight acres has been slowed by a succession of home developers backing out of their commitments, but he said the work should be completed sometime this year.

“What he is saying is erroneous,” Barbagallo said. “You tell me where the trees are that it (the city) is maintaining.”

Sitting in his family’s home in the hills overlooking the city, Barbagallo recalled that he first noticed a $424 charge for “landscape maintenance” shortly after moving to West Covina in June, 1987.

Pointing to barren areas where he said there are supposed to be trees, shrubs and grass, Barbagallo questioned what the money was being used for.

Thomas said most of the estimated $40,000 the district spends each year pays for that portion of city staff needed to administer the district. A fire prevention plan is being prepared for Districts 6 and 7, he said.

Contingency Account

Since 1981, Thomas said, the leftover funds have been put in a contingency account, which will provide for repairs in the event of a landslide in the area. The area has a history of slides, according to city engineers. The contingency fund will reach its $250,000 goal this year, and additional surplus funds will probably be used to lower future taxes, he said.

In a report to the city, Barbagallo asked that the city collect no taxes until significant landscaping work is completed in all of the districts.