Property Owners to Vote on Assessments for Park Upkeep

With the future of Garden Grove’s parks hanging in the balance, property owners here will vote soon on whether they will continue to pay for the upkeep and maintenance of the city’s 13 parks.

At issue is more than $700,000 contributed yearly by property owners in lighting and landscaping assessments. The funds are used to pay for park maintenance and would be shifted into a separate park maintenance district if owners vote to continue the average $15 yearly assessment.

The city will mail ballots to property owners by the end of the month.

Under Proposition 218, passed last year, parks may not be paid for with funds collected by lighting districts. Property owners must also approve any new special assessment districts, such as a park maintenance district.

At its meeting Monday night, the City Council approved the ballot measure, with Bob Dinsen, who opposes taxes, voting against the polling.

City Manager George Tindall had earlier warned that some parks could be closed if property owners reject the assessment. “If they say no, we have a $700,000 problem,” he said.

A total of $2 million is currently collected in lighting and landscaping assessments.