GARDEN GROVE : Rejected Assessment Plan Being Revived

Responding to residents’ complaints, the City Council has decided to reconsider a new formula for assessing homeowners and businesses for landscaping and lighting costs.

The council last week voted against the plan, which would have lowered fees for single-family homes and raised them for businesses, industry, trailer parks and condominium or apartment complexes.

But after business owners complained about the dramatic jump in their rates, the council voted 3 to 2, with Mayor Bruce A. Broadwater and Councilman Bob Dinsen dissenting, to keep last year’s rate structure and put the matter on hold until next year.

On Wednesday night, however, residents voiced anger at the City Council for rejecting the new plan, which they said would have been fairer than the existing system.

“I think they should follow the recommendations of the consultants on the engineering report,” said Tom Petrosine. “I felt it seemed like a fair and equitable solution. When I looked at it last year 19,000 individual units were paying more than they should have, compared to condos, apartments and mobile home parks.”

Councilman Tony Ingegneri argued that the council should keep last year’s rates until it gets input from all sectors of the community.