Key Takeaways From the May 18 La Verne City Council Meeting
A City budget preview, landscaping fees, La Verne's long-term water plan, a $4 million internal city loan, and new rules for e-bikes and scooters.
Before the regular City Council meeting May 18, the City held a Budget Study Session, where they presented a draft of the FY 2026-27 budget.
The draft budget currently shows about a $233,600 shortfall after staff revised revenue and spending projections during a recent budget study session. That deficit number originally came back at more than $4 million.
Staci Baird
Here’s a quick look at what was discussed, debated and decided at the May 18 City Council meeting.
đź”— May 18 City Council Meeting Agenda Packet (pdf)
âś… Consent Calendar
Items on the Consent Calendar are routine and typically passed as a package unless pulled for individual discussion.
Council approved all items on the Consent Calendar.
🇺🇸 Here's one item of note: the July 6 City Council Meeting was canceled due to its proximity to the Fourth of July holiday. Any pending business will be moved to the July 20 meeting or later.
📢 Public Hearings
Residents may speak during Public Hearings. Complete a speaker card before the item is called, or participate via Zoom.
Landscaping & Lighting Maintenance Districts Annual Levies
The Council held four separate public hearings to approve annual assessment fees for neighborhoods and zones that pay into special maintenance districts.
Why it matters: If you live in one of these neighborhoods, these fees show up on your annual property tax bill. Approval locks in the rates for the coming fiscal year. If costs keep climbing faster than what these districts can legally collect, the City will eventually need to go to voters for permission to raise the cap—a process called Proposition 218.
Here's the breakdown:
District No. 6 (Multiple Zones) Most zones are holding flat this year. Zones 4-I and 6 are seeing small CPI-based increases—$163.03 and $319.74 per parcel, respectively.
District No. 7 — La Verne Heights III
No change, but the City is exploring a Prop. 218 process for future rate adjustments. ($693.26 per parcel)
District No. 8 — Marshall Canyon Estates
No change. Same situation as District 7—reserves are covering the gap this year while the City looks at long-term options. ($249.70 per parcel)
Maintenance District No. 84-1M — Esperanza Road Slopes
No change. ($8.00 per parcel)
What District Am I In?
Find your Landscape Lighting District Zone using the City's map.
Previous Coverage
Staci Baird
Urban Water Management & Water Shortage Contingency Plans
State law requires every water agency to update its long-range water supply and drought response plan every five years. During the May 18 meeting, Council adopted its 2025 update, which addresses water reliability, conservation requirements, and the framework for responding to shortages across six defined drought stages.
Why it matters: This plan is how La Verne documents where its water comes from, how much it expects to need over the next 25 years, and what it will do—step by step—if supply runs short. See the full Water Management Plan & Water Shortage Contingency Plan
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Discussion Calendar
Residents may speak on Discussion Calendar items. Complete a speaker card before the item is called.
🔥 Hot Topic
First Reading—Ordinance on Regulated Mobility Devices
Electric bicycles, scooters and other mobility devices could soon face new rules in La Verne as city leaders continue trying to balance rider safety with growing concerns about sidewalk conflicts and reckless riding.
After months of discussion, city staff formally introduced a mobility safety ordinance regulating how e-bikes, scooters and other “regulated mobility devices” can operate citywide.
➡️ Read the current proposed ordinance (as well as the previous draft and comments from the Transportation and Infrastructure Commission.
Why it matters: This was the first reading for the ordinance. Council did not vote to adopt it. A second reading (and final vote) will likely occur at the June 1 Council meeting. If you have thoughts, now is the time to speak up.
Staci Baird
Previous Coverage
Staci Baird
Internal Loan from Sewer Fund to Water Fund—Up to $4 Million
Council approved a loan structure—similar to a line of credit—allowing the Water Fund to borrow up to $4 million from the Sewer Fund as needed. The Water Fund is experiencing a cash flow gap as it waits for recently approved water rate increases to fully kick in. Funds would only be drawn as needed, interest would accrue only on what's actually borrowed, and repayment would begin in FY 2027-28. Interest is pegged to the state's Local Agency Investment Fund (LAIF) rate.
Why it matters: This item was continued from the May 4 meeting after language in the repayment terms needed to be clarified. It's back now with a revised structure. Rather than borrowing the full $4 million upfront, the line-of-credit approach means ratepayers won't be on the hook for interest on money the City hasn't actually used yet. No General Fund dollars are involved—this is entirely between the City's water and sewer accounts.
đź‘Ą Upcoming Dates to Note
Memorial Day Ceremony
11 a.m. Monday, May 25
Veterans Hall, 1550 Bonita Ave., La Verne
More information
Youth & Family Action Subcommittee Meeting
5 p.m. Tuesday, May 26
City Council Chambers, 3660 D St., La Verne
More information
City Council Meeting
6:30 p.m. Monday, June 1
City Hall Council Chambers, 3660 D St., La Verne
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