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BACKGROUND <br /> GHAD - Purpose and Description <br /> A GHAD is a property assessment district authorized by California Public Resources <br /> Code §26500 to conduct bi-annual geologic and storm drainage infrastructure <br /> monitoring, to perform annual maintenance, and to repair slope stabilization <br /> infrastructure, significant landslides, or other geologic movement should it occur within <br /> the District. The source of funding for the GHAD is an annual assessment from each <br /> property within the District. <br /> GHADs are formed when a geotechnical investigation at the time of development <br /> reveals land areas within the property that are unsuitable for housing or other <br /> structures. These undevelopable areas within the property are set aside as open space <br /> with infrastructure constructed to lessen the likelihood of damage from soil movement. <br /> The infrastructure includes drainage ditches, pipelines, rip rap armoring, etc. The GHAD <br /> funds the operation, monitoring, maintenance, repair, and eventually replacement of this <br /> infrastructure. <br /> There are four GHADs within the City of Pleasanton, all located on the west side of <br /> Foothill Road (listed from north to south): Laurel Creek Estates (120 properties), Moller <br /> Ranch (100 properties), Lemoine Ranch Estates (12 properties), and Oak Tree Farm <br /> (42 properties). Similar to any special assessment district, GHADs assess property <br /> owners for a benefit they receive that is special to them. Formation of each GHAD <br /> established that the City Council would serve as the Board of Directors. The Board of <br /> Directors establishes annual assessments based upon "Plan of Control" documents <br /> created for each District. After establishment of each GHAD, annual assessments have <br /> been collected from property owners in the same manner as property taxes. <br /> The City utilizes the services of a consultant to provide observation, geographic <br /> information system (GIS) mapping, and recommendation services for each of the four <br /> GHADs. The consultant visits each GHAD at least twice per year, once in the fall <br /> (before winter rain) and once in the spring (after winter rain). The consultant documents <br /> the performance of slope stabilization infrastructure with photographs and written notes. <br /> This information is mapped and uploaded to a GIS computer database for convenient <br /> access and historical record keeping. If a significant problem is observed, then the <br /> consultant will provide specific recommendations to remedy the issue. The consultant is <br /> also available on-call should a major storm event cause damage that requires an <br /> engineering intervention. <br /> Proposition 218 Compliance <br /> All four of the GHADs were created prior to the passage of Proposition 218 in <br /> November of 1996 and have an escalation factor to compensate for inflation. The <br /> assessments fund geologic monitoring and related maintenance services that provide a <br /> special benefit to the properties within the GHADs but do not benefit the public at large. <br /> Page 2 of 3 <br />