About the Landscape Lot Levy
History
In September 1999, a petition was put to the residents of Citadel and Morningside in Citadel with regard to implementing a special tax/enhancement landscape maintenance fee. The exact wording on the petition read: “A Special Tax/Enhancement Landscape Maintenance Fee. I approve a tax levy of $65 per household to provide enhanced landscape maintenance to the entrance ways, boulevards, and Citadel community site, as outlined by The Citadel Community Association.” The petition was approved by a greater than 66% vote and the first year the tax was levied was 2000.
Special Tax Levies
Adapted from an Article from City of Calgary Parks Department. Section 382 of the Municipal Government Act (MGA) allows a municipality to pass a special tax bylaw to generate additional resources to pay for enhanced services such as boulevard maintenance. The Boulevard Maintenance Special Tax generates funds to finance additional park or green space maintenance which can includes the following actives: increased watering, fertilizing, increased grass mowing, more flowers or planter boxes. Special Tax Levies have been established in the communities of Christie Park, Patterson Hills, Citadel, Diamond Cove, and Douglasdale for enhanced maintenance. The per household contribution to a Tax Levy is based on the following criteria:
- The amount of land involved
- Pre determined maintenance activities
- Activity frequencies and material cost
- The number of households per community
The overall value of the funds collected through the tax levy process has remained virtually unchanged. The cost per annum per household started at $65 and is still $65 per annum. The City of Calgary requests all Tax Levy communities to select a turf maintenance contractor through a transparent, tendering process. This process shall align with principles and conditions similar to those used by The City of Calgary. Calgary Parks will have the options to apply for these tenders as an equal. These special tax levies for enhanced boulevard maintenance are one year Bylaws, renewed on a yearly basis.
The Community Association must receive approval from Calgary Parks for any proposed changes in the levy collected from each household. The City of Calgary will advise property owners in the community of the proposed increase. Homeowners will have the opportunity to file a petition against should they so desire. A valid petition against must be signed by two-thirds of the residential property owners in the Community.
In 2003, The City introduced guidelines and regulations to help Citadel Community Association, the City Parks department and the City Streets department to streamline the bidding, review and implementation process.
On April 22, 2009 the Citadel Community Association hosted a meeting open for all community association members to vote on whether the community should keep the Citadel lot levy. Below are the results of the vote:
88 votes to keep the levy | 1 vote against keeping the levy. There were no spoiled ballots.
