COUNCILMAN FLOATS PROPOSAL TO TAX DOS VIENTOS FOR COSTS.

Byline: Cecilia Chan Daily News Staff Writer

With the city failing in its effort to get the Borchard Road extension redesigned, a councilman has devised an ambitious plan to tax Dos Vientos homeowners for the cost of new blueprints and construction.

City Councilman Dan Del Campo's idea, however, may not make it off the drawing board because it hinges on either the homeowners or the property owner - in this case, the Miller Bros. development company - agreeing to the tax.

``What I am suggesting is we take a look at the opportunity to assess those people who have not moved into Dos Vientos yet as part of the road improvement plans,'' Del Campo said. ``People who move into Dos Vientos would have a vested interest in their own safety.''

The City Council on Tuesday will consider whether to direct staff to prepare a report on the necessary steps needed to create a Mello-Roos District encompassing the 2,350-home Dos Vientos development. Miller Bros. and its partner, Operating Engineers, are building the road with a council-approved 12 percent grade, which critics contend is too steep and unsafe.

Del Campo wants to see if the road can be redesigned and built using the city's grading standard of 5 percent.

Arlene Miller, managing partner of the development company, said he opposed the proposed Mello Roos tax.

``This is just confusing the public,'' Miller said. ``It's another ridiculous suggestion that doesn't get anybody anywhere.''

Miller said that under the development agreement, the city will receive more than $12 million in fees from his project, and he suggested that some of that money be used for Borchard Road.

Two hundred fifty houses are under construction, and close to 200 others are occupied.

Del Campo said, using raw figures gleaned from Public Works, it would cost a maximum of $26 million to grade the Borchard Road extension down to 5 percent, which means each Dos Vientos homeowner would pay $733 in taxes annually for 15 years.

``For the value back, it's well worth it,'' Del Campo said. ``I certainly think it's in their own best interest.

``What I'm looking for is an alternate solution that is palatable to everyone, to the city, the developers and residents,'' he said.

Mayor Linda Parks said such a tax has been done in the city in places like the Lang Ranch development, where homeowners are paying a Mello-Roos tax for improvements to Westlake Boulevard and a proposed dam.

``I think it's definitely worth investigating,'' she said.

To form a Mello-Roos District, either a two-thirds vote of the registered voters or a two-thirds vote of the property owners is needed, said Paul Farr, city financial analyst. The vote could be taken in a general or special election or a mail ballot, he said.

``Generally a Mello-Roos District can pay the cost of any public improvement the city has a legal authority to do itself,'' he said.

The City Council would be the entity that determines the boundary lines of the district upon completion of the staff's engineering evaluation, he said.

``If the property owners want to pay for it, it's up to them,'' Councilman Andy Fox said. ``Obviously, if they want to tax themselves, I support it 100 percent.

Mayor Pro Tem Dennis Gillette was a little hesitant to call for an additional tax burden on homeowners.

``It's something I would have to give much more thought to,'' he said. ``I am a long ways in moving in that direction.''