Oakhurst neighbors approve controversial fee hike

CLAYTON, CA (June 24, 2025) — In a deeply divided vote, homeowners in Clayton’s Oakhurst area have approved an increase in special assessment fees to fund the local Geological Hazard Abatement District (GHAD)—a special district created to monitor, prevent, and respond to threats like landslides and soil erosion in vulnerable hillside neighborhoods.

The measure passed thanks to a weighted voting system that gave more influence to residents in high-risk zones. The final tally was 287 “no” votes and 270 “yes” votes—but once adjusted for the weighted system and converted to dollar amounts, the proposal passed with $66,161.99 in favor versus $63,391.24 opposed. The new fees will be collected starting in August 2025.

There are 1,484 homes within the GHAD boundaries, but more than half of the homeowners did not participate in the vote. The special tax will now vary depending on a property’s risk level, ranging from $84.39 to $280.41 per year, with lower-risk areas paying less.

What Is GHAD?

Originally established by the City of Clayton, the Geological Hazard Abatement District (GHAD) is a legally defined entity tasked with maintaining surface and subsurface drainage systems and addressing earth movement issues. Its primary goal is to prevent property damage and personal injury caused by geological instability, particularly in the hillside areas of Oakhurst.

The GHAD hasn’t had a significant funding boost since 2000 and currently generates just $51,000 annually—far short of what’s needed. City documents estimate the district requires an additional $360,000 per year to cover cleanup, repairs, weed abatement, hazard response, and a capital reserve for major disasters like landslides.

Disputed Process, Divided Community

Supporters and opponents of the measure are sharply split—not only over whether the fee increase is necessary, but whether the GHAD is even legitimate.

Some, like resident Nancy Topp, believe the GHAD acts as a “slush fund” for the City of Clayton. She’s skeptical of how oversight works and alleges the city will drain funds from the district: “There has never been enough money in the fund, and adding to it will only increase the amount Clayton will take.”

Longtime councilmember and six-time mayor Julie Pierce, who was on the council when the GHAD was created, disputes that claim unequivocally. “The money collected cannot be used for anything else in the city,” she said. “It is not being ‘drained’ to fund anything else.”

There’s confusion even among city leadership over whether Proposition 218, a California law requiring a two-thirds vote for special taxes, applies to GHAD elections. Pierce maintains that it doesn’t. If Prop 218 were applicable, the measure would not have passed under the two-thirds rule.

Residents Speak Out

The vote did not break cleanly along geographic lines. While hillside homes are at greater risk and thus saw higher weighted votes, residents on both sides of the issue came from various parts of Oakhurst.

Resident Nancy Beaver, who lives in a high-risk zone, supported the measure, calling her yes vote “a no-brainer.” She cited dangerous erosion from poor drainage and believes the GHAD will now be able to properly maintain infrastructure: “The work of the district is essential for the safety and well-being of our community.”

On the other hand, Glenn Miller, a longtime hillside resident, voted no. “I have witnessed many years where there was simply no maintenance,” he said. He also criticized the voting system, calling it “arbitrary weighting,” and accused the district of spending money on “a bogus consultant” and an ineffective city engineer.

Vice Mayor Jeff Wan, who also chairs the GHAD board, defended the city’s process. He said the city began evaluating the GHAD’s financial state in 2022 and discovered serious funding shortfalls and deferred maintenance due to a lack of resources—not mismanagement.

“This was the real work of government,” Wan said. “It’s not flashy, but it’s the kind of under-the-radar action that can have a meaningful impact.”

Looking Forward

Despite the controversy, some residents view the fee increase as a necessary step to protect their homes and property values.

Tony Eistetter, who lives in a more stable part of Oakhurst, voted yes because he believes the entire community is affected by hillside instability. “Most Oakhurst residents know that some areas are susceptible to earth movement,” he said. “This will help to keep our property values from declining.”

Pierce, who worked on GHAD matters for years, believes the vote was long overdue. “If a natural disaster like a landslide were to happen in Oakhurst, there would not be enough money in the fund to repair it. It’s that simple.”

This is the first GHAD vote to pass since the district was established. Whether it will be enough to stabilize both the land and the community’s confidence in the process remains to be seen.