04-14-2021 Workshop Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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5 2. By Council Action: If the Council determines that an improvement is in the best interests of the City, it can, without petition, initiate the improvement with a four-fifths majority vote of the Council. Generally, initiation will be based upon an inspection of City street conditions conducted by staff. Staff’s evaluation shall then be used to determine the priority of street improvements in the City’s Five Year Street Improvement Plan. The City will typically improve streets that have the highest priority first. However, circumstances may exist which would require deviation from this objective. B. Neighborhood Meeting and Hearing Process 1. Neighborhood Meeting: After a petition is filed and its adequacy determined or the Council initiates the project, the City Engineer will prepare a preliminary feasibility study. Staff will then hold a neighborhood meeting with the owners of the properties that would be benefited by the improvement. Once neighborhood input is obtained and reported to the Council, the Council will decide whether or not to order a Feasibility Report for the proposed project. 2. Improvement Hearing: If after reviewing the results of the neighborhood meeting, the Council feels the project may be feasible, the City Engineer will be directed to study and report as to the feasibility of the improvement. If after reviewing the feasibility report, the Council feels the project is feasible, a public improvement hearing will be scheduled, notice will be published, and persons benefited by the project will be notified in writing in accordance with applicable State Statutes. (At its discretion, the City Council may choose to hold the assessment hearing simultaneous with the improvement hearing.) If after the improvement hearing, at which all persons are heard, the Council feels that the project is feasible, then the Council may authorize the preparation of necessary plans and specifications. Upon receipt and acceptance of those plans, the Council will authorize the advertisement for bids for the construction of the project. Following award of a contract, construction of the improvement will commence. C. Basis of Assessment Streets – General: The City will evaluate each potential project and will determine the best method of assessment to use based on numerous factors. The methods of assessment are listed below. For each public improvement project a “benefits appraisal” shall be conducted to determine the actual special assessment based on the benefit received by the subject property.