03-21-94 Council Workshop Minutes

Home Browse Search

MINUTES CITY COUNCIL MARCH 21, 1994 Hanson pointed out that having a nice City street would impact the resale value of a property. The City Administrator pointed out that the Engineer has estimated total project costs of $83,000 for a mill and overlay on Windrow and Westwind Drives. If a 50/50 assessment policy is adopted, the City is looking at approximately $42,00o in costs. Scalze felt that the City might be better to leave the assessment percentage higher and then look at individual cases for credits. LaValle felt the questions were what the City could afford as well as what are other cities doing. LaValle felt that perhaps a 40% assessment was more realistic for the Westwind/Windrow project since one of the streets is only 9 years old. LaValle felt that the 50/50 split was a good starting point on any project. Scalze pointed out that she has a different outlook since she lives on a Maplewood street. Scalze felt that a property owner on a new street would have a different outlook as well. Pedersen again felt that the Council needed some numbers to look at before a decision could be made. The Administrator felt it fair to say that the Council supported an assessment less than 100% of project costs and that further analysis would be done before a final decision is made. Pedersen disagreed with comments that the policy was just a policy and readily chanqed. Pedersen felt that once the policy is finalized, deviations should be few. Scalze was concerned that once the policy provides for a 50/50 split, in a few years someone would say the split should be 25/75. LaValle pointed out that other cities assess on a 50/50 basis. Scalze pointed out that Maplewood has high taxes like Little Canada does, therefore, she tends to look at what Maplewood is doing. 13