04-09-08 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Witte or� z't� o"w% MAYOR 13111 131esener COUNCIL Rick Montour 13a rho ra Allan John Keis Michael McGraw 515 Little Canada Road, Little Canada, MN 55117 -1600 ADMINISTRATOR (651) 766 -4029 / FAX: (651) 766 -4048 Jac) R. Hanson www. ci.little- Canada. mn. us MEMORANDUM '1'O: Mayor Blesener and Members of the City Council FROM: Joel Hanson, City Administrator DATE: March 31, 208 RE: Amendment to the City's Assessment Policy At the time that the City adopted its Assessment Policy, assessment rates for residential properties were based on the equivalent of an 8 "/3" urban section street (8 inches of base and 3 inches of bituminous). This was our attempt to equalize assessments throughout the City regardless of soil conditions and to keep future assessments in line with past assessments. As time went on and street reconstruction costs increased dramatically, the City implemented the Residential Assessment Rate Cap as the governing factor in determining residential assessment amounts. This cap was important to the City in terms of meeting the "benefits received" test wherein the amount of an assessment must be equal to the benefits received by the property. In conducting improvement and assessment hearings, the 8 "/3" standard is a difficult one to explain to property owners, especially since the assessment cap has become the governing factor in determining assessment rates. Therefore, it is staff's recommendation that the Assessment Policy be modified to reflect the City's actual practice in assessing residential improvements. The modified language is below: E. Amount of Assessments 2. Upgraded Rural Streets: It is the City's desire to upgrade rural street sections where possible. Therefore, when a rural street is scheduled for an improvement, upgrading to urban design will be the objective unless otherwise determined by the City Council. In making such a determination, the City Council may consider a petition from property owners to perpetuate a rural street. Residential — The affected property owners will be assessed at the residential assessment capped rate for an urban section street of up to 30 feet in width as determined by the City Council. 8G% -ef street lees . " >, .ba of the street up to 30 feet. Costs associated with providing subsurface drainage and /or heavier section will be borne by the City. The Maximum Assessment Rate shall- apply: 1