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515 Little Canada Road, Little Canada, MN 55117-1600 <br />(651) 484 -2177 / FAX: (651) 484 -4538 <br />MEMORANDUM <br />TO: Mayor Fahey & Members of the City Council <br />FROM: Joel Hanson, City Administrator <br />DATE: January 22, 1999 <br />RE: Workshop to Review Assessment Policy <br />MAYOR <br />Michael I. Fahey <br />COUNCIL <br />Beverly Scalze <br />Jim LaValle <br />Steve Morelan <br />Bob Pedersen <br />ADMINISTRATOR <br />Joel R. Hanson <br />After the improvement hearing conducted on January 19th, there were two major issues relative <br />to our assessment policy. The first involved treatment of Cobblestone Village at the end of <br />Minnesota Avenue. We utilized the odd - shaped lot formula and applied it with a residential <br />assessment rate. However, the assessment generated was higher than any of the commercial <br />properties for the improvement of this road. This did not seem to be an equitable solution. <br />Therefore, we should review the assessment policy and review options by which this property is <br />to be assessed. <br />The second issue involves installation of curb and gutter on LaBore Road and McMenemy. The <br />question to be addressed in this situation is whether or not assessments should be levied against <br />those properties which do not have curb and gutter installed directly in front of them. As you <br />will recall, it is not physically possible to install curb and gutter along all areas of these two <br />roadways due to insufficient grades. (See portions of feasibility study attached.) <br />Concern has been raised about the need to be consistent with out assessment policy. However, <br />we have not dealt with a situation like this before. Technically, the recycling of the roadways as <br />proposed by Ramsey County is defined as a rehabilitation project under our assessment policy. <br />Those projects are to be assessed 100% of costs. A reconstructed roadway would be assessed <br />based on an 8/3 section with curb and gutter all at 85% of project costs. However, that involves <br />total reconstruction of the roadway involving subbase corrections. That is not occurring in this <br />case and seems unnecessary given the feasibility of the recycling project. Therefore, two issues <br />need to be addressed: <br />*Should curb and gutter be installed along those sections of the roadways where it is <br />physically possible. This topic has been discussed previously. (See my memo of May 5, <br />1998 and the City Engineer's memo or April 27, 1998 attached.) <br />Page 45 <br />