04-12-06 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTIrS CITY COUNCIL APRIL 12, 2006 ASSOCIATION finance this improvement. Therefore, they are asking that the City undertake the project and assess the cost back against the townhouse properties. The City Administrator suggested that the City look at this issue of assisting townhouse and condominium developments with upgrades to infrastructure. The Administrator indicated that while these improvements should not become the obligation of the general taxpayers, City assistance will help to protect property values as well as maintain access for emergency vehicles and residents. The Administrator again noted that there would be no cost to the City; all costs would be reimbursed by the townhouse association. He also noted that building a project such as this with City improvements will result in an economy of scale for both the City and townhouse association. The Administrator reported that there is the issue of the City's undertaking an improvement of private property; and he suggested a solution may be for the City to obtain an easement for public access so that the improvement could be considered a public improvement. The Administrator noted that another issue is there are 62 individual townhouse properties would have to be assessed for the cost of the improvement given there is no separate property identification number for the common property. Given the benefits received test and the ability of property owners to contest assessments, the Administrator recommended that Waivers of Right to Appeal Assessments would have to be obtained from each property owner. This would involve time in verifying title on each of the townhouses to ensure that the property owner is correctly listed on the Waiver. The Administrator recommended that City staff be authorized to work with the townhouse association to determine if City assistance is feasible and, if so, develop a way to construct and assess the improvement. The Administrator pointed out Yhat Che need for Waivers, verification of title, etc. will drive the cost up for the townhouse association, and there may be a different way to address the situation. The Administrator also indicated ChaC he would be willing to aCYend a townhouse association meeting to explain the specifics and determine the level of interest on the part of the homeowners. Keis asked if there was any liability to the City for the road, noting that it is likely it would not be constructed Co City street standards. The City Administrator indicated that the townhouse association would determine the level of construction they are interested in. He also noted that the Waivers would address thaC standard and indemnify Che City in that regard. The Administrator compared this situation to that of a 1991 improvement in Ryan Industrial Park. Waivers were obtained from each