11-24-06 Council Special Minutes

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MINUT>/S CITY COUNCIL OCTOB)JR 24, 2006 cycle. The Engineer felt thaC any ponding water will go into Che catch basin sysCem in the streeC, therefore, he did not anticipate a problem. Jou Wheaton, 2630 Ruth StreeC, expressed concern that initial assessment estimates had the four-plexes being assessed at the residential rate. He noted that in February, after the improvement hearing, four-plex property owners were notified that they would be assessed at the commercial rate, which is substantially higher than the residential rate. Wheaton noted that the assessment for his property is $6,000 to $7,000 higher than initially estimated. Wheaton also expressed concern about the language of the various improvement and assessment notices. Wheaton reported that rental property is in hard times right now, and indicated Chat he cannoC afford this level of assessment. Wheaton stated that he would like to see the City's Assessment Policy and how it addresses commercial property. He questioned that assessment of Che Ruth Street four-plexes at over twice Che residential rate. Wheaton felt it was truck traffic Chat beat up a street, not residential vehicular Craffic. WheaCon questioned the need for a complete reconstruction of Ruth SCrect noting Chat there was only one section of the street thaC needed reconstruction. He indicated Chat when he contacted the City Administrator and asked this question, he was informed that the Ruth Sheet improvement was on the City's schedule. The City Administrator indicated thaC the street was on the schedule given its state of disrepair. The Administrator also noted thaC the City's Assessment Policy has been in place for a number of years. ThaC Assessment Policy considers multiple-family dwellings as commercial property. The Administrator reported that in preparing the initial assessment roll, the City Engineer missed this portion of the policy and mistakenly estimated assessments for the four-plexes at the residential rate. Wheaton asked for a copy of the AssessmenC Policy. The City Administrator indicated that he would provide WheaCon with a copy. Wheaton felt the owners of the four-plexes would have expressed concern with the improvement had Chey been informed that their assessments would be approximately $IA,000. Wheaton felt that at the time the four- plex owners learned about the mistake and the increased assessment cost, it was too late to join forces and object to the improvement. Wheaton noted that there were a lot of meetings held on Chis improvement where incorrect numbers were used. Wheaton questioned the intent of the misinformation. 4