06-14-2007 Charter Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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will be assessed the cost of the a standard lot in that area -basically for a 90' lot even if their lot is larger. If they later sub -divide and more lots are eventually laid out these new lots would also be assessed. After all is said and done the city will recapture/assess all the costs that were laid out initially. From Peter - How could we convince the public to vote to reduce the power of section 8. From Council member Reinert - We have to look at what are we changing it to? How do you sell it to the residents? It has to be recognized that even if replacing streets regularly we have to remember that if streets last 40- 60 years and we have 100 miles that means we have 1-2 miles to reconstruct annually on average. We've only reconstructed one in the last 20 years! We have to get going on this. Many of our streets are pretty new but we will have a period in time where a large amount of streets will need to be reconstructed. Safety question raised by Cheryl: At what point is a street so bad that the state or city would shut it down? Basically it can never come to this. From a liability standpoint signs are posted and they are advised to keep the referendum on the ballot to protect themselves. Brainstorming: People may be willing to change the charter but need assurance that the "heart of the charter" is still in place. Large property owners are still concerned about the possibility of a large assessment. Reinert: Maybe a systematic method of putting on the ballot each time the option to fund a fund or to change the referendum could be considered. If people see this coming up in front of them every time and the opportunity to change to a more efficient financing method each time, they may learn over time to just change the charter and be done with it. After the initial feasibility study the assessment cost that is quoted cannot be exceeded. It is difficult to come up with a figure to put in the study when the dollars aren't actually spent for several years. It must be realized that everything goes into the study as it can't be exceeded. It has to be passed before the final budgets and meetings are put in place. Once the referendum is passed then is the time to finalize the plan. Referendum only approves the financing. The plan/project still isn't approved until after the referendum when the city council approves the plan. It is a leap of faith that is there for people to agree with the referendum (pass it) and trust that when the final plan comes in all the adjustments will be there to satisfy the residents. Maximum amount that can be assessed is determined by the increase in property value. With that amount limited you will end up with varying percentages assessed. This varying percent leads to the perception of inequality between the proposals. Michael indicated that right in feasibility study it has been considered to lay out that the open issues will be addressed in the final plan. This could give the assurance to the affected that more input will be considered and finalized before it is all said and done. Council member brought up the issue of the expense of the feasibility studies.