04-11-2013 Charter Packet (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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What will this amendment change? This amendment will change the language in Chapter 8 of the City Charter referring to public improvements so that a city-wide referendum will no longer be automatically required if the City is using special assessments plus general fund dollars to fund a public improvement. It will allow the City to undertake public improvements generally using the procedures in state law, but the proposed amendment continues to provide additional protections for residents above and beyond state law. Will residents who will be specially assessed lose their right to protest? No. Under the current Charter, the City Council holds a public hearing on a proposed road reconstruction, and then affected residents have a 60 -day window to petition against the project. Under the proposed process, the City Council holds a public hearing, and if more than 50% of the affected residents oppose it, there is a second public hearing to take additional testimony. At this point the project could be modified or the project would be stopped if more than 50% of those residents still oppose it and petition against it within 30 days. This gives affected residents more input into the process and more opportunity to understand and adjust the scope and cost of the project if they desire. Will the other residents of the City lose their right to oppose a public improvement project? No. If the benefitting residents want the project to move forward, there is still an opportunity for a city- wide referendum, if property taxes are being used to pay for any part of the project. City residents will have the opportunity to petition for it to be placed on the ballot for a city-wide vote if they file a timely petition. This petition requires signatures of registered voters equal to at least 12 percent of the votes cast in the last general municipal election. Based on the 2011 local election, that would amount to 518 signatures to require a vote on a reconstruction project. Will voting for this amendment affect my property taxes? No. If this amendment to Section 8 of the City Charter is approved by the voters, it will not raise property taxes because there are not currently any road reconstruction projects being proposed. Your property taxes could see an increase if the following events occur: • The proposed amendment passes; and • A future road reconstruction project is proposed; and • The majority of residents in the impacted neighborhood want the project; and • The City does not receive a citizen petition against it; and • The project is built What is the difference between road maintenance and road reconstruction? Maintenance consists of either overlaying or sealcoating. Overlaying is a maintenance activity that includes patching of the existing street, milling the pavement adjacent to the curb, followed by the placement of a bituminous wearing course over the entire surface. Seal coating is a maintenance activity that places a thin layer of oil and rock on the street to enhance the surface and prolong the useful life of the street. These activities have been routinely performed by the City as part of its pavement management program. These projects are funded each year through the property tax levy as part of the City's annual budget. This method is useful for smaller projects where the cost of the improvement has a negligible effect on property tax rates and where improvements have a shorter term benefit. Lino Lakes budgeted $467,250 in 2012 for road maintenance projects.