10-24-2011 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNCIL MINUTES October 24, 2011 APPROVED 134 development but for improvements. The stimulus funding became available and other fortunate 135 elements, and this project became possible. 136 137 Mayor Reinert opened the public hearing at 7:01 p.m. 138 139 Robert Foster, Attorney with Foster&Breyer,representing the property owners listed as East Lino 140 Lakes LLC. They have presented a letter to the council objecting to the assessment amount on the 141 basis that their property value will not receive the amount of benefit for the amount assessed and 142 actually that amount of assessment will have a negative effect on selling the property. They oppose 143 the assessment and, if it passes the council,they will be filing an appeal. 144 145 David Graetzer,Applecrest Orchards,24th Avenue. He noted that staff announced a reduction in the 146 assessments originally proposed and he asked if that reduction was evenly distributed(percentage 147 wise)to all property owners? Mr. Grochala replied that it wasn't distributed uniformly but was 148 determined with the help of an appraiser and he added that every property owner saw a decrease. Mr. 149 Graetzer asked if some property owners saw a greater than 24% decrease? It's a question of fairness 150 to him and he'd like to understand how savings were spread. The Mayor directed staff to prepare a 151 breakdown and provide that level of detail to Mr. Graetzer,the public and the Mayor himself. Mr. 152 Graetzer noted that he isn't objecting except that he wants everyone to be treated fairly. 153 154 A council member asked, if property owners are successful abating assessment amounts,how is that 155 made up? Attorney Squires responded that the amount approved to be assessed to others would not L 56 change without a new process; it would probably need to be covered by the city. %-157 158 Tom Rooney, representing Gerald and Gordie Rehbein,read a portion of the letter he had submitted 159 to the city. Noted were sections indicating that his clients believe the amount assessed exceeds the 160 benefit as well as the cost of the improvements to the city and also that their properties are being 161 assessed higher than other like properties. 162 163 Jerry Broker, Eagle Brook Church, (letter had been submitted), noted that the church, as non-profit, is 164 being asked to shoulder nine percent of the total assessment even though they are the furthest from the 165 interchange. They feel that their rate exceeds the rate of existing businesses and that is unfair. They 166 have already contributed $100,000 to improving the intersection in 2005,temporary in nature, but a 167 contribution none the less. The $365,000 they are now being asked to contribute is a large burden. 168 Even though they appreciate the bridge,they are a non-peak user and so they believe the assessment 169 rate proposed to them is too high. 170 171 Lee Perrault,representative of the Bernier Family Farm, LLC. Their concerns about the assessment 172 have been pretty much alleviated and they now feel that the amount requested of them is fair. He 173 commended the council and especially Mike Grochala who has responded fairly. One concern is to 174 hear complaints about assessments from persons who have taken large amounts of money from the 175 project; they don't have a leg to stand on since they took one-third of the total cost of the project. 176 There are six families in his group and the cost of the assessments outright would be prohibitive so 177 they will be applying for a deferment. ,18 4