12/02/1996 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 2, 1996 Mrs. Joel Tagg, 7504 Lake Drive - Mrs. Tagg asked if the development does not happen, will there be a property tax increase? Mr. Ahrens explained the schedule for this improvement. Council Member Kuether noted that if the City Council orders plans and specification tonight, bids will be taken and after the bids are received, the City Council can cancel the improvement. Mr. Ahrens said that the City Council has the opportunity to cancel the improvement anytime before bids are awarded which will be in February or March, 1997. Mr. Rehbein asked what the total cost of the improvement will be. Mr. Ahrens gave the assessment for Mr. Rehbein's property. He noted that unit charges are based upon the type of building that is constructed. Mr. Rehbein said that the assessment now under consideration for his property is not what the final assessment will be. He noted that there will be unit charges and surface water management charges. Mr. Wessel explained that normally a preliminary assessment roll is prepared for the public hearing. The entire assessment roll has not been determined because the use of the entire development has been decided. Mr. Wessel explained that an assessment calculated for Joel Tagg was for only the small parcel with the home. Mr. Tagg has informed him that he is homesteading 10 acres. Mr. Wessel said that a master plan for that development area will be completed and available by the end of 1996. The City Council will act on the plan at the January 27, 1997 Council meeting. He also noted that property owners have been telling the City Council for years that utility services are needed for the southwest corner of the intersection. Now the City has a commitment for development, but this cannot go forward until the improvements are actually available to the developers. Council Member Bergeson asked for an estimate cost for engineering and legal expenses. Mr. Ahrens said that engineering is usually 25% to 35% of the total construction cost. Council Member Bergeson asked what the plans and specifications will cost. Mr. Mitchell said that OSM will charge between $25,000.00 to $35,000.00. He also noted that if the project does not go forward, the plans and specifications will be updated for a project in the future, thereby saving some of the costs for a future project. Council Member Bergeson said that it appears that the City could go forward and order the plans and specifications before the improvement is ordered. Council Member Lyden said that he does not hear that the property owners are not against the improvement but do want to be fully informed. He asked that the City prepare a schedule of how this improvement will proceed. Mayor Landers said that he agreed with Mr. Wessel and felt that the City Council should take a serious look at what is being proposed. Council Kuether said that the City needs to proceed. She felt the motion to order the improvement should be separated from the PAGE 3