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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-18-13 Council PacketSPECIAL WORK SESSION AGENDA CITY OF LINO LAKES Monday, November 18, 2013 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION City Council Chambers 5:30 P.M. 1. Public Improvement Financing Presentation, Michael Grochala and Steve Bubul (Kennedy and Graven) Adj ourn WS — Item # 1 WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT Work Session Item No. 1 Date: November 18, 2013 To: City Council From: Michael Grochala Re: Public Improvement Financing Presentation Background The City's Pavement Management Plan was updated by WSB and Associates and presented to the City Council at the August 5, 2013 work session. The plan is used to guide preparation of the City's annual Pavement Management Program and budgeting decisions. Since 2004 the city has continued to increase efforts for preventative maintenance (sealcoating) and preservation (overlays). Street reconstruction is the only element of the program that has not advanced. In light of the failure of the 2012 Charter Amendment the council has requested options available to the city to initiate a reconstruction program. As discussed at the August meeting the next step in the program evaluation is the public improvement financing presentation. The purpose of the presentation is to provide an opportunity for elected officials and community members to gain a thorough understanding of the statutory authority and tools available to the City for making public improvements. The scheduled presentation will consist of an informative review of the procedural requirements for special assessments including both State Law and City Charter provisions, the financing options available to the city and provisions specifically related to street reconstruction. The meeting will focus on state law and charter provisions that are in place today. The meeting is not intended to be a debate on the merits of the Charter provisions, past practices or whether changes are needed. Rather staff's goal is to identify financing alternatives which will lead to a future policy discussion by the council to determine a preferred method for financing street reconstruction projects. Requested Council Direction None requested. This meeting would be followed by a policy discussion to determine a preferred method for financing street reconstruction projects. Attachments 1. Summary of Financial Tools SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL TOOLS FOR FINANCING PUBIC IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CITY OF LINO LAKES Stephen J. Bubul Kennedy & Graven I. SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS UNDER CHAPTER 429 A. Constitutional and Statutory Basis. Article X, Section 1 of the Minnesota Constitution provides, in part: "The legislature may authorize municipal corporations to levy and collect assessments for local improvements upon property benefited thereby without regard to cash valuation." Chapter 429 of Minnesota Statutes is the authorizing statute for cities. Except where a city charter provides otherwise, this statute governs the undertaking of all "improvements" as defined in the statute, if they are financed in whole or in part with special assessments. The term "improvements includes streets (whether new or reconstruction), sidewalks, sewer, water, street lights, parks and certain other kinds of public improvements. B. General Principals for Levying Special Assessments. 1. Assessments must benefit the property. Benefit is measured by an increase in market value. 2. Assessments must also be fairly allocated among properties, so that the amount assessed approximates the benefit to each parcel, and all parcels are treated equitably. In practice, assessments are spread based on a formula such as front foot, parcel area, residential unit, or similar criteria. The allocations can be different for different type of property (e.g., commercial versus residential) as long as the distinctions have a rational basis.) 3. The property owner may either pay the assessment all at once, or may pay in installments over time —in effect, an assessment is a loan to property owners. The number of years, amount of annual payment and interest rates are all set by the City Council. 4. When payments are made in installments, they are paid along with property taxes (in May and October). (However, unlike property taxes, assessments are not deductible from the owner's federal income taxes). C. Initiation of Proceedings. 1. Petition by owners of 100% of the benefited property, who agree to pay for 100% of the cost; or 2. Petition by owners of at least 35% of front footage of benefited property; or 3. Initiated by council. D. Feasibility Report. Prepared by engineer to determine whether the improvement is necessary, cost effective and feasible. E. Public Hearing. 1. Not required if project is 100% petitioned. Council must adopt resolution finding the petition has been signed by required percentage. The resolution should be published, and no appeal may later be taken unless filed within 30 days after publication. 2. Published notice: twice, at least a week apart, the second one at least 3 days before the hearing. 3. Mailed notice to each property owner in proposed assessment area, at least 10 days before the hearing. Notice must describe nature of improvement, estimated costs, area to be assessed, and contain statement that a reasonable estimate of the impact will be available at the hearing. F. Ordering the Improvement. 1. By council resolution; requires 4/5 vote if improvement was initiated by council, or petitioned by less than 35% of the benefited owners. Majority vote for all others. 2. Must order improvements at least 6 months after the hearing. 3. Plans and specifications ordered. 4. Separate projects may be consolidated and handled as a single improvement. G. Contracts. 1. Must let contracts for all or part of the work within one year after ordering the improvement, unless otherwise provided in the ordering resolution. 2. Contracts competitively bid. H. Levy of Assessments. 1. Spread assessment against benefited properties (see Part I, above). 2. Assessment hearing: requires at least one published notice (2 weeks), plus mailed notice (2 weeks) to each property owner describing the amount to be assessed against that particular parcel, possible prepayment provisions, and the interest rate on unpaid amounts. (Like the improvement hearing, not required for petitioned projects; cities typically require petitioner to sign and record a petition and waiver agreement, waiving rights to appeal or challenge the assessment in any way.) 3. Council approves assessment rolls; clerk certifies with county auditor by November 30 (for spreading the first installment in the following year). 4. Any objection to an assessment must be filed with the city at or before the assessment hearing. II. SPECIAL ASSESSMENT UNDER CITY OF LINO LAKES CHARTER A. Generally. As noted above, Chapter 429 governs special assessments "unless the council determines to proceed under charter provisions." Section 429.021, Subd. 3. Chapter 8 of the Lino Lakes City Charter establishes a different process for special assessments, and provides that "local improvements ... shall be carried out exclusively under the provisions of this Charter." (Certain provisions of Chapter 429 control notwithstanding a contrary charter provision, but most of those are technical in nature.) The Charter defines the "local improvements" as any public improvement financed partly or wholly from special assessments. That is, just as under Chapter 429, the Charter applies only if at least some part of the cost of an improvement is assessed. The general principals for special assessments described above apply under the Charter as well. The differences under the Charter are in the process ordering the improvements. Following is a description of the process under the Charter. B. Initiation of Proceedings. 1. Petition by 100% of the "benefited owners," and council resolution approved by majority vote. 2. Petition by at least 25% "in number of benefited owners" and council resolution approved by majority vote. 3. Initiated by City Council, by resolution approved by 415th vote. C. Cost Estimate. The initial council resolution must state the nature and scope of improvements, the number of benefitted owners, and provide a means to obtain a cost estimate which sets for the cost of the improvement both in unit price and in total. (This is roughly comparable to the feasibility report under Chapter 429). D. Public Hearing. 1. Required even if improvement is 100% petitioned. 2. Council must, by majority vote, approve a resolution setting the public hearing; and must publish a notice twice, a week apart and at least two weeks before the hearing. 3. Must send a copy of the initiating resolution, including estimated unit prices and total price, to each benefitted owner at least two weeks before the hearing. E. Ordering the Improvement. 1. If improvement is initiated by at least 25% petition, owners have a 60 -day period after the hearing to file an objecting petition. The objecting petition stops the improvement if signed by at least the same number as those who signed in the initial petition, unless a counter - petition in favor of the improvement is filed within the same 60 -day period, signed by at least the same number who signed by the objecting petition. If the improvement is not vetoed, the Council may by resolution "proceed with the improvement" at any time up to one year after the hearing. 2. If improvement is initiated by 100% of benefited owners, owners have the same 60 -day objection period, except that 100% of the owners may also file a second petition reducing the period to 10 days. If that second petition is filed, the Council can then proceed with the improvement as soon as 10 days after the public hearing. 3. If improvement is initiated by the City Council (with no initial petition), owners have a 60 -day period after the hearing to file an objecting option. The objecting petition stops the project if signed by a majority of the owners proposed to be assessed, unless a counter petition is signed at least the same number who signed by objecting petition. If not vetoed the Council may proceed any time through one year after the hearing. F. Referendum. However the improvement was initiated, an election is required if less than 100% of the cost is paid from special assessments "or any outside finding sources other than the City general fund." City Charter, Section 8.04. The ballot question must include the assessment formula, and the election must be held within 120 days after the public hearing. [There is no comparable provision in Chapter 429.] G. Reconsideration. If an improvement is disallowed (either because it was vetoed by benefited owners, or because voted down in a referendum), the Council may not vote on the same improvement within one year the public hearing on that improvements. [There is no comparable provision in Chapter 429.] H. Contracts. 1. Contracts must be let within one year after ordering the improvement. (The Charter does not include this rule, but Chapter 429 provides that all charters are deemed to include this provision.) 2. But the Charter imposes an additional rule not found in Chapter 429: if bids exceed the cost estimates by more than 10 %, the Council may not award the contract, and may re -bid the improvement only once. I. Levy of Assessments. Once an improvement is ordered by the City Council (and not vetoed by property owners or disapprove by voters), the assessment process follows Chapter 429 (as described above). III. BONDS A. Generally. The City Charter and Chapter 429 do not directly deal with issuance of bonds. Rather, bond issuance is mostly governed by Minnesota Statues, Chapter 475. Most cities finance infrastructure by issuing "general obligation bonds," which are secured by the city's full faith and credit. (These bonds carry lower interest rates than bonds secured solely by a particular revenue stream). Under Chapter 475, there are four basic ways that the City may issue general obligation bonds to finance infrastructure: 1. Voter - approved bonds (election). 2. Improvement Bonds (without election). 3. Street Reconstruction Bonds (reverse referendum) 4. Utility Revenue General Obligation Bonds (without election) Each of these bond types is discussed in turn below. B. Voter Approved Bonds 1. The City may choose to hold an election regarding issuance of bonds for any public improvement, including street reconstruction. The bonds may be issued if approved a majority of those voting on the question. 2. The City used this option to finance improvements to the intersection of Main Street and Lake Drive and the intersection of Birch Street and Ware Road. (The bonds were approved in the 2010 general election, and were issued in November, 2012.) C. Improvement Bonds 1. Improvement bonds are paid at least in part with special assessments. They may be issued without election if at least 20% of City's cost for the improvement is paid with assessments. The balance is secured by a general property tax levy. 2. Improvement bonds are exempt from debt limits under Chapter 475 (which is 3% of the taxable market value in the City). 3. Under the City Charter, even if at least 20% of the project cost is specially assessed, but some portion is paid from a tax levy or other city general funds, the project itself must first be approved at an election —only then may bonds be issued. 4. In most cases, the City of Lino Lakes may issue improvement bonds without election only in cases where the entire cost is specially assessed). D. Street Reconstruction Bonds 1. Street Reconstruction bonds are paid from a general tax levy, though a city may use special assessments or some other revenue source to reduce the levy each year. 2. The bonds must be used only to finance "street reconstruction," which is defined to include: • utility replacement and relocation and other work incidental to street reconstruction • turn lanes and other improvements having a substantial public safety function • realignments • other modifications to intersect with state and county roads • local share of state and county road projects. However, the term excludes costs allocable to widening a street or adding curbs and gutters where none previously existed (unless those activities fall within one of the bullet points listed above). 3. Before issuing street reconstruction bonds, a city must hold a public hearing (with 10 days' published notice) regarding a five - year street reconstruction plan and issuance of the bonds. After the hearing, the City Council must approve issuance of the bonds by unanimous vote of all council members present at the meeting. 4. Citizens have 30 days after the hearing to file a petition with the City Clerk requiring an election on issuance of the bonds. (This process is referred to a "reverse referendum "). The petition must be signed by voters equal to 5% of the votes cast in the last City general election. If no such petition is filed within 30 days after the hearing, the City may issue the bonds without election. If a petition is timely filed, the City is not required to hold an election, but it may not issue the bonds unless it does so and the question is approved by a majority of those voting on the question. 5. Street reconstruction bonds are subject to the statutory debt limit. (However, that limit is very high, and most bonds are exempt from the limit, so it is not likely to be a limiting factor in the City of Lino Lakes.) 6. In cities that operate under Chapter 429, it is possible to combine special assessments with street reconstruction bonds. For example a city might specially assess 10% of the cost of a street reconstruction project, which is not enough to allow issuance of improvement bonds without election. But the City could hold a hearing on street reconstruction bonds, and if no petition is filed, issue the bonds without election and use the special assessments to pay 10% of the debt service (with a tax levy covering the rest.) 6. Lino Lakes does not have this combined - financing option, because if any portion of the street reconstruction cost is specially assessed (even 1%), the project itself must go to the voters under the Charter. The result is that Lino Lakes has only these options to issue bonds for street reconstruction without election: • If 100% of the cost is paid from special assessments (or other revenues) —in which case the bonds are "improvement bonds;" or • If the city does not specially assess at all, but instead issues street reconstruction bonds paid entirely with a tax levy (assuming no petition is received that triggers an election). • See below for other options that involve combinations with utility bonds. E. Utility Bonds 1. Utility revenue general obligation bonds (or "utility bonds ") are issued in part under either Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 444 (in the case of water, sewer and storm sewer improvements), or Section 115.46 (in the case of wastewater treatment improvements). The bond proceeds may be used only to finance one of those utilities — so these bonds are not an option for general street reconstruction, though they can be used to finance just the utility portion of a street reconstruction project. 2. The bonds must be payable primarily from net revenues of the water, sewer, and /or storm sewer utility. That is, the city must expect that net utility revenues will be sufficient to pay the bonds, but if revenues ever fall short, the City still promises to levy an ad valorem tax to cover any shortfalls. 3. One exception to the above rule is for wastewater treatment facilities (which include all types of sewer improvements). For these bonds, the City may include a tax levy to pay part of the bond debt service. 4. The City may also assess a portion of the cost of an improvement, and use those revenues in addition to utility revenues. The special assessments are still subject to the petition and veto process under the Charter, but the Charter would not require an election on the project itself because costs would not be paid with a tax levy or general city funds. 5. The City could combine utility bonds with improvement bonds or street reconstruction bonds to finance various portions of a street reconstruction project. For example, the City could finance just the street work by issuing street reconstruction bonds paid entirely with a tax levy (subject to reverse referendum), and finance the utility work with utility bonds secured by net utility revenues. No election is required under the Charter because no part of the project is specially assessed —the Charter does not apply at all. Or, the City could specially assess 100% of the cost of the street work, and use utility revenues to pay 100% of the cost of the utility work. In that case, the City might issue improvement bonds for the street portion and utility bonds for the utility portion. No election is required under the Charter because, even though the street project is assessed (so the Charter does apply to that work), no part of the project is paid from tax levy or general City funds. -� A Typical Municipal Street and What Lies Beneath iii • CITYs' w.V,f :OF 1 RNOLKES 'i : �` _ o • • 19 ((( Project A. Street Reconstruction with Utilities ; PraN<<r�L "�"" .. • 1 — - ® 13 ��' 77 "'r O May or may not include the following: ' - - -- ,- • Sanitary Sewer ' `" 14 i V.:,1s ,.. " z3 1 q • Watermain 1 i16 I '..s. '21 • Storm Sewer ; l` �''' 1 1 1 1 '�,r:~ zz •Concrete Curb &Gutter 1 . ,0 ,D 0 • Streets 1 ® �,/ • Sidewalk /Trails 1 ,/ 1 1 0 O To Residence Project B: Street Reconstruction - No Utilities May or may not include the following: '__ - 1 • Storm Sewer 1 From Residence • Concrete Curb & Gutter ; • Streets ' • Sidewalk /Trails 1 i_EGEioD 1 Project C: Full Depth Reclamation 1 WATER STORM SEWER BOULEVARD 1 Watermain (typically 7 1/2 ft. depth) Storm Sewer Manhole 17 Boulevard May or may not include the following: 1 Water Service • Storm Sewer (4-10 ft depth) 18 Sidewalk (width depends an site conditions) 1 • Streets 1 Water Service Shut -Off Valve Storm Sewer Catch Basin 19 Boulevard Trees • Spot Curb & Gutter Replacement 1 Curb Stop and Valve Box 20 Rain Garden 1 1 Gate Valve and Box STREET 1 Concrete Curb and Gutter PRIVATE UTILITIES Funding Mechanisms p SANITARY SEWER Bituminous Pavement (asphalt/ Natural Gas Main (Private) 1 t, Sanitary Sewer Main (depth varies) Gravel Base .- Natural Gas Service (Private) I .Voter Approved Bonds 1 1 Sanitary Sewer Service Granular Material Electrical Cable 2. Improvement Bonds , Sanitary Sewer Manhole Geotextile Fabric lin certain cases) Fiber Optic Cable 3. Street Reconstruction Bonds 1 4. Utility Bonds ; Cable Television 5. General Levy 1 ( c) C 17c5) LIJ Ld 1- Cli -a 0 a 0) a) N, L (I) w W Cl N Ca f/! t a0 CO Om CO • • Further authorized by Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 429. - Except where City Charter process governs instead "• tcz Q w L 0. a) 0 ) N ■- }' ^L, A U cz■ . c Om Li= cU Ei -c'fi ca L C 0) u) L (.9 V> L A A E co co . _ co co ›N A a) • CO CO CO CO O ca ca • • Assessments must benefit the property. Benefit = increase in market value. • 0) c O E ca W ca U 0 L ca 111 • Assessments may be prepaid, or installments. If installments, council sets term and interest rate. co N X CU 1 N Q O Q 1 cm N— c L O -Q C/3 O � U Q 0 co 2 c fa N E Ao CU CO c S • • owners of benefited property 0 0 0 0 ID 0 1 1 W f1 Petition by owners of at least 35% of front footage Initiated by city council • • • W raco ow -a 'Li (IS O a) 0- > a U ce i >% 4_, O a)' -c7; 2 U O '-; • — • E2 a)2 cz . — r �, � U o to CO O N 0 Q U. 92 !. 2 . >% HL H u a) IL 0 • • v =1:3 MP I Not needed if 100% Published notice twice (second at least 3 days before). Mailed notice to property owners at least 10 days before. • • • mprovement ( J 4 1 .L7 P. 0 1 O L 4- 9- O 0 LC) M v.' co N co 1 9- N 1 O 1 .L •O co E ID O O (1) = en •U 0) c cu O O U • U Q 45 ca 1 0 E (.0 c IE W co co Q VI E O o .L cu W W • Contracts Council orders plans and specs. Project is competitively bid. cm c c O . L ._J W = _ E O O N L L 9 cm cu .=L- L— W (13 —0 W >.. 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O O a) Q Q co Q Q U a) IN • • • Required even icatior mprovement o L ^ ^ W , A c .u)— -8 c O c 0 O •U IE }, L -ca3 . - E`er co t O O_ N E }' - �� 03 a) '� O co 0- .O ca ca w E N = U a) f� N fu Li= _a 0 Vi j (a }o j, = . 2 E ti LS �C0'3 O -' CO 'cn c -c 0 .- c `_ O L 0 w : O 0_1-D, N .6 N O 71.3 a) Q O co Sim 0 O O 0 L C\I ' O _ N L w#1 • • • r a) ^L, W > a) 0 c IE IC O L O cur E U fa co E O 0 O c +61 w E w o � am E ' m .47. o cn e c 'L L 0 co ^o W 7 0 V0 0 0 N 0 (0 (a > co c- o a) 0 0 °0 N- 4- • u 0 N- 0 .0 0 0) fa 0 N O O 1 0 L 15 W 0 cs 0 r I O 0 1 0 0 Lo N CU • CO CO N L O 0 0 -o W 1 (a •c 4- • 45 — L 0 - � c L- E 2 c 9— 0 1 0 co O 1 1 N . O L 0 -o .0 0 0 1 a) i▪ s 0 • r a) Referendum c (a ciN 0 U O o O • • • r -17 co E . a) o ❑ cc u 1- cc 1 u Contracts 9- rn ' 2 = w° 45 Ea) 7,:*:)- U N U)� 2 "'' 2 73 O 0- _c L _. tea) cn N� � O U L - 'oocn A N-a N c O Qt_ L < % U (1) co O O cn cn U U N O L Q c c cu W W cow E fa 2 7 a) a) 2 O g Ea O U N -0 L U) I • OUN w›N . CD E QU • • • -17 co E . a) N C N N -a d C > 0 O m Q O E u) a) N V O. C >11 c4J I— C LL 0 Voter - approved bonds. • Improvement bonds (no election). • E L W L L ^> W L co -o c o 0 U L rn c ^O L W W L V 115 • Utility revenue general obligation bonds (without election). • r -17 co E . a) o ❑ cc u 1- cc 1 u City may choose to hold election regarding bonds. a) o o ti N > ca a) OL Q O fa ca co a) 4 co 0) cn O .0) C/9 O CU tn >,° .- =Cat a) CO Cr .0 -0 fa N a) _c > o U E002 2 _ 6 n g Tv . 2 La 5 0 O CD CO > 0 I = • • • a) t.■ L A co U Q -o N • w = �O 0_ ca - , O N L m c �, o co W CU L co _c o W o X fa E t = — CO U 0 to ▪ •= _+ = CT > 0 \ N }' _N O E > L � .0 N -rn > C\I -15 -(7') 0 7 6 0 O cu • N _� Om ca c w o U 0 E , (- a • O O O cn O x N 00 x o � �a0(2_a Z• wCr) D' • • • a) 0 N 7.3 o N co C co co 0 c o Ca > U L L o C a) n El O = co o n c -0 .- ca O 0 v O Sim Z rn _ . - , , (I) L co U 6 O N O = U O z v c3 L ti L E co a 0 ) > O •-- r ^'1 \1J �+ (0 IX L N +-+ c c \1J co co 0 �� = j, N (73 N . E O N � � a) f) (13 O c a) co cu .(1) 70 L U (� L c w o_c 3= c N 8 . 1— = fl ( 4—• cs ›N ›N ' ° Cn O N 2 • • • • • • i-t'S 4� • Local share of state and county road projects u) -a i 0 CO O N+71 =ciff V G) m m L = u) ▪ •+7. c a 0 0 V w cu Q c 0 U L rn 0 0 W L W L rn 0 0) .L a) U Q O 1 2 • • Unanimous vote of council. No election needed. • }i � O U O rim ( - ° __ �o s=ue CV O U .0 Ca co U ,N c • �s -- ��= . § U O L � O La-) 4) co 0 U co -a X = :(T) E (/) () E 5 .E O N O m E C 0 U L `~ c • O L.. a) o_ Ca >ti CO 0) O O N L 73 1 L 0 }' -a 0 C 'a w co73 cu zt'a 5 co O cu c 0- 1- co -0 .+7. t o U O �\ A co Om W O 0 a) c*Dcs .2 E cow cn F2 O O — o O > N E O _a N • • =6 i . +7. 0 v 0 O . +71 o_ 0 Street reconstruction bonds for just the street reconstruction • work; and finance utilities with: Utility revenue bonds; or cn ' p C .u) c � U � � O O N E N O il ; p o I - O O ■ ■ ■