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City of Lake Elmo Public Improvement and Assessment Policy I. INTRODUCTION It has been and will continue to be the policy of the City Council that when public improvements are made which are of special benefit to certain areas, special assessments will be levied for the benefits received. The procedures used by the City are those specified by Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 429, which provide that all, or a part of the cost of the improvements, may be assessed against benefiting properties in accordance with the benefits received. The statute, however, does not provide a guide as to how these benefits are measured or how the costs are to be apportioned. The purpose of this general policy is to establish a consistent standard for the apportionment of special assessments. II. TYPES OF IMPROVEMENTS This policy shall relate to those public improvements allowable under Minnesota Statute 429. Generally, the improvements include: street and street lighting improvements; sanitary and water utility improvements; sanitary and water utility improvements; storm sewer and drainage improvements; and bikeway/ped/way improvements. This policy outlines how new construction reconstruction, and major maintenance shall be financed under each type of project. Project costs shall include: the construction costs; engineering; testing; permitting; legal; administrative; land or easement acquisition; fiscal; capitalized interest; data processing and publications fees. III. SPECIAL ASSESSMENT METHODS Benefiting properties generally are assessed by one or a combination of four (4) methods; front footage; area; unit and benefit appraisal. Generally, the nature of an improvement lends itself to a particular method. The four (4) methods are described as follows: A. Frontage Method: Frontage is measured at the building setback line. Assessments are determined by multiplying the frontage by.the Council -established rate. B. Area Method: Assessments are determined by multiplying the net developable area (gross area less wetland area) by the Council -established assessment rate. C. Unit Method: Assessments are determined by multiplying the particular land unit by the Council established assessment rate, for each particular zoning category.