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TO: Charter Commission <br /> FROM: Don Brager, Finance Director - Treasurer <br /> DATE: June 7, 1993 <br /> SUBJECT: Review of Chapter 8 "Public Improvements and Special <br /> Assessments" <br /> Charter Commission Secretary Julie Trude has informed <br /> me that the Commission has requested that I review <br /> Chapter 8 "Public Improvements and Special Assessments" <br /> of the Charter. Secretary Trude has further requested <br /> that I compare Chapter 8 of the Charter to Minnesota <br /> Statutes, Chapter 429 "Local Improvements, Special <br /> Assessments. <br /> Special Assessments are an important financing tool of <br /> the City. Special Assessments financed the City's <br /> present streets and water and sewer systems. Most of <br /> the construction took place in the 1960's. The City <br /> will soon be faced with the task of rebuilding streets <br /> and replacing water and sewer mains. Special <br /> Assessments could be used to finance these projects. <br /> Chapter 8, Section 8. 04 states that "All improvements <br /> to be paid for by special assessments" . . shall be <br /> instituted by either, (1 ) the petition of at least <br /> twenty-five percent in number of the benefitted <br /> property owners together with a resolution adopted by <br /> an affirmative vote of the majority of all of the <br /> Council, or, (2) a resolution adopted by a four-fifths <br /> affirmative vote of all of the Council. " The section <br /> also specifies obtaining cost estimates for the <br /> improvement, setting a date for a public hearing on the <br /> improvement, and notification of citizens and <br /> benefitted property owners of the hearing. At the <br /> hearing the Council may hear from citizens in favor of <br /> or against the improvement but may not take action on <br /> the improvement until a period of sixty days has <br /> elapsed from the date of the public hearing. During <br /> the sixty day period if any of the following occur the <br /> Council shall not proceed with the project: <br /> 1 ) . a petition against such improvement be <br /> filed with the Council, signed by a majority of <br /> owners proposed to be assessed for the <br /> improvement. . . " <br /> 2) When the improvement has been petitioned for, a <br /> petition is filed with the Council " . . . signed by a <br />