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Chapter 8 — Goals of the original Charter Commission Members in relation to Public <br /> Improvements and local government. <br /> Desired to retain certain rights to the citizens including; <br /> - to be exempted from an assessment, through a request process to the Council <br /> - to have an extended payment plan to pay assessment <br /> - to show Council that the improvement will have no benefit to property <br /> - to require Council prove improvement to property before an assessment could be assigned <br /> to the property and owner. <br /> - that all public improvements require Council approval and citizen review before execution. <br /> - challenge City decision for a public improvement, <br /> - to a process to stop a proposed improvement. <br /> - to present alternative solutions for public improvements, have them heard by the Council, <br /> and reviewed for financial and benefits to meet need for improvement before Council <br /> approved staff proposed solutions. <br /> - to petition for or against a public improvement being considered by the City Council, the <br /> petition having the power to stop the City implementing a public improvement. <br /> - to initiate an ordinance. <br /> - to initiate a public improvement with 25% of benefited properties being able to justify the <br /> petition. <br /> - affected residents by a proposed public improvement have right to challenge the <br /> improvement and any assessments which may be levied at them from the proposal. <br /> - to be notified of any and all public improvement projects. <br /> - to require the proposed improvement be of a local character. <br /> - that the improvement cost must not exceed financial benefit to individual property, and total <br /> improvement won't exceed benefit to all properties. <br /> - that improvement costs and expenses, including interest, will not exceed benefits to <br /> property. <br /> - create a differentiation between "public improvement" and "local improvement", based on <br /> assessment to property. <br /> - the Council would establish procedures to assure these citizen rights and all public <br /> improvements would then follow those procedures. <br /> - approval of a public improvement would require a majority vote of the Council if initiated by <br /> citizens, but require a super-majority if initiated by City. <br /> - the assessment formula may also be challenged AND IF SUCCESSFULY CHALLENGED <br /> will stop the improvement. <br /> - the public improvement contracts, as a total, will not exceed the estimated cost by ten <br /> percent. <br /> - the public improvement must be completed within one year of the public hearing on the <br /> subject. <br /> - a denied improvement won't be reconsidered for one year. <br /> - services to streets, sidewalks, or public and private property can be assessed and are not <br /> "special assessments" or limited by estimates for contracts approval. <br />