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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes February 24, 2009 Page 3 1 at any time, but to avoid future interest charges the assessment must be paid by the end of 2 November this year. This is the only year a partial assessment can be made and the interest can 3 be avoided on that portion of the payment if it is made by August of this year. He noted there is a 4 hardship policy based on age and income. The policy criteria is held by Finance Director Roger 5 Larson and is updated every year based on City policy. 7 Councilmember Roth verified with Mr. Hubmer that there will be an assessment paid on the 8 public works building frontage included in the project area. He questioned whether the City has 9 always gone with a 32 -foot road assessment when assessing businesses. Mr. Hubmer replied 10 there are other 40 -foot roads in the City, but the policy is based on a 32 -foot wide street. This 11 street is a little wider because it is an Municipal State Aid (MSA) street; however, the assessment 12 is based on the cost to reconstruct the local interior street. The City as a whole befits by the extra 13 width of the MSA street. 14 15 Ms. Margaret Richter, resident at 3916 Foss Road, questioned if the property owners are able to 16 pay half of the assessment in August and the other half by November 30`h, and whether they will 17 receive a bill. Mr. Hubmer responded in the affirmative. He indicated the property owners will 18 receive a notice on the exact dollar amount of the assessment in May. 19 20 Mayor Pro Tem Stille closed the public hearing at 7:37 p.m. 21 22 Councilmember Gray stated this is particularly sensitive at this time with the way the economy 23 is. It is a difficult time to pursue a project like this that will hit individuals and small businesses. 24 However, at this time it makes sense to go ahead with the project. They are able to get it done at 25 a cheaper rate than if they waited one year at which time the assessment would likely be more. It 26 is important to stay on the schedule of maintaining and redoing infrastructure. He encouraged 27 residents to work with City staff to reduce the impact if they are in a situation where the 28 assessment will create an undue hardship. 29 30 Councilmember Thuesen stated another reason to keep moving forward is that the work will not 31 get any cheaper. He stated his position that the communities that are stalling on these projects 32 will pay dearly in the future versus if they would have started the process years earlier. He stated 33 he is sympathetic with everyone on this project and knows that they are going through, but it is 34 important to keep pushing forward. In the future they will watch the communities around them 35 and wonder how they will finance projects when prices have gone sky high. 36 37 Mayor Pro Tem Stille stated for the record a letter was received from a resident living in the 38 residential area of the project who has questions and concerns about the assessment. He 39 suggested the individual contact City staff regarding the potential for hardship parameters that 40 could be made. He stated his support of moving forward with the project. 41 42 Mr. Hubmer provided an overview of Resolution 09-020. 43 44 Motion by Councilmember Roth, seconded by Councilmember Thuesen, to adopt Resolution 09- 45 020; Ordering Improvements for 2009 Street and Utility Improvements. 46 3