Memorandum 15-086 Lillian Walli Fairview Avenue Special Assessment District

Memorandum 15-086 

TO:                       Mary K. Koester, City Manager

FROM:                 Carey Meyer, Public Works Director

DATE:                  June 10, 2015

SUBJECT:         Lillian Walli Subdivision

Fairview Avenue Road and Sewer Special Assessment District

In response to a request by a property owner within the Lillian Walli Subdivision, a petition for road reconstruction and paving and sewer improvements was circulated from October 30, 2014 to December 30, 2014 for what is now known as the Lillian Walli Fairview Avenue Road Reconstruction and Paving and Sewer Improvements Special Assessment District (SAD). The district boundaries are shown on the attached map.

Signatures from property owners in favor of the road reconstruction and paving and sewer improvements equal 70.6%; sufficient to move forward with a public hearing and potentially the formation of the district.

Three issues need to be clarified regarding how the costs of the road and sewer improvements will be assessed to benefitted property owners:

The lots contained within this proposed special assessment district are covered by a subdivision agreement that stipulates that the costs of the construction of all subdivision improvements are the responsibility of the lot owners.  Improvements constructed within this subdivision are not eligible for HART subsidy funding. Can the proposed road and sewer improvements be completed as a HART Special Assessment District with 100% of the cost of the proposed road and sewer improvements being the responsibility of the benefitted properties?

The proposed road improvements in Fairview Avenue will, most probably, be more substantial than a normal neighborhood road. Fairview Avenue should be constructed as a “collector” street, with pedestrian/bike friendly amenities, street lighting and additional pavement widths that are not normally associated with a residential neighborhood street. Will the City cover the additional cost of these “collector” street requirements?

The properties within the proposed Lillian Walli sewer special assessment district have been previously assessed for sewer improvements that did not provide sewer service to the properties. The subdivision was assessed for extending the sewer main along the Sterling Highway. Should a credit be given back to the Lillian Walli property owners, since they did not receive sewer service from the Sterling Highway sewer improvement?

Recommendations:

The City Council pass a resolution that notes the sufficiency of the petition for the Lillian Walli Fairview Avenue Road Reconstruction and Paving and Sewer Improvements Special Assessment District and sets a public hearing date.

The resolution should also support the creation a special assessment district through the HART program, once all conditions necessary have been met, with the understanding that 100% of the cost of the road and sewer improvements are the responsibility of the benefitted lot owners; that the amount of previously paid sewer assessments will be credited back to each property owner at the time the proposed Lillian Walli road and sewer assessments are levied; and that any additional cost associated with constructing a “collector” street vs. a normal residential street will be paid for by the City.