Agenda - Council Work Session - 08/27/2013

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Minn. Stat. § 435.44. Minn. Stat. §§ 469.090 — 469.1081. Handbook, Chapter 15. Minn. Stat. §469.174, subd. 10c. Minn. Stat. §469.175, subd. 2b. Minn. Stat. §469.176, subd. li. Minn. Stat. § 273.13, subd. 24. HANDBOOK FOR MINNESOTA CITIES CHAPTER 25 D. Sidewalk improvement districts A city may establish, by ordinance, a sidewalk improvement district to pay all or part of the cost of sidewalk construction and repair by apportioning the cost throughout the property in the district on a "direct or indirect benefit basis." The council may establish districts in order to provide all areas with safe pedestrian walkways to and from schools, school bus stops, public transportation facilities, and other neighborhood and community services. The total cost may be apportioned and assessed to all property in the district on a uniform basis as to each classification of property. An indirect benefit assessment may involve all property in the district without regard to location of sidewalks. A direct benefit may be assessed to abutting property for the additional cost of an extra sidewalk width. Assessments may be spread over a five -year period, but there is no provision in the statute for issuing obligations initially, to finance the cost, nor is any procedure prescribed for making the assessments. The law makes no mention of Chapter 429 or special assessments. E. Economic development authority Economic development authorities (EDAs) possess additional funding power that may help cities fund certain local improvements. An in -depth examination of EDAs is beyond the scope of this chapter, but in general an EDA can issue lease revenue bonds (without a vote or referendum requirement and not subject to net debt limits) to construct public facilities such as a fire hall or a city hall, and lease it back to the city. In the lease, the city agrees to cover the bond payments and eventually purchase the public facility. Compact development tax increment financing (TIF) districts must meet two conditions: Parcels consisting of 70 percent of the area of the district are occupied by buildings or similar structures that are classified as class 3a property. The planned redevelopment or development of the district, when completed, will increase the total square footage of buildings occupying the district by three times or more relative to the square footage of similar buildings occupying the district when the resolution is approved. The authority to establish or approve such a district expired on June 30, 2012. VII. State funding sources for roads and bridges The state provides funding to Minnesota cities for local roads and bridges in a number of ways: This chapter last revised 12/1/2012 25:15