Agenda - Council Work Session - 11/18/2014

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Page 26 Special Assessments Policy study. A preliminary assessment roll is done for project, based on estimated costs as outlined in our policy. City Council accepts feasibility study and orders public hearing. A public informational meeting is scheduled by staff to review the feasibility study and the preliminary assessment roll with affected property owners. Hold a Public Hearing, where City Council can order petition generated project with four - fifths vote. If project approved, order plans and specifications (at this point there is a pending assessment on the properties.) City Council approves plans and specifications and orders bids. Appraisals are ordered out. The appraiser would need to provide local appraisal(s) that are in Champlin or surrounding communities. City Council accepts bids and orders assessment hearing. Prepare assessment roll and individual property owner assessment reports and mail to homeowners for Assessment Hearing. A public informational meeting is set up by staff to review the assessment roll with affected property owners. Hold Assessment Hearing. Hold a public hearing per Minnesota State Statute 429 to receive property owner comments on the special assessments. If, in the sole discretion of the City Council, there are sufficient appeals from the assessments, the City Council will notify property owners at the Assessment Hearing that a special hearing will be held by a Hearing Examiner approximately three weeks after the assessment hearing to review all appeals. {The City will need to be consistent in its policy from previous projects toward the number of appeals before ordering a Special Hearing.) The appraiser will be chosen from the pool of pre -qualified appraisers at the Hennepin County Court system. The City Council, by Resolution, shall appoint the Hearing Examiner. The findings of the Hearing Officer to be final. Hold Special Hearing with appealing residents with a Hearing Examiner. The document providing the Special Assessment Rules and Procedures are found on Attachment 7. Any appealing property owners would present evidence of a value increase at the Special Hearing. At that time the appraiser hired by the City and staff would present its findings to the Hearing Examiner. The Hearing Examiner would have a week to submit the findings of facts from the Special Hearing. The City Council would the adopt the findings of facts and approve the assessment roll.