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Mr. Goodrich further stated that projects are initiated by a petition of <br />the affected landowners (minimum of 35%). Council then accepts and listens <br />to the petition for that particular improvement. Ramsey City Council has <br />not sought projects to do, that a major majority of the street improvement <br />projects were petitioned for. Council then accepts the petition and orders <br />a feasibility study, conducts a public hearing for public involved and then <br />votes on whether or not to order a project in - which vote would require a <br />3/5 vote to pass. If Council decides a certain area needs improvements, and <br />the affected citizens did not petition, Council can order the project in after <br />the feasibility study and public hearing, but it must pass by a 4/5 vote. <br />The 3/5 and 4/5 vote to which I refer must be of the entire Council. <br /> <br />Mr. Goodrich referred to guaranteed rights of an individual and property <br />owner. No assesment can ~xceed benefit which property receives. Assessment <br />period addresses how long a period of time will property owner have to pay <br />the assessment. Council agreed that for a new subdivision by a developer it <br />would be 5 years, for commercial and industrial it would be 10 years, and <br />for existing developments Council will determine period of time based on <br />interest rates and market available for selling bonds at the time. He <br />doubted that it would ever be less than 5 years and by State law, it cannot <br />exceed 20 years. <br /> <br />Mr. Goodrich then addressed rate that City would charge on property assessed. <br />Rate bonds would be sold at plus 1%% for the purpose of covering administrative <br />costs, accepting payments, sending out bills and dealing with County. <br /> <br />Mr. Goodrich stated that the policy provides that certain properties would <br />not be assessed: City right-of-way, major transportation routes, undeveloped <br />lands, drainage ponds and cemeteries and further this property is not <br />entitled to a building permit as it does not pay assessments. <br /> <br />Mr. Raatikka stated that there are numerous, methods of assessing: <br /> <br />Area - Basically a square footage charge which could be used to assess sanitary <br />sewer trunk, storm drainage or water trunk. <br /> <br />Unit - Basically for a 80'X 135' unit. Used for trunk, lateral, sanitary <br />sewer, street storm drainage for residential, industrial and commercial. <br /> <br />Front footage - Used for trunk, lateral, sanitary sewer, street storm drainage <br />in residential, industrial and commercial. <br /> <br />Equivalent Unit - Based on a typical unit in a residential area and using <br />a 80' lot as an equivalent unit. <br /> <br />Variable Cost - Driveway, sewer and water connections. Based on cost of each <br />individual item. <br /> <br />REC - (Residential Equivalent Connection) - REC is equal to approximately <br />3.6 persons and converting it to commercial and industrial land, there are <br />approximately 5.5 REC's per acre in an industrial/commercial development. <br /> <br />Mr. Goodrich stated that the City cannot vary the figure of 35% required <br />to petition for an improvement, and under State law Council cannot allow <br />public to vote on sewer and water, that the Council members were elected to <br />make that decision. <br /> <br />Sp C/March 28, 1983 <br /> Page 6 of 14 <br /> <br /> <br />