Agenda - Council - 02/28/2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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parcels to determine whether any appreciable differences existed between parcels that might impact the benefit received from the proposed improvements. Staff identified two appreciable differences that might impact the benefit received. The first was whether a parcel has direct access onto the improved street. The second was whether the parcel abuts other City streets that could result in future assessments to the parcel. Similar adjustments can be found to varying degrees in other cities assessment policies. Staff therefore applied the following adjustments to the area method of assessment to develop a revised assessment roll. • Properties abutting Sunwood Drive only with access onto Sunwood Drive were proposed to be assessed for 100% of their property area. • Properties abutting Sunwood Drive and other City streets, with access onto Sunwood Drive, were proposed to be assessed for 75% of their property area. • Properties abutting Sunwood Drive with no access onto Sunwood Drive were proposed to be assessed for 50% of their property area. Staff presented the revised preliminary assessment roll to 6 of 7 assessable property owners. While most property owners did not specifically object to their proposed preliminary assessment, one property owner did object to their preliminary assessment and recommended the use of another method based on assessable property value which would significantly reduce their preliminary assessment. Based on feedback received, Staff contacted the appraisal firm that prepared the benefit appraisal consultation reports for all recent street reconstruction projects in Ramsey to discuss optional assessment methods for industrial parcels. Based on this discussion, Staff revised the assessment roll by applying the front footage method to calculate special assessments for all assessable properties. The appraiser also calculated estimated special benefits for each assessable property which was also added to the revised assessment roll. Then the lesser of the calculated front footage assessment and estimated special benefit was used for the proposed preliminary assessment for each property. A copy of the revised assessment roll is attached. All costs for this project are eligible for special assessments since the street is proposed to be reconstructed at its existing width, which meets current State Aid standards, and since the existing and proposed pavement sections both meet 10-ton design standards and are therefore equivalent sections. Public Input Below is a very brief and general summary of the comments received from each assessable property owner. • Altron, Inc. — Does not generally oppose the proposed improvements or their proposed assessment, but supports postponing the public hearing to allow more time to review their proposed assessment with City staff before the public hearing. • B & F Fastener Supply — Does not generally oppose the proposed improvements or their proposed assessment, and they do not plan to attend the public hearing. • Class C Components — Does not generally oppose the proposed improvements but supports postponing the public hearing to allow more time to review their proposed assessment with City staff before the public hearing. • Connexus Energy — Does not generally oppose the proposed improvements but supports postponing the public hearing to allow more time to review their proposed assessment with City staff before the public hearing. They are specifically requesting that their assessment be reduced because their property is undeveloped (except for the driveway that provides access onto Sunwood Drive). • In'Tech, Industries — Does not generally oppose the proposed improvements or their proposed assessment, and does not object to postponing the public hearing. • Vision Ease — Does not generally oppose the proposed improvements but supports postponing the public hearing to allow more time to review their proposed assessment with City staff before the public hearing. • Anderson Dahlen — No feedback has been received to date but Staff is working to schedule a meeting prior to the Public Hearing. To ensure Staff will be able to meet with all assessable property owners prior to the Public Hearing to review the attached revised assessment roll, Staff recommends postponing the public hearing until March 14, 2017. Another two week delay should not significantly impact bids and will not prevent the project from being completed in 2017. Notification: