Minutes - Council - 05/14/2019 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

per the applicable provisions of Chapter 8 of the City Charter, the City's Special Assessment Policy, and Minnesota Statute Chapter 429. Councilmember Kuzma asked what would happen if the residents object to the assessment once the project is complete, if the study is not done, specifically whether that appraisal report would then be an additional expense. City Engineer Westby stated that if an objection is filed there is a process to be followed. He stated that in this case there would not be an appraisal report. He stated that the assessment that was adopted in November is reasonable and comparable to previous projects and therefore he did not foresee any issues if the assessments remain at $4,500 or below. He stated that if needed, a single property appraisal could be done but did not anticipate needing that unless a large assessment is proposed. Councilmember Musgrove asked the benefit to action two, noting that the School District could then say that they would not drop off children. City Engineer Westby confirmed that the cul-de-sac would not need to be reconstructed but the School District would then be forced to find an alternate route. Councilmember Musgrove stated that she would support action one as that would support future home sales and safety for children in the neighborhood. Councilmember Heinrich stated that this case would also forgo completion of the special benefit appraisal study and that cost savings would be credited towards the proposed assessment amount for homeowners. City Engineer Westby stated that the assessments proposed in November would have been $3,919 but the bids were higher than anticipated. He noted that the proposed assessment amount then increased to $6,600. He stated that because a similar project had an assessment of$4,500, he would recommend keeping the assessment at $4,500 rather than increasing from $3,919 to $6,600. Mayor LeTourneau asked if in the past the City has made adjustments to an assessment that ended up coming in higher than anticipated. City Engineer Westby stated that has not happened in the past. He stated that the bids came in higher than anticipated and therefore staff would lean towards assessing a lesser amount than the $6,600, as the originally proposed assessment amount was $3,919. Mayor LeTourneau stated that he would not want to make a decision on the assessment amount at this time, noting that the issue could set precedent in the future. He noted that a discussion could be had in the future but would not want to make a commitment at this time. Lisa Monsrude, 5725 180th Ln NW, stated that her children catch the bus and hoped that the City would widen the cul-de-sac in conjunction with this project. City Council/May 14,2019 Page 6 of 12