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Presentation <br /> <br />City Engineer Jankowski indicated the 2005 Street Maintenance Program consists of eight <br />individual projects addressing the maintenance needs of 20.6 miles of streets. Eight projects <br />involve crackfill/sealcoat projects covering t 3.6 miles of roadway. Three projects involve a 1-½ <br />inch bituminous overlay covering 7.0 miles. Individual projects have combined subdivisions <br />with similar pavement areas per unit into single projects to reduce administration costs. He <br />advised all projects have been substantially completed and the final costs have been determined. <br />It is City policy to assess 50% of the project cost to the benefited property owners, while the <br />remaining half is financed through City general funds. He indicated one written comment was <br />received today that he would like to address after the citizen input. <br /> <br />Citizen Input <br /> <br />Matt Look, 5635 - 142nd Avenue NW, questioned how property owners can be assessed if there <br />is not an increase in the value to their property. <br /> <br />City Attorney Goodrich replied the City is not able to specially assess any property unless it <br />benefits the property by the amount of the assessment. <br /> <br />Mr. Look stated this project is a maintenance issue, and he would question why the assessment is <br />for 50% with the City paying for 50% of the project. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec replied in the past the City charged the full assessment for the project. The <br />Council then decided to amend the policy to a 50/50 basis. Any change to the policy would be <br />difficult due to the residents that have been paying assessments in the past. <br /> <br />Mr. Look stated this assessment is a ten percent tax increase. His concern as a citizen is that <br />today the assessment will be for the overlay, and tomorrow the assessment will be for whatever <br />the Council deems it wants to charge the citizens. As citizens in a charter community it is their <br />responsibility to ensure this type of taxation does not occur on a regular basis. <br /> <br />Councilmember Elvig explained the road has to be repaired and someone has to pay for it. The <br />only alternative would be to tax the rest of the residents in the City for these roads. The question <br />gets to be what is fair at this time, as other residents have already paid assessments for their <br />roads in the past. <br /> <br />Mr. Look stated there could be a charter introduced at the next election that requires any increase <br />in taxation or fees to go before the people in the general election. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec indicated the responsibility for these assessments is designated to the City Council <br />through the State. <br /> <br />Mr. Look stated his concern is that the City of Ramsey does not tax less than any other city. <br />They do not have these problems in a neighboring city where he owns property, and the <br />maintenance issues are dealt with in that city. <br /> <br />76 <br /> <br />City Council / September 27, 2005 <br /> Page 6 of 25 <br /> <br /> <br />