HomeMy WebLinkAbout6780 - ADMIN Resolution - City Council - 1981/02/17RESOLUTION NO. 6780
RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING POLICY FOR SPECIAL
ASSESSMENT OF MAINTENANCE COSTS FOR UNIMPROVED
STREETS AND ALLEYS
WHEREAS, the City Council deliberated at length in 1972 to establish a
policy for specially assessing the maintenance costs for unimproved streets and
alleys while considering the desires of some residents to retain unimproved
streets and alleys and permitting them to pay by special assessment the
resulting increased maintenance costs; and
WHEREAS, the City Council determined in Resolution No. 4576 that the
residents abutting unimproved streets and alleys should bear the direct cost for
maintenance of said streets and alleys; and
WHEREAS, the restrictions placed upon the taxing powers of the City make
it necessary to recover the costs expended for maintenance of unimproved streets
and alleys;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of St.
Louis Park that the following policy will apply for recovery of said costs:
1. The total cost of maintenance of unimproved streets and alleys,
including material, manpower, equipment, financing, supervision, and administrative
overhead required for special assessment procedure and performance of work, shall
be assessed against those property owners abutting the unimproved street or alley
on which maintenance is performed. For purposes of this policy, maintenance is
defined as grading, leveling, patching, surfacing, overlaying or sealing any or
all portions of any street or alley roadway. Activities not related to restoration
or improvement of the roadway surface, such as street sweeping or snow plowing,
will not be considered as assessable maintenance costs.
2. The assessment for street maintenance shall be determined by totalling
the cost for each street maintained during the year and dividing the number of
assessable feet of abutting properties to determine a cost per front foot. Said
cost will be assessed against the number of feet on the front of any given lot,
with side street assessments being assessed using the current City policy for
street paving assessments. For purposes of this policy, a street or alley is
improved when it is constructed with proper drainage, has concrete curbs (streets,only)ai
gutters, and meets the State of Minnesota Department of Transportation "Standard
Specifications for Highway Construction" which includes, but is not limited to, a
minimum six-inch granular base and two-inch asphalt overlay or strength equivalent,
or a minimum seven-inch thickness of concrete paving material.
3. The assessment for street and alley maintenance shall be determined
by totalling the cost for each unimproved alley during the 12 -month period beginning
January 1 each year and assessing the cost per front foot against abutting properties
on both of the alley improved.
4. Single properties normally will not be assessed more than every
three years for improvement of the same street or alley; however, it is
anticipated that in case of streets and alleys which require "annual maintenance"
there will be an accumulative assessment covering the three-year period.
Assessments shall be payable in the year levied if the amount is less than
$100.00; in two years if the amount is between $100.00 and $199.99; and in
three years if the amount is greater than $200.00. The interest rate charged
to those property owners electing to pay after the 30 -day period following the
adoption of the assessment roll shall be the same as the interest rate charged
for general capital improvement projects constructed during the year that the
maintenance assessment is levied.
5. The cost of street improvements which result from disturbing streets for
storm sewers or other major utility installations and repairs shall be included
as part of the utility installation or repair agreement and will not be assessed
against abutting property owners. However, if the street in question has not been
improved for a period of three years prior to the installation or repair work,
the normal maintenance assessment procedures outlined above shall apply.
6. Assessment shall be made against any government property or other tax-
exempt property abutting unimproved streets or alleys.
Adopted by the City Council February 17, 1981.
At: - r
City Clerk
Reviewed for administration:
City Manager
Approved as to form and legality:
City,littorney