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CITY COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM |
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Department: |
Public Works |
Commission Meeting Date: January 3, 2017 |
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Staff Contact: |
Charles F. Soules, P.E., Director of Public Works |
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Recommendations/Options/Action Requested: |
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Conduct public hearing and adopt on second reading, Ordinance No. 9322 levying assessments, and Ordinance No. 9323, a Home Rule ordinance authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds of the City to provide funds for the pre-payment of certain special assessments relating to the downtown Vermont Street parking garage. |
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Executive Summary: |
At its December 6, 2016 meeting, the City Commission adopted on first reading, Ordinance 9322 and 9323, and set the public hearing date for January 3, 2016 to hear oral and written objections to the Vermont Street Parking Garage benefit district. For purposes of the public hearing, the Commission is tasked with reviewing the total cost of the project and the allocation to property owners to ensure that the costs and allocation comply with the Resolution No. 6995 which set the property to be assessed and the method of allocation.
Background In November 2010, voters approved an $18-million, 20-year bond issue to renovate and expand Lawrence Public Library. This bond issue also included plans to add a 250-space parking structure that doubled the number of spaces for the Library and improved access to parking for the Outdoor Aquatic Center, Senior Center and downtown Lawrence in general.
On December 11, 2012, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 6995 establishing a special assessment benefit district, including all properties within the Central Business District. The purpose of the benefit district was to pay for the construction of an additional level of the parking garage. Following adoption of Resolution No. 6995, the mandatory protest period prescribed by K.S.A. 12-6a06 ended without protest.
Construction of the parking garage is complete and final costs for the portion of the parking garage to be paid by the benefit district totals $915,358.03. This amount will be assessed against the properties in the benefit district equally per square foot. At the direction of the City Commission, assessments allocable to churches, non-profit organizations, residential property, and areas used for parking within the benefit district will be prepaid by the City. Owners of such properties will not be responsible for payment of special assessments for these areas in the benefit district. Home Rule Ordinance No. 9323 provides the City the authority to issue the general obligation bonds to fund the City’s portion of this benefit district.
Earlier this year two sets of letters were sent to property owners to provide notification of what their costs would be. The first letter included the full cost of the assessment to the property without the amount of credit the property owner will receive from the City’s prepayment. The second letter sent included the credit amount.
The City’s portion of assessments, including assessments allocable to the exempt properties described above, total $485,931.73 or approximately 53% of the total cost of the improvements. The remaining balance of $429,426.30 will be assessed against non-exempt property in the benefit district.
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Strategic Goal Area: |
Economic Development and Infrastructure |
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Fiscal Impact (Amount/Source): |
The project total cost is $915,358.03 of which $485,931.73 will be paid by the City and included in the 2017 Bond Sale. The remainder, $429,426.30, will be assessed to the properties within the Benefit District. |
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Attachments: |
Assessment Proceedings Schedule Notice of Public Hearing – Exhibit C - Schedule I Assessment Ordinance 9322 and Exhibit A Home Rule Ordinance 9323 and Exhibit A - REVISED 01/03/17 Minutes excerpt from September 25, 2012 City Commission meeting Minutes excerpt from December 11, 2012 City Commission meeting |
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Reviewed By: (for CMO use only) |
☐TM ☐DS ☐CT ☒BM |