(A) The city encourages public improvement projects as the area(s) benefitting and needing such improvements develop. Examples of this policy can be seen through these subchapter regulations, zoning regulations, and building codes. Developers are required to provide the needed improvements and services before development occurs, thereby avoiding unexpected hardships on the property owners purchasing such property and the general public. However, it is recognized that certain areas of the city have developed without all needed public improvements (e.g. parks, water, sewer, and street improvements) and that methods must be found to provide these improvements without causing undue hardships on the general public or the individual property owner.
(B) Special assessments are generally accepted as a means by which areas can obtain improvements or services; however, the method of financing these is a critical factor to both the city and the property owner. Full project costs spread over a very short term can cause an undue hardship on the property owner and, likewise, city costs and systems costs spread over a long period of time can produce and undue hardship on the general public of the city.
(C) It is the policy of the city to not defer assessments except in cases where hardship to senior citizens 65 years of age or older or persons retired by virtue of a permanent and total disability would result. Also, the City Council may elect to defer assessments on undeveloped land for a specified length of time or until the lands are developed. Terms and conditions of any such deferral will be established in the resolution adopting the assessments.
(Res. 10-01-2020, passed 10-21-2020)