The following is the typical city assessment for various specified improvements.
(A) Street, curb, and gutter improvements.
(1) New constructions. New streets are assessed 100% to the abutting benefitted properties. Street and curb and gutter improvements will normally be assessed by the adjusted front foot method; however other methods may be utilized if conditions warrant. Cost of construction of streets shall be assessed based on the minimum design of a 36 feet wide seven-ton axle load in residential zoned areas and ten-ton axle load in commercial and industrial zoned areas. Over-sizing costs which are incurred in excess of the above may be paid by:
(a) State funds;
(b) Larger assessment rates to other benefitted properties;
(c) General obligation funds; or
(d) Any other method or combination of methods authorized by the City Council.
(2) Reconstruction and overlays. Street reconstructions and overlays are assessed 30% to the
abutting benefitted properties. New curb and gutter are 30% assessed.
(3) Gravel streets. Upgrading of existing gravel street by adding pavement, curb and gutter is considered new construction and all costs are assessed 100%.
(4) Seal coats. Seal coats are not being assessed.
(5) Alleys. Upgrading existing gravel alleys by adding pavement is assessed 100% to all lots
abutting on the alley in the block being improved. Reconstructing existing paved alleys are 30% assessed also.
(B) Storm sewer improvements.
(1) Storm sewers are assessed on a project-by-project basis. Storm sewers in new subdivisions are considered an assessable improvement on an area basis.
(2) Over sizing costs due to larger mains and larger appurtenances are paid for by a combination of availability charges, user charges and/or trunk area assessment charges. Trunk area storm sewer charges are levied to all unplatted property at the time of platting, to re-plats that have not been charged trunk area charges when the land was originally platted, and to re-plats that have been charged trunk area charges when the land was originally platted but where the use is increasing (only the cost difference based on current and prior use is charged). The charges will be set in the annual fee schedule during the first City Council meeting in January of each year.
(3) Normally, storm sewers are assessed on an area wide basis (square foot or acres), but in certain situations the per lot method or adjusted front method may be utilized at the City Council’s discretion.
(C) Sanitary sewer assessments.
(1) Assessments for sanitary sewer in residential areas are based upon the cost of construction of eight-inch mains, which is the smallest size installed in residential areas of the city. Assessments for sanitary sewers in commercial and industrial areas are based upon a standard size of eight-inch mains.
(2) Over-sizing costs due to larger mains and larger appurtenances will be paid for by a combination of availability charges, user charges and/or trunk area assessment charges. Trunk area sanitary sewer charges shall be levied to all un-platted property at the time of platting and to re-plats that have not been charged trunk area charges when the land was originally platted. The charges will be set in the annual fee schedule during the first City Council meeting in January of each year. Services installed to individual properties are fully assessed to the benefitting property.
(3) Normally, sanitary sewers are assessed on an area wide basis (square foot or acres), but in certain situations the per lot method or adjusted front method may be utilized at the City Council’s discretion.
(4) Lateral benefit from major trunk sewers or interceptors is assessed to the properties benefitted by the sewer. Any over-sizing cost is assessed as described above.
(5) The replacement of existing sewers is assessed 30% with the remaining costs paid for by other funding sources identified by the City Council.
(6) Individual service lines installed directly to specified properties are fully assessed directly to the benefitted properties. Properties that have existing sanitary services, but do not have main line sewers adjacent, across or up to their property lines pay 30% of the assessment rate for the new main line sanitary sewer as well as 100% of the cost associated with replacing the service lines.
(7) Any existing service lines found to be defective as part of a street reconstruction are replaced as part of the project and assessed directly to the property.
(D) Water main assessments.
(1) Assessments for water mains in residential areas are based upon the cost of construction of 8-inch mains, which is the smallest size installed in residential areas of the city. Assessments for water mains in commercial and industrial areas are based upon the standard size of 12-inch mains.
(2) Over-sizing costs due to larger mains and larger appurtenance are paid for by a combination of availability charges, user charges and/or trunk area assessment charges.
(3) Trunk area water charges shall be levied to all un-platted property at the time of platting and to re-plats that have not been charged trunk area charges when the land was originally platted. The charges will be set in the annual fee schedule during the first City Council meeting in January of each year. Services installed to individual properties shall be assessed 30% to the benefitting property.
(4) Normally, water mains are assessed on a per lot basis, but in certain situations the area or adjusted front method may be utilized at the City Council’s discretion.
(5) The replacement of existing water mains is assessed 30%.
(6) Lateral benefit from major trunk water mains is assessed to properties benefitted by the water main. Lateral water main assessments are to be based on the costs for an equivalent eight-inch diameter water main for residential properties and for commercial/industrial properties.
(7) Individual service lines installed directly to specified properties are fully assessed directly to the benefitted properties. Properties that have existing water services, but do not have main line water mains adjacent, across or up to their property lines pay 30% of the assessment rate for the new water main as well as 30% of the cost associated with replacing the service lines.
(8) Any existing service lines found to be defective as part of the project, are assessed directly to the property.
(E) Street boulevard trees. All street boulevard trees installed as part of new street constructions or in reconstructing existing streets shall be included as part of the overall project costs included in the assessment calculations.
(F) Street lights. All costs for new street lights installed as part of constructing new streets or street lights relocated as part of reconstructing streets are included in the overall project costs and included in the assessment calculations. In new subdivisions, the city may require the developer to finance street light improvement rather than assessing the cost.
(G) Other improvements. Based on the City Council determination, any other improvements may be fully assessed or assessed in part.
(Res. 10-01-2020, passed 10-21-2020)