Loading...
SR-410-001 (7) .. tj/()-ac/ V'-F JUl - 1 1. & . ,... .. .. -, J ..- ~ C/ED:EDD:ERF:mb Council Meeting: July I, 1986 Santa Monica, California TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: City staff SUBJECT: Introduction for First Reading of a Procedural Ordinance Specifying the Powers and Procedures for the Formation of Assessment Districts and Levying of Assessments by the City for the Purpose of Financing Improvements for the Third Street Mall INTRODUCTION This report transmits an ordinance for first reading by the City Council specifying the powers and procedures to establish assessment districts and to levy assessments to finance public improvements and to operate, maintain, and repair these improvements. The adoption of this ordinance is required in order to proceed with the potential establishment of an assessment district to finance pUblic improvements for the Third Street Mall and adj acent areas as proposed in the Third street Mall Specific Plan. BACKGROUND The City council will shortly receive and adopt the Third street Mall Specific Plan. The Specific Plan will contain a program of public improvements for the Mall area that are necessary to stimulate the economic revitalization of this Downtown core area. The prinicipal technique to finance these public improvements will be through the assessment of property owners and merchants who will benefit directly from the improvements made to the area. Y-F JUl - I 1986 - 1 - /. --- . . __ J- Although the City has established various special districts throughout the City, it currently has no enabling ordinance that contains procedures for establishing the type of assessment district needed to finance the types of improvements contemplated for the Third street Mall and adjacent area. DISCUSSION Based on Council direction during previous reviews of the Mall Specific Plan, City staff has investigated the feasibility of proceeding with the establishment of an assessment district to facilitate the financing of capital improvements by the City for the Third street Mall. To initiate the legal proceedings needed to establish such a district, it is necessary that the City council approve an ordinance that legislates the procedures by which an assessment district may be established and assessments and fees levied of those property owners and merchants who directly benefit from public improvements. Council action to approve this enabling ordinance does not establish the district but merely provides the mechanism to do so should Council determine to proceed with this funding mechanism. If it determines to proceed with the assessment district, this enabling ordinance will be followed by the adoption of succeeding resolutions by the city Council, ultimately concluding in the sale of securities. - 2 - " SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE The attached ordinance to form assessment districts and levy assessments contains the following procedures: 1) The City Council shall adopt a resolution of intention to establish an assessment district and levy an assessment or fee. The resolution among other topics shall: o summarize the improvements to be made, o describe the boundaries of the district, o declare the Councilts intent to levy an assessment for the improvements, and o declare its intent to levy an assessment or fee to operate, maintain, or repair the improvements if it intends to levy such an assessment or fee. 2) In the resolution of intention, the city Council shall request that a report be prepared that: o describes the new improvements to be made and any existing improvements to be acquired as part of the improvements to be paid for by the assessment district, o estimates the cost to construct and/or acquire the improvements, o estimates the costs to operate, maintain, and repair the improvements during the first 5 years after providing the improvements, if the Council intends to levy an assessment or fee for operation, maintenance, and repair, o delineates the boundaries of the proposed district, o contains the amount of the assessment formula by which the assessment will be assessment or formula shall be in direct estimated benefit each parcel is to improvements, and or provides the calculated. This proportion to the receive by the o provides the timing for payment of the assessment (annual, semi-annual, or other periodic payment) and estimates the number of years the assessment is to be collected. 3) After approving the report, the City Council shall approve a resolution stating the time and place to hear protests. The hearing shall be held not less than 30 days after adopting the resolution. PUblic notices shall be published in the newspaper, be posted in the area not more than 300' apart, - 3 - .' Ernesto R. Flores, Manager Christopher S. RUdd, Sr. Administrative Analyst Economic Development Division proord - 5 -