10-20-1987 CC MIN - SPECIAL - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 5 City Council Minutes October 20. 1987 e The Mayor then discussed. with the property owners. possible assessment methods for the part of the Beautification Project that cannot be financed through outside sources. Whether this amount is in the $64,000.00 range or increased due to improvements to Jackson Square. a fair assessment method must be determined. The Mayor indicated that the assessments for this type of project is very difficult to do on a strictly front footage basis because some buildings housed a multitude of businesses with very limited front footage. and all of these businesses receive benefit because of the Beautification Project. By assessing strictly on a front footage basis. some businesses will receive a very minor assessment. while otber businesses will receive a rather substantial assessment for the same improvements. The Council requested the Committee to try to determine a fair assessment method for Beautification Project that cannot be financed through other methods except assessements. and to report back to the City Council on their recommendation. The Committee. in turn, requested that the City Engineer also work on a proposed assessment method that he proceived as being fair to all parties. The City Council and CBD property owners agreed to try and exchange information on possible assessment methods and costs for Jackson Square improvement around the middle of November. A public hearing on the proposed improvements is planned for early December and if necessary. the property owners and City Council may get together again for a informational meeting. e The Mayor indicated the City's intent to receive bids for the Main Street Improvement Project and the Beautification part of this project as soon as possible. The Mayor also indicated that the beautificiation aspect of this project. once bids were received. would be assessed prior to the project taking place. This is a common assessment technique that has been done in many communities and in Elk River in the past few years. and allows for the City to determine tbe number of appeals to an improvement project prior to the project taking place. If there are a substantial number of appeals to the project. then serious consideration must be given to if the project should proceed or not. Chairman Lundberg stated that the entire Downtown Business Committee strongly believes that the Beautification Project is needed for improvement in the CBD. He stated that such beautification improvements would add to the Central Business District being the focal point of the community. Mr. Lundberg stro~gly opposed the assessment of the Beautification Project prior to its taking place. and made the analogy that the City is holding the CBD property owners hostage for the Improvement Project by assessing the project prior to it taking place. e Mr. Lundberg also discussed a proposed speaker system within the street lighting system. The Mayor suggested that the speaker system may possibly be located on the buildings within the CBD. or that the speakers system could be installed at a later date. The City Engineer stated that such a system is not eligible from MSA Funding. The Mayor indicated that no city funds are available for such a system. and that business owners would have to assume the cost for such a extra downtown amenity.