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EUGENE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Work Session: Amendments to the Eugene Code Pertaining to the Procedures and Assessments of Public Improvements Meeting Date: March 8, 2004 Department: Public Works www. cl. eugene, or. us Agenda Item Number: C Staff Contact: Mark Schoening Contact Telephone Number: 682-5243 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY This is a work session on proposed amendments to the Eugene Code pertaining to the procedures and assessments of public improvements. Staff has evaluated alternative apportionment methods for alley improvements considering both the current West University Neighborhood (WUN) alley improvement project and potential alley improvement projects in neighborhoods throughout the City (see Attachment A). The council is requested to pass a motion directing staff to prepare an ordinance amending the Eugene Code pertaining to the procedures and assessments for public improvements to change the method of apportioning assessments for alley improvements to a method that is based equally on property area and alley frontage and to assess all costs associated with alley improvements. A public hearing is tentatively scheduled for April 12, 2004. BACKGROUND Council Action History The City Council held a work session on November 24, 2003, to review a report from the City Engineer covering the feasibility and estimated cost to improve the unimproved alleys, funding sources, range of estimated assessments, assessment code issues, design standards, timing and a proposed implementation plan. The City Council directed the City Manager to proceed with a project to improve the unimproved alleys in the WUN, consistent with the WUN Task Force Final Report and to pursue potential additional funding sources to replace the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Also, at this meeting staff identified issues with the current method of apportionment of costs for alley improvements and proposed future consideration by the council of amendments to the Eugene Code regarding the apportionment method. In addition, the council requested that staff investigate the feasibility of amending the Eugene Code to assess all costs associated with alley improvements. Policy Issues The two policy issues related to the Eugene Code on apportioning assessments for alley improvements include: 1. Should the existing method of apportioning assessments be amended? 2. Should all of the costs associated with an alley improvement be assessed to the benefitting properties? Council Goals L:\CMO\2004 Council Agendas\M040308\S040308C.wpd