Item 5: Ordinance Levying Assessments for West University Alleys

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The City Council held a work session on June 9, 2003, to review and approve the WUN Task Force Final Report. The City Council directed the City Manager to analyze the recommendations of the Task Force and provide the council with an implementation plan. One of the high priority, long-term recommendations was to improve the alleys in the neighborhood. The City Council held a work session on November 24, 2003, to review a report from the City Engineer covering 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 staff to proceed with the implementation plan to improve the unimproved alleys, and to pursue other potential additional funding sources to replace Community Development Block Grant monies for the non-assessable costs of improvements. On January 12, 2004, the City Council adopted a motion directing staff to proceed with design and bidding of a project to improve the unimproved alleys within the WUN. On March 8, 2004, the City Council held a work session on proposed changes to the assessment code pertaining to alleys. On April 12, 2004, a public hearing was held before the City Council on proposed changes to the assessment code pertaining to alleys. Various assessment methods were considered using examples which showed the financial impact of each method to properties on the West University Alleys. On May 10, 2004, the council took action approving (5-2) changes to the assessment code pertaining to alleys to assess all costs of the alley improvements to abutting properties. On May 24, 2004, the City Council took final action approving (6-2) changes to the assessment code pertaining to alleys. The second action on May 24 was necessary because the City Charter requires a 2/3 majority approval of the entire City Council to change the assessment code. The 23 alleys in the proposed WUN Local Improvement District were separated into three bidding contracts and bids were opened on April 5, 6, and 7, 2005. The low bidders were 2G Construction for Job #4172 and Job #4310 and Brown Contracting for Job #4309. Property owners were notified of a public hearing regarding formation of the proposed LID and the public hearing was held on April 20, 2005. The City formed the Local Improvement District on May 9, 2005. Construction of the project has been completed, final actual costs have been tabulated, and final assessment costs have been calculated. Property owners were notified of the final assessment hearing ten (10) days prior to the hearing as required by Eugene Code. The final assessment hearing was held on January 30, 2006, to review the final project cost, consider comments on the proposed final assessments, and to provide evidence to be included in the ordinance levying the assessments by the City Council. Seventeen property owners attended the hearing (see Hearings Official Minutes). Correspondence received from property owners is included in Attachment B in the Memo to the Hearings Official. Costs were distributed per Eugene Code 7.175, and as outlined in the council-adopted Hearings Official findings and recommendations, and the resolution forming the LID. L:\CMO\2006 Council Agendas\M060213\S0602135.doc