Monona committee approves preliminary special-assessment resolution for Arrowhead Drive

The City of Monona Finance & Personnel Committee on Dec. 1 approved a preliminary resolution declaring the city’s intent to exercise special-assessment powers for street improvements on Arrowhead Drive.

Dan (staff member) summarized the resolution as a procedural step that establishes an assessment zone for Arrowhead Drive and nearby Mokes Lane and begins the formal notice process. "The preliminary resolution is just that declaring an intent to exercise the special assessment police powers," Dan said.

Under the draft framework described to the committee, individual property owners in the assessment zone could be charged up to 60% of the improvement cost for their parcel; the city would cover the remaining 40%. Staff said letters were mailed to affected residents on Nov. 21 providing estimated costs and cost-per-foot calculations, and a Class 1 notice is scheduled to appear in the newspaper on Dec. 4.

Dan told the committee the public hearing on the assessment is scheduled for the Jan. 5 meeting; as of Dec. 1, staff had not received any questions or formal responses from neighbors. Committee members discussed other remaining streets without curb-and-gutter improvements — the dead end of Outlook, Interlake East and West, and Winnequa Drive — and noted long-term plans for resurfacing those streets.

The committee called for the question and approved the preliminary resolution by voice vote; the resolution advances the process to the public hearing and a future council decision.

Next steps: the committee will hold a public hearing on the assessment on Jan. 5 and will return the proposal, including any homeowner feedback and staff recommendations on payment installment options (staff said prior practice has allowed up to eight annual installments), to the City Council for final action.