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Board reviews special assessments for Moore Street and Alaska Avenue; explains payment options
Summary
The Board reviewed draft assessment estimates for water main and curb-and-gutter projects on Moore Street and Alaska Avenue, explaining assessments are typically one-time charges, capped by code, based on footage or individual services, and may be paid upfront or spread 10–15 years on property tax bills; the board approved forwarding the assessments.
Board staff summarized the special-assessment process for recent work on Moore Street and Alaska Avenue and presented preliminary assessment amounts for affected properties.
Director Gallagher explained that under city policy special assessments are typically a one-time charge to benefit properties from improvements such as new water mains, sanitary mains or curb-and-gutter. "The theory is that it's a one-time improvement to benefit the property," Gallagher said, and noted assessments go through Finance & Personnel and then to the Common Council for final approval.
Gallagher described how assessment amounts vary: footage-based charges differ based on whether a property fronts the main street or a side street, and water-service charges depend on whether a property has a new individual service and whether the service is near-side or far-side of the main. Council President Dickinson asked for clarification; Gallagher said owners are informed during the project process, council members are kept informed, and official notice and hearing information will be mailed by the clerks. Council member Goggin asked whether owners can pay up front or amortize the amount; Gallagher replied the amounts could be paid upfront or spread over 10 or 15 years on property taxes.
The board moved to approve the assessments to continue the process; staff will mail notices to property owners, schedule public hearings at FNP, and prepare council packets. A separate footage-based curb-and-gutter assessment for the 1600 block of Moore Street/Onalaska Avenue was also presented and approved; staff noted larger frontages pay larger portions based on actual cost and capped footage.
