Oak Park council approves special assessment district for 11 Mile parking-lot reconstruction

Oak Park city council on June 1 adopted a resolution creating Special Assessment District 7:30 to fund reconstruction of the 11 Mile parking lot, leaving $281,000 to be assessed across 14 bordering parcels.

Deputy Finance Director Josh Johnson told the council the project’s funding package includes a Corridor Improvement Authority contribution and grants; after those credits and a $100,000 general-fund allocation the remaining amount to be spread to adjacent property owners is $281,000. "The deputy treasurer is submitting a list of 14 properties bordering the reconstruction," Johnson said, and staff recommended establishing the special assessment roll.

Council members pressed staff on how the assessment will be apportioned and on payment timing. Staff said the assessment was capped at $281,000 and will be divided among the 14 businesses based on linear frontage; two businesses paid upfront and the remaining parcels may enter a 10-year repayment program at 2% interest. "We capped their amount to be $281,000 which was divided among the 14 businesses based on their linear frontage," a staff member explained.

The council voted unanimously to adopt the resolution establishing the district and also approved a separate resolution setting the statutorily required public hearing and newspaper notice, which staff said will occur at the next council meeting at 7:00 p.m.

What happens next: the city will publish the required notice and hold the public hearing at the next council meeting; owners on the assessment roll will be able to review the proposed apportionment and raise objections during that hearing.