Bill Type and Number: Ordinance 2007-111

 

Sponsor: The Council President, pursuant to Chapter 714, Ordinance Code:

 

Date of Introduction: January 23, 2007

 

Committee(s) of Reference:  F; ECID; JWW

 

Date of Analysis: January 26, 2007

 

Type of Action: Determining Assent for Dredging Project

 

Bill Summary: This ordinance, pursuant to the authority of Ordinance 2005-157-E, determining the sufficient assent of the owners of property surrounding a portion of Morven Lake to the establishment of the Morven Lake Dredging Project; determining whether the City shall bear more than 12 percent of the costs to dredge Morven Lake; expressing intent to use the Uniform Method for the levy and collection of non-ad valorem special assessments to defray the costs of dredging Morven Lake, as authorized by Section 197.3632, Fla. Stat.  Morven Lake is located in Council District 14.

 

Background Information: Ordinance 2005-157-E created Chapter 714 in the Ordinance Code that authorized the City to levy and collect non-ad valorem special assessments for improvements in neighborhoods whose residents petition the Council and agree to have their properties assessed by the Tax Collector for certain improvements that would benefit their property.  The ordinance created a Waterway Dredging Program Area for waterway dredging within an eligible neighborhood.  The ordinance provided that a petition to dredge had to reflect the will of two-thirds (66.7%) of the total number of properties that would benefit from a dredging project.  Six persons owning property at Morven Lake petitioned the City Council to initiate a Neighborhood Assessment Program under the Waterway Dredging Program Area.  Five of the six petitioners have filed an amended petition requesting that the City contribute more than the required cost to dredge Morven Lake.  The City has determined that the five petitioners constituted the two-thirds property owner requirement. It is estimated that the project will be completed by the end of August 2007.  Assessments on the benefited properties would not be levied until the City determined that, based on a post-dredging professional survey, that the dredging project had been completed according to the dredging contract. 

 

Policy Impact: Special Assessments

 

Fiscal Impact: Undetermined

 

Analyst: Jackson