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. . . . March 19, 1990 Council Minutes, Page Two for the work. He noted this street was perhaps only 10 or 11 years old but it was not built to specs originally. He suggested the City should have a policy which would enable the Council to be flexible in unique situations. Mayor Sather suggested that all new streets be assessed at 1007. of the cost and reconstructed streets be assessed at 2/3 homeowner and 1/3 City. Councilmember Mahowald asked how many other cities have an assessment policy and what are their percentages of assessments. Finance Committee member Carl Rundquist, who is the Chairman of the subcommittee studying an assessment policy, noted that the subcommittee is evaluacing other cities policies and percentages. Ms. Sandi Dunekacke, a member of the Finance subcommittee, arrived at 5:10 P.M. Rundquist felt that a 2/37. charge to property owners was higher than what other cities charge. Councilmember Mahowald suggested waiting for the subcommittees results before firmly establishing an assessment policy. Engineer Maurer noted that normally, assessment rates are set annually by City Council resolution. Council concurred that this would be a good idea. Maurer also noted that many cities are changing the process of assessment projects. whereby they now let a bid. receive the bids, hold the assessment hearing before the bid is awarded, wait 30 days to allow time for persons to appeal the assessment, then, after the 30 day wait, award the bid assuming a majority of property owners do not appeal the assessment. Otherwise. once the bid is awarded and the project completed, the City could wind up with too many property owners appealing the costs, and no one to pay for the project. If the assessment hearing is held before the bid is awarded and the project complete, the City would have an idea of where they will stand when payment time is due. If a majority of the property owners appeal the project, the City can cancel the project and wait a few years and try again when the street or sewer is in a worse condition. Council concurred that this process appears to be better than the former one. Council then discussed how long street assessments should be allowed to be carried. They felt that 15 years should be the maximum amount of time. Council discussed how to assess corner lots and agreed that if a corner lot property owner had been assessed 1007. on one side, the maximum he could be assessed on the other side would be 1/3 of the cost. If only one side was assessed, the other corner could be fully assessed after 15 years. If two projects were completed on a corner lot within 15 years, the owner could only be assessed 1337. of the costs. Council directed City Attorney Filla to review pages 10 and 11 of the Assessment Policy relative to requiring 1257. for the bond. Council noted this requirement should not conflict with the PUD requirements.