HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Assessment Policy Revised by Council 12-4-2018
CITY OF EDINA
SPECIAL ASSESSMENT POLICY
December 4, 2018
POLICY PURPOSE:
Establish a special assessment policy for public improvements for local and MSA roadways, alleys, sound
walls, water service utility lines, sanitary sewer service utility lines, street lights, sump pump removal or
redirection, garbage and debris removal, aquatic weeds, weed mowing, tree removals, and maintenance
districts.
DEFINITIONS:
1. Municipal State Aid Roadway (MSA): MSA refers to roadways that are enrolled in the MSA system and
is eligible for State Aid funding.
2. Local Roadway: All other roadways without an MSA designation.
POLICY:
Assessable Costs: Assessable costs shall be assessed to the benefitting properties of the public
improvement, based on a Residential Equivalent Unit formula or an alternate methodology described
below. Assessable costs include all project costs not allocated to other funding sources. Assessable costs
include the following: mobilization, direct construction costs, construction finance costs, City and
contracted engineering costs, scientific and technical consulting costs, printing and mailing, legal and
other project related costs. Construction finance costs are the cost of funds used to finance the project
construction until the adoption of the resolution imposing the special assessment. Costs are assessed as
follows:
20% of the costs for MSA roadways.
100% of the costs for local roadways.
100% of the costs specific to a single benefitting property, elected to be assessed by the
property owner for the following:
Sanitary Sewer Service Utility Line
Water Service Utility Line
Sump Pump Removal or Redirection
Tree Removal
100% of the costs for alleys.
100% of the costs for streetlights.
100% of the costs for sound walls unless partially financed by another agency.
100% of the costs for designated Maintenance Districts.
100% of the costs for garbage and debris removal, aquatic weeds, and weed mowing.
Residential Equivalent Unit (REU): REU is an equivalency factor used to determine assessment amounts
for MSA, local roadway and alley improvements. REU is based on traffic generation of one residential lot,
regardless of lot size or amount of street frontage. REU’s shall be calculated according to the following
table:
Scenario Land Use Class REU Factor Notes
A Single Family Residential – Single Family Detached 1.0 1
B Multi-Family Residential – Single Family Attached 0.8 1
C Multi-Family Residential – Multi-Family 0.5 1,4
D Industrial and Utility 0.5 2,3
E Commercial – Office and Retail 1.5 2,4
F Institutional – City Owned Buildings 0.9 2,5
G Institutional – City Owned Open Space See Note 2,6
H Institutional – Schools – Public and Private 0.2 2
I Institutional – Places of Worship 0.2 2
J Mixed Use See Note 4
Notes: 1. Per Unit
2. Per 1000 SF Gross Floor Area from the Assessing Department
3. All uses allowed in Planned Industrial Development (PID) except offices and retail.
4. Mixed Use Properties – A combination calculation by Land Use Class (generally mixes of C
and E from data held in the Assessing Department).
5. Facilities associated with the production or distribution of water, sanitary, or storm water
shall not be assessed. These include, but are not limited to: parcels with well houses, lift
stations, water towers, water treatment facilities.
6. REU calculations shall be based on the placement of like-sized lot lines of nearby
properties on developable space. These are for only the first layer of potential properties
directly adjacent to the open space. Areas of wetlands, floodway, or other non-developable
space will not be considered in the calculation.
REU for Corner Lots: If a corner lot is subject to multiple roadway assessments on adjacent streets, the
total assessable cost shall be equal to one (1) REU after all streets are improved. A partial REU shall be
determined by dividing the number of improved streets by the number of adjacent streets.
In a typical corner lot on the boundary of an improvement project, this will result in a 0.5 REU per street
assessed in two separate projects, totaling 1 REU. Corner lots subject to a previous street reconstruction
assessment under the previous corner lot methodology that paid a 2/3 REU will be assessed 1/3 REU.
Other Costs: Other costs are improvement costs paid for by other funding sources such as the Utility
Fund, Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety Fund (PACS), MSA, or other funding sources described in an
agreement. Other costs include the following public improvements:
80% of the costs for MSA roadway
The costs of curbs, gutters and other storm water management improvements are paid
from the Utility Fund.
The costs of the publicly-owned portions of underground water, sanitary sewer, or storm
sewer utility lines are paid from the Utility Fund.
The costs of sidewalks, trails, and pedestrian/cyclist related safety improvements are paid
from PACS.
Payment and Interest: Assessment methodology, repayment, and interest are described in the table
below, and are subject to the following provisions:
Project Type Assessment
Methodology
Payment
Period
Interest Rate
MSA or Local Roadway REU 15 years Net Interest +1%
Sanitary Sewer Service Utility
Line
Direct Costs 15 years Net Interest +1% or 6.5%*
Water Service Utility Line Direct Costs 15 years Net Interest +1% or 6.5%*
Street Lighting REU 5 years Net Interest +1%
Alleys REU 5 years Net Interest +1%
Sound Wall Benefit Determination 15 years Net Interest +1%
Sump Pump Removal and
Redirection
Direct Costs 5 years 6.5%
Maintenance District Direct Costs 1 Year 6.5%
Garbage and Debris Removal Direct Costs 1 Year 6.5%
Tree Removal under $500 Direct Costs 1 Year 6.5%
Tree Removal $500-$1000 Direct Costs 2 Year 6.5%
Tree Removal over $1000 Direct Costs 3 Year 6.5%
*6.5% if not done with roadway improvements.
1. Assessment Interest Rate – The interest rate for a special assessment shall be paid based on the “net
interest” rate of the bonds to be issued for the project, plus an interest rate premium described in
the table above. If a bond is not issued for a project then the net-interest rate shall be the net
interest rate of the most recent bonds sold by the City prior to ordering the public improvement.
2. Senior Deferral Program: The City makes available an option for residents over age 65 or who have a
permanent disability and meet eligibility standards to defer special assessment. The Senior Deferral
Program is described in Resolution 2005-78 (Appendix 1).
3. Prepayment: The City will accept both partial pre-payments and full pre-payments on assessments
before certifying the assessment to Hennepin County. A minimum of 25% of the assessable cost must
be paid as a partial prepayment.
4. Payment Periods: Payment period vary depending on the purpose for which the assessment was
levied. Payment periods and terms shall be amortized using a level annual payment schedule.
Background:
A. Special Assessment Policy dated June 7, 2016
B. Special Assessment Policy dated August 6, 2012
C. Special Assessment Policy Background dated September 7, 2010
D. Special Assessment Policy Proposal dated August 16, 2005
E. Municipal State Aid Special Assessment Policy dated December 5, 2006
F. Municipal State Aid Special Assessment Policy dated December 21, 2010
Appendix:
1. Senior Deferral Program Resolution 2005-78
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