AGENDA #4h

MEMORANDUM

TO: Mayor and Town Council

FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

SUBJECT: Calling a Public Hearing on the Preliminary Assessment Roll for Street Improvements on Sugarberry Road

DATE: January 10, 2000

The attached resolution would call a public hearing on Monday, February 21, 2000, to receive comments regarding the preliminary assessment roll for street improvements recently completed on Sugarberry Road. Please see the attached map.

Introduction

Paving petitions provide a formal means for citizens to signify their desire and willingness to contribute to the cost of paving and other improvements on existing unpaved streets in their neighborhood. State law requires that a valid paving petition include signatures of a majority of the owners of property with frontage on the street, or portion thereof, to be improved. These owners must also hold a majority of all front footage abutting proposed improvements.

On May 24, 1999, the Council received a valid petition for paving Sugarberry Road, which was an unpaved street extending south from Houston Road approximately 560 feet in length as shown on the attached map.

Funding for this project was included in the 1998-99 Town budget adopted by the Council, and construction was completed by a combination of Town and contract forces in November, 1999 at a total cost of $17,570. The Town agreed to share in the improvement costs 50-50 with the adjacent property owners, in keeping with past policy for paving petition projects similar to this one.

Discussion

Upon completion of construction, State statute requires that a preliminary assessment roll be prepared and that a public hearing on the assessment roll be held. Following the hearing, the assessment roll is adjusted if necessary, and is confirmed by the Council. Property owners are then formally notified of their assessment and payment options.

We have attached a copy of the preliminary assessment roll for the petition area. The costs of improvements are prorated to each property owner with property frontage within the project limits. The Sugarberry Road petition was submitted for assessments on an equal share per lot basis, and the attached preliminary assessment roll was developed accordingly.

The preliminary assessment roll includes 50% of the actual, total project construction costs upon completion. The Town would pay the remaining 50% of the project costs.

Owners of assessed property would have the option of paying the assessment in one cash payment within 30 days after publication of notice of confirmation of the final assessment roll, or in not more than 10 annual installments, the first of which would be due and payable concurrently with property taxes, with interest at an annual rate of 6%.

MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION

That the Council adopt the following resolution calling a public hearing on Monday, February 21, 2000, regarding the Sugarberry Road preliminary assessment roll, in accordance with the requirements of the N.C.G.S. Chapter 160A, Article 10.

ATTACHMENTS

1. Map

2. Preliminary Assessment Roll

A RESOLUTION CALLING A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT ROLL FOR PAVING AND ASSOCIATED IMPROVEMENTS ON SUGARBERRY ROAD (2000-01-10/R-7)

WHEREAS, total project costs have been compiled for paving and associated improvements on Sugarberry Road; and

WHEREAS, a preliminary assessment roll has been established for this project and is on file with the Town Clerk;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council calls a public hearing at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, February 21, 2000, in the Town Hall, 306 North Columbia Street, to receive comments on the preliminary assessment roll paving and associated improvements on Sugarberry Road.

This the 10^th day of January, 2000.