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HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7112 " INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7112 I tj To the Mayor and Members of the City Council April 22, 1986 Subject: PAVING OF LEBOW STREET FROM LONG TO EVA On April 8, 1986, at the Benefit Hearing for the Assessment Paving of Lebow Street, Leon Trotter appeared and raised questions regarding the justification for the project. The following information on the history of the project is provided for the Council ' s infomation. On July 25, 1984, Harold Wade, a property owner, submitted to the Transportation and Public Works Department a petition for the paving of Lebow Avenue from East Long Avenue to Eva Street. On this two-block long section of the street there are 32 lots totalling 1,587 feet abutting the street, with 16 different property owners. The petition was signed by three property owners (18.7%) representing 16 lots and 796 front feet (50.09%) . The street currently consists of a two-course penetration surface with no curb and gutter, is badly deteriorated and has considerable drainage On September 25, 1984 (M&C G-6118) , the petition was submitted to the City Council , and the Council authorized the staff to proceed with the design of the project and the soliciting of bids for construction. The standard assessment procedures were followed on this project: owl 1. Property owners were advised by mail that a public meeting was to be held on October 10, 1985, to provide the property owners information on the City' s plans to pave the street. The plans were available for review, and the staff engineer was present to answer questions. One property owner, Leon Trotter, attended. 2. On February 28, 1986, the property owners were notified that bids had been received, were informed of the specific amounts of their assessments, and were provided poll cards for their use in reaffirming their support for the paving project. The letter advises that if the card is not returned, it will be assumed that the property owner does not object to the project. The responses on the poll cards were as follows: % of Frontage In Favor or In Favor Opposed No Response Total No Response *One individual owns property in both Dlocks, ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS ~ INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No.. 7112-P.2 &PTEA,0 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council April 22, 1986 PAVING OF LEBOW STREET FROM LONG TO EVA 3. On March 21, 1986, the property owners were notified by certified mail of the time and place of the Benefit Hearing. Specific questions raised by Mr. Trotter at the Benefit Hearing included the following: 1. Q. Why is the 3400 Block included when the property owners in this block do not want the paving? A. The original petition was for the paving of the entire two-block street. When the poll survey was made, two property owners in the 3400 Block were in favor of the work and seven did not respond. No poll cards were received indicating opposition to the paving of this block. 2. Q. Since only one property owner in the 3500 Block is in favor of the project, why is it being paved? A. The one owner represents 55 percent of the frontage. The three property owners opposed represent 16.7 percent. 3. Q. How long will the project take? A. The contract provides 76 working days, or approximately four months, after the contractor is authorized to begin work. 4. Comment: The project cost is out of line. A. The engineer's estimate was $160,000; the low bid was $153,071.14. The assessment rate being applied for this project is $21.35/front foot, the residential rate in effect in 1984 when the petition was received. This rate is $4.00 per foot less than the current rate of $25.35. 5. Q. Why are we being charged for the project when some streets are being done at no cost to the property owners? A . Since August, 1982, the City' s policy has been to assess property owners for all paving and reconstruction projects on which pro- perty values are enhanced by the paving work. The only exception has been projects in Special Emphasis Areas which were funded under the Community Development Block Grant program. On January 7, 1986, the City Council approved revisions to this inner-city street program whereby all property owners are assessed and certain qualifying low income residents can receive financial assistance with their assessments. Although the Lebow Avenue pro- ject might possibly qualify for this cost-sharing program, the rogram is being applied only to projects initiated after January LISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7112-p.3 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council April 22, 1986 t Subject: PAVING OF LEBOW STREET FROM LONG TO EVA Leon Trotter presented a petition to the Council requesting the cancella- tion of the project. The petition contains the signatures of two renters and five property owners representing 342 feet or 49% of the frontage in the 3400 block. One of the signers of the petition previously indicated on his poll card that he favored the project. If the Council desires additional information on this project, it will be furnished upon request. ouglas Harman City Manager DH:dw '1 ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS