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INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7988
61,OTo the Mayor and Members of the City Council March 26, 1996
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X Subject: PROPOSED REVISIONS TO ASSESSMENT PAVING POLICY
TPW staff has completed its review of the current Assessment Paving Policies and
recommends fundamental changes to the program. While the current policies were
developed and have served the city well over the years, we recommend consideration of a
new policy based on the following principles:
1. The initial construction of a street, including curb, gutter, driveway approaches, and
sidewalks, is the financial responsibility of the property owner, developer, or builder.
2. In general, property owners will not be assessed for reconstruction of residential
streets (generally less than 42 feet wide). Assessments will be levied on residential
reconstruction projects only (1) for curb, gutter, driveway approaches, and sidewalks
where none exist, or (2) when land use demands the construction of a stronger
pavement section than a standard residential street.
3. In general, property owners will be assessed for first time construction or reconstruc-
tion of arterial streets (42 feet or wider). This is supported by the facts that arterial
streets provide greater exposure for commercial ventures which benefit from
increased traffic and accessibility. These conditions normally require a wider street
with multiple lanes and a stronger pavement section than residential streets.
These principles parallel city policies for new development and street maintenance programs.
While exceptions are sometimes required in the interest of public safety and convenience,
these principles would form the basis for a revised Assessment Paving Policy.
The following procedural changes are also recommended:
I. Enhancement studies will not be routinely performed on all projects but only when
an assessment is contested at a Benefit Hearing. We will continue to use the long
range method of determining "special benefit to affected properties.
2. Residential properties on arterial streets will be granted annual reductions to
assessments as long as the properties continue to be used as residences.
OFFICIAL RECORD
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS
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INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7988
TE
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council March 26, 1996
Page 2 of 2
4K
X Subject:
1873
PROPOSED REVISIONS TO ASSESSMENT PAVING POLICY
3. Interest on assessments against residential properties owned and occupied by senior
citizens will accrue for only a fixed period of time.
These provisions are used by one or more cities in the state of Texas, and our Department
of Law has advised that they are in compliance with the state law governing paving
assessments.
Because this policy has been tinder review for several months, we are beginning to
experience some delay in bidding street projects. An early resolution to these policy
questions will allow Lis to move forward with the Capital Improvement Program.
If Council desires additional information, staff will be glad to provide it.
44—
Bob Terrell
City Manager
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ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS
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PROPOSED ASSESSMENT PAVING POLICY
(March 26, 1996)
GENERAL GUIDELINES:
It is proposed to modify the Assessment Paving Policy based on the following functional
classifications for the street system as outlined in the City's Traffic Engineering Design
Standards and Policy Guidelines:
Local streets (less than 42 feet in width) generally provide access to and from low
density residential areas and very limited public facilities. These streets carry between 1000 and
5000 vehicles a day and provide little exposure to commercial ventures located on them. These
streets are constructed at the full expense of land developers with no City cost participation. The
City accepts responsibility for maintaining local streets and for replacing them when they have
deteriorated beyond the point of feasible maintenance. For existing local streets which are not
paved or which do not have curb, property owners will be assessed when these improvements are
constructed for the first time.
Arterial streets (42 or more feet in width)which carry more than 5000 vehicles a day
provide greater exposure for commercial ventures, which benefit from such exposure. The City
generally constructs arterial streets, often with participation from property owners through
community facilities agreements. The City accepts responsibility for maintaining arterial streets;
however, on the premise that traffic volumes will increase on roadways that have improved
surfaces and traffic carrying capacity, properties on non-residential streets will be assessed a
portion of the cost of construction.
APPLICATION:
Local streets:
Assessments will be levied for pavement(1) if the street has no pavement of any kind or
(2) if abutting land use requires a pavement section stronger than a standard residential street.
Where pavement exists, assessments will be levied only for curb (including gutter and
driveway approaches) and sidewalks (where sidewalk construction is justified) where none
currently exist, in accordance with Chapter 22, Section 4, of the City Charter, which states,
The whole cost of constructing any sidewalk or curb [on properties] shall be paid by the owners
of. . . abutting property."
Assessments will be computed on an annual rate based on the current actual cost of
construction.
Enhancement studies will not be obtained routinely for these projects but only when some
unusual conditions exist.
Assessments will be levied in accordance with this policy on streets in low- or moderate-
income areas where CDBG funds were previously available to replace assessments.
Collection of assessments against homesteads owned by senior citizens will be deferred
until the property changes hands, and interest will accrue for no more than four years.
Arterial Streets:
Assessments will be levied for pavement and curb for streets that are initially constructed
at or widened to a width greater than 42 feet or for a pavement section stronger than a standard
residential street.
Residential properties situated on arterial streets will be assessed, but the assessments will
be discounted annually as long as the properties continue to be used for residences.
Enhancement studies will not be obtained routinely for these projects but only when
unusual conditions exist.
When enhancement studies are obtained, the long-range method will be used, as opposed
to the current value or income method.
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