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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 12912ORDINANCE NO ~~`7~~ AN ORDINANCE CLOSING BENEFIT HEARING AND LEVYING ASSESSMENTS FOR PART OF THE COST OF IMPROVING A PORTION OF CHURCH STREET (HANDLEY DRIVE TO MILAM STREET), AND PORTIONS OF SUNDRY OTHER STREETS, AVENUES AND PUBLIC PLACES IN THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS, FIXING CHARGES AND LIENS AGAINST ABUTTING PROPERTY THEREON, AND AGAINST THE OWNERS THEREOF, PROVIDING FOR THE COLLECTION OF ASSESSMENTS AND THE ISSUANCE OF ASSIGNABLE CERTIFICATES, RESERVING TO THE CITY COUNCIL THE RIGHT TO ALLOW CREDITS REDUCING THE AMOUNTS OF THE ASSESSMENT TO THE EXTENT OF ANY CREDIT GRANTED; DIRECTING THE CITY SECRETARY TO ENGROSS AND ENROLL THE ORDINANCE BY COPYING THE CAPTION IN THE MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF FORT WORTH, AND BY FILING THE ORDINANCE IN THE ORDINANCE RECORDS OF THE CITY, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the City of Fort Worth, Texas, has declared the necessity for and ordered that each of the following portions of streets, avenues and public places be improved by raising, grading, filling and constructing thereon. CHURCH STREET from Handley Drive to Milam Street, known and designated as Project No. 111-040433, to be improved by constructing asix- inch thick reinforced concrete pavement with aseven-inch high attached concrete curb over asix-inch thick lime stabilized subgrade, so that the finished roadway will be twenty-eight feet wide on a fifty foot width Right-of--Way. Six-inch thick reinforced concrete driveway approaches and four-inch thick concrete sidewalks will be constructed where shown on the plans. WHEREAS, concrete curbs and gutters on proper grade and line, storm drams, and other appurtenances shall be constructed. 1 WHEREAS, all improvements will be constructed strictly according to approved Plans and Specifications. WHEREAS, estimates of the cost of the improvements to the streets, avenues, and public places were prepared, filed, approved, and adopted by the City Council. WHEREAS, the proper notice of the time, place, and purpose of the hearing was given. WHEREAS, the hearing was held on the 13th day of March, 1997 at 7:00 o'clock P.M. In the Council Chamber of the City of Fort Worth, and at the hearing the Council permitted all interested parties a full and fair opportunity to be heard. WHEREAS, the City Council, having fully considered all the matters presented during the heanng, is of the opimon that the hearing should be closed and the assessments should be made and levied as herein ordered. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS, THAT I. The benefit hearing is hereby closed. II. The City Council finds from the evidence (i) that the assessments should be made and levied against the respective parcels of property abutting the streets, avenues, and public places and against the owners of such property; (ii) that the assessments and charges are correct; (iii) that the assessment and charges are substantially m proportion to the benefits conferred to the respective parcels of abutting property by the improvements in the umt in which the assessments are levied, (iv) that considering the benefits received and the burdens imposed, the assessments establish substantial justice, equality, and umformrty between the owners of the respective parcels of abutting property; (v) that each parcel of abutting property assessed is specially benefitted in the enhanced value of the improvements in a sum of money in excess of the sum for which the assessment is levied and the charge made; (vi) that the apportionment of the cost of the improvements is in accord with city ordinances, and (vii) that the proceedings of the city for the improvements are valid. III. There shall be, and is hereby, levied and assessed against the parcels of abutting property described in Exhibit "A" attached and dated January 1997, and against the owners thereof, whether named or incorrectly named, the sums of money itemized opposite the description of the respective 2 parcels of abutting property IV Where more than one person, firm or corporation owns an interest in any property described in Exhibit "A", each person, firm, or corporation shall be personally liable only for his or rts assessment in the proportion that his or its interest bears to the total ownership interest of the property An interest in jointly owned property may be released from the assessment lien upon payment of the proportionate amount owed. V The amounts described m Exhibit "A" and assessed against the parcels of abutting property and the owners thereof, together with interest at eight percent a year, reasonable attorney's fees and costs of collection, are hereby declared (i) to be and are made a lien upon the parcels of abutting property against which they are assessed, (ii) to be and are made a personal liability and charge against the owners of the parcels of abutting property, whether such owners are correctly named, (iii) to be and constitute the first enforceable lien against the parcel of abutting property on which the assessments are levied, superior to all other liens and claims, except state, county, and school district taxes and city ad valorem taxes. The assessments shall be payable on or before 30 days after the acceptance by the City of Fort Worth of the project; provided, however, an abutting property owner may elect to pay the assessment in five equal, consecutive annual installments. The first installment shall be paid no later than thirty days after the acceptance by the City of Fort Worth of the project. Each subsequent installment shall be paid annually on each anniversary date of the acceptance of the project. In the alternative, an abutting property owner may elect to pay the assessment in 49 equal, consecutive monthly installments, the first installment to be paid no later than thirty days after the acceptance by the City of Fort Worth of the project. Any owner electing to pay the assessment in installments, must execute a promissory note and mechanic's and materialman's lien contract evidencing the owner's intent to pay the assessment in accord with the terms of one of the installment alternatives. If the owner elects to pay the assessment in installments under either alternative, the assessment shall bear interest from the date of acceptance of the project at the rate of eight percent per year Should any installment not be paid on rts due date, the City of Fort Worth shall have the option to accelerate the entire unpaid balance of the assessment and declare rt immediately payable. Any terms governing any default in the payment of any installment shall be set forth in the mechanic's and Matenalmen's lien contract and shall be uniform among all abutting property owners executing an installment contract. In addition, the Crty Attorney shall have the authority to authorize terms of payment different than those specified herein when the Director of Transportation and Public Works has previously determined that an extreme financial hardship exists. 3 VI. Any default in the payment of any assessment shall be enforced either (i) by the sale of the parcel of abutting property by the Assessor and Collector of Taxes of the city in the same manner provided for the sale of property for the nonpayment of ad valorem taxes, (ii) at the option of the city or its assigns by suit m any court, or (iii) as provided m the mechanic's and matenalman's contract created by this ordinance. The city shall exercise all powers to azd in the enforcement and collection of the assessments. VII. The total amount assessed against the respective parcels of abutting property and the owners thereof is in accord with the proceeding of the city relating to the improvements and assessments thereof and is less than the proportion of the cost allowed and permitted by the law VIII. Although charges have been fixed, levied, and assessed as stated, the City Council hereby reserves the right to reduce the assessments by allowing appropriate credits to certain property owners. Even though the City Council reserves the right to issue credits, rt shall not be required to issue credits, and will not do so if the credits are inequitable or discrimiriatory The principal amount of each assessment certificate issued by the city shall be determined by deducting any credit from the amount of the assessment. IX. To evidence the several sums assessed against the respective parcels of abutting property and the owners thereof, and the time and terms of payment, and to aid in their enforcement and collection, the city shall issue, upon completion and acceptance of the project, assignable certificates in the amount of the respective assessment less any credits allowed. The certificates shall be executed m the name of the .city by the Mayor, attested by the City Secretary, and impressed with corporate seal of the city The certificate shall be payable to the City of Fort Worth or its assigns, and shall declare the amounts, time and terms of payment, rate of interest, and the date of the completion and acceptance of the improvements abutting the parcel of property for which the certificate is issued. Moreover, the certificate shall contain the name of the owner or owners, if known, and the description of the property by lot and block number, front feet, or as may otherwise identify the property Property owned in the name of an estate may be assessed in that name. No error or mistake in describing any property, or m giving the name of any owner shall mvahdate or impair the certificate for the assessments levied. The certificate shall provide that if it is not paid promptly upon maturity, rt shall be collectable, with reasonable attorney's fees and costs of collection. In addition, the certificate shall 4 provide that the amount evidenced in it shall be paid to the Assessor and Collector of Taxes of the City of Fort Worth, who shall issue a receipt as evidence of payment. The Assessor and Collector of Taxes shall deposit the sums he receives with the Crty Treasurer to be kept and held in a separate fund. After any payment on a certificate is made to the city, the Assessor and Collector of Taxes, upon presentation of the certificate, shall endorse the certificate to show the payment. If a certificate is assigned, the holder shall be entitled to receive from the City Treasurer the amount paid by presentation of the certificate endorsed and credited, and the endorsement and credit shall be the Treasurer's Warrant for malang the payment. The payments by the City Treasurer shall be receipted for the holder of the certificate in writing and by surrender when the principal, together with accrued interest and all costs of collection and reasonable attorney's fees, have been paid. The certificate shall further recite that the proceedings for malting the improvement were held in compliance with the law, and that all prerequisites for fixing the assessment lien against the property described in certificate and against personal liability of the owners have been completed. The recitals shall be prima facie evidence of all matters recited in the certificates, and no further proof shall be required in any court. The certificates may have coupons attached to evidence any installment or may have coupons for (i) each of the first four installments, leaving the main certificate to serve as the fifth installment coupon, (ii) or each of the first 48 installments, leaving the main certificate to serve as the 49th installment coupon. The coupons may be payable to the City of Fort Worth, or its assigns. The certificates may be signed with the facsimile signatures of the Mayor and City Secretary The certificates shall also recite that the city shall exercise all powers to aid in the enforcement and collection of the certificate. Recitals need not be in any exact form, but in substantial compliance with this ordinance. X. The city has power to make and levy assessments and to correct mistakes, errors, mvahdities or irregularities, either m the assessments or m the certificates. XI. All assessments levied are a personal liability and charge against the owners of the property described in Exhibit "A", even though the owners may not be named or may be incorrectly named. Failure to make improvements in front of an abutting property that is exempt from assessment will not invalidate the lien or liability for assessments made against other abutting property XII. The assessments levied are for the improvements in the particular unit upon which the respective parcels of property abut, and the assessments for the improvements in any umt are not affected by the assessments or improvements in any other umt. In malting assessments and in holding the benefit hearing, the amounts assessed for improvements in any one unit have not been connected with the improvements or assessments for improvements m any other unit. XIII. The assessments are levied under the provisions of Chapter 313 of the Texas Transportation Code, which stature has been adopted as an amendment to and made a part of the Charter of the City of Fort Worth. XIV The City Secretary is directed to file this Ordinance m the appropriate Records of the Crty XV The ordinance shall take effect and be m full force after the date of rts passage, and rt is so ordained. PASSED AND APPROVED this _s~a~~/ day of ~ 19 ~~ APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY• • ~~ City Attorney Date: Adopted: ~- < Effective: 6 City of Fort Worth Texas Mayor and Council Communication DATE REFERENCE NUMBER LOG NAME PAGE 03/13/97 BH-0176 20CHURCH 1 of 2 SUBJECT BENEFIT HEARING FOR THE ASSESSMENT PAVING OF CHURCH STREET FROM HANDLEY DRIVE TO MILAM STREET (PROJECT NO 1 1 1-040433) RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council adopt an ordinance that 1 Closes the benefit hearing, and 2 Levies the assessments as proposed, and 3 Acknowledges that in each case the abutting property is specially benefitted in enhanced value in excess of the amount assessed for the improvement of Church Street. from Handley Drive to Milam Street, and DISCUSSION The 1993 Capital Improvement Program included funds for the improvement of Church Street from Handley Drive to Milam Street This is a local street, therefore, under the Revised Assessment Paving Policy, assessments are proposed only for curb and gutter and driveway approaches where none currently exist The street is not located in a qualified target area and has previously been constructed to City standards Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds will not be utilized to provide a portion of the construction cost for residentially used property Church Street will be constructed with standard concrete pavement Standard concrete driveways and sidewalks will be built where shown on the plans On February 11, 1997, (M&C G-11757), the City Council established March 13, 1997, as the date of the benefit hearing Notice was given in accordance with the provision of Chapter 313 of the Texas Transportation Code r~ ,„ i r ..~r~x ,~ ;~ 4t.'„ 9 «. t s. tr ti .~ S ,, ,,~ Printed on Recyded Paper -fV 4.. 1 ~ti Le s; ~ ~,~; r City of Fort T~ortl~ Texas Mayor and Council Communication DATE 03/13/97 REFERENCE NUMBER BH-0176 LOG NAME. 20CHURCH PAGE 2 of 2 sUSJECT .BENEFIT HEARING FOR THE ASSESSMENT PAVING OF CHURCH STREET FROM HANDLEY DRIVE TO MILAM STREET (PROJECT NO 1 1 1-040433) Based on the Assessment Paving Policy and the 1997 assessment rates, the division of estimated construction cost is Property owners' share of cost 5 14,218 81 (4 6%) City's share of cost 5295,657.79 (95 4%) Total 5309,876 60 (100%) There are no unusual situations on this project that require special City Council consideration This project is located in COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 MG t u mitte or City anager s FUND ACCO NT CE TER AMO CITY SEC T Office by: (to) APPROVED Mike Groomer 6140 CITY C{~UNCIL Originating Department Head: ~~ ~3 ~~~~ Hugo A. Malanga 7800 (from) ~ or bona otmahon "'°`z~' ~ ~t Contact: Y ~+~y of tlt~ C}t~- ~ Fort Nortly ?eras Hugo A. Malanga 7800 Printed on Hecyded Paper Adopted Ordinance Nd. ~~ /oZ.