Chapter 12.12
COMPREHENSIVE STREET IMPROVEMENT PLAN
12.12.000 Chapter Contents
Sections:
12.12.010 Purpose
12.12.020 Definitions
12.12.030 Promulgation of official street classification
12.12.040 Schedule of priorities-Formation of local improvement districts
12.12.050 Division of cost-Property owners and special fund
12.12.060 Division of cost-Improvement beyond access minimum
12.12.070 Division of cost-Commercial districts
12.12.080 Streets without adequate water or sewer mains
12.12.090 Modification of provisions may be made where supplemental funds used
12.12.100 Expenditure of funds from state or federal grants
12.12.110 Chapter supplementary to other street financing laws
12.12.010 Purpose
In order to effect the orderly and efficient improvement of the streets of the city, and to provide a method whereby the city may participate in the costs and expenses of such improvements, there is hereby adopted a comprehensive plan for the improvements of the streets of the city, and all future improvements shall insofar as possible conform to the provisions of such comprehensive plan as set forth in this chapter.
(Ord. 2844 §1, 1954).
12.12.020 Definitions
For the purpose of this chapter:
A. "Official street classification" refers to the classification of streets with respect to usage as officially adopted by the city council.
B. "Residential" and "commercial" refer to the official zoning classification of the city. Where a street is the dividing line between a residential zone and a commercial zone, it shall be designated as a commercial street unless more than fifty percent of the abutting property along the section of street under consideration for improvement is residential, in which case, the street shall be designated residential.
(Ord. 6886 §1, 2013; Ord. 2844 §2, 1954).
12.12.030 Promulgation of official street classification
A schedule of minimum street widths and minimum type of surfacing for the various classifications of streets specified in the official street classification shall be promulgated by the public works engineer and approved by the city council; all street improvements made under the provisions of this chapter, except as otherwise specified in this chapter, shall be equal to or better than the minimum standards so promulgated. Construction of street foundations and provision for drainage and other facilities not directly pertaining to the surface of any street shall not be promulgated according to fixed standards, but shall be according to the best judgment of the public works engineer with relation to each particular project.
(Ord. 6886 §1, 2013; Ord. 2844 §3, 1954).
12.12.040 Schedule of priorities-Formation of local improvement districts
The public works engineer shall set forth and the city council shall adopt a schedule of priorities for street improvements prior to each annual election for special levy, and local improvement districts shall be formed by the resolution process of the city council so as to permit construction or proceed according to the order of priority so set forth insofar as possible.
(Ord. 6886 §1, 2013; Ord. 2844 §7, 1954).
12.12.050 Division of cost-Property owners and special fund
A. Based upon the principle that abutting residential property owners should be directly assessed for the cost of construction of a street satisfactory for purely residential access, and that any additional construction inures to the public benefit and is for the purpose of accommodating traffic over and above that generated by the residents along such street, and hence is of general benefit, participation in the cost of residential street construction shall be as follows: Property owners shall be assessed for the full cost of a basic residential street twenty-four feet in width, complete with curbs, drainage inlets where needed and light bituminous surfacing on a base or foundation adequate for average subsoil conditions. The computed cost of such installation shall include an average amount of excavation for grading and foundation preparation. This cost shall be computed and set forth prior to any election for special levy funds for the special fund for street improvement and shall remain effective during the construction year for which such funds are levied, and shall represent the best estimate of the public works engineer of the actual cost of construction of the above-described residential basic street.
B. This cost shall be reduced to an average cost per front foot of abutting property and such fixed average cost shall be uniformly assessed according to established LID procedures against all of the properties benefited by residential street improvements under the formula established by existing law.
C. The difference between this assessed amount and the actual cost of construction, whether such difference arises from increased excavation or foundation costs, added width, or for any other reason, shall be paid out of the special fund for street improvement. All streets shall be constructed in accordance with the schedule of minimum street widths set forth in this chapter, except as follows:
1. Where available rights-of-way or other exceptional condition so dictates, narrower street widths may be employed.
2. In the case of short dead-end streets which can serve only the abutting property owners, a narrower width may be employed if petitioned for by a majority of the abutting property owners and approved by the public works engineer. In this event, or if for any other reason, actual construction costs prove to be less than the amount which would result from assessment of the fixed average cost per front foot for a basic street as set forth in this chapter, then the actual cost shall be assessed in lieu of such fixed average cost.
3. Where a majority of the abutting property owners so petition, a wider street or higher type surface street may be constructed than is called for in such schedule. In this event, the extra cost shall be computed by the public works engineer and added to the fixed average cost to property owners, which would otherwise apply under this chapter. This extra cost shall be computed so as to provide the same amount of participation out of the special fund for street improvement as would have resulted had the street been improved according to the schedule herein.
(Ord. 2844 §4, 1954).
12.12.060 Division of cost-Improvement beyond access minimum
Where there are in existence paved residential streets in a condition satisfactory for residential use, but which require widening or other improvement in order to meet requirements of the official classification and schedule of minimum widths and surfacing, no portion of the cost of such improvement shall be assessed against abutting property owners, except the cost of curbs, walks or driveways where none exist in satisfactory condition prior to the improvement.
(Ord. 2844 §5, 1954).
12.12.070 Division of cost-Commercial districts
Based upon the principle that commercial properties derive a greater benefit from wider streets than residential properties, improvement of such commercial streets shall be based upon an assessment and participation as follows: twenty-five percent of the cost, but not to exceed six dollars per running foot, of improvement shall be contributed out of the special fund for street improvement. All other costs shall be borne directly by the abutting property owners through local improvement district assessments as set forth by law.
(Ord. 2844 §6, 1954).
12.12.080 Streets without adequate water or sewer mains
Where improvements are scheduled in areas where adequate water or sewer mains do not presently exist, no higher type surface than light bituminous surface shall be applied; at such later time as water or sewer mains are brought up to standard, the appropriate type of surfacing shall be applied and the cost of such additional work paid out of the special fund for street improvement.
(Ord. 2844 §8, 1954).
12.12.090 Modification of provisions may be made where supplemental funds used
Modification of the foregoing provisions may be made in special cases where general obligation bond financing or any other system of financing must be resorted to in order to supplement funds otherwise available.
(Ord. 2844 §9, 1954).
12.12.100 Expenditure of funds from state or federal grants
Any funds which may become available for street improvements through state or federal grants shall be expended in accordance with the foregoing provisions, except as they may be modified in connection with current general obligation bond financing for the specific projects involved, or as may be required to meet the stipulations of the state or federal government in making such grants.
(Ord. 2844 §10, 1954).
12.12.110 Chapter supplementary to other street financing laws
This chapter shall not be deemed to revise or repeal any existing ordinance relative to street financing, but shall be supplementary thereto.
(Ord. 2844 §11, 1954).