TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: Peter D. Lear, CPA, CGMA, City Manager
TITLE: Review and approve the North Port Road and Drainage District Fiscal Year 2018/2019 Methodology Final Report.
Recommended Action
Review and approve the North Port Road and Drainage District Fiscal Year 2018/2019 Methodology Final Report.
Background Information
Ordinance Number 2014-01, amending Chapter 66, Road and Drainage District Article III, Section 66-52, enabling legislation for the Road and Drainage District, requires the methodology and rate studies be reviewed every four years. Staff recognized the need to revise the methodology and worked with Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. on the Apportionment Methodology, Allocation, Sufficiency, Rates and Future Projections.
On June 13, 2018, a Special Commission Meeting was held to discuss the Road and Drainage Study and review the pertinent scenarios and analyses for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019. The Commission direction from that meeting includes the following:
• Increase the District’s assessment rates by 4.50% in FY 2019.
• Update the Mowing Assessment recovery to be based upon Equivalent Mowing Units (EMUs) where an EMU is a factor of 80 linear feet of frontage.
• Begin City mowing the swales of improved lots in the agricultural estates and include the estate’s mowing costs in the Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Drainage Assessment.
• Provide option for property owners of vacant parcels to request City mowing services for a minimum time period if they meet certain criteria. This cost would be added to their annual Road and Drainage non-ad valorem assessment.
• Reapportion the total district costs to the appropriate assessment based upon the Cost of Service analysis conducted by Stantec and the City’s Department of Public Works Staff.
Fiscal Year 2017/2018 and Fiscal Year 2018/2019 Assessment Rate Comparisons:
Pursuant to Section 66-55 of the North Port City Code, the governing body shall have the duty, right, power and authority to levy, by resolution, and collect special assessments for benefits against all non-exempt, benefitted real property within its territorial bounds in order to provide funds for the purpose of the Road and Drainage District.
Property owners were mailed a Road and Drainage Assessment Hearing Notice and notice of the hearing was published in the local newspaper.
Strategic Plan
Maintained/Upgraded/Expanded City Infrastructure
Financial Impact
Revenue of $12,155,730 from non-ad valorem assessments and $3,126,767 from capital improvement non-ad valorem assessments in fiscal year 2018/2019.
Procurement
N/A
Attachments:
1. Road and Drainage District Fiscal Year 2019 Non-Ad Valorem Assessment Methodology Final Report
2. PowerPoint Presentation
Prepared by: Monica Bramble, Assistant Public Works Director
Department Director: Juliana B. Bellia