Title
Resolution to Order Election and to Determine Ballot Question for Charter Amendment for the 2021 New Sidewalk Construction Millage (7 Votes Required)
Memorandum
In 2011 the City Council approved a resolution in support of the Complete Streets philosophy for a safe and balanced transportation system that would accommodate all modes of traffic. The filling of sidewalk gaps is a community goal that is consistent with various policy documents, including the Non-Motorized Transportation Plan, Complete Streets, and Sustainability Framework. Since 2011, almost 11 miles of new sidewalk have been constructed by various means throughout the City. Where these projects were City-initiated (as opposed to being constructed by private development projects), benefitting property owners were specially assessed for the new sidewalks in accordance with Chapters 12 and 13 of City Code.
A desire has been expressed to reevaluate how the funding of sidewalk gaps is conducted. As it was established, the previous Street, Bridge, and Sidewalk Millage was able to fund the repair of existing sidewalks, but not replace the funding that would be collected through special assessments.
To that end, a New Sidewalk Millage is being proposed for the purpose of funding the construction of new sidewalks and either fully or partially eliminating special assessments for that purpose. This will be a separate millage and separate ballot item from the Street, Bridge, and Sidewalk Millage. This six-year 0.20-mil levy would raise an estimated $1.3 million of additional revenue annually. Adoption of a six-year millage beginning in 2021 would provide funding for construction of sidewalk gaps as soon as possible and would align the expiration of the two millages in 2026.
The attached resolution includes the proposed ballot language for the New Sidewalk Millage, for the years 2021 through 2026. This millage, if approved, will be used only for constructing sidewalks adjacent to properties that are ...
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