Title
Resolution to Order Election and to Determine Ballot Question for Charter Amendment for the 2012 Street and Bridge Resurfacing and Reconstruction Millage (7 Votes Required)
Memorandum
For 30 years the Street Resurfacing/Reconstruction Millage, augmented with matching funds from Federal and State grants, has been the principal funding source for resurfacing and reconstruction of the City's streets and bridges. On November 8, 2011, we wish to ask the voters to approve a 2-mill Street and Bridge Resurfacing and Reconstruction Millage for the next five years (2012-2016). If approved, this amounts to $214.00 annually for a property with an average market value of $214,000.00.
In 1988, 1991, 1996, 2001 and again in 2006 the voters in Ann Arbor approved the collection of two mills annually for the resurfacing and reconstruction of streets. These millages, the last of which will be collected in July 2011, replaced a prior major street millage (1.5 mills for five years beginning in 1984), and prior bond issues ($3M in 1982 and 1986) and general funds for local streets.
For 2007-2011, the total millage proceeds are estimated at $46M. This money has been used and will be used for two primary purposes. 1) Street and bridge resurfacing and reconstruction projects; and 2) the City's match for Federal Aid funds for major street and bridge reconstructions & rehabilitation projects.
The first purpose includes the Annual Street Resurfacing Program, which addresses the resurfacing or reconstruction of residential and major streets as a single large project that is bid every spring. It also includes street reconstruction projects that are bid individually, often with the inclusion of associated utility work. These projects have included such major streets as Pontiac Street, Huron River Drive, Liberty Street (downtown), Broadway Street, Geddes Road, Beakes Street, and Boardwalk/Victors Way. In the last five years, approximately 100 streets were repaved. The total expenditures to the Street Reconstruction Millage for 2007-2010 are approximately $28M. Included in this are the installation/repair/replacement of curb ramps as required by Federal ADA accessibility guidelines.
The second area includes leveraging our Street Reconstruction Millage with Federal Aid funds for such projects as Nixon/Huron Parkway Roundabout, West Stadium Boulevard, Green Road, Plymouth Road, and East Stadium Bridges. In years 2007-2010, we have spent approximately $9.5M of the Street Millage on these Federal Aid projects and have received or been approved for $27M of Federal/State Funds. A complete list of past street work can be found on the Street Reconstruction Millage webpage; www.a2gov.org/StreetMillage <http://www.a2gov.org/StreetMillage>
The Fund Balance from the 2006 Street Reconstruction Millage including the last year of funds collected in July 2011 will be spent on future road projects in the 2011 and 2012 construction seasons and will include improvement projects such as the 2012 Street Resurfacing Project, Dexter Avenue Improvements, Packard Road Resurfacing, Hill Street Resurfacing, and East Stadium Bridges.
Should voters approve the 2012 Street and Bridge Resurfacing and reconstruction Millage in November 2011, the first year of funds collected in July 2012 will be applied to projects to be constructed in the 2013 construction season. These projects are likely to include future Annual Street Resurfacing Projects, the Miller Road Improvements Project, resurfacing or reconstruction of major corridors including sections of S. State Street, Packard Road, Eisenhower Blvd, Ellsworth Road, Stone School Road and more.
Staff
Prepared by: Homayoon Pirooz, P.E., Project Management Manager
Reviewed by: Sue F. McCormick, Public Services Area Administrator
Approved by: Tom Crawford, Interim City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The Street Reconstruction Millage has been the principal funding source for the resurfacing and reconstruction of the City's streets and bridges; and
Whereas, The last Street Reconstruction Millage was approved by the voters in November 2006 for five years beginning in 2007 and ending in 2011;
RESOLVED, That the Ann Arbor City Council proposes that the City Charter be amended by modifying Section 8:20 to read as follows:
Funds for Street and Bridge Resurfacing and Reconstruction
SECTION 8.20. In addition to any other amount which the City is authorized to raise by general tax upon the real and personal property by this Charter or any other provision of law, the City shall, in 2007 2012through 2011 2016, annually levy a tax of up to 2 mills on all taxable real and personal property situated within the City for the purpose of providing funds for the reconstruction or resurfacing of streets and bridges.
RESOLVED, That November 8, 2011 is designated as the day for holding an election on the proposed Charter amendment;
RESOLVED, That the Clerk shall transmit a copy of the proposed amendment to the Attorney General and the Governor of Michigan and shall perform all other acts required by law for holding the election;
RESOLVED, That the proposed Charter amendment shall appear on the ballot in the following form:
PROPOSAL 1
ANN ARBOR CITY CHARTER AMENDMENT
TAX FOR STREET AND BRIDGE RESURFACING AND RECONSTRUCTION
Shall the Charter be amended to authorize a tax up to 2 mills for street and bridge reconstruction for 2012 through 2016 to replace the previously authorized tax up to 2 mills for street reconstruction for 2007 through 2011, which will raise in the first year of levy the estimated revenue of $9,091,000?
¨ Yes ¨ No
RESOLVED, That the proposed Charter amendment and proposed ballot question shall be published in full not fewer than two times in the Washtenaw County Legal News; and
RESOLVED, That if the amendment is adopted, it shall take effect on January 1, 2012.