Honolulu City Council Policy Resolutions

(Link to original Word Processing Version)

77-437

ESTABLISHING A NEW ASSESSMENT POLICY IN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT PROCEEDINGS.

    WHEREAS, the City desires to encourage the construction of public improvements through improvement district proceedings; and

    WHEREAS, increased City participation in the costs of improving public streets would tend to accomplish this objective; and

    WHEREAS, such increased participation by the City would also result in a more reasonable and realistic method of apportionment of costs of improvement district projects; now, therefore,

    BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City and County of Honolulu that Resolution No. 119 adopted in April 1962 be, and hereby is, repealed and that the following be, and hereby is, adopted as the new policy of the City with reference to the apportionment of costs in improvement district proceedings:

IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ASSESSMENT POLICY

Section 1. Definitions.

    a.    Special benefits shall mean those benefits resulting from the improvements, above and beyond the general benefits, which increase the market value of the assessed property.

    b.    General benefits shall mean those benefits flowing to the general public as a result of any improvement.

    c.    Improvements shall mean those improvements and betterments referred to in Chapter 24, R.O. 1969 as amended.

Section 2. Legislative Findings.

    The Council hereby finds that in the construction of improvements:

    a.    Primarily special benefits accrue:

        (1)    From the construction of streets up to the following widths of right-of-way and pavement:


                
Planned Use

        (General Plan/Development
                Plan                Right-of-Way    Pavement

        Residential    (See footnote 1)                     44 ft.     28 ft.

        Industrial                    56 ft.     40 ft.
        Low Density Hotel
        Low Density Business
        Apartment

        High Density Hotel                60 ft.     40 ft.
        High Density Business

        (2)    From the construction of reinforced concrete driveway aprons where none previously existed or were then inadequate to properly serve the assessed property.

    b.    Both special and general benefits accrue:

        (1)    From the construction of that portion of a street in excess of the widths specified in item a(1) above.

        (2)    From the construction of water, sewer and drainage improvements.

        (3)    From the construction of curbings and concrete sidewalk.

    c.    Primarily general benefits accrue from the construction of traffic islands, medial strips, traffic control systems and fire alarm systems.

Section 3. Participation in costs when City initiates improvement district under Section 24-3.1, R.O. 1969, other than at the request of property owners under Sections 24-3.2 and 24-3.3, R.O. 1969.

    a.    Costs to be borne by the City.

        (1)    For the construction of streets the widths of which are equal to or less than the widthsspecified in item (1) of Section 2a:

            (a)    The City shall bear all of the costs of engineering, survey, incidentals, inspection and improvement at intersections, as provided in Section 24-2.1, R.O. 1969.

            (b)    Except as provided in item (3) of this subsection and in subsection c, the City shall bear one-half of all other costs.

        (2)    For the construction of streets the widths of which exceed the widths specified in item (1) of Section 2a:

            (a)    Except as provided hereinbelow, the City shall bear the costs as specified in item (1) above up to the widths specified in item (1) of Section 2a.

            (b)    As to that portion of a street in excess of the right-of-way width specified in item (1) of Section 2a for streets within areas planned for residential use the City shall bear all of the costs of right-of-way, pavement, excavation and such other costs arising from the construction of the portion of the street in excess of the widths specified in item (1) of Section 2a.

            (c)    As to that portion of a street in excess of the right-of-way width specified in item (1) of Section 2a for streets within areas planned for hotel or apartment, industrial or business uses, the City shall bear two-thirds of the costs of right-of-way, pavement, excavation and such other costs arising wholly from the construction of that portion of the street in excess of the widths specified in item (1) of Section 2a.

        (3)    The City shall bear all of the costs applicable to the construction of traffic islands, medial strips, traffic control systems and fire alarm systems.

    b.    Costs to be borne by properties specially benefited.

        (1)    Properties specially benefited shall bear all of the costs of reinforced concrete driveway aprons where none previously existed, or where such facilities are inadequate to properly serve the property assessed.

        (2)    Except as provided in subsection c and d, hereinbelow, properties specially benefited shall bear all of the costs not borne by the City.

    c.    For water, sewer and drainage improvements, assessments shall be in accordance with existing ordinances.

    d.    Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, no property shall be assessed in excess of the special benefits received, except as provided in Section 5 hereinbelow.

Section 4. Improvement district created by petition of owners pursuant to Sections 24-3.2 and 24-3.3, R.O. 1969.

    a.    Costs to be borne by the City.

        (1)    The City shall bear all of the costs applicable to the construction of traffic islands, medial strips, traffic control systems and fire alarm systems, if such construction is required by the City.

        (2)    As to the construction of streets the widths of which exceed the widths specified in item (1) of Section 2a, the City shall bear two-thirds of the costs of right-of-way, pavement, excavation and such other costs arising wholly from the construction of that portion of the street in excess of the widths specified in item (1) of Section 2a for streets within areas planned for residential, hotel or apartment, industrial or business uses.

        b.    Costs to be borne by property owners.

            Property owners shall bear all of the costs not borne by the City; provided that for water, sewer and drainage improvements, assessments shall be according to existing ordinances.

        c.    City participation under this section shall be subject to availability of funds and shall require prior approval of the Council.

Section 5. Election by property owners to pay additional amounts.

Notwithstanding any provision above mentioned as to apportionment of costs, owners of properties may pay by way of assessment or otherwise more than the amounts required by such provisions relating to apportionment of costs.

Section 6. Low Income Assessment Deferral.

Notwithstanding any of the above provisions, the Finance Director may defer assessment principal and interest due from property owners residing on properties within an improvement district and whose incomes do not exceed the limits established by the Finance Director.

Section 7. State and Federal Funds

Notwithstanding any of the above provisions, State and Federal funds received for an improvement district project shall to the extent practicable, be used to defray the property owners' share of such improvement district project.


Section 8. Inequities.

Whenever the Chief Engineer finds that the apportionment of costs, as proposed in this policy, would result in inequities, he is hereby authorized and directed to submit his recommendations to the Council as to how such inequities may be corrected.

                         INTRODUCED BY:

                         _________________________________

                         _________________________________

                         _________________________________

                         _________________________________

                         _________________________________

                         _________________________________

                         _________________________________
DATE OF INTRODUCTION:
                         _________________________________

September 21, 1977          _________________________________
Honolulu, Hawaii                     Councilmembers

Adopted Meeting Held:

September 21, 1977


Footnote: 1
Has reference to single family use.
--

Policy Resolutions