How a L.I.D. Becomes Established
The City Charter and Municipal Code outline the procedures for establishing LIDs. The general process is:
- Council directs preparation of an initial engineer's report and financial investigation in response to Council initiative or property owner petition. (AMC 15.04.010)
- Reports are prepared by staff or consultant which outlines project scope, estimated costs, and recommends assessment methodology. A neighborhood meeting is usually held to share the information with property owners prior to submitting the engineer's report to Council. (AMC 15.020,030)
- Council accepts engineer's report and financial investigation and schedules a public hearing (usually scheduled for the next meeting). (AMC 15.04.040)
- Council holds a Public Hearing to initiate the improvement. If the LID proceeds, Council adopts engineer's report and financial investigation. A remonstrance by two-thirds of the property to be assessed will delay initiation of the improvements for six months. (AMC 15.04.080)
- Any lot that has an outstanding petition and waiver relating to specific improvements shall be deemed to have relinquished their right to remonstrance and as such be counted as supporting the improvement.
- The project is designed, bid, and constructed in accordance with state law for public contracting.
- Upon project completion, staff will develop a proposed assessment ordinance and schedule a public hearing. (AMC 15.04.110(1))
- The staff will notify all affected property owners of the proposed final assessment. (AMC 15.04.110(2)).
- The Council shall conduct the public hearing to consider any objections to the proposed assessment and to reach a final determination on the proper manner to allocate the cost. (AMC 15.04.110(3))
- Upon adoption of the assessment ordinance, staff shall notify each affected property owner of their specific cost. (AMC 15.04.120)