Subject:
Title
Resolution to approve the Downtown Palm Harbor Street Light District and authorize advertising for the district's creation and collection method.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval to grant preliminary approval of the Downtown Palm Harbor Street Lighting District (SLD) by resolution adoption and request the County Administrator to request a public hearing to consider a proposed ordinance creating said District within the unincorporated area of the County and authorize funds for administrative expenses directly incident to creating said District.
• Proposed Downtown Palm Harbor Street Lighting District consists of forty-two parcel units.
• Ninety-five16-foot-tall LED photogrammetrically engineered streetlights with all new underground conductors and conduits will be installed and connected per national standards.
• Estimated monthly cost for maintenance and energy is approximately $3,500.00/month and $42,000.00 annually.
• Total approximate annual assessment for the 42 parcels will be $1,100.00 annually and approximately $92.00 monthly.
• Estimated one-time cost for construction: $400,000.00 to be paid by Municipal Services Taxing Unit Special Project Funding Reserves
• It has previously been determined that the collection and enforcement of street lighting assessments would best be accomplished through the Uniform Method pursuant to Section 197.3632, Florida Statutes. A preliminary resolution stating the Board of County Commissioners' intention to use the Uniform Method is attached.
• Section 197.3632, (3)(a), Florida Statutes requires this resolution be adopted at a public hearing prior to January 1 or, if the property appraiser, tax collector, and local government agree, March 1. The Property Appraiser and Tax Collector have granted such extension, copies of which are included as attachments.
• Upon a favorable vote, the Board of County Commissioners will issue authority to advertise two items, including the creation of the SLD and the intent to use the Uniform Collection Method. A public hearing date will be set.Body
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Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
2.1 Provide planning, coordination, prevention, and protective services to create and enhance a safe, secure, and healthy community
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.1 Maximize partner relationships and public outreach
Summary:
Summary
The proposed Downtown Palm Harbor Street Lighting District (District) consists of forty-two (42) parcels. One (1) parcel is owned by the County and is included in the assessment district but not entitled to a vote. Fourteen (14) parcels are owned by multiple property owners. These parcels remain in the district but are not counted in the number of votes. There are twenty-seven (27) eligible property owners in the district who are entitled to one vote each. A minimum of sixty percent (60%) or seventeen (17) of the twenty-seven (27) eligible property owners must agree to the assessment.
The results of the petition are as follows:
1. 100% of the property owners were advised of the petition to create the Street Lighting District;
2. Eighteen (18) or 66.7% of the property owners agreed to create said district;
3. Eight (8) or 29.6% of the property owners disagreed to create said district;
4. The remaining one (1) owner did not respond to a notification sent by certified mail.
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Background Information:
Street lighting in downtown Palm Harbor was one of the top five (5) recommendations of the Downtown Palm Harbor Master Plan update emanating from public engagement beginning in 2015. The current street lighting is inadequate to illuminate the sidewalks and on-street parking in all areas of the downtown business district. The proposed street lighting plan, photogrammetrically engineered by Duke Energy, will install 95 streetlights, and will provide the proper amount of lighting per national standards.
In 2016, the Board of County Commissioners approved Resolution 16-90 delegating to the County Administrator the authority to enter into an agreement with the Downtown Palm Harbor Merchants’ Association, Inc. (DPHMA) for a Historic Palm Harbor Street Lights and Landscaping project funded by the Deepwater Horizon Settlement.
The DPHMA did not fulfill the terms of the agreement. The 35 streetlights and landscaping improvements went unmaintained since being installed. The Greater Palm Harbor Chamber of Commerce has voluntarily paid the cost of the electric service for the streetlights that remain operating.
Fiscal Impact:
The cost to create the district will be assessed to each owner on a parcel-by-parcel basis and is included in the initial annual special assessment collection. The cost of advertising the public hearing, and all mailed notices associated with the SLD, will be paid by the property owners in the SLD assessment district as part of the first year’s SLD assessment. The cost of constructing the infrastructure estimated at $400,000.00 will be funded by the MSTU Special Project Funding Reserves.
Staff Member Responsible:
Thomas Almonte, Assistant County Administrator
Kelli Hammer Levy, Director, Public Works
Partners:
Public Works Department
Property Appraisers Office
Tax Collector
Downtown Palm Harbor Merchants Association
Attachments:
Resolution
Legal Description
Assessment Area - Petition Map
Cost Estimate
Signed Petitions
Property Appraiser Extension
Tax Collector Consent