[Adopted 8-18-2009 by L.L. No. 2-2009]
This article shall be entitled "A Local Law to Create a Special District No. 1 of 2009 in the City of Saratoga Springs, Saratoga County, New York, to be known as the Gilbert Road II Special Assessment District."
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
DISTRICT
An area of land within the City designated as "Special Assessment District No. 1 of 2009." The district shall consist of and include certain properties within the area of the City of Saratoga Springs, New York. A list describing all such properties constituting the district is filed in the office of the City Clerk.
PROJECT
The acquisition, construction and installation of the project facility.
PROJECT FACILITY
The main transmission line and related infrastructure to be acquired, constructed and installed in the City. A more detailed description of the project facility is filed in the office of the Department of Public Works.
A. 
Background.
(1) 
The construction of an additional main transmission line in the area of Gilbert Road will improve the quality and dependability of water transmission throughout the City. In addition, the City is concerned about the quality of drinking water available to persons who reside near a portion of Gilbert Road between Lake Avenue and Conver Drive. These residents have complained about difficulties in obtaining drinking water of consistent quality.
(2) 
Petitions received from residents indicated that a substantial percentage of said residents want the City to extend the City's main transmission line past their properties. Furthermore, the residents have indicated a willingness to pay a portion of the cost of the improvements required to extend the City's main transmission line by assessing a part of such costs on those residents of the District benefiting from the improvements.
B. 
Findings of fact.
(1) 
The City Council of the City does hereby find that appropriate measures must be taken to extend its main water transmission lines and to protect the health, safety, comfort and general welfare of the residents in the Gilbert Road area. Accordingly, the City Council of the City recognizes the necessity for the undertaking of the project by the City. In order to help finance the cost of the project, the City Council will create the District. The District is created pursuant to this article for purposes of assessing part of the cost of the project to the residents located within the District.
(2) 
The properties within the District will be specially benefited by the project facility in a manner apart from the benefits conferred upon the public generally, as the project facility will add to the value of property within the District and will improve water supply and quality and fire protection within the District.
The purpose of creating the District is to preserve and protect the health, safety, comfort and general welfare of the residents in the District. The project will be undertaken to improve water transmission Citywide. A part of the cost of the project shall be specially assessed upon those properties specially benefited within the District.
The City, as authorized under the provisions of the General City Law, the Municipal Home Rule Law and this article, hereby creates the District.
The properties to be included in the District shall be accurately described by boundary description or otherwise.
The City may exercise the following powers with respect to the District in connection with the project:
A. 
Acquisition, construction and installation of water transmission lines and related infrastructure, including the project facility;
B. 
Construction of facilities such as signs, fire hydrants, and such other fixtures, equipment facilities and appurtenances in connection with the project facility;
C. 
Closing or opening or widening or narrowing of existing streets;
D. 
Rehabilitation or removal of existing structures, as required;
E. 
Removal and relocation of utilities, as required;
F. 
Such other powers as may be necessary to carry out the acquisition, construction and improvement of the project facility.
A. 
Properties in the District shall be subject to special assessment for part of the costs of the project facility to be acquired, constructed and installed within the District. The City will establish the manner in which the cost of the project facility will be specially assessed against the properties within the District. Properties included within the District will be specially assessed, according to formulas established by the City Council in its sole judgment, to reflect the benefits accruing to such properties within the District by reason of the project facility. (See Appendix A.[1])
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix A is on file in the City offices.
B. 
Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary contained in this article or in any other law, resolution, regulation or rule of the City and in addition to all other costs or fees provided for by law, resolution, regulation and rule of the City, a tapping fee of no less than $3,000 each shall be paid by all undeveloped properties existing within the District on the date of the enactment hereof. If a currently undeveloped property becomes developed within the next 30 years, the connection fee of $3,000 will be deducted from the amount to be paid in special assessment costs by the new developed parcel.
C. 
Should parcels within the district be developed or subdivided in the future, each new parcel created will be subject to the same special assessment for the same amount of time as the properties existing within the District on the date of the enactment hereof if it is developed and will be subject to the water connection fee of not less than $3,000 if it is undeveloped.
D. 
The City shall establish a reserve fund in connection with the financing of the project. All special assessments and tapping fees described in Subsections A, B and C above shall be forthwith deposited in such reserve fund and shall be used by the City to pay principal and/or interest on any bonds or notes issued to finance the project.
E. 
Any operation and maintenance expenses of the District will be treated as expenses of the Citywide water system and paid out of the City's water fund.
The City, for the purpose of providing funds for the cost of the project facility, may from time to time issue and sell bonds or other municipal obligations as provided in the New York Local Finance Law and other applicable state statutes. Principal and interest payments on such bonds or other municipal obligations may be made in whole or in part from the proceeds of assessments within the District, but in no event may installment payments for such assessments for the project facility be collected over a period of years longer than the period of probable usefulness of the project facility as set forth in the Local Finance Law.
The City retains all rights and powers which it now has or may have in the future. The creation of the District is not to be interpreted to be an abrogation or diminution of any rights and powers of the City. This article in no way prevents the City, at any time subsequent to the creation of the District, from changing the description of the District or the assessment formulas for properties to be specially assessed within the District or from exercising the other powers granted by this article or other applicable statutes of the State of New York.
A. 
The City shall prepare a budget describing revenues and expenses relating to the project in connection with the preparation of the City's budget.
B. 
The City shall also establish procedures to be used by the City Assessor in preparing assessment rolls of benefited, assessable properties within the District. Such procedures shall include the provision of notice of the completion of the assessment roll and the scheduling of a public hearing to consider the assessment roll. The procedures must be consistent with the powers granted by this article and, in all other respects, with the Charter and other ordinances of the City and other applicable statutes of the State of New York.