CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Pass the ordinance proposing and setting a public hearing for the establishment of Special Service Area No. 34 for streetscape improvements on a portion of Block 422 of downtown Naperville
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: William J. Novack, Director of TED/City Engineer
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
History
Starting in the 1980’s, streetscape improvements have been installed in most of downtown Naperville by two principal methods:
1. Installing the improvements on a block-by-block basis with funding provided through Special Service Areas (SSA)
2. As part of a new private development
In 2019, new streetscape standards were developed and approved by the City Council. At that time, staff had discussions with property owners on both sides of Main Street between Jackson and Jefferson about implementing and funding the new streetscape improvements in their block and on the south side of Jefferson Avenue between Main and Webster. The City Council established SSA No. 30 in 2019 to assess the property owners 40% of the streetscape costs over a 15-year period.
Current request
The City did not award a construction contract for the streetscape work in 2020 or 2021 due to concerns expressed by the merchants in the downtown. The Downtown Naperville Alliance (DNA) recently voted for the City to install the streetscape improvements in 2022. Some members of DNA noted that as long as we were making improvements to Jefferson Avenue and the streetscape on the south side, then we should include the streetscape on the north side of Jefferson Avenue.
Staff noted that the engineering plans would need to be revised, and a separate SSA established for the north side of Jefferson Avenue, to fund their portion of the streetscape.
DISCUSSION:
City staff recommends using the same cost split and term of SSA for the north side of Jefferson as SSA No. 30. The property owners will be financially responsible for 40% of the costs of the improvements from the back of the street or parking box curb to the building face; the City will fund the other 60%. The City will pay for all the improvements up front, then recapturing the property owner’s 40% share over the next 15 years.
The attached ordinance sets January 4, 2022 as the public hearing date for SSA No. 34. The City Council will hear any testimony at that hearing. The property owners will have 60 days to file an objection to the SSA. If no more than 50% of the property owners object within 60 days, then the City Council will pass an ordinance at the next meeting establishing the SSA.
City staff has reached out to all the property owners on the north side of the street, advising of the improvements, the SSA and the process.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The estimated cost of the design, construction and construction engineering for the additional streetscape is approximately $1 million. The City will recover 40% of the cost through the SSA over the following 15 years.