CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Conduct the public hearing for the establishment of Special Service Area No. 35 for streetscape improvements on Washington Street from Chicago Avenue to Benton Avenue (Item 1 of 2)
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: William Novack, Director/City Engineer
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
On January 17, 2023 the City Council passed Ordinance 23-002 scheduling a public hearing for the establishment of Special Service Area (SSA) No. 35 for streetscape improvements on Washington Street from Chicago Avenue to Benton Avenue in downtown Naperville. The improvements include the streetscape on both sides of Washington Street with the intent to take advantage of the lane closures for the Washington Street Bridge project immediately south of this work.
While originally scheduled for construction in 2023, staff now plans to construct the improvements in 2024, with a late February or early March start date. This work will be placed out for bid as part of the utility, roadway and streetscape improvements on Washington Street and the streetscape and roadway improvements on the east side of Main Street adjacent to the Van Buren parking lot.
DISCUSSION:
Like SSA’s No. 30 and 34, staff is proposing that the property owners pay for 40% of the improvements from the back of the roadway curb to the face of the buildings. The City will pay for the remaining 60% of those improvements along with all the utility and roadway improvements.
Following the public hearing the property owners of the properties included in the proposed SSA will have 60 days to notify the City if they object to the establishment of the SSA. If more than 50% of the property owners object, then the SSA cannot be established. As required by state statute attached is a copy of the certificate of newspaper publication and a copy of the letters sent to each of the property owners within the proposed SSA.
If no more than 50% object, then staff will bring back an ordinance establishing SSA No. 35 following the 60-day period. That ordinance would be brought before the City Council at the June 6, 2023 meeting.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The construction project will be funded by the Electric and Water funds for the utility work, the Transportation, Engineering and Development (TED) Roadway Maintenance Improvement program for the roadway work, and the General Fund for the streetscape improvements. SSA No. 35 will reimburse the City for 40% of the streetscape costs over the next 15 years. While no construction will take place in 2023, the SSA property owners will pay their share of the streetscape design during the first year of the SSA.