Street and Alley Assessment Ratifications (2024-2026 Programs)

At a glance

Based on uploaded (human-made) captions; staff names are partly garbled, so staff are identified by role.

What: public hearings to ratify special assessments for street, mill-and-overlay and alley projects completed in 2024 to 2026 (University Avenue I-35E to Lafayette, Pleasant Avenue, overlay areas, four alleys and a further paving area).
Where it stands: all ratified 7-0 on 2026-10-14. The Pelham Boulevard project is tracked separately.
Next: property owners can use the appeal process; council said the assessment policy can be revisited.

Assessments start from 25% of project cost and are capped at the lesser of that calculation or the appraised special benefit. About 5.4% of the Pleasant Avenue and 10.2% of the University Avenue project costs are collected.
Tax-exempt owners such as colleges and hospitals are assessed too; federal property is generally exempt.
Alley assessments were 100% of cost before the 2024 policy change.

An East 7th Street alley owner asked whether adjoining owners were assessed; staff said all with a special benefit are, and a triangular vacant lot showed none.
A University Avenue building owner (heard after the item was reconsidered and reopened) said the building is 35% vacant and the assessment adds to high taxes. Council President Noecker said the policy applies consistently and can be revisited.

2026-10-14 - City Council - Policy explained; hearings held; assessments ratified 7-0 (University Avenue item reconsidered and reopened).