Sec. 714.103. - Findings.

The City finds, ascertains and determines that: (a) The provision of certain Improvements to properties within and without the urban services boundary of the City is - notwithstanding any private or special benefit accruing to properties by such provision - in the public interest, of public benefit and serves a valid public purpose including but not limited to being necessary for, or to the betterment of, the public health and general welfare including protection of potable water supplies and proper management of surface waters and the decreased risk of illness and disease; public safety including the City's provision of fire, rescue, law enforcement and other emergency services; public transportation systems including potential for water-based modes of travel for governmental, commercial, recreational and other purposes; perception of or actual magnitude of blighted areas and the overall desirability and marketability of properties within the City especially in light of the City's downtown redevelopment, vision and plans; and, ad valorem tax base which funds the City's administration of the law, provision of governmental support and services and execution of the functions of the City for the benefit of all of its citizens. (b) There is a need and desire of the City's citizens for the City to provide procedures by which the City may levy Assessments upon certain property, to fund and finance all or the greater portion of the Costs to provide certain Improvements found to be in the public interest upon request, and with the consent of a group of citizens within a Neighborhood. (c) It is fair, equitable and in the public interest to allocate all or the greater portion of the Costs of providing certain Improvements to, and to levy Assessments upon, the properties having a logical connection to and receiving a Benefit from such provision, so long as the Assessments are apportioned fairly and equitably among the benefited properties, and in no case exceeding the amount of the Benefits received. (d) Given the public purposes served by the provision of certain Improvements, it is fair, lawful and proper for the City to fund the portion of the Costs of provision not allocated to and Assessed against the properties Benefited through sources of funds derived from other than Assessments including ad valorem taxes. (Ord. 2005-157-E, § 3)