Okaloosa County BOCC — January 19, 2016 — Public Hearing for the Adoption of an Ordinance Creating The Pines and — agenda request

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST DATE: January 19, 2016 TO: Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board FROM: Jason Autrey SUBJECT: Public Hearing for the Adoption of an Ordinance Creating The Pines and Triple Lakes Estates MSBU DEPARTMENT: Public Works BCC DISTRICT: 1 STATEMENT OF ISSUE: Various property owners within The Pines and Triple Lakes Estates subdivisions in northern Okaloosa County have sought the assistance of the County in obtaining paved roads in their subdivisions. Many have submitted petitions under the County’s MSBU policy to create an MSBU and obtain the paving of their roads. Sufficient petition signatures have been received to work toward the improvement of these roads. There is the possibility of additional roads that would be ready to be improved later in the year. The next step in the process is the adoption of an ordinance creating a Municipal Services Benefit Unit for the imposition of assessments to fund the road and ancillary drainage improvements. BACKGROUND: Various property owners within The Pines and Triple Lakes Estates subdivisions have sought the assistance of the County in obtaining paved roads within their subdivisions. Many have submitted petitions under the County’s MSBU policy to create an MSBU and obtain the paving of their roads. Staff has been working with the residents and property owners on this process and held a town hall meeting to discuss the project and costs which would be incurred. The community was very receptive to the concept and many people submitted petitions. At this point, there are sufficient number of petitions to pave two roads within the Triple Lakes Estates subdivision and it is anticipated that additional roads in Triple Lakes Estates and The Pines subdivision will be submitted. As contemplated, each property owner will pay their fair share of the actual cost of the improvement to their road over a period of years as an assessment against the property. The assessment will be collected annually on the ad valorem tax bill. Previously, the Board adopted a Notice of Intent to Use the Non-Ad Valorem Assessment Collection Method as required by section 197.3632, Florida Statutes. The next step in the process is to create a Municipal Services Benefit Unit for the subdivisions. Staff requests that the Board schedule and advertise a public hearing for the February 2nd, 2016 BOCC meeting for consideration of the adoption of the Ordinance that would create the Municipal Services Benefit Unit. The adoption of the Ordinance would not impose the actual assessments for the improvements as those will be imposed through the future adoption of a Preliminary and Final Assessment Resolution later in the year. That will be done once the final cost estimate is completed. The assessments, if imposed by the Board, will first appear on the November 2016 tax bill. OPTIONS: Approve/Disapprove. RECOMMENDATIONS: Authorize the scheduling of a public hearing for the adoption of an Ordinance creating The Pines and Triple Lakes Estates Municipal Services Benefit Unit and direct staff to advertise that hearing. RECOMMENDED BY: APPROVED BY: John Hofstad, County Administrator