Okaloosa County BOCC — May 6, 2014 — reading text

and inspection of the property) Packet Pg. 216  BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST DATE: May 6, 2014 TO: Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board FROM: John Hofstad SUBJECT: Public Works Week Proclamation DEPARTMENT: Public Works BCC DISTRICT: All STATEMENT OF ISSUE: A proclamation by the Board of County Commissioners proclaiming the week of May 18-24 as “National Public Works Week.” BACKGROUND: The 2014 Public Works Week will be May 19 - May 25. This year’s theme is “Building for Today, Planning for Tomorrow.” The theme recognizes that what we do today is vital to a sustainable and vibrant tomorrow. Public Works plays a key role in the planning, building and maintenance of infrastructure projects in our communities that will allow future generations to enjoy a higher quality of life. We are able to have safe streets and neighborhoods, efficient traffic and safe clean communities. This is an opportunity to recognize the accredited Public Works Department of Okaloosa County for its endeavor toward creating a better community. OPTIONS: Approve/Disapprove. RECOMMENDATIONS: Accept the proclamation supporting Public Works Week in Okaloosa County and authorize the Chairman or Vice-Chairman to execute the attached proclamation. RECOMMENDED BY: APPROVED BY: Ernie Padgett, County Administrator Packet Pg. 217  Proclamation Okaloosa County Florida Whereas, public works services provided in our community are an integral part of our citizens’ everyday lives; and Whereas, the support of an understanding and informed citizenry is vital to the efficient operation of public works systems and programs such as streets and highways, public buildings, and solid waste collection; and Whereas, the health, safety and comfort of this community greatly depends on these facilities and services; and Whereas, the quality and effectiveness of these facilities, as well as their planning, design, and construction, is vitally dependent upon the efforts and skill of public works officials; and Whereas, the efficiency of the qualified and dedicated personnel who staff public works departments is materially influenced by the people’s attitude and understanding of the importance of the work they perform, Now, therefore, the Board of County Commissioners does hereby proclaim the week of May 18 -24 2014 as “National Public Works Week” In the County of Okaloosa, and we call upon all citizens and civic organizations to acquaint themselves with the issues involved in providing our public works and to recognize the contributions which public works officials and staff make every day to our health, safety, comfort, and quality of life. Given under my hand on this day of 2014. ----------------------------------------------------------- Charles K. Windes, Jr., Chairman Board of County Commissioners Attest: _____________________________________ Don W. Howard, Clerk of the Circuit Court Packet Pg. 218  BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST DATE: May 6, 2014 TO: Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board FROM: John Hofstad SUBJECT: MSBU/MSTU Policy Revisions DEPARTMENT: Public Works BCC DISTRICT: All STATEMENT OF ISSUE: Staff has received several requests from the public to establish road construction and lighting MSBU/MSTU's and at the direction of the board has made improvements to the recently approved MSBU/MSTU policy. BACKGROUND: Commissioner Boyles' office received several inquiries in the past months for establishment of road construction MSBU/MSTU's. Upon beginning the project feasibility review for these projects, several areas were found for improvement in the process, along with the County's role in the construction and management of projects that would make the projects more likely to be successful. Commissioner Boyles, having been involved heavily in the meetings with the interested citizens’ groups, offered the opportunity to coordinate the proposed revisions. In essence, the policy reflects set time frames for establishment of the MSBU/MSTU's, and provides cost incentives in the form of providing County equipment and labor for construction, if projects are built to County paved road standards including providing the necessary right-of-way by landowners along with the project. Since the March 6, 2014 board meeting, legal counsel has reviewed the policy and made several improvements to the policy and staff believes that these changes will help define the processes more clearly and, in consideration of the labor incentives being offered, will give these projects every possible chance of being successful. OPTIONS: Approve/Disapprove. RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff requests Board approval of the amended MSBU/MSTU policy to include provisions for the construction of new roadways and other ancillary revisions as included herein. RECOMMENDED BY: Packet Pg. 219 APPROVED BY: Ernie Padgett, County Administrator Packet Pg. 220  Okaloosa County BCC Okaloosa County BCC MSBU / MSTU Policy Municipal Service Benefit Units Municipal Service Taxing Units Revised 5/6/2014 Packet Pg. 221 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................................................................1 MSBU CALENDAR YEAR SCHEDULE ....................................................................................................................5 TYPES OF MSBU SERVICES & IMPROVEMENTS ................................................................................................6 COSTS INVOLVED IN THE MSBU PROCESS .........................................................................................................6 MSBU BOUNDARIES .................................................................................................................................................7 DISSOLUTION PROCEDURES FOR MSBUs ...........................................................................................................9 EXCEPTIONS TO THE GUIDELINES ..................................................................................................................... 10 DETAILED PROCEDURES, CONSTSRUCTION UNITS ....................................................................................... 11 DETAILED PROCEDURES, STREET LIGHTING UNITS ..................................................................................... 16 APPLICATION AND DESIGNATION OF SPECIAL UNITS.................................................................................. 20 ii Packet Pg. 222 INTRODUCTION The Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioner's Municipal Service Benefit Unit (MSBU) Program is a community self-help program. It provides a vehicle by which communities may enhance their efforts to secure quality construction of essential improvements. The success of the program is directly related to the cooperative effort of each resident, the community and the County. Municipal Service Benefit Unit (MSBU) Municipal Service Benefit Units (MSBU) are special assessment areas created by the Board of County Commissioners under the authority of section 125.01, Florida Statutes. Under this Statute, the Board has the authority to create designated areas (a “Unit”) within which a variety of services and improvements, including but not limited to, fire protection, sidewalks, street lighting, expedited Water & Sewer projects, transportation and storm water drainage, etc. The services or improvements provided within the MSBU must specifically benefit the property that is to be assessed for the improvements or services. The special assessments imposed within the boundaries of a Unit may be collected through a variety of ways. However, they are primarily collected through the "Uniform Method of Collection" as authorized in section 197.3632, Florida Statute and are billed along with other Property Taxes each November. Alternative ways of collecting the special assessments may be through their inclusion on the billing of either municipal or Okaloosa County Water and Sewer utility billing and such other methods as approved by the Board of County Commissioners. Role of the Citizens Participating in the MSBU It is the responsibility of the citizens within the proposed MSBU to organize support for the MSBU, prepare the petition for submittal to the Board of County Commissioners and develop the general scope of work for what the MSBU will accomplish. Specific requirements of the petition, fees, and other submittals will be discussed in detail in the document below. Role of the Board of County Commissioners and Staff The Board of County Commissioners acts as the governing body of the units. The Board must adopt the MSBU budget, establish the level of services to be provided, and levy the special assessment to pay for the services and improvements. County staff is responsible for preparation of resolutions, ordinances, scheduling required public hearings and publishing required legal and display notices in the newspaper. County staff mails by U.S Postal first-class mail a notice to each property owner in the first year a special assessment is levied or as otherwise required by law. 1 Packet Pg. 223 Role of the Property Appraiser The Property Appraiser provides to the Board of County Commissioners information from the data base maintained by his office such as owner's name, address, value of the property, front footage, size and type of structures, as well as section maps detailing the proposed Unit etc. Role of the Tax Collector The Tax Collector's Office is responsible for the annual billing of non-ad valorem assessments based on the information transmitted to his office. The standard procedure of assessments is that the amount of costs for the Tax Collector and Property Appraiser are added to the assessment amount and paid by the property owner. The information transmitted to the Tax Collector is prepared by the County Staff. For non-ad valorem assessments, the assessment roll must be certified to the Tax Collector by no later than September 15 of each year to be included in the Uniform Tax bills mailed by U.S Postal first-class mail in November. The Board of County Commissioners is responsible for the payment of actual cost incurred by the Tax Collector in billing the non-ad valorem Assessments. The Tax Collector is responsible for the collection of delinquent non-ad