[Adopted 11-2-1992 by L.L. No. 5-1992]
This article shall be entitled "A Local Law in Relation to the Creation of Special Assessment District No. 1 of 1992 in the City of Saratoga Springs, Saratoga County, New York."
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ADJACENT PROPERTIES
Real property described by separate tax parcel number the public water service for which, now or hereafter, is provided, or will be provided upon proper connection, directly or indirectly, from the City of Saratoga Springs (the "City") Water Transmission Main described as follows: Beginning at a point approximately 100 feet, plus or minus, south of the intersection of Louden Road and Weibel Avenue and running in a southerly direction on the East side of Weibel Avenue parallel to the edge of pavement to the intersection of Weibel Avenue and the entrance to the City Compost Facility; thence in a southeasterly direction across City property and property reputedly owned by James Hogan to Old Schuylerville Road; thence in an easterly direction along Old Schuylerville Road terminating at a point approximately 100 feet, plus or minus, east of the intersection of South Point Road and Old Schuylerville Road. Notwithstanding the foregoing, City property, the property commonly known as "Weibel Plaza" and the existing residential premises owned by James Hogan shall not be "adjacent properties."
DISTRICT
An area of land within the City designated as Special Assessment District No. 1 of 1992. The District shall consist of and include certain properties within the area of the City of Saratoga Springs, New York, commonly known as "Knoll Spring Park" and "Wood Ridge at Knoll Spring Park." A list describing all such properties constituting the District is filed in the office of the City Clerk.
PROJECT
The acquisition, construction and installation of the project facility.
PROJECT FACILITY
The water transmission line and related infrastructure to be acquired, constructed and installed in the District. A more detailed description of the project facility is filed in the office of the Department of Public Works.
A. 
Background.
(1) 
The City Council of the City of Saratoga Springs (the "City") is concerned about the quality and safety of drinking water available to the residents of the Knoll Spring Park and Wood Ridge at Knoll Spring Park (collectively, the "parks"). Many residents within the parks have well water that is turbid and discolored. The poor quality of the drinking water in the parks has caused many difficulties to the residents. Attempts by the residents to treat their water with filtration and other treatment systems have not been successful.
(2) 
A mail survey conducted by the City's Department of Public Works of the residents in the parks indicated that a substantial percentage of the residents want the City to extend the City's water system to the parks. Furthermore, the residents have indicated a willingness to pay the cost of the improvements required to extend the City's water system by assessing such costs on those residents of the District benefiting from the improvements.
(3) 
The City has provided written notice to the residents of the District of the boundaries of the District, a description of the project and a summary of the costs of the project.
B. 
Findings of fact.
(1) 
The City Council of the City does hereby find that appropriate measures must be taken to protect the health, safety, comfort and general welfare of the residents in the parks. Accordingly, the City Council of the City recognizes the necessity for the undertaking by the City of the project. In order to finance the cost of the project, the City Council will create the District. The District is created pursuant to this article for purposes of assessing the cost of the project to the residents located within the District.
(2) 
The adjacent properties and the properties within the District will be benefitted by the project facility as the project facility will add to the value of the property within the District and the adjacent properties and will improve water supply and quality and fire protection within the District.
The purpose of creating the District is to preserve and protect the health, safety, comfort and general welfare of the residents in the District. The project will be undertaken to provide properties within the District with City water. The cost of the project shall be assessed upon those properties benefited within the District.
The City, as authorized under the provisions of the General City Law, the Municipal Home Rule Law and this article, hereby creates the District.
The properties to be included in the District must be accurately described by boundary description or otherwise.
The City may exercise the following powers with respect to the District in connection with the project:
A. 
Acquisition, construction and installation of water transmission lines and related infrastructure, including the project facility;
B. 
Construction of facilities such as: signs; fire hydrants; and such other fixtures, equipment facilities and appurtenances in connection with the project facility;
C. 
Closing or opening or widening or narrowing of existing streets;
D. 
Rehabilitation or removal of existing structures as required;
E. 
Removal and relocation of utilities as required;
F. 
Such other powers as may be necessary to carry out the acquisition, construction and improvement of the project facility.
A. 
Properties in the District shall be subject to assessment for the costs of the project facility to be acquired, constructed and installed within the District. The City will establish, from time to time, the manner in which the cost of the project facility will be assessed against properties within the District. Properties included within the District will be assessed, according to formulas established from time to time by the City Council in its sole judgment, to reflect the benefits accruing to such properties within the District by reason of the project facility.
B. 
Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary contained in this article or in any other law, resolution, regulation or rule of the City and in addition to all other costs or fees provided for by law, resolution, regulation and rule of the City, a tapping fee of no less than $3,000 each shall be paid by all adjacent properties and all undeveloped properties existing within the District on the date of the enactment hereof.
C. 
The City shall establish a reserve fund in connection with the financing of the project. All tapping fees, described in Subsection B above, shall be forthwith deposited in such reserve fund and shall be used by the City to pay principal and/or interest on any bonds or notes issued to finance the project.
D. 
Any operation and maintenance expenses of the District will be treated as expenses of the Citywide water system and paid out of the City's water fund.
The City, for the purpose of providing funds for the cost of the project facility, may from time to time issue and sell bonds or other municipal obligations as provided in the New York Local Finance Law and other applicable state statutes. Principal and interest payments on such bonds or other municipal obligations may be made in whole or in part from the proceeds of assessments within the District, but in no event may installment payments for such assessments for the project facility be collected over a period of years longer than the period of probable usefulness of the project facility as set forth in the Local Finance Law.
The City retains all rights and powers which it now has or may have in the future. The creation of the District is not to be interpreted to be an abrogation or diminution of any rights and powers of the City. This article in no way prevents the City at any time subsequent to the creation of the District from changing the description of the District or the assessment formulas for properties to be assessed within the District or from exercising the other powers granted by this article or other applicable statutes of the State of New York.
A. 
The City shall prepare a budget describing revenues and expenses relating to the project in connection with the preparation of the City's budget.
B. 
The City shall also establish procedures to be used by the City Assessor in preparing assessment rolls of benefitted, assessable properties within the District. Such procedures shall include the provision of notice of the completion of the assessment roll and the scheduling of a public hearing to consider the assessment roll. The procedures must be consistent with the powers granted by this article and in all other respects with the Charter and other ordinances of the City and other applicable statutes of the State of New York.