The term "public ways" as used in this Charter includes all
streets, avenues, roads, highways, public thoroughfares, lanes, and
alleys.
The City shall have control of all public ways in the City except
such as may be under the jurisdiction of the Maryland State Highway
Administration. Subject to the laws of the State of Maryland and this
Charter, the City may do whatever it deems necessary to establish,
operate, and maintain in good condition the public ways of the City.
The City may levy and collect taxes in the form of special assessments
upon property in a limited and determinable area for special benefits
conferred upon the property by the installation or construction of
water mains, sanitary sewer mains, stormwater sewers, curbs, and gutters
and by the construction and paving of public ways and sidewalks or
parts thereof, and it may provide for the payment of all or any part
of the above projects out of the proceeds of the special assessment.
The cost of any project to be paid in whole or in part by special
assessments may include the direct cost thereof, the cost of any land
acquired for the project, the interest on bonds, notes, or other evidences
of indebtedness issued in anticipation of the collection of special
assessments, a reasonable charge for the services of the administrative
staff of the City, and any other item of cost which may reasonably
be attributed to the project.