The Council shall have the power to determine the necessity for public improvements and that the whole or any part of the expense thereof shall be defrayed by special assessment upon the property especially benefited, and such determination shall be by resolution to provide that all special assessments levied shall be based upon or be in proportion to the benefits derived or to be derived. Such resolution shall state the estimated cost of the improvement; what proportion of the cost thereof shall be paid by special assessment; what part, if any, shall be a general obligation of the City; the number of installments in which assessments may be paid; and shall designate the districts or land and premises upon which special assessments shall be levied.
The Council shall prescribe by general ordinance the complete special assessment procedure concerning the initiation of projects, plans and specifications, estimates of costs, notice of hearings, making and confirming assessment rolls in advance of starting the improvement, the correction of errors therein, collection of special assessments, and any other matters concerning the making of improvements by the special assessment method, subject to the provisions of this Charter.
Prior to final confirmation of any special assessment, if more than 50% of the number of owners of privately owned real property to be assessed for any improvement or, in case of paving or similar improvements, more than 50% of the number of owners of frontage to be assessed for any such improvement shall object, in writing, to the proposed improvement, the improvement shall not be made by the proceedings authorized in this chapter without a four-fifths vote of the members-elect of the Council.
The City shall have a first lien upon all real property which are assessed for public improvements, including the abatement of public hazards or nuisances, and any such lien and the lien for collection charges and interest thereon shall be of the same character, effect, and duration, and shall be enforceable in the same manner as the lien for City taxes. The Council shall provide procedures for the assessment of said charges.
No judgment vacating any special assessment shall destroy or impair the lien of the City upon the premises assessed, for such amount of the assessment as may be equitably charged against the same, or as by a regular vote or proceeding might have been lawfully assessed thereon.