(a) 
Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
City Manager
means the City Manager of the City, his designee or the City Finance Director.
Costs of an improvement
or any similar term means all capital costs incurred in connection with any improvement authorized, including, but not limited to, land acquisition costs, architectural, engineering and inspection fees, soil testing expenses and consulting charges, acquisition, construction or installation costs pertaining to any improvement, allowances for contingencies, legal and other professional fees, the costs of issuing any bonds to finance any improvement, bond printing discount or reserve costs, interest costs, and any related costs necessary to or relating to the levy of special assessments to pay for any of the foregoing.
District
means a public improvement district.
Interested party
means a landowner or interested person as further defined in this chapter.
Landowner
means any person who is the owner in fee of any undivided interest in real property or any improvements permanently affixed thereto. As used in this definition, “owner in fee” includes a contract purchaser of real property obligated to pay general taxes, an heir of a deceased owner, or a devisee of a deceased owner under a will admitted to probate, but does not include a contract seller of property with respect to which the contract purchaser is deemed to be the owner.
Mailed notice
means notice by certified or registered first class postage prepaid United States mail within the time required for notice.
Net effective interest rate
means the net interest cost of securities divided by the sum of the products derived by multiplying the principal amount of the securities maturing on each maturity date by the number of years from their date to their respective maturities. In all cases, net effective interest rate shall be computed with regard to the approved schedule of maturities or estimated mandatory redemptions.
Net interest cost
means the total amount of interest to accrue from the date of securities to the date of maturity, less the amount of any premium or plus the amount of any discount at which such bonds or securities are being or have been sold. In all cases, net interest cost shall be computed with regard to the approved schedule of maturities or redemptions.
Posted notice
means notice by continuous posting for three days at City Hall prior to the event to which the notice relates.
Published notice
means notice by publication in a newspaper of general circulation within the City one time by one publication not more than 30 days nor less than 10 days prior to the event to which the notice relates.
Special benefit
means a benefit to a particular property within a district separate and apart from general benefits to the City as a whole, which may include, but is not limited to, the following:
(1) 
Any increase in the market value of the property;
(2) 
Any adaptability of the property to a superior or more profitable use;
(3) 
Any increase in convenience or reduction in inconvenience accruing to a particular property owner, including the facilitation of access to a residence or a commercial establishment; or
(4) 
Any increase in patronage of a commercial establishment due to the availability of additional, better located, or less expensive access/parking.
Special improvement fund
means a special fund authorized by this chapter.
Special operation and maintenance fund
means a fund authorized by this chapter.
Special surplus and deficiency fund
means a fund authorized by this chapter.
Street
means and includes avenues, boulevards and other highways.
(b) 
Rules of Construction.
The term “real estate or property” shall include all land within the limits of the City either platted or unplatted, regardless of lot or land line and the franchises of any railroad within any street improved under this chapter. Lots, plats, blocks and other subdivisions may be designated in accordance with any recorded plat thereof, unplatted lands by any definite description thereof and franchises by the name of the corporation owning such franchise.
(Code 1994 § 28-1)
The City shall have the power to make local improvements and to assess the cost thereof wholly or in part upon the property benefitted as provided in this chapter.
(Code 1994 § 28-2; Code 1965 § 18-1)
All public improvements shall be constructed in accordance with the Charter, ordinances and specifications prescribed and authorized by the City Council and the City Manager or his designee.
(Code 1994 § 28-3; Code 1965 § 18-2)
In addition to the method and procedures for the formation of improvement districts as set out in this chapter, the City Council may follow those methods and procedures for the formation of districts as established in the State statutes. In the absence of a provision in this chapter, an applicable provision of the State statutes shall govern.
(Code 1994 § 28-4; Code 1965 § 18-3)
All findings and determinations of the City Council with respect to the matters required by this chapter to be considered shall be final and conclusive upon all parties in interest. No ordinance or resolution or action of the City Council relating to the organization of any district, the authorization of any improvements, the approval of any method of apportioning assessments, the issuance of any bonds, or the levy of any special assessments shall be challenged after the expiration of 30 days from the effective date of any such ordinance, resolution or action.
(Code 1994 § 28-5; Code 1965 § 18-72)
All actions not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter heretofore taken by the officers of the City, elected or appointed, directed toward the establishment of improvement districts are hereby ratified, approved and confirmed.
(Code 1994 § 28-6; Code 1965 § 18-73)