INSIDE CITY HALL Here are some decisions...

INSIDE CITY HALL

Here are some decisions coming out of Tuesday’s City Council

meeting.

RECOVERY HOME ZONING

The City Council rescheduled to Aug. 10 a second reading of an

ordinance that would more heavily regulate the city’s drug and

alcohol recovery homes to. Residents have complained that the homes

generate noise, litter and other problems in their neighborhoods.

City staff members requested the last-minute continuance to have

more time for legal research. The city has tried to tread carefully

between gaining increased control over the recovery homes and state

and federal housing discrimination rules that protect them.

WHAT IT MEANS

Several people attended Tuesday’s meeting in anticipation of a

decision, so more public input is likely from opponents and

supporters of the new regulations at the Aug. 10 meeting. The

regulations will require some homes to apply for new Federal

Exception Permits, which would be given by the Planning Commission.

UTILITY BURIAL TAX ASSESSMENTS

Several hundred property owners approved two of the city’s biggest

tax assessment districts to pay for utility line burial in Newport

Shores and West Newport. The council sets up the districts after

property owners submit signatures showing they will vote to tax

themselves to cover the cost of putting utility lines underground.

The districts include 550 parcels in Newport Shores and more than

600 parcels in West Newport. Some residents complained the costs will

be burdensome, but nearly 66% of the votes cast from Newport Shores

and 74% of the votes cast from West Newport were in favor of the tax

for utility burial.

WHAT IT MEANS

Property owners in the Newport Shores tax assessment district will

be charged between $3,466 and $69,281, depending on their property

value. Charges to West Newport property owners will range from $8,053

to $297,964. The city owns park property in that district and will

pay $789,204. Property owners can pay upfront or have the assessments

spread over 15 years on their city tax bills. The construction will

begin this fall and should be completed by spring 2005.