H.B. 102 Enrolled
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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill amends provisions related to the designation of an assessment area.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 . defines terms;
13 . prohibits a governing body from designating an assessment area beginning on May
14 13, 2014, and before May 12, 2015;
15 . authorizes a governing body to circulate a petition to designate an assessment area if
16 the protests to an assessment area are contestable; and
17 . makes technical corrections.
18 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
19 None
20 Other Special Clauses:
21 None
22 Utah Code Sections Affected:
23 AMENDS:
24 11-42-102 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 246
25 11-42-202 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapters 246 and 265
26 11-42-206 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 265
27 ENACTS:
28 11-42-201.5 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
29 63I-2-211 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
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31 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
32 Section 1. Section 11-42-102 is amended to read:
33 11-42-102. Definitions.
34 (1) (a) "Adequate protests" means timely filed, written protests [
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36 fair market value, lots, number of connections, or equivalent residential units of the property
37 proposed to be assessed, according to the same assessment method by which the assessment is
38 proposed to be levied[
39 [
40 (i) (A) property that has been deleted from a proposed assessment area; or
41 [
42 provided to property within the proposed assessment area; and
43 [
44 (2) "Assessment area" means an area, or, if more than one area is designated, the
45 aggregate of all areas within a local entity's jurisdictional boundaries that is designated by a
46 local entity under Part 2, Designating an Assessment Area, for the purpose of financing the
47 costs of improvements, operation and maintenance, or economic promotion activities that
48 benefit property within the area.
49 (3) "Assessment bonds" means bonds that are:
50 (a) issued under Section 11-42-605 ; and
51 (b) payable in part or in whole from assessments levied in an assessment area,
52 improvement revenues, and a guaranty fund or reserve fund.
53 (4) "Assessment fund" means a special fund that a local entity establishes under
54 Section 11-42-412 .
55 (5) "Assessment lien" means a lien on property within an assessment area that arises
56 from the levy of an assessment, as provided in Section 11-42-501 .
57 (6) "Assessment method" means the method
58 by which an assessment is levied against property, whether by frontage, area, taxable
59 value, fair market value, lot, parcel, number of connections, equivalent residential unit, any
60 combination of these methods, or any other method
61 that equitably reflects the benefit received from the improvement.
62 (7) "Assessment ordinance" means an ordinance adopted by a local entity under
63 Section 11-42-404 that levies an assessment on benefitted property within an assessment area.
64 (8) "Assessment resolution" means a resolution adopted by a local entity under Section
65 11-42-404 that levies an assessment on benefitted property within an assessment area.
66 (9) "Benefitted property" means property within an assessment area that directly or
67 indirectly benefits from improvements, operation and maintenance, or economic promotion
68 activities.
69 (10) "Bond anticipation notes" means notes issued under Section 11-42-602 in
70 anticipation of the issuance of assessment bonds.
71 (11) "Bonds" means assessment bonds and refunding assessment bonds.
72 (12) "Commercial area" means an area in which at least 75% of the property is devoted
73 to the interchange of goods or commodities.
74 (13) (a) "Commercial or industrial real property" means real property used directly or
75 indirectly or held for one of the following purposes or activities, regardless of whether the
76 purpose or activity is for profit:
77 (i) commercial;
78 (ii) mining;
79 (iii) industrial;
80 (iv) manufacturing;
81 (v) governmental;
82 (vi) trade;
83 (vii) professional;
84 (viii) a private or public club;
85 (ix) a lodge;
86 (x) a business; or
87 (xi) a similar purpose.
88 (b) "Commercial or industrial real property" includes real property that:
89 (i) is used as or held for dwelling purposes; and
90 (ii) contains four or more rental units.
91 (14) "Connection fee" means a fee charged by a local entity to pay for the costs of
92 connecting property to a publicly owned sewer, storm drainage, water, gas, communications, or
93 electrical system, whether or not improvements are installed on the property.
94 (15) (a) "Contestable protests" means timely filed, written protests that represent no
95 less than 35% and less than 45% of the frontage, area, taxable value, fair market value, lots,
96 number of connections, or equivalent residential units of the property proposed to be assessed,
97 according to the same assessment method by which the assessment is proposed to be levied.
98 (b) "Contestable protests" does not include written protests relating to:
99 (i) (A) property that has been deleted from a proposed assessment area;
100 (B) an improvement that has been deleted from the proposed improvements to be
101 provided to property within the proposed assessment area; and
102 (ii) protests that have been withdrawn under Subsection 11-42-203 (3).
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104 (a) the cost of acquiring an improvement, if the improvement is acquired; or
105 (b) the amount payable to one or more contractors for the design, engineering,
106 inspection, and construction of an improvement.
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108 under Section 11-42-206 designating an assessment area.
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110 Section 11-42-206 designating an assessment area.
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112 growth in a commercial area of a local entity, including:
113 (a) sponsoring festivals and markets;
114 (b) promoting business investment or activities;
115 (c) helping to coordinate public and private actions; and
116 (d) developing and issuing publications designed to improve the economic well-being
117 of the commercial area.
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119 affixed to commercial or industrial real property that is designed to reduce energy
120 consumption, including:
121 (a) insulation in:
122 (i) a wall, roof, floor, or foundation; or
123 (ii) a heating and cooling distribution system;
124 (b) a window or door, including:
125 (i) a storm window or door;
126 (ii) a multiglazed window or door;
127 (iii) a heat-absorbing window or door;
128 (iv) a heat-reflective glazed and coated window or door;
129 (v) additional window or door glazing;
130 (vi) a window or door with reduced glass area; or
131 (vii) other window or door modifications;
132 (c) an automatic energy control system;
133 (d) in a building or a central plant, a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning and
134 distribution system;
135 (e) caulk or weatherstripping;
136 (f) a light fixture that does not increase the overall illumination of a building unless an
137 increase is necessary to conform with the applicable building code;
138 (g) an energy recovery system;
139 (h) a daylighting system;
140 (i) measures to reduce the consumption of water, through conservation or more
141 efficient use of water, including:
142 (i) installation of low-flow toilets and showerheads;
143 (ii) installation of timer or timing systems for a hot water heater; or
144 (iii) installation of rain catchment systems; or
145 (j) a modified, installed, or remodeled fixture that is approved as a utility cost-saving
146 measure by the governing body of a local entity.
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148 equal to a single-family residence in terms of the nature of its use or impact on an improvement
149 to be provided in the assessment area.
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151 (a) for a county, city, or town, the legislative body of the county, city, or town;
152 (b) for a local district, the board of trustees of the local district;
153 (c) for a special service district:
154 (i) the legislative body of the county, city, or town that established the special service
155 district, if no administrative control board has been appointed under Section 17D-1-301 ; or
156 (ii) the administrative control board of the special service district, if an administrative
157 control board has been appointed under Section 17D-1-301 ; and
158 (d) for the military installation development authority created in Section 63H-1-201 ,
159 the authority board, as defined in Section 63H-1-102 .
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161 11-42-701 .
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163 assessment area upon which a residential, commercial, or other building has been built.
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165 (a) (i) means a publicly owned infrastructure, system, or other facility, a publicly or
166 privately owned energy efficiency upgrade, or a publicly or privately owned renewable energy
167 system that:
168 (A) a local entity is authorized to provide;
169 (B) the governing body of a local entity determines is necessary or convenient to
170 enable the local entity to provide a service that the local entity is authorized to provide; or
171 (C) a local entity is requested to provide through an interlocal agreement in accordance
172 with Title 11, Chapter 13, Interlocal Cooperation Act; and
173 (ii) includes facilities in an assessment area, including a private driveway, an irrigation
174 ditch, and a water turnout, that:
175 (A) can be conveniently installed at the same time as an infrastructure, system, or other
176 facility described in Subsection [
177 (B) are requested by a property owner on whose property or for whose benefit the
178 infrastructure, system, or other facility is being installed; or
179 (b) for a local district created to assess groundwater rights in accordance with Section
180 17B-1-202 , means a system or plan to regulate groundwater withdrawals within a specific
181 groundwater basin in accordance with Sections 17B-1-202 and 73-5-15 .
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183 (a) means charges, fees, impact fees, or other revenues that a local entity receives from
184 improvements; and
185 (b) does not include revenue from assessments.
186 (27) (a) "Inadequate protests" means timely filed, written protests that represent less
187 than 35% of the frontage, area, taxable value, fair market value, lots, number of connections, or
188 equivalent residential units of the property proposed to be assessed, according to the same
189 assessment method by which the assessment is proposed to be levied.
190 (b) "Inadequate protests" does not include written protests relating to:
191 (i) (A) property that has been deleted from a proposed assessment area;
192 (B) an improvement that has been deleted from the proposed improvements to be
193 provided to property within the proposed assessment area; and
194 (ii) protests that have been withdrawn under Subsection 11-42-203 (3).
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196 assessment bonds and calling, retiring, or paying prior bonds, including:
197 (a) legal and accounting fees;
198 (b) charges of financial advisors, escrow agents, certified public accountant verification
199 entities, and trustees;
200 (c) underwriting discount costs, printing costs, the costs of giving notice;
201 (d) any premium necessary in the calling or retiring of prior bonds;
202 (e) fees to be paid to the local entity to issue the refunding assessment bonds and to
203 refund the outstanding prior bonds;
204 (f) any other costs that the governing body determines are necessary or desirable to
205 incur in connection with the issuance of refunding assessment bonds; and
206 (g) any interest on the prior bonds that is required to be paid in connection with the
207 issuance of the refunding assessment bonds.
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209 payment of an assessment is payable.
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211 11-42-601 .
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213 (a) for a county, the boundaries of the unincorporated area of the county; and
214 (b) for each other local entity, the boundaries of the local entity.
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216 Local Government Entities - Local Districts.
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218 district, an interlocal entity as defined in Section 11-13-103 , a military installation development
219 authority created in Section 63H-1-201 , or other political subdivision of the state.
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221 bonds, interim warrants, and bond anticipation notes issued by a local entity.
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223 (a) a property owner's last-known address using the name and address appearing on the
224 last completed real property assessment roll of the county in which the property is located; and
225 (b) if the property is improved property:
226 (i) the property's street number; or
227 (ii) the post office box, rural route number, or other mailing address of the property, if
228 a street number has not been assigned.
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230 entity has received since the last installment payment date, less all amounts payable by the local
231 entity from those improvement revenues for operation and maintenance costs.
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233 (a) means the costs that a local entity incurs in operating and maintaining
234 improvements in an assessment area, whether or not those improvements have been financed
235 under this chapter; and
236 (b) includes service charges, administrative costs, ongoing maintenance charges, and
237 tariffs or other charges for electrical, water, gas, or other utility usage.
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239 be incurred by a local entity in connection with an assessment area for appraisals, legal fees,
240 filing fees, financial advisory charges, underwriting fees, placement fees, escrow, trustee, and
241 paying agent fees, publishing and mailing costs, costs of levying an assessment, recording
242 costs, and all other incidental costs.
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244 from which the prior bonds are payable.
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246 from which the prior bonds are payable.
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248 whole by refunding assessment bonds.
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250 consulting engineer engaged by a local entity to perform the necessary engineering services for
251 and to supervise the construction or installation of the improvements.
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253 water rights and leasehold rights.
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255 acquires by eminent domain property to make improvements in an assessment area.
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257 acquisition, construction, reconstruction, renovation, maintenance, repair, operation, and
258 expansion of an improvement.
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260 (a) the state or any agency, department, or division of the state; and
261 (b) a political subdivision of the state.
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263 property within an assessment area to pay an assessment levied on the property after the
264 assessment has been reduced because of the issuance of refunding assessment bonds, as
265 provided in Section 11-42-608 .
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267 issues under Section 11-42-607 to refund, in part or in whole, assessment bonds.
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269 interacting group of devices that:
270 (a) is permanently affixed to commercial or industrial real property; and
271 (b) produces energy from renewable resources, including:
272 (i) a photovoltaic system;
273 (ii) a solar thermal system;
274 (iii) a wind system;
275 (iv) a geothermal system, including:
276 (A) a generation system;
277 (B) a direct-use system; or
278 (C) a ground source heat pump system;
279 (v) a microhydro system; or
280 (vi) other renewable sources approved by the governing body of a local entity.
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282 11-42-702 .
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284 (a) water, sewer, storm drainage, garbage collection, library, recreation,
285 communications, or electric service;
286 (b) economic promotion activities; or
287 (c) any other service that a local entity is required or authorized to provide.
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289 17D-1-102 .
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291 commercial, or other building has been built.
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293 property whose owners have voluntarily consented to an assessment.
294 Section 2. Section 11-42-201.5 is enacted to read:
295 11-42-201.5. Prohibition on designation of an assessment area before May 12,
296 2015.
297 (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(a), a governing body of a local entity may not
298 designate an assessment area under this part beginning on May 13, 2014, and before May 12,
299 2015.
300 (2) (a) Subsection (1) does not apply to an assessment area:
301 (i) for which:
302 (A) notice described in Subsection 11-42-201 (2)(a) is published in accordance with
303 Subsection 11-42-202 (3) before May 13, 2014; or
304 (B) a designation ordinance or resolution has been adopted under Section 11-42-206
305 before May 13, 2014, designating the assessment area and the assessment area will expire by
306 law unless the governing body redesignates the assessment area; or
307 (ii) that is a voluntary assessment area and all property owners have consented to the
308 creation of the assessment area in writing before publication of the notice described in
309 Subsection 11-42-201 (2)(a).
310 (b) If a governing body redesignates an assessment area described in Subsection (2)(a),
311 the governing may not expand the boundaries of the assessment area.
312 Section 3. Section 11-42-202 is amended to read:
313 11-42-202. Requirements applicable to a notice of a proposed assessment area
314 designation.
315 (1) Each notice required under Subsection 11-42-201 (2)(a) shall:
316 (a) state that the local entity proposes to:
317 (i) designate one or more areas within the local entity's jurisdictional boundaries as an
318 assessment area;
319 (ii) provide an improvement to property within the proposed assessment area; and
320 (iii) finance some or all of the cost of improvements by an assessment on benefitted
321 property within the assessment area;
322 (b) describe the proposed assessment area by any reasonable method that allows an
323 owner of property in the proposed assessment area to determine that the owner's property is
324 within the proposed assessment area;
325 (c) describe, in a general way, the improvements to be provided to the assessment area,
326 including:
327 (i) the general nature of the improvements; and
328 (ii) the general location of the improvements, by reference to streets or portions or
329 extensions of streets or by any other means that the governing body chooses that reasonably
330 describes the general location of the improvements;
331 (d) state the estimated cost of the improvements as determined by a project engineer;
332 (e) state that the local entity proposes to levy an assessment on benefitted property
333 within the assessment area to pay some or all of the cost of the improvements according to the
334 estimated direct and indirect benefits to the property from the improvements;
335 (f) state the assessment method by which the governing body proposes to levy the
336 assessment, including, if the local entity is a municipality or county, whether the assessment
337 will be collected:
338 (i) by directly billing a property owner; or
339 (ii) by inclusion on a property tax notice issued in accordance with Section 59-2-1317 ;
340 (g) state:
341 (i) the date described in Section 11-42-203 and the location at which protests against
342 designation of the proposed assessment area or of the proposed improvements are required to
343 be filed; and
344 (ii) the method by which the governing body will determine the number of protests
345 required to defeat the designation of the proposed assessment area or acquisition or
346 construction of the proposed improvements;
347 (h) state the date, time, and place of the public hearing required in Section 11-42-204 ;
348 (i) if the governing body elects to create and fund a reserve fund under Section
349 11-42-702 , include a description of:
350 (i) how the reserve fund will be funded and replenished; and
351 (ii) how remaining money in the reserve fund is to be disbursed upon full payment of
352 the bonds;
353 (j) if the governing body intends to designate a voluntary assessment area, include a
354 property owner consent form that:
355 (i) estimates the total assessment to be levied against the particular parcel of property;
356 (ii) describes any additional benefits that the governing body expects the assessed
357 property to receive from the improvements; and
358 (iii) designates the date and time by which the fully executed consent form is required
359 to be submitted to the governing body;
360 (k) if the local entity intends to levy an assessment to pay operation and maintenance
361 costs or for economic promotion activities, include:
362 (i) a description of the operation and maintenance costs or economic promotion
363 activities to be paid by assessments and the initial estimated annual assessment to be levied;
364 (ii) a description of how the estimated assessment will be determined;
365 (iii) a description of how and when the governing body will adjust the assessment to
366 reflect the costs of:
367 (A) in accordance with Section 11-42-406 , current economic promotion activities; or
368 (B) current operation and maintenance costs;
369 (iv) a description of the method of assessment if different from the method of
370 assessment to be used for financing any improvement; and
371 (v) a statement of the maximum number of years over which the assessment will be
372 levied for:
373 (A) operation and maintenance costs; or
374 (B) economic promotion activities; and
375 (l) if the governing body intends to divide the proposed assessment area into zones
376 under Subsection 11-42-201 (1)(b), include a description of the proposed zones.
377 (2) A notice required under Subsection 11-42-201 (2)(a) may contain other information
378 that the governing body considers to be appropriate, including:
379 (a) the amount or proportion of the cost of the improvement to be paid by the local
380 entity or from sources other than an assessment;
381 (b) the estimated amount of each type of assessment for the various improvements to
382 be financed according to the method of assessment that the governing body chooses; and
383 (c) provisions for any improvements described in Subsection 11-42-102 [
384 (25)(a)(ii).
385 (3) Each notice required under Subsection 11-42-201 (2)(a) shall:
386 (a) (i) (A) be published in a newspaper of general circulation within the local entity's
387 jurisdictional boundaries, once a week for four consecutive weeks, with the last publication at
388 least five but not more than 20 days before the day of the hearing required in Section
389 11-42-204 ; or
390 (B) if there is no newspaper of general circulation within the local entity's jurisdictional
391 boundaries, be posted in at least three public places within the local entity's jurisdictional
392 boundaries at least 20 but not more than 35 days before the day of the hearing required in
393 Section 11-42-204 ; and
394 (ii) be published on the Utah Public Notice Website described in Section 63F-1-701 for
395 four weeks before the deadline for filing protests specified in the notice under Subsection
396 (1)(g); and
397 (b) be mailed, postage prepaid, within 10 days after the first publication or posting of
398 the notice under Subsection (3)(a) to each owner of property to be assessed within the proposed
399 assessment area at the property owner's mailing address.
400 Section 4. Section 11-42-206 is amended to read:
401 11-42-206. Adoption of a resolution or an ordinance regarding a proposed
402 assessment area -- Designation of an assessment area may not occur if adequate protests
403 filed -- Recording of resolution or ordinance and notice of proposed assessment.
404 (1) (a) After holding a public hearing under Section 11-42-204 and considering protests
405 filed under Section 11-42-203 , and subject to Subsection (3), the governing body shall hold a
406 public meeting to adopt a resolution or ordinance:
407 (i) abandoning the proposal to designate an assessment area; or
408 (ii) designating an assessment area as described in the notice under Section 11-42-202
409 or with the changes made as authorized under Subsection 11-42-204 (4).
410 (b) In accordance with Section 11-42-203 , the governing body:
411 (i) may not schedule the public meeting before the expiration of the 60-day protest
412 period; and
413 (ii) shall consider and report on any timely filed protests.
414 (2) If the notice under Section 11-42-202 indicates that the proposed assessment area is
415 a voluntary assessment area, the governing body shall:
416 (a) delete from the proposed assessment area all property whose owners have not
417 submitted an executed consent form consenting to inclusion of the owner's property in the
418 proposed assessment area; and
419 (b) determine whether to designate a voluntary assessment area, after considering:
420 (i) the amount of the proposed assessment to be levied on the property within the
421 voluntary assessment area; and
422 (ii) the benefits that property within the voluntary assessment area will receive from
423 improvements proposed to be financed by assessments on the property.
424 (3) (a) If adequate protests have been filed, the governing body may not designate an
425 assessment area as described in the notice under Section 11-42-202 .
426 (b) If inadequate protests have been filed, the governing body may designate the
427 described assessment area.
428 (c) If contestable protests have been filed, the governing body may not designate the
429 described assessment area unless the governing body:
430 (i) (A) circulates a petition to designate the assessment area described in the notice
431 under Section 11-42-202 ; and
432 (B) clearly indicates on the petition that it is a petition to designate the assessment area;
433 (ii) collects for the petition described in Subsection (3)(c)(i)(A):
434 (A) the signatures of owners of private real property that is located within the proposed
435 assessment area;
436 (B) enough signatures to exceed the number of contestable protest signatures received
437 by the governing body protesting the described assessment area by no less than 5% based on
438 the same assessment method representation that was used to calculate the number of
439 contestable protest signatures; and
440 (C) the necessary signatures described in Subsection (3)(c)(ii)(B) no later than 60 days
441 after the day on which the public hearing described in Subsection (1)(a) is held;
442 (iii) submits the signatures on the petition to the county clerk, municipal clerk, or
443 municipal recorder, respectively, for certification;
444 (iv) holds a public meeting after the county clerk, municipal clerk, or municipal
445 recorder notifies the governing body that the clerk or recorder has certified the petition in
446 accordance with Subsection (3)(e); and
447 (v) at the public meeting casts a unanimous vote to adopt a designation resolution or
448 ordinance designating the assessment area.
449 (d) A property owner who signs the petition may withdraw the owner's signature from
450 the petition at any time before the expiration of the 60-day period described in Subsection
451 (3)(c)(ii)(C) by filing a written withdrawal with the county clerk, municipal clerk, or municipal
452 recorder, respectively.
453 (e) No later than 30 days after receiving a petition described in Subsection (3)(c)(i)
454 from a governing body for certification, a county clerk, municipal clerk, or municipal recorder
455 shall:
456 (i) determine if the petition complies with the petition and signature requirements of
457 Subsections (3)(c)(i) and (ii);
458 (ii) certify the petition if the petition is in compliance or reject the petition; and
459 (iii) notify the governing body in writing that the petition has been certified or rejected.
460 (f) If the county clerk, municipal clerk, or municipal recorder, respectively, fails to
461 certify or reject a petition within 30 days after it is submitted by the governing body, the
462 petition shall be considered to be rejected.
463 (4) (a) If the governing body adopts a designation resolution or ordinance designating
464 an assessment area, the governing body shall, within 15 days after adopting the designation
465 resolution or ordinance:
466 (i) record the original or certified copy of the designation resolution or ordinance in the
467 office of the recorder of the county in which property within the assessment area is located; and
468 (ii) file with the recorder of the county in which property within the assessment area is
469 located a notice of proposed assessment that:
470 (A) states that the local entity has designated an assessment area; and
471 (B) lists, by legal description and tax identification number, the property proposed to
472 be assessed.
473 (b) A governing body's failure to comply with the requirements of Subsection (4)(a)
474 does not invalidate the designation of an assessment area.
475 (5) After the adoption of a designation resolution or ordinance under Subsection (1)(a),
476 the local entity may begin providing the specified improvements.
477 Section 5. Section 63I-2-211 is enacted to read:
478 63I-2-211. Repeal dates -- Title 11.
479 Section 11-42-201.5 is repealed July 1, 2015.
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