Field Regina Northrop Neighborhood Group

Answers to Common Questions on New Ornamental Lighting

Feb 13, 2002

The following questions were posed to John Hotvet, Project Manager from Minneapolis Public Works who headed up the installation of ornamental pedestrian lighting in the Field and Regina areas of the neighborhood this past year.

CTH: Some of the new lights are not working. Who should I call?

JH: Please call (612) 673-5750 to report lights that are out. As of January 1 there were approximately 25 lights that were not working, and the contractor had crews out trouble shooting the problems. City staff will be doing a walk-through inspection of the project this spring to ensure that work was properly completed. This will include proper boulevard restoration, sidewalk repairs properly completed, lights that are working and not tilting, etc.

CTH: When are the old wooden lights coming down?


JH: Xcel Energy staff have placed a work order for the removal of the wood pole lighting in the Field and Regina neighborhoods. The removals should start shortly and will take up to mid-March to complete. They will also be removing wood poles where possible, unless the wood poles are in the concrete sidewalk, such as along 4th Avenue. At those locations they will remove the light now and come back in the spring to take out the pole and repair the concrete sidewalk.

CTH: When will the final assessments be determined and when will they be due?

JH: Final project costs will be tabulated this spring, final assessment amounts for individual properties will be determined later this year, and the first year?’s payment of the assessment will appear on the 2003 property tax statement, unless the entire assessment is paid as a lump sum. See next question for payment options.
CTH: What are the payment options?

JH: There are two options for payment. The option usually chosen is to spread the assessment payment over 20 years, which will include interest charges on the unpaid principal balance. Interest rates are not known at this time since the bonds will be sold next summer, however rates for similar recent projects were in the 4-5% range. The unpaid balance may be paid off at any time during the twenty-year period. This is the default option assumed by the City; i.e. residents do not need to do anything to choose this option, and the assessment charges will automatically appear on the 2003 tax bill. The second option is to pay the entire assessment in one lump sum payment by the end of 2002. Those interested in this option should call (612) 673-2401 to request that a bill be sent for their property. The bill will be sent towards the end of this year, and payment will be due by the end of the year. Payment in full will result in no interest payments. Requesting a bill does not obligate the owner to utilize this option; you can request the bill and still decide later to have the payments spread over 20 years. Senior citizens or permanently impaired/ handicapped citizens may qualify for deferment of their assessments until their home is sold if certain criteria are met; please call the Senior Citizens Ombudsman at (612) 673-3004 for further information.

CTH: Will the final assessment be the same as the initial estimate that was
sent a year ago?

JH: Costs are still being accrued throughout the winter, but the project is still coming in well under the estimate that the original (January 2001) assessment amounts were based on. The actual levied assessment should be 75-80% of the original amount, i.e. if your estimated assessment was $2,000,
the levied assessment will likely be between $1,500 and $1,600.