12-17,101a. Same; hearing required before contract let or improvement authorized; notice. (a) Before any contract is let or any work is ordered or authorized for an improvement or before any services are provided, the governing body of the district shall hold a public hearing on the advisability of the improvement or the advisability of providing such services. Notice of the hearing shall be given at least once each week for two consecutive weeks in the official city newspaper. At least three days shall elapse between the last publication and the hearing. The notice shall include the:

(1) Time and place of hearing;

(2) general nature of the proposed improvements or of the services to be provided;

(3) the estimated or probable cost of such improvements or the estimated annual cost of providing such services during the next three years; and

(4) the proposed method or methods by which the governing body proposes to raise the revenues to finance such improvement or to pay for such services.

(b) Before calling a hearing on the advisability of any improvement or service, the governing body may secure a feasibility report to assist in the determination of the improvements or services which should be proposed, together with a preliminary estimate of the cost of the improvements, services or combination of improvements and services. The report may be prepared by qualified officers of the city or by consultants. The governing body also may take such other preliminary steps prior to the hearing or before ordering any improvements or letting any contract, including, among other things, the preparation of plans and specifications, estimates of costs of the improvements or services and the advertisement for bids thereon, as in its judgment shall be of assistance in determining the feasibility and desirability of the improvement or services. The cost of such services may be assessed against the district.

(c) The hearing may be adjourned from time to time until the governing body shall have made findings by resolution as to the advisability and nature of the improvements or services to be provided, the estimated cost of the improvements and the estimated annual cost of providing such services during the next three years, and the method or methods by which the governing body proposes to finance such improvements, including a statement that sets forth the amount to be received from any capital improvement fund tax by issuance of bonds or from an operations fund tax, or combination thereof, and the amount to be financed by the issuance of bonds.

History: L. 1988, ch. 79, § 8; Jan. 1, 1989.