City amends Phase 2 development agreement to allow stormwater in special assessments; commission approves related assessment district
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Summary
The City Commission authorized an amendment to the Salina Destination Phase 2 development agreement so stormwater infrastructure can be included in the project's special assessment package and approved a resolution of advisability to establish an internal special assessment improvement district for Phase 2.
The commission approved two actions related to the Salina Destination workforce‑housing project on July 28: (1) it authorized an amendment to the Phase 2 development agreement to allow stormwater infrastructure (two drainage ponds and associated piping) to be included in special assessments, and (2) it approved a resolution of advisability to create a special assessment improvement district for the Phase 2 site.
City staff and the developer said the change was necessary because the existing agreement authorized special assessments for water and sanitary sewer but did not explicitly contemplate storm sewer and stormwater facilities. Lauren Driscoll (city staff) told the commission staff had checked bond counsel and state statute and that allowing stormwater infrastructure to be assessed is consistent with the law and consistent with past precedent in similar projects. The commission voted to authorize the mayor to execute the first amendment to the Phase 2 development agreement and unanimously approved Resolution 25‑8294 to establish the special improvement district.
Jim Kowach, city engineer, briefed the commission on the financial structure: the developer may be offered a 20‑year assessment amortization or may pay a lump sum; the staff‑recommended improvement district would assess 100 percent of the internal water, sewer and storm improvements (approximately $2,007,296 noted in staff materials). Driscoll and Jeremy Hurt, a representative of Salina Destination, said work on Phase 1 is moving forward: units are being preleased, the first building could receive a certificate of occupancy and open next week, and the developer reported about 190 people on a prelease wait list.
The commission also approved development‑related ministerial actions accompanying the project, including scheduling and next steps. One commissioner recused from votes involving the development due to a stated conflict; votes recorded on the development items were otherwise unanimous among voting commissioners.