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Home My WebLink About10-26-10 Worksession PacketCITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL WO KSESS.ION MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2010 6:00 P.M.. 1. Assessment Services Contract with Washington County 11. Adjourn Pagel of 6 Wash c ti�jGCQN ��; �E� County \�dt� RCsJ�1 September 3, 2010 Eric Johnson City Administrator - City of Oak Park Heights 14168 Oak Park Blvd N. Oak Park Heights, MN 55082 Dear Administrator Johnson: Property Records and Taxpayer Services Department Kevin Corbid Director Washington County, through its Assessor's Office, currently provides property valuation services to your community through an agreement or contract for services. In reviewing our agreements and contracts for this service we have found that many of the agreements were signed years alto and are in need of updating to better reflect the services that are Being provided by the County Assessor's Office to your city or township and your property owners. We have developed a standard agreement for services and are requesting that your city council or township board review this agreement and consider taking action to approve the contract, if you have any questions or concerns regarding this draft contract you can contact either Bruce Munneke, County Assessor at 6.51- 275 -8761 or myself at 651 - 430 -6182. If you would like us to corne out and visit with your council or board we are more than willing to do that as well. I think you will mind this drab agreement accurately reflects the services we are currently providing. It is not intended to change any services or procedures, but only to provide updated agreements for moth the city or township and the county. I will walk through the key elements of the proposed contracts: Section I This section establishes the contractual agreement between the city/township and the County. Section 2 This section contains the list of services provided by the county related to property valuation and classification. Key items include the physical review of property, responding to concerns and questions from property owners and the city/township, staffing a local board or open book appeals meeting, the performance of sales analysis, and the managing and defending all values in tax court. Section 3 This section establishes the fee for assessing services. As is our current practice, the county board considers any changes to the fee schedule on an annual basis. The county provides an estimate of the following year's assessment fee in September of each year and also notifies the communities of any proposed increased in the fees the Board may be asked to consider. The county sends a bill for Government Center • 14949 62nd Street North — P.O. Box 6, Stillwater, Minnesota 55082 -0006 Phone: 651 - 430 -6175 ^ Fax: 651 -430 -6178 ° TTY: 651- 430 -6246 www.co.washington.mn.us Equal Employment Opportunity 1 Affirmative Action Page 2 of 6 AGREEMENT FOR ASSESSMENT SERVICES THIS AGRI=FMFNT, made and entered into this day of , by and between the City of Oak ParIc Heights, Washington County, Minnesota, herein referred to as "City ", and Washington County, 14949 62 "' Street North, Stillwater, MN 55082 herein referred to as "Washington County ". WITNI.SS: W11FRI: "AS, the City desires to retain Washington County and the Washington County Assessor to perform assessment services for the City; and W1-IEIREI.AS, Washington County desires to perform. assessment services required by the City; and. W1,111R1 "AS, the City and the Washington County deem it mutually advantageous to set forth the terms and conditions of their relationship in writing; NOW, TIII3RFIzC)LZI, tine parties hereto agree that the following shall constitute ,point agreement for assessment services: SI C I'ION O PAR "TIT;S The City hereby contracts with Washington County to perform, and Washington County here by agrees to perform, the assessment services hereinafter described. Sp;CTION TWO - SERVICES Washington County /Assessor shall perform all assessment services required by state statute and the City. Such services shall include, but are not limited to the following: Page 3 of 6 0 Appraise and classify all real and personal property located within the community. ® Interpret statutes, regulations, and legislative changes relating to property classification and valuation to the City Council/Town Board, realtors, bankers, citizens and civic groups as necessary or upon request, Answer questions /concerns regarding property values, classification, appeal process and the appraisal process from property owners. ® Draw and calculate "splits" of real estate reflective of ownership changes and/or physical change of real estate parcels. Maintain a listing of the assessment of each and every parcel of property located in each community. 0 teach Marcel of property within the City shall be physically inspected at least once every five years. 0 Dependent on the community preference, the property owners within the community will be provided with cither several Open Boole opportunities of appeal during the appeals period OR the County will staff an annual Local Board of Appeal meeting conducted by the City Councilffown Board. Draw and interpret maps, charts and other descriptions to assist property owners in understanding the appraisal process. 6 Develop land and building valuation schedules, conduct statistical analysis to support appraisal decisions, and oversee Computer Aided Mass Appraisal system (CAMA) table adjustments. Coordinate research of complex appraisal issues, review, investigate and make recommendations on applications for abatement or other reduction of assessed value. W Coordinate collection of sales information and annual assessment for all property uses. Coordinate the valuation and classification of exempt properties, including interpreting statutes applying to exempt organizations and processing exemption requests. 0 Manage all state tax court petitions and coordinates TIF assessment functions within the community. 0 Provide values to city for various projects in which there may be an assessment agreement. Page 4 of 6 SEC "LION 'I'tlRI::I - CON'T'RACT PRICK The city shall pay a fee to the County each year for assessment services based on the Slumber of taxation pat in the City. The assessment fee schedule is approved by the county board each year and establishes the fee amount per type of parcel. The County will utilize the sarne Tee schedule for all of its contract communities in the county. The County will send a bill for assessing services each .Tune for field work that was performed the previous calendar year and for review of the assessment through the local appeals period. The County will provide the City an estimate of the upcoming year's fees on or around September 1 of each year. Washington County will provide a report of assessment activities (Assessinent Report) each year prior to the appraisal review period. SECTION FO UR -INI. EP1 Nl)F CON'hRAC "I'OIZ It is understood and agreed between the parties that the Assessor is an independent contractor and not an employee of the City. The Assessor shall be responsible for furnishing its own transportation, books and any other documents or items of personal property required to perform the services. The City shall not be required to maintain any insurance coverage needed in connection with the performance of the Assessor's services, including but not limited to automobile liability insurance, workers compensation insurance and public liability insurance. SECTION FIVE; -TERM OF CONTRACT This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect for a period of 5 years be inning on July 1 Page 5 of 6 SE TTION SIX - TERMINATION CLAUSE At the option of either the City of Oak Park Heights or Washington County, this agreement may be terminated with a 90 day notification to the other party, prior to each July I" anniversary date during the term of the contract. Upon such termination, the City shall be liable for payment for all services rendered by Washington County related to the current assessment year. IN WITNESS WI -II:RL OF, the parties hereto have made and executed this Agreement the clay and year first above written. CI`T'Y 0 F OAK PARK I"II?IC.IZITS By____ Mayor By.... — -- .- ...._ ... .... .........._. -.._ City Administrator Approved by: City Attorney WASHINGTON COUNTY 13 y ______._.- ...... - -- County Board Chair By -_.. -. ---- - - - - --._-._.........._ — County Administrator Recommended By: Kevin Corbid Director, Property Records and'faxpayer Services Approved as to form by: George Kuprian Assistant Washington County Attorney Page 6 of 6