TITLE
title
First Public Hearing to Consider Ordinance Creating and Defining Boundaries for Rainbow Woods Traffic Calming Municipal Service Benefit Unit
body
BRIEF OVERVIEW
Pursuant to Florida Statutes, Sections 125.01 and 197.3632, an application was received by the Rainbow Woods Homeowners Association requesting the creation of a Municipal Service Benefit Unit (MSBU) to provide traffic calming measures along Augustine Road and levying an assessment to benefitting property owners. The petitioners obtained the necessary signatures and held a community meeting in September 2024 as required for the request to move forward.
To address concerns regarding traffic volume, speed and safety issues on Augustine Road, the Public Works Traffic Engineer has evaluated the request and recommends the installation of three speed tables and associated signage and pavement marking improvements.
The speed tables consist of 22-foot long, raised speed humps between 3 and 4 inches in height with a 10-foot flat section in the middle and 6-foot ramps on the ends. The speed tables will be located along the Augustine Road corridor between the intersections of Long Hill Ct/Emerald Ridge, Doxsey Hill Circle, and Rainbow Woods Loop/Silverwood Court. The speed tables shall be placed in a manner that will provide the most effective coverage and limiting the disruption to the homeowners living near the speed tables. The speed tables will be clearly marked and visible during the day and night and shall include warning signs on all approaches of traffic. The devices will be located near property lines and will not conflict with drainage features, driveways, or utilities.
In compliance with the Traffic Calming Guidelines, Staff scheduled two public meetings with the residents on June 18, 2025, and July 24, 2025. The received votes meet Policy 16-1 minimum requirement of 51% by containing 77% favorable votes from the affected property owners' signatures, allowing the application to be brought before the Board for adoption of an ordinance to create a special assessment district.
The proposed boundaries consist of 168 platted lots/parcels comprising the Rainbow Woods subdivision. Staff has prepared a preliminary budget based on an equal per lot assessment for all lots. The full cost of the project is estimated at $39,415.00. Property owners have the option of paying a one-time "up-front" assessment or annualize their assessment over a two-year period. The budget for the up-front assessment is estimated at $39,415.00, creating a one-time assessment of $235.00 per unit. If the assessment is not paid in full, the annualized budget is estimated at $21,725.00 per year, creating an annual assessment of $130.00 per unit. The annualized assessments are placed on the annual tax roll for collection.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The County intends to use legally available Constitutional Gas Tax Fund revenue to finance the project costs on an interim basis.
Fund: 1013 - Constitutional Gas Tax, Department: 03211 - Debt Srv/Reserv-Const GF, Account: 5606308 - Improv Road Assmt Project.
Funding for the project is available in the FY 2025 Constitutional Gas Tax Fund and will be transferred into the established account for the project, via Budget Amendment No. 2025-168, if approved by the Board. Upon completion, all construction, engineering, and administrative costs will be reimbursed thru a non-ad valorem assessment levied upon the benefitting property owners’ tax bill. The full project cost is estimated at $39,415.00.
LEGAL NOTE
The Board has legal authority to establish MSBUs pursuant to Sections 125.01 and 197.3632, Florida Statutes.
recommendation
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Board adopt and authorize the Chairman’s signature on the attached ordinance creating and defining the boundaries for the "Rainbow Woods Traffic Calming MSBU.” If the ordinance is approved, a second public hearing will be held after the completion of the project to adopt a resolution setting the final budget and assessment rate.