§ 2-32. Urban and rural service districts.

(a)

The city is divided into an urban service district and a rural service district, constituting separate taxing districts for the purpose of all municipal property taxes except those levied for the payment of bonds and judgments and interest thereon. The urban service district includes all properties within the Carver County limits in the city except those set forth by ordinance as the rural service district. The rural service district shall include only such unplatted lands, which need not be contiguous to one another, as in the judgment of the council at the time of adoption of the ordinance are rural in character, and are not developed for commercial, industrial or urban residential purposes, and for these reasons are not benefited to the same degree as other lands by municipal services financed by general taxation. The council finds that only property put to the following uses is rural in character: A parcel on which 90 percent of the tillable land is used for growing corn, grain, or feed crops; a parcel where the principal use is raising poultry, cattle, sheep, or swine; a parcel which is enrolled in the Federal Conservation Reserve Program. "Rural in character" specifically does not include property served by public sewer or water, tree farms, nurseries, hobby farms, and property whose principal use is residential. A dwelling on land that does not qualify for taxation under the state agricultural property tax law shall be considered urban residential.

(b)

The city council finds that as of November 27, 1995, the parcels identified on a list dated November 27, 1995, entitled "Rural Service Districts" on file with the city clerk are in the rural service district.

(c)

Whenever any parcel of land included in the rural service district is platted, in whole or in part, or whenever application is made for a permit for the construction of commercial, industrial or urban residential building or improvement to be situated on such parcel or any part thereof, or whenever such building or improvement is commenced without a permit, the council shall make and enter an order by resolution transferring such platted or improved parcel from the rural service district to the urban service district.

(d)

In the judgment of the council, the ratio that exists between the benefits resulting from tax supported municipal service to parcels in the rural service district to parcels in the urban service district is 75 percent, plus any municipal property taxes levied for payments of bonds and judgments, and interest thereon.

(Ord. No. 29, §§ 1—7, 7-1-68; Ord. No. 29A, § 1, 10-1-70; Ord. No. 245, § 1, 11-13-95; Ord. No. 347, § 2, 10-27-03)