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Among its other decisions Monday night, the City Council approved public hearing dates for street improvement projects this year, which includes the start of the biggest project — the one-ways of Oakland Avenue and First Avenue SW.

Five projects in total will be open to the public through these hearings, with four of them set for Feb. 18. However, because of how big the one-way project is, its public hearing will be done separately on March 3.

Projects for this year include:

• Sixth Street NE (6th Street NE – 30th Avenue to 1,800 feet north

• 21st Avenue SW (21st Avenue SW – Fourth Drive to 12th Street)

• Oakland Avenue and First Avenue SW (Oakland Avenue – First Street NE to 12th Street NW and First Avenue SW – South Main Street to 12th Street SW)

• Sixth Avenue NE and 18th Drive NE (Sixth Avenue NE – 18th Drive to 19th Street and 18th Drive NE – 5th Avenue to Sixth Avenue)

• 25th Street SW (Oakland Avenue to 7th/8th Avenue).

Assessment rates

The council also approved another 7% increase to its assessment rates, which was moved out of its work session.

The city has instituted this level of increase since the COVID-19 pandemic as it sought to level the scales on city projects.

The goal the city looks at is that assessments pay for 40% of projects, however in recent years that has hovered closer to around 30%. Last year, assessment rates accounted for 33% of projects.

The city will vote on approving the increase at its next meeting.