The city of Vancouver, operating under the provisions of this chapter, shall not order any improvement to be paid for, in whole or in part, by local assessments where the estimated cost of such improvement, if such cost is all to be assessed to the property in the district, or that portion of the estimated cost to be assessed, if a portion only of said total cost is to be assessed, when added to all other outstanding and unpaid local improvement assessments against the property included in the district, excluding penalties, shall exceed the actual value of the real property, exclusive of improvements thereon, within the district according to the valuation last placed upon it for the purpose of general taxation.

Before ordering any improvement hereunder the council or other legislative body of the city of Vancouver shall require and receive a report from the proper board, officer or authority designated by charter or ordinance, certifying the local improvement assessments outstanding and unpaid against the property in the proposed district together with the aggregate of the actual value of the real property in the district, exclusive of improvements thereon, according to the valuation last placed upon it for the purpose of general taxation. In the absence of fraud or gross mistake, such certificate shall be final and conclusive. In computing the valuation of property in the district, any nonassessable railroad operating property or property owned by the United States or the state or a county, city, town, school district or other public corporation shall be valued at the same rate as assessed property similarly situated. (Ord. 1378 § 5, 1928; Ord. M-4026 § 13, Renumbered, 10/15/2012)