Mayor Wesely’s proposal would ask Lincoln voters to approve two bond issues in the November 5, 2002 general election. One would provide $8 million to help the City maintain and improve fire protection. The second would provide $3 million for sidewalk improvements and $1 million for trail renovation over three years. Approval of both bond issues would add about $13 to the property tax on a home valued at $110,000.

Sidewalk Improvements

• The City receives about 400 sidewalk complaints a year and has a 40-year backlog on repairs. The City has been able to allocate only $250,000 a year for sidewalk repair.
• The current maximum allowable sidewalk elevation differential in the Americans with Disabilities Act standards is one-fourth inch. The estimated funding needs in Lincoln are $9 million to repair gaps of three-fourths of an inch and $5 million to $6 million to repair gaps of two inches.
• If the bond issue passes, four contracts of $150,000 to $200,000 would be awarded each year for three years. Contractors would have from March through November to complete the work, and penalties would be assessed for not completing on time.
• $100,000 would be available for reimbursing property owners for sidewalk repair.
• The City Public Works and Utilities Department would allocate $150,000 to $200,000 a year for repair at priority locations and curb ramp construction adjacent to schools, churches and other locations as needed.

• Only $10,000 is now available annually for trail renovation.

• Murdock Trail, 58th to 84th streets - replace existing crushed limestone trail with an eight-foot concrete trail and an adjoining four-foot limestone trail.
• Superior Street Trail, I-180 to 27th Street - concrete replacement.
• Billy Wolff Trail, east side of the Capital Parkway underpass - replace underpass ramp to meet ADA standards.
• Billy Wolff Trail, west side of the 48th Street underpass - renovation of underpass ramp.
• Billy Wolff Trail, 56th to 58th streets - concrete replacement.
• Highway 2 Trail, 17th to 27th streets - replace asphalt with concrete.

• The addition of two new fire stations would keep response times down throughout the City. The new stations have been identified in the Capital Improvement Program since 1983. One would be in south Lincoln in the vicinity of 56th Street and Pine Lake Road. The other would be in north Lincoln in the vicinity of 7000 North 27th Street. With apparatus and equipment, the new stations would cost about $3.3 million. The two new stations would be operational in about two years.
• The bond issue does not include additional firefighters. About 30 firefighters would be hired to begin operations at the two new stations. Another 25 firefighters would be hired over a five-year period. When fully operational, the new stations and positions would add about $3 million to the Fire Department budget.
• Improvements would be made at Station 6, 5051 South 48th Street; Station 5, 3640 Touzalin; Station 3, 2nd and “N” streets; and Station 1, 18th and “Q” streets.
• Station 11 at 3400 West Luke would be relocated to a site closer to Northwest 48th that would better serve that part of the City.
• The education, training and maintenance facilities, built in the 1960s, would be improved and expanded to meet current needs.
• Two new aerial ladders would replace the Department’s two oldest ladders.
• The addition of a heavy rescue unit and equipment is needed for trench rescue, confined space rescue, swift water rescue, structural collapse and high- and low-angle rescue. This would replace a retired Public Works vehicle and inadequate shoring equipment.
• The addition of water tankers would allow for a more timely response in areas that do not have a sustained water supply system.
• Automatic vehicle locators would allow the 911 Center to track all emergency vehicles to insure that citizens throughout the City will receive the closest available unit to respond to their emergency.
• New handheld portable radios would replace equipment that is no longer manufactured, making repairs difficult.
• Breathing air refilling stations would be located throughout the city to reduce down time for emergency units.