The Planning Commission meets every other Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. in City Council-County Board Chamber on the first floor of the new City-County Building at 555 South 10^th Street. The meeting is open to the public and anyone may testify before the Planning Commission or send a letter to the Commission in advance. The meeting will also be broadcast live on public access cable channel 5.

Once the Planning Commission makes its recommendation, an additional public hearing will be held by the City Council, approximately 19 days after the Planning Commission takes action.

ANNEXATION POLICY

Annexation policy is a potentially powerful means for achieving many of the goals embodied in the Plan's Vision. The annexation policies of the City of Lincoln include but are not limited to the following:

• The provision of municipal services shall coincide with the jurisdictional boundaries of the City in short, it is not the intent of the City of Lincoln to extend utility services (most notably, but not necessarily limited to, water and sanitary sewer services) beyond the corporate limits of the City.

• The extension of water and sanitary sewer services shall be predicated upon annexation of the area by the City.

• City annexation shall occur before any property is provided with water, sanitary sewer, or other potential City services.

• Land which is remote or otherwise removed from the limits of the City of Lincoln will not be annexed; land which is contiguous to the City and generally urban in character may be annexed; and land which is engulfed by the City should be annexed.

• Annexation generally implies the opportunity to access all City services. Voluntary annexation agreements may limit or otherwise outline the phasing, timing or installation of utility services (e.g., water, sanitary sewer), and may include specific or general plans for the private financing of improvements to the infrastructure supporting or contributing to the land uses in the annexed area.

• The character of existing residential areas should be respected as much as possible during the annexation process. However, any annexation of existing residential areas will include some costs which must be the responsibility of property owners.

• Annexation to facilitate the installation of improvements and/or possible assessment districts is appropriate if it is consistent with the annexation policies of the Plan listed above.

• Plans for the provision of services within the areas considered for annexation shall be carefully coordinated with the Capital Improvements Program of the City and the County.

• Each town in Lancaster County will have their own procedures for annexation.

Tier I reflects the "Future Service Limit," where urban services and inclusion in the city limits are anticipated by 2025. The City has adopted Tier II as the area delineated for further urban growth, as infrastructure planning often requires a 50 year or more timeline of planning for water and sanitary sewer services. Tier III reflects adjacent future urban growth even further into the distance, both in time and geography.

If a property is not currently in the Lincoln Public School District (LPS), upon annexation it would transfer to LPS. Property owners would no longer pay the general levy of the school district that they are currently in, but would now pay the LPS general levy. However, according to state statutes, any property that was in a school district at the time of a bond election, must continue to pay on that district's bond until it is retired, even after property transfers to another district.

The City of Lincoln and Lincoln Public Schools have approved an agreement that provides that any area annexed by the City of Lincoln would not have to pay for LPS school bonds approved prior to annexation while it is still paying for the school bond of another school district. All property annexed will be subject to all future bonded indebtedness of LPS that are approved after the date of annexation. After annexation the property would not have to pay the property tax of a rural fire district.

Any property owner within an area could request the City create a sanitary sewer assessment district for the purpose of having a sanitary sewer line constructed. However, this assessment district would have to first be approved by the City Council after a public hearing. The City Council could then approve or deny the assessment district. If a district is approved, the city constructs the sewer line and abutting property owners pay the assessment over a twenty-year period.

Any property owner within the area could request the City create a water line assessment district for the purpose of having a water line constructed within the area. However, this assessment district would have to be first approved by the City Council after a public hearing. The City Council could then approve or deny the assessment district. If a district is approved, the city constructs the water line and abutting property owners pay the assessment over a twenty-year period.

In the past, the City Fire Department has found that there are three options for providing fire protection to low density residential areas, that currently don't have city water mains in place:

1. Continue to contract with a Rural Fire District to provide tanker water in the event of a fire. The Fire Department stated that this option provides a lesser level of service than city standards and does not provide a long term solution for this area if it is within the city limits.

2. The City could purchase a tanker truck to bring water to the site. This type of truck could cost $60,000 to $120,000. If it is needed in just one area, it could be housed out of a nearby station. However, the City currently does not have a facility capable of housing or staffing a water tanker. If annexation sites were spread throughout Lincoln, then multiple trucks might be needed.

3. Install water lines and fire hydrants by assessment district. This provides both water service and city standard fire protection to all residents. The Lincoln Fire Department typically recommends this option.

Annexation does not require that the streets be brought up to city standard paving with curb and gutter. The city has numerous miles of streets that have been inside the city limits for decades and remain unpaved. For streets that end in cul-de-sacs or are dead-end streets that receive little traffic, the city has not pursued requiring these streets to be paved.

Annexation does not require the installation of sidewalks or street trees either. The City Council has the authority to order sidewalks constructed on any street. Current City policy is to focus sidewalk assessment districts in areas along school routes, arterial streets and areas of significant pedestrian traffic. Again, for streets that end in cul-de-sacs or dead ends, that receive little pedestrian traffic, the city has not pursued requiring sidewalk construction.

• the City may at any time annex "contiguous or adjacent" lands,
• according to State statutes "land shall be deemed contiguous although a stream, embankment, strip or parcel of land, not more than 500 feet wide, lies between such land and the corporate limits,
• the Nebraska Supreme Court has voided "strip, corridor or flag" annexations in which the land is adjacent by only a narrow strip or neck of land,
• the City automatically annexes adjacent property upon subdivision if it is in the future urban area and must annex adjacent county roads during an annexation.

• Septic Systems and Wells
  John Miner, Health Department, at 441-8024
• Streets, Sidewalks, City Sewer and Water
  Dennis Bartels, Public Works, at 441-7595
• General Information on Annexation and Process
  Brian Will, Planning, at 441-6362
• Horses, Dogs, Cats and Other Animals
  Jim Weverka, Health Department, at 441-7900