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City of Lincoln Urban Development Department Mayor's Neighborhood Roundtable Meeting Summary: March 2006

1. Welcome and Introductions

2. Open Forum with Mayor Coleen J. Seng

3. Change of Zone No. 06032
   Amendment to the sign ordinance for special sign district for blighted and substandard areas with a redevelopment plan.
   Brian Will, Planning Dept.

4. Neighborhood Networking
   Let us know what is happening in your neighborhood.

5. Announcements

6. Adjourn

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
Carol Brown, Chair, asked to add an item to the Agenda, at the request of Charlie Humble, attorney for Mike and Lynn Price. The Mayor will be arriving a few minutes late, so the Text Amendment will be presented first.

TEXT AMENDMENT TO AG ZONE TO ALLOW TREE SERVICE
Charlie Humble, attorney for applicants Mike and Lynn Price, provided information regarding their application for Change of Zone.

Charlie explained the purpose of the text amendments is to define "Tree Service" and to create a special permit designation in the AG zoning district to allow the location of a tree service business on land located in the AG zoning district under certain conditions. Attached to the Price's Change of Zone Application is the proposed amended text for Section 27.07.040 adding to the list of special permit uses, (z) tree service. He also provided the proposed definition for Section 27.03.

Tree service shall mean a building or premises used primarily in tree and stump removal, tree and shrub trimming, stump grinding, pin oak injection, insect and disease control, tree nutrients, processing wood chips and firewood, land clearing, the premises may be used for the processing, storage and off premise resale of tree related products and by products only by the business located on the premises and the parking of trucks, grinders and related equipment.

He also noted amendment to Section 27.63.770 which adds Permitted Special Use: Tree Service and permits residential use. Section 27.63.770 (b) reduces the minimum lot area to ten acres. This amendment requires that applicants go through a Special Permit process, limiting uses in the AG zone.

Craig Groat commented that this is an Industrial use and should not be permitted in the AG zone.

Mike DeKalb, Planning Department, responded that nurseries and garden supply retail businesses are currently allowed by Special Permit.

The proposed Text Amendment will go before the Planning Commission for public Hearing on April 12^th, it then will go before the City Council.

OPEN FORUM WITH MAYOR COLEEN J. SENG NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORKING
Carol Brown opened the meeting with introductions.

Mayor Coleen Seng thanked everyone for coming. She introduced the Mayor's Committee for International Friendship. The multinational group is visiting Lincoln to study international trade and U.S. foreign policy challenges. For more information, see the Media Release.

Mayor Seng also announced the Nebraska School Activities Association will build a new headquarters at Haymarket Park. The building will also house the Nebraska Coaches Association. For more informaiton, see the Media Release. Construction will begin next year.

Danny Walker asked the Mayor to acknowledge the Golden Corral for providing an excellent meal for Veterans on Veterans Day. The Mayor said she would send a thank-you for their recognition of Veteran's Day.

Craig Groat provided pictures of the City lot at 48^th and Huntington overgrown with weeds. He would like to see the City maintain the site.

Mayor Seng responded that she will be attending a meeting about that site on Friday, she will update Craig on the status of that project after the meeting.

COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM AWARDS
Lynn Johnson, Parks and Recreation, explained the self-help grant program, now called the Community Action Program, makes funding available to Neighborhood Associations, through requests for improvement to public park property. The Community Action Program purchases the materials and supplies and the Neighborhood Association provides the labor. This program has been going on for 19 years. This year there is about $45,000 awarded to nine projects. For more information, see the Media Release.

The following groups will receive CAP funding for 2006:

• Hartley Neighborhood Association for Peter Pan Park
• Irvingdale Neighborhood Assciation for Rudge Memorial Park
• Lincoln Boxing Club for Air Park Recreation Center
• Lincoln Rose Society for Antelope Rose Garden
• Near South Neighborhood Association for Maple Lodge Park
• South Salt Creek Community Organization for Cooper Park
• YWCA for Star Art Project throughout the community
• Northeast Family Center
• Northwest Lincoln Skateboard Interest Group

StarArt PROGRAM
Stacy Roach reported information on the StarArt program is available at the YWCA Web Site and a map is available as well.

UNL BIG EVENT
Lindsey Redding, UNL Student, introduced Drew McMartin, UNL Student, and provided information about the Big Event. Lindsey and Drew explained the Big Event started at Texas A&M in the early 1980s to improve community relations. Students wanted to thank the community which houses them during their four year undergraduate studies. The Big Event organization has about 30 operational staff working with community partners and volunteer students who go into the community and volunteer for the day. The goal is to strengthen ties between the community and the University of Nebraska. Approximately 1200 Students have volunteered to do community beautification projects, assisting with neighborhood clean-ups, or dusting shelves in libraries. The Big Event will take place on April 8^th.

Lindsey and Drew asked neighborhoods and agencies to complete a Big Event Job Site Request Form to request volunteers to work on their project during the Big Event on April 8^th. For more information please see the Big Event Web site.

LINEAR PARK UPDATE
Lynn Johnson provided information about the proposed South Beltway Linear Park. Lynn explained that two weeks ago the City Council approved putting the bond issue for acquisition of this land on the ballot for the May 9^th election. The acquisition cost for the land is $2.7 million for about 130 acres between 27^th and 84^th Streets, on the north side of the South Beltway.

Lynn introduced Jason Albers, a member of the Bicycle Advisory Committee and Citizens for Quality Parks and Trails, and President of the Great Plains Trails Network. Jason explained that the State is acquiring land for the South Beltway right of way and a lower purchase price could be negotiated. This will also create a buffer along Highway 2. Also, as the trail system expands this area needs a connector. Jason asked anyone with comments or questions to e-mail him at Jason@AlbertTechnologies.com. He would like to provide informational meetings for neighborhoods, or they can find more information at the Web site: www.voteforparks.org.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Fred Freytag announced the 48^th & O Street project, Phase I construction has begun. There are maps and schedules available at the Web site.

Harry Haefer, Lincoln Lancaster County Health Department, announced there will be a Household Hazardous Waste Collection at State Fair Park, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on April 22^nd, and at Pioneers Park on May 20^th.

ADJOURN
There being no other announcements, the meeting adjourned at 5:45 p.m.

Submitted by:
Diana Cruz Urban Development Department

Urban Development Community Development Division Neighborhood Roundtable Summaries 2004

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