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

1. Welcome and Introductions

2. Open Forum with Mayor Coleen J. Seng

3. Change of Zone Nol 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
Patte Neumann, sitting in as Chair, opened the meeting with introductions.

OPEN FORUM WITH WITH MAYOR COLEEN J. SENG
Mayor Coleen J. Seng complimented Carol Brown on her successful campaign for Legislature. She also mentioned she was disappointed about the Park Bond being voted down. Budget meetings with City Staff are continuing, and a Budget will be presented in June.

Ann Harrell announced that bus tours and a bike tour of Antelope Valley projects are being organized. Information about the public tours are linked to the Public Works Web site.

Round Table Bus Tours:
6/6/06 - 4:00-5:30 pm at UNL Van Brunt Visitors Center (313 N 13th St.)
6/7/06 - 6:30-8:00 pm at Lower Platte South NRD (3125 Portia)
6/14/06 - 7:30-9:00 am at Grand Theatre (1101 P Street)
Web site link: http://www.antelopevalleytour.com/av4/

Neighborhood Bus Tours:
6/7/06 - 4:00-5:30 pm at UNL Van Brunt Visitors Center (313 N 13th St.)
6/13/06 - 6:30 pm at Lower Platte South NRD (3125 Portia)
Web site link: http://www.antelopevalleytour.com/av6/

Public Bike Tours:
6/10/06 - 8:00 am at Lincoln High School (2229 J Street - Park in the north lot of the school)
6/15/06 - 6:30 pm at Lincoln High School (2229 J Street - Park in the north lot of the school)
Web site link: http://www.antelopevalleytour.com/bike/

Public Bus Tours:
6/10/06 - 9:00-10:30 am at Lincoln High School (2229 J Street - Park in the north lot of the school)
6/10/06 - 11:00am to12:30 pm at Lincoln High School (2229 J Street - Park in the north lot of the school)
6/15/06 - 6:30-8:00 pm at Lincoln High School (2229 J Street - Park in the north lot of the school)
Web site link: http://www.antelopevalleytour.com/bus/

Other tours are available if these do not work. Please call Joyce Ewing, Olsson Associates, at 458-5901 to register. There will also be an article in an upcoming Journal Star.

CHANGE OF ZONE NO 06032
Brian Will, Planning Department, provided information on the proposed Change of Zone No. 06032. This change will amend the sign ordinance to create a special sign district for blighted and substandard areas with a redevelopment plan. This change will require a Special Permit process which would go to City Council for approval on a case by case basis.

This proposed Change of Zone will be at Planning Commission on May 24^th, and about 12 days after that it will be introduced to City Council, a Public Hearing will be held at City Council 19 days after Planning Commission.

Wynn Hjermstad added that this Change of Zone will allow Redevelopment projects to provide guidelines and standards meeting the needs of a Redevelopment Area, which will make the signs more attractive.

Patte Neumann commented that neighborhoods would also like to have signs that meet similar standards and restrictions.

Wynn explained that Urban Development works with neighborhood associations in developing Focus Area Plans, which often include neighborhood signs, for example North Bottoms neighborhood signs. The issue is finding the funding for neighborhood signs.

Craig Groat commented that signs that are too high or too large are inefficient and out of the line of sight.

NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORKING
Harry Heafer, Lincoln/Lancaster County Health Department, provided information about the Household Hazardous Waste Collection dates. He also announced the annual latex paint exchange will be May 20^th, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Pfizer, Inc. 601 W. Cornhusker.

Nancy Clark, Health Department, also noted that they will provide used latex paint for graffetti clean-up.

Witherbee Neighborhood Association announced they collected 1.5 tons of cabinets, used doors and other recyclable building materials during their neighborhood clean-up which they donated to the EcoStore on West P Street.

Bill Vocasek announced the West A Neighborhood Association Celebration will be held May 20^th at the West A Shopping Center. There will be a military theme, the new State Patrol helicopter will land at the shopping center. Coddington will be lined with flags for Memorial Day. There is a widening of Coddington planned, and the neighborhood is concerned about losing the trees along Coddington.

Lin Quenzer announced that the Rededication of Pentzer Park, 27^th and Potter Streets, will be sponsored by the Salvation Army and Parks and Rec from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Craig Groat noted the overgrown weeds at the 48^th & Huntington, NE Printer site. He also commented that Roberts Park is overgrown with dandelions.

Patti Neumann responded that Lynn Johnson, Parks and Rec, had recently talked with the City Council about the weather conditions and fact that summer help has not yet been hired contributing to the overgrowth of weeds.

Wynn Hjermstad, Urban Development, explained the Northeast Printer site, next to the old Alltel switching station, is being redeveloped for a Police Station. Demolition of the house between the sites is scheduled for next month, and final design for a mixed use building on the corner of 48^th and Huntington will be available soon. They are looking at retail on the main floor and offices above. The Police Station not only helps deter crime in the area, but also brings more people to the area. Those people will need to get lunch, haircuts, childcare, etc., so the project will revitalize the area. Wynn also announced the RFP for redeveloping the Green's Plumbing site will be out next week.

Lois Haupt, University Place Community Organization, announced the Child Advocacy Center is working with UPCO to locate a facility on City property next to University Place Park. This will be before the Planning Commission on May 24^th.

Barb Baier, Lincoln Public School Board, reported they are working on a minority contracting policy for subcontractors working on bond issue projects. The School Board is forming a Committee to redistricting the City, they met on May 9^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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