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

1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Open Forum with Mayor Coleen J. Seng
3. Street Snow Removal Policy
   Bill Nass, Public Works
4. Sidewalk Snow Removal Policy
   Harry Kroos, Public Works
5. Announcements
6. Adjourn

The regular meeting of the Mayor's Neighborhood Roundtable was called to order by Carol Brown, Chair, at 4:30 p.m., on Thursday, November 9, 2006, in Room 113 at the County/City Building, Lincoln, Nebraska. Thirteen participants were in attendance.

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
Carol Brown, Chair, opened the meeting with introductions. Carol announced her resignation as Chair of the Mayor’s Neighborhood Roundtable. Barbara Cornelius, Vice-Chair, will take over as Chair until new officers are elected.

OPEN FORUM WITH MAYOR COLEEN J. SENG
Mayor Coleen J. Seng thanked everyone for attending. She thanked Carol Brown for doing a great job with the Mayor’s Roundtable and Neighborhoods. Due to the holidays, and traditionally low attendance in December, the Mayor’s Neighborhood Roundtable will be canceled for December. The next scheduled meeting is January 11, 2007, 4:30 p.m. in the City Council Building, Room 113.

The Mayor announced the opening of a new archery range in partnership with public and private organizations named in the landfill area in north Lincoln named after Helen Boosalis. School groups and archery clubs will have access to the range. The State matched funds contributed by Parks and Recreation for this project.

Mayor Seng discussed the 2015 Vision Group, which released its plans for Lincoln’s future on November 9th. This private group has been looking at development around the University of Nebraska, utilizing the work of the Event Facility Task Force and the Downtown Master Plan. They have also have looked at advantages of moving the State Fair to the Lancaster County Event Center on 84th and Havelock. The group is proposing an ambitious list of projects to keep Lincoln’s economy growing and to encourage private/public partnerships in development. They will be inviting Neighborhood groups to participate. They will also be setting up a Web site for posting information and receiving input.

A new interim Fire Chief, Dan Wright, has been appointed by the Mayor.

The City Council is starting on the budget process for 2007, and will be having a budget retreat in December.

Jeff Schwebke asked about the Air Park Fire Station. Mayor Seng responded that it will be on hold for a while, waiting on the financial piece.

Craig Groat commented that members of the 2015 Group have a conflict of interest. The Mayor responded that the 2015 Group is a private group. Neither the Mayor nor the City Council have any governing power over the 2015 Group, UNL, or the State Fair group. She reminded everyone the City pays $274,000 for the State Fair.

STREET SNOW REMOVAL POLICY
Bill Nass, Public Works, provided information on the City’s Snow Removal program. Bill explained there are 18 districts, and four phases for snow removal.

• Phase I is material spreading. The Department uses a non-corrosive, liquid de-icer which allows salt to work in colder temperatures and sand to provide traction on arterials and bus routes when they begin to ice over.
• Phase II is Emergency Route Snow Removal, or plowing of the Emergency Snow Routes when accumulation is 2-3 inches.
• Phase III includes plowing remaining arterial streets and bus routes, after completion of the Emergency Snow Routes.
• Phase IV, Residential Plowing, is done when accumulation is 4-6 inches, and after all arterials are cleared.

Complete removal of snow from business districts and selected arterial streets takes place takes place one or two nights after arterial plowing is completed, between 12:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Schools clean their own setbacks.

Visit the City's Web site for more information and a Snow Emergency map.

SIDEWALK SNOW REMOVAL POLICY
Harry Kroos, Public Works, provided information on the City’s Sidewalk Policies. The policy calls for all sidewalks to be cleared by 9:00 a.m. the day following the storm. For information on snow removal from sidewalks, call 441-7541. Public Works responds on a complaint basis. Contact the Public Works office with a specific address. A Sidewalk Inspector will leave a door knob tag, reinspection is also done on a complaint basis. As a last ditch resort, they will call a contractor to remove the snow and bill the property owner with a special assessment that includes processing costs. For the City to remove snow from a single family home, it costs about $140.

Some resources that provide assistance in clearing sidewalks include:

• The LIFE Office, at 441-7070, which provides assistance for elderly.
• The Red Cross, at 441-7997, pairs volunteers with residents who are physically unable to clean their sidewalks.
• The Neighborhood Service Exchange (NSE) is a service credit program offered through the Health Partners Initiative that links neighbors-to-neighbors for volunteer help with tasks and errands. For more information, contact the NSE Program Coordinator, Pat Anderson-Sifuentez, 434-5490 or visit their Web site.

Public Works staff also provided Information about the Sidewalk Repair Program.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Harry Haefer announced the Star City Holiday Parade is December 2nd, starting at 11:00 a.m.

Harry also announced that the Open House at the Health Department's new facility at 31st and O Streets will be held on December 12th, 2:30-4:30 p.m.

Rick Noyes provided copies of the Downtown Neighborhood Association newsletter, and asked to be included in the mailing list for other neighborhood newsletters.

Craig Groat provided information about the Arena Task Force recommendation.

Diane Gonzales announced the dedication of the Marine Corps Memorial on Veterans Day, Saturday, November 11th, at 11:00 a.m., at the Veterans Memorial garden in Antelope Park.

ADJOURN
There being no other business, the meeting adjourned at 6:05 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by: Diana Cruz, Urban Development Department

Urban Development Community Development Division Mayor's Neighborhood Roundtable

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