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City of Lincoln Urban Development Department Mayor's Neighborhood Roundtable Meeting Agenda and Summary January 2008

Chairperson Tracy Lines Corr called the meeting to order at 5:35 P.M., Thursday, January 10, 2008, in the Mayor’s Conference Room, County/City Building, Lincoln, Nebraska. Twenty-nine participants attended.

Tracy Lines Corr, 40th & A St. Neigh. Assoc.	Jeff Schwebke, Arnold Heights Neigh. Assoc.
Carl Tesch, Autumn Wood Neigh. Assoc.	Dan Marxia, Country Club Neigh. Assoc.
Rick Noyes, Downtown Neigh. Assoc.	Cherie Krueger, East Campus Com. Org.
Pat Anderson-Sifuentez, Everett Neigh. Assoc.	Paula Rhian, Everett Neigh. Assoc./Nebr. Dept. of Econ. Dev.
Ruth Johnson, Hartley Neigh. Assoc.	Dorothy Ebner, Hartley Neigh. Assoc.
Dianna Wright, Highlands Neigh. Assoc.	Gary Irvin, South Salt Creek Com. Org.
Gail Anderson, University Place Com. Org.	Lois Haupt, University Place Com. Org.
Bill Vocasek, West A Neigh. Assoc.	Larry Frisch, Witherbee Neigh. Assoc.
Dick Patterson, Woods Park Neigh. Assoc.	Erik Laing, Free to Grow
Russell Miller, Lincoln Neigh Alliance	Shawn Ryba, NeighborWorks®Lincoln
Michael Snodgrass, NeighborWorks®Lincoln	Lori Merliss, Wyuka Cemetary
Harry Haefer, Lincoln/Lanc. Co. Health Dept.	Lin Quenzer, Mayor’s Office
Nancy Engel, Urban Development Dept.	Wynn Hjermstad, Urban Development Dept.
Jonathan Cook, City Council	Dan Marvin, City Council
Mayor Beutler

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
Ms. Corr opened the meeting and asked the participants to introduce themselves. A sign-in sheet was provided for check-in.

Lori Merliss from Wyuka Historical Foundation mentioned they have received federal funds to rehabilitate the stables. With that project, they also plan to renovate the whole lake area. See handout.

Tracy mentioned “Get to Know Your Elected Officials” -- a Lincoln Neighborhood Alliance meeting, Saturday, January 26, 2008. See handout for details.

Harry Haefer, Lincoln/Lancaster Health Department, mentioned the Neighborhood Clean-Up Grant Workshop, February 2, 2008, 9:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M., at the Health Department. Flyers will be mailed shortly.

Council Member Dan Marvin mentioned the upcoming City Council meeting Monday, January 14, 2008, which includes a public hearing and vote on freezing and studying impact fees. He suggested emailing Council Members or testifying at the pubic hearing.

MAYOR’S COMMENTS
Mayor Beutler continues to work on the stronger neighborhoods initiative which Council Member Dan Marvin began. Council Member Jonathan Cook has also assisted. The Mayor’s Office has been gathering information and working up a job description in anticipation of a new position to help organize a couple of the neighborhoods. A whole set of ideas is developing that the Roundtable will find interesting when the whole program is presented. At that point, your input will be part of the developing effort. Rick Hoppe is in charge of this initiative.

COUNCIL MEMBER JONATHAN COOK – RIGHT-OF-WAY ISSUES
Jonathan Cook presented possible changes to ordinances concerning fences, retaining walls, and sight triangles in the right-of-way. In 2002, the City Council worked on possible changes to right-of-way ordinances involving planting in the right-of-way. Previously, citizens could not plant anything other than grass, trees, or shrubs in the right-of-way – sometimes called the sidewalk space – that area between the sidewalk and the curb. The City required a permit for a tree planted in the right-of-way. That requirement seems reasonable and remains in effect. However, limiting plantings to that extent seemed excessively restrictive and harsh. Many people did plant flower beds and ornamental plantings in this area. Occasionally, Public Works received a complaint about an intersection visibility problem. Upon investigation, they would see locations in violation nearby and send letters telling the citizen to cut down the flowers stating only grass could be grown in the sidewalk space. This process upset people who would then drive around town finding violations that they reported to Public Works. Their reports created long lists of potential violators. Public Works was obligated to investigate those locations and mail letters to violators.

The City Council changed the ordinance to allow any kind of ornamental planting up to 30" high in the right-of-way. Taller plants may be situated beyond the sidewalk space if they do not interfere with a driver’s view. Also, the new ordinance allowed rocks and other landscaping in the sidewalk area provided they are secure and do not fall out into the street. This change seems to have worked well -- converting hundreds, maybe even thousands, from criminals to law-abiding citizens. Nevertheless, some issues still need attention – particularly fences and retaining walls.

In 2003, Public Works indicated they would work on changing the right-of-way ordinance to address fences and retaining walls and submit it to the City Council. Now it is 2008 and no proposed changes have come forth. So, the effort now is to resolve these issues. Today, if a citizen wants to place a fence or a retaining wall in the right-of-way, that person must obtain a permit from the City, must have insurance, and must pay rent to the City. Not many people have done this. However, those conscientious citizens who have acted according to the ordinance, now pay rent every year for improving their property. In those cases where a dilapidated fence or wall existed, if the property owner did not touch it, nobody knew nor paid attention. Also, many older neighborhoods have old walls along alleys and driveways (some dating back 100 years) which are on City property. Should someone identify these to Public Works, it would create a difficult situation. Their options are enforcement or cause the owner to pay rent, have insurance, and finish the necessary paperwork. A more reasonable approach seems appropriate with these types of old walls.

Another subject related to the right-of-way is the sight triangle. A driver at an intersection must have an unobstructed view down the street for safe driving. A design standard states the sight triangle must be clear of obstruction over 30" high. Confusion about sight triangles arises because of conflicting information from the design standard (obsolete and out of date), from national standards, and from Public Works policy (not officially adopted).

• Fences and walls beyond the sidewalk may stay without extra insurance and without paying rent. The property-owner bears the liability.
• Retaining walls may be built in the right-of-way provided they pose no hazard to the public.
• New fences that meet certain requirements will be allowed in the right-of-way if approved by the Public Works Director.
• New sight triangles are being established to assure safe intersections without imposing excessive clear areas.
• Appeals may be made to the City Council.
• Grandfathering – existing fences and retaining walls on City property may stay.

Council Member Cook fielded questions and comments from the Roundtable. Discussion included two related topics – parking on a driveway in the sidewalk space and mailbox structures.

Email suggestions, recommendations, and comments to jcook@lincoln.ne.gov.

DISCUSSION

SET FEBRUARY AGENDA
The next meeting of the Mayor’s Neighborhood Roundtable is scheduled for February 14, 2008, 5:30 p.m., in the Mayor’s Conference Room, County/City Building, 555 South 10th Street, 2nd floor. The February agenda will include a presentation about the Lincoln Policy Network by Michael Snodgrass.

ADJOURN
There being no other business, the meeting adjourned at 6:21 p.m.

Submitted by: David G. Ensign
Urban Development Department

Urban Development Community Development Division Mayor's Neighborhood Roundtable

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