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

Chairperson Tracy Corr called the meeting to order at called the meeting to order at 5:35 P.M., Thursday, June 12, 2008, in the Mayor's Conference Room, County/City Building, Lincoln, Nebraska. Twenty-four attended:

Tracy Corr, 40th & A St. Neigh. Assoc.	Jeff Schwebke, Arnold Heights Neigh. Assoc.
Lynn Fisher, College View Neigh. Assoc.	Judy Zohner, Downtown Neigh. Assoc.
Cherie Krueger, East Campus Com. Org.	Paula Rhian, Everett Neigh. Assoc.
Ruth Johson, Hartley Neigh. Assoc.	Dorothy Ebner, Hartley Neigh. Assoc.
Beth Baldwin, Indian Village Neigh. Assoc.	Gary Irvin, South Salt Creek Com. Org.
Larry Frisch, Witherbee Neigh. Assoc.	Randy Smith, Woods Park Neigh. Assoc.
Russell Miller, Lincoln Neigh Alliance	Michael Snodgrass, NeighborWorks-Lincoln
Jennifer Buxton, NeighborWorks-Lincoln	Pat-Anderson-Sifuentez, NeighborWorks-Lincoln
Harry Heafer, Health Dept.	Rick Hoppe, Mayor's Office
Lin Quenzer, Mayor's Office	Jon Carlson, Mayor's Office
Nancy Engel, Urban Development Dept.	Wynn Hjermstad, Urban Development Dept.
John McQuinn, City Attorney's Office	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. Harry Heafer provided a flyer on Household Hazardous Waste Collection.

MAYOR'S COMMENTS
Mayor Beutler said the public part of the budget process has begun. This is a second difficult year with the budget; however, he insists on a structural solution that will solve the problem and not keep putting it off. The City needs to get to the point where revenues cover expenditures regularly to avoid constantly cutting. This year's solution will include the significant cut of 45 jobs and cutting about $3 million in expenditures. This morning's news conference opened a discussion with the public regarding cutting expenditures. Shortly, he will provide a detailed description of the cuts. He has made every reasonable effort to reorganize within several departments. Also, the City has shifted some responsibilities of city government to non-profit organizations working out a system whereby the City does not provide personnel to run programs. City personnel costs are very expensive compared with non-profit organizations. The trade off is funding their personnel who will provide the same services, but saving the taxpayers significant money.

The Mayor feels the City has arrived at the point where not much more cutting should occur. City government is running pretty lean now. He suggested, for example, Law Department and Finance Department may not provide him with the best counsel and information because of work loads and under staffing. He asked the Roundtable to watch the budget process to identify important issues that the Roundtable can discuss more specifically at future meetings.

The Mayor fielded comments from the Roundtable.

PROPOSED INCREASE IN MINIMUM FINES FOR HOUSING CODE VIOLATIONS
Jon Carlson provided a handout regarding the June 23, 2008, meeting of the Lincoln City Council. The agenda includes the proposed increase to minimum fines for housing code violations. Lincoln Policy Network's subcommittee suggested raising the minimum fines for housing code violations. Currently, the minimum fine for first offence housing code violation is $25; second is $50; and, third is $100. Such a small amount does not deter violations. The housing code is part of the building code. Reviewing the building code reveals the minimum fine for first offence is $200; second is $250; and, third is $300. The legislative change involves striking out the current lower amounts and substituting the higher amounts. The second reading will be Monday, June 23, 2008, 5:30 P.M. Lincoln Policy Network's next meeting (Tuesday, June 17, 2008) will include a discussion of this proposal. He encouraged the Roundtable to be involved in this process.

The Roundtable briefly discussed the matter and expressed general approval.

PROPOSED REVISION OF GRAFFITI ORDINANCE
Jon Carlson spoke about amending the Graffiti Ordinance and provided a handout. The issue with the current ordinance is budgetary. The good parts are not used because of the expense. Statistics indicate currently more than 90% of people who receive a graffiti notice letter either have already cleaned it, or clean it when they get the letter.

The current ordinance gives the City authority to abate graffiti. However, the City must follow a certain legal process beginning with mailing a notice via Certified Mail at $5.32 each. People receive a letter costing $5.32 to protect the City's right to abate, but the vast majority would comply even without receiving a letter. Even if the City got to the point where we would want to abate graffiti, we do not have the truck, nor the paint, nor the personnel to accomplish abatement. Therefore, the proposal is to move forward with the piece of the graffiti plan that achieves 90% results (the letter) and be cost effective. If the City removes the statements in the letter referring to abatement powers, we can send the letter First Class Mail ($0.42 currently). The Mayor has committed $30,000.00 in his proposed budget for this program. Currently, this budget item is zero. This proposal will not go to the City Council immediately, perhaps in a couple of months. Jon provided a draft of the proposed letter and asked for discussion.

The Roundtable engaged in a lively, beneficial discussion generally showing approval of the proposed revision.

SET JULY AGENDA
The next meeting of the Mayor's Neighborhood Roundtable is scheduled for July 10, 2008, 5:30 p.m., in the Mayor's Conference Room, County/City Building, 555 South 10th Street, 2nd floor. The July agenda will include a presentation on Tax Increment Financing by the Urban Development Department; a presentation on Neighborhood Research by Kurt Elder of Lincoln Action Program; and a discussion of the Roundtable Meeting Time.

ADJOURN
There being no other business, the meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m.

Submitted by: David G. Ensign
Urban Development Department

Urban Development Community Development Division Mayor's Neighborhood Roundtable