Board of Commissioners
Agenda
STAFF MEETING AGENDA
LANCASTER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1997
COUNTY-CITY BUILDING
COMMISSIONERS HEARING ROOM
8:30 A.M.
AGENDA ITEM
1 APPROVAL OF STAFF MEETING MINUTES OF OCTOBER 30, 1997
2 ADDITIONS TO AGENDA
3 8:30am REPORT FROM THE SMALL ANIMALS TASK FORCE
K.Q. Allen, Wes Tomhave and Bob Downey, Task Force
Members
4 9:00am ANTELOPE VALLEY MAJOR IMPROVEMENT STUDY
Kent Seacrest, Esq.
5 10:00am POTENTIAL LITIGATION - Diane Staab, Deputy County
Attorney; Don Marfice, County Property Management
6 10:15am INTRODUCTION OF TROY GAGNER, NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COORDINATOR - Joan Modrell, Director of Lincoln Urban
Development Department
7 ACTION ITEMS
8 CONSENT ITEMS
9 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER REPORT
a. Computers for District Court
10 PENDING
a. Establishment of Special Improvement District in
Princeton
b. South Street Campus
11 DISCUSSION OF BOARD MEMBER MEETINGS
a. Railroad Transportation Safety District - Steinman,
Svoboda, Tussing
b. Ecological Advisory Committee - Tussing
c. Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development -
Steinman
12 SCHEDULE OF BOARD MEMBER MEETINGS
a. Management Team Retreat - Thursday, November 6,
1997, at 8:30 a.m., at the Crooked Creek Golfcourse
Clubhouse - All Commissioners
b. Joint Budget Committee - Friday, November 7,
1997, at 8:00 a.m., at the County-City Building,
Mayor's Conference Room - Campbell, Steinman
c. Chamber Infrastructure Committee - Wednesday,
November 12, 1997, at 4:00 p.m., at the Chamber of
Commerce Board Room - Hudkins
d. Advisory Defense Council - Wednesday, November 12,
1997, at 7:30 p.m., at the County-City Building,
Emergency Operations Center - Svoboda
13 INVITATIONS TO THE COUNTY BOARD
a. Capitol City Footprint Association's Award Dinner
and Banquet - Saturday, November 22, 1997, at 6:30
p.m., at Misty's (Havelock)
b. 13th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Breakfast
- Friday, January 16, 1998, at 7:30 a.m., at the
Cornhusker Hotel, Grand Ballroom
14 CORRESPONDENCE TO THE COUNTY BOARD
15 CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE COUNTY BOARD
16 AGENDA ITEMS FOR COUNTY BOARD MEETING OF NOVEMBER 13,
1997
17 EMERGENCY ITEMS AND OTHER BUSINESS
MINUTES
LANCASTER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
COUNTY-CITY BUILDING
COMMISSIONERS HEARING ROOM
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 4, 1997
8:30 A.M.
Commissioners Present: Linda Steinman, Chair
Kathy Campbell
Darlene Tussing
Steve Svoboda
Larry Hudkins
Others Present: Kerry Eagan, Chief Administrative Officer
Earleen Ladd, County Clerk's Office
AGENDA ITEM
1 APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING OF
OCTOBER 30, 1997
Kerry Eagan, Chief Administrative Officer, requested that the last
paragraph on Page 5 of the minutes be corrected to reflect that the
number of tax delinquency properties held by Douglas County was reduced,
not the tax delinquency rate.
MOTION: Hudkins moved and Campbell seconded approval of the minutes,
with the correction requested by Kerry Eagan, Chief
Administrative Officer. On call Hudkins, Campbell, Svoboda and
Steinman voted aye. Tussing abstained from voting.
2 ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
There were no additions to the agenda.
3 REPORT FROM THE SMALL ANIMALS TASK FORCE - Bob Downey, Task
Force Member
Bob Downey, Small Animals Task Force, reported that members of the Task
Force had, at the Board's request, examined options available to the
County to raise additional revenue to offset a rate increase by the
Capital Humane Society for animal control services (Exhibit A), and had
recommended that the Board take the following action:
a. Immediately establish a $15 impoundment fee
b. Immediately establish a rabies vaccination program requiring a $5
deposit for unvaccinated animals
c. Delay establishment of a dog licensing program, pending further
research of the various issues involved.
Downey stated that the Capital Humane Society would follow-up on whether
vaccination occurred, and if not, the deposit would be forfeited and the
Sheriff's Department notified.
Hudkins inquired whether the deposit fee for unvaccinated animals should
be raised to provide additional incentive for owners to vaccinate their
animals.
Downey stated that the Task Force would not be opposed to raising the
fee. He also noted that the County will be credited for the impoundment
fees and unused rabies vaccination deposits, reducing the amount that the
Capital Humane Society bills the County.
Hudkins asked what percentage of impounded dogs are determined to have
not been vaccinated for rabies.
Downey stated that approximately 30-35% of the dogs picked up within the
City limits do not have current vaccinations or proof of vaccination.
Board consensus to increase the rabies vaccination deposit amount to $10
and to adopt the same impoundment fee schedule as that of the City of
Lincoln's, which Downey reported as:
$15 Impoundment Fee for First Offense
$25 Impoundment Fee for Second Offense
$40 Impoundment Fee for Third Offense
The Board decided to proceed with scheduling a public hearing on the
matter and requested that members of the Small Animal Task Force be
present at the hearing to answer questions.
MOTION: Campbell moved and Hudkins seconded to accept the report of the
Small Animal Task Force and to schedule a public hearing on the
matter, at which time the Board will consider adoption of a
tiered impoundment fee schedule and whether to increase the
amount of the rabies vaccination deposit from $5 to $10. On call
Campbell, Hudkins, Svoboda, Tussing and Steinman voted aye.
Motion carried.
4 ANTELOPE VALLEY MAJOR IMPROVEMENT STUDY - Kent Seacrest, Antelope
Valley Major Improvement Study Advisory Committee Member
Kent Seacrest, Antelope Valley Major Improvement Study Advisory Committee
Member and Ted Von Briesen, Project Manager, reported on the Antelope
Valley Major Improvement Study which examined stormwater, transportation
and community revitalization issues along the Antelope Creek corridor and
portions of Salt Creek in Lincoln (Exhibit B), noting the following
recommendations:
1. Use of grassy open-channel conveyance as a flood control solution for
Antelope Creek, allowing expansion of Trago Park and a continuous
bicycle path from Homes Lake to Salt Creek
2. Less direct traffic routing in the 33rd Street area to protect the
residential neighborhood
3. Location of an underpass near 29th Street to eliminate delays due to
railroad traffic and close existing railroad crossings at 33rd and
35th Streets
4. Westward extension of Huntington Avenue to improve access to a 25
acre Northeast Community Park proposed in the plan
5. Shift proposed road alignments in the area between Cornhusker Highway
and Superior Street to avoid rare saline soils and wetland areas
6. Repave Holdrege Street, terminating its eastern segment at 17th
Street, and continuing the street south to "Y" Street to avoid the
new north-south arterial and conveyance structures
7. Location of an overpass on 17th Street linking the new north-south
arterial and Avery Avenue and eliminating removal of historic
buildings on the fair grounds
8. Location of a 19th Street arterial that curves around the east side
of the University of Nebraska Beadle Center, thereby avoiding major
disruption of the Malone neighborhood, preserving the University
property cohesiveness and allowing expansion of Trago Park
9. Removal of the 38th Street bridge over Antelope Creek near South
Street and lengthening of the South Street bridge over the creek, to
eliminate restriction of the flow of water in the creek
10. Create "wrap around" centers, combining several community-oriented
services on one single-service property
11. Expansion of the downtown bicycle path system
Hudkins suggested that the Committee consider an overpass in the vicinity
of Cornhusker Highway and 31st Street, due to the heavy truck traffic
turning into Continental Grain. He also noted concern regarding traffic
flow at the intersection at 27th Street and Cornhusker Highway.
Von Briesen stated that engineering details will be worked out in later
phases, but noted that the Committee had recommended placement of the
new intersection as far from the 27th Street intersection as possible to
enable smooth traffic flow and coordination of the traffic signals sets.
Hudkins asked how Holdrege Street would connect into the new elevated
interchange.
Von Briesen stated that it would not. He stated that the plan downplays
Holdrege Street, which is a residential street, in an effort to have
traffic utilize the new roadway located to the north of the railroad.
Steinman inquired about the State's involvement in the process.
Seacrest stated that the Department of Administrative Services and the
State environmental agencies have been actively involved with the
Advisory Committee. He also noted that the Lieutenant Governor and the
State Senators have received briefings.
Campbell inquired whether the Committee had considered relocation of the
Malone Center into the old Whittier Junior High School building.
Von Briesen stated that that flexibility exists, although the Malone
Center has not expressed an interest in moving, as yet. He also noted
that the University of Nebraska, which currently owns the building, is
receptive to ideas regarding its future use.
Campbell inquired whether the State had projected a timeframe for a
decision on the State Fairgrounds property.
Seacrest projected a decision on envisioned use of the property within
a year.
In response to a question from Campbell, Seacrest estimated the total
cost of implementation of the plan as $200,000,000, which would be spread
over 15-20 years.
Seacrest reported that two Town Hall meetings have been scheduled for
November 7th & 8th, at which time public comment on the draft package
will be sought. Final recommendation of the Committee will be made to
the City Council, County Board, Planning Commission, and representatives
of the University of Nebraska and Lower Platte South Natural Resources
District at a Super Commons meeting, tentatively scheduled for December
12th.
5 POTENTIAL LITIGATION - Diane Staab, Deputy County Attorney,
Don Marifice, County Property Management
MOTION: Tussing moved and Campbell seconded to enter Executive Session
at 10:39 a.m. for the purpose of potential litigation. On call
Tussing, Campbell, Svoboda, Hudkins and Steinman voted aye.
Motion carried.
MOTION: Campbell moved and Tussing seconded to exit Executive Session
at 10:50 a.m. On call Campbell, Tussing, Hudkins, Svoboda and
Steinman voted aye. Motion carried.
6 INTRODUCTION OF TROY GAGNER, NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
FOR THE URBAN DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT - Joan Modrell, Director
of Lincoln Urban Development Department
Joan Modrell, Director of Lincoln Urban Development Department,
introduced Troy Gagner, new Economic Development Coordinator for the
Urban Development Department.
Troy Gagner, Economic Development Coordinator, briefly reported on
recommendations for next steps for the Lancaster County Economic
Development Loan Program (Exhibit C).
The Board requested Gagner to make quarterly reports to the Board on the
progress of the County Economic Development Program.
7 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER REPORT
a. Computers for District Court
Eagan reported that questions had been raised as to why authorization
for the purchase of a personal computer (PC) had only been received for
one of the Court Reporters.
Eagan recommended that surplus terminals be made available to all of the
Court Reporters, with hookup to the State AS400 System. He noted that
this should reduce the County's charge for mainframe entry, as the State
Statutes allow for free computation on the AS400, although the means of
access is not provided.
The Board concurred with Eagan's suggestion, and requested that a letter
be sent to the Joe Steele, Supreme Court Administrator, informing him
that the District Court Reporters will be accessing the AS400 System and
requesting payment for the computer equipment, with copies to Lancaster
County Senators.
Eagan also reported that several of the District Court Judges had
requested that their courtroom benches be wired for computer access.
The Board requested Eagan to work with the District Court Judges in
setting up computers in the courtrooms.
8 PENDING
a. Establishment of Special Improvement District in Princeton
b. South Street Campus
9 DISCUSSION OF BOARD MEMBER MEETINGS
a. Railroad Transportation Safety District - Steinman, Svoboda
and Tussing
b. Ecological Advisory Committee - Tussing
c. Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development - Steinman
No reports of Board member meetings were given, due to time constraints.
10 SCHEDULE OF BOARD MEMBER MEETINGS
a. Management Team Retreat - Thursday, November 6, 1997, at 8:30
a.m., at the Crooked Creek Golfcourse Clubhouse - All
Commissioners
b. Joint Budget Committee - Friday, November 7, 1997, at 8 a.m.,
in the County-City Building, Mayor's Conference Room -
Campbell, Steinman
c. Chamber Infrastructure Committee - Wednesday, November 12,
1997, at 4 p.m., at the Chamber of Commerce Board Room -
Hudkins
d. Advisory Defense Council - Wednesday, November 12, 1997, at
7:30 p.m., in the County-City Building, Emergency Operations
Center - Svoboda
11 INVITATIONS TO THE COUNTY BOARD
a. Capitol City Footprint Associations's Award Dinner and
Banquet - Saturday, November 22, 1997, at 6:30 p.m., at
Misty's (Havelock)
b. 13th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Breakfast -
Friday, January 16, 1998, at 7:30 a.m., at the Cornhusker
Hotel, Grand Ballroom
12 CORRESPONDENCE TO THE COUNTY BOARD
13 CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE COUNTY BOARD
14 AGENDA ITEMS FOR COUNTY BOARD MEETING OF NOVEMBER 13, 1997
15 EMERGENCY ITEMS AND OTHER BUSINESS
16 ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Campbell moved and Tussing seconded to postpone discussion of
the remaining agenda items until the November 13th meeting and
to adjourn. On call Campbell, Tussing, Svoboda, Hudkins and
Steinman voted aye. Motion carried.
Board of Commissioners