Lancaster County
Board of Commissioners
Board of Commissioners
lancaster.ne.gov
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:
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 Holmes Lake to Salt Creek
Less direct traffic routing in the 33rd Street area to
protect the residential neighborhood
Location of an underpass near 29th Street to eliminate
delays due to railroad traffic and close existing railroad
crossings at 33rd and 35th Streets
Westward extension of Huntington Avenue to improve access to a
25 acre Northeast Community Park proposed in the plan
Shift proposed road alignments in the area between Cornhusker
Highway and Superior Street to avoid rare saline soils and
wetland areas
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 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
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
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 Create "wrap around" centers, combining several
community-oriented services on one single-service property
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.
__________________________
Kandra Hahn
Lancaster County Clerk