Lancaster County
Board of Commissioners
Board of Commissioners
STAFF MEETING AGENDA Lancaster County Board Of Commissioners Thursday, September 24, 1998 - 8:00 a.m. County-City Building - Room 113 AGENDA ITEM 1 APPROVAL OF STAFF MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 15, 1998 (Review of Phase II Comprehensive Juvenile Justice System Study) AND SEPTEMBER 17, 1998 2 ADDITIONS TO AGENDA 3 8:00am COMMISSIONERS MEETING REPORTS (See Item #12) 4 8:30am WILDERNESS PARK SUBAREA PLAN ISSUE IDENTIFICATION Betsy Kosier, Lincoln Lancaster Mediation Center; Kent Morgan, Assistant Planning Director; Mike DeKalb, Planning Department 5 10:00am HEALTH INSURANCE UPDATE Bill Kostner, City Risk Manager; Ron Todd, Personnel Director 6 10:30am GRANT FOR VAN - Tim Howell, Rural Transit Director 7 10:45am TRAINING WORKSHOP ON ADOLESCENT FEMALE OFFENDERS; ADDENDUM TO JUSTICE COUNCIL GRANT FOR COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY JUSTICE PLAN; CONSULTING CONTRACT Kit Boesch, Human Services Director 8 ACTION ITEMS a. Engagement Letter for Arbitrage Rebate Work b. Ballot from Downtown Lincoln Association for Retention of Board Members 9 CONSENT ITEMS a. $3,000 from Inmate Benefit Fund for Full-Time Chaplain from Good News Jail and Prison Ministries 10 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER REPORT a. Letter from Jim Hille Regarding Site Recommendations for Juvenile Detention Facility b. Salaries for Directors, Attorneys, Sheriff Captains and Bailiffs c. Draft Budget Received from Judge Paul Merritt d. Hog Farm at 142nd Street and Parker Road e. Tri-County Retreat - November 19, 1998 at Platte River State Park 11 PENDING 12 DISCUSSION OF BOARD MEMBER MEETINGS a. Visitors Promotion Committee - Steinman b. Information Services Policy Committee - Steinman c. Government Access & Information Committee - Steinman d. Emergency Services Executive Committee - Hudkins 13 SCHEDULE OF BOARD MEMBER MEETINGS a. Lancaster Manor Advisory Committee - Thursday, September 24, 1998 at 12:00 p.m., at Lancaster Manor, Administrative Conference Room - Campbell b. Master Plan Steering Committee - Thursday, September 24, 1998, at 1:00 p.m., at the County-City Building, Room 106 - Hudkins c. Fringe Growth Task Force - Tuesday, September 29, 1998, at 7:30 a.m., at the County-City Building, Mayor's Conference Room - Campbell 14 INVITATIONS TO BOARD MEMBERS a. Lincoln Board of Realtors 79th Inaugural - Wednesday, October 7, 1998 at 11:30 a.m., at the Country Club of Lincoln, 3200 S. 24th Street b. Better Business Bureau Annual Member Lunch - Monday, October 19, 1989, at 11:30 a.m., at the Cornhusker Hotel, Grand Ballroom 15 CORRESPONDENCE TO THE COUNTY BOARD 16 CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE COUNTY BOARD 17 AGENDA ITEMS FOR COUNTY BOARD MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 29, 1998 18 EMERGENCY ITEMS AND OTHER BUSINESS
MINUTES Lancaster County Board Of Commissioners County-City Building Meeting Room #113 Thursday, September 24, 1998 8 a.m. Commissioners Present: Linda Steinman, Chair Kathy Campbell Bernie Heier Commissioners Absent: Steve Svoboda Larry Hudkins Others Present: Kerry Eagan, Chief Administrative Officer Ann Taylor, County Clerk's Office AGENDA ITEM 1 APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETINGS OF SEPTEMBER 15, 1998 (A.M. SESSION) AND SEPTEMBER 17, 1998 MOTION: Heier moved and Campbell seconded approval of the minutes of September 15, 1998 (A.M. Session) and September 17, 1998. On call Heier, Campbell and Steinman voted aye. Motion carried. 2 ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA a. Correspondence from Beatty Brasch, Lincoln Action Program Director MOTION: Campbell moved and Heier seconded approval of the addition to the agenda. On call Campbell, Heier and Steinman voted aye. Motion carried. 3 COMMISSIONERS MEETING REPORTS (See Item 11) b. Visitors Promotion Committee - Steinman Eagan reported that the Visitors Promotion Committee is still actively pursing an indoor football franchise. c. Information Services Policy Committee - Steinman Steinman reported that Information Services is assisting the State of Nebraska in testing interface programs for the District Court child support system. Eagan reported that Information Services is conducting an inventory of existing equipment to determine which PC's have date sensitive microcomputer chips. He noted that replacement of equipment will have a significant budget impact over the next two years. Campbell requested that an update on the situation be provided to the Board at the Mid-Year Budget Review. d. Government Access & Information Committee - Steinman Steinman reported that the Government Access & Information Committee (GAIC) would like to have the ability to add items to the inventory without having to seek approval of the County Board and City Council for each item. She explained that the GAIC would be indicating which cost category would apply, but would not be setting rates. Eagan noted that the GAIC would need to develop a written policy for the Board's approval. Steinman also reported that a number of County and City departments have been reluctant to place their permits or forms on the kiosk or InterLinc website. The County Board and City Council have been asked to encourage departments to include that information for easy accessibility by the public. e. Emergency Services Executive Committee - Hudkins Eagan reported that copies of State Statutes relating to Emergency Services were distributed. Eagan noted that Sue Eckley, Workers' Compensation & Risk Management Manager, is reviewing insurance coverage for volunteers. Eagan also reported that volunteers had expressed a strong preference that Emergency Services remain a County agency. 4 WILDERNESS PARK SUBAREA PLAN ISSUE IDENTIFICATION Betty Kosier, Lincoln Lancaster Mediation Center; Sheryl Schrepf, Lincoln Lancaster Mediation Center; Mike DeKalb, Planning Department; Nicole Fleck-Tooze, Planning Department; Terry Genrich, Parks & Recreation Mike DeKalb, Planning Department, provided a brief overview of the Wilderness Park Subarea Study and timeline for completion, referring to the following documents: Wilderness Park Subarea Study: Process Overview (Exhibit A) Wilderness Park Subarea Study: Floodway & Floodplain (Exhibit B) DeKalb also indicated Wilderness Park and areas of development on the following maps: Wilderness Park Subarea Study Ariel Perspective Lincoln's Land Use Plan South Lincoln Urban Planning Zones S-1 and S-2 Betty Kosier, Lincoln Lancaster Mediation Center, provided a brief overview of the public participation process and distributed the following documents: Fact Sheet: What is Lincoln/Lancaster Mediation Center (Exhibit C) Interest-Based Group Facilitation (Exhibit D) Role of the Facilitator (Exhibit E) Group Facilitation Process Steps (Exhibit F) In response to questions from Sheryl Schrepf, Lincoln Lancaster Mediation Center Facilitator, Board members identified the following issues and concerns that they would like to see addressed in the study group process: Important for people to know that County Board is looking at the whole park and the whole impetus for this project started with a focus specifically on Wilderness Park- from tip to bottom, long term and short term Seems to be expectation that Wilderness Park boundaries are movable and that there should be move control over property around the park - an issue of development and public control Conflict regarding concern over effect of development on Wilderness Park versus no development All need some education on what the role of Wilderness Park was originally and how it evolved, now and in the future Park and adjacent neighbors need to come to some level of co-existence, which may be different than original intent; mixed up among original intent and beliefs about Wilderness Park If original intent was flood control, then that always needs to be considered Flood plain issue is a critical concern Need to determine most southern boundary of Wilderness Park, especially in relation to any consideration of land purchase Real opportunity to designate areas for usage. As we grow development, let's grow the Park, too Think visionary, even if it takes more land Historical view of city views growth as inevitable; have growth continue in a concentric way Want to help people understand that development and growth will happen Earlier decisions need to be part of overall considerations; put it in context Need to identify land uses and types of land uses that are compatible to park boundaries and function as a flood plain Park has posed problems itself: deer population impact on roads and auto accidents (West Bypass) Park is not in a vacuum There already is development in the Park - homes, roads Misperception that park is "pristine" and should remain so Identify a list of criteria for conditional land uses for property around Wilderness Park, such as a special use permit system Different parts of Wilderness Park can be identified differently - no "one size fits all" Consider economic value Park has ecological, recreational, and economic values; public/private should invest to enhance values; responsibility to help preserve values Particular emphasis needs to be on what is inside the Park Transportation and traffic are huge issues; major roads go through it now Would closure of roads protect Wilderness Park? - Look at it What is the traffic count? Is it increasing on Pioneers, Old Cheney, Yankee Hill? Residential is intrusive; much worse than industrial - more concrete, more chemical, etc. What does State envision for Highway 77? During construction, silting was not being managed and it was going into Park: protection important Partner with West side - State owns land abutting Park Need to include utility companies (Gas line people, Lincoln Electric System (LES), etc.) Contact Hickman - flood control, natural stream, etc. Interest in land on East side of Park; stand of Bur Oaks across from Acreage, financial concerns, easement potential Some tree protection in Park and South is critical; that's why contacting Hickman is critical Want less time arguing, more time being visionary Lincoln has a long history of valuing and developing parks withing the context of evolving park function Wilderness Park has been neglected - no grand design since original intent; more involvement of people in original design, which was very people-use oriented Concern about accommodating multiple user perspectives Should we be looking at "flavor" of the Park North to South, ie. how Park varies? Natural forces in Wilderness Park are constantly changing the Park Does Wilderness Park mean "wilderness", does wilderness mean "neglect", or does park mean "maintained"? Not very much investment in the Park in the past Need chronology of Wilderness Park and how history relates to what is happening now and in the future Kosier suggested that the County Board and City Council each appoint direct representation to serve as members of the Study Working Group. 5 HEALTH INSURANCE UPDATE - Bill Kostner, City Risk Manager; Ron Todd, Personnel Director; Diane Staab, Deputy County Attorney Bill Kostner, City Risk Manager, briefly reviewed the following documents (Exhibit G): Lancaster County Health and Dental Insurance Rates - Mutual of Omaha Health & Dental; United HealthCare/Ameritas Vision Service Plan - Plans and Rates Employee Benefit Information Available on the InterLinc Website Kostner noted that Mutual of Omaha's proposed rates are drastically higher than current rates, which would significantly increase contributions for both employees and the County. Kostner recommended acceptance of the United HealthCare/Ameritas plan, noting that rates differ slightly for coverage periods. The Board indicated a preference for the calendar year plan. Ron Todd, Personnel Director, reported that the three unions that represent County employees and the Employees Advisory Team support acceptance of the United HealthCare/Ameritas plan. MOTION: Campbell moved and Heier seconded to authorize the Personnel Department and Diane Staab, Deputy County Attorney, to begin the process to change health insurance coverage for County employees to United HealthCare/Ameritas effective January 1, 1999 and to notify Mutual of Omaha of the Board's decision. On call Campbell, Heier and Steinman voted aye. Motion carried. Kostner stated that the Vision Plan will be available to employees at the time of open enrollment. Eagan suggested that information regarding the change in health insurance coverage be provided to employees on the back of their next paychecks and in the County Newsletter. He also suggested that the Board indicate that the County will continue to explore joint purchase of health and disability insurance coverage. Board consensus to send a letter to department heads notifying them of the Board's decision. Kostner also reported that additional information with regards to the health plan and participating physicians will be made available on the InterLinc website. He encouraged employees to check the listing of physicians and dentists and encourage their providers to seek accreditation under the plan, if they are not currently listed. 6 GRANT FOR VAN PURCHASE- Tim Howell, Rural Transit Director Tim Howell, Rural Transit Director, reported on a grant offered through the State Department of Roads Capital Program which provides funds for the purchase of vehicles for use in Rural Transit programs. Federal dollars will provide 60% of the funding, with a 40% County match required. Brief discussion took place on which size of van to purchase. MOTION: Heier moved and Campbell seconded to authorize purchase of a 15 passenger van, with American Disabilities Act (ADA) lift equipment, for the Rural Transit Program. On call Heier, Campbell and Steinman voted aye. Motion carried. 7 TRAINING WORKSHOP ON ADOLESCENT FEMALE OFFENDERS; ADDENDUM TO JUSTICE COUNCIL GRANT FOR COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY JUSTICE PLAN; CONSULTING CONTRACT - Kit Boesch, Human Services Administrator Training Workshop on Adolescent Female Offenders Kit Boesch, Human Services Administrator, requested authorization to submit her application for selection to participate in a seminar on services and programs for adolescent female offenders, scheduled to be held on March 1-5, 1999 in Longmont, Colorado. MOTION: Campbell moved and Heier seconded to authorize Kit Boesch, Human Services Administrator, to submit an application to participate in the seminar, with the stipulation that if selected, Boesch will attend the seminar. On call Campbell, Heier and Steinman voted aye. Motion carried. Consulting Contract Boesch stated that she was unsure of the time commitment involved should she be permitted to accept consultant work developing juvenile justice plans or community corrections plans, similar to those developed in Lancaster County, for other communities in Nebraska. She requested authorization to accept one contract to perform consultant work for one community, and track the amount of time required, with report to the Board. The Board indicated that no County resources could be used for the contracted work. MOTION: Heier moved and Campbell seconded approval of one consulting contract for Kit Boesch, Human Services Administrator. On call Heier, Campbell and Steinman voted aye. Motion carried. Addendum to Justice Council Grant for Comprehensive Community Justice Plan Boesch briefly reported on a recommendation from the Justice Council for an addendum request, in the amount of $5,000, for a research component that focuses on the needs of women leaving the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women in York, for possible inclusion in the Comprehensive Community Justice Plan. MOTION: Campbell moved and Heier seconded to submit the revised addendum to the Justice Council Grant. On call Campbell, Heier and Steinman voted aye. Motion carried. 8 ACTION ITEMS a. Engagement Letter for Arbitrage Rebate Services Pursuant to Contract with Berens-Tate Consulting Group for Lancaster County Leasing Corporation $7,765,000 Tax Supported Lease-Rental Refunding Bonds (Lancaster Manor Project) Series 1988 Dave Kroeker, Budget & Fiscal Officer, reported that if positive earnings are realized, then the County will need to rebate the difference. MOTION: Campbell moved and Heier seconded to authorize the Chair to execute the agreement with Berens-Tate Consulting Group. On call Campbell, Heier and Steinman voted aye. Motion carried. b. Ballot from Downtown Lincoln Association for Retention of Board Members During Transitional Period MOTION: Campbell moved and Heier seconded to authorize Kerry Eagan, Chief Administrative Officer, to return the ballot in affirmation of retention of Board members. On call Campbell, Hudkins and Steinman voted aye. Motion carried. Board consensus to refrain from answering questionnaire. 9 CONSENT ITEMS $3,000 from Inmate Benefit Fund for a Full-Time Chaplain from Good News Jail and Prison Ministries MOTION: Campbell moved and Heier seconded approval of the Consent Item. On call Campbell, Heier and Steinman voted aye. Motion carried. 10 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER REPORT a. Letter from Jim Hille, Sinclair Hille & Associates Inc., Regarding Site Recommendations for Juvenile Detention Facility Eagan reported that Jim Hille, Sinclair Hille & Associates Inc. recommended that no further consideration be given to the SW 12th & Rokeby Road site (Site #2) or the NW 12th & Cornhusker Highway site (Site #3), due to access and floodplain issues (Commissioners' Information Packet). MOTION: Campbell moved and Heier seconded to accept the recommendation of Jim Hille, Sinclair Hille & Associates Inc., and notify the two property owners that the Board will not be giving further consideration to their site. On call Campbell, Heier and Steinman voted aye. Motion carried. b. Salaries for Directors, Attorneys, Sheriff Captains and Bailiffs MOTION: Campbell moved and Heier seconded to place approval of salaries for Attorneys, Sheriff Captains and Bailiffs on the agenda for the Tuesday, September 29th County Board of Commissioners meeting. On call Campbell, Heier and Steinman voted aye. Motion carried. The Board requested Eagan to send a letter to District Court Judge Paul Merritt indicating that the Board will continue to work on issues of benefits for Bailiffs during the coming year. Following a brief review of current salaries for directors (Exhibit H) and comparable salary information prepared by the Personnel Department (Exhibit I), the following salaries were proposed: Veterans Services Officer $36,800 Assistant Veterans Services Officer $27,100 Lancaster Manor Administrator $83,500 Community Mental Health Center Director $65,500 Attention Center Director $55,000 Attention Center Assistant Director $44,000 Chief Administrative Officer $72,700 Budget & Fiscal Officer $66,000 County Property Manager $70,000 Human Services Administrator $51,500 Corrections Director $66,500 Noxious Weed Control Authority Superintendent $41,000 Board consensus to freeze the salaries of the Emergency Services Director and Assistant Director, as those positions are currently vacant and under review. c. Draft Budget Received from District Court Judge Paul Merritt Steinman explained that the document is a proposed budget for technology needs for the Courts in the Hall of Justice and Law Enforcement Center (Commissioners' Information Packet). d. Hog Farms at 142nd Street and Parker Road Steinman noted that area of the proposed hog operation falls within Crete's zoning jurisdiction. The Board requested that Mike DeKalb, Planning Department, gather information with regards to the proposed hog operation and brief the Board at the Thursday, October 1st County Board of Commissioners meeting. The Board also requested a copy of minutes of the Crete Planning Commission meeting scheduled to be held Wednesday, October 7th. The Board will review action taken by the Crete Planning Commission on the matter before sending a letter, noting the Board's concerns, to the Crete City Council. e. Tri-County Retreat - November 19, 1998 at Platte River State Park Eagan reported that November 19th has been selected as the date for the Tri-County Retreat, which is a joint meeting of the Lancaster, Douglas and Sarpy County Boards. Steinman requested that the Management Team Retreat, scheduled for October 15th, be held at a location within Lancaster County, rather than the Platte River State Park. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA a. Correspondence from Beatty Brasch, Lincoln Action Program Director This item was dropped from the agenda at the request of the Chair. 11 DISCUSSION OF BOARD MEMBER MEETINGS a. Visitors Promotion Committee - Steinman b. Information Services Policy Committee - Steinman c. Government Access & Information Committee - Steinman d. Emergency Services Executive Committee - Hudkins Items a-d were moved forward on the agenda. 12 SCHEDULE OF BOARD MEMBER MEETINGS a. Lancaster Manor Advisory Committee - Thursday, September 24, 1998 at 12 p.m., at Lancaster Manor, Administrative Conference Room - Campbell b. Master Plan Steering Committee - Thursday, September 24, 1998, at 1 p.m., at the County-City Building, Room 106 - Hudkins c. Fringe Growth Task Force - Tuesday, September 29, 1998, at 7:30 a.m., at the County-City Building, Mayor's Conference Room - Campbell d. Budget Monitoring Committee - Tuesday, September 29, 1998, 12 p.m., at the Attention Center - Campbell, Steinman, Heier 13 INVITATIONS TO BOARD MEMBERS a. Lincoln Board of Realtors 79th Inaugural - Wednesday, October 7, 1998 at 11:30 a.m., at the Country Club of Lincoln, 3200 S 24th Street b. Better Business Bureau Annual Member Lunch - Monday, October 19, 1998, at 11:30 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 SEPTEMBER 29, 1998 17 EMERGENCY ITEMS AND OTHER BUSINESS 18 ADJOURNMENT By direction of the Chair, the meeting was adjourned. ______________________ Kandra Hahn Lancaster County Clerk