Council OKs State Fair Park annexation

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Nebraska’s State Fair Park will soon be part of the city of Lincoln. The City Council on Monday unanimously voted to annex the 226-acre fairgrounds in north Lincoln.

While State Fair Park will be in the city limits, the state will continue to own the buildings and utilities, among other things. Ownership of streets, water and sewer lines, for example, will not be transferred to the city. Also, the city’s smoking ban will not apply.

While unanimously approving the annexation, several council members expressed concern that law enforcement duties during the state fair, currently handled by the State Patrol, eventually could be transferred to the city.

That could lead to the costs of the annexation outweighing the benefits, Councilman Jon Camp said.

The main benefit of the annexation is that the city will eventually reap an additional $100,000 in sales tax revenue.

But council members cautioned people from looking at the annexation as a money grab, noting that Amendment 4, passed in 2004, gives 10 percent of lottery proceeds to the fair, but also requires a 10 percent match from local government — currently more than $250,000.

“That overwhelms the amount of sales tax we’re likely to get here,” said Councilman Jonathan Cook.

In other action Monday the Council:

n Held a public hearing on proposed bike lanes on 11th and 14th streets in downtown Lincoln.

Several people testified in favor of the proposal, including local biker Ian Davis, who submitted a proposal with nearly 1,900 signatures from “cyclists or people who would like to be cyclists in the downtown area.”

David Cary, a transportation planner for the city of Lincoln, said the hope is to have the 6-foot-wide lanes up and running by the end of August or mid-September at the latest.

The project will cost about $20,000 he said, and fits in the annual budget for road striping.

n Held a public hearing on proposed increases in various Planning Department fees.

Many fees would go up 8-10 percent, while others would double.

Both the Lincoln Independent Business Association and the Homebuilders Association of Lincoln oppose the increases, saying construction is down from three years ago, the last time the fees were increased.

Peter Katt, an attorney representing LIBA, said the department should consider cuts before raising fees.

Reach Matt Olberding at 473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com.