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Deena Winter: Councilman wants to freeze impact fee rates

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Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008 - 12:26:57 am CST

City Councilman Jon Camp wants to freeze the city’s impact fee rates where they are rather than make the annual inflationary adjustment to them.

His resolution would not adjust the rates until next January.

The city began collecting impact fees on new developments and expansions in 2003 to offset about half the cost of providing infrastructure, such as water and sewer service, parks and trails and roads necessary to, for example, a new housing development. The Home Builders Association of Lincoln unsuccessfully challenged the legality of impact fees in court.

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Freezing impact fee rates would save a homeowner who installs a ¾-inch water main about $94 this year, for example.

Mayoral aide Rick Hoppe said the mayor is willing to consider Camp’s proposal if it’s for one year only.

“Elimination of future increases would hinder the city’s ability to work with developers to create future growth opportunities,” Hoppe said. “In the end, the mayor believes any impact fee needs to address the central question of Lincoln’s future: How do we find the money to build the infrastructure that creates growth and drives Lincoln’s economy?”

Hy-Vee slapped

A normally routine liquor license reapplication just scraped by the City Council on Monday.

Hy-Vee Inc. applied to expand its licensed premises just east of 70th and Pioneers by building an addition on the west side of the grocery store. Liquor license holders must reapply when they build additions or change the premises.

But Councilman Doug Emery took the opportunity to make a statement about Hy-Vee’s actions at another of its Lincoln locations: Hy-Vee is building a new store at 84th and Holdrege streets, and after that store opens, tentatively in March, the Hy-Vee at 48th and Leighton, will close.

That will leave people in the University Place Neighborhood without a grocery store because, Emery said, Hy-Vee will not lease the location to another grocery store, at least through 2013. So, he voted against Hy-Vee’s liquor license to show solidarity with his constituents in University Place, where he said a lot of people aren’t as mobile as in other areas.

He said he opposes Hy-Vee’s attempt to “legislate lack of competition,” especially considering Hy-Vee will get tax increment financing from the city for another new store at 50th and O streets.

And in another show of solidarity, Councilmen Jonathan Cook and John Spatz were persuaded by Emery’s speech to vote “no,” too.

“It is going to put them in a bad position to not have a grocery store for many years,” Spatz said Tuesday. He used to live right next door to the 48th and Leighton Hy-Vee.

Hy-Vee spokeswoman Chris Friesleben did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Welcome to the jungle. Now, about those snowplows.

Three weeks after beginning his job as head of the city’s public works department, Greg MacLean got a pop quiz Monday on how well he knows the city’s snow removal policy.

During an informal council meeting on Monday, Councilman Camp questioned the city’s policy of not plowing residential streets unless more than 4 inches of snow falls or high winds cause drifting. He said he only recently learned of the policy.

MacLean said the city plows arterial streets and emergency routes first, but by the time 4 inches falls on residential streets, the snow is often already packed down. The city also spreads sand on icy streets by request.

Mayor Chris Beutler said he’s open to re-examining the policy.

“If you want to change something, let’s talk about it,” he told Camp.

He said it

“You really do need a roomful of monks and an abacus to figure this stuff out.” — Police Chief Tom Casady, on a recent two-page flier from the state Motor Vehicles Department on changes regarding provisional driver’s permits — just one example of the many codes, laws and law changes police officers are expected to master.

Reach Deena Winter at 473-2642 or dwinter@journalstar.com.


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jmk wrote on January 9, 2008 7:34 am:
" This must be going to effect him (Camp), or maybe some businesses that contributed to his campaign. Otherwise he wouldn't worry about it. This is supposed to help keep property taxes from paying all of these fees, wasn't it? "
Ed wrote on January 9, 2008 7:54 am:
" I didn't know that the dollar's value was freezing for this nezt year! If it is not, then why should fees that will inflate be frozen? "
russell wrote on January 9, 2008 8:36 am:
" Impact fees were supposed to keep property taxes stable by creating a separate source of money from those developers/homeowners that are creating the demand/need for four lane streets etc to Lincoln fringes. If impact fees are frozen than no more streets until impact fees are available. I consider impact fees as a user tax. The best user tax would be an increase in the gas tax with that increase going totally to street repair and construction. "
hk wrote on January 9, 2008 8:43 am:
" Revising the policy on the frequency of plowing the streets would not have impacted the significant accumulation of ice this past month. It would only waste more resources, especially with the current fuel prices.
A more effective change will be to revise the policy of applying only sand on residnetial streets. This policy was implemented when Lincoln was a much smaller community with less traffic volumes on residential streets. Plowing 18 to 24 hours after a storm ends, will only effect the curb areas where the snow is not packed by the vehicles. Applying deicer is much more cost effective than running plows up and down a street with no effect. The traffic along with deicer would immediately begin breaking the snow and ice accumulation up. This is especially critical when Lincoln has over an inch of freezing rain, as occurred in December.
City officials need to start using common sense instead of archaic policy statements. "
akbaz wrote on January 9, 2008 8:55 am:
" I'm not sure what Hy-Vee is thinking either. The 48th street Hy-Vee is always busy. This particular store is a community staple. You always see the same neighborhood people there every morning having coffee and breakfast.I just don't understand how they can justify closing that store when there is not another grocery store in the area.

I guess I'll have to go to Russ's in Havelock "
duh wrote on January 9, 2008 9:04 am:
" if hy-vee doesnt want to lease "THEIR" building to competion thats good business. another grocer could build on the old greens plumbing lot. the council shouldnt punish the 70/pioneers store because of it, once again the city hindering progress. i wonder why jobs leave and dont come back. its not that far to go to walmart from uni place, "
Don't Tax Me For It wrote on January 9, 2008 10:26 am:
" Mr Camp wants to freeze the impact fees so that it will be cheaper to make new homes out in the beautiful suburbs. However, where will the cost of those infrastructure needs come from? Better not be from my taxes. I bought an existing home in an established neighborhood. Why should I underwrite the water main to some McMansion out south of town? I think the impact fees should continue as they have. If someone wants to build a 200,000+ house out south, I'm sure they can afford the impact fee. If they can't, they should reconsider what they can afford. Once again, my councilman who is supposed to represent me, does nothing of the kind. Thanks for nothing Jon Camp. "
Helpful Smile In Every Aisle? wrote on January 9, 2008 11:02 am:
" Hy-Vee’s attempt to legislate lack of competition by not leasing the Uni Place location to another grocery store, at least through 2013 reaaly gives them a black eye. Where is the friendly smile in every aisle ??? Doug Emery does his homework !!! Thank you Mr. Emery. "
Doug wrote on January 9, 2008 11:58 am:
" First of all it is NOT HyVee's building (They lease) And the fact that i is their right to do what their doing does not make it an acceptable practice. Secondly this is about the fact they are using public money(TIF)to build a new store while denying the ability to put a grocery store in an existing building. How is that a pro-business approach? Third there is not enough space on the old Green's lot or any other lot in University Place to build a store that would be profitable. Fourth, for many people who use the University Place store it WOULD be a huge problem getting to a different location. I guess if you are not the one walking it does not bother you. Perhaps you ought to let the people in the area, who have no transportation, tell you whether THEY consider it "not to far to Wal-Mart". Why is HyVee afraid to COMPETE for the business? There was no attempt to "punish" 70th and Pioneers or to "hinder progress". This WAS an attempt to show that HyVee's corporate culture of restricting competition might be good for them but causes real problems for others. One needs only go to 14th and Superior and see how much problems that neighborhood has had getting a tenant in their old HyVee store to see what effect it has. "
KAKAAAA wrote on January 9, 2008 12:04 pm:
" Impact fees were poor from the start. they didn't stop my taxes from going up. I wish they would get rid of the impact TAX. after all it was just a sneaky way to extort money from the hard working citizens of Lincoln. The fee that was intented for the "booming" construction industry was past right on down the the new home owner. thas fair...right? "
al wrote on January 9, 2008 12:16 pm:
" John camp could care less about freezing the tax if it didnt have to do with his ouersized wallet. boy i wonder is he doing construction in the haymarket. "
Pro Free markets wrote on January 9, 2008 1:36 pm:
" Where are the conservative free market economists on the Hy-Vee issue? Hy-Vee should not be able to restrict competition by refusing to lease to another grocery retailer. If the 84th and Holdrege location can't fairly compete with a different store at 48th and Leighton, they shouldn't be building the new store. "
Doug might wanna check wrote on January 9, 2008 2:02 pm:
" with the Co. Assessor's office. Looks to me like Hy-Vee does indeed own the building. They're a for-profit business. Can't blame them for not wanting to lease THEIR space to a competitor. If the council members who played their typical petty politics on this issue want so badly for there to be a grocery store at that location, they should open one. I don't get people's sense of entitlement. My wife is pregnant. It sure would be hard for her to walk very far to the grocery store. I think we deserve one no more than a block or two away. Would someone please take this up with Emery, Cook & Spatz? What a joke. "
RT wrote on January 9, 2008 2:19 pm:
" The city should not freeze impact fees. The cost of providing infrastructure to the new neighborhoods is not going to "freeze" this year. Next year, the city will have to significantly increase the fees to adjust for two years of inflation. The idea of freezing the fees is short-sided. The city should keep the fee increase tied to the rate of inflation. "
Envy wrote on January 9, 2008 3:24 pm:
" is not pretty. "
Here we go wrote on January 9, 2008 4:20 pm:
" Here we go again, city council members making decisions to benefit on a personal level. We need to change this, and change it soon so that city council members have no personal interest in what they vote on. "
Is wrote on January 9, 2008 4:42 pm:
" JOn Camp part of vision 2015? Is he related to or a part of a family or friends of a developer? "
kco wrote on January 9, 2008 10:13 pm:
" Impact fees have definetly had a negative impact on growth. Over $6,000 for a new home being built this year. That is rediculas!!! Freezing them at 2007 rates will make no change. I am looking at building now but like many others am looking at other loactions outside of lincoln limits. I pay high city taxes now why do I want to pay a unfair impact fee. This city council need to make lincoln a marketable community. So far I give it a D-. "
JH wrote on January 9, 2008 11:52 pm:
" Thank you. Impact fees, passed along to homeowners, raised the cost of homes and property taxes in Lincoln. While equity jumped on paper, the voters celebrated. Now that homes are worth less and taxes remain high (at the inflated values), most voters realize the Democrat controlled city government fooled them. How many more people must have their homes foreclosed before the Democrats stop taxing citizens to the poor house? "
greg wrote on January 10, 2008 6:33 am:
" Freeze inpact fees? Another rich developer wants to get a break. If you can't afford it do not buy it. Just wait until this new home owners that have light weight construction materials have some age and wear and overflowed water on the particle board floor joists, then they will want the tax payers in the older parts of Lincoln to pay for the repairs because the city ordinances allowed the builders to use this material. Two pieces of pine 2x2 inches with 3/8 particle board piece glued between does not a floor joist make. 2x12 solid wood does. Particle board when wet, swells and disintegrates. And check out the vinyl windows in these McMansions. Kind of like a fur coat over ripped K-Mart underwear. "
roer wrote on January 10, 2008 7:23 am:
" Maybe Jon Camp needs to take a break from the council. Like maybe being off the council. "
Laughing wrote on January 10, 2008 9:25 am:
" This just makes me laugh, John Camp wanting to freeze fee's. What did some of his buddies complain they weren't making enough money. So let the city take the hit and the loss so his buddies can make even more piles of money. If you didn't know who camp was working for before you sure should be able to see it now ! "
impact fees-old vs new wrote on January 10, 2008 11:27 am:
" I would like to know who paid for streets, sewers and other infrastructure in the 'old' part of town. When homes were built at 33 & A, 56th & Holdredge, 20th & Van Dorn - how were these necessities paid for? Yes I do live south in a 'new' area - I built my home in 1999 before impact fees and I don't know if I would have if they had been in place. For all you from the 'old' part of town that complain about property taxes, I would gladly trade yours for mine - yes I chose to live south and I knew my taxes would be higher so don't yell about that in your reply. I thought that our wheel tax was to go to pay for road construction/maintenance? I wish an in depth story in the LJS would investigate this. For all of you building homes just outside the city limits - congratulations and keep doing it. "
do you know why..... wrote on January 10, 2008 11:40 am:
" it is so hard to drive in Lincoln, because for the longest time they didn't have impact fees & the infrastructure failed, don't freeze them "
BVD wrote on January 10, 2008 12:41 pm:
" Jon Camp is the knight for developers, let the buyer beware. Social responsibility is achieved when professionals self regulate and participate in the proper forum. That faux fur came from outside the country and really is irrelevant...as is the underwear. There is a credit problem nationally and the council just needs to keep perspective...and acknowledge excessive costs are not only due to impact fees...there are other professional services that have driven up inflation and out of control spending. "
clue dart wrote on January 10, 2008 1:37 pm:
" To say homes are being foreclosed on because of impact fees and high taxes is just ignorant. The foreclose boom is due to people taking risky loans and the people who wanted to make a quick buck on those loans, "
I wrote on January 10, 2008 2:09 pm:
" think its time for a state audit of the city. "
Capt Obvious wrote on January 10, 2008 2:09 pm:
" Ummm hello, 2015 group picked site for new arena - Haymarket

Jon Camp's property / land - Haymarket

New development going up across from Post Office - Haymarket

Gee, I wonder why he would think of this "idea" now "
Boycott Hy-Vee wrote on January 10, 2008 3:15 pm:
" It's really simple folks...Hy-Vee does not care about those people in that part of town, so why should any resident of our town even shop there? I say boycott all Hy-Vee stores untill they see taking advantage of people in this community will not be tolerated. We have already stopped shopping there, and I don't see any reason to spend my hard earned dollars there anymore. There are plenty of other grocery stores in Lincoln which are owned and operated here. Doesn't it make sense to keep dollars in our community instead of sending them to Iowa in Hy-Vee's case? "
JoBeth wrote on January 10, 2008 3:57 pm:
" Wonder if Camp owns property there? Wanna make any bets? The City is in dire need of funds now, why do this? "
Insane wrote on January 10, 2008 4:13 pm:
" It is that far to go to wal-mart if you live in UNI. As Emery stated, this is a lower class area and a lot of its customer base walk there. If no store opens in UNI the closest will be Russ' at 64th and Havelock or Supersavor at 48th and O. I challange any of you to walk to one of these stores from UNI. HY-VEE IS WAY OUT OF LINE! "
wow, go HY-VEE wrote on January 10, 2008 4:28 pm:
" Seems to me that Hy-Vee is cutting off their customer base. It is a slap in the face to all the people in UNI that have been loyal customers over the years that they will not lease the building to another store. As Mr Emery said it is not easy for a good portion of the UNI population to get to another location. If they are going to lease it to someone else then they should give everyone an equal oppritunity to set up shop. You are asking for the Counsil to help the city grow, that is what they are trying to do here. They want another store to open so the people of UNI have a place to shop, so those of you who are siding with HY-VEE I am betting are well off people who have no problem finding a story. That is what is a joke! "
I love Hy-Vee wrote on January 10, 2008 8:37 pm:
" I don't blame them for pulling out of UNI Place. What a bunch of feel-sorry-for-yourself whiners!! If the grocery business is so great, open your own grocery store there. You'll all get rich! "
Shane wrote on January 10, 2008 9:31 pm:
" You have to love people like I love HyVee. The people in Uni Place are hardly "feel sorry for yourself whiners." They simply want a store, which they currently have, within reasonable walking distance of their residence. They don't care if it is HyVee and they don't begrudge HyVee the opportunity to relocate. They are agree that HyVee would rather leave the building empty than allow those residents a neighborhood grocery store. If the grocery business is so bad why is HyVee building two new stores in Lincoln? If they are asking for Tax Increment Financing money to build one then they are asking for Lincoln tax payers to use their tax dollars as an incentive. And that includes people who live in University Place whose reward is to lose HyVee AND any potential replacement store. Forgive the people in Uni Place for finding that corporate greed hard to swallow "

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