 Alderwoman Joni Tibbs opened the meeting by saying that she had
distributed a copy of an e-mail she had received from Bill Bates,
city attorney.
She asked Bates if he wanted to start the discussion. Bates said
his only real task had been to research whether or not there were
any stipulations to the agreement between Wal-Mart and the city that
would prohibit the building of a soccer field. He has done the
research and found nothing that would stop the city from moving
forward.
Do we really want a soccer complex?
Alderwoman Marty Neitzel said that she thought the first step in
the meeting should be to find out if everyone is in agreement to
allow the Lincoln FC use of the land for their soccer complex.
"I think the soccer field will be wonderful," Neitzel said. "This
is based on children. I think it is a $6,000 investment for us."
She continued: "If this soccer field goes, we're helping
Kroger's, Walmart, we're helping the eating places and the hotels in
that area."
When Neitzel completed her comments, Tibbs continued around the
room seeking comments on the complex. With nine of the 10 aldermen
present, eight agreed that the soccer complex was a worthwhile
investment in the youth of the community. Alderman David Wilmert did
not attend the committee meeting.
Alderman Nathan Turner added to his comments, saying: "My only
concern is that in the lease somewhere we have some conditions for
the expectations that we have and when we can see some results."
He went on to say that he didn't want to sign a five- or 10-year
lease and then see the land sit idle due to some unforeseen
circumstance of the club.
Alderman David Armbrust said that he wanted to be certain that
the city "crossed the ‘T's' and dotted the ‘I's' in the agreement."
He went on to say that what the city would see in sales tax revenue
would be more significant than what will be lost in the lease of the
property to local farmers.
Alderwoman Stacy Bacon added that the complex would expand the
visitor base to the city. She hoped that the out-of-towners who came
for soccer would be motivated to come back for the tourist
attractions.
Alderwoman Kathy Horn said that offering the soccer club a space
was more than a money matter. "A lot of times I have heard that we
don't have anything for the youth of our community, and this
certainly sounds like a wonderful opportunity to give the youth
something to do," she said.
Alderman Buzz Busby brought up another point. "I kind of look at
it a little bit different," he said. "Sure this is good for the
kids, good for the city, but we've got to look down the road at next
year."
He continued: "I would like to see that land put up for sale and
unloaded for next year. We're going to need money. I think that very
few of us realize the dire straits we are going to be in next year."
Alderman Jeff Hoinacki said that just because the ground is put
up for sale doesn't mean the city will find a buyer. He added that
he is all in favor of the soccer complex.
How much of the 27 acres will the club actually need?
Dru Hauter was present for the meeting and fielded questions as
the representative of the Lincoln FC.
The question arose: Will the club will use the entire 27 acres
located behind the new Walmart Supercenter, or will a portion of it
continue to be leased for agricultural purposes?
The club's initial proposal said they would use 12 acres but
would be willing to take the entire 27.
Tibbs asked Bates if he had contacted Corey Farmer, the current
lease holder, about farming the remaining portion of the ground.
Bates said that Farmer had expressed some interest in farming it
but had made no firm commitment.
Bates said that he had pointed out in his e-mail to Tibbs that if
the Farmers continued leasing the property, there would need to be a
solution for accessing the farm field.
The soccer club is currently proposing a gravel drive with
parking. Bates said that with that proposal there might be times
when the Farmers would not be able to get their equipment through
due to activities at the soccer field.
City engineer Mark Mathon brought up that there is a natural
waterway running through the property. He said that the city would
have to look at that and determine how to maintain the drainage.
In the end the current plan presented by the club might have to
be altered. If that should occur, then the club may need more than
the original 12 acres they proposed.
Neitzel said that she felt like the club was going to need that
extra ground for parking. She doesn't want to see soccer
participants parking on Walmart or Castle Manor property and making
them unhappy with the club.
Hauter said that the club would post "no parking" signs at their
expense. He also said that letters will go out to club members,
defining where they may and may not park.
Turner noted that Hauter's original proposal had stated the
potential for as many as 500 families attending a tournament at one
time. He agreed with Neitzel that there was going to be a need for
quite a bit of parking space. He also commented that he was in favor
of the club using the remaining acreage for green space parks.
[to top of second column]
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Establishing terms and conditions of the lease
Armbrust wondered if there would be an option for the city to
break their lease with the club. He asked: If the city allows the
club to use the property, then gets a great offer on the land, what
would they be willing to do for the club?
Tibbs said she would not be in favor of including a stipulation
for breaking the lease. Turner said he agreed that the city should
not do that to the club.
Discussions moved on to the term of the lease and the cost
involved. The council agreed that they really weren't interested in
profiting from the lease. It was questioned whether or not there had
to be a minimal amount attached to the lease in order to make it
legal.
Armbrust said that he feels like there should be some benchmarks
set for what the club will be doing with the land. Hauter said that
he agreed and thinks that the club should do something to the effect
of an annual report to the city on the progress of the club as well
as their financial stability.
What about that gravel road?
Questions were brought up about the use of gravel on the
property. Gravel produces dust, and some felt that the dust would
cause a problem for Castle Manor and Walmart.
Hauter said that dust was also an issue for the club, so steps
will be taken to reduce the dust, either by using a treatment on the
white rock or using pressed milling instead of gravel.
The deal breaker?
Perhaps the most significant part of the meeting came in the
discussion of the gravel access the club is planning. The club wants
to extend a gravel driveway from the end of Malerich Drive to their
space.
Tracy Jackson, streets and alleys superintendent, said that he
felt like the city would be opening themselves up to future similar
proposals and that they should be prepared to deal with that.
Jackson said he knows there is another person who will want the
city to develop a street in the same manner. He said that if the
club puts down CA6 or millings, then it becomes a roadway.
Bates asked if there was a road platted on that property, and
city engineer Mark Mathon said that there is an 85-foot-wide strip
that is platted as a right of way.
Bates then surmised that if the city allowed the club to have a
gravel roadway, there would more than likely be others who wanted
the same thing.
Hauter asked if they could extend the gravel on Malerich only a
few feet, then veer off to the right and make the majority of their
driveway and parking lot to the west of the actual right of way.
Mathon said that the city has done that in the past on a
temporary basis.
Anderson said, "This could be a deal breaker for the whole
thing."
Referring to the list of questions from Bates, she continued, "If
they can't have access to get to their parking, then you can forget
all these other things."
Tibbs asked, "Is there any other discussion on what to do about
this?"
Turner said the council needs to decide if they are willing to
make an exception for this one case and if they are prepared for
other people to want the same thing.
Anderson asked: If they do the short driveway that will
immediately turn onto the soccer complex, is that going to open a
can of worms for the city?
Bates said that some will come to the city and say, "Well, if it
was good enough for the soccer field, it is good enough for us."
He went on to say that developers have always been required to do
the roadwork as well as run water and sewer. The distinction here is
that the club is not a developer.
Anderson questioned how the fact that this is city-owned land
would play into it.
Bates said it was another distinction that could be made when
dealing with other requests.
Turner asked: If the roadway was labeled as a private driveway,
would that solve the problem?
Bates said that would not make the problem Jackson was referring
to go away.
Horn said that she felt like the city would take these requests
on a case-per-case basis, so the idea of veering off the right of
way could work.
Tibbs asked Mathon if he had any suggestions, and he said at the
moment no. He added he didn't think the problem was insurmountable.
Tibbs said that the committee was running out of time at this
meeting and it would have to be continued.
Hauter was invited to return for the committee-of-the-whole
meeting on Oct. 27 to continue working out the details of the lease
between the Lincoln FC and the city.
Bates cautioned the council that the list of questions he sent to
Tibbs was not an exhaustive list. He said, "You need to get your own
questions addressed, and if you have other ideas that need to be in
the lease, those need to be expressed."
[By NILA SMITH]
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