By Clara Osten,
clara@wayneherald.com
Five public hearings were on the agenda when the Wayne City Council met in regular session on Tuesday.
Following the first hearing, council members took steps to put a sales tax question on the May primary ballot.
The city is required to have a hearing in regard to a city-wide sales usage plan and this needs to be adopted before the item can be placed on the ballot.
City Administrator Wes Blecke explained the four propositions that will be listed on the ballot.
The first would be a one percent sales tax that would go toward capital expenditures and LB840 Economic Development projects. This amount is currently being collected and is scheduled to sunset June 30, 2024.
The second proposition approves the economic development plan put forth by the city and details some of the allowable uses of the tax money. This document is similar to the one approved by voters in 2008.
The third proposition could collect a one-half percent tax for Parks and Recreation purposes. This tax is also already being collected to pay off the swimming pool bonds. Those bonds are expected to be paid off in September of 2024.
The final proposition would create an additional one-half percent sales tax to fund public infrastructure projects, specifically Community Activity Center improvements and expansion.
If all the proposals pass, the city would be collecting two percent in city sales tax. The remaining 5.5 percent sales tax is collected by the state. This is the maximum allowable under state law.
The second public hearing involved the city's Future Land Use Map of the Comprehensive Plan.
City Planner Joel Hansen told the council this is an annual review and listed several changes to the map.
Following this hearing, an ordinance was approved on first reading for the changes.
A third hearing involved the re-zoning of an area of the city along Main Street from B-2, Central Business District to B-3, Neighborhood Commercial District.
The change will allow Sanctuary Apartments LLC to convert the former Baptist Church into residential apartments with no commercial tenants.
Several council members asked questions about parking, both for the apartment tenants and those of the house adjacent to it.
The ordinance in regard to the re-zoning did receive first reading approval and will be brought for second reading at the council's next meeting.
The fourth public hearing involved annexing a parcel of land into the city.
The parcel is a 1.02 acre area at 1915 East Seventh Street on which Dollar General is located. At this time, the store is operating outside city limits and not collecting city sales tax.
The ordinance connected with this annexation also received first reading approval.
The final public hearing of the evening involved the city's one- and six-year street improvement plan.
The only item listed on the plan for 2022 involved Chicago Street in the southwest portion of the city.
However, Council member Chris Woehler asked two other projects be moved up into the 2023 and 2024 plans.
These are the Fourth Street Project to Centennial Road and the 21st Street Project to Centennial Road.
The plan can be amended if need be, and projects do not have to be completed in the order they are listed, but a project cannot be completed if it is not listed.
Considerable discussion was held on a resolution authorizing the sale of a tract of land in the southeast addition to the city near the Summer Sports Complex.
R. Perry Construction, Inc. plans to construct an apartment complex in the area containing one, two and three-bedroom apartments.
Council member Woehler said he had concerns with selling the property for $1 and allowing for the use of Tax Increment Financing to help fund the construction.
"I like the project, but not the fact that the city is selling land for $1. The land is worth something and if we have to go out and buy land to expand the softball fields, that doesn't seem right," Woehler said.
Ed Brogie spoke to the council on the agenda item and listed a number of concerns.
These include the increased traffic in a high density residential area, the city being in competition with landlords in regard to the sale of property, how the project would impact the already overcrowded school and the fact that a recreational area is being taken away.
Council member Jill Borderson said she would have liked to have seen a more definite plan for the lagoon area before acting on the sale of this property.
Mayor Cale Giese said the project is "definitely a balancing act" for all parties involved.
Following discussion the council voted 6-1 in favor of the resolution authoring the sale of the land and first reading of the ordinance directing the sale.
The resolution approving the purchase agreement with R. Perry Construction was tabled until language in the agreement can be changed.
In other action, council members approved the plans, specifications and estimate of cost for the "2022 Chicago Street Improvement Project" and authorized the city to go for bids.
The area involved will connect South Sherman Street to South Lincoln Street and involve street, storm sewer and water improvements in the area.
The final agenda item of the evening involved discussion on the lake development on the lagoon property.
Matthew Smith with Olssen, the engineering firm for the project, spoke to the council on plans for a four-acre lake and cost estimates, including the installation of a well to supply water to the area.
The Wayne City Council will next meet in regular session on Tuesday, March 1 at 5:30 p.m. in council chambers.
