Date:

February 22, 2008

For More Information Contact:

Diane Gonzolas, Citizen Information Center, 441-7831

Michaela Hansen, Impact Fee Administrator, 441-7559

Mayor Chris Beutler today announced his appointments to a committee that will review the impact fee policy in the City:

• Jim Christo of Christo Design Build Inc. will represent the Lincoln Independent Business Association.
• Nick Cusick of IMSCORP will represent the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce.
• Fred Hoke of the Home Builders Association of Lincoln will represent home builders.
• Steve Stueck of HOME Real Estate will represent the Realtors Association.

City staff named to the committee are be Rick Peo of the City Attorney’s Office and three employees of the Public Works and Utilities Department – Director Greg MacLean, Utilities Administrator Steve Masters and Business Manager Margaret Remmenga.

Impact fees have been collected since June 2003 to cover a portion of new infrastructure construction costs. The fee was scheduled to increase by 2 percent each year for inflation. In January, the City Council voted to freeze impact fees at the 2007 level for one year while a study is conducted.

The committee will look at alternatives to the structure and the distribution of the fees collected. The group will present its consensus recommendations to the MOVE (Mayor’s Opportunities for a Vibrant Economy) Council. This group of community leaders includes representatives from the organizations above as well as the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development, the University of Nebraska, Vision 2015, Lincoln Public Schools, neighborhoods and non-profits.

Changes to the impact fee structure would require City Council approval.