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City of Ralston
"The Heart of the Metro"
Ralston, Nebraska
Click It or Ticket Mobilization Results
The Ralston Police Department participated in the “Click It or Ticket” mobilization from November 27 to December 1, 2019. The Nebraska Department of Roads-Highway Safety Office provided funds to pay officers’ overtime salary wages during this effort.
During this time, the police department had officers working overtime in addition to the usual number of officers that were on duty. During this selective enforcement, officers made 58 traffic stops. Of these 58 stops, 31 citations were issued for various offenses. Some of these offenses included: Speeding, No Seat Belt, DUI, DUS, No Insurance, and various other traffic related offenses.
Along with these citations, Officers also conducted a traffic stop in which the driver was arrested on multiple charges. Charges resulting from this traffic stop included Possession of Schedule II Narcotics, Tampering with Evidence, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Based on the data collected, the police department will be applying for future grants to assist with enforcement to increase restraint use in Ralston. Until that time, the police department will remain vigilant in this effort during normal patrol.
Food For Fines Program
The Ralston Police Department, along with the Ralston Baright Public Library, will once again be teaming up for the Food For Fines Program. From November 1 to December 20, 2019, both departments will waive parking ticket fines or overdue book fines with the donation of canned or boxed food. All food proceeds will go to the Ralston High School “R-Pantry” that serves Ralston families. No Ramen noodles, glass containers, expired food, dented/damaged cans or previously opened packages will be accepted. The Police Department will waive one (1) parking ticket for five (5) donated items. The Library will waive $2.00 in overdue fines for every one (1) item donated. Citizens can drop off the food items at either the police department or the library. Parking tickets can also still be paid normally either at the police station, City Hall or online.
Ralston's Holiday Magic held on December 1, 2019
Ralston “Hinge” Master Plan
In August 2018, the City of Ralston hired the Omaha-based engineering and planning firm, HDR, to develop a master plan for the “Hinge” redevelopment area. This is a 30-acre site extending along Main Street, from 72nd Street to downtown Ralston. Following a series of public participation meetings, the redevelopment area was extended to include all of downtown Ralston.
Click here for a copy of the Ralston Downtown and Hinge Master Plan.
The master plan is the result of eight months of effort involving extensive citizen participation, planning, market analysis and site engineering. The concept includes mixed-use (commercial on the first floor with residential above) buildings, a variety of residential development types including apartments and townhomes, open spaces for passive recreation and outdoor entertainment, fountains or other water features, an extension of Burlington Street to 72nd Street and new pedestrian connections to create a friendly environment for people to explore on foot.
City leaders are using the plan and associated research to inform and attract area developers to Ralston’s potential as the next frontier for urban redevelopment in the Omaha metro. For more information contact Ralston City Hall at 402-331-6677.
DID YOU KNOW . . .
There is NO PARKING on any street from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. Guest and construction parking passes may be obtained from the Ralston Police Department by calling 402.331.1786 during business hours, or 402.444.5802 after hours.
NEWS RELEASE
Due to undermining, the west trail bridge located by Serum Avenue Circle in Ralston is closed. The bridge will be closed until further notice.
POC for this release is Public Works Director Dan Freshman, 402-331-6677, ext. 1310.
“Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over”
The Ralston Police Department is pleased to announce the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety has approved an overtime grant for increased patrols starting December 13, 2019 and running through January 1, 2020.
The grant will pay for the Ralston Police Department to have additional officers working 52 hours of overtime on the streets during this grant period. Through saturated patrols and enforcement of all traffic laws, officers’ emphasis will be on recognizing and stopping impaired drivers. Officers will be cracking down on alcohol-related offenses such as Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and/or Drugs, Minor in Possession, Open Container, and .02 Violations.
According to NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 10,511 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes in the U.S. in 2018. Those same statistics show 839 people lost their lives in traffic crashes involving a drunk driver during the month of December 2018. During the Christmas and New Year’s Day holiday periods in 2018 alone, there were more drunk-driving related fatalities (285) than during any other holiday period that year. The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” mobilization is a national effort to reduce the number of motorists injured or killed due to alcohol-related crashes. This campaign will run through the Christmas and New Year holidays in response to the high number of vehicles traveling during these times.
The Ralston Police Department is proud to team up with the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety in this campaign. As you head out to holiday festivities, remember: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
POC is Deputy Chief Bryan Hanson, (402)-331-1786
Storm Water Pollution … What You Can Do to Keep Our Rivers and Streams Clean
Rain by its nature is important for replenishing drinking water supplies, recreation and healthy wildlife habitats. It only becomes a problem when pollutants from activities like car washing and maintenance, lawn care and dog walking are left on the ground for rain to wash away into the storm sewer and ultimately into Nebraska’s rivers and streams. Here are some important ways to prevent storm water pollution:
- Properly dispose of hazardous substances such as used oil, cleaning supplies and paint – NEVER pour them down any part of the storm sewer system.
- Wash your car on the grass to prevent runoff into the storm sewer.
- Use pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides properly and efficiently to prevent excess runoff.
- Look for signs of soil and other pollutants, such as debris and chemicals, leaving construction sites in storm water runoff or tracked into roads by construction vehicles. Report poorly managed construction sites that could impact storm water runoff to us.
- Install innovative storm water practices on residential property, such as rain barrels or rain gardens, which capture storm water and keep it on site instead of letting it drain away into the storm sewer system.
- Report any discharges from storm water outfalls during times of dry weather – a sign that there could be a problem with the storm sewer system.
- Pick up after pets and dispose of their waste properly. No matter where pets make a mess – in a back yard or at the park – storm water runoff can carry pet waste into streams.
- Store indoors materials that could pollute storm water. If these materials have to be stored outdoors, use containers that do not rust or leak
For more information, check out the following links:
www.epa.gov/npdes/npdes-stormwater-program
www.omaha.stormwater.org
When it rains it drains - What everyone should know about stormwater
Public Notice Suspending Enforcement of Banners and Flags
On April 2nd, 2019, the Ralston City Council approved a significant update and revision of Article 11 of the Ralston Zoning Code, Sign Regulations. Prior to enacting the new version of Article 11, the City of Ralston extended an invitation to all Ralston business owners to attend a meeting with city officials to discuss it. As a result of that meeting, several additional changes were made to the new version of Article 11 before it was presented to the City Council, in order to accommodate various business owner’s requests. Unfortunately, as is often the case with new legislation, unforeseen conflicts have arisen; in this instance between the desires of some downtown business owners to advertise through the use of banners and flags in front of their businesses and certain terms of Article 11 that prohibit them from doing so.
The City of Ralston desires to support local businesses and maintain a positive and mutually cooperative relationship with the business owners who help make Ralston a vibrant community. The City is therefore re-evaluating the provisions of Article 11 that pertain to advertising through the use of banners and flags, particularly with respect to doing so on public right-of-ways. This matter shall be brought before the City of Ralston’s Planning Commission on Sept. 10th as a discussion item only. Based on the recommendations of the Planning Commission, further revisions to Article 11 may then be presented to the Planning Commission at its regularly scheduled October meeting for a vote. If approved, those revisions will then be presented to the City Council for further consideration. These are public meetings which anyone can attend. They are held in the City Council chamber of Ralston City Hall and the schedule is posted at City Hall and on the City of Ralston’s website.
While this process proceeds, the City is voluntarily suspending enforcement of certain prohibitions in Article 11 against displaying banners and flags on and over the public right-of-ways in downtown Ralston. Please be aware however that the City reserves and will enforce its right to ensure that sidewalks and all other public right-of-ways are available for the use of all its citizens and therefore are not obstructed.
CITY CALENDAR
Our Mission:
The City of Ralston is a dedicated and caring team of volunteers, staff, and officials who provide high-quality, equitably priced services to sustain a safe and progressive community that supports family values.
Our Vision: