07/11/2006 Minutes
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OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
July 11, 2006
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of
Grand Island, Nebraska was conducted in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 100 East First
Street, on July 11, 2006. Notice of the meeting was given in The Grand Island Independent on
July 5,2006.
Mayor Jay Vavricek called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following members were
present: Councilmember's Meyer, Whitesides, Pielstick, Gilbert, Nickerson, Cornelius, Pauly,
Hornady, Walker, and Haase. The following City Officials were present: City Administrator
Gary Greer, City Clerk RaNae Edwards, Finance Director David Springer, Public Works
Director Steve Riehle, and Interim City Attorney Dale S hotko ski.
INVOCATION was given by Youth Pastor Micah Salmon, Evangelical Free Church, 2609 South
Blaine Street followed by the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
MAYOR COMMUNICATION: Mayor Vavricek commented on the Railroad Corridor Study to
be presented at the July 18, 2006 City Council Study Session.
PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS:
Recognition of City Employees in the Armed Forces Who Have Been Called to Duty Since 9/11.
The Mayor and City Council recognized the following city employees who had served in active
duty since 9/11:
Loren "Jeff" McConnell, Police Officer
Joel Hestermann, Police Officer
Bill Luft, Police Officer
Rick Ehlers, Police Officer
Jerry Atwell, Police Sergeant
Danelle Collins, Public Works Administrative Assistant
Mike Wagner, Public Works Street Maintenance Worker
These employees were thanked for their dedicated service to our nation followed by a standing
ovation. Joel Hestermann and Danelle Collins were not present.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Public Hearing on Acquisition of Utility Easement Located at 555 S. Stuhr Road. (Swift Beef
Plant) Gary Mader, Utilities Director reported that acquisition of a utility easement located at
555 S. Stuhr Road was needed in order to have access to install, upgrade, maintain, and repair
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Page 2, City Council Regular Meeting, July 1 J, 2006
power appurtenances, including lines and transformers. The purpose of the easement would be to
add anew transformer to facilitate increased electrical load at the Swift Plant. No public testimony
was heard.
ORDINANCES:
Councilmember Pielstick moved "that the statutory rules requiring ordinances to be read by title
on three different days be suspended and that ordinances numbered:
#9053 - Consideration of Deleting Chapter 11 of the Grand Island City Code Relative to
Civil Rights
be considered for passage on the same day upon reading by number only and that the City Clerk
be permitted to call out the number of this ordinance on first reading and then upon final passage
and call for a roll call vote on each reading and then upon final passage." Councilmember
Nickerson seconded the motion. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted.
Dale Shotkoski, Interim City Attorney explained that Ordinance #9053 would be deleted if
approved by Council and that the Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission handled the Civil
Rights complaints.
Motion by Gilbert, second by Cornelius to approve Ordinance #9053.
City Clerk: Ordinance #9053 on first reading. Ail those in favor of the passage of this ordinance
on first reading, answer roll call vote. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted.
City Clerk: Ordinance #9053 on final passage. Ail those in favor of the passage of this ordinance
on final passage, answer roll call vote. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted.
Mayor Vavricek: By reason of the roll call votes on first reading and then upon final passage,
Ordinance #9053 is declared to be lawfully adopted upon publication as required by law.
CONSENT AGENDA: Consent Agenda items G-6, G-8, and G-II were pulled for further
discussion. Motion by Pielstick, second by Hornady to approve the Consent Agenda excluding
items G-6, G-8, and G-Il. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted.
Approving Minutes of June 27, 2006 City Council Regular Meeting.
#2006-186 - Approving Acquisition of Utility Easement Located at 555 S. Stuhr Road. (Swift
Beef Plant)
#2006-187 - Approving Natural Gas Supply Contract Six Month Extension for Power Plants
with ONE OK Energy Marketing and Trading Company, L.P.
#2006-188 - Approving Bid Award for Railroad Track Repair at Platte Generating Station with
Railworks Track Systems, Inc. of Fremont Nebraska in an Amount of$65,129.00.
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Page 3, City Council Regular Meeting. July II, 2006
#2006-189 - Approving Certificate of Final Completion for Water Main District No. 450 and
Water Main District No. 451 with The Diamond Engineering Company of Grand Island,
Nebraska and Setting August K 2006 for the Board of Equalization.
#2006-191 - Approving Bid Award for Street Improvement District No. 1254: Dale Roush and
Dale Roush 2nd Subdivisions (Indian Acres) with Gary Smith Construction Co. of Grand Island,
Nebraska in an Amount of$31 1.543.16.
#2006-193 - Approving Subordination Request for 622 West 7th Street (Brenda Hack).
#2006-194 - Approving Change Order No. 1 with Chief Construction of Grand Island, Nebraska
for Law Enforcement Center for a Decrease in the Amount of $7,605.00.
#2006-190 - Approving Nebraska City II Transmission Facilities Cost Agreement between the
City of Grand Island and Omaha Public Power District (OPPD). Gary Mader, Utilities
Department Director answered questions regarding the costs, deregulation, tariffs, capital costs,
and the transmission service fund which would be credited back to the city.
Motion by Gilbert, second by Cornelius to approve Resolution #2006-190. Upon roll call vote,
all voted aye. Motion adopted.
#2006-192 - Approving Proposal for Lead Based Paint Service Provider for CDBG Funds with
Community Development Services. LLC of Plain view. Nebraska in an Amount of $1 1.500.00.
Marsha Kaslon, Community Development Administrator answered questions regarding
guidelines and regulations for Community Development Services, LLC to conduct the lead based
paint services. Councilmember Pielstick stated some concerns with this company referring to
problems of past performance. Ms. Kaslon assured the Council that she would oversee the work
as the Housing Administrator.
Motion by Homady, second by Nickerson to approve Resolution #2006-192. Upon roll call vote,
Councilmember's Meyer, Whitesides, Gilbert, Nickerson, Cornelius, Pauly, Hornady, Walker,
and Haase vote aye. Councilmember Pielstick vote no. Motion adopted.
#2006-195 - Approving FY 2006-2007 User Fee Schedule. David Springer, Finance Director
explained that the FY 2006-2007 User Fee Schedule included a listing of the utility rates which
could only be changed through an Ordinance. These rates would be brought before Council at a
later date.
Motion by Meyer, second by Cornelius to approve Resolution #2006-19. Upon roll call vote, all
voted aye. Motion adopted.
RESOLUTIONS:
#2006-196 - Consideration of Full Time Equivalents. David Springer, Finance Director reported
that this item related to the discussion held at the June 20, 2006, City Council Study Session. The
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Page 4, City Council Regular Meeting. July 11, 2006
recommendation by Administration was to streamline the operations of the City by a reduction in
force of three personnel. The net result was a reduction of 1.45 FTE's and $97,377 city-wide.
A lengthy discussion was held regarding other available positions within the City for these three
people, reduction through attrition, severance pay, the need for a parks maintenance position at
this time, the last time the City reduced its work force, and the tightening of the budget.
Brenda Sutherland, Human Resources Director explained the severance pay portion of the
Employee Handbook. Stated was that the Mayor may grant severance pay greater than one
month's pay upon a determination that such action is in the best interest of the City.
Mayor Vavricek stated he felt we should not exceed what was in the policy, but would take it
under consideration.
Police Chief Steve Lamken explained the purpose of a full-time Evidence Technician versus the
part-time position of a Community Service Officer (CSO). Also discussed was the part-time
position of a Library Secretary to full-time.
Lewis Kent, 624 E. Meves spoke in opposition.
Motion by Homady, second by Nickerson to approve Resolution #2006-196. Upon roll call vote,
Councilmember's Whitesides, Pielstick, Gilbert, Nickerson, Cornelius, Pauly, and Hornady
voted aye. Councilmember's Meyer, Walker, and Haase voted no. Motion adopted.
#2006-197 - Consideration of Funding Outside Agencies. David Springer, Finance Director
reported that this item related to the discussion held at the June 20, 2006, City Council Study
Session. Added was $2,000 for the Fishing Derby. Direction was requested from Council to
facilitate the advancement of the budget process.
Louise Miller, 1104 West Charles Street spoke in opposition.
Discussion was held regarding policies and procedures for funding.
Motion by Walker, second by Whitesides to approve Resolution #2006-197.
Motion by Nickerson, second by Meyer to increase the amount to the Central Nebraska Humane
Society by $7,500 for a total amount of $167,500. Upon roll call vote, Councilmember's Meyer,
Pielstick, Gilbert, Nickerson, Cornelius, Pauly, Hornady, and Haase voted aye. Councilmember's
Whitesides and Walker voted no. Motion adopted.
Upon roll Call vote on the main motion with the amendment, Councilmember's Pielstick,
Gilbert, Nickerson, Cornelius, Pauly, Hornady, and Haase voted aye. Councilmember's Meyer,
Whitesides, and Walker voted no. Motion adopted.
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Page 5, City Council Regular Meeting, July 11, 2006
PAYMENT OF CLAIMS:
Motion by Cornelius, second by Nickerson to approve the Claims for the period of June 28, 2006
through July 11, 2006, for a total amount of $2,389,556.90. Motion adopted unanimously.
Councilmember Haase voted no on Claims #130696 and #130697.
Motion by Cornelius, second by Hornady to approve the following Claims for the Library
Expansion for the Period of May 14,2006 through July 11, 2006:
#30 $232.00
#31 $221,857.92
Motion adopted unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
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RaNae Edwards
City Clerk