09/05/2006 Minutes
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OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
September 5, 2006
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a Study Session 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
September 5, 2006. Notice of the meeting was given in the Grand Island Independent on August
30, 2005.
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, Hornady,
Walker, and Haase. Councilmember Pauly was absent. The following City Officials were
present: City Administrator Gary Greer, City Clerk RaNae Edwards, Finance Director David
Springer, Interim City Attorney Dale Shotkoski, and Public Works Director Steve Riehle.
INVOCATION was given by Pastor David Zellmer, Messiah Lutheran Church, 708 North
Locust Street followed by the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
MAYOR COMMUNICATION: Mayor Vavricek commented on the following:
. Flowers in front of City Hall and the work of Ken Scholl, Maintenance Worker and Brad
Foster, Parks and Recreation who supplies the flowers for City Hall and plants flowers in
all the City parks
. Sgt. Jeffery Hansen, funeral today
. Husker Harvest Days - September 12-14,2006
. Harvest of Harmony Parade - October 7, 2006
· Humane Society Groundbreaking - September 6, 2006
Review of Chapter 5 of the Grand Island City Code Relative to Animals. Dale Shotkoski, Interim
City Attorney reported that one of the goals set this year by Administration, Mayor and City
Council was to revise and update the Grand Island City Code.
Recent meetings had taken place with Brad Driml of the Humane Society and the Animal
Advisory Board to discuss changes to Chapter 5 relative to animals. The following changes were
recommended by the Animal Advisory Board:
. Definition of "vicious animal" be eliminated from the language of Section 5-37. Under
the proposed revision, violations previously enforced under the definition of "vicious
animal" would be enforced under the definition of "dangerous animal".
· Definition of "scratch" include "any scraping with the claws or by oral captivity". This
revision includes the specification of oral captivity. Section 5-36 of the City Code
pertains to dangerous or potentially dangerous animals on an owner's property.
. Dangerous animal should be securely confined in an enclosed and locked pen or structure
while un-attended.
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Page 2, City Council Study Session, September 5, 2006
. Dangerous or potentially dangerous animal in violation of Sections 5-36 and 5-37 would
be immediately impounded by the Humane Society with the owner of the animal being
responsible for the costs incurred by the Humane Society for the care of said animal.
. Humane Society be authorized to confiscate any dangerous or potentially dangerous
animal who has bitten or inflicted a wound on a human or domestic animal and eliminate
the requirement of written notice before doing so.
. Citizens not be able to maintain more than ten chickens, including no more than two
roosters. Chickens and/or roosters must be fenced, screening the visibility of the birds
from other residences.
Mr. Shotkoski stated the City Code Revision Committee met with Mr. Driml and approved the
proposed revisions with the exceptions of chickens. The City Code Revision Committee
recommended that no chickens or roosters be allowed within the city limits of the City of Grand
Island.
Council member Whitesides recommended a limit of 4 chickens with no roosters inside the City
limits. Council member' s Pielstick, Meyer, and Nickerson recommended we follow the
committee's recommendation with no chickens allowed. Councilmember Gilbert recommended
moving chickens to City Code Section 5-18.
Brad Driml, Executive Director of the Central Nebraska Humane Society explained the
procedures for dogs that had bitten and not had rabies shots. Mr. Driml stated the most common
citations issued by the Humane Society were no license, no rabies shots, and running-at-Iarge.
Discussion was had regarding the expansion of the City into agricultural areas and this being an
area where chickens could be kept such as other animals listed in Section 5-18.
It was the consensus of the council to move chickens to Section 5-18 allowing four
chickens/fowl ( no roosters) on a lot of half an acre or more.
Mr. Shotkoski stated Chapter 5 would be brought to the September 12, 2006 City Council
Regular Meeting for approval. If the ordinance was approved it would go into effect 15 days
after approval and those individuals who had chickens would be in violation of the law.
Presentation of NE Risk & Protective Factors Student Survey. Randy See, Prevention Project
Coordinator with the Grand Island Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition presented information
regarding the NE Risk & Protective Factors Student Survey.
Mr. See stated in 2003 and 2005 a survey was taken of students within the Grand Island School
system. The following information was collected:
. Substance Use and Antisocial Behavior
. Risk and Protective Factor Profiles
. Sources and Places of Alcohol and Cigarette Use
. Contexts for Gambling
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Page 3, City Council Study Session, September 5, 2006
Presented were charts and data tables from the survey. The Risk and Protective Factor Model of
Prevention was based on the fact that in order to prevent a problem from happening, factors that
increase the risk of that problem from developing needed to be identified and then find ways to
reduce the risks.
Police Chief, Steve Lamken commented on underage tobacco violations. Councilmember
Nickerson questioned the social economical factors of the survey. Mr. See stated he did not
know. Council member Gilbert mentioned presentations available through the United Way and
other agencies to educate parents, businesses, employees, etc. promoting prevention.
Presentation of Transportation Study Survey. Cindy Preisendorf, Heartland Campaign
Management TAP Project Coordinator presented a PowerPoint on the Transportation Access
Project (TAP) relating to a Public Transportation Service.
Introduced were members of the subcommittee: Jeff Burke, Vocational Rehabilitation; Terri
Sautter, Workforce Development; Judy V ohland, Vocational Rehabilitation Services; MarIan
Ferguson, Econonic Development Corporation; Dr. Lynn Black, Central Community College;
Chuck Leach, Center for Independent Living; and Kris Nolan-Brown, Goodwill Industries; Bill
Brennan, St. Francis Medical Center; and Lois Steineke, Grand Generation Center.
Ms. Preisendorf explained the history, accomplishments, goals & objectives of TAP. Moore and
Associates conducted a study to review public transit service in Hall County. A detailed report of
the survey results was given.
Survey Highlights:
. 1,882 surveys were distributed in English and Spanish languages
. 747 surveys returned for a rate of 39.87%. 21 proved invalid to scan for compilation &
analysis purposes, 64 were returned too late to include. A total of 662 responses were
included in the survey analysis.
. A variety of distribution methods were employed by the 33 distribution partners.
Projected Project Outcomes:
. Increased ability to attract business/industry to the community
. Service provided to larger segments of the population currently underserved
. Improved efficiency = system capacity expansion = greater ridership = increased federal
and state funding
. EveninglWeekend service
. Fixed Routes that inherently offer increased reliability
Benefits of Expansion to the Community:
An expanded public transit system will result in:
. Job Market Growth
· Improved health care access
· Greater mobility for various segments of the population
. Benefit business, industry, higher education, government, faith-based organizations,
human service agencies, medical/dental providers and private citizens
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Page 4, City Council Study Session, September 5, 2006
. An expanded pubic transit system will aid in attracting business and industry to our city
as it approaches the 50,000 population mark
Conclusions & Summary:
There was much interest in and positive support for a public transit route system from a wide
array of community entities and across all demographics of Hall County citizens.
There were two primary concerns:
1. Riders of the current Hall County Public Transportation did not wish to see door to door
or "demand - response" service, they depend on a great deal, eliminated or decreased.
2. Elected officials, city/county government staff and some citizens do not wish to see an
increased tax burden to the community from an expanded service.
Lois Steineke, Grand Generation Center commented on the current transportation and capacity
for the Grand Generation buses.
Discussed was Phase I of the study regarding bus routes, vehicle hours, schedule, and bus stop
locations.
Terri Sautter, Workforce Development, Judy Vohland, Vocational Rehabilitation Services; Jeff
Burke, Vocational Rehabilitation Services; Bill Brennan, S1. Francis Medical Center; Kris
Nolan-Brown, Goodwill Industries; and Chuck Leach, Center for Independent Living spoke in
support of the need to expand the transportation services in Hall County.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
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RaNae Edwards
City Clerk
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