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12/05/2006 Minutes I I I OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING December 5, 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 December 5, 2006. Notice of the meeting was given in The Grand Is/and Independent on November 29, 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, Cornelius, Pauly, Hornady, Walker, and Haase. Councilmember Nickerson was absent. 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 Shotkoski. INVOCATION was given by Pastor Jay Vetter, Trinity United Methodist Church, 511 North Elm Street followed by the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. MAYOR COMMUNICATION: Mayor Vavricek acknowledged Community Youth Council member's Malorie Meier and Kasey Grim. STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS: Mayor Vavricek commented on the accomplishments over the last four years. Mentioned were: increased jobs and record employment, economic activity, interstate access, redeveloped neighborhoods, opening an events center, protected homes and businesses from flooding, water contamination issues, helicopter base, ballot issues, odor reduction at the Waste Water Treatment Plant, recruited professional leaders in key city positions, and new city facilities. Mayor Vavricek thanked his family and the citizen's of Grand Island for their support. CITY COUNCIL REORGMlZATION: APPROVING MINUTES OF NOVEl\ffiER 28. 2006 CITY COUNCIL MEETING. Motion by Hornady, second by Cornelius, to approve the minutes of the November 28, 2006 City Council meeting. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted. ACCEPTANCE OF ELECTION CERTIFICATE: Motion by Gilbert, second by Walker, to accept the Election Certificate. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted. COMMENTS BY OUTGOING OFFICIALS: Councilmember Don Pauly thanked the citizen's, administration, and fellow council members for their support during the last four years in office. RECESS: The meeting recessed at 7:20 p.m. for the transition to the new governing body. The meeting reconvened at 7:35 p.m. ADMINISTRATION OF OATH TO NEWLY ELECTED MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER'S: City Clerk RaNae Edwards administered the Oath of Office to newly elected Mayor Margaret Hornady. Ms. Edwards then administered the Oath of Office to newly elected Councilmember John Gericke and returning Councilmember's Carole Cornelius, Peg Gilbert, and Robert (Bob) Meyer. -~~ ..~ /"!lI&'~";.,,. .."c, ."". ,~:,..,'-'-" ." I I I Page 2, City Council Regular Meeting, December 5, 2006 SEATING OF NEWLY ELECTED MAYOR AND COUNClL:MEMBER'S FOLLOWED BY ROLL CALL: The following members were present: Mayor Hornady, Councilmember's Meyer, Haase, Whitesides, Gilbert, Gericke, Cornelius, Walker, and Pielsick. Councilmember Nickerson was absent. COMMENTS BY NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS: Mayor Hornady introduced her family and thanked Mayor Vavricek for his service. She then thanked the citizen's of Grand Island for giving her the opportunity to serve as Mayor for the next four years. Mentioned were her goals to promote fiscal responsibility and to manage safety opportunities. Councilmember's John Gericke, Carole Cornelius, Peg Gilbert, and Bob Meyer each thanked the citizen's of Grand Island for the opportunity to represent them. ELECTION OF CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT: City Clerk RaNae Edwards reported that the City Council was required to elect one Councilmember to the office of Council President for a term of one year and that the Council President automatically assumed the duties of the Mayor in the event that the Mayor was absent or otherwise unable to fulfill her duties. Councilmember Cornelius nominated Councilmember Peg Gilbert. Councilmember Walker nominated Councilmember Carole Cornelius. Councilmember Pielstick nominated Councilmember Bob Meyer. City Clerk RaNae Edwards called for the first ballot. It was reported that Councilmember Meyer had received 4 votes, Councilmember Cornelius had received 2 votes, and Councilmember Gilbert had received 2 votes. A second round of ballots was conducted. Ms. Edwards reported that Councilmember Meyer had received 4 votes, Councilmember Cornelius had received 2 votes, and Councilmember Gilbert had received 2 votes. A third round of ballots was conducted. Ms. Edwards reported that Councilmember Meyer had received 7 votes and Councilmember Gilbert had received 1 vote. Mayor Hornady declared Councilmember Bob Meyer the new Council President for 2007. Motion by Whaitesides, second by Pielstick, carried unanimously to make the vote a unanimous one for Councilmember Meyer as City Council President. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted. ORDINANCES: Councilmember Pielstick moved "that the statutory rules requiring ordinances to be read by title on three different days, be suspended and ordinance numbered: #9096 - Consig.eration of Vacating a 60' Utility and IngresslEgress Easement along Lots Five (5) and Si~ (6) of Cedar Ridge Second Subdivision (GILD Investments, LLC) be cons,idet~d for passage on the same day upon reading by number only and that the City Clerk be permffted 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." Council member Cornelius seconded the motion. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted. Steve Riehle, Public Works Director reported that Ordinance #9096 would vacate a 60' easement along Lots Five (5) and Six (6) of Cedar Ridge Second Subdivision. The developer reconfigured the lots as platted in Cedar Ridge Second Subdivision with the platting of Cedar Ridge Third .;;I\1I,,,",,, .,~'-- -"'~'."'L,. ___'.__...__c.,,,""""'-'" ~... .-"....~~ -,~ _ ','__ ...._1 .;":;;j~~~~:iL~".ill._.1II "1Il'~ I I I " ,--' Page 3, City COIUlcil Regular Meeting, December 5, 2006 Subdivision. There were no utilities on these lots and the City did not need the easement for ingress/egress. City Clerk: Ordinance #9096 on first reading. All 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 #9096 on final passage. All 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 Hornady: By reason of the roll call votes on first reading and then upon final passage, Ordinance #9096 is declared to be lawfully adopted upon publication as required by law. REQUESTS AND REFERRALS: Consideration of Request from Mark Galvan to Contest the Contract for Softball Fields at Ryder Park: Mark Galvan, President of the Central Nebraska Girls Softball Association contested the contract with the ABCD Girls Softball Association for softball fields used at Ryder Park. Mr. Galvan requested the use of the Ryder Park softball fields for his girl's softball program. Explained was their use of the Senior High softball fields but were limited to time of play due to no lights on the field. Also explained were the other fields within the city and the number of kids versus the number of fields. The following people spoke in support of not changing the contract with the ABCDD Girl's Softball Association: . Jan Sorensen, 312 West 17th Street . Bill Scott, 904 West Louise Street . Susan Graf, 2220 West Division Street . Vernon Engel, 528 Wyandotte Street . Jerry Robinson, 2703 Riverview Drive . Steve Rempe, 1028 N. Hancock Avenue . Bob Sorensen, 312 West 17th Street . Frank Zavala, 2529 West 5th Street . Todd Arnett, 2303 Sherman Blvd. . Lonnie Dixon, 3220 West 18th Street . Lois Stienike, 103 West Ashton Avenue Steve Paustian, Parks and Recreation Director commented on the background of the George Park fields and contracts. Discussed was the limited number of fields for the amount of girls wanting to play. Discussion was held concerning allowing Mark Galvan's league the ability to use the Ryder Park softball fields when not being used by the ABCDD league. Bob Sorensen stated the fields were used 7 4~ys a week. M~tion was made by Pielstick, second by Haase to continue the current contract with ABCDD Girl's Softball Association for one year. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted. -'4' -". ., - ;..,~~''-;;.- .~ --.,"""""'~, ;c'~,lr~-',~ ,", .,.-'.;:f ~~, IiI'''''',''''' I I I ":,,i"'''' Page 4, City COIDlcil Regular Meeting, December 5, 2006 RESOLUTIONS: #2006-352 - Approving Appointment of City Administrator Gary Greer and Employment Contract: Mayor Hornady reported that City Administrator Gary Greer's initial appointment term expired with the close of Mayor Jay Vavricek's term of office. Mayor Hornady recommended Gary Greer be reappointed to the position of Grand Island City Administrator with renewal of his contract. His term would run with the term of the Mayor. Discussion was held regarding Section 11 - Retirement in the contract allowing the employee to receive the maximum annual deferral limit allowed by the Internal Revenue Service to be deposited in the employees ICMA-RC 457 account. Councilmember Gilbert questioned what the amount would be. David Springer, Finance Director stated the amount would be approximately $15,000 annually. Motion by Meyer, second by Pielstick to approve Resolution #2006-352. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted. #2006-353 - Approving Appointment of Interim City Attorney Dale Shotkoski: #2006-354 - Approving Appointment of City Clerk RaNae Edwards: #2006-355 - Approving Appointment of Public Works Director Steve Riehle: #2006-356 - Approving Appointment of Finance Director David Springer: Motion by Pielstick, second by Whitesides to approve Resolutions #2006-353, #2006-354, #2006- 355, and #2006-356. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted. P A VMENT OF CLAIMS: Motion by Cornelius, second by Haase to approve the Claims for the period of November 29,2006 through December 5, 2006, for a total amount of$I,819,041.92. Motion adopted unanimously. Motion by Cornelius, second by Haase to approve the following Claims for the Library Expansip{} for the Period of November 29,2006 through December 5, 2006: #45 $235,981.76 #46 $ 5,250.00 #47 $ 350.00 Motion adopted unanimously. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Ocf\~ W~ RaNae Edwards City Clerk _._-~t.... . dHfill(i)lj't!tf';r . :;-~tE~d~t:~~r~L . '~~ ~'-"