12/11/2007 MinutesCITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
December 11, 2007
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 Community Meeting Room of City Hall, 100 East First
Street, on December 11, 2007. Notice of the meeting was given in the Grand Island Independent
on December 5, 2007.
Mayor Margaret Hornady called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following members were
present: Councilmember's Brown, Haase, Nickerson, Gericke, Carney,. Gilbert, Ramsey,
Niemann, and Meyer. Councilmember Zapata was absent. The following City Officials were
present: City Administrator Jeff Pederson, City Clerk RaNae Edwards, Assistant City Attorney
Wes Nespor and Finance Director David Springer.
INVOCATION was given by Pastor Mike Refiners, Peace Lutheran Church, 4018 Zola Lane
followed by the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
MAYOR COl~MJNICATION: Mayor Hornady explained this meeting was a Study Session
and immediately following this meeting a Special Meeting would take place.
Presentation of Proposed Arboretum for Stolley Park. Steve Paustian, Park and Recreation
Director reported that in 1981 the Heritage Zoo was constructed and operated for app. roximately
20 years at Stolley Park. In late 2001 a committee formulated a re-use plan and was adopted by
City Council. Recommendations were to construct a themed playground, refurbish the train and
train tracks, erect a community picnic shelter, develop an arboretum and construct an outdoor
refrigerated ice rink.
Mr. Paustian stated to date, the themed playground had been constructed, the train and train
tracks had been refurbished and a community picnic shelter had been erected- The next phase of
the re-use plan was to develop an arboretum. Over the past three years, funding for the arboretum
had been requested through the budget process but funding had not been approved or allocated.
Staff felt an ongoing maintenance commitment by the City would be necessary. To properly
maintain the arboretum, one additional full-time person and two seasonal staffwould be required
at a labor cost of approximately $55,000 annually including benefits. Also mentioned was that
volunteer labor would. be critical to the upkeep of the beds.
Mr. Paustian commented that the committee was willing to undertake the challenge of raising
capital funds if Council- was willing to support the arboretum by funding- maintenance and long
term care,
Herb Worthington, 4262 Pennsylvania Avenue spoke in support.
Page 2, City Council Study Session, December I I, 2007
Mr. Faustian stated the original cost from the study was $870,000. With the volunteer work and
capital campaign funding it was thought the cost would be approximately $400,000.
Discussion was held concerning the cost of additional employees and ongoing maintenance cost
and upkeep. Mr. Faustian stated the arboretum could be done in phases as money came in.
Comments were made regarding the volunteer work done by the community with the Kid's
Kingdom and were encouraged that the community would step forward and make the arboretum
a success.
It was the consensus of the council to move forward with this project.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
RaNae Edwards
City Clerk