03/18/2008 MinutesCITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
M[1~iLJTES OF CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
March 18, 2008
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 March 18, 2008. Notice of the meeting was given in the Grand Island Independent on
March 12, 2008 ,
Mayor Margaret Hornady called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following members were
present: Councilrnember'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, City Attorney Dale
Shotkoski and Finance Director David Springer.
INVOCATION was given by Pastor Kip Smith, Peace Lutheran Church, 4018 Zola Lane
followed by the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
MAYOR COl~~IlVIUNICATION: Mayor Hornady commented on
Presentation_on 2008 Groundwater Survev Report. Jeff Pederson, City Administrator reported
that at the September 18, 2007 City Council Study Session, Olsson Associates presented an
updated groundwater removal study and computer model. The updated project had an estimated
cost of $23,385,000 in capital, with annual costs of $1,876,412 for amortization and $467,170
estimated annual operational expenses. This study session resulted in City Council's request for
further study.
Mr. Pederson recognized the following people involved in conducting and preparing the study:
• Paul Briseno, Assistant to the City Administrator
• Dale Shotkoski, City Attorney
• Craig Lewis, Building Department Director
• Chad Nabity, Regional Planning Director
+~ Gary Mader, Utilities Director
• Steve Riehle, Public Works Director
• Pat Larson, Geographical Information System
• Wendy Meyer-Jerke, Public Information Officer
• Catrina Delosh, Public Works Administrative Assistant
• Ed Mslonka, Regional Planning Technician
• Jeff Pederson, City Administrator
Paul Briseno, Assistant to the City Administrator presented a PowerPoint of the survey results.
Total cost of the survey was $2,554.23 with 6,799 surveys being mailed, 5,880 surveys
delivered, and 919 returned as undeliverable. 1,554 responded to the survey with a response rate
Page 2, City Council Study Session, March 18, 2008
of 26.43%. Over 900 respondents utilized the comment section of the survey. The following five
questions were included in the survey:
1. Do you have a basement? Yes/No
2. Do you currently have groundwater intrusion problems in your basement? YeslNo
3. Have you had groundwater intrusion problems in your basement in the past? Yes/No
4. Have you taken measures to mitigate groundwater intrusion? Yes/No
~. Have the mitigation measures worked? Yes/No
5. Comments
Results of the Surveys:
• Over half of the respondents, or 58%, did not report having groundwater intrusion
issues
• 33% or (514) reported they had groundwater intrusion in the past
• 9% reported they currently have groundwater intrusion
• 36% or (553) responded they currently have qr in the past had groundwater
intrusion
60% or (329) took measures to mitigate
64% or (211) were successful
36% or (118) were unsuccessful
Timeline:
• 1969 Village of Parkview annexed
• 1976 Floodplain areas were adopted and the National Flood Insurance Program went into
effect
{Construction of basements in the floodplain was prohibited. Prior to 1976 prohibition of
basement construction and regulations was nonexistent.)
• 1980 tornados hit Grand Island. City requested FEMA permission for construction of
basements in the floodplain areas. FEMA approved request with exceptions.
• 1984 Capital Heights area in the northwest area of Grand Island was annexed
• 1995 City adopted a requirement for a subsurface drainage system to be installed far any
new construction where the basement was 2 feet or more below the curb of the adjacent
street
(Of the 141 responses that currently have groundwater intrusion, only 8 were built after
1995)
• 2007 At the City's request, Olsson Associates updated the dewatering system
Conclusion:
• Of 5, 880 surveys delivered 26% or 1,554 surveys were received
58% did not report having groundwater intrusion issues
36% reported having groundwater intrusion either currently or at sometime in the past
60% of these responses have taken measures to mitigate the issue on their own
9% reported currently having groundwater intrusion
Question to the Council from this study was: Does the benefit received by the 9% that currently
have groundwater intrusion outweigh the $24 million capital and annual cost of $1,8?6,412
Page 3, City Council Study Session, March 18, 2008
amortized over 20 years and $467,170 for operations for a dewatering project paid by all
including the 91% who do not currently have groundwater intrusion issues?
The following people spoke regarding the Groundwater Survey Report 2008:
• Randy Stueven, 233 South Gunbarrell Road
• Cyndie Larson, 2811 Circle Drive
• Kevin Ohtman representing Thrasher Dewatering Systems spoke on behalf of Cyndie
Larson, 2811 Circle Drive
Darrell Dey, 2404 Vandergrift Avenue
• Vern Rempe, 1739 South Arthur Street
• Gene Pletcher, 2$Q~ Circle Drive
• 3ayne Decker, 2018 Pioneer Blvd
Councilmember Zapata present at 7:SS p.m.
Comments were made by council concerning the quality of life and importance of this issue.
Kevin Prior representing Olsson Associates commented on the study regarding the problems of
relocating the ground water and the costs. Steve Riehle, Public Works Director commented on
storm sewer issues. Milt Moravek, Central Platte Natural Resources District answered questions
about pumping water to the river with possible reimbursement for some of the costs.
Craig Lewis, Building Department Director commented on safety hazards regarding water in
basements. Short term solutions were discussed. Gary Mader, Utilities Director commented on
wells no longer in use because of possible contamination to the city's drinking water.
Councilmember Nickerson recommended a phased approached to the dewatering problems
within the city.
ADJOi;J~~1VMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
~a~a~ ~ ~~
RaNae Edwards
City Clerk