07/10/2012 Minutes CITY OF GRAND ISLAND,NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
July 10, 2012
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 10, 2012. Notice of the meeting was given in The Grand Island Independent on
July 4, 2012.
Mayor Jay Vavricek called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following City Council
members were present: Chuck Haase, Larry Carney, Bob Niemann, Kirk Ramsey, Peg Gilbert,
Mitch Nickerson, Linna Dee Donaldson, Scott Dugan, and John Gericke. Councilmember
Vaughn Minton was absent. The following City Officials were present: City Clerk RaNae
Edwards, City Attorney Robert Sivick, Public Works Director John Collins and Finance Director
Jaye Monter.
INVOCATION was given by Pastor Bob Rhodes, Trinity United Methodist Church, 511 North
Elm Street followed by the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
Mayor Vavricek recused himself due to a conflict of interest on Items E-1 and G-2. Council
President Gilbert conducted the meeting.
Council President Gilbert introduced Community Youth Council member Ashley Bykerk.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Public Hearing on Acquisition of Utility Easement Located at 2533 Old Potash Hwy. (Charter
Communications). Utilities Director Tim Luchsinger reported that acquisition of an easement
located at 2533 Old Potash Hwy. was needed in order to have access to install, upgrade,
maintain, and repair power appurtenances, including lines and transformers for the purpose of
locating underground conduit, cable, and a three phase pad-mounted transformer to serve the
new load for Charter Communications. Staff recommended approval. No public testimony was
heard.
Public Hearing on Acquisition of Utility Easement Located at 2103 Pioneer Blvd. (James F.
Crisel). Utilities Director Tim Luchsinger reported that acquisition of an easement located at
2103 Pioneer Blvd. was needed in order to have access to install, upgrade, maintain, and repair
power appurtenances, including lines and transformers for the purpose of locating underground
cable, conduit and a pad-mounted transformer closer to the increased load. Staff recommended
approval. No public testimony was heard.
ORDINANCES:
Councilmember Gilbert moved "that the statutory rules requiring ordinances to be read by title
on three different days are suspended and that ordinances numbered:
#9390 — Consideration of Amending Chapter 2 of the Grand Island City Code to Require
City Council Approval of Future Hires of Certain Department Directors
Page 2,City Council Regular Meeting,July 10,2012
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 these ordinances on second 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.
#9390— Consideration of Amending Chapter 2 of the Grand Island City Code to Require
City Council Approval of Future Hires of Certain Department Directors
City Attorney Robert Sivick reported that at the June 26, 2012 Council meeting Ordinance #9389
was approved requiring Council approval of future Police and Fire Chiefs hired by the Mayor. A
motion to amend Ordinance was offered which would have required additional Department
Directors be hired with Council approval. The motion was withdrawn due to concerns regarding
the Nebraska Open Meetings Act requiring sufficient notice to the public. This ordinance did not
include the Regional Planning Director, Emergency Management Director, and the Library
Director because they were subject to the authority of public bodies other than the Council.
Lewis Kent, 624 Meves Avenue requested Council to approve all Department Director's
positions.
Discussion was held regarding the three positions not included in Ordinance #9390. Mr. Sivick
explained the Regional Planning Director and Emergency Management Director's position were
tied with Hall County through an Interlocal and the Library Director was appointed by the
Library Board as required by state statutes. They City pays for all three positions. Concerns were
made regarding delays in hiring.
Motion by Carney, second by Haase to approve Ordinance#9390.
City Clerk: Ordinance#9390 on first reading. All those in favor of the passage of this ordinance
on first reading, answer roll call vote. Upon roll call vote, Councilmember's Haase, Carney,
Niemann, Ramsey, Gilbert, Nickerson, Dugan, and Gericke voted aye. Councilmember
Donaldson voted no. Motion adopted.
City Clerk: Ordinance#9390 on final passage. All those in favor of the passage of this ordinance
on final passage, answer roll call vote. Upon roll call vote, Councilmember's Haase, Carney,
Niemann, Ramsey, Gilbert, Nickerson, Dugan, and Gericke voted aye. Councilmember
Donaldson voted no. Motion adopted.
Mayor Vavricek: By reason of the roll call votes on first reading and then upon final passage,
Ordinance#9390 is declared to be lawfully adopted upon publication as required by law.
CONSENT AGENDA: Agenda items G-2 and G-8 were pulled for further discussion. Motion by
Ramsey, second by Carney to approve the Consent Agenda excluding items G-2 and G-8. Upon
roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted.
Approving Minutes of June 26, 2012 City Council Regular Meeting.
Page 3,City Council Regular Meeting,July 10,2012
#2012-173 —Approving Acquisition of Utility easement located at 2103 Pioneer Blvd. (James F.
Crisel).
#2012-174 — Approving Bid Award for Chimney Repairs at Platte Generation Station with
NAES Power Contractors of Cranberry Township, PA in an Amount of$59,994.00.
#2012-175 —Approving Bid Award for Fire Protection Upgrade at Platte Generating Station with
Nebraska Fire Sprinkler of Alda,NE in an Amount of$68,900.00.
#2012-176 — Approving Change Order #1 for Uranium Removal Water Treatment Plant
Equipment Installation & Pump Modifications with Judds Brothers of Lincoln, NE for an
Increase of$1,567.86 and a Revised Contract Amount of$310,817.86.
#2012-177 — Approving Change Order #1 for Uranium Removal System Equipment at the
Uranium Removal Water Treatment Plant with Water Remediation Technologies of Wheat
Ridge, CO for a Decrease of$1,315.86 and a Revised Contract Amount of$1,956,784.14.
#2012-179 — Approving Crossing Surface Installation Agreement with Burlington Northern
Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway Company for Improvements at the Broadwell Avenue/BNSF Railroad
Crossing in an Amount Estimated at $31,572.00.
#2012-180 — Approving Increase to the City's Share of the US Highway 30 Improvements with
NDOR Project No. STP-NH 30-4(157) for a Total Amount of$571,423.60.
#2012-172 — Approving Acquisition of Utility Easement Located at 2533 Old Potash Hwy.
(Charter Communications). This item related to the aforementioned Public Hearing.
Motion by Carney, second by Dugan to approve Resolution #2012-172. Upon roll call vote, all
voted aye. Motion adopted.
#2012-178 — Approving Request for Relaxation of Design Standards for Minimum Shoulder
Width on Streets without Curb and Gutter for the Grand Island Resurfacing— Various Locations
Project. Public Works Director John Collins reported that relaxation of Design Standards for
Minimum Shoulder width on Streets without curb and gutter were needed on sections of
Independence Road, South Blaine Street and North Road which did not currently have sufficient
right of way to construct wider shoulders due to ditch and utility conflicts.
Councilmember Gericke raised concerns of allowing narrow streets within the city.
Motion by Carney, second by Gericke to approve Resolution #2012-178. Upon roll call vote,
Councilmember's Carney, Niemann, Ramsey, Gilbert, Nickerson, Donaldson, Dugan, and
Gericke voted aye. Councilmember Haase voted no. Motion adopted.
Mayor Vavricek returned to conduct the meeting.
PAYMENT OF CLAIMS:
Page 4,City Council Regular Meeting,July 10,2012
Motion by Dugan, second by Nickerson to approve the Claims for the period of June 27, 2012
through July 10, 2012, for a total amount of$4,345,834.28. Unanimously approved.
Motion by Gilbert, second by Dugan to remove item X-2 — Strategy Session with Respect to
Pending Litigation from the agenda. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted.
ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION: Motion by Gilbert, second by Ramsey to adjourn to
Executive Session at 7:30 p.m. for the purpose of a strategy session with respect to collective
bargaining (IBEW Local 1597 —Wastewater, Service/Clerical, Finance, Utilities). Upon roll call
vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted.
RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION: Motion by Gilbert, second by Ramsey to return to Regular
Session at 8:07 p.m. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:07 p.m.
q
RaNae Edwards
City Clerk