05/07/2013 Minutes CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
May 7, 2013
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a Special Council 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 May 7, 2013. Notice of the meeting was given in the Grand Island Independent on
May 1, 2013.
Mayor Jay Vavricek called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following Councilmembers
were present: Vaughn Minton, Mike Paulick, Scott Dugan, John Gericke, Mitch Nickerson, Julie
Hehnke, Chuck Haase, Linna Dee Donaldson, and Bob Niemann. Councilmember Peg Gilbert
was absent. The following City Officials were present: City Administrator Mary Lou Brown,
City Clerk RaNae Edwards, City Attorney Robert Sivick, Finance Director Jaye Monter, and
Public Works Director John Collins.
The PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was said.
PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS:
Presentation on Grand Island's Proposal for the Central Nebraska Veterans Home. Chamber of
Commerce President Cindy Johnson and Economic Development President Marlan Ferguson
representing the Home for Our Heroes Committee gave a PowerPoint presentation regarding the
Central Nebraska Replacement Veterans' Home. On April 26, 2013 indications of interest were
received from the following four cities: Kearney, Hastings, North Platte and Grand Island.
The Process for the Central Nebraska Replacement Veterans' Home Receipt, Evaluation and Site
Selection Recommendations were presented as follows:
• Issuance of Request for Statement of Interest and Offer—April 29, 2013
• Pre-Offer Meeting—May 10, 2013
• Deadline for Receipt of Written Questions and Clarifications—May 17, 2013
• Publish Responses to Written Questions and Clarifications—May 23, 2013
• Statement of Interest and Offers Due—June 11, 2013
• Site Visits—June 13 and 14, 2013
The following Grand Island Efforts were reviewed:
• First Comprehensive Discussions, Summer 2012
• Regular Planning Meetings, October 2012
o Convened by Senators Mike Gloor&Annette Dubas
• Information Gathering
• Interactions with appropriations Committee re: Budget Line Item, Winter 2013
• Presentation at Legislature's Appropriations Committee Budget Hearing, March 25, 2013
• Engaging Lobbyists, March 2013
• Full Legislature Budget Hearing, May 7, 2013
Committee Members were:
• Mary Lou Brown, City of Grand Island
Page 2,City Council Special Meeting,May 7,2013
• Marian Ferguson, Economic Development Corporation
• John Gericke, Grand Island City Council
• Ken Gnadt, former Mayor
• Chuck Haase, Grand Island City Council
• Margaret Hornady, former Mayor
• Cindy Johnson, Chamber of Commerce
• Pam Lancaster, Hall County Board of Supervisors
• Ann Martin, Idea Bank Marketing
• Bob McFarland, Hall County Board of Supervisors
• Bob Niemann, Grand Island City Council
• Gary Quandt, Hall County Board of Supervisors
• Don Smith, Grand Island Independent
• Mayor Jay Vavricek, City of Grand Island
Presented were the following nine basic site selection criteria and requirements totaling 1,200
points: physical factors (200 points), utilities/infrastructure (150 points), cultural (50 points),
environmental (100 points), community services (200 points), regulatory (50 points), workforce
(300), community support (50 points), and program enhancements (100 points).
Public Works Director John Collins commented on the Capital Avenue widening project and the
flood plain.
Mr. Ferguson commented on the opportunity from an economic standpoint to keep jobs in our
community by keeping the Veterans Home in Grand Island. Occupational therapy with regards to
the woodshop and ceramic kiln were mentioned as an important part of the proposal and would
be brought back to Council on how to fund.
Paul Wicht representing the Elks Club read a letter of support from the Elks Club for the
Veterans Home to stay in Grand Island.
ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION: Motion by Niemann, second by Nickerson to adjourn
to Executive Session at 7:43 p.m. for the purpose of a strategy session with respect to threatened
and pending litigation. Unanimously approved.
RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION: Motion by Dugan, second by Gericke to return to Regular
Session at 8:54 p.m. Unanimously approved.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:54 p.m.
pon„
RaNae Edwards
City Clerk