02/24/2009 MinutesCITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
February 24, 2009
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 February 24, 2009. Notice of the meeting was given in The Grand Island Independent
on February 18, 2009.
Mayor Hornady called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following City Council members
were present: Councilmember's Meyer, Niemann, Gilbert, Haase, Carney, Dugan, Ramsey,
Zapata, Nickerson and Gericke. The following City Officials were present: City Administrator
Jeff Pederson, City Clerk RaNae Edwards, Finance Director David Springer, City Attorney Dale
Shotkoski, and Public Works Director Steve Riehle.
INVOCATION was given by Mayor Hornady followed by the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
MAYOR COMMUNICATION: Mayor Hornady mentioned several councilmember's and staff
attended the League of Nebraska Municipalities Midwinter Conference in Lincoln on Monday
and Tuesday. Introduced were Community Youth Council members Kayla Harris and Sammy
Sayavongsa. CYC was seeking teams and individuals to volunteer as part of the city wide
"Leave-a-Mark, Adopt-a-Park" program to be held on Saturday, March 28, 2009.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Public Hearing on Walk to Walnut Safe Routes to School. Steve Riehle, Public Works Director
reported that a permanent easement was needed from a nearby park to allow for the driveway to
Walnut Middle School to be re-aligned with the 15t" Street and Custer Avenue intersection in
connection with the Walk to Walnut Safe Routes to School project. The easement crosses park
land and therefore falls under 4(fl regulations and displaces improvements that fall under 6(f)
regulations. Federal regulations require a public notice to convert the 4(f) and 6(f) park land to
other uses. No Council action was required at this meeting. No public testimony was heard.
Public Hearing on Request from Viaero Wireless for a Conditional Use Permit for a Wireless
Telecommunications Tower Located in the 1900 Block on North Huston Avenue Craig Lewis,
Building Department Director reported that Chris Riha representing Viaero Wireless had applied
for a Conditional Use Permit for construction of a wireless telecommunications tower located at
1817 Waugh Street. It was recommended council approve the conditional use permit with the
condition that the required setbacks from adjacent property lines be verified and that a
landscaping plan be required. Chris Riha, 3560 Hillside Drive spoke in support. Carrol Eveland,
1915 N. Grand Island Avenue mentioned several concerns of the location of the tower. No
further public testimony was heard.
Public Hearing Concerning Community Revitalization Grant Phase II and Contract Amendment
Barbara Quandt, Community Development Administrator reported that in 2007, the Nebraska
Department of Economic Development (DED) awarded a $261,010 Community Development
Block Grant (CDBG) to the City for Phase II of the Community Revitalization program. The
contract amendment would allow the City to reallocate $44,749.00 from Down Payment
Page 2, City Council Regular Meeting, February 24, 2009
Assistance for first-time home buyers with minor rehabilitation to Owner-occupied
Rehabilitation. No public testimony was heard.
Public Hearing Concerning Acquisition of Utility Easement Located at 610 West Division Street
Hope Harbor, Inc. Gary Mader, Utilities Director reported that a utility easement was needed
at 610 West Division Street in order to have access to install, upgrade, maintain, and repair
power appurtenances, including lines and transformers. The easement would be used to place
primary underground conduit, cable, and apad-mounted transformer to increase the size to
handle the electrical load at Hope Harbor. No public testimony was heard.
CONSENT AGENDA: Motion by Zapata, second by Nickerson to approve the Consent Agenda.
Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted.
Approving Minutes of February 10, 2009 City Council Regular Meeting_
Approving Minutes of February 17, 2009 City Council Study Session.
#2009-39 -Approving 2009 High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area HIDTA) Grant in the
Amount of $54,892.00.
#2009-30 -Approving Agreement with Nebraska Department of Roads for Repairs to a Portion
of US Highway 34/US Highway 281.
#2009-41 -Approving Agreement with Nebraska Department of Roads for Repairs to the
Westbound Lane of 3`d Street from Lincoln Avenue to Tilden Street.
#2009-42 -Approving State Bid Award for (1) 2009 1/2 Ton Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT 4x4
Extended Cap Pickup for the Wastewater Division of the Public Works Department with Husker
Auto Group, Inc. of Lincoln, Nebraska in an Amount of $21,358.00.
#2009-43 -Approving Nebraska Community Improvement Program Intent to Enter and Five-
Year Resolution.
#2009-44 -Approving Community Revitalization Grant #07CR002 Contract Amendment.
#2009-45 -Approving Acquisition of Utility Easement Located at 610 West Division Street
(Hope Harbor, Inc.2
#2009-46 -Approving Setting Board of Equalization Date of March 24, 2009 for Water Main
District 453T.
REQUESTS AND REFERRALS:
Consideration of Request from Viaero Wireless for a Conditional Use Permit for a Wireless
Telecommunications Tower Located at 1817 Waugh Street. This item related to the
aforementioned Public Hearing.
Page 3, City Council Regular Meeting, February 24, 2009
Motion by Meyer, second by Ramsey to approve the request from Viaero Wireless for a
Conditional Use Permit for a Wireless Telecommunications Tower located at 1817 Waugh Street
with the conditions that the required setbacks from adjacent property lines be verified and that a
landscaping plan be required.
Several Councilmember's had received calls from neighbors in the area and wanted to give them
and council more time to get their questions answered.
Motion by Gericke, second by Nickerson to refer this matter to the March 10, 2009 City Council
meeting. Upon roll call vote, Councilmember's Meyer, Niemann, Carney, Dugan, Ramsey,
Zapata, Nickerson, and Gericke vote aye. Councilmember's Gilbert and Haase voted no. Motion
adopted.
PAYMENT OF CLAIMS:
Motion by Dugan, second by Gilbert to approve the Claims for the period of February 11, 2009
through February 24, 2009, for a total amount of $2,561,480.84. Unanimously approved.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
~?a1y &~ W
RaNae Edwards
City Clerk