07/20/2021 MinutesCITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
July 20, 2021
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 Council Chambers of City Hall, 100 East First Street, on
July 20, 2021. Notice of the meeting was given in The Grand Island Independent on July 14,
2021.
Mayor Roger G. Steele called the meeting to order at 8:40 p.m. The following City Council
members were present: Mike Paulick, Justin Scott, Mark Stelk, Jason Conley, Vaughn Minton,
Bethany Guzinski, Maggie Mendoza, Mitch Nickerson, and Chuck Haase. Councilmember
Michelle Fitzke was absent. The following City Officials were present: City Administrator Jerry
Janulewicz, City Clerk RaNae Edwards, Finance Director Patrick Brown, Interim City Attorney
Stacy Nonhof, and Public Works Director John Collins.
SPECIAL ITEMS:
Finance Director Patrick Brown commented on the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award
the City received. He thanked this staff for all the work they did in receiving this award.
Capital Projects and Parks Projects. Public Works Director John Collins presented the Public
Works Department Capital Projects for 2021/2022. Reviewed were the 2021 projects for a total
of $1,509,347. Mr. Collins stated Capital Improvement Projects were funded by Gas Tax
($12,234,001) and General Fund ($1,509,347) for a total of $13,743,348 forecasted for 2021.
The following were proposed Capital Projects for 2021/2022:
• Annual Curb Ramp ProjectNo. 2022-CR-1 -$165,000
• Webb Road Paving Assessments (City share) -$120,000
• Pavement Condition Survey - $165,000
• Five Points Intersection Improvements (NDOT) - $50,000/$3,420,000
• Old Potash Highway; North Road to Webb Road -$2,350,000/$15,735,000
• Broadwell/UPRR Grade Separation - $70,000/$28,350,000
• North Road; 13th Street to Highway 2-$2,000,000/$8,500,000
• North Road; Old Potash Hwy to 13th Street -$3,525,000/$4,595,296
• North Road; US Hwy 30 to Old Potash Hwy -$25,000/$3,014,768
• US Highway 30 Bridges (NDOT) -$230,000 (City share)/$5,616,785
• Custer Avenue Rehabilitation - $3,0005,000/$4,200,000
• Eddy Street Underpass Rehabilitation - $1,300,000/$1,500,000
• Capital Avenue; Moores Creek to North Road -$2,235,000/$2,375,000
• Highway 2 Resurfacing (City share) - $1,200,000/$15,668,000
• Locust Street; Koenig Street to Fonner Park Road -$450,000/$6,783,520
• Claud Road (ROW) - $750,000
• Northwest Flood Control Project - $35,000/$7,800,000
Page 2, City Council Study Session, July 20, 2021
• Moores Creek Drain Extension — Water Tower/Park Culverts -$200,000//$245,000
• Moores Creek Detention Cell — Old Potash Hwy & North Road -$450,000
• N 80 Wetland Delineation - $200,000/$1,700,000
• Sidewalk Cost Share Program - $25,000
• PVIP Drainage District No. 2020-1 -$250,000/$600,000
• Brookline Drainage Improvements - $350,000
• South Street/Henry Street Drainage Improvements -$100,000
Total 2022 Capital Improvement Budget was $20,958,850. Mr. Collins stated $330,000 of
capital dollars was mandated; $120,000 was funding Federal Aid projects; and $1,430,000 was
for funding State projects. Mr. Collins stated because of COVID inflation was running about 8%
with delays in shipping and shortage of workers.
Parks and Recreation Director Todd McCoy reviewed the Parks Projects for FY 2022. Total
projects were $3,120,000 with Food & Beverage to pay $2,720,000 and KENO funds to be used
in the amount of $400,000. The following projects were presented:
• Heartland Public Shooting Park — Baffles -$750;000
• Parking and Road Upgrades — Maintenance -$100,000
• Cemetery — Converting Roads to Burial Spaces -$50,000
• Island Oasis — Pool Paint - $85,000
• Fieldhouse — Indoor Playground - $250,000
• Stolley Park — Irrigation Expansion - $100,000
• Ashley Park — Irrigation Expansion - $150,000
• Heartland Public Shooting Park — Tree Removal -$50,000
• Cemetery — Tree Removal - $15,000
• Lincoln, Stolley, Ashley Parks — Playground Updates -$135,000
• Island Oasis — Slide Replacements - $650,000
• Stolley Park — Splash Pad -$250,000
• Veteran's Athletic Complex — Sign - $10,000
• Ryder, Ashley, Grace Abbott Parks — Backstop & Bleachers Update -$50,000
• Stolley, Ryder, Ashley Parks — Picnic Shelter Replacements -$35,000
• JBS Trail — Trail — $600,000 Donation
• Vet's Complex & Ponderosa - Bike Trail Development -$150,000
• Veteran's Athletic Complex — Batting Cage -$100,000
• Lyons Park — Futsal Court Safety Netting -$15,000
• Stolley Park — Railway — Fence - $50,000
• Veteran's Athletic Complex — Field Drainage improvement -$175,000
• Island Oasis — Concrete, Structures & Parking Lots -$100,000
Discussion was held regarding Island Oasis Water Park cash flow and master plan.
Capital Equipment. Finance Director Patrick Brown reviewed the Capital Improvement Fund
400 and the Capital Equipment Fund 410. Total 400 Capital Improvement Fund Expenditures
was $1,360,000 and total 410 expenditures was $2,717,775.
Page 3, City Council Study Session, July 20, 2021
Fire Chief Cory Schmidt answered questions concerning the replacement of Station #1 boilers
and 60 SCBAs air tank and masks. Chief Schmidt explained the request for PulsePoint and how
it worked. Division Chief Fred Hotz answered questions concerning Knox boxes.
Building Department Director Craig Lewis answered questions regarding vehicle requests which
would be bought on state bids. Emergency Management Director Jon Rosenlund commented on
their new location and how well it was working. Mr. Brown commented on computer and
software security.
General Fund and FTE Budget Discussions. Finance Director Patrick Brown reported that
instead of using $1.5 million in cash reserves for the FY2021 budget, cash reserves would
increase approximately $2.6 million. Personnel Services would be approximately $1.8 million
under budget due to positions being vacant in Police and Fire/Ambulance.
FY2022 in the General Fund was currently projected at a 3.3% growth over last year's budget
and Property Tax revenues were projected for a 3% growth if the mill levy was not changed.
Discussion was held concerning the possibility of property tax relief. Police Chief Robert
Falldorf answered questions regarding vacant positions and issues in hiring.
Reviewed were the following Full Time Equivalent (FTE) additions and changes for FY2022:
• 3- Firefighter/Paramedics or EMT contingent upon a SAFER Grant
• 1 - Grants Administrator
• 1 - Interpreter/Translator
• 1- Equipment Operator for the Streets Department
• 0.25 - FTE for the Solid Waste Department (Transfer Station)
Fire Chief Schmidt answered questions regarding the 3 Firefighter/Paramedics/EMT requested.
City Administrator Jerry Janulewicz commented on the revenues the Casino may bring in.
Mr. Brown presented the idea of transferring $4.2 million from the General Fund to the Solid
Waste Enterprise Fund as a loan for the Transfer Station upgrade.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 9:35 p.m.
•� � , ' / �
RaNae Edwards
City Clerk
�
�
�