04/26/2022 Minutes Study�
CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
Apri126, 2022
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
April 26, 2022. Notice of the meeting was given in The Grand Island Independent on April 20,
2022.
Mayor Roger G. Steele called the meeting to order at 7:37 p.m. The following City CounciI
members were present: Mike Paulick, Mark Stelk, Jason Conley, Vaughn Minton, Bethany
Guzinski, Maggie Mendoza, and Mitch Nickerson. Councilmembers Michelle Fitzke, Justin
Scott, and Chuck Haase were absent. The following City Officials were present: City
Administrator Jerry Janulewicz, City Clerk RaNae Edwards, Finance Director Patrick Brown,
and Public Works Director John Collins.
SPECIAL ITEMS:
Presentation of Renewal of the Citv's Economic Development Plan (LB840). City Administrator
Jerry Janulewicz presented the Economic Development Program Renewal.
Mr. Janulewicz stated the plan was to have the Public Hearing on May 10, 2022 along with a
Resolution directing the placement on the November 8, 2022 ballot.
The Local Option Municipal Economic Development Act was enacted by Laws in 1991 (LB
840). In 2002, effective 2003, voters approved Grand Island's first 10-year Economic
Development Plan and again in 2012, effective 2013. The plan expires on September 30, 2023.
An economic development program is a project or program utilizing funds derived from local
sources of revenue for the purpose of providing direct or indirect financial assistance to a
qualifying business or the payment of related costs and expenses or both, without regard to
whether that business is identified at the time the project or program is initiated or is to be
determined by specified means at some time in the future.
Mr. Janulewicz explained what businesses qualified for LB840 funds. Reviewed were the
statutory changes which included construction or rehabilitation of housing and early childhood
care and education programs had been added. Also reviewed were the types of funding.
Beth Frerichs, 115 Platteview Drive, Phillips, Nebraska representing the Committee for a
Prosperous Grand Island presented a history of the Grand Island Industrial Foundation.
Grand Island Area Economic Development (EDC) Director Dave Taylor introduced the EDC
Board and Executive Assistant Mary Berlie. Mr. Taylor stated there was $6,729,100 LB840
Page 2, City Council Study Session, Apri126, 2022
funds invested creating 1,114 jobs and an annual wage of $36,807,333 with an average wage of
$19.88 from 2015-2021. Current ending balance as of April 18, 2022 was $888,729.00.
Reviewed were LB840 projects that had been successful since 2004.
Mr. Taylor stated the proposed LB840 Funding for 2023-2033 was $950,000 annually for the
next 10 years. $525,000 would be used for business recruitment and expansion incentives and
$425,000 for EDC operating funds.
Justin Pfenning; 502 Claude Road representing Dramco Tool & Die and Mike Young, 1714
Bridle Lane representing GIX Logistics spoke of the benefits of receiving LB 840 funds and
thanked the Council and EDC for their support and the importance of continuing this program.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:28 p.m.
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RaNae Edwards
City Clerk