08/16/2022 Minutes StudyI !
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CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
August 16, 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
August 16, 2022. Notice of the meeting was given in The Grand Island Independent on August
10, 2022.
Mayor Roger G. Steele called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following City Council
members were present: Mike Paulick, Justin Scott, Michelle Fitzke, Mark Stelk, Jason Conley,
Vaughn Minton, Bethany Guzinski, Mitch Nickerson and Chuck Haase. Councilmember Maggie
Mendoza 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 Interim Public Works Director Keith Kurz.
SPECIAL ITEMS:
Jackrabbit Run Golf Course Bud�et Presentation. Finance Director Patrick Brown introduced
Devon Kastler, Regional Operations Manager for Landscapes Golf Management from Lincoln,
Nebraska who gave a presentation on the FY2023 Jackrabbit Run Golf Course budget and
Business Plan. He mentioned the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats facing the golf
course in 2023.
Mr. Kastler presented the following:
Golf Operations - would generate $682,000 in revenue in FY2023 by achieving the following
goals:
• Recruit 5 new corporate outings
• Increase merchandise sales by 5%
• Grow Junior Golf Program to 30 participants (18 participants in 2022)
• Obtain title sponsorships for all internally created events
Food & Beverage — would generate $70,000 in Net Operating Income in FY2022 by achieving
the following:
• Financial Performance
• Inventory Management
• Banquet Recruitment
• On-Course Sales
• Upselling to Golf Outings
Annual Pass Sales would generate #85,000 in revenue in FY2023 by meeting the following:
Goal of a net of 5 new memberships in 2023
Net Promoter Score goal of 65
Referral goal of 10 members recruited by current pass holders
Page 2, City Council Study Session, August 16, 2022
Golf Couse Maintenance would achieve a Survey Course Maintenance Score of 4.4 in FY2023
by achieving the following:
• Department expense budget achievement
• Achieve course maintenance score of 4.4 (Scale of 1-5)
• Agronomic Practices
• Tree Management
Comments were made concerning the conditions of the golf course and the price. Joel Holling,
Maintenance Superintendent explained the history of the trees at the golf course and the loss of
the trees due to disease. They would like to move forward with planting new trees and remove
the dead ones. Finance Director Patrick Brown stated there was money in the FY22-23 Budget
for tree replacement. Also explained was he fuel tank issues.
Discussion was held concerning $50,000 the City pays to Landscape as per their contract.
Grand Island Public Librarv- Meetin� the Communitv's Needs. Library Director Celine Swan
gave a PowerPoint presentation on Meeting the Community's Needs. The Grand Island Public
Library's Mission Statement was "To inspire and strengthen our community by connecting
people with information, ideas, and experiences." Reviewed were the programs and services
provided by the library.
Ms. Swan was requesting to add 3 FTE to the 2022-2023 budget. With the increased staff the
Library would be able to:
• Add Tuesday evening hours
• Add Saturday hours
• Maintain accreditation
• Increase Makerspace availability and services
• Meet community needs
Comments were made regarding the need for the Library to stay open longer and the need for
more employees to make that happen.
CRA Budget Presentation. Regional Planning Director Chad Nabity presented the Community
Redevelopment Authority 2022-2023 Annual Budget. Since October of last year the City
Council and the CRA had focused not only on redevelopment but partnering with local
developers to approve public participation in 638 housing units ranging from senior housing at
Jaxson Subdivision on Old Potash Highway to upper story residential in Railside to townhouses
near Five Points, single family in northwest and southeast Grand Island and apartments near the
new hospital. It was expected that these units would be developed over the next 5 to 9 years. In
addition to the approved units, another 277 units would be under consideration in the next eight
weeks.
The CRA was requesting property tax revenues of $745,146 including $197,340 for Lincoln Pool
Construction and Bonds and $548,263 for all other CRA programs. The CRA was requesting that
the same amount of funding as last year so the levy would be reduced to account for valuation
additions and increases across the City.
Page 3, City Council Study Session, August 16, 2022
Amos Anson, 4234 Arizona Avenue thanked the Council on behalf of the Railside Business
Improvement District.
Council took a break at 9:18 p.m. and reconvened at 9:25 p.m.
General Budget Discussion. Finance Director Patrick Brown stated that overall the City's
receipts were stronger than anticipated and expenses were lower than budgeted. Supply line
issues, and hiring challenges were some of the reasons expenses were well below budget.
Inflation was creating and would continue to create challenges in the next couple of years in
purchasing commodities, equipment, and contracting out capital improvement projects.
Mr. Brown presented the FY2022 Budget Projections stating Sales Tax receipts remained strong
and Property T� receipts were steady. All other receipts had been steady and expenses were
going to be well under budget mainly due to vacancy savings. Operating expense savings for
FY2022 was projected at $189,694. Overall this would create a higher cash reserve going into
the FY2023 budget.
Mentioned were the challenges going forward such as inflation, supply line issues, hiring (hard
time filling positions), and the volatility of the economy.
Reviewed were the additions/changes to FTE's in each department. Total Costs by Funds were:
• General Fund - $582,767
• Electric Fund — ($36,559)
� Water Fund - $87,330
• Solid Waste Fund - $77,010
• Streets Fund - $1,746
These adjustments were needed to keep up with the current labor market. Operating expenses
were projected to increase by 9.4% or $670k over FY2022 budget. This increase was due to the
overall rising costs of commodities.
Discussion was held regarding adding 3 Firefighters. Fire Chief Cory Schmidt answered
questions concerning a third ambulance and adding 3 Firefighters. He stated they were having a
hard time hiring paramedics.
Discussion was held regarding hiring a Risk Manager and a Purchasing Agent in the Finance
Department.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 10:41 p.m.
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RaNae Edwards
City Clerk