11/15/2022 Minutes�
��
CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
November 15, 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
November 15, 2022. Notice of the meeting was given in The Grand Island Independent on
November 9, 2022.
Mayor Roger G. Steele called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following City Council
members were present: Mike Paulick, Michelle Fitzke, Mark Stelk, Jason Conley, Vaughn
Minton, Bethany Guzinski, Mitch Nickerson, and Chuck Haase. Councilmembers Justin Scott
and Maggie Mendoza were absent. The following City Officials were present: City
Administrator Jerry Janulewicz, City Clerk RaNae Edwards, Finance Director Patrick Brown,
City Attorney Laura McAloon and Interim Public Works Director Keith Kurz.
SPECIAL ITEMS:
Recognition of the Northwest Girls Softball Team's Class B State Championship. Mayor Steele
and the City Council recognized the Northwest Girls Softball team and coaches for their Class B
State Championship win. Present were team members: Madison Cushing, Kamrynn Mings,
Reyse Zobel, Grace Baasch, Avyn Urbanski, Kyra Ray, Ava Smith, Aubrey Olsufl{a, Logan
Meguire, Ava Laurent, Kendal Morledge, Jolie O'Hara, Kylie Caspersen, Libby Loman Taila
Bandt, Macie Folkers, Kayla Koehn, Jalyssa Caldwell, Laiken Dorsey, and Emily Spiehs. Also
present was Head Coach Mitch Sadd and Assistant Coaches Natalie Starostka, Sara Olsen, and
Bailey Bryant.
Presentation Regarding Conestoga Marketplace Redevelopment. Regional Planning Director
Chad Nabity introduced Drew Snyder and Mitch Hohlen with Woodsonia Real Estate, Inc. of
Oma.ha, Nebraska who gave a PowerPoint presentation on the Conestoga Marketplace
Redevelopment.
Woodsonia Real Estate, Inc. (Woodsonia), an Omaha, Nebraska based development firm
announced the proposed redevelopment of Conestoga Mall into a future $200 million + mixed-
use project called Conestoga Marketplace. Conestoga Marketplace would be anchored by a new
150,000 square foot retailer positioned on the southern portion of the redevelopment. The
remaining portion of the mall would be completely modernized with exterior facing storefronts,
updated interior and exterior facades, new tenant signage and a state-of-the-art entertainment
offering, including a new cinema indoor-outdoor pickleball courts, and a first class bar/restaurant
facility.
Conestoga Marketplace would also include 300 + Class A market rate multi-family housing
units, a new hotel and pad sites along Hwy 281 and 13�' Street. The pad sites would be
comprised of new restaurants and multi-tenant retail buildings. If approved the construction
Page 2, City Council Study Session, November 15, 2022
I
would start the second quarter of 2023 and the new 150,000 square foot retailing opening in
2025 — 2026.
The following projected costs were presented:
• Estimated Total Project Cost:
• Private Investment and Debt:
• TIF Reimbursement:
• EEA/Occupation Tax:
• CRA Funding Contribution:
• Grow Grand Island Funding Contribution
• City of Grand Island Contribution:
$221,585,000
$148,065,000
$ 26,257,000
$ 36,763,000
$ 4,000,000
$ 1,000,000
$ 5,500,000
Mr. Hohlen answered questions regarding the existing tenants. He stated those staying would be
moved to the south part of the current mall while the north side was being renovated and then
they would be moved back to the north side. He stated they would like to build the housing
development right away. Comments were made regarding the lack of retail businesses in the City
of Grand Island.
Finance Director Patrick Brown stated the $5.5 million from the City would come out of our
reserves. Cindy Johnson, representing the Chamber of Commerce, 309 West State Street handed
the Council a resolution the Chamber of Commerce passed last week supporting the Conestoga
Marketplace Redevelopment.
Mr. Nabity stated the next steps would come to Council before the end of the year.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:09 p.m.
� � , , � . �.
RaNae Edwards
City Clerk