02-03-2004 City Council Study Session PacketCity of Grand Island
Tuesday, February 03, 2004
Study Session Packet
City Council:Mayor:
Jay Vavricek
City Administrator:
Gary Greer
City Clerk:
RaNae Edwards
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7:00:00 PM
Council Chambers - City Hall
100 East First Street
Carole Cornelius
Peg Gilbert
Joyce Haase
Margaret Hornady
Robert Meyer
Mitchell Nickerson
Don Pauly
Jackie Pielstick
Scott Walker
Fred Whitesides
City of Grand Island City Council
Call to Order
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call
A - SUBMITTAL OF REQUESTS FOR FUTURE ITEMS
Individuals who have appropriate items for City Council consideration should complete the Request for Future
Agenda Items form located at the Information Booth. If the issue can be handled administratively without Council
action, notification will be provided. If the item is scheduled for a meeting or study session, notification of the date
will be given.
B - RESERVE TIME TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS
This is an opportunity for individuals wishing to provide input on any of tonight's agenda items to reserve time to
speak. Please come forward, state your name and address, and the Agenda topic on which you will be speaking.
MAYOR COMMUNICATION
This is an opportunity for the Mayor to comment on current events, activities, and issues of interest to the community.
City of Grand Island City Council
Item -1
Discussion Concerning Use of 1/2 Cent Sales Tax for
Overpass/Underpass on Broadwell at the Union Pacific Railroad
Tracks
The sales tax survey results showed significant support for the construction of an underpass
or overpass on Broadwell Avenue at the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. Without a new
funding source for an underpass such as sales tax, the Broadwell Avenue Underpass may
never be built. The Broadwell Avenue crossing just north of 3rd Street is the heaviest used
crossing in the city. The Nebraska Department of Roads uses a calculated exposure factor by
multiplying the number of vehicles per day times the number of trains per day. If the
number is over 500,000, it qualifies for a grade separation (over or underpass). The NDOR
has railroad grade separation projects already on their list that will take over 50 years to
complete at existing funding levels.
A comprehensive railroad corridor study should be conducted before the plan for how the
community addresses issues such as this Broadwell Grade Separation can be finalized. The
study should look at grade separations, crossing closures, directional horns, quiet zones, an
east by-pass, replacement of the Sycamore and Eddy Underpasses, etc. Staff is working on an
RFP where we will ask for proposals from consulting engineering firms to prepare a
Railroad Corridor Plan for all railroads in and around Grand Island.
Olsson Associates is studying the proposal to construct a grade separation on Broadwell
Avenue at the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. Details regarding the study are attached. Tom
Leikam will display the concepts that were studied, explain design details, discuss some of the
pros and cons for each concept, touch on ROW impact, and present a budget estimate of
costs for the project.
Tuesday, February 03, 2004
Study Session
City of Grand Island
Staff Contact: Steve Riehle, Public Works Director/City Engineer
City of Grand Island City Council
Broadwell Grade Separation
The Union Pacific Railroad tracks carries approximately 70 trains per day
through the heart of Grand Island with peaks that may approach 100 trains
per day. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad carries over 65 trains
per day along the north and east edges of the community. Anyone that has
driven the streets of Grand Island has experienced the impact the trains have
on their trip. There are 25 at grade crossings where motorists may be
delayed while waiting for a train to clear.
The 2003 traffic counts for selected crossings are as follows:
Union Pacific Railroad Crossings
Webb Road – 5,800 Vehicles Per Day (VPD)
Blaine Street/Custer Avenue – 8,462 VPD
Broadwell Avenue – 11,895 VPD
Lincoln Street – 2,105 VPD
Walnut Street – 4,359 VPD
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Crossings:
North Broadwell Avenue/Old US Hwy 281 – 6,136 VPD
Stuhr Road – 5,298 VPD
A meeting was held on December 16th, 2003 with property owners that
would be adjacent to the construction. Olsson Associates prepared concepts
for 2 overpasses and 2 underpasses that were overlaid onto aerial photos for
exhibits at the meeting. A summary on the proposed construction was
presented followed by discussions with individual property owners.
The concept that had the greatest support by those in attendance was an
underpass that left Third Street open to Broadwell Avenue. Both of the
overpass concepts and the remaining underpass concepts did not allow Third
Street traffic to access Broadwell. City staff agrees that it is important that
3rd Street traffic be allowed to access Broadwell.
The project will have a significant impact on the properties along Broadwell
Avenue. City staff and engineers will work with the affected properties as
the project unfolds. We will do our best to minimize the impact to their
business, accommodate requests for driveways, retaining walls, etc. Some
properties will have to be purchased in their entirety. Others will have their
access changed or impacted, parking area reduced, visibility impacted, etc.
After the meeting we looked into the possibility of constructing an overpass
on Madison Avenue. Olsson Associates prepared a concept and will present
that concept at the City Council study session. Those in attendance also
suggested that we consider an underpass on Custer Avenue / Blaine Street.
Construction of a grade separation here would mean Third Street could no
longer access Custer Avenue / Blaine Street. Staff feels this would have a
very negative impact on traffic flows and therefore recommends against an
underpass on Custer Avenue / Blaine Street.
If this project is constructed staff recommends that this project be scheduled
for construction after the Nebraska Department of Roads project to widen
Second Street from Grant Street to Greenwich Avenue is built in 2007.
Second Street needs to be improved before the Broadwell Underpass is
constructed so it can handle the increased traffic while Broadwell Avenue is
closed for the construction of the underpass and roadway on Broadwell
Avenue.
Tom Leikam of Olsson Associates discussed the project with the UPRR and
also sent them a schematic of the preferred underpass alternative. The
project will automatically qualify for some funding by the UPRR and NDOR
if the Broadwell Avenue crossing is closed. Having a comprehensive RR
corridor study completed will also increase the cities ability to negotiate for
more RR monies.
C:\Documents and Settings\Steve Riehle\My Documents\Temporary \Broadwell Grade Separation.doc
Item -2
Discussion Concerning Use of 1/2 Cent Sales Tax for Aquatics
City Council Agenda Memo
From: Steve Paustian, Parks & Recreation Director
Meeting: 2/3/2004
Subject: Aquatics / ½ cent sales tax
Presenter: Steve Paustian, Parks & Recreation Director
Background
For many years the City of Grand Island has discussed the need for additional and/or
updated aquatic facilities. Many enhancements have been accomplished to various aquatic
facilities including Island Oasis and wading pools located in Pier, Lincoln and Grace Abbot
Parks. Additionally a great deal of discussion has occurred among various organizations
including the School District, YMCA and Hospital concerning enhancing the aquatic system
in Grand Island. Currently expansions to Island Oasis and an up-grade or replacement of
Lincoln Pool have been included in the ½ sales tax discussion.
Discussion
During the Study Session the City should discuss the aquatic system of the community. It
appears that with many citizens and organizations having great interest in this subject it may
be time to conduct a comprehensive look at the aquatic system in Grand Island. Other
communities have engaged in an aquatics study aimed at surveying all facilities, evaluating
each facility, measuring need, and developing a plan which provides an implementation
scenario for the future. Such a study can eliminate duplication, streamline tax investment
and bring about collaboration among interested parties. Additionally, Hastings, Nebraska is
in the process of building a water park which may have an impact on Island Oasis. A study
of the market will help us understand the dynamics of the area and help us react to changes.
After a study is completed projects could be earmarked for funding using the ½ cent sales tax.
Alternatives
It appears that the Council has the following alternatives concerning the issue at hand.
1) Discuss the direction of our aquatics system as it relates to the ½ cent sales tax and
proceed with the hiring of an aquatic consultant to assist in future planning.
Tuesday, February 03, 2004
Study Session
City of Grand Island
City of Grand Island City Council
2) Move forward without outside assistance.
3) Delay discussions.
Recommendation
City Administration recommends that the City Council consider moving forward with a study
to help determine aquatic projects to be developed with the ½ cent sales tax or other revenue
sources if sales tax funding is not available.
Staff Contact: Steve Paustian
City of Grand Island City Council
Item -3
Discussion Concerning Use of 1/2 Cent Sales Tax for CAAP
City Council Agenda Memo
From: Steve Paustian, Parks & Recreation Director
Meeting: 2/3/2004
Subject: Discussion Concerning Use of 1/2 Cent Sales Tax for CAAP
Presenter: Steve Paustian, Parks & Recreation Director
Background
In 2000 the City finalized the purchase of 420 acres of land for a shooting facility to be
located on the former Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant (CAAP) site. Originally the
purchase was necessitated with the development of the new South Locust Interstate Exit and
the need to relocate the skeet and sporting clays range from the City Well Field. Over the
past several years strides have been made in that development effort. To date, six skeet
ranges and four trap ranges are nearing completion, a sporting Clays range has been
roughed in and buildings from the former range site have been relocated to the CAAP site. A
new clubhouse is also under construction and is nearly 75% complete.
Discussion
Plans call for the additional construction of a rifle/pistol range that will accommodate most
calibers of rifle and pistols. Activities to be hosted on the site will include long range rifle
shooting, cowboy action shooting, a 22 cal. plinking range and many other shooting
activities.
Plans also call for the development of a lake for fishing and to host retriever training and
trials. Construction of a modern campground that can accommodate up to sixty camping
pads is also in the overall development plan.
While these additional improvements will cost over one million dollars it is anticipated that
patron fees and ancillary uses will help offset some of the operational costs. It is also
anticipated that the facility will bring many visitors to the Grand Island that will spend
money on motels, gas food and shopping.
Sales tax proceeds will play an important part in the development of these additional facilities
and the speed at which they can be developed.
Alternatives
Tuesday, February 03, 2004
Study Session
City of Grand Island
City of Grand Island City Council
1. Develop the facility without additional sales tax dollars.
2. Discuss the project and it's inclusion in the 1/2 cent sales tax proposal.
Recommendation
Staff recommends the continued development of the facility using Sales Tax dollars along
with some of the proceeds from the additional ½ cent sales tax when available.
Staff Contact: Steve Paustian
City of Grand Island City Council