10-19-2004 City Council Study Session PacketCity of Grand Island
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Study Session Packet
City Council:Mayor:
Jay Vavricek
City Administrator:
Gary Greer
City Clerk:
RaNae Edwards
T
u
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 Public Building Commission
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Study Session
City of Grand Island
Staff Contact: Doug Walker
City of Grand Island City Council
Council Agenda Memo
From: Douglas R. Walker, City Attorney
Meeting: October 19, 2004
Subject: Grand Island Facilities Corporation
Item #’s: 1
Presenter(s): Douglas R. Walker, City Attorney
Background
At the election on May 11, 2004, the voters approved an additional one-half cent sales tax
for the City of Grand Island. The measure mentioned several projects for which the
additional sales tax revenue would be used, including an addition to the City Library, Fire
Station #1, and a Law Enforcement Facility. To facilitate the construction of these
facilities the City is proposing that a non-profit corporation be established.
Discussion
Administration is recommending that the City establish the Grand Island Facilities
Corporation. This corporation would be authorized to issue tax exempt bonds to construct
facilities and would be authorized to do lease purchase arrangements with the City of
Grand Island. The City would lease the facilities from the non-profit corporation and the
lease payments would coincide with the payment of the bonded indebtedness. Once all of
the bond payments were completed by the non-profit corporation, the City would then
own the facility.
Establishing the non-profit corporation would create several advantages for the City. One
advantage would be that a subsequent vote of the people would not be required for the
non-profit corporation to issue tax exempt bonds. The ballot language that was approved
in May specifically mentioned that the Library, Fire Station #1, and Law Enforcement
Center were projects for which the half cent sales tax revenues would be committed.
Having further elections would create unnecessary delays and additional expenses.
Another advantage that the non-profit corporation may have is that it would have greater
flexibility in contractual arrangements with contractors and other professionals in the
building industry when making arrangements for the construction of the facilities. This
should enhance the City’s ability to contain costs on the facilities that would be built
using the additional sales tax monies by looking at other alternatives to the traditional
design/bid/build process which could result in substantial savings when constructing
public facilities.
Alternatives
The concept of establishing the Grand Island Facilities Corporation is presented to the
City Council in a Study Session to allow for any questions to be answered and to create a
greater understanding of the issue at hand.
It is the intent of City Administration to bring the issue to a future council meeting for the
establishment of the Grand Island Facilities Corporation.
Item -2
Update on Library Facility Renovation/Expansion Project
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Study Session
City of Grand Island
Staff Contact: Steve Fosselman
City of Grand Island City Council
INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
Working Together for a
Better Tomorrow, Today.
DATE: October 19, 2004
TO: Mayor, City Council, City Administrator
FROM: Michael P. Kneale, President Library Board of Trustees
RE: Update on Library Facility Renovation/Expansion Project
ITEM #: 2
PRESENTER(s): Steve Fosselman, Library Director
Michael P. Kneale, President Library Board of Trustees
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Past reports to the City Council have set the stage for a proposed renovation/expansion of our current library facility.
Since the passage of the ½ % sales tax issue in May 2004, I am happy to report considerable progress in our planning
efforts.
A Library Facility Committee has been formed and in its meetings to date has reviewed this project including
professional consultants’ studies; i.e. David Smith’s Space Needs and Alternatives Study (Final Update Report, May
2004) and Clark Enersen Partners’ Phase I Study (February 2001). As a result we are still proceeding with the
plans we laid out at the November 25, 2003 Study Session to renovate/expand our facility from its current 25,000
square feet to approximately 50,000 square feet. This project will necessitate the closure of Washington Street
between 2nd and 3rd Streets utilizing the block west of the library for parking.
The Library Facility Committee has established three major objectives for its work: 1) Architect selection; 2)
Development of a building program; and 3) Overview throughout design, construction, and post-construction.
1) A decision was made to re-issue an RFP for architectural services since so much time has passed since the
Phase I study. We have been working with City Attorney Doug Walker on the committee’s preference for a design-
build process instead of the traditional design-bid-build. A major benefit of design-build is that a contractor architect
and engineer will usually coordinate their efforts to make a proposal which will usually promote efficiency and
compatibility among the individuals and companies that are making the proposal. Greater efficiencies also usually
result in proposals that will be less costly than in a traditional design-bid-build process. This is especially important
because it is essential for the City to stay within the $7,000,000 allocated for this project. This may or may not affect
the ultimate size of the building. Issuance of this RFP is pending City Council action on the creation of a Grand Island
Facilities Corporation.
2) The committee recommended that Library Director Steve Fosselman receive training in the use of specific
software in order to produce a Library Building Program which can be used with the selected architect in assigning
specific space allocations within this expanded facility. Mr. Fosselman has received this training and is currently
writing the Building Program. Once an architect is selected the committee will approve a final draft of the program
and work will commence with the architect.
3) With Mr. Fosselman as project director throughout design, construction and post-construction, the committee will
meet regularly to review progress and make changes as necessary.
The Library Board of Trustees remains committed to continual review of this project as well. I am happy to answer
any questions you might have at the October 19th City Council Study Session.
Library Project Milestone Review and Projections
1997 Library Strategic Plan identifie d need for future expansion of library facilities
2000 Building Consultant David Smith produced initial “Space Needs and Alternatives Study”
2000 Community Survey conducted to gauge use of and interest in library services
2001 Library Feasibility Committee formed with citizen representation to determine feasibility of expanding
library facilities
2001 Clark Enersen Partners’ Phase I Feasibility Study concluded
2002 Short term renovations concluded to provide computer lab and study room services
2003 Library Board held monthly post-renovation public meetings to update plans for future expansion
05/2004 ½ % Sales Tax issue approved with library project included
05/2004 David Smith issued final Space Needs and Alternatives Study report with updated findings
11/2004 RFP issuance
12/2004 City Council approval of architect
01/2005 Library Building Program document approval and work commences with architect
07/2005 Conclusion of Design phase of project
09/2005 Construction documents finalized and construction commences
12/2006 Construction completed