10-18-2011 City Council Study Session PacketCity of Grand Island
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Study Session Packet
City Council:Mayor:
Jay Vavricek
City Administrator:
Mary Lou Brown
City Clerk:
RaNae Edwards
T
u
7:00:00 PM
Council Chambers - City Hall
100 East First Street
Larry Carney
Linna Dee Donaldson
Scott Dugan
Randy Gard
John Gericke
Peg Gilbert
Chuck Haase
Mitchell Nickerson
Bob Niemann
Kirk Ramsey
Call to OrderCity of Grand Island City Council
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.
Call to Order
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call
This is an open meeting of the Grand Island City Council. The City of Grand Island abides by the Open Meetings Act
in conducting business. A copy of the Open Meetings Act is displayed in the back of this room as required by state
law.
The City Council may vote to go into Closed Session on any agenda item as allowed by state law.
City of Grand Island City Council
Item -1
Discussion Concerning US Highway 281 Sanitary Sewer Extension
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Study Session
City of Grand Island
Staff Contact: John Collins
City of Grand Island City Council
Council Agenda Memo
From: John Collins, Public Works Director
Meeting: October 18, 2011
Subject: Discussion Concerning US Highway 281 Sanitary Sewer
Extension
Item #’s: 1
Presenter(s): John Collins, Public Works Director
Terry Brown, Manager of Engineering Services
Chad Nabity, Regional Planning Director
Background
At the January 4, 2011 Study Session the City Council was informed of an interest by
businesses along US Highway 281 near the Interstate 80 interchange about extending
City sanitary sewer to serve their property.
On January 11, 2011 City Council approved Mayor Vavricek to sign a “Letter of Intent”
to the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) declaring the City’s
willingness to negotiate a public/private project with these businesses to extend City
sanitary sewer south along US Highway 281.
The May 17, 2011 Study Session provided an update to the City Council regarding
several meetings that were conducted between the City and the interested parties.
Discussion
City Council approved a sanitary sewer district in the Wildwood Subdivision on
September 27, 2011. This district will give support to the sanitary sewer extension south
along US Highway 281 to Interstate 80.
The City is being granted $350,000 from a settlement between JBS and NDEQ from
September 2011, which must be applied to this sanitary sewer extension.
The sanitary sewer extension south along US Highway 281 to Interstate 80 will help to
foster growth of the City towards the interstate and provide for future development.
Conclusion
This item 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 this issue to a future council meeting for
the approval to proceed with an Interlocal agreement between the City, the I-80
businesses and Nebraska Game & Parks for this sanitary sewer extension, as well as
approval to apply the $350,000 from the JBS settlement towards this extension.
PUBLICWORKSSewer Extension Along U.S. Highway 281This is a draft of the presentation. A final draft will be posted to the City’s website on Tuesday. You can access that by going to the City’s website at www.grand-island.com, under City Council from the “Your Government” drop down menu, and selecting the City Council Study Session Presentations tab.
PUBLICWORKSUSA Inns and Highway Hotels
PUBLICWORKSHistory
PUBLICWORKSHistory Continued
PUBLICWORKSStake Holders
PUBLICWORKSFinancing Options Proposed
PUBLICWORKSSanitary Improvement District (SID)
PUBLICWORKSAssessment District
PUBLICWORKSAssessment District
PUBLICWORKSTap District
PUBLICWORKSTap District
PUBLICWORKSTap District
PUBLICWORKSSID 1
PUBLICWORKSSID 1
PUBLICWORKSSID 2
PUBLICWORKSSID 2
PUBLICWORKSSID Structure
PUBLICWORKSAgreement and Interlocal Structure
PUBLICWORKS
PUBLICWORKSDrinking Water
PUBLICWORKSWastewater Replacement Schedule
PUBLICWORKSBenefits
PUBLICWORKSYork 1993York 2011
PUBLICWORKSSydney 1993Sydney 2009
PUBLICWORKSLincoln 1993Lincoln 2010
PUBLICWORKSGrand Island 1993Grand Island 2009
PUBLICWORKSPlatte Valley Industrial Park1993Platte Valley Industrial Park2009
PUBLICWORKSWithout Extending Sewer
PUBLICWORKSIf Sewer is Extended
PUBLICWORKSSummary
PUBLICWORKSSummary
PUBLICWORKSWhere to apply the $350,000
Item -2
Discussion Concerning Redistricting of City Council Wards
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Study Session
City of Grand Island
Staff Contact: Chad Nabity
City of Grand Island City Council
Council Agenda Memo
From: Chad Nabity, AICP
Meeting: October 18, 2011
Subject: Redistricting City Council Wards
Item #’s: 2
Presenter(s): Chad Nabity, AICP
Background
At the August 23, 2011 meeting the Grand Island City Council approved Mayor Jay
Vavricek’s appointments by to serve on a redistricting committee. The charge of this
committee is to examine the existing City Council ward boundaries and to make a
recommendation to the City Council about redrawing these boundaries to best equalize
the population in each ward based on data provided by the 2010 U.S. Census of
Population and Housing. In a representative democracy each member of the legislative
body (City Council) should represent approximately the same number of people in the
community to preserve the concept of equality (one person, one vote.) Generally, the
equal-population requirement for state legislative and other districts is satisfied as long as
the population of the smallest district and the population of the largest district do not vary
by more than 10 percent.
Discussion
Every 10 years, following the U.S. Census of Population and Housing, governments at all
levels have the responsibility to examine their voting districts to ensure that our
representative form of government is equally representing the citizens.
Based on the 2010 Census each ward would ideally represent 9,704 people. The Census
counts people, not voters, so districts need to be split based on the number of people in
each district. Another reason to count people instead of voters is to insure that children
are equally represented. They are a constituency that is entitled to representation but
without the ability to vote.
The population of the wards as currently drawn is as follows:
Ward 1 10743
Ward 2 9432
Ward 3 8949
Ward 4 10012
Ward 5 9374
The City of Grand Island Redistricting Committee included the following members:
Hall County Republican Designee Jerry Piccollo
Hall County Democrat Designee Glen Murray
Hall County Independent Designee Gary Rosacker
Community Youth Council Member Alex Wirth
Community Youth Council Member Ashley Bykerk
City Council Representative Bob Nieman
City Council Representative Linna Dee Donaldson
At Large Community Representative Anita Lewandowski Brown
Staff Member (Chairman) Chad Nabity
The members of this committee along with Pat Larson, the Grand Island GIS Coordinator
and Dale Baker, the Hall County Election Commissioner met and used the GIS system to
try a variety of different options for Council wards that would achieve the population
goals and minimize the number of ballot faces that need to be printed at election time.
Attached you will find several maps. The first map shows the existing Council wards and
the popula tion of each ward as identified above.
The second map shows the committee recommendation for new ward boundaries and the
population of each ward. The dark lines on the map represent the current ward
boundaries. No sitting Council members will be moved from their district with the new
boundaries as proposed.
The third map shows the ward boundaries and populations as they would be if the areas
under consideration for annexation are approved by the City Council.
Even if the annexations do not proceed the new ward boundaries will comply with both
the intent and letter of the law regarding redistricting. The Committee is recommending
that Council approve the new wards as proposed.
City Staff including GIS Coordinator Pat Larson and Planning Director Chad Nabity will
be available at the Study Session to demonstrate the methods used to create the new
wards and Council will, if they wish, be able to make or suggest modifications to the
ward boundaries.
Conclusion
This item 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 this issue to a future council meeting for
the purpose of passing an ordinance to define the City Council wards in accordance with
state statutes and good public policy.
Current City Council Wards and Population based on 2010 Census
Proposed Changes to the Grand Island City Council Wards without areas considered for
Annexation
Proposed City Council Wards and Population with Potential Annexation Areas
Item -3
Update Concerning the Racquet Center
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Study Session
City of Grand Island
Staff Contact: Steve Paustian
City of Grand Island City Council
Council Agenda Memo
From: Todd McCoy, Recreation Superintendent
Meeting: October 18, 2011
Subject: Racquet Center Update
Item #’s: 3
Presenter(s): Steve Paustian, Parks and Recreation Director
Background
The Racquet Center is located at 2204 Bellwood Drive. It is a City owned facility that is
currently leased to the Grand Island Tennis Association to provide tennis opportunities to
the public. The Tennis Association lease is currently in year one of a five year
agreement.
Discussion
In the lease agreement with the City the Tennis Association promises three phases of
improvements to the facility. The first phase of improvements have been complete which
include: removing the indoor soccer area, repairing insulation, upgrading lighting,
resurfacing courts, fixing water drainage issues, and updating heating units. Phases two
and three are due to be completed by 2013 and 2015.
Conclusion
This item 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.
Item -4
Discussion Concerning Fireworks
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Study Session
City of Grand Island
Staff Contact: Shannon Oster
City of Grand Island City Council
Council Agenda Memo
From: Shannon Oster, Assistant to the City Administrator
Meeting: October 18, 2011
Subject: Discussion Concerning Fireworks
Item #’s: 4
Presenter(s): Shannon Oster, Assistant to the City Administrator
Background
The City Council discussed the potential expansion of firework sales into December
during a study session on November 16, 2011. At that time there was no interest from
Council in changing the City Code to allow for firework sales in December. Some
Council members have expressed an interest in discussing the topic of fireworks.
Discussion
Fireworks are regulated through Grand Island’s City Code Chapter 16, Fire Protection.
Each year fireworks are sold from temporary stands from June 27 to July 4, and residents
may discharge fireworks during that period only, with restricted hours. Each stand is
required to submit a detailed application and $400, for a permit. The Fire Department’s
Life Safety Division is responsible for the oversight of these stands, accomplished
through an extensive inspection process that begins prior to and throughout the seven day
fireworks period. Over the past several years, the number of stands has increased from
28 in 2005, up to 39 in 2011. Public displays of fireworks, or firework shows, are
regulated by the State Fire Marshal. The City has limited involvement in public displays,
beyond indicating approval.
When compared to other Nebraska communities, Grand Island has similar laws
pertaining to fireworks. There are some variations in the length of time vendors are
permitted to sell fireworks, and shorter hours of discharge. Some communities have
adopted an additional December season, however some will cap the number of stands
allowed. Like other many communities, the City of Grand Island does not host a 4th of
July fireworks display. This is typically through private sponsors, or organizations like a
local Chamber of Commerce.
Conclusion
This item 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.
FireworksOctober 18, 2011
Current PracticeFirework StandsCity regulates the sale of fireworks through temporary standsCity Code Chapter 16-12 to 16-22 are the appropriate statutesAllowed June 27 to July 4Fee: $400 per standYear Stands Fee RevenueFee: $400 per standVendor submits an application to the Fire Department Inspections occur several times-prior to opening, when stocked, daily, and after July 4Many of these stands are fundraisers for non-profits or service organizations2011 39$400 $15,600 2010 34$400 $13,600 2009 32$400 $12,800 2008 27$400 $10,800 2007 30$200 $6,000 2006 32$200 $6,400 2005 28$200 $5,600
Current PracticeWhen residents can use fireworks: Allowed: June 27 to July 3 from 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.July 4 8:00 a.m. – midnight Public firework displays: Public firework displays: First, individuals apply with the State Fire Marshal Small fee ($10)Second, City is notified/indicates approvalNo fee charged by City because it is a community service Five displays in 2011 and in 2010
Since the last time Council discussed fireworksLast discussed by Council on November 16, 2010 Item was brought forward after passage of LB880 Allows cities to change fire code to allow an additional fireworks season December 28 –January 1fireworks season December 28 –January 1At that time there were only four first class cities, including Lincoln and Omaha that had expanded their season Now there are sixof these cities that have an expanded fireworks seasonHowever some places cap the number of stands allowed Fire Department did not/does not support a lengthened season
Similar time frame for selling and discharging in the summer: June 27-July 48:00 a.m. to 11:00p.m./midnight (4thof July) State Practice – Cities in Nebraska8:00 a.m. to 11:00p.m./midnight (4thof July) Stand permit/fee ranges from $50 up to $1,000 (GI=$400)Those cities that are less than $400 usually have an additional fee with the permit depositPublic firework displays – not many cities sponsor their own display
Changing the dates of sale or discharge?Adding a second season in December?Should the $400/per stand fee be changed?Potential Considerations