08-30-2022 City Council Special Meeting Packet
City of Grand Island
Tuesday, August 30, 2022
Special Meeting Agenda
City Council:
Jason Conley
Michelle Fitzke
Bethany Guzinski
Chuck Haase
Maggie Mendoza
Vaughn Minton
Mitchell Nickerson
Mike Paulick
Justin Scott
Mark Stelk
Mayor:
Roger G. Steele
City Administrator:
Jerry Janulewicz
City Clerk:
RaNae Edwards
7:00 PM
Council Chambers - City Hall
100 East 1st Street, Grand Island, NE 68801
Grand Island Special Meeting - 8/30/2022 Page 1 / 14
City of Grand Island Tuesday, August 30, 2022
Call to Order
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.
Invocation
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.
Grand Island Special Meeting - 8/30/2022 Page 2 / 14
City of Grand Island
Tuesday, August 30, 2022
Special Meeting
Item E-1
Public Hearing on FY 2022-2023 Annual Single City Budget and
the Annual Appropriations Bill
Council action will take place at the Regular Meeting of August 30, 2022 under Ordinances item F-3.
Staff Contact: Patrick Brown
Grand Island Special Meeting - 8/30/2022 Page 3 / 14
Council Agenda Memo
From:Patrick Brown, Finance Director
Meeting:August 30, 2022
Subject:Public Hearing on FY2022-2023 Annual Single City
Budget and Annual Appropriations Bill
Presenter(s):Patrick Brown, Finance Director
Background
The purpose of the meeting is to comply with the requirements of Neb.Rev.Stat. Sec. 13-
506 as amended by Laws 2020 LB 148, which requires:
Each governing body shall each year or biennial period conduct a public hearing on its
proposed budget statement. Such hearing shall be held separately from any regularly
scheduled meeting of the governing body and shall not be limited by time. Notice of
place and time of such hearing, together with a summary of the proposed budget
statement, shall be published at least four calendar days prior to the date set for hearing in
a newspaper of general circulation within the governing body's jurisdiction. . . . At such
hearing, the governing body shall make at least three copies of the proposed budget
statement available to the public and shall make a presentation outlining key provisions
of the proposed budget statement, including, but not limited to, a comparison with the
prior year's budget. Any member of the public desiring to speak on the proposed budget
statement shall be allowed to address the governing body at the hearing and shall be
given a reasonable amount of time to do so. After such hearing, the proposed budget
statement shall be adopted, or amended and adopted as amended, and a written record
shall be kept of such hearing. The amount to be received from personal and real property
taxation shall be certified to the levying board after the proposed budget statement is
adopted or is amended and adopted as amended. There will be no council action taken
during this meeting.
Discussion
The “Notice of Budget Hearing and Budget Summary” was published in the Grand Island
Independent on August 26, 2022. It is appropriate at this time to solicit public comment.
The action item for this public hearing will be under Ordinances at the City Council
meeting on August 30, 2022 following the Special Meeting of City Council.
The following is a comparison of the fiscal year 2023 proposed budget to the FY2022
adopted budget:
Grand Island Special Meeting - 8/30/2022 Page 4 / 14
The FY2023 budget appropriation is 8.8% or $20,435,226 higher than the
FY2022 adopted budget. The difference is mainly due to increase costs from
inflation, delayed capital purchases from FY2022 (supply chain issues), and
appropriation of American Rescue Plan funds of $4,546,940 for potential
project(s).
All Funds Revenue projections for FY2023 increased 8.3% or $16,200,412 over
FY2022 budget.
Overall the City’s property tax valuation increased 5%. The City is requesting to
increase its tax ask for Property Tax by 4% of which the City keeps 3% and the
County gets an administration fee of 1%. Community Redevelopment Authority
is requesting the same tax ask as FY2022 ($745,146) and an additional 1% fee for
Hall County’s administration fee. The City’s mill levy will decrease for the fourth
straight year from 0.323600 to 0.319454.
Total Sales Tax revenue is forecasted at $24,085,936 for FY2023. It is a 10.4% or
$2,275,300 increase over FY2022 budget. The increase was due to the sustained
increase in sales tax collections in the last year and quarter.
All other revenue sources in the General Fund account for $2,766,770 increase
over FY2022 budget. A large portion of the increase is due to the rebalancing of
revenues and costs between the General Fund and Enterprise Funds.
Transfers decreased in the FY2023 by $7,057,176 due to American Rescue Plan
funds not being transferred (they have been including in budget authority to
spend) and not transferring funds to Solid Waste for financing the improvements
at the Transfer Station. Costs have increased for the Transfer Station project
therefore it will be forwarded to Council for approval along with proposed
funding.
Additional FTE’s and Reclassifications:
The General Fund will be adding 13.58 full-time equivalents (FTE’s) and they are
as follows:
o Fire/Ambulance Department will increase its staff by three FTE’s
(Fire/Paramedics for ambulance service) for a cost of $307,755
o Adding 0.20 FTE to Administrative Assistant Part Time in the Building
Department for a cost of $10,662
o Emergency Management is adding two FTE Public Safety Dispatchers for
a cost of $158,128 which is split with Hall County at 50%. Also there is a
reclassification of three Public Safety Dispatchers to Senior Public Safety
Dispatchers for a cost of $27,237 which would be split with Hall County.
o Parks and Recreation is adding a Parks Maintenance Worker at a cost of
$71,189.
o Planning Department is adding 0.38 FTE for a Planner. This is part of a
rebalance of expenses between the General Fund and Utilities. The cost to
the General Fund is $36,559 which is split 50% with Hall County.
o Police Department is adding two Public Safety Apprentices FTE’s for a
cost of $158,110. Also adding one FTE (4 part time staff members)
Airport Police Officer(s) for a cost of $71,178.
o Reclassification of an Engineer in Public Works to an Engineer 1 or 2 or
Senior for a cost of $10,076.
Grand Island Special Meeting - 8/30/2022 Page 5 / 14
o Library is adding three FTE’s including a Librarian, 1.25 FTE Part time
Library Assistant I’s, 0.25 FTE Part time Library Page, and 0.50 FTE Part
time Summer Workers for a total cost of $154,832.85.
o Finance Department is adding one FTE Risk Manager placeholder.
Finance, Administration, and Human Resource will conduct a study as to
the need of a Risk Manager. The budget includes three months of budget
authority but the hiring of the Risk Manager will be presented to City
Council before moving forward. The cost to the General Fund will be
$41,723.
The Streets Division is reclassing two Senior Maintenance Workers to Senior
Equipment Operators for a cost of $1,746
Solid Waste is adding an Office Manager for a cost of $90,469 and reclassing the
Accounting Technician position to a Solid Waste Division Clerk for a cost of
$13,639.
The Utility Department decreased their FTE’s by 0.38 (Planner costs moved to
General Fund) saving $36,559.
Water Department is adding one FTE Water Maintenance Worker for a cost of
$87,330.
Waste Water Operations is reclassing an Accounting Technician to
Administrative Assistant, Engineer to Engineer I or II or Senior, Engineer
Technician to Engineer Technician I or II or Senior, and adding one FTE FOG
(Fats, Oils, and Grease) Program Manager. Total cost is 104,000.
General Fund Personnel Services for FY2023 increased 8% due to step increases,
cost of living adjustments, and four new union contracts. Operating expenses
increased 9% (excluding the $4.5m American Rescue Plan appropriation) for the
General Fund over FY2022 budget.
Investment in Capital Improvement Projects for proposed budget FY2023 is
$49,594,533 plus an investment in Capital Equipment of $3,494,941.
Below is a list of Capital Improvement Projects. Some of the projects not listed below
that are in the budget include Festoon Lighting for downtown ($180K), restrooms at the
Amur/Kaufman Plaza ($104k), land purchase behind the new Emergency Management
Center ($139k), demolition of buildings at the Heartland Public Shoot Park ($100k), and
various other Parks projects.
Grand Island Special Meeting - 8/30/2022 Page 6 / 14
Public Works Projects
Project 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028
Annual Handicap Ramp 165,000$ 169,950$ 175,000$ 180,000$ 185,700$ 191,400$
Webb Rd Paving Assessments 80,500$ 80,500$ 80,500$ -$ -$ -$
Five Points Intersection Improvements 586,900$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
Hwy 30 Realignment -$ -$ 892,566$ -$ -$ -$
Broadwell /UPRR Grade Separation 100,000$ 720,000$ 420,000$ 933,000$ 467,000$ 18,720,000$
North Rd; Old Potash Hwy to 13th St 500,000$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
North Rd; Old Potash Hwy to Hwy 30 2,650,000$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
Custer Ave; Old Potash Hwy to Forrest St 1,700,000$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
Eddy St Underpass Rehab 300,000$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
Locust St; 2nd St to Fonner Park R 450,000$ 5,000,000$ 5,000,000$ -$ -$ -$
Veterans Legacy (contingent on other funding)150,000$ 1,200,000$ -$ -$ -$ -$
Claude Rd; State St/Diers Ave to Claude Rd 2,400,000$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
Bond Payment 1,708,850$ 1,763,150$ 1,759,350$ 1,758,450$ 1,760,250$ 1,762,450$
NW Flood Control Project 20,000$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
N Moores Creek 80 Wetland Detention 210,000$ 1,400,000$ 350,000$ -$ -$ -$
Sidewalk Cost Share Program 25,000$ 25,000$ 25,000$ 25,000$ 25,000$ 25,000$
PVIP Drainage District No. 2020-1 250,000$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
Citywide Drainage 250,000$ 250,000$ 250,000$ 250,000$ 250,000$ 250,000$
Street/Fleet Facility Study 150,000$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
Brookline/Henry Drainage Improvements 50,000$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
11,746,250$ 10,608,600$ 8,952,416$ 3,146,450$ 2,687,950$ 20,948,850$
Solid Waste Projects/Equipment
Grand Island Special Meeting - 8/30/2022 Page 7 / 14
Waste Water Projects
Electric Utility Capital Improvements
Grand Island Special Meeting - 8/30/2022 Page 8 / 14
Water Utility Capital Improvements
Below is the Notice of Budget Hearing and Budget Summary.
2020-2021 Actual Disbursements & Transfers 243,203,566.00$
2021-2022 Actual/Estimated Disbursements & Transfers 236,320,540.00$
2022-2023 Proposed Budget of Disbursements & Transfers 273,245,385.00$
2022-2023 Necessary Cash Reserve 121,540,801.00$
2022-2023 Total Resources Available 394,786,186.00$
Total 2022-2023 Personal & Real Property Tax Requirement 12,968,678.76$
Unused Budget Authority Created For Next Year 21,487,410.78$
Breakdown of Property Tax:
Personal and Real Property Tax Required for Non-Bond Purposes 12,968,678.76$
Personal and Real Property Tax Required for Bonds -$
2021 2022 Change
Operating Budget 260,185,039.00 273,245,385.00 5%
Property Tax Request 12,487,780.00$ 12,968,678.76$ 4%
Valuation 3,626,392,825 3,821,381,633 5%
Tax Rate 0.358226 0.339371 -5%
Tax Rate if Prior Tax Request was at Current Valuation 0.326787
NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING AND BUDGET SUMMARY
Hall County, Nebraska
City of Grand Island
NOTICE OF SPECIAL HEARING TO SET FINAL TAX REQUEST
IN
PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given, in compliance with the provisions of State Statute Sections 13-501 to 13-513, that the governing body
will meet on the 30 day of August 2022, at 7:00 o'clock P.M., at 100 E 1st St for the purpose of hearing support, opposition, criticism,
suggestions or observations of taxpayers relating to the following proposed budget. The budget detail is available at the office of the
Clerk during regular business hours.
PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given, in compliance with the provisions of State Statute Section 77-1632, that the governing body will meet
on the 30 day of August 2022, at 7:00 o'clock P.M., at 100 E 1st St for the purpose of hearing support, opposition, criticism, suggestions
or observations of taxpayers relating to setting the final tax request.
Grand Island Special Meeting - 8/30/2022 Page 9 / 14
City of Grand Island
Tuesday, August 30, 2022
Special Meeting
Item E-2
Public Hearing on FY 2022-2023 General Property and
Community Redevelopment Authority (CRA) Tax Request
Council action will take place at the Regular Meeting of August 30, 2022 under Resolutions item I-1.
Staff Contact: Patrick Brown
Grand Island Special Meeting - 8/30/2022 Page 10 / 14
Council Agenda Memo
From:Patrick Brown, Finance Director
Meeting:August 30, 2022
Subject:General Property Tax Request for City and CRA
Presenter(s):Patrick Brown, Finance Director
Background
Legislative Bill 103 was signed into law in 2019 stating if the annual assessment of
property would result in an increase in the total property taxes levied by a county,
municipality, school district, learning community, sanitary and improvement district,
natural resources district, educational service unit, or community college, as determined
using the previous year’s rate of levy, such political subdivision’s property tax request for
the current year shall be no more than its property tax request in the prior year, and the
political subdivision’s rate of levy for the current year shall be decreased accordingly
when such rate is set by the county board of equalization pursuant to section 77-1601 of
the Revised Statutes of Nebraska.
If the City of Grand Island seeks to set its property tax request at an amount that exceeds
its property tax request from the prior year, it may do so after holding a public hearing
and by passing a resolution or ordinance.
Discussion
2022 Valuations for the City of Grand Island increased over the 2021 valuation by
$194,988,808 or 5%. If the City applies the FY2021-2022 mill levy of 0.3441 to the new
valuation of $3,821,381,633, the City’s Property Tax revenue would be $13,149,374, a
tax increase of $669,594 over the prior year. The City and Community Redevelopment
Authority tax ask for FY2023 is $12,960,137.
If the City and CRA applies the FY2021-2022 Property Tax Ask to the new valuation
there would be no tax increase and the mill levy would decrease to 0.3266 for the City
and CRA.
The following is a breakdown of mill levies for City General and CRA property tax
request.
Grand Island Special Meeting - 8/30/2022 Page 11 / 14
Entity 2022 Mill Levy 2023 Proposed
Mill Levy
City General Property Tax Levy 0.3236 0.3195
City General Property Tax Levy for CRA 0.0205 0.0197
Total General Property Tax Levy 0.3441 0.3392
Recommendation
Approve decreasing the mill levy to 0.3392 in order to request $12,207,540 of Property
Tax for City general and decreasing CRA’s mill levy to 0.0197 in order to request
$752,597 of Property Tax for FY2023 for a total request of $12,960,137.
Sample Motion
Move to approve the General Property Tax Request for City and CRA.
Grand Island Special Meeting - 8/30/2022 Page 12 / 14
City of Grand Island
Tuesday, August 30, 2022
Special Meeting
Item E-3
Public Hearing on FY 2022-2023 Annual Budget for Parking
District #2 (Ramp)Tax Request
Council action will take place at the Regular Meeting of August 30, 2022 under Resolutions item I-2.
Staff Contact: Patrick Brown
Grand Island Special Meeting - 8/30/2022 Page 13 / 14
Council Agenda Memo
From:Patrick Brown, Finance Director
Meeting:August 30, 2022
Subject:Downtown Improvement District #2 (Ramp) Property
Tax Request
Presenter(s):Patrick Brown, Finance Director
Background
Legislative Bill 103 was signed into law in 2019 stating if the annual assessment of
property would result in an increase in the total property taxes levied by a county,
municipality, school district, learning community, sanitary and improvement district,
natural resources district, educational service unit, or community college, as determined
using the previous year’s rate of levy, such political subdivision’s property tax request for
the current year shall be no more than its property tax request in the prior year, and the
political subdivision’s rate of levy for the current year shall be decreased accordingly
when such rate is set by the county board of equalization pursuant to section 77-1601 of
the Revised Statutes of Nebraska. If the Downtown Improvement District #2 (Ramp)
seeks to set its property tax request an amount that exceeds its property tax request from
the prior year, it may do so after holding a public hearing and by passing a resolution or
ordinance.
Discussion
2022 Valuations for the Downtown Improvement District #2 (Ramp) increased over the
2021 valuation by $9,762,744 or 17%. The Downtown Improvement District #2 (Ramp)
is not requesting an increase in Property Tax thereby reducing the mill levy from 0.01409
to 0.01204. The Downtown Improvement District #2 (Ramp) Property Tax revenue
request is $8,080.
Recommendation
Administration recommends to approve the Downtown Improvement District #2 (Ramp)
Property Tax request of $8,080 and set the mill levy at 0.01204.
Sample Motion
Move to approve.
Grand Island Special Meeting - 8/30/2022 Page 14 / 14