04-04-2023 City Council Study Session Packet
City Council Meeting Agenda
Council Chambers
City Hall
100 East First Street
Study Session of April 4, 2023
7:00 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
a. Presentation by the Parks & Recreation Department Regarding the South Locust Trail
b. Presentation by Brad Mellema Regarding Camp Augustine
c. Presentation by the Fire Department Regarding Fire Station #3
d. Questions and Answers Regarding CivicClerk
e. Presentation by Councilmember Chuck Haase Regarding the City Manager Form of
Government
3. ADJOURN
Public comment is provided for at the conclusion of the presentations. Members of the public may
voice opinions on all Agenda items. When recognized by the Mayor, please approach the Council
and give your name and address. Please remember that there is a three minute limit for any
member of the public, unless extended by the governing body.
A continuously current agenda is maintained in the office of the City Clerk. Inquiries and
correspondence concerning the City Council Agenda may be addressed to:
RaNae Edwards, City Clerk
(308) 385-5444 Ext. 111
P.O. Box 1968
Grand Island, NE 68802-1968
www.grand-island.com
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AGENDA MEMO
To: The Mayor and City Council
Agenda: City Council Study Session
Date: April 4, 2023
Item #: 2.a.
Subject: Presentation by the Parks & Recreation Department Regarding the South
Locust Trail
Staff Contact: Todd McCoy
BACKGROUND: A proposed trail project along South Locust Street could potentially
connect Grand Island bicyclists and pedestrians into the scenic Platte River valley
south of Grand Island. This potential 6.23 mile 10' wide trail would begin at the
Riverway Trail along South Locust Street, extend south crossing two channels of the
Platte River, run west along the river, and end near the west lake of Mormon Island
Recreation Area. The South Locust Trail will be constructed in right-of-way acquired
during the South Locust interchange development. Substructures for bridges
constructed over the Platte River channels in 2001 were extended to accommodate
girders and decking for a future trail. Hundreds of trees and shrubs were planted further
enhancing the Grand Island South Locust route into and out of the city.
The Hike/Bike Trail system in Grand Island is growing into a widely used recreation and
transportation route. The proposed trail will attract pedestrians, bicyclists, campers, and
outdoor enthusiasts by providing public access to a popular Recreation Area and
Wetlands site. Additionally, the trail will offer a unique opportunity for the public to
observe wildlife and waterfowl in their natural habitat, including Sandhill Cranes during
migration.
DISCUSSION:
FISCAL IMPACT: N/A
ALTERNATIVES: N/A
RECOMMENDATION: N/A
SAMPLE MOTION: N/A
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ATTACHMENTS:
1. South Locust Trail Map with Alternate Route
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AGENDA MEMO
To: The Mayor and City Council
Agenda: City Council Study Session
Date: April 4, 2023
Item #: 2.b.
Subject: Presentation by Brad Mellema Regarding Camp Augustine
Staff Contact: Laura McAloon
BACKGROUND:
DISCUSSION:
FISCAL IMPACT:
ALTERNATIVES:
RECOMMENDATION:
SAMPLE MOTION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 2023-March Augustine project
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Boy Scouts of America ~123 acres
Game and Parks ~172 acres
DOT transfer to NG&P ~176 acres
U.S.A. ~40 acres
Boy Scouts of America
Nebraska Game and Parks
DOT transfer to NG&P
U.S.A.
DOT Wetland
Approximate TOTAL
123 acres
172 acres
176 acres
40 acres
511 acres
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AGENDA MEMO
To: The Mayor and City Council
Agenda: City Council Study Session
Date: April 4, 2023
Item #: 2.c.
Subject: Presentation by the Fire Department Regarding Fire Station #3
Staff Contact: Cory Schmidt
BACKGROUND: Grand Island is currently served by four fire stations which are
strategically located to help ensure a fast response time and also to allow for a certain
degree of overlapping coverage. Since Fire Station 3 was built in 1987, many changes
have taken place, both in station design as well as the demands placed upon the fire
department. These changes have necessitated the need to evaluate what, if any
changes, are needed for Fire Station 3 to continue to support the mission of the Grand
Island Fire Department.
DISCUSSION: Fire Administration expressed the need to do a renovation/addition or
total replacement of Fire Station 3 during internal budget talks over the last several
years. Mayor Steele, Council President Paulick, and Interim City Administrator
McAloon were given a tour of Fire Station 3 on February 6. At that time, several
concerns were discussed involving the fire station. Some of the areas of concern were
limited space for staff, safety concerns related to bunker gear storage, undersized
apparatus bay for the size of modern equipment, and more. Mayor Steele and Council
President Paulick both acknowledged the need for further study of Fire Station 3 and
recommended Fire Administration present this topic to City Council for discussion.
FISCAL IMPACT: N/A
ALTERNATIVES: N/A
RECOMMENDATION: N/A
SAMPLE MOTION: N/A
ATTACHMENTS:
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1. Fire Station 3 - Council presentation
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FIRE
Fire Station #3
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Fire Station 3
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2310 S. Webb
Built in 1987
$113,320 to build
Baker Development –residential type construction
Fire Station 3
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Fire Station 3
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Response/Council Ward
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Station Coverage Maps
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Why is 4 minutes important-Fire?
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Why is 4 minutes important –EMS?
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Main Entrance
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Office/Kitchen/Dayroom/Training Room
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Bedrooms/Locker Rooms
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Laundry
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Exercise Area
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Tight Quarters
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Basement/Storm Shelter
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Outbuilding
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Functionally obsolete
Lacks adequate space
Issues with bedrooms (back patio conversion)
Exercise room and laundry facilities in apparatus bay
Little to no insulation in apparatus bay exterior walls
Doesn’t incorporate moderns standards of employee health
Outbuilding used to house frontline vehicles/equipment
12’ wide overhead doors (14’ recommended minimum)
Issues with Fire Station 3
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Inability to house more than three personnel
Lack space for current needs
Unable to accommodate staffed ambulance as Grand Island
Grows
Current station lacks health and safety features
Cancer prevention (Laundry, Exercise, Bunker Gear)
Doesn’t support recruitment and retention (Quality of life)
Largest Areas of Concern?
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How Does Station 3 Compare?
Station Truck Bay Living Area Total
Station 1 4670 8282 12,952
Station 2 3291 4470 7761
Station 3 2640 1386 4026
Station 4 4553 3895 8448
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Commercial grade construction (50+ year building)
Fire Sprinkler system
Hardwired smoke and CO detectors
Decon area off truck bays (bed bugs, hazmat, etc.)
Private dorms
Nonporous floors and finishes
Bunker gear room with ventilation
Eyewash station
Features of a Modern Station
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Living areas higher grade than apparatus bay
Trench drains in apparatus bay
Hot, Warm, and Cold zones
Fitness room (windows and 12’ ceiling)
Designated office/work space
Cascade/SCBA fill station outside apparatus bay
ADA compliant (public building)
Foyer with drop area (baby or place of safety)
Features of a Modern Station
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1. Take no action
2. Addition to current station
3. Build new station at alternative location
4. Build new station at current site
Possible Options
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Cheapest and easiest -no cost
Doesn’t prepare GIFD for the future
Delays the inevitable
Construction costs will continue to rise
Increased risk to employees
Doesn’t help recruitment and retention
No Action
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Lower cost compared to new station
Orientation of building isn’t optimal (Webb access)
Apparatus bays lack size needed –difficult to widen
Cost prohibitive to bring station to current standards
May need to close station while work is being done
Addition to Station
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Easiest in terms of construction
Will not interrupt current operations
Need to identify and acquire site
More expensive than addition
Change response time performance
Build New at Alternative Site
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Slight interruption to current operations
No need to acquire site
Demolition costs will be incurred
Current response time performance remains as is
Build New at Current Location
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1. Take no action
2. Addition to current station
3. Build new station at alternative location
4. Build new station at current site
Possible Options
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Current Versus New Location
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Two Year Call History
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Build new station at current location
Ideally located for the foreseeable future
Similar in size and design as Fire Station 4
Fire Department Recommendation
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Fire Station 4 Lot
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Fire Station 3 Lot
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Based on a rough estimate from Chief Industries:
???
Burning Question: How Much Will this Cost?
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Fire Station 3 has provided many years of service at a
low initial cost
Multiple issues with the current station
Recommendation: Build new station at current sight
New station will position GIFD for growth in
southwest Grand Island
Summary
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Thoughts/Questions?
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AGENDA MEMO
To: The Mayor and City Council
Agenda: City Council Study Session
Date: April 4, 2023
Item #: 2.d.
Subject: Questions and Answers Regarding CivicClerk
Staff Contact: Jill Granere
BACKGROUND:
DISCUSSION:
FISCAL IMPACT:
ALTERNATIVES:
RECOMMENDATION:
SAMPLE MOTION:
ATTACHMENTS: None
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AGENDA MEMO
To: The Mayor and City Council
Agenda: City Council Study Session
Date: April 4, 2023
Item #: 2.e.
Subject: Presentation by Councilmember Chuck Haase Regarding the City Manager
Form of Government
Staff Contact: Laura McAloon
BACKGROUND:
DISCUSSION:
FISCAL IMPACT:
ALTERNATIVES:
RECOMMENDATION:
SAMPLE MOTION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Memo
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1
City Attorney’s Office Laura McAloon, City Attorney Stacy R. Nonhof, Assistant City Attorney
INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
Working Together for a
Better Tomorrow, Today.
DATE: March 17, 2022 TO: Electeds FROM: Stacy R. Nonhof
RE: City Manager Plan of Government ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The statutes defining the City Manager Plan of Government are found at Neb. Rev. Stat. §19-601 –
662. This form of government applies to cities of not less than 1,000 nor more than 200,000 people. To move from the City’s current Mayor/Council form of government, a petition signed by the citizens of Grand Island is needed followed by a vote of the citizens. The petition requesting this change must be signed by at least 20% of those that voted in the last regular city election. So, if in
the last regular election, 20,000 votes were cast then there will need to be 4,000 signatures on the
petition to bring it to the Council and voters. Once enough signatures have been obtained, the petition will then need to be filed with the City Clerk. The petition needs to state that the question of organizing under the City Manager Plan should
be submitted to the voters of the City. The City Clerk, once the petition is received, has 1 week to
certify the petition to the Council. Once the petition has been certified to the Council, the Council then has 30 days to adopt a resolution that provides for submitting the question a either a special election to be held not less than 30 days after the adoption of the resolution or at the next regular municipal statewide primary or statewide general election. The timing determines if it is a special
election or if it is done at the primary or general election. If the petition is filed not less than 70 nor
more than 180 days before the regular municipal statewide primary or general election, the Council shall adopt a resolution to provide for submitting the question at the next such election. The question of adopting the City Manager plan shall not be submitted to the voters of the city later than 60 days before a regular municipal election.
If the election is successful, the plan goes into effect immediately as it applies to the nomination and election of City Council members. The number of Council Members shall be reduced to 7 members as Grand Island is over 40,000 in population. The members are elected from the City at large unless the Council provides by ordinance that it will be done by wards. If done by ward or by voting 7 at
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2
large members will treat it differently. Council would first have to make that determination to figure
out how the elections will go.
There is no elected Mayor under this type of plan. At the first meeting in December following a general election in every even-numbered year, the Council shall elect a president that is the acting Mayor of the City and also must elect a vice-president. The President presides over all meetings of
the Council and shall have a vote in the meeting as a member of the Council. There is no veto. The
Council shall meet not less than twice a month. The Mayor, any 2 Council members OR the City Manager may call special meetings of the Council upon at least 6 hours written notice. A majority vote of ALL members is needed to pass any measure or to elect anyone to office. It is not sufficient to have a majority of those present vote in favor of a matter to have it pass – any measure must have
at least 4 votes to pass.
The Council chooses a City Manager, a City Clerk and the Civil Service Commission. The Council does not have any say in who the City Manager appoints to any other position in the City. The City Manager is to be chosen by the Council for an indefinite period, solely on the basis of administrative
qualifications. The City Manager holds that office at the pleasure of the Council at a salary that is fixed by ordinance. The duties of the City Manager are to be: 1. See that the laws and ordinances of the City are enforced.
2. Appoint and remove all heads of City departments and all subordinate officers and employees in such departments – both classified and unclassified. Appointments shall be upon merit and fitness alone and the classified positions shall be subject the civil service provisions of the Civil Service Act. 3. Exercise control over all City departments and divisions thereof that may be created by the
Council. 4. Attend all meetings of the Council with the right to take part in the discussion, but no vote. 5. Recommend to the Council for adoption such measures that they may deem necessary or expedient. 6. Prepare the annual City budget and keep the Council fully advised as to the financial
conditions and needs of the City. 7. Perform such other duties as may be required of them by the City Manager Plan of Government Act or by ordinance or resolution of the Council.
___________________________________ Stacy R. Nonhof, Assistant City Attorney
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