08-01-2023 City Council Study Session (Budget) Packet
City Council Meeting Agenda
Council Chambers
City Hall
100 East First Street
Study Session of August 1, 2023
6:00 PM
1. 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.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
4. SUBMITTAL OF REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA 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.
5. RESERVE TIME TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS A sign-up sheet was available in the lobby
for individuals wishing to provide input on any of tonight's agenda items. If you did not sign up
to speak on an agenda item, please come forward, state your name and the agenda topic on
which you will be speaking on.
6. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
a. Community Development Budget Presentation
b. CRA Budget Presentation
c. Library Budget Presentation
d. Emergency Management Budget Presentation
7. ADJOURN
Page 1 of 38
AGENDA MEMO
To: The Mayor and City Council
Agenda: City Council Study Session (Budget)
Date: August 1, 2023
Item #: 6.a.
Subject: Community Development Budget Presentation
Staff Contact: Chad Nabity
BACKGROUND:
DISCUSSION:
FISCAL IMPACT:
ALTERNATIVES:
RECOMMENDATION:
SAMPLE MOTION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Community Development Budget Presentation
Page 2 of 38
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Community Development: Regional Planning
FY24 Budget Presentation
Personnel Services decreases 6.8%
This includes a decrease in FTE’s – CRA will be paying an
additional 10% of Director’s and 5 % of Planner I’s salary
and benefits. Building Services will pay 5% of Director’s
salary and benefits
This will have no impact on the delivery of service to the
citizens of Grand Island
Community Development: Regional Planning
FY24 Budget Presentation
Operating Expenses increases 0.7%
Budget does include authorization to make payments for
the Comprehensive Development Plan. This includes
payments for Grand Island, Hall County, Alda and
Doniphan. Hall County, Alda and Doniphan are paying
their share through the planning commission.
Page 3 of 38
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Community Development: Regional Planning
FY24 Budget Presentation
Capital Projects
None
Capital Equipment
None
Community Development: Building Services
FY24 Budget Presentation
Personnel Services decreases 1.2%
Building Services will pay 5% of Director’s salary and
benefits
This will have no impact on the delivery of service to the
citizens of Grand Island
Page 4 of 38
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Community Development: Building Services
FY24 Budget Presentation
Operating Expenses increases 3.9%
This is about $2800 to accommodate additional training
and travel for inspectors and to purchase AutoCAD
software for both the Chief Building Inspector and Plans
Examiner. The version owned by the division is too old and
no longer supported and updates are not available.
Community Development: Building Services
FY24 Budget Presentation
Capital Projects
None
Page 5 of 38
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Community Development: Building Services
FY24 Budget Presentation
Capital Equipment
A new inspection vehicle. This is a replacement for a
2006 Chevy Silverado.
This will allow the division to continue to provide efficient
building inspection services to property owners and
developers.
Community Development: CDBG
FY24 Budget Presentation
Personnel Services increase 3.6%
Page 6 of 38
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Community Development: CDBG
FY24 Budget Presentation
Operating Expenses decreases 20%
From 16,928 to 13,511
Decrease in dues as we are no longer using My Sidewalk
Subscription for analysis replaced with HUD Service at no
cost
Community Development: CDBG
FY24 Budget Presentation
Capital Projects
None
Capital Equipment
None
Page 7 of 38
AGENDA MEMO
To: The Mayor and City Council
Agenda: City Council Study Session (Budget)
Date: August 1, 2023
Item #: 6.b.
Subject: CRA Budget Presentation
Staff Contact: Chad Nabity
BACKGROUND: I am privileged to present to you the budget for the Community
Redevelopment Authority (CRA) for 2023-2024 on behalf of the CRA Board, Tom
Gdowski, Sue Pirnie, Jim Truell, Chris Schwieger, and Brian Mustion. This plan and
budget continues the high-quality services that have enabled the CRA to partner with
the City of Grand Island, private developers, and businesses and with property owners
in the blighted and substandard areas to make Grand Island vibrant, clean, safe and
attractive. Since October of last year the City Council and the CRA have focused not
only on redevelopment but partnering with local developers to approve public
participation in 643 housing units ranging from the 16 units on Henry and Ada to a
proposed 250 units at the Conestoga Market Place and 84 units at 13th and Claude and
86 units west of Locust Street south of U.S. 34. It is expected that these units will be
developed over the next 5 to 9 years. The projects approved have also been
instrumental in acquisition of the right of way and construction of Claude Road. It is
expected that Claude Road could be completed by spring of 2025.
DISCUSSION: The CRA budget for 2023-2024 is offered to you with a review of the
responsibilities of the CRA. Those responsibilities and abilities are outlined in State
Statutes and are summarized, in part, as follows:
The creation of a Redevelopment Authority was authorized by the Nebraska Legislature
in order to provide communities with the ability to address certain areas of a city in need
of improvement and development. Powers granted to CRAs are outlined in Chapter l8
of the Statutes and include the ability to expend funds to acquire substandard or
blighted areas, make public improvements, and assist with development and
redevelopment projects in specified areas. The Authority has virtually the same powers
as any political subdivision, including borrowing money, issuing bonds, undertaking
surveys and appraisals and asking for a levy of taxes.
A five-member board, appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the City Council,
governs the CRA. The CRA is administered by a Director and devotes the
Page 8 of 38
overwhelming share of its resources to highly visible and effective programs. The CRA
funds its programs primarily through assessments on taxable properties within the
Grand Island city limits.
BLIGHTED AND SUBSTANDARD AREAS
There are 37 designated Blighted and Substandard Areas within the Grand Island City
Limits and out at the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant. During the last year the City
Council also designated a portion of those areas as Extremely Blighted as defined by
state statutes. The City of Grand Island has the authority to designate up to 35% of the
community a blighted and substandard this percentage is reduced by any property that
is also designated as extremely blighted. At present 25.24% of the City has been
designated blighted and substandard and 6.15% has been designated extremely
blighted. The net area blighted is 19.09%. Council has approved two blight studies
during the last year for 28 (Conestoga Mall) and 37 (Faidley between Carey and White).
Information about all of the Grand Island CRA Areas and TIF Projects that have been
approved are available at: https://tinyurl.com/GI-CRA.
CRA MISSION
The CRA is charged with taking action in specified areas of the community to
assist in the prevention and to inhibit physical deterioration (blighted and
substandard conditions) thereby enhancing property values and creating
incentives for private investment. They do this by encouraging new investment and
improved infrastructure in older areas of the community through the use of tax
increment financing. They also take an active role in purchasing and demolishing
properties that need to be cleared. These properties are then made available for
redevelopment.
Since 2019 the State of Nebraska has approved new tools for using TIF including the
concept of Micro-TIF that would provide for streamlined permitting of TIF project on a
small scale or for historic structures. Recent changes to the legislation make this
program more workable from a staff perspective. The process turns approval for
smaller projects with existing structures on the property over to an administrative
process lowering the cost to the developer and speeding the process up by as much as
12 weeks. This would however, remove Council oversight from these projects.
FISCAL RESOURCES
General Revenues for 2023-2024
The CRA is requesting property tax revenues of $768,038 including $200,000 for the
commitment to Conestoga Marketplace and $568,038 for all other CRA programs. The
CRA is requesting that an increase of funding of 3%. Given the nature of the
assessments across the city this year it is likely that this will result in a reduced levy.
The CRA is budgeting $300,000 for the façade program. We already have two façade
applications for $196,000. One project is in Railside and one on South Locust. The
CRA is also hoping to revive the fire\life safety program for upper story residential
development and expand this program to include the 4th Street business area and to
allow these funds to be used to support life safety improvement for existing upper story
residential. The City Council will consider the redevelopment plan for this project at
their second meeting in August. The CRA is structuring this program like the last one
with $100,000 provided from the CRA levy and $100,000 provided from the City for a
five year period. The 2022 the levy was 0.019706 per $100 valuation. The levy is
Page 9 of 38
expected to drop based on this budget. The CRA is allowed a levy of up to 0.026. This
will allow the CRA to meet obligations, continue with their successful programs, the
levies and tax asking have been:
2022-2023 2021-2022 2020-2021 2019-2020 2018-2019 2017-2018 2016-
2017 2015-2016
0.019706 0.020548 0.020548 0.021661 0.02224 0.0224 0.026 0.026
$745,603 $745,146 $700,008 $700,008 $700,008 $686,000 $746,691 $732,050
Program Funding
The CRA has the ability to assist private developers and governmental entities with the
commercial, residential or mixed-use redevelopment projects throughout the City.
Specific detail on projects is as follows:
• Facade Development: For the façade development program $300,000 has
been budgeted, including grants and interest buy down. Last year the CRA
funded $400,000 of façade projects (they moved some money from other
projects to fund all of the requests) and received applications and approved this
expenditure for projects. It is anticipated that three of these four projects will be
completed and the grants paid prior to the end of September 2023. We currently
have 2 projects in line for the 2024 fiscal year. No projects will be approved until
after the budget is finalized. This program has been used extensively in the
Downtown part of Redevelopment Area #1 but has also been used in Areas #2
and #6. It is only available in those areas that have a generalized
redevelopment plan including commercial façade development.
• Husker Harvest Days Commitments: Farm Progress, the City of Grand Island
and the CRA entered into an agreement in November of 2017 to facilitate
infrastructure improvements at the Husker Harvest Days site. The CRA has
committed to transfer $200,000 a year to Farm Progress for 10 years beginning
in November of 2018. The City has agreed to transfer $200,000 from the food
and beverage tax collections to the CRA in October of each year to cover that
payment. Farm Progress made more than $7,500,000 worth of improvements to
the site and will continue to hold at least a three day event on the site for the
next 20 years or be subject to repayment penalties. This will be extended an
additional year per the redevelopment contract due to the fact that Farm
Progress did not hold a show during the 2020 year. This is the sixth of ten
scheduled payments.
• Conestoga Marketplace: The contract for the Conestoga Marketplace
redevelopment committed $200,000 from the CRA levy to towards this project for
the next 20 years. The first payment of twenty is due on November 1, 2023 and
is included in this budget.
• Fire Life/Safety: The CRA is proposing to bring the fire life/safety grant
program back in an expanded format. The program would provide up to
$200,000 in grants to developers/owners of upper story residential units primarily
on First, Second, Third and Fourth Streets between Eddy and Sycamore. This
program would apply to improvements on both new and existing upper story
units. If this plan is not approved by Council the CRA portion of funding $100,000
would be reallocated to Other Projects.
Page 10 of 38
• TIF Payments: The largest portion of the CRA Budget is the payments for the
TIF Bonds. These payments are funded by the tax increment created by each
project. The funds are received from the County Treasurer a month after the
taxes have been paid. The CRA places those funds in a separate account for
each project and send payment in the amount received from the treasurer to the
bond holder of record. Accounts are set up by the finance department after the
first payment is received from the treasurer. It is expected that the CRA will
make TIF payments totaling around $6,100,000 on all projects. The TIF line item
budget includes $1,000,000 to accommodate new projects and the possibility
that a project may need to pay off prior to the end of the bond period. There are
70 active TIF projects with signed contracts and a total of 16 projects that have
been paid off or canceled and 5 projects that are in process but do not have
signed contracts. The CRA paid off the Procon Apartments on Capital Avenue
bond this year. It is anticipated that the bonds for both the Casey’s project at
Five Points and the Best Western on South Locust will expire without being paid
off completely on December 31, 2024.
• Other Projects: In the blighted and substandard areas $50,000 has been
reserved for other projects. This funding can be assigned to specific projects
including but not limited to infrastructure improvements in the blighted and
substandard areas that would support larger redevelopment plans. In 2023 the
CRA assisted Hope Harbor with their purchase of properties adjacent to their
facilities and paid for a complete exterior remodel for the Chamber of Commerce
building as well as increasing the amount of façade grants available. The CRA
has used this funding item in the past to fund additional façade improvement
projects and to make grants to fund specific projects for: the Business
Improvement Districts, the Grand Island Parks Department, Fonner Park, The
Central Nebraska Humane Society, St. Stephens, Habitat for Humanity, the
Veterans Cemetery and the Nebraska State Fairground/Fonner Park master plan
and other community groups for specific projects that meet the mission of the
CRA.
CONCLUSION
This budget provides for measured funding of redevelopment efforts during the 2023-
2024 fiscal year. The investments the City of Grand Island has made in housing,
redevelopment efforts, infrastructure and economic development through the CRA and
the use of TIF bode well for the future of the community. This budget is reflective of the
commitments the CRA has made and will enable them to pay off existing commitments
and maintain a cash balance to guarantee payment of future commitments.
The CRA will also continue to examine the community to identify areas that might
benefit from a Blighted and Substandard declaration and to review and recommend
approval of redevelopment plan amendments for tax increment financing projects on
both large and small scale developments. The CRA is charged with taking action in
specified areas of the community to assist in the prevention and to inhibit
physical deterioration (blighted and substandard conditions) thereby enhancing
property values and creating incentives for private investment. All of the tools
used by the CRA are necessary for them to accomplish this mission.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Page 11 of 38
ALTERNATIVES:
RECOMMENDATION:
SAMPLE MOTION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Budget as proposed for approval-council
2. CRA Budget
Page 12 of 38
2023 2022-2023 2024
BUDGET YE Projected BUDGET
CONSOLIDATED
Beginning Cash 946,468 834,170 222,441
REVENUE:
Property Taxes - CRA 548,263 548,328 568,038
Property Taxes - Lincoln Pool 197,340 197,340 0
Property Taxes - Conestoga Marketplace 200,000
Property Taxes -TIF's 7,100,000 7,100,000 7,100,000
Loan Income (Poplar Street Water Line) 20,000 16,000 20,000
Interest Income - CRA 10,000 10,000 10,000
Land Sales 0
Other Revenue - CRA 200,000 2,648,455 4,393,000
Other Revenue - TIF's
TOTAL REVENUE 8,075,603 10,520,123 12,291,038
TOTAL RESOURCES 9,022,071 11,354,293 12,513,479
EXPENSES
Auditing & Accounting 3,000 3,000 3,000
Legal Services 3,000 3,000 3,000
Consulting Services 5,000 0 5,000
Contract Services 80,000 70,000 100,000
Printing & Binding 1,000 300 1,000
Other Professional Services 16,000 11,000 16,000
General Liability Insurance 250 0 250
Postage 250 100 250
Legal Notices 500 400 500
Travel & Training 4,000 0 4,000
Other Expenditures 0
Office Supplies 1,000 500 1,000
Supplies 300 100 300
Land 50,000 0 30,000
Bond Principal - Lincoln Pool 190,000 190,000
Bond Interest- Lincoln Pool 7,340 7,340
Conestoga Marketplace Payment Year 1 of 20 Nov 2023 200,000
Husker Harvest Days Payment (Year 5 of 10 Nov 2023) 200,000 200,000 200,000
Life Safety Grants 200,000
Façade Improvement 370,000 370,000 300,000
Building Improvement 722,000 3,014,112 4,298,000
Other Projects 250,000 162,000 50,000
TIF Payments 7,100,000 7,100,000 7,100,000
TOTAL EXPENSES 9,003,640 11,131,852 12,512,300
INCREASE(DECREASE) IN CASH -928,037 -611,729 -221,262
ENDING CASH 18,431 222,441 1,179
Program Operating
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
2024 BUDGET
Building Improvement includes all committed projects (Life/Safety, Façade, Other Projects, Mall Payments)
that have not been paid.
Other Revenue includes: 200k HHD (Food and Bev), 500k Grow GI, 3953k ARPA, 100k Life Safety City
General
Page 13 of 38
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COMMUNITY
REDEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY
8-01-23
2023-2024
Community Redevelopment Authority
(CRA) Budget
COMMUNITY
REDEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY
CRA Budget
2023
Budget
2023
Projected
2024
Budget
Revenue 6,375,146 6,389,771 12,291,038
Expenses
Operating 109,300 88,400 134,300
Program 1,392,000 3,546,112 4,878,000
TIF/Bond
Payments 7,100,000 5,400,000 7,100,000
Lincoln Pool
HHD/Conestoga
397,340 397,340 400,000
Total
Expense
8,998,640 9,431,852 12,512,300
Property Tax Asking of $768,038 (1.03% of 2023) proposed Levy is likely to be
reduced based on valuation increases across the city.
Page 14 of 38
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COMMUNITY
REDEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY
CRA Budget Highlights
Façade Improvement
$300,000
Conestoga Marketplace
$200,000 payment One of Twenty
Husker Harvest Days
Year Six of Ten Payment of $200,000
Other Projects
$50,000
Fire/Life Safety
$200,000 ($100,000 CRA + $100,000 City)
Land Purchase
$30,000
COMMUNITY
REDEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY
CRA Budget Highlights
Carry Over Projects:
Hedde Building Life Safety Grant ($100k)
Artisan’s Alley Life Safety ($35k)
Azure Investments Life Safety ($70k)
Façade 106 N. Locust ($100k)
Conestoga Marketplace City ($3,592k)
Conestoga Marketplace Grow Grand Island ($500k)
Page 15 of 38
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COMMUNITY
REDEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY
Projects Paid Since Last Budget Approval
Façade 321 E. 4th St ($43.8k)
Facade 313 W. 2nd St ($59.8k)
Façade 213 W. 3rd St ($49k)
Façade OfficeNET ($100k) anticipated
Façade 3321 Ramada Rd ($100k)
Façade Artisan’s Alley ($100k)
Hedde Building Life/Safety partial ($160k) anticipated
Chamber Exterior Remodel ($295k)
Hope Harbor Property Acquisition ($50k)
Creative Arts District ($8k)
COMMUNITY
REDEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY
TIF Projects With Final Payments
Best Western Hotel (2024)
Casey’s Five Points (2024)
Page 16 of 38
AGENDA MEMO
To: The Mayor and City Council
Agenda: City Council Study Session (Budget)
Date: August 1, 2023
Item #: 6.c.
Subject: Library Budget Presentation
Staff Contact: Celine Swan
BACKGROUND: The Grand Island Public Library each year submits a proposed
budget that involves three expense categories: personnel, operating, and capital. Our
diverse Library and staff provide many services and programs to our community
through this budget and provides quality of life services for education as well as
recreation. The Library collaborates with daycares, schools, other city and county
departments, and many nonprofits to promote excellence. The Library has gold
accreditation with the Nebraska Library Commission. Our department's goals: #1
Expand Access to when, where, and how users need access by partnering with the
community, adding outreach, and possible library vending machine off-site. #2 Upgrade
technical services. Update camera and phone system, computers, and develop a
Technology Plan. #3 Promote-A Library for Everyone. Understand and work with
Library patrons, community involvements and staff/Library Board input, and develop a
Marketing Plan/Update important Library information into four main languages.
DISCUSSION: Celine Swan-Library Director at the Grand Island Public Library will
present to Mayor Steele and the City Council the proposed 2024 Budget. Our
“Personnel Services” increases are 2.89% with no increases for FTEs. The Library has
seen increases in Library attendance and circulation this past year. We anticipate that
next year we will need more staff, and hours. Our “Operating Expenses” increases are
6.3% or $32,805. Library books both in paper and electronic form have gone up,
computers, software, makerspace supplies, databases, postage, all have risen due to
inflation. For “Capital Projects” they all have to do with technology and community
literacy needs. The requests include updating the camera system-$70,000, replace two
firewalls-$15,000, and add a Novelbranch Library Kiosk-$40,000 for a total of $125,000.
We would write a Library Improvement Grant to help with the camera system, and
receive help from the Grand Island Library Foundation for assistance with the
Novelbranch Library Kiosk.
Page 17 of 38
The proposed budget will help the Grand Island Public Library to provide excellent
services and programs to our patrons, help us to earn Gold Star accreditation with the
Nebraska Library Commission so we can qualify for grants, and provide safe and up-to
-date technology for our staff and patrons. It will help to make the quality of life for our
patrons better because they will have our diverse library that acts as a community
center bringing all ages and diverse backgrounds together “inspiring and strengthening”
Grand Island and Hall County.
FISCAL IMPACT: N/A
ALTERNATIVES: N/A
RECOMMENDATION: N/A
SAMPLE MOTION: N/A
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Presentation
Page 18 of 38
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Grand Island Public Library
FY24 Budget Presentation
GIPL Mission Statement: To inspire and strengthen our community by
connecting people with information, ideas and experiences
Personnel Services increases are 2.89%
This includes a ZERO increase in FTE’s
Grand Island Public Library
FY24 Budget Presentation
Operating Expenses increases 6.3% ($32,805)
Everything has gone up due to inflation. We forecasted 4%
for books, materials, databases, supplies, postage, and
technological needs.
Page 19 of 38
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Grand Island Public Library
FY24 Budget Presentation
Capital Projects
Update Library Camera System - $70,000
Replace two firewalls $15,000
Add a Novelbranch Library Kiosk $40,000
Grand Island Public Library
FY24 Budget Presentation
Capital Projects
Update Library Camera System - $70,000
Library will apply for a Nebraska Library Commission Library
Improvement Grant
Updating the Camera System will allow for better security
both inside and outside the library. Patrons, staff, and GI
Police Department will have more tools to help deal with
safety, and crime.
Page 20 of 38
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Grand Island Public Library
FY24 Budget Presentation
Capital Projects
Replace two firewalls $15,000
We are working with City IT to replace two firewalls in the IT
room that have reached end-of-life.
City IT Dept have told us to replace two firewalls to be
compliant. Replacing old technology is a must for safety.
Grand Island Public Library
FY24 Budget Presentation
Capital Projects
Add a Novelbranch Library Kiosk $40,000
The Library Foundation would help fund this kiosk.
By adding this kiosk to the west side of Grand Island we
would be able to offer materials to patrons that might not
make it to the Library. Patrons of all ages can benefit from
a Library kiosk. This contributes to quality of life,
improving reading scores, and convenience for patrons.
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Grand Island Public Library
FY24 Budget Presentation
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AGENDA MEMO
To: The Mayor and City Council
Agenda: City Council Study Session (Budget)
Date: August 1, 2023
Item #: 6.d.
Subject: Emergency Management Budget Presentation
Staff Contact: Jon Rosenlund
BACKGROUND:
DISCUSSION:
FISCAL IMPACT:
ALTERNATIVES:
RECOMMENDATION:
SAMPLE MOTION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Presentation
Page 23 of 38
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Emergency Management FY24 Budget Presentation
Personnel Services (All Funds) increases 2%
With No new FTE
Personnel Service (All Funds) increase 5%
With 1 New FTE (Public Safety Dispatcher)
Will provide 19 FTE and almost meet the lower end of
recommended 911 dispatcher coverage for call volume to
GIEC.
Current StaffingToday, when “Fully
Staffed” we have an
average 3-4 dispatchers
on a shift
Summers are always a
challenge with increased
vacation requests and
higher call volume
Winters are better for
both lower leave requests
and slightly lower call
volume.
Date 5‐Dec 6‐Dec 7‐Dec 8‐Dec 9‐Dec 10‐Dec 11‐Dec 12‐Dec 13‐Dec 14‐Dec 15‐Dec 16‐Dec 17‐Dec 18‐Dec Average
Night 322.5234532333453.2
Day 334434333434433.4
Swing344333334333333.2
Date 19‐Dec 20‐Dec 21‐Dec 22‐Dec 23‐Dec 24‐Dec 25‐Dec 26‐Dec 27‐Dec 28‐Dec 29‐Dec 30‐Dec 31‐Dec 1‐Jan Average
Night 43332.5334333334.53.2
Day 334444333444433.6
Swing343333433333343.2
Date 2‐Jan 3‐Jan 4‐Jan 5‐Jan 6‐Jan 7‐Jan 8‐Jan 9‐Jan 10‐Jan 11‐Jan 12‐Jan 13‐Jan 14‐Jan 15‐Jan Average
Night3.533234432223343.0
Day 444445545445434.2
Swing334334433433443.4
Date 16‐Jan 17‐Jan 18‐Jan 19‐Jan 20‐Jan 21‐Jan 22‐Jan 23‐Jan 24‐Jan 25‐Jan 26‐Jan 27‐Jan 28‐Jan 29‐Jan Average
Night 433233433334333.1
Day 33433433333442.53.3
Swing434433433333543.5
Date 30‐Jan 31‐Jan 1‐Feb 2‐Feb 3‐Feb 4‐Feb 5‐Feb 6‐Feb 7‐Feb 8‐Feb 9‐Feb 10‐Feb 11‐Feb 12‐Feb Average
Night 433343342.52.5432.533.2
Day 2.5344342.53334442.53.3
Swing344444443444443.9
Page 24 of 38
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Background on StaffingYear Staffing Details
2010 GIEC had 14 dispatchers (including Seniors)
2011 Department conducted a NENA “Erlang” staffing study that showed need
for 4 dispatchers per shift, and recommended 18 total staff.
2011 Two FTEs were approved in 2011, raising the FTE count to 16.
2021 The Department repeated the NENA “Erlang” staffing model study,
recommending 5 on the “Busy Shift”, 4 on the other shifts, and 20.3 FTE
2022 We proposed 2 FTE be added in FY23 and 2 FTE added in FY24.
Council approved 2 FTE in FY23 for a total of 18.
2023 Erlang Study repeated for 2022‐2023. Values consistent with 2021 study.
Recommendation increased to 20.7 FTE.
NENA PSAP Staffing Model
National Emergency Number Association
Nationwide 911 association
One of NENA's main functions is to grade the quality of the 9-1-1 services that exist throughout the US.
Standards development, Training, Outreach
PSAP Staffing Model combines two techniques, a rational approach and an empirical approach, to increase the robustness of the recommendations created
Page 25 of 38
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What is an Erlang?
One Erlang (E) of carried traffic refers to a single resource
being in continuous use, or two channels being in use fifty
percent of the time, and so on.
For example, if an office has two telephone operators who are
both busy all the time, that would represent two Erlangs (2 E)
of traffic;
Or a radio channel that is occupied for one hour continuously
is said to have a load of 1 Erlang.
How Are Erlang Studies Used?
Determine how many telephone trunks are necessary for peak use.
Internet companies like Yahoo, Facebook, Amazon use Erlangs to determine the “infrastructure” needed for social media, chat platforms, database usage, and messaging servers.
Grocery stores can use it to determine how many check out stands to staff.
Airports in designing the number of toilets in a terminal bathroom.
Essentially, it answers the questions, how many service providers or paths of service, are necessary to meet peak demand times without over-provisioning.
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Grade of Service/Quality of Service
Erlang studies also take into account Grade of Service or
Quality of Service.
For example, in a system where there is no desire for queuing
(calls waiting inordinately), the GoS may be that no more than
1 call in 100 is blocked/unanswered.
Essentially, how much “wait time” is tolerated in the system.
Grocery store check out can tolerate a line.
911 systems tolerate little to no wait time
NENA Staffing Formula
Study a peak 14 day period of a single year
Calculate the “Average Bouncing Busy Hour” (ABBH)
That shift is considered the “Busy Shift”
Find the busiest hour outside the “Busy Shift”
That is the “Normal Shift”
Then, determine “Average Normal Hour”
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GIEC Average Bouncing Busy Hour - 2023
14 Days by Hour: 911 Calls
Date 00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00 Total
4/9/2023 3 2 2 313011129 134644859712 697
4/10/2023 3 3 1 11303191520 74951013 9471234 147
4/11/2023 3 3 4 100045345711 10 10 96895373 120
4/12/2023 0 2 1 22319510 254178912 697732 117
4/13/2023 0 1 1 0122858 13588520 13 11 9 11 4 3 1 130
4/14/2023 4 0 4 2230276345445614 12106531 112
4/15/2023 1 3 5 44103326410 335828 45654 99
4/16/2023 3 9 613211025155617 865747131 118
4/17/2023 5 3 1 1310156433611 42613 610745 110
4/18/2023 1 2 2 02222657 3265366479 410 87
4/19/2023 7 3 2 2131719 58342315 7369454 114
4/20/2023 5 4 1 20220214258 3 12 85665550 93
4/21/2023 6 1 2 0225554610510 95813 948656 136
4/22/2023 9 2 1 2011156211 25373514818 834 121
Total 50 38 33 21 22 28 15 47 51 72 66 102 64 79 95 86 114 111 118 91 116 79 62 41 1601
Converting Erlang to Service Providers
Table for Required Service Providers Thresholds
For a given number of Erlangs thresholds (rows 1, 2 or 3), the following number of service providers
(row 4) are required to meet 911 QoS.
Extended Erlang B 0.000 0.011 0.152 0.452 0.863 1.350 1.893
2.480
Erlang B 0.000 0.011 0.153 0.456 0.870 1.361 1.910 2.510
Poisson 0.000 0.010 0.150 0.450 0.850 1.300 1.800 2.350
Service Providers 1 2 3 4 5 678
Note: “Busy Shift”: Red “Normal Shift” = Blue
Call Volume
Category
Busy
Hour
Shift
Normal
Shift
Duration in
Seconds
9‐1‐1 calls 15.93 9.78 128.14
7‐/10‐digit #
calls 13.43 10.929 89.51
Shift
Busy Hour Normal
9‐1‐1 calls in Erlangs 0.567 0.348
7‐/10‐digit # calls in Erlangs 0.334 0.272
Total Erlangs per Shift . . . 0.901 0.620
Call takers required per shift . . 5 4
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Using ABBH to Find Erlang
Year 2011 2021
Avg. Bouncing Busy Hour (911 Only)8.6 15.93
Avg. Normal Hour (911 Only)8.1 9.79
Erlang B Value Busy Hour (E value)0.659 0.901
Erlang B Value Normal Hour (E value)0.552 0.620
Call Takers Required per Shift (Busy)45
Call Takers Required per Shift (Normal)44
Staffing Ratio
How many FTEs is required to keep one seat staffed on a 24/7 basis?
Staffing Ratio accounts for actual work hours per employee
considering the average amount of leave taken.
Staffing Ratio Calculator
Total Days Off per year (Weekends + Leave + Training)132
Days available to work 233
If work eight hours per day 8
Hours available to work 1832
Staffing Ratio* (FTEs per Position)4.78
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Applying Erlang & Staffing Ratio to GIEC
8 Hour Shifts
Normal Busy Med
Position Minimum Standard (E)4 5 4.33
Staffing Ratio (R)4.78 4.78 4.78
Base Value (E x R)19.1 23.9 20.7
Total FTE Required 19 24 21
GIEC Comparison to other PSAPs
Grand Island 911 Buffalo Co. 911 North Platte 911 Sarpy Co. 911
Jurisdiction Population 61,353 49,659 34,914 187,196
911 Inbound Calls 2021 35,477 19,122 16,864 68,525
911 Calls per Population 0.57 0.38 0.48 0.37
911 FTE Staffing 18 15 12.5 40
911 Calls per FTE 1,970 1,274* 1,349* 1,713*
% Difference Calls/FTE ‐‐154% 146% 115%
* Average Calls per FTE among Compared PSAPs is 1,445
FTE Count Scenario 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
GIEC Calls per FTE 1,867 1,773 1,689 1,612 1,542 1,478 1,419
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Challenges of Understaffing for Dispatchers
“Three dispatchers struggle to keep up with the chance of radio traffic being
missed or calls being dropped… Four dispatchers in this same scenario makes
the struggle a little easier and five dispatchers are ideal.”
“When there are five dispatchers working, each can be assigned a channel to
monitor and one stepping out of the room for a few minutes won’t be a
problem. This is the same with four dispatchers, but when there are only three,
one stepping out of the room can add to the stress.”
Challenges of Understaffing for Dispatchers
“We don’t always have the time to effectively talk to our callers as we should.
With EMD and the requirement to stay on the phone with most EMD calls,
that ties up a dispatcher until units arrive.”
“That fifth person pulls a substantial amount of phone calls off the radio
people so radio traffic is not missed. There have been many shifts where we
still can’t get to all the phone calls without dropping them.”
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Challenges of Understaffing for Dispatchers
“Lack of dispatchers creates burnout. The shift has to cover
overtime shifts that are short causing them to work 12 hour days,
sometimes several days during the week. While we all share the
extra load, it does get overwhelming and causes additional sick
time to be used.”
Conclusion & Recommendation
No single method of analysis is the “silver bullet” to
answering questions on 911 staffing.
Instead, a holistic approach should be used, including staffing
models, PSAP comparability, and the “eye test” of local
management and experiences.
Erlang studies taken with Staffing Ratio suggest 21 FTE
Comparability study suggests between 20-24 FTE
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Conclusion & Recommendation
2 FTE Hired in FY2022-23
Recommendation for 20 FTE
Hire 2 Dispatchers FY 2023-24
Costs Estimate: $160,000 increase in two Fiscal Years
City and County Share this increase 50%-50%
2 FTE would increase Personnel by 10%
Department Name FY24 Budget Presentation
Operating Expenses (All Funds) decrease -1%
Decreases in E911 phone bills (E911 Fund)
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Department Name FY24 Budget Presentation
Capital Projects
Privacy Fence on West Property Line at 1210 N. North Rd
Mate with Fire Station 4 fence.
Reduce risk of public wandering into property and also into
Fire Station driveway.
$12,000
EM911 Fence
View looking west from EM911 building
Areal view
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Department Name FY24 Budget Presentation
Capital Equipment
Outdoor Siren Replacement, 2 annually.
$37,000
Impact Statement: Maintains our local
warning system.
Department Name FY24 Budget Presentation
Capital Equipment
UPS Batteries (24) replacement at
1210 N. North Rd.
Batteries are 4.5 years old, 5 year life span
$13,000
Maintains electrical power to 911 Center.
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Department Name FY24 Budget Presentation
Capital Equipment
Voting Repeater System
$30,000
Extends public safety radio
coverage to areas underserved
by current repeaters.
Department Name FY24 Budget Presentation
Capital Equipment
Spare UHF Repeater.
$8,000
Older MTR2000’s no longer
supported.
Replaced by MTR3000’s. These are kept on hand and
immediately installed when a repeater cannot be repaired.
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Department Name FY24 Budget Presentation
Capital Equipment
P25 portable radios for Director & Deputy
Director.
$20,000
Provides radio communications for EM
personnel on scene. Capable of operating on
current and future radio systems.
Department Name FY24 Budget Presentation
Capital Equipment
Propane Tank Cover at Alda Tower.
$10,000
Working with Finance for a possible
grant on this project.
Propane fuels the onsite generator.
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Department Name FY24 Budget Presentation
Capital Equipment
911 Host upgrades for Next Gen 911 system.
Includes Interlocal with several counties and separate
contract with Motorola Callworks.
Delays moved this project back 18 months.
Installation scheduled for September-October 2023.
$48,000, combined
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