09-12-2023 City Council Meeting (Special Meeting) Packet
City Council Meeting Agenda
Council Chambers
City Hall
100 East First Street
Study Session of September 12, 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
7. PUBLIC HEARING
a. Public Hearing on FY2023-2024 Annual Single City Budget and Annual Appropriations
Bill
b. Public Hearing on FY2023-2024 General Property and Community Redevelopment
Authority (CRA) Tax Request
c. Public Hearing on FY 2023-2024 Parking District #2 (Ramp) Tax Request
8. ADJOURN
9. OTHER ITEMS
Page 1 of 13
AGENDA MEMO
To: The Mayor and City Council
Agenda: City Council Meeting (Special Meeting)
Date: September 12, 2023
Item #: 7.a.
Subject: Public Hearing on FY2023-2024 Annual Single City Budget and Annual
Appropriations Bill
Staff Contact: Patrick (Pat) Brown
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 September 8, 2023. 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 September 12, 2023 following the Special Meeting of
City Council.
Page 2 of 13
The following is a comparison of the fiscal year 2024 proposed budget to the FY2023
adopted budget:
• The FY2024 budget appropriation is 17.3% or $45,508,299 higher than the
FY2023 adopted budget. The difference is mainly due to increase costs from
inflation, delayed capital purchases from FY2023 (supply chain issues), Electric
Solar Project and a Grants placeholder (in order to have appropriation authority).
• All Funds Revenue projections for FY2024 increased 12.2% or $28,070,875 over
FY2023 budget.
• 2023 Valuations for the City of Grand Island increased over the 2022 valuation
by $607,553,916 or 15.9%. If the City applies the FY2022-2023 mill levy of
0.3394 to the new valuation of $4,428,935,549, the City’s Property Tax revenue
would be $15,031,807, a tax increase of $2,063,128 over the prior year. The City
and Community Redevelopment Authority tax ask for FY2024 is $12,983,258.
• The City is requesting the same property tax ask that was in FY2022-2023.
Property Tax Ask of $12,207,540 to the new valuation decreases the mill levy to
0.275631. CRA property tax ask is $775,718 which is a tax increase of $22,659.
The CRA mill levy would decrease from 0.019706 to 0.017515.
• Total Sales Tax revenue is forecasted at $28,706,941 for FY2024. It is a 19.2%
or $4,621,005 increase over FY2023 budget. The increase was due to the
sustained increase in sales tax collections in the last two years.
• All other revenue sources in the General Fund account for $4,521,902 increase
over FY2023 budget. A large portion of the increase is due to the rebalancing of
revenues and costs between funds, increase rate of return on investments, and
casino tax revenues.
• An increase in Transfers FY2024 by $2,436,607 over FY2023 due to Sales Tax
revenue distribution to capital projects.
Additional FTE’s and Reclassifications:
With the retirements and vacancies left by five different directors leaving over the last
few years, there have been new people filling those roles either permanently or in an
interim capacity. With those changes, organizational modifications were completed
during fiscal year 2023 with additional modifications proposed as part of the fiscal year
2024 budget. The following is a summary of the above-mentioned changes along with a
dollar figure showing the personnel budget impact estimated in fiscal year 2024.
Eleven New Full-time Positions;
• Add Assistant City Administrator - increase of $251,598
• Add Communications Manager - increase of $106,080
• Add Paralegal - increase of $41,439
• Add Human Resources Recruiter - increase of $101,459
• *Add Police Sergeant - increase of $63,748
• *Add Police Lieutenant x 2 - increase of $146,250
Page 3 of 13
• *Add Public Safety Dispatcher - increase of $38,422
• Add Equipment Operator - Streets - increase of $78,685
• Add Water Maintenance Worker x 2 - increase of $175,332. These are partially
grant funded positions to help facilitate a lead line removal program.
*Budget figures are based on new hires starting 4/1/2024
Six Reclassifications of existing positions;
• Building Department Director to Chief Building Official - decrease of $31,408
• Regional Planning Director to Community Development Director - no dollar
impact
• Interpreter/Translator moved from Finance to Administration - no dollar impact
• Records Clerk to Records Supervisor - increase of $23,253
• Lead Plant Operator to Chief Operator - increase of $1,644
• Equipment Operator to Senior Equipment Operator - increase of $9,826
Capital Improvement Projects and Equipment Purchases for FY2024.
Department Request Title FY2024
Electric Utility Electric ‐ Bond Payment $3,830,000.00
Electric ‐ Solar Farm $11,916,381.00
Electric ‐ CIS & MDM Software $150,000.00
Electric ‐ Purchase Building at 1204 W North Front St. $100,000.00
Electric ‐ Replace (2) HVAC Units $40,000.00
Electric ‐ Boring $175,000.00
Electric ‐ Underground L&M for new developments $3,250,000.00
Electric ‐ Overhead L&M for New Developments $1,850,000.00
Electric ‐ Substation Security $500,000.00
Electric ‐ Disconnects for Sub H $150,000.00
Electric ‐ LED Lights $200,000.00
Electric ‐ AMI Meters $950,000.00
Electric ‐ Unit 1573 Replacement for 2011 Digger Derrick $435,000.00
Electric ‐ Unit 1561 ‐ 2009 Truck with Aerial Device $240,000.00
Electric ‐ Unit 1666 ‐ Replacement of 2008 Bucket Truck $230,000.00
Electric ‐ Unit 1648 ‐ Replacement for 2007 Pickup $60,000.00
Electric ‐ 3/4 Pickup $60,000.00
Total Electric Utility $24,136,381.00
Emergency Management EMS ‐ ORT Cost Share $13,000.00
EMS ‐ Host Upgrade Cost Share $35,000.00
EMS ‐ APX 8500 Mobile Radio $10,000.00
EMS ‐ APX Next Portable Radio $10,000.00
EMS ‐ Spare Repeater $8,000.00
EMS ‐ Voting Repeater $30,000.00
EMS ‐ UPS Batteries $13,000.00
EMS ‐ Sirens $35,000.00
Total Emergency Management $154,000.00
Page 4 of 13
Engineering PW ‐ Bond Payment $1,763,150.00
PW ‐ Independence Ave; Capital Ave to Manchester/Macron $463,700.00
PW ‐ Locust Street; Hwy 34 to Wood River Diversion $900,000.00
PW ‐ Stuhr Road‐Dual NB Lefts @ Hwy 30 $90,000.00
PW ‐ Claude Road/13th Street Roundabout $1,700,000.00
PW ‐ Claude Road; State Street to 13th Street $1,800,000.00
PW ‐ Claude Rd/State Street Roundabout $1,700,000.00
PW ‐ Locust Street; Koenig Street to Fonner Park Road $300,000.00
PW ‐ Custer Avenue; Old Potash Highway to Forrest Street ‐ Phase IV $1,100,000.00
PW ‐ Broadwell/Union Pacific Railroad Grade Separation $270,000.00
PW ‐ Highway 30 Realignment $1,372,000.00
PW ‐ Five Points Intersection Improvements $667,900.00
PW ‐ Webb Road Paving Assessment $80,500.00
PW ‐ Annual Curb Ramp Installation $170,000.00
Total Engineering $12,377,250.00
Fire Capital Equipment Spillman to Phoenix Interface $61,000.00
Replace Fire Station #3 $3,000,000.00
Mobile Radio Repeater $26,000.00
Replace Fire Hose $30,000.00
Purchase 35 Sets of Personal Protective Equipment $230,000.00
Overhead Door Replacement $40,000.00
P‐25 Portable Radios $680,000.00
Braun Type I Ambulance $409,000.00Department Request Title FY2024
Total Fire Capital Equipment $4,476,000.00
Food & Beverage Occupation Tax Parks ‐ George Park Restrooms (carryover from
FY23) $300,000.00
Parks ‐ Stolley Park Irrigation Expansion $95,100.00
Parks ‐ Ryder Park ‐ Parking Lot and Sidewalk Improvements $950,000.00
Parks ‐ Replace Skate Park $25,000.00
Parks ‐ Parks & Recreation Master Plan $300,000.00
Parks ‐ Miscellaneous Parks Projects $100,000.00
Parks ‐ Island Oasis Renovation $250,000.00
Parks ‐ George Park Irrigation and Field Update $300,000.00
Total Food & Beverage Occupation Tax $2,320,100.00
Jackrabbit Run Golf Course JackRabbit Run ‐ Shop Lift $14,000.00
JackRabbit Run ‐ Replace Tee Markers and other miscellaneous items $33,000.00
JackRabbit Run ‐ Replace Restroom & Maintenance Doors $10,000.00
JackRabbit Run ‐ Replace Deck $28,000.00
JackRabbit Run ‐ Renovate Hole #4 Lake $98,412.00
JackRabbit Run ‐ Snack Bar Improvements $10,000.00
JackRabbit Run ‐ Weather Shelter $29,000.00
JackRabbit Run ‐ Concrete Pads $29,000.00
JackRabbit Run ‐ Remove Trees $45,000.00
JackRabbit Run ‐ Submersible Pump $17,000.00
Page 5 of 13
JackRabbit Run ‐ Clubhouse Renovation $50,000.00
Total Jackrabbit Run Golf Course $363,412.00
KENO Parks ‐ Trail Development $75,000.00
Parks ‐ Stolley Park Parking and Road Upgrade $351,538.00
Parks ‐ Sterling Park Backstop $10,000.00
Parks ‐ Ryder Park Playground & Shelters $65,000.00
Parks ‐ Ryder Park Restrooms $300,000.00
Total KENO $801,538.00
Landfill PW ‐ Solid Waste ‐ Cell 4 Engineering (Landfill) $150,000.00
PW ‐ Solid Waste ‐ Litter Fence $30,000.00
PW ‐ Solid Waste ‐ Concrete Work (Landfill) $30,000.00
Total Landfill $210,000.00
Library Capital Equipment Library Book KIOSK $40,000.00
Library Network Firewalls $15,000.00
Library Security System Upgrade $70,000.00
Total Library Capital Equipment $125,000.00
Parks & Recreation Parks ‐ Ryder Park ‐ Inclusive Playground $600,772.00
Parks ‐ Ryder Park ‐ Legion Field Update $3,000,000.00
Parks ‐ Bike Trail So. Locust to Camp Augustine $400,000.00
Parks ‐ Bike Trail Claude to Water Tower $1,824,130.00
Total Parks & Recreation $5,824,902.00
Parks Capital Equipment Parks ‐ Articulating Telescopic Aerial Truck (carryover from
FY23) $155,669.00
Parks ‐ 11' Mower (Carry‐over FY23) $92,478.61
Parks ‐ Fertilizer Sprayer/Spreader $26,000.00
Parks ‐ 3/4 Ton 4 Wheel Drive Pick‐up (Carry over from FY23) $58,000.00
Parks ‐ 1/2 Ton 2 Wheel Drive Pick‐up (Carry over from FY23)
$40,000.00Request Parks ‐ 11' Mower Replacement(s) $100,000.00
Parks ‐ Field Drag Machine $60,000.00
Total Parks Capital Equipment $532,147.61
Police Capital Equipment Law Enforcement Building HVAC Replacement
$450,000.00
Auto Impound Upgrades $56,000.00
Access gates $150,000.00
Police Vehicles $726,108.00
Total Police Capital Equipment $1,382,108.00
Public Transit ‐ Vehicles $732,227.00
Total Public Transit $732,227.00
Public Works PW ‐ Tri Street Drainage Improvements $200,000.00
PW ‐ Citywide Drainage $250,000.00
PW ‐ Platte Valley Industrial Park Drainage District No. 2020‐1 $250,000.00
Page 6 of 13
PW ‐ Sidewalk Cost Share Program $25,000.00
PW ‐ North Moores Creek 80 Wetland Detention $350,000.00
PW ‐ Engineering ‐ Pick‐up $19,000.00
Total Public Works $1,094,000.00
SANITARY SEWER CONSTRUCTION PW ‐ Wastewater ‐ Sanitary Sewer District
$200,000.00
PW ‐ Wastewater ‐ Manhole Lining & Open‐Cut Replacements $1,140,000.00
PW ‐ Wastewater ‐ Sewer Rehabilitation ‐ Priority Group 2 $89,919.00
PW ‐ Wastewater ‐ Flow Monitoring Program $94,719.00
Total SANITARY SEWER CONSTRUCTION $1,524,638.00
Streets Capital Equipment PW ‐ Streets ‐ Dump Truck (10cy) $175,000.00
PW ‐ Streets ‐ 1/2 Ton Pick‐up $45,000.00
PW ‐ Streets ‐ Asphalt Reclaiming/Trenching Machine $50,000.00
PW ‐ Streets ‐ Forklift $25,000.00
PW ‐ Streets ‐ Street Sweeper $300,000.00
PW ‐ Streets ‐ Trailer for Skid Steer $15,000.00
PW ‐ Streets ‐ Salt Truck $155,000.00
PW ‐ Streets ‐ Salt Truck (5cy chassis) $135,350.00
PW ‐ Streets ‐ Trailer for Milling Machine $26,500.00
PW ‐ Streets ‐ Street Sweeper & Snow Heaver Payment $59,088.00
PW ‐ Streets ‐ 2019 Sewer Combo Unit Payment $66,441.00
PW ‐ Streets ‐ Skid Steer Buy Back (2 of 2) $20,000.00
PW ‐ Streets ‐ Skid Steer Buy Back (1 of 2) $20,000.00
PW ‐ Streets ‐ Well & Hydrant at West Yard $35,000.00
PW ‐ Streets ‐ North Front Building Frame Repair and Siding $60,000.00
Total Streets Capital Equipment $1,187,379.00
Transfer Station PW ‐ Solid Waste ‐ Wheel Loader $220,000.00
PW ‐ Solid Waste ‐ Pick‐up $50,000.00
PW ‐ Solid Waste ‐ Transfer Trailer $125,000.00
PW ‐ Solid Waste ‐ Truck‐Tractor $150,000.00
PW ‐ Solid Waste ‐ Transfer Station Improvements $6,000,000.00
PW ‐ Solid Waste ‐ Concrete Work $30,000.00
Total Transfer Station $6,575,000.00
Wastewater Utility PW ‐ Wastewater ‐ Dump Truck $175,000.00Request Title
FY2024
PW ‐ Wastewater ‐ Pickup $50,000.00
PW ‐ Wastewater ‐ Service Locates Truck $50,000.00
PW ‐ Wastewater ‐ Improvements to Building at 1204 N Front St $25,750.00
PW ‐ Wastewater ‐ Facility Safety & Security $51,500.00
PW ‐ Wastewater ‐ UV System Replacement $100,212.00
PW ‐ Wastewater ‐ Septage Receiving Station $113,300.00
PW ‐ Wastewater ‐ Flow Improvements $2,385,000.00
Total Wastewater Utility $2,950,762.00
Water Utility Water ‐ HP Well Controls $80,000.00
Page 7 of 13
Water ‐ Wellfield PLC & Fiber $20,000.00
Water ‐ Seal Bricks on Water Shop $75,000.00
Water ‐ Replace Roof at Old Fire Station $100,000.00
Water ‐ Infowater Model Updates $60,000.00
Water ‐ CIS & MDM Software $75,000.00
Water ‐ Uranium System Upgrades $200,000.00
Water ‐ Ludlow Fire Hydrant Replacements $75,000.00
Water ‐ Hwy 30 Fire Hydrant Relocation $30,000.00
Water ‐ Replace Water Line on Howard (Capital to College) $765,000.00
Water ‐ Unplanned Water Main Districts $225,000.00
Water ‐ Hydro VAC Trailer $130,000.00
Total Water Utility $1,835,000.00
Total Departments $68,601,844.61
FISCAL IMPACT: Approving the City's FY2024 Budget of $308,017,875.
ALTERNATIVES:
RECOMMENDATION:
SAMPLE MOTION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Newspaper Budget Hearing Notice
Page 8 of 13
2021-2022 Actual Disbursements & Transfers230,561,401.00$ 2022-2023 Actual/Estimated Disbursements & Transfers262,509,576.00$ 2023-2024 Proposed Budget of Disbursements & Transfers308,017,875.00$ 2023-2024 Necessary Cash Reserve136,457,816.00$ 2023-2024 Total Resources Available444,475,691.00$ Total 2023-2024 Personal & Real Property Tax Requirement12,992,348.11$ Unused Budget Authority Created For Next Year 6,458,389.26$ Breakdown of Property Tax:Personal and Real Property Tax Required for Non-Bond Purposes12,992,348.11$ Personal and Real Property Tax Required for Bonds-$ 2022 2023 ChangeOperating Budget273,245,385.00 308,017,875.00 13%Property Tax Request12,968,678.76$ 12,992,348.11$ 0%Valuation3,821,381,633 4,428,935,549 16%Tax Rate0.339371 0.293351 -14%Tax Rate if Prior Tax Request was at Current Valuation0.292817 NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING AND BUDGET SUMMARYHall County, NebraskaCity of Grand IslandNOTICE OF SPECIAL HEARING TO SET FINAL TAX REQUESTINPUBLIC 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 12 day of September 2023, at 6:00 o'clock P.M., at City Hall-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 12 day of September 2023, at 7:00 o'clock P.M., at City Hall-100 E 1st St for the purpose of hearing support, opposition, criticism, suggestions or observations of taxpayers relating to setting the final tax request.Page 9 of 13
AGENDA MEMO
To: The Mayor and City Council
Agenda: City Council Meeting (Special Meeting)
Date: September 12, 2023
Item #: 7.b.
Subject: Public Hearing on FY2023-2024 General Property and Community
Redevelopment Authority (CRA) Tax Request
Staff Contact: Patrick (Pat) Brown
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: 2023 Valuations for the City of Grand Island increased over the 2022
valuation by $607,553,916 or 15.9%. If the City applied the FY2022-2023 mill levy of
0.3394 to the new valuation of $4,428,935,549, the City’s Property Tax revenue would
be $15,031,807, a tax increase of $2,063,128 over the prior year. The City and
Community Redevelopment Authority tax ask for FY2024 is $12,983,258.
If the City applies the FY2022-2023 Property Tax Ask of $12,207,540 to the new
valuation, there would be no tax increase and the mill levy would decrease to 0.275631.
The CRA property tax ask is $775,718 which is a tax increase of $22,659. The CRA mill
levy would decrease from 0.019706 to 0.017515.
The following is a breakdown of mill levies for City General and CRA property tax
request.
Page 10 of 13
Entity 2023 Mill
Levy
2024 Proposed Mill
Levy
City General Property Tax Levy 0.319454 0.275631
City General Property Tax Levy for CRA 0.019706 0.017515
Total General Property Tax Levy 0.339160 0.293146
FISCAL IMPACT: Requesting a total of $12,983,258 in Property Taxes for FY2024.
ALTERNATIVES:
RECOMMENDATION: Approve decreasing the mill levy to 0.275631 in order to request
$12,207,540 of Property Tax for City general and decreasing CRA’s mill levy to
0.017515 in order to request $775,718 of Property Tax for FY2024 for a total request of
$12,983,258.
SAMPLE MOTION: Move to approve the General Property Tax Request for City and
CRA.
ATTACHMENTS: None
Page 11 of 13
AGENDA MEMO
To: The Mayor and City Council
Agenda: City Council Meeting (Special Meeting)
Date: September 12, 2023
Item #: 7.c.
Subject: Public Hearing on FY 2023-2024 Parking District #2 (Ramp) Tax Request
Staff Contact: Patrick (Pat) Brown
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: 2023 Valuations for the Downtown Improvement District #2 (Ramp)
increased over the 2022 valuation by $8,155,286 or 12.2%. The Downtown
Improvement District #2 (Ramp) is requesting an increase in Property Tax of $1,010
thereby increasing the mill levy from 0.012039 to 0.012076. The Downtown
Improvement District #2 (Ramp) Property Tax revenue request is $9,090.
FISCAL IMPACT: Requesting $9,090.00 in Property Taxes for Parking District #2
(Ramp) for FY2024.
ALTERNATIVES:
RECOMMENDATION: Administration recommends to approve the Downtown
Improvement District #2 (Ramp) Property Tax request of $9,090 and set the mill levy at
0.012076.
Page 12 of 13
SAMPLE MOTION: Move to approve.
ATTACHMENTS: None
Page 13 of 13