7/23/2024 Minutes CITY OF
GRAND;E ISLAND
City Council Meeting Minutes
Council Chambers
City Hall
100 East First Street
July 23, 2024
7:00 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Roger Steele called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
The following City Officials were present, City Clerk Jill Granere, City Administrator Laura
McAloon, Assistant City Administrator/CFO Patrick Brown, Finance Director Matthew
Gleason, City Attorney Kari Fisk and Public Works Director Keith Kurz.
The following City Council Members were present: Maggie Mendoza, Bethany Guzinski, Chuck
Haase,Jack Sheard,Mike Paulick,Mitchell Nickerson,Doug Lanfear and Jason Conley.Michelle
Fitzke and Mark Stelk were absent.
4. SUBMITTAL OF REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
5. RESERVE TIME TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS
6. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
6.a) City of Grand Island Communications Internship Program
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Communications Manager Spencer Schubert reported that for the past 8 weeks, the City of Grand
Island had hosted two interns from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Rural Journalism
Internship Program. Parviz Jamalov and Leilany Diaz have helped contribute to the daily
communications. The city celebrated their accomplishments and wished them well as they return
for their final years of college at UNL.
6.b) Presentation by Nebraska State Fair and Partnership with the City of Grand Island
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Jamie Parr with the Nebraska State Fair gave a presentation on partnership with the City of Grand
Island and new additions to the State Fair this year.
7. CONSENT AGENDA
Page 2 of 7,City Council Regular Meeting,July 23,2024
Motion by Mike Paulick, second by Doug Lanfear to approve 7) CONSENT AGENDA Roll Call:
Ayes: Maggie Mendoza, Bethany Guzinski, Chuck Haase, Jack Sheard, Mike Paulick, Mitchell
Nickerson,Doug Lanfear and Jason Conley.Michelle Fitzke and Mark Stelk were absent.Motion
adopted.
7.a) Approving Minutes of the July 9, 2024 City Council Regular Meeting.
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Minutes
7.b) Approving Minutes of the July 16, 2024 City Council Study Session (Budget).
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Minutes
7.c) Approving Payment of Claims for the Period of July 10, 2024 through July 23,
2024 for a total amount of$14,436,999.26.
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7.d) Approving Re-Appointments and Appointment to the Building Code Advisory
Board.
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Memorandum
7.e) #2024-158 -Approving Amendment No. 2 to the Camp Augustine Master Plan -
Parks & Recreation Depaitiuent.
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Amendment 2
Resolution
With Big Muddy Workshop to provide a third public meeting which resulted in an increase of
$3,000 for a revised amount of$120,273.00.
7.f) #2024-159 -Approving Certificate of Final Completion for Curb Ramp Project
No. 2024-CR-2 CDBG.
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Exhibit
Certificate of Final Completion
Resolution
With Diamond Engineering of Grand Island,Nebraska, in the amount of$188,427.04.
7.g) #2024-160 -Approving Certificate of Final Completion for Curb Ramp Project No.
2024-CR-1.
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Exhibit
Page 3 of 7,City Council Regular Meeting,July 23,2024
Certificate of Final Completion
Resolution
With Diamond Engineering of Grand Island, Nebraska, in the amount of$149,617.60.
7.h) #2024-161 -Approving Repealing Resolution 99-342 and Resolution 2000-88
related to Backflow Financing.
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Resolution
Removing the $2.00 per month fee from the City of Grand Island Fee Schedule.
7.i) #2024-162 - State Fair Emergency Fire and Medical Service Agreement.
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Agreement
Resolution
Grand Island Fire Department to provide fire and emergency medical services for 11 days at the
2024 State Fair in the amount of$35,865.00.
7.j) #2024-163 -Accept Assistance to Firefighters Grant award.
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Resolution
With AFG in the amount of$85,131.19 towards exercise equipment.
7.k) #2024-164 -Approving Interlocal Cooperation Agreement between the City of
Grand Island and the Nebraska State Fair.
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Interlocal Agreement
Resolution
The City would be granted two sponsored days at the 2024 Nebraska State Fair. The days being
offered in the interlocal agreement are Sunday, August 25 and Sunday, September 1.
8. PUBLIC HEARINGS
8.a) Public Hearing on the One & Six Year Street Improvement Plan
#2024-165 -Approving the One & Six Year Street Improvement Plan
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1 & 6 PowerPoint
Resolution
Page 4 of 7,City Council Regular Meeting,July 23,2024
Exhibit "A"
Public Works Director Keith Kurz reported the One& Six Year Street Improvement Plan consists
of the transportation projects in the Capital Improvement Program and is mandatory by State Law
as part of the requirements to receive approximately six million dollars of state gas tax funds each
year. The projects listed in the One & Six Year Plan for fiscal year 2025 were considered definite
projects, and were in the approved fiscal year 2025 budget. Many of the projects listed in the One
& Six Year Plan for 2025 through 2030 are included in the City's budget, but are subject to
schedule changes depending upon coordination and approval of State and Federal funding. No
public testimony was heard.
Motion by Chuck Haase, second by Jack Sheard to approve #2024-165 - Approving the
One & Six Year Street Improvement Plan. Roll Call: Ayes: Maggie Mendoza, Bethany
Guzinski,Chuck Haase,Jack Sheard,Mike Paulick,Mitchell Nickerson,Doug Lanfear and
Jason Conley.Michelle Fitzke and Mark Stelk were absent. Motion adopted.
8.b) Public Hearing for a proposed Redevelopment Plan Amendment in CRA Area 33 for
property located north of Husker Highway and west of Prairieview Street (Lots 1 and 2 of
Legacy 34 Fourth Subdivision) in Grand Island - Innate Development 2
#2024-166 - Consideration of Approval of Resolution Approving the Redevelopment plan
Amendment and Authorizing the Grand Island Community Redevelopment Authority to
enter into a Redevelopment Contract.
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Amendment Area 33 Legacy 34
Application
Exhbit B
Resolution 494
Resolution 495
Resolution 2024-16
Resolution signed
Resolution
Community Development Director Chad Nabity reported that the fourth phase of the Legacy 34
development(Legacy 34 Hotel) in CRA Area No. 33 was proposed to add a 145 room hotel and a
restaurant/bar on lots 1 and 2 of Legacy 34 Fourth Subdivision north of Husker Highway west of
the Prairieview Street. The proposed development would begin this year and occur over the next
two years. The project was expected to cost in excess of $30,000,000 with a final estimated
valuation of$20,000,000. Eligible activities included paying for improvements offsite but within
the overall Legacy 34 development such was grading for storm drainage, public amenities such as
the private park and hike/bike trail were anticipated to cost at least$7,500,000. They were seeking
$5,761,697 in Tax Increment Assistance over a 15 year period. No public testimony was heard.
Page 5 of 7,City Council Regular Meeting,July 23,2024
Scott Rief and Paul Younnes spoke in favor.
Gerald Poels spoke in opposition.
Motion by Mitchell Nickerson, second by Maggie Mendoza to approve #2024-166 -
Consideration of Approval of Resolution Approving the Redevelopment plan Amendment
and Authorizing the Grand Island Community Redevelopment Authority to enter into a
Redevelopment Contract. Roll Call: Ayes: Maggie Mendoza, Bethany Guzinski, Chuck
Haase, Jack Sheard, Mike Paulick, Mitchell Nickerson, Doug Lanfear and Jason Conley.
Michelle Fitzke and Mark Stelk were absent. Motion adopted.
9. RESOLUTIONS
9.a) #2024-167 - Approving Participation in Direct Negotiations with NorthWestern
Energy Related to Their Application with the Public Service Commission for a Natural Gas Rate
Increase.
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Application
Resolution
City Attorney Kari Fisk reported that on June 6, 2024 NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc.
("NorthWestern") filed an application for a Natural Gas Rate Increase with the Nebraska Public
Service Commission seeking a rate increase which would increase residential natural gas bills by
7.44% and commercial natural gas bills by 3.66%. The City of Grand Island had, historically,
benefited from direct negotiations with NorthWestern and had successfully cooperated with the
Cities of Kearney and North Platte to reduce the expenses each municipality may otherwise face
if we were to negotiate separately. If direct negotiations were authorized, further public hearing
would be held prior to the adoption of any settlement or negotiated rate resolution and Council
would be asked to approve any settlement negotiated by the Cities prior to its presentation to the
Public Service Commission for final approval. In the event the Cities were unable to negotiate a
resolution to NorthWestern's application, the Interlocal would authorize the City Attorney of one
or more of the affected Cities to represent the interest of all affected customers before the Public
Service Commission. If the City of Grand Island declined to participate in direct negotiations, but
the Cities of Kearney and North Platte vote to participate, the City of Grand Island would be left
without representation in the negotiation process and would be unable to advocate for the
continuation of economic development incentives.
Pam Bonrud with Northwestern spoke in favor.
Motion by Jack Sheard, second by Chuck Haase to approve #2024-167 - Approving
Participation in Direct Negotiations with NorthWestern Energy Related to Their
Application with the Public Service Commission for a Natural Gas Rate Increase. Roll
Call: Ayes: Maggie Mendoza, Bethany Guzinski, Chuck Haase, Jack Sheard, Mike
Paulick, Mitchell Nickerson, Doug Lanfear and Jason Conley. Michelle Fitzke and Mark
Stelk were absent. Motion adopted.
Page 6 of 7,City Council Regular Meeting,July 23,2024
9.b)#2024-168 -Approving Interlocal Cooperation Agreement between the City of Grand
Island, the City of Kearney, the City of North Platte, and the Village of Alda Regarding
Direct Negotiations of Rate Changes with NorthWestern Energy.
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Interlocal Agreement
Resolution
City Attorney Kari Fisk reported that this Interlocal Cooperation Agreement would allow each
impacted City, by and through their respective City Attorneys and other City staff, to engage in
joint negotiation efforts. This Agreement would permit each City Attorney to participate in
negotiations with NorthWestern and would authorize the Kearney City Attorney, and his
designees,to represent the Cities before the Public Service Commission,if need be. This Interlocal
Cooperation Agreement would authorize the Grand Island City Attorney to retain any necessary
consultants or other experts as needed and would authorize her to make a joint application on
behalf of the Cities to the Fund for recovery of said expenses. Each City Council would retain the
ability to approve any proposed settlement agreements developed pursuant to this Agreement and
to hold individual public hearings as necessary.
Motion by Chuck Haase, second by Mike Paulick to approve #2024-168 - Approving
Interlocal Cooperation Agreement between the City of Grand Island, the City of Kearney,
the City of North Platte, and the Village of Alda Regarding Direct Negotiations of Rate
Changes with NorthWestern Energy. Roll Call: Ayes: Maggie Mendoza, Bethany
Guzinski,Chuck Haase,Jack Sheard,Mike Paulick,Mitchell Nickerson,Doug Lanfear and
Jason Conley.Michelle Fitzke and Mark Stelk were absent. Motion adopted.
9.c) #2024-169 - Consideration of Approving FY 2024-2025 Annual Budget for
Railside Business Improvement District and Setting Date for Board of Equalization
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Resolution
Budget
Finance Director Matthew Gleason reported that on June 26, 2024, the Railside BID Board met
and approved the 2024-2025 budget that provided for a total special assessment of$151,478.18.
Which is a six percent increase of the 2024 special assessment. The budgeted assessments of
$151,478.18 would be charged to property owners in the district based on their valuations.
Andy Gdowski spoke in favor.
Motion by Bethany Guzinski, second by Mike Paulick to approve #2024-169 -
Consideration of Approving FY 2024-2025 Annual Budget for Railside Business
Improvement District and Setting Date for Board of Equalization. Roll Call: Ayes: Maggie
Mendoza, Bethany Guzinski, Chuck Haase, Jack Sheard, Mike Paulick, Mitchell
Nickerson, Doug Lanfear and Jason Conley.Michelle Fitzke and Mark Stelk were absent.
Motion adopted.
Page 7 of 7,City Council Regular Meeting,July 23,2024
9.d) #2024-170 - Consideration of Approving FY 2024-2025 Annual Budget for 4th
Street Business Improvement District and Setting Date for Board of Equalization
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Resolution
Budget Worksheet
Finance Director Matthew Gleason reported that the 4th Street BID was created as a perpetual
entity. In this district, assessments are paid by property owners based on the County assessor's
valuation of the property. Owners would be billed for the assessment after approval by City
Council sitting as the Board of Equalization on September 10, 2024. The budgeted assessments of
$40,000 would be charged to property owners in the district based on their valuations.
Denise Kozel spoke in favor.
Motion by Chuck Haase, second by Mike Paulick to approve #2024-170 - Consideration
of Approving FY 2024-2025 Annual Budget for 4th Street Business Improvement District
and Setting Date for Board of Equalization. Roll Call: Ayes: Maggie Mendoza, Bethany
Guzinski,Chuck Haase,Jack Sheard,Mike Paulick,Mitchell Nickerson,Doug Lanfear and
Jason Conley.Michelle Fitzke and Mark Stelk were absent. Motion adopted.
11. ADJOURMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
Jil f Granere
City Clerk