07/15/2025 Minutes OFFICAL PROCEEDINGS
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION (BUDGET)
July 15, 2025
CALL TO ORDER
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a Study Session (Budget) of the City Council of the City
of Grand Island, Nebraska was conducted in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 100 East First
Street, on July 15, 2025. Notice of the meeting was given in The Grand Island Independent on
July 9, 2025. Mayor Roger G. Steele called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. The following City
Council members were present: Jack Sheard, Mark Stelk, Jason Conley, Mitchell Nickerson,
Doug Brown and Mike Paulick. Chuck Haase, Maggie Mendoza, Ryan O'Neill and Doug
Lanfear were absent. The following City Officials were present: City Administrator McAloon,
City Clerk Jill Granere, Assistant City Administrator/Finance Director Patrick Brown, City
Attorney Kari Fisk.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
5.a) FY2026 Mayor, City Council, Administration, Legal, City Hall, and Clerk Budget Proposal
Cover Page
Presentation.pdf
Assistant City Administrator/CFO Brown reported that the Administration budget total operating
expenses would decrease 18.7% or $25,000, decrease contract services of$25,000 for Strategic
Planning Consultant added in FY25. Personnel expenses would decrease 26%, splitting the
personnel expense for Assistant City Administrator/CFO from 70% Admin and 30% Finance to
70% Finance and 30%Admin due to Finance Director vacancy.
The Mayor and City Council personnel expenses would have a 0% increase. Travel, training and
other expenditures would decrease of$3,000 to $7,000.
Discussion was held on doing a resolution to increase the council pay that would take effect next
council seating in FY2026.
The Legal department budget would have an operating expense increase of 65.4% or $55,500
due to increases in Dues and Subscriptions (increase of $18,200 to $45,000) and Court Costs
($19,500 increase to $25,000). Personnel expenses would increase by 5.0% (current staffing).
FTE requested and associated expenses due to current workload and anticipated increase of cases
from GIPD. (FTE cost was $207,838, 43% increase).
Discussion was held on what had caused the uptick of workload. Council would like to see some
numbers before adding a new FTE.
The City Clerk's budget personnel expenses would increase by 7.4% or $17,800 due to step
increases. Operating Expenses decrease by 56.3% or$71,800 due to decrease in election cost and
increase cost of legal notices.
Page 2 of 2,City Council Study Session,July 15,2025
City Hall's budget personnel expenses decrease by 11.9% or $17,600 due to Health Insurance
benefit. Operating Expenses would decrease of 2.7% or $6,800 due to decrease costs in repair
and maintenance and operating equipment.
5.b) FY2026 Human Resource Budget Proposal
Cover Page
Presentation
Human Resources Director Schmid reported the personnel services would decrease 3.37%
($24,259) due to HR Specialists retirement. Operating expenses would increase 6.61% due to
office supplies and operating equipment and IAFF labor negotiations. No capital projects or
equipment.
5.c FY2026 Fire & Ambulance Budget Proposal
Cover Page
Presentation
Fire Chief Cory Schmidt reported the following Fire Department personnel services would
increase — Fire — 3.7%, $100,000 in overtime and $43,032 for clothing allowance, Ambulance —
decrease of 1.5%, $25,000 in overtime and $9,516 in clothing allowance. Operating expenses
would increase $103,838 for Ambulance and Fire as follows:
• $30,000—contract services (FirstDue)
• $12,420—computer services (Allo Fiber)
• $12,000—equipment services
• $11,750—vehicle repairs
• $8,995 —travel and training (paramedic program)
• $8,850—Utilities
Capital Projects for a total of$1.9 million for Fire Station#3.
Capital Equipment as follows:
• $30,000 Thermal Imagers
• $50,000 Dive Rescue/Water Rescue
• $205,000 Rope and Tech Rescue Equipment
• $65,000 State Vehicle
• $462,650 Ambulance
• $360,000 Cardiac Monitors
• $40,000 Lucas Device x2
Dave Janda spoke on overall budget spending concerns.
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
Jill ranere
City Clerk