02/21/2026 Minutes CITY OF
GRAND ISLAND
City Council Retreat Minutes
Community Meeting Room
100 E. First Street
February 21, 2026
8:30 AM
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Roger G. Steele called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. The following City Council
Members were present: Jack Sheard, Mark Stelk, Jason Conley, Mitch Nickerson, Doug Brown,
Maggie Mendoza, Ryan O'Neill and Doug Lanfear. Chuck Haase and Mike Paulick were absent.
The following City Officials were present: City Administrator Patrick Brown, City Clerk Jill
Granere, Public Works Director Keith Kurz, Police Chief Kevin Denney, Fire Chief Cory
Schmidt, Library Director Celine Swan, Parks & Recreation Director Todd McCoy, Human
Resources Director Aaron Schmid,Emergency Management Director Jon Rosenlund and Utilities
Director Ryan Schmitz.
2. RESERVE TIME TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS
3. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
3.a) Presentation on Grant Request for Speakers in Railside
Sherry Siwinski, AJ Fructul and Jim Pirnie were proposing a Technomand Wireless Audio Pole
System for six blocks on Third Street from Sycamore Street to Elm Street. This would include six
speakers allowing music to be focused on street level, delivering greater coverage and eliminates
disruption to upper-story living. Hours of operation would be Monday — Saturday from 9:00 am to
9:00 pm and Sundays 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Funds needed were as follows:
• CVB: $25,000 (awarded)
• City of GI (Keno Funds): $50,000
• CRA: $50,000 (awarded)
• Railside BID Fundraising: $10,000
Total: $135,000
3.b) Presentation on request for City Financial Support for Agricultural Shows on Fonner Park
Campus
Former Park's Chief Executive Officer Chris Kotulak reported on Grand Island's Livestock Facility
Competitors and public commitments and expenditures within the last 24 months.
The overall proposition was that Grand Island Expo Events & Livestock, Inc. ("GI Expo") would
take over the events management at Fonner Park for the exhibition facilities and indoor and outdoor
arenas. This would not include the two months in which the State Fair leases the grounds. GILCA
would dissolve and GI Expo would assume responsibility for booking and executing both livestock
shows and other events. The proposal was contingent on GI Expo securing $550k annually in
subsidies to offset the cost of livestock shows. GI Expo must receive $550k in annual subsidies to
help pay for the costs of the individual livestock shows which are not financially viable without such
subsidies.
Brad Mellama from Grand Island Tourism reported on the economic and tax revenue impact the
shows bring to the city.
Discussion was held on funding and how the tax money could be spent on agriculture shows.
3.c) Discussion Regarding Heartland Event Center, Island Oasis, and Camp Augustine Trail
Projects
City Administrator Patrick Brown reported Grand Island had made significant investments over the
past two decades in recreational and tourism-related facilities that serve both residents and visitors.
Facilities such as the Heartland Events Center and Island Oasis. Many of these facilities were now
reaching points where major infrastructure improvements were required to maintain operational
functionality, safety, and competitiveness with peer communities.
Mr. Brown reported the city was evaluating a comprehensive capital investment package totaling
approximately $23.5 million focused on preserving and enhancing major community facilities that
serve residents and visitors across the region. The investments included critical infrastructure
improvements at the Heartland Events Center, renovation of Island Oasis Water Park, and
refinancing of the Veteran's Sports Complex note.
Preliminary financing scenarios indicate that a debt service structure of approximately$1.75 million
annually over 20 years would support the full project package while maintaining manageable long-
term obligations.
Existing dedicated revenues currently included:
• Food & Beverage Occupation Tax: approximately $500,000 annually
• Portion of City Sales Tax (2004): approximately $500,000 annually
These sources provided approximately $1.0 million annually, creating a funding gap of
approximately $750,000 that would require additional revenue or funding adjustments.
Lodging Tax Comparison
Any lodging tax adjustment could be structured to directly support tourism-related facilities,aligning
revenue sources with the services they benefit.
Potential Funding Sources:
• Existing F&B and sales tax revenues
• Lodging tax adjustments (if pursued)
• Debt financing
• One-time sales proceeds ($2.0 million anticipated)
• Cash Reserves
3.d) Library - Review of Request for Additional Full Time Equivalent Employees (2026-2027)
Library Director Celine Swan reported she was requesting adding 1 FTE—Library Assistant II with
total cost of$93,192.20 to support a bookmobile.
Mrs. Swan further reported there are two bookmobiles they were looking at the ELF which was
priced around $300,000 and a Sprinter around $280,000. Greater Grand Island Foundation had
recommended they apply for a discretionary grant with them for $40,000 of the cost of the
Bookmobile. Mrs. Swan mentioned they have some other funds to use for the 60%-either from the
kiosk capital money and or money from the library foundation.New books for the bookmobile would
be bought with the Moore trust money of$165,000 and they had a $10,000 grant from the Andrew
Carnegie gift.
3.e) Administration - Review of Request for Additional Full Time Equivalent Employees (2026-
2027)
City Administrator Patrick Brown reported staff were currently projecting a preliminary cost-of-
living adjustment (COLA) of approximately 2% for existing employees. In addition to COLA
adjustments, departments submitted new FTE requests totaling over $1,000,000 in first-year costs,
inclusive of salary, benefits, equipment, and associated operational expenses.
Mr. Brown reported given current revenue projections, long-term financial sustainability goals, and
the City's strategic priority of maintaining financial stability, the City Administrator's preliminary
budget recommendation was to limit approval of new FTE requests for FY2027 to a range of
approximately $500,000 to $600,000 in first-year costs.
Mr. Brown reported he was requesting the following FTE's:
• Risk Manager for total cost of approximately $163,800
• Facilities Manager for total cost of approximately $146,000
31) Parks Department - Review of Request for Additional Full Time Equivalent Employees
(2026-2027)
Parks and Recreation Director Todd McCoy reported he was requesting the following FTE's:
• 2 Full-Time Maintenance Workers for total cost of$72,000 each
• 3 Seasonal Workers (May-August) for a total cost of$27,000
Total Investment: $171,000
3.g) Public Works Department- Review of Request for Additional Full Time Equivalent
Employees (2026-2027)
Public Works Director reported he was requesting the following FTE's:
• 2 FTE's for Wastewater Collections Group and removal of 1.5 FTE's from same group
resulting in a proposed change total cost of$91,912.81
3.h) Utilities Department - Review of Request for Additional Full Time Equivalent Employees
(2026-2027)
Utilities Director Ryan Schmitz reported the Water Superintendent was set to retire in 2026 and he
would create 3 new crew chief positions (internal hires only) and vacated positions would be
abandoned. Staff numbers would stay the same. Current staffing for Water Superintendent, Water
Supervisor, Meter Tech and Sr. Water Maintenance Worker total cost was $1,257,534.46 and for the
proposed staffing of Water Superintendent, Crew Chief and Sr. Water Maintenance Worker total
cost would be $1,276,891.80.
3.1) Emergency Management/911 - Review of Request for Additional Full Time Equivalent
Employees (2026-2027)
Emergency Management Director Jon Rosenlund reported he was requesting the following FTE's:
• Emergency Management Coordinator—Cost would remain the same
• 3 additional FTE's for the 911 Center for a total cost of$320,000
• Creation of a new "Emergency Manager" position for a total of$120,000
Mr. Rosenlund noted all staff costs were divided 50/50 by City and County.
3.j) Fire Department-Review of Request for Additional Full Time Equivalent Employees(2026-
2027)
Fire Chief Cory Schmidt reported he was requesting the following FTE's:
• 3 Firefighter/EMT's for a total cost of$331,530
3.k) Police Department - Review of Request for Additional Full Time Equivalent Employees
(2026-2027)
Police Chief Kevin Denney reported he was requesting the following FTE's:
• Support Services Administrator: $165,000
• Administrative Assistant: $90,000
• 3 Police Officers: $115,000-$120,000 each officer
Mayor Steele mentioned he would like to support all FTE requests.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 2:19 p.m.
I 'i?..--p&f' Grp -re__,
City Clerk
Jill Granere