05/12/2026 Minutes GRAND ISLAND
City Council Meeting Minutes
Council Chambers
City Hall
100 East First Street
May 12, 2026
7:00 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Roger G. 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 Administrator Patrick Brown, City Clerk Jill
Granere,City Attorney Kari Fisk,Assistant City Attorney Matt Boyle and Public Works Director
Keith Kurz.
The following City Council Members were present: Jack Sheard, Mark Stelk, Jason Conley,
Mitchell Nickerson, Doug Brown, Chuck Haase, Maggie Mendoza, Ryan O'Neill, Mike Paulick,
and Doug Lanfear. Mike Paulick exited the meeting at 9:06 p.m.
4. SUBMITTAL OF REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
5. RESERVE TIME TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS
6.) PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
6.a) Recognition of SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Championship
Cover Page
6.c) Grand Island Public Library 2025 Annual Report
Cover Page
Library Annual Report Affidavit 20242025
Presentation
7. CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Ryan O'Neill, second by Mark Stelk to approve CONSENT AGENDA. Roll Call:
Ayes: Jack Sheard, Mark Stelk, Jason Conley, Mitchell Nickerson, Doug Brown, Chuck Haase,
Maggie Mendoza, Ryan O'Neill, Mike Paulick and Doug Lanfear. Motion adopted.
7.a) Approving Minutes of the April 28, 2026, City Council Regular Meeting
Cover Page
Page 2 of 7,City Council Regular Meeting May 12,2026
Minutes
7.b) Approving Payment of Claims for the Period of May 13, 2026 through May 26,
2026 in the total amount of$5,045,785.13.
Cover Page
Claims
7.c) #2026-113 - Approving Purchase of Stryker Lucas Devices
Cover Page
Stryker Lucas Sourcewell Quote
Stryker Price File
Contract
Resolution
In an amount of$37,158.68.
7.d) #2026-114 - Approving Backflow Management System
Cover Page
Service Order
Contract
Resolution
With SwiftComply US OpCo, Inc. of Pleasanton, California in an amount of a one-time service
fee of$10,000.00 and an Annual Software Subscription of$15,000.00 with an annual increase of
3%per year for 5 years.
7.e) #2026-115 - Approving Purchase of a Kenworth T480 Truck Chassis for Electric
Overhead Department
Cover Page
Sourcewell Contract
Resolution
With Sahling Kenworth Inc. of Kearney,Nebraska in an amount of$131,662.00.
7.f)#2026-116 - Approving Price Change of 2024 Freightliner Truck
Cover Page
Change Order
Resolution
For a 2027 Freightliner truck with an articulating aerial device from Terex Utilities, Inc., of
Watertown, South Dakota, in the amount of$29,359.00 for a total cost of$381,934.00.
7.g) #2026-117 - Approving the Purchase of a Bookmobile from Farber Specialty
Vehicles utilizing the OMNIA Partners Cooperative Purchasing Contract
Cover Page
Info Page
Page 3 of 7,City Council Regular Meeting May 12,2026
Quote
Agreement
Resolution
Funding by up to $200,000 from the Grand Island Public Library Foundation, $70,000 from the
City of Grand Island Capital Expenditures, and $10,000 from a Carnegie Grant for a total of
$279,818.28.
7.h) #2026-118 - Approving Grand Island Public Library Purchase Order for Ingram
Library Services
Cover Page
Nebraska Library Commission
Resolution
In an amount of$67,000.
7.i) #2026-119 -Approving Bid Award for Chip Seal Project No. 2026-CS-1
Cover Page
2026-CS-1- Sta-Bilt Construction Company Contract
Resolution
With Sta-Bilt Construction Company of Harlan, Iowa in in amount of$240,158.12.
7.j) #2026-120 - Approving the Grand Island Police Depaitiuent to apply as a sub-
recipient for the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) FYI25 BJA grant for federal assistance for the
Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use, Site-Based Program
Cover Page
Resolution
City of Grand Island Police Department could be allocated $500,000.00 under this sub-recipient
award.
7.k) #2026-121- Approving Selection of an Underwriter for the City's Proposed Sale of
Tax Supported Municipal Improvement Bonds, Series 2026
Cover Page
Resolution
With D.A. Davidson& Co.
8.) PUBLIC HEARINGS
8.a)Public Hearing on Blight and Substandard Study for proposed CRA Area#42 located
in north west Grand Island east of north road and south of Capital Avenue. (Grand Island Area
Habitat for Humanity)
#2026-122 -Approving Blight and Substandard Study for proposed CRA Area
Page 4 of 7,City Council Regular Meeting May 12,2026
#42 located in north west Grand Island east of north road and south of Capital
Avenue. (Grand Island Area Habitat for Humanity)
Cover Page
42 Location
Grand Island Area 42 Habitat Blight Study
Resolution 2026-04
Resolution
Community Development Director Chad Nabity reported the Grand Island Area Habitat for
Humanity submitted a study for the review and consideration of the Grand Island City Council as
permitted by Nebraska law. On March 10, 2026, the Grand Island City Council forwarded the
Blight Study to the Hall County Regional Planning Commission for review. This area as defined
by the study would be referred to as Community Redevelopment Authority (CRA) Area 42. The
study was prepared and submitted indicated that this property could be considered substandard and
blighted. This only included property that was located within the municipal limits of Grand Island.
The study as presented shows that this property meets the criteria to be declared blighted and
substandard of its own accord. The Planning Commission recommendation must be forwarded to
the Grand Island City Council within 30 days of making the recommendation. Planning
Commission held a public hearing at their meeting on April 1, 2026 and passed Resolution 2026-
04 recommending approval of the study. This study was approximately 16.5 acres of property in
northeast Grand Island east of St. Paul Road south of Capital Avenue.
Gerald Poels spoke on the percentage of Blight and Substandards.
Keith Marvin spoke in favor.
Lindsey Jurgens spoke in favor.
Zach Butz spoke in favor.
Motion by Ryan O'Neill, second by Doug Brown to approve 8.a) #2026-122 -Approving Blight
and Substandard Study for proposed CRA Area #42 located in northwest Grand Island east of
north road and south of Capital Avenue. (Grand Island Area Habitat for Humanity). Roll Call:
Ayes: Jack Sheard, Mark Stelk, Jason Conley, Mitchell Nickerson, Doug Brown, Chuck Haase,
Maggie Mendoza, Ryan O'Neill, Mike Paulick and Doug Lanfear. Motion adopted.
8.b)Public Hearing on Blight and Substandard Study for proposed CRA Area#43 located
in northwest Grand Island east of north road between Capital Avenue and Nebraska Highway
2. (The Tree Folks)
#2026-123 -Approving Blight and Substandard Study for proposed CRA Area
#43 located in northwest Grand Island east of north road between Capital Avenue
and Nebraska Highway 2. (The Tree Folks)
Cover Page
43 Location
Grand Island Area North Road Blight Study
Resolution 2026-05
Resolution
Page 5 of 7,City Council Regular Meeting May 12,2026
Community Development Director Chad Nabity reported the Tree Folks LLC submitted this
study for the review and consideration of the Grand Island City Council as permitted by Nebraska
law. On March 10, 2026, the Grand Island City Council forwarded the Blight Study to the Hall
County Regional Planning Commission for review. The study as prepared and submitted
indicated that this property could be considered substandard and blighted. This only included
property that is located within the municipal limits of Grand Island. The study as presented shows
that this property meets the criteria to be declared blighted and substandard of its own accord.
The Planning Commission recommendation must be forwarded to the Grand Island City Council
within 30 days of making the recommendation. Planning Commission held a public hearing at
their meeting on April 1, 2026 and passed Resolution 2026-04 recommending approval of the
study. This study was approximately 172.5 acres of property in northwest Grand Island east of
North Road between Capital Avenue and Nebraska Highway 2.
Keith Marvin spoke in favor.
Branden Wagner spoke in favor.
Kurt Koch spoke in favor.
Motion by Doug Brown, second by Chuck Haase to approve 8.b) #2026-123 -Approving Blight
and Substandard Study for proposed CRA Area #43 located in northwest Grand Island east of
north road between Capital Avenue and Nebraska Highway 2. (The Tree Folks). Roll Call: Ayes:
Ayes: Jack Sheard, Mark Stelk, Jason Conley, Mitchell Nickerson, Doug Brown, Chuck Haase,
Maggie Mendoza, Ryan O'Neill, Mike Paulick and Doug Lanfear. Motion adopted.
9.) OTHER ITEMS
9.a) Presentation about Progress of Good Life District Negotiations with Woodsonia GI
GLD, LLC
Cover Page
Good Life District Boundary Map
Grand Island GLD Development Agreement - 4.6.2026
May 5 2026 Woodsonia Email
Presentation
City Attorney Kari Fisk and Assistant City Attorney Matt Boyle reported on the Good Life
District Transformational Projects Act Purpose which focused on criteria for creation of the
District by the Department of Economic Development. The District would remain for 30 years as
long as benchmarks were met:
• Within 3 years: Commitments of$10,000,000 in new development
• Within 7 years: Commitments of$50,000,000 in new development
• Within 10 years: Commitments of$75,000,000 in new development
Mentioned the key features of the Good Life EDA
• No property taxes to the Program Fund
• Must still follow other laws/requirements
• Program must include certain features/protections
Page 6 of 7,City Council Regular Meeting May 12,2026
111 • Cannot grow without sufficient infrastructure
• Growth must generate enough local sources of revenue to sustain the program
• Substantial all the eligible costs must be used for the benefit of the District
• No more than 20% of all money disbursed from program funds may go to "nonrevenue
producing costs"
• Control of all expenditures rests with the City Council
• All compliance obligations rest with the City
• City may enter into contracts and agreements with qualifying businesses
• Applicant must consent to revenue they generate on their property being spent by the City
on a third-party qualifying business
• Application process for Program Funds had to be established by Ordinance and include
key requirements
Mentioned eligible costs as follows:
• Capital Improvement costs of Public & Private Real Estate, Buildings & Improvements
• Publicly owned infrastructure
• Costs of and related to public-right-of-way
• Costs of certain technology assets
• Costs of certain marketing and tenant improvement allowances
• City costs related to the program
• Nonrevenue producing costs=private development other than capital projects that is not
expected to generate sales tax
They went over the purpose of the City Program, revenue in the program, limitations on eligible
costs, application process, qualifications and requirements.
Reported on the application process with Woodsonia Hwy 281, LLCwhich they submitted their
original application on October 4, 2024 and it did not include all required materials such as a
performance bond, proof of ownership, designs, contracts, encumbrances and ROI materials.
Woodsonia GI GLD, LLC submitted an amended application multiple times, including August
and November 2025. Key changes included an aquatic center, reduced sports complex size, and
application remained incomplete. They were permitted to bypass application process before
completed and presented to Council on November 12 and December 9, 2025.
The following pos council activity was as follows:
• Negotiations commenced with outside council for the City
• Progress stalled, or regressed, on key issues in December and January
• State collections did not meet value or stability expectations
• Council updated on stalled negotiations
• Additional negotiation efforts were attempted
• City received notice that Woodsonia did not wish to engage in further negotiation
meetings but would submit "best and final" offer to City. Council for Woodsonia was
removed from negotiations
• "Best and final" offer was submitted on March 5, 2026
• Council was updated of offer
• City met with Drew Synder at his request on March 19, 2025
Page 7 of 7,City Council Regular Meeting May 12,2026
• City notified Drew Synder and Mitch Hohlen, in person, on March 25, 2026 to provide
notice that "best and final" did not meet requirements of the law, the Program, City staff
negotiation authorization, or the framework of the application submitted under Code
• City received additional proposed"Development Agreement" on April 6, 2026
• Woodsonia demanded to be permitted to present proposal outside the application process
to council. Presentation to be given May 12, 2006.
• Woodsonia reached out on May 4, 2026, and requested that their April 6, 2026 proposed
agreement no longer be considered at the May 12, 2006 meeting.
• Request for proposals were issued by the City and are currently under review.
Mentioned the key reminders as follows:
• All program fund requests must follow the laws contained in the GLD Economic
Development Act and the City GLD Program
• All other laws must be followed
• If City bonds the costs of improvements City is responsible for all payments,deliverables,
costs, risk etc.
• Public money must be spent transparently
• Must be writing in the contract
• Promises are illusory unless they are actionable, enforceable, and represent a thing of
value
• "Good and valuable" doesn't have to mean money
• City can't contract outside the boundaries of the law and can't do through others what we
cannot do our ourselves
Financial Key Reminders as follows:
• Program Fund records must be detailed, transparent, and comply with audit
requirements
• Only eligible costs can be reimbursed •
• Reimbursement-based distributions are lower risk
• Must be able to absorb financial liabilities without spending property tax money
• Requested funds exceed available funds and projected funds substantially
Mentioned were all public infrastructure projects must be estimated and constructed at the
direction of the Public Works Director, public land and resources cannot be gifted, public
procurement/bidding obligations may not be wholly waived or delegated to a third party,pursuant
to 77-4415, the governing body of the City has discretion on how GLD funds are appropriated
and spent.
Woodsonia sent an email on May 4th with the following requests:
• The city must agree that GLD funds are tied to Woodsonia, the applicant
• City can develop the land but needs an agreement with Woodsonia to use GLD funds
• Woodsonia "has agreed" to pay fair market value for the land as determined by future
appraisal
• Woodsonia requests private ownership of the sports complex. Woodsonia will not build
the aquatics center.
• The City must agree that GLD funds are tied to Woodsonia.
Page 8 of 7,City Council Regular Meeting May 12,2026
• The City needs an agreement with Woodsonia to use GLD funds (Contrary to the clear
statutory language "Any funds in the good life district economic development fund may
be appropriated and spent for eligible costs of the good life district economic development
program in any amount and at any time at the discretion and direction of the governing
body of the city"Neb. Rev.Stat. 77-4415
• This is only limited by "The city shall not enter into a contract or agreement with a
qualifying business for assistance that uses local sources of revenue collected from
property owned by the good life district applicant"without the applicant's approval. Neb.
Rev. Stat. 77-4412(4)
• Woodsonia requests private ownership of the sports complex. Woodsonia will not build
the aquatics center. (They do not want GLD funds to be used to build,maintain, or operate
an aquatics center. City would be required to find alternative funding sources.)
The following risks were mentioned to consider:
• Immediate transfer of land, allows Woodsonia to encumber or sell the land without
guarantees of performance(they have refused to split revenue were the land to be sold off
without improvements)
• Woodsonia reserves the right to cancel its obligation if it determines the Project is no
longer economically feasible.
• Woodsonia requires the City to waive its ability under agreement to compel construction
of any improvements.
• April 6 proposal included a $10 million payment that was unavoidable once grading had
occurred, even if Woodsonia terminated the agreement prior to any vertical construction
• Proposed Developer Agreement weighs heavily on construction of housing
• Latest request was not to build the competition aquatics center, which would draw
significant regional tourism
• Litigation, whether well-founded or not, would halt all progress
Mentioned were questions on land appraisals and had ranged from$79,272.20 per acre to$13,759
per acre.
Councilmember O'Neill made a motion to request the Mayor to establish a Council Committee
as allowed in Grand Island City Code Chapter 2, Section 9.I would request the Committee include
no fewer than 3 Councilmembers who would be permitted to hold meetings to review any
applications for Good Life District Program Funds after the Administrative Review Team has
completed their review but before the application is presented to the full City Council. He
requested that this Committee be authorized to make formal recommendations to the full City
Council which would accompany any future applications. Seconded by Councilmember Sheard.
Mayor Steele said he would veto the committee as he believed negotiations needed to be done in
public with all councilmembers for full transparency.
Roll Call: Ayes: Jack Sheard, Chuck Haase, Ryan O'Neill. Noes: Mark Stelk, Jason Conley,
Mitchell Nickerson, Doug Brown, Maggie Mendoza, Doug Lanfear. Absent: Mike Paulick.
Motion failed.
Page 9 of 7,City Council Regular Meeting May 12,2026
Discussion was held on whether an agreement was not reached with Woodsonia if the Good Life
District would go away. It was stated that there was no obligation to just one developer.
Discussion was held on the 7.5% development fee and the legal requirements. It must be tied to
capital expenditure if it is tied to building.
Mentioned was they wanted a transformational project, that is what was campaigned and that
hasn't changed in which that included a sports complex and an aquatic center.
Discussed was how to move forward legally and to get things done, mentioned was it depended
on what"it"was, as the plans have changed almost once a month over the duration of the creation
of the Good Life District.
Drew Snyder and Mitch Hohlen from Woodsonia spoke and advised they were wanting to move
forward and heard the importance of the sports complex and aquatic center.
Councilmember Mark Stelk made a motion to bring this item back to a Study Session on June 2,
2026, at 6:00 p.m., seconded by Councilmember Doug Lanfear.
Roll Call: Ayes: Jack Sheard, Mark Stelk, Jason Conley, Mitchell Nickerson, Doug Brown,
Chuck Haase, Maggie Mendoza, Ryan O'Neill, Doug Lanfear. Absent: Mike Paulick. Motion
adopted.
Discussion was held on the original application, bonding and the revenue issues.
Gearl Poels spoke in regards to the voting process and turn out of the Good Life District.
Ray O'Connor spoke in favor of progress and moving this project forward.
Chad Knight spoke in favor of the aquatics center.
Jay Vavricek spoke in favor of the Good Life District.
Mary Berlie spoke in favor the of the Sports Complex and the Good Life District.
12). ADJOURMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 11:37 p.m.
Ci y Clerk
Jill Granere