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02/21/2000 Minutes I I I OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING February 21, 2000 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Grand Island, Nebraska was conducted in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 100 East First Street. Notice of the meeting was given in the Grand Island Independent on February 16, 2000. Mayor Gnadt called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following members were present: Mayor Gnadt, Councilmembers Pielstick, Larson, Hosier, Seifert, Preisendorf, Whitesides, Ward, Samuelson, Sorensen and Murray. The following City Officials were present: City Administrator MarIan Ferguson, City Clerk Cindy Johnson, Assistant Public Works Director Bud Buettner, City Attorney Charlie Cuypers and Interim Finance Director Larry Fox. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was said. REQUEST FOR TIME TO SPEAK: Four individuals reserved time to speak on agenda items. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS: Presentation on Groundwater Guardians. Roger Andrews from the Groundwater Guardian Committee will present the City Council with the Groundwater Guardian A ward. Presentation of Twenty Year Service Award was made to Nick Mankle, Utilities Department. PUBLIC HEARINGS: Public Hearing on Acquisition of Hike/Bike Path Easements. Charlie Cuypers, City Attorney, reported that acquisition of a hike/bike path easements located north of Stolley Park Road, between the Winkler-Thiemann Real Estate Offices and The Dog House, parallel to the St. Joseph Branch Spur Line, was required in order to connect the Beltline Trail to a crossing at Stolley Park Road directly opposite from the existing trail south to the Central Community College Campus. It was noted that the 16' wide right of way would have a 10' concrete trail with three feet of grassy shoulder on either side. John Brownell, 4309 Quail Lane, spoke in support of the acquisition. No additional testimony was heard. Public Hearing on Proposed One and Six Year Street Improvement Plan. Bud Buettner, Assistant Public Works Director, reported that the Engineering Division of the Public Works Department had prepared a proposed One and Six Year Street Improvement Plan as provided for by State Statutes and that the Plan had been presented to the City Council at the City Council Study Session of February 7, 2000 and the Planning Commission at their February 2, I I I Page 2, City Council Regular Meeting, February 21, 2000 2000 Regular Meeting. It was noted that the plan addressed street and drainage improvements throughout the City and was intended to prioritize needs and address federal and local funding availability. Mr. Buettner added that the plan was revised each year in order to incorporate changing requirements resulting from varying local priorities and funding limitations. No public testimony was heard. ORDINANCES: Councilmember Sorensen moved that the statutory rules requiring ordinances to be read by title on three different days be suspended and that ordinances numbered: #8563 - Consideration of Amendment to City Code, Chapter 31, Relative to Political Signs #8564 - Consideration of Amendment to City Code, Chapter 2, Relative to City Council Meeting Dates be considered for passage on the same day upon reading by number only and that the City Clerk be permitted to call out the number of the Ordinances on their first reading and then upon final passage and call for a roll call vote on each reading and then upon final passage. Second by Samuelson. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted. Mayor: Is anyone in the audience interested in any of these ordinances? Councilmember Seifert spoke in support of enforcing the City Code relative to the placement of signs. Craig Lewis, Building Inspections Director, reported that the Building Inspections Department, in conjunction with the Legal Department and Police Department, were aggressive in their enforcement efforts on city right of way or property. Councilmember Preisendorf offered a friendly amendment that the ordinance be amended to allow for the placement of signs for a 4 week period instead of 6 weeks. Kay Collins, 1003 West Louise, spoke on the issue. The friendly amendment was accepted by Councilmembers Sorensen and Samuelson. City Clerk: Ordinances #8563 and #8564 on their first reading. All those in favor of the passage of these ordinances on first reading, answer roll call vote. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. City Clerk: Ordinances #8563 and #8564 on their final passage. All those in favor of the passage of these ordinances on final passage, answer roll call vote. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted. Mayor: By reason of the roll call votes on each reading and then upon final passage, Ordinances #8563 and #8564 are declared to be lawfully passed and adopted upon publication as required by law. CONSENT AGENDA: Councilmember Whitesides removed items G4b and G12 from the agenda. Motion by Pielstick, second by Murray, carried unanimously to approve the Consent Agenda, minus G4b, and G12. Approval of Minutes of the January 24, 2000 City Council Meeting, February 7, 2000 City Council Study Session, February 7, 2000 City Council Special Meeting and the February 12, 2000 City Council Special Study Session (Retreat). Councilmember Ward abstained from I I I Page 3, City Council Regular Meeting, February 21,2000 voting on G 1 band c; Councilmember Hosier abstained on G 1d and Councilmember Larson abstained on G1 a, band c. Approving Request of Dale E. Nielsen, for Liquor Manager Designation for Elks BPOE Lodge, 631 South Locust Street. Approving Request of Ronald L. Kiger, Jr. for Liquor Manager Designation for Kum & Go #340, 2322 South Locust Street. Approving Appointments of Don Metcalf, Doug Fangmeier, Randy Hiatt, and Michael Kennedy to the Electrical Board for terms to expire December 31, 2000. Approving Appointments of Ryan King, Jerome Krolikowski and Lavern Bruha to the Plumbing Board for terms to expire December 31, 2000. Approving Appointments of Norm Nietfeldt, Mike McElroy and Ken Dejonge to the Gas Fitters and Appliance Board for Terms to Expire December 31, 2000. Approving Request of Wilber Gomez, dba Wilber's Auto Repair, 523 North Pine Street, for a License Agreement for Placement of an Awning Over the Public Right of Way with Restrictions as Included in the Recommendation by City Staff. #2000-41/42 - Approving Acquisition of Hike/Bike Path Easements Located North of Stolley Park Road, Between Winkler Thiemann Real Estate Offices and The Dog House, Parallel to the St. Joseph Branch Spur Line. #2000-43 - Setting Date for Board of Equalization for 1999 Weed Assessments. #2000-44 - Awarding Bid for Purchase of Pickup through State Contract to Lincoln Dodge, Inc., Lincoln, Nebraska, in the Amount of $15,648.75. #2000-45 - Approving Renewal of Contract with CAAP For Storage Area For Public Works at a Rate of $300 Per Year. #2000-46 - Approving Renewal of Contract with Fonner Park Relative to Stand By Ambulances. #2000-47 - Approving Final Plat and Subdivision Agreement for Schaaf's Third Subdivision. It was reported that John W. and Patti R. Lanzendorf, Rudolf F. and Jeannice R. Plate, and Tim C. Plate, owners, had submitted the final plat for Schaaf's Fifth Subdivision, located north of Seedling Mile Road and west of Gunbarrel Road and that this plat proposed to enlarge Lot 1 of Schaaf's Third Subdivision by moving the north lot line approximately 473.49 feet to the north; thereby adding approximately 3.9 acres to Lot 1 of Schaaaf's Third Subdivision. #2000-48 - Approving Updated Sanitary Sewer Comprehensive Plan. #2000-49 - Approving Change Order #1 to Contract with Olsson Associates for Lincoln View Estates Subdivision. It was noted that the Community Development and Public Works I I I Page 4, City Council Regular Meeting, February 21, 2000 Departments had developed Change Order #1 to the contract for Lincoln View Estates Subdivision and that the Change Order had a net increase of $2,830 for a total revised contract amount of $142,906.20. #2000-50 - Approving Certificate of Final Completion for Lincoln View Estates Subdivision. #2000-52 - Approving Support for Amtrak Plan. Steve Snook, Roger Clark, and Ken Lare, spoke in support. #2000-53 - Approving Certificate of Final Completion for Installation of an Exhaust Vent System at the City Garage. It was noted that the contract had been awarded to Yant Equipment in November and that the project was substantially completed in January. #2000-54 - Approving Amendment to City Council Meeting Schedule to Provide for Meetings of the Council on Tuesday Nights. The schedule was amended to reflect meetings on Monday, April 10 (not Tuesday, April 11, due to a conflict), May 8 (not April 9) due to Primary Election, and November 6 (not 7) due to General Election. Denying Request of Bob Buck, dba Slugger's, Inc., 707 West Anna Street, for License Agreement for Placement of a Sign Over the Public Right of Way. Craig Lewis, Building Inspections Director, reported that Bob Buck, on behalf of Slugger 's, Inc., 707 West Anna Street, had submitted an application for a License Agreement to allow for the placement of a sign over the public right-of-way. Mr. Lewis stated that it was possible for Mr. Buck to place a sign on existing pole without infringing on the public right of way and therefore recommended denial. Motion by Whitesides, second by Pielstick, carried unanimously to deny request. #2000-51 - Approving Support and Sponsorship for the Annual Fishing Derby. Motion by Whitesides, second by Pielstick to approve. Councilmember Whitesides recommended additional funding for the Derby to match what the County provided - $2,000. It was noted that a resolution providing for this would be brought forth at the next meeting. Motion was adopted unanimously. REQUESTS AND REFERRALS: Discussion on Proposed lh C Sales Tax Ballot Issue and Economic Development Program. MarIan Ferguson, City Administrator, reported that as discussed at the City Council Retreat of February 12, 2000, the City of Grand Island was proposing to address the need for additional assistance for the funding to provide much needed economic development and public safety assistance for the community as a result of the community's needs and the conflicting lid laws imposed by the State Statutes. It was noted that the City's General Fund would be unable to fund the additional proposed police officers and fire fighters/paramedics without an additional revenue source and that the results of the recent community survey conducted to determine the needs of the community identified economic development and public safety as priorities. Mr. Ferguson stated that in order to place an item on the May ballot, certification of the ballot issue must be provided to the Election Commission by March 1, 2000. Kay Collins, 1003 West Louise, questioned where the funding would be used and asked what new businesses had relocated to Grand Island. Lewis Kent, 624 East Meves, and Glendale Reiss, 910 North I I I Page 5, City Council Regular Meeting, February 21,2000 Boggs, spoke on the issue. Councilmember Seifert stated that economic development and public safety were serious concerns in Grand Island and that the lean budgets of the past had contributed to the City's inability to do more for these issues. Councilmember Whitesides stated that economic development had a trickle effect in the community, either positively or negatively, based on the situation. Councilmember Preisendorf stated that he supported the 1h cent sales tax inasmuch as the sales tax was an equitable means of taxation - more than half of Grand Island's sales tax came from residents outside of Hall County. Councilmember Ward stated that he had accepted the appointment of Councilmember primarily because of his interest in ensuring that the economic development needs of the community were moved forward. Pat Downs, 4127 Manchester Road, Economic Development Director, spoke on the issue. Councilmember Murray noted that there were two ballot issues - sales tax and the adoption of the economic development program and questioned what the amount of money allocated for economic development was. Mr. Ferguson responded that the maximum was $1 million year and that amount was approximately 1/3 of the proposed amount to be received by the V2 cent sales tax. Cindy Johnson, City Clerk, reported that information on communities current having a sales tax was included in the packet and that the economic development program was on file in the City Clerk's Office and at the Library for public review. Ms. Johnson added that the program had been drafted in accordance with State Statutes and that the legislature had recognized the need for communities to have tools available to assist in business recruitment and retention. Councilmember Larson spoke in support of retaining and recruiting quality jobs to the community. RESOLUTIONS: #2000-55 - Approving One and Six Year Street Improvement Plan. Motion by Sorensen, second by Seifert, carried unanimously to approve the One and Six Year Street Improvement Program with an amendment to move the Northwest Street Improvements/Independence A venue up from year five to year two. Councilmember Larson noted the need for north and south expressways in the community. PAYMENT OF CLAIMS: Motion by Samuelson, second by Whitesides, carried unanimously to approve the Claims for the period of February 8, 2000 through February 21, 2000, claims #86554, #86979, #84637, #82260, #86692, and #87423 through #88048. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m. ~pectfullY submitted, !t){k. J (fx/ ,~./ '!1lZ{)41/-- indy K. /j?h~sd~ City CleItk