02/28/2000 Minutes
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OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
February 28, 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 23,
2000.
Mayor Gnadt called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following members were present:
Mayor Gnadt, Councilmembers Larson, Pielstick, Hosier, Seifert, Preisendorf, Whitesides,
Samuelson, Ward, Sorensen and Murray. The following City Officials were present: City
Administrator Marlan Ferguson, City Clerk Cindy Johnson, City Attorney Charlie Cuypers,
and Public Works Director Steve Riehle.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was said, followed by an "It's About Kids!" Asset.
RESERVE TIME TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS: Five individuals reserved time to speak
on agenda items.
PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS: Chad Nabity, Regional Planning Director,
reported that March had been proclaimed Census Month. Cindy Johnson, City Clerk,
reported that March 2, 2000 had been proclaimed as Read Across America Day.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Public Hearing on Proposed Economic Development Program. Marlan Ferguson, City
Administrator, reported that as discussed at the February 21, 2000 City Council Meeting, in
order for Grand Island to continue to grow and prosper, we need to broaden our wealth
producing economic base by bringing to our community new employers and helping our
existing companies to grow. It was noted that faced with this challenge, it was important that
the city work to save the existing job opportunities within the community and secure future
additional jobs for Grand Island's residents and that the development of an economic
development program provided a mechanism for recruiting businesses to Grand Island and
assisting those businesses located in the community who required financial support to expand
or remain viable. Mr. Ferguson stated that in order to acquire the needed funds to carryon an
economic development program, an affirmative vote of the citizens of Grand Island was
needed. Kay Collins, 1003 West Louise Street, Glendale Reiss, 910 North Boggs, Lewis
Kent, 624 East Meves, Betty Karle, 4710 Stoneridge Path, John Brownell, 4309 Quail Lane,
Tim White, 1709 Rio Grande Circle, John Schultz, 2321 West Oklahoma, Pat Downs, 4127
Manchester Road, Don Jelinek, 2015 West Lamar, and Charles Stracuzzi, 706 Grand Avenue,
spoke on the issue.
Public Hearing on Request of Nash Finch Company for Change of Location for Class "c"
Liquor License. Cindy Johnson, City Clerk, reported that Norman Soland, Secretary,
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Page 2, City Council Regular Meeting, February 28, 2000
representing Nash Finch Company, dba Grand Island Bottle Shop, had submitted an application
with the City Clerk's Office for a Change of Location for Class "C" Liquor License from their
old location of 1703 West Second Street to 2211 North Webb Road. Ms. Johnson introduced the
following exhibits of the record: Application submitted to the Liquor Control Commission and
received by the City on February 8, 2000; Notice to the applicant of date, time, and place of
hearing mailed on February 9, 2000; Notice to the general public of date, time, and place of
hearing published on February 11, 2000; Chapter 4 of City Code and departmental reports as
required by law. The applicant was present. No public testimony was heard.
Public Hearing on Request for Renewal of Conditional Use Permit. Craig Lewis, Building
Inspections Director, reported that in 1989, City Council approved a Conditional Use Permit
for the sand and gravel operation at 3554 West Wildwood Drive and that in 1994, City
Council extended this Conditional Use Permit with four conditions: 1) the amount of stored
material on the site shall not be generally increased from the amount as existing at the site as
stated by the engineering consultant in their computer modeling of water surface elevation; 2)
the contractor shall keep the area around the piles of stored materials mowed and free of trees;
3) upon completion of the operation and prior to expiration of the Conditional Use Permit, a
regrading of the property shall be provided and all stored material shall be removed and the
final elevation of any portion of the subject property shall not exceed the original elevation of
the property prior to issuance of the original permit; and 4) the applicant shall apply for a
Flood Plain Development Permit from the Building Department and Regional Planning
Commission with the aforementioned conditions. Mr. Lewis noted that Brian and Lori
McMahon had purchased this property from Larry Knuth who holds a permit that expires
May, 2000 and that Mr. and Mrs. McMahon proposed to construct a house at this site in the
future and wished to raise the site elevation of the site for the proposed dwelling. 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 ordinance numbered:
#8565 - Approving Salary Ordinance Relative to FOP
be suspended and that the City Clerk be permitted to call out the number of the ordinance on
its first reading and then upon its final passage and call for a roll call vote on each reading and
then upon its final passage. Second by Larson. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion
was adopted unanimously.
Mayor: Is there anyone in the audience interested in the ordinance?
City Clerk: Ordinance #8565 on its first reading. All those in favor of the passage of this
Ordinance on its first reading, answer roll call vote. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye.
Motion adopted.
City Clerk: Ordinance #8565 on its final passage. All those in favor of the passage of this
Ordinance on its final passage, answer roll call vote. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye.
Motion adopted.
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Page 3, City Council Regular Meeting, February 28, 2000
Mayor: By reason of the roll call votes on first reading and then upon its final passage,
Ordinance #8565 is declared to be lawfully passed and adopted upon publication as required
by law.
CONSENT AGENDA: Councilmember Murray requested that item G6 be removed from the
Consent Agenda. Councilmember Preisendorf requested that item G4 be removed from the
Consent Agenda. Motion by Pielstick, second by Samuelson, carried unanimously to approve
the Consent Agenda minus G6 and G4.
Receipt of Official Documents Including Minutes of Civil Service Commission Meeting of
December 28, 1999.
Approving Minutes of City Council Regular Meeting of February 21, 1999.
Approving Request of Nash Finch Company, dba Grand Island Bottle Shop, for Change of
Location for Class "C" Liquor License.
Approving Request of Margie Wilson for Liquor Manager Designation for United Veterans
Club, 1914 West Capital Avenue.
Approving Request of Darwin Stienike for License Agreement for Continued Placement of
Garage in the Alley Way at 1004 West Third Street.
#2000-57 - Awarding Bid for Ryder Park Entrance Enhancement Project to Diamond
Engineering Company, Grand Island, Nebraska, in the Amount of $16,525.32.
#2000-58 - Awarding Bid for Padmount Transformers to WESCO, Sioux City, Iowa, in the
Amount of $52,600 Plus Tax.
#2000-59 - Awarding Bid for Coal Handling Equipment Building to Chief Industries, Inc.,
Grand Island, Nebraska, in the Amount of $132,814.
#2000-60 - Approving Continuation and Construction of Street Improvement District #1226,
Alleyway between Walnut Street and Wheeler Avenue, between Second Street and Third
Street.
#2000-61 - Approving Continuation and Construction of Street Improvement District #1227,
Alleyway Wheeler A venue and Locust Street, between Second Street and Third Street.
#2000-62 - Approving Continuation and Construction of Street Improvement District #1228,
Alleyway between Locust Street and Pine Street, between Second Street and Third Street.
#2000-63 - Approving Continuation and Construction of Street Improvement District #1229,
Alleyway between Pine Street .and Sycamore Street, between Second Street and Third Street.
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Page 4, City Council Regular Meeting, February 28, 2000
#2000-64 - Approving Continuation and Construction of Street Improvement District #1230,
Alleyway between Sycamore Street and Kimball Avenue, between Second Street and Third
Street.
Tabling Appointment of Jon Heath, 2515 Mill River Road, to Regional Planning Commission
for a Term to Expire February 28, 20003. Councilmember Preisendorf moved to table the
appointment of Mr. Heath. Second by Seifert. Motion to table was adopted unanimously.
#2000-56 - Increasing Funding for 2000 "Get Hooked on Fishing, Not Drugs or Alcohol"
Fishing Derby. Motion by Whitesides, second by Sorensen to approve the increase in the
funding for the Fishing Derby from $700 to $2,000. Councilmember Murray questioned the
need for the increased funding. Councilmember Seifert noted that several of the derby's larger
financial sponsors had relocated out of Grand Island. Councilmember Whitesides suggested
that the City's contribution should match that of the County. Upon roll call vote, Larson,
Pielstick, Hosier, Preisendorf, Whitesides, Samuelson, Murray, Ward and Sorensen voted
aye. Seifert abstained. Motion adopted.
REQUESTS AND REFERRALS:
Approving Request of Brian and Lori McMahon for Renewal of Conditional Use Permit.
Motion by Sorensen, second by Samuelson to approve the Conditional Use Permit for a five year
period with the four conditions: 1) the amount of stored material on the site shall not be
generally increased from the amount as existing at the site as stated by the engineering
consultant in their computer modeling of water surface elevation; 2) the contractor shall keep
the area around the piles of stored materials mowed and free of trees; 3) upon completion of
the operation and prior to expiration of the Conditional Use Permit, a regrading of the
property shall be provided and all stored material shall be removed and the final elevation of
any portion of the subject property shall not exceed the original elevation of the property prior
to issuance of the original permit; and 4) the applicant shall apply for a Flood Plain
Development Permit from the Building Department and Regional Planning Commission with
the aforementioned conditions. Councilmember Murray questioned whether the Conditional
Use Permit was required inasmuch as it appeared that the property owners simply wanted to
build a home at this site. Craig Lewis, Building Inspections Director, reported that the owners
wanted the option of continuing with the sand and gravel operation but their plans were to
construct a home. Motion to approve was adopted unanimously.
RESOLUTIONS:
#2000-65 - Approving Placement of 1/2 Cent Sales Tax on May Primary Election Ballot.
Motion by Seifert, second by Whitesides to approve the placement of the 1/2 Cent Sales Tax
issue on the May primary ballot. Councilmember Murray questioned the impact of Legislative
Bill #1258 and asked if the funding anticipated for the Economic Development Program was
for $1 million or $2 million. Charlie Cuypers, City Attorney, reported that the ballot
language was drafted in such a way that if LB1258 was adopted and if the City Council chose
through the annual budget process, authorization of $2 million was provided for.
Councilmember Murray stated that he was in support of the $1 million level as long as the
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Page 5, City Council Regular Meeting, February 28, 2000
Council had the ability to set the level. Lewis Kent, 624 East Meves, spoke on the issue.
Motion was adopted unanimously.
#2000-66 - Approving Placement of Economic Development Program on May Primary
Election Ballot. Motion by Seifert, second by Whitesides, carried unanimously to place this
issue on the May primary election ballot.
#2000-67 - Approving Request for Reduction of Speed Limit on North Road. Steve Riehle,
Public Works Director, reported a request had been received from the Northwest
Neighborhood Association to amend the speed limit on North Road south of State Street from
50 mph to 40 mph in order to provide consistency with the area north of State Street and that
the Public Works Department, Engineering Division, had conducted a speed study and
recommended a 45 mph speed limit be set for North Road from 200' south of Cannon/State
Street to 13th Street. Motion by Murray, second by Samuelson to approve the reduction in
speed limit to 45 miles per hour. Councilmember Seifert noted that the Neighborhood
Association had requested the speed limit be set at 40 miles per hour to be consistent on the
road and offered a friendly amendment to the motion to reduce the speed limit to 40 miles per
hour. Councilmember Murray declined the friendly amendment. Councilmember Ward spoke
in support of the reduced speed limit citing the narrow shoulders and the number of runners
and walkers on that street. Councilmember Larson spoke in support of consistency of speed
limits along the road. Steve Riehle, Public Works Director, stated that signs did not slow
people down and that people generally drove at a speed they felt comfortable with, regardless
of the posted speed. Mike Yost, 4204 Manchester Road, spoke in support of the 40 miles per
hour speed limit. Councilmember Murray stated that drivers would not change their driving
habits and that 45 miles per hour was more realistic. Upon roll call vote on the motion to
adopt Resolution #2000-67 establishing the speed limit at 45 miles per hour, Samuelson and
Murray voted aye. Larson, Pielstick, Hosier, Seifert, Preisendorf, Whitesides, Ward and
Sorensen voted nay. Motion failed. Motion by Seifert, second by Pielstick to establish the
speed limit at 40 miles per hour from Highway 2 to Old Potash Highway. Upon roll call vote,
Pielstick, Hosier, Seifert, Preisendorf, Whitesides, Samuelson, Ward, Sorensen and Murray
voted aye. Larson voted nay. Motion adopted.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
c~~
City Clerk