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04/18/2000 Minutes I I I OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION April 18, 2000 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a Study Session 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 April 13, 2000. Mayor Gnadt called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following members were present: Mayor Gnadt, Councilmembers Larson, Whitesides, Samuelson, Murray, Seifert, Ward, and Sorensen. Councilmembers Preisendorf, Pielstick and Hosier were absent. The following City Officials were present: City Administrator Marlan Ferguson, City Clerk Cindy Johnson, and Public Works Director Steve Riehle. Presentation on Thermal Imaging. Fire Chief Jim Rowell and Mark Swanson representing the Sertoma Club, presented information to the City Council on the upcoming efforts of Third City Sertoma to raise the funds to purchase a thermal imaging system for the Fire Department. Discussion on Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements. Steve Riehle, Public Works Director, presented a plan to hire consultant CH2MHill to help the City determine the cause of odors within the community. Mr. Riehle reported that concerns had arisen recently relative to the possibility that the Wastewater Treatment Plant being the source of the odors and it was recommended that CH2Mhill be retained to identify point sources of odor and make recommendations on process changes or plant improvements if the odors were found to be initiated at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Councilmember Murray spoke in support of pursuing the source of the odor and addressing any City issues. Ann Miller, 704 South Cherry, stated that the smell was at times overwhelming. Councilmember Seifert questioned what the course of action would be if it were determined that the source of odors was not the City operation. Mr. Riehle stated that the City could take steps to control or reduce the odors caused by City operations but could only recommend solutions if the source of the odor was not City related. Mr. Riehle noted that the State had regulations relative to odor pollution but that the City did not. Councilmember Whitesides noted that the odor issue had been a continuing problem for a number of years and had been addressed in a variety of ways. Betty Karle, 4710 Stoneridge Path, stated that her past experience led her to believe that something could be done and asked the Council to solve the problem. Dave Eastlack, 922 East Phoenix, spoke in support of resolving the issue. Discussion was held on the potential need to disinfect the Wastewater Treatment Plant effluent due to high levels of coliform. Mr. Riehle stated that the Wastewater Treatment Plant had been constructed in 1995 and that the City was operating under a permit issued by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality with the anticipation that a new permit would be issued in approximately 14 months after the Department of Environmental Quality set standards for how to disinfect the facility using chlorine. Bud Jeffries, #28 Kuester Lake, stated that there were health concerns associated with high chloroform levels and urged the City to take care of the issue. Mr. Riehle noted that a Risk Management Plan would be developed and that a public hearing would be part of the Plan. I I I Page 2, City Council Study Session, April 18, 2000 Discussion on Vacation of Museum Drive Adjacent to 2725 East Seedling Mile Road. Steve Riehle, Public Works Director, reported that the City had received a request for the closing of Museum Drive east of the owners's property and that the dirt street served as a second access to Swift Road and was often used as an alternate route to Stuhr Road at the Seedling Mile/Highway 30 intersection at times of congestion. Mr. Riehle stated that a second access to Swift Road was important for current use as well as for future development. Councilmember Samuelson questioned whether the road was maintained. Mr. Riehle replied that it was maintained on the same rotation schedule as other dirt roads. Janice Medford, 2725 East Seedling Mile Road, stated that heavy trucks were also using the street. Councilmember Murray questioned whether an alternate route could be determined. Mr. Riehle responded that the City would need to contact the affected property owners and see if that was possible. He added that the Nebraska Department of Roads was also looking at improvements to the intersection of Seedling Mile and Highway 30 and that Highway 30 was scheduled for improvements in 2002. Discussion on Request of Greg Baxter for Variance to Preliminary Plat Relative to Street Width Changes. Steve Riehle, Public Works Director, reported that at the Regional Planning Commission meeting of April 5, 2000, the Commission had discussed a request by Greg Baxter of Summerfield Estates Subdivision, for an amendment to the Preliminary Plat relative to street width. It was noted that the Plat had been approved with streets scaled at 37' wide and the request was for 31' wide streets. Mr. Riehle stated that the width of streets was an issue that he would the City to review on a comprehensive basis but he did believe there was a place for narrower streets depending on the use, layout, and traffic design. Councilmember Seifert voiced concern with public safety on the narrower streets as well as water drainage. Councilmember Sorensen stated that it was not fair to approve the request when the rules stated 37' and other developers had to abide by the rules. Councilmember Murray stated that he was not opposed to looking at street widths overall but did not want one request to drive the overall City policy. Mr. Murray suggested that a Committee be formed to review the issue of street widths and that the Committee be comprised of developers, planners, Council and staff. Councilmember Ward stated that although there is a need for single family housing and that the curved roads did tend to provide for reduction in traffic speeds, he believed that the Council was being asked to make a policy decision based on a single request. Councilmember Larson stated that the regulations in force should be followed until new regulations were adopted. Greg Baxter, Little B's Corporation, explained the application process and the benefits to having the narrower streets. Mr. Baxter stated that a 31' wide street would be an option not the standard and that the Council could still require 37' where appropriate. Mike Yost, Olsson Associates, spoke in support of having an option to the 37' wide streets and addressed the drainage issue, reaction of Planning Commission, and the street widths. David Plautz, 138 Hamilton, Phillips, voiced concern with the safety of narrower streets, snow removal and delivery/trash collection. Todd Enck, 3207 Dixie Square, voiced support for updating the regulations but asked the Council to look at the comprehensive issue not just one request. Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m. 2