08/15/2000 Minutes
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OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
August 15, 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 August 10, 2000.
Council President Doug Samuelson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following
members were present: Councilmembers Samuelson, Preisendorf, Whitesides, Larson,
Pielstick, Seifert, Sorensen, Ward, and Murray. Councilmember Hosier and Mayor Gnadt
were absent. The following City Officials were present: City Administrator Marian Ferguson,
Acting City Clerk Cindy Johnson, Finance Director David Springer, City Attorney Charlie
Cuypers and Public Works Director Steve Riehle.
RESERVE TIME TO SPEAKON AGENDA ITEMS: Five individuals reserved time to speak
on agenda items.
PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS: Council President Samuelson presented a
certificate of appreciation and recognized Mrs. Leslie James for her generous gift of stock to
the City for the construction of a trail that will loop around Suchs Lake and connect to the
Be1tline hiker/biker trail.
ADJOURN TO SOLID WASTE AGENCY: Motion by Murray, second by Preisendorf,
carried unanimously to adjourn to the Solid Waste Agency.
Public Hearing on Proposed 2000-2001 Grand Island Solid Waste Agency Budget. Steve
Riehle, Public Works Director, reported that an InterIocal Cooperation Act Agreement
creating the Grand Island Area Solid Waste Agency between the City of Grand Island and Hall
County was approved on August 10, 1992 and that State law required a Public Hearing on the
proposed annual budget. No public testimony was heard.
#2000-SW A-2 - Approving Adoption of FY2000-200l Solid Waste Annual Budget. Steve
Riehle, Public Works Director, reported that this item related to the aforementioned Public
Hearing and that a budget had been developed for FY2000-2001 for the Agency and was the
same as the City Solid Waste Division budget (Fund 505). Motion by Murray, second by
Preisendorf, carried unanimously to approve.
RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION: Motion by Pielstick, second by Murray, carried
unanimously to Return to Regular Session.
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Page 2, City Council Regular Meeting, August 15,2000
PUBLIC HEARING:
Public Hearing on Request of Randy and Deb Wissing, 3011 West 16th Street, for a
Conditional Use Permit for Construction of Garage Addition. Craig Lewis, Building
Inspections Director, reported that Randy and Deb Wissing, owners, 3011 West 16th Street,
had submitted a request with the City Clerk's Office for a Conditional Use Permit to allow for
construction of a garage addition which would exceed the allowable square footage. 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:
#8612 - Consideration of Creation of Sanitary Sewer #496, Western Heights Fourth
Subdivision
#8613 - Consideration of Vacation of Easement at 1810 South Locust Street
#8614 - Consideration of Amendment to Chapter of City Code Relative to Body
Piercing and Tattooing
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 first reading and then upon
final passage and call for a roll call vote on each reading and then upon its final passage.
Second by Pielstick. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted unanimously.
Council President: Is there any comment on these Ordinances? Councilmember Murray
questioned what the qualifications would be for a temporary tattoo/body piercing license.
Sheila Bjerrum, Health Department Director, reported that the requirements were the same as
for a standard license but additionally the applicant had to provide proof of licensing from
main location.
City Clerk: Ordinances #8612, #8613, and #8614 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. Motion adopted.
City Clerk: Ordinances #8612, #8613, and #8614 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.
Council President: By reason of the roll call votes on the first reading and then upon final
passage, Ordinances #8612, #8613, and #8614 are declared to be lawfully passed and adopted
upon publication as required by law.
#8615 - Consideration of FY2000-2001 Annual Single City Budget, the Annual
Appropriations Bill, Including Addendum #1. Marian Ferguson, City Administrator, reported
that the proposed FY 2000-2001 Annual Single City Budget was scheduled for consideration
but due to a belief that there would be a number of elected officials absent at the meeting, he
had stated that action would be delayed. Mr. Ferguson requested direction from the Council
relative to proceeding with the Budget. It was the consensus of the Council that action should
be delayed one week but that those individuals who had reserved time to speak should be
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Page 3, City Council Regular Meeting, August 15,2000
allowed to do so. Chuck Haase, 3024 Colonial Lane, and Lewis Kent, 624 East Meves, spoke
on the issue.
CONSENT AGENDA: MarIan Ferguson, City Administrator, reported that item G-13 had
been pulled off the agenda, pending a public hearing. Item G-lO was also pulled from the
Consent Agenda due to audience questions. Motion by Pielstick, second by Ward, carried
unanimously to approve the Consent Agenda, minus G-lO and G-13.
Receipt of Official Documents, Including Minutes of Civil Service Commission meeting of
June 21, 2000.
Approving Minutes of July 25, 2000 City Council Regular Meeting, August 8, 2000 City
Council Special Meeting, August 8, 2000 City Council Study Session and August 9, 2000 City
Council Budget Work Session. Councilmember Ward abstained from item G2a.
Councilmembers Pielstick and Preisendorf abstained from G2c.
Approving Appointment of Mark Jorgensen to Hall County Board of Health for a Term to
Expire June 30, 2003.
Approving Request of Randy and Deb Wissing for Conditional Use Permit for Construction of
a Garage Addition at 3011 West 16th Street.
Approving Request of Patty Pryor for Liquor Manager Designation for Grand Island Pizza
Hut, Inc., dba Pizza Hut, 1608 South Locust Street.
Approving Ratification of Appointments to Fonner Park Exposition and Events Center, Inc.
Board of Directors. It was noted that at the December 21, 1998 City Council Meeting,
Resolution #98-332 was adopted supporting the application of Fonner Park to the Internal
Revenue Service for a 501(c)(3) exemption for construction and operation of an Exposition and
Events Center and that the Internal Revenue Service required that the election of the members
of the Board of Directors of Fonner Park Exposition and Events Center, Inc. be ratified by the
Grand Island City Council. Mike Johnson, attorney, and Hugh Miner, Jr. were present to
answer any questions on the recommendation of the appointments of John Brownell, Vince
Dowding, Brian Hamilton, Hugh Miner, Jr., and George Waintschke to the Board of Directors
for the Fonner Park Exposition and Events Center, Inc.
#2000-227 - Awarding Bid for Ryder Park Grandstand Cover to Chief Construction, Grand
Island, Nebraska, in the Amount of $61,922.
#2000-228 - Awarding Bid for Water Main Project 2000-W-4, Wellfield Expansion to
General Excavating, Lincoln, Nebraska, in the Amount of $488,900.00.
#2000-229 - Awarding Bid for Underground Electrical Equipment to WESCO, Grand Island,
Nebraska, for 12 of the Items with a Total Award Amount of $92,971.98.
#2000-230 - Awarding Bid for Pole Trailer to Sherman and Reilly, Inc., Chattanooga,
Tennessee in the Amount of $13,500 plus tax for a total of $14,310.
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Page 4, City Council Regular Meeting, August 15, 2000
#2000-231 - Awarding Bid for Well Construction - Well field to Sargent Drilling Company,
Broken Bow, Nebraska in the Amount of $291,944.63.
#2000-232 - Awarding Bid for Street Improvement District No. 1233, Juergen Road to
Blessing, Inc., Kearney, Nebraska in the Amount of $120,476.01.
#2000-233 - Awarding Bid for Web Server to Windstone, Inc., Lincoln, Nebraska, in the
Amount of $27,253 for Phase 1.
#2000-234 - Approving Final Plat and Subdivision Agreement for Pleasant Home 2nd
Subdivision. It was noted that Bethphage, Inc. a Nebraska Non-Profit Corporation, owner, had
submitted a final plat for Pleasant Home Second Subdivision, located southeast of Hope and
Hedde Streets.
Bonnard H. Blair and Mary V. Blair, owners, had submitted a final plat for Blair Subdivision,
located on North Road east of Enterprise Avenue and Trust Street.
#2000-235 - Approving Final Plat and Subdivision Agreement for Blair Subdivision.
#2000-236- Approving Continuation and Construction of Sanitary Sewer District #492, R & B
First and Second Subdivisions and a Portion of the SEl/4 of Section 11, TIIN, RIO West.
#2000-238 - Approving Supplemental Agreement with Olsson Associates for Water Main
Design in Conjunction with the South Locust Street Project Between Stolley Park Road and
Highway 34.
#2000-239 - Approving Supplemental Agreement with Nebraska Department of Roads
Relative to the Construction of the South Locust Bridge Over the Wood River Floodway
Channel and the Widening of South Locust Street from US Highway 34 South to the Corporate
Limits.
#2000-240 - Approving Adoption of Digital Version of the Grand Island Future Land Use
Map. This item was removed from the agenda at the recommendation of staff.
#2000-241 - Approving Change Order #1 to Contract with Castle Construction Company for
Storm Drainage Project 2000-D-l in the Amount of $10,781.55.
#2000-242 - Approving Request for Parking Restriction on the North and East Side of Grand
Island Senior High School.
#2000-237 - Approving Continuation and Construction of Sanitary Sewer District #493,
Potash Subdivision. Steve Riehle, Public Works Director, reported that Sanitary Sewer
District No. 493 had been created by Ordinance #8597 on June 13, 2000 Council Meeting by a
petition request and that the protest period ended at 5:00 p.m. on July 20, 2000 for this
District and there were 26 protests filed against this district or 37.7 %. It was recommended
that the District be continued and constructed. Councilmember Murray moved to approve.
Second by Preisendorf. Councilmember Seifert questioned what was allowed under an
agricultural deferment. Mr. Riehle stated that he did not believe the farmer was going to
request an agricultural deferment but if he did no assessments would be charged until the land
was developed. Mr. Riehle added that without a deferment the farmer would begin to pay
assessments at the same time that other property owners in the District did. City Attorney
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Page 5, City Council Regular Meeting, August 15,2000
Charlie Cuypers noted that generally title companies want the assessments paid in full when
the land is developed. Ronna Kutra, 115 Beechwood Drive, Stephanie Stanley, 121
Beechwood Drive, John Stanley, 121 Beechwood Drive, Greg Baxter, T & E Cattle
Company, spoke in opposition to the continuation citing lack of understanding relative to the
costs involved with the project and short time frames for property owners to react. David
Nealon, 112 Beechwood Drive, spoke in support. Discussion was held on the notice given to
property owners, and the neighborhood meetings that were held by Public Works staff to
answer questions the property owners might have regarding the project. Mr. Riehle stated that
the construction of the project would be reviewed to ensure as little damage as possible to
existing trees and property. Councilmember Murray questioned the procedure used relative to
purchasing property for the proposed storm sewer project that was being considered in
conjunction with the sanitary sewer project. Mr. Riehle stated that the standard policies were
followed. Mr. Cuypers added that the statutes prohibited the acquisition of land until a project
was proposed so the property could not have been acquired beforehand. Upon roll call vote to
approve the continuation and construction of the District, Larson, Seifert, Preisendorf,
Whitesides, Ward, Samuelson, and Murray voted aye. Sorensen and Pielstick voted nay.
Motion adopted.
RESOLUTIONS:
#2000-243 - Approving City Hall Building Policies. Cindy Johnson, Community Projects
Director, reported that in 1993, the City Council adopted policies relative to the function and
use of the City Hall and that over the course of the past seven years, the polices had been
modified at an administrative level to reflect changes in the day to day management of the
building. Ms. Johnson stated at in an effort to ensure uniformity in the application of the
policies, department directors reviewed the existing Building Policies and provided suggestions
for changes. Councilmember Seifert questioned the reduced access to the building for outside
groups. Ms. Johnson and Craig Lewis, Building Inspections Director, reported that the
reduced hours reflected the realistic expectations for the maintenance staff's workload.
Motion by Sorensen, second by Murray to approve. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye.
Motion adopted.
#2000-244 - Approving Request for Handicapped Designated Parking Stall, North Side of
First Street East of Eddy Street. Steve Riehle, Public Works Director, reported that the Public
Works Department had received a request from Mick Brown, property ownerllandlord and
tenant Charles Kazor to designate a handicapped parking stall in front of the apartment at
724/726 West First Street and that the Public Works Department recommended the designation
of the first full size angle parking stall east of Eddy Street on the north side of First Street as a
handicap stall. Motion by Sorensen, second by Ward to approve. Councilmember Seifert
reiterated that this was not private parking and that any handicapped person could park in this
designated space. Councilmember Preisendorf questioned off street parking in this area. Roll
call vote was taken on the motion to approve. Upon roll call vote, Larson, Pielstick, Seifert,
Whitesides, Samuelson, Ward, Murray and Sorensen voted aye. Preisendorf voted nay.
Motion adopted.
#2000-245 - Consideration of Repealing Resolution #2000-177 Relative to Purchase of
Cemetery Lands. Charlie Cuypers, City attorney, reported that on June 13, 2000, the Mayor
and City Council adopted Resolution #2000-177 authorizing acquisition of approximately 22
acres of land formerly known as the Webb Sale Barn property as an addition to the Grand
Island Cemetery and that two of the three property owners had requested restructuring the
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Page 6, City Council Regular Meeting, August 15,2000
transaction to allow them to give their interest in this property to two local non-profit
corporations which would in turn sell the property to the City for the same terms originally
agreed upon. Motion by Ward, second by Murray to approve. Chuck Haase, 3024 Colonial
Lane, spoke in opposition citing concerns with use of cemetery trust fund for this purchase.
Councilmember Seifert questioned the potential contamination of the land. Mr. Cuypers
reported that a Level 2 Assessment had been completed and the soil samples indicated nothing
other than routine nitrates, probably from fertilizer. Mr. Cuypers added that the cemetery fund
was not established as a trust fund in the ordinance but rather as a maintenance fund and that
municipalities were given authority under state statutes to budget dollars for future cemetery
use. It was noted there was approximately $590,000 in the fund and that $40,000 was being
used for operating costs. Councilmember Seifert questioned why the cemetery fund was not
used when paving the cemetery was requested several years ago. Upon roll call vote to
approve the motion, motion was adopted unanimously.
PAYMENT OF CLAIMS: Motion by Whitesides, second by Sorensen, carried unanimously
to approve the Claims for the period of July 26 through August 15, claims #93859, 93650,
93776, 80423, 83606, 93126, 91428, 91956, and 94219 through 95281. Councilmember
Whitesides abstained on Claim 94401.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
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