12/05/2000 Minutes
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OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
December 5, 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, on December 5, 2000. Notice of the meeting was given in the Grand Island Independent
on November 29,2000.
Mayor Ken Gnadt called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following members were present:
Councilmembers Larson, Pielstick, Hosier, Seifert, Preisendorf, Whitesides, Samuelson, Murray
Ward and Sorensen. The following City Officials were present: City Administrator MarIan
Ferguson, City Clerk RaNae Edwards, Finance Director David Springer, City Attorney Charlie
Cuypers and Steve Riehle Public Works Director.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was said followed by an It's About Kids! Assets were presented
by Russtanna Faimon and Ashley Mostek.
RESERVE TIME TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS: No individuals reserved time to speak on
agenda items.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
The Minutes of the November 21, 2000 City Council Regular Meeting were submitted for
approval. Motion by Sorensen, second by Pielstick, carried unanimously to approve.
CITY COUNCIL REORGANIZATION:
Acceptance of Election Certificate. Mayor Gnadt reported that State law required the governing
body to formally accept the certificate of election issued by the Hall County Election
Commissioner for the November 7, 2000 City Council election. Motion by Murray, second by
Preisendor, carried unanimously to approve.
Presentation to Outgoing Councilmembers. Mayor Gnadt presented plaques to outgoing
Councilmembers David Hosier, Dick Preisendorf and Doug Samuelson and thanked them for
their service to the City of Grand Island.
Comments by Outgoing Councilmembers. Councilmembers Hosier, Preisendorf and Samuelson
thanked the citizens of Grand Island and reflected on issues that had been before the Council and
the accomplishments that had been made.
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Page 2, City Council Regular Meeting, December 5, 2000
Administration of Oath to Newlv Elected Councilmembers. City Clerk RaNae Edwards
administered the Oath of Office to newly elected Councilmembers Scott Walker, Margaret
Homady, Joyce Haase and Tom Ward and returning Councilmembers Fred Whitesides and
Jackie Pielstick.
Comments by Newly Elected Officials. Councilmembers Walker, Homady, Haase, Ward,
Whitesides, and Pielstick as well as Mayor Gnadt, made comments.
The new City Council was called to order. Mayor Gnadt and Councilmembers Pielstick, Ward,
Seifert, Larson, Homady, Whitesides, Haase, Murray, Walker and Sorensen were present.
Election of Council President. Mayor Gnadt reported that the City Council was required to elect
one Councilmember to the office of Council President for a term of one year and that the Council
President automatically assumed the duties of the Mayor in the event that the Mayor was absent
or otherwise unable to fulfill his duties. Councilmember Seifert nominated Councilmember
Pielstick. Councilmember Murray nominated Councilmember Larson. There being no further
nominations, RaNae Edwards City Clerk, called for the first ballot. It was reported that
Councilmember Pielstick had received 6 votes and Councilmember Larson had received 4 votes.
Motion by Seifert, second by Sorensen to make the vote for Councilmember Pielstick as
President unanimous. Motion adopted unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Public Hearing on Proposed Grant Application to Department of Economic Development for
Community Development Block Grant for Updated Housing Study. Cindy Johnson, Community
Projects Director, reported that the Nebraska Department of Economic Development accepts
applications through the Community Development Block Grant Program for grant funding to
assist in the development and distribution of a housing study. A housing study was last
completed in 1995. It was recommended that these studies be updated every five years. The
City's request to CDBG was for funding in the amount of$21,000; total cost of the project was
anticipated to be approximately $26,000. A request had been approved by the Community
Redevelopment Authority to provide the remaining $5,000 required as matching funds.
Inasmuch as the Nebraska Department of Economic Development requires two public hearings
to be held prior to the application submittal, no action was required at this time. The issue will be
returned to the City council at the December 19, 2000 meeting for approval. No public testimony
was heard.
Public Hearing on Allocation of Funds for Federal Local Law Enforcement Block Grant for the
Police Department. Captain Bill Holloway from the Police Department, reported that the Grand
Island Police Department was eligible for Federal Local Law Enforcement Block Grants
annually. This year, approximately $32,000 was available to the Grand Island Police Department
for equipment needs. There is a 10% hard match requirement of $3,200 which has been
budgeted. As is required by Federal mandates, the Grant Advisory Board met on November 27,
2000. The grant funds are tentatively allocated for the following equipment: an additional bicycle
patrol unit plus carrier, defensive tactics mats, uniform needs for the community service officers,
fire extinguishers for the impound building, strobe boxes for the motor units, replacement
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Page 3, City Council Regular Meeting, December 5,2000
batteries for portables, additional transmitters for the mobile video units, and additional portable
radios. 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:
#8641 - Consideration of Creating Street Improvement District #1235, Alley Between
Second Street and Third Street From Cedar Street to Walnut Street
#8642 - Consideration of Creating Street Improvement District #1236, Alley Between
Second Street and Third Street From Elm Street to Cedar Street
#8643 - Consideration of Creating Street Improvement District #1237, Wortman Drive in
Community College Subdivision
#8644 - Consideration of Amendments to Chapter 31 Relative to Signs in Residential
Districts
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. Councilmember
Pielstick seconded the motion. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted.
Mayor: Is there anyone in the audience interested in these ordinances? Councilmember Seifert
questioned Ordinance #8644 regarding the size of signs in residential districts. Mr. Seifert asked
Tom Rauert, 6600 N. North Road, to speak on behalf of the First United Methodist Church. Mr.
Rauert spoke of the possibility of having a sign which would be larger than the maximum
allowed square-footage as required in Ordinance #8644. Craig Lewis, Building Director, had
spoken with Mr. Rauert and will be looking at this request as it relates to Ordinance #8644. Mr.
Lewis requested the council to consider the numerous churches in Grand Island's residential
areas and the impact of large signs on those neighborhoods. Also mentioned were the changes
coming to South Locust relating to signs.
City Clerk: Ordinances #8641, #8642, #8643 and #8644 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 was adopted unanimously.
City Clerk: Ordinances #8641, #8642, #8643 and #8644 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 was adopted unanimously.
Mayor: By reason of the roll call votes on first reading and then upon final passage, Ordinances
#8641, #8642, #8643 and #8644 are declared to be lawfully passed and adopted upon publication
as required by law.
CONSENT AGENDA: Motion by Pielstick, second by Seifert, carried unanimously to approve
the Consent Agenda.
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Page 4, City Council Regular Meeting, December 5, 2000
Receiving Official Documents, Including Civil Service Minutes of October 13, 2000 and
Certification of Petition Signatures from the Hall County Election Commissioner for Initiative
Petition for Creating an Endowment Fund submitted by Alan Sydow.
Approving Appointments of Mark Luebke, Chairman, Larry Dethlefs, John Mayer and Greg
Moeller from the Fire Department and Kelly Mossman, Clyde Church, Kerry Cole and Jim
Olson from the Police Department to the Police and Fire Pension Committee for a Term
Effective January 1, 2001 and Expiring January 1, 2005.
Approving Request of Laurencio R. Carrillo for Liquor Manager Designation, Sotos, Inc. dba
Tienda Latina, 384 North Walnut Street pending issuance of Liquor License from the Nebraska
Liquor Control Commission.
Approving Request of Laurencio R. Carrillo for Liquor Manager Designation, Sotos, Inc. dba EI
Guitarron, 413 West 4th Street pending issuance of Liquor License from the Nebraska Liquor
Control Commission.
#2000-361 - Awarding Bid for Athletic Fields to Dobesh Land Leveling, Grand Island,
Nebraska in the Amount of $46,391.52.
#2000-362 - Awarding Bid for Two Dump Trucks to Nebraska Peterbilt, Ford, Sterling of Grand
Island, Nebraska in the Amount of$91,038.00.
#2000-363 - Approving Agreement for 2001 and 2002 Coal Supply to Arch Coal Sales
Company, Inc. of St. Louis, Missouri.
#2000-364 - Awarding Bid for One-ton 4WD Flatbed & Snowplow to Anderson Ford Lincoln
Mercury, Inc. of Grand Island, Nebraska in the Amount of$32,417.00.
#2000-365 - Awarding Proposal for Power Plant Emission Monitoring System to Environmental
Systems Corporation of Knoxville, Tennessee in the Amount of$122,790.00.
#2000-366 - Approving Contract for Consulting Services for Solid Waste Operations with HDR
Engineering, Inc. of Omaha, Nebraska.
#2000-367 - Approving Contract for Consulting Engineering Services for Electric Utilities to
Lutz, Daily and Brain of Kansas City. Kansas.
#2000-368 - Approving Change Order #1 with Diamond Engineering for Street Improvement
District #1225, Allen Drive for Provide for Additional Concrete Paving Work.
#2000-369 - Approving Certificate of Final Completion for Street Improvement District #1225.
Allen Drive and Setting January 9.2001 for Board of Equalization Hearing.
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Page 5, City Council Regular Meeting, December 5, 2000
#2000-370 - Approving Allocation of Funds for Federal Local Law Enforcement Block Grant
for the Police Department.
#2000-371 - Approving Discontinuation of Sanitary Sewer District #497, Gosda Subdivision
(Edna Drive).
#2000-372 - Approving Speed Limits in Alleys.
#2000-373 - Approving City Council Meeting Schedule for 2001.
PAYMENT OF CLAIMS: Motion by Whitesides, second by Seifert, carried unanimously to
approve the Claims for the period of November 22 through December 5, 2000, claims #98061,
#98951, #98953, #99186 and #99215 through #99728 for a total claims amount of
$1,467,434.27.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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RaN ae Edwards
City Clerk