08/14/2001 Minutes
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OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
August 14, 2001
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 August 14,2001. Notice of the meeting was given in the Grand Island Independent on
August 8, 2001.
Mayor Ken Gnadt called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following members were present:
Councilmembers Pielstick, Ward, Seifert, Larson, Hornady, Whitesides, Haase, Murray, Walker
and Sorensen. The following City Officials were present: City Administrator MarIan Ferguson,
City Clerk RaNae Edwards, Finance Director David Springer, Public Works Director Steve
Riehle and City Attorney Charlie Cuypers.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was said followed by INVOCATION given by Councilmember
Pielstick.
RESERVE TIME TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS: No individuals reserved time to speak on
agenda items.
PRESENT A nONS AND PROCLAMATIONS:
Recognition of Michael Martens for his Efforts to Keep the Community Clean. Mayor Gnadt
recognized Michael Martens for his efforts in keeping the community clean. Michael is the 9-
year-old son of Kristi VanVuren who lives at Colonial Square Apartments at 1621 North Vine
Street. Michael is an inspiration to citizens in this community in volunteering his time in keeping
his neighborhood clean by picking up garbage.
Recognition of Central Catholic Tennis Team State Champions. Mayor Gnadt recognized the
Central Catholic High School Tennis Team and Jill Tesmer their Coach for winning the Tennis
Team State Championship.
Heartland Events Center Update. Hugh Miner and Doyle Hulme, Co-Chairman of the Heartland
Events Center, made a presentation to the Mayor and Council concerning the Heartland Events
Center. This regional project will serve approximately 500,000 people and will stimulate
economic growth. The estimated cost is $24,053,454. Over $14.7 million dollars has been raised
with another $10 million needing to be raised in the next five to eight months. Jim Sander, 218
North Harrison spoke in support. Councilmember Seifert requested that staff work together to
help find funding for this proj ect.
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PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Public Hearing on Acquisition of Utility Easement Located in Front of the Northwest Comer of
Toner's, Inc. Building, at 3721 West Highway 2. Bob Smith, Assistant Utilities Director,
reported that acquisition of a utility easement located in front of the northwest comer of Toner's,
Inc. building, at 3721 West Highway 2, was required in order to have access to install, upgrade,
maintain, and repair power appurtenances, including lines and transformers. The easement would
be used to install a new pad mounted transformer to serve Toners and the Nextel tower site. New
companies were leasing space on the tower requiring additional power. No public testimony was
heard.
Public Hearing on Acquisition of Utility Easements Located at 1915 La Mar Avenue, Lot 14
Brach's Second Addition to the City of Grand Island. Steve Riehle, Public Works Director,
reported that acquisition of a utility easement located at 1915 La Mar Avenue was required in
order to have access to a storm sewer that was modified during construction. The storm sewer
was placed outside ofthe existing easement to avoid a street. No public testimony was heard.
Public Hearing on Acquisition of Utility Easement Located South of Highway 30 and West of
Talc Drive (Omaha Paper Stock Company, Inc. and Luzenac America, Inc.) Charlie Cuypers,
City Attorney, reported that acquisition of a public utility easement located south of Highway 30
and west of Talc Drive was required in order to provide access to the sanitary sewer. 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:
#8687 - Consideration of Amendment to Natural Gas Rates
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 ordinance on its first reading and then upon final
passage and call for a roll call vote on each reading and then upon final passage. Councilmember
Murray seconded the motion. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted.
Mayor: It there anyone in the audience interested in this ordinance? No public testimony was
heard.
City Clerk: Ordinances #8687 on first reading. All those in favor of the passage of this
ordinance on first reading, answer roll call vote. Upon roll call vote, Councilmembers Ward,
Seifert, Larson, Hornady, Whitesides, Haase, Murray, Walker and Sorensen voted aye.
Councilmember Pielstick voted nay. Motion was adopted.
City Clerk: Ordinances #8687 on final passage. All those in favor of the passage of this
ordinance on final passage, answer roll call vote. Upon roll call vote, Councilmembers Ward,
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Page 3, City Council Regular Meeting, August 14,2001
Seifert, Larson, Homady, Whitesides, Haase, Murray, Walker and Sorensen voted aye.
Councilmember Pielstick voted nay. Motion was adopted.
Mayor: By reason of the roll call votes on first reading and then upon final passage, Ordinance
#8687 is declared to be lawfully passed and adopted upon publication as required by law.
CONSENT AGENDA: Councilmember Sorensen requested that item G-l be removed from the
Consent Agenda. Councilmember Whitesides requested that item G-4b be removed from the
agenda. Councilmember Pielstick requested that item G-6k be removed from the agenda. Motion
by Pielstick, second by Whitesides, carried unanimously to approve the Consent Agenda
excluding items G-l, G-4b and G6k.
Approving Minutes of July 24,2001 City Council Regular Meeting.
Approving Minutes of August 6, 2001 City Council Study Session.
Approving Minutes of August 6, 2001 City Council Special Meeting.
Approving Appointments of Scott Ericksen to the Planning Commission and Glen Murray to the
Comprehensive Plan Selection! Advisory Committee.
Approving Request of Kayleen Miles, 208 South Cherry Street, for Liquor Manager Designation
for Fontenelle Oil Co., dba Holiday Station Store #114, 1404 West 2nd Street.
#2001-198 - Approving Acquisition of Utility Easement Located in Front of Northwest Corner
of Toner's, Inc. Building, at 3721 West Highway 2.
#2001-199 - Approving Acquisition of Utility Easement Located at 1915 La Mar Avenue, Lot
14 of Brach's Second Addition to the City of Grand Island.
#2001-200 - Acquisition of Utility Easement Located South of Highway 30 and West of Talc
Drive (Omaha Paper Stock Company, Inc. and Luzenac America, Inc.)
#2001-201 - Awarding Contract for Fly Ash to Flatwater Materials, Inc., Grand Island, Nebraska
in the Amount of 62c per Equivalent Dry Ton.
#2001-202 - Awarding Contract for Boiler Feed Pump Motor Replacement to Industrial Repair
Services, Inc., Farmington, New Mexico, in the Amount of$96,234.00.
#2001-203 - Awarding Contract for Dell NT Server under State Contract #92-00151, CA-5654
to Dell Computer Corporation, Round Rock, Texas, in an Amount of Approximately $35,000.00
Including Installation.
#2001-204 - Approving Contract with McCook Community College for Advanced
EMT IParamedic Training.
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Page 4, City Council Regular Meeting, August 14,2001
#2001-205 - Approving Contract with Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing for Advanced
EMT/Paramedic Training.
#2001-206 - Approving Contract with Northeast Community College for Advanced
EMT/Paramedic Training.
#2001-207 - Approving Contract with Southeast Community College for Advanced
EMT/Paramedic Training.
#2001-208 - Approving Contract with University of Nebraska - Kearney for Advanced
EMT /Paramedic Training.
#2001-209 - Approving Contract with Creighton University for Advanced EMT/Paramedic
Training.
#2001-210 - Approving Consulting Engineering Services for Shoemaker Hike/Bike Trail to
Olsson Associates, Inc., Grand Island, Nebraska, in the Amount of $33,261.00. It was noted that
the State of Nebraska Department of Roads, requires preliminary engineering services in order to
comply with the requirements of the Federal grant the City has received and the City's share
would be $6,652.20.
#2001-212 - Approving Final Plat and Subdivision Agreement for Indianhead 6th Subdivision. It
was noted that Indianhead Golf Club L.L.C., owners, had submitted the final plat for Indianhead
6th Subdivision, located north of Husker Highway, south of Indianhead Road, and east of
Schroeder Avenue for the propose to replat Lots 1 and 2 of Indianhead 3rd Subdivision into 4
lots.
#2001-213 - Approving Certificate of Final Completion for Water Main District #433T, Locust
Street Proiect South of Highway 34 and Setting September 11, 2001, for Board of Equalization
Date.
#2001-214 - Approving Certificate of Final Completion for Water Main District #346,
Lengenheder Street and Setting September 11,2001, for Board of Equalization Date.
#2001-216 - Approving Change Order #1 for Grand Island Waste Water Treatment Electrical
System Improvements with Kayton Electric, Grand Island, Nebraska. It was noted that the net
increase of Change Order #1 was $8,781.15, which allowed for the relocating ofa discharge pipe
for Well Number Three. During review of the contract, deflection/expansion fittings in the
conduit were deleted in the amount of $8,781.15. This allowed for no change in the contract
amount.
Receipt of Official Documents, including Tort Claim Filed by James and Mary Stalker. Motion
by Murray, second by Seifert to receive the tort claim filed by James and Mary Stalker. City
Attorney Charlie Cuypers stated that this claim was a sewer back up claim and had been turned
over to the insurance company to investigate. Bob Wagner, Attorney representing James and
Mary Stalker stated that the claim had been denied by the City's insurance carrier. Upon roll call
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vote to receive the tort claim, Councilmembers Pielstick, Ward, Seifert, Larson, Hornady, and
Murray voted aye. Councilmembers Whitesides, Haase, Walker and Sorensen voted nay. Motion
adopted.
Approving Request of Robert MarshalL 4120 Sugarcreek Place, Lincoln, Nebraska, for Liquor
Manager Designation for Concord Neighborhood Corporation, dba Applebee's Neighborhood
Grill & Bar, 721 Diers Avenue. Motion by Whitesides, second by Sorensen to approve the
request of Robert Marshall for a Liquor Manager Designation. Chief Police Hetrick clarified the
background check on Mr. Marshall and stated that it had been approved. Mr. Marshall was
present. Upon roll call vote, all voted unanimously.
#2001-211 - Approving Settlement Agreement with Northwestern Public Service, AIda, Kearnev
and North Platte. Motion by Murray, second by Larson, to approve the Settlement Agreement
with Northwestern Public Service, AIda, Kearney and North Platte. City Attorney Charlie
Cuypers, reported that under Ordinance #8687, Northwestern Public Service (NWPS) provides
gas service to the communities of Grand Island, Kearney, North Platte and AIda. This year
NWPS requested an adjustment to increase the rates for the four communities totaling
$637,027.00 per year. During negotiations, NWPS reduced their request to $401,378.00 being an
average rate increase of 0.92%. A rate area hearing was held August 2, 2001 with no objections
received to the rate increase. It was recommended that Council approve the Settlement
Agreement with Northwestern Public Service, AIda, Kearney and North Platte. Upon roll call
vote, Councilmembers Ward, Seifert, Larson, Hornady, Whitesides, Haase, Murray, Walker and
Sorensen voted aye. Councilmember Pielstick voted nay. Motion adopted.
Pastor Dominic Pecoraro, Church of the Nazarene apologized for not being here to given the
invocation.
PAYMENT OF CLAIMS:
Motion by Whitesides, second by Ward, carried unanimously to approve the Claims for the
period of July 25,2001 through August 14,2001, claims #103724, #106782, #107087, #107198,
#107815 and #109145 through #109991 for a total claims amount of $10,161,324.69. Finance
Director David Springer stated that this period of claims were considerably more due to $6.2
million being paid for the gas turbine generators.
BUDGET REVIEW
City Administrator MarIan Ferguson apologized for the confusion at the August 13,2001 Budget
Session whereby funds were moved because of GASB 34 requirements. Finance Director David
Springer reviewed the proposed changes.
Cindy Johnson, Community Projects Director, reviewed the Family Preservation Grant budget
and the Neighborhood Associations line item that will be funded at $12,000.
Police Chief Hetrick reviewed the need for motorcycles and police vehicles for the Police
Department. Chief Hetrick explained the wear and tear on police vehicles compared to normal
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Page 6, City Council Regular Meeting, August 14,2001
vehicle use. It was stated that there are 17 marked units which are traded every 2 years. Also
discussed were the motorcycles.
Councilmember Pielstick stated that the motorcycles were a good idea, but was concerned about
the financial impact to the Police budget when there were other items needed for the Police
Department.
City Administrator Marian Ferguson, mentioned the Convention Visitors Bureau (CVB) request
of $1 0,000 and stated that this money had been budgeted, but Council needed to make a decision
if they wanted to fund the CVE.
Councilmember Larson stated that he views this as an investment to the City from added
revenues brought in by sales tax. Councilmember Seifert agreed and supported the request.
Councilmember Pielstick stated that she feels the Crisis Center and other agencies that we are
currently funding need more money and felt that we should support them instead of funding a
new agency that had never been funded before.
Motion by Larson, second by Ward, to approve the $10,000 for the Convention Visitors Bureau.
Upon roll call vote, Councilmembers Ward, Seifert, Larson, Hornady, Whitesides, Haase,
Murray and Walker voted aye. Councilmember Pielstick voted nay. Councilmember Sorensen
abstained. Motion adopted.
Motion by Pielstick to fund 2 motorcycles and 4 police vehicles instead of the budgeted 8 police
vehicles. Motion died for lack of a second.
After much discussion concerning Old City Hall, motion by Whitesides, second by Seifert to
fund the removal of asbestos and make monies available to fund full renovation for Old City
Hall. City Administrator stated that monies have been budgeted for asbestos removal, demolition
or renovation. Councilmember Larson wanted clarification on the motion, stating he would agree
to asbestos removal but felt renovation or demolition was premature at this time. Councilmember
Seifert would like to see a committee formed to review the costs of renovation by the City.
Councilmember Whitesdies amended his motion to use budgeted funds that have been set aside
for demolition and renovation to be used for the asbestos removal and renovations for the general
up keep of Old City hall to keep it from deteriorating. Second by Ward. Upon roll call vote, all
voted unanimously.
Councilmember Larson requested staff to start the process for the asbestos removal.
Motion by Whitesides, second by Pielstick, to increase the funds budgeted for the Community
Connections Program (Neighborhood Associations) from $12,000 to $15,000. Upon roll call
vote, all voted unanimously.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Motion by Hornady, second by Walker, to adjourn to Executive
Session for the purpose of discussing Union Contract Negotiations. Motion was adopted
unanimously at 9:35 p.m.
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RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION: Motion by Murray, second by Whitesides, carried
unanimously to return to Regular Session at 10:00 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
QJ\oJL ~~
RaNae Edwards
City Clerk