12/04/2001 Minutes
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OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
December 4,2001
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 December 4, 2001. Notice of the meeting was given in the Grand Island Independent
on November 28, 2001.
Council President Pielstick called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following members were
present: Councilmembers Pielstick, Seifert, Larson, Hornady, Whitesides, Haase, Murray,
Walker and Sorensen. Mayor Gnadt and Councilmember Ward were absent. The following City
Officials were present: City Administrator Marlan 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 the Reverend Tim
Anderson, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 422 West 2nd Street.
RESERVE TIME TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS: Three individuals reserved time to speak
on agenda items.
SPECIAL ITEMS:
Election of City Council President. Marlan Ferguson, City Administrator, 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
Sorensen nominated Councilmember Whitesides. There being no further nominations, motion
was made by Councilmember Hornady, second by Murray that Councilmember Whitesides be
President by acclamation. Motion adopted unanimously.
ORDINANCES:
#8704 - Consideration of Proposed Modifications to City Council Ward Boundaries
Resulting from Redistricting (Final Reading)
Councilmember Murray made a motion to approve Ordinance #8704, second by Walker. Upon
roll call vote, all voted aye.
Councilmember Sorensen moved that the statutory rules requiring ordinances to be read by title
on three different days be suspended and that ordinance numbered:
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Page 2, City Council Regular Meeting, December 4,2001
#8705 - Consideration of Creating Sanitary Sewer District #503, Edna Drive in Gosda
Subdivision
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
Homady seconded the motion. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted.
Council President Whitesides: Is there anyone in the audience interested in this ordinance?
Steve Riehle, Public Works Director, reported that this Ordinance provided for the establishment
of a Sanitary Sewer District located in Gosda Subdivision. The District would provide for the
construction of a sanitary sewer line and related appurtenances to Edna Drive. The area was not
currently served by the City sanitary sewer system. The costs would be primarily funded through
assessments. The formation of the District was in accordance with State law. A 30 day protest
period follows the publication of creation of the District.
City Clerk: Ordinance #8705 on its first reading. All those in favor of the passage of this
ordinance on first reading, answer roll call vote. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion was
adopted unanimously.
City Clerk: Ordinance #8705 on its final passage. All those in favor of the passage of this
ordinance on final passage, answer roll call vote. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion was
adopted unanimously.
Council President Whitesides: By reason of the roll call votes on first reading and then
upon final passage, Ordinance #8705 is declared to be lawfully passed and adopted upon
publication as required by law.
CONSENT AGENDA: Consent Agenda item G-18 was removed. Councilmember Pielstick
requested that items G-9, G-15 and G-16 be removed from the Consent Agenda. Councilmember
Haase requested that item G-19 be removed from the Consent Agenda. Motion by Pielstick,
second by Haase, carried unanimously to approve the Consent Agenda minus item G-9, G-15, G-
16, G-18 and G-19.
Receipt of Official Document Including Civil Service Minutes of November 13,2001.
Approving Minutes of November 20,2001 City Council Regular Meeting.
Approving Minutes of November 27,2001 City Council Special Study Session.
Approving Request of Jess D. Vetrovsky, 200 South LaSalle, Beatrice, Nebraska, for Liquor
Manager Designations for Gas 'N Shop, Inc. dba Gas 'N Shop, at 4150 West Highway 30, 1814
North Eddy Street, 806 North Eddy Street and 1219 West 2nd Street.
#2001-322 - Approving City Council Meeting Schedule for 2002.
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Page 3, City Council Regular Meeting, December 4,2001
#2001-323 - Awarding Bid for (2) Cardiac Monitors to Medtronic Physio-Control Corporation,
Redmond, Washington, in the Amount of $20,700.00.
#2001-324 - Awarding Contract for Purchase and Installation of Ball Field Lights at George
Park to Ensley Electrical Services, Grand Island, Nebraska, in the Amount of $76,470.00.
#2001- 325 - Awarding Bid for Dump Truck for Cemetery to Nebraska Truck Center, Grand
Island, Nebraska, in the Amount of $27,073.00.
#2001-327 - Awarding Bid for Distribution Feeder Protection Relays to Wesco Distribution,
Inc., Sioux City, Iowa, in the Amount of $84,789.40.
#2001-328 - Awarding Contract for General Work Contract for New Combustion Turbines at
Burdick Station to The Industrial Company, Steamboat Springs, Colorado, in the Amount of
$10,997,615.00.
#2001-329 - Awarding Freight Contract to Union Pacific Railroad Company for Three Years.
#2001-330 - Approving Agreement with CH2M Hill, Englewood, Colorado, for Engineering
Consulting Services for Review of Sewage Sludge Handling and Disposal Methods in the
Amount of$73,800.00.
#2001-331 - Approving Amendment to Community Development Voluntary Acquisition
Program Guidelines.
#2001-334 - Approving Certificate of Final Completion for 2001-AC-1 Asphalt Maintenance
Project with lI.L. Asphalt Paving Company, Grand Island, Nebraska.
#2001-326 - Awarding Contracts for Tree Trimming Project 2002-TT-l to Sheffield Tree
Service, Grand Island, Nebraska, Sections 02-1, 02-2, 02-3, 02-5, 02-6, 02-7 and 02-8 in the
Amount of $44,600.00 and to Wright Tree Service, Inc., Des Moines, Iowa, Section 02-4 in the
Amount of $19,855.00. Motion by Larson, second by Murray to approve Resolution #2001-326.
Councilmember Pielstick mentioned the problems that occurred last year with tree removal. Gary
Mader, Utilities Director, reported that the contract deals with the problems mentioned by
Councilmember Pielstick. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye.
#2001-332 - Approving Modification to Community Development Block Grant Project Area.
Motion by Homady, second by Murray to approve Resolution #2001-332. Councilmember
Pielstick questioned whether this Grant included agricultural land. Cindy Johnson, Community
Projects Director, reported that there is agricultural land included in this grant and that it had
been approved by the State. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye.
#2001-333 - Approving Change Order #1 to the Contract for Street Improvement District #1238,
Tech Drive with The Diamond Engineering Company, Grand Island, Nebraska, in the Amount of
$14,132.00 for a Revised Contract Amount of $310,222.67. Motion by Homady, second by
Murray to approve Resolution #2001-333. Councilmember Pie1stick asked if the college was
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Page 4, City Council Regular Meeting, December 4,2001
paying for these changes. Steve Riehle, Public Works Director, reported that the college
requested these changes and it would be paid through the assessments by the college. Upon roll
call vote, all voted aye.
#2001-302 - Approving Continuation of Sanitary Sewer District #502, Livengood Subdivision,
Rapien Subdivision, Sharon Rose Subdivision and Part of Section 10-11-9. Motion by Seifert,
second by Walker to approve Resolution #2001-302. Randy Rapien, 226 Lakeside Drive, spoke
in opposition to the continuation of Sanitary Sewer District #502. Councilmember Seifert asked
about a tap district. Steve Riehle explained that tap districts would need to be bonded by the
City. City Attorney Charlie Cuypers stated that tap districts would affect our bond ratings. Upon
roll Call vote, Larson, Hornady Walker and Whitesides voted aye. Pielstick, Seifert, Haase,
Murray and Sorensen voted nay. Motion failed.
#2001-335 - Approving Discontinuation of Street Improvement District #1241, Jay Street.
Motion by Seifert, second by Hornady to approve Resolution #2001-335. Councilmember Haase
questioned what would happen if this was not approved, would the street stay graveled. Steve
Riehle, Public Works Director, reported that it would unless another plan was developed. Gap
paving was discussed. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye.
REQUEST AND REFERRALS:
Consideration of Residency Requirements for Department Directors Relative to Employee
Handbook. Brenda Sutherland, Personnel Director, reported that the Council had spent time in
recent weeks reviewing the proposed Personnel Rules for City employees. One area that had
been somewhat controversial was the Residency Policy for Department Directors. The Council
expressed a desire to address this separately from the rest of the Personnel Rules. A decision
rendered by the Council would determine the policy for residency requirements for the
Department Directors in the proposed Personnel Rules.
Lewis Kent, 624 East Meves, spoke in opposition to changing the residency requirement for
directors to 10 miles. Councilmember Haase stated that she felt the directors should live within
the 2 mile jurisdiction.
Motion by Pielstick, second by Murray to approve the residency requirement with the 10 mile
change. Upon roll call vote, Pielstick, Larson, Hornady, Whitesides, Walker, and Murray voted
aye. Councilmembers Seifert, Haase and Sorensen voted nay. Motion adopted.
RESOLUTIONS:
#2001-336 - Approving Grand Island Public Library Expansion Proiect, Phase II - Agreement
for Cost Share Between the City and the Foundation. Steve Fosselman, Library Director,
introduced Jerry Bryant, President of the Library Board Foundation. Mr. Bryant reported that the
Library Board had unanimously approved the funding agreement with the City.
Councilmember Sorensen questioned the total fee which ranged from $80,000 to $100,000. It
was explained that projected costs for the expansion included professional fees estimated to cost
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Page 5, City Council Regular Meeting, December 4,2001
approximately $100,000.00. Councilmember Larson commended the Library Board for working
together with the City to privately and publicly fund this project.
Motion was made by Seifert, second by Pielstick to approve Resolution #2001-336. Upon roll
call vote, all voted aye.
PAYMENT OF CLAIMS:
Motion by Murray, second by Walker, carried unanimously to approve the Claims for the period
of November 21, 2001 through December 4, 2001, claims #114090, #114173 and #113845
through #114307 for a total amount of$6,221,699.90.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Qf\aL <t_Gw~
RaNae Edwards
City Clerk