08/27/2002 Minutes
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OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
August 27,2002
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 27,2002. Notice of the meeting was given in the Grand Island Independent on
August 21, 2002.
Mayor Ken Gnadt called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following members were present:
Councilmembers Pielstick, Ward, Seifert, Larson, Whitesides, Haase, Murray, Walker and
Sorensen. Councilmember Hornady was absent. The following City Officials were present: City
Administrator Marlan Ferguson, City Clerk RaNae Edwards, City Attorney Charlie Cuypers,
Public Works Director Steve Riehle and Finance Director David Springer.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was said followed by the INVOCATION given by Pastor William
Voelker, Peace Lutheran Church, 4018 Zola Lane.
RESERVE TIME TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS: One individual reserved time to speak on
agenda items.
PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS:
Presentation by the National Weather Service - StormReady. Howard Maxon, Emergency
Management Director introduced Steve Kisner representing the National Weather Service from
Hastings. Mr. Kisner stated the City of Grand Island had qualified to be designated a
StormReady Community. Mr. Kisner presented the City with the StormReady Community
Certificate.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Public Hearing on Acquisition of Easements Located in Sanitary Sewer District #500, Seedling
Mile Area. Steve Riehle, Public Works Director, reported that acquisition of easements located
south of Seedling Mile Road and west of Shady Bend Road was required in order to have access
to install, upgrade, maintain, and repair public sanitary sewer mains. No public testimony was
heard.
Public Hearing on Acquisition of Right ofWav in Sanitary Sewer District #501, Freedom Drive.
Steve Riehle, Public Works Director, reported that acquisition of right of way located along
Stolley Park Road south of the intersection with Freedom Drive was required in order to have
access to install, upgrade, maintain, and repair sanitary sewer main. No public testimony was
heard.
Page 2, City Council Regular Meeting, August 27, 2002
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Public Hearing on Acquisition of Pub Ii Utility Easements for Sanitary Sewer Project #2002-S-5.
Steve Riehle, Public Works Director, reported that acquisition of two public utility easements
located near Shoemaker Elementary School, was required in order to have access to install,
upgrade, maintain, and repair public sanitary sewer mains. 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:
#8760 - Consideration to Repeal Ordinance #6957
#8761 - Consideration of Approving FY2002-2003 Annual Single City Budget, The
Annual Appropriations Bill Including Addendum #1
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 these 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
Larson seconded the motion. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted.
Mayor: Is there anyone in the audience interested in these ordinances? Councilmember Pielstick
wanted it noted that she would be voting no on Ordinance #8761. No public testimony was
heard.
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City Clerk: Ordinances #8760 and #8761 on 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 except
Councilmember Pielstick with regards to Ordinance #8761. Motion adopted.
City Clerk: Ordinance #8760 and #8761 on final passage. All those in favor of the passage of
these ordinances on final passage, answer roll call vote except Councilmember Pielstick with
regards to Ordinance #8761. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted.
Mayor: By reason of the roll call votes on first reading and then upon final passage, Ordinances
#8760 and #8761 are declared to be lawfully passed and adopted upon publication as required by
law.
CONSENT AGENDA: Councilmember Whitesides requested item G-19 be removed from the
Consent Agenda. Motion by Pielstick, second by Larson, carried unanimously to approve the
Consent Agenda excluding item G-19.
Receipt of Official Document - Civil Service Minutes of August 7, 2002.
Authorizing Expenditures Associated with Business Improvement Board Attendance at
International Downtown Association.
I Approving Minutes of August 12, 2002 City Council Special Meeting.
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Page 3, City Council Regular Meeting, August 27, 2002
Approving Minutes of August 13,2002 City Council Regular Meeting.
Approving Minutes of August 20, 2002 City Council Study Session.
Approving Minutes of August 20, 2002 City Council Special Meeting.
Approving Request of Patricia Lange, 521 Memorial Drive, for Liquor Manager Designation for
Bosselman, Inc. dba Pump & Pantry #3, Capital Avenue and US Highway 281.
#2002-252 - Approving Acquisition of Easements Located in Sanitary Sewer District #500,
Seedling Mile Area.
#2002-253 - Approving Acquisition of Right of Way in Sanitary Sewer District #501, Freedom
Drive.
#2002-254 - Approving Acquisition of Public Utility Easements Located in Sanitary Sewer
Proiect #2002-S-5.
#2002-255 - Approving Bid Award for Electrical and Control Installation at Platte Generating
Station with Capital Electric Kansas City, Missouri in an Amount of$133,500.00.
#2002-256 - Approving Bid Award for Railroad Track Tie Replacement at Platte Generating
Station with Judds Brothers Construction Company, Lincoln, Nebraska in an Amount of
$45,300.00.
#2002-257 - Approving Bid Award for 2002 Model Compost Screener for Solid Waste Division,
Public Works Department with McCloskey Brothers Manufacturing, Petersborough, Ontario,
Canada in an Amount of $92,500.00.
#2002-258 - Approying Certificate of Final Completion with The Diamond Engineering
Company, Grand Island, Nebraska and Setting Board of Equalization Date of September 24,
2002 for Sanitary Sewer District #493, Old Potash Subdivision. Councilmember Pielstick voted
no.
#2002-259 - Approving Certificate of Final Completion with The Diamond Engineering
Company, Grand Island, Nebraska and Setting Board of Equalization Date of September 24,
2002 for Sanitary Sewer District #503, Edna Drive. Councilmember Pielstick voted no.
#2002-260 - Approving Certificate of Final Completion for Sanitary Sewer Proiect #2001-S-5
with The Diamond Engineering Company, Grand Island, Nebraska. Councilmember Pielstick
voted no.
#2002-261 - Approving Continuation of Sanitary Sewer District #507, Cannon Road Between
Mansfield Road & North Road and Approximately 340' of State Street East of North Road.
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Page 4, City Council Regular Meeting, August 27, 2002
#2002-262 - Approving Memorandum of Understanding Relative to Participation in the Grand
Island Multicultural Coalition.
#2002-264 - Approving Extension of Interlocal Agreement with Hall County for Keno Games.
#2002-265 - Approving Council Meeting Date Changes for November, 2002.
#2002-266 - Approving Agreement with Grand Island Modelers Club Relative to Development
and Operation of Facilities at CHAAP.
#2002-267 - Approving Agreement with the Nebraska State Patrol Relative to Preliminary
Design and Cost Estimates for Joint Weapons Training Facility at CHAAP.
#2002-263 - Approving Agreement with the Cottonwood Lake Association Relative to Funding
for Cottonwood Lake Dredging in an Amount not to Exceed $50,000.00. Councilmember Seifert
stated concerns of using public funds for a private lake. Also mentioned were the fact that this
project had not been discussed or budgeted for and that other projects had priority.
Councilmember Walker questioned other areas in the City with this same problem. Public Works
Director Steve Riehle mentioned several.
Ilene Gruendel, President of the Cotton wood Lake Association, spoke in favor.
Discussion was had concerning the original agreement with the Cottonwood Lake Association
and the City regarding the upkeep and maintenance of the lake. The City's responsibility was to
clean out the silt near the storm water inlets, which had never been done. Discussed were timing
issues of doing this project along with the Sucks Lake Project and the cost savings that would
occur.
City Attorney Charlie Cuypers explained the proposed Agreement and the $50,000 cap for
cleanup to the City.
Motion was made by Larson, second by Ward to approve Resolution #2002-263. Approved
unanimously.
RESOLUTIONS:
#2002-268 - Consideration of Intent to Enter into a Stuhr Museum Train Operating Agreement
Contingent on a Successful Bond Election in November. Pam Price representing Stuhr Museum
Foundation met with the Board to request that this item be tabled contingent upon successful
bond election in November.
City Attorney Charlie Cuypers stated that if this project was to be successful, a good solid
business plan was needed.
Motion was made by Larson, second by Seifert, to authorize staff to work with the Stuhr
Museum Foundation to for a business plan for the operation of the train within 90 days. Carried
unanimously to approve.
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Page 5, City Council Regular Meeting, August 27, 2002
#2002-269 - Consideration of Approving Labor Union Contract with AFSCME. Human
Resources Director Brenda Sutherland, reported that the proposed labor agreement between
AFSCME, Local 251 and the City of Grand Island was submitted for approval. The current
AFSCME contract would expire September 30, 2002. The proposed contract would be a five-
year contract. The contract would cover the time frame of October 1, 2002 until September 30,
2007.
Some of the more notable changes in the contract were; changing "garage" classifications to
"fleet services", removing Maintenance Worker I classification, adding a Senior Maintenance
Worker - Parks, defining hours worked and adding a personal leave day. The first year of the
contract proposed a 2.0% increase for all positions per the salary survey that was done jointly
with the City and a 3.0% COLA. Years two and three called for a 2.5% COLA. There would
be a survey done for year four to insure comparability and a 3.0% COLA in year five.
Motion was made by Sorensen, second by Walker, carried unanimously to approve. Steve
Hancok - AFSCME representative and the Mayor signed the contract.
#2002-270 - Consideration of Certifying a 1/2Cent Sales Tax Ballot Issue for the May 11, 2004
Primary Election. City Administrator MarIan Ferguson, reported that the City Council, at their
March 6, 2002 Council Retreat, established securing the 1/2 cent sales tax as apriority.
Reasoning behind this decision was simple: if the City was to continue with major capital
projects, an additional revenue source was needed. The State of Nebraska is in a budget crisis
and has cut back State Aid to Municipalities, which would ultimately impact the City of Grand
Island's budget. The need for capital projects for public safety including Fire Station,
Training Center, replacement equipment and possible relocation of the Police Department
Public Safety Center was ongoing. There was also a need to fund infrastructure projects
including sewer, water, storm sewer and streets. These projects would not be completed in a
timely fashion without additional funding. Property tax relief could be realized with the
increased sales tax revenue.
State Statute only allows the sales tax issue to be on the ballot once every 23 month. At the
May, 2002 primary election the issue of the V2cent sales tax for an endowment was on the
ballot and was defeated. The next time this issue could be on the ballot would be May 11th,
2004. Mr. Ferguson stated it was important that the City establish its intent to have the V2cent
sales tax on the ballot at the next election. Resolution #2002-270 secures the City's position
for forwarding the 1/2 cent sales tax issue in May 2004. The exact ballot language could be
modified in accordance with ballot issue guidelines.
Motion by Larson, second, by Ward, carried unanimously to approve.
#2002-271 - Consideration of Approving 1 % Increase to the Lid Limit. This item was pulled
from the agenda.
PAYMENT OF CLAIMS:
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Page 6, City Council Regular Meeting, August 27, 2002
Motion by Whitesides, second by Seifert, carried unanimously to approve the Claims for the
period of August 14,2002 through August 27,2002, for a total amount of$3,058,893.77.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
QOw\\~ Ww~
RaN ae Edwards
City Clerk