11/12/2002 Minutes (2)
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OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
November 12, 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 November 12, 2002. Notice ofthe meeting was given in the Grand Island Independent
on November 6, 2002.
Mayor Ken Gnadt called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. The following members were present:
Councilmembers Pielstick, Seifert, Larson, Hornady, Whitesides, Haase, Murray, Walker, and
Sorensen. Councilmemeber Ward was absent. The following City Officials were present: City
Administrator Marian Ferguson, City Clerk RaNae Edwards, Assistant City Attorney Dale
Shotkoski, Public Works Director Steve Riehle and Finance Director David Springer.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was said followed by a spiritual musical number presented by
Maria Lozoya.
RESERVE TIME TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS: Four individuals reserved time to speak
on agenda items.
PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS:
"It's About Kids!" Presentations by Megan Bartlett and Lindsev Mustion. Youth Leadership
Tomorrow, "Its About Kids!" assets were presented by Megan Bartlett and Lindsey Mustion.
Proclamation "Homeless Awareness Week", November 10-16, 2002. Mayor Gnadt proclaimed
November 10-16, 2002 as "Homeless Awareness Week" and encouraged citizens to recognize
and support the efforts of homeless shelters..
Proclamation "American Education Week" November 17-23, 2002. Mayor Gnadt proclaimed
November 17-23, 2002 as "American Education Week" and encouraged citizens to observe this
week by supporting our public schools, its young people and education employees. Glenda
Fraiser and two students were present for the presentation.
Proclamation "National Children's Book Week" November 18-24, 2002. Mayor Gnadt
proclaimed November 18-24, 2002 as "National Children's Book Week" and encouraged
citizens to "book time" at the public library and join in the celebration. Luris Calero from the
Library was present to receive the proclamation.
Proclamation "Grand Island, The City of Kindness". Mayor Gnadt proclaimed Grand Island as
"The City of Kindness" and encouraged citizens to adopt the philosophy of kindness to others in
their daily lives. Gloria Wolbach and several A.O.K. Lady's were present for the presentation.
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Page 2, City Council Regular Meeting, November 12,2002
Proclamation "Adoption Month" November 2002. Mayor Gnadt proclaimed the month of
November, 2002 as "Adoption Month".
Proclamation "National Philanthropy Day" November 14, 2002. Mayor Gnadt proclaimed
November 14, 2002 as "National Philanthropy Day".
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Public Hearing on Acquisition of Easement for Bike Trail in Lot 9, Sussex Place Subdivision
Near Westridge Middle School. Steve Riehle, Public Works Director, reported that in
conjunction with the acquisition of Right of Way for the extension of Independence Avenue, it
was appropriate to acquire easement for future installation of the Shoemaker Bike Trail. This
easement would allow the Shoemaker Bike Trail to be connected to trails that would be installed
with the extension of Independence south to 13th Street. No public testimony was heard.
Public Hearing on Acquisition of Public Right of Way for the Extension of Independence
Avenue. Steve Riehle, Public Works Director, reported that City Council approved a contract for
engineering services for the extension of Independence Avenue at their June 11, 2002 City
Council meeting. Right of Way must be acquired for the road as the construction plans were in
the development stage. Property owners would be contacted to negotiate the purchase of the
Right of Way after Council approval. No public testimony was heard.
Public Hearing on Acquisition of Public Utility Easement in Lot 16, Block 14, Scarff s Addition
to West Lawn, Located at 2322 18th Street. (Robert & Loucille Riessland) Steve Riehle, Public
Works Director, reported that the house built on Lot 16 runs north and south. The owners would
like to resubdivide so a second home could be built on a north /south orientation. The easement
was needed to provide sanitary sewer access for both properties. No public testimony was heard.
Public Hearing on Acquisition of Public Utility Easement in Lot 37, Bosselman Second
Subdivision, Located at 2938 Diers Avenue. (Elizabeth Bosselman) Steve Riehle, Public Works
Director, reported that the owners of Lot 37, Bosselman Second Subdivision were planning to
resubdivide lots. The original plans for the sanitary sewer in the area showed a Public Utility
Easement on the lot for sanitary sewer. After researching the area, City staff had found no
evidence that an easement was acquired to accommodate the sewer. It was appropriate to remedy
the oversight. No public testimony was heard.
Public Hearing on Acquisition of Public Utility Easement in Lot 1, Bosselman Third
Subdivision, Located at 2946, 2952, and 2960 Diers Avenue. (Elizabeth Bosselman) Steve
Riehle, Public Works Director, reported that the owners of Lot 1, Bosselman Third Subdivision
were planning to resubdivide lots. The original plans for the sanitary sewer in the area showed a
Public Utility Easement on the lot for sanitary sewer. After researching the area, City staff had
found no evidence that an easement was acquired to accommodate the sewer. It was appropriate
to remedy the oversight. No public testimony was heard.
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Page 3, City Council Regular Meeting, November 12, 2002
Public Hearing on Acquisition of Utility Easement Located at 1704 West 3rd Street.. (Ace
Hardware) Gary Mader, Utilities Director, reported that acquisition of a utility easement located
at 1704 West 3rd Street was required in order to have access to install, upgrade, maintain, and
repair power appurtenances. This easement would be used to relocate an overhead power line to
facilitate the new addition to the existing Ace Hardware building. No public testimony was
heard.
Public Hearing on Acquisition of a Utility Easement Located at 911 Diers Avenue. (Home
Depot) Gary Mader, Utilities Director, reported that acquisition of a utility easement located at
911 Diers Avenue, was required in order to have access to install, upgrade, maintain, and repair
power appurtenances. This easement would be used to locate underground cables and a pad
mounted transformer to serve electricity to the new Home Depot store. No public testimony was
heard.
Public Hearing to Amend the future Land Use Map for the City of Grand Island for Lots 21-25
Grand Island Industrial Park West Subdivision. Chad Nabity, Regional Planning Director,
reported that adoption of an amendment to the Future Land Use Map for the City of Grand Island
for lots 21-25 Grand Island Industrial Park West Subdivision from Manufacturing to Low to
Medium Density Residential was requited. The Regional Planning Commission approved this
request unanimously, following a public hearing, at their November 6, 2002 meeting. No public
testimony was heard.
Public Hearing on Changes to the Grand Island Zoning Map. Chad Nabity, Regional Planning
Director, reported that Virgil Eihusen, as the owner requested a change of zoning for property
consisting of lots 21-25 Grand Island Industrial Park West Subdivision. This application
proposed to change the zoning from M1 Light Manufacturing to R1 Suburban Residential. The
Regional Planning Commission at their regular meeting, following a public hearing, held
November 6, 2002 unanimously voted to approve and recommend the Grand Island City Council
approve this amendment to the Grand Island Zoning Map. 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:
#8779 - Consideration of Assessments for Street Improvement District #1240, Grand
West Third Subdivision
#8780 - Consideration of Establishing Snow Routes in Annexed Areas
#8781 - Consideration of Vacating Easements in Lots 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25, Grand
Island Industrial Park West
#8782 - Consideration of Changing Zoning from M1 Light Manufacturing to R1
Suburban Residential for Lots 21-25 Grand Island Industrial Park West Subdivision,
Located West of North Road and South of Trust Street
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
Page 4, City Council Regular Meeting, November 12,2002
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passage and call for a roll call vote on each reading and then upon final passage. Councilmember
Walker seconded the motion. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted.
Mayor: Is there anyone in the audience interested in these ordinances? No public testimony was
heard.
City Clerk: Ordinances #8779, #8780, #8781, and #8782 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. Motion adopted.
City Clerk: Ordinance #8779, #8780, #8781, and #8782 on 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.
Mayor: By reason of the roll call votes on first reading and then upon final passage, Ordinances
#8779, #8780, #8781, and #8782 are declared to be lawfully passed and adopted upon
publication as required by law.
CONSENT AGENDA: Councilmember Seifert requested item G-24 be removed from the
Consent Agenda. Councilmember Pielstick requested item G-23 be removed from the Consent
Agenda. Motion by Pielstick, second by Homady, carried unanimously to approve the Consent
Agenda.
I Receipt of Official Document - Civil Service Minntes of October 11, 2002.
Approving Minutes of October 22, 2002 City Council Regular Meeting.
#2002-331 - Approving Acquisition of Easement for Bike Trail in Lot 9, Sussex Place
Subdivision Near Westridge Middle School.
#2002-332 - Approving Acquisition of Public Right of Way for the Extension of Independence
Avenue.
#2002-340 - Approving Acquisition of Public Utility Easement in Lot 16, Block 14, Scraffs
Addition to West Lawn, Located at 2322 West 18th Street. (Robert & Loucille Riessland)
#2002-341 - Approving Acquisition of Public Utility Easement in Lot 37, Bosselman Second
Subdivision, Located at 2938 Diers Avenue. (Elizabeth Bosselman)
#2002-342 - Approving Acquisition of Public Utility Easement in Lot 1, Bosselman Third
Subdivision, Located at 2946,2952, and 2960 Diers Avenue. (Elizabeth Bosselman)
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#2002-343 - Approving Acquisition of Utility Easement Located at 1704 West 3rd Street. (Ace
Hardware)
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Page 5, City Council Regular Meeting, November 12,2002
#2002-329 - Approving Acquisition of Utility Easement Located at 911 Allen Drive. (Home
Depot)
#2002-344 - Approving Certificate of Final Completion for Painting and Sandblasting at Island
Oasis Water Park with HEG Painting of Cherokee, Iowa.
#2002-345 - Approving Bid Award for Stolley park Arboretum Design with Clark Enersen
Partners of Lincoln, Nebraska in an Amount not to Exceed $20,000.00.
#2002-346 - Approving Purchase of New Truck for Utilities Department for Engineering
Division through State Contract No. CA-5868A with Husker Automotive Group, Inc. of Lincoln,
Nebraska in an Amount of $20,911.77.
#2002-347 - Approving Bid Award for Grand Island Power Plant Security System for Platte
Generating Station and Burdick Station with Electronic Contracting, Inc. of Lincoln, Nebraska in
an Amount of$128,100.00.
#2002-348 - Approving Bid Award for Sanitary Sewer Proiect 2002-S-4 Sewer Modifications
near Capital Avenue and Oak Street with The Diamond Engineering Company, Inc. of Grand
Island, Nebraska in an Amount of$102,441.23.
#2002-349 - Approving Designation of a Handicap Parking Stall on the North Side of First
Street East of Wheeler Avenue.
#2002-350 - Approving Agreement with Olsson Associates, Grand Island, Nebraska for
Business Improvement District #4 for Professional Engineering and Landscape Architecture
Services in an Amount of$156,866.00.
#2002-351 - Approving Change Order #1 with Galvan Construction for Shoemaker Hike/Bike
Trail for an Increase of$3,570.50 and an Revised Contract Amount of$278,061.50.
#2002-352 - Approving Certificate of Final Completion for Engineering Services for Shoemaker
Hike/Bike Trail with Olsson Associates of Grand Island, Nebraska.
#2002-353 - Approving Certificate of Final Completion for Construction for Shoemaker
Hike/Bike Trail with Galvan Construction of Grand Island, Nebraska.
#2002-354 - Approving Bid Award for Golf Cars for Jack Rabbit Run Golf Course with
Nebraska Golf & Turf of Lincoln, Nebraska in an Amount of $63,400.00 including Trade-in.
#2002-355 - Approving Change Order #1 for Precipitator Duct/Inlet Modifications for Platte
Generating Station with The Industrial Company of Grand Island, Nebraska for an Increase of
$66,545.00 and a Revised Contract Amount of$339,395.00.
#2002-356 - Approving Renewal of Interlocal Agreement with Hall County Relative to Juvenile
Accountability Program.
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Page 6, City Council Regular Meeting, November 12,2002
#2002-359 - Approving Change to the Comprehensive Plan and Future Land Use Map from
Manufacturing to Low to Medium Density Residential for Lots 21-25 Grand Island Industrial
Park West Subdivision, Located West of North Road and South Trust Street.
#2002-357 - Approving Bid Award for Lawn Care, Mowing, Irrigation and Maintenance, BID
#3 Area, South Locust Street with Cloudburst Lawn and Sprinkler of Grand Island, Nebraska in
an Amount of $43,846.00. Motion by Pielstick, second by Whitesides to approve Resolution
#2002-357. Councilmember Pielstick stated concerns about having the same party do all the
work when their bid was higher than the others. Cindy Johnson, Community Projects Director
explained that the BID #3 Board was interested in having only one company do all the work. Ms.
Johnson explained the difference in the bids and that overall, Cloudburst Lawn and Sprinkler
was the low bidder.
Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion was adopted.
#2002-358 - Approving Bid Award for Sanitary Sewer District #506, Lillie Drive with Ke-Beck
Company of Kearney, Nebraska in an Amount of $16,020.25. Motion was made by Hornady,
second by Whitesides to approve Resolution #2002-358. Councilmember Seifert questioned
staffs concerns with the recommendation of awarding this bid to Ke-Beck. Steve Riehle, Public
Works Director stated that the low bidder had been in business only 3 or 4 years. After visiting
with references he had concerns with this bid award.
Councilmember Larson stated that the low bidder was not always the best bid and would be
voting no. Councilmember Hornady and Whitesides withdrew their motion and second.
Motion was made by Councilmember Larson, second by Seifert that the bid award for Sanitary
Sewer District #506 be awarded to The Diamond Engineering Company of Grand Island. Upon
roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion was adopted.
REQUESTS AND REFERRALS:
Request of Elrod-Woolworth Company, Inc. to Amend Subdivision Agreement for Lot 2,
Hamilton-Kinman Subdivision by Eliminating Requirement to Connect to Public Water and
Sanitary Sewer. Steve Riehle, Public Works Director, reported that Homer Elrod, President of
the Elrod-Woolworth Company, Inc. had requested that the City allow an amendment to the
Hamilton-Kinman Subdivision. The company would like to use the area as a retail sales lot and
install a sales office. They asked that Council allow them to use the lot for this purpose without
hooking to City water and sewer main.
Motion was made by Councilmember Larson, second by Walker to deny the request of Elrod
Woolworth Co.
Homer Elrod, 4215 Husker Highway spoke in support of the request. Mr. Elrod stated that if a
Tee were put to his property line, he would hook up to it. Lewis Kent, 624 East Meves Avenue
wanted to see the sanitary sewer put in right.
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Page 7, City Council Regular Meeting, November 12, 2002
Councilmember Hornady asked about tearing up Webb Road. Steve Riehle, Public Works
Director stated a small portion would be tore up to put in the sanitary sewer. Councilmember
Larson asked what the cost would be to put in a Tee at this location. Mr. Riehle stated around
$10,000. Councilmember Pielstick voiced concerns of giving a temporary service, when she felt
we should do it right the first time. Councilmember Walker asked if the City should have put the
Tee in years ago. Mr. Riehle stated "yes".
Councilmember Larson amended his motion to the effect that the City would put in a Tee at the
City's expense and extend the service to the property line. Councilmember Walker agreed to the
amendment. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted.
Request to Donate Wooden Glider and Push Lawn Mower to Stuhr Museum. Motion was made
by Councilmember Whitesides, second by Hornady, to approve this request. Motion carried
unanimously.
Receiving Recommendation from the Community Redevelopment Authority Relative to
Redevelopment of Former City Hall. John Brownell, 4309 Quail Lane, Chairman of the CRA
Committee, reported that last spring, the City Council requested assistance from the CRA with
redevelopment efforts of the former City Hall and, as a result, the CRA marketed and solicited
proposals from interested developers.
Two entities expressed an interest in the redevelopment project and both were interviewed by the
Former City Hall Redevelopment Selection Committee. After the interviews, the Selection
Committee forwarded both proposals to the CRA and, at the same time, requested additional
information from both entities as a next step in the selection process and that this additional
information had been received.
The CRA reviewed both proposals and had forwarded the proposal submitted by ProCon. Procon
is a partnership of Rick Johnson, K.C. Hehnke, and Russ Giesenhagen of Grand Island. Although
Procon was a new partnership, the principals were well versed in the construction field in Grand
Island and central Nebraska, with over 60 years of combined experience. The group had
experience in historic property renovation, including the Yancey Hotel, Francis Villas and the
York State Bank in York. Pro con proposed to redevelop the former City Hall into an office
complex. Their proposal was to purchase the building for $1,001. Project costs were anticipated
to be $1,940,000. Financing sources were as follows: Principal Investment $1,280,000 City
$275,000 (investment of what would otherwise be expended for demolition if building not
redeveloped) CRA Fayade Development Program $150,000 (over 3 years) Tax Increment
Financing $232,800 (estimated)
Procon proposed to immediately begin redevelopment of the property, with an emphasis on the
exterior this winter. This could occur as soon as the asbestos was removed from the property.
Procon was also requesting that the CRA act as an intermediary in order to facilitate leasing with
other government agencies. Pro con had determined there was sufficient parking in the proximate
area to serve their proposed needs.
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Bruce Schreiner, representing ProCon, stressed to the CRA that the ProCon offer was not
contingent upon acquisition of other properties or other funding sources, the redevelopment
could collectively be accomplished by the community, and the proposal allowed for a fairly rapid
schedule for redevelopment of the property. The Community Redevelopment Authority was
unanimous in its support of the proposal by ProCon (Authority member Barry Sandstrom
abstained from the vote). The CRA committed $150,000 in fayade development funds over three
years with the understanding that the developers would be pursuing tax increment finance
assistance also.
A lengthy discussion was had concerning property taxes, increment financing, demolition
expenses, contaminants, and current budget requirements. David Springer, Finance Director
stated that $200,000 had been budgeted for this year and the cost of the asbestos removal was
taken out of last years budget.
Bruce Schreiner, 2535 Carleton Avenue, Jim Cannon, 3121 Brentwood Circle, and Tom O'Neill,
804 West Stolley Park spoke in support. Lewis Kent, 624 East Meves Avenue questioned the
cost.
Motion was made by Councilmember Whitesides, second by Seifert, to approve the request of
the Community Redevelopment Authority relative to Redevelopment of Former City Hall. Upon
roll call vote, Councilmembers Seifert, Larson, Hornady, Whitesides, Haase, Murray, Walker
and Sorensen voted aye. Councilmember Pielstick voted no. Motion was adopted.
I PAYMENT OF CLAIMS:
Motion by Whitesides, second by Haase, carried unanimously to approve the Claims for the
period of October 23,2002 through November 12,2002, for a total amount of$4,432,913.50.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Qf\lU- CCQW~
RaN ae Edwards
City Clerk
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