05/13/2003 Minutes
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OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
May 13,2003
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a Study Session 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 May
13,2003. Notice of the meeting was given in the Grand Island Independent on May 7,2003.
Mayor Jay Vavricek called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following members were present:
Councilmembers Meyer, Whitesides, Pielstick, Larson, Nickerson, Seifert, Pauly, Hornady, Walker
and Haase. The following City Officials were present: City Administrator MarIan Ferguson, City
Clerk RaNae Edwards, Public Works Director Steve Riehle, City Attorney Doug Walker and Finance
Director David Springer.
RESERVES TIME TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS: Two individuals reserved time to speak on
agenda items.
Greespace and Parks Requirement Options for Grand Island: A Case Study. Chad Nabity, Regional
Planning Director, presented a power point case study of potential development in Northwest Grand
Island and park needs generated by that development. Greenspace requirements and projected park
needs were discussed. Projected residential development of 1,274 acres was discussed with a total
population of 14,843 people, along with level of service from the 1994 Parks Plan.
The following types of parks were discussed and examples given:
Mini Parks - Schuff, Broadwell and detention cells - Cost excluding land $60,000
Neighborhood Parks - Grace Abbott, Lincoln, Cedar Hills - Cost excluding land $150,000
Community Parks - Ryder, Ashely - Cost excluding land $700,000
District/Regional Parks - L.E. Ray - Cost excluding land $2,000,000
Projected needs based on the 1994 level of service and projected population were: 10 Mini Parks, 3
Neighborhood Parks, 2 Community Parks, 1 District Park, 6.4 Tennis Courts, and .7 Swimming
Pools for a total projected cost of parks and facilities estimated at $5,041,452. Cost per person was
estimated at $340.
Several options were presented with regards to who pays to build new parks. Presented were the
following options:
. Citizens of Grand Island through general fund taxes
. Developers through fees on new lots
. Property owners through an assessment on the property
. Builders with building permits
. Property owners before an occupancy permit is granted
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Page 2, City Council Study Session, May 13, 2003
Other considerations were considered as follows:
· Traditionally parks had been provided by the general fund
· We generally develop around 200 lots per year in Grand Island
· Some areas of town that are largely developed need parks
· Funds collected from new development need to be used to pay for parks to serve
those developments
· Private developer built and homeowner association maintained parks could be
required
· Multi-family units may need to be handled differently than single family units
· Should this apply to residential lots only or should commercial and industrial lots be
included?
· How will fees, or requirements for private parks, affect affordability?
· What other types of fees might the city consider in the future? (to pay for expanded
sewer, water, fire protection, arterial streets, etc...)
Councilmember Haase questioned how this would work with the schools and if anything had been
done to encourage the schools help. Mr. Nabity stated that this had been done. Specifically co-
locating with the schools and land acquisition had and would continue to be looked at.
Councilmember Meyer questioned the time frame of building parks when a property owner paid their
park fees. Mr. Nabity stated this would have to be decided by staff and council, with policies
developed for this purpose. Money paid for parks in an area should stay in that area.
Councilmember Walker asked how a park would affect the property value of a home. Mr. Nabity
stated it depended on the type of park. Having parks right across the street might be a negative
impact due to lots of traffic, but over all it should have a positive affect on the property value.
Comments were made concerning detention cells. Councilmember Haase stated it would be nice if
developers would put in mini parks at apartment complexes. Mr. Nabity stated some developers are
doing that now. Councilmember Walker questioned if we had a plan in place for detention cells for
future development in the northwest part of town. Public Works Director, Steve Riehle, stated that
there is a plan in place.
Questions presented were who pays to build new parks?
· General Fund
. Developers
· Homeowners/Apt. Developers
. Other
How should payment be made?
. Taxes
· Cash Payment
· Assessment
How much should the charges be?
· $170,000 per year (taxes)
· $866 per dwelling unit (fees)
· Some other amount
· Dedication ofland in lieu of fees
When should the money be collected?
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Page 3, City Council Study Session, May 13,2003
. At the time the parks department is buying/building the park
. At the tine of development
. At the time a building permit is applied for
. At the time an occupancy certificate is requested
. At the time a lot is sold
. Other?
Councilmember Haase asked if paying a park fee would be a hardship on the developers. Greg
Baxter, 1723 Bridle Lane stated this would be a hardship for the developer. Discussed was the
potential of assessing the new industrial and commercial businesses coming to town, which would
not be a good idea. Mr. Baxter stated a 10 year assessment at the time the property owner paid their
taxes would be another option.
Councilmember Meyer questioned dedicating land for a park. Mr. Baxter stated a substantial amount
of money would be required by the developer if this were implemented.
Rudy Plate, 2209 East Stolley Park Road, stated sales tax should be used to build parks. Everyone
uses the parks and this burden should not fall on the developers or homeowners. Sales tax would be a
fairer way of paying for these parks.
Jim Reed, 2511 Lakewood Drive, stated a single-family development would occur at an average
density of 2.5 units per acre. Greg Baxter talked about street width and the limited number of lots
because of 37' streets.
John Luna, 712 East 8th Street, spoke about using the figures from the 1994 Parks Plan. Mr. Nabity
stated these were used because they were available and were valid. Mr. Luna stated he disagreed with
using sales tax to build parks and felt we should be using more up to date figures.
Councilmember Nickerson thanked Mr. Nabity for his presentation and the importance of parks and
greenspace. Mr. Nickerson suggested that homeowners share part of the cost. Councilmember Larson
stated most citizens want parks and greenspace and we should not wait for a development to being
before we build parks.
Councilmember Pielstick requested that the Mayor form a committee of staff and developers to study
this issue and bring it back to Council at a study session.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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RaNae Edwards
City Clerk