09/30/2003 Minutes
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OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
September 30, 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
September 30, 2003. Notice of the meeting was given in the Grand Island Independent on
September 24,2003.
Mayor Jay Vavricek called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following members were
present: Councilmembers Meyer, Whitesdides, Pielstick, Gilbert, Nickerson, Pauly, Hornady,
and Haase. Councilmembers Cornelius and Walker were absent. The following City Officials
were present: Interim City Administrator David Springer, City Clerk RaNae Edwards, and City
Attorney Doug Walker.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was said.
RESERVE TIME TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS: Two individuals reserved time to speak
on agenda items.
Presentation of Parks & Recreation Projects. Steve Paustian, Parks & Recreation Director
reported that this presentation was being provided to update all Council Members regarding the
projects currently being developed by the Park and Recreation Department. The presentation was
made in an attempt to inform, solicit comments, suggestions and questions from Council
Members. Mr. Paustian stated it was important to remember that the actual construction of a
project may be the least expensive component of the overall development. Several of the projects
currently underway would result in the need for more employees and funding, to operate the
developments at a proper level.
A power point presentation was presented updating the Council on the following projects:
. Cornhusker Army Ammunition Land
o HikelBike Trails
o Sports Shooting Facility
o Paintball Course
o Rifle Shooting Range
o Lake and Camping Area
o Law Enforcement Training Area
. Hike/Bike Trails System in Grand Island
o Riverway HikelBike Trail
o Shoemaker Hike/Bike Trail
. Webb Road Soccer Complex
. Sucks Lake Project
. Chevron Park
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Page 2, City Council Study Session, September 30, 2003
. ZOO Reuse Project
o Stolley Arboretum
· Softball Fields by Senior High
. L.E. Ray Lake
o Camping
o Perimeter Trail
o Foot Trail
o Boat Ramp
o Playground & Picnic Areas
Kent Coen and John Hoggatt representing the Grand Island Skeet Club were present and spoke
in support of the efforts taken by the City and thanked Mr. Paustian for his work.
Councilmember Pielstick commented on L.E. Ray Lake and the changes that had taken place
over the years. Mr. Paustian stated with the additional parks and pools within Grand Island over
the years, L.E. Ray Lake had suffered. Councilmember Gilbert questioned revenue regarding the
skeet shooting facilities. Mr. Paustian stated currently it had been run by volunteers at no cost to
the city and was not sure what the future would bring. Councilmember Nickerson asked if the
city could use volunteers. Mr. Paustian stated anyone interested should contact the Parks and
Recreation Department.
Discussion Concerning Billboards. Craig Lewis, Building Depariment Director reported that in
July of this year the City council passed an ordinance creating a temporary moratorium on the
construction of any new billboard signs, with the understanding that new regulations to control
the development would follow. A first draft of a proposed off-premise sign regulation was sent to
several sign companies on August 29, 2003, the second draft included comments from that
review and was forwarded for City Council consideration. Those proposed regulations began
with a model ordinance prepared by the Outdoor Advertising Association of America and had
been modified to reflect local conditions and philosophy.
June O'Neill, 1002 South Shady Bend Road representing Bellows Outdoor Advertising
commented on the following changes she would like to see regarding the suggested Ordinance:
I - L - V Type Sign - requested 20 feet apart.
III - Legal Nonconforming Signs - equal to or exceed 50% of the cost - thought it would
be difficult to access.
IV - F - Questioned if land owner or builder would be responsible.
V - A - Size of Signs - Standard size of sign is 672 square feet, not 576 square feet.
VII - A - Spacing for Off-Premise Signs - 800 foot radius sets signs up against the
businesses. Ms. O'Neill commented on double stacked billboards. Would like to see 500
foot radius but would agree to a 700 foot radius.
VII - D - Suggested a rule that off-premise signs not block other businesses and their
signs.
VIII - B - 10' side setback - would like to see 5' instead.
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Page 3, City Council Study Session, September 30, 2003
Don Deitemeyer, Doniphan representing Lamar Outdoor Advertising spoke in support of the
recommendations made by the Building Department. He commented concerning the ability to be
able to update their signs. Discussion was held concerning grandfathering in the existing signs.
It was decided that an Ordinance would be brought back to Council in November at a regular
meeting for final approval.
Discussion Concerning Reduction of Old Ordinances as New Ones are Added. David Springer,
Interim City Administrator reported that Councilman Whitesides had requested that time be
made on the agenda for a discussion related to City ordinances, such that as new ordinances were
passed and added to the statutes, a like number of antiquated ones be terminated and removed.
Mr. Springer stated there were ordinances on the books for which may have outgrown their
usefulness and for which no current purpose was served. Deletion would reduce the total and
make reference, retrieval and maintenance easier. It may also foster more thought in the passage
of new ordinances. To do, in essence, a purging of the existing files, legal staff time would be
required to research each ordinance before submitting to Council for approval to remove. This
would take valuable staff time as well as Council time to review. Council would have to decide if
that is where staffs and their own efforts should be directed. Typically, obsolete ordinances
would be candidates for removal as they became evident, through the normal course of business.
Councilmember Whitesides explained why he felt this issue was important. Mentioned were
those ordinances which were not enforced and felt there were too many laws on the books. City
Attorney Doug Walker commented on the number of ordinances passed so far this year (66) of
which (8) were actual new laws. He also stated that some laws may not be enforced, but if they
were needed the law was in place and could be enforced. Several Councilmembers were
concerned about the time it would take staff to review all ordinances. It was the consensus of the
Council that when old ordinances were found and not needed they would be removed from City
Code.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Qcf\M-rn~
RaNae Edwards
City Clerk