12/02/2003 Minutes
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OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
December 2, 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
December 2, 2003. Notice of the meeting was given in the Grand Island Independent on
November 26, 2003.
Mayor Jay Vavricek called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following members were
present: Councilmembers Meyer, Whitesides, Pielstick, Gilbert, Nickerson, Cornelius, Pauly,
Hornady, Walker, and Haase. The following City Officials were present: Interim City
Administrator David Springer, City Clerk RaNae Edwards, City Attorney Doug Walker and
Public Works Director Steve Riehle.
RESERVE TIME TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS: Six individuals reserved time to speak on
agenda items.
Recognition of Gdowski's and Ramsey's for the Nebraska Community Improvement Award for
Kid's Kingdom. The Mayor and City Council recognized Tom and Becky Gdowski and Kirk and
Katie Ramsey, Co-Chairpersons for the Kid's Kingdom playground project at Stolley Park. The
City of Grand Island was honored an award from the Nebraska Community Improvement
Program for the outstanding efforts of the entire community in achieving a themed playground
covering 28,000 square feet. An estimated 27,000 hours of volunteer effort involving about
2,400 people were invested in the construction of the playground over six days. Tom and Becky
Gdowski, Herb Worthington, and fonner Mayor Ken Gnadt were present for this recognition.
Review of the Planning Commission and the Grand Island Comprehensive Plan Update. Chad
Nabity, Regional Planning Director explained the Hall County Regional Planning Commission
was created through an Interlocal Agreement between Grand Island, Hall County, Wood River,
AIda, Cairo, Doniphan, and Parkview in 1967 and was readopted in 1974. There were twelve
members on the Planning Commission.
Mr. Nabity stated that a comprehensive plan was a plan for future growth and development based
on hopes, dreams, visions, and goals of the community. Also it was a legal prerequisite if a
community wanted zoning. Zoning and Subdivision regulations provided tools which effect the
overall development of the plan.
Mr. Nabity stated JEG Consulting, Inc. of Wahoo, Nebraska had been hired to update the
comprehensive plan. Total cost was $218,065 of which $70,679 was Grand Island's share. A
review of the timeline was presented from 2001 through 2004. It was projected that in February
or March this plan would come before Council for adoption. It was mentioned that this was a 20
year plan, but would probably be updated in 10 years due to changes in the community.
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Page 2, City Council Study Session, December 2, 2003
Presentation Concerning the Use of Plastic Pipe. Gary Mader, Utilities Director reported that
with the discovery of Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) contamination in private domestic
wells in the Mary Lane and Kentish Hills Subdivision in Grand Island, the Utilities Department
immediately began design of City Water Main extensions into those areas to provide a safe
drinking water supply. During the course of this water main work, Diamond Plastics offered to
provide PVC water main pipe, at no cost, for the water main extensions. Because of concerns
with the permeation of PVC pipe by the known organic compound contamination, the offer to
provide free pipe was not accepted.
Nebraska Health and Human Services (NHHS) regulations, Distribution Systems, Section 8.0,
Materials, state "where distribution systems are installed in areas of ground water contaminated
by organic compounds... non-permeable materials shall be used for all portions of the system..."
PVC and other plastic materials can be susceptible to permeation by VOC compounds. Iron
materials are not permeable to organic compounds. Therefore, the water main extensions were
designed of ductile iron pipe with joint gaskets specified that are of a material designed to resist
VOC permeation. Per NHHS direction, the design of the water main extensions were submitted
to NHHS for that Department's review. It was the recommendation of the Utilities Department
that the water main design with ductile iron pipe be maintained of which CNH had agreed to pay
for those water main extensions.
Dennis Bauer, 2416 Arrowhead Road, Shah Rahman, Regional Engineer of Un i-Bell and Robert
Walker Executive Director of Uni-Bell, Dallas, Texas, Elroy Smith, 411 Johnson Drive, Jerry
Parkinson, Hastings, Nebraska, and Ron Bishop, Vice-President of Diamond Plastic spoke in
support of PVC pipe and explained why the city should use PVC pipe and that is was safe.
Discussion was held with regards to gaskets and permeation.
Lock Box Presentation, Fire Department Request. Fire Chief Jim Rowell introduced Fred Hotz,
representing the Fire Prevention Division of the Fire Department presented an overview of the
Lock Box program and the benefit it provided to the community, individual business owners, fire
department operations as well as safety benefits to fire personnel. The Lock Box program were
boxes that would be attached to structures that would be used to gain access. The Fire
Department would have one key on the fire trucks to gain access to these lock boxes which
would have the key to the structure/business allowing the Fire Department access. It was
mentioned that an ordinance allowing participation in the program would be presented to
Council in the future.
Life Cycle Cost Comparison of Asphalt Versus Concrete on South Locust Street Between
Stolley Park Road and Fonner Park Road. Steve Riehle, Public Works Director reported that the
original concept for improving South Locust Street between Stolley Park Road and Fonner Park
Road provided for moving the sidewalks back away from the curbs, installing pedestrian
lighting, upgrading the roadway lighting, and adding landscaping elements. Since a number of
the driveways were going to be shifted, moved, combined or eliminated, staff felt it was a good
time to overlay the road with asphalt. The curb needed to be replaced to provide for drainage and
to increase the life of an asphalt overlay.
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Page 3, City Council Study Session, December 2, 2003
Discussions with the engineers and contractors resulted in a decision to replace the out side lanes
of the roadway, build an integral curb and gutter section, and overlay all 5 lanes with asphalt.
Staff had never felt that the asphalt overlay was the best long-term solution. Both the contractor
and the Business Improvement District had indicated that they believed the cities long-term
investment would be best served by using concrete.
The switch from asphalt to concrete would cost almost $250,000. Concrete was less expensive
then asphalt over the life of the pavement, but had a higher up front cost. In addition, the annual
maintenance costs for concrete were less than they were for asphalt. Asphalt would need to be
replaced every 8 years at a cost of $80,000 (using today's dollars). The life cycle cost for
concrete would be less then asphalt as long as the concrete lasted longer then 24 years. Concrete
had an expected life of 25 to 40 plus years. The city would incur up front costs of almost
$250,000 to reduce future costs.
Mr. Riehle stated that if council supported the change, city staff would review the 400 Capital
Improvements Budget to see if there was money from other projects that could be used to change
the project from an asphalt overlay to full depth concrete and come back for council approval at
the December 9,2003 Regular City Council Meeting.
Discussion was held with regards to delays, access to businesses on South Locust, and money in
the budget, if the city went with concrete instead of asphalt. It was the consensus of the Council
to go with concrete and bring it back on December 9,2003 Regular City Council Meeting.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
R~~
RaNae Edwards
City Clerk