Loading...
12/16/2003 Minutes I I I OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION December 16, 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 16, 2003. Notice of the meeting was given in the Grand Island Independent on December 10,2003. 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, Hornady, Walker, and Haase. Councilmember Pauly was absent. 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: One individual reserved time to speak on agenda items. Presentation of Central Nebraska Humane Society Hours. Pat Devine, Executive Director of the Central Nebraska Humane Society, 3554 West Stolley Park Road, presented the new hours of operation for the Central Nebraska Humane Society facility. Expanded hours will be Tuesday through Friday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 11 :00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and closed on Monday's. Discussion of Dog Ordinances. City Attorney Doug Walker reported that an ordinance had been drafted addressing some concerns that had been raised recently about the City Dog and Animal Ordinance. One change requested would make the mandatory annual meeting times from the current meetings of the first Tuesday of January and the first Tuesday of July to the first week of January and the first week of July. This change was being proposed for two reasons which were that the first Tuesday of these months would on some years fall on a holiday and also because the Animal Advisory Board had changed its meeting days to Monday. The proposed change would give the Board enough additional flexibility in scheduling its meetings so that it would not be in conflict with the City Code. The second change to the ordinance had been drafted to address the concerns of the Grand Island Kennel Club. The Kennel Club was being annexed into the City and this ordinance would establish a permitting procedure and an exemption to the animal running at large ordinance for training and showing dogs by a nationally recognized animal organization or a local affiliate. The third change to the ordinance was being proposed to exempt police dogs from the animal running at large and the dangerous dog ordinance. Law enforcement had requested that a specific exemption be placed in the municipal code for the training and use of dogs for law enforcement purposes. The exemption would apply to dogs from all of the various law enforcement agencies. I I I Page 2, City Council Study Session, December 16, 2003 Councilmember Walker questioned if a person was outside, does the dog need to be on a leash. City Attorney Doug Walker stated that they would be in violation of the law in this situation. Councilmember Walker stated that Council needed to look at this issue and felt it was appropriate for dogs not be on a leash, as long as someone was with the dog. Councilmember Hornady mentioned the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant and the training of dogs that would take place there in the future. Councilmember Haase stated that she felt the leash law was a tool for law enforcement. Councilmember Meyer questioned the leashing of dogs when they were not involved in training or enforcement with regards to the Kennel Club shows and law enforcement dogs. City Attorney Doug Walker stated that the intent of the law was to allow for those situations where "off-leash" events would have to be registered with the Central Nebraska Humane Society. Dean Graf, 2404 North Locust representing the Grand Island Kennel Club spoke in support of this ordinance change. Update on Northwest Grand Island Flood Study. Steve Riehle, Public Works Director reported that sections of Northwest Grand Island experienced significant flooding during the 1967 flood. Most of the area North of Capital Avenue and West of Broadwell Avenue were within the 100 year flood plain. The area between Webb Road and US Highway 281 bounded by Capital Avenue on the North and with State Street on the South were also within the 100 year flood plain. There had been flood control improvements built in the area in the past, but the Moores Creek Wetshed and Northern Grand Island could still suffer considerable flood damage due to spill over of flood waters from two other watersheds, namely Silver Creek and Prairie Creek. The City of Grand Island had been working with the Central Platte Natural Resources District on a feasibility study and preliminary design of flood control measures for this area. Parson's Engineering Science, Inc. of Denver Colorado was preparing a project grant application for Natural Resource Development Funds (NRDF). Gary Lewis of Parson's Engineering Science, Inc. from Denver Colorado presented details of the proposed project and grant application. Ron Bishop and Milt Moravek from the Central Platte NRD were also present. Reviewed were the 100-year flood plain and flood depths for Grand Island as they related to Prairie Creek, Dry Creek, Silver Creek, and Moores Creek. Impact on crop, residential, and commercial damages were reviewed. Project cost summary of $15,250,000 was presented. Discussion was held with regards to the cost of flood insurance to homeowners. The following summary of benefits was presented: Reduction of 100-year damages from $59M to $1.3M Elimination of basin- to-basin overflows Elimination of commercial property damages Average annual flood control benefits of$1O.6M Potential removal of northern Grand Island from FEMA floodplain 400 acres of lowland surface area for potential wetlands I I I Page 3, City Council Study Session, December 16,2003 Unprecedented rate of return on investment Milt Moravek representing the Central Platte NRD mentioned that an application would be filed with the Nebraska Natural Resources Department for cost-sharing ofa nine-year, $15.25 million construction project. The cost to the City and NRD would be $3.1 million each over 10 years. Councilmember Gilbert asked about the time line for this project. Mr. Moravek stated they were just finishing the feasibility study. It would depend on the commission and would not foresee any construction before 2004, but money would need to be set aside for land acquisition, etc. Mr. Moravek mentioned that the Wood River Flood Diversion Project had been completed and the project should be approved by the state in February 2004. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Rof\~ <2Q~ RaN ae Edwards City Clerk