01/20/2004 Minutes
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OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
January 20, 2004
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
January 20, 2004. Notice of the meeting was given in the Grand Island Independent on January
14,2004.
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: City Administrator
Gary Greer, City Clerk RaNae Edwards, Finance Director David Springer, 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.
MAYOR COMMUNICATION: Mayor Vavricek mentioned the Heartland Events Center
campaign. Presented were two promotions for the Heartland Events Center that would be aired
on TV.
Discussion Concerning Use of lIz Cent Sales Tax for Fire Station #1 and Training Center. Fire
Chief Jim Rowell introduced Fire Operations Division Chief Curt Rohling who reported that the
replacement of the fire station at Koenig Street and Pine Street had been a proposed project for
several years. This station known as fire station one was built in 1936 and had served the
community for sixty five years. The design and location of the station were both appropriate for
their time. Continued growth of the city and changes in the equipment and services along with
deterioration of the building over time had brought this need to the forefront. It was the hope of
the Fire Department to develop a plan for this replacement facility that would ensure that the new
station would equal or exceed the value of the service the present building had given to the
community.
A PowerPoint presentation showed the condition of Fire Station #1, street access problems, a
brief overview of the Grand Island Fire Department, and pictures of fire stations from other
states.
Discussed were the problems of exhaust fumes within the station, ADA accessibility, and
location for a new station. City Administrator Gary Greer commented on the process of replacing
this station. Councilmember Walker commented that whether or not the lIz cent sales tax passed,
Council needed to look at replacing this structure for the safety of the firefighters.
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Page 2, City Council Study Session, January 20, 2004
Fire Training Division Chief Troy Hughes mentioned a Training Center for the fire department
was an on going need. Training and education were of greater importance in the modern fire
service than ever before. Mr. Hughes stated the Grand Island Fire Department along with every
other fire department in the country was faced with ever increasing demand for service in a
greater variety of situations. The use of chemicals and transportation of those chemicals in a
variety of methods had prompted the development of Hazardous Materials Response teams. The
need for specialized rescue teams for trench, confined space, vehicle extrication and others
required more training and a need for space and facilities in which to learn, train, and practice
those needed skills. The basic skills for fighting fires and emergency medical service were best
learned and maintained in this type of a facility.
Mr. Hughes stated the vision was for a multi-use training facility to be used by many different
agencies. The following were proposed to be included in this facility: classrooms/meeting rooms,
offices, multi-story training tower, burn building, driving course, and access to lake and rail line.
Mention was that this could be built in stages with the possibility of using grant funds. Location
was discussed with regards to land availability and response times.
Discussion Concerning Use of Yz Cent Sales Tax for Train Noise Reduction. Public Works
Director Steve Riehle reported that the community had discussed noise from train engine horns
for a number of years. Kearney had closed crossings, built over and underpasses, and installed
wayside horns on the Central A venue crossing with the Union Pacific Railroad mainline tracks.
Grand Island had not proceeded with the wayside horns because the railroads electronic circuitry
needed up-grading, a cost the railroad expected the city to bear. A new rule change was recently
approved by the Federal Railroad Administration that formalized the requirements regarding
railroad crossings. They allowed the use of wayside horns and also "Quiet Zones".
Mr. Riehle updated the council with a series of PowerPoint slides regarding the number of
railroad crossings, railroad engine horns, time line for horn rule change, wayside horns, and
"Quiet Zones". A "Quiet Zone" was where horns were prohibited (whistle ban) or horns would
sound if a vehicle was in the crossing or a pedestrian was on the tracks. Discussion was had
concerning a railroad corridor study which would outline a formal plan to reduce train noise and
cost approximately $125,000.
Presentation by the Humane Society Regarding Wildlife Damage Control. City Attorney Doug
Walker reported that the Humane Society was interested in providing animal control services for
wildlife such as trapping skunks and other animal species that may be a problem with the current
rabies outbreak in the City and the surrounding areas. The Humane Society would provide this
service through the end of the year. Mr. Walker stated this matter was being brought up for
consideration at this time because the Humane Society would need to order additional traps to
provide these services this spring when the skunk and rabies problem started to occur. The
Animal Advisory Board had requested that the Humane Society make a proposal for performing
these services because the Board felt that they would provide this service in an effective and
humane manner.
Cindy Bishop representing the Central Nebraska Humane Society presented to council a
PowerPoint presentation regarding skunk and rabies problems. Discussed were type of traps,
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Page 3, City Council Study Session, January 20, 2004
forms of euthanizing these animals, and a cost of $2,500.00 for the cost of 15 additional traps
and services. It was the consensus of the Council to move ahead with this issue.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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RaN ae Edwards
City Clerk