03/01/2005 Minutes
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OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
March 1, 2005
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
March 1, 2005. Notice of the meeting was given in the Grand Island Independent on February
23,2005.
Mayor Jay Vavricek called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following members were
present: Councilmember's 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, Public Works
Director Steve Riehle, and City Attorney Doug Walker
Mayor Communication: Mayor Vavricek reminded everyone of the City Council Retreat this
Saturday, March 5, 2005 at Home Federal Bank. Mayor commented on the outstanding duties of
Paul Briseno, Assistant to the Administrator for working on a Home Land Security Grant.
Presentation of Site & Needs Study for the Fire Department. Fire Chief Jim Rowell thanked the
committee members who worked on the study. Chief Rowell introduced David Streebin
representing RDG Planning & Design Group who gave a presentation on the Site and Needs
Study for replacement of Fire Station #1 and a Fire Training Center.
Mr. Streebin explained the process of the study and the groups involved, those being RDG
Planning & Design, BKV Group, and Emergency Services Consulting, Inc. (ESCI). Lenny Enz
explained the ESCI portion of the study which was based on population and community risk,
system benchmark comparisons, current resources and deployment, and service delivery options.
Explained were a 4-6 minute response time and the top six sites the group selected.
Reviewed was the Fire Training Center site and needs assessment program. Listed were several
buildings and training areas for a total project cost of $21,095,888.00. Mr. Enz emphasized the
importance of a business plan.
Presented were the following sites for the Training Center:
Site #1 - East of Central Community College and College Park Area
Site #2 - Fonner Park
Site #3 - Near Law Enforcement Center
Site #4 - Capital Avenue E Farm Land
RDG recommended the Central Community College and College Park Area as the best site to
locate a Fire Training Center. The second recommended site was near the Law Enforcement
Center.
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Page 2, City Council Study Session, March 1,2005
Ted Redmond with BKV Group explained the Fire Station programming process. Presented were
several options at an approximate cost of $3,000,000.00 for each site with the majority of the
cost marked for acquisition of land and development.
The sites presented were as follows:
Strategy A - Walnut and Charles Streets
Strategy B - North Sycamore and East First Streets
Strategy C - East Fonner Park Road
Strategy D - Two Stations - Bismark Road and Sky Park Road
Strategy E - Stuhr Road near the intersection of Seedling Mile Road
Strategy F - Two Stations - Locust Street and Stolley Park Road and Sycamore Street and 5th
Street
City Administrator Gary Greer presented a PowerPoint on the City Administration's
recommendation for a new fire station.
The following points were presented concerning a new fire station:
. Build a replacement fire station without headquarters
. Build in the Fonner Park area
. Pay cash for the facility
. Do not build a station at Lion's Park
. Continue to study the need for a fire station in the northeast portion of the City
. Closely look at redevelopment area for station in future as build out happens
Estimated cost of a fire station at this location would be approximately $2,422,284.00.
The following points were presented concerning a fire training facility:
. Pursue property east of Central Community College for Fire Training Facility
. Continue on a long term, pay as you go approach
. Pursue connections with CCC and College Park for facilities and Curriculum
. Put together a business plan for the Fire Training facility
. Evaluate the possibility of the Fire Administration being located at the Fire Training
Facility long term
Fire Station #1 Solutions:
. Meets short term goals
. Allows for long term goals
. Adheres to the proposed budget
. Jump starts the replacement of Station # 1
. No interest cost for the project
. Allows for maximum partnerships
. Combines resources with other agencies
. Redevelops property in need
. Maximizes response
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Page 3, City Council Study Session, March 1,2005
· Opens doors for expanded training center
. Provides time to plan
· Positions us well for grants and funding
Councilmember Nickerson commented on the Strategy A location of Walnut and Charles Street
because of response time. Councilmember Whitesides commented on the Fonner Park location
as the best site and stated the Walnut, Charles, Cedar, and Louise site was unacceptable.
Discussion was held with regards to emergency responses sending engine companies and
ambulances. Councilmember Gilbert stated she was not concerned about a 6 minute response
time because of the equipment that each truck and ambulance carried.
Discussion was held with regards to the location at Fonner Park with future expansion, response
time, and traffic controls. Councilmember Meyer commented on the importance of response time
and the importance of a fire station located in the northeast part of the City. Councilmember
Cornelius questioned the timeline. Mr. Greer stated administration would like to start
immediately after council approval of a site with completion within 18 months.
Councilmember Pielstick recommended that the recommendation of City Administration be
brought back to council at the next meeting for approval.
Supporting the Fonner Park location were Gene Dominic, 221 East 1 st Street, Carl Mayhew, 507
Plum Road, and K.C. Hehnke, president of the Downtown Improvement Board, and Larry Cast,
1416 Sheridan Place who presented Council with petitions of 400 signatures against locating a
fire station on the Dodge parking lot.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
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RaNae Edwards
City Clerk