09/20/2005 Minutes
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OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
September 20, 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
September 20, 2005. Notice of the meeting was given in the Grand Island Independent on
September 14,2005.
Mayor Jay Vavricek called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following members were
present: Councilmembers Meyer, Whitesides, Pielstick, Gilber, 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.
INVOCATION was given by Pastor Josh Sikes, Third City Christian Church, 4100 West 13th
Street followed by the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
Presentation by the Multicultural Coalition. Odalys Perez, Coordinator for the Multicultural
Coalition reported on the great strides in providing services to Grand Island's immigrant,
migrant, non-English speaking, and low-income residents. Presented was a history of the Multi
Cultural Coalition (MCC). MCC Board members present were Lynn Cronk, Kari Nazarena, Paul
Bresino, and Councilmember Carole Cornelius.
Formed in 2001, MCC responds to the needs of Grand Island's increasingly culturally diverse
community. The primary objective of MCC is to provide a one stop comprehensive service
delivery center that serves new immigrants, reduces duplication of services, better utilizes the
time of clients and service providers, eliminates barriers to services, and stretches limited
financial resources of service providers.
MCC is located at the recently renovated Old Walnut Building located close to a high percentage
of new and established immigrants that live in the area. MCC is collocated with the Grand Island
Public Schools Outreach Center where services include school registrations, school physicals,
academic assessments and survival English for student's grades 6 to 12, support group for
Hispanic Moms, and translation and interpretation services for school related needs through a
Spanish interpreter.
Ms. Perez mentioned the funding sources of several contributors throughout Grand Island. The
Nebraska Finance Authority (NIF A) had committed $120,000 over a four-year period. The
coalition had to provide a $90,000 annual local match. Presented was the budget for FY 2005-
2006. Mentioned were activities and projects that took place in 2004-2005.
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Page 2, City Council Study Session, September 20, 2005
Discussion was had on how immigrants knew where to go. Ms. Perez stated most was by word-
of-mouth, Spanish newspaper, and radio. The owner of the property had agreed to put up signs in
Spanish. Mentioned was that the coalition was open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Language
barriers were discussed relative to local business and within the community as a whole.
Ms. Perez invited the Mayor and City Council to a One Day Conference on October 4, 2005 at
College Park.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
-RJ\lU- mW~
RaNae Edwards
City Clerk