12/30/2025 Minutes CITY OF
GRAND` ISLAND
City Council Meeting Minutes
Council Chambers
City Hall
100 East First Street
December 30, 2025
7:00 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Roger G. Steele called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
The following City Officials were present, City Administrator Patrick Brown, City Clerk Jill
Granere, City Attorney Kari Fisk and Public Works Director Keith Kurz.
The following City Council Members were present: Jack Sheard, Mark Stelk, Jason Conley,
Mitchell Nickerson, Doug Brown, Chuck Haase, Maggie Mendoza and Doug Lanfear. Ryan
O'Neill and Mike Paulick were absent.
4. SUBMITTAL OF REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
5. RESERVE TIME TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS
6. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
6.a) Annual Report of Tennis Center Utilization/Availability
Cover Page
Annual Tennis Report
7. CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Doug Lanfear, second by Doug Brown to approve CONSENT AGENDA excluding
7f. Roll Call: Ayes: Jack Sheard, Mark Stelk, Jason Conley, Mitchell Nickerson, Doug Brown,
Chuck Haase, Maggie Mendoza and Doug Lanfear. Absent: Ryan O'Neill and Mike Paulick.
Motion adopted.
7.a) Approving Minutes of the December 9, 2025 City Council Regular Meeting.
Cover Page
Minutes
7.b) Approving Payment of Claims for the Period of December 10, 2025 through
December 30, 2025 in the total amount of$9,911,603.06.
Cover Page
Page 2 of 7,City Council Regular Meeting December 30,2025
Claims
7.c) Approving Appointments to the Mechanical Examining Board
Cover Page
Memo
7.d) Approving Appointments to the Plumbing Board
Cover Page
Memo
7.e) Approving Appointments to the Electrical Board
Cover Page
Memo
7.t)Approving Request from Ay Mi Madre LLC dba Ay Mi Madre, 316 East 2nd Street
for a Change of Location for their Class "C" Liquor License to 112 West 3rd Street
Cover Page
Police Report
Map
Ruth Carbajal answered questions from council on safety and police calls from the old location.
Motion by Jack Sheard, second by Doug Lanfear to approve 7f. Roll Call: Ayes: Jack Sheard,
Mark Stelk, Jason Conley, Mitchell Nickerson, Doug Brown, Chuck Haase, Maggie Mendoza
and Doug Lanfear. Absent: Ryan O'Neill and Mike Paulick. Motion adopted.
7.g) Approving Request from Courtney Coble for Liquor Manager Designation with
Walmart 1326, 2250 N Diers Avenue, Grand Island, Nebraska
Cover Page
Police Report
7.h) Approving Request from Carlos Dillion for Liquor Manager Designation with the
Sam's Club, 1510 Diers Avenue, Grand Island, Nebraska.
Cover Page
Police Report
7.i) #2025-423 -Approving Home Federal 2nd Subdivision
Cover Page
Aerial Map
Final Plat
Application
Subdivision
Resolution
7.j) #2025-424 - Approving Certificate of Final Completion for Lift Station No. 1
Mechanical Replacement; Project No. 2025-5-5
Cover Page
Certificate of Final Completion
Page 3 of 7,City Council Regular Meeting December 30,2025
Resolution
7.k) #2025-425 - Approving Bid Award for Grand Island Regional Landfill Cell 4
Construction; Project No. 2025-LF-1
Cover Page
C Lazy B Land Development Contract
Resolution
With C Lazy B Land Development of Kearney,Nebraska in an amount of$1,013,599.95.
7.1) #2025-426 -Approving Purchase of One (1) 2026 International CV515 Chasis with
John Bean Jetter for the Wastewater Division of the Public Works Department
Cover Page
Vehicle Picture
Vehicle Specifications
Vehicle Brochure
Sourcewell Contract
Sourcewell Quote
Resolution
From Hansen International Truck, Inc. of Grand Island, Nebraska in an amount of$211,293.00.
7.m) #2025-427 - Approving the Certificate of Compliance with the Nebraska
Department of Transportation for Maintenance Agreement No. 12; Calendar Year 2025
Cover Page
Certificate of Compliance
Resolution
7.n)#2025-428 -Approving Maintenance Agreement No. 12 Renewal with the Nebraska
Department of Transportation for Calendar Year 2026
Cover Page
State of Nebraska Rate Letter
Maintenance Agreement No. 12 Renewal
Resolution
7.o) #2025-429 - Consideration of Approving Changes to Speed Limit Resolution No.
2024-28
Cover Page
Concord Street Exhibit
Elk Drive Exhibit
Old Highway 30 (addition) Exhibit
Old Highway 30 Exhibit
Highway 30 (1) Exhibit
Husker Highway Exhibit
Highway 30 (2) Exhibit
Stolley Park Road(1) Exhibit
Stolley Park Road (2) Exhibit
Page 4 of 7,City Council Regular Meeting December 30,2025
Resolution
7.p) #2025-430- Approving Bid Award for drive through gate replacement at the Law
Enforcement Center
Cover Page
Quote
Resolution
With American Fence Company of Grand Island,Nebraska in an amount of$71,060.00.
7.q) #2025-431 - Approving Purchase of a 2026 John Deere Backhoe Loader for the
Water Distribution Department
Cover Page
Resolution
From Murphy Tractor& Equipment of Grand Island, Nebraska in an amount of$153,500.00.
7.r) #2025-432 - Approving Extension to Hooker Brothers Sand & Gravel Temporary
Construction Access to Transmission Line 1060 Easement
Cover Page
Resolution
111
7.$)#2025-433 -Approving Request to Surplus Part of Lot 2 & 3, Block 42, Grand Island
Original Town
Cover Page
Map
Resolution
7.t) #2025-434-Approving Recording of Public Utility Easement on Property Owned by
the City of Grand Island - Part of Detention Cell Lot C Platte Valley Industrial Park Third
Subdivision
Cover Page
Resolution
Map
8.) PUBLIC HEARINGS
8.a) Public Hearing Request from Lulie&Julie, LLC dba Napoli's, 3333 Ramada Rd Ste
B , Grand Island, Nebraska, for a Class "I" Liquor License
#2025-435 -Approving Lulie & Julie, LLC dba Napoli's, 3333 Ramada Rd Ste B, Grand
Island, Nebraska, for a Class "I" Liquor License and Liquor Manager Designation for
Lulzim Shala, 3433 Treeline Drive Lincoln,Nebraska
Cover Page
Police Report
Map
Resolution
Page 5 of 7,City Council Regular Meeting December 30,2025
City Clerk Jill Granere reported an application for a Class "I" Liquor License had been received
from Lulie & Julie, LLC dba Napoli's, 3333 Ramada Rd Ste B, Grand Island, Nebraska. Ms.
Granere presented the following exhibits for record; application submitted to the Liquor Control
Commission and received by the City on November 13, 2025; notice to the general public of date,
time, and place of hearing was published on December 20, 2025; notice to the applicant of date,
time and place of hearing was mailed on November 18, 2025. Also submitted was liquor manager
designation for Lulzim Shala, 3433 Treeline Drive, Lincoln, Nebraska.
Motion by Doug Brown, second by Doug Lanfear to approve #2025-435 - Approving Lulie &
Julie, LLC dba Napoli's, 3333 Ramada Rd Ste B, Grand Island,Nebraska, for a Class "I" Liquor
License and Liquor Manager Designation for Lulzim Shala, 3433 Treeline Drive Lincoln,
Nebraska. Roll Call: Ayes: Jack Sheard, Mark Stelk, Jason Conley, Mitchell Nickerson, Doug
Brown, Chuck Haase, Maggie Mendoza and Doug Lanfear. Absent: Ryan O'Neill and Mike
Paulick. Motion adopted.
8.b) Public Hearing concerning the Redevelopment Plan Amendment of Area 1, for 309
W. 2nd Street (Chamber Building) Starkel Real Estate Inc.
#2025-436 - Approving Redevelopment Plan Amendment of Area 1, for 309 W. 2nd
Street(Chamber Building) Starkel Real Estate Inc.
Cover Page
Redevelopment Plan Amendment
TIF Application
Resolution 546
Resolution 547
Resolution 2026-02
CRA Resolution 549
Resolution
Community Development Director Chad Nabity reported Starkel Real Estate Inc had an
agreement to purchase the former Chamber building at 309 W. 2nd and was proposing to
redevelop it as renovated commercial space and 10 one bedroom apartments. The proposed
development would occur over the next year. They purchased the property for $365,000 and
estimate that TIF eligible expenditures for this project including acquisition, rehab, application
and legal fees would exceed $2,000,000. They were seeking $609,673 in Tax Increment
Assistance over a 20 year period. This property was in an area that has been declared extremely
blighted and 20 year TIF is permitted. They were also awarded a $120,000 fire life safety grant
for 8 one bedroom apartments planned on the second floor of the building.
Amos Anson spoke in favor.
Motion by Jack Sheard, second by Maggie Mendoza to approve #2025-436 - Approving
Redevelopment Plan Amendment of Area 1, for 309 W. 2nd Street (Chamber Building) Starkel
Real Estate Inc. Roll Call: Ayes: Jack Sheard, Mark Stelk, Jason Conley, Mitchell Nickerson,
Doug Brown, Chuck Haase, Maggie Mendoza and Doug Lanfear. Absent: Ryan O'Neill and
Mike Paulick. Motion adopted.
Page 6 of 7,City Council Regular Meeting December 30,2025
9.) RESOLUTIONS
9.a) #2025-437- Approving replacement of three boilers and control system at the
Heartland Event Center
Cover Page
Agreement
Certificate of Liability
Resolution
City Administrator Patrick Brown reported three original boilers (over 20 years old) at the
Heartland Event Center need to be replaced as recommended by Honeywell.
Jay Vavricek questioned if the boilers were not replaced, he was informed only one was working
and if they went out, there would be none.
Motion by Doug Lanfear, second by Jason Conley to approve#2025-437-Approving replacement
of three boilers and control system at the Heartland Event Center. Roll Call: Ayes: Jack Sheard,
Mark Stelk, Jason Conley, Mitchell Nickerson, Doug Brown, Chuck Haase, Maggie Mendoza
and Doug Lanfear. Absent: Ryan O'Neill and Mike Paulick. Motion adopted.
10.) ORDINANCES
10.a) #10,055 - Consideration of Ordinance to Amend Chapter 23 Article 6 of Grand
Island City Code
Cover Page
Ordinance
City Administrator Patrick Brown reported the City current had a Hotel Occupation Tax of 2% in
place for the building and operation of the Heartland Events Center that sunsets on December 31,
2025. Due to the sunset of the current Hotel Occupation Tax and the removal of caps on occupation
taxes by the Nebraska Legislature in 2025, it was recommended to renew the Hotel Occupation
Tax at 5%. Currently Hotel Occupation taxes (2%) was being used for the Heartland Event Center
operations. The Hotel Occupation Tax was a tax paid by visitors to hotels or other facilities in the
City of Grand Island. The total amount of Hotel Occupation Tax revenue in FY2025 was $574,215.
City Council would be presented with several deferred maintenance items. On August 19, 2025,
replacement chillers were ordered for a purchase price of$1,225,000. Other items City Council
would be presented with was an arena lighting replacement ($1,053,254), lighting replacement
other than arena ($698,825) sound replacement system ($1,165,200), ice rink revival ($2,024,195
depends on grant opportunity), roof replacement ($974,203), vestibule ($951,739), and other
repairs and replacements. Total amount of investment was approximately $11,000,000. A 20 year
bond would require an annual payment of approximately $800,000. An additional 3% of Hotel
Occupation Tax would provide funding for the repairs.
Page 7 of 7,City Council Regular Meeting December 30,2025
Motion by Doug Lanfear, second by Doug Brown to suspend the rules 10.a) #10,055 -
Consideration of Ordinance to Amend Chapter 23 Article 6 of Grand Island City Code. Roll Call:
Ayes: Jack Sheard, Mark Stelk, Jason Conley, Mitchell Nickerson, Doug Brown, Chuck Haase,
Maggie Mendoza and Doug Lanfear. Absent: Ryan O'Neill and Mike Paulick. Motion adopted.
Councilmember Chuck Haase made a Motion to Amend to remove "city owned facilities"under
section 23-61.
Motion by Chuck Haase, second by Jack Sheard to amend 10.a)removing"city owned facilities"
under section 23-61.Roll Call.Ayes:Jack Sheard,Mark Stelk,Jason Conley,Mitchell Nickerson,
Doug Brown, Chuck Haase, Maggie Mendoza and Doug Lanfear. Absent: Ryan O'Neill and
Mike Paulick. Motion adopted.
Karla Gyenes, Jay Vavricek were opposed.
Brad Mellema, Chris Kotulak, Jamie Parr and Kyler Tarwater spoke in regard to the livestock
shows and the need of support to continue the shows and the tourism brought to Grand Island for
the events.
Discussion was held among councilmembers and the need to have further discussion on the topic
before making a decision.
Councilmember Stelk made a motion to postpone until January 13, 2025, meeting.
Motion by Mark Stelk, second by Doug Lanfear to postpone 10.a) until the January 13, 2025,
City Council meeting. Roll Call. Ayes: Mark Stelk. Noes: Jack Sheard, Jason Conley, Mitchell
Nickerson, Doug Brown, Chuck Haase, Maggie Mendoza and Doug Lanfear. Absent: Ryan
O'Neill and Mike Paulick. Motion failed.
Discussion was held among councilmembers and needed more time to discuss the topic but not
postponed due to the tax expiring the end of day on December 31, 2025. Council requested to
have a Study Session on the topic in the near future.
Councilmember Haase made a motion to amend to lower the occupation tax from 5%to 2%under
section 23-55.
Motion by Chuck Haase, second by Doug Brown to amend 10.a)to lower the occupation tax from
5%to 2%under section 23-55. Roll Call. Ayes: Jack Sheard, Mark Stelk,Jason Conley, Mitchell
Nickerson, Doug Brown, Chuck Haase, Maggie Mendoza and Doug Lanfear. Absent: Ryan
O'Neill and Mike Paulick. Motion adopted.
Motion by Chuck Haase, second by Doug Brown to approve 10.a) #10,055 - Consideration of
Ordinance to Amend Chapter 23 Article 6 of Grand Island City Code with amendments of
removing "city owned facilities" under section 23-61 and lowering the occupation tax from 5%
to 2% under section 23-55: Roll Call: Ayes: Jack Sheard, Mark Stelk, Jason Conley, Mitchell
Nickerson, Doug Brown, Chuck Haase, Maggie Mendoza and Doug Lanfear. Absent: Ryan
Page 8 of 7,City Council Regular Meeting December 30,2025
O'Neill and Mike Paulick. Motion adopted.
10.b) #10,056 - Consideration of repealing Ordinance 10,054 and renaming US
Highway 30
Cover Page
Ordinance
Community Development Director Chad Nabity reported on December 9, 2025,the Grand Island
City Council approved Ordinance 10,054, that approved changing the name of US Highway 30
to Old US Highway 30 for the section of existing US Highway 30 that was previously used and
now ends at Monitor Road, with no connectivity to US Highway 30. Staff later recognized that
this approved name change resulted in a single continuous roadway consisting of two segments
bearing different street names, without an intervening intersection or break in the roadway
network. Two roadways with the same name that would eventually adopt a similar addressing
scheme could be confusing for emergency personnel when responding to calls. City Council
action was needed to ensure consistency with the existing Old Highway 30 and to minimize
confusion for emergency personnel and motorists. There are twenty-six (26) properties, totaling
seventy-eight addresses (78) along this segment of roadway that would be notified of the street
name change.
Motion by Chuck Haase, second by Jack Sheard to suspend the rules 10.b) #10,056 -
Consideration of repealing Ordinance 10,054 and renaming US Highway 30. Roll Call: Ayes:
Jack Sheard, Mark Stelk,Jason Conley, Mitchell Nickerson, Doug Brown, Chuck Haase,Maggie
Mendoza and Doug Lanfear. Absent: Ryan O'Neill and Mike Paulick. Motion adopted.
Motion by Jack Sheard, second by Doug Lanfear to approve 10.b) #10,056 - Consideration of
repealing Ordinance 10,054 and renaming US Highway 30. Roll Call: Ayes Jack Sheard, Mark
Stelk, Jason Conley, Mitchell Nickerson, Doug Brown, Chuck Haase, Maggie Mendoza and
Doug Lanfear. Absent: Ryan O'Neill and Mike Paulick. Motion adopted.
11). ADJOURMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:51 p.m.
City Clerk
Jill Granere