08/19/2025 Minutes Study Session OFFICAL PROCEEDINGS
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION (BUDGET)
August 19, 2025
CALL TO ORDER
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a Study Session (Budget) 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 August 19, 2025. Notice of the meeting was given in The Grand Island Independent
on August 13, 2025. Mayor Roger G. Steele called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. The
following City Council members were present: Jack Sheard, Mark Stelk, Mitch Nickerson, Doug
Brown, Chuck Haase, Ryan O'Neill, Mike Paulick and Doug Lanfear. Maggie Mendoza and
Jason Conley were absent. The following City Officials were present: City Clerk Jill Granere,
City Administrator Laura McAloon, Assistant City Administrator/Finance Director Patrick
Brown, City Attorney Kari Fisk and Public Works Director Keith Kurz.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
5.a) FY2026 Parks & Recreation Budget Proposal
Cover Page
Parks Budget Presentation
Jackrabbit Golf Budget Presentation
HPSP Funding Request FY 2026
Parks and Recreation Director Todd McCoy reported they were requesting one FTE who would
be responsible for the oversite and maintenance of 62 commercial irrigation systems currently in
operation in City's 34 parks.
Recently Completed Projects mentioned:
• Buechler Park Tennis Courts Resurfacing
• Parks and Recreation Master Plan
• Picnic Shelter at Lincoln Park
• Pier Park Skate Park
• Stolley Park Roads and Sidewalks
• Stolley Garden Improvements
• George Park Field Renovation
• Lincoln and Grace Abbott Park Playgrounds
• Cedar Hills Trail Replacement
Capital Equipment carried over from previous FY:
• Ashely Baseball Field Drainage $160,000
• Sucks Lake Park Asphalt$95,000
• Cemetery Asphalt $75,000
• George Park Playground $150,000
Capital Projects mentioned:
• Island Oasis Renovation $15,900,000
• Ryder Baseball Field Improvements $3,313,004
Page 2 of 4,City Council Study Session,August 19,2025
• Stolley Train Area Improvements $2,250,000
• South Locust Street Trial $7,000,000
• Pier Lake Trail Renovation $1,500,000
• East Faidley Irrigation System Replacement$45,000
• Greenhouse Renovations $91,000
• Cemetery Columbarium $23,000
• Ashley Park Playground Replacement $160,000
• Lincoln Pool Diving Board Pedestals Replacement $25,000
• Park Projects Contingency $100,000
• Park Roads &Parking Upgrades $165,000
• Picnic Shelters $75,000
• Tennis/Pickleball Court Renovations $50,000
• Trail Development: West Connector$50,000
Capital Equipment for consideration:
• Parks Air Compressor: $16,000
• Parks 6' Mower: $60,000
• Turf Tank Robotic Line Painter: 18,000
• Cemetery Track Loader: $90,000
Discussion was held on the Stolley Park Garden and keeping it up.
Discussion was held on the trail, on when is the right time to do.
Mentioned was FY2026 Proposed Golf Budget:
• Rounds: 28,250
• Revenue: $1,255,862
• Gross Profit: $1,116,853
Total Expenses: $1,165,881
Mr. McCoy mentioned the recommended Golf& HPSP FY26 Capital Projects:
Jackrabbit Run
• Tree removal/Planting $25,000
• Maintenance Building Roof Replacement(carryover) $49,900
• Cart Path Repair(carryover) $23,000
Heartland Public Shooting Park
• Drainage Solution for Trap & Skeet Fields $47,000
• New Sporting Clay Loop Enhancement$58,000
• Carryover: House, Trap & Skeet Field, Shooting Bay Projects $263,506
Jason Hornady from the Heartland Public Shooting Park reported on the economic impact for
major events being $2,105,208 with total business sales estimating at $229,446. Mentioned were
upcoming events of the IPSC Shotgun World Qualifier, 4-H State Championships and Prairie
Circuit Conference.
Page 3 of 4,City Council Study Session,August 19,2025
Project Updates mentioned were as follows:
Trap and Skeet Facilities:
Problems still needed to be solved:
• Rusted and rotting doors
• Deteriorated buildings were no longer weatherproof
• Machines required rebuilding and maintenance
Progress mentioned were construction close to completion, all machines requiring rebuilding
have been rebuilt, employees have been trained in the rebuild of these complex machines.
2025 Budget to be carried forward in the amount of$195,984.
Park Residential House:
Problems still needed to be solved:
• Water damage and mold
• AC unit replacement
• Deteriorated siding
• Building updates
• Various concrete issues
Progress mentioned was repairs are completed, siding replaced, interior completely remodeled,
concrete work completed except for a small patio.
2025 Budget to be carried forward in an amount of$17,522.72.
Justin with Landscapes spoke on the positive relationship with the City and Jackrabbit Golf
Course.
Public Shooting Bays:
Problems still needed to be solved:
• Area flattened to set a silhouette course
• Small berms behind target stands
Progress mentioned was ground is now leveled.
2025 Budget to be carried forward in an amount of$50,000.
Objectives mentioned for the 2026 Budget request was that the HPSP was a destination location
in Nebraska and their goal is to continue to enhance the aesthetics as well as expand the function
of the park by the following:
• New sporting clay loop enhancement: $97,183
• Trap/Skeet Field Drainage: $47,000
• Existing Storage Building: $390,000
• Camper Pad Expansion& Facilities: $401,000
Page 4 of 4,City Council Study Session,August 19,2025
Mike Osberg, Susanne Osberg, Greg Geis spoke in regards to Jackrabbit and complimented how
it was being run.
Gerald Poels spoke in opposition to the Stolley Train, Island Oasis, the Trail and Ryder Park
projects.
5.b) FY2026 Heartland Event Centers Budget Proposal -VenuWorks
Cover Page
FY2026 Grand Island HEC Budget
VenuWorks Budget Overview -2026
FY2026 HEC CIP Plan 26-30
Kyler mentioned the following revenues:
• Building Rent: $294,850
• Contractually Obligated Revenue: $400,986
• Reimbursed Event Expense: $406,319
• Food & Beverage Revenue: $1,102,183
• Other Revenues (tickets, merchandise, fees) $2,162,265
TOTAL: $4,366,603
Expenses mentioned were as follows:
• Cost of goods sold: $1,939,354
• Personnel Cost: $1,429,693
• General &Administrative Costs: $63,615
• Occupancy Costs: $557,740
• Services & Operations Cost: $197,790
• Event Expenses: $548,607
• Food&Beverage Expenses: $131,483
TOTAL: $4,868,282
Summary overview:
Reveunues: $4,366,603
Expenses: $4,868,282
Net Opertaing Loss: ($501,679)
Owner Operating Investment: $500,000 (Hotel Occupation Tax)
Net Income: ($1,679)
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
Ji Granere
City Clerk