08/21/2025 Minutes Special Meeting OFFICAL PROCEEDINGS
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
August 21, 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 21, 2025. Notice of the meeting was given in The Grand Island Independent
on August 14, 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, Doug Brown, Chuck
Haase, Maggie Mendoza, Ryan O'Neill, Mike Paulick and Doug Lanfear. Mitch Nickerson 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
6.a) FY26 Finance Department Budget Proposal
Cover Page
FY26 Finance Budget
Assistant City Administrator/CFO reported the personnel services would increase 3.8%.
Operating Expense would increase by 31.9% due to the increase in Audit Costs.
6.b) FY26 Information Technology Budget Proposal
Cover Page
Presentation
Assistant City Administrator/CFO reported personnel serviced would increase 8.0% due to a
reclass of Systems Technician to Information Technology Infrastructure Engineer. Operating
Expense would increase by 7.6% due to an increase in contract services.
6.c) Review of Capital Projects, Capital Equipment, and FTE Requests
Cover Page
New FTEs
Reclass Summary
Parks & Recreation Projects
Parks Capital Equipment
Building Inspection
Emergency Management
Fire-Ambulance
Jackrabbit Run Golf Course
Library
Police
Public Works
Solid Waste
Streets Equipment
Page 2 of 3,City Council Special Meeting,August 21,2025
Electric Utility
Water Utility
Assistant City Administrator/CFO Patrick Brown opened discussion on new FTE request and
Re-Classification requests which included 1 police officer, 3 community service officers, Park
maintenance worker, attorney and 5 part time Library Assistants.
Discussion was held on the new Police Officer and CFO's. Police Chief Denney reported the
new Police Officer position would assist with fleet, code enforcement and animal control duties.
The 2 new CFO's would be for animal control with one being a lead. The 3rd would be part
time.
Discussion was held on the Park Maintenance FTE, who would be mainly handling irrigation
systems.
Discussion was held on the FTE request for an attorney and if we contracting work, tracking of
hours and their current workload.
Discussion was held on the Libraries FTE request and being able to extend hours and being able
to fill the positions.
Discussion was held on the reclassification of Police Officer Manager. Chief Denney reported
they did a comparison study and restructuring the department. Mentioned was the increase of pay
being higher than a police officer, police sergeant, police lieutenant and takes them up to captain
wages. Mentioned they would like the job to be looked at over the year and what the rest of the 5
year plan was. Mentioned were more job duties tied to the new position, hourly verses salary.
Mentioned was the concern of other departments requesting the same and could potentially
"opening a can of worms". Mentioned was not looking at it as a clerical position more of an
executive position. Discussion was held on why the job wasn't opened. It was explained if they
did the job re-classification the office manager position would be deleted and therefore a lay off
and do not want to go that route. Mentioned was favoring the restructuring of the department but
looking more into the reclassification.
Discussion was held on hybrid vehicles and gas vehicles.
Discussion was held of the firing range for $675,000 at HPSP putting up a Law Enforcement
Area only there. Mentioned was waiting a year for this project.
Public Works Director Keith Kurz gave an update on the estimated amount of the South Locust
Trail. New numbers showing the project would be estimated at 4.3 million which does not
include the rights-of-way. Mr. Kurz stressed this was just an estimated amount.
Mentioned was the request from HPSP in an amount of$534,000 for updates.
Discussion was held on parks projects Stolley Park Train, Pier Park Improvements, Island Oasis,
Ryder Park and Sout Locust Trial.
Page 3 of 3,City Council Special Meeting,August 21,2025
Discussion was held on the smell at Pier Park and how to address that.
Discussion was held on Island Oasis and not going all in. Mentioned doing the 3 million and that
would replace the pumps and filters and nothing to the public eye to see. Mentioned was putting
those pumps and filters in and later deciding to upgrade those pumps and filters may not work at
that time. The 15 million would be a major renovation to include golf Mentioned was trying to
extend the season at parks facilities.
Discussed was the levy going down.
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 8:22 p.m.
9, : Gnu
Jil Granere
City Clerk