Grand Island City Council Regular Meeting - June 11, 2024
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Grand Island City Council Regular Meeting - June 11, 2024
The Grand Island City Council met on June 11, 2024 at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers at 100 E First Street. The meeting included recognition of the Mayor for a Day winner, farewell to outgoing library board members, a presentation on the newly approved Good Life District Economic Development Program, approval of a new Fire Station #3 construction bid, public hearings for liquor licenses and utility easements, and adoption of salary, electric, and water rate ordinances.
Presentations and Proclamations
- Mayor for a Day Recognition: Sixth-grader Sibel Reyes Albaguer was recognized as the winner of the essay contest. He spent the day touring the fire department, police department, and the Platte Generating Station. The mayor highlighted the educational value of the experience.
- Recognition of Exiting Library Board Members: Tanya Hanson (served 2016–2024, twice as president) and Jamie Parr (served 2018–2024, past president) were honored for their service. The library director noted their contributions to strategic planning, policy revisions, and the introduction of the Community Connection Center.
Consent Calendar
- Items 7A through 7H were approved unanimously. Item 7I (Fire Station #3 construction bid) was pulled for separate discussion.
- Approved items included: minutes of the May 21, 2024 meeting; payment of claims ($4,752,441.00); appointments to the Library Board (Daryl Kelley and Nelly Venegas); wastewater cost-of-service rates; bid awards for two 2024 Ford Explorer 4x4 XLTs, annual road deicing salt, and GIAMPO transportation planning; HIDTA grant ($60,014.00); and Fire Station #3 bid award (see below).
Public Hearings & Testimony
- Travelers Taproom LLC (Class I Liquor License): Jeffrey and Tosha Edwards described their self-serve taproom concept with 60 taps, 45 focused on Nebraska craft beers, and a separate whiskey/bourbon/wine bar. The system uses RFID cards to control servings and prevent over-service. No public testimony opposed. Approved (2024-136).
- Aliyah's Restaurant LLC dba Sanchez Restaurant (Class C Liquor License): Attorney Zach Butts spoke on behalf of the applicant, noting the restaurant is a long-standing family business transitioning to new ownership. The addition of liquor service was requested. No opposition. Approved (2024-137).
- Utility Easement Acquisitions: Three public hearings were held for easements at 3270 W. Capital Ave (Veteran's Cemetery), 612 E. 4th St (State Glass), and 2360 S. Engelmann Rd (Timothy and Heidi Hiebner). No public testimony was offered. All three resolutions (2024-138, 139, 140) were approved unanimously.
Discussion Items
- Good Life District Economic Development Program (LB 1317): Mike Rogers of Gilmore & Bell presented the new state legislation. The state approved Woodsonia's Good Life District application, reducing the state sales tax from 5.5% to 2.75% within the district effective October 1, 2024. The city may impose a local 2.75% sales tax or occupation tax to replace the foregone revenue, but voter approval is required. The program lasts 30 years, with investment benchmarks: 10% of $100 million committed within 3 years, 50% within 7, and 75% within 10. The city council would control the economic development program, not the developer. Council members expressed support for the tool but concerns about additional occupation taxes. The city's 2023 net taxable sales inside the district were approximately $287 million, meaning a 2.75% local tax could generate about $7.9 million annually if fully captured. No council action was taken; the presentation was informational.
- Fire Station #3 Construction Bid Award (Item 7I): Fire Chief presented the need for a new station due to outdated facilities (1987 satellite station), health/safety concerns (cancer prevention zones), and workforce diversity (need for gender-separated quarters). The lowest bid was $5,029,000 (seven bids received, top three within $154,000). The original estimate was $4.5 million. The higher cost was attributed to market volatility, a small site, and underground stormwater detention. Construction is expected to take 360 days plus 90 days for demolition. The bid award was approved unanimously.
- Salary Ordinance #9969: The council approved reclassification of two FTEs: a systems tech repurposed to an enterprise/system administrator in IT, and a police department FTE split into a community service officer lead and an evidence tech lead. The police chief explained that the evidence tech lead would provide a supervisory tier for code enforcement officers, aiding retention and allowing sergeants to focus on other duties. Approved.
- Electric Rates Ordinance #9977: A 6% increase effective October 1, 2024, and 3% effective October 1, 2025, was approved. Average residential bill increase: $5.02 in year one, $2.69 in year two. Despite the increase, Grand Island retains the lowest residential electric rates among Nebraska metropolitan areas. The finance director noted that the solar field agreement is a long-term benefit and not related to the rate increase.
- Water Rates Ordinance #9978: A 7.4% increase in year one (including 0.4% for the backflow program) and 7% in year two was approved. Average residential bill increase: $1.89 each year. Grand Island will maintain the lowest water rates in the state. The city now covers single-family residential service line costs from main to curb stop, and lead service replacement is largely funded by SRF grants.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: Approved 7A–7H; 7I approved separately.
- Liquor Licenses: Both Travelers Taproom (Class I) and Sanchez Restaurant (Class C) approved unanimously.
- Utility Easements: All three resolutions (2024-138, 139, 140) approved.
- Fire Station #3 Construction: Bid awarded to the lowest bidder (amount not specified in transcript but bid range $5,029,000 to $5,558,000).
- Salary Ordinance #9969: Approved.
- Electric Rates Ordinance #9977: Approved (6% + 3% over two years).
- Water Rates Ordinance #9978: Approved (7.4% + 7% over two years).
- Executive Session: The council voted unanimously to enter executive session at 8:00 PM to discuss strategy regarding real estate. No further action was taken in open session.
Meeting Transcript
No, no, I was I did do meetings, but I did them with my camera channels. Yep, yep, and I missed that. Um the only thing that I did do was the we had started our own. Welcome to our meeting. The date is June 11, 2024. The time is 7 p.m. This is an open meeting of the Grand Island City Council. The City of Grand Island abides by the Open Meetings Act in conducting business. A copy of the Open Meetings Act is displayed in the back of this room as required by state law. The City Council may vote to go into closed session on any agenda item as allowed by state law. Nearly one hundred seventy-five thousand American, Canadian, and British troops entered Normandy either by air or sea at a cost of some four thousand five hundred allies killed, although the fighting was so fierce that no exact figures are possible. This was the largest seaborne invasion in the history of the world. Present. Carrie Fisk, the city attorney, Matthew Gleason, the finance director, and Keith Kurtz, the public works director. Individuals who have appropriate items for city council consideration should complete the request for future agenda items form located at the information booth. If the issue can be handled administratively without council action, notification will be provided. If the item is scheduled for a meeting or study session, notification of the date will be given. Council members, at this time I ask you if you would like to remove any of tonight's consent agenda items for additional discussion. Mr. Nickerson. Yes, I'd like to remove seven eye. Thank you, sir. A sign-up sheet was available in the lobby for individuals wishing to provide input on any of tonight's agenda items. If you did not sign up to speak on an agenda item, please come forward. State your name and the agenda topic on which you will be speaking. But my name's Zach Butts. I am uh legal counsel for uh item 8B. No one else has asked to speak, so we will continue. We continue with 6A. Mayor for a day recognition. Mr. Schubert. Good evening, Spencer Schubert, Communications Manager for the Great City of Grand Island. Over the last two months, we've had a fun extraordinary opportunity with our local sixth grade students through all of our districts. Northwest, Trinity Lutheran, Grand Island Public Schools, and Grand Island Central Catholic. We tasked them with writing an essay that says, if you were mayor, what would you want to see by the time you graduate in 2030? But also, what do you like about Grand Island now? We had over 88 entries. I think it was 89 to be exact. And at the end of it, the grand prize was 100 from the Grand Island Chamber uh Foundation, but also a mayor for a day experience, which we executed today. So instead of me blabbing about it, we made a video because that's what I do. So I'm gonna bring that up and let you guys watch this at that at this time. Dozens of sixth graders wrote essays. Time they graduate. But the winner, Sibel Reyes Albaguer, earned a mayor for a day experience with Mayor Roger Steele. The day started off at the fire department. Sibel was shown anything from the living quarters to the staff kitchen, where Mayor Roger Steele joked that some of the best cooks in Grand Island can be found. I also took a look at the gear firefighters wear when battling those fires, something Sybell would become quite familiar with in just a few moments. Once geared up, Seibel was tasked with putting out his first fire, even if his mom was in the way. Then it was time to go up as the Grand Island Fire Bucket Truck gave Sybell and the Mayor a bird's eye view of how high firefighters sometimes need to go to serve the people of Grand Island.
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