OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Grand Island City Council Regular Meeting - July 23, 2024

City Council — Tuesday, July 23, 2024
BodyGrand Island, Nebraska
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, July 23, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:20

Welcome to our meeting.

0:22

The date is July 23, 2024.

0:26

The time is 7 p.m.

0:28

This is an open meeting of the Grand Island City Council.

0:32

The City of Grand Island abides by the Open Meetings Act in conducting business.

0:36

A copy of the Open Meetings Act is displayed in the back of this room as required by state law.

0:43

The City Council may vote to go into closed session on any agenda item as allowed by state law.

0:51

At this time, please join me and please stand and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance of the United States of America.

1:05

And to the Republic for which it stands.

1:08

One nation under God.

1:19

The City Clerk will now perform roll call.

1:23

Councilmember Mendoza present.

1:25

Councilmember Kaczynski present.

1:27

Councilmember Hazi.

1:29

Present.

1:29

Councilmember Sheard.

1:31

Present.

1:31

Councilmember Pollock.

1:32

Present.

1:33

Councilmember Fitzkey will be absent.

1:35

Councilmember Stelk will be absent.

1:38

Councilmember Nickerson.

1:39

Present.

1:40

Councilmember Lanfier.

1:41

Present.

1:42

Councilmember Conley.

1:43

Present.

1:43

And Mayor Steele.

1:45

Present.

1:46

Also present are Jill Grenier, the City Clerk.

1:50

Laura McAloon, the City Administrator.

1:53

Patrick Brown, the assistant city administrator, Carrie Fisk, the City Attorney, Keith Keith Kurtz, the public works director, and Matthew Gleason, the finance director.

2:08

Individuals who have appropriate items for city council consideration should complete the request for future agenda items form located at the information booth.

2:18

If the issue can be handled administratively without council action, notification will be provided.

2:26

If the item is scheduled for a meeting or a study session, notification of the date will be given.

2:33

Council members, I ask at this time if you wish to poll any of tonight's agenda consent agenda items for further discussion.

2:49

Hearing none, we will continue.

2:54

A sign-up sheet was available in the lobby for individuals wishing to provide input on any of tonight's agenda items.

3:02

If you did not sign up to speak on an agenda item, please come forward.

3:07

State your name and the agenda topic on which you will be speaking.

3:48

Um Pam Bonard with Northwestern Energy.

3:51

We're on item 9A.

3:54

Oh, sure, it's B as and boy, O N R U D S and David, and I have Andy Pollock with me as well.

4:03

Thank you.

4:37

For our summer internship program.

4:39

Just a few months ago, it seems like Laura and I got an email from UNL saying, hey, you want two interns in about a month?

4:46

And we're like, what?

4:48

So uh over that month we worked with Grove Grand Island, Grand Island Tourism.

4:52

We worked with uh the EDC on how we can bring in interns and give them a valuable summer here for the City of Grand Island from the communications department.

5:01

So in that short time, we loaded their plate.

5:04

They were at anything from public works to the fire department to the police department and beyond, and because I'm communications, without further ado, I have a video.

5:16

Back in early April, the UNL College of Journalism reached out to the city of Grand Island asking if we'd be interested in hosting communications interns for the summer.

5:25

And it didn't take long for the two resumes to stand out as Parvis Jambalov and Leilani Diaz rose to the top.

5:33

Oh there we go.

5:37

It was our goal to make the internship anything but normal.

5:40

In just eight weeks, they worked alongside the police department and helped make promotional videos that showed the human side of policing.

5:54

They also worked over at the wastewater treatment plant for public works, helping tell the story of what happens to our stormwater.

6:02

I'm just a tiny range, excited to embark on my journey to Earth.

6:06

But their largest project was to overhaul the educational aspect of parking in downtown Grand Island.

6:12

Recent misinformation sparked the campaign, so it led to this.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████████████████27%
Youth Programs█████████9%
Budget Equity Analysis█████████9%
Procedural███████7%
Tourism Management███████7%
Transportation Safety███████7%
Economic Development███████7%
Public Finance█████5%
Public Engagement████4%
Summary of Proceedings

The developer purchased the property before TIF approval, but the but-for argument was that the project would not happen without TIF. Scott Reef explained that purchasing the land early was necessary to recruit the developer. No other public comments. The resolution was approved unanimously.

Resolutions

  • Resolution 2024-167 – Direct Negotiations with NorthWestern Energy: City Attorney Carrie Fisk explained that NorthWestern Energy filed a rate increase with the Public Service Commission, and state law allows direct negotiation if councils representing 50% of customers pass resolutions. Grand Island, Kearney, North Platte, and Alda have passed similar resolutions. Pam Bonard, Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs for NorthWestern Energy, spoke in favor, noting the process worked well in 2007. Councilmember Hawsey asked about capital projects in Grand Island; Bonard cited system looping, meter relocations, and advanced metering. Approved unanimously.
  • Resolution 2024-168 – Interlocal Cooperation Agreement for NorthWestern Energy Negotiations: Allows the four communities to cooperate and share legal and consulting resources. Approved unanimously.
  • Resolution 2024-169 – Railside Business Improvement District FY2024-2025 Budget: Special assessment of $151,478 (6% increase). Andy Pollock of Railside explained the increase was due to additional groundskeeping and management of the Railside Plaza, offset by cost savings in other areas. Councilmember Nickerson, who owns property in the district, declared a conflict of interest and abstained from the vote. The motion carried.
  • Resolution 2024-170 – 4th Street Business Improvement District FY2024-2025 Budget: Special assessment of $40,000 (no increase). Denise Kozel, BID representative, reported on first-year accomplishments: a streetscape plan funded by CRA ($30,500), CDBG rental assistance ($58,000), a quarterly newsletter, and new trash receptacles. Councilmember Nickerson praised the progress. Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda approved unanimously.
  • One & Six Year Street Improvement Plan (2024-165) approved.
  • Redevelopment Plan Amendment for Legacy 34 hotel (2024-166) approved.
  • Resolutions for NorthWestern Energy direct negotiations (2024-167) and interlocal agreement (2024-168) approved.
  • Railside BID budget (2024-169) approved with Councilmember Nickerson abstaining.
  • 4th Street BID budget (2024-170) approved.
  • All votes were unanimous except where noted.

Council Member Absences

Counsel members Fitzkey and Stelk were absent.

Meeting Transcript

Welcome to our meeting. The date is July 23, 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. At this time, please join me and please stand and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God. The City Clerk will now perform roll call. Councilmember Mendoza present. Councilmember Kaczynski present. Councilmember Hazi. Present. Councilmember Sheard. Present. Councilmember Pollock. Present. Councilmember Fitzkey will be absent. Councilmember Stelk will be absent. Councilmember Nickerson. Present. Councilmember Lanfier. Present. Councilmember Conley. Present. And Mayor Steele. Present. Also present are Jill Grenier, the City Clerk. Laura McAloon, the City Administrator. Patrick Brown, the assistant city administrator, Carrie Fisk, the City Attorney, Keith Keith Kurtz, the public works director, and Matthew Gleason, the finance 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 a study session, notification of the date will be given. Council members, I ask at this time if you wish to poll any of tonight's agenda consent agenda items for further discussion. Hearing none, we will continue. 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. Um Pam Bonard with Northwestern Energy. We're on item 9A. Oh, sure, it's B as and boy, O N R U D S and David, and I have Andy Pollock with me as well. Thank you. For our summer internship program. Just a few months ago, it seems like Laura and I got an email from UNL saying, hey, you want two interns in about a month? And we're like, what? So uh over that month we worked with Grove Grand Island, Grand Island Tourism. We worked with uh the EDC on how we can bring in interns and give them a valuable summer here for the City of Grand Island from the communications department. So in that short time, we loaded their plate.

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