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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Grand Island City Council Regular Meeting – December 3, 2024

City Council — Tuesday, December 3, 2024

BodyGrand Island, Nebraska

SessionCity Council

DateTuesday, December 3, 2024

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:15:16

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0:20

Welcome to our meeting.

0:22

The date is December three, two thousand twenty-four.

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.

0:37

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

0:44

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

0:53

For the members in our audience, I ask that you please stand and join us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:08

And to the Republic for which it stands.

1:14

Indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

1:25

Councilmember Mendoza.

1:26

Present.

1:27

Councilmember Kaczynski.

1:28

Present.

1:29

Councilmember Housey.

1:30

Present.

1:31

Councilmember Sheard.

1:32

Present.

1:33

Councilmember Pollock.

1:34

Present.

1:34

Councilmember Fitzkey.

1:36

Present.

1:36

Council President Stelk.

1:38

Present.

1:38

Councilmember Nickerson.

1:40

Present.

1:41

Councilmember Lanfear.

1:42

Present.

1:42

Councilmember Conley.

1:44

Present.

1:44

And Mayor Steele.

1:45

Present.

1:46

Also present are Jill Grenier, the City Clerk.

1:50

Sonia Cisneros, the deputy city clerk.

1:54

Laura McAlloon, the City Administrator.

1:57

Matthew Gleason, the finance director, Carrie Fisk, the City Attorney, Keith Kurtz, the Public Works Director, and Patrick Brown, the assistant city administrator, CFO.

2:14

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

2:24

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

2:32

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

2:39

Council members, do you wish to poll any of tonight's consent agenda items?

2:53

Hearing none, we shall continue.

2:58

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

3:07

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

3:12

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

3:46

Tonight, we will recognize students selected as all state musicians from Northwest High School.

3:54

The All-State Musicians from Grand Island Senior High have a scheduling conflict, so they will appear at our meeting on December 17.

4:04

But we are thrilled to have with us tonight the Allstate Musicians from Northwest High School.

4:11

Being selected as an all-state musician takes a lot of work and dedication.

4:18

The City Clerk, Jill Grenier, and I will acknowledge the accomplishment of the teachers and the and the students with a certificate and a City of Grand Island PIN.

4:31

This is our way of saying thank you for you having made our city proud through your dedication to excellence.

4:40

Mrs.

4:40

Grenier.

5:06

We'll lead off with where it begins for students with the teachers.

5:12

You're fortunate to have great instructors who have inspired you to do great things.

5:18

Mr.

5:18

Jeff Villadal.

5:27

Mr.

5:28

Villad.

5:29

And while you're here, Mr.

5:30

Villadal, I understand Jared Hanson couldn't be here tonight, but please give this to him.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Procedural██████████████████████████████████████38%

Personnel Matters███████████████████████23%

Conflict of Interest Policy██████████████████████22%

Public Finance██████████10%

Arts And Culture███████7%

Summary of Proceedings

Grand Island City Council Regular Meeting – December 3, 2024

The Grand Island City Council held its regular meeting on December 3, 2024, at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers, 100 E First Street. The meeting included recognition of All-State musicians, farewell to outgoing councilmembers, swearing in of new councilmembers, election of a council president, approval of a consent agenda, and several resolutions. A key debate occurred over the conflict of interest policy, which passed after a failed amendment to exclude elected officials.

Presentations and Proclamations

Recognition of All-State Musicians: Students from Northwest High School were recognized for their achievement as All-State musicians. Council members praised their hard work and dedication.
Recognition of Outgoing Councilmembers: Councilmembers Michelle Fitzke (Ward 1) and Bethany Guzinski (Ward 3) were honored for their service from December 8, 2000, to December 3, 2024. Both received plaques and delivered brief remarks thanking the community.

Special Items

Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the November 19, 2024, regular meeting were approved unanimously by roll call vote (10-0).
Approval of Claims: Payment of claims for November 20–December 3, 2024, totaling $4,861,191.67, was approved unanimously (10-0).
Acceptance of Election Certificate: The election certificate was accepted unanimously (10-0).
Recess and Oath of Office: After a recess, the city clerk administered the oath to newly elected councilmembers Chuck Hause, Mike Pollock, Mark Stelk, Ryan O’Neill, and Doug Brown. They were seated and gave brief comments.
Election of Council President: Councilmember Lanfear nominated Mark Stelk, but then withdrew after questioning term limits. Councilmember Hause nominated Jack Sheard. A motion to cease nominations passed, and Jack Sheard was elected council president by a vote of 6–4.

Consent Agenda

Items 8A through 8L were approved unanimously. These included:
- Approval of PGS Coal Combustion Residual Groundwater Services Task 25
- Coal freight transportation contract with Union Pacific Railroad
- Purchase of two dump trucks for the Water Department
- Professional engineering consulting services for sewer repairs
- Bid award for non-hazardous glycerin-based carbon source
- Purchase of a utility vehicle for the Wastewater Division
- Change order for Claude Road project
- Purchase of a pickup truck for Jackrabbit Run Golf Course
- Annual agreement for ClearGov strategic plan software
- Police Department patrol vehicle up-fitting

Resolutions

#2024-285 – Conflict of Interest Policy: A motion to amend the policy to exclude elected officials was made by Councilmember Hause and seconded by Councilmember Lanfear. After extensive discussion, including City Attorney Fisk’s explanation that federal funding eligibility required inclusion of elected officials, the amendment failed. The original resolution then passed 9–1, with Councilmember Hause voting no.
#2024-328 – Labor Agreement with IBEW Local 1597: A three-year agreement covering service, clerical, and finance employees was approved unanimously. Changes included job classification updates, longevity pay increases, vacation adjustments, overtime calculation including holiday hours, weather event pay provisions, addition of President’s Day as a holiday, and wage increases of 4% in year 1 and 3% in years 2 and 3.
#2024-329 – Revised Personnel Rules and Regulations: Unanimously approved. The update incorporated changes from the IBEW contract and housekeeping items such as updated dress code, conflict of interest language, and payroll clarifications.
#2024-330 – Appointment of Shannon Callahan as Street Superintendent: Unanimously approved. The appointment makes the city eligible for $8,000 in state funding per statute.

Ordinances

#10,003 – Salary Ordinance: Unanimously approved after suspension of statutory rules. The ordinance captures wage changes from the IBEW contract and non-union adjustments.

Key Outcomes

Conflict of Interest Policy passed 9-1 after a failed amendment to exclude elected officials.
Council President election: Jack Sheard elected by 6-4 vote.
All other resolutions and ordinances passed unanimously.
Outgoing councilmembers Fitzke and Guzinski were recognized; new councilmembers were sworn in.
The meeting adjourned at an unspecified time after completing all agenda items.

Meeting Transcript

Welcome to our meeting. The date is December three, two thousand twenty-four. 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. For the members in our audience, I ask that you please stand and join us in the Pledge of Allegiance. And to the Republic for which it stands. Indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Councilmember Mendoza. Present. Councilmember Kaczynski. Present. Councilmember Housey. Present. Councilmember Sheard. Present. Councilmember Pollock. Present. Councilmember Fitzkey. Present. Council President Stelk. Present. Councilmember Nickerson. Present. Councilmember Lanfear. Present. Councilmember Conley. Present. And Mayor Steele. Present. Also present are Jill Grenier, the City Clerk. Sonia Cisneros, the deputy city clerk. Laura McAlloon, the City Administrator. Matthew Gleason, the finance director, Carrie Fisk, the City Attorney, Keith Kurtz, the Public Works Director, and Patrick Brown, the assistant city administrator, CFO. 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, do you wish to poll any of tonight's consent agenda items? Hearing none, we shall 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. Tonight, we will recognize students selected as all state musicians from Northwest High School. The All-State Musicians from Grand Island Senior High have a scheduling conflict, so they will appear at our meeting on December 17. But we are thrilled to have with us tonight the Allstate Musicians from Northwest High School. Being selected as an all-state musician takes a lot of work and dedication. The City Clerk, Jill Grenier, and I will acknowledge the accomplishment of the teachers and the and the students with a certificate and a City of Grand Island PIN. This is our way of saying thank you for you having made our city proud through your dedication to excellence.

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