Grand Island City Council Regular Meeting - February 25, 2025
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Grand Island City Council Regular Meeting - February 25, 2025
The Grand Island City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers, 100 E First Street. All nine council members and the mayor were present. The meeting included recognition of the Northwest Girls Bowling Team, a quarterly police department update, a consent agenda with numerous routine items, a contested ground lease with Fonner Park, several public hearings, and ordinance approvals. The meeting adjourned into executive session at 8:46 PM.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes of the February 8, 2025, City Council Retreat and the February 11, 2025, Regular Meeting.
- Approved payment of claims for February 12–25, 2025, totaling $5,530,746.68.
- Approved Motorola Solutions Contract Change Order #1.
- Approved Fire Department purchase of exercise equipment.
- Approved proposal for Platte Generating Station Pulse Jet Fabric Filter Restoration.
- Approved bid award for South Locust Street Paving Improvements – Wood River Diversion Bridge Repair.
- Approved Caterpillar D7 Dozer comprehensive maintenance for Solid Waste Division.
- Approved bid award for Road Gravel 2025.
- Approved designation of single source provider for Yunex traffic signal controllers.
- Approved Moser Subdivision, Grace Lutheran Second Subdivision, and Baxter Farms Subdivision.
- Approved Grand Island Public Library Camera Replacement System.
- Approved Payroll and Human Resources Software Solution.
Note: Item 7P (Ground Lease with Hall County Livestock Improvement Authority) was pulled from the consent agenda for discussion. The consent agenda was approved for items 7A through 7O.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Mr. Vavricek (former mayor) spoke on the ground lease, expressing opposition and urging the council to delay the decision for a study session. He argued the lease would impede the Nebraska State Fair's potential growth, as the land is the only ground on the campus not under Fonner Park control. He emphasized the long-term (50-year) impact and requested more transparency, noting the absence of Fonner Park and casino representatives at the meeting.
- Mr. Vavricek also spoke on Ordinance 10,010, questioning the city's use of a resolution to modify the lodging tax, contrary to a 2000 ordinance, and he submitted a request for a future agenda item on the matter.
Discussion Items
- Quarterly Police Department Update (Chief Denny): Chief Denny provided a comprehensive update on activities in 2023 and 2024, noting a $30,000 fundraiser for police week that allowed 25 people to travel to Washington, D.C., for Chris Marcelo's name addition to the fallen officers memorial. He highlighted new patrol vehicle graphics, a new patch design, reclassification of two record supervisor positions, additions of two lieutenant and two sergeant positions, and a property/evidence tech lead. Staffing improved from about 66 officers in January 2023 to 84 by December 2024, with an authorized strength of 91 and a goal of 102 by January 2027. Crime totals dropped by about 1,000 offenses from 2022 to 2024. For January 2025, calls for service were up 10%, traffic stops up 40%, and traffic accidents down 36%. The department aims to reduce crime by 20% in 2025 through leadership, community engagement, visible patrol, and hotspot mapping. Council members expressed support and asked questions about diversity (which Chief Denny indicated reflects the community) and technology crimes.
- Ground Lease with Fonner Park (7P): City Administrator Laura McAlloon presented a proposal to lease city-owned property north of State Fair Boulevard to Fonner Park to construct approximately 1,100 parking stalls (about 10 acres). The lease would be for 50 years (initially reported as 75 years, but corrected), with Fonner Park paying 100% of construction and maintenance costs. The parking lot would be public and not exclusive to the casino. Staff recommended approval, noting that the casino cannot open without the parking and that a temporary certificate of occupancy would require completion by August 15, 2026. Several council members expressed concerns about the long-term commitment, the impact on the State Fair's ability to grow, and the lack of stakeholder presence. A motion to postpone to March 25 failed 5-4. A subsequent motion to approve passed 6-4.
- Public Hearing for Liquor License (8A): The public hearing for OGSL, LLC (Tacos Las Palmas) Class C liquor license was opened and closed with no speakers. Council approved Resolution 2025-68.
- Sale of RJ Olson Subdivision Lots (9A): Mr. Schmitz presented the sale of two lots held since 1985 for $309,000 to LMP Investments, describing it as a win-win for maintenance cost savings and community use. Council approved Resolution 2025-69.
- Ordinance 10,010 (Co-Generation Standby Rates): Mr. Schmitz explained that this ordinance clarifies definitions for standby rates, which apply to large entities (1 MW or more) that install their own generation (e.g., solar) and rely on the city as backup. Rates remain the same. Council approved the ordinance.
- Ordinance 10,011 (Sale of RJ Olson Lots): This ordinance formalized the property sale, and council approved it.
- Executive Session (11A): Council voted unanimously to enter executive session at 8:46 PM to discuss active litigation and negotiations regarding city-owned real estate. The agenda noted the session would cover strategy for negotiations. No further public action was taken before adjournment.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda approved for items 7A through 7O.
- Ground Lease with Fonner Park (2025-67): Approved 6-4 after a motion to postpone failed 5-4. The lease allows Fonner Park to build and maintain 1,100 public parking stalls on city land, at no cost to the city.
- Liquor License for Tacos Las Palmas: Approved (Resolution 2025-68).
- Sale of RJ Olson Subdivision Lots: Approved (Resolution 2025-69 and Ordinance 10,011).
- Ordinance 10,010: Approved to clarify co-generation standby rates.
- Executive Session: Entered at 8:46 PM; no further public actions were taken after.
Note: The meeting ended in executive session, so no final adjournment time was recorded in the transcript.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome to our meeting. The date is February twenty-five, two thousand twenty-five. 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. Tonight we are honored to have scouts from Troop 14 who are working on their citizenship and communications badges. The scouts with us this evening are Kate Schultz, Trace Gerhardis, Kyler Fraley, Camden Quant, Ruxon Layshawk, and Maximum Maximus Gearhard. At this time, I would like us all to stand, and I invite the scouts forward up by the main podium to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you, Troop 14, and well done. The City Clerk will now perform roll call. Council President Sheard. Here. Councilmember Conley. Present. Councilmember Nickerson. Present. Councilmember Brown. Present. Councilmember Housey. Present. Councilmember Mendoza. Present. Councilmember O'Neill. Present. Councilmember Pollock. Present. Councilmember Lanfier. Present. And Mayor Steele. Present. Also present are Jill Grenair, the City Clerk, Laura McAlloon, the City Administrator, Matthew Gleason, the Finance Director, Carrie Fisk, the City Attorney, 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, Mr. Nickerson has asked that seven P be removed from the consent agenda item for more discussion. Seven P is in call. 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. Thank you for polling the resolution item P. I'd like to speak on that, which is uh regarding the grand lease between the City of Grand Island and the Hall County Livestock Improvement Association. I'd also like to reserve the opportunity to address council on ordinance A, ordinance 1010. Thank you. The first item on our agenda is recognition of Northwest Girls Bowling Team State Championship. Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, we are celebrating not just a championship, but a testament to resilience and determination. We're joined tonight by the Class B champion, Northwest Girls Bowling Team, and what a journey you have had. After an early setback, many teams might have wavered or packed it in, but not you.
openpublica.com