Grand Island City Council Special Meeting - March 4, 2025: Ground Lease Amendment and Executive Session
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Grand Island City Council Special Meeting - March 4, 2025
This special meeting of the Grand Island City Council was held on March 4, 2025, at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers, 100 E First Street. The council considered a first amendment to a ground lease with the Hall County Livestock Improvement Association (Fonner Park) and then voted to enter executive session to discuss contract and real estate negotiations related to the Goodlife District Economic Development Program and development at Veterans Village. Councilmembers Mendoza and Pollock were absent.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Mr. White (journalist) expressed concerns about the planned executive session, noting that the agenda language suggested broader strategic and financial considerations beyond real estate negotiations. He emphasized that the Veterans Village project involves significant taxpayer funds and represents the largest TIF project in city history, urging transparency. He reminded council members they could challenge the continuation of a closed session under the Open Meetings Act. Councilmember Lanfear questioned why Mr. White was raising concerns now rather than a year ago; Mr. White replied that he had attended recent public meetings and was looking forward to the TIF discussion, but learned it would be delayed to executive session.
Discussion Items
-
Resolution #2025-70 – First Amendment to Ground Lease (City and Fonner Park): City Administrator Laura McAloon explained that on February 25, 2025, via Resolution 2025-67, the council authorized a ground lease for improving parking on unimproved city-owned land near Fonner Park. The mayor had not yet signed the lease because further negotiations occurred after public comment by former Mayor Vavracek. The amendment modifies Section 20 of the lease to allow termination of some or all parking access if future land use needs change, subject to the city providing equivalent replacement parking (paved, lit, and within approximately the same distance) within 12 months' notice. The amendment was approved by Fonner Park at a special board meeting on March 3, 2025, and has no additional fiscal impact. Councilmember Sheard asked if the change was precipitated by concerns about expanding State Fair buildings; McAloon confirmed it was in response to former Mayor Vavracek's concerns about the lack of termination clauses. Sheard also asked about replacement parking requirements; McAloon clarified that equivalent parking would need to be provided on nearby property. Councilmember Nickerson called on Jamie (likely from the Nebraska State Fair) to speak; Jamie stated that the State Fair was involved in early conversations and the amendment makes them very comfortable moving forward. The council then voted unanimously to approve Resolution 2025-70.
-
Executive Session (Item 7a): Mayor Steele announced the agenda item for executive session to discuss contract and real estate negotiations and strategic risk assessments related to the Goodlife District Economic Development Program and development at Veterans Village. After public comment, Councilmember Lanfear moved to go into executive session to protect the public interest, seconded by Councilmember O'Neill. The motion passed. The record reflects the council entered executive session at 6:12 PM.
Key Outcomes
- Resolution #2025-70 was approved unanimously (all present members voted in favor).
- The council voted to enter executive session at 6:12 PM to discuss the Goodlife District and Veterans Village matters. No further actions were taken in open session.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome to our meeting. The date is March 4, 2025. The time is 6 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 rise and recite with us the Pledge of Allegiance. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice furroll. The city clerk will now perform roll call. Council President Sheard. Present. Councilmember Stelk. Here. Councilmember Conley. Present. Councilmember Nickerson. Present. Councilmember Brown? Present. Councilmember Housey. Present. Councilmember Mendoza will be absent. Councilmember O'Neill? Present. Councilmember Pollock will be absent. Councilmember Lanfear? Present. And Mayor Steele. Present. Also present. Are Jill Grenier, the City Clerk? Laura McAlloon, the City Administrator. Matthew Gleason, the Finance Director, Stacey Nonhoff, the Assistant City Attorney, and Patrick Brown, the Assistant City Administrator and Chief Financial Officer. 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. 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. So we will proceed with our agenda. The first being item 6A, approving First Amendment to the February 25, 2025 ground lease between the City of Grand Island and the Hall County Livestock Improvement Association. Mrs. MacAloon. Thank you, Mayor. On February 25th, via resolution 2025-67, the City Council for the City of Grand Island authorized the mayor to execute a ground lease between the city and Hall County Livestock Improvement Association, commonly known as Fonner Park, to facilitate the improvement of parking facilities on currently unimproved city-owned land near the Fauner Park campus. The mayor has not yet signed the ground lease into law because we following the public comment by former Mayor Vavracek entered into further negotiations with Fonner Park. And as a result of those further negotiations, we developed and approved an amendment that's been presented to you tonight. The amendment is to Section 20 of the ground lease, and it will facilitate termination of some or all of the parking access should future land use needs change on the campus, subject to the city providing similar replacement parking access. This amendment has already been approved by Fawner Park at a special board meeting on the morning of March 3, 2025.
openpublica.com