Grand Island City Council Regular Meeting - March 25, 2025

The Grand Island City Council held its regular meeting on March 25, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting covered consent agenda items, public hearings for liquor licenses and a conditional use permit for a sand and gravel operation, approval of right-of-way and easement acquisitions, a resolution updating parking regulations, and a presentation on a Nebraska Supreme Court ruling. All council members were present except Councilmember Pollock.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda (items 6A through 6W) was approved with the exception of items 6R (911 software) and 6T (Jack Rabbit Run transfer), which were pulled for separate discussion.
• Approved items included: minutes of previous meetings, payment of claims totaling $6,584,091.07 for March 12-25, 2025, appointments to the Public Art Commission, labor contract addendum, RFP award for tree inventory, racquet center management agreement, bid award for diesel exhaust capture system, fire department software purchase, change order for architect fees for Fire Station #3, bid award for 2025 asphalt resurfacing project (No. 2025-AC-1), temporary construction easements for multiple street projects, bid awards for precipitator/boiler cleaning and inspection, purchase of a 2025 digger/derrick, purchase of electronic security system for City Hall, transfer of funds to Jack Rabbit Run Golf Course (item 6T, considered separately), purchase of IT services, CDBG subrecipient agreement with Project Hunger, and purchase of a 2025 Ford Maverick for the Police Department.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public signed up to speak on agenda items, and no public comments were made on the consent agenda or other items.

Public Hearings

• 7A – Damian's Convenience (Class D Liquor License): A public hearing was held for a Class D liquor license for Damian's Convenience LLC at 2105 W 2nd St. The city clerk reported that the application was filed February 20, 2025, and a notice was published March 15, 2025. Departmental reports recommended approval upon final inspection. No one spoke, and the council approved the license (Resolution 2025-110) unanimously.
• 7B – Rodeo West Lounge (Class C Liquor License): A public hearing was held for a Class C liquor license for Rodeo West Lounge at 811 W 4th St. The application was filed February 27, 2025, with a March 15, 2025 public notice. Recommendation was approval upon final inspection. No public testimony was given, and the council approved (Resolution 2025-111) unanimously.
• 7C – Hooker Bros. Sand and Gravel Conditional Use Permit: A public hearing was held on a request from Hooker Bros. Sand and Gravel, Inc. for a conditional use permit to operate a sand and gravel operation on parcels east of Blaine Street and north of Schimmer Road (Parcels #400208326 & 400208377). The property is zoned TA (Transitional Agriculture). Staff recommended approval with standard conditions listed in the resolution. Steve Hanson, a neighboring property owner, expressed concern about the potential impact of the operation on his irrigation well and nearby household wells, questioning who would pay for relocation if the well was affected. Jeff Hooker, representing Hooker Bros., stated that the company has operated sand and gravel operations for 52 years without affecting any irrigation wells, noting that the water table is equal to the lake level and that they would maintain a 150-foot buffer from the well. No other public testimony was offered. Councilmember Hawsey proposed adding a condition that would pause operations if the irrigation well was disrupted. After discussion, the council voted to postpone the decision to the April 8, 2025 meeting to allow staff to draft an appropriate condition. The motion to postpone passed unanimously.
• 7D – Acquisition of Public Right-of-Way for South Locust Street Improvements: A public hearing was held for the acquisition of public right-of-way for the South Locust Street improvement project (Project No. 2021-P-6) from Fonner Park Road to 2nd Street. No public testimony was given, and the council approved the acquisition (Resolution 2025-113) unanimously.
• 7E – Acquisition of Permanent Easement for Independence Avenue Project: A public hearing was held for a permanent easement needed for the Independence Avenue project (Project No. 2023-P-10) from Capital Avenue to Manchester Road. The easement is for an existing sidewalk that is currently not in the public right-of-way. Councilmember Sheard asked about the plan; Public Works Director Keith Kurtz explained that the easement is to legally allow public use of the sidewalk. No public testimony was given, and the council approved (Resolution 2025-114) unanimously.

Discussion Items

• 6R – 911 Quality Review and Training Software (Comms Coach AI): Mr. Rosenland presented the software, which uses artificial intelligence to monitor and review 911 calls and radio recordings. Currently, senior dispatchers manually review about 1.5-2% of calls, taking 15-20 minutes per call. The AI tool would allow 100% review of all calls, identify calls for special recognition or concern, and provide realistic training simulations (e.g., generating a scenario with a 10-year-old caller). The software is stored locally, and vendor does not access data. Councilmember Nickerson praised the tool as a positive use of AI. The council approved the purchase.
• 6T – Transfer of Funds to Jack Rabbit Run Golf Course Operating Account: Mr. Brown presented a request to transfer $100,000 to the golf course operating account. The city has a management contract with Landscape's Unlimited since December 2020, which is nearing its end. Councilmember Hawsey questioned the need for the transfer, noting that the golf course had positive cash flow last year and that the city has never received money back from previous transfers ($85,000 in 2022, $100,000 in 2024). He expressed skepticism, stating that the goal of breaking even has not been achieved. Brown explained that the operating account is joint and leftover funds would return to the city. The council approved the transfer unanimously, with the understanding that a broader discussion on the golf course's future will occur during budget season.
• 8A – Updated Parking Regulations: Mr. Kurtz presented Resolution 2025-115 to add a no-parking zone along Museum Drive near a substation and the new solar farm. The utility department reported issues with JBS truck parking infringing on the right-of-way. The Police Department concurred with enforcement. Councilmember Hawsey expressed hope that JBS would find sufficient parking elsewhere. The council approved the resolution unanimously.
• 9A – Update on Nebraska Supreme Court Ruling (Woodsonia v. AMC): City Attorney Carrie Fisk provided a summary of the Nebraska Supreme Court's opinion in Woodsonia HWY 281 v. American Multi-Cinema, 318 Neb. 592 (2025). The case involved a dispute over AMC's lease at Conestoga Mall. The court ruled that the eviction action was improper and reset the case to March 2023. Since the building no longer exists, practical challenges remain. Fisk confirmed that the City of Grand Island has no exposure in the case, and the Community Redevelopment Authority (CRA) is separate. The council noted the importance of proceeding slowly and carefully with legal matters.

Key Outcomes

• Votes on Consent Agenda: Approved all items except 6R and 6T, which were considered separately.
• 6R (911 Software): Approved unanimously.
• 6T (Jack Rabbit Run Transfer): Approved unanimously, with councilmember Hawsey expressing concerns.
• 7A & 7B (Liquor Licenses): Approved unanimously.
• 7C (Hooker Bros. Conditional Use Permit): Postponed to April 8, 2025, to allow staff to draft a condition protecting neighboring irrigation wells. Vote to postpone was unanimous.
• 7D, 7E (Right-of-Way/Easement): Approved unanimously.
• 8A (Parking Regulations): Approved unanimously.
• No other actions were taken.