OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Grand Island City Council Regular Meeting - July 8, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, July 8, 2025
BodyGrand Island, Nebraska
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, July 8, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:31

Welcome to our meeting, everyone.

0:33

The date is July 8, 2025.

0:37

The time is 7 p.m.

0:39

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

0:43

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

0:48

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

0:54

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

1:02

Now I ask that you all stand and join us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:09

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

1:15

And to the Republic for which it stands.

1:27

The City Clerk will perform roll call.

1:30

Council President Shearn.

1:32

Present.

1:32

Councilmember Stelk.

1:34

Mayor.

1:34

Councilmember Conley will be absent.

1:36

Councilmember Nickerson.

1:37

Present.

1:38

Councilmember Brown.

1:39

Present.

1:40

Councilmember Hodzi will be absent.

1:41

Councilmember Mendoza.

1:43

Present.

1:43

Council Member O'Neill?

1:45

Present.

1:45

Councilmember Pollack.

1:47

Present.

1:47

Councilmember Lanfear.

1:49

Present.

1:49

And Mayor Steele.

1:51

Present.

1:51

Also present are Jill Grenier, the City Clerk.

1:55

Laura McAloon, the city administrator.

1:58

Patrick Brown, the assistant city administrator, and Chief Financial Officer.

2:05

Carrie Fisk, the city attorney, Keith Kurtz, the public works director, and Matthew Gleason, the finance director.

2:15

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

2:26

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

2:33

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

2:50

Are there any other consent agenda items that you council members would like pulled?

2:56

Mr.

2:57

Mayor, with your permission, I would like a little more information on 6D.

3:02

6E.

3:03

Six D.

3:12

With that, then we have pulled six D and 6J.

3:24

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

3:32

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.

3:51

So we will continue.

4:20

Mr.

4:20

Lanfear.

4:21

Mr.

4:22

Mayor, I second.

4:23

Thank you, sir.

4:25

We will now take up six.

4:30

Please vote.

4:37

Doug, did you vote?

4:39

I think that is not paying them up on that.

4:51

Motion adopted.

5:04

Mr.

5:04

Schmitz, please tell us about this.

5:07

Thank you, Mr.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation███████████████████████23%
Water And Wastewater Management██████████████████████22%
Procedural███████████████15%
Public Engagement███████████11%
Budget Equity Analysis██████████10%
Zoning And Land Use█████5%
Facility Management█████5%
Utility Management████4%
Public Works███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Grand Island City Council Regular Meeting - July 8, 2025

The Grand Island City Council met on July 8, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers at 100 E First Street. Mayor Steele presided, with Council President Shearn, Councilmembers Stelk, Nickerson, Brown, Mendoza, O'Neill, Pollack, and Lanfear present. Councilmembers Conley and Hodzi were absent. The meeting covered consent agenda items, public hearings on a concrete crushing site, utility easements, property purchase, right-of-way acquisition, and an ordinance for lot vacation.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes of the June 24, 2025 regular meeting.
  • Payment of Claims for June 25–July 8, 2025, totaling $4,599,938.98.
  • #2025-213 – High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Grant for 2025-2026.
  • #2025-214 – Transfer of Liberty Campus Electric Utility Infrastructure to GIUD (pulled for discussion, later approved).
  • #2025-215 – Plan-in-Hand Report with NDOT for Grand Island West Connector Trail.
  • #2025-216 – Temporary Lease for parking stalls at South Front Street and Walnut Street.
  • #2025-217 – Temporary Construction Easement for South Locust Street Improvements.
  • #2025-218 – Directing property owner to repair sidewalk at 928 E Oklahoma Avenue.
  • #2025-219 – Supplemental Agreement No. 3 for Broadwell Avenue & Union Pacific Railroad Viaduct.
  • #2025-220 – Formal Acceptance of the Parks & Recreation Master Plan (pulled for discussion, later approved).

Councilmember Lanfear pulled item 6D (Transfer of Liberty Campus Electric Utility) and item 6J (Parks & Rec Master Plan) for separate discussion. The remaining consent items were approved unanimously by voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Sadonna Manfell, General Manager of Jackrabbit Run Golf Course (Landscapes Golf Management): Spoke in support of the Parks & Recreation Master Plan (item 6J) but raised concerns about the omission of Jackrabbit Run from the level-of-service analysis and the characterization of the golf course as "not maintained by parks and recreation." She provided detailed statistics: golf participation at 25.6 million nationally (second only to basketball), an 86.2% increase in golf entertainment venues (second only to pickleball), and noted that Jackrabbit Run’s irrigation system is 49 years old with 8 catastrophic failures in 2025 and 4 in 2024. She stated that the golf course has had positive EBITDA each year under Landscapes management, collected approximately $14,600 in food and beverage tax and $284,000 in sales tax since January 2021, and emphasized that the $4 trail fee per day for season pass holders has generated about $175,000 since January 2021 but is not kept separate for capital improvements. She advocated for the city to recognize the course as a city asset requiring maintenance and expressed interest in continuing the management contract beyond December 13, 2025.

Discussion Items

  • Item 6D – Transfer of Liberty Campus Electric Utility Infrastructure: Keith Schmitz (Public Works) explained that the former veterans’ home redevelopment required upgrading deficient grounding cable at a cost of $18,000, which the developer agreed to transfer to the city. The city will then own the on-site electric system. Councilmember Lanfear moved approval, seconded by Councilmember Shearn. After clarifying that the $18,000 covers upgrades and future maintenance will be covered by rates, the motion passed unanimously.

  • Item 6J – Parks & Recreation Master Plan: Todd McCoy (Parks & Recreation) presented the 274-page plan, a year-long process with community input, to guide operations, budget, and facility development for the next 10–15 years. He noted that the plan deliberately did not dive into detailed master plans for golf course, shooting park, or Island Oasis. Councilmember Nickerson discussed the importance of the plan for grant applications and phased implementation. Sadonna Manfell's public comments were acknowledged. The plan was approved unanimously.

  • Item 7A – Conditional Use Permit for Concrete Crushing Site: Chad Nabity (Planning) presented a two-year temporary conditional use permit for Mid Nebraska Land Developers and Lloyd Gunderson to operate a concrete crushing site on Hall County parcel 400206757, south of BNSF tracks and north of Bismark Road. Conditions include keeping Bismark Road clear and maintaining the private road. Public hearing opened and closed with no speakers. Councilmember Lanfear moved approval, seconded by Councilmember O'Neill. The motion passed unanimously.

  • Item 7B – Utility Easement Acquisition (111 W. 1st Street): Keith Schmitz explained a 20-foot-wide easement for a 150 KVA transformer to serve the county building. Public hearing opened and closed with no speakers. Councilmember Shearn moved approval, seconded by Councilmember Brown. Motion passed unanimously.

  • Item 7C – Purchase of Property at 3836 West US Highway 30 for Wastewater Division: Keith Kurtz (Public Works) presented a detailed proposal for the purchase of the former Heartland Ag building (25,000 sq ft) for $2.1 million, with additional improvements for wastewater ($1.7 million) and police department ($1 million). The building would be purchased by wastewater in FY26, with PD leasing their portion. The cost per square foot is approximately $155, compared to over $200 for new construction. The property is centrally located with highway access. Public hearing opened and closed with no speakers. Councilmember O'Neill moved approval, seconded by Councilmember Stelk. Councilmembers Shearn and Nickerson praised the collaborative, cost-effective approach. Police Chief Denny stated the space allows PD to move operations west, house vehicles, and create a dedicated training area. Motion passed unanimously.

  • Item 7D – Acquisition of Public Right-of-Way for South Locust Street Improvements: Keith Kurtz presented the request for permanent easements from Leach Investment Properties and Roebuck Enterprises for the South Locust Street project (Fonner Park Road to 2nd Street). Public hearing opened and closed with no speakers. Councilmember Shearn moved approval, seconded by Councilmember Lanfear. Motion passed unanimously.

  • Ordinance #10,026 – Vacating Portion of Lot 11, Burch Subdivision: Laura McAloon (City Administrator) presented the request from 3 MENZ, LLC to vacate a portion of lot 11 (parcel 40028875) south of the Wood River to allow combination with adjacent unplatted property. A survey from 1970 legally separated the parcel. Initial motion to table to the next meeting (July 22) failed on a tie vote (Mayor Steele voted no). Councilmember Shearn then moved to approve the original action, seconded by Councilmember Stelk, which passed.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved all consent agenda items (with 6D and 6J pulled and later approved individually).
  • Approved conditional use permit for concrete crushing site (7A) – unanimous.
  • Approved utility easement acquisition (7B) – unanimous.
  • Approved purchase of property at 3836 West US Highway 30 for wastewater division (7C) – unanimous.
  • Approved acquisition of public right-of-way for South Locust Street improvements (7D) – unanimous.
  • Approved Ordinance #10,026 vacating portion of Lot 11 (failed to table, then passed).
  • All votes were unanimous where recorded; no dissenting votes noted.

Meeting Transcript

Welcome to our meeting, everyone. The date is July 8, 2025. 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. Now I ask that you all stand and join us in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. The City Clerk will perform roll call. Council President Shearn. Present. Councilmember Stelk. Mayor. Councilmember Conley will be absent. Councilmember Nickerson. Present. Councilmember Brown. Present. Councilmember Hodzi will be absent. Councilmember Mendoza. Present. Council Member O'Neill? Present. Councilmember Pollack. Present. Councilmember Lanfear. Present. And Mayor Steele. Present. Also present are Jill Grenier, the City Clerk. Laura McAloon, the city administrator. Patrick Brown, the assistant city administrator, and Chief Financial Officer. Carrie Fisk, the city attorney, 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 study session, notification of the date will be given. Are there any other consent agenda items that you council members would like pulled? Mr. Mayor, with your permission, I would like a little more information on 6D. 6E. Six D. With that, then we have pulled six D and 6J. 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 continue. Mr. Lanfear. Mr.

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