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Record of Proceedings

Grand Island City Council Regular Meeting - August 5, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, August 5, 2025
BodyGrand Island, Nebraska
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, August 5, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 51:05

Original source
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0:08

Welcome to our meeting.

0:10

The date is August 5, 2025.

0:13

The time is 7 p.m.

0:15

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

0:18

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

0:22

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

0:28

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

0:35

At this time, list please stand and perform the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:47

And to the Republic for which it stands.

0:51

Under God.

0:52

Indivisible with Liberty and Justice Crawl.

1:02

The Deputy City Clerk will now perform roll call.

1:08

Council President Sheard.

1:10

Present.

1:10

Councilmember Stelk.

1:12

Present.

1:12

Councilmember Connolly.

1:14

Present.

1:14

Councilmember Nickerson.

1:16

Present.

1:16

Councilmember Brown.

1:17

Present.

1:18

Councilmember Hossee.

1:19

Present.

1:20

Councilmember Mendoza.

1:21

Present.

1:22

Councilmember O'Neill.

1:23

Present.

1:24

Councilmember Pollock.

1:25

Present.

1:26

Councilmember Lanfear.

1:27

And Mayor Steele.

1:29

Present.

1:29

Also present are Sonia Cisneros, the Deputy City Clerk.

1:34

Patrick Brown, the Assistant City Administrator and Chief Financial Officer, Carrie Fisk, the City Attorney, and Keith Kurtz, the public works director.

1:46

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

1:57

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

2:03

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

2:10

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

2:19

Yes, I'm sorry.

2:31

Mr.

2:31

Nickerson has removed 6M from the consent agenda.

2:36

Any others?

2:41

We we shall continue.

2:44

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

2:51

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.

3:13

So we shall continue.

3:16

One matter in our consent agenda is 6F, approving appointment of Benjamin McCarty and Holly Anderson to the Library Board.

3:28

And Mr.

3:29

McCarty and Ms.

3:30

Anderson are both here this evening.

3:33

I'd like you please both to stand so that the city council members can see that you'll now be taking on duties with the library board.

3:42

And I when I met you down front, I said we're very proud of our library and very proud of the work that our library director, Celine Swan and her staff do.

3:53

So welcome on board to the library board, and thank you for being here so that we got a chance to see who you are and to know uh your dedication to public service.

4:15

So, council, is there a motion to approve the consent agenda items 6A through O with the exception of M.

4:26

Mr.

4:26

O'Neal?

4:28

I move the approve the consent agenda items A through L and N through O.

4:33

Mr.

4:33

Connley.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████████26%
Community Engagement████████████████████20%
Budget Equity Analysis██████████10%
Economic Development██████████10%
Parks and Recreation████████8%
Affordable Housing█████5%
Public Finance████4%
Youth Programs████4%
Zoning And Land Use████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Grand Island City Council Regular Meeting - August 5, 2025

The Grand Island City Council held a regular meeting on August 5, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers. All ten council members and the mayor were present. The meeting covered consent agenda items, a public hearing on the 2025 CDBG Annual Action Plan, resolutions, and ordinances. Key actions included approval of a subrecipient agreement for child care remediation, postponement of the Ryder Park baseball field improvement bid award, and approval of several ordinances.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved unanimously (items A–L and N–O): Minutes from July 21, 22, and 29, 2025; payment of claims totaling $4,507,708.50; liquor manager designation; appointments to the Library Board (Benjamin McCarty and Holly Anderson); temporary parking lease; change order for South Locust Street improvements; NDOT supplemental agreement; sole source provider for Komline-Sanderson repair; Kimball Reservoir roof replacement; CDBG amendment and subrecipient agreement (item M was removed for separate discussion); bid award for ball field drainage improvements; financial institution changes.
  • Item 6M (Subrecipient Agreement CDBG #2023-6 with Central District Health Department for child care remediation): Removed from consent by Councilmember Nickerson. After presentation by Amber Alvidrez and representatives Teresa Anderson and Ashley Hall, the council approved the agreement (motion by Hawsey, second by Connolly). The program provides up to $20,000 per home for up to five in-home child care providers to bring facilities up to code (e.g., egress windows, fire alarms, fences). No matching funds required. The program aims to increase workforce participation and child safety.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Public Hearing on 2025 Annual Action Plan for CDBG Activities (Item 7A): No public speakers. The hearing was opened and closed without testimony.
  • During Item 9C (Good Life District): Drew Snyder, President of Woodsonia Real Estate, provided an update on the Good Life District project. He stated that an updated MOU was submitted to city staff, visuals and renderings are complete, and they will submit an updated application under the new ordinance. He expressed continued excitement about the project.

Discussion Items

  • Ryder Park Baseball Field Improvements (Resolution 8A): Todd McCoy presented the low bid of $3,745,600 from Nimahaw Sports Construction. Private donations of $182,662 are currently held at the community foundation. The project scope was reduced (removed bathrooms, concession stand, softball fields) to lower costs. Councilmember Pollock moved to postpone the award until October 14, 2025, citing the need to complete the budget process first. City Attorney Carrie Fisk noted that Nebraska law requires a budget appropriation before signing a contract. Councilmembers discussed the timing and agreed to postpone. The motion passed unanimously (10-0).
  • Mentor Youth Archery Program (Resolution 8B): Presented by Keith Kurtz. The amendment allows turkey hunting only in spring at the city well fields, removing fall deer hunting due to neighbor concerns. Approved unanimously.
  • Heartland Event Center Emergency Repairs (Resolution 8C): Presented by Patrick Brown. Ratified procurement of chillers for the Heartland Event Center, necessary for the state fair. Approved unanimously.
  • Ordinance 9A – Vacating road and utility easement at 211 Midaro Drive: Second and final reading. Presented by Keith Kurtz. Easement is redundant due to subdivision changes. Approved after suspending rules.
  • Ordinance 9B – Vacating ingress/egress easement at 1941 and 1949 Trinity Street: Second and final reading. Presented by Keith Kurtz. Easement will be vacated now and a new one dedicated during replatting. Approved.
  • Ordinance 9C – Amending Good Life District Economic Development Program: Second and final reading. Incorporates requirements of LB 707. Drew Snyder spoke in support. Approved.
  • Ordinance 9D – Amending Chapter 1 on disposal of abandoned/found property: Second and final reading. Allows police to hold items under $500 for only 60 days instead of longer periods. Approved.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved (unanimous): Consent agenda items A–L and N–O; subrecipient agreement CDBG #2023-6 (item 6M); 2025 Annual Action Plan for CDBG (Resolution 2025-257); amendment to Mentor Youth Archery Program (Resolution 2025-259); ratification of Heartland Event Center emergency repairs (Resolution 2025-260); ordinances 10,027, 10,028, 10,029, and 10,030 (all second readings).
  • Postponed: Resolution 2025-258 (Ryder Park baseball field improvements) – postponed to October 14, 2025, pending budget approval. Motion passed 10-0.
  • Next Steps: The Ryder Park project will be reconsidered after the city budget is adopted (expected September 9 or 23). The Good Life District application will be updated per the amended ordinance. CDBG funds will be allocated to public facility projects pending HUD guidance.

Meeting Transcript

Welcome to our meeting. The date is August 5, 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. At this time, list please stand and perform the Pledge of Allegiance. And to the Republic for which it stands. Under God. Indivisible with Liberty and Justice Crawl. The Deputy City Clerk will now perform roll call. Council President Sheard. Present. Councilmember Stelk. Present. Councilmember Connolly. Present. Councilmember Nickerson. Present. Councilmember Brown. Present. Councilmember Hossee. Present. Councilmember Mendoza. Present. Councilmember O'Neill. Present. Councilmember Pollock. Present. Councilmember Lanfear. And Mayor Steele. Present. Also present are Sonia Cisneros, the Deputy City Clerk. Patrick Brown, the Assistant City Administrator and Chief Financial Officer, Carrie Fisk, the City Attorney, and 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, do you wish to remove any of tonight's consent agenda items? Yes, I'm sorry. Mr. Nickerson has removed 6M from the consent agenda. Any others? We 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. So we shall continue. One matter in our consent agenda is 6F, approving appointment of Benjamin McCarty and Holly Anderson to the Library Board. And Mr. McCarty and Ms.

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