City Council Study Session on FY2026 Budgets for Parks & Recreation and Heartland Events Center - August 19, 2025

The Grand Island City Council met on August 19, 2025 at 6:00 PM for a study session to discuss the proposed FY2026 budgets for the Parks & Recreation Department and the Heartland Events Center (managed by VenuWorks). Council members present included Shearden, Stelk, Nickerson, Brown, Hazi, O'Neill, Pollock, Lanfear, and Mayor Steele. Councilmembers Conley and Mendoza were absent. Staff present included City Clerk Jill Grinier, City Administrator Laura McAloon, Assistant City Administrator/CFO Patrick Brown, City Attorney Carrie Fisk, Public Works Director Keith Kurtz, and Parks & Recreation Director Todd McCoy.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mike Osberg (resident) spoke in support of the golf course management, stating that Jackrabbit Run is one of the nicest courses around and that doubts about new management have been relieved.
• Suzanne Osberg (resident) praised Todd McCoy and the Parks Department for maintaining a garden on Suke's Lake, emphasizing the importance of keeping small recreational areas. She also suggested incorporating fitness goals (timed runs, sit-ups, push-ups) into park areas for youth exercise.
• Greg Geis (Past President, Grand Island Men’s Golf Association) expressed strong satisfaction with Landscapes Unlimited's management of the golf course over the past five years, noting the course has been recognized as most improved. He questioned why the city is going through a competitive process rather than extending the contract.
• Gerald Pools (speaker on agenda item 5A) did not provide specific testimony but was recognized.
• Justin Arlt (Landscapes Golf Management) gave a high-level overview of improvements, including a 20% increase in play over five years and roughly half a million dollars in top-line revenue improvement.
• Jason (Hornaday, manager of Heartland Public Shooting Park) addressed the council, correcting a budget figure and discussing capital needs for a storage building and other deferred asset issues. He noted the shooting park brought in an estimated $2.1 million to the city.
• Jared Pulse (resident) raised concerns about the four large capital projects, particularly the Stulley Train project and Island Oasis water park, arguing they are not economically feasible given the need to reduce property taxes. He called the South Locust Trail a "trail to nowhere" and questioned the Ryder Field artificial turf project.
• Ellen (name inferred from context, possibly a previous speaker) also commented on the golf course.

Discussion Items

a. FY2026 Parks & Recreation Budget Proposal (Presented by Todd McCoy)

• Personnel and Operating Increases: Proposed 8.8% increase in personnel and 12% increase in operating costs, reflecting recommendations from the recently completed Parks & Recreation Master Plan. The master plan recommended adding two full-time maintenance workers and eight seasonals; the department is requesting one FTE (a skilled maintenance worker focused on irrigation) and a $120,000 increase to operating budget for contracted services (spraying, irrigation, tree services).
• Revenue Offsets: Proposal to capture $150,000 in revenue from work done in the Good Life District (e.g., Veterans Complex, Eagle Scout Park) to offset expenses.
• Capital Projects – The “Big Four”: (1) Island Oasis water park renovation – design complete, estimated $15.9 million (design by Water’s Edge). (2) Ryder Field baseball field renovation – $3.7 million project (private funding involved), bid received, contractor holding prices, award planned for October 14, completion by May 2026. (3) Stulley Train area renovation – design nearly complete, funded by private donations, to be bid within 30-60 days, completion expected in 2026. (4) South Locust Trail – estimated $6 million, design underway, connection from diversion to Camp Augustine (possibly a single bridge). Councilmember Lanfear opposed this trail, calling it a "trail to nowhere" until Camp Augustine develops.
• Other Capital: Pier Lake trail renovation (erosion issue, may be delayed to 2027); East Fadley irrigation system replacement ($91,000); greenhouse renovation; cemetery columbarium; Ashley Park playground replacement; Lincoln Pool diving board pedestals; parks contingency ($100,000); park roads/updates (Ashley Park); picnic shelters (Eagle Scout Park); tennis/pickleball court renovations (Grace Abbott Park – Councilmember Nickerson suggested dual-purpose courts); trail development (West Connector Trail, federal grant of $1.46 million, city share $365,000, construction planned 2027).
• Capital Equipment: Request for a robotic line painter for athletic fields to improve efficiency.
• Golf Course (Jackrabbit Run): Managed by Landscapes Unlimited. Budget includes tree removal/planting, maintenance building roof replacement, cart path repair. No separate irrigation system replacement budget; contingency could be used. Councilmember Hazi noted the positive trend in rounds and revenues.
• Heartland Public Shooting Park: Managed by Hornaday. Requested $47,000 for trap/skeet field drainage, $58,000 (corrected to $97,000 by Jason) for sporting clay loop enhancement, and carryover items totaling ~$370,000. Also a $390,000 request for storage building renovation (not in current budget but in five-year plan; Jason cited asbestos issues but suggested it could be done for $60,000 if asbestos weren't an issue).
• Maintenance Concerns: Councilmember Shearden raised concerns about long-term maintenance of the newly renovated Stalley Park gardens, emphasizing that reliance on volunteers is unsustainable. McCoy acknowledged that additional staffing requests may be needed if volunteer support wanes.
• Councilmember Pollock suggested the city proactively purchase land west of Highway 281 for future parks to serve growing subdivisions, noting only one or two parks exist in that area. McCoy agreed the city owns some land by the fire station and is targeting that area.

b. FY2026 Heartland Events Center Budget Proposal - VenuWorks (Presented by Kyler Tarwater and Chelsea Steinkear)

• Revenue Forecast: Total revenues of $4,436,603, including building rent ($294,850), contractually obligated revenue (naming rights, signage, sponsorships, pouring rights - $400,986), reimbursed event expenses ($406,319), food and beverage revenue ($1.1 million), other revenues ($21,265).
• Expense Forecast: Total expenses of $4.8 million, including cost of goods sold ($1.9 million), personnel costs ($1.4 million), general administrative ($63,000), occupancy ($500,000), services/operations ($200,000), event expenses ($500,000), food and beverage expenses ($131,000).
• Net Result: A projected loss of ~$500,000, offset by owner operating investment from hotel occupation tax to bring net income roughly even.
• Question from Councilmember Nickerson: Asked about basis for food and beverage projection; Tarwater explained that averages from nine months of operations were used. Also asked about suite naming rights and contracts; Tarwater described typical five-to-ten-year deals for naming rights and annual/three-year terms for suites, with a planned increase for new suite holders.
• Operational Improvements: Grab-and-go kiosks have been introduced to reduce lines and increase revenue.

Key Outcomes

• The study session was informational; no votes were taken. The council will continue budget discussions, particularly regarding financing for the four large capital projects (Island Oasis, Ryder Field, Stulley Train, South Locust Trail).
• Councilmember Brown noted that after this fiscal year, capital spending drops from $32 million to about $3 million, but bonding or cash reserves are options for the Island Oasis project (discussion scheduled for Thursday, August 21).
• The need for a strategic plan for capital projects was emphasized by Councilmember Pollock to avoid recurring delays.
• The council received updates on golf course and shooting park management; no decision was made on contract extensions.
• Concerns about maintenance funding for new park amenities were raised; staff acknowledged that future budget requests may reflect increased operational needs.
• The council will proceed to its regular meeting after a short recess.