Grand Island City Council Meeting: November 18, 2025

The Grand Island City Council convened for an open meeting on November 18, 2025, with Mayor Steele presiding and the full council present. The meeting proceeded with the withdrawal of agenda item 8A, the approval of the consent calendar, and three public hearings regarding property development and zoning. The council unanimously approved a request for tax increment financing for a 24-unit workforce housing apartment building and a zoning change to allow for the development of single-family residential lots on previously industrial land. The meeting concluded with the certification of updated ward maps following recent annexations.

Consent Calendar

• Council President Shear moved and Councilmember Hawsey seconded to approve consent agenda items A through R. The motion was adopted unanimously. Item 8A was subsequently withdrawn from the agenda.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Paul Yonis (Project Sponsor/NMN Express): Expressed support for the project's goal to recruit employees from surrounding areas (Lincoln, Missouri, Hastings) by addressing the high cost of housing. He stated that current wages ($16-$25/hour) make traditional rents ($1,450-$1,600) unaffordable for his workforce. He explained that the company intends to subsidize the apartments for employees, paying utilities and offering minimal rent, drawing on a similar successful model implemented with 98 units in Omaha.
• David Ostick (Chief Industries): Expressed that Chief Industries hopes the council supports the rezoning and comprehensive plan amendment. He stated he is present to answer questions regarding their development plans.
• Councilmember Sheard: Expressed full appreciation for the work done on ward maps, noting that the current maps are "cleaner" and "nicer" compared to 2020, and stated that the maps look "slick."

Discussion Items

• Resolution 2025-399 (7B): Discussion centered on a redevelopment plan for CRA area 37 to build a 24-unit apartment building (18 one-bedroom, 6 two-bedroom) at 611 Kerry Avenue on a vacant half-block. The project, sponsored by NMN Express, requested $925,000 in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to offset costs, with an anticipated generation of over $1 million in increment over 15 years. Councilmember Hawsey expressed gratitude that the application requested only the necessary amount rather than the full available TIF cap.
• Resolution 2025-400 (7C & 7D): Discussion involved amending the future land use map and rezoning property (Lots 30-41, 60-65) from CI Commercial/Industrial to LMDR and R1, respectively. Councilmember Hawsey queried unresolved concerns regarding neighborhood sidewalks and a potential neighborhood garden raised by citizens. Public Works Director Chad clarified that sidewalks would be required along North Road and interior cul-de-sacs but not rural section streets like Trust or Enterprise until storm sewer infrastructure is added. It was noted that the property was originally platted as industrial in 1984 and is surrounded by residential zones.
• Ordinance 10,052 (7B Companion): Discussion addressed the statutory rule suspension required to pass the ordinance, with Councilmember Hawsey noting a minor procedural error in moving the resolution but clarifying the intent to approve the document.
• Ordinance 10,053 (Ward Maps): Discussion focused on certifying the ward maps. The City Administrator explained that while annexations have historically been assigned to adjacent wards, there was a question regarding the legal authority to do so without recertification to ensure proper voting rights. It was decided to recertify the maps to proceed with caution, with a future mandate to explicitly state ward assignments for annexed lands.

Key Outcomes

• Motion Adopted (Item 8A Withdrawn): Item 8A was removed from the agenda.
• Approved TAC 398 (7A): Approved acquisition of a 20-foot utility easement at 22 Deers Avenue to service Woodhouse Auto.
• Approved Resolution 2025-399 (7B): Approved the redevelopment plan for the 24-unit apartment building at 611 Kerry Avenue and authorized the $925,000 tax increment financing request.
• Approved Resolution 2025-400 (7C): Approved the amendment to the future land use map and the rezoning from M1 to R1 for the industrial lots 36 single-family residential lots, contingent on the preliminary plat approved in the consent calendar.
• Approved Ordinance 10,052: Suspended statutory rules and passed the ordinances required to finalize the 7B and 7C zoning changes.
• Approved Ordinance 10,053: Adopted Ordinance 10,053 to certify the current ward maps and established a protocol for assigning future annexations to specific wards.