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Record of Proceedings

Grand Island City Council Meeting - February 10, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, February 10, 2026
BodyGrand Island, Nebraska
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, February 10, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:10:58

Original source
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0:00

2026.

0:02

The time is 7 p.m.

0:04

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

0:07

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

0:12

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

0:18

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

0:26

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

0:38

And to the Republic for which it stands under with liberty and justice for all.

0:58

Present.

0:59

Councilmember Stelk will be absent.

1:02

Councilmember Connolly.

1:04

Present.

1:04

Councilmember Nickerson.

1:06

Present.

1:07

Councilmember Brown.

1:08

Present.

1:09

Councilmember Hossey.

1:10

Present.

1:11

Councilmember Mendoza.

1:13

Present.

1:14

Council President O'Neill.

1:15

Present.

1:20

Councilmember Lanfear.

1:22

Present.

1:22

And Mayor Steele.

1:24

Present.

1:24

Also present are Sonia Cisneros, the Deputy City Clerk.

1:29

Patrick Brown, the City Administrator, Stacey Nonhoff, the Assistant City Attorney, and Keith Kurtz, the public works director.

1:39

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

1:49

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

1:57

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

2:04

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

2:18

Hearing none, we shall continue.

2:23

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

2:31

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.

2:51

Suite 455, GI 68803 wish to speak on public hearings C.

3:00

Thank you.

3:16

Thank you.

3:49

I move we approve consent agenda items A through M.

3:53

And Mr.

3:53

Lanfair.

3:54

I said.

3:57

Any discussion.

4:01

Please vote.

4:19

Motion adopted.

4:39

Mrs.

4:40

Cisneros.

4:43

An application for a Class C liquor license was filed with the liquor council commission and received by the council on January 14th, 2026.

4:53

A notice to general public of date, time and place of hearing was published on January 31st, 2026.

5:00

A notice to applicant of date, time and place of hearing was mailed on January 14th, 2026, along with chapter CHAPTER Four City Code Alcoholic Beverages.

5:09

Departmental Reports are received as required by City Code.

5:13

And recommendation is to approve upon final inspection.

5:20

Public hearing is now open.

5:21

Would anybody like to speak on this item?

5:24

Um we have Luke.

5:39

This is a new property in Grand Island.

5:42

Um it's a five-floor limited service hotel.

5:45

The franchises of these properties now require us to get liquor licenses to have alcoholic beverages in the market areas.

5:53

That's the purpose for this application.

5:56

Um we have two other properties in town, Fairfield Inn and Candlewood Suites.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Utility Management██████████████████████████26%
Zoning And Land Use████████████████████20%
Public Engagement███████████████15%
Public Safety███████████11%
Fiscal Sustainability███████████11%
Technology and Innovation███████7%
Procedural██████6%
Cannabis Regulation██2%
Engineering And Infrastructure██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Grand Island City Council Meeting - February 10, 2026

This meeting of the Grand Island City Council included public hearings on a liquor license, a conditional use permit for an RV campground, and a conditional use permit for a telecommunications tower. The council also considered changes to electric utility commercial deposits. All agenda items were approved.

Consent Calendar

  • Consent agenda items A through M were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Public Hearing 7A (Class C Liquor License): Luke, representing the applicant, spoke in support of a liquor license for a new limited-service hotel. No public opposition. The council approved Resolution 2026-36.
  • Public Hearing 7B (Conditional Use Permit for RV Campground): Jeffrey Edwards and Tasha Edwards, neighboring property owners, opposed the permit citing concerns about safety, privacy, water resources, and potential for future development. Amy Webster, the applicant, spoke in favor, emphasizing that the campground would be upscale, short-term, and landscaped. No other public testimony was received.
  • Public Hearing 7C (Conditional Use Permit for Telecommunications Tower): Mr. Riha, representing Industrial Tower West, spoke in favor of a 50-foot concealed telecommunications tower to improve voice and data coverage. No public opposition or testimony was heard.

Discussion Items

  • Public Hearing 7B: Council members discussed the proposed RV campground at 1333 East Stalley Park Road. Councilmember Hawsey noted the distinction between a trailer park and a campground, and cited buffers and the application's upscale design. Councilmember Nickerson acknowledged the neighbors' concerns about change but found the proposal addressed common worries about congestion, noise, infrastructure, and appearance. Council President O'Neill shared his positive experience living near a similar facility. The council confirmed that the 200-foot notification requirement was met. The conditional use permit was approved via Resolution 2026-37.
  • Public Hearing 7C: Councilmember Nickerson compared the proposed tower's height to an existing monopole. The conditional use permit for the 50-foot tower at 1231 Allen Drive was approved via Resolution 2026-38.
  • Ordinance 100062 (Changes to Electric Utility Commercial Deposits): Ryan Schmidt, Electric Department, presented a detailed analysis of deposit history, late fees, collections data, and risk factors. He proposed allowing deposits of two times the monthly bill for customers with demand over 1,000 kW, with a two-year refund period if no late payments, and allowing surety bonds or letters of credit. Councilmember Hawsey expressed concern about protecting existing ratepayers from risks associated with new large contract customers. Councilmember Nickerson raised a separate issue about landlord notification during shutoffs, but discussion was redirected to the ordinance. The motion to approve the ordinance on second and final reading passed.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved Resolution 2026-36 for Class C liquor license at a new hotel.
  • Approved Resolution 2026-37 for conditional use permit for an 8-site RV campground at 1333 East Stalley Park Road, with conditions including concrete pads, septic system compliance, and no permanent residency beyond 180 days.
  • Approved Resolution 2026-38 for conditional use permit for a 50-foot telecommunications tower at 1231 Allen Drive.
  • Approved Ordinance 100062 on second and final reading, revising Chapter 15 of city code to require deposits for electric utility commercial customers with demand over 1,000 kW at two times the monthly bill, with options for surety bonds or letters of credit, and a refund after two years of on-time payments.

Meeting Transcript

2026. 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 stand and join us in the Pledge of Allegiance. And to the Republic for which it stands under with liberty and justice for all. Present. Councilmember Stelk will be absent. Councilmember Connolly. Present. Councilmember Nickerson. Present. Councilmember Brown. Present. Councilmember Hossey. Present. Councilmember Mendoza. Present. Council President O'Neill. Present. Councilmember Lanfear. Present. And Mayor Steele. Present. Also present are Sonia Cisneros, the Deputy City Clerk. Patrick Brown, the City Administrator, Stacey Nonhoff, the Assistant 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 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 items from tonight's consent agenda? Hearing none, 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. Suite 455, GI 68803 wish to speak on public hearings C. Thank you. Thank you. I move we approve consent agenda items A through M. And Mr. Lanfair. I said. Any discussion. Please vote. Motion adopted. Mrs. Cisneros. An application for a Class C liquor license was filed with the liquor council commission and received by the council on January 14th, 2026. A notice to general public of date, time and place of hearing was published on January 31st, 2026. A notice to applicant of date, time and place of hearing was mailed on January 14th, 2026, along with chapter CHAPTER Four City Code Alcoholic Beverages.

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