OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Grand Island City Council Budget Study Session - July 28, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, July 28, 2026
BodyGrand Island, Nebraska
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, July 28, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 59:07

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

So it'll come up in here in a second.

0:22

I don't know if you're gonna change or not.

0:26

We didn't know how much you're just changing back.

0:46

One year that's uh that's that's that's very similar.

0:52

We'll go ahead and call this meeting to order.

0:55

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

0:59

The Grand Island City uh abides by the open meetings act in conducting business.

1:03

A copy of the open meeting act is displayed in the back of the boardroom as required by state law.

1:08

Next, we'll proceed with our Pledge of Allegiance.

1:22

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

1:30

Next, we'll have the city clerk perform roll call.

1:33

Councilmember Sheeridan.

1:34

Present.

1:34

Council Member Stel.

1:35

Present.

1:36

Councilmember Conley.

1:37

Present.

1:38

Councilmember Nickerson.

1:39

Present.

1:40

Council Member Brown.

1:41

Present.

1:41

Council President O'Neill.

1:43

Present.

1:44

Councilmember Hazi.

1:45

Present.

1:45

Councilmember Mendoza.

1:47

Present.

1:47

Councilmember Pollock will be absent.

1:49

Councilmember Lanfier.

1:51

Present.

1:51

And Mayor Still will be absent.

1:54

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

1:59

If you did not sign up to speak on agenda item, please come forward, state your name and the agenda topic in which you'll be speaking.

2:06

None have come forward.

2:08

So we'll proceed.

2:09

And just a quick note we do have another meeting after this at 7 p.m.

2:13

So probably to stop just a couple minutes early, but just want to give you a heads up.

2:16

But Chief Denny, the floor is yours for the budget proposal.

2:20

I can promise you my presentation will be less than an hour.

2:22

I don't know how about the questions and everything.

2:24

Thank you, Council President and Council.

2:27

I just wanted to go over initially some of the accomplishments that we've had uh with the police department real quickly.

2:32

Uh mainly our job one was staffing, uh return to staffing and recruitment.

2:37

And we are now at 94 sworn.

2:40

That's on the books, so that includes a few uh that are in the training process and a few that we've given conditional offers to as well.

2:47

So we're 92 authorized with the plus three overhire that you all uh authorized a year ago, and we're uh just short right now officially on paper of the 95 uh total.

2:58

So we're looking pretty good on police officers, sworn police officers, and like I said, we do have a few in training, they'll be getting cut loose over the next six to eight months.

3:06

Uh we also have 25 and a half non-sworn FTE.

3:09

We are at full capacity when it comes to the non-sworn component.

3:12

That includes code enforcement officers, property and evidence, uh, victims assistance, clerks, etc.

3:18

Uh some of the crime highlights for the last three years, crime overall in all three categories is down 22 percent.

3:25

Uh that's a big number.

3:26

And I'd like to also say that for the through the first six months of this year compared to the first six months of last year, uh, overall crime is down almost four percent.

3:35

So it's looking pretty good there.

3:37

Along with uh last year, as you know, we had a big decrease in the accident rate uh so far the first six months of this year compared to the first six months of last year, accident rates are down, which equates to about 50 less accidents.

3:49

So we're looking pretty good on all fronts right now.

3:52

Recruitment, um, our leadership capacity, organizational structure, uh, our main mission, which is driving crime down and the accident rate as well.

4:03

Just to kind of give you an overview.

4:06

This is um a schematic of uh what our police department looks like right now, the roster.

4:11

Um the main thing that I want to draw to draw your attention to is that you have myself and you have three direct reports.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety███████████████████████████████████████39%
Personnel Matters██████████████████████████████████34%
Animal Welfare█████████9%
Public Finance█████5%
Procedural████4%
Engineering And Infrastructure████4%
Community Engagement███3%
Technology and Innovation██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Grand Island City Council Budget Study Session - July 28, 2026

At this study session on July 28, 2026, the Grand Island City Council reviewed the FY2027 Police Department Budget Proposal presented by Chief Denny. The discussion focused on personnel requests, wage-setting methodology, animal control services, and the Humane Society contract. No public comments were received. The meeting concluded with a plan to continue budget discussions at a later date.

Discussion Items

  • FY2027 Police Department Budget Proposal: Chief Denny presented an overview of accomplishments, including staffing levels (94 sworn officers, 25.5 non-sworn FTE, near full capacity), a 22% reduction in overall crime over three years, and a 4% decrease in crime for the first six months of 2026 compared to 2025. Accident rates also declined.
  • Personnel Requests:
    • Reclassify Office Manager to Support Services Administrator: Chief Denny described this as the highest priority, noting it would civilize the chain of command over non-sworn IBEW employees, reduce costs, and improve oversight of records management, payroll, and open records requests. The position was requested last year but not approved. Councilmember Hazi raised concerns about wage-setting methodology, noting that the salary comparison relied on only two matches (Ames, IA at $154,000 and Rapid City, SD at $107,000), and that Ames was not a valid match due to organizational differences. He also emphasized the need for citywide internal equity rather than department-wide. Councilmember Sheard and others expressed support for the position but wanted clarity on salary setting.
    • Add One Lieutenant (Professional Standards): This would supervise internal investigations, training compliance, and accreditation efforts. Chief Denny stated this would be the final supervisory request for the next three to five years.
    • Add an Administrative Assistant: To support the support services administrator.
    • Add Three Police Officers: One to backfill the lieutenant position and two to form a dedicated traffic unit focused on education, enforcement in high-accident areas, and school zones. Chief Denny noted that the department could function without the two additional officers but would struggle without the support services administrator or lieutenant.
  • Facilities and Equipment: Updates included the West Substation collaboration with public works, replacement of South and North gates at the Law Enforcement Center, and the planned auto pound renovation to house code enforcement and expand hours. The shooting range collaboration with Heartland Shooting Park is on hold.
  • Animal Control and Humane Society: Councilmember Hazi discussed concerns about the city's contract with the Humane Society, the high cost of impounding animals (e.g., $945 for seven kittens, $50,000 per month for kenneling), and the need to refine city code to focus on dangerous animals rather than all stray animals. Chief Denny stated the department would follow council direction. Councilmember Sheard requested a meeting with the Humane Society, but it was noted that the Humane Society had issued a formal notice to terminate the contract, triggering a procurement process.
  • Wage Setting and Internal Equity: Councilmember Hazi and others discussed the need for consistent wage-setting methodology across all city departments. The support services administrator salary was based on only two comparables, which is below the standard three-match minimum under Nebraska CIR rules. The issue will be revisited.

Key Outcomes

  • No formal votes were taken; this was a study session for discussion.
  • The council will continue budget discussions at a later meeting, with another review of positions scheduled for August 18, 2026.
  • A meeting or study session to discuss the Humane Society contract and animal control priorities will be arranged, considering the contract termination and procurement process.
  • Councilmembers expressed general support for the support services administrator position but requested further review of salary equity and methodology.
  • Chief Denny indicated that the two additional police officers are less critical than the support services administrator and lieutenant.

Meeting Transcript

So it'll come up in here in a second. I don't know if you're gonna change or not. We didn't know how much you're just changing back. One year that's uh that's that's that's very similar. We'll go ahead and call this meeting to order. This is uh open meeting of the Grand Island City Council. The Grand Island City uh abides by the open meetings act in conducting business. A copy of the open meeting act is displayed in the back of the boardroom as required by state law. Next, we'll proceed with our Pledge of Allegiance. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Next, we'll have the city clerk perform roll call. Councilmember Sheeridan. Present. Council Member Stel. Present. Councilmember Conley. Present. Councilmember Nickerson. Present. Council Member Brown. Present. Council President O'Neill. Present. Councilmember Hazi. Present. Councilmember Mendoza. Present. Councilmember Pollock will be absent. Councilmember Lanfier. Present. And Mayor Still will be absent. 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 agenda item, please come forward, state your name and the agenda topic in which you'll be speaking. None have come forward. So we'll proceed. And just a quick note we do have another meeting after this at 7 p.m. So probably to stop just a couple minutes early, but just want to give you a heads up. But Chief Denny, the floor is yours for the budget proposal. I can promise you my presentation will be less than an hour. I don't know how about the questions and everything. Thank you, Council President and Council. I just wanted to go over initially some of the accomplishments that we've had uh with the police department real quickly. Uh mainly our job one was staffing, uh return to staffing and recruitment. And we are now at 94 sworn. That's on the books, so that includes a few uh that are in the training process and a few that we've given conditional offers to as well. So we're 92 authorized with the plus three overhire that you all uh authorized a year ago, and we're uh just short right now officially on paper of the 95 uh total. So we're looking pretty good on police officers, sworn police officers, and like I said, we do have a few in training, they'll be getting cut loose over the next six to eight months. Uh we also have 25 and a half non-sworn FTE. We are at full capacity when it comes to the non-sworn component. That includes code enforcement officers, property and evidence, uh, victims assistance, clerks, etc.

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