Hastings City Council Worksession – April 20, 2026

The Hastings City Council held a worksession on Monday, April 20, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the Hastings Municipal Airport. Council President Steve Huntley presided. Present were Michael Anderson, Maggie Esch, Marc Rowan, Brian Hoffman, and Matt Fong. Absent: Brad Consbruck and Larry Consbruck. City staff, utility officials, and members of the public attended. The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• Adoption of Agenda: Moved by Michael Anderson, seconded by Maggie Esch to adopt the agenda for the April 20, 2026 worksession. Vote: 6 ayes, 0 nays. Motion carried.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Lake Hastings Water Plan:
  • Howard Sheley (518 South Shore Drive) opposed Option 4 (do nothing), arguing the lake is vital for recreation and economic development. He urged the council to maintain the lake.
  • Nate Karl (415 North Shore Drive) expressed disappointment over the lake’s degradation over 16 years and urged reinvestment rather than inaction. He stated the city should either pump water (as in the past), let the lake dry up, or privatize it.
  • Doug Zarek (107 E. 5th, Juniata) noted that the city charges a recreation fee for boaters and therefore has an obligation to maintain safe water depths for boating.
  • Dave Cure (405 North Shore Drive) reminded the council of a historical deed agreement requiring the city to maintain the lake, and questioned whether property taxes would be reduced if the lake were allowed to dry up.
  • Willis Hunt (616 Madden Road) described the lake’s history, including its original construction as a flood control structure and the city’s past efforts to fill it. He urged the council to do what is best for the recreation area.
• Proposed Zoning Changes:
  • Doug Zarek also spoke on zoning, warning that proposed high-density designations could make many existing homes non-compliant and cause property loss.
  • Edward Krontz (1203 East 6th Street) opposed packing people too densely, stating it would harm property values and neighbor relations.

Discussion Items

• Lake Hastings Water Plan:

  • Brandan Lubken, Director of Underground Operations, presented four options:
    1. Fill via Units 4 & 5 plant wells: Uses treated groundwater; costs about $2,500 per foot for pump power (400 hours per foot); counts against LBNRD allocations; sets precedent to keep lake full. Groundwater levels have dropped 4.5 ft in 5 years.
    2. Fill via municipal wells: Uses drinking water; a conservation plan is mandated (saving ~24.5 million gallons/year); one foot of lake filling equals that annual savings and about 3–4 days of city water use; ASR costs ~$1 million/year; also counts against LBNRD allocations.
    3. Construct a dedicated well: Estimated capital $150,000; located in Upper Big Blue NRD (no historic curtailment); avoids using treated water and allocation limits, but still raises conservation concerns.
    4. Do not fill: Lake is at historically low levels (30 inches below spillway; now up 9 inches to 2 ft below spillway). LBNRD has never before curtailed allocations.
  • Scott Nelson, LBNRD General Manager, stated the NRD board “highly discourage[s] the use of groundwater for surface water uses, especially those involving recreational purposes.”
  • Councilmembers discussed risks to electric rates, allocations, and long-term lake health. Jeff Hassenstab (Parks & Recreation) noted the lake level is 2 ft low and that boat access may need to be shut down if conditions don’t improve.
  • Derek Zeisler emphasized that Options 1 and 2 could challenge utility operations and electric rates. Councilmember Fong noted the conservation significance and potential for future restrictions.
  • Councilmember Hoffman suggested assessing a fee on lakefront property owners to offset costs and recommended setting parameters for when to fill the lake.
  • Consensus emerged to move forward with more information on Options 3 and 4 for a vote at the May 11 City Council meeting.

• Proposed Zoning Changes:

  • Ember Batelaan (City Planner) and Kevin Kubo (Development Services Director) presented a first draft of a comprehensive zoning code rewrite aimed at fixing legal inconsistencies, improving clarity, and aligning with the Comprehensive Plan.
  • Key background: State Statute 19-5504 (affordable housing report), the 2023 Affordable Housing Action Plan, comparable communities (Grand Island, Kearney, Fremont, Norfolk, Missoula, Salina), and a Neighborhood Character Survey (Nov 17–Dec 31, 2025; 33 participants; 4 public meetings).
  • Proposed district changes include new densities (R0: 0.33–2 du/ac; R1: 2–7 du/ac; R2: 7–15 du/ac; R3: 15+ du/ac); introduction of R4 (residential village for mobile homes); and new commercial districts (MU, C1, C2, C3, C4).
  • The aim is to allow accessory dwelling units and slightly higher densities to support affordable housing without dramatically changing neighborhood character.
  • Public meeting set for May 14 at the library. The entire rewrite is expected to be completed by October/November 2026, with at least two more presentations to council.
  • Councilmember Hoffman suggested staff personally reach out to developers for input due to low survey participation.

Key Outcomes

• Lake Hastings Water Plan: Council directed staff to bring a recommendation on Options 3 (dedicated well) and 4 (do not fill) to the May 11, 2026 City Council meeting. Additional information on costs, feasibility, and parameters for filling will be prepared.
• Proposed Zoning Changes: No immediate action taken. The council received the draft and will continue public engagement. The next public meeting is May 14, 2026 at the library.