Scottsbluff City Council Regular Meeting - June 15, 2026

The Scottsbluff City Council held a regular meeting on June 15, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers. The council approved the consent calendar, received the May 2026 financial report, conducted three public hearings, and took action on multiple ordinances, a police tow contract, and an EMS education agreement. All votes recorded in the transcript were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes of the June 1, 2026 regular meeting.
• Acknowledged and receipted a liability claim from Michael Conde (occurred June 23, 2025); the claim will be withdrawn and forwarded to the city’s insurance carrier with no action taken.
• Considered and approved claims of the City (no specifics provided).
• Motion to adopt the consent calendar passed unanimously (all council members present voted yes).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public spoke during the “Citizens with business not scheduled on the agenda” portion. The council heard no emergency action requests.

Discussion Items

• Claim Removed from Consent Calendar – Intralinks ($24,447.90): Council member Phillips declared a conflict of interest and was recused. The remaining council discussed the item: $7,560 for managed services, $2,536 for monthly backup, and over $14,000 for planned annual computer refresh (budgeted). Approved unanimously (4 yes votes, with Phillips abstaining).
• May 2026 Financial Report: Finance Director Desire reported the General Fund is down about $500,000 year-to-date (primarily due to a $350,000 transfer to the cemetery fund), but remains over $10 million. The fund is in good shape. Special projects include remaining ARPA funds, Safe Streets for All grants, and a three-year cemetery tree grant. Property tax receipts arrived in May, bringing public safety to positive. Staff noted annual municipal equalization (MEF) funds are $197,000 this year, and not heavily relied upon. The report was received unanimously.
• Public Hearing – Special Assessment for Hazardous Tree (2309 Avenue H): Code Compliance reported a large dead cottonwood was removed for $2,550 after multiple notices to the property owner. No response from the owner. The Board of Equalization (council) voted to assess the cost to the property. The related ordinance was passed on first reading (see Key Outcomes).
• Public Hearing – Zoning Text Amendment (Chapter 25, Article 3 – O-P District): Planning Commission made a positive recommendation to add permitted uses (hotels, restaurants, retail services, rooming/boarding houses as principal permitted, convenience stores with gas/drive-throughs as conditional uses). Hotels would have a 45-foot height limit mirroring C-2. The amendment aims to increase flexibility in the mixed-use district. The council heard questions and closed the hearing.
• Public Hearing – Rezone of B&B Subdivision Lots 1 & 2 (Avenue M & West 27th): Planning Commission recommended approval of a rezone from Agricultural (A) to Heavy Commercial (C-3). The 3.75-acre site is intended for contractor shops (permitted in C-3 but not C-2). The plat is pending future contract for public improvements. The council closed the hearing.
• First Reading – Special Assessment Ordinance (2309 Avenue H): Ordinance levying $2,550 assessment for hazardous tree removal. Council voted to waive the three statutory readings and approve the ordinance on first reading. Unanimous.
• First Reading – Zoning Text Amendment Ordinance (O-P Uses): Ordinance amending Chapter 25 to add principal permitted and conditional uses. The council discussed but the transcript did not record a vote on this item. It appears discussion was deferred or action taken without recorded vote.
• First Reading – Rezone Ordinance (B&B Subdivision to C-3): Council discussed whether to read the ordinance three times due to potential neighbor opposition. The transcript does not show a subsequent vote on this item. The item appears to have been tabled or action not completed in the recorded portion.
• Second Reading – Annexation Ordinance (Fairway Estates – Country Club): Second reading of the ordinance to annex Blocks 1–15, Fairway Estates. The council noted the second reading will be read again on June 29, 2026. No immediate action taken.
• Police Tow Three-Year Contract Award: Council considered bids for the police tow contract (Aug 1, 2026 – Jul 31, 2029). Chief recommended Bumper to Bumper Body & Paint over the current provider, citing concerns with integrity and reputation of the current provider. Though the base tow fee is $175 vs $80, winching fees are built into Bumper to Bumper’s price. Approved unanimously.
• Agreement with Panhandle EMS Education, LLC: Agreement for field experience for out-of-hospital emergency care provider students, similar to an existing agreement with WNCC. Chief Thompson noted it is a good recruiting tool. Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously.
• Intralinks Claim ($24,447.90): Approved with Phillips recused (4 yes).
• May 2026 Financial Report: Received unanimously.
• Hazardous Tree Special Assessment (2309 Avenue H): The Board of Equalization voted to assess $2,550 to the property, and the council passed the related ordinance on first reading (unanimous).
• Zoning Text Amendment (O-P District): The public hearing was closed; the ordinance was discussed but a vote was not captured in the transcript.
• Rezone (B&B Subdivision to C-3): The public hearing was closed; the ordinance was discussed but a vote was not captured in the transcript.
• Fairway Estates Annexation: Second reading held; will be read again on June 29, 2026.
• Police Tow Contract: Awarded to Bumper to Bumper Body & Paint, 3-year term, Mayor authorized to sign (unanimous).
• Panhandle EMS Education Agreement: Approved and Mayor authorized to sign (unanimous).