Scottsbluff City Council Regular Meeting – August 17, 2026

The Scottsbluff City Council met on August 17, 2026, at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting covered financial reports, a public hearing on the LB840 loan portfolio, liquor license manager approval, utility fee updates, zoning amendments, and new regulations for electric bicycles and scooters. All voting actions were passed unanimously unless otherwise noted.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes of the August 3 regular meeting.
• Excused absences of Council Members Vidlak and Phillips from the August 3 meeting.
• Set a public hearing for August 31, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. on the FY 2026-2027 budget.
• Acknowledged liability claims from Anastacia Kern and Robert Nichols, forwarding them to the city’s insurance carrier without action.
• Approved the claims of the City as part of consent.

Claims Removed from Consent

• Intralinks Claim ($15,083.83): The council unanimously approved the monthly managed service fee ($7,560), data backup fee ($2,536), annual subscriptions for SonicWall security, and miscellaneous supplies ($976.51) related to the city’s computer upgrade. (Motion passed: Stricker yes, Vidlak yes, Solomon yes, McCarrigan yes.)

Financial Report

• The Finance Director presented the July 2026 Financial Report. The city is 83% through the fiscal year; expenditures are within benchmarks. General fund revenues are at 83%, and proprietary funds (environmental services, wastewater, water, stormwater) are at 89% or above. Sales tax revenue is at 91% with one month remaining. TIF funds are pending bond completions for three projects. The report was accepted unanimously on a motion.

Public Hearings

• LB840 Citizen Review Committee Report: The city’s LB840 portfolio stands at $6,773,278, with outstanding loans of $4.7 million and outstanding grants of $2.4 million. $316,000 in job credits were received year-to-date. Expected loan payouts range from 2027 to 2034. Several businesses have completed obligations (BLOS Physical Therapy, Dave’s Welding). New applications for $25,000 loans may be forthcoming. No public testimony was offered.

Petitions, Communications, Public Input

• Liquor License Manager Change – Chili’s Grill & Bar: Codie Kent presented as the proposed manager, detailing alcohol service policies (ID every customer, refusal without ID, four-hour staff training). The council received a positive recommendation from the license investigatory board and voted unanimously to recommend approval to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission.

Resolutions & Ordinances

• First Reading – Utility User Fee Update: Ordinance amending water, sewer, stormwater, and solid waste fees. All fees will increase 3% except stormwater (unchanged). Compost facility fees were added. Sewer charges are based on February water usage. Wholesale customers (Minatare and Terrytown) will pay 95% of charges. No vote was recorded in the transcript; the ordinance was introduced and discussed.
• Second Reading – Micro Food Processing (Non-Meat) Conditional Use: Ordinance allowing micro food processing as a conditional use in the C-1 Central Business District. Applicant Roger Crossman described plans for a USDA-inspected facility to process and pack locally grown produce, with a minimum of 6,400 sq. ft. and approximately 10 employees. The ordinance was presented and discussed; no vote appeared in the transcript.
• Third Reading – Electric Bicycles, Scooters, Minibikes, Golf Carts: Final reading of regulations defining and permitting e-bikes on downtown sidewalks and the Monument Valley Pathway, and defining one-wheel scooters (mono boards). Amendments addressed earlier concerns. Following discussion about enforcement and seizure authority, the ordinance passed unanimously on roll call (Phillips, Solomon, McCarrigan, Stricker all yes).

Reports from Staff, Boards & Commissions

• Flag Football League Agreement: The council approved a non-exclusive license and management agreement with Jeremiah Stovall for an adult flag football league at Lacy Park on Thursday nights for three months. The city will collect a fee and provide lighting. The motion passed unanimously.

Council Reports (Informational)

• Members reported on the Zoo Fest event held the previous weekend. Attendance was 1,604, with vendors, bounce houses, face painting, and other activities. Feedback was positive. The council noted the next meeting on August 31 will include a public hearing on the budget at noon and a meeting in the evening. Meetings with the Mexican consulate and the Heartland Express annual meeting were also mentioned.

Adjournment

• The meeting was adjourned with a motion and unanimous approval.