City Council - Regular Meeting

The Columbus City Council meeting for January 19th, 2026 will now come to order. In compliance with the Open Meeting Act, a current copy of this act is posted in our meeting room. Madame Clerk, would you please call roll? Bowley here. Ol here. Bar here. He here. Jablonsky here. Lopez here. Balinsky here. Roth here. Schilling here. Mayor Bokeley, the role has been Thank you, Mr. Council President. [clears throat]

Our father, thank you for the opportunity to serve our fellow citizens. Please give us your wisdom and guidance to make the proper decisions entrusted in this governmental body. May our conduct show respect, honor, and courtesy to each other as well as to all our citizens. Amen. Amen. Oh, [clears throat] say can you see by the dawn early light, [singing] what so proudly we held [singing] at the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that star spangled banner [singing] yet way. Oh, the [singing] land of the free. and the home of the brave.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Good evening. I welcome everyone to tonight's council meeting. If at any time during our meeting this evening, anyone in our audience would like to address the council, we'd ask that you please come forward, state your name and address, and we'd ask that you keep any comments to five minutes or less. With that, we'll move on to the consent agenda.

Item four, consent agenda. The following items are considered to be routine by the city council and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a city council member or citizen requests in which event the item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda. Item 4 A, minutes of the January 5th, 2026 city council meeting. Item 4 B, changing the date of the second meeting in February of 2026 to Tuesday, February 17th, 2026 at 6 p.m. due to President's Day. Item 4 C, reappointment of Barbara Duffy and Brett Reigns to the Business Improvement District Board for three-year terms. Item 4 D, resolution number R26-0, approving the request of the antique tractor and gas engine show to camp overnight in Pawne Park Friday and Saturday, June 12th and 13th of 2026. The board of park commissioners recommends approval. Item 4E, resolution number R26-03, approving an agreement with Mike's Towing for towing services. Item 4 F, resolution number R26-04, approving an agreement with Balon Towing for towing services. Item 4G, resolution number R26-05, approving the lease to hanger aircraft with RTT Aviation LLC. The board of airport commissioners recommends approval. Item 4 H, resolution number R26-06, amending the Title 6 non-discrimination plan of 2022, section of the policies and procedures for Columbus area transit. Item 4 I, resolution number R26-07, authorizing payment of various improvement projects. 4J, Finance Department reports, and 4K, payroll and bills on file. Mr. Mayor and council members, is there anything you would like to remove from the consent agenda?

Mr. Mr. Mayor, I move the items on the consent agenda be approved as presented. Second.

We have a motion and a second to approve. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by I. Those opposed, nay. Motion passes. This brings us up to the mayor's consent agenda or the consent agenda, the mayor's state of the city address. Every year at this time in January, it has become custom for the mayor to reflect on the accomplishments and challenges of the past year and then look forward to what we hope to achieve in 2026. As I lead our community, I must remember that which is most important to all of our citizens. public safety, police, fire, EMS. That is followed with making sure that we have reliable public works at reasonable rates and well-maintained streets, which includes handling all that mother nature can throw at us. However, maintaining these essential services is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what our citizens come to expect. Providing an array of amenities to create a better quality of life has become paramount to many. Our parks and wreck department continues to grow and provide services. We have wonderful green space along with our golf courses, soccer fields, baseball, softball fields, the plunge aquatic center, tennis and pickle ball courts, walking trails, and so much more. Columbus continues to grow as a regional destination. Our industrial partners are thriving and many are expanding. We have new businesses constantly looking at our at Columbus. The Amazon distribution center is just a great example. Recently, Columbus Community Hospital continues to grow with the addition of the me cancer center. All of this brings people into town to shop and support our businesses. City staff always works hard to deliver

a strong budget. This year's budget of $94,674,875 reflects this hard work and our attempt to be fiscally responsible. Our property tax ask of 7,562,660.83 was the result of a reduction in our levy down to 290030 representing the third reduction in a row. Our voterapproved 1% sales tax and other revenue sources such as the casino fund continue to do well and help pay for capital improvements and other designated items. These capital improvements cover everything from police, fire, EMS needs, water and sewer, street department needs, and many more. The half cent sales tax continues to pay for police and fire facilities, including Charlie Lewis. Columbus maintains a AAA credit rating, which is just a reflection of our comfortable debt service. Put bluntly, the city is in good financial shape. So, what were some of the key accomplishments of 2025? The completion of Highway 30, 23rd Street. Without question, everyone in Columbus and anyone that has traveled through Columbus is glad to see this project done, and it does look nice. I thank everyone for their patience as we work through the past three years. The voter approved extension of the 1% sales tax and along with it, the continued use of up to 625,000 annually for economic development. This is such a huge asset to our community. Continu continued extens attention to our housing needs. Vitality Village along 8th Street. Reader subdivision

south of Centennial Park. Quail Meadows near the transfer station. Apartments south of Highland Park Church. The continued growth of Meadow Ridge subdivision just to name a few. Continued support for police, fire, and EMS making sure their essential needs are covered. The donation of spent outof-date fire equipment to our sister city, Zakapun, Mexico. What a feeling of warmth and goodness came from that event where we simply found a home for equipment we could no longer use. What is better than helping our fellow man? We began to work on our six 60 million 10-year water expansion project with the design phase of our new north well. Dollars continue to be spent with the direction of the B board on things to improve our downtown. A great example was the beautiful landscaping pots that were strategically placed around the area and maintained and changed out on a regular basis. Spending in parks and wreck to feed our array of quality of life amenities. The completion of Pawnie Park Legion baseball turf project. What a great collaboration of private funding and tax dollars. the con the concept plan completed for a possible queer run clubhouse improvement, the renovation of the Vanberg clubhouse and the installation of two golf simulators. The simulators being another great collaboration of city, county, and private funding, the reorganization of city staff to include the director of general services to allow for more accountability, efficiency, and oversight. This was accomplished without any increase in personnel or the personnel budget, but rather done through the elimination of one support position and one department having its duties allocated among others. Finally, the appointment of Brett Striker as our next police chief, a proven resource who

has shown his ability in over 30 years of experience on the force. What can we expect in 2026? Continued construction on the Loop River Bridge. The schedule calls for the southbound bridge, that west side, to be completed and open for two-way traffic later this year. Then the reconstruction on the northbound bridge will begin. We will have continued support for our police, fire, and EMS needs. Specifically, think of the $3 million being spent on two new fire apparatuses. Continued work on the ongoing housing developments. a completely new housing study to gauge our need on the and and to gauge our need and the progress that we have made moving forward with more parts of our water improvement plan that are part of the entire 60 million 10-year expansion. Continued support for parks and wreck, Centennial Park resurfacing, pickle ball, tennis, basketball. Maintenance needs at our golf courses and our water facilities are always ongoing. Street rehabilitation and maintenance is a neverending process. Continued repair replacement of lift stations and other water sewer needs. We have 500,000 budgeted for the loop river levy repairs. Making sure that the levy is good condition to handle whatever mother nature might throw at us. Continued support for the needs of our downtown with the input of our B board. And there is so much more that I cannot list everything tonight. I am extremely proud to lead a team of elected officials and city staff that are dedicated to being good stewards of your tax dollars. We continue to be open with and well advertise our meetings. We do our best to highlight much of what we are doing. Although it is disappointing to see very few people participating in our meetings

and outreach, we are committed to trying to reach out and connect. Social media outlets have become the norm and we int we attempt to engage with them the best we can. Above all, we will continue to remain open and accessible. As we move through 2026, I guarantee you there will be some unexpected events that will need to be addressed. This is normal. The city has a well-developed and balanced budget. Our income meets our expenditures. We can handle what might come our way. As your mayor, I will continue to work with everyone to make Columbus that awesome community that people call home and many come to visit. I can assure you the state of our city is good.

Okay, we move on to public hearings. Item 7A, public hearing, the Citizen Advisory Review Committee report of activities in accordance with the Columbus Economic Development Plan. Um there isn't any I put a report together but in the last six months the CRC has not received any completed application that they've reviewed. So there really isn't much to report. So any questions? Do you need a motion on this? Yes. Still have to accept it. Mr. Mayor, move the public hearing be closed. Second.

We have a motion and a second to close the hearing. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by I. Those opposed, nay.

Motion passes. Item 7B, public hearing, application from Cushing Terrell on behalf of Les Schwab Group Holdings LLC for final platin development agreement of the Lushwab subdivision, northeast corner of 23rd Street and East 11th Avenue. The planning commission recommends approval. Is there anyone here to speak against this public hearing? Anyone here to speak for this public hearing?

Good evening, council. I'm Emily Herbert from Beard Home Law Firm, 1700 Barnum Street, Omaha, Nebraska. Um, I'm here on behalf of Les Schwab Hires just to answer any questions you might have or forward them on if I can't answer them for you. Any questions, council members? I don't believe we were going to entertain you this evening. That's okay. All right. Thank you. Anyone here to speak against this public hear? I guess I already asked that. All right. Close the move public. Second.

We have a motion and a second to close the public hearing. Any discussion? Seeing none, please vote. Motion passes. Item 7B1, resolution number R26-08, approving the final platin development agreement. Mr. Mayor, I move that resolution number R2608 be approved. Second.

We have a motion and a second to approve. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by I. Those opposed, nay. Motion passes. Item 7 C, public hearing, application of Cushing Terrell on behalf of Lewab Group Holdings LLC to reszone property located at lots 1 and two Lewab subdivision from RR to B2 and to amend the future land use map of the comprehensive plan. The public hearing will need to be continued to February 27th, 2026. Mr. Mr. Mayor, move the public hearing be continued to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, February 17th, 2026. Second.

We have a motion and a second to extend the public hearing to February 17th, 2026. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by I. Those opposed, nay.

Motion passes. Item 7D, public hearing application from Hazard Engineering on behalf of Cottonwood Heights LLC for final plat of H Heartland Crossing Edition. It's on the southwest corner of 38th Street and East 6th Avenue. The planning commission recommends removal from the agenda. And this um motion would be for this item and the following one to be removed. Could we do both together to That's what it is. Oh, it is. Okay. Mr. Mayor, I move the public hearings for 7D and 7D1 be removed from the agenda. Second. We have a motion and a second to remove items 7D and 7D1 from the agenda. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by I. Those opposed, nay.

Motion passes. Item 7E, public hearing application from Advanced Consulting Engineering Services Incorporated on behalf of Columbus Public Schools for the final plat of Hidden Meadows edition. The planning comm commission recommends uh removal from the agenda. Again, this motion is for this item and the following item. Mr. Mayor, I move the public hearings for 7E and 7E1 be removed from the agenda.

Second. We have a motion and a second to remove items 7E and 7E1 from the agenda. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by I. Those opposed, nay. Motion passes. Brings us up to reports from uh update on the Nebraska Department of Transportation. Uh item 9A, the update on the Nebraska Department of Transportation Loop River Bridges Project. Mr. Bogus.

Well, if you advise some gerters going up, so that's kind of exciting. We've been talking about peers a lot lately. So, um there's some gerters up. there'll be a little bit of a pause and then there'll be some more put up in a little bit here. Um so overall they remain on schedule. Um they're working on the north abutment um when the weather and time allows. So they're that's kind of their step next step. Then they're working still on additional peers that are more outside the river towards the southern end. So I said it's on schedule and uh everything's looking good. Nothing really to report. Very good. Thank you. The question question I have is will this uh the south or the west part be higher than the east part?

Yeah, the west part will be a little higher because it's based on different criteria. Yeah, people have asked me, oh gosh, it looks like it's going to be higher than the other. Yeah. So, anything else? All right, we'll move on. Move on to uh reports from council committees. Item 10 A, Public Finance, Judiciary, and Personnel Committee of January 19th, 2026. Item 10A1, non-exclusive franchise agreement with Vier Fiber Network LLC for construction, operation, and maintenance of a cable franchise system. Mr. Mayor, move the report be adopted. Second.

We have a motion and a second to adopt this committee report. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by I. Those opposed, nay. Motion passes. Item 10B, public property safety and works committee of January 19th, 2026, 10B1, the rightaway easement located along the south property line of Airport Park, 18th Avenue and Bill Babka Drive. The committee recommends approval. Mayor move be adopted.

Second. We have a motion and a second to adopt this committee report. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by I. Those opposed, nay.

Motion passes. Item, do you want to say new business? Oh, we move on to new business. Item 13A, purchase from Jones Automotive in the amount of $64,671.95 for vehicle equipment and installation for the police department. This is CIP 21-0506 and 07. Mr. Mayor, I move the purchase for Jones Automo Automotive for vehicle equipment and installation be approved. Second. We have a motion and a second to approve the purchase from Jones Automotive. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by I. Those opposed, nay.

Motion passes. Item 13B, purchase from Blue Streak K9 LLC in the amount of $13,500 for a K9 for the police department, CIP number 26-17. moves that the purchase from Blue Street K9 LLC for a K9 dog be approved. Second. We have a motion and a second to approve the purchase from Blue Street K9 LLC. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by I. Those opposed, nay. Motion passes. Item 13 C, authorization to sell surplus property for the park department.

Mr. Mayor move the request to sell surplus property be approved. Second. We have a motion and a second to sell the surplus property for the parks department. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by I. Those opposed, nay. Motion passes. Item 13D, comments from the mayor and city council members in compliance with the open meetings act. No discussion may be held on this item. Do we have any council members with comments? We'll go to my left first. Councilman Jablonsky.

Uh Chief Gray and myself and four other firefighters were uh in Appleton, Wisconsin last week, courtesy of McQueen support group to uh do our final construction um of our aerial truck. We went over 480 possible options on the truck. We spent a whole day deciding what color lights and where to put the lights. And uh it was very an interesting process. Uh the the the need to be there was kind of neat because you could go out to the plant and look at some of the vehicles that were already in the process and to make sure that that's where your lights want to be. But also found out that we are mandated to have certain lights in certain spots. So we didn't have much choice of movement. [laughter] But uh uh it's it's amazing how many different types of lights and and everything. But it was a it was a good experience and um we're hoping that that will be here in the next 13 to 14 months. So

the first one. So all right, Councilman, just want [clears throat] to remind everybody that this Thursday, the 22nd, is a pause and clause fundraiser. And I challenge all of you to come down and take a pie in the face. And if you take a pie in the face, I'll donate $25 for each one of you. So from 10 till 1, there's a challenge for everybody. All right, we'll move on. I The mayor has no comments this evening. I was windy enough in my state of the city address. We'll move on to resolutions this evening. Item 14A, resolution number R26-09, approving the non-exclusive franchise agreement with Vierof Fiber Network LLC for construction, operation, and maintenance of a cable system.

Mr. Mr. Mayor, I move for the adoption of resolution number R26-09. Second. We have a motion and a second to approve resolution R26-09. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by I. Those opposed, nay.

Motion passes. Item 14B, resolution R26-10, approving the and accepting the rightaway easement with Loop Public Power District located along the south property line of Airport Park, 18th Avenue and Bill Babka Drive. Mr. Mayor, move resolution number R26-10 be adopted. [clears throat] Second. We have a motion and a second to adopt resolution number R26-10. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by I. Those opposed, nay.

Motion passes. Item 14 C, resolution number R26-11, accepting the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum Urban and Community Forestry Grant from the University of Nebraska Lincoln in the amount of $25,000 to provide arborous training for two staff members, removal of six trees, and purchase and planting of 24 new trees. Mr. Mayor, I move resolution number R26-11 be adopted. Second. We have a motion and a second to adopt resolution number R26-11. Any discussion? Is this different from the tree inventory? Yeah. Yep. Two separate grants. Two separate grants. Yep. Are these six trees at Quail Run?

Nope. So, there's two in West Pony. [laughter] Two of them. Two of them. Uh, two are in West Pony Park, two are in East, and then two at Quail. All 24. [laughter] All right. All right, we have a motion and a second to adopt resolution R26-11. All those in favor signify by I. Those opposed, nay.

Motion passes. Item 14D, [clears throat] resolution number R26-12, approving the professional services agreement with Sirius Computer Solutions LLC and the estimated amount of $50,100 for Microsoft Office 365 migration services to upgrade the city's email system. This is reallocated from funds if approved from CIP's 20-723-126-4 19 and 25. Mr. Mayor, I move resolution number R26-12 be adopted. Second. We have a motion and a second to adopt resolution number R26-12. Any discussion?

I'm just curious if this was such a a big need, why why do we have to relocate? Why wouldn't we have already had this budgeted? Yeah, that was uh something that didn't happen when it should have during the budget cycle. Uh the IT department notified finance to include it in the budget and it did not get included.

All right, we have a motion. Any other comments or questions? We have a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by I. Those opposed, nay. Motion [clears throat] passes. Item 14E, resolution number R26-13, approving the Nebraska Department of Transportation and City of Columbus Municipal Program um agreement for the Loop River South Bridges National Register of Historic Places section 106 mitigation. This is CIP25-25. Mr. Mayor, I move resolution number R26-13 be adopted. Second.

We have a motion and a second to adopt resolution number R26-13. Any discussion? Just so the public knows, is is this the beginning of the re uh reenactment of the little bridge that's going to be somewhere that we were told we needed to do to get the money we needed to get to do what we wanted to do. Yeah, that is correct. Just wanted to make sure. Pretty good explanation there. Thank you. All right. So, uh we have a motion and a second to adopt resolution 26-13. All those in favor signify by I. Those opposed, nay.

Motion passes. Item 14F, resolution number R26-14, approving the professional services agreement with Alfred Bennish and Company in the amount of not to exceed $58,616 for study and design phase services for lift station number 28 located at 35th Avenue South of 26th Street. This is CIP21-81. May I move resolution number R26-14 be adopted? Second.

We have a motion and a second to adopt resolution number R26-14. Any discussion? Seeing none. All those in favor signify by I. Those opposed, nay. Motion passes. brings us up to ordinances on their first reading. Item 15A, ordinance number 26-2, amending section 70.075 of chapter 70 of title 7 of the Columbus City Code to add designates to the traffic control device committee meet um traffic control device committee meeting. It's wrong on here. [laughter]

Mr. Mayor, move that the rules be suspended and ordinance number 26-02 be read by number only. Second. We have a motion and a second to suspend the rules and read ordinance number 26-02 by number only. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by I. Those opposed, nay.

Motion passes. Ordinance number 26-02. [clears throat] Mr. Mayor move for the adoption of ordinance number 26-02. Second. We have a motion and a second to adopt ordinance number 26-02. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by I. Those opposed, nay. Motion passes. Uh meeting adjourned, but do not go anywhere because we have to start with our community development agency