City Council - Regular Meeting

Welcome to our meeting. The date is August 25. 2026. The time is 7 p.m. This is an open meeting of the Grand Island City Council. The City of Grand Island abides by the Open Meetings Act in conducting business. A copy of the Open Meetings Act is displayed in this room as required by state law. The City Council may vote to go into closed session on any agenda item as allowed by state law. Now I ask that you join us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

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.

The city clerk will now perform roll call.

Council Member Sheard.

Present.

Council Member Stelk. Present. Council Member Conley.

Present.

Council Member Nickerson.

Present.

Council Member Brown.

Present.

Council Member Haase.

Present.

Council Member Mendoza. Present. Council Member O'Neill.

Present.

Council Member Pollock will be absent. Council Member Lanphier.

Present.

And Mayor Steele.

Present. Individuals who have appropriate items. for city council consideration should complete the request for future agenda items form located at the information booth. If the issue can be handled administratively without council action, notification will be provided. If the item is scheduled for a meeting or study session, notification of the date will be given. Council members, do you wish to remove any of tonight's consent agenda items? Hearing none, we shall continue. 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 an agenda item, please come forward, state your name and the agenda topic on which you will be speaking. No one has come forward, so we shall continue. Today, we learn the sad news that council member Mike Pollack passed away. Mike served on the city council since 2012. Before that, he was employed by the city from September of 1981 to September of 2011. finishing out his 30-year career as a fleet supervisor. For two years in a row, Mike served as president of the Grand Island City Council. During that time, Mike and I worked hand in hand on business for the city and planning. Mike was instrumental and essential in seeing the need for a new fire station number three, which we will dedicate on Thursday at four o'clock. It is a wonderful memorial to Mike that his dedication to community service will live on in a fire station dedicated to serving those in need. In addition, to all the other improvements to Grand Island that we have seen during Mike's service on the city council. Mike has worked for every city improvement that you have seen over the past 15 years. That is remarkable. While Mike served on the city council, I got to know him as a man of sound advice and common sense who was also an excellent friend to all of us. Mike and I met regularly when he was the council president, and I always knew that our meetings would be cheerful, helpful, uplifting, and productive. Mike was not only a great man, He was a true public servant who dedicated his life to improving Grand Island. When Mike spoke, everyone knew that what he had to say came from careful consideration, long experience, and a heartfelt desire to see Grand Island grow, thrive, and be a great place to live. The loss of Mike is the loss of a true and selfless public servant and leader in our community. Mike's devotion to public service can serve as an inspiration for all of us to see, as Mike did, a brilliant future for Grand Island. It is now up to us to carry on with Mike's good work. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mike's wife, Barbara, his family, and friends. We'll now proceed with our regular agenda. Council, is there a motion concerning the consent agenda? Mr. O'Neill?

I move to approve the consent agenda.

Mr. Lanphier? I second. Discussion?

Police vote. Motion adopted.

Public hearings 7a. Public hearing on acquisition of utility easement 615 West 1st Street.

This is a 15 by 20 foot easement to serve Hope Harbor. New service there. Thank you.

Public hearing is now open. Is there anyone that would like to speak on this item? If not, public hearing is now closed.

Mr. Brown.

I move we approve 2026, TAC 232.

Mr. O'Neill. I second that motion. Any discussion?

Please vote. Motion adopted.

7B, public hearing on request to rezone lot 1 of Norwood 4th subdivision from large lot residential and R2 low density residential to R3-SL medium density residential small lot zoning district. Rashad, please proceed.

Good evening. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Habitat of Humanity in Grand Island is requesting this zoning change for Lot 1 of Norwood 4th Subdivision.

As proposed, our comprehensive plan has this land designated for low to medium density residential.

The R3SL zoning district meets that criteria. The regional planning commission met on August 5th and recommend approval of the zoning change.

Thank you.

Public hearing is now open. Is there anyone that would like to speak? If not, public hearing is now closed.

We need a motion to suspend the statutory rules regarding ordinance number 10086. Mr. Sheard? Thank you. I move that we suspend the rules. And Mr. Stell? I second the motion. Any discussion?

Please vote. Motion adopted.

Motion, Mr. Sheard. Thank you. I move that we approve item number 7B-10086. Mr. Brown.

I second that motion.

Any discussion?

Please vote. Motion adopted.

8A resolution, approving preliminary and final plat, Ziller Acres subdivision. Rashad, please proceed.

Thank you. Moments ago, you guys just approved the rezoning for this area. The preliminary plot consists of 88 lots. Bring that up for you guys. As proposed, the preliminary plaque consists of 88 lots. All the lots meet the lot requirements of the R3SL. The applicant is also requesting approval of 48 lots for the first phase of the subdivision. And at the August 5th Planning Commission meeting, the Planning Commission recommend approval of both the preliminary and final plaque. Thank you.

Mr. Brown?

I move we approve 2026 TAC 233.

Mr. O'Neill? I second the motion. Any discussion? Mr. Lanphier?

I have a question for Chad. I think he's over there. How much TIP are we giving away here?

At this time, there has not been a TIF application on this. The council did approve the blighted and substandard designation. We're anticipating that the TIF application will come in shortly. So I have no idea how much TIF would be associated with this project at this time.

OK.

Thank you.

Please vote. Motion adopted.

9A, executive session to discuss updates on IAFF contract negotiations. Mr. Lanphier.

I move that we go into executive session.

Thank you. Mr. O'Neill. I'll second the motion. Thank you. Any discussion?

Please vote. Motion adopted.

Does that entail a person from the electric department going to the house or business, or does it entail a switch at the Phelps control plant or the city utilities? How do you come up with that fee, and what's the work process on that?

So there's an after-hour and an on-hour fee. So the on-hour fee is a lot of those are – automated through our AMI system. So that's from an office, someone can turn that on and off. Now that's single phase only. So all three phase customers, like your commercial industrials, you have to go remote and open those meters. So that would be like a non-pay situation, a disconnect. And then sometimes if people are turned off for non-pay and they want power after