Regular City Council Meeting                                                                                September 2, 2008

City Council Chambers                                                                                                         7:00 p.m.

 

Present:  Mayor –                     Joyce Hudson                           Absent:  Council member Jeff Whiting

               Council members       Jeff Kennedy                                       

                                                Jim Aden                                                         

                                                Tim Strauser

                City Administrator  Bruce Clymer

                City Clerk                Connie L. Dalrymple

                City Attorney          Mike Bacon

               

Press:  Gothenburg Times - Beth Barrett                                  

 

Also present:  Shane Gruber, Joan Windrum, Delvin Seil, Zach Franzen, Patrik Reeves, Eppie Sisneros, Louis Bovitz, Travis Mason, Anne Anderson

 

Mayor Hudson opened the meeting and public hearing at 7:00 p.m.  Advance notice and a copy of the agenda were given to the Council and members of the press.  City Council meetings are conducted in accordance with the Open Meetings Act, a copy of which is available for public inspection on the north wall of the Council Chambers.

 

The public hearing was for purposes of hearing public comment on the proposed commercial redevelopment of the property at 818 Ave F.

 

Craig & Larry Franzen are proposing to construct a 4000 square foot building on the property that will house a shop and office for their business.  The current Franzen, Inc building on 9th Street will be sold.  They are requesting $300,000 tax increment financing over 15 years.  They will buy the construction bonds and there will be no city money involved in the project.  The Planning & Zoning Commission has approved the project.  The Community Redevelopment Authority approved the project in the passage of Resolution 2008-3 providing 30-day notice of intent to enter into the redevelopment contract.

 

Discussion was had and Kennedy moved, Aden seconded, to close the public hearing at 7:03 p.m.  Roll call vote: Yea – Strauser, Aden, Kennedy.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

Kennedy moved, Strauser seconded, to pass and approve Resolution 2008-19 approving the economic development plan as proposed.  Roll call vote: Yea – Aden, Strauser, Kennedy.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

Aden  moved, Kennedy seconded, to approve the consent agenda that included:

            City Council minutes – August 19 and August 27

            Board of Adjustment minutes - August 19

            Cemetery Board minutes – August 4

Roll call vote: Yea – Strauser, Kennedy, Aden.  Nay - none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

Kennedy moved, Aden seconded, allowing payment of the claims against the City except #1920, $61,373.58; Public Works Division $116,123.90; and the August 21 payroll of $32,813.66.  Roll call vote: Yea – Strauser, Aden, Kennedy.    Nay - none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

Aden moved, Strauser seconded, allowing payment of claim #1920 to Kennedy Landscape Services.  Roll call vote: Yea – Strauser, Aden.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

OPEN FORUM:

-         Louis Bovitz expressed a concern for insufficient guard rails at the Gothenburg Canal at 27th Street.  Administrator Clymer will contact the District Engineer in North Platte as it is a state issue since the bridge is on Highway 47.

 

Joan Windrum reported to Council that changes to the 2008-09 budget resulting from the budget work session have been incorporated into the budget.   The budget of $24,446,036, excluding cash reserve, and carries a tax request of $442,318.92 based on a levy of .309224, the same levy as last year.   

 

Aden moved, Kennedy seconded, approving the 2008-09 budget for publication and public hearing on September 16.  Roll call vote: Yea – Strauser, Kennedy, Aden.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

According to Travis Mason of Miller & Assoc, four bids were received for the new 15 inch sanitary sewer east of Avenue I.  All bids were within 10% of each other but were much higher than the $180,000 anticipated.  The specifications included allowance for several unknowns, such as dewatering and lowering or raising man holes, and the exact number of joints.  If those items are unnecessary, the price could be reduced.  High oil and fuel prices are a big part of the cost.  Anticipated completion is May 1, 2009.  He recommends the low bidder, Van Kirk Contracting, if Council decides not to rebid.

 

            Van Kirk Bros Contracting, Inc                                    246,838.15

            BSB Construction, Inc                                      266,627.55

            General Excavating Co.                                                266,789.65

            Midlands Contracting, Inc                                             268,429.70

 

It is the intent to save the costs of bonding the project by paying for it outright through the Public Works Division.  Costs could be recouped over several years by an increase in sewer rates of $1.25 / month on a $180,000 project.  That will be reevaluated and considered in January.  The project is a good one in the long term of the City, not just the area directly affected.  .

 

Council agreed that we committed to the project and need to proceed, therefore Aden moved, Strauser seconded, to accept the bid offered by Van Kirk Contracting as recommended by the engineer.  Roll call vote:  Yea – Kennedy, Strauser, Aden.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

Six requests for proposals were received and three companies interviewed for the planning portion of the downtown revitalization project, which is due at the State by December 1.  The selection committee recommends a contract with JEO Consulting Group.

 

Kennedy moved, Strauser seconded, authorizing signature of a contract with JEO Consulting Group for the downtown revitalization planning.  Roll call vote: Yea – Aden, Strauser, Kennedy.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

Miller & Associates have grouped Street Improvement Districts 114, 115, 116, and 118 as one paving project of 4.5 blocks and estimate the cost at $375,000 to $475,000 with a completion date of August 1, 2009.  The specifications include water and sewer services on lots where there is none. 

 

Kennedy moved, Aden seconded, approving the plans and specifications for Street Improvement District #114, 22nd Street from Avenue H – J, and set the bid date for September 25, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.  Roll call vote: Yea – Strauser, Aden, Kennedy.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

Aden moved, Kennedy, seconded, approving the plans and specifications for Street Improvement District #115, 22nd Street from Avenue G - H, and set the bid date for September 25, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.  Roll call vote: Yea – Strauser, Kennedy, Aden.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

Kennedy moved, Strauser seconded, approving the plans and specifications for Street Improvement District #116, 23rd Street, Avenue G - H, and set the bid date for September 25, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.  Roll call vote: Yea – Aden, Strauser, Kennedy.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

Strauser moved, Kennedy seconded, approving the plans and specifications for Street Improvement District #118, Ave I north from 22nd Street, and set the bid date for September 25, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.  Roll call vote: Yea – Aden, Kennedy, Strauser.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

Miller & Assoc. have estimated the cost of paving and storm sewer installation on 5th Street between Ave D and Lake Ave to be $85,000 to $125,000.  Completion date is June 1, 2009.

 

Aden moved, Kennedy seconded, approving plans and specifications for Street Improvement District #117 and set the bid date for September 25, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.  Roll call vote: Yea – Strauser, Kennedy, Aden.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

Aden moved, Kennedy seconded, approving a special designated liquor license to sell wine at a Chamber of Commerce sponsored Beef and Wine Tasting event on September 26, 2008 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Stone Hearth Estates, 110 20th Street in Gothenburg.  Roll call vote: Yea – Strauser, Kennedy, Aden.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

Chamber Director Anne Anderson reported on plans for the Harvest Festival around a Tropical Paradise theme.  Plans are underway for bed races, car show, pedal tractor pull, and two parades.  The kids parade will be Friday, September 19 at 6:00 p.m. and the Festival parade will be Saturday the 20th, and will follow the same route as in the past.

 

Strauser moved, Kennedy seconded, approving the proposed routes for the kid’s parade on September 19th and the Harvest Festival parade on the 20th, and Lake Ave for bed races and other events between 14th Street and 17th Street, subject to approval from the Nebraska Department of Roads.  Roll call vote: Yea –Aden, Kennedy, Strauser.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

The Sun Theatre Board is working on acquisition of a new sound system and would like to have a high school youth street dance as a fund raiser.  Zach Franzen, representing the Sun Theatre Youth Committee, requested use of a half block on 10th Street between Ave D and Lake Ave, in front of the Sun Theatre, on September 20th between 9:00 and 11:30 p.m.  The theatre board will chaperone the dance and setup and remove barricades.

 

Kennedy moved, Aden seconded, allowing the use of a half block of 10th Street for a youth dance, as requested.  Roll call vote: Yea – Strauser, Aden, Kennedy.  Nay – none.

 

Council member Aden introduced Ordinance #839 entitled:

 

An ordinance of the City of Gothenburg, Nebraska, creating Street Improvement Project No 118; defining the boundaries and limits thereof; providing for paving, grading, curbing, guttering, and other necessary and incidental work; providing for the payment of such improvements and other incidental expenses by the issuance of warrants, bond anticipation notes and bonds; providing for assessment of the costs of such improvements against the property specially benefited thereby and the levy of general taxes; providing for the publication of this ordinance; and related matters

 

and moved that the statutory rule requiring reading on three different days be suspended.  The motion was seconded by Council member Kennedy and on roll call vote, the following members voted “Yea”: Strauser, Kennedy, Aden.  “Nay”: none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

Ordinance #839 was ready by title, whereupon Council member Kennedy moved for final passage and Council member Aden seconded the motion.  Mayor Hudson asked the question “Shall Ordinance #839 be passed and adopted?”  On roll call, the following voted “Yea”: Strauser, Aden, Kennedy.  “Nay”: none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

Mayor Hudson declared Ordinance #839 adopted and signed it in the presence of the Council and the Clerk attested the signature.

 

Aden moved, Kennedy seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 p.m.  Roll call vote: Yea – Strauser, Kennedy, Aden.  Nay – none.  The next regular meeting will be September 16 at 7:00 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

___________________________________                               _________________________________

Joyce Hudson, Mayor                                                                  Connie L. Dalrymple, City Clerk