Good Life District Boundary Map, (City of Grand Island, Courtesy)
GRAND ISLAND – Grand Island’s City Council voted 7-1 Jan. 28 to hire a lobbyist to advocate for the Good Life District legislation.
Council member Doug Lanfear voted against the motion. Council members Jack Sheard and Mike Paulick were absent from the Jan. 28 meeting.
Grand Island voters supported having a Good Life District program in an August election, voting 70 percent to approve it. The program has 3.75 percent in taxes that would go to the state earmarked for the Good Life Program.
Gov. Jim Pillen has suggested repealing the Good Life District program. There are four communities in the state with Good Life programs: Gretna, Omaha, Bellevue and Grand Island.
The City Council will pay $3,000 a month up to $30,000 a year to Jensen Rogert Associates of Lincoln.
Council member Chuck Haase said that there is not institutional knowledge in the Legislature. That’s why having a lobbyist is important.
Council member Doug Lanfear said he did not support hiring a lobbyist. He suggested that the city administrator and mayor lobby state senators for the program.
Gerald Poels of Grand Island said the Good Life District is not transformational.
“We have a state senator who’s supposed to be representing Grand Island,” he said.
City Administrator Laura McAloon said that the Governor is trying to reduce state spending.
McAloon said that the city doesn’t want to see the Good Life District program go away.
Council member Mark Stelk described the Good Life Program as a “game changer” for Grand Island. “I wholeheartedly support the lobbying group.”
Assistant City Administrator Patrick Brown wrote in a memo to the City Council, “City Administration recommends hiring a lobbyist to help protect the Good Life District in Grand Island and the voter-approved local economic development program and funding stream. Action needs to be taken as soon as possible since bills have already been submitted to dissolve the program.”
In other business, the City Council voted 8-0 to approve the 2025 Comprehensive Development Plan for Grand Island. John Shepard with Marving Planning Consultants of David City gave a presentation about the document, which is more than 200 pages long. Shepard has been working with the Regional Planning Commission on the project for two years. The Regional Planning Commission, Hall County Commissioners, and Village of Doniphan have adopted the plan. The Village of Alda is scheduled to hear a presentation about the plan on Feb. 4. The document has 16 chapters.
The City Council voted 6-0-2 to approve sending a letter of support for Essential Air Service to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Council members Ryan O’Neill and Doug Brown abstained from voting on the matter, because they also serve on the Airport’s Board.
Central Nebraska Regional Airport Mike Olson gave a presentation about Essential Air Service and airlines that are using the Grand Island Airport. Every two years, the Department of Transportation asks for proposals from air carriers for the various Essential Air Service communities for continuation of that service. A proposal from American Airlines was submitted for the Central Nebraska Regional Airport.
The airport currently has service provided by Allegiant to Mesa Gateway Airport three times a week and four times a week from Feb. 15 through April 15. Allegiant also offers service two times a week to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. American Airlines provides service twice a day to the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. The number of boardings from the Grand Island airport was 64,972 in 2024, compared to 65,849 in 2022. American Airlines will provide service either in 65-seat or 76-seat regional jets. The award is for two years and starts July 1, 2025.
Grand Island Public Library Director Celine Swan gave an annual report for the library, covering the period from Oct. 1, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2024. In 2024, the library had 325,169 circulations, of which 253,482 were physical and 71,687 were digital. There were 106,669 visitors to the library, 3,870 meeting room uses, 36,970 registered borrowers, 17,136 computer sessions, and 980 makerspace users. The library’s annual budget was $2,165,004. The library launched a mobile app in March. The library found out in December 2024 that it had received Gold-level Accreditation through December 2029.
The City Council voted 7-0-1 to approve a list of financial designated depositories. Council member Mark Stelk abstained from voting.
The City Council voted 8-0 to establish a public art commission. Mayor Roger Steele said he is approached about adding artwork at various locations in the city and would prefer having a public art commission handle the requests. The commission would be comprised of seven people with particular expertise and interest in visual arts. The commission would serve as an advisory board to aid the city in review and management of public art-related proposals, solicitations, gifts, and when necessary, disposal and removal of public art.
