Plan update presentation by Confluence staff, Christopher Shires and Caitlin Bolte. 
            Planners are about halfway through the new comprehensive plan process and are currently in Phase 2: Vision, Input, and Direction. They shared community profile data including terrain, population growth projections, age, race, and ethnicity  demographics, household income, housing ownership, commuters, employment, and land use.
            An Advisory Committee kick-off meeting included discussions about the biggest advantages in Crete as well as the most challenging aspects of updating the plan; other issues included those with housing and economic development opportunities. Stakeholders addressed in the community included students, commuters, economic development groups, Welcoming Circle members, realtors, bankers, community leaders, business owners, and developers.
            Stakeholder interviews, a public workshop, and interactive website yielded theme topic areas of focus, and results of mapping and image voting activities.
            Strategic planning was held with city department heads and then with the mayor and council members about the city’s diamonds - things the community does well, coal - community struggles, and roadblocks - challenges to turning coal into diamonds. Groups talked about core values and critical categories for long term decision-making: finance and budget, facilities and equipment, customer service and outreach, staffing/human capital, future planning and policy.
            The council committed to focus on five key priorities in the short-term: railroad quiet zone, staffing plan, street improvements, housing and economic development strategy, and parks and recreation master plan.
            Guiding principles from the consultant team include: Welcoming Community, Quality of Life, Diversity in Housing Options, Pedestrian Mobility and Connectivity, Economic Development and Growth, Parks and Recreation, Strategic Partnerships. Twenty-one Big Ideas were also highlighted.
            The next steps in the plan are draft writing, review sessions in April/May/June, and a public open house projected for June.
 
 

Veronica Ortiz, Crete Chamber of Commerce member, explained that there will be food vendors, crafts and other activities during the Cinco De Mayo Celebration.  The event will follow last year's model as an event for the whole community. 
City Administrator Tom Ourada mentioned that the park doesn't have to be reserved. However, since the Chamber is asking for street closures and commitment of additional city services, this requires council action.

City Administrator Tom Ourada mentioned that this is an annual proclamation for Abor Day for Crete being a tree city. Mayor Dave Bauer Issued Arbor Day Proclamation 

City Attorney Alison J Borer explained that this was the voluntary annexation and due to its voluntary nature there is no public hearing required. This is the second reading of three. 

Parks and Recreation Director Liz Cody stated that the current registration fee is $50 and there are currently 34 participants. Registration is open until May 5th. They are looking to limiting the number of participants. In past years there were 30-40 participants. Last year they had over 70 participants. The current fee is $50 and many participants pay less than that due to the sibling discount. They are looking to raising the fee to $75 for the entire season after April 18th, 2023. This will help to help offset the costs and the huge undertaking that goes into the swim season. They will still keep the $10 sibling discount. The participants will still be practicing 5 days a week and having meets on Saturdays, which will give participants 6 days a week access to the pool. Committee member Kyle Frans asked about what their goal number would be. Cody stated that 34 would be manageable. Last year they had many younger participants and this year they raised the starting age from 5 years to 7.
Council member Kyle Frans added that for the $75 it is still really good value for the practices a week. 

City Council member Tom Crisman explained the Personnel Committee met on this item and it is their recommendation it be forwarded to the city attorney to insure the wording is correct and come back to the council. 
City Administrator Tom Ourada reported that the previous wording said something to the effect of a day off without pay. That was confusing wordage in their opinion. They want clarification and if the council is receptive to the change of the clarification before taking it to the attorney and they were. 

 

City Administrator Tom Ourada reported this is the transformer that would be going at the Doane substation. The city is trying to buy this early while the substation is still in design since it will take some time for delivery.  This would authorize to go out for bid. Years ago it was around half a million dollars, but it could go into the 7 figures. This authorizes the city to do an early purchase. 
Council member Dale Strehle explained this went to the Public Works Committee and City Administrator Tom Ourada explained it well. 

City Administrator Tom Ourada reported this is for two power distribution centers. A 35 KV site input for the transformer and a 15 KV site input for the transformer. Both of which have extended lead time. 
Council member Dale Strehle explained that Public Works did meet on this as well. 

City Administrator Tom Ourada reported that these are annual requests and they do escalate year to year. The last year was a little different than previous years. The Mayor solicited from partners. Scott Bartels did mention that the school ridership is up considerably. If the council is okay with this the Mayor would be speaking to the partners to help offset the cost. 
City Council member Dale Strehle mentioned that the three highest are Smithfield, Crete Area Medical Center, and Crete Public Schools. 

City Administrator Tom Ourada reported that the council acted on this but did not act on passing the actual ordinance. 

Council member Dan Papik abstained (with conflict) from voting. 

Officer Reports: Police Captain Pucket reported that new Police Officer Noah Zach will be attending the Academy in May. Parks and Recreation Director Liz Cody commented that the City is still actively hiring for the pool manager position. Human Resource Director Wendy Thomas introduced Jennifer Valente as one of the new bookkeepers for the City. New probationary members to the Fire Department: Henry Vicente Perez, Sarah Theiler, Quinn Whitcomb Council member Tom Crisman mentioned that he has noticed trains not blocking all intersections as much. City Administrator Tom Ourada mentioned that both of the workforce duplexes have sold at target value Met housing guidelines Workforce housing grant has been extended to 48 months Crete Cleanup is the first week in May; discounts available starting May 1st in newspaper; appliance pickup; freon has to be evacuated and refrigerators have to be tagged. 22nd street box culvert is coming along; top of box has been poured; side walls have been done prior; showed pictures of the progress North side paving coming along; showed pictures of the progress 18th street paved  and Linden on one side Kingwood is ready to go 16th street letters went out; some totes have been painted; rest will be painted; that’s being addressed. Public Works Committee with Mayor Bauer, Tom Ourada, Ann Richart, Director of Aviation with NDOT, and other people there to discuss privatization of the airport. There has been discussion about that. There are people who would like to see that happen. The Elected officials don’t have a notion if that would be good or not. There would be a lot of items and issues to work through. By law the City keeps all airport finances separate from all other city funds and all other accounting. All grant funds have been accounted for and separated and always have been. This is good because if the airport was ever to be sold or privatized grant funds would likely have to be reimbursed to the FAA. There are many things that might make this an intriguing idea. Many questions have to be answered. There are many moving parts. City Council member Kyle Frans asked if the grant repayment would be 10 years. Ourada responded that their best information is 20 years. Will be in Lincoln on Wednesday to NDPP Board Special meeting and Thursday is the MEAN Governance meeting on which Ourada is Chair. They will be discussing the scheduled contracts. Restructuring for power supply. Many things to talk about possibly two years to get through all the discussions.