City of Ralston

Notice of Meeting

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of Ralston, Nebraska, will be held at 5:30 P.M. on Monday, April 11, 2022, in the Council Chamber at Ralston City Hall. An agenda, which is kept continuously current, is available for public inspection at the office of the City Clerk at City Hall.

Maura Kelly

City Clerk

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City of Ralston

Notice of Meeting

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a meeting of the Mayor and City Council of the City of Ralston, Nebraska, will be held at 5:30 P.M. on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, in the Council Chamber at Ralston City Hall. An agenda, which is kept continuously current, is available for public inspection at the office of the City Clerk at City Hall.

Maura Kelly

City Clerk

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Ralston City Council Regular Meeting

Tuesday, March 1, 2022

The complete minutes are on file in the office of the City Clerk and are available for public

inspection during regular business hours or on the City’s website at www.cityofralston.com.

The Ralston City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at 5:30 PM at Ralston City Hall.  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Roll was called with the following present:  Mayor Groesser and Council members Brousek, Preis, Kavanaugh, and Fideline. Absent: Sanchez and Krause.  The agenda was available at City Hall for public inspection and posted prior to the meeting.  The legal notice for the meeting was published in the Omaha Daily Record.  Claims listed are approved and part of these minutes.

Deacon Lonnie Dinneen, St. Gerald Catholic Church, gave the invocation. Mayor Groesser welcomed the press and guests.  Mayor Groesser said the meeting is subject to the Nebraska Open Meetings Act.  A copy of the Act is posted at the rear of the Council Chambers and is available to view on the City’s website at www.cityofralston.com.

The City Council reviewed the following items under the consent agenda. Approval of Council Minutes from February 15, 2022 regular Council Meeting; Approval of Claims; Liberty First Credit Union Arena Financial Statements for period ending January 31, 2022; Department Head and/or Commission Reports Moved and seconded to approve the Consent Agenda.  On roll call vote, the following votes were recorded on the electronic voting board. Aye:  Brousek, Kavanaugh, Krause, Preis and Fideline. Nay: None. Absent: Krause and Sanchez. Motion carried.

Freshman reported that permits and complaints are up as Spring begins.

Leonardo reported on a pursuit that occurred within the City this morning and that all are in jail facing many charges.

Hoppe reported that Brian Kavanaugh presented a plaque in Omaha on February 28th to celebrate Irish Ambassador Dan Mulhall Day.  

Kavanaugh introduced Ordinance No. 1300.  Kelly read Ordinance No. 1300 by title only: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 5-623 OF THE RALSTON MUNICIPAL CODE DEALING WITH PARKING TIME LIMITS; TO REPEAL PROVISIONS IN CONFLICT THEREWITH; TO PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND TO AUTHORIZE THAT SAID ORDINANCE BE PUBLISHED IN PAMPHLET FORM.

Moved and Seconded to approve Ordinance 1300 on third reading. On roll call vote, the following votes were recorded on the electronic voting board. Aye:  Brousek, Kavanaugh, Preis, and Fideline.  Nay:  None.  Absent: Sanchez and Krause.   Motion carried.

Fideline introduced Ordinance No. 1301.  Kelly read Ordinance No. 1301 by title only: AN ORDINANCE REVISING SECTION 2-104 OF THE RALSTON MUNICIPAL CODE TITLED “BOARD OF HEALTH”; TO REPEAL PROVISIONS IN CONFLICT THEREWITH; TO PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND TO AUTHORIZE THAT SAID ORDINANCE BE PUBLISHED IN PAMPHLET FORM.

Moved and seconded to approve Ordinance 1301 on third reading. On roll call vote, the following votes were recorded on the electronic voting board. Aye:  Brousek, Kavanaugh, Preis, and, Fideline.  Nay:  None.  Absent: Sanchez and Krause.   Motion carried.

Groesser opened consideration of the Audit for Fiscal Year ending September 30, 2021.

Amy Shreck, Director with  BKD CPAs and Advisors, presented and explained the audit.  She thanked City staff for assisting.  The auditor’s opinion is an unmodified, or clean, opinion and complies with the Federal Grant.   This is the first time the City of Ralston has had this type of audit which happens when an organization signs over $750,000.00 in federal funds in any given term.  The audit shows positive results which reaches the goal wanting to be achieved. 

One deficiency of the audit which has been discussed for years is the segregation of duties.  It relates to the fact of having a fairly limited staff at City Hall that is involved in the checks and balances.  The Finance Director’s role and the ability to access items from the cash out-flow and in-flow standpoint poses a risk of misstatement. From a recommendation standpoint, the easiest way to look at it is there needs to be more people, but when more people are added, there are more costs.  The pros and cons need to be weighed and it needs to be considered whether other controls in place help cover that. Over the years the City has put controls in place and Shreck said that BKD concludes a positive audit.

Bohling gave an overview of the governmental, general, lottery, street and arena funds.  The arena total net fund is in the positive for the first time.  Hoppe inquired about the City’s Standard and Poor rating.   Bohling discussed the Standards and Poor rating and that more standards have been put in place. Groesser explained that the City is trying to improve the Standard and Poor rating which will allow flexibility to reissue the arena bonds and save on interest. Moved and seconded to accept the Audit for Fiscal Year ending September 30, 2021.  On roll call vote, the following votes were recorded on the electronic voting board. Aye:  Brousek, Kavanaugh, Preis and Fideline.  Nay: None. Absent: Krause and Sanchez.   Motion carried.

Groesser opened consideration of his appointment of Scott Olsen to the Planning Commission to fill Rich Onken’s unexpired term. Moved and seconded to approve the Mayor’s appointment of Scott Olsen to the Planning Commission to fill Rich Onken’s unexpired term. On roll call vote, the following votes were recorded.  Aye:  Brousek, Fideline, Kavanaugh, and Preis.  Nay:  None.  Absent:  Krause and Sanchez.  Motion carried.

Public comment:  None.

Council comment: 

Brousek thanked the Public Works and Police Departments for jobs well done.  Fideline noted his agreement and appreciation as well. 

Kavanaugh discussed the Ukrainian crisis with Putin and Russia.

Preis thanked everyone for their condolences, cards and flowers on the passing of his mother.

Groesser discussed the League of Municipalities meetings and the importance of LB 927 passing and the benefits for the City of Ralston.

  There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 5:54  P.M.

The next regular meeting is Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at 5:30 PM.                   

Maura Kelly, City Clerk

Donald A. Groesser, Mayor

Claims – March 1, 2022: American United Life Ins, $131.47, Employee Life Insurance; Aramark, $122.67, Door Mats; Black Hills Energy, $1759.78, Utilities; BKD, $14,000.00, Utilities; Blackstone Publishing, $87.98, Audio Visual; Blue Cross & Blue Shield, $43,018.38, Employee Health Insurance; Casey’s Business Mastercard, $22.63, Fuel; Cengage Learning, $23.25, Large Print Media; Century Certified Services, $96.00, Pest Control; City of La Vista, $756.65, Special Services; Cornhusker International Trucks, $629.23, Parts; Cox Business Services, $591.70, Internet/Telephones; Digital Express, $55.00, Printing; Eakes Office Solutions, $36.46, Office Supplies; Fraser Stryker, $132.00, Professional Services; Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 1, $780.00, Union Dues; Global Spectrum, $109,873.00, Daktronics; Great Plains Uniforms, $19.98, Tactical Gear; Great Western Bank-Pension, $23,464.32, Pension; Great Western Bank-Visa, $9,784.76, Miscellaneous Purchases; HDR Engineering, $2,435.50, Professional Services; Houghton Bradford, $6,000.00, Professional Fees; Humana Insurance, $2,463.93, Employee Dental & Vision; Husch Blackwell Strategies, $10,200.00, Professional Fees; Integrated MSP, $1,652.00, City Hall Computer Equipment; JEO Consulting Group, $5,400.00, 72nd St Topo; Johnathon McKenzie, $120.00, Cleaning Services; Jones Automotive, $110.00, Labor; Menards, $69.90, Supplies; Metro, $981.00, Service Contract; Metro Landscape Materials, $14,000.00, Tree Debris; Michael Todd & Co, $65.74, Spray Paint; MUD, $1,422.57, Utilities; NAPA Auto Parts, $62.01, Parts; National League of Cities, $1,202.00, Dues; Nebraska Iowa Supply Co, $2,521.18, Fuel; NOMOS Public Affairs, $5,000.00, Contract Labor; OCLC, $372.51, Catalog/Metadata; Omaha Compound Co, $391.29, Building Supplies; O’Malley, Margaret, $181.50, Library Cleaning; Papillion Sanitation, $29,002.61, Trash Collection; Quill Corporation, $154.83, Office Supplies; Ralston Fire Dept, $237.50, Instruction; Ralston House, $25,000.00, Annual Fee; Ralston Volunteer Fire Dept, $17,239.58, Fire Protection Agreement; Sarpy County, $1,827.34, Animal Control; The Daily Record, $384.79, Legal Notices; Unique, $53.70, Placements; Voya Institutional Trust Company, $1,150.00, Employee Retire Savings.

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PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

The Ralston City Council will hold a public hearing at 5:30 PM on Tuesday, April 5, 2022.  The purpose of the public hearing is to consider the 2nd reading of Ordinance No. 1306, an ordinance amending a section of the Ralston Municipal Code pertaining to proposed amendments to the City of Ralston Zoning Ordinance, Article Three Table 3-1, Limited Commercial, Zoning District Regulations.   Public comments will be accepted.  An agenda will be kept current and available for public inspection at the Office of the City Clerk, 5500 S. 77th Street, Ralston, Nebraska 68127. Written comments should be addressed to the City Clerk at the above address.

Maura Kelly

City Clerk

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PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

The Ralston City Council will hold a public hearing at 5:30 PM on Tuesday, April 5, 2022.  The purpose of the public hearing is to consider the 2nd reading of Ordinance No. 1305, an ordinance amending a section of the Ralston Municipal Code adopting the International Energy Conservation Code, 2018 Edition. Public comments will be accepted.  An agenda will be kept current and available for public inspection at the Office of the City Clerk, 5500 S. 77th Street, Ralston, Nebraska 68127. Written comments should be addressed to the City Clerk at the above address.

Maura Kelly

City Clerk

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The Ralston Planning Commission will conduct a Public Hearing to consider revising and amending Article Eleven, Sign Regulations, of the Ralston Zoning Ordinance. The hearing will be on Monday, April 11, 2022 at 5:30 PM in the City Council Chambers. Public comments will be accepted and a complete agenda for this meeting is available at Ralston City Hall.

Maura Kelly

City Clerk

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