CITY OF RALSTON

Ralston City Council Regular Meeting

Tuesday, June 1, 2021

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, June 1, 2021 at 5:30 PM at Ralston City Hall.  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Roll was called with the following present: Council President Krause and Council members Brousek, Fideline, Kavanaugh, and Preis.  Mayor Groesser and Council member Sanchez were absent.  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 Daily Record.  Claims listed are approved and part of these minutes.

Pastor Jim Haack, Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, gave the invocation.  Council President Krause welcomed the press and guests.  Krause 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.

Reviewed the following items under the consent agenda:  (1) Minutes from the May 14, 2021 Strategic Planning Session, May 4, 2021 regular city council meeting and May 20, 2021 Strategic Planning Session; (2) Claims; and (3) Department Head and/or Commission Reports.  Moved and seconded to approve the Consent Agenda. Aye:  Brousek, Fideline, Kavanaugh, Krause, and Preis.  Nay:  None.  Absent:  Sanchez.  Motion carried.

Leonardo reported La Vista Police Department staged a search in Ralston today for the missing 11-year-old.  There were about 50 law enforcement personnel from varying agencies across the metro area and Ralston Police Department assisted as well.

Peña reported on library events including: kick off for the summer reading program.  The arena gave the library four tickets to raffle for the Baby Shark Live program on Saturday and Peña presented a YouTube video promo for the summer reading program.  A Story Walk will be in Wildewood Park with a new story every week.  Out and About Storytime will be on Tuesdays at 10:00 AM in Ralston Park and on Thursdays at 10:00 AM at the Seymour playground.  The Salvation Army lunch truck is back this year and at the library from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM every day.  Other events are:  Lego Club every Wednesday; Reading with Taz the therapy dog; Wildlife Encounters at the park; monthly craft for teens to pick up; Scorz donated lanes for the Library so there will be a bowling party for the kids; a movie lock-in on Fridays; adult Tai Chi every Monday in the park; Bingo on one Wednesday a month; a Between the Books program (formally the lunch and learn program); animal adaptations; monthly crafts to focus on expression and self-care; and the monthly book club will be back to meeting in person.

Krajewski reported on arena events including:  Hairball on June 4th, Baby Shark Live on June 5th, Travis Tritt on July 10th, Blippi Live on July 17th, Jo Koy on July 30th and Styx on November 18th.  Shows to be announced include an MMA Event on September 10th, a classic rock show on October 12th and a country show on November 19th.  Krajewski is working on two comedy and two family shows and nine concerts all ranging from November 2021 to May of 2022.

Russell provided clarification regarding the changes to the Open Meetings Act and virtual conferencing during emergency declarations.  Meetings held by virtual conferencing may be permissible for quite some time since it is the understanding that the governor’s emergency declaration needs to be in effect for the State of Nebraska, cities, counties and other entities in Nebraska to receive funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.

Eischeid gave a presentation on Ralston Volunteer Fire Department operations and response times. 

Fideline introduced Ordinance No. 1285.  Russell read Ordinance No. 1285 by title only:  AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE SALE OF A CERTAIN DESCRIBED REAL ESTATE, SAME BEING LOT 1, SERUM INDUSTRIAL PARK REPLAT 1, AN ADDITION TO THE CITY OF RALSTON, AS SURVEYED, PLATTED AND RECORDED IN DOUGLAS COUNTY, NEBRASKA; DIRECTING THE CONVEYANCE OF SUCH REAL ESTATE, AND THE MANNER AND TERMS THEREOF, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND AUTHORIZING THE ORDINANCE BE PUBLISHED IN PAMPHLET FORM.

Ficenec indicated this ordinance is required in order to sell the soccer fields. 

Brousek introduced Ordinance No. 1284.  Russell read Ordinance No. 1284 by title only:  AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 9, ARTICLE VI SECTION 9-601, OF THE RALSTON MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADOPT THE 2018 INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE; TO REPEAL ALL PROVISIONS IN CONFLICT THEREWITH; TO PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND TO AUTHORIZE THAT SAID ORDINANCE BE PUBLISHED IN PAMPHLET FORM.

Ficenec explained there are national standards for building and retaining property and the process for updating the codes.  There are some modifications to the 2018 International Property Maintenance Code that were presented specifically for Ralston, shown as Exhibit A to the ordinance.  Freshman indicated this is a general update and should serve the community well.  Moved and seconded to approve Ordinance No. 1284 on second reading. Aye:  Brousek, Fideline, Kavanaugh, Krause, and Preis.  Nay:  None.  Absent:  Sanchez.  Motion carried.

Public comment: There was no public comment. 

Council comment: Brousek inquired about the asphalt on 77th Avenue by Oak Park and if it is going to be finished soon.  Freshman indicated it is but it is slow moving.  Fideline thanked Eischeid for the report.  Kavanaugh thanked Eischeid as well and is glad to see the library so busy and all the programs coming back.  Krause commented on his property valuation notice received.

The meeting adjourned at 6:07 PM.

The next regular meeting is Tuesday, June 15, 2021 at 5:30 PM.

Rosemarie D. Russell

City Clerk

Gerald J. Krause

Council President

CLAIMS-06-01-2021

American United Life Insurance Company, 1,004.84, Life Insurance; Andrew Kanngieser, 1,170.00, June FOP Dues; Aramark/Ameripride, 109.23, Building Maint/Rugs; Benefit Plans, Inc., 460.00, Fees; Black Hills Energy, 385.31, Utilities; Blackstone Publishing, 77.88, Audio Visual Materials; Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Nebraska, 38,341.22, Health Insurance; CCL Supply, LLC, 166.48, Supplies; Cengage Learning Inc., 87.71, Books; Center Point Large Print, 89.28, Books; Century Certified Services, 28.00, Pest Management; Cox Business Services, 579.97, Phones; Fleek, Brianna, 120.00, Janitorial; FP Mailing Solutions, 66.00, Postbase; Fraser Stryker, PC, LLO, 160.51, Professional Services; Global Spectrum, 65,000.00, Transfer to Arena; Great Western Bank-Pension, 4,390.60, Pension; Great Western Bank-Visa, 6,734.21, Subscriptions, Supplies, Books, Services, Training; Heather Gamon, 126.35, Training/Postage; Houghton Bradford Whitte, PC, LLO, 10,130.44, Professional Fees; Humana Insurance Co., 1,845.89, Dental & Vision Insurance; Husch Blackwell, 5,000.00, Legislative Consulting; Hy Vee Accounts Receivable, 9.85, Supplies; Integrates MSP, 2,592.00, Computer System Maintenance; Jason Prismantis, 42.96, Reimbursement -  Safety Boots; Jones Automotive, Inc., 69.29, Labor/Repair; Martin Asphalt, 159.10, Asphalt Materials; Menards-Ralston, 227.71, Supplies; Michael Todd & Co., Inc., 244.08, Heavy Duty Battery; MUD-Utilities, 172.78, Utilities; Nebraska Iowa Supply Co., Inc., 1,118.88, Fuel; Omaha Compound Company, 240.70, Cleaning Supplies; O’Malley, Margaret, 220.00, Janitorial; Omni Engineering, 1,531.55, Materials; Oriental Trading Co., Inc., 277.28, Supplies; Papillion Sanitation, 62,795.96, Trash Collection; Project Control, 5,678.75, Professional Services-Hinge; Ralston Area Chamber of Commerce, 50.00, Chamber Lunch; Ralston Automotive, 820.88, Repairs/Services; Ralston Volunteer Fire Dept, 16,737.00, Fire Protection Agreement; Robertson Properties, LLC, 620.00, Fire Dept Parking; Sarpy County, 1,827.34, Animal Control; Scholastic, Inc., 1,273.10, Books; Suburban Newspapers Inc., 8.74, Legal Publications; The Daily Record, 89.26, Legal Publications; Unique, 17.90, Placements; Voya Institutional Trust Company, 5,450.00, Pension; WEX Bank/Shell, 82.73, Fuel; Wonder Plumbing, 32.00, Reimbursement for overpayment; Woodhouse Auto Family, 158.14, Vehicle Repairs.

6/23           ZNEZ

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CITY OF RALSTON

NOTICE OF PASSAGE AND
PUBLICATION OF ORDINANCE

Notice is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Ralston, Nebraska at their regular meeting on June 15, 2021 passed and approved Ordinance No. 1284 in pamphlet form:

ORDINANCE NO. 1284

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 9, ARTICLE VI SECTION 9-601, OF THE RALSTON MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADOPT THE 2018 INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE; TO REPEAL ALL PROVISIONS IN CONFLICT THEREWITH; TO PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND TO AUTHORIZE THAT SAID ORDINANCE BE PUBLISHED IN PAMPHLET FORM.

Copies of the ordinance are available at the office of the City Clerk at City Hall, 5500 S. 77th Street, Ralston, NE  68127.

Rosemarie D. Russell

City Clerk

6/23           ZNEZ

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