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New boundaries are proposed for business improvement districts on South Locust Street and in downtown while a homeowner has been added to a newly-forming improvement district on west Second Street.
All three changes are up for approval Tuesday night by the Grand Island City Council.
A business improvement district has existed on South Locust Street from Highway 34 north to Stolley Park Road for nine years. It's purpose is for landscaping, lighting and other beautification efforts.
Cindy Johnson, president of the Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce and contracted manager of the South Locust district said the area has been expanded from 200 feet on either side of South Locust Street to also include areas around corners and on side streets that make sense to include as landscaped improved areas.
A bigger change was proposed to the downtown district.
"The new boundaries better define what downtown is when people think what is downtown," Johnson said. "It should include the courthouse. It should include the county administration building. It should include City Hall."
The old boundaries included City Hall, but didn't include other governmental and non-profit organizations that are core downtown properties.
Under the new boundaries the YMCA, the courthouse and even additional commercial properties such as Olsson Associates have been added.
Johnson said the governmental buildings, non-profits and single-family houses will remain as non-taxed properties for the improvement district, just as they have been. Any housing that is rented is treated as commercial property and is taxed, she said.
The downtown district's west boundary will stop at Eddy instead of extending to Clark Street as it did previously.
The city council is also to ratify appointments to the downtown improvement board for the next five-year term. Those members are Matt Armstrong, Bruce Eberle, Craig Hand, Mark Stelk, Barbara Clinch, Dee Johnson, Tom Ziller, Mark Tracy, Kurt Haecker and K.C. Hehnke.
The South Locust district board of directors are suggested to be Jack Rasmussen, Gene McCloud, Dave Bartz, Bill Lawrey, Jeff Reed, Rhonda Saafeld and Dan Naranjo.
Grand Island Mayor Margaret Hornady is also recommending adding a homeowner to a newly-forming business improvement district on West Second Street.
John Folsom, at 1504 W. Second St., attended a recent council meeting and expressed concern about being taxed without representation on the improvement board if single-family homes were part of the new improvement district.
"He volunteered, so I appointed him," Hornady said.
The Second Street improvement district is to have its first organizational meeting on Thursday morning at 8 a.m.
The city council's regular business meeting starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers at Grand Island City Hall, 100 E. First St.
On the agenda:
Other issues before the city council Tuesday include:
* Amending Chapter 8 of city code to adopt the 2006 International Building Code and the 2006 International Residential Code.
* Awarding a $670,818 contract to OK Paving of Hordville for concrete pavement and storm sewer repair.
* Paying $49,881 to Diamond Engineering Co. for the replacement of sewer line between Yund and Division Street from Plum to Vine.
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