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 19, 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

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

The Ralston City Council will hold a public hearing at 5:30 PM on Tuesday, April 19, 2022.  The purpose of the public hearing is to consider the 3rd 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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Ralston City Council

Regular Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, March 15, 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 15, 2022 at 5:30 PM at Ralston City Hall.  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Roll was called with the following present: Council President Krause, Council members Brousek, Preis, Kavanaugh, Sanchez and Fideline. Absent: Mayor Groesser.  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.

Pastor Greg Berger, Messiah Lutheran Church, gave the invocation. Council President Krause welcomed the press and guests.  Council President 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.

The City Council reviewed the following items under the consent agenda. Approval of Council Minutes from March 1, 2022 regular Council Meeting; Approval of Claims; Monthly Financial Statements – February 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 Sanchez and Fideline. Nay: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Bohling discussed a draft financial policy that was put together in response to our Standards and Poor review.

City Clerk Kelly was present via zoom, Elizabeth Hansen-Hoeschen was acting Clerk.

Fideline introduced Ordinance No. 1305. Hansen-Hoeschen read Ordinance No. 1305 by title only: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 9, ARTICLE IX, OF THE RALSTON MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADOPT THE INTERNATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION CODE, 2018 EDITION; TO REPEAL ALL PROVISIONS IN CONFLICT THEREWITH; TO PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND TO AUTHORIZE THAT SAID ORDINANCE BE PUBLISHED IN PAMPHLET FORM.

Kavanaugh introduced Ordinance No. 1306.  Hansen-Hoeschen read Ordinance No. 1306 by title only: AN ORDINANCE TO REVISE AND AMEND ARTICLE III, TABLE 3-1, CHAPTER 11, OF THE RALSTON MUNICIPAL CODE, PERMITTED USES BY ZONING DISTRICT; TO PROVIDE FOR THE REPEAL OF ALL PROVISIONS OF THE RALSTON MUNICIPAL CODE WHICH ARE IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; TO PROVIDE FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND TO AUTHORIZE THAT SAID ORDINANCE BE PUBLISHED IN PAMPHLET FORM.

Krause opened consideration of a contract with Mausbach Grounds Maintenance not to exceed $95,500.00.

Dittmer reported that Public Works is prioritizing the jobs that need to be completed with the goal to get to a place of preventative maintenance rather than a reactive maintenance schedule.  This maintenance contract, if approved, will free up more city time to focus on sanitary and storm sewers.  An RFP went out on this work with four companies submitting proposals. Each proposal was thoroughly reviewed and Mausbach Grounds Maintenance was asked to come in for an interview. The team that reviewed the proposals agreed that this company would best serve the City’s needs.

Bohling discussed the financial and personnel side of the contract. There is a great need to have employees focusing more this year on improving the sanitary and storm sewers.

Brousek asked who monitors the contractors to ensure we are receiving the expected services.  Dittmer responded that there are provisions in the contract to ensure this. For example, Mausbach must turn in monthly reports and there is a staff person designated to manage the contract.

Preis firmly expressed that the grounds maintenance needs to stay in-house.  Noting that something similar was tried in the past with bad results. Preis questioned some of the numbers used to promote the contract and supports hiring two employees to  assist the City with mowing.

Bohling went through some numbers.  The proposed contract has a one year renewal clause so if it doesn’t work out we can go back to the way it is currently.

Sanchez asked a few questions for clarification purposes. More transparency was requested as to where the current Public Work’s employee hours are spent. Seeing a matrix of this will provide more clarity.  Bohling has a spreadsheet of these hours available for review.

Sanchez expressed that managing the mowing is a part of the seasonality of the job and the city must manage for this, hiring and adjusting accordingly. The need to see the measurable differences expected is vital for the long-term management and planning. Sanchez asked if this is contingent or tied to Federal dollars in terms of balancing the budget. Bohling stated that it is not tied to Federal dollars. This is a simple restructuring, spending roughly the same amount of money spent in the past. The contract would create more space for work to be completed.

Moved and seconded to accept a contract with Mausbach Grounds Maintenance not to exceed $95,500.00.  On roll call vote, the following votes were recorded on the electronic voting board. Aye:  Brousek, Kavanaugh, Krause and Fideline.  Nay: Sanchez and Preis. Absent: None.   Motion carried.

Public comment:  A member of the community spoke concerned about the timing of mowing in the city and asked that the city monitor that.

Council comment:  None.

There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 6:11  P.M.

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

Maura Kelly

City Clerk

Donald A. Groesser

Mayor

Claims – March 15, 2022

Access Systems Leasing, $2,352.66, Printers/Copiers; Adams, Catherine, $17.26, Reimbursement/Activities Supplies; AFLAC, $519.60, Supplemental Insurance; Agrivision Equipment Group; $341.40, Parts; Aramark, $122.67, Rug Cleaning; Black Hills Energy, $1,931.04, Utilities; BMI Janitorial Group, $725.00, PD/City Hall Janitorial; Bohling, Timothy, $74.78, Mileage Reimbursement; C&C Truck Repair, $3,047.10, Truck Repair; Caselle, Inc., $876.00, Contract Support; Cengage Learning Inc., $185.93, Books; Center Point Large Print, $47.94, Books; Compchoice, $525.00, HEP Vaccines; Cox Business Services, $1,970.61, Telephones/Internet; Diamond Laundry Service, Inc., $49.90, Library Laundry; Donald Ficenec, $5,000.00, Hinge/Retainer Legal Services; Douglas County Treasurer, $7,880.20, Granary Property Taxes; Eakes Office Solutions, $100.01, Office Supplies; Experian, $27.00, Professional Services; Donald Groesser, $285.64, Travel Reimbursement; HDR Engineering, Inc., $1,534.00, Professional Services; Integrated MSP, $5,203.50, Computer System Maintenance; John Deere Financial, $957.66, Equipment Lease; Johnathon McKenzie, $120.00, Cleaning Services; League of NE Municipalities, $1,764.00, Conference; Menards-Ralston, $443.37, Supplies; Metropolitan Community College, $9,129.19, CDL Training; Mid-American Benefits, Inc., $3,459.05, FSA/COBRA Administration; Midwest Regional Health Services, $75.00, Covid Testing; NAPA Auto Parts, $123.48, Parts; Nebraska Iowa Supply Co, $1,489.49, Fuel; Omaha Compound Company, $73.44, Cleaning Supplies; Omaha Douglas Public Building; $17.50, Parking; O’Malley, Margaret, $162.25, Janitorial; One Call Concepts, $38.84; Locate Fees; Overhead Door Co of Omaha, $30.00, Door Repair; Project Control, $1,272.50, Hinge Project; Quill Corporation, $17.80, Office Supplies; Ralston Automotive, $202.28, Service; Robertson Properties, $620.00, Fire Parking; The Daily Record, $237.10, Legal Publications; Tractor Supply Credit Plan, $33.98, Parts; Trans Union Risk & Alternative, $75.00, Background Checks; Unique, $17.90, Placements; United Electric Supply, $182.15, Electrical Supplies; Verizon, $1,185.40, Telephones; Westlake Ace Hardware, $185.34, Parts.

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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 April 5, 2022 passed and approved Ordinance No. 1305 in pamphlet form:

ORDINANCE NO. 1305

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 9, ARTICLE IX, OF THE RALSTON MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADOPT THE INTERNATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION CODE, 2018 EDITION; 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.

Maura Kelly

City Clerk

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