Good Life District Boundary Map, (City of Grand Island, Courtesy)
GRAND ISLAND – The president of Woodsonia Real Estate of Elkhorn told Grand Island’s City Council Aug. 5 that the business has submitted a revised Good Life District plan to the city.
“We’re excited. We did submit an updated plan last week to city staff,” said Drew Snyder, president of Woodsonia Real Estate.
“We’re fully engaged,” he said. “We’re still very excited about the project.”
Central Nebraska Today.com contacted Spencer Schubert, communications manager for the City of Grand Island, on Aug. 6 to get a copy of the plan. Schubert responded by email.
“Community Development is revising the application form to adhere to the changes from LB707. Once the form is updated, Woodsonia says it intends to submit a new application.
However, at this time, due to the revision stage of the form no applications can be sent in at this time, which means we have no applications from any developers,” Schubert wrote.
The City Council voted 10-0 to approve changes to city code concerning the Good Life District Economic Development Program.
In a memo to the City Council, City Attorney Kari Fisk wrote that Grand Island voters approved the program in an Aug. 13, 2024, special election.
In 2025, the Nebraska Legislature passed LB707, which modified sections of the Good Life District Economic Development Act and Good Life District Transformational Projects Act. As a result, the city had to amend the program ordinance to reflect the LB707 changes.
Changes in the city ordinance include:
*The boundaries of the Good Life District may no longer be expanded.
*The city will end collecting its own Good Life District occupation tax on Sept. 30. Starting Oct. 1, retailers will send that money to the state, which will distribute an allocated portion back to the city.
*Nonrevenue producing costs incurred by private parties are significantly restricted.
*The portion of the State Sales Tax that will be allocated is similar to the reduction previously provided and replaced by the Good Life District Occupation Tax.
*Updates to the application process created aid in quick and efficient review of applications.
The changes in LB707 will reduce the available program funds, but don’t compromise any existing commitments. The city anticipates enough allocated state sales tax will be available to complete transformational projects in the district.
In another matter, the City Council voted 10-0 to approve renting a chiller for the Heartland Events Center to fulfill the city’s obligation to the State Fair. A future agenda item that will be presented to the city is replacement of chiller(s). The fiscal impact to renting a chiller is not to exceed $150,000. The monthly rental for the chiller after installation is $25,000.
The City Council voted 10-0 to approve a subrecipient agreement for a Community Development Block Grant with the Central District Health Department. The Health Department will get $100,000 from a grant to have a daycare rehabilitation program for environmental issues at daycare centers.
Central District Health Department Director Teresa Anderson said she will do everything she can to get the word out about availability of grant funds, such as talking about it on a weekly radio show. In March 2024, the city received $339,000 from the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant Program.
The City Council voted 10-0 to approve the 2025 annual action plan for Community Development Block Grant activities. In a memo to City Council, Amber Alvidrez wrote that the priorities in order of importance for the five-year plan are to increase quality and affordable housing; support economic opportunities and development; support education, outreach, and services for low to moderate income persons; and support public facilities and infrastructure.
The city will be receiving an annual allocation of CDBG funds for $348,081. Of that amount, $65,000 will go toward program administration, and $383,081 will go toward public facilities. The public facilities amount will be split into two projects. $199,999 will be set aside for a wastewater project along Stolley Park Road east (Bellwood/Kingswood Drives) and $83,082 to be utilized on curb ramps in low to moderate income areas.
The City Council voted 10-0 to amend city code pertaining to disposal of abandoned or found property. The current practice for the city is to hold onto found or abandoned property for six months at the City Impound. At that time the city either sells or disposes of property that cannot be sold.
The length of time is creating a backlog of property. The city’s legal department has determined that holding property for 60 days is compliant with state law. The Police Department is asking that this ordinance be adopted, allowing them to dispose of property after 60 days rather than six months.
