Sara Aden

The meeting commenced with roll call establishing quorum. Key discussions centered on the application by Zeller Classic Rentals LLC for preliminary and final approval of Zeller Second Subdivision, involving a lot split in an I1 light industrial district; this was recommended for approval pending city council review. A significant portion of the meeting involved a discussion regarding potential updates to city ordinances concerning utility extensions, annexations, and small-scale cell towers. Specific attention was given to regulating food vendors, including discussions on state compliance, inspection requirements, and potential location restrictions, especially concerning city parks and rights-of-way. The commission also discussed simplifying future annexation processes tied to utility service requests. Finally, officers were elected for the upcoming year, confirming current chair and vice chair roles and discussing the need to formally appoint a secretary.

The meeting commenced with an invocation and the pledge of allegiance, followed by the administration of oaths to new personnel. Firefighters, including Levi Trip, were sworn in, affirming their commitment to service, courage, and integrity. Subsequently, four police officers—Kyle Norman, Preston Beller, Isaiah Estrada, and Caleb Bombberger—were sworn in as peace officers after completing their basic training. The Council then addressed the Consent Agenda, which included approving minutes and considering applications for liquor licenses. Several resolutions were approved regarding city vehicle and equipment purchases, such as semi-trailers for sanitation and various pickup trucks for the electric and water departments. The Council also approved an agreement with Oak Creek Engineering for required bridge inspections and adopted the 1-and-6 Year Road Plan for 2025 through 2031, which involved a presentation detailing the planned roadwork schedule.

The meeting commenced with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. A significant portion of the meeting involved presentations and accolades for the North Platte Wastewater Treatment Facility, highlighting its numerous Scott Wilbur Awards and Safety Awards, and detailing its operational statistics, including daily, monthly, and yearly average water flow. The consent agenda included the approval of minutes from January 6, 2026, and several applications for special designated liquor licenses for various organizations and dates in February and March 2026. It also included authorizing depository banks for city funds for 2026 and authorizing the Mayor to sign documents for updated Title Six non-discrimination policy for public transit. Under the regular agenda, the Council approved authorizing the Mayor to sign documents with Motorola for door access and camera system upgrades for all city buildings, utilizing Sourcewell contract pricing with a five-year no-interest payment plan. Finally, the Council conducted the first reading and subsequent adoption (waiving remaining readings) of Ordinance Number 4243, which amends section 150.035 of the city code regarding ice and water shield requirements, aimed at aiding local contractors in securing insurance claims.

The work session focused on a detailed review of the health insurance plan performance and renewal strategy. Key discussions included the year-to-date performance following the switch to a new Third-Party Administrator (TPA) last year (from Meritain/Etna to First Choice Health in the M&A network). Presenters also reviewed results from shopping for different Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), noting that the city's current PBM (Mellin, a version of Prime Express Scripts) appears to be cost-effective compared to alternatives. The performance analysis, benchmarked against Medicare rates, showed that the city is currently running at 184% of Medicare for claims, compared to 227% over the previous six years, indicating improved cost management. A significant national data point highlighted was that nearly 38.5% of all million-dollar-plus claims nationally are attributed to individuals under the age of 10, primarily due to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) claims. Discussions also covered the overall tough market conditions for health insurance renewals.

The meeting commenced with an invocation and the pledge of allegiance. Key discussion points included the presentation of a 2025 Award of Merit for concrete pavement construction on West 9th Street, Buffalo Avenue, by the Nebraska Concrete Paving Association. The consent agenda involved approving minutes from prior meetings, confirming mayoral appointments to the Library Advisory Board and the North Platte Historic Preservation Commission, accepting the 2025 Fire Department annual report, filing the Fiscal Year 2025 audit, and approving a license agreement with North Platte or NP ICE. Under the regular agenda, the council approved a professional service agreement of $16,000 with Miller and Associates to update the historic building survey, which was discussed in detail regarding its benefits, compliance requirements, and the scope covering the historic downtown area. Finally, the council approved the claims and subsequently adjourned the meeting.