Bellevue City Council Proceedings – 9/1/26

Bellevue City Council Proceedings (Edited for Publication)

A meeting of the Mayor and Council of the City of Bellevue was called to order by Mayor Rusty Hike at Bellevue City Hall at 6:00 p.m. on September 1, 2026. Present were Council Members Kathy Welch, Don Preister, Rich Casey, Thomas Bums, Julie Collins and Jerry McCaw. Absent: none.

Notice of this meeting was given in advance thereof by publication in the Sarpy County Times, Bellevue Times, on the NE Public Notices website, posted at the Bellevue Public Library and Bellevue City Hall and put on city website, the designated method for giving notice and was also given to the Mayor and all members of the City Council. All proceedings hereafter were taken while the convened meeting was open to the public. Available in the Office of the City Clerk confirmation are the affidavit of publication the certificate of posting, & the council’s acknowledgment of receipt of notice. Mayor Hike announced a copy of the Open Meetings Act is posted on rear wall of City Council Chambers and copies are available on the back table.

Mayor Hike led in the Pledge of Allegiance. Pastor Andrew Diorio, Midlands Baptist Church, 2407 Chandler Road East, provided the invocation.

Council approved the Agenda.

Council approved the consent agenda consisting of the following items: approve the consent agenda consisting of the following item: Approval of the August 18, 2026 City Council Minutes; Acknowledge receipt of the June 17, 2026 Bellevue Public Library Advisory Board Minutes; Authorize the City of Bellevue to start using The Bellevue Times, a legal digital newspaper, as their official newspaper for publishing of all public notices; Appointment of Clare Severn to the Bellevue Library Advisory Board for a five year term ending June 30, 2031; Appointment of Garrett Sims as President to the City of Bellevue Museum Board for a four-year term ending in August 2030; Approve changing the beginning time of November 3, 2026 City Council meeting from 6:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. to allow City Council and Staff time to vote on Election Day; and approve the list of applications for waiver of hunting regulations as reviewed and approved by Sgt. Don Pleiss.

Council approved the September 1, 2026 Claims.

Following the third and final reading, Council approved Ord. No. 4223: An ordinance to amend Chapter 21, of the Bellevue Municipal Code by amending Article I Sections 21-23 regarding closing time and to provide an effective date.

Second reading and public hearing was heard on the following ord: Ord. No. 4224: An ordinance to adopt the Budget Statement to be termed the Annual Appropriations Bills; to appropriate sums for necessary expenses and liabilities; to provide for an effective date, along with Res. No. 2026-17: A resolution to set the 2026-2027 property tax levy (action will be taken on Sept. 15th). The third and final reading will be held on Sept. 15, 2026.

The following ordinances were read for the first time: Ord. No. 4225: An ordinance of the City of Bellevue, Nebraska, classifying the employees of the city; fixing the ranges of compensation of such employees; providing a pay range schedule; providing for publication in pamphlet form; repealing Ordinance No. 4221; and providing an effective date; Ord. No. 4226: An ordinance to amend Chapter 12 of the Bellevue Municipal Code by amending Article IV, Sections 12-60; regarding fireworks and to provide an effective date; Ord. No. 4229: An ordinance to amend Chapter 16, of the Bellevue Municipal Code by amending Article II, Sections 16-23, regarding Library Advisory Board and to provide an effective date. Second readings and public hearings will be heard on Sept. 15, 2026.

Ord. No. 4227: An ordinance to amend Chapter 13, of the Bellevue Municipal Code by amending Article I, Sections 13-1, 13-4, and 13-5; Article II, Sections 13-21, 13-47, and 13-48; Articles III, Sections 13-61 through 13-69, regarding garbage and refuse and to provide an effective date was read for the first time. Council moved to waive the rule requiring three readings, hold a public hearing, and vote after the public hearing at tonight’s meeting. Following the public hearing, Council approved Ord. No. 4227: An ordinance to amend Chapter 13, of the Bellevue Municipal Code by amending Article I, Sections 13-1, 13-4, and 13-5; Article II, Sections 13-21, 13-47, and 13-48; Articles III, Sections 13-61 through 13-69, regarding garbage and refuse and to provide an effective date.

Ord. No. 4228: An ordinance to amend Chapter 6, of the Bellevue Municipal Code by amending Article I, Sections 6-0, 6-8, and 6-9; and Article V, Sections 6-101 through 6-108, regarding animals and fowl and to provide for an effective date was read for the first time. Council moved to waive the rule requiring three readings, hold a public hearing, and vote after the public hearing at tonight’s meeting. Following the public hearing, Council approved Ord. No. 4228: An ordinance to amend Chapter 6, of the Bellevue Municipal Code by amending Article I, Sections 6-0, 6-8, and 6-9; and Article V, Sections 6-101 through 6-108, regarding animals and fowl and to provide for an effective date.

Following public hearing, Council to postpone action on the 2027-2032 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) until September 15th meeting.

Council approved the following current business items: Approve and authorize the Mayor to sign Change Order #6 authorizing ARCO MURRAY for Retainage, Hydroseeding, and Mattel Construction in an amount not to exceed $2,124,154.69; Approve and authorize the Mayor to sign the Gas Main Extension Agreement between the City of Bellevue and MUD to install plastic gas main in Bellevue Entertainment District Subdivision in an amount not to exceed $13,378.00; Approve and authorize the Mayor to sign the Seventh Lease Amendment and Lease Commission Agreement with Athletico Excel Nebraska, LLC extending their lease effective August 1, 2027 for seven (7) years or until July 31, 2034; Approve and authorize the Mayor to sign the agreement with Creative Sites, in an amount not to exceed $34,938.00, for the patio project at the library; Approve and authorize the purchase with Cellebrite Inc. to purchase three software licenses for use in the Bellevue Police Department’s Cyber Crimes Unit, in an amount not to exceed $40,270.00; Approve collective bargaining agreement with the Bellevue Professional Management Association for the term
October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2028; Approve the revised Employee Handbook, Approve and authorize the Mayor to sign the ROW Purchase Agreement for Fort Crook Road Extension in an amount not to exceed $320,100.00 and Approve and authorize the OPPD Transformer Service Installation Contracts for the Bellevue Entertainment District in an amount not to exceed $233,556.00.

Admin. Reports: Comments must be limited to items on the current reports (August report was attached)

There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, on motion duly made & seconded, at
7:12 p.m. the meeting adjourned.

Susan Kluthe
City Clerk

A complete text of the minutes of the regular mtg is on file & available for public inspection during regular business hours in the office of the City Clerk & is also available on the Internet at www.bellevue.net. These proceedings are subject to change upon City Council approval of the meeting minutes.