Mayor Brandon Kelliher told the city council Tuesday that Rev Development has lost funding for a planned mixed-use building on the south side of the mall property.

The building was to be a combination of retail shops with upper-floor apartments — a somewhat smaller version of the existing, dominant building in District 177.

 The proposal drew concerns from the city council.

Since no construction on the mixed-use building is currently planned, Kelliher recommended revising the redevelopment contract, eliminating the requirement of the city for drainage improvements by May 1, a date that has already passed.

Kelliher recommended instead requiring that a drainage agreement for stormwater runoff be in place before any construction begins in the future.

Councilman Rod Dye asked whether the proposed amendment would address drainage issues on the west side of the mall buildings, which have been redeveloped. Dye has received complaints from apartment tenants who are forced to park in areas where water collects because it does not drain properly.

City Engineer Brent Burklund said the amendment would not resolve existing drainage issues; it is only intended to ensure the issues don’t worsen if a new building is constructed.

Burklund said that drainage has long been a problem in the mall’s parking lot. Dye questioned why the problem was not corrected at the start of the project. Burklund said the city did not design the plans; it only approved them.

Councilman Brad Garrick was uncomfortable with removing the clause with the May 1 deadline, concerned that the city would have limited recourse if the developer chose to justify charging an additional $3.3 million in Enhanced Employment Area tax incentives without renovating the east side of the mall. The $3.3 million EEA tax extension was approved in February.

Kelliher recommended tabling the issue and sending questions to the city attorney for clarification. Garrick moved to do so, and the council approved.

No date was projected for the return of the amendment to the council for consideration.

Stalled projects

It was a night of little progress at the council meeting, with four out of the nine topics pulled before discussion began.

A conditional use permit to convert the Ramada by Wydham into apartments was removed from the agenda at the request of the owners, North Platte Hospitality Inc. of San Ramon, Calif. The Planning Commission recommended the council deny the proposal.

The other three items pulled from the agenda:

• An ordinance outlining procedures for determining charges for users discharging wastewater into the city system,
• An agreement with Sustainable Beef for the use of the wastewater plant,
• A bid and contract to build the first two extensions of Francis Ave. through the “boot” residential  development south of E. Philip Ave.

All three were removed due to pending contract changes.

Sexually oriented businesses

The council held two public hearings, including one on a proposed change in the ordinance that applies to sexually oriented businesses. Currently, such businesses are permitted in I-1 Light Industrial Districts.

The proposed amendment would require such businesses to obtain a conditional use permit in light industrial districts. Therefore, public hearings would be held before such a business could operate.

Councilman Ed Rieker asked about the reason for the change.

City Planning Administrator Judy Clark explained that she had received several calls from concerned residents about rumored businesses. She said no applications for such businesses have been submitted but believes the change could help preemptively address public concerns.

Councilman Pete Volz moved to waive the requirement for three separate readings of the ordinance, but the motion failed, with only Councilmen Jim Nisley and Nick McNew joining Volz’s yes vote. Councilman Brian Flanders was absent.

However, the council approved the change on first reading with a 6-1 vote. Rieker voted no, but said he misunderstood the motion and voted no by mistake.

Blight, substandard

The second public hearing was about the blight and substandard study by the Danlex Property Group, LLC of Bloomfield, Mich. The company purchased the properties at 1404 and 1420 Rodeo Road in April.

Danlex has applied for a microTIF incentive to help pay for updates to the two existing buildings, which are currently used as an extended-stay motel.

The company applied for a $250,000 microTIF bond to pay for renovations and upgrades. To receive microTIF, the area must be designated as blighted and substandard, after a study and report to see if it fits the legal standards.

The council approved the study with a 5-2 vote; Garrick and Rieker voted no. Garrick previously voiced concerns about giving microTIF to an out-of-state company. Rieker is generally opposed to tax increment financing (TIF.)

Recognized for excellence

Also, the North Platte Police Department was recognized as an Accredited Center of Excellence (ACE) in emergency medical dispatching from the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED), the global authority for emergency dispatch standards.

North Platte is now the 354th medical ACE in the world. (See related report.)

In other business, the council approved: 

• The mayor’s appointment of Nick McNew as the council representative on the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce. 
• The minutes of the June 17 meeting.
• Paying the bills.

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