Grand Island council moves into executive session on Good Life District and Veterans Village after public call for transparency

The Grand Island City Council voted to convene an executive session March 3 to discuss contract and real estate negotiations and strategic risk assessments, including expert financial and legal advice, related to the city's Good Life District economic development program and development at Veterans Village.

Before the council voted to go into closed session, local journalist Mr. White addressed the council and urged caution. "Given the voters approved the Good Life District plan last August, it's critical the process remain transparent so the public can fully appreciate and understand how these funds are being used," White said. He told the council the Veterans Village project "involves significant taxpayer funds" and asked the council to keep any closed-session discussion narrowly tailored to matters allowed under the Open Meetings Act.

Mayor Steele responded: "Mister White, your words of caution are appropriate, and I'm sure that everybody will take them to heart." The council later moved, on a motion by Mr. Lamphere and a second by Council Member O'Neil, to enter executive session "to protect the public interest." The mayor announced the vote as adopted and the clerk's record reflected the start of the executive session at 6:12 p.m.

The agenda language posted before the meeting described the executive session as necessary "for protection of the public interest to discuss contract and real estate negotiations and strategic risk assessments, including expert financial and legal advice related to the city's Good Life District economic development program and development at Veterans Village." The council did not discuss the substance of the executive-session topics in open session and did not provide a roll-call vote tally in the public record at the time the motion was announced adopted.

Mr. White also reminded the council of the Open Meetings Act and said the public interest should be weighed heavily against government interest when deciding to close portions of a meeting. The transcript records no subsequent public discussion before the council recessed into executive session.