Scottsbluff council approves Papa Moon rezoning and plats, renews contracts and certifies state planning compliance

The Scottsbluff City Council on a unanimous vote approved rezoning and plat actions for Lots 1 and 2 of the Papa Moon Subdivision, authorized a resolution certifying the city’s one-year and six-year street improvement plan to state reviewers, and renewed interlocal sewer cleaning and fire hydrant maintenance agreements for five years.

The council moved to rezone Lots 1 and 2 of the Papa Moon Subdivision from agricultural to R-1B (rural residential estate) and approved preliminary and final plats after planning staff said the lots meet the intent of R-1B despite unusual shapes that prevent both lots from meeting the strict 200-foot midpoint width test. Planning staff and the planning commission recommended approval. “Both of them meet the intent of R-1B,” planning staff said during the public hearing.

Council also approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to sign the city’s annual certification of program compliance with the Nebraska Board of Public Growth classifications and standards for 2025, which staff said documents completion of the required one- and six-year street improvement plan.

On contracts, the council voted to renew six emergency sewer-cleaning and hydrant-maintenance agreements and extend the contract term from three to five years. Staff explained the contracts now reference the city fee code (6-634) rather than setting fixed rates in each agreement so future fee-schedule updates will automatically apply. Staff noted the emergency sewer jet cleaning fee is $3.50 under the fee schedule.

Councilors also approved a revised claims report after staff identified duplicate payments that had inflated the packet totals. Staff said the packet initially looked larger because it included roughly $400,000 in duplicate claims but that the underlying large items were a sanitation truck (identified as $224,000) and a large annual alarm payment that contributed to the high total.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to approve consent items (7a–d): motion passed (motion by Stricker; second Phillips; roll call unanimous). - Motion to approve revised claims report: motion passed (mover Solomon; second Phillips; roll call unanimous). - Resolution certifying compliance with Nebraska Board of Public Growth standards: motion passed (mover Phillips; second Stricker; roll call unanimous). - Approval of preliminary and final plat for Papa Moon Subdivision: motion passed (mover Stricker; second Solomon; roll call unanimous). - Renewal of sewer cleaning and hydrant maintenance agreements (5-year): motion passed (mover Phillips; second Solomon; roll call unanimous). - Motion to adjourn: motion passed (mover Stricker; second Phillips; roll call unanimous).

The approvals move the Papa Moon rezoning and plats forward after the first reading of the related ordinance; the zoning text amendment addressing nonconforming development was presented for first reading and will return for later consideration. The mayor was authorized to sign the certified documents and contract renewals as required by the council votes.