Scottsbluff meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Scottsbluff Park Board Accepts Financial Reports; City Council to Consider Utility Fee Increases

The Scottsbluff Park, Cemetery, and Tree Board accepted financial reports totaling $17,207.48 across three funds at its Aug. 12 meeting, the only formal decisions taken by city boards in the past two weeks. The board also approved minutes from its April 15 meeting. Other boards met to set agendas for upcoming items, including a utility fee increase, a liquor license manager change, and a subdivision plat, but no votes were taken.

Park, Cemetery, and Tree Board (Aug. 12)

The board approved the minutes of its April 15, 2026 meeting and accepted the financial report for the Park Foundation ($5,919.68), Cemetery Foundation ($440.23), and PVB – Cougar Park Account ($10,847.49). The meeting adjourned at 6:43 PM.

Planning Commission (Aug. 10)

The commission held a public hearing on the preliminary and final plat for Block 1 of the ESU 13 Subdivision at 4215 Ave I. It also approved minutes from the July 13 meeting and scheduled its next meeting for September 14, 2026. No decisions were made on the plat.

Civil Service Commission (Aug. 11)

The commission considered approving minutes from the May 12, 2026 meeting, a request from the Police Chief to set a test date for Police Officer positions, and the removal of a name from the Police Officer Eligible List (dated 5-12-26). All items remain pending.

Liquor License Holders Investigatory Board (Aug. 12)

The board recommended Codie Kent as the new liquor license manager for Chili's Grill & Bar at 826 W. 36th Street. It also welcomed new member Broc Brown, Assistant Principal of Scottsbluff High School, and approved minutes from the July 8 meeting.

City Council (Aug. 17)

The council considered the first reading of an ordinance updating utility user fees for water, sewer, stormwater, and solid waste. It also took up second reading of an ordinance defining Micro Food Processing as a Conditional Use in the C-1 District, and third reading of an ordinance on electric bicycles, scooters, minibikes, and golf cars. A claim to Intralinks for $15,083.83 and a liquor license manager change for Chili's Grill & Bar were also on the agenda. No minutes have been published.

Library Board (Aug. 19)

The board reviewed changes to Nebraska's Open Meetings Act, designated a public meeting notification method, and considered revisions to the Unattended Children Policy. It also introduced new staff members Dana Pelto, Emily Peden, and CJ Devlin, and received monthly reports for May, June, and July 2026.

Coming up

The Business Improvement District Board will meet Aug. 25 to discuss improvements to municipal off-street parking lots, including pavement work on Lot 3 across from WNAC. The board will also receive an update on parking violations and approve minutes from April 28, 2026.

Scottsbluff roundup: Park Board acts, City Council to weigh utility fees

The Scottsbluff Park, Cemetery, and Tree Board approved routine financial reports at its Aug. 12 meeting, the only meeting with published minutes in the past two weeks. Other boards met with agenda items pending, and the City Council is set to consider utility fee increases on Aug. 17.

Park, Cemetery, and Tree Board (Aug. 12)

The board approved the minutes from its April 15, 2026 meeting and accepted the financial report. The report covered the Park Foundation ($5,919.68), Cemetery Foundation ($440.23), and PVB – Cougar Park Account ($10,847.49). Staff updates included installation of shade umbrellas at 18th Street Plaza, a sewer issue at Riverside Campground, and the early opening of Westmoor Pool. No other formal decisions were made. The meeting adjourned at 6:43 PM.

City Council (Aug. 3) – agenda only

The City Council met Aug. 3 with an agenda that included a public hearing on a zoning text amendment to permit micro food processing as a conditional use in the C-1 Central Business District. Also on the agenda were a bid award to Hennings Construction for the Lincoln Court Sanitary Sewer Extension at $94,470.97, a change order reducing the Avenue H Water Main Replacement Project cost by $11,671, and a change order increase for the 2026 Chip Seal Project of $9,509.33. The council also held a second reading of an ordinance regulating electric bicycles, scooters, minibikes, and golf cars. Minutes have not yet been published.

Planning Commission (Aug. 10) – agenda only

The Planning Commission held a public hearing on a preliminary and final plat for Block 1 of the ESU 13 Subdivision at 4215 Ave I. The commission also approved minutes from its July 13 meeting and scheduled its next meeting for Sept. 14, 2026. Minutes are not yet published.

Civil Service Commission (Aug. 11) – agenda only

The Civil Service Commission met to approve minutes from May 12, 2026, and to review reports from the Police Chief. The agenda included a request to set a test date for Police Officer positions and a removal from the Police Officer Eligible List (5-12-26). No decisions have been published.

Liquor License Holders Investigatory Board (Aug. 12) – agenda only

The board approved minutes from July 8, 2026, welcomed new member Broc Brown, Assistant Principal of Scottsbluff High School, and recommended Codie Kent as liquor license manager for Chili's Grill & Bar at 826 W. 36th Street. Minutes are not yet published.

Coming up

• **City Council** – Aug. 17, 2026: First reading of an ordinance updating utility user fees for water, sewer, stormwater, and solid waste; second reading of the micro food processing ordinance; third reading of the electric bicycle/scooter/minibike/golf car ordinance; a claim to Intralinks for $15,083.83; and a liquor license manager change for Chili's Grill & Bar.
• **Library Board** – Aug. 19, 2026: Approval of May 2026 minutes, introduction of new staff (Dana Pelto, Emily Peden, CJ Devlin), a presentation on Nebraska Open Meetings Act changes, designation of a public meeting notification method, and review of the Unattended Children Policy.

Scottsbluff council to weigh $17,707.89 claim and liquor license hearing; recent meeting minutes still pending

Scottsbluff residents have several items to watch this week, though the city has not yet published minutes from a string of early-July meetings. The next City Council session, scheduled for today, July 20, includes a $17,707.89 claim against Intralinks, a public hearing on a liquor license for the Riverside Zoological Foundation, and the first reading of an ordinance regulating electric bicycles, scooters, minibikes, and golf cars.

Recent meetings: agendas posted, outcomes not yet confirmed

Agendas are available for five public meetings held between July 6 and July 15, but minutes have not been published for any of them. That means no votes or final decisions from those sessions can be confirmed yet.

The July 6 City Council agenda listed a third reading of an ordinance to rezone Lots 1 and 2, Block 1, B&B Subdivision from Agricultural to Heavy Commercial. It also included bid specifications for the Lincoln Court Sanitary Sewer Extension Project, with bids due July 28, 2026, and a Downtown Revitalization Construction Management Agreement between the Panhandle Area Development District and the City. A community festival permit was on the agenda for Warehouse Fitness Center and Iron Plains Powerlifting, closing Avenue B on July 18. An amended liquor license application for Waheguru Ji Scottsbluff d/b/a Cigarette Chain at 323 East Overland Drive was also listed.

On July 8, the Liquor License Holders Investigatory Board was scheduled to consider a recommendation to the City Council on a new Class I liquor license for the Riverside Zoological Foundation d/b/a Riverside Discovery Center at 1600 South Beltline Highway West, with Tiffany Schank named as the proposed liquor license manager.

The Planning Commission met July 13 to hold a public hearing on a zoning text amendment that would define "Micro Food Processing" and allow it as a conditional use in the C-1 Central Business District. The agenda also included approval of June 8, 2026 minutes and scheduling of the next meeting for August 10, 2026.

The Civil Service Commission met July 14. The agenda included reports from Police Chief Brass on the removal of a name from the Police Officer Eligible List dated May 12, 2026, and a conditional offer of employment. An executive session was listed to follow a motion, with the purpose to be stated at that time.

On July 15, the City Council held a special session work session on the fiscal year 2026-2027 budget. The agenda designated the session for review and discussion rather than final votes.

Coming up

• **City Council — July 20, 2026 (today):** Council will consider a claim against Intralinks in the amount of $17,707.89 and receive the June 2026 financial report. A public hearing is set for August 3, 2026 on the zoning amendment defining Micro Food Processing in the C-1 district. The council will also hold a public hearing on the Class I liquor license for Riverside Zoological Foundation at 1600 South Beltline Highway West, take up the first reading of an ordinance regulating electric bicycles, scooters, minibikes, and golf cars, and consider a community festival permit for National Night Out 2026, including a Broadway Avenue closure.

Residents who want to confirm what was decided at the early-July meetings should watch for published minutes from the City Council, Planning Commission, Civil Service Commission, and Liquor License Holders Investigatory Board.

Scottsbluff council agendas include sales tax vote, rezonings, and budget work session

Scottsbluff's City Council has a packed stretch of agenda items spanning sales tax, land use, sewer infrastructure, and liquor licenses, though minutes from the most recent meetings have not yet been published. Residents should treat the items below as what was scheduled for consideration, not as confirmed outcomes.

Sales tax and land use

On June 29, the council was scheduled to consider a resolution placing an additional half-cent sales tax on the November general election ballot. That same agenda included second readings on an ordinance adding permitted uses to the O-P Office and Professional District and an ordinance to rezone Lots 1 and 2, Block 1, B&B Subdivision from Agricultural to Heavy Commercial. A third reading was set for the annexation of Blocks 1–15, Fairway Estates Addition, along with discussion and action on the preliminary plat of Lots 1 and 2, Block 1, B&B Subdivision and the final plat for Lot 1.

On July 6, the council was scheduled to take a third reading of the ordinance rezoning Lots 1 and 2, Block 1, B&B Subdivision from Agricultural to Heavy Commercial. That agenda also listed a Downtown Revitalization Construction Management Agreement between the Panhandle Area Development District and the City.

Sewer project and bids

The July 6 consent calendar included approval of bid specifications for the Lincoln Court Sanitary Sewer Extension Project, with bids due July 28, 2026.

Liquor licenses

The July 6 agenda included an amended liquor license application for Waheguru Ji Scottsbluff d/b/a Cigarette Chain at 323 East Overland Drive, and a public hearing for a liquor license at Riverside Discovery Center.

On July 8, the Liquor License Holders Investigatory Board was scheduled to discuss and consider a recommendation to the city council on a new Class I liquor license application for the Riverside Zoological Foundation d/b/a Riverside Discovery Center at 1600 South Beltline Highway West, with Tiffany Schank named as the proposed liquor license manager. The board was also set to approve minutes from its April 1, 2026 regular meeting.

Community festival permit

The July 6 agenda included a Community Festival Permit for Warehouse Fitness Center and Iron Plains Powerlifting, closing Avenue B on July 18.

Coming up

• **July 14 — Civil Service Commission:** The commission will approve minutes from its May 12, 2026 meeting, then hear reports from Police Chief Brass on the removal of a name from the Police Officer Eligible List dated May 12, 2026, and a conditional offer of employment. An executive session will follow a motion, with the purpose to be stated at that time.
• **July 15 — City Council (special session):** A work session focused on the fiscal year 2026-2027 budget. Council members will review and discuss financial planning rather than vote on final measures.

Note: Minutes for the June 29, July 6, and July 8 meetings had not been published as of this roundup. Outcomes for items listed above will be confirmed once minutes become available.