City of Kearney
Brenda Jensen, AICP, currently serves as the City Manager and Director of Development Services for the City of Kearney, a position held since October 2018, where oversight includes Building Services, Planning, Downtown, and Code Enforcement divisions. Prior to this role, Brenda held various positions at Miller & Associates, Consulting Engineers P.C., from June 2011 to October 2018, including Deputy City Manager, Assistant City Manager, and Community Planner, working extensively with clients, cities, and counties across Nebraska to develop growth and development strategies. Brenda holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) in Local Government from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, obtained between 2020 and 2023, and a Bachelor of Science in City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning from Iowa State University, completed in 2011.
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City of Kearney
Located squarely in the nation’s mid-point, Kearney is a crossroads for commerce and culture. More than 33,000 people call the Kearney area home enjoying a balance of urban amenities and Main Street America quality of life. Kearney is ranked sixth nationally for the best places for millennial job seekers in the Midwest. Kearney is home to the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK), a public residential university with nearly 8,000 students and ranked as a Top Ten Regional University by U.S. News & World Report. Downtown Kearney is a historic district featuring unique boutiques, jewelry, men’s and women’s apparel, furniture, fine dining, specialty pubs, nightlife establishments, and the Museum of Nebraska Art (MONA). The vibrancy of The Bricks provides the thrill of urban culture balanced with the feel of small town living. Kearney is home to 17 beautiful parks totaling 577 acres of parkland and 24 miles of trails. With enjoyable amenities including 2 marinas, 4 splash pads, 2 public swimming pools, 3 city lakes, 15 playgrounds, 1 dog park, 28 athletic fields, 16 tennis courts and many other unique facilities, amusement for all ages is guaranteed. The City of Kearney adopted the Council-Manager form of government in 1950. Under this system, the City Council acts as Kearney’s legislative and policy-making body and appoints the City Manager as their chief executive officer. Under the Council-Manager form of government, the City Council acts as Kearney’s legislative and policy-making body. Its five members are elected at large on a staggered basis for four-year terms. From within the Council, one member is elected as President of the Council and is recognized as Mayor. The Mayor presides over Council meetings and represents the City in ceremonial functions.