Council Minutes
Minutes/Committee of the Whole
Tuesday, November 13, 2007 – 5:30 p.m.(following Special City Council Meeting)
Page 1 of 6
The City Council met as the Committee of the Whole on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at 5:30 p.m., following special City Council Meeting, in the Council Chambers in City Hall with Mayor Brown presiding. Present Council Members Brooks (joined meeting in progress), McNamara, Gershman, Christensen, Kreun - 5; Absent: Glassheim, Bakken - 2.
Gershman commented that in regards to the Promenade development that was just discussed at the special council meeting, he understands that we are paying 3% realtor fees for sales of these homes, and that the typical fee is now 6%, and that perhaps Housing Authority should look at that and think about increasing the fee that we are paying to encourage the realtors to more heavily market that development. Kreun responded that the 3% is a special agreement that has been worked out with the realtors and that the Housing Authority does several parts of the process that a realtor would typically be doing, therefore the fee was set lower to compensate for the lesser level of work needed. He continued that at present the units in the development are selling very well, about as fast as they can be completed, but will forward the comments on to the Housing Authority for consideration.
Mayor Brown made the following announcements:
1) Announced that Grand Forks has been named as having the best tasting water in Northdakota and Congratulated Dave Kratchovil, Water Distribution Supervisor, and Greg Batzer, Water Plant Supervisor, for the excellent work that they and their staff do in providing citizens with quality water.
2) Stated that there was a Green 3 Grand Forks resource committee meeting last week in Grand Forks and stated that the Green 3 name stands for the three areas that we will focus on: cleaning the environment, increasing efficiency, and saving money. Mayor Brown stated that the committee will be working on a plan that will be brought to City Council that will seek to meet these three objectives and benefit our residents.
3) Urged the community to support the UND football team as they participate in the national playoff football game this weekend at the Alerus Center.
4) Announced that this week is designated Take a Stand Against Violence Week, which brings awareness of violence within our community and has several educational sessions to provide awareness and education to help people take a positive stand on stopping violence in our community.
5) Proclaimed this week as Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week and has appointed a stakeholder group to work toward ending homelessness in our community. Maggie Oakland, a member of the stakeholder group and the Community Area Networking Association, spoke about the work that their group hopes to achieve including a 10 year goal for ending homelessness in the community. Kreun commented that one of the projects the Housing Authority is bringing forward also works toward this goal, it is a single room downtown development that could meet the housing need for some of the working residents that are now at the Mission because they can’t get into an apartment on their own. He stated that the rooms will be rented based on a percent of income basis and should be a great addition to the community to meet the needs of that population. Mayor Brown noted that this is also Empty Bowl week and encouraged people to go to St. Vincent DePaul and pick up a pottery bowl and paints, which they could paint, bring back for firing and then purchase from St. Vincent De Paul for $10 as a fundraiser to support their efforts in the community.
1.3
Presentation by Northern Valley Dental Alliance Clinic.
Debbie Swanson, Public Health Nurse, gave a short update presentation to the Council on the new dental clinic that is being constructed to serve low and low-moderate income clients, particularly those on public assistance medical programs. Swanson stated that the clinic will be located at 212 S 4th St. Suite 101, in the Deaconess Hospital Building and will begin seeing patients on November 26. She expressed thanks on behalf of the Northern Valley Dental Alliance Clinic for the support that Council has given this project. He presentation included photos of the site during phases of construction and highlighted some of the donated equipment that has been received from various vendors and sources to equip the clinic so that it can provide state of the art services to clients. Initially the marketing for the clinic will be done through agencies serving clients that would qualify for the clinic, with additional marketing occurring later. The group discussed that this facility will meet a tremendous need, not only here in Grand Forks, but in the region and expressed that if there becomes a need to expand the clinic in the future encouraged them to bring a request back to Council to meet that need. Swanson thanked the Council and also acknowledged other regional donors that have contributed to the overall project including: NW Minnesota Foundation, Bremer Foundation and the Bush Foundation in Minnesota. Swanson stated that there are only three other facilities like this in North Dakota and only seven in non-metro areas of Minnesota.
2.1
Matter of 2007 Sidewalk Warrants.
There were none.
2.2
Budget Amendment for Interoperable Communications Center.
There were none.
2.3
Budget Amendment for E-911 for Interoperable Communications Grant.
There were none.
2.4
Change Order No. 2 for Project No. 6076, City-wide Traffic Signal Director Loop Repair.
There were none.
2.5
Change Order No. 1 for Project No. 6078, 2007 Storm Sewer Repairs.
There were none.
2.6 Bids for Project Nos. 6241, 6242 and 6243, sanitary sewer/watermain.storm sewer for McEnroe
1st Addn. (Garden View Drive)
There were none.
2.7
Lincoln Dog Park lease agreement with Grand Forks Park Dist.
Kreun commented that this is an individual lease, but that staff is presently looking at all these individual leases to get them combined into one comprehensive document for easier reference. Christensen commented that perhaps there are a few leases that we have that we may want to still keep individual due to their nature and so they could be modified separately if desired by the Council.
2.8
Transient merchant license exemption for First Night Greater Grand Forks.
There were none.
2.9
Appointment to the Grand Forks Growth Fund Committee
Christensen stated that the appointee is Dwight Thompson, employed by Altru Health System and has a long history of involvement in the community and will be a great addition to the board. He continued that Mr. Thompson will be replacing John Ramsey, a long-serving member of the Committee, and expressed appreciation for the contributions that Mr. Ramsey has made to the Committee and the community over the years.
(Council Member Brooks joined the meeting.)
2.10
Appointment to the Special Assessment Commission
There were none.
2.11
Budget Amendment for Waterworks Enterprise Fund.
There were none.
2.12
Public Works Dept. surplus property.
There were none.
2.13 Request on behalf of City of Grand Forks, ND for final approval of plat of Auditor’s Resub.
No. 41 (loc. at Lewis Blvd. And Seward Ave.)
There were none.
2.14 Request on behalf of City of Grand Forks for approval to vacate street and alley rights of way
in Blks 3 and 4, Riverside Park Addn.
There were none.
2.15 Request on behalf of City of Grand Forks for approval of plat of Auditor’s Resubdiv. No. 42.
(loc. at S. 3rd Street/Minnesota Ave. to the BNSF Railroad)
There were none.
2.16 Request from Steve Iverson on behalf of Shoppes at Aurora, LLC for final approval (fast track) of Replat of Lot 3, Blk. 1, Cottage Homes Resubdiv. (loc. at 4350 S. Wash. St.); and request includes variance to the Land Development Code, Article 2, Sec. 18-0204 Rules and
Definitions, Paragraph (2) Definition of a Minor Subdivision
There were none.
2.17 Request from Steve Iverson on behalf of Shoppes at Aurora, LLC for approval to vacate a 40
ft. wide “ingress/egress access easement” being the easterly 40 ft. of lands platted as Lot 3, Blk.
1,
Cottage Homes Resubdiv.
There were none.
2.18 Request from CPS, Ltd. on behalf of Peabudy Enterprises, LLC for preliminary approval of ordinance to amend zoning map to exclude from B-3 (General Business) Dist. and to include within Peabody;s PUD (Planned Unit Development), Concept Development Plan, Amendment Number 1, all of Peabody’s First Addn. And Peabody’s Second Resubdiv. (loc. in vicinity of S.
20th St. and 36th Ave. S.)
There were none.
2.19 Request from Interstate Engineering on behalf of G-F Grain Company for preliminary approval of plat of ConAgra Subdiv.(loc. north of 54th Ave. N. and west of U.S. Hwy. 81, Sec.
18, Falconer Twp.)
There were none.
2.20 Request from Planning Dept. for preliminary approval of ordinance to amend zoning map to
exclude from A-2 (Agricultural Urban Reserve) Dist. and include within the I-2 (Heavy
Industrial) Dist. all of ConAgra Subdiv. (loc. north of 54th Ave. N. and West of US Hwy. 18,
Falconer Twp.)
There were none.
2.21 Request from Myra Collette on behalf of Thomas J. Thompson for preliminary approval of
Calvary Cemetery South Addn. (loc. at 11th St. NE and 10th Ave NE, Sec. 9, Walle Twp.)
There were none.
2.22 Request from Thomas J. Thompson on behalf of Calvary Cemetery Assn. For preliminary
approval of ordinance to amend zoning map to exclude from A-1 (Agricultural Preservation)
Dist. and include within Calvary Cemetery South PUD (Planned Unit Development), Concept
Development Plan, all of Calvary Cemetery South Addn. (loc. at 11th St. NE and 10th Ave NE,
Sec. 9, Walle Twp.)
There were none.
2.23 Request from Widseth, Smith, Nolting & Assoc. on behalf of Gunda Pederson Estate for
preliminary approval of the plat of Gunda Pederson Farmstead to the City of Grand Forks,
ND (loc. at S. 69th St. and 32nd Ave S)
There were none.
3. Information Items
3.1
Portfolio Management/Summary for period ending October 31, 2007.
There were none.
4. Citizen Request
Terry Ellingson, 5065 125th Ave NE, Dahlen, MN, addressed the Council to encourage them to provide input on the issue of the Keystone Pipeline, and in particular, to support the City of Fargo in their opposition to the project due to its potential impact on the water supply in the event of a leak.
Kreun commented that Lake Agassiz Water Authority (LAWA) met today in Fargo and discussed this issue and drafted a letter stating that they were not opposed to the project itself, provided that all proper procedures are followed for construction and safeguards during construction and operation. He continued that as the City of Grand Forks is a member of LAWA, not sure if that is enough of a statement for Council Members or if they would like to also draft an individual response from the City.
Brooks stated that perhaps staff should research possible effects on the City of Grand Forks and provide that background so that Council would be better educated before taking a stand on the issue. Christensen commented that the City of Fargo has been energized to take action on the matter, and that perhaps it may be late for us to get fully involved but perhaps Council President Gershman and Mayor Brown should discuss and perhaps direct staff to attend the upcoming hearings and report back to Council.
5. City Administrator Comments
There were none.
6. Mayor and Council Member Comments
Brooks expressed condolences on the death of the Mayor of the City of Hallock.
McNamara stated that the past weekend was Veteran’s Day and thanked all that have served.
Christensen commented that has been dog park several times and seems to be busy all the time and working well.
Kreun expressed appreciation for the service of veterans and for those currently serving in the armed forces for keeping us safe.
Gershman encouraged development of a City Hall landscaping plan and that something could be developed over the winter and put in place in the spring.
Gershman stated that several months ago money was approved for painting and lighting improvements in the Central Ramp, as well as for improved signage and that it appears that nothing has been done yet and would like update. Hoover stated that the funding was approved in August and bids have been let for the painting, however it became too cold to begin the painting this fall. He added that nonfunctioning lights have been repaired, but that they have been doing some research and hope to work with a contractor on recommendation for replacement of lights and correct type to install and would coordinate that work with the painting and necessary deck work so that could all be done at one time in the spring, so that the ramp customers would be inconvenienced as little as possible. Gershman inquired if something immediate could be done with the signage. Hoover stated that it seemed better to wait instead of replacing them now and then having to remove them and rehang again when painting and other work is being done. Christensen suggested that perhaps this additional work could be brought back to Finance Development Committee for discussion. Hoover stated that he was planning a report to Committee on December 18.
Christensen inquired whether there is a way to have a clean up crew for downtown, particularly after the weekend. Hoover stated that they do have personnel that provide cleaning services Monday thru Friday, but that especially Sunday morning is problematic and have been working with various downtown businesses to help pick up around their locations. He continued that they are also gathering information on some equipment that would be a sidewalk sweeper that could help with this problem and will also be bringing that information to the Committee once it is complete.
7.
Adjournment.
Motion to adjourn by Brooks, second by Kreun. Aye: All. Nay: None. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 6:28 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Candi Stjern, CPA
Acting City Auditor
SLL