Council Minutes

Minutes of Grand Forks City Council/Committee of the Whole
Monday, April 13, 2009 - 5:30 p.m._________________ __

The City Council met as the Committee of the Whole on Monday, April 13, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers in City Hall with President Gershman presiding. Present at roll call were Council Members Bjerke, Glassheim (teleconference), Gershman, Christensen, Kreun - 5; absent: Council Members McNamara, Bakken - 2.

President Gershman commented on various items during the past week and upcoming events:
There is a Hands On Learning Fair this Saturday, April 18, at the Purpur Arena, early educators from across the community will get together for the 18th Annual Learning Fair.

FLOOD PROTECTION UPDATE

Al Grasser, city engineer, showed map with current levels of flooding, on Minnesota side pretty much under control, major flooding on main stem of the Red, and the biggest problem is on the Sheyenne Valley (Valley City, Lisbon), that the Red River is on the downward trend and National Weather Service has revised flood crest prediction and currently at 48.5 ft.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Pete Haga, Community/Government Relations Officer, reported that ET zoning bills going into conference committee and will be working with the committee. Two other bills which were late entry, #2441, cemetery assessments; and #2443, political subdivision that would have to pay relocation costs re. stimulus projects was amended. Senate Bill 2199, the Governor's proposal re. property tax relief is in House Appropriations now, and all the discussion re. caps for cities, counties, parks, schools are being discussed - methods for tax relief for businesses and residents still being discussed and the types of tax relief and latest includes some form of income tax relief as well. Transportation funding is topic for this week and City reps. will be going to Bismarck tomorrow and Wednesday, was originally in budget for $120 million and is now down to $40 million and will have significant impact re. our road projects.

Council Member Glassheim reported that Bill No. 2199 passed House floor today, $295 million for property tax relief plus some other items goes to conference committee for additional discussion and discussion re. property tax relief and property tax reform, some way of limiting local taxing authority. The cemetery bill moved through and amendment brought in that would require that we pay back any monies that have been paid by the protesting non-profits and also pay legal fees; and asked if information could be e-mailed to him re. listing of who has paid what over time on the flood assessment and the various cemeteries as they are going to consider that matter tomorrow. The city auditor will have the information e-mailed to him.

2.1 Applications for exemption of remodeling improvements to residential or commercial buildings at various locations._
There were no comments.

2.2 Bids for Project No. 6120, Lift Station No. 32 Rehabilitation.
There were no comments.

2.3 Construction Engineering Services Agreement for Project No. 6144.1, Replacement of Stormwater Pump Station No. 187, located at Columbia Road and 32nd Ave.S.__
President Gershman reported that he had received e-mail from Mark Walker who had talked to the Park District re. some landscaping and thanked him for that.

2.4 Consideration of bids for Project No. 6427, CDBG Sidewalk and Alley Return Replacement.____________________
There were no comments.

2.5 Request from Simmons Flint, 33 S. 3rd Street, for temporary authorization to serve alcohol in public right of way for private customer appreciation special event on May 14.________________________________________________________________
There were no comments.

2.6 Matter of request by Rhombus Guys for noise variance and special license to sell alcoholic beverages at University Park for Springfest on May 9, 2009.__________
A rep. of Rhombus Guys reported they were selected to be sponsors of Springfest and have had multiple meetings with the Park District, Police Department, that there will be a cover charge of $5.00 for everyone at the door. They are working with the Park District to minimize their cost and believe they will be able to reduce their costs. Council Member Bjerke asked how many officers they will have to have for the event.
Chief Packett reported that dependent on time of day - 15 to 25.

2.7 Public Works Department mowing, maintenance and herbicide application bids.
Council Member Bjerke asked for clarification on bid, which was significantly lower than the next bid. Todd Feland, director of public works, reported he had conferred with Melanie Parvey and bidder feels that they can do it for this price, but will concur with them before final approval is made Council Member Christensen stated that during past year or two, didn't see many rabbits or birds in greenway and asked that they make sure that the herbicide doesn't affect wildlife.

2.8 Affordable Infill Housing Program.
Council Member Bjerke asked for explanation re. Home money. Mr. Hoover stated that is federal money that goes through Dept. of Commerce at the State, they apply for funds each year and used for this program where individual builder gets the money up front, and helps reduce cost and when sell property , it must be sold to someone at or below 80% of median income, and if sold to someone at higher level, that money is repaid to our account.

Council Member Bjerke stated concern that putting people in houses which could be foreclosed several years in the future. Mr. Hoover stated that 80% of median income for a family of 4 is $49,000+ (approx. $50,000) and haven't had that problem of foreclosure, possibly 1 or 2, that people only pay 30% of income and Home money comes second on that property and after a certain number of years it goes away per federal regulations, and very conscientious of not putting people into situations where could fail. It was noted that after the house is sold and after certain number of years (7) where City has second mortgage on the property and the property is sold within that time, the City would recoup some of that money.

Council Member Christensen asked re. tax credit, what could we do to put that credit against the mortgage. Mr. Hoover stated because of past experience he would encourage setting aside that money so if coming into situation after first time homebuyer - suggest that money be put in escrow for unforeseen problems that might come up.

Council Member Kreun stated that they have been in this program for numbers of years and only 1 or 2 failures out of approx. 35 properties, and very good problem - not only good for the one property but also brought up the neighborhood because those property owners would also improve their homes and difficult to tell which was in the infill house and the existing houses. He stated that there are only a few lots left and then this program will be ended.

Council Member Glassheim asked whether Habitat for Humanity bid or got some property and also asked if design of homes geared to the neighborhood, as couple in northend were marginal. Mr. Hoover stated that Habitat did not submit a very good application - cut and paste from prior projects done elsewhere; and stated that committee took design in consideration in making awards.

2.9 Petition to vacate roadway and utility easement, being the north 80 ft. of the south 90 ft. of Lot 1, Blk. 1, Zavoral's First Addn., except the easterly 10 ft. thereof (loc. at 1598 Kings View Dr.)_________________________________
There were no comments.

2.10 Petition to vacate 30 ft. wide access easement, being west 30 ft. of Lots 1 and 2, Blk. 1, Village Resub. No. 4, except south 7.5 ft. of Lot 1 and north 7.5 ft. of Lots 2 (loc at 415 N. 42nd St. and 411 N. 42nd St.)_________________________________________
There were no comments.

2.11 Request on behalf of Deacon's Development for preliminary approval of plat of King's View First Addn. (loc. in 2300 blk. of 62nd Ave.S.)
There were no comments.

2.12 Request for preliminary approval of ordinance to amend zoning map to exclude from Kannowski PUD (Planned Unit Development, Concept Development Plan, Amendment No. 2 and to include within Kannowski PUD Amendment No. 3, all of King's View First Addn., Kannowski's First Addn., Ulland Park First Addn., Deacon's Gardens Addn., Fountain Vista Park Resubdiv. and Zavoral's First Addn. (loc. in Sec. 28, T151N, R50W of 5th P.M. and loc. within the vicinity of Kings View Dr. and 62nd Ave.S._________________
There were no comments.

2.13 Annexation agreement for part of SW Quarter of Section 18, T151N, R50W (located west of Interstate 29 and north of 32nd Avenue South (Johnson Farms Property)
There were no comments.

INFORMATION ITEMS

3.1 Portfolio Management/Summary for period ending March 31, 2009.
Information only.

3.2 Matter of proposed funding sources for four new police officer positions in 2010 budget._________________________________
President Gershman stated he would like to see happen on TSA (Transportation Security Administration) police officers that at end of the grant the Airport would take over that cost, this is more of a regional cost and would bring that up at the Airport. Chief Packett stated this is continuation of current grant that police department received funding from the TSA, have been utilizing officers on overtime in recent years and the amount has dropped dramatically to $107,000 and reached point where it would be beneficial to hire 2 officers based on that amount of money and deploy them out there, this is continuation of a recent grant and would go to 2012.

Council Member Christensen stated these grants concern him as they evolve into finding money
for fulltime personnel and if add 4 officers to be paid by the grant or continue to fund 4 officers. Chief Packett stated there are two proposals, one is for CHRP requesting 2 officers for Community Resources Bureau working with our Criminal Investigations Bureau; and second is a grant continuation of TSA grant to put 2 officers at the Airport. There is a one year retention for the CHRP grant and have those 2 officers for 4-year period with 3 of the 4 years paid by federal funding; and TSA does not have retention requirement and whether want to continue that request. Chief Packett stated that was decision of the Airport Authority but at this point funded by TSA.

3.3 Statement of Changes in Cash Balances as of December 31, 2008.
Information only.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS

1) Council Member Christensen stated there is a meeting of Alerus Commission finance task force on April 22 at 4:00 p.m. at the Alerus Center.

ADJOURN

It was moved by Council Member Bjerke and seconded by Council Member Kreun that we adjourn. Carried 5 votes affirmative.

Respectfully submitted,



Saroj Jerath
City Auditor