Council Minutes
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA
December 3, 2007
The city council of the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota met in the council chambers in City Hall on Monday, December 3, 2007 at the hour of 5:30 o’clock p.m. with Mayor Brown presiding. Present at roll call were Council Members Brooks, McNamara, Glassheim, Gershman, Bakken, Kreun - 6; absent: none.
Mayor Brown announced that anyone wishing to speak to any item may do so by being recognized prior to a vote being taken on the matter, and that the meeting is being televised.
Girl Scout Troop 305 under leadership of Julie Myrvik led the council in the pledge of allegiance to the flag.
COUNCIL MEMBER CHRISTENSEN REPORTED PRESENT
Mayor Brown commented on various items during the past week and upcoming events:
He thanked street crews that were out on Sunday morning, nice work and get ready for more as prediction for tonight is for 6 inches more between now and Tuesday night.
The matter of the parking garage painting came up recently and reported that the contract came out of committee to do the work in June, 2008 and the School has asked us to delay the painting until July, 2008 so don't disrupt student parking, all burned light bulbs have been replaced.
The Near Northside Neighborhood Holiday Party this Saturday was wonderful, and was impressed with leadership of the neighbors and commitment they have for this neighborhood, and thanked Mr. Glassheim and Council Members Gershman and Kreun for being there.
Council Member Glassheim stated they have a wonderful steering committee of local neighborhood people who have been involved and put in lot of time and got things done, Santa Claus came and are trying to build a neighborhood as a pleasant place to live and keep housing in good stock, and thanked the mayor and council people for attending, lovely event. Council Member Gershman congratulated Mr. Glassheim and the mayor on that event, that the number of people that were there want to improve their neighborhood.
Mayor Brown thanked Central Drum Corps, wonderful event and everyone enjoyed entertainment.
He thanked Colonel Hull at the Base, had a nice open house on Saturday and thanked them for inviting us, and a thank you from all the people in the community who were there to show support, important that we keep this relationship strong.
There will be a flu clinic this Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the County Office building for those residents after work hours.
He stated he was excited about the progress of the Green3 efforts and the resource committee that is focused on the Green3 of Grand Forks, which is cleaning the environment, increasing efficiency and saving tax dollars. He thanked people at the Resource Committee, they have a web page at wwwgrandforksgov.com
He thanked people involved in boundless playground led by Ali Karpenko, an eighth grader who wrote an essay to try to get a playground that is accessible for all children of all abilities in our community, that he is proclaiming next Friday, December 14, an All City Jeans Day, for Ali's boundless playground and encourages businesses and individuals to participate and take the opportunity to wear jeans on Friday for a great cause. Ali was going to be here today but she is sick and her mother and Kay Deery gave a brief presentation, and updated council on progress, had brochures printed and listed some of the pieces of equipment and are hoping that people will purchase a piece of equipment or make a donation; that they are going to break ground in the spring and that their goal is $200,000 and want to have that by February.
YOUTH COMMISSION REPORT
Joshua Roberts, Grand Forks Youth Commission president, gave a brief presentation explaining that the Commission is a group of teens and young adolescents who get together once a month, third Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. in council chambers, discuss things going on around the schools or community and how they can become better and try to look for the positive; how can they come up with ideas to stop youth from drinking or drugs. This program gives students ability to talk to adults so they know what is running through youth's minds and what is going on. He also stated that they were looking to see if could get reduced rates to movies for students because of cost; it was noted that the new theatre that is being opened in East Grand Forks has reduced rates and suggested reps. of Youth Commission talk to them, Josh stated they were discussing having him come to their meeting.
BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY REPORT
Rick Duquette, city administrator, stated this evening have brief presentation from Mr. Paul deWolf of Access Consulting, that the Base Realignment Impact Committee has been involved in a series of studies based upon realignment of the Air Force Base, that they have done an economic analysis of the impact of the realignment and have also developed a UAV business development road map and a business development road map related to live science technologies. The Realignment Impact Committee thought it might be useful and important to get a sense of what we can do in the county regions or small cities in our region relating to broadband connectivity and telecommunication services; that this is about growing businesses and making business easier to do out in the county and diversifying our economy as a result of this Air Force Base realignment. He recognized Mr. Klaus Thiessen from the Economic Development Corporation; Diane Blair, executive director; and (not present Ed Neirode, county administrator), and they serve as the Realignment Impact Committee.
Mr. Paul deWolf, Access Consulting out of Missoula, MT, presented the result of their study; the objective of the study they performed was to prepare a business development road map focused on tele-commuications, initially on broadband, and intent was to find ways to diversify the economic base, look at new business development, existing business enhancement, telecommuniting opportunities to help make the region around Grand Forks a more attractive place to live in terms of amenities and services in rural areas and smaller towns.
He stated City has done good job with public safety radio and data upgrade, but there are issues in the county of coverage, redundancy and reliability and affordability and some issues of competition, and found that competition for service is one of the foundation blocks for getting more affordable service and quality of service, how can breed competition in a positive way. He stated they are recommending - first step is get organized and identify a working group; need to develop data on what are needs, resources; identify existing assets; identify co-development approaches very early. He stated they need to work with the State to get them to expand lobbying effort to include the broadband data coverage that cellular can provide because it is a good multi-use solution that will cover the rural regions; and look at options for the county to have public safety mobile data, look at expansion of the current system and other options; need to support the efforts that are going on in the county and surrounding regions. He stated there are resources out there, the PSC wireless outreach, lot of funding comes from USDA through rural development programs (grants and loans) to establish services in unserved or under served communities, Economic Development Administration does public works project funding which ties to base realignment issues.
APPROVE CHANGE ORDER NO. 2, PROJECT NO. 6072,
2007 CONCRETE STREET REPAIRS
The staff report from the engineering department relating to Change Order No. 2 for Project No. 6072, 2007 Concrete Street Repairs, with recommendation to approve Change Order No. 2 in the amount of $5,150.00.
It was moved by Council Member Bakken and seconded by Council Member Brooks that this recommendation be approved. Carried 7 votes affirmative.
APPROVE AGREEMENT WITH WEBSTER, FORSTER &
WESTON FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR PROJECT
NO. 6120, LIFT STATION 32 REHABILITATION
The staff report from the engineering department relating to design, bidding and construction administration engineering services agreement for Project No. 6120, Lift Station 32 Rehabilitation, with recommendation to approve agreement with Webster, Foster and Weston in the amount of $85,071.00.
It was moved by Council Member Bakken and seconded by Council Member Brooks that this recommendation be approved. Carried 7 votes affirmative.
AWARD CONTRACT FOR PROJECT NO. 6174.3, DISTRICT
NO. 458, REHABILITATE STORM PUMP STATIONS NOS.
182 AND 188
The staff report from the engineering department relating to bids for Project No. 6174.3, District Nos. 458, Rehabilitate Storm Pump Stations Nos. 182 and No. 188 (underground bid package), with recommendation to award contract to low bidder, Molstad Excavating, Inc., in the amount of $269,161.00, and to return non-conforming bid to bidder unopened.
It was moved by Council Member Bakken and seconded by Council Member Brooks that this recommendation be approved. Upon call for the question and upon voice vote, the motion carried 7 votes affirmative.
APPROVE CHANGE ORDER NO. 4, PROJECT NO. 6133
AND 6134
The staff report from the engineering department relating to Change Order No. 4 for Project No. 6133 and 6134, District No. 93, overlay Sunbeam Addition east of Belmont Road and overlay 62nd Avenue South from Columbia Road to Washington Street and Belmont Road from 62nd Avenue South to Adams Drive, with recommendation to approve Change Order No. 4 in the amount of $64,998.20.
It was moved by Council Member Bakken and seconded by Council Member Brooks that this recommendation be approved. Carried 7 votes affirmative.
APPROVE WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN
The staff report from thee director of public works relating to Grand Forks Waste Management Plan, with recommendation to approve the Grand Forks Waste Management Plan as follows: 1) conceptual approval of Wastewater Collection System Master Plan; 2) conceptual approval of Wastewater Treatment Concept Plan; 3) continued interest in development of a Wastewater Consecutive User Study; 4) continue Landfill Siting Study Efforts; and 5) refine a scope for the combined Waste Stream Management Study (2009-2010).
It was moved by Council Member Bakken and seconded by Council Member Brooks that this recommendation be approved. Carried 7 votes affirmative.
APPROVE 2009-2013 URBAN REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION
FUNDING AND UPDATED TE PRIORITIES
The staff report from the engineering department relating to 2009-2013 Urban and Regional Transportation Funding update, with recommendation to approve updated TE priorities and Urban Roads Project listing.
Council Member Christensen reported the plan was reviewed at the MPO and there were several alternatives re. enhancement of a project and included in the staff report is a redo of the bike path on the English Coulee from 24th Avenue South going north to 17th Avenue, and moved approval of the recommendation and that we approve that project as project of our choice, that it then goes back to the MPO and they submit it to the State. Council Member Gershman seconded the motion. Carried 7 votes affirmative.
APPROVE BILL LISTING AND ESTIMATE SUMMARY
Vendor Payment Listing No. 07-23, dated November 30, 2007, totaling $661,493.19 and Estimate Summary dated November 30, 2007 totaling $1,929,585.41, were presented and read.
It was moved by Council Member Bakken and seconded by Council Member Kreun that these bills and estimates be allowed and that the city auditor be authorized to issue warrants in payment of the same. Upon roll call the following voted "aye": Council Members Brooks, McNamara, Glassheim, Gershman, Christensen, Bakken, Kreun - 7; voting "nay": none. Mayor Brown declared the motion carried and the bills ordered paid.
APPROVE MINUTES NOVEMBER 13, 19 AND 26, 2007
Typewritten copies of the minutes of the city council held on Monday, November 19, 2007, and of the special city council meetings held on Monday, November 13 and November 26, 2007, were presented and read. It was moved by Council Member Glassheim and seconded by Council Member Brooks that these minutes be approved as read. Carried 7 votes affirmative.
COMMENTS BY MAYOR AND COUNCIL
1) Council Member Brooks reported that sometime ago we had discussion re. council structure, was sent to work session, and goal was to bring it back for a vote and asked that be placed on the agenda. Council Member Gershman reported this item will be placed on an agenda prior to year's end.
2) Council Member Christensen reported that also prior to year's end have a report from Human Resources Office and Administration regarding our pay for performance, wage study; this will be placed on the next agenda.
3) Council Member Kreun thanked Council Member Glassheim for the Near Northside and the 3 hard working people that organized the party and give them credit for that. He also stated that after the snow a lot of people are blowing the snow back into the street, counterproductive, and is against the city ordinance and reminder not to blow snow back into the street.
4) Council Member Gershman stated that last year the city council decided to pave the area at Lincoln and Belmont and lighting so kids can sled during the evening, the lot is packed and good to see kids having a great time; and thanks to mayor and council as good piece of work.
5) Howard Swanson, city attorney, reported that on the city calendar a committee of the whole meeting for December 24, by Code not required to meet as a committee of the whole, only requirements are to meet as a city council on the first and third Mondays of the month, and if the council did not want to hold a committee of the whole meeting that night, might want to make a procedural motion. Council Member Gershman reported that the council is not going to meet the 24th nor the 31st, and not going to meet until January 7; and moved to suspend the December 24 meeting and not meet until January 7 for a special city council meeting if need be, and then go into the committee of the whole. Council Member Christensen seconded the motion. Carried 7 votes affirmative.
ADJOURN
It was moved by Council Member Brooks and seconded by Council Member Bakken that we adjourn. Carried 7 votes affirmative.
Respectfully submitted,
Saroj Jerath
Deputy City Auditor
Approved:
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Michael R. Brown, Mayor
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