Council Minutes

Minutes of Grand Forks City Council/Committee of the
Whole - Monday, March 26, 2007 - 7:00 p.m.___________

The city council of the city of Grand Forks sitting as the Committee of the Whole met in the council chambers in City Hall on Monday, March 26, 2007 at the hour of 7:00 p.m. with Mayor Brown presiding. Present at roll call were Council Members Brooks, Gershman, Kreun -3; absent: Council Members Glassheim, Bakken - 2.

Mayor Brown commented on various events during the past week and upcoming events:
Congratulations to Fighting Sioux hockey team on their victory.
Congratulations to Kenneth "Sam" Svejkovsky who retired after 32+ years as a fire apparatus specialist in the fire department and thanked him for his dedicated service to the community.
April is the month of the Military Child and would like everyone to be aware and participate in that/
ArtWise was a wonderful presentation at the Alerus and hoped everyone saw the 5,000 pieces of original art, and that he selected the Mayor's Choice, the runner-up and an honorable mention this year.
Rick Duquette, city administrator, has earned the Bronze Certificate Leadership Fellow Award from the National League of Cities, and congratulated Mr. Duquette.

PRESENTATION BY ALI KARPENKO

Ali Karpenko, 13, 7th grader at Schroeder Middle School, stated that she was born with a mild case of spinal bifida and last summer visited an all accessible playground in Bismarck and decided that we needed one here, that she found on the internet the Win the Boundless Playground essay contest. She nominated Sertoma Park and entered in late November and on January 19 she found out that she was a top 20 finalist out of 930 entries from 44 states, the purpose of the contest is to raise awareness of the need for an all accessible playground, that if she doesn't win she plans to continue to pursue it and would also like to thank everyone who has been and continues to support her. She would like to thank the Grand Forks Park District for their hard work and continued support, and thanked council for their time and support.

Mayor Brown thanked Ali for her thinking in helping to make this a better community for everyone.

MAYOR BROWN STATED THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS McNAMARA
AND CHRISTENSEN ARE ON TELECONFERENCE

2.1 10-Year Flood Anniversary Update.
Rick Duquette, city administrator, stated that last fall at direction of mayor they
began preparing for the 10-year anniversary of the flood, the committee included non-profits, the school system, the City of East Grand Forks, the City of Grand Forks, the Grand Forks City Council, the business community, Grand Forks Air Force Base, the University of North Dakota and the media.

He stated as the committee developed ideas about how to handle the 10-year flood anniversary, 5 key points were developed: 1) important to have commemoration of the flood, that it needs to be thoughtful and take into consideration of apprehension and pain that still exists in our community related to the flood; 2) need to celebrate recovery. 3) dedication of the flood protection project, 4) to say thank you to the governmental agencies, the non-profits and the people of ND and of the nation for their help; 5) recognizing that there will be intense national focus on how we are doing 10 years later, and we want to share with the nation about how we are doing and how we invested our money. He stated that we wanted to share the message that our recovery and rebuilding took leadership, partnership, patience, faith and people, and esp. the people that made our recovery a success.

Kevin Dean, Info Center, stated the 10-year anniversary is going to be an important event with the media, and they want to know what has happened to Grand Forks in the past 10 years. He presented media kit that has gone out to the media to over 300 media outlets, locally, regionally and nationally. The kit includes a message from the mayor, flood timeline, flood facts and some of the impact that took place in Grand Forks, milestones reached successfully in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks over the past 10 years and lessons learned; and a short DVD. He stated that we have found over the years that we have been able to provide some additional information and help to other communities that go through similar disasters.

Mr. Duquette reported on how we are going to commemorate the flood, how to celebrate our recovery, how to dedicate the flood protection project and how we are going to say thank you to the people who helped us:
Thursday, April 19, 11:30 a.m. - luncheon at the Alerus Center featuring former mayor Pat
Owens and Mayor Stauss and dedication of greenway bridges to the mayors.
4:00 p.m. Area church bells ring for 2 minutes in remembrance of the flooding and burning of
downtown Grand Forks
7:30 p.m. SPA performance of Keep the Faith flood musical at Chester Fritz Auditorium
Sunday, April 22 - tours of community and tours of flood protection project for VIP's
Noon event at Town Square to dedicate our flood protection project and to thank
governmental agencies and non-profits that helped Grand Forks. Speakers will include
James Lee Witt, director of FEMA during the 1997 flood, Congressional delegation,
Governor Hoeven and others.
3:30 p.m. Thank you dinner and celebration at the Alerus Center. President Clinton has agreed
to share a video message with the community at this event.

Diane Stanislawski, city administrator's office, presented information relating to the celebration of dinner and entertainment. Dinner will start at 3:30 p.m. on April 21 at the Alerus Center, with seating for 2,000 at one time, when finished with dinner people can move into the bleacher area for the concert in the evening, which starts at 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., by Los Lobos. There is a 60x30' space in front of the stage for dancing.

Mr. Duquette reviewed the budget for the event, totaling $146,045; and stated that the community dinner at the Alerus is to serve 8,000 @ $3.50/each. He noted that the Firefighters Union will help with the labor at the dinner event (labor is $20,000) and expect to cut that with their assistance; the Grand Forks Air Force Base has asked to send a group of volunteers to the event and they will be doing the set-ups, break-down and cleanup of the event and expect to reduce cost there as well.

He stated that Mayor Brown, President Gershman and Council Member Kreun will meet with architectural firms, engineering firms and other firms that worked with Grand Forks during and after the flood and ask them to take a lead role in helping us fund raise for this event. He stated that they have been advised that the public has suggested that there be a free-will offering at the event to help reduce the cost.

Council Member Gershman thanked staff for an incredible job and noted that this is a terrific opportunity for City to showcase itself to the region and larger region and also the nation. He also noted that several council members had concern about number of people for the dinner, 8,000, and stated that number could be high, and would like us to perhaps take that down to 6500, to have backup plan of food (spaghetti) and should discuss that. After some discussion it was determined to go with 6500 and prepare for backup.

Mr. Duquette thanked Mr. Brooks as the East Grand Forks city administrator, that we are working with their city council on this matter and their events are meshing very nicely, we have a Thursday and Sunday, and they have Friday and Saturday, and doing reciprocal authorizations on the greenway bridges.

Mr. McNamara stated there were a number of people who came up and entertained after the flood (Charlie Daniels) and any thought of bringing some of those people back. Mr. Duquette stated that Charlie Daniels was very expensive and not available, that they decided to look for band that would make the event a celebration, enjoyable, recognized and within a certain dollar amount.

Council Member McNamara stated he struggled with "celebrate" and that commemoration would be better. Mr. Gershman stated he disagreed with Mr. McNamara, that this community has so much to be thankful for and nothing wrong with celebrating your thanking and the success that this community has had; and should still be sensitive to the commemoration because there are still people who are hurting here and understand that, and that is what Thursday is about., but on Sunday chance to reflect back on a lot of good things and not be ashamed of celebrating our success.

Mr. Duquette stated this took lot of work for several months by a lot of people, large committee and very involved, city staff, chamber of commerce, FEMA staff who worked very diligently on this, and thanked the mayor and city council for guidance on this matter, and that our recovery, rebuilding is because of the people in this community and that is important and that is what this is all about.

Mayor Brown stated this is a celebration for the community and region and saying thank you for helping us 10 years ago when needed it most.

Council Member Brooks stated he was in Browns Valley on Saturday and visited with the mayor, he is concerned about losing residents, and did bring back that there is a fund available, that Browns Valley will not be getting any FEMA help, as don't meet that threshold, but there is a fund that has been set up and brought the address back and gave it to the Info Center and can get it there or at Administration in East Grand Forks City Hall, and the address is
Browns Valley Long Term Flood Recovery Fund, c/o Union State Bank, P.O. Box 334, Browns Valley, MN 56219
He stated when he left Browns Valley, the mayor stated he is looking forward to coming here to be part of the 10th Anniversary.

2.2 Applications for exemption of remodeling improvements to commercial and residential buildings at various locations.______________________________
There were no comments.

2.3 City Board of Equalization.
There were no comments.

2.4 Cost Participation, Construction and Management Agreement for Project No. 5988, paving 40th Ave.S. from S. 20th St. to S. Washington St._______________________
There were no comments.

2.5 Plans and specifications for Project No. 5988, Dist. No. 627, paving 40th Ave.S. from S. 20th St. to S. Washington St._____________________________________________
There were no comments.

2.6 Plans and specifications for Project No. 6059, Dist. No. 453, trunk storm sewer crossing on 40th Ave.S. (1600 block).___________________________________
There were no comments.

2.7 Bids for Project No. 5498, paving Desiree Dr. cul-de-sac.
Council Member Brooks questioned bids that were higher than the engineer's estimate.
Mark Walker, asst. city engineer, stated the low bid was higher than their estimate, that this project involves paving of a cul-de-sac and that work is typically more labor intensive than paving a straight line street, their estimate did not take that into account. He stated they bid this project last year in July and those bids were rejected by council because they seemed too high; the design included some features that were removed from this project and were able to reduce the cost. He stated it is an eligible expense for the flood protection project as a relocation and those costs will be picked up by the Flood Protection Project, 45% by the State and 55% locally.

2.8 Consideration of bids for Project No. 6099, 2007 Watermain Replacement.
Council Member Brooks questioned that the low bidder which was much lower than
other bidders and if there was a concern by staff. John Thompson, asst. city engineer, reported they did find a couple small math errors but didn't see any problem with the bid; they are monitoring costs right now and making sure they are in the ballpark with estimates.

2.9 Agreement with East Grand Forks for maintenance of pedestrian bridges, Project No.. 6138._____________________________________________________________
Council Member Christensen asked if the city attorney would review paragraph 9, relating to two mediators. Mayor Brown stated that Mr. Swanson will review this over the next week and give recommendations to the council

Council Member Kreun stated that this will go to the work session in East Grand Forks tomorrow and we can let them know that we have a little concern with that. Council Member Brooks stated this will go to their work session tomorrow and can have it ready because East Grand Forks will vote on it next week also.

2.10 Engineer's Report for Project No. 5631, Safe Kids Coalition, NDDoT/Safe Route to School Grant Application.________________________________________________
Council Member Kreun stated that this could enhance some of the projects that we have
on our list of road projects, and can work in coordination with this group to offset some of our costs through MPO and Safe Kids Coalition.

Jane Williams, traffic engineer, stated the Safe Routes to School is a 5-year program that is administered by the NDDoT, and are two years into it but this is the first year that they have asked for projects. There are different projects that can be applied for, infrastructure and non-infrastructure, and they have recommended a list that is infrastructure projects,100% funding for construction costs, cost for plans are not covered , and their list includes some signing and striping, sidewalks, traffic signals and also have accessible ramps, and these dollars can be leveraged against some of the costs of projects that we already are looking at constructing. They are also working with the Grand Forks Safe Kids Coalition, the Grand Forks City Schools and with the MPO and joint project that we are working together on.

2 11 Consideration of bids for Project No. 5969, Northside Fire Station Expansion
(1015 Columbia Road).______________________________________________
The city auditor reported that the City sold bonds last September for this remodeling along with the remodeling of the police department and also the addition of the municipal court at the County jail, and that this project is funded. Council Member Christensen stated at the same time we have the training center to be built on land adj. to the L.M. Glasfiber and when do that we are out of land which causes concern to EDC, and understands that when that gets built, will require 5 to 7 firefighters. Chief O'Neill stated that they are not going to be adding staff when they proposed the west side fire station in Industrial Park, that they will be reallocating some of their people out to that station, will keep coverage downtown with people in the central fire station on DeMers Avenue, but moving engine/truck company out to Industrial Park and not cause an increase in staff or personnel costs for that station.

Council Member Kreun stated that as we grow and if L.M. Glasfiber is going to grow and our Industrial Park is going to grow, and as tax base grows and community grows, will have to look at additional staff.

Chief O'Neill stated layout of priorities addressed the west side fire station, the remodeling of Columbia Road fire station, and hope to build facility in the Industrial Park this year and move one of their engine companies out there next year, that in 2011 would like to construct a fire station in the southeast part of the city, along the area of 62nd Avenue South and Cherry Street, do not have any land purchased but with the direction of council would have to hire at least 12 additional firefighters to staff that fire station, looking at approx. $1 million/year.

The city auditor stated the reason why we are proceeding with the westerly station and training center, that this has been discussed in several work sessions over last year and in the fall of last year they came to council with a full presentation and staff was told to proceed with further planning, design elements of that project, and in the future the mayor has directed them to put together the six-year planning process that would include potential for the 2011 fire station and include the 2012 where they will have to come up with staffing dollars and will be coming to council in the next month or so with that information.

2.12 Request for proposal specifications for furniture and fixtures in former court area in police building.______________________________________________ ________
There were no comments.

2.13 2006 Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER).
There were no comments.

3. INFORMATION ITEMS
3.1 Transportation Funding Update.
Information only.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS

1) Council Member Kreun reported that he had received a letter from Elizabeth Anderson with drawings of entry sign on Gateway Drive; and it was noted that this information had been forwarded to Meredith Richards in Urban Development.
ADJOURN

It was moved by Council Member Brooks and seconded by Council Member Gershman that we adjourn. Carried 5 votes affirmative. The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,



John M. Schmisek
City Auditor