Council Minutes
17553
May 14, 2001
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA
May 14, 2001
The city council of the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota met in special session in the council chambers in City Hall on Monday, May 14, 2001 at the hour of 7:00 o’clock p.m. with Mayor Brown presiding. Present at roll call were Council Members Brooks, Bjerke, Stevens, Hamerlik, Burke, Glassheim, Gershman, Christensen, Klave, Kerian, Kreun - 11; absent: Council Member Lunak, Bakken, Martinson - 3.
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 advised that the meeting is being televised.
Mayor Brown announced that the Police Memorial Service at the Police Department is at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow and to please attend if possible.
Mayor Brown presented a Certificate of Achievement in Excellence in Financial Reporting to the City of Grand Forks, ND for it comprehensive annual financial report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999, to Saroj Jerath, deputy city auditor, and to staff. Ms. Jerath thanked staff and leadership provided by John Schmisek, that it’s everybody’s effort.
ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 3886, RELATING TO GREATER
GRAND FORKS CONVENTION AND VISITOR’S BUREAU
AND MOTEL-HOTEL TAX
An ordinance entitled “An ordinance adopting Article 3 of Chapter XXIV and Article 3 of Chapter XXII of the Grand Forks City Code relating to the Greater Grand Forks Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and Motel-Hotel Tax”, which had been introduced and passed on its first reading on March 5, 2001, was presented and read for consideration on second reading and final passage.
The staff recommendation from Rick Duquette, interim administrative coordinator, relating to second reading of the ordinance to create the Greater Grand Forks Convention and Visitors Bureau, with recommendation to amend the first reading of the ordinance regarding the Greater Grand Forks Convention and Visitors Bureau and adopt the second reading as amended.
The city auditor reported that the amendment has to do with the membership of the CVB in the original introduction of the ordinance which had 12 members and now being amended to 9 members.
Howard Swanson, city attorney, reported that there are changes from the prior draft to areas that have changed, membership and term, the terms reflect the change in the membership body; that from what is existing on the books now they have re-numbered and revised some of the sections significantly and are trying to bring all the tax issues into one chapter on the tax, and doesn’t believe those would be considered substantive changes, only re-numbering. He stated there is some additional language placed in the powers or authorities of the body, that was present in the initial draft in the first reading. The additions of the powers and authorities is set up more along the lines which was done with the Alerus Center Commission, they do alter both the structure and the content of the existing code.
Council Member Glassheim stated he thought there should be a council person on the board as there are a significant amount of dollars and handle a lot of money by virtue of the powers given to them through the council and are an important aspect of a kind of economic development of the city and seems it would be good to have a permanent liaison between the council and the Convention & Visitors Bureau to report back both ways. Council Member Christensen stated there was nothing that prevents the mayor from appointing a council person as one of his appointments. Council Member Glassheim stated it’s not a requirement and not a delegate from the council and no formal link between the council and the CVB unless we write it in. Council Member Christensen stated that the CVB is to give us monthly reports, a budget and we can govern through resolution.
Council Member Glassheim moved to amend the ordinance that one of two members appointed by the mayor would be a city council member approved by the city council. Council Member Bjerke seconded the motion.
Council Member Hamerlik stated that if we are amending the original ordinance that is different than what is now being proposed for adoption, and questioned what they are amending; and suggested that if somebody makes a motion to amend the ordinance passed on first reading, then it would be appropriate to amend. Council Members Glassheim and Bjerke withdrew their motion.
Mr. Swanson replied to Council Member Glassheim’s question as to whether the existing CVB has membership from the city council and the answer is not by Code, the Code identifies the appointments and says that they may be members of the Grand Forks city council.
It was moved by Council Member Gershman and seconded by Council Member Brooks to amend the introduced ordinance to include these changes.
Council Member Glassheim moved to amend the amendment to have one of the mayor’s appointments should be a city council appointment from the city council. Council Member Bjerke seconded the motion.
There was some discussion as to appointment of a city council member to serve on this board, that at each meeting the council is asking the mayor to appoint somebody from the council to committees/boards and in one year there will be 7 people on this body and that all of this will be coming back to try to take them off committees/boards because there is not enough manpower to place on every board/committee. Council Member Bjerke asked after this ordinance is passed will Compass manage this. Council Member Christensen stated that it is contemplated that this board will interview Compass and determine if Compass is gong to assume the duties of marketing, Compass put a proposal together with a contract for 2 or 3 years, but are suggesting that the contract with Compass be a lesser term because Compass’ agreement for marketing of the city should be co-terminus as the Alerus. He stated that what this board will do is to put together a board of people who represented various segments of the community who had big things to market with the city - Park District, King’s Walk; Engelstad, hockey; University, Chester Fritz; and tried to take 9 groups and select people from those groups who would have a common goal to market the community, and the idea was to use the money that currently is being collected from the hotel-motel tax as a source of funds to get more people on the street selling the city of Grand Forks, part of that would be selling conventions, selling the Alerus, Engelstad, King’s Walk, and hope that the Park District will see its way to put some money into the marketing mix, as well as Engelstad, University as part of the partnering, think this is the beginning of a partnering process to market the city as a whole, rather than a group of people marketing it separately and that is the goal of creating this commission.
Upon call for the question on the amendment relative to the one of the mayor’s appointments should be a city council appointment from the city council, and upon voice vote the motion failed.
Council Member Hamerlik moved to amend the motion on the floor to delete in two sections where it states “..member selected from the Events Center Commission” delete the words “.. appointed by the chair of the Events Center Commission..” Council Member Gershman seconded the motion. Upon voice vote, the motion carried, with Council Members Brooks and Stevens voting no.
Council Member Christensen moved an amendment relating to Section 24-0305. Regulations. paragraph (2) to change the reporting dates from June 1 to July 1 and from March 1 to July 1. Council Member Kerian seconded the motion. Carried 11 votes affirmative.
Upon call for the question on the motion, as amended, and upon voice vote the motion carried 11 votes affirmative.
Upon call for the question of the adoption of the ordinance, as amended, and upon roll call vote, the following voted “aye”: Council Members Brooks, Bjerke, Stevens, Hamerlik, Burke, Glassheim, Gershman, Christensen, Klave, Kerian, Kreun - 11; voting “nay”: none. Mayor Brown declared the ordinance adopted.
ADJOURN
It was moved by Council Member Hamerlik and seconded by Council Member Brooks that we do now adjourn. Carried 11 votes affirmative.
Respectfully submitted,
John M. Schmisek
City Auditor
Approved:
___________________________________
Michael R. Brown, Mayor.