Committee Minutes

MINUTES/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
Monday, October 25, 1993 - 3:45 p.m.

Members present: Crawford, Geller.

1. Matter of snowmobile route plan.
A number of residents of the Belmont Patio Homes on 47th Avenue South were present, as were representatives of the Red River Snowmobile Club. Randy Sattler, president of the snowmobile club, reported that after discussion with members they would like to bring before the committee for consideration the northern part of the proposed route - from river to 27th Ave.N., State Mill Road and North Columbia Road, to Gateway Drive, and end along 42nd Street with access to restaurants, fuel stops and motels - to see if feasible on trial basis; that this would be easier to monitor and would not be in residential area. He also reported they had talked with some of the people on 47th Avenue and they are willing to work with club members to find alternative route to the south.

Capt. McCarthy stated that his consideration was to revisit Council Member Beyer's motion and end trail on the south edge of South Columbia Road at city limits, in area of Wal-Mart, once south of that outside city limits, and club or State could negotiate with private landowners, township members, etc. for access to the river, and hook in on trailhead on South Columbia Road and 32nd Ave.S. Mr. Geller stated that no where on the route would snowmobilers be on streets, with exception of 1 or 2 instances - crossing road at 90 degree angle on 32nd Avenue South, and on 42nd Street at 17th Ave.S. at bridge for distance of 30 feet, otherwise in ditches or on bikepaths, parallel to streets. Mr. Swanson, city attorney, expressed some concern re. crossing 32nd Ave.S. at uncontrolled intersection and at foot of overpass, questioned whether anyone has determined if there is adequate sight distance, or perhaps should be moved farther east to S. 38th St. and cross there, that this should be checked out. Mr. Geller stated that it was important that club members negotiate southern access to the river, that that part of route be followed through, or this won't accomplish what we want to do. It was also noted that snowmobilers will still have to trailer to drop-off point - Lincoln Park and riverboat landing,

One resident of 47th Ave.S. stated he had walked river south for 3 miles from 47th Ave.S. and there is perfect trail, and could possibly get access to Washington St. or County Road 5. Another resident questioned signing along river, and Capt. McCarthy stated that in talking with State they have appropriate signage, and it was noted that members of snowmobile clubs would do their part in signing.

Mr. Sattler stated they coul put on safety course, incl. explanation of city ordinances; that many people not aware of rules; that education is part of the process.

Mr. Geller stated they would sunset ordinance and at end of that

MINUTES/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
October 25, 1993 - Page 2

period, evaluate, review, etc. and expand incremently.

After further discussion it was moved by Geller and Crawford to approve the trail starting at the river and trailhead on 27th Ave. North, Mill Road and North Columbia Road, west on Gateway, down 42nd and ending at 32nd Ave.S. and S. Columbia Road at edge of town; to instruct the city attorney to draft ordinance with 15 mph speed limit, hours of operation from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., commencing December 1 and ending April 1; and to introduce for first reading. Motion carried.

2. Request by KD's on DeMers for removal of unloading zone on
DeMers in front of School Adm. offices.
John Thompson, traffic eng., reported that the owner of KD's and School Dist. administration had arrived at agreement; School adm. issued directive to employees not to park on streets and not to use loading zone, and the owner of KD's has asked that his request be withdrawn. Moved by Geller and Crawford to receive and file. Motion carried.

3. Request for signing modifications around the new post office
including the following:
a) Removal of parking on S. 25th St. between 28th and 30th
Aves. S. on the west side of the street.
b) Install a stop sign on 30th Ave.S. for westbound traffic
approaching the S. 25th Street intersection.
John Thompson, traffic engineer, reported that a) was requested and approved by planning and zoning during initial negotiations, and he recommended approval; b) that the request is to balance the intersection by placing a stop sign on 30th Ave.S. approach and eliminate the one-way stop, and recommended approval. Moved by Crawford and Geller to approve. Motion carried.

4. Matter of restricting parking to one side of street on South
17th Street between 28th Avenue S. and 32nd Avenue S.
John Thompson reported having contacted property owners, that none of them opposed removal of parking on one side; that Mr. Fish, City Supt. of Streets, requested that parking be removed on the west side of the street, and he recommended approval. Moved by Crawford and Geller to remove parking on the west side of the street from 28th Ave.S. to 32nd Ave.S. Motion carried.

5. Matter of consideration of removing one parking stall on the
west end of 11th Avenue N. and N. 20th Street.
Bruce Hanson presented request; that originally they were requesting removal of one parking stall on south side of 11th Avenue North, but were now requesting removal of two additional spaces on the north side of the street.

Mr. Geller questioned why parking not restricted to one side when street not wide enough to accommodate parking and traffic.
MINUTES/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
October 25, 1993 - Page 3

Moved by Crawford and Geller to authorize removal of two additional parking spaces on the north side of the street. Motion carried.

6. Matter of changing the length of time permitted for parking
on 1st Avenue North and North 4th Street in front of Federal
Building.
Richard Lolley, Operations Mgr., IRS, reported that Internal Revenue Service has relocated to 102 North 4th Street, and requested 15-minute parking around that building - 4 or 5 spaces on 4th Street and 3 to 4 on 1st Avenue North, with balance either handicapped parking and the 2 spaces allocated to the US Marshall. He stated that employees in the building are parking in 2-hour parking spots, and he doesn't want those places tied up. He reported he has asked his employees not to park around the building. He noted that majority of their traffic is between January through April (last year total of 12,652 taxpayers visited their office), and that he would not be opposed to putting time frame on the parking. Moved by Crawford and Geller to authorize 4 l5-minute parking spaces on North 4th Street from 1st Avenue North to the alley from January 1 through April 30. Motion carried.

7. Matter of allowing parking on the south side of 5th Avenue
South on October 27, 1993 for luncheon meeting at Central Fire
Station.
Asst. Chief Phelps presented request to allow parking on the south side of 5th Avenue South for luncheon meeting. Mr. Thompson recommended approval. Moved by Crawford and Geller to authorize parking as requested. Motion carried.

8. Matter of Christmas decorations in downtown.
Held in committee as no one was present to speak to the matter.

9. Request to call for bids for open filing system for Police Department.
Sgt. Sieber reported that he had been working with Mark Langermoe, UND. re. system for the police department; that monies had been placed in the 1993 budget and funds appear to be adequate. The committee questioned whether there would be training for staff in records management; and Sgt. Sieber reported biggest item would be conversion of records and that Mr. Langermoe would possibly arrange for a couple students to work for class credit. Moved by Geller and Crawford that we approve request to call for bids. Motion carried. (committee only)

10. Applications to conduct gaming:
a) GF Chamber of Commerce Health Trip - raffles on February 8 and 22, March 8 and 22, April 5 and 19, and May 3 and 5.
b) Ben Franklin PTO - bingo on November 18
c) Beta Alpha Psi - raffle on December 10
d) UND Management Club - raffle on November 24
e) INMED Student Organization - raffle on January 29, 1994

MINUTES/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
October 25, 1993 - Page 4

f) Belmont School - bingo on November 6
It was noted that all applications had been reviewed and approved by the city attorney. Moved by Crawford and Geller that the applications be approved. Motion carried. (committee only)

11. Budget transfers.
Deb Swanson reviewed request to transfer $6,400.00 from Communicable Disease Temp. Salaries to Med/Lab. Supplies to cover balance due for flu vaccine. Moved by Crawford and Geller to approve the transfer. Motion carried.

12. Temporary and overtime report for September, 1993.
The committee reviewed the temporary and overtime statement for September. Moved by Crawford and Geller to approve. Motion carried. (committee only).

13. Matter of school crossing at Ben Franklin School.
Mr. Geller reported he had received call from parents near Ben Franklin School at 11th Avenue South and S. 20th Street, that they have four-way stop; however, Century School has flashing lights and Ben Franklin School does not; that telling parents of traffic counts just doesn't cut it. Mr. Geller questioned if there is standard or near standardized level of protection for elementary school kids. Chairman Crawford suggested he talk to Mr. Thompson, traffic engineer, re. plans to move flashing light from another location; that Mr. Thompson waited to do traffic counts until after school started. She stated she had visited with Mr. Thompson several weeks ago and he suggested they may put light in. She also suggested that committee should receive closure sheet on items relating to traffic.

Meeting adjourned.

Alice Fontaine
City Clerk

Dated: 10/25/93.