Committee Minutes

MINUTES/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
Monday, September 25, 1995 - 3:45 p.m.

Members present: Hoeppner, Johnson, Sande.

1. Request for waiver of license fees for temporary food vendors and transient merchants for First Night-Greater Grand Forks,
December 31, 1995.
Debbie Swanson, member of the Steering Committee of First Night-Greater Grand Forks, presented request for waiver of fees for this event occurring in downtown Grand Forks, that all food vendors are licensed restaurants in the city of Grand Forks and because the City is a sponsor it would be in our best interest to waive that fee, that there will be approx. 15-20 vendors located at various areas (some located at Central High School, some at civic auditorium, etc.) and has discussed with health inspectors and they didn't object to waiving of the fee; that transient merchants would be several non-profit organizations using the event as a fund raiser to sell various items as well as steering committee selling items.
Moved by Sande and Hoeppner for approval of the request. Motion carried.

2. Matter of speed limit on 6th Avenue North from Columbia Road to 42nd Street.
Council Member Gerry Hamerlik, First Ward, reported he had requested this be placed on the agenda because of numerous telephone calls he has received and petitions. It was noted that the speed limit for 6th between 42nd and Stanford is 30 mph.

Joe Lewandowski, 3518 6th Ave. N., stated that there is 30 mph speed limit posted from Columbia Road to Princeton Street, and only two signs on the east end, that vehicles fly by, and are doing 30+ now; that survey taken at 10-11:00 a.m., and that 90% of traffic not going through there at that time and didn't think they could get accurate count of volume or speed in two hours in any one day.

Sharon Gates, 3598 Meadow Drive, principal of Lake Agassiz School, stated that at that corner will have three sections of educational happenings - Stanford Center which has a parent education center and adult education, and community high school; University is building a children's center and day care will be there; Head Start just added to Lake Agassiz; have multiple people coming and going; and are really concerned about the speed limit. She stated that University and City police are good, are there often but still concerned.

Johnson present.

Cindy Adams, 2719-B Knight Drive, spoke in opposition to the increased speed limit.

Duane Czapiewski, 2618 6th Ave.N., Univ. Chief of Police,
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September 25, 1995 - Page 2

reported he has received calls and concerns re. to grade school children, day care center and college students crossing to use parking lot, that 30 mph too fast and would like to keep at 25 mph.

Larry Hoiberg, asst. supt. of elementary schools, reported he has received calls concerning increased speed; that there are lot of students and is high traffic area for young children, and asked that they not increase speed limit.

Susie Greenberg, 610 Boyd Drive, spoke in opposition to the increased speed limit.

Carmen Suminski, Supt. of School for the Blind, 500 Stanford Road, spoke in opposition to increased speed limit for safety of the visually impaired individuals.

Tom Hanson, engineer with WFW, stated that they provided concept report and design services for the project, that in the concept report because 6th Avenue classified as a collector street and in working with various departments of the City, because of concerns in that area the speed limit was reduced to 30 mph (typically collector streets speed limited at 35 mph). He stated that in designing the project they met with the University and several others and they asked that the lighting level be significantly higher (will be about twice what on most streets) because of concerns re. pedestrian safety and assault potential. He stated that visibility on that street very good, can see pedestrians more than block in advance; that the Lake Agassiz/Stanford Road crossing is still a four-way stop, that in UND area there are three designated crosswalks to parking lot, however, not all signs up yet. He stated that the Assn. of State Highway & Transportation Officials' recommendation is 35 mph for collector streets and a minimum of 30 mph, and another concern is how to move east/west traffic in that area, that University is down to 20 mph almost continually; the intention when designed 6th Ave.N. was to improve it, widen it, provide no parking and with speed limit of 30 mph and this was discussed at the public hearings.

John Thompson, traffic engineer, stated that he did speed study, that mean, median and mode were all around 29-30 miles per hour, and reviewed study; and recommended maintaining the 30 mph.

Member Sande stated that she understands road designed for 30-35 mph speed, however with all the pedestrian traffic, moved to reduce speed limit to 25 mph. Hoeppner seconded the motion. Motion carried; Johnson voted no.

3. Matter of removing parking at N. 5th Street and 2nd Ave.N. for newly signalized intersection (2 to 3 spaces on 2nd Ave.
approach.

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Mr. Thompson reported that the right turn lane traffic detector must be clear to prevent false calls and to function properly, and recommended removing 2 to 3 parking spaces on 2nd Avenue. Moved by Sande and Johnson to remove three parking spaces on the south side of 2nd Avenue North at the 5th Street intersection. Motion carried.

4. Applications for gaming permits:
a) DAV Auxiliary - bingo and raffles - 11/2-9-16/95 and 2/14/96.
b) St. Anne's Guest Home - raffle 12/15/95
c) UND Physical Therapy Club - raffle 10/22/95 (subj. to adoption of resolution.
d) Sioux Boosters - raffle
e) Lake Agassiz PTO - bingo and raffle 11/20/95
It was noted that all applications had been reviewed and approved by the city attorney.

c) Moved by Johnson and Sande that we adopt a resolution recognizing the UND Physical Therapy Club as a public-spirited organization eligible to conduct gaming, and to approve the application. Motion carried.

a), b), d) and e) Moved by Johnson and Sande to approve the applications. Motion carried. (committee only)

5. Temporary and overtime statement for August, 1995.
The committee reviewed the statement. Moved by Sande and Johnson to approve the statement for August. Motion carried. (committee only)

6. Matter of increased cost for repair of aerial platform truck
for fire department.
Dep. Fire Chief O'Neill reported they have been informed by company doing repair on the fire truck of unanticipated problems, that they are looking at total cost of $90,000 for the repair/ recertification of their existing aerial platform, this will extend life of truck 15-20 years; without repairs truck unsafe to use; and that fire department mechanics went over with company reps. He also stated that it was intent to use CIP funds for this cost, however, funds would have to be reallocated or trans-ferred. He also stated they would like approval so could have vehicle repair start tomorrow. He also noted that when repair completed, City will fly two people out to bring truck back.

Moved by Hoeppner and Sande that the fire department be authorized to reallocate/transfer funds in CIP to cover cost of repair to the fire truck. Motion carried. (comm. only)

7. Application for gaming permit:
a) Grand Forks Curling Club

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It was noted that this application is for calendar raffle for period January 13 - March 27, 1996, and that this group has had gaming license before. Moved by Johnson and Sande to approve the application subject to review and approval by the city attorney. Motion carried. (committee only)

8. Request for parade permit re. 24-hour Crime Free period -
Proclamation - on Wednesday, September 27, 1995.
Jamie Alameda, 105 3rd Street NE, East Grand Forks, founder of Information Society, presented request for parade on Wednes-day, September 27, to publicize and make people aware of 24 Hour Crime Free Period 1995 proclaimed for September 28 by the mayors of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks. Mr. Alameda reported parade would consist of several law enforcement vehicles (EGF police, possibly Sheriff's Office crime prevention vehicle, etc.), would start at 1:00 p.m. on DeMers Avenue from 5th Street across Sorlie Bridge, using eastbound lane of traffic, and would take 15 minutes or less. Moved by Johnson and Sande to approve request. Motion carried. (comm. only)

Mr. Alameda also requested permission to hold fireworks display. The matter was held while Dep. Chief O'Neill checked with fire inspectors re. request.

9. Matter of police consultant services.
Dan Gordon presented standard contract from Ralph Anderson & Associates, that contract has been reviewed and approved by the city attorney, and that subcommittee would appreciate this committee's support. Moved by Sanded and Johnson to approve agreement with Ralph Andersen & Associates at a cost of $25,000. Motion carried.

8. Continued.
After some discussion re. fireworks permit, Sande and Johnson moved to approve request subject to approval by the fire marshall. After further discussion, and because of concerns and questions by Dep. Chief O'Neill and Chief Paschke and because of lateness of request, Sande and Johnson withdrew their motion, and request not granted.

(The committee suggested to Mr. Alameda that any future requests be submitted several weeks prior to the event to allow time for consideration/review by the police and/or fire departments or others).

Meeting adjourned at 4:40 p.m.

Alice Fontaine
City Clerk

Dated: 9/26/95.