Committee Minutes

MINUTES/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
Monday, November 27, 1995 - 3:45 p.m.

Members present: Hoeppner, Johnson, Sande.

1. Request by Grand Forks County to restrict parking on Bruce Avenue between 3rd and 4th Streets during state-wide presidential contest.
Doris Bring, county auditor, 124 S. 4th Street, stated they will be holding presidential contest with mail ballots, with only 1 polling place in the county, and asked for restricted parking on this street to allow access to polling place for those voting in person; polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. John Thompson, traffic engineer, recommended temporary no parking signs and bagging of permanent signs, with installation of the signs at the end of the day prior to the election to insure no one is parking there.
Moved by Sande and Johnson to approve the request. Motion carried.

2. Matter of excessive truck traffic on 12th Avenue North.
Mr. Thompson reported that recent expansion of Acme Electric into the old street dept. shop has maintained a need for truck traffic on the one block section of 12th Ave.N. between Wash. St. and 7th St., that a "no trucks" sign is currently posted for westbound traffic at N. Wash. and 12th Ave.N., and truck traffic is diverted to 11th and 13th Aves.S. and proceed indirectly to the Acme destination, and recommended moving the "no trucks" sign to the block west of 17th Ave.N. to allow direct access to Acme Warehouse.

Florence Twedell, 1911 12th Avenue North, stated that when Hugo's moved loading dock it was moved directly across from her house, trucks make U-turns, park on both sides of the street, that there are three signs prohibiting truck traffic, and that today 10 trucks parking on the street. She presented petition from residents requesting no truck traffic on 12th Avenue North for safety reasons, moving of Hugo's loading/unloading dock to 13th Ave.N because of noise; moving of garbage dumpster from 12th to 13th because of noise and garbage that blows around; and for an adequate noise barrier on 12th Ave.N. She reported that trucks are left running, pallets banging, excessive noise and has pictures and video, majority of trucks going to Hugo's.

George Litzinger, 1821 12th Avenue North, stated he lives three-quarters of a block away and hears noise from trucks, up to ten trucks in the mornings, suggested scheduling so not so congested, and stated that Acme trucks still coming down that street. He also stated that this past weekend Acme blocked 17th Ave.N., had snow piled in street.

Mr. Swanson, advised committee that he has heard nothing that is in violation of the Code, trucks can travel on streets which are direct route to destination, however, if U-turns made in backing into parking space, no violation, but if trucks parked facing wrong direction that is a violation.

An individual in the audience stated that Acme trucks need not ever use 12th because of access off Washington.

Council Member Hanson stated area spot-zoned, R-4 and B-3 zones, and that's part of the problem, business and residential zones. He stated and that 90% of trucks could access Hugo's off 20th St. Mr. Swanson stated area is contiguously zoned, multi-use zones; that this committee cannot change zoning.
Sande and Johnson moved to hold for 2 weeks and invite reps of Hugo's to be present, as well as those individuals in the audience. Motion carried.

Ms. M. O'Connell, 2537 Glen Circle, states she lives across from Hugo's loading dock (13th Ave.S. store), noise is a problem - continuous banging of pallets; would like committee to address that also when meeting with Hugo's.

b) Moved by Sande and Johnson to move the "no trucks" sign to the block west
of 17th Ave.N. to allow direct access to the Acme Warehouse. Motion carried.
MINUTES/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
November 27, 1995 - Page 2

3. Request for stop or yield signs at Campbell Dr. and Oak St.
Chair read traffic engineer's recommendation for installation of yield signs on Campbell Drive at Oak Street.

Linda Peterson 1918 Oak Street, stated she lives on northwest corner of the intersection, and is requesting stop sign, and if no consideration for stop, then yield signs. She stated Campbell is a two block area, school only 2 blocks south, numerous children in that block as well as two day-cares. She stated that cars speed, drag-race and is concerned about safety of children in the neighborhood. and presented petition from residents.

Moved by Johnson and Sande to install yield signs on Campbell Drive at Oak Street.

Council Member Carpenter stated he drives this street, that this is a dangerous intersection and would prefer stop signs but will accept yield signs, that this is only intersection between Cherry and S. Wash. which is not controlled. Council Member Babinchak reported that Mr. Lundby, who spoke at last committee meeting, talked with her, that they would like to see stop signs, no through streets from Cherry to Oak.

Upon call for the question, the motion carried.

4. Request for stop or yhield signs at 20th Ave.S. and S. 36th Street.
Chairman Hoeppner read recommendation from traffic engineer - to receive and file. Council Member Babinchak reported she has been contacted by residents. John Thompson, traffic eng., reported that accident survey doesn't bear out that there's problem, that when additional areas developed with more access, shouldn't be a problem. Member Sande suggested they need to revisit this next summer.

Moved by Sande and Johnson to receive and file. Motion carried.

5. Request from City Center Mall for review of parking restrictions at 3rd Street and DeMers Avenue near north entrance to the Mall.
Reps. of Osco Drug and Rainbow Graphics were present. Dick Jackson, adm. City Center Mall, stated that with fire lane zone at north end and bus transfer station at south end, and because of limited access to mall, 9 stores with no outside access. Mr. Thompson stated that when they complied with new fire lane ordinance, loading zone length was reduced and several problems have developed. Mr. Jackson stated it was difficult to serve some business because of limited access to the mall. Mike Thompson, Rainbow Graphics, stated that loading/unloading zone not a solution, but need 15-minute parking zone for quick access in and out of the mall; and is requesting l5-minute zone.
Mr. Thompson also stated that loading/unloading zone installed and vehicles ticketed if parked there and not unloading. Mr. Swanson stated that there has been no change in the Code; must be actively engaged in loading/unloading, not an unoccupied vehicle.
Mr. Jackson recommended that the 15-minute time zone might work better. Jim from osco Drug agreed that 15-minute zone would be better for them.

Moved by Johnson and Sande to replace loading/unloading zones with 15-minute zones on both sides of the mall entrance on DeMers Avenue. Motion carried.

6. Budget amendment.
a) Miscellaneous (police department) - $25,000 (for consulting fee for study, Ralph Andersen & Assoc.)
Moved by Sande and Johnson to approve the budget amendment. Motion carried.

7. Applications for gaming permits:
a) Knights of Columbus Council #7176 - raffle 12/17/95

MINUTES/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
November 27, 1998 - Page 3

b) University Lutheran Church WELC - raffle 04/13/96
It was reported that the applications had been reviewed and approved by the city attorney. Moved by Johnson and Sande to approve the applications. Motion carried. (committee only).

8. Temporary and overtime statement for October, 1995.
The committee reviewed the statement. Sande stated there was
no way to compare figures (because of difference in reporting periods). Moved by Johnson and Hoeppner to approve. Motion carried. (committee only)

9. Request by Development Homes, Inc. to hold parimutuel simulcast horse
racing at Dagwood's.
Lori, 709 Central Plains, stated Development Homes has site at Dagwood's and would like to add parimutuel horse racing; provider would be RST out of Fargo; and that Racing Commission wants letter from city government. Mr. Swanson stated he hasn't seen any paperwork. Moved by Sande and Johnson to send letter of support to the Racing Commission. Motion carried.

10. Matter of bid of Winners Motor Corp. for police vehicles. A communication had been received from Winners Motor Corp. asking why their bid for purchase of the trade-in vehicles not accepted (higher than trade-in with vehicle bid) Capt. Brown reported they asked for base bid on 7 new vehicles with trade; didn't separate bids to sell trade-in vehicles outright; and have to place order for new vehicles by November 30.

Mr. Swanson stated vehicles were bid with trade, could bid straight purchase and separate bid; he suggested advising this gentleman that vehicles sold (trade-in) and to contact vendor directly.

Committee discussed possibility of calling for alternate bid next year for sale of trade-in vehicles; and Mr. Swanson stated that was policy decision for council to make. He also stated in reviewing bid protest: 1) not timely, 2) bid protest not responsive to bid request; and suggested advising this gentleman that vehicles sold through trade-in and to contact vendor directly. He also noted that bidding responsibility lies with department, and that next year they could bid as an alternate.

Moved by Johnson and Sande that auditor and city attorney draft communication to Winners Motor Corporation indicating that their bid didn't meet bid specs. and to contact vendor directly re. purchase of trade-in vehicles. Motion carried. (comm. only)

11. Matter of snowmobile route.
Mr. Swanson reported there is fair amount of traffic up and down English Coulee, Demers to 17th, part of bikepath.

Moved by Johnson and Sande to send communication to Bikeway Committee addressing this issue, prohibiting snowmobiles on bikepath along English Coulee between DeMers and 17th Avenue South, and to instruct traffic engineer to sign area. Motion carried.

Moved by Hoeppner and Sande to approve same snowmobile route as last year. Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.

Alice Fontaine, City Clerk
Dated: 11/28/95.