Committee Minutes

MINUTES/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
Monday, April 22, 1996 - 3:45 p.m.

Members present: Hoeppner, Johnson, Sande.

1. Applications from Best Western Town House for special alcoholic beverage permits:
a) April 27-28 - Purpur Arena, Motorcycle Club fund raiser.
b) May 6 - South Forks Plaza Pavilion, GF Chamber of Commerce event.
The applications had been reviewed and approved by the city attorney. Moved by Sande and Johnson that these applications be approved. Motion carried. (committee only)

2. Matter of Golf Course alcoholic beverage license (Park Dist).
Greg Horner, Grand Forks Park Board, stated they are request- ing change in licensing regs. so that they can sell beer on golf course from cart or permanent station, have had requests for this service; currently sales within clubhouse and they police course to make sure there is not any on the course. Comm. questioned whether this could become problem, and Mr.Horner stated if it did become problem, they would pull it themselves. He also stated they probably wouldn't do it every day but on special events; that they intend to have beverage cart with soda, sandwiches, candy and Board suggested having beer on the beverage cart also. He stated that they are only course in the State that does not allow; trying to add something for the patrons. They would sell only to those with golf pass/ticket; will not advertise beer. Steve Mullally stated this is more of a convenience for patrons.

Mr. Swanson advised that this would require ordinance change, minor modification. He also stated that license is restricted to golf course patrons, days and time restricted, and would encour- age not to draft for special events, which would place City in position of determining what is or isn't special event, but leave that to Park District.

Moved by Johnson and Sande to amend ordinance to allow beer and wine to be served on golf course property, and introduce for first reading. Motion carried.

3. Request to hold block party May 9 (Viking Elem. 6th Grade
cast party) and to block 700 block of Park Drive.
Lee Barnum, 703 Park Drive, drama coach at Viking School, stated that block party would last for about 3 hours, and there will be clean up comm. She stated there will be 60 children, 12 chaperons, will have music and various activities for the children. Chief Paschke stated they have no objections. Moved by Sande and Johnson to approve request as presented. Motion carried. (committee only)

4. Request from Grand Forks Mission to block Belmont Road from
South 5th Street to 3rd Avenue South for City Mission
Festival on Sunday, August 25.

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April 22, 1996 - Page 2

Karen Frisch, Resource Dev. Director for Grand Forks Mission, reported this is 5th year for the City Mission Festival and are requesting blocking of the street, there will be food and music, etc. with hours from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. Chief Paschke stated he has no objections. Moved by Johnson and Sande to approve request as presented. Motion carried.

5. Request from Sertoma Club to place temporary flagpole on
riverbank south of RR bridge for July 4 celebration.
Abe Muscari, rep. Sertoma Club, stated they were asking to install telephone pole temporarily on the south end of the parking lot which is about a block east of 3rd Street and adj. to the RR Bridge; Nodak Rural Electric is going to install and remove the pole; going to fly 20 to 30' flag provided by Perkins Restaurant with brief ceremony. Moved by Sande and Johnson to approve request. Motion carried.

6. Request from VFW to hold annual sale of "Buddy Poppies" week
of May 4-12.
The committee noted that this is annual event. Moved by Johnson and Sande to approve the request. Motion carried.
(committee only)

7. Request for handicapped parking space at 630 N. 7th Street.
Opal Devold, 630 N. 7th Street, stated she has diabetes and has been advised by her doctor not to walk any distance, can't get within half block of her house because parking spaces used by neighbor. John Thompson, traffic engineer, recommended approval, and would work with Ms. Devold re location of the signs. Moved by Sande and Johnson grant the handicapped parking space as requested. Motion carried.

8. Request from GF Housing Authority/Maintenance to install
crosswalk on 6th Ave.N. between N. 47th and 48th Sts. at
Richards West playground.
Held in committee until next meeting.

9. Consider bids for mowing weeds/long grass on private
property by Health Department.
Don Shields, director of health department, reported they had received one bid which didn't meet specs., and are requesting committee to reject the bid and grant them permission to negotiate with grass cutting contractors to come up with an acceptable solution for cutting of nuisance grass this summer.

Moved by Johnson and Sande to reject the bid received as it did not meet specifications, and authorize health department to negotiate contract with private vendors. Motion carried.

10. Change order for Central Fire Station dormitory remodeling
Project 4474.
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Peter O'Neill, deputy fire chief, reviewed change order in the amount of $2,400 for replacement of ceiling tile and gridwork, glassboard in bathroom, corner guards, etc. He reported that they were granted $22,600 for this project and change order would bring total to $25,000 and in negotiation with Mr. Schmisek, the department will pick up $12,500 using cash carryover funds. He stated they have done inspections and have punchlist with approx. 9 items. Moved by Sande and Johnson to approve change order in the amount of $2,400.00. Motion carried.

11. Request by fire dept. for expenditure of balance of monies
budgeted for fire truck.
Jerry Anderson, GF fire department, reviewed figures for new fire truck: $500,000 budgeted and low bid of $392,457 accepted, and $87,500 spent for repairing old aerial platform, with balance of $20,043 and reviewed itemized listing of equipment needed and items which will be bid with est. total of $21,375. Mr. Anderson stated they would make choices to stay within the unexpended amount of monies available. He also reported that the new truck won't be delivered until later this year. Moved by Sande and Johnson to approve the request to expend balance of funds which total $20,043 for specialized fire equipment for the new fire truck. Motion carried.

13. Applications for gaming permits:
a) Dakota Athletic Club - site authorizations
b) Domestic Violence Program of Walsh Co. - site auth.
Mr. Swanson had reviewed and approved the applications. Moved by Sande and John that the applications be approved. Motion carried. (committee only)

c) The Rehab Hospital/Therapeutic Riding Program - raffle
5/31/96 (cont. upon adoption of resolution recognizing
group as public-spirited.
Mr. Swanson had reviewed and approved the application con- tingent upon adoption of resolution recognizing group as public spirited. Moved by Johnson and Sande to adopt a resolution recognizing this group as a public-spirited organization eligible to conduct games of chance, and to approve the permit. Motion carried.

14. Temporary and overtime statement for March, 1996.
The committee reviewed statement; moved by Sande and Johnson to approve the statement. Motion carried. (comm. only)

15. Matter of temp. restaurant license for Grand Forks Varmints.
Don Shields, director of health department, reported that this was placed on the agenda because of the nature of the part-time licenses and limitation of temporary license to 14 days, and because of the menu items. He stated they had met with Mr. Leip, Grand Forks Varmints, and reached agreement re. menu items, etc.
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and are recommending a mobile restaurant license, which does not
require committee action but is matter of information and that the matter has been resolved. Information only.

12. Matter of driving review board and City's vehicle policy.
Dan Gordon, director of human services, briefly reviewed the driving review board, which is targeted for vehicle accidents, both with City vehicles and personal vehicles used for City business, to reduce accidents and provide accountability; board structure which consists of director of finance, director of human services, safety coordinator, elected employee rep., and local rep. of the insurance company (ND Insurance Reserve Fund). He also reviewed vehicle policy; and that he will be addressing this issue with employee reps. next Wednesday to hear their concerns; department head assn. is in support of this.

Mr. Swanson noted that some departments have adopted their own guidelines (ie., police and fire), but no centralized policy.

The committee stated that as the information has not been presented to the employee reps. they wouldn't want to take any action; and received the information.

16. Application for carnival by Schoeppner Shows at South Forks
Plaza May 2-12.
The committee noted that Schoeppner Shows has been coming into town for last several years. Moved by Johnson and Sande to approve the application subject to fire and health department approval. Motion carried.

17. Applications for gaming permits:
a) Greater Grand Forks Convention & Visitors Bureau - site
authorization (Westward Ho Motel, Hwy 2 West) for period ending 6/30/96.
b) North Dakota March of Dimes - site authorization for year
ending 6/30/97 at 116 S. 3rd St., Uptown Recreation Center, and 124 S. 3rd Street, McGuire's Bar.
It was noted that the applications had been reviewed and approved by the city attorney. Moved by Sande and Johnson to approve the applications. Motion carried. (comm. only)

18. Request by American Legion Auxiliary, GF Unit 6, for permission to distribute poppies on streets and business
areas of city on May 25, 1996.
Moved by Johnson and Sande to approve the request. Motion carried.

19. Matter of technical corrections ordinance for Chap. 9 of the City Code.
Howard Swanson, city attorney, reported that at last meeting the issue of changes to Chapter IX of the City Code had been

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presented by the police department, that he has drafted ordinance to re-criminalize noisy parties and indecent exposure as well as including window peeping regulations (previously handled under disorderly conduct), however, he was not sure whether to make that a criminal offense or retain as non-criminal offense. He also suggested changes in language re. minors in possession of alcohol, in possession of tobacco. He stated that the police department has recommended that our ordinance on restriction of sale of motor vehicles upon private property include public property so can't park in school parking lot, etc. without permission. He stated that in many cities trend is to de-criminalize as many offenses as possible to reduce administrative and incarceration expenses, don't have jury trials or pay for legal counsel for indigent defendants, and also some judgment as to what is a criminal offense and what is not.

There was some discussion re. recommendation by police department for illegal fleeing from police officer, that in reviewing con- stitutional provisions and first amendment implications, they cannot recommend without a reasonable belief and suspicion that a crime has been committed, and under recommendation by police department they have neither. Chief Paschke stated they would abide by advise of city attorney. The committee directed that they not make window peeping a criminal offense.

Moved by Johnson and Sande to introduce for first reading a technical corrections ordinance amending Chapter IX and to re-criminalize noisy parties and indecent exposure, with the ordinance to have an effective date of June 1, 1996. Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m.

Alice Fontaine
City Clerk

Dated: 04/22/96.