Committee Minutes

MINUTES/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
Monday, March 24, 1997 - 3:45 p.m.

Members present: Sande, Ellingson.

1. Application from Town House Motor Inn for special alcoholic
beverage permit on April 25-27, 1997 at Purpur Arena.
Tona Vistad, adm. asst. at Town House, was present. It was noted that the application had been reviewed and approved by the city attorney. Moved by Ellingson and Sande to approve the application. Motion carried. (committee action only)

2. Matter of yield signs at S. 9th Street and 7th Avenue S.
John Thompson reported that he hasn't been able to contact Wanda Adams who had requested this item, but that he reviewed accident history which indicates 9 accidents in the period from 1992-1995. He recommended yield signs on South 9th Street. Moved by Ellingson and Sande for approval of traffic engineer's recommendation for yield signs. Motion carried.

The committee noted that this street developing more traffic and asked the police department to monitor this street; Lt. Sieber took note.

3. Matter of removing parking at intersections on arterial and major streets during winter months.
Mr. Thompson stated this would be appropriate year round in some areas but would have to do more study as to impact. He also reported that this request came in just after request for the sign on 11th Ave.N. and 20th Street, which has been removed as it was just a matter of snow removal, and wanted committee to be aware of that. Sande commented that no point in street depart- ment putting up and taking down signs every spring and fall, should look into this and do on more permanent basis.

Lt. Sieber reported there is an ordinance restricting parking near intersections (15' back from intersection); and there are not signs at every intersection, perhaps need to educate public.

Moved by Ellingson and Sande to receive and file, and give the traffic engineer more time to study this matter in depth. Motion carried. (comm. only)

4. Matter of renewing Grand Forks County Public Safety Answering
Point (PSAP) joint powers agreement.
Pete Eggimann presented copy of agreement, and reported only change aware of was that Authority Board expanded from 5 to 6 and chairman of User Board is now member of the Authority Board.

He reported only other change in original agreement is percentage of budget split: City's share, 68.03%; County, 16.73%; University of North Dakota, 11.57%, based on radio transmissions. (E-911's share 3.67%)


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Sande questioned if and when the police go to in-car laptops and radio modems and accessing directly to computer w/o going through PSAP, will that change the percentages. Mr. Eggimann stated that he would also see County and UND going with that system, that there may need to be a new method to determine percentages; but agreement does state that the Authority Board has the authority to readjust those rates as they determine. He reported he is scheduled to go before County Commissioners on April 1; he stated that this doesn't come due until later in the year but wanted to give time for review or to address. Lt. Sieber asked whether there was any thought given to inviting United Hospital into this formula, and Mr. Eggimann stated that he invited United to make that request when he solicited funds from them (received $20,000 from United this past January and that amount based on stats. they put together); however, they didn't see enough advantage to joining and would prefer to stay out if allowed to do that. He stated that United made one contribution and expects City to come back with another request.

Moved by Ellingson and Sande to hold until the next meeting. Motion carried.

5. Matter of renewing/extending 911 service telephone surcharge.
Mr. Eggimann reported that the statute that authorizes the $0.50 surcharge on the telephone bill says that City and/or County were responsible entities to authorize that tax to be collected for period of 6 years, and then renewed for an additional 6 years by the governing body, and after the 12-year period would have to go back to the voters whether to extend or not. He stated he asked Mr. Swanson for opinion on this because after the original vote, original enactment and joint powers agreement put in place, it's not exactly clear whether 911 Authority has the authority to renew that tax and Mr. Swanson's suggestion was that the Authority Board pass a motion to that effect and then ask the city council and county board to give their approval; he noted that the Authority Board has done that.
He will address this issue with County Commission on April 1 also.

Moved by Ellingson and Sande to retroactively extend surcharge for 911 from July 1, 1995 to July 1, 2001. Motion carried.

6. Matter of bids for projection equipment for fire dept.
training.
Peter O'Neill, deputy fire chief, presented tabulation of bids and comparison of specs. and recommended purchasing the equipment from Demco for $4,295.75. He noted they budgeted $6,000 in 1996 and is within budget (replacement bulbs $40, one year warranty on parts and labor; however, Demco didn't state that parts would be available for 10 years). He also noted that this equipment was listed in Demco's 1997 catalog at $8,649.

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Moved by Ellingson and Sande to accept the bid of Demco in the amount of $4,295.75. Motion carried.

7. Consideration of bids for health department:
a) exam room furniture
Don Shields, director of health department, reported they received 3 bids, ranging in price from $3,925 to $8,257, that low bid did not meet specs. and recommended award to low bidder meeting specs. Moved by Ellingson and Sande to accept low bid meeting specifications, Gaffaney's, in the amount of $6,000. Motion carried.

b) replacement of vehicle totaled in accident
Mr. Shields reviewed tabulation of bids, two bids received to replace vehicle damaged in an accident, and received $5500 from insurance company. Bids received from Hansen Ford, $14,775, and Chrysler Center, $17,810, and they are recommended bid of Hanson Ford. He also noted that in comparing price with bid prices received by public works department, difference is $74.00 (which is increase in cost of under-coating). It was noted that delivery is 6-10 weeks, that Hansen Ford had comparable vehicle on the lot but was $900+ more than bid price so health department is paying mileage to the employee until vehicle delivered. Moved by Ellingson and Sande to accept the low bid of Hansen Ford in the amount of $14,775.00. Motion carried.

8. Budget amendment.
a) Health Department - $7,983.00
Mr. Shields reviewed budget amendment - from cash carryover to put into furniture area for renovation, communication costs increase because previously paid by Urban Development, and increase in vehicle maintenance. Moved by Ellingson and Sande to approve the budget amendment. Motion carried.

9. Applications for gaming permits:
a) Prime Steel Car Club, Inc. - raffle 6/06/97
This ap. had been reviewed by the city attorney who recommended approval contingent upon adoption of resolution as public-spirited group. Moved by Ellingson and Sande to adopt resolution recognizing this group as a public-spirited organization eligible to conduct gaming. Motion carried. Moved by Ellingson and Sande to approve application for permit. Motion carried. (comm. only)

b) Lewis & Clark PTO - bingo 04/04/97
It was noted that the city attorney has not reviewed this application. Moved by Ellingson and Sande to approve, contingent upon city attorney's review and approval. Motion carried. (comm. only)

c) Alpha Phi Omega-Epsilon Theta - raffle 4/16/97

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The city attorney reviewed this ap. and recommended approval contingent upon adoption of "public-spirited" resolution and contingent upon filing of letter of "good standing" from UND. Moved by Sande and Ellingson to adopt resolution recognizing this group as public-spirited organization eligible to conduct gaming.
Motion carried. (comm. only)

Moved by Ellingson and Sande to approve application for permit contingent upon filing of letter of "good standing" from UND. Motion carried. (comm. only)

10. Temporary and overtime statement for February, 1997.
Moved by Ellingson and Sande to approve the statement for February as submitted. Motion carried. (committee only)

Committee noted that during meeting of council and department members this item was discussed, whether it was necessary to bring to committee for approval, that this is only committee still acting on the overtime statement. Don Shields stated he would provide committee with that information anytime they wished and he monitors on week by week basis; Lt. Sieber stated they would concur and information available; Dep. Chief O'Neill stated the department takes responsible approach to overtime, that there is possibility could go over, esp. this year with flood, etc. and would answer any questions committee would have.

It was moved by Ellingson and Sande that we allow departments to monitor temporary and overtime statement, until such time committee deems necessary to look or department needs approval. Motion carried. (comm. only)

11. Request for 4-way stop at 24th Ave.S. and S. 17th Street.
Mr. Thompson presented request for this location between Washington and 20th, more accidents than should be and recommended approval. Moved by Ellingson and Sande to approve request. Motion carried.

12. Request to place 400 and 500 blocks of S. 5th Street on
regular street maintenance schedule.
Mr. Thompson reported request from property owner, these two blocks have problem with available parking, that no parking on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for street maint., no one moves his car on any night and end up with lot of encroachment from snow and would help both property owners and street dept. if this area switched to regular street maint. - Monday nights, street dept. could tow and do better job. He stated he will canvass neighborhood with flyers. Moved by Ellingson and Sande to hold for 2 weeks. Motion carried.

13. Request to extend seasonal parking changes to May 1 because
of snow conditions.

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Mr. Thompson reported this is request from street dept. (parking removed on one side, etc.) Moved by Ellingson and Sande to approve request to extend seasonal parking to May 1. Motion carried. (comm. only)

12. Report - Grand Forks Police Dept. Strategic Analysis.
Lt. Sieber presented report for committee's review; and that after review by the committee they would appreciate input and recommendations. It was noted that this was item this committee was directed to have after police implementation committee disbanded. Moved by Ellingson and Sande to hold for 2 weeks. Motion carried.

13. Information only.
Ellingson stated that if there were any suggestions that the departments would like to bring up to committee for possible action - would be happy to discuss.

The committee scheduled their next meeting for Monday, April 14, 1997 at 3:45 p.m.

Meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.

Alice Fontaine
City Clerk

Dated: 3/24/97.