Committee Minutes

MINUTES/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
Tuesday, April 14, 1998 - 7:00 p.m.

Members present: Sande, Beyer, Glassheim

3. Matter of letter of intent re. County Office building (pro-
posal to locate Health Dept. in the new office complex and Sheriff's Office to occupy equivalent amount of space in current Police Bldg/Law Enf. Center.
Gary Malm, chairman of County Commissioners, reported their request is that the City would issue them a letter of intent to switch space by moving Sheriff's Department into space presently occupied by the City/County Health Department and they would move into the new County Office building and make them part of the social service area that will be in great part of that building and deliver services much better for all clientele and good opportunity to see all of the law enforcement agencies into one building; that they have tried over past 5 years to unite organizations in same building to provide better services.

Don Shields, Health Department, stated that he wanted to affirm those comments, that the Health Department has been a combined City/County Department for 17 years and it has worked very well and looks forward to working in a closer working environment with the County Social Services, the County offices and Northeast Human Services and will be great for the residents of the city and for clients. It was noted that this would be an equal exchange of space. Mr. Malm stated that he thought this would be permanent and would be first step in integration of offices.
Moved by Beyer and Glassheim to request Mayor's Office to draft letter of intent that City is willing to make this exchange of space in the County Office building and Police Department building, send it on to council for approval and forwarding to the County. Motion carried.

1. Requests for variance to noise ordinance:
a) UND Squires Hall staff during Karoke Program 4/30/98
b) Sigma Chi Fraternity (bands) - 4/24/98
(There were no reps. present re. this two items)
c) Rio Bravo Cantina for Cinco De Mayo celebration on May 5.
Curt Lommen, one of mangers at Rio Bravo, presented request for consideration for variance to noise ordinance as they will have a live band in the evening of May 5 playing from 8:00 until 12:30 a.m. as well during day will have radio stations, one with boom box and Mall and Theatre have given their okay to this.

Moved by Beyer and Glassheim to grant requests for variances to the noise ordinance at these three events on their respective days until 12:30 a.m. Motion carried.

2. Request from Lee Barnum, Viking Elem. School, for blocking of 700 block on Park Drive for block party on May 13 and 14 for 6th Grade musical cast. Capt. MacCarthy reported they have done this before and no problem with this. Moved by Glassheim and Beyer to approve request. Motion carried. (comm. only)

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April 14, 1998 - Page 2

4. Request from Price King Rent-a-Car, 301 Gateway Dr., re. parking problem.
Mike Marcotte, 801 S. 21st Street, owner of Price King and property in question, reported they were referred to this committee to see if solution could be made to the parking problem. He reported that due to weather 90% of cars are out on lot and overflowed lot and some have been on sidewalks (vehicles being ticketed by police department). He stated that in years he's been there, since 1987, never seen anyone use sidewalk (cross on underpass), would like variance if block sidewalk or purchase berm area from the city (pave more of the property for parking). He noted that if they got sidewalk and berm area on 4th Street side they could add 20 parking spots. They would haul snow in winter. Jay Holm, 1004 7th Street SE, East Grand Forks, stated that their intention was to eliminate the sidewalk, which isn't used, and which runs parallel to North 4th Street for parking and move cars farther back from Gateway and sidewalk in front of Gateway and also behind Price King Rent-a-Car, and would enable them to organize lot and make it look more professional.

Capt. MacCarthy reported they would need to involve city attorney, that property line is on inside of the sidewalk, otherwise City property. Glassheim questioned vacating sidewalk on 4th Street side of the property or paving berm would need further consideration.

Moved by Glassheim and Beyer to refer this matter to various departments (police, engineering, traffic engineer and city attorney) for their recommendations back to committee. Motion carried. (comm. only)

5. Request for four-way stop at Campbell Dr. and Cherry Street. Stefan Olafson, 702 Campbell Drive, submitted petition asking for stop sign at Cherry Street and Campbell Drive to control traffic because of vehicles speeding on Cherry Street, that traffic travels at 30-45 mph. He reported he calls police department, they come out and ticket drivers and it slows traffic for day or week and then speeds up again. He reported they have Viking Elem. School and Holy Family School on west side of the street and only controlled access to those schools is 17th Ave. S. and 24th Ave.S. and submitted map showing location of signs from 4th Ave. S. and Cherry where have stop light, 8th Ave.S., 13th Ave.S., 17th Ave.S. and none until 24th Ave.S., 28th Ave.S. and 32nd Ave.S. and asked for sign at Campbell Drive. Mr. Thompson reported that he had recommended denial because of need for some other instrument of controlling speed than stop signs, but up to committee. He also noted that after S. Washington Street is finished there will be a traffic signal on Campbell Drive and could facilitate additional traffic on Campbell.

Moved by Beyer and Glassheim to install four-way stop at Campbell and Cherry Street and to do a traffic count in three years. Motion carried.


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6. Request to use one-half block on Bruce Avenue and parking area on S. 4th St. during construction of the 6-story county office building across from the courthouse.

Michael Nelson, Mortenson's, presented request to move the sidewalk into street temporarily during construction using jersey barriers and map showing designated areas for temporary construc-tion fence and would be closing one-half block of Bruce Avenue and reroute traffic down paved alley adjacent to that area. Beyer stated there may be some watermain work downtown and asked that they talk to engineering to see whether working on Bruce. Capt. MacCarthy raised question re. running fence across Bruce from Ted's Barbershop across street for fire department access; Mr. Nelson stated they would open alley for fire department and all property will be acquire by the end of April.

Moved by Beyer and Glassheim to approve request. Motion carried.
14. Matter of request from M.A.Mortenson re. closing sidewalk
area on DeMers Avenue at corporate center.
Tom Nonweiler, Mortenson's, reported that at this time proposal is to place jersey barriers along the parking lane at the 402 Demers site and construct pedestrian walkway which would remain in place through the construction period (late May next year). Capt. MacCarthy reported they had no concerns with this arrangement. Sande asked that they drill holes at eye level so people can see what they are doing. Moved by Glassheim and Beyer to approve request.

7. Request for yield or stop sign at 7th Ave.N. and N. 14th St. Debbie Severson, 1418 7th Avenue North, reported that they moved to this location November 1 and have had number of accidents at corners and that she runs daycare three or four houses from the corner with 7 to 9 kids there, too much traffic and that they don't slow down. She also noted that Winship is in next block and they don't have any stop signs there either except school/pedestrian sign there. Mr. Thompson reported that there have been some accidents but not to justify yield signs on E/W bound lanes. Sande questioned whether 12th and 14th Streets could be treated as on south side of DeMers Ave. making those streets as adjuncts to Washington; and also on agenda is item re. 1st Ave.N. and Washington St. and would help solve problem at N. 12th St. and 1st Ave.N. Mr. Thompson stated they could look at that and bring back to committee.

Moved by Beyer and Glassheim to install yield signs at 14th Street and 7th Avenue North, and further to direct the traffic engineer to continue to look at signage on North 12th and 14th Streets and to report back. Motion carried.

8. Matter of on-street signing in downtown.
Beyer reported that DDC concerned about this and asked Mr. Thompson to look at this. He reported he looked at special zones and est. could get 15-25 parking spots by removing loading zones, MINUTES/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
April 14, 1998 - Page 4

disabled reserved parking and clean up of signs. He reported he was proposing to go through with blanket of two-hour parking, street maintenance signs and some 15-minute parking restrictions (including some bus stops, etc.) but on unoccupied or redeveloped areas to turn over to two-hour and eliminate all special zones.
Glassheim suggested that rather than eliminate all special parking zones, would like to see drawings showing existing and proposed parking and perhaps someone should look at specifics - DDC or public hearing. Beyer reported that in the River Forks plan this was started, notify property owners and if concern to give justification for signage. It was noted that properties perhaps not occupied by property owners. There was some discussion re. disabled parking, which is becoming private parking spaces.

After further discussion it was moved by Glassheim and Beyer to ask DDC to hold hearing, that traffic engineer prepare illustrative documents for his plan and also work with city attorney to draft a policy/procedure for re-instituting special zones. Motion carried.

9. Matter of speeding/signage on 1st Avenue North east of Wash.
Tim Harty, 1109 1st Avenue North, reported that south of DeMers farther to river, lot more residential on east side of Washington and 12th goes from 6th to 13th or Highway 2 and north of DeMers 12th Avenue goes from 1st Avenue to 6th Ave and then RR tracks and west side of Wash. on the north side quits at 8th Avenue, and comparing south end to north end is something to consider.

Mr. Harty reported that he had mentioned speeding on 1st Avenue North, and other signs on the street; that 1st Avenue North not a through street, and that he has listing of signs on 1st Avenue and suggested installing reflective sign (turning on far side of BN property). He stated it would be nice to see speed limit signs in alleys also.

Moved by Glassheim and Beyer to request traffic engineer to look at matter of 12th and 14th Streets and to look at additional signage. Motion carried. (comm. only)

10. Matter of studying possibility of putting school crossing on
11th Ave. on southside of Ben Franklin School because of increased traffic.
Mr. Thompson reported that this is part of a DSR to move school crossing equipment from Lincoln School to temporary Belmont School and will end up on the south side of Ben Franklin School as a part of a FEMA DSR.

Sande noted that there are lights at 10th and Chestnut Street, not useful any longer.

Moved by Beyer and Glassheim to proceed with the project. Motion MINUTES/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
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carried. (comm. only)

(Sande reported that on the frontage road in front of Community National Bank there are two no left turn signs)

11. Request re. possibility of fine for people driving across grass, public or private, including medians.
Sande reported that this is something Dick Olson brought to her, and asked to hold this for two weeks.

12. Bids for mosquito control (chemicals and vehicles).
Todd Hanson, Health Department, reported they received only one bid for chemical supplies from Van Diest Supply Company who merged with Cornbelt Chemicals who provided in the past and recommended their bid. He reported that the bids have 6 to 8% increase. Moved by Glassheim and Beyer to accept bids for mosquito control from Van Diest Supply Company as follows: abate 1% at $1.504/lb.; abate 2%, $2.619/lb.; abate 5%, $7.294/lb, bactimos pellets at $2.862/lb.; and Scourge 18+54 at $257.05/gal., that BVA 13 (mineral oil) be purchased from Agsco at price of $3.50/gal. Motion carried.

Mr. Hanson reviewed information on bids for pickup truck lease
and recommended accepting the bid from Rydell Chevrolet for the pickup lease for the 1998 season in the amount of $400/month/vehicle. It was moved by Glassheim and Beyer to accept the bid. Motion carried.

Mr. Hanson reviewed bids for the ATV lease, and recommended accepting the bid from Acme Electric for the ATV lease for the 1998 lease in the amount of $450/month. Moved by Glassheim and Beyer to accept the bid. Motion carried.

13. Applications for gaming permits:
a) ND Federation of GOP Women - raffle on 9/19/98
b) Forks Area Youth Baseball League - raffle on 7/26/98
16. Applications for gaming permits:
a) Greater Grand Forks Sertoma Club - July 4 duck race
b) Community Art Assn. - raffle 5/01-03/98
Applications had been reviewed and approved by the city attorney, with exception of Greater Grand Forks Sertoma Club. Moved by Glassheim and Beyer to approve the applications for gaming permits, with Sertoma Club ap. contingent upon review and approval by the city attorney. Motion carried. (comm. only)

15. Application from Schoeppner Shows for carnival permit on May
21-31 at South Forks Plaza area.
Capt. MacCarthy reported this is regular carnival that has come through over number of years. Moved by Beyer and Glassheim to approve application contingent upon review and approval of police, fire and health departments. Motion carried.

16. Matter of former presentation by Gene Schneeweis re. request
for committee to ask for independent investigation. MINUTES/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
April 14, 1998 - Page 6

Mr. Schneeweis, 1004 University Avenue, reported he had sent the committee letters asking for investigation on a meeting that was held November 8, 1995, and which was conducted secretly to conceal and deliberately undermine the police department study task force report, which was intended to be comprehensive. Most important internal communications the application of rules and regulations and improvements to personal relationships were identified as significant issues and appropriate recommendations made. He stated that Chairman Sande had talked to the City's lawyer who recommended that committee not act on this; and should have an independent individual outside this law suit look into this and if something to it, act on that; that he talked to Dan Gordon who will present him with a letter to go to the states attorney to have an independent look at it other than that, but would like public safety committee because if morale investiga-tion would cost the taxpayers $25,000 and undermined and things left out of it and outlined in report in detail. Chairman Sande stated that she remembers a recommendation from the consultant on discipline. Mr. Schneeweis asked that Mr. Glassheim look at this. Beyer stated that the recommendations that came from the study would deal with something like this, so whether they knew about this incident, doesn't matter because they would have had same findings anyway. Mr. Schneeweis stated that he talked to Ralph Anderson & Assoc. in California and asked them if pertinent information was deleted from their report, would it have been pertinent for them to make other recommendations, and he said certainly.

Sande stated that they did not delete anything from their report, and read into the record the letter from Jay Fiedler: "Dear Mrs. Sande: Our law firm has been retained to represent the City of Grand Forks in several of its officers and employees in a law suit filed against them by Gene Schneeweis. We have reviewed Mr. Schneeweis' correspondence dated March 9, 1998 in which he requested an independent investigation into some of the events giving rise to his law suit. Mr. Schneeweis is asking the City to undertake an independent investigation into the very allega-tions he has made to the Court in his law suit. We believe it is inadvisable for the council to conduct a separate investigation while the case is pending. Certainly we are aware of no legal requirements that the City comply with Mr. Schneeweis' demand. In summary it is our opinion that it would be entirely inappro-priate for the City to undertake a separate investigation relating to the specific subject of pending litigation brought by Mr. Schneeweis." Sande stated that in view of that and also of the fact that this was a small matter in a much, much larger investigation by the consultant, doesn't see where would have made an iota of difference in the consultant's report. What is to investigate, they all know this meeting took place and every-body now knows that it took place, and what's to investigate and wouldn't have made any difference in the consultant's report.

Moved by Beyer and Glassheim to receive and file until law suit's done.
MINUTES/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
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Mr. Schneeweis stated that since they won't allow information to be distributed and investigated properly, then can take this to court in Fargo in federal court.

Motion carried.

Moved by Beyer and Glassheim to adjourn; meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.

Alice Fontaine
City Clerk

Dated: 4/15/98