Committee Minutes

MINUTES/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
Monday, July 27, 1998 - 9:00 a.m.

Members present: Bakken, Bouley, Martinson.

1. Request from DAV and Auxiliary to sell forget-me-not flowers on September 19 and posters from September 9 to 19. Moved by Martinson and Bouley to approve request. Motion carried. (comm. only)

2. Matter of stop sign at Belmont and 40th Ave.S. or 47th Ave. S.
John Thompson, traffic engineer, reported that he looked at both intersections, that there didn't seem to be any problem with accidents and received info. on traffic volumes and does not recommend or believe warranted at this time. He stated he thought this had something to do with item 3, speeding on Belmont Road, and often times there will be request for stop signs in an attempt to slow traffic down, that stop signs are appropriately used to control traffic at intersections not to slow speed of traffic. (Maps were attached to his recommendations) Chief Packett stated he discussed with traffic engineer and feels that increased selectives in that area and increased enforcement probably should be first step, may require long term observation on their part as whole area developing and improving roadway and with County speed limits coming into the city.

Moved by Bouley and Bakken to leave intersections as they are and increase regulatory enforcement. Motion carried.

3. Matter of speeding on Belmont Road south of 47th Ave.S.
Mr. Thompson reported that during construction signs were taken down for the 30 mph speed limit, that final lift of asphalt should take place this week, and those signs will be replaced. He also recommended that the committee may want to consider increasing the speed limit by 5 mph due to the improvement and reasonable driver expectancy, driving that road 30 mph may seem slow to the average motorist.

Jacob Dvorak, 5204 Belmont, stated he was opposed to any increase to the speed limit, problem is that haven't had any enforcement for long time; that he talked to C.T. Marhula who was contacted by someone from the police department re. holding community meeting to discuss enforcement problems, etc. He stated he would be happy with 30 mph and doesn't see where raising speed limit would solve problem; that this is residential area, city limits ends at 55th Avenue and development occurring now.

Terry Rodgers, 5210 Belmont Road, stated drivers think that's a highway; that there are no sidewalks and kids using street for bicycling, etc. and is a safety hazard, opposed to increasing speed limit.

Martinson and Bouley moved to maintain the 30 mph speed limit.

Committee stated after construction done, to do some split signage so eases into city., need to research and bring back

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after construction finished.

Chief Packett concurred with that, that Officer Jim Carroll is officer going to put together community meeting to get input from citizens, and will be engineering challenge for the committee because have rural setting coming into the city and is being built up. He stated he will report back to committee within 15-20 days re. enforcement and when get community meeting scheduled with advise committee of that.

Mr. Thompson noted that there is pedestrian crossing sign at 47th Ave.S. Mr. Dvorak stated that County road starts at 55th Ave. going south and posted at 30 mph to County Road 17.

Upon call for the question, the motion carried.

4. Matter of recommendation from DDC for enforcement of two- hour parking in downtown.
Gary Christianson, program manager for Urban Development, reported that the Downtown Development Commission discussed parking issues in the downtown area, and they would like to see current 2-hour parking enforced. Moved by Bouley and Martinson to accept DDC recommendation. Motion carried.

5. Matter of closing of north half of Kittson Ave. and River- boat Road from S. 3rd St. to DeMers Avenue during City Center
Mall roof demolition. Mr. Thompson reported there was a transmittal from Loren Magnus though Urban Development, and he talked to Mr. Magnus and would recommend approval, though doesn't encourage the use of streets for construction/demolition though in the downtown area it's a necessity because of space. Contractors will start this week or next and take 2 to 3 weeks to complete; that streets will be closed several weeks during construction of buildings and demolition of mall and will be open again by September, but because of amount of work trying to accomplish and deadlines set, need to put up with inconvenience. Moved by Bouley and Martinson to approve request. Motion carried.

6. Applications for gaming permits:
a) St. Mary's Altar Society - raffle 9/27/98
b) The Salvation Army - raffle 8/31/98
It was noted that applications had been reviewed and approved by the city attorney. Moved by Bouley and Martinson to approve the applications for permits. Motion carried. (comm. only)

7. Matter of purchase of portable radios for police department.
Chief Packett reported he had staff review City's policies on bidding of equipment, that recent handling of radios didn't fall within those procedures and asked staff to handle call for bids within normal confines of City's policy, and will come back to committee if they approve request to call for bids. Moved by Martinson and Bouley to authorize call for bids for 10 portable police radios within policies. Motion carried. (comm. only)

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8. Budget amendments.
a) Health Department - $2,968.00
Don Shields, Health Department reported this was unantici-pated revenue from Children's Services Coordinating Comm. and use to cover shortfalls for the remainder of the year. Moved by Martinson and Bouley to approve budget amendment. Motion carried.
b) Police Department - $7,343.00
Chief Packett reported money that goes towards the regional drug task force and the gang suppression unit, that they have a grant for about $136,000 where they pull interest off to transfer over as expenditures come in (federal requirement is that do expenditures first and reimburse City for the monies expended for those programs). Moved by Martinson and Bouley to approve the budget amendment. Motion carried.

9. Proposed ordinance re. penalties.
Howard Swanson, city attorney, reported he raised issue at last meeting, and this will conform with change in State law that went into effect in August of 1997. He reported that is not a mandatory change, and whether we wish to implement increasing the fine from $500 to $1,000 on unspecified penalties. He stated only area is potential question on third DUI and some questions new municipal judge has raised as to which penalty is applicable; his recommendation was to have the flexibility on some of the
unspecified ordinances to go to $1,000 to make sure no ambiguity between this and DUI fines; and recommended adoption of the ordinance. Moved by Martinson and Bouley to introduce the ordinance for first reading. Motion carried.

10. Matter of reinstatement of suspended ordinances.
Mr. Swanson reported that following the April flood, the council adopted a very wide natured ordinance that temporarily suspended a number of ordinances and has asked that each committee review ordinances to determine whether they warrant further suspension. He reviewed sections listed re. traffic/safety, etc. under this: Article 8, Parking, on-street parking of trucks and motor homes, parking in excess of 24 hours, and portions of that have been repealed, limited time parking, daily parking restrictions; in property offenses, depositing litter and that vehicles be covered when hauling trash, the matter of abandoned property that allowed people to place property on berms without City considering it to be abandoned, noise control ordinance waived for while, and all in effect during cleanup operations and rehab operations. The next chapter on Health and Sanitation deals with garbage, etc.; and balance of ordinance affects other committees, public service or zoning. He stated his intent was to have each committee review whether or not the particular ordinances should go back into affect and have formal process to show that council put back into effect.

Mr. Swanson stated that moving back to normalcy with respect to these issues, doesn't see reasons why these should remain suspended and he recommended to adopt a motion reimplementing, if MINUTES/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
July 27, 1998 - Page 4

not previously implemented, those sections in Article 8, Chapter VIII; Article 3 of Chapter IX; Articles 2 and 5, Chapter X, reinstated. He stated with that also comes certain discretion, that police department will not impose parking fines on dumpsters or construction vehicles along a site, nothing in Code giving exemptions but has been something police and street departments have worked through, and doesn't intend changing that form of discretion, but put back into implementation of the Code. Chief Packett stated that the police department concurs in getting ordinances back on the books and rely on the common sense and discretion that employees involved in this enforcement have used in the past and if something should come up where have to liti-gate it, it's better to have these in the Code and deal with discretion matter and policy set by the council. Don Shields reported that the health department would agree to reinstate these ordinances. John Thompson also concurred.

Moved by Bouley and Martinson to accept recommendations from Mr. Swanson to reinstate the ordinances that apply to this committee. Motion carried.

11. Matter of substandard buildings, blighted structures -
monthly update.
Wally Helland, Health Department, reported they've been working with fire and inspection departments re. surveying homes; sent out 81 letters (11 of those purchased by City), 52 responses and did external survey of 41 houses; 30 houses remaining to be looked at and they indicated they had cleaned and sanitized and were locked. He stated they looked at buildings where no response. He reported of the 41 they looked at inspection department had issues with 36, fire department issues with about 13 re. evidence of possible occupancy, if gas turned on and no one living there, or evidence of fuel oil tanks in the basement; health department had issues with about 6, some had mice, house-hold chemicals in entries or garages, and one with refrigerator in back yard that appeared to be full of rotting food. He stated they furnished copies of the reports to the fire and building inspection departments and will be requesting them to pursue the enforcement on those issues needed in accordance with substandard building code. He stated they have not received listing of empty and abandoned business establishments from the inspection depart-ment will pursue making assessment of those buildings.

Mr. Shields reported that the overlap on the 36 homes that have open issues will need building inspections action under Code enforcement to get either internal access or through external access and proceed ahead. He stated that after access is obtained that the fire, health and building inspections could identify additional items that are wrong with these substandard structures. Committee asked that inspections move hastily on this. Mr. Shields stated they will come back at end of August with further review. Info. only.

12. Budget amendment.

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a) Mosquito Control - $16,000
Mr. Shields reported they have some concern that because of additional moisture and wet conditions have over abundance of mosquitos, have had more than normal activities of adulticiding or ground spraying and needed additional revenue; however, with this funding should cover additional effort for this year. There was some discussion re. increasing fees. Mr. Shields reported they now charge $1.00/mo. for 10 months for total of approx. $180,000 and this transfer will take care of that revenue. He stated that because of the expansion of the city will probably have to increase it for additional equipment and part-time summer personnel in order to serve those areas. He stated they are looking at that for the year 2000, and will come before council next spring. Moved by Martinson and Bouley to approve the budget amendment. Motion carried.

13. Applications for gaming permits:
a) American Diabetes Assn. - raffle 10/15/98
b) Development Homes, Inc. (site auth.) at Westward Ho
It was noted these applications had not been reviewed by the city attorney; Mr. Swanson stated both eligible organizations and suggested they be approved subject to his review. Moved by Martinson and Bouley to approve subject to city attorney's review and approval. Motion carried. (comm. only)

14. Information - new facility building.
Chief Packett reported they had some discussion re. current needs for facility, and asked Ron Farder to form study committee along with Health, Sheriff's Office and Highway Patrol.

Mr. Farder reported he met with Jim Campbell, EOC and Pete Eggimann, PSAP, of ideas of where they would like to be in the future; that police building has 51,000 sq.ft. for three floors, police department occupies 22,000 sq.ft., and building built with ideas of adding onto the building; that he spoke with Sheriff's Office who possibly may move to the police building into space vacated by health department. He stated they wanted to look at the most efficient use of the space as far as shared facilities as they could; that if they look at an addition it would be approx. 9,500 sq.ft. and would include shared meeting facilities, shared classroom, that police department is starting to feel pinch of space, esp. in investigations, etc.

Bouley asked when it would be decided if Sheriff's Department would be moving; Farder stated that they will be coming over but not sure when. Health Department has about 8,500 sq.ft. and Health Dept. would move to County building. Chief Packett stated it would be helpful if they could get some direction from the public safety committee as to what things to research for the future, get definitive decision from the County Board and Sheriff's Office as to whether they are coming or not, because that would dictate a lot as to what their internal needs would be; if they are not coming give options as to what can move into on the second floor which may lessen needs for what add on for

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PSAP and EOC, wouldn't have room for them if Sheriff's Office coming in. Farder stated he talked to Highway Patrol and they are satisfied with current space, need little more room for storage. Farder stated that reason for this is because EOC in the basement and having to move during flood; PSAP and EOC would like to see facility where they are side by side, and police department would like that they were all together for efficiency and emergency.

Bakken stated he would like them to get together with these people and get something drawn up that everyone concurs on as soon as possible as they have matrix for CDBG money coming up; and that there's $500,000 grant possibility because of EOC having to move, need to move along and get as much information as possible. Information.

15. Matter of police escort for funeral processions.
Bouley asked Chief Packett re. funeral processions. Chief Packett stated that current policy is that if get request from Homes that they are anticipating a fairly large group they will handle that as a normal police response, and probably need to remind funeral homes that option available. Bouley stated that funeral homes are under impression that option is not available. Chief Packett stated they need to visit with funeral homes relatively quick, revisit the policy and come up with something workable for both. Information.

Moved by Martinson and Bouley to adjourn; meeting adjourned at 9:50 a.m.

Alice Fontaine
City Clerk

Dated: 7/27/98