Committee Minutes

MINUTES
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
Monday, October 26, 1998 – 4:30 p.m.

ROLL CALL: All members present

1. Matter of long term construction closure on DeMers at 4th St. (John Thompson)
Mr. Thompson said they are working with the downtown business owners and contractors to try to coordinate efforts as best we can without interfering with each other. Mr. Bakken asked that Mark Saunders bring a report or update every week to keep committee in the loop on how things are going. Mr. O’Neill said the Fire Department has been trying to go downtown every day to check out the street closings and which hydrants are being shut down. He asked to be kept in the loop on the closures since it is hard to get around downtown with trucks so any information staff can give before things occur would be beneficial. Mr. Thompson said the Sorlie Bridge will be closing next Monday for three days for the move of the Blue Moose. Mr. Bakken said that when this is going on we should try to coordinate some of our closings with theirs and get some things out of the way at the same time. He asked that Mr. Saunders work on that. Ms. Bouley asked that the Fire Department be added to the list of those informed of changes downtown. Chief Packet said the PD is getting street closings on a regular basis.

2. Matter of parking on both sides of the street in residential areas, 2000 block on 8th Av. N. (James Altman)
Mr. Thompson said he met with Mr. Hamerlik and with the sign foreman and have determined there is no quick fix except signs by Mr. Altman’s driveway, but driveways down the street are similar. He said the has talked with Mr. Altman that removal of parking on one side or the other would have to be a self-directed survey in the neighborhood to be brought back to committee. He said he talked with the street Department about even-odd and they considered it but not for very long. He said it would not be conducive for snow removal. Chief Packet said they reviewed the area today and nothing in that neighborhood appeared out of the ordinary in comparison to the other streets in the area. He said he thought it would be overkill to restrict parking on any given side of the street. Martinson made a motion to receive and file. Bouley seconded. Carried.

3. Matter of tobacco permits for 1999.
This item was tabled until next meeting. Mr. Bakken asked that in the meantime the Health Department and the Police Department will gather more information and come back with a recommendation.

4. Consideration of bids for polygraph equipment (Chief Packet)
Chief Packet gave an overview of the bid process for the Polygraph equipment. He said two companies were contacted and only one responded. He said most agencies in the region use this equipment now and it can be linked to laptops so can be taken out in the field. He added that Officer Maki has returned from Polygraph school and he is trained to use the computerized equipment. Chief Packet said the total pricing is $8,200 and it meets the bid specifications and it also has a three-year unconditional warranty. He said delivery time is within five days of the acceptance of the bid and will be paid out of the Department of Justice block grant for equipment. He said their recommendation is that the bid be awarded to Axiton in the amount of $8,200. Bouley made a motion to accept and approve the bid by Axiton for computerized polygraph equipment in the amount of $8,200. Martinson seconded. Carried.

5. Budget amendments
Mr. Shields said one budget amendment for $1,000 is a contract amendment that was approved in August and they did not have a budget amendment at that time. He said this puts the money against that approved contract for care coordination. He said the second budget amendment is for $825 for registration fees for food service training. Martinson made a motion to approve two budget amendments in the amount of $1,000 and $825 requested by the Health Department. Bouley seconded. Carried. Chief Packet presented a budget amendment for the Police Department in the amount of $2,381 which reflects interest accrued on grants received earlier in the year ($116,000 and 148,000). He said these funds would be transferred to the Police Department equipment accounts for expenditure later in the year. Bouley made a motion to approve the budget amendment by the Police Department to move accrued interest funds in the amount of $2,381 into the equipment account. Martinson seconded. Carried. Mr. O’Neill presented a budget amendment to move $15,000 from cash carryover to maintenance of vehicles. He said committee approved a bid to refurbish Engine 30 (1987 model truck) and with cost overruns it totaled $13,500. He said the other $1,500 would also be transferred into maintenance for vehicles. Mr. O’Neill said they were able to negotiate the price of the maintenance on the truck down by about $2,000. Bouley made a motion to approve the budget amendment by the Fire Department to move cash carryover funds to vehicle maintenance in the amount of $15,000. Martinson seconded. Carried.

6. Applications for gaming permits:

a) West Elementary 6th Grade – raffle 11/20/98
b) West Elementary School PTO – bingo 11/19/98
c) Greater Grand Forks Symphony Assn. – raffle 10/03/98
d) Altru Health Institute Gift Shop – raffle 12/21/98
e) Winship School – bingo 11/17/98
f) Lake Agassiz PTO – bingo 11/16/98
g) Red River Valley Gymnastics Booster Club – raffle 11/01/98

Upon examination by committee, Bouley made a motion to accept the following gaming permits: West Elementary 6th Grade, West Elementary School PTO and the Greater Grand Forks Symphony Assn. Martinson seconded. Carried. The other applications had not yet been approved by Mr. Swanson and were tabled.

With no new business, the meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.