Committee Minutes

MINUTES/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
Tuesday, December 22, 1998 - 4:30 p.m.

Members present: Bakken, Bouley.

1. Matter of funding for road guards on N. Washington St. at
5th Avenue North for Winship School.
Tim Johnson, 2453 27th Avenue South, president of PTO, stated that up until this year they have had help from the City for funding road guards on N. Washington St., and that this started when the school on the east side of N. Washington closed and student population had to cross N. Washington to go to Winship, that it costs approx. $4,000/year and have received $2,000/year from the City. He stated that last year they were told by the Office of Urban Development finance director that that funding was no longer allocated (fom Human Needs and Promotional Pro-grams and/or CDBG funds), and not able to support them, and were requesting to see if get from someplace else in the City of Grand Forks. He stated approx. 140 students cross Washington in the morning and in the afternoon and it’s a very busy intersec-tion and have had reports of kids being pulled back before being hit by cars, police officers note how important it is and that road guards do a good job there. He stated the PTO has been trying to raise money to support this but not sure how long they can continue raising funds for this. He stated road guards are needed for approx. one-half hour in the morning and one-half hour in the afternoon where have private corporation doing this, and are the only school in Grand Forks that has this problem and located so close to a major road without an underpass or safety they need for kids to cross. He stated they get assistance from the School Dist., half the funding needed. Capt. Kjelstrom stated that traffic moves fast and could be dangerous intersection.

Tim Riopelle, 322 N. 15th Street, stated that their funding will not allow them to continue for the full year, can’t continue paying out because not a richly endowed school, lot of parents are single-parent families, but don’t have benefit of a dual income to sustain doing this for the full year; that funding through raffles, bingo is about $2,000 and lot of that goes to fund teacher educational programs at the school, and noted that there was a police car involved in an accident at this intersec-tion where vehicle totaled (couple years ago) and is not intersection that is really safe, lot of blind spots due to closeness of buildings to streets on that location.


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December 22, 1998 - Page 2

Glenn Gilbraith, 236 Circle Hills Drive, principal of Wihnship School, stated that when Washington School closed it was agreed between City and School Dist. that both would support a guard and have been doing that ever since and are looking for con-tinued support. He also noted there was a pedestrian killed a block north of that intersection at about same year as police vehicle hit, and not a safe area.

The committee stated that they don’t have a funding source, and was taken out of budget for this year. The committee stated they would review, and also questioned whether volunteer police or police reserve could fill in with what they were doing. Mr. Johnson asked if there were grants they could apply for, and it was suggested probably checking with County/State/School etc.
It was also noted that with citizen patrol, there is problem from liability standpoint, if something happens.

Committee stated they can find out from Urban Development, Police Reserve, etc. and will bring back to committee’s first meeting in January, and suggested School/PTO try to come up with brain-storming of their own. Held in committee.

3. Matter of ordinance re. fees for tobacco permits.
It was noted this ordinance introduced at 12/21/98 council meeting and was brought back to committee to determine whether they wanted change in the permit fees (introduced ordinance asked for $50.00 fee per establishment and it was noted that this is for a two-year license period). It was noted that the question was whether they wanted to continue one per location and what about vending machines etc. It was noted that tobacco vending machines located in areas where minors not allowed.

After some discussion it was moved by Bouley and Bakken to amend the ordinance to establish fee at $100.00 per physical site and $25.00 per machine for two-year period. Motion carried.

2. Matter of snowmobile route.
John Thompson, traffic engineer, reported that this item is to reconfirm past year’s snowmobile route, haven’t had any appreciable complaints and no one has come forward for any changes and recommended approval of same route as last year, that map is currently being drafted. He stated that last year
they made one change and that was to come up from the River at

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December 22, 1998 - Page 3

Fenton and Conklin Avenues to get to gas station and then continue on previous route. Bakken suggested that next summer Mr. Thompson get together with snowmobile people and have something ready for next fall so implement route before season starts and probably some changes with new construction, etc.

Moved by Bouley to accept present snowmobile route. (map attached) Motion carried.

4. Applications for gaming permits:
a) Society of Women Engineers - raffle 2/05/99
b) Grand Forks Hockey Assn., Inc. - raffle 3/27/99
c) University Lutheran WELCA - raffle 4/17/99
d) UND collegians for Life - raffle 1/22/99
e) ArtWise - raffle 3/04/99
f) Assn. for Undergraduate Geologists - raffle
g) Red River Chapter Pheasants Forever - raffle

It was noted that applications a) through c) had been reviewed and approved by the city attorney and that d) be approved contingent upon being recognized as a public-spirited organiation. It was so moved by Bouley and Bakken. Motion carried. (comm. only)

It was noted that e) had been reviewed and approved by the city attorney, and that f) and g) were at his office for review. It was moved by Bouley and Bakken to approve e) and to approve f) and g) upon review and approval by the city attorney. Motion carried. (comm. only)

Meeting adjourned at 5:05 p.m.

Alice Fontaine
City Clerk

Dated: 12/26/98