Committee Minutes

MINUTES/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
Monday, March 8, 1999 - 4:30 p.m.

Members present: Bakken, Bouley, Martinson.

1. Matter of application for outside fire protection by New
Vision. .
Acting Chief O’Neill reviewed communication from the Fire Department giving information relative to providing outside fire protection to New Vision, that fire department could provide some protection.

Chairman Bakken stated he wasn’t necessarily in favor of doing outside fire protection unless they are in favor of coming into the city. It was noted that there is only one outside fire protection agreement (Simplot has some property outside the city limits). He stated that requests come to the fire department and they review as to whether they can or can’t provide protec-tion, and up to the city council whether they want to accept responsibility for that. It was noted that nearest fire hydrant is one half mile from property; Acting Chief O’Neill stated they can come in with couple pumpers which carry 500 gal. water and can do quick fire attack if get early enough alarm, generally can put fire out with between 500 and 1,000/gal. water and with 5” supply line can run hose out that far; not the best of circumstances and also can have access to tanker from East Grand Forks if wanted to call for assistance; but need early alarm to do any good. New Vision is serviced by Emerado fire department.

Acting Chief O’Neill stated this wouldn’t hurt actuarial rating, or ISO or SO rating, and assured committee that if send someone out of town take that very seriously, that they would go out of town routinely for a life-saving incident - that if house fire nearby would go out and try to affect rescue but would leave the place without fighting the fire, morally have to go out and protect life if possible.

Copies of the information will be provided to assessing depart-ment for their review of the property and est. taxable valua-tions and est. cost which will be provided to New Vision. The committee held the matter until hear further information from New Vision.

2. Matter of plans and specs. for new southside fire station.
Acting Chief O’Neill stated they’ve been working on fire station since 1996, put together committee of members of fire
department that worked with EAPC to put plans and specs.
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together, and brought here today for approval so can go for bid as early as possible. Alan Dostert, EAPC, presented plans and specs. and reviewed with committee: that building is a one-story, 7,000 gross sq.ft. facility, cast in place footing foundation with slabs on grade, wood-frame construction with veneer, utilizing pre-engineered wood trusses, insulated roof deck and standing seam metal roof. He stated building is somewhat residential in its construction from the living quarters portion of it to try to control costs, and apparatus bay is much more commercial and has concrete block liner for maintenance and durability. He stated that other design features include two-bay drive-through concept where the fire fighting equipment would enter from back side of the site, drive through and be ready to drive directly out onto Columbia. He stated other design features include housing for four shift firefighters plus the shift captain, with individual sleeping quarters and individual storage for the three shifts that would occupy during the course of the day. He stated they have completed drawings with the exception of couple minor front-end items in the specs. that they need to coordinate, terms of bid dates, some possible alternate bids, and looking at total construction budget of $924,000 - base bid construction, including a cold-storage building (48x50’) on the site $665,200, mechanical estimate $115,500, and electrical est. $143,800. He stated they would like authorization to advertise for bidding on the 15th to take care of small coordination items, advertise for 21 days before receiving bids.

There was some discussion re. funding - $800,000 budgeted in CDBG funds ($150,000 short). Acting Chief O’Neill stated they discussed funding, that bids could come in lower, and also will bid some alternate items in the station, but not prepared to pull them out at this point and would like to bid with alternate items, will meet this coming Wednesday and probably include more alternate items. He stated that the department does have limited carryover that could put into project if had to do something like that if City couldn’t find other funds. He stated they had hoped for $1 million in funds, that they do have lot of uses for carryover funds but station extremely important. He also noted that they would bid the cold storage building as an alternate, which is a substantial amount of money, but wanted committee to know that if they don’t build the cold storage this year, do need to build it in very near future, and would be very reluctant to give away the southside fire station for other city
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uses, or at least bays, so use for truck until get something else. It was noted that if cold storage building constructed, they would not need the southend fire station. Martinson stated he didn’t see need to keep that property, probably looking at half million dollar building and land, that could be put on the market. Acting Chief O’Neill stated that probably be lot of City needs for that building. Mr. Dostert stated they would put together aggressive list of alternates, would prepare base bid plus alternates, and with cold storage building plus other alternates would reach the $100,000, but need to identify those and they have impact on how conduct business at that site. Committee stated they would like to see completed at this time.

Moved by Bouley and Martinson to approve plans and specifica-tions, and authorize call for bids, project CDBG eligible. Motion carried.

3. Matter of lease renewal for North Dakota Highway Patrol.
Chief Packett stated this is annual review of the lease for space they currently have on second floor of the Police Bldg., and called attention to minor change in the draft - the monthly rent of $725.00 which is in original draft should be changed to $736.25 and per annum total should go from $8,700 to $8,835. He reported that the lease has been reviewed by Mr. Swanson and by Capt. Kleppe in Bismarck and meets their approval, would like to go forward and get agreement signed effec. July 1. It was noted this is on-going contract and that there is language for termin-ation of lease (30-days notice by State).

Chairman Bakken noted that the footage is $5.73/sq.ft., stated that figure very low, and perhaps they could look at that the next time the contract comes up for renewal.

Moved by Martinson and Bouley to approve the lease and authorize proper City officials to enter into the lease agreement. Motion carried.

4. Matter of speed limit on 47th Ave. S. between Belmont Road
and S. Washington Street.
John Thompson, traffic engineer, stated he had received call from Tom Falck, states attorney’s office, to look into this, that there’s not a lot of compliance unless enforcement there, that this street was lowered to 25 mph when road in poor con-dition(gravel), road now asphalt paving, and recommended
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raising speed limit to 35 mph. Moved by Bouley and Martinson to approve traffic engineer’s recommendation to increase speed limit to 35 mph. Motion carried.

5. Matter of disabled parking at 311 N. 6th Street (Lisa
Wimphseimer). (Committee only)
Mr. Thompson reported he received call and letter requesting disabled parking stall at this address, recommended approval. He noted that this has been done at private residences, need for access to their residence; and do require that they notify us if no longer needed. Moved by Martinson and Bouley to approve request. Motion carried. (Comm.only)

6. Consideration of bids for mosquito control items.
Held until next meeting on March 22.

7. Applications for gaming permits:
a) St. Michael’s Home & School - raffle/bingo 3/19/99
b) Native American Law Student Assn.(NALSA) - raffle 4/01/99
c) MeritCare Foundation - raffle 5/03/99
It was noted that all applications had been reviewed and approved by the city attorney. It was moved by Bouley and Martinson to approve the applications. Motion carried. (Comm. only)

8. Matter of budget amendments:
a) Fire Department - $27,500
Acting Chief O’Neill reviewed amendment, to transfer $27,500 from cash carryover to communications (complete the agreement reached with Stone’s on 800 radio system). Moved by Bouley and Martinson to approve. Motion carried.

b) Health Dept. - Grant from CSCC (Families First) $6,736
c) Health Dept. - Knights Foundation Grant - $500
Wally Helland, Health Dept., reviewed aps. a) unexpended 1998 funds in Teens Against Tobacco Use, and b) unanticipated revenue received that will be used for educational supplies in the Immunization Coalition project. Moved by Bouley and Martinson to approve. Motion carried.

Moved by Martinson and Bouley to adjourn; meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.
Alice Fontaine, City Clerk
Dated: 3/10/99