Council Minutes
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA
April 14, 2003
The city council of the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota met in special session in the council chambers in City Hall on Monday, April 14, 2003 at the hour of 7:00 o’clock p.m. with Mayor Brown presiding. Present at roll call were Council Members Brooks, Hamerlik, Gershman, Christensen, Kerian, Kreun - 6; absent: Council Member Glassheim - 1.
Mayor Brown announced that anyone wishing to speak to any item may do so by being recognized prior to a vote being taken on the matter, and that the meeting is being televised.
Mayor Brown also commented on events during the past week or upcoming events:
1) he stated that he had the opportunity to welcome children, parents and grandparents to this year's Hands on Learning Fair, the Learning Fair would not happen without the dedication of so many of our residents and thanked organizations for this event.
2) he thanked the Forx Curling Classic Board for organizing last week's trip to the World Championship in Winnipeg, there were thousands of people there for 10 days, and was an enormous event and encouraged that our group included representatives from numerous organizations around the community and have potential to host the event in the future.
3) he said we're seeing the excellent teamwork for the World Junior Hockey Tournament for 2004-2005 and with this model for future events knows that we're on our way to becoming a successful destination community.
4) he thanked the street cleaning crews who have been out the last couple weeks and reminded people to be aware of schedule for street maintenance - for information please refer to city calendar or the Public Info Office.
5) he stated that today kicks off the Multi-Cultural Awareness Week at UND, encouraged people to take part in the events and activities scheduled to celebrate culture diversity.
6) he stated we know our support for troops and families is critical in this time of war, and as troops continue their mission in Iraq we must continue our mission of support for them and their families at home. He stated that tonight he has opportunity to kick off an event that will bring taste of good old USA to our troops, and read a proclamation designated April 19, 2003 as Mission Girl Scout Cookie Day, and introduced Diana L. Hatfield, CO of Girl Scouts Pine to Prairie Counsel who will talk about special opportunity to show our support.
Ms. Hatfield stated the Girl Scout Mission is to inspire in all girls the highest ideals of character, conduct, patriotism and service that they may become resourceful citizens, that her council appreciates the opportunity to act on values of patriotism and service; Dr. Earl Beale, director of the Family Support
Center at the Grand Forks Air Force Base has recently, along with countless volunteers, taught them the importance of supporting and thanking the hundreds of military families that are among us, and would like to invite citizens to join them in Mission Girl Scout Cookie by donating comfort cookies on Saturday, April 19 at Columbia Mall and Wal-Mart; there is a comfort cookie hot line being established so people can call in a pledge to donate cookies to our military families and their loved ones, the Cookie Hot line is 1-800-437-4399, and that a number of businesses and service organizations have gotten on board with efforts and thanked them as well. She stated she would like to thank reps. of military families and introduced Sarah Anderson who is the wife of an activated service member and thanked other members of the audience who have come out tonight to show their appreciation to the city council for getting behind this effort. Sarah Anderson thanked the council on behalf of all the friends and families of those service members in the Grand Forks area, that her husband will definitely appreciate the cookies. Mayor Brown read the proclamation.
APPROVE FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2003
SPECIAL EVENTS PROGRAM
The staff report from the Office of Urban Development relating to the 2003 Special Events Program, with recommendation to approve the Special Events Committee funding recommendations: Document No. 8253 - Recommendations.
Council Member Gershman moved to approve the Special Events Committee funding recommendations for 2003 Special Events Program. Council Member Kerian seconded the motion.
Council Member Kerian stated she had comments and questions about the process and the criteria, that there is not one that outranks the rest and that the committee looks at the mix of economic development and bringing tourists to town and appreciates the efforts and is challenge when there are important community requests and to come up with right response.
Council Member Hamerlik reported that the committee did decide that it was probably premature to bring up tonight but that as they go through the budgeting process they ought to have an ad hoc committee to look at those again and if there is going to be money, decide how best should it be served, one major event or have several and bring that back to the committee so there would be more input and should be some ranking.
Upon call for the question and upon roll call vote, the following voted "aye": Council Members Brooks, Hamerlik, Gershman, Christensen, Kerian, Kreun - 6; voting "nay": none. Mayor Brown declared the motion carried.
ADJOURN
It was moved by Council Member Gershman and seconded by Council Member Kreun that we adjourn. Carried 6 votes affirmative.
Respectfully submitted,
John M. Schmisek
City Auditor
Approved:
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Michael R. Brown, Mayor