Council Minutes

Minutes/Committee of the Whole
Monday, February 23, 2004 - 7:00 p.m.

The city council of the City of Grand Forks sitting as the Committee of the Whole met in the council chambers in City Hall on Monday, February 23, 2004 at the hour of 7:00 p.m. with Mayor Brown presiding. Present at roll call were Council Members Brooks, Hamerlik, Glassheim, Gershman, Christensen, Kerian, Kreun - 7; absent: none.

Mayor Brown announced that when addressing the committee to please come forward to use the microphone for the record, and advised that the meeting is being televised live and taped for later broadcast.

The Grand Cities Children's Choir sang the national anthem, The Stars Spangled Banner.

Mayor Brown commented on various items held during the past week and upcoming events:
Alan Jackson and Martina McBride were in town this weekend and were treated to fabulous show, and thanked the Alerus and Events Center Commission for making it possible.
ND State High School Hockey Tournament starting Thursday at the Ralph Engelstad Arena and wished good luck to all the teams and coaches.
The U.S. Men's National and Women's Curling Championship will begin this weekend at the Fido Purpur Arena and the Curling Club; tournament runs until following weekend, with finals on March 6 - NBC will be in town to take part of those finals and is great opportunity to showcase our region on a national level.
Congratulations to Phil Bastings, Red River High School, for winning four state championships in wrestling.
Reminded everyone that the Mayor's State of the Cities address is Thursday at the Alerus starting at 11:30 a.m., the address is open to the public, and lunch requires RSVP to the Chamber of Commerce.

NOVAC - ARTS FUNDING ALLOCATION UPDATE

Nicole Derenne, administrative coordinator of NOVAC, thanked city council and City for their appreciation of the arts in the community, that NOVAC has regranted funds made available to art community and that 17 organizations will be receiving funding; the funds will be used to support the arts in our community from the performing arts to the musical performances to the visual arts and to the literary arts. She stated that a packet of information had been presented to council members which includes the announcement of the 2004 grant awardees as well as a final report of the 2003 funds.

Council Member Gershman stated seeing the listing shows the depth and richness of the arts in Grand Forks and something that adds to our quality of life, and that in the audience there were representatives of almost every organization that received funding.

Marty Eide, representing Twin Forks Chorus, thanked City for the grants that came through the NOVAC Arts Council, this year they have been selected to represent North Dakota in Washington, D.C. for the musical commemoration of the World War II Memorial and thanked them for support and encouragement.

GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE UPDATE

Colonel Mark Ramsay, commander of the 319th Air Refueling Wing, thanked everyone for their continued support to the military members and families and at end of 2003 5700 military members, family members and dependents and the community support they have received through the Cities of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks and Military Affairs Committee and the Golden Eagles Club has been legendary throughout the Air Force and in 2003 raised the legendary bar higher - Operation Enduring Friendship which began in August and for giving them almost $150,000 in free or almost free events including NOVAC concern activities, UND sports activities, and positive impact to base morale, welfare, recreation and quality of life. He stated it is critical to continue to make the relationship even stronger because the war on terrorism is not over and will be here for long time - the job is not finished yet and they will continue to be called upon to deploy around the globe to fight this war on terrorism.

He noted various construction items on base for recreation, school gym and housing, 318 new housing contracts funded and contracted and many other quality of life projects completed this year including consolidated base club, golf driving range and expanded education center and interior face change on base exchange door.

He stated they continue to modernize their infrastructure to better perform their flying and combat support missions; completed main aircraft parking ramp and doubling the capacity of their in-ground refueling system and received funds to begin five phased overhaul of largest base building that houses maintenance and operation leadership, rebuild base entry gates and rebuild majority of parallel taxiway this summer and total of $105 million in base quality of life and infrastructure projects that are funded and in various stages of construction and completion.

He stated they have fleet of 48 KC135 aircraft, and is oldest fleet of airplanes in the inventory and serve as nuclear air refueling platform and listed missions they have been involved in and discussed what the future holds for new aircraft - all studies due to be wrapped up in May.

He thanked citizens for supported the Base and wonderful to have warm relationships we have and thanked them for Operation Enduring Friendship and for continued support of Base and their programs.

2.1 Amendment 1 to engineering services agreement with Webster, Foster & Weston for Project No. 5458, sanitary sewer on 6th Ave.N. (I-29 to N. 43rd St.) and on N. 43rd St. (6th Ave.N. to Boyd Drive ___________________-----------_____________________________________
There were no comments.

2.2 Plans and specifications for construction of Project No. 5572, 2004 Sidewalk Repairs.
There were no comments.

2.3 Consideration of bids for Project No. 5462, English Coulee maintenance from 24th Ave. S. to 17th Ave.S._________________________________________________________________
Council Member Kerian questioned project award scoring summary, that points were given for
efficiency, potential cost saving alternatives, and questioned awarding of points. Rusten Roteliuk, project engineer, reported that this is an hourly bid and as an example, that a contractor offered to use larger trucks than what was on the bid proposal but would not charge more. It was noted that this is the first time they have used this system of awarding contracts. He stated they don't know best time to do this project because of access to the Coulee - there will be a separate mobilization charge and have ability to stop project and pay mobilization and cease project and contractor also offered lowest mobilization cost; he stated the contractor was not the low bidder but will be cheapest to do the project in the long run - Council Member Hamerlik stated that rather than low bid should be best bid.

2.4 Create special assessment district for Project No. 5479, District No. 148, street lighting in Cornerstone Estates.__________________________________________________________
2.5 Create special assessment district for Project No. Project No. 5511, District No. 140, street lighting in Columbia Park 29thAddn. (Pembrooke Dr., Haleigh Dr., Mulberry Dr._______
2.6 Create special assessment district for Project No. 5618, District No. 141, street lighting on Cherry Street - Southend Drainway to 55th Ave.S.__________________________________
2.7 Create special assessment district for Project No. 5619, District No. 142, street lighting on 36th Ave.S. (Columbia Road to S. 20th St.) and S. 20th St. (32nd Ave.S. to 36th Ave.S.)__
2.8 Create special assessment district for Project No. 5620, District No. 143, street lighting for Southbrook 1st and 2nd Addns. (Curran Court and 48th Ave.S.--------______________________
2.9 Create special assessment district for Project No. 5621, District No. 144, street lighting on Reummele Road.______________________________________________________________
2.10 Create special assessment district for Project No. 5622, District No. 145, street lighting on S. 34th St. (36th Ave.S. to Ruemmele Rd.)_____________________________________________
2.11 Create special assessment district for Project No. 5623, District No. 146, street lighting on North Pines._________________________________________________________________
2.12 Create special assessment district for Project No. 5624, District No. 147, street lighting for Deacon's Gardens Addn________________________________________________________
There were no comments on items 2.4 through 2.12.

2.13 Amendment No. 28 to Greater Forks Engineering Group for in-kind survey services, Project No. 4820.__________________________________________
Mark Walker, asst. city engineer, stated he would e-mail explanation of in-kind services to
committee members.

2.14 Appointment to MPO Executive Policy Committee.
There were no comments.

3. INFORMATION ITEMS

3.1 2005 Hazard Elimination Project request to the North Dakota Department of Transportation._____________________________________________________
Council Member Gershman asked where does the project for traffic signal at 28th Ave.S.
and when is that coming up. It was noted that would be this year.

6. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS

1) Council Member Hamerlik asked when information re. Canad and if have progress report, Mr. Duquette stated he would have info to council next week.

2) Council Member Glassheim stated Easter Seals matter pulled from agenda and when back. Greg Hoover, Urban Dev., stated it would be brought back to finance/dev. standby committee meeting a week from Wednesday, March 3, 2004.

3) Council Member Christensen asked when they would see the CIP documentation and what is being requested and if could have that at the next finance committee meeting, and some remaining issues re. ordinance to borrow money from Fannie Mae and asked who would be looking to borrow money once ordinance passed; there was discussion at last committee meeting re. funding infrastructure for the two affordable housing districts and also thinking about infrastructure in the near north end - and would like to have those two items on the agenda including Council Member Glassheim's issue.

4) Council Member Kerian stated as one woman on elected councils and boards in the community, (one on school board, one on city council and one on county commissioners) and that talent, skills and ability are distributed irrespective of gender and community missing out by not having women participate in public office - don't get elected if don't run and asked women in the community to give some consideration to what might bring by serving in public office and is willing to offer any assistance, information, etc. - and nothing is to be taken as any disrespect or negativity towards anybody or any males in these offices - competition is good and hope some of those competitors are women.

5) Council Member Kreun reported that the Housing Authority is putting together their program to utilize some of the Fannie Mae funds and to get our low income housing project started - hopefully kick-off will be at the time the Forx Builders has their annual 3-day show and will be able to get some of that information to the public.

6) Council Member Gershman stated he went to the concert Friday night and wonderful evening, staff terrific, however, upon leaving noticed that the sequence of the traffic lights was not working properly and some break-down in leaving the concert - that he would appreciate that administration would take that issue on and solve it - that there is a problem and want to solve it. Mayor Brown charged Mr. Duquette with looking at this problem and fixing it - and our job to fix this problem.

Council Member Gershman stated that on March 11 Leon Russell will be at the Empire Arts Center for a fundraiser - $29 ticket - all the profits go to the Empire; that Leon Russell was just on Letterman Wednesday night and kicked off his national tour; and on next several Mondays will be promoting that because it will be a fabulous show and one of the golden men of blues and rock & roll.

7. ADJOURNMENT

It was moved by Council Member Gershman and seconded by Council Member Brooks that we adjourn. Carried 7 votes affirmative.

Respectfully submitted,



John M. Schmisek
City Auditor