Council Minutes
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA
September 18, 2006
The city council of the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota met in the council chambers in City Hall on Monday, September 18, 2006 at the hour of 7:00 o’clock p.m. with Mayor Brown presiding. Present at roll call were Council Members Brooks, McNamara, Glassheim, Gershman, Christensen (teleconference), Kreun - 6; absent: Council Member Bakken, - 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 commented on various events during the past week and upcoming events:
The Air Force Ball was Friday at the Alerus, it was well done and well attended and nice chance to spend time with friends in the military.
Last weekend was the Potato Bowl, first started with french fry feed on Thursday, and thanks to Simplot, RDO and all the other organizations and individuals who helped make this event happen and makes it a great community event.
On Saturday he and Council Members Gershman, Christensen, Brooks and Kreun welcomed back UND students at the game and thanked them for taking the time out of their weekend, students appreciated seeing them and investing in them as part of our community; it was fun to take part in the tailgating and is great community event.
That he had the honor to pull a boat full of veterans from the USS Flint during the Potato Bowl parade, they were in town several days lat week for their annual reunion, these are truly members of the greatest generation and their sacrifice has helped build our schools and churches and helped fill them up.
That he had a letter from the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary and this week is their Forget-me-not Drive with portion of that to be held on Saturday, September 23, members will be selling Forget-me-not flowers and accepting free will donation to help raise funds for many projects throughout the year to assist veterans and their families.
That on Sunday he was proud to represent the community at the Annual Louise Eberwein Bike Ride and Sharon Lambeth Memorial Walk that benefits the Grand Forks Breast Cancer Coalition and on Sunday they raised over $4,000; and thanked those who participated.
Congratulations to Council Member Brooks who was appointed as city coordinator for the City of East Grand Forks.
Mayor Brown introduced County Commissioner Gary Malm, who invited the city council to their open house at County Correctional Center which will be held on Saturday, they will have a new courtroom for the city court, beautiful structure and very functional, and have enjoyed working with the City on this project; they are starting on their second project with the City - that Mr. Morken met with several of them and they are laying plans for the new E-911 on the second floor of the old jail. He thanked the council for their cooperation on this project and hope to see them and department heads at the open house on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
HOLD PUBLIC HEARING ON TAX INCREMENT EXEMPTION
FOR "THE CURRENT APARTMENTS" PROJECT AT NORTH 3RD
STREET AND 1ST AVENUE NORTH
Notice that the City of Grand Forks will hold a public hearing this evening on the matter of request for tax increment exemption from MDI Limited Partnership #110 for the Riverview Apartments Project to be located at North 3rd Street and 1st Avenue North had been published as required.
Mayor Brown opened the public hearing, there were no comments, and the public hearing was closed.
The staff report from the city assessor relating to tax increment exemption for "The Current Apartments" Project, formerly known as Riverview Apartments, to be located at North Third Street and First Avenue North, with recommendation to hold a public hearing pursuant to NDCC 40-58 and authorize execution of a Development Plan and Tax Increment Agreement with MDI Limited Partnership #110, to be drafted by and subject to approval by the city attorney.
It was moved by Council Member Kreun and seconded by Council Member Brooks that this recommendation be approved. Upon roll call the following voted "aye": Council Members Brooks, McNamara, Glassheim, Gershman, Christensen, Kreun - 6; voting "nay": none. Mayor Brown declared the motion carried.
ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 4155, AMENDING SECTION
18-0204 RULES AND DEFINITIONS RELATING TO GROUND
MONUMENT SIGNS, SHOPPING CENTER GROUND
MONUMENT SIGNS, AND UNIFIED SHOPPING CENTER
AND AMENDING SECTION 18-0301 SIGNS
An ordinance entitled "An ordinance amending Section 18-0204 Rules and Definitions relating to ground monument signs, shopping center ground monument signs, and unified shopping centers and amending Section 18-0301 Signs of the Grand Forks City Code", which had been introduced and passed on its first reading on August 21, 2006, and upon which public hearing had been scheduled for this evening, was presented and read for consideration on second reading and final passage.
The city auditor reported that the required legal notice had been published calling for a public hearing to be held this evening and further that no protests or grievances had been filed with the office.
Mayor Brown opened the public hearing, there were no comments and the public hearing was closed.
The staff report from the Planning and Zoning Commission relating to request from the Planning Department on behalf of the City of Grand Forks, ND for final approval of an ordinance to amend the text of the Land Development Code, Chapter XVIII of the Grand Forks City Code of 1987, as amended, amending Article 2, Zoning; Section 180204 Rules and Definitions relating to ground monument signs, shopping center ground monument signs, and unified shopping centers and Section 18-0301 Signs, with recommendation to grant final approval of the ordinance.
Council Member Christensen congratulated staff for work and effort in clarifying our code, and moved that the recommendation be approved; Council Member Gershman seconded the motion.
Council Member Glassheim questioned changes in the ground monument ordinance. Brad Gengler, city planner, reported that the ordinance covered much more than just the basic ground monuments, took it further and developed other tables and ratios for allowing larger signs depending on where the commercial businesses are relative to the speed of the corridors, etc. and was an extensive change to the basic ground monument ordinance; and moving more towards accommodating the larger scale businesses, the Aurora Medical Complex was one of the first to approach us and it is a situation where you have a community of similar land uses that are tied to one another and this allows those types of businesses to have one standard ground monument sign to identify all the individual uses vs. each one having their own sign.
Upon call for the question and upon voice vote, the motion carried 5 votes affirmative; Council Member Glassheim voted against the motion.
Upon call for the question of adoption of the ordinance and upon roll call the following voted "aye": Council Members Brooks, McNamara, Gershman, Christensen, Kreun - 5; voting "nay": Council Member Glassheim - 1. Mayor Brown declared the ordinance adopted.
TABLE ORDINANCE TO AMEND ZONING MAP TO
INCLUDE WITHIN R-3 (MULTIPLE FAMILY RESIDENCE,
MEDIUM DENSITY) DISTRICT LOTS IN BLOCK 1, OJ'S
ADDITION
An ordinance entitled "An ordinance to amend the zoning map of the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota to rezone and exclude from the B-3 (General Business) District and to include within the R-3 (Multiple Family Residence, Medium Density) District, Lots M and N of the Replat of Lots C through I and Lots K and L, Block 1 of the Replat of Lot 1, Block 1, OJ's Addition to the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota", which had been introduced and passed on its first reading on July 17, 2006 and upon which public hearing had been continued until this evening, was presented and read for consideration on second reading.
Mayor Brown opened the public hearing, there were no comments and the public hearing was closed.
The staff report from the Planning and Zoning Commission relating to request from Dakota Commercial on behalf of Drew Lenthe Enterprises, Inc. for final approval of an ordinance to amend the zoning map to rezone and exclude from the B-3 (General Business) District and to include within the R-3 (Multiple Family Residence, Medium Density) District Lots M and N of the Replat of Lots C through I and Lots K and L, Block 1 of the Replat of Lot 1, Block 1, OJ's Addition to the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota (located in the 3600 and 3700 blocks of 13th Avenue North), with recommendation to table final approval of the ordinance.
Mr. Gengler reported that the Planning and Zoning Commission had tabled this request last month and the developer will meet with the neighborhood again and devise a more suitable site layout that everybody agrees to and that is the recommendation brought forward.
It was moved by Council Member Kreun and seconded by Council Member Christensen to approve the recommendation and table this matter. Carried 6 votes affirmative.
APPROVE APPLICATION FOR MOVING PERMIT TO MOVE
BUILDING FROM MINTO, ND TO 812 SOUTH 10TH STREET
FOLLOWING PUBLIC HEARING
The city auditor reported that the notice of public hearing on the application by Carter Passa to move a building from Minto, ND to 812 South 10th Street to be used as a single family dwelling had been published and posted as required.
Mayor Brown opened the public hearing, there were no comments and the public hearing was closed.
The staff report from Inspections relating to the public hearing for moving permit application to move a dwelling from Minto, ND to 812 S. 10th Street, with recommendation to approve the permit.
It was moved by Council Member Gershman and seconded by Council Member Kreun that this recommendation be approved. Carried 6 votes affirmative.
SUSPEND AGENDA TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL ITEM
RELATING TO REQUEST FROM FURNITURE ROW USA, LLC
APPEALING SIGN CODE TO ALLOW INCREASE TO MAXIMUM
ALLOWABLE HEIGHT FOR GROUND MONUMENT SIGNS IN PUD
Council Member Gershman moved to suspend the agenda to include an item under the action list for a request from Furniture Row USA, LLC for approval of an appeal to the sign code. Council Member Christensen seconded the motion. Carried 6 votes affirmative.
ADOPT RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ISSUANCE AND
AWARDING SALE OF $1,465,000 GENERAL OBLIATION
PUBLIC BUILDING BONDS, SERIES 2006B, CREATING A
SINKING FUND THEREFOR, AND LEVYING TAXES FOR
THE PAYMENT
Brenda Krueger, Springsted Incorporated, reported they had a very successful bond sale today and recommended that you approve and award two series of bonds, the first is $1,465,000 General Obligation Public Building Bonds, Series 2006B, the purpose of those bonds is to finance improvements to various public safety improvement facilities around the city, those bonds will be paid for with a public building mill levy. The second series of bonds that were bid today were the Refunding Improvement Bonds in the amount of $7,320,000 and the purpose of those bonds is to finance various street and public utility improvements that were slated for 2006 and bonds will be paid entirely from special assessments against benefited properties. On the Public Building Bonds they received 3 bids and the winning underwriter is RBC Capital Markets, Minneapolis, MN and they bid a true interest rate of 4.29% and that is lower than they projected, about .34% than anticipated and the interest costs will be about $50,000 less than anticipated. On the Refunding Improvement Bonds they received 6 bids and the winning bidder was Morgan Stanley DW, Inc. out of New York, with a true interest rate of 4.16% and that is actually .44% less than anticipated and the overall interest costs will be about $300,000 less than anticipated and that is supported by special assessments and the City is correspondingly reducing the interest rate to the property owners on their assessments as the interest rate has come in lower than thought.
As part of the process they applied to Moody's Investors Service for a rating on the bonds and the City's Double Aa3 rating was affirmed by Moody's Investors Service with very similar comments that they have heard over the past year and the report stated that the Double Aa3 rating is based on the City's strong regional economy, sound management strategies that continue to successfully guide the City through the extensive development and redevelopment needed as a result of the 1997 Red River flood, well managed finances that continue to provide ample liquidity and a leveraged debt position which is expected to remain high due to additional capital needs related to the City's major flood abatement initiatives and then moderate over the long term as tax base grows, would indicate that we anticipate the last financing on the dike to occur in 2007, and expect that overall long term debt will peak next year with that debt and going forward will see principal amount of outstanding general obligation debt start to go down in future years.
The (acting) city auditor presented an affidavit showing publication in the official newspaper of the City of the Official Terms of Offering of $1,465,000 General Obligation Public Building Bonds, Series 2006B (the "Bonds") of the City, bids for which were to be considered at this meeting as provided by resolution adopted August 21, 2006. The affidavit was examined and approved and ordered placed on file.
The (acting) city auditor reported that 3 bids for the purchase of the Bonds had been received from the following institutions at or before the time stated in the Official Terms of Offering, and the bids were then opened and publicly read and considered, and were all found to conform to the Official Terms of Offering and to be accompanied by the required security, and the purchase price, interest rates and net interest cost under the terms of each bid were found to be as follows: Document No. 8986 - Bids
Council Member Kreun introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption, which motion was seconded by Council Member Glassheim: Document No. 8987 - Resolution
ADOPT RESOLUTION SELLING, ESTABLISHING TERMS
AND DIRECTING ISSUANCE OF DEFINITIVE IPROVEMENT
WARRANTS ON THE FUNDS OF PAVING DISTRICT NOS.
607, 608, 624, 617, 621, 620, 95, 619 AND 622; STREET LIGHTING
DISTRICT NOS. 1258, 159, 160, 161 AND 162; SANITARY SEWER
DISTRICT NOS. 442 AND 446; STORM SEWER DISTRICT NOS.
443 AND 447; WATERMAIN DISTRICT NOS. 288, 287, 290, 291
AND 292; AND FANNIE MAE LOAN (2004) NOS. 598, 601, 140,
143, 428, 432, 429, 433, 280 AND 282; AND PROVIDING FOR
AND APPROPRIATING SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS FOR THE
SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE OF SAID FUNDS
Council Member Kreun introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: Document No. 8988 - Resolution.
The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by Council Member Gershman and upon vote being taken thereon the following voted in favor: Council Members Brooks, McNamara, Glassheim, Gershman, Christensen, Kreun - 6; and the following voted against the same: none; whereupon the resolution was declared passed and adopted and was signed by the Mayor and attested by the City Auditor.
ADOPT RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE ISSUANCE OF $7,320,000
REFUNDING IMPROVEMENT BONDS, SERIES 2006C AND
PRESCRIBING THE TERMS AND COVENANTS THEREOF
Council Member Kreun then introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: Document No. 8989 - Resolution.
The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by Council Member Gershman and upon vote being taken thereon the following voted in favor: Council Members Brooks, McNamara, Glassheim, Gershman, Christensen, Kreun - 6; and the following voted against the same: none; whereupon the resolution was declared passed and adopted and was signed by the Mayor and attested by the City Auditor.
ADOPT RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CALL OF CERTAIN
OUTSTANDING REFUNDING IMPROVEMENT BONDS,
SERIES 1995G
The staff report from the finance department relating to resolution calling certain outstanding Refunding Improvement Bonds, Series 1995G, with recommendation to adopt the resolution authorizing the call of certain outstanding Refunding Improvement Bonds, Series 1995G.
Council Member Brooks introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: Document No. 8990 - Resolution.
The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by Council Member Kreun and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor: Council Members Brooks, McNamara, Glassheim, Gershman, Christensen, Kreun - 6; and the following voted against the same: none; whereupon the resolution was declared duly passed and adopted and was signed by the Mayor and attested by the City Auditor.
RECEIVE TABULATION OF BIDS, ESTIMATES OF TOTAL
COST AND AWARD CONTRACT FOR SEWER PROJECT
NO. 6023, DISTRICT NO. 451; WATERMAIN PROJECT NO.
6024, DISTRICT NO. 294; AND SEWER PROJECT NO.
6025, DISTRICT NO. 452
The city auditor presented and read tabulation of bids which had been received and opened on September 11, 2006 for Sewer Project No. 6023, District No. 451, Watermain Project No. 6024, District No. 294, and Sewer Project No. 6025, District No. 452, utilities for Columbia Park 32nd Addition, indicating that Molstad Excavating, Inc. was the low bidder based upon their bid in the amounts of $239,270.00, $155,455.00 and $65,340.00, respectively, for a total combined bid of $460,065.00: Document No. 8991 - Bid Tabulation.
The city engineer's estimate of total cost for Sewer Project No. 6023, District No. 451, in the amount of $303,900.00, Watermain Project No. 6024, District No. 294, in the amount of $111,600.00, and Sewer Project No. 6025, District No. 452, in the amount of $83,000.00, were presented and read.
The staff report from the engineering department relating to consideration of bids for Project Nos. 6023, 6024 and 6025, utilities for Columbia Park 32nd Addition, with recommendation to award contract to low bidder, Molstad Excavating, Inc. in the total amount of $460,065.00.
It was moved by Council Member Kreun and seconded by Council Member Brooks that this recommendation be approved and the resolution awarding the contract to Molstad Excavating, Inc. was presented and read: Document No. 8992 - Resolution. Upon roll call the following voted "aye": Council Members Brooks, McNamara, Glassheim, Gershman, Christensen, Kreun - 6; voting "nay": none. Mayor Brown declared the resolution adopted and the contract awarded.
APPROVE NEW SQUARE FOOTAGE BUILDING COSTS
FOR SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSES, TOWNHOUSES AND
GARAGES
The staff report from Inspections relating to request from Building Inspections Division for approval of a new square footing building costs for single-family houses, townhouses and garages, with recommendation to approve new costs utilized to determine building permit costs.
It was moved by Council Member Kreun and seconded by Council Member Brooks that this recommendation be approved. Carried 6 votes affirmative.
APPROVE AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO ENGINEERING
SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR PROJECT NO. 5691
The staff report from public works relating to Amendment No. 2 to agreement for engineering services for Project No. 5691, Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Biosolids Management and Capital Improvements Project, with recommendation to approve Amendment No. 2 in the amount of $62,980.00 to agreement for engineering services to account for additional design and construction phase services.
It was moved by Council Member Kreun and seconded by Council Member Brooks that this recommendation be approved. Upon roll call the following voted "aye": Council Members Brooks, McNamara, Glassheim, Gershman, Christensen, Kreun - 6; voting "nay": none. Mayor Brown declared the motion carried.
TABLE MATTER OF NONPROFIT COMMUNITY RESOURCE
CENTER
The staff report from urban development relating to nonprofit community resource center, with recommendation to convene executive session pursuant to NDCC 44-04-19.2 to discuss negotiating strategy or provide negotiating instructions for the potential offer to purchase a building to serve as a nonprofit community resource center.
Council Member Gershman stated consensus of the council appeared to be that they were not going to put in a bid and moved to table this issue, seconded by Council Member Christensen. Carried 6 votes affirmative.
APPROVE FINAL PLAT OF REPLAT OF LOTS D AND E,
BLOCK 7, SWANGLER'S SUBDIVISION
The staff report from the Planning and Zoning Commission relating to request from CPS, Ltd. on behalf of Redeemer Lutheran Church for final approval (fast track) of the Replat of Lots D and E, Block 7, Swangler's Subdivision to the city of Grand Forks, ND (located at 8th Avenue North and North 20th Street), with recommendation to give final approval to the request, to include a variance from Section 18-0204, definition of a minor subdivision, subject to the conditions shown on or attached to the review copy.
It was moved by Council Member Kreun and seconded by Council Member Brooks that this recommendation be approved. Carried 6 votes affirmative.
APPROVE REQUEST FOR VARIANCE OF SUBDIVISION
REGULATIONS FOR UNPLATTED PORTION IN SECTION 5,
T151N, R50W OF 5TH P.M.
The staff report from the Planning and Zoning Commission relating to request from JLG Architects on behalf of the University of North Dakota for approval of a variance from Section 18-0907(2)(L)(3) of the subdivision regulations for an unplatted portion located in Section 5, Township 151 North, Range 50 West of the 5th Principal Meridian (located at 3501 University Avenue) for the purpose of varying the access requirements onto an arterial from 660 feet to 170 feet, with recommendation for final approval of the variance.
It was moved by Council Member Kreun and seconded by Council Member Brooks that this recommendation be approved. Carried 6 votes affirmative.
APPROVE REQUEST FOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
FOR LOT 1, BLOCK 3, CAMPBELL ADDN. FOR CONSTRUCTING
BUILDING FOR GENERAL PURPOSE USE
The staff report from the Planning and Zoning Commission relating to request from Mark Satek on behalf of Ardell Korynta for approval of a conditional use permit (CUP) for Lot 1, Block 3, Campbell Addition to the city of Grand Forks, ND (located on North 55th Street for the purpose of constructing a building to be used as a contractor's shop for storing tools, equipment and materials for general purpose use, with recommendation for approval of the request for a conditional use permit (CUP) subject to the following conditions: 1) final approval of a site plan, 2) the access road on the east side of the property shall be extended to the proposed driveway entrance, 3) the southern property line shall be buffered with Buffer Yard C including existing vegetation. 4) exterior storage of any construction materials shall be prohibited. 5) This CUP must be reviewed if the use of this property changes. The request is for Lot 1, Block 3, Campbell Addition located on North 55th Street for the purpose of constructing a building to be used as a contractor's shop for storing tools, equipment and materials for general purpose use. A stipulation was placed on the permit that the duration of the permit is five (5 years with renewal subject to a conformance review.
It was moved by Council Member Kreun and seconded by Council Member Brooks that this recommendation be approved. Carried 6 votes affirmative.
ACCEPT PETITION TO VACATE ROADWAY AND
UTILITY EASEMENT IN BLOCK 2, ZAVORAL'S
FIRST ADDITION
The staff report from the Planning and Zoning Commission relating to request from Deacon's Development, LLP for approval of a petition to vacate a roadway and utility easement lying within Lots 9 and 10, Block 2, Zavoral's First Addition to the city of Grand Forks, ND (located at 1448 and 1502 Kings View Drive), with recommendation for approval of a petition to vacate a roadway and utility easement, and to include the establishment of a 20 foot bike path and pedestrian easement with an 8 foot bike path to be installed by the owner, both being centered on the common lot line between Lots 9 and 10, Block 2, Zavoral's First Addition, and set a public hearing as required by law.
It was moved by Council Member Kreun and seconded by Council Member Brooks that this recommendation be approved, that the petition filed is in proper form and contains the requisite signatures, that it be filed with the city auditor, that a notice of public hearing be published as required and the public hearing be set for Monday, November 6, 2006. Carried 6 votes affirmative.
APPROVE APPEAL BY FURNITURE ROW USA, LLC
TO SIGN CODE TO ALLOW AN INCREASE TO MAXIMUM
ALLOWABLE HEIGHT FOR GROUND MONUMENT SIGNS
IN PUD
The staff report from Furniture Row USA, LLC for approval of an appeal to the sign code as provided for in Section 18-0301.1 Appeals of the Grand Forks Land Development Code; more specifically the appeal is to allow an increase to the maximum allowable height for ground monument signs in a Planned Unit Development (PUD) from eight (8) feet to twenty-five (25) feet for a proposed ground monument sign to be located at 4000 39th Avenue South (proposed location for Furniture Row USA), with recommendation to grant approval to the request.
Mr. Gengler reported that Planning and Zoning Commission met for special meeting this evening at 5:30 p.m. to address the request from Furniture Row to display a ground monument sign, that Furniture Row is proposing to locate on a lot that is south of the holding pond which is south of Lowe's, sign would be on the southwest corner of their proposed lot. The signed Code for PUD's restricts the properties to only an 8 ft. by 18 ft., and the sign that is requested and is shown in the staff report is 25 ft. in height by 6.5 ft. wide, that the chair sculpture is 3 chairs that are mounted on one another which is part of their business plan of their image and wasn't being accounted as a sign but Planning and Zoning Commission's approval of the appeal was to recognize the chairs as being an integral part of the proposal.
He also reported that a few years back the council adopted a sign code that allows for larger signage for developments such as SuperTarget, and with recent amendments now allow for the specific provision for billboard signs to be located in PUD's that are commercial or industrial, and that over time adopted and adapted to different issues; that staff did recommend approving the appeal requested by Furniture Row, and Planning and Zoning directed staff to go back and write a specific sign ordinance that specifically would allow larger ground monument signs (not pylon signs) for businesses such as Furniture Row or future businesses that are immediately adjacent to the Interstate, and the provision in the staff report for the current sign code amendment just adopted today, provision calls out the faster the corridor whether 30 or 45 mph, the larger the sign is allowed. The Planning and Zoning Commission did grant approval to the appeal for the sign that is presented and that is their recommendation.
Comments were made by Council Member Glassheim opposing the appeal, stated that basically these will become the new standards, accommodating businesses is well and is for it when it is significant and important, but this is clutter and not necessary, doesn't affect the institution's business but this will become the standard for every business in town and opens the door too wide. That he doesn't think that the reasons given for the appeal, one of which is that we would deprive the applicant of a reasonable use of the land, it doesn't deprive the applicant of the land at all and reasonable use is a matter of opinion, the reasonable use is the sizes that we already have in Code, and ought not to allow this, all it is doing is seeking competitive advantage and reason for having government standards is so there isn't competitive advantage, there is a rule and people live within it, and should deny this. He stated that he wanted to have it on the record that we are moving in the wrong direction.
Council Member Kreun stated we don't want these to filter back into our other areas and that is why directed staff to take a look at it now, that they have been developing an ordinance but want to give ourselves enough room leeway because as our community grows will have more of these problems and then have the ability to deal with it without coming for special meetings - hopefully we will have more national companies coming and they all have their signature signs and have some specific types of brands that they want to bring along and did direct staff to take a look at it on the Interstate so they have that ability to get their message out. The concern of spacing was brought up and that will be in the ordinance as they go through to keep the clutter down but let these businesses have a sizeable sign so that it can be read as you are going by it at 70 mph, and that have to keep adjusting as we go because if we grow as a community but are going to have to keep adjusting to make sure that we stay with the trends that are in the country.
After further discussion it was moved by Council Member Brooks and seconded by Council Member Christensen to approve the recommendation. Upon call for the question and upon voice vote, the motion carried 5 votes affirmative, Council Member Glassheim voted against the motion.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
The Statement of Changes and Cash Balances as of August 31, 2006 was presented and read.
The Portfolio Management/Summary of August 31, 2006 was presented and read.
APPROVE BILL LISTING
Vendor Payment Listing No. 06-18, dated September 15, 2006 and totaling $1,550,015.26 was presented and read.
It was moved by Council Member Kreun and seconded by Council Member Brooks that these bills be allowed and that the city auditor be authorized to issue warrants in payment of the same. Upon roll call the following voted "aye': Council Members Brooks, McNamara, Glassheim, Gershman, Christensen, Kreun - 6; voting "nay": none. Mayor Brown declared the motion carried and the bills ordered paid.
APPROVE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 5, 2006
Typewritten copies of the minutes of the city council meeting held on Tuesday, September 5, 2006 were presented and read.
It was moved by Council Member Brooks and seconded by Council Member Kreun that these minutes be approved as read. Carried 6 votes affirmative.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS
Council Member Christensen recognized the cooperation that was exhibited by our staff re. County Law Enforcement Center and commended Chief Packett, Rick Duquette and Al Morken and city court staff because people got this job done, that we moved the municipal court out of the police building and moved PSAP to county jail and freed up space in the police building, good team effort.
ADJOURN
It was moved by Council Member Gershman and seconded by Council Member Brooks that we adjourn. Carried 6 votes affirmative.
Respectfully submitted,
John M. Schmisek by Emily Fossen Acting City Auditor
Approved:
_______________________________
Michael R. Brown, Mayor