Committee Minutes

Grand Forks City Council Service/Safety Standby Committee
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 - 4:30 p.m._- Room A101_____________

The city council of the city of Grand Forks sitting as the Service/Safety Standby Committee met in Room A101 in City Hall on Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. Present at roll call were Council Members Kreun, Bakken, Bjerke, Gershman.

Others present were Al Grasser, Mark Walker, Steve Mullally, Rick Ziegelman, Kim Greendahl, Todd Feland, Pete Haga, Det. Flannery, Don Shields, Doug Boushee, Gary Edwards, and reps. of Rye Twp..

1. New landfill update.
Todd Feland, public works director, stated that at the next meeting, a week from today, will have enhanced update on landfill and will have their second Rye Twp. interface re. their vote and some conditions they would like to discuss.

He stated he has an issue where he would like some feedback - that they are working on an appraisal on property adjacent to the landfill - that Richard and Linda Kline would like to be bought out this summer but we won't know if we have a permit probably until the end of the year or early next, and even if pay premium for the property and we don't get a permit we do have the property. The appraisal is being done by Darin Johnson, Appraisals, Inc. and should be completed by July 11, and that the Kline's would like to meet with smaller group re. negotiations before bringing this to the city council. It was suggested that the group include Kreun and Gershman along with Mr. Feland and Mr. Warcup.

Mr. Feland stated this is a test case as there are other properties that they will work on, there is only one appraisal. There are two appraisal companies, Les Roos, Roos & Associates, Inc., and property owners are given option of which appraiser to use, or could select another appraiser. There are 5 property owners, 4 occupied residences and on the Kline property there is a warehouse on their property that is owned by another individual (6th would be owner of landfill property). Property would not be retained by the City, sold after landfill in place. They are doing environmental impact, probably done by end of August, and then have 120 days to review the permit information.

He stated that people don't want landfill but are hosting several facilities from airport to wastewater treatment to drainage ditches to English Coulee Diversion to landfill; that they don't want it but have all these city works projects which take out almost a quarter of the township, and that they would like to make sure that we pay appropriately on the landfill, and would like to look back at other property - airport, etc. to see if there is some payment in lieu of taxes, and want to make sure we maintain those - to go back and work out a new arrangement with the City. It was also noted that they are concerned about payment in lieu of taxes, roads and that people in their township are treated fairly.

Feland stated that they need to brief Grand Forks County on this project, that before we receive a permit correspondence will be sent to the County informing them that they (Dept. of Health) are issuing a permit for solid waste facility in the County, the County does have ability to do a vote on it, and should include them as part of this. He stated he would get on one of their agendas in near future.

2. Lincoln Drive Rehabilitation (and disc golf update in Lincoln Park)
Kim Greendahl reviewed project which is portion of Lincoln Drive road which leads into the dog park, they are seeing high volume traffic and some damage and the road needs to be repaired, and looking at pavement overlay from Euclid Avenue to the bottom of the hill and concrete pavement from the hill to the northwest corner of Lincoln Drive, that they have been listening to dog park users and two issues are parking and ability to turn around and with this plan would add 20 diagonal parking spaces and a turn-around at the end of the road. Mr. Feland stated they have run this past police department and the park district.

Gershman asked what cost would be of adding additional diagonal parking on the other side, and would like to see estimate for that. Mark Walker stated that there is more room than 20 stalls because can still parallel park on the other side, and there would be opportunity to add parking on that side in the future when put in the small dog park or could add additional gravel parking lot or overflow parking.

Mr. Feland stated the plan is to use Greenway Betterment monies minus the pool and this is the last big project other than the pool that will come out of Greenway Betterments, everything else will come out of regular operation and maintenance in the Flood Protection Greenway monies that have been set aside. Walker stated that budget request for the dog park lighting is $20,000, up to $230,000 for the paving; and rehabilitation of Riverside Pool is shown as $418,000, and that number represents the $1.1 million budget that has been established by the voters less the $88,000 that is currently scheduled to go to council for approval of architectural service and the money remaining for the Park District's $830,000 that was allocated for the pool. On the basis of those figures this would indicate that there is a little over $400,000 in Greenway Betterment monies remaining after funding these projects. It was noted that there are smaller requests which could be phased in over time (some areas of bikepaths). Walker stated that some of the areas of bikepaths are areas that were done in earlier phase and are planning to do an overlay on those next year, whether using Greenway Betterment monies or use maintenance monies is an option. Final assessments if were to have final assessment were to occur next year so have opportunity to let this money stay in place for another year and should additional needs arise could utilize it.

Grasser stated the concept for lighting is a park appropriate lighting which is not high intensity but similar to what is used on the sledding hill - trying to minimize lighting on the wet side.
Gershman stated lighting creates safety and important and the more lighting the better. Another concern on lighting is that don't get a lot of spill-over lighting that may impact some of the neighbors on the dry side - focus lighting away from those residential areas. It was also noted that if lighting not sufficient, can change order if needed. Walker stated that last year they did concrete panel replacement project and contract still open, that he has asked the contractor if he would be interested in change ordering this work at the 2007 prices and contractor agreed, those prices are lower than prices for this year, and to expedite this so can get constructed this year - would propose that they bring a change order to add this work to that contract, would bring staff report to next comm. of the whole asking for approval of the change order as well as funding.

There was a motion by Bakken and Bjerke for approval of the project and to bring to the city council.

There was some discussion re. greenway betterment funds - it was noted that money per contract the City was to reimburse the Park District up to $830,000 and that the finance department has not released that money so is in the City's possession - if don't have cash in our account along with some of these other expenditures, will sell third bond and will come out as third special assessment - They will check with finance and have the answer at work session tomorrow.

Upon call for the question the motion carried, Bjerke voted against the motion

Steve Mullally, Park District, gave brief overview of their proposal to add 18-hole disc golf course in Lincoln Drive park this summer, that existing course getting tremendous amount of usage and players have asked if there was possibility to develop another 18-hole golf course, and Park District would like to keep this in this location because of parking lot. He stated they are working with that group to try to lay this out, game has really taken off and become somewhat of a young person/family type activity, and since the land isn't being used now, they made that request to Mr. Feland. He stated they would be the only course in the state that would have 36 holes in one location, they are on web page and website, they are holding tournaments and bringing people to the community. It was noted not costly to set up the course, inexpensive to play and gets lot of play. It was also noted that the more people you get into activities in the park, the less vandalism. Mullally stated he has received inquiry from the Grand Forks Air Base as they are looking at building a dog park - airmen are coming in and bringing their dogs.

Feland stated they are mowing this area and if golfers require additional service from the City they would work with the Park District on additional maintenance. Grasser stated they are bringing some of the leases with the Park District in within couple weeks and should incorporate that in with other leases. No recommendation needed - information to the committee.

Gershman excused.

3. Liquor license application appeal - Mooddyz.
Det. Flannery stated this was resubmission of application from Mooddyz, that basically nothing has changed, that the items that Mr. Boushee had not included on first application were included on second ap. He stated that he did include two other investigative reports they had where Mr. Boushee was concerned, neither one resulted in criminal charges but thought it might be something they would want to have access to. He stated he spoke to Chief Packett and his position was that we do not have a recommendation, only bringing items forward to committee for review.

Doug Boushee and Gary Edwards stated that it was first noted that some things were intentionally left off the application - that they didn't intentionally try to leave anything out, misinterpreted what looking for on the application, under impression that it was felony convictions and Mr. Boushee didn't include DWI that happened 13 or 14 years ago. The big issue was that they intentionally left items off ap. - that they wanted to come back and explain.

Kreun noted that recently committee has started reviewing last few applications and asked with this kind of history what has been past practice of the police department in denying or accepting applications. Flannery stated that the department has never had much problem with misdemeanors unless a group of them, that have one now that they are dealing with where one of the people on the liquor license does have a felony conviction; but only times in his experience is with felony convictions; that misdemeanors are still crimes and can be violent crimes, etc. and doesn't know how many of those crimes would be equivalent of a major one. It was noted that information goes to the committee for discretion; that they are recommending body to the full council, who will make the final decision.

Mr. Edwards stated they would run a very viable business and be more involved in the community, make an honest living and give back to the community. It was noted that the Westward Ho location has been there for entertainment and want to bring back comedy club, and another place for people to have wedding dances, office parties, and would have gaming.

Kreun stated that there are two instances in the reports showing short temper. There was additional explanation by Mr. Boushee of the reports that were presented to the committee.

Motion by Bakken and Bjerke to disapprove the application for license.

Mr. Bakken is indicating because of record that we would prefer that it come in under different name - Mr. Boushee stated he would have no objection if license issued to Mr. Edwards, that they are working together. Bakken stated they are concerned about the license holder whether work at the establishment or not is not their concern - but concern who is holding the license. Flannery stated that City ordinance says that anybody that owns more than 5% of the business has to be reported on the application well as anybody that manages it. It was noted that Boushee has 55% share, Edwards 45% and have plans of working Boushee's daughter into the business when she graduates from college with 10% share of the business; and was noted that if put it in Edwards' name individually puts more hardship on the corporation that now have to take out additional insurance.

Bjerke stated he was concerned about what he has read about it, and that they would have opportunity to appeal before the entire council. This item will be on the council agenda for this coming Monday, July 7.

Upon call for the question and upon voice vote, the motion carried.

4. Other items:
Items were brought up for consideration at future meetings - Bakken brought up the matter of Cable TV removing 8 channels off of analog and making them digital, rates are not going to change, can get box for free for 1 TV, rest charge $4.00/box per month. He stated he would like them to come before committee. Pete Haga stated probably delay the cable TV. item a couple weeks, that he talked with FCC today and they are planning on getting geared up on this item as well - August 1 is deadline for 6 months prior to the deadline and planning for a lot of information.

Kreun stated he asked Don Shields that an item be placed on Service/Safety agenda for chickens in yard - asked that he take a look at it and ask for recommendation from Mr. Swanson and bring to this committee.

Adjourn

The meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m.

Alice Fontaine, City Clerk