Council Minutes

Minutes of Grand Forks City Council/Committee of the
Whole - Monday, February 26, 2007 - 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 26, 2007 at the hour of 7:00 p.m. with President Gershman presiding. Present at roll call were Council Members Brooks, McNamara, Glassheim (teleconference), Gershman, Christensen, Kreun -6; absent: Council Members Bakken - 1.

President Gershman commented on various events during the past week and upcoming events:
He stated that the week of March 5 - 9 Grand Forks will join other cities across ND in celebrating City Government Week, that on Monday an open house for kids from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the atrium in City Hall; the Police Department will be on hand with child identification program; the Public Works Department will be offering a recycling coloring contest for pre-school aged children; the Fire Department will have fire safety information; and the Department of Finance will offer information on pet licensing; later the 4th Grade essay contest winner for the Mayor for the Day will share their winning essay at the evening city council meeting.
The Grand Forks Park District presents Greenway Ski Days on March 2-3 in Lincoln Drive Park, that on March 2 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. there is a Candlelight Ski; and Saturday, March 3, there are a number of events i.e., ski rentals, sledding, ice skating, chili feed, sleigh rides and cardboard sled races.

2.1 Applications for exemptions of remodeling improvements to commercial and residential buildings.________________________________________________ 2.2 Application for property tax exemption for new business by Aurora Medical Center, LLC, 1451 44th Avenue South, Unit C.______________________________________ hospital they are planning to build, and recommended date for public hearing is April 2. President Gershman stated he has some concerns but would leave them for the public hearing.

2.3 Application for transfer of Class 1 (General On/Off Sale Liquor/Beer) license from LPO, Inc. dba Uptown-Downtown, 10 North 3rd Street, to GCS Investments, Inc. dba O'Really's Irish Pub/Level 10 Martini Bar.______________________________ they do need proof of either a lease or ownership of the building; that he was provided a statement today which is intended to identify that they have an interest in the property, however, the language tells him little or nothing as to what that lease is, and that would need to be clarified, otherwise the application appears to be in order subject to payment of fees.

Josh Gilleland, 901 University Avenue, stated that the lease LPO, Inc. has with LTD Properties is assignable and they are going to assign that lease to GCS Investments at the time of closing, and if that is not acceptable would sign a new lease tomorrow. Mr. Swanson stated that they would need before the license can be issued is some proof that you have rights to the property, whether assumption of a lease, an assignment of lease or new lease, but information he has is not adequate. Mr. Gilleland stated they would take care of that this week.

Council Member McNamara asked when they would get information re. police department signing off on the application. Mr. Swanson stated that would be an administrative matter and if approved, would not come back but if a problem, would come back.
2.4 Consideration of bids for construction of Project No. 6074, 2007 ADA Curb Ramps. taken for sidewalks. Al Grasser, city engineer, stated they have some concerns and checking on the liability of the low bidder on the sidewalk project. 2.5 Plans and specifications for Project No. 6026, Dist. No. 626, paving Columbia Park 32nd Addn. (39th Ave.S.)_________________________________________________
There were no comments.

2.6 Plans and specifications for Project No. 6033, Dist. 628, paving S. 38th St. (north property line of Lot 7, Block 1 of Columbia Park 27th Addn. to the Southend Drainway). __________________________________________________________ 2.7 Create special assessment district for Project No. 6064, Dist. No. 454, sanitary sewer for 301 and 333 Desiree Drive._____________________________________________ 2.8 Create special assessment district for Project No. 6065, Dist. No. 296, watermain for 301 and 333 Desiree Drive.________________________________________________ 2.9 Create special assessment district for Project No. 6066, Dist. No. 455, storm sewer for Desiree Dr. (Adams Dr. to west property line of 301 Desiree Drive)._________ 2.10 Create special assessment district for Project No. 6067, Dist. No. 629, paving for Desiree Drive (Adams Dr. to west property line of 301 Desiree Drive.)_________ 2.11 Use Agreement with Lions Club for Lincoln Drive - Christmas in the Park event. year renewal option rather than five-year agreement so they wouldn't have to come back unless there were issues on either side. He stated they could put that in a motion next week.

2.12 Red River Valley Regional Landfill. of different long term strategies they are working on, which includes this item which was at their service/safety committee last week and could answer any questions.

Mr. Feland stated this is one option of many and stated that they will be at District Court in regards to case against Turtle River Township on Thursday and in reviewing timeframe there is quite a lot of time left for different aspects. He stated that they are working on the fees and impacts, course fees and staffing levels as they transition as landfill will be open until October 1, 2008 and exploring other options. He stated their interim costs are essentially looking at $57.00/ton as they start to haul after October 1, 2008. He showed ET area and looking to south and southwest of Grand Forks if want to look in ET area; that they were part of Red River Valley & Lakes Region Solid Waste Panel Study and this emphasizes what they have been doing in the past - can see a 200/ton per day combustor (waste energy facility) and included in those numbers is a tipping fee of $86 to $104/ton and if part of a larger combustor which would be in the Fargo/Moorhead metro area which would be 1,000/ton per day and cost about $90/ton; if part of a larger landfill in the Fargo/Moorhead area, the tipping fee is about $66 to $76/ton; and the best option financially is the Grand Forks area where tipping fee $39 to $49/ton, and reconfirms the idea if staying the course. (Note: these are 2010 dollars).
He stated the last option is called the Red River Valley Regional Landfill proposed by Mr. Sproule and other investors and that site is 3 miles east of Gilby, 8 miles west of Manvel and about 7 miles north of Grand Forks AFB, and Turtle River Twp. site about 6 miles diagonally from this site. He stated timeline for the landfill is Grand Forks County zoning approval in April as there are some issues they have to complete, after zoning there is the permitting process from the Department of Health which takes approx. a year and won't know fruition of this even if it gets beyond zoning until a year from now and that there would be concerns about residents and Air Force Base and any future missions that would go out there; those are things they would have to look at with that site, but is probably one of the five things that they are looking at, that group wanted to see if we did have some interest and that we always look at reasonable solutions.

Council Member Glassheim asked if council would be asked for any action next week; Mr. Feland stated they would be authorizing that there is some interest if they proceed forward, that we would stay in touch and that would be one of the several options that we would look at. 2.13 Public Works Department - Street Division tandem truck, box and hoist bid. 2.14 Public Works Department - Street Division motor grader bid. 2.15 Municipal Parking System.
Council Member Christensen stated this report appears to be implementation of diagonal parking and that implementation wouldn't be practical until the Brownstones were completed. Some council persons had asked that there be some type of consideration given to upgrading the parking ramp and that it would be good to have an overview as to what the proposed solution is for downtown parking based upon our parking study, monies miniscule in the Parking Ramp Fund and if could get an update on this on Monday or move it back into committee for further information so have better idea of where going as go through budgeting process.

Greg Hoover, director, urban development, stated this is the first step of what was laid out in the parking study and this is to designate Urban Development to manage this and proceed with implementation of the other recommendations as approved by council, and that they will be coming back to council on a regular basis for some of these improvements. The issue of improvements to the central ramp would be covered in the staff report, to authorize Urban Development to undertake, subject to available budget, security and maintenance improvements to the corporate and central ramps, and will be coming back to council. They have already began gathering information on the cost of painting, security upgrade, etc. He stated all this motion does is to designate Urban Development to mange the system and authorize them to come back to the council for implementation of the other improvements, including diagonal parking.

Mr. Christensen asked if they can have further update on this on Monday or move it back into their committee to see what could do to enhance the ongoing management of the parking downtown. Mr. Hoover stated that has been covered in the study and they are beginning to implement the recommendations.

Council Member Glassheim stated that this would authorize U.D. to take over downtown area and ramp. Mr. Hoover stated that would be one of the recommendations, and that will have to come back to council for approval as will everything else.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER COMMEN

1) Council Member Brooks stated there is a finance/development standby committee meeting scheduled for tomorrow night - Tuesday, February 27, at 5:00 p.m. however, Council Member Glassheim is in Bismarck and that he has a 5:00 meeting, and won't be a quorum; however, Mr. Glassheim will be here for the legislative forum on Saturday and that perhaps could move that meeting to Saturday after the legislative meeting. It was also noted that following the legislative forum, the legislators want to meet with elected officials from 11:15 to 12:15 p.m. re. tax relief, the general public will be invited as well as council people, commissions and school district people.

Council Member Christensen stated meeting is re. employee benefits update and he has been asking to get information in front of the council and what they could do to maintain an adequate limit of benefits for employees and have information so can develop thoughts and perhaps a shift in direction as to policy and bring to administration.

The meeting was rescheduled as a work session for Wednesday evening, March 7, at 4:00 p.m.; Council Member Glassheim thought he would be available to call in for that meeting.

2) Council Member McNamara stated that Council Member Christensen has talked about reviewing the Alerus Commission and the city council relationship or our vision for that, and agrees that we should do a fundamental review from the ground up; and would like to echo Mr. Christensen's point that we look at the Alerus Commission and to include whether we still need it going on in the future, and would like to undertake that discussion.

3) Council Member Glassheim stated there has been some talk about possibility of renaming Town Square i.e., Silverman Square and if there is any process to go through to consider that. Council Member McNamara stated there has been a good deal of correspondence about a way to remember Sam Silverman in this community. President Gershman stated he would prefer to wait until Council Member Gershman is back, and then talk with Mr. Glassheim leading the process. Mr. Glassheim stated Legislature is over end of April and if would be fine to wait until May.

4) Council Member Christensen stated that Mr. McNamara suggested he is joining his call for a review of the Alerus Commission, this isn't about eliminating the Alerus Commission nor causing some people who are working there concern that they may not have their job, what it is about is that the Commission has been in place for about 6 years and that the Alerus Commission was put together by councils before us, we have funded it and continued with the Alerus Commission and pretty much acceded to every request of the Alerus Commission when it has been made; but question of, Is the Alerus Commission one of the better methods of administering the community asset going forward in light of the events that have transpired since implemented 6 or 7 years ago. That after the Alerus, got The Ralph, The Bette and learned that big names don't come here any longer, and re. the University of North Dakota, how are we going to deal with the D-1 adventure, and the fact that we have Canad Inns, that maybe a review of this is nothing but an exercise and nothing will come of it, but when have all these things that have transpired and time to ask how we are doing it the best or can do it better.

5) Council Member Kreun stated the gist of our meeting the other night was to be able to ask questions and bring forth some of those ideas; has no problem with reviewing and looking at this but before doing that we should visit with chairman of the Event Center Commission and see the marketing plan and budgeting process and strategic plan that addresses those issues might help alleviate and answer some of those questions before we get into a situation, good to evaluate but the things that have been brought up are in the strategic plan and the budgeting process and the performance model, those questions have been asked and are upfront and those people are well aware of the competition that is out there and the changes that have taken place.

6) President Gershman stated he read the strategic plan and found it quite thorough and addressing questions you have; the thing he likes about the Commission or Authority is that is their job, and we have a lot of jobs, and likes the focus and that is why he is big fan of the task force to go in and focus on something and get it done; and thinks a review of the strategic plan again to read it more carefully and then if still have questions can meet with them again. He agrees with Mr. Kreun that was the reason for the meeting the other night and assumes that people did read it.

Council Member Christensen stated if having problems with entertainment and can't get the big names and small names are coming, why have we been using the same consultant for all these years if expect a different result, and what is consultant's vision for integrating us with DI, if any, or what are we going to do with hiring someone to assist us in using the excess revenue generated from the sales tax dollars. This is trying to use the 7 people that are elected to help develop a strategy so that the Alerus Commission can implement a policy after we get the information that we feel is necessary for us to make policy decisions that we would want them to implement or that they could suggest to us some policy decisions they feel should be implemented and what the capital requirements would be.

Council Member Kreun stated if have questions after analyzing this, could meet with Commission members as a whole or individually, and see how that blends into the strategic plan. He stated to come back after we have studied it and have the Commission bring forth the budget process, etc. and not out of the question to ask for

Council Member Brooks stated he doesn't have a problem with reviewing it and to look at the structure, that because when start discussion there are a lot of things involved and businesses and potential land and developments, get it on the agenda and get it to a vote, and not go with committee.

Council Member Christensen stated we have beginning of conversation re. review of a public body that administers $108 million asset and it is joined with a $50 million entertainment complex, that we heard at the last meeting of the Commission that they are very proud of the revenue generated from catering, and $240,000 profit item and asked what is the Commission's plan as it inter-relates with Canad Inns and with convention business - what is plan on these items, and what is our future plan in light of excess revenue we are going to have from sales tax and how use that money -pay down the debt early or improve the facility. The review can be constructive and won't threaten Canad Inns; we are supposed to listen to all this information, gather it up, take recommendations and try to give that Commission some structure/policy.

Council Member Kreun stated the relationship between Canad Inns, how the catering business is transferring over and being more profitable than the arena side, those are issues that have been dealt with, and asked how are we with the Canad negotiations, haven't finalized that yet, and when get those done and brought forward it will come in front of this body, can ask questions, continue and bring information to this body.

Council Member Brooks healthy to look at structure, some statements go far beyond that, and if look at how structured between council and Alerus Commission and Alerus Center, and if want to get into why they are making these decisions on concerts as that is not what it is about, look at structure, get it on the agenda for discussion, and make decision and either give support to that commission and structure that is there or change the structure.

Council Member Christensen stated if don't want any answers, how can you have a Commission negotiating with the University as to D-1 and what their capital needs are when they don't have any idea how much money we are willing to put up and from what source, and until we have an idea of what the numbers are and what it is going to cost and source of money, they can't be negotiating because they have no idea of what negotiating with or what the appetite of this body is to spend that money or what the appetite of this body is to embrace that type of activity going forward in his community or what the costs are.

President Gershman stated he doesn't disagree with taking a look at the structure and doesn't disagree with looking at some of the things that are going on, but disagrees with is to begin the conversation by throwing out the word, eliminate the Commission; and that he doesn't negotiate that way, and the other thing he finds curious and not that we shouldn't ask some questions and meet with them but isn't it curious that this was probably the best year the Alerus Commission has had, and would like to congratulate them and let them know that we will have the conversation because that is good and doesn't think they will stymie that at all.


ADJOURN

It was moved by Council Member Brooks and seconded by Council Member Kreun that we adjourn. Carried 6 votes affirmative.

Respectfully submitted,



John M. Schmisek
City Auditor