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Grand Forks City Council Service/Safety Standby Committee
Tuesday, January 11, 2011 - 5:30 p.m.____________________

The Service/Safety Standby Committee met on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers in City Hall with Council Member Bjerke presiding. Present at roll call were Bjerke, Gershman (ex-officio).

Others present included: Howard Swanson, Officer Braaten, Chief Packett, Mark Walker, Todd Feland, Chief O'Neill, Saroj Jerath, Dale Bergman, Melanie Parvey, Don Shields.

Chairman Bjerke called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. and as only member present, stated all items would be forwarded to council. with no recommendation.

1. Review of alcoholic beverage renewal applications for 2011.
Chief Packett stated per committee request last year to bring licenses that may have
questions on to their attention, that there is a staff report relating to those and Officer Braaten is here to answer any specific questions.
Bjerke reviewed various businesses, that some have violated server training ordinance, failure of compliance check, failure to disclose past violations on license application, and/or unpaid parking fees. He stated that it is the responsibility of the applicant to make sure their application is filled out correctly and that there were a number that weren't:
1) Big D's - recent transfer of license and applicant was informed at that time that the previous establishment (Metal Bar) has a violation pending and he was informed that when that punishment comes down, that he will be required to serve that, and he has accepted that even though he was not the owner at the time.
2) China Garden - penalty for violations taken care of.
3) Crosstown Lounge - violated server training ordinance and failed to document that on their application. Mr. Beauchamp stated he was late with application and simply didn't complete ap. correctly, was an oversight. (no violations with compliance checks).
4) CANAD, LLC - there were 4 violations in 3 years and up to council whether additional
punishment might be warranted.
5) Eagles Crest - failed to properly fill out their application.
6) Gilly's - unpaid parking fees which have now been paid.
7) Green Mill - penalty for violation taken care of.
8) Happy Joe's - failure to properly fill out application and that a minor selling to a minor. (15 yr.
old sold alcohol to a minor.
9) Hub Bar - failure to disclose past violations on application
10) Knights of Columbus - failure to disclose past violations on application
11) Lincoln Golf Course - contract out for that
12) Mi Familia, Inc. - failure to disclose past violations on application
13) Muddy Rivers; Ole & Paco's; and Rumors: violated mandatory server trailing ordinance and
failure to disclose past violations on application.

Bjerke stated that compliance checks are dealt with by the State, server training through our court
system and unpaid parking fees have been paid; and that issues that he will be bringing up at council are failure to disclose past violations because responsibility of the applicant to complete applications correctly and this is not a new issue as it has happened in the past. He also noted the other issues are multiple violations in 3 years at one establishment and a minor selling to a minor. He stated these items will be on the city council agenda on Tuesday, January 18, at 5:30 p.m.

Officer Braaten stated application will be going on-line by this fall and that he would let committee know when this is done. Bjerke questioned if new establishments are made aware of the server training ordinance, and Officer Braaten stated there is quite a bit of contact with new applicants and questions answered by finance or referred to him. Bjerke asked that be placed on the police check list that they are clearly aware of the mandatory server training ordinance.

Bjerke stated information will be forwarded to city council with no recommendation and city council will make decision.

2. Riverside Pool enhancements.
Melanie Parvey, public works, stated that Riverside pool operated its first full year and
had a successful season; that the City had anticipated cost of approx. $30,000 to keep the pool
operating, cost was significantly lower, $9,700, because of the increased use and different things in the neighborhood to promote the pool. In discussion with the Neighborhood Assn. re. operations and maintenance a suggestion was made to make an expansion to the west end deck by approx. 40 ft. along with fence being moved; est. cost approx. $16,000. That if deck expanded that it would be nice to have lounge chairs in that area, and Neighborhood Assn. has commitment to pay for 2 chairs and should be able to purchase 5 within the neighborhood. That they are asking to take bids for expansion along with 10 lounge chairs

Gershman stated this is a very good project and attendance was highest they have had and hoping
next year even bigger because of enhancements. He stated that he is recommending Beautifica-tion Funds if need to put in some trees for extra beautification.

Bjerke stated the cost for Building/Flood Insurance is $5,000, and asked if there were any cleanup
costs from the flood; Parvey stated they did but that was reimbursed with FEMA funds. Bjerke
questioned warranties on boiler and leaking pipes. Mark Walker, engineering, stated that the
leaking pipe has been corrected, they uncovered some concrete and found there was a severed pipe; contractor has repaired that and was part of the warranty. The boiler issue was identified as a problem during the first year and have made changes and work that has been done should correct the problem and now just a matter of testing it.

Bjerke stated in the joint powers agreement the Park District is supposed to have insurance, but in
looking at budget, line item is zero, and asked what is happening there; and asked what the
subsidy was for the Elks Pool.

Gershman stated he would like to commend the Park District for their commitment to Riverside
and also what happened was the shared management and reduced expenses at Elks,

3. Proposed small dog park in the greenway (Info. only)
Ms. Parvey reported that in 2007 the city council and the Park Board agreed to build both
a big and small dog park, but only one dog park was built as there was not enough funding to provide both spaces once project fully designed and bid out - compromise at that time to use the one existing space which us just under 3 acres and there have been improvements to that site and lot of interest since that time to do something for small dogs because some people won't use the park for small dogs because interacting with large dogs and in talking with the Park District and Roaming Paws have come up an idea that could be feasible with a number of different options that have been put together and could use space within the existing dog park and also expanding the current dog park or putting on the exterior of the dog park to use space where there is parking available. The water line is there and parking amenities. The intent is to get public input from neighborhood and from community and with Roaming Paws group to look at four options, estimated cost between $12,000 and $16,000, once decide on option will provide better estimate. It is feasible within their project and budget of Stormwater Enterprise Fund and now want to get input and bring information back to committee in February.

4. Professional Services Agreement for Project No. 6686, Phase IX Landfill Closure and Ash and Asbestos Disposal Project.___________________________________
Todd Feland, director of public works, reported this is the closure of the former solid
waste landfill, 25 acres left to close of the 200 acre site, and will have to do post closure care for the next 30 years. He stated they are not putting solid waste into the former solid waste but putting special waste in (ash from UND boiler and small plants in the area and for asbestos) and as part of this plan will close that space and create a new space in the new landfill. He stated they need to come up with a plan for approval so can use the new solid waste landfill site - will be a significant project and would like to proceed and fund from the Landfill Closure Reserve Account. That once the project is bid with engineering will have to reserve about $1.5 of the $4.2 million for post closure care, and once receive bids plus contingencies will see what is left in that account. He stated at next meeting will come forward and ask to do some improvements at the baling facility (replace baler); will be busy construction year for the landfill and baling facility.

5. Sanitation Division 2011 landfill crawler type tractor Bid #2010-76.
Mr. Feland reported this is budgeted item for dozer for the landfill, that they received two
bids, from Butler and from RDO, and after reviewing cost of the machines, that the Caterpillar
from Butler meets all the specs., including high drive, has 6 month delivery and operates better at the landfill, and asking to accept the bid from Butler Machinery in the amount of $235,308.05.

6. Grand Forks-East Grand Forks Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Improvement Program estimates for Fiscal Years 2012-2015.
Mr. Feland stated they are updating the financial plan for Public Transit System which
includes demand response which is Dial-A-Ride and Senior Rider plus fixed route system and also includes some of the capital replacement in 2012, that in working with MPO with 2011 budget and looking at potential costs for demand response Dial-A-Ride and Senior Rider, that went up above and beyond and then inflated those 3%. He stated with those numbers it still demonstrates that we have enough revenues to meet our expenses as part of that plan; however, do have a concern with federal funding, that federal funding over the last few years has incrementally gone up and the federal government has invested in public transit and there are some unknowns about what the federal government will do with transportation in general, including public transit so have to keep an eye on that because if look at the numbers a substantial portion of our funding on the revenue side comes from the federal government - that as part of this plan these are estimates, we have asked and the MPO has included in their work plan to do a transportation development plan., last study was in 2004 and are going to look to the MPO to come up with another 5 to 10 year plan on routes and the demand response program and come back with a plan this year. We are going to be delving more into these numbers within this next year and suspect like your parking study yesterday, are going to delve in with MPO systems with some of their planning money and expertise to look at the traffic system over the next year.

Gershman stated he talked to Dale Bergman before the meeting, know it is complicated and difficult but there is going to be a vote on the new library and in the meantime and at the new library have to have bus service, whether at the existing site it can be a radius there to turn around, and in the interim that is at least 18 months to 2 years away, would really hope that you could do something to address the lack of transportation to the library - know they are under a lot of constraints, and would ask that they look at that and to tell him when you think you could come back with an answer - understand the issues but important and even if the library is defeated in the vote, have to come up with something and do something physically to get that bus in there and turned around. Feland stated that in the past have been relatively successful and do a lot of planning in the transit plan and been successful and when they come up with a plan and wherever the library goes access to that as one of the first priority initiatives. Gershman stated as soon as you can do it, that he has been in numerous meetings about the library, etc. and that is a big issue in our city and people surprised that we don't have bus service to the door.

Feland stated that discussion has highlighted the fact that public transit is important part of the city and in the past transit was an incorporated facility and what has happened to Dale's frustration is that build something and then come later and say "need bus to my front door" and then too late - and at least talking about it now.

There was discussion re. ridership which has gone up, and is on a per ride basis, and each year
increase in ridership. Feland stated when they do the development plan will bring in some of the
reports which routes perform better and times of day, etc.

Bjerke stated if go with 3% budgeting increase and what paying for diesel and gas, that is not
enough and forecasts are not good for those who wish to have cheap gas, and if 3% budgeting increase and you are going to add routes and expand routes and if that is part of the 3% it is not enough. Feland stated they haven't expended too much and are not going to be able to expand unless we can afford to and can't expand the system unless can find a grant and determine whether the grant is going to be sustainable over time. People have asked for Sunday service and have held them off because didn't know if that would be financially sustainable and things like that will be looked at but any plan they come back with will have to be sustainable over time.

7. Comments by Citizen.
Dennis Denault, 1319 University Avenue, stated when he purchased his property 15 years ago was nice quiet neighborhood with no alley traffic - stated that in the winter time adjacent business plows the snow into the 20 ft. alley, sometimes as high as 10 to 12 ft. and 4 to 5 ft. in the alley; also plows snow into the street on University Avenue, and has snow 10 ft. high on the berm and into the street. Also parks on sidewalk along with dumpster. Another problem is gas station where owner has installed 2 high speed fans (carwash) and put up with until the Health Department checked into it and they got that taken care of although they still do this at times - should have reversed it so sound went out to University and not into alley and backyards (Planning and Zoning and Inspections knew about this). He also stated that kids drive up and down the alley at 30 to 40 mph all summer long; turned in license numbers. He stated that alley is their driveway, cannot park on 2nd Avenue. He noted that he has called various departments of the city but that nothing has been done.

Bjerke asked Mr. Feland, Chief Packett to look into this matter - snow issue, alley traffic and parking - and to report back to committee and to Mr. Denault.

The meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m.

Alice Fontaine, City Clerk