Print VersionStay Informed
MINUTES/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
Monday, March 22, 1999 - 4:30 p.m.

Members present: Bouley, Martinson.

1. Request to hold MS Walk on Saturday, April 17, starting at
10:00 a.m.________________________________________________
A rep. of the organization was present requesting to hold the walk as last year. Moved by Martinson and Bouley to approve request, subject to approval of request by fire, police and city attorney. Motion carried. (committee only)

2. Request from Women’s Pregnancy Center to hold Walk-a-thon
on May 15, 1999._________________________________________
A rep. of the organization was present and stated their building located at 11 S. 4th Street which is where the walk would begin on Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. and which is across the street from the Corporate Center, but that there shouldn’t be construction going on at that time. She stated she had requested the possibility of blocking the street from 9:00 until 10:00 as it will be difficult to keep everyone on the sidewalk, and businesses aren’t open during those hours. Lt. Kirby of the police department stated they had no problem and would work with the organization.

Moved by Martinson and Bouley that request be granted subject to clearance by fire, police and city attorney. Motion carried.
(Comm. only)

3. Request for change in location of “mock crash” as requested
by GF Substance Abuse & Traffic Safety Council on April 13.
John Thompson, traffic engineer, reported that the Federal Bldg. rep. contacted Kim Greendahl, Traffic Safety Council, about changing loation because it’s so close to tax date and IRS is one of the tenants and were concerned. Mr. Thompson stated that she was moving the location to 1st Avenue North between 4th and 5th Streets and didn’t see a problem with that. Martinson and Bouley moved to authorize approval of the request for change in location if cleared with city attorney, police and fire departments. Motion carried. (Comm. only)

4. Request from Sigma Chi Fraternity for variance to the noise
ordinance on April 16, 1999 (8:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight)__
AJ Helgerson, 1320 University Avenue, presented request. Lt. Kirby stated they had no problem with this. Moved by Martinson and Bouley to grant request providing clearance by police department. Motion carried.
MINUTES/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
March 22, 1999 - Page 2________

5. Application for Class 6 (Fairgrounds Beer and Wine) license
for year ending December 31, 1999._________________________
The application had been reviewed and approved by the police department and the city attorney. Moved by Martinson and Bouley to approve the application for license subject to approval by required departments. Motion carried.

6. Consideration of bids for mosquito control items:
a) chemicals
Don Shields, Health Department, presented the matter, and stated that they have very specialized chemicals and equipment that have very few vendors. Todd Hanson reported that Van Diest Supply Co. was only vendor to bid for chemicals due to distri-butorship given by the parent companies, checked with other prices on mosquito control products and least expensive through Van Diest who is offering the lowest price for the products we use. He reported that prices have increased considerably because on abate products Clark Chemical had to re-register that product through the EPA, cost $1 million for re-registration, and they pass that onto the consumer. He stated he talked to Van Diest that there was no warning of increase, they went back to Clark Chemical and have offered to let us purchase the chemicals at last year’s price. Mr. Shields stated they do have an average supply of chemicals on hand or will have but would still need this contract put in place to allow them to purchase additional chemicals for 1999; if have a normal year should have enough chemicals using last year’s contract and last year’s prices. He asked committee to approve and authorize them to purchase chemicals if they need more chemicals throughout the year at those bid prices. He stated that chemicals they use are environmentally friendly.

Moved by Martinson and Bouley to approve bid package from Van Diest Supply Company using 1998 bid prices. Motion carried.

b) vehicles
Mr. Shields reported that they don’t purchase vehicles because not cost effective to purchase for three months; last year they received bids from Rydell Chevrolet and they accommo-date his department with used vehicles they have on their lot and take those back in the fall. Mr. Hanson reported they didn’t receive any bids from any of the vendors they contacted,
but talked to Ron Wilkening from Rydell Chevrolet and they have agreed to lease the health department two pickups at $400/mo.
MINUTES/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
March 22, 1999 - Page 3________

per vehicle which is the same price they paid last year, and asked for authority to do that. He stated that Rydell giving them an exceptional deal on pickups at $400/mo ea. and last year next lowest bid was $1800/mo. per vehicle. It was noted that was an oral bid with Rydell.

Mr. Hanson reported that they received lease from Acme Electric for an ATV lease rental and in the past leased from Acme Electric, and their price remains the same as for the previous three years, at $450/mo. and budgeted for that amount. Mr. Shields stated that they need an ATV to go to areas where can’t use pickups.

Moved by Martinson and Bouley that we approve leasing an ATV from Acme Electric at $450/mo.; and approve leasing two pickups from Rydell Chevrolet at $400/mo. each for mosquito control program. Motion carried.

Mr. Shields reported they had bids opened today for an ULV ground spraying machine to go into the ATV, and would like to have this on line for the mosquito control season which will begin in May. He stated this is a new machine but fit in the ATV so they will be able to do ground spraying, larviciding and take employees with backpack sprayers to the wet locations; that they have number of areas in the city, including southend drainage area, where they would like to use the ATV. He stated with the ULV will be able to increase ability to spray areas of the city and hope to do in shorter period of time; money is budgeted in cash carryover of the budget. Moved by Martinson and Bouley to approve purchase of the ULV sprayer from Van Diest Supply Company in the amount of $8,215.00. Motion carried

7. Request from health department for approval of building
renovation bids for mosquito control building (portion of
west quonset at 1405 1st Avenue North.___________________
Mr. Shields reported that some time ago they brought a proposal before the committee to address the health and safety issues associated with no water, no shower facilities for mosquito control employees, no water to wash off chemical spills, and wanted to work with Community Development to modify a portion of their facility so that it can be done as opposed to
building a facility which would cost about $35,000 to put an addition on to accommodate a bathroom and shower, sink and
eye wash. Mr. Hanson reported he received an additional bid
MINUTES/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
March 22, 1999 - Page 4________

from another contractor so have three bids; however, Urban Development has offered to share a portion of their west quonset at 1405 1st Avenue North where they have their mosquito control summer facility located at; and for this to work have to reno-vate the bathroom to accommodate safety factors for mosquito control, bids received and low bid for around $9600 and could increase from $100 to $250 for building permits, for hookup of a furnace and water heater, and that Urban Development has agreed to split the cost with them. He stated they have money budgeted from carryover from last year they will use to pay for health department’s portion, or $4800. He stated that the low bidder has done other work at Urban Development. He asked for approval of the low bid and to move forward to put in place for the start of the mosquito control season. Low bidder, Custom Millwork, Inc. in the amount of $7,200 for the building renovation and $2,395 from Grand Forks Heating for installation of one 90% gas furnace that will be furnished by Urban Development. Mr. Hanson stated that Custom Millwork, Inc. will install the bathroom and Grand Forks Heating will install furnace that will come out of surplus and install water heater. He stated it was cost effec-tive for two departments to work together.

Moved by Martinson and Bouley to award the bid to Custom Mill-work, Inc. to renovate bathroom in the mosquito control building and Grand Forks Heating to install furnace in the amount of $9,600.00. Motion carried. (Comm. only)

8. Applications for gaming permits:
a) ND Assn. for the Disabled - site authorization at 1448 S.
Washington St. (The Highlander) for year ending 6/30/99
b) Ben Franklin School - bingo 4/27/99
c) Student Aviation Management Assn - raffle 4/09/99
e) Grand Forks Public Schools Head Start - raffle 5/13/99
It was noted that the applications had been reviewed and approved by the city attorney. Moved by Martinson and Bouley to approve the applications. Motion carried.

d) Grand Forks Horticultural Society - raffle 7/11/99
It was noted that the application had been reviewed and approved
by the city attorney providing the group be recognized as a public spirited organization. It was moved by Martinson and Bouley to declare the organization as a public spirited organiz-ation and to approve the application. Motion carried.

MINUTES/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
March 22, 1999 - Page 5________

f) Psychology Club - raffle 4/12/99
g) South Middle School - raffle 4/28/99
It was noted these applications were reviewed and approved by the city attorney. Moved by Martinson and Bouley to approve the applications. Motion carried. (Comm.only)

9. Budget amendments:
a) Communicable Disease - $29,069
Mr. Shields reviewed the budget amendment to reflect unexpended funds in 1998 budget. Moved by Martinson and Bouley to approve. Motion carried.

b) Knight Foundation grant - $5,639
Mr. Shields reviewed amendment to reflect unexpended funds in 1998 budget. Moved by Martinson and Bouley to approve. Motion carried.

c) Municipal Court - $8,000
Held in committee for further information.

d) Police Department - $993.48
e) Police Department - $18,165
Lt. Kirby reviewed the budget amendments: a) that as per agreement with the Dept. of Justice, interest from block grants are to be placed in individual grant categories; and b) to reflect grant funds for purchase of a LIDAR radar unit ($4,000) and speed-monitoring radar trailer ($14,165). Moved by Martinson and Bouley to approve amendments. Motion carried.

10. Communication from Dusterhoft Oil, Inc. re. retailers tobacco license._____________________________________
Loren Dusterhoft, Dusterhoft Oil, Inc. stated they are a little concerned about this, that they pay a lot of license fees (pay $120 for restaurants and $55 for grocery licenses for each location, $15/yr. State license for tobacco; $25/yr. for each hazardous waste they have around their station, and $25/yr. for flammable material at each station for fire department) and
now additional $100 for tobacco licenses; and asked if there can’t be one strict license rather than this, and asked where it will stop. He stated they didn’t have a voice in it to start with it and asked where monies go.

Mr. Shields reported that the license fees are set after the
city attorney reviews all license fees for the city in com-
MINUTES/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
March 22, 1999 - Page 6________

parison to other locations in ND and based upon the cost of the
City to provide services (permit for building inspections, restaurant inspection, tobacco surveys, etc. for compliance checks) and fees based upon a reasonable assessment to provide those services. He stated he wasn’t familiar with all different licenses but that’s rationale that the city attorney has provided to him, and other city council members before you concerning these license fees. He stated that specifically the tobacco ordinance which was referred by Mr. Bakken to public safety back in November and was on the city council floor, was discussed in public safety, and referred after action taken and lot of discussion for two meetings, police involved re. cost of compliance checks, that there was no cost assessed to any of the tobacco retailers for the first two years of the program and those costs borne by the City until could find out costs, etc. He stated that in November and December discussion $100 was considered a fair assessment of what it took to do compliance testing and enforcement action. He stated that since referred from the floor of the council it was in the city council items that were referred and in the newspaper when on the agenda, published twice because an ordinance change. It was noted that license aps. sent out but not of notification of change in license fees; license fees for retail tobacco dealers went from zero for 3 years (1996/ 1997, and also no charge for 1998) to $25/per machine and $100/ per location. It was noted that this is a two year license.

Mr. Dusterhoft stated they take care of compliance themselves in their stores, that they don’t sell to kids and try hardest not to and thinks that’s a sting operation; and feels fees over-priced and against the license.

Martinson stated that a convenience store operation where a lot of gas stations do sell number of food items, etc. and sugges-tion of blanket license covering everything is interesting con-cept and something he could support. He questioned doing a study on this. Mr. Shields stated that the city finance office
and the city attorney get together to review license fees
periodically, and perhaps look at that.

There was some discussion re. use of license fees, penalties, etc. It was noted that funds go into general fund and disbursed out for education, compliance testing, enforcement, etc. It was noted that there would be compliance testing in 1999, and Mr.
MINUTES/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
March 22, 1999 - Page 7________

Dusterhoft noted that the State does it also and why doubled up.

Greg Nelson, B & N Oil; Arch Simonson, Simonson’s Stations; Tom Abar, Rite Spot, also appeared and stated it would be more efficient to have a blanket type of license rather than so many licenses, would make government more efficient, business staff more efficient (number of local and State licenses required and information they need to provide for multiple locations how time consuming it is for businesses) and if a recommendation that would go to council would be to provide more of a general business license or something on that order for a business owner to have rather that all the different licenses. They stated they understand why all the different licenses but it would be nice from their standpoint even if didn’t save any money on fees, combine all fees together and issue a general business license. The question was raised by Mr. Abar of how they would do compliance testing in off-sale store and pay fee when not really going to test their business.

After further discussion it was moved by Martinson and Bouley that the public safety committee recommend to the council that we recommend review by the city attorney’s office on grouping licenses in ie., convenience stores, service stations, etc. working in conjunction with health, fire, police and finance departments. Motion carried.

Moved by Martinson and Bouley to adjourn; meeting adjourned at 5:45 p.m.

Alice Fontaine
City Clerk

Dated: 3/31/99