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MINUTES/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
Monday, May 10, 1999 - 4:30 p.m.

Members present: Bakken, Bouley, Martinson.

1. Requests for block parties:
a) Phoenix School PTO (families) on May 27 - blocking of Chestnut Street from 4th to 5th Avenues S.
Jennifer Tinkler, rep. Phoenix PTO, stated that the neigh-borhood resource officer would be present at their block party. Moved by Martinson and Bouley to approve request based on approval of police and fire departments and to issue permit. Motion carried. (comm. only)

b) Lori A. Tweten, 4300 block of Walnut on May 15 and blocking of 4300 block.
There was no one present re. this item. Moved by Bouley and Martinson to approve block party contingent upon approval of police and fire departments. Motion carried. (comm. only)

2. Request for variance to noise ordinance:
a) North Dakota Alpha Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon on August 21 and August 23 for recruitment events.
There was no one to present request; Bouley and Martinson moved to hold the matter for two weeks for further information.

3. Request from Schoeppner shows to hold carnival on May 19-31, 1999 on N. 42nd St.
(off DeMers Ave. and I-29)_________________________________________________
Jim Schothorst, health department, reported that Schoeppner Shows held their carnival in K-Mart lot over past several years, that lot not available this year, and that this site is extremely poor location for this type of activity, there is no water or sewage service available, limited parking, and would be their opinion that they should find another site and that this would not be acceptable site to hold this activity from health department’s standpoint. Joe Kalenze, plumbing inspector, stated nearest fire hydrant could be as far as 500 ft. and only one entrance to the site; no water for cleanup and if had spill (sewage tanks) could only go into the ground. Acting Fire Chief O’Neill stated they don’t have problem with this as far as fire protection, they will have to have permit approved by the fire marshall’s office, water they carry with trucks should be able to handle any fire danger; and it is in a poor location as far as medical response, could be difficult to get in and out. It was noted that there is a small creek near site; spillage could contaminate coulee water. Mr. Schothorst stated there’s an apron to the west of the UND aviation department on southwest corner on University and N. 42nd Street, and with conjunction of UND locate there and better site for parking, sewage, etc. (Mr. Schothorst stated he would check further on this)

Bouley and Martinson moved that based upon information presented, to deny request for location and that they seek out another area. Motion carried.

4. Request from Pat Berger, United Way, for waiver of carnival permit fee for Schoeppner
Shows (United Way and Salvation Army would participate in exchange for portion of
proceeds.___________________________________________________________________
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Chairman Bakken stated this item has to do with the previous item. Moved by Martinson and Bouley to waive the fee providing that Schoeppner Shows finds a suitable location to hold the event. Motion carried.

5. Request from Sertoma Club re. July 4 activities.
Paul Waind and Paul Lester, co-chairmen for this event, stated this is their 7th year of putting on a 4th of July duck race (this year a duck derby), and this will be their 30th year of the fireworks show; that they will have a family event from 12:00 noon until 8:00 p.m. in University Park (has been approved by the Park District) and at dusk, approx. 10:30 p.m., the fireworks show will be held on the Bronson property, approved by UND. He stated they work in conjunction with the fire department for the permit, insurance is outlined in the letter that the Club carries. He also noted that they will not be blocking any streets, etc. because of change in location and is for information.

Chief Packett stated their only concern would be recent activities they’ve had in the park, there are adequate restroom facilities for the crowd, and the general demeanor of the people coming and going from the area was the big problem last time, people walking through neighborhoods and misparking vehicles, etc. and if that’s handled of security nature. Acting Chief O’Neill stated their department is involved in the flag raising and fireworks permit. Mr. Waind stated they are hold duck derby (more of a raffle) and a simple derby will be set up. Don Shields of health department stated they’ve worked closely with them in the past with temp. food and sanitation, and have no concerns at this time with this event.

Moved by Martinson and Bouley to grant this permit for the Sertoma Club subject to working in conjunction with police, fire and health departments. Motion carried. (comm.only)

6. Applications for gaming permits:
a) Health Institute Gift Shop (Altru) - raffle 6/11/99 (request to extend permit to July 16 rather than June 11)
b) ND Academy of Family Physicians Foundation - raffle 7/30/99
c) ND Special Olympics - site auth. for 6/19-20/99 at Riverside Park (bingo)
d) Greater Grand Forks Senior Citizens Assn., Inc. - site authorization for period 7/01/99 to 6/30/00 and approval of rental agreement by City.
e) ND Assn.. for the Disabled, Inc. - site auth. for 7/01/99 to 6/30/0 for 1448 S. Wash. St. (Highlander) and Bingo Palace at South Forks Plaza.
f) Ducks Unlimited - raffle on 9/14/99
Applications a) request for extension, and b) through e) have been approved by the city attorney. Moved by Bouley and Martinson to approve a) to extend the raffle date to July 16, to approve b) through e) and approve f) contingent upon review and approval by the city attorney. Motion carried. (comm. only)

7. Matter of police impound lot on Fenton Avenue and Mill Road
Lt. Byron Sieber submitted several photos from the health department of the area; that
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originally impound lot was located at 11th and North Washington Street and moved to this site
several years ago after sale of former lot to Acme Electric; that this site was to be temporary but
have yet to find a permanent site. He stated that this site has become quite cumbersome to them in terms of the structure not being very sound and inconvenience to have this facility full of vehicles (may have to move several vehicles out to get to vehicle being picked up) and have run into overflow problem where have as many as 30 cars parked outside and which is quite unsightly for the neighborhood and could pose a health hazard to residents or children in the area. He stated that last August there was a proposal from Asst. Dir. of Finance Saroj Jerath to the finance committee and they were looking at that time of a new site for the both the police department and the civic auditorium. He stated that the civic auditorium currently houses some of their materials in the front of this building. He stated to accommodate both the auditorium and the police department, the proposed structure got quite large as did the expense and didn’t go any farther at that time. He reviewed presentation which includes four options to assist them to look for a new impound; several require support from the County Commissioners for some Fair-grounds property, and also possibility of the School Dist. buildings on N. 3rd Street when they are vacated for bike storage. Chairman Bakken stated he didn’t know if they should be including the civic auditorium, that this should be a separate issue (temporary). It was noted that the School Dist. buildings used as maintenance shops, and they will be building south of Wal-Mart when they move their administrative offices; that the City has purchased property on N. 3rd and civic auditorium interested in storing things there, and probably also room for bicycles, so back to finding spot for the vehicles.

Lt. Sieber reported that they hold one auction per year, takes about two months to prepare for that, and this year’s auction will be on Saturday, May 22, and takes about 7-10 days for all vehicles to get picked up. It was noted that the building holds approx. 30-40 cars and approx. 30 cars outside (unprotected) by any fencing, security. He stated problems they’ve run into besides health hazards and hazard to children, is that in February had 15 cars broken into, and requires City when owners come forward and say they lost stereo, etc. and City needs to reimburse them
for. He stated another problem is that vehicles disappearing when owners come up with second set of keys and drive off, and has become critical issue for them as well as residents in the neighborhood.

There was some discussion re. privatizing this project; Lt. Sieber stated they have talked to wrecker services that could provide that service; that their lots are full and not enough room for police impound. Lt. Sieber stated City is losing money because of theft because unsecured, reimburse those citizens for those losses; that if need to remove vehicle from deep inside building, need to bring wrecker up and pull out other vehicles. Chief Packett reported that in the last couple years the high year was about $15,000 in receipts from sales and lowest about $3,000, not much money involved when looking at expenses of upkeep.

Meredith Richards, Urban Development, stated that they have been working on historic mitigation issues, that they’ve discussed the impound lot in conjunction with a couple of different scenarios, that they have a City-owned property at 10 Fenton Avenue (flood-damaged
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house) but is rehabbable, and the site that it is on now is being looked at for the relocation of Sally Thompson’s house which is one of their premier historic homes; that they have discussed the possibility of moving house at 10 Fenton onto the impound lot either as temporary or permanent solution, and would like to encourage this committee to act, if possible, on declaring that impound lot as surplus property so can move 10 Fenton house. She stated this would help with historic mitigation, but clean up that neighborhood and put that residential property back into residential use.

Once the sale is done, everything will be inside until fall. Lt. Sieber stated that as of this last week the city attorney has signed off on a contract with the National Guard that they’ve been working on, that is on North 81 and is a secure fenced in area, no structure but they have allowed us to use that as an overflow in the

Chairman Bakken stated he would meet with Mr. O’Leary and Chief Packett re. this matter and place this on next committee agenda.

Jim Corbett, 1610 North 6th Street, stated building is full of pigeons, can’t leave anything in back yards, etc. and want neighborhood to get into better shape.

Lt. Sieber stated this is an attractive nuisance for children, that in getting ready for the sale, removed pigeon droppings from vehicles, and that they are asking City to talk to County Commissioners re. Fairgrounds property, and City is looking at 50 acres north of Simplot for borrow pit and perhaps 2 acres there, however committee felt that would also be unsecured. It was also noted that the police department could hold a second auction.

Held in committee for further information (in two weeks).

8. Applications for gaming permits:
a) Jr. Chamber of Commerce at Fairgrounds - Site Auth.
b) VFW Post #1874 - site auth. 2 aps. at 4220 5th Ave.N. and 2105 S. Wash. St.
c) St. Mary’s Altar Society - bingo at 216 Belmont Road for 6/01 to 6/30/99 and for 7/01/99 to 6/30/00.
Aps. have not been approved by the city attorney. Moved by Bouley and Martinson to approve the applications contingent upon review and approval by the city attorney. Motion carried. (Comm. only)

9. Extra items:
Chief Packett asked that an item be placed on the May 24 committee agenda to authorize the police department to go out for RFP’s for a couple vehicles (lease purchase or outright purchase) of up to 2 four-wheel drive vehicles and possibly a parking enforcement type vehicle. Moved by Bouley and Martinson to authorize RFP’s for the vehicles. Motion carried. (comm. only)

9. Lt. Sieber stated that the week of May 24 -28, they will be hosting from the Bismarck
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Training Academy a machine called “FATS” (Firearms Training Simulator) and this machine shows a scenario on a screen, and invited committee members to attend and see how it works, hours between 2:00 and 10:00 p.m.

10. Matter of stop sign at Longview Fibre on 32nd Ave. S.
Chairman Bakken asked that John Thompson, traffic engineer, be informed that there is need
for stop sign exiting Longview Fibre onto 32nd Avenue South.

Moved by Bouley and Martinson to adjourn; meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m.

Alice Fontaine
City Clerk

Dated: 5/10/99