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PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA
December 6, 2004

The city council of the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota met in the council chambers in City Hall on Monday, December 6, 2004 at the hour of 7:00 o’clock p.m. with Mayor Brown presiding. Present at roll call were Council Members Brooks, Hamerlik, Glassheim (teleconference), Christensen, Kerian, Kreun, Gershman - 7; absent: none.

The third grade class of Holy Family School led the city council in the pledge of allegiance to the flag, and introduced themselves to the audience; Mrs. Laffen, teacher.

Mayor Brown announced that anyone wishing to speak to any item may do so by being recognized prior to a vote being taken on the matter, and that the meeting is being televised.

Mayor Brown commented on various events during the past week and upcoming events:
He stated he had the pleasure of spending an hour last night with Mayor Stauss judging the windows on the holidays decorations in the downtown area, and thanked organizers and businesses for making windows beautiful, and noted awards went to Norby's Work Perks, Blue Moose and mayor's choice went to the Plaza Motel in East Grand Forks and encouraged everyone to get out to see these jobs of holiday decorating.
Last night was Thursday's Music Club's 81st Annual Concert at United Lutheran Church, program filled with different talents and recognized the Grand Forks City's Children's Choir, about 100 voices in the choir and did a superb job.
This morning he had the opportunity to say some words of thanks at the Slumberland Bed for the Holidays Effort resulting in new beds for the people in our community who need them, and responsible for 41 mattresses and bedding and there were many different agencies and individuals who are helping make this effort grow - Washington Lutheran Women's Church in Northwood made quilts, Al's did the breakfast, United Rental did the chairs, and Wal-Mart donated $1,000 towards bedding and the Grand Forks Housing Authority helped pick the homes that received the bedding and mattresses.
Congratulations to UND's football team for a great season and also congratulations to the championship East Grand Forks football team who won state championship and for all teams wrapping up their seasons, great job to students and coaches.
Happy 100th birthdays to Marie and Lilly Clifford, there is a social this Thursday afternoon at Valley Memorial Homes to help them celebrate.

SUSPEND AGENDA TO ADD ADDITIONAL ITEM

Council Member Hamerlik moved to add an item to the agenda following the 2005 chemical bids regarding holiday bonus for employees. Council Member Gershman seconded the motion. Carried 7 votes affirmative.

MONTHLY FLOOD PROTECTION PROJECT UPDATE

Al Grasser, city engineer, noted that on the video to be shown tonight is work on the southside pedestrian bridge, that the Info Center will be putting out some information to the media re. work activity - that now waterways are beginning to freeze and sometimes have snowmobiles out on the river and at this location they are going to be fencing the river as there will be piers in the river and want people to be aware of those; and the contractor is placing a construction platform in the river which will increase velocity of the water through that area and ice not forming as quickly as normally would and danger for someone coming through there as ice not thick enough, and will be hearing more about that through the Info Center. A brief video was shown.

Melanie Parvey-Biby, greenway coordinator, reviewed upcoming wintertime activities: there will be groomed trails in Lincoln Drive Park for cross-country skiing and also in the State Recreation area in MN; there will not be trails for snowmobiles in the Grand Forks Greenway this year and snowmobile trail map has been approved by the police department and working to get that out to the public. Other events include Santa's Village; Park District is hosting an event at the Lincoln golf course clubhouse on December 16 - 19; and there is a Christmas bird count on December 19 with Grand Forks Bird Club compiling a list of species we have in our community. She stated they are working on the dog park project and have been corresponding with the Army Corps of Engineers in St. Paul District, asking them to conduct the hydraulic analysis of possible sites in the greenway, because if putting a dog park in the greenway want to put a fence up and would have an impact on water surface profile, and will bring information back to the council. She stated that the northend boat ramp won't be open until next year and will be bringing forward new information about the southend boat ramp at an upcoming meeting of the committee of the whole to discuss location and funding for that.

HOLD PUBLIC HEARING ON APPLICATION TO MOVE
GARAGE TO 2202 6TH AVENUE NORTH

The city auditor reported that the notice of public hearing on the application by Dan Beauchamp to move a garage from 603 22nd Avenue South to 2202 6th Avenue North had been published and posted as required.

Mayor Brown opened the public hearing, there were no comments and the hearing was closed.

The staff report from the inspections department relating to public hearing for moving permit application to move a garage from 603 22nd Avenue South to 2202 6th Avenue North, with recommendation to approve the moving permit to move a garage from 603 22nd Avenue South to 2202 6th Avenue North.

It was moved by Council Member Gershman and seconded by Council Member Hamerlik that this recommendation be approved. Carried 7 votes affirmative.

SUSPEND AGENDA

Council Member Kreun moved that the item relating to matter of negotiation strategy for acquisition of property for the flood protection project, Project No. 4704, be moved after the comments by the mayor and council members. Council Member Christensen seconded the motion. Carried 7 votes affirmative.

AWARD BIDS FOR PROJECT NOS. 5636 AND 5637,
LIFT STATION UPGRADES

The staff report from the engineering department relating to bids for City Projects Nos. 5636 and 5637, Lift Station 17A and 20 Upgrade, with recommendation to award the work for Schedule B - General to North Plains Contracting, Inc. in the amount of $424,200.00; Schedule B - Mechanical to McFarlane Sheet Metal, Inc. in the amount of $22,500.00 and Schedule B- Electrical to Comeau Electric in the amount of $218, 349.00.

It was moved by Council Member Gershman and seconded by Council Member Kerian that this recommendation be approved. Upon roll call the following voted "aye": Council Members Brooks, Hamerlik, Glassheim, Gershman, Christensen, Kerian, Kreun - 7; voting "nay": none. Mayor Brown declared the motion carried and the bids awarded.

APPROVE FEDERAL AID PROJECTS FOR CONSTRUCTION
YEARS 2006 TO 2010

The staff report from the engineering department relating to 2006-2010 Urban and Regional Program Project request to North Dakota Department of Transportation, with recommendation to approved Federal Aid projects for construction years 2006 to 2010.

It was moved by Council Member Gershman and seconded by Council Member Kerian that this recommendation be approved. Carried 7 votes affirmative.

APPROVE 2005 CHEMICAL BIDS FOR WATER TREATMENT
PLANT

The staff report from the superintendent of water utility relating to 2005 chemical bid approval for water treatment plant, with recommendation to approve recommended bids per summary.

It was moved by Council Member Gershman and seconded by Council Member Kerian that this recommendation be approved. Upon call for the question and upon voice vote, the motion carried 7 votes affirmative.

APPROVE H0LIDAY BONUS FOR EMPLOYEES

Council Member Hamerlik moved that the council approve a holiday bonus of four (4) hours, pro-rated for contracted, classified and benefited non-classified employees to be taken between now and February 1, 2005 to be scheduled and approved by the department heads. Council Member Gershman seconded the motion. Carried 7 votes affirmative.

APPROVE BILL LISTING AND ESTIMATES

Vendor payment listing No. 04-23, dated December 3, 2004 and totaling $2,244,585.09, and estimates in the amount of $1,464,110.12 were presented and read.

It was moved by Council Member Kerian and seconded by Council Member Kreun that these bills and estimates be allowed and that the city auditor be authorized to issue warrants in payment of the same. Upon roll call the following voted "aye": Council Members Brooks, Hamerlik, Glassheim, Gershman, Christensen, Kerian, Kreun - 7; voting "nay": none. Mayor Brown declared the motion carried and the fills ordered paid.

APPROVE MINUTES NOVEMBER 15, 2004
Typewritten copies of the minutes of the city council meeting held on Monday, November 15, 2004 were presented and read. It was moved by Council Member Christensen and seconded by Council Member Gershman that the minutes be approved as read. Carried 7 votes affirmative.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMENTS

1) Council Member Brooks offered congratulations to East Grand Forks for their undefeated championship season and also to Stephen/Argyle who also had an undefeated championship season.

2) Council Member Glassheim thanked everyone for the opening up of 3rd Street, that they are all very pleased with it.

RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION

Council Member Hamerlik moved that we go into executive session for negotiation strategy for acquisition of property for the Flood Protection Project, Project No. 4704, pursuant to NDCC 44-04-19.02. Council Member Gershman seconded the motion. Carried 7 votes affirmative.

COUNCIL RECONVENES FOLLOWING EXEUCTIVE
SESSION

The city council reconvened into regular session as the Grand Forks city council after the executive session with all members present.

Council Member Kreun moved to authorize our engineering staff and the city attorney to make the realignment of the levee for the RDO project and to finalize the negotiations with that entity for settlement. Council Member Gershman seconded the motion. Upon call for the question and upon voice vote the following voted "aye": Council Members Brooks, Hamerlik, Gershman, Christensen, Kerian, Kreun - 6; voting "nay": Council Member Glassheim - 1. Mayor Brown declared the motion carried.

ADJOURN

It was moved by Council Member Hamerlik and seconded by Council Member Gershman that we adjourn. Carried 7 votes affirmative.

Respectfully submitted,



John M. Schmisek
City Auditor

Approved:
___________________________________
Michael R. Brown, Mayor