Jamestown (CSi)  The City Council Committees met in joint session on Thursday at City Hall.

POLICE & FIRE COMMITTEE

The Fire department ladder truck  update was given including the presentation  of a $25,000 check toward the purchase by the Volunteer Firefighters Association, proceeds from the annual pancake feed. Fire Chief Jim Reuther said the JBROS flea market raised $1,000 over two days, from customer donations.  Farmers Union Insurance also donated $10,000.

 

INFORMATIONAL: The second readings of Ordinances ( No. 1524, 1525, 1526, 1527, 1528 and 1519) “housekeeping,” measures are scheduled for the April 6, 2020, City Council meeting.

A motion was made introducing the first reading of an ordinance to amend and re-enact Chapter 2 of the Code of the City of Jamestown pertaining to residency qualification for city employees.

BUILDING, PLANNING & ZONING COMMITTEE:

Recommended  was approving  the request from Anne Carlsen Center for a special use permit for a building to be located on property east of the Jamestown Regional Medical Center, consisting of 103,000 square feet.

It was questioned if a potential I-94 overpass may impinge on the land for a corridor,in the future which will be researched. Engineer Travis Dillman doesn’t feel there will be  a problem being on the opposite side of any overpass.

The committee recommends approving the request from Fort Seward Reconstruction Board for a special use permit to operate a campground on Lots 3-6, plus ½ vacated alley, Block 44, Capitol Hill Addition, on the condition of an approved revised license agreement.

CIVIC CENTER AND PROMOTION COMMITTEE

The committee recommended  the Jamestown Tourism request for funds to repair/paint the Buffalo Monument to be funded by the Jamestown Tourism Capital Improvement Fund (Buffalo City Tourism Fund).

A $1,500 figure was presented from a contractor for masonry work.  Paint left over from a previous project will used.  Tourism Director Searle Swedlund also said a full painting project is anticipated in the future.

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

Recommended for approval was the plans and specifications and authorize the advertisement for bids for Seal Coat, Patching, Construction & Reconstruction District #20-41.  The project is estimated to cost about $1.5 million.

Consideration of the emergency protection policy for the City of Jamestown was forwarded to the June Public Works Committee meeting.

The committee recommends the City Council approve the bid award on the SRTS (The safe routes to schools Project) to LD Concrete, in the amount of $389,146.55, pending ND DOT concurrence.

City Engineer project updates were given.

Recycling collection update, and Garbage collection updates were given to the committee but not discussed.

Recommended for approval is a  Change Order No. 1, to Braun Intertec, on Jamestown Sanitary Landfill SW-213, Tier 2 Sampling Project, Title V Air Quality Permit, CWSRF Project No. 380808-08.

FINANCE & LEGAL COMMITTEE:

The City Council proclaimed April, 2020, as Fair Housing Month and urge all citizens to understand and exercise their right to equal housing opportunity

Separately, Jamestown Mayor Dwaine Heinrich has proclaimed March 31, 2020 as Equal Pay Day in Jamestown.  Equal Pay Day is the day that symbolizes when the typical woman working full time in the United States catches up to what a man was paid the previous year.

The committee recommends  the application for Renaissance Zone Incentives for up to a five (5) year, one hundred percent (100%) state income tax exemption and a one hundred (100%) five (5) year property tax exemption for Kevin D. & Colleen S. Koehn, (202 Lindwood Drive) pending approval by the State of North Dakota Department of Community Services.

The committee recommended approving the request by owners Richard and Lillian Dixon to deem unbuildable the parcel number 74-5621200 being underwater, and waive all special assessments in the amounts of $11,431.13 for the 2017 NW Watermain Replacement Project 17-61, $363.03 for the 15-41 project, and $11.81 for the 2007 Quiet Zone project, such costs to be paid by the City’s Special Assessment Deficiency Fund. The motion to approve, died for the lack of a second.

Considered was the JSDC request to pay the JSDC’s share of legal fees incurred by SEPA for the ND Soy vs SEPA lawsuit. The JSDC share through Feb 20, 2020 is $108,314.41. This does not include the GRE share of legal fees.   JSDC CEO Connie Ova explained that JSDC had approved and requests up to $110,000 total, with the City’s share being $99,000 (90% City, 10% County), to be funded through the JSDC’s share of City Sales Tax Fund.   Connie backgrounded the past history of the lawsuit, and expenses incurred by each entity.   The committee recommends approval.

The committee recommends for approval was the JSDC request to support Workforce Recruitment and fund the Career Builders (Loan Repayment) Reimbursement Program at $100,000 with the 80/20 City/County split, $80,000 being the City’s share, to be funded through the City Sales Tax Fund.

INFORMATIONAL:  An update was given on Eagle Flats Apartments project update, by City Attorney Leo Ryan, who said the projects paperwork was moving forward.

INFORMATIONAL: The appointments to the Forestry Committee (1 at-large member open position and the NDSU member position) are scheduled at the April 6, 2020, City Council meeting.

The committee discussed a temporary moratorium  on the retail sale of alcoholic beverages. City Attorney Leo Ryan is looking at language and amendments, in the draft, the item was moved to the Special City Council meeting agenda.

The meeting was shown live on CSi Cable 67, followed by replays.