Jamestown  (CSi)  Following Special Jamestown City Council meeting, the Council’s Finance & Legal Committee, Building Planning & Zoning Committee, and Civic Center & Promotion Committee met at City Hall.

All members were present.

 

CIVIC CENTER AND PROMOTION COMMITTEE BUSINESS:

The committee considered any action deemed necessary concerning communications received from the Frontier Village Association and Jamestown Tourism.

At the June 20, 2017  Jamestown City Council Civic Center and Promotion Committee meeting, Frontier Village Association, President Nellie Degen appeared, handing out material  in a seven-page document, including a copy of a letter of appeal concerning a decision by the Jamestown Tourism Board of Directors to not fund some projects at the village.

At the March 16, 2017 Tourism Capital Construction grant application meeting, the Tourism Board, voted unanimously to grant the General Store project, with $12,750 coming from the Capital Construction Fund, and $5,250 from the Grant Requests Fund. The board tabled the request for the Depot Building project.

The Tourism Grant/Exeuctive Board has discussed the FVA’s policies as they relate to Tourism funding and the Association’s accountability of grant dollars, along with general operational issues at Frontier Village.

At Tuesday’s City Council Committee meeting, Council Member Pam Phillips who holds the Civic Center and Promotion Committee portfolio said the committee has reviewed the information.

Nellie Degen said, any grant funding requests will also be submitted to the City Council for review.

She claimed that City Council Member Phillips has a conflict of interest.

However, Phillips said she is not a member of the Tourism Advisory Board, and attends meetings as a City Council representative and does not vote on grant requests.

Frontier Village Secretary Tina Busche read a letter from museum official Skip Drake, highlighting accomplishments by the FVA and Jamestown Tourism. He recommends ending any conflict between the two entities.

He disagrees with Tourism taking over the management of Frontier Village.

Busche said the FVA will be requesting $14,702 in grant funding for projects, in the next Capital Construction grant request period.

Jamestown Tourism Director Searle Swedlund outlined the budget requests, approvals and denials, and reapplication of the Depot building project request.

Mayor Andersen said the city has approved Capitol Construction Guidelines and feels comfortable with the guidelines, adding that Jamestown Tourism has abided by the guidelines, concerning allocation of funds and does not feel the guidelines need changing.

The city committee took no action of the Frontier Village appeal at Tuesday’s meeting.

Mayor Andersen said the city may look into any potential conflict of interest that Council Member Phillips may have.

In her opinion Phillips has no conflict of interest.

 

FINANCE & LEGAL COMMITTEE BUSINESS:

The committee recommends approval of the 2018 JSDC Budget.  CEO Connie Ova said salaries and expenses are the only increases showing in the budget, with the dollars requested the same as in 2017’s budget.

The committee will look into  amending a Section of the City Code pertaining to Temporary Alcohol Permits.

The committee recommends the City assuming the cost of all special assessments currently assessed and to be assessed as part of Paving District #16-42 in exchange for the deed of proposed Lot 1, Eastwood Second Subdivision (a replat of Lots 1 & 2, Block 1, Eastwood Estates Subdivision).

 

The committee recommends moving to the city council without recommendation entering into a license agreement with Arvig Enterprises, Inc., to place 10,634 feet of conduit and fiber optic cable within the City right-of-way as specified in the license agreement.  Clarification will be made concerning the project possibly in connection with Verizon Wireless.

Arvig is a subcontractor for Century Link.   Century Link has yet to come to an agreement with the city with the franchise agreement.

The committee recommends a flat two percent fee.

 

The committee recommends approving  the request from Stutsman Harley-Davidson for a dance permit in the parking lot located at 2501 3rd Ave SW on September 9, 2017.

 

Informational: The Second Reading of an Ordinance to amend and re-enact Chapter 5, Sections 5-1 and 5-11.1, of the City Code pertaining to Alcoholic Beverages, is scheduled for the August 7, 2017, City Council meeting.

Public Hearings on and final approval of special assessments are scheduled for the August 7, 2017

2017, City Council meeting on the following districts:

  1. Seal Coat , Patching, Construction and Reconstruction District #16-41
  2. Sanitary Sewer & Water District #16-31 & #16-61
  3. Southwest Water Main Replacement District #16-62

Departmental and financial reports were presented.

 

The committee discussed a procedure to fill the City Administrator’s position with the retirement of City Administrator Jeff Fuchs, effective December 31, 2017.

The required a six month notice was served by Fuchs to the city.

Fuchs serves as City Administrator and City Auditor.

Mayor Andersen pointed out a service provided by a firm to handle the advertising, background check and other provisions is available, including interviews if the city so chooses.  Another option is to conduct a service in-house.

The committee recommends hiring a firm previously used by the city, AE2S.

 

BUILDING, PLANNING & ZONING COMMITTEE

The committee recommends approving the plat of Eastwood Second Subdivision, a replat of Lots 1 & 2, Block 1, Eastwood Estates Subdivision.

Chairman of the City Planning Commission, Dave Hillerud spoke relative to Planning Commission action items for 2017.   He said the Planning Commission wants to compare its priority list with the city, and receive any input from the city.  He said SRF Consultants is available for input.

He said the Planning Commission will present the action items to the City Council, for consideration for the city Ordinance.

The committee recommends working with the Planning Commission.

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