04-26-90 Safety Comm Minutest' l
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SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING
APRIL 26, 1990
PRESENT ARE: CHAIRMAN DUANE LARSON, MAYOR ROGER HOPKINS, COUNCILMEN
GARY NYSTUL, FRED BUCK AND LOREN GRANMO, POLICE CHIEF AD CLARK, AND LT.
RON YOUNG.
ALSO PRESENT ARE: BARBARA SKARSTEDT FROM NORTHWESTERN TELEPHONE SYSTEMS
AND STEVE COONEY FROM KALISPELL BAR.
THE MEETING WAS BROUGHT TO ORDER AT 7:03 A.M. BY CHAIRMAN LARSON. THE
FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS WAS THE GAMBLING PROPOSAL THAT WAS PRESENTED BY
STEVE COONEY. THIS IS TO EXTEND THE GAMBLING HOURS FROM 2:00 A.M. TO
4:00 A.M.
DISCUSSION BY CHIEF CLARK AND _CHAIRMAN LARSON: CHIEF CLARK HAD CONCERN
REGARDING THE EXTRA BURDEN OF PERFORMING CHECKS ON THE CASINO'S AND
BARS. CHIEF CLARK ASKED FOR A COMMENT FROM LT. RON YOUNG AS TO THE
EXTRA MAN HOURS NEEDED TO CHECK THESE ESTABLISHMENTS FOR AFTER HOUR
LIQUOR SALE OR CONSUMPTION AND OTHER CONCERNS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
STEVE COONEY: FEELS THAT ONLY ABOUT SIX ESTABLISHMENTS ARE GOING TO
WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS AND THAT SERVING FOOD AND COFFEE AFTER BAR
• HOURS WILL HELP IN KEEPING INTOXICATED DRIVERS OFF THE STREETS. HE ALSO
FEELS WITH THE SUMMER TOURIST INDUSTRY COMING UP, THE REVENUE FOR THE
CITY WOULD BE GREAT. THIS PROPOSAL WOULD BE TO EXTEND THE HOURS, NOT TO
SHORTEN THEM IN THE MORNING TO MAKE THEM LONGER AFTER BAR CLOSING.
DISCUSSION
C.N_YSTUL RECOMMENDS GIVING THIS A TRY AND TO BE REVISITED AFTER LABOR
DAY - -
CHAIRMAN :.ARSON MADE MOTION TO RECOMMEND THIS TO THE COUNCIL.
C. BUCK SECONDED THE MOTION
ALL PRESENT CONCURRED
BARBARA SKARSTEDT IS CONCERNED ABOUT A TRAFFIC PROBLEM ON W. WASHINGTON
AT IST AVE. W.N. THE CONCERNS ARE ABOUT SEVERAL ACCIDENTS AND NEAR
ACCIDENTS AT THAT INTERSECTION. SHE ALSO HAS A CONCERN ABOUT THE ALLEY
BEHIND THE TELEPHONE OFFICE. WOULD ALSO REQUEST CONSIDERATION IN MAKING
THAT A ONE WAY ALLEY. A TRAFFIC STUDY IS BEING DONE AT THIS TIME WITH
COUNTERS OUT THERE NOW. A FOUR WAY STOP SIGN IS REQUESTED AT 1ST AVE.
W.N. AND W. WASHINGTON.
COMMENTS 8Y CHIEF CLARK SUGGESTS A STOP SIGN BE PUT THERE, BUT NOT UNTIL
• THE TRAFFIC STUDIES ARE COMPLETE.
JISCUSSIO:i FOLLOWED
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THE COMMITTEE AGREED TO DO WHAT THEY COULD FOR NOW, BUT TO WAIT UNTIL
THE TRAFFIC STUDY IS BACK BEFORE DOING ANYTHING PERMANENT.
SKATEBOARDS. IT WAS AGREED BY THE COMMITTEE TO TABLE THIS TOPIC FOR 60
DAYS, OR UNTIL JUNE 1ST, BUT WITH THE CONTINUED PROBLEMS CONCERNING
SKATEBOARDING SOME DIRECTION FROM THE COUNCIL MAY BE NEEDED EARLIER.
DISCUSSION FOLLOWED
THE COMMITTEE AGREED TO LEAVE THIS AS IS UNTIL JUNE IST AND TAKE TIME TO
WORK OUT DETAILS OF THIS ORDINANCE; WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE IT LESS
RESTRICTIVE, BUT YET RESTRICTIVE ENOUGH TO COVER THE MAIN AREAS OF
CONCERN.
ATTORNEY _DAVIDORTLEY, WAS PRESENT TO SUGGEST TO THE COMMITTEE THAT
CITY ATTORNEY NEIER MAY BE IN NEED OF SOME ASSISTANCE IN THAT OFFICE.
THE BELIEF IS THAT ONE ATTORNEY CAN'T HANDLE BOTH CIVIL AND CRIMINAL
CASES WITHOUT AN ASSISTANT, A PROSECUTOR WITH A BACK GROUND IN CRIMINAL
LAW IS NEEDED. THE HIRING OF A PROSECUTOR COULD BE DONE TWO WAYS; ONE
IS TO HIRE A PART TIME PROSECUTOR WORKING AS A CITY EMPLOYEE, OR HIRE
• CONTRACT LABOR. MR. ORTLEY IS WILLING TO COMMIT HIMSELF TO EITHER.
DISCUSSION FOLLOWED_ CONCERNING LOSS OF REVENUE FROM LACK OF PROSECUTION
AND DISMISSAL OF PARKING TICKET_ FINES.
C. NYSTUL SUGGESTED THAT THE MAYOR SHOULD BE REQUESTED TO GATHER SOME
DATA FROM THE COURTS AND POT ICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT THIS ISSUE THAT HAS
BEEN BROUGHT UP BEFORE AND THEN ASK FOR A MEETING SPECIFICALLY TO
ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY PRESENT, WHICH WOULD GIVE HIM
A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO THE NUMBERS FOUND.
CHAIRMAN LARSON REQUESTS THAT THIS ISSUE BE REVISITED AT A LATER TIME.
C. GRANMO REQUESTED TO KNOW WHICH INTERSECTIONS HAVE BEEN
STUDIED BY THE STATE.
CHIEF C_L_A_RK STATED TRAFFIC ITEM 46, STATE STUDY, A LETTER FROM THE STATE
WITH RECOMMENDATIONS, AND IN SOME CASES THEY SUGGEST NOTHING BE DONE.
CHIEF CLARK BELIEVES THESE INTERSECTIONS ARE ONES THAT ACCIDENT
INVESTIGATORS REQUESTED BE STUDIED AND IS A TOTAL OF FIVE INTERSECTIONS
AND THERE IS ONLY A COUPLE OF THEM THAT THEY SUGGEST DOING ANYTHING
WITH. COPIES OF THIS STUDY WILL BE MADE AND GIVEN TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS
AND REVISITED AT A LATER TIME.
CHIEF CLAR_K_ GAVE AN INFORMATIONAL REPORT ON THE 30 MINUTE PARKING ZONES.
JUST WANTS THE COMMITTEE TO KNOW HE IS WORKING ON RESOLVING THE PROBLEM
el
BEING CONSISTENT AND DID FIND ORDINANCES THAT COVER THAT ISSUE;
ORDINANCE 3 1068, 1030 AND 1093. THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN
CONTACTED AND WILL ERECT SIGNS IN THE PROPER PLACES OF CONCERN.
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CHIEF CL_A_R_K_ TOOK THIS TIME TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE
D.A.R.E. VEHICLE AND REPORTS THAT HE DID FIND A LINE ITEM FOR SCHOOL
TRAVEL, SO THERE WILL BE NO COST TO THE CITY FOR INSURANCE, ETC. CHIEF
CLARK WILL WORK WITH AMY TO SET THIS UP.
C. NYSTUL WONDERED IF THERE WAS ANY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPOR'_':'HS ON
MCAT WALK* AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT 70 HANDLE :TEAT DUCTS AND 'WONDERED IF
IT WOULD BE MORE FEASIBLE TO LOOK Am. MOVEABLE PORTABLE SCAFFOLDS TO BE
USED FOR DUAL PURPOSES OF [TEAT DUCTS AND CHANGING OF LIGHT 5ULSS_
DISCUSSTON FOLLOWED AND CCH12F CLArtK SHARED ?:.S CONCERN A?i,U'; _.:F_ AWNING
OVER ONE OF THE 3ACK !_lc= ^_EDEPARTMENT, WHERE 3NE FFIC R
WAS IN Rf- W 7 N7_ R
TAI tMA� LARSON ri:_ :'EtiTICN '_` 1._ NEXT CvM2 UN`_TY 'J-EVE: GP.!EN :!-E::.:
^E SHARED CONCERNS uVE3 _ .= AWNINGS AT THE BACK OF THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT _
MAYOR HOPK:NS HAS A C";NCERN. A50'1T_ THE SIGNAL LIGHTS ON MAIN STREET WHICH
HE HAS TALKED TO JERRY DIEGEL ABOUT. THE CONCERN IS AN EIGHT PHASE
CONTROLLER AT MAIN AND IDAHO WORKING AT ONLY FOUR PHASES. A STUDY IS
BEING DONE BY THE STATE AT THIS TIME AT THE REOUEST OF THE MAYOR.
DISCUSSION FOLLOWED
MEETING ADJOURNED BY CHAIRMAN LARSON AT 9:17 A.M.
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