Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Minot City Council approves routine contracts, ordinances and loan application; several items unanimous
Summary
At its Feb. 3 meeting the Minot City Council approved a 19-item consent agenda and a series of contracts, ordinance readings and financing actions. Most items passed unanimously; the council recorded a 5–2 vote on appointment direction for the police chief search.
Minot City Council members approved a series of routine contracts, ordinance readings and financing steps during their Feb. 3 meeting, including a 19-item consent agenda and several professional services agreements. Most motions passed unanimously; one personnel-direction vote on police leadership carried 5–2.
The council approved the consent agenda (19 items) without discussion. Council members then approved the following action items by voice vote unless noted otherwise: a contract with Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. for airport snow removal equipment acquisition (agenda item 6.1); pavement-marking work on Eighth Avenue SE at Burdick Expressway (6.2); continuing the fall cleanup week program (6.3); a two-year phased transit analysis and ADA complementary paratransit plan/service agreement (6.4); design services for the airport general aviation access road rehabilitation project (6.5); first-reading approval of a Chapter 23 lighting ordinance (6.6); first-reading approval of a Chapter 23 noise ordinance (6.7); a State Revolving Fund loan application for lead service line identification and replacement (6.8); an amendment to sidewalk snow- and ice-removal rules (6.9); a settlement agreement (6.10); approval of an interim police chief agreement in the form of Alternative 2 (6.11, vote 5–2); authorization to reimburse travel for a candidate to attend the meeting (travel costs for Mr. Otterness, passed unanimously); and authorization to procure human resources director recruitment services (6.12).
The council recorded unanimous passage of the consent agenda and most following items. The council recorded a non-unanimous result on the interim police chief direction: the motion to keep Captain Plasus as interim chief and to proceed immediately with a nationwide search for a permanent chief passed 5–2 (Aldermen Janser and Ross opposed). The meeting minutes show the council then approved payment of travel costs for an outside candidate to attend without recorded dissension.
Several agenda items drew only brief discussion from council or staff before votes; others were the subject of fuller debate recorded elsewhere on the agenda. Staff indicated that many of the procurement items are routine professional services or project design approvals with costs and schedules summarized in the meeting packet.
Votes at a glance (selected items) - Consent agenda (19 items): approved, unanimous. - 6.1 Airport snow removal equipment contract (Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc.): approved, unanimous. - 6.2 Eighth Avenue SE/Burdick Expressway pavement markings: approved, unanimous. - 6.3 Fall cleanup week: motion to continue fall curbside cleanup approved, unanimous. - 6.4 Transit two-year phased approach and ADA paratransit plan: staff recommendation approved, unanimous. - 6.5 Airport general aviation access road rehabilitation design services: approved, unanimous. - 6.6 Chapter 23 lighting ordinance (first reading): approved, unanimous; council asked staff to clarify the ordinance’s definition of “strobing.” - 6.7 Chapter 23 noise ordinance (first reading): approved, unanimous; the proposed ordinance raises the outdoor residential daytime/typical threshold from 55 to 60 decibels; staff said they will meet with affected parties to review reasonableness standards and exemptions. - 6.8 SRF loan application for lead service line work: approved, unanimous. - 6.9 Sidewalk snow/ice removal ordinance amendments: approved, unanimous. - 6.10 Settlement agreement: approved, unanimous. - 6.11 Interim police chief agreement (Alternative 2): approved 5–2 (Janser, Ross opposed). Direction included that the interim chief maintain the status quo while the city begins a national recruitment process. - Authorization to reimburse travel costs for an outside candidate: approved, unanimous. - 6.12 HR director recruitment services: approved, unanimous.
What to expect next: ordinances receiving first reading will return for a second reading before final adoption. Staff said they will follow up with involved parties on noise-ordinance concerns and prepare any necessary clarifications for the next reading of the lighting ordinance.
The council’s packet and minutes contain the formal procurement documents, ordinance text and loan-application materials for members of the public who want details on scope, budget and vendor names.
