Minutes of Meeting

CAMPUS SPACE AND FACILITIES COMMITTEE
Minutes of October 18, 2004 Meeting
Memorial Union - Meinecke Board Room

Committee Members present: Derald Bates, Kim Bromley, Verlin, Hinsz, Joseph Latimer, Bob Peterson, Kathleen Slobin, Cindy Urness, Dale Redmer, Craig Schnell, Justin Welch

Committee Members absent: Jason Isaacson (student), Dick Rayl

Ex-Officio Members present: Bruce Frantz, Tim Lee, Don Hanson, Gene Blumhardt

Ex-Officio Members absent: Paul Gleye

Others present: Gary Naurm, Jim Ross (ITS), Peter Cluever and Jerilyn Swenson (NDSU Student Chapter of ITE), Gina Haugen

18TH STREET TRAFFIC STUDY PRESENTATION
Peter Cluever and Jennifer Swensen, members of the NDSU Student Chapter of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), presented their findings on the Proposed College of Business Administration 18th Street and Centennial Boulevard Traffic and Pedestrian Study to the committee. A major concern with the proposed building is the safety of pedestrians as they cross 18th Street going to and coming from classes there.

The objectives of the study were to: 1) assess the traffic flow and patterns at the intersection of 18th Street and Centennial Boulevard; 2) predict the number of College of Business Administration pedestrians that will cross the street; and 3) develop options that will provide a safe means for pedestrians to cross. Data was collected for traffic circulation, traffic volumes, vehicle gap, signal warrant analysis, and pedestrian volume. (Since the CBA site is not yet developed, ITE found it necessary to project the pedestrian volume by using the classroom capacity of the building [770 student seats.])

ITE proposed these possible solutions:

Reduced speed zone – reducing the speed from 12th Avenue to 15th Avenue to something less than the current 35 mph.
Four-way stop – installing stop signs on the thoroughfare to hinder traffic flow.
Raised median with crosswalk – offering pedestrians a place of refuge at the intersections and to also encourage pedestrians to cross the street at this point.
Four-way traffic signal – creating a gap between vehicles that allows pedestrians to safely cross the street.
Four-way signal with median and reduced speed – combining several of the above options into one solution, i.e. install a four-way signal at the intersection of Centennial Boulevard and 18th Street with a raised median on 18th Street and a reduced speed restriction on the road 15 minutes before each hour until five minutes after.
Pedestrian underpass – installing an underpass on 18th Street at the location of the most direct route.

Current data supports only one of the four criteria needed for the installation of a traffic signal on the street, that being projected pedestrian volume. Discussion of the study followed by the committee members. No one solution was deemed to be the best for the area, so VP Schnell requested that the ITE Student Chapter do a statistical analysis of the area and data to be presented to the committee at a future date. He thanked the students for their efforts, and they left the meeting at this time.

APPROVAL of APRIL 28, 2004 MINUTES (Craig Schnell)
VP Craig Schnell chaired the meeting in the absence of chairperson, Dick Rayl. VP Schnell asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes of the April 28, 2004 meeting. There being none, Bob Peterson moved and Cindy Urness seconded the motion to accept the minutes. Motion carried.

SPACE SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT (Bruce Frantz)
Bruce Frantz provided the committee with background on the lack of office space for custodial supervisors on campus. Supervisors have given up their offices in many of the buildings due to a number of factors – departmental needs for that particular space, accommodation of mechanical changes necessary for facilities, or office locations being in violation of building codes. Facilities Management issued a request to the VP for Business and Finance for the space in the Engineering Technology building (rooms 210 and 211) vacated by Tri-College University in its relocation to the Downtown Campus. Due to the short period of time between the request by Facilities Management and the CSFC meeting, the subcommittee members were contacted via email for their recommendations on the space request. Justin Welch moved and Joe Latimer seconded that the request be approved. Discussion followed and a question was raised if there was a current policy in place for this process. VP Schnell indicated that NDSU Policy 715 – Space Allocation Policy and Procedures – addressed this type of item. A vote was called for and the motion passed.

PARKING LOTS AND FUNDS (Tim Lee)
Tim Lee provided members with background on parking lot projects proposed for the future. A question arose why the T2 Lot is being considered for expansion when this is a prime real estate area on the campus. Tim explained that if a building were placed in this area, there would still be a need for expanded parking to accommodate the occupants of that building along with the people currently parking in T2. Discussion then followed on the proposed College of Business building parking lot. Tim indicated that the lot is currently being estimated at 150 spaces but that projections include funding for 190 spaces due to past experience. The project would be paid for in 2007 with building occupancy slated for fall of 2006.

The committee then reviewed the parking funds information. Tim provided members with a breakdown of the revenue portion of the funds. Approximately $70,000 – 90,000 of the total revenue is obtained from the Visitor’s Lot; $70,000 from the metered lots; $70,000 from parking tickets and the balance from parking permit sales. He stated that the salary expense is paid from all of these sources except the permits; permit revenue is specifically used for parking lot repair, maintenance and construction.

PROPOSED 18TH STREET BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN TRAIL (Bruce Frantz)
Bruce Frantz conveyed to the committee the City’s intent to construct a 10’ wide concrete bike/pedestrian trail along 18th Street between 12th and 19th Avenues North. With a 10’ setback from the curb line planned for the path, continuance issues arise for NDSU on both the east and west sides of the street, such as the Living Learning Center, Wellness Center, and Ellig Sports Complex on the east side and the Animal Nutrition and Physiology Center, OSEH, College of Business building, 100 year plots, plant museum, and Horticulture Gardens on the west side. After discussion with several of the affected areas on campus, the feedback indicated that the west side of 18th would be least problematic because most of the conflicts deal with future, rather than present, construction. Bruce indicated to the City that NDSU would need to be involved in their planning process for the trail, and he was awaiting their response.

WELLNESS CENTER ADDITION (Gary Narum)
Gary Narum provided committee members with information on the proposed $12 million Wellness Center expansion, slated for a fall 2007 opening. The expansion would include a climbing wall, basketball and racquetball courts, a suspended running track, an additional group exercise studio, martial arts/spinning studios, additional cardio and strength space and equipment, and the relocation and expansion of the Intramural Program for NDSU. The project is scheduled to go before the 2005 Legislative Assembly in January for approval, and then NDSU would sell bonds for the expansion in the fall. Groundbreaking is planned for April 2006. Bob Peterson made a motion and Derald Bates seconded it that the committee approve the recommendation for the project. Discussion followed on how the expansion would affect the Bison Sports Arena and the services it provides. Gary indicated that intramurals would move to the Wellness Center and that the students had been involved throughout the planning process, being surveyed on their needs and wants concerning the expansion. They overwhelmingly approved the expansion and the related student fee increase that would fund the project during the spring 2004 student elections. VP Schnell called for a vote, and the motion carried.

“BABBLING BROOK” NAMING PROCESS (Bruce Frantz)
Bruce Frantz reported that the campus fountains had been removed because the liners were irreparable and that they were now a part of NDSU’s history. The fountains were replaced with a “babbling brook”, which was the concept and class project of the late Dennis Colliton. Dennis had been instrumental in many campus projects, including the reopening of the campus gate and the previous fountain area. He had provided his time on many other projects, too, so it was suggested that the “babbling brook” project be named after him.

Discussion followed on the naming process for buildings/areas on campus. NDUS policy 902.12 states that the SBHE has final authority to name campus buildings and portions thereof and that all requests are to be submitted by presidents through the Chancellor to the Board. Kathleen Slobin stated that she thought the project was a good idea but that it was a “mystery” to the campus during its construction. She suggested that the naming process be opened up to the campus community to be more democratic and so that it did not become another private channel issue. VP Schnell then asked for process suggestions. Because a majority of the CSFC are new members, they indicated that the process was fairly new to them, so it was suggested that the project be featured in campus news venues prior to its naming. The item was tabled for the spring CSFC meeting.

Bruce indicated in his report that the original project concept had included sculpture(s) of wild mustang horses situated around the brook area. This idea was then changed to bison. A question arose on the type of bison proposed. Bruce stated that it would be a family of three bison, much like the rebar bison featured on the grounds of the Heritage Center in Bismarck. The addition of the bison would be phase two of the project when funding could be identified. Kim Bromley then indicated that he felt that the Arboretum Committee needed to be involved with campus beautification decisions such as this. He stated that sculpture is important to campus appearance and that the brook area could be a draw for NDSU much like the sculpture garden is for UND.

PROJECT UPDATES (Bruce Frantz)
Bruce updated the committee on the following projects:

Memorial Union Addition – legislative approval in January 2005; groundbreaking in spring 2005; twenty-seven month construction period; 40,000 additional square feet to east of current building and also renovation of current facility.
College of Business building – champion locust tree will be sacrificed for the north wing of the building; construction next spring – same as Memorial Union project with same architect; fall 2006 completion date; design/development process occurring now with bid documents in January or February; good bid climate
Downtown facility – moved into building but not completed; punch list of items still needing to complete.
Bison Court – on schedule for fall 2005 occupancy for both buildings (weather permitting.

NEW BUSINESS
Kathleen Slobin stated that there is a need for lactation rooms and diaper changing areas on campus, especially in FLC. Is this being considered in new building construction? (She discussed this issue with Sandy Holbrook, but the issue was referred back to Kathleen.) Bruce Frantz indicated that he would follow-up on this and would get back to Kathleen.

Kim Bromley commented that he believed there should be a funding percentage stipulated for art in major building projects for murals, sculptures, etc. Bruce Frantz and Don Hanson indicated that art is the first thing that is cut/deleted when costs are a factor. VP Schnell conveyed that philanthropy is the best place to address art funding.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Gina Haugen
Assistant to the Vice President for Business and Finance