3:43 p.m. - The Bismarck City Commission gave its blessing along with a street to the Downtown Association-sponsored Farmers Market/Urban Harvest event scheduled for every Thursday in July and August.

In fact, the commission gave Downtowner executive director Cody Strothman more than she asked for. At the last meeting Strothman asked that Broadway, between Fourth and Fifth streets, be blocked off for the event, allowing vendors to set up and crowds to mill throughout the area. Commissioners had some concerns about traffic and emergency access and asked Strothman to update the plan to provide an emergency lane through the blocked off street.

The new plan called for blocking off the south half of Fourth Street between Broadway and Thayer and providing a 14 foot emergency access lane which could be opened if necessary.

Strothman said some of the businesses in the area had concerns with the original plan which would cost them 22 parking spots through the entire day each week. So she revised the plan calling for only 10 parking spots be barricaded from use. The Broadway plan would have allowed traffic through, but concerns were raised about safety of pedestrians, so Strothman changed the plan to block off the south half of Fourth Street with traffic exiting the parking ramp and going north rather than south down the one way street as it usually does.

With police chief Deborah Ness, fire chief Joel Boespflug and city engineer Mel Bullinger finding no fault with the new plan, commissioners decided to block off the entire street rather than just the south half.

Ramona Lopez, executive director for Urban Harvest, told commissioners the intent of the event is to create an open air market where local produce, artisans, crafters and entertainers will be available. The event will run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each Thursday.

"This isn't so much about the purchasing, but about building community spirit," Lopez said. "By supporting Urban Harvest you're creating a safe place, letting the community support the local economy."

"I think this will be fantastic for downtown, though there will be some inconveniences," Mayor John Warford said. "But if you look at the pros and cons, the betterment for the community and young people who are running this outweigh some traffic problems."

In other action the Bismarck City Commission:

3 Approved the temporary staffing of personnel in the police department as two officers are called into active duty by the military.

3 Approved providing $4,000 to State Radio to help insure interoperability of operations. The funds will be provided through Homeland Security money.

3 Approved a land exchange between the city and JL Partnership. The land is necessary for the infrastructure and development of the Northern Plains Commerce Centre.

3 Approved a resolution allowing the police department to negotiate for additional detention space as recommended by the alternative detention facility committee. Commissioner Bryce Hill, who holds the law enforcement portfolio, says the city needs to secure an additional 40 beds for municipal prisoners. Further information will be provided at future commission meetings.

3 Approved providing easements to the North Dakota Department of Transportation necessary for construction of the new Memorial Bridge.

3 Approved an agreement with NDDOT for upgrading of railroad crossings on Rosser Avenue and Yegen Road. The city will provide 10 percent of the cost for the improvements.

3 Approved an engineering and design contract with Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson Inc. for the Northern Plains Commerce Centre for $376,200 along with the NPCC's final plat.

3 Approved a Bis-Man Transit request to purchase video and audio recording equipment for its city buses and a logger system which will record all incoming and outgoing phone calls along with radio transmissions.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@bismarcktribune.com.)