06-14-2010 CCM. MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL
HELD AT THE CITY OF ELK RIVER (UPPER TOWN CONFERENCE ROOM)
MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2010
Members Present: Z\-Zayor Klinzing, Councilmembers ~X~estgaard, I\-'Iotin, and Zer«~as
Members Absent: Councilmember Gumphrey
Staff Present: Cite Administrator Lori Johnson, Finance Director Tim Simon, Economic
Deg-elopment Director Catherine Mehelich, Police Chief Jeff Beahen, and
City Clerk Tina Allard
Call Meeting To Order
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River CitST Council was called
to order at 6:00 p.m. by Mayor K]inzing.
2. Consider Council Agenda
"Consider Hiring a City Engineer" was added to Staff Update.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER WESTGAARD AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED.
MOTION CARRIED 4-0.
3. Consider Consent Agenda
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER ZERWAS AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER WESTGAARD TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING
CONSENT AGENDA:
3.1. TEMPORARY SALES AND STORAGE FIREWORKS LICENSE TO THE
FOLLOWING WITH ALL TENTS TO BE REMOVED BY JULY 11, 2010:
1. TNT FIREWORKS IN WALMART PARKING LOT.
2. RENAISSANCE FIREWORKS IN MENARDS AND CUB FOODS
PARKING LOT.
3. QUENTIN NELSON (FIREWORKS FREEDOM AND FUN) IN
VACANT PARKING LOT AT 18130 ZANE STREET WITH THE
CONDITION THAT THE AREA ON AND AROUND THE
LOCATION OF THE SALES TENT SHALL BE MOWED AND A 25
FOOT BUFFER AREA AROUND THE TENT SHALL ALSO BE
MOWED.
3.2. RENEWAL OF LIQUOR LICENSES AS OUTLINED IN THE STAFF
REPORT.
3.3. COMMERICAL KENNEL LICENSE TO NORA AND BOB
MCLAUGHLIN DBA RIN TIN INN KENNEL VALID TO DECEMBER
31, 2010, CONTINGENT UPON PROOF OF WORKER'S
COMPENSATION INSURANCE.
• 3.4. PRYROTECHNIC DISPLAY LICENSE TO RES SPECIALTY
PYROTECHNICS VALID JULY 4, 2010 LOCATED AT THE ELK RIVER
CitS~ Council Minutes
June 14, 2010
Page 2
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL FIELD WITH THE CONDITION THE •
FIRE DEPARTMENT BE PRESENT.
MOTION CARRIED 4-0.
4. Open 1\Tike
No one appeared for open mike.
5.1. Communications Policv
-ls. Allard presented the staff report.
Council requested the following changes:
^ Update board/commission handbook to address open meeting law concerns with social
media.
^ Information on city personnel should be directed to Human Resources.
^ Include a policy statement on social media sites that states the cite reserves the right to
remove any comments that include offensive language.
^ Under Communicating on Behalf of the CitS-:
o Change the last bullet point to "Personal opinions don't belong in official city
statements." Delete last sentence.
o Other employees may represent the city only if approved by one of these individuals
to communicate on a specific topic.
^ Under ask die media representative for the following: •
o Include asking which organization die media contact is representing.
It vas Council consensus to allow comments and discussion boards on social media sites.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER WESTGAARD TO APPROVE THE COMMUNICATIONS
POLICY. MOTION CARRIED 4-0.
5.2. Goal/Visioning Proposal
Ms. Johnson presented the staff report.
Various Councilmembers questioned the following:
Council re~riew process: When does Council get input? Want to make sure it doesn't
happen too late in the process. Would like to see items that may have been rejected and
the reasons for rejection. Would also like to know if staff feels there are things they can't
accomplish. Ms. Johnson is to check with the facilitator regarding when to include
Council in dze process.
Teambuilding. Felt staff had requested this as being more important than vision and
goal setting. Didn't want to see it come back next year as an additional need.
Implementation. It was felt that implementation is critical and want to see measurable
results.
Ms. Johnson stated the goals/visioning process will include the teambuilding component. •
She noted staff requested this approach. She stated the facilitator will come back once the
CitS~ Council Minutes
June 14, 2010
Page 3
implementation phase has started to gauge the results and develop additional steps that may
be needed in areas that aren't working well.
Ron Touchette, EDA Commissioner -Stated he is going through a similar process with
the Economic Development Authorit5j and Energy CitS~ Commission and felt this is an
important and needed step. He stated staff and the other commissions need dv-ection as a
city= and noted flat due to the change in the economy there have been difficult challenges in
the last few years. He stated this process would be beneficial to creating an internal
cohesiveness and would help with establishing the Elk River brand.
Chief Beahen discussed the facilitator's background. He noted each department has
indi~ndual goals but asked what the direction is that everyone should be following. He stated
e~=erg=one should be moving toward the same central ~=ision/goal of the city.
Ms. ~Iehelich encouraged the Council to participate in the ~=isioning process.
Mayor Klirizing noted that there are five individuals on the Council who don't always agree.
She stated she feels Council is clear on their direction to staff but that we all need to come to
a place where it is felt that the direction is clear.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER WESTGAARD AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO CONTRACT WITH
JERMAINE DAVIS SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS, INC TO FACILITATE
DISCUSSION ON CREATING AND ACHIEVING ELK RIVER'S PURPOSE,
VISION, AND GOALS WITH $5,000 OF FUNDS COMING FROM COUNCIL
CONTINGENCY. MOTION CARRIED 4-0.
5.3. Transit Improvement Area Designation
Ms. Mehelich presented the staff report. She stated this designation would sere=e the
following purposes:
^ an additional marketing tool for private development.
^ put the city in a position to better access state and federal funds when they
become available.
^ allow the MN Department of Employment and Economic Development to
lobby legislators for multiple transit improvement areas funding.
It was Council consensus that staff should proceed in preparing an application for
designation of a Transit Improvement Area around the Elk River Northstar Commuter Rail
station.
5.4. Discuss 1~.leeting with Sherburne County
Mayor Klinzing stated she went to a Sherburne County Board meeting to apologize about
the scheduling issues with their joint meeting. She suggested meeting with the Commission
during the day at one of their meetings.
It was Council consensus to determine possible timeframes to meet with the Commission
for a special joint meeting.
Ms. Johnson will contact County staff to arrange a meeting.
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June 14, ?010
Page 4
5.5. Council Open Forum
There was no discussion.
6. Other Business
There was no other business.
7. Council Updates
There were no Council updates.
8. Staff Updates
Call Closed Session
Ms. Johnson requested Council call a closed session in order to discuss landfill litigation.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER ZERWAS AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER WESTGAARD TO CALL A SPECIAL CLOSED MEETING
FOR 5:30 P.M., JUNE 21, 2010, IN ORDER TO DISCUSS LANDFILL
LITIGATION. MOTION CARRIED 4-0.
Dove Ta ee Conduit Bond
1\-ls. Johnson informed the Council that there may be an item on the next agenda regarding
the Dove Tree Apartments Conduit Bonding.
Consider Hi~zng City Engineer
Ms. Johnson presented the staff report she distributed to the Council.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER ZERWAS AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER WESTGAARD TO HIRE JUSTIN FEMRITE AT STEP C
PAY GRADE 14 WITH A START DATE OF JULY 2G, 2010. MOTION CARRIED
4-0.
Council recessed at 7:30 p.m. in order to meet at the public safety facility for a tour.
TOUR PUBLIC ~XjORKS FACILITY
Council toured the public works facility.
10. Adjournment
There being no further business, Mayor Klinzing adjourned the meeting of the Elk River
City Council at 8:15 p.m.
Tina Allard, CitS~ Clerk
..__
Stephani ~linzing, May