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02-03-1997 CC MINMEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1997 Members Present: Vice Mayor Dietz, Councilmembers Holmgren, Farber, and Thompson Members Absent: Mayor Duitsman Staff Present: Pat Klaers, City Administrator; Sandra Thackeray, City Clerk; Bruce West, Fire Chief; Phil Hals, Street/Park Superintendent; Bryan Adams, Utilities General Manager 1. Call Meetinq To Order Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River City Council was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Vice Mayor Dietz. Vice Mayor Dietz recessed the Council meeting at 6:02 p.m. The City Council left the Council Chambers to look at the two snowmobiles that had been donated to the police department for snowmobile enforcement. Vice Mayor Dietz reconvened the City Council at 6:10 p.m. 2. Consider Aqenda COUNClLMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 3, 1997, CITY COUNCIL AGENDA. COUNCILMEMBER THOMPSON SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 3-0. 3.1. Consider Purchase of Two Emerqency Warninq Sirens Fire Chief Bruce West stated that he has received two quotes for the purchase of two emergency sirens to be located in the city. He indicated that these sirens have been included in the 1997 budget under equipment reserves. The Fire Chief indicated that he discussed the location of the two new sirens with Glenn Sundeen of Elk River Utilities. He indicated that one siren will be located at 209th Avenue NW and Hoover Street and the other siren will be located at Proctor Road and 201st Avenue. Bruce West reviewed future siren locations with the City Council. Bruce West indicated that the 1997 equipment reserve budget also includes money to upgrade one siren location. He stated that the siren located at the Freeport water tower is currently on a 40 foot pole and that he is proposing to replace this pole with a 55 foot pole. Discussion was held regarding the number of sirens needed to completely cover the City of Elk River and the timeframe it would take to accomplish this. Councilmember Farber indicated he would like to see the city continue budgeting for two sirens per year until the city is entirely covered. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER MOVED TO ACCEPT THE QUOTE FROM FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $21,153.50 FOR THE PURCHASE OF TWO SIRENS INCLUDING THE COST FOR THE POLES AND ELECTRICAL HOOK UP TOTALING Elk River City Council Meeting February 3, 1997 Page 2 APPROXIMATELY $26,800. VICE MAYOR DIETZ SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 3.2. Consider Approval to Hire Three Firefi.qhters Fire Chief Bruce West indicated that the Elk River Fire Department Personnel Committee is submitting the names of three firefighter candidates for the position of paid on call firefighter. He indicated that those who have been selected are Stacy Olsen, Mark Richardson, and Tony Lee-Johnson. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER MOVED TO HIRE STACY OLSEN, MARK RICHARDSON, AND TONY LEE-JOHNSON AS PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS FOR THE ELK RIVER FIRE DEPARTMENT. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 3.3. Consider Request for Residential Kennel License City Clerk Sandra Thackeray indicated that Laura Hess-Ulman has made application for a private kennel license. She stated that Ms. Hess-Ulman has five cats and resides in a residential district. She further indicated that the application and license fee has been submitted and that the community service officer has inspected the premises. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER MOVED TO APPROVE A PRIVATE KENNEL LICENSE FOR LAURA HESS-ULMAN AT 21498 VERNON STREET. COUNCILMEMBER THOMPSON SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 3.4. Consider Hirin,q Part Time Receptionist for Police Department City Administrator Pat Klaers indicated that the Police Department has been advertising for a part time receptionist position for several months. He further indicated that the applicant whom the Police Chief was going to recommend for hiring has withdrawn. The City Administrator indicated that because the Police Department is having difficulty in filling this part time position, he is requesting to readvertise the position for 20 to 40 hours at $8.00 per hour. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO READVERTISE FOR THE POSITION OF PART TIME POLICE RECEPTIONIST WITH A RANGE FROM 20 TO 40 HOURS PER WEEK AT $8.00 PER HOUR. COUNCILMEMBER THOMPSON SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 3.5. Elk Terrace Mobile Home Park COUNCILMEMBER THOMPSON MOVED TO CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING OF THE ELK TERRACE MOBILE HOME PARK ISSUE, CASE NO. GP 96-2, TO FEBRUARY 18, 1997, 7:00 P.M., TO BE HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 3.6. Update on January Snow Removal Activities Street/Park Superintendent Phil Hals updated the Council on recent snow removal activities. Phil Hals commented on the unusual amounts of snowfall received so far to date. He indicated that the city has used 110 percent of its Elk River City Council Meeting February 3, 1997 Page 3 requested salt/sand for the entire season and further stated that the Street crew has plowed snow 18 times this season and is in the process of hauling snow from the downtown area and from some major intersections. 3.7. Discussion on Concerns over Sprin,q Floodin,q Issues Street/Pari< Superintendent and Fire Chief Bruce West updated the City Council on the possibility of flooding during the spring thaw. Bruce West indicated that he will be meeting with a representative of the Police Department, Street Department, and the County to begin preparations for possible flooding of homes and of Highway 10 in the City of Ell< River this spring. Phil Hals informed the Council that it is the Street Department's intention to accommodate homeowners with sand bags and sand at no charge. Discussion was held in regard to the amount of assistance the city should provide for homeowners who are experiencing flooding. It was the consensus of the Council to authorize the Street/Pari< Superintendent to put together a draft policy indicating that there will be no charge for sand and sand bags and indicating that the city will assist as much as practicable. 3.8. Update on Ice Arena Project City Administrator Pat Klaers updated the City Council on the completion of the ice arena and on the ice arena open house which was held February 2. 3.9. Update on Utilities Commission Decision for Rate Increases Utilities General Manager Bryan Adams discussed with the Council the decision of the Utilities Commission to increase the water and electrical rates. He stated that the cost of water utilities has not been increased since 1984 and the cost of electric utilities has not been increased since 1990. He indicated that Municipal Utilities has realigned the electric rates to more accurately reflect the present cost of purchasing and providing electrical power. He further stated that the increase in the rates is necessary due to the growth Eli< River has experienced. 3.10. Call Special Meetinq of the City Council COUNCILMEMBER FARBER MOVED TO CALL A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1997, AT 6:00 P.M. FOR A BOARD OF EQUALIZATION MEETING TO BE HELD AT THE SHERBURNE COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER. COUNCILMEMBER THOMPSON SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 3.11. Checi< Reqister COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO APPROVE THE CHECK REGISTER. COUNCILMEMBER THOMPSON SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 4. Open Mike No one appeared for this item. Elk River City Council Meeting February 3, 1997 Page 4 5. Administration Department Annual Report City Clerk Sandra Thackeray presented the 1996 Administration Department Annual Report. 6. Other Business There was no other business. 7. Staff Updates Utility Valuations and Derequlation City Administrator Pat Klaers distributed a letter from Sherburne County inviting city representatives to discuss proposed deregulation and utility valuation and its impact on cities, counties, and school districts. He indicated the meeting will be held February 6, 1997, at 10:00 a.m. in the Sherburne County Board Room. Fire Department Compensation COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO HOLD A SPECIAL COUNCIL WORKSESSlON ON MARCH 3, 1997, AT 5:00 P.M. TO DISCUSS FIRE DEPARTMENT COMPENSATION ISSUES. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. The City Administrator indicated that the Fire Department is requesting to meet with the City Council on March 31s~ to discuss Fire Department Compensation issues. It was the consensus of the City Council that it would not be able to meet on March 31s*. The City Administrator indicated that he would try to arrange another meeting date. The City Administrator indicated that the Council would be receiving a written update on landfill issues from Steve Rohlf in the near future. The City Administrator informed the Council that the land purchase for the Westbound Liquor Store site has been finalized. 8. Adjournment There being no further business, COUNCILMEMBER FARBER MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETNG. COUNCILMEMBER THOMPSON SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. The meeting of the Elk River City Council was adjourned at 7:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Sandra Thackeray :' City Clerk