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3.0. SR 02-10-1997~ty of iver FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: MEMORANDUM Mayor & City Council Pat Klaers, City Admin~ February 10, 1997 ~ Joint Meeting with District No. 728 School Board The joint meeting between the Elk River City Council and the District No. 728 School Board has been scheduled for 7 p.m., Monday, February 10, 1997, following the EDA meeting. This joint meeting will be held in the Elk River City Hall Training Room. There are two new School Board members that have recently been elected (and one new Councilmember) and this will be a good opportunity for everyone to get to know each other and to become familiar with issues of mutual concern. Attached for your review are the minutes from the last joint meeting which was held on 1/29/96. Most of the items discussed at the joint meeting last year are again on the agenda for this upcoming meeting. JOINT MEETING TOPICS Youth Issues and Activities- School Superintendent Dr. Flannery has requested that this item be on the agenda. One of the issues of concern for Dr. Flannery is the increase in drug usage by students. One approach that Dr. Flannery will be discussing to help address this issue is developing and building youth assets in the community. It should be noted that the city has increased its budget for youth programming from about $5,000 in 1996 to $17,000 in 1997. These youth activities are under the management of Community Recreation Director Jeff Asfahl. Attached for your review, per request of Councilmember Holmgren, is a copy of the 2/5/97 Star News article on Youth Initiatives. Police Department representatives will be in attendance at this meeting to answer questions. Dr. Flannery has advised me that funding for the D.A.R.E. officers is secure for this budget year, but will again be a discussion topic when the school considers its 1997-98 budget this summer. 13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425 Morrell Transfer - The School Board has requested that this item be on the agenda for discussion. Over the past few years school representatives have expressed concerns over the exhaust from trucks at the Morrell Transfer operation. The complaints happen during the winter months and it is believed that while the trucks are warming up in the mornings the exhaust is making its way into the school buildings through the air ventilation system. Building and Zoning Administrator Steve Rohlf will be in attendance at this meeting to help answer questions. Steve has worked with the school on this issue over the last few years. The city does not have resources available to address indoor air quality issues and the school will most likely need to work with a private environmental consultant and the state on this issue. The final and best resolution of all the concerns would be if Morrell Transfer would relocate, and we are hopeful that this may happen in 1997. Highway 169 Safety Issues - Attached for your review is the MnDOT response to Dr. Flannery's letter regarding Highway 169 safety issues. Funding of improvements and the timing for when improvements can be constructed have recently been discussed with the City Council. Informational meetings for property owners that will be affected by a fence have been set up for 2/13 and 2/20. These meetings are required by MnDOT and will be held by City Engineer Terry Maurer. Terry will be in attendance at this meeting to respond to questions. Streets - Terry Maurer will lead the discussion on street projects. The school is near finalization of its agreement with the county to relocate its administration operation to the former county administration building. As such, the county will be affected by the Lowell Avenue public improvement project that is scheduled for 1997 and will be assessed for the benefits related to this project. Additionally there have been discussions about possible reconfiguration of King Avenue from Highway 10 to Main Street, although nothing is finalized at this point and only concepts have been discussed. Terry Maurer should be able to update the Council and School Board on the status of the County Road I project. Water Issues - Dr. Flannery has requested to briefly talk about three water issues with the City Council. These issues are the water tower site near Meadowvale School, the water improvements to Highland Avenue, and the change in the water rates. Terry Maurer will be in attendance to comment on a couple of these issues. Ice Arena Update- The ice arena construction is nearing completion, but the project will not be finalized until sometime this summer. The city is sharing its parking lot with the school during the school year and, in turn, the School District is maintaining this lot for the city for snow removal during the winter. It has been rumored that the School District may be willing to help financially with a permanent public address system for the complex. The type of P.A. system needed for the complex will be evaluated after the hockey season and hopefully purchased and installed this summer for next season. Area Learning Center Building Proiect - The city has been advised that the School District is planning to construct the ALC building north of the Community Education building on some land that they own where the eastern most soccer field is located. It would be appropriate for the School District to update the City Council on its plans for the ALC building project. XXelkriverXsys\shrdoc\council\jntmtgmm.doc SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL AND DISTRICT 728 SCHOOL BOARD HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL MONrDAY, JANUARY 29, 1996 Councilmembers Present: Councilmembers Absent: School Board Members Present: School Board Members Absent: City and School Staff Present: Mayor Duitsman, Councilmembers Dietz, Holmgren and Farber Councilmember $cheel Chair Patricia Schaber, Kathleen Poate, Jeffrey Gongoll, Mark Strater, Rachael Leonard, Therese VanBlarcom School Board Member Patti Scharber Superintendent Dr. David Flannery, Ran Bratlie, Director of Operations; Pat Klaers, City Administrator; Phil Hals, Park/Street Superintendent; Michelle Dwyer, Recording Secretary; Peter Beck, City Attorney Call Meetinq To Order Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the joint meeting of the Elk River City Council and District 728 School Board was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Duitsman. Introductions Introductions were made between the City Councilmembers and the District 728 School Board members. Update on School Area Learnina Center IALC) Buildina Proposal and City participation in the Bondinq for the Project Dr. Flannery updated the Council regarding the School Disirict proposal to build an Area Learning Center at the Community Education site. The District may request the city to bond for the ALC building project. The Area Learning Center services students from other areas besides District 728. Ran Bratlie stated the facility may be 20,000 square feet on one level. Dr. Flannery stated that school representatives would like the ALC to be ready in late 1996 or early 1997. The City Council indicated its suppod for this request and discussed the goal of $10 million as a limit on annual city bond issues. Elk River City CounciU728 School Board Joint Meeting January' 29, 1996 Page 2 4. Update on the 1996 School Public Works Buildinq Project Ran Bratlie informed the Council that phase one of the project will be 12,900 square feet at a cost of about .$900,000. District 728 will accept bids on February 22, 1996. The District would like to occupy the building by October 1, 1996. Phase two will be approximately 8,000 square feet and be completed sometime in the future. Councilmember Dietz noted that Tescom opposes outside storage. The City Administrator distributed the contract for private development between the District and the EDA and stated that this contract needs to be amended to reflect the revised plans. 5. Update on County Improvement Project for Country Road 1 Pat Klaers distributed a letter written by Dave Schwarting, Sherburne County Engineer which outlines two options for the project. The City Council would like a review of the options from the City Engineer and a presentation of the project from the County Engineering Department. 6. Update on the 1997 Siqnalization of the School Street and Proctor Avenue Intersection and Consideration of the Improvement of School Street to a Four o Lane from this Intersection to the East Pat Klaers, City Administrator stated the City supports a traffic signal at this intersection. Dr. Flannery stated there will be an issue regarding assessments if school street is also improved. Councilmembers would like to see staggering of the green signal on Jackson Avenue at School Street and requested the City Engineer to review this situation. Update on the Ice Arena Project - School Board Member and Task Force Chair, .Jeff Gonqoll Jeff Gongoll informed the City Council and School Board that the Task Force is moving forward on the design and cost analysis of the Ice Arena. The architect is looking at having approximately 1,700 and seats and Governor Carlson has proposed additional money for the Mighty Ducks Grant. Jeff Gongoll stated they would like ta start construction in the summer and open in November 1996. Other Business Mayor Duitsman expressed concerns for more youth programs. Dr. Flannery supports the idea and stated programming money would be needed but school space may be available for activities. Mayor Duitsman suggested Jeff Asfahl, 728 Area Recreation Coordinator could manage the program. Elk River City Council/728 School Board Joint Meeting Page 3 Januars' 29, 1996 Councilmember Dietz, staled thai he felt that the School Board is not committed to the D.A.R.E. program. Dr. Flannery stated the School Board needs to look at all programs when the budget is under consideration and that the School Board has always supported the program. Councilmember Holmgrem is concerned about whether the School District or Community Recreation is going to manage the varsity field at Oak Knoll Park. Patricia $chaber expressed concerns about the emissions from Morrell Transfer that go directly into Lincoln Elementary School. Dr. Flannery indicated that the School Board will state this in writing. Pat Klaers, City Administrator will have staff check its files and revisit the issue as the city worked on this problem a few years ago. Councilmember Holmgren stated there is a meeting Thursday, February 1 at the Chamber of Commerce on city development issues and concerns over existing city ordinances. 9. Adjournment There being no further business, COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. The joint meeting of the Elk River City Council and District 728 School Board was adjourned at 8:34 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Michelle Dwyer Recording Secretary Putting youth first Youth initiatives process to examine ,mentoring optiOns by Jim Boyle Staff wdter Visions of youth mentoring programs will be better defin- ed next Tuesday when Karl Davis, the 'project director of the Twin Cities 1 to 1 mentor- ing program, sha~es her insights at the latest in a series of youth initiatives meetings. .. The meeting, which is being sponsored by Community Recreation and District 728 Community Education, will be held at 7 p.m. at Elk River · City Hall. All local youth and adults are invited to attend. 'We would like to see the youth initiatives process get energized here at the start of the 1997," said Jeff Asfahl~ one of the organic, ers of the meetings. "We accomplished a lot in 1996, and we want to do more in 1997." Davis should help kick off 1997. She comes to Elk River with a passion for youth. She has been an operations director for the boys and girls club in New Jersey, end_ a pro: gram director of the Young Entrepreneurs of Minnesota. She now heads the Twin Cities 1 to 1 mentoring pro- gram, which pairs mentors with youth to provide hope for youth by channeling their energy and skills toward healthy, lifelong endeavors. Her desire to help youth was formed 15 years ago while she was i~nlshin~ her bachelor's jee in English and criml- ustice at Rutgers Univer- sity in New Jersey. A 14-year-old girl she saw sentenced in a New Jersey juvenile courtroom on a field trip committed suicide shortly after the sentencing. This tragic experience not only opened her eyes to the prob- lems and difficult issues youth face, it inspired her to malta a career out of youth advocacy. Local youth advocates would like to see more mentoring opportunities for youth in the communities of District 728 ~ from Elk l~iver to Otsego and from Zimmermau to Rogers. Establishing youth mentor. programs and i~tergenera- tion~l rnix-ln~ are.two of sev- eral youth initiatives the youth initiatives group hopes to accomplish. Other key areas that have ' 'been identified and are being worked on are: · the need for space for a youth center or centers · the need for youth empow- erment - · the need for shared com- munication to increase. awareness and cooperation Accomplishments · which stem from the group's work so far include: three-on-three basketball tourr~ments; the Lions' Den, a park shelter staffed and open for youth throughout the summer; sand volleyball leagues; Oak Knoll Skate Park, a parking lot made 'available to youth for skateboarding; and After- class, an after-school enrich- ment program for junior high students. The youth initiatives process, however, is at a piv- otal moment. Many of the desired init~tives will take greater amounts of energy and some funding in some cases. The youth initiatives process began at the request of Elk River MaYOr Plank Dnik~man He suggested in November 1995 that Community Recre- ation, District 728 Cornmuni- ty Education and the Commu-- nity Youth Task Force work together to develop new leisure opportunities. Following a youth summit in March 1996, which helped identify areas of concern, community wide-discussions began to be held. The first of these 'youth initiatives" meetings was held in July 1996 and attracted 65 people. Monthly meetings have con-. tinued with about 30 individ- uals -- adults and youths -- attending on average. 81 Elk River Star News I Wednesday, February 5, 1997 Minnesota Department of Transportation District 3 3725 12th St. N. P.O. Box 370 St. Cloud, MN 56302 January. 22, 1997 Tel: 612/255-4181 Fax: 612/255-3257 Toll Free: 1/800/657-3961 Office: 320/654-5105 Fax: 320/255-2178 Mr. David Flannery Superintendent of Schools Administration Offices 400 School Street Elk River, MN 44330 Subject: Pedestrian Safety C.S. 7106 T.H. 169 Elk River Dear Mr. Flannery: Thanks for your letter concerning safety along TH 169 in the City of Elk River. The Department shares in your concern and has been actively working with the City to implement safety improvements. Let me address your specific concerns after which I will share with you some of the actions we have taken and are working on with City Engineer Terry Maurer. Fencing along Trunk Highway 169 from Main Street to 193rd: We are currently working with the City on this issue. The City will be conducting a public involvement process on this and street lighting issues. Contact person is City Engineer Terry Maurer. Make the crosswalk more pedestrian friendly: The signal is currently regulated for pedestrian movements. There are push-buttons that activate the walk indications on signal poles. Safety islands and a median exist that provide a safe area if needed. The crosswalks are signed properly although it was noted that the crosswalks are not painted on Trunk Highway 169. I will contact the City concerning this issue. Most pedestrian traffic is local and therefore this is a local responsibility. We feel the crossings are safe although when one crosses a roadway there always remains an element of risk involved. While listening to the citizens and after reading their editorials it becomes apparent that many citizens do not understand the proper use of pedestrian indications (walk, flashing don't walk). This information is available in Chapter 4 of the Minnesota Driver Manual. Small signs which explain their use are also posted on the signal poles near the pedestrian push-buttons. Where schools are close to major highways I have found that a school route plan is very beneficial for addressing safety issues for children going to and from school. I have enclosed a pamphlet on "A guide to establishing speed limits in school zones" that has some good information on pedestrian route planning for school children. Please review at your leisure. The pamphlet does suggest as an additional margin of safety that adult crossing guards be used at high volume areas. On November 27, 1996 we conducted a pedestrian crossing review at TH 169 and School Street with a local control group to check the pedestrian timing across TH 169. The results indicated that existing timing is sufficient. I have enclosed a letter to the Mayor summarizing this review. An equal opportunity employer January 22. 1997 Page 2 Speed Limit on TH 169: We have studied both the 45 and 55 MPH zones along Trunk Highway 169 in the City of Elk River. The study shows that over 90% of the vehicles traveling this section of road go faster than 45 MPH. The question is should we lengthen the speed trap or acknowledge that this is realistically a 50-55 MPH zone and deal with this fact. We believe it is safer to deal with reality than to display a false sense of security. We will continue to monitor the speeds in this area as development occurs. The yellow flashing lights are being studied and, although they are well received by the public, there are drawbacks which are currently being weighed. In response to public concerns, we have taken steps to improve the safety of the crossings along Trunk Highway 169. The actions include relocating the signal detectors farther from the intersection in efforts to provide more stopping time for vehicles when the signals change. Time has been added to the yellow 'and all red periods on Trunk Highway 169 to provide additional clearance time for vehicles before the cross street traffic is released. I have also submitted the City of Elk River as a candidate for a federally sponsored educational program for pedestrians and bicycles entitled "Pedestrian Road Show". This is a 4 hour program sponsored by the Federal Highway Department for up to 25 people to champion this review effort. I would envision the group would consist of City, school and local citizens if selected. Let me close in saying that we continue to work with the City on these capital improvements and that we are open to all concerns. Since the tragic pedestrian accident the City and MnDOT have been and continue to work on safety improvements along TH 169. The City has taken the lead on these improvements and plans to conduct a public involvement process for the capital improvements. If I can be of further assistance or if you would like to discuss in person, please call me. Have a safe new year! Sincerely, Thomas L. Dumont Assistant District Traffic Engineer CC: D. L. Raisanen/G. N. Kreutzer-Baxter Rick Arnebeck/Craig Robinson-St. Cloud Gary Dirlam-Baxter Terry Maurer-City of Elk River Pat Klares, City Administrator-Elk River Dave Soisrud-St. Cloud Enclosures Independent School District ADMINISTRATION OFFICES 400 School Street DAVID M. FLANNERY Elk River, MN 55330 Superintendent of Schools (612) 241-3400 Fax (612) 241-3407 December 6, 1996 Mr. Tom Dumont Minnesota Department of Transportation P.O. Box 370 St. Cloud, MN 56302 Dear Mr. Dumont: School District administrators, along with countless others, are concerned about the hazards of crossing Highway #169 in Elk River. The recent traffic deaths in Elk River, more poignantly than our words, underscore the need for action. A concerted effort to improve pedestrian crossings for our children is a crucial first step. We propose the following: 1. Install eight foot fencing bordering both sides of #169 from Main Street to 193rd. o Make the crosswalk at Main Street, School Street, Jackson Street more pedestrian friendly. A study should be conducted that would examine how safe those crosswalks are for children. Are the signals re~lated for pedestrians? Are there safety islands for foot traffic? Are the crosswalks signed properly? Are sidewalks constructed for proper student traffic? After the study the recommendations need to be implemented. Finally, traffic goes too fast on the #169 corridor. Reducing the speed limit north of School Street to 45 might help. in addition, flashing yellow warning lights prior to each intersection timed to the change might help. Thank you for listening. I would be willing to meet with you at any time if we could help with any safety issue. Sincerely, David Flannery ~, Superintendent of Schools c: Pat Klaers, Administrator City of Elk River m o ..q m o PARKING /~REA PROCTOR ROAD / MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: Mayor & City Council Pat Klaers, City Administrator February 10, 1997 Joint Meeting with District No. 728 School Board Agenda Topics 2. 3. 4. 5. o o Introductions Youth Issues in the Schools and Youth Activities/Programs Morrell Transfer Operation Highway 169 Safety Issues Street Improvements Lowell Avenue King Avenue County Road 1 Other Municipal Utilities - Water Department Issues Highland Avenue Trunk Water Line - Salk School Connection Water Tower Site near Meadowvale School Change in Rates Ice Arena Update Area Learning Center Building Proposal Other Business XXelkriver\sysXshrdocXcouncil\jntmtgag.doc