3.1. SR 11-01-2010DAFT
MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL
HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL
MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2010
Members Present: Mayor Klinzing, Councilxnembers Zerwas, Motin, Westgaard, and
Gumphrey
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: City Administrator Loxi Johnson, Planning Manager Jeremy Barnhart, City
Attorney Peter Beck, Finance Director Tim Simon, City Engineer Justin
Femrite, and City Clerk Tina Allard
Also Present: Planning Commissioner Kevin Scott, Elk River Municipal Utilities (ERMU)
Water Superintendent Dave Berg, and ERMU Commissioner John Dietz
1. Call Meeting To Order
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River City Council was called
to order at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Klinzing.
2. Consider 10/18/2010 Agenda
Councilmember Gumphrey requested to recess into the conference room for a roundtable
discussion regarding Item 7.3., Parks and Recreation Director.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBEI2 WESTGAARD AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
3. Consider Consent Agenda
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBEIi GUMPHREY AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER ZERWAS TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING CONSENT
AGENDA:
3.1 OCTOBER 11, 2010, COUNCIL MINUTES.
3.2. CHECK REGISTER AS OUTLINED IN THE STAFF REPORT.
3.3. PAY ESTIMATES AS OUTLINED IN THE STAFF REPORT.
3.4. BOLTON AND MENK FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TO
DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A WEBHOSTED GIS MAPPING
APPLICATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $16,000 WITH NO HOSTING
FEE OR HARDWARE REQUIRED.
3.5. EASEMENT AND LICENSING AGREEMENT WITH ELK RIVER
LEASED HOUSING ASSOCIATES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP.
3.6. CITY COUNCIL 2011 MEETING SCHEDULE.
3.7. RESOLUTION 10-52 APPROVING THE DECERTIFICATION OF TAX
INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICT N0.21 WITHIN
DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NO. 1 IN THE CITY OF ELK RIVER.
City Council Minutes Page 2
October I8, 2010
3.8. LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH THE ELK
RIVER AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT #728.
3.9. RESOLUTION 10-53 ACKNOWLEDGING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE
CITY OF ELK RIVER. (GREAT RIVER ENERGY-$600).
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
4. Onen Mike
No one appeared for Open Mike.
5.1. Conditional Use Permit Eor Composting Site Plaisted Companies. 11555 205~h Avenue. Case
No. CU 10-20 -Public Hearine
Mr. Barnhart presented his staff report. He noted this was a housekeeping issue that needed
to be cleaned up.
Mayor Klinzing opened the public hearing. There being no one to speak to this issue, Mayor
Klinzing closed the public hearing.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER WESTGAARD AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN TO APPROVE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT,
CASE NO. 10-20 TO PLAISTED COMPANIES IN ORDER TO ALLOW
COMPOSTING. MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
5.2. Ordinance Amendment for Educational Uses in Business Park Zoning District. City of Elk
River. Case No. OA 10-11 -Public Hearing
Mr. Bamhart presented the staff report
Mayor Klinzing opened the public hearing. There being no one to speak to this issue, Mayor
Klinzing closed the public hearing.
Councilmember Motin stated he is not in favor of this request due to the location. He stated
the city needs to keep business space open. He expressed concerns with trying to
accommodate one use and the precedent it could set.
Councilmember Zerwas disagreed. He stated the buIlding and the location are a good fit and
felt it was good to have the space occupied because it's been empty due to the economy.
Councilmember Westgaard concurred. He noted it would be difficult for schools to £nd this
type of space in a residential zoning district.
Councilmember Gumphrey concurred also.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER GUMPHREY AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER ZERWAS TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 10-19 AMENDING
SECTION 30-1 OF THE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES RELATING TO
EDUCATIONAL DEFINITIONS AND TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL USES
ALLOWED IN THE BUSINESS PARK (BP) ZONING DISTRICT.
Attorney Beck recommended language changes to the ordinance
City Council Nitrates
October I8, 2010
Page 3
THE MAKER AND SECONDER WERE AMENDABLE TO THE LANGAUGE
CHANGES RECOMMENDED BY THE ATTORNEY. MOTION CARRIED 4-1.
Councilmember Motin opposed.
5.3. Conditional Use Petrnit for Wrestling/Fitness Facility in Business Paxk Zoning District
Spectrum School. Case No. CU 10-23 -Public Hearin
Mx. Barnhart presented the staff report.
Mayor Klinzing opened the public hearing. There being no one to speak to this issue, Mayor
Klinzing continued the public hearing to November 15, 2010.
6.1. Transportation Enhancement Application
Mx. Femrite presented the staff report.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER WESTGAARD TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO APPLY FOR
A TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT GRANT FOR THE EASTERN
AREA TRAIL AND MOBILITY IMPROVEMENTS. MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
6.2. Water Ordinances
Attomey Beck presented the staff report.
A. Water Use Restrictions
Councilmembex Motin questioned if this ordinance would affect every single family
home that has a private well.
Attomey Beck stated it would and that the ordinance is drafted this way for ease of
enforcement. He noted that heavy users, not single family homes, cause the biggest
concerns for the aquifer. He stated the ordinance has two purposes; to protect water
supplies and allow the utilities enforcement powers.
Councilmember Motin questioned the difficulty of enforcement.
Attorney Beck stated residents don't feel it's fair if their neighbors can sprinkle every
day yet they can't. He also stated there is no reason for sprinkling every day and that
ERMU has information for lawn watering techniques.
Councilmember Motin questioned what type of notice a resident would receive.
Attomey Beck stated the odd/even restrictions axe in effect on a permanent basis.
Councilmember Zerwas expressed concerns with the ordinance when there are so many
single family homes that axe not in the urban service district and suggested changing it.
He expressed concern with telling property owners how to operate their private wells,
especially when they aren't affecting the aquifer.
Ciry Council Ivtinutes
October ] 8, 2010
Page 4
Councilmember Gumphxey stated there should be a level playing field citywide and as
Elk River is Energy Ciry, it makes sense.
Mayor Klinzing stated she is not in favor of the ordinance. She stated extending
enforcement into private wells is an over extension of government oversight.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER GUMPHREY TO ADOPT THE
ORDINANCE AS DRAFTED IN THE STAFF REPORT. Motin died for lack of
a second.
Mayor Klinzing allowed public comment.
Greg Bossany 304 Baldwin Avenue -Stated he put in a well so he wouldn't have to
have the city tell him when he has to water his yard. He stated it's the Department of
Natural Resources right to regulate private wells.
Roget Renner, owner, EH Renner -Stated Elk River has a great water supply and that
50% of homeowners don't draw from the aquifer. He stated education on water
conservation would go further than changing the ordinance.
Kerry Harrison, 20047 Ulysses Street -Expressed concerns with being unable to water
every day. He stated he uses a drip irrigation system and his flowers and plants need to
be watered every day. He is opposed to city control over private well use.
Katie Rennet, EH Renner -Stated it is the property owner's riparian right to be able to
control and use the water on their property. She stated there are associations that need
to water.
Timothy Goerd[, 17942 Tyler Drive -Stated he represents 300 community
townhomes and thought they may be the property in question as far as being large users.
He stated they built their own wells, put in a Smart irrigation system, and do their best
to water every other day. He stated most of the residents have joined Project Conserve
and that in last year's program he won the award for conserving the most energy. He
stated they have worked hard on working with the city on conservation efforts and that
taking away their rights now would be unjustified.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER ZERWAS TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 10-20
AMENDING SECTION 78-51 OF THE ELK RIVER CITY CODE OF
ORDINANCES BUT STRIKING THE FOLLOWING LANGAUGE:
"...SHALL APPLY TO ALL PROPERTIES WITHIN THE CITY,
WHETHER THOSE PROPERTIES ARE SERVED BY THE CITY
WATER SYSTEM OR BY PRIVATE WELLS..."
MOTION CARRIED 4-1. Councilmembex Gumphxey opposed.
It was noted the intent of the ordinances is remaining the same but taking care of
housekeeping in some of the language.
Ciry Council Minutes
October 18, 2010
B. Private Wells for Domestic Use
Page 5
Attorney Beck presented the staff report and noted there is an alternative ordinance in
the packet that would regulate private wells on properties in the urban service district.
He stated the concern of the Utilities Commission is to protect the integrity of the water
system and to protect the aquifer.
Utilities Commission Chair John Dietz -Asked the Council to adopt the alternate
version of the ordinance because the Utihties Commission hasn't reviewed the original
version which wouldn't grandfather in past wells. He expressed concerns with having to
increase water rates if the utihty loses its large water customers to private wells (leaving
the single family homes to pay fox it). He stated the Utility built a lot of infrastructure to
accommodate these water users and can't afford to lose them.
Councilmember Gumphrey expressed concerns with taxpayers having to pay Eor the
infrastructure.
Councilmember Zerwas and Westgaard concurred.
Councilmembex Westgaard stated he also has concerns with government regulating
wells on private property. He noted the city's efforts may be better served through
educational campaigns. He stated he understands the intent of the ordinance but
believes we should Find a different way to amend the ordinance so we are not regulating
people too much but are still able to maintain the infrastructure.
Attorney Beck clarified the differences between the ordinances. He stated that three-
fouxths of the water infrastructure is for summer usage.
Councilmember Morin agreed with Councilmember Westgaard's comments. He
suggested looking at this as it relates to high impact users and suggested a further
review.
Dave Berg, Water Superintendent -Further noted contamination concerns with well
water. He discussed the financial concerns of the utility.
Mayor Klinzing stated she is not interested in regulating everyone in the city and felt the
focus should be on large water users.
Ms. Johnson clarified that the infrastructure is paid fox by water users and not taxpayers.
She stated the demand fox water use is what created the need fox additional
infrastructure.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER GUMPHREY TO ADOPT THE
ALTERNATE VERSION OF THE ORDINANCE. Motion died fox lack of a
second.
Councilmember Zexwas suggested removing the exceptions from the original version of
the ordinance and adding it to the alternate version.
Attorney Beck stated Section 78-26 (a) could have language added that refers to single
family buildable lots.
City Council Minutes
October 18, 2010
Page 6
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER ZERWAS AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER GUMPHREY TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 10-21
AMENDING CHAPTER 78 OF THE CITY OF ELK RIVER CODE OF
ORDINANCES TO ADD NEW SECTION 78-26 PROHIBITING PRIVATE
WELLS FOR DOMESTIC USE ON PROPERTIES WITHIN THE CITY
SERVED BY THE CITY WATER SYSTEM WITH THE CHANGES NOTED BY
THE CITY ATTORNEY.
Mayor Klinzing stated she would like have staff review this ordinance further and come
back with other language. She stated she doesn't want to exclude users who axe not just one
buildable lot. She stated the city should look at degrees of users and the amount of water
they are utilizing.
Councilmember Westgaard disagreed and stated he would support the motion on the table
with the understanding that the city needs to review this further. He stated citizens signed
up for city water and so the city put the infrastructure in and we can't allow everyone to exit
the back door and leave the city with the infrastructure and no way to pay fox it He
suggested ERMU work with residents on a solution that will work for the city.
Mayor Klinzing asked why this needed to be passed tonight if Councilmember Westgaard
felt the same way.
Councilmember Zerwas stated any townhouse group could go and put a well in this
weekend if the city didn't pass the ordinance tonight.
MOTION CARRIED 4-1. Mayor Klinzing opposed.
Attorney Beck suggested the Council recommend that ERMU host a worksession to follow-
up on the economics and the water table impacts.
Councilxnember Motin agreed and stated he would like affected parties to also be able to
bring their information.
7.1. Budget Amendments
Mr. Simon presented the staff report.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER ZERWAS AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER WESTGAARD TO APPROVE THE BUDGET
AMENDMENTS OUTLINED IN THE STAFF REPORT AS 2010 BUDGET
AMENDMENT DETAIL. MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
7.2. Visioning and Goals
Ms. Johnson presented the staff report. She reviewed Councilxnember Motin's requested
changes to the goals and noted staff was agreeable to those changes. It was noted there was
a minor word jumble in the Opportunities goal which would be corrected.
Ms. Johnson reviewed the original vision statement along with a possible compromise
statement as Councilmember Motin and staff weren't agreeable on the language of the
statement. She discussed the vision statement that was submitted by Councilmember Moon
and the reasons why staff disagreed with it.
City Council Minutes
October I8, 2010
Page 7
Councilmember Motin stated the vision statement should promote business. He also stated
he is concerned about the word "unlimited" because the city has a limited budget.
Ms. Johnson read a vision statement that Councilmembex Motin submitted this afternoon as
follows:
"Abounding in natural beauty, Elk River is a vibrant, historic, river town with an innovative
and involved community that offers unlimited opportunities to promote an active lifestyle
and an exceptional business environment."
Councilmember Zerwas and Mayor Klinzing liked this statement
Councilmember Westgaard disagreed. He stated staff spent two days coming up with a
statement and the facilitator noted the statement shouldn't be too narrowly focused.
Councilmember Gumphrey concurred with Councilmember Westgaard and noted staff did a
great job.
Mayor Klinzing suggested running this amended vision statement by staff again
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER WESTGAARD AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER GUMPHREY TO APPROVE THE REVISED GOALS AS
OUTLINED IN THE STAFF REPORT AND THE FOLLOWING VISION
STATEMENT:
"ABOUNDING IN NATURAL BEAUTY, ELK RIVER IS A VIBRANT,
HISTORIC RIVER TOWN THAT PROMOTES AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE
IN AN INNOVATIVE AND INVOLVED COMMUNITY OFFERING
UNLIMITED OPPORTUNITIES."
MOTION CARRIED 4-1. Councilmember Motin opposed.
8. Other Business
There was no Other Business.
9. Counc$ Updates
There were no Council Updates.
10. Staff Updates
10.1 Midwest Mini Storane
Ms. Johnson stated she received an email from the Kostreba's in which they requested to
withdraw their conditional use permit fox outdoor storage.
Mr. Kostreba, clarified that they are not withdrawing the conditional use permit. He stated
they are withdrawing from the compromise offered by Council at the previous meeting. He
stated they will comply with the original conditions and are having trees delivered this week.
City Council Minutes
October 18, 2010
Page 8
Petet Perovich, missed the open mike portion of the meeting, and wanted to introduce
himself and note that he was running for the District 48 office.
Council recess at 8:00 p.m. in order to meet in roundtable session to discuss the Parks and
Recreation Director position.
Council reconvened at 8:10 p.m.
7.3. Parks and Recreation Director
Ms. Johnson presented the staff report
Discussion was held by Council regarding the two finalists for the Parks and Recreation
Duector position.
Councilmember Zerwas expressed concern with the level of supervisory experience for
candidate Michelle Olson.
Ms. Johnson reviewed Ms. Olson's past supervisory experience and noted she had excellent
references.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER GUMPHREY AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER WESTGAARD TO OFFER THE PARKS AND
RECREATION DIRECTOR POSITION TO MICHELLE OLSON. MOTION
CARRIED 4-1. Counciltnember Zerwas opposed.
11. Adjournment
There being no Euxther business, Mayor Klinzing adjourned the meeting of the Elk River
City Council at 8:35 p.m.
Tina Allard, City Clerk
Stephanie Klinzing, Mayor