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11-24-1997 CC MINMEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1997 Members Present: Vice Mayor Diet-z, Councilmembers Thompson, Farber, and Holmgren Members Absent: Staff Present: Mayor Duitsman Pat Klaers, City Administrator; Lori Johnson, Assistant City Administrator; Steve Ach, City Planner: Sandra Thackeray, City Clerk Call Meetin.q 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. Consider A.qenda COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO APPROVE THE 11/24/97 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA. COUNCILMEMBER THOMPSON SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. o Consider 11/17/97 City Council Minutes COUNCILMEMBER FARBER MOVED TO APPROVE THE 11/17/97 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 4. Open Mike No one appeared for this item. Jerry Smith Request for Zone Change, Public Hearin.cl Case No. ZC 97-7 City Planner Steve Ach indicated that Jerry Smith is requesting to rezone a parcel of property he owns from C2/Office District to C1/Central Commercial. Steve Ach indicated that the City Council continued this issue from its November 17 meeting to allow staff to work on certain issues with Mr. Smith in relation to the rezoning. He indicated that one of the issues involved screening of the property in question from the adjacent residential parcel. Steve Ach indicated that due to the elevation change between the two properties, the best way to accomplish any type of screening of the vehicle headlights would be to place a Elk River City Council Minutes November 24, 1997 Page 2 fence on the top of the hill adjacent to the parking area. Steve Ach noted that the parking area that serves the subject property is also a joint parking area with the property immediately to the west. Vice Mayor Diefz opened the public headng. Ralph Donais, 906 Lookout Place, distributed pictures of the area for Council review. He indicated that during the winter season there was virtually no screening of the property. He further indicated that he has a concern regarding how the traffic and off street parking will affect the elderly who live and walk in the area. He indicated that all of the elderly that he spoke with are opposed to the rezoning. He requested the Council to deny the zone change. John Anderson, 208 Lowell, indicated his concern with the additional traffic that would be generated by a C1 business. Wayne Eull, 928 Lookout Place, indicated his concern with additional traffic in the area and parking on Lowell Avenue. Jew/Smith, properly owner, stated that most of the concerns have been addressed except for the traffic. He indicated that he did not feel there will be more traffic than what was generated with the previous real estate business. There being no further comments, Vice Mayor Dietz closed the public hearing. Vice Mayor Dietz indicated that he did not feel a zone change would affect the traffic in the area due to the limited parking space available. Councilmember Thompsan concurred with Vice Mayor Dietz. Discussion was held regarding the possibility of limiting parking on both sides of Lowell Avenue so as to improve the traffic site lines. Councilmember Farber indicated that the most important issue is that the C2 zoning is a buffer for the residential area. Councilmember Holmgren indicated that the increase in traffic is due to the growth of the community. He further indicated that vacant property lends itself to deterioration and feels that it would be best to have the property rezoned. COUNCILMEMBER THOMPSON MOVED TO TABLE THE ISSUE UNTIL THE DECEMBER 1, 1997, CITY COUNCIL MEETING SO AS TO REVIEW THE ISSUES OF TRAFFIC AND PARKING ON LOWELL AVENUE. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 5.2. Consider Initiatin,q Ordinance Amendments Reaardin.q Boulevard Trees and Chan,qeable Si,qns City Planner Steve Ach indicated that the Planning Commission has requested the City Council to initiate ordinance amendments to establish guidelines for planting boulevard trees in new plats and to establish a timeframe for changeable copy signs. Elk River City Council Minutes November 24, 1997 Page 3 COUNCILMEMBER THOMPSON MOVED TO DIRECT THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO REVIEW THE ORDINANCE RELATING TO GUIDELINES FOR PLANTING OF BOULEVARD TREES IN NEW PLATS AND TO ESTABLISH TIMEFRAMES FOR CHANGEABLE COPY SIGNS. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 5.3. Residential Lot Survey City Planner Steve Ach reviewed the residential lot survey which shows the available lots in each of the platted residential subdivisions. He indicated that currently there are 418 platted lots available for residential development. 6.1. Discussion with Mark and Annette Watz Re.qardin.q the Watz Up? Cafb Club Mark and Annette Watz gave a presentation to the City Council regarding their proposal for the Watz Up? Caf~ Club. The Caf~ Club is proposed to be a safe, chemically free, caf~ and entertainment club for youth in Elk River and surrounding communities that will be created and operated with direction from teens. Mark and Annette discussed the issue of profit versus non-profit, start up costs, and building code issues. Annette indicated that at the present time there was not enough start up money and, therefore, the probability of leasing Northbound Liquor Store was more viable purchasing a building. Councilmember Thompson indicated his concern regarding the expense of leasehold improvements and who would be responsible for payment and implementation of these improvements. He further indicated his concern regarding the issue of a profit versus a non-profit structure and how the city would become involved in the project. Councilmember Holmgren indicated that he was not sure that Northbound Liquor was the right place for this type of venture. He indicated his concern for the tax payers and indicated that he would feel more comfortable if the City of Elk River's name was not associated with the property. Councilmember Holmgren stated his concern regarding insurance liability concerns, the cost of the improvements, and the fact that he does not have enough information to make a decision if the city should enter into a lease for this type of venture. Councilmember Farber indicated that he felt Northbound Liquor Store may be too small for what is being proposed. He further indicated that he would like to see some numbers and a layout of the building prior to making a decision. Councilmember Thompson suggested that the Watzes visit Northbound with an architect so that some preliminary plans can be drawn. It was the consensus of the Council that more information would have to be provided before a decision was made regarding this issue. 6.2. Consider Resolution Approving the Proposed New Layout for the Upland Avenue/Hi.qhway 10 Intersection COUNCILMEMBER FARBER MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 97-121 APPROVING THE GEOMETRIC LAYOUT OF THE UPLAND AVENUE AND TRUNK HIGHWAY 10 Elk River City Council Minutes November 24, 1997 Page 4 INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS AND SIGNALIZATION. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 6.3. Review of 1998 Fees The City Clerk indicated that the fees for services for 1998 are being presented to the City Council for discussion. She indicated that the fee schedule will be adopted by resolution at the annual City Council meeting in January. Council discussion pursued regarding the fees for surface water management. The City Administrator indicated that staff is concerned regarding the surface water management fund having insufficient funds available to construct the necessary trunk surface water management pro]ects. He further stated that the city's surface water management impact fee is Iow compared to other developing communities. It was the consensus of the Council to discuss the issue of surface water management at a CIP meeting early in 1998. It was also the consensus of the Council to present the fee schedule as proposed at the annual Council meeting for adoption. 6.4. Budgets for the City Enterprise Funds City Administrator Pat Klaers reviewed the city enterprise fund budgets for 1998 which included the garbage collection, liquor store, and wastewater treatment system budgets. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO APPROVE THE THREE ENTERPRISE BUDGETS FOR 1998 AS PRESENTED. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. VICE MAYOR DIETZ MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 97-122 SETTING THE SANITARY SEWER USER FEES FOR 1998 AND 1999. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 7. Other Business General discussion was held regarding the Truth in Taxation meeting that will be held for the City of Elk River on December 1, 1997. 8. Staff Updates There were no staff updates. Elk River City Council Minutes November 24, 1997 Page 5 9. Adjournment There being no further business, COUNCIl. MEMBER I~ARBEIJ MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. The meeting of the Elk River City Council was adjourned at 7:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted, City Clerk