09-12-2011 CCMMEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL
• HELD AT THE CITY OF ELK RIVER (UPPER TOWN CONFERENCE ROOM)
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 201 I
Members Present: Mayor Dietz, Councilmembers Gumphrey, Motin, Westgaard, and
Zerwas
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Interim City Administrator Robert Thistle, Finance Director Tim Simon,
Fire Chief T. John Cunningham, Environmental Administrator Rebecca
Haug, Environmental Technician Nicki Blake-Bradley, and Executive
Secretary/Deputy City Clerk Jessica Miller
Others Present: Energy City Commissioners: Zehringer, Setterholm, Rohlf, Touchette,
Sayler, and Setala
Call Meeting To Order
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River City Council was called
to order at 7:04 p.m. by Mayor Dietz.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
3. Consider Council Agenda
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER ZERWAS AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER GUMPHREY TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. MOTION
CARRIED 5-0.
4. Consider Consent Agenda
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER WESTGAARD AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING CONSENT
AGENDA:
4.1. SPECIAL EVENT PERMITS
A. ELK RIVER HIGH SCHOOL HOMECOMING PARADE ON
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011, WITH THE FOLLOWING
CONDITIONS:
1. GARBAGE CLEAN-UP SHALL BE COMPLETED
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE PARADE.
2. SIGNS SHALL BE FURNISHED AND INSTALLED ON
SEPTEMBER 16 AS DETAILED ON THE ATTACHED FIGURE.
UPON COMPLETION OF THE PARADE, ALL SIGNS SHALL
BE IMMEDIATELY REMOVED. THE SIGN SHEETING SHALL
BE ORANGE WITH BLACK LETTERING, REFLECTIVE, AND
• MOUNTED ON A 30X30 ALUMINUM PLATE. THE SIGNS
SHALL BE MOUNTED ON A TYPE 1 OR TYPE 2 BARRICADE,
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September 12, 2011
OR APPROVED EQUAL. THE BARRICADES SHALL BE •
SECURED WITH SANDBAGS OR TIED TO AN EXISTING
POLE TO PREVENT THEM FROM BEING REMOVED OR
TIPPED OVER.
3. POLICE AND RESERVE SUPPORT WILL BE PROVIDED FOR
TRAFFIC CONTROL.
4. NOTICE OF THE EVENT MUST BE GIVEN TO AREA
CHURCHES AND APARTMENT COMPLEXES AFFECTED BY
THE PARADE ROUTE.
5. CANDY MAY BE HANDED OUT AT THE PARADE BUT IS
NOT ALLOWED TO BE THROWN FROM MOVING OBJECTS.
B. PIERCE GLOBAL ON BEHALF OF WAL-MART TO HOLD AN
EVENT AS DESCRIBED IN THE STAFF REPORT, SUBJECT TO
THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
1. RECEIPT OF A SIGNED AFFIDAVIT OF INSURANCE WAIVER
OR A CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE FOR THIS EVENT.
2. RECEIPT OF A COMPLETED STATE OF MINNESOTA
WORKER'S COMPENSATION CERTIFICATE OF
COMPLIANCE FORM.
4.2. EXECUTION OF CONFIRMATION OF ADJUSTMENTS TO
ELECTION SHARES UNDER THE CAPX BROOKINGS -TWIN
CITIES DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AGREEMENTS.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
5. Open Mike •
No one appeared for open mike.
6. Worksession
6.1. Joint Meeting with Energy Citv Commission
Chair Zehringer called to order the Energy City Commission meeting at 7:11 p.m.
The Energy City Commissioners present outlined the benefits, value, and importance to
keeping Elk River as Energy City and continuing with the Energy City Commission.
Jack Mowry, owner MetalCraft -indicated that one of the reasons he built MetalCraft in
Elk River was because Elk River is Energy City and he was looking to build an energy
efficient building to cut utility costs.
Florence Schuldt, 17155 Quincy Street NW -stated she believes that Energy City goes
along with the branding and marketing plan presented earlier this evening and she cannot
understand why the Council would want to eliminate Energy City.
Lola Driessen, 324 Main Street -agreed with Ms. Schuldt stating that Elk River is ahead of
many other communities in their conservation efforts and she doesn't think the city should
go backwards.
Councilmember Zerwas indicated that the city needs to look at funding core functions of
local government in these difficult budget times, which may not include Energy City. He •
expressed concern with the benefits to our citizens of the international tours.
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September 12, 2011
Page 3
• Discussion took place on the amount of money and staff time expended on Energy City.
Ms. Haug indicated that the bulk of staff time is spent on the Energy Expo, local tours, and
school and group presentations.
Councilmember Moain explained Energy City is great PR for the city but that he would like
to see Energy City marketed better and obtain more grants to help cover costs. He
questioned the benefit of the international tours and staff speaking engagements with other
communities.
Councilmember Westgaard stated that he is not in favor or eluninating Energy City because
he believes there is a benefit to the citizens and businesses. He explained that with the
current budget situation, Energy City must look at how to manage with less money. He
added that Energy City is part of the brand.
There being no further business, Chair Zehringer adjourned the meeting of the Energy City
Commission at 7:59 p.m.
6.2. Fire Department Items
A. Authorization to Advertise for Fire Department Administrative Assistant
Chief Cunningham presented the staff report.
Mayor Dietz stated that the Council increased the hours for this position in January to
accommodate along-standing employee and his recommendation would be to reduce the
• hours back to the original 27.5 and advertise that there is no health insurance with the
position.
Councilmember Motin questioned the budget difference between 27.5 hours and 32 hours.
Chief Cunningham indicated that the difference ranges between $9,700 and $12,000
depending on the employee's health insurance selection.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER WESTGAARD AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER GUMPHREY TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO PROCEED
WITH ADVERTISING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATIVE
ASSISTANT POSITION AT 32 HOURS. MOTION FAILED 2-3. Mayor Dietz,
Councilmember Motin, and Councilmember Zerwas opposed.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER ZERWAS TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO PROCEED WITH
ADVERTISING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
POSITION AT 27.5 HOURS. MOTION PASSED 3-2. Councilmembers Westgaard
and Gumphrey opposed.
B. Hire Firefighters
Chief Cunningham presented the staff report.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER ZERWAS AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER WESTGAARD TO AUTHORIZE THE HIRING OF
• STEVEN BOURDEAUX AND J. CHRISTOPHER SISK AS FIREFIGHTERS.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
City Council Minutes
September 12, 2011
6.3. Resolution Adopting 2010 Tax Levies and Set Bud~uet Meeting Date
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER WESTGAARD TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 11-51
AUTHORIZING THE PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX LEVY FOR
COLLECTION IN 2012. MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
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MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER ZERWAS TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 11-52 APPROVING
THE HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 2012 TAX LEVY.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER WESTGAARD AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER ZERWAS TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 11-53 APPROVING
THE 2012 TAX LEVY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES FOR
THE ELK RIVER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. MOTION
CARRIED 5-0.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER WESTGAARD AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN TO SET THE BUDGET MEETING AT WHICH
PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE TAKEN FOR DECEMBER 5, 2011 AT 6:30 P.M.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
Other Business
Councilmember Zerwas indicated that the Council received an email from Sharon Klumpp,
Springsted, Inc. and should be prepared to discuss the city administrator position at the next
meeting.
8. Council Updates
There were no Council updates.
9. Staff Updates
Mr. Thistle indicated that in follow-up to Councilmember Motin's inquiry about Verizon,
the city no longer has a contract with Verizon; therefore, the estimated cost to install a unit
in city hall would be approximately $1,000.
10. Adjournment
There being no further business, Mayor Dietz adjourned the meeting of the Elk River City
Council at 8:19 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Jessica Miller.
j
Tina Allard, City Clerk
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City Council Minutes
September 12, 2011
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