07-13-1998 CC MINSPECIAL MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL
HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL
MONDAY, JULY 13, 1998
Members Present:
Members Absent:
Staff Present:
Mayor Duitsman, Councilmembers Dietz, Farber and
Holmgren
Councilmember Thompson
Pat Klaers, City Administratoc Lori Johnson, Assistant City
Administrator/Finance Director; Paul Steinman, Executive
Director of Economic Development; Peter Beck, City
Attorney; Jeff Beahen, Assistant Police Chief; Debbie
Huebner, Recording Secretary
2,5.
Call Meetin.q To Order
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River City Council
was called to order af 6:50 p.m. by Mayor Duitsman.
Consider 713/98 A.qenda
The following items were added to the Council agenda:
- Item 2.5. - County Fair Board Request
- Item 3.5. -Overlay Supplemental Public/Assessment Hearings
- Item 4.3. - Victoria Lane Issue - Councilmember Dietz
COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED.
COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0.
County Fair Board Request
Dan Tveite, Sherburne County Fair Board representative, explained that the Fair
Board wishes to use the 25 acres west of Joplin for additional parking during the
1998 Sherburne County Fair. Mary Ann Salzmann, also representing the Fair Board,
distributed a memo regarding their proposal for placement of portable stop signs
to designate a crosswalk on Joplin, as well as a portable street light in the new
parking area. Jeff Beahen, Assistant Police Chief, suggested the parking lot
entrance be located on the north side of the lot near the Holiday Station. He also
suggested snow fencing be placed along Joplin. He felt this would deter people
from crossing anywhere along Joplin. The Council expressed its concern over
people crossing Joplin at a mid-block location.
Ms. Salzmann indicated there has been a problem of people parking along Joplin
to pick up children, especially after the parade. She requested "no parking" signs
be placed along Joplin. She suggested the Holiday Station would be a much
safer place to pick them up.
Discussion followed regarding the parade route. Ms. Salzmann explained that the
parade will not go through the grandstand this year because the rodeo will be in
City Council Minutes Page 2
July 13, 1998
process. She noted many people would like the route to go through the
downtown. Members of the Council expressed their support for returning to the
practice of having the parade route go through the downtown. Mayor Duitsman
felt the reason it was changed years ago was due to the Orono dam bridge
reconstruction. Ms. Salzmann stated she would bring it up to the Fair Board for
consideration.
COUNCILMEMBER FARBER MOVED APPROVAL OF PLACEMENT OF SNOWFENCING
ALONG JOPLIN AND NO PARKING SIGNS ALONG BOTH SIDES OF JOPLIN.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0.
3.1. Consider Health and Dental Insurance Proposals
Assistant City Administrator Lori Johnson explained that the City's health and
dental insurance with Medica will terminate July 31. Bids were obtained from
other insurance companies, and staff, along with Councilmember Dietz, reviewed
the proposals. Lori distributed the premium information for health and dental
insurance. Based on review of the updated proposals from Medica and Blue
Cross & Blue Shield, she indicated that two options are available from Blue Cross
& Blue Shield; a higher premium for full coverage and a lesser premium with a
$200 deductible. She indicated staff recommends entering into a contract with
Blue Cross & Blue Shield for health insurance which will run from August 1, 1998, to
December 31, 1999. A one year contract with Met Life is recommended for
dental insurance effective August 1, 1998. Lori noted the dental insurance cost is
slightly less than the current plan.
Councilmember Dietz stated it was his opinion that bity employees are receiving
a "Cadillac" insurance plan and did not feel it was necessary to provide this type
of coverage. He also stated he felt the city should consider some type of "tiered"
benefit so that employees with family coverage would receive more benefits than
employees with single coverage. City Administrator Pat Klaers commented that
such a proposal may raise issues with the police union contract and cause
comparable worth concerns.
Councilmember Dietz indicated the self-insured proposals seemed to be more
appropriate for a group with many more employees than the city currently
employs. Therefore, the proposal from Hanratty and Associates is not being
accepted at this time.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO APPROVE THE HEALTH INSURANCE
CONTRACT WITH BLUE CROSS & BLUE SHIELD AND MET LIFE DENTAL INSURANCE
CONTRACT BEGINNING AUGUST 1, 1998 TO DECEMBER 31, 1999, AS RECOMMENDED
BY STAFF. COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED
4-0.
3.2.
Consider Resolution 98-81, Approvin.q TIF District No. 19 and Hold Public Hearinq
forTIF No. 19 IHohlen)
Paul Steinman, Executive Director, explained the Council is asked to consider a
resolution which makes all of the statutory findings necessary for the establishment
of TIF District No. 19. The project will include a commercial component and an
approximately 40 acre business park. Paul noted the receipt of a letter from
Sherburne County Administrator David Loch and the attached County Board's
City Council Minutes Page 3
July 13, 1998
response to the City's TIF District No. 19. Paul explained that when the developer's
and city's TIF has been paid, the district will be decertified. Paul explained that
by approving the resolution, the city is electing to make a "qualifying local
contribution", rather than being penalized by the state through an LGA/HACA aid
reduction. He also noted that city staff worked closely with the city attorney's
office to establish the statutory findings to meet the requirements for establishing
a redevelopment tax increment financing district.
Mayor Duitsman opened the Public hearing.
Paul Motin questioned whether or not the relocation costs were included in the
public costs listed in the TIF plan. Paul Steinman indicated they were not. Peter
Beck, City Attorney, noted that by adopting the resolution the city would have
the authority to negotiate various costs.
There being no fudher business, Mayor Duitsman closed the public hearing.
COUNCILMEMBER FARBER MOVED APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 98-81, MODIFYING
DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NO. 1 AND ADOPTING THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
THEREFOR; AND ESTABLISHING WITHIN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NO. 1, TAX
INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICT NO. 19 AND ADOPTING THE RELATED TAX
INCREMENT FINANCING PLAN THEREFOR. COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ SECONDED THE
MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0.
3.3. Consider Resolution Calling Public Hearinq for TIF District No. 20 - Supermats, Inc.
Paul Steinman explained that Supermats, Inc. has requested the lot which the
EDA owns in the Elk River Industrial Park to be provided at zero land cost for the
development of an industrial building project. Supermats, Inc. has submitted a
tax increment financing application to construct a 35,000-40,000 square foot
building on the 2.39 acre site. Supermats, Inc. would relocate its current Elk River
operation, as well as moving the Brooklyn Center operation, to the new building
in order to combine its manufacturing, warehousing and distribution in one
location.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION NO. 98-82,
CALLING A PUBILC HEARING FOR TIF DISTRICT NO. 20 ON AUGUST 24, 1998, AT
APPROXIMATELY 6 P.M. IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT CITY HALL.
COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0.
3.4.
Park and Recreation Bond Referendum Update and Hiring an Aquatic Center
Consultant
City Administrator Pat Klaers indicated that three firms were interviewed by the
Park & Rec Commission Pool Committee for an aquatic center consultant. The
firm selected by the Committee and endorsed by the Park & Rec Commission is
Burbach Aquatics of Platteville, Wisconsin. The main issues to be considered are
site analysis, cost and design.
COUNCILMEMBER HOI. MGREN MOVED APPROVAL FOR THE BURBACH AQUATICS
FIRM TO DO PRE-REFERENDUM WORK FOR THE ELK RIVER AQUATICS CENTER
PROPOSAL AT A PRICE NOT TO EXCEED $8,000, WITH FUNDING TO COME FROM THE
COUNCIL CONTINGENCY FUND. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE
MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0.
City Council Minutes Page 4
July 13, 1998
3.5. Overlay Supplemental Public/Assessment Hearings
Pat Klaers indicated staff has requested the Council to consider adding Camp
Cozy and Camp Cozy 3,d to the assessment roll for the 1998 overlay improvement
project.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO CALL A SUPPLEMENTAL PUBLIC AND
ASSESSMENT HEARING FOR AUGUST 3, 1998, TO ADD WACO STREET AND 189TM LANE
TO THE 1998 OVERLAY PROJECT. COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0.
4.1.
Consider Cancellation of the Special City Council Meeting on 7/20/98, 5 p.m.
Consider Calling o Special City Council Meetin.q on 7/21/98, 6 p.m.
COIJNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO CANCEL THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL
MEETING SCHEDULED FOR 7/20/98, AT 5 P.M., AND TO CALL A SPECIAL MEETING OF
THE CITY COUNCIL ON 7/21/98, AT 6 P.M. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE
MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0.
4.3. Victoda Lane - Councilmember Dietz
Councilmember Dietz indicated that complaints have increased regarding the
resident on Victoria Lane who continues to park a semi truck in front of his home.
Neighbors have repoded that the truck is left running 4 to 5 hours a night and is
started up at all hours of the night. The police department has been called to
order him to turn off the vehicle, but after the officers leave, he stads it up again.
They also reported that the last time the police left, he drove the truck around the
block, honking the horn.
Discussion followed regarding ways fo address the problem. Peter Beck, City
Attorney, felt the excessive noise was a violation of the city's nuisance ordinance.
Also, since Victoria Lane is a 5 ton limit roadway, signage may be necessary to
clearly indicate the city regulation.
COMMISSIONER HOLMGREN MOVED THAT THIS ISSUE BE GIVEN PRIORITY TO BE
RESOLVED BY CITY STAFF. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE
MOTION CARRIED 4-0.
6. Adjournment
There being no further business, Mayor Duitsman adjourned the meeting at 7:45
p.m.
,~~ectfully submitted,
Debbie Huebner
Recording Secretary