05-10-2004 CC MIN REGULAR MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL
HELD AT THE CITY OF ELK RIVER (UPPER TOWN CONFERENCE ROOM)
MONDAY, MAY 10, 2004
Members Present:
Members Absent:
Staff Present:
Also Present:
1.
5.1
Mayor IClinzing, Councilmembers Dietz, Kuester, Tveite, and Motin
None
City Administrator Pat Klaers, Finance Director Lori Johnson, Building
and Environmental Administrator Steve Rohlf, Pol/ce Chief Jeff Beahen,
Ice Arena Manager Rich Czech, City Prosecuting Attorney Chris Johnson,
Liquor Store Manager Dave Porvin, Street/Park Superintendent Phil Hals,
Chief Wastewater Operator Gary Leirmoe, City Engineer Terry Maurer,
Director of Planning Michele McPherson, Utilities General Manager Bryan
Adams, Recreation Manager Michelle Berg, and City Clerk Joan Schmidt
Facilitator Jim Brimeyer
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.
Consider 5/10/2004 Council Agenda
Item 5.1 was moved after Consent Agenda.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER TVEITE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. MOTION
CARRIED 5-0.
Consider Consent Agenda
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILEMBER DIETZ TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING CONSENT
AGENDA:
3.1 Council Minutes
· 4/26/04
· 5/3/04
3.2 Consider appointment of Mike Hangaard to the Library Board for a term to expire
December 31, 2006.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
Consider Request to Hire Law Clerk
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN AND SECONDED BY
COUNClLMEMBER DIETZ TO AUTHORIZE THE HIRING OF A PART
TIME LAW CLERK TO WORK 20 HOURS PER WEEK. MOTION
City Council Minutes
May 10, 2004
CARRIED 5-0.
Page 2
Discussion on the Governance Section of the City, Administrator/City of Elk River XX/ork
Program Facilitated by Jim Brimever
Mr. Brimeyer stated fl~at at the last session 5ye started working on a Mission Statement.
bIayor IClinzing stated that we are a city that serves. CounciLmember Motin stated that the
slogan of"City and country, flows together" seems to be viewed by some as a joke. "The
gateway to the north where city and country flows together" was suggested. Mr. Brimeyer
stated that that is getting too long.
Nix. Brimeryer stated that we want to identify our Strategic Issues. He divided the audience
into four working groups placing at least one council member in each group. Each group
worked on identifying the city's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Below are
the results.
Strengths:
· Geographic · Diversified talents · Manage our own
location with staff and sewer and water
· Highway system volunteers * Low crime rate
(two major · Being county seat · Small city, approach
highways) · Staff talents and · Comp Plan
· Commercial hub working well · Transportation
· Parks system together Plan
· The rivers, lake, · Youth, Senior · Park Plan
and natural Recreation
· Community ~vith
resources opportunities Big Visions
· Growth if managed · School system (grandiose)
· Rail line · Medical services · Free standing
· City's financial plan · Condition of · Downtown
· Land availability housing stock · City identity
· Council diversity (clean, well
(of thought) maintained city) · Supportofficials of elected
· City campus
· Community group
(volunteers) · Strong well
maintained
infrastructure
Weaknesses: · Train tracks
· Transportation dependent on county
and state control
· Lack household supporting jobs
· City Organizational communication
· City Organizational structure
· Council's differences of opinion
· School Districts inability to handle
district wide growth
· Dealing with new issues as a
community
· Lack of youth opportunities
· Lack of commercial land for future
growth
· Lack of diversified population
· Loss of sense of community over
nme
· Lack of industry
· No local communication tools -
media
· Lack of leadership at state level
representing the city's interest
City Council Minutes
May 10, 2004
Great ideas but lack of
implementation and follow through
(from the community ie Boys & Girls
Club but no fund raising)
· Lack of vision and direction
· No local benefactors
Opportunities: · Northstar Corridor
· Growth
· Future Land availability
-Cargill
-Gravel mines
-Industry
-Highway frontage
· Adjacent city growth
· Development of natural amenities
Threats: · Northstar Corridor-unknown costs
· Dependence on residential property
tax
· Traffic
· Inability to communicate with school
district and county board
· Growth in Otsego and Big Lake-
competition
· Ramsey Town Center
Page 3
· Reliance on residential tax base
· Lack of opportunities for informal
council/staff discussion
· MN interests in recreation (use our
facilities)
· State Growth Corridor (Minneapolis
- St. Cloud)
· Can control growth-use of open land
· County Seat
· City owned industrial park
· Develop a good job base
· Develop unique identity
· YMCA
· 'Gas Prices
· State funding
-Dumped on cities
-Transportation
-Education
· Economy
· Stress of Dual households
· Terrorism
· Drug Use/Availability
order for this program to be successful, what should be our issues for the next 2 to 5 years?
Issues
__(number indicates total count from council and staff in prioritizing)
1. Implementation of new/revised city organization structure after agreement. 79
2. Steady, consistent growth toward approved plans 109
-Comp plan
-Transportation
-Amenities
Get "plans" approved
-Land use
-Utilities
-Transportation
-Parks
3. Use resources necessary to reduce traffic congestion on corridors - Action Plan
(county/state) 50
4. Develop plan for commercial expansion. 35
5. Plan to designate and preserve natural areas (resources). 53
6. Aggressively attract career (household supporting income) jobs 29
City Council Minutes
May 10, 2004
7. Provide community programs/facilities 17
-YMCA
-Leisure
-Arts
-Seniors
-Youth
8. Improve relationship with other agencies 22
-County
-Other cities
-Schools
-Local legislature
9. Create clear identity and work plan to implement and live it 9
10. Evaluate need for second hquor store 14
11. Maintain, update infrastructure (street, sewer, water); finance mechanisms. 53
12. Waste water capacity--If..., where, when. 55
13. Maintain existing housing stock-life cycle housing. 0
14. Council direction shared with commissions and staff. 58
15. Develop matrLx of preferred land use mix. 35
16. Improve employee relations within the organization. 32
Page 4
X,Vhat are the major actions and action steps that must be taken in the next 6-12 months to
implement the proposals? And who is responsible? (To be worked on at the next work
session.)
5.2
5.3
Ice Arena Floor
Ice Arena Manager Rich Czech discussed the need for a change order for the floor
replacement project.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER TVEITE AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ TO ALLOCATE A $20,000 CONTINGENCY FUND
TO ALLOW FOR THESE TYPES OF FUTURE CHANGES FOR THE
PROJECT AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO APPROVE
SUCH CHANGE ORDERS. FUNDING SOURCE WOULD BE ONE-HALF
FROM NSP FUNDS AND ONE-HALF FROM LIQUOR FUNDS. MOTION
CARRIED 5-0.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER TVEITE AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN TO APPROVE THE CHANGE ORDER FOR
THE FLOOR REPLACEMENT PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,964.00
USING ONE-HALF NSP FUNDS AND ONE-HALF LIQUOR STORE FUNDS
(BUT NOT OUT OF THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED CONTINGENCY FUND).
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
Koehler Property
The City has been pursuing the purchase of the Koehler property, which is next to the
Bailey property, for the anticipated Library expansion project. The indicated value by sales
comparison is $178,000 (appraised value); the Bailey House was $144,000. This information
City Council Minutes Page 5
May 10, 2004
was provided to Mr. and Ms. Koehler. Ms. Koehler stated during a meeting with staff that
she would accept the $196,700 but not $178,000.
IT WAS THE CONSENSUS OF THE COUNCIL TO OFFER THE AMOUNT
OF $178,000 FOR THE PURCHASE OF THIS PROPERTY.
6. Other Business
Councilmember Dietz reported to council in regards to special assessments in the Boston
Concorde area. It may be in the best interest of everyone involved if the residents do
choose to sue the city. Staff and John have been brainstorming all possibilities and cannot
come up with a solution. Councilmember Dietz asked the council to give this some
thought. Councilmember Dietz will put together a letter to Mr. Longie. Also discussed was
the increased SAC charge.
7. Adjournment
There being no further business, Mayor I<linzing adjourned the meeting of the Elk River
City Council at 10:18 p.m.
Joan Schmidt
City Clerk