4.1. SR 12-21-2015Meeting of the Elk River City Council
Held at the Elk River City Hall
Monday, December 7, 2015
Members Present: Mayor Dietz, Councilmembers Olsen, Burandt, Westgaard, and
Wagner
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: City Administrator Calvin Portner, Finance Director Tim Simon, City
Clerk Tina Allard, Street Superintendent Mark Thompson,
Wastewater Treatment Chief Operator Matt Stevens, Parks and
Recreation Director Michael Hecker, Recreation Manager Steve
Benoit, Park Maintenance Supervisor Tim Sevcik, Wastewater
Operator James Ames, Park Maintenance Worker Shane Fisher,
Street Maintenance Worker Zack Behrens, Secretary/Receptionist
Cathy Dalchow, and Recording Secretary/Senior Administrative
Assistant Jennifer Johnson
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 Dietz.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
3. Consider 12/7/2015 Agenda
Mayor Dietz asked that item 8.1 be removed from the agenda.
Moved by Councilmember Wagner and seconded by Councilmember Olsen
to approve the December 7, 2015, agenda, removing item 8.1.
Motion carried 5-0.
4. Consider Consent Agenda
Moved by Councilmember Westgaard and seconded by Councilmember
Olsen to approve the following consent agenda:
4.1 Minutes
November 16, 2015, Closed
November 16, 2015, Regular
4.2 Check register, check numbers 9827-9829 and 94493-94698 as outlined
in the staff report.
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4.3 Massage Therapist License for Fang Lin of Joy Massage valid until
December 31, 2016.
4.4 Elk River Fire Relief Association By-Law Update as outlined in the
staff report.
4.5 Annual License Renewals as outlined in the staff report.
4.6 Fire Contract with City of Otsego as outlined in the staff report.
4.7 2016 Maintenance Agreement with Wright County for Parrish Avenue
Bridge as outlined in the staff report.
4.8 Streamline of Licensing Process as outlined in the staff report.
4.9 Pay out of excess accrual vacation time to Sergeant Bryan Vita as
outlined in the staff report.
Motion carried 5-0.
5. Open Forum
No one appeared for Open Forum.
6.1 Introduction of New Employees
Staff presented the following new employees to the council and provided
information on their backgrounds and experience:
Mr. Hecker introduced Shane Fisher, park maintenance worker
Mr. Thompson presented Zack Behrens, street maintenance worker
Ms. Allard presented Cathy Dalchow, secretary/receptionist
Mr. Stevens presented James Ames
The council welcomed the new employees.
7.1. 2016 Budget and Tax Levy
Mr. Simon presented the staff report and outlined the 2016 proposed budget with a
PowerPoint presentation. He explained that the purpose of this evening’s public
hearing was to discuss the 2016 city budget and general tax information and that it is
not a time to discuss individual property values. He stated that if individuals have
questions or concerns regarding their property values, they should attend the Board
of Review meeting in the spring or contact the Sherburne County Assessor’s Office.
Mr. Simon briefly outlined the process of this evening’s budget presentation and
comment period, explaining the city’s vision and the goals supporting that vision. He
stated the Council approved the maximum tax levy of $10,305,783 in September,
which is the maximum tax levy the City can adopt. The Council has directed staff to
draft a final tax levy resolution in the amount of $10,171,733. Mr. Simon reviewed
the tax levy by use and compared the levy with previous years. He also reviewed
property tax changes and explained that a number of factors play a role in
determining the property tax amount.
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Mr. Simon reviewed general fund revenues and expenditures.
Mr. Simon reviewed the special revenue funds and enterprise funds. He stated that
the enterprise funds are self-supportive and not supported by tax dollars. Mr. Simon
provided the public with information provided on the Minnesota Department of
Revenue’s website for residents to determine if they qualify for any state tax relief
program funds. He concluded that the council may adopt the 2016 tax levy and
budget following public input and comments.
Mayor Dietz opened the public hearing. There being no one present to speak, he
closed the public hearing.
Councilmember Westgaard stated he felt the budget as presented is very respectable,
noting the months of working through the details of this budget by the council with
the city administrator, finance director, and department heads, and thanking them
for keeping the general fund budget steady so that taxes stay steady.
Mayor Dietz stated he felt it was imperative to give the employees modest cost of
living increases and felt the budget as presented was a very reasonable budget.
Moved by Councilmember Westgaard and seconded by Councilmember
Olsen approving Resolution 15-73 approving the proposed Property Tax Levy
for collection in 2016 as outlined in the staff report.
Motion carried 5-0.
Moved by Councilmember Wagner and seconded by Councilmember Burandt
to approve the 2016 General, Special Revenue, and Enterprise Fund budgets
as outlined in the staff report.
Motion carried 5-0.
8.2 Wayfinding Master Plan Update
Ms. Gardner presented the staff report.
Parks and Recreation Commissioner Dave Anderson spoke and noted the
commission appreciated the opportunity to provide comment, stating Ms. Gardner
did a good job of capturing the consensus of the commission’s requested changes as
a result of their November 17 review of the plan. Mr. Anderson stated he was
surprised the commission liked the design and outlined his items of concern.
Mayor Dietz indicated he went over the proposed changes with Mr. Anderson and
agreed with them, stating he didn’t have a problem with them. He questioned not
including the location address on the sign.
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Ms. Gardner indicated that police staff that were on the sign committee indicated
they did not require an address on the sign. She also explained the rock was
fieldstone and not cut or cultured.
Councilmember Wagner stated she had a big concern with removing the Powered by
Nature tagline from the signs, noting it would be a shame to remove it after the time
and effort placed creating the brand image, and stating she received a citizen call also
concerned with removing this brand. She stated she was indifferent to the comment
to add the city logo but did not want to see the waves removed, noting it was part of
the look and feel throughout the city. Councilmember Wagner stated she wasn’t in
favor of spending any additional funds towards this plan until a dollar amount could
be obtained for the total cost of producing the signs.
Mayor Dietz asked if some of these changes be incorporated after receiving the bids.
Ms. Gardner thought they could but a true reflection of the cost of the signs
wouldn’t be obtained. She indicated she would like to request bids in January 2016.
Councilmember Wagner stated she didn’t think the Council would support another
redesign with the changes proposed this evening.
Mr. Hecker again expressed the need and desire to have a consistent signage in all of
our parks. He agreed with Councilmember Wagner regarding the Powered by Nature
branding that it be used in the signage, especially with it already being used
throughout the city and in signature parks like Orono Park.
Councilmember Burandt asked if the vertical signs were more expensive than the
horizontal ones.
Councilmember Westgaard indicated the tall, vertical signs would likely be more
expensive due to the support requirements. He indicated this is a no-win situation
with too many people weighing in on their opinions without any sort of consensus.
He felt the council needed to identify the elements to be included in each sign, and
to direct the steering committee members to determine the final sign design.
Ms. Gardner explained the committee members met and provided the first set of
design standards to Visual Communications and the council decided to scrap those
plans and use their own.
Councilmember Olsen stated he felt the consultants didn’t understand the
community because they didn’t drive through the city and look at different
landmarks or current signage. He requested to keep things simple and affordable,
and felt confused by the many iterations of the original design plan.
Councilmember Wagner stated she felt Visual Communications did do their due
diligence by getting to know the community when meeting with staff 2 years ago to
provide what was a representation of it, and they were mimicking the fieldstone at
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Handke, which is why it was chosen in the design. She wasn’t in favor of spending
any additional funds and suggested the plan be returned to staff to finalize.
Mayor Dietz suggested the original wayfinding sign committee be reassembled to
review these proposed suggestions from the Parks and Recreation Commission and
return to council with a final plan.
Councilmember Westgaard stated he’d rather get it done right than rush to finish it.
Councilmember Olsen was afraid of a ping-pong effect by sending it to another
commission for review.
Councilmember Westgaard indicated the signage plan affects the entire city and not
just the parks, and the original steering committee should take all the
recommendations to form the final plan.
It was the consensus of the council to have the plan reviewed by the original sign
committee.
8.3 Update: Wastewater Treatment Facility Expansion
Tejpal Bala, P.E., of Bolton & Menk, presented a PowerPoint presentation updating
the Council on the wastewater treatment facility expansion project.
8.4 Wastewater Treatment Facility Bio-Solids Land Lease Agreement
Mr. Stevens presented the staff report.
Moved by Councilmember Westgaard and seconded by Councilmember
Olsen to approve the Wastewater Treatment Facility Sludge Land Lease
agreement with David Pearson as outlined in the staff report.
Motion carried 5-0.
8.5 Orono Park Skate Park Design Services
Mr. Benoit presented the staff report.
Mayor Dietz asked why the Parks and Recreation Commission wasn’t shown the
plan before presented to Council for approval. He stated he would like to see the
proposal presented to the Parks and Recreation Commission as a courtesy and for
their feedback before the council approves.
Mr. Benoit indicated the comments from the task force, which included members of
the Parks and Recreation Commission, were included in the RFP. Staff reviewed the
proposals received and based upon them and the comments from the task,
recommend Spohn Ranch.
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Mr. Hecker stated he relayed the status of this project in an email to the Parks
Commission the week prior and asked for feedback, noting they were unable to place
it on last month’s parks agenda due to it being a special meeting.
Councilmember Wagner asked if Mr. Hecker had received any feedback from the
email he sent to the Parks and Recreation Commission regarding the proposal.
Mr. Hecker indicated he didn’t receive any feedback from any of the commissioners.
Mayor Dietz asked if they could delay action on this item until the commission
reviews the proposal. He didn’t feel it would make any difference to delay this item
for a few weeks.
It was the consensus of the Council to delay action on this item until after the Parks
and Recreation Commission for review.
8.6 Hire Consultant to Complete Multipurpose Community Center
Feasibility Plan
Mr. Hecker presented the staff report.
Moved by Councilmember Westgaard and seconded by Councilmember
Wagner to approve the Agreement for Professional Services to hire JLG
Architects to complete the Multipurpose Community Center Feasibility Plan
as outlined in the staff report.
Motion carried 5-0.
8.7 Multipurpose Community Center Feasibility Plan Steering Committee
Mr. Hecker presented the staff report.
Mayor Dietz indicated Councilmember Wagner volunteered to be on the committee.
Councilmember Westgaard asked that an Arena Commission member be included as
a representative on this committee, noting the huge role they would be playing and
having their perspective would be important.
The consensus of the council agreed with Councilmember Wagner representing the
council on this committee.
Moved by Councilmember Burandt and seconded by Councilmember
Westgaard to approve the Multipurpose Community Center Feasibility Plan
steering committee as outlined in the staff report and with the addition of an
Ice Arena Commission member, to be determine, to be included in the
committee.
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Motion carried 5-0.
8.8 Agreement to Remove the William H. Houlton Conservation Area
Farm Outbuildings
Mr. Hecker presented the staff report.
Councilmember Westgaard indicated he had received community comment
regarding the proposed removal of the barn, noting its historical building. He asked
for clarification of what type of building could be left on the property and for what
purpose. He asked that staff create a public information piece to explain the
reasoning behind the decisions made on the property.
Mr. Hecker indicated the Quonset hut was the building kept for on-site storage due
to the low level of maintenance. He stated the barn would require a level of
restoration and continued maintenance that would require it to meet code and
wouldn’t qualify to serve the level of need for this conservation area. He agreed with
the need to provide an information piece to the public and would ask the Star News
to include this information in a future publication.
Moved by Councilmember Olsen and seconded by Councilmember
Westgaard to approve the agreement for services with Veit & Company Inc. to
complete the removal of the William H. Houlton Conservation Area
outbuildings and materials as outlined in the staff report.
Motion carried 5-0.
8.9 Redemption of the General Obligation Capital Improvement Plan
Bonds, Series 2006C
Mr. Simon presented the staff report.
Moved by Councilmember Wagner and seconded by Councilmember
Westgaard to approve Resolution 15-74 providing for the redemption of
certain outstanding General Obligation Capital Improvement Plan Bonds,
Series 2006C of the city as outlined in the staff report.
Motion carried 5-0.
8.10 EDA, HRA, and Library Board Appointments
Mayor Dietz presented the staff report.
Moved by Mayor Dietz and seconded by Councilmember Wagner to appoint
Nate Ovall to the Economic Development Authority with term to expire
December 31, 2021, appoint Michelle Eder to the Housing and
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Redevelopment Authority with term to expire December 31, 2020, and to
reappoint Willie Jackson to the Library Board with term to expire December
31, 2018.
Motion carried 5-0.
8.11 Discuss Work Session Items
Mr. Portner presented the staff report. There were no additions to the work session
agenda.
9.1 Council Liaison Updates
Council provided updates for the various boards.
10. Adjournment
There being no further business, Mayor Dietz adjourned the meeting of the Elk
River City Council at 8:31p.m.
Minutes prepared by Jennifer Johnson.
___________________
John J. Dietz, Mayor
___________________
Tina Allard, City Clerk
Closed Meeting of the Elk River City Council
Held at Elk River City Hall
Monday, December 7, 2015
Members Present: Mayor Dietz, Councilmembers Olsen, Burandt, Westgaard, and
Wagner
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: City Administrator Calvin Portner, Captain Bob Kluntz, Captain
Darren McKernan, Finance Director Tim Simon, and Senior
Administrative Assistant Jennifer Johnson
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 8:34 p.m. by Mayor Dietz.
2. Closed Meeting
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss Labor Negotiations for the Patrol Union,
pursuant to MN Statute §13D.03, subdivision 1(b).
3. Adjournment
There being no further business, Mayor Dietz adjourned the closed meeting of the
Elk River City Council at 9:48 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Jennifer Johnson.
John J. Dietz, Mayor
Tina Allard, City Clerk