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4.1. DRAFT MINUTES 08-15-2016 City of Elk Special Meeting of the Elk River City Council River Held at the Elk River City Hall Wednesday, July 27, 2016 Council Present: Mayor Dietz, Councilmembers Olsen, Burandt,Westgaard, and Wagner Commission Present: Chair Ewald Peterson, Commissioners Bruce Anderson, Rachel Leonard, Felix Schmiesing, and John Riebel Members Absent: None City Staff Present: City Administrator Calvin Portner, Fire Chief T.John Cunningham, Parks and Recreation Director Michael Hecker, Economic Development Director Amanda Othoudt, Parks Superintendent Tim Sevcik, Police Chief Ron Nierenhausen, Interim Finance Director Lori Ziemer, City Engineer Justin Femrite, Planning Manager Zack Carlton, and City Clerk Tina Allard County Staff Present: County Administrator Steve Taylor,Vice President of Fair Board tenni Axelson,Attorney Kathleen Heaney,Auditor Diane Arnold, Assistant Engineer Dan I�napek, and Assistant County Administrator Dan Weber Call Meeting to Order Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting was called to order at 4:30 p.m. Mayor Dietz welcomed the county board. , 2.kledge of Allegiance ledge of Allegiancewasrecited. 3. Introductions Everyone in attendance introduced themselves. 3.01 Ditches Mr.Portner thanked staff for supporting each other and working well together. He presented the staff report. Mr. Taylor discussed the work involved with complicated and archaic ditch laws, ditch inspections, and how it's typically reactionary on their end. He stated they are working on being proactive. He explained the lengthy and costly redetermination process. He noted the city could take control over their own ditches if they were interested. City Council Minutes Page 2 July 27,2016 ----------------------------- Commissioner Anderson stated the relationship between the city and county staff has been good. He outlined the Ditch 28 issues. He also commented on the need to be proactive due to recent lawsuits regarding ditches. Commissioner Schmiesing stated ditch law was originally designed for agricultural purposes but today it is being used differently due to suburban growth. Ms. Arnold explained the assessment process and past practice. Commissioner Anderson stated the current process has been working well, but with future growth planned they may need to complete the redetermination study. Commissioner Schmiesing stated the process will get more difficult to administer as residential plats develop. 3.02 Fairgrounds/Community Center Mr. Portner presented the staff report. Mayor Dietz stated the city would like to invite the county to have access to the new community center,if it is passed in an upcoming referendum. He asked if the county would be amendable to improving their adjacent parking lot if the city is willing to share costs. Irene Kostreba questioned if the city would be taking over half the fairground property for the center because she had seen maps indicating this in the newspaper and on the city website. Mr. Portner explained the map and how the community center is actually on city property, and the other highlighting Ms. Kostreba is referring to is the fairgrounds parking lot that both the county and the city could possible share if the county had interest. He further noted that a taskforce looks at all conceptual possibilities and wouldn't make a selection that involves someone else's property without the owner's approval first. Ms. Wagner noted the Council didn't select their plan choice until last week and any drawings to the public were based on conceptual design options. Commissioner Schmiesing stated he has no issues with partnering with the city and see no conflicts. Mayor Dietz stated he lobbied to keep the fair in Elk River and hopes it can stay forever so has no interest in taking over fairground property. He further stated he hopes a community center will help make the fair better and that the fair board can find ways to utilize it. UREJ City Council Minutes Page 3 July 27,2016 ----------------------------- Mayor Dietz directed staff to get an updated release about the community center to the public. 3.03 Economic Development a) Data Centers Ms. Othoudt outlined how she has been working with the county and MNDOT to acquire certain property located at Joplin Street/Highway 10/Business Center Drive in order to construct an approximately 10,000 square foot building on it. b) Market Value Trends Mr. Weber presented economic development growth trends, county incentive programs,recent development activity, and shovel ready sites. Commissioner Anderson thanked staff for their work. 3.04 Twin Lakes Parkway Mr. Femrite explained the Line Avenue Study. Council noted the following: ■ Resident complaints about safety on Twin Lakes Road near the school. ■ The growth that will be occurring along this route. ■ The Council will make other necessary road connections in the area developments once safety is improved on Twin Lakes Road. ■ How well the recent improvements made by the county are working. ■ How well the site lines were cleared by the county. Council questioned if the county has plans for additional improvements to Twin Lakes Road/Parkway. Commissioner Anderson stated it is part of their long-range plan. He stated he hasn't received any complaints since the recent improvements were made. He stated it will be reviewed once the new county engineer begins employment. Councilmember Burandt suggested looking at expanding the area that is reviewed for improvements noting some site line issues at other locations such as Tyler Street. Councilmember Wagner stated she would like to see a dedicated middle turn lane on Twin Lakes Road. She further discussed the southbound left turn lane issues. 3.05 CSAH I Improvements Mr. Femrite presented the staff report and questioned if and when this improvement is on the county capital improvement plan. He stated the city could facilitate property acquisition when needed. UREJ City Council Minutes Page 4 July 27,2016 ----------------------------- Mayor Dietz stated it may good timing to do this project in 2018 after the Highway 10 Orono bridge construction project in 2017. Mr. Knapek stated this project is in their 2017 plan but they would be willing to push it back a year. Mayor Dietz stated it would be great to have a right turn lane at CSAH 1/Highway 10 due to the traffic backup. 3.06 CSAH 33/13 Possible Realignment 2020 Mr. Knapek noted the city may get some calls because they are doing a survey of the area. He stated the county would like to straighten the curves out and they'll want city input during the process. 3.07 Government Center Progress Update/Jackson Street Highway Building Mr. Portner presented the staff report. He questioned the county on whether they would be keeping their Jackson Avenue public facility or incorporating it into the government center expansion. He stated the city may have an interest in purchasing it in order to expand the fire station that is adjacent. Mr. Taylor reviewed the design and layout of the government center expansion. He noted they would still be using the Jackson Avenue facility and will be making improvements to it in the future. Ms. Heaney stated there are some title issues with their facility on Jackson Avenue that they would like to have resolved and would like the Council to be aware of the situation in case they get any questions. ------------------------------------------------- E10loyee Clinic Mr. Taylor stated the county is considering an employee clinic in order to save on costs. He stated they are interested in partnering with city and school. He said they are considering a 950 square foot space,the clinic would be open a few days a week, and could dispense medicine. He indicated that Anoka County had had success with their program. Council stated they would be interested in considering the concept. 3.08 Quiet Zone/Rail Safety Update Mr. Femrite updated everyone regarding the status of the quiet zone project. He noted the city will get three crossings done this year. POWERED 9r UREJ City Council Minutes Page 5 July 27,2016 ----------------------------- 3.09 Trail Connections Mr. Femrite presented the staff report. Mayor Dietz questioned if the county has a policy on trail maintenance. Commissioner Anderson stated this duty has been moved from zoning to the engineering division. He stated it will need to be evaluated by the new engineer. ------------------------------------------------ SiXnal Lights Timing Mayor Dietz discussed the recent traffic signal improvements coordinated with Representative Mary Kiffineyer and MNDOT. He stated the city is further reviewing the option of installing yellow flashing left turn arrows at some intersections,which may involve county owned signals. He stated this improvement would allow for more efficiency in local traffic flow. Commissioner Leonard noted how well this product is working in the City of Big Lake. Commissioner Anderson hopes for a special session that would allow for some transportation funding improvements. Mayor Dietz stated the cooperation and communication has been exceptional among all the staff and they city appreciates all the county has done for them. ----------------------- The meeting recessed at 6:18 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 6:25 p.m. 4. Pinewood Golf Course Request for Proposal Mr. Hecker presented the staff report. Councilmember Burandt expressed concerns with allowing the option to purchase the golf course and allowing it to become something different in five years. She stated someone could run it poorly just so they can get cheap property to develop later. Councilmember Westgaard stated the city has the right to reject any and all proposals if they don't like what they see. He suggested language draft into the agreement where either party could walk away if they are not happy. UREJ City Council Minutes Page 6 July 27,2016 ----------------------------- Councilmember Burandt stated the community wasn't given the chance to step up and offer to volunteer at the course in order to keep it running. She suggested giving them a chance to see how much time they want to commit. Mayor Dietz noted labor is the biggest expense to the budget and the city can't collect enough revenue to cover expenses with only kids/seniors using the course. He further noted when the course was discussed at past meetings;no one in the audience came forward with wanting to start a volunteer group. He further noted a strong leader is needed to run a volunteer group. Mr. Portner suggested the Council continue to move forward with the RFP process to gauge the interest. He stated volunteers would be difficult to utilize for the significant expenses in the budget, such as large equipment/ technical expertise. He also stated if the Council decides to reject bids, they could re-evaluate course operation and allow an option for people to buy in to the course,like a membership. Councilmember Olsen concurred with the mayor. Councilmember Wagner stated she had some marketing language changes to the RFP to promote the property in a better light. Councilmember Olsen expressed concerns with not being honest about the properties disclosures if the language is changed too much. Council directed staff to work with Councilmember Wagner on aesthetic language for the RFP. Council consensus was to advertise the RFP for 30 days. Councilmember Burandt stated she would like the options spelled out more clearly. S. Adjournment There being no further business,Mayor Dietz adjourned the meeting of the Elk River City Council at 6:56 p.m. John J. Dietz,Mayor Tina Allard, City Clerk UREJ