02-08-2017 CCM SPECIALSpecial Meeting of the Elk River City Council
ver Held at the Elk River Public Safety Facility
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Members Present: Mayor Dietz, Councilmembers Olsen, Ovall, Westgaard, and Wagner
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: City Administrator Calvin Portner, Finance Director Lori Ziemer,
Chief of Police Ron Nierenhausen, Fire Chief T. John Cunningham,
Planning Manager Zack Carlton, City Engineer Justin Femrite,
Community Operations and Development Director Suzanne Fischer,
City Clerk Tina Allard, Economic Development Director Amanda
Othoudt, Parks and Recreation Director Michael Hecker, and
Executive Secretary/Deputy City Clerk Jessica Miller
I . Call Meeting to Order
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River City Council
was called to order at 8:00 a.m. by Mayor Dietz.
2. Visioning and Goals
Mr. Portner discussed workshop goals and expectations. He stated one of the goals
is to develop a mission statement. He asked the questions "What do we want?" and
"Where do we want to be?"
Council and staff took the Pace Palette color assessment. Upon completion of the
assessment, Council and staff divided into groups based on their assessed color and
discussed joys, values, strengths, irritations, aggravations, and stressors.
Mr. Portner reviewed results of an employee survey as included in the packet.
Mr. Portner led Council and staff through a SWOT analysis and the following were
identified:
Strengths
• Progressive
• Diversity
• Bond rating
■ Staff quality
■ Park system
• Geographical location
■ Image public safety
• Homegrown companies (continue to prosper)
• Historical reference (identity)
• Public service (overall service to community)
City Council Minutes
February 8, 2017
■ Diverse revenue streams
• Security - IT
• Technology
• Collaboration (community)
■ Infrastructure capacity
• Contentment (ER residents)
■ Volunteers
Weaknesses
■ Diversity
■ Turnover (staff)
■ Geographic size/tax base
• Nimby — we have things others don't want
■ ER perceptions/historical frustrations
• Business friendly (perception is we are not)
• Metro vs. Greater MN (sometimes suburb, sometimes rural)
• Taxes/cost of living
■ Vision
• Plans — staying on task
Opportunities
■ Transportation Improvements
• Growth (res/comm) Development
■ River access
• Diversity
■ Learn other cities success
• Capture ideas business world
■ Seniors/changing demo
• Social media (get out more info)
■ Regional job growth
■ Redevelopment/business expansion (people working nearby living here)
Threats
• Diversity
■ Changing demographics
• Transportation (if not maintained properly)
• Growth (if no plan)
■ Low municipal liquor
• Loss ERMU
• Loss key personnel (pay issues)
■ Dayton/Otsego/St. Michael/Albertville/Rogers (school district decisions)
• Social media/audience
• Capital assets (sustainable?)
■ Council/Legislative turnover (continuity of priorities)
• Diverse revenue ending
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City Council Minutes Page 3
February 8, 2017
Council and staff also identified draft core value statements as follows:
Welcome a revolutionary spirit that fosters a culture of exceptional service and
community participation.
Nurture resourcefulness to leverage strengths and drive community prosperity.
Cultivate/Revolutionize an environment to encourage and inspire diverse and
meaningful engagement.
Business Friendly
Mr. Portner asked for interpretations of business friendly.
Council discussed the following:
■ Process should be firth, fair, and consistent.
• Balance between large and smaller businesses. Smaller operations may need
more assistance working through city processes. Process shouldn't be easy
but shouldn't be so difficult to turn people away. Structure an application
process based on whether or not an applicant has been through the process
before and providing additional guidance to those who need it.
• Constant review of internal processes for improvement.
• Documentation.
• Empathy.
Mr. Portner stated business licenses and permit processes are fairly consistent among
cities.
Mr. Portner questioned whether roof tops (housing developments) or jobs are more
important to bring to Elk River?
Councilmember Ovall stated if Elk River wants to continue to be a leader it should
continue to create industrial development and develop manufacturing, technology,
and medical opportunities.
Beautification
Chief Nierenhausen explained the direct correlation between public safety and
blighted properties. He would like to see the Police and Fire and Building Services
divisions work together. Chief Cunningham stated Building and Code Enforcement
currently operate reactively and not proactively. Mr. Portner mentioned
implementing Point of Sale inspections.
Mr. Portner wrapped up the meeting. He stated he will distribute the SWOT analysis
information. He stated the next step is to identify and work similarities into goals and
identify tasks within the goals.
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City Council Minutes
February 8, 2017
3. Adjournment
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There being no further business, Mayor Dietz adjourned the meeting of the Elk
River City Council at 3:53 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Jessica Miller.
Ohnqiietzy�or
Tina Allard, City Clerk
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