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09-30-1991 CC MIN e e e MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL HELD AT THE ELK RIVER COMMUNITY EDUCATION CENTER MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1991 Members Present: Mayor Tralle, Councilmembers Dietz, Kropuenske and Schuldt Members Absent: Councilmember Holmgren (out of town due to business) Staff Present: Pat Klaers, City Administratorj Darrell Mack, WWTP Superintendentj Terry Maurer, City Engineerj Thackeray, City Clerkj Peter Beck, City Attorney Sandra 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 7: 10 p.m. by Mayor Tralle. 2. Consider 9/30/91 City Council Agenda COUNCILMEMBER KROPUENSKE MOVED TO APPROVE THE 9/30/91 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA. COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 3. Consider 9/23/91 City Council Minutes COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT MOVED TO APPROVE THE 9/23/91 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES. COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 4. Ol)en Mike No one appeared for this item. 5. Westwood Informational Meeting Terry Maurer, City Engineer, presented the Westwood Area Improvement Project history. He indicated that the proposed project consists of sanitary sewer, watermain, storm sewer and street improvements in the Westwood Subdivision area. Terry Maurer stated that this project began in 1985. A public hearing was held in 1985 and after the public hearing the project was dropped because few property owners were in favor of the project. Terry Maurer indicated that the project was authorized to be looked at again in the spring of 1990 but because of economic conditions, the proj ect was again put on hold. Terry Maurer stated that after the heavy rains experienced in September, the City Council requested that a public information meeting be held on the Westwood project. Councilmember Schuldt explained that the feasibility study done in 1985 was done because of a request from the residents in the area due to problems that were being experienced at that time. He indicated that in 1985 there were 68 property owners in the area and only 26 of those Elk River City Council Minutes September 30, 1991 Page 2 e property owners were represented at the public information meeting in 1985. He stated that after an informal vote by the property owners regarding the improvement issue, about half voted in favor of the issue and about half voted against the issue. He indicated that this was the reason that the City Council did not proceed with the project following the public hearing later in 1985. Mayor Tralle opened the public hearing at this time. Vance Zehringer, 148 Elk Hills Drive, questioned the cost of the assessment in 1985 as opposed to the proposed assessment in 1991. Mayor Tralle indicated that the assessment for a 75 foot lot in 1985 was $6,049 and the proposed assessment in 1991 for the same lot is approximately $7,300. Marilyn VanPatten, 12950 Meadowvale Road, questioned the SAC and WAC charges and the sewer serv ice charge per uni t. She further questioned the method of assessment because she lives on a corner lot. Steve Rohlf questioned whether it would be possible to avoid building the road into Paradise Park Subdivision as this could lower the assessments. e Diane Olson of Albany Street indicated that she has a blacktop road and good drainage. She questioned if she would be included in the project. Mayor Tralle indicated that it would be best to hook up all the areas in the proposed service area at the time sewer and water are available. Yvonne Hetland, 188th and Boston, indicated that there are a lot of homes in the area that are new and stated that the proposed assessment is a big expense to the homeowners. She questioned the type of financing available. She also questioned when the Industrial Park was buil t and stated that a lot of problems are from the storm drainage from the Industrial Park. She stated that the City is suggesting to put in water and sewer in order to solve the water runoff problems from the' Industrial Park. Terry Maurer explained that there are two issues involved in the project. The issues being storm sewer and sanitary sewer. He indicated that the sewer and water issue will tie the storm sewer into the project and the purpose of the project is to combine the two issues. Cynthia Dahn, 18856 Albany, indicated that she moved into her home in July and has been flooded twice since then. Diane Frazier, 18807 Zumbro Street, indicated that her home is in the area where the pond does not overflow, however, she is in a high water table. She indicated that she is in favor of the project. e Marilyn VanPatten indicated that she has had problems with the drainfield and is not certain that storm sewer will solve all of the water problems. Terry Maurer indicated that storm sewer will not solve the subsurface water problems but will solve the overland flow. Elk River City Council Minutes September 30, 1991 Page 3 e Steve Rohlf, 12821 188th Avenue, indicated that his basement did not flood during the storm in September, however, he is in support of the project. He indicated he felt that sewer, water and storm sewer is inev i table and that the longer the City wai ts to do the project, the more it will cost the homeowners. He also indicated he feared groundwater contamination. Joe Berglove of Concord Avenue, indicated that he has lakeshore lots in the area that he would like to sell. He indicated that he would like to see a target date set for the project. Diane Olson, 18743 Albany, indicated that the project should have been done a long time ago. She stated that the residents have no guarantee as to how long the wells will remain safe. Roger Tarnowski, 18881 Boston Street, indicated that he owns two lots and according to the proposed assessment will be assessed about $40,000. He indicated he will be retiring soon and cannot afford the assessment. He stated he is not against the storm sewer project but is against the water and sanitary sewer system. . Councilmember Kropuenske indicated that if the sewer and water systems did fail in this area, the residents could be in a bigger financial problem than they are with paying assessments. e Diane Frazier, 18870 Zumbro, indicated that she just had a new well put in and questioned whether they could still use the well if the project went through. Brian Frazier indicated that everyone needs the project but nobody wants it. He questioned what the City could do to help fund the project. Mayor Tralle stated that the City is trying to get a better interest rate and will try to do the project as economically as possible. Dick Hetland of Boston Street, indicated that he owns a large lot and questioned why concrete curb is necessary. Terry Maurer indicated that this is the City standard and has been for five years. Bruce Tarnowski of Albany Street, suggested abandoning the road between Roston and Albany Street. Tom Nickols questioned the method of calculating the payment. Mrs. Hetland stated that the talk about the wells going bad is a scare tactic being used by the City. Cynthia Dahn, 18856 Albany Street, stated she cannot afford the project. e Sally Smith, 12826 188th Avenue, stated that her home is at the bottom of the pond and that they have been flooded at least four times. She stated that they have water coming within inches of the door of their home. Robin Fitzgerald indicated that she is in favor of the entire project as they have no water pressure in the house at the present time. Elk River City Council Minutes September 30, 1991 Page 4 e Roger Tarnowski suggested diverting the storm drainage system to another route. Robert Hagen, 18913 Boston Street, questioned the size of the culvert under the tracks. He suggested putting a larger culvert under the tracks. He further indicated that there is clay and springs in the area and felt that because of this the storm sewer may not take care of the wet basements. David Briggs, 18927 Albany Street, indicated that he sees the major factor of this issue as being the safe drinking water. He indicated that he felt the storm sewer would solve this problem and would like to see the City investigate the possibility of whether the private wells may be safe for ten to twenty years. Mr. Briggs stated he is in favor of the project. Dennis Chuba suggested splitting some of the lots in order to reduce the assessment amounts. He felt that the property values would not increase the amount of the assessments. Pat Klaers, City Administrator, stated that there are some options for the City to consider to reduce the total project cost. e Councilmember Dietz stated that he does not feel the City will proceed with the project unless a majority of the people are in favor of the project. COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ MOVED TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE IMPROVEMENT IN THE MATTER OF SANITARY SEWER, WATERMAIN, STORM SEWER AND STREET IMPROVEMENTS IN THE WESTWOOD AREA ON OCTOBER 28, 1991, AT 7:00 P.M.. COUNCILMEMBER KROPUENSKE SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 6.1. Joint Council/County Commissioner Meetin~ Mayor Tralle indicated that David Loche, County Administrator, will report back to the City Council regarding a date for a meeting. He further indicated that the meeting would be held with Councilmembers Dietz, Kropuenske, or possibly himself. 6.2. Special City Council Meetin~ Redistrictin~ COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ MOVED TO HOLD A SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1991, AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MEETING FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING REDISTRICTING ISSUES. COUNCILMEMBER KROPUENSKE SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. e COUNCILMEMBER KROPUENSKE MOVED TO CALL A CLOSED MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL TO BE HELD JOINTLY WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 15, 1991, AT 6:00 P.M. AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL, TO DISCUSS POSSIBLE LITIGATION OF DEERFIELD THIRD AND FOURTH ADDITIONS. COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. e e e Elk River City Council Minutes September 30, 1991 Page 5 Pat Klaers indicated that he had received a letter from Otsego Township regarding a meeting to be held jointly with Elk River and Otsego Committees regarding Otsego's possible future use of Elk River's sewer system. It was the consensus of the Council that Mayor Tralle would contact Otsego Mayor Freske regarding this meeting. B. City Administrator Update The City Clerk indicated that she has received a request from an individual proposing to sell Twins t-shirts on private property. She questioned whether this could be allowed on the private commercial property or whether it should fall under the transient merchant. ordinance. It was the consensus of the Council to not allow the sale of t-shirts on private property outdoors; however, the sale may be held indoors. Pat Klaers, City Administrator, updated the Council regarding the proposed sidewalk project. The project started in 19B9 due to insurance and safety concerns. No public comments have been received at City Hall on this proposed sidewalk replacement project. The property owners appear satisfied with the repair work that has been done. He indicated that he is proposing to send a letter to the residents informing them that it is unlikely that the replacement project would be done this year or next year. It was the consensus of the Council to ~uthorize the sending of that letter. 9. Adjournment There being no further business, COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. The meeting of the Elk River City Council adjourned at 10:10 p.m. Res)fctf~lY submitted, ~k~ City Clerk ceray "~