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04-08-1989 CC MIN - SPECIAL-JOINT JOINT MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER PLANNING COMMISSION/CITY COUNCIL HELD AT ELK RIVER CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 1989 e Councilmembers Present: Mayor Tra11e, Counci1members Schuldt, Holmgren, Dobel and Kropuenske Planning Commission Members Present: Chairman Kimball, Commissioners Fuchs, Morton, Johnson, Olsen, Schroeder and Emberley Staff Members Present: Steve Rohlf, Building & Zoning Administrator; Steve Bjork, Zoning Assistant; Pat K1aers, City Administrator and Tim Keane, City Attorney 1. Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the joint meeting of the Elk River City Council and Planning Commission was called to order at 8:40 a.m. by Mayor Tra11e. The City Adminstrator indicated that he had one item to discuss with the City Council under "Other Business". COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT MOVED TO APPROVE COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE 4/8/89 AGENDA AS AMENDED. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 2. 2001 Presentation e John Kuester and Ellie Kretsch, representing the 2001 Committee, were present to discuss with the City Council and Planning Commission the most recent 2001 Conference held on February 25, 1989. Mr. Kuester began his presentation by thanking the City Council for its financial participation for this 2001 Conference and for their attendance at the Conference. John stated that a steady theme for all of the 2001 Conferences has been the City wide need for a multi-use community center. John provided some background information on the previous 2001 Conferences and indicated that there appears to be a need within the community for an open discussion on current issues and events and therefore, the 2001 Conferences are helping to meet this community need. The Conference has led to the formation of committees that hope to implement a 2001 Newsletter, breakfast meetings to discuss specific issues, and more steering committees for specific projects. There already exists a Green Space steering committee and a Community Foundation sterring committee. e John reviewed with the group a handout that showed the major topics of discussion from the three previous 2001 Conferences and the Governor's Design Team. The handout indicated that the repeating theme of all of these conferences was the need for an Elk River Community Center of some type. John noted that all of these meetings have been well attended but that the participants have been different each year. Therefore, a wide group of the community, not just the same individuals, are stating this need for a community center. John then stated that it is the opinion of the 2001 Committee Conference that there appears to be a need to form a citizens committee to work on formulating a plan for the development of a community center. e e e Page 2 Elk River City Council Minutes April 8. 1989 Mayor Tralle stated that the most significant concern for a community center is finances along with the components within a facility. Councilmember Schuldt indicated his concern over the availability of appropriately located land for such a community center and supported the committee concept to review all aspects of a community center. Additionally. Mayor Tra11e stated that the make up of a citizens committee has to be carefully considered so that no one aspect is weighted more heavily simply because of the make up'and background of the committee. It was acknowledged that such a multi-use community center would be a long range project and no one had expectations that such a center would be constructed for the next few years. It was the consensus of the City Council to work with the 2001 Committee in forming a Citizens Committee or Task Force for evaluating all aspects of a multi-use community center in Elk River. This issue is to be placed on a future City Council agenda and the staff was instructed to make recommendations to the City Council on the purpose. make up. total number. etc.. of the committee. 3. Rudehaven Video Tape Tim Keane stated that the Larkin. Hoffman. Daly. & Lindgren. LTD. Law Firm had worked with Channel 23 and put together a humorous review of a zoning and redevelopment issue. The video tape shows all parties of the development. the City staff. concerned neighbor. developer. engineer for the developer. etc.. as extreme examples of one point of view in the zoning and redevelopment issue. The serious side of the video tape was the fact that. in every development issue the City of Elk River works on. there can be a little bit of the extremeness shown in each of the Rudehaven characters. 4a. Apartments The general issue of apartments within Elk River was discussed. Concern was expressed about the rapid increase in the number of apartments as compared to the total housing stock. It was noted that in 1984. apartments comprised 12% of the total housing stock and in 1988 this number had increased to 22%. The group discussed the appropriate locations for apartments. the need to control the density of apartments. the need to obtain park fees for all new living units constructed within the community and appropriate design standards for apartments in order to help manage the quality of units constructed. It was noted by the Attorney that the location and density of apartments is greatly controlled by the City zoning ordinance and map. The PUD group discussed the need to do a "focus area" study of the two large areas as shown in the City Growth Management Plan. These two areas along west Highway #10 and Highway #169. The group also discussed need for the City to put together some design standards in order to more control over the quality of future developments. are the have COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO WORK WITH THE CITY STAFF IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF PERFORMANCE AND DESIGN STANDARDS. WHICH WOULD INCLUDE APARTMENT DENSITY CONSIDERATIONS. FOR THE INDUSTRIAL. COMMERCIAL AND MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONES WITHIN ELK RIVER. COUNCILMEMBER KROPUENSKE SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. Page 3 Elk River City Council Minutes April 8. 1989 e Councilmember Dobel left at this time. OOUNCILMIMBER KROPUKNSKE MOVED TO DIRECT THE CITY ATTORNEY TO WORK WITH THE CITY STAFF TO PREPARE ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE CITY TO OBTAIN PARK DEDICATION FEES FOR NEW COMMERCIAL.. INDUSTRIAL. AND ALL APARTMENT DEVELOPMENTS. COUNCIL MEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0.. 4b. Growth Management Plan Mission Statement Planning Commission Chairman. Peter Kimball. expressed his concern for a Mission Statement indicating the City philosophy on "what it wants to be and look like" in the year 2000. The City Council concurred that such a philosophical statement is appropriate within the Growth Management Plan and directed the Planning Commission to formulate such a Growth Management Plan Mission Statement. 4c. Planning Commission Conference/Travel Budget Policy e The City Council stated its strong support for the continued education and training of the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission expressed concern over the amount of money available for training and discussed with the City Council the wide range of conferences and seminars that are available. It was the consensus of the City Council to develop a separate line item within the General Fund budget that would detail the Planning Commission travel and conference budget. It was the consensus of the City Council to have the Planning Commission develop a policy that would govern its members attending conferences. workshops. seminars. etc. 4d-1.Public Hearings The group discussed the current practice of both the Planning Commission and the City Council holding public hearings on the same issue. The Attorney noted that it is not required for both groups to conduct public hearings on the same issue. It was the consensus of the City Council that based on the input received at City Council meetings at the second public hearing. that it is a good policy to continue to conduct two public hearings; one before the Planning Commission and one before the City Council on the same issue. 4d-2.Review of Applications e The group reviewed the process which Security Financial is taking with its sign application. The issue is the fact that Security Financial is returning repeatedly to the Planning Commission for review of revised plans prior to receiving a decision from the City Council on their application. It was the consensus of both the City Council and the Planning Commission to try to avoid this situation in the future by not reviewing a second or revised application until a City Council decision had been made on the original proposal. e e e Page 4 Elk River City Council Minutes April 8, 1989 " The Attorney discussed with the City Council and the Planning Commission the need to have a complete record of what happens at meetings where development issues are discussed. The recommendation for denial of an application needs to be made on statements of fact and these statements of fact should be included within the minutes. The Attorney strongly recommended that Planning Commission and City Council meetings are tape recorded. Staff was directed to discuss with the Community Education Department of the School District the possibility of obtaining microphones and a recording system at the Community Room for future public meetings. 4d-3."City Operations" Changes The group discussed the City procedures and policies for direction given to the City staff and changes in how the City operates. The group discussed zoning and development, non compliance issues, and how such issues are currently being handled by the City staff. It was the consensus of the group that direction from the Planning Commission to the City staff and for changes in how the City responds to development challenges should be reviewed by the City Council prior to action being taken. 5. General Discussion As the meeting was approaching adjournment time, the issue of billboards was put on hold until the next meeting. Concern was expressed by Councilmember Schuldt regarding future used car lots and the need for these car lots to have a very closely reviewed conditional use permit issued. It was the consensus of both groups that a follow up meeting to this joint workshop session should be held in approximately six months. At this time, the City Administrator distributed to the Planning Commission City maps, office supplies, and City Code changes. 6. Other Business The City Administrator reviewed with the City Council the assessment appeals of Mr. and Mrs. MacGibbon for their Main Street sewer and street assessments. The staff is recommending that Mr. MacGibbon pay the entire street assessment for his homesteaded property and that the sewer assessment be deferred as he currently has service to the old sewer interceptor. Regarding the vacant lot, it has been determined by the staff that this lot is unbuildable and that the sewer assessment should be deleted. Also there is very little increase in valuation due to the street improvement and that this property should only be assessed $1,000 for this improvement. The City Council concurred with staff recommendation and directed the staff to provide the appropriate materials for final Council action on this issue. e e e Page 5 Elk River City Council Minutes April 8. 1989 7. Adjournment COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO ADJOURN THE 4/8/89 JOINT WORKSHOP SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND pLANNING COMMISSION. COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION' CARRIED 4-0. The joint meeting of the Elk River City Council and Planning Commission adjourned at 12:25 p.m. Respectfully submitted. fa-'/- I{I~) Pat Klaers City Administrator