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03-07-1988 CC MIN e e e MINUTES OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL MONDAY, MARCH 7, 1988 HELD AT THE ELK RIVER PUBLIC LIBRARY Members Present: Mayor Gunkel, Councilmembers Schuldt, Holmgren, and Dobel. Councilmember Tralle arrived at 7:10 p.m. Members Absent: None Staff Present: Pat Klaers, City Administrator; Steve Rohlf, Building and Zoning Administrator; Bill Pollard, Librarian; Russ Anderson, Fire Chief; and Phil Hals, Street Superintendent 1. Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Gunkel called the meeting of the Elk River City Council to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. Consideration of 3/7/88 City Council Agenda City Administrator Update was added as 8A. COUNCILMEMBER DOBEL MOVED TO APPROVE THE 3/7/88 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA AS AMENDED. COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 3.1. Consider 2/27/88 City Council/Planning Commission Minutes COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT MOVED TO APPROVE THE 2/27/88 MINUTES OF THE JOINT CITY COUNCIL/PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4--0. 3.2. Consideration of 2/29/88 City Council Minutes It was noted that page 5 - second paragraph, the last sentence shall read as follows: Concern was expressed by the City Council that members who attend a national conference on behalf of the City are not in their last year of office and that the Councilmembers that go to a national conference should have already attended current state and local workshops. COUNCILMEMBER DOBEL MOVED TO APPROVE THE 2/29/88 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES AS AMENDED. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 4. Open Mike No one appeared for this item. 5.1. Transient Merchant License/Robert Madland/Public Hearing Mayor Gunkel indicated that Robert Madland is requesting renewal of a transient merchant license for 1988 to sell flowers outside of Northbound Liquor Store in the parking lot area on certain holidays and weekends. Page 2 City Council Minutes March 7. 1988 e Mayor Gunkel opened the public hearing. There being no one for or against the matter. Mayor Gunkel closed the public hearing. COUNCILMEKBER SCHULDT MOVED TO APPROVE A TRANSIENT MERCHANT LICENSE FOR ROBERT MADLAND WICH WOULD ALLOW HIM TO . SELL FLOWERS OUTSIDE OF NORTHBOUND LIQUOR STORE IN THE PARKING LOT AREA ON CERTAIN HOLIDAYS AND WEEKENDS. COUNCILM1!:MBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 5.2. Nord Motor Company Site Plan Modification The Building and Zoning Administrator indicated that Nord Motor Company is requesting to move their proposed building away from Highway 10 which would make the variance that was previously approved by Council unnecessary. The Building and Zoning Administrator presented the original site plan and also the proposed new site plan to the Council for consideration. Councilmember Tralle arrived at this time. e Mayor Gunkel indicated that the new proposed site plan is an improvement over the original site plan as it is more appealing. it creates better traffic flow. and it eliminates the need for a variance. She further indicated that this revision would meet the same requirements as set forth by the Council for the original site plan. COUNCILMEKBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO RECOGNIZE AND APPROVE THE CHANGED SITE PLAN PRESENTED BY . NORD MOTOR COMPANY. COUNCILMEMBER DOBEL SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 5.3. Presentation on Apartment Proposal/Gary Santwire Mr. Gary Santwire presented to the Council a proposal for an apartment complex which would house low to moderate income people. He indicated the guidelines are set forth by the Farmers Home Administration and they require a response. either favorably. neutral (not opposed). or against. from the City and the Housing and Redevelopment Authority. Mr. Santwire indicated that he is proposing a five (1) bedroom. seventeen (2) bedroom. and two (3) bedroom unit apartment. He indicated the rent would be figured by a certain formula set by the Farmers Home Administration and this would be according to the income of the occupants. The apartments would be available for people with an income range of $12.000 to $23.000. He indicated the value of the apartments is $775.000 which is on the high end of the scale in terms of cost per unit for apartments constructed in Elk River in 1986-87. e The City Council indicated that housing but would prefer to see opposed to being located in one area. it had no opposition to subsidized them spread throughout the city as COUNCILMEMBER TRALLE MOVED TO INFORM THE FARMERS HOME ADMINISTRATION THAT THE CITY OF ELK RIVER I S NOT OPPOSED TO THE LOW/MODERATE INCOME HOUSING ~IW~OML 'ttISIN'l'IJ) BY GARY SANTWIRE. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. Page 3 City Council Minutes March 7, 1988 e 6.1. Library Annual Report Bill Pollard, Librarian, presented the 1987 Library Annual Report to the City Council. Bill Pollard informed the Council that he has accepted a position with Honeywell as Librarian and would be starting his new position before the end of March, 1988. 6.2. Fire Department Annual Report During the presentation of the 1987 Fire Department Annual Report by Fire Chief, Russ Anderson, the subject of a referendum was discussed. Mr. Anderson indicated that he is proposing a referendum for the expansion of the fire station and also for a ladder truck. Discussion was held regarding the timing of the referendum. The City Administrator indicated that the reason for the referendum is because the City's General Fund cannot afford this type of expenditure. The City Administrator indicated that it was felt it would be best to hold the referendum in January, after the primary and general elections, as it will be the only item on the ballot and the people interested in the subject will be the people voting on it. e The Fire fighting meeting. $14,000 Chief also indicated that there is a need for a grass fire truck as was stated by Counci1member Dobel at a previous Council Chief Anderson stated that the cost of a truck would be about and the cost to equip the truck would be about $6,000 to $7.000. The City Administrator indicated that this truck was not a budgeted item for 1988 and stated that if at the end of the year total revenues do not exceed total expenditures, the City will have to use reserve monies for the purchase of the truck. Mayor Gunkel stated that the Council should be fully aware of setting a precedent by using reserve monies. Discussion was held on other possible ways to fund the equipment needed for the truck. The use of charitable gambling proceeds contributed from nonprofit organizations was discussed as a possible solution. The Council consensus was to allow the purchase of the grass fire truck if the Fire Department could raise the funds for the equipment needed for the truck. Chief Anderson stated he would present this proposal to the Fire Department members at their next meeting and would present their answer along with some quotes for the truck at a future Council meeting. 6.3. Street Department Annual Report Street Superintendent, Phil Hals, presented his 1987 Annual Report to the City Council. e Discussion pursued regarding the operation of a composting site. Mayor Gunkel indicated she would like Staff to give serious consideration to a possible location for the site and further stated she would like to see this become operational in 1989. e e e Page 4 City Council Minutes March 7. 1988 7. Check Register COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT MOVED TO APPROVE THE CHECK REGISTER. COUNCILMEMBER DOBEL SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 8.1. City Administrator Update The City Administrator indicated that because of State Legislature action in 1987 on city levies. the eligibilty requirements on the use of infrastructure replacement funds has been removed in 1988. This may not be the case in future years and. therefore. the City Staff would like to use some of the 1988 Infrastructure Fund Budget for contracted services (approximately $40.000) on a seal coating program. Under previous requirements. seal coating is not a replacement project and would not be an eligible project. In 1988 the City has an opportunity to "catch up" on some important maintenance projects and then the City can set up a City wide seal coating program. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE MONIES IN 1988 TO START A SEALCOATING PROGRAM. SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. USE OF INFRASTRUCTURE COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT The City Administrator informed the Council that Richard Fursman will begin employment with the City of Elk River on Monday. March 28. 1988. as Economic Development Coordinator. The City Administrator informed the Council that the word "secret" in the Fire Department Bylaws will be changed to written. There were no objections from the City Council regarding this matter. The City Administrator Beautification public School. informed hearing was the set Council that the Downtown for April 4. 1988. at Handke ----------------------------------- The City Administrator distributed a memo from the Finance Director. Lori Johnson. dated March 3. 1988. regarding expenses incurred by employees and elected City Officials and reimbursement of these expenses. The City Administrator indicated that the Finance Department is requesting receipts and documentation of expenses as these are required by the Auditor. e e e Page 5 City Council Minutes March 7. 1988 The City Administrator informed the Council that the City has received preliminary approval of a pregrant application for the Railroad Trail. He indicated a final application will be submitted. He indicated that the final grant application would be looked upon more favorably if civic organizations would contribute to the purchase of the Railroad Trail. He indicated if this was not possible. a letter from certain organizations may also help. COUNCILMEMBER TRALLE MOVED TO USE CAPITAL PROJECT FUND S FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE RAILROAD TRAIL. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. The Council authorized the City Administrator to seek support of the railroad trail project from community organizations. -------------------------------------- The Council discussed the Park Board interviews held at the February 29. 1988. City Council meeting. The City Administrator indicated that both Byron Houghte1in and Marilyn VanPatten. whose terms have expired. are interested in serving again; therefore. only two of the three candidates interviewed will have to be appointed. It was the consensus of the City Council to delay a decision on the Park Board appointments until a later date. ------------------------------------------ Counci1member Tra11e suggested that the City look into the possibility of a City newsletter. He indicated communicating to the public was important and offered examples of City Newsletters from the City of Robbinsda1e. ------------------------------------------ There being no further business. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO ADJOURN THE COUNCIL MEETING. COUNCILMEMBER DOBEL SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. ------------------------------------------- The meeting of the Elk River City Council adjourned at 10:10 p.m. ;r:f~ ~ Sandy Thackeray r Recording Secretary