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03-30-1987 CC MIN MINUTES OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL HELD AT CITY HALL. CONFERENCE ROOM MARCH 30. 1987 e Members Present: Mayor Gunkel. Councilmembers Schuldt. Tralle. Dobel. and Holmgren Members Absent: None Staff Present: Patrick Klaers. City Administrator 1. Meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Mayor Gunkel 2.1. Landfill Update 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. The City Administrator provided the City Council with an update on the landfill proposal to have the leachate. that would be collected once a liner was installed at the landfill. treated at the Municipal Waste Water Treatment Plant. The proposal to do a test study at the Treatment Plant in order to determine if the collected leachate could be treated at this facility for the next few years. has been tabled at the request of the Landfill owners. A telephone conversation with consultants working with the Landfill has provided the City with information that the leachate may be treated at the Metropolitan waste water system. If this takes place it will eliminate any need for Elk River to do a test study or to consider future treatment of the leachate that would be collected at the Landfill. e The Administrator also updated the Council on the problem of Sherburne County in reissuing the license for the landfill to continue it's operation. A Public Hearing has been scheduled at the County Board meeting on April 7. 1987 to consider revoking the license which allows the landfill to operate. An article in a recent Elk River Star Newspaper indicates that the landfill operators believe that their license will not be revoked and that they will reach an agreement with the county for terms and conditions of reissuing their license. 2.2. Use of Old City Hall 6:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. City Councilmembers discussed the merits of renting out the old City Hall facility and of selling the old City Hall facility. Comments regarding renting out the facility included the fact that the property may increase in value in the future and it would be to the City's benefit to retain this property. The City can in the meantime. obtain revenue by renting out the existing office space and the property should be retained as a possible site for future City Hall. Comments regarding selling the site of the old City Hall included that the building is in very questionable condition relative to its safety. That the City could certainly use the revenue that would be produced from selling the property and that there appears to be no strong market for renting out the existing space on a short term basis. e Page 2 City Council Minutes March 30. 1987 e The City Administrator indicated that a number of individuals interested in renting the unfinished portion of City Hall have taken a tour of the facility and that with a proper rent structure and advertisement that the office space could also be rented out in the next few months. The City Council indicated that no proposals for leasing or renting any space at the old City Hall facility will be considered at this time. The Council requested that a structural engineer be contacted and hired to evaluate the condition of the old City Hall facility. This information plus an appraisal of the property would assist the Council in its future deliberations on the use of the old City Hall facility. Regarding selling the property. the Council also commented that the City should not be in the real estate market; that this property should not become a time consuming project for the City staff; and that the building is an eye sore and should be removed or renovated. 2.3. Economic Development Coordinator 7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. e The City Council was in basic agreement on the need for staff assistance in the area of economic development. and was also in agreement in the lack of budgeted fund for such assistance. The Council discussed a number of alternatives. including the hiring of a entry level staff position. the hiring of a department head level staff position. and the use of a consultant. plus a combination of the consultant and a staff person. The Council questioned the need for a full time individual to work in Economic Development. and what other types of duties that could be assigned to such an individual. The Council requested that a number of economic development consultants be contacted and make presentations to the Council at a committee meeting in the early summer months (May/June/July). 2.4 Tax Increment Financing 7:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. The City Administrator reviewed the background of Tax Increment Financing laws and how TIF has been used in Elk River in the 1980's. The Council discussed it's philosophy toward future use of Tax Increment Financing. and indicated it's support of using this financing tool to attract future industrial development to Elk River. As in the past. any proposals to use TIF would be presented to the City Council by the City Attorney. The Council also expressed it's concern with using tax money that otherwise would be used by the School District. County. and City. The Council was also concerned about abusing the TIF law when the tax increments were not completely needed for improvements. 2.5. Other Business 8:00 p.m. e A. Brentwood Plat Park Dedication Fees City Council members indicated to the staff that there appears to be new owners of the property in the Brentwood Plat who are trying to sell lots. The Council requested that the staff try to obtain past due park dedication fees for this plat. The Council discussed the collection of these park fees during the building permit process. e e e Page 3 City Council Minutes March 30. 1987 ------------------------------ B. Lions Park Entrance The Administrator updated the Council on the discussions the staff has had with Mr. Larry Morrell regarding property adjacent to School Street and Lions Park. Staff was instructed to continue negotiations for the exchange of two pieces of Mr. Morrell owned property for the City owned property on Highway 169. C. Prichard Brothers Inc. Park Request The Administrator reviewed a letter. dated March 27. 1987. that was received from Prichard Brothers Inc.. requesting the City to evaluate an approximately one acre parcel of land within an apartment complex area to be used as park property. The Council requested this item be on the next City Council Agenda. for a formal response to the letter. D. Deerfield Northern Access Agreement The Administrator updated the Council on the progress that has been made in attempting to sign the MN DOT requested agreement. which will provide for the future construction of the northern access into the Deerfield 3rd plat. The Council reached an informal consensus that once this agreement is signed and the northern access to Deerfield 3rd is constructed and. at least passible for emergency vehicles. that building permits would be allowed throughout the Deerfield 3rd Addition plat. 3. The meeting was Adjourned at 8:25 p.m. Respectfully submitted, /J 0cK VJ, fiQL~ Patrick D. Klaers City Administrator