01-06-1986 CC MIN
REGULAR MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL
HELD AT THE ELK RIVER PUBLIC LIBRARY
MONDAY. JANUARY 6. 1986
MlMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Hinkle. Councilmembers Schuldt. Gunkel. Engstrom
and Williams
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
~TAfF PRESENT: Tom Bublitz. City Administrator; Lori Johnson. Finance
Director; and Tom Zerwas. Police Chief
1. The Elk River City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Hinkle at
7:30 p.m.
2. Agenda
Item 12C
agenda.
Annual Building Officials State Meeting was added to the
COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL MOVED TO APPROVE THE JANUARY 6. 1986 CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA AS AMENDED. COUNCILMEMBERSCHULDT SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION
PASSED 4-0.
3. 12/30/85 City Council Minutes
It was noted that on page five a period should seperate the salaries
received by the Community Service Officer and the Building Inspector. It
was also noted that on page one the first two motions should be passed
with a vote of 3-0.
COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL
MINUTES AS AMENDED .
MOTION PASSED 4-0.
MOVED TO APPROVE THE DECEMBER 30. 1985 CITY COUNCIL
COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT SECONDED THE MOTION. THE
4. Open Mike
No one appeared for this item on the agenda.
5. Designation of Vice Mayor
COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL
MAYOR. COUNCILMEMBER
4-0.
MOVED TO
ENGSTROM
REAPPOINT COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT AS VICE
SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED
6. Designation of Official Newspaper
COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT MOVED TO APPOINT THE ELK RIVER STAR NEWS AS THE
CITY I S OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER. COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL SECONDED THE MOTION. THE
MOTION PASSED 4-0.
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
JANUARY 6. 1986
7. Resolution Designation Depositories of City Funds
COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT MOVED TO APPROVE
DESIGNATING DEPOSITORIES OF CITY FUNDS.
THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0.
RESOLUTION 86-1 A RESOLUTION
COUNCILMEHBER WILLIAMS SECONDED
8. Request for amendment to City's Zoning Ordinance by Kiel'.
The City Administrator indicated that Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Kiel had addressed
the Council in June requesting permission to allow a mobile home to be
placed on their property located at 21480 Meadowvale Road in Elk River.
in order for Mrs. Kiel's mother to live near them. The City Administrator
noted that Rick Breezee had investigated options for the request.
The City Administrator further noted that he had also reviewed the request
and stated that he and Rick Breezee both came up with the same responses.
They could not find a municipal model to use in this situation. The City
Administrator indicated that he had contacted the City of Minneapolis.
League of Minnesota Cities. the City's Planning Consultant and other
cities regarding this matter. He further indicated that he felt the City
could either deny the request or develop an ordinance which would be quite
difficult to enforce.
The City Administrator noted that Wright County does have an ordinance in
effect regarding this matter and discussed this ordinance with the
Council. He noted that in the application process. the City would require
that the applicant be screened by a public health nurse to be sure the
person requesting the application does indeed have a health related
problem. and further that the conditional use would have to be checked
periodically to be sure the same person who applied for the permit is the
person still living in the residence. He noted he felt the City of Elk
River would have a hard time enforcing this mainly because we do not have
a health nurse on staff.
Mrs. Kiel presented her situation to the City Council. She stated that
the elderly are getting to be the larger percent of the population and
that there needs to be housing for them. She noted that we should be very
sensitive to the living style and life style of the elderly people in the
community. She further indicated that they live in an agricultural zoned
area which is nonplatted and stated that she had talked with the neighbors
regarding this matter and that no one objected to her request.
Mayor Hinkle questioned whether Mrs. Kiel could use her basement for her
mother. Mrs. Kiel noted that they were trying to eliminate as many steps
as possible.
Mayor Hinkle noted that the City had no public health nurse and felt the
ordinance would be hard to monitor. He felt there would be no way to
control what happens to the structure when it is no longer used.
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
JANUARY 6. 1986
Councilmember Gunkel noted she would like to see the City be a little
innovative with this situation and possibly create an ordinance
to accommodate the elderly in these situations. She noted the City has a
high population rate of elderly people that is only going to grow. She
suggested that the City possibly contact Sherburne County to see if some
type of joint program can be worked out. She indicated the conditional
use aspect would give the City some type of leverage in keeping control of
the situations.
Mayor Hinkle indicated that this same request has come before the Council
before and was denied. He noted that the request is not new.
Councilmember Williams stated he felt the issue must be addressed on a
national scale. He stated he would be against his neighbor having a
mobile home on his lot. He further indicated he felt the situation must
be looked at very carefully due to sanitary conditions and felt the City
should check with the County.
Councilmember Schuldt noted he felt any ordinance adopted should be
applicable tp the entire City.
Councilmember Engstrom noted the
septic problems. He indicated
install a ramp in their basement.
be any type of structure which
unit.
City already has areas where their are
to Mrs. Kiel that she could possiblly
He also questioned whether there would
could be attached to the main dwelling
Councilmember Gunkel stated she felt if the Council approached the idea
that the situation is for the whole City or none. it is an overwhelming
situation and would be too easy to do nothing. She stated the City
already limits where mobile homes can be. She indicated she would like to
approach the County to see if they are willing to work out some type of
program to do an investigation of the matter.
Councilmember Engstrom indicated he felt it would make sense to restrict
the placing of these structures on larger lot sizes.
Couuncilmember Schuldt noted he felt if the conditional use is issued for
health reasons. it would be unfair to restrict this situation in certain
parts of the City.
Mayor Hinkle indicated that if this is done by a conditional use. a
problem could arise where surrounding neighbors are opposed to the
situation and the request is denied. He indicated this would not be fair
to the person applying when someone else with the same request applies
elsewhere in the City and is granted the request. Mayor Hinkle further
noted that he would not like to pass a Citywide ordinance to accommodate
one person.
Counc ilmemb er
addition onto
Engstrom questioned whether Mrs.
her house to accommodate her mother.
Kiel could build an
Mrs. Kiel noted that
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
JANUARY 6. 1986
an attachment would be far too expensive and further that she could not
sell the attached structure nor get any money out of it.
Councilmember Williams noted he did not want to see a zone change but
would like to see some type of committee formed to try and resolve the
problem.
COUNCILMEMBER ENGSTROM MOVED TO APPOINT COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS AND
COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL TO FORM A COMMITTEE TO DO RESEARCH ON THE SITUATION
AND TRY TO ESTABLI SH A SOLUTION. COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT SECONDED THE
MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0.
9. Administrative Subdivision
Enno Schmidt & Elk River - Public Hearing
The City Administrator noted that when the City of Elk River purchased the
Enno Schmidt property. for the water tower project. they failed to go
through the proper procedures of an administrative subdivision.
Mayor Hinkle opened the public hearing.
Mr. Dennis Anderson was present and indicated he lived near the water
tower property and was questioning why he received the notice after the
water tower was erected.
Mayor Hinkle noted the City failed to file for administrative subdivision
and are just now taking care of this matter.
Mayor Hinkle closed the public hearing.
COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT MOVED TO APPROVE
REQUEST BY THE CITY OF ELK RIVER FOR
COUNCILMEMBER ENGSTROM SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE ADMINISTRATIVE SUBDIVISION
THE ENNO SCHMIDT PROPERTY .
THE MOTION PASSED 4-0.
10. Advisory Commission and Board Appointments and Reappointments
The City Administrator noted that two terms have expired on the
Library Board. two terms on the Beautification Committee and two terms on
the Planning Commission.
It was the consensus of the City Council to contact these people and see
if they were interested in another term and then bring it back to the City
Council at their next meeting.
11. Resolution Authorizing Partial Pay Estimate 13 for Elevated Water Tower
Project
COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL MOVED TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 86-2 A RESOLUTION
AUTHORIZING PARTIAL PAY ESTIMATE 13 FOR ELEVATED WATER TOWER PROJECT.
COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0.
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
JANUARY 6. 1986
12. Administrator's Update
A. Citizen's Advisory Committee
The City Administrator informed the City Council that they have
received some names to serve On the Citizen's Advisory Committee. He
noted he had received the names from the Chamber of Commerce and the
Lion's Club.
B. Municipals Workshop
COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL MOVED TO AUTHORIZE 3 CITY OFFICE EMPLOYEES. AN
TWO POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICE EMPLOYEES TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MUNICIPALS
WORKSHOP. COUNCILMEMBER ENGSTROM SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION
PASSED 4-0.
C. Annual State Building Official's Convention
COUNCILMEMBER ENGSTROM MOVED TO AUTHORIZE STEVE ROHLr, THE CITY'S
BUILDING INSPECTOR TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL STATE BUILDING OFFICIALS
CONVENTION ON FEBRUARY 15. 16. AND 17. COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL SECONDED
THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0.
Mayor Hinkle noted that Ms. Goodin had contacted him regarding the
Instantop Building. He indicated that Ms. Goodin would be putting
the building up for sale when the City's lease is up and was wondering
whether the City was interested in purchasing the building.
The Council took no action on the matter.
13. Budget
It was noted that the shotgun. radar and light could be taken out of the
Polic Department Budget and added to equipment certificates which would
reduce the budget deficit by $3.800.
The Police Chief indicated the City garage is in need of new garage doors.
It was the consensus of the City Council to reduce the Police Department
budget by $1.500 from motor. fuel and labs (Section 2230) and that the
government buildings budget for other improvements be increased by $1.500
to pay for the garage doors.
COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE POLICE CHIEF TO HAVE TWO NEW
GARAGE DOORS INSTALLED FOR $1.500. COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL SECONDED THE
MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0.
The Police and Police Reserve budgets were approved.
Jackie Schuelien from th Chamber of Commerce was present and indicated
that Channel 11 would be doing a series on the Community of Elk River and
further noted they would be coming in by helicopter. She stated they had
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
JANUARY 6. 1986
chosen Dare's Funeral home as a place to land the helecopter. Police
Chief Zerwas indicated he would like the Police Department notified so
they could take extra safety precautions.
14. Check Register
COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL MOVED TO APPROVE THE CHECK REGISTER. COUNCILMEMBER
WILLIAMS SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0.
15. Adjournment
COUNCILMEMBER ENGSTROM MOVED TO ADJOURN THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0.
The Elk River City Council meeting adjourned at 9:35 p.m.
~ -' .R~
Recording Secretary
Sandra Thackeray