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02-24-1986 CC MIN REGULAR WEEKLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1986 Members Present: Mayor Hinkle, Councilmembers Gunkel, Schuldt, Williams, and Engstrom Members Absent: None Staff Present: Tom Bublitz, City Administrator; Lori Johnson, Finance Director; 1 . Agenda The following items were added to the agenda: Consideration of Building and Zoning Administrator position, sale of used Street Department equipment, and Main Street Improvement Project. COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL MOVED TO APPROVE THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA AS AMENDED. COUNCILMEMBER ENGSTROM SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. 2. Consideration of February 18, 1986 City Council Minutes The City Council pointed out several items to be corrected in the February 18th minutes. On page two of the minutes it was noted that the name of the person indicated in the fourth paragraph of item six was Mr. Orrin Beck, not Orrin Thornbeck. On page four of the minutes, the heading for item 119 was incorrect. The item under consideration was not the Refuse Drive Fuel facility but rather the Nickerson Zone Change request. Also, on page four and the third paragraph last sentence, the word an should be changed to no. On page five of the minutes, the reference in the first paragraph to the Refuse Drive Fuel facility's 1520 tons per day capacity should be clarified to indicate 1520 per day annual wise. The last correction was indicated on page seven of the minutes and item 1118 where the word reform was spelled incorrectly. THERE WAS A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL, AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT TO APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 18, 1986 MINUTES AS CORRECTED. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. 3. Planning Commission Applicant Interviews The City Administrator noted that all seven of the Planning Commission appli- cants would be present this evening to interview for the opening of the Planning Commission. The Council proceeded to review all the applicants individually including Mr. Robert Morton, Mark Trask, Byron Houghtelin, Marilyn Van Patten, John Purmort, Todd Mixer, and Dirk Barrett. After interviewing and discussing each of the applicants qualifications, the City Council recomended the appointment of Mr. Dirk Barrett to fill the open position on the Planning Commission. Factors considered for Mr. Barrett's appointment centered on his educational background in urban planning and also his work experience in the area of public housing. It was the consensus of the council that Mr. Barrett was the most qualified candidate for the. opening in terms of his experience and educational background. City Council Minutes February 24, 1986 Page Two CQ;UNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS MOVED TO APPOINT MR. DIRK BARRETT TO THE ELK RIVER PLANNING COMMISSION FOR A TERM OF THREE YEARS. COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. The City Administrator pointed out to serve on the Recreation Board. to contact the Planning Commission any of them might be interested in that there are also four members needed The City Council directed the City Staff applicants to determine whether or not serving on the Recreation Board. 4. Discussion Item: Projected Revenue Shortfall and Protential Local Government Aid Reductions The City's Finance Director informed the Council that the most recent infor- mation available from the State Legislature is that a bill has been proposed in the House to take all the necessary state budget cuts from state agency's and Welfare. As a result, if this bill passes, local government aids for 1986 would be unaffected. Potentially however, the City could loose over $38,000 in local government aid for 1986. The Finance Director noted that she would monitor the status of the legislation and also pointed out that the League of Cities is asking municipalities to standby for possible lobbying efforts if the current bill being discussed is not passed. Mayor Hinkle brought to the attention of the City Council letter from Senator Roger Moe who indicated that the State Department of Energy and Economic Development may be cut back drastically this session and he requested municipalities to relay any information they might have with regard to how this agency has assisted their Economic Development efforts. The Council reviewed SenatorMoe's letter and directed the City Administrator to draft a response to Sentor Moe's letter and to provide copies to Representa- tive Kiffmeyer and Senator Davis. 5. Update on City's Computer System The City's Finance Director explained that the January reports are now ready and that the items currently on line are the payroll system, accounts payable, the annual budget, and word processing. The Finance Director inquired whether the City Council would like to see monthly or quarterly financial reports. It was a general consensus of Councilmembers that they would like to see quarterly reports on City finances. The Finance Director explained that disk storage space is becoming a problem and that the system may run out of storage completely by the summer of 1986. She noted that she had received an offer from Ameridata for entirely new system like the existing system for a p~rchase price of $29,445. She explained that other options would include a $10,000 to $13,000 outlay for the additional storage required. Councilmember Gunkel suggested that the City Staff contact Sherburne County regarding the purchase of the system offered for purchase by Ameridata, since the Sherriff's Department accounted for a considerable amount of storage space on the system. The Council continued the discussion of the disk storage space situation and also reviewed the possibility of separate systems for the Police Department, Sherriff's Department, and Finance Department. Generally, the City Council City Council Minutes February 24, 1986 Page Three agreed that the most desirable situation would be where the City finance functions would be completely separate from the law enforcement Enfors system. The City Council directed the staff to review the existing contract with the County, and directed the City's Finance Director to return to the Council with a report regarding the various options including selling the present system and purchasing the system offered by Ameridata and also buying a completely new system with increased capacity. 6. Status of RDF Conditional Use Permiting Process The City Council reviewed the status of the RDF Conditional Use Permiting Process. The staff pointed out that the City cannot legally grant a conditional use permit until the final EIS document has been approved. He explained that NSP has requested the City to consider and approve a condi- tionaluse permit contingent on the exceptance of the final draft EIS. The Council discussed the status of the permiting process and there was general Council agreement that a draft EIS should be done prior to consideration of a conditional use permit due to the fact there would be essential data in the EIS necessary to develop a conditional use permit. The City Staff also suggested that the cost born by the City, related to the preporation of the conditional use permit and review of the EIS should be paid by the applicant in this case NSP. The Council discussed the cost involved and there was general consensus amoung Councilmember to direct the staff to request that NSP provide an initial sum of $10,000 to drawn upon by the City for purposes of paying staff and/or professional fees related to the development of the conditional use permit, review of the environmental impact statement and other items related to the RDF facility. 7. League of Minnesota Cities Amicus Program The City Administrator reviewed the request from the League of Minnesota Cities regarding the establishment of a Municipal Amicus Program. He noted that Amicus bri fs are "friends of the court" briefs filed in cases where the filing of su h briefs may provide additional assistance in favor of municipalities a d certain court cases which would significantly effect a considerable num er of municipalities. He explained that the program proposed by the League would provide staff assistance to review Minnesota cases which will or may be appealed and which will likely shape the law effecting all or a substantial number of Minnesota cities, select from the cases reviewed those which are considered most worthy of intervention and encourage assist of appeals in those cases. He explained the additional funds being requested from cites would provide the addition of a full or part-time attorney to the League staff to pursue this program. The City Administrator explained that the cost of the City of Elk River for participation in the program would be approximately $286 and that as a staff recomendation he felt the program would be of some value to municipali- ties. COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL MOVED TO AUTHORIZE PARTICIPATION IN THE LEAGUE OF CITIES AMICUS PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $286.00. COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED. 4.;..0. City Council Minutes February 24, 1986 Page Four 8. Elk River 2001 Study The City Administrator informed the City Council that Zack Johnson had indicated that he had been requested by the 2001 Committee to attend the 2001 Program and that he would be willing to do so on a cost sharing basis between himself and the City. The City Administrator pointed out that the cost of the City for Zack's participation in the one day event would be approximately $150.00. Councilmember Gunkel noted that she was on the Steering Committee of the 2001 Program and that the purpose of the program was to identify issues facing the City in the year 2001 and to develop strategies to deal with them. The was a general consensus among the City Council that Mr. Zack Johnson's participation in the program would be benefical to the city but that they were not prepared to provide an1 monitory compensation for his participation. 9. Consideration of Building and Zoning Administrator Position The City Council generally reviewed the duties of the position and discussed the need for the Building and Zoning Administrator position. The Council generally expressed a desire to hire an individual for the position with a considerable amount of experience in building inspection and community development and planning. 10. Sale of Used Street Deparltent Equipment The City Administrator stated that in discussions with the City Street Superintendent, Mr. Hals had indicated that the City has in its inventory of equipment a snow blower, two one-way plows which are no longer used, and an old sander which is no longer used. He explained the total value of the equipment is approximately $1600.00 ~nd that he is recomending that the City sell the equipment sirice it is no longer needed. There was an consensus agreement amoung Councilmembers to authorize the staff to sell the equipment descibed by the City Administrator. 11. Main Street Improvement Project The City Council discussed the status of the Main Street Project in light of the resent information concerning the City's MSA discretionary fund. There was general agreement amoung Councilmembers that the Main Street Improvement Project should be deferred until 1987 but that there should be some overlay work done this summer for the downtown area on Main and Jackson. 12. Community Festival Councilmember Gunkel inquired whether the City would want to participate in the Community Festival this summer. There waS general agreement amoung Councilmembers that the City should have some type of booth at the fesitval. 13. Check Register COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT MOVED TO APPROVE THE CHECK REGISTER AS SUBMITTED. COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. City Council Minutes February 24, 1986 Page Five 14. Adjournment There being no further business, COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS MOVED TO ADJOURN THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING. COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. The Elk River City Council Meeting adjourned at 10:24 p.m. Respectfully submitted, --r~ ~ Thomas Bublitz City Administrator