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02-25-1985 CC MIN . . REGULAR WEEKLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1985 Members Present: Mayor Hinkle, Councilmembers Engstrom, Williams, Schuldt and Gunkel Members Absent: None 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Hinkle. 2 . Agenda COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL MOVED TO APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 25, 1985 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA. COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. 3. Beautification Committee Priorities Mr. Mag Johnson, Mr. Dan Anderson and Mr. Alberto Sanudo, members of the Beautifica- tion Committee, were present to discuss beautification priorities with the City Council. Mayor Hinkle indicated that the City Council was under the impression that Mr. Tony Jarmoluk did not want to serve on the Beautification Committee and further indicated that the Beautification Committee members indicated that Mr. Tony Jarmoluk was interested on serving on the committee. Mr. Tony Jarmoluk joined the joint meeting and indicated that he was interested in serving on the Beautification Com- mittee. COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT MOVED TO APPOINT MR. TONY JARMOLUK TO THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE. COUNCILMEMBER ENGSTROM SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. Mr. Dan Anderson indicated that Mr. Jim Bredeck, a member of the Beautification Committee, was sick but did express his interest in serving on the committee. Mr. Tony Jarmoluk indicated that the Beautification Committee needed to know how much money they were allowed to spend before they were able to prioritize projects in the City of Elk River. General discussion was carried on regarding funds neces- sary for Beautification Committee projects, groups that could work as volunteers on projects prioritized by the Beautification Committee and what specifically were the Beautification Committee's priorities. The Beautification Committee indicated that their number one priority was the flagpole base, second, a fence along the sidewalk of Highway 1110 to conceal the back of the stores from Highway 1110 and third, some type of reforestation program replacing diseased elm trees. The Beautification Committee again emphasized their need for money and indicated that they could not complete any projects without allo- cation of funds. Councilmember Williams indicated that he felt the Beautification Committee needed some goals and some direction from the City Council. Mr. Williams indicated that a project that he considered a priority would be the placement of trees along High- way 11169, specifically in the area of the trailer park. Councilmember Schuldt indicated that an area of concern to him was the area around the railroad depot and each side of Highway 1110. Councilmember Schuldt suggested that a reforestation project could be done along Highway 1110. . City Council Minutes February 25, 1985 Page Two Councilmember Gunkel indcated her suggestion was from a different approach; that is, that the Beautification Committee could promote a "Clean Up Elk River" campaign. Councilmember Gunkel further indicated that the Beautification Committee could work on a unique idea specifically for Elk River; i.e. unique addresses for all commercial establishments in the City. ./ Discussion was carried on regarding the flagpole base and the plan as proposed by Mr. John Bailey's architect. Discussion was carried on rei~rding the cost of the proposed flagpole base plan at approximately $20,000, of which Mr. John Bailey would contribute approximately $10,000. Discussion was also carried on regarding the Morrell property. It was the consensus that the Beautification Committee would meet with the City Council at their March 11th City Council meeting to propose two or three alternate plans for the flagpole base, estimated cost for a fence along the side- walk along Highway #10 and to meet with Larry Morrell to discuss clean up of the Morrell property at the corner of School Street and Jackson. 3~. Local Government For~m COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS MOVED TO AUTHORIZE COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT TO ATTEND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT FORUM IN ST. CLOUD, AND TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY TO PAY HIS ATTENDANCE FEE. COUNCILMEMBER ENGSTROM SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. 4. City Facilities - Direction for Jack Boarman Mayor Hinkle indicated that many people have asked him why the City does not buy the County Administration building. Mayor Hinkle indicated that he has discussed the County Administration building with the County Commissioners, and they have indicated that their intent is to move the administration offices out to the County Courthouse. Mayor Hinkle further indicated that he has received a commitment from two County Commissioners that the County would sell the County Administration proper- ty for $600,000, which would include the administration building, the jail, and the old county courthouse site as well as the parking lot across the street. Mayor Hinkle further indicated that he has some strong reservations about remodeling the City Hall. Mayor Hinkle further indicated that one of the County Commissioners indicated that approximately $125,000 was taken from the Elk River District to blacktop the parking lot at the County Courthouse building, therefore, there are some possibilities that the City could receive credit for that $125,000 against purchasing the County Administration building. Mayor Hinkle indicated that he felt the City Council should authorize a referendum for a public works garage and wait two years for the County Administration building. General discussion was carried on regarding the remodeling of the City Hall. Councilmember Gunkel indicated that she preferred the current site of the City Hall and further indicated that there still were some assumptions regarding the railroad crossing for UPA and the road access to UPA. Councilmember Gunkel further indicated that she did feel the County Administration building could be a good location for City Hall. . . . City Council Minutes February 25, 1985 Page Three Mayor Hinkle indicated that he would like to schedule a meeting with the City Council and the County Commissioners as soon as possible to discuss the purchase of the County Administration building. Mayor Hinkle further indicated that a County Commissioner suggested that the County and the City each have an appraisal of the property to determine a market value. Discussion was carried on regarding appraisals of the County Administration building and an appraisal of the City Hall Building. Further discussion was carried on reg~rding the City Hall structure and the need for structural testing to be done. COUNCILMEMBER ENGSTROM MOVED TO AUTHORIZE CITY STAFF TO CONTRACT AN ENGINEERING FIRM FOR STRUCTURAL TESTING OF THE CITY HALL BUILDING. COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. Further discussion was carried on regarding the public works building and the loca- tion of that building. Mr. Phil Hals, Street Superintendent indicated that the five acres that theCity owns on Highway #169 would be a good location for the public works garage as there were some benefits to being located next to the Mn/Dot garage. General discussion was carried on regarding the Utilities' site next to the Industrial Park and its cost versus the City~owned site on Highway #169. Further discussion was carried on regarding the zoning of the City-owned site on Highway 11169. It was the consensus of the City Council that City staff would review the zoning requirements to place a public works garage on the five-acre parcel on Highway #169, to set a meeting date as soon as possible with the County Commissioners and also, to meet with th Utility Commission to discuss the realistic price of the utility property near the Industrial Park for the public works garage. 5. Fill Dirt from the City's Five~Acre Site on Highway #169 Mayor Hinkle indicated that Phil Hals, the Street Superintendent, has expressed need for fill dirt from the Highway #169 site to be used in the Lion's Park, and further indicated that should the City Council decide to sell the five acres, the need for fill dirt should be considered in the negotiation. Discussion was carried on regarding the progress of the construction of the Lion's Park. Mr. Phil Hals indicated that as soon as the City receives the LAWCON grant money, they would be able to proceed with construction of the roads and walkways. 6. Tyler Street Feasibility Study COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 85-6, A RESOLUTION ORDERING A FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR THE TYLER STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. COUNCILEMBER ENGSTROM SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. 7. Staff Conference Attendance A. City Clerk Conference COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEND THE MUNICIPAL CLERKS AND FINANCE OFFICERS CONFERENCE AT ARROWWOOD. COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. . City Council Minutes February 25, 1985 Page Four B. Animal Control Conference COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE CSO OFFICER TO ATTEND AN ANIMAL CONTROL CONFERENCE AT CRAGUN'S IN BRAINERD. COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. 8. Liquor Store Employee Salaries Mayor Hinkle indicated that the City Council has not established the 1985 salaries for the Liquor Store employees, and further indicated that it was his suggestion that the part-time clerk's salaries are in line with the market and therefore, they should remain the same. Mayor Hinkle further indicated that he would suggest a $1,000 adjustment to the Liquor Store Manager at the end of his probationary period which was the end of December, and to authorize a 4% salary increase for 1985 as was consistent with other department heads. Mayor Hinkle further indicated that he suggested the full-time clerk and the assistant manager also receive a 4% salary increase as was authorized for City department heads. Councilmember Schuldt indicated that he would suggest that the full-time clerk receive a 5.5% raise which was consistent with other full-time non-department head employees. COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT MOVED TO AUTHORIZE A $1,000 ADJUSTMENT TO THE LIQUOR STORE MANAGER'S SALARY AND THEN A 4% RAISE FOR 1985, A 4% RAISE FOR THE ASSISTANT LIQUOR STORE MANAGER, A5.5% RAISE FOR THE FULL-TIME CLERK, AND TO LEAVE PART TIME SALARIES AS ESTABLISHED IN 1984. COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. 9. Check Register COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL MOVED TO APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 25, 1985 CHECK REGISTER. COUN- CILMEMBER SCHULDT SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. 10. Budget The balance of the 1985 budget was discussed. Specifically, the Administration budget, the City Council budget, the Audit budget, the Computer budget, the Civil Defense budget, the Municipal Building budget and the Police Reserve budget. It was determined that the HRA budget of $3,000 would be moved to the City Council contingency budget. $100.00 was added to the City Council dues and membership portion of the budget for Chamber of Commerce dues. Discussion was also carried on regarding the City Newsletter. It was the consensus of the City Council that the newsletter should go out March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1, and that the City staff should strive to get a newsletter April 1st for the first newsletter in 1985. COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL MOVED TO ADOPT THE 1985 GENERAL FUND BUDGET AS DISCUSSED AND PROPOSED WITH A TOTAL DISBURSEMENT AMOUNT OF $1,057,050.00 AND A PROJECTED REVENUE BUDGET OF $1,062,161.00. COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. . . City Council Minutes February 25, 1985 Page Five There being no further business, COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT MOVED THAT THE MEETING BE ADJOURNED. COUNCILMMEBER ENGSTROM SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. Respectfully submitted, ~-i!:e:::~ City Clerk/Treasurer PB:dk