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04-04-1983 CC MIN REGULAR WEEKLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL HELD AT THE ELK RIVER PUBLIC LIBRARY APRIL 4, 1983 Members Pr sent: Mayor Hinkle, Councilmembers Engstrom, Schuldt and Gunkel Members Ab ent: None 1. The me ting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Hinkle. 2. Agenda Item 5~ - Tot Park, 7~ - Senior Center Funding, 8~ - Elk River Landfill, 9D. - Softball Association Liquor License, and 9E. - Planning Commission Public Hearings, were items added to the April 4, 1983 City Council Agenda. COUNCILMEMBER ENGSTROM MOVED TO APPROVE THE APRIL 4, 1983 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA AS AMENDED. COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 3-0. 3. Minutes COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MARCH 21, 1983 CITY COUNCIL MEETING. COUNCILMEMBER ENGSTROM SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 3-0. 4. Open Mike No one appeared for this item. 5. Beautification Committee Appointment Mayor Hinkle indicated that Mr. Jim Bredeck had been appointed to the Beautification Committee as an ex-officio member and now that there was a vacancy on the Committee, it was his suggestion that Mr. Bredeck be appointed as a voting member to the Com- mittee. COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL MOVED TO APPOINT MR. JIM BREDECK TO THE CITY BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE FOR A TWO (2) YEAR TERM, ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1984. COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 3-0. 5~. Tot Park Councilmember Gunkel indicated that there have been a series of complaints from the homeowners surrounding Tot Park regarding the activities in the park. Council- member Gunkel indicated that the complaints consisted of broken windows, kids playing baseball and various other problems. General discussion was carried on regarding what the City could do to regulate the use of the park. Further discussion was carried on regarding insisting that the children pay for the damages that they have caused. Councilmember Gunkel indicated that perhaps concrete pipes or culverts could be strategically placed about the park to eliminate the open space to be used for softball or baseball. City Council Minutes April 4, 1983 Page Two The Deputy City Clerk suggested that a volunteer group, for example the Jaycees, be approached for the placement of some playground equipment in the park as a community project for the organization. It was the consensus of the City Council thatCouncilmember Gunkel explain to the citizens the options the City has regarding the use of Tot Park. I 6. Economic Development Commission Star Cities Program Mayor Hinkle indicated that at the organizational meeting of the Economic Develop- ment Commission meeting on Monday, March 28, 1983, a budget was briefly discussed; specifically, funds for members of the Commission to attend a training session presented by the State Department of Planning and Economic Development. Mayor Hinkle indicated that it was the consensus of the Economic Development Commission that three members of the Commission should be allowed to attend the workshop. Mayor Hinkle indicated that he, Dick Gongoll and the City Administrator had attended the Star Cities program training workshop in August and further indicated that it was a very good workshop, providing information relative to the program. Discussion was carried on regarding Councilmembers also attending the workshop. It was the consensus of the City Council that three members of the Economic Development Commission be allowed to attend the training session scheduled in May and that the funds should come from the Council contingency, and if any members of the Council could attend the training session, the funds would come from their budget. COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT MOVED TO APPROVE THE ATTENDANCE OF THREE MEMBERS, OTHER THAN COUNCILMEMBERS, OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, TO ATTEND THE TRAINING SESSION SPONSORED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. COUNCILMEMBERENGSTROM SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 3-0. 7. Status of Main Street Feasibility Study Mr. Terry Maurer of Consulting Engineers Diversified indicated that the feasibility study for the Main Street project is near completion and further indicated that the reasons for the study not yet finalized is the possibility of including the signali- . zation work at Highway #169 and Main Street in the project. Mr. Maurer indicated that the preliminary design engineer from the Mn/Dot Brainerd office has indicated that the signalization and some minor highway improvements at Highway #169 and Main Street could be included with the Main Street improvement project. Mr. Maurer in- dicated that there would be an agreement with the State that the City's engineers would then oversee the project. Mr. Maurer further indicated that the Mn/Dot office has indicated that the funding as proposed earlier would still be in effect; that is, ninety percent funding by the Federal government and the ten percent between the State and the City. Discussion was carried on regarding the approach by Mn/Dot to include the signaliza- tion of Main Street and Highway #169 into the Main Street project. Mr. Maurer in- dicated that he would need final approval from the District Engineers and that he would then meet with the City Administrator to discuss the process involved. City Council Minutes April 4, 1983 Page Three General discussion was carried on regarding the time sequence of all of the pro- posed projects for the City of Elk River. Mr. Maurer indicated that the City of Elk River should go out for bids within the next two to four weeks for the storm sewer project and that discussion of the water project should follow. Mr. Maurer indicated that the Main Street project should be ready for bids at the end of 1983 with construction to start in 1984, along with the bridge construction and the Highway #10 improvement project. 7k 2. Senior Center Funding Councilmember Gunkel indicated that in late January, an article appeared in the newspaper requesting input from the senior citizens regarding activities for senior citizens within the City of Elk River. Councilmember Gunkel indicated that Dee Kratzke, coordinator for the senior citizens high-rise center, indicated that the surveys have been returned and it is the consensus of opinion that there are not enough scheduled or coordinated activities for senior citizens. Councilmember Gun- kel indicated that Dee Kratzke has indicated that they will approach the City Coun- cil for funding to hire a part-time coordinator for senior citizens activities and funding for some expenses necessary for the coordination of the senior citizens activities. Councilmember Gunkel indicated that they have suggested approximately $5,000 for a salary for a part-time coordinator and further indicated that Communi- ty Ed has committed $1,000 toward the salary of an intern coordinator at the end of a four month internship. General discussion was carried on regarding City funding of senior citizens activities. Mayor Hinkle suggested that there may be volunteers interested in working with senior citizens in coordinating activities. Councilmember Schuldt indicated that he felt the City did not have the funding to provide for the coodination of senior citizen activities. Discussion was carried on regarding other communities that do provide city-funded senior citizen centers and the Community Ed involvement with the coordin- ation of senior citizens activities. It was the consensus of the City Council to consider funding for senior citizens activities at the time of request. 8. Board of Review Date The Deputy City Clerk indicated that the Board of Equalization meeting has been set for April 27, 1983 at 7:00 p.m. at the County Administration Building. 8k 2. City of Elk River Landfill Councilmember Schuldt indicated that he has some concern regarding the semi-loads of trash brought in from St. Cloud to the landfill and the latest development, specifically, the City of St. Paul bringing junk and trash from the school con- taminated by PCB's, to the Elk River Landfill. Councilmember Schuldt expressed his concerns of local government not having any control. Mayor Hinkle indicated that the landfill in Elk River is privately-owned and con- trolled by the County and further indicated that State Statute does not allow for the drawing of boundaries regarding the transporting of trash or garbage. Mayor Hinkle indicated that the Elk River Landfill provided the lowest bid to the City of St. City Council Minutes April 4, 1983 Page Four Paul School District, as is the case with the trash and garbage brought in from St. Cloud. Mayor Hinkle indicated that the Sherburne County Commissioners are doing all they can to control the Elk River Landfill and further indicated that the landfill is abiding by the PCA requirements. Councilmember Engstrom indicated that the PCA is requiring local communities to dig up landfills that have not disposed of trash and garbage properly and further indicated that should a pollution problem develop from a landfill using methods within the PCA regulations, the PCA would not stand behind it, and it would become a local responsibility. General discussion was carried on regarding local government responsibility and whether a tax could be placed on garbage and trash brought into the City. Mayor Hinkle suggested that the County Attorney or a County Commissioner come to a City Council meeting and discuss the County's role in the landfill site control. It was the general consensus of the City Council to invite someone from the County Commissioners' and the County Attorney's office to discuss the Elk River Landfill problems with the City Council. 9. Deputy City Clerk Update A. Highway #101 Bridge The Deputy City Clerk indicated that the City was in the process of obtaining a construction easement from Al Nadeau and further indicated that a letter of intent had been received from Mn/Dot. General discussion was also carried on regarding the positioning of the new Highway #101 Bridge. B. Gravel Tax The Deputy City Clerk indicated that at the present time, a hearing has not been scheduled regarding the gravel tax bill. Further discussion was carried on re- garding the loaded gravel trucks using County Road 1113 to avoid the weigh scales and the abuse they give to the City and County streets and roads. C. Clerk's Conference Report The Deputy City Clerk submitted a report of her attendance at the City Clerks' Conference, March 24th and 25th,_1983. D. Softball Association Liquor License The Deputy City Clerk indicated that the Softball Association has requested that the City Council recind their 3.2 percent non-intoxicating malt liquor license, as they have become aware of the liability that board members could potentially be --responsible for. It was the consensus of the City Council that the Softball Association request in writing that the City Council recind their 3.2 percent non-intoxicating malt liquor license. City Council Minutes April 4, 1983 Page Five E. Planning Commission Public Hearings Councilmember Gunkel indicated that she had some problem with the memo sent to the Planning Commission from the Building and Zoning Administrator regarding the holding of public hearings by the Planning Commission. Councilmember Gunkel indicated that when the Planning Commission had met with the Ad-hoc Committee in 1982, it was determined that the Planning Commission felt a need for public input on decisions placed before them and therefore, it was suggested that the Planning Commission hold public hearings. Councilmember Gunkel further indicated that at a joint meeting of the Planning Commission and the City Council, the reasons for and against the Planning Commission holding public hearings was dis- cussed and it was the general consensus of the group that the Planning Commission could hold public hearings. At the Planning Commission's September 28th meet- ing, a job description describing the duties of the Planning Commission which in- cluded the holding of public hearings was presented to the Planning Commission for their approval and was approved by the Planning Commission with a 4:-,0 vote. Coun':'" I ~!~member Gunkel further indicated that the job description of the Planning Com- mission was then presented to the City Council at their December 20th meeting, which passed with a 3-0 vote. Councilmember Gunkel further indicated that it was then presented to the Planning Commission as an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance in February 1983 and it was approved with a 4-3 vote. Councilmember Gunkel in- dicated that she felt the new Planning Commission was not provided the background of the issue and therefore, they do not have all of the information in order to make a decision. General discussion was carried on regarding the process of the adoption of an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance. Councilmember Gunkle indicated that she felt the whole issue was mishandled and that the information was biased in the memo to the Planning Commission from the Building and Zoning Administrator. Mayor Hinkle indicated that he felt the City Council should hold public hearings but also indicated that he felt the Planning Commission could hold public hearings as well. Councilmember Gunkel indicated that the issue had been tabled at the March Plan- ning Commission meeting as two people were absent and further indicated that she was interested in the Council's position regarding the issue. Mayor Hinkle suggested that the City Council discuss the issue of the Planning Commission holding publ:ichearings at the next scheduled City Council meeting. 10. Check Register COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT MOVED TO APPROVE THE APRIL 4,1983 CHECK REGISTER. COUNCIL- MEMBER ENGSTROM SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 3-0. 11. Tentative Agenda The City Budget, the Liquor Store Remodeling Proposal, the Water Study, Planning Commission Public Hearings and the Softball Association, are all items tentatively City Council Minutes April 4, 1983 Page Six scheduled for the April II, 1983 City Council meeting. There being no further business, COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL MOVED THAT THE MEETING BE ADJOURNED. COUNCILMEMBER ENGSTROM SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 3-0. R:.~S ec..tfullY submitted, / f)~ ~ / It I ~ . l~~ ! ~ fLL~ PhYl~S Boedigheim r Deputy City Clerk/Treasurer PB:dkk