05-10-2018 Listening SessionMeeting of the Elk River City Council
ver Held at Handke Center
Thursday, May 10, 2018
Members Present: Mayor Dietz, Councilmembers Olsen, Ovall, and Wagner
Members Absent: Councilmember Westgaard
Staff Present: City Administrator Calvin Portner, City Clerk Tina Allard, Deputy City
Clerk Jessica Miller
I . Call Meeting to Order
The meeting of the Elk River City Council came to order at 9:30 a.m.
2. Recreational Facility Improvements Listening Session
Community member Charlie Blesener facilitated a discussion about the current state of
the city's recreational facilities and engaged the people in attendance about what they
would envision for the future of Elk River and what role they might play in creating
that future.
Comments made during the Q & A session of the meeting.
• Would like to see the city swap land with the holding pond land the school district
owns.
■ Cost transparency prominent in communications
• Number of hockey families in and outside of the community being served by the
arena component of a facility. How much would these families contribute to a
facility? How many other groups would be using the facility?
• Types of businesses leasing space in a recreational facility.
• Council's authority in making expenditures.
• Future of Pinewood golf course. It needs to go away.
• What are the needs of the community?
■ Like the sale tax idea.
■ How much would youth groups be contributing?
• It was noted there were 67 teams playing in town over the weekend and they are
spending money on food, entertainment, and lodging.
• Need to consider the big picture for Elk River.
• Like sales tax idea. Fifty cents on a $100 purchase is a good deal for the
community and involves non -community members contributing to the costs of a
facility.
• Like the idea of being able to host different types of parties, such as birthdays and
weddings.
■ Embarrassed to have outsiders come to Elk River due to the comparison of our
community facilities compared to theirs.
■ Where is the integrated vision for the community? We keep kicking the can down
the road. Need to know the funding. Want a curling rink and other amenities.
City Council Minutes
May 10, 2018
Page 2
Partner with Rogers and Zimmerman cities and put a facility in an area accessible
to all. Don't want to put lipstick on a pig.
■ County won't put in bike lanes, city does, where is the coordination among the
groups?
• Image of Elk Rivet is bad. Other parents living outside the community beat on our
facilities. Embarrassed to have other parents at our parks. Dave Anderson
Complex is a dump and dangerous.
■ Pinewood is good for kids and seniors. Keeps kids out of trouble, off streets and
drugs.
• People are concerned about having to pay for this facility but not for the amount
of money spent on our parks. Not everyone uses the park system, but they still
cost taxpayer money. Not fair to say hockey people have to pay but other users for
other amenities don't.
• Need to consider the positive economic impact amenities would bring to Elk
River. People are moving out of Elk River and to other surrounding communities
due to amenities provided.
• Need to envision things. Not going to know impacts of today's decisions until 10
years or more from now. If you have nice stuff, you'll get quality developers. It
doesn't always mean out taxes have to go up and there are other options.
Councilmember Wagner noted there are a lot of in-depth discussions on many of these
topics but the community doesn't show up and participate. She stated everyone needs
to be engaged in the process. She noted there are a lot of opinions and not everyone
can and will agree on one solution.
Mayor Dietz stated the Council takes everyone's comments very seriously when
evaluating a decision affecting an entire community. He stated the city has a
responsibility to maintain facilities it owns and Council needs to base a decision on
what's right for the majority.
Councilmember Ovall stated he has heard many varying opinions from the public. He
further noted he has been hearing many people are okay with the local option sales tax
but not property taxes. He stated the Council needs to look at the future and be
proactive and maintain its facilities.
Council thanked everyone for participating and sharing their ideas.
3. Adjournment
There being no further business, Mayor Dietz adjourned the meeting of the Elk River
Citic Council at 10:40 a.m.
Tina Allard, City Clerk
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