05-23-2018 Listening SessionMeeting of the Elk River City Council
Held at The Bank of Elk River
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
Members Present: Mayor Dietz, Councilmembers Olsen, Ovall, Westgaard, and Wagner
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: City Administrator Calvin Pormer, City Clerk Tina Allard, Parks and
Recreation Director Michael Hecker, Recreation Manager Steve Benoit
I. Call Meeting to Order
The meeting of the Elk River City Council came to order at 8:32 a.m.
2. Recreational Facility Improvements Listening Session
Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Debbi Rydberg welcomed
everyone and asked each person to provide their name and business affiliation.
Community member Charlie Blesener facilitated the 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.
Comments made during the Q&A session of the meeting.
■ Clarity on the plans being voted upon.
■ Whether there will be consideration of any new plans other than the three options
presented at this meeting.
• Discussion on the two options to pay for recreational facility improvements: local
option sales tax or property taxes.
• Need to consider positive economic impact a facility will bring to the community.
• It's not my experience that Elk River is identified as a hockey town.
• Need solid numbers/statistics as to how many people are involved in hockey.
• Council's plan if the local option sales tax or the bond doesn't pass.
■ The focus of a facility should be toward the whole community's needs.
• Moved to Elk River for the schools and its strong hockey program.
• Need to invest in our kids.
■ Concerned about how the new Highway 169 freeway improvement will affect the
sale tax revenue because people won't stop locally from a freeway.
• Elk River hockey has a positive identity with others outside the community.
• Feasibility of privatization.
• People won't notice a 0.5% sales tax on their bills and the city should go bigger
than making the minimum repairs.
■ All for investing in a community center, but not one with only one focus.
• Against activity center moving to the YMCA and would like to see it continue at its
current location.
City Council Minutes
May 10, 2018
Page 2
Mr. Blesener questioned, by show of hands, the audience's willingness to support the
local option sales tax. At least 90+% of the people raised their hands.
Mr. Blesener questioned, by show of hands, the audience's interest in pursuing Option
1 which is repair of the current Ice Arena facility. Not many people raised their hand.
Mr. Blesener questioned, by show of hands, the audience's interest in pursuing Option
2, the multipurpose facility. There was a mixed show of hands with questions about
whether other options or site locations would be considered.
Mr. Portner thanked Mr. Blesener for his great job facilitating the listening sessions
and the Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce for partnering on this session.
3. Adjournment
There being no further business, Mayor Dietz adjourned the meeting of the Elk River
Citv Council at 10:05 a.m.
Tina Allard, City Clerk
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