05-16-2018 Listening SessionMeeting of the Elk River City Council
Held at the YMCA
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Members Present: Mayor Dietz, Councilmembers Olsen (6:15 p.m.), Westgaard, and
Wagner
Members Absent: Councihnember Ovall
Staff Present: City Administrator Calvin Portner and Deputy City Clerk Jessica Miller
I. Call Meeting to Order
The meeting of the Elk River City Council came to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. Recreational Facility Improvements Listening Session
Mr. Portner 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.
• Moving forward with the project when it was voted down by the voters.
• Discussion took place on the three options.
• Space allocation for senior activities in the three options. What would be done with
the current senior activity center building?
■ Annual operation cost and reserves to repair/replace when necessary.
■ Suggested the reserve fund should be augmented by user fees.
• Would like a quantitative study of how a new recreational facility would impact the
entire city (home values, property taxes, etc.).
• Issues with current locations for the recreational facility. Suggested looking deeper
at locations.
■ Corridors of Commerce impact on the recreational facility project.
■ Concerns about students who don't have transportation getting to practice. Would
like to see the facility located at Lions Park. Felt the $7 million soil correction cost
would be worth it to have the facility located near the high school.
• If Elk River doesn't build a recreational facility people will continue to go to other
communities for the amenities.
■ Rushing the project when so many questions remain.
• Council's authority to make expenditures without voter approval.
• Concern about increasing construction and interest costs with Council's delayed
decisions.
• Liked the idea of sales tax revenue paying for the facility.
• Asked the Council to make the best economic decision, not necessarily the
cheapest option.
• Encouraged leaders to make people aware of the project, how it's funded, and its
benefits before any proposed votes.
City Council Minutes
May 16, 2018
Page 2
■ The community center plan is too much money but not in favor of just fixing the
arena either. Prefers the multi-purpose facility.
■ Don't duplicate services the YMCA already offers.
• A student commented there is not much to do around this area and if a
community center was built he felt he would use it often.
■ A larger project doesn't mean a larger sales tax increase, just a longer timeframe.
• Prefers the multi-purpose facility because he likes utilizing Lions Park.
■ Supportive of retail space in the new facility.
• Elk River Youth Hockey Association needs a third sheet of ice as members are
traveling to Anoka and Princeton for ice.
■ Likes the multi-purpose facility option rather than just fixing our current facilities.
Feels if a multi-purpose facility is not built now we will be having these same
discussions again soon.
Councilmember Olsen stated the entire Council voted for the referendum but it was
not passed by the voters. He believes it was voted down due to the proposed increase
in property taxes. He added he is in favor of the multi-purpose facility.
Councilmember Westgaard stated at some point the Council will need to make a
decision but it is a lot of money and a big decision. He encouraged people to continue
to provide their feedback at upcoming sessions.
Councilmember Wagner explained she is trying to make her decision based on long-
term needs. She added the arena is only one piece of the larger puzzle. She stated it is
important to her for Elk River to have a strong youth sports community, not just
hockey. She encouraged people to continue to provide feedback.
Mayor Dietz expressed concern over people complaining and putting misinformation
out on Facebook rather than expressing their concerns during these meetings. He
stated the Council is trying to come up with a plan a majority of the people in Elk
River agree with. He explained he is hopeful residents will approve the sales tax
increase because he feels that is the best way to fund the project.
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
City Council at 8:14 p.m.
Tina Allard, City Clerk
;ica Miller.
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