11-05-2018 CCMMeeting of the Elk River City Coann0
Held at the Elk River City HaE
Monday, November 5, 2018
Members Present: Mayor John Dietz, Councilmembers Jerry Olsen, Nate Ovall, Matt
Westgaard, and Jennifer Wagner
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: City Administrator Calvin Portner, Finance Director Lori Ziemer,
Public Works Director/Chief Engineer Justin Femrite, Community
Development Director Suzanne Fischer, Police Chief Ron
Nierenhausen, Parks and Recreation Director Michael Hecker,
Building Maintenance Supervisor Gary Lore, IT Manager Bob
Pearson, Human Resources Representative Lauren Wipper, and
Recording Secretary/Sr. Admin. Assistant Jennifer Green
Call Meeting to Order
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River City Council
was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Dietz.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
3. Consider November 5, 2018, Agenda
Moved by Councihnember Wagner and seconded by Councilmember
Westgaard to approve the November 5, 2018, agenda.
Motion carried 5-0.
4. Consider Consent Agenda
Councilmember Wagner requested Item 4.6 be removed from the Consent Agenda
for separate consideration by the council due to a conflict of interest.
Moved by Councilmember Westgaard and seconded by Councilmember
Olsen to approve the following consent agenda:
4.1 October 15, 2018, minutes.
4.2 Check register, check numbers 9959-9961 and 108163-108354 as
outlined in the staff report.
4.3 Hiring the following on-call firefighters effective November 5, 2018:
• Jacob DeMarre
■ Jena Murray
City Council Minutes Page 2
November 5, 2018
■ Gordon Myette
4.4 Mutual Aid Agreement #2018-10 with Sherburne County Fire
Departments as outlined in the staff report.
4.5 2018 Budget Amendments as outlined in the staff report.
Motion carried 5-0.
4.6 Development Agreement: Monroe Estates
Moved by Councilmember Westgaard and seconded by Councilmember Ovall
to approve the Development Agreement for Monroe Estates as outlined in the
staff report.
Motion carried 4-0 with Councilmember Wagner abstaining.
S. Open Forum
No one appeared for Open Forum.
6. Presentations, Awards, and Recognition
There were no Presentations, Awards, and Recognitions.
7. Public Hearings
There were no public hearings.
8.1 Discuss Work Session Items
Mr. Portner presented the staff report.
<0 Council Liaison Updates
Council provided updated on the activities of the various boards and commissions.
Councihnember Olsen requested the letter from the Energy City Commission dated
September 10, 2018, to the City Council regarding the Discontinuation of GRE's
Waste to Energy Project be added to the next council agenda.
Council recessed at 6:41 p.m. in order to go into work session. Council reconvened at 6:44
p.m.
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City Council Minutes Page 3
November 5, 2018
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10.1 Commission Interviews
Mr. Portner presented the staff report. He noted Tori Newbauer has withdrawn her
application for both the Energy City and Heritage Preservation Commissions.
Council interviewed Aaron Brixius.
Moved by Councilmember Olsen and seconded by Councilmember Olsen to
appoint Aaron Brixius to the Energy City Commission for term ending
February 20, 2020.
Motion carried 5-0.
Council interviewed Tony Mamen.
Moved by Councilmember Wagner and seconded by Councilmember Olsen
to appoint Tony Mauren to the Heritage Preservation Commission.
Motion carried 5-0.
10.2 2019-2023 Capital Improvement Plan
Ms. Ziemer and Mr. Femrite presented the staff report and discussed various capital
outlay projects and capital improvement funds.
Ms. Ziemer and Mr. Hecker discussed the park improvement funds.
Ms. Ziemer and Mr. Lore presented the government building reserve fund.
Chief Nierenhausen discussed the public safety building improvements.
Ms. Ziemer reviewed the equipment replacement fund.
Mayor Dietz asked about a request he received from the volunteers who groom the
winter trails at Woodland Trails and wondered about the replacement schedule for
snowmobiles. He stated the schedule kept the equipment substantially longer than 3
years.
It was the consensus of the council to discuss at a future work session the
snowmobile replacement schedule and include Parks and Recreation Commissioner
Dave Anderson and Parks Maintenance Supervisor Tim Sevcik.
Chief Nierenhausen discussed the challenges of following a specific squad car vehicle
replacement schedule that doesn't harm officers, decrease vehicle performance, and
increase costs. He requested following a system that made sense for squad fleet cars.
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City Council Minutes
November 5, 2018
Page 4
The council requested Chief Nierenhausen prepare data on the current squad fleet
condition and usage data to discuss at a future work session.
Ms. Ziemer discussed the GRE reserve fund. With the uncertainty of the GRE plant,
she's stated she isn't anticipating any future GRE payments.
Ms. Ziemer and Mr. Pearson discussed the capital outlay reserve fund.
Ms. Ziemer discussed the Yet to be Determined request for a funding source for
replacement of radio communications upgrade and indicated a funding source will
have to be identified in the next year or so.
10.3 2019 Budget
Ms. Ziemer presented the staff report. She reviewed the alternative option for
council consideration to keep the original preliminary levy amount and utilize the
$55,000 in cost savings to start building up the government building reserve fund
every year as a sinking fund reserve instead of using it as a levy reduction.
The council will discuss further at a future meeting.
10.1 Commission Interviews
Mr. Portner recalled this item to request the council clarify the length of term for
Tony Mauren to the Heritage Preservation Commission.
Moved by Councilmember Wagner and seconded by Councilmember Olsen
to appoint Tony Mauren to the Heritage Preservation Commission for term
ending February 28, 2022.
Motion carried 5-0.
11. Adjournment
There being no further business, Mayor Dietz adjourned the meeting of the Elk
River City Council at 8:34 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Jennifer Green.
Tina Allard, City Clerk
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