12-03-2018 CCMMeeting of the Elk River City Council
ver Held at the Elk River City Hall
Monday, December 3, 2018
Members Present: Mayor John Dietz, Councilmembers Jerry Olsen, Nate Ovall, Matt
Westgaard, and Jennifer Wagner
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: City Administrator Calvin Pormer, Finance Director Lori Ziemer,
Deputy Fire Chief and Deputy Director of Emergency Management
Aaron Surratt, Human Resources Manager Lauren Wipper, Senior
Planner Chris Leeseberg, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Justin Femrite, Police Chief Ron Nierenhausen, Fire Chief Mark
Dickinson and Records Specialist Katie Porath
I. Call Meeting to Order
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River City Council
was called to order at 6:29 p.m. by Mayor Dietz.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
3. Consider December 3, 2018 Agenda
Moved by Councilmember Wagner and seconded by Councihnember Ovall to
approve the December 3, 2018, agenda. Motion carried 5-0.
4. Consider Consent Agenda
Moved by Councilmember Westgaard and seconded by Councihnember
Olsen to approve the following consent agenda:
4.1 November 14, 2018, Canvass Minutes
November 19, 2018, Regular Minutes
4.2 Check register, check numbers 9963-9964 and 108521-108679 as
outlined in the staff report.
4.3 Termination of the employment of Communications Coordinator
RaeAnn Gardner effective December 3, 2018.
4.4 Acknowledge the recount for Councihnember Ward 1 was completed
with no changes in the official certification of the results approved by
the Council on November 14, 2018.
4.5 Adopt Ordinance 18-16 amending Chapter 74, Parking.
Motion carried 5-0.
City Council Minutes
December 3, 2018
S. Open Forum
Page 2
RaeAnn Gardner, 633 Main St #314, outlined her work as a former employee of
the City of Elk River.
6.1 Oath of Office: Fire Chief
Mayor Dietz administered the oath of office to Fire Chief Mask Dickinson.
7.1 2019 Budget and Tax Levy
Ms. Ziemer presented the staff report.
Mayor Dietz opened the public hearing. There being no one to speak to this issue,
Mayor Dietz closed the public hearing.
Moved by Councilmember Olsen and seconded by Councilmember
Westgaard to adopt Resolution 18-68 to authorize the Proposed Property Tax
Levy for Collection in 2019. Motion carried 5-0.
Moved by Councilmember Wagner and seconded by Councibnember Olsen
to approve the 2019 General, Special Revenue, and Enterprise Fund budgets.
Motion carried 5-0.
8.1 Summary of City Administrator's Performance Evaluation
Mayor Dietz read a statement regarding the city administrator's performance
evaluation as outlined in the staff report.
8.2 2019-2023 Capital Improvement Plan
Ms. Ziemer presented the staff report.
Moved by Councilmember Westgaard and seconded by Councilmember
Olsen to adopt the 2019-2023 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Motion carried
5-0.
8.3 Discuss Work Session Items
Mr. Pormer reviewed the work session items.
9.1 Council Liaison Updates
Council provided updates on the activities of the various boards and commissions.
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City Council Minutes
December 3, 2018
Page 3
Energy City — Councilmember Olsen stated the Commission met on November 28,
2018. They welcomed Aaron Brixius. Great River Energy's plan to shut down their
Resource Recovery center in Elk River was discussed. They also reviewed the Energy
City Commission's 10 -year Action Plan and will be sharing it with the council at a
future date.
Heritage Preservation — Councilmember Wagner there has been no scheduled
meetings of the Heritage Preservation Commission since the last report.
Library — Councihnember Ovall said the Library Commission met on November 27,
2018. The Council had challenged the Library Commission to re -envision their
direction this year and they aspire to work on their vision and share it with the
Council.
Parks and Recreation — Councilmember Olsen updated the council on the Parks and
Recreation Commission meeting which included discussion of the Phase 2 Riverwalk
Apartments. There was also a recent open house for Bailey Point.
Planning — Councilmember Wagner stated the Planning Commission had met on
November 27, 2018. There will be several planning related items coming to the
Council at the December 17, 2018 Council Meeting.
Utilities — Councilmember Westgaatd said the Utilities Commission met on
November 13, 2018. They introduced two new Elk River Municipal Utility
employees and reviewed financial information. They also discussed possible transfer
of ownership of the Jackson Street water tower and are working on legality and
future maintenance questions.
Council recessed at 7:12 p.m. in order to go into work session. Council reconvened
at 7:17 p.m.
10.1 ERX Motorpark Platting Fees
Mt. Leeseberg presented the staff report.
Todd Plaisted and Heidi Goodin of ERX Motorpark spoke to the Council regarding
their concerns on the cost of Surface Water Management Impact fees. They felt
these fees were designed for large industrial areas with impervious surfaces, whereas
their facility makes an effort to retain their own water runoff and wetlands haven't
increased. They had no concerns with the park dedication fee.
Mayor Dietz explained the state mandates surface water management, but provided
no funding, therefore, the city has been charging these fees since the original
ordinance was adopted in 1994.
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December 3, 2018
Mr. Femrite explained that the fees are established for when the properties are
platted.
Mayor Dietz asked if there were different fees for residential versus commercial
properties.
Mr. Leeseberg stated fees were different dependent on property type.
Councilmember Westgaard confirmed with Mr. Femrite that, when platting a
property, you create impervious surface which contributes to stormwater concerns.
The fees are a mechanism to handle maintenance in the future.
Justin confirmed ERX is currently containing their stormwater on site.
Councilmember Qvall agreed the cost seemed disproportionate when comparing a
large industrial building to the motor park property.
Councilmember Westgaard agreed that Mr. Plaisted made a point about impervious
surfaces versus developed land; however, he wasn't sure how it should be handled.
He cautioned against going outside the ordinance for one or two instances. It would
be a better idea to look at the wording of the ordinance and adjust it if necessary. He
questioned if it would it be an option to postpone the fee payment until industrial
development was made to the property.
Mayor Dietz stated if industry came in later they wouldn't be able to collect surface
water management fees.
Councilmember Wagner wondered if the fee could be delayed or lessened. If ERX
sells the property, the Surface Water Management Fees have already been paid and
do not need to be paid a second time. Most situations are unique and ERX has a
special zoning, however, she expressed concern about setting precedence.
Mr. Plaisted stated he does not know the end use of the property and they are
continuously developing and planning.
Ms. Goodin asked why ERX had to pay to plat the property when it was a dirt track
with no structures.
Mr. Leeseberg responded that platting must occur when there are any improvements
to the property. These improvements could include the grandstands, small
outbuildings, or any structure "permanently attached to the ground."
Mayor Dietz requested staff look at the ordinance but that ERX would still have to
pay something. Their platting has already been approved and accepted by the
council, so they would have to ask the city attorney how to proceed. He agreed he
did not want to set precedence.
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City Council Minutes
December 3, 2018
10.2 Twin Lakes Road Corridor Study
Page 5
Mr. Femrite introduced Pete Lemke and Maddie Peck, representatives from Bolton
and Menk, who gave a presentation on the Twin Lakes Road Corridor Study.
Mr. Lemke explained there had been several focus group meetings on this project.
Ms. Peck reviewed the purpose of the study. Representatives from groups along the
corridor attended open houses and the data they collected gave Bolton and Menk an
idea of recommendations to present.
Mr. Lemke reviewed the corridor improvement recommendations. Comments from
residents included speed limits, concerns about traffic from side streets, and illegal
passing on the shoulder when cars are waiting to turn left across traffic.
Mayor Dietz asked how the 169 Redefine project improvements might affect traffic
volume on this corridor.
Mr. Ferrite stated it is hard to say right now, but the goal of the recommendations
was to focus on improved safety rather than planning for traffic fluctuations.
Mayor Dietz clarified the areas the county would be paying for versus what the city
would be responsible for financing.
Mr. Lemke commented the information are recommendations and when further
decisions are considered, certain areas would need to be highlighted and the affected
residents would need to be engaged in the planning process.
Councilmember Olsen asked if Bolton and Menk would be presenting their
information to the county.
A presentation to the county has been planned.
Councilmember Ovall asked about the process of replacing or upgrading a
roundabout if there is too much traffic. Is the next step converting it to a stoplight?
Mr. Femrite explained there are ways to increase the capacity of a roundabout,
including studying the traffic patterns, adding tum lanes, and making it a double lane
roundabout. However, he doesn't anticipate the roundabouts would be unable to
handle the traffic volumes.
Mr. Lemke said an important consideration was approach speeds, particularly of
large trucks that need to move through the area to support local industry.
Councilmember Wagner asked if truck traffic would go back to Highway 169 and
avoid Twin Lakes Road once Highway 169 no longer has stoplights.
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City Council Minutes
December 3, 2018
Page 6
Councilmember Olsen said the Parks and Recreation Department had created a trail
map. It would be beneficial if they were involved in future planning.
Mr. Lemke reiterated the recommendations were less capacity driven and more
safety driven. Many of the comments they received from residents are in regards to
high speeds throughout the study area.
Ms. Peck added the Corridor of Commerce -funded process is a big piece of the
conversation. What is the function of the roadway? The goal is to establish a long-
term vision that will create a functioning roadway past 2023.
Mr. Femrite stated the end goal for staff and Sherburne County was to take a
comprehensive look at potential safety improvements on the corridor with this study
so grant money could be sought.
10.3 City of Ramsey TH 10/ 169 Corridor Study
Mr. Femrite presented the staff report. Planned improvements in Anoka are
expected to negatively affect the City of Elk River if the City of Ramsey also makes
improvements to Trunk Highway (TH) 10.
He reviewed the use of a Restricted Cross U -Turn (R -CUT), a reduced conflict
intersection, which would eliminate signals and be beneficial for small, side -street
traffic. Three locations for the R -CUT are being proposed including Jarvis St NW,
Adams St NW, and Alpine Dr.
Councilmember Wagner asked if it was better to have the R -CUT closer to Elk River
than to Ramsey.
Mr. Femrite stated city and county staff support the R -CUT proposed for Jarvis St
over Alpine Dr. or Adams St.
Councilmember Westgaard asked if the R -CUT design could accommodate a "53
foot tractor trailer" trying to tum around. Are the medians big enough to support the
R -CUT design?
Mr. Fernrite was unsure if the medians were wide enough in the proposed areas but
may be closer to Elk River.
10.4 Twin Lakes Road Extension Concept
Mr. Femrite is preparing a grant application through Region 7W to solicit federal
funding for a portion of cost sharing. This improvement would allow these roads to
be used as local arteries during the constructions of Highway 169. The grant money
would be awarded out of 2022 or 2023 appropriations.
Mayor Dietz asked about the estimate.
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City Council Minutes Page 7
December 3, 2018
Mr. Femrite stated the current estimate was at $6.5 million.
Councilmember Westgaard asked if this amount included property acquisition.
Mr. Femrite said the estimated cost includes some property acquisition.
Councilmember Wagner clarified the total cost could be $500,000 in assessments if
grants and other federal funding were awarded.
Mr. Femrite confirmed that was the tentative outlook on total cost.
Mayor Dietz stated the City Council is going in to a closed meeting pursuant to MN
Statute 513D.05, subd. 3(b) to discuss Law Enforcement Labor Services (LELS) 231
labor negotiations.
II. Adjournment
There being no further business, Mayor Dietz adjourned the meeting of the Elk
River City Council at 8:47 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Katie Porath.
Tina Allard, City Clerk
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