07-22-2019 Special CCMSpecial Meeting of the Elk River City Council
Ver Held at the Elk River City Hall
Monday, July 22, 2019
Members Present: Mayor John Dietz, Councilmembers Garrett Christianson, Nate
Ovall, Matt Westgaard, and Jennifer Wagner
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: City Administrator Calvin Portner, Wastewater Treatment Facility
Chief Operator Matt Stevens, Stormwater Coordinator Brandon
Wisner, Human Resources Manager Lauren Wipper, Recreation
Manager Steve Benoit, Police Chief Ron Nierenhausen, Building
Maintenance Supervisor Gary Lore, Public Works Director Justin
Femrite, Street and Park Maintenance Manager Tim Sevcik, City
Clerk Tina Allard, Patrol Captain Darren McKernan, Detective
Sergeant Joe Gacke, and Administrative Captain Bob Kluntz
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 4:00 p.m. by Mayor Dietz.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
3. 2020 Budget
Ms. Ziemer presented her staff report. Various departments presented their
proposed budgets as outlined in the staff report.
Parks and Recreation
Mr. Portner noted staffing levels for the multipurpose facility are still under review.
Council asked if the paths near the Dave Anderson Athletic Complex were going to
be paved.
Mr. Portner stated the Parks and Recreation Commission should have a needs
analysis completed, and then work on developing a master plan for the complex.
Police Staffing
Police department staff explained their request for a part time investigative assistant
position and how this position would handle the clerical end of investigative work.
Staff further requested to change one of the juvenile detective positions to a
supervisory role to lighten the workload and limit the span of control for the
��/ detective sergeant. It was noted Spectrum may be interested in a juvenile detective
City Council Minutes
July 22, 2019
Page 2
and when the school contract expires there may be a possibility to partner with the
school district and Spectrum on a shared position. Chief Nierenhausen stated the
types of calls handled in schools have become more critical and involve more mental
health issues.
Sidewalks
Mr. Femrite outlined various options for citywide sidewalk plowing. He discussed
other city processes. A number of in-house options were discussed surrounding
expected levels of service and the corresponding budget impacts. Mr. Femrite further
discussed the option of outsourcing, which staff was directed to look closer at in
order to learn the potential costs.
Council requested the following:
■ Total assumption amount be presented at a future meeting.
■ Updated and more detailed performance metrics for the recreation department.
Further discussion on benchmarking. Separate performance metrics for events
versus programs. Unique visitors versus total visitors. Resident versus non-
resident participation.
■ Evaluate current recreational programming and what is sustainable before adding
new programming, but still considering interests and trends.
■ Research and cost analysis on outsourcing citywide sidewalk plowing and policy
or contract language design for items such as priority routes, timelines, etc.
4. Adjournment
There being no further business, Mayor Dietz adjourned the meeting of the Elk
River City Council at 7:00 p.m.
Tina Allard, City Clerk
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