8.3 SR 06-01-2020Request for Action
To
Item Number
Mayor and City Council
8.3
Agenda Section
Meeting Date
Prepared by
General BusinessJune
1, 2020
Cal Portner, City Administrator
Item Description
Reviewed by
Resolution Supporting ERX Off -Road National
Peter Beck, City Attorney
Reviewed by
Mark Dickinson, Fire Chief
Action Requested
Approve, by motion, a resolution supporting ERX Off -Road National Event on July 10-11, 2020,
contingent on state laws and orders.
Background/Discussion
ERX Motor Park is planning to host their annual Off -Road National event on July 10-11 pending the
loosening of restrictions from the State of Minnesota.
This event is very important to their operation and they have been very proactive in preparing plans to
provide for a safe spectator, employee, and participant experience.
They are not asking for the city's permission to hold an event as they have all the required permissions
that the city can require. They have asked for a review of their pandemic plan and for Council to support
their event so they can better engage the Governor's office.
The city does not approve pandemic plans however we have provided guidance as to how we interpret
the plan requirements for compliance with state and federal guidelines. Chief Dickinson has reviewed the
plan and indicated it appears to have the elements required by the guidelines.
Financial Impact
N/A
Attachments
■ Resolution
■ May 18, 2020, ERX Letter
The Elk River Vision
A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional,` 01 e
service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires pi ospei ly INAWRE1
City of
Elk
River
City of Elk River
City Council
Resolution 20-
A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Elk River Supporting ERX
Motor Park Off -Road National Event
WHEREAS, Governor Tim Walz issued Emergency Executive Order 20-01 On March
13, 2020, Declaring a Peacetime Emergency and Coordinating Minnesota's Strategy to
Protect Minnesotans from COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, the Governor issued Emergency Executive Order 20-04
Providing for Temporary Closure of Bars, Restaurants, and Other Places of Public
Accommodation; and
WHEREAS, on March 25, 2020, the Governor issued Emergency Executive Order
Directing Minnesotans to Stay at Home; and
WHEREAS, both orders were extended on April 30, 2020, through Emergency Executive
Order 20-48 until midnight on May 17, 2020; and
WHEREAS, On May 13, 2020, Governor Walz issued Emergency Executive Order 20-56
restricting gatherings to 10 or fewer people; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 2019, section 4.035, subdivision 2, and
section 12.32, the Executive Orders were effective immediately upon approval by the
Executive Council and remains in effect until the peacetime emergency declared in
Executive Order 20-01 is terminated or until it is rescinded by proper authority; and
WHEREAS, ERX Motor Park is an important staple of our community providing
competition, sportsmanship, enjoyment, and economic vitality through year-round local,
regional, and national events; and
WHEREAS, on July 10 and 11, ERX Motor Park is scheduled to host their Off -Road
National motorsports event; and
WHEREAS, this event has a tremendous financial impact on our community and their
business with over 60% of their annual revenues are generated from this event; and
WHEREAS, ERX has demonstrated throughout their operations to be a good neighbor
and conscientious partner providing a safe environment for a multitude of diverse activities
for the entire community to enjoy; and
WHEREAS, ERX has carefully prepared a comprehensive COVID-19 operational plan to
protect participants, staff, and visitors; and
WHEREAS, we trust ERX to successfully execute their plan and provide adequate
protection to our most vulnerable residents and visitors; and
WHEREAS, our residents fully understand the importance of following social distancing
and CDC guidelines; and
WHEREAS, we fully support ERX hosting their Off -Road National motorsports event in
Elk River on June 101h and 111h provided it is legally allowed by State of Minnesota laws and
orders in effect at that time.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Elk
River, Minnesota, as follows: The Council respectfully requests Governor Tim Walz retract
executive orders closing non -critical businesses and trust businesses to implement proper
action plans to safely operate.
Passed and adopted this 1" day of June 2020.
John J. Dietz, Mayor
ATTEST:
Tina Allard, City Clerk
i
May 18, 2020
City of Elk River Officials,
On behalf of ERX Motor Park, thank you for your leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. We
send our prayers and best wishes to you and your family, your staff, and all of Elk River's and
Minnesota's essential workforce.
Please know ERX Motor Park, although eager to carefully and responsibly get our 2020 racing
season underway, remains supportive of your guidance in reopening. In doing so, we would like to
respectfully request your consideration of our Off -Road National motorsports event at ERX Motor
Park on July 101n and 111n
To date we are moving forward with limited -in -scope plans that will provide our community, fans,
staff and participants the ability to return to racing in the safest possible environment. The Off -
Road National event has a tremendous financial impact to our community and our business as over
60% of our annual revenues are generated from this single event. Without a conditional approval
to move forward with the event we cannot continue to incur the costs of our 20 employee's, event
marketing and COVID-19 preparation plans.
Attached is an overview of our facility, the ERX Off -Road National event and our COVID-19
operational procedures that will be implemented upon conditional approval. We are prepared to
incur the additional costs to implement all measures necessary to comply with all Minnesota
Department of Health, CDC and OSHA coronavirus guidelines.
We request that you review our plans and provide ERX conditional approval for our Off -Road
National event. Please let us know if you require any additional information to grant approval.
Sincerely,
Chris Carlson & Todd Plaisted
Co-CEO's
ERX Motor Park