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08-17-2020 Regular CCMMembers Present: Members Absent: Meeting of the Elk River City Council Held at the Elk River City Hall Monday, August 17, 2020 Mayor John Dietz, Councilmembers Garrett Christianson, Nate Ovall, and Jennifer Wagner Councilmember Matt Westgaard Staff Present: City Administrator Calvin Portner, Public Works Director Justin Femrite, City Clerk Tina Allard, Economic Development Director Amanda Othoudt, Stormwater Coordinator Brandon Wisner, Street and Park Superintendent Tim Sevcik, Police Chief Ron Nierenhausen, Fire Chief Mark Dickenson, City Attorney Peter Beck, and Planning Manager Zack Carlton 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 6:36 p.m. by Mayor Dietz. 2. Pledge of Allegiance Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 3. Consider Agenda Moved by Councilmember Wagner and seconded by Councilmember Ovall to approve the agenda. Motion carried 4-0. 4. Consent Agenda Moved by Councilmember Ovall and seconded by Councilmember Wagner to approve: 4.1 Pay estimates as outlined in the staff report. 4.2 Check register as outlined in the staff report. 4.3 Ordinance 20-10 Backflow Prevention Program. 4.4 Public improvements constructed with the plat of Hillside Estates Eleventh Addition. 4.5 Resolution 20-47 for Limited Use Permit #7102-0021 for nonmotorized trail along Highway 10 from Simonet Drive to Lowell Avenue. 4.6 Accept Sherburne County Abstract of Votes Cast for Elk River municipal races and declare the results from the abstract to be the official results. Motion carried 4-0. iS. Open Forum City Council Minutes Page 2 August 17, 2020 No one appeared for Open Forum. 6.1 City of Elk River Volunteer of the Month Mayor Dietz presented the August Volunteer of the Month award to Loren Volk. He highlighted the following: ■ MN DNR firearms instructor for 17 years • Served as Grand Knight and current financial secretary for Knights of Columbus * Member of St. Andrews Parish Council and cemetery maintenance crew. St. Andrews Fall Festival volunteer ■ Beyond the Yellow Ribbon meals ■ Volunteer for special programs at Guardian Angel ■ Plow snow for local neighbors ■ Volunteered in Elk River High School ski and swim programs ■ Participated in Habitat for Humanity for several years 6.2 Proclamation: Women's Equality Day Mr. Portner presented the staff report. Mayor Diez read the proclamation and presented it to Girl Scout Troop 15277. Moved by Councilmember Ovall and seconded by Councilmember Christianson to declare August 26, 2020 as Women's Equality Day. Motion carried 4-0. 7.1 Highway 169 Redefine Preliminary Design Mr. Femrite presented the staff report and introduced MnDOT Project Manager Darren Nelson who attended the meeting via conference call. Mayor Dietz opened the public hearing. Kevin Weinmann, 251 Elk Hills Drive, asked questions about neighborhood access. Mayor Dietz closed the public hearing. Council expressed concerns and asked clarifying questions about various access points. Mr. Femrite stated the proposed highway design is based on modeling completed by MnDOT and will not leave Elk River compromised. He stated traffic demands post construction of the highway will be adequate to handle the traffic; but nothing would preclude the city from completing further improvements on city streets, such as adding signal systems that could be interconnected with the nearby highway signals. E I It E R E l I Y NTUREJ City Council Minutes August 17, 2020 Page 3 Councilmember Wagner thanked MnDOT for saving the pedestrian bridge. She asked about signage for businesses along the highway near the limited 197`' Avenue access point. Mr. Nelson stated MnDOT has limits on the amount of signage allowed but he doesn't see any reason why the typical blue signs couldn't be installed. He noted it can create issues between businesses as to who is named on the signage but higher volume generating businesses usually get top prioiridy. He stated the Highway 169 corridor through Elk River is very tight between interchanges and it was a balancing act to fit all interchanges in such a small area. He provided an overview of the noise wall layouts and noted there will be hearings about them in the next few weeks. Mayor Dietz asked about the two businesses closures. Mr. Nelson stated MnDOT handles acquisition and they are already working with the property owners. Mayor Dietz stated he would like to see the businesses relocate in Elk River and expressed concerns with no city involvement in assisting them. Mr. Nelson stated MnDOT reaches out to city staff for available land if a business wants to remain in the city. 7.2 Copart of Connecticut, Inc., Salvage Yard Expansion, 15932 Jarvis Street ■ Preliminary and Final Plat of Cascade Industrial Park Third Addition ■ Right -of -Way Easement Vacation ■ Conditional Use Permit Authorizing a Salvage Yard Mr. Carlton 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. Councilmember Wagner stated the Parks and Recreation Commission approved the swap but was concerned if the Youth Athletic Complex Master Plan improvements would fit onto the new site and be constructible. She thanked Copart for the extra 80 feet to help fit the park amenities. Mr. Carlton reviewed the elevation and fencing requirements. He stated the view from city property would be of a berm with landscaping and a dark green fence. Councilmember Christianson questioned if soil testing would be completed before the swap. UMr.Carlton stated yes. eorfoEe er NATURE City Council Minutes August 17, 2020 Page 4 Moved by Councilmember Wagner and seconded by Councilmember Ovall to adopt Resolution 20-48 amending the Comprehensive Plan to swap industrial and open space land use designations on two parcels. Motion carried 4-0. Moved by Councilmember Wagner and seconded by Councilmember Ovall to approve Preliminary Plat, Case No. P 20-11 for Cascade Industrial Park Third Addition with the five conditions outlined in the staff report. Motion carried 4-0. Moved by Councilmember Wagner and seconded by Councilmember Ovall to adopt Resolution 20-49 granting final plat approval for Cascade Industrial Park Third Addition, Case No. P 20-11. Motion carried 4-0. Moved by Councilmember Christianson and seconded by Councilmember Wagner to adopt Resolution 20-50 granting a petition to vacate public right-of- way easements, Case No. EV 20-04. Motion carried 4-0. Moved by Councilmember Wagner and seconded by Councilmember Ovall to approve Conditional Use Permit, Case No. CU 20-14. Motion carried 4-0. 8.1 Select Construction Manager for Elk River Public Safety Building Expansion and Fire Station No. 3 Mr. Wisner presented the staff report. Moved by Councilmember Wagner and seconded by Councilmember Christianson to direct staff to negotiate a contract and fees with Terra Construction for Construction Management Services on the Elk River Public Safety Building expansion and Fire Station No. 3. Motion carried 4-0. Council recessed for 5 minutes at 7:45 pm. 9.1 Shoot Steel Request for Tax Increment Financing Ms. Othoudt presented the staff report. Mayor Dietz questioned projected new employees. Evan Moyer, stated is business is currently growing at about 100% and will double las years sales, but it will taper back to 30- 40% growth over the next 5 years. He discussed the employment positions they are projecting. Councilmember Christianson asked if they would outgrow the location in a few years because of their rapid growth. rIWIAII I NATURE v City Council Minutes August 17, 2020 Page 5 Mr. Moyer stated yes, but he would still retain the land because he would like to build out to an approximate 50,0000 square foot facility on this site and then look at a second site located nearby. Mayor Dietz feels if they are willing to pay market value for the property to the city, he would be much more receptive to allow them to apply for Tax Increment Financing. Councilmember Ovall liked the job creation factor. Councilmember Wagner stated she has no issues with the request as it will be bringing in new industry and jobs. She stated she would support a tax increment application given the growth of the business. Councilmember Ovall got some good businesses around you form good community. Council consensus was to support a Tax Increment Financing application from Shoot Steel, Inc. 9.2 Downtown Sidewalks Mr. Sevcik presented the staff report. Council expressed concerns with some of the surface options and their future lifespan and questioned funding. Mr. Portner indicated the GRE Fund is typically used for special beautification projects. Mr. Beck further stated Council could create an assessment or an improvement district. Councilmember Ovall noted there have been warranty lawsuits for premature paver failure. Councilmember Wagner stated she would bring the subject up at the next Downtown Elk River Business Association meeting. She stated she likes the curb appeal of pavers but questioned the history of why they were chosen over another product. She suggested including them in an area major road improvement if the timing works. Mr. Femrite stated there would be some curbing and pavement improvements needed in 3-5 years. Mr. Beck stated the pavers were installed when the old town square was converted into Granite Shores to reimagine downtown. He stated the city had a warranty claim on the original pavers many years ago. F 0 V f R F I I r NA TUR City Council Minutes August 17, 2020 Page 6 Mr. Femrite noted this item would be discussed during the Capital Improvement Plan update after public feedback. He noted there is an imminent need to replace certain section because of trip hazards. Mr. Femrite stated an elected official is needed for the TH10 access study committee. Councilmember Christianson volunteered. Mr. Femrite stated an elected official is needed for a group forming to discuss policy for a Mississippi River crossing Councilmember Wagner volunteered. 10. Adjournment There being no further business, Mayor Dietz adjourned the meeting of the Elk River City Council at 8:22 p.m. hn J. 7ietz, . la -or Tina Allard, City Clerk F01EREI 11 NATUR