04-20-2022 CCMMeeting of the Elk River City Council
Held at the Elk River Emergency Operations Center
Wednesday, April 20, 2022
Members Present: Mayor John Dietz, Councilmembers Garrett Christianson, Mike Beyer, Matt
Westgaard, and Jennifer Wagner
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: City Administrator Calvin Portner, Police Chief Ron Nierenhausen, Finance
Director Lori Ziemer, City Clerk Tina Allard, Public Works Director/Chief
Engineer Justin Femrite, Community Development Director Zack Carlton,
Environmental Services and Special Projects Director Suzanne Fischer,
Economic Development Director Brent O'Neil, Fire Chief Mark Dickinson,
Parks and Recreation Director Michael Hecker, and Records Specialist Katie
Porath
. Call Meeting to Order
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River City Council was
called to order at 1:01 p.m. by Mayor Dietz.
2. Council/Staff Retreat
1 Opening — Reflection on accomplishments
Council and staff discussed answers to the question "Do you remember when...".
Councilmember Beyer issued a challenge between the Police and Fire departments for a
fundraiser sports game.
Review Values, Vision & Mission Statement 2021 Goals
Council had no changes to the value, vision, or mission statement.
Mr. Portner reviewed the 2021 goals.
Short-term (2020-21)
■ Commercial Development
o HRA Main/Gates Project
o Joplin
o Market EDA TH10 Property
Budget and sinking fund for building repair.
o Transition PW Facility bond to general levy
o Move GRE Fund Balance to Building Fund
■ Parks & Recreation Capital Plan — Funding
o LOST -funded projects
o Field/facility user fees shift.
City Council Minutes
April 20, 2022
■ Zoning & Acquisition of "challenged" properties policy discussion.
■ Complete Lion John Weicht Park (playground, disc golf, trail, lighting)
■ FT Center Branding
■ Downtown traffic, parking, and pedestrian studies
■ Rivers Edge dock
Mid-term (2026)
■ Budget Plan — Post Waste Management
■ Acquire business park land.
o Assist developers with private acquisition as needed.
■ Develop means for park capital needs.
o Trail maintenance funding plan
o Field/facility user fees shift.
■ Commercial development
o HRA Main/Gates Project
o Ebert Joplin/Business Ave Project
o Market EDA TH10 Property
■ Public Safety buildout
■ Understand obligations for landfill once it is capped.
■ Bubble over football practice field
■ Parks and Rec app — directions, ads, amenities, park features
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■ Complete athletic field needs analysis.
■ (Short or mid) Update our branding/colors more toward red and black to match ERHS
■ Youth Athletic Complex and Oak Knoll Master Plans
■ Improve Broadband connectivity
Long-term (2031)
■ More retail development in western Elk River
■ What does redevelopment look like when Trunk Highway 10 is a freeway?
■ Riverwalk from Orono Park to City of Ramsey
■ Feasibility of moving train station downtown
■ Outdoor swimming pool
■ Transportation development funding
■ Urban Service Area expansion
■ C/I development
■ Analysis of what to do with garbage once closes in 2030.
■ Development of Specht property in eastern Elk River
■ Improve Broadband connectivity
o Initiated — in conjunction with ARPA and DEED funds. DEED Grants in
Aug./Sept.
■ Trail connections
* Trail from Lion's Park to downtown over the railroad tracks.
o Initiated — In conjunction with ARPA and Federal Biden infrastructure stimulus
bill.
■ More retail development in western Elk River
o Comprehensive plan review opportunities for additional development along 10
■ What does redevelopment look like if Hwy 10 becomes a freeway?
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City Council Minutes Page 3
April 20, 2022
■ Riverwalk from Orono Park to City of Ramsey
■ Feasibility of moving train station to downtown
■ Outdoor swimming pool
Mr. Portner indicated he will bring goals back to a future agenda for review and acceptance.
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds
Mr. Portner discussed possible uses of ARPA funds.
Council discussed wanting ARPA funds to a difference for the most residents.
Mr. Portner stated most of the items on the list would be funded at some point, it's just a
matter of how they would be paid for.
Mayor Dietz asked if ARPA funds could be applied to the General Fund.
Council asked about using the money for property acquisition to bring in outside businesses
or to expand broadband to the entire city.
Mr. Portner stated the amount of ARPA funds would not go far in paying for broadband
connectivity.
! Ms. Fischer stated another phase of broadband might be possible if a service provider
would partner with the city to pay for it. Sherburne County may also be a source of funding
for a broadband project.
The Council recessed at 3:04 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 3:17 p.m.
Business Registration Program
Fire Chief Dickinson and Ms. Fischer explained the Business Registration Program which
would help the city know what businesses are operating within city limits. This would not
be a permit or license and would be free to business owners.
Benefits of a Business Registration Program include accessing information in an emergency
call as well as awareness of any hazardous materials on site.
Council questioned why businesses don't already update their information with the fire
department, who would keep the database current, and if businesses would be resistant to
registering. They suggested starting with the largest businesses.
Police Chief Nierenhausen asked about data privacy.
Staff will continue to work on the process and bring it back to council at a work session.
0 City Programs/Downtown Policy
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City Council Nfinutes
April 20, 2022
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Mr. Portner discussed preparing a policy for the process of hanging decorations on
downtown lights maintained by Elk River Municipal Utilities (ERMU).
Items hung on light poles would need to have a public purpose. Agreements would be set
up with groups looking to hang decorations and funding for decorations would be through
the city's Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA).
Council discussed the geographic limits of the downtown area.
Mayor Dietz asked Councilmember Wagner if she could provide information on what the
Downtown Elk River Business Association (DERBA) spends on decorations for the
downtown area.
Councilmember Westgaard asked for examples of cities who decorated their light posts but
did not have a municipal utility.
Mr. Portner stated the city will begin to document city events and who pays for what.
Mr. Portner asked Council if they would like ERMU to take over the maintenance of the
new trail lights along Highway 10.
Council felt, from a consistency standpoint, ERMU should maintain the trail lights. These
lights would also fall under the new decorating policy.
Budget Yucko. ff
Mr. Portner asked Council if they had any preliminary thoughts on the 2023 budget.
Mr. Portner stated that the city would be implementing a charge back program where each
department pays an annual fee and computers are replaced as they break.
Mr. Portner will be working on a comparison study of salaries including historical
comparison cities and cities that are of a similar population. This discussion will come to a
future work session.
Council discussed the importance of employee retention.
Mayor Dietz stated he was concerned about the budget due to large housing valuation
increases. Council asked department directors to only budget for essentials.
Mr. Portner stated that, at some point, the city will begin to see funding from Tax
Increment Financing (TIF) payments once TIF districts are decertified.
Councilmember Christianson expressed concern about the fallout of housing prices in the
future.
The Council recessed at 4:51 p.m. for dinner. The meeting reconvened at 5:24 p.m.
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City Council Minutes
April 20, 2022
Police Department Review
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Chief Nierenhausen updated Council on the department and crime statistics over the past
years.
Councilmember Wagner asked if increased calls for service correlated to population
increase.
Chief Nierenhausen stated calls for service were more dependent on the make up of the
community, types of services, and housing density.
Chief Nierenhausen discussed staffing issues, upcoming retirements, and retention. Hiring,
onboarding, and training a new officer takes nine months.
Goal Setting
Mr. Portner asked if Council had any additional goals to add.
Mr. Portner stated one long-term goal could be community visioning, including various Elk
River focus groups, to be held after Highway 169 is completed.
Council asked if there was potential to have the Main and Gates property purchased within
. the next 18 months. Council asked if the space could be used for food trucks, vendor tents,
or a flea market while it is vacant.
Mayor Dietz added that the fairgrounds is considering moving but wants to stay in Elk
River. They are looking for a 30-acre parcel. The new fair buildings would be larger and
provide for year-round events.
Councilmember Beyer asked about hotels coming to Elk River.
Councilmember Wagner mentioned Energy City Commission is reviewing their goals and
rebranding.
3. Adjournment
There being no further business, Mayor Dietz adjourned the meeting of the Elk River City
Council at 7:03 p.m.
by Katie Porath.
Tina Allard, City Clerk
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