10-10-2005 CC MIN - JOINT
MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL
HELD AT LIONS PARK CENTER
(JOINT MEETING WITH THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS)
MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2005
Members Present: Mayor Klinzing, Councilmembers Dietz, Farber, Gumphrey, and Motin
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: City Administrator Pat Klaers, Community Development Director Scott
Clark, Environmental Assistant Rebecca Haug, Assistant Director of
Economic Development Heidi Steinmetz, Director of Parks and Recreation
Bill Maertz, Utilities General Manager Bryan Adams, Librarian Mick
Stoffers, and City Clerk Joan Schmidt
EDA Members
Present: Pat Dwyer, Jeff Gongoll and Dan Tveite
Heritage Preservation
Members Present: Lance Lindberg, Jeff Gongoll, Pat Dwyer and Cliff Lundberg
HRA Authority: Stewart Wilson, Louise Kuester, Jean Lieser and Larry Toth
Ice Arena Commission
Members Present: Dave Halgren, Dale Martin and Dawn Polston-Hork
Library Board Michael Hangaard, Donna Martin, Anne Schroeder and Karen Stelk
Members Present:
Parks and Recreation Dave Anderson, John Kuester and Dawn Polston-Hork
Members Present:
Planning Commission Dana Anderson, Pete Lemke, Leo Offerman, Howard Ropp, Kevin Scott
Members Present: and Matthew Westgaard
Utilities Commission
Members Present: Jerome Takle
Energy City Commission
Members Present: Bryan Adams, Jeff Gongoll, Arnold Hendrickson, Edward Stoutenburg and
Vance Zehringer
1. Call Meeting To Order
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River City Council was called
to order at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Klinzing.
City Council Minutes Page 2
October 10, 2005
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2. Consider 10/10/2005 Agenda
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER FARBER AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER GUMPHREY TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. MOTION
CARRIED 5-0.
3. Consider Consent Agenda
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER FARBER AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING CONSENT
AGENDA:
3.1SEPTEMBER 12, 2005 EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES
3.2CALL SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR OCTOBER 24, 2005
AT 6 P.M. AT CITY HALL TO MEET WITH THE SHERBURNE
COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
4. Open Mike
No one appeared for Open Mike.
5.1 Board/Commission Joint Meeting
Mayor Klinzing introduced the council and herself and thanked the board and commission
members for attending this joint meeting. She stated that since last years joint meeting the
new city commission which is the Energy City Commission has been established.
She stated that the council is interested in keeping the lines of communication open and that
is one of the reasons for this joint meeting. She stated that the Council is interested in
hearing of the upcoming projects of the groups. In sharing this information in this setting
other boards and commissions members obtain a better understanding of what other groups
are working on. She stated that the members help to provide the voice of the citizens of this
community.
Each board and commission member was introduced and the Chair of each board or
commission shared past accomplishments and/or future goals/projects.
Housing & Redevelopment Authority (HRA):
?
Downtown Revitalization Project with MetroPlains Development;
?
Redevelopment Plan of the downtown area north of Highway 10;
?
Work on formal Redevelopment Plan;
?
Incorporate redevelopment of single family areas into downtown area of Elk River;
?
Work on grant in the amount of $500,000 for Highway 10 to go through
downtown; working with MnDot for a road underneath this area (similar to
downtown Duluth area).
City Council Minutes Page 3
October 10, 2005
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Economic Development Authority (EDA):
?
Industrial Development – continue to promote Elk River as the Light Industrial
Hub of the Northwest Metro; provide financing options and site options for
industrial businesses – six new industries have come to town in the last two years;
?
Help local industries to expand;
?
Succeeded in developing a park and industrial area;
?
Working with Great River Energy (GRE) to keep from moving out of town with
proposed creation of another industrial park along Highway 10;
?
Helped to establish the Gateway to Elk River on the east end of town;
?
Incubator Program.
Planning Commission:
?
Continue to execute, follow and address the City of Elk River Comp Plan;
?
Continue working on urban services, infrastructure and ordinance changes;
?
Put together specific ordinances with guidelines dealing with wetlands and other
issues;
?
Look at development and redevelopment of parcels east of County Road 40;
?
Get public input and develop best practices for development of future properties –
try to make good planning decisions;
?
Recognize increasing need for communication with Sherburne and other counties,
State of Minnesota agencies and neighboring cities.
Ice Arena Commission:
?
To oversee management of the Ice Arena facility by making recommendations to
the Elk River City Council regarding setting policies and procedures on facility use
and rental, setting of policies for ice rental rates, establishment of priorities of ice
rental to customers, and marketing of the space for rent for various activities;
?
Identify ways to increase revenue on the use of the facility for rental of space for
dry land activities as well as increasing the usage of the ice over non peak hours;
?
Make recommendations in the operations of the concession stand;
?
Facility to be a safe environment for customers;
?
Make recommendations in maintenance of facility – roof needs to be replaced;
office being built for Arena Manager making this position more accessible to the
public;
?
Installation of 10’x15’ banners of pro hockey players.
Library Board:
?
Provide leadership and expertise in use of library;
?
Educate the public in importance of library;
?
Play active role in decisions regarding expansion project;
?
Explore future services.
Municipal Utilities Commission:
?
Next year construction of new sub station in Otsego;
City Council Minutes Page 4
October 10, 2005
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?
Upgrade station on Proctor Avenue;
?
Construct new station in Elk River;
?
New wire to be installed along Highway 10;
?
Continue Conservation Program, Energy Program, Plantings, Energy Audits and
Rebates;
?
Continue with aquifer storage and recovery program;
?
Ongoing training in safety for employees and community.
Parks and Recreation Commission:
?
Update current Master Plan and get a handle on development;
?
Use $1.2M grant money for trails and Highland East redevelopment;
?
Refocus on downtown redevelopment with park area and River Walk;
?
Implement Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) Task Force;
?
Identify site and explore opportunities for area parks in northeast Elk River;
?
Have more collaboration with Sherburne County to connect Elk River with
Sherburne County Refuge.
Energy City Commission:
?
Provide geographical focal point to demonstrate energy efficient and renewable
products;
?
Built two energy saving demo homes with a third Energy House currently under
construction along County Road 1;
?
Emphasize the importance of Energy City as an economic development tool;
?
Educate the public regarding emerging technology;
?
Offer tours of 13 demonstration sites;
?
Continue to increase the number of sites;
?
Increase the number of geo-thermal installations;
?
Encourage input from the public.
Heritage Preservation Commission:
?
Continue collaboration with St. Cloud State University for archaeological digs;
?
Educate citizens of Elk River with respect to the historic and architectural heritage
of the city via written/oral history;
?
Work on completing oral histories;
?
Work on continuing survey of all historic areas, buildings, structures, etc. in the
City;
?
Participate in what is happening in regards to “Old Town” Elk River.
An open question/answer session followed. Questions asked dealt with current activities
within the City.
At 8:04 p.m., Mayor Klinzing thanked everyone for his or her input and for coming. She
encouraged the members to enjoy refreshments and to visit and stated that the Council still
had items on the agenda and that discussion would continue in the recreation department
area.
5.2Open Forum
City Council Minutes Page 5
October 10, 2005
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At 8:10 p.m., Mayor Klinzing called the meeting back to order.
Councilmember Farber informed the Council that he had been contacted by constituents
residing along 197 Avenue who had been contacted by a developer and that they will
th
attend next weeks Council meeting to discuss the possibility of rezoning. He stated that
staff has been made aware.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Councilmember Motin stated that he was contacted by an individual who has had issues
with requirements being added by city staff before a final inspection. City Administrator
Klaers stated that it is his understanding that the builder was not straight forward with staff
and he would again talk to staff.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Mayor Klinzing stated that she has met with Paul Krause, the owner of Pinewood Golf
Course, and has asked him to postpone the proposed development of his property. She
stated that he would like to negotiate with the City in obtaining a reasonable price to sell this
golf course to the City with selling possibly on contract for deed. She stated that Finance
and Administrative Services Director Lori Johnson will check with other cities that have golf
courses and do a cost analysis.
6. Other Business
The City Council gave an unfavorable performance review of City Administrator Klaers.
Mr. Klaers stated that he would resign from his position. It was the consensus of the City
Council to abide by the terms and conditions of his contract. They also expressed flexibility
in regards to the effective date of his termination, time span of receiving severance package,
and the issue of health insurance. Councilmember Motin, as a representative of the Council,
will put in writing the agreed upon terms and conditions whereby Mr. Klaers will submit his
formal resignation.
7. Staff Updates
No staff updates.
8. Adjournment
There being no further business, Mayor Klinzing adjourned the meeting of the Elk River
City Council at 8:52 p.m.
Joan Schmidt
City Clerk