02-06-2023 CCMMeeting of the Elk River City Council
Held at the Elk River City Hall
Monday, February 6, 2023
Members Present: Mayor John Dietz, Councilmembers Cory Grupa, Mike Beyer, Matt Westgaard, and Jennifer
Wagner
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: City Administrator Calvin Portner, Police Chief Ron Nierenhausen, Detective David
Williams, Engineering Project Manager Brandon Wisner, Community Development Director
Zack Carlton, Planner Chris Leeseberg, and Deputy City Clerk Jolene Richter
Others Present: City Attorney Jared Shepherd, Sherburne County Community Health Coordinator Mark
Lees, David Braslau of David Braslau Associates, Inc.
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 6:32
p.m. by Mayor Dietz.
2. Pledge of Allegiance:
-Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
3. Consider Agenda
Moved by Councilmember Westgaard and seconded by Councilmember Beyer to approve the
agenda. Motion carried 5-0.
4. Consent Agenda
Moved by Councilmember Westgaard and seconded by Councilmember Wagner to approve:
4.1 January 10, 2023, Joint Elk River Municipal Utilities Minutes.
January 17, 2023, Regular Minutes.
4.2 Check register as outlined in the staff report.
4.3 Master Labor Agreement Between City of Elk River and Law Enforcement Labor Services
Local #231.
4.4 Hire Ali Balabon to position of Fire Department Administrative Assistant effective February
13, 2023.
4.5 Public Works Wall Repair/Replacement, as outlined in the staff report.
4.6 Resolution 23-06 acknowledging donations for Woodland Trails Regional Park.
4.7 Resolution 23-07 accepting donations from the Zimmerman Fire Relief Association.
Motion carried 5-0.
S. Open Forum
No one appeared for Open Forum.
City Council Minutes Page 2
February 6, 2023
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6.1 Recognize promotion of Officer Michael Welsh to Patrol Sergeant
Chief Nierenhausen presented the staff report and recognized the promotion of Officer Michael Welsh to
the position of Patrol Sergeant effective February 7, 2023.
Mayor Dietz administered the oath of office to Sergeant Michael Welsh.
6.2 Advisory Board Candidate Interviews
The Council interviewed Mike Brown, Alison Freeman and Aimee Hallen for the Parks and Recreation
Commission and Maija Myhra and Nicholas Zerwas for the Utilities Commission. The Council will make
appointments at a later dated Council meeting.
7.1 Ordinance Amendment: Fee Schedule for Garbage, Environmental and Recreational Fees
Mr. Portner 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.
Moved by Councilmember Westgaard and seconded by Councilmember Grupa to adopt Ordinance
23-01 amending the 2023 Master Fee Schedule, as outlined in the staff report. Motion carried 5-0.
7.2 Elk River Vape Shop Inc.: Administrative Hearing
Chief Nierenhausen introduced the Sherburne County Community Health Coordinator Mark Lees.
Mr. Lees presented the staff report.
Mayor Dietz opened the public hearing.
Attorney Carol Moss of Hellmuth and Johnson in Edina spoke on behalf of the licensee. The licensee was
not present at the meeting. She stated they acknowledge the seriousness of the situation, and the licensee is
taking serious steps to remedy the situation. Ms. Moss stated the licensee took the following immediate
actions: updated their software program for checking IDs, offered additional training to staff, increased
signage and hired additional security to check IDs. They also terminated employees who did not follow
policies. Ms. Moss continued to speak regarding the compliance checks on October 31, 2022, stating that
the police records indicate the ticket was dismissed. She is asking the Council on behalf of her client to
consider this a first and second violation and for them to pay $600.
Detective Williams explained the wrong statute was noted in the original citation therefore being dropped.
The citation was reissued with the correct statute.
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f ' Mayor Dietz asked the city attorney if even though the citation was issued to the employee does that justify
the business being charged for it. Counselor Shepherd explained Section 26.33 of the Elk River City Code
and how the licensee is responsible for the action of its employees.
Ms. Moss stated the licensee was not aware that the October 31, 2022, violation was re -cited until after the
December 5, 2022, violation. She stated if they had known sooner her client would have taken steps to
remedy the situation sooner and avoid the December citation. She continued to ask the Council to waive the
7-day suspension.
Mayor Dietz closed the public hearing.
Mayor Dietz asked if the 7-day suspension could be lessened. Counselor Shepherd explained we can be
more restrictive, however not less restrictive to state statute.
The Council discussed and unanimously agreed to move forward with the administrative penalties.
Moved by Councilmember Beyer and seconded by Councilmember Wagner to adopt Resolution
23-08 imposing administrative penalties for violation of tobacco license requirements. Motion
carried 5-0.
8.1 Discuss Work Session Items
There were no additional work session items added.
8.2 Appoint Councilmember: Volunteer of the Year Selection Committee
Mayor Dietz presented the staff report.
Moved by Councihnernber Westgaard and seconded by Councilmember Beyer to appoint
Councilmember Grupa to serve on the Volunteer of the Year Selection Committee. Motion carried
5-0.
8.3 Final Feasibility Report for the Northeast and Northwest Urban Service Area Expansion
Study
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Mayor Dietz noted some property owners are present and will have questions for the Council. He stated the
property owners are aware no decisions will be made tonight regarding their questions.
Mr. Wisner presented the staff report.
Mayor Dietz asked if the Council would be committed to the study of they approved it. Mr. Wisner stated
the study would be used as a guiding document and is not approval for a project.
Mayor Dietz invited the property owners to speak.
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Rick and Jackie Frederickson, 2093 Neilson Avenue, Long Lake, MN, and Bill and Wendy
Zacharda,13495 Ranch Rd NW, distributed a letter to the Council with their questions (attached in the
staff report).
The Council discussed and directed staff to continue to work with property owners and Capstone with their
concerns. The Council stated they would be open to future discussions of options from the property owners
and Capstone.
Moved by Councilmember Wagner and seconded by Councilmember Westgaard to approve the
Final Feasibility Report for the Northeast and Northwest Urban Service Area Expansion Study.
Motion 5-0.
9. Council Liaison Updates
Councilmembers provided updates as outlined in the respective advisory board's minutes.
Councilmember Beyer added on behalf of the Sampsons, who lost a loved one, Lynn Sampson, wanted to
thank the police officers for the procession into the cemetery.
10. Adjourn Regular Meeting
Moved by Councilmember Westgaard and seconded by Councilmember Wagner to adjourn the
regular meeting of City Council. Motion carried 5-0.
Council recessed at 7:51 p.m. and reconvened in work session at 7:54 p.m.
1 1.1 Racetrack Sound Testing
Mr. Leeseberg presented the staff report and introduced David Braslau of David Braslau Associates, Inc.
Mr. Braslau gave a presentation regarding how noise assessments are conducted, noise standards, and
possible mitigation measures, and information regarding sound studies related to racetrack operations.
Mayor Dietz asked who is responsible to hold up to state standards. Mr. Braslau stated ultimately it would
be the noise producer's responsibility.
Mayor Dietz asked if someone complains about noise is the city obligated to require a sound study. Mr.
Braslau answered, normally the city in which the facility is located would be responsible for conducting the
noise standard. Each community would be responsible for their own noise standards, especially since the
city is more restrictive than the state.
11.2 Nuisance Ordinance
Mr. Carlton presented the staff report.
The Council discussed possible updates and modifications to the city's nuisance ordinance to improve
readability, clarity, and outline enforcement proceedings.
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Mr. Carlton stated they will be bring an ordinance amendment forward for consideration.
12. Adjournment
Moved by Councilmember Beyer and seconded by Councilmember Wagner to adjourn the meeting
of City Council. Motion carried 5-0.
There being no further business, Mayor Dietz adjourned the meeting of the Elk River City Council at 9:02
p.m.
Minutes prepared by Jolene Richter.
J J. bietz, Mayor
Tina Allard, City Clerk
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