05-08-2023 Council RetreatMeeting of the Elk River City Council
Held at the Elk River Emergency Operations Center
Monday, May 8, 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, Business Services
Director/Assistant City Administrator Joe Stremcha, 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, and Records Specialist
Katie Porath
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 1:02
p.m. by Mayor Dietz.
2. Council/Staff Retreat
Leadership Assessment
Mr. Portner reviewed leadership evaluations for directors and councilmembers.
Review Values, Vision & Mission Statement 2023 Goals
The Council had no changes to the value, vision, or mission statement.
Mr. Portner reviewed the goals set in 2022.
Mayor Dietz asked for an update on the landfill moving to Livonia Township. Ms. Fischer responded
that Livonia Township and the City of Zimmerman are discussing options.
Mayor Dietz asked where garbage would go once the landfill is full. Mr. Portner responded the trash
haulers would have to make that decision.
Mayor Dietz asked Mr. O'Neil if Placer.ai could be used to map the west park of Elk River to figure out
ways to appeal to businesses.
Mayor Dietz asked about getting a hotel in Elk River.
Staff SW10T Review
Mr. Portner reviewed the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats received from staff.
The Council recessed at 3:25 p.m. The meeting was reconvened at 3:41 p.m.
City Council Minutes
May 8, 2023
Downtown Vision Discussion
■ Mississippi Connection
Page 2
Mr. Carlton showed maps of downtown area plans and asked the Council what they wanted downtown to
look like so that the city can begin creating phases for development and find funding.
■ Downtown Streets/Trafc/Parking
Mr. Femrite discussed replacement of sidewalk pavers, sewer network, parking lots maintenance, and
increasing parking spaces in the downtown area.
Mr. Femrite stated that the current downtown sidewalk pavers are difficult to maintain in the winter and do
not hold up well to chemicals, freezing, and thawing.
Mayor Dietz asked about one-way streets downtown. Mr. Femrite stated his preference would be to see
traffic going in both directions. Traffic patterns should change once Highway 169 is completed.
Councilmember Wagner stated there was an opportunity to tie Main Street from Gates Avenue to Highway
169 to the downtown area with unifying streetlights, hanging baskets, and decor.
■ Main Street Vision
Mr. O'Neil stated the former Elk River Meats site will have grass and picnic tables added as well as a pet
refuse stand. He showed some options for using the area as a parking lot, a plaza, restroom area, or stores.
Mayor Dietz was against reducing parking in the downtown area. Mayor Dietz felt it was a good time to
redo the entire parking lot and try to add more spaces. He recommended approaching the First Bank Elk
River about purchasing their parking spots and securing the deed from other entities so that the city owned
the entire lot.
Councilmember Wagner asked if there could be an arrangement to use the Bank of Elk River parking lot
during evenings and weekends.
The Council discussed building a standalone restroom vs adding a restroom to an existing building such as
the Cinema building or Avalon Salon. Mr. O'Neil stated there are different options for who will pay for
public restrooms.
The Council discussed the location of the trash enclosure and space for delivery vehicles.
Mr. Femrite updated the council on improvements to the restrooms at Lion John Weicht Park. The
discussion of who would share in the cost will come to a future work session.
Mr. Femrite discussed parking options for the "upper lot" including making it a one way and designating
areas for delivery vehicles.
The Council asked if Placer.ai could be used to determine what direction most people travel through the
downtown area.
rP O If E A E I I Y
NATURE
City Council Minutes
May 8, 2023
nThe Council recessed at 5:20 p.m. for dinner. The meeting was reconvened at 5:49 p.m.
Page 3
Councilmember Wagner commented that Granite Shores apartments is opposed to no overnight parking
but supports 3-hour parking restrictions during the day.
Ms. Fischer left at 5:55 p.m.
Budget Kickoff
Mr. Portner gave an overview of the budget.
Mayor Dietz requested information on Northbound Liquor sales by the June/July budget meetings.
ARPA Funds
Mr. Portner reviewed a list of items that have been identified as potential uses of ARPA funds. If the federal
government decides to recoup unspent ARPA funds, the Council may need to call a special meeting to
designate where to spend the funds before June 1. Otherwise, funding must be spent by December 2024.
The Council agreed that the Zamboni should be purchased using the Multipurpose Facility budget.
Mr. Portner discussed moving all security cameras out of individual budgets into the IT budget.
Mayor Dietz was in favor of using remaining ARPA funds to pay toward the fire ladder truck that will be
delivered in a few years. Mr. Portner will consult with the city attorney if this expenditure is legal.
Goal Setting
Mr. Portner asked if the Council had any additional goals to add and finalized the list.
Short-term (2022-23)
■ Commercial Development
■ Budget and sinking fund for building repair.
o Transition PW Facility bond to general levy
o Move GRE Fund Balance to Building Fund
■ Zoning & Acquisition of "challenged" properties policy discussion.
■ Improve Broadband Connectivity
■ Downtown asset evaluation and rejuvenation plan
■ Review Crosswalk policy
■ Furniture and Things Community Event Center fully staffed and financially self-
sustaining
Mid-term (2027)
■ Budget Plan — Post Waste Management
■ Acquire business park land.
o Assist developers with private acquisition as needed
P a N E R E 0 O r
NATURE
City Council Minutes
May 8, 2023
Page 4
■ Commercial development
o HRA Main/Gates Project
o Market EDA TH10 Property
o CRT Zoning district
(Short or mid) understand obligations for landfill once it is capped
• Oak Knoll/Hale's Field improvement
■ Parks and Rec app — directions, ads, amenities, park features
■ Improve Broadband Connectivity
■ Communitywide Strategic Planning
Long-term (2032)
■ Urban Service Area expansion
■ C/I development
' Analysis of what to do with garbage once Elk River Landfill closes in 2028
■ Development of Specht property in eastern Elk River
■ Trail connections
■ Pedestrian Trail Connection downtown over the railroad and Highway 10
■ More retail development in western Elk River
■ Riverwalk from Orono Park to City of Ramsey
Highway 10 safety and mobility improvements 165' Ave to Jarvis St
Mr. Portner will bring the goals back on a future agenda for review and acceptance.
3. Motion to Adjourn
Moved by Councilmember Grupa and seconded by Councilmember Westgaard to adjourn the
meeting of City Council. Motion carried 5-0.
The meeting adjourned at 7:21 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Katie Porath.
Tina Allard, City Clerk
P 0 0 E a i I 1 1
NATURE