4.1 DRAFT MINUTES (1 SET) 02-05-2024
Meeting of the Elk River City Council
Held at the Elk River City Hall
Tuesday, January16, 2024
Members Present: Mayor John Dietz, Councilmembers Cory Grupa, Mike Beyer, Matt Westgaard, and
Jennifer Wagner
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: City Administrator Calvin Portner, Community Development Director Zack Carlton,
Senior Planner Chris Leeseberg, and Deputy City Clerk Jolene Richter
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 6:34 p.m. by Mayor Dietz.
2. Pledge of Allegiance:
Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
3. Consider Agenda
Moved by Councilmember Westgard and seconded by Councilmember Beyer to approve the
agenda. Motion carried 5-0.
4. Consent Agenda
Moved by Councilmember Wagner and seconded by Councilmember Grupa to approve:
4.1 December 18, 2023, Regular Meeting Minutes.
January 2, 2024, Regular Meeting Minutes.
4.2 Check register as outlined in the staff report.
4.3 Pay Estimates as outlined in the staff report.
4.4 Resolution 24-04 approving the plat of Mattson Estates.
4.5 The Development Agreement for Bradford Park.
4.6 The hauler license applications for 2024, as outlined in the staff report.
4.7 Resolution 24-05 acknowledging contributions by The Bank of Elk River and the
contract with The Bank of Elk River.
4.8 The amended Resolution 23-62 adopting the 2024 Compensation Plan for Non-
Organized Employees.
4.9 Holiday leave policies for holiday benefit-earning liquor store and Furniture and
Things Community Event Center employees and holiday pay for non-holiday benefit-
eligible part-time, seasonal, or temporary employees, as outlined in the staff report.
4.10 Resolution 24-06 agreeing to the solicitation for Active Transportation (AT) funding
for the County Road 44 trail segment between Highway 10 and CSAH 1.
4.11 The 2024 Park Maintenance Division equipment replacement purchases as scheduled
in the Capital Improvement Plan.
Motion carried 5-0.
5. Open Forum
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January 16, 2024
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No one appeared for Open Forum.
6.1 Multipurpose Facility Advisory Commission Interviews
The Council interviewed applicants for the Multipurpose Facility Advisory Commission.
6.2 City of Elk River Volunteer of the Month – December
Mayor Dietz presented the December Volunteer of the Month award to Chris Castagneri. He
highlighted the following:
Started on the Board of Directors of Three Rivers Montessori School when work began to
open the school in 2017. Put in countless hours to get the school up and running, bringing the
project to fruition against all odds. Her efforts have led to the success of the Three Rivers
Montessori School.
Member of Elk River Rotary Club.
Arts Alliance Board member.
Member of the Elk River Chamber of Commerce and past president.
6.3 City of Elk River Volunteer of the Month - January
Mayor Dietz presented the January Volunteer of the Month award to Lucas Dahlberg. He highlighted
the following:
Volunteered 500 hours in 2022 running graphics on the video board at the Furniture and
Things Community Event Center.
Director of Event Productions for Elk River hockey and football games and Minnesota
Squatch games.
Worked the video boards at the Furniture and Things Community Event Center for section
championship hockey games.
His experience may lead to more Elk River High School students getting to work with
gameday event production.
Officially became an employee of the Furniture and Things Community Event Center in
January 2023.
Has an amazing knowledge of event graphics and video boards.
7.1 Conditional Use Permit: McDonalds Signage
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.
Mayor Dietz asked what height the current sign is. Mr. Carlton answered 30 feet.
Councilmember Wagner asked if there will be amenity signs placed after construction. Mr. Carlton
said that the individual businesses would work with MnDOT for the amenity signs.
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January 16, 2024
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Mayor Dietz stated he would like to help the businesses to initiate the amenity signs for the
businesses.
Councilmember Wagner asked how the Planning Commission voted. Mr. Carlton answered they
voted 3-2. Councilmember Wagner then asked if they could have some context on the opposed votes.
Tony Mauren was in attendance from the Planning Commission and explained the Planning
Commission's perspective. Mr. Mauren stated that there was not any discussion from the two that
opposed. The main concern of the commission was how it would impact the residents near the
businesses who didn’t want bright lights from the signs shining into their living rooms.
Councilmember Westgaard stated he would agree with the Planning Commission to be careful about
having a lot of signs that go to 60 ft in the air from a residential perspective but would support a 40 ft
request based on the studies done.
Councilmember Beyer and Councilmember Wagner agreed.
Councilmember Grupa expressed he is concerned about the residents and thinks the 35 ft height is
plenty if the amenity signs are in place to let people know when to exit.
Moved by Councilmember Wagner and seconded by Councilmember Beyer to approve the
Conditional Use Permit amending the Planned Unit Development Agreement for Barrington
Place and allowing freestanding signs up to 40-feet tall. Motion carried 4-1. Councilmember
Grupa opposed.
7.2 Ordinance Amendment: Section 30-860, Sign Permit Requirements; and Section 30-
879, Sign Standards for Multi-family Buildings
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.
Moved by Councilmember Westgaard and seconded by Councilmember Grupa to adopt
Ordinance 24-03 amending Section, 30-860, Permit. Motion carried 5-0.
Moved by Councilmember Westgaard and seconded by Councilmember Grupa to adopt
Ordinance 24-04 amending Section, 30-879, Residential Districts. Motion carried 5-0.
7.3 Ordinance Amendment: Planned Unit Development Procedures
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.
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January 16, 2024
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Moved by Councilmember Beyer and seconded by Councilmember Wagner to adopt
Ordinance 24-05 changing the review process for Planned Unit Developments (PUDs) from a
Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to an Ordinance Amendment. Motion carried 5-0.
Moved by Councilmember Grupa and seconded by Councilmember Westgaard to adopt
Resolution 24-07 approving summary publication of Ordinance 24-05, Planned Unit
Development procedures. Motion carried 5-0.
7.4 Ordinance Amendment: Cannabis Cultivation Allowable Zoning Locations
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.
Moved by Councilmember Westgaard and seconded by Councilmember Wagner to adopt
Ordinance 24-06 defining and permitting cannabis cultivation. Motion carried 5-0.
8. Elk River Youth Hockey Rink Agreement
Mr. Portner presented the staff report.
Councilmember Wagner asked if all non-school time ice hours had been rented. Mr. Dalton answered
yes, they take any available hours that we have available for them. He stated that they are not losing
any ice rental time.
Moved by Councilmember Grupa and seconded by Councilmember Westgaard to approve an
agreement with the Elk River Youth Hockey Association for placement and services of an
outdoor hockey rink adjacent to the Furniture and Things Community Event Center. Motion
carried 5-0.
9. Adjourn Regular Meeting
Moved by Councilmember Westgaard and seconded by Councilmember Beyer to adjourn the
regular meeting of the City Council. Motion carried 5-0.
The regular meeting adjourned at 7:18 p.m. Mayor Dietz called the work session to order at 7:18 p.m.
10.1 Use and Sale of City Owned Property
Mr. Carlton presented the staff report.
The Council discussed the situation of Outlot A, Elk Ridge Estates, as outlined in the staff report.
Daniel Krueger, 18682 Queen Circle NW, stated the court trial between him and Wapiti is
scheduled in March. He asked if the city could delay the code enforcement case until after the court
case with Wapiti is completed.
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January 16, 2024
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Mayor Dietz asked the city attorney what the ramifications would be if the city did not take any action
at this point and left the gravel where it was and asked if it would have any effect on anything. The
city attorney stated it would not have any effect on anything to leave the gravel where it is since it is
city property.
The Council agreed to delay any code enforcement issues until the legal portion is completed and Mr.
Krueger will contact staff at that time.
10.2 Mississippi Road Trail Update
Mr. Wisner presented the staff report.
The Council discussed the Mississippi Road Trail based on the current design and directed staff to
move forward with the design.
11. Motion to Adjourn
Moved by Councilmember Wagner and seconded by Councilmember Grupa to adjourn the
meeting of the City Council. Motion carried 5-0.
The meeting adjourned at 7:36 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Jolene Richter.
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John J. Dietz, Mayor
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Tina Allard, City Clerk