10-21-2024 CCMCity of
Elk
River
Members Present:
Members Absent:
Meeting of the City Council
Held at the Elk River City Hall
Monday, October 21, 2024
Mayor John Dietz, Councilmember Jennifer Wagner, Councilmember Mike Beyer,
Councilmember Matt Westgaard, Councilmember Cory Grupa
None
Staff Present: City Administrator Cal Portner, Human Resources Manager Lauren Wipper,
Public Works Director/Chief Engineer Justin Femrite, Liquor Operations Manager
Joe Audette, Northbound Liquor Store Manager Megan Knopik, and Records
Specialist Katie Porath
I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
3. CONSIDER AGENDA
Moved by Councilmember Westgaard and seconded by Councilmember Wagner to
approve the agenda. Motion Carried 5-0.
4. CONSENT AGENDA
Moved by Councilmember Grupa and seconded by Councilmember Beyer to approve the
following consent items as outlined in their respective staff reports. Motion Carried 5-0.
4.1 October 7, 2024, Minutes
4.2 Check Register
4.3 Pay Estimates
4.4 Hire Paid On -Call Firefighters
4.5 Hire Police Chief: David Kuhnly
City Council Minutes
October 21, 2024
4.6 Hire Street Maintenance Operator: Jerrod Lobdell
4.7 Update Job Descriptions
4.8 Update Finance Policy
4.9 FT Center MOU with ISD 728
Page 2 of 5
4.10 Resolution 24-61 Acknowledging Contributions and Utilizing Items for Liquor Marketing
Promotions
4.11 Severance Agreement and Waiver of Claims: Sevcik
4.12 Severance Agreement and Waiver of Claims: Fischer
4.13 Resolution 24-62: Platted Exemption Meadowsweet Hills
4.14 Resolution 24-63: Final Plat Bradford Park Second Addition
5. OPEN FORUM
No one appeared for Open Forum.
6. PRESENTATIONS, AWARDS, AND RECOGNITION
6.1 City of Elk River Volunteer of the Month
Mayor Dietz presented the October Volunteer of the Month award to Diane Peters. He highlighted the
following:
■ Has worked at Elk River Lions events, including pancake breakfasts, Sherburne County Fair food
booth, and Zimmerman Wild West Days' beer tent.
■ Chair of the Guardian Angels Style show and has served on the Gala committee for over a
decade.
■ Started Guardian Angels golf tournament and acts as chair for the fudge sale.
■ Member of Friends of Guardian Angels Care Center.
■ Chair of Word of Peace Lutheran Church gala and also serves on the building committee team.
■ Team member of Word of Peace Lutheran Church yearly Community Corn Feed.
■ Serves on her church's stewardship committee and has acted as chair of the rose sale.
City Council Minutes
October 21, 2024
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS
There were no public hearings.
8. GENERAL BUSINESS
There was no general business.
9. MOTION TO ADJOURN REGULAR MEETING
Page 3 of 5
Moved by Councilmember Beyer and seconded by Councilmember Wagner to adjourn the meeting of
City Council. Motion Carried 5-0.
The regular meeting adjourned at 6:03 p.m. Mayor Dietz called the work session to order at 6:06 p.m.
10. WORK SESSION —UPPER TOWN CONFERENCE ROOM
10.1 MNDOT Highway 10 Access Discussion
Tod Sherman, MnDOT Planning Director, was present to answer questions. He discussed plans
for including Reduced Conflict Intersections including "J-turns."
The Council discussed their desire to find a safe access point for the Plants and Things Recreation
Complex, commercial and industrial truck traffic, and future housing developments along the Highway
10 corridor.
Councilmember Westgaard commented that it is nearly impossible for trucks to access Highway 10
going eastbound and the reduction of signals along Highway 10 has removed any breaks in traffic where
vehicles could have previously merged or turned.
Mr. Sherman stated that MnDOT's goal for Highway 10 is to increase mobility.
Councilmember Wagner expressed her concern that removing signals from Highway 10 would divert
traffic away from small businesses in downtown Elk River. She added that many inexperienced teen
drivers are in that area due to the athletic fields. Councilmember Beyer added that there are plans to
expand the athletic fields area, which would further increase traffic.
The Council asked if MnDOT would consider an acceleration lane heading westbound near the
proposed Specht Family Farm development area for resident traffic to get up to speed on Highway 10.
Councilmember Westgaard added that it is hard to see the final effects of traffic patterns on Highway
10 until Highway 169 is completed.
The Council agreed that they would have to wait until the Traffic Impact Study was completed to have
further discussion. They invited Mr. Sherman to return and discuss additional solutions once the study
had been received. The study may take six months.
Steve, representing Capstone Homes, asked Mr. Sherman about the potential for funding if signals
were needed. Mr. Sherman stated there may be some federal dollars depending on the impact on safety.
City Council Minutes
October 21, 2024
10.2 Northbound Liquor Store Clerk Position
Page 4of5
The Council asked about the current mix of part-time and full-time employees at Northbound Liquor.
Ms. Knopik stated that there are three full-time employees and nine part-time employees. She added
that it is a challenge to schedule part-time employees and would like to have one additional full-time
employee. Adding a full-time employee would reduce the number of hours needed to be filled by part-
time employees.
Mr. Audette stated that the request was for Northbound Liquor. Westbound Liquor said they did not
need additional staff.
The Council asked Mr. Audette to research the financial impact of adding a full-time employee and give
the information to Mr. Portner.
10.3 Council Chambers Security Measures
Mr. Portner asked the Council for direction on council chamber security measures.
Councilmember Wagner stated she was concerned with her location in the council chambers being so
far from an exit. She also stated she feels more comfortable when there is an officer present. She stated
she didn't really want to sit behind bulletproof plexiglass.
Mayor Dietz asked Mr. Portner if he could check with other cities on their security measures. He asked
if any other cities have police officers at their meetings.
11. CLOSED MEETING - LELS 271
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the closed meeting was called to order at 7:10 PM.
Council Present: Mayor John Dietz, Councilmembers Cory Grupa, Matt Westgaard, Mike
Beyer, and Jennifer Wagner
Staff Present: Human Resources Manager Lauren Wipper, City Administrator Cal
Portner, and Records Specialist Katie Porath
1 1.1 Statement to be read by the Mayor:
"The City Council will be closing the meeting pursuant to MN Statute Section 13D.03, Subdivision
I (b). The Council will discuss the city's labor negotiation strategy related to the city's negotiations
with the Police Sergeants Union, LELS 271."
The mayor read the statement.
11.2 Motion Calling Closed Meeting
11.3 Hold Closed Meeting
City Council Minutes
October 21, 2024
Page 5 of 5
The mayor stated the City Council will be holding a closed meeting pursuant to MN Statute Section
13D.03, Subdivision I (b) to discuss the city's labor negotiation strategy related to the city's negotiations
with the Police Sergeants Union, LELS 271.
The Closed Meeting adjourned at 7:31 PM.
12. MOTION TO ADJOURN
Moved by Councilmember Westgaard and seconded by Councilmember Beyer to adjourn
the meeting of City Council. Motion Carried 5-0.
The meeting adjourned at 7:31 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Katie Porath.
13. INFORMATION
13.1 September Financial Report
13.2 Investment Report - 3rd Quarter
Jahn J. Dietz, Mayor
Tina Allard, City Clerk