08-18-2025 CCMMeeting of the City Council
Held at the Elk River City Hall
Monday, August 18, 2025
Members Present:Acting Mayor Cory Grupa, Councilmembers J. Brian Calva, Mike Beyer, and
Jennifer Wagner
Members Absent:Mayor John Dietz (due to Elk River Municipal Utilities Conference)
Staff Present:City Administrator Cal Portner, City Attorney Jared Shepherd, Senior Planner
Chris Leeseberg, Business Services Director/Assistant City Administrator Joe
Stremcha, Community Development Director Zack Carlton, Senior
Communications Coordinator Starr Sorheim, Engineering Project Manager Ryan
Sandhoefner, FT Center Manager Katie Harstad, FT Center Assistant Manager
Jennifer Katke, and City Clerk Tina Allard
1.CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m.
2.PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
3.CONSIDER AGENDA
Moved by Councilmember Wagner and seconded by Councilmember Beyer to approve
the agenda. Motion Carried 4-0.
4.CONSENT AGENDA
Moved by Councilmember Beyer and seconded by Councilmember Wagner to approve
the following consent items as outlined in their respective staff reports. Motion Carried 4-
0.
4.1August 4, 2025, Minutes
4.2Check Register
4.3Hire Part-time Community Service Officer
4.4Hire Paid On-Call Firefighters
4.5Professional Engineering Services for the Downtown Reconstruction Project
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5.OPEN FORUM
No one appeared for open forum.
6.PRESENTATIONS, AWARDS, AND RECOGNITION
6.1Introduction of New Employee
Multimedia Specialist Amanda Plude discussed her background and thanked the Council for the
opportunity to work with the city.
6.2City of Elk River Volunteer of the Month
Acting Mayor Grupa presented the August Volunteer of the Month award to Katie Harstad. He
highlighted the following:
Chair of Taste of Elk River for Elk River Rotary Club
Marketing Chair for Otsego Lions Club
Park and Road clean up for Otsego Lions and Elk River Rotary
Named Chamber's Young Professional of the Year 2022
Volunteer for ISD 728 in various capacities
6.3Communications Awards
Ms. Sorheim highlighted the top awards received for two city communication initiatives: Highway 169
Ribbon Cutting and the Play My Way Campaign. She reviewed the projects and highlighted the team
members who made the projects a success.
7.PUBLIC HEARINGS
7.1Conditional Use Permit: Amend CU 23-02 to allow vehicle repair and storage, Skyline Motors and
Collision - 17242 Ulysses St NW
The staff report was presented.
Acting Mayor Grupa opened the public hearing. There being no one to speak to this matter, Acting
Mayor Grupa closed the public hearing.
Moved by Councilmember Wagner and seconded by Councilmember Beyer to approve
the Conditional Use Permit with the following conditions to satisfy the standards set forth
in Section 30-654:
1.A code analysis finding building code compliance for the areas approved for use
under this CUP shall be prepared by an appropriate registered professional.
2.Fencing shall be installed as shown on the Staff Site Plan dated 8-18-2025.
3.The parking lot shall be striped to city requirements for the stalls shown on the
Staff Site Plan dated 8-18-2025.
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4. Five signs shall be installed indicating “For Sale” vehicles as shown on the Staff Site
Plan dated 8-18-2025.
5.The Conditional Use Permit shall not be recorded until all conditions have been
completed.
6.The number of motor vehicle sales dealers shall be limited to one (1).
7. No more than 5 “for sale” vehicles may be displayed on the subject property.
8.All motor vehicle repairs, body work, or detailing shall only occur inside the
building.
9.Exterior doors shall be closed while any motor vehicle repair, body work, or
detailing occurs.
10.The damaged vehicle storage area shall be limited to the area identified on the Staff
Site Plan dated 8-18-2025.
11.Conditions 1-4 must be completed by October 15, 2025, or the CUP will be brought
to the City Council on November 3, 2025, to discuss revocation.
12.An amendment to this Conditional Use Permit (CUP) will be required for future
changes/additions not shown on the Staff Site Plan dated 8-18-2025.
13.Conditional Use Permit CU 23-02 shall become void.
Motion Carried 4-0.
7.2Interim Use Permit: Residential Occupation, Robert Kendrick - 11473 199th Ave NW
The staff report was presented.
Acting Mayor Grupa opened the public hearing. There being no one to speak to this matter, Acting
Mayor Grupa closed the public hearing.
Moved by Councilmember Beyer and seconded by Councilmember Calva to approve the
Interim Use Permit with the following conditions:
1.All openings to the accessory structure shall be closed when the business is in
operation.
2.There shall be no outdoor storage of any business products or equipment.
3.The building must meet all commercial building requirements.
4.There shall be no customers/retail sales on site.
5.The IUP will expire upon the sale of the property.
Motion Carried 4-0.
7.3Resolution 25-44: Land Use Amendment, Business Park (BP) to Mixed Residential (MR) - City of
Elk River
The staff report was presented.
Acting Mayor Grupa opened the public hearing. There being no one to speak to this matter, Acting
Mayor Grupa closed the public hearing.
Moved by Councilmember Beyer and seconded by Councilmember Calva to adopt
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Resolution 25-44 amending the Comprehensive Plan, changing the land use for certain
parcels from Highway Business to Mixed Residential. Motion Carried 4-0.
7.4Ordinance 25-13: Zone Change, Business Park (BP) to Highway Commercial (C3) and Single
Family Residential (R1c) - City of Elk River
The staff report was presented.
Acting Mayor Grupa opened the public hearing. There being no one to speak to this matter, Acting
Mayor Grupa closed the public hearing.
Moved by Councilmember Beyer and seconded by Councilmember Wagner to adopt
Ordinance 25-13 rezoning certain properties from Business Park (BP) to Highway
Commercial (C3) and Single Family Residential (R1c), as shown on the existing and
proposed exhibit. Motion Carried 4-0.
7.5Conditional Use Permit: Renewable Natural Gas Facility, Elk River Landfill/Waste Management -
22460 Highway 169
The staff report was presented.
Acting Mayor Grupa opened the public hearing. There being no one to speak to this matter, Acting
Mayor Grupa closed the public hearing.
The Council asked how long the site would produce gas and if there would be any odor. Mike Miller,
Senior District Manager - Waste Management, stated it would produce gas for 30 years after the site is
capped, and the odor would be minimal as this type of installation should harvest the gas to send and
sell it offsite.
Moved by Councilmember Wagner and seconded by Councilmember Beyer to approve
the Conditional Use Permit for a renewable natural gas processing facility on the Elk River
Landfill site, subject to the following conditions:
1. Waste Management must receive all required land use and zoning approvals from
Sherburne County for the portion of the operation within their jurisdiction.
2. Approval of the associated variance (V 25-10) approving a zero-foot lot line setback.
3. Any work within MnDOT right-of-way, including underground utility work, will require
additional permitting from the state.
4. Utility work within the city's right-of-way requires separate permitting and is in addition
to all commercial building permit requirements.
Motion Carried 4-0.
8.GENERAL BUSINESS
8.1Essential Services Facility: Renewable Natural Gas Operation, Minnesota Municipal Power Agency
- PID 75-00102-2000
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The staff report was presented.
Moved by Councilmember Calva and seconded by Councilmember Beyer to approve the
essential services facility proposed by the Minnesota Municipal Power Agency. Motion
Carried 4-0.
8.2Communications Policy and Procedure Updates
The staff report was presented. Ms. Sorheim discussed the Department of Justice's WCAG standards
for online accessibility, artificial intelligence, and First Amendment rights on social media.
Moved by Councilmember Wagner and seconded by Councilmember Beyer to accept the
Communications Policies and Procedures. Motion Carried 4-0.
8.3Agreement 25-17: FT Center Field House Naming Rights
The staff report was presented. Ms. Katke highlighted the sponsorship partnership with Rinks and Links
and introduced Sam Tukey.
The Council congratulated Rinks and Links on their new venture, noting it will be a positive program
for our community.
Moved by Councilmember Beyer and seconded by Councilmember Wagner to approve
Agreement 25-17 for Elk River Community Event Center Facility Field House Naming
Rights. Motion Carried 4-0.
9.MOTION TO ADJOURN REGULAR MEETING
Moved by Councilmember Wagner and seconded by Councilmember Beyer to adjourn
the meeting of City Council. Motion Carried 4-0.
The meeting adjourned at 6:44 p.m.
10.WORK SESSION
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting was called to order at 6:46 p.m.
10.1Traffic Control Configuration at 193rd/Evans and Elk Hills/Dodge
The staff report was presented.
The Council agreed that some type of improvement is needed at these intersections. Councilmember
Wagner stated it can be confusing for drivers to know when to move through a 3-way intersection
after all the traffic flows through from the non-sign-controlled direction. She stated she would be okay
with a roundabout at the Dodge Avenue intersection. Councilmember Calva expressed concerns about
the school season and how it may affect traffic patterns. Councilmember Grupa stated he is not a fan of
the 3-way intersection. The Council discussed the various options available and traffic pattern
scenarios.
The Council's consensus is to direct staff to provide data on roundabout costs and design options
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before making any other changes.
11.MOTION TO ADJOURN
Moved by Councilmember Calva and seconded by Councilmember Wagner to adjourn the
meeting of City Council. Motion Carried 4-0.
The meeting adjourned at 7:07 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Tina Allard.
12.INFORMATION
12.1Investment report - 2nd quarter
12.2June Financial Reports
12.3July Financial Reports
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John J. Dietz, MayorTina Allard, City Clerk