09-02-2025 CCMMeeting of the City Council
Held at the Elk River City Hall
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Members Present:Mayor John Dietz, Councilmember Cory Grupa, Councilmember J. Brian Calva,
Councilmember Mike Beyer, Councilmember Jennifer Wagner
Members Absent:None
Staff Present:City Administrator Cal Portner, Business Services Director/Assistant City
Administrator Joe Stremcha, Police Chief David Kuhnly, Police Captain Darren
McKernan, Police Captain Joe Gacke and City Clerk Tina Allard
1.CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting was called to order at 6:30 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 5-0.
4.CONSENT AGENDA
Moved by Councilmember Calva and seconded by Councilmember Grupa to approve the
following consent items as outlined in their respective staff reports. Motion Carried 5-0.
4.1August 18, 2025, Minutes
4.2Check Register
4.3Resolution 25-45 approving Joint Powers Agreement between the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal
Apprehension and the City of Elk River Prosecutor's Office, Agreements 25-18 and 25-19.
4.4Agreement 25-20 approving Joint Powers Agreement for Traffic Safety Vehicle Program Among
the Cities of Elk River, Big Lake, Becker, and the County of Sherburne.
4.5Severance Agreement and Waiver of Claims
City Council MinutesPage 2 of 4
September 2, 2025
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4.6Approve Sale of Temporary and Permanent Easement to Sherburne County, Minnesota
4.7Agreement 25-21: Accept Quote for Dredging of Municipal Pond
4.8Temporary On-Sale Liquor License: Davis-Darrow-Meyer American Legion Post 112
4.9Employee Termination
5.OPEN FORUM
No one appeared for open forum.
6.PRESENTATIONS, AWARDS, AND RECOGNITION
7.PUBLIC HEARINGS
There were no public hearings.
8.GENERAL BUSINESS
8.1Discuss Work Session Items
Mayor Dietz questioned when the discussion about fire station funding would occur. Mr. Portner stated
either September 15 or October 6.
8.2Public Safety Aid for Community Engagement Items
The staff report was presented.
Moved by Councilmember Calva and seconded by Councilmember Grupa to approve the
use of Public Safety Aid to purchase community engagement items. Motion Carried 5-0.
9.COUNCIL LIAISON UPDATES
9.1Council Liaison Updates
The Councilmembers provided updates as outlined in the respective advisory board's minutes.
10.MOTION TO ADJOURN
Moved by Councilmember Beyer and seconded by Councilmember Wagner to adjourn
the meeting of City Council. Motion Carried 5-0.
The meeting adjourned at 6:39 p.m.
11.WORK SESSION
City Council MinutesPage 3 of 4
September 2, 2025
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11.12026 Budget Discussion
Mayor Dietz provided a handout of his budget cut recommendations. He noted the following:
Take $450,000 from the liquor store fund instead of $850,000.
Take $200,000 from the General Fund Reserve, which will still leave it at 41–42%.
$250,000 in budget cuts in employee-requested positions.
$200,000 in items that can be prepaid in 2025. He further stated he could not find many items
to prepay.
He noted that, even with all these suggested changes, the city would still be at a 5.4% budget increase.
He was hoping for a levy increase of about 4%.
Councilmember Wagner concurred with not adding positions. She was hoping we could prepay more
than $200,000 of any one-time purchases from the 2025 budget. She noted a significant amount of new
software and technology being requested and asked if all had to be implemented this year.
The Council asked for a chart listing software charges. Mr. Portner stated it may be difficult to
complete before the next budget meeting. Councilmember Grupa stated that he is not in favor of any
new technology if the Council can't have the data to make an informed decision.
Councilmember Beyer stated he would like to revisit the liquor store fund balance year-over-year.
Councilmember Wagner questioned the purchase of the Celebrate software and whether staff could
work with the county to get the cell phone data needed in less than 72 hours.
Mr. Portner explained the proposed personnel changes. He noted the added accountant cost will be
partially offset by moving the parks and rec admin/finance assistant out of the General Fund and to the
Liquor Fund to handle liquor invoices. He stated the fire administration assistant is being hired as a part-
time employee, which would offset some of the cost of the new fire position. The Council asked for
updated data on these positions.
The Council concurred with scheduling a special budget meeting for September 15 at 4:00 p.m.
The Council concurred that a 4 % levy increase would be the goal.
Councilmember Beyer asked Mr. Portner to provide options to reduce the budget to get to 4%.
Moved by Councilmember Wagner and seconded by Councilmember Beyer to adjourn
the meeting of City Council. Motion Carried 5-0.
The meeting adjourned at 7:06 p.m.
Minutes prepared by City Clerk Tina Allard.
City Council MinutesPage 4 of 4
September 2, 2025
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John J. Dietz, MayorTina Allard, City Clerk