3.0. - 7.0. SR 03-07-1994
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MEMORANDUM:
TO:
MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL
FROM:
PAT KLAERS, CITY ADMINISTRATOR
FEBRUARY 16, 1994
SUBJECT: 317/94 JOINT COUNCIL/COUNTY
BOARD MEETING AGENDA
DATE:
County Coordinator Dave Loch and I have met and developed a list of topics
to be discussed at the 317/94 City/County meeting. This tentative agenda
includes the following:
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1. Sherburne County MSA Designation.
2. County ditches within the City of Elk River
3. Implementation of the State Wetlands Law
4. Transportation - Long range transportation plans and improvement
projects scheduled in the next few years.
5. Status of the fairgrounds (see attachment)
6. Discussion on the future needs of the Government Center.
7. Library System.
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P.O. Box 490 · 13065 Orono Parkway · Elk River, MN 55330 · (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425
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MEMORANDUM
TO:
MAYOR & CITY COU~CIL
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PAT KLAERS, C 'IT~/~STRATOR
MARCH 4, 1994
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT: JOINT MEETING
A joint meeting of the City Council and Sherburne County Board is scheduled
for 6:30 p.m., Monday, March 7, 1994. Most of the agenda items have
previously been discussed at joint City and County meetings in 1992 and
1993. The agenda calls for discussion to continue on these issues that are of
mutual concern to the City and the County.
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3.
Ditches Within the City Limits
Mayor Duitsman and Building and Zoning Administrator Steve Rohlf
are two of the City representatives on a City Committee to evaluate
the County ditch system in Elk River. Commissioner Engstrom and
County Coordinator David Loch are two County representatives that
are appointed to a similar County Committee. These four individuals
plus others have had at least one meeting to discuss the County ditch
system in the City of Elk River. One issue that has been discussed is
the City taking over responsibility for the ditches within our City
limits. Some of the rationale for this takeover includes our work
currently being undertaken around Ditch #10 and the Highway
1011169/10 project. Another rationale for this takeover is that the City
is considering a city-wide fee structure to finance storm drainage
improvements. If this city-wide fee is implemented, it would be
redundant to have the County also do drainage improvements to the
ditch system and assess these costs out to Elk River property owners.
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A number of issues need to be resolved before any exchange of
responsibility takes place. These issues may include an evaluation of
how the existing ditch system is functioning, an identification of
necessary repairs and the cost of this work, and an accurate legal
P.O. Box 490 · 13065 Orono Parkway · Elk River, MN 55330 · (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425
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description and/or map identifying the existing ditch systems. A few
years ago there was some improvements that took place to Ditch #28
on the west side of the City and it is anticipated that future
improvements to this ditch system will be necessary. The other ditch
in the City limits is Ditch #31 which runs through the City park and
golf course.
4.
WETLANDS
A new state law has gone into effect regarding the management of
wetlands. The County is the regulatory local governmental unit (LGU)
for most of the County as it relates to forcing this wetlands law. The
City has assumed the responsibility as the LGU within our City limits
for the management of the City's wetlands. This is more of an update
item than anything else. Steve Rohlf, Building and Zoning
Administrator, is the individual in charge of the wetlands in Elk River
and he should be able to provide an update on this issue at this
meeting.
5.
TRANSPORTATION
There are long range plans and short range construction projects that
need to be reviewed. First, the City is anticipating that County Road
#1 will be upgraded by the County from where the 1991-92
improvements ended near the daycare and public maintenance garage,
all the way to County Road #32 at the north end of the golf course. We
anticipate that this project will happen in stages with the southern
stage happening in 1995 and the northern stage happening in 1996.
At least the southern stage will have to be built to urban standards.
The City has recently passed a resolution authorizing the City
Engineer to take the lead in this project and to manage the project
much like the City did with the Proctor Avenue improvements. This
project still needs to be approved by the County before funding can be
allocated to this improvement.
Regarding long term needs, it is anticipated that when future road
corridors are developed in Elk River, these corridors will perform a
regional or County function and not a City or local function. Likewise,
as the community grows, it is anticipated that some existing County
roads will serve more of a local function than a County function. In
this regard, it seems that an exchange of transportation routes should
take place so that the appropriate road can be under the responsibility
of the appropriate governmental agency. At this time, if a consensus of
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the City Council and County Board can be achieved on this general
approach to transportation within the City, then the staffs will put
together a proposal for the City and County review. It is not necessary
at this meeting to determine which roads are most appropriate to be
transferred to the other agency. Many other issues including the costs
for new roads and the upgrading or maintenance expenses for existing
roads needs to be looked at so that a fair economical exchange can also
take place.
7.
FAIRGROUNDS
A memo from Dave Loch to the County Fair Board on this topic has
previously been distributed to the City Council and is again attached
for your review. I believe the County will take the lead in this
discussion and review with the City the future plans for the
fairgrounds.
As the City Council is aware, improvements are scheduled in the near
future around the fairgrounds property. A preliminary plat for
residential development south of the fairgrounds is scheduled to go
before the City Council in March. This residential development will
also involve the extension of roads and utilities and assessments to
benefited property owners.
8.
GOVERNMENT CENTER
I believe the County will take the lead on this topic and will discuss
the future needs of the Government Center. One issue that has
previously been discussed relates to the transportation routes on the
western side of the City. I understand the County does not desire a
road to go through the southern edge of their existing Government
Center property which is what the long range plans of the City
indicates. These plans could be adjusted by the City, but we then need
access to the existing County frontage road (and Highway 10) if the
other access is deleted from our plans. This road corridor issue is
important if the County is pursuing land south of their existing
property.
Also, the County may discuss with the City the need for municipal
serVIces.
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9.
LIBRARY SYSTEM
I understand that the County will take the lead in the discussion on
this issue. The County and Wright County have had discussions
regarding the future of the Regional Library System and the finances
for the Regional Library System. There are some changes that are
possible in how the region receives its revenues to finance the Library
System and these changes may have an effect on local taxes.