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01-08-1996 CC MINMEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL MONDAY, JANUARY 8, 1996 Members Present: Members Absent: Staff Present: Mayor Duitsman, Councilmembers Diet'z, Scheel, Farber, and Holmgren None Pat Klaers, City Administrator: Sandra Thackeray, City Clerk: Bill Rubin, Economic Development Coordinator: Kendra Lindahl, Zoning Assis',ant: Steve Rohlf, Building and Zoning Administrator o 4.1. Call Meetinq To Order Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River City Council was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Mayor Duitsman. Consider Council A,qenc!a Item 6.10., Railroad Trail ISTEA Grant Application, was added to the agenda. Item 4.1., December 18 City Council minutes were pulled from the consent agenda. COUNClLMEMBER FARBER MOVED TO APPROVE THE JANUARY 8, 1996, CiTY COUNCIL AGENDA AS AMENDED. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. ..Consider Consent A.qenda COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM 4.1., DECEMBER 18 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES AS FOLLOWS: 4.2. 5.1. 5.2. 5.3. DECEMBER 21, 1995, CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -- APPROVED RESOLUTION 96-1, DESIGNATING DEPOSITORIES OF CITY FUNDS -- APPROVED DESIGNATION OF STAR NEWS AS OFFICIAL CITY NEWSPAPER FOR 1996 -- APPROVED APPOINTMENT OF PHIL HALS AS ASSISTANT CITY WEED INSPECTOR -- APPROVED CHECK REGISTER -- APPROVED COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. December 18, 1995, City Council Minutes Councilmember Holmgren requested that the following be added to Item 7.4.; "with the stipulation that the semi-trailer parked along Freepod' Avenue be immediately removed from the site." Elk River City Council Meeting January 8, 1996 Page 2 COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO APPROVE THE DECEMBER 18, 199,~, CITY COUNCIL MINUTES AS AMENDED. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5.4. Consider Appointment of Refuse Appeal Board Representatives Zoning Assistant Kendra Lindahl indicated that both citizen appointments and Coun¢ilmember appointments have expired for the Refuse Appeal Board. She suggested that the City Council abolish the Refuse Appeal Board as no meetings have been held for two years. Kendra Lindahl further suggested that appeals be handled at staff level with the stipulation that citizens be allowed to appeal staff's decision to the City Council. 5.5. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO ABOLISH THE REFUSE APPEAL BOARD. COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. Appointment of Vice Mayor The City Clerk indicated that as part, of the annual business meeting, the Council is required to appoint a Vice Mayor to preside in the absence of the Mayor. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER MOVED TO APPOINT COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN AS VICE MAYOR. COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0-1. Councilrnember Holmgren abstained. 6.1. 6.2. 6.3. Consider Source for Non-Federal Share of Mississippi Riverfront Pathway Proje~;t Cos_._3~ Consider A Grant A~)plication Requestinq ISTEA Funds IMississippi Riverfronl ,,Pathway Project) Consider A Resolution in Support of the ISTEA Grant Application Economic Development Coordinator Bill Rubin explained that the Council will be asked to consider the following three matters concerning the ISTEA Grant Application relating the Mississippi Riverfront Pathway Project: · Sources for the non-federal share of the project cost. · A presentation by Hoisington Koegler Group concerning the contents of the ISTEA Grant application. · A Resolution of Support of the ISTEA Grant Application. Bill Rubin introduced Bruce Chamberlain of the Hoisington Koegler Group, who reviewed the components of the project in relation to the ISTEA Grant. He oxplained that the project can best be desclibed as an interpretative riverwalk depicting the historical transportation systems of early pioneer trade. He further stated that the Elk River interpretive riverwalk will be described as a component of the larger riverfront project. Mr. Chamberlain reviewed the elements of the grant. He further indicated that the city is requesting a grant in the anqount of $200,000 with the city's share of .$120,003. Mr. Chamberlain indicated that he feels the project has the potential for being funded. The Council indicated its concern regarding the city's share of the grant and also regarding the source of funds for the balance of the project. Elk River City Council Meeting Page 3 January 8, 1996 Jim Tralle, Utilities Commission representative and Riverwalk Committee Chair, indicated that he felt a good portion of the proiect costs would be funded by sources other than the city sUch a~ the U~i!ities, charitable gambling funds, grants, etc. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 9~,-2, A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FROM THE CITY OF ELK RIVER CONCERNING ITS SPONSORSHIP OF AN INTERMODAL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION EFFICIENCY ACT (ISTEA) GRANT FOR A TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT PROJECT. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. Roger Holmgren spoke about the need to help the downtown area become revitalized. Councilmember Dietz indicated that the City Council's intention is to commit only to the $120,000 for the grant money at this time. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 6.4, Interview Applicant for Library Board and Consider Appointment The City Clerk indicated that there is currently a vacancy on the Library Board. She stated that Marsha O'Brien's term expired on December 31, 1995, and that Marsha did not wish to be reappointed. The City Clerk indicated that the city has received one application from Eleanor Holm for the vacancy on the Library Board. The City Council interviewed Eleanor Holm at this time. 6.5. COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ MOVED TO APPOINT ELEANOR HOLM TO THE LIBRARY BOARD FOR A THREE YEAR TERM EXPIRING ON DECEMBER 31, 1998. COUNCILMEMBER SCHEEL SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. Discuss City Policy on Public Hearin.q Times The City Council discussed the possibility' of changing public hearing times from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. in order to allow more flexibility for scheduling items at City Council meetings. The City Administrator indicated that a majority of the public hearings would be held at or near 7 p.m., however, setting the public hearing time for the beginning of the Council meeting would allow the Council and staff flexibility in scheduling items on the agenda. Councilmember Scheel indicated that she is riot in favor of moving the time from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. She indicated that it is the city's job to satisfy the public. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER MOVED TO SCHEDULE ALL PUBLIC HEARINGS TO COINCIDE WITH THE BEGINNING TIME OF CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-1. Councilmember Scheel opposed. 6.6. Request for Final Plat Approval, Weatherwood Subdivision - P 95-1 Elk River City Council Meeting January 8, 1996 6.7. Page 4 City Planner Steve Ach indicated that some issues regarding the final plat approval for the Weafherwood subdivision have not been resolved. He suggested that the Council postpone action on this item until January 16. COUNClLMEMBER FARBER MOVED TO POSTPONE ACTION ON THIS ITEM UNTIL THE JANUARY 16, 1776, CITY COUNCIL MEETING, COUNClL~EMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0, Review Guest List for Appreciation Dinner The City Clerk requested the Council to review the guest list that was prepared for the Volunteer Recognition Program. She also requested the City Council to consider allowing staff representatives to attend the dinner in order to show their appreciation to the volunteers. The Council reviewed the list and suggested that Rich Czech be added to the list under the Ice Arena Task Force. 6.8. COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ MOVED TO ALLOW STAFF MEMBERS LISTED IN THE MEMO TO A'n'END THE APPRECIATION DINNER ON FEBRUARY 13. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. Review January throuqh March Meetin.q SchedUlo The City Council reviewed the meeting schedule for January through March. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO CALL A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL ON JANUARY 15 AT $ P.M. TO DISCUSS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR 1996. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5- 0. It was the consensus of the City Council to request the City Administrator to see if the School Board would be available for a joint meeting on January 29. If was the consensus of the Council to have the City Administrator check to see if the County Board would be available for a joint meeting on March 19. It was the consensus of the City Council to tentatively schedule the transportation plan hearing for March 12. 6.9. Request to Proceed with City Initiated Rezonin,qs City Planner Steve Ach indicated that the first steps that need to be taken to implement the portions of the Comprehensive Plan that was recently adopted is to initiate rezonings of selected properties to comply with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan map. Steve Ach indicated that staff has identified six areas fo be considered by the Planning Commission and City Council. Steve Ach reviewed these areas with the City Council. COLINCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO DIRECT STAFF TO PROCEED WITH THE REZONING APPLICATIONS OF SELECTED PARCELS IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN MAP. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. Elk River City Council Meeting January' 8, 1996 Page 5 6.10. ISTEA Grant for Railroad Trail The City Administrator indicated that the Street/Park Superintendent is requesting a Council resolution in support of an ISTEA Grant application for improvements to the railroad trail and connecting side trails. He indicated that the total cost estimate for the improvements is $219,000 with the grant covering $148,250 of those costs. He indicated that the city's $70,750 share of the cost would be provided in labor and equipment. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 96-3, A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE 1996 FEDERAL ISTEA GRANT APPLICATION. COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 8. Other Business There was no other business. 9. Staff Updates There were no staff updates. 10. Adjournment There being no further business, COUNCILMEMBER FARBER MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. COUNCILMEMBER SCHEEL SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. The meeting of the Elk River City Council was adjourned at 6:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Sandra Thackeray City Clerk