04-14-2008 CC MIN
MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL
HELD AT THE CITY OF ELK RIVER (UPPER TOWN CONFERENCE ROOM)
MONDA Y, APRIL 14, 2008
Members Present:
Mayor I<linzing, Councilmernbers Farber) ivIotin, and Zerwas
Members Absent:
Councilmember Gumphrey
Staff Present:
City Administrator Lori Johnson, Finance Director Tim Simon, Public
Works Director Terry l'vlaurer, Director of Economic Development
Catherine lVfehelich, Parks and Recreation Director Bill Maertz, Golf
COUIse Superintendent Paul Anderson, and City Clerk Tina Allard
Also Present:
Members of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority, the Sherburne
County Commission) and Sherburne County staff
1. Call Ivfeeting To Order
Pursuant to due call and notice thereo~ the meeting of the Elk River City Council and
Housing and Redevelopment Authority was called to order at 5:55 p.m. by Mayor Klinzing
and HRA Chair Stewart \V'ilson.
2~ Consider Council Agenda
Community Development Director Update was added to Other Business.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER FARBER AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED.
MOTION CARRIED 4-0.
3. : Consider Consent Agenda
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER FARBER AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING CONSENT
AGENDA:
3ot1. COUNCIL MINUTES
a 4/7/0BJOINT HRA/COUNCIL WORKSESSION
a 4/7/08 REGULAR
3.2~ BEGIN HIRING PROCESS FOR POLICE OFFICER
3.3_ POLICE CHIEF TO ATTEND OUT-OF-STATE CONFERENCE
3.4~ ACCEPT ENERGY EXPO SPONSORS AS OUTUNED IN THE STAFF
REPORT
MOTION CARRIED 4-0..
4. Open ivIike
No one appeared for open mike~
City Counci1l'vllnutes
Aptil14, 2008
Page 2
5~1~ TH 10 and TH 169 Geometric and Environmental Studies (faint Meeting with Housing &
Redevelopment Authority)
Dave Montibello, SRF Representative - Stated his firm has been working on concepts for
the future layout ofTH 10. He also stated they will have rewworked a couple of concepts for
the TH 169 and Main Street interchange after Council comments at a previous meeting.
TH10 Project
Mary Carlson, SRF Engineer - Provided three objectives of the study area:
1. Long-term mobility
2~ :tvraintain and improve local circulation
3~ 1\1inim.ize impacts to downtown Elk River
She stated the railroad likes their location and is opposed to having the track lo\vered due to
sno\v removal issues. She stated it would remain at its current grade.
ivIr.1vIontebello presented two concepts: express\vay and freeway. He stated the railroad
bridge overTH 169/101 will need to be replaced and the tracks will need to be moved
slightly north and grade separated from the local street intersections. He discussed how the
two options would impact homes and businesses and the traffic volume that could be
handled on each. He provided a detailed description of an expressway concept \vith
signalized intersections and SL~ lanes and a freeway concept \vith interchanges, frontage
roads, and four lanes. I\tIr. i'vlontebello requested Council direction on which concept they
would like to see in the environmental study~
Craig Robinson, lYIn/DOT Project lvIanager - Recommended the Council complete the
environmental study on the freeway concept but to stage the project as an eXpreS5\Vay. He
stated the TH 10 project is not scheduled in 1vfn/DOT's long-term plans (2030) but parts of
this project may possibly be completed in stages during this timeframe~
It \vas noted that there is separate federal funding that could be competed for to move the
railroad to the north and this could be one of the first stages completed that \vould be a
benefit to local traffic.
rvIayor I<linzing stated she is opposed to the freeway concept and doesn"t want to create any
benefit to commuter traffic~ She stated she \vould prefer to encourage commuter traffic to
use 194 and to make traffic in town easier for local citizens~ She stated local citizens would
have to go out of their \vay to get around to\vn \Vith the free\vay concept. She stated she
\vants the environmental study to include the expressway concept.
Councilmembers 1vIotin and Zerwas felt that the free\vay concept \vould be more beneficial
to local citizens because they would be able to go under TH 10] \vhereas the expressway
concept keeps the signalized intersections throughout town~
Councilmember Farber stated he is not in favor of the free\vay concept but felt it should be
included in the environmental document \vith the option for the city to stage the project as
an express\vay~ He stated he wasn't for the freeway concept because he felt it would never
actually happen due to riming and funcling~
City Council ?vlinutes
April 14, 2008
Page 3
MI. 1vlontebello stated the free\vay concept is a better option for pedestrian traffic when it
comes to safety.
Councilmember Zerwas asked if the roundabouts on Jackson Avenue and Main Street could
be a different type of intersection because he didn't feel people knew how to use them.
:rvrr. Montebello noted that the roundabout on Jackson Avenue could be changed to a
different configuration but the one on lYfain Street would have to remain due to area
cons train ts.
The Council provided the folloVling direction to SRF Consulting:
a
Include the freeway concept in the environmental study with the option to stage the
project as an e:x-press\va y.
Provide a more detailed concept of the location for the railroad re-alignment.
Provide concept for Jacks on Street re-alignmen t to Lo\vell A ven ue.
Review the concepts ,vith affected businesses and citizens.
III
a
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TH 169 In terchange at rvfain Street
John Hagen SRF Consulting Representative - Provided a detailed revie\v of the single point
and the folded diamond interchange concepts for TH 169 and Ivrain Street. He discussed
capacity, right-of-\vay to be acquired,. access, costs, and commercial/residential takings. He
noted that some of the takings could be redeveloped.
The Council agreed that they preferred the single-point access concept because it works
better for the existing businesses and provided good redevelopment opportunity.
Access Issue vrith TH 10 Near Elk River Ford
CounciJmember 1vfotin stated \vhen the access near Elk River Ford was closed; it created a
problem where it looks like there are t\vo left turns and is causing confusion for drivers. He
asked lvIn/DOT if it could be turned into one long left turn lane.
tvIr. Robinson stated they would review the matter.
The Council took a 10 minute break at 8:15 p.m.
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Traffic Calming
!vIr. Maurer presented the staff report. He questioned if the Council \vould want staff to
,-york on a Traffic Calming policy that could be used city-wide. He discussed briefly the kinds
of questions the Council would be asked to give direction on if a policy were to be
developed. 1'vIr.1vIaurer \vent on to sho\v temporary traffic calming devices; such as speed
humps, speed tables, and traffic circles, that could be installed on Trott Brook Paxkw-ay to
get neighborhood feedback. He indicated that t\VQ sets of each \vould cost approximately
$30)000. As an alternative) he stated Trott Brook Parkw-ay could have electronic speed signs
installed and/ or the street could be re-striped to narrow it do\vn. He stated before and after
speed readings should be obtained in order to formulate an objective analysis on whether
drivers are actually speeding and whether any changes made are \vorking.
City Counci1lvfi.nu tes
April 14, 2008
Page 4
Chief Beahen provided some statistics on traffic calming and on how certain speeds affect
pedestrian accidents He stated getting drivers to 30 mph and belo\v is a good goal to try and
achieve in residential areas~
The Council asked how speed data collected from a speed sign would be beneficial to the
city~
ChiefBeahen stated the data would reveal peak times and average speeds which would assist
the department of when they should increase traffic patrol. He stated the data could also
show that there may be no issues with speed that could be proven to petitioners.
The Council felt that extra traffic enforcement should be done as well if the city is going to
install sign age and re-stripe the street~
!vIr. 1vIaurer stated he will come back to Council \vith a more detailed plan for Trott Brook
Parkway.
The Council directed staff to \vork on drafting a traffic calming policy~
5.3~ Discussion on Ordinance Changes
!vIs. Allard reviewed the following ordinances and Council comments are listed with each of
them.
II Tobacco
o The 90 percent threshold for the definition of a tobacco products shop is too high
and should be set at 50 percent or more. State la'\v needs to be reviewed to see if this
definition can be changed~
o Concern about having a separate room for sampling~ People are going to the shop
specifically for tobacco and this would be too much government interference~ There
was also concern about the shops becoming a smoking lounge.
o Concern about having a separate ventilation system. There was concern about
tobacco shops located in multi-tenant buildings and ho\v the ventilation would
affect the neighbors~
o Change the language regarding transfers.
o Inclusion of a penalty clause.
iii Peddlers.. Solicitors.. and Transient rvferchant
o Concerns Vlith the city issued ID looking like it endorses solicitors/peddlers. The
attorney suggested making the photo ID the city issued license \vith expiration
dates. Chief Beahen suggested looking at an ID that has a time limit and becomes
void by a certain date~ It was noted that the city should make sure costs are being
covered \\rlth the additional costs for the ID.
o Revocation should be included in the Grounds for Granting and Denial.
o Change the hours to ivlonday through Saturday, noon to 6:00 p.m.
o Solicitors should be charged a fee to cover the city's administrative costs.
City CouncillvIinutes
A pril14, 2008
Page 5
· SeAllally-Oriented Businesses
o Revocation should be included in the Grounds for Granting and Denial.
o A manager or owner should live within 75 miles of the licensed premises in order to
address day-to-day operations and issues.
o Eliminate tattoo parlor from provision (h)~
o Staff to confirm that O{) does not conflict with our zoning ordinance and some
language clean-up. Increase footage if the zoning ordinance is silent and would not
be too restrictive to not allow these types of businesses.
o Restrictions and regulations as proposed are okay with the exception of (8), which
will require some language change~
5~4. Pinewood Golf Course Update
!vIr. !vfaertz and ~fr~ Anderson \vere available for questions~
The Council \vould like the public to know that they are carefully tracking the budget for the
golf course.
!vIs. Johnson noted that staff \vill continue to monitor the budget and that golf course staff is
,vorking on ma..~ing rounds~
ivlr. Anderson revie\ved fees and noted that staff completed a market analysis, \vruch sho\vs
that Elk River is in line \vith everyone else.
Councilmember Zenvas stated he received numerous comments on how nice the course \vas
maintained last year and thanked staff for a good job~
5~5. Approve Hiring of Economic Development Assistant
lvIs. Johnson discussed the applications received and noted the pay grade for this position
.: ranges from $41,530-$51,912~ She discussed how the offer of $50,000 was reached and
stated that 1vIs. Deckert has a lot of experience and has '.vorked \vith the City of Big Lake.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER FARBER AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER ZERW AS TO HIRE ANNIE DECKERT AT $50,000 A
YEAR WITH A PAY INCREASE TO THE NEXT STEP ONE YEAR FROM HER
START DATE.. MOTION CARRIED 4-0~
5.6. Council Open Forum
Councilmember Morin stated he would unable to attend the Planning Commission meeting
and asked that another Councilmember takes his place~
Ms. Johnson noted the meeting may be cancelled.
lvIayor I<linzing and Councilmember Zerwas volunteered to attend~
City Council1fi.nutes
April 14; 2008
Page 6
6. Other Business
Community Development Director Position
Ms. Johnson stated that one of the candidates would be unable to make it to the special
Council meeting for intervie\vs. She asked the Council if there was another date that would
work for them.
The Council \vas agreeable to setting the date to May 2 in the afternoon.
ivIs. Johnson stated she would work out the timing with the two applicants and update the
Council \vhen the meeting is scheduled.
7. Council Updates
There were no Council Updates.
8. Staff Updates
1vIs. Johnson noted that the Utilities Commission \vould be discussing the removal of the
Jackson Street \vater tower and questioned if the Council had any comments to pass on to
the Commission.
The Council had no comments.
l'vIs. Johnson stated the do\vntown construction project dates have been changed at the
1vIayor's request due to comments the NIayor received from business Q\vners \vho \vanted the
roads open during l'vIother's Day weekend. She further noted that due to these changes, the
area may be closed to traffic over the lYfemorial Day \veekend if weather plays a factor into
the' project.
9. Adjournment
There being no further business, 1'vlayor I<Iinzing adjourned the meeting of the Elk River
City Council at 10:00 p.m.
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Tina Allard
City Clerk