11-10-2008 CCMMEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL
HELD AT THE CITY OF SLK RIVER (UPPER TOWN CONFERENCE ROOM)
MONDAY, NOVEMBER [ 0, 2008
Members 'resent: Mayor Klin in , Cou cilmemi ers Farber, Gum hrey, Motin, and Zenvas
Members Absent: Norge
Staff resent: City A�nis trator Lori J o nson, Commurdty Development Director J eff
GongoH, PubHc works Director Terry Maurer, Finance Director Tim
Sion, City Attorney Peter Beck, Planning Manager Jeremy Baxnbart,
n iron. e tat Administrator Rebecca Haug, Director of Economo
Development Catherine Mehelich, Econo-nuic Development Assistant
! .n ,ie L ec ert, and Recording Secretary Jessica ZVEdler
.1so Present: HILk Convnlssioners Lieser and son
County Canumissioners Engstrom, Petersen, and Leonard
Deputy County Adminisuator Luei Botzek
Planning Cornnuissloners Anderson and Westgaaxd
Call MeednV,o Order
Pursuant to due cad and notice thereof, the meeting o f the Eli River City Council was called
to order at 7:21 p.m. by Mayor l i g,
Consider Counc prenda
MOVED BY COU -NC L EMBE ZERNVAS AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER FARBERTO APPROVE THE AGENDA. MOTION
CRIED -.
Consider ConsentApfenda
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN AND SECONDED B
COUNCILMEMBER FARBERTO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING CONSENT
AGENDA:
.1. AUTHORIZATION TO PROCEED WITH SURVEY WORK FOR GREAT
NORTHERN TRAJL.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
Open W-ze
Donna S hl l r, 11� St -W — presented a petition regarding air quaUty near the
eater treatment plant and the energy burning plant. She believes the air culity is poor and
could be leading to illness In nearby residents. Ms. Sclluesser requested her home be
purchased and condemned. Mayor IG.nig accepted the petition and indicated this issue
would be discussed at a future City Council meeting.
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November 10, 2008
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Ms. Schlu.essler also expressed concern over the condition of Vernon Cemetery. She stated
headstones are lying on the ground broken and the cemetery is in poor condition. Iteras
noted the cemetery is privately owned and staff xviU contact the owner.
5.1. TH 10 Elk River Project Presentation and I% h,%vav 169 L! date bv.SRF Consul6ng
Engineers
Dave Montebello, Project Manager, SRF Consuldng Engineers - stated the pose of this
presentation is to provide the Council with a status report on the TH 10 and TH 169
projects and to provide an opportunity for questions.
14 169 Project
Mary Ka lsson, SRF Consulting - provided a brief outline of the status of the TH 169
project. She noted that the design leas not charged since it vas presented to the Council in
April. Ms. l arlsson indicated the design plan has officially been presented to NInDOT and
the environmental ental document is expected to be subrruitted in December.
Mayor lazing stated that the Council is revie\ i.ng the North , -Egh ay 169 Area Study later
this evening which may include a change in the layout of proposed interchanges on TH 19.
She questioned d -ie process if a change In die design is necessary. Ir. Montebello explained
the Council could delay official approval of the design � hil.e this potential change i
considered or the design could be approved and amended at a later date if necessary. 1\/Ir.
Montebello noted that once the design is approved by the Council, NfnDOT would not be
obligated to consent to a design change in the future.
,payor Klinzing que doned if a delay in approval would increase the cost. 1v1z. Monteb Ho
explained that would depend on what changed and the ui npacts of that change but it likely
would.
Discussion took place on the interchange designs and functions, Discussion took place on
potential funding. els. I arlsson noted that no funding is available for these improvements
and no funding is expected to be available for many years. Mr. Nfontebello added that some
portions of the project require sigm cant funding while od-1 r portions allow ,for completion
on an independent basis.
Jim Hallgren, NI S` Project Manager - indicated that as part of a proposed goverx mens
stimulus package, requests have been sent for projects that can be ready in 90 clays. He noted
this project NvU take at least two years for the right-of-way to be acquired. Mr. Maurer noted
that two City of Elk liver projects that are in die 22 009I and d-iat can be project ready ,in
90 days have been submitted as part of this request; the overlay oflain Street west of
downtown and die right turn lane extensions at TH 169 and Mmin Street.
TH 1Project
Vis. Karlsson explained the TH 10 project was designed based on direction provided by the
Council in April. She stated the project was designed as a freeway for a long -,range vision
with the pore dal that an expressway would be an inter' step. She explained the design
outlines the possi.bi i.t-y of pleasing the railroad movement and grade separation, e pressNvay3
and finally a freeway.
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November 1, 2008
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Ms. C arlsson noted the TH10 project is approximately two months belted the TH 16
project in design and environmental documentation preparation.
'age
Ms. Carlson outlined the three main criteria of the project that were outlined by the City
Council and die BNSF Railroad:
Nfiaimie physical impacts to downtown EUi Kiger.
Minimiz e elevation changes for the railroad through the Jackson Avenue area.
Separate the railroad from local streets to promote stronger conunun�ty connections and
cohesiveness. IVIS. Karlsson stated that based on this direction, mvo design concepts have
been developed, a freeway concept and an expressway concept.
Dave Nelson, SRF Consulting, distributed a handout including the prelitr ary design and
environmental documentation for the TH 10 project. NIx. Nelson reviewed the design
criteria and the two design concepts as outlined in the handout.
Mr. Montebello outlined a couple changes in the new design versus the design d -1 -at was
presented to the Council at a previous meeting. The first change relates to TH 10 in tf e
Proctor Avenue area.. TI -ie second relates to the water table M- the Upland area being higher
than originally and, 1pated so the overpasses in that area have been slightly ganged. Cross
sections shoving the relative elevations at these areas were shown.
Discussion tools place on the TH 10 design and cost estimates. Mr. Nelson noted ffiat the
handout in cluding die designs %vim be posted on the City's website. It Nvas further noted that
public meetings and open houses on the TH 10 project begin next week.
The Council took a five minute break at 8.30 p.m.
North Hi hwa .169 Area Study
Ms. Johnson s tated that in August the Cite Count authorized Hoisington l oegler Group.,
Inc. M< i to complete a study to review the affect of various lana use changes in the area
around the e ist g landfRl including the gravel mi g area.
Bryan Hanes and Paul Paige, HKGi - were present to discuss the study. Mr, Hames
re ie�ved a PowerPoint outlining the following study items:
Overview — project area and scale
' Project assumptions
Core land use relationships
' a.nd. xu impacts on project area
Next steps
Deb Walters} `haste Management — questioned how HKGi arrived at the 00 -foot buffer.
Ir. Paige indicated the buffer area was arrived at based on research of buffers axound other
landfills. IN/Is. Walters noted that i
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November 10, 2008
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obligation to allow the expansion but if they do this is a term that could be negotiated dung
discussions.
.r. Nelson indicated that he believes IVInDOT would be strongly opposed to cont umng
access to the expansion area off of TH 169.
City Attorney Teter Beck stated the City has conducted broad-based planning on the gravel
mining area many gears ago but it ould be beneficial. to revisit the issue and have ongoing
discussions.
Mayor l i g indicated the study can be accepted and used in discussions and
deliberations. FIs. Johnson noted that the study w -M be used at the staff level for discussions
and planning with final approval provided by the City Council.
Ms. Walters quesoned if there is time to correct assumptions included in the study. Ms.
Johnson indicated that a copy of the study wili be provided to Ms. Walters to review and she
should respond to staff With any comments spe fic to the iandhll.
3. Counc en forum
`I sere were no sterns for open forum.
6. 0 d-ier Business
There was no other business.
. St -,I Updates
Msj ohnson stated the Gateway property appraisal has been received but the info=adon
has not been reviewed clue to the pending study of the area. She indicated the Council
should caU her if they would d e to review the appraisal.
Councilmember Motin indicated he would U:e the Council to consider a moratorium on the
Gateway study a-rea. He explained the Council -�xill consider a Moratorium at next week's
Council meeting but he would Like to see a temporary moratorium placed on the area
effective ir=ediateiy. Kr. Beck stated that the Council could direct staff to prepare an
ordinance placing a moratorium on the area and to not accept any land use applications for
tl-ds area. Mr. Beck noted that die ria -urn time frame for a moratorium has changed to
one year with no extensions.
The Council would like surrounding property and business owner notified ied that a
rnoratoriu wiU be considered by the Council at the December 1 meeting.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER ZERWAS TO DIRECT STAFF TO NOT RECEIVE ANY
LAND USE APPLICATIONS UNTIL DECEMBER , 2008, AT WHICH TIME
THE COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A.
MORATORIUM Fort THE AREA INCLUDED IN THE FOCUS AREA STUD'
WITH THE XC IO of THE NORTHSTAR BUSINESS FAQ AND
City Count-'1vfmutes
November 10, 2008
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CERTAIN AREAS RELATING To ELK RIVER STATION. MOTION CARRIED
-.
. AdJournment
There being no far -ler business, Mayor I<Iinzing adjourned the meeting of theElk- River
City Cound at 9:33 p.m.
Nfinutes prepared b Je i a [Mer.
Tina .Ua.rd
City Clerk