What this meeting did about specific topics, organized by issue rather than by document.
Elk River Youth Hockey Association donation and Fire Department SCBA compressor
The Council accepted the Elk River Youth Hockey Association donation and, instead of using all of it for rink work, voted to direct $7,000 to Fire Department SCBAs and $7,000 to rink improvements. Later, the Council approved the Fire Department's SCBA compressor and fill station purchase for a total project cost of $34,927, using existing funds and the hockey association donation.
Agenda: 3c, 5a. Motions: M3, M5. Speakers: Pilon, Streich, Alders, Blake, Rainville, Assistant Fire Chief Lawrence.
2020 audit
Auditor Michael Pofahl presented the 2020 audit, said Council had no questions, and the Council approved the audit as presented. During the presentation, he also discussed audit-related accounting work and a recovered double payment.
Agenda: 4a. Motions: M4. Speakers: Michael Pofahl, Greenberg, Rainville.
Bar-None Facility licensing and service calls
Commander Heath reported 117 April calls for service in Nowthen and said calls at Bar-None had decreased somewhat. He told Council that the Department of Human Services found maltreatment, failure-to-report findings, and licensing violations at Bar-None, placed the facility on conditional license status for two years, and that he would provide the report and seek answers about conditions, monitoring, next steps, and reporting future issues.
Agenda: 4c. Speakers: Commander Wayne Heath, Pilon, Blake, Rainville, Assistant Fire Chief Lawrence, Stockman.
Sheriff's Office Coon Rapids search-warrant news item
Commander Heath briefed Council on a news story about the Sheriff's Office assisting Minneapolis Police with a SWAT search warrant served in Coon Rapids. He said some public information was inaccurate or false and encouraged Council members to contact him directly for accurate information about law-enforcement issues.
Agenda: 4c. Speakers: Commander Wayne Heath, Pilon, Rainville.
Fire Department inventory needs
The Fire Department had no inventory-needs request at this meeting, so no Council action was taken on that agenda item.
Agenda: 5b. Speakers: Assistant Fire Chief Lawrence.
FX Auto Repair conditional use permit at 19745 Nowthen Boulevard
Council discussed FX Auto Repair's requested CUP and parking variance, focusing on the proposed or existing car used as signage, vehicles parked outside the fence, paving and drainage issues, and whether the person signing for the property had legal authority. The Council tabled the item and asked for legal documentation and a plan for the rusted car out front.
Agenda: 6a. Motions: M6. Speakers: Stockman, Pilon, Greenberg, Alders, Rainville, Blake.
Draft grading and landscape escrow ordinance
Planner Stockman introduced a draft ordinance to create grading, landscaping, and construction escrows tied to erosion-control and MS4 responsibilities. Council members asked about costs and whether an escrow was the right mechanism, and Stockman agreed to gather more background and cost information from the engineer before the item returns.
Agenda: 6b. Speakers: Stockman, Blake, Alders, Pilon, Greenberg.
Commercial and industrial architectural design guidelines
The architectural design guidelines topic was not taken up in detail because Planner Stockman said it would take more time than remained that evening. The item was moved to another meeting.
Agenda: 6c. Speakers: Stockman.
Cell tower easement and generator
Council briefly discussed a cell tower easement request near the Recycling Center and Fire Station, including a proposed generator near the pathway and ball field. Planner Stockman was asked to gather more information and bring it back on May 24 after the road improvement public hearings.
Agenda: 6d. Speakers: Stockman.
Recycling Center employee
The Council approved a modified RCA to post a Recycling Center employee position at $15 per hour, with posted hours on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Discussion included the proposed hours and applicant expectations.
Agenda: 7a. Motions: M7. Speakers: Streich, Alders, Greenberg, Blake.
Farmer's Market stipends
The Council approved stipends for the 2021 Farmer's Market: $500 for the Market Coordinator and $250 each for the Assistant Market Coordinator and Market Manager. Council discussed whether these amounts were reasonable compared with Planning & Zoning meeting pay and directed staff to include the stipends in 2022 budget discussions.
Agenda: 8. Motions: M8. Speakers: Blake, Alders, Rainville, Pilon.
Planning & Zoning Commission appointments and process review
Council interviewed the final Planning & Zoning Commission candidate before the regular meeting and later scheduled the member-selection meeting for May 24. The amended agenda also included rescheduling a broader discussion with Planner Stockman, Council, and staff about prior Planning & Zoning and lot-split issues for June 15.
Agenda: 1, 9. Motions: M1. Speakers: Rainville, Alders, Pilon.