05-23-2018 Listening Session - Laserfiche WebLink

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Meeting of the Elk River City Council Held at The Bank of Elk River Wednesday, May 23, 2018 Members Present: Mayor Dietz, Councilmembers Olsen, Ovall, Westgaard, and Wagner Members Absent: None Staff Present: City Administrator Calvin Pormer, City Clerk Tina Allard, Parks and Recreation Director Michael Hecker, Recreation Manager Steve Benoit I. Call Meeting to Order The meeting of the Elk River City Council came to order at 8:32 a.m. 2. Recreational Facility Improvements Listening Session Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Debbi Rydberg welcomed everyone and asked each person to provide their name and business affiliation. Community member Charlie Blesener facilitated the discussion about the current state of the city's recreational facilities and engaged the people in attendance about what they would envision for the future of Elk River. Comments made during the Q&A session of the meeting. ■ Clarity on the plans being voted upon. ■ Whether there will be consideration of any new plans other than the three options presented at this meeting. • Discussion on the two options to pay for recreational facility improvements: local option sales tax or property taxes. • Need to consider positive economic impact a facility will bring to the community. • It's not my experience that Elk River is identified as a hockey town. • Need solid numbers/statistics as to how many people are involved in hockey. • Council's plan if the local option sales tax or the bond doesn't pass. ■ The focus of a facility should be toward the whole community's needs. • Moved to Elk River for the schools and its strong hockey program. • Need to invest in our kids. ■ Concerned about how the new Highway 169 freeway improvement will affect the sale tax revenue because people won't stop locally from a freeway. • Elk River hockey has a positive identity with others outside the community. • Feasibility of privatization. • People won't notice a 0.5% sales tax on their bills and the city should go bigger than making the minimum repairs. ■ All for investing in a community center, but not one with only one focus. • Against activity center moving to the YMCA and would like to see it continue at its current location.