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Cit�r Council iVlinutes Page 4 <br />r�pri120, 2022 <br />Mr. Pormer discussed preparing a policy for the process of hanging decorations on <br />downtown lights maintained by Elk River Municipal Utilities (ERMU). <br />Items hung on light poles would need to have a public purpose. AgYeements would be set <br />up with groups looking to hang decorations and funding for decorations would be through <br />the city's Housing and Redevelopment AuthorityT (HRr,). <br />Council discussed the geographic limits of the downtown area. <br />MayTor Dietz asked Councilmember Wagner if she could pro�ride information on what the <br />Downtown Elk River Business Association (DERBA) spends on decoYations for the <br />do`vnto`vn area. <br />CouncilmembeY Westgaard asked foY examples of cities who decoYated their light posts but <br />did not have a municipal utilityT. <br />1VLr. PoYtner stated the city will begin to document cit�r events and who pa5rs for what. <br />Mr. Pormer asked Council if the�r `vould like ERIVIU to take over the maintenance of the <br />new trail lights along HighwaST 10. <br />Council felt, from a consistenc�r standpoint, ER��1U should maintain the trail lights. These <br />lights would also fall under the ne�v decorating policy-. <br />Budget Kickoff <br />Mr. Pormer asked Council if the�T had any preliminaryT thoughts on the 2023 budget. <br />Mr. Portner stated that the cit�T would be implementing a charge back program where each <br />department pa��s an annual fee and computeYs aYe Yeplaced as they break. <br />i�Zr. Pormer �vill be �vorking on a comparison stud�T of salaries including historical <br />comparison cities and cities that are of a similar population. This discussion will come to a <br />future «�ork session. <br />Council discussed the impoYtance of employee retenrion. <br />MayTor Dietz stated he was concerned about the budget due to large housing valuation <br />increases. Council asked department directors to on1yT budget for essentials. <br />Mr. Pormer stated that, at some point, the cityT will begin to see funding from Tax <br />Increment Financing (TIF) payTments once TIF districts are decertified. <br />Councilmember Christianson expressed concern about the fallout of housing prices in the <br />future. <br />The Council Yecessed at 4:51 p.m. foY dinneY. The meeting reconvened at 5:24 p.m. <br />rowEREO er <br />���V�� <br />