Anoka City Council

November 4, 2024 (Regular) Page 1 of 5 REGULAR MEETING OF THE ANOKA CITY COUNCIL ANOKA CITY HALL CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS NOVEMBER 4, 2024 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Rice called the regular meeting of the City Council to order at 7:00 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. 2. ROLL CALL Present at roll call: Mayor Rice, Councilmembers Scott, Skogquist, Weaver, and Wesp. Also present: City Manager Greg Lee; Police Chief Eric Peterson; Public Works Director Mark Anderson; Assistant City Engineer Ben Nelson; City Attorney Scott Baumgartner; and Utility Director Del Vancura. Absent at roll call: None. 3. COUNCIL MINUTES 3.1 October 21, 2024, Regular Meeting. Motion by Councilmember Skogquist, seconded by Councilmember Weaver, to approve the minutes of the October 21, 2024, Regular Meeting as presented. Vote taken. All ayes. Motion carried. 4. OPEN FORUM 4.1 Police Activity Update. Police Chief Eric Peterson recapped the recent Anoka Halloween events that drew tens of thousands of people to Anoka and thanked the many volunteers and others who assisted that included over 100 personnel from other agencies that included MnDOT, Anoka County Sherriff’s Office, Blaine, Coon Rapids, and others. He thanked Public Works for all their coordination and felt this year was one of the top five Halloween events in Anoka. He spoke about prepared response for tomorrow’s elections and said they have a good plan in place throughout the County then shared a staffing update. Councilmember Weaver thanked Chief Peterson for recognizing the efforts of Public Works during the many Halloween events as they do a magnificent job then shared his recent conversation with an officer leaving Anoka not because of the City but just to pursue different opportunities and that he should be applauded. November 4, 2024 (Regular) Page 2 of 5 OTHER INFORMATION UNDER OPEN FORUM Kevin Landry, Anoka, encouraged everyone to vote on both national and local races, including organized hauling. He shared comments and findings that he felt show that garbage trucks do not ruin roads and asked why the City was trying to take away our right to choose a hauler and should instead focus on constructing roads correctly. He said we have to stop letting government make decisions and do the best for the community instead and felt that government has gotten to be too big. He shared concerns about staffing, collections, and other costs that would result if passed that will result in increased taxes. Mayor Rice gaveled Mr. Landry and asked that he conclude his comments. 5. PUBLIC HEARING(S) None. 6. CONSENT AGENDA Councilmember Skogquist shared his thanks for correcting the irrigation system in John Ward Park as outlined in Change Order Number 85. Motion by Councilmember Skogquist, seconded by Councilmember Scott, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. 6.1 Approve Verified Bills. 6.2 Revising and Setting Council Calendars. 6.3 U.S. Highway 10/169 Improvement Project; Approve Change Order Number 85. 6.4 Recommended Approval of an LG220 Gambling Permit for Ducks Unlimited for a Bingo and Raffle Event at the American Legion on January 1, 2025. Vote taken. All ayes. Motion carried. 7. REPORTS OF OFFICERS, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS None. 8. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATION None. 9. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS November 4, 2024 (Regular) Page 3 of 5 9.1 RES/Safe Road Work Zone Grant; Accepting and Authorizing the Execution of a Grant Agreement with the State of Minnesota for the Use of State Funds. RESOLUTION Assistant City Engineer Ben Nelson shared a background report stating in the 2023 Transportation Omnibus Bill, a new program entitled Safe Road Zones was developed. The program enables government agencies to request the creation of a proposed Safe Road Zone. This is to be done collectively by the chief law enforcement officer of a political subdivision, the road authority/owner, and the chief executive officer, board member, or appointed designee. The funding from the legislature includes $1,000,000 for development and delivery of public awareness and education about the safe road zone. Also, an additional $1,000,000 is available for additional traffic safety enforcement activities within the safe road zones. The minimum grant per agency application is $25,000 and the maximum grant is $250,000 per project. The legislation describes that applications will be based on the evaluation of traffic safety concerns for the street or highway, including but not limited to: excessive speed; crash history; safety of pedestrians, bicyclists, or other vulnerable road users; intersection risks; and roadway design. On May 3, 2024, the City applied to the Safe Road Zone Program as a two-part grant that included Safe Road Zone 46 of 72 State Funds and Enforcement Safe Road Zone State Funds in the amounts of $66,000 and $54,000 respectfully. These state funds made available to the City of Anoka as the grantee will provide the funding to provide enforcement, dynamic speed feedback signs, advanced intelligent signage, and an education campaign with materials to reduce excessive traffic speeds and distracted driving in an urbanized downtown area. The safe road zone is the County State Aid Highway 1 (CSAH 1) corridor in the City of Anoka that comprises of 5th Avenue as you travel north/south and East River Road as you travel east/west in the City of Anoka. East River Road changes to Coon Rapids Boulevard as the road continues into the City of Coon Rapids. In coordination with the police department, engineering staff applied for the grant after numerous traffic safety and speeding complaints in this safe road zone mentioned above. In May 2024, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety notified the city that Anoka was the recipient and awarded the full request of state funds. The grant has two different phases, the first, approved on June 17, 2024, was for the additional traffic safety enforcement activities within the safe road zone. The State awarded this phase of the grant jointly to the cities of Anoka and Coon Rapids, with Anoka being the fiscal agent. He noted an additional $29,000 was made available in enforcement state funds for both the cities. On June 17, 2024, the Anoka Police Department entered into an agreement with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and an extra $29,000 was made available in enforcement state funds for both the cities of Anoka and Coon Rapids. By the request of the City, in October 2024, MnDOT redirected some grant funding and made an additional $8,000 in awareness state funds available to the City. These additional funds will be used to perform an engineering study for analysis of speed sign placements along the CSAH 1 corridor. He said the grant contract will November 4, 2024 (Regular) Page 4 of 5 expire on June 30, 2025, no work or no payments will be made until the agreement is fully executed, the grant funds are paid on a reimbursable basis by the request of the city to the state, the grant agreement is only for the Safe Road Zone State Funds, and the Authorized Representative at the City of Anoka is Ben Nelson (or successor). The City received a total of $61,000 in Safe Road Zone State Funds which comprises of the extra $8,000 and with the City’s local match of $5,000 the total grant amount is $66,000. The local match commitment will be financed by the Public Safety and Street Funds. Councilmember Skogquist clarified the timeline for the work in this corridor. Mr. Nelson said once the agreement is executed later this week SEH will begin the traffic study which should be done by the end of November. Once complete they can move forward with the recommendations and order signage for installation by early spring 2025. Councilmember Weaver asked if part of the grant will include enhanced enforcement. Mr. Nelson explained there is $54,000 included in a separate grant agreement approved in June as well as $29,000 for additional enforcement. Councilmember Weaver said there is no better place for this grant because of the number of children walking in this area. Chief Peterson explained enforcement has already begun on 5th Avenue primarily for speed as this is our highest area of violations in the City. He noted enforcement had been suspended during Anoka Halloween but will be resuming again this week and that the City has been reimbursed for some funding already and will continue for the remaining 11 months. Motion by Councilmember Weaver, seconded by Councilmember Wesp, to adopt a resolution for the Safe Road Work Zone Grant; Accepting and Authorize the Execution of a Grant Agreement with the State of Minnesota for the Use of State Funds. Upon a roll call vote: Mayor Rice, Councilmembers Scott, Skogquist, Weaver, and Wesp voted in favor. Motion carried. 10. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 11. NEW BUSINESS None. 12. UPDATES AND REPORTS November 4, 2024 (Regular) Page 5 of 5 12.1 Tentative Agenda(s). The Council reviewed the tentative agendas of the upcoming Council meetings. 12.2 Staff and Council Input. Councilmember Weaver asked for an update regarding the four-way stop at Fair Oak and West Main Street near McDonald’s. Mr. Nelson said Bolton Menk is currently exploring steps to include a four-way stop in the area. City Manager Greg Lee noted this work does involve federal review as this was a change from the original project and may take more time but that they are working towards completion. Utility Director Del Vancura recognized Anoka High School girls’ volleyball and football teams for making State and the Marching Tornadoes for winning State. Mr. Nelson shared that the dam boards have been removed from the Rum River and the tainer gates are at the appropriate levels. Councilmember Weaver shared that the Waterfowl for Warriors hunt will be held on Veterans Days November 11 then shared about the aluminum can trailer collection at Anoka Liquor and the Anoka Ice Arena that is being utilized so well and that proceeds go to fund lunch for this event. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Wesp made a motion to adjourn the Regular Council meeting Councilmember Skogquist seconded the motion. Vote taken. All ayes. Motion carried. Time of adjournment: 7:26 p.m. Submitted by: Cathy Sorensen, TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. Approval Attestation: Amy T. Oehlers, City Clerks