Champlin amends agreement with Maple Grove PUPS facility

The Champlin City Council voted to approve the amended Joint Powers Agreement for the Maple Grove PUPS facility during its June 24 meeting.

Police officers can take dogs and cats they find while on duty to the PUPS facility for care. The Pets Under Police Security (PUPS) program serves Champlin, Maple Grove, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, New Hope, Plymouth, and Robbinsdale.

City Administrator Bret Heitkamp explained that animals receive overnight care until the owners are contacted, and more care is provided if necessary. There is a feasibility study underway to look at expansions for the facility.

Over the past two years, the PUPS facility was operating at or near maximum capacity, sometimes having to turn away animals. The facility manager had limited decision-making power, meaning many animals stayed days longer than necessary.

To solve these issues, the members decided to give more authority to the facility manager. Staff can now make daily operational decisions regarding every animal, regardless of which city brought it in. The facility coordinator will be able to set fees and charges for the member cities.

There should be no financial impact to the budget with these changes. There will simply be less animals turned away due to a more efficient operating structure.

Interim use for Elm Creek Brewing Company

Also at the meeting, the City Council voted to approve giving Elm Creek Brewing Co. interim use of the property at 11473 Marketplace Drive, striking the requirement that they restripe the parking lot.

The brewery will be given interim use of the building until the owner finds a long-term tenant for the building. However, the brewery is pursuing long-term tenancy.

The site is adjacent to the Elm Creek Brewing Co., was previously occupied by Big O Tires, and would be used for storage and office space by the brewery.

Wade Carlson, co-owner of the Elm Creek Brewing Co., said they have intended to get into more retail sales since finishing their building addition last year. Ultimately, they would like to expand distribution into several other states, but their production is currently not efficient enough.

They need to order many products in bulk, like aluminum cans that are shipped by the truckload. That’s why they want to expand their storage capabilities.

“In my opinion, when Big O Tires moved out it became a blighted property. The weeds were overgrown, they had the banners on the building,” Carlson said.

He thinks restriping a parking lot that needs to be entirely replaced is a waste of time, and regardless is an issue for the building owner. However, the brewery has cleaned the inside of the building and will maintain the outside.

Mayor Ryan Sabas agreed there’s no sense in forcing the brewery to restripe the parking lot, and urged the council to reconsider that requirement. He thinks cleaning and occupying a blighted property is a service to the community, and hopes the brewery becomes the long term occupant.

Councilmember Tim LaCroix agreed on striking the striping requirement.