08-20-13 Council
August 20, 2013
A regular meeting of the Scandia City Council was held on the above date. Mayor Simonson
called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call was taken.
The following council members were present: Council members Dan Lee, Chris Ness, Jim
Schneider, Sally Swanson and Mayor Randall Simonson. Staff present: City Administrator
Kristina Handt, City Attorney Nick Vivian, City Planner Sherri Buss, City Engineer Ryan
Goodman, Police Deputy Chris Majeski, Fire Chief Mike Hinz, and Deputy Clerk Brenda
Eklund.
PUBLIC FORUM
No public comments were received.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Mayor Simonson noted that Consent Agenda Item 5.f) Closed POD Program Designations, will
have the Fire Chief added as the administrator of the list.
Lee, seconded by Ness, moved to approve the agenda as presented, with amended language
to Item 5.f). The motion carried 5-0.
CONSENT AGENDA
The following Consent Agenda was presented:
a)Minutes
1)July 16, 2013 Regular Meeting
2)August 13, 2013 Work Session
b)Treasurer’s Report
Beginning Balance 07/01/2013 $2,033,836.45
Receipts + 1,798,970.66
Expenditures $167,567.12
Payroll 7,188.54 - 204,755.66
Adjustments: Safe Box 35.00
Ending Balance 07/31/2013 $3,628,086.45
c)Payment of Vouchers
d)Goose Lake Native Shoreline Buffer Contract
e)Special Event Permit, Meister’s Bar and Grill (September 6 & 7, 2013)
f)Closed POD Program Designations
g)Post-Issuance Compliance Procedure and Policy for Tax-Exempt Governmental Bonds
Ness, seconded by Lee, moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. The motion
carried 5-0.
PARK AND RECREATION COMMITTEE
Committee Chair Greg Zauner reported that the Committee is working on a strategic action plan
for Lilleskogen Park which would complete the gravel parking lot, the walking trails, and
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installation of the butterfly gardens. Community volunteers have offered to work with the
Committee and donation sources are being identified.
Thomas Lillquist Eagle Scout Project
Boy Scout Thomas Lillquist has been working with the Scandia Marine Lions on his Eagle Scout
project to construct a trail connecting the Hay Lake Shelter area and the Swedish Monument site.
Lillquist’s plan was presented to the Park and Rec Committee at their August meeting at which
time a site visit was conducted. The Committee and staff recommended the use of native
plantings for landscaping and that signage requirement guidelines are met. The Committee
recommended approval of his project with these changes.
Scout Lillquist provided cost estimates for the project which totaled $941.30. Lions President
Tom Triplett was present to explain that the Lions Club will donate up to $1,000 and could
possibly cover expenses that go beyond that. City Administrator Handt questioned the quantity
of trap rock in his calculations, which was half the amount recommended by staff. Lillquist
explained that he had met at the site with Council member Lee and this was calculated using 3”
of Class 5 as a base and 2” of trap rock. Lillquist was asked to verify the commitment from
Roger Rydeen to provide excavation work for the project.
Mayor Simonson stated that this was a good project but expressed his disappointment to Chair
Zauner that the Committee did not follow procedures by recommending approval without firm
details in place. Council members agreed that better cost estimates and plans should have been
offered, but the project has merits to move ahead without further delays. Attorney Vivian
suggested that a condition of approval be worded as “Trail must be built to staff recommended
approved site plan”. Lillquist will work with staff on determining the quantity of fill and trap
rock needed for the trail.
Ness, seconded by Lee, moved to approve the Lillquist Eagle Scout Project with the
conditions as described in Option 2 of the Staff Report, with the noted amendment to
condition b). The motion carried 5-0.
PLANNING COMMISSION
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Variance to Install Septic System at 12610 182 Street. Dan Bever, Applicant (Resolution No.
08-20-13-01)
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The Planning Commission held a public hearing on August 6 regarding the variance request
from Dan Bever to install septic tanks within the 75-foot Shoreland setback of Big Marine Lake
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at his residence, 12610 182 Street. The closest tank would be 51 feet from the OHWL. The
Bevers need to relocate existing tanks which were mistakenly installed, since they are partially
on a neighboring property. City Planner Buss summarized the request which was recommended
for approval with conditions as written into a resolution.
Council member Ness asked for verification that new tanks would be installed rather than
moving the current tanks. Mr. Bever stated that is correct.
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City Engineer Goodman recommended conditions to minimize the risk of sewage overflow
reaching the lake, such as installing alarms on all tanks. Council member Schneider suggested
the condition should be meant for the lift tanks only. Buss noted this by revising condition #4 as
“high water alarms on all of the septic lift tanks”.
Council member Ness asked how far the drainfield is from the lake. Mr. Bever answered that he
and the Lepinski neighbors will share the drainfield located on an easement 600 feet from their
properties.
Simonson, seconded by Lee, moved to approve Resolution No. 08-20-13-01, Approving a
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Variance for 12610 182 Street North with amended Condition #4. The motion carried 5-0.
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Minor Subdivision at 11489 239 Street. Scott and Cheryl Bakken, Applicants (Resolution No.
08-20-13-02)
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The Planning Commission held a public hearing on August 6 regarding Scott Bakken’s request
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for a minor subdivision of his property at 11489 239 Street. City Planner Buss explained that
two lots would be created from the 35 acre piece; one10.1 acre lot, and the parcel with the
existing home would be reduced to approximately 25 acres. A cul de sac will be constructed to
provide the required access and frontage for the new parcel. The Planning Commission
recommended approval of the request with conditions written into a resolution. A Development
Agreement with the City will be recorded which specifies the schedule for the completion of the
cul de sac and the collection of the park fee. Before a building permit is issued for the new lot,
the access must be completed and the park fee paid. City Administrator Handt explained that
relaxing the code requirements to allow this at the time of development is consistent with
previous projects and reduces upfront costs for the developer. Since there is no demand on park
services until the new lot is built upon, the collection of park fees can be justified. Mr. Bakken
stated that he intends to build on the new lot following the sale of his existing home, which he
anticipates to be next year.
Council members Ness and Schneider questioned if delaying code requirements until the time of
development is appropriate. Buss noted that she sees a mix of standards in the communities she
works with. Ness suggested this be a topic of discussion at a future work session.
Simonson, seconded by Ness, moved to approve Resolution 08-20-13-02, Approving Minor
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Subdivision for 11489 239 Street. The motion carried 5-0.
Bakken Development Agreement
City Attorney Nick Vivian described the language in the Development Agreement between the
City and Bakkens, which indicate that performance requirements will take effect when the
applicant decides to build. In response to questions about the collection of the park fee, Handt
suggested that language be added to reflect that the lot cannot be sold until developer has paid
the park fee. Vivian noted that paragraph 10 of the agreement covers binding effects, but this
language is a reasonable condition to add. The document will be recorded with the property and
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a title search prior to a sale would uncover all obligations. Council member Schneider noted that
past developers were required to pay park fees before recording the new properties.
Simonson, seconded by Ness, moved to approve the Bakken Development Agreement with
amended language in paragraph 5 to state that the park dedication fee must be paid upon
the sale of Lot 1, Block 1. The motion carried 5-0.
Ordinance No. 142, Amending Section 4.30 of the Development Code, Wireless
Communication Antennas and Towers
City Planner Buss summarized the amended language to the cell tower ordinance under
consideration. Due to concerns following the addition of equipment to an existing tower last
year, the City has proposed to require photo simulations for all cell tower applications, new and
existing. The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the amended ordinance at their
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August 6 meeting and recommended approval to require visual simulations done to scale for
changes to and addition of equipment to existing towers.
Simonson, seconded by Ness, moved to adopt Ordinance No. 142, An Ordinance Amending
No. 122, the City of Scandia Development Code. The motion carried 5-0.
FOREST LAKE CABLE COMMISSION
Mayor Simonson, one of the City’s representatives on the Forest Lake Cable Commission,
reported on the July meeting. LATV 10 has provided coverage of recent Gammelgarden events
and the Community Market. New equipment for the station has been ordered. The franchise
agreement has been extended until December 2013, with a final contract in negotiations. An
increase to 206 local cable subscribers was noted.
BUILDING OFFICIAL
Building Official Keith Wille’s monthly report was received. Fifteen permits were issued in July.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Deputy Chris Majeski reported that July was a busy month with five burglary cases being
investigated. Four of the cases have been solved. He has been taking numerous parking
complaints at the Log House Landing.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Fire Chief Mike Hinz reported that there were 14 calls in July; five fire and nine EMS related.
The new engine is being worked on at Custom Fire and delivery is estimated for early October.
The department is hosting an EMT class at the firehall this fall through Hennepin Technical
College.
CITY ENGINEER
City Engineer Ryan Goodman stated that the sealcoat project will begin soon. Goodman recently
met with Washington County to discuss stop sign options at Lofton and 97 and will report this at
a future meeting.
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PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
Public Works Director Tim Keiffer’s report was received. Repairs were made to the 1997 Ford
dump truck to meet OSHA requirements. Ditch work in the Bliss area was completed to improve
drainage issues.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR
City Administrator Kristina Handt reported that she has been reviewing building permits for
zoning, processing code enforcement complaints, and working with MnDOT on a speed study in
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the Bliss area. The EDA elected officers at their first meeting on August 19 and will have their
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next meeting on September 16.
ACCEPTANCE OF KOREY OLSON’S EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT AT WIND IN THE
PINES PRESERVE (RESOLUTION NO. 08-20-13-03)
Boy Scout Korey Olson provided a summary of his Eagle Scout project which he completed
earlier this summer. Olson replaced the aging informational sign at Wind in the Pines Preserve.
Council members thanked Mr. Olson for his work on completing this project.
Lee, seconded by Schneider, moved to approve Resolution No. 08-20-13-03, Accepting
Donation of Wind in the Pines Preserve Sign from Eagle Scout Korey Olson. The motion
carried 5-0.
DISPOSAL OF SURPLUS PROPERTY
The Fire Department has asked to sell a tow-able rescue trailer that has been replaced with use of
a transport basket on the new UTV Ranger. They estimated the selling price to be $1,500 to
$2,000 and would list it on fire site classifieds. Funds from the sale would be deposited into the
Equipment Replacement Fund.
Ness, seconded by Schneider, moved to approve the disposal of the tow-able rescue trailer.
The motion carried 5-0.
ADJOURNMENT
Ness, seconded by Swanson, moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 5-0.
The meeting adjourned at 8:36 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Brenda Eklund
Deputy Clerk