01-08-08 Council
January 8, 2008
A regular meeting of the Scandia City Council was held on the above date. Mayor Seefeldt
called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following council members were present: Council
members Pete Crum, Michael Harnetty, Dolores Peterson, Mayor Dennis Seefeldt, and Donnette
Yehle. Staff present: Administrator Anne Hurlburt, City Attorney Dave Hebert, Deputy Clerk
Brenda Eklund.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Donnette Yehle, seconded by Dolores Peterson, moved to approve the agenda as presented.
The motion passed unanimously.
ACCEPT 2007 DONATIONS
The City received the following donations in 2007:
From: Purpose: Amount:
Anonymous Community Center $10.00
Forest Lake Athletic 2007 Open Gym Program
$300.00
Association
Scandia Fire Relief SCBA Masks $5,390.00
Mir Verner (1/12/07) Fire Department $50.00
Scandia-Marine 2008 Open Gym Program
$200.00
Lions Club
Mir Verner Fire Department $50.00
(12/27/07)
Michael Harnetty, seconded by Dolores Peterson, moved to accept the 2007 donations to
the City. The motion passed unanimously.
MINNESOTA SESQUICENTENNIAL
Administrator Hurlburt was contacted by Lynne Moratzka of the Gammelgarden Museum
regarding whether or not the City was sponsoring any activities in recognition of the Minnesota
Sesquicentennial in 2008. The consensus of the council was to forgo any official events
commemorating Minnesota’s statehood.
MOSTAD CLAIM
Mayor Seefeldt reported on the Mostad case that was heard in Conciliation Court on December
20, 2007. Howard and Marney Mostad had filed a claim against the City in the amount of $7,000
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for improvements to their driveway on property located at 11270 192 Street. The Mostads
claim that the driveway is eroding into the street due to city negligence. The judge’s order to
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dismiss the claim was received on December 26, stating that the statute of limitations has
expired on this type of improvement and that there was no proof that the damages are due to
negligence by the city.
ENGINEERING SERVICES
On January 3, 2008, a committee made up of Mayor Seefeldt, Councilmember Harnetty and
Administrator Hurlburt met with City Engineer Tom Peterson and Mark Hanson, Bonestroo Vice
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President. The purpose of the meeting was at the request of Bonestroo as an annual review of
engineering services. Council and staff provided comments using an evaluation form provided
by Bonestroo. Administrator Hurlburt compiled the comments and ratings which indicated that
services are not currently meeting expectations. At the meeting’s conclusion, the engineers
suggested the following:
o Increasing oversight by Bonestroo management staff;
o Providing detailed monthly reports on all activities; and
o Providing a report detailing options for a pro-active plan for pavement/ roadway
maintenance.
The committee agreed on this approach and recommended to the Council that services be
evaluated again after 90 days. The committee also recommended that Bonestroo’s request for a
rate increase not be considered until the council is satisfied with the level of performance.
Council was in agreement that this approach should improve services, especially to be more
proactive on development concerns.
PLANNING SERVICES
City Planner Richard Thompson has recently announced his retirement. While he will continue
to work part-time on the upcoming mining permits, TKDA has proposed that Senior Planner
Sherri Buss begin serving as Scandia’s City Planner. Ms. Buss was present to introduce herself
to the council. An informal review of planning services was postponed to allow the Planning
Commission to participate.
The Planning Commission meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. The following were
present: Commission Chair Chris Ness, Commissioners Christine Maefsky, James Malmquist,
Kevin Nickelson, Peter Schwarz and TKDA Senior Planner Sherri Buss.
BIG MARINE DEVELOPMENT, LLC – REVISED LANDSCAPE PLAN FOR TII GAVO
Big Marine Development, LLC has requested approval of a revised landscape plan for the Tii
Gavo Open Space Conservation Subdivision. The original plan, prepared by Putman Planning &
Design, was approved on June 5, 2007. The developer is proposing modifications which they
feel are a better alternative to the ecological health of the site.
Jason Husveth and Ken Arndt, Critical Connections Ecological Services, were present to discuss
the revised plan. The new plan reduces the proposed amount of native and non-native ornamental
plantings, increases the use of native trees and restores the native plant communities, including
about 22 acres of created prairie and savanna. Specifically, the number of trees and shrubs will
be reduced from 422 to 249, with many being transplanted from on-site. The intent of reducing
the number of trees was to take the monetary value of these trees and put it toward establishing
native prairie in several on the outlots. The outlots currently are old fields with disturbed
wetlands that are overgrown with non-native grasses such as brome and reed canary grass. A 5-
year restoration plan is proposed to return the fields to native plantings. The developer is
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committing to covering the costs for the first three years, after which the Homeowner’s
Association would cover the maintenance costs.
TKDA Senior Planner/Landscape Architect Sherri Buss presented her report on the evaluation of
the request. Ms. Buss recommends approval of the plan with a number of conditions. These
conditions were incorporated into draft Resolution 01-08-08-01.
Commissioner Maefsky inquired how the transplanted trees are selected from the site. Mr. Arndt
stated that selective thinning of healthy trees from the edges of the woodland are being
transplanted into the savanna. A higher success rate can be obtained by using native trees that are
adapted to the site. Councilmember Harnetty asked Mr. Husveth to explain the five year
restoration plan. Mr. Husveth stated that the first year will involve herbicide and controlled
burning, followed by seeding and installation of a forb enhancement mix. Wildflowers should
bloom by year 3, with seeding throughout year 4. By year 5 the acreage should be well
established to native prairie.
The commissioners and councilmembers discussed the revised plan and suggested changes to the
resolution which would guarantee the financial costs of the restoration plan for five years or until
the restoration is complete (rather than three years), and allow for inspection reports by a
qualified landscape architect for the first five growing seasons (a change from three growing
seasons). Commissioner Schwarz felt satisfied with the presentation and stated that it may be
better than the prior plan. Regarding a question of what if at the end of five years, things are not
going satisfactorily? Staff advised that the letter of credit can be extended and retained until the
city inspector is satisfied that it is complete. Currently there is a $177,000 landscaping letter of
credit being held by the city. Commissioner Maefsky stated her approval of the plan and the need
to carry out the plan as stated. Councilmember Peterson stated her approval of the plan.
Councilmember Harnetty asked for Ms. Buss’ opinion of the plan. Ms. Buss felt it to be a very
good plan that fits the character of the area and benefits the long-term health of the land, but the
“devil is in the maintenance”. Mayor Seefeldt felt that this plan is consistent with restoring
native habitat and a good move on the developer’s part. The Planning Commission
recommended approval of draft Resolution 01-08-08-01 with changes to conditions #2, #5, and
#6 in which financial guarantees and inspection reports are extended to five years.
Dolores Peterson, seconded by Michael Harnetty, moved to accept the recommendation of
the Planning Commission to adopt draft Resolution 01-08-08-01 Approval of Revised
Landscape Plan, Tii Gavo Major Subdivision, as amended. The motion passed
unanimously.
PLANNING SERVICES
Upon the retirement of City Planner Richard Thompson, Sherri Buss, Senior Planner for TKDA,
introduced herself and welcomed any questions that the Commissioners or Councilmembers had
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of the services provided by TKDA. Replying to an inquiry on experience, Ms. Buss stated her
natural resources experience with conservation and preservation ordinances and the fact that she
is a certified landscape architect. Berry Farrington will continue to be involved with Scandia’s
planning issues and a representative of TKDA will be in attendance at monthly Planning
Commission meetings.
Dolores Peterson, seconded by Donnette Yehle, moved to appoint Sherri Buss as Scandia’s
City Planner. The motion passed unanimously.
Dolores Peterson, seconded by Pete Crum, moved to adjourn.
The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Brenda Eklund
City of Scandia Deputy Clerk