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04-15-08 Council April 15, 2008 A regular meeting of the Scandia City Council was held on the above date. Mayor Seefeldt called the meeting to order at 7:01p.m. The following councilmembers were present: Councilmembers Pete Crum, Michael Harnetty, Dolores Peterson, Donnette Yehle, Mayor Dennis Seefeldt. Staff present: Administrator Anne Hurlburt, City Attorney Dave Hebert, Bonestroo Engineer Paul Hornby, Treasurer Colleen Firkus, Deputy Clerk Brenda Eklund. PUBLIC FORUM There were no public comments. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mayor Seefeldt introduced two additional agenda items: 8f3) Willowbrook Church’s request for an extension regarding their CUP application, and 8f4) Summer Recreation program staffing. Councilmember Peterson added a discussion of a video tape made by the Scandia Civic Club. Councilmember Yehle, seconded by Councilmember Peterson, moved to approve the agenda as amended. The motion passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA The following consent agenda was presented: a) Minutes 1) March 18, 2008 Special Meeting 2) March 18, 2008 Regular Meeting 3) April 1, 2008 Meeting with Planning Commission 4) April 7, 2008 Special Meeting (Board of Appeals and Equalization) b) Treasurer’s Report Beginning Balance 03/01/08 $1,247,993.26 Receipts + 28,678.91 Expenditures 127,579.87 Payroll 21,779.66 - 149,359.53 Ending Balance 03/31/08 $1,127,312.64 c) Payment of Vouchers d) Approve Grant Agreement with Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for Fire Department Equipment Councilmember Peterson, seconded by Councilmember Harnetty, moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. The motion passed unanimously. POLICE REPORT Deputy Chris Majeski was present to report on police activity over the past month. A search for stolen items at a residence on Manning Trail resulted in discovery of a drug manufacturing operation. Two individuals were taken into custody. Testing of possible contamination to the soil April 15, 2008 Scandia City Council Page 2 and water is being undertaken by the EPA at this site. Deputy Majeski also reported on the successful completion of the D.A.R.E. program at Scandia Elementary School. FIRE DEPARTMENT Assistant Fire Chief Jim Finnegan reported on the Fire Department’s activity within the past month. EMT Refresher courses for 2009 were awarded to Lakes Region Medical Training in Wyoming, resulting in a $4,000 savings through the RFP process. In response to concerns about the uptown fire siren, state statute information was presented which states that a reliable means of sounding an alarm is necessary for the department to continue to receive state fire aid. A recommendation to purchase a new alarm system and to relocate the alarm to the fire station will be referred to the Capital Improvements Committee. The current alarm is becoming aged and outdated and does not have the capability for installation of a timing device to turn the alarm system off during overnight hours. Skip Stromberg stated his opinion that the alarm is a public nuisance and is unnecessary. The Fire Department will research the costs of handling emergency calls by means of a “reverse 911” system with Washington County. CITY ENGINEER Paul Hornby, Bonestroo, presented the monthly engineering update. Mr. Hornby reported on the issues that need to be addressed regarding the future paving of Pilar Road. Bonestroo is recommending that the city do preliminary work with the residents now, either by a public information meeting or by mailed surveys. It was agreed that involving public input before the design stage will be helpful in determining specific concerns, and help better estimate the potential costs for the city’s Capital Improvement Program. Administrator Hurlburt and Mr. Hornby will develop a sample survey for review at next month’s council meeting. CITY ADMINISTRATOR Policy for Rental of Old Community Center Chairs A request was recently received from the Duck Soup Players, a non-profit theater company serving the Scandia area, to borrow or rent 70 of the old metal folding chairs that were recently replaced in the Community Center. Councilmember Harnetty suggested selling the chairs at a nominal cost to avoid storage handling, but Councilmember Yehle recommended that the chairs be borrowed out at no charge, as storage of the chairs is currently not a problem. Council agreed on a policy to limit the use to community groups and not individuals. Administrator Hurlburt will prepare a release form for use of the chairs acknowledging that the chairs are “as-is” and releasing the city from any liability. Status Report on Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed District Proposed Rules th At the March 18 Council meeting, a letter addressing concerns about the proposed rules was approved to be forwarded to the CMSCWD for their public hearing on April 7, 2008. Mayor Seefeldt, Attorney Hebert and Administrator Hurlburt attended the hearing. Some changes were made in response to the comments, but there remain some major concerns about other proposed changes. Attorney Hebert has submitted a letter to the city office outlining concerns that have not April 15, 2008 Scandia City Council Page 3 yet been adequately addressed by the Watershed. This letter will be forwarded to Jim Shaver, Watershed Administrator. Among the concerns are the rules to expand regulations for wetland buffers and mitigation requirements beyond what is now required by local ordinances and state law (MN Wetland Conservation Act). The Car-Mar-St. Croix Watershed has agreed to meet on st April 21 at Scandia City Hall with concerned agencies for further discussion on the proposed rules. Willowbrook Church’s Request for an Extension of the CUP Review Administrator Hurlburt presented a request from Gary Monn, Chairman of Willowbrook Church, to extend the review deadline of the Conditional Use Permit for construction of a place of worship by six months. At the February Planning Commission meeting, the review period was extended to May 17, 2008. The church feels that this will give them adequate time to have funding in place to move forward. Councilmember Peterson, seconded by Councilmember Harnetty, moved to approve the extension of the CUP review process to November 17, 2008. The motion passed unanimously. 2008 Summer Recreation Program Staffing Recreation Coordinator Marty McKelvey has requested the hiring of part-time, seasonal instructors for the skateboarding and tennis programs. The instructors who have taught in past seasons are not available to teach this year. One or two instructors are needed for each program, depending upon enrollment. Kristin Stenborg will return as a recreation program leader to assist with Camp Lakamaga programs. Councilmember Yehle, seconded by Mayor Seefeldt, moved to 1) authorize the advertisement for and hiring of part-time, seasonal Recreation Program leaders or instructors for the skateboarding and tennis programs; and 2) approve the hiring of the Kristin Stenborg as a part-time seasonal recreation program leader at the pay rate of $8.00/ hour. The motion passed unanimously. 2008 CONTRACT WITH LAKES AREA YOUTH SERVICE BUREAU The Youth Service Bureau has requested that the city sign a new contract for service year 2008 to provide health, social and recreational services to the residents of Scandia. The 2008 budget included funding of $5,407.00 for this service. City Attorney Hebert recommended amending Section 8 of the contract to increase liability insurance to the amount of $1,200,000. Councilmember Peterson, seconded by Councilmember Crum, moved to approve the 2008 Contract with the Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau with a change to Section 8, and to make a lump sum payment of $5,407.00. LEAGUE OF MN CITIES ANNUAL CONFERENCE Council discussed who might represent the city at the LMC annual conference, to be held June 11-13 in Rochester. Councilmember Crum, seconded by Yehle, moved to authorize up to two councilmembers to attend the LMC annual conference along with payment of their expenses. The motion passed unanimously. April 15, 2008 Scandia City Council Page 4 HISTORY OF SCANDIA VIDEOTAPE Councilmember Peterson would like to have a VHS tape, which was made by the now disbanded Scandia Civic Club, transferred to DVD media. This tape, made in 1993, documents the history of Scandia, and Councilmember Peterson felt it is important to preserve this footage in a more permanent manner. Mike White, member of the Forest Lake Cable Commission, offered to have the videotape transferred to DVD at the cable studio for a nominal cost. Councilmember Peterson, seconded by Councilmember Yehle, moved to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 8:24 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Brenda Eklund Deputy Clerk