09-15-09 Council
September 15, 2009
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 Connie Amos, Pete Crum, John Lindell, Dolores Peterson and Mayor Dennis Seefeldt.
Staff present: Administrator Anne Hurlburt, City Attorney Dave Hebert, City Engineer Paul
Hornby, Building/Code Enforcement Official Steve Thorp, Treasurer Colleen Firkus, Deputy
Clerk Brenda Eklund, Fire Chief Jim Finnegan and Deputy Chris Majeski.
PUBLIC FORUM
There were no public comments.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Mayor Seefeldt noted an addition to the agenda: 8)c) Discussion of the crack sealing project
change order. Peterson, seconded by Crum, moved to approve the agenda as amended. The
motion passed unanimously.
APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA
The following consent agenda was presented:
a) Minutes
1) August 18, 2009 Regular Meeting
2) August 25, 2009 Special Meeting
3) September 1, 2009 Meeting with Planning Commission
b) Treasurer’s Report
Beginning Balance 08/01/09 $1,544,498.47
Receipts + 176,650.94
Expenditures 67,375.67
Payroll 19,954.55 - 87,330.22
Adjustments: Reverse Bank Charges + 80.39
Voided Check + 75.00
Ending Balance 08/31/09 $1,633,974.58
c) Payment of Vouchers
d) Operation and Maintenance Agreement for the 201 Community Wastewater System with
Washington County for 2010 & 2011
e) Set Special Event Permit Fee (Resolution 09-15-09-01)
Crum, seconded by Amos, moved to accept the Consent Agenda as presented. The motion
passed unanimously.
PARK AND RECREATION COMMITTEE
Alex Bildeaux, Park and Recreation Committee Chair, reported that the successful trail project in
Wind in the Pines is mostly complete. A few remaining steps will be installed this fall. The
Committee is making plans for the winter programs, including Vinterfest, scheduled for February
6, 2010.
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Scandia City Council
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POLICE DEPARTMENT
Deputy Chris Majeski reported on police activity within the last month. A burglary at a local
business, a vandalism incident at the Cottages, a vehicle break-in at the Scandia Elementary
school parking lot, and a stolen vehicle were among the incidents Deputy Majeski has been
investigating.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Fire Chief Jim Finnegan reported on the fire department’s activity. Seventy-five runners
participated in the department’s first 5K run this past Saturday at Taco Daze. The department is
hosting the annual open house at the firehall on October 7 from 5 to 7 p.m. Plans are progressing
for the Safe Halloween event to be held on October 31. Chief Finnegan is working with the
County Public Health Department on H1N1 flu preparation and response procedures.
CITY ENGINEER
2009 Crack Sealing Project
City Engineer Paul Hornby updated the council on the crack sealing project. All streets included
in the base bid have been crack sealed. On September 1, the council approved a change order to
add additional streets to the project. Hornby reported that the contractor, Astech, has declined to
sign this change order and would like to negotiate a unit price for the additional streets. City
Attorney Hebert advised that the unit price in the change order must be the same as that in the
base contract. Council directed City Engineer Hornby to obtain quotes from Astech and two or
three other companies for the additional work. The Council will meet in a special meeting on
September 24 at 6:00 p.m. to review the quotes and determine if additional crack sealing should
occur this year.
BUILDING/CODE ENFORCEMENT
Building/Code Enforcement Official Steve Thorp reported that one new house permit was issued
in August. Thorp is working on documenting the uptown well and sewer maintenance
procedures.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR
Fall City Newsletter
City Administrator Hurlburt presented a draft copy of the Fall city newsletter. The newsletter
will be mailed to all city residents by October 1. Council agreed that the copy looked great and
may be sent to the printers.
PROJECT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (PAC) FOR ZAVORAL MINING AND
RECLAMATION ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Council reviewed the process for selection of a Project Advisory Committee, as recommended
by the Zavoral Mining and Reclamation EIS Project’s consultant, AECOM. The committee
would have up to 12 members: 1 Planning Commissioner, up to 6 agency representatives, and up
to 5 interested citizens. These 5 citizen members would be selected by the City Council through
an application and selection process. The PAC would be supported by a technical committee
composed of the consultant team, staff and representatives of Tiller Corporation. It is proposed
that the committee would meet four times through the project’s completion in approximately 12
months. The PAC meetings will be open to the public.
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Scandia City Council
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Bill Clapp, 19955 Quinnell Avenue, spoke on behalf of the St. Croix River Association by
recommending two changes to the outline. The Association recommends not limiting the number
of meetings to four, but to allow for flexibility in the number of meetings as the Committee sees
necessary. City Administrator Hurlburt explained that the contract defined four meetings and any
additional would add to the cost. Clapp also recommended the council consider adding more
special interest groups to the technical advisory staff, in particular Randy Ferrin (St. Croix River
Association president) who has experience with EIS projects. Administrator Hurlburt explained
that the technical advisory staff is officially not part of the PAC, but will provide technical
expertise and information regarding the project. Those designated as technical support are not
advocates for the project.
Mayor Seefeldt stated that the purpose of the PAC is to provide communication and information
regarding the environmental review process back to their constituencies.
Kristen Tuenge commented that the EIS process is about information gathering and it is
important to have community access.
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Judy Herbert, 15125 220 Street, recommended that the number of agencies serving on the
technical advisory group be expanded to more than six. Herbert asked how the agencies will be
contacted. Administrator Hurlburt answered that those agencies already involved in the EAW
process will be contacted regarding their interest in serving as technical support. If more than six
are identified, the group may be expanded. The consultant recommended that including six
agencies makes for a manageable sized group.
Councilmember Lindell asked if the EQB maintains an active website with details regarding the
EIS process. Administrator Hurlburt answered that as the EQB has designated the City of
Scandia as the Regulating Government Unit, the EQB does not maintain progress updates but
only posts official notice publications as required by the rules. The Scandia city website has
extensive project documents which will be available for the duration of the project.
City Administrator Hurlburt will consult with AECOM regarding the expansion of both the
number of meetings and the size of the technical advisory staff.
Peterson, seconded by Seefeldt, moved to approve the preliminary description and
appointment process for the Zavoral Mine and Reclamation Project EIS Project Advisory
Committee, pending a discussion with the consultant AECOM.
Council further discussed the appointment process. Councilmember Crum asked if the technical
advisory committee would meet in specific separate meetings. Administrator Hurlburt answered
that no, they would not meet separately. The technical staff is available to provide information to
the PAC according to their expertise.
Councilmember Peterson foresees many citizen applicants and questioned how five will be
selected. Administrator Hurlburt recommended that one councilmember, the City Administrator
and Trudy Richter, a member of the AECOM consultant team and moderator for the PAC
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Scandia City Council
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meetings, interview candidates and make a recommendation to the Council for approval at the
October 20 meeting.
Lisa Schlingerman asked if there were any criteria of who would be accepted to serve on the
PAC. Mayor Seefeldt replied that all interested applicants would be asked the same questions.
Appointments will be made so that there is a balance of perspective, interests and goals on the
PAC.
Pam Arnold suggested that the notice for citizen applicants to serve on the PAC be included in
the city newsletter which will be mailed to all residents on October 1. City Administrator
Hurlburt will edit the newsletter article regarding the Zavoral project to include this information.
The motion passed unanimously.
LILLESKOGEN PARK WATER CONTROL STRUCTURE, ACCEPT QUOTE
At the September 1 meeting, the Council approved plans and authorized staff to obtain quotes for
construction of the Lilleskogen Park water control structure. Two quotes were received, with the
low quote from Scandia Trucking in the amount of $9,343.00. The Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix
Watershed has contributed $7,500 for the project. Crum, seconded by Peterson, moved to
accept the quote for construction of the Lilleskogen Park water control structure from
Scandia Trucking and Excavating in the amount of $9,343.00. The motion passed
unanimously.
Peterson, seconded by Amos, moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed
unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Brenda Eklund
Deputy Clerk