5.c) Administrators reportSCANDIA
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: January 5, 2017
To: Parks & Recreation Committee
From: Neil Soltis, Administrator
Re: Parks update
Parks & Recreation Committee term — Greg's term on Committee expires on 2/28/17. We've posted a
notice for interested residents to submit application by noon on Friday, January 27. The names of the
applicants will be presented to the City Council at the February work session for consideration and then
action on the appointment will likely occur on at the February 21St City Council meeting.
City 2040 Comprehensive Plan — At its work session on January 4, the City Council will be discussing the
composition of a 10-12 person Steering Committee be established to have a series of 3 higher level
meeting on the plan. It is likely that one of the positions will be designated for a PRC representative.
Obviously this will not be determined until the day before this meeting, but consideration should be given
to designating one of the PRC members to participate on the Steering Committee.
Capital Improvement Plan Committee — Also on the work session agenda will be a discussion on the
composition of CIP Committee. In 2015 the City Council appointed a Capital Improvement Committee
to work with staff to develop a 2016 — 2020 Capital Improvement plan and to look beyond those
years for projects that will have a major impact on the City's finances for an additional 5 years. In
2016 the Council determined that appointing a committee on an annual basis with the task of
updating a 5 -year plan was not necessary and that a biennial cycle would be more appropriate. The
2015 CIP Committee was comprised of 5 citizen representatives (Dustin Hegland was one of those
members). Previous Committees contained a larger number of members with a mix of Council,
Commission and Committee members along with citizen representatives. Again this will not be
determined until the day before this meeting, but consideration should be given to designating one of the
PRC members to participate on the Steering Committee.
Outdoor Recreation Grant Program — In the discussion regarding the grant program it should be noted
that this grant requires a 50% local match. The local match can include volunteer time (skilled and
unskilled) and donated equipment time, services, and materials.
Lilleskogen — A resident has voiced concerns regarding the landscape plan for the Veterans Memorial
based the City's pollinator policy and how the plan doesn't have much for natives (cultivars). Dave Wilson has
responded that the Veterans Memorial Committee will revisit the plan in the spring and will route any
revisions to the plan to the PRC for review and comment. For reference I've included a copy of the resolution
that was passed by the Council.
RESOLUTION NO. 02-16-16-08
A RESOLUTION TO PARTICIPATE IN AND ENDORSE LOCAL POLLINATOR FRIENDLY EFFORTS
WHEREAS, bee -safe policies are a Best Practice Action of the Green Step City Program which the City of
Scandia is a member; and
WHEREAS, bees and other pollinators are integral to our food system, and pollination provided by honey bees
and other essential pollinators account for one in every three bites of food, and contribute over $19 billion
worth of services to U.S. agriculture; and
WHEREAS, pollinators including butterflies, honeybees, bumblebees, and native bees are facing annual
declines due to the combined effects of habitat loss, pesticide use, and pathogens; and
WHEREAS research shows a link between neonicotinoid pesticides and pollinator population declines,
including honey bees, native bees, butterflies, moths, and other insects; and
WHEREAS, scientific evidence shows neonicotinoid pesticides that are harmful to pollinators are also harmful
to other invertebrates, birds, fish and small mammals; and
WHEREAS, we find these actions to be in the public interest and demonstrate the City's commitment to a safe
and healthy community for people as well as pollinators.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SCANDIA,
WASHINGTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA:
1) The City of Scandia encourages healthy environments for people and pollinators through existing
programs and new opportunities.
2) The City of Scandia, including its contractors, will consider safe alternatives to pollinator -harming
pesticides, cease the use of neonicotinoid insecticides, and will use plants and plant seeds that have
not been treated with neonicotinoids in its new plantings.
3) The City of Scandia will undertake its best efforts to utilize plants favorable to pollinators and free of
systemic pesticides on City properties and land.
4) The City of Scandia will endeavor to use native Minnesota species in all city property planting or
landscaping projects going forward.
5) The City of Scandia will support efforts to educate the community about the importance of creating
and maintaining pollinator -friendly habitat and encourage residents and businesses to use similar
pollinator friendly practices.
6) The City of Scandia will endeavor to communicate to the public its efforts to enhance habitat for
pollinators.
7) The City of Scandia will transmit copies of this resolution to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture,
Governor Mark Dayton, State Representatives and Senators, U.S. Representatives and Senators, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Adopted by the Scandia City Council this 161h day of February, 2016.