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06.a2 Draft minutes 05-20-2025 Meeting May 20. 2025 A regular meeting of the Scandia City Council was held on the above date in the Council Chambers. The meeting was conducted in-person and over an electronic platform. All participants who joined the meeting remotely could hear each other and contribute to discussions. Mayor Steve Kronmiller called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call was taken. The following were in attendance: Council members Jerry Cusick, Jim Gribble, Kirsten Libby, Mike Lubke and Mayor Steve Kronmiller. Staff present: City Administrator Kyle Morell, City Attorney Eric Larson, City Planner TJ Hofer, City Engineer Isiah Bubany, Fire Chief Mike Hinz, Public Works Director Charles Fischer, and City Clerk Brenda Eklund. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Gribble, seconded by Lubke, moved to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried 5- 0. LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORT Deputy Booth was out on a call. An April police activity report was in the meeting packet. PUBLIC FORUM There were no public comments. CONSENT AGENDA The following Consent Agenda was presented: a) Minutes 1) April 14, 2025 Board of Appeal 2) April 15, 2025 Regular Meeting 3) May 7, 2025 Work Session b) Treasurer’s Report c) Payment of Vouchers d) Approve Park User Permit for Fastpitch Softball Tournament June 27-29, 2025 e) Approve Capital City Regional Firefighters Association Reciprocal Fire Service Agreement Lubke, seconded by Gribble, moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion carried 5-0. PARK & RECREATION COMMITTEE Park & Recreation Committee Vice-Chair Greg Zauner reported on the May 5th PRC meeting. The Committee is recommending that disc golf be included in the Washington County Big Marine Park Expansion Plan. Commissioner Fran Miron has been contacted and is suggesting this concept to County staff. A ribbon cutting ceremony for the refurbished tennis/pickleball courts is scheduled for June 19th. The Lions Club will provide their food trailer, with other Scandia City Council May 20, 2025 Page 2 of 6 activities including a pickleball tournament. The PRC will have a table at the July 23rd Farmers Market to promote park activities and hand out trail maps. PLANNING COMMISSION Amendments to the Unified Development Code regarding Exterior Storage of Vehicles, Ordinance No. 2025-06; Resolution No. 05-20-25-01, Findings of Fact for Ord. No. 2025-06; Resolution No. 05-20-25-02, Publication Summary of Ordinance No. 2025-06 Planner Hofer summarized an ordinance crafted over a series of meetings to amend exterior storage standards for properties around lakes that are zoned Rural Residential-Neighborhood (RR-N). The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the draft ordinance on May 6, 2025. Discussion included concerns on number of vehicles and the impact of the vehicles acting as impervious surface. Ultimately the Planning Commission recommended approval with the addition of a schematic diagram showing storage limits to be inserted within the ordinance. Planner Hofer summarized the definitions for public roadway, gross vehicle weight ratings, and small recreation vehicles as they relate to the ordinance. Hofer noted the addition of a table and exhibit to illustrate the standards for RR-N zoned lots and riparian lots to be included in the Unified Development Code. Mayor Kronmiller said he likes the illustrations. Kronmiller added that he has received comments since the public hearing around the issue of impervious surface and the storage of vehicles on pervious ground. If there is long-term storage of vehicles on grass, can this area be considered impervious? Planner Hofer said the area where the tires compact the ground is impervious, but a large camper or pontoon will redirect water that is not natural to the lot. Hofer stated that it may be worth considering a setback of storage from the Ordinary High-Water Level, but this would decrease storage area on small lots. Mayor Kronmiller noted that storage is being limited from the lakeside, but there is no prohibition on docks and boat lifts being stored on the lakeside. Kronmiller said he is hearing contrary comments on the ordinance amendments to not allow longer-term storage of docks and lifts. People don’t want to see these year-around if someone has a hardship and cannot get them in the water. It was questioned if a property can have more than one dock. Planner Hofer said he is unsure on the DNR standards for number of docks allowed. Hofer said it may be worth tabling the ordinance amendments to craft language for allowances and criteria for a hardship. Mayor Kronmiller said he is in favor of tabling the ordinance amendments to allow outreach to the Watersheds and gather more information on how storage could affect water quality. Administrator Morell clarified that the ordinance language for dates that boat docks and lifts can be stored on property does not mandate that they go in the water, only that they factor into the number of allowed exterior storage items on the property outside of those dates. Scandia City Council May 20, 2025 Page 3 of 6 Kronmiller, seconded by Lubke, moved to table Ordinance No. 2025-06 to answer questions related to number of docks allowed and impacts to water quality. Motion carried 5-0. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Mayor Kronmiller reported on the EDA’s first meeting held on April 21st. The EDA made introductions, discussed goal setting, and elected Mayor Kronmiller as President and David Wilske as Vice-President. The EDA will conduct meetings on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. SCANDIA INTERNET ACTION COMMITTEE The Internet Action Committee met on May 15th. Midco provided an update on their Border 2 Border project, currently in the design and engineering phase for 160 properties along the St. Croix River. The project to install high speed broadband will begin next spring with completion in 2027. Committee Charter The Internet Action Committee approved an updated Charter, revising communication guidelines and expanding completion of broadband installation citywide to 2027. Lubke, seconded by Gribble, moved to approve the updated Internet Action Committee Charter. Motion carried 5-0. TOURISM COMMITTEE Tourism Committee Chair Sue Dickens appeared on Zoom. The Committee is promoting the community garage sales happening next week and discussing upcoming events such as hosting a table at the Farmers Market and National Night Out. BUILDING OFFICIAL The April building activity report was in the meeting packet. In April, 23 building permits were issued at a valuation of $1,036,519. FIRE DEPARTMENT Fire Chief Hinz reported on the Fire Department’s April activity. Last month the department responded to 24 calls; 8 fire related, and 16 medicals. The surplus fire engine recently sold on a public auction site for $71,000 after the initial sale fell through on another auction site. Driveway and Fire Apparatus Access Road Requirement Policy Fire Chief Hinz presented a final draft of the driveway standards policy as first discussed by the Council at their March 18th meeting and the May 7th Work Session. Hinz explained that the standards for driveways are triggered with new structures or improvements to a structure that exceed 50% of its value based on property tax records. Driveways greater than 250 feet in length must provide turnarounds and pullouts; driveways may have a maximum slope of 10%. Driveways with greater than 6% slope must be paved in that section. Illustrations were added to reflect the standards. Scandia City Council May 20, 2025 Page 4 of 6 Planner Hofer described necessary amendments to the Unified Development Code which can be done in the future as part of a larger housekeeping ordinance amendment, as nothing in the UDC contradicts the standards or prohibits their utilization. Council member Libby recommended the standards be presented as an informational policy to the Planning Commission so they are aware when doing planning reviews. Lubke, seconded by Gribble, moved to approve the Driveway and Fire Apparatus Access Road Requirement Policy as presented. Motion carried 5-0. CITY PLANNER Amendments to Tii Gavo Conservation Easement Planner Hofer explained the necessary amendment to the Tii Gavo Conservation Easement initially approved for the subdivision by the City in 2007. The amendment will establish the right to construct a shared driveway, utilities and stormwater needs in Outlot B in the plat of Tii Gavo 2nd Addition. A Shared Access Easement was also prepared for continuation of the private shared driveway easement into perpetuity by the future owners of Lot 1, Block 2 and Lot 4, Block 1. Cusick, seconded by Libby, moved to approve the Conservation Easement Amendment for Tii Gavo as presented. Motion carried 5-0. CITY ENGINEER Engineer Bubany highlighted page 2 of his report, that the 2025 Street Project is ahead of schedule with construction beginning on May 23rd. The Tennis Court project will have a pay request at the June meeting. Engineering Standards Revisions Engineer Bubany summarized updates to the city’s engineering standards as prepared with staff input. Most requirements have been implemented over the past few years, with this document updating references to the current standards and material upgrades. Gribble, seconded by Lubke, moved to approve the 2025 Engineering Standards and Detail Specifications as presented. Motion carried 5-0. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS Public Works Director Fischer reported on department activities. The new tennis/pickleball courts are ready to begin play following a few touch-up areas. The tractor transmission has been rebuilt and the equipment is back in service. The new storage building is ready for moving items into this week. CITY ATTORNEY City Attorney Larson had no report. CITY ADMINISTRATOR City Administrator Morell provided a written report and verbally reported on the state’s legislative session which just ended with no bonding bill. If passed in a special session next Scandia City Council May 20, 2025 Page 5 of 6 month, there is potential for the Bliss Sewer Project to receive funding. The city is looking to receive the new fire tanker in June and the plow truck in November. The 2025 budget was adopted with the understanding that funds will be borrowed for the equipment, estimated at $350,000 by using a portion of cash on hand. More information will be presented at the June 4th Work Session. PRESENTATION BY SCHLENNER WENNER & COMPANY ON THE 2024 AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENT Ryan Schmidt, CPA with Schlenner Wenner & Co., presented highlights of the city’s 2024 audited financial statements resulting in an unmodified, clean opinion. Revenue was under budget by $11,000 and expenditures under budget by $147,000. The unassigned fund balance as a percentage of the annual budget ended at 58.6%. The Big Marine Sewer Fund saw revenues and expenses up a bit, but an overall increase in a net position of $11,000 for the year. The Uptown Sewer Fund saw a net increase of $7,400. The city’s capital assets and infrastructure continue to increase. SCANDIA HERITAGE ALLIANCE PROJECT UPDATE Sue Rodsjo and John Herman of the Scandia Heritage Alliance provided an update on the Water Tower Barn progress, reporting that construction should be starting in September. The pre-design plans have been approved by the state as required by the grant. Rodsjo said the SHA has raised over $3 million in capital and gathered widespread community support. Wood Crest Builders has been selected as the general contractor for rebuilding the water tower barn as an arts and heritage center. A partnership with Forest Lake High School will have the carpentry class construct the Tankhouse Outdoor Café kiosk as a class project. The remaining step to finalize a lease agreement with the city is forthcoming. Rodsjo explained that the SHA has requested the Watershed waive their permit fee but the request must come from the city as the project is on city property. The site includes a rain garden and stormwater pond. Gribble, seconded by Lubke, moved to request the Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed District waive the permit fee for the Water Tower Barn project. Motion carried 5-0. 2026 BUDGET CALENDAR City Administrator Morell presented a meeting schedule for the 2026 budget process. The Capital Improvement Committee will meet in May and June for its recommendations to the budget. The City Council will have its first look at the budget at their August work session. Morell asked Council members to provide guidance ahead of time on what parameters they are expecting. Mayor Kronmiller suggested a tax levy percentage increase that keeps steady with the rate of inflation. Scandia City Council May 20, 2025 Page 6 of 6 ADJOURNMENT Lubke, seconded by Gribble, moved to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:43 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Brenda Eklund City Clerk