Loading...
09.04.2025 PRC MinutesCity of Scandia Parks and Recreation Committee Thursday, September 4, 2025 A meeting of the Parks & Recreation Committee was held on the above date at the Community Center and Zoom. Present: Terry Gorham (Chair), Greg Zauner (Vice -Chair), Dustin Hegland, and Kathy Sanville. Absent: Kim Johnson. Also Present: Kyle Morell (City Administrator), Mike Lubke (City Council), and Brenda "Bee" Stignani (Office Assistant). Gorham called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm. A quorum was present. PUBLIC FORUM None APPROVAL OF AGENDA Gorham requested to strike item 7.b from the agenda, and change item 7.c to Liten Park status update and volunteer opportunity. Hegland moved to approve the agenda as amended, which Zauner seconded. Motion carried unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Gorham called for any additions or corrections to the August 4, 2025 minutes. No additions or corrections were submitted. The minutes stand approved as documented. REPORTS Chair Report Gorham reported this month all efforts have been in organizing the Taco Daze Pickleball Tourney. OLD BUSINESS Committee response to Gateway Trail letter Gorham presented a support letter to send to Council regarding the Gateway Trail. Gorham requested some clarification about the project. Morell explained a request for authorization to send out for bids is planned for the October Council agenda with all bids to be presented to Council in November. November is the first time Council expects to have a voting opportunity and the costs will be known. Morell explained how the city became responsible for the LCCMR grant application, but it is a DNR project in connection with Washington County. All PRC members present agreed they are in support of the Gateway Trail, but discussion concluded the support letter needs revision. Gorham to rework the letter for consideration at the October PRC meeting. Morell confirmed the primary objections to the Gateway Trail project are the tunnel and a few homeowners who didn't understand completely the DNR easements until now. Morell expanded on other project details including the requirement for a grade separation for horse and pedestrian crossings based on the speed of the road, the complication of the grant being funded as submitted with the tunnel and requirement to spend the funds by 2027 while future applications require 25% matching funds by the applicant and the cost of a tunnel will only go up, and finally the DNR building for projected needs 30-40 years out. The initial Gateway Trail LCCMR grant application included connecting to William O'Brien State Park, but that application was denied and advice given in feedback to scale back to a smaller section of the trail. The DNR is working on a plan now that will in 3- 5 years connect the Scandia trail section to the state park. An unrelated LCCMR grant has been awarded to Scandia for the Water Tower Barn project. This grant includes installing sidewalks and crossings to connect the Water Tower Barn to Gammelgarden, the Community Center, and out to Oakhill Road at a location very close to the trailhead entrance of the Gateway Trail. This separate project is anticipated to be under construction next year and will informally tie into the Gateway Trail. Taco Daze/Pickleball tournament planning Gorham reported 21 teams are registered. The Fun Section was cancelled due to low registrations which allowed expanding the Competitive Bracket from 18 to 21 teams for 3 round robin games for every team to end by noon with a single elimination tournament play to follow after an official lunch break. September 4, 2025 Scandia Parks and Recreation Committee Page 2 of 3 Presentation of visiting all MN state parks Gorham requested holding this item for next month. All consented. National Night Out, Community Fun Day, & Scandia Farmers Market recap Zauner reported NNO had a low turnout. The Community Fun Day was awesome; ticket taking helps the overall structure at the park, kid contest winners required to attend worked very well but missed the winning classroom teacher. The table at the Farmers Market was slow but those who stopped reported using Facebook as their primary information source and a few who go to the city website. Gorham added appreciation for the efforts of the Internet Action Committee who helped to make Community Fun Day successful. Zauner adding pre -making some burgers at Meisters helped to make the dinner more successful also. The 400 market bags were distributed quickly, Scandia Farmers Market organizers recorded 500 visited the market. Vinterfest planning Morell reported a letter will go to Security State Bank to request sponsoring the fire dancers. Zauner is requesting entertainers from same company but requesting two different dancers, 2 food trucks are booked, and the decision with Bolton & Menk to work to advertise cash prizes for the snow sculpture and Vinterbean for more participation. Gorham commented communicating with Ozark Tavern to host the Vinterbean contest, but Zauner is structuring all events in the centralized location. Zauner will follow up to see if something different will work. The button contest will operate on the same general schedule, Zauner will coordinate with staff and the school to get the material to and from the students in November. Zauner and Lubke will pass on homeschooling contacts with staff to assist getting the word out to more 51" grade Scandia students. PRC Operational Calendar Winter programming missing from the agenda, Stignani reported the Ice-skating instructor is searching for assistants and would like to offer only the Learn to Skate Beginner and Advanced classes as she does not feel qualified to teach the Hockey Skills class. Gorham and Zauner commented at the Farmers Market a vendor mentioned being a skating instructor with Hocky Skills experience. Staff to follow up on this possible lead. NEW BUSINESS Scandia Elementary School PTO Playground Fundraising Request Gorham briefly outlined the Scandia Elementary School PTO request and a conversation with Mayor Kronmiller. Morell explained that a city who levies taxes for funds would be in a questionable situation to donate funds to a school who is another taxing entity who should levy for projects when they need funds. Even if the project is noble and of benefit to the community as a whole. Gorham reported the PTO has submitted a request to the Lions and Stignani passed on a lead to apply for a MIDCO donation. Gorham would not support taking funds from the 404-park fund to support such a project. Morell confirmed that the community center court project is still open so any remaining balance available for next year to add to the levy request of $20k is not known. The investment into Parks for the courts, ice rink, and playground at the Community Center benefits children and the community as a whole. There are other Park projects that have been put on hold for lack of funding that would be further delayed if funds were diverted to the elementary school. Morell confirmed there are no known applications anticipated from developers for park dedication fees in the foreseeable future. Liten Park status update and volunteer opportunity Gorham updated the activity of the Friends of Scandia Parks and Trails in Liten Park as they are in the final year of a 3-year grant. As a part of this grant, FSPT invites PRC members to help plant 31 bare root shrubs and trees grown in the gravel beds by Tom Furey next to the Warming House, in Liten Park on September 201". Gorham will connect all who will volunteer with Karen Schik. September 4, 2025 Scandia Parks and Recreation Committee Page 3 of 3 Modifications to our plan to address an extension of a bicycle trail from Forest Lake to Scandia, possible change to the Comprehensive Plan Gorham briefly outlined a conversation with Mayor Kronmiller to keep Parks and Recreation Committee members aware of long-term planning goals of bike paths in Scandia and possibly connecting to Forest Lake's Headwaters trail — a long-term plan to run east/west to Manning Trail N. Perhaps something to consider in trail planning in Scandia of possible path from the Annex, cross Hwy 97 and follow Oakhill to the south side of Bone Lake in crossing to Manning Trail. No real action now, but when discussion comes up for comprehensive plan in the future, this is something to recall. AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING The proposed agenda for Monday, October 6, 2025: 1. Gateway Trail Support Letter 2. Taco Daze Recap 3. MN State Parks 4. Winter Programming 5. Vinterfest 6. Operational Calendar ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn the meeting by Hegland, seconded by Sanville. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:18 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Brenda 'Bee" Stignani, Office Assistant/Parks and Recreation Coordinator