09.d 02.24.2026 Minutes TC DRAFT
Scandia Tourism Committee, Community Center Hall February 24, 2026
Members in Attendance: Sue Dickens, Lynne Moratzka, Renee Lee, and Sarah Porubcansky.
Absent: Jaimin Brown. Additional Attendees: Jim Gribble (City Council) and Brenda “Bee” Stignani
(Office Assistant).
Call to Order Chair Dickens called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m. A quorum is present.
Motion by Porubcansky, seconded by Moratzka, to approve the agenda with flexibility.
Motion carried unanimously.
Motion by Porubcansky, seconded by Dickens, to approve the January 27, 2025 Tourism
Meeting minutes. Motion carried unanimously.
Discussion – Draft Tourism Work Plan
Dickens provided handouts for facilitating discussion which staff included as Late Addition in the
meeting packet.
1. Prepare a strategy of performance measurements.
2. Prepare a strategy for paid advertisement.
3. Introduce one new event in 2026.
Discussion over the handouts – action points:
• Goal 1 to be clarified and tailored to each event as needed
• City staff to clarify the exact expense for the St Croix Valley Visitors Guide and which budget
will cover this expense in the future as it meets the needs of both Tourism and EDA if this
advertisement is supported for future editions
• Lee volunteered to research additional free opportunities for advertising events and tourist
opportunities in Scandia, Dickens to share compiled spreadsheet of free event advertisements
• Committee members asked to all collect information for consideration of paid options for
tourist events and opportunities in Scandia to be discussed at the March 24, 2026 meeting
• Porubcansky provided web link to staff to share with all committee members to consider a
coop membership with Explore Minnesota - https://mn.gov/tourism-industry/industry-
opportunities/partner-with-us/co-op-marketing.jsp
• Reorder Objectives in Goal 3 to be
1. Promote local culture…..
2. Collaborate with local businesses…..
3. Increase brand awareness…..
4. Increase economic impact….
• Dickens to schedule a Zoom meeting with potential key parties to pitch the idea of a bike tour
at Fall Crawl in 2026 within one week:
o Future considerations: establishing route, contacts for permits, limiting number of
participants, identifying possible sponsors and check point locations, and identifying a
means to distinguish participants at checkpoints from non-participants.
Prepare for Joint EDA Meeting – performance measurement for goals
Dickens reported that there has been no contact from EDA to set a joint meeting date at this time.
Adjournment – Motion by Lee, seconded by Dickens, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried
unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 5:26 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Brenda “Bee” Stignani, Office Assistant