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06.a 09-15-26 DRAFT Meeting MinutesSeptember 15, 2026 A regular meeting of the Scandia City Council was held on the above date in the City 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 6:30 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. Council member Mike Lubke participated via Zoom. Staff present: City Attorney Amanda Johnson, City Engineer Isiah Bubany, City Planner TJ Hofer, Public Works Director Charles Fischer, and City Administrator Kyle Morell. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mayor Kronmiller requested that Item 6.f, Approve Winter Recreation Pleasure Skate Program, be removed from the Consent Agenda; Item 6.h, Approve Conditional Use Permit and Variance Request Approval for Home Occupation Business at 14035 205th Street North, be moved to the City Planner report; and Item 10.c.1, Barr Solar Project Operations and Maintenance Agreement, be removed from the agenda because it had been moved to the Consent Agenda. Gribble, seconded by Cusick, moved to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried 5- 0. LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORT The law enforcement report was in the meeting packet. Deputy Jake Anderson was not present at the meeting. PUBLIC FORUM There were no public comments. CONSENT AGENDA The following Consent Agenda was presented: a) Minutes 1. August 18, 2026 Regular Meeting 2. August 18, 2026 Special Meeting 3. September 3, 2026 Work Session b) Treasurer’s Report c) Payment of Vouchers 1. September 1, 2026 2. September 15, 2026 d) Accept the resignation of Dave Wilske from the EDA e) Approve Seasonal Winter On-Call Snowplow Driver Hire f) Approve Winter Recreation Pleasure Skate Program g) Cinnamon Bun Day Proclamation, October 5, 2026 h) Approve Conditional Use Permit and Variance Request Approval for Home Occupation Business at 14035 205th Street North. Resolution 09-16-26-01 Approving Variance for Accessory Structure Location and Resolution 09-16-26-02 Approving Conditional Use Permit for Home Occupation Business. Applicant Joshua Loew i) LMCIT Liability Coverage Waiver Form j) Engineering Updates k) Gateway Trail Contractor’s Request for Payment #4 - $700,731.50 l) Bliss Wastewater Project Contractor’s Request for Payment #4 - $31,788.90 m) Scandia Heritage Alliance DEED Draw Request #3 - $150,747.34 n) National PA Week Proclamation, October 9-12, 2026 o) Approve Site Improvement Agreement - Barr Solar Energy System p) Approve Operations, Maintenance, and Decommissioning Agreement - Barr Solar Energy System Mayor Kronmiller read the Cinnamon Bun Day Proclamation. Libby, seconded by Cusick, moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion carried 5-0. PUBLIC HEARING: REVISIONS TO THE CITY OF SCANDIA CODE OF ORDINANCES CHAPTER 32 – ADMINISTRATIVE CITATIONS City Attorney Amanda Johnson presented amended ordinance language that would allow the City to assess legal fees to properties in violation of City Code. Mayor Kronmiller opened the public hearing at 7:36 p.m. Craig Pittman, 18794 Layton Avenue North, spoke on behalf of the Bliss neighborhood regarding several problem properties. Pittman described one property that appeared to be operating as a junkyard, with more cars, trailers and other motorized vehicles than allowed by City Code. He encouraged the Council to approve the ordinance and take steps to enforce the City's regulations. The public hearing was closed at 7:40 p.m. Libby, seconded by Cusick, moved to approve the ordinance. Motion carried 5-0. Johnson reviewed the next steps for enforcement, explaining that exterior storage is treated differently from dilapidated buildings. Staff will review letters and citations previously sent to property owners. Hazardous buildings require a different process involving the Building Official. Mayor Kronmiller asked about the process for addressing long-standing violations. Johnson explained that staff would review existing notices and citations, meet with the City Council in closed session as appropriate, and then proceed with filing in Court. RESOLUTION NO. 09-15-26-03 – APPROVING 2027 PRELIMINARY TAX LEVY City Administrator Kyle Morell presented Resolution No. 09-15-26-03 approving the 2027 preliminary tax levy. The proposed levy is $3,409,526, a 6.31% increase over 2026. Morell explained that the preliminary levy is a not-to-exceed amount and may be reduced later in the budget process but cannot be increased. The increase is approximately $220,000, with approximately $147,000 related to increased debt service and approximately $70,000 or less related to operating costs. Final insurance and service contract costs were still being determined. Libby, seconded by Lubke, moved to approve Resolution No. 09-15-26-03 as presented. Motion carried 4-1, with Gribble opposed. 2050 COMP PLAN City Administrator Morell reviewed options for completing the City's required 2050 Comprehensive Plan update. The City is required to complete the update and submit it to the Metropolitan Council by approximately mid-2028. Council discussed using the City's current planning services provider, Bolton & Menk, rather than conducting a full Request for Proposals process. Morell explained that a more limited review would allow the City to identify required updates and control the scope and cost of the work. Council also discussed resident participation and the need to review required elements of the plan, including the Local Surface Water Management Plan. Council directed staff to move forward with Bolton & Menk and develop a service agreement for planning services and the Comprehensive Plan work for 2027 and 2028. The motion carried 5-0. PARK & RECREATION COMMITTEE There was no representative from the Parks and Recreation Committee present. Public Works Director Charles Fischer provided an update. The committee discussed winter activities, including a community day at the rink with a food truck and the possibility of having the City provide food truck items to the first 100 attendees. The committee also discussed park improvements. A scheduled tour of Wind in the Pines was cancelled due to weather. PLANNING COMMISSION Conditional Use Permit and Variance – Home Occupation Business at 14035 205th Street North, Applicant Joshua Loew City Planner TJ Hofer presented the Conditional Use Permit and variance request for a home occupation business at 14035 205th Street North. The applicant proposes a small farm stand to sell goods and produce year-round. A Conditional Use Permit is required because of the outdoor storage and anticipated increase in traffic. A variance is required because the proposed stand would be located in front of the principal structure. The Planning Commission held a public hearing on September 1, 2026, with no public comments received. The Commission recommended approval by a vote of 3-0, with conditions addressing customer turnaround space, signage indicating when the retail use is operating, and the appearance of the structure. Council discussed the City's regulations for farm stands and whether the Unified Development Code clearly establishes what is permitted, where such structures may be located, and when they may operate. Council members also discussed whether the ordinance should be clarified before approving the request. Councilmember Gribble stated requiring a CUP and possible a variance for seasonal stands seems like overkill. Planner Hofer stated the City offered this option to the applicant, but they chose to proceed with the applications. Libby moved to table the application for future discussion. Gribble seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY The EDA will hold a Business Breakfast on October 7 at 7:00 a.m. The EDA is working to establish appropriate procedures for the sale of merchandise and is working toward a lifecycle housing seminar in the spring. SCANDIA INTERNET ACTION COMMITTEE The IAC did not meet. TOURISM COMMITTEE The Tourism Committee did not meet. BUILDING OFFICIAL There were no updates from the Building Official. FIRE DEPARTMENT Fire Chief Mike Hinz reported that the August activity report was included in the meeting packet. The department responded to 25 calls during August. Hinz noted an excessive number of calls involving a local group home and a private residence. The department is exploring the establishment of a fee schedule for excessive calls. CITY PLANNER There were no additional updates from the City Planner. CITY ENGINEER Agreement for Designated City Engineer City Engineer Isiah Bubany presented the proposed service agreement for designated City Engineer services for 2027 and 2028. Kronmiller, seconded by Lubke, moved to approve the service agreement. Motion carried 5-0. Bubany reported that the County Road portion of the Gateway Trail is complete and the remaining trail work is expected to be completed in October. Council Member Gribble asked about the portion of the trail installed behind City Hall and whether consideration had been given to snowmobiles that have historically used the area to travel between Oakhill and Olinda. Council Member Lubke suggested that the City designate a snowmobile route through the City Hall grounds to keep snowmobiles off the new trail. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS Public Works Director Fischer provided the monthly report. The department continued ditch mowing and brush cutting. Budgeted Trailer Purchase Request Fischer requested approval to purchase two new trailers to replace the City's 2012 equipment trailer and 1998 utility trailer. Both trailers are scheduled for replacement in the Capital Improvement Plan. The equipment trailer is not adequate for the weight of the City's tractor and loader, and the utility trailer has exceeded its useful life. The proposed replacement trailers are slightly heavier duty. The CIP budget is $30,000, and the proposed purchase price is $26,753.32. The existing trailers were sold at auction. Libby, seconded by Gribble, moved to approve the trailer purchase request. Motion carried. CITY ATTORNEY There were no updates from the City Attorney. CITY ADMINISTRATOR There were no updates from the City Administrator. ADJOURNMENT Gribble, seconded by Cusick, moved to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 7:43 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kyle Morell City Administrator