4.a) Feb. 3, 2014 MinutesCity of Scandia Parks and Recreation Committee
February 3, 2014
Members Present: Greg Zauner (Chair), Matt Rasmussen (Vice-Chair), Alex Bildeaux, Brad Borg,
Ryan Jinks, Dan Lee (City Council Representative)
Staff Present: Tim Kieffer (Director of Public Works), Judi Negus (Office Assistant), Kristina Handt
(City Administrator)
Chair Zauner called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. (Bildeaux arrived at 7:03 p.m.)
PUBLIC FORUM
There were no comments.
The Committee members were introduced and Jinks and Borg were welcomed to the Committee.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Rasmussen, seconded by Bildeaux, to approve the agenda. The motion carried 5-
0.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion by Rasmussen, seconded by Chair Zauner, to approve the January 6, 2014 minutes.
The motion carried 5-0.
REPORTS
Chair’s Report
Chair Zauner provided a written report to the Committee.
Staff Report
Negus reported since the last meeting each of the skating programs had a cancellation due to
school closing. Negus shared Katy Herman agreed to extend the Learn to Skate Program another
day. The final class is scheduled for Thursday, February 20. The afterschool Pleasure Skating
class will conclude on Thursday, February 13, as scheduled.
Negus also reported she has received 10 recreation program surveys to date. The surveys were
distributed to Scandia Elementary students and staff. Negus will provide survey results at a future
meeting in hopes of receiving more responses prior to then.
OLD BUSINESS
Vinterfest 2014
Pam Arnold attended the meeting to provide feedback on the LilleTour and Quiz Promenade events.
Arnold provided the Committee with the LilleTour and Quiz Promenade banner that was on display.
Arnold reported she had 22 volunteers for the events. Arnold was pleased with the participation and
suggested it helped to have Ann Bancroft draw participants. Arnold also suggested it might be
helpful to have other local celebrities participate next year. Arnold informed there were 85
registrations accepted at Gammelgarden. Arnold would like to expand the events next year to start
on Friday night and include a luminary and loppet event, music and food and beverage, casual
skating on the pond at Gammelgarden, exhibition skiers, more groomed trails, live reindeer and dog
sledding. Arnold offered her assistance to help next year. Arnold also shared she would like to work
with the City to buy trail-grooming equipment and expand our trails. Arnold also made a
recommendation to include better map signage for the LilleTour/Quiz Promenade next year.
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Scandia Parks and Recreation Committee
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Chair Zauner suggested we consider a parade next year. Handt pointed out that organizing a
parade is a lot of work and questioned if the Committee members could make such a commitment.
Chair Zauner also recommended the Pleasant Valley Cloggers performances should be announced.
Although the 1:30 p.m. performance was well attended, the 3 p.m. performance had little
participation.
Handt recommended next year we expand the snow sculpture contest hours and move the contest
closer to the ice rink where there is more activity. Handt shared Bolton Menk would like to award
trophies at next year’s contest, as well as cash prizes.
Handt reported that due to miscommunication, there was no slap shot contest; contestants did not
know where to sign up. Handt informed the Scanley Cup hockey tournament brought in a $1,000
donation to our skating park. In addition, Sally and DJ Dan Swanson donated $400 towards the
skating park audio system.
The Lions food wagon sales did not go well and shut down earlier than planned. Handt suggested
the Lions consider having their winter pancake breakfast the Saturday of Vinterfest next year.
Handt would like to see better acknowledgement of sponsors next year, as well as a list of sponsors
at all event locations. Handt informed Mayor Simonson will make a formal acknowledgement of
sponsorships at the February 18 City Council meeting.
Arnold suggested next year there be better communication of the schedule of events. Bildeaux
suggested the schedule of events be posted at multiple locations. Handt would like to see more
businesses involved and better communication with businesses of our scheduled events.
NEW BUSINESS
Lilleskogen Butterfly Garden Presentation (Janie O’Connor)
Janie O’Connor shared the “History of Butterfly Garden in Lilleskogen Park” presentation. There are
262 monarch waystations in Minnesota, many of which are on private property. We have the
opportunity to create a butterfly garden that is certified as a waystation.
The Lilleskogen Park Restoration plan includes an estimate of $25,000 in expenses for the butterfly
garden. O’Connor shared the Friends of Scandia will donate $1,000 towards expenses and the
Scandia-Marine Lions plan to offer financial support as well. In addition, O’Connor has drafted a
grant to the W atershed for their consideration. The Committee agreed that a butterfly garden of
2,500 to 3,000 square feet would be sufficient.
Currently, O’Connor has 11 volunteers to support the butterfly garden. O’Connor is making two
more upcoming presentations to other groups in hopes of generating more excitement for the
butterfly garden and volunteers.
Kieffer informed the earliest it would be to start planting in the butterfly garden would be Fall 2014;
perhaps next Spring. Bildeaux pointed out the curb cutout and entrances would probably not be
completed until June or July 2014. Kieffer plans to obtain quotes for the curb cutout in March.
O’Connor stated the garden would need to have daily watering for the first two years. It was
questioned whether rain barrels would be sufficient for water maintenance. Kieffer agreed to
investigate the possibility of pumping water from the pond/wetland with the Watershed.
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Scandia Parks and Recreation Committee
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O’Connor agreed to provide the Committee with an updated cost estimate per square foot for the
butterfly garden.
Lilleskogen Park Restoration Strategic Action Plan Updates
The Committee reviewed the plan and recommended the following updates to goals:
Completion of Gravel Parking Lot – Push out due date to Spring 2014 for curb cutout completion.
Wetland Restoration - Push out due dates to Fall 2016 and Spring 2017.
Clearing of Invasive Species – Push out due date to Spring 2015. (Kieffer will mow a parcel of the
area to see if it is an effective way to maintain the species eradication.)
Installation of Butterfly Gardens – Push out due date for the rain barrels to Fall 2015.
Installation of Picnic Shelter – Change due date to Spring 2014 for “Design Shelter.” Chair Zauner
felt we should plan the design now so it is ready in the event an Eagle Scout is seeking a project
assignment.
Completion of Outdoor Classroom – Push out due dates to Spring/Summer 2016.
Installation of Entrance Signs – Push out due dates to Spring 2015 and Summer 2015.
Installation of Interpretive Signs and Kiosk – Push out due dates to Fall 2016 and Spring 2017.
Installation of Park Benches – Push out due dates to Fall 2016, Winter 2016, Spring 2016 and
Summer 2016.
Election of Chair and Vice-Chair
Motion by Borg, seconded by Jinks, to appoint Zauner as Chair and Bildeaux as Vice-Chair.
The motion carried 5-0.
AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING
The Committee agreed on the following agenda items for the March 3, 2014 PRC meeting:
1. Scanley Cup Recap (Corey Roberts)
2. Minnesota Ironman Bicycle Ride
3. Summer Recreation Programs
ADJOURNMENT
Rasmussen, seconded by Bildeaux, moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 5-0.
The meeting adjourned at 8:47 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Judi Negus
Office Assistant