Letter to Scandia 9-22-14
September 22, 2014
City of Scandia
Scandia Community and Senior Center
14727 209th St. N.
Scandia, MN 55073
Dear Mayor and Council Members,
We look forward to the special Log House Landing meeting scheduled tomorrow evening and agree that
it will be very helpful for the Council as a collective body to discuss and identify issues that are important
to the City. Other groups involved have had this opportunity and intend to bring their concerns to an
advisory committee for consideration in what we anticipate will be an engaged and cooperative effort.
When we discussed the formation of a committee with members of the other interested parties
(Watershed, Planning Commission, River Association, Washington County, DNR, Park Servic e and the
community) there was a strong desire to understand each group’s concerns at the outset, but there was
an equally strong feeling that the committee should convene without specific design limitations.
The issues raised in the goal setting objective s that Kristina distributed are all excellent suggestions of
the many concerns that need to be identified and explored in depth. We would ask that the Council
members discuss these issues (along with others) and perhaps prioritize them, but that the City not
predetermine the design elements or direction. An advisory committee will enable a collaborative effort
by all stakeholders to research and explore solutions. If specific decisions are made at Tuesday’s
meeting without the benefit of this process, then it effectively derails the ability of all groups to
participate. The ultimate project design and direction will be decided by the City Council, but we ask
that you make these decisions only after an advisory committee with broad representation has had the
opportunity to make recommendations based on thorough research and thoughtful deliberation.
We hope to come away from next Tuesday’s meeting with a better understanding of the Council’s
concerns and with your support for an inclusive and collaborative process.
Respectfully,
Pam Plowman Smith, on behalf of
Friends of Log House Landing