03-06-07 Council
March 6, 2007
Scandia City Council met on the above date. Mayor Dennis Seefeldt called the meeting to order at
7:00 p.m. The following councilmembers were present: Councilmembers Pete Crum, Dolores
Peterson, Mayor Dennis Seefeldt. Absent: Councilmembers Michael Harnetty and Donnette Yehle.
Staff present: Administrator Anne Hurlburt, City Attorney Dave Hebert, Treasurer Colleen Firkus,
Deputy Clerk Brenda Eklund.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Mayor Seefeldt added an addition to the agenda regarding the development known as Tii Gavo.
Dolores Peterson made a motion to approve the agenda as amended. Pete Crum seconded the
motion and motion adopted unanimously.
ORDINANCE 100 – ADOPTING LAWFUL GAMBLING REGULATIONS FOR THE CITY
OF SCANDIA
At the February 20, 2007 council meeting, a representative of the Scandia Marine Lions expressed
a concern regarding language in Section 10(J) of the draft ordinance. City Attorney Hebert
recommended a change in the language of this section and the revised draft ordinance was
reviewed.
Dolores Peterson made a motion to adopt Ordinance 100 Adopting Lawful Gambling
Regulations for the City of Scandia. Pete Crum seconded the motion and motion adopted
unanimously.
SCANDIA WOMEN’S SOFTBALL – GAMBLING PERMIT APPLICATION
The Scandia Women’s Softball has applied for an Excluded Lawful Gambling Permit to conduct
Ham Bingo on March 23, 2007 and Turkey Bingo on November 16, 2007 at the Scandia
Community Center.
Pete Crum made a motion to approve the Scandia Women’s Softball application for an
Excluded Gambling Permit for events on March 23, 2007 and November 16, 2007. Dolores
Peterson seconded the motion and motion adopted unanimously.
RESOLUTION 03-06-07-01 CALLING FOR HEARING ON STREET VACATION
At the February 20, 2007 meeting, the Park and Recreation Committee presented a report
concerning improvements to Old Lions Park. They recommended that the City consider vacating
street right-of-ways within the park boundary. City Attorney Hebert prepared a resolution calling
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for a public hearing to vacate parts of 3 Street and 1 Avenue.
Dennis Seefeldt made a motion to adopt Resolution 03-06-07-01 Calling for Public Hearing to
Consider Street Vacation within the Lions Park Boundary. Dolores Peterson seconded the
motion and motion adopted unanimously.
A public hearing will be scheduled for April 3, 2007.
INSURANCE PLANS
The Human Resources Committee (Councilmembers Peterson and Crum) worked with
Administrator Hurlburt and agent Barry Sutherland (Health Insurance Mart, Scandia) to develop a
recommendation for an employee health insurance plan. Councilmember Crum reported that
offering health care coverage to employees is a standard practice and that he was impressed with
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March 6, 2007
Page 2
the quote from Appletree. Councilmember Peterson also stated that she felt the Appletree plan
provided a fair quote and was lower than anticipated. The Committee recommends approving
coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield Plan #176 paired with a health savings account. This plan
is available only to members of the Southwest/West Central Service Cooperative, administered by
the Appletree Institute. New employees will be given a sixty-day waiting period prior to being
added to the health care coverage plan.
Pete Crum made a motion to adopt Resolution 03-06-07-02 Establishing Policies for
Employee Health Insurance Benefits. Dennis Seefeldt seconded the motion and motion
adopted unanimously.
Dolores Peterson made a motion to adopt Resolution 03-06-07-03 Approving a Health
Insurance Plan and Accepting the Offer of Coverage from Blue Cross Blue Shield. Pete Crum
seconded the motion and motion adopted unanimously.
Pete Crum made a motion to approve the Joint Powers Agreement with the Southwest/West
Central Service Cooperative for Group Employee Benefits. Dennis Seefeldt seconded the
motion and motion adopted unanimously.
Dolores Peterson made a motion to designate Administrator Anne Hurlburt as the City’s
representative to the Southwest/West Central Service Cooperative. Pete Crum seconded the
motion and motion adopted unanimously.
ADDITION TO AGENDA
As the developers of the plat known as Tii Gavo are pulling together the necessary items to present
the final plat, Mayor Seefeldt has asked that a sub-committee be appointed to meet with the
developers to negotiate park fees. Mayor Seefeldt, Councilmember Peterson and Administrator
Hurlburt will meet with the developer to make recommendations in regards to park fees prior to
their final plat submission.
The Planning Commission meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. The following members
were present: Vice-Chairman James Malmquist, Peter Schwarz and newly appointed
member Christine Maefsky. Kevin Nickelson joined the meeting at 8:30 p.m. Absent:
Chairman Chris Ness.
WILLOWBROOK CHURCH : TEXT AMENDMENT TO SHORELAND REGULATIONS
Pastor Brad Reis stated the request of Willowbrook Church to amend the development code to
allow places of worship in the Shoreland Overlay District. Planner Berry Farrington presented her
findings and recommendations, which indicated any adverse impacts, could be addressed through
conditions established in a Conditional Use Permit. However, the Planner questioned as to whether
no adverse impact is reason enough to amend the ordinance and perhaps a public benefit should be
identified to support a change in the Shoreland regulations.
The Planning Commission tabled the hearing; to be continued April 3, 2007. Pastor Brad Reis
agreed to a sixty-day extension.
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March 6, 2007
Page 3
WHITE ROCK RANCH, LLC : PRELIMINARY PLAT
Mr. Mark Youngdahl presented the request to divide 105 acres, with 25.6 acres in Scandia, into 14
residential lots, with the original homestead remaining on Lot 3, Block 2. There would be three
new homes and the existing farmhouse in Scandia, but no new roads in Scandia. There would be
some wetland impacts on Lots 5 and 6 with mitigation on Lot 4. Preliminary Plat approval has been
received from the Forest Lake Planning Commission and City Council. Planner Farrington
presented her findings and recommendation for approval with conditions.
Mayor Seefeldt stressed the priority that White Rock Lake has been given the past years in regards
to water quality improvement. The town has viewed this area as a very sensitive piece of property
and has taken many steps to minimize degradation. Mayor Seefeldt would like the developer to
consider addressing the concerns of water quality protection through restrictive covenants. These
could include excluding farm animals from the lots along the lake (Block 2), and filling or berming
the ditches on the southeast portion of the property to reduce run-off into the lake. Mr. Youngdahl
felt that these were reasonable requests and would address them at the next presentation. Mayor
Seefeldt would also like the landscaping plan to show screening on the lake lots.
Planning Commission recommended to the City Council that they adopt the draft resolution
submitted with the staff report to approve the preliminary plat of White Rock Ranch dated February
12, 2007, with the conditions and findings as drafted, with the following changes: Add Condition
12 “That the Covenants state that owners of Shoreland lots apply best management practices as
recommended by the watershed district”, and Condition 13 “That two existing barns would be
removed from Lot 3 to meet accessory structure standards.”
Dolores Peterson made a motion to table a decision on the preliminary plat of White Rock
Lake until a full council is present. Pete Crum seconded the motion and motion adopted
unanimously.
The applicant was advised to submit the requested materials on the livestock issue, ditch
engineering, and a revised landscape plan to provide for screening on the lake lots.
ORDINANCE 102 -- AMENDMENT TO DEVELOPMENT CODE REGARDING SAFETY
REQUIREMENTS FOR SWIMMING POOLS
Planning Commission recommended to the City Council to amend Chapter 2, Section 10.31 (2) (I)
of the Development Code regarding safety requirements for swimming pools to state, “A structure
or safety fence of a non-climbable type at least four (4) feet in height, with a self-closing and
latching gate shall completely enclose the pool, but shall not be located within any required yard
areas. “ Christine Maefsky seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.
Pete Crum made a motion to accept the recommendation of the Planning Commission to
adopt Ordinance 102 Amending Chapter 2, Section 10.31(2)(I) of the Development Code
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March 6, 2007
Page 4
Regarding Safety Requirements for Swimming Pools. Dolores Peterson seconded the motion
and motion adopted unanimously.
JON RODGERS – VARIANCE
The public hearing for a variance from setback requirements to construct a new septic system for an
existing home located at 23409 Lofton for applicant Jon Rodgers was held December 5, 2006. The
matter was tabled to the January 23 meeting and then to the March 6, 2007 meeting in order to
obtain more information.
Planning Commission recommended to the City Council that they adopt the draft resolution to
approve application of Jon Rodgers for variance from sewage treatment system setbacks with the
findings as drafted and the following changes to conditions: Condition 1 ends at “November 10,
2006,” as the 33.5 foot setback from OHW has been verified. Condition 4 ends at “future variance
requests.” Add Condition 8 to state ”That the sewage disposal system is protected from outside
storage or vehicle traffic, with either a fence or posts surrounding the system.”
Dolores Peterson made a motion to accept the recommendations of the Planning Commission
to approve Resolution 03-06-07-04 Approving Application of Jon Rodgers for Variance from
Sewage System Setbacks as amended. Pete Crum seconded the motion and motion adopted
unanimously.
ADDITION TO AGENDA
Letters from both the planner and attorney were addressed regarding the final plat submission for
the plat known as Tii Gavo. The letters indicated that the submission was not complete and that the
final plat shows significant changes to what was approved with the preliminary plat. Attorney
Hebert advised to allow the developers to address the concerns and wait for their response.
Dolores Peterson made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Pete Crum seconded the motion and
meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Brenda Eklund
City of Scandia Deputy Clerk