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05-01-07 Council May 1, 2007 A regular meeting of the Scandia City Council was held on the above date. Mayor Dennis Seefeldt called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following councilmembers were present: Councilmembers Peter Crum, Michael Harnetty, Dolores Peterson, Donnette Yehle, Mayor Dennis Seefeldt. Staff present: Administrator Anne Hurlburt, City Attorney Dave Hebert, Treasurer Colleen Firkus, Deputy Clerk Brenda Eklund. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mayor Seefeldt presented the following addition to the agenda: A report on a DNR workshop that th he attended on April 26 concerning protection of the St. Croix river valley. Donnette Yehle made a motion to approve the agenda as amended. Michael Harnetty seconded the motion and motion adopted unanimously. G. O. BONDS FOR 2007 ROAD PROJECT – RESOLUTION 05-01-07-01 Monte Eastvold, Northland Securities, presented the details of the sale of General Obligation Bonds for the 2007 Road Improvement Project. The bond issue will finance the 2007 road project in the amount of $1,430,000.00 at an average interest rate of 3.9379%. Maturity date payments begin 12/1/08 through 12/1/17, with interest payments on 12/1/07 and semiannually 6/1 and 12/1 th thereafter. The closing date is scheduled to occur on May 30. Mr. Eastvold explained the tax impact analysis and the anticipated tax levy calculations. Dolores Peterson made a motion to adopt Resolution 05-01-07-01 Awarding the Sale of $1,430,000 General Obligation Improvement Bonds, Series 2007A. Michael Harnetty seconded the motion and motion adopted unanimously. DISCUSSION OF LEGAL NEWSPAPER Mayor Seefeldt asked for public comment. None were made, therefore council did not take up this issue. DELINEATION OF WETLANDS IN LILLESKOGEN PARK The Park and Recreation Committee has recommended that the wetlands in the park be delineated as a next step in the improvement plan for Lilleskogen Park. This work can be tied into the wetland delineations being done as part of the 2007 road improvement project, potentially at a cost savings. The estimated cost for the delineation of the park’s wetland is $1,500. Funds are available in the Parks Capital Improvement Fund. Peter Crum made a motion to authorize the delineation of wetlands in Lilleskogen Park. Dolores Peterson seconded the motion and motion adopted unanimously. 2007 CONTRACT WITH LAKES AREA YOUTH SERVICE BUREAU The contract with the Lakes Area Youth Services Bureau to provide health, social and recreational services to the residents of Scandia in the year 2007 was presented. A lump sum payment of $5,250 (the same as in 2006) is requested in return for these services. City Attorney Hebert reviewed the contract and found no discrepancies. Councilmember Harnetty would like to see statistics regarding the number of Scandia residents being served by the YSB. Administrator Hurlburt will contact the organization for this information. Dolores Peterson made a motion to approve the contract with Scandia City Council May 1, 2007 Page 2 the Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau including a lump sum payment in the amount of $5,250 for 2007 services. Donnette Yehle seconded the motion and motion adopted unanimously. 2007 LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES ANNUAL CONFERENCE Council discussed attendance at the 2007 League of MN Cities Annual Conference in Duluth on June 27-29. As all Scandia councilmembers are considered newly elected, they would receive a reduced rate of $240 per attendee. Council felt that this conference would provide valuable educational and networking opportunities. Peter Crum made a motion to authorize Councilmembers and the City Administrator to attend the League of MN Cities Annual Conference on June 27-29. Michael Harnetty seconded the motion and motion adopted unanimously. 2007 SUMMER RECREATION PROGRAM STAFFING Recreation Coordinator Marty McKelvey has requested the following staffing recommendations for the summer program: 1) The hiring of two part-time, seasonal Recreation Program Youth Leaders to supplement Camp Lakamaga’s staff. Pay rate of $7.50 to $8.00 per hour; 2) Tennis Instructor Violet Shortly ($10 per hour); Skateboarding Instructors Joey Yetman ($12 per hour) and Neil Taurinskas ($10 per hour); Art Instructor Kristen Stenborg ($12 per hour); 3) Authorize signature of an agreement with Sports Unlimited for staffing Lacrosse camps. City Attorney has reviewed the program agreement with Sports Unlimited and found it to be in order. Dolores Peterson made a motion to authorize staff to proceed with staffing the parks program as requested and to authorize signature of the agreement with Sports Unlimited. Dennis Seefeldt seconded the motion and motion adopted unanimously. REPORT ON DNR WORKSHOP th Mayor Seefeldt reported on a workshop he attended on April 26, sponsored by the DNR in regards to the protection of land in the St. Croix valley. A representative from the Trust for Public Land discussed the organization’s method of inspecting conservation easements. Mayor Seefeldt would like to meet with the TPL to further discuss these details. Administrator Hurlburt was directed to arrange a meeting with a representative of the Trust for Public Land and Mayor Seefeldt, Councilmember Harnetty, and Planning Commissioners Malmquist and Maefsky. The Planning Commission meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. The following members were present: Chair Chris Ness, Vice-Chair Jim Malmquist, Christine Maefesky, Kevin Nickelson, Peter Schwarz; City Planner Berry Farrington. GERMAN LAKE VENTURES, LLC – VARIANCE FROM MINIMUM BUILDABLE AREA, LOT 4 OF GERMAN LAKE VISTAS : RESOLUTION 05-01-07-02 Steve Hursh, representing the owners of the property, presented a request for a variance from minimum buildable area on Lot 4 of German Lake Vistas. This plat received preliminary plat approval by the City Council on January 23, 2007. The applicant has determined that Lot 4 falls 3,000 feet short of the minimum one-acre of contiguous buildable land required by the Scandia Scandia City Council May 1, 2007 Page 3 zoning ordinance. Following the public hearing, the Planning Commission and Council discussed the planner’s recommended denial of the variance, as the circumstances of the variance do not constitute a hardship. The Planning Commission recommended to the City Council to adopt draft resolution 05-01-07-02 to deny the variance request for buildable acreage. Michael Harnetty made a motion to accept the recommendation of the Planning Commission to adopt Resolution 05-01-07-02 denying the request of German Lake Ventures for a buildable land area variance. Dolores Peterson seconded the motion and motion adopted unanimously. City Attorney Hebert handed a copy of Resolution 05-01-07-02 to applicant Jeff Hilger, vice- president of German Lake Ventures, LLC. BIG MARINE DEVELOPMENT, LLC – AMENDMENT TO PRELIMINARY PLAT OF TII GAVO : RESOLUTION 05-01-07-03 Roger Tomten, Putman Planning and Design, presented a request to amend the preliminary plat for the Tii Gavo Open Space Conservation Subdivision. The elimination of the community well from the project that came before the council on April 3, 2007 during the final plat discussion was viewed as a material change to the plat, requiring an amendment. Following the public hearing, the Planning Commission and City Council discussed the pros and cons of a community well system. The disadvantages appeared to outweigh the benefits. Councilmember Harnetty suggested that the current bonus given in favor of a common well should be rethought, as it does not prove to be a great advantage environmentally. Administrator Hurlburt explained that the MN Department of Health did not advocate a point of view for either a multi-well or common well. Their stand is that a common well can supply as safe a quality of drinking water as individual wells if all standards are followed. Councilmember Yehle felt that the current subdivision ordinance needs further review, as a community well system had been thought to be an advantage and worthy of a bonus. Currently the new ordinance grants a 15% bonus towards community wells. It was discussed that the size of the parcel needs to be considered when deciding for or against a common well – a smaller development may offer more advantages in having a community well as there is less disturbance to the land. The developers concluded that individual wells will have the lowest impact on the environment, as the homes are spread out in a heavily forested area. The Planning Commission recommended to the City Council to adopt Resolution 05-01-07-03 granting approval of an amendment to the preliminary plat known as Tii Gavo. Dolores Peterson made a motion to accept the recommendation of the Planning Commission to adopt Resolution 05-01-07-03 Approving an Amendment to the Preliminary Plat for Tii Gavo Open Space Conservation Subdivision. Michael Harnetty seconded the motion and motion adopted unanimously. DISCUSSION OF DRAFT MINING ORDINANCE th A work session was held on April 19 to review the draft mining ordinance with mining operators and affected citizens. Administrator Hurlburt reported that many suggestions for technical changes were made which will require additional work before the draft ordinance is ready for a public hearing. The issue of mining below the groundwater will need to be resolved. Industry experts will be consulted on this practice of mining and the information presented to the commission at a future meeting. Scandia City Council May 1, 2007 Page 4 CHURCHES IN SHORELAND OVERLAY DISTRICT This topic of discussion was an addition to the agenda. The preservation of rural character and implementing architectural styles that define the Scandia area are ideas that the Planning Commission and City Council would like to present to Willowbrook Church. The church is expected to come before the city in the near future with plans to build along Highway 97 east of Manning. Administrator Hurlburt will draft a letter to Willowbrook Church expressing the city’s suggestions of designing for the landscape and fitting within the rural character through traditional design. An offer to view the video “The Dollars and Sense of Preserving Community Character” from the Conservation Fund will be made to the applicants. JULY CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING DATE The joint meeting of the City Council and Planning Commission for the month of July will be rescheduled to July 10, 2007, rather than the regular meeting date of July 3, 2007. Donnette Yehle made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Dolores Peterson seconded the motion and meeting adjourned at 9:07 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Brenda Eklund City of Scandia Deputy Clerk