11-20-07 Council
November 20, 2007
A regular meeting of the Scandia City Council was held on the above date. In the absence of
Mayor Dennis Seefeldt and Vice-Mayor Michael Harnetty, Councilmember Donnette Yehle
called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and moved to nominate Councilmember Dolores
Peterson as Acting Mayor. Councilmember Pete Crum seconded the motion. Councilmember
Peterson was unanimously voted to serve as Acting Mayor. Staff present: Administrator Anne
Hurlburt, City Attorney Dave Hebert, City Engineer Tom Peterson, Building Code Official Steve
Thorp, Deputy Clerk Brenda Eklund.
PUBLIC FORUM
There were no public comments.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Councilmember Yehle added to the agenda a discussion of the stop sign at the corner of Olinda
Trail and Oakhill Road.
CONSENT AGENDA
The following consent agenda was presented:
a) Minutes
1) October 16, 2007 Regular Meeting
2) October 24, 2007 Special Meeting
3) November 6, 2007 Meeting with Planning Commission
b) Treasurer’s Report
c) Payment of Vouchers
d) 2008 Tobacco Licenses
1) ALJ Enterprises dba Scandia Olde Towne Liquor
2) Scandia Store, Inc.
e) Liquor License for Community Center
f) Pay Request #4 and Final to Hardrives, Inc. for 2006 Street Repairs
g) Certify Unpaid Charges for 201 Sewer System for Collection with Property Taxes
Councilmember Yehle, seconded by Councilmember Crum, moved to approve the
amended Meeting Agenda and the Consent Agenda. The motion passed unanimously.
PARK AND RECREATION COMMITTEE REPORT
Lilleskogen Park Restoration Plan
Dave Smith, Park Committee Chair, reported that six proposals were received in response to the
Request for Proposals for a restoration plan for Lilleskogen Park. These proposals ranged in
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price from $9,880 to $24,760. Upon review at the November 15 Park meeting, the committee
found that the team of SRF and Critical Connections had the best qualifications to be awarded
this planning project. Although SRF submitted a bid of $12,789, they have agreed to trim the
task list to not exceed an amount of $12,000. Councilmember Yehle had a concern that this may
not be the best of timing to proceed with this restoration plan. As receipt of park fees is quite
low, this plan may become obsolete before funds are available to carry out the implementation
phase. Mr. Smith replied that in order to receive any grant funding, it is necessary to have a plan
such as this in place. Councilmember Yehle felt uncomfortable going forth with this not knowing
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Scandia City Council
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the installation and maintenance costs up front. Councilmember Crum stated that he does foresee
use of this park by the community and felt confident that grant money can be obtained.
Councilmember Peterson commented that SRF did submit the best plan overall. Pete Crum,
seconded by Donnette Yehle, moved to accept the recommendation of the Park and
Recreation Committee to award the restoration plan contract to SRF/Critical Connections
at an amount not to exceed $12,000. Voting yes: Crum, Peterson. Voting no: Yehle. Motion
adopted.
Winter Programs
Dave Smith presented information on winter activities. The community skating/winter party will
be held on the afternoon of February 2, 2008 on the Community Center grounds. The event has
been named “Scandia Vinterfest” with activities similar to past years (skating, horse-drawn
wagon rides, sliding). New this year will be cross-country ski lessons. The Forest Lake High
School Spanish Club has offered to sell concessions as a fundraising activity for their club.
Councilmember Crum, seconded by Councilmember Yehle, moved to allow the FLHS
Spanish Club to serve refreshments during the community skating party on February 2,
2008. The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Smith also presented information regarding the snow tubing event planned for December 29,
2007 at Trollhaugen ski hill. Mr. Smith researched holding the event at Eko Backen, but due to
safety and convenience reasons, the committee recommended reserving the tubing hill at
Trollhaugen from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Council also reviewed the flyer for the Learn to Skate
Program running from January 9 through February 13, 2008. Councilmember Yehle, seconded
by Councilmember Crum, moved to designate a city-sponsored tubing event at
Trollhaugen on December 29, 2007. The motion passed unanimously.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Deputy Chris Majeski reported on the past month’s police activity. A forced entry burglary
occurred on Newberry, in which tools were stolen. A tobacco compliance check was recently
conducted at area businesses.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Fire Chief Steve Spence presented the fire department’s activity report. Discussion of a cost-
sharing venture with May Township and Washington County for installation of a civil defense
siren at the new Big Marine County Park was addressed. Fire Chief Spence stressed that this is
an opportunity to provide for siren coverage in the southern portion of the city in the event of a
civil emergency. The Fireman’s Fund Heritage Grant has provided funding for the purchase of
rescue lifting airbags, which are on order. Chief Spence also reported that the purchase of a
phantom pumper to access obstructed locations will be covered by a 50/50 matching DNR grant.
This is a necessary purchase for OSHA compliance. Councilmember Peterson asked for an
update on the rescue siren. Assistant Fire Chief Steve Yehle stated that the timer to silence the
siren during the nighttime hours has been erratic and will be evaluated by the installers. Council
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discussed the civil defense siren installation at the county park and the cost projection. Pete
Crum, seconded by Donnette Yehle, moved to direct Administrator Hurlburt to work with
Washington County staff regarding the installation of a civil defense siren in the Big
Marine Park Reserve. The motion passed unanimously.
CITY ENGINEER
Councilmember Yehle presented a concern of the many vehicles she has observed running the
stop sign at the corner of Olinda Trail and Oakhill Road. City Engineer Tom Peterson stated that
a warning light could be installed. As these are both county roads, Public Works Supervisor John
Morrison will be directed to work with Washington County staff to make the stop signs more
noticeable. Police will also step up patrol of this corner.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR
City Administrator Anne Hurlburt reported on a request from Big Marine Development, LLC,
for an extension of the development agreement for the plat of Tii Gavo in which road
construction plans, except for the wear course, for Phase I were to be completed by October 30,
2007. Due to poor weather conditions, the road and utility construction has yet to be completed.
As the Development Agreement allows for an extension, Building Code Official Steve Thorp has
recommended that the Development Agreement have the project improvement completion date
changed from October 30, 2007 to June 30, 2008, and the wear course completion date changed
from September 30, 2008 to June 30, 2009.
Donnette Yehle, seconded by Pete Crum, moved to accept the recommendation of Building
Code Official Thorp for the extension of the Development Agreement for Tii Gavo. The
motion passed unanimously.
COMFORT LAKE-FOREST LAKE WATERSHED : RESOLUTION 11-20-07-02
Randy Anhorn, Comfort Lake/Forest Lake Watershed District Administrator, and Wayne Moe,
Watershed Manager, were present to request support for their efforts to obtain legislation
changing the statute under which they operate. Mr. Anhorn discussed the advantages of
operating under Minnesota Statute 103B which applies to districts within the Metro Area, rather
than 103D, their current statute. CLFLWD is not entirely within the metro area: 40% lies within
Chisago County. Changing the district’s designation to MS 103B would result in a more efficient
process of implementing projects to address the District’s water quality impairments. The
Watershed has already received the support of Washington and Chisago counties, the
conservation districts of both counties, and the cities of Wyoming and Forest Lake. Donnette
Yehle, seconded by Pete Crum, moved to adopt Resolution 11-20-07-02, Support for
CLFLWD Seeking Legislative Designation as a Metropolitan Watershed Management
Organization. The motion passed unanimously.
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FOREST LAKE CABLE COMMISSION – JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT AND BY-
LAWS: RESOLUTION 11-20-07-03
Council was presented with the revised Joint Powers Agreement and By-Laws of the Forest Lake
Cable Commission. This Commission consists of the cities of Forest Lake, Columbus and
Scandia. Mike White, Scandia representative to the Commission, was present. One of the
changes in the JPA regards representation. Each city will be entitled to appoint by resolution two
directors, one of which must be a member of the City Council. Consensus of the council was to
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delay the appointment to the Cable Commission to the December 4 Council meeting, so that a
full council may be present. Donnette Yehle, seconded by Pete Crum, moved to adopt
Resolution 11-20-07-03, Approving Joint and Cooperative Agreement for the Forest Lake
Cable Commission. The motion passed unanimously.
Donnette Yehle, seconded by Pete Crum, moved to adjourn the meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Brenda Eklund
Deputy Clerk