6.d 5-13-2020 Tourism Committee Minutes
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Scandia Tourism Committee
Minutes
May 13, 2020 - 6:00 pm
Meeting Via GoToMeeting.com and Boxcast.com
Members in Attendance: Kirsten Libby; Sarah Porubcansky; and Carrie Mitchell, and Dana Khu.
Absent – None.
Staff in attendance: Mayor Christine Maefsky and City Administrator Ken Cammilleri
Call to Order – Committee Chair Mitchell called the meeting to order at 6:04pm.
Approval of the Agenda – Motion by Porubcansky, seconded by Mitchell, to approve the agenda. Motion
carried.
Approval of the Previous Meeting Minutes – The minutes were not available for review at the meeting and
were tabled for consideration by unanimous consent.
Reports
Khu reported on what was happening at the Scandia Mercantile and the Committee discussed the impacts of
Covid-19 on the business community and reactions to the use of personal protective equipment in customer
interactions.
Porubcansky provided an update to the Committee on the Scandia Farmers Market, which has been relocated
to the Scandia Community Center Parking lot this year.
It was also reported that Bob Downs was interested in providing assistance with the historical interview
program following the Covid-19 emergency, but that help would be needed to provide editing.
Mayor Maefsky reported that the Scandia Heritage Alliance (SHA) has obtained grant funding to plan
recreational trails between different historical sites in Scandia from the BlueStem Heritage Group.
Mayor Maefsky also presented a proposed mission and vision statement including a set of core values for the
Committee’s consideration based on previous discussions of the committee and guidance from the City’s
tourism study.
Mission
To promote Scandia as a travel destination in ways that enrich community life and bring economic vitality to
the City by capitalizing on Scandia’s historic, cultural, art, and environmental assets.
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Core Values
These values guide our work:
Diversity of all types. We believe that as a tourism destination, Scandia offers a diverse array of destinations,
activities, features, and events.
Sense of Place: We embrace the charming, unique character of our community, recognizing its roots as
Minnesota's first Swedish settlement and a historic center of mercantile business and agriculture on the St.
Croix River.
Creativity in product and problem solving. We believe we can develop creative ways to market Scandia as an
attractive tourism destination.
Teamwork. We embrace members of the committee working together with other groups and individuals,
including the broader Minnesota tourism industry, who share similar goals, to promote Scandia as a great
place to visit.
Our Vision
Scandia will be a community that has worked together to build on its community historic, cultural, arts and
natural landscapes by preserving, restoring and celebrating them. It will have a vibrant village center with
preserved buildings that complement the existing Gammelgarden Museum and an expanded community
center complex that includes the Water Tower Barn: Scandia Arts and Heritage Center, an amphitheater and
connecting trails. Tourism will be appropriately scaled to support the small-town, rural character of the
community.
The Committee agreed to adopt the mission, values, and vision presented.
The Committee decided to discuss website content at its next meeting.
The Committee also recommended that the City Council support the selection of a virtual intern College Of
St. Benedict and Saint John’s University. The Intern would provide assistance to the development of tourism
content for the City’s website.
Adjournment – The Committee adjourned its meeting at 6:06pm on the successful motion of Libby,
seconded by Porubcansky.
Ken Cammilleri
City Administrator/Clerk