6.a Draft PRC 06-01-2020 MinutesCity of Scandia Parks and Recreation Committee
Monday, June 1, 2020
A meeting of the Scandia Parks & Recreation Committee was held on the above date with modifications.
Due to the health advisory issued by the State regarding the COVID-19 outbreak, to avoid public
gatherings and limit social contact, the meeting was conducted over an electronic platform. All
Committee members and staff who joined the meeting remotely could hear each other and contribute to
discussions. City Administrator Cammilleri was present in the Council Chambers. Cammilleri was the
presenter and displayed the meeting materials for participants to view on their remote screens.
The following were participants to the meeting: Committee members Terry Gorham (Chair), Greg Zauner
(Vice Chair), Carol Schwinghammer, Dustin Hegland and Cami Van Abel and Patti Ray (City Council
Representative). Staff members Ken Cammilleri (City Administrator) and Brenda "Bee" Stignani (Office
Assistant) Special Guests to Present: Olivia Nienaber, Jordan Boysen, Erik Ivester, and Andrew
PUBLIC FORUM
There were no public comments
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Gorham requested a change in the agenda to move item 6.b., followed by 7.a. to follow item 4.a. in the
interest of the guest presenters.
Motion by Zauner, seconded by Hegland, to approve the amended agenda. Roll call vote: Hegland - yes,
Van Able — yes, Schwinghammer — yes, Zauner — yes, Gorham — yes. The motion carried 5-0.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chair Gorham called for any additions or corrections to the May 4, 2020 minutes. No additions or
corrections were submitted. The minutes stand approved.
OLD BUSINESS
Early Bird Migration Project Update
Olivia Nienaber updated the committee on the Early Bird Migration project. Nienaber reported the changes
to her program because of the COVID-19 changes of social interaction and public gatherings. She will plant
in August or September in the revised project. PRC confirmed their financial support of $1,400 to plant
three sites. Cammilleri requested an invoice to submit for payment. Gorham will follow up with Public
Works Director Hawkinson to finalize the specific sites. Hawkinson will select the plants for Nienaber to
include in her wholesale purchase through Abrahamson's Nurseries.
NEW BUSINESS
A Pollinator Project Proposal
Jordan Boysen presented on behalf of a group of local students who are interested in creating Scandia's
Bees, a pollinator garden. A site at Lilleskogen Park is most feasible over the other four suggestions, Zauner
recommended Boysen communicate with Prairie Restoration and Friends of Scandia to move the concept
further along to a proposal with a request. VanAble suggested considering rainwater catch barrels to
address the question of how to water the site. VanAble provided resource information. Ray stated that a
good rule of thumb is to spend twice as much on soil health as plants for the long-term success of any
planting project. Gorham summarized the PRC recommendations to Boysen to address before the group
presents an update and request for support from the City of Scandia:
1. Contact Prairie Restorations regarding soil preparation
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2. Contact PW Director Hawkinson to consider sites —Gorham will provide needed contact information
3. Contact Friends of Scandia for guidance and support — Gorham will provide needed contact
information
4. Verify the commitment from FL National Honors Society and Environmental Club advisers
5. Identify a plan to water the plants regularly
6. Investigate the possibility of using rainwater barrels — Gorham will pass on the contact information
from VanAble
Ray requested Boysen to consider possibilities of connecting an educational, hands on, experience with the
Scandia elementary school students, especially if Lilleskogen Park is chosen as the site. Boysen will
brainstorm possibilities with his group.
REPORTS
Chair Report
Chair Gorham provided a written report. An amendment to his report, Mike White, president of the Lions
contacted Gorham and confirmed the Scandia Lions are not meeting as a club and all contributions are on
hold. White suggested that the scope of the projects the PRC is seeking support is more in line with
contacting the Lions Foundation.
Public Works Director Report
Hawkinson provided a written report.
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Park Signage
Hawkinson provided information in the PW staff report. Zauner clarified that the information in the report was
for posts only and not the actual sign. Cammilleri stated City Council desires uniformity on signs, and the "New
Scandia" sign at the Fire Station and PW building needs to be replaced also. Ray brought up that Mayor Maefsky
requests that all signs go through the Tourism Committee before final proposals can go to City Council. Gorham
concluded that PRC does not have enough information to make a recommendation to the Tourism Committee
and requests that more complete information be provided by Hawkinson at the next PRC meeting.
Capital Improvement Plan
Cammilleri provided explanation to the Park Improvement Fund Budget for 2021 report. He amended the report
to reflect Property Tax Levey to be reduced to $5,000 considering the difficult decisions the city has made with
unexpected expenses. Hedland questioned and Cammilleri confirmed that $30,000 was the amount requested
and approved to be ongoing for PRC's annual funding from the Property Tax Levey. Gorham conceded the need
to reduce the PRC portion, but questioned if dropping that far was appropriate, and to negotiate to $10,000 as
a suggestion. Cammilleri stated any amount can be requested of the City Council but explained how reducing
this amount still makes a strong ending balance in 2021. The potential problem is only if the City Council
continued the drastically reduced amount in future years. Ray questioned if 2020 budget has been adjusted —
Cammilleri responded no.
Cammilleri presented the Capital Improvement Program 2020-2024 document that was intended to be in the
meeting packet. It supports the $148,900 on the line "Capital Improvement Other than Buildings" in the
projected 2021 column. In 2020, Lilleskogen has $28,000 that Gorham inquired how much of this amount is
from the DNR grant and for the bridge, improvements to the trail and the picnic shelter. In 2021 for Lilleskogen,
there is $14,500 that is several other collective projects combined that Cammilleri will break down after he is
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able to research the intentions of his predecessor. The remaining numbers for 2021 were $115,000 for
playgrounds, $10,000 for nature park trails (in particular, Bone Lake), $5,000 for the Settler's Monument
improvement and $4,500 for the Lion's Park Hay Lake Shelter. The placeholder amount of $30,000 for the Arts
& Cultural Heritage Center Amphitheater is in 2022. Cammilleri emphasized that this is not a firm number as
the Scandia Heritage Alliance must finalize their vision before more realistic budgeting can be forecasted. The
Erickson Ballfield improvements are $75,000 in 2023. Cammilleri pointed out that the DNR grant for work in
Lilleskogen Park is $9,680 annually until 2022 and Gorham would like to confirm that the $18,320 would be
available to start moving one of the three projects moving forward this year, most notably the bridge.
Gorham inquired to find out the Line 11, Other Grants for the years 2020 - 2021. Cammilleri will research to find
out if the $22,500 has been received and what it is for, as it was suggested it could be projected grant possibilities
for half of the Zamboni replacement cost that never materialized. Cammilleri will explore and report at the next
meeting grant options for the $57,500 in 2021 for half of the budget for the playground equipment. Cammilleri
requested that the PRC start discussions about the playground improvements to narrow the vision of targeted
age groups (a toddler or preschool system for example) or other directions the committee would like to pursue.
Cammilleri requested the PRC members focus on the Item List rather than the Revenue projected amounts and
provide feedback to him. Are there specific projects missing? He encouraged committee members to consider
projects as far as 10 years out.
Ray questioned if the budgets are adjusted as expenditures happen and if unspent funds stay in the PRC general
fund. Cammilleri responded no, budgets are not yet adjusted immediately, but the funds do stay in the next
PRC general fund. Ray suggested updated reports be prepared before each PRC meeting. Gorham added that
past reports contained unnecessary details and Cammilleri conclude that Park Improvement Balance reports
would be provided for each PRC meeting to be viewed in relation to the overall long range plan to be able to
determine if funds are available to support small projects that come up like the Pollinator Garden.
Lilleskogen Park Children's Story Path — Summer Projects
Ray posted on Facebook a new series of pictures of the favorite cartoon character stories from the 2nd grade
class and has enough to rotate every two weeks through the end of June. Ray asked Stignani to share on the
city's Facebook page. A local children's writer, Debra Smith, is writing a progressive story for the storyboards to
be displayed in the month of July. Staff will communicate with the elementary school to notify them that the
stories are currently displayed for the 2nd graders. Ray asked for ideas to use in August. VanAble suggested
activity packets requesting stories from children during the month of July to be displayed in August. Zauner
noted the seemingly damaged areas of Lilleskogen Park, Cammilleri stated PW will work on restoring the area
that was damaged with buckthorn removal heavy equipment needed last month.
Warming House Vending Machine Update
Schwinghammer contacted Coca Cola and Bernick's (Pepsi distributor). Coca Cola only supplies drink machines,
no snacks and they would like the number of visitors. Bernick's was very receptive to putting 2 machines in the
warming house for the hockey season. Snack machines have Kind bars and Gatorade Energy bar are their offers
of "healthier snacks" - $1.25-1.50 for chips and snacks, healthier options are presumably more. Drinks are $2
each for soda, smart water, Gatorade, and the like. Their goal is to earn $3,000 per year in revenue. They use
remote monitoring of their machines for repairs and restocking. Needed to confirm that 110 -volt electricity
hookups are available. Holly at Scandia Market & Mercantile has not yet responded to inquiries. Gorham asked
if there is room for sharing some of the revenue or if the service would be enough to make the facility better for
the community. Schwinghammer will follow up with this question. Ray asked if Apothecary's Daughter has been
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contacted to see if they are interested but purchasing two machines might not be feasible even though they are
so local. Discussion concluded that Bernick's is set up for this type of business instead.
Bone Lake Trail Update
Gorham and Zauner walked the trail. Property lines are clearly marked. Zauner inquired about the adjoining
property owner who is maintaining the land and has a small structure on site that must be removed. Cammilleri
will address the situation. Confirmed that there is a large broken tree that needs to be brought down safely to
the ground. Public Works needs to be notified to address. Bone Lake Association may not be able to volunteer
on the trails with the social distancing requirements as 28 people volunteered last year. Ray requested that
Public Works come in to remove some small downed trees and assist in providing more wood chips for
Association volunteers to utilize. Gorham will follow up to make sure Public Works is notified. Discussion
followed about which type of residents are using these trails, parking suggestions, DNR owned space, and ATV
use on trails. Staff will notify Public Works to order signs prohibiting motorized vehicles on the park trails.
AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING
The proposed agenda for the Monday, July 6, 2020 meeting:
1. Playground Strategy
2. Pollinator Project Update
3. Signage with Details
4. Capital Improvement Plan Follow Up
5. Warming House Vending Machine Update
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Hegland, seconded by Zauner, to adjourn the meeting. Roll call vote: Schwinghammer —yes,
Van Able — yes, Hegland — yes, Zauner — yes, Gorham — yes. The motion carried 5-0.
The meeting adjourned at 9:07 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Brenda 'Bee" Stignani, Office Assistant/Parks and Recreation Coordinator