07-01-2020 Work Session
July 1, 2020
A work session meeting of the Scandia City Council 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 council members and staff who joined the meeting remotely could hear each other
and contribute to discussions. City Administrator Cammilleri and City Clerk Eklund were
present in the Council Chambers. Cammilleri was the presenter and displayed the meeting
materials for participants to view on their remote screens.
Mayor Christine Maefsky called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Roll call was taken. The
following were participants to the meeting: Council members Jerry Cusick, Steve Kronmiller,
Chris Ness, Patti Ray and Mayor Christine Maefsky. Staff participating: City Administrator Ken
Cammilleri, Attorney Chris Nelson, Fire Chief Mike Hinz, Public Works Director Adam
Hawkinson, Office Assistant Bee Stignani, and City Clerk Brenda Eklund.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Council member Ray added a discussion of an exception to virtual meetings under Agenda Item
7. City's Covid-19 Business Plan.
Ray, seconded by Ness, moved to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried 5-0 by
roll call vote.
CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 2020-23 FOR A
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR BETTER PLACE FORESTS LLC, TO OPERATE
A CONSERVATION MEMORIAL FOREST ON 112-ACRES AT LAKAMAGA TRAIL
NORTH. LIAM MCNALLY, APPLICANT REPRESENTATIVE
At the June 16 City Council meeting, the recommendation from the Planning Commission to
approve a Conditional Use Permit for a conservation memorial forest was tabled to gather
additional information. Attorney Chris Nelson explained the edits made to a resolution of
approval to permit the project as a use in the shoreland overlay district; defining the use as forest
management. The 112-acre property will be largely preserved for the scattering of ashes in quiet
respite. Better Place Forests representatives Liam McNally, Scott Roycroft, Gia DeBartolo,
Patrick Doran and Mark Kehke participated in the meeting.
Mayor Maefsky stated that the first paragraph of the resolution describes the project and she is
more comfortable with this redesigned resolution language. Council member Ray said this is a
good project that preserves the forest and open space. Council member Kronmiller asked if there
must be a forest management plan - he has no objection to the use but what if trees are cut down.
Attorney Nelson explained that Section 5.3 of the Shoreland Code governs the standards of
forest management, which is referenced in the resolution. Better Place Forests representatives
noted that a forest management plan was submitted with the application for the long term plans
of the forest - removal of dead and diseased trees is allowed; the plan will be used as guidance
for future management.
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Fire Chief Mike Hinz noted that the visitor center, as a non-staffed public facility, must have a
keybox on site for the fire department.
Mr. Doran noted a few additional edits to the resolution. The edits were made during the meeting
and reviewed.
Kronmiller, seconded by Cusick, moved to approve amended Resolution No. 2020-23,
Approving a Conditional Use Permit for a Conservation Memorial Forest as amended on
property located on Lakamaga Trail. The motion carried 5-0 by a roll call vote.
WEBSITE PROJECT UPDATE
Bee Stignani presented the second round version of the website improvements offered by the
provider Revize, as edited after feedback from the Council and Tourism Committee. The color
red needs more fine tuning, and placement of committee tabs were some of the items for re-work
in the next phase of the website development project.
EARLY MIGRATING BIRD PROJECT PROPOSAL – OLIVIA NIENABER
Olivia Nienaber presented her proposal for planting bed installations at the Wayne Erickson
Lighted Ballfield and Hay Lake Park. Her 4-H project and funding request to provide habitat for
early migrating birds was approved by the Parks and Recreation Committee earlier this year.
PRC Committee Chair Terry Gorham stated that the Committee approved $1,400 for the project.
PW Director Hawkinson proposed to make a watering tank available for public use for
volunteers to use for this project and other planting projects in town, at an additional cost of
$500. Nienaber's plan was revised since presented to the PRC to a cost of $1,880. Nienaber
explained that the installations will be densely planted to avoid extra weeding.
There was discussion on procedures for use of the watering trailer. Staff will research the City's
volunteer policy for use of city equipment.
Ray, seconded by Kronmiller, moved to approve the Early Migrating Bird Project planting
installation on city property at an expense of $2,380 from the Parks budget. The motion
carried 5-0 by roll call vote.
DISCUSSION AND UPDATE ON THE WASHINGTON COUNTY HIGHWAY SAFETY
PROGRAM (HSIP) AND ADDITION OF CENTER LINE RUMBLE STRIPS ON
COUNTY HWY 15 (MANNING TRAIL N)
PW Director Hawkinson reported that Washington County will be applying for grant funds for
safety improvements to County Highway 15 (Manning Trail North). Installation of centerline
rumble strips would occur in 2024-25 if awarded There will be no cost-participation required
from the City of Scandia as part of this project.
Council was in consensus to support the safety improvements and added that the County could
consider installing rumble strips on the shoulders as well.
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Scandia City Council
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DISCUSSION OF THE CITY’S COVID-19 BUSINESS PLAN
Council reviewed the City's Covid-19 Business Plan adopted on June 16 for additional
adjustments.
• Add language on page 9 to post the plan on the city's website.
• Define sanitizer to be at least 60% ethanol.
• Wear masks when social distancing of at least 6 feet cannot be observed.
• Allow social groups of 25 or fewer to use the Hay Lake Park shelter as allowed by the
Governor's order for outdoor gathering.
Council member Ray proposed that the PRC meeting on July 6 be conducted outside at the
lighted ballfield. Administrator Cammilleri stated his concerns that the meeting could be not be
broadcast for public accessibility, the site is not ADA compliant, and meeting outdoors is not
conducive for conducting business. Site visits to the city's parks were encouraged to be
scheduled by the PRC outside of their regular meetings.
DISCUSSION ON CARES ACT BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM
Administrator Cammilleri reported that the City is eligible for up to $131,000 in assistance for
reimbursement of Covid-19 related costs. Any excess funds could be used for a business grant
program administered by the County CDA.
Cammilleri proposed a modification to the City Hall entrance to add a service window to
mitigate public contact with staff. This alteration would qualify as an allowable expense.
Ray, seconded by Kronmiller, moved to approve an application for funds under the
CARES Act. The motion carried 5-0 with a roll call vote.
DISCUSSION ON THE CITY’S DOG ORDINANCE
As requested at the June 3 Work Session, a draft amendment to the city's dog ordinance was
prepared for review, to reference state statute for dangerous dogs in replacement of existing
language. Attorney Nelson explained that the amendment would remove the city's regulations on
potentially dangerous dogs and any extra regulations would need to be adopted by a separate
ordinance.
Council member Cusick explained that his request was to not bury state statute in the ordinance
but rather keep the City's requirements in a separate section. Cusick asked for removal of the
term "damaging manner" in the public nuisance section for dogs that habitually trespass.
Staff was directed to rework the ordinance for the next work session with a clear section on what
is different from state law.
CLOSED SESSION
At 8:32 p.m., the City Council went into closed session pursuant to Minnesota Statutes §13D.05
Subd.3 (b) to discuss pending litigation subject to attorney-client privilege regarding the matter
of Curtis J. Peterson and Patricia L. Peterson vs. City of Scandia.
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ADJOURNMENT
Ness, seconded by Ray, moved to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0 by roll call vote.
The meeting adjourned at 9:03 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Brenda Eklund
City Clerk