03.08.2022 Minutes TC DRAFT
Scandia Tourism Committee
Minutes
March 8, 2022 – 4:00 p.m.
Meeting at Community Center, Zoom and Boxcast.com
Members in Attendance: Sue Dickens, Sarah Porubcansky, Lynne Moratzka, and Lisa
Schlingerman.
Staff in attendance: Public Works Director Charles Fischer and Office Assistant Brenda “Bee”
Stignani. Also attending Mayor Christine Maefsky via Zoom.
Call to Order –Chair Dickens called the meeting to order at 4:02 p.m., a quorum is present.
Approve the Agenda –Porubcansky moved, Moratzka seconded, to approve the agenda with
Flexibility. Motion carried unanimously by roll call.
Approval of the Minutes – Motion by Moratzka, seconded by Schlingerman, to approve the
January 25, 2022 meeting minutes. Motion carried unanimously.
Wayfinding Signs –
Fischer provided a written report including documents provided by MnDOT Engineer Joseph Bruer
detailing the Community Wayfinding Sign Program. Fischer emphasized the need to develop the
required Community Wayfinding Master Plan and consideration of the City’s response to potential
concerns from businesses whose existing signs would be required to be removed. Fischer suggested
Tourism Committee members study the material provided and begin developing a sign design
concept that is allowable in MnDOT’s Community Wayfinding Sign Program. Committee members
are encouraged to submit questions to Fischer as they work through this material. Fischer will
contact Washington County to clarify different sign requirements on their roads located in Scandia,
especially in the Village Center where cement interferes in installation of sign posts. Additional
discussion included requesting clarification as to how frequently the state will allow amendment
requests to an approved Community Wayfinding Master Plan, whether time limits are imposed on
signs to ensure faded or deteriorating signs are replaced and if Minnesota’s color sign system of
brown for cultural or recreational locations, blue for informational, green for guidance will work for
Scandia’s vision of Wayfinding Signs or what would be requested instead.
GetKnit – Ice Sculpture Recap
Porubcansky reported that GetKnit is not able to provide reliable data for participation in Scandia’s
portion of the event. Dickens provided antidotal feedback from area businesses that only Meister’s
noted an uptick in business and Gammelgarden’s paid advertisement in the local paper generated
more response from their weekend patronage. Others reported no change in business and few
questioned patrons were aware of the event. Moratzka spoke with two groups of visitors in
Community Center parking lot, one nonlocal group participating in the Ice Exploration event
intentionally, and the other a local group out enjoying the sights. Discussed possible factors
contributing to the reduced excitement and participation: winter Olympics weekend, the cold
weather, only one weekend including President’s Day holiday, and ice sculptures becoming more
‘commonplace.’ Dickens recommended planning to participate in 2023 with the smaller sculpture,
providing information for non QR code using participants, arranging food trucks, and applying
Scandia Tourism Committee Minutes
March 8, 2022
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lessons learned regarding the sculpture’s location, choice of design and communication with
sponsors. Specifically, report to Nick at GetKnit the art itself was well done, but this year’s program
generated less than anticipated excitement and participat ion by the public.
Membership Review –
Julie Gacek communicated with Porubcansky and requested stepping down off of the Tourism
Committee, but offered to be available to the committee for any sign design mock-up assistance as
she is able. Dickens requested staff to assist in publicizing the need for 1-3 new committee
members and encouraged current members to extend personal invitations in the community to
contacts who might be willing to serve. Additional discussion continued regarding the difference
between the EDA and Tourism Committee, comparing the use of existing event specific websites
like North Woods and Waters Lynx and St. Croix 360 to the existing city’s website or social media
outlets or even to create a new site devoted to Scandia’s businesses and events.
Future Steps –
Porubcansky reported the Shrpa contract will expire in June, but there is another grant through
Explore Minnesota to cover a substantial portion of the fees again that will begin in July. The EDA
will be approached again to request paying this fee.
Moratzka reported a positive response to the city-wide garage sale concept.
The next meeting is scheduled for March 22, 2022, at 4:00 p.m.
Adjournment –Motion by Schlingerman, seconded by Porubcansky, to adjourn the meeting.
Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 5:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by
Brenda “Bee” Stignani, Office Assistant