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06.a1 Draft minutes 05-17-2022 Meeting May 17, 2022 A regular meeting of the Scandia City Council was held on the above date with modifications. The meeting was conducted in-person at the Scandia Community Center and over an electronic platform. All participants who joined the meeting remotely could hear each other and contribute to discussions. Mayor Christine Maefsky called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Roll call was taken. The following were in attendance: Council members Heather Benson, Jerry Cusick, Steve Kronmiller, Patti Ray, and Mayor Christine Maefsky. Staff present: City Administrator Ken Cammilleri, City Attorney Chris Nelson, Fire Chief Mike Hinz, Public Works Director Charles Fischer, and City Clerk Brenda Eklund. APPROVAL OF AGENDA City Administrator Cammilleri announced an addition to the agenda. 10.a) Presentation from the Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed District. Clerk Eklund reported that a payment to the League of MN Insurance Trust Fund was added to the payment batch. Benson, second by Ray, moved to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried 5-0. LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORT A written report on April’s incident and citations was in the meeting packet. PUBLIC FORUM No public comments were made. Scandia Good Neighbor Awards – Sam Masoud Mayor Maefsky presented a Scandia Good Neighbor Proclamation to Sam Masoud for his acts of kindness and generosity as described by a customer who nominated him. CONSENT AGENDA a) Minutes 1) April 18, 2022 Board of Appeal and Equalization 2) April 19, 2022 Regular Meeting 3) May 4, 2022 Work Session b) Treasurer’s Report c) Payment of Vouchers d) Special Event Permit for Bridge the Valley Bicycle Rally, August 14, 2022 e) Approve 2022 Recycling Grant Agreement with Washington County Benson, second by Ray, moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion carried 5-0 by roll call vote. PARK AND RECREATION COMMITTEE Playground Support Letter PRC Chair Terry Gorham presented a draft letter the Committee would like to send out to the EDA business list, seeking sponsorships to the playground fund for additional ADA accessible May 17, 2022 Scandia City Council Page 2 of 4 features or other park amenities such as park benches, picnic tables, and shade structures or trees that require additional funding beyond the project cost. Gorham said they have a financial goal for donations of $25,000. Upon the dedication of the new playground equipment, a sign will be installed to recognize sponsors of the playground project. Ray, second by Benson, moved to approve the solicitation of donations to the playground fund for amenities not included in the project cost. Motion carried 5-0. Bone Lake Park PRC Chair Gorham said the Committee is seeking Council support for a collaboration with the Comfort Lake Forest Lake Watershed District and Bone Lake Association on future development concepts for Bone Lake Park. Objectives include more walking trails, water quality improvements, park signage, fishing pier, and bicycle amenities. There was general consensus from the Council that moving forward with concepts for the park is okay. Staff stated that any improvements would need Council approval before implementation. Ray, second by Kronmiller, moved to accept the Bone Lake Park objectives. Motion carried 5-0. Bone Lake Park Trail Improvements PRC Chair Gorham explained that the existing walking trail in Bone Lake Park needs maintenance. The Committee asked if the City could provide delivery of woodchips, with volunteers from the Bone Lake Association spreading the woodchips on the trail. Public Works Director Fischer said he is looking for a source of free woodchips. Ray, second by Kronmiller, moved to approve wood chipping the trails by volunteers from the Bone Lake Association. Motion carried 5-0. PLANNING COMMISSION Administrator Cammilleri reported that a public hearing on the Unified Development Code and new zoning map is scheduled for May 23rd. At their May 3rd meeting, the Commission began addressing the study of the solar farm ordinance. A solar farm site visit was held before the May 17th Council meeting, hosted by the developer of the Oldfield Avenue solar farm. SCANDIA INTERNET ACTION COMMITTEE IAC Chair Bob Wilmers reported on confirmation from Midco that Washington County approved Midco’s $100,000 request for the 2022 proposed direct buildout project on the southeastern part of Oakhill Road and nearby areas of St. Croix Trail. These grant dollars will be deducted out of the City’s share for the proposed grant agreement. Wilmers explained that the Committee estimated that 1,794 Scandia households will be served upon the committee’s goal of broadband buildout for the entire community. The Committee is hopeful that additional federal and state grant funds will be supporting the goal, and good progress is being made. Council member Kronmiller said the map on the City’s website has been updated for homes served. May 17, 2022 Scandia City Council Page 3 of 4 TOURISM COMMITTEE Administrator Cammilleri reported that the Committee is focused on wayfinding sign solutions. MnDOT has rigid rules and requirements which staff is working to understand. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Council member Benson reported on EDA’s May 9th meeting. A quarterly business breakfast is scheduled for June 15th. Deputy Boesel will speak on financial and banking security from a fraud standpoint, and the Sandagers’ will give an update on the winery. The EDA is focusing on three priorities as identified in the long-term plan, a topic of the June 13th meeting. WASTEWATER COMMITTEE Council member Kronmiller reported on the April 27th meeting. A quorum was not achieved; the Committee discussed staff updates but took no action. Wastewater Update of system capacities, grant inquires, and permit requests Administrator Cammilleri provided background on the condition and capacities of the existing three systems: the Bliss, Anderson-Erickson and Uptown Sewer Systems. Public Works Director Fischer provided charts on daily flow numbers. Staff explained the concern of adding more users which could cause the systems to exceed permitted flows. The City Engineer is advising on the Scandia Heritage Center operations and recommending to use portable toilets for events so as not to overwhelm the Uptown System. Cammilleri said that financing future improvements is challenging – there are grant programs sponsored by the State but the City may not qualify. Other avenues of financing are being researched. The Bliss System, the largest of the three and permitted by NPDES and SDS, has aging tanks which could be the cause of the inflow and infiltration (I&I) issues. Cammilleri stated that this is the most expensive project to upgrade; nitrate volume in monthly testing needs to be lowered by nitrate treatment and replacement of the main lift station number 3. Fund balance for Big Marine Sewer is slowly rising, but not enough to fund this major project. The City must be cautious about adding more customers beyond the existing 83 users. Cammilleri concluded the presentation, saying the purpose was to educate the Council and public on the sewer issues. The City will need to consider whether or not it intends to seek expansions of these systems. New rate structures and Sewer Area Connection fees will be shaped by these plans and capital improvement needs. Council member Kronmiller said the next meeting of the Wastewater Committee will be to discuss a facility study and the issues of expansion. BUILDING OFFICIAL The April building activity report was received from Building Official Joel Hoistad. Last month 25 permits were issued at a valuation of $1,440,529.00. May 17, 2022 Scandia City Council Page 4 of 4 FIRE DEPARTMENT Fire Chief Hinz reported on the fire department’s April activity. Last month the department responded to 31 calls; 7 fire, 23 medicals, and 1 dive call. Three new members will be joining the department of June 1st pending successful medical testing. The first EMT training with the new service went very well this year. The Relief Association held the annual appreciation dinner this past weekend. CITY ENGINEER Engineering Updates City Engineer Goodman provided written engineering updates. A preconstruction meeting for the 2022 street project is scheduled for next week, with construction planned to start in June. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS Public Works Director Charles Fischer reported on the department activities this spring. Pothole patching began once the asphalt plants opened. The dramatic temperature swings made the roads brittle and prone to damage. The winter debris is being cleared from the right-of-way’s by removing dangerous leaning trees. MnDOT will repair the turtle fence along Highway 97 that was hit by a car this past winter. The Goose Lake dock has been installed, needing modification due to the high water. The Kubota mower is causing repair problems, becoming costly in time and money to keep running. Staff may propose early replacement due to the many breakdowns. CITY ADMINISTRATOR Administrator Cammilleri reported on general updates. Cammilleri said he is following the legislative progress on funding requests, working on the LCCMR grant for the Gateway Trail project, confirming that Washington County will be the agent if awarded the grant. Election preparations are in place for this year’s primary and general elections. Code enforcement process is on-going, utilizing the new nuisance ordinance. The audit presentation is planned for next month. COMFORT LAKE-FOREST LAKE WATERSHED DISTRICT Watershed staff Blayne Eineichner was present to explain a proposal to acquire property in Scandia to remediate runoff to Bone Lake. The 320-acre tract of land would be a potential floodwater hydrology storage site. The project would enhance the hydrology of the 120-acre wetland habitat and restore them to a normal wetland state, reduce nutrient loading to Bone Lake, and improve long term water quality. Lessard-Sams funding would be pursued for the purchase of this tract of land along Lofton Avenue. Eineichner said the Watershed is looking for the City’s support for the project. The Council was in consensus to approve a letter of support. ADJOURNMENT Benson, second by Ray, moved to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Brenda Eklund, City Clerk