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Moberg Park's Revitalization, three new developments, dust control and a code of ethics were the items put before the Chisago City Council February 27.

Before the Chisago City Council could get down to business, a few meeting dates had to be settled. A motion was made by Sue Skow to hold a special meeting April 18 for the Board of Review. It could last several hours, depending on how many people attend the meeting.

Council member Skow then made a motion to allow the joint meeting with Chisago Lake Township concerning orderly annexations at the Chisago City Hall. This location was requested due to the good audio/taping equipment available.

Both items passed 4-0, with Council member Dobosenski absent.

During public comment, Lynette Olinger Dahl asked the council about the first meeting date of the Chisago City Housing Task Force. City Administrator John Pechman replied that all of the people that completed applications will be on the committee. The committee will be organized through email communications. Pechman informed Dahl that the driving force behind the Task Force is the Greater MN Housing Fund. He also assured her that the city council is responsible for organizing the task force and that the committee members will be notified of the first meeting date.

Once the business details were done there was excitement to view the final design plan for the revitalization of Moberg Park. Bill Sanders, of the design firm Sanders Wacker Bergly, presented the final plan. He provided the council with a color copy of his concept, a design that had been approved by the Park Board earlier, and described in detail the park renovation.

In the northeast corner of the park (corner of Hwy. 8 and Old Towne Road) was a colorful rendition of Swedish gardens, presented in a semicircle around a large water fountain with sculptures. Within the water fountain, sculptures of five to nine children, ages 8-13, could be seen, frolicking in the water. Sculptor Ian Dudley suggested that maybe one of the children could be Wilhelm Moberg himself, dressed as a young farm boy.

Park Board member Marilyn Mays suggested that funds for the child sculptures might be raised by offering parents the suggestion that "maybe their child's face could be immortalized in bronze" (as one of the sculptures.)

Park consultant Sanders described how he has been working with the Park Board for close to a year now. They had decided to renovate the park in stages with the focal point being an open air pavilion nearly centered in the park. The pavilion would be designed with a train depot motif, pulling the caboose sitting on the west side of the park into the plan. The pavilion would cost $275,000. The water fountain and sculptures would be another phase of the renovation, running close to $206,000. And the Swedish gardens, relocation of the flag pole (which will be lit), new and improved veteran's memorial garden with benches and landscaping, new signage, restrooms, drinking fountain and a new sidewalk that will flow throughout the park, will cost another $206,000.

Mayor Don Taylor remarked that these features will create an inviting entrance to the city. The Park Board also kept in mind festivals and other events that could take place within the park, while working on the design. Mayor Taylor hopes that this inviting plan will pull visitors in off of Hwy 8.

Council member David Giese made a motion to accept the design plan, motion carried 4-0.

Council member Skow then made a motion to allow local sculptor Ian Dudley $1,500 from park dedication fees to begin work on the sculpture- motion carried 4-0.

Doris Zacho, Parks Programmer, made one last comment stating that she is working on grants to assist in the funding of the park. She stated there are foundations willing to give money that she hopes will pay for the fountain and art work.

Next on the agenda were the three developments. Community Devel-opment Partners II, LLC made a written request that the city accept the dedication of water main, sewer main and storm sewer main. Curb, pavement, trail and storm water retention ponds would not be considered at this time.

Dan Erickson from S.E.H., an engineering consulting firm, reviewed the request. City Attorney Tom Miller stated that he wanted a Letter of Completion. The development Wilderness Ridge is located near Ivywood Trail/Cty. 36.

A motion was made by council member Giese to accept the dedication of these improvements on Phases I and II. Motion carried 4-0.

The next development discussed was Woodridge Preserve, which reaches from south Ivywood Trail east on Cty. 36 to Viking Blvd. (Cty. 22). A punch list was completed in July 2006. The improvements of sanitary sewer, water main and storm water have been completed. Those items can be accepted with the exception of storm water retention ponds, according to Administrator Pechman.

Council member Giese made the motion to accept the improvements. Motion carried 4-0.

Next on the agenda was Natures Preserve, located on Cty. 19 (Stacy Trail) and Karmel Ave. An Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) was completed by Pioneer Engineering and published by the Environmental Quality Board (EQB). Staff does not feel that an Environmental Impact Study is required.

MN State Archaeologist Scott Anfinson sent a letter of comment to Administrator Pechman. In the letter, he advised that although there were no recorded archaeological sites or burial grounds within the project area, he felt that there was a need for a qualified archaeologist to examine the site. Council member Giese asked Administrator Pechman if the city had ever had an archaeological study done before. Pechman replied that one had been completed during the sale of old Camp Cheewin, near Ojiketa. Staff did have a concern about the potential traffic to the south of the site, but it didn't constitute an environmental concern.

A policy for the distribution of chloride on gravel roads in Chisago City was discussed. In 2006, the city paid the entire expense to treat with chloride the following roadways: James Ave., Jeffrey Ave., 270th St., 288th St., and Kismet Isle. Council member Skow admitted that she would really like Deer Garden to be added to that list. She told Administrator Pechman that she knew last year, "292nd St. was coated last year and the residents paid for it." Pechman reminded her that the treatment is applied to the gravel roads that serve as thru- streets that are utilized by many people or those road ways with a business. It doesn't matter how many houses are on the road.

Council member Giese made a motion to accept the proposed 2007 chloride program if the "minimum the city will pay is 25 percent, not 0 percent" as stated in the Public Works Department's Chloride Policy, Section 3A. Motion carried 4-0.

The last item brought to the council was the development of a Code of Ethics. City Clerk Paula Oehme and Administrator Pechman had been working on the project "for quite some time." Mayor Taylor presented a sample policy from the city of Sunnyvale, CA, population 14,000. Council member Skow made the motion for the Personnel Committee to get together with Oehme and Pechman to add or make changes to their rough draft of a code of ethics. She'd like them to then give it to the council to review at a later date. Motion carried 4-0. Meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.

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Volunteers Needed

The Chisago City Park Board would like to invite you or your organization to assist with several events coming up on the 2007 calendar. Even if you have just an hour or two to serve we can find a spot for you! You may not be aware of all the events where our volunteers help us out but they are among the following: Chisago Lakes Triathlon, Ki Chi Saga Days, National Night Out, Falloween Festival, Lighting Festival, 9-11 ceremony Park Programs and more. Whether it's organizing the parade for Ki Chi Saga Days, decorating trees at the lighting festivals or handing out water at one of our water stations during the triathlon we need your help. We could not hold each of our events without the assistance from our volunteers; they are a crucial part of keeping our small town celebrations running smoothly. We see many of the same faces each year, but would like to meet you.

Please call our Parks Programmer at 651-257-5464 for more volunteer information and get you signed up today. We look forward to hearing from you.

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