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Steve Sarvi reported that School District 112 is working on getting drawings that will determine the location of the second sheet of ice and a stormwater retention pond at the Victoria Field House.

It was back on December 13th, 2007, that Victoria councilmembers voted 5-0 to authorize a joint powers agreement and ground lease between the City of Victoria and School District 112 for a joint ice facility at the Field House by 2009.

On March 27th, 2008, Council approved a summer ice schedule at the Field House as recommended by Director Ann Mahnke. Ice will not be available during May and June because they are slow ice months and it’s therefore not economically feasible. Rink maintenance will be done during that time.

BAYCLIFFE ON CITY OF VICTORIA’S 2008 AGENDA

FOR STREET RECONSTRUCTION

Nearly an hour-long public hearing and a roomful of residents on February 28th ended with a 5-0 vote from councilmembers to proceed with ordering the prepration of plans and specifications for street and drainage improvement in the Baycliffe neighborhood of Victoria.

In response to concerns expressed by the audience, Mayor Mary Thun stated, “I live in a neighborhood that is almost like your neighborhood. I invite you to my neighborhood. We had the same worries. Our roads were in a similar condition and we had the same comments on the roads.”

Continued the mayor, “We made the choice -- no water -- like you have. The engineering firm worked incessantly with all of the neighbors. It still looks rural after our street project. But you’ll say, ‘Look at all those No Parking signs.’ Our council is still looking at that issue. Most of the people in our area of Bayview are very happy. I ask you to come up and see for yourself. The street does not look like a freeway.”

Streets were improved in the mayor’s neighborhood during the summer of 2006. Each of the 17 benefitting properties were assessed $12,400.

Councilmember Jim Paulsen pointed out to Baycliffe residents, “We’re trying to authorize plans and specifications tonight. Is your neighborhood willing to set the project back a year by trying to come up other innovations?”

Stated Councilmember Tim Amundsen, “Next year the assessment could be $23,000.” If the road reconstruction and installation of stormsewer occurs this summer of 2008, the unit assessment is projected to be $19,372 with a reduced assessment of approximately $4,000 for nearby residents who live on a private street but use the public neighborhood streets for access.

Said Councilmember Kim Roden, “I wouldn’t be in favor of delaying it a year because our costs could also go up. I’ve said on every street project, ‘Full speed ahead!’ We’re pushing right up against the process right now. I’ve seen where we’ve only had one bidder on a project.”

Total project cost for streets and drainage at Baycliffe is $1,035,000. The City of Victoria (taxpayers in general) picks up 50% of that tab. The City of Victoria is also picking up an additional $192,800 to extend the trunk municipal watermain along Hwy 7 to Baycliffe Drive in order to reach a city liftstation; it will not go into the neighborhood, however, because residents don’t want city water.

Grant Peterson, a resident at Baycliffe, stated, “Let’s stay on schedule but let us [the residents] in on the design process early. We want to make sure the roads get in.”

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City Engineer Cara Geheren began the hearing. “This is not the first time you’ve seen this project,” she said, pointing out costs of the various elements that could be included in the project: $19,372 per home for street and stormsewer; $15,457 per home for city water; and the trunk watermain along Hwy 7.

“Two neighborhood meetings have been held,” said Cara. “Both were well attended. Our recommendation is that the city would adopt the street and drainage project and the extension of the trunk watermain along Hwy 7 but not into the neighborhood -- although it is the most cost effective time to install municipal water in the neighborhood, when the streets are torn up.”

Stated City Administrator Steve Sarvi, “I would strongly urge Council to bring city water down Hwy 7 to our lift station for the sake of fire protection.”

City Attorney Mike Norton pointed out that benefitting properties (including residents on the private drive who are assessed at a reduced rate) pay 50% of the costs while the City of Victoria (the taxpayers of Victoria as a whole) pick up the other 50% of the project cost.

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