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He said, “It’s in capital equipment for the Fire Department and for the Fire Relief Association, which is a great tool and benefit for recruiting new members. Administration is flat except for some information technology expenses we need to incur. We honestly don’t know what utilities and gas are going to cost us next year. Generally across the board we’re recommending a 3% wage increase.”

In response to Council questions he stated that the hiring of a Public Works Director/City Engineer is expected to save $20,000 a year in consulting engineering fees. “That’ll be in the ballpark,” he said.

Asked Councilmember Paulsen, “Could we run the city with 10% less? This budget can’t grow by 10% forever.”

Replied the administrator, “This is a service business. There are trade-offs but we could do it.”

Said Councilmember Roden, “One of the things I learned is that this community has a high level of expectation in services. The community expects services. They’re less interested in living on a more mean level than we have.”

Stated Mayor Mary Thun, “I like the idea of a Stabilization Fund and putting away funds for a new Public Works building or City Hall.”

The preliminary city budget for 2009 will be reviewed, discussed, and approved by the Victoria City Council in August. It must be certified to Carver County by September 15th.

OLD TOWN VICTORIA LIONS PARK AREA

SLATED FOR STREET/UTILITY PROJECT IN 2009

Continuing with the City of Victoria’s comprehensive street improvement plan that addresses all streets and neighborhoods in the city, Council adopted a resolution on July 10th that orders a feasibility report on street, drainage, and utility improvements for the Lions Park area of Victoria.

As City Engineer Cara Geheren said, “We are now talking about improvements for 2009. The Lions Park area is located in the central older part of town. The budget is set for $3 million.”

Continued the city engineer, “This project will be quite a bit more complicated than the projects in past years. There is a possibility of needing easements, for example.”

“We want an early spring bid date of March 2009 so we’d want to start the feasibility report immediately,” she said. “We would be designing over the winter. It would be $37,400 to complete the feasibility report.”

Council voted 4-0 (Mayor Mary Thun was absent) to approve the expenditure and order the report. Streets in the Lions Park area of the city include 81st Street (from 82nd Street to Co. Rd. 11), 81 1/2 Street (from Co. Rd. 11 to Quamoclit), 82nd Street (from 81st Street to Co. Rd. 11), Orchid Street (from 82nd Street to 81st Street), Petunia Street (from 82nd Street through the cul de sac), and Quamoclit Street (from 82nd Street to Hwy 5).

Benefitting properties will be assessed for a portion of the cost of the improvements according to the city’s special assessment policies. The city picks up 50% of the cost of street reconstruction.

OTHER VICTORIA NEWS FROM JULY

SMITHTOWN ROAD TO OPEN IN SEPTEMBER

*Mayor Thun reported July 24th that she and Administrator Don Uram met with Metropolitan Council people about the Smithtown culvert project. “We’re pretty convinced the Metropolitan Council is doing thir job. We were told the road would be open the second week in September and completed by the end of October. We encouraged them to be diligent on communication.”

*City Attorney Mike Norton reported that the 13.5 acres is still not in the city’s name. “There is no approval yet from the Carver County Auditor-Recorder as to whether they accept the legal description or not from the Park District,” he said. “I don’t think it’s anything serious.” He commented that one of the problems is that the Park District’s name has been changed several times over the years. In recent times it has been the Hennepin County Park Reserve District, Hennepin Parks, and now it’s the Three Rivers Park District.

*Council authorized the release on July 24th of the draft 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update for local jurisdiction review. An electronic copy of the voluminous material will be available on the city’s website and a hard copy at City Hall. Said Jim Paulsen, “It is War and Peace, to be sure, but I’d like a hard copy.” Other councilmembers also asked for hard copies.

*Council approved an amendment to the zoning ordinance that can help re-guide the Marsh Lake Hunting Club from agricultural to low density residential with a conservation PUD overlay. Stated City Planner Holly Kreft, “Our city attorney has recommended approval.” Stated Peter Coyle of the Hunt Club, “We encourage your adoption.”

*Councilmember Kim Roden said on July 10th, “Thanks to a process and Sue Orsen’s feature story, the mayor and I will be meeting with [State Representative] Paul Kohls Monday morning to focus on some items of agreement. Hopefully we can work together and hopefully dialogue can continue in the paper in a positive way.” The Killing Field in the June 2008 issue of the Gazette featured the heavy traffic and dangerous intersections with Trunk Highway 5 in Victoria.

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