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August 2009 |
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The Victoria GAZETTE |
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City Scoop Continued |
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SHARED/SMART PARKING FOR VICTORIA? IT’S “A BIT OF A JIGSAW PUZZLE” Council held a first hearing July 13th on the Shared ParkingOrdinance with plans to delay the second hearing till August 10th in order to respond to Ten Questions from Councilmember Jim Paulsen as well as other concerns. Said City Attorney Mike Norton, “We looked at the ordinance to clean up some areas and to see how we would compute the value of the parking spaces, plus an alternative compliance in order to substitute other amenities. One of the ways a developer could comply is to provide a contract from a third party. If a developer loses that, he could be required to pay per the Shared Parking Ordinance.” He added, “The problem is always going to be how are future city councils going to manage the ordinance? Staff needs to have good records on this.” Councilmember Kim Roden said there was much discussion by the Business Development Committee on the ordinance, and that the Committee mainly settled at this time on “wait and see.” Even if cash value of a parking space can be determined in downtown Victoria, Councilmember Tim Amundsen asked, “How do we ensure we will cover the parking needs when we accept donations in lieu of? I don’t have that answer. How do we convey the spirit and intent?” It was suggested that some people expect the city to meet parking needs by paving the vacant Tim Forcier property across the street from City Hall. Stated Councilmember Jim Paulsen, “I believe Tim Amundsen is asking for a Parking Fund.” Said Councimember Roden, “Every single city that does this [a Shared Parking Ordinance] realizes it’s a bit of a jigsaw puzzle. The literature I read calls it Smart Parking, not Shared Parking. It will always be something that needs continual review like with any other limited resource.” As the first reading and discussion were ending, Councilmember Paulsen distributed a sheet of Ten Questions on the issue of Shared Parking to which city staff will be responding. Council held a first hearing July 13th on the Shared Parking Ordinance with plans to delay the second hearing till August 10th in order to respond to Ten Questions from Councilmember Jim Paulsen as well as other concerns. Said City Attorney Mike Norton, “We looked at the ordinance to clean up some areas and to see how we would compute the value of the parking spaces, plus an alternative compliance in order to substitute other amenities. One of the ways a developer could comply is to provide a contract from a third party. If a developer loses that, he could be required to pay per the Shared Parking Ordinance.” He added, “The problem is always going to be how are future city councils going to manage the ordinance? Staff needs to have good records on this.” Councilmember Kim Roden said there was much discussion by the Business Development Committee on the ordinance, and that the Committee mainly settled at this time on “wait and see.” Even if cash value of a parking space can be determined in downtown Victoria, Councilmember Tim Amundsen asked, “How do we ensure we will cover the parking needs when we accept donations in lieu of? I don’t have that answer. How do we convey the spirit and intent?” It was suggested that some people expect the city to meet parking needs by paving the vacant Tim Forcier property across the street from City Hall. Stated Councilmember Jim Paulsen, “I believe Tim Amundsen is asking for a Parking Fund.” Said Councimember Roden, “Every single city that does this [a Shared Parking Ordinance] realizes it’s a bit of a jigsaw puzzle. The literature I read calls it Smart Parking, not Shared Parking. It will always be something that needs continual review like with any other limited resource.” As the first reading and discussion were ending, Councilmember Paulsen distributed a sheet of Ten Questions on the issue of Shared Parking to which city staff will be responding.
VICTORIA CALLED SPECIAL MEETING TO ADDRESS REGIONAL SEWER ISSUES Council did not discuss nor consider a resolution before them on July 27th regarding revisions to an agreement between the City of Victoria and the Metropolitan Council in reference to Phase I and Phase II of the regional sewer improvements constructed and being constructed on the north side of Victoria. Mayor Mary Thun pointed out that several pages of related documents were only received late that afternoon, which means she and others are not prepared to comment on them since they haven’t been read. The issue will be addressed on Monday, August 3rd.
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