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Linda McNulty: I urge council to include a library in the project. A library is the center of city life, where people meet and classes are held. It is glue to a community. Chanhassen, Chaska, and Waconia have libraries attached to their City Hall. I ask that you look to the future and build a new City Hall, new Public Works facility, and a new Library.

Peter O'Gorman: I simply disagree with some of the decisions. There are still more questions than answers. Is there proof these buildings need to be built? We don't need a library in my opinion. We've got libraries in the area and the internet. We shouldn't buy things until we have the money. (He also mentioned large numbers and made statements related to cost.)

Dan McInerny: We're trying to make Victoria a community for a lifetime. A library is a safe accessible place for people. The community can afford a public library.

Tom Funk: I'm one of the principals behind the flyer. I do not agree that taking on debt is the right thing to do. Find ways to delay more debt. I'm against building all three buildings."

Randy Miller: The Victoria Business Owners Association publicly and strongly support all three facilities. Statements in the flyers are not correct. The City has meetings and everyone is invited. They have meetings and the city isn't invited. Residents elected a council to make the best decisions for us. I am very comfortable with communication of the Council.

Dallas Krueger: I'm not in favor of a bandshell, a library, a City Hall, or a Public Works facility. Please stop spending my money.

Joe Carroll: Ours is a representative democracy. We have elected city councilmembers. We should have faith in our Council. If we don't like it, we vote them out of office.

Joe Dougherty: I'm not in favor of a library. We probably need a Public Works facility. Is this the right time for it?

Dave Clapper asked other questions.

"Thank you all for your opinions," said Mayor O'Connor. "It's clear this has touched a nerve. We'll represent you to the best of our ability. To imply we might be making these decisions cavalierly, well, it's plain wrong. The statements are flat wrong. Put your mind at ease. If you haven't been to the Public Works building and City Hall, check it out. We've been at this for well over a year. We're getting into it now in earnest. It is a representative democracy. I'd ask you to trust us."

VICTORIA LAND AUCTION APPROVED

ALSO A LAND SWAP FOR LAKESIDE PROPERTY

1) Purchase Agreement. At the July 22nd city council meeting, Council voted 5-0 to approve a 30-day extension of the purchase agreement on the Bavaria Road/Hartman Tree Farm property planned for the Public Works facility. The city asked Hartmans to extend to August 27th. Purchase price on the ten acres is $700,000.

Said Mayor Tom O'Connor, "We're not proposing to rethink the solution but to use more time evaluating the solution."

City Manager Don Uram pointed out the extension was requested in order to complete the lot split and conditional use permit approval process from the Planning Commission and the City Council. "It will be scheduled before the City Council meeting on August 26th," said Mr. Uram.

2) Construction Manager Job. Council voted 5-0 on July 22nd to authorize City Manager Don Uram to issue RFP's for construction management services related to a new City Hall and Public Works facility. "There are several firms that do this," said Mr. Uram. RFP stands for Request for Proposals.

A construction manager oversees all aspects of a building project from inception through completion. Said Mr. Uram, "The City of Victoria would be the general contractor. A construction manager would assist us. Chaska did this with their Public Works building. It's often done in the public sector."

3) Fahey Sales Land Auction. Council voted 4-1 on July 22nd to contract with Fahey Sales to hold a land auction for the city-owned 94 acres in Laketown Township. Said Councilmember Tom Strigel, "This is just a formality. This land has been for sale for 18 months."

Said Mayor Tom O'Connor, "The intent is to reduce the total cost of public facilities to be built, to be deposited in the Capital Facilities Fund to offset the cost." Councilmember Joe Pavelko voted nay.

4) Land Swap. Council voted 4-1 on July 22nd to authorize a Land Swap with Hartmans. The city-owned lots (including the Johnson lot) next to the Post Office will be swapped with Hartmans for the lakeside property near the downtown LRT trail.

Said Mr. Uram, "I believe this will become a public gathering place with a bandshell and City Hall in the lakeside location." Said Councilmember Jim Crowley, in responding to a charge by Councilmember Joe Pavelko, "This wasn't magic. One of the options we considered was renting from the Hartmans. We decided it's better to own than rent. It was all very much in the open."

Agreed Councilmember Lani Basa, "We discussed the leasing option on January 18th, 2013." The motion to work out a favorable transaction with Hartmans and come back to Council with it, passed 4-1. Councilmember Pavelko voted nay.

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