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FORMAL STEP FORWARD

FOR BOTH VICTORIA AND SCHOOL DISTRICT 112

On December 13^th Victoria council-members voted 5-0 to approve a resolu-tion that authorizes a joint powers agree-ment and ground lease between the City of Victoria and School District 112 for a joint ice facility at the Victoria Field House.

The agreement consists of several pages, over 50 and less than 100, that include a Table of Contents, several Articles, Provisions, Definitions, and Ex-hibits.

The Articles deal with such things as arena management, financial manage-ment, budget preparation, composition and duties of committees. Other Articles include sections on the ground lease, the construction of a second sheet of ice, parking easements, connecting structure between ice sheets, insurances, options, legal descriptions, and many other items in legal but understandable language.

The bottom line is that the City of Victoria will receive a $400,000 payment each year from the School District – which is a great help for the city in meet-ing expenses of the Field House – and the School District will receive two sheets of ice for its growing student body at a much reduced cost compared to other options.

As City Attorney Mike Norton stated, “These are two documents that will assist the city and the school district. We expect to have a long and healthy and coopera-tive relationship with the school district.”

The school district will build a second sheet of ice and seating capacity for the Victoria Ice Arena for an initial term of 25 years with lease options there-after.

Asked Councilmember Kim Roden, “What happens if the city decides to sell the rest of the building?”

Replied Attorney Mike Norton, “The overarching theme is that neither party does anything to break up the agreement.” He added, however, that the school dis-trict would have the first right of refusal.

“What if there’s a dispute?” asked Councilmember Roden.

Replied Attorney Norton, in reference to the capital budget, for example, “Three architects would make a recommendation, one hired by the school, one by the city, and one jointly. The city pays 25% and the school 75%.”

“What if the school wants a Cadillac and the city a Chevrolet?” continued Councilmember Roden.

Replied the city attorney, “The school can sue the city and the city can sue the school, but I don’t think the school district will be proposing a Cadillac kind of budget.”

Regarding the Joint Powers Agree-ment before them, Councilmember Roden then stated, “This was a lot of work by Councilmember Paulsen. I think this is a good piece of work.”

“I agree with Councilmember Roden,” said Councilmember Richard Tieden. “I thank the mayor and Council-member Paulsen. The whole council has put in hours, staff time, too, and Mr. Jennings and Mr. Pumper. This is a collaboration of a lot of people. It’s wonderful getting to this point.”

Stated Councilmember Tim Amund-sen, “I think it’s important to recognize there’s a mutual benefit to both parties. The school diligently did the research to see what it would cost them to meet their needs. It would have been substantially more dollars from a different perspective. The need is there for the community and the school district.”

“We’re involved in a team sport,” said Councilmember Paulsen. “No one walks alone and gets anything done.” He especially mentioned Mayor Mary Thun and City Attorney Mike Norton.

Regarding the hours of negotiation, Attorney Norton said, “There were some moments when we weren’t happy with each other but we achieved our goals.”

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