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ALPHABET JUNCTION COMES TO VICTORIA PREPARES FOR 77 PRESCHOOL CHILDREN Council voted 5-0 on December 14th to approve a conditional use permit for Alphabet Junction to operate a daycare center in the Notermann Building in downtown Victoria. Alphabet Junction will remodel and occupy the space formerly occupied by Mackenthun’s Meats and Deli. Holly Kreft, Planner and Community Development Director, said they already have two other centers, one located in Waconia, the other in Chaska. The daycare is for preschool age children and younger. There are nine to ten employees. Infants (6 weeks to 16 months) require 1 teacher per 4 infants. Toddlers (16 to 33 months) require 1 teacher per 7 toddlers. Preschoolers (33 months to kindergarten) require 1 teacher per 10 children. Alphabet Junction in Victoria will accommodate 77 children. Holly said that 35 square feet are required per child. The combined square footage on main level and lower level totals approximately 4,500 square feet. All state requirements are being met. Holly said that the daycare requires 11 parking spaces. Other businesses in the Notermann Building require a total of 10 parking spaces. Five of the existing parking spaces need to be removed for an outdoor play area. Some of the “city’s” parking space, being leased from the Notermann Building by the city, will be needed by Alphabet Junction. The city’s parking lease (18 spaces) can be terminated at any time upon 30 days prior written notice. Asked Councilmember Jim Paulsen, “How does this affect the city office need for parking?” Holly said she is working on two other parking options for city staff -- the vacant Forcier property directly across the street from City Hall, and the Wensmann-Stieger Shores parking lot which is not currently used to capacity. The Victoria Planning Commission recommended approval of the permit with the condition that employees of Alphabet Junction be required to park off-site, perhaps at the city parking lot behind the Victoria House. Asked Councilmember Tom O’Connor about this off-site parking condition, “Is this occupant being penalized?” Replied Planner Kreft, “It’s what they do at their other locations.” The motion to approve the conditional use permit for Alphabet Junction was on the floor when Steve Frankwitz, owner of Victoria Autowerks, came to the podium to support the new business in Victoria. “We need these people coming into town!” he declared. The vote to approve was unanimous. Commented Councilmember Paulsen, “That’s 50 more cars coming into town every day.”
VICTORIA AGAIN CHOOSES TKDA BUT THE CITY IS NOT “A CLOSED SHOP” After studying requests for qualifications and interviewing other candidates, the City of Victoria has chosen to remain with TKDA as its consultant city engineering firm. Councilmembers decided in 2009 to periodically review their consultants -- attorney, financial, engineering -- and ask others to vie for the position through a vetting process. “In late fall, five engineering firms were short-listed,” said City Administrator Don Uram. “Each firm submitted RFQ’s. They were evaluated, which pointed out three top firms: Bonestroo, TKDA, and WSB. We interviewed candidates these last two weeks. At the end of the interview process, the consensus was for TKDA, who has been with us since 2001. TKDA has much institutional knowledge. Our recommendation is to begin contract negotiation with TKDA, a five-year contract.” The interview committee included the city administrator, Councilmembers Tim Amundsen and Jim Paulsen, Planning Commission member Grant Peterson, Public Works Director Ann Mahnke, and City Planner Holly Kreft. Councilmember Tim Amundsen said the city reserves the right to use other engineers in its various projects “for a competitive, thoughtful environment.” Agreed Councilmember Kim Roden, “We are looking for language or understanding that we are not a closed shop.” Added Councilmember Amundsen, “There was a significant difference in cost among the top three firms and TKDA came out on top.” The motion on December 14th to initiate and enter into a contract with TKDA passed unanimously.
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January 2010 |
