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City Scoop Continued |
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VICTORIA LOOKING AHEAD PLANNING FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS Council adopted a Capital Improvement Plan on December 14th. It is a five-year plan for years 2010 through 2014. Such plans are adopted annually in the City of Victoria. Capital expenditures are being proposed at this time in the following amounts: For 2010: $3,358,420 For 2011: $4,519,621 For 2012: $4,219, 580 For 2013: $902,541 For 2014: $678,063
Stated City Finance Director Jylan Johnson, “The last four years are conceptual only. The Finance Committee recommends moving forward. There are adequate funding resources.” She reported, “There are sufficient funding sources for all the items listed in the 2010 Capital Improvement Plan, with exception of the 2010 Street Reconstruction Project which requires the issuance of debt.” As in the past, the city has planned for approximately $2 million to $3 million in annual street and utility improvements, ending in 2013 when street maintenance comes into play in a bigger way. Some of the bigger capital improvements for 2010 include: a new server at City Hall ($21,000), GPS locating equipment ($9,000), replace boards at Lions Park hockey rink ($25,000), annual bobcat trade/replacement ($9,000), rubber flooring for fitness area at Rec Center ($50,000), land acquisition for redevelopment ($200,000), land exchange 13.5 acres with Three Rivers Park ($132,770), water meter reader ($9,000), replace 10-year old pickup truck ($65,000), outlet repairs and stormwater basin maintenance ($60,000), more stormwater management ($40,000), replacement of ballfield lights ($10,000), playground replacement program ($20,000), resurface and maintain Lions Park tennis courts ($50,000), trail construction at Woodland Hills ($50,000). Stated Councilmember Kim Roden, “I think it’s important for the public to know there are no short term plans for a new Public Works Building or new City Offices.” Replied Administrator Don Uram, “We’ve pushed those into later years.”
STILL SWAPPING WITH THREE RIVERS AND HOPING FOR A CONNECTING TRAIL Council voted 4-1 to adopt a resolution approving a second amendment “by and between” the City of Victoria and the Three Rivers Park District. It is an amendment to the past Land Sale and Development Agreement (land swap), and it removes the obligation of the city to construct a trail. The land swap of 2006 resulted in the city acquiring 13.5 acres just to the west of Victoria’s central business district, and Three Rivers acquiring city-owned property on the east side of Lake Auburn along County Road 11. Private development of the 13.5 acres has not occurred as projected and therefore a trail through the property has not been constructed -- by either the anticipated developer or the city. Administrator Don Uram reported on December 14th that the city will fork over a $570,000 cash payment to Three Rivers which, he said, “is actually a discount compared to what a trail would cost.” The money comes from the city’s General Fund Reserves. “We have asked that Three Rivers include the trail in their Capital Improvement Plan, which they have agreed to do,” reported Administrator Uram. “This does not guarantee that a trail will be constructed.” Councilmember Tim Amundsen said he voted against the motion “in fairness to the Victoria business community.” When asked what he meant by that statement, he replied, “Members of the business community and the Central Business District thought immediate or future construction of the trail was of more benefit than paying the money and getting no commitment. These individuals made the logical argument against turning over the funds and receiving a ‘maybe soon’ or ‘maybe never’ from the Three Rivers Park Board.” Continued Tim, “While construction price estimates were all over the board, they thought it could be done for less money than discussed ... “The Park Board would not agree to any timeline or commitment on building a trail. I personally didn’t like that since it was discussed as part of the transaction from the start and had the initial support of numerous parties, including downtown businesses. “The rationale of the business representatives on the need for connecting the trail was to obtain greater access to downtown from multiple points, which could help businesses,” said Tim.
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January 2010 |
