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The Victoria Lions We Serve.

Weddings, Proms, All Formal Occasions

Waconia 952-442-6383

Crossroads Medical Centers, P.A.

Chaska 448-2050

Shakopee 496-6700 Prior Lake 447-1700

St. Bonifacius * 952-446-1338

Holy Family Catholic High School

Victoria * 952-443-4659

GET A LONGER GARDEN HOSE

WATER THE SOD BY YOUR HOUSE

Council voted 4-1 on May 22nd to replace the sod laid as part of the city’s 2006 street and utility improvement project. Cost for sod and watering is between $6,000 and $7,000. Jim Paulsen voted against the motion. “I’m not inclined to go along with this at all. It’s in people’s yards,” he said. “Everybody wants low taxes, low taxes, low taxes and more services, more services, more services.”

Stated Mayor Mary Thun, “This is going to be the last time I’m going to vote to resod a project. We will tell people to water it and we will not be discussing this again. It will be a non-discussion item in future projects!”

City Engineer Cara Geheren said that a good sod project needs 4 to 6 inches of topsoil. “We watched the topsoil be placed in large quantities. My opinion is that the topsoil is there,” she said.

DEVELOPER’S AGREEMENT WITH DORAN

TO PURCHASE 13.5 ACRES FROM CITY OF VICTORIA

Council voted on May 8th to proceed with a developer’s agreement with Doran Companies, in agreement with the city staff recommendation, accepting “tangible cash” as soon as possible and a high degree of certainty that the Doran plan for the 13.5 acres includes senior housing with Walker Methodist.

Holly Kreft, Community Development Director, will arrange for a tour at a Walker Methodist facility in the metro area.

Said Holly of the Doran agreement, “The purchase price [from the City of Victoria] was verbally noted as $2.5 million. But the city wants to also recoup its costs, which brings the total to $2,630,653.”

“Staff is also recommending that a two-acre site be carved out of the 13.5 acres for a city hall, library complex with a first right of refusal to Doran Companies as a separate pad site for sale,” she stated.

Holly reported that Doran is required to construct improvements such as municipal water, sewer, stormwater, small utilities, the trail along the north side of the property to County Road 11, and turn lanes that might be required at Hwy 5 or County Road 11.

It was staff recommendation that the City of Victoria pay $455,000 for the reconstruction of Stieger Lake Lane from the downtown bridge to the adjacent Doran property line.

TOES IN LAKE MINNETONKA

COST VICTORIA $22,697 IN 2009

Council unanimously approved the 2009 LMCD Budget at $376,617. Total 2008 levy to member cities was $318,238. The fourteen member cities are Deephaven, Excelsior, Greenwood, Minnetonka, Minnetonka Beach, Minnetrista, Mound, Orono, Shorewood, Spring Park, Tonka Bay, Victoria, Wayzata, and Woodland.

For the sake of comparison, Victoria’s share of the total 2009 levy is $22,697; Excelsior’s is $9,386; Minnetonka’s is $75,323. Levy sharing is not based on Lake Minnetonka shoreline within a particular city, but on the city’s market valuation.

Bill Olson, Victoria’s representative on the LMCD, reminded councilmembers on May 22nd that he promised to use the money as though it were his own and that he has investigated all LMCD expenses since his appointment to the board. “We’re replacing harvesters,” he said. “That’s an issue. We’re beginning a $750,000 five-year program for annual treatment that will eventually kill two types of invasive species in the lake. We’re not charging cities for the first year treatment; that’s all from volunteer donations. It’s an experiment. Our goal is to do better what we’re doing.” He mentioned other costs such as $169,000 to mow grass.

Said Councilmember Tim Amundsen, “It’s hard for me to reconcile that this [levy] is spread to both users and nonusers. There are people who don’t put a toe in that lake. It’s not just people in the 14 communities that use the lake. They come in from all over.”

Councilmember Richard Tieden pointed out that both users and nonusers also pay for things like tot lots and the field house. “It’s part of living here,” he said.

HOPING TO RESOLVE ICY ISSUE

VICTORIA SKATING TOWARD RESOLUTION

After a presentation on May 22nd, the issue of refinancing the Pagel Center on behalf of the Minnetonka Youth Hockey Association was continued to the first Victoria City Council meeting in June. The Pagel Center is located at the Minnetonka High School. MYHA is a corporation. In 2001 the City of Victoria served as a conduit on behalf of the MYHA and issued a $4.5 million community facilities revenue note to finance the building of the Pagel Center. The hockey association wants to refinance now at a lower interest rate and asked the city to do so under the Conduit Debt Policy. Victoria receives $8,800 for this service.

Richard Miller, senior vice president at Wells Fargo, said the facility was built for $6 million and that the annual debt would be reduced by $33,000 with the refinancing.

Victoria City Attorney Mike Norton reported, however, that some previous issues between the City of Victoria and MYHA have not been resolved; those issues are related to $10,000 in ice time referrals. Stated Councilmember Kim Roden, “I’d sure like to see that resolved.”

Stated the treasurer of MYHA regarding that ice time, “We believe we provided documentation as requested. We believe we met our financial obligations with the City of Victoria.” The refinancing issue for the Pagel Center will be taken up again at the June 12th council

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