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The Victoria

GAZETTE

         Councilmember Roden commented on a couple of the goals.  "Our city is a professionally managed city.  I think we could be more efficient with a city manager form of government.  I'd like the Personnel Committee to study this and make a recommendation."

         She continued, "I've felt strongly about a Citizen's Academy for a long time but it would take a lot of staff time.  A Citizen's Academy provides an opportunity for citizens to learn and understand what we do.  It would be a series of seminars interactive between citizens and government.  This may not rise to the top.  I'm very flexible about which goals go forward and which don't."

         Administrator Uram spoke in regard to a Sports Dome.  "This has been brought up at a Park and Rec Committee meeting.  They are not interested.  I've gotten a little information from Jim Crowley.  I think that it deserves a little bit of discussion."

         Asked Councilmember O'Connor, "Shouldn't we decide first if we want to do it at all?  Rather than look where it would be located?"  It was mentioned that the subject of a Sports Dome will return to the Park and Rec Committee and Council may never see it again.

         Upcoming improvements to Stieger Lake Lane in downtown Victoria were also discussed.  "The last thing we want is roads like in Minneapolis," said Mayor Thun, having just driven in Minneapolis.  "Those roads are brutal on cars.  Quite basically, Stieger Lake Lane needs to be done regardless of the 2012 Hwy 5 project.  That's what people see -- snowplowing and streets."

         When Hwy 5 is closed during the summer of 2012, traffic is expected to be heavy on Stiever Lake Lane.

         Stated Councilmember Strigel, "We've done a beautiful job of getting our streets done and we have to make sure we maintain our assets."

         Mayor Thun also commented on the possibility of switching to a city manager form of government, where the manager hires and fires all city employees, and only the manager is hired and fired by the Council.  Under the city administrator form of government, Council does all the hiring and firing.

         "The Personnel Committee left this in the city administrator's hands," reported Mayor Thun.  "I am very high on this.  We already sort of act like a city manager form of  government.  I question the whole idea of us approving the hiring of all kinds of staff people that we don't even know.  Maybe the Personnel Committee should have a serious discussion on this."  Councilmember O'Connor agreed, "This ought to be a high priority."

         "I couldn't agree more," said City Attorney Mike Norton.  "Victoria is still growing.  This is something to be undertaken when you don't have a lot of competing challenges.  At some point, this will be cumbersome.  With more personnel, it will be more difficult for Council to have the oversight."

         In fact, all four councilmembers present on April 11th supported moving in the direction of a city manager form of government.  Councilmember Jim Crowley was absent that evening.

         On April 24th Mayor Thun reported that the Personnel Committee discussed the City Manager form of government.  "The committee is very much in favor of moving forward and that we'd do it in conjunction with the 2012 election.  We would not want to incur extra expense."  Citizens must approve a change in government through a voting process.

         Stated Councilmember O'Connor, "This is a fairly significant change.  It would streamline the administration of the city as we continue to grow.  There are a lot of potential benefits to a city manager form of government.  Added Mr. Uram, "I am in support of the change.  It is really supportive of city administrators down the road, and it'll certainly benefit the city in the future."

 

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May 2011

The Victoria Public Works Department is located along the regional bike trail and Stieger Lake Lane (north side) on property once called The City Dump.  Construction on the Public Works Garage, left, was completed in 1982.  The trailer parked in front of it arrived in January 2011 and serves as office and meeting space and employee lunchroom.