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*** In a memorandum from City Administrator Don Uram, he commented that a preliminary assessment of the City of Victoria for 2012 shows an overall decline of 2.95% in the city's assessed valuation. The city's long term financial plan had projected, however, a decline of 4.5%. New construction of about $18.5 million helped offset what would otherwise have been a market decline in excess of $46 million. He reported that keeping the tax rate the same in 2013 as it is for 2012 will generate an additional $86,495 in tax revenue. Victoria's tax rate in 2012 was 39.55%. This means that for every $1,000 in assessed valuation, the city tax would be approximately $3.95. The 2011 estimated market value of Victoria was $988,450,900. The 2012 estimated market value of Victoria is $959,290,200. Residential value accounts for 96% of that total.
PAYING FOR THE UNDERPASS AT THE ARB VICTORIA’S COST PARTICIPATION: $32,154 Council voted 5-0 on April 9th to participate in the funding of the Minnewashta Parkway Underpass that is part of this summer's Hwy 5 construction project to the tune of $32,154. The Underpass (which will be constructed under Hwy 5) lies within the city limits of Victoria near Minnewashta Parkway and the MN Landscape Arboretum. Councilmember Tom O'Connor pulled the item off the consent agenda saying, "I don't want to oppose it but revisit it. The agreement was that we'd allow it to be built, with no funds from Victoria, and now we've got a $32,000 expenditure on it. This wasn't on our list. I want everyone to realize, consciously, this wasn't anticipated." Said Councilmember Jim Crowley, "Is this budgeted or not budgeted? It's not budgeted but it's marked as budgeted." Replied City Administrator Don Uram, "My recollection is that Chanhassen came to us and asked us to approve a grant application. I don't recall any funds being asked from Victoria or for any cost participation. Quite a ways into it, Chanhassen brought up the 'parties' as potential cost participants, so we've never had that discussion." Continued Mr. Uram, "Having no formal request by Chanhassen, Ann Mahnke and I met with them to discuss what their expectations were. We recognized the benefit to our residents and thought some cost participation be acceptable. The Park and Recreation Committee met and thought some expenditure up to $40,000 would be acceptable." Stated Councilmember Kim Roden, "One of our objectives as a city is to connect trails. For this amount of dollars, to be able to connect to the Arboretum, it's a pretty good value. I think about some of our neighborhoods that are cut off from the city [like Tristan Heights] and I think about the big picture." "The process is what's lacking here," said Councilmember O'Connor. "It's a worthwhile endeavor. I don't think Chanhassen is trying to pull the wool over our eyes; they just didn't get a 100% grant." In fact, the grant required a 20% match and it was agreed that the three parties -- Chanhassen, Victoria, and the Arboretum -- would split it at a cost of $32,154 each. Said Mayor Mary Thun, "I fully agree with Tom. Chanhassen was back peddling for a while." "The staff is a lot smarter today," said Mr. Uram. "The key is that this is just an underpass. We still need to get there." In other words, a trail needs to be constructed for Victoria to get to the underpass. P.W. Director Ann Mahnke said that the City of Victoria was not successful last year in getting a grant for a trail that would connect the underpass to the rest of Victoria as well as the Regional Trail. "We've applied again this year," she said. Stated Mr. Uram, "Councilmember Crowley is correct. There is not a specific line item for the underpass. There is money in the Park Improvement Fund to pay for this. Not all of our expenditures we know a year in advance." "It's transparency I'm looking for," said Councilmember Crowley. Said Ann, "I believe it has been identified in the Park and Rec plan as a line item." "So what is the cost of getting us that access to that underpass?" asked Councilmember Strigel. Replied Ann, "About $150,000." The city builds the project, completes it, and is then reimbursed up to 75% of the costs to an amount of $150,000 -- if the grant application is successful this year. Estimated cost of the trail connection: $260,000. Said Mayor Thun, "I believe I've been told that anybody who walks or rides into the Arboretum will have no charge." Admission fee to the Arboretum is otherwise $12. The mayor also repeated that the underpass grant money that Chanhassen received cannot be used for a "stop and go light" at that intersection of Minnewashta Parkway and Hwy 5. It must be used to build the underpass. Estimated total cost of the underpass project is $774,873. Federal grant funds totalling $578,410 pay for most of it. DNR grant funds contribute $100,000. The local share (being split three ways): $96,463.
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May 2012 |
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