Victoria MN Newspaper

Floor to Ceiling

PETITION CONTINUED.

The petition needs 223 signatures of Victoria residents to be legitimate and to require a referendum. A referendum would ask voters to either approve or reject the issuance of capital improvement bonds for the new city buildings.

If a majority of voters would approve financing through capital improvement bonds, things stay on course. If a majority of voters would reject financing through capital improvement bonds, councilmembers would have to choose a more costly method of financing the buildings. It wouldn't stop construction.

In past months, councilmembers have indicated they will not hold a referendum. A referendum also involves election costs and construction delay costs. Councilmembers have indicated they will instead switch to a method of financing that is not subject to petition and referendum.

Lease Revenue Bonds are not subject to a petition or referendum, but would cost Victoria taxpayers an additional $600,000 in financing costs, which is why councilmembers have voted 5-0 to use capital improvement bonds.

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Said Councilmember Jim Crowley to Councilmember Pavelko, "It's more costly if you do that. The implication is that what you're advocating is that we haven't done our fiduciary responsibility. I categorically and wholeheartedly disagree with you."

Said Councilmember Pavelko, "I'd say we should take a good hard look at what we're doing."

Councilmember Crowley pointed out that past Mayor Mary Thun and past councilmember Kim Roden were also involved in the studies and long process leading to this point. "The main reason we started down this path was for the safety and welfare of our residents and employees," he said.

"This is a representative democracy," added Mayor Tom O'Connor. "Three votes allow us to proceed." The mayor asked Councilmember Pavelko to read the petition question.

It reads: "We, the undersigned citizens of the City of Victoria do hereby petition for the City to hold an election to allow voters to approve or reject the proposed issuance of Bonds in the maximum principal amount of $5,615,000 in order to finance certain capital improvements described in the Capital Improvement Plan as set forth in Resolution No. 14-27 adopted by the Victoria City Council on April 14, 2014."

Said Mayor O'Connor, "The buildings will be under construction. We've already awarded the bids. I happen to think that people will be thrilled to see these new buildings, especially the new City Hall."

Councilmember Crowley was reminded of what past Councilmember Kim Roden once said to him during a particular issue: "It comes down to three votes and that's all it takes." The council prior to 2013 included Kim Roden, Jim Crowley, Tom Strigel, Tom O'Connor, and Mayor Mary Thun.

Said Mayor O'Connor to Councilmember Pavelko, "It's fundamentally dishonest to encourage people to sign this petition, knowing the buildings are under construction. Some residents don't understand or were misled to sign the petition."

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Said Councilmember Crowley, "We've taken the time to study this. The work environment of the existing facilities is hazardous. If I wasn't on the council, as a voter I'd laugh at you. It's irresponsible to not fix these things. You're abrogating this responsibility by taking your approach."

Said Councilmember Tom Strigel to Councilmember Pavelko, "We've outlined the needs of the city at our strategic planning meetings. We've outlined city needs, not wants. This was at the top of the list. Every piece of this process has been pretty open."

Councilmember Strigel added, "Your use of the word 'fear' is insulting. We don't fear a petition. You said earlier tonight that you'd rather spend $100,000 on the Public Works building than on moving its location, but you don't blink at adding $600,000 to the cost of financing it."

Councilmember Pavelko had also said he has an obligation to follow through with a contingency group in the city. About a dozen of them sat silently in the back of the city council chambers that evening.

Said Mayor O'Connor, "Sometimes you just have to do what you feel is right. This issue has been studied by five people, actually seven, including the last Council. It was started under Mayor Thun. We've reduced the tax levy four years in a row in this city ... People are going to be filled with pride when they walk into the new City Hall. If you sign that petition, it's going to cost more. If it must be, we'll finance with Lease Revenue Bonds."

Said Councilmember Crowley, "We are experiencing tremendous growth in this city, with 300 lots platted in the last year or so. We need to provide services that the citizens expect."

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