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Replied Councilmember O'Connor, "The CDA essentially acts like a broker. They bring in the potential buyer. Our city staff decides if it's appropriate and then we have another affordable housing unit in Victoria that goes toward our Comprehensive Plan. The final decision where the money goes is ours."

Making an effort to meet guidelines of the Metropolitan Council helps a city in receiving grant monies and some favor.

Mayor Thun pointed out that the developers at Rhapsody and Krey Lakes expect that the $185,000 will be dedicated to affordable housing.

"That's important information to me," said Councilmember Crowley, who approved the sale of the three lots back to the developers.

Councilmember O'Connor then made a motion to place the funds in a dedicated fund for the land trust program.

Added Councilmember Crowley, "I'd like to specifically state that those funds cannot be utilized until it comes back to the council for approval. I do not want to give that right or responsibility to the staff until I learn more about the CDA."

Said Councilmember O'Connor, "I'm comfortable with the staff. I'm comfortable with the CDA. I'm comfortable with leaving the funds in their hands as we have historically."

When Councilmember Crowley made a motion to amend the motion, to have the city council give final approval, it died for lack of a second.

Stated Councilmember O'Connor, "There's nothing to stop you from going out and getting that information yourself."

"We will certainly facilitate a meeting with the CDA as quickly as we can," said Administrator Don Uram.

The motion to place the funds in a dedicated fund for the land trust programed failed because of a tie vote. Tom O'Connor and Kim Roden voted in favor; Mayor Thun and Jim Crowley voted against.

"I voted against the motion because of what Don just said," stated the mayor. "We can move forward later." The next step is for the city administrator to put together a meeting with the Carver County Community Development Agency.

In the meantime, said Councilmember Roden, "I don't want the city to be put into a position for criticism." She said the funds should be designated.

"I'm in favor of allocating them to affordable housing," said Councilmember Crowley. Council voted 4-0 to allocate them to an Affordable Housing Program, to be specifically designated later.

SHORTER SCOOP FROM OCTOBER

VICTORIA FIRE APPLIES FOR FEMA GRANT

*Council approved application by the Victoria Fire Department for a FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant for the purchase of 12 portable radios with expanded frequency abilities. Requested grant amount is $12,600, with the Fire Department contributing $1,000. If the grant is awarded, existing radios would be transferred to the Victoria Public Works Department.

*Council approved the hiring Jennifer Christ as Customer Service Receptionist with part time benefits at the Victoria Recreation Center. Doc Schmieg is retiring from that position at the Rec Center in November. Seventy applications were received. Council also approved the hiring of Thomas Amundsen for a front desk part time position at the Victoria Recreation Center.

*Council accepted a donation of $25 from Judith and Robert Miller for the Victoria Fire Department, $30 from Elizabeth O'Neil for the Fire Department, $242 from Floyd's for the Fire Department, and $100 from Augustana [Emerald Crest] Care Services for the CarFit Program.

*Jim Crowley, council liaison on the Planning Commission, reported that approximately 150 waterfront properties in Victoria may be potentially subject to new ordinances and costs of around $3,000 per home, "an extremely expensive proposition." Holly said it was the consensus of the Planning Commission to use an incentive-based programs and work with the MCWD."

*Cobalt Contracting Inc. has so far received 86% of the contract amount of $175,000 from the City of Victoria to improve the soccer fields at Diethelm Park. Cobalt has offices in Coon Rapids, Minnesota.

*Council approved the hiring of Michelle Heger as a personal trainer for fitness programs at the Victoria Recreation Center.

*Council approved a minor subdivision for Kyle and Katherine Korzenowski for their five-acre parcel on Marsh Lake Road. Holly Kreft pointed out that the property was annexed from Laketown Township into the City of Victoria on October 11th, that the Planning Commission held a public hearing, and that both the Commission and city staff recommend approval. She said the property will be divided into two parcels, both will be served by a private well and septic system, that there will be two separate driveways, that the owners currently live on one parcel and plan to build a new home on the second parcel.

*Kim Roden said that 14 residences will be affected by the Metropolitan Council repair project of the regional sanitary sewer located at 74th Street and the south side of Schutz Lake. About the upcoming project she stated, "The devil is always in the details."