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FREEZING VICTORIA SALARIES
NOT IF DICTATED BY THE STATE OF MINNESOTA
City administration was requested to draft a letter to the Governor's office "sharing the city's feelings" about the state asking for cities to control employee salaries in order to help state budget prob-lems.
Stated Councilmember Mary Thun, who brought the issue to the table, "I do feel pretty strongly that we decide salaries as opposed to the state. I'd like to keep the control here in the city rather than downtown St. Paul somewhere ... We need to motivate people to do the best job for our city. I hate to see our hands tied."
Administrator Steve Sarvi said he spoke to State Representative Paul Kohls, who pointed out that the state would only be asking for such a freeze if the city is using Local Government Aid money to pay salaries.
Stated Councilmember Terry Bishop, "I'm sure the League of Minnesota Cities is looking into this. One of the state's problems is trying to treat all the cities uniformly. I agree the state should not be involved in the area of city salaries." He said that if the City of Victoria has funds available because of good work done, then the city should be able to decide how to use those funds.
Commented Councilmember Richard Tieden, "It's a scary deal. If they'd get away with it this time, who knows what they'd do next?"
Also, Administrator Sarvi advised that the state should be freezing property valuations, and not tax rates, if it wants to stabilize property taxes. Oftentimes prop-erty taxes increase -- regardless of the city's success in maintaining tax rates -- because valuations increase.
GROWING WITH THE SENIOR POPULATION
HOW CAN VICTORIA BE READY FOR IT?
Mayor Jerry Bohn referred, at the March 13th city council meeting, to the rapidly growing population of senior citizens in the country, stating that the numbers will triple in the next 20 years. Asked Jerry, "What could Victoria do to get ready for this?"
Mentioning that the City of Chanhas-sen is "very progressive" in this regard, he asked Administrator Steve Sarvi to com-pile related information for discussion at a future council meeting or workshop.
Councilmember Richard Tieden sug-gested bringing someone in from Chan-hassen who might be able to speak help-fully on the question.
At the March 27th council meeting, Richard spoke of a place in Eden Prairie that consists of about 300 units and pro-vides services to seniors that range from assisted living through memory loss and hospice care. He also visited a smaller place in Shakopee of 38 to 40 units where the general manager is a registered nurse.
Richard said costs for residents of such facilities is between $3,000 and $4,000 a month, that some in fact cost $5,000 to $9,000 per month. He said there is interest in locating a care facility in Victoria. "I'd encourage my fellow councilmembers to work through the pro-cess," said Richard. "There is a private company looking at Victoria."
Councilmember Dave Lindgren had other ideas. "My idea of senior housing is Waybury in Chaska, and individual apart-ments. People in Victoria are looking for something they can afford. I think a workshop on senior housing would be a good idea. I've been in favor of some-thing like this for a long time."
Renee Wixson spoke briefly to the council on March 27th as a member of the Carver County Health Partnership Senior Commission. She said she is working with the county to help prepare for the growth in senior population. "We're expecting a large growth," she stated. "It's a large issue."
She said that one of the ways in which cities can help prepare for the future is to form a Senior Commission that can give advice and promote senior housing in a community. Councilmember Tieden volunteered to work with her.
Stated Mayor Jerry Bohn, "The excit-ing part is that seniors can contribute to a community. They don't just have needs." City staff was directed to set up a work-shop to delve further into possibilities for Victoria.
TAKING DOWNTOWN STEPS
TO PURCHASE EASEMENTS AND RIGHTS OF WAY
Mark Kaltsas, the city's Economic Development Director, reported on March 13th that he had met with 90% of down-town property owners regarding plans to purchase easements and rights of way for downtown redevelopment, and "so far, pretty good." Said Mark, "There have been some negotiations. Property owners are fairly supportive."
He also reported that he has worked on obtaining clear title to the various downtown properties that the City of Vic-toria owns, so the properties can be con-veyed to a private developer for the redevelopment of the downtown area, "in furtherance of the city's downtown re-development plan and the redevelopment district." To that end, councilmembers passed two resolutions
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