OPERATING THE VICTORIA FIELD HOUSE
COUNCIL SEEKS OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVE
Councilmembers approved an expen-diture not to exceed $9,000 to obtain an operational assessment and marketing analysis of the Victoria Field House.  Staffing levels, policies, and procedures will be studied and budget recommenda-tions will be considered.
Since the resignation of Manager Jude Boulianne at the Field House, a new job description is needed.  Said City Administrator Dave Urbia, "This will help us determine exactly what we're going to advertise for, to see alternatives to counter competition of Lifetime Fitness."
Councilmember Terry Bishop agreed, "We don't have anyone here with the ex-pertise to run that facility.  I think it's a good idea to get some input."
Stated Mayor Jerry Bohn, "I think it would be good to have an outsider give us a perspective."
Dave Lindgren, resident and frequent visitor at the Field House, offered his view.  "I think we have too many people working there," he said.

OTHER NEWS FROM MARCH
IDENTIFYING PRIORITIES FOR CITY OF VICTORIA
*Top priorities of the Victoria City Council:  Complete Downtown Master Plan, Manage Growth, Large Urban Park, Diversify Revenues and Tax Base, Improve Transportation and Transit, Improve Customer Service Culture.  Staff identified "action steps" to accomplish these goals.
*Council will hold a public hearing on Thursday, April 20^th, about the culvert at Smithtown Road.  As Administrator Dave Urbia stated, basically everybody living north of Highway 7 will be sent individual notices of the hearing.
*It was pointed out that before a grocer might get serious about bringing a store to Victoria, he needs a population of 10,000 people.  Currently, Victoria is ap-proaching a population of 6,000.
*City Engineer Carra Geheren report-ed on March 9^th that carpeting was being installed at the new Water Treatment/Fire Station facility.  "It's still on schedule to be operational this spring, for water to be flowing through the pipes," she said, "and it's still under budget."
*Council accepted the developer-in-stalled improvements for Watermark East Addition, Greenway on the Park Addition, Tall Tree Addition, and Overlook at Tam-arack Addition, all effective December 31^st, 2005. 
*The Local Board of Appeal and Equalization meeting in Victoria has been scheduled for Thursday, April 13^th, at 6 p.m.  Purpose of the meeting is to provide residents an opportunity to appeal the assessed value of their homes.
*According to a joint powers agree-ment, the Carver County Auditor's Office will serve as the Absentee Ballot Board and be responsible for absentee ballots for cities in Carver County for both the primary and general election of 2006.
*Holy Family Catholic High School received approval of a Minnesota Lawful Gambling Exempt Permit to sell raffle tickets for a fundraiser on May 5^th.
*The Victoria Business Development Committee adopted vision, mission, and goals statements that embrace growth and assist current and future businesses.
*Victoria executed a lease agreement with Cingular Wireless to place antenna on the City of Victoria water tower at a payment to the city of $22,000 per year.
*Council approved the 2006 Compre-hensive Sanitary Sewer Plan and the 2006 Comprehensive Water Plan.
*Lee Otto will attend the Minnesota Water Works Association Conference at the Thunderbird Convention Center in April.
*Jennifer Chapman received approval to use Lions Park for a wedding and re-ception in August with permission to serve, not sell, alcohol and will sign an in-demnification agreement holding the city harmless.