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Councilmember Mary Thun said, "I think established businesses have already brought tax dollars into the community, and I can get comfortable with some grandfathering. I believe in trying to work with current businesses. I'm sure Floyd's will be able to attract new busi-ness and will need the additional 19 parking spaces." She also wanted to treat Floyd's the same as the city treated the Deer Run Golf Club with their expansion a couple years ago and shortage of park-ing space. Mary added, however, "I think the Post Office and the dental office need to be notified." They had not been formally notified of their neighbor's request be-cause a public hearing was not required. Said Councilmember Kim Roden, "I'd have a real hard time voting for this. I was on the Planning Commission for three years before Council, and parking was our theme, our issue. We might be creating more problems. It doesn't seem we're being fair to other businesses." The entire block of downtown busi-nesses will be notified of Floyd's request for the construction of a covered patio, and the request will be re-considered.
PLANNING FOR VICTORIA'S FUTURE WITH NEW PARK AND PUBLIC WORKS SITE
Council gave final plat approval for Rhapsody, a subdivision at Tellers Road and County Road 43. It contains a 5-acre site for a future Public Works facility, a 3-acre site for a city park, and lots for 33 single family homes in the first phase of an eventual 98-lot subdivision. Total site is 45 acres. A water booster station is needed in order to supply water to the western part of the subdivision as well as the next phase of development. The developer, Lyman Properties, will pay for part of the booster station for that reason. Eric said that the anticipated total project cost of $665,000 - including water booster station and park shelter -- has three funding sources. 1) The Park Fund would contribute $267,000. 2) The Water Core Fund would pick up $175,000. 3) The developer's contribution is $231,000. The project includes an irrigation system. City Planner Eric Zweber presented a sketch of the booster station that will be incorporated into an attractive park shel-ter. The dual-function structure will include both a covered and uncovered picnic area, two bathrooms, kitchen facilities and storage room. Council approved plans and specifi-cations for the water booster station/park shelter building and ordering advertise-ment for bids. City Engineer Jack Griffin pointed to a January bid date with con-struction possibly beginning in the spring of 2006.
VICTORIA: THANKS BUT NO THANKS TO YMCA'S PROPOSAL FOR SWIMMING POOL Earlier this year, on May 23rd to be exact, the Minneapolis YMCA had been invited to discuss how a partnership between the Y and the City of Victoria might work in managing or operating various programs or facilities at the Field House. End result of the May 23rd workshop was that the YMCA wouldn't consider a Victoria partnership unless it included an indoor swimming pool. It was noted by city councilmembers at that time that citizen response to a 2004 citizen survey placed a swimming pool at the top of a list of needs or wants in Vic-toria but at the same time citizens res-ponded they were not willing to pay for it. Four representatives from the Minne-apolis YMCA presented to Victoria City Councilmembers on November 10th a concept plan showing how an indoor swimming pool could be designed and constructed as part of the Victoria Field House complex. After the YMCA presented their concept plan, Councilmember Richard Tieden asked, "How did we get to this point? There are other options. We can build our own pool." It was also noted that the Victoria Field House Board was surprised to hear that the YMCA had been in contact with city staff. End result of the November 10th workshop was a Victoria Council motion to look at other partnerships.
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The November 10th workshop began at 5 p.m. with introductions and Anita, Vice President of New Development for the YMCA, saying, "We were contacted to consider a partnership with the City of Victoria. We serve people through a variety of collaborations. A pool is some-thing you wanted at the Field House." Said Phil, General Manager of Prop-erties and New Development for the YMCA, "The Y out here would be a great asset. This plan is purely conceptual at this point. We're talking about a 10,000 square foot aquatic center including a splash deck for kids, a varying depth pool, lap lanes, all one body of water, locker rooms, also an upper level, a very large cardio fitness area …" He said the footprint was 26,000 square feet with 40,000 square feet of finished space. "This would meet the basic requirements of the Y," he said. The concept plan included a kids play area with interactive features; it would have easy access to the gymnasium at the Field House. Said Tom, Design Consultant to the YMCA, "Your skateboard area would have to be relocated with this design. There are other ways, but this was a logic-al direction to go. Parking would need some thought." Councilmember Kim Roden asked how the project would be financed. He replied, "Through outreach programming and fundraisers. The building would be built entirely out of fundraising dollars. It's different from a health club. No one is turned away from a Y. I credit cities with seeing a need somewhat before we did. You have the property so the cost would be significantly less than if we had to start from scratch." He said the Victoria area has a grow-ing market, and that the Y would like to do a market study "to create something that would be financially profitable."
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