LOOKING FOR A NIFTY BRIDGE DESIGN
AT ROSE STREET AND STIEGER LAKE LANE

The City of Victoria has undertaken steps to begin design of a bridge to replace the one near City Hall at the junction of Rose Street and Stieger Lake Lane.  Carver County will be funding the project once design is complete, with some city funding required for approaches and specialty items such as decorative lighting.
According to Boyd Bailey, the city's Public Works Coordinator, the county will be funding $300,000 for construction only; engineering and design will be additional cost to the project. 
Mayor Mary Meuwissen directed staff to answer several questions:  "What are the restrictions on that funding for decorative purposes, for height, for the façade?  There are covered bridges.  How charming can the bridge be depends on the requirements of building that bridge.  Can there be décorative lamp posts maybe at an entrance?   I think our city planner would be very involved in this."

MOVEMENT IN DOWNTOWN VICTORIA
TRAFFIC PATTERN WILL BE CHANGING

Boyd Bailey, the city's Public Works Coordinator, said that construction on the traffic signal at Hwy 5 and Victoria Drive in downtown Victoria should begin mid February.  Downtown businesses will be contacted so they are aware of Main Street Victoria returning to a two-way traffic pattern with turn lanes.
Regarding the next phase of downtown redevelopment, Councilmember Jim Paulsen said, "Victoria's downtown is not very big so we can't make any mistakes."
A workshop will be scheduled when council and staff can put together various scenarios for providing parking and side-walks.  Input gathered from business people will be reviewed at the workshop which is expected to be held in February.

NEW LEGAL NEWSPAPER NAMED
FOR CITY OF VICTORIA LEGAL NOTICES

With a vote of 4 to 1 on January 11th, Victoria councilmembers chose the Lake-shore Weekly as the city's official news-paper.  For several years, Victoria's official newspaper was the Chaska Herald.  In recent years it has been the Chanhassen Villager. 
A newspaper must be distributed weekly in order to be considered for this appointment for legal notices.  The Victoria Gazette is published monthly.  Legal notices include such things as bid solicitations on Public Works Equipment and formal hearing notices.
The Lakeshore Weekly is a free news-paper distributed throughout the Lake Minnetonka area.  Victoria City Administrator Steve Sarvi said the Weekly will make changes to increase its circulation to be more available in this area. 

DIRECTOR FOR PARK AND REC
NEW PROGRAMS FOR THIS SPRING

Mary Saarion, Victoria's Park and Rec Director, has requested that Park & Rec Committee meetings be changed to the first Mondays of each month to better coordinate with city council agendas.  Council approved the change.
She also asked that the application process be opened to attract two more members to the Park & Rec Committee, which is allowed up to seven people.  It has consisted of only five.
"It's important for the Committee to have a full spectrum of the population," said Mary Saarion.  "It would be great to also have youth representatives.  Currently we have no women and no youth on the Committee."
As the new director looks to expand her duties, she said, "Recreation is broad.  It can include arts and crafts, not just sports.  It can include gardening.  It can include both passive and active things."  She is also in the process of learning about all of the county's assets as she looks to provide the city with a good five-year plan for development.
Several new programs for Spring 2001 are now being offered by the Victoria Park and Recreation Department.  Activities for preschoolers include Leaping Leprechauns, A Seed is a Promise, and Backyard Bugs.  Activities for youth include Basketball Basics, Floor Hockey, Indoor Soccer Warm Ups, Tennis and Golf Lessons, and Open Basketball.  Activities for adults include Co-Rec Volleyball, Yoga, Aerobics, and Men's Open Basketball.  Activities for Senior Citizens:  Exercise, Walking Club, and Cards.
Most of the activities are being held at the Eklo Community Center.  Registrations are being taken at City Offices on a first come, first serve basis.  For more in-formation call 952-443-2198.

THREE VARIANCES ON LAKE MINNETONKA
TO TRIPLE THE SIZE OF AN EXISTING HOME

Anco Construction received approval for three variances that allows the builders to triple the size of the existing home to 8,000 square feet on one level.  In giving the approval, Council followed recommendations of the Planning Commission and added conditions of its own.
Instead of 100-foot setbacks as required by ordinance, the home can be built with a shoreland setback of 38 feet from Lake Minnetonka and 35 feet from a creek through the property.  A third variance allows expansion of a home without front-age on a public street.
City staff was asked to speak with neighbors to the property, approve eleva-tions of the home, assure courteous use of an existing road and construction traffic, and a bridge preservation plan.  Stated Mayor Mary Meuwissen, "I think we've put the burden on our staff."


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