"The concept is simple:  municipalities with well enforced, up to date codes, should demonstrate better loss experience, and insurance rates can reflect that.  This is an incentive for communities to enforce their building codes rigorously."
Tom said Victoria's better ISO rating is related to better training, better educa-tion, number of permits per inspector, and procedures and policies being set in place.

ANNUAL EVENT:  GETTING ORGANIZED
MAKING VICTORIA COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
As is customary in the City of Vic-toria, and also in other cities, council-members volunteer to serve on the various committees that are part of making recommendations to the Victoria City Council.  This organization typically occurs at the first council meeting of each New Year.

Creating a New Committee
This year a brand new committee was formed.  Stated Councilmember Mary Thun, "I'm concerned about having an organized way to bring businesses into town.  I'd like to add that on tonight.  I'd also like to see more participation by busi-nesses and business people in general."
Mary referred to the city's Economic Development Authority, which consists of the five councilmembers, "I think the EDA only met three times in the last two years.  I'd like to see a committee that meets every month, not to supplant the EDA.  And it wouldn't supplant the Plan-ning Commission.  Neither would it be a  baby brother or baby sister to the Plan-ning Commission … Maybe the commit-tee itself could come up with a neat name and goals.  I see the committee actually soliciting for businesses to come into town.  I'd like to get involved."
She pointed out that there were ten applicants to the Victoria Planning Com-mission, for only three vacant seats, and "there might be some key people" for a new committee among those candidates.
Mary made a motion to establish a Downtown Business Development Com-mittee whose general charge would be to develop downtown Victoria and other Victoria business areas as time passes.  She proposed that the committee include two city councilmembers, perhaps one business person, and up to 5 or 6 total people as staff sees fit.  The motion re-ceived unanimous support.
Because two other councilmembers spoke up to be appointed to this new committee, Mary deferred to them.

Council Appointments
*Acting Mayor:  Terry Bishop
*Personnel Committee:  Mayor Jerry Bohn and Kim Roden.
*Fire Relief Association:  Mayor Jerry Bohn, Administrator Steve Sarvi, Fire Chief Tim Walsh. 
*Planning Commission:  Mary Thun
*Parks & Recreation:  Terry Bishop
*Field House Board:  Terry Bishop, Richard Tieden, and liaison member Dave Lindgren.
*Finance Committee:  Mayor Jerry Bohn and Mary Thun.
*Minnetonka Education Advisory Council:  Mayor Jerry Bohn
*Downtown Business Development:  Richard Tieden and Kim Roden

Resident Appointments
*Planning Commission:  Byron Hiivala, Gordon Simanton, Thomas Vogt, James Donadio, William Mead.
*Parks and Recreation Committee:  Jonathan Cobb, Dan Barsness, Mary Erickson, Ann Hoelscher, Jerald Moja.

Fire Department Officers
*Fire Chief:  Tim Walsh
*Assistant Chief:  Gary Sohns
*Fire Marshall:  Troy Walsh

Contracting Consultants
*Auditor:  Steve McDonald, CPA, with Abdo, Abdo, Eick & Meyers LLP
*Attorney:  Michael Norton with Kennedy and Graven, Chartered.
*Engineer:  Jack Griffin, TKDA
*Planner:  Mark Kaltsas, MK Land Corporation
*Financial Bond:  Paul Donna with Northland Securities
*Tax Increment:  David Drown and Associates

OTHER CITY SCOOP FROM JANUARY
VICTORIA RESIDENTS INTERESTED IN VICTORIA
*The ten candidates who applied for three vacant seats on the Victoria Planning Commission were James Donadio, Thomas Vogt, William Mead, Timothy Amundsen, Aaron Paradise, Brian Hoelscher, Darryl Wrolson, Scott Manion, Robert DeMaris, and Kirk Rosenberger.  Those appointed were Danadio, Vogt, and Mead.
*Stated City Attorney Mike Norton, "Last year I tracked three or four bills that were particularly important to the city.  I intend to do that again this year.  I would not be duplicating what you get from the Minnesota League of Cities."
*A regular council workshop has been officially put on the city's schedule for each Monday before the second city council meeting of the month. 
*Council approved Steve's atten-dance at a seminar on wireless internet in Buffalo, MN, since wireless internet is becoming a tool for economic develop-ment and communication.  Cost for the seminar is $120.
*Council approved Tammy's atten-dance at an OSHA training seminar in St. Cloud.  Cost for this program is $15.
*Council approved the purchase of a 2005 Jeep Liberty for the Building Inspec-tion Department at a state bid price of $14,845.  Council also authorized the pur-chase of a light beacon for the new vehicle at an approximate cost of $250.  This is a replacement vehicle for a 1990 F150, which will  *Council developed a working calen-dar with dates for all committee meetings, workshops, performance reviews, and budget meetings.  Mary Thun asked that the calendar include dates for street main-tenance, Park Board meetings, newsletter dates, and regular reports on work of Planning Consultant Mark Kaltsas. 

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