BEGINNING A PARALLEL PATH
TO DIRECT THE VICTORIA FIELD HOUSE
January 11^th, 2007

Victoria councilmembers voted 4-0 (Kim Roden absent) to put discussion of the future of the Victoria Field House on the agenda for the January 28^th city council meeting. 
"I want to play offense," stated Coun-cilmember Jim Paulen.  "In two weeks we've got to figure out a path.  Out of respect for Councilmember Roden, I'll wait two weeks."
Councilmember Paulsen spoke in favor of a "parallel path," whereby ongoing discussion with potential partners can continue right along with an energetic city management proposal.  About those discussions being conducted by Mayor Mary Thun and Kim Roden, Jim said, "I think it's been going on a long time."
Councilmember Paulsen said he is in favor of "finding the right person to man-age the Field House, solely the Field House, to be compensated quite well."
Stated Councilmember Richard Tied-en, "There are lots of things we haven't done and haven't tried.  I've been shot done by my colleagues in recent years.  I don't know of any facility throughout the country the size of the Victoria Field House that doesn't have a director.  There is tremendous potential at that place.  We haven't taken the time to invest in person-nel.  I totally concur with Jim Paulsen to have a parallel path."
Richard added, "I'm very pleased tonight.  It feels good here tonight.  I've been frustrated.  I've been told if I'm not on board, to shut up and not talk for the last couple of years.  I enjoy the new pace."
Along those lines, Councilmember Tim Amundsen commented on how for-mer Mayor Mary Meuwissen was shut out at the December 14^th, 2006, city council meeting, when council voted 3-2 to not even let her speak, though she was on the agenda for that meeting and sat in the audience for almost three hours to pre-sent plans for her Creamery development.
Said Tim, "We owe Mary Meuwissen the courtesy and respect to listen ... about land she owns in the community.  It did not sit well in the community." 
Replied current Mayor Mary Thun, "We are working hard to bring them back to talk to us."  The former mayor had been in attendance with partner Barbara Zadeh.
[Proceedings of that event are report-ed and archived in the January 2007 Gazette at www.VictoriaGazette.com.]

January 25^th, 2007

Victoria councilmembers took no for-mal action regarding the operation or management of the Victoria Field House because Councilmember Tim Amundsen was absent this time.
Anticipating, or at least hoping for, a unanimous decision, Councilmember Richard Tieden said, "It's been a tremen-dous financial concern for some time.  I think we should all be here."
Administrator Dave Urbia, who had been asked to make a recommendation prior to this meeting, said, "We have one Park and Rec Department and I recom-mend one Director."  He recommended that the City of Victoria hire a temporary employee or contractor, "an interim type of thing, someone with the time and the background," someone with a strong business background.
He was then directed on January 25^th, without a formal motion, to put out feelers and start looking for "someone with strong management and marketing skills" who would come in for up to $50,000 and six months - to begin with.
Said Councilmember Jim Paulsen, "We're trying to bring in $250,000 of new sales.  If we attack this with the right people, I think we can get there."
The issue will be addressed again at the February 9^th city council meeting.

HIGHER FEES FOR VICTORIA DEVELOPERS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING REMAINS DIFFICULT
On January 25^th councilmembers ap-proved the 2007 Fee Schedule that con-tains several fee increases. 
A new $5,000 TIF application fee was approved in the City of Victoria.  Explained City Attorney Mike Norton, "When developers want city money, not generally available to others, this helps pay for the TIF consultant and lawyers to wrap up agreements.  It's common prac-tice now.  If the city decides not to grant that subsidy, it's fair that the city be reimbursed for their cost." 
In the City of Victoria building permit fees are now increased by 10%.  A fire sprinkler fee has been added.  A business subsidy fee has been added.  Rental fees have been added for the community room at the water treatment plant.  The Sewer Availability Charge has been increased.  The Storm Water quarter-ly charge has been increased.  Retaining wall and driveway permit fees have been added.
Matt Goldstein, project manager with the Lennar development company, said he doesn't understand the perceived relation-ship between some of the fees and the ser-vice provided.  He said developers are try-ing to build affordable housing and the city's high fees make it difficult.

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