LOOKING AT DIETHELM PARK FIELDS
TRYING TO SHED SOME LIGHT ON THE ISSUE
Lots of discussion about installing lights for ball fields at Diethelm Park resulted in a motion on June 9th to give it more thought and determine if there is justification for spending $400,000 on lights.
Stated Mayor Jerry Bohn, "I think we should look more carefully at this.  We're relying on one coach's opinion.  I think we need to hear why this is justified.  We don't even know what they'll look like.  I need to understand what they're going to put over there -- they're 80 feet high! - before we spend $400,000 … I don't think the Council is interested in raising taxes to light this field."
"We're a growing town and we're trying to do the best for our citizens," agreed Councilmember Mary Thun, "but I'm not ready to be the be-all."  She said that with the $200,000 approved for play-ground equipment and $400,000 now for lighting, "We'd be investing $600,000 this year for parks!"
Councilmember Terry Bishop, who is the council liaison to the Park Board, said it was his feeling that the Park Board made their best recommendation in favor of the lighting, that there has been concern about the lights but they have been planned, and it's not against the city ordinance.  "I don't want to downplay the work the Park and Rec Committee has done.  I'll take it upon myself to get the reason they made the recommendation they did," he said.
City Attorney Mike Norton also pointed out that Council did not follow statutory bidding compliance in regard to Musco Lighting.  If there was council approval of the lighting, that approval was rescinded on June 9^th.  The Park and Rec Committee will be consulted again. 

There is also the possibility, said Ad-ministrator Steve Sarvi, that a new park site will be found "down the road" in the annexation property for a "signature ball field" that can be surrounded with parking and lighting, perhaps located in a commercial area.  But he strongly sug-gested installing lights at least at the soccer fields at Diethelm Park.

CONCERNED ABOUT PROCUREMENTS
AND SPIRIT AS WELL AS LETTER OF THE LAW
Mayor Jerry Bohn stated on June 9th that he has concerns about procurement practices in the City of Victoria, that there may have been some instances of seeming improprieties.
He mentioned, in particular, the Musco lighting problem for the ball fields at Diethelm Park, the improper bid format for fire trucks, and spending $200,000 on playground equipment but breaking it up into smaller pieces so the city isn't re-quired to go out for bid.
"I'm concerned about these things," he said.  "They should not come to Coun-cil until it's got the approval of our legal counsel.  An expenditure of $50,000 re-quires sealed bids and state statutes apply."
Councilmember Terry Bishop asked, "Couldn't we get an outline of require-ments from the League of Minnesota Cities, so we don't have to use the ser-vices of our legal counsel?  If the League doesn't have something, then [City Attorney] Mike Norton can present an outline that can be used as a template."
Councilmember Kim Roden suggest-ed "a statement from our city administra-tor that statutes have been followed with intent of spirit as well as letter," on the various issues.  She added, "I'd like to see a written recommendation so we know procedures have been followed.  I'm comfortable as long as we get it right."
City Attorney Mike Norton respond-ed to comments.  "The League will be the first to tell you they're not giving you personal legal advice," he said.  "Not everything is a cookie cutter kind of a contract.  There are kinds of things that staff should be encouraged to run past the city attorney.  Most cities have contracts signed by the city attorney." 
Addressing the Council's concern for keeping down the hourly city attorney costs, he added, "It doesn't take long for a lawyer if he or she knows what they're doing.  It also kicks in my malpractice insurance should you encounter prob-lems."
In conclusion, the city attorney ad-vised, "It's your policy decision."  No policy decision was made at this time.

TRADING OF LAND MOVE SLOWLY
AND MAY NOT HAPPEN AT ALL
Working on Victoria's behalf, Plan-ning Consultant Mark Kaltsas reported on the ongoing negotiations with Three Rivers Park District for a possible swap of properties.
The City of Victoria owns lakeshore on Lake Auburn, purchased about four years ago as an investment opportunity.   Currently the site of a large vacant build-ing that once housed the aged and then the delinquent, the property is beautiful but contains some wetland.
The Park District owns acreage on the northeast intersection of Highway 5 and County Road 11 next to the Victoria Dairy Queen.  Currently the site of prairie grasses, the property is plain but could be quite functional in extending the down-town business district of Victoria.
Negotiation between City and Park began about 18 months ago.  Nobody seems to be in a big hurry.  Appraisals and delineations have been done.  Three Rivers wants Victoria to construct and maintain a bituminous trail all the way north to its campground entrance.  Before the city spends more tax dollars, however, it must consider the amount of tax dollars that sale of the land and private lakeshore development could bring into city coffers.
According to Administrator Steve Sarvi, "The city owns about 20 acres of land on Lake Auburn, of which 5.5 acres are upland [versus wetland].  The per acre value of our land is $240,000.  The parkland was appraised at $160,175 per acre.  We are hoping to obtain about 14 of those acres for 'new' downtown development."
Further discussion took place in closed session due to negotiation consid-erations.

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