PREPARING TO ACQUIRE EASEMENTS AND RIGHT OF WAYS
DOWNTOWN CAMPAIGN TO PURCHASE BEGINS
On February 27th councilmembers authorized and directed the acquisition of easements and right of ways in the down-town district of Victoria in order to construct the improvements such as streets, sidewalks, boulevards, parking spaces, and necessary infrastructure.
Said Planner Mark Kaltsas, "Some easements are only temporary and will only last the duration of construction ... We'll be negotiating terms ... We antici-pate we'll be successful in negotiating most of it."
Mark said this process can now begin because downtown legal descriptions are now in place with defined accurate prop-erty lines.  "We are going to be paying for the easements and right of ways or making trade-offs on assessments," he said.
About the Creamery situation, he re-ported that "it is not possible to get them a turnaround on their site without eliminat-ing the parking."  The motion, which passed unanimously, included using the power of eminent domain should nego-tiations not be successful.
Final paragraph in the resolution stated, "Be it further resolved that the City Administrator, the City Attorney, and pri-vate council engaged by the City are authorized and directed to take all steps necessary to acquire the property neces-sary to construct and complete the City of Victoria Downtown Street and Utility Improvement Project through the exercise of the power of eminent domain, negoti-ation of early entry authorization, and the use of the quick-take procedure as set forth in Minnesota Statute 117.042."
"We should begin the campaign next week," said Mark.  "It's got to be quick so we don't miss this construction season."

RE-CREATING PARK AND REC COMMITTEE
TO BE SUPPORTIVE, NOT ADVERSARIAL
One of the last, if not the very last, council decisions of 2002 meant the demise of the city's longstanding Park and Recreation Committee.  It was a 4-1 vote that December 12th with Dave Lindgren not in favor of the demise.
On February 13th, 2003, the Park and Recreation Committee was brought back to life by a 3-2 vote.   Dave Lindgren, still in favor of the advisory committee, picked up the support of Councilmembers Mary Thun and Terry Bishop.  Mayor Jerry Bohn and Councilmember Richard Tieden voted once again against such a commit-tee.
Said Richard, "We've got plenty of people right now.  Adding another layer of government is premature.  I think it'd be easy for us to have a suggestion box and send out a survey to our residents.  Some cities don't have a Park and Rec Committee.  Wayzata, for example, is more task oriented and has task forces for specific projects.  Let's talk to our people first.  We've got a fantastic opportunity with our upcoming grand opening of the Field House.  I'd like to give this some time."
Councilmember Bishop asked City Administrator Steve Sarvi what he thought about such a committee.  Said Steve, "You get out of them what you expect.  Past difficulties were probably part of miscommunications.  It became adversarial rather than supportive.  A Park and Rec Committee can be a true benefit to the council ... We're focused right now on getting the field house up and run-ning."
Said Councilmember Mary Thun, "I think a Park and Rec Committee can do a tremendous service.  The committee would be able to form ad hoc committees.  It does invite citizen participation, similar to our Planning Commission.  It's a way of organizing and getting citizen input."
Mayor Bohn expressed concerns about the committee going beyond its scope as simply an advisory body.
The motion by Mary Thun included the advertisement for interested residents of Victoria to make application to serve on the new Park and Rec Committee. 

TAMARACK LEARNING CENTER GETS VOTE OF CONFIDENCE
AND ANOTHER YEAR AT THE ACORN HOUSE
Tammy Abrahamson, Victoria's Park and Rec Director, informed councilmem-bers on February 13th that the Tamarack Learning Center would like its contract renewed for one more year at the Acorn House at Diethelm Park.
Said Tammy, "We need to address where we're headed in the future.  Tam-arack will let us use their equipment.  We could call it a transitional year.  Each of us can evaluate then where we want to go."
She explained there are two types of daycare facilities:  #1) licensed daycare, "which is a big deal," and #2) drop-in daycare, which must have an adult around the facility at all times but is fairly simple with a maximum 3-hour stay.  Tamarack is a drop-in facility.
Tammy said Tamarack would con-tinue to use the two "bedrooms" on the first floor of the former single family resi-dential home, and there is plenty of space for the Victoria Senior Citizens to con-tinue using the Acorn House on Thurs-days.
Councilmember Richard Tieden stated that a portion of an upper bedroom space at the Acorn House is also being used by Tamarack.  He summarized the history:  "Last April the former Park & Rec Director [Mary Saarion] entered into an unauthorized contract with Tamarack for $250 a month to the city.  There was never a question as to whether it's a good program, but how it came about.  Others should have the opportunity to bid that public space."
He added, "We don't have enough space right now for existing city staff.  How can we give 600 to 800 square feet of our space for only $150 a month?  I don't think it's very fiscally responsible."
Councilmember Mary Thun replied that Tamarack would have to submit a proposal like others.  She said that right now, Tamarack's is the only city income from the Acorn House.
"There is a value to the Tamarack Learning Center," acknowledged Mayor Jerry Bohn. 
With a motion of 4-1 (Richard Tieden against), Tamarack was authorized to continue its learning center at the Acorn House.  Also, the monthly rent was dropped $100 to only $150 per month, which translates to approximately 25-cents per square foot. 

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