PATRIOTIC AWARD FOR CITY OF VICTORIA
AS PRESENTED BY CITY ADMINISTRATOR STEVE SARVI
"We live in very difficult times," said City Administrator Steve Sarvi, who is a member of the National Guard, not to mention Mayor of Watertown. 
"I was activated last year," he said.  "During that time I was humbled by the council's action.  I appreciate your sup-port.  The National Guard and Army Re-serves have a program, a Patriotic Award, to recognize fantastic employers.  They accepted my application.  You won the award.  Thank you for your support."
Actual "employers" at the time of 9/11 were Mayor Mary Meuwissen, Jerry Bohn, Dave Lindgren, Richard Tieden, and Jim Paulsen.
Said Mayor Jerry Bohn, "I thank you, Steve, for being a member of the National Guard.  As an employer, we should feel an obligation to support you in time of crisis."  That support was in continued pay and benefits while Steve was required to serve on guard at the Minneapolis and St. Paul International Airport.

VICTORIA STATE BANK DOES THE ZAMBONI
AND HELPS SUPPORT THE VICTORIA FIELD HOUSE
On February 13th councilmembers approved an advertising contract with the Victoria State Bank.  According to the agreement, the bank will advertise on the zamboni at the Victoria Field House for five years, at $5,000 per year, with the $25,000 payable in advance. 
Also, the bank has the option to renew the advertising agreement for an additional five-year term for a "to-be" determined amount.  In addition, the bank will pay the City of Victoria $3,5000 to defray the cost of preparing the adver-tisement.
Stated Mayor Jerry Bohn, "I want to thank the Victoria State Bank for this gen-erous contribution."

THE NEW 2003 STATE BUILDING CODE
AND FIRE SPRINKLING SYSTEMS IN VICTORIA
Council approved an ordinance for the City of Victoria that will take effect five days after the State of Minnesota approves the 2003 State Building Code.  Tom Gray, the city's building official, stated on February 27th, "We're trying to be proactive."
He gave a short history of building codes in the state, including the fact that the State adopted its first uniform building code in 1972.  He said other areas of the country have also had their own building codes, including the New England states, and the Southern states.
"Finally, after many years of wrangling," said Tom, "there developed one International Building Code and one Residential Code.  It's going to be quite a change for us ... It's less restrictive ... As we speak tonight, it's on the Governor's desk for signing."
He asked the council to adopt the 2003 State Building Code now, in prep-aration for the mandatory enforcement five days after receiving notification from the State Building Official.
Tom referred specifically to a section of the ordinance that's related to Fire Pro-tection Systems. "We should have the fire sprinkler system in our city," he stated.  "I hate to cite the fire in Rhode Island as an example, but it's there."
He explained that when an addition to a commercial building moves the square footage into a certain category, the entire building -- old and new sections -- require sprinkling.  "The city has already got this in place," he said.
But the new fire section speaks in particular to townhomes.  When a new townhome consists of 16 units or 8,500 square feet, a fire sprinkler system is now required.  The new townhome develop-ment on Stieger Lake near the new bridge is being proposed at four stories and 46 units.  It will require a sprinkling system.
Councilmember Richard Tieden asked about the addition being proposed for the clubhouse at Deer Run.  Replied Tom, "Today, what they're proposing will not kick in the requirements, but any larger, they will have to [add a fire sprinkler system]."
Referring to the system at the Victoria Field House, Tom said that 150 gallons of water per minute come out of the sprinkler heads when activated, and that once a fire is contained, firefighters turn them off.
He said that the State Fire Marshal inspects the systems once a year by run-ning water through it.  On a final note Tom reported, "I heard on the radio today that in the United States there has not been a death in a fully sprinkled system.  So it's a life-saving system, and it's a sig-nificant insurance savings also."

A MOTION TO ANALYZE CITY FEES
TO RECOUP COSTS AND NOT OVERCHARGE
ouncil approved a resolution on February 27th that sets certain fees and charges for business licenses, miscellane-ous licenses, permits, and services in the city of Victoria. 
Stated Building Official Tom Gray, "The last time fees were adjusted was 1999.  We're four years behind.  Con-struction values and home values have all gone up.  We're significantly behind, compared to Chanhassen and Chaska ... I'm recommending our fees be placed in the middle of theirs."
Councilmember Mary Thun referred especially to the city's low fee of $38.75 for re-roofing and residing permits in the city.  Her motion to approve the fee schedule included raising that fee to $100 "with special dispensation in the event of a disaster."
The city attorney reminded council-members that fees are not to be a revenue producer but designed to pay costs for inspection services.  The city's building official also emphasized, "By state law we have to justify our fees."
Councilmember Richard Tieden recommended doing an analysis to deter-mine the basis for the city fees -- to learn why fees are higher in other cities, to make sure city is recouping its costs but not overcharging.  Councilmember Terry Bishop agreed with the merits of the rec-ommendation and Councilmember Mary Thun made a motion to that effect.  It passed unanimously.

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