VICTORIA NO LONGER IN TOP TEN
CITY TAXES MOVING LOWER
Mayor Jerry Bohn reported on February 12th that the City of Victoria dropped from being in the Top Ten to being #91 out of 108 cities in the amount of city taxes paid in the metropolitan Twin City area. 
"The reason is that we haven't raised taxes for over eight years," he stated.  "Growth is paying for itself.  Property taxes in cities with a large industrial base are going up ... We also weren't getting much state aid, so when that disappeared it didn't affect us.  We didn't have to raise taxes to make up for it."
Victoria's new standing is "very good news," he said.
Since that summarization there have been reports that reports are not compar-ing apples to apples among the various cities.  The newest rank for Victoria is reported to be 19th.  In any case, it's no longer in the Top Ten.

CONTRACTING FOR PATROL TIME
SHERIFF NEEDS TO RECOUP POLICING COSTS
City Planner Mark Kaltsas reported on discussions being held with the Carver County Sheriff's Department and how that department is hoping to recoup more of its increasing costs. 
At present, the various cities in Car-ver County contract with the Sheriff's Department for a certain number of hours of daily patrol time, a number that is recommended based on population.
The City of Victoria currently contracts for 6 hours of daily patrol time, although the Sheriff's Department recommends cities with a population over 5,000 contract for more than six hours of daily patrol time.  In the past there were specific recommended numbers, which may or may not be the basis for future contracts.  Any changes in policy must be approved by the county commissioners.
The entire police contract, which includes other services, currently costs the City of Victoria about $110,000 for 2004.
Stated Mark, "They provide a lot of services today that are not required, like responding to complaints of a barking dog or to monitor traffic.  Maybe we should be paying on a user basis.  We have to increase the contracted hours of patrol time to what they say or we'll have to pay when they're called for the various concerns."
In referring to Carver County Sheriff Bud Olson, Mark said, "Bud is not able to add staff for the amount of calls they are getting.  Fifteen percent are nuisance calls, enforcing no parking, false alarms, barking dogs ... They're starting to say that communities have to up their contract time."
But Victoria isn't seeing an increase in crime.

STATE BILLS COULD AFFECT VICTORIA
IN CONDEMNATION AND PURCHASING LIMITS
City Attorney Mike Norton com-mented on two bills before the Minnesota State Legislature.
"One would add to the city's cost of condemnation," he said, "because a prop-erty owner would be reimbursed its attorney fees.  This could potentially add a lot of cost to the condemnation.  And if the court denies the condemnation, all fees would be paid for by the govern-mental body."
He said that another bill would give the city administrator a limit up to $25,000 for local purchasing in acting as a purchasing agent for the city, without council approval.  Today the limit is $15,000.
Also, he said, if a project is up to $50,000 in construction value, the city would not be required to go out for bids.  Today that number is $35,000

FOUR-WAY STOP APPROVED
AT THE PARK IN WINTERGREEN NEIGHBORHOOD
After an additional hour of testimony from Wintergreen residents on February 12th, and further review, city council-members approved (4-1) a four-way stop at Wintergreen Lane and Pine Court as petitioned by the residents.  Last month they only approved a two-way stop at that intersection, confirming a study that shows stop signs typically don't impact speed.
City Engineer Jack Griffin reminded councilmembers that no Wintergreen resi-dents had been in attendance when the previous vote had been taken, that people hadn't been properly notified, thus it was before the council again. 
Several residents spoke individually and nodded collectively in favor of the four-way stop.
Joan Roth.  "I started the petition last year.  There have been accidents and near misses at that intersection.  A lot of people use Pine Court to access Co. Rd. #18.  There are a hundred children in this three to four block area.  There are no sidewalks, no other options.  I've pulled children up off the curb.  A stop sign would slow traffic at the intersection.  I don't know if it will fully address the situation.  It's not going to get better."
Bob Wendt.  "I personally already use it as a four-way stop.  I'm concerned about speed and safety.  I don't believe sidewalks are the issue.  It's traffic con-trol."
Mindy Reller:  "My concern is with the speed study.  If you put it on the east side, you'd have drastically different num-bers.  It's got increasingly worse since the Centex development.  We use the park a lot and there is no direct access.  There needs to be a four-way stop and cross-walks.  It's a hazard without anything.  The pine trees make it hard to see.  I don't believe sidewalks are the answer either.  I don't understand why it's a huge issue not to do this.  To follow a study that doesn't fit this situation isn't comparing apples to apples."
Linda Rafteseth.  "From what I understand, it only costs $200 for the stop signs.  Do it as a test.  This is unusual be-cause you've got a park with three open sides.  My daughter almost got hit there."
Anthony Rockford.  "What other al-ternatives are there?  What do you as city officials recommend?  I'm looking for an answer."
City Engineer Jack Griffin mentioned possibilities such as constricting the road at the intersection because "that visual causes people to slow down."  He said the entire intersection slab could be raised six inches because "drivers can't ignore that or they bottom out the car."  He said the road could be painted with defining lines.  He said the nearby four-way stop could be pulled and placed at the park intersection.
City Planner Mark Kaltsas stated, "We do need direction from council.  There are costs to get a solution."
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