STILL MOVING ON A DUAL TRACK
REGARDING THE VICTORIA FIELD HOUSE
Still operating under a parallel track - whereby the city is managing the Victoria Field House and also simultaneously seeking a partner for its operation, not to mention a full-time director, Council-members voted 5-0 on February 22^nd to accept three recommendations from City Administrator Dave Urbia in regard to the Victoria Field House.
They directed staff to "utilize outside expertise to renegotiate ice contracts if possible."
They denied "the management over-ride decision of the past mayor concerning the half payment of the Minnetonka Youth Hockey Association contribution and directed staff to collect for all payments past and/or present."
They authorized the city administra-tor to "utilize other resources (such as the city attorney and other professionals) to assist in negotiation, which in part the professionals have offered some services at no cost, but there may be services with cost, no estimates available at this time, but seeking not to exceed authority at $3,000."
There are, supposedly, 1,550 hours of ice time available to be purchased at the ice arena of the Field House.  However, reported Administrator Urbia, "after year one this has not been the reality.  For 2007 the total hours sold was 1,176 hours with one contact holder indicating they cannot meet their draft commitment."
He stated, "We need an enforceable contract well written in the city's inter-est."
At the same time, Council is consid-ering acquisition of an appraisal of the Victoria Field House and the surrounding 42 acres.  A closed session was held Feb-ruary 22^nd to discuss ongoing negoti-ations.

NEW VICTORIA BUSINESS ON STIEGER LAKE LANE
AN IMPROVEMENT ANY WAY YOU LOOK AT IT
On February 22^nd Victoria council-members approved a conditional use per-mit for Kelly Green Irrigation to set up shop at Stieger Lake Lane at the former C.H. Carpenter Lumber yard.
Stated Councilmember Jim Paulsen, "A word to the wise:  There have been five-finger discounts from that area."  He said to Mr. Durbin Kelly, "Overall this is not what we have in the Master Plan for this area, but now we want you in Victoria and we appreciate you coming."
When Councilmember Tim Amund-sen made the motion to approve the re-quest, he said, about that site, "Anything would be an improvement.  Welcome to Victoria!"
Mr. Kelly introduced himself as one of the principal owners of the family-owned business. 
Holly Kreft, the city's Director of Planning, told councilmembers that the existing building will receive some facial repair, "but there will be no major changes or expansion of the building ... The majority of the yard will remain as gravel ... There is a second driveway ... Part of the building will be used for cold storage and office space."

CONSIDERING THE MASTER PLAN
FOR VICTORIA'S CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT
Regarding the Downtown Master Plan for the City of Victoria, Council-member Jim Paulsen stated on February 22^nd, "We're trying to do some very com-plex things on a very small piece of prop-erty.  I look at what we need to create some real wealth.  If we went to the Metropolitan Council and said we want transit here, our transportation problem goes away."
Stated Director of Planning Holly Kreft, who pointed out that the Master Plan only covers the current downtown area, "This is going to be an evolving document as planning goes forward."
Councilmember Richard Tieden said it was good that the subject was on the table for collective discussion, that it was good to know where parking and build-ings would probably go, and added, "If we're [ever] so developed that we need a fallback position, we're in a good posi-tion!"
About the Plan, Councilmember Tim Amundsen said, "How are we ever going to sell this or entice people if we present this to them and say that parking is a pain in the butt, that we're process oriented and we're going to run you ragged?"
Mayor Mary Thun recommended that staff condense the Plan and that the city engineer come back with a short summary as to how the Plan would proceed.  It was also agreed that the Downtown Master Plan and the Shared Parking Ordinance are integral to each other.  The Plan is ex-pected back in front of the council on March 22^nd.

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