TAMARACK LEARNING CENTER CONTINUES
AT LEAST ONE MORE YEAR AT CITY'S ACORN HOUSE
Council voted unanimously (5-0) on April 11th to adopt a resolution in regard to the controversial Tamarack Learning Center that is renting space at the city's Acorn House in Diethelm Park.  The reso-lution as proposed by Councilmember Richard Tieden highlights five points:
1) The Tamarack Preschool can con-tinue to operate in its current location in the Acorn House through the 2002-2003 school year, after a new contract is signed with the City of Victoria.
2) A study will be done to determine the feasibility of a drop-in daycare service at the Acorn House.
3) The goal of extending use of the Acorn House to senior services and pro-gramming within Park & Rec will be pur-sued.
4) A new policy will be developed whereby preschool would be offered to Victoria residents only, or at least to Vic-toria residents on a preferred basis.
5) Competitive open bidding will help determine which preschool, if any, may operate at the Acorn House.  Current-ly the Tamarack Learning Center pays the city $240/month.
There were comments from council-members, staff, and audience prior to voting on the resolution.
Said Councilmember Dave Lindgren, "I disagree with #5, on taking the highest bidder.  I got a call today saying, 'Don't get rid of it just to make a few bucks.  I don't agree with a walk-in daycare center ... I think Tamarack is the best there is."
Said Councilmember Richard Tieden, "I wasn't thinking of just the money, but the opportunity for others to bid ... I think we have to make it fair to the entire com-munity and do it the right way ... I feel strongly we have to have the process open to the entire community."
Said Dawn Peterson, owner of the Tamarack Center, who pointed to the au-ience of parents supporting her endeavor at the Acorn House, "These people are here to say they believe in you, the coun-cil, and know that you want to do the right thing ... They are invited to speak tonight ... with the Tamarack Rule of using kind and caring words ... If you've got a prob-lem, you've got to solve it.  I appreciate what I've read and what you've done."
"I haven't asked for any equipment to be bought for me," she said.  "I've opened my hands.  We can't afford a lot of rent.  Thirty kids are able to be reached.  We reached over 100 this past year ... We appreciate all the help we can get.  Let's see what else we can make happen here.  I'm pleased with what you guys have accomplished."
In response to questions, she said there are currently 17 Victoria families and 5 non-resident families represented at Tamarack.  Said Mayor Mary Meuwissen, "There is getting to be a stronger and stronger demand from Victoria residents."
Said Councilmember Jerry Bohn, "I've received a lot of letters showing people think very highly of Dawn, that she created a real asset for Victoria.  We're getting a lot for our money here.  She's building community and that's worth a lot of money.  If her customers are telling us she's the best thing around, why look elsewhere?"
Said Jonathan Larson, a Victoria parent, "This is truly an exemplary pro-gram.  I ask council to support this and amend the fifth point.  I think you'll find no other program as strong as this."
Said resident Jim Moss, "I'm not a parent of a child at Tamarack, but I ask what better use of our facilities than for Victoria children?  In the overall scope of things, the money is just a hill of beans."

IT'S A PUBLIC STREET AT POINTE VISTA
THE CITY OF VICTORIA WILL SNOWPLOW IT
The City of Victoria received a peti-tion from the Pointe Vista Homeowners Association asking that its private street be taken over by the city as a public street.  The biggest issue seemed to be responsi-bility for snowplowing of the street, which the city has been doing, more or less.
On April 11th City Administrator Steve Sarvi referred to the Conditional Use Permit for the development.  "It clearly states that snowplowing is a responsibility of the homeowners' associ-ation," he said.
He said that private streets in the city may not have been constructed to the same standards as public streets, which could lead to additional expense for the Victoria taxpayers because they may deteriorate more rapidly.  He explained there is a reason for the city approving public or private streets and the city could have significant liability if an accident occurs as a result of the city maintaining a private street.  Finally, the precedent of taking over private streets would need to be studied, as other private streets exist in Victoria.
Said Steve, "It would be a change for the city to do this.  You should then be prepared to be petitioned by others with private streets."
Steve Leighton, president of the homeowners' association at Pointe Vista, said, "The developer Fred Plocher has told us it's a public street, that it was constructed identical to all the other streets.  There are ten residents on this street.  We're all in favor of this.  We pay the same amount of taxes as everybody else."
Asked Councilmember Gordon Simanton, "Is there nothing about this in your bylaws?  Isn't there a document that people sign when they move into the neighborhood?"
Mayor Mary Meuwissen pointed out that normally a private street is related to size or road construction or that it's a "tighter community." 
City staff was directed to check into the issue and determine the reason for the private street at Pointe Vista.
On April 25th City Planner Mark Kaltsas reported that the street at Pointe Vista is not a private street.  "Their roads are in fact public streets, but there was a condition placed on the original resolution that maintenance was to be done by the homeowners.  There was a concern of the council at that time about adequate parking space for the homeowner and guest parking.  But the streets are built to city standards and dedicated to the city."
"We can continue to maintain them," said Mark, "but I recommend we amend the conditional use permit and add an amendment that in the future, if there is a difficulty with the snowplowing, we can turn maintenance back to the homeowners association.  I'm looking for guidance from the council."  The motion for the city to snowplow the public street and cul de sac at Pointe Vista passed unanimously.
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