*Council scheduled a goal setting session for Friday, May 24th.  Said Coun-cilmember Richard Tieden, "I think we need to take the time and do it as quickly as possible.  I've been asking for this for a long time."  The all day retreat seminar will be held at the MN Landscape Arbore-tum.
*Council approved the contract with the Tonka Bay Group and the advanced payment of $5,000.  Tonka Bay Group is raising revenue for the Victoria Field House through the sale of advertising.  According to the contract, Tonka Bay Group shall be compensated based on the revenues actually received by the City of Victoria during the terms of the agreement less any amounts incurred by the city to prepare or install artwork.  In exchange for the services, the city shall pay Tonka Bay Group 20% of net revenue.   The $5,000 is an advance commission for the first $25,000 or revenue raised by the Tonka Bay Group.
*Councilmembers awarded the bid for Diethelm Park baseball field fencing to Century Fence Company, the low bid-der at $38,638.
*Councilmembers decided to wait with a decision on where to re-locate a skateboard park in the City of Victoria until more information is available.  Con-struction of the Field House at Diethelm Park will be mean displacement of the existing skate park area.  Various council-members didn't think it was fair to create a skateboard area in place of existing tennis or basketball courts currently in use, and it is very costly to turn the old hockey rink at Lions Park into a skate park.
*Council approved a "living fence" of amur maples at a cost not to exceed $1,200,  to help prevent soccer balls from entering adjacent streets at Diethelm Park.  Stated Councilmember Tieden, "I would strongly encourage soccer associations and other groups to help kick in a little more for some of their equipment."
*Council approved summer recre-ation activities as long as they could be scheduled for Lions Park and the Village Hall because of anticipated major con-struction and safety concerns at Diethelm Park.
*Council authorized the purchase of a 2002 bobcat from Lano Equipment for $3,299.37, including tax. 
*Council authorized the Wellhead Protection Program which is a pollution prevention strategy for preventing the contamination of public water supplies, placing the emphasis on the prevention of drinking water contamination versus the remediation of a contaminated drinking water supply. 
*Council decided to not approve the proposal from Springsted to add the Field House to the city's Capital Improvement Plan Integrated Model for an estimated cost of $3,000.  Stated Jerry Bohn, "I don't understand spending $17,500 for the model and then having to spend $3,000 for a one item entry.  I'd like to see the CIP become a tool before we spend more money on it."
*Council voted to move forward with designing the north parking lot at Diethelm Park, to do the plans and specs and prepare it for the bidding process.

CAPTIONS TO PHOTOS IN THE PAPER EDITION:

The Newest Council.  Gordon Simanton, center back, took the oath of office on April 11th, 2002, and became the newest member of the Victoria City Council.  As a composite of personalities, a city council acquires a new personality each time its membership changes, in whole or in part, but the goal remains the same -- to pursue the common good for the people of Victoria.  Other city councilmembers are Mayor Mary Meuwissen and Dave Lindgren in front, and, standing,  Richard Tieden, left, and Jerry Bohn, right.

The Newest Chairman.  Gary Delaney was recently appointed chairman of the Victoria Planning Commission.  Other members include James Heit-mann, Marian Carpenter Guyot, and Bud Hiivala.  Candidates are presently being interviewed to fill the fifth position on the Commission.