businesses come into town.  It's not fair to the businesses that have come forward.  We owe it to them.  And we lose the tax-es.  I ask that you talk to Julius Smith and meet with him and Carver Park on these issues.  He knows Park people, he's on the Metropolitan Council, and he's our neigh-bor."
Regarding other parts of the down-town plan, Mayor Mary said that more space for parking must be worked into the layout.  She said there must be enough parking especially for the Victoria House, "the most heavily visited place in our downtown.  It has the most traffic." 
As for other utilities such as tele-phone lines, they must be placed under-ground by the various utilities -- at no cost to the City of Victoria.  Stated the mayor, "It's in our ordinance and it's required!"

HIGH SPEED INTERNET ACCESS
COMES TO VICTORIA THROUGH CHASKA.NET
After some discussion, a split 3-2 vote resulted in Victoria being able to acquire high speed internet access through Chaska.net.  Those voting in favor:  Jerry Bohn, Gordon Simanton, Dave Lindgren.  Those against:  Mayor Mary Meuwissen and Richard Tieden.
Last month when the Chaska propo-sal first came before councilmembers, Mayor Mary's friendly amendment elim-inated the $1,200 fee Victoria was asked to pay toward the service.  Chaska subse-quently waived the $1,200 feet but added a user fee of $200 per month.
Stated Mayor Mary on October 10th, "I support the first proposal.  We spent somewhere in the neighborhood of $100,000 when we lost the elementary school a few years ago.  We're asking them to waive the $1,200 fee.  They've got all the schools" [that will use the high speed internet access].  She stated that Victoria already has such access through cable modems and DSL, and that the City of Victoria in fact charges others $18,000 a year to install equipment on the city's water tower.
Councilmember Tieden also felt the city should stick with its policy of charging others to use the tower.
Councilmember Simanton disagreed.  "They're offering revenue sharing," he said.  "It has the potential some day to generate even more than $18,000.  And in this case you're talking about someone putting in millions of dollars of infrastruc-ture."
Councilmember Bohn said that ser-vice to potential Victoria businesses would be a "real marketing tool."  He added, "This is cheaper than any other way for the city offices to get high speed access ... and offer it to others."
Councilmember Lindgren summed it up, "We're getting something for paying them!  When others come to put up antennae on our tower, we're not getting a service, so we get the $18,000."  Chaska.net is providing a service so they get $1,200.  Motion passed.
The antennae for Chaska.net are al-ready installed on the Victoria tower, and it is expected to be operational at any time.

AUTO HOUSE PROPOSED FOR VICTORIA
COUNCIL'S PULSE ON THE PLACE IS POSITIVE
City Planner Mark Kaltsas informed councilmembers on October 10th that a group of business owners are interested in purchasing G & G Auto Sales on Hwy 5 in Victoria.  There are no certainties at this time but, said Mark, "we are bring-ing this forward for discussion to get the pulse of the council."
The site consists of .28 acres on the south side of Hwy 5 near CW Auto Repair and is considered to be located in the Central Business District.  As such, said Mark, there is a high level of design standards that must be met in the con-struction of a new building, including lighting and landscape standards.  The existing building would be demolished.
He also reminded councilmembers that a car dealership is a conditional use permit in the CBD and the permit is not transferrable from the Gunnings, current owners of G & G Auto, to new owners of the property.  About the new proposal, Mark said, "The Planning Commission felt this was not the best and highest use but it would be an improvement to that property."
The potential property owners attend-ed the October 10th council meeting.  The three partners include Mike Meadows, a Chanhassen resident, Tom Westermann from Eden Prairie, and Mark Collins, a Victoria resident. 
Said Mike Meadows, "We've reached a tentative purchase agreement with Stan and Barb Gunning, conditioned on being able to sell used automobiles there.  We look to build according to your standards and put in lighting according to your standards.  Everything would be wood and rock.  We'd like to carry the Central Business District standards across the highway to our site and maybe start some-thing on that side."
Part of his past experience included employment at Walser Buick and Lincoln Mercury in the metropolitan area of the Twin Cities.  Said Mr. Meadows of his partners, "Mark and Tom are very good at what they do.  We'd very much like to build a neat building here and have a place where people can come and stop for coffee.  We'd like to be your friend for two years rather than sell you a car."
"The economic conditions in Victoria have changed in the last ten years," he said.  "We're looking to improve the site and are using Tim Forcier of Victoria and Sondergaard Forcier Builders.  We would be keeping the building and maintenance of it in the city."
About the proposed new structure, he said, "We put a bit extra into the stone and the cedar and the windows.  We made room for one car on the showroom, with couches off the fireplace and a nice coffee bar.  We'd like the people to come in and meet us."
Responding to questions from coun-cilmembers, Mr. Meadows said that one bay was planned in which to "clean up cars."  There would be a loft with two offices facing east and full glass to the show floor.  "It would be a very user-friendly building," he said.
"We'd deal with 2000 model and newer cars still under warranty.  For work not under warranty, there's CW Auto Repair right across the street.  We are in negotiation with Chris [Wyman] to either buy or lease his adjacent parcel."
He said the partners were hoping to locate approximately 35 cars on site.  "We're looking at $25,000 to $35,000 a piece in value, so that would be
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