IT COSTS A LOT TO BUILD A HOUSE
IN VICTORIA AND IN OTHER PLACES, TOO
Councilmembers spent time in a workshop setting, reviewing Victoria's building permit fees and their compari-son to the neighboring cities of Chaska and Chanhassen.  The study was con-ducted by Tom Gray, Victoria Building Official.
Said Tom, "A lot of fees that build-ers pay here, are paid by developers in other cities."  This can give the impres-sion that Victoria is a more expensive place in which to build a home.
Suggested Mayor Jerry Bohn, "May-be we should rearrange things so we hit the developer rather than the builder."
As for the reputation that Victoria may have about high cost of building in the city, the mayor pointed out that in some cities such as Woodbury, every square inch can be turned into buildable lots so it's cheaper.  "It's different here in Victoria," said the mayor.  In Victoria there are hills, trees, lakes, ponds, and creeks to build and plan around.
Tom Gray said that cities are allowed to raise its building fees by 3% each year, but Victoria hasn't raised its fees since 1999.
When the mayor stated that the fees are higher than the city's costs, Jylan Johnson, the city's finance director, dis-agreed and said, "We are certainly not collecting revenue to make up our expen-ditures.  So much time and energy is expended when you do a development, and you still have the expanding infra-structure."
Councilmember Mary Thun agreed that the city's expense in assisting devel-opers and builders goes beyond the Building Inspection Department.
Building permit fees for an approxi-mate 4,000 square foot home with various amenities in Victoria cost $3,754 (more in Chaska and Chanhassen).
In addition, a building contractor in Victoria pays $8,675 in water, sewer, and park charges (less in Chaska and Chan-hassen).
City staff was directed to review the re-allocation of fees for council consider-ation in January, 2004.  Building fees have to be set by city ordinance so a public hearing would be required.  As the annexation to Victoria of 1,000 acres of Laketown Township gets closer, building permit fees will have a large impact on a lot of people.

PREPARING FOR WATER TREATMENT PLANT
NOW IN THE PRELIMINARY DESIGN STAGE
On October 9th city councilmembers approved the hiring of TKDA to do a Preliminary Design Report for Victoria's very first water treatment plant and its fourth municipal well.  Cost of this report will not exceed $37,500.
Said City Planner Mark Kaltsas, "This is paid for out of the city's water core fund.  It allows us to keep on task."  He also said there will be public intera-action prior to any construction.
City Engineer Jack Griffin, who is a consultant with TKDA, said this report includes, among other things, touring other treatment plants, site layout, the discussion of various options, spacing requirements. 
"Basically, at the end of this, we are ready to prepare plans and specifications," summarized Mayor Jerry Bohn.  "This report will help keep you committed, and it's more cost effective for us.  In the past we haven't done it this way.  This helps us all be more accountable, both to the residents and the engineers ... We're not asking for new taxes so we don't need a public hearing.  We're using core funds." The water treatment plant is proposed to be located near Well #2 at the Victoria Fire Station.  The newly proposed Well #4 is proposed to be located at Savanna Valley; it would not need a pumphouse like the other wells because the city is getting a water treatment plant.
Asked Councilmember Richard Tied-en, "What is it going to look like?  I can assure you no one wants it to look like a water treatment plant."
Engineer Griffin said, with the Fire Station on one side and residential homes on the other side, "there'll have to be a nice blending."  He said the $4.3 million estimate for water treatment cost and facilities is inclusive of engineering and design fees.

VEERING FROM CITY POLICY
NOT REQUIRING BITUMINOUS STREET ASTER TRAIL
Councilmembers voted 3-1 to ap-prove the preliminary plat of the 2.57-acre Tall Trees Addition, which is located in the northeast corner of Victoria city limits.  The motion did not include up-grading that portion of Aster Trail in front of the development from a gravel to a paved road, which is why Councilmem-ber Richard Tieden couldn't support the motion.  Terry Bishop was absent.
The motion also did not include requiring the developer to reconstruct the gravel road with subgrade and drainage components so that it might be brought up to standard more easily in the future.
City policy requires a blacktop road in new developments.  The city's Public Works Director recommended  blacktop-ping the required portion of Aster Trail fronting the development, which amounts to about 500 feet.  The City Engineer recommended that the gravel road at least be upgraded to the required subgrade and drainage components in anticipation of a paved road.  None of the above occurred.
Councilmember Tieden wanted to follow past city policy and require the developer to blacktop the 500 feet. "I don't think rebuilding a gravel road is upgrading.  I think it's going backwards."  He then asked about the difference in cost between an upgraded gravel road and a bituminous road.
Replied City Engineer Jack Griffin, "It's 75% of the cost." 
The developer said he doesn't want to spend the extra $30,000 to $40,000.  "We think we should be treated like the rest of the property owners," said the developer in regard to the recent outpouring of residents to leave the road in its current condition.  "We are willing to rework that road bed a little bit," he said.
Stated Councilmember Tieden, "I don't have to have a blacktop road there, but it's what every other developer is doing.  By entering into this, we're enter-ing into an agreement for gravel roads."
Agreed City Superintendent Bruce Osborn, "This lies at the beginning of Aster Trail.  By not blacktopping here, you're magnifying the water problem."  His recommendation was to follow city policy and have the developer construct a blacktop section.

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