SWAPPING SHORELAND FOR COMMERCIAL
WILL VICTORIA'S INTERESTS BE SERVED?
City Attorney Mike Norton reported on September 8^th that the proposed land swap between the City of Victoria and Three Rivers Park District is still a work in progress.
"It's pretty clear that the Park is concerned that the balance is in favor of the city," he said, adding that unless the City of Victoria is reasonably certain that the city is going to have some develop-ment to help defray costs, the city may not be so interested in the land swap.
The city-owned land on the east side of Lake Auburn (which includes the old brick STEP group home) and the park-owned land northeast of the Victoria Dairy Queen (which could increase the size of the Victoria business district) are the two areas being considered for the swap. 
The City of Victoria is interested in maintaining the city's interest, and therefore the taxpayer's interest, and is reluctant to spend money on the platting of roadways and trails for the Park until there is some certainty about how the money might be coming in, said Attorney Norton. 
Potential expansion of the Central Business District of Victoria comes at a time when the current business district of Victoria still has a ways to go in regard to downtown development.

In the meantime, the Shores of Lake Auburn are being compared to the Shores of Stieger Lake.  Shoreline condos would not be a novelty in this City of Lakes and Parks.  Wensmann Homes on the Shores of Stieger Lake, for example, are a popular attraction in Victoria.

SNOWMOBILING A BIG DEAL IN VICTORIA
WHETHER YOU ARE FOR IT OR AGAINST IT
Lengthy council discussion on Sep-tember 8^th and 22^nd centered on whether or not snowmobiling should continue to be allowed on the LRT trail that runs through the City of Victoria. 
This trail, formerly a railroad bed, runs from the Kirke-Lachen neighborhood in Victoria, east to Park Drive, then on to the northern part of Victoria at Iris Circle, into the City of Shorewood, and it connects to a regional trail system.
The various cities have control over LRT trail use within their own borders.  Shorewood, on the northeastern edge of Victoria, has banned snowmobiles on the LRT through their city. 
Each year the City of Victoria has approved a winter use permit for the Three Rivers Park District that allows snowmobiling as well as snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and hiking on the 3.5 miles of trail within city limits.
This year the permit was again issued by Victoria councilmembers to allow all uses but not so easily (3-1) and not without an addendum directing staff to conduct a study that involves cities to the east, the snowmobile association, resi-dents along the LRT trail, and others, to assess safety, liability, and general use of the trail.

September 8^th.
Each of two motions, one to approve and one to deny, failed on September 8^th because of 2-2 votes.  Councilmember Terry Bishop was absent.  Those in favor of approving the use of snowmobiles on the trail were Richard Tieden and Kim Roden.  Those against were Mayor Jerry Bohn and Mary Thun.
Said Councilmember Thun, "We did get some complaints last year.  I'm not against snowmobiling, but the city is growing and I understand residents would not want the noise right underneath their windows … No motorized vehicles are allowed on the trail during the summer and now it's winter so it's okay??  I have a hard time supporting snowmobiles going down these trails.  At the minimum I'd like a restriction of hours … I could be wrong,  but I have a hard time believing Chanhassen allows this.  For me this issue is cut and dried.  I think it's time to say, sorry, we're done … I'd approve a winter permit with the exception of snow-mobiling."
Said Mayor Bohn, "I agree with Mary.  I think it's time to bite the bullet."
Said City Administrator Steve Sarvi,  "I'm sure our downtown businesses ap-preciate the business snowmobiles bring in during the winter.  But we could talk with them and let them know this is not going to continue indefinitely … Snow-mobilers complain about having to trailer everywhere.  I'd expect a backlash from snowmobilers … Enforcement of time restrictions would be difficult … Some are clearly not Victoria residents … I think the dialogue should include the snowmobile association."
Said City Attorney Jim Norton,  about that the fact that the trails would be open to both motorized vehicles and pedestrians.  "Clearly there should be a liability issue about mechanized vehicles and foot traffic together.  It may be another factor you want to consider."
Said Councilmember Richard Tieden, who was concerned about the Swiss Mountain residents living next to the trail, "I'm also concerned about what our attor-ney said.  Now that we're talking about it, liability for us becomes even more criti-cal."
But he added, "Snowmobilers won't be prepared for his.  It would be viewed in a very negative way.  They've made in-vestments.  I think we have to have a responsible amount of time so they know what's coming."
One resident from Swiss Mountain spoke to the issue, and he was against snowmobiles on Victoria trails.  "I can attest that snowmobiles use the trails at night, after we're in bed, and  they jump trails to cut across to the lake.  People also use the trails to walk their dogs and snowshoe and it's too dangerous for those things when snowmobilers are around.  We've had multiple incidents of snowmobilers crossing our yards.  I ask you to drop snowmobiles from use on the trails."
Councilmember Kim Roden said she didn't have enough information and made a motion to reconsider snowmobiles on Victoria trails at the next city council meeting.  That motion passed 3-1 with Mary Thun on the dissenting vote.  In one way or another, the Park required a deci-sion by September 24^th.  Victoria council-members did not consider asking for an extension of deadline in order to have more time to better inform the public about this issue.

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