IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN
OR BEING AWAY FROM HOME TWO YEARS
Victoria City Councilmembers did not accept or approve on September 13^th an employment agreement for City Administrator Steve Sarvi that would have come to include all "key people" in the city.  Key people would mainly refer to the city's department heads.
Said Mayor Mary Thun,  "The Per-sonnel Committee has been looking at this for all key people.  Mr. Sarvi has seen this agreement.  It would include job descrip-tions.  There have been a number of times where things sort of get lost ... The Per-sonnel Committee and City Attorney were part of drafting this."
Said Councilmember Kim Roden, "It's been helpful to have an employment agreement for two years with an interim administrator.  The goal is to remove the ambiguity and identify the rules of en-gagement."
Stated Councilmember Richard Tied-en, "Steve has been here since 2000.  Why does he have to sign this now?"
Councilmember Tim Amundsen also had a problem with the agreement, and having decisions being made by a small Personnel Committee with only one or two elected representatives. 
"I think it's the responsibility of the five-member body," he stated.  "I'd like to hear what Steve [Sarvi] and Dave [Urbia] have to say about this.  Who measures these things?  What happens if he misses a deadline?"
"All parties, including Steve, would agree there are things [work goals] we are expecting," said Mayor Thun.  "We anti-cipate job descriptions for everyone, and this agreement would be the same for the key people." 
Councilmember Tieden countered, "You've brought some books here, Mary, about how to treat a returning veteran," he began.  "I don't think this is right.  The timing is wrong.  Steve should be part of making the standard agreement.  He shouldn't be challenged by this as he returns [from Iraq].  This is not how to welcome someone home ... Let's not single Steve out.  Let's have a staff policy.  What's the rush?  We've never had this before for him.?
Councilmember Tim Amundsen put the cap on the discussion.  "Steve already has read this policy and he's already forming opinions," said Tim.  "I think it's imperative we involve him.  Steve's input better prepares him to do it [a policy] for the rest of the staff.  He's our go-to person.  It's imperative that he be asked how he'd like to review this.  It's a good foundation but he has to be part of this.  I agree.  What's the rush?  Steve is the professional.  We have to respect the fact he's been here for seven years."
There was no council motion or action on the employment agreement.
Since 9/11 City Administrator Steve has been called three times to active duty --- at the Minneapolis St. Paul Inter-national Airport, to Afghanistan, and most recently to Iraq.

Steve Sarvi was unable to report for work at Victoria City Offices on Septem-ber 4^th as planned because of kidney stones.  Said Mayor Thun, "Steve is ill, not seriously.  He is expected back on September 17^th."

CONTINUING TO FIX VICTORIA STREETS
LATEST FEASIBILITY STUDIES TO COST $46,600
Councilmembers approved four feasi-bility studies to be conducted on four Vic-toria neighborhoods areas for the recon-struction or improvement of city streets in 2008.  They include the 80^th Street and Baycliffe neighborhood areas, Victoria Circle, and Park Drive.  Total cost of the four feasibilities:  $46,600.
City Engineer Cara Geheren reported that construction should be completed by the summer of 2008.
"Have you had any feedback on this so far?" asked Councilmember Kim Roden.  "We can't recoup the cost of feasibility studies."
Replied Cara, "All the reports have been positive.  People have read the Gazette and are glad we're moving ahead."

VICTORIA ICE CONTRACTS NEGOTIATED
HFCHS, CHASKA, MINNETONKA, WACONIA
City Attorney Mike Norton reported on September 27^th that ice contracts with the City of Victoria have been negotiated with Holy Family Catholic High School, Chaska Community Hockey Association, Waconia Hockey Association, and the Minnetonka Youth Hockey Association.
The four contracts contain essentially the same terms, he said.  "We tried to keep them as uniform as we could," said Mr. Norton.  "One of the major differen-ces is the pending opening of Waconia ice.  There is some uncertainty of time there.  We'll probably be out from the Waconia contract in January."
The two ice consultants hired by the City of Victoria are Harvey Feldman and Ken Vraa.  "By using the consultants, we've increased ice time and ice revenue," pointed out Councilmember Tim Amundsen.  The increased revenue was approximately $15,000 over the 2006/2007 season.
Stated Councilmember Richard Tide-en, "I thank everyone who helped make this happen.  Those two people were ex-tremely important and professional.  Thank you also to Dave Urbia and Mike Norton."
The rent to be paid to the City of Vic-toria for the season is based on $175 per hour for prime time ice and $135 per hour for summer non-prime time ice, plus a 6.5% Minnesota sales tax.
Contracts amount to $41,504 for Holy Family; $32,853 for Chaska; $58,560 for Waconia; and $102,506 for Minnetonka.

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