August 28th
At a second budget workshop, coun -cilmembers reviewed line items again.  There was a suggestion to cut back on the hours and cost of Time Savers, a company that takes minutes for city meetings.
In looking at projected expense for the fire department, Fire Chief Gary Sohns said the department needs a hose replacement, new computer, and new truck.  Mayor Bohn stated, "We're trying to live with the same budget as last year, so I don't think there should be increases, but if we need hoses, we gotta buy them."

In looking at revenue from fees, Victoria Building Official Tom Gray said the city is bringing in an average of $3,300 per home through building permit fee, planning fee, and plumbing and sewer permits.  He said the average cost of a house in Victoria today is $220,000 -- "just the house, not including the lot."
Councilmember Richard Tieden said the city should plan for more than 125 houses to be built in Victoria for the 2004 budget so there is more income to help pay for conferences and training for city staff.  Mayor Bohn replied, "We're going to be hard pressed to get 125 houses next year." 
In that regard, Public Works Director Bruce Osborn said, "You've got to be careful about what those additional homes will require from our water supply.  Watermark, for example, is using a lot of water sprinkling the new lawns."
City Administrator Steve Sarvi said the city could be in a bind if the sale of upper end homes falters.  "Right now we don't have middle-priced homes," he said.  "And I've heard that for every $1,000 that you raise the fees, there are 1,000 more people who can't afford the house."
Mayor Bohn commented that it does not seem to be possible for builders or developers to make $200,000 to $300,000 homes available in Victoria.
Councilmember Dave Lindgren pro-posed another possible revenue source.  "The most frequently asked question is when are we going to get a swimming pool out at the field house."
About the cost of sealcoating streets, Superintendent Osborn said that cost per yard goes down for the bigger projects in bigger neighborhoods.
Councilmember Mary Thun didn't want money cut from the line item for streets.  "If you don't meet the people's basic needs, you can't get to the next step," she said.  "Streets are a basic need.  Everybody needs streets."
Replied Mayor Bohn, "We cut $150,000 out of our downtown redevelop-ment fund.  We don't have a grocery store.  Isn't that also a need?"  Jerry is hoping to restore $100,000 to that fund. 
Another workshop on the 2004 draft budget was scheduled for Wednesday, September 3rd, at 5:00 p.m.  A proposed 2004 budget needs to be certified to the county by September 15th.  Adoption of a final budget occurs in December. 

ORDINANCE TO ENFORCE SCREENING
MAYBE ONE SIZE DOESN'T FIT ALL
Councilmembers in general were not supportive of a "Major Transportation Corridor Buffer Overlay Ordinance" pre-sented to them by Planner Mark Kaltsas at the August 14th city council meeting.
Purpose of such an ordinance is to establish a landscaped and bermed buffer along major roadways in the city so that houses and people are sort of kept out of sight. 
In speaking of the substantial distance that would be required between roadway and buildings, Mark said, "The horizontal distance isn't a fixed number because there would be performance criteria.  The 250-feet would be the minimal horizontal distance between right of way line and property line.  Developers would have to meet other criteria in order to reduce that distance."
Replied Mayor Jerry Bohn, "I would not be too happy with 250 feet of flat land as the buffer.  The point is, we don't want to see a lot of houses when we come down the road ... It's the screening that we want, regardless of the distance."
Mused Councilmember Terry Bishop, "I'm wondering if we aren't taking away some flexibility ... I'm wondering if another ordinance is necessary.  This ordinance wouldn't work on the Scott Carlston development as proposed to-night.  If we take away a number of lots by requiring 250-foot buffers, we'd take away his possibilities and could end up with tiny lots."
He added, "I think we can send a message as we go.  We'd be inviting additional controversies with this.  I'm hesitant of an ordinance where one size fits all."
Stated Councilmember Richard Tied-en, "I think we're overplaying this rural character thing.  If we made the back of houses look better, problems are solved.  With this ordinance we'd be controlling ourselves ... and wouldn't we be substan-tially increasing the cost of a house?"
"Yes," replied Mark, who was in-structed to condense and simply his work for more flexibility all around.

FINANCING A TRANSPORTATION STUDY
IN DEVELOPING LAKETOWN TOWNSHIP
Councilmembers have hopes of ap-proving a Joint Powers Agreement among Carver County, the City of Waconia, and the City of Victoria for a "Laketown Township Area Transportation Planning Study."  Cost of the study, temporarily on the table, is projected to be around $30,000 or so.
The county, cities, and township have been involved in discussions and studies relating to the need for transportation systems in that portion of Laketown Township proposed for annexation to Victoria and Waconia.
Victoria Planner Mark Kaltsas point-ed out that the City of Victoria has signed agreements with four out of five develop-ers ready to pounce on the Laketown properties, and that a transportation plan is vital.  Those developers include Lundgren Bros, Hartman Communities, Hans Hagen Homes, and Lyman Lumber.

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