MORE PLACES FOR VICTORIA DOLLARS
THE LIST IS NEITHER SHORT NOR SHRINKING
"Where are we in funding and imple-menting the Park Master Plan?" asked Councilmember Kim Roden.  "We've got lots of parks in this town that need main-tenance.  If the answer is zero, I want to hear it."

"It's low," replied City Administrator Dave Urbia.
"Also, we have a substandard build-ing here that our professional staff works in every day," continued Councilmember Roden.  "There's not adequate city office space.  I don't think we can wait until 2011 ... I want new space for City Hall before 2011.  I want to have a number and I want to have a date."
According to Administrator Dave Urbia, staff put the year 2011 into the ten-year capital improvement plan in order to have time to secure a location and build.
"We can pick up the phone and get answers," stated Councilmember Tim Amundsen.  "I'm geared more for a task force than for hiring somebody to come in and tell us what we need."
Said Councilmember Richard Tieden, "The city is growing.  Seems we should put money everywhere."
Mayor Mary Thun summarized major areas taking, needing or asking for city dollars:  the Victoria Field House, a new Victoria City Hall, Victoria Park Master Plan, the 13.6 acres of Victoria Swap Land, and the Victoria Fire Department.  "Are there other things the Council wants the Finance Committee to consider?" asked the mayor.
The Finance Committee includes Mayor Mary Thun, Councilmember Jim Paulsen, resident Scott Manion, Finance Director Jylan Johnson, and Administrator Dave Urbia.
Since the bulk of Victoria's income for the city budget comes from the city portion of the property tax bill, council-members are always interested in property values; taxes are based on market value of properties.  Those values are assigned by the Carver County Assessor's Office.
Stated Councilmember Roden, "Prop-erty has not appreciated, you guys!  I don't believe the county's numbers.  If you look at properties on the market, they are not going up in value ... I'm nervous.  We're taking the entire increase in market valuation and [proposing] spending it."
Commented Councilmember Richard Tieden, "That's quite a charge, to chal-lenge the county."
"We've got a big ship," said Council-member Jim Paulsen.  "Property that has something unique is selling.  It's not all doom and gloom.  We're going to have absorption.  People are coming here."
It was pointed out that street recon-struction in Victoria has been zapping an average of $2 million per year from city finances, and that the Finance Committee expects a ramping up of the annual city expenditures to $3 million due to in-creased cost of construction.

STILL ON THE VICTORIA ROAD MAP
DRIVE SLOWER ON ROLLING ACRES ROAD
Councilmembers heard another resi-dent at Swiss Mountain speak about traffic speed on Rolling Acres Road, a county road in Victoria.  "I'm here in response to an article in the last Victoria Gazette," said Susan Hetzel.  "I share the concerns of those residents who spoke that night."
"Please start now driving 25 to 35 mph," she pleaded, and not wait for a posted speed reduction from the current 45 mph.  "Our neighborhood is filled with small children.  I propose the city place pressure on the county.  I propose that it be made into a no passing road.  I propose that semi-trucks be excluded from the road."
Stated Mayor Mary Thun, "I'd like the staff to consider approaching the county on this issue."
Councilmember Tim Amundsen said, "There are safety concerns on every road in the city.  I do not believe right now that this is a dangerous road.  If the county and the Sheriff's Department thought so, they would be doing more.  I'm not in favor of a speed study that could potentially in-crease the speed limit.  That road has been that way for 30 years ... There are more people there now so that might merit some change."
Said Councilmember Richard Tieden, "I think we have an opportunity to have some discussion with Roger Gustafson at the county about future plans for that road.  There is potential for more develop-ment there at Hwy 7.  It can't hurt to understand what the plans are."

NOT OPTING OUT OF AN OPTION
LOOKING AT FRANCHISE FEES IN VICTORIA
Council voted unanimously on August 9th to not collect franchise fees from utilities at this time, but to retain the right for future consideration.  The city is negotiating with three companies:  Xcel Energy, CenterPoint Energy, and Minne-sota Valley Electric.
Said Councilmember Kim Roden, "A franchise fee is a hidden tax.  When it falls on energy, it's often on people who can't afford it.  It's one of those things I don't like.  It's not something I'd want to do unless w had to."
Countered Councilmember Tim Amundsen, "You never want to opt out of an option, but they don't seem to pass on savings to us, and they get a lot of govern-ment concessions."
According to information from City Administrator Dave Urbia, "Franchise fees are not itemized deductions on Form 1040, Schedule A, whereas property taxes are.  A reality of the franchise fee is that it collects revenue from those exempt from property tax."

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