City Council Minutes

Pursuant to due call and posted notice thereof, the regular meeting of the Victoria City Council was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Hershberger Thun in the Council Chambers at 7951 Rose.

Members Present: Mayor Mary Hershberger Thun; Councilmembers: Tim Amundsen, Tom O'Connor, Kim Roden and Jim Paulsen.

Absent: None.

Staff Present: Don Uram, City Administrator; Community Development Director, Holly Kreft; Jylan Johnson, Finance Director; Cara Geheren, City Engineer; Ann Mahkne, Public Works Director and Mike Norton, City Attorney.

A motion was made by Councilmember O'Connor, to adopt the Agenda. The motion was seconded. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried. Vote: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays.

(3) OPEN FORUM:

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(4) VISITORS PRESENTATION:

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Councilmember Paulsen removed the minutes of the January 25, 2010 City Council meeting.

A motion was made by Councilmember Roden, to Adopt the amended Consent Agenda. The motion was seconded. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried. Vote: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays.

Councilmember Paulsen added the following to the second paragraph on page 7: Councilmember Paulsen requested that the Watershed District focus on the largest phosphorus concentrations first that is the 440 lbs that is internally generated phosphorus prior to the 19-20 lbs that they are currently proposing.

A motion was made by Councilmember Paulsen, to Adopt the Minutes of the January 25, 2010 City Council Meeting Minutes as amended. The motion was seconded. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried. Vote: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays.

A motion was made by Councilmember O'Connor, to Approve the February 8, 2010 Claims Roster in the amount of $566,748.31. The motion was seconded. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried. Vote: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays.

-A- Accept Donations

A motion was made by Councilmember O'Connor, to Accept the Donations in the amount of $100 from Residential Mortgage Group on behalf of Edmund O'Neill. The motion was seconded. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried. Vote: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays.
 

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Mr. Uram stated the City is advertising for and soliciting applications for vacant seats on the City's Commissions and Committees. The Business Development Committee has five vacancies that are two-year terms each. The Park and Recreation Committee has two vacancies and are three-year terms each. The Planning Commission has two vacancies and each are three-year terms. The Senior Commission has four vacancies.

Mr. Uram said they will be accepting applications through February 26, 2010. Mayor Hershberger Thun said the application form is online.

Councilmember Amundsen commented on the opportunity to put some definitions and limits on the terms. He said the need for vitality has been expressed. The City Council agreed that staff should take a look at this and come back with a recommendation. Councilmember Roden commented on the citizen's academy. Councilmember Paulsen said a member shouldn't have more than three terms.
 

Mr. Norton reported on the area of social networking. He referred to an article in the paper on some of the legal issues. He commented on using social networking sites for government. He said basic policies should be talked about and how to use it as a tool.

Mr. Norton talked about the different age groups and the communications and how information is accessed differently.

Mr. Uram said they started looking at this and what would be an appropriate use for the City of Victoria. He noted they will keep the City Council informed.

Councilmember Roden reminded the community of a Valentines Day event this Thursday evening that is sponsored by a number of businesses.

Councilmember Paulsen commented on an article in the paper regarding the City of Rogers reimbursing 50% of the cost in order to get the I-94 interchange built. Mayor Hershberger Thun said the Southwest Transportation Coalition has hired a lobbyist.

Councilmember Amundsen commented on 86^th Street and said some of the comments are to not create more of an issue than there is and overstating an issue may be cause for more problems.

Mayor Hershberger Thun reported that the Southwest Transportation Coalition received an estimate on the environmental assessment for Highway 5 which is $790,000.

Mayor Hershberger Thun reported on Volksfest and said the committee has hired a planning coordinator. She noted the committee has applied for a 503C. She said there is a meeting at 5:00 on Wednesday at School of the Wise. Mayor Hershberger Thun noted Volksfest will be held on Saturday, August 28^th. Councilmember Amundsen said he would like to see what the city's costs and contributions have been. Mayor Hershberger Thun said staff does have that information and asked them to bring it to the next meeting. She noted the Southwest Chamber of Commerce will be doing a part and the rest will be done by the people of Victoria.
 

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A motion was made by Councilmember Paulsen, to adjourn the meeting at 7:00 p.m. The motion was seconded. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried. Vote: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays.

Respectfully submitted,

Tanya Schmieg
TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.