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 Pro Tem Kim Roden in the Council Chambers at 7951 Rose.

Members Present: Councilmembers: Tim Amundsen, Tom O’Connor, Jim Paulsen and Kim Roden.

Absent: Mayor, Hershberger Thun.

Staff Present: Don Uram, City Administrator and Mike Norton, City Attorney.

Others Present: Sue Orsen, The Victoria Gazette.
 

A motion was made by Councilmember Paulsen, to adopt the Agenda. The motion was seconded. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried. Vote: 4 Ayes, 0 Nays.
 

(3) OPEN FORUM:

Grant Petersen, 6363 Baycliffe Drive, stated he was unaware that the utility box issues was going to be discussed at the February 23, 2009 City Council meeting. He agreed that burying the cable was the right thing to do. Mr. Petersen said the decision to implement option 2, moving the LBC to the west lot line of 6360 Maple Ridge Lane may be coming too quickly. He noted there is an existing transformer to the west of the property. Mr. Petersen said he is directly across the street from where the box would be located and expressed concern about the box location. He stated he thinks the proper decision would be to go with option 3, eliminate the LBC by bringing an underground primary cable from the existing pole at Thornberry Curve. Mr. Petersen said that reliability may not be the best answer for this issue. He encouraged reconsideration on the vote.

Councilmember O’Connor commented on the process and said this is what would be done if it happened again. He said that was the consensus of the group. Mr. Uram said that after discussions, option 2, moving the LBC to the west lot line of 6360 Maple Ridge Lane would be the continued recommendation and would also be the recommendation in the future. Councilmember O’Connor asked if there was anything in the current discussion that would cause Mr. Uram to rethink that option number 2 is not the correct decision. Mr. Uram responded no.

Councilmember Paulsen said he didn’t think they should try and reverse the City Council action. He said he would think about it, but it should not be on the agenda.

Councilmember Amundsen commented on having a proper procedure.

Mayor Pro Tem Roden stated she thinks the utility box issue should be revisited. She said that the problem has been moved and not solved. Mayor Pro Tem Roden stated she thinks this is the wrong process and she is not convinced this is a reliability issue.

The City Council had discussions and concluded that it should not come back on the agenda.
 

(4) VISITORS PRESENTATION:

Lindsay Hoyer, President of Max Travel, said he has lived here for 15 years. Mr. Hoyer said they are affiliated with Carousel Travel and American Express Travel. He talked about the misconception of having to pay travel agent fees and clarified that they get paid by the vendor. Mr. Hoyer stated that right now there are unbelievable travel deals going on.

Mary Langworthy, Executive Director of the Community Foundation for Carver County, said Community Foundation for Carver County began in 2004 and have 11 volunteer board members from across Carver County. The Community Foundation serves as a catalyst for community investments that contribute to the health and vitality of those living and working in Carver County. The non-profit organization works with donors and has distributed over $14,000 in grants.

Bob Roepke, stated the Community Foundation is about the idea of building community. He talked about creating community awareness and asked for advocacy support.

Councilmember Paulsen asked what percent is in administration. Mr. Roepke said it is about 80/20 on administration. Councilmember O’Connor asked what the target would be. Mr. Roepke said something less than 20%.

Ms. Langworthy showed a video produced by a local board member on the Community Foundation for Carver County.
 

Councilmember Amundsen removed items B and C.

A motion was made by Councilmember Amundsen, to adopt the Consent Agenda. The motion was seconded. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried. Vote: 4 Ayes, 0 Nays.

Councilmember Amundsen questioned the new bid received from a different source. Mr. Uram said the vendor listed in the packet indicated that they would hold that price. He said the quote included in the folder is the second quote that is required. Councilmember Amundsen asked about the trade in. Mr. Uram said there were some pieces that have value that will be traded in.

A motion was made by Councilmember Amundsen, to Approve Resolution 09-27, authorizing the execution of the Warning Siren Annual Service Agreement, which includes the replacement of the Lions Park warning siren and the repair of the warning siren at Highway 7 and Smithtown Road. The motion was seconded. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried. Vote: 4 Ayes, 0 Nays.

Councilmember Amundsen commented on the increased usage of the Field House. He said they still need to thrive to improve and increase the accessibility to information.

Mayor Pro Tem Roden noted the exercise equipment has been updated.
 

-A- Approve the March 9, 2009 Claims Roster in the amount of $244,380.09

A motion was made by Councilmember Amundsen, to Approve the Claims Roster in the amount of $244,380.09. The motion was seconded. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried. Vote: 4 Ayes, 0 Nays.
 

Councilmember Amundsen thanked Roger and Michelle Hammers dba Party Pizza.

A motion was made by Councilmember Amundsen, to Accept Resolution No. 09-28 accepting the $200 donation from Party Pizza for the 2009 Concerts in the Park Series. The motion was seconded. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried. Vote: 4 Ayes, 0 Nays.
 

Mayor Pro Tem Roden read the following suggestions from Mayor Hershberger Thun: under section 2-117, a, second sentence, the City Council shall appoint two council members one of whom may be but does not necessarily have to be the Mayor to serve as the liaisons to the Planning Commission. The one or two liaisons should be non-voting members of the Planning Commission. The next suggestion was under 2-117, b, fourth sentence should read the term of the one or two non-voting members shall be one year but in no case longer than their term in office. She suggested deleting the sentence: The term of the non-voting member(s) shall correspond to the non-voting member’s respective term of office.

Councilmember Amundsen clarified that the Mayor is a council member and some of the verbiage is not necessary. He said it should just say two council members.

Mayor Pro Tem Roden opened the public hearing at 7:29 p.m.

Mayor Pro Tem Roden closed the public hearing at 7:29 p.m.

A motion was made by Councilmember Paulsen, to Adopt Ordinance No. 366 as drafted and amended by the suggestions. The motion was seconded.

Councilmember Amundsen commented on the term of a member and non-voting member and proposed that it should be looked at.

With all members voting in favor, the motion carried. Vote: 4 Ayes, 0 Nays.

None.

None.

None.

Councilmember Paulsen asked for an update at the next City Council meeting on the parking downtown, 1000 Friends, Dahlgren and Minnehaha Creek Watershed District.

Councilmember Amundsen pointed out that in the sheriff’s report there are five times as many weapons permits.

Mayor Pro Tem Roden gave a report from the Business Development Committee and said at the last meeting with the chamber consolidation the Southwest Metro Chamber is now the 7^th or 8^th largest chamber and has significant lobbying power. She noted that rather than having a $10,000 budget the chamber now has a $300,000 budget.

Mayor Pro Tem Roden commented on the expo held in Chanhassen.

Mayor Pro Tem Roden said they also talked about the sheriff sale scheduled for April 6^th on the Noterman Building.

Mayor Pro Tem Roden noted that it was also reported that there were 400 resumes received for a part-time, 15 hours a week job that paid $7 an hour.

Mayor Pro Tem Roden stated that the grand opening for Fresh Seasons Market will be on April 4^th.

Mayor Pro Tem Roden noted there are 39,000 platted lots in the 13 county area and in January a total of 15 permits were pulled. Councilmember Paulsen commented on the public facilities ordinance.

Councilmember Amundsen commented on the sheriff’s sale for the Noterman Building and said the building is an asset to the community. He asked about the city involvement. Mr. Uram said the city would typically not get involved with the sale. Councilmember Paulsen suggested understanding the term of the lease for the parking. Councilmember O’Connor asked about advertising. Mr. Norton said the advertising of the sale will be in county’s legal newspaper. Councilmember O’Connor commented on having it on the website. The City Council discussed the impacts of the foreclosed commercial building to the city. Mr. Norton stated that due to the default they were able to stop payment on the TIF note. Mr. Uram said he will prepare some information and bring it back.

None.

None.

A motion was made by Councilmember O’Connor, to adjourn the meeting at 7:48 p.m. The motion was seconded. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried. Vote: 4 Ayes, 0 Nays.
 

Respectfully submitted,

Tanya Schmieg
TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.