City Hall/Public Works Open House Frequently Asked Questions

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1 Overall Project Questions Q: Why does the City need to build both facilities at the same time? A: Both buildings have reached a stage where replacement is necessary. Both buildings contain health and safety hazards to staff and are also undersized. The City has included the replacement of these buildings in the 5-year Capital Improvement Plan since Q: How much will these buildings cost me? A: The cost will be dependent on a number of factors including your home s market value, increased growth of the City, and cost of issuing debt. The City has been saving funds for the projects since 2009 and will have $2.3 million available to offset debt service payments. Based on the Long Term Financial Plan (LTFP) through 2023, the anticipated increase to a median valued property owner averages to about $35 annually, but this increase includes other items such as inflation, increased staff needs, increased equipment needs, and street and utility reconstruction. Q: When will the facilities be open? A: Under the current schedule, both buildings will be ready for occupancy in November of Q: What type of bond will the City issue for the debt? The City has two options for the type of bond that is issued: Capital Improvement Bonds or Lease Revenue Bonds. Both are backed by City taxes, but issuance of Capital Improvement Bonds can be delayed if a petition by property owners request that there be a referendum on the projects. Lease Revenue Bonds would be issued by the Economic Development Authority and would not be subject to a referendum. Q: What would be the cost difference between the two bonds? A: The interest on Lease Revenue Bonds is higher than Capital Improvement Bonds. The additional interest would be approximately $800,000 over the term of the bonds. There would also be a cost to either have a special election or add it to the general election in November. The projects would also be delayed. The Long Term Financial Plan takes the conservative approach and assumes Lease Revenue Bonds will be issued. Q: What would be the term of the bonds? A: The term of the bonds would be 20 years. Q: Why is the term longer than the useful life of the buildings? A: Although the City may need to expand the Public Works building and move into the first floor of the City Hall building, the useful life of both buildings is longer than the terms of the bonds. Under expansion scenarios, neither building will be demolished.

2 Public Works Facility Questions Q: Why is the new Public Works building so much larger than the existing? A: The original Public Works building was constructed in 1982 when the City had a population of about 1,425 people. At that time there were two employees and much less equipment for fewer streets, parks, and trails and no City water system. The City currently has a population of about 8,200 people. There are currently seven employees that maintain 41 miles of streets, 21 parks, 18 miles of trails, 45 miles of sewer lines and 50 miles of water lines. In order to provide a safe and efficient working environment, the new building includes a drive lane, restrooms, showers, breakroom, and space for heated storage of major equipment. Some of these features are not available in the existing building and others are significantly undersized which translates to equipment having to be stored outdoors. Q: What will happen to the existing Public Works site? A: The existing building will remain to provide cold storage for equipment. This option was more cost effective than building a new cold storage building at the new site. Q: What will the City need to do to clean-up the existing Public Works site? A: Since we are not leaving the site at this time, no clean-up will be needed. It is known that the site was formerly a dump site and may require clean-up at the time the City vacates the property. Q: Why aren t there turn lanes included on Bavaria Road? A: Bavaria Road is also County Road 13, so the County decides whether or not turn lanes are required. Based on the amount of traffic generated from a Public Works facility, the County is not requiring turn lanes to be constructed at this time. Q: What will happen to the trees at Hartman Tree Farm? A: The City is purchasing 270 trees to use on the site for screening from adjacent properties. The existing trees on the east side of the site will remain. The trees on the area to be graded for the Public Works site will be moved to other areas of the site or will be moved off-site by Hartman Companies. Q: Will an addition to the Public Works building be needed? A: Yes, an addition to the Public Works building will be needed as growth continues. The building has been designed to allow for a doubling of the building by replicating the floor plan on the east side.

3 Public Works Facility Questions (continued) Q: Has the City considered an addition to the Public Works building to allow for County equipment? A: Not at this time. The size of the proposed structure will allow for the majority of equipment to be stored indoors, but does not allow for significant additional equipment to be housed. The City and County do share some equipment, but it is housed at other locations. Q: Who negotiated the purchase price of the Hartman Tree Farm site? A: The City Manager negotiated the price with representatives of the Hartman family. The City Council approved an offer price, which was counter offered by the Hartman family. The City Council accepted this price based on the potential costs to purchase alternative sites. Q: Why did the City pay more for this property than the Arboretum did when they purchased the adjacent property? A: Although the properties are adjacent, they are not comparable due to size, wetlands, topography, access to utilities, site access, and zoning. The City compared the purchase price to properties of similar size and site characteristics. Q: Why doesn t the City build the Public Works Facility on the 13.5 acres the City owns west of downtown? A: The City acquired that property through a land swap with Three Rivers Park District. Because the downtown is landlocked with Stieger Lake to the north and Hwy 5 to the south, the City acquired the property to allow for additional growth of the downtown. This property is zoned as Central Business District to allow for a variety of uses ranging from multi-family housing to retail and office. Also the cost to extend utilities and extend Stieger Lake Lane through the site has been estimated at about $1 million, which would add to the overall project and remove this highly developable property from future tax rolls.

4 The size of libraries in the County ranges based on the size of the community. Waconia has a library of about 12,000 square feet. The proposed Library has about 4,000 square feet of usable space, which provides the City and the Library an opportunity to provide this service at a smaller scale initially. City Hall/Public Works Open House City Hall/Library Questions Q: Why does City Hall include a Library? A: The most cost efficient structure to build is two stories. Because the City does not need the entire 12,000 square feet at this time, the Library would be a tenant in the first floor. Carver County, who operates the Library system, has been interested in a library in Victoria for many years. Rather than have empty space, the City would like to have a library to: Serve as another destination in the downtown Provide services and programs to the residents Continue a strong partnership with Carver County Q: Why can t we add on to the Rec Center? A: The City has a partnership with Eastern Carver County Schools for the Victoria Recreation Center. The footprint of the building would not allow for easy expansion. The City also has a goal of keeping public services such as City Hall in the downtown to continue to support local businesses. Q: Where will the parking for City Hall/Library be? A: The parking for City Hall and Library would be located in the municipal lot located south of Stieger Lake Lane. There would also be on-street parking adjacent to the building. The City has a shared parking ordinance that allows for uses to share parking. Based on the existing and proposed uses, a parking analysis was completed that demonstrated there is adequate parking available. Q: What will the City do with the existing City Hall? A: The existing City Hall will be demolished and made into additional parking for the downtown. This will be a way to provide additional parking in a more efficient manner. It is anticipated that 23 additional parking spaces will be added. Q: What will happen to the Library when City Hall needs to expand? A: The current plan provides eight additional office spaces versus current staffing at City Hall. If City Hall needs to expand, the Council Chambers will shift to the lower level and the second floor will be available for additional office space. At that time, the Library System will consider if they deem the Victoria Library a success. If so, the City would work with them to provide a larger stand alone building or another joint use.

5 City Hall/Library Questions (continued) Q: If City Hall/Library needs to expand, what will happen to the building? A: If the City were to decide to vacate the building, it would be placed on the market for sale and reuse as a commercial building. It has been designed and will be constructed to allow for retail and office uses. The building would not be demolished. Q: What will happen to the Express Library at the Rec Center? A: Nothing, the Express Library will remain in place to provide extended hours for Victoria residents. Q: Why didn t the City build on the property on Victoria Drive? A: The City chose not to construct on the Victoria Drive property for the following reasons: The cost to construct at this location was more due to the need for utility extensions and site preparation. This site has visibility from Hwy 5 and the core downtown, so it is well-suited for commercial use. Q: What will the other three sides of the building look like? A: In order to construct a cost effective building, the City is considering materials such as hardiplank siding and EIFS (exterior insulating finish system). Both of these materials are permitted in the Central Business District. Q: What is the status of the Library? A: The City Council is supportive of the Library on the first floor of the new building. Carver County Commissioners voted unanimously last year to support the library and have provided funding to have it open in January of Q: What is the status of the Bandstand? A: A private citizen is leading the efforts to construct a bandstand just north of the location of the City Hall/Library. The bandstand would be located on property owned by Three Rivers Park District. The private citizen, along with other parties, would build the bandstand and donate it to the City to use for Concerts in the Park and other artistic venues. It is anticipated that the bandstand will be constructed in Q: What is the status of the environmental hazards at City Hall? A: The City Council will review the report at their January 27 th meeting. The report indicated that the petroleum leak did not extend past the area found in the southwest corner of the building. The City will not have to do additional clean up if the area is left undisturbed. Indoor air quality tests and soil borings were taken within the building. The source of the odor