Southwest Transit updates Victoria council; staff directed to schedule downtown parking workshop

Eric Hansen, CEO of Southwest Transit, presented a brief update to the council on the agency's services and connections to Victoria, citing agency milestones and recent survey results. Hansen said Southwest Transit serves Victoria with its "Southwest Prime" demand-response service and special-event routes and that about 2,000 rides originated in Victoria last year with roughly 4,000 total trips tied to the city in his agency's counts. He noted the agency's 40th anniversary and ongoing discussions with Carver County about using recently authorized county sales tax revenue to help fund expanded service.

Later in reports and emerging issues staff and council extensively discussed downtown parking. Staff noted the last parking study was completed in 2018 and proposed an informational workshop to review historic decisions, current strategies and financing tools. Council members raised funding questions (bonding, assessments, TIF/PIF), timing issues given multiple construction projects and Highway 5 reconstruction, and the need to preserve flexibility. City staff (Miss Hardy) said she would schedule the workshop and bring options and next steps to council.