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The Victoria GAZETTE |
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April 2015 |
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Replied Councilmember Tom Strigel, "I guess I'm a little surprised at the presentation of information from Mr. O'Gorman tonight. Since you clearly viewed the video of the last council meeting, you know for a fact, yet chose not to state it, that it wasn't a choice to use a city email account or not. You choose to present us as being deceptive and evasive, and I think that you know that it's not right. If you watched the video, there was no city account available to councilmembers until two years ago." Continued Councilmember Strigel, "This is the citizens information. It is your data. You absolutely have a right to it. We complete support that. There's no doubt about that and we're trying to make sure that we do that in a way that also respects the privacy of private data, regardless of whose it is." "As far as your comments about intimidation," said Councilmember Strigel, "it's an opinion that's completely misplaced. It was completely appropriate for the City Manager to, in the interest of transparency, to articulate why these [most recent] requests were unique and why the citizens would have an additional expense in order to collect up and fulfill this data request. It would be dishonest not to make that information available." Mayor O'Connor then commented to Mr. O'Gorman. "You know, it's really disappointing -- the cynicism. All you had to do was ask and we produce the materials. So far it's been produced as requested. We will produce this data." Added the mayor, "You also asked for our telephone records. Would you give me your telephone records? That's a rhetorical question. I know the answer would be 'no.' But we will comply, with legal support."
300 MORE NEW HOMES FOR VICTORIA CONCERNS FOR THE LAKETOWN NEIGHBORHOOD Developers submitted a sketch plat for Laketown 9th Addition. It includes 198 single family homes and 104 townhomes. Lennar is the developer. Council reviewed the sketch plat to a packed city council chambers on March 23rd. Neighbors have concerns related to parkland dedication (they don't have a neighborhood park), four lots on Carriage Drive (they face side streets), HOA's (will the 9th Addition be part of an overall homeowners association?), a nearby eagle's nest, and landscaping. Lennar representatives in the audience also listened to the concerns. Council doesn't take action until the preliminary plat phase and then the final phase. Also, as Mayor Tom O'Connor stated, "This is not a public hearing but there will be a public hearing where residents can go into detail and everybody will have a chance to speak. There will be ample opportunity for people to speak before this is over." The two residents who spoke that evening said the neighborhood should have been engaged earlier, the side-facing homes break up the character of the area, the proposed park area is not flat, and developers paint a pretty picture. Councilmember Lani Basa advised, "Maybe we could have another neighborhood meeting. I'd like to suggest that, so there is further discussion before work on the preliminary plat gets too far down the line." Ben Lindhauser, Community Development Director, will coordinate time with the neighborhood. Stated the mayor, "And that's a commitment. At the end of the day, we have to live with this as well."
SEVEN GARBAGE HAULERS IN VICTORIA AND TRUCKS HARMING NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS Council approved the renewal licenses on March 9th for seven garbage haulers in the City of Victoria, but not without comment. "I can't tell you how many times I've been asked, 'How many garbage haulers do we need in Victoria?'" said Mayor Tom O'Connor. "I don't think we should be in the role of dictating things, but those trucks cause potential harm to the street. It's common sense to me that we reduce the number of haulers." Said Councilmember Lani Basa, "It's certainly something we could address with the help of homeowners' associations." Asked Councilmember Joe Pavelko, "How many neighborhood associations have a contract in place? Our neighborhood has that and it's really nice. All the garbage containers are out on the same day." Also, he said a homeowner can't forget to set out their garbage containers because once you step out the front door, you see all the others Added Laurie, "Snowplow drivers appreciate it, too. We can work out something to make it easier for homeowners." The seven licensed haulers in Victoria are Allied Waste, Dick's Sanitation, Elite Waste Disposal, Garbageman a Green Company, Organic Disposal, Randy's Sanitation, and Waste Management.
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