Victoria Gazette - The Scoop at City Hall

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$9,500 FROM THE VICTORIA LIONS

DONATED FOR CITY EVENTS AND EQUIPMENT

Victoria Lions President Laura O'Neill and Outgoing President Lion Todd Triethart attended the July 25th city council meeting for a couple of reasons. One was for Todd to introduce Laura to councilmembers and staff. He added, "I appreciated all the help you've given me, from both the city and the Fire Department."

The second reason for their attendance was to present $9,500 in donations to the City of Victoria. A check for $5,000 will help pay for the outstanding fireworks display at the annual Victoria Volksfest the weekend of August 19th to 21st. An additional $3,500 will help the Victoria Fire Department purchase new and needed equipment. A check for $1,000 will purchase a walk-in cooler for Victoria Public Works and Park and Rec.

POWERLINES TO BE BURIED IN VICTORIA

FRANCHISE TAX ON UTILITIES TO PAY FOR IT

Council held a listening session on Monday evening, July 11th, regarding Xcel Energy's upcoming project through Victoria. Afterwards, they voted 5-0 to bury the new powerlines underground and they approved a utility franchise fee for residents and business owners in Victoria to pay for getting it underground.

The Gazette reported in detail last month the conversations and proceedings from a June 27th city council workshop and a June 28th public information meeting. Residents and neighbors had spoken against the visual pollution of power lines along roadsides in a city of lakes and parks.

The new franchise fee for residents amounts to $3/month on their electric bill plus $3/month on their gas bill. Business customers will be charged $10/month on their electric bill plus $10/month on their gas bill.

CROSSINGS AT CHURCH LAKE NOT TO BE

FR. BOB WHITE BRINGS CLOSURE TO PROJECT

Father Bob White spoke to Victoria city councilmembers on July 25th in regard to a project the St. Victoria Catholic Church had proposed to the city on June 27th. That project, in conjunction with the Carver County Community Development Agency, included a 65-unit affordable senior apartment building on the steep church hill property behind the cemetery on Victoria Drive.

"The project became a matter of cost and it cannot move forward,” he said. “A lot of hard work was done by a number of individuals. We will continue to look for opportunities to partner.

VICTORIA VOTES UNANIMOUSLY

TO HIRE A FULL TIME FIRE CHIEF

With a unanimous vote on July 25th, councilmembers approved the transformation from what began as a volunteer fire department in 1913, later morphed into a paid-on call model, and will now be headed by a paid full time Fire Chief. An appointment by City Manager Laurie Hokkanen is expected very soon.

Manager Hokkanen reviewed recent past history and current situations that brought the city to this moment.

WHISPERING HILLS APPROVED 5-0

BRINGING “HIGH” DENSITY TO VICTORIA

Council voted 5-0 on July 11th to approve the final plat for Whispering Hills, a 39 acre parcel about a mile east of downtown Victoria, adjacent to Madelyn Creek. Net developable acreage is 24.

With 215 new housing units, the density is nearly 8 units per acre, said Ben Landhauser, Community Development Director. Compared to other neighborhoods in Victoria, it is high density. Whispering Hills is also the only neighborhood in Victoria with only 5-yard, sideyard setbacks.

ONE STEP CLOSER FOR VICTORIA FLATS

WITH PRELIMINARY DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT

On July 25th council unanimously approved a preliminary development agreement with the Beard Group (Bill and Jim Beard) to continue with Victoria Flats. This is the apartment project planned to consume the public parking lot across from City Hall plus the former Braunworth property. This does not mean approval of the preliminary plat.

As Community Development Director Ben Landhauser stated, "This project came before you on June 13th as a sketch plat." It was detailed in the July Gazette.

COMPLETE CITY SCOOP IN PAPER EDITION.

The Victoria Fire Department

City of Victoria 952-443-2771

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