DEVELOPERS IN VICTORIA
MUST COMPLY WITH BUFFER ZONES
Council took no action after another long discussion and review of the South Sub Area Study, that 2,000-acre section of Laketown Township that lies directly south of Deer Run and is projected to be annexed to the City of Victoria one day, at the request of developers or property own-ers.
Two representatives of Lundgren Brothers attended the November 14th council meeting and asked to be exempted from the city's 250-foot buffer area required on both sides of major roads in the City of Victoria.  This buffer zone would also be required in township prop-erties being annexed to the city.  Mayor Mary Meuwissen said the buffer helps to retain esthetics of the Victoria commu-nity.
City Planner Mark Kaltsas stated he would bring back the final South Sub Area Study for formal adoption at an up-coming city council meeting.

AN ORDINANCE TO ASSIST
WITH ANNEXATION AND INFRASTRUTURE
A public hearing has been held with the Victoria Planning Commission to present the new Adequate Public Facili-ties Ordinance.  Planner Mark Kaltsas said the ordinance is necessary because of the expected increased demand for future annexation to the City of Victoria.  It will allow for orderly development of annexation properties and the building of necessary infrastructure.
Mayor Mary Meuwissen asked for removal of a line in the ordinance that stated, "All new residential developments shall be approved by the public schools."
Mayor-Elect Jerry Bohn asked that  another line of the ordinance wording be changed to reflect approval of the City Council as well as of the Planning Commission.

COUNCIL COMBINES
WATER AND SEWER CORE FUNDS
With a unanimous vote on November 14th, councilmembers approved the com-bining of the Water and Sewer Core Funds into the Enterprise Fund.  The com-bining of these utilities allows for loan transfers between the two accounts for the purposes of funding utility improvement projects in the city.

SEEKING ENVIRONMENTSL ASSESSMENT
ON THE CITY'S SIDCO PROPERTY
Council agreed to the terms of a con-tract for professional services in relation to the preparation of the grant application to the Department of Trade and Economic Development as provided by Barr Engi-neering.  Barr Engineering will prepare a grant application for an environmental assessment of the Sidco property in down-town Victoria.  Barr Engineering will complete the application on the city's behalf.  Cost of the services will not ex-ceed $3,000 without prior approval by the City of Victoria.
The closing on the city's purchase of the Sidco property, located in downtown Victoria, is expected this spring of 2003.

OPEN SKATING FOR VICTORIA RESIDENTS
IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN DECEMBER
Stated Administrator Steve Sarvi on November 21st, "Ice has been made at the Victoria Field House.  A Zamboni has been brought in; it's dark blue and matches the city trucks.  A phone system will be installed this weekend.  Open skating for Victoria residents will probab-ly begin the first week of December."

TAMI ABRAHAMSON HIRED
AS CITY'S NEW PARK AND REC DIRECTOR
Tami Abrahamson has been hired as the new Victoria Parks and Rec Direction.  She assumed duties on November 25th and offices at the Acorn House at Diethelm.  Her duties will include initiation, scheduling, and maintenance of recreation programs in the various parks in the City of Victoria for the various ages of people in the City of Victoria.

MORE PROPERTY TAX HELP
FOR NEW COMMERCIAL DOWNTOWN VENTURES
Council authorized the expenditure of $10,812 from the EDA Fund to Dr. Bruce Baker, representing the final payment of property tax assistance in accordance with the Economic Development Assistance Agreement of 1998.  The agreement obli-gated the EDA (City of Victoria ) to pro-vide financial assistance in property tax years 2000 through 2002. 
The amount due Dr. Baker for 2002 was to be the lesser of $13,000 or the actual property tax paid for the property.  The property value of the Baker Family Dentistry Building for 2000 was listed as $298,500, with total property taxes of $10,812 for 2002.
Property tax assistance was also given to Cabin Fever Sporting Goods, since it lies in the Tax Increment Finance District of Victoria.

PROPERTY VALUATIONS
PERFORMED BY THE COUNTY
Each year the Carver County Assess-or's Office provides services to the City of Victoria and puts valuations on Vic-toria properties.  For such services ren-dered in 2003, the county will be charging the city $8.50 per residential property, $9 per agricultural property, and $10 per commerical/industrial property.  There are close to 2,000 homes in Victoria; approxi-mtely a quarter of them are reviewed each year by the county, on a rotating basis.

ANTI-VIRUS PROTECTION
FOR CITY'S COMPUTERS
Council approved the purchase of Symantec AntiVirus and the installing of the software by TMB Consulting for a total cost of $1,222.  The city's network server had been without anti-virus protec-tion.  Reported Finance Director Jylan Johnson, "Due to the city's change to high speed Internet access, we increase the probability of being targeted by viruses."

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