*City staff was directed to come up with possible new names for the 13.5 acres located on the other side of the city bridge other than Land Swap Area or New Downtown or New Victoria.
*Resident Dan Becker asked that the city review its water rate structure because he and his wife are billed for a minimum of 12,000 gallons per quarter and they're only using 4,000 gallons per quarter.  He added, "Is there any way to hone down the chlorine?  It's hard on the body and makes the water not too good to drink.
*Resident Brandy Miller said that snowmobilers are still using the LRT trail through Victoria against rules of Three Rivers Park District.  "Our concern is our property values, our liability, mainte-nance, and expense," he said.  Agreed resident Jim Donadio, who also serves on the Victoria Planning Commission, "The snowmobiles that are still out there are pretty aggressive.  When I'm out with my kids, they practically run us over.  Same complaints from my neighbors."  Admini-strator Dave Urbia will ask the Park for better control, with a sting operation by the Victoria Town Cop.
*Council is considering a Park Dedi-cation fee that is two to three times more than the fee in other cities.  Stated Matt Goldstein, project manager and developer at Laketown, "We definitely agree with the goals and direction of the city, but twice the requirement of your peers is extraordinary."  Said Jerry Moja, member of the Parks & Rec Committee, "We were trying to maintain the integrity of the system into the future, not to add a lot of bells and whistles.  Our goal was to also have new development pay their way.  We worked backwards to come up with a number that is adequate."
*Six at-large residents were appoint-ed to the 2030 Comprehensive Plan Task Force:  Daryl Andersen, Michelle Aspel-in, Dan Barsness, Paul Klutes, Tom Kreykes, Mike Shouldice, and Mary Erickson as a liaison to School District 112.  The Task Force also includes Coun-cilmembers Richard Tieden and Kim Roden, Planning Commissioners Tom Vogt and Jim Donadio, Senior Commis-sioner Linda McNulty, Business Develop-ment Commissioner Terry Hartman.
*The Victoria Fire Department re-ceived a $1,000 grant from Wal Mart Stores for the purchase of a new Automat-ic External Defibrillator.
*The City of Victoria entered into an agreement with Carver County whereby Victoria Fire Chief Tim Walsh, who is also an employee of the Carver County Emergency Services Department, uses a county vehicle for Victoria fire calls.
*David Wabbe was approved for a ten-week student internship with the Vic-torka Parks and Rec Department.
*Mayor Mary Thun reported that Victoria's new Water Treatment Plant and Fire Station were featured in Borson Con-truction's most recent newsletter, with pictures, quotes, and facts.  The city's new water plant is capable of delivering 6.48 million gallons of water per day, "enough to satisfy the area's water requirements well into the future," stated TKDA's project manager.


Town Cop Erick Boder thanked Victoria councilmembers for their support.  He called himself the city's link to the Carver County Sheriff's Department.  "I mainly deal with quality of life issues," he said.  "Victoria is a safe place to live and work."  He also in-troduced Zagrida "Ziggy" Zadock as Victoria's first Community Service Officer.

Five Ladies who work for the City of Victoria and attend many of the frequent city council meetings and workshops (left to right):  Director of Planning Holly Kreft, City Engineer Cara Geheren, Finance Director Jylan Johnson, Clerk Jennifer Kretsch, Director of Parks and Recreation Kristy Mock.

At the first council meeting of 2007, Mayor Mary Thun, right, presented long-stemmed roses to Marlene Bohn as well as accolades and grateful words to Marlene's husband and outgoing Victoria Mayor Jerry Bohn, whom Mary described as "a teacher, generous and experienced, with a sincere concern for the future of Victoria."

Mayor Thun spoke glowing and graceful words to outgoing Victoria Councilmember Terry Bishop, whom she described as "logical and efficient" in making decisions.  The mayor also presented Terry's wife Lisa with a large bouquet of long-stemmed roses.