the EDA fund to pay for economic development.
The General Obligation Refunding Bonds are a compilation of old bond is-sues.
The 2001 Equipment Certificate is for trucks purchased that year.
The 2002 Equipment Certificate is for several items including that part of the Downtown Bridge not covered by grant money, that part of the Downtown Streets that will not be covered by assessments, that portion of the Victoria Field House not projected to pay for itself, and some equipment for the Victoria Field House.
Stated Administrator Sarvi, "Interest rates are so low, we financed equipment over five years instead of paying it off immediately."
All told, the Total Certified Levy is increasing 17% over the 2002 figure of $1,882,093.  "People have to realize that even levying to a higher level, the prop-erty tax rate in Victoria actually declines," said the administrator.
The city tax on a $200,000 home will remain at approximately $900 -- if the value of the home does not increase.

CITY'S TRUTH IN TAXATION HEARING
SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 2ND AND 9TH
The City of Victoria is required to hold Truth in Taxation public hearings for the taxes payable in the year 2003, to give notice of the public hearings, and to certi-fy its compliance with the Truth in Taxa-tiion Law. 
Based upon available dates for the subject hearings and statutory require-ments, the City of Victoria's initial Truth in Taxation hearing will be Monday, December 2nd, 2002, with a continuation Truth in Taxation hearing Monday, Dec-ember 9th, 2002. 
These hearings dates allow the coun-cil and staff ample time to adopt the final 2003 General Fund Budget and Levies at its December 12th meeting and for certifi-cation to the county and state thereafter.

DIGGING INTO NURP PONDS
CAN FOUNTAINS HELP CLEAN THEM UP?
Because of recent proposals to install fountains in some of the nurp ponds in Victoria, Dick Osgood, water quality expert, was asked to answer questions about them.  On September 12th he did so.
He said that the acronym stands for National Urban Runoff Program, and it began in the late '70's and early '80's as a guidance for managing stormwater.  "The ponds were created to retard impacts of flooding, and then water quality became an issue," he said.  "Now when an area develops, nurp ponds will be built to pro-tect water quality."
"These ponds will grow algae and pond scum and rooted plants like milfoil, and plants on the fringes like cattails.  Sometimes there's a desire to fix it."
Councilmember Jerry Bohn asked about fountains in the nurp ponds.  "It's a bugger," said Mr. Osgood.  "When you start messing with the ponds, they will change.  If you leave them alone, they often change as well.  They are primarily designed for function.  We can clean them up, and it can be very expensive."
He mentioned aerators/bubblers, fountains/floating pumps, chemical herbi-cides, alum, and mechanical removal.  "No one size fits all," he said.
"Fountains basically spray water in the air and it comes back down.  They will tend to clear an area as it pushes material to the edges.  They do nothing to eradicate rooted plants.  Aerators don't do any-thing."
He advised against swimming in the nurp ponds.  There has been an incidence of a dog dying.
Councilmember Richard Tieden said the two ponds along County Road #11 at the entrance to Wintergreen were almost overgrown with scum and today they are much better with fountains.  "What you're seeing today is what's happened over three years.  There has been a distinct benefit to how the pond looked, how it smelled.  There's a distinct difference."
"Sometimes they work," said Mr. Osgood.  "There's no explanation."
Asked Councilmember Tieden, "Is there any ecological reason to not install a fountain?"
"No," replied Mr. Osgood.  "It's all a crapshoot."
Wintergreen residents asked about the effect of fountains and ponds on mos-quito population.  "There's probably not a big effect," he replied.  "Someone who sells fountains will say a fountain will help.  Someone who sells herbicides will say herbicides will help.  And you can hire me."
Council authorized Mr. Osgood to look at pond in the Rottland development that is covered with duckweed.

YES, THREE COINS IN A FOUNTAIN
ADDING BEAUTY TO THE CITY OF VICTORIA
In August, with only three council-members present, there was a vote to review and set parameters for the possi-bility of fountains in some of the city's nurp ponds and perhaps city participation in some of their cost. 
On September 12th, with a full coun-cil present, the vote was 4-1 to approve city participation in helping to pay for fountains that lie along major roads in the city.  In such locations, they can be esthet-ically pleasing to many people and even add beauty to the city.  As for interior ponds, residents can install fountains themselves, if they choose to do so.
Mayor Mary Meuwissen referred to an existing fountain in a pond on Victoria Drive near the Wintergreen entrance.  "I think the city paid 25 to 30% for that fountain a couple years ago.  Every time I drive by, I'm so pleased.  We haven't had a rash of requests for them.  The one they're asking for help with now is on a major road -- County Road #18 -- where our people drive every day.  The residents organized it and did all the work.  We don't need to hire and pay engineers for it.  I'd like to see HEI come forward for a fountain in their ponds.  It's part of a beautification project.  The city would take forever to get something that pretty done by itself.  What a fantastic entrance to this town!  Maybe a fountain could become part of the developer's agreement in the future."
Said Councilmember Dave Lindgren, "The way you explain it makes more sense to me."
City Planner Mark Kaltsas agreed that it would indeed be easier to get elec-tricity to the pond area at the time of de-velopment …

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