*The General Obligation 2003 Tax Increment Finance Bonds are for down-town development.
The proposed total levy is an increase of approximately 7.8% over that of 2003, when the total levy was $2,268,946.
Mayor Bohn explained that the city portion of the property tax bill in Victoria will decrease by about $100, however.  He explained that the market value in Victoria went up 19%, and the value of Victoria is projected to increase by the value of 150 new homes.  The levy went up less than the 10% increase in popula-tion of Victoria.
The city tax on a $250,000 Victoria home in 2003 was $1,138.  It is projected to be approximately $1,030 in 2004.
The city tax on a $350,000 Victoria home in 2003 was $1,593.  It is projected to be approximately $1,450 in 2004.
Total taxable value of the City of Victoria is approaching $600 million.

VICTORIA'S TRUTH IN TAXATION HEARING
SCHEDULED FOR  DECEMBER 1ST AND 11TH
The City of Victoria is required to hold a Truth in Taxation public hearing for the taxes payable in the year 2004, to give notice of the public hearing, and to certify its compliance with the Truth in Taxation Law.
The City of Victoria's initial Truth in Taxation hearing will be Monday, Decem-ber 1st, 2003, with a continuation Truth in Taxation hearing scheduled at the council meeting of December 11th, 2003.  At the close of the hearing the council may adopt the Final 2004 General Fund Budget and 2004 Levies for certification to Carver County and the State of Minnesota.

DINOSAUR TO STAY AT ASTER TRAIL
AFTER TWO FEASIBILITY STUDIES
Despite two petitions by residents at Aster Trail for utility improvements and two feasibility studies paid for by the City of Victoria, Aster Trail will remain more or less as it currently exists.  The two peti-tions were in 1989 and 2001.
At a special workshop on September 11th, councilmembers, city staff, and three representatives on Aster Trail reviewed the history of the area.  At the end of the hour-long review, there was no motion to proceed with street improve-ments and, therefore, there will be no street project, at least not at this time.
City Administrator Steve Sarvi re-ferred to the latest meeting of the Aster Trail residents when their majority decision was to ask Victoria councilmem-bers to not improve the street.  Among other things, the residents did not like the idea of a nurp drainage pond constructed in their area.  Said Steve, "You guys made the decision on faulty information.  Nurp ponds aren't needed, and you made the decision based in large part on there being a nurp pond."

Representative Don Dyer had report-ed, "The residents really are not interested when they hear of all the ramifications like ponding."
City Engineer Jack Griffin had re-plied, "We could do this project without nurp ponds.  We can leave the drainage basically as it is.  Whatever water goes into the creek would continue to go into the creek."
Jack also said that a gravel road, over time, has to be rebuilt just like with a bit-uminous road.  He estimated that the city's cost for a feasibility study in response to a residential petition ranges from $8,000 to $12,000.  The average assessment for each unit of property also lies in that range.
Stated Councilmember Richard Tieden, "I'm okay with not doing the road today, but maybe there should be better communication from staff to residents when these studies are requested."
Mayor Jerry Bohn agreed that resi-ents should be told upfront that new streets will probably cost each property owner about $10,000.  There is informa-tion on street standards and average costs that can be given before the city spends money on a feasibility study.
He added, "There will come a day when a developer will find Aster Trail attractive enough for 20 to 30 homes, and then there'll be sewer and water and streets put in.  There are people thinking about developing out there."
The newly adopted assessment policy has the city picking up half the tab of pub-lic improvements in existing neighbor-hoods.  If an area is to be developed, however, the developer pays 100% of improvements.  In the case of Aster Trail, the city paid for the feasibility studies, but won't have to pay 50% of improvement costs if the area is further developed.
In the meantime, said one of the resi-dents, "We pretty much like being left alone out there.  You don't bother us and we don't bother you."
Councilmember Terry Bishop said that one of the reasons the city paves streets is to avoid maintenance costs.  Such costs, he said, affect everyone in the city.  And so do the costs of feasibility studies with no project at the end of them.  Said Councilmember Tieden, "Gravel roads are a thing of the past.  They're a dinosaur ... But all in all we've learned a great deal with this so it's not a total loss."

LARGER ACCESSORY BUILDING ALLOWED
IT'S NOT A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT
Tony and Laurie Passe of Victoria received a conditional use permit allowing the construction of a 1,260 square foot de-tached accessory garage on their property at Church Lake Boulevard.  A residential district by ordinance only permits its maximum area to be 900 square feet.
Said City Planner Mark Kaltsas, "The Planning Commission asked about setting a precedent in Victoria with this, but there are a minimal number of lots this size in the city.  Part of the conditional use is that if the property is ever subdivided, the building would have to come down."
Said Councilmember Terry Bishop, "They realize the risk of the building having to come down.  I don't think it sets a very dangerous precedent."
The petitioner was also allowed to maintain the requested height of 27.5 feet.

LOOKING AT ASSISTED SENIOR LIVING
AND CARE FACILITIES IN THE AREA
Councilmember Richard Tieden re-poted on September 11th that he continues to visit senior assisted living and care facilities in the metropolitan area, with hopes that something like one of them will come to be built in Victoria.  He spoke of facilities in Eagan, Shakopee, and New Ulm.  "I haven't been trying to recruit," said Richard.  "It's wonderful to see what the opportunities are.  I've appreciated the involvement of Mark and Steve."  City Planner Mark Kaltsas and City Adminis-trator Steve Sarvi have joined Richard on some of the tours.
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