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The Victoria GAZETTE |
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TRANSFERS MADE WITH ‘EXTRA’ DOLLARS FOR PAYING BILLS TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE Council approved operating transfers on March 25th for the year-end 2012 totaling $547,925. Councilmember Joe Pavelko asked that the item be removed from the consent agenda to learn more about the transfers. Said Kelli Grinnell, Victoria Finance Director, "We looked at budgeted and unbudgeted transfers, including accelerated revenues." She explained that year-end 2012 closed with an additional $387,233 including $102,272 from accelerated building permit revenue. "We had projected 55 new homes in Victoria for 2012 and they came in at 72," said Kelli. "We had more houses than anticipated resulting in more permit revenue." Asked Councilmember Pavelko, "Is it normal to have this much extra?" City Manager Don Uram replied, "The number of housing starts is always an estimate." In explaining additional revenue at the end of 2012, he said legal and engineering fees were also less than anticipated, that fees are based on how much work they do. There were also lower personnel costs due to an open public works position, lower supplies, repairs, and maintenance expenses, lower capital outlay, among other smaller amounts available for transfer. One of the transfers included $177,000 into the Long Term Street Maintenance Fund, increasing the amount in that fund to $843,774. Asked Councilmember Pavelko, "How far does $843,774 go?" Replied Mr. Uram, "It's a great start but we have a big gap to make up." Councilmember Pavelko asked if dollars in the Capital Facilities Fund -- which now totals $2,003,510 -- must be spent on capital facilities, such as a new City Hall and Public Works Building. Mr. Uram said that council makes that decision, and that utilities in the city have enterprise funds to help pay for themselves, for example. Councilmember Tom Strigel noted the transfer of $64,135 to the Fire Department Capital Equipment Fund. "Is Chief Heger satisfied with that amount? Does the Department have sufficient funds?" Replied Mr. Uram, "I don't know if Chief [Andrew] Heger is satisfied. We're in great shape with equipment funds." There was also a transfer of $150,000 into the Downtown Redevelopment Fund. As staff reported, "This money is used to repay the interfund loan from the Water Core Fund for the purchase of the 13.5 acres. After this transfer, that loan balance will be $933,391."
LOOKING TO SET VICTORIA’S DIRECTION WITH STRATEGIC PLANNING TO PRIORITIZE GOALS Councilmembers and staff held a workshop on March 11th to continue Strategic Planning. A government consultant also conducted two meetings in January with council and staff "to establish a strategic framework that will set the city's direction for the next three years." The goal is to establish priorities and develop measurable outcomes. Six priorities emerged from the first two meetings. They were reviewed on March 11th along with Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for each of the priorities. Stated City Manager Don Uram, "We could spend time wordsmithing this. From a staff perspective, can we spend a little time looking at the KPI's?" Clarified Councilmember Jim Crowley, "Don is asking for specifics in the priorities and how are we going to measure his success?" Discussion for the next hour centered on the six strategic priorities. Some of it went as follows: 1) Community Vision. Mr. Uram pointed to Victoria's mission and vision statements, adopted in 2007, asking, "Is this still what you want to promote?" The city's current mission statement: "To promote the geographic advantages and environment of our city by providing cost effective, customer service driven, innovative public services." The current vision statement: "To create a sense of connected community." A goal (KPI) is to have a new statement in place by September 1st, 2013. 2) Financial Balance. Said Mr. Uram, "We're getting a lot of requests for special consideration, with all this snow, going above and beyond core services, and these things cost money." "Hopefully we'll do the right thing with our city buildings," said Mayor Tom O'Connor. One of the Key Performance Indicators under this priority is establishing a maximum debt policy by July 31st, 2013. Said Mr. Uram, "If council sets a maximum debt policy, would we actually forego a project?"
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Sue’s Album A symphony of photos and fewer than a thousand words at www.VictoriaGazette.com |
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Southwest Christian H.S. 952-556-0040 |
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WATERBROOKE Fellowship A place where all may experience God in a meaningful and personal way, in Victoria. 952-443-0062 |
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April 2013 |
