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THANK YOU’S ALL AROUND THE CITY FOR CHRISTMAS IN VICTORIA Randy Miller, president of the Victoria Business Association, thanked several City of Victoria staff members on December 9th for their cooperation in helping with all of the downtown Victoria events, especially the recent Christmas in Victoria event on Saturday, December 7th. "On behalf of the Victoria Business Association, we cannot begin to express our sincere gratitude and thanks for your commitment in participating in our community celebrations," he said. "Your participation enabled us to provide successful events that attracted guests from throughout the metropolitan area." "Events of this magnitude have an enormous responsibility, and recognition should be extended to city staff," said Randy. He cited, in particular, Director of Public Works Ann Mahnke and the staff of Public works for providing the resources and statistics; Administrative Assistant Jennie Kretsch for her help in the administration of applications and resources; Community Development Director Holly Kreft for her valuable resources, for attending monthly activities and meetings of the VBA, "but most importantly, her continued efforts to make this a viable community in which we all reside;" Chief Andrew Heger and the Victoria Fire Department for all the volunteer staff hours they provided; and the entire City of Victoria staff for their cooperation in assisting the VBA. Mayor Tom O'Connor thanked Randy for being outdoors when it was four degrees below zero, setting up cone barriers and getting ready for Santa to arrive in the Fire Truck at the start of Christmas in Downtown Victoria.
A “NORMAN ROCKWELL MOMENT” IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA AND THE CITY COUNCIL A resident spoke at the December 9th city council meeting under the Open Forum part of the agenda asking councilmembers to postpone a decision on the 2014 budget and levy so she and her "friends and neighbors could fully assess" the situation of increasing taxes and building a new City Hall and Public Works Building. She said that councilmembers have not done their due diligence. At the end of her comments, Councilmember Jim Crowley countered, "Our proposal is to reduce taxes, not increase taxes. We are minimizing the tax rate. I've been here for three years and this is the first time I've met you. Through the action of this council, we've reduced the price tag of the new facilities from $9 million to $5 million. We have done our due diligence. We need the two buildings!" Mayor Tom O'Connor referred to the yellow flyer that was mailed anonymously to residents of Victoria this past summer. "The information on that yellow sheet was so far from the truth it was laughable, except it was so serious," he said. "Every one of us here on the council is going to be paying taxes. And, frankly, this is a representative democracy. We've been elected to make decisions for you. Have you looked at what we're going to be talking about tonight? We're reducing taxes." Referring to the city budget and levy for 2014, Councilmember Tom Strigel said, "Spending this money is a necessary responsibility. The citizens group has intentionally misrepresented the facts. I can't be part of that." Said Councilmember Joe Pavelko, "We're not approving money tonight for the new City Hall and Public Works Building. We have to approve a budget and I can't make a motion to postpone it." Before councilmembers replied to the accusations that evening, the resident had also said, "We tried to do a petition but it's five below zero and we need some more time. We're sort of a rag tag army. You don't hear us. We're not getting our story told. You know that a majority of constituents aren't in favor of this. You have not done your due diligence. I liked your picture in the paper and it's nice to know you're a God-fearing man." Before leaving the podium, she added, "Now I've had my Norman Rockwell moment."
AWARD FOR KELLY GRINNELL AND VICTORIA FOR EXCELLENCE, TRANSPARENCY IN FINANCE On December 9th, councilmembers learned that Victoria Finance Manager Kelly Grinnell received an award from the Government Finance Officers Association. As City Manager Don Uram explained to the Gazette, "The GFOA established the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program (CAFR Program) in 1945 to encourage and assist state and local governments to go beyond the minimum requirements of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) to prepare comprehensive annual financial reports that evidence the spirit of transparency and full disclosure and then to recognize individual governments that succeed in achieving that goal. More than 3,900 governments participate in the program each year. Victoria has received this award annually since 2007."
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January 2014 |
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The Victoria GAZETTE |
