[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6634913,"mediaKeyId","2655859-feb6365aa16cd03bc247990f54c243b6","parentId",2655859,"title","Library advisory board recommends dropping ALA membership, urges focus on literacy","audioSeconds",821,"startMs",190630,"endMs",1012080,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2655859-feb6365aa16cd03bc247990f54c243b6&start=190&end=1012","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2655859-feb6365aa16cd03bc247990f54c243b6/thumbnail_190630.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6634913/Victoria-City/Victoria-County/Texas/Library-advisory-board-recommends-dropping-ALA-membership-urges-focus-on-literacy","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634913-cf7ef7bb7eaa93775c0787ca0a0de8b3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145055&Signature=YgkD2ltD1RHFLF~xMA6yz47YOIA3dSCt86IntSEIpAHBR2a1dFS1N1v-PUnRGYWdvGa~yHOm~8ZMylutqlTYMIprYsvJA2c4mdYqhG2zMFZxZafKpCXoEjttI52186LGm4fPGvFqDASmjigaWhvPPChUqAYpm0oT0kgayytRywyVlW3HCWDMuvzs1xXis1Ej6Jg2zrZo4gYZQog~dJx67eC~7PBv5OqIE7PS25ywemi8vhlA4G3izmKlow1nDmBaj-086YpSNd8B3xGRO3mBYYwS9iNBJRLvZZOdLT-VrPQLYQSe9F8tcCVHXC39QU7vGqOOI-b0n-QWjMj53Ikmbg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-14T23:43:45Z","article","The Library Advisory Board recommended that the Victoria Public Library cancel its institutional membership in the American Library Association and urged the council and the community to boost reading and literacy initiatives for children and adults in the city.

Board Chair Sarah Zeller told the council the board voted to recommend canceling the library’s memberships with the ALA and to “use alternative sources for trainings.” Jessica Burger, the library director, described the board’s work reviewing bylaws, policy updates and strategic priorities.

The board’s recommendation came after months of review and debate, Zeller said, and stemmed from concerns that the ALA “has truly veered away from the tradition of neutrality and librarianship,” including, in the board’s view, organizational positions on youth programming and access that they find objectionable. Zeller referenced other organizations and state-level library entities that made similar decisions in 2023–24 and said the library’s subcommittee raised the issue in November.

Burger told the council the library uses training from multiple sources and that staff were “unaware of these concerns with the ALA” before the subcommittee’s work. She said library staff would continue to access professional development from a range of providers while the board’s recommendation is considered.

Zeller also emphasized literacy as a major focus for the board. Citing local test results, she said, “In 2024 in Victoria, Texas only 1 out of 3 eighth graders were reading on grade level,” and said that reading proficiency affects performance in other subjects. She described board and staff initiatives such as monthly story‑time themes for caregivers, a spring‑break reading challenge, summer programs, and planned community outreach to promote reading.

The board is composed of 11 members representing city and county appointees and community organizations, Zeller said, and the board last revised its bylaws in 2024 to align language with other advisory bodies. Burger outlined ongoing policy-review work by a policy subcommittee and described relatively recent staff turnover and a new library mission and strategic priorities.

The board’s next quarterly meeting was announced for May; Zeller encouraged council members and the public to attend. The board’s formal recommendation to cancel institutional membership in the ALA was conveyed to the council as an advisory action pending any municipal follow-up.

The council did not take a council vote on the board’s recommendation during the work session; the library director and board chair said their role is advisory and that any change to library memberships or contracts would be handled through the library administration and council process.

Additional details conveyed at the session included plans for the library’s 50th anniversary programs in the fall and ongoing policy housekeeping, such as adding donation forms and guidelines by hyperlink to the library’s donation policy.

Speakers at the presentation included Library Director Jessica Burger and Library Advisory Board Chair Sarah Zeller, who answered council questions and described the board’s priorities and recent work.

The board’s written materials and the library’s staff report are available through the city’s meeting packet for council members and will inform any subsequent council consideration or staff action on the ALA membership and literacy initiatives.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Special City Council Work Session (3/14/25)","oneSentenceSummary","The Library Advisory Board recommended that the Victoria Public Library cancel its institutional membership in the American Library Association and urged the council and the community to boost reading and literacy initiatives.","taxTitle","Victoria City, Victoria County, Texas","taxId",9266,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6634899,"Consultants outline scope for a city water‑supply feasibility study to boost reliability",838,7705000,8543745,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2655859-feb6365aa16cd03bc247990f54c243b6&start=7705&end=8543","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2655859-feb6365aa16cd03bc247990f54c243b6/thumbnail_7705000.jpg","/articles/6634899/Victoria-City/Victoria-County/Texas/Consultants-outline-scope-for-a-city-watersupply-feasibility-study-to-boost-reliability","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634899-0a5f8c609f1696eec3a59d3dea2dfc4d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145055&Signature=mB8GMaH6RKpx72hBOuLkMXiHN8OYccz9vLHjtjhTVpayxCzIVEp1Rc1lx1Hu2UOKPcfimoWnSBhv7-kxzsROQr09KLl~TYfHSWvle8bYn2uAXVqY3xxEB06C8SASfvu0vJdnaF8mYwc729l-b38wVFQm2VYDdzQ5JGD5xiSTyz8scv1Ca9RzXWzCAOwYvMFMcMqaeSMHFJS01U4QfDjIjUROhdBbHAB2M2rEHvqTM5UIug6WXjAg8aXgtz6Cw7YsI3t3NBxeQOsXOhCYJYZ8MkY35SlfVUA39JLoV-P6sA3FogaGbsDt-Xch0Yzj3RrjchN-n56wBMnS5F5UNseeGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff introduced a proposed water‑supply feasibility study and consultants from CDM Smith described a scope to identify and screen potential water‑supply options and develop a phased strategy to improve supply reliability.

Consultant Jason Maldonado (CDM Smith) said the study is intended to support future growth and industrial development by producing a short‑, medium‑ and long‑term strategy for reliable supply. The team described a five‑step scope: conduct a gap and vulnerability analysis using an operations model; characterize all supply options and screen them; evaluate and score promising options on multiple criteria; develop a portfolio or sequencing plan of recommended actions and produce a final report and presentations for council.

CDM Smith’s technical lead, Ginny Bywater, said the study would consider options including making better and more frequent use of existing groundwater, new groundwater wells, additional surface‑water rights or wholesale contracts, off‑channel storage optimization, aquifer storage and recovery, reuse strategies and desalination of brackish groundwater or saline sources where applicable. The consultants plan an initial high‑level cost and implementation assessment for each option to identify candidates for more detailed study.

The consultants proposed a roughly 12‑month study period from kickoff, with a draft strategy aimed for the end of the calendar year and a finalized report early the following year. They emphasized the need for an adaptable plan because permitting, growth patterns and hydrology can change over long time horizons.

City staff and consultants also reviewed operational context: the city now relies primarily on surface water with off‑channel reservoirs and maintains eight emergency groundwater wells for exchange, an aquifer storage and recovery well in cycle testing, and river‑flow constraints that limit diversion rates in dry months. Staff said typical daily demand is about 8–10 million gallons per day (mgd) in winter and around 18 mgd at peak summer demand. Consultants noted that river‑flow availability and existing permits influence how and when additional supply can be pumped.

Staff said they expect to present a contract on the city agenda for approval in April and to begin the study if council awards the work. No council vote occurred at the briefing; consultants answered council questions about schedule, Groundwater Conservation District considerations and next steps.

Speakers included CDM Smith consultants Jason Maldonado and Ginny Bywater, Urban Engineering and Enterra team members, and city staff; staff said they would return to council with a contract for possible award in April.","Consultants from CDM Smith described a proposed 12‑month water‑supply feasibility study to identify and rank options—groundwater, surface rights, aquifer storage, reuse and desalination—that would help Victoria secure reliable water for existing customers and future growth.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6634904,"Staff and consultant present stormwater master‑plan update and outline a possible stormwater utility fee",837,3571885,4409455,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2655859-feb6365aa16cd03bc247990f54c243b6&start=3571&end=4409","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2655859-feb6365aa16cd03bc247990f54c243b6/thumbnail_3571885.jpg","/articles/6634904/Victoria-City/Victoria-County/Texas/Staff-and-consultant-present-stormwater-masterplan-update-and-outline-a-possible-stormwater-utility-fee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634904-9d7a2032a6c804706c669eeb641dc293/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145055&Signature=gY-fh1T0tCh5qOiH~-JWmw26HGgN3NdpfKSOFA2Zog2Dojz8Dqz-NmYVwyqS~S7VZLKG1W9J45PmOD8CNKvZOYz1440sEiceK~h2qIQEFQQU5BEv9VRGAlU-LSFGsV4XB9IJSs5NTXe7P-pjxALJ2SNU7r1hLh0mj3usSdp2k39nIHJRFnbUUT10-M3wVKNr3nWCn78z7c56sGz~Ugwr0vP7elzm1brv20JBzf4PdoI6p6ZCEmCOoQgulhQ7dbiA45ITrHD6h7HoAKwx2L6481Fhhx~3XfgVl1aG9kZ4Hrmwqv3zd2v231FX8VB7PsrHtmNG0w3Iuq8817ntv4qAaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff and a consultant presented a storm drainage update and a proposed funding strategy that would create a dedicated stormwater utility and finance maintenance, outfall repairs and larger capital projects through a fee based on impervious area.

Ken (city staff) summarized the drainage-update findings: the city has roughly 93 miles of major outfalls and about 195 miles of storm sewer pipe, with prioritization needed for eroded earthen channels, failing concrete lining and roadside ditches. The update estimated significant repair and cleaning needs across those systems and identified an approximate $128 million planning‑level total for items scoped in the update (Ken characterized this as an order‑of‑magnitude planning number for the portion of work evaluated). Ken also emphasized maintenance activities such as mowing, street sweeping and inlet cleaning as low‑cost ways to improve performance and reduce system failure.

Matthew Garrett of NewGen Strategies described a funding mechanism used in other Texas municipalities: a user fee administered by a newly established stormwater utility. He explained the typical billing metric, an Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU), which represents the average impervious area for a single‑family residence (the consultant reported a calculated ERU of roughly 3,200 square feet for Victoria from parcel imagery). Commercial and other nonresidential properties would be billed proportionally to the number of ERUs on their parcel, while the consultant recommended a single flat ERU charge for single‑family residential accounts to simplify administration.

The consultant showed a range of hypothetical fee scenarios and their approximate revenue: NewGen estimated that a $1‑per‑month fee on the modeled billable units would generate about $561,000 annually under their current billing-unit assumptions. The presentation included examples of impervious‑area mapping for specific commercial parcels (shopping center and H‑E‑B supermarket) and explained an appeals process and public outreach steps the city could use before implementing a fee.

Legal and administrative constraints were discussed. The consultant identified state statute authority for stormwater utilities (the presentation cited Section 552, Subchapter C of the Texas Local Government Code) and noted certain exemptions allowed by statute (for example, unimproved lots and some public agencies). Councilmembers asked about litigation risk and community pushback; the consultant acknowledged there have been legal challenges in some places and anticipated opposition from parties who would see large increases in a bill, but said successful implementation is common with thorough public engagement.

Staff and consultant proposed next steps and a tentative timeline: finalize impervious mapping and billing inputs, refine cost‑of‑service modeling and present fee alternatives in budget workshops, adopt a fee ordinance and conduct required public hearings, and (if council approves) implement the utility in spring 2026 to allow proper billing cycles and public education. The consultant suggested a multi‑step public outreach and appeals process for commercial accounts and recommended using the new dedicated revenue to move some existing general‑fund stormwater expenses into the utility and to expand maintenance and capital programs.

No council vote occurred at the work session; staff requested council direction and will continue individual meetings and follow-up work on the financial model and implementation options.","City staff and consultant NewGen Strategies presented an updated stormwater needs assessment and proposed establishing a stormwater utility funded by an impervious‑area fee calculated in Equivalent Residential Units (ERUs).",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6634909,"City staff outline multi-year street, utility and park projects in draft CIP",2121,1328075,3449559,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2655859-feb6365aa16cd03bc247990f54c243b6&start=1328&end=3449","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2655859-feb6365aa16cd03bc247990f54c243b6/thumbnail_1328075.jpg","/articles/6634909/Victoria-City/Victoria-County/Texas/City-staff-outline-multi-year-street-utility-and-park-projects-in-draft-CIP","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634909-f43867356bd70070538654e08ce3114f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145055&Signature=d7hGHtZ55O-g9RP6ALGoBHDXnz-ZGdu96OTdMkz7JPi8OvSKzl3t26rSXu9SKRcU-mgOYtqq0zG64Z4KpfyFbkmqu9SpGz6goQv3YyVsy75VS16GYsRCY1j2cxdPHBbmg8qBT7~K6Q1c3pfdCz28N0m2KQqrlJ3zBnzV7T5cXqPxWblMU7a-O7RCUvt3si~bHKo3Uuybmi6rAPbQk9Hj27GrKNZq~N2GdnJNjWIXq4srn3q2jvfvLsjOWApJqVWRIpo4q2u-X4tV4C-9dZ3xxO63xVP9qPPDCc1ePtschRkKYMFJdJXK92IhTOjWhaFSbnOEWlFmMIKwrpOT3PtHjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff presented a detailed update on the capital improvement plan and construction activity, telling the council where 2024 projects stand, what work staff plan for fiscal 2025–2028 and where the city may need to shift design and construction timing because of staffing, permitting or funding constraints.

Staff member David (identified in the meeting materials as the presenter) said 2024 construction remains under way in several subdivisions and projects and listed upcoming and proposed work in both streets and utilities. He reported work on Tanglewood subdivision Phase 1 is expected to finish in early November; College Park paving and drainage work will begin in April with curb-and-gutter replacement timed to allow road repairs during summer break at St. Joseph High School; and other sub‑projects such as Bridal Ridge Phase 3 and Vista Loma/La Vista sections should be completed in spring when hot‑mix paving is available.

For fiscal year 2025, David said the city proposes about 15 miles of street improvements. He described an awarded residential street maintenance contract and noted that proposals recently closed for the 2025 residential street maintenance project; staff expect to bring a contract recommendation to council at the April 1 meeting. David said borings and pavement thickness testing on Vine Street showed base and asphalt depths that make a hot‑mix overlay a viable cost-saving alternative to full reconstruction for portions of that corridor.

Staff also described water and sewer utility work scheduled or under design. Highlights included a Northeast water-line replacement that is pending a Union Pacific Railroad boring permit (staff said the permit review typically takes about six months after application), a Burrowsville Road reconstruction to concrete pavement to accommodate heavy vehicle traffic, and a Riverside Park boat ramp and kayak design under contract with anticipated grant funding for construction. David identified a proposed engineering design to replace a 16‑inch cast‑iron water line under parts of Commercial Street and told council staff want to bring that design forward earlier than previously scheduled because current staffing levels will not allow in‑house design for that scope.

David described a proposed fiscal‑year 2026 program that includes an estimated 15.5 miles of street improvements and anticipates engineering and right‑of‑way acquisition for Guy Grant Road and North Street Phase 3. He also listed possible utility projects including trenchless sanitary sewer rehabilitation and strategic waterline upsizing, and reiterated that larger outfall, concrete lining and roadside ditch work recommended by the storm drainage update will require significant funding.

Council members asked detailed questions about contractor workload, alleyways and trash pickup, and the possibility of reordering projects to create cost savings or to prioritize work in certain neighborhoods. Staff invited council members to submit specific street candidates for consideration and said staff plan to return in May with refined cost estimates and a finalized CIP for June action.

Staff noted several project constraints and schedule drivers: current staffing and design capacity, contractor availability and workload (staff named Clark Construction and CK Newberry as contractors awarded recent work), permit lead times such as a six‑month Union Pacific review, and the timeline for grants such as a Texas General Land Office (GLO) hazard mitigation process that staff described as unlikely to permit construction before 2026.

No council votes were recorded during the work session on the items described; staff presented the CIP update to solicit feedback and priorities for project sequencing and to collect council suggestions ahead of a May return presentation and June finalization.

Speakers included David (city staff lead on the CIP presentation), and council members and staff who asked clarifying questions about sequencing and alleyway access.","City of Victoria staff gave a multi-year update on construction progress and proposed additions to the capital improvement plan, showing 15 miles of proposed street work in fiscal 2025 and about 15.5 miles proposed for fiscal 2026, and describing utility projects, permitting constraints, and scheduling priorities for 2026–2028.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Library advisory board recommends dropping ALA membership, urges focus on literacy

Consultants outline scope for a city water‑supply feasibility study to boost reliability

Staff and consultant present stormwater master‑plan update and outline a possible stormwater utility fee

City staff outline multi-year street, utility and park projects in draft CIP