Victoria senior advisory committee reviews 2025 work plan; no formal vote taken

The City of Victoria Senior Advisory Committee on the meeting agenda revisited and updated its 2025 work plan but did not take formal action to adopt it.

Committee staff member Alyssa, who led the review, said the redlined document refines work already under way and highlighted five recurring priorities: updating the senior resource packet, improving communications to seniors without internet access, developing a walkability and trails plan based on a 2024 walkability study, continuing coordination with the Carver County Office of Aging, and advancing planning for a senior-focused facility. "An addition that was talked about at last meeting was to specifically harness and think about ways to communicate better to those without internet or without access to computers or the digital technology," Alyssa said.

Why it matters: the work plan guides the committee's outreach and advising to City Council. Committee members emphasized that some items are near-term (outreach and communications) while others will require council feedback and staff coordination (facility planning and walkability implementation).

Key points from the discussion

- Senior resource packet: Committee members said the packet is reviewed annually to ensure phone numbers, links and addresses remain current. Staff described the review as ongoing rather than a new project.

- Communications: Members added a new emphasis on reaching residents who lack digital access after the city’s newspaper service ended last year. Alyssa noted a possible partnership with the Carver County Local News (an online-only outlet) to run two columns per month and suggested committee members contribute short pieces highlighting initiatives.

- Walkability plan: The committee agreed to convert a completed walkability study into a prioritized walking-and-trails plan. Alyssa said staff will draft the plan for committee review and that parks and recreation staff and the parks and recreation committee will likely partner on the work.

- Senior facility planning: Committee members discussed short-term programming and furnishings for a potential senior space and agreed to wait for City Council workshop feedback before setting specific deadlines. Alyssa said council feedback this spring will shape timing and next steps.

- Community engagement: The committee plans booths and pop-up events (farmers market, parks events, classic car nights) to share resources and collect resident input; the group is targeting three outreach appearances this summer.

Formal council business at the meeting

The committee approved minutes from its Feb. 3 meeting by voice vote. A committee member moved to approve and another seconded; the chair called for aye and the motion "carries." No roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.

Next steps

Alyssa said staff will incorporate committee comments, add dates after council feedback and return the revised work plan at a future meeting for final committee approval before the plan is forwarded to City Council for review in May.

Ending: Committee members asked staff to circulate proposed dates after the city workshop so the group can finalize priorities and outreach assignments.