News Flash

City responds to Governor Abbott's orders, closes some park areas

The City of Victoria has terminated its local order to wear facial coverings, canceled several events expected to gather more than 10 people and closed some park amenities in response to the orders issued Thursday by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, which stil...

4 more City of Victoria employees test positive for COVID-19

PHOTO: Firefighter EMT Franco Rodriguez waits at the entrance of 700 Main Center to provide masks to visitors.

Three Victoria Police Department employees and one Victoria Fire Department employee are recovering at home after testing positive for COVID-19 t...

Mayor amends order, exempts specific groups from wearing facial coverings

City of Victoria Mayor Rawley McCoy signed an executive order Wednesday, July 1, outlining exceptions to his June 25 order on facial coverings.

The new order states that the following people are exempt from the requirement to wear facial coverings at busin...

City of Victoria postpones Fourth of July event

The City of Victoria Parks & Recreation has decided to postpone the Fourth of July fireworks show originally scheduled to take place at the Victoria Community Center.

The decision is a response to the high rate of community transmission of COVID-19 and...

Day care honors Victoria Public Library staff member for outreach efforts

PHOTO: Rebecca Sevier, aka “Ms. Rebecca,” reads from a picture book during Story Time Live on May 20. Sevier was honored Friday at the Tiny Sprouts Academy graduation ceremony.

When COVID-19 stopped Victoria Public Library assistant Reb...

City of Victoria closings for Independence Day observance

All nonemergency offices at the City of Victoria will close Friday, July 3, in observance of Independence Day.

The Victoria Public Library will be closed Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4.

The compost site and the landfill will be open their normal hours...

As COVID-19 cases rise, City urges public to follow health measures

The City of Victoria is reminding the public to abide by new protective measures and existing regulations at City facilities amid a countywide spike in cases.

Four city employees tested positive for COVID-19 during the past week.  All of the emplo...

Navarro median project update

From a Texas Department of Transportation news release

Rio Grande Street: Contractor has been working on Rio Grande installing sidewalks and curb ramps at the northern corners of Ben Wilson Street. Contractor will begin working on sidewalks and driveways b...

City mandates that businesses, City facilities require facial coverings

City of Victoria Mayor Rawley McCoy signed an order June 25 requiring all businesses to implement health and safety policies, including the use of facial coverings in situations where social distancing is not possible, and requiring all people to wear fac...

Parks & Recreation to host one-day soccer tournament

PHOTO: A soccer ball sits on the grass at Rippamonti Field in Riverside Park.

The City of Victoria Parks & Recreation will host a one-day soccer tournament July 11 at Lowe Field and Rippamonti Field in Riverside Park.

“Soccer is the most playe...

Riverside Golf Course enjoying above-par conditions on greens

Longtime players at Riverside Golf Course tell Head Golf Professional Rolando Hernandez that the current course conditions are some of the best they’ve ever seen.

“Some of them have been playing at this golf course for 15 or 20 years,&a...

2 engineers retire from Victoria Fire Department after more than 20 years

City of Victoria Fire Department engineers Joel Gomez and Raul Liendo, who will both retire this month, have been with the department long enough to remember when Fire and EMS were separate operations.

Gomez and Liendo both started as members of Victoria E...

City to temporarily treat water using chlorine

The City of Victoria will disinfect water using chlorine rather than chloramines starting Wednesday, July 1, for a period of approximately one month.

This temporary change will improve water quality and does not carry any health risks. Residents will likel...

City to initiate Stage One of Drought Contingency Plan

The City will initiate Stage One of its Drought Contingency Plan on Thursday, June 18, as the Guadalupe River flow falls below its normal level for this time of year. Under its 1998 surface water permit, the City must limit its pumping to no more than 10%...

Fireworks show will be drive-in celebration with new amenities, distancing

Parks & Recreation will host the City of Victoria’s annual Fourth of July fireworks show at the Victoria Community Center in a new drive-in format, allowing residents to park their cars to watch the patriotic show while keeping their distanc...

Municipal Court adds option to pay citations by phone

Defendants who need to pay City of Victoria Municipal Court citations can now do so by phone.

The Municipal Court has partnered with Tyler Technologies to implement an interactive voice response system that will allow defendants to enter pleas and submit p...

Community says goodbye to Police Chief J.J. Craig

PHOTO #1: State Representative Geanie Morrison addresses attendees at a farewell gathering for outgoing Victoria Police Department Chief J.J. Craig on Monday at the Victoria Community Center. City employees and representatives of various community organiz...

City seeks applicants for Planning Commission

PHOTO: The City of Victoria Planning Commission meets May 21 at the City Council chambers, 105 W. Juan Linn St.

The City of Victoria is seeking to fill two full terms and two unexpired terms on the Planning Commission, a volunteer organization that oversee...

City facilities reopen steadily in line with state recommendations

Last week marked a new round of City facilities reopening to the public after closing in March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some facilities have implemented new regulations or amended services to align with public health guidelines.

Municipal Cour...

Library forgives fines during closure, begins return to normalcy

PHOTO #1: Amelia Ripa decorates a window Wednesday during the Victoria Public Library’s Teen Area Window Painting event.

PHOTO #2: New carpeting was installed in the Victoria Public Library while the building was closed to the public.

PHOTO #3: Ma...

Planning Services hires transportation planner

Stephen Keen recently was hired by the City of Victoria’s Planning Services department as a transportation planner. In addition to providing transportation planning for the City, Keen will serve as the Metropolitan Planning Organization coordina...

City of Victoria reopens playgrounds, skate park, splash pads

The City of Victoria Parks and Recreation will reopen playgrounds and the Victoria Skate Park to the public Friday, June 5, in line with Governor Greg Abbott’s new executive order issued Wednesday that lifted restrictions on interactive amenitie...

City of Victoria Police receives $500,000 grant

The City of Victoria Police Department was awarded a $500,000 grant Tuesday from the Community Oriented Policing Services Hiring Program, which provides funding to law enforcement agencies to hire new personnel.

“We’re excited that the ...

City launches new website, online communications

PHOTO: The homepage of the City’s redesigned website, victoriatx.gov.

The City of Victoria Communications & Public Affairs recently launched a variety of new communication platforms, including a new website on May 25, to better keep Victoria ...

City selects Keep Victoria Beautiful board chair, officers

PHOTO: Keep Victoria Beautiful board chair Shannon Longoria stands May 22 outside the headquarters of the City’s Keep Victoria Beautiful program at the historic Hiller House, 3003 N. Vine St.

The City of Victoria Environmental Services revived it...

City’s Parks & Recreation partners with kayak business

The City Parks & Recreation has partnered with Flow Paddle Co and starting Monday, the company will rent kayaks, inner tubes and bikes and offer guided kayaking tours.

“We’re very excited to be able to partner with Flow Paddle Co to...

Victoria Fire Department aids regional task force in testing nursing home patients

PHOTO #1: Firefighter paramedic Pamela Yanta with the Victoria Fire Department prepares May 21 to help test nursing home residents for COVID-19. In order to comply with Governor Greg Abbott’s May 11 order that all nursing home residents and staf...

Complete Count Committee: 2020 Census response more important than ever

As concerns related to COVID-19 push the 2020 Census to the back of many people’s minds, City officials who’ve been promoting the count for months are urging residents to remember that an accurate count will help Victoria for years to ...

City’s new online registration launches for summer sports leagues

The City of Victoria’s Parks & Recreation department has opened registration for its summer sports leagues through a new online system, and the public is encouraged to participate.

Participants will be able to register for the summer leagues ...

U.S. Census Bureau to resume 2020 Census field operations

The U.S. Census Bureau announced Friday that the office of the Fort Bend County enumeration area, which includes Victoria County, will reopen May 27 as the bureau begins a phased restart of some 2020 Census field operations in Texas.

Texas is one of 10 sta...

City’s fire department earns American Heart Association recognition

The City of Victoria’s Fire Department has earned the American Heart Association’s 2020 Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Plus recognition for its efforts to improve care for patients suffering from an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEM...

Municipal Court announces changes to E-Court, resumes scheduled hearings

The City of Victoria Municipal Court will not host open E-Court dockets May 25 or 28.

During the month of June, Municipal Court will host open E-Court at 1 p.m. June 1, 4 and 22. Defendants can attend E-Court by visiting https://victoriatx.zoom.us/my/munic...

City Council members mark May work anniversaries

Three Victoria City Council members were recognized during Tuesday’s City Council meeting for their work anniversaries this month.

Councilmember Josephine Soliz has served on the City Council for eight years. Soliz was elected May 12, 2012, and w...

City manager completes first year with City of Victoria

City Manager Jesús A. Garza was recognized during Tuesday’s City Council meeting for one year of service to the City of Victoria.

This Wednesday, May 20, marks one year since Garza began working as Victoria’s city manager. Ci...

New Parks and Recreation director is experienced master planner

The City of Victoria’s next Parks and Recreation director is a Victoria native with 17 years of experience in parks and recreation, including capital improvement projects, master planning and day-to-day operations of parks systems.

Jason Alfaro w...

Golden Crescent Habitat for Humanity provides breakfast to Solid Waste staff

Golden Crescent Habitat for Humanity provided breakfast to City of Victoria Solid Waste staff May 14 as a way of saying thank you for their hard work. Solid Waste staff has been working throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, including during the “Sta...

City, County lift disaster declarations

Earlier today, Judge Zeller and Mayor McCoy signed orders terminating the City and County Disaster Declarations, which were originally issued March 16.

For several months, City and County officials have worked to inform the public about COVID-19 and slow t...

Small business relief program to begin accepting applications

Starting Monday, Victoria small business owners will be able to apply for $845,000 in COVID-19 relief loans after the Victoria City Council approved an agreement Tuesday with PeopleFund to create the Business Resiliency Microloan Program.

The City of Victo...

Parks and Recreation cancels spring adult sports leagues

The City of Victoria’s Parks and Recreation canceled its spring adult softball and kickball leagues to comply with Governor Greg Abbott’s restriction on outdoor sports involving more than four people.

Those who already have registered w...

City of Victoria to host blood drive

The Victoria Fire Department is organizing its annual City of Victoria Blood Drive from May 17 to 23 at the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center, and the public is encouraged to participate.

The City hosts the blood drive each year in honor of Emergency Med...

City declares Economic Development Week

Victoria City Council at its meeting Tuesday declared the week of May 4 to 9 Economic Development Week in recognition of local efforts to create jobs, advance career development opportunities and raise quality of life.

Economic Development Week is an initi...

Mayor McCoy, Councilman Loffgren complete 1st year with City; Councilman Young marks reelection

Mayor Rawley McCoy, Councilman Mark Loffgren and Councilman Dr. Andrew Young were recognized during Tuesday’s City Council meeting for completing the first year of their current terms of service.

This week marks one year since McCoy was elected m...

Victoria parks provide safe, free recreation options during pandemic

As businesses and entertainment establishments around Victoria closed their doors during the past few weeks, residents began turning to the city’s parks as a way to get out of the house.

“We’re seeing a sudden shift where peop...

City Council meetings reopen for public attendance

Members of the public will again be able to attend Victoria City Council meetings starting Tuesday at the City Council Chambers for the first time since the in-person meetings closed April 7 and were held over Zoom conference calls to protect the public, ...

Development Services conducts business by appointment only

In order to limit the number of people in the City of Victoria Development Services office amid COVID-19 concerns, planning and permitting services will be available by appointment only until further notice.

The Development and Permitting Center has added ...

Victoria Metropolitan Planning Organization approves 25-year transportation plan

The Victoria Metropolitan Planning Organization approved at its Thursday meeting the 2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan, a document that prioritizes federal funding and establishes goals and priorities for improving transportation within Victoria Count...

Part of Salem Road to close

Beginning on Monday, May 4, Salem Road will close to through traffic from Northeast Zac Lentz Parkway to Placido Benavides Drive for two months, weather permitting, for construction. Traffic on Salem Road will be diverted via Placido Benavides Drive to Ea...

Victoria Fire Department leads parade at Retama Manor South

PHOTO #1: A Victoria Fire Department fire truck leads a parade of vehicles past the Retama Manor South nursing center. As Victoria residents practice physical distancing in order to limit the spread of COVID-19, the Victoria Fire Department is showing its...

Reduced traffic accelerates the City’s road projects

The reduction in traffic from Victoria’s previous Stay Home—Stay Safe orders proved to be a rare opportunity for much-needed road repairs and improvements.

“We have contractor crews everywhere,” said Public Works Dir...

Municipal Court strives for accessibility

The City of Victoria Municipal Court’s longstanding goal of increasing accessibility has taken on an increased urgency as court officials work to balance the efficiency and availability of the justice system with public health concerns, but the ...

City facilities to begin reopening in May

City of Victoria facilities will begin reopening to the public starting May 1 and will be fully open by June 1 after closing March 21 to protect the public and City employees from exposure to COVID-19.

Riverside Golf Course will open Friday, May 1, and mos...

City’s liaison team, Workforce Solutions set up unemployment assistance lab

The City of Victoria’s COVID-19 Liaison Team set up Tuesday a computer lab for residents who do not have access to the internet and need to apply for unemployment benefits.  

The liaison team, a coalition of local leaders established by ...

Access to Ethel Lee Tracy Park to open from Larkspur Street, close from Salem Road

Beginning Thursday, April 30, Ethel Lee Tracy Park will only be accessible from East Larkspur Street.

The temporary access to the park off Salem Road will close, and Larkspur Street at Placido Benavides Drive will be opened to allow access.   &...

Navarro Street to be reduced at Red River Street

Beginning Friday, April 24, northbound traffic on Navarro Street will be reduced to one lane from Sabine Street to Virginia Avenue so that road repairs can be made. This reduction will recur periodically during the next several weeks. 

Motorists a...

Convention and Visitors Bureau helps residents explore Victoria while staying safe

The City of Victoria Convention and Visitors Bureau has always been a resource for people looking for things to do in Victoria, but the nature of that role has changed greatly since COVID-19 came to the Crossroads.

“Normally we talk about events,...

With building closed to public, library provides services in creative ways

Victoria Public Library patrons can’t browse the shelves in person right now, but library staff are still on hand to help them find the books they need.

“Some people call us and tell us exactly what they want because they’ve l...

City Council to conduct meetings through videoconference

The Victoria City Council’s April 7 meeting will be conducted through videoconference to align with social distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 situation.

Victoria residents will be able to attend the meeting using Zoom, a videoconferencing ...

City extends Bootfest application period, payment deadlines

The City of Victoria is extending the deadline for Bootfest food and merchandise vendor applications to April 20. Vendors who are selected will be notified via email on April 30.

At this time, all City of Victoria facilities are closed to the public to com...

Red River Street to close to westbound traffic between Main and Laurent streets

Beginning Wednesday, April 1, Red River Street will be closed to westbound traffic from Main Street to Laurent Street for nine months, weather permitting, so that utilities can be installed and road reconstruction can begin.  

Motorists are urged ...

City extends its closure of facilities to the public

The City of Victoria is extending the closure of its facilities to the public through April 30 to align with the latest recommendations to extend social distancing procedures through the end of the month. All scheduled events at City facilities will be ca...

Planning Services hires community development planner

Monique Whitley was recently hired by Planning Services as a community development planner. In this role, she will serve as the Community Development Block Grant coordinator and will be responsible for a variety of Community Development Block Grant, affor...

Flushing products other than toilet paper can cause sewer failure

As toilet paper continues to be scarce, residents are reminded to not flush any products other than toilet paper down their toilets.

Due to recent toilet paper shortages, residents may be using products such as paper towels, facial tissues, baby wipes and ...

City facilities to close to public

All City facilities will close to the public effective March 21 through the end of the month due to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations to limit the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

The City will continue to provid...

Utility billing, some municipal court services available remotely

Victoria residents who would like to pay their utility bills or municipal court fees without visiting City offices can do so remotely.

“We understand that people may choose to avoid public spaces out of an abundance of caution,” said Ch...

City of Victoria departments announce cancellations

City of Victoria departments are postponing or cancelling events due to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, White House and Victoria County Public Health Department to avoid public gatherings.  

The Victoria Public Librar...

Victoria Main Street Program board appoints new member, officers at March meeting

Allyson Griffin was appointed to the Victoria Main Street Program board of directors at the board’s meeting March 2. The board provides direction and leadership to help the Victoria Main Street Program fulfill its mission of improving the econom...

Victoria County Public Health Department leads community collaboration to combat COVID-19

Victoria has not yet seen a case of COVID-19, but local agencies have been preparing for the potential arrival of the new virus since before it was reported in the United States.

“We’ve been watching it since it originated in China,&...

Municipal Court Administrator Tiffany Totah named chapter president of clerks association

The City of Victoria’s Municipal Court Administrator Tiffany Totah recently was elected to fill a vacant, unexpired term as president of the South Texas Chapter of the Texas Court Clerks Association.

The Texas Court Clerks Association provides ed...

Victoria Fire Department performs maintenance on fire hydrants

The City of Victoria Fire Department is starting its annual maintenance checks on fire hydrants throughout the city.

The maintenance checks started this week and will continue for two to three months. Crews will be working to ensure that fire hydrants are ...

City hires videographer/multimedia specialist

Shane Blucher was hired by the City of Victoria Communications & Public Affairs office as a videographer/multimedia specialist. Before working for the City, Blucher worked for the University of Houston-Victoria as a creative services manager and opera...

City of Victoria hosts students for Job Shadow Day

The City of Victoria’s Communications & Public Affairs hosted a high school student Feb. 28 as part of the Victoria Business and Education Coalition’s Job Shadow Day, which allows students to visit with local employers to learn abo...

New member appointed to housing authority board

Mayor Rawley McCoy has appointed Eric Soliván to the Victoria Housing Authority board for a two-year term. Soliván will be sworn in at the board’s next meeting.

Soliván works in the bakery at Walmart on Navarro St...

Main Street Program sets lofty goals for Old Convent

When one walks past the stately old convent on Church Street, it’s easy to imagine the historic building taking on some new function—a boutique hotel, perhaps, or a mixed residential/retail space—that preserves and pays respe...

Victoria Fire Department shares information with media at luncheon

PHOTO #1: Fire Chief Tracy Fox tells local media during a Feb. 25 luncheon how to be safe while reporting about a fire. The Victoria Fire Department hosted the luncheon in order to build strong partnerships with the media, provide important safety informa...

City of Victoria, water industry group host training day

The Texas Water Utilities Association - Golden Crescent District and the City of Victoria hosted a Feb. 12 training at the Victoria Community Center.

The event was organized by the Golden Crescent District’s executive board members and volunteers...

Victoria Main Street board to fill vacancy

The newly reorganized Victoria Main Street board will appoint a new member at its next meeting at 11:30 a.m. March 2 at 700 Main St., room 205.

This is the last remaining vacancy that will be filled by board appointment. Other vacancies were filled at the ...

City receives grant to install generators for emergency preparedness

During a natural disaster, access to power is a critical component of keeping City services online. A new grant will allow the City to install backup generators at two crucial sites to help restore power after a hurricane or similar event.

The City has rec...

Mapping service to gather precise information on historic Evergreen Cemetery

The City of Victoria Parks and Recreation has contracted Omega Mapping Services to collect and organize precise location data for more than 9,000 burials in the historic Evergreen Cemetery to inform future generations and protect existing internments.

Omeg...

City of Victoria, UHV to host public forum on Ben Wilson Street Corridor

The City of Victoria and University of Houston-Victoria will host a March 4 public forum to give Victoria residents a chance to learn and ask questions about the long-anticipated Ben Wilson Street Corridor Improvements Project. 

The Ben Wilson Str...

Library to temporarily stop accepting book donations

The Victoria Public Library will stop accepting book donations on behalf of the Friends of the Victoria Public Library from Feb. 24 to May 11 as it prepares for its reflooring project.

The library normally collects and stores books that are donated by comm...

Ken Gill promoted to Public Works Director/City Engineer

City Engineer Ken Gill has been promoted to the new combined position of Public Works Director/City Engineer.

Gill’s municipal engineering career spans more than 30 years and includes experience in areas ranging from water, drainage and transport...

Metropolitan Planning Organization to hear feedback about 25-year transportation plan

The Victoria Metropolitan Planning Organization will accept community input on the Draft 2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan at an open house and public hearing from 4 to 6 p.m. on March 5 at the Dr. Pattie Dodson Public Health Center, 2805 N. Navarro S...

Two new members appointed to Housing Authority board

Mayor Rawley McCoy has appointed two new members to the Victoria Housing Authority board of commissioners for two-year terms.

Local attorney Luther Easley and retired City staff member Darlah Sims will be sworn in at the board’s regular meeting F...

City receives honors for investment policy, budget, financial reporting

The City of Victoria has received the Investment Policy Certificate of Distinction from the Government Treasurers’ Organization of Texas in recognition of the City’s participation in the GTOT’s Investment Policy Certification...

Citizen Responder program trains community to save lives

Victoria residents will have the chance to extinguish a car fire, rappel from a four-story building and learn how to take lifesaving measures during a crisis through the Victoria Fire Department’s Citizen Responder community education program.

Th...

Director of Parks & Recreation leaves legacy of improvement

During his time as the City’s director of Parks & Recreation, Colby VanGundy secured artificial turf for Riverside Stadium that has brought in players from far and wide for meets and playoff games.

Then again, said former Assistant Director o...

Library receives grant to install hurricane shutters

After the Victoria Public Library was battered by hurricane-force winds, protected only by wooden panels that didn’t cover all of its windows, the City sought funding to ensure that the building would be better fortified in the event of another ...

Library prepares for reflooring project, will continue to provide services during construction

The Victoria Public Library is planning to replace carpeting throughout the building before summer.

The City Council approved at its Feb. 4 meeting a contract to replace flooring in much of the library. The new flooring will consist of industrial-grade car...

Executive director named to Victoria Main Street Program under City partnership

Danielle Williams recently was named executive director of the Victoria Main Street Program. The City of Victoria recently assumed management responsibilities for the program, a partnership with Victoria Main Street Inc. that will allow the program to mak...

Municipal Court announces new Saturday open court session, other February dates

The City of Victoria Municipal Court has scheduled three open court dates for February to give residents with past-due citations or outstanding warrants a chance to resolve their cases without being arrested for City warrants.

The open court dockets for Fe...

“I have always been satisfied with what comes my way”: City honors longtime employees

Human Resources Manager Wanda Miori-North believes that staying the course leads to success over time, an attitude that’s reflected in a career that spans more than three decades. 

Miori-North recently received an Employee Service Award ...

Development Services announces promotions

George Zbranek recently was promoted from building inspector III to assistant building official. Zbranek has worked for the City of Victoria since 2002 in Parks and Recreation, Development Services and Public Works. In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, Zbrane...

Sales Tax Development Corporation swears in new board members

Russell Dempsey, William Blanchard and Mark Loffgren were sworn in Jan. 27 at the Victoria Sales Tax Development Corporation board meeting as new members for terms that expire Dec. 31, 2021.

Also at the meeting, Blanchard was appointed as board president, ...

Victoria Fire Department recognizes 2019 achievements at awards ceremony

The Victoria Fire Department recognized the contributions of outstanding employees and community members at its annual Fire Department Awards and Recognition Ceremony for 2019.

Brittany Proctor was given the Citizen Certificate of Merit for helping develop...

Victoria Fire Department swears in 3 EMT Firefighter Trainees

The Victoria Fire Department swore in three new EMT Firefighter Trainees during a ceremony at the Victoria Community Center Annex on Friday. They will now begin six months of training with the Victoria Fire Department Academy. Shown from left are Cole Mil...

Victoria City Manager names two new assistant city managers

The City of Victoria soon will welcome two new assistant city managers – the city manager for the City of Commerce who has more than 10 years of local government experience, and an executive from the City of San Antonio with more than 20 years o...

City Secretary's Office earns state excellence award

The Texas Department of State Health Services recently awarded the Victoria City Secretary’s Office with an Exemplary Five Star Service Award for its excellence in service to the public.  

The office of the City Secretary is located on t...

New service puts utility information at customers’ fingertips

City of Victoria utility customers now can monitor their water usage online throughout the month and receive alerts when usage is outside an expected range.

The new free service connects with the customer’s water meter, which uploads water usage ...