Visalia City Council
707 W. Acequia
Visalia, CA 93291
Visalia City Council
City Council
Meeting Minutes - Final
Mayor Steve Nelsen
Vice Mayor Brian Poochigian
Council Member Greg Collins
Council Member Brett Taylor
Council Member Liz Wynn
7:00 PM City Council ChambersMonday, March 21, 2022
ROLL CALL
Mayor Steve Nelsen, Vice Mayor Brian Poochigian, Council Member Greg Collins, Council Member Brett Taylor, and
Council Member Liz Wynn
Present:
CALL TO ORDER WORK SESSION - 4:30 PM
The meeting was called to order at 4:30 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Citizens are now invited to comment on issues within the jurisdiction of the Visalia City Council. The Council asks that you keep your comments concise and positive. Creative criticism, presented with appropriate courtesy, is welcome.
Each speaker will be allowed three minutes and a timer will notify you when your time is expired. Please begin your comments by stating and spelling your name and providing your city of residence.
There were no public comments.
WORK SESSION AND ACTION ITEMS (as described)
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final March 21, 2022
1. 22-0012Continue review of select FY 2022/23 and 2023/24 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budgets and future capital plans.
Melody Murch, Assistant Finance Director, provided the 2022/23 and 2023/24 Capital Improvement Program presentation. Finance staff will return in June for final adoption of the budget. No motion or action requested.
2. 22-0125Discussion by Council and subcommittee regarding potential questions for the Citizens Advisory Committee Public Opinion Survey.
Council discussed the various options of questions for the 2022 public opinion survey.
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Brian Poochigian, seconded by Council Member Brett Taylor, to approve questions 1, 2, and 3 from the list provided to Council. The motion carried unanimously 5-0.
Steve Nelsen, Brian Poochigian, Greg Collins, Brett Taylor, and Liz Wynn
Aye:
ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION - No Closed Session Scheduled The meeting adjourned to Closed Session at 5:06 p.m.
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final March 21, 2022
CALL TO ORDER REGULAR SESSION - 7:00 PM
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
INVOCATION
ITEMS OF INTEREST
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
1. 22-0122SPECIAL RECOGNITION - ARBOR DAY 2022
PROCLAMATION
PUBLIC COMMENTS
This is the time for citizens to comment on subject matters that are not on the agenda and within the jurisdiction of the Visalia City Council. The Council asks that you keep your comments brief and positive. Creative criticism, presented with appropriate courtesy, is welcome.
This is also the time for citizens to request an item from the Consent Calendar be pulled for discussion purposes. Public comments related to all pulled Consent Calendar items and Regular or Public Hearing items listed on the agenda will be heard at the time that item is discussed or when the Public Hearing is opened.
Each speaker will be allowed three minutes, and a timer will notify you when your time is expired. Please begin your comments by stating and spelling your name and providing your city of residence.
There were no public comments.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Consent Calendar items are considered routine and will be enacted in one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these matters unless a request is made and then the item will be removed from the Consent Calendar to be discussed and voted upon by a separate motion.
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Brian Poochigian, seconded by Council Member Greg Collins, to approve the balance of the consent calendar except item 5. The motion carried unanimously 5-0.
Steve Nelsen, Brian Poochigian, Greg Collins, Brett Taylor, and Liz Wynn
Aye:
1. 22-0123Authorization to read ordinances by title only.
Approved 5-0.
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final March 21, 2022
2. 21-0688Adoption Resolution No. 2022-09 certifying Mitigated Negative Declaration No. 2021-62 prepared for CEQA compliance as part of the Economic Development Administration (EDA) ARPA Grant for construction of the Riggin Widening Project from Kelsey Street to Shirk Street (State Clearinghouse No. 2022010046) (Resolution No. 2022-09 required).
Approved 5-0.
3. 22-0080Authorize City Manager to award a five (5) year service and equipment contract with Axon Enterprise, Inc. located in Scottsdale, Arizona, not to exceed $894,378 and to provide the Visalia Police Department with a Mobile Audio/Video System (MAVS) for 133 marked patrol vehicles with installation and payment to take place over four (4) years.
Approved 5-0.
4. 22-0089Authorize the City Manager to enter into a three-year sole source Small Government Enterprise License Agreement and GeoEvent server license agreement with Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc (Esri) to utilize Esri software and services on a subscription basis for three years, with a onetime prepayment for all three years not to exceed $300,000.
Approved 5-0.
5. 22-0094Accept the City of Visalia Cash and Investment Report for the second quarter of the fiscal year which consists of months October, November, and December 2021.
Councilmember Collins pulled item 5 for separate discussion. Jason Montgomery, Finance Manager, answered Council questions regarding the increases due to the economic data.
A motion was made by Council Member Liz Wynn, seconded by Vice Mayor Brian Poochigian, to approve as recommended. The motion carried unanimously 5-0.
Steve Nelsen, Brian Poochigian, Greg Collins, Brett Taylor, and Liz Wynn
Aye:
6. 22-0095Award contract and authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement for RFB 21-22-21, Secure/Abate Properties, not to exceed $50,025 annually to the lowest bidder Joe Grijalva landscape. The agreement will be to secure and/or abate properties that are in violation of Visalia Municipal Codes as per the Neighborhood Preservation Division.
Approved 5-0.
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final March 21, 2022
7. 22-0100Approve the Citizens Advisory Committee’s recommendation to appoint Ed Jones and Juan Lopez to fill two vacant voting positions on the Citizens Advisory Committee.
Approved 5-0.
8. 22-0101Request authorization to file a notice of completion for “Shannon Ranch 3, Units No. 10 and 11” subdivision containing 70 single-family residential lots located on the south side of West Shannon Parkway between North Giddings and North Divisadero Streets.
Approved 5-0.
9. 22-0102Request authorization to file a Notice of Completion for “Los Pinos” subdivision containing 20 single-family residential lots located on the north side of West Visalia Parkway between South Dans and South Silvervale Streets.
Approved 5-0.
10. 22-0103Acceptance of the 2021 Housing Element Annual Progress Report (APR).
Approved 5-0.
11. 22-0112Authorization to submit an allocation request in the amount of $413,246 to the California Department of Transportation Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) for operating funds for continued funding of the V-LINE operations, appropriation when grant is awarded, and approve Resolution No.2021-XX required.
Approved 5-0.
REGULAR ITEMS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS
Comments related to regular Items and Public Hearing Items are limited to three minutes per speaker, for a maximum of 30 minutes per item. The Mayor may reasonably limit or extend the public comment period to preserve the Council's interest in conducting efficient, orderly meetings.
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final March 21, 2022
1. 22-0093Conduct the first of two Public Hearings to consider Phase 2 of the Fire Department’s Measure N Squad Program which includes paramedic staffing and vehicle.
Fire Chief Dan Griswold, provided a brief review of the squad program - phase 2 for the Measure N plan. Staff recommends the City Council conduct the first of two public hearings to approve the proposed Phase 2 of the Measure N Squad Program which includes paramedic staffing and vehicle.
The Public hearing was opened at 7:16 p.m. and closed. There were no public comments.
A motion was made by Council Member Liz Wynn, seconded by Council Member Brett Taylor, to approve as recommended. The motion carried unanimously 5-0.
Steve Nelsen, Brian Poochigian, Greg Collins, Brett Taylor, and Liz Wynn
Aye:
2. 22-0085Conduct the first of two Public Hearings on the proposed Measure N Plan beginning in FY 2022/23 to reallocate the 2% that is allocated for youth programs in the amount of $75,000 to the Visalia Police Activities League (VPAL).
Police Chief Jason Salazar, provided a report to Council the report for the Measure N funds. This will be the first of two public hearings on the proposed Measure N Plan beginning in FY 2022/23 to reallocate the 2% that is allocated for youth programs in the amount of $75,000 to the Visalia Police Activities League (VPAL).
The Public Hearing was opened at 7:20 p.m. and closed. There were no public comments.
A motion was made by Council Member Brett Taylor, seconded by Vice Mayor Brian Poochigian, to approve as recommended. The motion carried unanimously 5-0.
Steve Nelsen, Brian Poochigian, Greg Collins, Brett Taylor, and Liz Wynn
Aye:
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final March 21, 2022
3. 22-0086First reading of Ordinance 2022-05 and discussion of proposed revisions of Visalia Municipal Code section 8.28, Solid Waste Collection and Disposal. Revisions incorporate recent State mandates related to commercial and multifamily recycling as well as an inclusion of State Senate Bill (SB)1383 regulatory requirements to reduce the qualifying thresholds for mandatory recycling.
Jason Serpa, Public Works Manager, updated the Council and requested to conduct the first reading of Ordinance 2022-05.
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Brian Poochigian, seconded by Council Member Greg Collins, to approve as recommended. The motion carried unanimously 5-0.
Steve Nelsen, Brian Poochigian, Greg Collins, Brett Taylor, and Liz Wynn
Aye:
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final March 21, 2022
4. 22-0091Public Hearing and Introduction of Ordinance No. 2022-04 for Zoning Text Amendment No. 2021-10, a request by the City of Visalia to amend Chapter 8.46 Legislative Purpose and
Definitions regarding Tobacco Stores, Zoning Ordinance Section Chapter 17.04 Definitions regarding Smoke Shops / Tobacco Stores, 17.25.030 (Zoning Use Matrix) line R78, and to amend Chapter 17.32 Special Provisions to implement performance standards regarding smoke shops/tobacco stores, which are conditionally permitted in the C-MU (Commercial Mixed-Use) and D-MU (Downtown Mixed-Use) Zones, Citywide, (Ordinance No. 2022-04 Required).
Paul Bernal, Community Development Director, provided to Council the Zoning Text Amendment report . Since the 2017 update there has been an up tick in smoke shop inquires. Smoke shops are not defined in the municipal code therefore, this ordinance will clean up the language. The map is interactive and Mr. Bernal thanked the City GIS staff and department for their assistance. The performance standards will be applied to all applicants. Any church site that has a minor congregation such as a day care or pre-schools will be considered sensitive use.
Councilmember Wynn requested a 1000 foot buffer in addition to banning candy flavored tobacco. Councilmember Taylor requested a buffer for adult businesses. Paul Bernal stated that an analysis would need to be completed.
The public hearing was opened at 7:46 p.m. and closed at 7:55 p.m.
The following citizens spoke:
Johanna Garcia, California Health Collaborative Pact Program, provided literature for the Council specific to youth education.
Jasmine Luna, Visalia spoke in support of the Zoning Text Amendment and a 1000 foot buffer. She believes many retailers are not identifying minors before the sale of tobacco products.
Coulisse Curtis, Visalia, spoke in support of the Zone Text Amendment and added the buffer is important.
A motion was made by Council Member Liz Wynn, seconded by Council Member Greg Collins, to adopt as amended. The motion carried unanimously
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final March 21, 2022
5-0.
Steve Nelsen, Brian Poochigian, Greg Collins, Brett Taylor, and Liz Wynn
Aye:
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
1. 22-0121For the purposes of reporting out, for the record, transactions that occurred as a result of Closed Session Real Property Negotiations:
Buyer: City of Visalia, Seller: Hayes Ranch, LLC, a California limited liability company
APN: 077-100-088 (portion)
Brief Description: Riggin Widening Project - Kelsey to Shirk Price: $140,000.00
Closing Date: 12/29/2021
Project Manager: Diego Corvera
************************************************************************** ********************
Buyer: City of Visalia
Seller: Eduardo M. Gutierrez & Dara Gutierrez
APN: 126-261-001 (portion)
Purpose: Caldwell Improvement Project-Akers to Shady
Price: $1,000.00
Closing Date: 9/15/2021
Project Manager: Fred Lampe
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:02 p.m.
1. ****Upcoming Visalia City Council Meetings:
Thursday, March 24, 2022 - Special Joint Meeting @ 4:30 PM - 915 S. Mooney Blvd
Monday, April 4, 2022 - Regular Meeting @ 7:00 PM - 707 W.
Acequia