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, May 16, 2022
ROLL CALL
Mayor Steve Nelsen, Vice Mayor Brian Poochigian, Council Member Greg Collins, Council Member Brett Taylor, and
Council Member Liz Wynn
Present:
Government Code Section 54953(b) provides the rules for teleconferencing for City Council meetings. Vice Mayor Brian Poochigian and Council Member Brett Taylor will participate in the May 16, 2022 Visalia City Council meeting via teleconference. The addresses of the teleconference sites are as follows: 5901 West Beech Ct., Visalia, CA 93277 and 1007 W.
Monte Vista, Visalia, CA 93277. The public can attend and participate from the teleconference locations.
*Noted for the record, Vice Mayor Poochigian and Council Member Brett Taylor both attended the May 16, 2022 Council meeting in person.
CALL TO ORDER WORK SESSION - 4:00 PM
The meeting was called to order at 4:00 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.
WORK SESSION AND ACTION ITEMS (as described)
1. 22-0201New employee introductions: Community Development: Jason Huckleberry - Assistant Director and Jennifer Wu - Plans Examiner
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 16, 2022
2. 22-0184Receive a tutorial video produced for the new High-Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) pedestrian hybrid beacon at Lovers Lane and Packwood Creek crossing.
Diego Corvera, Associate Engineer, provided the tutorial video of the new High-Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) pedestrian hybrid beacon at Lovers Lane and Packwood Creek crossing. No action required.
3. 22-0196Continue to review and discuss the proposed 2022/23 and 2023/24 budget.
Renee Nagel, Finance Director, and Amee Swearingen, Financial Analyst, provided the continued review and discussion of the proposed 2022/23 and 2023/24 City budget. Finance staff will return on June 20, 2022 for the adoption of the budget.
Council Member Collins would like staff to research making improvements to the pilot's lounge area at the airport.
Leslie Caviglia, City Manager noted for the record the land around the Animal Services building can only be leased because it is owned by the airport.
No action required.
4. 22-0173Receive the May 2022 Annual Operations Report for the Downtown Visalia Property and Business Improvement District (DTVPBID); and approve the 5% annual assessment increase as proposed, or amended, to be included in the 2022/23 tax roll, as required by the DTVPBID Management District Plan (MDP). * Mayor Nelsen self-recused for this item due to his position with the Downtown Visalians. Melody Murch, Assistant Finance Director, and Steve Nelsen, Downtown Visalians CEO, provided the report to Council regarding the Downtown Visalia Property and Business Improvement District and requested the 5% annual assessment increase as proposed or amended to be included in the 2022/23 tax roll as required by the Management District Plan.
A motion was made by Council Member Liz Wynn, seconded by Council Member Brett Taylor, to approve as recommended. The motion carried unanimously 4-0-1.
Liz Wynn, Brian Poochigian, Greg Collins, and Brett TaylorAye:
Steve NelsenAbstain:
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 16, 2022
ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION - 6:00 PM (Or, immediately following Work Session)
The meeting adjourned to Closed Session at 5:16 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER REGULAR SESSION - 7:00 PM
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
Mayor Steve Nelsen, Vice Mayor Brian Poochigian, Council Member Greg Collins, Council Member Brett Taylor, and
Council Member Liz Wynn
Present:
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
INVOCATION
ITEMS OF INTEREST
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.
CONSENT CALENDAR
(Consent items 6 (GC) and 10 (BP) pulled for separate discussion and vote) A motion was made by Vice Mayor Poochigian, seconded by Council Member Taylor, to approve the balance of the Consent Calendar. The motion carried unanimously 5-0.
Steve Nelsen, Brian Poochigian, Greg Collins, Brett Taylor, and Liz Wynn
Aye:
1. 22-0145Authorization to read ordinances by title only.
Approved 5-0
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 16, 2022
2. 22-0070Authorize the acceptance of the 2020 State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) award and appropriate funding from the General Fund in the amount of $87,860 to put five Visalia Fire personnel through field-based training for Hazardous Materials Technician and Specialist class series.
Approved 5-0
3. 22-0110Authorize City Manager to award a contract to purchase two (2) diesel solid waste trucks to E.M. Tharp of Porterville, CA. through Sourcewell Cooperative contract for a total purchase price of $682,226 (VH0031, VH0037).
Approved 5-0
4. 22-0129Authorize the City Manager to execute a sole source contract with Environmental and Lubrication Solutions for the purchase of F-500 Encapsulator Agent (EA). The contract limit will be $22,000 per year for one year with the option to renew annually for up to four consecutive years for a maximum of 5 years.
Approved 5-0
5. 22-0139Adopt Resolution 2022-33 authorizing the City Manager to execute Southern California Edison (SCE) Utility Agreement No.
CP0473-SCE2592 for the Riggin Widening project between
Mooney Blvd to Conyer Street.
Approved 5-0
6. 22-0168Authorize the City Manager to submit a funding appliciation to the Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation (EEM) Program for landscaping of the Caldwell Avenue Improvement Project from Akers Street to Shady Street. (Resolution 2022-34
required).
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Brian Poochigian, seconded by Council Member Liz Wynn, to approve as recommended. The motion carried by the following vote:
Liz Wynn, Steve Nelsen, Brian Poochigian, Greg Collins, and Brett Taylor
Aye:
7. 22-0185Authorize the City Manager to submit funding applications for the 2023 Active Transportation Program (ATP) Cycle 6 to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG).
Approved 5-0
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 16, 2022
8. 22-0189Authorize City Manager to approve the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Visalia and Visalia Unified School District (VUSD) for Visalia Police Department Youth Services Officers (YSOs) assigned as campus officers at VUSD middle school and high school campuses.
Approved 5-0
9. 22-0195Authorization to accept and appropriate funding for a State of California Housing and Community Development Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) Grant for the City of Visalia’s Housing Element update in an amount to not exceed $241,000.00.
Approved 5-0
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 16, 2022
10. 22-0198Request by Councilmember Greg Collins for the Council to approve adding an agenda item to a future City Council meeting to discuss directing staff to bring back information related to the potential for permitting cannabis dispensaries in the City of Visalia.
Vice Mayor Poochigian requested item 10 to be pulled from the consent calendar for discussion. Councilmember Greg Collins provided a brief explanation as to the reasons as to why he placed this item on the agenda to be added for further research and discussion.
Mayor Nelsen and Council Member Taylor do not support a cannabis dispensary in Visalia.
Council Member Wynn would like to hear from law enforcement.
Jason Salazar, Police Chief explained cannabis deliveries are already in the City of Visalia. Having an ordinance in place would provide an opportunity for the City to create rules for structure and regulation. If approved the Visalia Police Department will work with city staff at the direction of the Council.
The following citizens spoke in support of approving the item: Marie Line-Labbee and Emmanuel Soto.
A motion was made by Council Member Greg Collins, seconded by Vice Mayor Brian Poochigian, to approve as recommended. The motion carried by the following vote:
Liz Wynn, Brian Poochigian, and Greg CollinsAye:
Steve Nelsen, and Brett TaylorNo:
11. 22-0200Consider the process for appointing Planning Commissioners for the three terms expiring June 30, 2022 including direct appointment of current Commissioners or a full recruitment process.
Approved 5-0
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 16, 2022
12. 22-0202Adoption of resolutions relating to the regular municipal election to be held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Approval of
Resolution 2022-31 requesting and consenting to consolidation of elections and specifications of the election order and approval of Resolution 2022-32 requesting the Tulare County Board of Supervisors authorize the County Registrar of Voters to render specific services to the City of Visalia. (Resolutions 2022-31 and 2022-32 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 May 16, 2022
1. 22-0134Introduce and conduct the first reading of Ordinance No. 2022-09 an ordinance to approve the adoption of Visalia Police
Department Military Equipment Policy #708 per California Assembly Bill (AB) 481. Schedule a second reading and
adoption on June 20, 2022, for City Council approval of the proposed Ordinance and Visalia Police Department Military Equipment Policy #708.
Ozvadlo Dominguez, VPD Lieutenant provided an overview of the proposed ordinance. AB 481 requires law enforcement agencies to obtain approval of the policy. The draft policy was published on April 7, 2022. One community engagement meeting must be held.
VPD does not have any nor plans to obtain military equipment used by the Department of Defense. An additional requirement is for VPD to publish an inventory list. Policy 708 shall be made publicly available.
There were no public comments.
A motion was made by Council Member Greg Collins, seconded by Vice Mayor Brian Poochigian, to approve as recommended. The motion carried unanimously 5-0.
Liz Wynn, Steve Nelsen, Brian Poochigian, Greg Collins, and Brett Taylor
Aye:
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 16, 2022
2. 22-0160Conduct a Public Hearing (the second of two) to appropriate $2.7M of Measure N Funds for the Downtown Streetlight Project, appropriate $2,700,000 from Measure N (141) Fund in additional funding and authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with A-C Electric Company for the Downtown Streetlight and Pavement Rehabilitation Projects in the amount of
$8,853,574.15 (CIP 1410-72000/CP0345-999 & CIP
2390-72000/CP0373-999).
Eric Bons, Civil Engineer, Project Manager for the Downtown Streetlight Project provided a brief overview of the project and stated the Measure N Oversight Board has reviewed and approved this amendment to the plan.
Tonight, Council will conduct the second public hearing for the approval of the amendment to the Measure N plan.
Emmanuel Soto, Visalia spoke in support of the streetlights project.
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Brian Poochigian, seconded by Council Member Brett Taylor, to approve as recommended. The motion carried by the following vote:
Liz Wynn, Steve Nelsen, Brian Poochigian, Greg Collins, and Brett Taylor
Aye:
CLOSED SESSION REPORT - None
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:32 p.m.
UPCOMING COUNCIL MEETINGS
1. 22-0208Upcoming Visalia City Council Meetings:
Monday, June 13, 2022 at 6:00 PM: Special Joint Meeting with Visalia City Council and Visalia Planning Commission, Visalia Convention Center, 303 E. Acequia
Monday, June 20, 2022 at 7:00 PM: Regular Meeting, City Hall, 707 W. Acequia