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, July 18, 2022
ROLL CALL
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.
WORK SESSION AND ACTION ITEMS (as described)
1. 22-0284New Employee Introductions:
Visalia Police Department
Arturo Campos, Police Officer
Samantha Elias, Police Officer
Nicholas Jones, Police Officer
Ricardo Leyva, Police Officer
Carter Stewart, Police Officer
Brady Wilson Police Officer
Miriam Gomez, ID Technician
Ariel Gonzales, Police Technician
Visalia Fire Department
Jeromy Rivinius, Firefighter Paramedic
Landon Sunia, Firefighter Paramedic
Jacob Cervantes, Firefighter Paramedic
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final July 18, 2022
2. 22-0267Presentation of the 2022 Public Opinion Survey Results by the Citizens Advisory Committee.
Jason Serpa, Public Works Manager, Frank Ruiz Jr., Chair of CAC, Mark Wall Chair of the CAC Sub-Committee were in attendance to present the 2022 public opinion survey results. No action required.
3. 22-0278Consideration of and direction on initiating potential Zoning Ordinance Updates for traditional Single-Family Residential Development Design Standards for R-1-5 (Single-Family
Residential 5,000 square feet minimum lot size) Zoned
Subdivisions.
Paul Bernal, Community Development Director, and Jason Huckleberry, Assistant Community Development Director and Building Official provided the potential zoning ordinance updates for traditional single-family Residential development design Standards for R-1-5.
Jason Huckleberry, Assistant Community Development Director, provided the housing development design standards. The Residential Development Design standards and the use of the setback may be for residential development standards discussion.
Councilmember Collins would like to have pocket parks in new residential neighborhoods. Paul Bernal, Community Development Director explained the pocket parks in the R-1-5.
Jim Robinson, SJVH Builders, spoke is support of pocket parks in the new neighborhoods.
A motion was made by Council Member Liz Wynn, seconded by Council Member Greg Collins, to approve as amended. The motion carried unanimously 5-0.
Steve Nelsen, Brian Poochigian, Greg Collins, Brett Taylor, and Liz Wynn
Aye:
ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION - 6:00 PM (Or, immediately following Work Session)
CALL TO ORDER REGULAR SESSION - 7:00 PM
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final July 18, 2022
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.
William Callahan, Visalia spoke in opposition of fire works in the City of Visalia. Why did the task force not work longer to enforce? Mr. Callahan also stated he requested information via a public records requests to the clerk and it is passed the required 10 days for him to receive the information.
Gwen Schrank, Cofounder of Shrank's Clubhouse thanked the Council for their work on the homeless issues in the community.
David Farris, Visalia requested item 2 to be pulled from the Consent Calendar.
Raymond Rincon, asked if cannabis dispensaries are going to be allowed in the City of Visalia. Leslie Caviglia, City Manager, explained the item will be on the agenda at a later date yet to be determined.
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.
Consent item 2 pulled by David Farris for comment and discussion.
A motion was made by Council Member Brett Taylor, seconded by Vice Mayor Brian Poochigian, 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:
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final July 18, 2022
1. 22-0148Authorization to read ordinances by title only.
Approved 5-0
2. 22-0236Authorize the City Manager to enter into a sole source five (5) year maintenance contract effective July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2026, with Motorola Solutions for Spillman Flex Software for Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) and Records Management
Systems (RMS) for a total cost of $836,675 and appropriate $324,078 for FY 2022/23.
Jason Salazar, Chief of Police explained this is a maintenance contract for the Spillman software which is the operating system for the 911 center, police dispatch center and the records management system.
Davis Farris, Visalia expressed concern about the cloud-based command and control implementation that is included as part of this maintenance contract.
Specifically, by allowing this bridge it is a significant privacy concern for the community. We are giving away our community information. Chief Salazar responded.
Rosalinda Alexander, Visalia asked if there was a possibility of personal information to be compromised. No, the
RMS system does not gather anyone else's personal information.
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Brian Poochigian, 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:
3. 22-0262Authorize the City Manager to award the construction contract for RFB 21-22-49, FY 22-23 Cape Seal Project (CIP
1410-72000/CP0247-999) to VSS International of West
Sacramento, CA, in the amount of $674,000.
Approved 5-0
4. 22-0265Authorize the City Manager to award Request for Bids (RFB) 21-22-43, an annual contract to Rebuild and Repair KSB Influent Pumps at the Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) to KSB, Inc . of Bakersfield, CA for a not to exceed amount of $100,000
annually.
Approved 5-0
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final July 18, 2022
5. 22-0266Authorize the City Manager to award and enter into a contract with Talley Oil in the amount of $792,462.93 for the construction of the FY 22-23 Reclamite Project (CIP 1410-72000/CP0248-999 & CIP 2730-72000/CP8358-999).
Approved 5-0
6. 22-0269Approve the purchase of two (2) Portable Changeable Message Signs (PCMS) for use on various City of Visalia CIP; and appropriate $45,000 from the Gas Tax Fund (111).
Approved 5-0
7. 22-0271Accept and authorize the appropriation of funds allocated from 1) $1,833,734 from the Surface Transportation Block Grant
Program (STBGP) and 2) $1,155,266 from the Highway
Infrastructure Program (HIP) to the Major Street Rehabilitation - Tulare Ave. from Demaree St. to Cotta St. Project; and 3) $3,086,000 from the Surface Transportation Block Grant
Program (STBGP) to the Major Street Rehabilitation - Tulare Ave. from Roeben St. to Demaree St. Project.
Approved 5-0
8. 22-0272Request authorization to record the final parcel map for Tentative Parcel Map No. 2019-06, located at the northwest corner of West Sunnyview Avenue and North Clancy Street. APN: 077-200-039.
Approved 5-0
9. 22-0273Authorize the City Manager to enter into a (3) year service and software license agreement with ePlus Technology, Inc., of Rocklin, to purchase CrowdStrike next-generation antivirus and cyber security protection services piggybacking the State of California Department of General Services (DSG) Software Licensing Program contract, for a total of $345,000.
Approved 5-0
10. 22-0277Approve the Citizens Advisory Committee’s recommendation to appoint Miguel Salgado to fill a vacant position on the Citizens Advisory Committee. In addition, reappoint Frank Ruiz for a third term of service.
Approved 5-0
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final July 18, 2022
11. 22-0279Authorize the City Manager to award a contract with Mintier Harnish for an amount not to exceed $394,747 for the
preparation of an update to the City of Visalia Housing Element, including optional tasks of updating the Safety Element and preparing an Environmental Justice Element.
Approved 5-0
12. 22-0282Authorize the City Manager to enter into a purchase agreement with Dell, to purchase video conferencing capable computer monitors and standard monitors piggybacking on the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) ValuePoint competitively bid agreement, for an amount not to exceed $400,000.
Approved 5-0
13. 22-0287Authorize the Mayor to send cosponsor request letter to appropriate federal representatives for the HELPER Act of 2021 (S. 2981/H.R. 3172).
Approved 5-0
14. 22-0259Authorize City Manager to execute a new lease agreement with Tulare County Office of Education for the continued lease for a portion of the Manuel F. Hernandez Community Center for operation of the Tulare County Early Childhood Education Program.
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 July 18, 2022
1. 22-0290Conduct a Public Meeting to renew the Visalia Tourism Marketing District.
Leslie Caviglia, City Manager, provided an overview of the Tourism Marketing Development. The VTMD is a benefit assessment district designed to help fund sales & marketing and destination development programs for certain Visalia lodging businesses.
This approach has been used successfully in other destination areas throughout the state to improve tourism and drive demand for additional room nights to assessed lodging businesses.
The renewed VTMD shall include all lodging businesses with twenty (20) rooms or more located within the boundaries of the City of VisaliaA public hearing must be held.
No action required this evening.
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final July 18, 2022
2. 22-0270Authorize the City Manager to execute agreements for the award of RFP 21-22-28 to RH Community Builders (RHCB) to convert the Majestic Motel at 4545 W. Noble Avenue for the
Development of a 42-unit Permanent Affordable Rental Housing complex for qualifying populations; and appropriate $1,800,000 in HOME Investment Partnership American Rescue Plan
Program (HOME-ARP) and $900,000 in Successor Agency
Housing (SAH) funds.
Margie Perez, Housing Specialist, provided the overview for the City Manager to execute agreements for the award of RFP 21-22-28.
What is the difference between the Majestic Motel and the Sequoia Village? The Majestic Motel will become affordable housing apartments. It is not a shelter.
Jason Salazar, Police Chief shared information regarding the calls for service.
In 2021 there were 313 calls for service. In 2022, to date there have been 88 calls for service. The Sequoia Village calls for service have also been reduced.
Good management of the building assists with a good security plan. There is also security on site.
The public hearing was opened at 7:39 p.m.
Deene Souza, Visalia, spoke in opposition to the grant funding for the Majestic Hotel and respectfully requested for the Council to deny it. None of the business owners in the area were notified of the RFP award for this type of housing. Do we really want this to be one of the first things visitors to Visalia see? Michelle Smith from RH Community Builders spoke in support of the City entering into an agreement for the award of RFP 21-22-28. This project is to convert the Majestic Motel at 4545 Noble Ave into an apartment complex, not a homeless shelter. Anyone wishing to tour a similar facility is welcome.
Gwen Schrank, Visalia, asked Council to vote no on this item because there is a huge need to help homeless families with children. There are other projects that can benefit from this funding.
Emmanuel Soto, Visalia, supports this project because Visalia needs more affordable housing.
Doug Niederreiter, Visalia, spoke in opposition of the project. One of the issues is the lack of inclusion of the surrounding businesses in the planning process.
What is the long term commitment? What is it going to look like in 3 years? Rosalinda Alexander, Visalia, echoed the sentiment of Gwen Schrank to not allow the project because she believes this will not lead Visalia to a better future.
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final July 18, 2022
A motion was made by Council Member Greg Collins, seconded by Council Member Liz Wynn, to approve as recommended. The motion carried by the following vote:
Steve Nelsen, Greg Collins, and Liz WynnAye:
Brian Poochigian, and Brett TaylorNo:
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:04 p.m.
1. 22-0274Upcoming City Council Meetings:
Monday, August 01, 2022, at 7:00 PM; Regular Meeting, City Hall, 707 W. Acequia
Monday, August 15, 2022, at 7:00 PM; Regular Meeting, City Hall, 707 W. Acequia