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, October 3, 2022
ROLL CALL
CALL TO ORDER REGULAR SESSION - 7:00 PM
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
INVOCATION
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.
Joel Glick, Director of the Creative Center thanked Council and staff for their support.
Marie Line-Labbee, Visalia spoke in support of building an aquatic facility and requested item number 3 to be pulled from the Consent Calendar for discussion.
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final October 3, 2022
CONSENT CALENDAR
(Items 2 (GC) and 3 (LW) pulled for separate discussion and vote) A motion was made by Council Member Brett Taylor, seconded by Vice Mayor Poochigian, to approve the balance of the Consent Calendar. The motion carried unanimously 5-0.
1. 22-0155Authorization to read ordinances by title only.
Approved 5-0
2. 22-0371Endorsement of Measure C bond proposed by College of the Sequoia’s on the November 8, 2022 ballot to support bringing a four-year University Center to Visalia.
Brent Calvin, College of the Sequoias President, provided an overview of the Measure C Bond Measure that will be on the November 8, 2022 ballot.
Sam Logan, Visalia, supports the COS bond measure.
A motion was made by Council Member Brett Taylor, seconded by Council Member Greg Collins, to approve as recommended. The motion carried by the following vote:
Steve Nelsen, Brian Poochigian, Greg Collins, Brett Taylor, and Liz Wynn
Aye:
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final October 3, 2022
3. 22-0361Request by Councilmember Greg Collins for the Council to approve adding an agenda item for discussion of building an aquatic facility.
Councilmember Wynn is anxious to review the item and hear comments from the public. The issue has been discussed for a while and it would be nice to move forward; however, we need to have current numbers to be practical, in addition to, receiving public input.
Councilmember Collins stated the last time a pool was built it was in 1987 to replace an old pool. Since 2017 the City Council and the public have been discussing a building or an aquatic facility. Private donations have been promised and the location of Oak and Burke has been identified. The sports park had a pool in the draft plan however, that has not come to fruition as of yet.
Councilmember Taylor would like to see this item discussed next year after the new council has been seated. The cost is the issue of maintaining the pool because it is very expensive. We need time and money to support this.
Vice Mayor Poochigian does not know much about swimming and the high school football stadiums are shared between all of the high schools. This pool should be competitive and built for everyone. We need to work together to move it along and he agrees it should be next or near the inclusive park.
Mayor Nelsen would like to see the item tabled so the new Parks & Recreation Director can provide input.
The following citizens spoke in support of a new pool or aquatic complex in the City of Visalia: Irma Wheeler, Dale Simmons, Ben Blankenship, Juan Guerrero, Marie Line-Labbee, Michael Cavale, Major Rogers.
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Brian Poochigian, seconded by Council Member Brett Taylor, to approve as amended to request the new Park & Recreation Director to formulate a plan for a new pool or aquatic center to be discussed at the 2023 Strategic Planning Session. The motion carried by the following vote:
Steve Nelsen, Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, and Liz WynnAye:
Greg CollinsNo:
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final October 3, 2022
4. 22-0353Authorize the City Manager to award the construction contract for RFB 22-23-15, Caldwell Avenue Improvements from Akers
Street to Shady Street to Yarbs Grading and Paving, Inc. of Fowler, CA in the amount of $8,816,521.00 and appropriate $226,257 from the Measure R Regional Fund (133). (CIP
3010-72000/CP9485-999)
Approved 5-0
5. 22-0360Second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 2022-12 pertaining to Change of Zone No. 2021-04: A request to change the zoning on one parcel totaling 10 acres, resulting in the removal of a R-1-20 (Single-family Residential 20,000 square foot minimum lot area) zone designation, addition to a R-1-5 (Single-family Residential 5,000 square foot minimum lot area) zone designation, and establishment of a QP (Quasi-Public) zone designation. The project site is located on one parcel situated on the west side of North Shirk Street, 300 feet south of West Pershing Court (APN: 081-030-046)
Approved 5-0
6. 22-0356Second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 2022-13 authorizing the sale of APN 094-095-001 (410 E. Race Ave. and 606 N. Bridge St.) to the Creative Center and Visalia Players at a selling price of $1,400,000, to include a forgivable loan in the amount of $1,222,000. (4/5’s vote required)
Approved 5-0
REGULAR ITEMS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS - No Regular Items
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.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT - None
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
1. 22-0370Upcoming City Council Meetings:
Wednesday, October 12, 2022 at 6:00 pm - Visalia Convention Center, 303 E. Acequia
Monday, October 17, 2022 at 7:00 pm - City Hall Council Chambers, 707 W. Acequia