Visalia City Council
707 W. Acequia
Visalia, CA 93291
Visalia City Council
Visalia City Council
Meeting Minutes - Final
Brian Poochigian, Mayor
Brett Taylor, Vice Mayor
Steve Nelsen, Council Member
Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, Council Member
Liz Wynn, Council Member
7:00 PM City Council ChambersMonday, August 21, 2023
ROLL CALL
Mayor Brian Poochigian, Vice Mayor Brett Taylor, Council Member Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, Council Member Steve
Nelsen, and Council Member Liz Wynn
Present:
CALL TO ORDER WORK SESSION - 5:00 PM
The meeting was called to order at 5:00 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. 23-0312NEW EMPLOYEE INTRODUCTIONS:
INFORMATION SERVICES
Joseph Grimes, Computer Technician
Chris Terry, Information Systems Analyst
Michelle Maldonado, Geographic Information Systems Analyst
CONVENTION CENTER
Sidney Regalado, Sales Representative
HUMAN RESOURCES:
Amy Powell, Management Analyst - HR/Risk
Andrew Guzman, Insurance and Benefits Manager
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final August 21, 2023
2. 23-0301Consideration and direction on initiating a potential ordinance to regulate the use and operation of pedicabs within the City of Visalia and whether to allow the consumption of alcohol by pedicab passengers under designated circumstances.
Luma Fahoum, Police Captain, Tracy Robertshaw, Code Enforcement Manager, and Jim Koontz, Assistant City Attorney, provided an overview of the pedicab use and operation.
Jim Koontz, Assistant City Attorney, explained what a pedicab is and what the operators must do in order to have that type of business in the City of Visalia.
Staff is requesting direction from Council. This type of vehicle cannot be on a street with a speed limit of more than 30 mph. No hard liquor or glass is allowed on the pedicab; however, beer is allowed.
A motion was made by Council Member Steve Nelsen, seconded by Vice Mayor Brett Taylor, to table the item to get input from the businesses who may be affected if pedicabs are allowed. The motion carried by the following vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, Steve Nelsen, Liz Wynn
Aye:
3. 23-0297Consideration of and direction on initiating potential Municipal Code updates to Visalia Municipal Code Chapter 12.48 Special Events.
Tracy Robertshaw, Neighborhood Preservation Manager, introduced the item and requested for Council to provide input. Paul Bernal, Community Development Director and Jim Koontz, Assistant City Manager were in attendance to answer Council questions and provide information as needed.
April Lancaster, Visalia, spoke in opposition to some of the language in the draft ordinance. Noted for the record: Ms. Lancaster also provided a written public comment to Council regarding the special events ordinance proposed changes.
Duane Rodriguez, Visalia, requested Council to support the recommendation by staff.
Leslie Caviglia, City Manager, stated the ordinance for Special Events has been in the queue for some time for review and updates.
A motion was made by Council Member Steve Nelsen, seconded by Vice Mayor Taylor for staff to begin revisions to VMC Chapter 12.48 based on the recommendation in the staff report and the direction given by Council during the work session.The motion carried by the following vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Steve NelsenAye:
Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, Liz WynnNo:
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final August 21, 2023 ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION - 6:00 PM (Or, immediately following Work Session)
The meeting adjourned to Closed Session at 5:52 p.m.
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
The Council commented on various activities they participated in the last few weeks.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION / RECOGNITION
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.
Maria Guillen, Visalia, spoke regarding the Transit TransDev work stoppage. It took 42 days for the strike to end. She was on the strike line for 39 days. She hopes we all learned lessons from this strike and how we can improve.
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 Brett Taylor, seconded by Council Member Steve Nelsen, to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion carried by the following vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, Steve Nelsen, Liz Wynn
Aye:
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final August 21, 2023
1. 23-0118Authorization to read ordinances by title only.
2. 23-0258Authorize the City Manager to award a sole source contract for the replacement of factory correct Ultraviolet (UV) Disinfection System components at the Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) to Veolia WTS Services for a not-to-exceed amount of $120,000.
This is a one (1) year contract that may be renewed for four (4) consecutive one (1) year periods.
3. 23-0260Authorize the City Manager to execute a sole source agreement for professional services with the Urban Tree Foundation, Inc. for a two-year term with the option to renew for three additional one-year terms, in an amount not to exceed $150,000 per year.
4. 23-0292Review and accept the 2022-2023 Annual Report from the City of Visalia Historic Preservation Advisory Committee.
5. 23-0293Request authorization to record the final map for Highland Park, Unit Nos. 3 & 4 subdivision located at the northwest corner of West Riggin Avenue and North Giddings Street, authorize the City Manager to execute the subdivision agreement, and
authorize the formation of Landscape and Lighting Assessment District No. 22-05 and order the improvements and levying the annual assessments for Landscape and Lighting Assessment District No. 22-05 “Highland Park Unit Nos. 3 & 4.” (Resolution Nos. 2023-32 and 2023-33 required)
6. 23-0299Authorize the City Manager to sign a Grant Forfeiture Letter for the Mill Creek Beautification Project.
7. 23-0307Authorize and award a purchase contract to Sourcewell Master Vehicle contract, 091521-NAF, with National Auto Fleet Group located in Watsonville, CA, in the amount of $2,791,000 to purchase thirty-two (32) 2024 Ford Police Interceptor patrol vehicles and appropriate $1,982,300 from various funds.
8. 23-0309Request authorization to file a Notice of Completion for Diamond Oaks - Unit No. 1 subdivision containing 44 single-family residential lots and 8 triplex multi-family lots located at the intersection of East Caldwell Avenue and South Ben Maddox May.
9. 23-0311Authorize City Manager to execute a new annual contract for the supply and delivery of oil and grease products to SC
Fuels/Southern Counties Oil, not to exceed $185,000 annually.
This is a one-year contract with 4 one-year optional renewals.
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final August 21, 2023
10. 23-0315Authorize the City Manager to Award RFB 22-23-05 annual contract for Landscape Maintenance of Landscape and Lighting Districts within Quadrant D to Elite Maintenance and Tree Service, Inc., of Clovis, CA, $158,535.17 annually per
specifications of RFB 22-23-05.
11. 23-0316Authorize the City Manager to Award RFB 22-23-07 annual contract for Landscape Maintenance of Landscape and Lighting Districts within Quadrant F to Elite Maintenance and Tree Service, Inc., of Clovis, CA, $88,389.84 annually per
specifications of RFB 22-23-07.
12. 23-0317Request authorization to initiate proceedings for the modifications of the Landscape and Lighting Assessment District No. 16-01 "Di Mello Toscana" (Resolution No. 2023-38) (APN:
077-720-002).
13. 23-0319Authorize City staff to initiate the Measure N amendment process to appropriate $174,200 and advance the purchase of one (1) Ford Police Interceptor for from FY 24/25 and replace a wrecked Measure N funded Dodge Charger; and appropriate $14,200 to address the budget shortfall for FY 23/24 vehicle purchases.
14. 23-0320Second Reading of Ordinance 2023-07 amending the Visalia Municipal Code Chapter 13.20, Water Conservation, to partially exempt groundwater users subject to the jurisdiction of and regulation by the Mid Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability Agency.
15. 23-0324Authorization to accept a grant and appropriate $221,552 from the Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing for the FY22 Implementing Crisis Intervention
Teams-Community Policing Development Solicitation Grant; and authorize the City Manager and Chief of Police to sign an MOU and amend, if necessary, between the County of Tulare and City of Visalia.
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.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final August 21, 2023
UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
1. 23-0182UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS:
Tuesday, September 05, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. @ 707 W. Acequia Monday, September 18, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. @ 707 W. Acequia If you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to fully participate in the meeting, please contact Michelle Nicholson, on or before Monday, August 7, 2023 to discuss your accessibility needs: 559-713-4512 or
[email protected].