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, September 18, 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 - START TIME: 5:30 PM
The meeting was called to order at 5:30 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)
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final September 18, 2023
1. 23-0318Receive a report and presentation from the Tulare County Economic Development Corporation (TCEDC) and approve
continued membership in TCEDC for FY 2023/24 for $60,000 and appropriate $10,000 from General Fund to Economic
Development Division budget.
Devon Jones, Economic Development Manager, introduced Airica de Oliveira, new CEO of the Tulare County Economic Development Corporation.
Airica de Oliveira, CEO, provided the annual report to Council and year-end activity to Council. TCEDC will begin using GIS Webtech. The program will come at an increased cost to TCEDC but will allow for a more robust site selection tool as it will incorporate the City’s local GIS layers, such as zoning, general plan land use, urban development boundaries, local infrastructure locations, circulation element and other ESRI based layers with other economic development partners.
There were no public comments.
A motion was made by Council Member Steve Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, to approve as recommended. The motion carried by the following vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, Steve Nelsen, Liz Wynn
Aye:
ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION - 6:00 PM (Or, immediately following Work Session)
The meeting adjourned to Closed Session at 5:57 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
SPECIAL PRESENTATION / RECOGNITION
1. 23-0357Jennah "The Gem" Creason - International Brandenburg Cup Gold Medal Winner
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final September 18, 2023 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 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 Council Member Nelsen, seconded by Vice Mayor Taylor, to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion carried by the following vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, Steve Nelsen, Liz Wynn
Aye:
1. 23-0045Authorization to read ordinances by title only.
2. 23-0124Authorize the City Manager to award the construction contract for FY 22-23 Measure N Street Rehab - County Center from
Houston Ave to Riggin Ave (RFB 22-23-62), to Avison
Construction of Madera, CA. in the amount of $1,909,122 and appropriate $254,900 from Gas Tax Fund (111) (CIP
1410-72000/CP0599-999).
3. 23-0304Authorization to submit and accept two grant applications to the California Department of Transportation to fund the Regional Transit Green Line Call Center in the amount of $147,393 and Travel Training in the amount of $60,000 for the total amount of $207,393. Section 5310 (Resolution No. 2023-44 required).
4. 23-0329Authorization to award two contracts; one in the amount of $135,737 to Mohawk Lifts LLC, the manufacturer, for the purchase of a Vertical Rise Drive-On Lift and a second contract in the amount of $12,845 to Midstate Automotive Equipment Company, the distributor, for the installation of the lift. Further, approve the appropriation of $150,000.00 from the Transit Fund.
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final September 18, 2023
5. 23-0349Authorize the City Manager to utilize Sourcewell Contract No 080521-PBL to purchase one (1) PB Loader Model 500-PT 500G Emulsion Trailer from PB Loader Corporation of Fresno, Ca for use in the Street Maintenance division at a cost of $112,706.54.
6. 23-0350Authorize City Manager to execute a new annual sole source contract for service, repair and parts with Peterbilt
trucks/Cummins engines with E.M. Tharp dba Golden State Peterbilt, not to exceed $150,000 annually. This is a one-year contract with four one-year renewals.
7. 23-0352Authorize the City Manager to Award RFB 22-23-02 annual contract for Landscape Maintenance of Landscape and Lighting Districts within Quadrant A to JC’s Land Management, Inc., of Kingsburg, CA, for an annual not to exceed amount of $25,960.
8. 23-0355Authorize the City Manager to execute a Measure R Supplemental Agreement with the Tulare County Transportation Authority (TCTA), and appropriate $3,000,000 from the Measure R Regional Fund (133) and $3,075,000 from the Transportation Impact Fee Fund (241) in order to fund the Riggin Avenue Widening from Roeben to Akers Project.
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.
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final September 18, 2023
1. 23-0347Consider property owner request to revoke the approved Oak Tree Removal Permit #23-19 to remove a Valley Oak tree
located at APN: 000-015-509 based on the City’s Arborist’s Tree Risk Assessment and applying the assessment/evaluation to the removal standards outlined in the City of Visalia’s Oak Tree Ordinance No. 12.24.035.
Alvin Dias, Parks Manager, provided the information regarding the appeal of the intent to remove.
Nick Ruiz, attorney for the applicant, requested an additional 90 days to resolve the issues. Nutrinut is the business that will be impacted by the removal of the tree and he hopes the parties are able to come to an agreement.
Jim Robinson, San Joaquin Valley Homes spoke in support of the tree removal.
He stated the language proposed by the appellant was over the top. The parties are a long way from being close to an agreement.
Ken Richardson, City Attorney, stated the options for the Council to consider tonight.
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Brett Taylor, seconded by Council Member Steve Nelsen, to deny the appeal and allow the removal of the tree. The motion carried by the following vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, Steve Nelsen, Liz Wynn
Aye:
2. 23-0351Public Hearing to modify improvements in Landscape and Lighting Assessment District No. 16-01 "Di Mello Toscana" and levy the annual assessments for Assessment District 16-01; APN: 077-720-002 (Resolution Nos. 2023-46 and 2023-47
required).
Paul Bernal, Community Development Director, provided the report to Council regarding the Assessment District 16-01 for the DiMello Toscana Subdivision.
There is no ballot required due to the decrease in the assessment.
The public hearing was opened at 7:25 and closed. There were no public comments.
A motion was made by Council Member Steve Nelsen, seconded by Vice Mayor Brett Taylor, to approve as recommended. 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 September 18, 2023
3. 23-0291Public Hearing and approval of the 2022/23 Program Year Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report
(CAPER) and Resolution No. 2023-45.
Margie Perez, Housing Specialist, presented the Consolidated Annual Performance and evaluation Report also known at the CAPER and requested Council to approve resolution 2023-45. The CDBG expenses and accomplishments include public services, affordable housing, public facility improvements and total public facility improvements.
The public hearing was opened at 7:37 p.m. and closed. There were no public comments.
A motion was made by Council Member Liz Wynn, seconded by Council Member Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, to approve as recommended. The motion carried by the following vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, Steve Nelsen, Liz Wynn
Aye:
4. 23-0303Public Hearing to approve and adopt the Program Year (PY) 2023/24 Annual Action Plan Amendment for the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) activities and projects.
Margie Perez, Housing Specialist, provided the report to Council to approve and adopt the Program Year 2023/24 Annual Action Plan Amendment for the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant activities and projects. The total for FY 23/24 amendment is $1,856,775.
The completion of the navigation center is this summer.
The public hearing was opened and closed at 7:40 p.m. There were no public comments.
A motion was made by Council Member Steve Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Liz Wynn, to approve as recommended. 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 September 18, 2023
5. 23-0341Receive a presentation regarding the proposed improvements to the Valley Oaks Golf Course and perform the first reading and adoption of Ordinance 2023-09 approving Amendment #1 to the 2018 Lease Agreement with CourseCo, Inc.
Nick Mascia, Assistant City Manager and Aaron Hensley, CourseCo General Manager provided the report on the Valley Oaks Golf Course. The clubhouse renovation and lighted driving range is completed. The Clubhouse renovation is long overdue. Under CourseCo the renovation would include flooring, lighting and ceiling fans, garage door, and bar counter. The Clubhouse Patio is currently not shaded and is sanctioned off and separated from the dining room. The lighted driving range is needed for the inclement weather. Driving range stalls would be fully covered and fit with fans / heaters for all-weather use. The current driving range does not offer a food and beverage experience or have modern technology that allows gamification. This will offer a limited range menu. Inside the bays, each one will be retrofitted with Top Tracer technology. Will appeal to the golfers and non golfers alike. There were no public comments.
A motion was made by Council Member Liz Wynn, seconded by Council Member Steve Nelsen, to approve as recommended. The motion carried by the following vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, Steve Nelsen, Liz Wynn
Aye:
CLOSED SESSION REPORT - None
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
1. 23-0227UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
Monday, October 02, 2023 @ 7:00 p.m. at 707 W. Acequia
Monday, October 16, 2023 @ 7:00 p.m. at 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, September 18, 2023 to discuss your accessibility needs: 559-713-4512 or
[email protected]
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