Visalia City Council
303 E. Acequia
Visalia, CA 93291
Visalia City Council
Visalia City Council
Meeting Minutes - Final
Mayor Brian Poochigian
Vice Mayor Brett Taylor
Council Member Steve Nelsen
Council Member Emmanuel Hernandez Soto
Council Member Liz Wynn
7:00 PM Visalia Convention CenterTuesday, January 16, 2024
ROLL CALL
Mayor Brian Poochigian, Vice Mayor Brett Taylor, Council Member Steve Nelsen, Council Member Emmanuel Hernandez
Soto, and Council Member Liz Wynn
Present:
CALL TO ORDER WORK SESSION - 4:00 PM (Unless otherwise noted) 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 and items listed on the Closed Session. 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.
Brian Thoburn, Southern California Edison, stated he appreciates the partnership with the City of Visalia.
Gabriel Jacquez, shared words of encouragement with Council on a few subjects that included cannabis, unborn children, and Federal holidays. We all must use our moral compass because the standards we set now are for our children and grandchildren.
Jim Reeves, stated one of the most important moral standings anyone can have is to not impose religious beliefs on others and he hopes that no government body would try to impose religious standards for anything that he does not agree with.
Bill Huott, thanked the Council and expressed support for the Council, Department Heads, the Police Chief and the HOPE team.
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final January 16, 2024 WORK SESSION AND ACTION ITEMS (as described)
1. 24-0007Presentation by the Arts Consortium - Presentation of the activities undertaken by the Arts Consortium in 2023 as part of a contract for services with the City of Visalia and approval of a contract for services for 2024-2025, effective as of January 1, 2024.
Kelli Kincaid, Parks and Recreation Director, was joined by Ampelio Mejia Perez, Executive Director of the Visalia Arts Consortium, to provide an overview and presentation of the activities undertaken by the Arts Consortium in 2023 as part of a contract for services with the City of Visalia.
Due to other priorities, the annual report, and therefore the contract, was delayed in being brought forward, but the Arts Consortium has continued to provide services and staff is recommending that the contract be effective as of January 1, 2024.
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, Steve Nelsen, Emmanuel
Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn
Aye:
2. 23-0434Review of Ordinance - Review the City of Visalia Oak Tree Ordinance and direction to staff on recommend modifications.
Alvin Dias, Parks and Facilities Manager, Zach Huff, Parks and Urban Forestry Supervisor and Kelli Kincaid, Community Services Director provided a staff review of the Oak Tree Ordinance.
The purpose of this presentation is to provide an overview of the current City of Visalia ordinance related to Valley Oak trees and to propose recommended modifications to the Oak Tree Ordinance, particularly concerning the management of Oak trees on public and private property, especially when related to safety concerns.
In early 2021 the Visalia City Council received and addressed multiple citizens appeals of Community Services denials of Oak Tree Removal Permits. During those appeal processes, the Council directed staff to revisit the current Oak Tree ordinance and bring the Ordinance back to Council for review and discussion at a future work session.
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, Steve Nelsen, Emmanuel
Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn
Aye:
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final January 16, 2024 ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION - 6:00 PM (Or, immediately following Work Session)
The meeting adjourned to Closed Session.
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
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final January 16, 2024 This is the time for people to comment on matters 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 the opportunity to address the Council on any matter of interest, whether on the agenda or not, other than the Consent Calendar. People may comment one time during the evening for up to three minutes unless additional time is authorized by the Council. 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.
April Lancaster, Visalia, requested consent item 7 to be pulled regarding the new regulation of the limit of 12 street closures in a year in the newly adopted Ordinance for Special Events.
The Mayor advised Ms. Lancaster she will have the opportunity to speak with the item is discussed.
The following citizens spoke in support of keeping the Rawhide / Valley Strong / baseball stadium:
Jesus Archuletta
Charlie Saponara
Victoria Leary
Shannon Meier
Tosha Pequeno
James Alves on behalf of Able Inc.
Mary Serrato
Amanda Pichurko
Kent Copley
Jonathan Burtlow
Julian Rifkind
Joe Ross
Candace Ayers
Eric Douglass
Brady Hochhalcer
Heather Angeli
Joel Rosales
May Blaco
Rodney Blaco
Brittany Bly
Patrick Salazar
Nate Wingert
Francine Bejarano
Charlie Norman
Taye Konishi
Reyna Rodriguez
Margaret Carter, Visalia, spoke regarding the lack of City assistance for renters. She moved to the City of Visalia to rent a house and it did not have electricity for a while. Ms. Carter requested assistance from Code Enforcement; however, they were not able to intervene. The City of Visalia needs protection or assistance for renters.
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final January 16, 2024 April Lancaster, Downtown Visalia business owner, requested for Council to rescind section
12.48.085 of the new Special Events Ordinance. Ms. Lancaster stated the section is designed to prevent more than12 street closures per year which does not work for the Downtown Farmers Market location preference. An event can have more than 12 street closures per year if a business owner, sponsor, or organizer has frontage property on that street.
The following citizens spoke in support of the Downtown Farmers Market staying in the same location and /or requested to rescind section 12.48.085 of the new Special Events Ordinance:
Alyssa Gonzales
Andrea Miranda
Amanda Warsher
Buddy Jones
Michelle Olease
Michelle Kenner
Vanessa Gonzalez
Maria Guillen
Lisa Alvarado
Justin Puntanen
Reyna Rodriguez
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 by a City Council Member 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 Council Member Wynn, to approve the Consent Agenda except item 7 (BT/BP). The motion carried by the following vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Steve Nelsen, Emmanuel
Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn
Aye:
1. 24-0002Authorization to read ordinances by title only.
2. 23-0493Grant to waive/lower pet adoption fees: Authorize the acceptance of $95,000 grant from California For All Animals to reduce or waive return to home fees for pets in the shelter and authorize the City Manager to execute the California For All Animals grant agreement.
3. 23-0495Parking Agreement for Mayor’s Park - First reading of Ordinance 2024-02, authorizing the City Manager to enter into an
agreement with Dr. Christopher J. Wood, DDS, MS, for the use of 4 parking lot spaces at Mayor’s Park.
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final January 16, 2024
4. 23-0496City of Exeter contract Animal Services - Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement between the City of Visalia and the City of Exeter to provide animal shelter services at a rate of $216,900 per year and make any additional modifications to this draft agreement.
5. 23-0497City of Farmersville contract Animal Services - Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement between the City of Visalia and the City of Farmersville to provide animal shelter services at a rate of $211,700 per year and make any additional
modifications to this draft agreement.
6. 23-0506Authorization to execute a lease agreement with the Arts Consortium for use of the Oval Park Service Center building at 808 N. Court.
7. 24-0001Request by Council Member Hernandez Soto - Request by Council Member Hernandez Soto for the Council to consider placing an item on a future agenda for discussion of the limit of 12 street closures in a year in the newly adopted Ordinance for Special Events.
Item 7 was pulled from the Consent Calendar for separate discussion. Tracy Robertshaw, Code Enforcement and Neighborhood Preservation Manager, was available to answer questions and also later in the discussion having a store frontage will allow a street closure more than 12 times per year. If there is not a store frontage, then the code does limit the street closure to 12 per year.
Council Member Hernandez Soto, stated he requested this item to be added due to the stakeholders meeting and the members at that meeting did not want to have the street closure portion of the section included.
Council Member Nelsen, commented that no Council Members have stated they want to shut down the Farmers Market and wanted to look at having the market at a different location.
Vice Mayor Taylor stated he pulled the item because the item was just heard and voted on and it should not be rehashed.
Mayor Poochigian, stated the Council wants to work with the Ms. Lancaster in order for the Farmer's Market to continue.
Council Member Hernandez Soto made a motion to approve item 7. The motion died/failed for lack of a second.
8. 24-0003Consideration of a fee waiver - Request from Visalia Gadabouts to utilize the Visalia Senior Center for the purpose of providing programs and services for senior citizens.
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final January 16, 2024
9. 24-0005Certify Environmental Document - Stonebrook Street Culvert - a resolution to adopt the Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Stonebrook Street Culvert Crossing at Packwood Creek (City of Visalia Project Number
2520-72000/CP0043-99, also referring to State Clearinghouse No. 2022020164). (Resolution No. 2024-01 required).
10. 24-0006Fire Department Grant Application Confirmation and Acceptance - Confirm authorization for staff to apply for the 2023 California Water Service Firefighter Grant Program, authorize accepting the grant award, and appropriate funding for the purchase of six rescue tool batteries in the amount of $5,367.24.
11. 24-0009Confirmation of Administrative Services Director - Conformation of the appointment of Michelle Speer to serve as the
Administrative Services Director for the City of Visalia.
12. 24-0016Memorandum of Understanding - Authorize the City Manager to enter into a five-year Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Visalia and the Tulare County Regional Transit Agency (TCRTA) to partner on a three-year micro transit pilot 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.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final January 16, 2024
1. 24-0013For the purposes of reporting out, for the record, transactions that occurred as a result of Closed Session Real Property Negotiations:
Buyer: City of Visalia
Seller: Gerald Blankenship Jr. and Jean Kristy Blankenship, Trustees of the Blankenship Family Trust under Trust Agreement dated February 8, 1996, as to an undivided one-half interest, and Gerald B. Blankenship Jr., as to an undivided one-half interest APN: 126-100-054 (portion)
Purpose: sale of surplus land
Brief Description: Caldwell Improvement Project Santa Fe to Lovers Lane
Price: $21,017.21
Closing Date: 1/8/2024
Closed Session Council Date: 6/5/2023
Project Manager: Eric Bons
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned.
UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
1. 24-0012Upcoming Council Meetings:
Monday, February 5, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. @ 707 W. Acequia
Tuesday, February 20, 2024 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, to discuss your accessibility needs: 559-713-4512 or [email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>
Please note the meeting of 1/16/24 will not be live streamed.
Recorded audio of the 1/16/24 meeting will be available by the afternoon of 1/18/24.