Visalia City Council
707 W. Acequia
Visalia, CA 93292
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 Hall Council ChambersMonday, February 5, 2024
ROLL CALL
Mayor Brian Poochigian, Vice Mayor Brett Taylor, Council Member Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, and Council Member Liz
Wynn
Present:
Council Member Steve NelsenAbsent:
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.
Barry Caplan, Visalia, asked if he could comment now on the work session items or wait until the item is called.
WORK SESSION AND ACTION ITEMS (as described)
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 5, 2024
1. 24-0027State Legislative Presentation - Receive presentation from Nielsen, Merksamer, Parrinello, Gross & Leoni (NMPGL) on 2023 state legislative activity and a forecast of state legislative activity for 2024.
Devon Jones, Economic Development Director, John Moffatt, Lead Lobbyist, and Michelle Rubalcava, Senior Counsel from Nielsen, Merksamer, Parrinello, Gross & Leoni LLP (NMPGL) provided an overview of state legislative activity for the 2023 session, expectations for the 2024 session, and some of the strategies their firm employs as state legislative advocate for the City.
Mr. Moffatt and Ms. Rubalcava attend annually to present to Council. At this meeting they are seeking any input the Council may have on state legislative matters to be mindful of for the coming year.
There is no formal action requested at this time to modify the current platform, however NMPGL and city staff would welcome any potential input the Council may have for any potential edits to consider for a revised platform for 2024 activity. Any potential edits will come back to Council for formal approval in a future council meeting.
2. 23-0481Annual Measure T Compliance Audit - Review and acceptance of the Annual Measure T Compliance Audit for fiscal year ending 6/30/23.
As required by the Ordinance, the City engaged in an auditor to attest that the City has used the money as required in the ballot measure. The outside audit review assures that these funds are handled properly, assisting City management in providing the highest level of accountability for Measure T funds.
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 5, 2024
3. 23-0482Measure N Compliance Audit - Review and acceptance of the Annual Measure N Compliance Audit for fiscal year ending 6/30/23.
Renee Nagel, Finance Director, Kari Williams, Financial Analyst, and Jason Montgomery, Financial Analyst were in attendance to provided the annual audit information regarding the uses of Measure N funds and answer any questions.
As required by the Ordinance, the City engaged an auditor to attest that the City has used the money as required in the ballot measure. The outside audit review ensures that these funds are handled properly, assisting City management in providing the highest level of accountability for Measure N funds.
The City hired M. Green and Company to perform the audit which is attached .
The audit confirmed that the plan is being implemented and adjusted according to the ballot measure, program guidelines and expenditure plan.
The Measure N Compliance Audit was presented and accepted by the Measure N Oversight Committee on January 9, 2024.
Barry Caplan, Visalia, commented on the Measure N audit vs. attestation. The summary is basically to ask questions and assess a likelihood that it is correct or not. Mr. Caplan opined this was not an audit.
A motion was made by Council Member Liz Wynn, seconded by Vice Mayor Brett Taylor, to approve the report as presented. The motion carried by the following vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn
Aye:
Steve NelsenAbsent:
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 5, 2024
4. 23-0483Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) - Receive the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the City of Visalia for the 2022-23 fiscal year.
For the record item 4 was reviewed and presented first. Staff will move into the Measure T and Measure N reports after the ACFR.
Renee Nagel, Finance Director, Kari Williams, Financial Analyst, and Jason Montgomery, Financial Analyst provided the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23 ACFR This represents the City ’s financial, operational, and current economic condition for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. The City’s financial statements for this period have been audited by The PUN Group, Certified Public Accountants, the City’s independent auditing firm. Their Independent Auditors Report has been incorporated into the ACFR document. This item is presented to the City Council each year for review and acknowledgement . State law requires the City of Visalia to prepare a complete set of audited financial statements. The 2022-23 ACFR fulfills this requirement.
The City ’s Independent Auditors, The PUN Group, have audited the City ’s financial statements prepared by finance staff for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 and have provided an unqualified ( clean) opinion. An unqualified opinion concludes that the ACFR presents fairly, in all material respects, the respective financial position of the governmental activities, the business-type activities, each major fund, and the aggregate remaining fund information of the City; and the respective changes in financial position.
There were no audit findings for fiscal year 2022-23. No action is required.
Barry Caplan, Visalia, provided public comment regarding Air B&B.
ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION - 6:00 PM (Or, immediately following Work Session)
The meeting adjourned to Closed Session at 5:40 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.
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 5, 2024
SPECIAL PRESENTATION / RECOGNITION
1. 24-0010CEREMONIAL SWEARING IN:
Jason Huckleberry, Engineering and Building Department
Director
John Lollis, Assistant City Manager
Michelle Speer, Administrative Services Director
PUBLIC COMMENTS
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.
Barry Caplan, Visalia, congratulated Mr. Lollis on his new position in Visalia. Mr. Caplan reiterated the audit reported during the work session and stated there is a difference between an audit vs. an attestation.
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 Vice Mayor Taylor, seconded by Council Member Wynn, to approve the Consent Agenda. The motion carried by the following vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn
Aye:
Steve NelsenAbsent:
1. 24-0015Authorization to read ordinances by title only.
2. 23-0403Change Order Request & Appropriation of Funds - Consideration and action related to Groundwater Recharge Basin G at the East Side Regional Park Site: 1. Approve Change Order No. 6 for Well Improvements in the amount of $265,065. 2. Appropriate $175,707 from the Park Impact Fund.
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 5, 2024
3. 23-0484CMAQ/CRP Grant Funding Applications - Authorize submission of Congestion and Air Quality (CMAQ) Program and Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) funding applications to the Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG) for multiple
proposed capital improvement projects.
4. 24-0017Design Contract for Improvements at Walnut Ave/Lovers Lane Intersection - Authorize the City Manager to award a professional design services contract to QK, Inc., for the design of the traffic signal modification and intersection improvements at Walnut Avenue and Lovers Lanee.
5. 24-0018Notice of Completion for Goshen Street Rehabilitation Project - Authorize the City Manager to file a Notice of Completion for the construction of the FY 19-20 Major Street Rehabilitation - Goshen Ave from Shirk Street to Mooney Blvd. (CIP
3010-72000/CP0490-999).
6. 24-0019Parking Agreement for Mayor’s Park - Second 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.
7. 24-0021Minter Harnish Development Standards Contract - Authorize the City Manager to award a sole source contract with Mintier Harnish in amount to not exceed $30,000 for the preparation of Objective Design Standards for Single-Family Development and appropriate up to $30,000 from the General Fund.
8. 24-0030Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) - Belt Filter Press Dewatering Unit Rental - Authorize the City Manager to award an emergency contract to Aspen Rentals of Angleton, TX in the amount of $349,868 for the 24-month rental of a belt filter press dewatering unit. Also, authorize the appropriation of $360,000 from the Wastewater Enterprise Fund (431).
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 7:18 p.m.
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 5, 2024
UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
1. 24-0033Upcoming Council Meetings:
Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. @ 707 W. Acequia Monday, March 4, 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]