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, April 15, 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.
WORK SESSION AND ACTION ITEMS (as described)
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final April 15, 2024
1. 24-0118New Employee Introductions:
Code Enforcement:
Julian Salmon - Code Enforcement Officer
Martha Zavala - Code Enforcement Officer
Public Works:
Thomas Reynoso - Solid Waste Operator
Wesley Roach - Heavy Equipment Operator
Ben Litwack - Public Works Manager
Lalo (Jason) Villalva - Street Maintenance Worker
Anthony Mangano - Senior Equipment Mechanic
Marco Ramirez - WWTP Operator
Danny Galindo- Public Works Manager
Steve Ellis - Fleet Maintenance Supervisor
Administration:
Maria Ruiz Ibarra - Senior Administrative Assistant
2. 24-0124Resolution of Commendation for National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week
3. 24-0146Delta Mosquito and Vector Control District Update - Receive presentation from Lori Berger, Council-appointed Visalia, Trustee for the Delta Mosquito and Vector Control District.
Lori Berger, Visalia appointed Board Representative provided an update to Council regarding the efforts by the Delta Mosquito and Vector Control District.
4. 24-0094Review 2023/24 Mid-Year Projections, amend the General Fund surplus policy, and appropriate funds for various capital projects.
Renee Nagel, Finance and Technology Director, and Amee Swearingen, Budget Analyst, provided the mid-year budget review and staff requested to amend the General Fund surplus policy, and appropriate funds for various capital projects as listed in the staff report. There were no public comments.
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Brett Taylor, seconded by Council Member Liz Wynn, to approve as recommended. 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 April 15, 2024
5. 23-0442Capital Improvement Program - Review select FY 2024/25 and 2025/26 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budgets and future capital plans.
Renee Nagel, Finance and Technology Director, provided the 5th proposed CIP adoption process. This is the last capital meeting and the information will be folded into the budget for final adoption. There were no public comments.
ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION - 6:00 PM (Or, immediately following Work Session)
The meeting adjourned to Closed Session at 5:45 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
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final April 15, 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.
Taylor, Visalia, spoke on behalf of the people who have lost their lives in Gaza.
Mary Bryant, President of the Real Mooney Grove Project expressed concern about the mobile homes near the park because of the many code violations within that area.
William Huff, Visalia, spoke about homeless issues and the need of a better solution for those who are homeless. We need a better infrastructure and cited the web address of technosmith.com for further information. Mr. Huff can be reached at [email protected].
Raquel Marmolejo, Visalia, spoke about the conditions at Riverway Sports Park. During the days she notices city staff working in the park trying to do their job. There is a soccer tournament coming to Visalia and she is appalled and embarrassed to host with the conditions of the park.
Luna Olsada is at Riverway Park five days a week to practice for the CVP soccer club. Many of the cities she has visited while on the traveling team have clean parks and restroom facilities. There are so many homeless people at Riverway park who curse and trash the bathrooms. The coach does not allow any of the players to use the restroom because it is not safe.
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 Liz Wynn, seconded by Vice Mayor Brett Taylor, to Approve the Consent Calendar. The motion carried by the following vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn
Aye:
Steve NelsenAbsent:
1. 24-0127Authorization to read ordinances by title only.
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final April 15, 2024
2. 24-0121Approval of Landfill Disposal Agreement - Authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with the County of Tulare for disposal of solid waste collected by the City of Visalia Solid Waste Department. The agreement includes the disposal fee of $28 per ton and provisions for a CPI increase of up to 3% per year if an associated rate increase is applied to the general gate rate.
3. 24-0131Playground Award - Authorize the City Manager to award a contract to Playground Design & Installation Services at Pinkham Park to R.E. Schultz Construction for not-to-exceed $298,810.
4. 24-0132Playground Award - Authorize the City Manager to award a contract to Playground Design & Installation Services at John Combs Park.
5. 24-0133Playground Award - Authorize the City Manager to award a contract to Playground Design & Installation Services at Woodland Park to R.E. Schultz Construction for a not-to-exceed amount of $478,680.
6. 24-0134Playground Award - Authorize the City Manager to award a contract to Playground Design & Installation Services at Rotary Park to R.E Schultz Construction for a not-to-exceed amount of $259,630.
7. 24-0135Playground Award - Authorize the City Manager to award a contract to Playground Design & Installation Services at Jefferson Park to R. E. Schultz for a not-to-exceed amount of $236,415.
8. 24-0137Appropriation of Awarded Grant Funds - Authorize the appropriation of funds awarded from the State of California Homekey Round 3 grant program of $8,115,376 for the
conversion of the Majestic Motel at 4545 W. Noble Avenue into a 42-unit Permanent Affordable Rental Housing complex for qualifying populations.
9. 24-0138General Plan Annual Progress Report - Receive and accept the City of Visalia General Plan Annual Progress Report for 2023 and authorize staff to submit to the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research.
10. 24-0141Award Contract - Authorize the City Manager to award a contract not to exceed $190,000 to Sebastian for the installation and replacement of the fire alarm system at the Convention Center and appropriate $190,000 from the Capital Improvement Fund.
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final April 15, 2024
11. 24-0145Visalia Convention and Visitors Bureau Agreement - Authorize the City Manager to enter into a Professional Services
Agreement with the Visalia Convention and Visitors Bureau for convention sales and tourism marketing services for the 2024 calendar year in the amount of $361,049.
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.
1. 24-0067Adopt 2024 Annual Action Plan - Conduct a second Public Hearing to adopt and appropriate the Program Year (PY) 2024 Annual Action Plan, and PY 2019 CDBG CARES Act
(CDBG-CV) Annual Action Plan Amendment IV for the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME
Investment Partnership Program (HOME) activities.
Margie Perez, Housing Specialist, requested for Council to hold a second public hearing for the following:
1. Conduct a second a Public Hearing, allowing a final opportunity for citizens to provide input and comment
on the proposed 2024 Annual Action Plan, and 2019 CDBG-CV Annual Action Plan Amendment IV;
2. Adopt and appropriate the proposed 2024 Annual Action Plan, and 2019 CDBG-CV Annual Action Plan Amendment IV activities;
3. Authorize City Manager or their designee enter into all contracts as listed in 2024 Annual Action Plan;
4. Authorize City Manager or their designee to submit the 2024 Annual Action Plan, and 2019 CDBG-CV Annual Action Plan Amendment IV to HUD.
The comment period is 30 days and the first public hearing was held April 1, 2024. Tonight is the last night to provide public comment on this item. Any funds left over will be allocated to the ADA tree wells project. Amendment IV will close out the Cares Act funding. The public hearing was opened at 7:22 p.m. and closed. There were no public comments.
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Brett Taylor, 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, Liz Wynn
Aye:
Steve NelsenAbsent:
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final April 15, 2024
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:22 p.m.
UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
1. 24-0100Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. - Special Meeting
COV/VUSD/COS
Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at 5:15 p.m. @ 707. W. Acequia - Special Meeting
Monday, May 6, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. @ 707 W. Acequia
Monday, May 20, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. @ 707 W. Acequia
Note: Meeting dates/times are subject to change, check posted agenda for correct details. In Compliance with the American Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in meetings email: [email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]> or call 713-4512.
Written materials relating to an item on this agenda submitted to the Council after distribution of the agenda are available for public inspection in the Office of the City Clerk, 220 N. Santa Fe Street, Visalia CA 93292, during normal business hours.