Visalia City Council
707 W. 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 City Council ChambersMonday, August 19, 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 - 4:30 PM (Unless otherwise noted) The meeting was called to order at 4:30 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 agenda. 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 August 19, 2024
1. 24-0329New Employee Introductions:
Fire Department:
Brett Thatcher, Paramedic
Alexis Walty, Paramedic
Oscar Naranjo, Paramedic
Zachary Giovani, Paramedic
Jose Gallardo, Firefighter/Paramedic
Ignacio Gonzalez, Firefighter/Paramedic
JohnMark VanderPoel, Firefighter/Paramedic
Tyler Miller, Firefighter/Paramedic
Sabrina Sheer, Firefighter/Paramedic
Weston Yale, Firefighter/Paramedic
Hank Rogers, Firefighter/Paramedic
Finance and Technology:
David Guzman, Computer Technician
2. 24-0311City-owned Property Discussion - Review and provide direction on potential land use and design options for the City owned 21-acre property located on the northwest corner of North Akers Street and West Riggin Avenue.
Paul Bernal, Community and Neighborhood Preservation Director, and Brandon Smith, Principle Planner, reviewed the potential land use and design options for the City owned 21-acre property located on the northwest corner of North Akers Street and West Riggin Avenue.
John Lollis, Assistant City Manager, provided information on the land swap options with controls of the zoning.
Visalia citizens Jim Reeves and Mike Cromer provided public comment on the item.
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Brett Taylor, seconded by Council Member Steve Nelsen, to approve as amended. The motion carried by the following vote:
Brett Taylor, Steve Nelsen, Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn
Aye:
Brian PoochigianNo:
ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION - 6:00 PM (Or, immediately following Work Session)
The meeting was adjourned to Closed Session 5:35 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER REGULAR SESSION - 7:00 PM
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final August 19, 2024
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
INVOCATION
1. 24-0339Moment of Silence for former City Council Member and the Honorable David L. Allen.
ITEMS OF INTEREST
SPECIAL PRESENTATION / RECOGNITION
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final August 19, 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 spoke regarding parking and opined we need effective solutions for parking in the downtown area. Ms. Lancaster spoke regarding Council Member Nelsen using the Comfort Suites as his personal parking space.
Taylor, Visalia commented about the ongoing genocide in Palestine. The city needs to take a stand. Taylor is organizing a watch party at COS. Buzz words are not needed for this issue - the community is needed.
Raquel Arias, Visalia, believes Mayor Poochigian is sassy in his delivery when speaking to the citizens in attendance. People need to be compassionate about the people in Gaza.
Fahid Taha, Visalia spoke regarding the Palestinian land and the genocide. She is here to encourage people to teach themselves about the Palestinian genocide.
Maria Guillen, Visalia, spoke about being a good neighbor. She wrote 2 short stories to read to Council. Her belief system is to be gracious and kind and we need to live in harmony Efrain Becerra, Visalia, stated he is a son of God and he wants everyone to know he genuinely cares about each and everyone who sits on the dais. He feels uncomfortable because he believes the money used for the logo was just thrown in the garbage.
Ken Becker, Visalia, spoke regarding the issue of parking tickets. He is retired and makes it on $1000. He thinks the process for fighting a parking ticket is too complicated.
Amy Shuklian, Tulare County Board of Supervisors, rebutted the comments made by Council Member Nelsen at the August 5, 2024 Council meeting about the Homeless Alliance of Tulare County. Supervisor Shuklian listed many activities completed by the Homeless Alliance.
Noah Whittaker, Homeless Initiatives Program Coordinator, stated the recent Grand Jury report highlighted the County Task Force.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final August 19, 2024 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 Brett Taylor, seconded by Council Member Steve Nelsen, to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion carried by the following vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Steve Nelsen, Emmanuel
Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn
Aye:
1. 24-0182Authorization to read ordinances by title only.
2. 24-0244Award a sole source contract for City-wide generator maintenance - Authorize the City Manager to award a sole source service contract to Sollid Power Systems, Inc. for city-wide generator maintenance. This contract will be for one year, with 4 optional one-year renewals and a not to exceed amount of $75,000 per year, $375,000 over the life of the contract.
3. 24-0267Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) - Master Plan Final Update - Approve and adopt the Master Plan for the Water Reclamation Facility.
4. 24-0288Picnic Table Removal and Replacement - Authorize the City Manager to Award RFB No. 23-24-38 Park Picnic Table Removal and Replacement Project at Various Parks to Mountain Vista Construction of Visalia, CA, for an amount not to exceed of $336,273.00.
5. 24-0301Irrigation Well Emergency Repair - Authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Kaweah Pump for $155,515 for emergency repair to the irrigation well at Stonebrook Park and appropriate an additional $71,100 from the General Fund.
6. 24-0312Consider approval of 2024 Water Management Plan submitted by the Visalia Water Management Committee.
7. 24-0331Citizens Advisory Committee Appointments - Approve the Citizens Advisory Committee’s recommendation to appoint Mario Fierro to fill a vacant voting position on the Citizens Advisory Committee. In addition, approve the re-appointment of current committee members Edward Jones, William Mann, and Bryan Prosser to a second term.
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final August 19, 2024
8. 24-0310Authorization of Facility Use Agreement - Authorize the City Manager to execute a Facility Use Agreement with Visalia American Youth Soccer Organization Region 129 for specified use of Riverway Sports Park for up to a five (5) year term effective August 2024 through July 2029.
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
1. 24-0337Closed Session report out from July 15, 2024: Appointment of Jason Glick as the new Visalia Parks and Recreation Director.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:28 p.m.
UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
1. 24-0338Upcoming City Council Meetings:
Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. @ 707 W. Acequia Monday, September 16, 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 at [email protected]