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, November 18, 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 REGULAR SESSION - 7:00 PM
Mayor Poochigian called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
INVOCATION
SPECIAL PRESENTATION / RECOGNITION
PUBLIC COMMENTS
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Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final November 18, 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 spoke on past communications regarding the Farmer's Market.
Joel Moore commented on the recent Presidential election results and the division caused from the political system.
A gentleman praised staff and Paul Bernal and the ability to work with them. He shared that if new standards are approved regarding single family homes, then housing prices will increase in Visalia. He recommended that a list of options be provided to developers to give them flexibility to decide what could work for their specific development in order for the community to still look nice.
Ms. Becerra provided her support for the Downtown Farmer's Market.
Raquel Arias opposed the proposed actions affecting the Farmer's Market. She also supports keeping the benches downtown.
Michelle Kenner thanked the City for moving the public hearing to December. She commented on meeting with Council Member Nelsen regarding the Farmer's Market recently and that it was very positive. She requested that the Council support this long time event.
Maria Guillen expressed her displeasure that after public comments, the City Council then discusses the matter, but the public has no opportunity to respond to their comments.
ITEMS OF INTEREST
CONSENT CALENDAR
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Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final November 18, 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
Council Member Hernandez Soto pulled item 21.
Vice Mayor Taylor pulled item 8.
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. 24-0034Authorization to read ordinances by title only.
2. 24-0446Construction Management Contract for Fire Station 51 - Authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with Griffin Structures, Inc., for construction management services for Fire Station 51.
3. 24-0449Contract Approval - Authorization to enter into a five-year contract with Benefit Coordinators Corporation as the third-party administrator of the City’s Health Benefits Programs.
4. 24-0456Notice of Completion for the FY23-24 Reclamite Project - Authorize the City Manager to file a Notice of Completion for the FY 23-24 Reclamite Project.
5. 24-0463Award a Contract for Walnut Orchard Demolition and Removal and Appropriation of Funds - Award a contract to JFS
Enterprises for Walnut Orchard Demolition and Removal in the amount of $495,000 to demolish and remove 130 acres of
Walnut Orchards surrounding the Water Reclamation Facility (WRF), and appropriate $550,000 from the Wastewater Fund.
6. 24-0469Award a Contract for Biosolids Hauling - Authorize the City Manager to award an annual contract to Romanazzi Trucking for the hauling of biosolids from the Visalia Water Reclamation Facility not to exceed $170,000 per year, with an option to renew annually up to four (4) additional one-year terms, totaling no more than $850,000 over the life of the contract.
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Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final November 18, 2024
7. 24-0471Environmental Determination - Adopt Resolution No. 2024-63 adopting Mitigated Negative Declaration No. 2024-56 prepared for the California Department of Water Resources, Sustainable Groundwater Management Act Implementation Grant, Cameron Creek Linear Recharge Project (Resolution No. 2024-63
required).
8. 24-0473Approval of Agricultural Conservation Easement Form - A request by Great Valley Land Trust to have their agricultural conservation easement form and content approved as required per the City's adopted Agricultural Preservation Ordinance.
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, Steve Nelsen, Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn
Aye:
Brett TaylorAbstain:
9. 24-0474Award Construction and Construction Management Contract- Authorize the City Manager to award the construction contract for the Caldwell Avenue Widening Project from Santa Fe Street to Lovers Lane to Avison Construction, Inc. in the amount of $14,741,768 and execute an agreement with Vanir Construction Management, Inc. to provide the construction management services for the Caldwell Avenue Widening Project from Santa Fe Street to Lovers Lane in the amount of $480,090.
10. 24-0475Record Final Parcel Map - A request to record the final parcel map for Tentative Parcel Map No. 2024-02, subdividing a
3.869-acre parcel near the southeast corner of S Chinowth Street and W Caldwell Avenue into two parcels for commercial use.
11. 24-0476Record Final Parcel Map - Request authorization to record the final parcel map for Tentative Parcel Map No. 2021-06, located at 4234 South Demaree Street.
12. 24-0478Accept Grant For Animal Reunification - Authorize the City Council to accept and appropriate a $5,000.00 grant from Best Friends Animal Society and authorize the City Manager to designate the Animal Services Manager to execute the Best Friends Grant Agreement for the use of funding additional efforts to reunite owners with their pets and support our foster program.
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13. 24-0479Award Park Project - Authorize the City Manager to Award Resurface Basketball Courts at Village Park to Juarez Brothers General Engineering for an amount not to exceed of
$168,042.00.
14. 24-0480Award a contract to supply, deliver, and replace siloxane removal media - Authorize the City Manager to award an annual sole source contract to Unison Solutions to supply, deliver, and replace granular media used for the removal of siloxane compounds created from bio-gas produced at the City’s Water Reclamation Facility (WRF), not to exceed $245,000 per year, with an option to renew annually up to four 1-year terms, totaling no more than $1,225,000 over the life of the contract; and appropriate an additional $125,000 for FY24/25 and $125,000 for FY 25/26 from the WRF Fund.
15. 24-0481Fire Department Grant Application Authorization - Authorize staff to apply for the 2025 State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) for the purchase of one set of battery powered
extrication tools in the amount of $63,643.39, to accept the grant, and to appropriate $63,643.39 if the grant is awarded.
16. 24-0482Approve Agreements for the 2024-2025 Land Fallowing Program - Authorize the City Manager to sign the Greater Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GKGSA) 2024-2025 Pilot Fallowing Program contracts for a combined 138.91 field acres in the total amount of $69,455 to be paid to the City of Visalia.
17. 24-0483Fire Department Hazmat MOU Extension w/ Amendments - Authorize the City Manager to execute the amendment and extension of the Tulare & Kings County Interagency Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Team Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU).
18. 24-0485Award Park Booster Pump Project - Authorize the City Manager to Award a Park Booster Pump Installation Project to Quality Landscape Construction Inc, for an amount not to exceed of $434,830.00.
19. 24-0486Award Contract for Elevator Repair - Authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with TK Elevator Corporation for $804,013.00 for the modernization of elevators within both parking structures and Fire Station 52.
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20. 24-0489Award a sole source contract for ferric chloride - Authorize the City Manager to award a 1-year sole source contract to Pencco, Inc. for the supply of ferric chloride to the Water Reclamation Facility) for an amount not to exceed $125,000.
21. 24-0490Ordinance Adoption - Second reading and adoption of Ordinance 2024-11 amending Visalia Municipal Code Section 12.48
regarding Special Events.
A handout was provided by Michelle Kenner.
April Lancaster spoke in opposition to the proposed ordinance.
Lisa Alvarado spoke in favor of the Downtown Farmer's Market and requested that they be given assistance with their events.
The Council Members discussed the proposed language and the impact on the Farmer's Market. After additional comments and two failed motions, the Council agreed to approve the ordinance, but requested that staff bring back an item in February to address the usage specific to the Downtown Farmer's Market.
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Brett Taylor to approve as recommended.
The motion failed for lack of second.
A motion was made by Council Member Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, seconded by Council Member Liz Wynn, to table the item. The motion failed by the following vote:
Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, Liz WynnAye:
Brian Poochigian, Brett TaylorNo:
Steve NelsenAbstain:
A motion was made by Council Member Steve Nelsen, seconded by Vice Mayor Brett Taylor, to Approve as amended. The motion carried by the following vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Steve Nelsen, Emmanuel
Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn
Aye:
22. 24-0491Authorize Agreement for Cybersecurity Assessment and Cyber Resilience Program - Authorize the City Manager to enter into a one-time service agreement with Global Solutions Group for a comprehensive Cybersecurity Assessment, Cyber Resilience Program, and Implementation Plan, for a total of $174,036.
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23. 24-0493Award of Landscape Maintenance Contract - Authorize the City Manager to Award annual contract for Landscape Maintenance of Landscape and Lighting Districts within Quadrant H to Perfect Care Landscape and Maintenance for an annual amount not to exceed amount of $162,638.
24. 24-0497Authorization of Senate Bill 125 Transit Funding Agreements - Authorize the City Manager and City Clerk to sign the SB 125 Program Cooperative Agreement between the City and the
Tulare County Association of Governments to receive SB 125 State Transit funding.
25. 24-0498Accept the City of Visalia Cash and Investment Report for the first quarter of the fiscal year which consists of months July, August, and September of 2024.
26. 24-0502Authorize the one-time purchase of UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) Systems - Authorize the City Manager to enter into a one-time purchase agreement for Uninterruptible Power Supply systems including hardware, central management, monitoring and reporting with GigaKOM for a total of $190,207.
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. 24-0472Ordinance Adoption - A Public Hearing and Introduction of the first reading of Ordinance No. 2024-12 for Zoning Text
Amendment No. 2024-04: A request by the City of Visalia to amend Visalia Municipal Code Title 17 (Zoning Ordinance), Chapter 17.32.166 Short-Term Rentals, Citywide.
Josh Dan provided a presentation regarding the proposed amendments for Short-Term Rentals. Staff responded to questions and comments by the Council.
Mayor Poochigian opened the public hearing at 7:55 p.m. and with no comments given, closed the public hearing at 7:55 p.m.
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:
Steve Nelsen, Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, Liz WynnAye:
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Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final November 18, 2024 Brian Poochigian, Brett TaylorNo:
2. 24-0505Appeal - A Public Hearing to consider an appeal of the Planning Commission’s approval of Conditional Use Permit No. 2024-17:
A request by Derek Finnegan / Lars Anderson & Associates to amend Conditional Use Permit No. 2019-31, for the
establishment of a 172,000 square foot commercial building for the sale of general retail merchandise with a fuel dispensing service station and a car wash, within the Commons at Visalia Parkway Shopping Center, located in the C-R (Regional
Commercial) Zone. The project site is located on the southwest corner of South Mooney Boulevard and West Visalia Parkway (APNs: 121-620-004, 005, 006, 007, 008, 013, 014).
A handout was provided by the Sierra Club.
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Brett Taylor, seconded by Council Member Steve Nelsen, to continue the item. The motion carried by the following vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Steve Nelsen, Emmanuel
Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn
Aye:
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Poochigian adjourned the meeting at 7:56 p.m.
UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
1. 24-0206Upcoming City Council Meetings
Tuesday, December 3, 2024 @ 7:00 p.m. at 707 W. Acequia Wednesday, December 11, 2024 @ 5:30 p.m. at 707 W.
Acequia
Monday, December 16, 2024 @ 7:00 p.m. at 707 W. Acequia Note: Meeting dates and 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 contact 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.
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