Visalia City Council
707 W. Acequia
Visalia, CA 93291
Visalia City Council
Visalia City Council
Meeting Minutes - Final
Mayor Brett Taylor
Vice Mayor Liz Wynn
Council Member Steve Nelsen
Council Member Emmanuel Hernandez Soto
Council Member Brian Poochigian
7:00 PM City Council ChambersMonday, May 5, 2025
ROLL CALL
(Mayor Taylor arrived at 4:05 p.m.)
Council Member Brian Poochigian, Mayor Brett Taylor, Council Member Steve Nelsen, Council Member Emmanuel Hernandez
Soto, and Vice Mayor Liz Wynn
Present:
CALL TO ORDER WORK SESSION - 4:00 PM (Unless otherwise noted)
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)
1. 25-0126New Employee Introductions:
Parks and Recreation Department - Trails Division
Fernando Moran, Trails Maintenance Supervisor
Chad Widman, Trails Maintenance Technician
Jordan Conway, Trails Maintenance Worker
Cesar Aceves, Trails Maintenance Worker
Noah Archuleta, Trails Maintenance Worker
David Elizarraraz, Trails Maintenance Worker
Andrew Noel, Trails Maintenance Worker
Elisabeth Nunez, Trails Maintenance Worker
Joaquin Ortiz, Trails Maintenance Worker
Paul Vasquez, Trails Maintenance Worker
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2. 25-0120Outstanding Industry Partner in Education Award
3. 25-0134Cannabis Ordinance Discussion - Provide staff with initial direction on preliminary Cannabis Ordinance content and structure.
Planning and Community Preservation Director Paul Bernal and Economic Development Manager Devon Jones presented Part 1 of the Cannabis Ordinance Discussion. Director Bernal advised that the purpose of the meeting was to establish the preliminary framework and structure of the ordinance.
Council provided consensus on the municipal code title placement, select business types, and identified preferred zoning districts.
Public comment was received from Louis Sepulveda.
Staff thanked Council for the direction and advised they will return at a future meeting.
4. 25-0159Fire Department Overview Presentation - Fire Department command staff are presenting an overview of the Fire
department to include a general overview of the operations, response data and updates on projects and programs.
Battalion Chief Tom Van Grouw and Fire Chief Dan Griswold provided a power point presentation offering an overview of the Fire Department. The presentation included general operations, response data, and updates on projects, programs, including community engagement. Battalion Chief Van Grouw advised that the focus was on department operations and the suppression division. Staff noted that future presentations will cover the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division and the Fire Prevention Division.
Council thanked staff for the information.
5. 25-0170Civic Center Phase 2 Update Presentation. Receive a presentation and update on the Visalia Civic Center Phase 2 Project.
Civil Engineer Mike Porter, City Engineer Chris Crawford, and Finance Director Renee Nagel provided a power point presentation updating Council on the Visalia Civic Center Phase 2 Project. The presentation covered project planning and development, the project team, the request for qualifications, bids, project financing, and an updated project schedule.
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Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 5, 2025 ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION - 6:00 PM (Or, immediately following Work Session)
Mayor Taylor adjourned the Work Session at 6:09 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER REGULAR SESSION - 7:00 PM
Mayor Taylor called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
INVOCATION LED BY EXECUTIVE PASTOR JONATHON CHANO,
RESTORATION MINISTRY
SPECIAL PRESENTATION / RECOGNITION
Arbor Day 2025
PUBLIC COMMENTS
This is the time for general public comment on issues within the jurisdiction of the Visalia City Council. Each speaker tonight may speak for up to 3 minutes during this general comment period on a matter that is not on this agenda.
The public may also make one comment for up to 3 minutes prior to the consideration of the Consent Calendar, and immediately before any regular agenda item is heard. The Council asks that you keep you 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.
Public comments were received from Raquel Arias, Irene Lapin, Maria Guillén, Efrain Becerra, and Valerie Girot.
CONSENT CALENDAR
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Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 5, 2025 Consent Calendar items are considered routine and will be enacted in one motion.
This is the time for members of the public to provide public comment on an item on the Consent Calendar. Comments will not be taken individually by the public if an item is pulled by a Council Member. Each speaker is allowed up to 3 minutes, and a timer will notify you when your time is expired. Please begin your comments by stating and spelling you name and providing your city of residence.
Mayor Taylor pulled agenda item 2 and Council Member Hernandez Soto pulled agenda item 15 for separate discussion.
A motion was made by Council Member Steve Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Brian Poochigian to approve the remainder of the Consent Calendar. The motion carried unanimously.
1. 25-0089Authorization to read ordinances by title only.
2. 25-0079Valley Strong Ballpark Outfield Fence & Batter’s Eye Replacement Project Award- Authorize the City Manager to sign the construction contract with Forcum/Mackey Construction, Inc., in the amount of $915,000 for the Valley Strong Ballpark Outfield Fence & Batter’s Eye Replacement Project.
Senior Civil Engineer Rebecca Keenan stepped forward to discuss the project and provide details on the replacement of the batter's eye.
A motion was made by Council Member Brian Poochigian, seconded by Vice Mayor Liz Wynn to approve. The motion carried unanimously.
3. 25-0131Fire Department Medical Director Contract - Authorize the City Manager to enter into a medical director services contract with Chadi Kahwaji Incorporated for not to exceed $42,000 annually for one year, with the option to renew for 4 additional one-year terms for a total of 5 years.
4. 25-0135Award Visalia Housing Loan Portfolio Contract - Authorize the City Manager to sign a contract with AmeriNational Community Services for a 5-year agreement to manage the City of Visalia Housing Loan Portfolio from FY 2025/26 through FY 2029/30, for an amount not to exceed $149,190.
5. 25-0161Accept the City of Visalia Cash and Investment Report - Accept the City of Visalia Cash and Investment Report for the third quarter of the fiscal year which consists of months January, February, and March of 2025.
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6. 25-0139Award a Contract for the Repair and Maintenance of Compressed Air Systems -
Authorize the City Manager to award a contract to Air & Lube Systems Inc. for the repair and maintenance of compressed air system components for the Fleet Maintenance Division in an amount not to exceed $30,000 annually, totaling $150,000 over the life of the contract, with an option to renew annually for up to (4) additional one-year terms.
7. 25-0140Contract for the Repair and Maintenance for Lube Systems - Authorize the City Manager to award a contract to Air & Lube Systems Inc. for the repair and maintenance of lube system components for the Fleet Maintenance Division in an amount not to exceed $30,000 annually, totaling $150,000 over the life of the contract, with an option to renew annually for up to (4) additional one-year terms.
8. 25-0148Authorization to Submit Allocation Request for V-LINE Transit Service - Authorization to submit an allocation request in the amount of $451,557 to the California Department of
Transportation Low Carbon Transit Operations Program
(LCTOP) for operating funds to continue funding the V-LINE operations and approve the funds to be appropriated when the grant is awarded (Resolution No.2025-28).
9. 25-0152Mural Request - Consideration of a mural application request from Tulare County Farm Bureau for one mural located on the south-facing wall of the building located at 737 North Ben Maddox Way.
10. 25-0150Request Authorization to File Notice of Completion and Appropriation of Funds for Network Fiber Connectivity Project - Authorize the filing of a Notice of Completion the Network Fiber Connectivity at the Visalia Animal Care Center, and appropriate an additional $27,000 from the ARPA Fund.
11. 25-0153Park Project Notice of Completion - Request authorization to file a Notice of Completion for the Rotary Park Playground
Replacement Project.
12. 25-0154Park Project Notice of Completion - Request authorization to file a Notice of Completion for the Jefferson Park Playground Replacement Project.
13. 25-0162Consolidated Water District Formation Ballot Measure - Authorization to not submit ballots for a petition to form the Consolidated Water District in parts of Tulare County.
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14. 25-0165Resolution Adopting Objective Design Standards - Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-30 pertaining to the approval of Objective Design Standards in accordance with the City Council’s prior action taken for Zoning Text Amendment No. 2024-03: A request by the City of Visalia to add and amend regulations within the Visalia Municipal Code Title 17 (Zoning Ordinance) pertaining to Single-Family Residential Objective Design standards and Planned Residential Development standards applicable to new single-family residential developments. The regulations will apply Citywide to properties within the city limits of the City of Visalia.
15. 25-0166Request by Vice Mayor Liz Wynn - Request for a future agenda Item regarding additional recreational opportunities such as pickleball courts or other short-term projects.
Council discussed the additional recreational opportunities for the City of Visalia.
Public comment was received from Efrain Becerra.
A motion was made by Council Member Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, seconded by Vice Mayor Liz Wynn to approve. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn
No: Steve Nelsen
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.
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Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 5, 2025
1. 25-0149Appeal of Historic Preservation Advisory Committee’s denial- A public hearing to consider an appeal of the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee’s denial of a request to replace 48 windows on a single-family residence located in the D-MU (Downtown Mixed Use) Zone. The project site is located at 410 North Court Street (APN: 094-271-006).
Associate Planner Cristobal Carrillo stepped forward and provided a power point presentation on the appeal of the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee’s (HPAC) denial of a request to replace 48 wood windows with vinyl windows on a single-family residence located at 410 North Court Street, within the Downtown Mixed Use (D-MU) Zone and Historic District.
Mayor Taylor opened the public hearing at 7:47 p.m.
Public comment was received from Irene Lapin, Efrain Becerra, Tylor Davis, and Kevin Fistolera.
There being no further comments, Mayor Taylor closed the public hearing at 7:56 p.m., and referred the matter back to Council.
Council discussed the matter and discussed the alternative recommendation from staff to approve the appeal.
A motion was made by Council Member Brian Poochigian, seconded by Council Member Steve Nelsen to approve the alternate recommendation Number 1:
Approve the appeal and deny the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee's approval of HPAC Item No. 2025-05. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Steve Nelsen, Liz Wynn No: Emmanuel Hernandez Soto
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2. 25-0069Notice of Award Civic Center Phase 2. Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Seals Construction, of Visalia, CA in the amount of $72,780,000, and authorize additional appropriation of funds for the full project cost $99.3 million for the Visalia Civic Center Phase 2 Project.
Civil Engineer Mike Porter and Finance Director Renee Nagel stepped forward and presented a power point presentation on the Notice of Award for the Civic Center Phase 2 Project. The presentation included details on authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement with Seals Construction of Visalia, CA, in the amount of $72,780,000, and to authorize an additional appropriation of funds for the full project cost of $99.3 million.
Mayor Taylor opened the public hearing at 8:18 p.m.
Public comment was received from Maria Guillén.
There being no further comments, Mayor Taylor closed the public hearing at 8:19 p.m.
A motion was made by Council Member Steve Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Brian Poochigian to approve. The motion carried unanimously.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Taylor adjourned the meeting at 8:23 p.m.
UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
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Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 5, 2025
1. 25-0129Upcoming City Council Meetings
Monday, May 19, 2025 @ 7:00 p.m. at 707 W. Acequia
Monday, June 2, 2025 @ 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.
Respectfully submitted,
Reyna Rivera, Chief Deputy City Clerk
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