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, August 4, 2025
ROLL CALL
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 - 3:00 PM (Unless otherwise noted) Mayor Taylor called the meeting to order at 3:00 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 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)
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1. 25-0312New Employee Introductions
Joseph Gonzalez, Sr. Street Department Maintenance Worker Garian Martin, Solid Waste Department Operator
Cody Looper, Traffic Division Utility Locator
Manuel Alvarez, WWTP Maintenance Mechanic
Saul Guzman, WWTP Maintenance Mechanic
Dallas Crow, GIS Analyst
Gavin Silveira, IS Analyst
Kimberlynn Verdugo, Computer Technician
Sean Nourie, IS Analyst
Angie Harill, Purchasing Specialist
Osvaldo Panduro-Salas, Police Officer
Tyler Richwine, Police Officer
Kevin Renard, Lateral Police Officer
Joaquin Rodriguez-Ortega, Lateral Police Officer
Brent Eichelberger, Squad Paramedic
Efrain Munoz, Squad Paramedic
2. 25-0338Planning Commissioner Interviews - Conduct interviews to appoint upcoming Planning Commissioner vacancies/seats for the term of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027, and/or the option to fill a second unexpired term which ends June 30, 2026 or reopen the recruitment.
The Council interviewed the following applicants for the Planning Commission:
Pura Cordero, Mario Fierro, Mario Hernandez, Kris Bruce, Efrain Becerra, Luis Valencia, and Nathan Merriweather.
Mayor Taylor called for short breaks between interviews at the following times:
3:45 p.m. to 3:53 p.m.; 4:06 p.m. to 4:33 p.m.; 4:47 p.m. to 4:53 p.m.; and 5:06 p.m. to 5:17 p.m.
A motion was made by Council Member Steve Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Brian Poochigan to select Pura Cordero and Kris Bruce to fill the upcoming vacancies on the Planning Commission, resulting from the resignations of Commissioners Adam Peck and Chris Tavarez, effective August 26, 2025. The motion carried by the following unanimous vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Steve Nelsen, Emmanuel
Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn
Aye:
ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION - 6:00 PM (Or, immediately following Work Session)
Mayor Taylor adjourned the meeting to closed session at 5:45 p.m.
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Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final August 4, 2025 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 PASTOR SEAN EWBANK, CHRIST LUTHERAN
CHURCH
SPECIAL PRESENTATION / RECOGNITION
Recognition of 8u Central California World Series Champions
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 comment was received from Roxanne Serna, District Representative for Senator Melissa Hurtado, and Irene Lapin.
ITEMS OF INTEREST
CONSENT CALENDAR
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.
Public comment was received from Kathy Falconer regarding Consent Calendar Item #11.
A motion was made by Council Member Steve Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Brian Poochigian, to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion carried by the following unanimous vote:
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Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final August 4, 2025 Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Steve Nelsen, Emmanuel
Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn
Aye:
1. 25-0252Authorization to read ordinances by title only.
2. 25-0224Valley Strong Stadium Clubhouse - Accept the Construction Proposal for Phase 2, Task 2 - Clubhouse & Related Site Work by the Design-Builder, 4CGlobal, Inc. dba 4Creeks Build for a lump sum amount of $3,222,783.52, appropriate $1,335,324 from the Baseball Fund and transfer funds in the amount of $298,700 from existing projects.
3. 25-0232Developer Reimbursement Agreement and Appropriation of Funds - Authorize the City Manager to execute the
reimbursement agreement with Visalia Parkway Partners Inc., for Visalia Parkway Phase 2 widening from west of Dans Lane to Woodland Street, in the amount of $3,281,799.52 with modified payment terms; and further authorize the additional appropriation of $1,788,400 from the Transportation Impact Fee Fund.
4. 25-0292Accept Irrevocable Offer of Dedications - Adopt Resolution No. 2025-58 authorizing the acceptance of a portion of the
Irrevocable Offer of Dedication to the City of Visalia for additional street right-of-way as offered under Parcel Map No.5260 for Riggin Avenue and Parcel Map No. 4452 for Clancy Street.
5. 25-0310Approve the Purchase of (3) Godwin Portable Pumps - Authorize the purchase of 3 Godwin Portable Pumps for the Wastewater Collections Division from Pac Machine Company for
$181,561.06, appropriate $8,590.27 from the Storm Sewer Maintenance Fund, and appropriate $25,770.79 from the
Wastewater Fund.
6. 25-0314Park Pond Project Notice of Completion - Request authorization to file a Notice of Completion for the Plaza Park Pond Shoreline Replacement Project.
7. 25-0319Award Contract for Solids Handling Improvement Project - Authorize the City Manager to award a construction contract to WM Lyles in the amount of $13,744,000 for the Solids Handling Improvement Project at the Visalia Water Reclamation Facility.
8. 25-0320Conditional Acceptance of Federal Aviation Administration Grant Funds - Authorize the conditional acceptance of a Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program grant in the amount of $134,520 for the design phase of the Taxilane Reconstruction Project at the Visalia Municipal Airport.
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9. 25-0325Authorization for Payment to the California Vanpool Authority (CalVans) - Authorize the payment of CalVans invoices for the Visalia Transit contributions to the Authority’s vanpool program.
10. 25-0327Ordinance Adoption - Second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 2025-03, amending Visalia Municipal Code Section 5.68 “Massage Establishments” and Zoning Text Amendment No.
2025-02, amending Visalia Municipal Code Title 17 (Zoning), Chapter 17.04 Definitions and Chapter 17.25 Uses in the Mixed Use, Office and Industrial Zones.
11. 25-0326Prezone Ordinance Adoption - Second Reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 2025-04, a request by the City of Visalia to adopt a prezone of the property related to Annexation No. 2024-03, undergoing annexation into the City limits of Visalia. The prezone will change zones on the Official Zoning Map of the City of Visalia from 284 acres of unzoned to approximately 253 acres of Industrial (I) zone designation and approximately 31 acres of I-L (Light Industrial), consistent with the land use designations of the Visalia General Plan Land Use Map and consistent with Section
17.06.050 of the Visalia Municipal Code. The proposed Project is located on approximately 284 acres, on the north side of Riggin Avenue between Shirk Street and Kelsey Street. (APN:
077-840-004, 005, 006).
12. 25-0328Prezone Ordinance Adoption - Second Reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 2025-05, a request by the City of Visalia to adopt a prezone of the property related to Annexation No. 2024-05, undergoing annexation into the City limits of Visalia. The prezone will change zones on the Official Zoning Map of the City of Visalia from 62 acres of unzoned to approximately 55 acres of R-1-5 (Single-Family Residential, 5,000 square foot minimum site area) and approximately 7 acres of C-MU (Mixed Use
Commercial) zone designation, consistent with the land use designations of the Visalia General Plan Land Use Map and consistent with Section 17.06.050 of the Visalia Municipal Code.
The proposed project site is located on approximately 62 acres, on the southeast corner of South Santa Fe Street and East Caldwell Avenue (APNs: 123-400-005 and 123-400-001).
13. 25-0335Oak Tree Preservation Ordinance Amendment- Second reading and adoption of Ordinance 2025-06 amending Chapter 12.24 of the Visalia Municipal Code Relating to Oak Tree Preservation.
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14. 25-0309Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance 2025-07 Regarding Easements - Adopt Ordinance 2025-07 authorizing the grant of easements to Southern California Edison Company to construct and maintain electrical facilities on a portion of city-owned property and authorizing the City Manager to execute the grant of easements.
15. 25-0337Convention Center Discount Authority - Confirmation of the City Manager’s authority to establish a discount policy for Convention Center usage and to have the authority to delegate the
implementation of that policy.
16. 25-0341Approval of Agricultural Conservation Easement Form - A request by Sequoia Riverlands Trust to have the agricultural conservation easement form and content filed approved as required per the City's adopted Agricultural Preservation Ordinance.
17. 25-0346Approve Change Orders and Authorize Measure N Amendment Process - Approve change orders for the modernization of parking structures and Fire Station 52 elevators; and authorize City staff to initiate Measure N amendment process to increase project funds.
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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1. 25-0333Visalia Police Department Overview Presentation - Visalia Police Department command staff will present an overview of the Department including a general overview of the operations, department staffing, response data, crime analytics, and project updates.
Police Chief Jason Salazar, along with Captains Dan Ford and Andrew Swarthout, provided a presentation to Council on department operations, staffing, crime trends, traffic safety, and ongoing initiatives.
The presentation included an overview of violent crime and gang activity, traffic collision data, enforcement strategies, homelessness response efforts, property crime trends, use of surveillance technology, and community engagement activities.
Council discussed dispatch staffing, public safety technology, neighborhood crime concerns, and school resource officer programs.
Mayor Taylor opened public comment at 7:56 p.m.
Public comment was received from Jim Reeves and Maria Guillén. There being no further comments, Mayor Taylor closed the public comments at 8:02 p.m.
Council thanked staff for the information.
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2. 25-0057Fire Station 51 Project Update - Receive an update on the Fire Station 51 Project located between Stevenson Street and Conyer Street, south of Acequia Avenue; provide direction regarding the exterior building style for the project and determine if the project is ready to proceed to working drawings.
Civil Engineer Mike Porter, Fire Chief Griswold, and Mike Scott, RRM Design Group representative, provided a presentation to Council on the Fire Station 51 project. The update included a review of the draft floor plan, site plan, long-term operational considerations, and proposed architectural styles for the facility.
Captain input was incorporated into the layout, which is designed to support the department’s needs over the next 50 years.
Council received an overview of the proposed location, building size, staffing accommodations, apparatus storage, and overall site functionality. The building is intended to house up to 12 personnel, with individual dorm rooms, enhanced operational space, and facilities to support both current and future public safety needs.
Council provided direction on the preferred architectural style for the building exterior. Preferences were expressed for the Traditional Retrofit and Early California styles, with additional discussion regarding compatibility with adjacent civic and educational buildings. Council also requested clear examples of the proposed design options and a cost analysis of construction timelines.
Mayor Taylor opened the public comment period. There being no speakers, the public comment period was closed.
Council directed staff to proceed with the draft floor plan and site plan, and to return with renderings of the preferred exterior design options for further consideration.
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Liz Wynn, seconded by Council Member Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, to approve as amended.The motion carried by the following unanimous vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Steve Nelsen, Emmanuel
Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn
Aye:
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3. 25-0294Review the Visalia Police Department AB 481 Annual Report - Review Ordinance No. 2022-09, which adopted the Visalia Police Department Military Equipment Use Policy, the 2025 Visalia Police Department AB 481 Annual Report, and adopt Resolution 2025-60, a resolution renewing the Visalia Police Department Military Equipment Use Policy and approving the continued use of the equipment described in the AB 481 Annual Report
pursuant to Government Code Section 7070 et seq. and
determine that approval of Resolution 2025-60 is not a project under CEQA.
Police Lieutenant Osvaldo Dominguez provided a presentation to Council on the Visalia Police Department’s 2025 AB 481 Annual Report and the Military Equipment Use Policy, as required by Government Code Section 7070 et seq.
The report included a summary of equipment categorized as “military equipment” under AB 481, its use during the reporting period, and confirmation that all equipment use was in compliance with the approved policy.
Council briefly discussed the state mandate and the requirements imposed by AB 481.
Mayor Taylor opened the public hearing at 8:56 p.m. There being no speakers, the public hearing was closed at 8:56 p.m.
A motion was made by Council Member Steve Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Brian Poochigian, to approve as recommended. The motion carried by the following unanimous vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Steve Nelsen, Emmanuel
Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn
Aye:
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Taylor adjourned the meeting at 8:57 p.m.
UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
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1. 25-0248Upcoming City Council Meetings
Monday, August 18, 2025 @ 7:00 p.m. at 707 W. Acequia
Tuesday, September 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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