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 ChambersTuesday, January 20, 2026
ROLL CALL
Council Member Brian Poochigian, Mayor Brett Taylor, Council Member Steve Nelsen, Council Member Emmanuel Hernandez
Soto, and Vice Mayor Liz Wynn
Present:
*Council Member Emmanuel Hernandez Soto arrived at 7:01pm.
CALL TO ORDER WORK SESSION - 4:00 PM (Unless otherwise noted) Mayor Brett Taylor called the meeting 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 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.
Public Comment was received from Jim Reeves.
WORK SESSION AND ACTION ITEMS (as described)
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1. 25-0590Receive the City of Visalia Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) -Receive a presentation on the report and accept it for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
Finance and Technology Director Renee Nagel, Finance Manager Jason Montgomery, Financial Analyst Kari Williams and Consultant Auditor Lindsay Zimmerman provided a presentation for the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, including an overview of the City’s financial position, audit results, and compliance with reporting standards.
Council accepted the presentation and thanked staff for the information .
A motion was made by Council Member Steve Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Brian Poochigian, to approved. The motion carried by the following vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Steve Nelsen, Emmanuel
Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn
Aye:
2. 25-0591Annual Measure T independent accountants’ report - Review and accept the annual report on applying agreed-upon procedures for fiscal year ending 6/30/25.
Finance and Technology Director Rene Nagel, Finance Manager Jason Montgomery and Financial Analyst Kari Williams presented the independent accountants’ report for Measure T for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, outlining the results of the agreed-upon procedures.
The City Council reviewed and accepted the report.
A motion was made by Council Member Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, seconded by Vice Mayor Liz Wynn, to approved. The motion carried by the following vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Steve Nelsen, Emmanuel
Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn
Aye:
3. 25-0592Annual Measure N independent accountants’ report - Review and accept the annual report on applying agreed-upon
procedures for fiscal year ending 6/30/25.
Finance and Technology Director Renee Nagel presented the independent accountants’ report for Measure N for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, outlining the results of the agreed-upon procedures.
The City Council reviewed and accepted the report.
A motion was made by Council Member Brian Poochigian, seconded by Council Member Steve Nelsen, to approved. The motion carried by the following vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Steve Nelsen, Emmanuel
Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn
Aye:
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4. 25-0607Neighborhood park development - Recommendation and approval for the conceptual designs of two new neighborhood parks at the Elliott Property (west side of Roben Street south of Tulare Ave) and the Pearl Wood Property (one-quarter mile southeast of McAuliff Street and Cherry Avenue).
Parks and Recreation Director Jason Glick and Engineering Director Jason Huckleberry presented conceptual designs for the Elliot Property and the Pearl Wood Property as part of the neighborhood park development item.
Council discussed the Pearlwood Property proposed design, including amenities such as art features and botanical garden elements, and requested additional information regarding associated costs and potential modifications.
Following discussion, a motion was made and seconded to table consideration of the Pearl Wood Property design and associated amenities to a future meeting to allow for additional review and information.
Public comment was received from Lisa Walsh and Joanne Chamberlain.
A motion was made by Council Member Brian Poochigian, seconded by Council Member Steve Nelsen, to table the item. The motion carried by the following vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Steve Nelsen, Emmanuel
Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn
Aye:
Council reviewed the conceptual designs for the Elliot Property and engaged in discussion regarding project scope, amenities, and associated costs. Discussion included consideration of removing or modifying certain higher-cost elements.
Following discussion, a motion was made and seconded to approve Design Option No. 3 for the Elliott Property, as outlined in the staff recommendation.
A motion was made by Council Member Brian Poochigian, seconded by Council Member Steve Nelsen, to approved. The motion carried by the following vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Steve Nelsen, Emmanuel
Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn
Aye:
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5. 25-0609Aquatic facility presentation - Parks and Recreation Department management with consultants from Aquatics Design Group will deliver a presentation on aquatic facilities with a competitive pool and recreation amenities and receive direction from Council.
Parks and Recreation Director Jason Glick introduced Dennis Berkshire, President of Aquatic Design Group, who provided a presentation regarding potential aquatic facility concepts, including a competitive pool and recreational amenities.
Council received the presentation and engaged in discussion regarding potential facility options, site locations, funding strategies, and estimated project timelines. Discussion included consideration of phased project approaches, exploration of grant and private funding opportunities, and the potential use of a sales tax measure and consultant services to evaluate funding feasibility.
Public comment was received from Dave Alberstein, Louis Sepulveda, Maria Lebeau, Maria Guillén, Irma Willer, and Ellen Dolvert.
Following discussion council proceeded with Option No. 3, including a 50-meter pool and recreational pool, and to direct staff to return with funding options for both full and phased project approaches, including projected timelines and consideration of funding for consultant services to evaluate the feasibility of a potential sales tax measure.
A motion was made by Council Member Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, seconded by Vice Mayor Liz Wynn, to approved. The motion carried by the following vote:
Brett Taylor, Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, Liz WynnAye:
Brian Poochigian, Steve NelsenNo:
ADJOURN WORK SESSION - 6:00 PM (Or, immediately following Work Session)
Mayor Brett Taylor adjourned the Work Session at 6:52 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER REGULAR SESSION - 7:00 PM
Mayor Brett Taylor called the meeting to order at 7:15 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
INVOCATION LED BY PASTOR CHRIS ARCHER, NAZARENE CHURCH
SPECIAL PRESENTATION / RECOGNITION
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Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final January 20, 2026 Certificate of Recognition - Eagle Scout, Scout Troop 1920
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 Efrain Becerra, Lina Contreras 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.
Council Member Steve Nelsen requested to pull agenda Item 3: Youth Non-Profit Grant Awards and Item 14: Conditional award for Cameron Creek linear recharge project.
A motion was made by Council Member Steve Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Brian Poochigian, to approve the remainer of the consent calendar as read. The motion carried by the following vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Steve Nelsen, Emmanuel
Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn
Aye:
1. 25-0588Authorization to read ordinances by title only.
This Consent Item was approve.
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2. 25-0468Authorization to Accept COPS Grant Expenditures - Authorize and accept recommended expenditures for training, equipment, salary, and benefits for 1.5 police officer positions through the State of California fiscal year 2025/26 Citizens Option for Public Safety (COPS) Program funds of $224,616 and $223,197 for fiscal year 2024-25 COPS Growth funds for a total grant of $447,813 and appropriate $67,500 in the 631 grant fund.
3. 25-0519Youth Non-Profit Grant Awards - Review and approval of the Citizens Advisory Committee recommendations for the 2026 Youth Non-Profit Grant Awards.
This item was pulled from the Consent Calendar by Council Member Steve Nelsen for separate discussion.
Council Member Nelsen requested an overview of the item. Staff provided additional information regarding the Citizens Advisory Committee recommendations for the 2026 Youth Non-Profit Grant Awards.
Council discussion followed.
Public comment was received from Efrain Becerra and Jim Reeves.
A motion was made by Council Member Brian Poochigian, seconded by Council Member Steve Nelsen, to approved. The motion carried by the following vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Steve Nelsen, Emmanuel
Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn
Aye:
4. 25-0605Fire Department grant application confirmation - Confirm authorization for staff to apply for the fiscal year 2026 State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) for the replacement purchase of standardized rescue personal protective equipment and life-safety rescue rope, in the amount of $18,225; authorize staff to accept the grant and appropriate funds if awarded.
5. 25-0604General Plan annual progress report - Receive and accept the City of Visalia’s General Plan annual progress report for 2025 and authorize staff to submit to the Governor's Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation.
6. 25-0521General Plan reserve area appropriation and contract award - Appropriate an additional $25,000 from the General Fund and authorize the City Manager to award the contract for professional services for preparation of reserve area land use designations, specific plan for potential industrial land uses and program environmental impact report to QK, Inc. for a total amount not to exceed $491,517.
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7. 25-0622Designate a portion of City owned property into public right of way - Adopt Resolution 2026-01, designating a portion of City owned property located at the southwest corner of Roeben Street and Howard Avenue into the public right of way system.
8. 25-0458Award contract for short range transit plan update- Authorize the City Manager to award a contract for the short range transit plan update to Jarret Walker and Associates and allocate $205,000 to the capital improvements project budget of which $136,000 will be paid by Tulare County Association of Governments on a reimbursement basis and $69,000 from local transit funding.
9. 25-0557Award on-call construction management and resident engineering services contract - Authorize the City Manager to execute a one-year contract, with the option to renew for an additional four one-year periods, with four construction management and resident engineer consultants consisting of 4 Creeks, Inc., A & M Consulting Engineers, CCME, Inc., and NV5, Inc.; and place these firms on an on-call list to provide construction management and resident engineer services and related services in support of the city’s capital improvement projects. The annual contract for each consultant shall not exceed $500,000 without additional authorization from the City Council.
10. 25-0577Award contract and transfer funds for Tulare Avenue Project - Authorize the City Manager to award the construction contract to Don Berry Construction Inc. for the Tulare Avenue major road rehabilitation from Roeben to Demaree project in the amount of $4,473,867; authorize the transfer of $1,495,000 within the road maintenance and rehabilitation account (Senate Bill 1) fund between projects and authorize the transfer of $25,000 from the annual replace and relocate sanitary sewer mains project (CP9456).
11. 25-0583Award annual contract for engineered wood fiber to various city playground sites - Authorize the City Manager to award contract to Air Applied Mulch, of Wilton, CA, for an annual amount not to exceed amount of $45,000.
12. 25-0585Award construction management services- Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with 4 Creeks, Inc. to provide construction management services for the Tulare Avenue Major Street Rehabilitation from Roeben to Demaree in the amount of $275,000.
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13. 25-0586Award construction material testing services - Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Krazan & Associates to provide geotechnical material testing services for the Tulare Avenue Major Street Rehabilitation from Roeben to Demaree in the amount of $75,000
14. 25-0453Conditional award for Cameron Creek linear recharge project - Conditionally authorize the City Manager to award the
construction contract to Katch Environmental, Inc for the Cameron Creek linear recharge project in the amount of
$2,201,753.32; approve change order number one for scope change in the reduction amount of ($32,913); and appropriate $845,125 from the General Fund 001 to be reimbursed as
described in this report.
This item was pulled from the Consent Calendar by Council Member Steve Nelsen for separate discussion.
Council Member Nelsen requested additional information regarding the project and its necessity. Rebecca Keenan, Engineering, provided a summary and responded to Council questions.
A motion was made by Council Member Steve Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Brian Poochigian, to approved. The motion carried by the following vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Steve Nelsen, Emmanuel
Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn
Aye:
15. 25-0611Award annual contract for backflow testing, repairs, and maintenance services at various city owned locations - Authorize the City Manager to award contract to AAA Backflow Prevention for an annual amount not to exceed amount of $49,842.50.
16. 25-0625Award engineering design services - Authorize the City Manager to award and enter into a contract with Brandley Engineering for the engineering design project for the design phase of the Taxilane “A” and “B” and Hangar H3 Row 10 reconstruction project at Visalia Municipal Airport.
17. 25-0603Notice of completion - Request authorization to file the notice of completion for the Valley Strong Ballpark Outfield Fence & Batter’s Eye Replacement Project.
18. 25-0610Park project notice of completion - Request authorization to file a partial notice of completion for the booster pump installation project at various parks.
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19. 25-0612Park project notice of completion - Request authorization to file a notice of completion for the Stonebrook Park shade structure design and installation services project.
20. 25-0613Park project notice of completion - Request authorization to file a notice of completion for the Sunset Park shade structure design and installation services project.
21. 25-0614Park project notice of completion - Request authorization to file a notice of completion for the Village Park shade structure design and installation services project.
22. 25-0616Park project notice of completion - Request authorization to file a notice of completion for the Whitendale Park shade structure design and installation services project.
23. 25-0621Side letter agreement with employee group - Adopt a side letter agreement approving the proposed changes to the Confidential Group Compensation and Benefit Summary and authorize the City Manager to execute same.
24. 25-0627Fiscal Year 2026-27 federal congressional community project funding requests - Approve the submittal of federal congressional community project funding requests for the upcoming 2026-27 fiscal year.
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. 25-0606Public Hearing and Ordinance Adoption - Public Hearing, second reading and final adoption of Ordinance No. 2025-16 for the 2025 CA Building Code.
Building and Engineering Director Jason Huckleberry presented the second reading and final adoption of Ordinance No. 2025-16, adopting the 2025 California Building Code as mandated by the State of California. Director Huckleberry noted this is a routine, tri-annual update and that no changes had been made since the prior presentation.
Mayor Taylor opened the public hearing.
No public comment was received.
Mayor Taylor closed the public hearing at 7:34 p.m.
A motion was made by Council Member Steve Nelsen, seconded by Vice Mayor Liz Wynn, to approved. The motion carried by the following vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Steve Nelsen, Emmanuel
Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn
Aye:
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Taylor adjourned the meeting at 7:35 p.m.
UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
1. 25-0589Upcoming City Council Meetings
Monday, February 2, 2026 @ 7:00 p.m. at 707 W. Acequia
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 @ 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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