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, February 17, 2026
ROLL CALL
CALL TO ORDER WORK SESSION - 5:00 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. 25-0629New employee introductions
Zachary Giovanni, Firefighter/Paramedic
Ciera Ortiz, Firefighter/Paramedic
Alexis Walty, Firefighter/Paramedic
Felix Hernandez, Squad Paramedic
Bryden Ruiz, Squad Paramedic
Ruben Gonzales, Wastewater Collections Division Maintenance Service Worker
Chris Maynes, Trails Supervisor
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Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 17, 2026
2. 25-0538Capital Improvement Program - Review select fiscal year 2026/27 and 2027/28 Capital Improvement Program Budgets and future capital plans.
Finance Manager Nichol Ritchie and Finance & Technology Director Renee Nagel presented the first review of the proposed six-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The plan outlines capital priorities aligned with regulatory compliance, infrastructure preservation, and strategic growth. The first two fiscal years (FY 2026/27 and FY 2027/28) are proposed for adoption with the bi-annual budget, totaling $61.7 million and $24.5 million respectively, while the remaining four years reflect planning projections only. Staff reviewed eight capital funds, summarized available revenues, identified multi-funded projects, and noted where advances or grant funding would be required.
Detailed information was provided regarding proposed projects within the Wastewater, Sewer Connection, Building Safety, Animal Services, Airport, Solid Waste, and Transit funds, including capacity expansion, equipment replacement, regulatory compliance, and infrastructure maintenance projects.
Staff responded to questions from Council regarding project timelines, funding sources, and multi-funded allocations.
Public comment was received from Jesus Sanchez.
Council members thanked staff for their presentation and noted that no action was required on this item.
This Work Session Item was received and filed.
ADJOURN WORK SESSION - 6:00 PM (Or, immediately following Work Session)
Mayor Taylor adjourned the Work Session at 5:41 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 FATHER JAMES TASY, GOOD SHEPHERD
CATHOLIC PARISH
PUBLIC COMMENTS
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Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 17, 2026 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 Jesus Sanchez and Efrain Becerra.
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 Nelsen advised that he would be abstaining from Consent Calendar item 8:
Visalia Convention and Visitors Bureau Agreement. Council Member Poochigian then pulled agenda item 8.
A motion was made by Council Member Brian Poochigian, seconded by Council Member Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, to approve the remainder of the Consent Calendar. The motion carried by the following vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Steve Nelsen, Emmanuel
Hernandez Soto
Aye:
1. 25-0653Authorization to read ordinances by title only.
This Consent Item was approve.
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Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 17, 2026
2. 25-0525Authorize a sole source agreement - Authorize the City Manager to enter into a sole source agreement with Community Services Employment Training as a local Conservation Corps partner, for a one-year term with the option to renew annually for up to four (4) additional one-year terms, in an amount not to exceed $500,000 per year.
This Consent Item was approve.
3. 25-0620Authorization to purchase copiers and printers - Authorize the City Manager to enter into a purchase agreement with Clines Business Equipment in the amount of $317,291 to purchase copiers and printers and enter into a 5-year maintenance and supply agreement not to exceed $55,000 annually utilizing the competitively bid National Association of State Procurement Officials ValuePoint master agreement.
This Consent Item was approve.
4. 25-0639Award construction contract and accept California Natural Resources Agency funding - Authorize the City Manager to award the construction contract for the Oaks Basin project to Archer Civil Construction, LLC. in the amount of $3,723,412.66, transfer $150,000 within the Storm Drain Deficiency Fund (222), and accept and appropriate an additional $1,400,000 grant funding from the State of California Natural Resources Agency.
This Consent Item was approve.
5. 25-0652Notice of completion - Authorization to file the notice of completion for the Valley Strong Stadium (Recreation Park) Expansion & Remodel of Clubhouse & Batting Cage: Task 1 - Batting Cage & Related Site Work.
This Consent Item was approve.
6. 25-0659Award of annual contract for analytical laboratory services - Authorize the City Manager to award an annual contract, not to exceed $260,000 per year, with four (4) annual renewal options to Moore Twining Associates for analytical laboratory services in support of regulatory compliance and operational monitoring for the City of Visalia.
This Consent Item was approve.
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Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 17, 2026
7. 25-0660Approve a contract extension with Aspen Rentals - Authorize the City Manager to approve a 1-year extension to the existing agreement with Aspen Rentals in the amount of $170,000 for the rental of a belt filter press at the Visalia Water Reclamation Facility and the transfer of $170,000 within the Wastewater Fund.
This Consent Item was approve.
9. 25-0665Designate City owned property into public right of way - Adopt Resolution 2026-03 designating City owned property located at the northwest corner of Roeben Street and Howard Avenue into the public right of way system.
This Consent Item was approve.
10. 25-0668Designate City owned property into public right of way - Adopt Resolution 2026-04 designating City owned property located at the southwest corner of Pratt Avenue and Mooney Blvd into the public right of way system.
This Consent Item was approve.
11. 25-0669Designate portion of City owned property into public right of way - Adopt Resolution 2026-05 designating portions of City owned property located at the northwest and southwest corners of McAulliff Street and Evergreen Avenue into the public right of way system.
This Consent Item was approve.
12. 25-0667Parks and Recreation Commission appointment- Approve the Parks and Recreation Commission sub-committee
recommendation to appoint Jacob Olson to the Parks and
Recreation Commission.
This Consent Item was approve.
8. 25-0662Visalia Convention and Visitors Bureau Agreement - Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and enter into a professional services agreement with the Visalia Convention and Visitors Bureau for convention sales and tourism marketing services for the 2026 calendar year up to $361,049, in addition to $189,912 for services provided without an agreement for the 2025 calendar year, for a total amount not to exceed $550,961.
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Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 17, 2026 Council Member Nelsen advised that he would be abstaining from this matter.
Council Member Poochigian then pulled this item off of the consent calendar.
A motion was made by Council Member Brian Poochigian, seconded by Council Member Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, to approve. The motion carried by the following vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Emmanuel Hernandez SotoAye:
Steve NelsenAbstain:
REGULAR ITEMS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS
None Scheduled
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Taylor adjourned the meeting at 7:14 p.m.
UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
1. 25-0654Upcoming City Council Meetings
Monday, March 2, 2026 @ 7:00 p.m. at 707 W. Acequia
Monday, March 16, 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.
Respectfully Submitted,
Reyna Rivera
Chief Deputy City Clerk
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