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, March 2, 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:
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. 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)
1. 25-0656New employee introductions
Cheyenne Brien, Accounting Assistant
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Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final March 2, 2026
2. 25-0528State Legislation Presentation - Receive presentation from Nielsen, Merksamer, Parrinello, Gross & Leoni on 2025 state legislative activity and a forecast of state legislative activity for 2026.
Representatives from Nielsen Merksamer, Michelle Rubalcava and Geoff Neill provided a presentation summarizing 2025 state legislative activity for the city and forecasting legislative activity for 2026.
Council received the presentation, asked questions and discussed key points.
Public comment was received from Maria Guillen and Jim Reeves.
No action was required, and the City Council thanked them for the information.
3. 25-0539Capital Improvement Program - Continue review of select Fiscal Year 2026/27 and 2027/28 Capital Improvement Program
Budgets and future capital projects. Funds to be reviewed are Measure R Bike/Trail, Recreational Facilities, Storm Sewer Construction, Storm Sewer Deficiency, Groundwater Recharge, Waterways, and Storm Sewer Maintenance.
Finance and Technology Director Renee Nagel, and Finance Manager Nichol Ritchie presented a review of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for fiscal years 2026/27 and 2027/28, discussing funds for Measure R Bike/Trial, recreational facilities, storm sewer construction and deficiency, groundwater recharge, waterways, and storm sewer maintenance. The presentation included an overview of the CIP process and proposed projects.
The item was received and filed.
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Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final March 2, 2026
4. 25-0686Subdivision streamlining ordinance discussion - Provide staff direction toward initiating a zone text amendment within Visalia Municipal Code Title 16 (subdivision ordinance) based on multiple factors including, but not limited to, changes in planning and zoning law; consistency with zoning ordinance changes; streamlining of subdivision review. This item is scheduled for the Work Session; if not completed, it may be continued during the Regular Session portion of this meeting.
Principal Planner Jarred Olson and Planning & Community Preservation Director Paul Bernal presented information regarding subdivision streamlining and potential amendments to the subdivision ordinance.
After much council discussion, Council Member Poochigian motioned to approve staff's recommendation, with the modification that staff also investigate what the residential lot/unit threshold would be to have streamlined 20 percent of the lots/units of past subdivisions.
Public comment was received from Kathy Falconer.
The motion was made by Council Member Brian Poochigian, seconded by Council Member Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, to approved as amended. The motion carried by the following vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Steve Nelsen, Emmanuel
Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn
Aye:
5. 25-0698Review of progress on City Council’s goals and priorities - Receive an update on the progress towards the goals and priorities set by City Council at their planning workshop in January, 2025. This item is scheduled for the Work Session; if not completed, it may be continued during the Regular Session portion of this meeting.
City Manager Leslie Caviglia provided an update on progress towards City Council goals and priorities established in January 2025. Topics included wastewater treatment planning, industrial land inventory, design standards, alternative energy and transportation, and digital access improvements. Council provided comments and feedback.
Public comment was received from Jim Reeves.
No action was required, and the City Council thanked City Manager Leslie Caviglia for the information.
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Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final March 2, 2026 ADJOURN WORK SESSION - 6:00 PM (Or, immediately following Work Session adjournment)
Mayor Taylor adjourned the Work Session at 6:24 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER REGULAR SESSION - 7:00 PM
Mayor Brett Taylor called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
INVOCATION LED BY PASTOR JOSHUA ESCOBEDO OF THE PRAISE
CENTER
SPECIAL PRESENTATION / RECOGNITION
Centennial Recognition
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 Vicken Totten, Jim Reeves, Irene Lapin, and Max Luprecio.
ITEMS OF INTEREST
CONSENT CALENDAR
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Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final March 2, 2026 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 agenda item #3 and agenda item #9 be pulled from the consent calendar.
A motion was then made by Council Member Steve Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Brian Poochigian, to approve the remainder of the consent calendar. The motion carried by the following unanimous vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Steve Nelsen, Emmanuel
Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn
Aye:
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 Harold Myers, Irene Lapin, Maria Guillen, and Jim Reeves.
1. 25-0657Authorization to read ordinances by title only.
Adopted
2. 25-0623Facility Use Agreement - Authorize City Manager to execute Facility Use Agreements with Visalia Youth Baseball and Visalia Little League for C.R. Shannon baseball complex at Riverway Sports Complex for youth baseball games.
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Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final March 2, 2026
3. 25-0674Membership Agreement - Receive update report on Tulare County Economic Development Corporation and authorize
payment for first half of Fiscal Year 25/26 in the amount of $30,000 from existing Economic Development Division budget.
This item was pulled by Council Member Steve Nelsen for separate discussion.
Assistant City Manager John Lollis discussed the agreement and changes within the EDC. After a discussion, a motion was made by Council Member Poochigian, seconded by Council Member Liz Wynn, to approve as recommended.
This Consent Item was Adopted.
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn
Aye:
Steve NelsenNo:
4. 25-0676Accept the City of Visalia Cash and Investment Report - Accept the second quarter report of the fiscal year which consists of months October, November, and December of 2025.
5. 25-0680Fiscal Year 2026-27 Federal Congressional community project funding and directed spending requests - Approve the submittal of Federal Congressional community project funding and
directed spending requests for the upcoming 2026-27 Fiscal Year.
6. 25-0681Authorization to apply for the Alcohol Policing Program - Authorize the Visalia Police Department to apply for the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Alcohol Policing Program for up to $100,000, submit the application by March 30, 2026, if awarded appropriate up to $100,000 in the General Fund, and approve Resolution 2026-07.
7. 25-0689Confirm a letter of support - Confirm a letter of support for Visalia Heritage’s “All Aboard Visalia” / Visalia Depot Heritage project funding request.
8. 25-0691Notice of Completion - Request authorization to file a notice of completion for Teagan Ranch subdivision located along the east side of Rono Court, north of Grove Court.
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Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final March 2, 2026
9. 25-0709Sales Tax Measure Feasibility Survey - Authorize the City Manager to award a contract to Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (FM3 Research) for an amount not to exceed
$45,000 to evaluate the feasibility of a potential local sales tax measure for the November 2026 General Election and
appropriate $45,000 from the General Fund.
This item was pulled from the consent calendar by Council Member Steve Nelsen. Council further discussed the survey to evaluate the feasibility of a potential local sales tax measure for the November 2026 General Election.
A motion was made by Council Member Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, seconded by Vice Mayor Liz Wynn, to Adopted. The motion failed by the following vote:
Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, Liz WynnAye:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Steve NelsenNo:
REGULAR ITEMS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS (Items continued from the Work Session, if any)
Comments related to regular 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.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Brett Taylor adjourned the meeting at 7:47 p.m.
UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
1. 25-0658Upcoming City Council Meetings
Monday, March 16, 2026 @ 7:00 p.m. at 707 W. Acequia
Monday, April 6, 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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