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 18, 2026
ROLL CALL
Council Member Brian Poochigian, Mayor Brett Taylor, and Vice Mayor Liz Wynn
Present:
Council Member Steve Nelsen, and Council Member
Emmanuel Hernandez Soto
Absent:
CALL TO ORDER WORK SESSION - 5:30 PM (Unless otherwise noted) Mayor Taylor called the meeting to order at 5:30 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)
1. 25-0812Downtown Visalia Property and Business Improvement District Annual Report - Receive the 2026 Annual Operations Report for the organization.
Finance Manager Nichol Ritchie, introduced Bill Kitchen, Chair, and Tom Gaebe, Treasurer, of the Downtown Visalia Property Association, who presented a power point presentation to Council.
Public comment was received from Maria Guillén, Jim Reeves, and Rosemary Garcia Varela.
Council thanked the presenters for the information.
A motion was made by Council Member Brian Poochigian, seconded by Vice Mayor Liz Wynn, to approve. The motion carried by the following vote:
Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Liz WynnAye:
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 18, 2026 ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION - 6:00 PM (Or, immediately following Work Session)
Mayor Taylor adjourned to closed session at 6:00 p.m.
Council Member Brian Poochigian, Mayor Brett Taylor, Council Member Steve Nelsen, and Vice Mayor Liz Wynn
Present:
Council Member Emmanuel Hernandez SotoAbsent:
CALL TO ORDER REGULAR SESSION - 7:00 PM
Mayor Taylor called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Council Member Brian Poochigian, Mayor Brett Taylor, Council Member Steve Nelsen, and Vice Mayor Liz Wynn
Present:
Council Member Emmanuel Hernandez SotoAbsent:
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
INVOCATION LED BY PASTOR AUSTIN KAMMERAAD, VISALIA CHRISTIAN
REFORM CHURCH
SPECIAL PRESENTATION / RECOGNITION
Kaweah Delta Health Care District Guild Resolution of Recognition Public Works Week Proclamation
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 by Efrain Becerra.
ITEMS OF INTEREST
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 18, 2026
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.
A motion was made by Council Member Steve Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Brian Poochigian, to approve the Consent Calendar as read. The motion carried by the following vote:
Council Member Brian Poochigian, Mayor Brett Taylor, Council Member Steve Nelsen, and Vice Mayor Liz Wynn
Present:
Council Member Emmanuel Hernandez SotoAbsent:
1. 25-0705Authorization to read ordinances by title only.
This Consent Item was approve.
2. 25-0772Award Design Contract - Authorize the City Manager to award a professional design services contract to Peters Engineering Group in the amount of $376,050 for the design of the Shirk Street widening over Mill Creek project.
This Consent Item was approve.
3. 25-0774Purchase a solid waste replacement cab and chassis - Authorize the purchase of a new Peterbilt CNG cab and chassis from Coast Counties Peterbilt, Inc. through the Sourcewell
Cooperative contract, and authorize Coast Counties Peterbilt to repair, refurbish, and install an existing solid waste body on the new cab and chassis in the amount of $331,189.56, and approve the appropriation of funds from the Solid Waste Fund .
This Consent Item was approve.
4. 25-0788Record Final Parcel Map - Request authorization to record the final parcel map for Tentative Parcel Map No. 2024-11, located east of the East Prospect Avenue and North Cain Street
intersection (APN: 098-470-001).
This Consent Item was approve.
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 18, 2026
5. 25-0791Record Final Subdivision Map - Request authorization to record the final map for Pearl Woods Phase 2 subdivision, located at the southwest corner of McAuliff Street and Cherry Avenue (89 Lots); and, request authorization to initiate proceedings for annexation to Landscape and Lighting Assessment District No. 25-06 “Pearl Woods”, and ordering the improvements and the annexation to Assessment District No. 25-06 “Pearl Woods”. (Resolution Nos. 2026-25 and 2026-26 required).
This Consent Item was approve.
6. 25-0794Award professional services contract for senior meals- Authorize City Manager to enter into a professional services contract with The Smokin Burrito to provide food services for the Visalia Senior Center Lunch Program for a twelve (12) month period with options to extended annually thereafter for four (4) consecutive one-year periods, a potential of five (5) years total.
This Consent Item was approve.
7. 25-0795Award a contract for disposal of Class B biosolids - Authorize the City Manager to award a contract to Holloway Environmental Solutions for the disposal of Class B biosolids generated at the Visalia Water Reclamation Facility for a one-year term, with four annual renewal options, with an initial not-to-exceed amount of $250,000 and a total contract limit of $1,350,000 over the five-year term and appropriate $450,000 from the Wastewater Fund.
This Consent Item was approve.
8. 25-0796Development Reimbursement Agreement - Authorize the City Manager to execute the reimbursement agreement with
Self-Help Enterprises for master plan storm drain improvements associated with the Crescent Meadows senior affordable housing project located along the west side of Highland Street, north of Ferguson Avenue.
This Consent Item was approve.
9. 25-0799Developer Reimbursement Agreement - Authorize the City Manager to execute the reimbursement agreement with San Joaquin Valley Homes for the construction of the Shirk Street sanitary sewer trunkline from Walnut Avenue to Noble Avenue and the decommissioning of the existing force main and lift station, in the amount of $4,178,323.62 with modified payment terms.
This Consent Item was approve.
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 18, 2026
10. 25-0809Record Final Map - Request authorization to record the final map for Shepherds Ranch II Phase 2, located on the east side of Clancy Road, approximately ¼ mile south of West Goshen
Avenue (68 lots).
This Consent Item was approve.
11. 25-0817Fiscal Year 2025-26 State budget funding request - Confirm the submittal of a State budget funding request of Senator Melissa Hurtado in the current 2025-26 Fiscal Year for the replacement of a fire apparatus.
This Consent Item was approve.
12. 25-0818Measure R Citizens Advisory Committee appointment - recommendation to the Tulare County Transportation Authority for the appointment of Rick Eastes as the City of Visalia representative on the Measure R Citizens Advisory Committee.
This Consent Item was approve.
13. 25-0820Reappointment to the Tulare Mosquito Abatement District - reappointment of Charles Mayer as the Visalia representative on the Tulare Mosquito Abatement District Board of Trustees for a two-year term ending June 30, 2028.
This Consent Item was approve.
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.
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 18, 2026
1. 25-0726Tulare Avenue Paving Project Presentation - Review and provide direction to staff for the proposed bike lane configuration for the Tulare Avenue pavement rehabilitation project (Roeben Street to Demaree Street); receive a presentation on community
feedback, construction impacts, traffic detours, and resident impacts and review construction phasing plan and impacts.
Associate Engineer Jonathan Frausto, City Engineer Chris Crawford, and Engineering and Building Department Director Jason Huckleberry provided a PowerPoint presentation regarding the Tulare Avenue Paving Project and the proposed Class IV bicycle lane configuration.
Mayor Taylor opened the public comment period at 8:00 p.m. Public comments were received from Lisa Alvarado, Kinetha (no last name provided), Jim Reeves, Maria Guillén, Efrain Becerra, Laura Andersen, Ellis Doyal, Herb Simmons, Mya Royster, Mark Wall, Dayle Simmons, Brian Patterson, Tom McGuigun, and Kyle Glenn. There being no further comment, the public comment was closed at 8:38 p.m.
Council discussed the proposed bicycle lane configurations, differences between bicycle lane classifications, parking impacts, pedestrian crossings near the park, roadway safety, the implementation of similar improvements on other corridors, including new roadways, and potential modifications to improve the project.
A motion was made by Council Member Steve Nelsen, seconded by Vice Mayor Liz Wynn, to approve as recommended. The motion carried by the following vote:
Brett Taylor, Steve Nelsen, Liz WynnAye:
Brian PoochigianNo:
ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Taylor adjourned the regular meeting at 9:06 p.m. and announced that Council would reconvene the closed session that had not been completed earlier in the evening. Mayor Taylor advised that no reportable action was anticipated..
UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 18, 2026
1. 25-0707Upcoming City Council Meetings
Monday, June 1, 2026 @ 7:00 p.m. at 707 W. Acequia
Monday, June 15, 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