Visalia City Council
Regular MeetingVisalia, CA · June 5, 2023
Minutes
Visalia City Council
Visalia City Council 707 W. Acequia
Visalia, CA 93291
City Council
Meeting Minutes - Final
Mayor Brian Poochigian
Vice Mayor Brett Taylor
Council Member Steve Nelsen
Council Member Emmanuel Hernandez Soto
Council Member Liz Wynn
Monday, June 5, 2023 7:00 PM City Council Chambers
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Brian Poochigian, Vice Mayor Brett Taylor, Council
Member Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, and Council Member
Steve Nelsen
Absent: Council Member Liz Wynn
CALL TO ORDER WORK SESSION - 4:00 PM (Unless otherwise noted)
The meeting was called 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. 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. NEW EMPLOYEE INTRODUCTIONS 23-0210
Public Works:
Ryan Gonzalez, Equipment Mechanic Trainee
Nathan Uhlenhopp, Senior Equipment Mechanic
Ryan Spohn, Mechanic/Welder
2. Presentation of the 2023 Public Opinion Survey Results by the 23-0194
Citizens Advisory Committee.
Frank Ruiz, Chair of the CAC, Ed Jones, CAC co-chair, and Jason Serpa,
Public Works Manager, provided the 2023 Public Opinion Survey results.
Page 1 of 9
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final June 5, 2023
3. Receive, review, and discuss proposed new fees, increases, and 23-0091
adjustments to the City’s Rates and Fees Schedule for Fiscal
Year 2023-24
Kari Williams, Financial Analyst, provided Council with an overview of the City’s
annual rates and fees increase. Melody Murch, Assistant Finance Director,
answered Council questions regarding the fee and revenues for Animal Services
and the proposed fee changes. Laurissa Roggenkamp, Parks & Recreation
Manager, answered Council questions regarding the lighting fees of softball vs.
baseball fields.
All fees, except Impact fees and Business tax, are annually reviewed for annual
cost of living adjustments for the next fiscal year. City ordinances limit annual
Impact Fee and Business Tax adjustments to specific CPI indices and are
adjusted accordingly. Annual inflationary adjustments help Departments cover
costs and lessen the burden on the General Fund so that the fund will be
available to cover critical operations including public safety.
There will be two meetings to review the Rates and Fees for Fiscal Year
2023-24. The first meeting, on June 5, is for presentation and discussion only -
to receive, review, and discuss the proposed changes to the City’s Rates and
Fees Schedule. The second meeting, on June 19, is to conduct a public hearing
and take action to adopt the City’s Rates and Fees Schedule for Fiscal Year
2023-24. If approved, the effective date is July 1 for all rates and fees, except for
Impact Fees which require a 60-day notice, thus making the effective date for
these fees August 19, 2023.
4. Receive a staff presentation and provide feedback regarding the 23-0169
project Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA) Tree Wells Project located on Main
Street in downtown Visalia.
Frank Senteno, City Engineer, Chantha Chap, Associate Engineer, and
Alejandro Ortega, Associate Engineer, provided the presentation regarding the
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) Tree Wells Project located on Main Street in downtown Visalia.
Staff conducted a preliminary field investigation throughout the project limits and
noted various ADA compliance concerns. Some of these concerns included
non-ADA cross slopes, trip hazards, large cracks, and broken tree well tiles.
Based on the field investigation findings and working within the budget of
available funds, staff developed a project to address most of the ADA concerns
within the project limits. Staff recommends proceeding with localized repairs to
fix as many of the ADA concerns as possible, within the available budget and
requested for Council direction.
A motion was made by Council Member Nelsen, seconded by Vice Mayor Brett
Taylor, to approve as recommended. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Emmanuel Hernandez Soto,
Steve Nelsen
Page 2 of 9
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final June 5, 2023
Absent: Liz Wynn
5. Receive a presentation and update regarding the current state of 23-0216
the Valley Oaks Golf Course.
Nick Mascia, Assistant City Manager introduced the item and Aaron Hensley,
General Manager. The Council received a presentation and update regarding
the current state of the Valley Oaks Golf Course.
6. Review and discuss the recently held inaugural Wings and 23-0215
Wheels Car and Plane show held at Visalia Municipal Airport.
Nick Mascia, Assistant City Manager, and Jody Miller, Airport Manager provided
the report on the inaugural Wings and Wheels Car and Plane show held at the
Visalia Airport.
Jody Miller reviewed the pros and cons of the event along with citizen feedback.
The event was a success for the most part and the lessons learned will assist
with future events such as this one.
ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION - 6:00 PM (Or, immediately following
Work Session)
The meeting was adjourned to Closed Session at 5:43 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER REGULAR SESSION - 7:00 PM
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
INVOCATION
ITEMS OF INTEREST
The Council commented on various activities they participated in the last few weeks.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION / RECOGNITION - None
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Page 3 of 9
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final June 5, 2023
This is the time for citizens to comment on subject matters that are not on the agenda and
within the jurisdiction of the Visalia City Council. The Council asks that you keep your
comments brief and positive. Creative criticism, presented with appropriate courtesy, is
welcome.
This is also the time for citizens to request an item from the Consent Calendar be pulled for
discussion purposes. Public comments related to all pulled Consent Calendar items and
Regular or Public Hearing items listed on the agenda will be heard at the time that item is
discussed or when the Public Hearing is opened.
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.
Gilbert Rives, Tulare County Mental Health Director, announced Tulare County will like to
purchase the old Casa Grande building for an adult mental health facility.
CONSENT CALENDAR
A motion was made by Council Member Steve Nelsen, seconded by Vice Mayor Brett Taylor
to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Emmanuel Hernandez Soto,
Steve Nelsen
Absent: Liz Wynn
Consent Calendar items are considered routine and will be enacted in one motion. There will
be no separate discussion of these matters unless a request is made and then the item will be
removed from the Consent Calendar to be discussed and voted upon by a separate motion .
1. Authorization to read ordinances by title only. 23-0189
2. Authorize City Manager to enter into an agreement with 22-0450
Cal-Water to provide construction and construction management
services in the amount of $869,171, appropriate $140, 708 of
additional Department of Water Resource (DWR) grant funds,
appropriate $15,000 for staff indirect costs from the General
Fund, and to enter into updated agreement with Self-Help
Enterprises (SHE) to provide grant administrative services in the
amount of $29,617.
3. Request to authorize the City Manager to file Notice of 23-0104
Completion for Greenway Trail Phase 1. (Project Number
3010-72000/CP0298-999)
Page 4 of 9
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final June 5, 2023
4. Consider approval of the attached “Amendment to Declaration of 23-0172
Covenants, Conditions, Easements and Restrictions of the
Willow Street Parking Structure”.
5. Authorize the City Manager to execute a new sole source 23-0183
contract with The Papé Group Co. for service, repair, and parts
for Kenworth trucks and John Deere construction equipment.
This contract will be for one year, with 4 one-year optional
renewals with a not to exceed amount of $75,000 per year,
$375,000 over the life of the contract.
6. Authorize the City Manager to award the contract for RFP 23-0190
22-23-43 - Compost Services to both West Coast Sand and
Gravel (dba Wood Industries), and USA Waste of California, Inc.
for an annual amount of $537,075 and $739,225, respectively,
for an initial three-year term, renewable for two additional
one-year terms.
7. Adopt Resolution No. 2023-20 to designate various road projects 23-0199
for Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA)
2023/24 funding from the State of California Road Repair and
Accountability Act of 2017 (Senate Bill SB1) and authorize the
transfer of $3,400,000 within the SB1 RMRA (113) Fund from
CP0290 Pavement Rehabilitation to the Capital Improvement
Projects (CIP’s) outlined within this report.
8. Adopt Resolution 2023-15 authorizing the City Manager, or their 23-0202
designee, to execute all documents, including but not limited to,
applications for grants, agreements, amendments, requests for
local assistance payment programs, and related authorizations
for CalRecycle.
9. Authorize the City Manager to execute a new sole source 23-0211
contract with Municipal Maintenance Equipment (MME) for
service, repair, and parts for the City’s Vac-Con equipment. This
contract will be for one year, with 4 one-year optional renewals
with a not to exceed amount of $75,000 per year, $375,000 over
the life of the contract.
10. Authorization to execute annual service agreement with College 23-0217
of the Sequoias Training Resource Center for $75,000 for FY
2023/24 services.
Page 5 of 9
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final June 5, 2023
11. Authorize the City Manager to award Request for Bids (RFB) 23-0221
22-23-47, an annual contract for Digester Cleaning at the Water
Reclamation Facility (WRF) to Wastewater Solids Management
Co. of Yachats, OR. for an annual not to exceed cost of
$348,590 and appropriate an additional $101,590 from the
Wastewater Fund.
12. Authorization for the City Manager to award a not to exceed 23-0223
annual contract in the amount of $275,000 to VAL Security
Services from Vallejo, CA for guard staffing services at various
City Facilities (RFB 22-23-35).
13. Accept the City of Visalia Cash and Investment Report for the 23-0230
third quarter of the fiscal year which consists of months January,
February, and March of 2023.
14. Approve Resolution Number 2023-21 adopting the City of 23-0231
Visalia's annually updated Investment Policy and delegating
authority to invest funds for the City to the Finance
Director/Treasurer for fiscal year 2023-24.
15. Request authorization to record the final parcel map for Tentative 23-0234
Parcel Map No. 2023-02, located at the southwest corner of
West Kibler Avenue and North Plaza Drive (APN: 077-120-017).
16. Consider adoption of Resolution 2023-19 requesting to 23-0224
participate in the Department of Water Resources Temporary
Flood Diversion Equipment & Recharge Enhancement Initiative
and appropriate $560,000 to be fully reimbursed by The
Department of Water Resources.
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.
Page 6 of 9
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final June 5, 2023
1. Public Hearing and Adoption of Resolution 2023-17 which allows 23-0208
the City of Visalia to place Miscellaneous Special Assessments
on the Tulare County secured property tax roll for Curb and
Gutter, Sewer Connection, Deferred Impact Fees, Property and
Business Improvement District, Northeast Improvement District,
Landscape and Lighting Maintenance District, Landscape and
Lighting Parks Construction, Open Space Assessment District,
Orchard Walk East/West Utility Assessment District, Laura and
Atwood Water Main Assessment District, Delinquent Utilities,
Code Enforcement, and Weed & Lot Abatement.
Ruth Pena, Financial Analyst, provided the report for the tax roll. Items
contested will be discussed at the June 19, 2023 meeting.
Three categories: Agreements entered into at the property owners request,
special district assessments, and delinquent services. Ruth explained the
contracts, special assessments, and the delinquent service charges.
The total 23/24 years estimate is $7.78M. Action tonight is to request a public
hearing.
Nick Mascia, ACM, answered Council question regarding the Ben Maddox and
there is a project in the works to repair in the northwest area.
The public hearing was opened at 7:16 p.m.
Tammy Rempey, appeared to contest the bill and spoke to Corbin Reed.
Alfred Barajas, Visalia, contested the bill at the address he stated in the records.
Tracy Robertshaw, stated the tax lien will be removed from the address.
A motion was made by Council Member Steve Nelsen, seconded by Vice Mayor
Brett Taylor, to approve as recommended. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Emmanuel Hernandez Soto,
Steve Nelsen
Absent: Liz Wynn
Page 7 of 9
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final June 5, 2023
2. Conduct the first of two Public Hearings to amend the Measure N 23-0214
Spending Plan to appropriate $45,100 for the FY 2022/23 and
$18,200 for FY 2023/24 to address cost increases related to
patrol vehicle purchases and upfitting; and renew the five-year
contract with Axon Enterprise Inc., totaling $1,738,749.49 and
appropriate $128,112 for FY 2023/24.
Captain Ford provided the Measure N Spending plan to appropriate $45,100 for
the FY 2022/23 and $18,200 for FY 23/24 to address cost increases related to
patrol vehicle purchases and unfitting and renew the five-year contract with Axon
Enterprise Inc. totaling $1,738,749.49 and appropriate $128,112 for FY 2023/24.
Axon is bundling their packages differently and the Police Department is also
requesting additional technology for body worn cameras. The Measure N
Oversight Committee concurred with the recommendation.
This contract will include the following:
Officer Safety Plan Bundle
Axon Visual Reality Training
Axon Performance
Axon Air
Axon Investigate
Axon Migrate
The public hearing was opened and closed at 7:26 p.m. There were no public
comments.
Page 8 of 9
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final June 5, 2023
3. Receive, review, and discuss the completed drawing set portion 23-0222
of the in-progress Visalia Municipal Airport (VMA) Airport Layout
Plan (ALP) prior to its submission to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA).
Jody Miller, Airport Manager, provided the Airport Layout Plan (ALP) and
drawing that the City will be submitting to the FAA. The highlights of the ALP
include a flexible runway extension. Open-ended, future focused planning, fully
accommodates current users. The next steps are the drawing submission to
FAA and Final ALP submission. The grant applied for was $4M and staff will
continue to apply for grants and talk with private air facilities.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT - None
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:37 p.m.
UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
1. UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS: 23-0239
Monday, June, 19, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. @ at 7:00 p.m. @ 707 W.
Acequia
Monday, July 17, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. @ at 7:00 p.m. @ 707 W.
Acequia
Page 9 of 9
Agenda
Visalia City Council
Visalia City Council 707 W. Acequia
Visalia, CA 93291
City Council
Meeting Agenda - Final
Mayor Brian Poochigian
Vice Mayor Brett Taylor
Council Member Emmanuel Hernandez Soto
Council Member Steve Nelsen
Council Member Liz Wynn
Monday, June 5, 2023 7:00 PM City Council Chambers
ROLL CALL
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.
WORK SESSION AND ACTION ITEMS (as described)
1. NEW EMPLOYEE INTRODUCTIONS 23-0210
Public Works:
Ryan Gonzalez, Equipment Mechanic Trainee
Nathan Uhlenhopp, Senior Equipment Mechanic
Ryan Spohn, Mechanic/Welder
2. Presentation of the 2023 Public Opinion Survey Results by the 23-0194
Citizens Advisory Committee.
3. Receive, review, and discuss proposed new fees, increases, and 23-0091
adjustments to the City’s Rates and Fees Schedule for Fiscal Year
2023-24.
4. Receive a staff presentation and provide feedback regarding the 23-0169
project Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA) Tree Wells Project located on Main
Street in downtown Visalia.
5. Receive a presentation and update regarding the current state of 23-0216
the Valley Oaks Golf Course.
Page 1 of 5
City Council Meeting Agenda - Final June 5, 2023
6. Review and discuss the recently held inaugural Wings and Wheels 23-0215
Car and Plane show held at Visalia Municipal Airport.
ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION - 6:00 PM (Or, immediately following
Work Session)
CALL TO ORDER REGULAR SESSION - 7:00 PM
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
INVOCATION
ITEMS OF INTEREST
SPECIAL PRESENTATION / RECOGNITION
PUBLIC COMMENTS
This is the time for citizens to comment on subject matters that are not on the agenda and
within the jurisdiction of the Visalia City Council. The Council asks that you keep your
comments brief and positive. Creative criticism, presented with appropriate courtesy, is
welcome.
This is also the time for citizens to request an item from the Consent Calendar be pulled for
discussion purposes. Public comments related to all pulled Consent Calendar items and
Regular or Public Hearing items listed on the agenda will be heard at the time that item is
discussed or when the Public Hearing is opened.
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.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Consent Calendar items are considered routine and will be enacted in one motion. There will
be no separate discussion of these matters unless a request is made and then the item will be
removed from the Consent Calendar to be discussed and voted upon by a separate motion .
1. Authorization to read ordinances by title only. 23-0189
2. Authorize City Manager to enter into an agreement with Cal-Water 22-0450
to provide construction and construction management services in
the amount of $869,171, appropriate $140, 708 of additional
Department of Water Resource (DWR) grant funds, appropriate
$15,000 for staff indirect costs from the General Fund, and to enter
into updated agreement with Self-Help Enterprises (SHE) to
provide grant administrative services in the amount of $29,617.
Page 2 of 5
City Council Meeting Agenda - Final June 5, 2023
3. Request to authorize the City Manager to file Notice of Completion 23-0104
for Greenway Trail Phase 1. (Project Number
3010-72000/CP0298-999)
4. Consider approval of the attached “Amendment to Declaration of 23-0172
Covenants, Conditions, Easements and Restrictions of the Willow
Street Parking Structure”.
5. Authorize the City Manager to execute a new sole source contract 23-0183
with The Papé Group Co. for service, repair, and parts for
Kenworth trucks and John Deere construction equipment. This
contract will be for one year, with 4 one-year optional renewals with
a not to exceed amount of $75,000 per year, $375,000 over the life
of the contract.
6. Authorize the City Manager to award the contract for RFP 22-23-43 23-0190
- Compost Services to both West Coast Sand and Gravel (dba
Wood Industries), and USA Waste of California, Inc. for an annual
amount of $537,075 and $739,225, respectively, for an initial
three-year term, renewable for two additional one-year terms.
7. Adopt Resolution No. 2023-20 to designate various road projects 23-0199
for Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) 2023/24
funding from the State of California Road Repair and Accountability
Act of 2017 (Senate Bill SB1) and authorize the transfer of
$3,400,000 within the SB1 RMRA (113) Fund from CP0290
Pavement Rehabilitation to the Capital Improvement Projects
(CIP’s) outlined within this report.
8. Adopt Resolution 2023-15 authorizing the City Manager, or their 23-0202
designee, to execute all documents, including but not limited to,
applications for grants, agreements, amendments, requests for
local assistance payment programs, and related authorizations for
CalRecycle.
9. Authorize the City Manager to execute a new sole source contract 23-0211
with Municipal Maintenance Equipment (MME) for service, repair,
and parts for the City’s Vac-Con equipment. This contract will be
for one year, with 4 one-year optional renewals with a not to
exceed amount of $75,000 per year, $375,000 over the life of the
contract.
10. Authorization to execute annual service agreement with College of 23-0217
the Sequoias Training Resource Center for $75,000 for FY 2023/24
services.
Page 3 of 5
City Council Meeting Agenda - Final June 5, 2023
11. Authorize the City Manager to award Request for Bids (RFB) 23-0221
22-23-47, an annual contract for Digester Cleaning at the Water
Reclamation Facility (WRF) to Wastewater Solids Management Co.
of Yachats, OR. for an annual not to exceed cost of $348,590 and
appropriate an additional $101,590 from the Wastewater Fund.
12. Authorization for the City Manager to award a not to exceed annual 23-0223
contract in the amount of $275,000 to VAL Security Services from
Vallejo, CA for guard staffing services at various City Facilities
(RFB 22-23-35).
13. Accept the City of Visalia Cash and Investment Report for the third 23-0230
quarter of the fiscal year which consists of months January,
February, and March of 2023.
14. Approve Resolution Number 2023-21 adopting the City of Visalia's 23-0231
annually updated Investment Policy and delegating authority to
invest funds for the City to the Finance Director/Treasurer for fiscal
year 2023-24.
15. Request authorization to record the final parcel map for Tentative 23-0234
Parcel Map No. 2023-02, located at the southwest corner of West
Kibler Avenue and North Plaza Drive (APN: 077-120-017).
16. Consider adoption of Resolution 2023-19 requesting to participate 23-0224
in the Department of Water Resources Temporary Flood Diversion
Equipment & Recharge Enhancement Initiative and appropriate
$560,000 to be fully reimbursed by The Department of Water
Resources.
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.
1. Public Hearing and Adoption of Resolution 2023-17 which allows 23-0208
the City of Visalia to place Miscellaneous Special Assessments on
the Tulare County secured property tax roll for Curb and Gutter,
Sewer Connection, Deferred Impact Fees, Property and Business
Improvement District, Northeast Improvement District, Landscape
and Lighting Maintenance District, Landscape and Lighting Parks
Construction, Open Space Assessment District, Orchard Walk
East/West Utility Assessment District, Laura and Atwood Water
Main Assessment District, Delinquent Utilities, Code Enforcement,
and Weed & Lot Abatement.
Page 4 of 5
City Council Meeting Agenda - Final June 5, 2023
2. Conduct the first of two Public Hearings to amend the Measure N 23-0214
Spending Plan to appropriate $45,100 for the FY 2022/23 and
$18,200 for FY 2023/24 to address cost increases related to patrol
vehicle purchases and upfitting; and renew the five-year contract
with Axon Enterprise Inc., totaling $1,738,749.49 and appropriate
$128,112 for FY 2023/24.
3. Receive, review, and discuss the completed drawing set portion of 23-0222
the in-progress Visalia Municipal Airport (VMA) Airport Layout Plan
(ALP) prior to its submission to the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA).
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
ADJOURNMENT
UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
1. UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS: 23-0239
Monday, June, 19, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. @ at 7:00 p.m. @ 707 W.
Acequia
Monday, July 17, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. @ at 7:00 p.m. @ 707 W.
Acequia
Page 5 of 5
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