Visalia City Council
Regular MeetingVisalia, CA · August 5, 2024
Minutes
Visalia City Council
Visalia City Council 707 W. Acequia
Visalia, CA 93291
Visalia 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, August 5, 2024 7:00 PM Council Chambers
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Brian Poochigian, Vice Mayor Brett Taylor, Council
Member Steve Nelsen, Council Member Emmanuel Hernandez
Soto, and 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
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)
Page 1 of 8
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final August 5, 2024
1. New Employee Introductions: 24-0276
Convention Center:
Niccole Bartleson, Sales Representative
Neighborhood Preservation:
Celeste Parras, Maintenance Service Worker
Cesar Aceves, Maintenance Service Worker
Ryan Spittler, Maintenance Service Worker
Mike Gonzales, Maintenance Service Worker
Police Department:
Christopher Marx, Officer
Samuel Nevarez, Officer
Anthony McGowen, Community Service Officer
Public Works:
Landan Neal, Equipment Mechanic
Tim Helgeson, Senior Equipment Mechanic
Jakob Tos, Heavy Equipment Operator
Agustin Morales, Industrial Waste Inspector
Jennifer Flores, Pretreatment Program Coordinator (Promotion)
Elsa Wendt, PW Intern
Kali Jones, WWTP Intern
2. Little League All Stars - Recognition of Section 7 Champions - 24-0308
Visalia Little League 13-14 Junior All Stars
3. Award Contract for Visalia Transit Management, Operations and 24-0264
Maintenance - Authorize the City Manager to award a 5-year
base contract to RATP Dev not to exceed $109,000,000, with the
option to have five (5) single option years up to ten (10) years,
appropriate an additional $6,000,000 from the Transit
Operational fund balance, and hear the first reading of
Ordinance 24-08 as is required by the City Charter for lease
agreements with a duration of longer than five (5) years.
Angelina DeRossett, Transit Manager, and Caleb Bowman, Management
Analyst, provided the report and recommendation to award a 5 year base
contract to RATP Dev not to exceed $109,000,000, with the option to have five
single option years up to ten years.
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, Steve Nelsen, Emmanuel
Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn
Page 2 of 8
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final August 5, 2024
ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION - 6:00 PM (Or, immediately following
Work Session)
The meeting adjourned to Closed Session at 4:32 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER REGULAR SESSION - 7:00 PM
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
INVOCATION
Reverend Ernest Cotta, Christian Faith Fellowship 24-0324
ITEMS OF INTEREST
SPECIAL PRESENTATION / RECOGNITION
1. Special recognition of Lori Caccamo, artist of the new City of 24-0323
Visalia logo.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
This is the time for people to comment on matters 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 the opportunity to address the Council on any matter of interest, whether on the
agenda or not, other than the Consent Calendar.
People may comment one time during the evening for up to three minutes unless additional
time is authorized by the Council. 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.
The following citizens provided their name for public comment: Taylor, Fida Taha, Kathy
Falconer, Sherrie Bakkee, Dale Simmons.
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 by a City Council
Member and then the item will be removed from the Consent Calendar to be discussed and
voted upon by a separate motion.
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, Steve Nelsen, Emmanuel
Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn
Page 3 of 8
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final August 5, 2024
1. Authorization to read ordinances by title only. 23-0459
2. Contract Change Order, Fund Appropriation, & License 24-0266
Agreement - Authorize contract amendment for JFS Enterprises,
Inc. for increased orchard clearing at the East Side Regional
Park, the appropriation of additional funds, and a license
agreement with Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District.
3. Purchase of Two Ford F-250 Work Trucks with Service Beds and 24-0279
Appropriation of Funds - Authorize the City Manager to award a
purchase order to Rush Truck Center of Whittier, CA for an
amount not to exceed of $128,169.60 and appropriate an
additional $8,200 from the General Fund.
4. Purchase of John Deere 344 P-Teir Compact Wheel Loader - 24-0290
Authorize the City Manager to award a purchase order to
Lawrence Tractor Co. Inc. for the purchase of a John Deere 344
P-Teir Compact Wheel Loader through the Sourcewell
Cooperative contract in the amount of $209,027.93 and authorize
an additional appropriation of funds in the amount of $10,000
from the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund 441.
5. Record Final Map for Sequoia Bend Unit 3 - Request 24-0291
authorization to record the final map for Sequoia Bend, Unit 3
subdivision, located on south side of East Goshen Avenue
between North Cain and North Virmargo Street (42 lots); and
authorize the annexation of Sequoia Bend Unit 3 into Landscape
and Lighting Assessment District No. 22-06 “Sequoia Bend”
(Resolution Nos. 2024-44 and 2024-45 required). APN:
098-142-057 and 098-330-006.
6. Ordinance Adoption: Second reading and adoption of Ordinance 24-0293
No. 2024-07 for Zoning Text Amendment No. 2024-01, a request
by the City of Visalia to amend Visalia Municipal Code Titles 17
(Zoning), 5 (Business Regulations), 8 (Health and Safety), 12
(Streets, Sidewalks and Public Spaces), 16 (Subdivisions), and
18 (Agricultural Land Preservation) based on multiple factors
including, but not limited to: changes in state law, errors in
existing zoning text, changes in other sections of the Visalia
Municipal Code or changes in city procedures, changes in
business and/or development trends and activity, citywide.
7. Riggin Avenue SCE Pole Relocation Agreement: Authorize the 24-0294
City Manager to execute the Southern California Edison (SCE)
Facilities Relocations Agreement for $1,081,000 and adopt
Resolution 2024-xx for the Riggin Widening project between
Kelsey St to Shirk St.
Page 4 of 8
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final August 5, 2024
8. Designate Voting Delegate - Authorize and designate Council 24-0295
Member Liz Wynn as the voting delegate for the 2024 League of
California Cities Annual Conference and Leslie Caviglia, City
Manager and John Lollis, Assistant City Manager as the alternate
voting delegates.
9. Award a Contract for On-Call Fencing Services - Authorize the 24-0297
City Manager to award an annual contract for On-Call Fencing
Services to Ace Fence Company for one year, with 4 one-year
optional renewals with an amount not to exceed $80,000 per
year, or $400,000 over the life of the contract.
10. Award Riggin Avenue Widening Project: Authorize the City 24-0300
Manager to award the construction contract with Cen-Cal
Construction for Riggin Ave Widening Mooney Blvd to Conyer St.
in the amount of $6,480,000.00; authorize the transfer of
Measure R Regional funds; authorize the appropriation of
additional Transportation Impact Fee and Measure R Regional
funds; and authorize the amendment to the Measure R
Supplemental Agreement.
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 5 of 8
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final August 5, 2024
1. Cameron Ranch Estates Subdivision Annexation - Public hearing 24-0302
and consideration of the following actions:
1. Adopt Initial Study / Mitigated Negative Declaration No. 2024-
19 for Annexation No. 2024-02 and Cameron Ranch Estates
Tentative Subdivision Map No. 5598 (Resolution No. 2024-41
required); and
2. Initiation of Proceedings for Annexation No. 2024-02, a
request by Artemis Partners, LLC to annex 46.01 acres of
Residential Low Density land from the County of Tulare to the
City Limits of Visalia. Upon annexation the site will be zoned R-1-
5 (Single-Family Residential, 5,000 square feet minimum lot
area). The property is located on the south side of East Caldwell
Avenue between the future South Ben Maddox Way alignment
and South Pinkham Street within the jurisdiction of the County of
Tulare (APNs: 124-010-005 and 124-010-007) (Resolution No.
2024-42 required); and
3. Authorize the detachment from County Service Area No. 1 in
accordance with State and County requirements; and
4. Authorize the City Manager to sign and enter into a
Pre-Annexation Agreement.
Paul Bernal, Planning and Community Preservation Director, provided the report
and details regarding the Cameron Ranch Estates subdivision annexation and
requested for Council to conduct a public hearing to consider the following
actions:
1. Adopt initial study, mitigated negative declaration No 2024-19 for annexation
No. 2024-02 and Cameron Ranch Estates Tentative Subdivision Map No. 5598.
2. Initiation of Proceedings for Annexation No. 2024-02, a request by Artemis
Partners, LLC to annex 46.01 acres of Residential Low Density land from the
County of Tulare to the City Limits of Visalia. Upon annexation the site will be
zoned R-1-5.
3. Authorize the detachment from County Service Area No. 1 in accordance with
State and County requirements;
4. Authorize the City Manager to sign and enter into a Pre-Annexation
Agreement.
The public hearing was opened at 7:37 p.m.and closed.
A motion was made by Council Member Steve Nelsen, seconded by Council
Member Liz Wynn, to approve as recommended. The motion carried by the
following vote:
Aye: Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Steve Nelsen, Emmanuel
Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn
Page 6 of 8
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final August 5, 2024
2. Municipal Code Amendment - First Reading of Ordinance 24-0307
2024-09 amending Chapters 12.32 and 12.52 of the Visalia
Municipal Code relating to conduct in City Parks, Recreation
Areas and other Public Property.
Ken Richardson, City Attorney, provided the overview of the new laws regarding
City Parks, Recreation Areas and other public property. The City can eliminate
the overnight camping and property storage exceptions for parks and trails.
Other amendments included detail of storage of personal property, new
prohibitions on fires, fireworks, firearms, vandalism, animals in parks, and
hazardous materials.
Jason Salazar, Chief of Police, addressed the Council regarding the new ruling.
From an enforcement perspective, this will provide a new tool for PD, Code
Enforcement, and the HOPE Team; however, the scope is limited. Chief
Salazar stated this new law will not fix homelessness in the City of Visalia.
The City Attorney commented the ordinance was drafted as an urgency
ordinance and it will be at the Council's discretion as to approve as an urgency
ordinance or regular adoption.
The following citizens provided their name for public comment specific to this
item: Taylor, Fida Taha, Julia Doyal, Efrain Becerra, Erin Ford, Lisa Alvarado,
Maria Guillen, Carlos Gomez, Suzy Ward, Dale Simmons, Neomi Ming.
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Brett Taylor, seconded by Council Member
Liz Wynn, to approve the first reading and continue the item to August 12, 2024
at 5:15 p.m. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Steve Nelsen, Liz Wynn
No: Emmanuel Hernandez Soto
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
ADJOURNMENT: Meeting adjourned to August 12, 2024 at 5:15 p.m.
The meeting was continued to Monday, August 12, 2024 at 5:15 p.m.
UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
Page 7 of 8
Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final August 5, 2024
1. Upcoming City Council Meetings 24-0113
Monday, August 12, 2024 at 5:15 p.m. @ 707 W. Acequia
(Adjourned from August 5, 2024)
Monday, August 19, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. @ 707 W. Acequia
Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. @ 707 W. Acequia
(Monday Holiday Schedule)
If you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation
to fully participate in the meeting, please contact Michelle
Nicholson, to discuss your accessibility needs: 559-713-4512 or
email at Michelle.Nicholson@visalia.city
<mailto:Michelle.Nicholson@visalia.city>
Page 8 of 8
Agenda
Visalia City Council
Visalia City Council 707 W. Acequia
Visalia, CA 93291
Visalia City Council
Meeting Agenda - Final
Mayor Brian Poochigian
Vice Mayor Brett Taylor
Council Member Steve Nelsen
Council Member Emmanuel Hernandez Soto
Council Member Liz Wynn
Monday, August 5, 2024 7:00 PM 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
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)
Page 1 of 6
Visalia City Council Meeting Agenda - Final August 5, 2024
1. New Employee Introductions: 24-0276
Convention Center:
Niccole Bartleson, Sales Representative
Neighborhood Preservation:
Celeste Parras, Maintenance Service Worker
Cesar Aceves, Maintenance Service Worker
Ryan Spittler, Maintenance Service Worker
Mike Gonzales, Maintenance Service Worker
Police Department:
Christopher Marx, Officer
Samuel Nevarez, Officer
Anthony McGowen, Community Service Officer
Public Works:
Landan Neal, Equipment Mechanic
Tim Helgeson, Senior Equipment Mechanic
Jakob Tos, Heavy Equipment Operator
Agustin Morales, Industrial Waste Inspector
Jennifer Flores, Pretreatment Program Coordinator (Promotion)
Elsa Wendt, PW Intern
Kali Jones, WWTP Intern
2. Little League All Stars - Recognition of Section 7 Champions - 24-0308
Visalia Little League 13-14 Junior All Stars
3. Award Contract for Visalia Transit Management, Operations 24-0264
and Maintenance - Authorize the City Manager to award a 5-year
base contract to RATP Dev not to exceed $109,000,000, with the
option to have five (5) single option years up to ten (10) years,
appropriate an additional $6,000,000 from the Transit Operational
fund balance, and hear the first reading of Ordinance 24-08 as is
required by the City Charter for lease agreements with a duration of
longer than five (5) years.
ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION - 6:00 PM (Or, immediately following
Work Session)
CALL TO ORDER REGULAR SESSION - 7:00 PM
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
INVOCATION
Reverend Ernest Cotta, Christian Faith Fellowship 24-0324
ITEMS OF INTEREST
Page 2 of 6
Visalia City Council Meeting Agenda - Final August 5, 2024
SPECIAL PRESENTATION / RECOGNITION
1. Special recognition of Lori Caccamo, artist of the new City of 24-0323
Visalia logo.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
This is the time for people to comment on matters 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 the opportunity to address the Council on any matter of interest, whether on the
agenda or not, other than the Consent Calendar.
People may comment one time during the evening for up to three minutes unless additional
time is authorized by the Council. 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 by a City Council
Member 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. 23-0459
2. Contract Change Order, Fund Appropriation, & License 24-0266
Agreement - Authorize contract amendment for JFS Enterprises,
Inc. for increased orchard clearing at the East Side Regional Park,
the appropriation of additional funds, and a license agreement with
Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District.
3. Purchase of Two Ford F-250 Work Trucks with Service Beds 24-0279
and Appropriation of Funds - Authorize the City Manager to
award a purchase order to Rush Truck Center of Whittier, CA for
an amount not to exceed of $128,169.60 and appropriate an
additional $8,200 from the General Fund.
4. Purchase of John Deere 344 P-Teir Compact Wheel Loader - 24-0290
Authorize the City Manager to award a purchase order to Lawrence
Tractor Co. Inc. for the purchase of a John Deere 344 P-Teir
Compact Wheel Loader through the Sourcewell Cooperative
contract in the amount of $209,027.93 and authorize an additional
appropriation of funds in the amount of $10,000 from the Solid
Waste Enterprise Fund 441.
Page 3 of 6
Visalia City Council Meeting Agenda - Final August 5, 2024
5. Record Final Map for Sequoia Bend Unit 3 - Request authorization to 24-0291
record the final map for Sequoia Bend, Unit 3 subdivision, located on
south side of East Goshen Avenue between North Cain and North
Virmargo Street (42 lots); and authorize the annexation of Sequoia Bend
Unit 3 into Landscape and Lighting Assessment District No. 22-06
“Sequoia Bend” (Resolution Nos. 2024-44 and 2024-45 required). APN:
098-142-057 and 098-330-006.
6. Ordinance Adoption: Second reading and adoption of Ordinance 24-0293
No. 2024-07 for Zoning Text Amendment No. 2024-01, a request
by the City of Visalia to amend Visalia Municipal Code Titles 17
(Zoning), 5 (Business Regulations), 8 (Health and Safety), 12
(Streets, Sidewalks and Public Spaces), 16 (Subdivisions), and 18
(Agricultural Land Preservation) based on multiple factors
including, but not limited to: changes in state law, errors in existing
zoning text, changes in other sections of the Visalia Municipal
Code or changes in city procedures, changes in business and/or
development trends and activity, citywide.
7. Riggin Avenue SCE Pole Relocation Agreement: Authorize the 24-0294
City Manager to execute the Southern California Edison (SCE)
Facilities Relocations Agreement for $1,081,000 and adopt
Resolution 2024-xx for the Riggin Widening project between Kelsey
St to Shirk St.
8. Designate Voting Delegate - Authorize and designate Council 24-0295
Member Liz Wynn as the voting delegate for the 2024 League of
California Cities Annual Conference and Leslie Caviglia, City
Manager and John Lollis, Assistant City Manager as the alternate
voting delegates.
9. Award a Contract for On-Call Fencing Services - Authorize the 24-0297
City Manager to award an annual contract for On-Call Fencing
Services to Ace Fence Company for one year, with 4 one-year
optional renewals with an amount not to exceed $80,000 per year,
or $400,000 over the life of the contract.
10. Award Riggin Avenue Widening Project: Authorize the City 24-0300
Manager to award the construction contract with Cen-Cal
Construction for Riggin Ave Widening Mooney Blvd to Conyer St. in
the amount of $6,480,000.00; authorize the transfer of Measure R
Regional funds; authorize the appropriation of additional
Transportation Impact Fee and Measure R Regional funds; and
authorize the amendment to the Measure R Supplemental
Agreement.
REGULAR ITEMS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS
Page 4 of 6
Visalia City Council Meeting Agenda - Final August 5, 2024
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. Cameron Ranch Estates Subdivision Annexation - Public 24-0302
hearing and consideration of the following actions:
1. Adopt Initial Study / Mitigated Negative Declaration No. 2024
-19 for Annexation No. 2024-02 and Cameron Ranch
Estates Tentative Subdivision Map No. 5598 (Resolution No.
2024-41 required); and
2. Initiation of Proceedings for Annexation No. 2024-02, a
request by Artemis Partners, LLC to annex 46.01 acres of
Residential Low Density land from the County of Tulare to
the City Limits of Visalia. Upon annexation the site will be
zoned R-1-5 (Single-Family Residential, 5,000 square feet
minimum lot area). The property is located on the south side
of East Caldwell Avenue between the future South Ben
Maddox Way alignment and South Pinkham Street within
the jurisdiction of the County of Tulare (APNs: 124-010-005
and 124-010-007) (Resolution No. 2024-42 required); and
3. Authorize the detachment from County Service Area No. 1 in
accordance with State and County requirements; and
4. Authorize the City Manager to sign and enter into a
Pre-Annexation Agreement.
2. Municipal Code Amendment - First Reading of Ordinance 24-0307
2024-09 amending Chapters 12.32 and 12.52 of the Visalia
Municipal Code relating to conduct in City Parks, Recreation Areas
and other Public Property.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
ADJOURNMENT: Meeting adjourned to August 12, 2024 at 5:15 p.m.
UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
Page 5 of 6
Visalia City Council Meeting Agenda - Final August 5, 2024
1. Upcoming City Council Meetings 24-0113
Monday, August 12, 2024 at 5:15 p.m. @ 707 W. Acequia (Adjourned
from August 5, 2024)
Monday, August 19, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. @ 707 W. Acequia
Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. @ 707 W. Acequia (Monday
Holiday Schedule)
If you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to
fully participate in the meeting, please contact Michelle Nicholson,
to discuss your accessibility needs: 559-713-4512 or email at
Michelle.Nicholson@visalia.city
<mailto:Michelle.Nicholson@visalia.city>
Page 6 of 6
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