Visalia City Council

Visalia City Council Visalia City Council 707 W. Acequia Visalia, CA 93291 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 Monday, May 5, 2025 7:00 PM City Council Chambers ROLL CALL (Mayor Taylor arrived at 4:05 p.m.) Present: Council Member Brian Poochigian, Mayor Brett Taylor, Council Member Steve Nelsen, Council Member Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, and Vice Mayor Liz Wynn 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) 1. New Employee Introductions: 25-0126 Parks and Recreation Department - Trails Division Fernando Moran, Trails Maintenance Supervisor Chad Widman, Trails Maintenance Technician Jordan Conway, Trails Maintenance Worker Cesar Aceves, Trails Maintenance Worker Noah Archuleta, Trails Maintenance Worker David Elizarraraz, Trails Maintenance Worker Andrew Noel, Trails Maintenance Worker Elisabeth Nunez, Trails Maintenance Worker Joaquin Ortiz, Trails Maintenance Worker Paul Vasquez, Trails Maintenance Worker Visalia City Council Page 1 Printed on 8/21/2025 Page 1 of 9 Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 5, 2025 2. Outstanding Industry Partner in Education Award 25-0120 3. Cannabis Ordinance Discussion - Provide staff with initial 25-0134 direction on preliminary Cannabis Ordinance content and structure. Planning and Community Preservation Director Paul Bernal and Economic Development Manager Devon Jones presented Part 1 of the Cannabis Ordinance Discussion. Director Bernal advised that the purpose of the meeting was to establish the preliminary framework and structure of the ordinance. Council provided consensus on the municipal code title placement, select business types, and identified preferred zoning districts. Public comment was received from Louis Sepulveda. Staff thanked Council for the direction and advised they will return at a future meeting. 4. Fire Department Overview Presentation - Fire Department 25-0159 command staff are presenting an overview of the Fire department to include a general overview of the operations, response data and updates on projects and programs. Battalion Chief Tom Van Grouw and Fire Chief Dan Griswold provided a power point presentation offering an overview of the Fire Department. The presentation included general operations, response data, and updates on projects, programs, including community engagement. Battalion Chief Van Grouw advised that the focus was on department operations and the suppression division. Staff noted that future presentations will cover the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division and the Fire Prevention Division. Council thanked staff for the information. 5. Civic Center Phase 2 Update Presentation. Receive a 25-0170 presentation and update on the Visalia Civic Center Phase 2 Project. Civil Engineer Mike Porter, City Engineer Chris Crawford, and Finance Director Renee Nagel provided a power point presentation updating Council on the Visalia Civic Center Phase 2 Project. The presentation covered project planning and development, the project team, the request for qualifications, bids, project financing, and an updated project schedule. Visalia City Council Page 2 Printed on 8/21/2025 Page 2 of 9 Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 5, 2025 ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION - 6:00 PM (Or, immediately following Work Session) Mayor Taylor adjourned the Work Session at 6:09 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 EXECUTIVE PASTOR JONATHON CHANO, RESTORATION MINISTRY SPECIAL PRESENTATION / RECOGNITION Arbor Day 2025 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 comments were received from Raquel Arias, Irene Lapin, Maria Guillén, Efrain Becerra, and Valerie Girot. CONSENT CALENDAR Visalia City Council Page 3 Printed on 8/21/2025 Page 3 of 9 Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 5, 2025 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. Mayor Taylor pulled agenda item 2 and Council Member Hernandez Soto pulled agenda item 15 for separate discussion. A motion was made by Council Member Steve Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Brian Poochigian to approve the remainder of the Consent Calendar. The motion carried unanimously. 1. Authorization to read ordinances by title only. 25-0089 2. Valley Strong Ballpark Outfield Fence & Batter’s Eye 25-0079 Replacement Project Award- Authorize the City Manager to sign the construction contract with Forcum/Mackey Construction, Inc., in the amount of $915,000 for the Valley Strong Ballpark Outfield Fence & Batter’s Eye Replacement Project. Senior Civil Engineer Rebecca Keenan stepped forward to discuss the project and provide details on the replacement of the batter's eye. A motion was made by Council Member Brian Poochigian, seconded by Vice Mayor Liz Wynn to approve. The motion carried unanimously. 3. Fire Department Medical Director Contract - Authorize the City 25-0131 Manager to enter into a medical director services contract with Chadi Kahwaji Incorporated for not to exceed $42,000 annually for one year, with the option to renew for 4 additional one-year terms for a total of 5 years. 4. Award Visalia Housing Loan Portfolio Contract - Authorize the 25-0135 City Manager to sign a contract with AmeriNational Community Services for a 5-year agreement to manage the City of Visalia Housing Loan Portfolio from FY 2025/26 through FY 2029/30, for an amount not to exceed $149,190. 5. Accept the City of Visalia Cash and Investment Report - Accept 25-0161 the City of Visalia Cash and Investment Report for the third quarter of the fiscal year which consists of months January, February, and March of 2025. Visalia City Council Page 4 Printed on 8/21/2025 Page 4 of 9 Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 5, 2025 6. Award a Contract for the Repair and Maintenance of 25-0139 Compressed Air Systems - Authorize the City Manager to award a contract to Air & Lube Systems Inc. for the repair and maintenance of compressed air system components for the Fleet Maintenance Division in an amount not to exceed $30,000 annually, totaling $150,000 over the life of the contract, with an option to renew annually for up to (4) additional one-year terms. 7. Contract for the Repair and Maintenance for Lube Systems - 25-0140 Authorize the City Manager to award a contract to Air & Lube Systems Inc. for the repair and maintenance of lube system components for the Fleet Maintenance Division in an amount not to exceed $30,000 annually, totaling $150,000 over the life of the contract, with an option to renew annually for up to (4) additional one-year terms. 8. Authorization to Submit Allocation Request for V-LINE Transit 25-0148 Service - Authorization to submit an allocation request in the amount of $451,557 to the California Department of Transportation Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) for operating funds to continue funding the V-LINE operations and approve the funds to be appropriated when the grant is awarded (Resolution No.2025-28). 9. Mural Request - Consideration of a mural application request 25-0152 from Tulare County Farm Bureau for one mural located on the south-facing wall of the building located at 737 North Ben Maddox Way. 10. Request Authorization to File Notice of Completion and 25-0150 Appropriation of Funds for Network Fiber Connectivity Project - Authorize the filing of a Notice of Completion the Network Fiber Connectivity at the Visalia Animal Care Center, and appropriate an additional $27,000 from the ARPA Fund. 11. Park Project Notice of Completion - Request authorization to file 25-0153 a Notice of Completion for the Rotary Park Playground Replacement Project. 12. Park Project Notice of Completion - Request authorization to file 25-0154 a Notice of Completion for the Jefferson Park Playground Replacement Project. 13. Consolidated Water District Formation Ballot Measure - 25-0162 Authorization to not submit ballots for a petition to form the Consolidated Water District in parts of Tulare County. Visalia City Council Page 5 Printed on 8/21/2025 Page 5 of 9 Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 5, 2025 14. Resolution Adopting Objective Design Standards - Adoption of 25-0165 Resolution No. 2025-30 pertaining to the approval of Objective Design Standards in accordance with the City Council’s prior action taken for Zoning Text Amendment No. 2024-03: A request by the City of Visalia to add and amend regulations within the Visalia Municipal Code Title 17 (Zoning Ordinance) pertaining to Single-Family Residential Objective Design standards and Planned Residential Development standards applicable to new single-family residential developments. The regulations will apply Citywide to properties within the city limits of the City of Visalia. 15. Request by Vice Mayor Liz Wynn - Request for a future agenda 25-0166 Item regarding additional recreational opportunities such as pickleball courts or other short-term projects. Council discussed the additional recreational opportunities for the City of Visalia. Public comment was received from Efrain Becerra. A motion was made by Council Member Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, seconded by Vice Mayor Liz Wynn to approve. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, Liz Wynn No: Steve Nelsen 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 Page 6 Printed on 8/21/2025 Page 6 of 9 Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 5, 2025 1. Appeal of Historic Preservation Advisory Committee’s denial- A 25-0149 public hearing to consider an appeal of the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee’s denial of a request to replace 48 windows on a single-family residence located in the D-MU (Downtown Mixed Use) Zone. The project site is located at 410 North Court Street (APN: 094-271-006). Associate Planner Cristobal Carrillo stepped forward and provided a power point presentation on the appeal of the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee’s (HPAC) denial of a request to replace 48 wood windows with vinyl windows on a single-family residence located at 410 North Court Street, within the Downtown Mixed Use (D-MU) Zone and Historic District. Mayor Taylor opened the public hearing at 7:47 p.m. Public comment was received from Irene Lapin, Efrain Becerra, Tylor Davis, and Kevin Fistolera. There being no further comments, Mayor Taylor closed the public hearing at 7:56 p.m., and referred the matter back to Council. Council discussed the matter and discussed the alternative recommendation from staff to approve the appeal. A motion was made by Council Member Brian Poochigian, seconded by Council Member Steve Nelsen to approve the alternate recommendation Number 1: Approve the appeal and deny the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee's approval of HPAC Item No. 2025-05. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: Brian Poochigian, Brett Taylor, Steve Nelsen, Liz Wynn No: Emmanuel Hernandez Soto Visalia City Council Page 7 Printed on 8/21/2025 Page 7 of 9 Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 5, 2025 2. Notice of Award Civic Center Phase 2. Authorize the City 25-0069 Manager to execute an agreement with Seals Construction, of Visalia, CA in the amount of $72,780,000, and authorize additional appropriation of funds for the full project cost $99.3 million for the Visalia Civic Center Phase 2 Project. Civil Engineer Mike Porter and Finance Director Renee Nagel stepped forward and presented a power point presentation on the Notice of Award for the Civic Center Phase 2 Project. The presentation included details on authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement with Seals Construction of Visalia, CA, in the amount of $72,780,000, and to authorize an additional appropriation of funds for the full project cost of $99.3 million. Mayor Taylor opened the public hearing at 8:18 p.m. Public comment was received from Maria Guillén. There being no further comments, Mayor Taylor closed the public hearing at 8:19 p.m. A motion was made by Council Member Steve Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Brian Poochigian to approve. The motion carried unanimously. CLOSED SESSION REPORT ADJOURNMENT Mayor Taylor adjourned the meeting at 8:23 p.m. UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS Visalia City Council Page 8 Printed on 8/21/2025 Page 8 of 9 Visalia City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 5, 2025 1. Upcoming City Council Meetings 25-0129 Monday, May 19, 2025 @ 7:00 p.m. at 707 W. Acequia Monday, June 2, 2025 @ 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 Visalia City Council Page 9 Printed on 8/21/2025 Page 9 of 9