Visalia City Council Meeting – April 1, 2024

The Visalia City Council met on Monday, April 1, 2024, in City Council Chambers at 707 W. Acequia. A work session began at 5:30 PM with an Arbor Day proclamation and review of selected FY 2024/25 and FY 2025/26 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budgets, followed by a closed session. The regular session began at 7:00 PM with public comments, consent calendar approval, and a public hearing on the 2024 Annual Action Plan.

Work Session: Arbor Day Proclamation

• Council Member Steve Nelsen read a proclamation declaring April 17, 2024, as Arbor Day in the City of Visalia. The proclamation noted Arbor Day's history, benefits of trees, and recognized Visalia as a Tree City USA for the 41st year by the National Arbor Day Foundation, including the planting of six trees in a Visalia park.

Work Session: Capital Improvement Program Review

• Finance staff member Melody Murch presented the fourth opportunity to review projects proposed for the city's next six-year capital plan. Funds reviewed included the fleet maintenance fund, general fund vehicle replacements, and Measure T police vehicle replacements. She noted final budget adoption will occur in June 2024 and that only three funds have appropriations in the two-year budget section; the next CIP session is April 15.
• Council Member Nelsen asked about vehicle availability and backlog. Staff responded that they budgeted higher prices and expect to find vehicles, though some replacements may take additional months rather than years.
• Council Member Nelsen requested that item #2, replacement of four portable fleet welders ($13,100), be brought back to the current year rather than later, and that item #14 ($15,000), a piece of operational but aging equipment, be moved from FY 2025/26 into the first year. Staff agreed to bring both items back.
• Discussion included vehicle replacement criteria based on age and mileage, a police narcotics Honda Accord with 134,915 miles awaiting age eligibility, and the potential replacement of a police vehicle crashed over the weekend; staff said vacancies and a large police vehicle order allow rotation.

Consent Calendar

• The council unanimously approved the consent calendar, 5-0, including:
  • Authorization to read ordinances by title only.
  • Authorization for the City Manager to approve the MOU between the City and Visalia Unified School District for Police Department Youth Services Officers assigned as campus officers at VUSD middle and high schools.
  • Approval to record final parcel maps for Tentative Parcel Map No. 2023-03 at 119 West Houston Avenue and Tentative Parcel Map No. 2023-05 on West Glendale Avenue.
  • Acceptance and appropriation of $378,430 in SB 1383 Local Assistance Grant funds for one front load solid waste truck and recycling and food waste education.

Public Comments & Testimony

At the regular session, many residents spoke in support of creating a dedicated BMX/bike park in Visalia after recently built dirt jumps were plowed down. Speakers described the jumps as a "sanctuary" and "home" for riders, called for a free, sanctioned, rider-inclusive space, and offered to help research designs, costs, and funding.

• James Carr (Carr) described riding BMX for over 30 years and proposed a dedicated bike park, citing successful parks in Aptos, Elk Grove, and Pleasanton; he offered to research startup, maintenance, and funding and to help bring large-scale events.
• Brooke Crain (C-R-A-I-N), a professional BMX racer and 2016 Olympian who placed fourth, said she never felt hometown support and asked where BMX riders can call home; she works with USA BMX and offered to help create bike communities.
• Kyle Shore, Paul Ponce, Derek Pope, Alexis Pope, Brandon Hoffman, Dustin Hutzel, Lewis King, and Mike Murphy also spoke in support, emphasizing community benefits, youth development, free access, and the rider-built history of the destroyed jumps.
• Barry Kaplan questioned whether staff consulted the council before removing the jumps and urged the city to make a temporary or permanent solution quickly.
• Efrain Aguirre, a Fresno State student and bike commuter, said Visalia is not bike-friendly and called for safe bike infrastructure and free "third spaces" for low-income residents.
• Mayor Poochigian announced the city is setting up a follow-up meeting with the riding community and asked attendees to select dates and times via the city's social media.

Regular Item: 2024 Annual Action Plan and CDBG-CV Amendment

• Housing Specialist Margie Perez presented the draft 2024 Annual Action Plan for HUD CDBG and HOME funds and the 2019 CDBG-CV (CARES Act) Annual Action Plan Amendment IV.
• CDBG estimated resources: $1.2 million annual allocation plus $100,000 program income, totaling $1.3 million. Proposed uses included $175,000 for public services, $300,000 for affordable housing projects (Habitat for Humanity emergency repair and ADA program and Self-Help Enterprises senior mobile home repair), $50,000 for Lincoln Oval Park improvements, and $500,000 for downtown ADA tree well and sidewalk improvements.
• HOME estimated resources: $540,000 annual allocation, $100,000 program income, and $425,000 prior-year resources, totaling $1,065,000. Proposed uses included $64,000 in administration and $1,001,000 for the Rancho Colegio 80-unit multifamily affordable housing project.
• The 2019 CDBG-CV Amendment IV addressed $291,059 in additional CARES Act funding used for emergency rental and mortgage assistance through Self-Help Enterprises, which served 111 families; about $18,000 remained, and staff recommended using it for CDBG-CV administration, about $58,000 or 6%, well under the 20% administrative cap.
• The 30-day public comment period runs March 15 through April 15, 2024; the HUD report is due May 15, 2024. A citizen advisory committee meeting is scheduled April 3, and final council adoption is scheduled for April 15. No public comments were offered, and no vote was taken.

Closed Session Report

• Staff reported that the City of Visalia acquired real property from the Fred and Paula Marks Family Trust for the Caldwell Widening Project between Santa Fe and Lovers Lane. The purchase price was $338,800, escrow closed on March 21, 2024, and the project manager is Eric Bons. The agenda identified the property as APN 124-010-002 for right-of-way purposes.

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar approved 5-0.
• Council directed staff to bring back two CIP items for earlier consideration: $13,100 for portable fleet welders and $15,000 for equipment item #14.
• The city will schedule a follow-up meeting with the BMX/riding community; no formal vote was taken on a bike park.
• The Annual Action Plan public hearing was held with no public testimony; staff will return April 15 for final adoption.
• Closed session report was read into the record.