OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Visalia City Council Special Meeting: Housing Plans and CUP Appeal – December 3, 2024

City Council — Tuesday, December 3, 2024
BodyVisalia, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, December 3, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:07:46

Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

Council, we're gonna begin with public comments.

0:05

Citizens are now invited to comments on issues within the jurisdiction of the Visalia City Council and items listed on the closed session agenda.

0:12

The council asks that you keep your comments concise and positive.

0:16

Creative criticism presented with appropriate courtesy is welcome.

0:19

Each speaker will be allowed three minutes, and the timer will notify you when your time is expired.

0:23

Please begin your comments by stating and spelling your name and providing your city residence.

0:29

See no one on the microphone.

0:31

We'll move on to work session item number one.

0:34

New employee introduction introductions administration.

0:43

I know that's pretty good.

1:24

Testing.

1:25

I'm like, no, it's on.

1:28

Yeah.

1:31

Just in case.

1:33

Okay.

1:34

Thank you.

1:35

Um wanted to introduce everyone to Rachel Dangerfield.

1:39

Uh I think most of you have probably already seen her at our office over in administration.

1:43

Um she comes to us actually from the city of Riverside, so she does have some government experience, which has been very helpful for her to already have some general knowledge.

1:52

And you know, she moved uh back to Visaya after being gone a few years.

1:58

Her husband uh relocated here, and so it's been great getting her in here.

2:04

She's been here almost two months already.

2:06

So time is flying by.

2:08

So happy to have her.

2:10

Welcome.

2:11

Would you like to say a few words?

2:13

I'm okay.

2:15

Now I'm all like now it doesn't want to shut off.

2:17

I don't know.

2:18

Yeah, we'll just move it on.

2:19

Then we're good.

2:19

Well, if you could please come around to be welcome.

2:22

Welcome to the city.

2:25

Walk to Colin here.

2:33

Thank you.

2:34

Congratulations and welcome.

2:35

Thank you.

2:42

Chief, just so you know, I warned everybody I want a long speech as you introduce themselves.

2:48

I hope they have their speeches ready.

2:50

Good, they better have them ready.

2:52

All right, Viceoya Police Department.

2:54

All righty, good afternoon, mayor and members of council.

2:56

It's uh my honor this uh this evening to introduce you to two current employees that are just recently promoted, and then to a number of our new uh new hires that were just badged this last week.

3:09

So I'll start with the two promotions.

3:10

Um, first here to my left is newly promoted agent Jeff Dowling.

3:17

Jeff was raised in an Exeter.

3:19

He attended the COS Police Academy and two and graduated in 2001.

3:23

And following the academy, he was hired with the Portaville Police Department, where he was employed from 2002 through 2010.

3:29

And during his time there, he held various assignments, including patrol, field training officer, SWAT team member, and as a detective.

3:35

And in April 2010, he was hired by the Visalia Police Department, where he has been assigned to patrol as a field training officer, property crimes detective, uh detective of her narcotics unit, and most recently as a Tularie County high-intensity drug trade trafficking area detective, task force officer.

3:51

He just got a haircut.

3:52

You wouldn't have recognized him a week ago.

3:54

So I don't even recognize him now.

3:58

But uh he was promoted to agent on November 16th.

4:01

And then next uh Jeff is our newly promoted agent Kyle Callender.

4:05

Kyle was raised in Dainuba and he attended a manual high school where he graduated and then continued his education at CSU Fresno, where he received a bachelor's degree in criminology.

4:14

He attended the COS Academy where he graduated in 2012, and he was uh hired by the Tilery County Sheriff's Office where he was employed from 2012 to 2020 as a deputy.

4:24

During his time there, he held assignments such as patrol, field training officer, gang unit detective, swift water dive team member, fugitive apprehension team member, and as a detective in the homicide unit.

4:34

In June of 2020, he was hired by Visalia PD, where he has been assigned to patrol as a field training officer, and most recently as a detective in the violent crimes unit.

4:43

And he was also promoted to agent on November 16th.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Environmental Protection██████████████████████22%
Public Engagement█████████████13%
Affordable Housing███████████11%
Zoning█████████9%
Planning Commission████████8%
Personnel Matters███████7%
Procedural██████6%
Homelessness██████6%
Public Safety█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Visalia City Council Special Meeting – December 3, 2024

The Visalia City Council held a special meeting on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, with a 5:00 p.m. work session and a 7:00 p.m. regular session. The council welcomed new employees, approved housing funding plans, and voted 3-2 to deny appeals and uphold the Planning Commission's approval of a conditional use permit for a commercial project including a Sam's Club, gas station, and car wash near Westlake Village senior mobile home park.

Work Session: New Employee Introductions

  • Administration introduced Rachel Dangerfield as Administrative Assistant.
  • Police Chief introduced promoted Police Agents Jeff Dowling and Kyle Kalender, and new lateral Police Officers Alexia Gonzalez, Paulino Manzano, Anessa Mora, Erik Osuna, Juan Pinedo, and Trevor Smythe.

Work Session: Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) 5-Year Plan

  • Housing Specialist Margie Perez and Assistant Finance Director Melody Murch presented the FY 2025/26–2029/30 PLHA plan and a FY 2024/25 amendment.
  • PLHA revenues are projected at approximately $415,000 per year, about $2.1 million over five years, and HCD now requires at least 40% of PLHA funds be allocated to Affordable Owner-Occupied Workforce Housing.
  • Proposed activities include an emergency shelter/warming center, Navigation Center operations, and Eden House operations.
  • Council approved a motion to prepare the draft PLHA plan, publish it for public input, and amend the FY 2024/25 PLHA plan to include the 40% workforce housing activity. The motion passed 5-0.

Work Session: Consolidated Plan Development

  • Staff presented the FY 2025/26–2029/30 Consolidated Plan for CDBG and HOME funds, based on surveys and community engagement.
  • The city estimates about $1.2 million per year in CDBG funding ($6 million over five years) and $500,000 per year in HOME funding ($2.5 million over five years).
  • Councilmembers discussed priorities: Council Member Nelsen emphasized senior housing, youth/foster youth, and an emergency shelter; Council Member Hernandez Soto proposed moving code enforcement funding to park/youth or senior home repair; Council Member Wynn supported shifting funds toward the emergency shelter and weighting Navigation Center/Eden House funding by beds served; Mayor Poochigian and Council Member Nelsen opposed reducing code enforcement funding.
  • Member of the public Isabel Cardona, a veteran, requested more support for homeless veterans; staff clarified that veterans are not a standalone CDBG eligibility category but low-income veterans can qualify through other eligible activities, and mentioned a seven-home Habitat for Humanity veterans project.
  • Council directed staff to prepare the draft Consolidated Plan and FY 2025/26 Action Plan with prioritized recommendations. The motion passed 5-0.

General Public Comments and Items of Interest

  • James Alves of Able Inc. expressed disappointment over the city ending a 22-year park maintenance partnership, saying it contradicts inclusivity and harms employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
  • Fida Taha spoke about the war in Palestine.
  • Council Members reported on community events, including the Thanksgiving senior lunch, Candy Cane Lane Parade, and committee meetings.

Consent Calendar

  • The council approved the consent calendar 5-0, including:
    • Authorization to read ordinances by title only.
    • Receiving/filing the 2023/24 AB 1600 Impact Fee Report.
    • Authorizing the City Manager to execute two Southern California Edison Joint Use Agreements and adopt Resolutions 2024-66 and 2024-67.
    • Filing a Notice of Completion for the FY 22-23 Measure N Street Rehab on County Center Drive.
    • Appointment of Isaiah Farias to the Parks and Recreation Commission.

Public Hearing: Appeal of Conditional Use Permit No. 2024-17

  • Associate Planner Cristobal Carrillo presented the project: a 172,000-square-foot big-box retail membership club store (Sam's Club), a 14-fueling-station/28-position gas station, a car wash, and a fast-food restaurant in the Commons at Visalia Parkway Shopping Center. The retail and fast-food uses are allowed by right; the gas station and car wash required the conditional use permit.
  • The Planning Commission approved CUP 2024-17 by a 4-1 vote. Two appeals were filed, one by the owner of Westlake Village mobile home park and one by residents.
  • Appellants and their attorney argued that a full Environmental Impact Report should be required instead of a Mitigated Negative Declaration, citing health risk assessment concerns, a requested but denied comment extension by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, traffic impacts, noise, wildlife/geese, notice issues, and the CARB advisory 300-foot setback.
  • Developer Jim Shehadey said the project improves vacant land, that studies were completed, and that the developer changed the plan by moving gas pumps farther away, adding landscaping, lighting, and wall improvements.
  • Planning Director Paul Bernal said AB 98 does not apply to this type of retail project and that the environmental justice update is separate. Council Member Liz Wynn read a letter from Valley Air Executive Director Samir Sheikh stating the district did not oppose the project and that the gas station will still need an air permit.
  • Many Westlake Village residents and others spoke in opposition, citing risks to seniors, poor air quality in Visalia, noise, traffic, transparency, wildlife, and quality of life. One resident disputed the claim that all residents were notified through the HOA.
  • Consultant Jason Ellard of JK Consulting Group explained the health risk assessment used Valley Air's prioritization calculator and produced a score of 8.62, below the threshold of 10, leading to a less-than-significant finding.
  • Council Member Nelsen asked whether Sam's Club had been asked to reduce the number or move the pumps; the developer said the gas station is part of Sam's Club's business model. Nelsen and Hernandez Soto voted no, citing the need for more analysis and concerns about the gas station proximity.
  • Vice Mayor Taylor and Mayor Poochigian supported the project, citing comparable gas stations near homes, developer concessions, and benefits of developing vacant land. Council Member Wynn also supported it.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved PLHA plan direction and FY 2024/25 amendment direction (5-0).
  • Approved Consolidated Plan direction and FY 2025/26 Action Plan direction (5-0).
  • Approved consent calendar (5-0).
  • Denied both appeals and upheld Planning Commission approval of CUP 2024-17 by adopting Resolution 2024-268 (3-2; Poochigian, Taylor, and Wynn in favor; Nelsen and Hernandez Soto opposed).
  • Upcoming council meetings: Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at 5:30 p.m., and Monday, December 16, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

Council, we're gonna begin with public comments. Citizens are now invited to comments 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 the timer will notify you when your time is expired. Please begin your comments by stating and spelling your name and providing your city residence. See no one on the microphone. We'll move on to work session item number one. New employee introduction introductions administration. I know that's pretty good. Testing. I'm like, no, it's on. Yeah. Just in case. Okay. Thank you. Um wanted to introduce everyone to Rachel Dangerfield. Uh I think most of you have probably already seen her at our office over in administration. Um she comes to us actually from the city of Riverside, so she does have some government experience, which has been very helpful for her to already have some general knowledge. And you know, she moved uh back to Visaya after being gone a few years. Her husband uh relocated here, and so it's been great getting her in here. She's been here almost two months already. So time is flying by. So happy to have her. Welcome. Would you like to say a few words? I'm okay. Now I'm all like now it doesn't want to shut off. I don't know. Yeah, we'll just move it on. Then we're good. Well, if you could please come around to be welcome. Welcome to the city. Walk to Colin here. Thank you. Congratulations and welcome. Thank you. Chief, just so you know, I warned everybody I want a long speech as you introduce themselves. I hope they have their speeches ready. Good, they better have them ready. All right, Viceoya Police Department. All righty, good afternoon, mayor and members of council. It's uh my honor this uh this evening to introduce you to two current employees that are just recently promoted, and then to a number of our new uh new hires that were just badged this last week. So I'll start with the two promotions. Um, first here to my left is newly promoted agent Jeff Dowling. Jeff was raised in an Exeter. He attended the COS Police Academy and two and graduated in 2001. And following the academy, he was hired with the Portaville Police Department, where he was employed from 2002 through 2010. And during his time there, he held various assignments, including patrol, field training officer, SWAT team member, and as a detective. And in April 2010, he was hired by the Visalia Police Department, where he has been assigned to patrol as a field training officer, property crimes detective, uh detective of her narcotics unit, and most recently as a Tularie County high-intensity drug trade trafficking area detective, task force officer.

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