Visalia City Council Special Meeting - December 11, 2024: Certification, Oath, and Reorganization
Visalia City Council Special Meeting - December 11, 2024
This special meeting of the Visalia City Council was held on December 11, 2024, at 5:30 PM in City Council Chambers, lasting approximately nine minutes (5:30–5:39 PM). The council certified the results of the November 5, 2024 general municipal election, administered the oath of office to newly elected members Liz Wynn and Brett Taylor, and reorganized by electing a new Mayor and Vice Mayor. No public comments were made.
Public Comments & Testimony
- The public comment period was opened and closed with no speakers.
Certification of Election Results
- Chief Deputy City Clerk Jennifer Gomez reported that the November 5, 2024 general municipal election resulted in 10,578 votes cast in District 1 and 10,806 votes in District 2, electing Liz Wynn (District 1) and Brett Taylor (District 2) to four-year terms (2024–2028).
- Measure O, a cannabis business tax measure requiring a simple majority, received 49,298 total votes, with 35,136 in favor (approximately 71.3% approval), and was declared passed.
- The council unanimously adopted Resolutions 2024-64 and 2024-65 declaring the results and accepting the certified official results of Measure O (motion by Vice Mayor Taylor, second by Council Member Hernandez Soto; vote 5–0).
Administer Oath of Office
- Chief Deputy City Clerk Jennifer Gomez administered the Oath of Office to newly elected Council Members Liz Wynn and Brett Taylor.
Comments by Council Members
- Council Member Wynn thanked her family, including her husband Ray, her mother Barbara Phillips (a 30-year city employee), and her children and grandchildren.
- Council Member Taylor thanked the community, his wife Isaiah, his children, and his brother Michael Taylor for their support.
Reorganization of Council
- Outgoing Mayor Brian Poochigian thanked the council and staff for his two-year tenure.
- Council Member Wynn nominated Brett Taylor for Mayor; seconded by Council Member Hernandez Soto. The motion carried unanimously (5–0).
- Council Member Poochigian nominated Liz Wynn for Vice Mayor; seconded by Council Member Hernandez Soto. The motion carried unanimously (5–0).
- Note: The meeting minutes list "Mayor Brett Taylor" in the roll call before the oath and reorganization, which conflicts with the transcript and agenda indicating that Brett Taylor was not yet sworn in at that point. This discrepancy is not resolved in the source materials.
Informational Item
- The council received a list of committees and boards requiring Council representation. Appointments will be considered at a future meeting; council members will convey their interests to the Mayor beforehand. No action was taken.
Key Outcomes
- Certification of election results (Resolutions 2024-64 and 2024-65) approved unanimously.
- Oath of office administered to Liz Wynn and Brett Taylor.
- Mayor elected: Brett Taylor (unanimous).
- Vice Mayor elected: Liz Wynn (unanimous).
- Next regular council meetings: December 16, 2024 at 7:00 PM; January 6, 2025 at 7:00 PM; and January 11, 2025 at 8:30 AM.
Meeting Transcript
Call is order of the special session. We're gonna begin with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Vice Mayor Brett Taylor, followed by the invocation by Councilmember Wynne. Please join me. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, individual, with liberty and justice for all. Our kind and gracious Heavenly Father, we just thank you for uh the ability to serve, live in a country that's free to vote for their elected officials, and we ask for discernment and wisdom as we listen to the needs of our people and our great community, and the Lord bless us as we go through this holiday season. We know it's not easy for everyone, so we pray your joy and comfort on all. In your name we pray, amen. Let's move into public comments. This is 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. Each speaker will be allowed three minutes on the timer and will notify you when your time is expired. Please begin your comments by stating and spelling your name and providing your city of residence. All right, I'm gonna close public comment. We're gonna move to the certification of election results. Uh, number one adoption of resolution 2024-64 and 2024-65. Evening, Mayor and Council. I'm Jennifer Gomez, Chief Deputy City Clerk. Uh, pursuant to Article 5 of the Visalia City Charter, and in accordance with the general laws of the state of California, an election was held on November 5th, 2024 to elect two members to the city council, and there was a total of 10,578 votes cast in District 1, and 10,806 votes cast in District 2. The people of the City of Iseli in each respective district elected Liz Wynne and Brett Taylor to the Visalia City Council. In July, the council also authorized a tax measure for the November ballot on businesses which sell, distribute, manufacture, cultivate, and test cannabis. On December 3rd, the Tularie County Registrar of Voters issued the certified official results declaring the passage of Measure O, which required 50% plus one majority to be enacted. A total of 49,298 votes were cast for measure O, with 35,136 voting in favor of the measure. And it is now staff's recommendation for the council to adopt resolutions 2024-64 and 2024-65, declaring the results of the general municipal election held on November 5th, electing Liz Wynn to Vicelia City Council District 1, and electing Brett Taylor to Visalia City Council District 2 for the 2024 to 2028 terms, and accept the certified official results of the passage of measure 0. No council any questions? No questions. Thank you for the report. Council Councilmember Wynne. No questions. Vice Mayor? No, thank you. No questions from any public comment on this item. Seeing that or bring it back to council for any further questions, comments, or motion. Make a motion to approve. Aye second. We've got a motion by Vice Mayor Taylor, second by Councilmember Soto. All in favor, signify by saying aye. Aye. All opposed. Motion passes. All right. Let's uh move into the administer of the oath of office to newly elected council members. Here. We'll move out of the way too, so you guys can get a picture with the backdrop. Okay, if you could uh please raise your right hand and repeat after me. Aye, state your name. I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend. Support and defend the Constitution of the United States. And the Constitution of the State of California.
openpublica.com