Visalia City Council Meeting Summary - March 3, 2025

The Visalia City Council met on Monday, March 3, 2025, convening a work session at 4:00 PM and a regular session at 7:00 PM in City Council Chambers. The regular session opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation by Senior Pastor Unrau of Parkside Chapel. The Council heard a transit update, awarded a pecan orchard farm management contract, gave direction on a possible cannabis business ordinance, approved a $5.00 microtransit fare, and continued the Shirk-Riggin Industrial Project public hearing to March 17, 2025. All five members were present: Mayor Brett Taylor, Vice Mayor Liz Wynn, and Council Members Steve Nelsen, Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, and Brian Poochigian.

Consent Calendar

The Council approved the Consent Calendar in a single 5-0 motion, with no items pulled. Items included:

• Authorization to read ordinances by title only.
• Amendment to the NV 5, Inc. construction management contract in the amount of $226,491.50 for the Downtown Street Lighting Project.
• Reauthorization of Stage 2 of the Visalia Water Conservation Ordinance and adoption of Resolution 2025-06.
• Acceptance of the Valley Strong Stadium batting cage construction proposal for phase 2, task 1 by 4CGlobal, Inc. dba 4Creeks Build for a lump sum of $1,867,198.84.
• Award of a security services contract to Val Security, Inc. for Transit, Parks and Facilities, and the Convention Center, with a one-year initial term, four one-year extension options, and year-one cost not to exceed $470,000 plus CPI adjustments.
• Notice of Completion for the Orchard Removal Project at East Side Regional Park.
• Notice of Completion for the Blain Park Retaining Wall Replacement Project.
• Notice of Completion for the Village Park basketball court resurfacing.
• Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-12 granting an easement to Southern California Edison Company on city-owned property.
• Approval of a services contract with Precision Concrete Cutting not to exceed $500,000 and a $500,000 appropriation from the Risk Fund.
• Appointment of Jennifer Fawkes and Lacey Todd to the Citizens Advisory Committee.

Public Comments & Testimony

Work session: Jim Reeves commented favorably on the City's new logo.

Regular session:

• Irene Lapin criticized Council members for touting a MAGA inauguration weekend, invoked the Brown Act right to public criticism, and compared elements of the Trump administration to Russia and North Korea.
• Ashely Olivas, Field Representative for Assemblymember Macedo's office, introduced herself and offered assistance to the City.
• Kyle Savage, Field Representative for Senator Grove's office, introduced himself and gave a legislative update on Assembly Bill 379, a sex trafficking measure to fund survivor-support organizations, criminalize loitering with intent to purchase sex, and ensure purchasing a minor for sex applies whenever the victim is under 18.
• Patrick Burke thanked the Council and asked the City to inspect a school bus stop on K Road where recent heavy rain caused flooding that hindered children crossing the street.

Discussion Items

Work Session: Transit Division Presentation

• Transit Manager Angelina DeRossett presented an overview of Visalia Transit, including fixed routes, dial-a-ride/ADA paratransit, V-Line service to Fresno, Sequoia Shuttle services, the transit app, and the upcoming microtransit pilot.
• Ridership figures: fixed-route ridership in 2024 was about 500,000 passengers, about 50-60% of the 2019 pre-COVID baseline of roughly 1,188,000; Sequoia Shuttle gateway ridership was about 6,400 in 2024; internal Sequoia Shuttle ridership was nearly 1 million in 2024.
• Assistant City Manager John Lollis reported on the Cross Valley Corridor project, for which Visalia is proposed as the primary transit provider/contractor. Phase one would connect Visalia and Hanford, with later phases planned to Lemoore, NAS Lemoore, and Tulare. TCAG has been awarded a $59 million state grant for related work.
• Council Member Hernandez Soto recommended future microtransit discounts for veterans, people with disabilities, and low-income riders. Council Member Poochigian asked about Sequoia Shuttle tourism potential and its impact on downtown activity.

Work Session: Farm Management Services Contract

• Public Works Director Nick Bartsch presented the recommendation to award a contract to A&K Precision Management to manage 445 acres of pecan orchards surrounding the Water Reclamation Facility.
• The contract amount is not to exceed $1.5 million per year, with a 12-month initial term and four optional annual renewals. Staff noted A&K's revised proposal estimated annual cost at about $1.352 million, seven proposals were received, and City Manager Leslie Caviglia noted A&K's proposal was the most competitive.
• Staff reported fiscal year 2023-24 operating expenses were just under $1.4 million, and the orchard continues to operate at a net loss. The trees were planted between 2013 and 2015, are expected to reach maturity around 15 years, and break-even is estimated at about 2,000 pounds per acre at current prices. Staff said profitability will depend on future yields, market prices, and tree maturity.
• Staff also suggested issuing an RFP to explore future lease options. Council Member Hernandez Soto suggested re-evaluating the orchard if profitability is not achieved by year 15; Vice Mayor Wynn supported continuing because maintenance costs would exist regardless; Council Member Poochigian opposed continued city farming and favored exploring alternatives; Council Member Nelsen suggested possible uses such as a solar farm; Mayor Taylor emphasized financial risks and timely action.
• The Council voted 5-0 to approve the staff recommendation.

Work Session: Cannabis Business Update

• Economic Development Manager Devon Jones presented an update after voters approved Measure O with 70.7% support. Measure O allows a general cannabis business tax of up to 10% of gross receipts, with monthly remittance, audit authority, and no tax on personal cultivation, but it does not by itself permit new cannabis businesses in Visalia.
• Staff presented two options: draft a cannabis business ordinance while setting the number of permitted businesses at zero, or draft an ordinance and potentially allow businesses to operate upon adoption. Both options included amending the existing HdL contract for additional scope totaling $24,600 and appropriating an additional $5,000 from the General Fund; staff noted $23,000 remained in the existing capital project budget.
• Council discussion covered taxing and apportioning cannabis deliveries from outside Visalia, potential tax revenue, regulatory oversight, retail over-saturation, and the City's ability to customize zoning and limits on the number of stores. Council Member Hernandez Soto and Council Member Poochigian supported allowing retail sales in the future; Vice Mayor Wynn and Council Member Nelsen supported setting the number at zero initially. Council Member Nelsen cautioned that cannabis tax revenue is not the holy grail and noted neighboring cities have not met budget projections.
• A motion for option 2 failed 2-3. A subsequent motion for option 1 passed 4-1.

Regular Item: Microtransit Fare

• The Council held a public hearing on Resolution No. 2025-05 to add a proposed $5.00 flat microtransit fare to the City's Rates and Fees Schedule for FY 2024-25 and 2025-26.
• Transit Manager DeRossett said the service is expected to launch in April 2025. The microtransit service is intended to overlap with fixed routes, and data will be used to adjust and optimize the overall system. Mayor Taylor opened the hearing at 7:16 PM and closed it at 7:17 PM.
• Public commenter Michelle Kenner asked what vehicles would be used; staff confirmed the vehicles would be minivans seating six passengers, with wheelchair access.
• The Council voted 5-0 to approve the resolution.

Regular Item: Shirk-Riggin Industrial Project - Withdrawal and Re-notice

• Principal Planner Brandon Smith requested that the Council withdraw the item and re-notice it to March 17, 2025, because an appeal was received related to the Planning Commission's consideration of the Shirk-Riggin Industrial Park.
• The scheduled proposal would have involved a roughly 3,720,149-square-foot industrial park on about 284 acres, including EIR certification, annexation, General Plan Amendment No. 2025-01, and a Development Agreement. The applicant is Seefried Industrial Properties, Inc.
• Mayor Taylor opened the public hearing at 7:17 PM and closed it at 7:18 PM with no public comments.
• The Council voted 5-0 to withdraw and re-notice the public hearing to March 17, 2025, without acting on the project itself.

Closed Session Report

The Council adjourned to closed session at 5:11 PM and resumed the regular session at 7:00 PM. City Attorney Richardson reported no reportable action from closed session. The meeting adjourned at 7:19 PM.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the farm management services contract with A&K Precision Management, not to exceed $1.5 million per year, with a 12-month initial term and four one-year renewal options, by a 5-0 vote.
• Directed staff to draft a cannabis business ordinance and, during the adoption process, set the number of permitted businesses at zero, while amending the HdL contract for additional scope totaling $24,600 and appropriating $5,000 from the General Fund, by a 4-1 vote with Council Member Hernandez Soto dissenting.
• Adopted Resolution No. 2025-05 establishing the $5.00 microtransit fare in the Rates and Fees Schedule, by a 5-0 vote.
• Withdrew and re-noticed the Shirk-Riggin Industrial Project public hearing to March 17, 2025, by a 5-0 vote.
• Approved the Consent Calendar, by a 5-0 vote.
• Upcoming meetings: Monday, March 17, 2025 at 7:00 PM; Thursday, April 3, 2025 at 5:30 PM, a joint meeting with VUSD and COS at Visalia Charter Independent Study.