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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Visalia City Council Meeting - March 17, 2025

City Council — Monday, March 17, 2025

BodyVisalia, California

SessionCity Council

DateMonday, March 17, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:09:20

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:09

All right, good evening, everybody, and welcome to the Visaya City Council work session.

0:13

Um today is uh Monday, March 17th, 2025.

0:19

And let's go ahead and uh start off by opening up this meeting with public comments.

0:24

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

0:31

The council asks that you keep your comments concise and positive, concise and positive, and creative criticism presented with appropriate courtesy is welcome.

0:39

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

0:44

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

0:48

Do we have anybody from the public wishing to speak today?

0:52

All right, seeing no one, then we will go straight into work items.

0:55

We'll start off with item number one, which is microtransit branding recommendation.

1:06

Good evening, I mean Julina Drossett.

1:08

I'm the transit manager here at the City of Iselia.

1:13

Um over several council items, we've brought microtransit before you at various stages.

1:19

This is the stage where we are hoping you are support will support our branding recommendation.

1:25

So we sole sourced to transit media due to a timeline crunch.

1:28

Um Transit Media is a company that we work with now for transit, so they have our templates, they handle our bus wraps, things of that nature.

1:37

Excuse me.

1:38

So they came back with three recommendations, and this is the one that staff is supporting most, and we would like council staff uh support as well.

1:46

It is Viselia Connect.

1:47

There's various aspects.

1:49

This is a very basic presentation, by the way.

1:51

So for Vicelia Connect, there's a few reasons that we like this one.

1:57

So the tagline, fast, flexible, connected.

2:00

Um also the graphics, which I can I can see now aren't aren't actually very large on these screens, but the graphics depict kind of like a community-based approach with transit being kind of kind of the center of that community-based connection.

2:14

Um you can't really see.

2:32

And it sets itself apart from our other services.

2:35

Um on the back of the van there, you'll see that's a QR code, and basically if you're driving down the road and you see it and you you scan the QR, it'll take you to the writer app.

2:48

I mean, that's really the gist of it.

2:50

Um there are a couple other designs.

2:55

Oh, look, I made notes.

2:58

Umia link.

3:02

This one was something that was meant to kind of tie to like a V line, so kind of a common tagline, something that kind of supports something we're already doing.

3:11

Um, we liked the colors and whatnot, but your link to anywhere in Viselia, we weren't sure that was um a great approach because in the future it may expand at your direction.

3:20

So we thought maybe that would not support it long term.

3:23

And then, of course, Viselia Circuit.

3:25

This is something we had talked about, but ultimately thought that maybe it kind of gives um like an IT impression with the circuits.

3:34

But your ride your way any time is also a tagline that they suggested here.

3:38

And obviously, all of this is at your direction, but this is what was presented to us.

3:45

We'd like to give them a response this week if we have council support.

3:49

Aside from that, I'm happy to answer any questions or any discussion.

3:54

Wonderful, thank you.

3:55

Any comments from council?

3:57

Yeah, uh, thanks for the presentation.

4:00

Um I think I I see the service family logos on the top right there, and it looks like the V is sort of, you know, obviously it's the center point.

4:10

Suggestion, maybe to think about the V in Visya, maybe distinguishing that similar to the other service family logos.

4:21

Just the suggestions, but I do like Visalia Connect.

4:24

Uh, it's it's the one I would choose out of the three.

4:27

Okay.

4:30

Anyone else?

4:31

Any other comments?

4:33

Um, I just had one question.

4:34

If as if they looked at the color palette that we're using for our new logo, if maybe that they could tie some of those.

4:42

They're pretty close, but um I would just suggest maybe if you can tie those colors, the greens and the the orange and golds to the to the Viselia logo.

4:53

That might be some continuity in the marketing all across the lines.

4:58

Um, and is this gonna be a full van wrap?

5:00

And is this gonna be a full van wrap?

5:01

It is.

5:02

So the vans that we purchased are white, so the blue will be a full van wrap.

5:06

And that was my other question because I I'm not that familiar with wrapping.

5:10

Um is it pretty long lasting?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Engineering And Infrastructure████████████████16%

Public Engagement██████████████14%

Pending Litigation█████████████13%

Fiscal Sustainability████████████12%

Public Transportation███████████11%

Workforce Development███████████11%

Public Safety█████5%

Procedural█████5%

Environmental Protection█████5%

Summary of Proceedings

Visalia City Council Meeting – March 17, 2025

The Visalia City Council held a work session at 5:00 PM and a regular session at 7:00 PM on Monday, March 17, 2025. Mayor Brett Taylor presided with Vice Mayor Liz Wynn, Council Member Steve Nelsen, and Council Member Emmanuel Hernandez Soto present; Council Member Brian Poochigian was absent. The regular session included special recognitions for the American Red Cross of the Central Valley and Chief Jason Salazar of the California Police Chiefs Association. No closed session was held. The Council approved microtransit branding, renewed Measure N for eight years, received the Shirk Street construction update, approved the Consent Calendar, approved the Shirk-Riggin Industrial Project, and denied the related appeal.

Work Session: Microtransit Branding Recommendation

Transit Manager Angelina DeRossette recommended the Visalia Connect brand for the new microtransit service, with the tagline fast, flexible, connected, community-focused graphics, and a QR code linking to the rider app.
Council feedback included strengthening the V to match transit service family logos, aligning colors with the city logo, using city colors near the van tires, considering full vehicle wrap durability, adding messaging that clarifies the service is public ride-share transit open to all, and exploring future advertising revenue.
Motion approved 4-0, with Council Member Poochigian absent.

Work Session: Measure N Effectiveness Review

Finance Director Renee Nagel and Budget Analyst Amee Swearengin reported on Measure N, the half-cent sales tax approved by voters in November 2016 and effective April 1, 2017. It has generated approximately $117.8 million over seven years and funded 50 essential positions, street and park maintenance, public safety, and youth programs.
The measure requires a 10% uncertainty fund, a 10% set-aside split 2% for youth programs and 8% for maintenance and emerging needs, an 11-member oversight committee, and an effectiveness review every eight years.
Staff and the Sales Tax Oversight Committee recommended continuing Measure N for another eight years, with the next review due by April 2033. Council expressed strong support for the program and gratitude to the community.
Motion approved 4-0, with Council Member Poochigian absent.

Work Session: Shirk Street Capacity Enhancement Project

Engineering and Building Director Jason Huckleberry and City Engineer Chris Crawford presented construction phasing, detours, closures, and resident impacts for the Shirk Street Capacity Enhancement Project.
The project is a $16.4 million effort that includes a 48-inch sewer main, widening the road to four lanes, new traffic signals, and road improvements from School Avenue to Riggin Avenue. Phase 1 started March 17, 2025, with a target completion date of January 2026. The construction contractor is Avison.
Council discussed emergency services access, including the Ferguson fire station, and suggested using large maps at public outreach. A public outreach meeting is scheduled Wednesday at Ridgeview Middle School from 5:30 to 6:30 PM, with text alerts, direct mailers, a 24-hour hotline, and a city website page.
Motion to approve the report carried 4-0, with Council Member Poochigian absent.

Consent Calendar

Approved 4-0 by one motion, with Council Member Poochigian absent:
Authorization to read ordinances by title only.
Developer reimbursement agreement for the Greystone Phase 3 Subdivision improvements.
Purchase of five CNG-powered residential side-load solid waste trucks from E.M. Tharp through the Sourcewell Cooperative contract in the amount of $2,232,375.
Resolution No. 2025-16 initiating proceedings to vacate a portion of public alleyway and right-of-way on Meadow Avenue and Shady Street.
Authorization to file a Notice of Completion for the walnut orchard removal project near the Water Reclamation Facility.
Resolution accepting the Housing Element Annual Progress Report for Calendar Year 2024 and finding it satisfies the city’s state reporting requirements. Note: The agenda and minutes item text also references Calendar Year 2025 in the same title, an apparent inconsistency.
Purchase agreement with Little Tikes Commercial – PlayPower Inc. for inclusive playground equipment in the amount of $923,438.11 through a Sourcewell contract.
Contract with Accela Inc. for migration of the permit system to Accela Cloud services at a cost not to exceed $114,100, plus a seven-year maintenance agreement not to exceed $2,236,605, and appropriation of $193,200 for FY 2025/26.

Public Comments & Testimony

General public comments were received from Irene Lapin, Efrain Becerra, Dee Souza, Kathy Falconer, and Maria Guillen; their spoken topics are not included in the minutes or transcript.
During the Shirk-Riggin Industrial Project hearing, Paul Guerrero of Carpenters Local 1109 opposed certification, arguing the EIR was deficient on cumulative impacts and urging local hiring, prevailing wages, and state-certified apprenticeships.
Several union representatives and apprentices supported the project, including speakers associated with Sheet Metal Workers Local 104, Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 246, and IBEW Local 100. They cited family-supporting wages, apprenticeship opportunities, local jobs, and veteran hiring benefits. Jason Quintel, representing applicant Seefried Industrial Properties, thanked staff and offered to answer questions.
No public comments were received at the appeal hearing.

Regular Item: Shirk-Riggin Industrial Project

Principal Planner Brandon Smith presented the Final EIR and related entitlements for the proposed industrial park, totaling approximately 3,720,149 square feet of building footprint on 284 acres north of Riggin Avenue between Shirk Street and Kelsey Street.
The EIR found significant unavoidable impacts in agricultural and forestry resources, air quality, and noise. Staff prepared findings and a statement of overriding considerations. Seven comment letters on the draft EIR and four additional letters after the final EIR were addressed; one late correspondence was received the day of the meeting.
The Planning Commission recommended certification and approval on February 10, 2025. Council members praised the environmental review, local union labor, and anticipated job creation, with staff estimating about 4,000 potential jobs.
Motion to approve staff recommendations carried 4-0, with Council Member Poochigian absent.

Regular Item: Appeal of Planning Commission Action

The appeal, filed February 20, 2025, challenged the Planning Commission’s approval of Tentative Parcel Map No. 2024-08 and Conditional Use Permit No. 2024-26 for the Shirk-Riggin project.
Staff recommended denying the appeal and upholding the approvals, finding no error or abuse of discretion and no significant new information requiring EIR recirculation.
Mayor Taylor opened and closed the public hearing with no public comments.
Motions to deny the appeal and uphold the tentative parcel map and conditional use permit approvals passed 4-0, with Council Member Poochigian absent.

Key Outcomes

Approved Visalia Connect microtransit branding with revisions, 4-0.
Approved continuation of Measure N for eight more years, 4-0.
Approved the Shirk Street construction phasing and communication report, 4-0.
Approved the Consent Calendar, 4-0.
Certified the Shirk-Riggin Industrial Project EIR and approved related actions, 4-0.
Denied the appeal of the Planning Commission’s parcel map and conditional use permit approvals, 4-0.
The regular meeting adjourned at 8:07 PM. Upcoming meetings include a joint meeting with VUSD and Visalia Charter Independent Study on Thursday, April 3, 2025 at 5:30 PM, and the next City Council meeting on Monday, April 7, 2025 at 7:00 PM.

Meeting Transcript

All right, good evening, everybody, and welcome to the Visaya City Council work session. Um today is uh Monday, March 17th, 2025. And let's go ahead and uh start off by opening up this meeting with 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, concise and positive, and 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. Do we have anybody from the public wishing to speak today? All right, seeing no one, then we will go straight into work items. We'll start off with item number one, which is microtransit branding recommendation. Good evening, I mean Julina Drossett. I'm the transit manager here at the City of Iselia. Um over several council items, we've brought microtransit before you at various stages. This is the stage where we are hoping you are support will support our branding recommendation. So we sole sourced to transit media due to a timeline crunch. Um Transit Media is a company that we work with now for transit, so they have our templates, they handle our bus wraps, things of that nature. Excuse me. So they came back with three recommendations, and this is the one that staff is supporting most, and we would like council staff uh support as well. It is Viselia Connect. There's various aspects. This is a very basic presentation, by the way. So for Vicelia Connect, there's a few reasons that we like this one. So the tagline, fast, flexible, connected. Um also the graphics, which I can I can see now aren't aren't actually very large on these screens, but the graphics depict kind of like a community-based approach with transit being kind of kind of the center of that community-based connection. Um you can't really see. And it sets itself apart from our other services. Um on the back of the van there, you'll see that's a QR code, and basically if you're driving down the road and you see it and you you scan the QR, it'll take you to the writer app. I mean, that's really the gist of it. Um there are a couple other designs. Oh, look, I made notes. Umia link. This one was something that was meant to kind of tie to like a V line, so kind of a common tagline, something that kind of supports something we're already doing. Um, we liked the colors and whatnot, but your link to anywhere in Viselia, we weren't sure that was um a great approach because in the future it may expand at your direction. So we thought maybe that would not support it long term. And then, of course, Viselia Circuit. This is something we had talked about, but ultimately thought that maybe it kind of gives um like an IT impression with the circuits. But your ride your way any time is also a tagline that they suggested here. And obviously, all of this is at your direction, but this is what was presented to us. We'd like to give them a response this week if we have council support. Aside from that, I'm happy to answer any questions or any discussion. Wonderful, thank you. Any comments from council? Yeah, uh, thanks for the presentation. Um I think I I see the service family logos on the top right there, and it looks like the V is sort of, you know, obviously it's the center point. Suggestion, maybe to think about the V in Visya, maybe distinguishing that similar to the other service family logos. Just the suggestions, but I do like Visalia Connect. Uh, it's it's the one I would choose out of the three. Okay. Anyone else? Any other comments?

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