OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Visalia City Council Meeting Summary — April 23, 2025

City Council — Wednesday, April 23, 2025
BodyVisalia, California
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, April 23, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:24:13

Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

Everybody, welcome to the Visaya City Council meeting.

0:04

Today is Monday, April 2st, 2025.

0:08

We hope everyone had a wonderful Easter and got to spend some time with family and friends.

0:12

And we appreciate you guys being here.

0:14

So we're gonna go ahead and call the order this meeting.

0:17

We're gonna open up to public comments.

0:19

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

0:27

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

0:30

Creative criticism presented with appropriate courtesy is welcome.

0:33

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

0:38

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

0:43

Anyone from the public wishing to speak at this time?

0:46

Come on up.

0:54

Hello, I'm Mary Joe Estes, resident of Visalia.

0:58

Um I'm here to request more pickleball courts at Plaza Park that would fit probably 16 courts, I'm guessing, nicely on the south side of the tennis courts and to the east of the pickleball courts.

1:10

I ask this for the majority of players who feel Plaza Park is the place for a super complex.

1:16

It would also match the real estate that tennis has at Plaza Park.

1:21

As reported in the City Council minutes, dated Monday, August 15th, 2016.

1:28

It's noted pickleball is is claimed to be America's fastest growing sport, and Visalia has seen this firsthand, per the park and rec director.

1:37

This was the council meeting that voted to convert two tennis courts to eight pickleball courts.

1:42

The mayor at the time was council member Nelson, the only remaining council member, and we thank you.

1:49

This was done after the construction of two pickleball courts at Wreck Park, which opened on May 19th, 2015.

1:56

And the number of pickleball players just kept growing.

1:59

So pickleball players asked for more courts, and city council heard us.

2:04

Again, we ask to be heard.

2:07

As the city of Vaisaly continues to grow, so does the citizens' participation in the fastest growing sport today.

2:14

Our population was 128,000 in 2014.

2:18

And now in Visalia proper, it is tipping 148,000.

2:22

With the 16 new courts, Visaya would have another reason to continue to continue to shine as the gem and have one more exciting attraction that helped bring people to Visalia and maybe stay an extra day and enjoy what we have to offer.

2:37

A beautiful pickleball complex could do just that.

2:41

While you're at it, we would like to see all the courts, pickleball and tennis, resurface.

2:46

They are in need of repair as the pickleball courts are in high demand, and the tennis courts have not been upgraded in too many years.

2:53

Let's make this complex shine and make us all proud.

2:57

Reasons.

2:58

Make a jewel of the valley with the pickleball complex.

3:02

Tournaments like senior games, very popular, and pickleball players signed up and played.

3:07

Scrambles have sold out.

3:08

Park and rec could do could offer more.

3:11

Health benefits, mental and physical, and social.

3:15

All amazing.

3:17

Community builder, we could use this right now.

3:20

People have more in common than um than on the surface.

3:24

One more time, I'd like to request more pickleball courts at Plaza Park that would fit probably 16 courts.

3:30

Thank you for your consideration, and we do appreciate the responsibility you all have with determining where the surplus that the city of Visalia has because of your planning and making sure things are paid for and not putting our beautiful city into debt.

3:44

Thank you for always being aware.

3:46

Thank you to the staff who also take budget and community health to heart in their jobs.

3:51

Please vote for more pickable courts at Plaza Park.

3:55

Thank you.

4:01

So do we have a problem we're gonna time differently going forward?

4:06

Okay.

4:06

So if anybody else coming up, um, for some reason Granicus isn't connecting, and so we'll time and raise a hand at two minutes.

4:18

Good afternoon, Council members.

4:20

My name is Joyce Reed, Visaya resident, and I'm here to share how one small decision to try a new sport changed my life in the most unexpected and beautiful way.

4:30

After losing my first husband to cancer in 2010 and my second husband in 2022, I found myself heartbroken, lonely, and searching for a sense and purpose.

4:40

Connection.

4:42

While scrolling through Facebook, I kept coming across stories and videos of people, especially older adults, finding joy in something called pickleball.

4:51

Curious and hopeful, I bought a paddle and a pair of shoes, headed to Plaza Park.

4:56

I stood outside the fence, unsure and nervous.

5:00

Then someone on the court smiled, waved me in, and said, come on and warm up with us.

5:04

I had no idea what I was doing, but they reassured me.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning██████████████14%
Parks and Recreation████████████12%
Public Engagement████████████12%
Affordable Housing████████8%
Personnel Matters██████6%
Procedural██████6%
Economic Development█████5%
Water And Wastewater Management█████5%
Engineering And Infrastructure████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Visalia City Council Meeting — April 23, 2025

Note: The supplied minutes and transcript state the meeting occurred on Monday, April 21, 2025; however, the date assigned for this summary is April 23, 2025. The meeting opened with a 4:00 PM work session, recessed to closed session at 5:56 PM, and reconvened for the regular session at 7:00 PM, adjourning at 8:28 PM at Visalia City Council Chambers, 707 W. Acequia. Present were Mayor Brett Taylor, Vice Mayor Liz Wynn (arrived at 4:06 PM), and Council Members Steve Nelsen, Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, and Brian Poochigian.

Opening, Invocation, and Recognition

  • The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Council Member Poochigian, followed by an invocation by Priest Jarnail Singh of Gurduwara Singh Sabha of Tulare County.
  • The Council presented a proclamation recognizing April 2025 as Sikh Heritage Month in Visalia and honoring the Sikh American community's Vaisakhi celebration.

Work Session: New Employee Introductions

  • Parks and Facilities Manager Alvin Diaz introduced new Recreation Department employees: Scott Pyle (Lead Park Maintenance Worker), Eduardo Valdespino (Lead Park Maintenance Worker), and a third employee. The minutes list Chris Godinez as Lead Custodial Service Worker, while the transcript identifies Chris Maines as a landscape/irrigation technician.

Work Session: Draft City Council Workshop Priorities and Goals

  • City Manager Leslie Caviglia presented the 2025 Workplan and proposed Council priorities and goals across four areas: Growth and Infrastructure, Business, Quality of Life, and Governance.
  • Council members requested revisions including stronger road/pavement maintenance language, a more aggressive posture toward Tulare County regarding development in the city's sphere of influence, explicit protection of the sphere of influence, modernized public communication, bureaucracy reduction, and aggressive collaboration on Highway 198/Mooney Boulevard issues.
  • City Manager noted the city would return with final goals, provide an update in about four months, and bring back a surplus funds/one-time monies policy before June.
  • Motion by Council Member Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Poochigian, to approve with Council revisions carried 5-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Work session speakers MaryJo Estes, Joyce Reeves, and Joanne Chamberlain urged the Council to use surplus funds to add 16 pickleball courts at Plaza Park, resurface existing pickleball and tennis courts, and cited strong demand, including roughly 300 participants at the most recent senior games and sold-out or wait-listed scrambles.
  • Sherrie Bakke of Visit Visalia encouraged the Council to shift strategic goal language from hospitality to tourism, saying tourism is the economic engine and citing Visit Visalia/CVB research.
  • Irene Lapin criticized former President Trump and MAGA supporters over January 6 pardons and asked how they reconcile those views with support for local police.
  • Greg Collins asked whether an aquatic complex was included in the priorities and later spoke on the zoning item, urging Council members to drive through neighborhoods, stating that a three-foot front porch is not usable, and advocating for building neighborhoods rather than subdivisions.

Consent Calendar

  • Motion by Council Member Poochigian, seconded by Council Member Nelsen; approved 5-0. Items included:
    • Authorization to read ordinances by title only.
    • Tulare Avenue Major Road Rehabilitation (Demaree to Cotta): contract to Yarbs Grading & Paving for $5,202,396; $400,000 transfer within RMRA (SB 1) Fund; additional appropriation of $3,065,000 from RMRA (SB 1) Fund.
    • One-year on-call civil engineering services contract (four optional one-year extensions) with Peters Engineering Group, 4 Creeks, Inc., Provost & Pritchard Consulting Group, TRC Engineers, Inc., Lane Engineers, Inc., and CWE; each contract up to $500,000 annually without further Council authorization.
    • Riggin Avenue widening (Kelsey St. to Shirk St.): contract to Agee Construction Corporation for $8,098,281; Measure R fund transfer and supplemental agreement amendments.
    • Geotechnical material testing with Krazan & Associates for Tulare Avenue project for $72,500.
    • Traffic signal poles purchase from Jam Services Inc. for $105,462 for Riggin Ave./Shirk St. intersection.
    • Construction management services with 4 Creeks, Inc. for Tulare Avenue project for $420,000.
    • FY 24-25 Reclamite Project contract to Talley Oil for $1,284,747.34.
    • Grant application for Independence Spectacular community event through San Joaquin Valley Air District Clean Alternative to Fireworks program.
    • Conditional authorization for Stripe to provide microtransit credit card payment processing for one year with up to four one-year renewals and up to $30,000 annually.

Discussion Items

Regular Item: FY 2025/26-2029/30 Consolidated Plan and FY 2025/26 Action Plan

  • Housing Specialist Margie Perez presented the HUD Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan. Total planned resources included approximately $6.7 million in CDBG and approximately $3 million in HOME funds over five years. The plan proposed 20% administrative use for CDBG and the 15% public-services cap ($180,000 per year). Priorities included affordable housing, homelessness prevention, home repairs, job training, senior housing, emergency shelter development, ADA improvements, code enforcement, and park improvements.
  • Public hearing opened at 7:28 PM; no public comment; closed at 7:29 PM.
  • Motion by Vice Mayor Wynn, seconded by Council Member Nelsen; approved 5-0.

Regular Item: Annexation and General Plan Amendment — Riverway Dog Park Project

  • Assistant Planner Colleen Moreno presented the proposal to annex two parcels totaling 10.4 acres at the northwest corner of North Dinuba Boulevard and West Riverway Court, expand the Urban Development Growth Boundary, and change approximately 0.25 acre from Residential Very Low Density to Parks/Recreation. The project includes a 1.25-acre fenced dog park, St. Johns River Trail connectivity, and an improved overflow parking lot with lighting and EV charging stations.
  • Public hearing opened at 7:39 PM; one speaker, Justin Saehon, asked about notices received by nearby homeowners. Staff clarified that only the two project parcels are being annexed and no homes are included. The hearing closed at 7:42 PM. Staff also confirmed no speed bumps are planned on the exit-only lane and that the parking lot would not be fenced.
  • Motion by Council Member Poochigian, seconded by Council Member Hernandez Soto; approved 5-0.

Regular Item: Zoning Text Amendment No. 2024-03 — Single-Family Residential Objective Design Standards

  • Planning Director Paul Bernal and consultant Brenton Givens of Mintier Harnish presented the ordinance to add Single-Family Residential Objective Design Standards (ODS) and Planned Residential Development (PRD) standards citywide. Developer roundtable sessions involved roughly 30 participants; a revised draft was released March 14-31, 2025, adding flexibility and an exception process through the Planning Commission.
  • Public hearing opened at 8:00 PM; Greg Collins spoke; hearing closed at 8:04 PM.
  • Council discussion focused on housing affordability, construction costs, design flexibility, and open space. Council Member Hernandez Soto proposed exempting nonprofit/deed-restricted very low- and low-income projects and suggested increasing the required optional design criteria from three to six; neither change was adopted.
  • Vice Mayor Wynn moved to adopt the standards by resolution rather than ordinance, allowing future changes without multiple public hearings. City Attorney Ken Richardson clarified the resolution would be brought back at a future meeting on the consent calendar because it was not in the current packet. The motion, seconded by Council Member Nelsen, carried 3-2 with Council Members Poochigian and Taylor voting no.

Regular Item: Land Use License with Downtown Visalians

  • Public Works Director Nick Bartsch presented a one-year land use license with two additional one-year renewal terms for Downtown Visalians to store a container, two vehicles, and a trailer at 701 E. Race Avenue. The property is city-owned, also houses the Visalia Warming Center, and the short-term license is due to uncertain long-term use from civic center redevelopment.
  • Public hearing opened at 8:27 PM; no comments; closed at 8:28 PM. Council Member Nelsen announced he would abstain.
  • Motion by Council Member Hernandez Soto, seconded by Vice Mayor Wynn; approved 4-0-1 (Nelsen abstaining).

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Calendar approved 5-0.
  • FY 2025/26-2029/30 Consolidated Plan and FY 2025/26 Action Plan adopted 5-0.
  • Annexation No. 2024-04, General Plan Amendment No. 2024-05, and related resolutions approved 5-0.
  • Single-Family Residential ODS and PRD standards approved by resolution 3-2; staff will return with the resolution on a future consent calendar.
  • Downtown Visalians land use license approved 4-0-1.
  • Closed session report: nothing to report.
  • Next regular City Council meetings are scheduled for Monday, May 5, 2025, and Monday, May 19, 2025, at 7:00 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Everybody, welcome to the Visaya City Council meeting. Today is Monday, April 2st, 2025. We hope everyone had a wonderful Easter and got to spend some time with family and friends. And we appreciate you guys being here. So we're gonna go ahead and call the order this meeting. We're gonna open up to public comments. Citizens are now invited to comments on the issues within the jurisdiction of the Visaya City Council and the 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 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. Anyone from the public wishing to speak at this time? Come on up. Hello, I'm Mary Joe Estes, resident of Visalia. Um I'm here to request more pickleball courts at Plaza Park that would fit probably 16 courts, I'm guessing, nicely on the south side of the tennis courts and to the east of the pickleball courts. I ask this for the majority of players who feel Plaza Park is the place for a super complex. It would also match the real estate that tennis has at Plaza Park. As reported in the City Council minutes, dated Monday, August 15th, 2016. It's noted pickleball is is claimed to be America's fastest growing sport, and Visalia has seen this firsthand, per the park and rec director. This was the council meeting that voted to convert two tennis courts to eight pickleball courts. The mayor at the time was council member Nelson, the only remaining council member, and we thank you. This was done after the construction of two pickleball courts at Wreck Park, which opened on May 19th, 2015. And the number of pickleball players just kept growing. So pickleball players asked for more courts, and city council heard us. Again, we ask to be heard. As the city of Vaisaly continues to grow, so does the citizens' participation in the fastest growing sport today. Our population was 128,000 in 2014. And now in Visalia proper, it is tipping 148,000. With the 16 new courts, Visaya would have another reason to continue to continue to shine as the gem and have one more exciting attraction that helped bring people to Visalia and maybe stay an extra day and enjoy what we have to offer. A beautiful pickleball complex could do just that. While you're at it, we would like to see all the courts, pickleball and tennis, resurface. They are in need of repair as the pickleball courts are in high demand, and the tennis courts have not been upgraded in too many years. Let's make this complex shine and make us all proud. Reasons. Make a jewel of the valley with the pickleball complex. Tournaments like senior games, very popular, and pickleball players signed up and played. Scrambles have sold out. Park and rec could do could offer more. Health benefits, mental and physical, and social. All amazing. Community builder, we could use this right now. People have more in common than um than on the surface. One more time, I'd like to request more pickleball courts at Plaza Park that would fit probably 16 courts. Thank you for your consideration, and we do appreciate the responsibility you all have with determining where the surplus that the city of Visalia has because of your planning and making sure things are paid for and not putting our beautiful city into debt. Thank you for always being aware. Thank you to the staff who also take budget and community health to heart in their jobs. Please vote for more pickable courts at Plaza Park. Thank you. So do we have a problem we're gonna time differently going forward? Okay.

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