OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Visalia City Council Meeting Summary – July 21, 2025: Cannabis Ordinance, Surplus Policy, and Multiple Approvals

City Council — Monday, July 21, 2025
BodyVisalia, California
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, July 21, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:56:43

Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

Good afternoon, everybody, and welcome to the Visaya City Council meeting.

0:05

We're gonna start our work session uh today on Monday, July 21st with doing uh public comments.

0:12

Anyone from the public, uh citizens are now invited to comment on issues within the jurisdiction of the Visaya City Council and items listed on the closed session agenda.

0:19

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

0:22

Creative criticism presented with appropriate courtesy is welcome.

0:25

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

0:29

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

0:34

Anyone from the public wishing to speak.

1:02

So one half of it talks about Base Camp Better, which are gamified itineraries.

1:07

So the more coffee spots you go to, the more tacos you try, the more breweries you visit, the more prizes you win that are based on living in Visaya.

1:16

And so it's really kind of fun for our tourists.

1:18

But I think you'll notice the second side.

1:22

So people who need transportation around town while they're visiting also have access to that.

1:28

So you'll see these in merchant windows and also at our hotels.

1:31

But just wanted you to know that these are being distributed all through our hotels.

1:34

So that's all I have.

1:36

Thanks.

1:43

I'm Brian Thoburn with Southern California Edison.

1:45

Uh, just wanted to come and express my appreciation for the latest example of the uh great partnership that we at Edison have uh with the city.

1:54

Um, as council member Soto and Mr.

1:56

Lawless know uh a couple weeks ago we met out at the our old DeVisitero substation across from the ballpark to address some customer uh and code enforcement issues, and um those are being addressed.

2:11

Uh, we expect to have our veg management crew out there uh this week or next week to um take care of the bushes out there to address the issue that was uh out there with uh vagrancy, and then our folks are also following up with the customer on the uh potential uh uh energy uh theft investigation.

2:28

So again, it was just another uh the latest example of the great partnership that we have.

2:32

So I just want to express my appreciation of councilmember Soto and Mr.

2:35

Lawless and to all of you.

2:38

Thanks.

2:42

Anyone else wishing to speak?

2:45

All right, we'll close public comments and we'll go on to item number one, um, which is park and recreation month proclamation.

2:53

Um I guess I get the honor of reading this.

2:58

All right, so this is a City of Visaya proclamation um designation of July is parks and recreation month, whereas parks and recreation is an integral part of our community throughout this country, including the city of Visaya, and whereas parks and recreation promotes time spent in nature, which positively impacts mental health and increasing cognitive performance and well-being and alleviating illnesses such as depression, attention, deficit disorder, and Alzheimer's.

3:25

And whereas parks and recreation encourages physical activities by providing uh space for popular sports, hiking trails, swimming pools, and many other activities designated to promote uh active lifestyles and parks and recreation programming education activities such as as out of school time programming and youth sports and environmental education are critical to childhood development.

3:46

And whereas parks and recreation is essential and uh adaptable infrastructure that makes our communities resilient in the face of natural disasters and climate change.

3:55

And whereas the United States House of Representatives has designated July as parks and recreation month, whereas the city of Visaya recognize the benefits derived from parks and recreation resources.

4:07

Now, therefore, let it be resolved that the city of Visaya or that the Visaya City Council that July is recognized as parks and recreation month by the city of Visaya.

4:16

So do we have our parks and rec staff that we can present this to?

4:24

Yeah, that's yeah, we'll do a picture of the community,

5:35

So we're definitely blessed to have an amazing uh Parks and Rec staff.

5:39

Um I think the perfect example was our our recent Fourth of July uh extravagant that we did on the third of July.

5:47

It was so well attended by our community.

5:49

I mean, there was I don't know, five, six, seven thousand people that showed up.

5:53

We had all of our Parks and Ref rec staff out there.

5:56

Everything was, I mean, beautiful, it was seamless, and so we really have an outstanding staff.

6:02

So I want to say thank you guys for uh making Vicelia a better place to live.

6:06

You guys really are special, so thank you.

6:14

All right, now we're going on to item number two, which is new employee introductions with the convention center.

6:28

Good after good afternoon, Council.

6:30

John Lalla's assistance city manager, and it's uh my distinct honor and privilege this evening to officially introduce Samantha Rumaj Matthias as the city's new convention center manager.

6:41

Samantha is a well-respected and longtime involved member of the Visalia community and brings with her more than 35 years in the hospitality industry with the last 27 years as the general manager for the Windham Visalia Hotel and Conference Center.

6:54

Vicea's largest full service hotel.

6:56

While general manager for the Windham Visalia, Samantha supervises a staff of more than 100, and under her leadership, the Windham Visalia received the distinguished best of windham award the past five years for outstanding service and inspection performance, an honor only awarded to 75 Wyndham properties each year of the approximate nine thousand properties worldwide across ninety-five countries.

7:17

In twenty twenty four, only two properties received this award in California and 19 in the United States.

7:23

So I think it's a real uh credit to uh her leadership.

7:27

Also, under Samantha's leadership, the Vicelli Chamber of Commerce recognized the Winden Vicelli as the large business of the year in 2019.

7:34

During her tenure, she led the successful brand conversion in twenty in in twenty fifteen from Holiday Inn to Wyndham, including a ten million dollar property renovation improvement plan.

7:45

Samantha is well familiar with the Vicelli Convention Center, having served as sales manager for two years at the nearby Radison Hotel, which is now the Viselia Marriott.

7:54

Originally from the United Kingdom, Samantha earned her degree in business administration and management from the University of Wales in Cardiff.

8:02

Samantha has been a member of the Viselia Coun County Center Rotary Club for more than 20 years, having served as its club president in 2022-23.

8:11

Samantha is married to her husband, the honorable David Matthias, local superior court judge, and has four amazing adult children, three girls and a son.

8:19

So please join me in enthusiastically welcoming Samantha Rumaj Matthias.

8:54

But uh looking forward to it.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Cannabis Regulation█████████████████████████████29%
Personnel Matters███████████11%
Procedural████████8%
Code Enforcement████████8%
Zoning███████7%
Fiscal Sustainability███████7%
Public Engagement██████6%
Parks and Recreation█████5%
Public Works Recognition█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Visalia City Council Meeting Summary – July 21, 2025

The Visalia City Council held a work session at 4:00 PM and a regular session at 7:00 PM on Monday, July 21, 2025. The meeting included a proclamation, public hearings, a cannabis ordinance discussion, a surplus policy review, a consent calendar with 34 items, and six regular agenda items. The Council took votes on numerous items, with all but one passing unanimously.

Consent Calendar

  • 34 items were approved in a single motion, with the exception of Item 25 (Riverway Sports Park Fencing Project), which was pulled by Council Member Hernandez Soto for separate discussion. The consent calendar included: authorization to read ordinances by title only; formation of Open Space District No. 25‑02; design contract for the Houston Community Connectivity Project ($258,705); Caltrans street sweeping agreement ($37,215/year); formation of Landscape and Lighting Assessment Districts for Pratt Family Ranch (1A,1C,1D and 1B); developer reimbursement agreement for River Run Ranch; re‑certification of Self‑Help Enterprises as a CHDO with $226,944 in HOME funds for Crescent Meadows; Fire Department reimbursement resolution; recordation of final maps for Elliott Subdivision (83 lots) and Pearl Woods Phase 1 (105 lots); after‑school service agreement with Visalia Unified; seven park project notices of completion; Willow Springs Unit 2 notice of completion; professional services agreement for Transportation Impact Fee Update ($95,940); Wellness Grant application ($200,000); CHP Cannabis Tax Fund Grant ($95,062.25); utility payments to California Water Service ($304,499) and Southern California Edison ($391,843.42) for Civic Center Phase 2; appointment to Historic Preservation Advisory Committee; Riverway Sports Park Fencing (pulled); payment to California Water Service for Caldwell Avenue Widening ($169,844); three landscape maintenance contracts ($107,407, $80,141, $71,059); ordinance adoption for Objective Design Standards; hazmat MOU extension; grant writing contract for Cal VIP; and property insurance coverage ($477,873.38).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Work Session Public Comments: Sherri Bakke (Visit Visalia) promoted gamified tourism itineraries. Brian Thornbern (Southern California Edison) thanked the Council for partnership on code enforcement issues at the old substation.
  • Regular Session Public Comments (General): Kathy Falconer praised consent items but asked about protections for undocumented residents. Maria Guillén inquired about sanctuary city policies and read a personal account from former state senator Dean Flores. Efrain Becerra thanked the Council for their work and noted overgrown trees obscuring speed limit signs. Irene Lapin urged continued fireworks enforcement and higher fines, citing impacts on animals. Kyle Savage (Senator Shannon Grove’s office) provided a state legislative update, including SB 712 (Leno’s Law).
  • Cannabis Discussion Public Comments: Jim Reeves questioned the heavy regulation on a legal business compared to alcohol. Mikki K. suggested allowing more than three dispensaries and permitting a downtown location.
  • Massage Ordinance Public Comment: Shyanne Martino opposed the zoning restrictions, arguing they unfairly single out massage therapists compared to other health professionals.
  • TEFRA Hearing Public Comment: Betsy McGovern‑Garcia (Self‑Help Enterprises) expressed appreciation for the partnership on the Crescent Meadows senior affordable housing project.
  • Oak Tree Ordinance Public Comment: Jim Reeves warned that removing the permit requirement would lead to the loss of most oak trees in Visalia.

Discussion Items

  • Vacancies, Recruitment and Retention (AB 2561): Staff presented a report showing 44 vacancies as of June 6, 2025, with 14 filled since. The Council opened a public hearing (no comments) and unanimously accepted the report (5‑0).
  • Cannabis Ordinance Discussion (Part 2): Staff sought direction on several items. Council provided consensus on the following:
    • Hours of operation (9 AM–9 PM) will not apply to non‑storefront retail (delivery‑only).
    • Limit non‑storefront retail locations to the same number as retail storefronts (general consensus of 1–3).
    • Allow microbusinesses with cultivation prohibited but processing permitted, limited to light industrial/industrial zones.
    • Sensitive uses buffer: 600 feet from schools (K‑12), licensed daycares, youth centers, parks, and churches; 100 foot buffer from residential.
    • Allow retail storefronts conditionally in commercial mixed‑use, regional commercial, and service commercial zones, with a conditional use permit (CUP). Prohibit retail in downtown and east downtown areas.
    • Application process: adopt by resolution; include background checks, zoning verification, community benefits plan, and lottery selection; city manager (or designee) to approve licenses; appeal to city manager.
    • Staff will return with detailed maps, background check criteria, and community benefits framework.
  • Surplus Policy Review: Staff reported a projected General Fund surplus of ~$700,000 after capital allocations and reserve requirements. Council discussed priorities and voted to continue the current policy (5‑0) for FY 2024‑25, directing surplus to Emergency Reserves and the Civic Center Fund. Council indicated future discussions would include percentages for Civic Center Phase III, East Regional Park, convention center, and other projects.
  • Riverway Sports Park Fencing (Consent Item 25): Council Member Hernandez Soto opposed the $3,041,827 contract and $849,010 General Fund appropriation, citing the high cost and other priorities. The item passed 4‑1 (Soto nay) after a motion by Council Member Nelsen.
  • Massage Establishment Ordinance (First Reading): Staff presented amendments based on stakeholder feedback. Changes included removing the 40‑watt light requirement and the locked‑door prohibition, adding human trafficking as a disqualifier, and requiring a CUP for all massage businesses. The ordinance passed unanimously (5‑0).
  • TEFRA Public Hearing: Council conducted a hearing for the issuance of up to $28,000,000 in tax‑exempt revenue bonds by the California Municipal Finance Authority to finance Crescent Meadows, an 80‑unit senior affordable housing project. Resolution 2025‑49 was adopted 4‑0 (Council Member Hernandez Soto abstained).
  • Prezone Ordinance – Annexation No. 2024‑03 (Industrial Park): First reading of Ordinance 2025‑04 to prezone 284 acres on Riggin Avenue as Industrial (253 acres) and Light Industrial (31 acres). Passed 5‑0.
  • Prezone Ordinance – Annexation No. 2024‑05 (Blankenship Project): First reading of Ordinance 2025‑05 to prezone 62 acres at Santa Fe and Caldwell as R‑1‑5 (55 acres) and Commercial Mixed‑Use (7 acres). Passed 5‑0.
  • Oak Tree Preservation Ordinance Amendment (First Reading): Ordinance 2025‑06 removes the permit requirement for private property owners to remove valley oaks, clarifies public utility exemptions, and retains a mitigation fund for low‑income assistance. Council discussed using funds for health/safety emergencies. Passed 5‑0.
  • First Reading of Ordinance 2025‑07 (SCE Easements): Authorizes granting easements to Southern California Edison for power line relocation supporting the Highway 99/Caldwell interchange project; city will receive $12,100 in compensation. Passed 5‑0.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved: All consent calendar items except Item 25 (passed separately 4‑1).
  • Approved: Vacancy report (5‑0).
  • Approved: Surplus policy continuation for FY 2024‑25 (5‑0).
  • Approved: Massage Establishment Ordinance amendments (5‑0).
  • Approved: TEFRA Resolution 2025‑49 for Crescent Meadows bonds (4‑0, one abstention).
  • Approved: Prezone Ordinances for Annexation Nos. 2024‑03 and 2024‑05 (both 5‑0).
  • Approved: Oak Tree Preservation Ordinance amendments (5‑0).
  • Approved: SCE easement ordinance (5‑0).
  • Direction Given: Staff to return with detailed maps and criteria for cannabis ordinance based on Council consensus.
  • Closed Session Report: Three real estate transactions reported: two right‑of‑way acquisitions for the Caldwell Widening Project ($40,000 and $75,000) and a successor agency transfer of Civic Center properties ($6,280,317). All closings occurred in June 2025.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon, everybody, and welcome to the Visaya City Council meeting. We're gonna start our work session uh today on Monday, July 21st with doing uh public comments. Anyone from the public, uh citizens are now invited to comment on issues within the jurisdiction of the Visaya 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 is allowed three minutes, and a timer will notify you when your time's expired. Please begin your comments by stating and spelling your name and providing your city of residence. Anyone from the public wishing to speak. So one half of it talks about Base Camp Better, which are gamified itineraries. So the more coffee spots you go to, the more tacos you try, the more breweries you visit, the more prizes you win that are based on living in Visaya. And so it's really kind of fun for our tourists. But I think you'll notice the second side. So people who need transportation around town while they're visiting also have access to that. So you'll see these in merchant windows and also at our hotels. But just wanted you to know that these are being distributed all through our hotels. So that's all I have. Thanks. I'm Brian Thoburn with Southern California Edison. Uh, just wanted to come and express my appreciation for the latest example of the uh great partnership that we at Edison have uh with the city. Um, as council member Soto and Mr. Lawless know uh a couple weeks ago we met out at the our old DeVisitero substation across from the ballpark to address some customer uh and code enforcement issues, and um those are being addressed. Uh, we expect to have our veg management crew out there uh this week or next week to um take care of the bushes out there to address the issue that was uh out there with uh vagrancy, and then our folks are also following up with the customer on the uh potential uh uh energy uh theft investigation. So again, it was just another uh the latest example of the great partnership that we have. So I just want to express my appreciation of councilmember Soto and Mr. Lawless and to all of you. Thanks. Anyone else wishing to speak? All right, we'll close public comments and we'll go on to item number one, um, which is park and recreation month proclamation. Um I guess I get the honor of reading this. All right, so this is a City of Visaya proclamation um designation of July is parks and recreation month, whereas parks and recreation is an integral part of our community throughout this country, including the city of Visaya, and whereas parks and recreation promotes time spent in nature, which positively impacts mental health and increasing cognitive performance and well-being and alleviating illnesses such as depression, attention, deficit disorder, and Alzheimer's. And whereas parks and recreation encourages physical activities by providing uh space for popular sports, hiking trails, swimming pools, and many other activities designated to promote uh active lifestyles and parks and recreation programming education activities such as as out of school time programming and youth sports and environmental education are critical to childhood development. And whereas parks and recreation is essential and uh adaptable infrastructure that makes our communities resilient in the face of natural disasters and climate change. And whereas the United States House of Representatives has designated July as parks and recreation month, whereas the city of Visaya recognize the benefits derived from parks and recreation resources. Now, therefore, let it be resolved that the city of Visaya or that the Visaya City Council that July is recognized as parks and recreation month by the city of Visaya. So do we have our parks and rec staff that we can present this to? Yeah, that's yeah, we'll do a picture of the community, So we're definitely blessed to have an amazing uh Parks and Rec staff. Um I think the perfect example was our our recent Fourth of July uh extravagant that we did on the third of July. It was so well attended by our community. I mean, there was I don't know, five, six, seven thousand people that showed up. We had all of our Parks and Ref rec staff out there. Everything was, I mean, beautiful, it was seamless, and so we really have an outstanding staff. So I want to say thank you guys for uh making Vicelia a better place to live. You guys really are special, so thank you. All right, now we're going on to item number two, which is new employee introductions with the convention center. Good after good afternoon, Council. John Lalla's assistance city manager, and it's uh my distinct honor and privilege this evening to officially introduce Samantha Rumaj Matthias as the city's new convention center manager. Samantha is a well-respected and longtime involved member of the Visalia community and brings with her more than 35 years in the hospitality industry with the last 27 years as the general manager for the Windham Visalia Hotel and Conference Center. Vicea's largest full service hotel. While general manager for the Windham Visalia, Samantha supervises a staff of more than 100, and under her leadership, the Windham Visalia received the distinguished best of windham award the past five years for outstanding service and inspection performance, an honor only awarded to 75 Wyndham properties each year of the approximate nine thousand properties worldwide across ninety-five countries.

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