OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Visalia City Council Meeting - April 6, 2026: CIP Review, Electric Truck Pilot, and Land Use Approvals

City Council — Monday, April 6, 2026
BodyVisalia, California
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, April 6, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:20:36

Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

Hi, good afternoon.

0:04

Welcome to the Visalia City Council work session.

0:06

We're going to go ahead and get started.

0:08

We'd like to welcome everyone.

0:09

We're going to go ahead and get started with public comments.

0:11

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

0:18

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

0:21

Creative criticism presented with appropriate courtesy is welcome.

0:24

Each speaker will be 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.

0:33

Anyone wishing to speak, come on up to the podium over here.

0:38

And seeing nobody, we'll go ahead and close public comments.

0:41

And we'll go ahead and start our work session with item number one, which is a review of capital improvement programs.

1:03

All right.

1:05

Good evening, Mayor, Council.

1:07

I'm Nicole Ritchie, Finance Manager.

1:10

Joined by Renee Nagel, our finance and technology director.

1:16

Tonight will be our fourth review of the capital budget.

1:25

All right, so tonight I'll be presenting on the proposed six-year capital budget.

1:31

The first two years, fiscal years 26-27 and fiscal year 27-28 are included for appropriation, while the remaining four years are provided for long-term planning outlook.

1:44

The CIP focuses on the critical assets supported reliable service delivery, planning future needs, and also some of the items being discussed this evening might seem a bit redundant, but that's done intentionally to ensure clarity for public that's potentially hearing this for the first time.

2:06

This slide outlines how the capital improvement plan review process works.

2:11

So projects are first developed by the departments and then brought forward to council for review and feedback.

2:18

Then, based on that feedback, the staff will then revise revise refine project timing and funding, and then brings that CIP back to council for the final adoption that's done in June alongside the operating budget.

2:38

So this slide is providing a summary of the capital funds that's included in tonight's review.

2:44

The majority, as you could see, is the projects for the vehicle and equipment replacements, along with fleet maintenance, information services, risk, and building safety.

3:15

Represents the planned projects in the outer four years.

3:20

Projects again shown in any peach color is considered a multi-funded project and will be representing only that funds portion of the cost.

3:34

This fund or I'm sorry, this slide represents the vehicle replacement policy for the city.

3:54

All vehicles proposed to be replaced will be evaluated by the fleet maintenance division and approved by the city manager prior to any purchase.

4:03

Vehicles are then also evaluated for alternative fuel options in accordance with the city of Visalia's vehicle policy, and fleet will then make recommendations for reassignments or replacement vehicles to lower demand uses.

4:21

Vehicles are typically replaced at the end of their useful life in accordance with the schedule that you see.

4:28

Some may be replaced earlier due to an accident or safety concerns.

4:34

For example, a wrecked vehicle might be more cost-effective to replace versus the continuing repair of that vehicle.

4:42

The vehicles included in the capital plan are projected to meet the policy's age and mileage in the year that is being requested, and if vehicle does not meet that requirement as we get to that proposed time, then that will vehicle will be pushed out to future years.

5:00

Tonight's review includes 148 vehicle and equipment replacements, totaling approximately 19.7 million over the six-year period.

5:17

So beginning with the vehicle and equipment replacement fund.

5:22

This is an internal service fund that sets aside annual depreciation from the general fund to replace vehicles and equipment at the end of their useful life.

5:32

This vehicle is critical to maintaining reliable fleet and avoiding large one-time impacts to hit our general fund.

5:39

Over the six-year CIP period, staff is proposing 108 vehicle and equipment replacements, totaling approximately 14.6 million.

5:52

This slide highlights the first set of vehicles and equipment replacements in this 502 fund.

5:58

These requests are primarily supporting engineering, neighborhood preservation, and the fire department, and the ref, and they all reflect the standard life cycle replacements for units with the high mileage or ongoing maintenance needs.

6:14

As you can see here, item or number three, it's a 2002 hybrid.

6:20

It's an exception and is being recommended for early replacement due to ongoing mechanical issues.

6:32

This next slide highlights additional vehicles and equipment replacements requested in public works and community services.

6:41

Item number 14 is also an exception, and that's for a crack filler that's also experiencing ongoing mechanical issues.

6:56

Represent the police department vehicle requests included in the two year budget.

7:01

These requests are for marked patrol units, detective vehicles, and specialized units necessary to support the daily operations.

7:09

In total, this represents 13 of 20 police vehicle replacements included in the two-year appropriation period.

7:18

And this last slide of the police department replacement period is overall the replacements help to maintain reliable service levels while avoiding large one-time impacts to the general fund.

7:33

The 502 is included is approximately 3 million in vehicle and equipment replacements requested over the two-year period.

7:49

This fund is supported by Measure T and is restrictive for the police department.

7:55

Vehicle replacement purchases.

7:57

These funds cannot be used for the general fund operations, and because of that, funding is set aside annually through depreciation to ensure that vehicles can be replaced at the end of their useful life in accordance with the city's vehicle replacement policy.

8:13

Within this fund, staff is requesting 13 vehicle replacements over the six-year period, totaling 1.3 million.

8:31

This includes one patrol unit in fiscal year 26-27 and three patrol units in fiscal year 27-28.

8:40

One replacement is being advanced due to a prior accident, and it's supported through the accumulated depreciation and measure T funding.

8:49

So overall staff is requesting $359,000 in this fund for the two-year appropriation.

9:00

This fund is supported by Measure T and is restricted for fire vehicle replacements.

9:05

This fund also cannot be used for general fund operations, and funding is also set aside annually to support the replacement of vehicle and equipment at the end of its useful life.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Technology and Innovation███████████████████19%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████████14%
Public Safety███████████11%
Public Engagement█████████9%
Procedural███████7%
Transportation Safety███████7%
Zoning██████6%
Youth Programs█████5%
Fiscal Sustainability████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Visalia City Council Meeting - April 6, 2026

The Visalia City Council met on Monday, April 6, 2026, for a work session starting at 5:00 PM and a regular session at 7:00 PM. The meeting included a review of the Capital Improvement Program budgets, a presentation on a solid waste electric truck pilot, approval of a consent calendar (with two items pulled for separate discussion), two public hearings on land use changes and the annual action plan, and a closed session report on a property acquisition.

Work Session: Capital Improvement Programs Review

  • Item 1 (25-0542): Finance Manager Nichol Ritchie presented the proposed six-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budgets for fiscal years 2026/27 and 2027/28, covering 148 vehicle and equipment replacements totaling approximately $19.7 million. Funds reviewed included General Fund Vehicle & Equipment Replacement, Measure T (Police and Fire), Measure N, Fleet Maintenance, Information Services, Risk, and Building Safety. Council received the presentation and thanked staff; no action was required. Council Member Soto asked about vehicle replacement life and resale value; staff explained fleet maintenance practices and the Ghost program for repurposing vehicles.

Work Session: Solid Waste Electric Truck Pilot Presentation

  • Item 2 (25-0750): Public Works Manager Jason Serpa and Director Nick Bartsch presented a comparative analysis of a proposed solid waste electric truck pilot. Staff recommended purchasing one demonstrator McNeilus Volterra (purpose-built electric) via Sourcewell Cooperative, citing a 498 kWh battery capacity, 40-50% charge remaining after a typical 90-mile route, and an 8-year battery warranty. The pilot truck cost (with grants) was estimated at $726,000 (demo) or $789,000 (new), compared to $527,000 for a CNG truck. Staff projected lower lifetime fuel and maintenance costs for electric, with total savings potentially making the electric option cheaper if grants stack. Council discussed charging infrastructure (existing transit chargers, $28,000 portable charger), staff training, and CARB compliance milestones. Public commenter Jim Reeves supported the demo purchase. No action was taken; the item was informational.

Special Presentation

  • Council recognized the Linwood Elementary School Odyssey of the Mind team as state champions, with each student sharing their favorite part of the program. The team will compete at the world finals at Iowa State University in May. Donations were accepted for their trip.

Public Comments (Regular Session)

  • April Lancaster (downtown farmers market operator) criticized the Downtown Visalians management for lack of transparency, including delayed audit findings and governance issues.
  • Irene Lapin (Visalia) requested to pull Consent Item 5 for discussion and delivered a lengthy critique of national politics, calling the Trump administration an "outlaw government."
  • Ricardo Florez (District 3) discussed city codes related to basketball hoops and proposed a community dialogue.
  • Jeanette Brichta (Visalia) reported speeding on Church Street and requested traffic calming measures; staff agreed to meet with her.

Consent Calendar

  • Items Approved (4-0): Items 1-4, 7-17 were approved as part of the Consent Calendar. Key approvals include:

    • Award of ferric chloride supply contract ($835,000 total)
    • Purchase of four police canines ($87,400)
    • Developer reimbursement agreement for Pearl Woods Subdivision
    • Design contracts for Mill Creek Parkway traffic signal ($260,200) and Beyond Bike Lanes – Elevating Santa Fe ($821,769)
    • Equipment rental contract with United Rentals ($1,025,000 max)
    • Construction contract for Peoples Basin Project ($2,020,025)
    • Revised Resolution for Conditional Use Permit No. 2025-32
    • Cape Seal Project contract ($1,573,325)
    • Purchase of three Skydio drones ($53,600)
    • Purchase of Altec bucket truck ($249,353)
    • Contract and payment to Ray Gaskin Service for refuse truck parts ($150,000/year + $113,414 invoice)
    • Purchase of solid waste electric pilot truck ($876,369)

  • Item 5 (25-0688) – Joint letter of support for Naval Air Station Lemoore F-35 transition: Pulled by Council Member Poochigian. Assistant City Manager John Lollis explained the Navy's environmental impact statement is pending. The letter supports transitioning seven FA-18E/F squadrons to F-35C aircraft. Approved 4-0.

  • Item 6 (25-0694) – Letter of opposition to Assembly Bill 1383 (McKinnor): Pulled by Council Member Hernandez Soto. City Manager Leslie Caviglia explained the bill would allow renegotiation of pension benefits, potentially increasing unfunded liability. Public comments from Chris Ortiz (firefighters union president) and Maria Guillen opposed the letter, arguing it undermines trust and fairness. Council Member Soto voted no, citing the city's 2022 legislative platform supporting pension stability. Approved 3-1 (Soto dissenting).

Public Hearings

  • Item 1 (25-0723) – Tulare County Office of Education (TCOE) land use changes: Planning Director Paul Bernal presented a request to expand the Urban Development Boundary and rezone 24.32 acres for a new TCOE campus. The project includes consolidation of facilities, new classrooms, offices, and a training kitchen. Council Member Taylor raised concerns about future east-west connectivity in the area; staff noted the general plan update will address this. Public comments from Jeff Ramsey (TCOE) and Josh McDonald (Four Creeks) supported the project. The council adopted all four resolutions and introduced the ordinance (4-0).

  • Item 2 (25-0724) – Draft 2026 Annual Action Plan and 2025 Amendment: Housing Specialist Margie Perez presented the proposed use of CDBG ($1.2 million estimated) and HOME ($525,000 estimated) funds. Key allocations include $245,000 for ADA-compliant tree wells downtown (requested by Disability Advocacy Committee) and $190,000 for Lincoln Oval Park fencing and lighting. Public comment from April Lancaster questioned the tree well expenditure and requested prioritization of single-family homeowners. Council Member Hernandez Soto raised concerns about park fencing impeding police access; staff agreed to revisit. The hearing was informational; no action taken. Final adoption set for April 20.

Closed Session Report

  • City Manager reported the acquisition of a small parcel (APN 100-630-001) for the Caldwell Widening Project (Santa Fe to Lovers Lane) for $5,500, closing date March 24, 2026.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Calendar approved 4-0 (items 1-4, 7-17). Items 5 and 6 separately approved (5: 4-0; 6: 3-1).
  • TCOE land use changes approved unanimously (4-0): Adopted resolutions for General Plan Amendment, Prezone/Zone Change, Annexation initiation, and Mitigated Negative Declaration.
  • Electric truck pilot presentation received; no action taken. Staff to return with purchase authorization at a future meeting.
  • CIP review received; feedback incorporated. Final adoption in June alongside operating budget.
  • Annual Action Plan public hearing held; final hearing and adoption scheduled for April 20, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

Hi, good afternoon. Welcome to the Visalia City Council work session. We're going to go ahead and get started. We'd like to welcome everyone. We're going to go ahead and get started with public comments. So 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 will be 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 wishing to speak, come on up to the podium over here. And seeing nobody, we'll go ahead and close public comments. And we'll go ahead and start our work session with item number one, which is a review of capital improvement programs. All right. Good evening, Mayor, Council. I'm Nicole Ritchie, Finance Manager. Joined by Renee Nagel, our finance and technology director. Tonight will be our fourth review of the capital budget. All right, so tonight I'll be presenting on the proposed six-year capital budget. The first two years, fiscal years 26-27 and fiscal year 27-28 are included for appropriation, while the remaining four years are provided for long-term planning outlook. The CIP focuses on the critical assets supported reliable service delivery, planning future needs, and also some of the items being discussed this evening might seem a bit redundant, but that's done intentionally to ensure clarity for public that's potentially hearing this for the first time. This slide outlines how the capital improvement plan review process works. So projects are first developed by the departments and then brought forward to council for review and feedback. Then, based on that feedback, the staff will then revise revise refine project timing and funding, and then brings that CIP back to council for the final adoption that's done in June alongside the operating budget. So this slide is providing a summary of the capital funds that's included in tonight's review. The majority, as you could see, is the projects for the vehicle and equipment replacements, along with fleet maintenance, information services, risk, and building safety. Represents the planned projects in the outer four years. Projects again shown in any peach color is considered a multi-funded project and will be representing only that funds portion of the cost. This fund or I'm sorry, this slide represents the vehicle replacement policy for the city. All vehicles proposed to be replaced will be evaluated by the fleet maintenance division and approved by the city manager prior to any purchase. Vehicles are then also evaluated for alternative fuel options in accordance with the city of Visalia's vehicle policy, and fleet will then make recommendations for reassignments or replacement vehicles to lower demand uses. Vehicles are typically replaced at the end of their useful life in accordance with the schedule that you see. Some may be replaced earlier due to an accident or safety concerns. For example, a wrecked vehicle might be more cost-effective to replace versus the continuing repair of that vehicle. The vehicles included in the capital plan are projected to meet the policy's age and mileage in the year that is being requested, and if vehicle does not meet that requirement as we get to that proposed time, then that will vehicle will be pushed out to future years. Tonight's review includes 148 vehicle and equipment replacements, totaling approximately 19.7 million over the six-year period. So beginning with the vehicle and equipment replacement fund. This is an internal service fund that sets aside annual depreciation from the general fund to replace vehicles and equipment at the end of their useful life. This vehicle is critical to maintaining reliable fleet and avoiding large one-time impacts to hit our general fund. Over the six-year CIP period, staff is proposing 108 vehicle and equipment replacements, totaling approximately 14.6 million. This slide highlights the first set of vehicles and equipment replacements in this 502 fund. These requests are primarily supporting engineering, neighborhood preservation, and the fire department, and the ref, and they all reflect the standard life cycle replacements for units with the high mileage or ongoing maintenance needs. As you can see here, item or number three, it's a 2002 hybrid. It's an exception and is being recommended for early replacement due to ongoing mechanical issues. This next slide highlights additional vehicles and equipment replacements requested in public works and community services. Item number 14 is also an exception, and that's for a crack filler that's also experiencing ongoing mechanical issues. Represent the police department vehicle requests included in the two year budget. These requests are for marked patrol units, detective vehicles, and specialized units necessary to support the daily operations. In total, this represents 13 of 20 police vehicle replacements included in the two-year appropriation period. And this last slide of the police department replacement period is overall the replacements help to maintain reliable service levels while avoiding large one-time impacts to the general fund.

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