Visalia City Council Regular and Work Session Meeting - July 20, 2026

The Visalia City Council convened on July 20, 2026, for a work session at5:00 PM and a regular session at7:00 PM. Key actions included authorizing a30-day public comment period on the elimination of Transit Fixed Route17, receiving the Fourth of July post-event report, approving the Consent Calendar with18 items, adopting the first reading of a commercial cannabis ordinance with amended community benefit requirements, and ruling on an appeal of Planning Commission conditions for the Clements Ranch subdivision. The Council also approved a General Plan amendment, prezone, and annexation for the same project.

Work Session

• Proposed Elimination of Transit Fixed Route17: The Council authorized staff to open a30-day public comment period and schedule a public hearing for September7, 2026, regarding the elimination of Route17 serving the Visalia Industrial Park. The route has been the lowest-performing in the system, costing approximately $150,000 annually with only0.3 riders per hour and an estimated3,000 passenges per year. Staff noted that the route is not well-suited for fixed-route service and that microtransit could be a future alternative. Motion carried5-0.
• Fourth of July Post Report: Fire Marshal Corbin Reed and Parks Director Jason Glick presented the2026 Fourth of July recap. Key statistics:27 nonprofit fireworks stands,123 calls handled by the city call center (offloading from dispatch),376 total firework-related calls year-to-date (down over100 from2025),67 citations issued,103 fire department calls for service, an estimated15,000 attendees at the Independence Spectacular (up5,000 from2025), and5 lost animals recovered (2 reclaimed). Council praised staff and noted fewer illegal fireworks compared to previous years.

Consent Calendar

The Consent Calendar was approved unanimously with18 items, including ordinance adoptions, surplus property declaration, grant acceptence, contracts, and notices of completition. Notable items:

• Second reading of Ordinance No.2026-04 (corrected to2026-09) for zone change at Akers and Riggin (21-acre parcel from QP to CMU).
• Surplus declaration of the same property (APN077-100-103) for development proposals.
• Acceptence of a $189,525 STEP grant for Police traffic enforcement.
• $120,000 annual contract for firefighter PPE with All Star Fire Equipment.
• $251,757 sole source purchase order to Cummins for water reclamation facility power generation.
• $667,446 design contract to4Creeks for Shirk Street widening.
• $436,397 contract for regional bomb squad vehicle replacement.
• Other items: after-school club agreement with VUSD, landscape repair contract, long-term lease for408 acres to Correia Custom Farming, and various notices of completition.
• Note: The minutes indicate Conset item2's ordinance number was corrected to2026-09.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jeff Poole (Visalia) addressed child trafficking and pedophilia awareness, citing318 convicted predators in the city, and called for more action.
• Linda Martinez (Visalia) requested support for adding cameras to special needs classrooms in VUSD, citing bullying and mistreatment of nonverbal children.
• Maria Guilen (Visalia) spoke about the Koi Strawberry Stand at Ackers and Ferguson, facing closure after18 years due to the land owner's refusal to renew the lease, and asked the city to appeal to the owner for compromise.
• Irene Lapin (Visalia) criticized the city's fireworks data collection, claiming the reported decrease in complaints is inaccurate, and noted the call center was under-equipped. She also commended the PSA messaging but said more is needed.
• Mikki K (Visalia) described poor treatment at transit centers, lack of working outlets, and security harassment, requesting better conditions for riders.
• During the Route17 discussion, no public comments were offered.
• For the cannabis ordinance, no public comments were offered.
• For the Clements Ranch appeal, public testimony was heard from Aman Narwal (representing D.R. Horton), Steven Brandt (project engineer), and Dave Crinklaw (West Art Construction). They argued against the sidewalk and frontage improvement conditions, citing inconsistency with past practice, high costs, and safety concerns with the Lovers Lane sidewalk.
• For the General Plan amendment, Steven Brandt expressed support for the project.

Discussion Items

• Commercial Cannabis Ordinance (First Reading): Ordinance No.2026-05 establishes a regulatory framework for commercial cannabis activity, including retail storefront and non-storefront licenses. The Council amended the community benefits requirement from a minimum of $50,000 or1% of annual gross receipts to $75,000 or1.5%, whichever is greater. The ordinance rescinds Chapter5.66 and amends Chapter8.64. The application selection process (Resolution2026-42) recommends a lottery system to reduce litigation exposure. Councilmembers expressed support for having the ordinance in place even if current number of permits is set to zero, to comply with state law and be ready for future allowance. Motion carried5-0.
• Appeal of Planning Commission Conditions – Clements Ranch: The Council considered D.R. Horton's appeal of two conditions from the Planning Commission's approval of the subdivision.
  • Condition on Lovers Lane frontage improvements (curb, gutter, sidewalk along the designated remainder): The Council voted5-0 to grant the appeal, removing the requirement for immediate improvements, citing the high cost (~$500,000), uncertainty of reimbursement, and the incomplete connection (gap remaining near railroad and utility easements). The Council allowed the possibility of future reimbursement through an area benefit mechanism.
  • Condition on internal sidewalks within the gated subdivision: The Council voted3-2 to deny the appeal, upholding the Planning Commission's requirement for sidewalks on at least one side of streets within the gated area. Councilmembers who supported the requirement cited walkability and connectivity; those opposed noted the lack of past precedent and added costs to housing affordability.
• General Plan Amendment, Prezone, and Annexation – Clements Ranch: The Council approved Resolution2026-46 (Mitigated Negative Declaration), Resolution2026-50 (General Plan Amendment No.2025-04, including reconfiguration of land use designations and realignment of K Avenue collector to Sunnyside Avenue), and initiated proceedings for annexation (Ordinance No.2026-07) to prezone the78.11-acre site to R-1, R-M-2, R-M-3, and QP. Motion carried5-0.

Key Outcomes

• Route17 Elimination:30-day public comment period opened; public hearing scheduled for September7, 2026.
• Cannabis Ordinance: First reading approved with amended community benefits ($75,000 or1.5% annually). Final adoption to follow.
• Clements Ranch Appeal: Appeal on Lovers Lane improvements granted (5-0); appeal on internal sidewalks denied (3-2), planning condition upheld.
• Clements Ranch GP Amendment/Annexation: Approved (5-0).
• Consent Calendar: Approved (5-0).
• Fourth of July Report: Received and filed; staff to return with ordinance review and fine increase recommendations.
• Next Meetings: August3 and August17, 2026, at7:00 PM.