City Council - Regular Meeting

Good afternoon, everybody. Welcome to the Visalia City Council work session today. We're gonna go ahead and get started by starting off 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 ask that you keep your comments concise and positive. Creative criticism presented with the perfect 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 at this time, please come forward to the podium over here on my left. And seeing all city staff, but I think one person.

Gabe, you want to say anything? He's like, no. You're the only public we have here so I'm going give you a hard time. All right. Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah, there she is.

All right. So seeing nobody we'll go ahead and close public comments and we'll go ahead and start off with our work session with item number one, capital improvement program. Staff report please.

Good evening mayor and members of council and I would like to introduce myself Nicole Ritchie finance manager. This is Renee Finance Director. And this is our third opportunity that we have to bring the capital projects forward for your review. Some of the items discussed this evening, again, may seem repetitive. However, this is intentional to ensure that we have clarity for any members of the public that's listening who may be hearing it for the first time.

So the capital improvement program is a six year capital plan. The first fiscal year, fiscal year twenty six-twenty seven and twenty seven-twenty eight are proposed for adoption and appropriation. The remaining four years are included for planning purposes, which shows infrastructure needs and financial impacts. This slide outlines how the capital improvement process moves from project development to final adoption. The process begins with departments identifying infrastructure needs, reviewing regulatory requirements, estimating costs, and aligning projects with appropriate funding sources.

The projects are then presented to council and organized fund groups. So council can review priorities and provide direction. Based on that feedback, staff will refine project timing, fund allocations while considering available revenues and grant opportunities and then, the last step would be final. CIP is then brought back to council for adoption in June alongside the city's annual operating budget. Before reviewing the individual funds this evening, I wanted to briefly highlight the overall objectives guiding the CIP.

The first object objective this evening is protecting public health and meeting regulatory compliance. Second, preserving and modernizing our existing infrastructure. Third, supporting strategic growth and service improvements across the city of Iselia. The proposed six year CIP reflects a balanced investment in street maintenance and transportation infrastructure throughout the city. This slide summarizes the transportation related capital funds funds included tonight is first gas tax, SB one road maintenance and rehabilitation, measure our local and regional, the transportation impact fee, landscape and lighting district, state the Northeast Capital Improvement Impact Fee.

The proposed appropriations total approximately 22,000,000 in fiscal year twenty six-twenty seven and twenty seven-twenty eight is approximately 30 or 29,000,000. The outer four years is 134,000,000. The six year total across all funds this evening is 186,000,000. As discussed in the last two council work sessions, anything highlighted in the screens coming up are considered to be multi funds, which is just that portion of the cost for that fund only, and it's not to be considered the total cost. The next few slides will show each fund's cash balance and a list of the proposed projects and the two year appropriated period.

And the entire six year capital being reviewed this evening has been provided to counsel in Attachment A of your agenda for your convenience.

So, first fund to discuss is the gas tax fund. So the gas tax revenues are derived from state exercise taxes on transportation fuels, which is distributed to cities based primarily on population and registered vehicles. This fund's revenues are projected to continue to grow. However, as you know, the state is piloting a program that could change this. So at this time, we're going to continue to project it as if we're going to continue to see growth.

Obviously, as prices are higher, the revenue goes up. If prices drop, it kind of dips some. And so we're being very conservative with this fund, not knowing what the future holds for it. So the numbers here, again, are very conservative. The projects show for the total cash balance at the bottom, it shows that we are negative in the out years.

Before we get to those years, staff will realign the projects based on timing, estimated revenues, and then if there's any grants that could be obtained for projects. So we always like to forecast where we're balanced in the two years if we can, and then the out years, we'll go ahead and have it in a red and it's okay because we're always looking for different opportunities. And as you know, we always budget our revenues very conservative. So we're expecting those revenues to be positive or projects will shift out maybe based on their timelines.

All right. Again, it may appear that the number sequencing is off. However, this is done intentionally just to keep the projects aligned with your Attachment A for your convenience. Staff is proposing 24 capital projects within next slide. I'm annual street maintenance preservation over programs.

And then the third slide will be equipment requests. This slide currently showing highlights projects associated with the new construction and improvement with fiscal year 2,100,000.0 in twenty six-twenty seven and fiscal year twenty seven-twenty eight is 1,800,000.0. The second slide is their annual street maintenance. These are preventative maintenance efforts to help reduce future street repair costs by addressing pavement conditions before extensive research or reconstruction becomes necessary. The combined annual investments in these maintenance programs is approximately 1,900,000.0 annually.

And the last request for the gas tax in the two proposed years is the replacement asphalt compactor for 200,000 in fiscal year 2728. This equipment is over 26 years old and it's nearing the end of its useful life and it's needed to maintain the city's roadway system. Including this replacement, the total gas tax CIP proposed is approximately $40,000,004,000,000 and $26.27 and 3,700,000.0 in fiscal year twenty seven-twenty eight.

Just one question. I'm sorry. One question. I see the culvert replacement for Stevenson. Will the culvert replacement on Conyers, is that going to be part of a gas tax or does that come out of general fund or is this something that will be budgeted in the future for culvert replacements like that? Maybe I'm too early and you can explain it later, but I wanna get that one out before I put it.

Yes, most of the culverts are gonna be budgeted in one of the transportation funds that you see here, so if there's any culverts that need to come forward outside of the budget, staff will be bringing those to council and ask for an appropriation at a gas tax most likely or at a measure are local funds. So they are gas tax. Okay. Thank you. So this next one is SB1 road maintenance and rehab.

SB one funds were established through the Senate Bill one in 2017 to provide additional dedicated funding for street maintenance. Staff is proposing four capital projects within the six year plan totaling $26,300,000 The larger capital expenditures reflect multi year project funding where SB1 revenues are accumulated and then programmed for major rehab projects.

Staff is proposing three projects within this fund. The total appropriations for these projects are 5,400,000.0 in twenty six-twenty seven and 3,900,000.0 in fiscal year twenty seven-twenty eight.

Measure R Local. Measure R Local funds are derived from the voter approved half cent transportation sales tax that was approved in Tulare County by the voters in 2006. So Measure R is split into three different categories. And local is where the section is directly deposited to the city. And so there's a portion of that sales tax that just comes directly.

And we can use them for whatever road projects that we feel are necessary. And so this fund as well has sales tax growing. We are very conservative with our numbers, but we do show growth. We also have in the out years a negative cash, a deficit. And like all the other funds, again, before we get to those out years, we'll be realigning the projects based again on timing of projects. Hopefully our revenues will be higher because again we are conservative. And then of course if there's any projects that have grants, then those projects will become multi funded and their share in this fund would be reduced.

Staff is proposing 14 transportation related projects supported by the Measure R Local. These projects include roadway improvements, traffic signal upgrades, pedestrian accessible improvements, and connectivity enhancements throughout the city. The majority of these are multi funded and the appropriations requested for these projects are approximately 3,800,000.0 in fiscal year twenty six-twenty seven and 2,500,000.0 in fiscal year twenty seven eight.

So this next one is the Measure R Regional. So this is another portion of the countywide sales tax. And so this piece actually has projects that were identified in the thirty year plan, and so it's based on a reimbursement basis only. And so this would be the share project that you see. There's $10,000,000 proposed over the six years with $10,000,000 being reimbursed by the regional funding. And again, it's on a reimbursement basis.

The SSHRC and State Route 198 improvement is the only project being proposed or requested in the two year fiscal, which is 5,000,000 in twenty seven-twenty eight.

Can we expand on this one a little bit? The Sherk Wood 98 improvements. What are we doing there? Because I thought Caltrans is coming up there and buying the land around there within the next couple years.

Do I turn this on? Okay. Okay, so for this one they did an ice study at the SSHRC and 198 Bridge and it resulted that, oh, sorry, let me rewind. My name is Estrella Velasquez. I'm an associate engineer with CIP. I've been here for about a year, so this is my first time in front of council and the mayor. So good afternoon. How rude of me. I apologize. So again, going back.

So they did an ice feasibility study at this intersection, and determined that two signals installed at the eastbound and westbound on and off ramps were going to be an improvement until Caltrans funds the full interchange update. So with this project, we're also going to be improving to the North up to Hillsdale and to the South down to Noble. All of that is within Caltrans right of way. So currently, we're working on a co op agreement with them. And their participation is strictly oversight because this interim project is going to be funded through design and construction by us.

Wasn't there one point talking about putting roundabouts around there too at one point? Nodding, so yeah. I think Pontiac Basin. Yeah,

to answer the bigger question on that a

little bit

more, Caltrans hasn't started like a PID steady process or anything like that for that Schirke interchange project. So I think there's a lot of things going back and forth between TCAG and Caltrans right now, discussions on that. That probably would be part of the next major R is what it sounds like is probably going to happen. But realistically, at this point, that's twenty years out probably easily for any upgrades to that interchange besides what the city is kind of proposing, which is kind of just considered an interim improvement right now.

Perfect. Thank you. So isn't there also going to be ponding basins being proposed right there also by us, the city? Or is that by the state?

Well, that'll probably be part of the interchange project. But I think the last project that council saw was that Hillsdale Basin that we're improving right there. That'll basically just serve a lot of the city areas and everything. When they do that SHRC interchange update, yeah, they always have to move those basins around for the interchange. But it'll largely probably be mainly for the interchange. There's stuff that's development that's going on on the south side of the highway. And I don't know that we really have a great idea of exactly what's going on on the south side of the highway yet. But there has been discussions of different things there in that kind of 200 foot setback area. But there's nothing really definitive, I don't think, at this point.

So the next one is the transportation impact fee fund. Transportation impact fees are collected from new development at the time building permits are issued and are used to fund transportation improvements needed to support growth. We're projecting that the transportation impact fees continue to have growth over the six year plan. And then when you get down to the bottom, as you've seen in some of our other impact fee funds, we've deferred deferred projects to be able to balance the two years. However, in the out years, it shows a large deficit growing all the way out to year six to almost 26,000,000.

So staff is currently conducting a nexus study with a consultant and is anticipating coming back to council in June to potentially increase these fees.

Staff is proposing 14 transportation related projects in this fund. Several of these projects are multi funded. Total appropriations requested for these projects are approximately 7,800,000.0 in the first year and 11,500,000.0 in fiscal year twenty seven-twenty eight the second year.

So this next one is landscaping and lighting district. So landscaping and lighting district revenues are generated from property assessments within each district and are used to maintain landscaping, lighting, streets, and related improvements within those districts. So there is approximately two fifteen L and Ls, so the cash balance seems large. However, there's different functions that have to be done over so many years, And so each district needs to have so much cash balance to do that. For example, you've got street trees.

They get trimmed every so many years. And some of those L and Ls, the street trees, trimming could be $30,000 in one year. You also have the street maintenance, which is done certain type of street maintenance is done every so many years as well. So you need to save up cash to be able to do those maintenance items to preserve the streets. And so that's why sometimes you'll see it increasing. And then we'll have expenditures that take it down, maybe the out years.

So Renee, is this the balance where I think we saw over in Shannon Ranch, there were some sidewalks that had lifted and stuff. Is that all paid out of this L and L?

If the sidewalks are in the L and L engineering's report, then yes. Each L and L has a little different of what it can and cannot do, and it's based on the engineer's report. Over time, some of them have gotten changed. So like streets, maintenance isn't in all of them. It's only in the more, I might say, last maybe fifteen years' worth. Any prior to that does not have street maintenance. Some have block walls, some do not. So it just depends on what's in the engineer's report is what that district can pay for.

All right, thank you.

So it's individual.

Staff is proposing seven L and L projects. The total appropriations requested for these projects are approximately 940,000 in fiscal year twenty six-twenty seven and $745,000 in fiscal year twenty seven-twenty eight.

So the next one is our state transportation fund. This fund only has one revenue source, which is the local transportation development funds. Those funds mainly are administered through TCAG, and then first priority is funding transit, and then what's remaining comes to this fund. But this fund more is used to house grants. So as I continued to talk on all those other funds earlier, I had said some of those projects may get grants in the out years.

And if we end up getting grants, then those funds get reduced and the grant gets tracked inside this fund and it makes it multi funded. So this fund houses millions every year in grants. And we don't have any out years because we usually put them in here as those grants grants are obtained. So you'll see that, again, in the out years, there's no grants. But in the current years, we have millions in there on the grants that we receive that are offsetting our current projects.

Staff is proposing three multi funded projects in this fund. The rig and widening project is receiving a grant of 1,300,000.0 for the Surface Transportation Block Grant. The total appropriations requested for this project is 275,000 in fiscal year twenty six-twenty seven and 1,800,000.0 in twenty seven-twenty eight.

The next fund is the Northeast Capital Improvement Fund. So the Northeast Capital Improvement revenues are derived from development fees paid by builders and subdividers within the Northeast Pacific Plan. Projects in here are only for the Northeast area, and it's only for growth related projects. Again, we're showing out years of being a negative, but once those years move forward, staff will balance the funds as well.

Staff is proposing only two projects. Both are multi funded in the Northeast Capital Improvement Funding. Fiscal year twenty six-twenty seven is $468,000 and fiscal year twenty seven-twenty eight, the request is $26,000 And that concludes the transportation related capital funds in tonight's review. The remaining capital funds will be presented to council over the next several meetings. On the screen is showing the funds that are coming up for review on 04/06 and 04/20.

They are grouped by funding sources and operational area to just make the reviews more manageable. Anything marked with the asterisk will be reviewed separately due to program requirements, but will also be included in the final budget documentation. That concludes tonight's capital fund presentation. No motion is required this evening as staff is simply seeking for council's feedback.

Thank you very much for the presentation. Any questions at this time?

No, I'd like to say great report. Obviously streets are always something that our residents are always really concerned about so I'd love to see road projects getting done. Sometimes we do so much that people get upset with us, but I think that's a good thing. So great job, great report.

Thank you.

Oh, go ahead.

Oh, yeah, thank you. And I am glad to see work on some North South arterials coming up to improve congestion across our city.

All right, let's go ahead and open this up to the public. Anyone wishing to speak on this item, please come forward. And seeing nobody, we'll close public comments and thank you very much for your report. Appreciate it. All right, next we'll go on to item number two, which is the Measure N ten year plan proposed two year budget.

Good evening, mayor and council members. Amy Swearingen, the budget analyst for the finance department and with me, I have Renee Nagel, the finance and technology director. Tonight, we'll be going over the measure in ten year plan, the proposed plan, and the 2627, and 2728 budget. Measure N is a half cent sales tax that is for essential city services such as police, fire, recreation, as well as maintenance of parks, roads and city facilities. The measure was approved by voters in November 2016 and became effective 04/01/2017.

The measure uses a detailed ten year plan. Measuring has some requirements for revenues. 10% of the budgeted revenues must be split into the following categories. 2% for youth programs and 8% for maintenance and emerging needs. For expenditures, money shall not be used for debt service payments.

Expenditure plan and amendments must be approved as outlined in the plan. And 30% of operating expenditures shall be maintained in an uncertainty fund. The measure also requires a sales tax oversight board that consists of 11 members as outlined in the measure. It also requires an independent accountant's report on applying agreed upon procedures that's done annually. It also requires an effectiveness review to review progress of the measure and plan and the continuing need for the sales tax measure at a city council meeting before April 2025 and every eight years after that.

The first effectiveness review was approved in March 2025. For the measure and expenditure process, tonight we're here to discuss the next proposed ten year plan, which is years 11 through '20 and the fiscal year 2627, and 2728 proposed budget. Measuring funds require the following actions to adopt the proposed spending plan. So tonight, we're here to provide recommendation to city council and make any changes as requested. The next step will go to the sales tax oversight board and then we'll come back to you guys for two public hearings.

So we're currently on year nine of the ten year plan, and we've had several amendments from the day the plan started. It's always hard to forecast ten years and know what your revenues are going to be, know what your expenditures are going to be, especially when it comes to infrastructure, building buildings, or even the cost of personnel. And so the plan has had amendments. Some of the amendments are changing out what staff you would add, maybe different position titles. Added additional equipment.

Sometimes we miss equipment when we're forecasting out. And even the stations in what order they were going to be built. Originally, I think it had 51 was going to be relocated before Station 56. And we needed 56 because we got notice from the state that they are needing that facility. And so we did an amendment.

So lots of amendments over the past eight years, nine years. And so the measure has done a lot of good things. It was a lot of money that's been able to help us with the general fund. It's been able to help us with departments adding staff, adding programs, street maintenance, lots of street maintenance, approximately 4,000,000 a year. And so with that, I'm going to go over some of the achievements that Measure has had over the last nine years.

Again, next fiscal year is our tenth year, so that will be the first year of the budget, 2627, and the new plan, the first year would be that second year of our budget, which is why we're here. We're needing to fold everything together so when we adopt the budget in June, we've gone through all of our processes. So here's some of our great achievements that we've done with Measure In. We've hired personnel and purchased the required equipment and vehicles for the following positions, which is 29 police officers, four community service officers, 11 professional staff. We've implemented the body worn camera program, and we continue to fund it with Measure

personnel and purchased equipment and vehicles. We fired an administrative captain and a deputy chief. We purchased a ladder truck and a mobile air truck. We've constructed Station 56 on Lovers Lane. We've designed and we're getting we're under design.

For We'll be going out to bid hopefully shortly to construct Station 51. We've implemented the paramedic squad program, which included hiring and purchasing equipment and vehicles for them, which include six paramedic and one EMS coordinator. Measure N has funded approximately $4,000,000 annually, which totaled $39,500,000 over the ten years. It's completed the downtown streetlight replacement project, which totaled 9,200,000.0. Those two alone, without the measure, along with all other staff, but those two alone are huge numbers that in the end, we would be able to find money over the years maybe to add some staff, not to the staff that you see there.

But definitely, if you were adding staff, we would never have had the funds to be able to do the downtown streetlight replacement or even be able to fund $39,500,000 We just went over the transportation funds. And as you saw, most of those funds were in the red. There's no way we would have ever been able to do the maintenance that we've been able to do with the Measure N. We've also hired personnel and purchased equipment and vehicles for the Parks and Rec Department, which allowed us to hire a landscape inspector, a park maintenance technician, a park maintenance worker, and a recreation coordinator. And then we funded additional maintenance as well for a total of $2,200,000 And each category over the years was about $55,000 annually, which was for trailway maintenance, tree maintenance, building maintenance, and park maintenance.

When you switch categories, that was the essential categories. There's four categories. We also have the maintenance and emerging needs category, which is 8% of the sales tax. We funded deferred building maintenance. That totaled $6,300,000 over the last nine years.

And we've been deferring that out of the general fund due to just other things that were a high priority. So we've been able to replace air conditioners and do lots of maintenance with that money. For the youth category, which is 2% of the sales tax, we set aside $2,400,000 for youth programs. Of this, 1,200,000.0 was spent over the last nine years. And this money funds the Emmanuel Hernandez Clubhouse.

It was funding the youth grants from fiscal year 'seventeen-'eighteen to 'nineteen-'twenty. And we didn't have a lot participants applying for that money, so there was an amendment done and it was approved to swap that to the Powell Leagues program. So it was $75,000 It was switched to fund the Powell League activities, which then began in fiscal year 2021 to 'twenty six, 'twenty seven, which is what we're proposing in the next year as well.

So how are we funding the youth grants now? Is it general fund?

Yes. It's 75,000 out of the general fund.

Okay.

And then of course the uncertainty fund balance. We've maintained that fund balance at 30% of operating expenditures, and at 06/30/2025, the amount was 3,100,000.0. Let's see, is that me? I kind of caught it. Okay.

So the new plan. So this is the next ten years. So the new plan starts in fiscal year 'twenty seven-'twenty eight, which is the second year of the biannual budget that we're working on right now. So the proposed ten year plan continues with the original intent of the plan providing essential city services and maintenance of parks, trails, and roads. So what we're saying in that is that all those positions and the funding that I just went over that we've accomplished, we're recommending to continue those because that was established with the original ten year plan.

And then the plan continues to fund everything that's in the current ten year plan plus add full time employees, capital, and increase maintenance funding over the next ten years as well. So we have put together some revenue assumptions. They are conservative but not too conservative because it does not include recession or any dip. It continues growth over the next ten years, and that's why you also want to be conservative because there could be a dip that resets you back. And so this outlines the next ten years of that, which would bring in an additional $230,000,000 And of course, we have interest and all that.

So this fund would hopefully bring in approximately $239,000,000

I've a quick question. So if we're anticipating roughly $20,000,000 a year, why is there a reserve of 3% not $6,000,000 And why do we have it at $3,000,000

Oh, because that's only of operating expenditures, and then we don't put aside for capital for the Economic Uncertainty Fund. Is that what you're talking about?

Yeah, so it's just basically for staff?

Yeah, it's for any operating expenditures and not for capital. It's the same that we do in a general fund. Our policy is to set aside 30% of operating and not for capital.

Okay. Thank you.

So the plan at so what we're recommending is to continue the plan plus add some additional elements. So these next few slides go over what our additional elements would be over the next ten years. So in police, we're recommending in this next plan to add seven police officers and equip them and purchase vehicles, add two community service officers and two professional staff. For fire, we're recommending to continue to the design and to construct or actually to design and construct a new station which is going to be Station 57, purchase Station 57 Engine, and hire three of the required nine full time employees for Station 57. The remaining six would have to be funded out of another fund due to the lack of funding at this time.

And again, we're projecting out. We don't know what revenues. We don't know what our expenditures would be. But at this time, when we're trying to do a balanced ten year plan, we would only be able to afford three out of here with the remaining six being funded out of another fund. And that fund could be Measure T or the general fund at this time.

So under the police, we currently have hired and we're paying annually for 29 police officers from your previous slide. And so this is in addition to those. So this will fund all of those salaries.

Correct, over the next ten years. Ten years? Which in total would be a twenty year plan, right? Just accomplished ten. We're recommending over the next ten years to add seven more police officers, two community service officers and two professional staff for police.

That's a heavy burden. Does this thing ever expire? Hopefully. Not. Okay. Thank you.

If council chooses, there's an effectiveness review and we present that every eight years. Amy went over the requirements. So every eight years we'll come back and we'll go through city council, the committee, and then of course two public hearings to go over the effectiveness review. And as long as we're showing that the funds are needed and we're using the funds, then I would suspect that everybody would approve to continue it. Thank you.

For streets, we're recommending to continue with street maintenance but increase the annual allotment by 0.05%. For parks and recreation, we're recommending to continue their elements as well, but increasing them at 2% annually. The next category is the maintenance and emerging needs category, which is 8% of the sales tax. We're recommending to increase the building maintenance from 1.1 to 1,500,000 annually until there's no need for it. But at this point in time, we still have a lot of buildings that need repair.

And the original plan had building maintenance only needed for a couple of years of the ten year, and we've amended it every year to keep adding it. And there's still a lot of repairs that need to be done. And then the remainder of the 8% of budgeted revenues fund any emerging needs. Staff will be coming back to council in the future with a policy to establish what kind of projects would qualify for the emerging needs and basically setting together a procedure as well with that policy and that still needs to come forward.

Question. Once civic centers open, phase three is done, how much of that 8% would we decrease do you think, from just having new buildings and not having to pay for so many repairs?

Well, we'll be growing with buildings as So I

assume it would be used for growth at that point.

Yeah. To maintain and keep your buildings from falling apart and being deferred, that's the first area we defer. Whenever the general fund gets tight, we first try to do capital for equipment and needs of the departments, add staff. And then the easiest in the general fund to cut, which is what you tend to do, is you defer buildings. So we would like to not get them in the state that they're in today.

And I think, Council Member So to, when you think about the aging recreation facilities, we have parking structures, we have the convention center, we will still have a number of existing buildings.

And for additional plan elements, we're recommending for the youth category, which is 2% of the sales tax, to continue to fund for police and recreation youth programs. And then, of course, to continue to fund the uncertainty fund balance as well at the 30% of operating expenditures. So this next slide, we weren't able to show the full ten years. We have that as an attachment in your packets. So what we tried to do is show year one, five, and 15, which technically is year eleven, fifteen, and 20, and then of course the total of the ten years of what that would be bringing, and then of course the expenditures.

And then the comments is really what I just went over of what we're adding over those next ten years. The blue shows changes. The items that are not blue are what we're continuing the fund from the original ten year plan. Again, nothing's being not funded from the original plan. We're continuing it and adding.

And then the same for here. This is just showing the same years, but for the next two categories, which is your youth, it shows programming it to its maximum amount, and then the same with the maintenance and emerging needs.

So for the twenty six-twenty seven and twenty seven-twenty eight proposed budget for measuring, we're rolling all that together. Any changes that you have to the proposed ten year plan will be reflected and included in our budget numbers for the second year which is fiscal year twenty seven-twenty eight.

And have these already been to the oversight committee or they go there next?

They'll go there next after you guys make your recommendation.

So then when it comes back to us for approval they'll have seen it and blessed it,

right? Yes. Okay.

Does the CAC see this too?

No. No? Okay.

The CAC has a member on the measure end committee, and then their member, Brink, takes it back to committee. Perfect, that's right. They have to you, yes. Thanks.

So the proposed budget, we have sales tax projection increasing by 2.5% a year. For expenditures, the twenty six-twenty seven year is based on the current plan and the twenty seven-twenty eight is based on the next proposed ten year plan. It uses updated cost estimates and includes the new amendments.

For

positions for twenty six-twenty seven, for the current plan, we'll be adding two police officers and one professional staff member for police. And for fiscal year twenty seven-twenty eight, it'll be adding one police officer professional staff. For fiscal year twenty six-twenty seven, we have three plan amendments. The first one is to replace a wrecked police vehicle. This would be multi funded with their vehicle replacement fund.

The vehicle replacement fund will be paying $17,500 and then Measure N will have to pick up the difference of $91,500 Our second amendment is asking for additional appropriation for the Station 51 construction of 21,000,000. And then the third amendment is adding back that building maintenance of 1,500,000.0. So, is our twenty six-twenty seven proposed budget. In a summary, we have the essential service total of 37,700,000.0 and this is larger normal due to that 21,000,000 additional for the station. And then for 2% youth programs, it's 393,600.

For the maintenance and emerging needs category, it has the building maintenance of 1,500,000.0. And then we have that vehicle replacement of 17,005 100 for a total of 39,600,000.0 for the first year. For the second year, we the essential services total of 17,300,000.0, the 2% youth programs at 400 and 3,500, the building maintenance at 1,500,000.0 for a grand total of 19,200,000.0 for that second year. This chart shows the projected fund balance for the two years. It's just based off of our estimates to show the beginning and ending cash by category.

It's important to note that we do have fund balances to help compensate just in case revenues come in lower or expenses come in higher. Do you guys have any questions?

Thank you. Any questions or comments for staff at this time?

Just one question. This is just curiosity. If we weren't building a station, could those 20,000,000 be used for, let's say, like an aquatic center or is that an amendment that we have to do? Just just to.

Yes, it would be an amendment. However, it deviates from the original ten year plan that your voters did approve. However, you can amend any plan, but you would be doing a deviation from that original plan.

Just curious if this is some fund that we could use in the future after all this is Bill. That was more of my base for the question. Thank you.

So first of for the presentation. I really appreciate that we keep our word to the voters. I think that's very important and this is a well thought out plan that we put a lot of work into. I think we've got to be true to what we've been doing that we promised the voters. I think that we're doing that with extending this and keeping the true essence of it in place. I think great job. I'll be fully supportive of it today.

Good job. I understand it. Thank you.

Yeah, appreciate the report. Everything looks fantastic. My only question, the roughly 400,000 a year for youth programs, what exactly kind of programs are these? Are we sponsoring youth themes? Is this for our summer programs for the youth? Where exactly are those ones going?

For right now, we're mainly funding the clubhouse. And then recreation is waiting for their master plan as well to be able to figure out what other programs they can add and be able to expand some of their youth programs.

Can we also put the money into the PAL program?

Yes, we have $75,000 that goes to the PAL activities.

So there is a balance left, though? Yes, there is.

Wonderful. Yeah, I appreciate it. Everything looks exactly like the voters expected us to be spending this money on. So I appreciate it and I appreciate the report. I will go ahead and open this up to the public now. Anyone wishing to speak on this item, please come forward. And seeing nobody, I will close public comments. And do we need, yes, do need a motion on this one.

I move to approve the proposed twenty twenty seven to two thousand and thirty seven Measure N Plan and the fiscal year twenty sixtwenty seven and twenty seventwenty eight budgets and continue with the Measure N Expeditioner Approval Process.

I'll second.

We have first and second, please vote. And the item passes four zero with council member Nelson absent. Thank you so much for that report. All right, next we'll go on to item number three which is the pro housing designation program discussion.

Good afternoon City Council. I am Paul Burnell. I am your Director of Planning and Community Preservation and with me this afternoon is Margie Perez, our housing specialist with the finance department. And then also want to recognize Brandon Smith who also helped in preparing the staff report. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to attend this evening or this afternoon to give you this presentation.

I'm going ahead and I'll fill in for him and do my best to walk you through the Pro Housing Designation Program as identified in your staff report. So today's effort really is to provide you, City Council, with an overview of the California Department of Housing and Community Pro Housing Designation Program and seek direction from council on whether to file the application. In addition to giving you kind of the highlights of what the program is, staff's also gonna provide council with an assessment of how we believe we fare up against the housing programs and policies as identified based on the pointing criteria. As noted and we'll discuss it here in our presentation, we believe some of the things the city implements us to count those points. So again if directed to proceed we'll also begin discussions with HCD to determine how they want to qualify those points based on, again, the things we have already implemented in helping our housing production.

And then I should also state, in addition to the presentation, both Margie and I will kind of break up the presentation so you won't hear me talking the entire time. So just kind of an overview. Again, pro housing does provide some incentives if awarded. It is completely optional. So there is no requirement to apply for the designation.

Although there are some benefits if awarded. And again we'll discuss what some of those benefits are in today's presentation. In addition, as noted in the staff report, we believe we are close to achieving the minimum 30 threshold. We're about six points short and we'll kinda go over that as well. And then again seeking direction based on today's presentation on whether we should apply to the program.

Also would note as we get into conversation, we'll be very clear. We believe there's gonna be some policies or points we just won't go after because it's just too much of an undertaking from your staff or too many resources to commit to achieve those points. But again, we do believe there's points to be picked up based on some of the things your counsel's already directed us to do. So again, the program was created by the state legislation in twenty nineteen-twenty twenty. It does give additional scoring points to housing providers that go after competitive funding programs.

Programs or I should say projects that have applied for competitive funding include the loss at Fort Mycelia, Rancho Colicchio and Crescent Meadows which was a senior project just West of Dinuba, North of Ferguson. In addition, it does open up some noncompetitive funding programs, we'll briefly go over here this afternoon under its Pro Housing Incentive Program. And currently that is in the fourth round of its NOFA. And then one thing we didn't include in this slide is if awarded the designation it's good for three years before you have to reapply. So with this I'm gonna go ahead and turn it over to Margie to walk you through some of the things the program does cover.

Good evening, mayor and members of the council. Funding available through the PIP. A base award is 750,000. Bonus awards are up to 500,000 depending on the the jurisdiction score. Maximum available points is approximately 1,250,000.

Visalia could receive a minimum of 1,050,000 based on the minimal score of 30 points, but is eligible to receive approximately 1,250,000 the score is above 50 points. Pro housing incentive funds or also known as PIP do allow for a variety of funding eligibility activities. Funding those activities include affordable housing development such as Crescent Metals Phase two. Affordable housing development can include both rental and homeownership activities. It also allows for match funds for local housing trust funds, also for operating subsidy reserves, and as well as operational assistance for projects such as the Visalia Navigation Center, Eden House, the Warming Center, and as well as an emergency development or assistance, operational assistance.

It also allows for tenant based rental assistance for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. Operational assistance may include but not limited to personnel, leasing, utilities, facility maintenance, telephones, internet supplies, equipment, janitorial service, on-site security and client California. State of

The

updates to zoning ordinance, environmental, and local process improvements that expedite local planning and permitting. The application requires a resolution adopted prior to filing self scoring sheet that demonstrates a minimum of 30 points. And we also need to provide a statement of practices towards homeless encampments. That should not be a problem since we also have encampment resolution funding and we've already identified several encampments throughout the city.

Can you explain what that means please?

Sure. We would have to, verify how we are tracking our homeless encampments. We do that already with our other grant funding ERF which is encampment resolution funding. That's a requirement that we already have to do, and we have to report on quarterly. So we do have some data on that. Also, participation, it does require a thirty day public participation process with a minimum of one public hearing during city council 7PM session.

So the homeless encampments, does that help pay for removal and relocation? I mean, I know you just we just had a big one.

We have to identify our encampments throughout the city and how we are moving towards mitigating them. It doesn't we can use this funding our funding to help mitigate them but in the application it's to state how we are mitigating those encampments currently. Currently, correct. Identifying and mitigating.

So with that, unless there's any additional question related to encampment, okay. So looking at the scoring criteria, and that copy was also provided in the attachment. Again, staff just did an initial assessment and we believe based on everything that we implement with regards to housing approval, housing review, city has a great track record in expediting a lot of those processes. Granted, there were some things we've implemented with the adoption of our current housing element that have focused more attention to again streamlining and reducing barriers to housing. And again taking those all into consideration, again through staff assessment we believe we're close.

In the staff report we identified 24 points being obtained with 30 being the minimum needed to achieve the designation. So I'm not going to go through all of them. They're provided in your staff report, but just on a few of the slides again looking at some of the categories here under category one favorable zoning land use, we believe we have things in place based on our current general plan and our zoning ordinance to achieve points in those two categories. Looking at scoring in category two which contain a lot of the policies we believe we can obtain points in which is the acceleration of housing production timeframes. Again, there are things we already have in place we believe would count towards achieving those points.

The thing that your staff would need to do if again directed to proceed with filing that application is reaching out to HCD, scheduling a time to go over our application with them, and then trying to figure out exactly what they would need from us to quantify how we meet those points based on the policies, procedures we currently have in place internally with reviewing housing and moving housing projects through our discretionary review process. So again, looking at these we believe we have the points that we can apply for based on what we do. Looking at category three, which is a reduction of construction and development cost, again being very careful on how we commit ourselves because the city has done a very decent job in securing and assuring that any development impact fees collected go towards the things that are needed, which are infrastructure, which a lot of people, we all take for granted. They're expensive to build and to maintain, so making sure that projects are assessed, the proper impact fee assessment, we're making sure that that gets applied. The one thing the city does offer is we do allow for reduction to some impact fees depending on where those projects are located.

We do have infill credits and a reduction to TIF if you're in a specific area. Those do get applied. They also apply to affordable housing when necessary. We do have some projects that have utilized some fee reduction, but again most of that tends to be in more of our core area where infrastructure is already in place. So really at the end of the day they're just looking at developing project site because there's major streets, sewer, storm water, that's all in place for them to tap into.

Under category four, which is providing financial subsidies, I think your council, you're very aware, you've applied money to several projects that are passed through through the state and through the federal. So again, looking at the categories or the policies in this, we do believe that there is a potential to obtain those points as well. Again, with the emphasis of trying to get as close to that 30 threshold to achieve at least a minimum designation. And again, I think Margie has an excellent has an excellent record of providing some of these projects that meet these subsidies when they come to you for consideration. And one last thing we would look at is the enhancement factor.

This is another additional point we believe the city can maintain and that's based on our contract with CSET which we have in place to conduct outreach campaign on fair housing resources. So that is something the city has again with the ability to achieve points in this enhancement factor category getting us closer again to that 30 threshold. So then let's look at some areas where we believe we can maybe try to obtain additional points and I'll be the first to tell you when we looked at this internally under the category one, I think the city's done a remarkable job in ensuring zoning and general plan policies are in place to accelerate housing. But looking at the needs and the requirements to bring in additional zone property to meet our RENA allocation. I'll state this right now just for the record.

Our housing element meets the RENA allocation. We've identified enough land to provide the necessary units to achieve the number of units assigned to us by the state. What we've always practiced on is not upzoning property to meet that need. So people that may have had property designated a lower density not coming back and telling you we have to force them to upzone it. We've never had to do that.

So that's something we're not looking at trying to do. We believe trying to go after category 1C would result in some of that occurring. So again, based on practice and from past efforts, the land area is there to quantify the need currently and we don't believe going after that additional percentage is necessary at this time. Again, just to kind of recap this, we've looked at everything here. We believe we may have further discussions with counsel at a later date, but for the purposes of trying to achieve these points through this program, we just don't think we have the necessary resources analysis to provide to you to get us committed to doing some of these things.

That's not to say we won't come back and look at maybe parking reductions, but again, through the application process we just don't think it's necessary at this time. However, under the category two, is acceleration of housing production timeframes, council's already directed us based on our last work session on the subdivision ordinance streamlining provisions. We believe that ordinance change would help in meeting points to pick up here to get us closer to that 30. Again, as Jared Olson, our principal planner described to you, is looking at a streamlined process of getting maps and at that time was 80 units. We are looking at maybe potentially increasing that number as we do the analysis through kind of a ministerial process so that it may reduce timelines to having it going through a public hearing process through a planning commission.

Again, we believe that process in itself will provide us an opportunity to achieve points in those categories as well. As you're aware, we provide you at least quarterly with our permit timelines. We've really reduced that, especially on the residential side for permit review. Again, when we meet with ACD, I think the thing we're gonna need to verify with them is how do we quantify that and what is it they need from the city to ensure that we're actually hitting those timelines. We do have a practice of giving you that information so hopefully that would cover that.

But again, not know exactly what they would need from us we'll discuss that with them and if there's anything needed we may need to come back to counsel for further direction.

So if I'm understanding this the prior screen where the ordinance that we're looking at for ministerial approval plus that's three points and then the elimination of public hearing for that same thing, so that'd be five points right there. So you only need one more point?

Yes. We believe on our assessment, yes.

So you could hit that pretty easily on the next slide, right? With the ADUs because we already have again ADAU plans, right?

That is correct.

Vice Mayor Wynn. Again, there are things we believe based on practices we have in place. Again, when you meet with, because when you go file the application before you do that, you do do pre screening to verify how you're achieving those points. I am sure HCD is gonna want to have something written or something that's verifiable so that they can ensure that we are actually doing what we say we're doing with regards to accelerating housing production. So again, things we have internally in place, would that suffice to meet their criteria?

If we need to come back and solidify something that may warrant something that council would need to direct us to do, then we'll come back to you before we do that. But again, based on things we have internally, we think we're there or close to hitting those points.

Real quick on 1F, which would reduce the required parking. Can you kind of go into that a little bit more? Think it's on the previous page or maybe two pages of go. That one right there, 1F. Can you kind of talk about that a little more? That's the one that obviously never sits well with I think a lot of us.

That's correct. I think this kind of, you know, council got a little bit of this flavor when we presented the missing middle concept. I can tell you where you tend to see a lot of the reduction in parking is with affordable housing where you do have deed restricted to that. It's something in a housing program that we're gonna come back to discuss with counsel. And again, directed to look at it further, it's a way to maybe incentivize maybe property that's been bypassed as an infill opportunity.

Maybe you reduce some of the development standards to get people to develop on that. But again, if you're gonna reduce parking, probably wanna have a lengthy discussion on what those impacts are gonna be citywide versus trying to do this to achieve a point under an application process for pro housing designation.

Would it be specifically on just affordable housing projects or multi residential projects or where would that discussion be headed towards?

I think that discussion with counsel, we would look at what that would look like across the board with both conventional, traditional single family homes, the missing middle discussion, and then multi family as well.

So would it be on case by case, or would it just be a blanket across the board for all the developments?

So when your staff comes back to discuss parking under the missing middle concept, that's something we could present it entirely and then get directional counsel how you would want that applied. I would tell you though, if you look at the site plan review agenda for this week, there is already a request from a home builder to reduce or to provide a floor plan that provides for one covered parking space with a single family subdivision.

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of those.

Just to be clear, at this point we're not recommending that we go after these points. It would be a much bigger, different discussion.

So you wanna go side by side because category one I don't like any of those if I'm being fully honest with you. That would be a hard no for me down the line on that one. Category two I'm okay with. So are we going side by side and you tell us what we want or don't want?

No in this case I think in the staff report, we've identified the items in category one. We just don't believe that's not, they're not as feasible at this time. Think

we're very pleased to have enough to qualify for the minimum program.

We do. Again, just to be very transparent, I didn't want anyone to say, well, didn't explain other things that the city could have gone after. We've looked at these and again, the resources needed to do some of these, it's too extensive to achieve those points. We believe that you can make them up in other categories.

Why are they always going after the parking requirement? Because you go to San Francisco, you go to these big cities, there's no parking everywhere and it's a big issue. But yet they keep trying to press those kind of things down the line. It hasn't worked anywhere. Are they trying to push us to public transit? That what we're going

That's probably part of it. For larger multifamily developments, again utilizing your site towards parking, it's a resource you're utilizing to accommodate a vehicle. But there's various reasons why. In addition, it's additional costs, especially when you build a structure and you provide two covered parking slots. There's numerous reasons why the state would say maybe reducing them.

Because it's worked nowhere, but yet they keep requiring it. I'm just telling

you And again, think in the staff report we noted that we just don't believe this is feasible at this time to go after that. Not to say that we won't have a discussion on it again based on counsel's direction. And again just to kind of recap, we believe there are some things already directed to help us achieve points here under two. Again also under three which is a reduction of construction development cost. We don't want to obligate ourselves where we're reducing the collection of impact fees that are needed to fund infrastructure requirements.

But there are things I think we do that do help, especially with policies resulting in reducing barriers for creation of ADUs. City has ADUs that are free to use. And then we also, based on the square footages that we've identified, reduce cost or eliminate cost based, again, on the square footages that those standardized plans use. Providing that information to HCD again we believe we can achieve points there as well. And then the financial subsidies and again with a lot of caution here looking at this, I don't know if this is something we would try to achieve.

Although there is discussion in our housing element program about looking at potentially creating a program regarding Surplus Land Act. The city has provided lands or surplus land for affordable housing such as the lofts that used to be built from lumber yard. And the city again sold it to an entity that affordable housing. But again, we don't wanna commit ourselves to something that may box us in and maybe require us to do affordable housing maybe when there's a better use for that site as well. So we'll look at this.

And again I don't think we want to commit ourselves heavily to this but engage with ACD to see what that would look like. Again I will tell you looking at our housing element we'll come back to talk about the surplus land with regards affordability but in the context of the pro housing application, just don't think it's necessary at this time. And then the last item under points is the enhancement factor for rezoning. And the reason we brought this up, we're of one potential site right now. It's again on-site plan review.

It's been on our site plan review agenda a couple times. It's property at Santa Fe And Beach. It's part of the Willow Springs subdivision. It was identified as just this massive open space area. Granted at that time in mid 2000s, maybe it made sense to do so. But there's an opportunity here from the developer that site to maybe consider rezoning it to provide some multi family housing that fits well within the neighborhood they're building. So supporting projects where you rezone it based on developer's request who's also developing the subdivision next door. We believe if we proceed with something like this ultimately it will require counsel's approval. There's a potential to grab points there as well under this enhancement factor.

So Paul, scenario, how would that be different from right now? I mean right now they can do it. Obviously it's a what, dollars 15,000 to 20,030 thousand dollars project to rezone something, change our general plan. How would implementing something like this be either more efficient or quicker or more affordable?

So in this case we would identify potential projects where designations would be applied to provide for housing and then we would probably identify a timeframe when we believe that project would be completed and then report back to the state to say here's what the city did to facilitate housing for a site that otherwise didn't allow housing. And then again identifying that hey that was the point we used to achieve the minimum threshold. The alternative though would be if you didn't do it, could the state come back and say you didn't say what you said you were gonna do and then they dock you. That has happened in the past because you can lose the designation if you don't do what you say you're gonna do.

But hypothetically right now you could rezone any property by say if you go through the process, correct?

That is correct. And in this case we believe that based on things we have done and have supported in the past we can apply for that one point.

Okay, so it's just showing a history that we are reasonable when it Yes. Comes to Okay, I got So we're not creating a whole new policy? No, no. Okay, thank you.

Again, other benefits for pro housing. Again, we're really under the guise of just accelerating housing productions and again providing opportunities for affordable housing. Again I think the city of ISA has a great track record in supporting those types of projects especially in 2023 when we had three large affordable housing projects come through and all get approved at that time. So with that, staff would seek any additional comments council has and then tonight's recommendation would be to direct staff with engaging a CD and then potentially filing the application. So with that, we're available for any questions or further discussion at this time.

Fantastic. Any questions or comments?

So this all stuff we're kinda doing, I'm okay with it, but is this something that's gonna tie our hands later on is my concern.

Council Member Cheegan, the way, again, it's optional. So there is no requirement to do this. I could tell you it does provide some opportunities especially under the PIP where money that's not competitive that would allow us to help with general plan update, zoning ordinance updates. There are things again that we've identified that we believe just we could hit about 24 points, just things that we're already doing. The things that we talked about with regards to we believe that we can get those points based on direction received from counsel.

As long as we demonstrate we adopt those changes with regards to the subdivision or the streamlining process that was discussed at your prior work session and then considering what we just mentioned on some of those projects, then we're not really tying our hands, but if those are the points we go after and we fail to do some of the things we said we were gonna do, then you run into the issue that the state could no longer designate you and remove that designation. It did happen in the city of Fresno. I don't know the specifics on why they lost their designation, but again, that's just something that could happen and then lose the funding it toward.

Thank you.

Do you foresee that some of these things may come down from the state in the future anyway?

Well, right now it's optional. Yes. So they're highly encouraging cities to get that designation.

Yeah. That's what I thought. You. I think it's a good idea to move forward.

Yep, thanks for the report. Same as Vice Mayor one, I agree. We should move forward, especially since we can use this funding for operations, which is where we're lacking. So I definitely support this.

Thank you. Yeah, mean, we're currently at 24 points. To get to 30, I think that's doable. And one of the great things about Visalia is that we have all different types of housing. We have everything from really high end to entry level to transitional housing to assisting our folks who are dealing with homelessness.

So, obviously, it wouldn't be good for us today if we built nothing but million dollar homes. And equally, it wouldn't be good if all we built was low income transitional type housing either. But because these funds could be used for a wide variety of things from maintaining properties, first time home buyer programs, assisting with low barrier navigation centers and other things. I think it kind of commits to what we've already committed to as city council of supporting all different classes of housing. I appreciate that.

Let's go ahead and open this up to the public. Anyone who wishes to speak on this item, please come forward. And seeing nobody, I will go ahead and close public comment. So we And don't need a vote, just direction by council?

That's correct.

Okay, so from my understanding the council's direction is just to move forward with a minimum 30 application process and move on from there. Thank you. Thank you. All right, now we're go on to item number four which is a cannabis ordinance discussion.

Good afternoon mayor, members of the council. I'll just go ahead and introduce the team as Devin's getting set up. So I am Paul Burnell, Director of Planning and Community Preservation and with me this afternoon is Devin Jones, our Economic manager and Jim Koonce, city attorney. This is really gonna be Devin's presentation and we'll provide Devin with all the support he needs as he walks you through

I think it all the hard questions.

As he walks everyone through today's presentation regarding cannabis, the cannabis ordinance.

Yes, thank you mayor and council. Again, Devin Jones, economic development manager. I'll jump right into it. So, as Paul mentioned this evening or this afternoon, we have the draft cannabis business ordinance, the draft application and selection criteria that would be done by separate resolution per prior input. We have draft zoning ordinance update information that would be a part of this package as well.

And then we also have a request of counsel to complete establishing the regulatory framework to establish cannabis business ordinance. As a reminder, the direction currently is to establish the entire kind of regulatory framework for a cannabis business program, but set the number of licenses to be issued for all use types to zero. This at any point in the future could be changed by a simple resolution at whatever time either council desires to open that up or the state maybe perhaps pass another mandate in the industry. The specific request is to amend the sole source contract with HTL who is our consultant on establishing all this information. We need the assistance of HTL to help us with the fee nexus study.

Obviously fees are an important part of this entire regulatory framework and they will help us and the finance department more specifically kind of make sure that we're covering all bases in terms of all the applicable fees for this. The specific request 12,000 based on the HDL quote, the statement that they provided that's attached to the staff report, that would be appropriate from the general fund for this contract amendment. As a part of the cannabis ordinance update, we'll also look to rescind Chapter 5.66. If you recall, SB eleven eighty six a few years back required municipalities to allow delivery only medical marijuana retail. We basically adopted Chapter 5.66 in order to be in compliance with the state mandate.

In order to reduce confusion and streamline things, it'd be more efficient to basically incorporate 5.666 into this new chapter. There'll be some minor edits that we'll have to make to 8.64 as a part of this and that will be a part of the update process. The zoning ordinance update, it's mainly to address the new use types and applicable zones. Again, this is based on prior input from council. All uses will be conditionally permitted only, so they will require a CUP.

The only one that doesn't is the kind of mandated, state mandate delivery only medical marijuana retail, which would be permitted by right in the industrial and light industrial only. Retail storefront, which would include storefront, oh I'm sorry, just storefront. That is regional commercial, service, commercial, and CMU excluding the microbrewery district or like the East Downtown area. In the light industrial and industrial zones, that includes the non storefront retail distributors, manufacturers, micro businesses, and processors. And specifically, that'll be an industrial park overlay only, which is essentially what I would deem the industrial park proper west of SSHRC.

Testing laboratories, commercial mixed use, professional administrative office, business research park, and light industrial and industrial. And the storefront buffer requirements, requirements, which I'll cover later, are actually established in the cannabis ordinance itself. Here is a visual of the industrial park overlay, kind of as mentioned. There are pockets of industrial zoning in town and some light industrial. So, we're just being clear that this is specifically the industrial and light industrial zones we're wanting to include.

A few high points of the business ordinance Chapter 4.04 itself. Retail hour restrictions will be 9AM to 9PM. The state mandate for retail non storefront or delivery only medical is 6AM to 10PM, so pretty similar. We'll just adhere to those restrictions. The annual license term will expire June 30 in order to kind of efficiently align with our regular business tax terms.

Application selection process again will be codified by separate resolution. City manager is authorized to make all decisions concerning the issuance of renewal licenses and the licenses themselves. And similarly, all appeals will be heard by an appointee designated by the city manager. Those sensitive uses and buffers, as a reminder, 600 feet from existing churches, parks, schools, state licensed daycare facilities, and youth centers, and then a 100 foot buffer from all residential zoning. This is a kind of a visual of what that would represent.

Again, regional commercial, orange being the service commercial, and various kind of pink being the CMU outside of those buffers is where the retail storefront could find itself. In terms of the business application selection process itself, some of the kind of main structure, obviously the application itself, which we have a draft of, the financial responsibility, indemnity, and consent to inspection agreement with the potential applicants, agreement on limitations on city's liabilities, or the indemnification clauses, property owner consent, landlord affidavit confirming that the property owner is consenting to this use in their property, proof of property ownership or lease agreements. So, if the applicant is purchasing the property for this use or leasing it, they've got that buttoned up. Proof of insurability from an insurance company for this use at that specific location. Zoning verification application, which essentially is just verifying with planning staff that the buffer issues are addressed and that the zoning is appropriate for the proposed use.

The application fee which will be determined and the background checks that will be required. In the actual business application evaluation, it's mainly broken into four categories. The business plan which will consist of things such as the owner's prior licenses that they've held in other jurisdictions, whether they've had any licenses suspended or revoked in any other jurisdictions, their proof of capitalization project following their construction budget. Location and neighborhood compatibility plan, odor control, things to kind of make sure they're being good neighbors, parking impacts, that type of assessment. Safety security plan, making sure that they're adhering to the kind of security elements that we're going to require.

And the community benefits plan, one kind of clear thing that we're going to indicate is that all licensees will be expected to pay an annual minimum to the city of $50,000 or 1% of annual gross receipts, whichever is greater. How we came to that figure? There was some research conducted of neighboring jurisdictions. I won't go through all of it, but that number on an annual basis seemed to be appropriate.

Kevin? Yes. You go back to the last You see a lot of people will have a one time payment or like a licensing fee. We're not going to

do anything like that? So there'll be application fees that will be, it's like some of them you'll notice, annual license fee. We'll have those kind of things. The tax rate, of course, will be factored in. Currently, have the ability to charge up to 10%. That will be something that we'll have to establish at a later time. But initial kind of fees, yes, that is something else that could be considered.

How much are we as our licensing fees now approximately?

Well, we would create a new licensing fee for this. That's to be determined.

Okay. Perfect. Thank you.

And again, this is established as a lottery selection versus merit based selection process. Again, is based on kind of more of the current industry standard in terms of establishing these types of business frameworks, strong recommendation from our consultants at HDL. It's essentially kind of more streamlined and a process that we believe will assist us with the likely appeal process that will occur for any unselected applicants. So, again, it's staff recommendation. Knowing that we want to ensure quality applicants in the process, staff and the consultants worked hard on ensuring that there were certain requirements in the application process that kind of ensured quality applicants, but also kind of post selection means to ensure that people were delivering on their development plans.

So for instance, some of those post selection criteria, applicants will have twelve months to acquire their conditional use permits and any necessary building permits and also begin construction. Renewal licenses will not be provided to any licensees that don't meet this criteria. Applicants will also have twenty four months to acquire their certificate of occupancy. There is discretion that the city manager is able to use, but they essentially would risk license revocation if they do not meet this timeframe. We increased the timeframe in which applicants or initial licensees cannot transfer their licenses to five years.

So it is going to be basically prohibited to transfer a license during that time frame. And also any transferees that might want to transfer the license is approved by the city manager and the process is essentially treated like a new application.

Kevin, what about so we met with a consultant and they were telling us what the thing is, someone sets up a shop, they win the lottery, they get it, and then they sell their management rights to somebody else. Is that prohibited or no?

So managers will also go through background checks. They'll also have to be acknowledged in an application. So there are means in order to keep the transferring from occurring. And if there are kind of bad actors, so to speak, that have had issues that would be triggered in a background check, those applicants would not

So we could have a bad act. Let's say one person has a shop. We take the license away because they're a bad actor. They go buy another shop. We don't have to renew that license when they buy that shop or anything like that, correct?

Correct. We could revoke licenses for certain So,

Devin, on that one, we had met a week or two ago and somebody brought up the idea that anytime that there's a change of ownership or change of management, you just charge them a fee of 500,000 or a million or whatever it may be. Do we look into possibly doing that as a way to make sure that they're not transferring ownership or management groups? There would be

a transfer fee that we could implement as part of the framework as well.

Okay. Yeah, I'd like to do that because at the end of the day from what we heard from the consultant that we met with is that they play games and it's change of management, change of ownership. Different managers are making a ton of money as their employee benefits and bonuses. I just prefer that if we catch that we just hit them with a transfer fee of 500,000 or a million or whatever it may be. So if they're gonna play games, they're just gonna be paying.

Yes, we can certainly consider that. So in terms of next steps, obviously we would bring back the actual ordinance itself for a first reading at a future council meeting. We would then also take the zoning text amendment language to Planning Commission for review prior to coming back to council. Again, establishing the application selection process done by resolution which could be brought at the time of the ordinance adoption. Again, application process will only apply to a retail storefront and non storefront as those were the licenses council advised we would limit.

And then once we conduct the fee nexus study process with HDL, we'd come back with a separate resolution to set all the cannabis program fees. And then that essentially would establish the entire regulatory framework. We'd be done for the time being. If and when the council decided to allow cannabis business license to apply, we would then just come back with another resolution. Then at that time, staff would also have a request to bring on a consultant to assist with the application intake review quality assurance process to conduct that in partnership with us.

So, recommend a motion to authorize staff to amend the sole source contract with HTL to provide assistance with the preparation of a Phenex's study, determine all applicable fee amounts, and appropriate $12,000 from general fund for this Just contract

one more question. I know you've told me before, but what do you think the timeline is for wrapping all of this up? At the end of the year, mid year?

Certainly by the end of the year. I think that the Phenexus study obviously would take the most time. I don't exactly have a timeframe. I would assume a couple months get the work conducted and then come back. Really because we're still going to be establishing the licenses at zero, we could take this at chunks. We can come back Okay. Ahead of planning

Thank you.

So like I said, my biggest fear has always been let's put some kind of tax measure on the books so we have it there so the state doesn't come down and say, hey, you have to allow this, this is where the money goes to. I'm glad that we're setting up a framework where we locally could determine if we ever decide to do this, where the money's gonna go to best help our community. So, I like what we're doing here. I'm curious to see what the study comes back as, but I'll be fully supported today.

Any other questions or comments? Thanks for the report. Thank you. Let's go ahead and open this up to the public. Anybody wishing to speak on this item, please come forward and state your name as city residents.

Since you picked on me, almost won't come up here. Gabriel Hakis, resident of Isaija. Last name is spelled j a c q u e z. Just food for thought about the cannabis as they're gonna be moving forward. It's just, my opinion as a private citizen and a business owner. My day should say with any time we have drugs and alcohol, it's not a good thing. Cannabis is a drug. It is a hallucination. Homelessness, the biggest we have is homelessness, mental health, which is mental health. So anyway, that's not a good thing.

But anyway, just kind of thinking about the requirements. I know being in the automotive industry, we have to be certified just to repair a car and tow a car ASC certified. So what are the requirements? The higher you set up the standard, the better it is. You have quality people. So I think so you might wanna take to, consideration on that part. As a business owner, I'm really concerned about, about employees passing the drug test. If you go into the industrial park, I know in our business, you have to pass the drug and alcohol test to to get a job. If you continue going down this this, path in the future, what's it gonna do for the workforce? So you might wanna take into consideration.

I know the industry is changing with AI coming in now is, the white collar is going away, and they're going to more manual labor. And when you do manual labor, you have to pass the drug and alcohol test. So it's just food for thought. You might want to take that in consideration. But anyway, just to kind of finish up, Leslie, you guys are doing a good job with the city, but I'm really proud of it. It's a quality city. We want to keep it that way. So we have to make sure what business, what people we we let into this into into our town. Being a drug and alcohol testing, one thing I do know for a fact is we are a free drug and alcohol company and that's the best investment we have because we have the best employees that you can get because we have the confidence that they can pass the drug and alcohol test. That's what we want.

We want quality people. When you get in business, you want the best people you can get, and they have to pass the drug and alcohol test. Anyway, it looks like it's going to go forward, which is not happy about it, but they set up the standards high. And like I said, we have to have just to fix cars. I thought when you do, cannabis, that's call it medical, I think you would have a doctor's degree or be a pharmacist. Anyway, that's my $02 Thank you for your time.

Thank you very much. Any other question or any other comments from the public?

Hello. My name is Adolfo Castillo. I'm actually the owner and operator of Banyan Tree in Fresno, California here. And, I just wanna thank the council for considering this. It's been a long time since cannabis has actually been operating in California, and Fresno was one of the last major metropolitan cities to adopt the ordinance to allow this kind of business.

And I just wanted to let the council know as an operator, just to, you know, take you behind the curtain, at a 4% rate that the city of Fresno and at about a six to 700 customer per day that comes into the Banyan Tree, I'm paying an average of $25,000 to $26,000 around that amount a month to the city as a local tax and close to $200,000 a month to the state of California as a sales tax. So it does bring a lot of revenue in for the city as long as as well as the state. And I just want the council to consider I understand you guys are talking about this lottery process. Applying for a license is very expensive. There's a lot that goes into it, a lot of planning, the business planning, the accounting, just securing the space itself.

We secured a space for two years before we were able to actually get our license approved. So you can understand the market rates. It can be very expensive. So just consider that when you're thinking about a lottery. There's a lot of people that are putting a lot of money into just the application process.

And the city of Fresno had a social equity process, and I was one of those recipients of the social equity license. Consider the people that have come and started this industry before it was legal. And that was me and some of my partners that are in this room. I just want you to know that local people, just because we don't have the corporations and the millions of dollars that all these other companies have, we can make an impact too. We are the number one dispensary in Fresno.

Look it up. Banyan Tree. I just want you guys to consider local ownership as a bonus in some sort as deciding who's gonna get this license, especially in a city like Visalia that's gonna be very limited. Please keep it local. And I just wanna thank you guys for for you guys just doing this. I just wanna say thank you.

Excuse me? Banningtree, B A N N I N G?

B A N Y A N, Tree. Banyan Tree. And my name is Dolpho Castillo, and people know me as Ace. I am the owner.

Anyone else this time? Okay. Let's go ahead and close public comments. Just so everyone's aware, this is we're creating the policy but at this point we are not actually moving forward with allowing marijuana cells in Visalia. This is just creating the policies to be compliant with the state of California. So any other questions or comments from council or I'll entertain a motion.

I move to authorize the staff to amend the existing sole source contract with HCL to provide assistance with the preparation of a fee and access study to determine all applicable fee amounts of the city's cannabis business program and appropriate 12,000 from the general fund for the contract amendment.

I second. We have first and second. Let's go ahead and vote. And the item moves forward four zero with Council Member Nelson absent. Thank you very much.

All right, and so last for the work session this afternoon we have new city council website update.

Good evening, All mayor, and members of the council while Alison gets set up over there. We are pleased to be in front of you tonight. I'm Sean O'Neill, administrative services director here with the city, and presenting with me this evening is Mackie, communications and brand manager. We are pleased to be here tonight because we are gonna give you the first look at the city's new website. This has been a project that's been in the work for some time.

And before Allison jumps into presentation and the grand reveal, I would like to take a moment to recognize, acknowledge and thank those that have contributed to this project's success. I'd first like to start with thanking the department representatives. Behind the scenes. They've been working diligently with the website committee team. This included hours of extra meetings on their plate reviewing, refining and updating and refreshing the city's website content.

Also members of the CAC were involved at the February to provide review and feedback and test our links and we thank them for their participation. And a big thank you to John Howson, our IS manager, and Ashley Cook, HR analyst. They really dove into this project and learned the back end of the website. And all those pieces that we didn't have somebody available to work on, they took it upon themselves to jump in and help Allison out on the project. And I'd be remiss not to give them a big thank you.

And last but not least is Allison sitting beside me. She was the project manager who really this is a big lift. We had a website that hadn't been updated on a long, long time. There's ADA improvements, language improvements. This has been a huge lift, she spent many hours, to be here tonight to present this to you. And so I thank you, Allison, for your hard work and dedication. And with that, I'm gonna turn it over to Allison to give you just a a look back of where we've been and then the grand reveal.

Good afternoon, council mayor. Thank you so much. It's exciting to be here with you. Thank you, Shana, for that excellent introduction, and we will dive right in. So just for anyone who may not have been as familiar as the process as I know everyone here in the room is, was August 2025 that we really started this process in earnest, and that was a comprehensive redesign of the city website.

For those that remember, we did this process, I believe it was exactly August 2015 when the most previous or our current website website for at least the next twelve hours, I'm not the best with calculating time, until, if council approves for this new website to go live. So we have lived with this website for quite a while. It was robust robust and technologically advanced when it launched, but we all know how quickly those things move. So we have come to you this afternoon, and we are now excited to share with you a few more slides and then jump into the new website that we are now ready to launch. So a bit of the background discussion.

Again, current website was launched in 2015, but Council did let staff staff know that modernizing the city website was both a strategic priority, and we all knew that it was a regulatory necessity. Ultimately, staff worked with Civic Plus, per direction of our council, being able to award that contract and really build out an entirely new digital presence for the city of Iselia. This was not only to just enhance access to services, but it was also important that we enhance security features, And we really wanted to carry forward our new brand with a completely enhanced and much easier to use experience for both residents, visitors, businesses, organizations, and those who are potentially looking to call Visalia home either for themselves, their business, or their organization. A big piece of this is we all know we need to meet federal compliance as part of the requirements of the DOJ. We do need to meet 2.1 level AA, and we must achieve a compliance by 04/24/2026 and then remain compliant.

We're very excited to share with you this evening, and again at the direction of the council. Not only did we purchase what would be considered maybe the basic, package with Civic Plus, but council gave staff direction, and we were able to add in components that make it a much more robust experience, and those have specific names. But for the user, it is just an easier, more accessible, experience on our city website. So as briefly touched on, I knew website was at the top of the list for our council's goals and objectives. It touched on the three sections shown here, growth and infrastructure, quality of life, and governance.

And pulled directly from the documents that council and our city manager prepared, we were directed to select a new website system and begin that transition by April 2026 with community outreach as part of that process. It was exciting to be able to have this as a goal not only for our organization, but knowing to be able to carry this new brand forward and really take the opportunity to refine the information that we have available digitally and look at how we can best move into this new year here in 2026 and far beyond. So the project goals were many. I know council has seen these before, but a bit of a recap for anyone that is new to the process. So at its most basic, it was a replacement of our existing website, but it was much more than that.

It was the upgrade of technology, the user experience, a better way to manage city content. It was workflow automation with a new VisaliaWorks, that we now call See Click Fix. It was building in so many of the platforms that our departments use and embedding them in a new website and a new experience. It was the visual identity. It was accessibility and compliance.

It was data security. It was a new public records request process. It was a new social media management tool. We have been calling it a new website, but it is all of these goals and much, much more. A few items of the community outreach highlights, that was specifically, something that was an important piece of the process.

So we had both a digital and hard copy survey that was available in both English and Spanish that was available for a three week period back in September. We had an open comment period where folks could submit their comments via email, written hand notes dropped off to any of our city offices, comments received through social media, and we had a total of four in person opportunities. Two of those were specific listening sessions held right here in your chambers where they could come and speak to city staff and share with us what they wanted us to know about what they'd like to see in a new digital experience. And then we also, of course, had the opportunity for folks to come and learn during these city council meetings as we're doing this evening. So what all of this work brought us was really a new website, and, as we know is our, our tagline, a better way of living.

With all of the work, both directed by counsel, the input you've given us, the CAC, the staff, all the folks that Shauna mentioned, the feedback from the community, really has brought us where we are today to be able to unveil the website to you. So what we'll be seeing is a modern, design. It was very important from the feedback we received that people really wanted something that was much easier to navigate. They wanted something that was mobile optimized. We know that most folks are visiting their webs visiting our website, excuse me, from a digital device.

They wanted improved searchability. They wanted it easier to find, different programs and information. They wanted it a more simple navigation menu. They wanted to be able to have some buttons on the front page that they knew they could easily jump to most often visited sites and sections of our website. And we knew that we needed to have compliance with the ADA and those WCAG guidelines.

I think one thing that's very exciting, with the help with John and his team, we were able to pull the reports and all of the analytics and data from what people were looking for in searching on our current website and be able to take that to base our decisions for the front page of the new website. So once we launch into that, what we'll be able to walk you through is that anything that was in the top 10 is now one click away on the front page of our new sites. Excuse me. So touching on, it's much more than just a new website. It is a new website.

It is also the home of our new reporting tool, which is See Click Fix. So formally known as VisaliaWorks, we're really excited. This is a much easier to use system. It is titled See Click Fix, and users can use it much in the same way they use VisaliaWorks. They can go and report not only what we had on VisaliaWorks, but then now they can now use any form or anything that website.

We've consolidated all of that within the c click fix system. So they no longer have to worry about, am I reporting via VisaliaWorks? Am I reporting via an an online form? It all now lives under one roof. We now have our social media archiving, which was also previously known as Archive Social.

So that is a social media archiving solution that is built into the website and connected to our social media channels. We're very excited to be able to be launching Next Request. So our Chief Deputy City Clerk Reyna was instrumental and led the charge on that piece of the project. That was a huge component, and that is going to be an all in one public records request portal. We've never had the opportunity to have something like that before, and we're really excited to make that another easy to use opportunity for folks in order to make those requests.

And then last but not least, as part of the enhanced features, that we chose to add was AudioEye, and that really focuses on web accessibility compliance. So it's just an enhancement to make our website even more accessible, even friendlier, and easier to use. Last but not least, before we dive in, I just really want to share, with those at home watching, those here in the room, and those who will learn that the new website has launched is that it is a living platform. So it's certainly not a set it and forget it. We come to you this evening being able to unveil to you what we have created, but it is something that we remain committed to ensuring that not only does it have a long lifespan, but that we continue to ensure that it always has up to date content, it's accurate, and it's the most timely information.

On the back end, we'll be monitoring analytics and those search terms, the user behavior that we see from the website, and with that information, we'll be refining content and navigation based on the feedback that we're getting. It will be vital that we ensure accessibility compliance. We will have that DOJ law. That will be something that all municipalities will be working with. And we're excited that this expands our digital services.

And what we've heard a lot from individuals is they really want a self-service tool. They don't necessarily want to pick up the phone or have time to come into a city office. So we're really excited that this website is going to give those who would like to do it digitally an opportunity to do so. So I'm gonna step away. Thank you, John, for holding it down over there, and I'm going to switch seats, and we'll go ahead and launch into the actual website itself.

Thank you, Allison, for your presentation. And she's gonna give you that first glance. We do launch officially with council's approval tomorrow, So we're very excited about going live with this project. And as she's going, if anybody has any questions, myself, Alison, or John would be happy to answer them for you.

Okay. Thank you, counsel. As I switch seats here, I'm going to flip it over to the view. I

I do have a quick question. Yeah. If it's okay. On the C Click Fix, I just I'm looking at the city of Hanford. It does show reported incidents. Is that is it gonna be very similar to that so that we don't report two or three times for the same incident? Or

We actually currently have that turned off. Okay. Okay. And so that it you some municipalities have chosen to show all of those photos and all of that listing. We felt that for our system, it would be better to allow them to report. One, we wanted citizens to feel heard that we were accepting all reports. It may have been something that maybe they felt had been purported previously, but we wanted them to know they can still make that report to us, help for tracking to know what eyes in the community are seeing. And then we also felt that it was also a little bit more confidential

Yeah.

To let folks be able to report without knowing that maybe a photo they had taken

Yeah.

Was gonna be posted live online.

Yeah. It doesn't doesn't list a name, it lists, like, a picture and what they're reporting.

And so I was I

was gonna say, well, I didn't like it because then

Yeah.

You used to not reporting it anymore because you're gonna think, oh, somebody else did it. This is, yeah.

It's definitely something that we can change in the future. If you start to live with it and think that you might like to see a change there, one of the great things about all of these tools is that they're very adaptable from what's available to us within the platform. So this is the new homepage here and we're here at the very top. And as you can see here, it all follows the brand refresh. So we were very excited to work with the Civic Plus designers.

This will look a little bit different as I'm signed out, but this is what the public view will look like. So we start at the top with our refreshed branding, and then we have what is considered the mega menu here at the top. Some of this will look fairly familiar, but all of the information has been refreshed. Every page, every word of the website has been reviewed multiple times to ensure that it is all up to date. So as you hover over government, individuals can then choose to run through the menu in this way.

As they click here, it will then take them to each of these different sections. As I click on City Council, each of the pages then has a very nice banner image, and then folks can then scroll down and they'll find the menu on the left hand side. The main content they're seeking will be in the middle, and on the right hand side, if applicable, at the top they will be able to find the contact information. This is specific to the government page, but as you'll see here, we migrated and refreshed all of our content. So we have what you may have noticed from previous pages, and also making sure to make easily items like our committees and commissions, but then took the opportunity to nest some information so it's a little bit more well organized under items like our measures, and then of course items that need to retain on the website redistricting pieces.

We then hover over departments, and we chose to collapse this menu a bit because it is so expansive. So under departments, we followed, and receiving feedback from the community is one comment we've received is, well, not all of these are technically departments, which they are not, but we heard from the community that they really liked being able under department access items like Convention Center, Transit, and Animal Services, because it gave them a much easier and quicker way to access those items. As you click here and you choose a department, you'll be then taken to another banner image here, and each page follows the same structure. You'll have the menu on the left hand side.

Dan, great picture, great pictures.

I apologize, I did not ask for his permission. Spoiler alert, not every page has a picture of our fire chief. Unfortunately, counsel would like it, we can add that. He can be on every page. But they will visit on the department page for our public safety.

There's this great welcome message that's included here, but then also again so that folks, one, it's part of the branding of the site, but then also to make accessing information as easy as possible, they will always have the menu on the left, the content in the middle, and the contact us on the right hand side. So that is what each of the department pages look like, and then we chose to carry over our Community tab, and this is where individuals will have our AboutVicelia information, our Business resources, we have public safety here, we have items we felt would be specific to residents that they might want to most easily access, and then items specific to visitors. All of this information, again, once we receive analytics and search terms, this can be live and active and changed as we receive feedback on what people are truly searching for. For those familiar with our old website, How Do I still remains a very popular feature on all municipal websites. So we carried How Do I over, but we revamped it completely.

So each How Do I was combed through extensively, and as you'll note here, we are listing them all alphabetically as that is an accessibility feature that was encouraged so folks can find information as easily and as quickly as possible. That is the top of our mega menu, and when folks go home, we again have this really great banner feature here that can display photos, and then these are the quick access buttons. So these most likely will not change unless we get an overwhelming response from the public that they really would like these to be different. And I highlight in that we also heard folks don't want too much of a change because they'll get used to being able to access things very quickly knowing I can always head to the agendas in minutes with one click. I can go straight to what jobs are posted.

I'm one click away from signing up from a recreation class, I'm also one click away from submitting a concern. Because this is very new, currently this takes them to need to submit a concern, use our online tool See Click Fix. It briefly explains what that is, and then it takes them where they can then immediately jump into See Click Fix. So just very quickly show how easy it is to use. If they don't feel like scrolling, they can just enter a term here in the search bar.

If they would feel most comfortable, it is list listed by item so that they can scroll down and find, this is what I was looking for, I need to report a pothole. It will then prompt them to search for a location or address and walk them through the steps of reporting. It does allow them to attach a photo if they would like, but they don't have to. And this will route directly to the appropriate staff person and work exactly as we have the current VicillioWorks system. It's just much easier for the user.

They can click on pay and we have outlined for them alphabetically exactly how they can pay certain items. This information was taken directly from community feedback and also the phone calls and emails that city staff receive. So again, this information will most likely be dynamic as we learn more or potentially bring new payment methods online. Transportation is one of the most visited pages on our website. It is here.

It takes them directly to Visalia Transit. Again, they'll quickly understand the easy navigation with the menu, the main content, and the Contact Us. As they scroll down, they'll notice that we have our latest news, so all of our news will be posted here and then they can choose to see if they would like that in a different view. Anything that we flag as being of the most importance will be at the top here as we have this item as at the very top, and then it will be listed by the date that the news item was posted. As they scroll down, one feature that we heard from the community that they really liked, and would like to see was a more robust calendar.

So we have our events calendar. If it has a yellow circle, then something is scheduled on that date, and there's a bit of a sneak preview here on this menu. If they just want to find the city council meetings or other city meetings, they can click on the meetings tab and it will take them specific to these meetings that are truly either a city council meeting, a committee and commission meeting specific meeting, and then they can also always choose to view the full calendar. This design element on the side rotates and highlights meetings or events, and when I click on this, it will take me exactly to that calendar item and it is also linked. As we finish off the home page, last but not least, at the bottom we feature city spotlights, and this is just another opportunity to make it more easily accessible and then also share information with the public and link them directly to either a department or a division that they might like to either access information or learn more about.

So we have our public safety, our city council, building and planning, trash and sweeping schedule, one of the most popular things folks look for on our website, our parks and trails, and last but not least, beautiful convention center. It does, have a normal footer, but I would like to highlight, if you happen to notice, as I scroll down the page, two items, followed us in our journey down the homepage of the website, and that was this accessibility option here. So folks can click on this, and this is an added feature that we have on our site, which is AudioEye, and they can then personalize their experience to make this easier for them to navigate. We also have the Google Translate, and these follow us as we scroll, and they will also on any other device someone is on. So it does not disappear if you're on a mobile device or an iPad.

This will follow them through their journey on the site. Just quickly highlight our search bar is here. We've heard from Civic Plus that that is how most folks now choose to find their information. So we're very excited that it has a much more robust search feature, and is just your typical search bar, but all of that information is being pulled directly from our content. Counsel, I could go on and on, but I know our time is limited.

We're very excited to be able to unveil this to you this evening and to give you this first look. I think we're very pleased with the product that we have, and we're excited to know that it will be something that we will continue to improve. We will continue to receive feedback from the public, and striking that balance between what they've grown accustomed to so they can continue to navigate it with ease, and then also receive their feedback and make improvements where necessary. That is our formal presentation, but we are available for any questions or comments that you have.

Wonderful. Thank you so much. Any questions or comments from counsel?

Thank you for the report, this is exciting. I've already been playing with it on my phone and excited to submit my first pothole on here. It so far, I've gone halfway, and it's very seamless and easy, and and it looks really good. So thank you for your hard work and your

teams. Oh,

I'm sorry. I haven't used my screen wrong here. Let me get that.

Any other comments? Oh, just a great job. I know these are a lot of work and especially when you're coming from one that's over 10 years old. Life was like a dinosaur. So great. That looks really user friendly, and I like the fact that it is a fluid and living document that can be updated, hopefully internally. We got internal expert on websites. Thank you so much for all your hard work for everybody. I know it was a group effort. You couldn't have done this all by yourself. So thank you again to all the entire city staff who participated.

Yeah. Looks great. Looks fantastic. It looks very modern and updated. Excited to see what the public think about it. Fantastic job.

Thank you.

Yeah, I appreciate all the work that our staff has done putting this together. This is a lot of work. I don't think people understand how much work went into this. I know I didn't. In my personal work, we're looking at updating our website, and I said, oh, let's just go ahead and do a plug and play one. It'll be simple. You know? We could probably use ChatGPT to design it. And the report came back today that we don't know how to color match anything, and it is not simple. So now we're gonna have to go hire it out. So to look at this, it's absolutely beautiful. I appreciate the the time and and energy that you took to get to know our community, the wants and needs of our community. And it looks beautiful. It's stunning. So thank you for all your guys' hard work.

We really appreciate you. Let's go ahead and open this up to the public. Anyone who wishes to speak on this item, please come forward.

Allison, that was a good job, by the way. You know, talking about it's annoying. I don't know nothing from nothing. But you know what we've been using on our website is QR codes.

We'll need you to state your name and city Gabriel residents for the

Hakis, resident of Visalia. Last name is spelled j a c q u e z. I do apologize. Anyway, it looks good. But one thing, we updated our website and our organization. We started using QR codes. Like you wanna get into a certain, platform, you just hit the QR code and it download all that information into your phone. Just some, food for thought. But everything else looks really, really great. Thank you.

Thank you. Appreciate that input. Any other comments? All right. Let's go ahead and close public comments. And no motions required. So thank you again for all your guys' hard work. Looks amazing. And we're gonna go ahead and adjourn until our next meeting. We're gonna go into closed session and then we'll be back here at 07:00 for our regularly scheduled city council meeting and we welcome you guys all to come back at seven.

Thank you so much. The Visalia City Council meeting. We're gonna go ahead and get started. And tonight we actually have a special treat. We are gonna have our pledge of allegiance led by California Cadet Corps, four hundred and twenty seventh Pioneer Battalion at Mount Whitney High School. So please stand.

Ready? Salute. I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. You may be

That's pretty exciting. Neat to see these young men and young women doing great things. And so I'm glad they're come able to come and do that presentation of colors for us. So next, if you guys wouldn't please mind joining us, we're going to go ahead and do our invocation led by Jeremy Van Nusenheim of Central Valley Christian

We

for the opportunity to gather tonight and for those who have accepted the responsibility of serving this city. Your word tells us in first Timothy that we should offer prayers and intercessions for all people, especially for those in authority. And so we lift up the leaders of Visalia to you this evening. Grant them wisdom, discernment, and humility as they make decisions affecting the safety, growth, and well-being of this community. As they discuss the future of roads, housing, public safety, water resources, and the many needs of this city, we ask that you guide their conversations and help them pursue what promotes justice, stewardship, and the flourishing of all who live here, especially for the children and families of this community and the generations that will inherit the decisions made today.

During this season of Lent, Christians around the world remember our need for repentance and grace as we prepare our hearts to remember the sacrifice of

spirit

the serve. May that spirit of the humility and service guide this council tonight. We ask your blessing on their work and your peace over the city of Visalia. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen.

Thank you for that invocation. So we'll go ahead and start now with our public comments. This is a time for the general public to comment on issues within the jurisdiction of the Visalia City Council. Each speaker tonight may speak for up to three minutes during the general comment period on a matter that is not on the agenda. The public may also make one comment for up to three minutes prior to the consideration of the consent calendar and immediately before any regular agenda item is heard.

The council asks that you keep your comments concise and positive. Creative criticism is presented or creative criticism 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 residence. Anyone wishing to speak, please you can come up up there or at the podium over here on our left.

Good evening, mayor. My name is Richie Sayavong, r I c h I e s a y a v o n g. I am a resident of Fresno, California. Good evening. My name is Richie Sayavong.

As I mentioned, I serve as an outreach analyst for the California Department of and thank you for the opportunity to speak here today. I'm calling to respectfully request your support for a package of wildfire recovery and insurance reform bills currently under consideration at the state capital. These measures are authored by assembly members Gibson, Mike Gibson, Lisa Calderon, and state senator Steve Padilla, and they are focused on addressing ongoing recovery challenges in wildfire impacted communities across California. The first bill, a b seventeen ninety five, authored by assembly member Gibson, would establish a clear public health standard for smoke damaged homes. After a wildfire, many homes may appear structurally sound but can still contain hazardous smoke contamination.

Without clear standards, homeowners often face delays, disputes, and uncertainty regarding remediation and insurance coverage. This bill creates clarity, protects public health, and helps streamline recovery. The second bill, s b eight seven six, authored by senator Padilla, strengthens disaster recovery protections and expanding living expense coverage. Families displaced by wildfire are often out of their homes for extended periods. This measure helps ensure residents have adequate coverage for temporary housing and related costs, reducing financial hardship during a time of crisis.

The last bill, a b sixteen eighty, authored by assembly member Calderon, reforms and increases accountability within the fair plan. As more Californians turn to the fair plan for insurance due to market instability, it is critical that the program operates with transparency, sustainability, and strong consumer protections. The bill aims to improve oversight and help stabilize the insurance market for wildfire impact communities. Together, these measures are designed to speed recovery, reduce coverage gaps, increase accountability, and strengthen long term community resilience. Local government support is incredibly important in advancing policies that most directly impact residents.

I respectfully ask your consideration and support. I'm happy to provide fact sheets on each of these bills along with a brief summary, and I would also welcome the opportunity of a quick ten minute presentation on a future at a future council meeting to provide legislative updates and answer questions. Thank you for your time, your leadership, and your continued commitment to protecting your community. Thank you.

Anybody else wishing to speak at this time?

Good evening. My name is Ricardo Flores, r I c a r d o f l o r e z, and I live here in Visalia. Tonight, I would like to give some feedback and talk about VMC twelve point five two point zero two zero and 8.40.03, but specifically about receiving letters concerning a basketball hoop our family uses. First, let me start by referencing a false claim that a door hanger was left at our door. It was not.

Secondly, most importantly, there is a date here, February 9. It happens to be the day I was off from work, actually using our basketball, shooting baskets with my son. It leads me to a lot of questions. I think this is a little bit of over regulation. Here are some questions.

When I pull my basketball hoop out, how long of a break can I take with my sunshoon baskets? Do we get do we have time to, like, eat, use the restroom? 8.40.3 states, so as to interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life and property. Whose enjoyment of life and property? Mine?

Because my enjoyment and property is imparting a work ethic through practice using our hoop. Is my car my property? Can I park it against the curb in front of my house? Isn't the width of a car wider than the width of a basketball base? I'm being charged also for staffing in order that I may get fined.

If the city is going to take on duties of an HOA, can I at least ask for a gate and a pin pad? I mean, this is we get to say hi to our neighbors. This is community building. I get to spend time with my family, and I'm getting fined and feed for basketball court. There's a lot of subjectivity in these codes.

There are more questions I can provide, but I don't think that this public comment leads itself to discussions and solutions. So I'm not just standing up here complaining I will offer a solution. If it's the city's objective to raise money, why not charge a consecutive monthly payment schedule? For example, you could charge someone $200 for the first month, decreasing to a floor of 25 a month. I would certainly pay $700 a year to build with my kid. In closing, I look forward to talking aloud in future council meetings. Thank you.

Thank you. Do we have anybody here from code enforcement? Okay. Paul, if you wouldn't mind, speaking with mister Flores. It looks like he has some questions.

Anybody else wishing to speak at this time? Okay, seeing none, I'm going go ahead and Okay, come on.

Good evening. My name is Camilla Chavez, c a m I l a c h a v e z, and I'm a resident of Iselia. Good evening. I'm a high school senior at Redwood, and I'm currently completing a senior capstone project for the Law and Justice Academy alongside one of my peers. Our project is focusing on improving menstrual product access in public restrooms across Visalia.

I

have also submitted a written public comment with a full pilot program proposal request with additional details for consideration. But I wanted to come to share what some residents of Visalia have shared about their experience with their inability to find menstrual products in public restrooms in Visalia. As part of my research for this project, I surveyed members of our community, and many have shared experiences of having difficulty finding menstrual products while in public. Several respondents said that they had to use toilet paper or paper towels when menstrual products were unavailable. Others described events where they had leak through their clothing and to wash their clothes in a restroom sink because they cannot find the proper products in time.

These situations are not just inconvenience. They are humiliating, stressful, but also preventable. No one should have to feel embarrassment, shame, and a loss of dignity over a natural bodily function, but many do because they don't have the proper access to products. Data from the Visalia Unified School District shows that providing menstrual products dispensers in public restrooms is is a financially manageable investment that would have a meaningful impact on the well-being of our community community members. In my written proposal, I have outlined the installation and ongoing supply costs, so I highly encourage the council to read over that.

Providing menstrual products in public restrooms sends a message that our city values dignity, accessibility, and equity. Just as we provide soap, toilet paper, and paper towels in our public restrooms, menstrual products should also be provided, as they are a basic hygiene necessity for many here in Visalia. That's why I encourage the city of Visalia to consider exploring ways to implement free menstrual product dispensers in public restrooms through pilot programs where data can be accumulated and reviewed for effectiveness. Thank you. That's all I have to say.

Thank you. Anybody else wishing to speak at this time? Okay, I'm gonna go ahead and close public comments. And we're gonna be skipping items of interest and go on to the consent calendar. Council Member Puchigian, do you have any items you'd like to pull? No items. Council member So to, any items you like to pull? Yeah, item number nine, please. Item nine, thank you. Vice Mayor Wind, do you have any items you like pull?

No.

Let's see which one's item number nine. It's the calendar. Okay, and I have no items to pull, so I'll entertain a motion.

I'll make a motion to accept the balance of the consent calendar item number nine.

I second the motion.

First and second please vote. Consent calendar passes four zero with council member Nelson absent. Council member So to, is there anything specific you'd like

to No, be don't need the report. Just wanted to comment. I just wanna thank Jason, you and your team, Liz Winn, Frank, CSAT, and everybody that was a part of that. Leslie, that was a part of those meetings that made got us to this to where we are today with a grant that's going to benefit a lot of the youth here in Visalia. So I just want to show some appreciation for the work that y'all did. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. I forgot to request public comments on any items, I guess I'll go ahead and do that now. Anyone from the public wishing to speak on this item, please come forward. Okay, seeing nobody, let's go ahead and I'll entertain a motion to approve that.

I make a motion to approve item number nine.

I'll second. First and second, go ahead and vote. Item number nine passes with a four zero vote with council member Nelson absent. Alright, next we're going to regularly scheduled items of a public hearing. Item number one is an appeal. Staff report please.

Thank you. Colleen Moreno with the Planning Division. Let me get our PowerPoint. This item is for an appeal of Planning Commission condition of approval number three of the conditional use permit number 2025Dash32 for Jave's drive through. The department recommendation is for, the council members to receive the staff presentation, hold the public hearing, and adopt resolution number 2026Dash08 denying the appeal and upholding the Planning Commission's condition of approval number three of the conditional use permit.

Alternative motions. The council may, in lieu of the recommended motion, consider any of the following alternatives. Overturn the decision of the Planning Commission and approve conditional use permit number 2025Dash32 with conditions and or modifications as specified by the City Council, or deny the appeal and send back to the Planning Commission for additional consideration, or continue the matter to a future City Council hearing. The applicant is appealing Planning Commission's condition of approval number three which is requiring the drive through hours of operation to cease at ten p. M.

Every day. Planning Commission is still allowing the inside dining and ordering as requested by the applicant for their hours of operation. The conditional use permit number 2025Dash32 was approved with that added condition by Planning Commission at the 02/09/2026 Planning Commission hearing. The applicant's request was seeking to operate both the interior and the drive thru with the same hours of operation, which are six a. M. To twelve a. M. And I'm sorry, that should be Sunday through Thursday and six a. M. To two a.

M. Friday and Saturdays only and so based on this information the Planning Commission thought it was appropriate to limit the hours of operation for the drive through only till ten p. M. Every night of the week. A conditional use permit number 2025Dash32, is a request to construct two tenant spaces within a 4,130 square foot building.

Will be constructed in two phases with phase one being the 2,740 square foot tenant space of the drive through and all improvements on-site and phase two being the smaller thirteen ninety square foot tenant space with the use has yet to be determined. The site is located at the Southeast Corner of East Caldwell Avenue and South Stonebrook Street. It is within the Caldwell 51 specific plan and the conditional use permit is required based on the project's proximity to residences to the north. The surrounding zoning for the site, the project site is highlighted in the light blue. All in red is our regional commercial.

The yellow is the single family residential, so that's to the north. The green is our quasi public and pink is our CMU which is our mixed use commercial. Project site, there you go. So the background, at that Planning Commission hearing on 02/09/2026, the Planning Commission deliberated the requested hours of operation as proposed by the applicant for the drive thru and the proximity of that drive thru to residential uses and as well as the compatibility with the surrounding commercial uses within that area. The Planning Commission did approve that conditional use permit with the modification of number three limiting the hours of operation of the drive thru to ten p.

M. Every day of the week because the Planning Commission determined that the proposed hours were not consistent with the policies and intent of the general plan and zoning ordinance. It was also determined by the Planning Commission that proposed hours of the applicant was not compatible with the adjacent residential land uses and the proposed operating hours of the drive thru will have a direct impact up to the neighborhood residential uses by interfering with the quality of life of the properties in the existing neighborhoods that are adjacent or nearby the project site. So again that would be those residential uses that are directly to the north of the project site. For the project analysis, the proximity to the single family residential.

The proposed drive through is located 160 feet from the single residential subdivision to the north of the project site and that is measured parcel to parcel. The speaker box for the drive through in the staff report it was mentioned it was on the north side however it is, the correction to that is that it's located along the west side on South Stonebrook as opposed to West Caldwell which would be the north side of the project site. So that speaker box is actually located on the West side of the parcel along Stonebrook. The block wall is also located along the south property boundary of that subdivision as well. The surrounding commercial uses, there are three drive throughs located within the project site area and within the Caldwell 51 specific plan.

The first is the Champs Car Wash that operates 8AM to 7PM seven days a week. The former El Patron which is a drive through kiosk that is currently vacant however the previous use operated 11AM to 7PM Monday through Friday and was closed on weekends. And the Human Being Coffee Shop operates five a. M. To seven p. M. Seven days a week. There is one sit down restaurant as well located and that is the Gozen Japanese restaurant with the latest closure for that restaurant being nine p. M. For the noise, the project related noise levels would not be expected to exceed existing ambient noise levels for any sensitive receptors at the residential locations near the project site.

An acoustical analysis was required for the conditional use permit and this information is pulled directly from that which is also included. The fast food facilities are not limited to specific operating hours in the municipal code and through the acoustical analysis it was determined that the proposed drive thru would not negatively impact the neighborhood. The project also is required to comply with the city's noise ordinance. Staff recommends that the City Council deny the appeal and uphold the Planning Commission's condition of approval number three of conditional use permit number 2025Dash32. There are three alternative motions which I had mentioned earlier, either to overturn the decision of the Planning Commission and approve the conditional use permit with conditions and or modifications, deny the appeal and send back to Planning Commission for additional consideration, or continue the matter to a future City Council hearing.

That concludes staff's presentation. I am available for any questions.

Thank you very much. Any questions of staff at this time?

I just want to confirm, this first went to Planning Commission staff recommendation was to approve the project, correct?

That is correct.

Okay.

Was there any neighbors that showed they were all notified

right

through Interview?

Correct. We

did already showed up to protest the hours or

No. We didn't receive any input public comment from the public.

And then just the walls on the neighborhood side are six feet tall, seven feet tall?

Seven feet and they're block wall.

And they're block wall,

okay.

Thank you.

Any other questions? No, like I

said, I'm gonna be going vote for overturn the decision of the Planning Commission approval because we get people complaining about everything. Any time there's a project to the fact that we had no neighbors approve or complain about this, the fact that there's a jacket on box and other things ordained in that area, there is no residential on that side of that street.

There's a

block wall Oh,

sorry. Okay, we're gonna go ahead and open this up to the public. Anybody wishing to speak on this item, please feel free to come forward. You can either come to this podium or this one right here.

My name is Javier Maldonado, J A V I E R M A L D O N A D O. I'm the owner of Javi's. I am just trying to provide employment for our local people. You know? And that's all I'm trying to do. And what what we make in in ourselves and all that, I'm sure it helps the city with, you know, the taxes and all that the city collects. I work with nothing but local people. You know? Our our vendors are all local. So, you know, most of all our ingredients are produce and all that comes from local people.

And, again, I'm just trying to help out local families, giving them jobs. And then by cutting me till 10PM, it's not gonna it ain't gonna function for us. You know? I'm just asking till 2AM, and And don't know. Somehow or another, we can work out that speaker box. I don't know. Maybe turn it down after 10PM or something, the volume. I don't know. We can figure something out. I can talk to the contractor that are building this.

How can we reduce the noise if that's the biggest concern is the speaker box? I'm willing to work with the city and the contractors to bring the noise down. That'd be all? Thank you.

Any questions for the applicant while he's up here? Nope. Thank you. Thank you. Anybody else wishing to speak on this item?

Hello, everyone. My name is Euler Torres, e u l e r, Torres, t o r r e s. I live in Tulare. I'm from the Brooks Agency. I've worked with Javier for over ten years since his restaurant used to be called El Mejor. Some of you guys may know that. In the downtown area, we helped and convinced him to use his name, and that's been very successful for him. He opened up a location down on the Target, a location location that he had to shut down. He was also at the mall. And Javier's, you know, investing, especially in this economy and how everything is.

He's still willing to open up another location. And what the research study says that when a small business with a drive through will help his business increase sales up to 25%, and I think that would be key for him to be successful so he can stay open and continue to get people jobs that live here locally. So I just wanted to make that public comment on behalf of mister Javier and thank you guys for your time.

Thank you very much. Anybody else? Okay. Seeing nobody else, we're gonna go ahead and close public comments and I'll turn it back to council with any comments that council has at this time. Council member Patino, if you wanna finish your comments?

Yeah. So, back in, I'll be fully supportive of overturning the decision. Like I said, there's other businesses just like Hobbies right along that road. You should be given the same kind of operating schedules that they do have. So, I'll be fully supportive of overturning the decision, especially since there was no public outcry to it and also that our staff actually recommended giving them these conditions initially.

Any other comments? I literally live just a few few 100 feet. I mean, maybe, I don't know, a thousand feet from this project. And I tell you what, if this was an issue, I would have heard about it because all these people who live along the wall, I know a lot of them. And I can tell you, my wife and I are extremely excited to be able to walk to dinner. So, if you guys can hurry up and get this thing built, we'd appreciate it. You know, it's a busy street. Caldwell's a busy street. Jack in the Box is open twenty four hours. I've never had a single complaint from any of my constituents.

I don't see any issues with this. I think this is very common for people to want to order food and do a drive through. Late in the evening, it's pretty rare to see those drive throughs packed just because people are in bed. And so for the few dozen people that might be coming through, more business for Hobbies and for his restaurant. I'm excited to have him in our neighborhood. I'm excited to be able to walk down there with my family and enjoy a good dinner. I too will agree with Councilmember Puchigian in overturning this. And the Planning Commission, I appreciate what they do. They're fantastic. 98% of the time I can agree with them. This one just kinda has me scratching my head.

So I'll make a motion to overturn the decision of the Planning Commission and approve conditional use permit number 2020Five-thirty2 with conditions and or modifications as specified by the City Council.

Mayor if I may just to make sure we're clear if you're overturning it can we then have the conditions as noted by the applicant be read back to you. That for the hours of operation.

So I'll redo that again. I'll make a motion to overturn the decision of the Planning Commission and approve council with conditional use permit number 2025Test32 with conditions open to 02:00 in the morning. With the original conditions?

With their original hours of operations.

With the original hours of operations. Yes.

Second. First and second, please vote. Item passes four zero with Council Member Nelson absent. Thank you very much and good luck to the restaurant sir. All right next we're on to item number two which is the fire department rates and fees.

Good evening, mayor, members of council. Corbin Reid, fire marshal for SLA Fire. Operational business safety inspections are annual inspections performed at businesses throughout our community. We attempt to inspect all commercial operations annually. Some businesses are required to be inspected annually by state law and are referred to as state mandates.

These include schools, hotels, apartments, and jails. Operational permits are listed in the California Fire Code and our operations that present an increased hazard to the building and or occupants. These operations include welding, high powered storage, hazardous materials, places of assembly to name a few. Last year, the Vicente Fire department completed 3,528 inspections throughout our community, including all state mandated inspections. The current rates and fees schedule is as follows.

Operational business safety inspections are billed twenty nine dollars and ninety three cents for businesses that do not perform any operation that requires an operational permit. Businesses conducting hazardous operations are charged $93.80 per operation with a maximum of three permits charged per inspection. In this instance, the operational business safety inspection fee of $23.90 is subtracted out and not charged. Apartment inspections are billed at a rate of $7.65 per unit with a maximum of 100 units per inspection. The current fee schedule was established in 2010 and has been increased by CPI since fiscal year thirteen-fourteen.

When established, it does not appear as though the operational business safety inspection fee fully accounted for the personnel costs, particularly when engine crews perform inspections. There are currently 2,772 inspections assigned to engine crews. These inspections are performed by all three members of the crew walking through the business together. The original calculation for apartment inspections was based on a part time inspector's wage. California Health and Safety Code now requires that these inspections be performed by full time paid staff.

Staff's recommendation to council is to adopt a simplified fee structure which no longer requires addition and subtraction of inspection fees. All businesses will be charged a flat fee of $82. Businesses performing permitted operations will be charged an additional $82 per Businesses permit with a maximum of three permits. This would raise the maximum amount charged to a business from $281.40 to $328 Reinspection fees would be raised to a flat $82 inspection, and apartments would be raised from $7.65 per unit to $12.09 per unit with no unit cap. The proposed fees are based on a few calculations.

Operational business safety inspections, operational permit inspections, and reinspections have been calculated on fifteen minutes of engine company time. After careful consideration, it was approximated that the average business inspection performed by an engine crew takes fifteen minutes. If there are hazardous operations, those operations have been identified to take approximately fifteen additional minutes to inspect as these facilities are typically larger in size, and that's per operation. A reinspection will be billed at the same rate as an initial inspection without the addition of the operational permit fees as we're typically going in to inspect one or two items, not necessarily the entire facility and all the operations again. So, it'll take a lot less time.

Inspections of the same facilities will take prevention staff a greater amount of time as they are single single resource performing the entire inspection as opposed to a crew of three. Inspections of apartments are performed by prevention staff. This fee was established by taking the average time it takes to perform an inspection of a triplex apartment building. This calculation equated to $912 and 9¢ per unit. This fee is multiplied by the total number of units at each complex to formulate the total inspection fee.

Currently, there's a cap of 100 units for billing. This cap is a disproportionate reduction to large complexes. Larger complexes do not require less time on a per unit basis to inspect. The removal of this cap would currently affect nine properties in our community. The proposed fees, although an increase, are well below neighboring communities performing inspections.

Our proposed fee increase does not include administrative staff time, finance, or information systems staff time incurred during the billing process. Staff recommends council move to adopt resolution twenty twenty six dash 11 adopting the proposed fee schedule including the removal of the fee cap specific to apartment inspections. This concludes my presentation. Any questions?

Thank you, Corbin. Any questions of staff at this time? Okay, let's go ahead and open this up to the public. Anybody wishing to speak on this item, please come forward and state your your name and city of residence. And seeing no one, I will turn it back over to counsel for either any follow-up questions or any motions.

So, will say this. Never in favor of raising fees, especially the kind of the jump that there is on this. I was actually okay with removing the cap because that makes sense to me. But then when I saw how much the other communities are charging and how low our fees are, I understand why we're doing this, just trying to recoup the cost of what we're doing. So I will be supportive of this tonight.

I move to adopt resolute are we there?

Go for it.

I move to adopt resolution number twenty twenty six eleven adopting the proposed fee schedule including the removal of the fee cap specific to apartment complex inspections.

I second. With a first

and second, please go ahead and vote. Item passes four zero with council member Nelson absent. Thank you very much for your report. Appreciate it. Do we have any closed session reports to report at this time?

Nothing to report this evening, mayor.

Thank you, though. And we're gonna go ahead and adjourn. Thank you, everybody, for being here. You're welcome to come back at our next city council meeting, which will be on Monday, April 6 at 7PM.