April 2 Newsletter
Convention and Visitors Bureau pours $1.9 million into local economy: A $254,000 investment in funding by the City for the Visalia Convention and Visitors Bureau (VCVB), and $21,000 for regional tourism, has or will yield $1.9 million in direct convention and tourism revenue. The estimated economic impact from revenue through hotel room nights, meeting room rentals, Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) and other revenues is $7.2 million. Business booked by the Bureau in 2012 included 23 booked conventions that will result in over 15,987 room nights. TOT revenues were up 9% in 2012 over 2011, a direct result of higher occupancies and higher room rates. To view the annual report, click here.
Building permits stay on the plus side: Building permits for single family dwellings continued their surge in March, with a 121% bump over the same first three months of 2012. As of March 31, 75 permits have been issued, compared to 34 for the same period last year, with a 102% increase in valuation from $8.6 million to $17.4 million for this year. Total number of permits issued were up 7%, from 692 in 2012 to 739 for 2013. Total valuation of all permits was up 67% - from $19.8 million in 2012 to $33.1 million in 2013.
Cal Water Rate Case Public Participation Hearing Set for May 15 at the Convention Center: Council received an update on California Water's request to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to increase water bills in Visalia by 28.3% over the next 3 years. The CPUC will hold a public participation hearing on the Cal Water Rate Case on Wednesday, May 15, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Visalia Convention Center, 303 E. Acequia Ave. The public is encouraged to attend.
Cal Water is requesting a rate increase in Visalia that would generate $6.6 million annually - an increase of 28.3%. At a time when Visaians are conserving more, and Cal Water is delivering less water, both its corporate and district expenses are increasing at rates considerably higher than inflation. In its 2011 Annual Report, Cal Water reported record revenues of $501.8 million, a 45th consecutive annual dividend increase, and a 20-year total return of 598%.
Timeline: A final decision is due by the Administrative Law Judge within 60 days of it being submitted for his consideration. That decision is then forwarded to the full CPUC for consideration. It's expected the rate case process will conclude at the end of the year.
Background: In June, 2012, California Water Service submitted an application to the CPUC to raise their system wide rates by over $125 million annually over the next three years. Concerned about the amount of the increase for Visalia requested by Cal Water, the Visalia City Council directed staff in August to file as an "intervener", giving the City the authority to be an active participant in the rate case. At the April 1 meeting, Council also authorized staff to be actively involved in the CPUC process, including but not limited to, participation in the settlement conference discussions, cross examination during the hearings at the CPUC, and to provide information to the public on the upcoming public participation hearing.
Considerable time has been spent by City staff reviewing the application and testimony submitted by Cal Water in relation to their proposed multi-million dollar increase. The application and attachment are available for public review. In addition, the Division of Rate Payers Advocates (DRA), a division of the CPUC, has conducted an extensive review of the utility's application. On March 1, DRA submitted its reports, including an 84-page DRA report specific to the Visalia rate case. The DRA did recommend a significantly less increase, 9.3% over the three years, as opposed to Cal Water's requested 25.3% company wide and 28.3% Visalia District increases. To view the application, attachment, and DRA reports, click here.
Earth Day celebration set for April 20: The Visalia Environmental Committee will host the annual Earth Day event on Saturday, April 20, from 9 a.m. to noon at the St. John's Riverwalk at Ben Maddox Way and the St. Johns River. The event will include a community exhibitor's event offering information on what's new and available in the world of energy efficiency, conservation, and green products. There will also be a cleanup project along the St. Johns River, live music, walking tours, and an art project. The celelebration provides a day each year for community members to rededicate themselves to being good stewards of the Earth and to celebrate our many natural resources. Major sponsors include Visalia Rotary, Starbucks, Groppetti Automotive, 4Creeks Engineering, Tulare County Board of Supervisors, Home Depot, San Joaquin Valley College, Consolidated Waste Management Authority, and Visalia Transit.
Dare to Spare April 20-May 20: Changing our air starts by changing our minds. We all want to effect change for better air quality and we can all start by changing our minds about our daily habits. Beginning on April 20 and running for an entire month, take the Dare to Spare Challenge. Create a group of 3 teammates - friends, family or co-workers. Then, register your group by April 17. Some ways to Spare the Air today: Ride Visalia Transit; take a ride on the Visalia Town Trolley; ride a bike instead of driving, or walk instead of drive. For more information and to register your team, click here.
Visalia Police hold zero tolerance distracted driving enforcement operation: As part of April's Distracted Driving Awareness Month campaign, Visalia Police will actively ticket those texting or operating hand-held cell phones while driving. Drivers who break the law will be cited with no warnings. A first-time offender can expect a ticket to cost over $150. Last April, over 57,000 tickets were written statewide for texting and hand-held cell use. Distracted driving is a serious traffic concern, with an estimated 3,331 deaths in 2011 resulting from collisions that involved at least one driver who was distracted. This April will see over 225 local agencies plus the CHP conducting zero tolerance enforcements. "We hope that once people see the statistics and realize the danger involved, they will change their driving habits to help protect themselves, their families and others on the road," said Visalia Police Sergeant Chris McLain. For more information, click here.
Dump On Us on April 13: The City of Visalia will hold a Dump On Us event from 7 am to noon Saturday, April 13, at the Visalia Corporation Yard, 335 N. Cain St. Dump On Us is an event for Visalia residents which allows the opportunity to dispose of a variety of hazardous items, green waste, e-waste and home-generated medical sharps. You can also dispose of polystyrene (styrofoam). For more information, go to dumponus.org or click here.
Office Hours with the Mayor: Visalia Mayor Amy Shuklian will hold her regular office hours on Wednesday, April 3, for Visalia residents to discuss issues of concern. Walk-ins are welcome from 5 to 5:45 p.m. in the large conference room at City Hall, at 707 W. Acequia Ave. Appointments from 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. can be scheduled in advance by contacting Gladys Ruiz at 713-4314. Mayor Shuklian also can be reached through 713-4400, then enter 8313, or by email at [email protected].
Enjoy Donuts & Discussion with Warren Gubler: Enjoy Donuts and Discussion with Council Member Warren Gubler and Assistant City Manager Michael Olmos from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Saturday, April 13, at Sunshine Donuts, 522 S. Lovers Lane. This informal gathering allows any citizen to address their concerns or ask questions one-on-one with Council Member Gubler or Assistant City Manager Olmos. Drop-ins are welcome at any time. Council Member Gubler also can be reached through 713-4400, then enter 3313, or by email at [email protected].
Building permits stay on the plus side: Building permits for single family dwellings continued their surge in March, with a 121% bump over the same first three months of 2012. As of March 31, 75 permits have been issued, compared to 34 for the same period last year, with a 102% increase in valuation from $8.6 million to $17.4 million for this year. Total number of permits issued were up 7%, from 692 in 2012 to 739 for 2013. Total valuation of all permits was up 67% - from $19.8 million in 2012 to $33.1 million in 2013.
Cal Water Rate Case Public Participation Hearing Set for May 15 at the Convention Center: Council received an update on California Water's request to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to increase water bills in Visalia by 28.3% over the next 3 years. The CPUC will hold a public participation hearing on the Cal Water Rate Case on Wednesday, May 15, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Visalia Convention Center, 303 E. Acequia Ave. The public is encouraged to attend.
Cal Water is requesting a rate increase in Visalia that would generate $6.6 million annually - an increase of 28.3%. At a time when Visaians are conserving more, and Cal Water is delivering less water, both its corporate and district expenses are increasing at rates considerably higher than inflation. In its 2011 Annual Report, Cal Water reported record revenues of $501.8 million, a 45th consecutive annual dividend increase, and a 20-year total return of 598%.
Timeline: A final decision is due by the Administrative Law Judge within 60 days of it being submitted for his consideration. That decision is then forwarded to the full CPUC for consideration. It's expected the rate case process will conclude at the end of the year.
Background: In June, 2012, California Water Service submitted an application to the CPUC to raise their system wide rates by over $125 million annually over the next three years. Concerned about the amount of the increase for Visalia requested by Cal Water, the Visalia City Council directed staff in August to file as an "intervener", giving the City the authority to be an active participant in the rate case. At the April 1 meeting, Council also authorized staff to be actively involved in the CPUC process, including but not limited to, participation in the settlement conference discussions, cross examination during the hearings at the CPUC, and to provide information to the public on the upcoming public participation hearing.
Considerable time has been spent by City staff reviewing the application and testimony submitted by Cal Water in relation to their proposed multi-million dollar increase. The application and attachment are available for public review. In addition, the Division of Rate Payers Advocates (DRA), a division of the CPUC, has conducted an extensive review of the utility's application. On March 1, DRA submitted its reports, including an 84-page DRA report specific to the Visalia rate case. The DRA did recommend a significantly less increase, 9.3% over the three years, as opposed to Cal Water's requested 25.3% company wide and 28.3% Visalia District increases. To view the application, attachment, and DRA reports, click here.
Earth Day celebration set for April 20: The Visalia Environmental Committee will host the annual Earth Day event on Saturday, April 20, from 9 a.m. to noon at the St. John's Riverwalk at Ben Maddox Way and the St. Johns River. The event will include a community exhibitor's event offering information on what's new and available in the world of energy efficiency, conservation, and green products. There will also be a cleanup project along the St. Johns River, live music, walking tours, and an art project. The celelebration provides a day each year for community members to rededicate themselves to being good stewards of the Earth and to celebrate our many natural resources. Major sponsors include Visalia Rotary, Starbucks, Groppetti Automotive, 4Creeks Engineering, Tulare County Board of Supervisors, Home Depot, San Joaquin Valley College, Consolidated Waste Management Authority, and Visalia Transit.
Dare to Spare April 20-May 20: Changing our air starts by changing our minds. We all want to effect change for better air quality and we can all start by changing our minds about our daily habits. Beginning on April 20 and running for an entire month, take the Dare to Spare Challenge. Create a group of 3 teammates - friends, family or co-workers. Then, register your group by April 17. Some ways to Spare the Air today: Ride Visalia Transit; take a ride on the Visalia Town Trolley; ride a bike instead of driving, or walk instead of drive. For more information and to register your team, click here.
Visalia Police hold zero tolerance distracted driving enforcement operation: As part of April's Distracted Driving Awareness Month campaign, Visalia Police will actively ticket those texting or operating hand-held cell phones while driving. Drivers who break the law will be cited with no warnings. A first-time offender can expect a ticket to cost over $150. Last April, over 57,000 tickets were written statewide for texting and hand-held cell use. Distracted driving is a serious traffic concern, with an estimated 3,331 deaths in 2011 resulting from collisions that involved at least one driver who was distracted. This April will see over 225 local agencies plus the CHP conducting zero tolerance enforcements. "We hope that once people see the statistics and realize the danger involved, they will change their driving habits to help protect themselves, their families and others on the road," said Visalia Police Sergeant Chris McLain. For more information, click here.
Dump On Us on April 13: The City of Visalia will hold a Dump On Us event from 7 am to noon Saturday, April 13, at the Visalia Corporation Yard, 335 N. Cain St. Dump On Us is an event for Visalia residents which allows the opportunity to dispose of a variety of hazardous items, green waste, e-waste and home-generated medical sharps. You can also dispose of polystyrene (styrofoam). For more information, go to dumponus.org or click here.
Office Hours with the Mayor: Visalia Mayor Amy Shuklian will hold her regular office hours on Wednesday, April 3, for Visalia residents to discuss issues of concern. Walk-ins are welcome from 5 to 5:45 p.m. in the large conference room at City Hall, at 707 W. Acequia Ave. Appointments from 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. can be scheduled in advance by contacting Gladys Ruiz at 713-4314. Mayor Shuklian also can be reached through 713-4400, then enter 8313, or by email at [email protected].
Enjoy Donuts & Discussion with Warren Gubler: Enjoy Donuts and Discussion with Council Member Warren Gubler and Assistant City Manager Michael Olmos from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Saturday, April 13, at Sunshine Donuts, 522 S. Lovers Lane. This informal gathering allows any citizen to address their concerns or ask questions one-on-one with Council Member Gubler or Assistant City Manager Olmos. Drop-ins are welcome at any time. Council Member Gubler also can be reached through 713-4400, then enter 3313, or by email at [email protected].