December 5 Newsletter
Visalia Rescue Mission available during cold temperatures: The weather forecast is predicting temperatures to be below 30 degrees during the night through Saturday, Dec. 7. The Visalia Rescue Mission has agreed to assist anyone who needs assistance on nights that are below 30 degrees. In addition, the Visalia Rescue Mission has now opened a "40 Degree" Center at their new Community Center for nights when the temperature is expected to be 40 degrees or below. The Community Center is located at 741 N. Santa Fe, and will provide blankets and staff to monitor the open room. The Visalia Rescue Mission offers both a men's shelter, as well as a woman and children's shelter; however they do not offer a family shelter. The Visalia Rescue Mission will provide food and a warm place to sleep to anyone in need. However, the Mission maintains a drug and alcohol free environment. Anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol will not be able to utilize the facility. For those with special needs, please contact 2-1-1 Tulare County. The Visalia Rescue Mission is in need of blankets to keep those who need emergency shelter warm, so please contact the Mission if you can help. Call 740-4178.
Building permits show 9% increase: Building permits issued through November of this year continue to surpass last year’s numbers. New single family dwellings are up 52% over last year, and up 84% in value. Total numbers for the year to date are 369, up from 242 issued in 2012. New commercial projects, although down slightly from last year, are up 48% in value. Total number of permits are up 9% for the year – from 2,871 in 2012 to 3,126 in 2013. Total value of all permits issued is up 44% - from $109,284,050 in 2012 to $157,134,162 in 2013.
Panhandling ordinance gets first read: At the Dec. 3 City Council meeting, the first reading was given which would amend the City's Aggressive Solicitation Ordinance to not allow solicitation in parking lots during all hours and would also amend a nuisance ordinance to include depositing human excrement in an unsanitary manner as a public nuisance. The current Aggressive Solicitation Ordinance currently prohibits soliciting in public parking lots after dark. Staff proposed to remove the language "after dark", making soliciting in parking lots a municipal code violation regardless of the time of day. Under the current ordinance, solicitation means any request made in person seeking an immediate donation of money or other items of value. The ordinance doesn't interfere with the rights of parking lot owners or tenants to utilize their property or allow others to use the parking for solicitation with permission. Council will take final action on the ordinance revisions at its Dec. 16 meeting. To review the staff report, click here.
Mural Policy Review Committee to form: The City Council approved the appointment of a mural policy review committee to review the City's current mural policy and make recommendations on updates. The committee is to be comprised of seven members: Two representatives from the Arts Consortium; one representative from the Parks and Recreation Commission; one representative from the Downtown Alliance; one from the Planning Commission; one from the Visalia Chamber of Commerce; and one City Council Member. City Council Member Amy Shuklian will represent the Council on the committee. The organizations will appoint members to the committee, and will complete its review of the City's policy by Feb. 15. To review the staff report, click here.
City's Fall Drop-Off On through January 4: The City's of Visalia's Solid Waste Fall Drop-off annual yard waste recycling event is going on now through January 4 at two locations in the City. All City residents are encouraged to recycle yard trimmings, grass clippings, leaves, branches, wood, lumber and food scraps, and participate in this annual recycling event. Yard waste and compostables will be accepted now through Jan. 4 at Harvest Power, 24478 Road 140 from 8 am to 4 pm Monday-Friday and 8 am to 3:30 pm Saturdays, and at West Coast Wood Industries, 7715 Avenue 296, from 7 am to 4:30 pm Monday-Friday and 8 am to 2:30 pm on Saturday. The event is a free way to rid your property of yard waste and compostables. For information on what to "drop off", visit www.gogreenvisalia.com.
Building permits show 9% increase: Building permits issued through November of this year continue to surpass last year’s numbers. New single family dwellings are up 52% over last year, and up 84% in value. Total numbers for the year to date are 369, up from 242 issued in 2012. New commercial projects, although down slightly from last year, are up 48% in value. Total number of permits are up 9% for the year – from 2,871 in 2012 to 3,126 in 2013. Total value of all permits issued is up 44% - from $109,284,050 in 2012 to $157,134,162 in 2013.
Panhandling ordinance gets first read: At the Dec. 3 City Council meeting, the first reading was given which would amend the City's Aggressive Solicitation Ordinance to not allow solicitation in parking lots during all hours and would also amend a nuisance ordinance to include depositing human excrement in an unsanitary manner as a public nuisance. The current Aggressive Solicitation Ordinance currently prohibits soliciting in public parking lots after dark. Staff proposed to remove the language "after dark", making soliciting in parking lots a municipal code violation regardless of the time of day. Under the current ordinance, solicitation means any request made in person seeking an immediate donation of money or other items of value. The ordinance doesn't interfere with the rights of parking lot owners or tenants to utilize their property or allow others to use the parking for solicitation with permission. Council will take final action on the ordinance revisions at its Dec. 16 meeting. To review the staff report, click here.
Mural Policy Review Committee to form: The City Council approved the appointment of a mural policy review committee to review the City's current mural policy and make recommendations on updates. The committee is to be comprised of seven members: Two representatives from the Arts Consortium; one representative from the Parks and Recreation Commission; one representative from the Downtown Alliance; one from the Planning Commission; one from the Visalia Chamber of Commerce; and one City Council Member. City Council Member Amy Shuklian will represent the Council on the committee. The organizations will appoint members to the committee, and will complete its review of the City's policy by Feb. 15. To review the staff report, click here.
City's Fall Drop-Off On through January 4: The City's of Visalia's Solid Waste Fall Drop-off annual yard waste recycling event is going on now through January 4 at two locations in the City. All City residents are encouraged to recycle yard trimmings, grass clippings, leaves, branches, wood, lumber and food scraps, and participate in this annual recycling event. Yard waste and compostables will be accepted now through Jan. 4 at Harvest Power, 24478 Road 140 from 8 am to 4 pm Monday-Friday and 8 am to 3:30 pm Saturdays, and at West Coast Wood Industries, 7715 Avenue 296, from 7 am to 4:30 pm Monday-Friday and 8 am to 2:30 pm on Saturday. The event is a free way to rid your property of yard waste and compostables. For information on what to "drop off", visit www.gogreenvisalia.com.