June 18 Newsletter
Burlington Coat Factory Comes to Visalia: The retailer which sells clothing for all ages as well as home goods, will be moving into 61,000 square feet of the former HomeBase building on Mooney Boulevard in the new Walmart Shopping Center between Caldwell and Cameron Avenues. The new store is set to open some time this fall.
Protect backyard citrus trees from Asian Citrus Psyllid: Representatives from the local and regional Citrus industry gave an update on the Asian Citrus Psyllid to Council members at the June 17 meeting. It may be only 2 millimeters long, but it has a widespread and potentially devastating implication on the Central Valley citrus industry and has already been found in Tulare County. Mostly found in Los Angeles, the Asian Citrus Psyllid is one of the worst bugs that can destroy a citrus grove as it can carry Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening disease. Residents can protect and help save their backyard citrus by following these tips: Don't move citrus plants, plant material or fruit in or out of quarantine areas or across state or international borders; inspect your citrus trees monthly for signs of HLB and the psyllid; plant trees from reputable, licensed California nurseries; and cooperate with agriculture officials on detection and suppression efforts. For more information, click here.
Cal Water Update: Council members received an update on California Water Service's request for a 28.3% rate increase over three years currently pending before the California Public Unitily Commission. This increase, almost five times the rate of inflation, is almost three times what the Divison of Ratepayer Advocates (DRA) is recommending - a 9.7% increase over the same time period. Settlement discussions the City has attended have involved the Low Income Rate Assistance (LIRA) program and the capital program proposed by Cal Water. The LIRA program, paid for by the ratepayers in the Cal Water system, provides a monthly subsidy for qualifying low-income customers of 50% off the service charge for residential customers with a 5/8" metered service. Staff fought hard to retain the program for its qualifying citizens, and the current settlement proposal, which has been agreed to by most of the parties involved, includes a LIRA subsidy for all Cal Water districts, including Visalia. While the City organization will incur increased costs due to any rate increase, the real impact is on the citizens. Given the projected $6.6 million increase being proposed bu Cal Water at the end of the three-year cycle, every 1% reduction saves Visalia ratepayers about $66,000 annually. To review the staff report, click here.
Join in the Freedom Celebration on July 4: The Visalia Parks & Recreation Foundation, in partnership with the City of Visalia, will present its annual Fourth of July celebration. Gates open at 7 p.m., with fireworks at 9 p.m. Live entertainment will feature The Nameless Fire Tribe, music and live performances. Concessions are available, and no ice chests are allowed. Admission is free, but a donation of $3 per person is requested.
Measure T Plan recertified: Due to revenues falling short of plan for FY 2013/14, Council approved modifications to the Measure T plan elements. Voters passed a sales tax override measure to increase public safety in the community in March 2004. That revenue source has faltered in the last several years, and the Citizens Advisory Committee recommended changes to the plan as appropriate for recertification. While Measure T has been able to implement the majority of the components of the expenditure plan, the following modifications were approved by Council: Retain Measure T police officers at 22, six less than the plan; retain Fire Measure T firefighters at 15, three less than plan to match projected revenues against expenditures; postpone the construction of the Police Headquarters until revenues approve, and; consider additional officers and/or firefighters if revenues improve at the next recertification plan year, FY 2014/15, and when more information is available on the cost of the new southwest fire station and the new 911 center. To view the staff report, click here.
Other Council news: Members of the Visalia Community Rotary Foundation presented a check for $100,000, its largest single gift ever, to the City of Visalia for the Recreation Park Splash Pad, due to be open in Spring 2014; Visalia's Fire Chief Doug McBee received his badge, pinned on as shown by his wife, Cindy, at a special ceremony at the start of the June 17 meeting;
Visalia Launches a Utility Rate Study: A Utility Rate Study project to audit all of the City’s gas and electric accounts for refunds and/or tariff adjustments which could potentially save the City money was recently approved by the City Council. The contract was awarded to Utility Cost Management LLC, a Fresno based company. The City has over 600 Southern California Edison (SCE) accounts for electrical service at public facilities. There are a large number of tariff rates and SCE is significantly changing its tariff structure in 2013-2014. Commercial tariff rates are complex and choosing the most cost-effective rate depends on electricity usage patterns at each account. The City also has 42 natural gas accounts with Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) that will be audited as part of this project. The project includes reviewing each utility account, analyzing load factors and consumption patterns, and preparing a recommendation to the City including tariff adjustments that can be implemented to provide a more affordable rate structure.
Mayor to Hold Office Hours June 19: Visalia Mayor Amy Shuklian will hold her regular office hours Wednesday, June 19, for Visalia residents to discuss issues of concern. Walk-ins are welcome from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. in the large conference room at City Hall, 707 W. Acequia Ave. Appointments from 5:15 to 6:00 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].
Applications Being Accepted For City Committees: The City is currently accepting applications for seven committees. The following committees have vacancies: Disability Advocacy Committee, Environmental Committee, Historic Preservation Committee, North Visalia Neighborhood Advisory Committee, Transit Advisory Committee, Waterways and Trails Committee, and Tulare Mosquito Abatement District Board. Applications are accepted on a continuous basis and kept for a period of two years. Visit the City's website at www.ci.visalia.ca.us and click on "Committees/Commissions" to view the handbook and application. You can also call the City Clerk's Office at 713-4512.
Nominate Giant Sequoias for 8th Wonder of the World: Help the largest living things on earth and our own national treasure earn the crown of the 8th Wonder of the World by VirtualTourist.com, a leading travel research website part of the Trip Advisor Media Group. You have until September 30 to cast your vote (and you can vote every 24 hours). The wonder with the most votes will be crowned the winner and featured in a national broadcast TV segment on a popular syndicated program. To vote, click here. To view the press release, click here.