July 8 Newsletter
Council approves floor plan for Emergency Communications Center: City council received an update on the Visalia Emergency Communications Center (VECC), selected a preferred building elevation concept, and approved the approximate size of 18,700 square feet at an estimated cost of $16.5 million. The VECC building has been sited east of Burke Street and north of the proposed School Avenue extension, along Jennings Ditch. The building will be the permanent home for the 911 Dispatch, the Emergency Operation Center, Traffic Management Center, and the City's secure Data Center for Information Services. It is also planned to accommodate the Fire Administration and Prevention personnel until the next phase of the Civic Center is built. The total square footage is designed to accommodate a 20-year growth period for the Emergency Communication Center. To view the staff report, click here. To view the rendering of the preferred building elevation concept, click here.
Building permits boast 25% boost in first half of 2014: Building permits issued through June of this year totaled 2,042, up 24% from 2013's six-month total of 1,629. New single family dwelling permits rose 16%, from 161 to 187, and showed a 23% boost in value. Residential additions and alterations rose 28%, and commercial additions rose 9%. Total value of all permits is up 15%, from $72,814,690 in 2013 to $83,440,593 through June in 2014.
Block parties planned for 2014 National Night Out Event: On Tuesday, Aug. 5, the Visalia Police Department will celebrate the 31st annual National Night Out city-wide block party in conjunction with the National Association of Town Watch. Neighborhood Watch groups across America will gather in their communities to take a stand against crime and show their support for local crime prevention programs. National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support and participation in local crime prevention efforts, and to help strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships. Last year, 37.8 million participated nationwide. Neighborhood Watch groups across Visalia will be hosting block parties, BBQs, potlucks, and ice cream socials. You don't have to be a member of a Neighborhood Watch group to participate. If your neighborhood would like to participate in this year's event, contact Visalia Police Department-Crime Prevention at 713-4370. Block parties must be registered by July 14.
Parks & Recreation offers July freebies: Savor the "freedom" July brings with a host of activities - all FREE - throughout the month. Click here for more information and grab the freebies for summertime family fun all month long.
Resource Fair Set for July 12: The Tulare County Housing Resource Fair will be held on July 12 at the Visalia Convention Center to provide information and assistance to people interested in becoming first-time home buyer and families at risk of home foreclosures. Co-sponsored by the City of Visalia, the resource fair offers free financial, legal and educational resources during the event that will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Representatives from businesses, government agencies and nonprofits involved in housing and home financing will be there, and there will be activities for children, as well as a raffle for adults. Sponsors for the fair include Community Services Employment Training, Central California Legal Services, Tenants Together and the Tulare County District Attorney's Office. To become a sponsor, go online to http://www.cset.org/housingfair.
Sharps Drop Off Day July 10 in Visalia: Home Generated Sharps Drop-Off Days for residents of Tulare County continue through July. The new Home-Generated Sharps Waste Collection Program went into effect on July 1, and provides Tulare County residents free drop-off of their used sharps at the local retailer where they originally purchased their sharps. Consolidated Waste Management Authority will host a free drop-off event from 2 to 6 pm Thursday, July 10, in the City parking lot at Tipton and Oak Avenue. Sharps will only be accepted in approved certified sharps containers. For more information, go to www.cwmarecycles.com.
Houston Avenue Construction Project impacts traffic between County Center and Woodland streets: The south half of Houston Avenue is being reconstructed between County Center Street and Woodland Street. Construction, which began June 30, is expected to continue to the first of August. Houston Avenue will be reduced to two lanes of traffic, one in each direction, between County Center and Woodland streets. Right turns from northbound County Center to eastbound Houston Avenue will not be allowed. Right turn traffic will be detoured north on County Center to Ferguson Avenue and then south on Mooney Boulevard.
Median work on Highway 198 slated to begin July 13: Work on the media of Highway 198 to install vegetation control will be done beginning July 13-July 17 and July 20-24 from 7 pm to 6 am. The #1 lanes in the eastbound and westbound directions of State Route 198 will be closed to allow access for the work all nights. For more information, go to www.plaza198.com.
Building permits boast 25% boost in first half of 2014: Building permits issued through June of this year totaled 2,042, up 24% from 2013's six-month total of 1,629. New single family dwelling permits rose 16%, from 161 to 187, and showed a 23% boost in value. Residential additions and alterations rose 28%, and commercial additions rose 9%. Total value of all permits is up 15%, from $72,814,690 in 2013 to $83,440,593 through June in 2014.
Block parties planned for 2014 National Night Out Event: On Tuesday, Aug. 5, the Visalia Police Department will celebrate the 31st annual National Night Out city-wide block party in conjunction with the National Association of Town Watch. Neighborhood Watch groups across America will gather in their communities to take a stand against crime and show their support for local crime prevention programs. National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support and participation in local crime prevention efforts, and to help strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships. Last year, 37.8 million participated nationwide. Neighborhood Watch groups across Visalia will be hosting block parties, BBQs, potlucks, and ice cream socials. You don't have to be a member of a Neighborhood Watch group to participate. If your neighborhood would like to participate in this year's event, contact Visalia Police Department-Crime Prevention at 713-4370. Block parties must be registered by July 14.
Parks & Recreation offers July freebies: Savor the "freedom" July brings with a host of activities - all FREE - throughout the month. Click here for more information and grab the freebies for summertime family fun all month long.
Resource Fair Set for July 12: The Tulare County Housing Resource Fair will be held on July 12 at the Visalia Convention Center to provide information and assistance to people interested in becoming first-time home buyer and families at risk of home foreclosures. Co-sponsored by the City of Visalia, the resource fair offers free financial, legal and educational resources during the event that will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Representatives from businesses, government agencies and nonprofits involved in housing and home financing will be there, and there will be activities for children, as well as a raffle for adults. Sponsors for the fair include Community Services Employment Training, Central California Legal Services, Tenants Together and the Tulare County District Attorney's Office. To become a sponsor, go online to http://www.cset.org/housingfair.
Sharps Drop Off Day July 10 in Visalia: Home Generated Sharps Drop-Off Days for residents of Tulare County continue through July. The new Home-Generated Sharps Waste Collection Program went into effect on July 1, and provides Tulare County residents free drop-off of their used sharps at the local retailer where they originally purchased their sharps. Consolidated Waste Management Authority will host a free drop-off event from 2 to 6 pm Thursday, July 10, in the City parking lot at Tipton and Oak Avenue. Sharps will only be accepted in approved certified sharps containers. For more information, go to www.cwmarecycles.com.
Houston Avenue Construction Project impacts traffic between County Center and Woodland streets: The south half of Houston Avenue is being reconstructed between County Center Street and Woodland Street. Construction, which began June 30, is expected to continue to the first of August. Houston Avenue will be reduced to two lanes of traffic, one in each direction, between County Center and Woodland streets. Right turns from northbound County Center to eastbound Houston Avenue will not be allowed. Right turn traffic will be detoured north on County Center to Ferguson Avenue and then south on Mooney Boulevard.
Median work on Highway 198 slated to begin July 13: Work on the media of Highway 198 to install vegetation control will be done beginning July 13-July 17 and July 20-24 from 7 pm to 6 am. The #1 lanes in the eastbound and westbound directions of State Route 198 will be closed to allow access for the work all nights. For more information, go to www.plaza198.com.