September 3 Newsletter
Phase 2 of Reclamite road improvement project underway in northwest Visalia: Reclamite pavement street maintenance projects began Phase II in northwest Visalia Tuesday, Aug. 26. All vehicles, traffic and parked cars must be off the streets that will be reclamited by 7 am. The contractor will close the street and apply the rejuvenator with oil. About 2 hours after it is applied, a sand blotter will be applied to reduce tracking. Traffic or parked cars will not be allowed on the streets until after the sand has been applied. Speed must be held to a minimum for several days to reduce the chance of picking-up rejuvenator and sand on your vehicles. Residents in impacted areas will be notified of the work start date no less than 72 hours prior to the work beginning. Public notifications include message boards, door hangers and no parking signs will go up 24 hours in advance of the work. To view the schedule and map of the work to be done, go to /depts/public_works/streets. To minimize any inconvenience from this project, residents in impacted areas are advised to: Keep pets and children off the street during application to prevent oil being tracked into the home; check pets feet and shoes for residue after application to protect floors; if you track residue into your driveway or garage, it can be washed off or it will wear off in 2-6 weeks; and drive slow to prevent pick up. Residue on vehicles can be removed with immediate washing with soap and water.
Cape Seal project begins Sept. 9: Road maintenance projects continue with Cape Seal surface improvements beginning Tuesday, Sept. 9, and completion is expected by Sept. 26. Cape Seal is the combination of two pavement surface treatments used on streets and highways to extend pavement life upwards of 10 years. The project contractor is Valley Slurry Seal (VSS) International and project manager is Public Works Manager Norm Goldstrom. The first treatment consists of rubberized liquid asphalt applied to the existing surface, then covered with rock called "chip." The Chip Seal takes about 2 hours to cure completely. Treated streets will then receive micro surfacing about 1 week after the chip seal is applied. Streets will not be closed to traffic during the Chip Seal process, but delays are expected. Cars will need to be parked off the street for two days following the chip seal placement. Residents in impacted areas will be notified of the work start date no less than 72 hours prior to the work beginning. Public notifications include message boards, door hangers, and "No Parking" signs will go up 24 hours in advance of the work. To view the schedule and map of the work to be done, go to the Public Works Department page and click on "Streets" on the City's website.
Save the Date for the Annual State of the City: Mark your calendars for Sept. 23 at the Visalia Convention Center for the annual State of the City presentation by Mayor Steve Nelsen and Vice Mayor Warren Gubler. The presentation begins at 6 p.m. and will cover topics including: updates on City projects; district elections; capital and infrastructure improvement project updates; and a look ahead to the future!
Get rid of unwanted medications on Sept. 27: The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and local law enforcement agencies are providing the public with the opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medications (including pet medications), both in pill and liquid form as well as unused vitamins. The Visalia Police Department at 303 E. Johnson St., and the Tulare County Sheriff's Administration Office at 2404 W. Burrel will be open from 10 am to 2 pm Saturday, Sept. 27. Place pills, capsules, and tablets of unwanted medication and vitamins into a zip-lock plastic bag. Medication from hospitals, pharmacies, doctor's offices, etc., will not be accepted. This is a free event.
A new truck in town: In the next few weeks, the Visalia Fire Department expects delivery of the City's new Office of Emergency Services fire truck. According to Fire Chief Doug McBee, it will be used the first year as a front-line engine at Station 54 and then as a reserve engine for the City. It will be available for California State fires for both wildland and structure protection and used predominately in the Central Valley region, but can go statewide if the fire emergency is severe and help is requested. This is the second engine the City has received from the state OES and will replace the 1998 model currently in service. The City has been participating with OES in the fire engine program since 2012.
City to hold ceremony remembering 9/11: The Fire Department will host a September 11th remembrance ceremony to acknowledge the events of 2001 that have affected our lives forever. The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. in front of Fire Station 51 located at 309 S. Johnson Street. Fire and Police personnel will share some comments followed by remarks by Mayor Steve Nelsen. Public safety traditions also will be shared with the participants of the event. Light refreshments will be served following the ceremony. This year’s ceremony will be the last annual event, and it will then be memorialized every five years.
Make your voice heard and help prioritize the City's needs over the next five years: If you were unable to attend one of three community forums recently held, you still have an opportunity to provide input on how federal funds the City receives should be invested to improve the community. Take the quick online survey by Sept. 30 at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VisaliaConPlan. The City will develop a five-year consolidated plan which identifies community development, homeless, and affordable housing needs. The Plan is created every five years and assists the City in determining community needs.
Council Member Amy Shuklian holds office hours: Her monthly office hours will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at City Hall for Visalia residents to discuss issues of concern. Walk-ins are welcome from 5 to 5:45 p.m. in the conference room at 707 W. Acequia Ave. Appointments from 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. can be scheduled in advance by contacting Lauri Aguilar at 713-4322. Council Member Shuklian can also be reached through 713-4400, then enter 8313, or by email at [email protected].
City Non-Profit Grant Workshops scheduled: Workshops are being held for eligible organizations wishing to apply for grants through the Non-Profit Program Fund available through the City. A subcommittee of the Citizens Advisory Committee, which oversees the grant process and makes recommendations on funding to the City Council, will offer three application workshops from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, from 10 to 11 am Saturday, Sept. 13, and from 11:30 am to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16. All three workshops will be held in the City Council Chambers, 707 W. Acequia Ave., in Visalia. No reservations are necessary, but applicants must attend one workshop session as a prerequisite for submitting an application unless the agency was an award winner in FY 2013-14. The Fund is available to qualified non-profit and government agencies with programs or services for people under age 18 in the City. Applications for funding are available on the City's website, at City Hall, 707 W. Acequia Ave., or requested by email ([email protected]). The application and all required attachments must be received by 4:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22, at City Hall. Please put to the attention of the Citizens Advisory Committee. Information: Ruth Pena at 713-4327 or by email at [email protected].
Enjoy Night at the Races and support City's Parks & Recreation Department: Enjoy a free night at the races on Friday, Sept. 5, at Plaza Park Raceway. Pick up a free pass at the Visalia Parks & Recreation Department at 345 N. Jacob St. Gates at the Raceway open at 5:30 p.m. with qualifying rounds at 6:30 p.m. and racing starts at 7:30 p.m. For more information, go to www.plazaparkraceway.com.
Kudos and Congratulations: City arborist Joel Hooyer made it official by passing his arborist certification the first time around - a difficult test to take, much less pass on your first go-round. The Visalia Police Motors unit has selected Amee Sing as this year's recipient of the "AVOID" award. Amee, a financial analyst for the City, kept track of all the financial requirements of the AVOID Grant during her time with the Police Department. A commemorative luncheon will be held Oct. 22 in Fresno.
Water regulations change in October: With the end of the dog days of summer comes the change in Stage 4 water regulations for all City residents. From Oct. 1-31, residents may water their lawns on their designated days two times a week. In November and December, watering will only be allowed one day a week, with no watering in January and February. Watering landscape accounts for nearly 60% of all City water usage, so Make Every Drop Count. When Stage 4 regulations began in April, with only one day a week allowed, water usage dropped by 14%. That trend continued in May with a 12% drop in water usage going to two days a week. For more tips on how to conserve our most precious resource, go to www.gogreenvisalia.com.
Building permits up 22% through August: Permits for new single family homes were up 11% for the year with 280 being filed through August 31, 2014, compared to 252 in 2013. Total permits filed numbered 2,778 compared to 2,276 for the same time frame last year, with an increase of 13% in total value of all permits filed.
The joint is jumpin'! Convention Center forecasts busy Fall season: September brings a boon of big events to the Convention Center. Attendance of 3,500 is expected at this weekend's Rocky Mountain Gun Show, College Night hosted by the Tulare County of Education is set for Sept. 9, with 2,500 expected. The popular Visalia Home Expo kicks off Thursday, Sept. 18 through Sunday, Sept. 21with over 3,000 expected through the doors. October is shaping up to be just as busy with the popular Valdivia Dance on Friday, Oct. 3 with 2,000 expected to attend. The Grand Chapter of the California Order of the Eastern Star is set for Oct. 15-18, with about 1,500 people expected each day.
Barrier Awareness Day is Oct. 4: The Disability Advocacy Committee shared their accomplishments for 2013/14 at the Sept. 2 City Council meeting and previewed the upcoming Barrier Awareness Day. The committee is made up of seven members and two alternates, and its goal is to advise the City on the needs of disabled people and bring awareness to the business community on the barriers that the disabled face every day. The annual Barrier Awareness Day will be held from 9 am to noon Saturday, Oct. 4, at Garden Street Plaza, and features public participation by experiencing the world through the disabled person's perspective. This year's event also will feature about 20 vendors, and organizers hope for their biggest event to date. To review a copy of the event brochure, click here.
Council Member appointed to work on plan for multi-generational community center/swimming pool: The City Council appointed Greg Collins to work with a Park & Recreation Commissioner, appointed by the Commission, and City staff to select a design consultant and develop a schematic plan for the facility on City property at the northeast corner of Visalia Parkway and County Center Drive, west of Mooney Boulevard. The contract for the consultant will be brought back for Council consideration in roughly 4 to 6 months. At that time, Council will authorize additional members of the community to the ad hoc committee to assist the consultant in developing a concept plan. The consultant will work with the committee to evaluate the proposed site for suitability for a future community center/swimming pool complex, to determine facilities suitable for the site, and develop concept plans and potential funding strategies. To view the staff report, click here.
Parks & Recreation Foundation presents annual report to Council: Foundation Executive Director Carol Hoppert Hays provided the Council with an overview of Foundation activities. The Foundation was formed in 1992 to assist and promote public parks and recreation and community enhancement. The City funds the foundation annually with $30,000 which is paid quarterly and allocated in the general fund budget. Over the years, the Foundation has raised cash or in-kind contributions for various Parks and Recreation Department programs or services, including corporate sponsorships for the Riverway Sports Park, a donation from the College of the Sequoias' Foundation for the Sports Park and the shade cover in Garden Street Plaza, and various improvement projects in parks and along the riparian areas adjacent to our waterways. The Foundation also has raised monies for the annual Fourth of July fireworks display at the Giant Chevrolet Mineral King Bowl. The Foundation announced in the Spring that this would be their final year of coordinating the show. To review the staff report, click here. To view the annual report, click here.
Council approves signage in Village Park to prevent adult loitering: Signs will be installed initially in the children's playground at Village Park adjacent to the Wittman Center to inform persons that Penal Code Section 653b applies within the playground and adults not accompanied by children are prohibited. Section 653b makes it a crime for adults to loiter at a public place where children congregate. Staff had reviewed this action with the Parks and Recreation Commission at its July 15 meeting. To read the staff report, click here.
Give 3 Feet Law begins Sept. 16: AB 1371 - the Three Feet for Safety Act - takes effect later this month. The law requires drivers to give bicyclists at least 3 feet clearance when passing in the same direction. The new law is designed to reduce car-bicycle crashes by reminding drivers to give bicyclists more safe space when passing. Hundreds of bicyclists are killed and many more are injured nationwide each year. Safety tips for motorists include: slow down near bicyclists; pay attention and avoid driving distractions; look for bicyclists before opening your car door; be aware of oncoming bicyclists when making a left turn, and; check your blind spot for bicyclists before turning right. Safety tips for bicyclists include: Ride with the flow of traffic, not against it; ride with a white front light at night; be visible and don't hug the curb; stop at red lights and stop signs; ride 3 to 5 feet to the left of parked cars to avoid opening doors, and; be predictable and use hand signals.