March 20, 2013

Phase 3 of Sports Park a Go!

On Monday, the Visalia City Council authorized the awarding of a $1.065 million construction contract for the development of Phase III of the Riverway Sports Park to Forcum/Mackey Construction, Inc.

Phase III improvements on the six acres will include a large turf area, a promenade area with a stage, picnic shelter, park furnishings, restroom/storage building, landscape and irrigation, concrete flatwork, sewer, storm drain and water lines, and a containment curb for a future playground area.

For more information on the project, click here.

City Manager To Retire in Fall

City Manager Steve Salomon has announced his intent to retire from the City of Visalia in the Fall. While he gave no definitive date, he had previously informed the City Council that he would give six month notice if he planned to leave.

"Steve has helped shape this city into truly the best in the Central Valley," said Visalia Mayor Amy Shuklian. "Through both good and challenging times, Steve always maintained a calm approach to deal with issues. His ability to forge relationships with community stakeholders is unprecedented. It will be difficult to imagine the City of Visalia without Steve Salomon as City Manager."

In announcing his plans to retire, Mr. Salomon said, "I have had the pleasure and honor of working for the City Councils and the community since 1996, over 16 years. Much has been accomplished and the community's quality has been enhanced." Mr. Salomon also acknowledged the hundreds of City employees with whom he has worked. "Visalia, without a doubt, has the finest municipal organization in the State."

He also thanked the City Council members he has worked with during his tenure. "Visalia has been blessed for decades with elected officials who serve only with the desire to make this place stronger and better. It shows in all facets of the community."

During his tenure as Visalia's City Manager, his accomplishments are highlighted with the expansion of services to meet the needs of Visalia citizens. They include: The passage of Measure T, the first sales tax augmentation in the State to fund on-going public safety operations; the opening of two new police substations in north and south Visalia; the addition of two new parking structures to keep up with the demands of a vital, thriving downtown; the opening of Visalia's sixth fire station on Lovers Lane; the expansion of the Kaweah Delta Medical Center facilities, and; the opening and expansion of the Visalia Transit Center and the Transit Maintenance Facility.

Ballot Measure Passes

Visalia property owners voted to continue a 48 cent monthly fee and to expand the use of the monies collected to reduce the risk of local flooding through increased maintenance of the storm water drainage system. The measure passed with 58.47% of those voting yes to continue the fee.

"While much work has been done to reduce the likehood and severity, the City has a history of flooding," said Visalia Mayor Amy Shuklian. "Thanks to the property owners who voted to support this fee extension, it will make a real difference in our ability to adequately maintain the waterways and reduce the risk of flooding. We appreciate the support."

The mail ballot was conducted according to the provisions of California's Proposition 218 which requires all property-based fees be approved by the property owners. On Tuesday, 6,652 valid ballot were counted, which represented 8,440 votes. The difference is because some parcels are charged more than one fee based on the number of units on the parcel and therefore have more than one vote. The ballots were counted Tuesday by TrueBallot, the consultant which conducted the ballot measure on behalf of the City.

The City Council will officially certify the results of the mail ballot at its April 1 meeting. 

Water Exchange Agreement Approved

The City Council approved an agreement of historic significance with Tulare Irrigation District (TID) at Monday's work session for the exchange of water supplies.

When the Water Conservation Plant Upgrade Project is completed in about three years, it will produce high-quality recycled water suitable for nearly any use, except for drinking water purposes, It can be applied to crops, including edible crops, without restriction, and used in landscape irrigation and for industrial processes. A portion of the recycled water will be pumped east for irrigation of the City's Valley Oaks Golf Course and Plaza Park, and some will be used on the City's farmland.

Under the approved agreement, the majority of the water will be exchanged with TID, which will distribute the recycled water for agricultural irrigation within its district. In exchange for delivery of the City's recycled water, TID will provide surface water to the east of the City in wet years for groundwater recharge.

Highlights of the agreement include: The City will deliver between 11,000 and 13,000 acre-feet per year of recycled water to TID; the exchange rate will be 2:1; for every two acre-feet of recycled water delivered to TID, TID will deliver to the City one acre-foot of surface water for recharge; and water delivered by TID will be water which would not have otherwise been available to the City.

With the recently approved Water Conservation Plant upgrade project and this agreement, the City will transform what was a waste into a reliable source of high-quality water for agriculture in exchange for a long-term source of surface water to help mitigate declining water levels beneath the City.

To view the staff report, click here.