Ordinance could reduce weekly watering days from 3 to 1 for 8 months of year if adopted Monday night, the Visalia City Council approved a first reading of an updated Water Conservation Ordinance that, if adopted, will restrict the number of watering days to one day per week for eight months of the year, and three days per week during the hotter months, June – September. Staff presented two options for Council consideration to revise the ordinance from its current four water-conservation stages. The City has been at Stage 3 of the ordinance since 1991. The principal difference in the ordinance is the watering day restrictions. The City Council approved a hybrid of the two irrigation options presented by staff.  The revisions to the new ordinance include: Watering is restricted to one day per week for eight months (October-May) and three days per week for the summer months (June-September). Irrigation is limited to no more than 15 minutes per watering valve or station up to two times per day with the exception of very low-flow drip-type irrigation. A provision prohibiting the new installation of cool-season lawns was removed from Stage 4 in the revised ordinance. A sunset clause which terminates Stage 4 (or 5) in one year unless specifically reauthorized by Council. Council recognized that these watering restrictions will present challenges to landscapes, especially cool season lawn like fescue. The revised ordinance includes a new Stage 5 that would be implemented only in the event of a water crisis where the City anticipated a significant water supply shortage. The ordinance will have a second reading at the March 17 regular session of the City Council. At that time, Council could consider passing it as an urgency ordinance which takes effect immediately and requires a 4/5 vote. Otherwise, the adopted ordinance would take effect in 30 days, or mid-April. In addition, Council approved a proposed drought outreach marketing plan and appropriated $25,000 from the General Fund, and approved staff’s request to shut down the Airport wash rack. To read the staff report, click here.

Check your sprinklers when you change your clocks Sunday Good water conservation habits can be easier to start if you combine them with habits you already have - such as moving your clocks forward every Spring! It's the perfect time to also remember to check the timers on your sprinklers when you turn your clocks forward on Sunday, March 9. As part of the City of Visalia's "Save Our Water" educational outreach campaign approved by the City Council Monday night, we've put together some tools for City residents to use to reduce water usage. The tools to use will be featured on the City of Visalia's website, Facebook, Twitter and Inside City Hall. For more tools, click here.

Nixle connects citizens, Police The Visalia Police Department is now utilizing a new communications service that allows us to send valuable community information directly to residents using the latest technology. The Nixle Community Information Service allows police to create and publish messages to be delivered to residents instantly via cell phone, text message, and/or email. Notifications can also be accessed online at Nixle’s web site at www.nixle.com. Messages may include crime and arrest reports, as well as other relevant safety and community event information.  The service is secure, reliable and easy to use.  Subscribers can choose the way in which alerts are received, whether it is by email, text message, or over the web. Nixle builds on the foundations of other public-to-public communication services, such as Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace, but adds a key component: security. When citizens receive information from our agency via Nixle, they know it can be trusted. Residents of Visalia and those in neighboring communities can immediately begin receiving pertinent information via text message, email, and web by registering at www.nixle.com.

Give 'Change That Counts' The City, in collaboration with faith-based, service provider and business community partners has launched an awareness campaign entitled: “Change That Counts – Help Those Who Help the Homeless” which is designed to educate the public on how to deal with aggressive panhandlers. The campaign will use a variety of different mediums – a website, social media outlets, flyers, bus billboards, and presentations – to encourage individuals to give their money to service providers to provide real help to the truly homeless.  “Giving money seems like a compassionate act and it may help people for the moment, but it often encourages destructive habits or stops them from seeking out help that could actually improve their lives," said Visalia Mayor Steve Nelsen. "Instead, give your donation to those who help the homeless get off the streets and take steps to change their lives forever.” Visalia Police Lt. Steven Phillips said it’s easy to confuse panhandlers with those who are truly homeless. “But, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, most panhandlers have places to live, and most homeless people do not panhandle.” The City's Aggressive Solicitation Ordinance was recently amended and now prohibits solicitation in parking lots during all hours. 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. For more information on how you can help those who help the homeless with your money, go to www.helpvisaliahomeless.com. An online list of service providers gives avenues of options for your donation. In addition, "Steps to Success" stories highlight the differences service providers and faith-based organizations are making in the lives of members of the homeless community. If your faith-based or service club organization or business is interested in assisting with this effort, please contact Community Relations Manager Nancy Loliva at [email protected] or call (559) 713-4535.