Watering changes take effect April 17 Visalians, it’s time to adopt a new habit.  One of our most important resources is in trouble, and we need to do everything we can to protect it today and into the future. The City Council adopted a water conservation ordinance and implemented Stage 4 - Water Emergency, which takes effect April 17. Stage 4 allows watering 1 day a week March and April and November and December, 2 days a week in May and October, and three days a week June-September. No watering will be allowed in January and February. All total, the changes will bring an estimated 25% annual reduction in landscape irrigation, which is responsible for about 60% of total water usage in the City. During months where one watering day a week is allowed, odd numbered addresses will water on Saturdays, even on Sunday. During months where two days a week are allowed, odd numbered addresses will water on Tuesday and Saturday, even on Wednesday and Sunday. During the summer months when three days a week are allowed, odd numbered addresses will water on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and even on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Want to learn more? Click here for information on the new regulations. Good water conservation habits can be easier to start if you combine them with habits you already have. If you have good indoor habits on conserving water - shorter showers, shutting the water off in between teeth brushes, etc. - take those habits outdoors. Need help in your low-water use landscape makeover? Go to www.visalia.watersavingplants.com for a gallery of ideas courtesy of California Water Service Company.

Here's help for Drought Tolerant Landscapes to last all Summer long Good water conservation habits can be easier to start if you combine them with habits you already have.  If you have good indoor habits on conserving water - shorter showers, shutting the water off in between teeth brushes, etc. - take those habits outdoors. Need help with a drought-tolerant landscape makeover? Click here for a gallery of ideas courtesy of California Water Service Company. Tyson Carroll with the Urban Tree Foundation shares his own lawn makeover here.

Third Homeless Summit on April 23 The City will host Visalia Homeless Summit 2014 from 10 am to noon Wednesday, April 23, at the Visalia Convention Center. The summit, the third one put on by the City, will bring together community leaders, service providers and members of the faith-based community to share ideas and strategies groups have developed since the first two summits were held. Topics of discussion will include: Updates from service providers and faith-based subcommittees on strategies developed, timelines and next steps; ongoing collaboration and leveraging local resources to maximize impact; the status of the development of a homeless court in Tulare County, and; discussion on the Points in Time Survey by the Tulare/Kings Continuum of Care. The City, in collaboration with faith-based, service provider and business community partners, 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.  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.