No watering in January, February

The City’s Fall/Winter Stage 4 water regulations for all City residents changed Thursday, January 1, 2015. There is no watering during January and February.

There is an exception to the schedule for hand-watering shrubs, trees, or vegetables. These can be watered any time with a watering can or with a hose with a positive shut-off nozzle. The hose cannot be left unattended and watering of lawns outside of the watering schedule is prohibited. Washing down sidewalks, driveways, etc., is also not allowed. A revision to the ordinance allows for washing of vehicles in January and February. Even addresses can wash vehicles on Sunday; odd addresses on Saturday.

Please report water violations to 713-4531. For more tips on how to conserve water, go to www.gogreenvisalia.com.

SeaPort service to move from Oakland to Sacramento

At the Jan. 5 City Council meeting, Council approved submitting a letter in support of a change of service, replacing 12 weekly roundtrips from Oakland to Sacramento. The request does not change the 12 weekly roundtrips to Burbank.

The change provides Visalia with the Central Valley's only daily air service to the state capital at a fare only slightly higher than train fare - $59 one-way. SeaPort will send a formal request to the Department of Transportation today to approve the change of service on an expedited basis in order to begin service on Feb. 9. Ticket sales are expected to commence as soon as the request is approved.

To view the staff report, click here.

Outreach meetings on district maps Jan. 20, 28

Have a Voice and help draw the boundaries for 2016 district elections.

The public is encouraged to submit their ideas for how the five district boundaries for the City Council elections beginning in 2016 should be drawn. Public participation kits are available online or at City Hall. Plans are asked to be submitted by Jan. 15 to Doug Johnson of National Demographers Corporation by email at [email protected].

To date, 12 maps have been submitted by citizens. At the Dec. 2 meeting, Johnson presented all maps submitted by the public and each were allowed to speak on their individual maps. In addition, Johnson also presented three considerations for Council discussion.

Two meetings will be held to discuss maps submitted, and the process moving forward. The meetings will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20 at Annie Mitchell Elementary School, and Wednesday, Jan. 28, at Oak Grove Elementary School. Mr. Johnson will facilitate the meetings, show the maps submitted by the public and also discuss the district election mapping process. It's the Council's goal to have a final map approved by June 30.

For more information on the City's District Election process, including links to public participation kits and maps already submitted by citizens, click here.