Summary
Visalia City Council meeting summary
VisaliaMar 16, 20263 min read
At a glance
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Council approved the Measure N 10-year plan and the two-year (2026/27–2027/28) budget; moved forward with the State Prohousing Designation using the 30‑point option; approved a draft Cannabis Ordinance and a $12,000 contract amendment for a fee study; and accepted the new city website preview. Consent items included a $2,000,000 violence intervention grant, funding for Cross Valley Express environmental work, purchase/appropriation actions for vehicles and computers, emergency culvert replacement, water conservation Stage 2 reauthorization, and housing-related approvals. The Council overturned a Planning Commission condition to allow original drive‑thru hours and approved updates to Fire Department inspection fees.
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Topics discussed
TransportationBudget & TaxPublic SafetyCommerceEnvironmentalHousingUtilities
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What this means
The council set funding priorities and approved a two‑year budget under Measure N, which guides local capital projects residents will see over the next decade. The city will pursue a state Prohousing designation that can help with housing incentives, and it adopted rules and a fee study for a local cannabis business program. A $2 million public safety grant was accepted for violence prevention work, water conservation rules remain in effect, and some business and construction permit fees were updated — changes that may affect local businesses and project costs.
Key decisions
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- Approved Measure N 10‑year plan (2027–2037) and the FY 2026/27 & 2027/28 two‑year proposed budget.
- Council consensus to proceed with the California Department of Housing and Community Development Prohousing Designation Program using the 30‑point system.
- Approved draft Cannabis Ordinance, application/selection process, and authorized a $12,000 amendment to the HdL contract for a fee nexus study.
- Received and filed new City website preview and launch details.
- Adopted Consent Calendar items including: acceptance of a $2,000,000 Board of State and Community Corrections Violence Intervention and Prevention grant; appropriation of $1,246,000 TIRCP funding for Cross Valley Express project environmental phase; purchase approvals for two solid waste trucks and computer replacements; and acceptance of the Housing Element annual progress report.
- Authorized emergency culvert replacement contract to Dawson‑Mauldin, LLC ($435,070) and appropriation of $590,000 from Gas Tax funds.
- Reauthorized Stage 2 of the Visalia Water Conservation Ordinance (Resolution 2026‑15).
- Overturned the Planning Commission decision and approved the original Conditional Use Permit hours of operation for the drive‑thru (6:00 AM to 2:00 AM).
- Approved modifications to the Fire Department inspection‑related rates and fees schedule to align with current rates and new business license software.
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Meeting information
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Visalia City Council
Mar 16, 2026, 12:00 AMCity Council Chambersscheduled
Agenda
- ROLL CALL
- CALL TO ORDER WORK SESSION - 4:00 PM (Unless otherwise noted)
- PUBLIC COMMENTS
- Citizens are now invited to comment on issues within the jurisdiction of the Visalia City Council and items listed on the Closed Session agenda. The Council asks that you keep your comments concise and positive. Creative criticism, presented with appropriate courtesy, is welcome. Each speaker will be allowed three minutes, and a timer will notify you when your time is expired. Please begin your comments by stating and spelling your name and providing your city of residence.
- WORK SESSION AND ACTION ITEMS (as described)
- Capital Improvement Program - Continue review of select fiscal year 2026/27 and 2027/28 Capital Improvement Program Budgets and future capital projects. Funds to be reviewed are Gas Tax, SB1, Measure R Local & Regional, Transportation Impact Fees, Landscape & Lighting, State Transportation and NE Capital Improvement.
- Measure N 10-year plan and proposed two-year budget - Review the proposed 10-year plan (2027-2037) and approve the 2026/27 & 2027/28 proposed budget.
- Prohousing Designation Program discussion - Receive an overview presentation on the California Department of Housing and Community Development Prohousing Designation Program, discuss the City of Visalia’s potential standing in meeting the application requirements, and provide direction on the filing of an application.
- Cannabis Ordinance Discussion - Receive and review draft Cannabis Ordinance, draft cannabis business application and selection process, and provide staff with direction on changes to these documents, and authorize an amendment to the existing HdL contract to assist staff in a fee nexus study to set all applicable fee amounts for the cannabis business program by appropriating $12,000 from the General Fund for this contract amendment. This item is scheduled for the Work Session; if not completed, it may be continued during the Regular Session portion of this meeting.
- New City Website Update - First look at website and details on launch. This item is scheduled for the Work Session; if not completed, it may be continued during the Regular Session portion of this meeting.
- ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION - 6:00 PM (Or, immediately following Work Session)
- CALL TO ORDER REGULAR SESSION - 7:00 PM
- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY: California Cadet Corps, 427th Pioneer Battalion at Mt Whitney High School
- INVOCATION LED BY: Jeremy Van Nieuwenhuyzen of Central Valley Christian Schools
- PUBLIC COMMENTS
- This is the time for general public comment on issues within the jurisdiction of the Visalia City Council. Each speaker tonight may speak for up to 3 minutes during this general comment period on a matter that is not on this agenda. The public may also make one comment for up to 3 minutes prior to the consideration of the Consent Calendar, and immediately before any regular agenda item is heard. The Council asks that you keep your comments concise and positive. Creative criticism, presented with appropriate courtesy, is welcome. Each speaker will be allowed three minutes and a timer will notify you when your time is expired. Please begin your comments by stating and spelling your name and providing your city of residence.
- ITEMS OF INTEREST
- CONSENT CALENDAR
- Consent Calendar items are considered routine and will be enacted in one motion. This is the time for members of the public to provide public comment on an item on the Consent Calendar. Comments will not be taken individually by the public if an item is pulled by a Council Member. Each speaker is allowed up to 3 minutes, and a timer will notify you when your time is expired. Please begin your comments by stating and spelling you name and providing your city of residence.
- Authorization to read ordinances by title only.
- Amendment and extension to the operations and management agreement for Plaza Park Raceway - Authorize the City Manager to execute an amendment and extension to the Operations and Management Agreement with One Four Promotions for Plaza Park Raceway.
- Approve Developer Reimbursement Agreement and appropriate of funds - Authorize the City Manager to execute the reimbursement agreement associated with Sycamore Heights Subdivision located at the northeast corner of Akers Street and Ferguson Avenue; and further authorize the additional appropriation of $297,931.92 from the Transportation Impact Fee Fund.
- Record Final Parcel Map - Request authorization to record the final parcel map for Tentative Parcel Map No. 2024-09, located along the north side of East Roosevelt Avenue, approximately 200 feet east of North Vista Street; authorize the intention and formation of Open Space District No. 26-01 (Resolution Nos. 2026-09 and 2026-10 required).
- Housing Element annual progress report for calendar year 2025 - Adoption of a resolution accepting the Housing Element annual progress report for calendar year 2025 and finding that it satisfies the city’s reporting requirements to the state.
- Authorize purchase of replacement Solid Waste commercial delivery trucks - Approve the purchase of two (2) solid waste commercial delivery trucks from Ray Gaskin Service in the amount not to exceed $226,770.14 and appropriate an additional $118,270.14 from the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund.
- Appropriation of State Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) funding - Authorize the appropriation of $1,246,000 from the Transit Capital Fund for funding allocated from the State Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program for the project approval and environmental document phase of the Cross Valley Express project.
- Water Conservation - Stage 2 - Consider reauthorization of Stage 2 of the Visalia Water Conservation Ordinance and adopt Resolution 2026-15.
- Grant Award - Adoption of Resolution No. 2026-14 accepting a grant award in the amount of $2,000,000 from the Board of State and Community Corrections Board of the California Violence Intervention and Prevention authorize the City Manager to execute the grant agreement documents and appropriate a total of $2,000,000.
- Notice of completion - Authorize the filing of a notice of completion for the traffic signal improvements at the intersection of St. Johns Parkway and Burke Street.
- Award contract for emergency culvert replacement - Authorize the City Manager to award an emergency construction contract to Dawson-Mauldin, LLC for the Evans Ditch culvert replacement on Conyer Street project, in the amount of $435,070 and authorize the appropriation of $590,000 from the Gas Tax (111) fund.
- Authorization to purchase computers - Authorize the City Manager to enter into a purchase agreement with Dell to purchase replacement computers utilizing the National Association of Procurement Officials (NASPO) ValuePoint competitively bid agreement in the amount of $719,000 and appropriate $185,300 from various funds.
- REGULAR ITEMS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS (Items continued from the Work Session, if any)
- Comments related to regular Items and Public Hearing Items are limited to three minutes per speaker, for a maximum of 30 minutes per item. The Mayor may reasonably limit or extend the public comment period to preserve the Council's interest in conducting efficient, orderly meetings.
- Appeal - A Public Hearing to consider an appeal of the Planning Commission’s approval of Condition of Approval No. 3 of Resolution No. 2025-71, requiring the drive-thru hours of operation to cease at 10:00 P.M. every day of the week for Conditional Use Permit No. 2025-32, which was a request to construct a 4,130 square foot building with a drive-thru to operate from 6:00 A.M. to 2:00 A.M. seven days a week. The site is located at the southeast corner of West Caldwell Ave and South Stonebrook Street in the C-R (Regional Commercial) zone (APN: 122-390-002).
- Fire Department rates and fees - Modification to Fire Department’s inspection-related rates and fees schedule to adjust fees to a current rate and to simplify the fee structure to accommodate the City’s new business license software.
- CLOSED SESSION REPORT
- ADJOURNMENT
- UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
- Upcoming City Council Meetings Monday, April 6, 2026 @ 7:00 p.m. at 707 W. Acequia Thursday, April 20, 2026 @ 7:00 p.m. at 707 W. Acequia Note: Meeting dates and times are subject to change, check posted agenda for correct details. In compliance with the American Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in meetings contact 713-4512. Written materials relating to an item on this agenda submitted to the Council after distribution of the agenda are available for public inspection in the Office of the City Clerk, 220 N. Santa Fe Street, Visalia CA 93292, during normal business hours.
- Rollcall
- Note
- Note
- Rollcall
- Appeal - A Public Hearing to consider an appeal of the Planning Commission’s approval of Condition of Approval No. 3 of Resolution No. 2025-71, requiring the drive-thru hours of operation to cease at 10:00 P.M. every day of the week for Conditional Use Permit No. 2025-32, which was a request to construct a 4,130 square foot building with a drive-thru to operate from 6:00 A.M. to 2:00 A.M. seven days a week. The site is located at the southeast corner of West Caldwell Ave and South Stonebrook Street in the C-R (Regional Commercial) zone (APN: 122-390-002).
- Fire Department rates and fees - Modification to Fire Department’s inspection-related rates and fees schedule to adjust fees to a current rate and to simplify the fee structure to accommodate the City’s new business license software.
- Agenda Item
- Approval of the Consent Agenda
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