November 18 Newsletter
City to assist neighborhoods to pay for water main extensions: At its Nov. 17 meeting, the City Council authorized staff to assist the homeowners of Atwood and Laura streets in southwest Visalia with the formation of an assessment district to issue bonds to pay for water main extensions. The bond payments will be made by the homeowners with their property tax payments. The two neighborhoods, formerly in the county but now within the City, obtain their water through ground water wells. The severe drought has caused several of the wells to go dry. Cal Water will provide service, but requires homeowners pay for the water main extension in excel of $100,000 in each neighborhood. Due to the substantial cost to connect to Cal Water, the City was asked to find a way to make the connection affordable. The assessment district will spread these costs to the homeowners and allow them to pay for these costs over time. To review the staff report, click here.
Rawhide report: The Rawhide's General Manager Jennifer Pendergraft and Tom Seidler provided the Council with annual operation and maintenance report for the Visalia Rawhide Baseball Club for 2014. Highlights of the 2014 baseball season and promotional activities at the park held throughout the year were given. Paid attendance totaled 76,041 in paid attendance and revenues from the ticket surcharges totaled $73,228. To view the staff report, click here.
Council approves speed limit changes: The Visalia City Council approved changes to speed limits at more than a dozen stretches of some of the city’s busiest streets. Those changes include reducing the maximum, unposted speed limit on Caldwell Avenue between Akers and Chinowth streets from 55 mph to 50 mph, and reducing the speed limit on Mooney Boulevard between Riggin and Ferguson avenues from an unposted 55 mph down to 40 mph. A report to the City Council states that the changes are coming as a result of a recent engineering and traffic survey by the city. The history of traffic crashes on the streets were considered in the analysis. For more information, click here.
'Nextdoor' to assist crime prevention efforts: A virtual Neighborhood Watch platform which will enhance Visalia Police's Neighborhood Watch program was previewed at Monday's City Council meeting. Nextdoor is a web-based social media site that connects individuals, living within specific boundaries, to communicate with each other on a variety of issues within a secure, closed network. Nextdoor partners with law enforcement agencies, allowing Visalia Police to share crime and safety information with residents. For more information on the program, click here.
Visalia Police launches Operation Safe Holiday: The special Community Policing Project has been launched for the holiday season. The Visalia Police Department will increase visibility and conduct several theft-related details focusing on shopping areas throughout the City and designed to reduce vehicle burglaries and auto theft, increased DUI and traffic patrols, and additional foot patrols. In addition, the department's Volunteers in Police Services will assist with shopper escorts and increased hours at police service centers. Remember these steps to reduce the opportunity for theft: Walk shopping areas and parking lots in groups if possible; park near the business' entrance doors and in well-lit areas; lock valuables up in the trunk out of plain view in your vehicle; lock your vehicles and roll windows fully up; and do not leave shopping carts, packages, purses, etc., unattended. To report suspicious activity, call the Visalia Police Department at 734-8117.
Caltrans Houston Widening Project update: Scheduled daytime lane closures on Lover’s Lane and McAuliff Street in Visalia are scheduled for this week as part of the current widening project for State Route 216 (Houston Avenue). Northbound and Southbound alternating lanes of McAuliff from Sumter Court to State Route 216 (Houston Avenue) will be closed thru Friday, November 21st, 2014 between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. each day. Northbound and Southbound alternating lanes of Lover’s Lane from Sweet Avenue to Golden Way Avenue will be closed thru Friday, November 21st, 2014between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. each day. Eastbound and Westbound State Route 216 (Houston Avenue) will be reduced to one lane in each direction thru Friday, November 21st, 2014 between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. each day. High traffic volume is anticipated at this time during school drop-off and pick-up hours. Drivers are encouraged to avoid this area during project work hours and use alternate routes when possible. Closures may continue for longer periods of time if necessary, due to delays caused by uncontrollable events that may occur during road construction activities.
Rawhide report: The Rawhide's General Manager Jennifer Pendergraft and Tom Seidler provided the Council with annual operation and maintenance report for the Visalia Rawhide Baseball Club for 2014. Highlights of the 2014 baseball season and promotional activities at the park held throughout the year were given. Paid attendance totaled 76,041 in paid attendance and revenues from the ticket surcharges totaled $73,228. To view the staff report, click here.
Council approves speed limit changes: The Visalia City Council approved changes to speed limits at more than a dozen stretches of some of the city’s busiest streets. Those changes include reducing the maximum, unposted speed limit on Caldwell Avenue between Akers and Chinowth streets from 55 mph to 50 mph, and reducing the speed limit on Mooney Boulevard between Riggin and Ferguson avenues from an unposted 55 mph down to 40 mph. A report to the City Council states that the changes are coming as a result of a recent engineering and traffic survey by the city. The history of traffic crashes on the streets were considered in the analysis. For more information, click here.
'Nextdoor' to assist crime prevention efforts: A virtual Neighborhood Watch platform which will enhance Visalia Police's Neighborhood Watch program was previewed at Monday's City Council meeting. Nextdoor is a web-based social media site that connects individuals, living within specific boundaries, to communicate with each other on a variety of issues within a secure, closed network. Nextdoor partners with law enforcement agencies, allowing Visalia Police to share crime and safety information with residents. For more information on the program, click here.
Visalia Police launches Operation Safe Holiday: The special Community Policing Project has been launched for the holiday season. The Visalia Police Department will increase visibility and conduct several theft-related details focusing on shopping areas throughout the City and designed to reduce vehicle burglaries and auto theft, increased DUI and traffic patrols, and additional foot patrols. In addition, the department's Volunteers in Police Services will assist with shopper escorts and increased hours at police service centers. Remember these steps to reduce the opportunity for theft: Walk shopping areas and parking lots in groups if possible; park near the business' entrance doors and in well-lit areas; lock valuables up in the trunk out of plain view in your vehicle; lock your vehicles and roll windows fully up; and do not leave shopping carts, packages, purses, etc., unattended. To report suspicious activity, call the Visalia Police Department at 734-8117.
Caltrans Houston Widening Project update: Scheduled daytime lane closures on Lover’s Lane and McAuliff Street in Visalia are scheduled for this week as part of the current widening project for State Route 216 (Houston Avenue). Northbound and Southbound alternating lanes of McAuliff from Sumter Court to State Route 216 (Houston Avenue) will be closed thru Friday, November 21st, 2014 between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. each day. Northbound and Southbound alternating lanes of Lover’s Lane from Sweet Avenue to Golden Way Avenue will be closed thru Friday, November 21st, 2014between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. each day. Eastbound and Westbound State Route 216 (Houston Avenue) will be reduced to one lane in each direction thru Friday, November 21st, 2014 between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. each day. High traffic volume is anticipated at this time during school drop-off and pick-up hours. Drivers are encouraged to avoid this area during project work hours and use alternate routes when possible. Closures may continue for longer periods of time if necessary, due to delays caused by uncontrollable events that may occur during road construction activities.