Miki City Park redesign pays homage to Visalia's Sister City

Plans for the new Miki City Park got a facelift while still paying homage to the special "Sister Cities" relationship between the City and Miki, Japan. The City Council approved the changes to the park site located on the north side of Mineral King Avenue between Johnson and Stevenson Streets. Tyson Carroll of Urban Tree Foundation outlined the components to the redesign, demonstrating how they were selected due to their significance to the Japanese culture. The original Site Plan was modified to meet the requirements of a $499,265 grant awarded by the Urban Greening for Sustainable Communities Grant Program through the State's Natural Resources Agency.

The design elements result in a park which pays respect to the previous design prepared by architect Paul Saito while incorporating design elements found within Japanese gardens. The overall project budget is $846,000, and includes stabilization of the Mill Creek bank and offsite street improvements.

To view the staff report, click here.

Jason Salazar appointed Police Chief

The City Manager has announced the selection of Captain Jason Salazar as the City’s new Police Chief. He will become the Acting Chief effective immediately and will be sworn in as Chief later this spring upon the retirement of Police Chief Colleen Mestas. The appointment was approved by the City Council during a Closed Session at Tuesday's City Council Meeting. 

“Jason has demonstrated his ability to work effectively with city staff and key stakeholders in the community,” said City Manager Mike Olmos. “He has strong leadership qualities, an approachable yet professional demeanor, and has a clear vision for the future of the organization. Appointing Jason will provide a smooth transition for the organization, the community, and the employees.”

“I am both honored and excited for the opportunity to lead the men and women of the Visalia Police Department, to work closely with other City department heads, and to serve the community of Visalia as the next Chief of Police,” said Salazar of his selection. “I am grateful to City Manager Mike Olmos and to the City Council for their support and look forward to continuing and building upon a tradition of service and excellence at the Visalia Police Department.”

As the Police Chief, Salazar will oversee a department with staff of 218 sworn and civilian employees and an operating budget of $32 million. Salazar’s annual salary will be $135,150.

Jason began his law enforcement career with the City of Visalia Police Department in 1993 and has held the positions of Community Services Officer, Police Officer, Police Agent, Police Sergeant, Police Lieutenant, and Police Captain.  He has experience overseeing a number of departmental divisions and functions including patrol, SWAT, gang suppression, narcotics unit, investigations, communications and records, and has worked on a number of critical projects. Jason has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Organizational Leadership.

“I am very impressed with Jason’s experience and his leadership abilities,” said Olmos. “He’s bright, creative and committed to the department, organization and the community. He’s an excellent fit for this position and I am confident he is going to do an outstanding job as Police Chief and be the leader the Department needs to move forward in the years to come.

Salazar was chosen after a thorough multi-phase promotional recruitment process that included participation of community members and professional managers.

Jason was born and raised in Tulare County, and has been a member of the Visalia community for 18 years.  He lives here with his wife Christy and two daughters.