In December of each year, I spend weekends and evenings pruning my dormant fruit trees and grape vines. While time consuming, I find it therapeutic and an opportunity to contemplate the wonders of nature. I time my annual pruning project to take advantage of the Visalia Solid Waste Department’s annual Fall Yard Waste Recycling event. Between approximately Thanksgiving and New Year’s, the city invites Visalia residents to recycle yard trimmings, leaves, branches, and such by dropping off their yard waste at the Tulare County Biomass location on south Lover’s Lane, or at Wood Industries on the southwest corner of Highways 198 and 99. The city recycles these items by grinding them into compost/mulch. Visalia residents can in return receive compost to use in their garden area. Did I mention that all of this is free to Visalia residents? When it comes to “going green,” Visalia is progressive and ahead of the curve. In addition to fall and spring yard waste recycling events, the city also accepts Christmas trees after the holidays which it likewise will recycle. Much of the resulting compost and bark is used by the city for landscaping in medians and parks.
Additionally, the city quarterly holds free “Dump On Us” events. These events are held at the Visalia City Yard located at 335 N. Cain Street. You can dispose of your household hazardous waste there as well.
Another Visalia green project which I’m excited about is the recent renovation of the irrigation system at the Valley Oaks City Golf Course. This new irrigation system has not only improved the looks of the entire golf course, but will conserve water. Last summer, I took a tour of the golf course with the course manager, Aaron Hensley, to inspect the results. I’m not a golfer, but based upon my gardening background, I observed the fresh, lush look of the grassy fairways, tees and greens. To make this irrigation system even better, the city’s wastewater treatment plant will soon connect into the golf course’s irrigation system, such that it will then use treated recycled water for irrigation purposes. The more we can recycle and conserve our water resources in this arid valley, the better.
The city is also working with a local irrigation district to trade treated water from the city’s wastewater treatment plant on the west side of town for farming purposes, in exchange for fresh water coming into Visalia from the east side which can then be used for groundwater recharge. For more information on these and other great conservation projects which the city is involved in, visit www.gogreenvisalia.com.
One other tip to help Visalians save money and conserve energy. Through June 2012, the Home Energy Tune-Up Program provides free in-home energy assessments for homeowners. This includes up to $4,000.00 of incentives from the Energy Upgrade California program. To arrange for your home inspection, visit www.TulareHomeTuneUp.com.
Elections Update: The Visalia City Council appointed an elections task force comprised of 13 local citizens. After meeting a number of times, reviewing data and statistics, and much back-and-forth discussion, the task force recommended to the City Council that Visalia change its charter to go from at-large elections for City Council to by-district elections. I attended these task force meetings as an observer. While I don’t agree with the claims of a few that there has historically been “racially polarized” voting in Visalia, I do agree with task force members Harry Wood and Bob Aguilar, former Mayor Jesus Gamboa and others, that minorities have been under-represented on the City Council in its 160 year history. Visalia has grown to over 125,000 and pursuant to population projections, will reach over 200,000 in the next 20 years. The larger Visalia becomes, the more the argument can be made that district elections will better reflect our diverse population. Why not proceed in that direction now? I recently spoke with incumbent Donna Martin of the Visalia School Board, who ran in her first by-district election this past November (the School Board decided last year to go to by-district elections). She indicated that it was much less expensive for her to run, that she was able to more efficiently direct her time and resources to those in her district in order to earn their vote, and that it was a good experience for her. The City Council will grapple with this elections issue in upcoming council meetings and will likely put it on the 2012 ballot for Visalia citizens to have the final say.
Congratulations: Best wishes to St. Paul’s Church and Father James, who recently celebrated their parish’s 125th anniversary in Visalia, dating back to 1887!
If you have questions or topics regarding the city which you would like to have addressed in future articles, please email Warren at wgubler@ci.visalia.ca.us, or call (559) 713-4400 x 3313. For past articles, visit directfromwarren.blogspot.com.
Warren Gubler
Visalia City Council Member
