IT'S NOT TIME TO CONSIDER ANOTHER TAX HIKE

I’m writing in response to the December 19, 2013 Times Delta editorial.  Just a few months ago, a blue-ribbon Citizens’ Committee said that it was not the right time to raise the sales tax.  Now some are already broaching the topic again, this time suggesting that such monies could be used to construct a new public safety facility (PSF, aka “police headquarters”). 

At our last meeting, the city council did the responsible thing and voted to go forward with the Visalia Emergency Communication Center (VECC, aka “911 call center”).  However, the council also decided that we don’t currently have the money to build a new PSF.  Let me explain why.

Our existing police headquarters is about 19,000 square feet.  The new VECC by itself will be 19,642 square feet and will cost $16 million, plus an additional $5 million worth of the latest technology.  If we add on a new headquarters,that will increase the size another 36,000 to 42,000 square feet, and increase the cost an additional $36 million to $45 million.  A separate evidence storage building, 13,643 square feet, would add at least another $6 million to that cost.

While the city has had budget surpluses last year and this year and our reserves are growing again, the city’s general fund doesn’t have this type of money to spend.   What this newspaper didn’t report were my suggestions at council meeting regarding looking at other alternatives, such as remodeling our current police headquarters.  Once the new VECC is completed, a large amount of existing square footage will become available as the occupants of our current 911 center and our fire department administration will move their offices into the new VECC building.  A good remodeling job can bring these spaces up to modern standards, at a fraction of the cost of building a new police headquarters that triples the size of what we already have!

A case in point is the old Tulare County Municipal Courthouse on Center Street.  That approximately 11,000 square foot building was deemed surplus about 15 years ago by the county, and sold to a private investor.  The county is now leasing space elsewhere, and the Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG) is leasing back the remodeled municipal courthouse!  Imagine the rent payments the county could be saving if they had remodeled, rather than sold that building at a fire sale price.

On the other hand, Visalia city administration is spread out in at least three locations, City Hall North (Transit Center), City Hall East (Convention Center), and City Hall West (City Hall).  What if instead, in addition to remodeling our existing police headquarters, we focus our resources, without a tax increase, and proceeded with a less costly new Civic Center/City Hall?  A few years back, I took my wife on an anniversary cruise in Europe.  Without exception, every city we visited had as its focal point their city hall.  Not one of those cities had as its centerpiece a new police headquarters.  Additionally, if we had the ability to move all of the city administration into one building, not only would that increase efficiencies for our city staff, and provide a new focal point of pride in Visalia, but it would open up the entire block where City Hall is now next to the existing police headquarters for future police headquarters expansion if needed.  I would suggest that a spanking new police headquarters three times the size of what we currently have, will not make Visalians feel safer.  Perhaps more officers or a new substation would.  Nor do we need a new tax that is searching for a project to spend it on.

Our police department does a terrific job in protecting and serving the citizens of Visalia.  I merely write this so that the public discussion can focus on exploring all alternatives, rather than assuming that the only option we have is to spend money which we don’t have on additional square footage which we don’t need.

Visalia Times Delta Guest Editorial, December 26, 2013

2014: MOVING FORWARD

We’ve enjoyed the holidays, and now are looking forward to a new year.  As is tradition in my January article, I pause to look back at some of Visalia’s accomplishments in 2013, and note some things to look forward to in 2014.

MOONEY BOULEVARD
Burlington Coat Factory recently opened next door to the new Walmart on South Mooney Boulevard.  It’s good to see that commercial center thriving once again.  Other upcoming additions to Mooney Boulevard include Black Bear Diner, Dickie’s Bar-b-Que Pit, Mor Furniture for Less, and El Pollo Loco.  In the Visalia Mall, new additions include Crazy 8, Starbucks and Sarku Japan.  Sleep Train will be opening a mattress discount outlet next to Dick’s Sporting Goods, and America’s Tire Store will be going in just north of Packwood Creek.  The big news is that the Sequoia Mall recently completed a short sale to new owner David Paynter.  Look for much needed upgrades and new tenants there in 2014.

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN
Downtown continues to thrive, with approximately 96% occupancy.  There’s a new Paris Boutique in the former Beverly Fabrics building.  Family Health Care Network continues construction on its new 34,607 square foot two-story addition.  Other new businesses that are anticipated include Four Creeks Engineering, AGR Partners, San Joaquin Valley Homes, and conversion of the former Gold’s Gym to a professional office building.  The new Imagine U Children’s Museum is breaking ground and will be a terrific addition to east downtown (corner of Tipton and Oak).  Also a new Pita Kabob will be opening in the former Strubel Auto Parts building on North Court Street.  We note with sadness the closing of Link’s Menswear after 72 years in business, but look forward to the remodeling of that building, with new retail space and loft apartments.  We wish Bob and Tom the best in retirement.  Congratulations to Downtown Visalians which marked its fiftieth anniversary in 2013.

INDUSTRIAL PARK
The Plaza Drive interchange and widening project (a gateway into the Industrial Park) was completed at a cost of $29 million and dedicated in November.  VWR is now fully operational with 93 employees.  At 500,000 square feet and a cost of $38 million, it will double VWR’s capacity to serve the west coast.  An average of 32-42 (not 10,000) trucks a day will be servicing this location.  Sorma USA, an agricultural packaging company based in Italy, has established its first US presence with a lease of warehouse distribution space totaling 42,000 square feet, with plans to add a manufacturing component in the future.  Expansion of existing businesses in the industrial park include Kaweah Container, Inc., Perfection Pet Foods, Hydrite Chemical Company and California Dairies.  An-Fo Pacifica, which provides sterilization equipment to dairies, has opened a 46,272 square foot operation.  All of this means more jobs, jobs, jobs.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS
TJ Maxx recently opened a 22,000 square foot store in the Orchard Walk Shopping Center in North Visalia.  A new Wienerschnitzel is planned for East Noble Avenue, and Pizza Factory will occupy the former Sports Zone in the Visalia Market Place (Kmart Center).  Phases 3 and 4 of Riverway Sports Park were completed, and include a new playground, promenade area and special events stage, a new picnic shelter and restroom facility.  The new Santa Fe Trail, approximately four miles in length, is now built and open for hikers and bikers.  The water conservation plant upgrade, new southwest fire station, and new animal control shelter should commence construction in the new year. New single family dwelling permits were up 52% and all building permits were up 9%  for 2013 over the prior year.  In 2014, also look for the opening of the new splash pad to be installed just south of Rawhide Stadium, along with new pickleball courts in Recreation Park.

CITY UPDATE
Visalia has a new mayor, Steve Nelsen, and a new vice-mayor, Warren Gubler.  The city enacted a new shopping cart ordinance, prohibiting the use of wheeled devices in local parks, but at the same time provided storage space for our homeless population at the Visalia Rescue Mission.  The city launched a new website, helpvisaliahomeless.com, that includes a resource list and ideas for helping the homeless, “change that counts.”  The Visalia Convention Center in October 2013 had revenues of $314,808.00, breaking a five-year old revenue record.

While the state and national economies are just beginning to snap out of their doldrums, Visalia’s economy continues to heat up.  More people and businesses are realizing that Visalia is a bright spot on the map, and success begets success.  2014 promises to be another good year for Visalians, and to all our citizens I wish a Happy New Year!

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.