During the last five years, the Visalia city council has dug the city’s budget out of a deficit hole caused by the recession. Things have turned around such that in the last couple of years, we have actually had budget surpluses and have replenished our emergency reserves, now in excess of $5 million dollars. Sales tax and property tax revenues are projected to increase to record amounts. With renewed optimism, the city council is now focusing on new capital improvement projects which we have started or are about to start. For this article, I’ll update you on these city projects, and next month give you an update on private sector developments in Visalia.
Animal Control Center: Our new 17,000 square foot animal control facility by the airport just off of Highway 99 is nearly 30% completed. The completion date target is April 2015. This $7.35 million project is being financed by a 15-year, $6.6 million loan to be repaid by the general fund. This project is the furthest along of our new construction.
Water Conservation Plant: With the current drought and Visalia’s water table dropping, the timing couldn’t be any better for our water conservation plant (sewer) upgrade. Once done, we will have a state-of-the-art liquid waste recycling plant, the best in the state. This $143 million project is separated into three pieces: (1) upgrade of the treatment processes, (2) installation of recycled water pipeline under Highway 99 to Plaza Park and the city golf course, to city-owned farmland and to the Tulare Irrigation District, and (3) a one megawatt solar system being installed at the plant. The city will deliver recycled water to TID on the west side of town, and in return will receive annually approximately 6,000 acre feet of fresh Friant water flowing in from the east side to recharge the city aquifer. Started in 2014, this is the largest public works project in the history of Visalia, with a targeted completion date of 2016.
Visalia Emergency Communications Center (VECC): This approximately 18,700 square foot facility is still in the design phase and we expect to break ground in 2015. It will be located on city property east of Burke Street and north of the proposed School Avenue extension. With an estimated cost of $16.5 million, it will be the permanent home for the 911 Dispatch Center, the Emergency Operations Center, Traffic Management Center and the city’s Secured Data Center for information services. It will also accommodate fire administration and prevention personnel until the next phase of the Civic Center is built. Modernized communication systems will add another $5 million to this project.
Fire Station 53: The new fire station for southwest Visalia should break ground by the end of 2014. It is located on 1.5 acres at the old COS farm, on the southeast corner of Atwood and Walnut Avenue. This 7,000 square foot facility is estimated to cost $3.24 million and will be funded through Measure T.
Convention Center Remodel: The city will install a new roof on the convention center at a cost of about $575,000.00 by the end of 2014. The convention center itself hasn’t been “refreshed” since 1991 but has held up extremely well over the past 23 years. However, like anything, changes in style have left the facility looking dated, and normal “wear and tear” has taken its toll. The convention center will be refinanced in order to pull out some of the equity in order to pay for this $5 million remodeling as well as for the construction of the VECC. The upgrade will include new furniture, fixtures and equipment, updated wiring for improved lighting and sound systems, complete remodeling of the existing bathrooms, and replacement of all carpet, tile, wallpaper and paint. A construction completion date is estimated for August 2015.
Eastside Regional Park: The city owns approximately 248 acres of walnuts north of Highway 198 and the flea market, to Houston Avenue. With the Riverway Sports Park nearing completion, Eastside Regional Park is on the drawing board. This regional park is anticipated to be done similar to Riverway Sports Park with the timing of phases controlled by when grants and funding are secured. Master planning is currently underway, and will include groundwater recharge facilities to manage the Friant water the city receives from Tulare Irrigation District.
South Side Aquatics/Community Center: A new indoor aquatics center to be located off of South Mooney Blvd. behind Target is being considered. A committee has been appointed to evaluate the proposed site, to determine facilities suitable for inclusion, and to develop concept plans and potential funding strategies.
P.S. I hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving holiday and I wish you the best for a peaceful and prosperous Christmas, Chanukah and New Year’s. Looking for service opportunities in our community during the holidays? Visit justserve.org.
Warren Gubler
Visalia Vice Mayor
(559) 713-4400 ext. 3313
wgubler@ci.visalia.ca.us
directfromwarren.blogspot.com
