The
Visalia City Council, city manager, staff and community members met on February
8 and 9, 2018 at the Visalia Emergency Communications Center (VECC), for our
city's 2018 planning workshop/retreat.
Why
do we bother to plan ahead? I'm reminded
of the conversation between Alice and the Cheshire cat. Alice asked "Would you tell me, please,
which way I ought to go from here?"
To which the cat responded "That depends a good deal on where you
want to get to." Alice replied "I don't much care where." Then the cat stated "Then it doesn't
matter which way you go." It does
matter what direction Visalia takes, and thus the importance of charting our
course.
At
the retreat, we discussed the working relationship between the city council and
the city manager and the expectations of each.
Next
we discussed the retirement plan of our city employees and staff, known as
"CalPERS." Over the next
several years, Visalia's annual contribution into that defined benefit plan
will increase by one million dollars per year.
To meet this funding obligation imposed upon Visalia and other cities
throughout the state will entail either cutting back city services to our
citizens, or the legislature or courts making changes to the current unsustainable
retirement system.
Another
topic was the new civic center planned for east downtown. While the VECC has already been built there,
and much of the infrastructure is now in, a lot of planning is still needed to
determine the dimensions of a future civic center/city hall, and police
administration building. We discussed
the size of such buildings, whether we should try to anticipate the future by
oversizing such buildings, and the need to determine overall staffing, space
needs and funding options.
We
then deliberated about Measure N, the half-cent sales tax increase approved by
the citizens in 2016 relating to public safety, roads and parks. Currently, it looks like there may eventually
be some excess funds derived from this revenue source (how should such excess
funds be spent?). We also brainstormed an emerging needs policy.
As
to homelessness, we heard a positive report regarding our homeless work program
also known as ECO (Environmental Cleanup Opportunities). It was reported that 29 people have either gone
through or are currently in the ECO program.
Sixteen have found gainful employment, including as a restaurant kitchen
helper, warehouse clerk, supervisor at a new fast food restaurant and some
hourly positions with the city. The
council was pleased with this report and directed staff to continue to find
funding to expand the ECO jobs program in partnership with the Workforce
Investment Board. The council also determined
that it wanted to explore ways to fund a mental health worker as part of the
police department's HOPE team, and we want to continue to participate in the
countywide task force to end homelessness.
Additionally,
we discussed the projected growth of Visalia, infill areas, and senior housing
possibilities. Traffic circulation
within the city and how to improve it was another topic. We discussed the imminent widening of the
intersection at Demaree and Goshen, and other traffic pinch points.
The
foregoing is but my brief summation of our planning sessions, and due to space
limitations is not all-inclusive.
However, through this planning process, we have clarified the City of
Visalia's goals, directions and objectives for 2018 and beyond. Unlike Alice in Wonderland, since we now know
where we are headed, it will be much easier to follow the correct path.
If
you have questions or topics regarding the city which you would like to have
addressed in future articles, please email Warren at
warren.gubler@visalia.city. For past
articles, visit directfromwarren.blogspot.com.
