GIFTS OF THE SEASON

When I was a young boy, at Christmas time my mom would always remind me that “it is more blessed to give than to receive.”  Still, I always looked forward to opening gifts and checking my stocking by the fireplace.  William A. Ward expressed, “God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today.  Have you used one to say ‘thank you’?”

At this holiday season, we tend to reflect back on the blessings and gifts of the past year.  On behalf of Visalia, let me express thanks for the “gifts” that we have been recipients of.

Visalia is thankful to have been recently awarded a $1.998 million dollar grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration for the construction of storm drainage and flood management facilities, to reduce the potential of localized flooding in our downtown.  Those of you who lived here in the 1950's will remember Mill Creek overflowing in that area and the resultant flooding.  This grant funding will be used to expand the existing storm drain basin with about 70,000 additional cubic yards of water storage in the former Soroptimist Park at Douglas Avenue, and will include new storm drain trunk lines along Burke Avenue from Mineral King north to Race and west to Tipton, reducing the amount of storm water discharged into Mill Creek.  The project includes the construction of a 1.6 acre storm water basin next to the existing Jennings Ditch in the east downtown area.  This grant/gift does have a few strings attached, and requires a 20% match from the city, which will be funded from the city’s storm drain fund.

Effective October 1, 2012, the City of Visalia’s rating in the FEMA community rating system has been reclassified to a Class 8.  The classification results in a 10% discount on standard A flood  insurance policies and a continued 5% discount on standard X flood insurance policies.  While these discounts do not apply to property owners with preferred risk policies (PRP), FEMA has recently issued a memorandum extending the PRP eligibility program indefinitely.  Every little bit helps.

We’re thankful for the $200,000.00 gift the city recently received from the local Rotary Clubs Foundation, to be applied towards building a new water features playground at Recreation Park.  The balance of the project will be paid for from CDBG grant funds and potentially some additional parks and recreation funds.  This new splash pad will be fun for families and children, especially those on the north side, for many years to come.  It is wonderful to receive this type of a donation from civic-minded organizations and individuals.

We’re thankful that the city was able to balance its budget for the next two years without dipping further into reserves.  Sales tax revenues and property values are starting to pick up.  We have hope for a better economy in 2013, and give thanks that we aren’t Stockton.

We’re thankful to have good city staff and public safety officers who keep the city functioning and our community safe.  I’m thankful for the hardworking members of the city council and city manager I have the privilege of working with.

We thank the local churches, citizens of all faiths, and service clubs, who turned out on Make a Difference Day, Arbor Day, and at other events, and donated their time and money to keep Visalia thriving.  We give thanks to the Celebrant Singers, those ambassadors from Visalia who spread good cheer around the world.  Of course, we want to say thank you to all the teachers, coaches, and others who work with our youth to educate them, and to instill in them principals of good citizenship.  We don’t want to forget the hardworking parents and families who support those youth, and who comprise this great community.  Thank you to the Kings/Tulare Continuum of Care on Homelessness and the Rescue Mission for the 5th annual Project Homeless Connect, which recently fed, clothed, repaired bikes, gave haircuts, provided medical services and more to 372 of our local homeless.  Don’t forget to thank all of our non-profits by donating to them.

In each of our lives we’ve received many gifts to be thankful for.  As G.B. Stearn said, “silent gratitude isn’t much use to anyone.”  So, at this holiday season, let us all reflect upon the gifts which we have received in 2012, and give thanks to all those who have given so much.


Warren Gubler
Visalia City Councilmember
wgubler@ci.visalia.ca.us
(559) 713-4400 x 3313
directfromwarren.blogspot.com

WHY I'M VOTING "YES" FOR DISTRICT ELECTIONS

On the November 2012 ballot, voters will have the opportunity to vote for district elections for Visalia city council.  By definition, in a district-based election, candidates live in the district, and voters elect one council member in the district they live in.  It is contemplated that Visalia would have five such districts.  Currently, Visalia has an at-large election system whereby candidates can live anywhere in the city and all voters vote for all council members.  While there may be some arguments in favor of the at-large system, in this article I address the reasons why I’m voting to change to district elections:

1. District elections have worked well locally.  There are various voting models to choose from.  It’s not a question of right or wrong, but instead it’s a question of what fits the community.  The Visalia Election ProcessTask Force, which was made up of local volunteers/voters, studied the issue and recommended going to district elections, based upon city size and demographics.  The district election system has been around for a long time.  The Visalia School Board, Kaweah Delta and Tulare District Hospitals, the COS Board, Tulare County Supervisors, the Tulare City Council and others are currently elected by district.

2. District elections are more economical and should improve citizen access.  The time and financial expense of running in a district election rather than city wide is considerably less.  Elected officials who have run under both systems indicate a preference for district elections because they can more easily communicate with their district constituents, rather than spending large sums of money on expensive citywide advertising.  City council members elected by district should be more responsive to the needs of their district, and if not, can easily be replaced.  However, it’s up to the voters to make sure that they elect a council member from their district who will also be in tune to the needs of the city as a whole.

3. The California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) was enacted in 2001, containing a presumption in favor of district elections.  It seeks to protect members of race, color or language minority groups; the legal standard is “whether there has been racially polarized voting.”  Based upon the data and statistics provided to our Visalia Election Process Task Force, I am not persuaded that there has historically been racially polarized voting in Visalia.  Positive examples include former Mayor Jesus Gamboa who ran successfully three times, and Able Maldonado, who ran unsuccessfully for California Lieutenant Governor, but who was supported by the vast majority of Visalia’s electorate.  Some minority candidates have not been successful here, but I attribute that to factors such as lack of name recognition, lack of campaign experience or community involvement, party affiliation, and so forth.  However, the reality is that in the 160 years of Visalia’s existence, minority ethnic groups such as Hispanics, Asians and others, have been under-represented on the city council.  Anything we can do to make access to the city council more available to qualified citizens of all races is a step in the right direction.

4. Visalia and other cities have been threatened with lawsuits by law firms, unions and other special interest groups for sundry political reasons and for financial gain, if we don’t convert to district elections.  While I believe that Visalia could successfully defend such a suit, based upon the lack of evidence of racially polarized voting here, I don’t want to spend one penny of hard-earned taxpayer money, especially in this economy, on lawyers and litigation.  Under the CVRA, if a court finds racially polarized voting, a city has to pay not only its own attorney’s fees and costs, but also those of the complaining party, which will be substantial.  However, even if the city prevails, it still has to pay its own attorney’s fees and costs.  Either way, it could cost millions.  What a waste of city financial resources!  Visalia is large now and will continue to grow larger, increasing the desirability of district elections on the merits.  While Visalia has successfully defended itself many times in the past against spurious lawsuits, there simply is no reason to waste taxpayer money on litigation under these circumstances, only the lawyers would win.

Implementing district elections for Visalia city council is the right thing to do based upon our city’s size, to increase the odds of electing qualified candidates of all backgrounds, and to increase citizen input and access.  It’s time that Visalia moves forward with district elections.


Warren Gubler
Visalia City Council Member
wgubler@ci.visalia.ca.us

DONUTS AND DISCUSSION

The reason I compose this article each month  is to inform our Visalia citizens about what’s going on down at city hall, and to hopefully provide an objective view and peek behind the scenes.  The city tries to be transparent and informative, there is no skullduggery or hidden agenda.  Elected city officials and employees are human beings just like you, and are trying to serve our community.  After all, we actually live here too, we’re your neighbors, and we also want what’s best for the city.

City council members are always available by telephone, email or personal contact.  In recent times, our current mayor, Amy Shuklian, has scheduled office hours at city hall once a month for the public.  I suspect that there may be some who might not know their way around city hall or might feel uncomfortable initiating contact with a council member.  To supplement the foregoing, and to reach out further into the community on an informal basis, I have started what I call “Donuts and Discussion.”  D and D is held on Saturday mornings, to accommodate those early birds who may not be able to take off from work otherwise.  The idea is to hold these meet and greets at different locations around town and to make it as convenient as possible for the public to attend.  Our first D and D was held at the Donut Factory, Etc. on North Demaree in July, and our next one was hosted by Panera Bread on South Mooney in September.  I appreciate the graciousness of the owners of these businesses to allow us to come in and hold these get-togethers there

At the D and D’s we’ve held so far, we’ve had some interesting issues and discussions.  Topics which have been brought up by those attending have included district elections, pension reform, landscaping and subdivision issues, graffiti, sales tax, code enforcement, Agenda 21, and a city survey.  I, along with my invited city official, am available to answer questions, or to address issues that citizens may have that relate to them personally or that are of citywide concern.  To date, Fire Chief Mark Nelson and Police Chief Colleen Mestas have been my invited guests.  In addition to the invited city official, other department heads and city staff have dropped by on their own to say “hi” and to be available for questions.  Nancy Loliva, our community relations manager, has been invaluable in assisting to set these gatherings up.  Her efforts and those of others of the city who have attended, are appreciated.  In some instances, I or city staff have followed up in subsequent telephone calls and emails to the attendees regarding the concerns which they have raised.

I’d like to invite each of you to come to our next Donuts and Discussion, which will be held on Saturday, October 27, 2012, 7 to 8:30 a.m. at Vallarta Supermarket in their bakery/cantina area, 3112 N. Dinuba Blvd. with assistant city manager, Mike Olmos.  Please feel free to drop by for a few minutes to say “hi,” to let us know how we can be of help to you, and to enjoy a donut or pastry with us.

Tuning in to Council Meetings
I recently received an email from local resident Sharon Doughty, asking if city council meetings are televised.  I replied that due to current budget constraints, “no.”  I anticipate that in the future this will happen.  We know that not everyone has the time to personally attend these bi-monthly meetings.  All agenda items and staff reports are put on the city’s website in advance of each council meeting for public perusal.  If you want to hear firsthand what is discussed, go to the city’s website at www.ci.visalia.ca.us, click on “City Government” and then select “Agendas.”  Pick the prior city council meeting that you’re interested in, and click on the agenda item which you want to know more about.  Not only can you read the entire staff report there, but you can also listen to a recording of the city council discussion on each particular agenda item.  

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

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

On June 28, 2012, Stockton, CA (population 300,000) became the largest U.S. city ever to file for bankruptcy.  This agricultural center about 80 miles east of San Francisco filed for Chapter 9 protection, which is a special type of bankruptcy reserved for public entities.  The root of their problems began back in the 1990's, when real property values were soaring and the U.S. stock market was booming, bolstering stock and pension funds.  With soaring real estate values, a slew of new tax revenue came to Stockton.  Assuming that the good times would last forever, Stockton gave first their firefighters, then all their employees, full health care coverage for life, offered generous pension deals to all employees, approved spending on large projects to raise Stockton’s profile, and lowered the retirement age for city employees.  A downtown high-rise building was acquired for a new city hall, and the downtown river front was revamped.  Now, many of the employee concessions given by the city will be axed as part of the bankruptcy process.  Stockton has earmarked $3.5 million in bankruptcy legal fees.  With the real estate crash, the poor economy, and the elimination of Redevelopment by the state, it is now time for spendthrift cities to pay the piper.  (Mammoth Lakes has also filed bankruptcy, with San Bernardino next.  Other CA cities will surely follow.)

Meanwhile, in Visalia, the current and past city councils, along with city manager Steve Salomon and staff, have been frugal with our financial resources.  In recent years, some general fund reserves were needed to balance the budget.  This year we passed Visalia’s first balanced budget in four years without having to dip further into reserves.  Traditionally, Visalia city councils pass two-year budgets, and then makes adjustments as needed during the course thereof.  Borrowing from staff reports and using a movie metaphor, let’s examine the new city budget for fiscal years 2012-2013 and 2013-2014.

THE UGLY
The city has fewer employees per 1,000 population now than it had 20 years ago.  Amongst the  difficult choices the council had to make in July was to collapse departmental structure due to the loss of redevelopment funds.  In particular, the position of Ricardo Noguera as housing and economic director was eliminated.  Ricardo has done a wonderful job in assisting to attract new businesses to Visalia over the years.  Other positions eliminated included two park tree trimming positions and that of a financial analyst.  City-paid retiree health care benefits were previously trimmed by the council and will be phased out completely over the next few years, and retirement age for new city staff has been raised.

THE BAD
While sales tax revenue has stopped declining and is beginning to grow, property taxes have not grown and interest earnings are almost non-existent as a revenue source.  Three years ago, the council gave ourselves and city employees a 4% pay cut, and since then no raises, other than required increases in pension and health costs.  As a result of collapsing departmental structure, employees have been moved to new assignments in response to the loss of redevelopment funds, reduction in federal grants and changing needs of the city.  The general fund subsidy of the convention center’s operating budget was reduced, and we authorized a variety of operational cuts to departmental budgets.

THE GOOD
On the brighter side, the city’s enterprises have continued to respond to a growing community, adding facilities and services to meet growing demand.  The transit system and solid waste enterprises have received grants to fund some of their capital needs, and are operating solidly in the black.  The water conservation plant (sewer plant) upgrade moves ahead with a  planned $100 million plant upgrade which should be completed by next year.  This upgrade will meet the goals of improved water quality of sewer discharges and potentially recharging the city’s over-drafted aquifer.  With its increased capacity, we will continue to be able to attract new businesses and service expansion needs, in particular in the industrial park.  The city’s two main general fund revenues, sales tax and property tax, appear to have reached bottom.  Sales tax revenues have had consistent growth since 2010.

While we are not out of the woods yet, Visalia’s economy continues to grow and improve.  Although Visalia probably won’t make the national headlines like Stockton, the Jewel of the Valley continues  to sparkle.

DONUTS AND DISCUSSION
In an ongoing effort to be available to our citizens, I have started informal Saturday morning get-togethers which I’ve  entitled “Donuts and Discussion,” open to all.  Fire Chief Mark Nelson and I held the first one at the “Donut Factory, Etc.” on N. Demaree in July.  Many thanks to our hosts (they have terrific gourmet donuts, be sure to try their “man donut” with bacon!).  Our next D and D will be Saturday, September 22 at Panera Bread on South Mooney, 7 to 8:30 a.m.  Police Chief Colleen Mestas will be there with me.  Feel free to drop by for a pastry, and to visit about city issues.

Warren Gubler
Visalia City Council Member

WHY I VOTED 'NO'

Approximately three weeks ago, city staff suggested to the Visalia city council that we do a quick survey to see if Visalians would favor an additional tax placed on the November 2012 ballot.  The polling was rapidly done over a weekend by an out-of-town company, and seemed to show that while Visalians would not favor a utility users tax, they would vote for a half-cent sales tax increase.   Council members were given the poll results on Monday, August 6, and told we had to act that week in order to get it on the ballot in November.  Hastily arranged council meetings were scheduled for Wednesday, then Thursday.  Resolutions and staff recommendations were emailed to us just prior to the meetings, without time for proper reflection.

By law, absent a unanimous vote by the city council declaring a “fiscal emergency,” a two-thirds vote would be required to pass a new tax in November 2012, or we’d have to wait until November 2013, when only a 50% +1 vote is required.  I voted “no” because I didn’t feel the facts justified declaring a fiscal emergency.  So no city tax proposal will be on this November’s ballot.

All governments scream for more tax money.  On a rare occasion, a tax increase may be justified.  The Visalia City Council in July just passed a two-year balanced budget without dipping into reserves and without raising taxes.  We were forced by the bad economy to tighten our belt and cut back on amenities.

As to this new tax proposal, there hadn’t been adequate time to even discuss how big of a sales tax increase was needed; how those funds would be budgeted and spent; whether there should be a sunset clause or the terms thereof; or how we would present the proposal for community study and support.  Instead, the discussion was to get it on the ballot quickly, and then we’d figure out the details later.

For me, how could we tell the community in July that we had spent their tax money wisely and balanced the budget, and then in August claim a fiscal emergency because the sky is falling?

Some of the rhetoric propounded at the council meetings included:

● We need money for a 911 call center: No, we have $8 million already in the bank for that, and we’re just looking for a place to build it.

● We need money for the animal control center: No, we have hired a project manager  and have scheduled the first two years of payments already in the recently passed budget.

● We need money for a southwest fire station:  No, we have adequate Measure “T” funds to pay for that.  The delay has been in finding a good spot to build it on the southwest side of town.

● Our fire department will be totally depleted some nights:  No, we have the best firefighters in the state.  Our stations are staffed, and one may soon be double-staffed.  9 new Measure T firefighters have been hired and start work in September. These new tax funds probably wouldn’t have been allocated to the firefighters anyway. They are ready when needed.

● Our parks may be closed due to lack of funding:  News to me!  So, why did we just vote last month to use parks money to build a new water park next to Rawhide Stadium?

● Pity the candidate who is up for reelection in 2013 at the same time as a proposed tax increase: If I choose to run again next year, I have no problem doing that next to a well planned, well articulated and reasonable sales tax increase proposal.  I trust the voters to make up their own minds and have the final say.  If they don’t want to be taxed extra for specific community improvements, that’s their call.

I propose that we now hit the restart button.  I call for the city council to take the time, with city staff assistance, to determine what infrastructure and other pressing needs the city has which can’t be met by current tax revenues.  Let’s get citizens’ input, do the calculations, prioritize, figure out how much, if any, of a tax increase is needed, and for how long (this was all done prior to Measure “T” passage).  Let’s get the Chamber of Commerce, the VEDC, and other community businesses and organizations involved in the discussion.  And no scare tactics!  Properly done, I will volunteer to be the head cheerleader for such a ballot initiative, if it’s needed.

It’s okay to invest in Visalia and on occasion, to ask for tax help from our citizens, when properly timed and they’re provided with good information.  Then, let’s leave it up to the voters to decide.

Published in the Visalia Times Delta, Aug. 14, 2012

TOURISM: BRINGING VISITORS TO VISALIA

Having done my share of traveling around the world, I believe that Visalia has much to offer to tourists.  Not only is historic Downtown Visalia a draw, but visitors are attracted to our surrounding agricultural lands, national parks, sports venues, and lakes.  In order to get the word out and to attract more tourism, in the mid 2000's, Visalia formed the Convention and Visitors’ Bureau (CVB).  The mission of the CVB is to promote the city and region as a premier destination for both conventions and vacations.  Visalia and our region represent one of the best undiscovered values in the state in terms of a place to visit and conduct business.  The CVB is committed to increasing the strength of this sector of the local and regional economy and to helping grow those businesses that cater to it.  

The CVB’s board of directors consists of city staff, hoteliers, restaurant owners and entertainment venue owners.  The board meets monthly to discuss leads, to track industry events and share general information.  Visalia is a desirable Central California meeting location where attendees can “meet in the middle.”  Meeting planners and event organizers are truly beginning to understand the value of holding meetings centrally in Visalia, and that Visalia is a great option for statewide and regional events.  In more recent times, the CVB has partnered with the Sequoia Tourism Council and ten other agencies in the county, including cities, the National Park Service and the National Forest Service, to promote area tourism.

In 2011, CVB sales had the following economic impact--overnight delegate spending:  $2,848,284.00; day trip delegate spending: $5,120,595; and event organizer delegate spending: $396,700.00, for a total impact of $8,365,579!  According to deputy city manager Leslie Caviglia, conventions that have contracted through the CVB that will take place in Visalia between 2011 and 2016 include the CA State Firefighters Association, Team West Conference, American Society of Agronomy, AmVets, Great Western Fan Festival, Dairy Calf and Heifer Association, CA Order of Eastern Star, DX Convention (ham radio operators), Odd Fellows/Rebekah Grand Lodge Session, Cal State University Counselors Convention, Aloha Spirit Championships, and others.  More leads are pending for conferences involving church, dancing, sports and agricultural groups.

For more information about the CVB and what Visalia has to offer locally, go to visitvisalia.org.  This website can provide visitors, as well as locals, with ideas on what there is to do in this area.  Visalia is a well-kept secret, but it doesn’t need to stay that way!  Let’s get the word out and let others know what a great place this is to visit and to live.

THIS PLACE MATTERS

On Saturday, June 9, I had the privilege of speaking at the unveiling of a bronze plaque from Visalia’s Historic Recognition Program involving an 1870's era home located at 525 N. Court Street in Visalia.  This Queen Anne style home is all that remains of a street once lined with Victorian-style homes.  From the front porch of this beautiful home, at one time you could see the Greek revival style county courthouse (which Court Street was named after).  However, the 1876 courthouse was torn down in the 1950's due to earthquake damage, rather than being repaired.  Each time we tear down an historic building in Visalia rather than renovate it, we lose a little bit of the soul and history of our community.  This is one of the reasons why I recently voted in favor of forming the Home Builders Addition Historic District, to preserve an entire neighborhood of historic homes near Mt. Whitney High School.

Congratulations to the George and Irma Cisneros family for their faithful and meticulous restoration of this historic gem in Visalia.  Their family has lived in this home on Court Street for over 30 years.  This place does matter, as does each of our remaining historic buildings.

198 CONSTRUCTION DELAY

You may have noticed that the equipment and work on West 198 between Visalia and Hanford have come to a grinding halt.  The standstill was caused by discovery of nesting Redtail and Swainson hawks along the highway.  The new Highway 198 expressway was slated to be completed by August.  It is now hoped that the CalTrans crews will be  back to work later this summer, with the new completion date to be November 2012 or later.  These hawks were found nesting along seven areas of the highway, and a concern was raised that the noise of heavy equipment would bother them.  I’ve seen estimates that the construction delay is only costing our cash-starved state approximately $1.8 million dollars!  What happened to proper planning and common sense?

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

MAKING THE TOUGH DECISIONS

The Visalia City Council meets on the first and third Mondays of each month for regularly scheduled council meetings.  Additional council meetings are held as needed.  Prior to these meetings, agendas and staff reports are prepared and provided to council members in order for them to bone up on the issues to be decided.  These agendas and staff reports are also available in advance to the public on the city’s website at www.ci.visalia.ca.us.

Many of the issues which we confront are “no brainers.”  Consent calendar items such as applying for grants, approving notices of completion, awarding of contracts and second readings of ordinances can be handled quickly and efficiently.  However, all issues which we deliberate on affect Visalia citizens, for better or for worse.  For instance, at a recent council meeting, we approved reclassifying Burke Street south of Houston as a connector status street so that this road can be punched through an existing cul-de-sac to give another north/south access street between Tulare Avenue and the St. John’s river.  While this helps traffic circulation for our citizens as a whole, one adjacent property owner was unhappy that some of the frontage on his property (part of his driveway), would be taken, even though the city will compensate him for it.  The Council’s approval was based upon the greater good of the community, but this decision still affected this property owner’s plans for his property.

Often our decisions are contingent upon balancing the rights of some citizens versus the rights of other citizens.  Some tough decisions that the council has had to make in recent times dealt with enacting a new medical marijuana ordinance, downsizing  health care benefits for city retirees, and designating the Visalia Home Builders Subdivision as a Historic District.  On each of these issues, numerous citizens addressed the council, both pro and con.

Not long ago, I ran into a former Visalia city council member and griped to him a little about having to make a decision on a particularly tough issue in an upcoming meeting.  He replied, “that’s why they pay you the big bucks.”  (This is merely a figure of speech in this case, since I calculate that my pay rate based upon the hours I put in as a council member is slightly less than my high school daughter receives at her part-time babysitting jobs.)  Suffice it to say that this is what council members have been elected to do, to make the judgment calls and tough decisions on behalf of our citizens, attempting to do what’s best for the community as a whole under the circumstances.  Some  upcoming tough decisions will involve the General Plan update, potential district elections, and approving and balancing the next two-year city budget.  I’m trying to develop a thicker skin.  Politicians just want to be loved and appreciated (and to keep their jobs!).

PLAZA DRIVE OVERPASS
Now that I have cried on your shoulder, I am pleased to report that one of the easy decisions we made as a council was to go forward with the Plaza Drive interchange improvements.  We applied for and obtained state funding for this project, along with local Measure R funds.  The work commenced in March 2012 and is anticipated to take 18 months for completion.  Fred Lampe, Visalia’s project manager, provided me with the following information to share.  The Plaza Drive bridge over Highway 198 will be widened from three lanes to seven lanes.  It will be widened 56 feet on the east side such that the final bridge width will be 116 feet.  The bridge will include a sign reading “Welcome to the City of Visalia,” and decorative fencing designed to replicate the appearance of the Sierras.


Looking west from the bridge, auxillary lanes will be added on both sides of 198, making it possible to travel between Plaza Drive and 99 without entering the through traffic lanes.  From the bridge north to Hurley Avenue, Plaza Drive will be improved from two to six lanes, and from Hurley Avenue north to Goshen Avenue, Plaza Drive will be widened from two to four lanes.  This will complete the connection between 198 and Tulare County’s Road 80 widening project.  New pavement will replace the existing, failing pavement.  Class 2 bicycle lanes will be added as well as median islands, sidewalks and lighting.  The construction cost will be $23 million dollars (and additional for the landscaping).

Once completed, this project will give better access to industrial park businesses, improve safety and reduce delays at Plaza and 198, and provide better connectivity through Road 80 to Dinuba and other towns to the north.  To see what it will look like and for construction updates, visit plaza198.com.

Thanks goodness for the easy decisions we get to make on occasion.  I believe the entire community will be proud of this project once completed.

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