Here’s what you need to know

  • The Visalia City Council met on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, and approved consent calendar items, including the contract for 12 new police patrol units and construction for the Fire Station 55 Roof Repair Project. 
  • Redwood High School’s Students Against Trafficking Club is hosting a Wash Out Human Trafficking event on Nov. 15, 2022. 
  • The new Visalia Parks and Recreation Director,  Kelli Kincaid, was ceremonially sworn in. 

Follow-up questions

  • Are there other city buildings facing similar roofing problems?
  • Why were the 12 new police patrol units necessary?

Visalia City Council Members 

Liz Wynn, District One

Brett Taylor, District Two

Vice Mayor Brian Poochigan, District Three

Greg Collins, District Four 

Mayor Steve Nelson, District Five

The Scene

The Visalia City Council meeting took place on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022. It began at 7:00 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilmember Wynn and a prayer led by Councilmember Taylor. All council members were present. 

Actions/Discussions/Public comment

  • The new Parks and Recreation Director,  Kelli Kincaid, was ceremonially sworn in. 
  • Public Comment 
    • Izek Nelson, a junior at Redwood High School, is the ASB secretary and president of the Students Against Trafficking Club. Nelson wanted to notify the council of his club’s Wash Out Human Trafficking event taking place on November 15. The event will feature education on human trafficking, a car wash to raise funds, food trucks, and a special screening of the documentary film “It’s Happening Right Here.” The club wants to bring more awareness of human trafficking in Visalia.
  • Consent Calendar Items 
    • Nelsen pulled Item 3 for discussion, but all other Consent Calendar items were unanimously approved.
    • Although they were not brought up in the meeting, many of the 11 Consent Calendar Items dealt with contracts and purchases. 
    • Notably, Item 9 approved the authorization of a purchase contract for 12 2023 Police Patrol Dodge V-8 RWD Charger units. This contract was in the amount of $902,860, with $270,420 from the Vehicle Replacement Fund. 
  • Consent Calendar Item 3
    • Item 3 regards authorizing the city manager to award the $288,985.00 contract for the Fire Station 55 Roof Repair Project to Brazos Urethane Inc.
    • “Why does the roof only last 15 years and then start to leak,” Mayor Nelsen asked.
    • When the current roof was installed, moisture got under the roofing. This is usually associated with construction being done incorrectly. 
    • There was only a two-year warranty on the roof itself. In the future, the best way to prevent this issue is to keep a close eye on the roof as it is being installed. 
    • “Has this particular situation been brought to the attention of the original contractor,” Councilmember Collins asked.
    • The original contractor, Perch Construction, has been reached out to, but no one has been able to get an answer on who actually did the roofing part of the construction.
    • The city is self-insured, so they cannot fall back on that to pay for the new roof.
    • The authorization for the city manager to award this contract was unanimously approved. 
  • With nothing to report from the closed session, the meeting adjourned at 7:17 p.m.

The next Visalia City Council meeting is scheduled to occur on Monday, Nov. 7, at 7:00 p.m in the City Hall Council Chambers.

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters-admin@fresnoland.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.

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