-March 19,2022-
City studies possible expansion of the Visalia Industrial Park
City administration is doing an Industrial Land Inventory Analysis this spring that could result in expansion of the industrial park that has been experiencing rapid growth. As of this writing there are several 1 million sf of buildings under construction with more lining up.Among the goals of the study, assess supply of industrial zoned land and market potential, identifying possible properties to plan for future industrial and necessary infrastructure considerations. Ideally, the analysis will also identify potential industrial tenants that could be attracted to Visalia
Burger King on Riggin
A new Burger King restaurant is in the works on Riggin near Mooney. The fast food chain will build a 3,376 SF restaurant located at 2050 W Riggin Ave according to a pending city permit.
Riggin widening on deck
Speaking of Riggin Ave.The city is hurrying to widen another leg of Riggin to 4 lanes (110 feet wide) for 0.75miles between Mooney and east to Conyer according to an environmental notice. Construction is underway on Riggin in the industrial park as well from Kelsey to to Shirk.
The City Council at their April 19, 2021, meeting directed staff to submit an application to the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to acquire additional funding to fund the construction of the “Riggin Widening Project” from Kelsey Street to Shirk Street. The City of Visalia requested $4 million from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to fund the construction of the widening project. The application is currently in review with EDA with a tentative award timeframe in late Summer 2022.
Send in the drones
This next year ‘s city budget includes funding for the purchase of six drones, two accessories (extra parts and a speaker for communication), and three Apple iPad minis to enhance Visalia Police Department’s competencies during critical incidents, missing person searches and building searches.
The VPD Unmanned aerial unit consists of 10 pilots and an inventory of 7 drones. 2 drones are in immediate need of replacement, and four drones will be assigned to new pilots without drones.
City describes Mission Linen lawsuit costs
Insurance covers a portion
Mission Linen Soil Remediation- In 2016, underground pollution was found to originate from a dry-cleaning facility operated in Visalia by Mission Linen Supply.They sent polluted water into the city sewer system. The chemical was widely used by dry cleaners causing groundwater issues at a number of Visalia cleaners. In this case the City of Visalia was found to share responsibility for the soil contamination based upon numerous defects and poor maintenance of the sewer lines leading from the facility (Mission Linen Supply v. City of Visalia). The City appealed this finding, however, the court concluded that the City of Visalia and Mission Linen should share remediation costs equally (50/50) was ultimately upheld by the United States 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, in June of 2020.
In February of 2020, the City appropriated $1.7m from the Wastewater Treatment fund (431) for the design and construction of necessary repairs to the sewer lines along Tipton Street and Mineral King Avenue, in compliance with a court order to comply with the requirements of the Department of Toxic Substances Control
(DTSC). This sewer line project is not part of the shared remediation cost. It is for the repair of sewer lines that are exclusively the responsibility of the city to
operate and maintain. The $1.7m budgeted for this project is not included in the remediation costs discussed below.
Because the City’s Mission Linen soil remediation obligation is the result of a court order, there is no specific remediation amount identified, but rather, the City must pay 50% of the actual cost. In May of 2021, $250,000 was appropriated from the Wastewater Treatment fund for the City’s portion of the first phase of the Mission Linen Soil Remediation Project. An additional $1,223,800 has been requested in the proposed 2-year Wastewater Capital budget which was reviewed by Council on February 22, 2022. Approval of this request will bring the project budget to $1,473,800, which is the current estimate of the City’s full share of the cost for this remediation. The City has received insurance settlements to offset this cost from three separate insurance companies which total $1,250,000, leaving an estimated balance of $223,800 to paid from the Wastewater Fund