Planning Commission OK’s Changes at Mall Property

That possible pathway became more clear this week when the Visalia Planning Commission approved a change to parcel divisions at the 13.6-acre commercial property on the northwest corner of Mooney Boulevard and Caldwell Avenue. The move came at the request of the mall’s Tustin-based owners Paynter Realty and Investments, which is quietly pursuing the “de-malling” of the Sequoia Mall and has been since 2023, according to the online real estate marketplace Crexi.com.

While the commission approved Paynter’s request unanimously at its July 13 meeting, it was without knowledge of why the property owners asked for the changes or what they plan to do with the parcels. This is standard behavior for property development. All the city has to know is a plan complies with city standards.

“We wait and see like the rest of you,” said Josh Dan, senior city planner at Visalia City Hall. “Usually, they don’t like to disclose the type of business.”

The changes are a redrawing parcel of lines to redivide the western portion of the property into four portions. One of those is small, just 0.3 acres, has odd borders, and has Dan scratching his head.

“They have not alluded to what that may be in the future,” he said. “It’s a weird shape. I’m befuddled.”

Developers, Dan said, are often tight-lipped about their plans, seeking to protect deals in progress and to manage the public’s expectations. Despite City Hall’s being in the dark, Dan sees the changes as a sure sign of upcoming development at the Sequoia Mall.

“Whatever their plan for the future is, somehow these parcel lines make sense,” he said. “They’re setting up for their next steps.”

Payner Realty’s executive vice president Jim Sanders, however, gave the public a rare insight into the developers’ operations. He said the way the property has been reapportioned will let the company pay for rebuilding of the former location of Longs Drugs at the southwest corner of the property.

“We’re under construction with the drug store building to bring in Crunch Fitness,” he said. “With that, we wanted to get the parcels corrected so we could finance that parcel.”

It’s part of a long-term plan to turn the property into an open mall. Paynter abandoned the original enclosed design in 2023, and the interior portion of the mall was finally closed that year.

All the current tenets occupy outward facing storefronts, including the recent additions, like Saphora, Sprouts Farmers Market, Barnes and Noble, and Sketchers Warehouse Outlet. Payner is also rebranding the mall as it’s transformed. While many will always remember the property as the Sequoia Mall, officially it’s now the Boulevard at Sequoia.

The Rise, Fall and Rise of Sequoia Mall

The Sequoia Mall was once the favorite shopping location for many Visalians, and it drew a big customer base from surrounding communities, especially in the decade after it opened its doors in 1974. By 2013, when it was purchased by Paynter Realty, the property was listed as “distressed” by the commercial real estate tracker CoStar. The mall was a high-vacancy property – 60% empty storefronts – available at a price far lower than its assessed value. Its price tag was lower than the remaining mortgage on the property, a bargain-priced “short sale” in real estate jargon.

At the time of purchase, the county assessor’s office estimated the property’s value at $17 million. Tustin-based Paynter Realty paid just $10.7 million for the dead mall.

Only it wasn’t quite dead. Not yet. But it certainly was close.

Mervin’s Department Store, the main anchor store at the mall, went belly up in 2008, declaring bankruptcy and closing all its stores across the country, including in Visalia. An exit by Borders Books followed in 2011, with that company also declaring itself bankrupt. Along the way, classic mall shops like Kaybee Toys, Miller’s Outpost, Lerners and Orange Julius also shuttered their Visalia locations.

In 1998, the mall had changed hands for the first time, and it got its first and only interior renovation in 1999, perhaps too little and too late. The mall was sold again in 2003, with the new ownership paying $27.4 million for the property. It went on the market again four years later, and was purchased by the Schottenstein Property Group.

Schottenstein, too, held the property for four years, and during that period the vacancy rate continued to climb. In 2007, Schottenstein sold the mall to Kimco Realty Corporation with an asking price of $30 million. Kimco had little success. Apparently on the brink of foreclosure, the property went on the market again in 2013, getting the attention of Paynter Realty.

By the time Paynter Realty took possession, Sears Department Store was the last remaining major retailer from the mall’s glory days. In 1996, Mann Theaters had moved its Cinema I-II-III from the back of the mall’s parking lot to its interior and expanded to a six-screen complex inside the mall next to the Ross Department Store (another major anchor retailer that would eventually abandon the location). But the theater stayed, purchased by Signature Theaters in 2002 and by the Regal Entertainment Group in 2004, and expanded to 12 screens.

But the decline wasn’t quite over yet. Transformco, the owner of Sears and Kmart stores, was also in financial trouble by the late 2010s. Transformco eventually threw in the towel, selling 96 of its less viable retail locations, including those in Visalia. Liquidation of the Sears stock began in 2019, and by February, the store’s 80-year run in Visalia was over and done.

Fortunately, Paynter Realty saw the writing on the wall and purchased the Sears property, which was divided from the rest of the mall property, in 2018.

Where There’s Life, There’s Hope

Even through the period of its deepening decline, the mall was still attractive to certain retailers. In 2011, Hobby Lobby, despite ownership’s concerns about meeting California regulations, took over the former Mervin’s spot. It was the first location for the crafting goods store in the state, and, according to multiple online sources, the Visalia store broke company sales records.

There was also another major retailer still doing business at the mall, at least technically. In 1995, Marshall’s Department Store and Bed, Bath and Beyond opened in the Tower Plaza, an adjoining property integrated into the mall’s overall scheme and also owned by Paynter Realty. While Bed, Bath and Beyond has since shuttered, Marshall’s remains.

Marshall’s, Hobby Lobby and the Regal Cinema were the last three big boxes standing.

Yet Sanders said the company was still certain about the potential of the mall property and remains confident. But that doesn’t mean they’re ready to show their hand, though Sanders is definitely upbeat about the property’s future.

“I’m not trying to promote anything until it’s time to promote it,” he said. “There’s a lot of neat things to talk about in terms of what’s happened so far. The real estate has proven its worth. The first rule is ‘location, location, location,’ and it’s proven that with Sprouts and Borders.”

What’s Coming Next for Sequoia?

Now, 13 years after Paynter took ownership and three years after the decision to reorganize as the Boulevard at Sequoia, the once dead mall is rising back to its feet, and it could be that the revitalization is just getting into full swing. The addition of Sprouts in the former Sears space, the opening of a Barnes and Noble bookstore in the same storefront where Borders Books once operated, and the arrival of big brand names like Nordstrom’s and Sketchers all seem to herald better days ahead.

But Sanders still won’t say what other plans might be in the works.

“What you see is what we’re doing,” he said. “It’s a real success story, and now we’re bringing Crunch Fitness. And now Sierra TGX. This is only their second location in California.”

Sierra offers a wide variety of outdoor and sporting goods at what it promises are lower prices than other outlets offer. Sanders describes it as “a discount version of REI or one of those outdoor sporting goods companies.”

“They have not done a ton of marketing there,” he said. “It’s fully open and worth a visit.”

The sales pitch for the Boulevard at Sequoia listed by Crexi promises new building construction and a “state-of-the-art cinema” to come in the near future. What other retailers and changes the future holds not even the people at Paynter Realty know for sure.

“Everyone I talk to says that it was the mall. We’re trying to figure it out,” Sanders said. “It’s a strong intersection for the trade area.”

The company, he said, has an affinity for the area and is fully committed to the ongoing project.

“We love Visalia and really care about the community,” Sanders said.

And he let slip one more secret. There is no plan yet for the small, oddly shaped parcel next to the Shady Lane entrance and in front of the future home of Crunch Fitness.

“It’s for a drive-thru,” Sanders said. “We aren’t planning anything right now. It’s just for the future so we’re ready to roll if something comes along.”

The post Visalia’s shopping mall that wouldn’t die appeared first on Valley Voice.

The fee and rate schedule changes for all city departments were approved by the City Council on June 15. The majority of the adjusted fees went into effect on July 1.

Yearly Fee Changes Avoid Sticker Shock

City fees are adjusted annually to keep them in line with regulations set by other agencies, when contractors change the rate they charge City Hall or to match the city’s actual cost of providing a service. Not all fees and rates increased this year, and some were removed because of redundancy or just weren’t needed anymore.

By adjusting fees and rates on a yearly cycle, City Hall avoids hitting the public with big changes in the cost of doing business.

“When you’re jumping it up 30%, people are shocked or awed or angry,” said Mayor Brett Taylor. “When we’re increasing every year, then it’s a lot easier to swallow.”

Monitoring what the city charges for its various services is not a small task.

“We have nearly 1,600 fees,” said city financial analyst Jana Ferguson.

Those fees cover every service the city provides, from renting trash dumpsters to issuing housing permits to overnight airplane parking. The majority of the rates saw only small changes matching inflation.

Group Rental Fees Increased at Senior Center

The only large increase approved on the new rate sheet is the added cost non-residents will have to pay at the Parks and Recreation Department.

Beginning on August 10, out-of-towners will pay an additional 25% more than those who live within the city limits. The cost increase will not apply to children enrolled in programs funded partially by the Visalia Unified School District.

“This would apply across all Parks and Recreation fees,” Ferguson said.”Picnic areas and indoor facilities rentals, the rental of athletic fields or courts, the lights and concession stands, and then special permits and staff fees that are required for those facilities.”

By delaying the increase, the upward adjustment will match the upcoming fall enrollment in group sports. Identifying out-of-town players will be added work for parks and rec staff, but they make up a large portion of participants.

“It’s generally around 10%,” said parks and rec director Jason Glick. “For new registrants, we’ll ask for their place of residence. It will take some work. We’re not going to hide from that.”

Parks and Recreation also asked for and got an increase in the per-person fee it charges for rental of space inside the city’s four community centers. The city currently adds a $0.35 per person charge when renting out space for events. It’s going up to $0.50 a person.

The increases affect rentals at the Anthony Community Center, the Manuel F Hernandez Center, the city-owned facility at Whitendale Park and at the Senior Center. The centers have spaces for groups as small as 15 people, or as many as 200.

Some Changes Outpace Cost Increase

A small few of the fees City Hall charges bring the city into line with either regulation or industry practice, and the increases more than match an increased cost of living.

The hourly equipment fee for charged firetrucks used during responses due illegal activities, negligence or carelessness will go up a few percent to match the increased rates allowed by FEMA. The cost of overnight aircraft parking at the municipal airport is rising from $12 to $15 to “match industry standards.” And the fee for replacing damaged city-owned waste cans and bins is also going up to match the actual cost to the city.

At the Visalia Convention Center, the fee for maintenance and custodial services during events is going up $1 per hour to $28 ($41 for overtime and holidays). The cost of Internet service is rising slightly, up $2 to $70, and, finally, a change in wording is intended to end confusion about what is included (or not) when renting tables.

“In order for customers to be able to clearly identify that a table rental does not include the tablecloth or any type of linen or skirt, they wanted to add the word ‘bare,’” Ferguson said. “Those are obviously available at an additional cost.”

Also, in a boon for those who are hard on equipment, the cost to replace a damaged or burnt city-owned dumpster is being adjusted to match the city’s cost to replace it. Some of those replacement costs have dropped, meaning a financial break for those unfortunate enough to somehow destroy a reinforced steel bin.

The cost of some city services – like grading permit fees or home occupation permits – will go up to match the city’s labor costs. Some fees at the Visalia Police Department, such as processing fix-it tickets, are going up to match a rise in officers’ salaries.

The post Visalia hikes parks & rec fees 25% for out-of-towners appeared first on Valley Voice.

The spending plan includes a $110.4 million allocation for the general fund in its first year, and $110.8 for the general fund during the second year. The city’s Finance Department expects a combined surplus of about $7.8 million in the general fund when the books close at the end of June 2028.

City Leaders Declare City Coffers Strong

In presenting the proposed biannual budget, the city’s financial staff promised more of the fiscal stability that’s been the hallmark of City Hall’s approach to budgeting in recent decades.

“Overall, the city is in good financial shape,” said city financial analyst Jana Ferguson. “Revenues are up in all categories and are projected to continue. Development continues throughout Visalia. Departments are controlling expenses.”

The biannual budget includes spending for all the separate spending accounts maintained by the city: the General Fund, as well as various special revenue funds, capital funds, enterprise funds and internal service funds.

“The largest category is the business-type funds at 41% (of the entire budget), and that consists of 14 funds,” Ferguson said. Business-type funds include money earmarked for wastewater treatment, airport maintenance and solid waste disposal. “And the next one is our general fund at 27%. That’s our largest fund that we have.”

Planned spending for the next two years includes investments in our city infrastructure, including maintenance and replacement projects, she said, and the general fund has a healthy reserve balance. Both upcoming budget years are projected to end with a surplus: $2.6 million in 2026-27, and $5.6 million in 2027-28.

Reserve Cash, Low Debt Keep Visalia Solid

The city has reserves worth $27.4 million as the current fiscal year (July 2025 to June 2026) comes to a close. That nest egg should increase to $29.6 million in 2026-27, and climb to $30.6 million during the 2027-28 budget year. City policy requires a cash reserve equal to 30% of the general fund budget, and Mayor Brett Taylor said the city is within “several hundred thousand dollars” of meeting that goal.

Keeping the city ready to handle economic downturns with a large reserve fund, combined with saving for big projects to avoid borrowing, has given Visalia a solid financial footing most cities don’t have, Taylor said.

“Financially, our city is doing really, really well,” he said. “So many other cities are looking at ‘Which employees are we letting off?’ We’re looking at some of our school districts letting go of some employees. Visalia is in a strong position because we spend within our means.”

The city is almost nearly debt-free compared to most municipalities. Since Visalia has avoided borrowing to fund capital projects, like large construction projects, it has only $4.9 million in debt at the end of the 2025-26 fiscal year. The debt should be completely off the books by the end of the 2028-29 fiscal year.

Currently, repaying outstanding loans accounts for less than 1% of city spending.

“Any other city of our size or of any decent size, they’re putting out millions and millions of dollars a year in debt,” Taylor said. “And we don’t live off that, so we’re not having to pay off that debt, which is huge.”

The city’s low debt service and its large reserve keep Visalia in a unique position among California’s cities.

“No other city is in that position,” Taylor said. “That really speaks volumes about our community and what we do.”

City Manages Expectations in Budgeting

Caution and precaution have been key to the city’s financial wellbeing, according to finance director Renee Nagel. Her department’s policy is to avoid being overenthusiastic when predicting the city’s incomes and pessimistic about expenses.

“We’re conservative with our revenues, and we’re overly conservative with our expenditures,” she said. “We do that for several reasons. For the revenue side, we always hope that they will come in higher. If the economy starts to turn, we would have some wiggle room there because we weren’t overshooting it. You never know. The slightest economic change, it could be foreign or domestic changes, or a policy that can affect your revenues.”

Council member Brian Poochigian credits the wisdom of past elected city leaders for setting the stage for Visalia’s ongoing strong financial footing.

“Previous councils should be applauded for this,” he said. “We are in such a good financial state and very stable compared to a lot of other cities because of the conservative nature of what the (finance department) does and the long-term planning, that if something really bad happened, the residents could rest easy because we’re covered because we’ve been saving for years in case of emergency.”

An example of how this thinking has benefited the city shows up in the difference between the 2026-27 budget and the lower 2027-28 budget, which is $50 million smaller.

“Those large differences, those are heavier in capital projects for the first year of the budget,” said Ferguson. “So they have more projects and more money being appropriated for those capital projects in the first year of the budget.”

The money for those projects, including construction of Fire Station 51 and the expansion of the wastewater treatment system, was banked during previous budget cycles. And the projects and the payouts are happening now.

The city has a six-year capital improvements plan in place, but so far funding for only the first two years of projects is secure. The entire six-year list of capital projects is included in the 500-plus-page electronic copy of the city budget available at the city’s website:

http://www.visalia.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3095/Proposed-2026-27–2027-28-Budget-Document-PDF

“In that six-year capital plan were the first two years of proposed projects,” said Nagel. “Some of those were projects (with) continuing phases that we’ve started, and then some of them are starting new projects, with the heavy lifting being maybe in the first year.”

City Hall Now Hiring

City Hall plans to add 21 new full-time personnel over the next 12 months under the new budget. Most will be new police officers. The parks and recreation, finance and public works departments will also see new hires.

“(Adding) these 21 positions brings our full (count of) full-time allocated positions to 722 for fiscal year ‘27/’28,” said city finance and technology director Negal. “At any given time, the city, which includes full-time and hourly, on average we have about 950 employees.”

The single largest fund in the city budget is the General Fund, which receives 27% of the entire allotment in 2026-27 and 31% in 2027-28. The General Fund will spend $110.4 million in 2026-27, and another $110.8 million in 2027-28, and most of that cash will cover labor costs.

The largest expenditure from the general fund covers salaries and benefits for staff. It makes up 76% of total spending. In 2026-27, the city will shell out $84 million on labor. That’s an increase of 8% from the previous budget, and that mainly covers hiring more staff. But it also covers a 4% wage adjustment for current staff members. The cost of labor should increase another 4% in 2027-28, rising to around $87.5 million, depending on how wages adjust.

General Fund Spending, Income Expected to Rise

General Fund spending will increase by 7% in 2026-27, and by 3% in 2027-28 under the current budget.

Ninety percent of the General Fund comes from taxes. Sales tax is the largest source, making up 44% of the General Fund money. Property tax supplies 19% of the General Fund, a state scheme that uses property tax money to replace lost vehicle licensing fees makes up another 16%, and the rest of the General Fund money comes from franchise taxes, transit taxes, business license taxes and other sources.

City staff is predicting a 2-3% for all six tax revenue sources during the next two years. During the last 20 years, sales tax income in Visalia has increased by 3.9% on average, with a 5.5% average increase in the last 15 years. It increased 3.5% in 2025-26; and 2.5% increases are projected for 2026-27 and 2027-28.

But, of course, the budget is only a very thorough plan. Expenditures and revenues can change unexpectedly, but the city has prepared as well as it can for any financial surprises.

“We try to plan for everything, but things do come up throughout the year or two years,” Nagel said. “You try to plan for every foreseeable future, but you just never know what’s going to happen.”

The post ‘Conservative’ budget for Visalia promises surpluses, security appeared first on Valley Voice.

• Man of the Year: Mark Perry
• Woman of the Year: Merritt Wiseman
• Nonprofit of the Year: The Source LGBT+ Center
• Small Business of the Year: Pacific Employers
• Medium Business of the Year: The Naxon Group
• Large Business Finalists: Visalia Ceramic Tile, Inc.

The post Visalia Chamber honors community leaders and businesses at 71st annual awards appeared first on Valley Voice.

“We’ve released our highly anticipated summer Live & Play Activity Guide, packed with events, classes, and programs and activities start this week,” shares Laurissa Roggenkamp, Recreation Manager. “School is out and summer fun in Visalia is just getting started.”

From interactive youth camps and swim lessons to adult sports leagues and community-wide special events like the Independence Day Spectacular on July 3, this season’s guide serves as a comprehensive roadmap to an active, engaging, and memorable summer.

“Whether you’re looking to learn a new skill, keep the kids active while school is out, or just connect with your neighbors at our community events, our team has put together an incredible schedule,” adds Roggenkamp.

Highlights of the 2026 Summer Lineup Include:

• Aquatics and Swim Lessons: Dive into the season with public swim sessions, swim lessons for all age groups, and aquatic fitness classes to stay cool.
• Youth Camps and Teen Enrichment: Keep young minds and bodies active with multi-sport camps, creative arts, and STEM-focused summer programs.
• Adult Sports and Fitness: Stay competitive and healthy with adult leagues, fitness, and dance classes.
• Community Events: Find favorites like the Juneteenth celebration, Summer Night Lights, and the highly anticipated Independence Day Spectacular on July 3 at Riverway Sports Park.

The digital version of the Summer Activity Guide is officially live and accessible on the City’s newly redesigned website at www.visalia.gov/LivePlay. Visitors can browse programs and classes and complete their registration online.

Physical copies of the Summer Live & Play guide are also available at city facilities, including the Visalia Senior Center, the Anthony Community Center, and the City of Visalia Administration Office. For more information regarding registration, programming, or accommodations, please visit www.visalia.gov or contact the Parks and Recreation Department at (559) 713-4535 or recreation@visalia.gov.

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The post Summer Fun in Visalia Starts Now appeared first on Valley Voice.

This month, the forum is, “U.S. at 250: Why We Celebrate, and How,”

The forum is at 7 p.m. on Tuesday June 9 at 210 W. Center Ave.

Tulare County Voices @210 is a monthly public forum in Visalia that has been a space for community discussion for more than 15 years. It is co-sponsored by the Visalia Times-Delta, the Valley Voice and First Presbyterian Church (which provides the venue and live stream).

This forum will be a combination of activities. It will include a brief quiz on American history. Then, we’ll have a panel discussion of local historians and teachers to discuss how history is being taught and learned. And finally, a review of the activities that the city of Visalia has lined up to celebrate America’s  semiquincentennial.

Our discussion on the teaching of History brings together College of the Sequoias professor and author Newell Bringhurst, and retired High School history teacher as well as the coordinator of Visalia’s annual History Day, Curtis Wilson.

For starters, this forum will get everybody in the mood with a brief quiz on American history. The questions will run along the lines of this one:

Who was the most important diplomat for the colonies during the Revolution?

1. George Washington

2. Alexander Hamilton

3. Benjamin Franklin

4. John Jay

(Answer below)

At the heart of our discussion on how American history is taught, and learned (or not) is:

• How has the teaching of American History changed from the 1950s to the present?

• How has the current political environment changed the way American History is being taught?

Does the way Americans view their history change with the political climate? Why does Americans’ view of some periods of American history, the Reconstruction Era, for instance, change with the times?

Why do Americans often learn that what they thought of their history is wrong?

Our panel members will wrestle with that question and more, including questions from the audience, as we consider what is being taught to history students, and how that has changed.

Our nation’s semiquincentennial is foremost an opportunity to celebrate 250 years of freedom, justice and equality,  so we intend to get to the celebrating part. A representative from the city of Visalia will be on hand to explain what our city plans to celebrate our 250th.

The events in Visalia will certainly be a surprise, including a convention here of a national veterans organization, the display of an iconic flag, and an Old-fashioned Fourth at Riverway Sports Park.

So join us on June 9. to learn what we are celebrating and how.

As for the quiz answer, here’s a hint: His face is on the $100 bill.

The post TC Voices – U.S. at 250 – Why we Celebrate! appeared first on Valley Voice.

Supervisors Pete Vander Poel (District 2) and Dennis Townsend (District 5) apparently left the meeting to avoid being included in the presentation of the proclamation.

The county declaration honors the groups’ work to protect and support the LGBTQ+ community in Tulare County. Both men also declined to sign the proclamation.

Walk-Out Surprised, Disappointed Board Chair

The pair’s unexpected absence came as a surprise to Board Chair Amy Shuklian, who oversaw the presentation.

“I didn’t know they were going to walk out of the meeting. I’m disappointed,” she said. “I feel bad for the organizations that were up there talking about what they do in the community.”

The organizations being honored were support and advocacy group Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) of Tulare and Kings Counties, the civic service club Visalia Pride Lions, and The Source, a community center for LGBTQ+ individuals.

The supervisors’ proclamation was intended to honor these nongovernmental groups, whose work, Shuklian said, are critical to the wellbeing of all county residents. Similar proclamations are regularly made for other groups like those honored Tuesday, she said.

“Organizations and nonprofits are what make our community, Tulare County, function,” Shuklian said. “We contract with The Source and a lot of other organizations to provide the services we’re (Tulare County) mandated to provide.”

Shuklian also said official recognition, such as the county proclamation, signal strongly that the people those groups represent are welcome here.

“It’s important they feel they’re members of the community no matter who they are,” she said. “It’s important to recognize everyone in the community, no matter who they are, if they are doing good work.”

Vander Poel ‘Doesn’t Believe’ in Activism, Protesting

According to Supervisor Vander Poel, it was the inclusion of PFLAG that prompted him to leave the room. Unfamiliar with PFLAG – a support group for the family and friends of LGBTQ+ people formed in 1973 – Vander Poel turned to the website of the local branch.

“When you look at their home page you will see a photo. In that photo, there are individuals holding signs that say, ‘Trump Treason = Lock Him Up,’ and ‘Fight Ignorance, Not Immigrants,’ and ‘Affordable Health Care for All,’” Vander Poel wrote in an email response to Caitlin Rauen, who had questioned his reasoning.

This is not the first time official support for PFLAG has upset its detractors.

In 1990, First Lady Barbara Bush wrote a letter of support to PFLAG’s president, in which she said, “We cannot tolerate discrimination against any individuals or groups in our country.” Bush’s private comment was reprinted by the Associated Press, drawing the ire of conservatives.

PFLAG’s founder, Jeanne Manford, was honored with the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2013.

PFLAG’s main approach is wielding legal power against public figures who attack the LGBTQ+ community, as well as organizing protests and other events intended to influence public policy. However, the wording the national organization used on its website was so concerning to Vander Poel he felt he could not lend his name to the local proclamation.

“On the PFLAG national website, they talk about ‘fighting’ and ‘protesting,’” Vander Poel wrote. “Activism and protesting are not strategies I believe in, and I did not want to recognize a seemingly political organization that focuses on that.”

Supervisors’ Action Was Not a Protest

Vander Poel, who represents the Tulare area, told other local media outlets his absence was not a protest. Rather it was to avoid a confrontation.

“I did not explain myself or make any comments at the meeting because I did not want to take anything away from the recognition being bestowed upon the organizations,” he wrote.

Supervisor Dennis Townsend, who represents the Porterville area, reportedly said the county proclamation was secret acknowledgement of Pride Month by Shuklian. He also said the honor was official validation of the behavior of LGBTQ+ individuals, and not simple recognition of the organizations’ beneficial work in Tulare County.

Shuklian denied this accusation.

“This was not a Pride Month proclamation. Obviously, this is Pride Month, but I wanted to recognize these organizations,” she said. “A lot of people say, ‘Well, why do we have Pride Month?’ To me, the opposite of pride is shame, and I will never be ashamed of who I am or who I love.”

During the ceremony, Brian Poth, CEO of The Source, explained why he thinks the work done there is important. It is not only critical to the clients who use the services, but serves to better the entire community.

“We believe that when people feel safe and included, they build lives that benefit their communities,” Poth said. “Every resident deserves access to success, opportunity and a sense of belonging.”

In praising the organizations’ work, Shuklian explained why her colleagues’ absence and their attitude was difficult to understand.

“You have definitely saved the lives of youth and young adults in Tulare County. I know that for a fact,” Shuklian said. “And anybody who can go against the fact that you work to save the lives of our young people is a shame.”

She was especially upset the pair left without explaining their behavior.

“If Pete had leaned over and said I’m not comfortable and don’t want to be in the photo, I might feel different,” Shuklian said.

Tulare, Visalia Support LGBTQ+ Community Officially

The Board of Supervisors wasn’t the only government body that chose to honor LGBTQ+ citizens in June. On Tuesday, the Tulare City Council proclaimed June as LGBT Pride Month in the city. The council there also recognized the work of The Source.

The Visalia City Council will present a proclamation honoring The Source during a celebration of the organization’s 10th anniversary, 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, June 10, at 109 NW 2nd Avenue in Visalia. The event is open to adults only.

Neither of those proclamations singled out PFLAG for specific recognition, unlike that presented by the county. The decades-old organization has never been seen as radical in its behavior or advocacy, which leaves Shuklian puzzled over why her colleagues singled it out. Shuklian also said the proclamation had been worded to be as inoffensive as possible.

“I really didn’t think that it was such a big deal, especially for those organizations,” she said. “I was shocked that PFLAG was the stickler.”

Kathryn Hall, PFLAG’s current president, was particularly offended by Vander Poel and Townsend’s action.

“I think it was rude to be purposefully absent when their constituents are being honored,” Hall said. “These three organizations do good work not just for the LGBTQ community.”

On a more sinister note, Hall believes behavior like that of Townsend and Vander Poel make life even more difficult for people who have been historically singled out for prejudice and bigotry, and violence.

“It’s mean spirited and a sign of the climate that has become threatening toward LGBTQ+ people,” Hall said. “And it’s just this kind of behavior that makes life difficult for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them.”

LGBTQ+ people struggle more with internal conflicts most other people aren’t forced to confront, Hall said, and official attitudes of intolerance make that problem far worse.

“The higher incidence of mental health problems and outcomes is due to the way people treat them,” she said. “It’s not that there’s anything wrong with people in the queer community.”

A more effective way of unifying the country and making our community better for everyone, Hall said, is making an effort to understand those whose views conflict with our own.

“I think a little empathy is what it takes,” she said.

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The Planning Commission makes recommendations to the City Council on matters related to land use, zoning, subdivisions, and community development. The Commission also administers the City’s Zoning Ordinance and reviews issues affecting the growth and development of Visalia. Meetings are held on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 7 p.m.

Applications for the Planning Commission vacancy will be accepted through Friday, June 19, 2026, at 5 p.m. Interviews for Planning Commission applicants are scheduled to take place the afternoon of Monday, June 29, 2026.

In addition to the Planning Commission vacancy, the City is also accepting applications for several City commissions and committees, including the Historic Preservation Committee, Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC), and Parks & Recreation Commission.

The Historic Preservation Committee administers and implements the standards and requirements of the City of Visalia’s Historic Preservation Ordinance. Meetings are held on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m.

The Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) serves as part of the Community Development Block Grant review process, reviews City Rates and Fees, and conducts the non-profit grant application and review process. The CAC also provides oversight responsibilities related to Measure T and Measure N. Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m.

The Parks & Recreation Commission advises the City Council and City staff on matters related to parks, recreation programs, playgrounds, and recreation facilities. Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m.

Applications for the Historic Preservation Committee, Citizens Advisory Committee, and Parks & Recreation Commission will be accepted on an ongoing basis, and applications are kept on file for a period of two years.

Commissions and committees may hold additional meetings as needed to address specific matters. Members may also be required to file a Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700).

Applications are available online at www.visalia.gov/committees.  Applications may be submitted to the City Clerk’s Office at 220 N. Santa Fe Street, Visalia, CA 93292, submitted online, or emailed to Reyna Rivera, Chief Deputy City Clerk, at reyna.rivera@visalia.gov.

For additional information, please contact the City of Visalia Administration Department at (559) 713-4512.

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“We found some errors in the ordinance that we’re correcting, as well as making some changes so that the ordinance reflects our best practices,” said Tracy Robertshaw, the department’s manager.

The updates to the Visalia Municipal Code Section 1.13 were unanimously approved by the City Council on April 20 in a first reading. The council reaffirmed the change during a second hearing on May 4.

“I think the changes are more resident-friendly,” said Councilman Brian Poochigian. “It’s more fair. It makes things a lot more clear.”

60 Working Days to File an Appeal

Perhaps the most significant change in the city’s formal approach to enforcing city code is clarifying how long a resident has to appeal a decision once a violation has been identified and a notice of correction issued. Robertshaw said understanding the previous wording of Section 1.13 was nearly impossible.

“I had difficulty making sense of it, and that’s what I do,” she said. “It was like ‘15 days before this,’ and ‘30 days after that,’ and it was a mess. Now it’s just 60 days.”

And it’s not a hard deadline for either side of a code enforcement issue.

“If there’s a reason we can’t give you the 60 days, we can work with that,” Robertshaw said. “If there’s a reason you (a citizen) can’t have the hearing in 60 days, we can also work with that.”

They also clarified what remedies are available and what government codes are in play, mainly by getting references in the city code to match the state’s.

“There were also some typos in the ordinance in regards to the California Civil Procedure Code, so we changed that,” Robertshaw said. “In one area it was just a typo completely. It had the wrong number. In the other area it actually left off the second part of that California Civil Procedure.”

The city’s ordinance also referenced Government Code 11513, but did not describe what that law says. That code governs rules of evidence and sets the informal nature of an administrative appeal hearing, and its wording is now included in the Visalia City Code.

The changes also allow objections to the city’s selection of a hearing officer.

Avoiding Casual Civil Rights Violations

The updated portions of the city code also correct against a potential violation of due process in the appeals process.

The new wording removes a financial barrier to requesting redress that the old code allowed. City Hall, at least on paper, could demand part of the anticipated administrative fees in advance of an appeal. Without that deposit, a hearing would not be scheduled. Robertshaw said such deposits have never been collected by the city, and removing the language prevents them from being demanded in the future.

“The ordinance was written where if you had, you know, $500 in fines, you had to pay a $250 deposit on those fines to even ask for a hearing,” she said. “Code enforcement has never done that, and so we’ve made that change to pull that language out of the ordinance.”

While requiring a deposit from citizens who request an administrative appeal hearing is legal in California, the opinion at Visalia City Hall is that the practice poses a potential violation of due process. State law requires a hardship deposit waiver option for those who cannot afford to pay a deposit, however, the updated code eliminates the deposit entirely, thus removing the possibility of having to pay for legal review and the civil rights violation that may pose.

“That’s just to make it fair to the community that’s requesting the hearing,” Robertshaw said. “It’s pretty harsh you’re requesting a hearing, and we’re going to make you pay for a portion of the fines up front.”

More (or Less) Time to Correct Violations

Also eliminated from the updated code enforcement rules is the requirement all violations be fixed within 10 days of the city sending out a notice to comply.

“Our complaints vary from the simple fence to substandard housing, so we’re not going to require somebody that has to get a building permit (to do it in) 10 days because that would set them up for failure,” Robertshaw said “You cannot get a building permit in 10 days.”

Instead, the city will try to take into account the context of the violation, its seriousness and the threat it poses to safety, before setting a deadline for compliance.

This was a problem with the city Mayor Brett Taylor had encountered in the past.

“Long before I was on the council, I had an encroachment permit issue, and there was no way I could get anyone to come out and lay a new sidewalk in a 10-day period,” he said.

He got an extension from the city and was able to avoid fines or further escalation, but city code didn’t require that cushion. It didn’t even require a reasonable response. Now it does.

“I appreciate the fact we’re actually doing this in writing,” Taylor said.

But this approach will also mean some violations will be given a far shorter time for correction.

“On the flip side of that, if you have a broken sewer line and sewage is running down Mooney Boulevard, we’re not going to give you 10 days to fix that,” Robertshaw said. “You have to fix that now.”

The time allowed, however, won’t be arbitrary.

“We have a standard. If it’s a life safety issue, of course it’s less time,” Robertshaw said. “If it’s not a life safety issue, of course we’re going to give you more time to fix that. Ten days is not workable for most violations.”

When Is a Person Not a Person?

As it stood before the updates, the city’s code about code enforcement had no definitions of key terms. Now it does.

“Oddly enough, we did not have a definition of an ‘administrative citation,’ ‘person,’ ‘responsible party’ and ‘violation,’” Robertshaw said. “So we’ve added those definitions to clarify that.”

While these terms are easily understood, it might not be clear that “person” doesn’t just mean a person, at least not in the eyes of the civil code. It now means “any person, firm, association, business entity, company, corporation, government entity, organization, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or estate,” or at least it does at City Hall.

And not all days of the week are days, at least not for City Hall’s purposes when it comes to deadlines. This attitude is meant to give citizens more time to fix alleged violations or to appeal the city’s decisions.

“There were some places in the ordinance where it said ‘working days,’ and some where it said ‘calendar days,’” Robertshaw said. “Code enforcement has always used working days because it gives the public a longer period of time than calendar days, and so what we’ve done is just gone in there and made it all consistent throughout the ordinance to use working days.

That means when city offices are closed, that day doesn’t count against the deadline, something that wasn’t fixed in the city code.

“We also called out when the offices are closed,” Robertshaw said. “Because a lot of the city offices are now closed on Fridays, that is a day we would not count against the public when we’re making the determination on them to request an appeal.”

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