As if the drought weren’t bad enough, water users in and around Visalia may soon be paying more at the tap. California Water Service, in paperwork filed with the state’s Public Utility Commission, is proposing a series of rate increases starting in 2017 that would see its customers paying $6.79 more each month by 2019. […]
The Food Freedom initiative has been officially filed and the Urban Farmers for Food Freedom has five months left to gather approximately 8,000 signatures to qualify for the June, 2016 ballot. Fewer signatures are needed to get on the November ballot. The initiative would allow any “family household” to keep up to six chickens and […]
Six months ago, SeaPort Airlines started daily service from Visalia to Sacramento and Burbank. The results have been very good with many flights full or near capacity. Some locals have actually had trouble getting tickets for their preferred flights. “It’s an interesting problem to have,” said Mario Cifuentez, Visalia airport manager. SeaPort flies four flights […]
The City of Visalia is in the beginning stages of forming a Ground Water Sustainability Agency (GSA) with the City of Tulare and Tulare Irrigation District (TID). The first stage includes forming a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) to set the groundwork for the three entities to join together in a GSA. The Visalia City council […]
Visalia city council voted unanimously to send out a Request for Proposal (RRP) to hotel developers in order to promote properties close to the convention center. This action was prompted by three unsolicited expressions of interests from developers to build a down town hotel in the last six months. In February, the Visalia City Council […]
Every year the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) conducts a public opinion survey to gage how Visalians feel about their city. This year’s survey was conducted in April and results have recently been made available. The Citizens Advisory Committee uses an all-volunteer force to collect the approximately 300 responses. According to Eric Frost, deputy city manager, […]
Advocates for the Urban Farmers for Food Freedom (UFFF) filed their paperwork with the City of Visalia clerk’s office on July 6. Called the Family Food Freedom Act, the initiative will put to a vote if Visalians want to allow small farm animals in residential areas. The measure would allow up to 6 chickens and […]
A year ago the Visalia City Council fined homeowner, Abigail Trevino, $29,500. The fine was for code violations, late fees, excessive police calls to her house for 10 years and a SWAT Team raid February, 2014. The cost to the city was approximately $15,000 and the late fees added up to approximately $14,300. At that […]
With a refreshing of the Visalia Convention Center and upcoming remodeling of two major local hotels, coupled with the potential building of a new hotels in town, the Visalia Convention and Visitor’s Bureau could not be happier. A non-profit agency, “we are tasked with bringing tourism and conventions to the city,” said Suzanne Blanco, tourism […]
The Urban Farmers for Food Freedom (UFFF) has finalized their initiative and will be submitting their paperwork to the City of Visalia next week. The Food Freedom initiative states that a maximum of 12 food-producing animals will be allowed per residence. Those 12 animals could be composed of no more than eight fowl and four […]