Texas Hotel Operator Would Convert Radisson To Marriott

Visalia - Texas hotel operators Presidian Destinations has negotiated a deal to buy the 201 room Radisson Hotel in Downtown Visalia. The company’s president, Drake Leddy says he plans to convert the flag of the landmark hotel from Radisson to a Marriott - in the hospitality ranking business - a definite step up.

“This will be the finest hotel in all the San Joaquin Valley,” says the ebullient developer who also owns 12 other hotels including a Hilton Garden in San Diego. Leddy says Marriott has approved the company’s offer to be a franchisee and is waiting to see just what Marriott will ask from them in terms of upgrades. “I’d says the Visalia property could use updating,” says Leddy. The hotel was built in 1991.

“Right now we are looking at spending about $30,000 a room to match Marriott’s new room standards.” All rooms will feature a 42 inch flat screen TV, for example, and all new features.

Leddy says the deal to buy the hotel from their current owners, Heritage Hotels of New Mexico, is expected to close February 1. He says they will stay open during renovations that could last until summer. “The name change wouldn’t take place until 75% of the work is done.”

Mr. Leddy says he was impressed with representatives from the City of Visalia who traveled to San Antonio recently to meet the company. The hotel works clearly with the city convention center in cross agreements in time of marketing convention and rooms in town. Leddy says his company has also met with the local union in ensure a smooth transition.

“We can see no reason why the deal won’t go through,” says a confident Drake Leddy. He says he can say definitely by Thanksgiving.

Equally excited is interim Visalia Convention Center administrator Wally Roeben. “The strength that Presidian and Marriott bring to table will make a significant change for the convention center, Downtown and all of Visalia,” he says. That’s because Marriott emphasizes more group sales of their rooms to conventioneers helping to fill the adjacent Visalia Convention Center. Marriott has a strong nationwide network of people that work on “group business” at a much higher level than the Radisson he says. The high end name plate will help attract more business here - being the only full service Marriott in the San Joaquin Valley.

Leddy says while Visalia “is a secondary market” this part of the fast growing San Joaquin Valley will likely grow faster than the rest of the state. “Visalia is a dynamic location” and expected growth in business here bodes well for corporate traveler that uses the Marriott hotel. The Marriott should help draw more conventions to Visalia as well, expects Deputy City Manager Leslie Caviglia who was one of the officials who visited Texas along with Roeben.

“Obviously bringing a Marriott here is a significant upgrade for us and they bring a more aggressive marketing program.”

Leddy says in the past few years the hospitality industry has seen a double downward spike both as a result of 9/11 and when the Iraq war started. In both cases people were nervous and both airlines and hotels everywhere suffered. “But since summer of 2003 hotel occupancy and the sales of hotel properties has come roaring back,” he says. “Today we are seeing hotel sales prices like I’ve never seen,” with lots of transactions around the country, he says.

Drake concludes that their company wasn’t buying the Downtown Visalia for short term gain. “This is a property we see paying off over an 8 to 10 year term.”

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Visalia City Council Election Roundup

Visalia - Eight very qualified candidates are vying for your vote on the Visalia City Council November 8th. The three top vote getters will win a seat for four years on the five member panel. The job hardly pays well, but you wouldn’t know it to the degree that the competition and rhetoric has risen this time out and the influx - for the first time in memory of several well-funded PACs putting their spin on the growth issue—clearly the #1 topic in the race. (See other story)

Here’s a roundup on the campaign, just days away from this closely watched election. What question has shown up at just about every forum attended by the council candidates? Would you favor expansion of the city’s sewer system to the Sierra Golf Course beyond the southern edge of the city? Developer Andy Mangano had requested the extension to site a 200-plus-home subdivision that would take the place of the golf course. The Visalia City Council had approved the idea tentatively some months ago, but, in the past month of this campaign season, all council candidates disagreed with the idea, except for incumbent Don Landers. The issue for the critics of the city exemplified how the city’s 2020 growth policy has been bent to accommodate the wishes of builders.

Off The Table?

But this week Mangano sent a letter to the City of Visalia, withdrawing the request and suggesting the city sewer service won’t be needed. Clearly the idea had proved unpopular on the campaign stump.

While virtually every candidate salutes the hallowed 2020 growth plan, each has a different take on how well we are following the plan.

Planning commission member Victor Perez, 49, believes the city is moving in the right direction and is proud of his support for the Packwood Creek retail project, expansion in the industrial park and growth to the north in Visalia, including the Shannon Ranch, where walnut orchards have been replaced by one of the city’s largest home projects. Proof that the deal was beneficial to the city, is that it ended up with its new sports park, Perez says, “While Chair of the Planning Commission, I have been involved in some of the biggest projects in City history. i.e., Packwood Creek and Shannon Ranch. I believe that I have helped in shepherding good projects in Visalia, which not only generate jobs and tax revenue, but also balance our community. Mr. Collins was against both of these projects. Ms. Shuklian conversely has no planning experience or leadership experience since her return to Visalia, excepting her work on the dog park. If you are looking for an experienced candidate who believes in affordable homes, good shopping, safe living conditions, economic development and an end to congested streets then I am your choice.” This is Perez’s second run for a council seat. The local attorney cites his involvement with Downtown Visalians and dedication to the expansion of Downtown to the east. He has gained the support of the Chamber PAC, the Visalia Firefighters and Tulare County Board of Realtors.

What’s the knock against Perez? Some say Perez seldom says no to home builders. What has he raised in the campaign? Perez is the second highest of the candidates in fund raising reported by the October 22 filing deadline at over $19,000 - an amount that has given him good visibility in the race.

Incumbent Jesus Gamboa has served on the city council for eight years, including a stint as mayor. He is the current vice-mayor. “For all the good things that happened in the city over that time, I can at least take one fifth credit for them,” jokes Gamboa, who is operations manager at Proteus job training. It has been Gamboa’s claim regarding growth that the city has certainly grown in all directions but not to the north where the large Hispanic population resides. He helped push the idea of approving the Shannon Ranch project south of the St. Johns to help boost residential growth in the north and cites the fact that the city got a sports park out of it. Gamboa believes more commercial development on the north side is still necessary. If he talks pro growth mode in this case, Gamboa has made it clear he doesn’t like the city looking to expand its growth boundaries west toward 99, north of the St. Johns or south of town. He notes he was the only council member to vote against extension of sewer to Sierra Golf Course. Gamboa has been lauded as willing to vote against a project if he thinks its not appropriate. He voted against the Plaza auto mall but was in favor of the Packwood Creek project. Gamboa cites support from the Sierra Club, GI Forum, Carpenter’s Union and the Times Delta. What’s the knock against Gamboa? Some say he has been in there long enough and will support a project in parts of town and vote against it in another. Gamboa has raised over $19,000 in the race and has used some of that on TV advertising. His supporters are seen clustered at busy corners waving their signs.

Clearly, the best radio voice in this crowd is planning commissioner Sam Logan, 60, who is running for the first time for a city council position. The soft spoken stock broker has pointed out that, while growth in Visalia may seem rapid, the actual number of residents predicted in the 2020 plan adopted back in 1991 was a population of 113,000 and Visalia, by its latest estimate, has 107,550. This perspective suggests the city growth plan is working although he would like Visalia to build up and not out. High density housing like in East Downtown will help cut spreading out on farmland, he believes. Taking a different tack on growth, Logan says public safety is a bigger issue than growth and says Visalia needs to do more about gangs and support groups that help youth, like the Boys and Girls Club. He says graffiti artists must be caught “and held accountable” for their actions. Logan puts his muscles where his mouth is on volunteer efforts to clean up, this week helping his Rotary Club to re-vegetate West Main Park along Mill Creek. Logan cites his commitment to the community on the Visalia Chamber, Citizens Advisory Committee, and Board Member of United Way, among others. A Viet Nam vet, Logan came to this area with the Louis Rich company helping to site the big turkey plant in Tulare. He says economic development in the industrial park is important to him. Logan enjoys the support of Bill Maze. What’s the knock against Sam Logan? He has not enjoyed a ground swell of support in what is a crowded race. Logan has received about $8,200 so far in the campaign - enough to be visible with signs and advertising in the community.

The person with arguably the least political experience in this race is first timer Amy Shuklian - better known around town as a birthday party clown than as a politician. But Shuklian has come across strong in forums, in part because she has such an easy way about her and has been a student of recent council activity where she has been in attendance for many months. Shuklian, who comes from a well-known Visalia family with her mom working with the Chamber for years. On the growth issue, Shuklian suggests she would have voted against the West Visalia auto plaza but has mixed feelings about the Packwood Creek project, in part because the stores there provide needed local revenue. Regarding the rapid growth of subdivisions, Shuklian has stood out in her call for “fewer walls” and more walkable communities outlined in “smart growth” principles. She likes the benefits of economic growth vs the mixed picture of just building more homes. She said she would not favor extension of the sewer to Sierra Golf Course, in part because the town would be left with just one course. Shuklian helped to found several new “dog parks” in Visalia during the past few years. She cites the need to support the network of non-profit organizations in our community and more youth activities. She is a big promoter of the arts here as well. As the only woman candidate in the race, Shuklian’s election would help to “diversify” the mix on the council, supporters suggest. What’s the knock against Amy Shuklian? Her lack of experience in the political arena and not having experience on planning issues. Regarding fund raising, Shuklian has received a respectful $9,049 by the October 22 filing deadline. Shuklian has been endorsed by the Times Delta and Visalia Firefighter’s Association.

Candidate Rusty Barker is enjoying his second run for city council. The supermarket manager has shown a keen grasp of the issues. Regarding growth, Barker points out that while the city allows development of growth rings, developers “fill the outer perimeter of it before the interior,” leaving land clusters undeveloped. Regarding annexation proposals, Barker favors annexation for industry but contrasts that to annexation for commercial uses, which offer just low paying jobs. Rather, he says, he favors retail in the middle of town. Barker says he is against the West 198 Auto Plaza. Regarding the idea of an ag enterprise zone, Barker suggests he wants to support existing farmers around the city. Regarding the 2020 growth plan, Barker argues that the plan “needs to be tweaked,” noting that people back in 1991 could not envision everything we need in 2005.” Regarding the city southeast master plan Barker suggests it be delayed because of more important issues, including public safety: “Right now, we have to wait 10 minutes for a 911 call.” Barker has run a low key campaign and has filed no campaign finance report with the city. What’s the knock against Rusty Barker? He doesn’t have the record of community service most Visalia voters look for before they vote in favor of a newcomer.

Incumbent Don Landers has a long record of public service, with 10 years between the planning commission and the City Council, including two years as our mayor. Landers has made it clear he is proud of the city’s record over that time on economic-development and growth issues. He says he is very familiar with the city’s 2020 growth plan, having helped to form it back when he was on the planning commission. He voted to support the West 198 auto mall to allow more car makers to come to the city although he initially voted against the Packwood Creek project. Landers says he fought hard to get the new sports park and family fun center that will help provide more activities for our youth. On the economic development front, he notes the coming of major employers to our community and the jobs they brought. “Quality of Life starts with a job,” Landers is fond of saying. The result, he says, is record-low unemployment in our city. He supports annexation in the industrial park to accommodate more industry. Landers, a Lt. with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department has a long history of support for public safety and has been a close watcher of the budget. He has lobbied the city to improve traffic circulation, particularly the timing for lights on surface streets in town. Landers has been a supporter of downtown Visalia including construction of new parking garages and the coming of the 10-plex movie theater. Landers notes the support of the Chamber PAC, Tulare County Association of Realtors, Congressman Devin Nunes, Supervisor Phil Cox and Assemblyman Bill Maze, among others. What is the knock against Landers? Some say Landers can’t say no to development proposals. On the fund raising side, Landers is the top recipient having raised over $22,000 during the year as of October 22.

Sitting council member Walter Deissler is making his first run for political office after being appointed to the council earlier this year. Deissler has grown on the council to become an active council member over that time. A former planning commissioner and architect Deissler says he is well suited to understanding planning issues that come before the council. Deissler counts himself among the fans of the city’s 2020 growth plan while emphasizing the need to build in high density to save ag land. He has been concerned about lack of coordinated design work as subdivisions go down on the city’s outskirts calling them “hodge podge.” Downtown Visalia has always been a focus for Deissler, actually doing the writing of the Historic Preservation ordinance adopted by the city. Deissler says he sees a big future in east Visalia where he sees multi story housing being developed with more typical downtown uses. Deissler has shown some willingness to say no to developers when he voted against a Centex proposal on West 198 a few months ago, with Deissler agreeing with a majority that the city needs to adopt land use plan for the scenic corridor before more development takes place. Asked about the idea of an ag-enterprise zone, Deissler says he could support such an idea, particularly if it “strengthens the backbone of our economy” here in agriculture. Regarding the city growth rings, Deissler has suggested he supports the fact developers can build inside a growth ring, whether on the inner or the outer side. Deissler says economic incentives for both large and small businesses are needed in Visalia. What’s the knock against Deissler? Some have criticized Deissler because he appeared to change his mind about not running for council when he was appointed. Deissler says the council never voted to make that a criteria to apply and, in any case, once he got on the council, he got excited about things that need to be accomplished. Deissler has received the support of Bill Maze, Visalia Firefighter’s Association and Tulare County Board of Realtors. In his campaign, Deissler has raised $16,330 year to date as of the October 22 filing in the middle of the pack on total funds.

Former Visalia mayor Greg Collins had decided to run for council again, having been off the council since 1991. Collins is a private planning consultant and does the planning for small communities in the central valley. Collins says he decided to run for the council because he feels that “growth is out of control in Visalia.” The news that Mr. Mangano planned to develop the Sierra View Golf Course was one factor in the decision. Collins led the charge against another Mangano project - the West 198 Auto Plaza, gathering 5,000 signatures to oppose the project a few years ago and filing a suit against the city when the project was approved. He claims the city did not follow proper planning guidelines in the approval process. Collins suggests that while everyone appears to salute the 2020 growth plan, the fact is that 50 general plan amendments have been introduced in the past five years, and that makes his case that the exceptions seem to be the rule. He says several of his opponents almost never vote against new home subdivisions. He opposed both the Packwood Creek retail project and the Shannon Ranch, which he suggests is an example of “leapfrog development”. Regarding the Visalia industrial park, Collins says he supports the current annexation plan to bring in new land to the park to attract industry. He says he is excited about a plan to extend downtown to the east, suggesting we “build a city within a city” in the stockyard area where a civic center is planned, which includes “high rise housing” to help accommodate growth instead of letting it sprawl it out onto farmland. While he, too, supports the 2020 growth plan, he insists the growth it allows needs to be not just concentric but compact and contiguous. Collins has supported the idea of an ag enterprise zone that would maintain surrounding land in ag but allow affiliated ag-enterprises in return for keeping most of the land in farming. What’s the knock against Collins? Some say his unwillingness to compromise on his staunch principles. Collins has raised $12,700 so far year to date in the latest filing as of October 22.

In a related matter, most city council members approve the idea of master planning a 1000-acre piece of land in the city’s southeast over the next year - planning its infrastructure and circulation, land uses and hiring a consultant to carry out the work. But, the Building Industry Association wrote to the city in recent days suggesting taking as long as a year amounts to a “defacto moratorium” on development. The upshot is that fewer homes would be available for buyers. But city council member Greg Kirkpatrick says “it seems ludicrous to suggest with an inventory of 7000 lots and the current processing of another 1700 that this could hurt building activity in town. He says builders use about 1200-lots a year and this supply - 8700 lots - amounts to at least a seven year inventory in the city.

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Work On Big Westside Compost Plant To Begin

Kettleman City - Westlake Farms owner Ceil Howe Jr. is breathing a little easier this week with news that a settlement has been reached over the future of the large composting operation that will move forward now on Westlake Farms property near Kettleman City. Agreement was reached with attorney Richard Harriman and his clients Valley Advocates. A settlement with other party in the case, the Center for Race, Poverty and the Environment, was reached some 90 days ago.

Attorney for Mr. Howe, Jan Kahn, told the Voice all parties are expected to sign the agreement in coming days and notice of the settlement will be made to the Kings County Board of Supervisors.

“It’s a great relief,” says Howe with more news that the Integrated Waste Management Board in recent days has approved a permit for the project to be operated by the Sanitation District of Los Angeles County who is buying land from Westlake. The project is located on 1000 acres of which 177.3 acres will be used for composting operations. The sanitation district is already starting the construction of an access road to the project site from Utica Ave., says Howe, expected to be paved and completed by next month.

It’s been a long hard battle for Howe and his family looking to bring the big ranch from the brink a few years ago when it seemed the best days of farming on the westside were all but gone. “We first looked the idea back in 2000,” says Howe, working with the sanitation district on the idea of biosludge operation but changing gears when the county banned such operations in 2001. Instead the district will spread compost, no different from what you can buy at the home improvement store made at their 24 hour composting plant will generate 912,000 cubic yards of compost. Much of that compost will be used to improve the soil of Westlake Farms, says Howe, on some 12,000 acres of farmland leased back from Sanitation District.

Still pending is permit approval from the Air District and a Regional Water Quality Control Board permit expected to be approved in coming months. “We expect to have all approvals in place around the end of the year,” suggests Jan Kahn. “The lawsuit was the big question mark hanging over the project because lawsuits can keep going on for years,” notes Howe.

The end of the lawsuit should mean Howe can complete the sale of 14,500 acres to the Sanitation District by the end of the year as well. Westlake will continue to operate on nearly 40,000 acres they will retain.

Howe says his estimate is that the operation that will employ 130 at the facility could be operational by spring of 2007. The Sanitation District will build an enclosed facility to mix Class B biosolids trucked in from the LA basin to be mixed with valley green waste to produce high quality soil amendments - compost. Some 55 trucks a day are expected to access the site off Highway 5 south of Kettleman.

Attorney Kahn says the settlement will call for use of alternative biofuel on trucking operations that bring sludge for the operation, use of those fuels in operations at the site, an annual payment for scholarship to West Hills College and the restoration of some 2300 acres for wetland on some of the Westlake Farms land. The land would be restored a government program that carries out this work will bring back wildlife that has always been part of the old Tulare lakebed area.

“It we good win for everybody,” suggests Kahn.

Howe says the sale of land to the Sanitation District will help pay off some years of debts on the sprawling farm that has had several years of fallow acreage due to high costs to farm and low commodity prices. Howe says the company should enable much of the Westlake land to become more productive in the future including enjoying higher crop yields and improved commodity prices including for pima cotton and alfalfa hay and wheat are pointing to a brighter future for big farms. “Next year we expect to be planting more pima cotton,” says Howe given the higher value of pima and advantage of the valley climate for growing the increasingly popular cotton crop.

Supporters point to another benefit of the project - utilizing green waste produced in the valley necessary to provide a bulking agent to make the compost that will sold and utilized on valley soils. With the rule that requires no burning of green waste, the project provides a market for orchard clippings and the like. A study done for the project showed some 25,000 tons of ag waste products and pruning were burned on average every year from a 4 county area near the project - tonnage that won’t be burned in the future and there needs a home.

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Lindsay Police And Fire Go Hybrid

Lindsay - The City of Lindsay may be the first community in the state to equip their entire public safety force with hybrid squad cars.

City manager Scot Townsend says the city has purchased 22 hybrid Toyota Highlanders for both the police and fire departments. The first police squad car has been placed in service this week, says Lt. Tim Brown of Lindsay PD. The SUV type vehicles enjoy the higher gas milage seen in these gas/electric vehicles but unlike some gutless hybrids, “this car has all the acceleration we need,” he says. “The power seems to be there.” Of course the hybrid technology helps clean the valley’s air even while chasing bad guys.

Toyota says the instantaneous torque of electric motors combined with its V6 gasoline engine serve up 268 horsepower. EPA rates the car as getting 33 miles per gallon in town and 28 on the highway.

Hybrids are gaining popularity because of skyrocketing gas prices. Some get more than 50 miles per gallon. The Highlander didn’t get that high but still sips the gas compared to the average city police patrol car. The vehicle can run on either gas or electricity or varying combinations. The Highlander also has 4-wheel drive.

While many cities have bought the smaller Prius sedans for city use, police departments across the nation are just starting to experiment with more powerful hybrid vehicle options just now being brought to market by several car companies. Both Ford and GM have just announced major commitment to hybrid vehicle manufacturing now that the US motorist has been thoroughly shocked by $3 a gallon gas. GM announced this week that they plan to export hybrid vehicles to China, where they too are seeking cleaner burning vehicles that can cut the gas bill in half. Ford also announced this week that they would have 250,000 hybrids on the road by 2010. By next year, the company would offer 250,000 ethanol-ready vehicles.

Lindsay, like all cities in the county, gets its share of federal and state funds to use on improving air quality and to mitigate congestion. Lindsay opted to use its funds through the Tulare County Association of Governments to buy the 22 hybrids. The Visalia City Council recently said it would buy five new hybrid sedans for its staff, but not for police use.

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Political Action Groups Spend To Defeat Collins

Visalia - An unprecedented four political action groups are making a concerted pitch in the public debate in this year’s city council election. If this new chorus of voices have one thing in common - it’s the fact they are essentially singing the same tune - targeting candidate Greg Collins in the November 8th election for defeat.

With growth as the top issued on everyone’s mind, the former mayor has been the lightening rod this election with Collins quipping recently that “at least it’s clear I’ve go their attention” after a series of attack ads in the newspaper - the first in any Visalia city council campaign - as well as direct mail pieces sent to Visalia homes stated “If Collins Wins Visalia Loses”. The glossy color brochure’s message was delivered by a PAC whose membership was not detailed.

The four groups vary in the degree that publically state or simply imply their opposition to Collins and his message. That message suggests the city might want to tap on their brakes on growth issues rather than push the pedal to the metal. Collins is being targeted because he is seen as a front runner in the 8-person race for 3 seats. Campaign records show Collins has raised $12,780 for his campaign - just over two thirds of the amount raised by just one of the PACs looking to defeat him. Most of Collins contributions were small - typically $100 with the largest contributor being $500 from Mission Oaks Development.

The biggest spender of those four interest groups is the above mentioned Visalian’s For Better Government who recently filed their campaign records with the City of Visalia showing they have spent over $18,200 in the campaign to attack Collins at least through October 22.

Their campaign has focused on Collins “anti growth” record on the council and his “waste of tax payer money” in his opposition to the West 198 auto mall. While the members of this group aren’t known, developer Andy Mangano has said he is part of it. The group’s campaign filing shows Smee Builders contributed $10,000 to the campaign. Joseph Leal of McMillin Homes and Sandy Land Co. of Madera each contributed as well - all in the home building industry.

Another group - the Visalia Chamber Political Action Committee doesn’t single out Collins the way the builders group does, but has made it clear around town it seeks to derail the Collins challenge to the current city policy and have publically endorsed Don Landers and Victor Perez, contributing to their campaigns. This PAC is also known as Business for Better Government - confused yet on which PAC is which?

A third group that has singled out Collins in print advertising without directly naming his is a group of local farmers who fear Collins plan for a so-called ag enterprise zone on farmland around Visalia. The group is concerned about restrictions on property rights. Farmers signing the ads are Eric Shannon, Mike Shannon, Brian Blain, Paul Baxley, Harold Clements, Bill Travis, Russell Doe, Clarence Ritchie and Jeff Ritchie.

A fourth group that suggests it is simply “educating the voter” on the need to support the 2020 growth plan is Citizens for a Better Tomorrow - an advocacy group “that seeks to comment on public facility issues that will effect Visalia” according to their literature. The group is headed by former Chamber president Scott Collins. Other board members are David Miller of Pacific Employers and Bruce Nicotero of JoAnn Stores. Prominent in their advertising is support for the 2020 growth plan. Spokesman David Miller says as a non profit group they don’t endorse or oppose candidates. But the organizers of these groups saw “the fact there has been a split vote on the council for a long time and one more vote would head it back to where it was some years ago - that would impede development.” He says if it were not Collins it might be someone else “who would want to shut down development.” The advocacy they want to push shows the current 2020 plan is working. Miller says there is a chance the interest group might continue after the election.

“The irony is that everybody supports the 2020 growth plan,” says Greg Collins, who has suggested all the exception to the plan’s rules are the problem - exceptions that help push sprawl in Visalia rather the concentric and contiguous growth as the 2020 plan envisions, he maintains.

As to charges he is anti-growth, Collins notes his last year on the city council - in 1991 the council approved a doubling of the convention center, the approval for a new Costco, the attraction of car dealers to Ben Maddox and the expansion of Cigna and Nationwide Insurance. He approved funding to extend the city’s sewer system without which the city would not grow.

Whether the concerted message by the PACs will make a difference or backfire as some believe - we will all discover on November 8th.

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What's New

Tulare's Galaxy Theater may expand to the Downtown area or adjacent the Horizon Outlet location. The president of the company is considering the two options because Tulare leaders would love to have a Downtown complex for longer runs of shows. "He wants to do something for Tulare," says mayor Rich Ortega. But he may choose to enlarge the current theater by expanding the building to the north where the Chamber caboose is. "We told him we could move the caboose," says the Chamber's Bob Reynolds.

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors voted to negotiate a lease of the old Alta hospital site in Dinuba for a possible health and welfare facility for the county.

Dinuba city manager Ed Todd says the city is encouraging Best Buy, which has its electronics distribution warehouse there to open a smaller format retail store in Dinuba. "We have a market area of about 100,000," says Todd, who indicates that it just might happen.

These days towns know they have hit the big time when they get their first Starbucks. Now it's Lemoore's turn with a new drive thru unit in town northeast of their Downtown. The strip center will also feature a Cost Plus, Quizno's, Chubby's, and across the street from the town's first chain drug store, a new Rite Aid.

Hanford's Carnegie Museum has a 100-year-old treat to see this month with the unsealing of a time capsule, which was buried in October 1905 and unearthed just a few weeks ago. Its contents are on display at the museum at 109 Eighth St. Coins, old newspapers and a phone book from that time are included in the display.

The federal government boosted its key interest rate to 4 percent this week with the likelihood of two more increases by January, taking the fed funds rate to 4.5 percent. The increases affect business because borrowing and home equity loans but not the mortgage market, which has been rising over the past month as well. Mortgage rates have increased in all the latest surveys to 6.15 percent on the 30 year and 5.63 percent on a 5/1 ARM. That's up from this nearly 3/4 of the point on average from then. Higher mortgage rates are helping to cool the housing market, which appears to be happening.

October was a big month for City of Visalia building permits - particularly on the commercial side where we recorded $21.3 million in permits - more than two thirds being the huge VF Corp industrial building. This week some of the building's tilt up walls on the million square foot distribution center are expected to go up.

Porterville area Supervisor Jim Maples, 72, announced this week he will not seek reelection to his seat next year. Maples has served the 5th District for 12 years and says it's time to hang it up. The senior member of the board, Maples has been selected as their chairman three times. The announcement at this date allows potential candidates for next June's election, time to get a campaign together.

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By Tom Wells

Tulare - Darrel Pyle has traveled a long way to get from Porterville to Tulare. But he's almost there. Currently the deputy city administrator in Porterville, the native Visalian (born at KDDH) was just chosen to replace Kevin Northcraft as Tulare's city manager. Northcraft announced his retirement in may and will vacate the office at the end of November.

"I'm very charged about getting the position and actually found the process of doing so kind of humbling," say pyle. He learned about the opening in may when northcraft sent an email to all the cities in tulare county alerting their staffs to the upcoming job opportunity. That's when he decided to apply and began researching the position.

Obviously, Pyle's efforts paid off. The man who has made a career out of public administration considers himself at the top of his game, adding that the snagging of a position as city manager for a city in Tulare County has been a career goal and an objective. His next career goal? "In sixteen years and six months I hope to retire from the position of Tulare city manager," says Pyle.

But how did he get to this point? Darrel Pyle started out by getting an A.S. in Business Administration and accounting from College of the Sequoias, then went on to receive a B.S. and an M.S. in those fields. After that, he started his public administration career as a senior accountant/financial analyst for the city of Visalia. Pyle was promoted to assistant finance director and later became finance director for the Visalia Unified School District. Then came his stints with Porterville, first as administrative services director and eventually as deputy city manager.

The thirty-nine-year-old public servant says he'll be dealing with the same things in tulare that he's already been handling as the number two man in Porterville: population growth, public safety, traffic circulation improvement, an update of the city's general plan and passing a sales tax measure to make up for funding cuts by the state. So the transition that begins December first won't be much of a shock, especially since Kevin Northcraft is staying around for six months to finish some projects and help ease that transition.

I asked Pyle if there was any task not on the public radar that he looks forward to applying his skills and experience to as Tulare's new city manager. The answer? Yes. "I think the opportunity to address the issue of senior staff over the next twelve months is exciting. Quite a few people in the city's administration will be retiring and that will give me the chance to hire new people with new perspectives and less attachment to past ways of thinking.

But, says the city-manager-to-be, that will require restructuring the organization to better handle the modern world and it's problems. He believes that, over time, organizations are shaped by the talents and attitudes of the people in them and must be reshaped to match the skills and outlooks of new employees. "It's like tailoring clothes for a better fit when your weight changes," says Pyle.

Yet he will by no means be through with the older staffers who have left the city's employ. Pyle says their knowledge of corporate history is invaluable. And he plans to call on those who are willing and able to return to the city's service periodically for special projects, where their expertise can be of great benefit.

I asked the personable Pyle if he were interested in moving up or out and the answer was a definite "no." first, he's been here all his life and loves the area. Second, being the leader of a city staff is all he's ever wanted. Third, it's very beneficial to be a specialist in your particular geographic region.

Finally, what would Darrell Pyle like to see as he looks back on his years as Tulare city manager when he finally retires? He phrased his answer as a goal. "I would like to see the changes that have taken place in the city of tulare over time, as happens with all cities, and be able to realize that those changes were well planned," says Pyle. It won't be long before he has a chance to start working on that goal.

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Lemoore - With as many as 1500 new homes on the drawing board, a new Starbucks just open and a hearing on the proposed local Super Wal-Mart scheduled for the beginning of 2006, Lemoore appears to be a town in growth mode.

City planner Holly Smyth says the proposed new Wal-Mart on 31 acres of the city's fast growing westside (west of Highway 41) will come to public hearing in the next few months as the company's draft EIR is released. But this side of town, which until the college located nearby, was pretty much inhabited by jack rabbits, also has three large builders proposing nearly 900 homes in the area - the subject of a 1400 acre annexation just a few years ago.

The residential projects are being built by Centex, Mangano Homes and Cambridge/Lennar. Meanwhile, West Hills College continues to expand its facilities and offerings. This includes two elementary schools that will double as training ground for teachers, as well as serving the need of the local community. The college itself owns 1000 acres and has recently built a child care center that also doubles as a training facility.

Bond Issue

West Hills has a bond issue on this month's ballot that could help the expansion continue. The bond would be worth some $76 million once its local fund was matched by the state with about half that to be spent in Lemoore. Also underway is a $12 million expansion expected to be complete by this January. President of the college, Don Warkentin notes the college opened up here in 2002 operating out of portable classrooms. Now some 3300 students take classes and the $31 million campus already has a shortage of classrooms and lab space - reasons the city might want to support this Measure B on the November 8th ballot. On the drawing board here, are a new sports complex, new instructional buildings and student center. A nursing program at the college is helping to train registered nurses.

Also important is an expected industrial expansion south of Leprino Foods, where a new road was just put in. This is a planned access road, which will tie this area back to the 198 side of the railroad tracks. Once the build out of the city's general plan is complete, the west side is slated to have a population of some 9000 in coming years in a town that is just 22,000 today.

Helping to fuel builder interest in this area is the likelihood of an announcement in the next few months that Lemoore has been selected to be a future base for the joint strike fighter. This includes the need for lots of housing near the base, which is just a few miles away.

The eastside of the Highway 41 freeway, where the historic town could go to 30,000 in the city's general plan built out and there's plenty of development to talk about here too.

Smyth says home builders are busy northeast of Downtown where several large subdivisions are underway. "There's about 450 new homes going in" northeast of downtown that should help the Kmart/Save Mart shopping center survive a new Wal-Mart coming on the other side of town.

Not far away, the town's first Starbucks is opening up along with a handful of other small national chains. Across the street, the town's first chain drug store is under construction - as a new Rite Aid. Lemoore has had trouble attracting these drug chains because of the presence of free Rx at the base for the large population that lives off the base.

Besides these growth areas, the city redevelopment agency has been busy expanding city land that's just south of 198 at 19th Ave. This area continues to attract expanding industry and highway commercial uses at Highway 41 and 198. A new Motel 6 opened recently and plans are underway to add another car make to the Chevy dealership.

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Tulare - COS president Don Goodyear made a pitch to the community of Tulare this week outlining the fiscal challenges of building a new campus in Tulare. "We expect the state to help build a new campus in Tulare but they won't pay for infrastructure," says Goodyear who addressed the hurdles at a city council meeting Tuesday night. Some Tulare residents hearing the college short on cash needed to complete several building projects in Visalia was considering the sale of perhaps 100 acres of its 490 acre Tulare campus/farm site because it has no other source of funds. COS needs the blessing of the city to extend it's sphere of influence north to this land off Bardsley that will increase the marketability of land. COS may want to sell the land to home developers who are already building near the proposed campus site.

Goodyear says he plans to make recommendations to the COS board November 21how to raise what amounts to about $10 million that will allow construction of two buildings on the Visalia campus and secure state funds of around $37.5 million to help build a Tulare college campus well as the new college farm.

The two Visalia buildings area a science building funded by the state but now facing a cost overrun because of high construction costs recently and a new handicapped friendly gym in the same boat. Together the college faces the prospect of losing their funding because they are $6 million short. Under the gun to come up with the $6 million the college could lose their funding in coming months without a plan to how to back fill the shortfall. Likewise with the Tulare plan, if the college gives up on building the Visalia buildings the state might very well question the college's ability to perform at the proposed Tulare site to build the infrastructure including sewer and water and access roads on the 120 acre campus and 130 acre proposed farm. Goodyear says trustees are considering sale of 100 acres or more the land they own on the outskirts of Tulare given the need for just 300 acres to accommodate college/farm campuses.

Mayor Richard Ortega set up the meeting at the Tulare Council to ease concerns in the community over the COS plan that got flak from the Tulare County Farm Bureau recently as well. Ortega says after he heard the college's dilemma he thought the best way to address it in Tulare was to have it air at the council meeting that is televised to the community.

"I think once they hear why a sale is needed, the people will understand," says the mayor.

Goodyear says the needs in Visalia are as great for the new science wing for example, that will house the expanded nursing program all the hospitals are pleading for.

COS can sell about 9.5 acres at their current farm site in Visalia except the buildings that could bring perhaps $2 million. He says the college already has about $10 million pledged through private COPs - certificates of participation - and can't go back to that well right now.

Faced with the possibility of whittling down the future college farm Goodyear says it's a matter of district-wide priorities and worse come to worse the farm could lease land away from urban development to ensure enough wide open space for on the job training in ag in the future.

He says the district is faced with a crisis that needs to be solved right now.

Still on the horizon for COS is a bond issue perhaps next fall that the college needs the continuing support of Tulare voters as well as improvement in the support from Visalia. "Tulare has supported COS every time they've asked," says Ortega. "Visalia has not."

One thing to watch - the continuing interest in higher education in Tulare/Kings county. Goodyear says a new survey of community attitudes toward a new bond issue asks the potential voter if the bond includes funds for a 4 year College Center would you be less likely or more likely to support it. Such a center could be where several public and private colleges could offer their service suggests Goodyear it remains to be seen for whether the COS board will approve the a new bond election likely November of next year and whether it include a center for higher learning remains the area's best chance to finally get a 4 year college built.

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