Visalia - In the very near future, parents will have a place where their children can get help in school and in being physically fit.
Coming this summer to the Winco Shopping Center at Demaree and Caldwell are both a gym for young children and a tutoring center. Both are already under construction.
“We think there's some real good synergy. It makes a lot of sense to have family-oriented businesses there,” said Gordon Keig, senior vice president with Kornwasser Shopping Center Properties.
The Little Gym is being constructed adjacent to the Winco Foods store. To the west of that is where the Tutoring Club is under construction. Both are expected to be completed by this summer, said Keig.
The Little Gym is new for Visalia. It is a franchise that began in 1976 and was franchised in 1996. There are hundreds across the nation. There is one in Fresno and another will open there in the near future, but those are the closest to Visalia.
The Little Gym children's gyms have an extensive list of programs, such as children's gymnastics and toddler sports. According to the company's Web site, “the competitive curriculum has been designed to build motor skills while having fun, and simultaneously fostering enhanced emotional, intellectual and social skills. Our programs include movement, music, gymnastics, sports, exercise, games, listening and cooperation.”
Paul Dickison, vice president of marketing for the company, said the growth of the Little Gym preceded the recent focus on child obesity.
“Our growth has stemmed from parents who want something for their children that gives them a good head start,” said Dickison. “Parents want their children well-adjusted and growing,” he added.
According to the Web site, each child receives individual attention and progresses at their own pace. Trained instructors create an atmosphere where positive experiences are the norm and feedback is given to every child and parent.
Dickison said infants as young as four months to 10 months can be enrolled in the parent/child program. In that one, parents are able to participate with their child in classes. In the pre-K (kindergarten) program, the goal is to put the child into a more learning environment. “Around age 3 they go into the gym for the first time without their parent. We want to help that child have some independence,” said Dickison.
“The parent/child classes are extremely popular. It is a great learning opportunity for the child, but also a great opportunity for the parent to have fun with their child,” said Dickison.
A popular program is Developmental Gymnastics. That is divided into three primary categories, beginning with parent/child classes for infants and toddlers ages 4 months to 3 years; pre-k level classes for kids ages 3 to 6 years and progressing into advanced gymnastics for grade school children ages 6-12.
There are many other programs, including dance, cheerleading, sports skills and karate. The Little Gym also offers a summer camp, holiday camps, birthday parties and a parents' survival night.
Dickison said the company has been looking to expand and
the right combination of community and people interested in owning a
franchise popped up in Visalia.
“Most franchise owners share a passion and believe we are doing
the right thing for children,” said Dickison.
Besides the Tutoring Club and the Little Gym, a Papa Murphy's pizza store will be opening in the center as well. They will join the grocery store, Sonic Burger, Tahoe Joe's, Starbucks, a pet store and more, said Keig.
“If you look at the raw numbers, we had 4,238 vehicles stolen in 2006, and 3,312 in 2007,” said Capt. Steve Sullivan of the California Highway Patrol. “That's a pretty significant drop.”
Even so, having the 13th highest rate of auto thefts in the country is still an indication of a serious problem. As a result, the Tulare County Chiefs Association (representing city police departments), the Tulare County District Attorney's Office, the Tulare County Sheriff's Department and the Tulare County Probation Department decided to combine their resources to form the Tulare Regional Auto Theft Team (TRATT).
TRATT officially started on April 1. Other auto theft task forces have been utilized around the state, including teams in Fresno, Kern, Stanislaus and Orange counties.
“It's not just a city problem,” said Lt. Perry Phipps of the Visalia Police Department, when asked why the VPD joined the county team. “It's a regional problem – if not a state problem.”
“The whole mission is to address the auto theft issue in Tulare County, like the gang task force addressed the gang problem,” Sullivan said. “It's going to have an immediate effect on the gang issue too because all this activity is interrelated.
“We have a full team, as opposed to each agency working individually to address the problem,” he said. “Previously, each agency was fighting the gang issue individually and look what happened. If we use all our resources and fight this issue together it will have a more dramatic effect.”
The team will conduct undercover surveillance and collect information to identify chop shops and auto theft rings. “They can focus on the long-term investigations that routine patrol officers don't have time to conduct,” Sullivan said.
There are eight full-time members of the team: three CHP officers and one supervisor, one officer each from Porterville, Tulare and Visalia, and one investigator from the district attorney's office. In addition, the DA will provide two lawyers to handle the prosecutions.
The attorneys will “vertically prosecute” the cases, said Tulare County District Attorney Phil Cline, who explained that the same attorney will handle all steps of the process from filing a complaint to the sentencing.
Cline was very supportive of the auto theft team. He added that when a car is stolen in Visalia and taken to Porterville to be dumped, agencies have to work together.
“Anytime you can get different departments working together, it enhances our ability to solve the crime and get a prosecution,” he said. “We try to work together in as many areas as possible and auto theft is a key one.”
The DA's office will handle the funding.
“As money is needed, requests are processed there,” Sullivan said, explaining that task force expenses will include such items as phones, computers, equipment and “they need to have cars to drive because it is undercover.” He added that “bait cars are utilized to catch some of these folks.”
To auto thieves, auto parts are often more important than the car itself.
“The airbag is a popular item,” Sullivan said. “So are seats, radios and fancy wheels. They will often burn a car after they strip it.”
The California Department of Motor Vehicles gives $1 from every vehicle registration in a county back to law enforcement agencies in that county to fight vehicle theft. In Tulare County, the money had been divided among the police and sheriff departments, and the district attorney's office. Now this money goes to fund TRATT.
In addition to forwarding its money from vehicle registrations, the VPD is purchasing equipment for the task force, such as license plate readers, diagnostic readers (to read vehicle identification numbers), and surveillance equipment, according to Phipps. Additional purchases may also be made.
“We're still formulating the budget,” he said. “It's still in its infancy in the development process. It's only been in existence for three weeks.”
Already, the Visalia, Tulare and Exeter police departments have Project Lifesaver wristband transmitters and soon the sheriff's office and all other police departments in the county will have them as well.
The wristbands are designed to be worn by people with Alzheimer's, dementia, autism, or anyone with a tendency to wander away and get lost. It gives family members comfort in knowing there is a much better chance of their loved one being found quickly and safely, notes Exeter Police Chief Cliff Bush, the department in the county that got the program going.
“We pretty well have the county covered,” said Bill Phillips, an Exeter special projects officer who got Operation Safe Home going in the county.
Each law enforcement department in the county will be equipped with at least one mobile locator tracking system. Visalia has two – one for each district – Exeter has two and the sheriff's office will have four. Tulare and Dinuba each have one.
“By the end of May, we should have 10-12 receivers scattered around the county. In the matter of within 15 minutes, we should have somebody at the last location the person was known to be,” said Phillips.
“This is another tool to assist us in locating them,” said Lt. Michele Figueroa, District 1 commander who helps oversee Operation Home Safe for the Visalia PD. “And it's a tool that works very well. It is a tool to get them back home safe.”
All of the departments have the personalized wrist bands that emit a tracking signal on an individually assigned FM radio frequency. Cost of the wristbands is minimal – a $100 deposit and a $25 a month maintenance fee that includes a new battery every month and band replacement as necessary.
Phillips said there are potentially 6,000 people who could need the wristband in the county. Last week a 75-year-old man wandered away. Luckily, he was found unharmed six hours later.
The bands are also designed for children. Phillips said one out of every 150 children have some form of autism, down syndrome or a brain injury.
Not only do the wristbands help to find a person safely, they cut down on search times.
Phillips said of more than 1,700 searches nationwide using the device, the average search time has been 30 minutes. He added the cost to search for a missing person, depending on how extensive the search becomes, averages about $1,500 an hour, “but it also take patrol officers off the streets,” while they assist.
The system has been around since 1999 and more and more departments are utilizing it. Merced Police and Madera County Sheriff's Department are the only other two agencies in the San Joaquin Valley using the system.
Phillips said a county agency became aware of the system,
but the company only partners with law enforcement. Exeter PD stepped
up to the plate two months ago.
“Since then it's just gathered momentum,” said Phillips,
adding Kaweah Delta Hospital assisted with some funds to get the program
started.
The hand-held monitor has a range of about 1-1.5 miles, while a car-mounted monitor has only a .75 mile range. If necessary, one can be put in a helicopter that has a 10-mile range.
Lorainne Zorn, City of Tulare Senior Service manager, said she is excited to see the system come to Tulare County. She added one key element is getting both the caregiver and the person who will wear the wristband to accept it and that is part of the training.
For more information, contact your local police department or Phillips at 592-3506. In Visalia, people can call Sgt. Corey Sumpter at 713-4087 or Sgt. Russ Gauger at 713-4154.
Tulare County - While residential and commercial real estate prices have been heading down for the past year – Valley farmland has been more than holding its own.
For the past two years, ag land in Kings, Tulare and Kern counties has seen a higher price for cropland with the highest in Tulare – reaching $12,000 an acre, according to a new report from the California Chapter of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. The report – California 2008 Trends in Agricultural Land and Lease Values – tracks ag land values on an annual basis. The yearly report was released at the society's meeting in Bakersfield recently.
Fueled by a widespread increase in commodity prices, Valley farmers in 2007 have enjoyed record prices for their milk, nuts, wheat, corn and hay to name some.
“The high commodity provides a base for this ag land value increase but there are other factors as well,” says veteran real estate broker Jim Olivas of the Visalia office of Pearson Realty.
Olivas, who has been active in farm land sales for 27 years, says, “The truth is that there isn't a lot of inventory out there right now.” This is more a “locally driven market,” says Olivas, as tracts of land are gobbled up by local buyers looking to expand, compared to a few years ago when the housing development market was so strong. “The development potential skewed ag land prices near towns in recent years but that isn't true anymore,” says Olivas.
Farmers generally agree that returns are up in contrast to most of the rest of the U.S. economy.
A speaker at a recent farm conference, that included many ag leaders across the crop spectrum, was asked to offer opinions considering all the doom and gloom in the economy these days. He asked the crowd to raise their hands if their company was having a good year. Most raised their hands. “Many of them said they were having the best year ever,” remarks John Colbert of Greenleaf Farms.
Another difference is that unlike the credit crunch in the residential market, Olivas says that banks are continuing to lend to farmers.
Nuts Lead Parade
In the southern San Joaquin Valley, the Ag Trends publication highlights the strength of the market by crop. For almonds, a typical orchard was selling for $14,000 to 16,000 an acre after several years of increased profitability. The average value per acre of an almond grove has doubled since 2004. For table grapes, 2007 was a fairly good year, says the report, and prices are improved for those planting some of the newer varieties, Crimson Seedless for example. Grapes are going for a high of $12,000 an acre – up from $8,000 an acre in 2005.
Citrus values survived the January 2007 big freeze and the desirability of the traditional Washington navel acreage in Tulare County continues. The recovery of the Valencia market has improved this tree's value as well.
Citrus is nearing $15,000 an acre compared to $10,000 an acre as recently as 2005.
Tree fruits are the one exception to the improved picture, with a large number of growers reporting poor returns last year and the year before that. Industry reports have indicated that plenty of trees are being pulled. The average for tree fruit acreage fell about $1,000 an acre, the report says, to $13,000 an acre after a steep rise in recent years.
The Trends report notes the demand for cropland in Tulare County continues strong largely due to the addition of new dairies and expansion of existing dairy farms. The dairies need additional land to spread manure to meet strict new anti-pollution rules. Farmers are also seeking crop land to plant almonds instead of planting subdivisions where demand for houses has fallen way off.
Kings County crop land had few recent sales but is fueled by interest in higher value crops like nuts.
What is the highest crop listed in the report?
Pistachios are valued in a range from $15,000 to $20,000
an acre in Kern County.
Interestingly, small acreage parcels in the Central Valley have gone
down in value with the big decline in interest by urban buyers looking
for a lifestyle choice buy as this market is related to the residential
picture.
What about Water?
The report notes the current water crisis in the state is a big challenge for the increased acreage of permanent plantings in the Valley that have gone into the ground in recent years – up from 28,279 acres in 1994 to 107,593 acres of trees and vines as of 2006 in the Westlands Water District, for example. Unlike field crops, these crops can't go a summer without water. Farms in need of supplemental water are paying record prices for the supply, says the report with price increasing 200-400% in 2007, compared to historic price levels, in part due to the fear that water exports south of the Delta will be severely restricted. A judge ruled water exports must be limited to protect fish and now salmon.
Westland's cropping patterns have changed just in the past two years says the report, with a big increase in wheat and safflower plantings, a decline in cotton and a big increase in trees.
Hanging over a generally positive picture is a huge and continuing increase in input costs for farmers and uncertainty over their water supply.
Cold Temps Send Growers Scurrying
The freezing temperatures came at a time when many crops are very susceptible to cold, including young fruit and blossoms. Navel oranges are in bloom and many fruits are just beginning to take shape and vegetable plants are just sprouting.
Bob Blakely, director of grower services for California Citrus Mutual, said he was told the temperature dipped as low as 27 degrees in some areas of the county, but only for a short time.
“We're getting reports there was some burning of new foliage (on citrus trees),” he said, adding it was too early to tell if that will result in any less crop next fall. It was not cold enough to damage mature fruit.
One grower who ran water in his walnut groves said he
did not think there was any damage. Historically, the end of the vegetable
and fruit frost season is April 15.
“It's very unusual,” said Blakely. “I haven't talked
to anyone who can remember anything like this, this late.”
Most vulnerable were grapes where new growth is just beginning. Blakely said most of the real low temperatures were along the foothills between Fresno and Ducor.
Dan Borges with the Tulare County Agriculture Commissioners office said there was some damage to grapes and some vegetables had some damage. “It's very unusual. It has happened (frost this late), but it's kind of on the rare side.”
Luckily, the coldest temperatures only lasted a short while. John Corkins, who farms citrus and kiwis in the Porterville area, said there was no damage to his crops and he had not heard of any other growers having problems. He did say the wind machines in the citrus groves were running early Monday.
According to the California Farm Bureau, the freezing temperatures caused some damage in coastal vineyards. Farmers there reported scattered damage in Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino counties, though the Napa Valley Grapegrowers Association had heard no damage reports as of Monday. Central Coast vineyards also withstood cold weather.
Apricot farmers reported no damage to their crops. The Apricot Producers of California group said temperatures on the west side of the Valley stayed a little warmer and protected the fruit.
Tulare County - Amid growing concern over potential rail abandonment and other transportation issues, Tulare County now has a Rail Advisory Committee.
The seven-member committee was formed this week by the Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG).
Ted Smalley, TCAG executive director, said in addition to opposing line abandonment, the focus will be on making recommendations involving rail goods movement, rail consolidation, potential abandonment and other “pertinent issues related to commercial rail in the county.”
Tom Sparks, alternative TCAG board member, will chair the commission which will meet quarterly or on an as-needed basis.
Other members are Jack Allwardt, Exeter City Council;; Pam Kimball, Lindsay City Council; Felipe Martinez, Porterville City Council; Chuck Littlefield, chief operating officer of Richard Best Transfer, Inc.; and Bob Bloomer, president of West Coast Railcar Service, Inc.
Smalley said a commission representing elected officials allows it to apply for grants and other funding. The Tulare County Economic Development Corporation, a non-governmental agency, is currently leading a concerted effort to stop a move by the San Joaquin Valley Railroad to abandon two track segments totaling nearly 40 miles of rail between Exeter and Jovista. The TCDC has filed official protests with the federal Surface Transportation Commission which is considering the short line rail company's bid to shut down the two segments. Smalley said a rail commission will provide additional strength in ongoing countywide efforts to not only fight abandonment but boost rail commerce, a factor important to industrial growth.
In addition to fighting the proposed abandonment, the commission will study such issues as subsidies, rail line purchases and partnerships among various entities.
Opponents of the SJVR plans say the rail firm is orchestrating its abandonment petitions piece by piece in an attempt to prove those segments aren't profitable and too costly to maintain. In addition, TCDC claims SJVR petitions contain inadequate and misleading information and that the rail firm has been discouraging business, not promoting it. It cites the railroad's imposition of a $950-per-railcar surcharge fee which subsequently was lifted.
Several officials have said Fortress Investment Group, which last year bought SJVR's parent company, Rail America, is using SJVR and the Central Valley as test for a potential future downsizing of its short line companies. SJVR is the company's largest short line operation.
Adding fuel to the consolidation, or downsizing issue, is the announcement recently that SJVC is moving it dispatch center and customer service operations from Exeter to out-of state locations. Dispatching will be done in Saint Albans, Vt., beginning May 1 and the customer services will move to Roseburg, Ore., by the end of summer.
Concerns have been expressed that communication between dispatchers, crews and customers, described by some as problem areas at times, will only become worse.
Dispatchers in Vermont or customer service personnel in Oregon have little or no idea about the individual needs and requirements of customers in the Central Valley of California, one current customer notes, adding that instead of improvement, a downgrading in service is likely.
In 2005, a southern coalition was formed to help protect the interest of firms doing business with rail companies, including SJVR. That group was forged after an agreement among Burlington North/Santa Fe, Union Pacific and Kyle Railroad (former owners of what is now SJVR) to bring in a short line railroad to service portions of Bakersfield was made. The coalition members worked with the Class 1 railroads (BNSF and UP) and SJVR to eventually solve some serious problems allowing Kern County customers to expand their business.
In a letter to Anne K. Quinlan, active secretary of the Surface Transportation Board, in support of Tulare County's current concerns, Vickie Wood, manager of rail transportation for San Joaquin Refining Co. Inc. states: “We are now being faced again with changes that are currently causing service problems and could create another meltdown within the year adversely affecting the entire San Joaquin Valley.”
The letter continues, “The abandonments, reduction in crews, outsourcing and relocation of dispatch to Vermont, including outsourcing and relocation of customer service to Oregon, are just a few of examples of what we are being faced with.”
Noting that changes by SJVR service could cut growth in all eight Valley counties, the letter concludes, “We are concerned. These changes will hurt the growth of the Valley, with the possibility of putting rail service customers out of business.”
Previously, Randy Perry, SJVR general manager, said the changes, which will affect five Exeter office workers, are aimed at better servicing the company's 136 Valley customers and he expects a smooth transition. Customers will be given toll-free numbers and day-to-day operations should not be disrupted.
What's New
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency informed the Valley Air District that it is proposing the air basin be declared in attainment of health standards for fine particle pollution 10 microns or less in size (PM10). The Valley becomes the first region in the state to change its designation from serious nonattainment to meeting attainment of federal health standards for PM10.
Was that surprise raid by FBI and IRS officials at SK Foods in Lemoore and Williams an immigration matter? Neither the IRS or FBI will say and nobody is talking at the company. There is widespread speculation that the investigation is related to the company's alleged employment practices, considering there is a pending lawsuit filed in the Fresno federal court in 2006 alleging that the firm hired undocumented laborers that reduced pay for other employees. The suit was brought be a former employee. The suit also named Dinuba-based Fruit Patch. Raids targeting immigrant labor at eastern poultry ranches last week seemed to coincide with this California raid. But unlike the poultry plant raids, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) did not participate in the SK raid nor were there any arrests or undocumented workers detained. ICE arrested 300 workers in the other raids. An SK spokesperson said they were cooperating with the investigation and that work had resumed at the plants – soon to enter the busy tomato season. Ag industry leaders suggest this may not be employment action that would have broad repercussions for the state's ag employers coming in an election year.
Visalia may be getting its first Hookah store if it makes its way through the city site plan review process. The store, at 112 North Court, will offer the Middle Eastern pipes that can be used to smoke a variety of things, including tobacco, but is also a tool to help a person stop smoking.
The City of Visalia recently received three new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trolleys, converting the entire six-vehicle fleet to alternative fuel and reflecting the city's commitment to convert its bus fleet to alternative fuel. In May, the conversion of the Dial-A-Ride fleet will be completed with the receipt of six new buses for that service. All 11 Dial-A-Ride buses will then be powered by natural gas.
David Vierra, a meter reader in the Tulare District, has been chosen from more than 300 nominees to be named “Edison International's Employee of the Year.” Vierra will be in Anaheim next month with his wife, Susan, for a gala black tie reception, dinner and award presentation by Edison's President and Chairman John Bryson.
Unemployment in both Kings and Tulare counties was higher in March with Kings County's rate coming in at 11.4% compared to 9.3% in March 2007. Tulare County pegged at 11.5% compared to 10.4% in March a year ago. In Tulare County, the total number of jobs actually fell 300 from a year ago while the labor force climbed 4,000 over that year. The number of unemployed here now is about 23,500. In Kings, there were an additional 1,000 jobs added over the year period but the number of job seekers climbed by 2,600.California registered a 6.4% rate.
Low income residents would benefit from a new 20-unit housing project at Paradise and Court using federal CBDG funds. The project is being coordinated by Kaweah Management,Tulare County Housing Authority, the City of Visalia and VIAH. Nine of the units will be new two-story units to be built and the rest will be rehabbed. All the units will be for rent.
Center for Race Poverty and the Environment (CRPE) filed a lawsuit April 17 against the City of Hanford over its approval for the Great Valley Ethanol plant at the city industrial park. The suit will likely halt the project from moving forward for now. The suit argues the city did not properly account for the impact the project has including air emissions. Not part of any suit is Attorney General Brown's earlier criticism of the plant's CO2 emissions that have been resolved after the city's approval last month.
Visalia may get another medical marijuana dispensary. Last week, the city's site plan review agenda included a proposed new store at 1911 E. Main. The application was sent back to the owner for more work, including a requirement the owner must obtain a Medical Marijuana building permit.
Visalia is requesting that an additional 600-plus acres in the Visalia Industrial Park be added to the Targeted Tax Area boundaries to make companies that locate on that land eligible for state tax breaks. The land includes the big Vargas property as well as the Doe-owned acreage, each on both sides of Rd. 80 north of Riggin. Visalia is trying to lure a major distribution center to this corner.
Visalia City Council approved a staff proposal to designate some 47 acres east of Ben Maddox on both sides of Goshen Ave. as a new Service Commercial District for the city as it plans the East Visalia Civic Center area to the west of there. The city is emphasizing the revitalization of several key corridors including Houston, Ben Maddox and Santa Fe in its plan likely to be part of the new general plan update for the city.
City council approved a plan to extend the life of both the Mooney and East Downtown Redevelopment Districts for two years to help push key projects in both areas. On Mooney, the staff report says they would like to encourage the revitalization of “dilapidated” commercial centers south of Walnut and in the East District, the city wants to demolish City Hall East and bring in a new “full service hotel” and expand the convention center. For the central district, staff wants to pursue a bond to support a new Center Street parking lot and an office/parking project at Acequia and Conyer, among others.
The Clorox Company's new Green Works brand of natural cleaning products will now carry the Sierra Club logo marking the brand's financial commitment to supporting the organization's conservation efforts, including the protection of America's clean air, clean water, wildlife and special places. Green Works natural cleaning products are made with plant-based ingredients, formulated to be biodegradable, packaged in recyclable materials and not tested on animals.
In late March, two Sierra Nevada Conservancy Grants totaling $240,000 were awarded to Community Services & Employment Training (CSET) to improve conditions along the Tule River, located in Giant Sequoia National Monument on the Sequoia National Forest. Watershed education, conservation and restoration projects along the Tule River are part of efforts recently announced by the Sequoia National Forest in partnership with CSET, the Tulare County Youth Corps and WildPlaces. WildPlaces and CSET will be working with the Forest through a docent program to improve river use ethics through bilingual.
Bad news week for the pocketbook as 30-year mortgage interest rates are back up above 6% and oil prices hit $118 per barrel. How do you leave the car at home when you can't afford the payments on the home?
By Rick Elkins
Tulare County - While the process to direct the growth future of Tulare County is basically a blueprint today, many believe it could become the guide of tomorrow and for that reason people should participate in the process now.
County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Connie Conway told about 75 people who gathered last week to express their opinions on how the county should grow that “while there is nothing in concrete, I believe tax dollars will be tied to this process.”
The Tulare County Blueprint has been a year-long process to look at future growth and how decisions made today could make that growth more manageable and more accommodating to transit and quality of life.
The Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG) is one of eight Councils of Government that will collaboratively develop the San Joaquin Valley Regional Blueprint. In conjunction with Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin and Stanislaus Councils of Government, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District and the Great Valley Center, TCAG will be establishing the valley-wide 50-year vision that the Blueprint is to represent.
Each county is going through the same process, looking at how growth over the next 42 years will impact land uses, agriculture, the environment and transportation.
“This is a very collaborative process among all eight counties,” said Georgiena Vivian, vice president of VRPA Technologies that is conducting the process for the county. “This is an opportunity to understand what we do here affects the counties around us.”
The main focus of a series of public meetings was to show the public how planning decisions will affect the region and how reducing the number of traditional, single-family residences could save urban sprawl.
Vivian explained that it is projected the county will grow from 400,000 people today to 890,000 by 2050. In the region, it is expected the population will grow from 3.9 million to 9.5 million, or the equivalent of “10 new Fresno-Clovis metropolitan areas.”
“We do know we need increased densities to support alternative modes of transportation,” she noted, adding that there will be 25 times more traffic in 2050 than there is today.
As part of each meetings, those in attendance were asked a series of questions regarding growth and last week, 37 percent of the Visalia audience supported reducing housing density by 25 percent over the next 42 years, while 30 percent voted for much stronger controls to reduce density by 75 percent, reported Elizabeth Wright, an associate planner with TCAG which is coordinating the study.
She also found that 78 percent of those in attendance supported the establishment of a buffer between Visalia and Tulare and Farmersville, the same sentiment expressed by the Visalia City Council two weeks ago.
The next step in the process is for the Tulare County Roundtable to make a recommendation to the TCAG Policy Board, and then the Tulare County plan will be meshed with the regional plan by the Blueprint Regional Association Commission.
Ted Smalley, TCAG executive director, said he expects the regional plan to be a mix of what each county comes up with, and with flexibility for each county. That final blueprint is not expected for about a year.
Visalia Council Holds Off Decision on SCE Power Lines
By Rick Elkins
Visalia - Noting there is still time to voice its opinion on the proposed route that Southern California Edison wants to use for its 220 kilovolt power line into Visalia, the city council decided to wait for more information before taking a stand.
SCE Regional Manager Bill DeLain updated the Visalia Council on the power company's plans for a transmission line from the Big Creek-Springville transmission line near Lemon Cove to the Rector Substation on Road 148 between Walnut and Caldwell avenues. The route Edison prefers has stirred quite a bit of controversy in the county, with the cities of Farmersville and Exeter both expressing opposition to the plan.
While the City of Visalia is not directly in the path of the preferred route - Alternate 1 - the power lines strung along 120-to-160-foot poles will go along a portion of Highway 198 east of the city, and according to city officials, would “adversely impact the scenic quality of the highway corridor to Sequoia National Park and Forest.”
Many residents have already joined together and formed a group to oppose Alternate 1. Brian Blain, who represented the group Monday night, called on the Visalia Council to join with them in opposing Alternate 1.
“Clearly, there were a lot of people surprised by the choice Edison went with,” said Blain.
Edison had made a similar proposal in 2006, but backed off of it to allow for more input and study. The present proposal is only slightly different from what the power giant proposed two years ago.
“It appears decisions by the PUC (state Public Utilities Commission) are heavily weighted toward the environment, to the detriment of agriculture,” said Blain, who has property under all three of the alternates proposed by Edison.
DeLain said those environmental concerns weighed heavily in the power company's decision. He said Alternative 1 uses existing roadways and only uses about a mile of existing right-of-way. He said Alternative 3, which most favor, is over land considered undisturbed, meaning not being farmed or developed.
Greg Kirkpatrick and Blain both said the 100-foot right-of-way would take out five rows of an orange or walnut orchard. While Blain said it is his understanding trees would not be allowed under the lines, DeLain said that has yet to be decided.
Mike Santana of Farmersville asked the Visalia council to support Farmersville and the City of Exeter in opposing Alternative 1, saying Edison is only trying to save money with that route.
It was the Visalia city staff's recommendation for the council to get three issues clarified before making any decision: the specific locations of the alternative routes; details on number and location of replacement poles, and cost estimates for each alternate route. DeLain said the difference in cost between Alternative 1 and 3 is about $25 million to $60 million, versus $85 million.
“We want to get that information sooner than later,” said Mayor Jesus Gamboa in closing the discussion. DeLain said he would get back with the council as quickly as possible. SCE is planning to file its application with the PUC next month. The PUC is expected take about a year to make its decision with the project slated for completion in mid-2011.
“The PUC process is very open and input from the public is encouraged,” said DeLain.
Assembly Candidate Bob Smith Runs on
'Real Conservative Values'
By Steve Pastis
Tulare County - Bob Smith, candidate for the Republican nomination for the 34th District State Assembly seat currently held by Bill Maze, has been spreading the message that he is the candidate with “real conservative values.” So far, he says, his message is getting across to the voters.
“I believe that people want a good conservative, especially right now, the way the economy is,” Smith said. “We can't afford to go into Sacramento and spend ourselves into another $16 billion deficit.
“Over the last five years, the amount of income to the state has increased by roughly 42 percent,” he said. “The spending has increased by 44 percent. We're spending ourselves into a hole – into a deficit – and it's inappropriate. You need a candidate that is going to go to Sacramento and say, 'Stop spending.'”
Smith said he opposes any new taxes, including bonds, and that is why the Howard Jarvis Foundation endorsed him – as well as rival candidate Becky Maze. He doesn't agree with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to cut 10 percent across the board, however.
“I believe that we need to prioritize some things like education and public safety, and hold those at a higher levels than some of our other programs, like social programs,” he said. “Our schools are broken and we need to fix them.”
Based on the conversations he has had during the campaign, Smith believes that there are three main issues on the minds of voters in this district: gangs, water and illegal immigration.
“It's time to secure that border and find out who we've got in our country,” he said. “The illegal alien problem you're not going to solve overnight, but it continues to just balloon so it's time to identify who we've got here illegally and then figure out ways for them to either become citizens or, through a work program, to be able to work in our fields and fill that void that we need them for. But the important thing is knowing who's coming across that border and securing that border.”
Smith was asked how he would respond to Valley farmers who need workers to harvest their crops – even if they are here illegally.
“I believe the American public for the most part doesn't want to buy into a system that is illegal,” he said. “Illegal means illegal. We need to identify who these people are here and make sure that our border is secure. I'm not saying that we need to felonize all of the illegal aliens. Even trying to deport them would be ridiculous because of the number of them here in this country. I'm saying then we need to identify who they are. They need to get involved in a citizenship program. We used to have the old 'bracero program' where they were here under documents, working, and there is no reason why we shouldn't have that same type program here today.”
The bracero program, also known as the Mexican Contract Labor Program, brought Mexican citizens into to the U.S. to work on farms. The program was started in the 1940s and continued through the 1950s.
Regarding gang issues, Smith agreed with the comments made by Visalia Police Chief Bob Carden at a recent Latino Police Officers luncheon.
“We've got a gang problem and we've got to get it addressed and we've got to get it done through good law enforcement tools and things like injunctions against these gangs,” Smith said. “We've got to make sure that our law enforcement officers have got the tools to get the job done. That's why I'm going to make a big difference in Sacramento, being able to be that law enforcement – that public safety – support mechanism to get us the legislation we need.”
Smith was asked if he would do anything to address shortage of medical healthcare professionals in the Central Valley, a problem made worse by last year's dramatic increase in what the state pays to doctors, nurses and others who choose to work in Valley prisons. Although he said that the issue was “not what is rising to the top of concerns that I have heard,” he said that he “totally disagrees” with the apparent priorities.
“A prison doctor shouldn't be making more than a doctor on the outside,” he said. “You're prioritizing that prisoners get better care than our citizens? That's wrong. My priority would be the law-abiding citizens of Tulare County over the criminals that we are locking up in prisons. Certainly, they need healthcare, but not to the point where it's impacting our citizens' healthcare.”
Does this mean he would support legislation to addresses the issue – or even lead the fight in Sacramento?
“I wouldn't have a problem championing that kind of legislation,” he said.
Smith, who is running against Connie Conway, Becky Maze and Jon Zellhoefer for the Republican nomination, was asked what distinguishes him in a crowded field.
“I differ mostly because of my background,” Smith said, citing his 27 years in law enforcement where he worked to fight gangs, and on legislation to secure the borders. He also pointed to his experience “on the board of supervisors of the largest county in the contiguous United States.”
“In addition to my law enforcement experience, my experience with the board of supervisors for seven years, my experience having worked with the Legislature, I put myself through every single course the state Legislature has to offer,” he added. “I did that on my own, put myself through the courses to be able to understand how to make a bill, how to get a bill through the legislative process, field rep training – there's about seven or eight different courses. So I'm going to hit the road running. I'm going to have a leg up on any of the other candidates because I've worked there in that system.
“I have got the political ability to get the job done,” he said. “And I am going to be looking at getting the job done in the entire district, not just a certain part of the district. I think I have represented that by the 93,000 miles I have put on my car in the last 17 months, covering all ends of this district.”
Smith has a home in both Visalia and in Barstow. He said that he plans to continue to maintain a home here in Visalia because this is where the majority of the issues are going to be. He also said that he has no political ambitions beyond this Assembly seat.
“I am not here to take another step on a political ladder,” he said. “This is a position that I feel I am qualified for better than the other candidates and I feel that I need to do this because of the demand that I've had from citizens.”
Smith noted his appointment to the Selective Service Board by President George W. Bush. He also mentioned his background in education, having served on two school boards, and currently sitting on one. After serving as the assistant to the chairman of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, he worked for Assemblyman Bill Maze for about two years.
Smith said that he took the position to give representation to an area in the assembly district that includes the Tehachapis, Bishop, all of Inyo County, Needles, Barstow, California City, and Kern and San Bernardino counties. He said that a group of citizens encouraged him to run for the assembly seat and when he made that decision, he called a meeting with Assemblyman Maze to tell him that he was going to run for the seat.
“I offered Bill Maze my resignation that day,”
Smith said. “He said, 'No, I want to wait to see what Proposition
93 does.'” Smith explained that after he started campaigning
for the assembly seat, he felt there may be a perceived problem if
he was also working for Maze. He again offered his resignation to
Maze and this time, it was accepted.
Maze's office issued a press release that announced Smith's resignation
and wished him well. The tone between Maze and Smith changed by the
end of summer, however. Maze personally called members of the local
media to state that he did not endorse Smith, even though, according
to Maze, Smith was telling people he had his support.
“I had told people that I had worked for him, but I never said that he is endorsing me or supporting me,” Smith said. “Quite to the contrary, I told several people that he's running his wife.”
PGE, Power Authority Reach Agreement
By Miles Shuper
San Joaquin Valley - An agreement has been reached between Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and the San Joaquin Valley Power Authority, the state's first public electricity cooperative, in a dispute over PG&E opposition to the cooperative.
The SJVPA hopes to provide power to more than 115,000 Valley customers, including cities and counties which join the cooperative to buy or generate electric power as a group at a reduced rate.
Tulare County had joined the authority but pulled out
late last year due to uncertainly on specific financial and liability
issues. The county could rejoin at a later date. This week, Tulare
County Administrator Jean Rousseau said the PG&E settlement with
the authority does not appear to have specific impact on the county's
current status. He did say, however, that the county is continuing
to watch progress and the door is still open for the county to join
at a later date.
The SJVPA filed a complaint with the California Public Utilities Commission
claiming PG&E violated state rules when it campaigned against
the power authority's project.
The settlement, which still must be approved by the PUC, requires PG&E to separate its marketing efforts from is utility activities.
Although the Valley Power cooperative is the first of its kind in the state, projects in the Bay Area are being considered and the settlement could help avoid potential disputes over similar issues, officials say.
In 2002, when California suffered soaring power prices
and rolling blackouts, then Gov. Grey Davis signed a bill allowing
local municipalities to become energy providers through what came
to be known as known as Community Choice Aggregation.
The above stories are the property of The Valley Voice Newspaper and may not be reprinted without explicit permission in writing from the publisher.
April 23, 2008
