Visalia - The city of Visalia is facing a third straight year in which revenues won't keep pace with expenses, the Visalia city council was told Monday night.
City Administrative Services Director Eric Frost projects the city will dip into its reserves for the third consecutive year, although the overall financial picture has improved a little.
“We're still suffering from this great recession,” Frost said as he began to lay out the city's fiscal 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 year budgets.
No action was taken on the budget, but the council adjourned to a special meeting at 7 p.m. Monday to discuss the budget and possibly approve it.
He is projecting a $2.6 million deficit next year if the state takes $500,000 away from the city. Another $1.2 million will be used to cover what the city use to get in late property tax payments, but that will eventually be paid. However, the total deficit is $3.8 million.
To make up that deficit, Frost said the city will have to either dip into the reserves or reduce expenses, but he indicated there is not much more room to cut after making severe cuts the past two years.
“We have fewer employees today in non-public safety than we had in 1990,” he said in referring to the 40 frozen positions and eight eliminated positions. The council has held the line in laying off police and fire personnel.
Key to the budget are negotiations that are ongoing with city bargaining groups.
Frost indicated the city is hoping to gain some wage concessions to offset some of the deficit.
“The eventual outcome of those negotiations is unknown. As a result, the city must be prepared to use reserves up to the full amount, $2.4 million,” wrote City Manager Steve Salomon in his budget message to the council.
Because of the massive, $80 million expansion of the city's wastewater treatment plant, the total budget is up just over $9 million from last year. The general fund that pays for police, fire and parks, however, is down nearly $5 million from what it was two years ago. Frost said the general fund budget for next year is $55.9 million and roughly the same for the 2011-12 fiscal year.
Hitting the general fund the hardest are drops in sales tax and property tax revenues. Sales tax revenues began to decline in 2007 and appear to have leveled off. Frost said he was actually projecting a slight increase in those revenues through 2012.
“Sales tax is the most easily identifiable indicator that puts into perspective the challenges of this year's budget. More or less, all of Visalia's operations have been affected by the economy,” wrote Salomon.
“We need to be cautious, but keep the city moving forward,” concluded Frost.
By Miles Shuper
Visalia - It's not among the top crops in Tulare County, but it's inching up.
We're talking worms, especially Red Wigglers (Eisenia fetida). And not just fish bait. Worms play a key role in recycling organic material (anything that was once alive and is now dead) and eat about three times their weight in a week. One mature worm can produce 96 worms in six months, so it's obvious that a small operation can become large in a short time.
Visalia-based Happy D Ranch Worm Farm may not be well known locally but over 15 years it's gained more than 10,000 customers, says Dorothy Benoy who purchased the business in 1998 from founder Glenn Dembroff.
Dembroff formed the company in 1995 after he won a Can-O-Worms compost bin in a raffle.
Benoy bought the business as an economics project for her then 13-year-old son. The business subsequently helped put her daughter through college. Benoy continues to sell worms, worm casting (worm manure) and worm bins through the on-line Happy D Worm Farm. Customers include people interested in recycling, gardeners, fishermen, municipalities and teachers.
One of those teachers is Julie Domena, a Mt. Whitney High science teacher, Benoy's long-time best friend who now “farms” Red Wigglers on leased land near Visalia along the St. John's River not far from Cutler Park.
After finally being convinced by Benoy that worm farming would be worthwhile and an environmentally beneficial endeavor, Domena “planted her initial crop” of worms, a move she now admits was a good one. Benoy's main supplier was a Sacramento farm of Red Wigglers. Now Happy D Worm Farm has two main sources, one very close to home.
European Nightcrawlers, sold by Happy D, are shipped from North Carolina. Another major product for the local company is the Worm Factory ® 360, a ready-to-use composting bin Benoy says provides the most environmentally efficient and economic way to “not waste our waste” while creating great compost.
It doesn't take much land to operate a good-size worm farm, even one which during a good spring month ships more than 100 pounds of worms a week. The biggest order was 1,500 pounds, Benoy said. Average shipments range from one to five pounds. The most common sales are two-pound cartoons which go for about $55 including shipping. Each of the Sacramento and Visalia area farms cover about two acres each producing at least 1,000 pounds of worms. There are about 1,000 worms to a pound.
“We've shipped worms to people all over the United States, except Hawaii, and shipped worm bins all over the world,” Benoy said.
Both Benoy and Domena are staunch advocates of composting with worms, referred to generally as vermicomposting, and are quick to recommend home owners use composting instead of garbage disposals or simply tossing organic material into the trash can. Disposals use water to carry organic material into the waste water system and landfills are not the best dumping grounds, they point out.
Domena's farming enterprise thrives on manure which is “donated” from area horse ranches and others owners.
The worms do their thing in long rows (windrows) of material, basically manure, spread four to 10 feet wide by one to two feet deep. The planted worms migrate toward fresher feed added to the windrows. As worms continue to migrate laterally through the windrows they leave rich castings in their wake. Castings generally are sold to landscapers, gardeners and growers. Worm castings, Benoy says, “are the best fertilizers you can buy.”
Castings are sold by the pound or even pickup load.
Domena uses a mesh screen tumbler to separate the castings. The castings are stockpiled for delivery or shipment.
Although there is little, if any visible action on the outside of the windrows, which generally are several hundred feet long, a pitchfork full of material comes alive as the worms, which don't like sunlight, squirm and burrow for cover. Red Wigglers do their best work a foot to 18 inches from the surface.
And that seems only natural for an industry which has more going for it than meets the eye.
By Marina Gaytan
Goshen - Russell Doe thought seven years ago when Park Village apartments opened in Goshen that it would be nice to someday see more apartments. So, seven years ago Doe donated 40 acres immediately east of Park Village and on Friday his dream came much closer to reality.
“We just felt they did such a good job of Phase I and hoped they would do more,” said Doe at the conclusion of ceremonies to break ground on Phase II, a 39-acre Self-Help Enterprises development that will include an apartment complex, single family homes, a 10-acre park and a new Family Health Care Network Goshen clinic.
The day will come in late October of 2011 when you will be able to drive through the small town of Goshen and see kids playing in the park, people going to a health care clinic for medical services and most importantly families living in homes that they were able to build themselves, noted Self-Help Enterprises CEO Peter Carey. The $25 million project will take several years to complete.
Before Self-Help Enterprises came to existence, an organization in 1963 built the first three self-help homes one mile from where the new project will be placed in Goshen. The building of those homes proved that people can join together with support, build their own homes and become responsible home owners and the building of the 40 acre project proves that even more is possible through this organization, noted Carey.
Doe said much of the land east of Goshen was once owned by his family. He pointed to a group of trees about a half-mile away and said that is where his grandmother lived. “This is part of the old family ranch,” he said.
Tulare County Board of Supervisors Chairman Steve Worthley said in praising Doe's donation, “These projects are tremendous projects and there's a lot of capital involved to bring them to fruition and it begins with the dirt. Without the dirt you can't build anything.”
Though the size of this project is not unusual to Self Help Enterprises, it is one of the largest in the county. The project will include a Family Health Care Clinic, the park and 56 affordable single-family houses, along with a 64-unit apartment complex.
Two, three and four bedroom apartments will be offered
Pastor Emzy Cope, who is not only a Gosehn pastor, but a member of the Family Health board of directors, said the town has gone from no clinic to a temporary one to now a permanent Health Clinic, a boost up from the town's old one. Now the people of Goshen will have a clinic that is state of the art, fully equipped and most importantly quality health care, he said. FHCN is working on securing American Recovery Act funds to build the clinic
Goshen resident Joseph Knoy, 19, said that since the community itself is going down and there are a lot of problems and no jobs, it would be nice to get a house that they will be guaranteed to live in for a while and help build.
Self-Help Enterprises assists people in home ownership and one of the key components is that families have to help build their own homes. In return, they get low-interest loans. Self-Help has assisted thousands of families throughout the Valley.
Over the next few years, 70 families will be building their very own homes and by the end of October 2011 and 56 families will be moving into affordable safe rental units, said Doug Pingle of Self-Help.
Dirk Holkeboer of Self-Help said they will begin taking applications from families for the homes later this year. He hopes to begin construction of homes early next year.
Worthley said another plus with the project is that Road 72 will be extended to Riggin Avenue to the east. Riggin is destined to become a four-lane roadway and Worthley said there will be a stop light at Riggin and Road 72.
Plans are to begin immediately installing the infrastructure for the entire 39 acres, with construction on the apartments to begin in the next few weeks.
By Miles Shuper
Dinuba - Ed Todd, Dinuba's city manager since 1988, says he plans to retire next year.
With three new city council members taking office at the end of this year and the city's on-going challenge to cope with crucial revenue crunches, Todd indicated he would, however, be willing to continue into 2012, if asked.
Under Todd's administration and support of several councils over 22 years, Dinuba has emerged as one of the Valley's growth leaders and maintained, in recent years, new job growth matching population increases.
The arrival of the county's first, and so-far only, Super Wal Mart and having Ruiz Foods as the first business in the city's industrial park, were among the keys to the city's upswing. A huge Best Buy distribution center and a first class municipal golf course utilizing treated waste water also have been key factors in Dinuba's emergence as a viable and progressive community.
Todd, 65, came to Dinuba after nearly five years as deputy city manager of Corvallis, Ore. Before that he held several administrative positions in Eugene and Springfield, Ore.
In announcing his plans, Todd told the current council that Dinuba faces two significant changes that will impact the leadership of “this organization very soon that need to be taken into consideration as we plan: Three new members to be elected to the city council and my pending retirement.”
Coupled with what he termed “devastating revenue losses” and new city organization, Todd said “there are challenges that required a clear vision and strong leadership.”
Todd said, “I believe therefore that my primary goal for the upcoming year is to help the new city council and city organizations chart its new future.”
Todd said he would be willing to continue to “a specific period into 2012” if the council wants.
Looking back, Todd said the Ruiz move to the industrial park “brought long term employment, lots of jobs, significant investment and a quality business that has continued to support Dinuba .They were our industrial magnet.”
The Super Wal Mart arrival into Dinuba was equally significant, Todd said.
The Super Wal Mart, Todd said, “brought literally thousands of shoppers with them and added thousands of dollars to our general fund. They have helped us survive these very difficult financial times. They are our commercial magnet.”
“Ridge Creek Golf Course,” Todd said, “not only brings people to our community and is a source of pride, but will in the next 10 years provide significant funding for the expansion of our waste water treatment facility through the sale of residential lots surrounding the course. It is our savings account.”
Todd said a dedicated staff and council have continued to be united in doing what was in the best interest of the Dinuba community.
Visalia - Local companies looking to get a piece of the city's action got a little love from Visalia's city council Monday night.
While not huge, everyone agreed efforts to steer more business toward local companies was a step in the right direction.
“I think this has a lot of merit,” said Councilman Warren Gubler after hearing of steps the city will take to give local companies a better chance at winning a bid to do a project or provide services or supplies to the city.
Mary Beattie, part owner of a consultation business in town and co-owner of a business with her husband, agreed. “We support what you are doing,” she told the council.
City Administrative Services Director Eric Frost pointed out what the city currently does in its bid process and what can be done, and can't be done to give local businesses an advantage.
As part of its effort to “stimulate” the local economy, the council directed city staff to come up with a plan that would send more business in the direction of local companies that often are not the low bidder on a project.
Frost said a review of recent bidding efforts showed that 27 percent of all “awards are made to local vendors” and that if a “local preference” existed, that could have been improved by just 8 percent.
One roadblock, he explained, is the city charter that states, “When making purchases for all departments of the city, local merchants shall be given preference, quality and prices being equal.”
“This is what makes us feel we cannot give a percentage break,” he added.
However, he did recommend that the city hold periodic seminars for local businesses on how to do business with the city, authorize a purchasing policy of allowing local vendors to match pricing with state or national contacts when placing orders and to give local vendors that are within 5 percent of the lowest bid three business days to match that lowest bid.
The council did decide to expand the stretch of what is a local business to any business in Tulare County. However, when bidding, local businesses are given 1.75 percent credit for the potential sales tax benefit to the city because that firm is located in Visalia.
The whole effort, said Mike Lane, is to give local companies as much of the city's business as possible, which in turn will mean more local people at work and more money spent in Visalia.
“I think it's
a starting point,” said Mayor Bob Link who had urged
the city to come up with a multitude of stimulus proposals.
“I think there are more things we can do.
The new policies will go into effect immediately.
SECOND FRONT PAGE
What's New
Haz-mat still being negotiated. The Visalia city council did not discuss the fate of the city's haz-mat unit Monday as negotiations continue between the city, the county and other cities to keep the unit intact. Visalia is seeking help from other cities and the county to pay the $120,000 annual cost to keep the unit operating.
It appears that Rabobank will be opening its new branch in Visalia in the old Blockbuster Video store on South Mooney. The video store outside of the Sequoia Mall once served as a bank. Rabo Bank announced earlier this year that it was opening a new branch in Visalia.
In order to comply with the San Joaquin Valley Air Resources Board rules for diesel engine emissions, the city of Visalia had to purchase a new tractor for the water plant at a cost of $128,743.
Tulare County Housing Authority was given $1.5 million and Kings County Housing Authority $696,000 by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department to pay for major capital improvements to their public housing units.
Visalia based EdeniQ has named Brian D. Thome the company's chief executive officer. Thome, 37, was most recently founder, president and CEO of TH Partners, assisting biofuels companies in executive and operational planning and improvements. He was formerly president of U.S. BioEnergy Corp. Thome replaces founder Larry Gross, who helped EdeniQ raise over $45 million in equity capital and secure a $20.5 million DOE grant.
Visalia City Council members, citing the poor fiscal shape of the city, again deferred 4 percent of their salary. The council deferred 4 percent last year and that was to end June 30, but Monday night extended that until June 30, 2011.
Election officials hoped to have numbers in the Democratic 21st Congressional District race this week. There are 3,200 write-in votes to be counted in the primary that had no names, but the one in which Ruben Macareno launched a write-in campaign to qualify for the November ballot. Macareno needs at least 2,099 votes to make the November ballot against incumbent Republican Rep. Devin Nunes. Of the 3,200 votes to be counted, 1,954 are in Tulare County.
The San Joaquin Valley is on course to achieve the federal ozone standard by 2022, two years ahead of schedule if improvements continue as they have in the past decade, San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District officials said. There has been a 44% reduction in violations over the last decade, officials said, crediting tough rules, industry investments in clean-air technology and cooperation from the public.
The city of Lindsay was awarded an Economic Development Planning and Technical Assistance grant, Assemblywoman Connie Conway announced. The $35,000 will be used for a Downtown Façade Renovation Study.
Target Corporation reported that its net retail sales for the four weeks ended May 29 were $4.622 million, an increase of 3.7 percent from $4.458 million for the four weeks ended May 30, 2009. May comparable-store sales increased 1.3 percent.
The city of Visalia awarded a $534,000 contract to Glen Wells Construction Company for several street overlay projects this summer. Included in the plans are resurfacing and striping of six city streets, including portions of Noble, Walnut, Akers, Ben Maddox and Riggin.
Pacific Ethanol announced it has managed to erase $290 million in debt thanks to court approval of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization plan for its subsidiaries that actually make ethanol, when in operation. The plan, which was unanimously approved by the secured lenders, is expected to be effective by the end of June, the company says.
Employment picture improves. The number of people employed in Tulare County rose by more than 6,000 in May, mostly through gains in farming. In Kings County, the number employed rose by 1,500. The unemployment rate for Tulare County was 15.5% in May, down from 16.9% in April. In Kings County, the jobless rate fell to 15.3% from 16.8%. In Visalia, the state reported the jobless rate in May fell to 9.7 percent, the first time it slipped below 10 percent since October.
For the second consecutive year the Sacramento-San Joaquin River system ranks as one of the most endangered watersheds in the United States, according to a report by the Washington, D.C.-based group American Rivers. The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, a critical estuary that serves as the hub of the state's water supply system, is “on the verge of collapse, threatening the water supply for 23 million people, placing the capital of the nation's most populous state at high risk of flooding, and damaging a once productive and healthy river,” according to the report.
Sam Valencia, who has operated Valencia Wheel Alignment in Porterville for 20 years, has opened Smart Auto Maintenance (S.A. M.) at 1143 E. Houston, suite B. in Visalia, just west of Ben Maddox Way. Valencia, who recently moved to Visalia, said his second location specializes in alignments, tune ups, drive axles, oil changes (engine and transmission), brakes and rotor turns, suspension, tires, wheel balance and other general repairs.
By Marina Gaytan
Visalia - Any restaurant owner will tell you: If the food’s no good, the business will be no good as well.
That is what the Visalia Senior Center found out when it laid off cooks who daily prepared lunch meals served at the center and went with a caterer out of Fresno. The food was so bad, attendance dropped by more than half.
However, beginning July 1, Royal Dining Catering will begin preparing the meals and officials are hoping it will lead to a turnaround in attendance.
“The majority of this food here is processed,” said retired cook Kathe Denny last week. Denny works part time to help in the kitchen. She has seen the downturn and said lately the center has averaged around 40 people for lunch.
Normally, 60-80 people are seen within the dining hall, she said. Last Thursday, there were only 29 people in attendance and it wasn’t necessarily for the food, but for Bingo.
“Our main goal is to increase the lunch participation with the new vendor and hopefully we will be able to increase participation with other programs as well,” said Jeannie Greenwood, recreation manager for the Senior Center.
Royal Dining Catering began with founder, Carlos Saucedo, who delivered meals on his bicycle at Warner Brother Studios and has now become an industry-leading catering company serving schools, adult day health care centers and corporate clients in multiple locations, according to the report given the Visalia City Council. June 14 the council approved the contract with Royal Dining Catering.
The new company that will provide the meals which seniors are charged $3.50 will provide a quality nutritious lunch menu, said city staff.
Royal Dining holds additional food services in multiple locations including La Sierra Military Academy and charter schools in the Valley, and plans on expanding its operation in the Visalia area.
A food tasting day was held in May which allowed over 80 people to try the food that may come next month. The seniors loved it. It was a definite improvement, the seniors said.
Ramon Sanchez, the senior center coordinator, says that everyone is excited about the new food.
Included in the proposal from Royal Dining Catering, the meals could be offered at a reduced rate of $2.65 if granted the use of the Senior Center kitchen. City staff is in favor of the vendor operating the kitchen, which would allow direct feedback from the participants on top of accountability for meal quality and service.
The city estimates approximately 11,000 meals will be served this year. With the new vendor coming in, however, the staff is optimistic that the program participation will increase to 20,000 meals for the next fiscal year.
Need for a Change
Senior Ted of Visalia (he declined to give last name) who has been attending the senior center for over 15 years said, “The place has gone downhill since the financial problem has been on the horizon.”
He also said the topic of discussion on a daily basis is about what else will be taken away from them.
Since the City signed a catering contract for meal services for the Visalia Senior Center Lunch Program in 2009 seniors complained about the food quality, portion size, and lack of fresh ingredients. The city of Tulare had contracted with the same company, but ended that contract five months ago. Attendance in Tulare has doubled since it now has meals prepared by two local caterers who switch days.
Overall, Ted said that all he wants is for everything to be good again.
“If we allow the food to get bad enough we’re going to wind up losing the whole place and have no place to go.”
Tulare County - Southern California Edison has awarded the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias (BGCS) a $25,000 grant to help some of Tulare County's most vulnerable at-risk youth.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias recently applied to Southern California Edison – utilizing SCE's state-of-the-art, on line approach to corporate philanthropy - for a contribution in support of the Club's “Working On Our Futures” (WOOF) Program, targeting at-risk (continuation) high school students. "Southern California Edison is proud of its long-standing support of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias and prouder still to support the Club's innovative new effort, the 'Working On Our Futures' Program," said Brian Thoburn, region manager for SCE. “Working On Our Futures is consistent with Southern California Edison's corporate support for education and our underserved communities," Thoburn continued, "The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias have provided dynamic leadership in ensuring the success of Tulare County's youth and Southern California Edison is pleased to support their efforts."
BGCS has implemented its WOOF program – so named by the initial group of Kaweah High School students – at two continuation schools in Tulare County – Kaweah High in Exeter and a modified version at Deep Creek Academy in Farmersville.
Several years ago, in collaboration with Exeter Union High School District, BGCS created a program to get kids excited about and interested in school. Students were given the opportunity to spend seventh period at the Exeter Teen Center if they had 90% or better school attendance, a 2.0 or higher grade point average and no behavior issues. Prior to the start of the program, Kaweah students were given an opportunity to see what the teen center had to offer. As a result, students' eyes were opened to the possibilities and, after one semester with this new program as an option, attendance increased, students GPA's started rising and kids began to take a renewed interest in their futures.
BGCS has since started working with Deep Creek Academy in Farmersville. Each program is tailored to meet the needs of continuation high school students in the community.
“There is no 'One Size Fits All' model for the WOOF program,” commented BGCS Executive Director Joe Engelbrecht. “Each student has to determine what his/her future may hold for them and once they see a future for themselves, WOOF presents them with opportunities to achieve greatness,” Engelbrecht explained. “Support such as that which Southern California Edison Company has provided serves to sustain our efforts positively impact the lives of kids most at risk of becoming high school dropouts,” Engelbrecht concluded.
Visalia - Alan George was named Man of the Year and Marilynn Mitchell Woman of the Year during last week’s annual Visalia Chamber of Commerce banquet that also honored local businesses and individuals who consistently go above and beyond to support our community.
Besides George and Mitchell, also honored were Stephen Peck with the Chairman’s Award and Ashoori & Co. Jewelers as Small Business; American Ambulance of Visalia as Medium Business and Costco Wholesale as Large Business of the year. In addition, CRS Farming, LLC was honored as the Agri-Business of the Year.
Dozens of businesses were nominated for these prestigious awards which date back to 1952 when C.T. Buckman gleaned the first Man of the Year award.
About this year’s winners:
Man of The Year – Alan George – As a WWII veteran, Alan survived a Japanese kamikaze attack on his aircraft carrier, earning him a Purple Heart in October of 1945. Since then, Alan has a long history of civic and community involvement.
Woman of the Year – Marilynn Mitchell – As the current president of the Visalia Education Foundation (VEF), Marilynn plays a key role in securing and distributing contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations for the benefit of Visalia students.
Small Business of the Year – Ashoori & Co. Jewelers – Their humble beginnings in a Gemco department store sparked what would later become a jewelry business spanning three generations and three decades for owners Sarah and Joseph Ashoori.
Medium Business of the Year – American Ambulance of Visalia – “Professional standards, compassionate care, and efficient management of all aspects of Emergency Medical Services is the mission of the company which has served Visalia since 1979,” explains owner David Cooper.
Large Business of the Year – Costco Wholesale – Costco is the world’s category-dominant warehouse club operator, employing nearly 250 individuals at their Visalia store. Their passion for excellence and commitment to bringing high-quality goods and services to market at the lowest possible prices has created a cult-like following with millions of loyal members around the globe.
Agri-Business of the Year – CRS Farming, LLC – For more than four decades, CRS Farming, LLC, has been growing production agriculture crops and managing real estate holdings in Visalia. The family legacy was begun by C.R. Shannon in 1968 to manage trees and vines. Since then, the business has expanded to 70 employees and today is owned and managed by C.R.’s children and grandchildren.
Chairman’s Award – Stephen Peck – Stephen Peck is a vice-president of Mangano Company, Inc. His experience includes development of over 50 specific plans, 35 general plans, 15 redevelopment plans, and 125 environmental documents, including such projects for the City of Visalia, the County of Tulare, and similar projects for other Central Valley and Tulare County communities.
Winners were chosen by a committee and judged on a point system.
The above stories are the property of The Valley Voice Newspaper and may not be reprinted without explicit permission in writing from the publisher.
June 24, 2010
