Agenda Item Wording:
title
Land Use License with Downtown Visalians - Approve a land use license with Downtown Visalians for the storage of property and equipment at 701 E. Race Avenue for a term of (1) year, with (2) additional 1-year terms upon mutual agreement of the two parties.
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Deadline for Action: 4/21/2025
Submitting Department: Public Works
Contact Name and Phone Number:
Nick Bartsch, Public Works Director, nick.bartsch@visalia.city, 713-4052
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to approve a land use license with Downtown Visalians for the storage of property and equipment at 701 E. Race Avenue for a term of (1) year, with (2) additional 1-year terms upon mutual agreement of the two parties.
Background Discussion:
Downtown Visalians is an organization comprised of business owners holding a City of Visalia business license that operates a business within the Downtown District’s boundaries: Conyer Street to Santa Fe Street, and Mineral King Avenue to School Avenue. The organization works with the City to forge partnerships that ensure an efficient manner of meeting the needs of its members through establishing coordinated programs for economic development and public area enhancements. Historically, the City of Visalia and Downtown Visalians have entered into various agreements, consistent with their respective powers and purposes, in order to collaboratively and economically benefit both parties’ efforts to provide public services in the downtown Property and Business Improvement District “PBID.”
The Downtown Visalians’ maintenance staff operate during the hours of 3:00 AM and 11:00 AM to supplement and enhance typical maintenance services performed by the City within the Downtown District. These types of services include, but are not limited to, landscape maintenance, sprinkler repair, graffiti removal, pressure washing, and the operations and maintenance of the downtown tree lighting.
Downtown Visalians owns the Main Street Christmas decorations and have requested a location to house a storage container for the purpose of storing them. In addition to the storage container, they are also requesting to park two vehicles and a trailer that are utilized for their daily maintenance operations.
The City owns property located at 701 E. Race Avenue, adjacent to the downtown, which currently also houses the Visalia Warming Center. City Staff has determined there is adequate space at this location to accommodate Downtown Visalians’ request to store their stated equipment at this location. With the construction of the City’s new Civic Center, and the eventual redevelopment of the surrounding area, the long-term use of this property is still in question. So, the current limited term, up to 3 years, is recommended. However, based on the City Council’s direction, this term could be extended pending the timing of any changes to the use of this property.
The City has other instances where City contractors that are non-profits have agreements to store materials or park on City property. These include, but are not limited to, C-set, the Warming Center and the Police Activity League.
Fiscal Impact:
N/A
Prior Council Action:
N/A
Other:
N/A
Alternatives:
Choose not to authorize the approval of a land use license with Downtown Visalians.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to authorize the City Manager to approve a land use license with Downtown Visalians for the storage of property and equipment at 701 E. Race Avenue for a term of (1) year, with (2) additional 1-year terms upon mutual agreement of the two parties.
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Environmental Assessment Status:
N/A
CEQA Review:
N/A
Attachments:
Downtown Visalians - Land Use License for 701 E. Race Ave.