Parlier Council approves Vision Zero planning, hazard-mitigation update and seven other items

PARLIER, Calif. — The Parlier City Council on May 15 approved a package of planning documents, consultant contracts and project awards intended to move multiple capital and housing programs into implementation.

The council voted to: authorize a Vision Zero (Vision 0) planning task order; start a city hazard mitigation plan update required by FEMA; hire a consultant to conduct a comprehensive water rate study; award a downtown façade improvements contract to the low bidder; approve a transportation agreement with Parlier Unified School District for grant-funded youth outings; authorize work on the second phase of the Richard Flores stormwater reuse project; and amend CalHome ADU assistance guidelines to raise the maximum loan amount from $75,000 to $100,000. All motions passed by council vote unless noted below.

Why this matters: Several of the approvals are preliminary steps that qualify Parlier for future construction grants. The Vision Zero planning and the hazard mitigation plan are intended to make the city eligible for federal construction funding streams; the water-rate study will shape future utility pricing; and the CalHome change is intended to increase the likelihood that the city’s $3 million state award will be used before program deadlines.

Key votes and actions at a glance

- Consent calendar (items 1–4): Approved (motion carried 5–0) - Resolution authorizing start of Vision Zero / Safe Streets for All planning (transcript reference: "resolution number 20 20 five-thirty 5"): Approved (motion carried 5–0). The staff presentation said the plan is a required step to compete for federal Safe Streets for All construction funds, which the presenter described as a large annual federal program (quoted figure: $900,000,000). - Resolution to initiate the city hazard mitigation plan update (transcript reference: "resolution 25 2 20 25 36"): Approved (motion carried 5–0). Staff said FEMA requires a local hazard-mitigation plan every five years and that identified mitigation projects can be eligible for construction funding through FEMA. - Resolution authorizing a consultant services agreement with IGS Services for a comprehensive water rate study (transcript reference: "resolution 20 25 37"): Approved (motion carried 5–0). Council discussed tiered rates and asked staff and the consultant to include an analysis of historical charges, recurring costs and whether solar/PG&E credits are being applied to the water or sewer accounts. - Contract award for downtown façade improvements to Janus (Yanis) Construction (transcript reference: "resolution 2020Five-thirty8"): Award approved; tally 4 yes, 1 abstain. The low bid was reported as $424,700 and the presenter said that amount was under budget. - Transportation agreement between City of Parlier and Parlier Unified School District for grant-supported outdoor recreation transportation (transcript reference: "resolution 2020Five-thirty9"): Approved (motion carried 5–0). The staff report said the school district will provide transportation at a nominal cost; the exact contribution amount was described as not specified in the meeting. - Task order to begin phase 2 of the Richard Flores stormwater-reuse/field restoration project (transcript reference: "resolution 20 25 40"): Approved (motion carried 5–0). Staff said the city received a $5,200,000 stormwater reuse municipal grant for the work and that phase 2 will place underground chambers under the existing field while restoring the baseball diamond on the west side of the park. - CalHome program guidelines and amendment to maximum ADU assistance (transcript reference: item 11): Approved (motion carried 5–0). Staff said Parlier’s CalHome award is $3,000,000 and recommended increasing the maximum assistance per applicant from $75,000 to $100,000 to reflect higher construction costs; staff noted the state previously recommended up to $200,000 but the council approved $100,000 as a local maximum.

What the approvals do — brief notes

- Vision Zero planning: Staff said the Safe Streets for All planning grant will analyze collisions and identify targeted projects that would make Parlier eligible for federal construction funds. - Hazard mitigation plan: The FEMA-required update will catalog flood and other hazard risks and identify projects that may qualify for construction funding. - Water rate study: The study will analyze water and sewer account charges, project recurring costs and model new rate structures; council discussed a potential tiered rate to reward conservation. - Downtown façade project: A design-build award to the lowest bidder will fund façade improvements in the downtown corridor; a single abstention was recorded. - Richard Flores stormwater project: Phase 2 will install underground chambers to store stormwater while retaining the baseball field above; staff said the project is fast-tracked and expected to be complete before next summer, weather permitting. - CalHome ADU assistance: The council updated guidelines to allow up to $100,000 in assistance per applicant; staff and the consultant Self-Help recommended the increase to improve program uptake given higher building costs.

Next steps and follow-ups noted in the meeting

- Staff was asked to notify council members when federal construction grant applications are submitted so councilmembers can provide letters of support for competitive advantage. - On the water-rate study, council asked staff to look into the performance and billing treatment of the wastewater-treatment-plant solar system and whether the city was receiving the intended PG&E credits; staff said the consultant will review account charges as part of the study and that the city has been in contact with the current solar system owner (identified in the meeting as Silicon Ranch). - Staff said the Richard Flores phase 2 project will begin within roughly four months and staff will notify the council and Flores family about a ribbon-cutting when the project is complete.

Meeting context

The regular meeting included brief department updates and a public-comment period with no substantive public comments recorded. Two closed-session items were announced: a public-employee appointment (city manager) and a time-sensitive legal matter (Reyes) added under Government Code authority. The council recessed into closed session at the end of the regular agenda.

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