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Selma seeks sponsors for spay‑neuter vouchers and weighs higher park fees to fund Pioneer Village repairs
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Summary
Council discussed a $1,000 city allocation and outside sponsorships to subsidize spay/neuter surgeries and considered revising park rental fees and TOT allocations to pay for Pioneer Village restroom, parking and restroom repairs.
Council discussed two related community items April 7: a staff proposal to fund spay/neuter vouchers for Selma residents, and a broader conversation about park rental fees and Pioneer Village maintenance.
Community Services Director Fletcher described a sponsorship packet and said staff had set aside $1,000 for a spay/neuter program and were pursuing additional grants and donations (Councilmember Oseguera reported a $4,000 grant from CalWater). The proposed approach would use an interest‑form and voucher process with partner providers (New Village Pets, Hope Foundation) and would pay clinics directly rather than issuing funds to individuals.
Council then turned to Pioneer Village and park rental fees. Staff presented resident and nonresident pricing tiers and noted the staff proposal does not yet include a full Pioneer Village fee schedule; councilmembers urged staff to benchmark surrounding cities and to tailor pricing to attract events while covering repairs. Council discussed urgent infrastructure needs at Pioneer Village — restroom construction, additional parking on the north side, a new train‑depot roof and internal road paving — and suggested using available TOT allocations or reallocating portions of the general fund to support prioritized repairs that would increase event capacity.
Councilmembers also asked staff to reexamine long‑term leases and contracts (for example, the Cattlemen’s lease) to ensure the city is receiving equitable rent and to consider expanding use of existing Pioneer Village buildings to generate revenue for operations.
The council expressed consensus to return with a more detailed plan and fee schedule during the budget process and to place a contribution to the spay/neuter program on a future agenda for a possible council match of donations collected so far.
Speakers in the record include Community Services Director Fletcher, Communications Director Moreno, and council members; staff pledged to create interest forms in English and Spanish and to develop voucher and provider arrangements.
