Transcript
WEBVTT
00:00:00.980 --> 00:00:08.195
On this final episode of 2024, we'll have a chance to look back on this year and look forward to 2025.
00:00:08.195 --> 00:00:13.871
Rob will give us a rundown of the December events and I'll be back later with your sports report.
00:00:35.234 --> 00:00:44.512
This is the Hanford Insider, the podcast where we dive into what makes our community tick, from local stories and hidden gems to conversations with people shaped in our neighborhood.
00:00:44.512 --> 00:00:47.506
We're here to celebrate, explore and connect.
00:00:47.506 --> 00:00:57.746
Whether you're new to Hanford or a longtime local, this is your source for everything happening in our town, from events and news to unique conversations with people who make Hanford what it is.
00:00:57.746 --> 00:00:59.450
Thanks for tuning in.
00:00:59.450 --> 00:01:07.311
This is the last episode of the Hanford Insider until January 13th, after 50 episodes alone in 2024,.
00:01:07.311 --> 00:01:08.474
I'm ready for a break.
00:01:08.474 --> 00:01:16.551
I'll be posting some best of episodes during the vacation and I'll be back on January 13th with all new episodes for 2025.
00:01:16.551 --> 00:01:19.569
To prepare for these new shows, I need your help.
00:01:19.569 --> 00:01:23.090
I'm putting out a listener survey to get some feedback on the show.
00:01:23.090 --> 00:01:26.709
I'll be sending the survey out to my subscribers via email.
00:01:26.709 --> 00:01:31.552
If you're not a subscriber, you can go to hanfordinsidercom and join the list.
00:01:31.552 --> 00:01:35.430
I have a special surprise for you if you take the time to complete the survey.
00:01:35.430 --> 00:01:37.647
Your feedback is so important to me.
00:01:37.647 --> 00:01:43.730
I want the Insider to be a great community resource for you, but I need to know your preferences for programming.
00:01:43.730 --> 00:01:50.906
I want to thank those of you who have already completed the survey.
00:01:50.906 --> 00:01:53.275
I'm already putting some of the suggestions to use and will continue to make the show better when I return in January.
00:01:53.275 --> 00:01:55.602
And now let's jump right into this week's community news.
00:01:55.602 --> 00:01:59.873
The Hanford City Council will be meeting on Tuesday, december 17th.
00:01:59.873 --> 00:02:02.903
There's a lot on the agenda for the new City Council.
00:02:02.903 --> 00:02:09.215
In the afternoon study session at 4, they'll be looking at options for setting up the Measure H Oversight Committee.
00:02:09.215 --> 00:02:13.050
They'll also be looking at next steps for Hidden Valley Park expansion.
00:02:13.050 --> 00:02:26.382
During the regular meeting at 7, things that will be up for approval include expanding the Youth Sports Coordinator position from a part-time position to a full-time one and approval of acceptance of several grant opportunities.
00:02:26.382 --> 00:02:32.924
The item that will receive the most attention is the fate of the Downtown Traffic and Pedestrian Improvement Project.
00:02:32.924 --> 00:02:44.485
It seems that the project was just too costly and the City staff is recommending rejecting the bids received and applying for ARPA funds to other projects that can be contracted by December 31st.
00:02:44.485 --> 00:02:54.669
This could include expanding the new concession restroom building at the Youth Athletic Complex and conducting environmental studies that need to be completed to expand Hidden Valley Park.
00:02:55.610 --> 00:02:59.549
This Christmas the Episcopal Church of the Savior is sponsoring Christmas Around the World.
00:02:59.549 --> 00:03:01.361
For their meal on Christmas Day.
00:03:01.361 --> 00:03:06.733
They're looking for anyone interested in preparing a special dish from another country to serve.
00:03:06.733 --> 00:03:10.139
They're also seeking musicians to perform at this holiday event.
00:03:10.139 --> 00:03:15.010
If you're interested, please email volunteer at scsaviororg.
00:03:15.010 --> 00:03:22.906
Here's some things coming up on our community calendar.
00:03:22.906 --> 00:03:31.032
On December 17th, 18th and 19th, kings County Animal Services is holding their annual drive-thru microchip event for pets.
00:03:31.032 --> 00:03:38.606
If you're interested in finding out the best holiday light displays around, check out Hanford Holiday or Kings County.
00:03:38.606 --> 00:03:39.950
Let it Glow on Facebook.
00:03:39.950 --> 00:03:42.788
They have driving maps available for these great trips.
00:03:44.600 --> 00:03:50.794
On Christmas Eve, winter Wonderland will be hosting Storytime with Santa in the Civic Auditorium at 5 and 7 pm.
00:03:50.794 --> 00:03:53.608
You'll be reading Twas the Night Before Christmas.
00:03:53.608 --> 00:03:57.730
Milk and cookies are being provided for free by Rosa Farms.
00:03:57.730 --> 00:04:04.592
Walk with a Doc will be held this Saturday, december 21st, at Centennial Park, beginning at 9 am.
00:04:04.592 --> 00:04:09.581
If you have an event coming up and you'd like some help getting the word out, let's work together.
00:04:09.581 --> 00:04:12.830
Send your information to hanfordinsider at gmailcom.
00:04:12.830 --> 00:04:17.771
Be sure to subscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a complete calendar of events.
00:04:17.771 --> 00:04:35.386
We are here at the end of 2024.
00:04:35.386 --> 00:04:35.788
Can you believe it?
00:04:35.788 --> 00:04:36.329
Gosh, it has gone so fast.
00:04:36.329 --> 00:04:53.262
It's been an incredible year in the city of Hanford and I'm so blessed to have on the show today the superintendent of the Hanford Joint Union High School District, mr Victor Rosa, mario Cifuentes, the City Manager for the City of Hanford, brian Johnson, our Community Relations Manager and our Vice Mayor, mr Travis Payton.
00:04:53.262 --> 00:04:54.144
Welcome to the show, guys.
00:04:55.088 --> 00:04:55.850
Thank you for having us.
00:04:56.350 --> 00:04:56.632
Thank you.
00:04:56.632 --> 00:05:05.021
So we kind of have a popcorn topics here today and we're going to kind of pass the torch around the room just to kind of see.
00:05:05.021 --> 00:05:11.271
You know, the things that have been happening in 2024 have been pretty remarkable and I think it goes without saying.
00:05:11.271 --> 00:05:22.723
Probably the largest item that caught the most attention, and especially the voters in Hanford, is the successful passing of Revenue Measure H.
00:05:22.723 --> 00:05:32.485
They had a Revenue Measure Committee that met and studied the needs for the city of Hanford and the city council sent it out to the voters and on November 5th the voters of Hanford supported that overwhelmingly.
00:05:32.485 --> 00:05:34.930
So let's start there, mario.
00:05:34.930 --> 00:05:40.447
What will Measure H do for the city of Hanford and when can we start seeing some of these impacts?
00:05:41.750 --> 00:05:51.012
First and foremost and I know it's a strong word and people use a lot, but I believe Measure H will provide transformational funding for the city of Hanford and its residents.
00:05:51.012 --> 00:06:07.704
Most importantly, the funding will be used for a very detailed spending plan that was produced through the efforts of a revenue measure committee, was ultimately adopted by council and sets the framework for how the funding will be spent over a 10-year span.
00:06:07.704 --> 00:06:11.233
It'll provide 20 new staff members in the first year.
00:06:11.233 --> 00:06:12.944
Let me go back a little bit.
00:06:12.944 --> 00:06:22.653
So council at its last meeting adopted ordinances which allow us to work with the state CDTFA to begin to collect that tax.
00:06:22.653 --> 00:06:30.468
The state guidelines state that the tax cannot begin to be collected prior to 110 days after the adoption of that ordinance.
00:06:30.468 --> 00:06:45.026
So as it stands now, we expect that the sales tax will go into effect the first week of April and the first round of funding the city should start to receive around the 1st of July, which coincides with the beginning of our new two-year budget.
00:06:45.026 --> 00:06:59.387
So it allows us to take that detailed spending plan and draft a budget around that Now, understanding that the funding that comes in through Measure H will be protected in a separate fund I mentioned.
00:06:59.406 --> 00:07:06.088
We have 20 new personnel eight police officers, 11 additional in the police department, including three professional staffers.
00:07:06.088 --> 00:07:07.800
We have an additional in the police department including three professional staffers.
00:07:07.800 --> 00:07:19.887
We have an analyst in the fire department, three new firefighters that will be hired in the first year, additionally two code enforcement, two parks maintenance workers, and so those are much needed.
00:07:19.887 --> 00:07:26.221
They align with what the public said they wanted through our polling, and so we're very excited about it.
00:07:27.144 --> 00:07:30.771
That's great, I know, with all these new housing developments going in, I think of.
00:07:30.771 --> 00:07:46.982
I just got a message in my mailbox the other day about the new subdivisions that are being planned for north of Fargo and I know that public safety is a big issue and being able to put the officers and the firefighters where they're needed the most yes, absolutely.
00:07:46.982 --> 00:07:51.267
Speaking of new things in town, I know, Victor, we've done a lot of construction at the high schools.
00:07:51.267 --> 00:07:52.829
You've been on the show a number of times.
00:07:52.829 --> 00:07:56.834
Can you highlight maybe some of the great projects that have been completed in 2024?
00:07:56.834 --> 00:08:01.858
And I know your staff is really excited about that new district office in the old Hanford Sentinel building.
00:08:03.339 --> 00:08:03.781
Absolutely so.
00:08:03.781 --> 00:08:07.785
I know I spoke about the bowl in the past and most people at this point.
00:08:07.785 --> 00:08:17.211
We sort of unveiled the bowl in time for graduation, so a lot of the community has already been to Neighborville and seen the improvements there.
00:08:17.211 --> 00:08:21.822
There were multiple things that happened throughout the summer and some components that are still happening right now.
00:08:21.822 --> 00:08:23.466
We know how construction goes.
00:08:23.466 --> 00:08:33.392
There's always things that are being fine-tuned, but that has been a tremendous benefit to all of our students and to the community to be able to have a facility that we can be proud of.
00:08:33.392 --> 00:08:48.568
Along with that, I think people were witnessing the beginning of the construction of the tennis courts and Kensington parking lot located at Hanford High School obviously a very visible corner and so we wanted to make sure that that all looked really sharp.
00:08:48.568 --> 00:08:52.470
That is pretty much complete, other than lighting.
00:08:52.470 --> 00:09:03.614
The lighting has now been up there for almost three months without being able to turn on due to a little spat that we're having with the contractor between two contractors on that.
00:09:03.614 --> 00:09:11.110
But that's finally settled and we should have all of the lighting working on the tenants courts for the public to be able to use here very, very soon.
00:09:11.110 --> 00:09:15.813
One other construction component that we're just starting the process.
00:09:15.813 --> 00:09:38.230
For now that will have a benefit to Hanford High, but also Hanford West and Sierra Pacific, is our baseball areas have not had a true bathroom or concession stand ever, and so we are adding restrooms concession both at two of them at Hanford West, one at Hanford High and then one at Sierra Pacific as well.
00:09:39.299 --> 00:09:40.706
And then you mentioned the district office.
00:09:40.706 --> 00:09:45.129
We're thrilled to finally be in full-blown construction there.
00:09:45.129 --> 00:09:46.712
It's a madhouse.
00:09:46.712 --> 00:09:50.515
There are a ton of workers in there getting things ready and remodeled.
00:09:50.515 --> 00:10:01.610
Our expectation is to move in at the beginning of April of next year and we're just excited to be able to be not only in a new facility but in downtown Hanford.
00:10:01.951 --> 00:10:04.100
I feel that it's really important.
00:10:04.100 --> 00:10:07.850
When we were looking at facilities, it worked out beautifully.
00:10:07.850 --> 00:10:11.981
I literally made a cold call to the, to the manager of the Hanford Sentinel.
00:10:11.981 --> 00:10:14.870
I said well, do you guys really need all this space for your 15 employees?
00:10:14.870 --> 00:10:16.883
She said no, what do you why?
00:10:16.883 --> 00:10:22.244
I said we'd like to buy the building, and within 60 days we owned the building, and so it was.
00:10:22.244 --> 00:10:42.765
It was such a great opportunity for us and, yes, it's a major remodel project, but putting us downtown is important, and then our current district office will become our Hanford Online Charter School, and so we're really excited to be able to move Hanford Online Charter off of our adult school campus and let it have its own facility in a very visible area here on the city.
00:10:44.248 --> 00:10:48.054
Yeah, so that new district office is going to provide a lot of foot traffic downtown.
00:10:48.054 --> 00:10:56.068
And that brings us to our next topic, which is the Downtown Pedestrian and Traffic Improvement Project, and I know that there's a lot of moving parts to that.
00:10:56.580 --> 00:11:14.144
Well, I think you know, outside of the downtown project, rob, you're aware that lots of other exciting things are happening downtown, with the sale of the courthouse to barrel house brewing to our efforts to implement some of the recommendations from our downtown strategic plan.
00:11:14.144 --> 00:11:33.107
And one of the biggest things we're focused on right now is public art in the downtown, working with Main Street Hanford and some other organizations and some art organizations Urbanist Collective being one of them to kind of kickstart what we're calling our Downtown Hanford Mural Program.
00:11:33.107 --> 00:11:46.621
And so I think that the goal for us within the first part of next year is to have a large scale Welcome to Downtown Hanford mural in the heart of Downtown Hanford, a lot of moving parts on that as well.
00:11:46.621 --> 00:11:50.410
You would think just getting a mural up would be easy, but it is.
00:11:50.410 --> 00:11:57.171
In fact takes a lot of people to say yes to it and actually create it.
00:11:57.171 --> 00:12:07.988
So very excited about that, and I think it's worth mentioning that we have some grants that we've applied for that would also be transformational for downtown Hanford.
00:12:08.428 --> 00:12:17.277
I think the biggest one that comes to mind is Fast Track Hanford, which was a project submitted through the Department of Transportation's RAISE grant.
00:12:17.277 --> 00:12:30.352
About that soon, because we were deemed a project of merit in the last round and so hopefully we're going to find out if that leads to an actual award.
00:12:30.352 --> 00:12:50.287
And I think correct me if I'm wrong, mario Travis this was approximately a $15 million request to basically transform an underutilized alley as kind of a connection method for pedestrians and bicyclists through the downtown, and so stay tuned on that.
00:12:50.287 --> 00:12:52.525
I got to throw out my grant.
00:12:52.525 --> 00:12:58.289
I applied for the one and only one I've ever done, and boy, I don't know if I want to do that again anytime soon.
00:12:58.289 --> 00:13:04.159
But I know that staff is aggressive in the pursuit of grants here in the city.
00:13:04.159 --> 00:13:19.298
Staff is aggressive in the pursuit of grants here in the city and my grant kind of piggybacked on Fast Track Hanford and also pertains to that same alley that runs through downtown, but it's a little more focused on the arts and bringing public art into that alley and activating an alley.
00:13:21.139 --> 00:13:22.546
Yeah, for sure, that would be great.
00:13:22.546 --> 00:13:24.947
Hey, victor, back to you for just a second.
00:13:24.947 --> 00:13:28.759
I know that you have a big event coming up with the Educational Foundation.
00:13:28.759 --> 00:13:33.511
It's an important part about recognizing outstanding alumni and outstanding staff.
00:13:33.511 --> 00:13:34.809
You want to give a plug for that.
00:13:35.496 --> 00:13:36.962
Absolutely so.
00:13:37.082 --> 00:13:55.833
In the last five years I guess almost six years now since I came on as superintendent, we have really really pushed hard to get our Hanford Education Foundation back and robust, and so part of that was a vision to have a district-wide Hall of Fame event.
00:13:56.299 --> 00:13:57.706
Well, here we are, five years later.
00:13:57.706 --> 00:14:15.712
We've had multiple fundraisers and things that we need to do to get our funds up to this level and things that we need to do to get our funds up to this level, but we are in February February 22nd of 2025, having our first Hall of Fame event, and that inaugural inductee group is really special.
00:14:15.712 --> 00:14:17.365
It's an amazing group.
00:14:17.365 --> 00:14:21.211
It's one of the most from a team perspective.
00:14:21.211 --> 00:14:41.567
It's the Hamper High 2001 girls basketball team, one of the most successful I shouldn't say one of the most successful athletic team to ever come out of our district, and they are just superstars and just a slew of educators and alumni who have just accomplished amazing things not only with our community but beyond.
00:14:41.567 --> 00:14:48.470
And so we're thrilled to be able to have an amazing event catered by the Vintage Press at the Civic Auditorium.
00:14:48.470 --> 00:15:00.191
It's kind of bringing all of the people in this room together to show off the beautifully revitalized Civic Auditorium and just have a really classy event that celebrates education.
00:15:01.922 --> 00:15:25.941
Yeah for sure, 2025, we will actually be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Hanford Civic Auditorium dedication and, as we, a good segue to our next topic, which is our City Council.
00:15:25.941 --> 00:15:35.833
And we have with us Vice Mayor Travis Payden, who went through a really busy year with the City Council, with some resignations and an election.
00:15:35.833 --> 00:15:39.701
Travis, can you give us a few highlights of the City Council in 2024?
00:15:40.782 --> 00:16:06.197
Yeah, at the beginning of the year, in I believe March or so, councilwoman Diane Sharp submitted her letter of resignation to the council in District C as well, as a month later Councilwoman Kalish Morrow resigned as well and you know with family and they felt it was a good move on their part.
00:16:07.081 --> 00:16:10.851
So it led the council to be filling the seats.
00:16:10.851 --> 00:16:24.715
And when Councilwoman Sharp resigned, her wishes were to wait until the election and the council at that time unanimously approved to wait until the November election to fill her seat.
00:16:24.715 --> 00:16:46.634
But when Council Member Morrow resigned, she wanted to be a part of the application process or the appointment process, and at that time we had six qualified amazing candidates and we went through an interview process and at that time we appointed the council appointed Council Member Martin Devine to fulfill District B.
00:16:46.634 --> 00:16:54.553
As November comes along and we are welcoming two new council members as of November 5th election.
00:16:54.553 --> 00:17:06.713
We have Councilwoman Nancy Howes, representing District C, and Council Member Kimber Regan, who will be representing District B, and so we will have a full council and we'll be ready.
00:17:06.713 --> 00:17:14.363
They were sworn in on Thursday, last Thursday, and we will be ready for our first meeting on Tuesday, december 17th.
00:17:15.125 --> 00:17:15.645
That's great.
00:17:15.645 --> 00:17:18.333
It's going to be an exciting time for the city council.
00:17:18.333 --> 00:17:20.085
Mario, let's head back to you.
00:17:20.085 --> 00:17:28.970
I know that Hanford recently adopted a new camping ordinance and it's been the subject of a lot of discussion among people in the city of you.
00:17:28.970 --> 00:17:31.173
Know what is Hanford doing for the homeless?
00:17:31.173 --> 00:17:33.989
I know there's a new navigation center being planned.
00:17:33.989 --> 00:17:41.980
What can you tell the listeners about things that are going to be happening in that area of helping the unhoused community At this?
00:17:42.040 --> 00:17:42.481
point.
00:17:42.481 --> 00:17:44.106
You know it's a multi-pronged approach.
00:17:44.106 --> 00:17:53.625
We can meet with Jeff Garner and KCAO that are leading the charge for their joint food bank and support center, which would include the navigation center shelter beds.
00:17:53.625 --> 00:18:01.656
But council took action to adopt an amended camping ordinance after the governor put out his executive order.
00:18:01.656 --> 00:18:05.902
That kind of changed direction on the requirement for low barrier shelters.
00:18:05.902 --> 00:18:15.855
That came on the heels of the United States Supreme Court overturning the Grants Pass case, which had limited the city's ability to address homeless issues.
00:18:16.376 --> 00:18:23.903
Obviously, as the public has seen, we've had a lot of impacts from the homeless, not only in our downtown but across the community.
00:18:23.903 --> 00:18:30.255
There was quite an encampment that had set up at the old COS property out west of town.
00:18:30.255 --> 00:18:52.477
Pursuant to the requirements of the executive order and consistent with our camping ordinance, we've begun to enforce the ban on encampments in the community and we've, through a kind of coalition of our police department, code enforcement and public works, have begun working together to address those encampments.
00:18:52.477 --> 00:18:58.232
We started with that one obviously moved out a lot of folks folks saw them, you know, in other places in the community.
00:18:58.232 --> 00:18:59.984
They've asked, hey, where can we go?
00:18:59.984 --> 00:19:15.555
And we just said you know, unfortunately, that due to the camping ordinance and also inclusion of elements in that ordinance that eliminates the ability for folks to camp on private property without the owner's permission, which typically we do.
00:19:15.595 --> 00:19:17.497
Have another program called the letter of agency.
00:19:17.497 --> 00:19:25.390
If property owners are having a problem with homeless on their property again I'll segue into that and they should reach out to our community development department.
00:19:25.390 --> 00:19:30.806
Our staff is good at guiding folks through that process of establishing a letter of agency.
00:19:30.806 --> 00:19:39.800
The letter of agency has to be notarized but we offer that service free and we urge folks that have those issues to reach out to our community development staff.
00:19:39.800 --> 00:19:44.071
That also puts that property on the radar for our police department for area checks.
00:19:44.071 --> 00:19:53.816
The letter of agency allows the police department to enforce illegal trespassing on the property without the property owner having to contact the police department for each and every agency.
00:19:53.816 --> 00:20:07.664
The one thing that we're talking to folks about and we've met with several large property owners, specifically some grocery stores and shopping centers, and we've urged them to eliminate areas that are natural congregations for the homeless.
00:20:07.664 --> 00:20:14.326
You'll see them in different areas where there's remnants of a wall or remnants of a fence.
00:20:14.326 --> 00:20:17.173
That provides shelter and that's what they're looking for is shelter.
00:20:17.173 --> 00:20:23.280
And if folks can make the small effort and I understand there's generally costs to go along with that.
00:20:23.280 --> 00:20:29.229
But the costs in the long term are much less than addressing the impacts of the homelessness.
00:20:29.329 --> 00:20:38.226
Once they get set up on property, private property owners still do have a requirement under the law to hold those possessions of individuals for 90 days.
00:20:38.226 --> 00:20:40.537
We've implemented a program ourselves.
00:20:40.537 --> 00:20:44.561
We have our community enhancement officer will go out during these cleanups.
00:20:44.561 --> 00:20:52.928
We catalog all of the possessions that are not considered trash and we have to hold all of those possessions and keep records of them for 90 days.
00:20:52.928 --> 00:20:58.632
The homeless have the ability to come to our corporation yard and retrieve those items.
00:20:59.011 --> 00:21:07.238
But we photograph them, we catalog them and we keep them all in individual bins so that we can make sure that we uphold our responsibility to the law.
00:21:07.238 --> 00:21:22.276
But we also try to balance our responsibility with what the needs of the community are and through our HEART team, through the police department and the public works, we're making an effort to keep those encampments from getting entrenched in our community.
00:21:22.276 --> 00:21:24.773
I think it'd be a nice segue to our app from getting entrenched in our community.
00:21:24.773 --> 00:21:25.619
I think it'd be a nice segue to our app.
00:21:25.619 --> 00:21:39.231
That's something that can be reported to code enforcement for the new my Hanford app that we have out, that Brian's done a press release on and we've seen some really good media coverage on that, and we do have where folks are utilizing it and starting to submit complaints for a variety of issues in the community.
00:21:41.340 --> 00:21:42.343
Let's go right to the app.
00:21:42.343 --> 00:21:44.086
Brian, that is a nice segue.
00:21:44.106 --> 00:22:15.923
Mario, Tell us about the MyHanford app and how it can be used customer relationship management is one of the terms used and essentially it's a way for our residents to report issues that need to be addressed or things that need to be fixed or various problems they see.
00:22:15.923 --> 00:22:25.328
It's available both on their mobile device, as an app, or through our website, from the homepage clicking on the report button.
00:22:25.328 --> 00:22:34.702
So you can do it either way and I think overall the idea is just to make reporting those issues easier, more convenient, faster.
00:22:34.702 --> 00:22:46.570
The new software provides some new capabilities as far as kind of tracking and the timelines and deadlines on our end.
00:22:46.570 --> 00:22:58.878
But it also kind of acts as a communication tool because on the homepage of the app we have links to our website and news items, calendar, our social media pages.
00:22:58.878 --> 00:23:06.490
So it's kind of a multifaceted app and we are seeing it being utilized already.
00:23:06.619 --> 00:23:16.207
I just pulled up my Apple developer account and to date we have 252 downloads through the Apple App Store.
00:23:16.207 --> 00:23:25.748
Don't have the Google Play statistics in front of me, but, yeah, the submissions are coming in and the issues are being resolved.
00:23:25.748 --> 00:23:36.346
So we just ask that people be patient with us as we learn how to kind of master the app and looking for feedback as well.
00:23:36.346 --> 00:23:42.363
But one thing I did want to mention is for any kind of urgent or emergency issues.
00:23:42.363 --> 00:23:45.932
My Hanford probably isn't the place to report that.
00:23:45.932 --> 00:23:47.666
It's not monitored 24-7.
00:23:47.666 --> 00:23:56.211
And so you know, use a little discretion when thinking about is this an urgent issue, is it an emergency?
00:23:56.211 --> 00:24:02.930
Because if so, you might want to be calling either 911 or the police department's non-emergency line.
00:24:02.930 --> 00:24:07.751
But we look forward to seeing how it goes in 2025.
00:24:10.041 --> 00:24:11.105
Yeah, for sure.
00:24:11.105 --> 00:24:20.259
We're going to wrap this up here pretty quick, but before we do, I just wanted to highlight some of the other things that came up as highlights of the year for the listeners.
00:24:20.259 --> 00:24:24.611
They talked about the sale of the Kings County Courthouse to Barrel House Brewing.
00:24:24.611 --> 00:24:25.573
That's pretty exciting.
00:24:25.573 --> 00:24:30.971
The Renaissance Fair, for all intents and purposes, looks like it was a great success.
00:24:30.971 --> 00:24:42.680
The app we mentioned the app, of course, winter Wonderland and the Santa experience is going great and you can go to HanfordWinterWonderlandcom and look up all of the availability for skating sessions.
00:24:42.680 --> 00:24:45.705
They have special weekday rates, group rates.
00:24:46.207 --> 00:24:49.973
Twas the Night Before Christmas, reading with Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.
00:24:49.973 --> 00:24:51.664
Let's see what else we've got.
00:24:51.664 --> 00:24:59.692
The modernization project at the Hanford branch of the Kings County Library we talked to Vicki Cervantes a few weeks ago about that.
00:24:59.692 --> 00:25:02.141
So there's a lot to look forward to.
00:25:02.141 --> 00:25:11.954
And I know, travis, the time that you spent on the city council and you've heard everything from the people that have come to the podium to speak during public comment.
00:25:11.954 --> 00:25:15.971
You've had multiple people text you and call you and meet with you for coffee.
00:25:15.971 --> 00:25:20.652
What are some of the things that you're looking forward to in 2025 for the city of Hanford?
00:25:21.480 --> 00:26:08.520
Well, one thing we were just, as a city, we were just so fortunate to be in Measure H pass with a 63% approval, and we, as the council, are looking forward to developing our citizens oversight committee, and this oversight committee is going to be in responsible for making recommendations to the council, making sure that that expenditure plan of what we told our voters that we were going to spend the new sales tax revenue on, and so at our next meeting we will be developing a criteria of how large that committee is going to be, what are the term limits and the years of the term and meeting time so they can be prepared.
00:26:08.862 --> 00:26:22.662
So, as our city manager mentioned, that first week in April will be the implementation of the revenue and by July we'll be receiving our first installment so we can start implementing the expenditure plan.
00:26:22.662 --> 00:26:51.875
There's so many things and first and foremost, this is the transparency, making sure and having the community feel hurt, and this, my Hanford app is going to be one way that members of the public can seek out solutions or resolutions to some of the issues, but also showing the city that we mean what we say and we say what we mean when we are going to implement everything for the Measure H and, putting that into play, moving Hanford forward.
00:26:51.875 --> 00:26:55.089
It's going to be a great time for Hanford in 2025.
00:26:56.941 --> 00:27:00.030
And a final word goes to our city manager, mario Cifuentes.
00:27:00.030 --> 00:27:09.055
Earlier in 2024, we heard about the massive grant that was obtained to improve the East Lacey Corridor out towards the Costco Center.
00:27:09.055 --> 00:27:12.871
And how can you see that transforming that side of town?
00:27:12.871 --> 00:27:20.307
I know that when the Revenue Measure Committee did the tour, they drove around on a bus and the city leaders were kind of showing them.
00:27:20.307 --> 00:27:31.176
You know, this is what the new Ninth Avenue is going to look like and we don't have a whole lot of time but maybe just focus on the Costco, how that may change in 2025, that area out there.
00:27:50.019 --> 00:27:54.673
Desire to locate at the Costco shopping center but concerned that there weren't enough rooftops around and the connectivity with the downtown and other parts of the community.
00:27:54.673 --> 00:27:55.695
This project is going to create that connectivity.
00:27:55.695 --> 00:27:57.180
It will change ultimately what East Lacey looks like.
00:27:57.180 --> 00:28:05.335
I think you'll start to see a transformation of those properties consistent with the general plan and with more retail and commercial growth along that corridor.
00:28:05.901 --> 00:28:11.412
We've already seen activity and additional activity at the Costco Shopping Center.
00:28:11.412 --> 00:28:16.790
We have McDonald's that has already been to site plan review to go out there.
00:28:16.790 --> 00:28:21.828
There's a new Adventist Health Clinic that's working on getting permits to start building out there.
00:28:21.828 --> 00:28:32.361
That when folks come off the 43 and Lacey Roundabout towards the west there's a drive entrance that's currently been combed off for some time.
00:28:32.361 --> 00:28:57.700
That will make that drive entrance into that expansion of the Costco Shopping Center to the west there and I think opening up that corridor, the eventual overpass over 198 at 9th that Caltrans is working on and has received CTC funding for design, will help move us forward and provide some great strides in East Hanford all the way north down 9th to Heroes Park site there at Grangeville.
00:28:58.040 --> 00:29:00.789
That's fantastic Some great things to look forward to.
00:29:00.789 --> 00:29:03.250
2024 has certainly had its challenges.
00:29:03.250 --> 00:29:11.961
You know, going into the holiday season, we've certainly experienced some tragic losses and uh, but the community is definitely resilient.
00:29:11.961 --> 00:29:19.246
I'm just thrilled to see the support that these families are receiving, and each of you have appeared on the show in 2024.
00:29:19.246 --> 00:29:35.847
And I'd like to thank you for your support of the show and I know that the city is glad to hear from their representatives and leaders, like you guys, and I just thank you for your commitment to the city of Hanford and I want to wish you happy holidays and the best 2025 possible.
00:29:36.789 --> 00:29:42.190
And Rob, I just want to thank you for your putting off the Hanford Insider podcast.
00:29:42.190 --> 00:29:59.425
It is one way to inform the public of what's going on in Hanford, and we just appreciate all the time and effort that you do each and every week to put on a quality show, and so we just want to thank you, and we wish you much success in 2025 as well.
00:29:59.425 --> 00:30:00.508
Ditto.
00:30:00.808 --> 00:30:02.972
Absolutely All right, guys.
00:30:02.972 --> 00:30:03.713
Thank you so much.
00:30:03.713 --> 00:30:06.226
Have a great holiday season, thank you.
00:30:07.147 --> 00:30:07.428
You too.