Council to consider building use on N. D Street

Animal shelter is one option

The Porterville City Council will conduct a public hearing Tuesday to receive input regarding what city operation would best fit the building at 185 N. D St.

The City of Porterville recently acquired the old bank building based on a foresight to secure additional land in the city center for future municipal needs, said Jenni Byers, the city’s community development director.

Byers said in a staff report that the building is approximately 9,677 square feet and noted that the parcel is approximately 31,800 square feet (0.73 acres).

Byers said the city’s management team toured the building on Feb. 27 of this year and noted that multiple concepts were discussed as possible uses of the building. Any use of the building by the city requires a modification of the current General Plan.

Byers said there are two benefits to the public of the specific property. She said one benefit is that the location of the building is close to City Hall and the other benefit is the proximity of the building to the planned trail along the former Union Pacific railroad right of way, which she said would provide a logical bicycle and pedestrian connection to whatever use is selected.

On July 19, Byers said the Project Review Committee met to discuss the General Plan Amendment and Zone Change, as well as identify the viable options. There are three potential uses of the building, which include an animal shelter with an adoption center, offices for Porterville Transit and a community center.

As far as the building being used for an animal shelter, Byers said it would definitely help city residents as the current adoption facility and shelter is located near the City of Lindsay.

However, Byers said such use of the building may result in an increase in noise due to barking dogs. If this use is selected by council, Byers said mitigation through use of sounddampening features such as foam, panels, or similar technologies could be used to reduce noise to a level compliant with the city’s noise ordinance.

Nevertheless, Byers said the current layout of the building works well with the unique needs of an animal shelter with an adoption center and noted that there is an existing division of the building with a vestibule separating what she said could be the shelter and veterinary treatment area from the offices and adoption center. She said necessary modifications would include ventilation and drainage in the shelter portion of the building.

Porterville Police Chief Eric Kroutil said he, as well as the police department, is on

board with the building being used as an animal shelter and adoption center.

“All of our department heads went over and looked at the building [and], based on size and location, the police department believes it would make a good animal control facility,” said Kroutil, noting that animals would be housed inside.

Kroutil also said there would be a “significant cost savings” by remodeling the building rather than building an animal control facility.

If council chooses to use the building for offices for Porterville Transit, Byers said the location would provide a more permanent home to Porterville Transit, whose offices are currently housed in Centennial Plaza.

Byers said a more permanent solution has been a priority effort for a while, and noted that the proximity of the building to the Transit Center, which is less than 250 feet to the southeast, could work well for the long term.

Similarly, Byers said the proximity to the

trail, which she said may, in the future, accommodate multi-modal transit, makes the location a valuable alternative for future Porterville Transit offices.

However, Byers noted that one significant drawback of the use is that the building greatly exceeds the space needed for offices at this time.

As far as the building being used for a community center, Byers said the location provides a great deal of square footage, which she said is a major consideration for community center uses. However, Byers said the layout of the building, particularly given that it is segmented off by a vestibule, limits options for use as a community center. Further, Byers said the height of the ceilings in the building limit opportunities for some common community center uses such as sports activities.

Byers noted that the proximity to the trail, public transportation and city center make the building easily accessible for children from all areas of town.

She said, however, that on-site parking is not conducive to large numbers of event participants.

Byers added that two small business offices currently occupy the southernmost portion of the building, and noted that staff recommends those leases be continued. Regardless of what council chooses to utilize the building for, Byers said there would need to be plans drawn for tenant improvements and said it could, realistically, be one to two years before a city use would be able to occupy the building.

Byers said the council will also consider adopting a draft resolution that would approve a General Plan Amendment, and consider approving a draft ordinance for a change in zoning from DR-D (Downtown Retail Dstreet Corridor) to Public Semi-public.

Additionally, Byers said the council will consider giving first reading and order the ordinance to print, provide direction related to the existing lease agreements and consider defining the future use of the building. In other matters: t Will consider authorization to negotiate a “not to exceed” $1,135,500 equipment and installation contract with Bio Air Solutions, LLC. for the purchase and installation of an odor control system at the City’s Wastewater Treatment Facility.

Will consider authorizing Christopher L. Campbell of Baker, Manock and Jensen at a rate of $300 per hour for water rights expertise for project-specific water issues.

Will consider approving Family Healthcare Network’s 17th annual Health Fair and El Dia de la Familia y Feria de Salud 2017, which will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday Oct. 8, 2017 at Veteran’s Park.

Will consider a resolution amending the Employee Pay and Benefit Plan for Porterville City Employees Association employees pursuant to the signed Memorandum of Understanding.

Will consider approving a resolution to

amend the Employee Pay and Benefit Plan to account for changes pertaining to Unrepresented Management Employees.

Will consider authorizing staff to schedule joint meetings of the city council with the animal control commission and library and literacy commission.

Will consider approving a request to proclaim Sept. 17-23, 2017 as “Constitution Week.”

Will consider a conditional use permit to allow the use of a religious facility at 2440 W. Henderson Ave.

Will consider the proposed plan to restructure Porterville Transit.

Will consider the designation of a voting member and alternate for the League of California Cities Annual Business Meeting to take place at the Annual Conference in Sacramento on Sept. 15, 2017.

The council meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers at Porterville’s City Hall.