The Civic Courier

City Council Meeting Recap

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April 18, 2023 | City Council Meeting
Council Dives into Discussion on First of Five Goals: Outreach and Open Governance

Council received a presentation from City Manager Mario Cifuentez and Community Relations Manager Brian Johnson reviewing the five recently-approved council goals, including the specific objectives associated with the goal of Outreach and Open Governance: The community will be kept informed of current, future and emerging City matters through a well-aligned and multi-faceted system of public communications.

The proposed Outreach and Open Governance objectives are as follows:

Now Objectives
  • Maximize existing communication tools to the fullest extent possible
  • Adopt and implement City of Hanford Media Relations Policy
  • Utilize new social media platforms, including Nextdoor
  • Launch CivicPlus "Notify Me" and build subscription base

Soon Objectives (Next six months)
  • Increase use of internal and public surveys, including Annual Citizen Public Opinion Survey
  • Adopt and implement City of Hanford Social Media Policy
  • Adopt and implement City of Hanford Website Governance Policy
  • Produce videos to inform, educate and showcase City initiatives and employees

Later Objectives (Six months or longer)
  • Rebranding rollout
  • Intranet rollout

During the presentation, council received draft copies of a City of Hanford Media Relations Policy and also directed staff to start drafting a City of Hanford Social Media Policy. Once approved, the policy will be posted on the City's website, as well as links to the policy on each social media page.

The other council goals (Quality of Life, Fiscal Sustainability, Employer of Choice and Customer Service) will be brought before council at future meetings.
Hanford Reorganization Project to Begin Following Consultant Selection

Council approved a staff recommendation to award a contract to QK, Inc, for planning and environmental services related to the Hanford Reorganization Project, which consists of annexations, general plan amendments, zone changes, pre-zonings, and accompanying environmental documents. Staff estimated that the project could be completed in approximately nine months.

As the staff report explains, there are three components to the annexation portion of the project. The annexation process will require significant public outreach by the City, with support from QK.

Substantially surrounded islands annexations
The City has identified three (3) substantially surrounded islands that may be annexed into the City without protest.

Heroes Park Annexation
The City received a Proposition 68 grant to build Heroes Park. Currently, the land identified for the park is outside of City limits. The City is proposing to annex the land and some adjacent properties.

Industrial Park Expansion Annexation
Council directed staff to expand the industrial park, located to the south of town.

The staff report goes on to detail the general plan amendments that will be part of the project.

Heroes Park
Heroes Park is currently designated for Neighborhood Mixed Use and Low Density Residential. The City intends to assign the area designated for Heroes Park (northern 40 acres) as Open Space. The City also wishes to find another suitable area near the site to designate as Neighborhood Mixed Use.

Hidden Valley Park
The City intends to change the General Plan designation and zoning for a portion of Hidden Valley Park from Low Density Residential to Open Space.
Police Department Introduces Newest Officers, K-9

Hanford Police Chief introduced the department's newest officers during Tuesday night's council meeting: Officer Christian Jimenez and Officer Karlson Manasan. The officers took the Oath of Office with the City Clerk and had their badges pinned by family members.

Officer Jimenez is a former Hanford PAL boxer, Hanford Police Explorer and Cadet. He graduated from the Fresno Police Academy.

Officer Manasan. He attended the Tulare-Kings Counties Police Academy before joining the Fresno County Sheriff's Office, where he worked for seven years.

We're excited to have them on board and look forward to the contribution they're going to make to our department and also to the City of Hanford," Chief Parker Sever said. "It's nice to have two very qualified individuals that are from our community."

Chief Sever also formally introduced the department's newest member of the K-9 Unit, Jett. With the addition of Jett, the department’s K-9 Unit became fully staffed again at four dual-purpose K-9 officers. Dual-purpose K-9s are trained in both the apprehension of suspects as well as the detection of illegal drugs.

Read the full press release about K-9 Jett.


Hanford Police Officers Christian Jimenez and Karlson Manasan with Chief Parker Sever and council members
Jett and his handler, Officer Sean-Paul Crain.
Other Actions, Announcements

  • Council approved a Historic Resources Permit to replace the porch and balcony of the Kings Hand Laundry building (214 N. Green Street), a "contributing building" within the Historic Overlay Zone. A contributing building means a structure within a historic district that retains scale, mass and other architectural characteristics to a degree that it contributes to the sense of time and place of the immediate area and the district.

  • Council approved the annual Hanford Police Department Military Equipment Report and authorized the department to replace its Scout Recon Camera (robot). The camera is used to clear or gain intelligence on dangerous areas.
Next Regular City Council Meeting
May 2, 2023, 7 p.m.
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