Hanford Insider: Travis Paden's Wednesday Wrap Up

Big changes start with quiet choices: better maps, safer streets, clearer rules, and the people who bring them to life. We unpack a full council agenda that connects everyday services to long-term strategy, from a key GIS upgrade to the dollars-and-cents reality of funding the refuse division as equipment ages and state mandates climb. You’ll hear how infrastructure spending and code updates translate into cleaner neighborhoods, smoother commutes, and reliable water systems that protect public health.

We also make time for the moments that define community pride. Promotions across the police department highlight leadership growth and continuity of service, while the Sierra Pacific Girls Water Polo team’s first Central Section Valley Championship showcases discipline and teamwork worth celebrating. On the business side, we move forward with Measure H-funded vehicles for code enforcement, adopt new graffiti, sign, and mural ordinances, and approve critical purchases for the wastewater treatment facility. A standout data point frames the city’s momentum: in 2024, Hanford averaged just over one new home completed each working day, underscoring why we adopted the 2025 California Building Standards Code to keep safety and efficiency front and center.

Public safety stays top of mind with strengthened rules on illegal fireworks and the “It’s Not Worth It” campaign, where enforcement meets education to reduce risk and protect neighbors. If you’ve ever wanted a direct say in how Hanford grows, three Planning Commission seats are open—your perspective can guide land use, design, and housing choices. We close with a heartfelt thank-you from our outgoing mayor and a smooth handoff of the weekly wrap-up to Mayor Mark Kylis, keeping the conversation open and the updates coming.

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Chapters

• 0:00 Overview And Agenda Setup
• 0:19 GIS Upgrade And Utility Rate Outlook
• 1:02 Honors For Police And Student Athletes
• 1:41 Consent Calendar Highlights
• 2:07 Building Code Update And Growth
• 2:24 Fireworks Policy And Safety Campaign
• 2:39 Planning Commission Vacancies
• 2:57 Mayoral Thanks And Transition
• 3:31 Closing And Next Meeting Info

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:00

You're listening to a special episode of the Hanford Insider Podcast, featuring Travis Payton's wrap-up of the December 2nd Hanford City Council meeting. Hey Hanford, here's your Wednesday wrap-up with a quick look at what happened at last week's City Council meeting for December 2nd. Let's jump right in. In our study session, staff gave us an update on our Geographic Information System, or GIS. These upgrades to the GIS system will help the city map, plan, and respond way more efficiently. We also heard from staff about the potential need to increase our trash and recycling rates in order to adequately fund our refuge division. The division has faced many challenges since the last rate study, from replacing aging equipment to complying with unfunded mandates from the state and paying way more in tipping fees at the King's Waste and Recycling Authority. This topic will be brought back to council before any proposed increases occur. At 7 p.m. for our regular session, one of the highlights of the night was recognizing several of our police department members who earned promotions. A huge congratulations to Lieutenant Chad Allen, Sergeant Larry Leeds, Corporals Daniel Todd, Sean Paul Crane, and Kevin Wheat. We also honor the Sierra Pacific High School Girls Water Polo team for winning their first ever Central Section Valley Championship. Now, with only four seniors on the team this year, there's a successful future ahead for this program. Congratulations on an incredible season. On the consent calendar, Council approves several items, including the vehicle replacements for code and compliance funded by Measure H, the adoption of our graffiti, sign, and mural ordinances, a contract change related to preliminary design work for the Grangeville Boulevard and 9th Avenue intersection, and the purchase of some critical equipment for our wastewater treatment facility. We also held a public hearing to adopt the 2025 California Building Standards Code. One cool fact shared during this presentation was that in 2024, Hanford averaged little over one new home completed each working day of the year. In general business, we approved the changes to our illegal fireworks ordinance and the It's Not Worth It campaign. Keeping our community safe is our number one goal, and we will have more to share about the campaign in coming months. We also have three planning commission vacancies. If you're interested, we encourage you to apply online at www.hanfordca.gov slash commissions or drop by city hall for an application. Before wrapping up, I'd like to share a few words. Over the past three years, it's been a tremendous honor serving as the mayor of the city of Hanford. I'd like to thank my wife and family, as well as the city staff and members of the community for helping these three years run very smoothly. I'm going to be passing on the torch of presenting the Wednesday wrap-up to our new mayor, Mayor Mark Kylis. And he will be taking on the Wednesday wrap-up to help keep you informed so we could be more transparent and communicate to the people what we are doing in the city of Hanford. And that's your Wednesday wrap up for today. Thank you for staying involved in keeping up with what's happening right here in Hanford. And our next meeting will be Tuesday, December 16th. Thank you and have a good evening.