Here’s what you need to know:

  • The Board received a presentation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. The County met all financial health indicators which are net operating surplus, fund balance, liquidity, budget, funding operating costs, timeliness and accuracy of financial reports, and policies.

  • The submission of a grant application for funding for the Tule Subbasin Community Water Security Project was approved in the amount of $500,000

  • Paul Yoder gave updates on state matters: a covid relief package worth $1.9 billion expected to get signed; at least 28 members of the legislature will not be back.

Board of Supervisors

  • Larry Micari, District One

  • Pete Vander Poel III, District Two

  • Amy Shuklian, District Three

  • Eddie Valero – Chairman, District Four

  • Dennis Townsend – Vice Chair, District Five

  • Jason T. Britt, County Administrative Officer

  • Jennifer M. Flores, County Council

  • Melinda Benton, Chief Clerk

The Scene

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors meeting was held simultaneously both in-person and streamed via YouTube and Zoom at 4 p.m. on February 8, 2022. It began with the pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence.

Actions

  • Board of Supervisors matters

    • Supervisor Townsend

      • He previously met with the Health and Human Services Director, attended Eastern Tule GSA meeting, agenda review, Habitat for Humanity in Porterville, International AG Expo opening, and met with Leadership Poerterville.

    • Supervisor Micari

      • Last week he attended board rep interviews, Ruby Awards, Ivan meeting, meeting with Sierra View Hospital, and the International AG Expo opening.

      • Upcoming he will volunteer at the Tulare County sheriff’s posse booth at the AG Expo, meeting with HHSA Director, reaching out to set up meetings in his new district area, and the Tulare County Farm Bureau date night drive-thru dinner. He also spread the word about the Kings County Farm Bureau scholarship program.

    • Supervisor Shuklian

      • Last week she attended board rep interviews, Ruby Awards, Homeless task force pre-meet, HHSA Director meeting, and the International AG Expo opening.

      • Upcoming is an Animal Service advisory meeting and Tulare County economic development administrative meeting.

    • Supervisor Vander Poel

      • The Kaweah sub-basin was awarded a grant yesterday. He also attended the AG Expo opening,

      • Upcoming is the First 5 Technical Advisory meeting, volunteering as a celebrity chef in the AG Expo, meeting with Valley Children’s Hospital, GKGSA meeting, and San Joaquin valley insurance authority meeting.

    • Supervisor Valero

      • Last week he attended a Water Education for Latino Leaders conference, Tulare County Regional Transportation authority meeting, and the International AG Expo.

      • Upcoming is a Central Valley Planning meeting, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks update meeting, Leadership Northern Tulare County meeting, law library meeting, stakeholder review meeting, earth day planning meeting, and a meeting about a potential travel to Washington DC for a conference.

  • Presentation by the Tulare County Office of Education Foster and Homeless Youth Services for the Year of the Youth Series

    • Beth Wilshire, Tulare County Office of Education Foster & Homeless Youth Services Coordinator

    • Some resources are education services, transitional housing, job/skill employment, tutoring, and independent living services.

    • The Dream Center

      • Partnered with child abuse Prevention Council, Child Welfare Services, and HHSA Self Sufficiency Workers

      • Supported by C-Set, Public Health, Tulare County Behavioral Health Services, and The Source

      • Washer and dryer, shower, clothing closet, tutoring, HIgh School Completion, and College/Career enrollment

  • Consent calendar

    • Items 4, 5, and 16 were pulled for consideration. Item 22 was removed to be off calendar

    • The remainder of the consent calendar as approved

    • Item 4 Approve the newly revised By-Laws of the Tulare County Fish and Wildlife Commission

      • Dave Adalian, writer for Valley Voice newspaper, asked what has changed in the by-laws.

        • Tom Tucker, Tulare County AG Commissioner, said they couldn’t find the current by-laws so they went through and revised them.

      • Approved

    • Item 5 Approve a letter in opposition to the proposed listing and designation of the Southern Sierra Distinct Population Segment of Foothill Yellow Legged Frog as an Endangered Species under the Endangered Species Act.

      • Dave Adalian asked why this item is on the agenda and if the Board is aware of the history of documenting this as endangered species. He said the habitat is mostly unpopulated so what is the benefit of proposing this as an endangered species.

        • Supervisor Townsed said they are informed when species are considered for the Endangered Species Act. Some problems were that the range wasn’t well defined in the listing and mitigation factors focused on reservoirs. It was looked into on a federal level and they found issues. The issue is still in its comment period which is why it is up for board consideration.

      • Item 5 approved

    • Item 16 Approve an amendment with the California Department of Public Health, Immunizations Branch to increase funding by $5,673,347 for a total amount of $6,592,275 for the provision of the immunization program, retroactive from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. Approve the Capital Asset purchase of two Ford Transit vans to support the transportation of staff, vaccines, and medical supplies to points of distribution across the County in an amount not to exceed $110,000. Approve the Capital Asset purchase of six pharmaceutical grade refrigeration units to replace two existing refrigerators and add capacity at both the Hillman Complex and Porterville site in an amount not to exceed $36,000. Approve the Capital Asset purchase of eight universal power supplies to act as back-up battery power for vaccine refrigeration units in an amount not to exceed $48,000.

      • Pamela Silva said she wants to get funding  to spread the word about Vitamin D instead of the vaccine. She believes the vaccine is unsafe and is killing people.

      • Item 16 approved

  • Presentation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2021

    • Cass Cook, Auditor Controller/Treasurer Tax Collector, gave a presentation to inform the Board and citizens of the County’s finances.

    • Revenue $728 million, Expenditures $741 million, Transfers in $90 million, Transfers out $48 million

    • Balance

      • Nonspendable $12 million, Restricted $115 million, Committed $59 million, Assigned $50 million, Unassigned $50 million

    • Financial Health indicators

      • Net operating surplus, fund balance, liquidity, budget, funding operating costs, timeliness and accuracy of financial reports, and policies.

    • The County is in healthy financial condition

  • Request from the Resource Management Agency to authorize the submission of a grant application for funding from the Tule Subbasin Sustainable Groundwater Management Implementation Fund for the Tule Subbasin Community Water Security Project, in an amount of $500,000

    • Denise England, Water Resources Program Director gave the presentation

    • The Department of Water Resources requires a competitive process to identify which projects to move forward. This addresses disadvantaged communities. There will be a Teviston recharge project to improve qatar quality and quantity.

    • Rain Akiona, Watershed Coordinator within the Tule Subbasin, said there is an evaluation of recharge for disadvantaged communities in their basin.

    • Supervisor Townsend asked what is the acreage for recharge around teviston. Akiona said it would be tens of acres but hinges on flood flows and good water years, etc. For the long term, there are questions about how often they need to be charged. It depends on the outcome of the studies. Townsend also asked if  this money was only for research and planning. Akiona said “the one workflow that would work towards actual project development has a 35% concept design deliverable”.

    • Approved

  • Request from Board of Supervisors’ staff to receive input and provide direction regarding the 2022 Tulare County Federal and State Legislative Platforms

    • Federal Legislative Platform minimally modified

      • Environment and Natural Resources, Infrastructure (Local Match), Covid-19, SCAAP

    • New Federal item Cannabis/Marijuana Enforcement

    • State Legislative Platform minimally modified

      • Environment and natural resources, drinking water, water reliance and supply, wastewater, government finance and operations, Health and Human services, homlessness, solid waste

    • New State items

      • Immediate drought issues/reports, full funding for state mandates, addressing regional structural inequities, senior nutrition, affordable housing, AB-808 foster youth, AB-413 foster youth housing, Ab-728 homlessnes multidisciplinary personnel teams, children/youth and schools, crisis services, criminal justice, workforce development, SR-99 widening, and government communications

    • Paul Yoder informed the board on state matters.

      • James Gallagher is the new Assembly Republican Caucus Leader in Sacramento.

      • Covid relief package expecting to get signed worth $1.9 billion.

      • Resettle Afghani refugees.

      • State identified 5 priorities

        • Covid-19, homlessness, climate change, the cost of living in California, and public safety

      • Budget subcommittees start a month early this year on February 18. There are currently no bill limits.

      • At least 28 members of the legislature will not be back. There will be a lot of special elections.

      • Supervisor Vander Poel asked about limits on member budget requests. Yoder said the state must spend on one time projects. Legislatures are not equal.

      • Supervisor Townsend asked about opinions changing on water storage projects. Yoder said individual members of the legislature want to make it a priority. Townsend wants to talk about above ground water storage. The Water Now Initiative may have run into some problems.

      • Supervisor Valero asked about public libraries and how they identify places in need. Yoder said money has already been appropriated. People have been asking the state librarian to use a different method to identify libraries in need.

      • Supervisor Shuklian asked about the taxpayer protection accountability act. Yoder said people are gathering signatures and he does not think there will be extensions.

    • Approved

  • Board Matter Requests

    • Supervisor Vander Poel requested to put AB-1773, SB-866, and SB-871 on the agenda for consideration.

Public Comment

  • Virginia Gurrola, of Leadership Porterville, invited the members of Leadership Porterville to introduce themselves. They thanked the Board for supporting them.

  • Mike Washam, Associate Director of the Resource Management Agency, talked about this year’s RMA calendar and the new Discover Sequoia magazine. They redesigned the map and are looking into creating themed maps. They work with Mighty 190 and Sequoia Tourism Council.

  • Pamela Silva spoke against AB-361 because she said it goes against the right of assembly. She says she can be cut off before her time is up and it is not a good substitute for meeting in person. She also said the Governor passed laws regarding religion that are unconstitutional.

The meeting adjourned to a closed session. There is no meeting next week, February 15, 2022.

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at Documenters-admin@thefresnoland.com with “Correction Request” in the subject line.

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