Here’s what you need to know:

  • Ballots were counted to reduce assessment fees for maintenance of the public storm drainage system and public roadways in Goshen. Both were approved with only one ballot vote received for each item.
  • The Resource Management Agency presented the 2021 Interim Report of Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Dairies and Feedlots for 2020. Reduction of greenhouse gasses from dairies are on track and have reduced by 30%.
  • The Curb and Sidewalk Reimbursement Program was approved. This financially assists property owners in residential areas by installing and repairing curbs, sidewalks, ramps, and driveways. The program has a budget of $150k proposed for this year.

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 9 a.m. on April 19, 2022. It began with the pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence.

Actions

  • Board of Supervisors matters
    • Supervisor Townsend
      • Earlier he attended the California State Association of Counties meeting,  AG Natural Resources Committee meeting for RCRC, rodeo parade, he preached at Cowboy Church, California State Sheriff’s opeing ceremony, RCRC Board meeting, ribbon cutting for Varcomm, and a Habitat for Humanity meeting.
      • Upcoming is the Tulare County Peace Officers ceremony, Tulare County Farm Bureau Banquet, Round Table discussion with Congressional representatives, and a meeting with the County Librarian.
    • Supervisor Micari
      • Earlier he attended the CSAC conference, Los Arroyos groundbreaking ceremony, an honoring for Gail Zurek as Woman of the Year, Bark n’ Bid fundraiser, Lindsay Chamber Awards Dinner, ribbon cutting Seton Park, met with IT Director, and the DA memorial quilt. This week is National Correctional Offficer’s week
      • Upcoming is the Peace Officer memorial, Tulare County Farm Bureau awards, TCAG loclomton awards, SJVIA meeting, and the Tulare County Hispanic Chamber awards.
    • Supervisor Shuklian
      • Earlier she attended a Homeless Task Force meeting, CSAC Board of Directors, Farmer Bob’s fundraiser, Armenian Genocide momorial, Sheriff’s conference, Farm Bureau Leadership mock board meeting, met with the CEO of Kingsview Corporation, and the memorial quilt.
      • Upcoming mental health board, peace officer memorial, Farm Bureau dinner, TCAG locomotion awards, SJVIA meeting, Tulare County Hispanic Chamber Awards.
    • Supervisor Vander Poel
      • Earlier he gave a County update to realtors in Tulare and his children’s baseball team won their first game.
      • Upcoming Earliemorat Rotary meeting, Peace Officers memorial, LAFCO, Audit Committee, Tulare County Association of Governments locomotion awards, San Joaquin Valley Insurance Authority, memorial for John Hobbs who was part of the redistricting commission, Mother’s Day, Tulare Chamber of Commerce, and the Tulare County Water Commission meeting.
    • Supervisor Valero
      • Earlier he attended the Los Arroyos groundbreaking, Farmer Bob’s fundraiser, CSAC, Visalia cemetery district governing meeting, met with residents of Three Rivers, Yosemite-Sequoia Research and Conservation and Development Council meeting, read the pinata at libraries in Ivanhoe, 100 year anniversary for the Dinuba Rotary International club, Orange Cove Dinuba Lions Club event, and talked about local governance to foerign exchange students in Dinuba.
      • Upcoming Leadership Northern Tulare County’s Cinco De Mayo Parade, Peace officer’s memorial, #Lead committee meeting, Summer Night Lights, Tulare County Farm Bureau Awards, Latino Caucus of California Counties, and an audit committee meeting.
  • Present a Proclamation recognizing May 2022 as Mental Health Matters Month in Tulare County.
    • Supervisor Shuklian presented the proclamation. Supervisor Valero said we need to focus on mental health now more than ever. Supervisor Vander Poel said this is a subject everyone needs to talk about.
    • Members of the Mental Health Board could not attend but Donna Ortiz, Director of Mental Health, accepted the proclamation.
  • The consent calendar was approved
  • Request from the Resource Management Agency to count the ballots received from the record owners within Subdivision Tract No. 789-GOSHEN. Approve Option A or Option B:
    • Option A: Approve Proceedings to form Assessment District No. 21-789-GOSHEN. Approve the Engineer’s Report for the formation of in Goshen Village. Approve the proposed Boundary Map and direct the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors to file certified copies with the County Clerk-Recorder. Declare the Board of Supervisors’ intention to levy and collect assessments for the maintenance of public storm drainage systems. Approve the formation of the Assessment District and imposition of assessments. Approve the AUD 308 form establishing a budget for the Assessment Districts.
    • Option B: Assessment District is not formed.
    • Reed Schenke gave a presentation
      • 73 residential lots among all 3 phases
      • If passed, it would reduce assessment fees for maintenance of the public storm drainage system to $25.92 per lot and add Phase 3 to the district.
    • 1 vote for yes
    • Option A approved
  • Request from the Resource Management Agency to count the ballots received from the record owners within Subdivision Tract No. 789R-GOSHEN. Approve Option A or Option B: 
    • Option A: Approve Proceedings to form Assessment District No. 21-789R-GOSHEN. Approve the Engineer’s Report for the formation in Goshen Village. Approve the proposed Boundary Map. Declare the Board of Supervisors’ intention to levy and collect assessments for the maintenance of public roadways. Approve the formation of the Assessment District and imposition of assessments. Approve the AUD 308 form establishing a budget for the Assessment Districts. 
    • Option B: Assessment District is not formed.
    • Reed Schenke gave a presentation
      • 73 residential lots for all 3 phases
      • If passed, it would reduce assessment fees for maintenance of the public roadways to $76.82 per lot and add Phase 3 to the district.
    • 1 vote for yes
    • Option A approved
  • Request from the Resource Management Agency to receive a presentation to consider the 2021 Interim Report of Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Dairies and Feedlots for 2020 and provide an opportunity for public comment. Approve the 2021 Interim Report and adopt a Categorical Exemption for that action.
    • Mike Washam, RMA Associate Director, presented the report.
      • The County is part of a settlement agreement with Sierra Club and others in which they agree to reduce greenhouse gasses from dairies. The goal is to reduce1.05 million metric tons by 2023. They are currently at 30% so far, which is on track. 
      • They are working on the first large-scale dairy vermifiltration system in California. It will eliminate the long term need for storage of liquid manure.
      • Already below the line of SB-1383 goal
      • Since last year they have increased manure projects by two and increased digesters by 25.
      • Need four new digesters and already have applications for those four digesters in-process.
    • Approved
  • Request from the Resource Management Agency to approve the Engineer’s Report on the County of Tulare Curb & Sidewalk Reimbursement Program. Adopt the County of Tulare Curb & Sidewalk Reimbursement Program. Authorize the Resource Management Agency Director, or designee, to approve and reimburse Curb & Sidewalk Reimbursement Program applications up to the established budget amount as part of our County Transportation Improvement Program each fiscal year.
    • Reed Schenke presented the report
      • More drainage and sidewalk improvement to rural communities.
      • In 2016 public concerns were surveyed. In 2013 the ADA Transition Plan was made. 
      • State law says privately constructed facilities must maintain the adjacent sidewalks.
        • Supervisor Vander Poel asked how many requests do they receive about improving sidewalks. Schenke said there are near zero. Vander Poel asked about reducing permit fees. Schenke said there are no encroachment permit fees.
      • Curb and Sidewalk Reimbursement Program (CSRP)
        • The purpose is to financially assist property owners in residential areas by installing and repairing curbs, sidewalks, ramps, and driveways. It would assist owners with installation and repairs, address hazardous disruptions, and reduce wait time.
        • Curb and gutter $25 per linear foot, sidewalk $15 per linear foot, and ADA ramp $1,400 per ramp.
          • $150k proposed for this year
        • Process
          • Fill out application, pre-approval, permits construction, and reimbursement
    • Supervisor Micari asked if RMA will put together a pamphlet to give out. Schenke said they can do that.
    • Supervisor Townsend asked how they will handle the prevailing wage between the owner, the contractor, and the County. Schenke said they will have to show proof of payment to the contractor including pay stubs as part of the application. 
    • Approved
  • Board matter requests
    • Supervisor Shuklian listed some items she missed during the Board of Supervisor Matters (Item 1). There was a fire in Visalia and she thanked Fire Chief Norman and Tara Freitas. Shuklian is working with veterans organizations to restore the damaged WWII mural on Mooney Boulevard.

Public Comment

  • Nancy Ruble, District Superintendent Pixley, came to the Board with a traffic concern on their main throughway She said there has been a number of aggressive motorists and there have been several near-misses. She wants immediate solutions or guidance on what to do next.
    • Supervisor Vander Poel said to talk to Reed Schenke. He said they should probably use flashing indicators. Supervisor Valero said this problem has been happening across the County.
  • Brad Anderson spoke against modified mosquitoes. He thinks people should check if the Mosquito Association of California is following their mission statement and asked the Board to oppose modified mosquitoes being released. 

The meeting adjourned to a closed session.

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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