Here’s what you need to know:

  • The Planning and Development Fee Schedule was adjusted. The hourly rate was increased to $110 per hour, likewise the admin special use permit, lot line adjustment, minor modifications, and minor deviation variance fees. Surrounding Counties hourly rates range from $110-$135 per hour.
  • The Auditor-Controller’s Office was approved to receive a subscription to the CGI Advantage 4 application, in an amount not to exceed $14,693,160, which will utilize the cloud, embedded analytics, a unified system, and a modernized user experience.
  • The Ordinance Code of Tulare County, pertaining to the County Hearing Officer position, was amended. This amendment allows the Board to hire someone to serve as County Hearing Officer and allows the CAO to contract attorneys on an ad hoc basis, rather than the original suspended ordinance that allowed a three-panel body of attorneys or an administrative law judge to serve in place of the Board of Supervisors in certain appeal hearings.

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 6 p.m. on April 5, 2022. Closed session was held at 4 p.m. It began with the pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence.

Actions

  • Board of Supervisors matters
    • Supervisor Townsend
      • Last week he attended the Porterville breakfast Rotary Club museum tour, played at the Tulare County Cattlewomen’s Golf Tournament, Habitat for Humanity birdhouse auction, Tule River Joint Powers Authority meeting, Success Reservoir Enlargement meeting, and a Habitat for Humanity meeting.
      • Upcoming is Tulare County Sheriff’s promotion ceremony, LAFCO, Rotary Club meeting in Porterville, Eastern Tule GSA, a meeting with the Chair of the Tule River Tribe, Ex-wagonmaster’s dance and rodeo, and SCICON barbeque and tour.
    • Supervisor Micari
      • Last week he met with Source Leadership Academy, attended Kiwanis Farmer of the yYear luncheon, Visalia Women’s Federation, luncheon with Visalia Mayor and City Manager, Visalia chamber mixer, First 5 Awards, Visalia breakfast Lions, Habitat for Humanity birdhouse auction, Tulare County museum Jamboree, Exter AG Boosters fundraiser, and a ranch fundraiser.
      • Upcoming is Tulare County Sheriff’s promotion, LAFCO, Crystal Apple awards, and the FFA State Degree awards dinner. He will also tour the new Board of Supervisors building, attend the Visalia Breakfast Lions golf tournament, Lindsay Orange Blossom parade and festival, SCICON barbeque, and a Veterans Advisory Committee meeting. 
    • Supervisor Shuklian
      • Last week she met with Source leadership Academy, attended the Tulare County Economic Development Corporation Administration meeting, MC’d the First 5 Awards, chamber mixer at Shannon Ranch, Habitat for Humanity birdhouse auction, Mooney Grove Jamboree, and a Mental Health Board meeting.
      • Upcoming is the Tulare County Sheriff’s promotion, and a production of Songs of Solomon. 
    • Supervisor Vander Poel
      • Upcoming is updating the Allensworth community plan, touring the new Board of Supervisors building, Tulare County Sheriff’s promotion, LAFCO, Tulare Chamber of Commerce, GKGSA, and a Tulare County Water Commission meeting. 
    • Supervisor Valero
      • Last week he met with residents of East Orosi, met with the CEO of California Volunteers Commission, attended the Well Conference, Library Advisory Board meeting, and the ribbon cutting and ground breaking of the new Dinuba High School complex.
      • Upcoming is the Sheriff’s promotion, #Lead Committee meeting, Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks update, Step Up youth challenge awards, Goshen business roundtable, Cutler-Orosi Community Awards Banquet.
        • Awards for the Cutler-Orosi Community Awards are
          • Man of the year – Moses Amed
          • Woman of the year – Yessenia Miraz
          • Small business of the year – Moe’s Quickshop
          • Community public service and health –  Open Gate
          • Educational leader of the year – Lisa Castillo
          • Junior citizen of the year  – Nolan Fernandez
          • Lifetime community service award – Aren Market
          • Large Business of the year – Family Healthcare Network
  • Present a Certificate recognizing Barbara Grunwald for her many years of service and dedication to Tulare County.
    • Supervisor Valero presented the certificate and read some of Grunwald’s accomplishments. County Council Jennfer Flores spoke about Grunwald and thanked her for her hard work. Grunwald expressed her happiness with working with the Board and being able to say goodbye. Each member of the Board thanked Grunwald and took a picture with her.
  • Receive a Presentation by the Community Services Employment Training’s Sequoia Community Corps for the Year of the Youth Presentation Series.
    • Mary Alice Escarsega introduced the presentation.
    • History of CSET
      • Founded in 1964, became Tulare County Community Action Agency in 1984, and created the Tulare County Youth Conservation Core now known as the Sequoia Community Corps (SSC) in 1986.
      • Departments are Community Initiatives, Energy Services, Sequoia Community Corps, and Workforce Development
    • Teresa Guzman spoke about the programs
    • SSC works with urban forestry, public works, Department of Recycling, energy and weatherization, ECO and Back2Work, John Muir Charter School and other youth workforce programs. It is a paid work training program eligible to Tulare County residents ages 18-26. There were 122 Corps-members last year.
    • The Board thanked CSET for their various efforts helping the County.
  • Consent Calendar
    • Item 10 was pulled
    • Supervisor Shuklian commented on Items 17 and 18. She thanked the people involved and was grateful they were able to receive ARPA funding on this project. The location will become housing units.
    • The remainder of the consent calendar was approved
  • Request from the Resource Management Agency to consider the proposed adjustments to the Planning and Development Fee Schedule. Approve the Proposed Fees for the Tulare County Resource Management Agency, effective July 1, 2022.
    • Sherman Dix, RMA Assistant Director, gave the presentation.
    • Last fee update was three years ago. Last hourly rate increase was in 2009.
    • Proposed Hourly rate increase
      • Recommended rate is $115 per hour. Surrounding Counties hourly rates are $110-$135 per hour.
    • Proposed Flat fee increases
      • Admin special use permit increase $900, currently $1000, proposed $1900
      • Lot line adjustment increase $450, currently $900, proposed $1350
      • Minor modifications increase $600, currently $500, proposed $1100
      • Minor deviation variance increase $300, currently $900, proposed $1200
    • Supervisor Valero asked if it was considered that the costs phase-in instead of jumping. Dix said they did consider it.
    • Supervisor Vander Poel said he supports phasing but all costs will increase.
    • Supervisor Micari agrees with phasing but does not think it is feasible. He thinks delaying it will affect the budget. Micari asked what the stakeholders’ response was. Dix said there was no response.
    • Approved
  • Receive the Library Advisory Board’s annual report. Proclaim April 3-9, 2022 as National Library Week in Tulare County.
    • Alex McDavid and Darla Wegener presented the annual report.
    • The Library Advisory Board’s purpose was updated February 1,  2022.
      • The Library Advisory Board’s purpose is to act as an advisory board to the Board of Supervisors and County Librarian regarding services and operations including library policies and operations, federal/state/local legislation pertaining to library support, public input about the library, financial requirements of the library, and other library matters that concerns the Board of Supervisors.
    • The Library Advisory Board was established in 1910. There are 42 full time staff members, 17 branches, five book lending machines, and one bookmobile. There is an Early Learning for Families (ELF) program as well as an Adult Literacy program.
    • Some accomplishments are the third “Horror” and fourth “science” book festivals, purchased a bookmobile, MakerSpace interns in Exeter, and expanded Career Online high school scholarships.
      • 229,539 total physical books and materials and 86 online resources
    • In fiscal year 2022 they improved virtual programming, received chromebooks with hotspots, #PlantWildFlowers initiative, received book lockers and bookmobile grants, and received ARPA funded Extra Help Library Assistants.
    • Some challenges are receiving grants and funding, staffing services, and maintaining facilities.
    • Approved
    • Supervisor Valero presented the proclamation
  • Request from the Auditor-Controller’s Office to approve an agreement with CGI Technology and Solutions, Inc., to provide a subscription to the CGI Advantage 4 application, in an amount not to exceed $14,693,160, retroactive from April 1, 2022, through April 11, 2032. Waive the formal bidding process for the Sole Source Purchase of the application. Find that the purchase of the application is a sole source purchase, and that CGI Advantage is the only source that meets the needs of the County. 
    • Cass Cook presented the request.
    • AFIN Modernization
      • The cloud, embedded analytics, a unified system, and a modernized user experience.
    • New capabilities are fixed assets, inventory management, and vendor self-service into a single platform.
    • Cost
      • Current annual $722,013
      • One-time implementation $4,557,760
      • Years 2-6 annual $1,102,200; Years 7-10 annual $1,156,100
    • Approved
  • Request from the County Counsel Office to introduce an ordinance amending the Ordinance Code of Tulare County, pertaining to the County Hearing Officer position. Set the adoption of the ordinance for April 19, 2022.
    • Jennifer Flores, County Counsel, presented the item.
    • The original ordinance from 2019 that allowed for certain appeal hearings to be conducted by either a three-panel body of local attorneys or by an administrative law judge in place of the Board of Supervisors. This was temporarily suspended due to not enough attorneys wanting to serve on the panel as well as delays and expenses of using State Administrative Law Judges.
    • This amendment allows the Board to hire someone to serve as County Hearing Officer and allows the CAO to contract attorneys on an ad hoc basis. It also ends the suspension of the original ordinance.
    • Approved
  • Board matter requests
    • Supervisor Shuklian requested the Board to add AB-361 to the agenda.
    • Supervisor Townsend requested to create a letter opposing AB-2764.

Public Comment

There was no public comment.

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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