Here’s what you need to know:

  • Tulare County’s Step-Up Program will be making a few changes to its committee, including who holds a seat on the committee and the decisions they make. There will be groups for youth to participate in called #LEAD and #GROW. The LOOP bus program, which allows schools to request transportation for after school and weekend activities, has received $150,000.
  • The 2022/2023 County Transportation Improvement Program was approved. This involves a total projected revenue of $56,600,000. The current pavement conditions in Tulare County are between poor and fair. A number of improvements will be made in each district with District 2 receiving the most (12 projects) and District 3 receiving the least (3 projects).  
  • A two-contract model agreement was made separating medical and behavioral services with Wellpath and Precision Psychiatric Services, respectively. Both will comply with the California Advancing and Innovation Medi-Cal (CalAIM) initiative. Supervisor Vander Poel expressed his frustration with how much money will be spent but approved it anyway.

Follow up Questions

  • Why has it taken so long to implement jail-based competency treatment services in the County? Do surrounding counties have these services?
  • What adjustments can the County make for next year so that they are not spending nearly $20,000 per inmate per year as part of their contract with Wellpath and Precision Psychiatric Services?

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 June 14, 2022. It began with the pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence. Supervisor Shuklian was absent.

Actions

  • Board of Supervisors matters
    • Supervisor Townsend
      • Last week he attended an election watch party, RCRC ad hoc committee meeting, presented for the Leadership Porterville graduates, RCRC Board meeting, and did a sponsorship for Porterville Chamber of Commerce.
      • Upcoming is Father’s Day, the Space Planning ad hoc committee, Springville Community Plan update, Camp Nelson town hall, Golden State Connect Authority, and a Tulare County Association of Governments meeting. 
    • Supervisor Micari
      • His daughter is getting a scholarship awarded from the Tulare County Summer Institute.
      • Last week he attended the Visalia Chamber Awards, Salute to Dairy, Day of Self Determination in Popler, and a community meeting in his district. 
      • Upcoming is the ribbon cutting of Snow Shack in Exeter, meeting with a representative of CABT, groundbreaking of the museum in Mooney’s Grove Park, ribbon cutting for Legacy Threads in Exeter, and a Portuguese Heritage Month event in Sacramento.
    • Supervisor Vander Poel
      • Last week he attended the Allensworth Juneteenth celebration. 
      • Upcoming is a fire camp in Earlimart, Flag Day event in Tulare, groundbreaking for the museum in Mooney’s Grove park, Father’s Day, Tulare County Employees Retirement Association meeting, Kings-Tulare Master Plan for Aging Committee, Space Planning ad hoc committee, First5 Commission, and a TCAG meeting. 
    • Supervisor Valero
      • Last week he attended United Way’s Power of the Purse, toured the water replenishment district of Southern California, and gave a welcome address to stakeholders in Tulare County and Kings County on CERF, 
      • Upcoming is a Law Library meeting, Library Advisory Board, Mineral King Association meeting, and the Leadership Northern Tulare County graduation. 
  • Receive a Presentation by Tulare County’s Step-Up Program for the Year of the Youth Presentation Series
    • Anita Ortiz, Human Services Director, and Jacob Jimenez, Administrative Specialist, gave the presentation. 
    • The Step-Up advisory program will be slightly different
      • The Committee will be made up of one representative per district, one youth from Step-Up programs, HHSA coordinator, one non-profit, one school district
      • The Committee is responsible for reviewing Summer Night Lights grants, Step-Up grants, and selecting winners for the Youth Challenge
      • Its cycle is form July 1st through June 30th
    • #LEAD
      • Made up of four cohorts (Dinuba, Tulare, Porterville, Visalia), 25-35 students per cohort. They offer summer employment.
      • The program cycle will be from October through May. Applications and interviews are from August through October.
    • #GROW
      • It will partner with CSET
      • One cohort will represent five districts. It will start with 40 youths for the 2022/2023 school year. Youth are then encouraged to apply for #LEAD.
    • Summer Night Lights
      • Coming in 2022-2023 will be $1,000 grants for a total of 65 events. Advertising begins January 2023. The website will provide updates for the  application process and due dates. The Step-Up Advisory Committee will work with HHSA to approve applications. 
    • Youth Challenge
      • The Step-Up Advisory Committee will decide winners. There will be an annual award in Phil Cox’s honor. 
    • Step-Up Youth Activities Grant
      • $50,000. $10,000 per district.
      • HHSA grant writing workshops will be held in February 2023
    • LOOP Bus
      • This is a program where schools request transportation for afterschool and weekend activities. The budget is $150,000 through Measure R and RMA funds.
    • Tulare County Board of Supervisors has invested $550,000, Tulare County HHSA has invested $130,000, and RMA/Measure R has invested $150,000 for Step-Up
  • Consent Calendar
    • Supervisor Vander Poel commented on Item 8
      • Item 8 Amend Administrative Regulation No. 40 regarding employee appreciation, effective July 1, 2022.
      • This amendment doubles the amount allotted for employee appreciation. 
    • The consent calendar was approved
  • Request from the Resource Management Agency to receive a presentation on the Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing Program. Allow Self-Help Enterprises to utilize the county seal on marketing material and share information on county websites about the Program. 
    • Abigail Solis, Manager of Sustainable Energy Solutions for Self-Help Enterprises, and Maria Revelas, Project Manager at Self-Help, gave the presentation. 
    • Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing (SOMAH)
      • Overseen by the California Public Utilities Commission
      • Provides financial incentives for installing solar systems on multifamily affordable housing. It ensures long-term financial benefits for low-income households
      • Eligible for affordable housing units and disadvantaged communities in PG&E and Southern California Edison Company territories in the San Joaquin Valley. 
      • 70-90% save an average of $60 monthly ($700 yearly)
      • Prioritizes tenants in participating properties for workforce development and on-the-job solar training. 
      • Reduces greenhouse gas emissions, air pollutants, and dependence on fossil fuels. 
    • Supervisor Micari asked if they have done outreach in the eligible locations. Abigail said they used to do outreach by phone and this year they have gone in person. 
    • Supervisor Vander Poel said they should be careful about using the County Seal, but he believes Self-Help should be able to use it on this. Supervisor Micari agrees that it should be used on a case-by-case basis
    • Approved
  • Request from the Resource Management Agency to approve and implement the 2022/2023 County Transportation Improvement Program. 
    • Reed Schenke gave the presentation. 
    • Projected revenue
      • $56.6 million in road funding revenue 
      • Local Transportation funds (LTF) $5,300,000
      • Total projected revenue $56,600,000
    • Supervisor Vadner Poel asks how they determine that unmet transit needs are met. Schenke said it is determined by the TCAG process. 
    • Transportation funding
      • $30,870,719 total projected gas tax revenue
    • Reserves
      • Rainy Day/Emergency Funds, suggested $6.75 million
      • Cash Flow, suggested $3 million
      • Capitol Asset Replacement Program, suggested $1 million
      • Total suggested reserved amount is $10.75 million
    • Pavement conditions are between poor and fair.
    • Hernan Beltran, Chief Engineer of the RMA, presented the rest of the presentation. 
    • Planned projects
      • District 1 (7 projects)
        • Improve Road 152
        • Community resurfacing in Strathmore
        • Road reconstruction of Roads 224, 192, and Lindmore Street
      • District 2 (12 projects)
        • Bridge construction for Avenue 108
        • Bridge replacement for bridge over Lakeland Canal, 
        • Community resurfacing in Teviston, 
        • School safety projects and Tipton Sidewalk improvement project
      • District 3 (3 projects)
        • Road reconstruction for Road 156 and Road 56 
        • Avenue 280 widening project segment 2
      • District 4 (7 projects)
        • Community resurfacing in Three Rivers
        • Road reconstruction of Avenues 424, 408, 352, and Road 144
        • Palm Elementary sidewalk improvements project of Road 130, 
        • Road 67 at Betty Drive signal operation improvements
      • District 5 (7 projects)
        • Community resurfacing in East Porterville
        • Road reconstruction for Roads 264 (Porterville), 256, and 264 (Terra Bella)
        • Market Project of Terra Bella Avenue Farm 2
    • 2023 Road Repair and Accountability Act (RRRA) Projects
      • Pavement rehabilitation for multiple roadway segments. Funding is $15.1 million
    • Approved
  • Request from the Health and Human Services Agency to receive a presentation on Jail-Based Competency Treatment services in the Tulare County criminal justice facilities. Approve an agreement with California Department of State Hospitals for Jail-Based Competency Treatment, in an amount not to exceed $7,877,981.65, effective July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2025. Designate the Tulare County Adult Pre-Trial Facility as a treatment facility. Establish an interest-bearing trust fund to receive revenues for the program.
    • Elisa Huff, Lead Psychologist of the Mental Health Branch of HHSA, and Assistant Sheriff Marcus gave the presentation. 
    • Huff explained Imcompetent to Stand Trial (IST) including long wait times. 
    • The program involves a 15 bed treatment program for IST cases. There is an open ended option to transfer to a State hospital. 
      • The objectives are to restore competency in 90 days, provide less costly alternatives to a state hospital, help resolve the waitlist dilema, and help inmates receive more timely treatment. 
      • The “Fast Lane” separates rapid responders from inmates needing long-term treatment. This reduces the waitlist and eases the congestion of people headed to the state hospital
    • Assistant Sheriff Marcus explained the benefits. Some of the benefits include that it reduces state hospital referrals, reduces waitlist, and reduces court action. 
    • Approved
  • Items 25 and 26 were presented and voted upon at the same time. 

Item 25: Request from the Health and Human Services Agency to receive a presentation on Medical and Mental Health services in the Tulare County criminal justice facilities. Approve an agreement with California Forensic Medical Group, Inc. to provide comprehensive health care services for the Tulare County Criminal Justice Facilities in an amount not to exceed $38,038,985, effective July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2024. 

Item 26: Request from the Health and Human Services Agency to approve an agreement with Precision Psychiatric Services, Inc to provide comprehensive Behavioral Health care services for the Tulare County Criminal Justice Facilities in an amount not to exceed $10,593,946, effective July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023. 

  • Tim Lutz gave the presentation. 
  • A two-contract model was made separating medical and behavioral services. Precision Psychiatric Services was awarded the behavioral health contract. Wellpath was awarded the medical services contract.
    • Precision Psychiatric Services
      • Behavioral health, mental health services, jail-based competency, crisis treatment
      • Seven day per week in-person psychiatry and discharge planning
      • Medication Assisted Therapy (MAT) and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Programs
    • Wellpath
      • Medical services, dental services, vision services, pharmaceuticals management, utilization management
  • Both will comply with the California Advancing and Innovation Medi-Cal (CalAIM) initiative. County jails will be ready for implementation in 2023.
  • Supervisor Townsend suggested avoiding duplication with both services. Supervisor Townsend and Vander Poel noted that it costs around $20,000 per inmate per year. Vander Poel said “if votes were based on frustration I would flat out vote against it, maybe even abstain from this vote just because I think it’s gross”.
  • Approved Items 25 and 26
  • Request from the Health and Human Services Agency to receive a presentation on the Local Homeless Action Plan and authorize the Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency Director to submit the Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention Program Round 3 (HHAP-3) application for the amount of $1,137,086.44.
    • Miguel Perez, Executive Director of the Kings-Tulare Homeless Alliance, and his partner gave the presentation.
    • The plan strengthens local system capacity, emergency temporary shelter, permanent shelter, homlessness prevention, and person-centered and trauma-informed services. 
    • The Kings-Tulare Homeless Alliance received $1,137,086.44 for Tulare County. 10% is set aside for youth ($113,708.64)
      • Funds are eligible for rapid rehousing, emergency shelters, affordable housing units, and permanent housing solutions.
    • There is a total of 1621 people experiencing homlessness in Tulare and Kings County
      • There is nearly and even split between men and women who are homeless, with men being the majority.
    • Supervisor Micari asked what are some of the failures of the system that cause homlessness and how they can be fixed. He also asked what they are doing to help homeless people get out of homlessness.
      • Perez’s partner said programs like Step-Up help prevent homlessness by providing positive interactions with youth, although homlessness is a complex issue. The Housing Navigator helps look for permanent housing as well as specialists who help with medical needs. State Law requires the programs to be “housing first”.
    • Approved
  • Board matter requests
    • Supervisor Micari requested a presentation form HHSA on AB-109. Supervisor Valero suggested that this be a workshop or agenda item after the meeting to allow the public to engage.

Public Comment

There was no public comment.

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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