Here’s what you need to know

  • At the August 23, 2022 meeting, several of the Tulare County Supervisors mentioned that they would attend the groundbreaking for the Salt + Light Neighborhood Village.  The village is specifically for those experiencing homelessness.
  • The cost-of-living factor to be used in the 2022-23 Gann Appropriations Limit calculation was chosen based on non-residential new construction at a rate of 9.93%. Supervisor Vander Poel commented how the percentages they chose from tend to be closer together in previous years.
  • Supervisor Townsend received a request to extend the emergency ordinance in the mountain community due to the SQF Complex fire. There is a possibility of this being a future agenda item where the ordinance will be extended by one year.
  • A presentation was given by the Tulare County Office of Education Theater Company on its programs and plans for the future. They currently have seven crew members and are restructuring due to Covid.

Follow-up Questions

  • When will the Neighborhood Village open? 
  • Why are the percentages for the cost-of-living factors not as close as they have been in past years? Is this due to Covid or rising inflation?
  • How long was the emergency ordinance in the mountain community set to last when it was first established? Is extending it by one year necessary?

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 August 23, 2022. The meeting began with the pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence. 

Actions

  • Board of Supervisors matters
    • Supervisor Townsend
      • Last week was an RCRC Board meeting, Golden State Finance Authority, and Golden State Connect Authority meetings.
      • Upcoming is the ribbon cutting for the new emergency communications center, the Neighborhood Village groundbreaking for Salt + Light, Sierra View Hospital Foundation meeting, Government Affairs Committee meeting, Springville Community Plan update. 
      • He will also be going to Eagle Mountain Casino to pick up a gift basket for RCRC, attending the Summer Soiree for Salt + Light, and the Hot August Nights bullriding.
    • Supervisor Micari
      • Last week he attended the St. Anthony Celebration serving and preparing food.
      • Upcoming is the Tulare County Fire Department and emergency dispatch ribbon cutting. He will be speaking at the Rotary Club in Lindsay, attending the Salt + Light groundbreaking, Salt + Light soiree, and the Imagine U gala.
    • Supervisor Shuklian
      • Last week was an Animal Services Advisory Committee Meeting. 
        • For fiscal year 202121/22 there were 6,496 calls for service, 5,036 intakes, a live release rate of 87%, 2,622 spays/neuters, and 2,500 vaccinations.
      • Upcoming is a Downtown Visalia Proper Owners Association meeting, Tulare County Economic Development Corporation meeting, the ribbon cutting of the dispatch center, Salt + Light groundbreaking, San Joaquin Valley Insurance Authority, recognizing Valhalla restaurant for serving the community for 40 years, and the Salt + Light soiree gala.
    • Supervisor Vander Poel
      • Upcoming is a TCERA meeting, the Fire and Sheriff dispatch center ribbon cutting, International AG center board meeting, Kings-Tulare Master Plan for Aging committee, Salt + Light groundbreaking, and an SJVA meeting. He will be delivering the State of the County Address at the State of the City event and attending the Salt + Light soiree.
    • Supervisor Valero
      • Last week was a Three Rivers Town Hall meeting, a Dinuba Downtown Association mixer, hosted a back to school bonanza. He also welcomed the new fire engine at Station 4.
      • Upcoming, he will be speaking at the Fire and Sheriff ribbon cutting, speaking at the Neighborhood Village groundbreaking, attending the Salt + Light fundraiser, and attending a Yosemite-Sequoia RCDC Executive meeting.
  • Received a presentation by the Tulare County Office of Education Theater Company (TCOE) for the Year of the Youth Presentation Series.
    • Bethany Rader, Charlotte Garcia Da Rosa, and McKenna Friend-Hoffman gave the presentation.
    • Background
      • The Tulare County Office of Education Theater Company was founded in 1998 by Jim Vidak and has produced over 60 musicals.
      • Currently they are a crew of seven and are restructuring due to Covid.
      • No student is turned away from the program due to financial need.
    • Community
      • Some of those involved in the program have been on Broadway and return to help teach the students, including Betsy Wolfe and Angelo Soliano.
      • Programs TCOE offers are workshops, classes and recitals, summer show and camp, and OnStage program year-round. They are planning to add more backstage programs such as costume design, set design, lighting and sound design, and makeup.
    • Upcoming
      • Moana Jr., workshops, Into the Woods, and Summer Camp
      • A video was played showing the different programs offered, but a link was not provided. The video can be seen in the full meeting recording.
    • Supervisors Shuklian and Vander Poel offered to participate in future plays. Supervisors Townsend and Valero praised TCOE for their great work.
  • The consent calendar was approved
    • Supervisor Micari commented on Items 7 and 8. He thanked Tricia Stever Blattler and Raymond Macareno for offering their time to help the community.
  • (Option 2 Approved) Request from the Auditor-Controller Department to select the cost-of-living factor to be used in the 2022-23 Gann Appropriations Limit calculation, which places limits on the growth of expenditures for publicly-funded programs such as schools, from these two options.
    • Option 1: The change in California per capita personal income which was 7.55% for calendar year 2021. 
    • Option 2: The percentage change in the jurisdiction’s assessed valuation attributable to local non-residential new construction which was 9.93% for fiscal year 2021-22.
    • Cass Cook, Tulare County Auditor-Controller, presented the request. The California State Constitution has a limit on the appropriations of County revenues which is updated every year. The first option is based on per capita personal income, the second is based on non-residential new construction. He usually recommends the higher option because it offers the most flexibility to the County. 
    • Supervisor Vander Poel said the percentages are usually closer to each other in previous years. He suggested the board approve Option 2.
    • Option 2 Approved
  • There were no board matter requests.
    • Supervisor Townsend received a request from the mountain community to extend the emergency ordinance due to the SQF Complex fire. It currently is set to expire in January 2023. 
    • Supervisor Townsend requested it be a future agenda item where it will be extended by a year.

Public Comment

There was no public comment.

The meeting adjourned to a closed session. The next meeting will be August 30, 2022 at 6 p.m.

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@fresnoland.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.

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