Tulare County Board of Supervisors (11/1/22) Incorrect ballots + streamlined permit process for electric vehicle charging + new positions at Workforce Investment Board

Here’s what you need to know

• The Tulare County Board of Supervisors met on Nov. 1, 2022 and presented a proclamation recognizing November 2022 as National Adoption Awareness Month. Child Welfare Services Division Manager Mireya Anaya gave a presentation on National Adoption Awareness Month where she said as of this September, Tulare County has finalized 124 adoptions. A couple who has adopted a daughter thanked the Board for recognizing the importance of National Adoption Awareness Month.
• Tulare County Registrar Of Voters Michelle Baldwin apologized for the many incorrect ballots in the Visalia, Dinuba, and Woodlake area due to redistricting. In the past few weeks they have had to reissue 1,341 incorrect ballots.
• The supervisors approved a request from the Resource Management Agency to amend the code providing greater fire and life safety for newly constructed buildings, streamline the permit process for electric vehicle charging stations, and efficiency for studio apartments. 
• The board approved the addition of three positions at the Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County (WIB) and the deletion of one empty position and one filled position. The person whose filled position was deleted is planned to be moved to a different department. The added positions are necessary to manage the various grants that have been received.

Follow up Questions

• What can be done so that incorrect ballots due to redistricting do not happen again in the future? Should more time be given to make correct ballots? Would redistricting need to be done earlier?

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 Nov. 1, 2022. The meeting began with the pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence. 

Actions

• Board of Supervisors matters
  • Supervisor Vander Poel
    • He encouraged people to participate in Movember to spread awareness for men’s health.
    • Upcoming is a Greater Kaweah GSA special meeting, TCERA, Investment Committee meeting, LAFCO, Boys and Girls Club fundraiser, Tulare County Book festival.
  • Supervisor Shuklian
    • Last week was a Tulare County Economic Development Corporation meeting, she went to Mooney’s Grove to speak about the murals, a wedding shower for Board representative Partick, trunk or treat at Child Welfare Services, The Source Halloween event, and the ImagineU Halloween event.
    • Upcoming is a Mental Health Board meeting, Tulare County Office of Education awards, meeting with HHSA Director, Boys and Girls club activities, and the Tulare County Book festival.
  • Supervisor Micari
    • Last week Senator Hurtado presented a check for the Farmersville Fire Station, Micari met with the mayor of Lindsay, attended The Source Halloween Bash, taught a class on hunter education, attended the ImagineU Halloween event, and the Lindsay Harvest Festival.
    • Upcoming is a Lindsay military banner ceremony, his wife is receiving an award at the Tulare County Office of Education, LAFCO meeting, HHSA, delivering a proclamation to Rebecca Donabed from Resources for Independence Central Valley, library book festival, Lindsay rib cook off, and the Tulare County Book festival.
  • Supervisor Townsend
    • Last week he went to a Halloween golf tournament and a trunk or treat event at his local church.
    • Upcoming is a Tulare County Office of Education breakfast, LAFCO meeting, Eastern Tule GSA, Our Hero’s Dreams tournament, National Association of Counties for Public Lands Steering Committee, and election day.
  • Supervisor Valero
    • Last week he attended Farmer Bob’s World meeting. 
    • Upcoming is a #Lead meeting, Tulare County Office of Education awards, Latino Caucus of California Counties, Sequoia Kings Canyon National Parks meeting, and the Tulare County Book festival.
• Present a Proclamation recognizing November 2022 as National Adoption Awareness Month in Tulare County.
  • Mireya Anaya (Child Welfare Services Division Manager) and Cynthia & Milena Padilla-Nowakowski (Family Adoption) gave a presentation on National Adoption Awareness Month. This year’s theme is “small steps open doors”. More than one in five children waiting to be adopted are teens. As of this September Tulare County has finalized 124 adoptions.
    • Cynthia and Milena Padilla-Nowakowski are adoptive parents and thanked the board for having them be a part of this month. 
  • Supervisor Valero presented the proclamation. National Adoption day will be celebrated on Nov. 10, 2022.
• (Approved) Consent Calendar (Items 5-20)
  • Approved
  • Some of the approved items included the approval of purchases of two medical exam tables, three backup batteries, and one sputum collection booth for the new Public Health Clinic (Item 9), the submission of a grant application to the California Department of Water Resources Small Community Drought Relief Program for the West Goshen CalWater water system consolidation project (Item 15), and reaffirmation of an emergency at the Visalia Landfill (Item 19).
• (Approved) Public Hearing: Request from the Resource Management Agency to introduce an Ordinance amending the Ordinance Code pertaining to building regulations and the inclusion of Article 32 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Review Process. Set the adoption of the ordinance for November 29, 2022.
  • Fire Chief Charlie Norman, Kevin Riggie, and Aaron Bock gave a presentation on the building and housing division. The ordinance codifies the California codes under Tulare County’s ordinance. Some changes are that it provides greater fire and life safety for all newly constructed buildings, streamlines electric vehicle charging stations permit process, and efficiency for dwelling units (studio apartments).
  • Approved
• (Approved) Request from the Human Resources and Development Department to approve the salary for the position of Interim Chief Probation Officer, in an amount not to exceed $85 per hour ($176,000 annually), retroactive from October 19, 2022.
  • Lupe Garza, Human Resources Director, presented the request. No benefits are provided for the position.
  • Approved
• (Approved) Request from the Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County (WIB) to approve a Personnel Resolution to amend the Fiscal Year 2022/23 position allocation for the WIB to reflect the addition of three positions, the deletion of one vacant position, and the deletion of one filled position, effective December 18, 2022. Approve the layoff of the one WIB employee and authorize the Human Resources & Development Department to issue a layoff notice with the effective date of December 18, 2022. Approve the necessary budget adjustments.
  • Adam Peck, Executive Director for the Workforce Investment Board, explained the item. Some grants they have received are the Community Economic Resilience Fund, Good Jobs Challenge Grant, Regional Equity and Recovery Partnership Grant. These new positions are needed for these new roles. One of the deleted positions is vacant with the other position no longer necessary.
  • Supervisor Shuklian asked Garza if they will be able to find a position for the person being eliminated, Garza said they already have identified several departments in need of that position and will be reaching out to them with a recommendation.
  • Approved
• There were no board matter requests.

Public Comment

• Michelle Baldwin, Registrar Of Voters, spoke about incorrect ballots. Recently they have had to reissue 1,341 in the Visalia, Dinuba, and Woodlake area due to redistricting. She apologizes for the mistakes.
• Mary Jane Galviso, spoke about a memory she had about foster children being hit and killed by a car. She brought attention to road safety including stray animals being hit by cars. Supervisor Valero said there is an ongoing project on Highway 63.

The meeting adjourned to a closed session.

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