Tulare County Board of Supervisors approve additions to district attorney’s office (2/7/23)

Full notes from Feb. 7, 2023 — Tulare County BOS

Documented by Dani Huerta

Here’s what you need to know

• A proclamation recognizing February 2023 as Black History Month was presented by Chair Townsend to Minister Stan Patrick of Second Baptist Church in Visalia.
• The supervisors approved a request to add 11 positions to the Tulare County District Attorney’s office, mainly assistant district attorney positions. The additional positions will cost the department approximately $764,000 for the remainder of this fiscal year, which will be covered through departmental savings, according to the agenda packet. 
• There are no board of supervisors meetings for the next two weeks. The next meeting will be Feb. 28, 2023.

Follow up questions

• Why are there no meetings for the next two weeks?
• Will the changes to the District Attorney’s Office staff make things run quicker and more efficiently? 
• How much will the additional district attorney positions cost next year and will its department budget be able to cover the excess cost? 

Board of Supervisors

• Larry Micari – Vice Chair, District One
• Pete Vander Poel III, District Two
• Amy Shuklian, District Three
• Eddie Valero, District Four
• Dennis Townsend – 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 Feb. 7, 2023. The meeting began with the pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence. 

Actions

• Board of Supervisors matters
  • Supervisor Valero
    • Last week was St. Charles’ grand opening, Knights of Columbus safety awards night, and a public law library meeting. 
    • Upcoming is a Step Up #Lead meeting, Ruby Awards, Dinuba Chamber Government Affairs Committee meeting , Tulare County Regional Transportation Special meeting, going over the EOC process with staff, Dinuba Chamber awards dinner, and participating in NACO in Washington DC. 
  • Supervisor Micari
    • Last week was constituent meetings, Mario Krstic’s retirement luncheon, a TCAG training session, and the Visalia Rotary Club event. 
    • Upcoming are the Ruby Awards, Tulare County Farm Bureau Date Night, Sequoia Regional Economic Summit, Veterans Advisory Committee, and a Farmersville City Council meeting.
  • Supervisor Vander Poel
    • Last week he gave a presentation at the TCAG training and took his daughter to a father-daughter dance. 
    • Upcoming is a TCERA meeting, HHSA Directors meeting, First5 Technical Advisory meeting, Dairy Experts ribbon cutting, Greater Kaweah GSA, Water Commission  meeting, World AG Expo, he will be a chef at the World AG Women event, speak at the Resources for Independence of Central Valley, another TCERA and First5 meeting, and a TCAG meeting.
  • Supervisor Shuklian
    • Last week was a TCAG training session, St. Charles ribbon cutting, and the Armenian Community School crab feed.
    • Upcoming is a Mental Health Board meeting, Soroptimist Awards, WorkForce Investment Board meeting, Animal Services Advisory Committee, mixer with Chris Thornburg, AG Expo, Air Board meeting, and a San Joaquin Valley Insurance Authority meeting. 
  • Supervisor Townsend
    • Last week he presented a certificate of recognition for the new Sequoia National Forest Headquarters, Eastern Tule GSA meeting, and received updates from the General Services Agency Director.
    • Upcoming is a Harmony Magnet Academy meeting, Sustainable Corridors meeting, Farm Bureau drive-thru date night dinner, and National Association of Counties meeting in Washington DC. 
• Present a Proclamation recognizing February 2023 as Black History Month.
  • The proclamation was presented by Chair Townsend. Minister Stan Patrick  accepted the award. They will be having an event this Sunday at the Second Baptist Church in Visalia.
• (Approved) Consent Calendar (Items 4-29)
  • Item 7 was corrected to add an Accountant 2K, Assessment Services director, assessor system analyst, achieved Cadastral mapper, and delete the Director Staff Services position for the Assessor Clerk Reporter Department. For the Defined Contribution Committee they are adding a Retirement Administrator position and deleting the County Assessor and the District 1-5 position.
  • Approved
  • Some of the approved items included the approval of the cancellation of the  Board of Supervisors meeting on April 25, 2023 (Item 4), the proclamation of termination of the Local Emergency due to the Severe Flooding in Tulare County (Item 18), and an amendment to an agreement with the Tulare County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force to include Kings County Sheriff’s Office as a participating law enforcement agency (Item 29).
• Receive a presentation from the District Attorney’s Office regarding the proposed personnel requests. Adopt Personnel Resolutions to add, delete, and reclass positions, and approve and amend the required job specifications, class designations, and salary adjustments. Changes will be effective beginning pay period 5 on Feb. 12, 2023.
  • Chief Deputy District Attorney Daniel Underwood made the presentation. It is divided into North and South County Departments, with most of the cases in South County. There is currently one supervisor for post-conviction. 
  • They would like to spread the supervisorial duties around more and add Assistant District Attorney positions. 
  • Supervisor Vander Poel asked what troubles they are facing. Underwood said they are in unprecedented times with staff shortages. Supervisor Valero asked if each of the Chief DDA’s will take a subset of each type of crime. Underwood said he believes the work can be divided in numerous ways but it is up to the District Attorney.
• There were no board matter requests

Public Comment

• Clayton Smith, Kings-Tulare County Field Representative for Congressman Valadao’s Office, gave updates on community project funds. He does not know how much money will be available. Members of the AG Committee will be at the AG Expo.

The meeting adjourned to a closed session. Next meeting will be Feb. 28, 2023.

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