Tulare City Council (3/21/23)

March 21, 2023 — Tulare City Council

Documented by Ntsa Iab Vang

Here’s what you need to know

• The Tulare City Council meeting took place on March 21 at 7:07 p.m. The meeting was open to the public at the Tulare Public Library on 491 North M St. The meeting was also accessible online via YouTube. The agenda was made accessible online. All council members were present at the meeting. 
• The council discussed the insights and analytics of Tulare’s taxable sales. The largest share of sales tax growth over the last five years was in the transportation category, which made up 33.5% of all growth.
• The City Council approved the naming of the future dog park site “K9 Bane Park”, in honor of police dog Bane, who was killed in the line of duty in 2018. In addition, the Tulare Parks and Recreation Commission has recommended to the Tulare City Council to install a memorial bench to honor Jennifer McCown for the contributions she made to animal services in Tulare . The future dog park site is in the 400 block of N Street.
• A Tulare resident is asking for the city to temporarily lift an ordinance that prevents RV parking in neighborhoods, specifically for families who are seeking shelter during the flooding season.

Attendance

• Mayor Terry A. Sayre, (District 2)
• Vice Mayor Patrick Isherwood, (District 5)
• Council member Jose Sigala, (District 1)
• Council member Stephen C. Harrel, (District 3)
• Council member Dennis A. Mederos, (District 4)

Follow-up questions:

• With unpredictable weather, how long would the ordinance to park mobile vehicles in neighborhoods last if it were to be extended?

Public Comments:

• Patricia Gamez, a resident of Tulare told the council she has a mobile vehicle parked in the neighborhood. Gamez shared that families in surrounding cities use the vehicle as shelter. She said other residents are complaining and taking photos of the vehicle. 
• She said the vehicle has been parked in different places in the residential area every 72 hours to respect neighbors. She asked that the ordinance be waived according to the weather. Her husband Raymond Gamez said the ordinance was created because of RVs and trailers posing a hazard to traffic in neighborhoods, and asked the council for an extension of the 72-hour rule, especially during the time when families are struggling with flooding in surrounding cities.
•  Tulare Chamber of Commerce CEO Donnette Silva Carter called to address the flooding that has impacted dairies and other agriculture-related businesses. She invited those affected to tune into the livestream on March 22, which would focus on those affected by floods. 

Presentation:

• Taxable Sales: The Road Ahead for Tulare (Presented by Mary LaDreosa of MuniServices Avenue Insights & Analytics)
  • Predicted that there was a 4.3% growth per year in California taxable sales; however in 2017, more income was coming in than expected. In 2020, the sales tax revenue decreased.
  • Continue to see growth, due to inflation. Since the rise in inflation that began in April 2021, December 2022 and January 2023 are the first times that inflation was less than the same month in the prior year. The increase comes from energy sales.
  • Regionally: Many cities during the pandemic have seen a larger decline than they should have. The Bay Area saw significant changes.
  • By 2024, the total California visitor volume should be increasing. Remote jobs have prevented many individuals from travel, as traveling was seen only as a leisure activity.
  • The portion of taxable sales attributable to e-commerce grew with the implementation of Wayfair / AB147 and the COVID-19 Lockdown. With restrictions easing and consumers returning to “brick and mortar” shopping, it is now below pre-pandemic levels.
  • Statewide: Taxable sales in California have fully recovered to the level they would have been had COVID-19 never happened and statewide growth remains stable at an average of 4.25% growth annually.
  • Statewide taxable sales were robust in October and November.

• Tulare Sales Tax Performance:
  • Top gains are in department stores and transportation.
  • Tulare annual sales tax adjusted for Inflation: Total sales would be $14,826,315.
  • Central Valley: Tulare has a slow growth compared to other cities in the valley.
  • New Autos: Growth in electric/luxury cars. 
  • Service stations: Largest economic segment compared to Visalia, Porterville & Hanford.
  • Department stores: 10% of sales tax.
  • Restaurants: 10% of sales tax.
    • Apparel stores, drug stores, auto parts/repair, service stations, retail, business-to-business are exceeding expectations.
  • Summary of Tulare:
    • Quarter over quarter taxable sales declined by -6.7% in 2022, quarter four, mostly due to a one-time $411,000 payment in 2021, quarter four in the food products category.
    • The largest share of sales tax growth over the last five years was in the transportation category, which made up 33.5% of all growth.
    • Annual real per capita 1% sales tax, (adjusted for inflation), grew from $165 to $193, (up 14.5%), in the last four years.
    • Annual Real 1% sales tax receipts, (adjusted for inflation), grew from $7.7 million to $11.0 million, (up 29.85), in the last 10 years, or roughly 3% per year.
    • Forecasted growth rates are relatively flat, as inflation subsides, (plus 1.1% fiscal year 22-23, up 2.0% fiscal year  23-24), before normalizing in fiscal year 24-25.
      
• Wayfair Summary:
  • The Wayfair decision impacted countrywide pools and destination-based add-on sales taxes.
  • In 2019, quarter four, sales by marketplace facilitators, (like Amazon and eBay that sell for third parties), are subject to the same rules as retailers.
  • Positive impact to countrywide pools is reduced by the Amazon Reallocation beginning in 2021, quarter one
  • Initial growth is very strong, but it is now normalizing.

Council Reports & Items of Interest:

• Isherwood reported flooding in Orange County.
• Terry gave a report about a special meeting of Tulare Parks and Recreation about naming the new dog park on March 1.

Actions/Discussions/Consent Calendar:

• Changes to Consent Calendar – Items that were not discussed: 14.1, 14.4, 14.5, 14.10, 14.11, 14.14
  • Motion made by Sayre (5-0).
    
• Item 14.6 – Approval of the parcel map filed by Sequoia Investors, LLC, a California Limited Liability Co. and The Shawn Team, LLC, a California Limited Liability for the division of land located on the southeast corner of Cross Avenue and Cherry Street for recordation, and accept all easements offered to the city.

• Intersection designated for multi-family usage.
• Tentative parcel map no. 2022-07 filed by Sequoia Investors, LLC, a California Limited Liability Co. and The Shawn Team, LLC, a California Limited Liability Co.would create two parcels from one existing parcel, and was approved by the Tulare Planning Commission on Jan. 9, 2022.
• This parcel map comprises approximately 8,941 square feet. Parcel 1 would be 4,622 square feet, and Parcel 2 would be 4,319 square feet
  • Motion passes in a vote of 5-0. 

• Item Item 14.7, 14.8 & 14.9 – Grant of Easement and Certificate of Conveyance to SCE along the south side of Pacific Avenue west of Mooney Boulevard.
  • 14.7: Conditionally approve the final map and subdivision improvement agreement for Phase 6 of Willow Glen subdivision for recordation, and accept all easements offered to the city.
  • Phase 6 of Willow Glen subdivision consists of 53 single-family residential lots and one landscape and lighting district lot.
    
  • 14.8: Recommendation: Authorize city manager to execute a Grant of Easement and Certificate of Conveyance to Southern California Edison Company (SCE) for installation and maintenance of SCE utilities located within Landscaping Outlots A & B of the Willow Glen No. 5 subdivision, subject only to minor confirming and clarifying changes acceptable to the city attorney and city manager.
    
  • 14.9: Authorize city manager to execute a Grant of Easement and Certificate of Conveyance to Southern California Edison Co. (SCE) for the installation and maintenance of SCE utilities located within Landscaping Outlot K of the Kensington Estates No. 4 and Landscaping Outlot B of the Willow Glen No. 5 subdivisions, subject only to minor confirming and clarifying changes acceptable to the city attorney and city manager. [M. Miller]
    • Motion to approve all three items (14.7, 14.8, 14.9) passes in a vote of 5-0.
      
• Item 14.12 – Tulare Dog Park Naming Recommendation
  • Accept the Tulare Parks and Recreation Commission recommendation to name the future Dog Park “K9 Bane Park” and to have a memorial bench to honor “Jennifer McCown” at the future dog park site located in the 400 block of N Street. [J. Glick]
  • At the Wednesday, March 1 Tulare Parks and Recreation meeting, the Commission reviewed and recommended that the Tulare City Council name the future Dog Park site “K9 Bane Park” in honor of police dog Bane, who was killed in the line of duty Dec. 9, 2018. In addition, the Tulare Parks and Recreation Commission has recommended to the Tulare City Council to install a memorial bench to honor Jennifer McCown at the park in light of the many contributions she made to animal services.
    • Motion passes in a vote of 5-0.
      
• Item 14.13 – Change in 2023 Ford Interceptor Vehicle Order.
  • Approve changing the five on-order new 2023 Ford Police Interceptor Utility vehicles from hybrid engines to regular engines and reallocating those vehicles to the Police Department. [T. Whitfield]
  • Units are $50,000 each. Police department has funds and will be receiving vehicles during their fiscal year.
  • In September 2022, the City Council approved the purchase of five new/unused 2023 Ford Police Interceptor Utility hybrid vehicles. The vehicles were to be partially funded by a grant from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District for the purchase of new alternative fuel vehicles. The vehicles were allocated to go to the following departments: police (1), code enforcement (2), safety/facilities (1), and fire (1).
    • Motion passes in a vote of 5-0. 

Public Hearing: Comments related to public hearing items are limited to three minutes per speaker, for a maximum of 30 minutes per item, unless otherwise extended by the council.

• Item 15.1: Ordinance to Amend Chapter 9.64.010 (Transportation Demand Management Plan – Plan adopted) of the Tulare Municipal Code.
  • Recommended Action: Pass-to-print an ordinance amending existing Chapter 9.64.010 (Transportation Demand Management Plan – Plan adopted) of the Tulare Municipal Code. [M. Miller]
    • Motion passes in a vote of 5-0. 

General Business

• Item 16.1: City Surplus Properties.
  • Recommended action: Authorize the appraisal and sale of city surplus properties. [M. Correa] Presented by the Office of Safety, Compliant and Facilities
  • Property 1 – 113 N. F St., located at Tulare and F street. APN 175-133-007 (Subdivided) (Old Library) – Constant issues of invasion reports for PD. 
  • Property 2 – at 325 N. West St., located at West Street and Cross Ave. APN 305-160-073
  • Property 3 – Beaumont Avenue APN 169-161-001, located on Beaumont and H street – Constant issues of illegal dumping.
  • Property 4 – Cross/I Street. Concerns regarding homelessness. 
  • Property 5- 1800 block of North Gem Street located on Gail and Gem Street. APN 166-062-033
  • Property 6 – 130 N H Street APN 175
  • Property 7/8/9 – 668 Goodin Rd. 
  • Public Comment: Property 7,8,9 to be revisited in future meeting.
    • Motion passes in a vote of 5-0 to approve properties 1-6.
      
• Item 16.2: Ordinance to Amend Chapter 7.52 (Regulation of Squatter Camps) of the Tulare Municipal Code.
  • Recommended Action: Pass-to-print an ordinance amending Chapter 7.52 (Regulation of Squatter Camps) of the Tulare Municipal Code. [M. Zamora]
  • The city has recently experienced an increase in injuries and death related to camping in the right of way of the railroad tracks. Staff views this as a health and safety issue and wishes to include provisions clearly restricting such camping and authorizing the city manager to enforce the provisions.
  • Commissioner says this ordinance is critical to prevent suicides.
    • Motion passes in a vote of 5-0.

Staff Updates:

• A staff member shares upcoming event “Town Hall Panel” with a variety of members from the valley to discuss the homeless crisis.
• Mederos gives his thanks to Public Works for their work during the flooding season. He shares that sandbags are still being distributed to local residents.

The meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Tulare City Council is Tuesday, April 4, at 7 p.m. in the Council Chamber at the Tulare Public Library, 491 North M St., Tulare, California.

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