April 11, 2023 — Tulare County Board of Supervisors

Documented by Dani Huerta

Here’s what you need to know

  • A proclamation was presented recognizing April as National Autism Awareness Month. Happy Trails, a therapeutic horse riding academy, said 46% of their riders are autistic and thanked the board for recognizing Autism Awareness Month.
  • A proclamation was presented recognizing April 9-15 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Fire Chief Charlie Norman and Kevin Riggi gave a presentation recognizing telecommunication dispatch workers, specifically Nayely Barajas as the Tulare County Fire Department Dispatcher of 2022. In 2022, there were 13,985 dispatched calls for service in the county.

Follow up Questions

  • When will the Probation Department’s pretrial assessment software be implemented?

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 Counsel
  • Melinda Benton, Chief Clerk

The Scene

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors meeting was held simultaneously both in-person and streamed via YouTube at 9 a.m. on April 11, 2023. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence. 

Actions

  • Board of Supervisors matters
    • Valero
      • Last week he spoke with Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, and attended the TC Hope groundbreaking, 
      • Upcoming is a mural at the Ivanhoe branch of the Tulare County Library,  a meeting with the State Water Commissioner, California State Association of Counties legislative conference, Woodlake cemetery cleanup and the Elta District Hospital Spring celebration.
      • He encourages residents to visit Sequoia National Park.
    • Shuklian
      • Last week was a Mental Health Board meeting, TC Hope groundbreaking, Health Advisory Committee meeting and she went to Mooney’s Grove.
      • Upcoming is a Government Finance and Accountability meeting, joint summit with the California League of Cities regarding homelessness, a meeting with Costa and the museum jamboree at Mooney’s Grove.
    • Vander Poel
      • Last week was an open house at the co-located emergency dispatch, a Greater Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability Agency meeting and a Tulare County Water Commission meeting.
      • Upcoming is the California State Association of Counties Conference, Tulare County Employee Retirement Agency meeting, First5 awards dinner, First5 Technical Advisory meeting and a Tulare County Association of Governments meeting. 
    • Micari
      • Last week he met with Costa, had a meeting regarding an inland port, a Local Agency Formation Commission meeting, Exeter Youth cheer ribbon cutting, met with Tulare County Hispanic Chamber, went on a tour with the fire station, attended a Community Services Employment Training ribbon cutting and went on a tour with Tulare County Association of Governments. 
    • Townsend
      • Last week was a Tulare River Joint Power Authority meeting. 
      • Upcoming is the California State Association of Counties Conference, Step up awards, Tulare County Association of Governments and a Tulare County Transit Authority meeting. 
  • Present a proclamation recognizing April as National Autism Awareness Month.
    • Micari presented the proclamation and a plaque to Happy Trails.They thanked the county for spreading awareness. About 46% of Happy Trails horse riders are autistic.
  • Present a proclamation recognizing April 9-15 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
    • Townsend presented the proclamation to Norman. Norman and Kevin Riggi gave a presentation on Telecommunicators Week.
    • The American flag with a yellow stripe stands for telecommunication workers. Nayely Barajas is the Tulare County Fire Department Dispatcher of 2022. There were 13,985 dispatched calls for service in the county in 2022. They recognized staff and emergency dispatchers.
  • Present a proclamation recognizing April 3-9 as National Public Health Week.
    • Shulkian presented the proclamation. This year’s theme is “centering and celebrating cultures and health.” Six out of 10 adults in the country have a chronic disease.
    • Staci Chastain, deputy director of public health, gave a presentation of their celebration of National Public Health Week. At these events they gave out fruit and other resources. They provided information on violence prevention, nutrition and mental health. Staff received resiliency training. 
  • (Approved) Consent Calendar (Items 6-24)
    • Item 21 pulled for separate consideration.
      • (Approved) Item 21: Approve a Memorandum of Understanding between the County of Tulare through the Probation Department and the Superior Court of California, County of Tulare for the Senate Bill 129 Pretrial Release Program, retroactive from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, in the amount of $579,031.88.
      • Kelly Vernon, chief probation officer explained the item. There was a concern in the confidentiality statement, but Vernon said it is specific to information that is confidential for the judicial council or courts operation.
      • Micari asked what information is being assessed that is being assessed for the pretrial program. Vernon said the information is assessed by a computer that provides a risk score. He also asked about how partners get information about the pretrial program. She said she would reach out to law enforcement if there is a particular concern.
      • Approved
    • Remainder of the consent calendar approved.
    • Some of the approved items included an affiliation agreement with Walden University to provide field experience for students (item 15), the reaffirmation of a local emergency due to winter storms, flooding and flood water contamination (item 18) and the proclamation of the termination of the local emergency proclaimed on March 1, 2023 (item 19).
  • There were no board matter requests

Public Comment

  • Rep. Jim Costa said he is proud to represent Tulare County. He said he will do whatever he can to support the county. He has been working to get federal support for flooding assistance in the county and for everyone to have access to broadband.

The meeting adjourned after closed session

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

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