May 23, 2023 — Tulare County Board of Supervisors

Documented by Dani Huerta

Here’s what you need to know

  • A proclamation was presented recognizing Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux for his role as president of the California State Sheriffs’ Association. Boudreaux has been on the California State Sheriffs’ Association Board for five years and recently met with the governor to discuss public safety. 
  • The Tulare County Child Abuse Prevention Council was named nonprofit of the year and is now the official representative of The Lisa Project. 
  • An ordinance introduced by the Resource Management Agency was approved that will streamline the process of acquiring smaller property purchases. It will cut the time from up to 12 months to up to nine months. 

Follow up questions

  • Will the property owners Hasmukhbhai P. Patel and Shardaben H. Patel take legal action against the county for allegedly going against California government code?
  • Will the county consider not using machines to count ballots for upcoming elections?

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 (CAO)
  • 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 May 23, 2023. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation led by Jimmy Malloy. 

Actions

  • Board of Supervisors matters
    • Vander Poel
      • He wore a bright green tie for Mental Health Month. 
      • Earlier was the blessing of Saint Rita’s Church.
      • Upcoming is a Tulare County Employees Retirement Association meeting, San Joaquin Valley Insurance Authority finalist interviews, International AG Center Board meeting, Kings Tulare Master Plan for Aging, Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG) retreat, First 5 retreat and Memorial Day. 
    • Shuklian
      • Last week was a San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District meeting and she threw the first pitch at Rawhide for Mental Health Awareness Night.
      • Upcoming is a Downtown Visalia Property Owners Association meeting, Tulare County Economic Development Corp., TCAG strategic planning meeting, Elder Abuse Awareness Month, Downtown Rotary meeting, and Farmer Bob’s dinner. 
    • Valero
      • Last week was the National Association of Counties Western Region Interstate conference, Latino Caucus of California Counties retreat, 
      • Upcoming he will be presenting a certificate to Dinuba Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps, help select Miss Woodlake, attend the TCAG retreat, Tulare County Regional Transit Authority Executive Director meeting, presentation of the Military Officers of America, make an address at the Dinuba cemetery for Memorial Day, and attend Farmer Bob’s dinner. 
    • Micari
      • Last week was the Employees Appreciation event, special district meeting, meeting with the Health and Human Services Agency Director, and an AG Advisory meeting. 
      • Upcoming is the TCAG retreat and Memorial Day events he will be speaking at.
    • Townsend
      • Last week was the AG Advisory Committee meeting, discussion in Corcoran, Porterville Fair and a meeting with the head of the solid waste department. 
      • Upcoming is an interview for 10 Minutes with Tipton, TCAG retreat, military banner program, Memorial Day, Porterville’s Avenue of Flags, World Elder Abuse awareness, tour of Balch Park, Easter Tule Groundwater Sustainability Agency and First Friday coffee. 
  • Presented certificates recognizing Exeter Union High School Mock Trial Team as the 2023 Tulare County Mock Trial Champions.
    • Micari presented the proclamation. Students of the mock trial team could not attend due to finals. 
  • Presented a proclamation recognizing Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward for his role as president of the California District Attorneys Association.
    • Townsend presented the proclamation. Ward and Greg Totten, chief executive officer of the California District Attorneys Association, accepted the proclamation. Ward has served as president since September 2022. Ward thanked the board and the sheriff. 
  • Presented a proclamation recognizing Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux for his role as President of the California State Sheriffs’ Association.
    • Townsend presented the proclamation. Boudreaux has been on the California State Sheriffs’ Association Board for five years. He has met with legislators and the governor to discuss public safety. 
  • Presented a proclamation recognizing April 2023 as Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month in Tulare County.
    • Valero presented the proclamation. Amanda Guajardo and Courtney Salam gave a presentation explaining the Tulare County Child Abuse Prevention Council. Most of the county’s representation of the Child Abuse Prevention Council comes from Visalia. The council was named nonprofit of the year. The Tulare County Child Abuse Prevention Council is now the official representative of The Lisa Project. 
  • Item 6 was moved to a future meeting. Item 6: Present a certificate recognizing Countryside High School for their continued work in spreading Mental Health Awareness throughout their school district and community.
  • (Approved) Consent Calendar (Items 9-31)
    • Approved
    • Some of the approved items included an agreement with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to provide funding for air filtration devices for Alpaugh Public Library, Dinuba Public Library, Lindsay Public Library, Visalia Public Library, Orosi Public Library, Woodlake Public Library and Porterville College (item 21), a memorandum of understanding with the Kaweah Delta Health Care District to provide practicum experience for psychiatry residents at county Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Care clinics (item 22), and the purchase of an aircraft augmented reality mapping system and UC6000 adapter for the Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit (item 31).
  • (Approved) Public hearing: Request from the Resource Management Agency (RMA) to make the findings, determinations and declarations required to obtain, by eminent domain action in Superior Court, the real property (“Subject Property”). Possession of the Subject Property is necessary for completion of the Road 67 Operational Improvements Project (“Project”). Authorize a deposit of probable compensation for purchase of the subject property for $194,000. Adopt the Resolution of Necessity. Direct County Counsel to initiate and pursue any and all legal action necessary to acquire the subject property, against Hasmukhbhai P. Patel and Shardaben H. Patel, and any other interested parties.
    • Reed Schenke, RMA, gave a presentation explaining the request. The intersection is one of the most congested in the county. The project will provide a public safety benefit by improving infrastructure and increasing safety. 
    • Christopher Washington, attorney representing the property owners, spoke over the phone. He said the owners received their first notice last month. He says this hearing is premature and goes against California government code. The property owners requested this hearing be deferred for at least 60 days and copies of the project’s plans and timeline. 
    • Valero said he believes staff has provided the property owner with enough time. Vander Poel asked about providing the property owner with reasonable time. Schenke said they have been working with the owners for well over the time that the initial offer was made.
    • Approved
  • (Approved) Request from the RMA to introduce an ordinance amending the ordinance code pertaining to delegation of authority to the Tulare County RMA director to acquire interests in real property. Set the adoption of the ordinance for June 6, 2023.
    • Schenke explained that the item’s purpose is to streamline the process of acquiring smaller property purchases. The current process can take up to 12 months. This amendment would cut about three months. 
    • Approved
  • (Approved) Request from the RMA to approve the amendment to Sub-Utility Agreements 1.01 through 1.09 with the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) to provide CHSRA and its contractor additional time (5-year extension) to complete the facility work outlined in Sub-Utility Agreements 1.02-1.04 and 1.06-1.07 and increase the value of work to be completed to $350,000.
    • Schenke explained the item. The California High Speed Rail Authority master agreement was amended three times and is pending a new master agreement, as it expired Dec, 31, 2021. Sub-utility agreements 1.01-1.09 define requirements for design and construction as well as the time frame. 
    • Approved
  • (Approved) A request from the RMA to approve the 2023/2024 County Transportation Improvement Program. Directed staff to take appropriate action to implement the 2023/2024 County Transportation Improvement Program.
    • Schenke explained the item. This item will be more thoroughly explained during a meeting in June. 2023-24 fiscal year projected $33,842,623 in discretionary funds. All districts have road rehabilitation and reconstruction projects planned. Some countywide programs and projects are the rapid response program, 2022 community accessibility enhancement project and the curb and sidewalk reimbursement program. Total flood damage is estimated at $45 million as of May 11, 2023.
    • Approved
  • There were no board matter requests

Public Comment

  • Brian Thoburn of Southern California Edison said they are getting ready to roll out their wildfire mitigation program. They will hold a wildfire safety community meeting live streamed on June 1 at 6 p.m.
  • Kassie Peterson of Raising Arrows Homeschool spoke in support of an invocation.
  • Marilyn Malloy encouraged the board to watch 2000 Mules and not to use machines to count ballots. 
  • Joseph Knudson announced he will be leaving the county Road Maintenance Yard for Caltrans because he is underpaid. He presented a petition saying understaffed positions have led to unsafe staffing levels.

The next meeting is slated for June 6.

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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