June 27, 2023 — Kings County Board of Supervisors

Documented by Ntsa Iab Vang

Here’s what you need to know

  • At its June 27 meeting, the Kings County Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance governing reassessment for property damaged or destroyed by misfortune or calamity. Staff said there is a remaining balance of $30 million to help assist with property assessments.
  • The supervisors amended an ordinance to open portions of the Kings River for recreational use and closing other portions. 
  • The supervisors authorized the purchase of two new vehicles for the Fire Department, to replace those in Corcoran and Avenal. 
  • Before the meeting began, there was a moment of silence to recognize the late Alene Lee Taylor, who was the first woman to be elected to the Board of Supervisors in Kings County.

Members present at the meeting:

Joe Neves, District 1 – board member 

Doug Verboon, District 3 – vice chairman

Rusty Robinson, District 4 – board member 

Richard Fagundes, District 5 – board member 

Chairman Richard Valle, District 2 was absent

Follow-up questions

  • Will Fresno allow Kings County visitors to exit through its side of the lake?

Agenda Items:

  • Item A: Assessor/Clerk/Recorder – Kristine Lee:
    • 1. Consider introducing and waiving the first reading of the proposed ordinance governing reassessment for property damaged or destroyed by misfortune or calamity.
    • The ordinance’s purpose is to assist with property assessments during floodings in 2023. Lee reported that approximately $30 million remains in balance. 
    • Clerk reports no property tax revenue from FEMA assistance. 

(Motion by Neves, second by Robinson. Motion was approved in a vote of 4-0)

  • Item B: Behavioral Health Department – Lisa Lewis/Katie Arnst
    • 1. Consider approving the second amendment to Agreement No. 20-154 with Aspiranet to add the Family Urgent Response System program and Mobile Crisis Support Team services, including additional program budget increases due to minimum wage changes, retroactively effective July 1, 2022 -June 30, 2024. (The Family Urgent Response System program is a 24/7 operation that serves 50 youth along with their family members.)

(Motion by Neves, second by Verboon. Motion was approved in a vote of 4-0)

  • 2. Consider adopting the resolution authorizing the payment of fees for a targeted media campaign to iHeartMedia Inc. retroactively effective July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023.

(Motion by Neves, second by Fagundes. Motion was approved in a vote of 4-0)

  • 3. Consider adopting a Resolution authorizing the director of behavioral health or their designee to accept the grant Agreement and sign grant related documentation with California Health Facilities Financing Authority for investment in mental health wellness grant programs for children and youth, retroactively effective from Feb. 24, 2022, through the availability of funding for the project.

(Motion by Neves, second by Fagundes. Motion was approved in a vote of 4-0)

  • 7. Consider approving the first amendment to the agreement with Judge Rotenberg Educational Center Inc. for residential treatment program services, effective July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024. (This item was moved from the consent calendar.) The service pledges to assess residents in reaching their mental health needs in independent environments. 

(Motion by Neves, second by Fagundes. Motion was approved in a vote of 4-0)

  • Item C: Department of Finance – Erik Gonzales/Rob Knudson
    • Consider adopting and waiving the second reading of an ordinance establishing the booking fee rate for fiscal year 2023-24.

(Motion by Neves, second by Robinson. Motion was approved in a vote of 4-0)

  • Item D: Fire Department – William Lynch
    • 1. Consider approving the agreement with the city of Avenal for fire services for a term effective July 1, 2023-June 20, 2024. 

(Motion by Fagundes, second by Robinson. Motion was approved in a vote of 4-0)

  • 2a. Consider authorizing the purchase of two Type 1 fire apparatus from Fire Apparatus Solutions;
  • 2b. Authorize the fire chief to sign and administer the purchase agreement and all required documents for the procurement of these vehicles;
  • 2c. Adopt the budget change. (4/5 vote required)

(Motion by Fagundes, second by Neves. Motion was approved in a vote of 4-0)

  • Item E: Public Works Department – Dominic Tyburski/Mitchel Cabrera
    • 1. Consider approving Lease No. 57-06031-20-FA with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to lease office space in the Agriculture Building. Lease No. 57-06031-20-FA effective upon acceptance of the premises by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and will end after 10 years.

(Motion by Fagundes, second by Robinson. Motion was approved in a vote of 4-0)

  • 2a. Consider approving the plans and specifications for the Avenal Cutoff Road Roadway Improvements Phase I Project;
  • 2b. Authorize the Public Works Department to advertise the project.

(Motion by Robinson, second by Neves. Motion was approved in a vote of 4-0)

  • 3a. Consider approving the plans and specifications for the HSIP Cycle 10 Systemic Flashing Beacons Project;
  • 3b. Authorize the Public Works Department to advertise the project.

(Motion by Fagundes, second by Neves. Motion was approved in a vote of 4-0)

  • Item F: Administration – Kyria Martinez/Matthew Boyett/Melissa Scheffel
    • 1. Consider approving agreements with Melinda Benninghoff, Greg Blevins, Jeffrey Boggs, Marianne Gilbert, Hugo Gomez-Vidal, Shani Jenkins, Ralph Kaelble, Carlos Navarrete, James Oliver, Ramirez Law Firm, Incorporated, Ismael Rodriguez, Robert Stover, Jim A. Trevino, Nima Vakili, Robert Bartlett, Cheryl Harbottle, James Harbottle, Afreen Kaelble, Tonya Lee, Jamil Nushwat, Ismael Rodriguez, Marcus Torigian, Karen Butler, William Fjellbo, Kevin Thompson, and Brent Woodward to provide indigent defense services as specified.

(Motion by Neves, second by Fagundes. Motion was approved in a vote of 4-0)

  • 2. Consider approving the third amendment to the agreement with California Forensic Medical Group Inc. for the provisions of medical, behavioral health and dental care services for individuals detained in the Kings County Jail and the Kings County Juvenile Center.

(Motion by Fagundes, second by Neves. Motion was approved in a vote of 4-0)

  • 3. Consider issuing the Fourth Order amending the Third Order of the Board of Supervisors prohibiting recreational activity on the river and closure of levees and parks that abut the river in response to a local emergency caused by recent flooding.
    • County Administrative Officer Kyria Martinez said that water levels and flows have reduced to a point making waterways suitable for public access.
      • “This amendment will allow for recreational access activities enjoyed by many in the county such as fishing with friends and family in the summer months,” she said. 
      • She said they will be launching a “Staying Alive” campaign to emphasize the importance of being safe. 
    • Kings County Office of Emergency Services Manager Abraham Valencia spoke and gave further information.
      • “We’re pleased to say that we’re seeing things receding,” he said. 
      • “Unfortunately in our region, not in the county, there have been lives lost due to water recreation, but based on the small amount of flows that we’re seeing in our waterways we feel that it would be ok for people to safely go out and have some fun in a safe manner,” he said. 
      • Portions of the river will be open based on the flows. 
    • Kings County Sheriff David Robinson said that as of June 26, the river flow below the county line was 4,550 cubic feet per second and the river below Lemoore was 2,610 cubic feet per second. 
    • He said the releases at Pine Flat Dam would go up by 500 feet per second and it would have a “super minimal impact at those two locations by the time it gets to Kings County.” 
    • He said that he spoke with Sheriff John Zanoni last week and he has no plans of opening the Fresno County side of the river yet. 
    • “The challenge we have is that people get in the river in Kings County and Fresno County, but they get out of the river in Fresno County at Laton Park because the Kings County side has been closed, our park, has been closed for years,” he said. 
    • So the challenge is that floaters will have no way to get out of the river in Kings County. 
    • He said another challenge is at a location along the golf course, where floaters get out to safely go around a weir, but there is an eight-foot dirt wall there due to the high water so floaters can not get out safely. 
    • Robinson recommended that there is a low flow from Lemoore Weir south and keep the other areas closed for floating. 

(Motion by Neves, second by Robinson. Motion was approved in a vote of 4-0)

Board Member Reports/Announcements

  • Neves, District 1 board member: He said he has been in contact with individuals involved in the Tulare Master Plan regarding Tulare Lake. 
  • Robinson, District 4 board member: Robinson reported meeting with vice mayor concerning homeless issues. 

The meeting adjourned at 10:35 a.m. The meeting on July 4, 2023, was canceled due to a holiday. The next meeting will be held on July 11, 2023.

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

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

The Fresno Documenters are a group of local residents who are trained and paid to attend and take notes at local public meetings where officials decide how to spend public money and make important decisions...