Tulare County Board of Supervisors (8/29/23)

Documented by Dani Huerta

Summary —  What you need to know

• Establishment of the Disaster Assistance Fund was approved. The Disaster Assistance Fund helps businesses who sustained damages caused by the March 2023 winter storms for up to $50,000 per applicant. 
• A request from the Resource Management Agency to close out the Community Development Block Grant for Coronavirus Response Round 1 was approved. Over 386 families received an average of $2,300 in assistance. Some $5,738.66 in unspent grant funds was released disencumbered.
• A 9/11 blood drive will be held at the Tulare Veterans Memorial Building, and is the largest event for the Central Valley Blood Bank.

Follow up Questions

• Why are Airbnbs not eligible for the Disaster Assistance Fund?
• Why was $5,738.66 of available funds from the Community Development Block Grant unspent?

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 in person and through live streaming via YouTube at 6 p.m. on Aug. 29, 2023. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation led by the Rev. Regan Sunderland of the Bethel Assembly of God Church of Tulare.

Actions

• Board of Supervisors matters
  • Vander Poel
    • Last week was Ooh-La-La Organic Coffee’s ribbon-cutting.
    • Upcoming is a Tulare County Association of Governments meeting, California Transportation Commission and CalTrans meeting, Venice Health MRI ribbon-cutting, Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) meeting, Tulare 9/11 memorial blood drive and a Greater Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability Agency meeting. 
  • Shuklian
    • Last week was the State of Local Government luncheon, Breakfast Lions meeting and the Salt + Light soiree.
    • Upcoming is the California State Association of Counties Board meeting, a meeting regarding bond rating and a 9/11 ceremony at the county Sheriff and Fire headquarters.
  • Micari
    • Last week was a meeting with the director of Family Services; he met with Health and Human Services staff, attended an East Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability Agency meeting, spoke with Exter Lions, attended the State of Local Government luncheon, a San Joaquin Valley Insurance Authority meeting, a meeting with Health Net, the Salt + Light soiree, and he spoke with a Boy Scout troop in Exeter.
  • Valero
    • Last week he met with Health Net, Bob McKellar and attended the Salt + Light event and a Water Education for Latino Leaders meeting.
    • Upcoming is a Tulare County Association of Governments ad hoc meeting, Proteus Board meeting, Seven Points ribbon-cutting, East Orosi Community Services District press conference, College of Sequoias ribbon-cuttings, 9/11 events, Tulare County Regional Transport Authority interviews for executive director, Latino Caucus of California Counties meeting, Leadership Northern Tulare County class welcome and Palm United Methodist’s new pantry and library.
  • Townsend
    • Last week was a Porterville Exchange Club meeting, Kids to Dentist ribbon-cutting, pre-Valley Voice D.C. meeting, and the Salt + Light soiree.
    • Upcoming is a Rotary meeting, Government Affairs meeting, Porterville Noon Rotary Club, LAFCO, meeting with the IT director and a Tulare Groundwater Sustainability Agency meeting. 
• (Approved) Consent Calendar (Items 4-40)
  • Some of the approved items included the reaffirmation of the existence of an emergency due to the failure of the well at Bartlett Park (item 12), approval of an agreement with Family Services of Tulare County for the provision of training to high-risk parents (item 20) and the approval of an agreement with the Arvin, Bakersfield, Clovis, Fresno, Kerman, Kingsburg, Tulare and Reedley police departments, the Fresno County, Madera County and Merced County sheriff’s offices and the city of Madera to assist under the Law Enforcement Mutual Aid Plan (items 29-40).
• (Approved) Request from the Resource Management Agency (RMA) to establish the Disaster Assistance Fund in the amount of $2 million. Approve a March 2023 Winter Storms Grant Program to provide financial assistance from the Disaster Assistance Fund to businesses sustaining damages caused by the March 2023 winter storms in an amount not to exceed $50,000 per eligible applicant. Authorize the Grant Review Committee to approve grant payments. Approve the necessary budget adjustments.
  • Denise England, RMA grants and resource manager, explained the item. To qualify, businesses must be for-profit, located in an unincorporated county area, cannot have received FEMA assistance, cannot have received insurance proceeds and must provide documentation of damages and unanticipated expenses. Maximum available is $50,000 per applicant. Airbnbs are not eligible. 
  • Approved
• (Approved) Public hearing: Request from the RMA to close out the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for Coronavirus Response Round 1.
  • Mike Washam, RMA associate director, gave a presentation. More than 386 families received an average of $2,300 in assistance. The CDGB’s funding was received through the federal government and the county’s program income and was distributed by Self-Help Enterprises.
  • $5,738.66 in unspent grant funds was released. 
• Board matter requests
  • Valero asked the RMA to work with the Airbnb Local Government Division to create a local short-term rental policy.

Public Comment

There was no public comment.

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