Documented by Dani Huerta

Summary —  What you need to know

  • A presentation on the Suicide Prevention Task Force and LOSS Team was given by Natalie Bolin, Darcy Massey and Jackie Jones of the task force. The Suicide Prevention Task Force was formed in 2009, and offers programs such as grief and bereavement counseling and a survivors of suicide support group. The LOSS Team (Local Outreach to Survivors of Suicide) helps with education and support after a suicide event has occurred. 
  • The supervisors approved 28 items on the consent calendar, including funding for the training of special district and independent agency board members on Nov. 2. Vice Chair Larry Micari and supervisor Pete Vander Poel commented on the item, which will provide training on the basic functions of local agencies They wanted to make sure the county is reaching out to the special districts.
  • An ordinance amending the code pertaining to the Tulare County Museum was adopted. This will bring the museum board up to date on current operations. Supervisor Amy Shuklian was designated the ex-officio member of the Tulare County Museum Board, with Vander Poel as the alternate.

Follow up Questions

  • What is the the Suicide Prevention Task Force doing to decrease the number of suicides in the county this year compared to last year?
  • Why have suicide rates increased compared to rates from 2020?

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/ ABSENT
  • 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 live streamed via YouTube at 9 a.m. on Sept. 12, 2023. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence.

Actions

  • Board of Supervisors matters
    • Vander Poel
      • He attended the 9/11 blood drive in Tulare and a Greater Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability Agency meeting, 
      • Upcoming is the Leadership Tulare welcoming, Tulare County Employees Retirement Association, Tulare County Fair, Quilt of Honor event, a meeting with Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) directors, a meeting with a California State Water Resource Control Board member and a Tulare Chamber of Commerce government affairs committee meeting.
    • Shuklian
      • She attended a California State Association of Counties meeting, a Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG) interview regarding bond ratings, Association of Realtors big top event and the 9/11 ceremony.
      • Upcoming is a Workforce Investment Board meeting, fair parade and welcoming the Leadership Northern Tulare County class.
    • Valero
      • Last week he went to Dinuba National Night Out, a meeting with the Dinuba Veterans Memorial District and a meeting with the Water Education for Latino Leaders, USDA meeting with the Traver Ranch group, volunteered at the Tulare-Kings HIspanic Chamber of Commerce golf tournament, visited the Fresno Mission, Realtor’s Association big top fundraiser, judged the Miss Woodlake pageant, attended the dedication ceremony for the little library and little pantry in Dinuba, the 9/11 ceremony in Cutler, the Great Event on Acres, Law Library meeting, Tulare County Regional Transportation Authority executive director interviews and a fundraiser for Alta Historical District Society and Museum. 
      • Upcoming is a meeting with White House Office of Management and Budget, Eleanor Roosevelt School Board meeting, Tulare County Fair parade, a meeting with a state Water Board commissioner, welcoming Leadership Northern Tulare County, first gritos celebration (Mexican independence) by the Tulare-Kings Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and a Three Rivers flood impact event.
    • Micari
      • Earlier he attended a Local Area Formation Commission meeting, meeting with the Board of Supervisors staff, Tulare County Association of Realtors event, Green Rose charity soiree and several 9/11 events. 
      • Upcoming is National Voters Registration Week Sept. 11-15.
  • Present a proclamation recognizing September 2023 as National Suicide Prevention Month.
    • The proclamation was presented by Micari.
    • Natalie Bolin, HHSA mental health director, gave a presentation on the Suicide Prevention Task Force. Darcy Massey and Jackie Jones of the task force also spoke. The Suicide Prevention Task Force was formed in 2009. In 2022 there were 43 suicides in the county.
      • Initiatives are to strengthen current programs, promote clinical practices, develop and implement suicide prevention programs, improve and expand data collection systems and ensure the community is aware of their services. 
      • Various suicide prevention trainings are available. Some programs are grief and bereavement counseling, survivors of suicide support group, and depression reduction and achieving wellness program (DRAW).
    • The Tulare County LOSS Team (Local Outreach to Survivors of Suicide)
      • It is postvention, which means they help with education and support after an event has occurred. 
      • The team was formed in 2013. This year in November is the 10th anniversary.
    • People can dial 988, the suicide and crisis lifeline number, for help. 
  • (Approved unanimously) Consent Calendar (Items 4-32)
    • Micari commented on Item 7
      • Item 7: Approve funding for and provision of training on Nov. 2, 2023, for special districts and independent agencies on topics concerning the basic function of local agencies.
        • He said he wants to make sure the county is reaching out to the special district.
        • Vander Poel thanked the staff for their efforts.
    • Some of the approved items included the reaffirmation of the existence of an emergency due to the failure of the wells at Ledbetter Park and Bartlett Park (items 11 and 12), authorization of the Registrar of Voters office to expand the confidentiality of voter registration information to specified public safety officials and qualified workers (item 21), and acceptance of a report on the Tulare County Sheriff’s Inmate Welfare Trust Fund for fiscal year 2022-23 (item 32).
  • (Approved unanimously) Request from the General Services Agency to adopt an ordinance amending the Ordinance Code pertaining to the Tulare County Museum. Find that the ordinance was introduced on Aug. 22, 2023, and was set for adoption at this meeting. Find that the title of the ordinance was included on the published agenda, and that a copy of the full ordinance was made available to the public online and in print at the meeting before the ordinance was adopted. Approve bylaws for the Tulare County Museum Board. Appoint one member of the Board of Supervisors as the ex-officio member of the Tulare County Museum Board in accordance with the new bylaws, and another member as the alternate ex-officio member.
    • Kyle Taylor, General Services Agency deputy director, explained the item. Amending the ordinance will bring the museum board up to date on current operations. Duties will be clearly outlined and assigned. 
    • Shuklian was designated as the ex-officio member of the Tulare County Museum Board, with Vander Poel as the alternate.
  • There were no board matter requests

Public Comment

  • Rosalinda Alexander, executive director of the nonprofit Green Rose Productions, said they are currently working on a YouTube show to help people with disabilities find independence through the arts. She thanked Micari for supporting the organization.

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

Support our nonprofit journalism.

$
$
$

Your contribution is appreciated.

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...