Tulare County Board of Supervisors (12/5/23)

Documented by Dani Huerta

Summary —  What you need to know

• Some upcoming events are the Woodlake Christmas Parade, Tulare County Association of Governments bike giveaway and the ribbon-cutting for the Self-Help affordable housing in Visalia,
• The annual salary for the Tulare County Regional Transit Agency executive director position was approved in the amount of $169,500.
• Implementation of Senate Bill 43, a bill that expands the definition of “gravely disabled” and expands care for such people, was deferred until Jan. 1, 2026. Earlier implementation is allowed if the Health and Human Services Mental Health Branch establishes infrastructure and training to meet the new mandates.

Follow up Questions

• How will the county implement SB 43 without additional funding from the state?

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 Britt, County Administrative Officer
• Jennifer 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 Dec. 5, 2023. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence.

Actions

• Board of Supervisors matters
  • Micari
    • Last week was the Lindsay Christmas tree lighting, The Source gala, Lindsay Hospital District fundraiser and an East Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability Agency board meeting.
  • Valero
    • Last week was a meeting with the state director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ivanhoe seniors meeting, Dinuba Chamber of Commerce breakfast, Dinuba Christmas parade, and he will be a keynote speaker for the Cutler Orosi “Be Future Ready”” conference.
    • Upcoming is the Employment Connection ribbon-cutting, Latino Caucus of California Counties meeting, Dinuba basketball court ribbon-cutting, Proteus annual open house, speaking at Kings Leader Elementary, London Community parade, Woodlake parade and a Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG) meeting.
  • Shuklian
    • Last week was an air district workshop and The Source gala.
    • Upcoming is a Mental Health Board meeting, Association of Realtors installation of officers, ribbon-cutting for Self-Help affordable housing in Visalia, San Joaquin Valley Insurance Authority meeting, Sheriff’s Youth Services Light Show, Valley Children’s fundraiser, Deputy Sheriff’s Association installation of officers and the TCAG bike giveaway.
  • Vander Poel
    • Upcoming is the Association of Realtors banquet, Tulare County Local Area Formation Commission meeting, Proteus open house, Tulare Christmas parade, San Joaquin Valley Insurance Authority meeting, Deputy Sheriff’s Association installation of officers, TCAG bike giveaway, and a Greater Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability Agency meeting.
  • Townsend
    • Last week was the First Friday Coffee; state of the city in Porterville and a Christmas in Springville Park event.
    • Upcoming Rural Counties Representatives of California Board meeting, Porterville Exchange Club dinner, Sheriff’s Christmas party, River Island East golf cart Christmas parade and the TCAG bike giveaway.
• (Approved unanimously) Consent calendar (items 3-20)
  • Some of the approved items included agreements with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District for an in-kind donation for air filtration devices for the Alpaugh, Dinuba, Lindsay, Orosi, Visalia and Woodlake public libraries as well as the library at, Porterville College (item 14), approval of a grant agreement with Self-Help Enterprises to reimburse the cost of renovating the community center in Teviston (item 16), and reaffirmation of the local emergency due to winter storms and flooding (item 17).
• (Approved unanimously) Request from the Human Resources and Development Department to approve the annual salary of $169,500 for the position of Tulare County Regional Transit Agency executive director, in bargaining unit 10.
  • Lupe Garza, human resources director, explained the item. There were no questions from the board. Valero thanked staff for their work.
  • Abul Hasan thanked the board for having him on the team.
• (Option A, Approved unanimously) Receive a presentation from the Tulare County Health and Human Services Agency’s (HHSA) Mental Health Branch regarding deferred implementation of the changes made to welfare and institutions code section 5008 by Senate Bill 43 and to take action on one of the following options:
  • Option A
    • Defer implementation of the changes made by the bill until Jan. 1, 2026. 
    • Allow for an earlier implementation date if HHSA Mental Health Branch establishes infrastructure and training to meet the new mandates.
    • This resolution will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2024
  • Option B
    • Opt out and implement the changes, effective Jan. 1, 2024. 
  • Natlie Bolin, behavioral health director, gave a presentation. SB 43 expands the definition of “gravely disabled” to include substance use disorder, an inability to prove personal safety and untreated medical conditions. The legislation was passed on Oct. 10, 2023.
    • There is currently not a clinical assessment for substance use disorder,  an inability to prove personal safety and untreated medical conditions. 
    • There will be more individuals who qualify for a hold. It will increase from about 1% to about 10%. There will be more people waiting for beds in emergency rooms.
    • There is no locked facility for substance use disorder.
    • There is no additional funding to expand infrastructure. 
  • They recommend delaying the implementation date to Jan. 1, 2026.
  • Vander Poel asked if other countries are delaying. Bolin said all other counties asked to defer.
• There were no board matter requests

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.