Tulare County Board of Supervisors Jan. 30 meeting

Documented by Dani Huerta

Summary —  What you need to know

• A notice of exemption for the Golden State Hydrogen Plant Project outside of Pixley was approved. Three members of the public spoke against the project because they said it did not receive a full CEQA environmental impact review. The developer and staff explained that a full CEQA review was not necessary, and the project is producing carbon-negative emissions. 
• An appeal for a special use permit to allow for hosting events on property located on agriculture exclusive land was denied. Nearby residents expressed their concerns about loud noise, dangerous traffic, and disruption of farmers’ spraying schedules. 

Board of Supervisors

• Larry Micari – chair, District One
• Pete Vander Poel III – vice chair, District Two
• Amy Shuklian, District Three
• Eddie Valero, District Four
• Dennis Townsend, District Five
• Jason Britt, County Administrative Officer (CAO)
• 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 Jan. 30, 2024. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence.

Actions

• Board of Supervisors matters
  • Valero
    • Last week was the Walmart rebrand re-grand opening in Dinuba, Greenwood housing development open house in Woodlake and Cutler-Orosi Lions Club celebration. 
    • Upcoming is a Cutler-Orosi consolidation meeting, check-in with Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA), Woodlake dance studio ribbon-cutting, Latino Caucus of CA Counties, Executive Tulare County Regional Transit Agency meeting, Youth for Christ banquet and a SPUC meet-and-greet event.
  • Shuklian
    • Last week Mental Health Services met with Kings View CEO, there was a San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority meeting, meeting with Animal Services and a meeting with the principal of Sequoia High School.
    • Upcoming is the 4-H awards, meeting Robin McGehee and receiving a check from Sen. Melissa Hurtado to help the county’s homelessness problem. 
  • Vander Poel
    • Upcoming is Grand Oaks assisted care facility ribbon-cutting and Tulare Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs meeting. 
  • Townsend
    • Last week was a Local Area Formation Commission meeting, Suitable Corridors Committee meeting, bountiful box food distribution, Sierra Nevada Conservancy meeting, HHSA meeting.
    • Upcoming meeting with Rural Counties Representatives of California, meeting with the government liaison, Eastern Tule Groundwater Sustainability agency and Porterville First Friday coffee. 
  • Micari
    • Last week he spoke about flooded roads and speeding, helped with Bountiful Box, attended the San Joaquin Valley Water Infrastructure Authority board of directors meeting, Woodlake awards banquet and an Exeter community schools grant meeting. 
• Consent calendar (Items 5-28)
  • Item 28 was pulled for separate consideration. The reminder of the consent calendar was approved.
    • Item 28: Approve the notice of exemption for Golden State Hydrogen Plant Project (“Project”). The proposed project site is located within the Pixley Urban Development Boundary (UDB). Find that the project is statutorily exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the State CEQA Guidelines as an approved use based on the light manufacturing zoning designation, and that the building permits are administerial. Authorize the environmental assessment officer to sign and file the notice of exemption with the clerk recorder and the State of California’s Office of Planning and Research.
      • Emma De La Rosa, Dan Ress and Maria Aribello opposed the project because it did not receive a full environmental impact review. They voiced concerns about the project polluting the surrounding area.
        • Aaron Bock, Resource Management Agency assistant director, said it does not require CEQA review. The project has been looked at by staff.
      • Shuklian asked staff what would happen if the item was denied. Bock said it would likely be “frowned upon” and challenged by the developer.
      • John Rosenfeld of Proteum Energy (developer) said many of the complaints in opposition do not apply. He said the plant would actually produce a carbon-negative impact. They are working with staff for a safety plan.
      • Approved
  • Some of the approved items included the approval of an agreement to sell surplus real property located at Kings River Park to Brent Jackson (item 14), an agreement with the Tulare County superintendent of schools for the provision of therapeutic behavioral services (item 17) and the submission of a letter of support on behalf of TeamCalifornia to the California State Funding Allocation Committee for funding to amplify California’s positive economic message and impact (item 27). 
• (Approved unanimously) Public hearing: Request from the Resource Management Agency (RMA) to adopt three ordinances
  • 1. Amending the Tulare County zoning ordinance pertaining to adding two-family residential uses in the R-1 zone 
  • 2. Amending the Tulare County zoning ordinance pertaining to the removal of the requirements for approval by the Tulare County Planning Commission for four or more residences in one lot in the R-3 zone
  • 3. Amending the Tulare County zoning ordinance pertaining to the revisions for accessory and junior dwelling units and addition of second residences for those who do not qualify as accessory dwelling units or junior accessory dwelling units 
  • Finding that this ordinance by statute can only be passed after notice and a public hearing, so it is exempt from the usual requirements that an ordinance be read in full and adopted over two regular meetings
  • Finding that the adoption of these three ordinances is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the state CEQA Guidelines 
  • Adopting the findings of approval set forth in the Planning Commission resolution and directing the clerk of the board to publish a summary of the ordinance
  • Posting a full copy of the ordinance after adoption as required by law
  • Bock presented the item. It amends the zoning ordinance to comply with state law.
• (Appeal denied) Public hearing: Request from the RMA to deny the appeal filed by appellant, Sandra Ceballos, and affirm the Planning Commission’s denial of a special use permit for assembly of people for educational and/or entertainment purposes, on a 19- acre parcel in the exclusive agricultural (20-acre minimum) zone located on the north side of Avenue 256, east of Tulare.
  • Sandra Ceballos, owner of the property, spoke alongside her husband, Alejandro Puentes Jr.
  • Bock gave a presentation on the case. The applicant proposes to use part of the property to rent it to host events on weekends (Friday to Sunday) with a maximum of 300 attendees. At a previous meeting, local concerns were that it would disturb farmers’ spraying, the area is dangerous due to car accidents and it would disrupt nearby animal control. It was previously tentatively denied. The appellant (property owner) said nearby trees would work as a sound barrier and they would create a wall if necessary. They would work around farmers’ spraying schedules and would have people exit in a certain area to avoid dangerous vehicle accidents. 
  • Ceballos addressed sound concerns by saying trees and a barn would reflect sound. They could also plant shrubs and build a wall, she said. To address agricultural concerns, they would only host 12 events per year. She asked nearby farmers to provide a schedule of when they plan to spray. She said there is only one nearby neighbor.
    • Puentes Jr. said a community member agreed to be on their side if the owners give him a 50% commission. If not, the neighbor said he would gather community members to go against the project. Puentes Jr. said he also made racist remarks against the owners.
  • Public comment
    • Judy Johnson, Gary Hampton, Donnie Walton (his daughter spoke on his behalf), Tammy Blackman and Tom Lang opposed the project. Their concerns are loud music, traffic, stress to animals, and disrupting farmers’ spraying.
  • Shuklian said it is unreasonable to ask farmers for their schedule, and to reschedule certain days. Vander Poel said he personally understands the neighbors’ noise concerns. 
• There were no board matter requests

Public Comment

There was no public comment.

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors will meet next on Feb. 6 at 9 a.m.

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