Documented by Josef Sibala
Here’s what you need to know:
- The Kings County Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of a McDonnell Douglas MD 500E helicopter from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff David Robinson said the helicopter includes law enforcement radio, search light, infrared, moving map system, and LoJack stolen vehicle radar system.
- The board approved Change Order 13 with Bowe Contractors Inc. for the Juvenile Center Remodel Project. This project consists of remodeling and expanding the existing County Branch Jail facility, which will build a new juvenile center and juvenile day reporting center.
- The county anticipates an increase in fees to charge new development to fund facilities to serve projected growth. The fee revenue would amount to $32.4 million from 2023 to 2050.
- New Lemoore City Manager Nathan Olson said that the fees are an 88% increase to Lemoore and Hanford for residential units. He said that the increase will be implemented over time. Vega clarified that adopting the study will not adjust the impact fee table. The fee table will be discussed in August.
Follow-up questions:
- How will the county decide on development impact fees?
- When will the Juvenile Center Remodel Project be completed?
The scene
According to its website, Kings County is a “general law” county, meaning the state constitution and general law determine the county’s governmental structure.
The Board of Supervisors is the governing body for Kings County and many county special districts. Each of the board’s five members is elected in a nonpartisan manner to a four-year term. The board sets policies and depends on the county administrator, county officials and department heads to fulfill its wishes.
The Board of Supervisors has administrative, legislative and quasi-judicial duties and responsibilities prescribed by the state constitution and statutes.
The meeting was held at 9 a.m. in the board chambers at 1400 West Lacey Blvd. in Administration Building 1 in Hanford.
Kings County County Board of Supervisors members present:
- Joe Neves, District 1 (Lemoore and Stratford)
- Rusty Robinson, District 4 (Armona and Hanford)
- Richard Fagundes, District 5 (Hanford and Burris Park)
- Doug Verboon, District 3 (North Hanford, Island District and North Lemoore)
- Richard Valle, District 2 (Avenal, Corcoran, Home Garden and Kettleman City)
Others present:
- Deputy County Administrative Officer Megan Vega
- Registrar of Voters Lupe Villa
- Human Services Agency Director Wendy Osikafo
- Chief Information Officer John Devlin
- President of Kings County Economic Development Corporation Julieta Martinez
- Public Works Director Dominic Tyburski
- Sheriff David Robinson
- Chief Probation Officer Leonard Bakker
- Lemoore City Manager Nathan Olson
Discussions/Actions
A. The board (5-0) approved the minutes from the meeting on Jan 30.
Under the consent calendar, the board (5-0) unanimously approved items as follows:
A. Behavioral Health Department:
1. The board authorized the advanced step hire of Maria Gutierrez as a business application specialist.
B. County Counsel:
1. The board adopted a resolution renewing the declaration of a local emergency due to flood conditions in Kings County.
2. The board appointed Theresa Barbeiro as a trustee to the Board of the Hanford Cemetery District, to serve a four-year term that will begin on Feb. 14, and end on Jan. 1, 2028.
C. Human Services Agency:
1. The board approved an agreement with the University of California, Davis, for Eligibility Services, Supportive Services, Employment Services, Adult Protective Services and Child Welfare Worker training effective from Feb. 6, 2024 through Feb. 5, 2025
According to the agenda packet report, the services provided under the agreement cost $237,150. The total cost is reflected in the agency’s fiscal year 2023-24 budget.
UC Davis provides management, leadership, frontline supervisor training, team building, defusing hostile situations and training in how to be effective with difficult people.
The training supports staff education for eligibility, supportive services, employment services, child welfare and administration.
D. Probation Department:
1. The board approved the discharge from accountability for collecting delinquent court-ordered criminal fines, fees, penalties and assessments.
According to the agenda packet report, the Kings County Probation Department requested authorization and approval to discharge the accountability of 522 accounts totaling $727,676 that have not been active for three years before June 30, 2023.
Discharge from accountability does not release any person from liability for payment of an amount discharged of accountability; it only releases the county from its duty to collect upon these debts.
Regular agenda items were as follows:
A. Elections
1. a. The board (5-0) approved an agreement with the California Secretary of State for Help America Vote Act federal funding for polling place accessibility training.
According to the agenda packet report, the funds provided by the agreement are intended to assist Kings County in the administration of the upcoming 2024 election cycle. The available funding is specific to the administration of the election as it relates to accessibility
Villa said that the Kings County Elections Department is required to submit proper documentation as part of the reimbursement process.
The term of the agreement is retroactive from Jan. 1, 2024, or upon approval by the Department of General Services, through June 30, 2025. Under the agreement, Kings County is eligible to receive up to $20,000 in federal reimbursement funds.
This agreement does not require a county match. The revenue will be reflected in the fiscal year 2024-25 budget.
B. Human Services Agency
1. a. The board (5-0) approved the appropriation increase for the Human Services Agency In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority for fiscal year 2023-24 due to increased state allocations and federal matching funds.
The increase in allocation is $13,172; from $532,436 to $545,608.
C. Information Technology Department
1. a. The board (5-0) approved the technical support services renewal order with Oracle for technical support of the county’s payroll system, effective March 17 through March 17, 2025.
According to the agenda packet report, the fiscal impact is $118,131, which is broken down into four quarterly payments of $29,533. The first payment is included in the Department of Finance’s fiscal year 2023-2024 budget.
D. Job Training Office
1. The board (5-0) authorized an agreement with Stanislaus County to reimburse Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) training and seminars provided by the Kings County Job Training Office, retroactively effective from July 1, 2023, through June 30.
According to the agenda packet report, the maximum training reimbursement through this agreement is $3,000. Receipt of these funds does not require a county match.
Martinez said the agreement represents Kings County’s portion of a regional grant to assist in implementing WIOA through staff and advisory board training. This agreement provides reimbursement for approved training
E. Probation Department
1. The board (5-0) authorized the purchase of one body scanner from Tek84 Engineering Group, Limited Liability Co., for $190,000 to maintain security in the Kings County Juvenile Center.
Bakker, chief probation officer, said the body scanner would curtail the ability of inmates to smuggle weapons, drugs, and other contraband into correctional facilities.
F. Public Works Department
1. The board (5-0) approved a cost-sharing agreement with the California Department of Transportation for State Highway Electrical Facilities effective upon execution.
According to the agenda packet report, the estimated cost is $20,000 annually, which will be paid through the Kings County Road Fund. This amount will be included in the proposed budget for the fiscal year 2024-25.
Tyburski said that the cost of maintenance and energy for a traffic signal and intersection lighting on a four-leg crossing at grade would be shared on a 50-50 basis.
2. The board (5-0) approved Change Order 13 with Bowe Contractors Inc. for the Juvenile Center Remodel Project.
The change order will cost the county $700,523. There is existing funding available in the fiscal year 2023-24 budget for this project. However, $400,000 of anticipated unused appropriations will be needed to supplement the project’s budget to fund the order fully.
This project consists of remodeling and expanding the existing Kings County Branch Jail facility and constructing a new juvenile center and day reporting center.
Tyburski said the remodel and new construction include 32 beds for housing, classrooms, programming and medical implementation, booking and intake control room, outdoor recreation, a warming kitchen, and yard areas.
G. Sheriff’s Office
1. The board (5-0) approved the purchase of a McDonnell Douglas MD 500E helicopter from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the agenda packet report, the cost of the helicopter is not to exceed $550,000, with sales tax and registration. It will be paid for from the Sheriff’s Office Operations budget.
Robinson said that with the addition of a helicopter, the air support could provide immediate assistance to law enforcement ground personnel or citizens who are in life-threatening encounters or who need immediate medical assistance.
He said the helicopter includes law enforcement radio, search light, infrared, moving map system, and a LoJack stolen vehicle radar system.
The public hearing consists of the following:
A. Administration
1. a. The board received information on the Development Impact Fee Nexus Study.
%demand, along with increased fees for new development to fund facilities. The fee revenue would amount to $32.4 million from 2023 to 2050.
b. The board conducted a public hearing on the Development Impact Fee Nexus Study.
Olson said the fees will mean an 88% increase to Lemoore and Hanford for residential units, which will be implemented over time.
Vega clarified that adopting the study will not adjust the impact fee table. The fee table will be discussed in August.
c. The board (5-0) adopted the Development Impact Fee Study.
The closed session included the following:
Personnel matter:
Public Employee Appointment: Fire chief
Personnel matter:
Public Employee Appointment: Library director
Personnel matter:
Public Employee Evaluation: Director of public works
Conference with labor negotiator:
Negotiators: Kyria Martinez, Carolyn Leist, Che Johnson of Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
General Unit – CLOCEA
Supervisor’s Unit – CLOCEA
Blue Collar – SEIU
Detention Deputy’s Association
Firefighter’s Association
Deputy Sheriff’s Association
Probation Officer’s Association
Prosecutor’s Association
Unrepresented Management
Significant exposure to litigation: (one case)
Significant exposure to litigation: (one case)
The next board meeting will be on Feb. 27 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.
