City of Tulare Page 1
CITY OF TULARE
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Council Chamber
491 North M Street, Tulare
Tuesday, March 7, 2023
6:30 p.m. - Special Meeting
7:00 p.m. - Regular Meeting
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Terry A. Sayre
Vice Mayor Patrick Isherwood (arrived at 6:45 p.m.)
Councilmember Jose Sigala
Councilmember Stephen C. Harrell
Councilmember Dennis A. Mederos
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Marc Mondell; City Attorney Mario Zamora, Chief Deputy City Clerk Melissa Hermann; Chief Financial Officer Diego Ibanez; City Engineer Michael Miller; Public Works Director Trisha Whitfield; Community Services Director Jason Glick; Police Chief Fred Ynclan; Fire Chief Michael Ott; Human Resources Director Janice Avila; Interim Community Development Director/City Planner Mario Anaya; Executive Director of Economic Development and Redevelopment Traci Myers; Chief Technology Officer Jason Bowling
1. CALL TO ORDER SPECIAL MEETING
Mayor Sayre called the special meeting of the City Council to order at 6:33 p.m. in the Council Chamber located at 491 North M Street.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT PERTAINING TO CLOSED SESSION ITEMS
There were no public comments.
3. RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING:
3.1 Conference with Real Property Negotiations – Govt. Code Section 54956.8 Property: North side of Prosperity Ave east of West Street (APN 164-130-005) Agency Negotiation: Marc Mondell, Mario Zamora, Michael Miller Negotiating Parties: City of Tulare, Jeremy Nied
Under Negotiations: Price and terms of payment
3.2 Conference with Real Property Negotiations – Govt. Code Section 54956.8 Property: North side of Prosperity Ave east of West Street (APN 164-130-006) Agency Negotiation: Marc Mondell, Mario Zamora, Michael Miller Negotiating Parties: City of Tulare, Jeremy Nied
Under Negotiations: Price and terms of payment
3.3 Conference with Real Property Negotiations – Govt. Code Section 54956.8 Property: North side of Cross Avenue west of West Street (APN 168-340-003) Agency Negotiation: Marc Mondell, Mario Zamora, Michael Miller Negotiating Parties: City of Tulare
Under Negotiations: Price and terms of payment
City Council Meeting Minutes March 7, 2023
City of Tulare Page 2
Council recessed to closed session at 6:33 p.m.
4. RECONVENE FROM CLOSED SESSION
Council reconvened from closed session at 7:05 p.m.
5. CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Mario Zamora advised there was no reportable action.
6. ADJOURNMENT OF SPECIAL MEETING
Mayor Sayre adjourned the special meeting at 7:05 p.m.
7. CALL TO ORDER REGULAR MEETING
Mayor Sayre called the regular meeting of the City Council to order at 7:05 p.m. in the Council Chamber located at 491 North M Street.
8. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INVOCATION
Police Chief Fred Ynclan led the pledge of allegiance and an invocation was given by William Foxley.
9. PRESENTATIONS
9.1 Developmental Disability Awareness Month Proclamation. Mayor Sayre presented Rebecca Donabed with a proclamation proclaiming March 2023 as Developmental Disability Awareness Month in the City of Tulare.
9.2 Women’s History Month Proclamation. Mayor Sayre presented Chief Deputy City Clerk Melissa Hermann with a proclamation proclaiming March 2023 as Women’s History Month in the City of Tulare.
9.3 Recognition of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month.
Mayor Sayre recognized past honorees. Councilmember Sigala honored Tara Houston and Veronica Faria-Percival. Mayor Sayre honored Kimberly Torrez.
Councilmember Harrell honored Fire Captain Lisa Trgovac. Councilmember Mederos honored Lucy Van Scyoc, Ed D. Vice Mayor Isherwood honored Paulette Allen. State Senators Shannon Grove and Melissa Hurtado were honored and Senator Grove shared a few words.
10. PUBLIC COMMENTS
The following provided public comment: Richard Torrez Jr., Donnette Silva-Carter, Angel Ruiz, Michael Peña-Wasnick, and Ricky Diaz.
11. COMMUNICATIONS
City Manager Marc Mondell advised there were no communications.
12. COUNCIL REPORTS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST
Council reported out on recent events and discussed items of interest.
City Council Meeting Minutes March 7, 2023
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13. CONSENT CALENDAR
Item 13.5 was removed from the Consent Calendar by Councilmember Sigala.
It was moved by Councilmember Mederos, seconded by Councilmember Sigala, and unanimously carried to approve the items on the Consent Calendar as presented with the exception of item 13.5.
13.1 Waive the reading of ordinances and approve reading by title only.
Recommended Action: Approve the reading by title only of all ordinances and that further reading of such ordinances be waived.
13.2 Regular Meeting Minutes of February 7, 2023.
Recommended Action: Approve as submitted. [M. Hermann]
13.3 Cancellation of July 4, 2023 Regular Meeting.
Recommended Action: Approve the cancellation of the July 4, 2023 regular meeting of the City Council. [M. Hermann]
13.4 Termination of Proclamation of Local Emergency.
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution terminating the Proclamation of Local Emergency declared in response to COVID-19. [M. Mondell]
PULLED CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS
13.5 Property Purchase for the Cross Avenue Improvement Project (EN0074).
Recommended Action: Authorize the City Manager to complete and execute the documents necessary to purchase property for public right-of-way required by Project EN0074 located on the north side of Cross Avenue as a portion of APN 168-340-002 in the amount of $6,900, subject only to minor conforming and clarifying changes acceptable to the City Attorney and City Manager. [M. Miller] This item was tabled.
14. GENERAL BUSINESS
14.1 Community Garden and Art Center on City Property on West Street.
Recommended Action: Receive a report on the feasibility and process required to develop a community garden and art center, and provide direction to staff.
Presented By: Interim Community Development Director/City Planner Mario Anaya
Public Comment: Student from Tulare Western
Council Action: It was moved by Vice Mayor Isherwood and seconded by Councilmember Sigala that the Council is open and endorses future conversations with community partners about a community garden. Mayor Sayre called for a roll call vote:
AYES: Isherwood, Sigala, Harrell, Mederos, Sayre
NOES: None
PASSED 5-0
City Council Meeting Minutes March 7, 2023
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14.2 Tulare City Council Challenge Coin.
Recommended Action: Receive a report regarding challenge coins and provide direction to staff.
Presented By: Police Chief Fred Ynclan
Council Action: It was moved by Councilmember Harrell, seconded by Councilmember Mederos, and unanimously carried to direct staff to bring back proposed designs for Council consideration.
14.3 Tulare Cares Temporary Encampment Rules and Regulations Revisions and Addendum No. 1.
Recommended Action: Approve the Tulare Cares Temporary Encampment Rules and Regulations Revisions and Addendum No. 1 included as an attachment and direct staff to utilize them in association with the operations of the Tulare Cares Temporary Encampment Rules and Regulations.
Presented By: City Manager Marc Mondell and Community Services Director Jason Glick
Council Action: It was moved by Councilmember Harrell, seconded by Mayor Sayre, and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented.
14.4 General Guidelines for Economic Development Investment Program (EDIP).
Recommended Action: Approve the general guidelines for the creation of an Economic Development Investment Program (EDIP), applicable to both large and small projects, to encourage new private sector investment and job creation to the City; and authorize the City Manager and/or his designee to move forward with the implementation of the EDIP.
Presented By: City Manager Marc Mondell and Executive Director of Economic Development and Redevelopment Traci Myers
Public Comment: Tulare Chamber of Commerce CEO Donnette Silva-Carter; Anthony Diaz of the Tulare County Economic Development Corporation Council Action: It was moved by Vice Mayor Isherwood and seconded by Councilmember Harrell to approve the item as presented. Mayor Sayre called for a roll call vote:
AYES: Isherwood, Harrell, Sigala, Mederos, Sayre
NOES: None
PASSED 5-0
14.5 Downtown Special Benefits Property Assessment Districts.
Recommended Action: Approve the issuance of a Request for Proposals to seek qualified firms to assist the City in re-examining the Downtown Special Benefits Property Assessment Districts.
Presented By: City Manager Marc Mondell and Executive Director of Economic Development and Redevelopment Traci Myers
Council Action: It was moved by Mayor Sayre, seconded by Councilmember Harrell, and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented.
15. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS - None Submitted
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16. STAFF UPDATES
Staff provided updates on department activities.
17. ADJOURNMENT
A moment of silence was held in remembrance of City employee Mark Mitchell who recently passed away. The regular meeting was adjourned at 10:26 p.m.
Approved by Council: March 21, 2023
TERRY A. SAYRE, MAYOR
ATTEST:
MARC MONDELL, CITY CLERK
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By Melissa Hermann, Chief Deputy City Clerk