City of Tulare Page 1
CITY OF TULARE
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Council Chamber
491 North M Street, Tulare
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
6:00 p.m. - Special Meeting
7:00 p.m. - Regular Meeting
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Terry A. Sayre
Vice Mayor Patrick Isherwood
Councilmember Jose Sigala
Councilmember Stephen C. Harrell
Councilmember Dennis A. Mederos
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Marc Mondell (via Zoom); City Attorney Mario Zamora; Chief Deputy City Clerk Melissa Hermann; Assistant City Manager Josh McDonnell; 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 6:03 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 ITEMS
3.1 Conference with Legal Counsel
Anticipated Litigation – Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Government Code § 54956.9(b): 1 case
3.2 Conference with Labor Negotiators (Government Code § 54957.6) Agency Representatives: Mario Zamora, Josh McDonnell, Janice Avila, Michael Ott
Employee Organization: Tulare Professional Fire Fighters Association Council recessed to closed session at 6:04 p.m.
4. RECONVENE FROM CLOSED SESSION
Council reconvened from closed session at 7:05 p.m.
Item #:
Consent
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5. CLOSED SESSION REPORT
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
Fire Chief Michael Ott led the Pledge of Allegiance, and an invocation was given by Russ Siders, Senior Pastor of Sunrise Community Church.
9. PRESENTATIONS
9.1 Proclamation for Public Works Week, May 21-27, 2023. Councilmember Sigala read the proclamation and presented it to Public Works Director Trisha Whitfield.
9.2 Proclamation for Emergency Medical Services Week, May 21-27, 2023.
Councilmember Harrell read the proclamation and presented it to representatives from Life Star Ambulance.
9.3 Certificate of Appreciation for Board of Public Utilities Commissioner Howard Stroman. Councilmember Mederos presented Howard Stroman a certificate of appreciation for his years of service on the Board of Public Utilities Commissioners.
9.4 Certificate of Recognition for Countryside High. Mayor Sayre presented a certificate of recognition to Countryside High for their 2023 Mental Health Awareness Campaign and for securing second place in the 2023 Directing Change Film Contest.
9.5 Resolution of Commendation for Dr. Yeng Xiong. Vice Mayor Isherwood read the resolution of commendation and presented it to Dr. Yeng Xiong for his contributions to the community.
10. PUBLIC COMMENTS
The following provided public comment: Marie Vue regarding the resolution of commendation for Dr. Yeng Xiong.
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.
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13. CONSENT CALENDAR
Items 13.2, 13.3, and 13.6 were removed from the Consent Calendar.
It was moved by Councilmember Harrell, seconded by Councilmember Sigala, and unanimously carried to approve the items on the Consent Calendar as presented except for items 13.2, 13.3, and 13.6.
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.
13.4 Relief from Claim Filing Statute and Rejection of Claim for Chase Reif.
Recommended Action: Grant approval for the Application for Leave to Present Late Claim on behalf of Chase Reif, a minor, by and through his guardian ad litem Kelsi Reif pursuant to Government Code §911.4; and Reject liability claim filed against the City of Tulare on April 26, 2023, by Attorney Jeffrey A. Clause on behalf of Chase Reif, claim number FR101235. [J. Avila]
13.5 K-9 Bane Dog Park Project and Design Services Contract.
Recommended Action: Approve the project scope and budget for City Project PK0037, “K-9 Bane Dog Park”; authorize the City Manager to sign a contract with 4Creeks of Visalia, CA in an amount not to exceed $78,200 for topographic surveying, utility coordination, design, bidding and construction support services for Project PK0037; and authorize the City Manager or designee to approve contract change orders in an amount not to exceed 10% ($7,820) of the contract award amount. [M. Miller]
13.7 Project List for 2023/24 SB1 Funded Projects.
Recommended Action: Receive a list of proposed projects to be funded through Senate Bill No. 1 (SB1) revenues and adopt a resolution which includes the 2023/24 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) funds in the City’s 2023/24 Capital Improvements Projects program budget and identifies a list of proposed projects that will utilize those funds. [M. Miller]
13.8 Records Retention Schedule Update.
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution approving the revisions to the City of Tulare Records Retention Schedules. [M. Peton]
13.9 April 2023 Investments Report.
Recommended Action: Accept the monthly investments report for April 2023. [D. Ibanez]
PULLED CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS
13.2 Special and/or Regular Meeting Minutes of May 2, 2023.
Recommended Action: Approve as submitted. [M. Hermann]
Council Action: Councilmember Mederos pulled this item for correction to the recorded vote on item 3.1 as Vice Mayor Isherwood seconded the motion, not Councilmember Mederos. It was moved by Councilmember Mederos, seconded City Council Meeting Minutes May 16, 2023
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by Councilmember Harrell, and unanimously carried to approve the item as amended.
13.3 Contingent Approval to Hire 12 New Firefighter Personnel.
Recommended Action: Contingently approve 12 new Fire Department personnel and accept the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant for Fiscal Year 2022 in the amount of $3,834,867.72. [M. Ott]
Council Action: Councilmember Sigala pulled this item for clarification. It was moved by Councilmember Sigala, seconded by Councilmember Mederos, and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented.
13.6 Tesori-Bella Oaks Improvements Project and Design Services Contract.
Recommended Action: Approve the project scope and budget for City Project EN0101, “Tesori-Bella Oaks Improvements”; authorize the City Manager to sign a contract with 4Creeks of Visalia, CA in an amount not to exceed $96,000 for topographic surveying, utility coordination, design, permitting, bidding and construction support services for Project EN0101; and authorize the City Manager or designee to approve contract change orders in an amount not to exceed 10% ($9,600) of the contract award amount. [M. Miller] Council Action: Councilmember Sigala pulled this item for clarification. It was moved by Councilmember Mederos, seconded by Mayor Sayre, and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented.
14. PUBLIC HEARINGS
14.1 Energy Services Agreement with ENGIE Services U.S.
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution making findings required under Government Code Section 4217.10 through 4217.18 and approving an agreement for energy conservation services with ENGIE Services U.S. authorizing execution and finding that the project is exempt from CEQA.
Presented By: Assistant City Manager Josh McDonnell
Public Comment: The public hearing was opened at 8:10 p.m. Receiving no public comment, the public hearing was closed at 8:11 p.m.
Council Action: It was moved by Councilmember Mederos, seconded by Vice Mayor Isherwood, and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented.
15. GENERAL BUSINESS
15.1 Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget Review.
Recommended Action: Review the proposed Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget and provide direction thereto.
Presented By: Chief Financial Officer Diego Ibanez
Public Comment: None
Council Action: No action was taken on this item.
15.2 Pet Accommodations at the Tulare Homeless Shelter.
Recommended Action: Provide direction to staff regarding pet accommodations to be incorporated into the design of the Tulare Homeless Shelter facility.
Presented By: City Engineer Michael Miller
Public Comment: None
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Council Action: It was moved by Councilmember Mederos, seconded by Vice Mayor Isherwood, and carried 4 to 1 (Councilmember Harrell voted no) to move forward with the design as illustrated in Exhibit C of the staff report, increasing the number of kennels available.
15.3 Weed Abatement Update.
Recommended Action: Receive a report on the weed abatement process that the City of Tulare Fire Department (TFD) is conducting to reduce the possibility of vegetation fires in Tulare.
Presented By: Fire Chief Michael Ott
Public Comment: None
Council Action: No action was taken on this item.
16. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
16.1 Study Session on the Status of Healthcare in the City of Tulare.
Recommended Action: Review and provide direction to either add to a future agenda or not. [J. Sigala]
Council Action: No action was taken on this item.
16.2 Study Session on Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) Program.
Recommended Action: Review and provide direction to either add to a future agenda or not. [J. Sigala]
Council Action: It was the consensus of Council to have staff add this item to a future agenda as a presentation.
16.3 Re-allocation of ARPA Funds for Sister City Program.
Recommended Action: Review and provide direction to either add to a future agenda or not. [J. Sigala]
Council Action: It was the consensus of Council to have staff add this item to a future agenda.
17. STAFF UPDATES
Staff provided updates on department activities.
18. ADJOURNMENT
The regular meeting was adjourned at 10:00 p.m.
Approved by Council: June 6, 2023
TERRY A. SAYRE, MAYOR
ATTEST:
MARC MONDELL, CITY CLERK
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By Melissa Hermann, Chief Deputy City Clerk