City of Tulare Page 1
CITY OF TULARE
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Tulare Public Library & Council Chamber
491 North M Street, Tulare
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
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; City Attorney Mario U. Zamora; Chief Deputy City Clerk Melissa Hermann; Assistant City Manager Josh McDonnell; Chief Financial Officer Mark
Roberts; 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 Shonna Oneal; Community Development
Director Mario Anaya; Executive Director of Economic
Development and Redevelopment Traci Myers; Chief
Technology Officer Jason Bowling; Safety, Compliance &
Facilities Officer Manny Correa
Proper notice of this meeting was given pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2 and 54956.
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Sayre called the regular meeting of the City Council to order at 7:01 p.m. in the Council Chamber located at 491 North M Street.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INVOCATION
Councilmember Mederos led the Pledge of Allegiance, and an invocation was given by Vice Mayor Isherwood.
3. PROCLAMATIONS & RECOGNITIONS
3.1 Proclamation for Women’s History Month - March 2024. Mayor Sayre read a proclamation proclaiming March 2024 as Women’s History Month in the City of Tulare.
3.2 Recognition of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month.
Mayor Sayre honored Cathy Mederos. Councilmember Sigala honored Heidi Clark. Councilmember Harrell honored Barbara Harrell. Councilmember Mederos honored Adrianne Hillman. Vice Mayor Isherwood honored Shelley Bergman.
Mayor Sayre called for a short recess.
The meeting was reconvened at 7:44 p.m.
Item #:
Consent
City Council Meeting Minutes March 5, 2024
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4. PUBLIC COMMENTS
The following provided public comment: Donnette Silva-Carter provided various Chamber updates.
5. COMMUNICATIONS
City Manager Marc Mondell advised there were no communications.
6. COUNCIL REPORTS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST
Council reported out on recent events and discussed items of interest.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
Item 7.7 was removed from the Consent Calendar by Council.
It was moved by Councilmember Harrell, seconded by Councilmember Mederos, and unanimously carried to approve the items on the Consent Calendar as presented with the exception of item 7.7.
7.1 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.
7.2 Special and/or Regular Meeting Minutes of February 20, 2024.
Recommended Action: Approve as submitted. [M. Hermann]
7.3 EN0088 Prosperity & West Traffic Signal Project – SCE Pole Relocation.
Recommended Action: Authorize the City Manager to sign an invoice from Southern California Edison Company for the amount of $233,123.78 for the relocation of their existing facilities within the right-of-way of Prosperity Avenue as required to accommodate construction of public improvements for the Prosperity and West Traffic Signal Project. [M. Miller]
7.4 Hidden Ridge Subdivision Notice of Completion.
Recommended Action: Accept the required public works improvements for Hidden Ridge subdivision located on the north side of Bardsley Avenue approximately 2,300 ft east of Morrison Street as complete, authorize the City Engineer to sign a Notice of Completion (NOC), and direct the City Clerk to file the NOC with the Tulare County Recorder’s Office. [M. Miller]
7.5 De La Vina Street Traffic Signal Notice of Completion.
Recommended Action: Accept the required public works improvements for a traffic signal located at the De La Vina Street and Cartmill Avenue intersection associated with the Kensington Estates Phase 3 and 4 residential subdivisions as complete, authorize the City Engineer to sign a Notice of Completion (NOC), and direct the City Clerk to file the NOC with the Tulare County Recorder’s Office. [M. Miller]
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7.6 Design Consultant Contract Amendment – EN0074 Cross Avenue Improvements Project.
Recommended Action: Authorize the City Engineer to sign a contract amendment for $36,060 with 4Creeks of Visalia, CA for additional design services related to City Project EN0074 – Cross Avenue Improvements; and approve a revised project sheet reflecting both the revised contract cost and actual property acquisition costs incurred to date. [M. Miller]
PULLED CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS
7.7 Right-of-way Acquisition Services Contract - EN0078 Bardsley Avenue Sidewalk Project.
Recommended Action: Review and approve a contract with Paragon Partners Consultants, Inc. for right-of-way appraisal and acquisition services associated with CIP Project EN0078 – Bardsley Avenue Sidewalk Project in the amount of $26,810.00; authorize the City Manager or designee to approve contract change orders in an amount not to exceed 10% of the contract award amount; and approve the revised project sheet reflecting increased project scope and costs. [M. Miller]
Council Action: Councilmember Sigala pulled this item to make suggestions. It was moved by Councilmember Sigala, seconded by Councilmember Harrell, and unanimously carried to approve the item as recommended in the staff report along with the City Manager’s recommendation that there be a condemnation process in place at the same time in case that may be needed to help move this project forward in a timely manner.
8. GENERAL BUSINESS
8.1 Oppose Initiative 21-0042A1.
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution opposing Initiative 21-0042A1, the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act.
Presented By: City Manager Marc Mondell; Lobbyist Andres Ramirez Public Comment: None
Council Action: It was moved by Councilmember Sigala, seconded by Councilmember Harrell, and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented.
8.2 Municipal Code Revisions.
Recommended Action: Pass to print an ordinance repealing Chapter 4.36 (Abandoned, Wrecked Vehicles) and enacting Chapter 7.29 (Abandoned, Wrecked, Dismantled, or Inoperative Vehicles on Private Property) of the Tulare Municipal Code; and pass to print an ordinance repealing and replacing Sections
7.28.020, 7.28.030, and 7.28.090 of Title 7 (Health and Sanitation), Chapter 7.28 (Nuisances Generally) of the Tulare Municipal Code.
Presented By: Safety, Compliance & Facilities Officer Manny Correa Public Comment: Steve Celentano commented on issues with abandoned vehicles and recreation vehicles on the streets.
Council Action: It was moved by Councilmember Mederos, seconded by Councilmember Sigala, and unanimously carried to approve the item as modified to strike “or Board of Supervisors” from section 7.29.100.
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8.3 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Fund Allocation.
Recommended Action: Approve the allocation of expenditures of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds toward councilmember-identified programs and projects; and adopt a resolution approving the expenditure of $105,453 of ARPA funds.
Presented By: Assistant City Manager Josh McDonnell
Public Comment: None
Council Action: It was moved by Councilmember Mederos, seconded by Councilmember Sigala, and unanimously carried to approve the item as modified to include an additional $500 allocation from Mayor Sayre to the Tulare Historical Museum.
9. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
9.1 Request for Rezoning of Parcel.
Council Action: It was the consensus of Council to have staff add this item to a future agenda for discussion.
10. STAFF UPDATES
Staff provided updates on department activities.
11. ADJOURNMENT
The regular meeting was adjourned at 9:04 p.m.
Approved by Council: March 19, 2024
TERRY A. SAYRE, MAYOR
ATTEST:
MARC MONDELL, CITY CLERK
__________________________________
By Melissa Hermann, Chief Deputy City Clerk