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CITY OF TULARE
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Tulare Public Library & Council Chamber
491 North M Street, Tulare
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
6:00 p.m. Special Meeting
7:00 p.m. Regular Meeting
Proper notice of this meeting was given pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2 and 54956.
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; 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
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Sayre called to order the special meeting of the Tulare City Council at 6:05 p.m. in the Council Chamber located at 491 North M Street.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT PERTAINING TO CLOSED SESSION ITEMS
3. RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING
3.1 Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov. Code § 54956.9(d)(2): 1 case
Council recessed to closed session at 6:06 p.m.
4. RECONVENE FROM CLOSED SESSION
Council reconvened from closed session at 7:20 p.m.
5. CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Mayor Sayre advised there was no reportable action.
6. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Sayre adjourned the special meeting at 7:20 p.m.
City Council Meeting Minutes Tuesday, October 1, 2024
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7. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Sayre called to order the regular meeting of the City Council at 7:20 p.m. in the Council Chamber located at 491 North M Street.
8. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INVOCATION
Vice Mayor Isherwood led the Pledge of Allegiance, and an invocation was given by Brian Bell, Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
9. PUBLIC COMMENT
Kenia Lopez addressed the Council regarding access control from Mooney Boulevard into neighborhood concerned with individuals accessing the neighborhood and entering private property.
Pat Hillman addressed the Council regarding the upcoming event to celebrate 150 years for Tulare Congregational Church.
Larry and Sandra Mendez and Brian and Yuliana Galvan addressed the Council regarding two separate incidents that occurred within the last six months that involved vehicles crashing into their backyard fence from Cross Avenue causing damage. They expressed concern over their safety urging action be taken to help mitigate the risk of future property damage.
Tyler Gilmore and Craig Yancy addressed the Council regarding the Tulare Animal Shelter, voicing concern over the lack of staffing and the overcrowding of dogs.
10. PRESENTATIONS
10.1 Adventist Health. Jason Wells and Timothy Haydoc provided a presentation regarding services being provided to the community by Adventist Health.
10.2 Tulare Workforce Investment Board. Adam Peck provided an update on the labor market and educational attainment in Tulare County.
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.
13. CONSENT CALENDAR
A citizen requested that item 13.6 be removed to provide comment. Items 13.5, 13.6, and
13.7 were removed from the Consent Calendar by Council.
It was moved by Councilmember Mederos, seconded by Councilmember Sigala, and unanimously carried to approve the items on the Consent Calendar as presented except for items 13.5, 13.6, and 13.7.
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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 Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes.
Recommended Action: Approve the minutes of the special and/or regular meeting of September 17, 2024. [M. Hermann]
13.3 CalRecycle Grants Resolution.
Recommended Action: Approve and adopt a resolution authorizing submittal of grant applications for five years to CalRecycle. [T. Whitfield]
13.4 Caltrans Right-of-Way Relinquishment.
Recommended Action: Authorize the City Manager to provide a letter to Caltrans indicating the City’s intention to accept the relinquishment of State right-of-way on San Joaquin Avenue immediately west of the Highway 99 southbound ramps and on Sierra Avenue immediately east of the Highway 99 northbound ramps, and to waive the ninety (90) days’ notice of “Intention to Relinquish” requirement contained in Section 73 of the Streets and Highway Code. [M. Miller]
ITEM(S) PULLED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
13.5 Purchase of Five 2024 Ford Police Interceptors.
Recommended Action: Award the purchase of five new/unused 2024 Ford Police Interceptors to Dana Safety Supply, Inc., of Fresno, CA, in the amount of $263,721.85, which includes all fees, tax, and shipping. [T. Whitfield] Council Action: Councilmember Mederos pulled this item for clarification regarding the issues surrounding the purchasing process for vehicles. Public Works Director Trisha Whitfield provided a response thereto. It was moved by Councilmember Mederos, seconded by Councilmember Harrell, and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented.
13.6 Acceptance of FEMA SAFER Grant.
Recommended Action: Accept the 2023 FEMA Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant totaling $4,658,468. [M. Ott] Council Action: Brandon West, a captain at the Fire Department, requested this item be pulled to provide comment. Mr. West expressed his appreciation to the Council and City management for supporting the grant. Councilmember Mederos requested this item be pulled for clarification regarding plans to fund these positions after the three years. Councilmember Sigala shared the same concern.
Fire Chief Michael Ott and City Manager Marc Mondell provided comment thereto.
Items 13.6 and 13.7 were discussed and voted on together. It was moved by Mayor Sayre, seconded by Councilmember Harrell, and unanimously carried to approve the items 13.6 and 13.7 as presented.
13.7 Amend the City’s Non-Utility Position Control Budget and Salary Schedule.
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution amending the City’s Non-Utility Position Control Budget (PCB) to add the allocation of 12 Firefighter/Paramedics (salary code 4030, from $6,395.07-$7,773.24) and add the classification of City Council Meeting Minutes Tuesday, October 1, 2024
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Firefighter/EMT (salary code 4025, from $5,915.44-$7,190.25/month) on the salary schedule. [S. Oneal]
Council Action: See the Council Action section for item 13.6.
14. GENERAL BUSINESS
14.1 License Agreement Acceptance for Tulare Trail Townhouses.
Recommended Action: Contingent upon Council’s approved extension of prior Property Sale and Development Agreements with All Valley Housing Services, authorize the Mayor to execute a license agreement, subject only to minor conforming or clarifying changes acceptable to the City Attorney and City Manager, to allow All Valley Housing Services to construct and maintain 5-foot sidewalks with 5:1 grading slopes within the City’s Santa Fe Trail right-of-way along a portions of their adjacent residential properties.
Presented By: City Engineer Michael Miller; City Manager Marc Mondell Public Comment: Lino Pimentel of All Valley Housing Services addressed the Council regarding his housing project.
Council Action: Council expressed concern regarding the use of the Santa Fe Trail property for a portion of this project. City Engineer Michael Miller clarified that the sidewalk would encroach approximately 3 feet into the Trail right-of-way. Mr.
Pimentel advised that he is landscaping the property between the sidewalk for the development to the edge of the sidewalk on the trail. City Manager Marc Mondell questioned how they will handle issues of vandalism and destruction in the landscaped area. Mr. Pimentel advised he will be responsible for maintaining the area. City Attorney Mario U. Zamora advised that since the agreement is expired, an addendum will be brought back to Council for approval. Following discussion, it was moved by Councilmember Mederos, seconded by Councilmember Sigala, and unanimously carried to (1) approve an extension of the prior Property Sale and Development Agreement with All Valley Housing extending the time to complete the project with one year for Phase 1 completion and an additional year for Phase 2 completion; and (2) authorize the mayor to execute a license agreement, subject only to minor conforming or clarifying changes acceptable to the City Attorney and City Manager, to allow All Valley Housing Services to construct and maintain 5-foot sidewalks with 5:1 grading slopes within the City’s Santa Fe Trail right-of-way along a portions of their adjacent residential properties with the license agreement tied to the Property Sale and Development Agreement and will be contingent on the satisfaction of said agreement.
14.2 Presentation of Revised City Logos.
Recommended Action: Receive a presentation on the revised City Logos and provide direction thereto.
Presented By: Executive Director of Economic Development & Redevelopment Traci Myers; City Manager Marc Mondell; Jaclyn Walian of MIG Public Comment: Cesar Pimentel expressed that Option 1 is more Tulare. Steven Macias stated he enjoys the City’s current logo and inquired about the amount of community engagement in this process. Jocelyn Limas who is on the Logo Committee who guided the logo options advised of the many meetings held providing opportunities for public input. Ms. Limas expressed her preference is Option 3. Jason Bender expressed that he favored Option 1 and agreed that, if Option 3 were selected, the train needs to change. Mr. Bender commented that City Council Meeting Minutes Tuesday, October 1, 2024
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none of the options presented included trees considering Tulare is known for its oak trees. Lino Pimentel stated that the options provided are better than what Tulare had and included that he favored Option 2b and Option 3.
Council Action: Councilmember Sigala recommended that the Council narrow the options down to the top 2 and polling the community. Councilmember Mederos cautioned against prolonging the process as there has been ample opportunity for community input and didn’t want to take additional input and ignore the Logo Committee’s input. It was moved by Councilmember Sigala and seconded by Councilmember Harrell to select Option 3 as the City’s new logo, with the modification to the train. Mayor Sayre called for a roll call vote. The motion passed 3 to 2 as follows:
Ayes: Councilmember Sigala, Councilmember Harrell, Mayor Sayre Noes: Councilmember Mederos, Vice Mayor Isherwood
14.3 Historic Preservation Program Implementation.
Recommended Action: Receive a presentation from the historic preservation consultant and authorize approval of actions to implement a historic preservation planning program within the City of Tulare, beginning with properties in the city’s Downtown.
Presented By: Community Development Director Mario Anaya; Jacqueline Padilla-Perez of Historia Design & Consulting
Public Comment: Chris Harrell provided the history of what Tulare has already done in regard to historical preservation. Mr. Harrell also advised of the work that has been done by the Historic Preservation Ad Hoc Committee to assist with historical preservation efforts.
Council Action: It was moved by Councilmember Mederos, seconded by Mayor Sayre, and unanimously carried to approve the actions to implement a historic preservation planning program as outlined in the bullet points on page 2 of the staff report.
14.4 Letter of Intent for Sister City Agreement.
Recommended Action: Consider the letter received from Armando Reyna, mayor of Tecomán, Colima, Mexico and provide direction to staff thereto.
Presented By: City Manager Marc Mondell
Public Comment: There were no public comments.
Council Action: It was the consensus of Council to delegate this to Councilmember Sigala who will work with HACER and City staff.
15. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS - NONE SUBMITTED
16. STAFF UPDATES
Staff provided updates on department activities.
Prior to recessing to closed session, a moment of silence was held to recognize Netty Washington, a former City councilmember, who recently passed away.
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17. RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS
17.1 Conference with Labor Negotiators (Govt. Code § 54957.6) Agency Designated Representatives: City Manager Marc Mondell, City Attorney Mario U. Zamora, Assistant City Manager Josh McDonnell, Human Resources Director Shonna Oneal
Employee Organization: California League of City Employee Association (CLOCEA); Tulare Police Officers Union (TPOU)
Unrepresented Employee: Tulare Fire Division Chief Group; Middle Manager Group; Department Head Group
17.2 Public Employee Performance Evaluation (Gov. Code § 54957) Title: City Manager
Council recessed to closed session at 10:40 p.m.
18. RECONVENE FROM CLOSED SESSION
Council reconvened from closed session at 12:11 a.m. on Wednesday, October 2, 2024.
19. CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Mayor Sayre advised there was no reportable action.
20. ADJOURNMENT
Seeing no further business to discuss, Mayor Sayre adjourned the regular meeting at 12:11 a.m. on Wednesday, October 2, 2024.
These meeting minutes were approved by the Council on October 15, 2024.
Terry A. Sayre, President of the Council
and Ex-Officio Mayor
ATTEST:
Marc Mondell, City Clerk
__________________________________
By Melissa Hermann, Chief Deputy City Clerk
Terry Sayre (Oct 22, 2024 22:51 PDT)
Council Meeting Minutes
Final Audit Report 2024-10-23
Created: 2024-10-17
By: Melissa Hermann ([email protected])
Status: Signed
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