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CITY OF TULARE
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Tulare Public Library & Council Chamber
491 North M Street, Tulare
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
7:00 p.m. Regular Meeting
Proper notice of this meeting was given pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Patrick Isherwood
Vice Mayor Steve Harrell
Councilmember Jose Sigala
Councilmember Terry A. Sayre
Councilmember Dennis A. Mederos
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Marc Mondell; Assistant City Attorney Megan Crouch; Chief Deputy City Clerk Melissa Hermann; Chief Financial Officer Mark Roberts; City Engineer Michael Miller; Public Works Director Trisha Whitfield; Community Services Director Chris Orr; Police Chief Fred Ynclan; Fire Chief Michael Ott; Human Resources Director Shonna Oneal; Community Development Director Mario Anaya; Chief Technology Officer Jason Bowling; Safety, Compliance & Facilities Officer Manny Correa
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Isherwood called to order the regular meeting of the City Council at 7:09 p.m. in the Council Chamber located at 491 North M Street.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INVOCATION
Chief Ynclan led the Pledge of Allegiance, and an invocation was given by Dennis Sunderland, Pastor of Tulare Bethel Church.
3. PROCLAMATIONS & RECOGNITIONS
3.1 Proclamation for National Surveyors Week, March 16-22, 2025. Mayor Isherwood read and presented a proclamation to local land surveyors proclaiming the week of March 16- 22, 2025 as National Surveyors Week.
3.2 Proclamation for American Red Cross Month, March 2025. Councilmember Sayre read and presented a proclamation to representatives of the Red Cross Central Valley Chapter proclaiming March 2025 as American Red Cross Month.
3.3 Proclamation for Women’s History Month, March 2025. Councilmember Sayre read a proclamation proclaiming March 2025 as Women’s History Month.
3.4 Recognize International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month Honorees.
Councilmember Sayre honored Sherrie Bell, Councilmember Sigala honored Connie Diaz, Vice Mayor Harrell honored Terry Brazil, Councilmember Mederos honored Ellen Gorelick, and Mayor Isherwood honored Sonia Gutierrez-Mendoza.
3.5 Recognize Tulare Tarheels Cheer Team for Achievements. Mayor Isherwood recognized the Tulare Tarheels Cheer Team for their achievements for the season including obtaining the title of JAMZ 2025 National Champions.
City Council Meeting Minutes Tuesday, March 4, 2025
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The Council took a short recess at 8:06 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 8:16 p.m.
4. PUBLIC COMMENT
Roshanda Smith and Michael Smith addressed the Council regarding the death of their family members and need for financial assistance.
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
Items 7.4 and 7.5 were removed from the Consent Calendar for separate discussion.
It was moved by Councilmember Mederos, seconded by Vice Mayor Harrell, and unanimously carried to approve the items on the Consent Calendar as presented except for items 7.4 and 7.5.
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 Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes.
Recommended Action: Approve the minutes of the special and/or regular meeting of February 18, 2025. [M. Hermann]
7.3 Regional Surface Transportation Program Exchange Fund Claim.
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Finance Director to file a claim with the Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG) for the City of Tulare’s Fiscal Year 2023-2024 apportionment of Regional Surface Transportation Program funds. [M. Miller]
7.6 Salary Schedule Amendment.
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution amending the City’s 2024/25 Non-Utility Position Control Budget (PCB) and Salary Schedule. [S. Oneal]
7.7 Additional Copiers - Amendment to Existing Agreement.
Recommended Action: Approve an amendment to the existing lease and maintenance agreements with UBEO, formerly Ray Morgan Company, subject only to minor conforming and clarifying changes acceptable to the City Attorney and City Manager for four additional photocopy machines. [J. Bowling]
ITEM(S) PULLED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
7.4 2024 CalHome Program Application.
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution to approve the submittal of an application to the California Housing and Community Development Department for the CalHome Program and funding in the amounts of $500,000 for Mortgage Assistance and $500,000 for Owner Occupied Housing Rehabilitation assistance. [M. Anaya] Council Action: Mayor Isherwood pulled this item to recuse himself due to a conflict of interest due to his employment with Self-Help Enterprises. Councilmember Sigala pulled this item to inquire about the details of the program and how the program is being communicated with the public. It was moved by Councilmember Sigala, seconded by City Council Meeting Minutes Tuesday, March 4, 2025
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Councilmember Mederos, and carried 4 to 0 (Mayor Isherwood recused) to approve the item as presented.
7.5 Memorandum of Understanding with Tulare Fire Battalion Chief Group.
Recommended Action: Adopt a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Tulare Fire Battalion Chief Group subject to minor clarifying and conforming changes as approved by the City Attorney. [S. Oneal; M. Zamora]
Council Action: City Manager Marc Mondell advised that the MOU required additional work, but a side letter was being presented for Council approval. Human Resources Director Shonna Oneal walked through the items contained in the side letter. It was moved by Councilmember Mederos, seconded by Councilmember Sayre, and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented.
8. PUBLIC HEARING
8.1 Farmland Mitigation Ordinance Revisions.
Recommended Action: Adopt Zone Amendment No. 757 approving revisions to the City of Tulare’s Farmland Mitigation Ordinance (Chapter 10.222 of the City of Tulare Municipal Code).
Presented By: Community Development Director Mario Anaya Public Comment: The public hearing was continued from February 4, 2025. The public hearing was reopened at 8:52 p.m. Receiving no public comment, the public hearing was closed at 8:52 p.m.
Council Action: Councilmember Mederos advised there is additional work to be done prior to adoption of the ordinance. It was moved by Councilmember Mederos, seconded by Vice Mayor Harrell, and unanimously carried to continue the public hearing to April 1, 2025.
9. GENERAL BUSINESS
9.1 Temporary Encampment Facility Operational Plan and Related Costs.
Recommended Action: Approve a new twelve-month operational plan and budget for the Temporary Encampment Facility; and authorize the City Manager and/or his designee(s) to establish the necessary contracts and/or grant agreements to fulfill the operational plan and related budget expectations where feasible.
Presented By: City Manager Marc Mondell; Community Development Direct Mario Anaya Public Comment: There were no public comments.
Council Action: Councilmember Sigala expressed his desire to have Council formally approve the use of Measure Y funds as well as have staff look at other types of funding to help offset the General Fund. Mayor Isherwood expressed concern with continuing the same services as what was established when the encampment was first opened and stated the objectives from three years ago are changing as the City begins transitioning to the homeless shelter. City Manager Marc Mondell advised that discussions regarding the transition are occurring and will continue to occur with staff and the Lighthouse Rescue Mission. It was moved by Councilmember Mederos, seconded by Councilmember Sayre, and unanimously carried to approve a new twelve-month operational plan and budget for the Temporary Encampment Facility selecting Option C and including all three items listed in Table 3 from the staff report.
9.2 Utility Undergrounding Requirements for the Farrar Estates Subdivision.
Recommended Action: Consider a request by Woodside 06N, LP for an exception to the requirements to underground existing overhead utilities along the Morrison Street frontage of the Farrar Estates subdivision.
Presented By: City Engineer Michael Miller
City Council Meeting Minutes Tuesday, March 4, 2025
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Public Comment: Drew Phelps addressed the Council on behalf of Woodside Homes in regard to the issue presented and stated Woodside’s desire to proceed with Option 1 as provided in the staff report in order to move the project forward. Gina Gomez, property owner, advised that she had an issue with the verbiage in the Southern California Edison easement regarding assignment of the easement which has halted the negotiations. Ms.
Gomez advised that she was in support of Option 1 as provided in the staff report.
Council Action: Following discussion, it was moved by Councilmember Mederos, seconded by Councilmember Sigala, and carried 4 to 1 (Vice Mayor Harrell voted no) to proceed with Option 2 as provided in the staff report, allow 30 days for the parties to come to a resolution, and if a resolution is unsuccessful, the parties are to notify the City Manager who will schedule a closed session for the Council to discuss options which may include eminent domain.
10. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS - NONE SUBMITTED
11. STAFF UPDATES
Staff provided updates on department activities.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Seeing no further business to discuss, Mayor Isherwood adjourned the regular meeting at 10:27 p.m.
These meeting minutes were approved by the Council on March 18, 2025.
Patrick Isherwood, President of the Council
and Ex-Officio Mayor
ATTEST:
Marc Mondell, City Clerk
__________________________________
By Melissa Hermann, Chief Deputy City Clerk
Patrick Isherwood (Mar 30, 2025 00:58 PDT)
Council Meeting Minutes
Final Audit Report 2025-04-02
Created: 2025-03-20
By: Melissa Hermann ([email protected])
Status: Signed
Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAA8BZXMgxePrT8-Z4RUSpnOUYPjcNygMpW "Council Meeting Minutes" History
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