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CITY OF TULARE
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Tulare Public Library & Council Chamber
491 North M Street, Tulare
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
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 Patrick Isherwood
Vice Mayor Steve Harrell
Councilmember Jose Sigala
Councilmember Terry A. Sayre
Councilmember Dennis A. Mederos
STAFF PRESENT: Assistant City Manager Thomas W. Gaffery IV; City Attorney Mario U. Zamora; 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; Community Development Director Mario Anaya; Safety, Compliance & Facilities Officer Manny Correa; Senior Management Analyst Gladys Gonzalez; Computer Systems Analyst Clay Roberts; Finance Budget Manager Jacob Del Cid; Administration Analyst Diana Smith
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Isherwood called to order the special meeting of the Tulare City Council at 6:03 p.m. in the Council Chamber located at 491 North M Street.
2. STUDY SESSION
2.1 Capital Improvement Plan Workshop.
Recommended Action: Receive a presentation and provide direction to staff regarding the Fiscal Year 2026 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Budget and Fiscal Year 2026-2030 CIP.
Presented By: Chief Financial Officer Mark Roberts, Community Services Director Chris Orr, Police Chief Fred Ynclan, Fire Chief Michael Ott, Safety, Compliance & Facilities Officer Manny Correa, Public Works Director Trisha Whitfield, City Engineer Michael Miller, Computer Systems Analyst Clay Roberts
Public Comment: There were no public comments.
Council Action: Councilmember Sigala pointed out the old library is not included in these CIP projects. The Council provided direction to include the demolition of the old library as a project in the FY 2026-2030 CIP. Councilmember Mederos expressed concern about approving this item with insufficient time to study the information presented and inquired if these projects need to be approved today. He further stated he has never been made aware of the Woman’s Clubhouse being renovated. Chief Financial Officer Mark Roberts advised that Council can approve any of the projects or deny and take time for further discussion. Councilmember Sigala added that he would like to provide input on other projects. Mayor Isherwood suggested carving out another time for further discussion and declared there is need to look at how these projects are brought to the Council since the process has not evolved. Mayor Isherwood requested the presentation be sent to Council City Council Meeting Minutes Tuesday, April 15, 2025
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to further study the projects and bring questions and suggestions to City staff, as well as schedule meetings as needed.
3. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Isherwood adjourned the special meeting at 7:26 p.m.
4. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Isherwood called to order the regular meeting of the City Council at 7:38 p.m. in the Council Chamber located at 491 North M Street.
5. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INVOCATION
Councilmember Mederos led the Pledge of Allegiance, and an invocation was given by Councilmember Sayre.
6. PROCLAMATIONS & RECOGNITIONS
6.1 Proclamation for National Donate Life Month – April 2025. Mayor Isherwood read and presented a proclamation to Leonardo Hernandez of Donor Network West proclaiming April 2025 as National Donate Life Month in the City of Tulare.
7. PUBLIC COMMENT
James Cardoza from EZ Connector, Inc. expressed concern regarding issues caused by unhoused individuals including using the faucets outside their building to bathe. He stated the unhoused individuals explain they do this because showers at the encampment are only available two or three times a week. He requested the City increase the days that showers are available at the encampment and increase the number of porta potties available for their use.
8. COMMUNICATIONS
Assistant City Manager Thomas W. Gaffery IV advised there were no communications.
9. COUNCIL REPORTS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST
Council reported on recent events and discussed items of interest.
10. CONSENT CALENDAR
It was moved by Councilmember Mederos, seconded by Vice Mayor Harrell, and unanimously carried to approve the items on the Consent Calendar as presented.
10.1 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.
10.2 Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes.
Recommended Action: Approve the minutes of the special and/or regular meeting of April 1, 2025. [M. Hermann]
10.3 Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance 2025-03.
Recommended Action: Adopt Ordinance 2025-03 approving Zone Amendment No. 754, pre-zoning the subject property to the R-1-5 (Single-family Residential, 5,000 sq. ft. minimum lot area) and Rural Residential zoning designations. [S. Sopp] City Council Meeting Minutes Tuesday, April 15, 2025
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10.4 Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance 2025-04.
Recommended Action: Adopt Ordinance 2025-04 approving Zone Amendment No. 757, revising the City of Tulare’s Farmland Mitigation Ordinance (Chapter 10.222 of the City of Tulare Municipal Code). [M. Anaya]
10.5 Monthly Investments Report.
Recommended Action: Accept the monthly investments report for February 2025. [M.
Roberts]
11. PUBLIC HEARING
11.1 2025-2029 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI), Consolidated Plan, and Citizen Participation Plan Draft Presentation.
Recommended Action: Receive a presentation and conduct a public hearing on the Draft Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI), Consolidated Plan, and Citizen Participation Plan.
Presented By: Community Development Director Mario Anaya Public Comment: There were no public comments.
Council Action: Mayor Isherwood opened the public hearing at 7:54 p.m. It was moved by Vice Mayor Harrell, seconded by Councilmember Sigala, and unanimously carried to continue the public hearing to the May 6, 2025 meeting with the condition that materials be distributed to Council before the meeting and not at the meeting. Mayor Isherwood closed the public hearing at 7:56 p.m.
12. GENERAL BUSINESS
12.1 Municipal Code Revisions Regarding Camping on Public Property.
Recommended Action: Pass to print an ordinance repealing and replacing Section
8.36.280 (Hours of Use) of Chapter 8.36 (City Park and Trail Ordinance); enacting Chapter
8.37 City Property Exclusion; and enacting Chapter 8.38 (Encampments on Public Property) of Title 8 Public Ways and Property of the Tulare Municipal Code.
Presented By: Safety, Compliance & Facilities Officer Manny Correa Public Comment: There were no public comments.
Council Action: The Council discussed and asked various questions. Safety, Compliance & Facilities Officer Manny Correa, Police Chief Fred Ynclan, and City Attorney Mario U.
Zamora addressed all inquiries. It was moved by Councilmember Mederos, seconded by Councilmember Sayre, and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented.
12.2 Economic Development Update.
Recommended Action: Receive a presentation on economic development activities occurring within the City of Tulare.
Presented By: Senior Management Analyst Gladys Gonzalez Public Comment: There were no public comments.
Council Action: This was an informational item; therefore, no action was taken.
12.3 Temporary Encampment Facility Staffing.
Recommended Action: Provide staff direction to recruit two hourly employees to serve as temporary encampment attendants.
Presented By: Assistant City Manager Thomas W. Gaffery IV Public Comment: There were no public comments.
Council Action: Questions were asked by Councilmember Mederos and Councilmember Sayre. Chief Financial Officer Mark Roberts and Assistant City Manager provided responses thereto. It was moved by Councilmember Sayre, seconded by Councilmember Mederos, and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented.
City Council Meeting Minutes Tuesday, April 15, 2025
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12.4 Approval of Budget Adjustments.
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution approving adjustments to the City of Tulare Fiscal Year 2025 budget.
Presented By: Chief Financial Officer Mark Roberts
Public Comment: There were no public comments.
Council Action: Council requested further clarification on the budget adjustments. It was moved by Councilmember Mederos, seconded by Councilmember Sayre, and unanimously carried to adopt a resolution amending the Fiscal Year 2024 and Fiscal Year 2025 budgets.
13. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS - NONE SUBMITTED
14. STAFF UPDATES
Staff provided updates on department activities.
15. ADJOURNMENT
Seeing no further business to discuss, Mayor Isherwood adjourned the regular meeting at 8:46 p.m.
These meeting minutes were approved by the Council on May 6, 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 (May 13, 2025 20:12 PDT)
Minutes 04152025
Final Audit Report 2025-05-14
Created: 2025-05-13
By: Melissa Hermann ([email protected])
Status: Signed
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