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CITY OF TULARE
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Tulare Public Library & Council Chamber
491 North M Street, Tulare
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
5:30 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 (arrived at 5:46 p.m.)
Councilmember Terry A. Sayre
Councilmember Dennis A. Mederos
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Marc Mondell; City Attorney Mario U. Zamora; Chief Deputy City Clerk Melissa Wilcox; Assistant City Manager Thomas W. Gaffery IV; Deputy City Manager/Chief Technology Officer Jason Bowling; 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; General Services Director Manny Correa; Community Development Director Mario Anaya; Executive Director of Economic Development & Redevelopment Jennifer Gomez
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Isherwood called to order the regular meeting of the Tulare City Council at 5:34 p.m. in the Council Chamber located at 491 North M Street.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INVOCATION
Ken Espinoza and Steve Celentano led the Pledge of Allegiance, and an invocation was given by Susan Henard, Pastor of River Valley Church.
3. PROCLAMATIONS & RECOGNITIONS
3.1 Recognize Councilmember Mederos - San Joaquin College of Law Hall of Fame.
Vice Mayor Harrell presented a certificate of recognition to Councilmember Mederos celebrating him for being inducted in the San Joaquin College of Law Hall of Fame.
3.2 Recognize City Manager Mondell - Top City Manager. Mayor Isherwood presented a certificate of recognition to City Manager Mondell celebrating him for being named Top City Manager by Gov Business Review.
3.3 Recognize Flora Johnson. Mayor Isherwood read a Resolution of Remembrance highlighting the life and legacy of Flora Johnson.
4. PUBLIC COMMENT
There were no public comments.
5. PRESENTATIONS
5.1 Potential Business Park, Inland Port, and Matheny Tract Annexation. City Manager Mondell provided a presentation outlining a potential business park, inland port, and Matheny Track annexation.
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Councilmember Sigala posed the following questions which were responded to by Mr.
Mondell:
1. How close are residential homes to the business parks and inland ports provided as examples in the presentation?
2. Can this occur further south to take advantage of Avenue 200 instead of the new interchange?
3. Will the Council have input on any restrictions/requirements (e.g., electric trucks, more green space, lessen air quality issues)?
4. In what ways will the revenue from the build out be used?
5. How will the green space (buffer) to the north of Matheny Tract be possible if there is not available land currently?
6. Can the County of Tulare divert funds to the City for a period of time during the transition period?
7. How will farm animals be dealt with that are in Matheny Tract? Public comment was received from the following:
• Aaron Bock, Tulare County, regarding support for annexation. • Emma De La Rosa, Leadership Counsel, posed various questions (health concerns, land use compatibility, fees paid for build out within the City, population dynamic definition and factors, benefits to residents of Matheny Tract) which staff advised would be responded to by email.
• Hugo Trujillo, Matheny Tract resident, addressed the Council expressing support for annexation as well as opposition to environmental impacts but is not opposed to development.
• Pete Eppinga, Tulare resident, expressed concern regarding paying for extra costs associated with Matheny Tract annexation and is not in favor.
Following discussion, it was the consensus of Council to appoint Councilmembers Sayre and Sigala to work through the City Manager to explore the possibility of partnering on the project to the south.
Council recessed at 7:50 p.m. and reconvened at 8:01 p.m.
6. COMMUNICATIONS
City Manager Marc Mondell advised there were no communications.
7. COUNCIL REPORTS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST
Council reported on recent events and discussed items of interest.
8. CONSENT CALENDAR
Items 8.10 and 8.12 were removed from the 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 except for items 8.10 and
8.12. 8.1 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.
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8.2 Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes.
Recommended Action: Approve the minutes of the special and/or regular meeting of November 4, 2025. [M. Wilcox]
8.3 Lease Renewal with Union Pacific Railroad Company.
Recommended Action: Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute a lease agreement with Union Pacific Railroad Company for the continued use of the property at Tulare Avenue and I Street, currently occupied by the Women’s Clubhouse (88 W. Tulare Avenue), at an annual rent of $18,600 with a 3% compounded annual increase, for a oneyear term commencing October 21, 2025, with automatic annual renewals thereafter. [M.
Mondell]
8.4 Economic Development Updates.
Recommended Action: Receive an update on economic development activities. [J.
Gomez]
8.5 Notice of Completion – PK0037 K9 Bane Dog Park Project.
Recommended Action: Accept as complete the contract with Caliber Contracting Services Inc., of Fresno, CA, for work on Project PK0037 K9 Bane Dog Park, a park improvement project. Authorize the City Engineer to sign the Notice of Completion and direct the City Clerk to file the Notice of Completion with the Tulare County Recorder’s Office. [M. Miller]
8.6 Purchase of Vehicles.
Recommended Action: Award the purchase of two new/unused 2026 Ford Police Interceptor Utility (K8A) AWD vehicles and two new/unused 2026 Ford F-150 trucks to National Auto Fleet Group of Watsonville, CA using Sourcewell Contract No. 091521-NAF in the amount of $209,077.20. [T. Whitfield]
8.7 2025-26 Transportation Development Act Claim.
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution authorizing a Fiscal Year 2025-26 TDA claim by the Tulare County Regional Transit Agency in the amounts of $784,263.32 in State Transit Assistance and $1,992,820.23 in Local Transportation Funds, and $138,928.51 in State of Good Repair Apportionment “SGR” subject to the TCAG 2025 TDA Claims Manual and approving the City of Tulare’s claim of the remaining $1,715,280.17 in Local Transportation Funds, subject to the TCAG 2025 TDA Claims Manual. [M. Miller]
8.8 Initiate Proceedings for Formation of Landscape Maintenance District 2025-02.
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution initiating proceedings for the formation of Landscape Maintenance District 2025-02 for the FNC Subdivision, and setting December 2, 2025, as the date for a public hearing regarding the same. [M. Miller]
8.9 Initiate Proceedings for Formation of Landscape Maintenance District 2025-03.
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution initiating proceedings for the formation of Landscape Maintenance District 2025-03 for the Valov, Lekkerkerker, and Fernandes Subdivisions, and setting December 2, 2025, as the date for a public hearing regarding the same. [M. Miller]
8.11 Employee Health Benefit Rates for Calendar Year 2026.
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution establishing Employee Health Benefits Rates for Calendar Year 2026. [J. Venegas]
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ITEM(S) PULLED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
8.10 State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) FY24 Grant.
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution accepting receipt of Fiscal Year 2024 State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) from DHS in the amount of $20,080 and authorize an appropriation of $20,080 in Fund 306 Fire Department Grants Fund to purchase five mobile radios, including installation. [M. Ott] Council Action: Councilmember Sigala pulled this item to inquire about where the funding comes from and whether there was language requiring the City regarding immigration enforcement if funds are accepted. It was moved by Councilmember Sigala, seconded by Councilmember Mederos, and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented.
8.12 Request for Qualifications for Entertainment District Master Developer.
Recommended Action: Approve the release of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ), prepared in coordination with Victus Advisors and City staff, to solicit a qualified Master Developer to design, construct, and lead the planning of the proposed Entertainment District. [G. Gonzalez]
Council Action: This item was pulled at the request of staff due to an amendment to the recommended action. It was moved by Councilmember Mederos, seconded by Councilmember Sayre, and unanimously carried to approve the item as amended to include the appointment of members to the RFQ Review Committee as stated in the amended staff report which will include Vice Mayor Harrell to represent the City Council.
9. PUBLIC HEARING
9.1 Commercial Cannabis Business Ordinance Revisions.
Recommended Action: Pass-to-print an ordinance repealing and replacing Section
5.96.030 of Chapter 5.96 (Commercial Cannabis Businesses) of Title 5 of the Tulare Municipal Code related to commercial cannabis business operating hours.
Presented By: Assistant City Manager Gaffery
Public Comment: The public hearing was opened at 8:13 p.m. and closed at 8:14 p.m. with no comments received.
Council Action: It was moved by Councilmember Mederos, seconded by Councilmember Sayre, and carried 4 to 1 (Vice Mayor Harrell voted no) to approve the item as amended to include language allowing businesses to be open at 6 a.m. annually on the day after Thanksgiving.
10. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
10.1 Discuss Assisting Amvets Post 56 in Moving the B-17 Bomber and F-4 Phantom to the North Side of the Mefford Hangar.
Recommended Action: Direct staff to add to a future agenda or take no action.
Submitted By: Vice Mayor Harrell
Council Action: It was the consensus of Council to have staff add this item to a future agenda.
11. STAFF UPDATES
Staff provided updates on department activities.
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12. RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS
12.1 Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation (Govt. Code § 54956.9(d)(1)) Name of Case: VCU317197 Laborers International Union of North America Local 294 and People of the State of California, Ex Rel. Rob Bonta, Attorney General of the State of California v. City of Tulare
Council recessed to closed session at 8:32 p.m.
13. RECONVENE FROM CLOSED SESSION
Council reconvened from closed session at 9:30 p.m.
14. CLOSED SESSION REPORT
There was no reportable action.
15. ADJOURNMENT
Seeing no further business to discuss, Mayor Isherwood adjourned the regular meeting at 9:30 p.m.
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true and
correct copy of the minutes of the special and/or
regular meeting held on November 18, 2025, as
approved by the Tulare City Council.
Marc Mondell, City Clerk
By Melissa Wilcox, Chief Deputy City Clerk
Council Meeting Minutes
Final Audit Report 2025-12-08
Created: 2025-12-08
By: Melissa Wilcox ([email protected])
Status: Signed
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