City of Tulare Page 1 of 4
CITY OF TULARE
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Tulare Public Library & Council Chamber
491 North M Street, Tulare
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
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
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; Assistant Community Services Director Brian Beck; 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; Human Resources Director Janie Venegas
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Isherwood called to order the regular meeting of the Tulare City Council at 5:35 p.m. in the Council Chamber located at 491 North M Street.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INVOCATION
City Attorney Zamora led the Pledge of Allegiance, and an invocation was given by Micah Thiesen, Pastor of Evangelical Free Church.
3. PROCLAMATIONS & RECOGNITIONS
3.1 Proclamation for Black History Month - February 2026. Mayor Isherwood read and presented a proclamation to Desiree Timmons, President of the Tulare County Alliance of African American Women, proclaiming February 2026 as Black History Month in the City of Tulare.
4. PUBLIC COMMENT
Donnette Silva, Chamber of Commerce CEO, provided updates and introduced a student of the current Leadership Tulare class.
Barbara Harrell, President of The Tulare Foundation, advised Council of the upcoming Proud to Wear Pink fundraiser event on March 21.
5. COMMUNICATIONS
City Manager Marc Mondell advised there were no communications.
City Council Meeting Minutes Tuesday, February 3, 2026
City of Tulare Page 2 of 4
6. COUNCIL REPORTS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST
Council reported on recent events and discussed items of interest. City Attorney Zamora and staff provided an update on the ongoing group home issue in the Del Lago neighborhood.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
Item 7.5 was removed from the Consent Calendar.
It was moved by Councilmember Mederos, seconded by Councilmember Sayre, and unanimously carried to approve the items on the Consent Calendar as presented except for item 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 January 20, 2026. [M. Wilcox]
7.3 Fire Apparatus Repairs with Betts Truck Parts and Service.
Recommended Action: Authorize the City Manager to approve the purchase of repair parts and labor for Engine 61 with Betts Truck Parts & Service of Fresno, California in the amount of $57,270.96.
7.4 Agreements with California Department of Transportation.
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager or designee to execute Master Agreements, Program Supplement Agreements, Fund Exchange Agreements, and/or Fund Transfer Agreements with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). [M. Miller]
7.6 Conditional Final Map Acceptance for Fulton Estates Phase 2.
Recommended Action: Conditionally approve the final map and subdivision improvement agreement for Phase 2 of the Fulton Estates subdivision for recordation; and accept all easements and dedications offered to the City subject to receipt of the signed final map, all fees, and other required items prior to April 3, 2026. [M. Miller]
7.7 Telephone System Replacement.
Recommended Action: Authorize the City Manager to execute contracts related to CIP Project IT2023-07 Telephone System Replacement; award a professional services agreement to Cloud Revolution in the amount of $79,400 for Microsoft Teams migration services, subject to minor conforming changes as approved by the City Manager and City Attorney; authorize the City Manager or designee to approve Cloud Revolution contract change orders in an amount of not to exceed 10% ($7,940); and approve a contract change order to the Microsoft Enterprise Agreement with Dell, Inc. in the amount of $24,600 to cover through the end of the existing contract July 1, 2027. [J. Bowling]
ITEM(S) PULLED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
7.5 Award of Contract for CIP Project EN0106 Santa Fe Trail Crossing Improvements.
Recommended Action: Authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with Peters Engineering Group of Clovis, CA in an amount not to exceed $57,000 for engineering design and construction support services associated with CIP Project EN0106 Santa Fe Trail Crossing Improvements; and approve revisions to the project’s programmed funding in accordance with the revised CIP project sheet. [M. Miller] City Council Meeting Minutes Tuesday, February 3, 2026
City of Tulare Page 3 of 4
Council Action: Councilmember Sigala pulled this item to inquire if there is a master plan for Santa Fe Trail. Staff provided response thereto It was moved by Councilmember Sigala, seconded by Vice Mayor Harrell, and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented.
8. PUBLIC HEARING
8.1 Historic-Cultural Landmark Nominations.
Recommended Action: Pass-to-print an ordinance approving and designating the Tulare Veterans Memorial Building, Hoyt House, T29A Convair Airplane, B-17 Bomber, and F-4 Phantom Jet as City of Tulare Historic-Cultural Landmark and adding them to the Local Register of Historic-Cultural Landmarks pursuant to Tulare Municipal Code Chapter 10.38.
Presented By: Community Development Director Anaya
Public Comment: This public hearing was continued from January 20, 2026. The public hearing was reopened at 6:11 p.m. Prior to the opening of the public hearing, Darrell Ward, President of the Tulare Veterans Memorial District, spoke in favor of the item. Chris Harrell also spoke in favor of the item. The public hearing was closed at 6:13 p.m.
Council Action: Councilmember Mederos raised concern with how subsequent property owners become aware of the historical designation and what the City could do regarding this concern. City Attorney Zamora stated that staff will research and discuss options. It was moved by Vice Mayor Harrell, seconded by Councilmember Mederos, and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented.
9. GENERAL BUSINESS
9.1 Fire Station 64 Progress Update.
Recommended Action: Receive an update on the activities surrounding the development and planning for Fire Station 64.
Presented By: Fire Chief Ott
Public Comment: There were no public comments.
Council Action: This was an informational item; therefore, no action was taken.
9.2 Consideration of Establishing a No Commercial Truck Parking Zone.
Recommended Action: Discuss and provide direction to staff regarding the establishment a “No Commercial Truck Parking” zone on Inyo Avenue between West and Maricopa Streets and on West Street between Tulare Avenue and Pleasant Street.
Presented By: Councilmember Sigala
Public Comment: There were no public comments.
Council Action: It was the consensus of Council to refer this matter to the Transportation Management Team (TMT) for review and report back in six months.
9.3 Consideration of Traffic Calming Measures on E Street.
Recommended Action: Discuss and provide direction to staff regarding the implementation of traffic calming measures on E Street between Bardsley and Lemonwood Avenues.
Presented By: Councilmember Sigala
Public Comment: There were no public comments.
Council Action: It was the consensus of Council to refer this matter to the Transportation Management Team (TMT) for review and report back in six months.
9.4 City Manager Employment Agreement Amendment.
Recommended Action: Approve the Fifth Amendment to the Employment Agreement with City Manager Marc Mondell and adopt a resolution amending the City’s Fiscal Year 2026 Salary Schedule and authorizing the City Manager, or designee, to update the Salary Schedule accordingly.
City Council Meeting Minutes Tuesday, February 3, 2026
City of Tulare Page 4 of 4
Presented By: Human Resources Director Venegas
Public Comment: There were no public comments.
Council Action: Council questioned the numbers provided on the staff report. Mayor Isherwood called for a recess at 7:05 p.m. to allow staff to resolve the issue with the numbers provided on the staff report. The meeting was reconvened at 7:10 p.m. Assistant City Manager Gaffery advised that the Fiscal Impact section of the staff report should be stricken and should state: “The funding for this item was included in the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, and funding for this action for the remainder of the fiscal year is $5,779.26.” It was moved by Councilmember Mederos, seconded by Councilmember Sayre, and carried 5 to 0 to approve the item as presented. Councilmember Sigala abstained from voting without identifying a legal disqualification; therefore, his vote was counted as an affirmative vote pursuant to the Council’s Handbook of Rules and Procedures.
10. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS - NONE SUBMITTED
11. STAFF UPDATES
Staff provided updates on department activities.
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
12.2 Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation Initiation of litigation pursuant to Govt. Code § 54956.9(d)(4): 3 cases Council recessed to closed session at 7:24 p.m.
13. RECONVENE FROM CLOSED SESSION
Council reconvened from closed session at 8:47 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 8:47 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 February 3, 2026, as
approved by the Tulare City Council.
Marc Mondell, City Clerk
By Melissa Wilcox, Chief Deputy City Clerk