does not supersede the Building Official's authority to address higher priority life-safety situations. If the Building Official makes a finding based on substantial evidence that the electric vehicle charging station could have a specific adverse impact upon the public health or safety, as defined in this Chapter, the City/County may require the applicant to apply for a use permit.
(2) In the technical review of a charging station, consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, the Building Official shall not condition the approval for any electric vehicle charging station permit on the approval of such a system by an association, as that term is defined by Civil Code Section 4080.
(C) Electric Vehicle Charging Station Installation Requirements:
(1) Electric vehicle charging station equipment shall meet the requirements of the California Electrical Code, the Society of Automotive Engineers, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, and accredited testing laboratories such as Underwriters Laboratories, and rules of the Public Utilities Commission or a Municipal Electric Utility Company regarding safety and reliability.
(2) Installation of electric vehicle charging stations and associated wiring, bonding, disconnecting means and overcurrent protective devices shall meet the requirements of Article 625 and all applicable provisions of the California Electrical Code. (3) Installation of electric vehicle charging stations shall be incorporated into the load calculations of all new or existing electrical services and shall meet the requirements of the California Electrical Code. Electric vehicle charging equipment shall be considered a continuous load.
(4) Anchorage of either floor-mounted or wall-mounted electric vehicle charging stations shall meet the requirements of the California Building or Residential Code as applicable per occupancy, and the provisions of the manufacturer's installation instructions. Mounting of charging stations shall not adversely affect building elements.
SECTION 2. If any provision of the Tulare Municipal Code or Title of the Ordinance Code of the City of Tulare, whether approved or adopted prior to or subsequent to Section 120 of Chapter 4 of Title 4 are in conflict therewith, these provisions of Section 120 of Chapter 4 of Title 4 shall govern.
SECTION 3. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this ordinance is, for any reason, held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the other remaining portions of this ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, or phrases be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 4. Pursuant to Section 15 of the Charter of the City of Tulare, it is ordered that a summary of this ordinance be issued in a daily newspaper of general circulation in the City of Tulare for one day and that the ordinance be available in at least one public place at the City offices. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect 30 days from and after the date of its adoption. /////
ORDINANCE 2026-XX
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Tulare this XX day of XXXX 202X, by the following vote:
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent:
Abstain:
Patrick Isherwood, President of the Council
and Ex-Officio Mayor
ATTEST:
Marc Mondell, City Clerk
By Melissa Wilcox, Chief Deputy City Clerk
The presence of an electronic signature certifies that the foregoing is a true and correct copy as approved by the Tulare City Council.
Passed to Print:
Published:
Effective:
Staff Report
Meeting: City Council
Date: March 17, 2026
Department: City Manager
Submitted by: Marc Mondell, City Manager
Agenda Title: Provide Direction on Councilmember Sigala’s Previously Submitted Agenda Items
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Postpone amending the City’s Truck Route Ordinance as part of the General Plan Update to commence in January 2027 and continue to explore establishment of the Community Garden and Arts Center as part of the Downtown Mixed-Use Project.
SUMMARY
Community Garden and Arts Center
On January 17, 2023, Councilmember Sigala submitted a Council request form (see attached) requesting a staff report on the cost and process of establishing a community garden and arts center on city owned property on west street south of cross avenue. At that time Council approved the item to come back for further consideration. On March 7, 2023, Council discussed and further considered the item voting unanimously to endorse future conversations with community partners about a community garden.
Staff are not aware of Council members having participated in any such discussions since that time. Staff have discussed with Council members whether the garden and arts center were to be located on the city owned property on west street south of cross avenue that the capital cost of construction would likely be funded in whole or large part through City general fund along with ongoing operational costs. Chief Ynclan has also shared concern about a non-curated community garden at that location from a safety perspective.
During the Council meeting on November 4, 2025 and again most recently at the Strategic Planning Session on February 6, 2026, staff presented the concept of incorporating the community garden and arts center as part of the Downton Mixed-Use project which includes potential redevelopment of the former Nielsens site, rehabilitation of the Woman’s Clubhouse, and possible replacement of the historical museum and old library site with a senior housing project.
It is staff’s opinion that the city owned property on west street south of cross avenue could be sold for private sector development which could generate new ongoing property and sales tax revenue and the land sale proceeds could be used to fund the capital construction cost of the community garden and arts center. If the project was co-located with the proposed senior center the developer could help to cover ongoing maintenance costs and the senior tenants could participate in garden activities and curation.
It is staff’s understanding that Council has affirmed this approach in concept at both November 4, 2025, and February 6, 2026, meetings, staff herein now requests Council’s confirmation or correction.
Amending the City’s Truck Route Ordinance
On March 19, 2024, Councilmember Sigala submitted a Council request form (see attached) requesting support for a future Council discussion on possibly amending the ordinance to determine if any current truck routes on the west side can be amended, limited, or eliminated to reduce truck traffic in residential areas. At that time Council approved the item to come back for further consideration. On May 7, 2024, Council discussed it and the consensus was to direct staff to continue research on this item.
Item #: 8.3
General Business
On August 2, 2025, in the City Manager’s weekly report, staff advised that it does not intend to bring this item forward for further consideration until after the Housing Element has been adopted. There are several reasons for this including:
• In staff opinion, there is no legal requirement or compelling reasons to advance this item at this time, especially given staff workload and other priorities. • Amending the truck route ordinance will require the opening of the Transportation Element of the City’s General Plan, anytime two or more elements are open it requires adoption of an Environmental Justice Element.
• In staff opinion, the correct time to address this item is during the City’s General Plan update which will commence in January 2027.
FISCAL IMPACT & FUNDING SOURCES
There is no direct fiscal impact to accept staff’s recommendations.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action does not constitute a “project” pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).”
POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Staff are not aware of any conflicts of interest.
LEGAL REVIEW
This item does not require legal review.
PUBLIC NOTICE
This item does not require a public hearing and was noticed as a part of the agenda.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
1. Approve with changes
2. Deny
3. Table
ATTACHMENTS
1. Sigala Council Request Form (Community Garden and Arts Center)
2. Sigala Council Request Form (Amending City Truck Route Ordinance) Reviewed/Approved:
City of Tulare
Agri-Center of the World
COUNCIL ITEM REQUEST FORM
The Council Item Request Form is for members of the City Council to submit written requests to the City Clerk’s Office for inclusion of an item on a future City Council meeting agenda. At the meeting where the initial written request is heard, discussion shall be limited to whether the item should be added to an agenda and a date, not the merit of the item. A majority vote of the City Council is required for the item to be added to a future Council meeting agenda for action. No more than 10 items may be submitted collectively for consideration by all councilmembers at any regular meeting of the Council, and in that regard, no individual councilmember may submit more than three items for consideration at any regular meeting of the Council. In the event more than 10 items are submitted collectively, no more than two items shall be accepted for consideration from any one councilmember.
NAME OF REQUESTING COUNCILMEMBER TODAY’S DATE AGENDA DATE
ITEM TITLE
BRIEF DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND INFORMATION OF ITEM
JOSE SIGALA 1-9-23 1-17-23
Staff Report request on the establishment of a Community Garden/Arts Center Dear Council,
I would like to request your support in placing on the agenda at a future council meeting an agenda item requesting a staff report on the cost and process of establishing a Community Garden and Arts Center on city owned property on West street south of Cross.
I have been approached by constituents in my district about the possibility of developing a community garden which would allow participants the opportunity to grow fresh produce, build community and beautify a vacant city lot.
Additionally establishing an Arts Center in the city working with a local nonprofit and possibly the school district to provide arts programming at center located on the site.
I appreciate your consideration of this request.
Thank you.
JOSE SIGALA
15.3 City of Tulare
Agri-Center of the World
COUNCIL ITEM REQUEST FORM
The Council Item Request Form is for members of the City Council to submit written requests to the City Clerk’s Office for inclusion of an item on a future City Council meeting agenda. At the meeting where the initial written request is heard, discussion shall be limited to whether the item should be added to an agenda and a date, not the merit of the item. A majority vote of the City Council is required for the item to be added to a future Council meeting agenda for action. No more than 10 items may be submitted collectively for consideration by all councilmembers at any regular meeting of the Council, and in that regard, no individual councilmember may submit more than three items for consideration at any regular meeting of the Council. In the event more than 10 items are submitted collectively, no more than two items shall be accepted for consideration from any one councilmember.
NAME OF REQUESTING COUNCILMEMBER TODAY’S DATE AGENDA DATE
ITEM TITLE
BRIEF DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND INFORMATION OF ITEM
JOSE SIGALA 3-11-24 3-19-24
Amending City Truck Route Ordinance
Dear Council Members,
I would like request your support in placing on a future council agenda a discussion on the possibility of amending the City's Truck Routes Ordinance.
I would like to review the current truck routes on the west side to determine if any can be amended, limited or elimnated to reduce truck traffic in residential areas.
Thank you for your considertion.
Sincerely,
JOSE SIGALA
Council Member, First District
Item #: 8.1
Future Agenda Item
COUNCIL ITEM REQUEST FORM
The Council Item Request Form is for members of the City Council to submit written requests to the City Clerk’s Office for inclusion of an item on a future City Council meeting agenda. At the meeting where the initial written request is heard, discussion shall be limited to whether the item should be added to an agenda and a date, not the merit of the item. A majority vote of the City Council is required for the item to be added to a future Council meeting agenda for action. No more than 10 items may be submitted collectively for consideration by all councilmembers at any regular meeting of the Council, and in that regard, no individual councilmember may submit more than three items for consideration at any regular meeting of the Council. In the event more than 10 items are submitted collectively, no more than two items shall be accepted for consideration from any one councilmember.
NAME OF REQUESTING COUNCILMEMBER TODAY’S DATE AGENDA DATE
ITEM TITLE
BRIEF DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND INFORMATION OF ITEM
Item #: 9.1
Future Agenda Item
Patrick Isherwood, District 5 2/25/2026 3/3/2026
City Council review process for Contracted City Attorney legal counsel services Request for item to be placed on future Council meeting. The City Council does not currently facilitate a review of legal counsel services. Objective is create a performance review process for contract City Attorney. Discussion on having City Human Resources draft a performance review for City Attorney office just as the same with City Manager.
COUNCIL ITEM REQUEST FORM
The Council Item Request Form is for members of the City Council to submit written requests to the City Clerk’s Office for inclusion of an item on a future City Council meeting agenda. At the meeting where the initial written request is heard, discussion shall be limited to whether the item should be added to an agenda and a date, not the merit of the item. A majority vote of the City Council is required for the item to be added to a future Council meeting agenda for action. No more than 10 items may be submitted collectively for consideration by all councilmembers at any regular meeting of the Council, and in that regard, no individual councilmember may submit more than three items for consideration at any regular meeting of the Council. In the event more than 10 items are submitted collectively, no more than two items shall be accepted for consideration from any one councilmember.
NAME OF REQUESTING COUNCILMEMBER TODAY’S DATE AGENDA DATE
ITEM TITLE
BRIEF DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND INFORMATION OF ITEM
Item #: 9.2
Future Agenda Item
Stephen Harrell 3/9/2026 3/17/2026
Recognition and honoring Radio Louie for his love of Tulare and all the kids he came in contact with.
Any one that has been in Tulare from the 1960's to today either knew or had seen Louie Aguilar walking around town. Unfortunatly on January 22, 2026 Louie passed away. Louie has been called a hometown hero and Tulare's Ambasador of Good Will to all the kids in town.
Louie loved kids he loved going to Garden school and handing out pencils to the kids and playing a mean game of tag. He loved baseball and could be found at all the games here in town. You could always find him at Zumwalt park either listing to his transistor radio or playing tag with a group of kids.
I'm requsting council support in placing a plaque recognizing Louie's love for the kids of Tulare either on the pavillion at Zumwalt park or somewhere around the play ground. For 60 plus years Radio Louie was know and loved by the community.