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CITY OF TULARE
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Tulare Public Library & Council Chamber
491 North M Street, Tulare
Tuesday, March 17, 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; Deputy City Manager/Chief Technology Officer Jason Bowling; Assistant Finance Director Melanie Gaboardi; 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; 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
Fire Chief Ott led the Pledge of Allegiance, and an invocation was given by Susan Henard, Pastor of River Valley Church.
3. PROCLAMATIONS & RECOGNITIONS
3.1 California Parks & Recreation Society (CPRS) Awards of Excellence Presentation.
This item was tabled to a future meeting due to a scheduling conflict.
4. PUBLIC COMMENT
There were no public comments.
5. COMMUNICATIONS
City Manager Marc Mondell advised there were no communications.
6. COUNCIL REPORTS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST
Council reported on recent events and discussed items of interest.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
Item 7.7 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 7.7.
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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 March 3, 2026. [M. Wilcox]
7.3 Economic Development Updates.
Recommended Action: Receive an update on economic development activities. [J.
Gomez]
7.4 Notice of Completion – EN0095 Academy & Apricot Improvements.
Recommended Action: Accept as complete the contract with Dawson-Mauldin, LLC, of Selma, CA, for work on Project EN0095 – Academy & Apricot Improvements; and 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]
7.5 Fiscal Year 2026 Position Control Budget and Salary Schedule Amendment.
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution amending the City’s Fiscal Year 2026 Position Control Budget (PCB) and Salary Schedule to update certain classification titles, establish the Deputy City Engineer classification and associated salary range, convert a Plans Examiner to an Engineering Assistant, designate certain fire classifications as flexibly allocated, and authorize the City Manager, or designee, to update the PCB and Salary Scheule accordingly. [J. Venegas]
7.6 Award of Vehicle Purchases.
Recommended Action: Award the purchase of four new/unused 2026 Chevrolet Equinox and one new/unused 2026 Chevrolet Silverado to National Auto Fleet Group of Watsonville, CA using Sourcewell Contract No. 081325-NAF in the amount of $182,081.15. [T. Whitfield]
ITEM(S) PULLED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
7.7 Acceptance of Community Cleanup and Employment Pathway Grant Funds.
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager or designee to accept Community Cleanup and Employment Pathway (CCEP) grant funds in the amount of $210,000 and execute agreements and all other applicable documents with the California Department of Transportation for the West Tulare Alleyway Beautification and Workforce Initiative Project. [M. Correa]
Council Action: This item was pulled by Councilmember Mederos to commend staff for receiving this grant. Councilmember Sigala inquired about using the grant funds to provide roll-off bins to the community. General Services Director Correa provided a response thereto. It was moved by Councilmember Mederos, seconded by Councilmember Sigala, and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented.
8. GENERAL BUSINESS
8.1 Emergency Shelter Services Agreement.
Recommended Action: Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute the revised emergency shelter services agreement with Lighthouse Rescue Mission (“LRM”) regarding the City’s emergency shelter project for the term June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2029.
Presented By: City Attorney Zamora; City Manager Mondell Public Comment: There were no public comments.
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Council Action: Councilmember Mederos requested a minor modification in the Policy and Procedures document, changing “The Lighthouse provides…” to “The Lighthouse shall provide…” in Section 3 of page 31. Councilmember Mederos also requested to ensure consistency in the documents where meals are discussed. Councilmember Sigala inquired about the grievance process and reference to an advisory committee. Renee Soto, member of the Lighthouse Rescue Mission Board, provided response thereto.
Councilmember Sigala requested a list of the members on that committee as well as notification of any challenges occurring at the shelter. It was agreed that a synopsis of the internal meetings that occur biweekly would be provided to Council under the Consent Calendar. It was moved by Councilmember Mederos, seconded by Councilmember Sayre, and unanimously carried to approve the item subject to the minor modifications discussed.
8.2 First Reading of Ordinance Regarding EV Charging Station Permit Process.
Recommended Action: Pass-to-print an ordinance approving the addition of Section 120of Chapter 4 of Title 4 of the Tulare Municipal Code providing a streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations in accordance with California Government Code section 65850.7.
Presented By: City Attorney Zamora
Public Comment: There were no public comments.
Council Action: Questions posed by Council were responded to by staff. It was moved by Councilmember Mederos, seconded by Councilmember Sigala, and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented.
8.3 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 MixedUse Project.
Presented By: City Manager Mondell
Public Comment: There were no public comments.
Council Action: Following discussion, it was the consensus of Council to direct staff to identify an expert on community gardens and invite them to provide a presentation at a future City Council meeting. It was the consensus of Council to address the Truck Route Ordinance during the General Plan update which will commence in January 2027.
9. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
9.1 City Council Review Process for Contracted City Attorney Legal Counsel Services.
Recommended Action: Direct staff to add to a future agenda or take no action.
Submitted By: Mayor Isherwood
Council Action: It was the consensus of Council to have staff add this item to a future agenda.
9.2 Recognition and Honoring Radio Louie.
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.
10. STAFF UPDATES
Staff provided updates on department activities. City Manager Mondell provided an update on the following items:
• Sponsorship for the July 4th event with the Symphony, including securing a title sponsor.
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• Examples of types of events held at Zumwalt and costs related thereto were provided to Council in a weekly report.
• A list of programs for the youth that the City currently offers or plans to offer was provided to the Council in a weekly report.
• Downtown TASTE program recently awarded grants and loans with approximately $115,000 left for loans and $105,000 left for grants.
• A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) will be issued soon to hire a consultant to work on the Inyo Corridor project.
• The schedule for the Corporation Yard project.
11. RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS
11.1 Conference with Real Property Negotiations (Govt. Code § 54956.8) Property: APN 191-050-073 (653 E. Paige Avenue)
Agency Negotiator(s): City Attorney Zamora, City Manager Mondell, Assistant City Manager Gaffery, City Engineer Miller
Negotiating Parties: Shirley Coelho as Trustee of the Lawrence and Shirley Coelho 1995 Revocable Trust U/D/T Dated October 16, 1995
Under Negotiations: Price and terms of payment
Council recessed to closed session at 7:27 p.m.
12. RECONVENE FROM CLOSED SESSION
Council reconvened from closed session at 7:52 p.m.
13. CLOSED SESSION REPORT
There was no reportable action.
14. ADJOURNMENT
Seeing no further business to discuss, Mayor Isherwood adjourned the regular meeting at 7:52 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 March 17, 2026, as
approved by the Tulare City Council.
Marc Mondell, City Clerk
By Melissa Wilcox, Chief Deputy City Clerk