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City Council Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, June 16, 2026 - 5:30 p.m. Regular Meeting
City Council Chamber, 491 North M Street, Tulare, California Proper notice of this regular meeting of the Tulare City Council was given pursuant to California Government Code Section 54954.2.
City Council Present: Mayor Patrick Isherwood, Vice Mayor Stephen C. Harrell, Jose Sigala, Terry A.
Sayre, 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 Captain Kevin Kroeze; Fire Chief Michael Ott; General Services Director Manny Correa; Executive Director of Economic Development & Redevelopment Jennifer Gomez; Human Resources Director Janie Venegas; Housing and Grants Specialist Jessica Cervantez; Housing and Grants Specialist Norveen Brar
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
Vice Mayor Isherwood led the Pledge of Allegiance, and an invocation was given by Debra Epps, Assistant Pastor of Living Christ Church.
3. PROCLAMATIONS & RECOGNITIONS
3.1 Recognition for Lauren Starr of Tulare Western High School, awarded as the 2026 Edison Scholar. Mayor Isherwood presented a certificate of recognition to Lauren Starr.
3.2 Proclamation for the 250th Anniversary of America, July 4, 2026. It was the consensus of Council to ceremonially read and present this proclamation at the Independence Day event on July 4.
4. PUBLIC COMMENT
Donnette Silva, Tulare Chamber of Commerce CEO, provided various Chamber updates.
5. COMMUNICATIONS
City Manager 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
Items 7.4, 7.5, and 7.7 were removed from the Consent Calendar.
It was moved by Councilmember Sigala, seconded by Vice Mayor Harrell, and unanimously carried to approve the items on the Consent Calendar as presented except for items 7.4, 7.5, and 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 June 2, 2026. [M. Wilcox]
7.3 Acceptance of Donation to the Tulare Public Library.
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution accepting a monetary donation in the amount of $10,000 to the Tulare Public Library for library purposes and approve a budget amendment to appropriate the funds into the Library budget. [B. Beck]
7.6 Parking & Business Improvement Area Assessment.
Recommended Action: Approve the report filed by the Tulare Downtown Association Board of Directors as the appointed Advisory Board for the Parking and Business Improvement Area; and adopt a resolution of intention to levy an annual assessment for Fiscal Year 2027 and set a public hearing to levy the proposed assessments on July 7, 2026. [M. Roberts]
7.8 Tulare Fire Chief Officer Group Side Letter of Agreement No. 2.
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution approving and authorizing the execution of Side Letter of Agreement No. 2 between the City and Tulare Fire Chief Officer Group (TFCO), incorporating the Fire Marshal classification into the bargaining unit and amending the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the term of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028 adopted December 2, 2025. [J. Venegas]
7.9 Barry Slater, d/b/a Rep’d, Inc. Agreement for Community Engagement & Communications.
Recommended Action: Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a three year professional services agreement with Barry Slater, d/b/a Rep’d, Inc. for community engagement and communications in the amount of $25,000 annually for a total contract value of $75,000, subject to minor and clarifying changes approved by both the City Attorney and the City Manager. [J. Bowling]
7.10 Landscape Maintenance Assessments for Fiscal Year 2027.
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution of intention to set the public hearing date to adopt landscape maintenance assessments for Fiscal Year 2027 for July 21, 2026. [M. Miller]
7.11 Final Map Acceptance for Phase 1 of the F&C Farming Subdivision.
Recommended Action: Conditionally approve the final map and subdivision improvement agreement for Phase 1 of the F&C Farming 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 August 15, 2026. [M. Miller]
7.12 Deferred Improvement Agreement for Prosperity Avenue Improvements Associated with Phase 1 of the F&C Farming Subdivision.
Recommended Action: Approve a short-term deferred improvement agreement subject to any minor conforming and clarifying changes acceptable to the City Attorney and City Manager with SJV Horizontal, LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Company, allowing certain Prosperity Avenue improvements including median island, roadway lighting, and pavement construction associated with Phase 1 of the F&C Farming subdivision to be deferred for a maximum of five (5) years, or prior to the commencement of construction of Phase 3 of the F&C Farming subdivision, whichever occurs first. [M. Miller]
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7.13 Award Contracts for Project FM0051 Tulare Business Innovation Zone Maker Space.
Recommended Action: [M. Miller] Award and authorize the City Manager to sign contracts related to construction of Project FM0051 Business Incubator Maker Space; and authorize the City Manager or designee to approve contract change orders in an amount not to exceed 10% of each contract amount.
Task Description Contractor Amount
1. Construction Contractor GC Builders of Hanford, CA $400,905.00
2. Labor Compliance Labor Consultants of California of Hanford, CA $10,200.00
7.14 California League of City Employees Association Side Letter of Agreement No. 3..
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution approving and authorizing the execution of Side Letter of Agreement No. 3 between the City and California League of City Employees Association (CLOCEA) revising Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the term of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027 adopted October 15, 2024. [J. Venegas]
7.15 Purchase of Nautilus Ride-On Scrubber.
Recommended Action: Award the purchase of a PowerBoss Nautilus Ride-On Scrubber to Haaker Total Clean in the amount of $88,599 and adopt a resolution amending the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget approving the use of Fund 605 Fleet replacement fund balance and the appropriation of $88,599. [C. Orr]
7.16 Lobbyist Services Agreement with Townsend Public Affairs.
Recommended Action: Authorize the City Manager to execute a three-year professional services agreement with Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. for lobbyist services in the amount of $84,000 for Year 1 and Year 2 and $96,000 for Year 3, for a total contract value of $264,000, subject to minor and clarifying changes approved by both the City Attorney and the City Manager. [M. Mondell]
ITEM(S) PULLED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
7.4 Council Travel and Community Improvement Budgets Expenditure Report.
Recommended Action: Receive a Fiscal Year 2026 year-to-date report on each councilmember’s Travel Budget and Community Improvement Budget. [M. Wilcox] Council Action: Councilmember Sigala pulled this item to state his planned use of his remaining Community Improvement funds. It was moved by Councilmember Sigala, seconded by Vice Mayor Harrell, and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented.
7.5 Declare 1370 South O Street Surplus Property.
Recommended Action: Approve a resolution declaring 1370 South O Street (APN 181-070-062) to be surplus land and directing staff to comply with the Surplus Land Act. [T. Gaffery] Council Action: Councilmember Sigala pulled this item to inquire where proceeds from the sale of the property will go. Mr. Sigala stated he would like to see proceeds from property sales be used as seed money to purchase other land for economic development purposes. It was moved by Councilmember Sigala, seconded by Vice Mayor Harrell, and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented.
7.7 Economic Development Updates.
Recommended Action: Receive an update on economic development activities. [J. Gomez] Council Action: Councilmember Sigala pulled this item to request a verbal update. It was moved by Councilmember Sigala, seconded by Vice Mayor Harrell, and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented.
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8. PUBLIC HEARING
8.1 Amendment to the PLHA Plan for the Permanent Local Housing Allocation Program.
Recommended Action: Approve the Application and Amending the Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) Plan; and authorize the City Manager or their designee to execute a Standard Agreement and any related materials to obligate and expend 2022 and 2023 PLHA Funds.
Presented By: Housing and Grants Specialist Cervantez; Housing and Grants Specialist Brar Public Comment: The public hearing was opened at 6:17 p.m. Receiving no comment, the public hearing was closed at 6:17 p.m.
Council Action: Mayor Isherwood recused himself stating he had a conflict of interest due to his employment with Self-Help Enterprises and left the room. It was moved by Councilmember Mederos, seconded by Councilmember Sayre, and carried 4 to 0 (Mayor Isherwood recused) to approve the item as presented.
9. GENERAL BUSINESS
9.1 Draft Economic Development Strategic Plan.
Recommended Action: Review Draft Economic Development Strategic Plan.
Presented By: Executive Director of Economic Development & Redevelopment Gomez; Ken Hira, President of Kosmont Companies; Fernando Sanchez, Vice President of Kosmont Companies
Public Comment: There were no public comments.
Council Action: Several questions were posed by Council which were responded to by staff and Mr. Hira. This item was informational only; therefore, no action was taken.
9.2 Eligible Census Tracts for Opportunity Zones 2.0.
Recommended Action: Recommend census tracts 06107002100, 06107003002, and 06107002901 to be submitted to Go-Biz for the Governor’s nomination and inclusion in California’s opportunity zones.
Presented By: Executive Director of Economic Development & Redevelopment Gomez Public Comment: Jason Bender addressed the Council regarding several upcoming developments within census tracts in West Tulare.
Council Action: Councilmember Sigala expressed a desire to rank Census Tract 06107003002 as top priority. Following discussion, it was moved by Councilmember Mederos, seconded by Vice Mayor Harrell, and unanimously carried to approve the item ranking the census tracts as follows: 1) 06107003002, 2) 06107002100, and 3) 06107002901.
9.3 Revisions to Appointment Process for Council-Appointed Bodies.
Recommended Action: Review the current appointment process for Council-Appointed Bodies, consider revisions to the Handbook of Council-Appointed Bodies, specifically focused on streamlining the appointment process, and provide direction to staff thereto.
Presented By: Chief Deputy City Clerk Wilcox
Public Comment: There were no public comments.
Council Action: Councilmember Sigala expressed concern requiring interviews for every applicant. Following discussion, it was moved by Councilmember Mederos, seconded by Councilmember Sayre, and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented.
10. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
10.1 Display “In God We Trust” in Council Chamber.
Recommended Action: Direct staff to add to a future agenda or take no action.
Submitted By: Vice Mayor Harrell
Council Action: Vice Mayor Harrell, Councilmember Sayre, and Mayor Isherwood voted yes to add this item to a future agenda. Councilmember Mederos and Councilmember Sigala voted no.
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11. STAFF UPDATES
Staff provided updates on department activities.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Seeing no further business to discuss, Mayor Isherwood adjourned the regular meeting at 8:25 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 June 16, 2026, as approved by the Tulare City Council.
Marc Mondell, City Clerk
By Melissa Wilcox, Chief Deputy City Clerk