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City Council Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, July 7, 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 (arrived at 5:45 p.m.), 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; City Engineer Michael Miller; Public Works Director Trisha Whitfield; 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; Assistant Community Services Director Brian Beck; Budget Finance Director Jacob Del Cid
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Isherwood called to order the regular meeting of the Tulare City Council at 5:32 p.m. in the Council Chamber located at 491 North M Street.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INVOCATION
Police Chief Ynclan led the Pledge of Allegiance, and an invocation was given by Councilmember Sayre.
3. PROCLAMATIONS & RECOGNITIONS
3.1 Proclamation for Parks and Recreation Month – July 2026. Mayor Isherwood presented a proclamation to Tulare Parks and Recreation staff.
4. PUBLIC COMMENT
Alberto Aguilar commented on concerns relating to the Cesar Chavez Park Committee.
Lidia Huerta Donabed commented on concerns relating to the Cesar Chavez Park Committee.
Jaden Roberts commented on an inappropriate billboard on K Street near the fairgrounds.
5. PRESENTATIONS
5.1 New Employee Introductions – January 1 to June 30, 2026. This item was tabled to the July 21, 2026 meeting.
5.2 Update on the Urban Strategic Plan (USP) by the Mid-Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability Agency (MKGSA). Aaron Fukuda, Executive Director of the Mid-Kaweah Sustainability Agency Board, provided a presentation on the Urban Strategic Plan.
6. COMMUNICATIONS
City Manager Mondell advised the City received several emails and a letter from Alberto Aguilar regarding the Cesar Chavez Park Committee, as well as a letter from Mr. Drew Phelps regarding the Fiscal Impact Analysis.
City Council Meeting Minutes Tuesday, July 7, 2026
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7. COUNCIL REPORTS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST
Council reported on recent events and discussed items of interest.
8. CONSENT CALENDAR
Items 8.3 and 8.9 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 8.3 and 8.9.
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.
8.2 Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes.
Recommended Action: Approve the minutes of the special and/or regular meeting of June 16, 2026. [M. Wilcox]
8.4 Purchase of Core Network Equipment.
Recommended Action: Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a purchase with AMS.net for replacement of Core Network Equipment for a total cost of $128,286.04, utilizing OMNIA Contract No. R250307. [J. Bowling]
8.5 Purchase of five light duty EV vehicles.
Recommended Action: Authorize an increase of $263,000 to the Fleet Replacement Fund appropriation and use of the fund balance in the Fleet Replacement Fund for the purchase of four (4) new/unused 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV trucks and one (1) 2027 new/unused Chevrolet Equinox EV from National Auto Fleet Group of Watsonville, CA, utilizing Sourcewell Contract No. 081325-NAF. Adopt a resolution approving the appropriation of $263,000 and use of the fund balance in the Fleet Replacement Fund for this purchase. [T. Whitfield]
8.6 Parcel Map Acceptance – TPM 2025-07 (Four Star).
Recommended Action: Approve the Parcel Map filed by Mario and Jennie Mattos for the division of land located north of West Prosperity Avenue west of Northridge Street, and accept all dedications and easements offered to the City, and conditionally reject, until later accepted by a separate resolution of the City Council, irrevocable offer of dedication to the City for Prosperity Avenue. [M. Miller]
8.7 Revisions to the Handbook for Council-Appointed Bodies.
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution approving the revised City of Tulare Handbook for Council‑Appointed Bodies, incorporating the revisions reviewed and approved by the City Council on June 16, 2026. [M. Wilcox]
8.8 On-Call Consultant Services Selection.
Recommended Action: Approve a list of pre-qualified consultants for On-Call Consulting Services, and authorize the City Manager to enter into Professional Service Agreements, subject only to minor conforming and clarifying changes acceptable to the City Attorney and City Manager, for various consultants for an initial two-year period with options for up to two (2) consecutive 2-year extensions. [M. Miller]
ITEM(S) PULLED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
8.3 Appointment of City Clerk.
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution appointing Melissa Wilcox as City Clerk of the City of Tulare effective July 11, 2026.
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Council Action: This item was pulled at the request of staff to table it due to necessary modifications of language. It was moved by Councilmember Mederos, seconded by Councilmember Sigala, and carried 4 to 1 (Vice Mayor Harrell voted no) to table the item to the July 21, 2026 meeting.
8.9 Library Strategic Plan and Efficiency Study.
Recommended Action: Award and authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a Professional Services Agreement with Berry, Dunn, McNeil & Parker, LLC (“BerryDunn”) in the amount of $99,751 to prepare the Tulare Public Library (“TPL”) Strategic Plan and Efficiency Study; authorize the City Manager or designee to approve contract change orders not to exceed 10% ($9,975) of the total contract amount; and adopt a resolution appropriating $109,726 from the Library Development Impact Fees (DIF) Fund balance to fund the agreement.
Council Action: Councilmember Sigala pulled this item to inquire about the possibility of a book mobile or pocket libraries. Assistant City Manager Gaffery responded thereto. It was moved by Councilmember Sigala, seconded by Vice Mayor Harrell, and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented.
9. PUBLIC HEARING
9.1 Parking & Business Improvement Area Report and Annual Assessments.
Recommended Action: Conduct a public hearing and adopt a resolution confirming the report and recommendation of the Tulare Downtown Association Board of Directors and levy assessments for the Tulare Downtown Parking & Business Improvement Area Annual Assessments for Fiscal Year 2027.
Presented By: Budget Finance Manager Del Cid
Public Comment: The public hearing was opened at 7:14 p.m. Receiving no comment, the public hearing was closed at 7:14 p.m.
Council Action: It was moved by Councilmember Sigala, seconded by Mayor Isherwood, and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented.
9.2 Placing Public Works Improvement Loans on Tax Roll.
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution placing costs associated with connection of existing improved properties to the City’s water and/or wastewater systems, and/or the construction of sidewalks, gutters, pavement, driveways, and curbs on existing improved properties within the City on property tax rolls in installments.
Presented By: Budget Finance Manager Del Cid
Public Comment: The public hearing was opened at 7:18 p.m. Receiving no comment, the public hearing was closed at 7:19 p.m.
Council Action: It was moved by Councilmember Mederos, seconded by Councilmember Sayre, and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented.
10. GENERAL BUSINESS
10.1 Appointment to the Library Board.
Recommended Action: Appoint one member to the Library Board with a term beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2029.
Presented By: Chief Deputy City Clerk Wilcox
Public Comment: There were no public comments.
Council Action: It was moved by Mayor Isherwood, seconded by Councilmember Sayre, and unanimously carried to appoint Bonnie Thiele to the Library Board with a term beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2029.
10.2 Presentation of the Citywide Fiscal Impact Analysis of Future Development.
Recommended Action: Receive the presentation regarding the Citywide Fiscal Impact Analysis of Future Development, provide direction as appropriate, and receive and file the report.
Presented By: City Manager Mondell; Amanda Welker, Associate Director of NBS City Council Meeting Minutes Tuesday, July 7, 2026
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Public Comment: A written comment was received from Drew Phelps. The comment expressed support for the analysis and encouraged the City to also consider how residential density and growth patterns may influence long term fiscal sustainability, infrastructure costs, and economic development as future growth policies are evaluated.
Council Action: This item was presented for informational purposes only; no action was taken.
10.3 Economic Development Strategic Plan.
Recommended Action: Adopt the Economic Development Strategic Plan.
Presented By: Executive Director of Economic Development & Redevelopment Gomez Public Comment: There were no public comments.
Council Action: It was moved by Mayor Isherwood, seconded by Vice Mayor Harrell, and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented.
10.4 Placement of National Motto in the Council Chamber.
Recommended Action: Discuss the proposal to display the national motto, “In God We Trust,” on the wall directly behind the mayor’s seat in the Council Chamber and provide direction to staff thereto.
Presented By: City Manager Mondell on behalf of Vice Mayor Harrell Public Comment: Steve Celentano provided comment in favor of the item. Jose (no last name given) provided comment remotely recommending Council reject the item.
Council Action: It was moved by Vice Mayor Harrell, seconded by Councilmember Sayre, and unanimously carried to approve the item, as amended directing staff to bring back rendering of the national motto “In God We Trust” displayed either directly above the dais where the bronze City Seal is currently (moving the City Seal down) or directly behind the dais between the flags.
11. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS - NONE SUBMITTED
12. STAFF UPDATES
Staff provided updates on department activities.
13. ADJOURNMENT
Seeing no further business to discuss, Mayor Isherwood adjourned the regular meeting at 8:26 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 July 7, 2026, as approved by the Tulare City Council.
Melissa Wilcox, City Clerk & Public Affairs Director