City Council Meeting - Closed Session 6 p.m.; Regular Session 7 p.m.

8259 ACTION MINUTES OF TULARE CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF TULARE January 19, 2021 A study session of the City Council, City of Tulare was held on Tuesday, January 19, 2021, at 6:00 p.m., in the Tulare Public Library & Council Chambers, 491 North “M” Street. COUNCIL PRESENT: Dennis A. Mederos, Terry A. Sayre, Jose Sigala, Stephen C. Harrell, Patrick Isherwood STAFF PRESENT: Rob Hunt, Mario Zamora, Josh McDonnell, Darlene Thompson, Trisha Whitfield, Wes Hensley, Luis Nevarez, Traci Myers, Janice Avila, Nick Bartsch, Clay Roberts, Jason Bowling, Roxanne Yoder I. CALL TO ORDER STUDY SESSION Mayor Mederos called the Study Session to order at 6:04 p.m. II. CITIZEN COMMENTS - Comments from the public are limited to items listed on the agenda (GC 54954.3a). Speakers will be allowed three minutes. Please begin your comments by stating and spelling your name and providing your city of residence. There were no public comments. III. STUDY SESSION a. Presentation regarding City Council Redistricting and direction related thereto. [Submitted by: M. Zamora] City Attorney Mario Zamora provided a PowerPoint presentation on City Council Redistricting as provided for by AB 849 and AB 1276. Questions and comments were addressed by staff. The Council expressed that a separate independent or advisory commission is not necessary. It was moved by Council Member Sigala, seconded by Vice Mayor Sayre, and unanimously carried to direct staff to solicit proposals in accordance with the City’s purchasing policy and prepare a list of qualified Demographer services to be reviewed at a future meeting and to delay consideration of public relation/marketing services until such time that a Demographer firm has been selected. IV. ADJOURN STUDY SESSION Mayor Mederos adjourned the study session at 7:12 p.m.  8260 A regular session of the City Council, City of Tulare was held on Tuesday, January 19, 2021, at 7:00 p.m., in the Tulare Public Library & Council Chambers, 491 North “M” Street. COUNCIL PRESENT: Dennis A. Mederos, Terry A. Sayre, Jose Sigala, Stephen C. Harrel, Patrick Isherwood STAFF PRESENT: Rob Hunt, Mario Zamora, Josh McDonnell, Michael Miller, Darlene Thompson, Trisha Whitfield, Wes Hensley, Luis Nevarez, Traci Myers, Janice Avila, Clay Roberts, Jason Bowling, Nick Bartsch, Roxanne Yoder V. CALL TO ORDER REGULAR SESSION Mayor Mederos called the regular session to order at 7:20 p.m. VI. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INVOCATION Mayor Mederos led the Pledge of Allegiance and Council Member Sayre led the invocation. VII. CITIZEN COMMENTS Mayor Mederos requested those who wish to speak on matters not on the agenda within the jurisdiction of the Council, or to address or request a matter be pulled from the consent calendar to do so at this time. He further stated comments related to general business matters would be heard at the time that matter is addressed on the agenda. There were no public comments. VIII. COMMUNICATIONS There were no items scheduled for this section of the agenda. IX. CONSENT CALENDAR It was moved by Council Member Sigala, seconded by Council Member Harrell, and unanimously carried that the items on the Consent Calendar be approved as presented with the exception of items 2 and 4. (1) Authorization to read ordinances by title only. (2) Approve minutes of December 15, 2020 and January 12, 2021 special/ regular meeting(s). [Submitted by: R. Yoder] Mayor Mederos and Council Member Sigala pulled the item, with respect to the January 12, 2021 minutes for amendment, to reflect Mayor Mederos’ reason he voted no on Gen. Bus. PH 1a and to include the following sentence to the last paragraph of same, “including development of a renter’s equity program.”  8261 (3) Confirm the Mayor’s appointment of Tony Sozinho to the Board of Public Utilities vacancy for a term ending December 21, 2023. [Submitted by: R. Hunt] (4) Adopt Ordinance 2020-10 approving Zone Amendment No. 742, to change the existing zoning designation on approximately 24-acres to the R-1-4 (Small-lot Residential) zoning designation on property located at the northwest corner of Mooney Blvd. and Cartmill Avenue. [Submitted by: T. Myers] Mayor Mederos recused himself from Consent Item 4 due to a business conflict. With no discussion, it was moved by Council Member Sigala, seconded by Council Member Isherwood, and carried 4 to 0 (Mayor Mederos recused) to adopt Ordinance 2020-10. (5) Adopt Resolution 2021-01 designating the intersection of Cabrillo Avenue and Durango Street as an all-way stop intersection, and authorizing the installation of corresponding stop control. [Submitted by: M. Miller] (6) Adopt Resolution 2021-02 authorizing the Mayor to execute a Program Supplement to the Measure R Cooperative Agreement between the City of Tulare and the Tulare County Association of Governments for the use of Measure R Funds for maintenance and security associated with bike and pedestrian trails in the City of Tulare. [Submitted by: M. Miller] (7) Accept a grant of easement from Bugaboo Properties, LLC for sidewalk purposes associated with the Bardsley Retail Center commercial development located at the southwest corner of Bardsley Avenue and Mooney Boulevard, and authorize the City Manager or his designee to sign a Certificate of Acceptance for the same. [Submitted by: M. Miller] (8) Approve and authorize the City Manager to sign contract amendments in the amount of $19,717 with NV5 for additional geotechnical and materials testing services related to City Project EN0085 – Tract 65 and 372 Improvements, a street and utility improvement project on Aronian St., Moraine St., Latimer St., Silva St., Sunset Ave. and Kern Ave; Authorize the City Manager or designee to approve contract change orders in an amount not to exceed 10% of the revised contract amount. [Submitted by: N. Bartsch] (9) Receive the monthly investment report for November 2020. [Submitted by: D. Thompson] X. SCHEDULED CITIZEN OR GROUP PRESENTATIONS (1) Spotlight on Excellence – Employee Recognition. [Submitted by: R. Hunt] City Manager Rob Hunt introduced Police Corporal Chris Marvin as the recipient of the 4th Quarter of 2020 Employee Recognition Program. Police Chief Hensley commented on the service of Corporal Marvin. Mayor Mederos presented Corporal Marvin with his acknowledgment.  8262 XI. MAYOR’S REPORT Mayor Mederos introduced the newest Board of Public Utilities Member approved under the Consent Calendar, Mr. Tony Sozinho. XII. GENERAL BUSINESS Comments related to General Business Items are limited to three minutes per speaker, for a maximum of 30 minutes per item, unless otherwise extended by the Council. (1) Public Hearing: a. Public Hearing to adopt Resolution 2021-03 accepting and approving expenditures for the State of California, Citizens Option for Public Safety (COPS) 2020/2021 Program funds in the amount of $103,045 to be used to fund (1) Police Officer positions, salary and benefits package. Police Chief Hensley provided a brief report for the Council’s review and consideration. Mayor Mederos opened the public hearing at 7:46 p.m. With no public comments, he closed the public hearing at 7:47 p.m. With no discussion, it was moved by Council Member Isherwood, seconded by Council Member Harrell, and unanimously carried to adopt Resolution 2021- 03 as presented. b. Public Hearing to adopt Resolution 2021-04 approving the 2019 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Annual Action Plan (APP) Amendment IV to allocate CARES Act funds in the amount of $398,963 ($345,337 in current-round CDBG-CV funds in addition to $53,626 in round one CDBG-CV remaining funds) for activities to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic; and authorize the City Manager or his designee to submit the same to HUD on behalf of the City of Tulare. [Submitted by: T. Myers] Housing and Grants Specialist Alexis Costales provided a PowerPoint presentation for the Council’s review and consideration. Questions and comments by Council. Mayor Mederos opened the public hearing at 8:06 p.m. With no public comment, he closed the public hearing at 8:06 p.m. Following discussion, it was moved by Council Member Sigala, seconded by Vice Mayor Sayre, and unanimously carried to adopt Resolution 2021-04 as amended, reflecting the staff recommendations noted in the staff report specifically, “rental, mortgage, and/or utility assistance” in the sum of $273,963; food assistance activities in the amount of $100,000 and the redirection of the $25,000 recommended for personal protective equipment to homelessness services to prevent, prepare and respond to COVID-19 pandemic.  8263 (2) Engineering: a. Accept the findings and recommendations of the 2020 Speed Zone Studies prepared by Quad Knopf and city staff, set the public hearing for the Ordinance implementing the study for the Council meeting of February 2, 2021, to consider the pass-to-print for the Ordinance amending the existing speed zones. [Submitted by: M. Miller] City Engineer Michael Miller briefly introduced Lisa Wallis-Dutra from Quad Knopf, who provided a PowerPoint presentation for the Council’s review and consideration. Questions and comments addressed by the consultant and City Engineer Miller. Following discussion, it was moved by Vice Mayor Sayre, seconded by Mayor Mederos, and unanimously carried, as amended, to accept the findings and set the public hearing for February 16, 2021, for the consideration to pass-to-print the Ordinance amending the existing speed zones. (3) Finance: a. PowerPoint Review of 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 General Fund Budget. [Submitted by: D. Thompson] Finance Director Darlene Thompson provided a PowerPoint presentation for the Council’s review and consideration. City Manager Rob Hunt commented on the budget process for Council’s edification. (4) City Manager: a. Update, discussion and receive direction, if necessary, regarding COVID-19, etc. [Submitted by: R. Hunt] City Manager Rob Hunt provided an update for the Council’s review and consideration. Questions and comments made by Council and staff. XIII. COUNCIL/STAFF UPDATES, REPORTS OR ITEMS OF INTEREST – GC 54954.2(3) Council Member Sigala requested a section on the Goal Setting/Team Building agenda to request future agenda items. The Council, by consensus, directed staff to add this to the agenda. XIV. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION(S): Mayor Mederos adjourned to closed session at 9:48 p.m. (a) 54957.6b Conference with Labor Negotiators Represented/Unrepresented Employee(s): Fire, All Groups Negotiators: Rob Hunt, Darlene Thompson, Janice Avila, Mario Zamora [Submitted by: J. Avila; M. Zamora]  8264 XV. RECONVENE CLOSED SESSION Mayor Mederos reconvened from closed session at 10:20 p.m. XVI. CLOSED SESSION REPORT (if any) Mayor Mederos advised there was no reportable action. XVII. ADJOURN REGULAR MEETING Mayor Mederos adjourned the regular meeting at 10:20 p.m. President of the Council and Ex-Officio Mayor of the City of Tulare ATTEST: _________________________________ Chief Deputy City Clerk and Clerk of the Council of the City of Tulare