Tulare County supervisors move to impose immediate fines for unlicensed cannabis and update local speed zones

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors on Monday introduced two ordinances — one to permit immediate administrative fines for unlicensed cannabis operations and another to revise multiple county speed zones — and set both for adoption on Jan. 28, 2025. Both measures passed the board’s introduction vote unanimously, 5-0.

The cannabis ordinance amendment would change section 1-23-1015 of the Tulare County ordinance code to allow the county to impose administrative fines immediately for unlicensed cannabis activity. Aaron Bach, assistant director with the Resource Management Agency, told the board the change is intended to “secure quick compliance with local cannabis regulations, and reduce the frequency of unauthorized cannabis operations.” Bach said the first administrative fine would be $1,000. He also relayed an agency estimate of potential revenue, which he described in the meeting as “upwards of over $2,000,000,000,” but acknowledged that calculation was “a little exuberant.”

Bach described coordinated enforcement with the sheriff’s office and code enforcement staff, saying staff had identified roughly 100 properties that could be inspected once the ordinance takes effect. The board’s action at introduction directs staff to return for formal adoption on Jan. 28, 2025. Supervisor Dennis Townsend moved the item; Supervisor Larry Macari seconded. The vote was recorded as five in favor, none opposed.

The second ordinance, brought by Reed Chenkie of the Resource Management Agency, updates article 3, chapter 1, part 3 of the county ordinance code to revise, consolidate and in many locations reduce posted speed limits. “Engineering traffic and surveys must be performed every 7 years or under certain circumstances every 14 years to retain the validity of those speed zones,” Chenkie said, describing the legal and technical basis for adjusting posted limits. He told the board the changes delete several speed zones that have been annexed into cities, combine smaller zones, adjust zone lengths, add three new zones and reduce a number of limits by 5 or 10 miles per hour where permitted under state law (including changes enabled by Assembly Bill 43). Chenkie said reductions are aimed at corridors with higher pedestrian activity and areas with increased potential for vehicle-pedestrian conflicts.

Chenkie told the board that, while lowering posted limits typically produces a small average speed reduction, it can reduce speeds among the worst offenders, which improves overall safety. Supervisor Macari moved the introduction and waiver of the first reading; Supervisor Townsend seconded. The motion passed, 5-0.

Votes at a glance

- Election of board leadership: Nomination of Supervisor Pete Vanderpool for chair and Supervisor Amy Shekland for vice chair — passed 5-0 (nomination and vote occurred during the organizational portion of the meeting; winners were sworn in earlier in the session).

- Consent calendar (items 5–32): Motion to approve — mover: Supervisor Valero; second: Supervisor Macari. Vote: 5-0 (consent calendar approved).

- Item 34 — Ordinance amendment (cannabis fines): Motion to introduce the ordinance and set adoption for Jan. 28, 2025 — mover: Supervisor Townsend; second: Supervisor Macari. Vote: 5-0 (motion to introduce passed). Note: proposal would allow immediate administrative fines for unlicensed cannabis activity, $1,000 initial fine; county staff reported an initial enforcement sweep could target roughly 100 properties.

- Item 35 — Ordinance amendment (speed limits): Motion to introduce, waive first reading and set adoption for Jan. 28, 2025 — mover: Supervisor Macari; second: Supervisor Townsend. Vote: 5-0 (motion to introduce and waive first reading passed).

Board members and staff emphasized enforcement coordination, technical requirements and next steps rather than further amendment during the meeting. Bach and Chenkie answered board questions about fine structure, enforcement logistics and the technical basis for setting speed limits. Bach said the county has used fines and administrative enforcement previously but that the proposed immediate fine authority is intended to increase deterrence and speed compliance.

The board recessed to closed session after completing the public portion of the meeting; Chair Pete Vanderpool publicly disclosed a financial conflict of interest and said he would not attend or seek nonpublic information regarding a closed-session lease negotiation involving Tulare Acres Professional Center and a proposed tenant. The board did not take any final adoption votes on the two ordinances during the public meeting; both items were scheduled for formal adoption on Jan. 28, 2025.