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Planning staff warns applicants about scam emails; commission delays chair and vice‑chair appointments
Summary
City planning staff told the Tulare Planning Commission that some applicants have reported emails soliciting payment to process historic‑district or permit applications and have forwarded those messages to IT and law enforcement. The commission also tabled election of chair and vice chair until the next meeting while the fifth seat remains open.
City planning staff warned Feb. 10 that some applicants have received emails purporting to be from the planning department requesting payment to process permit or historic‑district applications. Staff said applicants forwarded the messages to the city's information‑technology staff and to law enforcement "to look into," and urged anyone who receives such a message to "please always just call us or email us, come in in person, just verify" before sending money (staff presentation, Feb. 10).
Staff described the pattern as an apparent scam that may use publicly posted agendas and applicant contact information to target applicants. The planning division advised applicants to contact staff directly by official channels and to report suspicious messages to IT and police.
Also during general business, staff reported Commissioner Sean O'Guro had resigned and that the city clerk had opened applications to fill the fifth commission seat; staff estimated the application window typically runs about 30 days. Commissioners debated whether to wait for a full complement of members before electing a chair and vice chair and one commissioner said they preferred rescheduling the appointment to the next meeting so more members could participate. The commission voted to table the appointment to the second meeting in February; the roll call recorded Vice Chair Miller, Commissioner Limas and Chair Miguel voting "aye."
Next steps: staff will circulate the updated planning commission handbook and provide a timeline for appointment and when the vacancy will be forwarded to council for appointment. Staff also encouraged applicants to forward suspicious emails to IT and law enforcement for investigation.
