Tulare County board proclaims May observances, appoints cemetery trustees and introduces sewer-district procurement ordinance; directs legal defense in closed‑s

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors used its May 5 meeting to adopt several proclamations, approve local trustee appointments and introduce an ordinance authorizing procurement under the Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act for the Terrebella Sewer Maintenance District.

CalFresh Awareness Month: Anita Suarez, a division manager (self-identified), briefed the board on CalFresh outreach and year-round assistance programs, including farmers‑market matching and summer food supports; the board then presented and signed a proclamation recognizing May 2026 as CalFresh Awareness Month in Tulare County. The proclamation reading referenced that “approximately 141,298 individuals” are served locally by CalFresh benefits, per the text the board read into the record.

Mental Health Matters Month: Deputy Director Casey Ennis of Tulare County Behavioral Health described access barriers and local services and introduced Kristen Jones, a certified peer support specialist, who shared a personal recovery testimony. Jones described diagnosis, substance‑use history, homelessness and treatment through county programs and mental‑health court, and said she has been in remission and working as a peer specialist. The board adopted a proclamation recognizing May 2026 as Mental Health Matters Month and thanked behavioral‑health staff.

Building Safety Month: A building‑division presenter identified as Reid outlined the inspection and permitting workload, saying the county is on track to issue nearly 4,000 building permits and perform roughly 16,000 inspections this year. The board adopted a proclamation recognizing May 2026 as Building Safety Month.

Appointments — Tulare Cemetery District: The board considered two pulled consent items (items 7 and 8) to appoint trustees to the Tulare Cemetery District. The county clerk and CAO confirmed five applications were received during the open application period; staff explained that some appointments are for two‑year terms and others for four‑year terms. After brief public comment and board discussion, the board approved the appointments by motion (Supervisor McCarrie moved, Supervisor Vanderpool seconded); the vote was recorded as 3-0 with Supervisors Valero and Townsend absent.

Terrebella Sewer Maintenance District ordinance: While convened as the Terrebella Sewer Maintenance District, Denise England, Grants and Resources Manager for the Resource Management Agency, introduced an ordinance to authorize the County Purchasing Agent to let public projects for the district in accordance with the Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act. The board set adoption for June 2 and voted to introduce the ordinance (motion passed 3-0; two supervisors absent).

Closed session: After reconvening from closed session, counsel Flores reported the board had directed legal counsel to defend and authorize defense of individually named defendants with a reservation of rights in the case Randy Jean Lee v. County of Tulare (case number read in the record). The motion to authorize defense was made by Supervisor Larry McCarrie, seconded by Supervisor Pete Vanderpool, and passed 3-0 with Supervisors Valero and Townsend absent.

Meeting close: The board adjourned following the report-out. Several staff and board members attended photo opportunities and presentation ceremonies during the meeting.