City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, residents of Tulare, staff, and fellow council members. Welcome to the Tulare City Council meeting for Tuesday, August 4th. As we start our meeting, we will start off with the Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation. Our Pledge of Allegiance will be led by our Fire Chief, Mike Ott, and please remain standing for invocation by Greg Peterson, Pastor of Sunrise Community Church.

i didn't confirm do we have pastor greg peterson with us council members sarah would you mind leading us in a quick invocation thank you let us pray

Our Heavenly Father, we come before this evening with gratitude in our hearts. We're thankful for the abundance of unity that we share in our city. We're thankful for the members of council and for the staff of the city of Tulare. We're thankful for the constituents and their concern and their activity within the city. We pray that this evening We will be able to listen to, understand, see, and hear those things that the constituents are concerned about. That we'll be able to make decisions that are based upon reality and logic. We ask you to be with us throughout this meeting. In the name of

All right, moving forward on our agenda, this is the time for public comment. Members of the public wishing to comment on any item not appearing on the agenda may address the city council at this time. State law prevents council from acting on any matter not on the agenda. However, your comments may be referred to staff for follow up. This is also the time for the public to comment on items listed under the consent calendar or to request an item from the consent calendar be pulled for discussion purposes. Comments related to public hearing and general business items will be heard at the time t

Thank you, Mr. Cardoza. The next yellow card I have is Esmeralda Addington. Good evening, Esmeralda. Welcome.

Thank you, Esmeralda. Is there anyone else in chambers who wishes to make public comment? Okay, Madam Clerk, do we have anyone on the phone or online?

All right. You're welcome to come up to the podium. Good evening. Welcome.

You're good. With that is just one is you're just asking who we would contact to get that. Yes. By you mentioning it here, we will put that on the list with our staff. The clerk will have that information in the record. Okay. And then what we will do is through engineering traffic and the appropriate staff and team, we will have that information relayed back out to you. So the team will get back in touch.

If you would please provide your name and contact info so we can stay in touch with you. Is there anyone else in chambers who wish to make public comment? Okay.

Moving forward on our agenda again. If you are here for items on the agenda, as it's stated in the explanation, perhaps general business or public hearing items, we will have public comment available at that time as well. Moving forward to number four communications, Mr. Mondale.

If I may, can I ask a few additional questions on this communication? And Council members might have additional questions as well. Mario, perhaps, can you give maybe some more specific insight on what exactly did we request at that meeting? What exact request did you make?

So in summary, we're asking for the draft contract information, and then we're asking, if I'm correct, when the feasibility information is available, we want the feasibility information. And then that helps us to understand better of the future if this progresses a CEQA study. And of course, the reason why we're asking those questions and want those documents, because that helps determine the role of our engagement as a city.

If and help me I think maybe the public might ask this question as the public speaker mentioned in process would the the feasibility and the sequel. Go first, or would you sign a contract and then the feasibility and the sequel come second, could you kind of explain how that process would normally work.

Sure. And I, and the reason why I asked that is I think, so the public understands of, I think our city role is not so much sit back and we'll see what happens. No, there's a process that they're working through through the state, through their perhaps preliminary contract, but that contract would be subject to those actions. And that's why we want those items. So we know how the timeline and process is going to work.

Sure. The second part I want, I'm not hogging all this. I'll let Council Member say other questions as well. Thomas, and as our Assistant City Manager noted, Council Member Sagal and myself attended a meeting with Assembly Member Macedo. And I think the one part, maybe to add some of the details, and I think it helps for the public information, and for other Council members that took place as well, is the Assembly member, and jumping on this issue, brought the County Board of Supervisors together, brought our City Council together, brought the Senate members, Assembly members, and brought the

Yes, and I had a couple other questions as well, but the meeting was very good, productive, learned a lot. Like many of my neighbors and residents in Tulare, I'm learning a lot about data centers. I hear the horror stories back in the Midwest and East. But the one thing that I feel very comfortable is that Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee is not California. California has some very strong environmental protections that need to go through. So, you know, looking forward to that. But, you know, I appreciate the assemblymen putting the meeting together and us participating through our staff. And

Um, I, I would just say that, you know, whether it's the state, some little person in a little office up in Sacramento or whoever is directing this, she has the responsibility of providing her board. information you know we today's 640 page document you gave or the clerk prepared for our council meeting is what she prepares for her board and my understanding is she's like tcat where she has to do it 10 days before not like us three days before all i'm asking is whatever she gives the board members she should be able to give us a copy without having to jump through the state public records act

So what I'm saying is she given to us at the same time?

whoever provides it as long, whatever board member gets, we should, the public should be able to see, and we should be able to have a copy of it. So that's all I'm asking. I'm not figuring out who's driving it or not. Just whatever public documents available.

Okay. Council members, any other comments or questions? Okay. Mark, do we have any other communications?

John Potter, I was noted in Council members to go ahead said later on the agenda we have 9.2 request for a future discussion on the pros and cons of data centers. John Potter, I would look to counsel, I would like to move that item up to right now current action and in doing so would see if I need a consent from the Council, if you are open to amending the agenda and putting 9.2 forward. John Potter, Right now, with communications. I would have a consensus. Okay. So with that, I'm going to put forth 9.2, request for a future discussion on pros and cons of data centers. Councilman Segala.

I'm trying to pull it up here on my packet, but Council, this is just a basic request for us to put this on a future agenda item, hopefully sooner than later, that would allow us to have a robust discussion, public discourse on the Council having the ability to have a presentation on what are data centers. I mean, I've learned that there are various types of data centers. I mean, uh, you know, people tell me they have a data center right here. People tell me there's data centers in the hospital. There might be data centers in the police department, and then you got miles long data centers in U

OK. We have a motion and second. Is there comments or discussion?

Basic principles that I've dealt with throughout my legal career is specifically that you you don't make decisions or get into issues in a vacuum. I know this is a request to have more information, but at this point, I don't think the issue is ripe. I certainly think in the future when we have more information, the time will be appropriate to get into these issues. But what we'd be asking staff to do is operating in a vacuum as to what, you know, I mean, we could have data centers at the vacant property the cemetery has, the high school has, the city of Tulare has. I mean, that's purely specul

300 people. And did a significant number of those people have an opportunity to voice their opinions?

Okay. So it wasn't like the will of those who were there wasn't expressed under the circumstance. So I'm not prepared to have this. I wouldn't be of the opinion that we should put it on the agenda at this point to move forward under the circumstances. I think the time will be ripe at some time in the future, but not at this point.

I agree with Councilman Medeiros. It's extremely difficult to make a decision on something that you don't have any information on. To date, my information has come from the Fresno Bee, and even the Fresno Bee article conflicts its information. It says that the parking structure and the landing pads will be at a data center in the Santa Clara area. And then it goes back and says, it's going to be the size of a. A C train container here, so there's no consistency in the information. Whoever it is is driving this like city manager said is Sacramento. We just we, this is a very touchy issue and a

decisions this time what to do with it so i support mr uh madaris's position maybe i misunderstand what uh councilman skull is asking for i don't think he's asking us to make a decision he's just asking for information if if if i may and and with that i think thoughts with that and i think mr madaris had said an item of

It's important. I think we just had a report and we just walked through the information of what we need from the fairgrounds. And there is a fact finding regional group that's including the city council, the county board of supervisors, the state assembly, state senate. There's this fact finding group. And I think to what you're saying, Vice Mayor Harrell. The part maybe looking at that is, and I think my viewpoint too, is placing it on August 18th agenda. That it seems there's probably a consensus of having this information, but it's more the timing. That the timing ought to be, and we could,

When we have more information and at the appropriate time. Now it just isn't, the word we use, Mario, is ripe. Is that correct? With the courts, It's too speculative at this point to know exactly what it is we're dealing with. The issue is too broad. Once it's narrowed to where we see more what the fair is doing, if anything, and also we see what's happening in other jurisdictions, then we can narrow the issue so that the public has a better understanding of what it is John Vile- That's going on out there and what we potentially could deal with and what areas of concern we're able to exercise

I know you got a couple of things. I want to. Mark, you had said you'd asked for a call and then that way you get everybody's perspective.

Thank you. Mr. mayor 1st of all, I think for me, what's really important is that. What I'm asking for is to have this on the agenda the 18th to have this conversation, probably part 2 at that meeting about whether we should direct staff to have a study session. Now, staff can come back and say, we're not prepared. We're going to go to this event. We're going to read this article. We're going to watch this video. We're going to go talk to this person so that we can be prepared to provide counsel the pros and cons of data centers in the city of Tulare. Well, the city manager may come back and sa

The one part I just want to share in that and in the process that we have to put this on the agenda, true, this is just to put it on the agenda, is your submitted form gives specifics. would ask for your support in placing on August eighteenth specifically, and then it has this the supplemental that the Council direct the city manager to prepare and present a study session that will provide the Council with information on data centers in the impacts and or benefits they may have on the community. That's not subjective. I mean, that's very specific. And I would say, at least from my position, I

To answer that, Mr. Mayor, I have been putting these requests forward for years. Not until today have I been asked, well, why is it specific? If anybody in the public goes and looks at all the requests I put in for the last, since we've been doing this last 10 years, eight years, there are specifics in there that say, when other council members say, hey, I would like a specific stop sign on the corner of such and such, that is a specific request. So I don't know why all of a sudden it's different today. But and then to answer the other question, Mr. Madero has even made this recommendation yea

Actually, I will agree with you. The request is to put it on the agenda to determine whether we want to go forward with the things that he's suggesting. That's how it was set up. I don't believe, and that's what I've indicated, I don't believe now is the time to put it on the agenda for that purpose. I think his process is correct. But we make a decision now whether to put it on the agenda to go forward with all of that. I think that's premature. I certainly think when the time is right and the issue is ripe, that we can then go forward with what he's indicated. Now it's just not. Now is not t

Well, I think to answer that, I just want to make it clear, this has nothing. ITS OWN ENTITY HAS BEEN STATED HERE, ITS OWN PROCESS, ITS OWN ACCOUNTABILITY FROM ITS BOARD. THIS IS FOR ME AS A COUNCIL MEMBER AND HOPEFULLY FOR THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES IS TO HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT DATA CENTERS ARE. MAYBE AFTER WE HAVE THE STUDY SESSION, WE PROPOSE TO BAN THEM. MAYBE WE PROPOSE SOME COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT SAYING IF YOU'RE GOING TO BRING A DATA CENTER IN, YOU GOT TO DO X, Y, AND Z. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO DO THAT. I THINK IT'S ALWAYS BETTER TO BE PROACTIVE THAN REACTIVE. I mean, I wo

Thank you. Mr. Mayor, can you let the audience know that this isn't the fairgrounds? I mean, we are not going to have people clapping. We're not going to have people. I mean, we have decorum in our chambers. True. Just as we work through this.

PB, Harmon Zuckerman, The part just the gala. I know you're looking, but you had mentioned in your form as well. You mentioned the fairgrounds. as the public interest sitting at the one at the fairgrounds. So your request says that. Again, it's an important issue. We want it. The part is, I think the concern is a little bit of unattended consequences. We put that on the agenda. Folks are going to come and want all this information. And as we put it on the agenda to approve it and we get that information, they're going to come. It's like we don't have it yet. Kind of like you said, a 2.0 conver

What is it? What is it? What is your problem with eighteen? What do you do? What is it? Do you understand it's going to be on the eighteen? What do you think is going to be on the 18th?

The 18th and putting that on is people are going to come and they're going to want those answers. They're going to ask those questions. And rather we could do it at the same time saying, here's a public forum, here's a public workshop, and we're going to walk around.

So you're concerned that putting it on the 18th for us to discuss whether we should have a study session in the future on the pros and cons of data centers, the public is going to come out and demand some kind of answers? Is that what you're telling me? Why now? Why now?

I'm confused as to why we would address this issue now.

It's an issue that's relevant. It's an issue that's out there. It's an issue people have concerns about. It's an issue hundreds of people have emailed me about. Thousands of people have- Not one person has emailed me on this. What is- Okay, you said there was 300 people at a meeting that were concerned about- No, but I understand.

But why now? I haven't heard you give any explanation John Potter, For an issue that hasn't been been specifically identified, nor have they moved forward with what the assistant, let me finish. John Potter, Nor what the assistant city manager has indicated we don't have any parameters whatsoever i'm i'm indicating that i'm concerned to. I want to deal with it in the future, but I want to deal when it's appropriate. We're just not ready for this. And I want to resist the temptation that I keep hearing from people that we don't want to put it on for the wrong reasons. I think now is just not th

I'm not disagreeing with you. There's never not a time where we can be educated about things. And so this is an educational process where we are going to be provided information. And again, if a city manager comes back and says, you know, what, after the 18th, you guys do a study session. To be honest with you guys, I need 6 months to do it. Then it takes 6 months, but. Mayor Mrakas, The time I think is always right to try to be educated about issues that the Community have concerns about and all i'm asking is this put it on the agenda on the 18th. Mayor Mrakas, Have a conversation there may b

I'd agree with that. Let's let's determine whether there's consensus to put it on unless the Vice Mayor. Go ahead.

I agree with, you know, being educated. But this issue is driven by the issue with the fairgrounds. What if we agreed to this had probably Thomas would be the lead on this. Do all the research, everything that's required to get this done. And then the one at the fairgrounds falls through. And then there's no interest in anything like a data center around here. That time's been wasted. The time and the money has all been wasted. I agree with Mr. Medeiros. Now is not the time.

Just because you said it doesn't mean it happens.

Let's find out. She decided to vote on herself, Mr. Medeiros.

No, Mr. Sagala, let's make this clear. She asked me, I didn't say anything to her except respond. She asked me if she could withdraw the motion. And I said she didn't have to. She could vote whichever way she wants to.

So I think with that, that's the council then to call to question towards placing this on the agenda for August 18th. We have a roll call vote too. Council may do that. Request a roll call vote.

City Council Chambers, Then I would say no, it doesn't have consensus of Council. City Council Chambers, Thank you guys very much. So I think with that, this is not the time for actions with that, though, is I would say this issue will absolutely continue of everything that we established. And as more information comes available, we will surely have that in front of the public. And I would say this council is in consensus. We would have the study session when that happens. Okay. Moving item forward on our agenda. Well, they're still communicating. We didn't do items of interest yet, did we? We

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. On the 22nd last month, attended a downtown association meeting with business owners downtown regarding some issues with homelessness. On the 24th, the ribbon cutting on the International Agri-Center Way at the Ag Center.

Just wanted to bring up the issue of the cooling centers. We do have an official cooling center here in the lobby for the city of Tulare. This Saturday I went by and came by and looked at it and was glad to see it was open. Unfortunately, there weren't too many people. who were using it. There were no chairs available. We have a bench for three people, but if a fourth person shows up, they got to sit on the floor or something. So there was no chairs. So I hope that there's chairs available for future days. And then on Sunday, It was closed, and so I was just trying to figure out what happened

John Potter, On the 22nd. John Potter, I attended the international anchor Center board meeting I sit on that board and also the downtown meeting. John Potter, With the chat at the Chamber trade room, there was several of us that attended that set quietly and listened. John Potter, Also on Friday the 24th. John Potter, attended and. John Potter, was pleased to speak at the agri center interchange ribbon cutting the. John Potter, Last week. I spent. John Potter, With my family on vacation this morning I went to the to fresno the at the citizens advisory committee meeting for the San Joaquin val

So on the 22nd, I attended the downtown meeting at the chamber. On the 24th, the ribbon cutting at the International Agri-Center way. And on the 21st and today, I attended the Tulare CARES meeting at City Hall.

I think as well as attending a lot of events over the couple of weeks, it's been a busy schedule in the community. And I think just to touch on is I think our 10 new baseball all-star team will be heading to Alabama. And so we wish them, of course, the best of luck. Moving forward, item six, consent calendar. All matters listed on the consent calendar are considered by the Council to be routine and will be enacted in one motion without discussion. If discussion is desired, that item may be removed and considered separately. Council, do we have an action or request on consent calendar?

Make a motion to approve this consent calendar.

I'll second that. So we have a motion to approve consent calendar 6.1 through 6.6. All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Consent calendar is approved. Moving to item seven, public hearing. Comments related to public hearing items are limited to three minutes per speaker for a maximum of 30 minutes per item, unless otherwise extended by council. Again, for those that wish to provide public comment while attending the meeting remotely, press nine on your phone to raise your hand or click raise hand in the webinar. Item 7.1, amending the established speed limits in the city of Tulare. Mr. Miller.

With staff's presentation on the item, I will open the public hearing for 7.1 amending the established speed limits in the city of Tulare. Is there anyone in chambers who wishes to speak on this item, which is amending the established speed limits in the city of Tulare? Do we have anyone on the phone or webinar? Good evening, welcome.

So, no, I did not go to that item. 9.2 has passed. The reason which didn't go to public comment was because there was a vote and a second made, and then vote and a second went into discussion and then led the discussion with that item.

Is there anyone in chambers who wishes to speak on the 7.1 item? Welcome.

I don't want to take away from your public comment, but you're asking kind of a point of information, and could have staff explain that quickly. I think this was on the Council meeting previously when we went through the details and the information. Mr. Miller, I think the question of perhaps how they were determined or understanding that North Oaks would I think that's your question kind of it's saying 40, perhaps if you would share as we had the last meeting quickly of addressing what that process is for oak street.

Okay, if I can, I just appreciate your questions. I just don't want to be a debate part, but 2 is with your questions and I know I took some of your time. If you have some other questions, what we can do is take your questions and then staff can get back to you with some additional information.

So if what I give my information to who to what I would what I would suggest kind of in the process is, if you would give your name and contact information to the clerk, and then that will put you in the queue, you know, as you had said with your questions and staff can communicate. All right. Thank you. Is there anyone else who'd like to speak on 7.1 amending the established speed limits in the city of Tulare? Okay. With that, I'm going to close the public hearing. Council members, questions? Comments? Vice Mayor Howell?

Just wanted to find out if those issues that were brought up at the last meeting were addressed the ones on West making sure.

Okay, thank you. Council members in the other council do you have an action. Is this just the public hearing, but the public hearing is the action, is that correct, Mr. Miller?

So moved. We have a motion to pass and print the ordinance, amending the existing speed zones. We have a second by Vice Mayor Harreld. Any further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Okay, 7.1 approves 5-0. Moving forward to general business, comments related to general business items are limited to three minutes per speaker for a maximum of 30 minutes per item. For those that wish to provide public comment while attending the meeting remotely, you may press nine on your phone to raise your hand or click raise hand in the webinar. Item 8.1, Proposition 64, Public Health and Safety Grant. Mr. Bollin

So basically this is $900,000 a year. Is that correct? Yes. Okay. Cause it, yeah. And that's used in the fashion that you've indicated that that's specifically for the city of Tulare.

How will you recruit the students that will be on this, uh, mentorship committee?

My only thought is I, I was an educator for 35 years. So thank you. Thank you for your service all aboard for this, but I'm just also hoping that it would be, there will be a diverse group of students that they're not going to be the ASB, just the ASB students, but we would reach out to those students who maybe are in poverty and are really looking to, to find some kind of a place to be heard and seen.

Those that already are leaders. Yeah. That's great.

Just wanted to echo on that because in my experience, I mean, it's great to have diversity. can't all be straight a students you gotta have some c students in there to kind of mix it up in terms of uh having some kids that are street smart understand what it's like to be on the street and all the challenges so um the ages are 14 to 20 is that what what i saw Okay, because I know unfortunately, sometimes you got to go down into middle school to start educating. So none of that. So will any presentations be done in middle?

So this grant is purely in terms of just educational leadership, mentorship development. There's no enforcement. There's no stings that the department will be doing with any of that stuff. Part of this grant.

Because I share I'm not concerned with our retailers per se. I mean, it's like Fort Knox trying to get in there. So, but I'm concerned. I wouldn't know, Mr. I've been there plenty. I asked people to go out and smoke a little more so we can get more revenue, more revenues for kids. I've been every year trying to get money out of the cannabis for kids, but all of it's going to the homeless. So I'm hoping that. We have a higher productive year to give the kids some money, but I guess what I, what I'm thinking is they're going to be enforcement, like, with other shops that may sell some kind of pr

Along that line, how much education are you engaged in as it relates to driving while impaired um and that aspect are is that part of the program could you repeat it one more time i'm sorry sir well you you've indicated the ages some of these kids are old enough to have a driver's license and and my concern is how how much effort are you um taking as far as education is concerned about uh driving while impaired thank you for um it

And does that extend not only to cars, but so many kids these days are- E-bikes, those fast bikes, yes.

I think the chief would confirm that you can be arrested for driving under the influence.

Council, are you ready for action? I don't think we have any action.

Okay, moving forward on our agenda 8.2 Zumwalt Park Amphitheater 2026 concert series update. Mr. Mondale.

John Potter, So with staff presentation in the part what I will do is go to public comment.

John Potter, Is there anyone in chambers who'd like to make public comment post the staff presentation on zoom all park amphitheater 2026 concert series update. John Potter, Do we have anyone on the phone or webinar. John Potter, Okay. All right. With that, council members comes Mr. Harold. John Potter, Councilman seagal.

Yes, thank you for the pretty lengthy presentation, very informative. Yes, 420 pages out of our 700 pages were food good letters and folks that shared their thoughts, which is great. I mean, I have no doubt, no doubt in my mind that people have a great time, have fun, and some of our businesses are making money. I would imagine the Tap Yard, one of those that I've gone to after concerts. is doing very well. So there's no doubt about that. There's no doubt about the facts that city manager talked about how we built the park and how it's been great. I drive by there every once in a while. I love

Well, let me ask the question in a different way so I might get the answer that I'm looking for. What has there been an analysis of the five concerts today this year in terms of yes they're different they have to track different people and they're different genres but has there been an analysis by concert saying okay the concert costs $100,000. Ticket sales brought in $5,000 beer sales brought in $1,000. Sponsorships brought in 10,000. Has there been an analysis of the concerts to that degree? In other words, I have information that's been provided to me through you, but I don't know if it's c

I just haven't done it like that. When I'm curious, I guess another question I have, and Mr. Mayor, you can stop me whenever to go to the next council members because I got a lot of questions. And so The question I have, we voted on our budget a couple of weeks ago or a couple of months ago. In the budget, there was $250,000 allocated for the concerts. So what you're asking today is in addition to that $250,000?

Yeah, you told us it was for use from July 1st to June 30th. I brought up the issue that it probably will be all used this year. So the $250,000 that was in the July 1st budget, Is this $160,000 in addition to this? Yes. So that would get us to $410,000 plus the $500,000 from earlier this year. Because I don't count the Posada. I hope that Posada is done by Rooks and whoever else takes care of that. I don't count the Posada. I think the Posada should be an event on its own without the operator. But if we take out that $50,000, that's $500,000. plus 250 plus 160 is what we're subsidizing.

Of course, yeah, they're budget years. Yeah, we made that clear. So I think for me, what I'm interested in understanding is the entire picture of revenue. From what I received, what's been shared with me is there's a concert that costs X amount of dollars. to pay the artists, to pay the production, to pay the M&Ms that the artist wants in the green room, to pay for whatever it takes to do the concert. And then there's a revenue that, from what I've seen, is only ticket generation, I mean, is what comes from ticket sales. But there's a whole other equation of sponsorships. I know that there is

is sponsorship funds, right? 20%. We've given up ticket sales. So it just, I mean, for me, I'm not an accountant, but the math just doesn't jive. It just doesn't jive. Even with what you tell me, like, oh, wow, these concerts have made 400,000 from what the P&Ls I received over the last five concerts, and they stopped coming to us. I don't know why, but we don't get them anymore. It doesn't add up to 436,000. It adds up to maybe at the most 100,000. So I'm trying to understand the math. You know, what's the skin in the game?

Good. We'd be happy to, you know, have you meet some local Tulare vendors.

I would hope that we would look for Tulare-based vendors. That's all. So I think one of the other things Mr. Mayor would like to kind of act is I was, since Mr. Spielman's up here, there was a sentence in the staff report about about the operator losing money. And I wonder if you can explain how that's working.

I mean, I'm not a promoter, but I would imagine there's expenses and there's revenues. Sure. How far short do you, on average for every concert, are you short?

Because what I see is anybody If I contacted, you know, a majority of those people that sent letters and say, hey, look, yeah, everybody had a great time. I had a great time. I go to concert, have fun. I dance, I sing, you know, maybe buy a beer or two and have fun. I mean, that's no doubt. But if people were to be told, hey, it costs $100,000 and it only made $10,000 in revenue and the city of Tulare is paying the other $90,000, people would probably have, oh, okay. That's my concern is just how much of a subsidy are we going to continue to want to do?

Does the Visalia City Council pay the vendors at the convention center that don't make money? Do they cut them a check?

Well, no, it's to run the convention center, not to pay a concert promoter who fell short on making the money.

promoters. Promoter does a concert in Los Tigres del Norte or Tucanes or some group and, you know, they cost $100,000. City of Visalia doesn't give the promoter, hey, you only made 30, here's the 70 that you didn't make. They don't do that.

No, but we pay the bills for the concerts. Does that include the, do we pay the artist directly?

I'm trying to understand why is the city paying artists directly?

I don't remember voting. I remember voting that we provided a deposit that's never going to come back to us.

Well, I'll wait for the next round, Mr. Mears. Mr. Mendoza?

I was impressed with the letters. I read every one of them. An example is Lisa D. Ochoa. I think the Adventist amphitheater is one of the best things to Larry. has had for the community. It brings people together, supports small businesses, and benefits nearby restaurants, hotels, and other local businesses. I've attended many outdoor venues for over the years, and Tulare is quickly becoming one of the best. The entertainment has been excellent, the atmosphere is welcoming, and it's become a wonderful family-friendly destination. I also think Spade Entertainment has done a great job building m

Yeah, I'm talking about 900,000 per year with a population that we have that's somewhere around $14 a person, something like that. And there's different ways to look at that. But from our standpoint, I think it's a good investment John Potter, With taxpayer dollars to achieve what it is we're trying to achieve and different people can have. John Potter, Different people sitting in this dais can have different opinions. John Potter, backing up and trying to start all over again would be detrimental and basically it would it would be. it, bottom line, it would be detrimental. And I'm prepared to

I concur with Council Member Medeiros' assessment. We made a commitment to a three-year commitment to see this through. The improvement has been fantastic. I've attended almost all the concerts, not the hard rock. But the vibe, the atmosphere is so positive. And the talk around that, it's positive. I think that's really a large part of the benefit is the reaction in those 400 letters. I read them as well. And my own personal. I saw that. Yeah. My own personal enjoyment. I've never gone to a concert in my life. I guess it's my generation. I don't know. And I wasn't a Woodstock person either. Bu

I think from my comments and overview is one, I just want to say of having this on the agenda and the presentation of materials that we have is part of also our goal of keeping this transparent and keeping this topic in front of the community. So I do appreciate Mark and staff, and it was also amongst requests of council members, what is the fiscal status. What are we looking at in subsidies? What is the breakdown overall for the amphitheater related to spades contract vendors? So with that, I just want to say to those who perhaps views, I think, as Councilman Madero said, you might have opini

I agree with everything that's been said. Prior to the meeting, I talked to Todd and Claudia for a minute. And like Councilman Medeiros, I read all of the letters The one thing that I noticed is through all those letters, they said, what a great job Todd was doing. What a great job Spade was doing. Everyone's finally mentioned Claudia. They never once mentioned the city council. I guess we were chopped liver when it comes to this whole project. But I think a great job. Love working with you. Thanks. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Scott, did you have some additional questions?

Yes, I have a couple more questions. I think one of the things that I like to, well, first of all, I appreciate Mr. Madero's logic about the, I think, what did he say, $14 a person, or what was it, 12? Man, when I ask for $100,000 every year to keep kids out of gangs, it turns out to be $3 a kid. We've got 30,000 kids under 18, so I like that logic. I think for me, what I'm interested in is just getting an understanding of the public money. I know there's the promoter money, and then there's the public money. I'm just still having a hard time understanding the $436,000 in expenses for this yea

Right, but it's an expense of a concert.

I think, you know, I just, the last couple of points, I just want to make sure that, you know, it's not that, that I'm against the park. The park is an amazing jewel in our city and our region. It's not that I'm against having fun, going to a concert, dancing, enjoying it, having a beer or two. What I'm concerned about is just at what point do we need to understand that the concerts that are put together are not gonna make any money? That we're lucky they make 20% back. At least that's the information I have. I'm missing a whole bunch of information that adds up to $463,000. I don't know where

I I get it I don't want you to feel that it's a charge that you have to jump oh okay no no no I think it's I think for me it's more transparency and I appreciate you being transparent right now on that and I think that's the missing piece I mean I've talked to the vice mayor about it and you know I said hey wow this was a two hundred thousand dollar concert only brought eighteen thousand dollars in ticket sales whoa you know what kind of you know that I don't know, I'm not gonna lay judgment on the business, but hey, a lot of businesses would not be moving forward. And I know the city manager'

I just want to say one thing, which I want to speak in some generalizations. The math not adding up is your personal comments. Yeah, they're just your personal comments. So the part with that of looking at what we have in income to expenses, if you look at both in expenses of around 1.3 million, it goes to subsidies of what the operator and what we're doing. You put those together, that gives you the overall cost. If you want to break down to debate all of the general ledger compared to looking at a trial balance, I just want to say from my perspective that that doesn't mean that because I can

Of course these just for the public, this is my opinions and add numbers don't add up to me. So I think the last point is I just want to make sure that, that the, There is a commitment for an audit of all the public dollars that have been provided by council Because I know from your presentation in January that you assumed, or the city has assumed, paying bills directly to Rio and to other productions because there is no funding, I would assume, from the operator because they have a contract with the operator to do the concerts. I don't know if now that's changed. Now they have a contract with

If I may cancel. Yes. Yeah. Just final comments from my standpoint. I mean, we all bring to the table the experience and background and whatever perspective we have on the various issues that come before us. Some have experience in different fields. I always appreciate, Mayor, as as your financial background as it relates to being an analyst, basically, and dealing with what we have here. I like to think I have a certain amount of business background that can be brought to the table. One thing I'd like to clarify, I know we have goals. The goal is to get to the point to where we break even, an

Is that a motion, Mr. Medeiros? Yes. So we have a motion for approval of 8.2 Zoom Hall Park. I'll second the motion. We have a second. Is there any further discussion?

I don't think I heard where the one-time funds are coming.

I'm sorry, so I missed it. So it's in the staffer. Yeah, like the specific source.

Thank you. I hope hope hope staff could find a 100,000 dollars to invest in kids in the city.

All in favor. Hi, any opposed. Okay. Motion carries for 1.

Quick question. Comedians don't count cancel just because it's one hundred and five or one hundred.

we're happily take water and diet coke if you guys are driving by so thank you okay moving forward to item nine future agenda items 9.1 parkwood meadows park volleyball courts councilman segala

I believe that's a straightforward request. There is a number of constituents in my district who use that park and have created their own volleyball court out there. But I think it's worth us having a discussion to see if we can create some permanent type of volleyball courts out there and just like for us to have a conversation about it at a future meeting. Thank you. would make the motion to add it to a future meeting as stated in the request.

Are we kind of putting the cart before the horse? Shouldn't this go to community services, go to Chris to see if maybe he's got something already planned or the parks commissioners before we get involved in it? Probably go to Parks and Rec Commission first. So this could be just presented to them.

TODD BANDUCCI- Right. So I think then if that's the case, then I would amend my request that the council forward the request to the Parks Commission for them to consider. TODD BANDUCCI- We can do that.

Just the agenda already went out for the upcoming meeting.

So it'll be the one after that. TODD BANDUCCI- That's fine.

So with that, though, I just want clarity and perhaps legal counsel with that clarity is that's a charge going to the Chris, but that still need we could do that, but that would need council's consensus, correct?

Yeah, I mean, like feasibility. Okay. Okay. Moving forward on the agenda item 10 staff updates, Mr. Orr.

Good evening. Just a reminder, this Friday we'll be having the last movie of our summer concert series, Zootopia II. We'll be at Mulcahy Park around 8.15. Thank you. Just to be clear, it's not being canceled because of the heat, right?

And that is for children, is that correct, primarily?

Okay. That's why I use the word primarily.

I'd like to see you out there, Mulcahy Park. Dennis, come on. Nothing to report.

It's kind of getting balmy in here a little bit, isn't it? That's the algorithm. This flower is a begin to wither. Mario. Nothing to report tonight, thank you.

Who's in charge of putting the newsletter out?

I was trying to maintain optimism under the circumstances, so that's why.

Are we going to get her a hard hat and vest that says PIO on it? Whenever you come to the office, yes. Okay.

All right. And with that, item 11, recess to close session to discuss the following, 11.1, conference with legal counsel, anticipated litigation per government code, 54956.9 . Anything else, counsel, I need to announce with that? All right, we are recess to close session. We have nothing to report from closed session. And with that, the Tulare City Council meeting is adjourned.