Transit Transition?
City could join transit agency
Cannabis, hotel taxes could be on Nov. ballot
The Porterville City Council will consider in the city should join a new transportation agency designed to oversee public transportation in Tulare County, including the incorporated cities in the county.
The City Council will consider if Porterville should join the Tulare County Regional Transit Authority at its meeting to be held at 6:30 p.m. today.
The new agency will have the “full power to own, operate and administer a public transportation system” within the cities that are members of the agency.
A report for the formation of the agency stated a county agency to manage public transportation in the county’s incorporated cities would benefit transit riders throughout the county and the cities that are members of the agencies.
“Many of these benefits would be realized by having a single entity controlling all transit systems throughout Tulare County, which would allow for consistent branding, fare structure, service hours and days, and rider-focused planning. Member Agencies will benefit from economies of scale, centralized administration,
planning, and financial departments,” the report stated.
The Cities of Dinuba, Exeter, Farmersville, Lindsay and Tulare as well as the County of Tulare have all voted to join the agency. But the City of Visalia voted against joining the agency and to continue to manage its own public transportation system.
City of Porterville staff didn’t take a position as far as a recommendation to the council to join the agency, stating the council could either accept or reject the proposal to join the agency.
The agency’s report states once all the cities in the county have taken action, the establishment of the agency will begin.
Also on the council agenda is the continued consideration that would raise the tax on those staying at hotels in the city along with how cannabis businesses in the city would be taxed to be placed on the November ballot.
The City Council would determine at its July 21 meeting if the taxes would be considered by the city’s voters in the November general election.
Voters would consider if the tax for those who stay at the city’s hotels should be raised from eight to 12 percent of the rate to stay at the hotels.
The cannabis business tax ordinance to be considered by voters would propose tax rates up to 10 percent of gross receipts or $25 per square foot.
The council will also review its proclamation of an emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the report on the proclamation, city staff reported the Veterans Memorial administration has given notice to the state COVID-19 testing at the Porterville Veterans Memorial Building be terminated on July 31 so the facility can again be used for other purposes.
City staff also reported the Porterville National Guard Armory was a potential site that could replace the Veterans Memorial Building to be used for testing.
City staff also reported The Navigation Center at the former Vine School site to provide services and housing for the homeless and less fortunate is anticipated to open this month.
In addition, city staff has reported Helping Hands of Porterville resumed its daily homeless lunch program on July 1. When Helping Hands was unable to provide lunches, the city stepped to provide lunches at the Jaye Street Park and Ride Lot near Tule River Parkway seven days a week.
The Saturday Sack Lunch Ministry is still interested in serving lunches from the Jaye Street location. That program needs approval from the council and is included in tonight’s consent calendar.
Also included on the agenda is a review of Measure R funds being using for Highway 65 and Highway 190.
Also part of the consent calendar to be considered by the council is $1 million in asphalt projects for the following locations:
Roche St. from 603 Roche St. to Vandalia St.; Chase Ave from 269 Chase Ave to Roche St.; Park Dr. from Corona St. to 660 Park Dr.; Leggett St. from Morton Ave to Cleveland Ave; Plano St. from Mulberry Ave to Plano St. North City Limits; Reid Ave from Lime St. To Reid Ave East City limits; Melinda Ave from Chess Terrace St. to Indiana St.; Poplar Ave from Mesa Oak Dr. to Jaye St.; Date Ave from G St. to Kessing St.; Jaye St. from Oak Ave to Olive Ave; Palm St. from Grand Ave to Belleview Ave.
Westfield Ave from Prospect St. to Hwy 65 Overpass; Salisbury St. from Pioneer Ave to Castle Ave; Median Ave from Newcomb St. to Salisbury St.; Mulberry Ave from Newcomb St. to Lindale Pl.; Putnam Ave from Beverly St. to Waukesha St.; Tomah Ave from Prospect St. to Dameron St.; Tomah Ave from 1066 Tomah Ave to Cobb St.; White Chapel Way from Westwood St. to Kensington Way; Kensington Way from White Chapel Way to Henderson Ave; Henderson Ave from Westwood St. to Henderson Ave West City Limits; Grand Ave from Plano St. to Sunwood St.