Votes cast on new sewer utility district

A crowd of over twenty people gathered in the City Hall for the Porterville City Council meeting Tuesday evening to participate in discussion regarding the formation of a new sewer utility district on Henderson Avenue.

Mike Reed, Porterville’s public works director, opened the public hearing and explained that the deadline for the ballot on the matter would close immediately after public hearing concluded, and that a public counting of the votes would be held Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in a conference room of the City Hall. The results will be revealed at the next City Council meeting.

Reed also shared that several outreach meetings have taken place to inform the residents of the potential sewer district area.

“There has been three to four public outreach meetings by staff. The bids were initially rejected,” explained Reed. “We actually tailored the project to fit within the funding source and then held additional outreach meetings to specify how the project has been tailored for today’s meeting.”

Once the hearing was opened up to the public, a resident of the potential sewer district asked if there would be a fee for the city contractor to come out and see where the sewer lateral would be placed. Reed answered that there would be no fee for the lateral placement coordination.

A second community member approached the podium to ask about work that is currently being done on Indiana Street and when they will be able to hook up to the sewer. Reed responded that once the work is confirmed to be done correctly, property owners would be allowed to connect.

The public hearing closed with a couple of people submitting ballots.

At the beginning of the meeting, Adelino Espejo was presented as the city’s employee of the month. Mayor Milt Stowe came to the podium to shake his hand and present him with a certificate. Espejo was given a chance to speak and introduced his friends and family that were present at the meeting and expressed his gratitude to the

ncil.

Council Member Reyes reported on the recent Tulare County Economic Development Corporation (TCEDC) special meeting. The discussion at the TCEDC meeting was in regards to a memorandum of understanding given by the City of Visalia.

“The feedback was such that it would need more time than allowed for that special meeting, which was about an hour,” said Reyes. “So we will continue that discussion to this Thursday at the regularly scheduled meeting.”

City Manager John Lollis updated the council on feedback for a strategic plan being formed by Tulare County Task Force on Homelessness. Lollis reported that there is a lack of low barrier emergency shelters and a lack of mobile outreach services.

“It was strongly encouraged that there be a development of mobile outreach which is less costly, easier to operate,” said Lollis, “but really to focus on housing first and rapid rehousing as well as emergency shelter response.”

The Library and Literacy Commission reported on their happenings in the last month, and revealed that 305 people were in attendance for the Harry Potter birthday celebration. They also shared that over the summer a total of 501 people attended 29 different skill building sessions and the library had a total of 6,676 visits.

The Animal Control Commission gave their monthly census for July to the Council and spoke about a feral cat program being conducted called

‘Trap, Neuter, Release.' The program basis is to trap feral male cats and neuter them before releasing them back on to the streets.

When the floor was opened for oral communications, Brock Neely approached the microphone to speak to the council about voting against Assembly Bill 84 and Proposition 6.

“My club, the Tulare County Stonewall Democrats, is taking a stand on it,” stated Neely.

The second and final person to speak during oral communications was Roy Macomber who spoke about traffic light timing at intersections.

“There are green lights but no cars and people wait and wait and wait,” Macomber said. “I understand they are on a timer and there is probably quite a few frustrated drivers.”

After oral communications was closed the council moved to approve the sixteen items on the consent calendar. All items were approved with a 5 - 0 vote.

Once the discussion of the sewer district wrapped up, the council began the scheduled matters portion of the meeting. The only scheduled matter on the agenda was the consideration of appointing the District 2 council member in-lieu of election.

Mayor Milt Stowe is the only candidate for the District 2 position creating a circumstance

in which he can be appointed with out being voted in by election. The council voted 5-0 in appointing Stowe.

Although he was appointed, his term will not begin until November.

During other matters, Vice-mayor Brian Ward suggested that booths be set up for the library at back to school events and harvest festivals to reach out to the younger crowd and inform them of library events and library card sign ups.

Ward also commented on the trees in the medians and how some areas look empty.

“Some of the areas in the medians, there is no plants at all,” commented Ward.

He also agreed with Macomber in regards to frustration at the intersections with stop lights on timers.

Mayor Stowe made mention of the stop sign on the corner of Grand Avenue and Villa Street being hidden behind a big tree. Stowe also commented on his attendance at the Hot August Nights event and said that it was fun and very enjoyable.

Council members Flores and Hamilton individually thanked the Fire Chief Dave Lapere for his men that were sent out to fight the fires up north.

The next City Council meeting will be held on September 4 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall located at 291 N. Main Street.