Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Tulare County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
41 issues
Local Election Results
Tulare County is posting live election results for county supervisor seats, city council races, and ballot measures. If you vote there, these races decide who writes and enforces local rules for the next few years, so it is worth checking who is winning.
Caldwell 99 interchange groundbreaking
After decades in the making, construction is finally starting on the Caldwell 99 interchange — safer traffic flow and a boost for economic development in that corridor.
Deed fraud protections — ordinance and recorder notification program
Scammers can forge deeds and steal your home title without you knowing. Under SB 255, the county will now mail property owners a notice within 30 days whenever a deed, mortgage, or deed of trust is recorded on their property — and the new ordinance requires parcel numbers on the first page so the system works reliably.
FEMA reimbursement for 2023 floods and 2020 fire secured
The Sultana storm drain is done; a Kings River study, storm pump standardization backed by $2 million in grant funds, the Friant-Kern Canal project, and two FEMA flood studies (Antelope Creek, Deer Creek/White River) are in various stages — with FEMA funding uncertainty looming.
City Council Election
Tulare voters are deciding three city council seats, with three candidates in the running. The results matter because the new council could change how the city votes on local issues and budget priorities. If you live in Tulare, this is the local race that shapes day-to-day decisions.
Election Guide
It’s Election Day in California, and the Visalia Times-Delta has a guide to what’s on your 2026 ballot and what each measure actually means. If you’re voting in Tulare County, this is your quick cheat sheet before you head to the polls.
Matheny tract water and sewer consolidation
East Orosi's tap water is contaminated with nitrates, so residents rely on bottled water while the county runs the system as administrator. The $13 million project to connect East Orosi to the Orosi PUD finally broke ground after 20+ years.
Election Results
Tulare County's key races are being called, and the results will shape who runs local government for the next term. If you care about budgets, services, or local policy, this is the scoreboard to watch.
Monson ag hauling facility dispute (PSP 26023)
A family ag hauling operation wants to store up to 25-30 trucks and 30 trailers on four acres near Monson, running 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. with about 20 round trips a day. The neighboring Elkhorn Dairy says the site currently looks like a commercial truck repair chop shop, and its attorney argues the project can't legally be approved without environmental review. The commission put off the decision until January 13, 2027.
Eight-foot wall for gated compound near Highway 137 (PZV 26045)
A couple developing a six-parcel gated residential compound near Tulare got permission for a taller-than-normal block wall to block highway noise, stray vehicles and ditch-side trespassing.
Rural land divisions and small-lot zoning
In honoring Community Planning Month, the county's planning chief highlighted 24 community plans completed since 2012, designed to unlock state and federal funding and manage growth along Highway 99 and 65 corridors.
Filipino American History Month recognition
The Board proclaimed October 2026 as Filipino American History Month, honoring the Filipino farm workers who helped build the Central Valley's agricultural economy.
Forcum-Mackey construction contract increases
Two big county building projects cost more than planned: the Goshen Fire Station grew by about $536,000 and the Assessor relocation by about $40,000 due to unforeseen conditions.
ICE access and Truth Act transparency
The county adopted state-required policies limiting how county agencies interact with immigration authorities, with departments implementing them by January 1, 2027. A public commenter argued county edits removed a mandatory vendor data-protection provision and could fall short of the legal standard.
Countywide zoning code overhaul (Ordinances 3672/3673)
The county rewrote its agricultural and residential zoning rules for the first time since 2012 — clearer matrices, updated setbacks, and 1,200-foot notifications for event venues instead of 300. It touches about 92% of the county's land, so rural property owners will notice the changes when they build, subdivide, or host events.
State legislative developments affecting the county
Three state water bills remain alive this session — AB 2180, SB 1125, and SB 1417 — while several others died or were suspended. The subcommittee took no position on any of them.
Williamson Act agricultural preserves
Landowners seeking Williamson Act preserve contracts will wait a bit longer — the hearing was continued to November 17 so staff can finish the packet.
SJV Biodiesel assessment appeal settlement
SJV Biodiesel's four assessment appeals were settled through a stipulation with the county assessor, locking in taxable values without a contested hearing. The settled net taxable values range from about $5.96 million to $13.6 million.
HAP Round 7 homelessness funding allocation
Westcare's veterans program and the VA introduced themselves and want a future presentation slot — timely, since Visalia and the Housing Authority just landed Home Key funds for veteran housing units.
Permanent supportive housing capacity nearly exhausted
Of the region's roughly 200+ permanent supportive housing units and vouchers, almost all are full — and HUD funding changes could cut off support for 54 housed people (32 at a CSET project, 22 at the Majestic) after May. There's nowhere to move people off the streets into.
Proposition 1 housing bond on the ballot
An $11.25 billion state bond would fund permanent supportive housing, farmworker housing, and veterans' home loans. Advocates say it unlocks roughly 40,000 already-permitted housing units statewide that are just waiting for money.
Aging flood pumps and capital improvement program
Most of the county's flood pumps are over 40 years old, and a five-year replacement plan from years ago never got done. Roughly 30 grant applications are pending with the state to standardize and replace them — and pumps keep breaking in the meantime.
Streambed permitting breakthrough with Fish and Wildlife
A routine maintenance agreement with state Fish and Wildlife — in the works for over a year and a half — would clear the CEQA permitting hurdle so landowners and agencies can actually clean out channels. Fish and Wildlife is being unusually cooperative, though the Army Corps and State Water Board may still have a say.
Deer Creek flooding threat to Alpahtchi and Allensworth
Nearly 2,000 people live in Alpahtchi and Allensworth, two rural towns that nearly flooded in 2023 — including a deliberately cut levee. An advocate is asking commissioners to meet with the Deer Creek district manager about emergency floodway options before this winter's storms.
Strathmore flooding at Friant-Kern Canal crossing
Avenue 196 where it meets the Friant-Kern Canal is a known flooding point. Fixing it needs upstream storage, bigger storm pipes through Strathmore, and more storage at Success Lake — now waiting on the Friant Water Authority to partner on a solution.
El Niño storm preparedness for unhoused residents
The county is bracing for a wet 2026-27 winter by ratifying a local emergency and giving two agency directors power to quickly buy goods and services for flood response. Residents are urged to clear properties and drainage ahead of storms — property owners are responsible for natural waterways on their land.
Tipton Well No. 6A Completion Project
No bids came in for the Tipton well project, so the county awarded the construction contract to Travioli Construction for up to $750,570 using American Rescue Plan Act funds.
FEMA Disaster Recovery Response
Supervisor Micari reported the county's pointed letter to FEMA finally got a response after a year and a half of silence on disaster recovery questions.
Highway Safety Improvement Program Grant Applications
The county is applying for seven grants worth an estimated $12.7 million total to improve road safety. That could mean funded safety projects on county roads.
Leadership of County Behavioral Health Services
Tulare's brand-new shelter holds an open house June 5 with residents moving in by early summer. The county's behavioral health urgent care center has its roof and walls and should open by year's end, with the larger Casa Grande campus targeting 2027.
Goshen development and infrastructure
The county awarded a $1.9 million contract to rebuild Road 67 in Goshen, approved a countywide guardrail safety project, added a stop sign near Exeter, and adopted its official road mileage of 2,960.99 miles — while supervisors noted rural counties get far less per mile for road maintenance than urban ones.
Red Ribbon Week drug prevention
The county proclaimed October 23-31 as Red Ribbon Week, with a free family event at Mooney Grove Park on October 24 and prevention programs reaching an estimated 100,000 students.
Three Rivers road acceptance
The board vacated unused Canyon Drive and Quail Run Drive rights-of-way in South Fork Estates Unit 2, a subdivision approved in 1985 whose third unit was never built. Owners must consolidate lots and prove legal, physically viable access by December 31, 2029. A property owner described a private fire-access road to the cemetery as an escape route.
County cybersecurity posture
IT staff reported local governments are now the most-targeted hacking victims, with public sector break-ins rising from 36% to 61% of breaches. The county blocks tens of thousands of phishing emails monthly and joined a no-cost state monitoring partnership worth roughly $300,000 a year commercially.
Sheriff-DEA task force and dispatch agreements
The sheriff's office locked in a five-year DEA task force deal and Lindsay signed on for county emergency dispatching through 2031.
GSA well registration program
A new groundwater agency is registering wells — both irrigation and domestic. Registering your domestic well helps the agency know where you are and protect you.
SGMA implementation and Tule subbasin probation
Well permits are running higher than last year, partly from a West Tulare project that destroyed some wells. GSAs are working to fix shortfalls and get the Tule Subbasin out of probationary status.
Data center moratorium and future zoning rules
The Board of Supervisors adopted a moratorium on data centers, partly in response to a developer pitching fairgrounds sites. Members debated whether the county could eventually welcome data centers if developers prove their water use is sustainable and bring local benefit.
Behavioral health services contracts and grant oversight
The Board approved roughly $65 million for children's mental health services, a $400,000 skilled nursing contract, and an $11 million behavioral health facility grant. A public commenter questioned per-client costs, lack of competitive bidding, and the grant consultant declining standard county ethics disclosures.
2025 Agricultural Crop and Livestock Report
Gross farm value jumped 10% to $9.14 billion, keeping Tulare County in the running as California's top ag county, though rising costs and a 28% drop in table grapes show pressure on growers.
County road construction and infrastructure awards
The Board awarded contracts for slurry seal countywide, the $5.6 million Farm to Market project near Pixley and Terra Bella, a culvert replacement near Strathmore, and accepted new roads in Goshen — better roads and drainage for rural communities.