Dennis Townsend
No biography on file yet.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 14
- Total speaking time
- 1:11:40
- Avg per meeting
- 5:07
- Segments
- 770
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Top issues during term (20)
El Niño storm preparedness for unhoused residents
Procurement amounts are limited to contracts needed to protect life and property; no specific dollar cap was stated.
Rural land divisions and small-lot zoning
No direct county cost, but the applicant cited a 75% state increase in water overage fees squeezing small farmers.
Data center moratorium and future zoning rules
No direct cost to taxpayers now, but data centers could strain water and power infrastructure and shift utility costs to ratepayers if unregulated.
IHSS Caregiver Wages
Higher IHSS wages would raise county costs; the county's current offer is a $0.05 increase per the speakers.
Matheny tract water and sewer consolidation
A $13 million construction project funded through the state, with ongoing operations subsidized by the SAFER program.
Leadership of County Behavioral Health Services
Contracts on this agenda total over $7 million in county behavioral health and lab spending.
Seville Community Park Push
$3.5 million this year: $2.1 million fund balance, $1 million general fund, $390,000 expected grants.
Behavioral health services contracts and grant oversight
Up to $64,985,323 over three years, retroactive to July 1, 2025.
ICE access and Truth Act transparency
No direct cost stated.
SGMA implementation and Tule subbasin probation
Reduced groundwater pumping constrains farm production; GSA purchased imported water to soften the cutback.
Mineral King Road & Wishon Drive Permanent Restoration Bid Dispute
County road funds cover it, but 88% is expected back through FHWA emergency relief.
Williamson Act agricultural preserves
William Act contracts typically reduce property taxes for participating agricultural landowners.
HAP Round 7 homelessness funding allocation
Tulare County's tentative allocation is about $55,000 more than last round, usable for shelter operating costs.
State legislative developments affecting the county
The Safer water funding negotiation left the county short of full funding, though a good chunk was recovered for this year; the new AB 2739 fund depends on future state appropriations.
FEMA reimbursement for 2023 floods and 2020 fire secured
Roughly $42 million in federal reimbursements remains outstanding for county road and bridge repairs.
Proposition 1 housing bond on the ballot
Proposition 1, if passed, would fund affordable housing development statewide; without it, local housing development is expected to slow severely.
SJV Biodiesel assessment appeal settlement
Dollar Tree's property tax assessments on twelve parcels remain unchanged.
Countywide zoning code overhaul (Ordinances 3672/3673)
No direct cost to residents, but the clearer rules could mean faster, cheaper permitting for property owners.
Countywide road completions and slurry seal
Slurry seal program cost to be set through the bidding process; completed projects accepted without further payment.
2025 agricultural crop and livestock report
$9.142 billion in gross agricultural production, up about $797 million.
Decisions during term (422)
Recorded while Townsend was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Consent calendar, items 6 through 16
Introduction of ordinance amending Section 1-05-1670 (recording: parcel numbers required)
Tentative Parcel Map No. PPM 26013 (Richard Stadden / Lane Engineers)
Special Use Permit No. PSP 26023 (Ranjit Singh Nagra)
Zone Variance No. PZV 26021 (John Stewart)
Zone Variance No. PZV 26046 (Donnie Lee Walton)
Tentative Parcel Map No. PPM 26033 (Donnie Lee Walton)
Zone Variance No. PZV 26045 (Doug Sterling Canby)
Adopt consent calendar (Items 9-21, 23-32)
Item 22: Family Services of Tulare County CMAA claims processing agreement
Item 6: Adopt zoning ordinances 3672 and 3673 (Zone Changes PZC 25-005 and PZC 25-008)
Item 7: Williamson Act Agricultural Preserves — continued
Closed session: authorize defense in EN et al. v. County of Tulare
Approve an agreement with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, for providing State funding to offset costs of providing trace forward and trace back investigation and inspection services for the state Phytophthora ramorum…
Authorized the Assessor/Clerk-Recorder to establish a Recorder Notification Program to help property owners promptly detect unauthorized or fraudulent transfers in accordance with Government Code section 27297.7, as enacted by Senate Bill…
Approve the new Conflict of Interest Code adopted by Alpaugh Irrigation District.
Approve the new Conflict of Interest Code adopted by Patterson Tract Community Services District.
Approve the amended Conflict of Interest Code adopted by Kaweah Delta Health Care District.
Approve training on November 12, 2026, for special districts and independent agencies on topics of basic function of local agencies.
Approve an amendment to Agreement No. 32266 with Forcum-Mackey Construction, Inc., for the Assessor/Clerk Recorder Relocation Project at 5961 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia, increasing the agreement amount by $39,935.70 from $6,858,542.40 to…
Voting record (93)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.
Approved Consent Calendar (Numbers 6 through 25) except items #13 and #21, which were pulled for separate consideration.
Approved
Approved
Approved
Directed legal counsel to defend and authorized the defense of any individual employees or officers, including those who may be named in the future, with a reservation of rights, in the case of Latosh
Approved Consent Calendar (Numbers 4 through 22) except for items #13 and #15, which were pulled for separate consideration.
Approved
Approved and appointed Supervisor Shuklian as CSAC representative and Supervisor Vander Poel as alternate representative.
Consent Calendar (Items 4-22, except 13 and 15)
BAART substance use disorder treatment agreement ($5.72M)
Remote Supervision Program agreement with CalMHSA ($250K)
CSAC Board of Directors appointments
Closed session — defense of employees in Payne v. County of Tulare
Approved
Approved
Approved
Approved
Approved
Approved Consent Calendar (Numbers 6 through 35) with the exception of items #11, 21, 22, 24, and #25, which were pulled for separate consideration.
Authorized the defense of the County of Tulare and any individually named County defendants, including those to be named later, with a reservation of rights in the case of John JM Doe v. County of Tul
Consent Calendar (Items 6-35, minus pulled items)
Adopt SB 580 immigration interaction policies (Item 11)
Turning Point of Central California mental health agreement, up to $64,985,323 (Item 21)
Friendship Manor skilled nursing agreement, up to $400,000 (Item 22)
Behavioral health Launch Ready Bond grant agreement, up to $10,999,901.88 (Item 24)
Establish Bargaining Unit 24 – Fire Battalion Chiefs (Item 25)
Authorize county defense in John JM Doe v. County of Tulare (Closed Session Item A)
Item 28, Option B — Award Mountain Road 107 contract to Greg Bartlett Construction (failed)
Believed an objective reading of bid rules was needed for a fair process
Item 28, Option A — Waive bid irregularity and award Mountain Road 107 contract to Rehak Construction
Item 29 — Position of opposition to data center development (Resolution 2026-0705)
Opposed a blanket position before data centers are defined
Approved Sitting as the Terra Bella Sewer Maintenance District, Items #1 and #2.
Approved Sitting as the Tulare County Flood Control District, Items #1 and #2.
Approved Sitting as the Tulare County Board of Supervisors, Items #1 through #7.
Approved Consent Calendar (Numbers 5 through 38).
Approved Option B.
Approved
Approve Consent Calendar (Items 6-24, 26-28)
Item 25: Smee Homes Agreement Assignment
Recused due to a financial conflict of interest under the Political Reform Act from income from Smee Homes within the previous twelve months.
Item 29: Introduce Ordinance Dissolving Tulare County Museum Board
Item 31: Appoint Natalie S. Bolin as HHSA Director
Approved Consent Calendar (Numbers 4 through 10)
Approved
Approved Consent Calendar (Numbers 6 through 22).
Approved
Approved
Consent Calendar (Items 6-22)
Letter requesting FEMA reimbursement assistance (Item 23)
45-day data center moratorium (Item 24)
He preferred that any specific proposal be agendized and debated with public comment rather than opposed by blanket letter.