Filings for Local Races Open July 15
Three Incumbents Will Not Run

Tulare - The November election is five months way, but those intending to make a serious bid for one of the many local government seats up for grabs will have to act soon to get their names on the ballot.

The nomination period for local offices, including the Tulare City Council and the Tulare City School District, Tulare Joint Union High School District and the Tulare Local HealthCare District boards, will open Monday, July 14.

Candidates will have until Friday, Aug. 8, to return their papers, except in races in which an incumbent decides not to run. In those contests, the nomination period will be extended until Wednesday, Aug. 13.

That will be the case in the Tulare Local HealthCare District race where incumbent Deanne Martin-Soares has said she will not seek a third term, and in the Tulare Joint Union High School District contest, where long-time trustees Joe Cardoza and Karen Hill said they will not seek re-election.

The two other incumbents in the hospital race — Dr. Parmod Kumar and Roger McPhetridge — said last week they have not decided whether they will seek re-election, although McPhetridge said he is leaning toward running for a second four-year term.

'Painful Decision’

“I'm going to focus on putting my energy someplace where I can make a difference,” said Martin-Soares, who during the board turmoil following the 2006 election often found herself on the minority end of 3-2 votes. That election sent two physicians to the board, who with Kumar, created a majority block.

“It's a painful decision for me,” Martin-Soares said, explaining she had hoped to serve three terms. “I'm not cut out for politics.”

She said her decision “is absolutely no reflection” on the new hospital administration headed by Chief Executive Officer Shawn Bolouki.

She noted she supported his selection and said she has “faith he's going to do the right thing” for the hospital.

She also said she hopes somebody with “some good financial background” decides to run for the board, given the challenges facing the district as it moves forward with plans to build a $120 million hospital tower.

McPhetridge, who often voted with Martin-Soares after the 2006 election, said he is giving “serious consideration” to another run.

“One side of me says, 'Why do I need this headache,'” McPhetridge said. “The other side of me says, 'right now the hospital needs stability and a group effort.'”
The board is no longer in turmoil and “I don't anticipate any other troubles,” he said. “I think most of that stuff was transitional issues. Right now I think we're working very well together.”

Both McPhetridge and Martin-Soares had complained that under the interim that functioned for almost a year after the retirement of CEO Bob Montion, they were not getting the information they had requested on various matters.
That has changed, McPhetridge said. “Shawn Bolouki gets me all the information I need.”

He also was not happy to hear Martin-Soares is not seeking re-election.
“If she decides not to run, it'll be a loss [to the district],” he said.
Kumar said the past three years have been very difficult for his family as he faced a conflict-of-interest investigation by the District Attorney's office, which resulted in no charges being filed, and experienced conflicts with other board members and Montion.

“What I will do is talk to my wife,” Kumar said. “But my family is not happy with what they put me through.”

Kumar has served on the board since 1995.

City Council Race

In the Tulare City Council race, each of the three incumbents says he either has decided or is almost sure he will seek a second term.

“I'm about 90 percent sure,” Mayor Craig Vejvoda said. “There's so much going on. I really think it takes more than one term to see things to fruition.”

Vice-Mayor Phil Vandegrift—who also served on the City Council in the late 1970s and early 1980s—said he definitely plans to seek re-election.

“My goal is to help to build leadership,” Vandegrift said, noting “we have a young administration and we're doing big things. I want to make sure this new government gets a good footing.”

Carlton Jones said he also intends to seek re-election.

“I'm still having fun,” he said. “I believe we have a good work team … we approach matters from five different angles.” He noted he is the only former city employee on the council and would like to see the communication lines between employees and the city become “a little stronger.”

School Boards

In the high school district race, where two seats are open, both incumbents have decided not to seek another term.

“I think it's time to quit,” said Karen Hill, who has served 12 years on the high school board and, prior to that, 16 years on the city elementary school board.
“We've got a lot of really good people in Tulare who are interested [in running],” Hill said.

Cardoza said he will not run for a fifth term.

“My intentions are to get off,” he said. “I will be completing 16 years.”

Prior to his service on the high school board, he served 16 years on the Palo Verde Union Elementary School board. For one year, he served on both boards.

In the Tulare City School District, incumbents Willard Epps, Teresa Garcia and Melissa Janes have said they will seek re-election.

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Library Design Reflects 'Architecture of Agriculture’

By Julie Fernandez

Tulare - When Councilman David Macedo took a look at the design for the new $14.3 million Tulare Public Library, he thought someone had made a mistake.
“It looks more like a barn than a library,” said Macedo, a cattle auctioneer who knows a barn when he sees one.

The councilman's comment pleased Architect Paul Halajian of Taylor-Teter Partnership, Fresno.

“The whole point is to make it look like something from this area,” Halajian explained.

The library design has changed considerably since 2003 and 2004, when the city made unsuccessful bids to secure state money for the project. The design is bolder and now includes aformal 110-seat City Council Chambers with a conference room for closed sessions.

“We've had time to really think about the architectural character of this building,” Halajian said. “We keep hearing this part of Tulare is ripe for redevelopment and this particular building could be a catalyst for development.”

A design cannot be just what the architect likes, he said. “It really needs to come from the environment. Tulare is really about agriculture, it's about growing things, producing things — crops.”

So the design now reflects what Halajian calls “the architecture of agriculture,” which explains the low-sloping roofs, metal and other unadorned building materials.
The agricultural theme also is dramatically reflected in the building's two silos. One is at the entrance to the library and the other — 113 feet in diameter — comes through the roof into the children's section of the library.

The second silo will have a skylight at the point where it meets the roof and then the long dramatic cylinder will continue downward into the building and stop about seven feet above the floor.

“The kids would gather into the silo for story time,” Halajian said.
Many libraries have children's areas that are “too juvenile,” Library Director Michael Stowell said. “They have the Beatrix Potter thing going on that might be fine for 4 or 5 years old but won't inspire nine and 10 year olds.”

Adding to the agricultural theme are columns that run along the outside of the building from the Tulare Santa Fe Trail to the entrance, which Stowell said are symbolic of the rows of crops in this area.

“There's symmetry to that,” he said. “It's something I find that's comforting … there's something about those rows of cotton. They're important.”
While the original design called for a predominantly stucco exterior, the new plan calls for concrete block.

“We don't want to lose the economy of stucco, but we wanted to do something that's more durable,” Halajian said. “It's affordable, it's durable and it's within the project budget.”

The use of concrete block will also help the city meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEEDS) Gold standard for green building, he said
“It's produced in Selma, so it's a local product,” he said. “It's very thick, so it has mass and will absorb heat and radiate it into the building during the winter and, in the summer, it has a cooling effect. It has very good thermal properties to it.”
The windows are placed for the best energy efficiency and also to make a statement, Halajian said.

“I think libraries are civic buildings and I think it's important that people on the outside see civic buildings used by the community. … It shows that it's a vital, thriving place to be.”

The roof over the Council Chambers is what Halajian describes as “a very bold gesture,” designed to let the community know its government is at work.
The roof sits on top of a circular bank of windows and peels off the building into the air in a dramatic fashion.

“Seeing this thing glowing at night says government is working,” Halajian said.
The addition of a formal Council Chamber gives the building more of a civic presence, Stowell said, adding the design conveys the message that “there's important stuff going on there.”

Conservation Efforts

Besides the concrete block construction, the new library will incorporate other energy efficient and environmentally healthy practices.

Pervious concrete, for example, will be used for the parking lot, which Halajian said means water will not stand on the flat surface but will percolate to the soil beneath the concrete.

“The water goes directly down into the earth, so there's no need for a separate storm drainage system,” he said.

The percolation process will not result in flooded lots, he said. “I saw a guy with a fire hose and it was just gushing water, which immediately disappeared.”
Other conservation measures the project will incorporate include:

· Installation of landscaping and an irrigation system that will reduce water consumption about 50 percent from what is typical of such a project.

· A “very efficient” air conditioning system that is not commonly used. “It will cost more upfront, but over time it's going to pay for itself and then some, because of your reduced energy consumption,” Halajian said.

· Diversion of construction waste from the landfill.

· Selection of low-emitting paint, carpeting and other materials. “They don't release toxins into the indoor air … that over time can have a negative impact on inhabitants,” Halajian said.

Once the project is completed, the library will feature a display explaining many of the sustainable, green building practices that went into the design of the building, Halajian said.

“This whole approach to building is here to stay,” he said. “The more people know about it, the more design people get involved, the better buildings will become over time.”

The project is currently in the design development phase, a 10-week process that will be followed by a 16-week period in which construction documents are prepared for the contractor.

City officials have said they want the project under way by October.
“It's been a fun project to work on,” Halajian said.

Because the city has hired a construction management company—Zumwalt Construction out of Fresno—to work on the project, the design engineering is being done now to prevent the project from going over budget, Stowell said.
Once the construction drawings are complete, Zumwalt will prepare 16 to 18 bid packages covering the various aspects of construction, he said.

Stowell is also working with Bev Moris of San Francisco on the interior finishing and furniture for the library. She recently finished the new San Mateo library, which is outstanding, he said.

“I want the building to be something that everyone in Tulare is really proud of and finds inspiring,” Stowell said. “I don't want just another office building or bank sort of design.”

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Lawsuits Jeopardize Project with 600 Jobs

Tulare - Two lawsuits challenging the city's newly adopted General Plan could derail an attempt to bring a company with 600 jobs to Tulare.

Visalia developer Bill Morgan's request to pre-zone and annex 292.35 acres south of Hosfield Road for a light industrial park was sent back to staff in a 4-1 vote at the May 27 City Council meeting.

The action came after Planning Director Mark Kielty said the project would need its own environmental impact report (EIR) for the city to consider approving the project without incurring significant liability and risk.

This is because Tulare resident Don Manro and the Kern-Kaweah Chapter of the Sierra Club are challenging the 2030 General Plan and its EIR in Tulare County Superior Court.

Kielty said the legal challenges could take up to two years to resolve, but if Morgan does an EIR specific only to his project, he can reduce the delay to five or six months.

“That's asking an awful lot of the applicant and sellers of that property,” said Councilman David Macedo, who voted against sending the project back to staff.
Morgan and the company he is working with apparently have not decided what they will do.

“At this time, we're just kind of reassessing our situation and checking all our options,” Morgan said late last week.

The proposed Industrial Park would be on both sides of South Laspina Street and include primarily warehouse-distribution uses in 22 to 30 buildings, totaling about 4.12 million square feet. The project is projected to provide 3,500 jobs at total build out.

City officials have said Morgan already is working with a company that wants to occupy 60 to 70 acres in the industrial park and employ 600 people.
City Manager Darrel Pyle said the city is fearful the company will decide to build elsewhere if the delay is too lengthy.

The EIR could take less than five or six months because the developer has done “substantial work in terms of traffic studies, water availability and several of the components that go into an EIR,” Pyle said.

City Attorney Steve Kabot said Morgan has to decide whether to do his own EIR or wait for the city to resolve its legal issues.

“The other option is go elsewhere and we'll lose 600 jobs,” Kabot said.
As for the Sierra Club lawsuit, Kabot said the Sierra Club has not served the city notice of the filing, but the city is aware action has been taken in Tulare County Superior Court.

The Manro and Sierra Club suits are similar, but “by no means identical,” he said.
The next step will be for the parties to “meet and confer” to try to resolve the matter. If that doesn't happen, the administrative record must be prepared and only then is the city required to file a formal response to the actions, Kabot said.
“This is entitled to an expedited track in court, but I'm guessing it will be six months or more before we actually go before a judge,” Kabot said.

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Benton Recovering from African Ordeal

Tulare - An accident that occurred four days into his planned 16-day motorcycle trip through southern Africa remains a mystery to Gerald Benton, who said he is happy to be home and thankful for the support of family, friends and the community during his ordeal.

The retired Tulare Joint Union High School District superintendent left Tulare with his friend and fellow Tulare resident Mike Shaffer in late March. After a stop in Minnesota, where Shaffer's son lives, the two traveled to Amsterdam and then Johannesburg, South Africa, where they joined five other motorcyclists and a guide who was to lead them on a 2,300-mile trip through South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zambia.

The group had spent two days visiting an 80,000-acre wildlife preserve and was leaving the compound where they stayed to begin their fourth day of travel when the accident occurred.

“I was the last one out of the gate,” Benton said. “It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining—just a beautiful day. That was the last thing I remember until 12 or 13 hours later when I was on my way to Johannesburg in an ambulance.”

Sent Flying

The other riders did not see the accident and Benton said he apparently hit something “that sent me flying.”

“It's frustrates me, because I would like to know what happened,” he said, adding he has ridden for years and has traveled some of the most difficult roads in the country without suffering a serious mishap.

Although he doesn't recall the first half-day after the accident, Shaffer filled him in on the details, telling him he was awake and repeatedly asked what had happened.
He was initially taken to a hospital, which Benton said could only be described as third world.

“It was the kind of hospital where they asked Mike if he would like to help them do the x-rays,” he said, adding Shaffer donned an apron and went to work.
Medical personnel said he had suffered only a broken wrist and could continue on the journey, but a man who seemingly appeared out of nowhere and did not identify himself showed up and told Shaffer and the guide to “get out of this hospital and go to some place in Johannesburg or he'll die,” Benton said.

They took his advice and Shaffer rode in the ambulance with Benton on a trip that nearly ended in disaster.

“On the way, the ambulance almost had a wreck,” Benton said. “I think that's when I really came to—when they slammed on the brakes and started tossing us around.”
He was taken to Sunning Hill Hospital, a private medical facility, where Benton said he has “very sketchy recollection” of what happened the first three days or so.
In addition to a broken wrist and broken teeth, he said he learned he had suffered a concussion and a punctured and collapsed left lung. Several vertebrae also were cracked.

“Almost every one of my ribs on the left side was broken and my clavicle was broken too,” he said. “I was pretty beaten up…all the major damage was internal. The doctor said I was lucky to be alive.”

Shaffer stayed at the hospital with Benton for about a week until Benton's son, Allan, and son-in-law, Scott Hermann, arrived.

Benton was not allowed to fly home until his lung had healed. “I'm not getting my energy back real quick, but I am healing up,” Benton said. He came home 20 pounds lighter.

'Neat' Tulareans

Benton said he wants to thank all the people who sent cards and called his wife, Ruth, and daughter Amy, to express their concern and support.

“A lot of people offered to help financially, if we needed it,” Benton said. “It's just really neat how the people of Tulare are.”

Prior to the trip, he had purchased separate medical insurance, so the accident did not create a financial disaster, he said.

“I want to thank Devin Nunes' office in getting a passport expedited for my son Allan,” he said. “They were just really, really helpful. They even called an embassy person over there and had someone check in on me.”

Since he retired in 2006, Benton's sense of adventure has led him to help a friend sail a small boat from Hawaii to San Francisco and later to take a cross-country motorcycle trip with his son. He also has traveled to Israel.

Benton said he would like to take more trips, but thinks he should take into consideration what his adventures put his wife through.

“The sailing trip — that was really dumb,” he said. “I'll probably still ride, but I'll probably be a little less adventurous as to where I go.”

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Galaxy Offers Free Classic Movies for Seniors

Tulare - If you have ever wondered what your favorite classic movies would look like on today's large screens, you might want to check out Galaxy Theatres free new film series.

Every Tuesday at 10 a.m. the theatre is showing a popular movie from the past for senior citizens ages 65 years and older. Hollywood Video is donating the DVD each week.

Manager Nathan Paul said owner Frank Rimkus decided to roll out the series at all the theaters in the group after the Carson City, Nev., Galaxy tried it and got a tremendous response.

“It's just kind of a good will thing,” Paul said. “If we make money, it's just at the concession station.”

Coming up:

• Tuesday, Alfred Hitchcock's “Dial M for Murder” with Ray Milland, Grace Kelly and Robert Cummings.

• June 17, “Mister Roberts,” a 1955 classic starring Henry Fonda, James Cagney, William Powell and Jack Lemmon.

• June 24: “Bye Bye Birdie” with Janet Leigh and Dick Van Dyke.
Tulare resident Del Strange and his wife were among the seniors who saw “Singing in the Rain” two weeks ago and he said they are looking forward to seeing more classics at the theater.

“It's something positive and I think it's great for the seniors in our area,” Strange said. “Many are on a limited budget. I think it's a win, win, win situation.”
He said the seating in the theater was comfortable and quite a few of the seniors hung around in the lobby after the show and talked about the movie. “It was nostalgic and very interesting.”

Paul said the theater's new projector allows it to improve on the clarity and sharpness of the original films.

Future shows are expected to include such classics as “Citizen Kane,” “Gone with the Wind” and “Casablanca,” he said, adding longer movies may be shown in two parts.

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