One-Voice Trip Summary

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors met with Devin Rhinerson and René Hanna, Legislative Assistants to Senator Dianne Feinstein, to request the Senator’s support regarding a variety of local issues.  The Board discussed support from the U.S. Forest Service for law enforcement efforts of illegal marijuana grow sites on public lands and the U.S. Attorney’s Office support for increased federal prosecution of illegal marijuana grow sites on private lands. Additionally, the Board discussed the need to utilize Lake Success at full capacity, and other local funding needs, such as the need for USDA Rural Development Program funds to upgrade disadvantaged community water systems throughout the County.

Following that meeting, Supervisors met with Congressman Devin Nunes and Damon Nelson to discuss a number of key issues.  The issues discussed with the Congressman included:  improvements to the Lake Success dam, the Transportation Reauthorization Bill, the proliferation of illegal marijuana grow sites on both the valley floor and public lands, and the need for continued funding to support law enforcement and prosecution efforts of these illegal grow sites.  Congressman Nunes was receptive to the Board’s concerns and the County's objectives.

The Board then met with the Department of Justice to discuss grant opportunities for local law enforcement efforts, including gang prevention and suppression activities.  Barry Bratburd, Senior Policy Analyst for the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, provided Board members an overview of available grant programs and indicated the key policy areas his office is prioritizing for funding.

In the afternoon, Board members met with Ryan Hunt, Professional Staff for the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, the Subcommittee that conducts hearings regarding the budget for the U.S. Forest Service.  Board members requested full funding support for law enforcement activities in order to suppress illegal marijuana grow sites on public lands in Tulare County.

The last meeting of the day was with Jacqueline Ponti-Lazaruk, with the Water & Environmental Programs of the USDA, and James Gore, with the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the USDA.  The purpose of the meeting was to discuss current grant application requirements and to request assistance with pre-engineering and design activities for disadvantaged community water system projects.  A new grant program was identified that may be of assistance to communities in Tulare County applying for USDA infrastructure grants.  County staff will coordinate with Self-Help Enterprises to apply for these available grant funds.  Mr. Gore provided the Supervisors with a range of suggestions to deal with flood control and other water-related projects.