Supervisor District 2· 2025-01-06 to 2029-01-08 (current term began Monday January 6, 2025 and ends Monday January 8, 2029 per tularecounty.ca.gov supervisor page)
Pete Vander Poel
Tulare County
No biography on file yet.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 42
- Total speaking time
- 3:08:58
- Avg per meeting
- 4:30
- Segments
- 2509
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Top issues during term (20)
Developing 2026–2027 El Niño Event emergency preparedness
The delegation lets the county spend on storm-response equipment and supplies without waiting for individual Board approvals — the total cost isn't capped in the item.
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.
Seville Community Park Push
Up to $8.5 million in potential state grant funding; no county match stated.
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 and state costs but help retain the 8,000-plus workers who keep seniors and disabled residents out of costlier care.
Goshen development and infrastructure
Property owners in Phase 4 will pay assessments for street maintenance through FY 2026/27 or upon first lot conveyance.
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.
Behavioral health services contracts and grant oversight
Roughly $6 million a year more stays in Sacramento, the housing bucket is about $4 million over, and crisis services could cost the county nearly $2 million a year if the state drops full reimbursement.
SGMA implementation and Tule subbasin probation
County general fund lends up to $500,000, repaid over about five years.
ICE access and Truth Act transparency
No direct cost stated.
Mineral King Road & Wishon Drive Permanent Restoration Bid Dispute
County road funds cover it, but 88% is expected back through FHWA emergency relief.
HAP Round 7 homelessness funding allocation
HHAP-6 money is coming but slowly; Round 7 could cut county homelessness funding roughly in half to around $700,000.
FEMA reimbursement for 2023 floods and 2020 fire secured
About $13 million in FEMA reimbursements is outstanding to the county, with districts owed even more.
SJV Biodiesel assessment appeal settlement
The agreed values fix the dairy cooperative's property tax base for multiple years, keeping that value on the county's tax rolls.
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.
Countywide zoning code overhaul (Ordinances 3672/3673)
No direct cost beyond staff time; the EIR process took about two and a half years.
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.
FEMA Disaster Recovery Response
Delays put future federal road funding at risk and could pressure the county's finances.
Decisions during term (792)
Recorded while Poel 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)
Certify EIR and approve Zone Changes PZC 25-005 and PZC 25-008 (Ordinances 3672 & 3673)
Williamson Act Agricultural Preserves — continued to Nov. 17, 2026
Consent Calendar, items 9 through 32 (item 22 pulled and passed separately)
Item 22: Family Services of Tulare County CMAA claims processing agreement
Closed session report: Board directs defense of named defendants in E.N. 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 In Lieu of Election short-term appointments where no one has filed a declaration of candidacy for boards of Special Districts for terms ending December 1, 2028 as indicated on Attachment A. Approve the In Lieu of Election…
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.
Voting record (164)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.
Certify EIR and approve Zone Changes PZC 25-005 and PZC 25-008 (Ordinances 3672 & 3673)
Williamson Act Agricultural Preserves — continued to Nov. 17, 2026
Item 22: Family Services of Tulare County CMAA claims processing agreement
Closed session report: Board directs defense of named defendants in E.N. et al. v. County of Tulare
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
Consent Calendar (Items 4-22, except 13 and 15)
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.
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)
Approved
Ratify El Niño emergency proclamation and delegate procurement authority
Item 28, Option B — Award Mountain Road 107 contract to Greg Bartlett Construction (failed)
Believed the written total made the numeric unit prices clear
Item 28, Option A — Waive bid irregularity and award Mountain Road 107 contract to Rehak Construction
Believed the clear written total made the bid valid
Item 29 — Position of opposition to data center development (Resolution 2026-0705)
Adopt FY 2026/27 Final Budget — Terra Bella Sewer Maintenance District
Adopt FY 2026/27 Final Budget — Tulare County Flood Control District
Adopt FY 2026/27 Final County Budget, elected-official COLAs and capital purchases
Consent Calendar (Items 5-38)
Mineral King Road & Wishon Drive Restoration — award to Walsh Montgomery (Option B)
Concerned about bridge slope stability and contractor failure to follow bid rules