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FROM THE RMA

• Good News
• Public Works
• Economic Development, Planning & Tourism
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• Fiscal Services & Human Resources
• Grants & Resources
• RMA Monthly Data Report

This month, Resource Management Agency (RMA) leadership presented the Tulare County Board of Supervisors with an update on the technology and process improvements supporting our customer service efforts. Since launching our Service & Quality Initiative in 2024, our teams have focused on customer responsiveness, internal service, access to information, and workforce resilience.  

Recent improvements include an expanded online parcel mapping, zoning and permit information tool. Other new "smart" tools utilize frequently asked questions with staff-provided answers to deliver clear, consistent information and will ultimately offer online fee estimates and application reviews. Staff is also working on a program that reviews site plans and automatically informs applicants of the steps required to complete their applications.



We are also modernizing the lobby experience at Government Plaza, where RMA is already co-located with the Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency. As the campus prepares to welcome the Assessor/Clerk-Recorder’s Office in September, an updated check-in system will help direct customers, provide clearer wait-time information, and support more coordinated service. 

Tulare County Connect, a GoGov Product, also provides residents with another way to report concerns and receive regular updates on the web and in the app as we continue refining the service-request platform. 

Technology is one way RMA serves Tulare County. This month’s In the Works edition also highlights water and wastewater investments, year-round water-quality work, roadway maintenance, broadband expansion, and business development efforts underway throughout our communities. Across these projects, our goal remains the same: to provide dependable service, share useful information, and make it easier for the public to connect with the County.

Sincerely,

Aaron R. Bock, MCRP, JD, LEED, AP

Assistant Director of Economic Development & Planning

County of Tulare Resource Management Agency 

PUBLIC WORKS

ROAD CREWS, ENGINEERING, & LAND SURVEYING TEAMS

Traffic Advisory: Chip Seal Program 2026

This annual treatment helps preserve pavement and protect the County’s roadway investment.

RMA road crews from across Tulare County work side by side during the annual chip seal program on Avenue 188 near Strathmore.

Each year, chip seal season brings RMA road crews from across Tulare County together to preserve county-maintained roads and extend the life of the pavement. The annual work is funded by Measure R, the countywide half-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2006.

"This year’s investment of more than $2.3 million will improve at least 70 miles of roadway," says RMA Chief Engineer Johnny Wong. The work supports Tulare County’s vast farm-to-market road network, which includes nearly 3,000 miles of county-maintained roads that support nearly half a million residents. "By rotating maintenance work across the county each year, RMA works to extend the life of the pavement while making limited funding go as far as possible," added Wong.

Crews, equipment operators and traffic-control teams work side by side as the operation moves from one roadway to the next. Upcoming work includes roads near Woodville, Porterville, Ivanhoe, Cutler-Orosi, Dinuba and Goshen, as well as surrounding rural areas.

TRAFFIC ADVISORY

Drivers traveling through active work zones may experience slower traffic, loose rock, and temporary traffic control. When possible, please consider an alternate route and give crews plenty of room to work safely. We thank you for your patience and cooperation.

Pedestrian Improvements Proposed

Community meetings will take place in Orosi and Poplar in September.

The RMA is inviting Orosi and Poplar residents to learn about proposed pedestrian improvements near local schools and along commonly traveled routes. Community members may review initial designs, ask questions, and provide feedback at two meetings in September.

The proposed projects include sidewalks, roadway improvements, and safer pedestrian crossings.

Orosi Road 130 Palm Elementary Sidewalk Improvements Project Meeting

• Date and Time: Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 6 p.m.
• Location: Palm Elementary School, Multi-Purpose Room
• Address: 12915 Avenue 419, Orosi, CA 93647

Poplar Pedestrian Avenue 145 Connectivity Project Meeting

• Date and Time: Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 6 p.m.
• Location: Pleasant View Elementary School, ELOP Center
• Address: 18900 Avenue 145, Poplar, CA 93257

Tulare County Takes the Spotlight on Univision 21

A closer look at the work shaping Tulare County’s communities and economy.

Univision 21 footage shows visitors walking along the Sherman Tree Trail in Sequoia National Park during coverage highlighting tourism in Three Rivers and Tulare County. The on-screen Spanish headline reads, “Three Rivers attracts tourism to Tulare County.”

Tulare County was featured during special Univision 21 coverage highlighting some of the people and industries that help shape the region. County PIO Jennifer Fawkes coordinated the coverage in close collaboration with multiple agencies, including RMA. The Spanish-language content is also available in English on YouTube, with links to each segment in this newsletter.

RMA Economic Development Manager Alida Verduzco Silva joined news anchor David Ibarra live from Mooney Grove Park to discuss how agriculture, water, roads, tourism and economic development shape daily life and support communities across Tulare County.

Environmental Health Supervisor Sonia Carranza of the Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency discusses food permits, public health requirements and the guidance available to local entrepreneurs as they prepare to open and operate food businesses in Tulare County.

RMA Planner IV Jose Saenz speaks from Airosa Dairy in Pixley about Tulare County’s dairy industry and the County’s role in agricultural planning, dairy inspections and supporting operations that are important to the regional economy. Saenz regularly interacts with dairies.

RMA Introduces Centralized Inbox for CEQA Matters

A centralized point of contact for CEQA questions, notices and environmental review documents.

RMA has introduced a centralized inbox for CEQA questions, notices and project documents. CEQA, or the California Environmental Quality Act, requires public agencies to review and disclose the possible environmental effects of certain projects before making decisions about them.

Working with RMA Planning & Permit Manager Jason Garcia-LoBue and RMA Chief Planner Gary Mills, RMA Planner I Brenda Alcantar helped launch the inbox and organize how it will be used.

Contact the Environmental Planning team for any CEQA-related matters by emailing CEQA@tularecounty.ca.gov.

Now Streaming: Tony's Taverna

From Food Truck to Three Rivers Restaurant

Tony’s Taverna began as a food truck and grew into a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Three Rivers, bringing Tony and Maritza Konnaris’ authentic Greek cuisine to the gateway of Sequoia National Park.

In the latest installment of Tulare County Business Voices, Tony shares the story behind that journey, including the work, perseverance and community support that helped turn their vision into a permanent home, with the launch of Tony's Taverna in the fall of 2025.

Would you like to share your business story with us? Please contact the Tulare County Economic Development Office by emailing economicdevelopment@tularecounty.ca.gov, or calling (559) 624-7000.

BUILDING & PERMIT CENTER

RMA Permit Center Prepares to Welcome More Visitors to Government Plaza

A modernized lobby and new check-in tools will help visitors find services more easily.

New signage has been installed throughout the Government Plaza lobby to help visitors quickly identify where to go for services from any of three agencies now co-locating at the County of Tulare facility: Assessor/Clerk-Recorder's Office, Health & Human Services Agency, Resource Management Agency.

Government Plaza is preparing to welcome more visitors with the arrival of the Tulare County Assessor/Clerk-Recorder’s Office in early September. At the same time, the RMA lobby is being modernized with improvements that include a new digital kiosk designed to make check-in easier and connect customers with the right staff.

While our building is changing, our services are improving, too. Visitors can continue to count on personal assistance, with someone at the RMA Permit Center ready to answer questions, provide guidance and help customers take the next step in the permitting process.

Questions? Please contact the Permit Center by calling (559) 624-7000.

$12 Million in ARPA Funds Invested in Water and Wastewater Projects Since 2021

Partnerships with local districts helped strengthen essential infrastructure serving approximately 35,000 residents in Tulare County.

This map highlights some of the unincorporated communities benefiting from the County’s $12 million ARPA investment in water and wastewater projects.

Since 2021, the County of Tulare has invested $12 million in one-time American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding in 16 drinking water and wastewater projects serving approximately 35,000 residents.

The County does not operate most water and wastewater systems serving unincorporated communities. Many are managed by special districts, with the County serving as a close partner. In smaller communities, customer fees and local revenues may not be enough to cover major repairs or new infrastructure.

RMA’s Grants & Resources and Fiscal Services teams worked with local districts to administer the funding and meet federal requirements. Projects have supported unincorporated communities, including East Orosi, Ivanhoe, Tipton, Earlimart, Pixley, Poplar, Cutler, and Orosi, through improvements to wells, water mains, wastewater treatment systems, backup power, and other essential infrastructure.

County of Tulare Career Opportunities Here at the RMA

Explore meaningful careers that help shape the future of Tulare County.

Members of the RMA's Road Crew patch a roadway in Strathmore, CA. Careers in roads management and engineering are just a few of the professional paths that interested individuals can pursue at RMA.

Want to work towards something great?

Consider working for the County of Tulare. Government is a place where every role makes a difference in strengthening our communities and shaping a brighter future.

Whether you’re just starting your career or looking to grow your skills, we offer opportunities that matter, supporting vital services, building infrastructure, protecting natural resources, and serving the people and businesses who call Tulare County home, as well as those who visit to make lasting memories.

Funding the Connection

How local funding and partnerships helped bring high-speed internet to Terra Bella.

Tulare County, VARCOMM and community partners come together in Terra Bella to celebrate a major step forward in local broadband access and the collaboration that helped make it possible.

Nearly 1,400 previously unserved locations in Terra Bella now have access to high-speed fiber following VARCOMM’s completion of more than 50 miles of new broadband infrastructure.

Behind that build was a coordinated effort that included RMA’s Grants & Resources team, which facilitated a $500,000 California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Local Agency Technical Assistance grant to support County staff working on broadband expansion. The Grants & Resources team also served as a key point of coordination with the CPUC, while RMA teams helped carry the project through implementation.

VARCOMM CEO Eric Votaw also emphasized the company’s deep local roots, noting that VARCOMM and Ducor Telephone Company have served Tulare County for more than a century. “We’re not an outside company. We’re part of this community,” he said.

For Votaw, expanding broadband is about more than faster service. He described reliable internet access as “the way out of poverty. And a way up.” For Terra Bella, that investment means stronger connections for residents, businesses, and community services, while helping close long-standing connectivity gaps across Tulare County.

Low-Cost Internet Options Available

See whether your household qualifies and where to find enrollment assistance.

Did You Know? Some Tulare County residents may qualify for low-cost home internet. To be eligible, at least one person in the household must be enrolled in CalFresh, Lifeline, Medi-Cal, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the free or reduced-price school lunch program, or the Pell Grant program.

For more information, please visit InternetForAllNow.org or call the Get Connected Call Center at 833-938-3298.

Supporting Safe Water in Tulare County

August is National Water Quality Month

RMA staff participated in an August 3 tour of the East Orosi Consolidation Project with representatives from the State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Financial Assistance Technical Assistance Program and East Orosi’s technical assistance provider, Self-Help Enterprises.

August is National Water Quality Month, highlighting the importance of safe, clean drinking water. RMA’s Grants & Resources Team manages the County’s drinking water and wastewater systems, serves as administrator for the East Orosi Community Services District’s drinking water system, and supports communities pursuing safe, affordable drinking water and adequate wastewater disposal.

The team also oversees required water testing and waste discharge compliance, communicates with residents when drinking water is unsafe, and coordinates interim water solutions with partner agencies.

Latest RMA Data Packet Now Available

RMA Data is now available in a single data packet including information regarding:

• Project Status Updates
• Public Works Field Operations
• Monthly Planning Report
• Building and Housing Report

Follow Us On Social Media

Several RMA initiatives also have an online presence. Search for the following accounts to keep up to date with the latest at our agency.

Send over your story idea, and it may just make it into a future edition of this publication! To learn more, please contact the County of Tulare's Economic Development Office (EDO) by emailing (economicdevelopment@tularecounty.ca.gov). The EDO is a division of the RMA, maintaining the agency's media and communications efforts, including public information outreach.

RMA Media Team

Alida Verduzco Silva, Economic Development Manager

Kevyn Tinoco, Media Specialist

Elva Parker, Administrative Aide

Caleb Smalley, Extra Help Student Worker

Contributors: RMA leadership, staff, and community partners.

RMA Contact Information and Quick Links

Government Plaza (RMA Headquarters)

5961 S. Mooney Boulevard, Visalia, CA 93277

Phone: (559) 624-7000 • FAX: (559) 615-3002

Monday - Thursday 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Fridays 8:00 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Email: rma@tularecounty.ca.gov

Building Permit Center Hours:

Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

Building Zone Information

Phone: (559) 624-7105

E-mail: Zone-Information@tularecounty.ca.gov

Public Information Requests

Email: rma@tularecounty.ca.gov

Business Support Requests, including Tourism and the Tulare County Film Commission

Phone: (559) 624-7177

Email: economicdevelopment@tularecounty.ca.gov