Tulare city manager seeks partner agencies for corporate‑yard study amid major infrastructure plans

City Manager Mark Mundo presented the city’s capital work program to the joint meeting of the City of Tulare, Tulare Joint Union High School District and the College of the Sequoias and sought feedback on potential interagency collaboration.

Mundo said the city will publish an RFQ to hire an engineering and design firm to study options for a new corporate yard that could accommodate electric vehicle charging, maintenance and larger storage needs; the study will evaluate the city’s existing 15‑acre yard and other potential sites, including land the city already owns near its wastewater treatment plant. He framed the study as an evaluation of space needs (he estimated the city may ultimately need 30–45 acres), site costs and phasing rather than an immediate construction request.

Mundo identified electrification of heavy vehicles and charging footprint as a major driver: he noted that for current routes an electric dump truck may not complete a route on one charge, which increases fleet and space needs. He said the city may parcel and sell parts of the current yard if a new site is chosen to create taxable private development and reduce off‑balance maintenance liabilities.

On regional transportation, Mundo summarized recent and planned investments including $64 million in road work completed in recent years, an earmarked $4 million to extend International Ag Center Way, the Highway 99 interchange work and a southeast‑quadrant transportation plan (including potential Barsley corridor improvements). He told the boards that a possible sales‑tax measure under consideration could dedicate funds to arterial road completion and deferred pavement maintenance.

Mundo invited the district and college to consider partnering on the corporate yard study (for example, by sharing charging/repair space or vehicle storage) and committed city staff to follow up with college and district leadership on shared needs. No binding commitments were made at the meeting; the city will issue the RFQ and return with study results and site alternatives to the council.