Porterville withdraws membership from Tulare County EDC; council authorizes proportional payment
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Summary
After regional partners signaled a desire to design a new joint approach to economic development, Porterville voted to discontinue membership in the Tulare County Economic Development Corporation and authorized a proportional July-to-October payment of $11,666.67.
The Porterville City Council voted to discontinue its membership in the Tulare County Economic Development Corporation (TCEDC) and authorized a proportional payment of $11,666.67 to settle the city's portion of this fiscal-year membership, staff said. City Manager Richard Treat told the council staff had met with TCEDC leadership and other cities and found no immediate plan for the corporation's operational changes, prompting a council direction to withdraw while regional partners develop a new coordinated approach.
City Manager Treat said the cities in the county will meet to define a new regional vision for economic development and explore shared staffing or other joint frameworks. Councilmembers stressed that withdrawing is not permanent: Porterville could rejoin if the regional partners establish an effective, accountable structure. The proportional payment represents the remaining portion of Porterville's annual membership that was billed in July; staff recommended settling the prorated amount because the renewal ran on the annual cycle and the city left after the renewal period began.
The council approved staff's recommendation to discontinue membership and to pay the prorated amount. Councilmembers said they expect follow-up reports on the regional planning effort and potential alternatives to TCEDC to ensure Porterville maintains economic development support.