[00:00:01] WELL, GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, WELCOME TO THE DECEMBER 15TH, 2020 MERCED COUNTY BOARD [Call to Order] MEETING IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE THE SPREAD OF THE COVID-19 VIRUS. THE COUNTY IS CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN PLANS WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS WITH SEATING FOR THE PUBLIC, LIMITED TO TWENTY FIVE. WE HAVE ALSO PROVIDED SOME OVERFLOW SPACE FOR ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVICE FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO DO NOT WISH TO ATTEND IN PERSON. WE HAVE BEEN ACCEPTING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS VIA EMAIL AND VOICEMAIL FOR NON AGENDA AND AGENDA ITEMS. AND I JUST LIKE TO REMIND THE PUBLIC THAT WE USUALLY HAVE ALL OUR CALL IN VOICE MAILS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING. AND I KNOW EVERY THE CITY COUNCIL THEY DO DIFFERENTLY. SO WE DO IT THAT WAY. SO JUST LIKE HOPEFULLY YOU'RE PATIENT WITH US. WE HAD A CLOSED SESSION THIS MORNING AND STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION. SO AT THIS TIME NOW WE WILL START OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS. I'M SORRY. OK, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE OUR INVOCATION LED BY CAPTAIN RYAN MILLER, SALVATION ARMY MERCED CORPS OFFICER, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BY A SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. IF YOU COULD PLEASE STAND. LET'S GO AHEAD AND PRAY. FATHER, JUST THINK YOU FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING. I PRAY THAT YOU GIVE EVERYONE WISDOM AND DIRECTION IN JUST THESE TIMES OF LOTS OF STUFF GOING ON THAT YOU JUST GIVE THEM CLEAR HEADS CLEAR MINDS AND JUST FOR THE BEST OF THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU JUST THAT WE CAN HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY JUST TO GO TOGETHER AND HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FATHER AND I JUST PRAY FOR THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL AS IT'S COLDER I PRAY FOR THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE HOMES THAT THEY CAN STAY WARM AND HAVE A PLACE TO GO. AND AT CHRISTMAS, WE CAN JUST HAVE PLACES AND JUST PRAY FOR THE COVID THAT THAT GET TAKEN CARE OF AND EVERYTHING THAT'S WORKING ON THAT FATHER. AND YOU WILL BE WITH US. AND YOU JUST BLESS THIS COUNCIL MEETING. JESUS NAME. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU. READY. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. AGAIN, THANK YOU, CAPTAIN RYAN MILLER, AND SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. NOW WE WILL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. [PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ] IT'S TIME FOR A PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST WITHIN THE BOARD'S JURISDICTION, INCLUDING ITEMS ON THE BOARD'S AGENDA, EXCEPT FOR THOSE ITEMS SPECIFICALLY SCHEDULED AS PUBLIC HEARINGS, TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON. GO AHEAD, SIR. JUST WANTED TO PLAY WITH THE BUTTON. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN ESPINOZA AND FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS AS WELL AS CEO BROWN AND COUNCIL [INAUDIBLE]. MY NAME IS JEREMY RON I'M YOUR ASSISTANT CHIEF RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MERCED DIVISION, SPECIFICALLY TO MERCED COUNTY FIRE. AND ON BEHALF OF YOUR FIRE CHIEF, MIKE VAN LOBEN SELS, I JUST WANT TO TAKE A COUPLE MINUTES TO JUST SHARE WITH THE RECENT RETIREMENTS WE'VE HAD HERE IN THE DIVISION. A FEW MONTHS AGO. A LOT OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR A PERIOD OF TIME PROBABLY KNOW BILLY [INAUDIBLE]. BILLY [INAUDIBLE] RETIRED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO OUT OF OUR BALLICO FIRE STATION. BILLY [INAUDIBLE] STARTED HIS CAREER PROBABLY ABOUT 25, 30 YEARS AGO AS A PAID CALL FIREFIGHTER, WORKED FOR THE CITY OF ATWATER FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEN CAME ABOARD WITH CAL FIRE, WITH MERCED COUNTY FIRE IN 2008, FINISHED HIS CAREER OUT OF THE BALLICO FIRE STATION. SO HE RETIRED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. BUT I DID WANT TO MENTION HIM. ALSO, ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT RETIREMENT THAT WE'VE HAD HERE IN THE LAST 30 DAYS IS OUR HAZMAT FIRE CAPTAIN, STEVE KERRICK. STEVE KERRICK STARTED IN NINETEEN NINETY ONE WITH CAL FIRE AND IT SERVED HERE LOCALLY SINCE NINETEEN NINETY SIX. STEVE KERRICK WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR HAZARDOUS MATERIAL PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE THAT'S IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MERCED COUNTY TAKING THE LEAD AND MOST RECENTLY THE M.O.U. THAT YOU APPROVED MONTHS BACK ENCOMPASSING THE CITY OF MERCED IT'S STILL ON THE PLATE FOR THE CITY OF LOS BANOS AS WELL AS THE CITY OF ATWATER. WITHOUT STEVE'S LEADERSHIP, YOU WOULD NOT HAVE A TYPE ONE HAZMAT TEAM HERE IN MERCED COUNTY. SO I WANTED TO MENTION THAT AS WELL AS HIS YEARS OF OF INSTRUCTION. YOUR MOST RECENT RETIREMENT, WHICH I KNOW ALL OF YOU KNOW, IS CHIEF BRIAN [INAUDIBLE]. CHIEF BRIAN [INAUDIBLE] STARTED AS A PAID CALL FIREFIGHTER IN NINETEEN EIGHTY NINE. HE WAS A FIREFIGHTER ONE WITH CAL FIRE STARTING IN NINETEEN NINETY, PROMOTED UP TO ENGINEER ON TO CAPTAIN AND HAS BEEN SERVING AS YOUR BATTALION CHIEF SINCE 2007 FOR THE AREAS OF MERCED, [INAUDIBLE], PLANADA, LE GRAND AND EL NIDO SERVING THOSE COMMUNITIES. [00:05:03] HE'S LOCALLY FROM MERCED AND HE WILL BE RETIRING HERE VERY SOON. AND HE HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THE RELATIONSHIP MERCED COUNTY FIRE HAS HAD WITH UC MERCED SAID SINCE 2005. AS THAT BATTALION CHIEF, HE'S BEEN OUT THERE WORKING ON THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND WITHOUT HIS INVOLVEMENT, I TRULY BELIEVE THAT HE HELPED PAVE THE WAY FOR MERCED COUNTY TO MEET WITH UC MERCED TO DO THE RECENT AGREEMENT THAT YOU SUPPORTED HERE IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS. SO ON BEHALF OF CHIEF MIKE VAN LOBAN SELS, WE JUST WANTED TO COME IN AND SAY A COUPLE OF QUICK WORDS. AND ON BEHALF OF BOTH OF US, JUST WISH EVERYBODY A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR. AND PLEASE BE SAFE. SPEND YOUR TIME WITH YOUR FAMILIES AND TAKE CARE. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK. I LIKE TO PLAY AND I'M SHORT, GOOD MORNING BOARD. I HOPE EVERYBODY IS SAFE AND HEALTHY. MARY MCWATTERS WITH AFSCME. I'M SPEAKING TODAY ON ITEM TWENTY FIVE UNDER HUMAN RESOURCES. THE UNION HAS MADE A FORMAL REQUEST TO MEET AND CONFER OVER THE CHANGES IN THE SALARY SCHEDULE, AND THE COUNTY HAS REFUSED TO MEET WITH THIS. WE BELIEVE THIS TO BE AN UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE AND COULD LEAD TO FILING CHARGES WITH [INAUDIBLE]. NOT ONLY ARE THE CHARGES EXCUSE ME, NOT ONLY ARE THE CHANGES IN THE SALARY SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO MANDATORY BARGAINING, THE COUNTY IS ALSO VIOLATING THE MOU BETWEEN AFSCME AND THE COUNTY SECTION THREE D SALARY AND PROMOTION. WE REITERATE OUR DEMAND TO BARGAIN AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU SOON. THANK YOU. HAVE A NICE HOLIDAY. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO COME AND SPEAK. AGAIN, NO ONE HERE IF NOT WE WILL GO INTO DO WE HAVE ONE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT VOICEMAIL. AND I'M THE ONLINE COMMUNITY MANAGER AT HLUB HMONG CENTER AND TODAY I'M MAKING A PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'VE BEEN AROUND SINCE 2010. [INAUDIBLE] CENTER IS A LEADING HMONG ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION IN THE COUNTY, AND OUR MISSION IS TO ENSURE THE SURVIVAL, WELL-BEING AND PROSPERITY OF THE HMONG PEOPLE AND THEIR RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE. WE USE CULTURALLY DRIVEN METHODS TO TACKLE SOCIAL JUSTICE DISPARITIES. WE ARE RESPECTED FOR OUR APPROACHES THAT CONNECTS AND STRENGTHENS BOTH PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS AND HMONG CULTURE. TODAY, I'M HERE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND RESPECT COUNTY SUPERVISOR LEE LOR FOR HER EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE. SUPERVISOR LEE LOR ACKNOWLEDGE YOU FOR YOUR UNPRECEDENTED LEADERSHIP, YOUR GRACE VIBRANCE COMMITMENT, PASSION, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE OF FAMILY, FRIENDS, COMMUNITY AND THE CITY OF M ERCED. LEE LOR. YOU ARE LIGHT. YOU ARE THE BEACON FOR OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY FOR THE HMONG COMMUNITY. IT'S BEEN OVER 45 YEARS SINCE THE HMONG HAVE ARRIVED AND WE FINALLY SEE CHANGE IN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, CHANGE IN COLOR, CHANGE IN PERSPECTIVE, CHANGE IN PRIORITIES. WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE. LIKE IF WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE LIKE SUPERVISOR LEE LOR, WHO IS 100 PERCENT COMMITTED TO CREATING PATHWAYS TO MOVE THEM AND TAKING ACTIONS THAT LEAVE A LASTING IMPRESSION, THIS WORLD WOULD BE A BETTER PLACE BY BEING THE FIRST CENTRAL VALLEY HMONG WOMAN ELECTED TO OFFICE SUPERVISOR LEE YOU SHOULD US FOR A HMONG WOMAN LIKE ME THAT YES, I CAN DO IT. YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION TO THE COMMUNITY AND THERE ARE HUGE, HUGE SHOES TO FILL. HLUB HMONG CENTER AND MYSELF ARE COMMITTED TO BEING ACTIVE, TO KEEP OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE, TO ENSURE THEY KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND THRIVING. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND TACKLE COMMUNITY ISSUES IN THE NEAR FUTURE TOGETHER. THANK YOU. THIS CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BEFORE WE CONCLUDE OUR COMMENTS, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENT AND ANYONE HERE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE SO EVEN ON ANYTHING ON THE AGENDA, BECAUSE I KNOW LAST TIME I WAS ASKED IF I COULD, YOU KNOW, HAVE SOMEBODY COMMENT ON ANOTHER ITEM LATER ON, I SAID NO, BECAUSE THAT'S WHY WE HAVE ALL OUR [00:10:03] PUBLIC COMMENTS IN THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING. SO, OK, IF NOT, NO ONE IS COMING FORWARD. SO I GUESS WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND WE'LL MOVE ON. NEXT, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION MISSION VISION VALUES AWARD PROGRAM. [MISSION, VISION, VALUES AWARD PROGRAM ] AT THIS TIME, I LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE WINNERS OF THE MERCED COUNTY MISSION VISION VALUES AWARDS PROGRAM FOR 2020. THE MVV AWARDS PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS LAST YEAR WITH THE PURPOSE OF RECOGNIZING COUNTY AGENCIES, PROGRAMS, COMMITTEES, COMMISSION, AND THIS IS THE BEST EXEMPLIFY THE COUNTY'S MISSION, VISION AND VALUES. THIS YEAR WE RECEIVED 10 ENTRIES ALL WERE COMPETITIVE. IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE WINNERS A SCORING COMMITTEE COMPRISED OF THE BOARD CHAIR, VICE CHAIR AND THE THREE AT LARGE MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE REMAINING SUPERVISORS WAS CREATED TO RANK THE NOMINEES AND SELECT THE WINNER FROM AN INTERNAL COUNTY ORGANIZATION, AS WELL AS AN EXTERNAL ORGANIZATION. AND WE'D LIKE TO RECEIVE A BIG THANK YOU TO THE THREE AT LARGE MEMBERS OF THIS SCORING COMMITTEE, JEANIE KNIGHT, MICHELLE URIBE AND NATASHA CRIBELLI. WE'RE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT BEHAVIOR HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES STRENGTHENING FAMILIES PROGRAM WAS SELECTED AS THE WINNER FOR THE INTERNAL ORGANIZATIONS CATEGORY AND THE MERCED MOSQUITO ABATEMENT DISTRICT WERE SELECTED AS A WINNER FOR THE EXTERNAL ORGANIZATIONS CATEGORY. CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH. IF I CAN HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH JOIN ME IN FRONT OF THE DAIS PLEASE. THANK YOU. WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP HERE? THANK YOU. I DON'T KNOW THANK YOU FOR COMING. BEHAVIOR HEALTH STRENGTHENING FAMILIES PROGRAM PROVIDES SERVICES TO FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE MERCED COUNTRY BY BUILDING COMMUNITY HEALTH AND PROVIDING CARE THROUGH A HEALTH FIRST MODEL. THE PROGRAM USES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT TO THOSE IN NEED ALL WHILE REDUCING STIGMA SO FAMILIES FEEL COMFORTABLE RECEIVING THE HELP. THE PRIMARY GOAL IS TO BRING WELLNESS AND RECOVERY TO THE UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES OF MERCED COUNTY, INCLUDING OUTREACH AND EDUCATION AROUND COVID-19 MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION. CONGRATULATIONS TO BEHAVIOR HEALTH FOR BEING AS A RECIPIENT OF THIS YEAR'S MVV AWARD. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS, PLEASE? WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE, BUT I ACTUALLY WANT TO PASS IT OVER TO OUR MHSA COORDINATOR, SHARON JONES, WHO WAS ACTUALLY THE MASTERMIND BEHIND CREATING THIS PROGRAM. YES. THANK YOU FOR THE AWARD SO MUCH. IT'S ALL ABOUT FAMILIES. YOU KNOW, OUR FAMILIES ARE VERY IMPORTANT IN MERCED COUNTY AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED EARLY ON AS OPPOSED TO LATER. AND SO THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WORK ALL OVER THE COUNTY TO MAKE SURE THAT FAMILIES ARE GETTING THEIR NEEDS MET IN REAL TIME SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO SUFFER. AND DURING THIS TIME, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF HEALING THAT NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE. AND SO THE STRENGTHENING FAMILIES, IS THERE FOR THEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO IF YOU CAN HOLD ON HERE. I'M GOING TO PRESENT THE OTHER ONE AND THEN WE WILL ALL TAKE A PICTURE TOGETHER. SO HERE'S THIS ONE. [APPLAUSE] WHATEVER THE MOSQUITO ABATEMENT DISTRICT, PLEASE COME AND JOIN US. EXCUSE ME OUR NEXT WINNERS, REPRESENT OUR EXTERNAL ORGANIZATION, AND THAT IS THE MERCED MOSQUITO [00:15:01] ABATEMENT DISTRICT. I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY A LITTLE BIT. I WAS A MEMBER OF THE MERCED MOSQUITO ABATEMENT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS WHEN I WAS MAYOR OF LIVINGSTON. AND IT WAS AN HONOR TO REPRESENT MERCED COUNTY THERE IN THE CITY OF LIVINGSTON AS WELL. AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY ALL OUR STAFF WAS AWESOME. AND THEY ALWAYS TREATED ME WITH WAY RESPECT. AND PLUS, I GOT TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT MOSQUITO ABATEMENT DOES. THE MOSQUITO ABATEMENT DISTRICT RESPONDED TO ABOUT SIX THOUSAND REQUESTS FOR SERVICE SO FAR THIS YEAR, AN INCREASE OF APPROXIMATELY 67 PERCENT FROM LAST YEAR. THE DISTRICT IMPLEMENTED INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY MEASURES IN ORDER TO HANDLE THE INFLUX OF REQUESTS AND WAS ABLE TO RESPOND MORE RAPIDLY THAN EVER BEFORE. AS THE FRONT LINE OF DEFENSE AGAINST MOSQUITO BORN DISEASES THE MOSQUITO ABATEMENT DISTRICT IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE'RE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE TEAM AS THE WINNERS OF THIS YEAR'S MVV AWARDS. CONGRATULATIONS. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, FOR SUPPORTING AND ACKNOWLEDGING OUR HARD EFFORTS THIS YEAR. AND WE ARE A SPECIAL DISTRICT IN MERCED COUNTY, THAT SERVES THE ENTIRE COUNTY FOCUSING ON PUBLIC HEALTH FOR MOSQUITO BORNE DISEASES SINCE 1946. SO WE CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN CONTROLLING AND KILLING MOSQUITOES BY DRAINING STANDING WATER OR CALLING US FOR SERVICE. THANK YOU. OK, I'D LIKE TO ASK THE BOARD IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH EVERYBODY. MIC] THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NOW, AT THIS TIME, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA WILL SEND A [INAUDIBLE] REPLY TO OUTGOING SUPERVISOR LEE LOR AND CONGRATULATING THE SERVICE FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS IN DISTRICT 2. SUPERVISOR, WOULD YOU MIND JOINING ME OUT FRONT? ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE CONSTITUENT MERCED COUNTY, I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS PLAQUE FOR YOUR APPRECIATION OF YOUR SERVICE AS A DISTRICT TWO BOARD OF SUPERVISOR. AND I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SUPERVISOR LOR. WHEN SHE CAME ON THE BOARD SHE MADE IT KIND OF CLEAR EARLY ON THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO WORK ON THE PROCESSES THAT THE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS GO THROUGH. AND AND I THINK SHE DELIVERED ON THAT GOAL. AND I AM HER ALTERNATE ON THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COMMUNITY BOARD. AND I'VE WATCHED THE CHANGES THAT SHE'S HELPED TO IMPLEMENT THERE AND TO SEE THAT BOARD FUNCTION MORE EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO SEE. ARE YOU GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE BOARD YOU'VE BEEN ON OR. NO. ANYWAYS AND ALSO ON FIRST FIVE, SHE'S THE CHAIR AND HAS BEEN REALLY INSTRUMENTAL IN DEVELOPING WHAT THEY DO AND HOW IT HAPPENS. AND WE SELECTED A NEW DIRECTOR UNDER HER LEADERSHIP, AND I'VE HEARD GOOD THINGS SINCE THEN. AND SO ANYWAYS, THOSE ARE THE TWO AREAS THAT I KIND OF INTERACTED WITH HER THE MOST AND JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK. SHE PUTS IN A LOT OF WORK AND EFFORT INTO DOING WHAT SHE DOES. AND VERY METICULOUS WITH DETAILS THAT I WILL SAY. SHE PROBABLY HAS REQUESTED THE MOST CHANGES TO THE MINUTES OF ANY OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT I BELONG TO. AND THAT'S BECAUSE SHE PAYS ATTENTION AND THAT'S VALUABLE TO EVERYBODY. SO LATER, WE WANT THE RECORD TO BE CORRECT. SO ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, I'LL PRESENT YOU WITH THIS PLAQUE AND [00:20:02] CONGRATULATE YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING MY COLLEAGUE. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. I PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO THE CORE, THE FOUNDATION, BECAUSE IT IS A SOLID FOUNDATION THAT IMPROVES THE SERVICES TO OUR CONSTITUENTS AND OUR FAMILIES. AND THE KEY TO CHANGE AT THE COUNTY AS AN ORGANIZATION AND THE COUNTY AS A COMMUNITY IS THROUGH RESIDENTS THEIR INVOLVEMENT, ENGAGEMENT IN BOARDS, COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONS AND IN ALL THE COMMUNITY GROUPS. SO PLEASE SHOW UP AND SPEAK, BECAUSE WITHOUT YOUR VOICE, YOU HAVE FOLKS MAKING DECISIONS WITHOUT YOUR INPUT. AND I KNOW THAT THEY VALUE YOUR INPUT. SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO SHOW UP AND SPEAK OUT. I HAVE PREPARED A SHORT SPEECH. SURE. THANK YOU. IN 2016, VOTERS ELECTED ME TO GO BEYOND TRADITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF A COUNTY SUPERVISOR AND BRING NEW LEADERSHIP, NEW VISION AND ACTION TO THE COUNTY. I WANT TO THANK SUPPORTERS, VOLUNTEERS, RESIDENTS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND OUR COUNTY STAFF FOR YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT AND DEDICATION. TOGETHER, WE CREATED A SHARED VISION AND A PLAN TO MAKE MERCED COUNTY BOLDER THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN BEFORE. I AM VERY PLEASED THAT IN FOUR SHORT YEARS WE SUCCESSFULLY ACCOMPLISHED NEW OBJECTIVES THAT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED BEFORE AND EFFECTIVELY RAISED THE BAR FOR REPRESENTATION AND ENGAGEMENT OF DIVERSE COMMUNITY VOICES TRADITIONALLY LEFT OUT OF MANY IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS. WITH HELP FROM RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS I BROUGHT THE FOLLOWING ACHIEVEMENTS TO MERCED COUNTY PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING, PAID STUDENT INTERNSHIPS, ADVANCEMENTS IN RACE AND EQUITY, AND THE INTERACTIVE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM. I AM THE FIRST COUNTY SUPERVISOR IN THE UNITED STATES TO LAUNCH A PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING PROJECT FOR RESIDENTS ENGAGED AND DECIDED HOW TO SPEND PUBLIC DOLLARS GETTING INTEREST FROM NEW YORK AND TEXAS. WE INCREASE TRANSPARENCY AND HOW COUNTY DISCRETIONARY DOLLARS ARE SPENT AND THE OVERALL COUNTY BUDGET PROCESS. NOW, THREE YEARS LATER, PROGRAMS FROM OUR PROCESS ARE PROVIDING FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES TO RESIDENTS DURING THE PANDEMIC. AND THE PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING PROJECT IS BEING USED IN MORE LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROCESSES. YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THE PEOPLE'S GARDEN, WHICH HELPED LAUNCH THE PEOPLE'S PANTRY AND NOW IS SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE'S FRIDGE. WITH PAID STUDENT INTERNSHIPS I WAS THE FIRST TO HIRE PAID STUDENT INTERNS. MY INTERNS WORK DIRECTLY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND RESIDENTS ON ISSUES LIKE QUALITY JOBS, OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND SOCIAL AND RACIAL JUSTICE. WITH ADVANCEMENTS IN RACE AND EQUITY, I CONVENED AND CO-FACILITATED GROUPS OF DIVERSE LOCAL LEADERS ON RACE, EQUITY, ACCESS, PUBLIC HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH. AS LOCAL LEADERS, THEY ARE NOW RUNNING FAIR, EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES THAT INCREASE THE COUNTY'S TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND QUALITY OF COUNTY SERVICES TO REACH THOSE MOST IN NEED. OUR SUCCESS IS EVIDENT IN OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM, COMMUNITY VETERANS HALLS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, OUR BOARDS, COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS, AND THE COUNTY'S EFFORTS TO BUILD CAPACITY IN LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. WITH THE INTERACTIVE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, I WORKED WITH RESIDENTS TO BRING THE FIRST CHILDREN'S TECH MUSEUM TO MERCED COUNTY, THE FIRST LOCAL NONPROFIT BUSINESS CO-CREATED BY A COUNTY SUPERVISOR WITHIN THE LAST 12 YEARS. THIS DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTES TO OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PROVIDING NEW JOBS, KEEPING OUR TALENT, DEVELOPING TALENT AND ATTRACTING TALENT. TOGETHER, WE ALL CREATED NEW, INNOVATIVE, SUSTAINABLE AND COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO LIVE IN MERCED COUNTY. I AM VERY HONORED TO HAVE LED THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, SETTING A STRONG FOUNDATION THAT WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP MERCED COUNTY LONG AFTER I LEAVE OFFICE. IT WAS A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH COUNTY STAFF AND COUNTY VOLUNTEERS. I AM PROUD TO HAVE STRENGTHENED AND DEVELOPED THE BOARDS, COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS I WAS A PART OF. GROUPS WHO ARE ALSO NOW IMPLEMENTING FAIR, EQUITABLE PRACTICES THAT WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE COUNTY SERVICES LONG AFTER I LEAVE OFFICE. OUR PRACTICES HAVE BECOME A MODEL FOR OTHER MERCED COUNTY DISTRICTS, BOARDS, COMMITTEES [00:25:03] AND COMMISSIONS. TO OUR CEO'S OFFICE, OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS AND STAFF I THANK YOU. I AM VERY CONTENT WITH THE DIRECTION THAT COUNTY STAFF IS HEADED IN. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND IMPROVEMENTS TO BETTER SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE ADVOCATING FOR RESIDENTS THROUGH THE WORK THAT YOU DO. I WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK OUR BOARD CLERKS AND IT STAFF WHO ARE BEHIND THE SCENES. YOU WORKED DILIGENTLY TO ENSURE I WAS SUCCESSFUL. THANK YOU. TO OUR RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THANK YOU AS WELL. PLEASE CONTINUE TO STEP UP, SHOW UP AND HOLD DECISION MAKERS ACCOUNTABLE. AND TO MY COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE SHARED FOR SHOWING ME HOW TO BE A BETTER LEADER. AND SUPERVISOR PAREIRA YOUR COMMENT AT THE LAST MEETING ABOUT WORKING WITH A RESIDENT AND LEARNING, OPENING YOUR EYES TO A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE THAT IS WHAT WE ALL WANT TO SEE IN OUR DECISION MAKERS. AND I'M REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR OF THE ADVANCEMENTS THAT YOU ALL ARE MAKING IN YOUR DISTRICT. IT HAS MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE. IT IS AN HONOR TO HAVE SERVED AS YOUR COUNTY SUPERVISOR DISTRICT TWO. AND PLEASE KNOW THAT BUILDING OUR COMMUNITY WILL CONTINUE TO BE MY LIFE'S WORK AS IT HAS BEEN THESE LAST TWENTY SEVEN YEARS. I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT MY NEW PATH AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY IN A DIFFERENT CAPACITY. I WISH YOU ALL HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND CONGRATULATIONS, SUPERVISOR LOR ON YOUR FOUR YEARS HERE AT THE BOARD. SO THANK YOU. WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO A CONSENT AGENDA. [CONSENT CALENDAR ] NEXT IS APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 13. PLEASE NOTE, A FOUR FIFTHS VOTE IS REQUIRED ON ITEMS FOUR, SIX AND 11. OK, CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 13. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND THE SECOND BY SUPERVISOR LOR. AND FOR THE COMMENTS OR GO AHEAD AND VOTE PLEASE. RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES 5 0. [BOARD ACTION ] NEXT, IS BOARD ACTION PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS 14 THROUGH 19. 14 THROUGH 19 COMMENTS MOTIONS. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SECOND BY SUPERVISOR FOR THE COMMENTS OR GO AHEAD AND VOTE PLEASE. WE HAVE A COMMENT BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. SO, YEAH, JUST BEFORE WE VOTE ON THIS I JUST WANT TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW ON ITEMS 18 AND 19 I'M GOING TO SPEAK FOR MY COLLEAGUE IN DISTRICT THREE. THESE ARE TWO PROJECTS THAT I JUST AGAIN WANT TO THANK THE STAFF THAT'S WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES, THAT BEING OUR GRANT WRITER PATTI DOSSETTI. OK, HOLD ON. MY PHONE'S TALKING TO ME. EXCUSE ME. THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, DANA HERTFELDER THERE. BRIAN, THIS IS THE NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS AFTER WE'RE GOING AFTER THESE PROP 68 GRANTS, WHICH IS ALSO THERE'S PLANNING GRANTS, WHICH ARE THE CDBG GRANTS AND KIND OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO WE'RE LOOKING AT EVERY SOURCE. AND THIS IS THAT NEXT STEP. AND I'VE SHARED WITH FOLKS IN MY DISTRICT AS PART OF PART OF ACHIEVING THESE GRANTS IS A LOT OF PUBLIC OUTREACH AND TALKING TO THE FOLKS IN THE DISTRICT AND GETTING THEIR THOUGHTS ON WHAT DO WE WANT THIS TO LOOK LIKE. AND IT'S A LOT OF MEETINGS AND WE'RE GOING TO BE IN [INAUDIBLE] TONIGHT AT A CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO DISCUSS IT. AGAIN, I KNOW THAT MY COLLEAGUE, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, HAS HELD ZOOM MEETINGS JUST LIKE I HAVE THERE'S SO MUCH WORK THAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES WITH STAFF. AND THEY CALL ME AND BASICALLY I GET TO, YOU KNOW, SAY A FEW NICE WORDS AT THE BEGINNING AND TEE IT UP AND THEN THEY GO DO ALL THE HARD WORK. SO AGAIN, WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THE WORK THEY DO. AND AS WE'VE HAD THESE MEETINGS, WE TALK TO OUR CONSTITUENTS AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THIS IS IT'S KIND OF A LONG PROCESS, BUT THIS IS JUST EVERY STEP WE TAKE IN THE PROCESS IS IS ONE STEP WE GET CLOSER. [00:30:01] AND I KNOW YOURSELF, CHAIRMAN OVER IN PLANADA, YOU GUYS HAD THE BENEFIT OF RECEIVING ONE OF THESE GRANTS. AND IT'S A GAME CHANGER. IT'S A GAME CHANGER FOR THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT'S WE'RE TALKING YOU KNOW, THE MAXIMUM GRANT AMOUNT IS EIGHT POINT SIX MILLION DOLLARS, I BELIEVE, ON THESE PROP SIXTY EIGHT GRANTS. THAT'S MONEY AS A COUNTY THAT WE JUST DON'T HAVE LAYING AROUND. SO WHEN WE CAN GO AFTER THESE GRANTS TO REALLY JUST CHANGE A PARK JUST A PLACE OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, IT'S A HUGE DEAL. AND SO YOU KNOW, WE VOTE ON THESE ITEMS AND WE TAKE THEM IN A BLOCK. BUT I JUST WANTED TO POINT IT OUT HOW IMPORTANT THIS NEXT STEP IS. AND AGAIN, THANK ALL THE HARD WORK OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE DOING IT BEHIND THE SCENES. THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU. AND IF I MAY ADD, I KNOW THAT'S WHAT ALL THE RESIDENTS COMPLAIN ABOUT WHEN WE'RE [INAUDIBLE] FOR REELECTION IS THEY'D LIKE TO SEE MORE AMENITIES IN OUR PARKS. AND SO THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY IN YOUR DISTRICT AND DISTRICT THREE AS WELL TO, YOU KNOW, TRY TO MAKE THE LIVES OF OUR RESIDENTS IN MERCED COUNTY BETTER. SO THANK YOU. ANY MORE COMMENTS? [INAUDIBLE]. YEAH, THANK YOU CHAIR. THIS IS A BIG GAME CHANGER, ESPECIALLY IN THE BEACHWOOD FRANKLIN AREA, AND NOT ONLY AS STAFF AND PATTI JUST SAID HE'S DONE A FANTASTIC JOB. AGAIN, LIKE MY COLLEAGUE SAID, WE GET TO SHOW UP AND DO THE FUN STUFF AND TEE IT UP. AND BUT STAFF IS THE ONE WHO HAS REALLY CARRIED THIS. BUT I ALSO HAD TO LOOK AT MY COLLEAGUES HERE AT THE TABLE BECAUSE YOU GUYS HAD VOTED AND APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY FOR THE FUNDS FOR THE PARK AS WELL. SO WE HAD TO HAVE THAT BEFORE WE COULD GO TO THIS STEP. AND SO MUCH THANKS TO ALL OF YOU. I DON'T HAVE TO REMIND EVERYBODY YOU GUYS ARE TIRED OF IT, BUT DISTRICT THREE IS THE ONLY DISTRICT WITHOUT A PARK. BUT WE'RE GETTING READY TO CHANGE THAT. AND IT'S GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL, I THINK, FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY IN THIS AREA. SO THANK YOU. AND AGAIN, PATTI DOSSETTI'S BEEN DOING A FANTASTIC JOB. AND ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES RIGHT NOW IS TRYING TO GET FOLKS TOGETHER. AND I'M A LITTLE JEALOUS THAT MY COLLEAGUE HAS FIGURED OUT A WAY TO DO IT IN DOS PALOS BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION, WE CAN'T GET FOLKS TOGETHER. AND ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE GRANT IS HAVING PICTURES TO DOCUMENT THAT WE'VE HAD FOLKS TOGETHER TRYING TO DO THIS. SO THAT IS A BIG CHALLENGE. AND I DON'T HAVE A CITY COUNCIL IN THAT PARTICULAR PART OF MY DISTRICT. SO, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE'RE JUST HOPING THAT THIS APPLICATION WILL BE FRUITFUL FOR THE COUNTY. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO WE HAVE A FIRST MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND GO AHEAD AND VOTE PLEASE. RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES 5 0.. NEXT IS ITEM TWENTY FROM HEALTH. PLEASE NOTE A CORRECTION ON THE SUMMARY OF THE BOARD AGENDA ITEM. THE READING PERIOD TO DEVELOP IGT'S IS INCORRECTLY LISTED AS JULY 1ST 2020 THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST 2021. THE CORRECT READING PERIOD IS JANUARY 1ST. 2021 THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST 2021. OK, ITEM 20 COMMENTS, OR MOTIONS. MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA SECOND BY SUPERVISOR LOR. FURTHER COMMENTS OR GO AHEAD AND VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE PLEASE. MOTION CARRIES 5 0. NEXT IS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES ITEMS TWENTY ONE THROUGH TWENTY THREE. ITEM TWENTY ONE TWENTY THREE COMMENTS, MOTIONS. MOTION SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. SECOND SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. GO AHEAD AND VOTE PLEASE. RECORD THE VOTE MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO. NEXT IS ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, ITEM TWENTY FOUR. ITEM TWENTY FOUR, MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SECOND BY SUPERVISOR LOR. GO AHEAD AND VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE. IT'S 5 0. NEXT IS HUMAN RESOURCES, ITEM TWENTY FIVE. HUMAN RESOURCES ITEM TWENTY FIVE. MOTION BY SUPERVISOR LOR SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND NO COMMENTS GO AHEAD AND VOTE PLEASE. RECORD THE VOTE MOTION CARRIES 5 0 AGAIN. ITEM, TWENTY SIX IS FROM PROBATION. TWENTY SIX CONTRACT WITH BI INC. TO PROVIDE JUVENILE AND ADULT GPS MONITORING. OK, MOTION BY SUPERVISOR LOR SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA GO AHEAD AND VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES 5 0. [00:35:01] BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, ITEM TWENTY SEVEN. ITEM TWENTY SEVEN. MOTION BY SUPERVISOR LEE LOR SECOND SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. [LAUGHTER] GO AHEAD AND VOTE PLEASE. CHAIR CAN I MAKE A COMMENT REALLY QUICK. GO AHEAD SIR. IT WAS LAUGHING A LITTLE BIT RIGHT THERE. I DO GOT TO CALL OUT MY COLLEAGUE, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA WAS TRYING TO PUSH THE BUTTON AND IT WASN'T WORKING, SO HE LICKED HIS FINGER BECAUSE HE THOUGHT THAT MIGHT HELP IT GET BETTER CONTACT. [LAUGHTER] OK, EVERYBODY VOTED. GO AHEAD AND RECORD THE VOTE PLEASE. MOTION CARRIES 5 0 UNANIMOUS. NEXT, IS BOARD REPORTS, BOARD REPORTS. [REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION ] WELL, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE JANUARY 5TH AND 2ND MEETING IN JANUARY WILL BE THE TWENTY SIX. SO WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO LOOKING AT THAT. AND THEN FROM NOW, WE'RE GOING TO REPORTS WITH SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS I DO WANT TO FIRST POINT OUT. SO FOLKS HAVE BEEN WE'VE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF CALLS HERE AT THE COUNTY BUILDING, SPECIFICALLY IN THE TAX COLLECTORS OFFICE, AND THE TAX COLLECTOR FOR THIS WEEK HAS ACTUALLY SHUT THEIR PHONES OFF AND ARE NOT RECEIVING CALLS. AND YOU SAY, WELL, WHY ARE WE DOING THAT. AND BASICALLY THAT DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN HIT PRETTY SERIOUSLY BY COVID. AND AS OF YESTERDAY, THEY ARE OPERATING AT A QUARTER CAPACITY. THEY ONLY HAVE A QUARTER OF THEIR STAFF. THEY'RE BEHIND ON ACTUALLY PROCESSING. FOLKS THEY ACTUALLY GOT THEIR TAX PROPERTY TAXES. THEY WERE TURNED IN ON TIME. IT'S JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE SO SHORT STAFFED. THEY'RE PROCESSING DAYS BEHIND. AND OUR TAX COLLECTOR, KAREN ADAMS, MADE A THE CALL THAT THEY COULDN'T BE THERE BECAUSE FOLKS ARE WORRYING. PEOPLE ARE CALLING BECAUSE THEY PAID THEIR TAXES. THEY GOT THEM IN, BUT THEY HAVEN'T SHOWED UP AS PROCESSED YET. SO THEY'RE THINKING THAT MAYBE THEY'RE LATE. WE WANT TO LET THOSE FOLKS KNOW THAT THEY'RE SECURE, THEY'RE IN THE VAULT, BUT WITH PHONE CALLS, THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO GET THE WORK DONE. AND SO THEY WENT DOWN. SO I JUST WANT TO READ THIS. IT SAYS DEAR MERCED COUNTY TAXPAYERS, DUE TO COVID-19, THE TAX COLLECTOR OFFICE IS OPERATING AT SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED STAFF LEVELS. YOUR CHECK IS SECURELY PROTECTED IN OUR VAULT AND CONSIDERED TIMELY, EVEN THOUGH IT WILL BE PROCESSED AFTER THE DUE DATE. PLEASE BE PATIENT AND BE ASSURED THAT THE DEDICATED STAFF ARE WORKING OVERTIME AND WEEKENDS. YOUR CHECKS WILL BE PROCESSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. IN THE FUTURE. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO PAY YOUR PROPERTY TAXES BY USING THE FREE E CHECK OPTION, WHICH I USE THAT ALL THE TIME. IT'S VERY SIMPLE. IF YOU WANT TO PUT IT ON A CREDIT CARD, THEY'RE GOING TO CHARGE YOU A FEE. IF YOU SIMPLY JUST WANT TO DO AN ELECTRONIC CHECK OR AN ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER, THERE IS NO COST FOR THAT. THEY'RE SAFE AND THEY POST TO YOUR ACCOUNT IMMEDIATELY. YOU CAN ALSO PRINT A RECEIPT AN RETAIN FOR YOUR RECORDS WHEN PAYING ONLINE. SO PLEASE CALL OUR OFFICE MONDAY, DECEMBER TWENTY FIRST FOR INFORMATION OR TO SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS. STAY WELL. HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS. THANK YOU FROM OUR TAX COLLECTOR, KAREN ADAMS. I WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE. UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE GETTING TO HIM AS QUICK AS WE CAN. THERE IS JUST A BACKLOG AND THEY HAVE LIMITED STAFFING. OTHER THINGS I WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, CONGRATULATIONS TO CHIEF NEELY. WHEN I STARTED AS A VOLUNTEER FIREMAN BACK IN 1996 CHIEF NEELY WAS THEN I BELIEVE HE JUST HAD MADE PERMANENT ENGINEER. HE WAS AN ENGINEER. HE CAME FROM BEING AN ENGINEER AT THE [INAUDIBLE] HOUSE STATION SEVENTY SIX. AND HERE HE IS A FEW SHORT YEARS LATER, RETIRING AS A BATTALION CHIEF. SO I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR HIS SERVICE THERE. I DO WANT CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TEAM BHRS' TEAM FOR YOU GUYS AS BEING THE I WANT TO CALL IT THE SECOND WINNER WE HAD I THINK WE HAD A WINNER LAST YEAR, DIDN'T WE? SO THE SECOND WINNERS OF OUR MISSION VISION AND VALUES AWARDS, ALONG WITH THE MOSQUITO ABATEMENT. AND I'M GOING TO GO TO SUPERVISOR LOR CONGRATULATIONS, ON YOUR SERVICE. AND I KNOW THAT THIS ISN'T THE LAST THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE OF YOU. YOUR PASSION FOR YOUR CITIZENS AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS SHOWS. AND I'M SURE THAT WE'LL BE INTERACTING WITH EACH OTHER ALONG THE WAY HERE IN YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS. AND THEN LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR. BE SAFE. THE COVID IT IS SPIKING RIGHT NOW. AND SO JUST GOT TO BE JUST BE CAUTIOUS. WASH YOUR HANDS, WEAR YOUR MASK SOCIALLY DISTANCE KEEP YOU NOT ONLY YOU KEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. [00:40:04] THANK YOU CHAIR. I TOO WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE BILLY PIMENTEL, STEVE KERRICK AND BRIAN NEELY ON THEIR RETIREMENT. I'VE INTERACTED WITH TWO OF THOSE GENTLEMEN IN MY LIFETIME AS A FARMER AND ANYWAYS, JUST VERY PROFESSIONAL, GOOD PEOPLE WHO CARED ABOUT THEIR JOBS. AND SO, AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENTS THAT YOU'VE WORKED FOR. CONGRATULATIONS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES FOR BEING RECOGNIZED FOR THE EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY IN WHICH. AND PROFESSIONALISM IN WHICH YOU IMPLEMENT THAT PROGRAM, THAT WAS KIND OF MY VISION HERE LAST YEAR, THE YEAR BEFORE WAS TO RECOGNIZE THOSE AMONG US THAT ARE DOING GREAT WORK. AND IT REALLY KIND OF IS FITTING THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO HAVE, IN MY OPINION, A BIT OF THE HARDEST JOB WHEN YOU WORK IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES, YOU HAVE YOUR CLIENTS ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE PROBLEMS AND DON'T ALWAYS KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM OR IF THEY DO KNOW, OFTENTIMES MAKE DECISIONS TO NOT WORK ON IT. AND SO NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE THEIR SERVICE, BUT THEY HAVE TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP FIRST. AND AND THAT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO DO. SO CONGRATULATIONS, DIRECTOR VALENTINE AND YOUR STAFF FOR DOING THAT. AND THEN. WELL, MERCED COUNTY MOSQUITO ABATEMENT, EVERYBODY. YOU KNOW, I GET CALLS, HEY, MOSQUITO ABATEMENT THIS OR HOW DO I DO THAT OR WHATEVER. AND MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT THEY'RE NOT A COUNTY DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY'RE NAMED AS MERCED COUNTY MOSQUITO ABATEMENT DISTRICT. BUT ANYWAYS, THEY ARE AN INDEPENDENT DISTRICT THAT OPERATES HERE IN THE COUNTY. AND YOU KNOW, I'LL TELL YOU, OWNING A FARM OVER THE YEARS, I'VE CALLED THEM FOR HELP. AND THEY JUST DO A VERY GOOD PROFESSIONAL JOB. AND YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF LIKE ONE OF THOSE UNSUNG HEROES IN THE COUNTY. AND SO I'M GLAD THEY WERE HONORED TODAY FOR THAT SUPERVISOR LOR. I WOULD LIKE TO WISH YOU WELL IN YOUR NEXT ENDEAVORS AND LOOK FORWARD TO ACTUALLY HEARING WHAT THEY ARE. YOU KIND OF ALLUDE TO SOMETHING BUT HAVE NOT SAID SO ANYWAYS HOPE TO KNOW AS SOON AS YOU'VE MADE DECISIONS OR HOWEVER THAT MIGHT BE. AND THEN TO THE COUNTY STAFF, I WOULD LIKE TO WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS. THIS HAS BEEN A VERY TRYING YEAR AND UNFORTUNATELY AT THIS TIME IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THIS YEAR IS OVER. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GO TO 2020 B INSTEAD OF 2021 NEXT YEAR, UNFORTUNATELY. BUT HOPEFULLY THAT IS SHORT LIVED AND AND WE WILL GET BACK TO NORMAL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND THEN TO THE CONSTITUENTS OF MERCED COUNTY I WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AS WELL. PLEASE BE SAFE. BUT I HOPE THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO REFLECT ON THE REASON WHY WE HAVE CHRISTMAS AND THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK BACK AND IT GIVES YOU PAUSE TO THIS MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE OF, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU ARE, WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND HOW YOU ARE AFFECTING THOSE AROUND YOU. YOU KNOW, I PLAN TO DO THAT FOR MYSELF AND WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY. AND THAT IS IT. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR RETIREES FROM CAL FIRE, [INAUDIBLE] AND [INAUDIBLE]. ALSO THE MVV AWARDS, WHICH IS SOMETHING IF YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENED THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR AND THEY WERE FORCING A LOT OF OTHER PUBLIC ENTITIES TO MAKE CHANGES, BUT WE WERE ALREADY AHEAD OF THAT CURVE WITH THESE MVV AWARDS OR THIS THE WHOLE MISSION, VISION AND VALUES THAT WE PUT FORTH. THAT WAS A GREAT PROGRAM, I THINK STAFF FOR DOING IT. IT WAS A FUN PROCESS AND EVEN HEARING ALL THE OTHER PRESENTATIONS THAT WENT AROUND BEHIND US. BUT WE DID MAKE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE COUNTY'S EFFICIENCY IN GOVERNMENT AND HOW WE APPROACH EVERYTHING BUT FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR AWARD, MOSQUITO ABATEMENT AS WELL. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR AWARD. AND THAT IS ONE THING THAT I HAVE TO SAY IS BECAUSE IT SAYS MERCED COUNTY IN THE FRONT OF IT, EVERYBODY SEEMS TO CALL A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE MOSQUITOES. BUT THIS IS THE ONE SPECIAL DISTRICT WE CAN ACTUALLY SEND OUR CONSTITUENTS TO. AND THE CONSTITUENT WILL CALL BACK AND SAY, THANK YOU FOR GETTING ME IN TOUCH WITH THEM BECAUSE MOSQUITO ABATEMENT ACTUALLY RESPONDED AND HELPED OUT. SO THIS IS A MUCH EARNED AWARD FOR THEM. AND I THINK WE FAILED TO MENTION ALL THE OTHER FOLKS WHO AND I DON'T HAVE A LIST IN FRONT OF ME, BUT IT'D BE PROBABLY GOOD MAYBE FOR THE CHAIR IF YOU HAVE IT IN FRONT OF YOU TO [00:45:02] ALL THE OTHER FOLKS WHO WERE ACTUALLY NOMINATED FOR THIS, BECAUSE IT WAS A GREAT EFFORT JUST TO EVEN BE NOMINATED FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE. AND I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE SUPERVISOR LOR ON YOUR FOUR YEARS HERE. YOU HAVE A GREAT ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE SYSTEMS AND STREAMLINING PROCESSES. AND I THINK MOVING FORWARD THAT TALENT, BECAUSE WORKING WITH YOU, WE WORK TOGETHER A LITTLE BIT ON BEFORE WE HAD THE PAID INTERNSHIPS. BUT YOU ARE VERY, VERY GOOD AT RECOGNIZING THE STREAMLINE IN THE PROCESS. AND I WAS ALWAYS VERY IMPRESSED. ANY TIME WE'D WORK WITH YOU, YOU COULD TAKE A BIG PROJECT, MAKE IT LOOK VERY SIMPLE AFTERWARDS BECAUSE OF THE WAY YOU ORGANIZE YOURSELF, SO I HOPE THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE IN BECAUSE YOU DEFINITELY HAVE A UNIQUE TALENT WITH THAT. AND THEN MOVING IN TO THIS NEXT YEAR, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS PAST YEAR SEEMED LIKE FOUR YEARS. AND IT SEEMS LIKE ALL OF US TOGETHER HERE AS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IN MARCH, APRIL WAS THE UNKNOWN. THERE WAS FEAR, THERE WAS ANXIETY. AND I'M TALKING THAT'S US SITTING UP HERE AS WELL AS US HAVING TO TRY TO HOLD OURSELVES TOGETHER AND CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE CEO'S OFFICE AND THE DEPARTMENT HEADS TO HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS AND HAVING TO DEAL WITH OUR CONSTITUENCY ON MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE PHONE CALLS ON A DAILY BASIS WHERE FOLKS WERE JUST AS SCARED AS WE WERE, BUT YET WE AT LEAST HAD OUR HAND ON THE PULSE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON. IT WAS VERY FRUSTRATING ON OUR PART. AND, YOU KNOW, AND I COME OUT PRETTY HARD AGAINST OUR GOVERNOR. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE GOVERNOR IS DEALING WITH SOMETHING THAT HE HAS NEVER, EVER HAD TO DEAL WITH BEFORE, AS HE IS NOW. SO I THINK MOVING FORWARD, WE HAVE TO INCLUDE ALL OF THE SCIENCES. WE CAN'T JUST PICK AND CHOOSE THE ONES THAT WE WANT TO FIT IN THE WAY THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD. BUT I LIKED HOW MY COLLEAGUES HERE AND ALL TOGETHER, WE TOOK AN APPROACH WHERE WE'VE OPENED UP BOTH EMAIL, VOICEMAIL FOR THE CONSTITUENCY TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR MEETINGS EVEN WHEN WE HAD THE DOORS CLOSED. AND WE'VE CONTINUED THAT WITH THE DOORS OPEN NOW, IN FACT, I'VE RECEIVED CALLS FROM AROUND THE STATE IN HOW THEY SAID WE'RE THE ONLY COUNTY WHO HAS DONE THAT. I THINK MERCED COUNTY HAS TAKEN A VERY PROACTIVE APPROACH BY US EVEN HAVING AN ECONOMIST COME HERE AND DO A PRESENTATION BECAUSE WE WANTED TO WEIGH IT OUT. THE PROCESSES WE WERE PUTTING FORTH, WE HAD THE FORESIGHT TO SEE THAT IF FOLKS AREN'T WORKING, THEY CAN'T PAY THEIR BILLS. AND AS I SHARED MY FRUSTRATIONS AT THE LAST MEETING OF KNOWING HOW THOSE RECOVERY DOLLARS WERE COMING IN AND HOW MUCH WE'D HAVE OR IF WE WOULD HAVE THEM OR NOT. SO I THINK IT'S A BIG THANK YOU THIS YEAR TO JIM BROWN AND YOUR DEPARTMENT HEADS, THIS WAS A VERY, VERY, VERY TOUGH YEAR. YOU KNOW, WE COULD HANDLE ANYTHING THAT CAME TOWARDS US AND HAVING MY BACKGROUND WORKING FOR STATE SENATE OR WORKING FOR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN SACRAMENTO, IN WASHINGTON, D.C., WE WERE GIVEN CHALLENGES THAT WE FELT LIKE WE COULD REALLY SOLVE AND WE COULD REALLY WORK WITH IT. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THERE'S NO SOLVING. BUT JIM BROWN YOURSELF, THE DEPARTMENT HEADS FANTASTIC JOB, ALWAYS KEEPING THE CONSTITUENCY AS OUR NUMBER ONE CONCERN THE WHOLE TIME. AND WE HAD FOLKS ON BOTH SIDES THAT WE WERE TRYING TO TO DEAL WITH. WE CAN'T MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY. BUT MY GOAL WAS TO TRY TO KEEP EVERYBODY IN JOBS, PUTTING FOOD ON THEIR TABLE AND APPROACHING IT IN A SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE WAY. SO, MR. CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES MY AND I'VE GOT TO SAY FOR YOU TOO, YOU HANDLED YOURS. I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO BE DOING THIS AT THE NEXT MEETING, BUT YOU AS CHAIRMAN THIS YEAR WAS PRESENTED WITH A WHOLE LOT OF CHALLENGES WITH FOSTER FARMS IN YOUR DISTRICT, WITH OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE COME UP. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, MR. CHAIR, I THOUGHT YOU'VE HANDLED THIS VERY PROFESSIONALLY AND I WAS IMPRESSED. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU. WELL, THE SUPPORT, I THINK WE ALL DO TRY TO DO OUR BEST. RIGHT. SO SUPERVISOR LOR. THANK YOU. WITH PROCESSES AND STREAMLINING, TACKLING THE ROOT CAUSES, YOU WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER. SO I WAS TRYING TO WORK US OUT OF A JOB, AND I'M PROUD TO HAVE PUT IN PLACE [00:50:05] THESE PROCESSES LED BY VOLUNTEERS THAT WILL STAY AFTER I LEAVE OFFICE AND IT CAN'T BE TORN DOWN REGARDLESS OF WHO COMES INTO OFFICE, BECAUSE IT WORKS. IT'S LED BY VOLUNTEERS. IT'S FAIR AND IT'S EQUITABLE, VERY SUSTAINABLE. I DO WANT TO CONGRATULATE OUR FIRE TEAM ON YOUR RETIREMENTS. OUR CHILDREN'S MUSEUM WILL HAVE A REAL FIRE TRUCK. IT WAS DONATED BY THE CITY OF MERCED. AND SO WE'LL HAVE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO HELP US BUILD THE PIPELINE TO A CAREER IN FIRE FOR MANY OF OUR YOUNG CHILDREN. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR MVV RECIPIENTS THIS YEAR, YOU DEMONSTRATED INITIATIVE AND EFFORTS TO EXCEED CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS. THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. AND I ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND JOIN ME ON MY NEXT ADVENTURE. BE SAFE, EVERYONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNTY COUNSEL. YEAH, THANK YOU, CHAIR. I JUST ALSO WANTED TO CONGRATULATE YOU, SUPERVISOR LOR, AND IT'S BEEN GREAT WORKING WITH YOU IN MY SHORT TIME AS COUNTY COUNCIL AND AS ASSISTANT COUNTY COUNCIL IN FIRST FIVE. AND I WISH YOU LUCK ON YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS. AND APOLOGIES, I SHOULD SAY, FORREST HANSEN MY COUNTY COUNSEL, BECAUSE I GOTTA GO BY THE NAME. SO, CEO JIM BROWN. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. ON BEHALF OF ALL OF STAFF AND COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND PERSONALLY, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION. MANY OF THE COMMENTS HAVE BEEN SAID THEY'RE RIGHT ON POINT AS FAR AS PROCESSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND HOLDING US ACCOUNTABLE AND STAFF ACCOUNTABLE. AND SHE DOES HAVE A REAL EYE FOR DETAIL ON THOSE PROCESSES. AND, WE CAN WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PROCESSES STAY IN PLACE AS FAR AS THAT HAVE [INAUDIBLE]. ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WHEN YOUR LEADERSHIP IS FROM A STAFF PERSPECTIVE, IS ALWAYS TRYING TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING OUT AFTER THE CONSTITUENTS AND THE COMMUNITY AND LISTENING TO THEM. AND SO, AGAIN, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE AND CONSTANTLY, YOU KNOW, ENSURING THAT THEY ARE BEING HEARD. AND SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND WE WISH YOU WELL IN THE FUTURE. AND I WANT TO TURN TO ALL THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES. IT HAS BEEN A TOUGH YEAR AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU ALL BECAUSE WITHOUT YOU, YOU WERE ON THE FRONT LINE. YOU WERE THE ONES THAT ARE SERVING THE COMMUNITY. YOU ARE THE REASON. I MEAN, THE CONSTITUENTS AND COMMUNITY ARE THE REASONS WE ARE HERE. AND AGAIN, FROM A LEADERSHIP PERSPECTIVE, WE CAN APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND THE DEDICATION YOU PUT ON THE FRONT LINE BECAUSE YOU ARE THE ONES THAT ARE IN TOUCH WITH THE PEOPLE AND THE COMMUNITY THE MOST. AND SO, AGAIN, HOPEFULLY IN TWENTY ONE WE'VE STILL GOT A LITTLE BIT TO GO. HOPEFULLY IT'LL START TO CALM DOWN AS WE GO THROUGH THE YEAR, CONTINUE THE HARD WORK. AND AGAIN I ASK ALL EMPLOYEES TO REMEMBER THE REASON WE EXIST IS TO SERVE. AND SO PLEASE CONTINUE TO SERVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I WOULD ADD ALSO TO YOU KNOW I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERY EVERY DEPARTMENT IN OUR COUNTY. WE ALL DESERVE THE BEST. YOU HAVE BEEN, WE ALL BEEN AFFECTED BY COVID AND, YOU KNOW, EMPLOYEES GOING ON LEAVE. AND, YOU KNOW, AND TO ALL THOSE WHO ARE SICK, WE PRAY FOR ALL OF YOU AND ALL CONSTITUENTS ACROSS, THIS COUNTY, STATE AND THE WHOLE WORLD. AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HAD SO MANY DEATHS. AND I HAVE YOU KNOW, WE ALL HAVE I THANK FAMILY OR FRIEND THAT IS VERY SICK. SO WE ALL PRAY FOR ALL OF THEM. I WANT TO THANK ALSO SUPERVISOR LOR FOR ALL HER TIME TO OUR CONSTITUENTS HERE IN MERCED COUNTY AND FOR ALL HER WORK THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE DID FOR ALL OF US HERE AND OUR COLLEAGUES, YOU KNOW, TO ALL THE FEMALES, THAT WOULD LIKE TO STRIVE FORWARD TO GETTING ELECTED. YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, LIKE I SAID, IT'LL BE ALL MALE NEXT YEAR AGAIN. AND I WAS STRESSED BY SOME LADIES THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'LL BE ALL MALES. BUT PLEASE, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY DESERVES THE SAME RIGHT HAS THE SAME RIGHT TO RUN FOR REELECTION AND GIVE IT ALL YOU HAVE. AND BECAUSE WE'RE HERE TO REPRESENT EVERYBODY ACROSS THE BOARD, NOT JUST THE MALES OR THE FEMALES ARE YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU'RE REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, WE'RE ALL HERE TO SUPPORT EVERYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITIES. AND I THINK THAT'S THE SAME FOR ALL MY COLLEAGUES AND THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, DIRECTLY I WANT TO THANK DANA HERTFELDER FOR ALL YOUR TIME AND STAFF. [00:55:02] YOU KNOW, I THINK WE CALL YOU, I THINK, MORE DIRECTLY TO YOU BECAUSE WE'VE GOT ALL THE CALLS AND ALL THE ROADS IN OUR COUNTY. AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S, YOU KNOW, SO MUCH WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. AND I THINK, LIKE I SAID, EVERY DEPARTMENT DESERVES THE SAME CREDIT. I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH WITH SO MANY PROJECTS AND NOT JUST IN PUBLIC WORKS AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. AND, YOU KNOW, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN YOU KNOW, DONE SO MUCH THIS YEAR FOR ALL OF US. SO, YOU KNOW, YOUR WORK, KIND OF, YOU KNOW, REPRESENTS THE SAME WORK THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AND HOPEFULLY WHERE YOU'RE GETTING THE SUPPORT FROM ALL OF US AND YOU KNOW IT JUST SO MUCH THIS YEAR, IT'S JUST SPECIAL. AND I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR ALL THEIR SUPPORT THIS YEAR AS CHAIRMAN. IT'S JUST LIKE I SAID HOPEFULLY WE CAN DO YOU KNOW WHO'S EVER OUR CHAIRMAN NEXT YEAR. YOU KNOW, I'LL BE HERE TO SUPPORT AS WELL, YOU KNOW, AND ALSO TO LIKE I SAID COUNTY COUNSEL FORREST HANSEN THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT AND CONGRATULATIONS ON COMING IN THIS YEAR AS HEAD COUNSEL OF OUR COUNTY. AND ALSO JIM BROWN. YOU'VE BEEN THERE FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR ME THE LAST FOUR YEARS SUPPORT. I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR AS CHAIRMAN, YOU AND YOUR STAFF BOARD CLERKS, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THEM FOR, YOU KNOW, MAKING US LOOK GOOD. IT'S JUST SO MUCH WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO FOR US. SO I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT AND MY COLLEAGUES. SO THIS IS MY LAST MEETING AS CHAIR OF THE BOARD. SO, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A SPECIAL YEAR. AND,JUST, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE ALL WANT TO MOVE ON. AND HOPEFULLY, I HEARD LAST NIGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, THE GAVIN NEWSOM, THE GOVERNOR MENTIONED THAT WE'RE GETTING ANOTHER THREE HUNDRED AND NINETY SEVEN THOUSAND ON TOP OF THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTY SEVEN THOUSAND IN THE STATE. SO HOPEFULLY THE VACCINES WILL BE DISPERSED IN PER ALL THE COUNTIES AND WE CAN, YOU KNOW, HIT THE THOSE VACCINES AND SEND THEM OUT TO ALL THE MOST IN NEED. YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID HOPEFULLY THIS NIGHTMARE WILL BE OVER IN EARLY IN THE NEXT YEAR. SO I JUST WISH EVERYBODY THE BEST MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS. AND WITH THAT I'LL ADJOURN THE MEETING. AND WE'LL SEE YOU IN 2020. HAPPY HOLIDAYS. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.