[Call to Order] [00:00:03] OK, GOOD MORNING. WE'D LIKE TO GET THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS-- MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING STARTED. TODAY IS TUESDAY, JANUARY 5TH. WE HAVE RETURNED FROM CLOSED SESSION AND STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO THE JANUARY 5TH, 2021 COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING. IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 VIRUS, THE COUNTY IS CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS WITH SEATING FOR THE PUBLIC LIMITED TO TWENTY FIVE. WE HAVE ALSO PROVIDED SOME OVERFLOW SPACE ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS. FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO DO NOT WISH TO ATTEND IN PERSON, WE HAVE BEEN ACCEPTING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS VIA EMAIL, VOICEMAIL FOR NON AGENDA AND AGENDA ITEMS. OUT OF ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA IS UNDER THE WEATHER AND WILL NOT BE PARTICIPATING IN TODAY'S MEETING. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND START WITH THE INVOCATION PROVIDED BY [INAUDIBLE] I THINK YOU SAID. YES, THANK YOU. AND THEN WE'LL BE LED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE FROM OUR NEWEST MEMBER HERE ON THE BOARD, JOSH PEDROZO. GOOD MORNING, IF YOU ARE SO INCLINED, PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS. PRECIOUS FATHER ALMIGHTY, THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE FIRST INDIVIDUAL TO PRAY IN 2021 FOR OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, OUR CEO, THE WELL-BEING OF OUR MERCED COUNTY. I ASK YOU, AS WE ENTER INTO THIS YEAR TO RENEW OUR HEARTS AND MINDS AND TO RECOMMIT US TO THE MERCED COUNTY VISION, MISSION AND VALUES. DEAR GOD, PLEASE GIVE OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS, ALL OF OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND ALL WHOM WE SERVE WISDOM, DISCERNMENT AND MERCY TODAY AND EVERY DAY OF 2021 . I ASK YOU TO GIVE EXTRA BLESSINGS TO DR. [INAUDIBLE] FAMILY, TO MY BHRS FAMILY AND ALL WHO I HAVE BEEN SUFFERING THROUGH COVID-19 . IN YOUR SON'S NAME, I PRAY. AMEN. SO WE'LL GO AHEAD TO MOVE IN TO PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS IS THE TIME TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON BOTH NON AGENDA AND AGENDA ITEMS. THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON ALL AGENDA ITEMS, INCLUDING THE ITEM ON THE ANTONYM AGENDA. THAT'S RIGHT. WE DO HAVE AN EXTRA ONE THERE. EMAILED PUBLIC COMMENTS WILL NOT BE READ DURING THE MEETING. ALL EMAILS RECEIVED BY CONCLUSION OF THE MEETING WILL BE PLACED INTO THE MEETING RECORD. WE WILL NOW TAKE COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. [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 LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON) ] PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND YOU WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE PODIUM. IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING, WE ASK THAT ONLY ONE PERSON SPEAK AT A TIME AT THE PODIUM. YES, SIR. MORNING AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE HERE. MY NAME IS DAVID RODRIGUEZ, I RESIDE IN PLANADA, WHICH IS IN DISTRICT ONE. I'M HERE TO THANK THE BOARD FOR THE UPGRADE [INAUDIBLE] CHARLES AVENUE. IT HAS BEEN LONG OVERDUE. AND IT'S REALLY NICE JOB YOU GUYS DONE. DANA HERTFELDER, I THINK IS HIS NAME. I'D LIKE TO GIVE HIM THANKS AS WELL. AND THANK YOU FOR THOSE NEW RESTROOM THAT'S IN WOODLAND PARK. AND I THANK YOU GUYS ALL FOR THE FOUR STOP SIGNS ON 140 AND [INAUDIBLE]. I'M USUALLY HERE TO ISSUE SOME COMPLAINTS OR SOMETHING ABOUT MY TOWN OR WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE A GREAT NEW YEAR. MR. PEDROZO, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WIN. THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU. NOT OFTEN WE GET, UH, COMPLIMENTS AND MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? ABSOLUTELY. GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN MCDANIEL AND SUPERVISORS. MY NAME IS AMY TAYLOR, COUNTY LIBRARIAN, AND TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU IN YOUR NEW SERVICE THAT IS LAUNCHING THROUGH THE LIBRARY TODAY. THIS SERVICE IS CALLED [INAUDIBLE] STORY. [00:05:03] SO RESIDENTS CAN CALL THIS PHONE NUMBER AREA CODE TWO ZERO NINE FOUR THREE NINE FIVE ZERO FOUR ZERO AND HEAR A STORY IN ENGLISH OR IN SPANISH. SO THIS IS BRAND NEW TO OUR COUNTY. AND I WANT JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ALL KNEW ABOUT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND I DON'T BELIEVE THERE ARE ANY VOICEMAILS, BUT AT THIS TIME, IT'S TIME TO PLAY VOICEMAILS. SO NO VOICEMAILS HAVE COME IN. OK. [NOMINATION OF CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMAN FOR THE YEAR 2021 ] AT THIS TIME WE DO HAVE A PRESENTATION AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO CEO BROWN, WHO IS THE CLERK OF THE BOARD. GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. AS YOU ARE AWARE, AND FOR THE PUBLIC'S [INAUDIBLE] ANNUALLY DURING YOUR FIRST MEETING OF THE YEAR, YOU SELECT A CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR. UH, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA AS YOUR CHAIR HAS ASKED ME AS CLERK OF THE BOARD TO HELP ASSIST YOU THROUGH THIS PROCESS THIS YEAR. DURING THIS PROCESS, ANY BOARD MEMBER MAY NOMINATE THEMSELVES OR ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS TO SERVE AS CHAIR OR VICE CHAIR. AND WE'RE GOING TO BE SUGGESTING THIS YEAR THAT IF WE CAN TAKE THEM SEPARATELY, SO OTHERWISE GO FOR WORK WITH THE CHAIR FIRST AND THEN THE VICE CHAIR. AND IN ADDITION, WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING THROUGH THE NOMINATION PROCESS IF THERE IS A NOMINATION, THAT THERE'S ALSO A SECOND TO THAT NOMINATION SO WE CAN HELP FACILITATE THAT THROUGH. SO OTHERWISE, UH, IF EVERYONE IS READY, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND BEGIN BY OPENING UP NOMINATIONS FOR CHAIR. YES. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE DARON MCDANIEL TO BE THE CHAIR FOR THIS UPCOMING YEAR. WE HAVE A NOMINATION FOR SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AS CHAIR. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? WE HAVE A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? SEEING NO OTHER I WILL CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS AND THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND THEN CALL FOR THE QUESTION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY AGAINST SIGNIFY BY NO. MOTION CARRIES. NOMINATION MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL IS YOUR CHAIR FOR 2021. WE'LL MOVE INTO THE VICE CHAIR. AND NOW WE'LL OPEN UP NOMINATIONS FOR VICE CHAIR. I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA FOR VICE CHAIR. WE HAVE A NOMINATION FOR SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA FOR VICE CHAIR. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE LLOYD PAREIRA. IF WE MAY, CAN I SEE IF WE-- COULD WE NEED A SECOND FOR THE FIRST ONE, CORRECT? YES. SO DO WE HAVE A SECOND FOR--? OK, NOT SEEING A SECOND. THEN THAT NOMINATION DOES NOT MOVE FORWARD. DO WE HAVE ANOTHER NOMINATION FOR VICE CHAIR? I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE LLOYD PAREIRA. OK, WE HAVE A NOMINATION FOR SUPERVISOR PEREIRA FOR VICE CHAIR. WE HAVE A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA FOR SUPERVISOR PEREIRA AS VICE CHAIR. SEEING NO OTHERS, WE'LL CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS AND WE'LL CALL FOR THE QUESTION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF SUPERVISOR PARIERA FOR VICE CHAIR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY IN OPPOSITION? CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. SO I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL ON CHAIR FOR 2021 AND SUPERVISOR PAREIRA FOR VICE CHAIR OF 2021. AND I KNOW HE CAN'T BE HERE, BUT WE'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AS CHAIR DURING 2020. SO WITH THAT WE'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU CHAIR. THANK YOU. AND FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR THE VOTE AND FOR THE CONFIDENCE IN YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK CHAIRMAN ESPINOZA AS WELL. AS WE ALL KNOW, I DON'T HAVE TO REMIND ANYBODY. TWENTY TWENTY WAS A VERY TOUGH AND CHALLENGING YEAR. AND I THINK MY COMMENTS AT THE LAST MEETING EXEMPLIFY HOW I FELT ABOUT HIS LEADERSHIP DURING THIS TIME AND THE TROUBLED WATERS THAT HE HAD TO WADE THROUGH WITH FOSTER FARMS BEING OUR LARGEST EMPLOYER HERE IN THE COUNTY AND HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE COVID. AND I THOUGHT HE HANDLED THAT VERY PROFESSIONALLY AND DID VERY WELL THROUGH THAT. IT IS AN HONOR TO BE THIS. AND AS I ALWAYS SAY, THIS IS BASICALLY I'M THE MEETING FACILITATOR. [00:10:04] WE WERE VERY GOOD AT WHAT WE CALL IT GSD HERE AT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. AND I EXEMPLIFY THAT SUPERVISOR PEREIRA OR SILVEIRA HAS BROUGHT THAT TO THE TABLE. AND WE ARE. WE'RE HERE TO GET STUFF DONE AND WE MOVE FORWARD AS WE DO THAT. THE LAST TIME I WAS A CHAIRMAN AND I'D BE REMISS IF I DON'T MENTION THIS, BUT IT WAS A BIG DEAL TO ME AND I THINK IT WAS TO THE REST OF THE BOARD AT THAT TIME, AS WHEN I BOUGHT PRAYER BACK TO THE PODIUM OF OUR MEETINGS. IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. AND I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY OPENED UP OUR MEETINGS TO WHERE FOLKS KNOW THAT WE'RE ALL UP HERE TOGETHER. AND THERE'S ANOTHER CALLING FOR WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO. WE'RE NOT UP HERE TRYING TO MAKE BAD DECISIONS FOR PEOPLE. WE ARE ACTUALLY HERE TRYING TO MAKE THE BEST POSSIBLE GOOD DECISIONS FOR FOLKS. SO I'M NOT GOING TO SPEND TOO MUCH TIME UP HERE TALKING. I THINK WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE IN. UH, I DO HAVE A SCRIPT HERE, SO WE'VE JUST DONE THAT. IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A TEN MINUTE BREAK, ALLOW FOR SUPERVISORS TO MOVE PLACES, BUT WE'RE ALREADY ALL IN PLACE. AT THIS POINT THAT IS NOT NECESSARY. OK. ACTUALLY, JOSH WILL BE MOVING OVER TO THIS. BUT THAT CAN BE DONE. BUT WE CAN DO THAT THE NEXT MEETING, IF YOU LIKE THAT BETTER FOR THE SOCIAL DISTANCING ASPECT OF IT. [CONSENT CALENDAR] CALENDAR. SO IT IS PART OF CONSENT, RIGHT? YEAH. NEXT IS APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 13, AND ADDITIONALLY THE ADDENDUM TO REGULAR AGENDA CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM NUMBER ONE. PLEASE NOTE ITEMS TWO AND FOUR REQUIRE A FOUR FIFTHS VOTE. SO ARE WE GOING TO BE DOING THE NOMINATIONS ON THE SCREEN OR ARE WE GOING TO DO IT LIVE? USE THE SYSTEM. WE'RE GOING TO USE-- SO WE'RE GOING TO VERBALLY--. USE THE SYSTEM. OK, SO THAT'S ME CONTROLLING THE VOTE LINKS. OK. SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA WAS THE FIRST ONE TO USE THE NEW SYSTEM. WE NEED IS TO SWITCH THE SCREEN FOR US. [INAUDIBLE] CAN WE CALL FOR A SHORT RECESS? YEAH, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK AT THIS TIME UNTIL WE CAN GET THE TECHNOLOGY UP TO SPEED. YEAH, FIVE MINUTES. SO IS FIVE ENOUGH? YEAH, WE'LL START BACK UP AT 10:20. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEREIRA. IS THERE A FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS? IF NOT, LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE. OH, I HAVE TO VOTE TOO DON'T I? DON'T HAVE TO. OK, LET'S TALLY THE VOTES. MOTION PASSES FOR, WITH SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA BEING ABSENT. AND WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO THE REGULAR CALENDAR FOR BOARD ACTION. [BOARD ACTION] NEXT IS BOARD ACTION, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES ITEMS 14 THROUGH 16. HAS THE NEW SUPERVISOR DONE A TUTORIAL ON--? JUST MAKING SURE JOSH. [00:15:03] OK, I HAVE A MOTION BY, UH, SCOTT SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY LLOYD PEREIRA. IS THERE A FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THESE ITEMS? IF NOT, LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE. LET'S TALLY THE VOTES. MOTION PASSES FOR, WITH ONE ABSENCE. NEXT IS HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY ITEM 17. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS? SO I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. THERE'S A FURTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE WE VOTE? SEEING NONE, LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE. LET'S TALLY THE VOTES. MOTION PASSES FOR, WITH ONE ABSENCE. NEXT IS DISTRICT ATTORNEY ITEM NUMBER 18. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND THEN WE HAVE A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. IS THERE A FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? WE HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND. SEEING NONE, LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE. TALLY THE VOTES. MOTION PASSES FOR, WITH ONE ABSENCE. NEXT IS EXECUTIVE OFFICE ITEMS 20 THROUGH TWENTY FIVE. WE MISSED PROBATION. OH, MY APOLOGIES. NO PROBLEM. NEXT IS PROBATION, ITEM 19. IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? I HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND. MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND SECONDED BY SILVEIRA. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE. MOTION PASSES FOR WITH ONE ABSENCE. NEXT ITEM IS THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE. NEXT IS EXECUTIVE OFFICE ITEMS 20 THROUGH 25. PLEASE NOTE WE WILL BE TAKING ITEMS 20 THROUGH 22 TOGETHER WITH A PRESENTATION. ITEM TWENTY THREE SEPARATELY. AND ITEMS TWENTY FOUR AND TWENTY FIVE TOGETHER. PLEASE NOTE ITEM TWENTY FOUR REQUIRES A FOUR FIFTHS VOTE. MR. BROWN. MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AS THE CLERK READ, WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU IF YOU DON'T MIND TO TAKE TWENTY THREE TWENTY TWO AND THEN CONSIDER TWENTY THREE SEPARATELY AND THEN TWENTY FOUR AND TWENTY FIVE. IF IT WORKS WITHIN YOUR CALENDAR MR. CHAIR. TWENTY THROUGH TWENTY TWO. WE'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THOSE FIRST AS A PACKAGE. I THINK EVERYBODY IS AWARE THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY CHALLENGED AND IMPACTED BY COVID DURING THE LAST YEAR AND YOUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY ALSO HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY CHALLENGED. AND OF COURSE YOU HAVE DONE CONSIDERABLE ACTIONS AND DIRECTION TO STAFF. AND HOW DO YOU HELP THE COMMUNITY? HOW DO YOU HELP YOUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY? AND THERE HAS BEEN INTEREST FROM THE BOARD TO LOOK AT SOME PARTICULAR OTHER WAYS IS THE WAYS THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, MITIGATE SOME OF THE IMPACTS TO PARTS OR THE WHOLE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. THERE ARE SECTORS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT SEEM TO VERY CANDIDLY BE ON A ROLLER COASTER RIDE DURING THE PAST YEAR WITH THE DIFFERENT SHUTDOWNS AND REOPENS. AND IN MANY OF THOSE WHERE WE HAVE REGULATORY FUNCTIONS OR RESPONSIBILITIES, WHERE WE HAVE TO STATUTORILY PERFORM THOSE. BUT YET THE BUSINESSES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTINUE TO BE OPEN THROUGH THE YEAR. AND SO THERE HAD BEEN INTEREST FROM BOARD MEMBERS AND TO LOOK AT ARE THERE WAYS THAT WE CAN REVIEW THESE? AND SO STAFF HAS LOOKED AT SOME OPTIONS AND BROUGHT SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOU TO TRY AND HELP LOOK AT THOSE AREAS. SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MR. MIRRIONE. AND WE DO HAVE THERE ARE ABOUT THREE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THAT WE'VE GOT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOU TODAY. AND THOSE DEPARTMENTS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. [00:20:07] GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. CHAIRMAN MCDANIEL, BOARD MEMBERS, COUNTY COUNCIL HANSON AND CEO BROWN. I'M DAVID MIRRIONE, ASSISTANT COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER. AND TODAY I'LL BE GIVING A BRIEF PRESENTATION ON ITEMS TWENTY, TWENTY ONE AND TWENTY TWO REGARDING POSSIBLE FEE WAIVERS AND REDUCTIONS FOR QUALIFIED BUSINESSES IN 2021. SO AS WE'RE ALL AWARE OF THE STATE MANDATED SHUTDOWNS IN 2020, THEY'VE CREATED SIGNIFICANT STRAIN TO THE LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY. MANY SECTORS HAVE BEEN CLOSED OR HAD THEIR OPERATIONS IMPACTED MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. AND THE RECENT REGIONAL STAY HOME ORDER AUTHORIZED IN EARLY DECEMBER AGAIN MANDATED THOSE CLOSURES, THE PROHIBITION OF INDOOR DINING OR REDUCED OCCUPANCY LEVELS IN MULTIPLE SECTORS. AND IT IS CONTINUED INTO 2021. ORIGINALLY, YOU IT WAS A THREE WEEK PERIOD THAT WOULD BE REVIEWED, WHICH IS STILL IN THAT PERIOD. NOW, EACH YEAR, MOST BUSINESSES ARE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN A BUSINESS LICENSE, WITH MANY BUSINESSES REQUIRED TO RECEIVE A HEALTH AND OR ASSEMBLY OCCUPANCY PERMIT. SO DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF BUSINESS, YOU MAY BE REQUIRED TO HAVE ONE, BOTH OR ALL THREE. SO THAT JUST DEPENDS ON THE TYPE OF BUSINESS. DEPENDING ON THE SIZE AND SCOPE OF THE BUSINESS, THE FEES ARE MANDATED AND BUILD AT THE START OF THE CALENDAR YEAR. AND SO, AS CEO BROWN MENTIONED IN HIS EARLIER COMMENTS, WITH THE SHUT DOWNS AND JUST THE IMPACT ON BUSINESS OVERALL WITH THOSE REQUIRED FEES, THAT MAY NOT BE IN THE VALUE THAT COULD BE OBTAINED FROM THOSE BUSINESSES WHEN PAYING THOSE FEES AS THEIR OPERATIONS WERE SO IMPACTED LAST YEAR AND STILL INTO THIS YEAR. SO THE SECTORS MOST IMPACTED BY THE SHUTDOWNS. WE HAVE HERE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY, THE BARS, BODY ART, WHICH IS YOUR PIERCINGS AND TATTOOING, CATERING, CHURCHES, EVENT PRODUCTION, INDOOR OUTDOOR EVENTS, PARTY RENTALS, PERSONAL SERVICES, THAT'S YOUR SALONS AND YOUR NAILS, MASSAGE, PUBLIC POOLS AND SPAS, RESTAURANTS, TEMPORARY FOOD FACILITIES, AS WELL AS THEATERS AND HALLS. SO WE ARE BRINGING FORWARD THERE'S THREE AGENDA ITEMS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY, AND THOSE ARE BROUGHT EACH ONE WITH A RESOLUTION BY DEPARTMENT. AND SO THE FIRST ONE THAT I'LL TOUCH ON TODAY IS THE BUSINESS LICENSE FEES. I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS IS THE UNINCORPORATED AREA ONLY. IF THE BUSINESSES RESIDE IN THE CITY, THEN THAT'S A PROCESS THAT THEY WOULD UNDERTAKE WITH THEIR CITY. THE QUALIFIED SECTORS FOR THIS REDUCTION WOULD BE RESTAURANTS, BARS, ANNUAL TEMPORARY FOOD FACILITIES, BODY ART FACILITIES, PERSONAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC POOLS OR SPAS. WE WOULD SET THOSE 2021 FEES FOR THOSE QUALIFIED BUSINESSES AT FIVE DOLLARS VIA A RESOLUTION THAT IS PART OF YOUR AGENDA PACKET TODAY. COLLECTING ONE DOLLAR AND COUNTING FEES AND FOUR DOLLAR FEES. FOUR DOLLARS FOR ANY BUSINESS LICENSES IS ULTIMATELY REMITTED TO THE STATE EACH YEAR. SO THE POTENTIAL SAVINGS FOR QUALIFIED BUSINESSES WITHIN THOSE SECTORS WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY NINETY FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS. NEXT, WE WOULD HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH FEES. NOW WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THIS WOULD BE COUNTY WIDE FOR BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, NOT JUST THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS. THE QUALIFIED SECTORS, AGAIN, SIMILAR TO THE LAST SLIDE, YOUR RESTAURANTS, BARS, TEMPORARY FOOD FACILITIES, BODY ART FACILITIES AND PUBLIC POOLS AND SPAS. FOR THIS, WE WOULD BE ASKING TO FIRST EXTEND ALL HEALTH PERMIT EXPIRATION DATES FROM TWELVE THIRTY ONE OF TWENTY TWENTY OUT TO THE END OF FEBRUARY, FEBRUARY, TWENTY EIGHTH OF TWENTY TWENTY ONE. AND THAT WOULD BE VIA RESOLUTION. AND THEN TO WAIVE THE 2021 FEES FOR QUALIFIED BUSINESSES VIA THOSE RESOLUTIONS. THE INSPECTIONS WOULD STILL OCCUR AS PLANNED. HOWEVER, THOSE FEES, IF YOU FALL WITHIN THOSE SECTORS WOULD BE WAIVED. THAT THE POTENTIAL SAVINGS FOR QUALIFIED BUSINESSES COULD BE UP TO FOUR HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR FOR TWENTY TWENTY ONE. FINALLY, FIRE OCCUPANCY OPERATION PERMIT FEES. THIS UNINCORPORATED AREA, IT'S COUNTY FIRE CITIES HAVE THEIR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT. SO THIS WOULD JUST BE BUSINESSES WITHIN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA. HERE, THE QUALIFIED SECTORS. AND THIS IS STRAIGHT FROM THE FEE SCHEDULE, YOUR THEATERS, VIEWING HALLS, RESTAURANTS, CHURCHES, DRINKING ESTABLISHMENTS, YOUR SMALLER CHURCH FACILITIES, RECREATION, AMUSEMENT [00:25:06] BUILDINGS AND INDOOR OUTDOOR EVENTS. SO FOR THIS, WE'RE ASKING VIA RESOLUTION TO WAIVE THE 2021 FEES. AND THAT IS YOUR A ONE, TWO, THREE OR A FOUR OR FIVE FEES, DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF BUSINESS THEY WOULD FALL WITHIN THOSE CATEGORIES. AND THOSE INSPECTIONS WOULD STILL OCCUR AS PLANNED. THE POTENTIAL SAVINGS THERE IS THIRTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR 2021. FINALLY, IF APPROVED TODAY, IF ALL THREE ARE APPROVED, THEN THE PROCESS WOULD BE AUTOMATIC, THAT WOULD BE REFLECTED IN BILLING. THERE WOULD NOT BE STEPS NEEDED ON BEHALF OF THE BUSINESSES. THAT WOULD ALL BE PART OF THE PROCESS WHEN ISSUING, BILLING OR WORKING WITH THE BUSINESSES . AND WITH THAT I'LL ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU, DAVID. I HAVE SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS. ONE, WHAT ABOUT CROSS FIT FACILITIES? I DIDN'T SEE THEM SPECIFIC UP THERE OR EVEN A CATEGORY. DID WE EVALUATE-- ARE THERE NONE IN THE COUNTY? IN REVIEWING THE SECTORS THERE, I DID NOT SEE. BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD IF MAYBE A MOTION COULD BE ADDED. OK. WELL IT COULD FALL UNDER PERSONAL SERVICES. OK, WELL WE COULD ELABORATE ON THAT. MR. BROWN. AND ALSO IN RESPONSE TO SUPERVISOR PARIERA THROUGH THE CHAIR, I THINK THE ONLY CATEGORY THAT PROBABLY WOULD FIT US IS MAYBE THE BUSINESS LICENSE AREA. I'M NOT SURE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OR AND I'M LOOKING UP TO THE ASSISTANT CHIEF THERE AND FIRE. DO WE ACTUALLY HAVE INSPECTIONS ON THOSE TYPES OF FACILITIES? NO. SO THAT WOULD BE SOLELY UNDER THE BUSINESS PERMIT FEES AND NOT THE ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH OR FIRE COMPONENT. OK. AND THEN MY SECOND QUESTION IS, IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT THE STATE WOULD WAIVE THEIR FOUR DOLLAR FEE? HAVE WE HEARD ANYTHING? WELL, THE REASON I ASK, RIGHT, IF WE'RE GOING TO CHARGE FIVE DOLLARS IS, WELL, IT'S GOING TO COST US MORE THAN FIVE DOLLARS TO COLLECT THE MONEY. SO JUST TRYING TO BE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT. YEAH, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE WOULD BE THAT POSSIBILITY. WE'VE ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO OUR POINTS OF CONTACT IN SACRAMENTO AND THEY DID NOT FEEL THAT WAY AS WELL. SO IT'S ALMOST JUST WE'RE GOING-- WE FELT IT BEST TO REMIT IT AND TO AVOID POTENTIAL PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD FROM NOT REMITTING IT. SURE. OK, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SURE. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. THANK YOU, CHAIR. YEAH, I'M IN COMPLETE AGREEMENT AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE THESE ITEMS SEPARATELY OR WE CAN TAKE TWENTY ONE AND TWENTY TWO TOGETHER. I'D LIKE TO TAKE TWENTY ONE SEPARATELY OR EXCUSE ME, TWENTY SEPARATELY. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT IT'S NINETY FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS SAVINGS OVERALL BUSINESSES ON ONE CATEGORY THERE'S ANOTHER THIRTEEN THOUSAND AND THEN THE BIG ONE IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERMITS. BUT IT'S KIND OF I KNOW IN SOME CASES IT'S NOT A LOT OF MONEY, BUT I COME FROM THE SCHOOL OF THOUGHT IF YOU WATCH YOUR PENNIES, THE DOLLARS WILL TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES. AND SO I THINK IT'S REALLY, IN SOME CASES, CEREMONIAL. AND I JUST I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD PAY [INAUDIBLE] WE SHOULDN'T SEND HIM THE FOUR DOLLARS. AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MONEY'S COLLECTED FOR. IT'S ANOTHER ONE OF SACRAMENTO'S WAYS TO, YOU KNOW, JUST COME UP WITH GREAT IDEAS UP THERE AND THEN FORCE ON THE LOCALS TO TRY TO DEAL WITH THEIR MESS. AND IT'S REALLY IT'S SET UP. AND I WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR HENDRICKSON FOR GETTING ME THE INFORMATION. IT IS SET UP THAT FOUR DOLLARS GOES TO TRAIN PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO YOU CAN CALL THEM AND COME IN AND THEY CAN DO ADA COMPLIANCE INSPECTIONS ON YOUR BUSINESS. SO I DON'T NECESSARILY DISAGREE WITH THE CAUSE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE WENT THROUGH THIS RASH OF LAWSUITS WITH PEOPLE COMING IN, SUING OVER ADA COMPLIANCE STUFF. THIS GIVES THOSE BUSINESSES AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SOMEBODY THAT'S TRAINED THAT CAN KIND OF TELL, HEY, YOU NEED TO DO THESE THINGS TO PROTECT YOURSELF. BUT TO ME, IT'S A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, AND I GET IT, WE DO NEED TO CHARGE SOME TYPE OF FEE JUST SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THEIR BUSINESS LICENSE IS UPDATED. BUT I JUST DON'T WANT TO SEND THE FOUR DOLLARS TO THE STATE. THEY'VE DONE NOTHING BUT SEND CRAP OUR WAY. I KIND OF MAYBE WANT TO RETURN THE FAVOR. BUT ULTIMATELY I'M GOING TO GO WITH THE JUDGMENT OF OUR LOBBYISTS AND THAT SAYS THAT KIND OF IT MIGHT CAUSE US MORE HEARTACHE. AND THESE GROUPS TEND TO LIKE TO SUE. AND THEN IF WE DON'T REMIT IT AND NOW WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BEING EFFICIENT, IS IT, YOU KNOW, ARE WE GOING TO GET INTO A LAWSUIT THAT'S GOING TO COST US HUNDREDS OF THOUSAND DOLLARS OVER LIKE REALLY LIKE FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS THAT WE'RE GOING TO POTENTIALLY SEND THEM? REALLY I WANT TO JUST SAY IT'S A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE. [00:30:02] NO, I'M NOT [INAUDIBLE] IT, BUT THE BUSINESS SIDE OF ME SAYS WE GOT TO BE SMART ABOUT IT. SO WHEN WE GET TO THAT ITEM, I WILL PROBABLY SUPPORT IT. BUT I WANT TO PUT ON RECORD MY OPPOSITION AND MY PROTEST IN THAT SUPPORT. THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PEREIRA, DO YOU HAVE A--. NO, NO. I CLOSED MY OK, YOU WANT TO CLOSE IT UP? VERY GOOD. NOW, I THINK THIS IS-- THESE ARE DEFINITELY ITEMS THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER. I JUST WISH THE STATE WOULD LISTEN TO US. AGAIN AS I GO BACK, AND I KNOW I'M SINGING THE PRAISES OF SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA BECAUSE THE WEST SIDE IS THE BEST SIDE. BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US. THE GOVERNMENT SHUT THESE BUSINESSES DOWN. WE SHOULD ONLY CHARGE THEM FOR THE OPERATIONS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO CHARGE THEM FOR. SO IF THEY'RE NOT OPEN TO OPERATE, I DON'T SEE HOW THE STATE CAN EVEN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHARGE THEM FOR THE SERVICES THAT THEY CAN'T PROVIDE BECAUSE THE BUSINESS ISN'T OPEN, BECAUSE THEY WERE FORCED TO SHUT DOWN BY OUR GOVERNOR. SEEMS LIKE WE SING THE SAME SONG ALL THE TIME. SO AND I KNOW THAT ANY OF THESE FEES ARE SET UP. WE HAVE TO DO A STUDY BECAUSE OF THE COST OF THE FEES IN PLACE TO PERFORM THE SERVICES THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO PERFORM. THE GOVERNMENT ISN'T PERFORMING THOSE SERVICES. HOW CAN THEY ACTUALLY COLLECT THE FEES? SO I'LL GET OFF MY SOAPBOX AGAIN. I GET SO FRUSTRATED ON THIS BECAUSE GOVERNMENT IS SO OVERREACHING AND TELLING EVERYBODY WHAT TO DO, BUT YET GOVERNMENT CANNOT PERFORM THE SERVICES THAT WE'RE GOING TO CHARGE OUR BUSINESSES FOR. I HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS. I FALL UNDER THE EVENT PRODUCTION, WHICH IS VERY GOOD THAT I DO ALL OVER THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. BUT IN EVENT PRODUCTION, I WAS NOT ABLE TO OPEN MY DOORS AT ALL. BUT THE CONVENIENCE THAT I HAVE IS EACH FACILITY THAT I GO TO, I PERMIT AS I GO. SO THE FOLKS WHO ARE MISSING OUT ON THIS ARE MY SUBCONTRACTORS AND THE FOLKS WHO WORK WITH ME WHO AREN'T ABLE TO GET PAID TO DO WHAT THEY DO IN THIS. BUT AS A COST SAVINGS, I DIDN'T HAVE TO PULL THE PERMITS THIS YEAR FOR THE CONCERTS OR EVENTS THAT WE DID. BUT IT JUST-- I DON'T SEE HOW THE STATE CAN ACTUALLY COLLECT THIS MONEY WHEN THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO DO THE SERVICES BECAUSE THE BUSINESS WAS FORCED TO SHUT DOWN. I'M SORRY. THAT'S MY OPINION. I'LL GET OFF OF THAT. SO I'LL BE LOOKING FOR I THINK WE'RE LOOKING FOR A MOTION AT THIS POINT. I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR REQUESTS. AND WE WANT TO DO EACH OF THEM SEPARATELY? LET'S GO AND DO ITEM 20. I DO HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. EVERYBODY IS GOING CRAZY HERE. OK. SORRY, MR. CHAIR. SO IF IT LOOKS LIKE ITEM 20 IS UP ON THERE, SO IF I NOTICE THAT THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF -- I WANT TO CONFIRM FOR THE RECORD THAT THE MAKER OF THE MOTION AND SECONDED IT ON THE SCREEN SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND SUPERVISOR PAREIRA FOR ITEM 20 ARE OK WITH THAT. AND THEN FROM A STAFF PERSPECTIVE, FOR THE RECORD, SUPERVISORS PAREIRA'S COMMENT RELATED TO WHAT I WILL CALL THE CROSSFADE OR I'LL CALL GYMS AND FITNESS CENTERS IF I MAY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WHAT THE INTENTION OF THE BOARD IS IN THAT ACTION OF WHETHER YOU WANT US FROM A BUSINESS LICENSE PERSPECTIVE TO INCLUDE THOSE IN THAT DEFINITION'S. SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO MISUNDERSTANDING. YEAH. SO I DO HAVE A FIRST AND THE SECOND. IS A FURTHER DISCUSSION? AND EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT? OH, SCOTT, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING? YES, I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT AND ADD IN THE THE GYMS INTO THAT LIST OF THE BUSINESSES THAT WERE PRESENTED IN THE STAFF REPORT. AND ALSO, AGAIN, REITERATE THAT I AM SUPPORTING THIS MOTION, BUT WANT TO PUT ON THE RECORD MY FRUSTRATION AND KIND OF BEING BENT OVER A BARREL BY THE STATE THAT WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM THEIR FOUR DOLLARS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S IN THE RECORD. THANK YOU. AND THE GYMS ARE A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF BEING SHUT DOWN BY THE STATE FOR NINE MONTHS OF THE 12 OF THIS YEAR. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THIS COMMENT THAT HERE IN MERCED COUNTY, MOST OF OUR BUSINESSES ARE SMALL BUSINESSES. AND OFTENTIMES WE GET KIND OF CHIDED BY SOME GROUPS THAT WE SUPPORT BUSINESS AND NOT THE PEOPLE. AND I JUST WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT I AM SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE BECAUSE IT'S PEOPLE THAT OWN THE BUSINESSES HERE AND THE PEOPLE THAT WORK THERE. RIGHT? AND SO I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY PUBLICLY, YOU KNOW, THAT WE WANT OUR [00:35:06] BUSINESSES TO FEEL SUPPORTED. IF WE DON'T HAVE BUSINESSES AND WE DON'T HAVE JOBS, WE DON'T HAVE AN ECONOMY. AND ANYWAY, SO I JUST WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR TAKING THIS ITEM WHEN I BROUGHT IT UP TO STAFF. ALREADY BEEN A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. AND IT TAKES TIME TO WORK THESE THINGS THROUGH LEGALLY AND ALSO PHYSICALLY AND ANYWAY. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CARE ABOUT OUR BUSINESSES AND OUR PEOPLE SO THAT WE CAN HELP THEM WHEN TIMES ARE THE WORST. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO THERE'S NO MORE COMMENTS. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND VOTE. LET'S TALLY THE VOTES. MOTION PASSES FOR WITH ONE ABSENCE. WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER TWENTY ONE AND TWENTY TWO TOGETHER. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE. I GUESS I NEED TO VOTE. LET'S TALLY THE VOTES. MOTION PASSES FOR YESES WITH ONE ABSENCE. AND NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM TWENTY THREE. SO WE ARE LOOKING FOR A NOMINATION AND AS PREROGATIVE OF THE AS CHAIRMAN, I'LL GO AHEAD AND NOMINATE, UH, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. CHAIR, IF I MAY SUGGEST THAT I CAN NOMINATE SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AS THE PRIMARY AND SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AS THE ALTERNATE. OK, LET ME-- SO I DO SIT ON A COMMITTEE AT [INAUDIBLE] AND I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OR AN ALTERNATE TO BE ABLE TO SIT ON THE AG. DO WE KNOW? I DON'T NEED TO? VERY GOOD. YEAH. YEAH, YEAH, I MAKE MY MOTION TO INCLUDE JOSH AS THE SECOND. THANK YOU. SO WE HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND? [INAUDIBLE]. TALLY THE VOTES. MOTION PASSES FOUR AYES WITH ONE ABSENCE. OK, SO WE MOVE ON TO ITEMS TWENTY FOUR AND TWENTY FIVE. CAN THEY BE TAKEN TOGETHER? I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. AND I WAS LOOKING FOR COMMENTS. USUALLY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA LIKES TO COMMENT ON THIS ITEM AND THERE HE IS. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING ME, CHAIR. YOU KNOW, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ITEMS THAT WE TALKED AS A BOARD, AND I WANT TO THANK THIS BOARD FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO THIS ITEM TWENTY FOUR IS A SPRING FAIR ITEM. AGAIN, NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN. THEIR REVENUES FOR THE SPRING FAIR, 80 TO EIGHTY FIVE PERCENT OF THOSE REVENUES ARE GENERATED IN AND AROUND THE WEEK OF THE FAIR. BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, THE FAIR HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN NOW GOING ON TWO YEARS. I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF-- SOME FOLKS THAT HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF DISCOMFORT WITH ALREADY CALLING THE TWENTY TWENTY ONE FAIR. BUT I KNOW IT WASN'T AN EASY DECISION OF THE SPRING FAIR BOARD. I KNOW THAT THEY-- I WAS AT THE MEETING. THEY LABORED OVER IT FOR QUITE SOME TIME. BUT WHEN TRYING TO MAKE DECISIONS MOVING FORWARD AND KIDS HAVING TO MAKE PURCHASING DECISIONS ON ANIMALS AND NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS GOING ON, IT WAS A DECISION THAT HAD TO BE MADE. AND THEY ARE-- SPRING FAIR IS ONE OF THE EARLIEST FAIRS OF THE FAIR SEASON. AND SO WITH THAT, THEY'RE LOSING THEIR REVENUE. AGAIN, SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS. NO GATHERINGS OF OVER LIKE TEN PEOPLE, I THINK IS WHAT IT IS TODAY. THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO RENT THEIR FACILITIES OUT, WHICH MAKES UP THE OTHER 15 TO 20 PERCENT OF THEIR REVENUES. SO LITERALLY, THEY'RE AT ZERO. I THINK THAT SPRING FAIR BOARD WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF, UH, MARCY AND LINDSAY JOHNSON, THEY'VE GONE THROUGH THEIR BUDGET AND AND REALLY REDUCED THINGS DOWN TO WHAT I'M GOING TO CALL IS JUST ON LIFE SUPPORT OVER THEIR REDUCED OFFICE HOURS. SO I THINK THEY'RE DOING THEIR PART. AND SO, AGAIN, THANK THE BOARD FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO KEEPING THAT TRADITION AND THAT HERITAGE THAT WE HAVE OVER THERE IN THE SPRING FAIR ALIVE. [00:40:01] THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND I JUST-- WHEN WE LOOK BACK AT THE FAIR BEING OUR COUNTY FAIR, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE MAINTAIN THAT. SO I DO HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND. UH, LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S TALLY THE VOTES. MOTION PASSES FOUR AYES WITH ONE ABSENT. NEXT IS BOARD INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION, ITEMS TWENTY SIX THROUGH TWENTY EIGHT. [BOARD INFORMATION & POSSIBLE ACTION] ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THIS? I'M LOOKING FOR WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? NOMINATIONS [INAUDIBLE] IS. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. SURE. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. CHAIR, THANK YOU. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR COUNCIL. WHAT HAPPENS IF WE JUST WE DON'T FILE THESE? AS I DON'T AGREE WITH 90 PERCENT OF THEM. I MEAN, I AGREE LIKE ONE THAT PUTS A PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACT ON THERE OR SOME ONE OF OUR THINGS. BUT IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE WE'RE ENDORSING STATE FISH AND GAME AND SOME OF THE CRAZINESS THAT THEY GOT GOING ON OVER THERE WHEN WE FILE THESE THINGS. IS IT MANDATED THAT WE HAVE TO FILE THEM? WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T FILE THEM? I'D KIND OF LIKE TO KNOW. I'VE BEEN WONDERING THAT NOW FOR TWO YEARS. UH, I LOOK AT THESE THINGS. I LOOK AT ALL OF THEM. AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A DEAL WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE TO JOSHUA TREES AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT WE HAVE ANY JOSHUA TREES IN MERCED COUNTY. I MAY BE WRONG, UH, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE-- WHY DO WE HAVE TO FILE THEM TAKING TWO JOSHUA TREE SOMEWHERE ELSE HERE IN MERCED COUNTY. THAT DOESN'T MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE TO ME. I LIKE THE ELDERBERRY [INAUDIBLE]. SO I JUST, YOU KNOW, IF MAYBE FOR THE NEXT MEETING COUNCIL, YOU COULD LOOK INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT AND GIVE ME SOME FURTHER DIRECTION ON THE PURPLE SEA URCHIN IS GETTING A 90 DAY EMERGENCY EXTENSION ON THEIR ACTION. YOU KNOW, MOST OF THESE AFFECT OUR AG COMMISSIONER AND I THINK HE IS IN THE ROOM. DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THESE FILES OR WOULD WE MAKE YOUR JOB EASIER IF WE JUST DIDN'T FILE THESE? NO COMMENT. OK. IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, I WONDERED ABOUT LIKE, WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T? SO I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING YOUR ANSWER AT THE NEXT MEETING. THANK YOU. OH, WE GOT FOURTH OF JULY. I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME TO THE NEXT MEETING TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA . THOSE ARE MORE IN SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY I THINK. OK. I HAVE A FIRST IN A SECOND. IF THERE'S NO FURTHER COMMENTS, I'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S TALLY THE VOTES. MOTION PASSES FOUR AYES WITH ONE ABSENCE. NEXT IS BOARD REPORTS. THANK YOU. AND I THINK WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL MOVE OVER TO MY RIGHT. I WAS LOOKING TO MY LEFT THE WHOLE TIME. AND WE'LL START OUT WITH SUPERVISOR JOSH PEDROZO, YOUR FIRST DAY ON THE DAIS. I'D LIKE TO HEAR YOUR REPORTS. YEAH, UM, SO FIRST, I HOPE EVERYBODY HAD A GREAT AND SAFE HOLIDAY SEASON. AND I JUST WANTED TO REALLY QUICKLY TELL OR THANK THE STAFF AND MY COLLEAGUES UP ON THE BOARD FOR THE LAST DAY AND A HALF. THEY'VE REALLY HELPED ME TRANSITION INTO THE POSITION AND HAVE REALLY SHOWED SOME GOOD LEADERSHIP. AND I APPRECIATE THAT. AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERYBODY MOVING FORWARD. I AM EXCITED TO GET TO WORK AND I CAN'T WAIT. I DO WANT TO THANK ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED ME THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS IN MY CAMPAIGN, ESPECIALLY MY WIFE, HEIDI, WHO COULDN'T BE HERE AND MY CHILDREN OWEN AND LUCY. AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT KNOW MY WIFE, HEIDI, SHE'S THE ONE THAT KIND OF KEEPS EVERYTHING TOGETHER. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. MY CAMPAIGN STAFF FROM MY CAMPAIGN MANAGER, MR. BAUER, WHO'S LIKE A SECOND FATHER TO ME, MY CAMPAIGN CONSULTANT, [INAUDIBLE], WHO'S ALWAYS BEEN LIKE A I'M LIKE A PESKY LITTLE BROTHER THAT HE NEVER HAD. AND I APPRECIATE THAT. [00:45:02] I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY PARENTS AND FAMILY. IF I STARTED NAMING ALL OF MY FAMILY, THEN THEY WOULD CUT THE VIDEO OFF BECAUSE THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH TIME IN THE DAY TO DO THAT. BUT THEY INSTILLED IN ME A PASSION FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND I RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO DO. BUT THIS WORK DOESN'T HAPPEN ALONE. AND I WILL NEED ALL OF YOUR HELP, THE COMMUNITY'S HELP TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS AND ISSUES THAT WE AS A COUNTY FACE. I LOOK FORWARD TO REPRESENTING DISTRICT TWO THROUGH OPEN COMMUNICATION, AND I TRULY, TRULY, TRULY MEAN OPEN COMMUNICATION. MY OFFICE IS RIGHT UP HERE, MY CONTACT INFORMATION. EVERYTHING IS UP HERE. I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. I CAN'T DO THIS JOB UNLESS I HEAR FROM YOU ON WHAT YOUR CONCERNS ARE. AVAILABILITY TO MY CONSTITUENTS AND A CLEAR VISION TO MOVE MERCED COUNTY AND DISTRICT TWO FORWARD. SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO GET TO WORK. AND I'VE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR GUIDANCE MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JOSH. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE TODAY'S MEETING IN MEMORY OF DR. HE PASSED AWAY SUNDAY FROM COMPLICATIONS DUE TO COVID-19. DR. [INAUDIBLE] BECAME AN INDEPENDENT DOCTOR WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES IN OCTOBER OF 2013. HE DID A LOT OF COLLABORATIVE WORK WITH THE LOCAL HOSPITALS AND THE PLACEMENT OF CLIENTS AND WAS VERY HELPFUL TO STAFF AND HAS BEEN MUCH APPRECIATED BY EVERYONE. AND HIS PASSING WILL LEAVE A VOID, A HUGE VOID FOR THE COUNTY OF MERCED. AND ANYWAY, SO I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU ALL. AND THEN SECONDLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE VOTERS OF DISTRICT FOUR FOR GIVING ME ANOTHER FOUR YEARS. TODAY IS ALSO MY FIRST BOARD MEETING. AND ANYWAY, SO I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY AND FOR THE VOTE OF CONFIDENCE. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING GREAT THINGS OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS AS WELL. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. THANK YOU, CHAIR. FIRST OFF, JOSH, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR FIRST DAY. AND AS A GUY WHO'S BEEN HERE NOW TWO YEARS, YOU WILL BE DRINKING FROM THAT PROVERBIAL FIRE HOSE FOR AT LEAST THE FIRST SIX MONTHS. AND IT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION, BUT IT'S GOOD INFORMATION. AND I KNOW WE'RE IN CLOSED SESSION EARLIER. AND THE ACRONYMS I KNOW YOU CAME FROM A CITY BACKGROUND. I FEEL LIKE IT TAKES YOU A COUPLE OF YEARS TO GET USED TO CITY ACRONYMS AND THEN YOU COME TO THE COUNTY AND THEN THERE'S A WHOLE ANOTHER SET OF ACRONYMS. BUT IT'LL GET THERE. IT'LL START MAKING SENSE. AND THEN IF I COULD JUST LEAVE YOU WITH ONE PIECE OF ADVICE AND I'VE SHARED IT WITH YOU PRIVATELY, IS HAVE SOME FUN DOING THIS, BECAUSE TODAY WAS A RARE OCCASION WHERE WE ACTUALLY HAD A CONSTITUENT COME UP AND ACTUALLY THANK US FOR SOME OF THE STUFF THAT WE DO. AND I DON'T THINK WE DO IT FOR THE PRAISE, BUT IT'S NICE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE TO HEAR THAT WE ACTUALLY GOT SOMETHING RIGHT, BECAUSE TYPICALLY WE GET THE PHONE CALLS WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE WE'VE DONE SOMETHING WRONG. SO HAVE SOME FUN DOING THIS JOB, YOU KNOW? AND SO I THINK YOU'LL DO GREAT. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU FOR AT LEAST WITH ME FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT TWO YEARS. AND THEN WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. WITH THAT, I JUST WANT TO HOPE EVERYBODY HAD A SAFE AND SAFE, SAFE AND HAPPY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. COVID IS KIND OF GOING A LITTLE CRAZY RIGHT NOW. THE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THEM. IT LOOKS LIKE WE'VE KIND OF SPIKED AND NOW WE'RE KIND OF COMING DOWN OFF OF THAT SPIKE A LITTLE BIT. BUT THE HOLIDAYS, YOU KNOW, THEY KIND OF EVERYTHING HAPPENS TWO WEEKS LATER. I DO WISH THAT WHEN THE GOVERNOR PUT US IN THE THREE WEEK LOCKDOWN THAT HE WOULD HAVE JUST TOLD US THE TRUTH AND SAID THAT IT'S GOING TO BE UNTIL IT'S OVER LOCKDOWN BECAUSE IT JUST THREE WEEKS AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO EXTEND IT ANOTHER WEEK AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO EXTEND IT ANOTHER WEEK, WHICH I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE FRUSTRATION, AT LEAST THAT I'M HEARING IS THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION. AND I GET IT. IN THE BEGINNING, YOU HAD THE LUXURY, I'M GOING TO CALL IT, OF NOT KNOWING THINGS AND REALLY HAVING TO LEARN STUFF AND COME UP WITH STUFF ON THE FLY. BUT WE'VE BEEN AT THIS NOW FOR, YOU KNOW, NINE, TEN MONTHS. I REALLY WISH AND I KNOW THAT I WANT TO COMMEND THE EIGHT VALLEY COUNTIES THAT THEY GOT TOGETHER AND SENT A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR. AND THERE WAS A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH ON THAT LETTER. BUT IT TALKED ABOUT IN A NICE WAY THAT IT'S THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION COMING FROM THE STATE THROUGH THE COUNTIES. OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH STAFF. I DO THINK AND PRAY ABOUT YOU GUYS QUITE OFTEN BECAUSE I AM SO CONCERNED WITH THIS SILENT PANDEMIC THAT'S GOING ON THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH FOR YEARS TO COME. NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT IT. BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT MURDER RATES, SUICIDE RATES, DEPRESSIONS, ALL THESE OTHER THINGS THAT [00:50:04] ARE HAPPENING ALONG WITH COVID, ALL WE GET TO SEE IN THE NEWS EVERY DAY IS HOW MANY ICU BEDS WE HAVE AND HOW MANY PEOPLE DIED FROM COVID AND HOW MANY NEW CASES WE HAVE. BUT THEY'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE OTHER STUFF. SO I'M GOING TO KEEP IT OUT THERE BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH THAT MOVING FORWARD FOR QUITE SOME TIME. OUR PUBLIC HEALTH STAFF, I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE RIGHT NOW THOSE FOLKS JUST HAVE TO BE WORN OUT. IF YOU JUST THINK ABOUT I MEAN, AND I DON'T WANT THIS TO SOUND INSENSITIVE TO ANYBODY, BUT IT'S KIND OF LIKE THEIR SUPER BOWL, RIGHT? A PANDEMIC LIKE AN OUTBREAK IS WHAT PUBLIC HEALTH KIND OF TRAINS FOR. JUST IMAGINE BEING IN THE SUPER BOWL FOR A YEAR LIKE EVERY DAY, AND IT DOESN'T STOP. AND SO I KNOW THOSE FOLKS ARE WORKING HARD OVER THERE AND THEY GOT-- I KNOW I'M ALREADY AT MY WIT'S END AND I'M NOT NEARLY DOING THE AMOUNT OF STUFF THAT THEY'RE DOING. AND SO I WANT TO COMMEND THEM AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR DEDICATED SERVICE. AND WHAT IS THIS CRAZY ONCE IN A LIFETIME, I HOPE PANDEMIC. UH, I GUESS ONE POSITIVE THAT COMES OUT OF IT. AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S REALLY JUST THE MEDIA'S SPIN ON NUMBERS OR WHATEVER, BUT THOSE WATCHING NEWS YESTERDAY, I THINK IT WAS YESTERDAY, AND THEY WERE SAYING HOW FLU, THE FLU IS LIKE ALMOST NONEXISTENT. NOW, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS BECAUSE THE FLU IS NOW COVID OR, YOU KNOW, AND THEN I HEARD A COMMENT SAYING THAT, UM, INTERESTING HOW ONE IS SO MASKS AND SANITIZING OR WHATEVER DOES A GOOD JOB LIKE FLU IS LIKE DOESN'T EXIST, BUT YET COVID, WHICH IS A TYPE OF FLU IS SO SPREADABLE. I DON'T KNOW. SO IT JUST I GUESS THAT'S A POSITIVE. LESS PEOPLE ARE GETTING THE FLU. I TRY TO FIND THE SILVER LINING BECAUSE THERE AIN'T A WHOLE LOT OF THEM OUT THERE. AND LASTLY, I'M NOT GOING TO LET THIS PANDEMIC SLOW US DOWN. I HAVE PRIORITIES THAT I WANT TO ACCOMPLISH OVER THIS NEXT YEAR. I DO. YOU KNOW, I WANT TO GET TO THE ONE STOP SHOP ON THE SECOND FLOOR THAT I THINK IS A GREAT THING. I STILL I KNOW I CAUGHT SOME CRITICISM ON MY FIRST DAY ON THE JOB WHEN I MENTIONED IT THEN, BUT I'M GOING TO MENTION IT AGAIN, AS I THINK THAT THE CONCEPT IS GREAT. I THINK THAT IT NEEDS SOME WORK. AND BECAUSE I WANT ESPECIALLY NOW I WANT MERCED COUNTY TO BE KNOWN AS AND WE ARE. BUT I THINK THAT WE CAN ALWAYS HAVE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT AS BEING BUSINESS FRIENDLY, GETTING TURNAROUND TIMES ON PERMITS, UM, DOING THE JOB THAT WE NEED TO DO, MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE DOING THINGS SAFELY, BUT YET THERE HAS TO BE. AND WHERE ARE THE PROBLEMS? AND IF THERE'S A PROBLEM, HOW DO WE ADDRESS IT? AND, YOU KNOW, GETTING BACK TO WHAT WE ARE IN THE CUSTOMER SERVICE BUSINESS, FIRST AND FOREMOST, EVERY PERSON THAT WE INTERACT WITH ON A DAILY BASIS IS ONE OF OUR BOSSES. THEY PAY SOME FORM. YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU'RE THE RICHEST GUY IN THE COUNTY, YOU MIGHT PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE OR SOMEBODY'S SALARY OR YOU'RE JUST A PERSON STRUGGLING TO GET BY. YOU MIGHT PAY PENNIES, BUT YOU'RE PAYING THAT PERSON'S SALARY. AND THAT'S THE ATTITUDE THAT WE NEED TO GET BACK TO. AND WE WORK FOR THE PEOPLE. THEY ELECT US AS I HAVE FIFTY SIX THOUSAND BOSSES. WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT THE NEW CENSUS IS. I THINK IT'S PROBABLY A FEW MORE NOW. BUT THOSE ARE MY BOSSES AND WE NEED TO SHOW THEM GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE. AND I THINK WE'RE DOING-- I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO TAKE THIS IS AS WE'RE DOING BAD STUFF HERE. IT REALLY IS, IS THAT THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. WE'VE LEARNED A LOT OF THINGS THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC THAT I THINK SOME OF THEM WE LEARNED THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE SOME STUFF. I THINK THAT WE'VE LEARNED A LOT OF VALUABLE LESSONS IN IT, BUT I DON'T WANT THAT TO BE WHAT DEFINES US. AND, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT HOW AS A POORER COUNTY, A RURAL COUNTY, HOW WE'RE ALWAYS THE FIRST AFFECTED AND THE LAST TO RECOVER. BUT WE STILL YOU KNOW, WE'RE ON THE [INAUDIBLE] TEAM HERE. I KNOW I AM. I THINK A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR, IS TO GET STUFF DONE TO TRY TO DO OUR PART IN MAKING MERCED COUNTY GREAT FOR ALL OF ITS RESIDENTS, NOT JUST NOT JUST ONE RESIDENT, NOT-- FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENT. SO THAT'S MY RANT FOR TODAY. I LOOK FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL OF THIS COVID AND WE CAN GET BACK TO SITTING IN OUR NORMAL SEATS AND DOING THE NORMAL THINGS THAT WE AS HUMANS DO. SO THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR. COUNTY COUNCIL. CEO BROWN. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SIT UP AT YOUR BOARD AS YOUR BOARD CHAIRMAN. TWENTY TWENTY WAS A TOUGH YEAR. BUT LET'S LOOK AT THE RESILIENCY OF MERCED COUNTY. I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS. I GET A LOT OF SOCIAL MEDIA FOLKS MAD AT ME BECAUSE I WAS PUSHING FOR US NOT TO CLOSE DOWN. AND THEY ARE SAYING YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THE SCIENCE. WELL, I DO LOOK AT THE SCIENCE. THERE WAS THE STUDY THAT CAME OUT OF STANFORD, HARVARD AND OXFORD UNIVERSITIES THAT ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT FOLKS GOING HUNGRY IF THEY DON'T WORK AND HOW ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY [00:55:03] FOUR MILLION PEOPLE COULD GO HUNGRY IF WE COMPLETELY SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN. SO WHENEVER I'M TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE GOING TO WORK, JUST LIKE THE FOLKS WHO WORK WITH ME, WHAT YOU UNDERSTAND IS EMPLOYERS ARE SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE NUMBER ONE EMPLOYERS IN THIS NATION. AND EVEN THOUGH THE CUTS THAT WE MADE THIS YEAR, THOSE ARE GOING TO SAVE JOBS. LET'S UNDERSTAND. WE WANT FOLKS TO WORK. IT'S NOT UP TO US TO DIVVY OUT THE MONEY, BECAUSE IF THEY'RE NOT WORKING, IF FOLKS IF BUSINESSES AREN'T OPERATING, GOVERNMENT ISN'T GENERATING REVENUE TO PAY OUT. SO WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THERE'S A WHOLE BALANCE HERE. AND I JUST WANT FOLKS TO KNOW THAT I LOOK MOSTLY TO THE FOLKS WHO ARE WORKING. I WANT TO KEEP THEM TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO MAINTAIN AND TO CREATE AN INCOME FOR THEIR FAMILIES, BECAUSE NOT ONLY WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH ASPECT OF IT, EVERY TIME YOU GET A PAYCHECK, EVERY TIME YOU END THE DAY OF WORK, THERE IS THAT PERSONAL REWARD THAT YOU MOVE ON. AND THAT'S PART OF THE WHOLE SILENT PANDEMIC THAT WE TALK ABOUT UP HERE, THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP THAT IN MIND. FOLKS HAVE TO GET OUT AND DO THAT. THEY NEED A FEELING OF THAT ACCOMPLISHMENT. AND I LOOK TO MY COLLEAGUES HERE. WE DO HAVE COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS AND STAFF WILL BE EMAILING YOU OUT AND PLEASE PUT DOWN WHAT YOU GUYS ARE INTERESTED IN SO WE CAN GET THAT GOING. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS YEAR. A LOT OF GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING. LET'S LOOK AT MERCED COUNTY AND WE TALK ABOUT THE DOOM AND GLOOM, BUT LET'S LOOK AT OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE THROUGH THIS WHOLE PANDEMIC. YOU KNOW, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, WE WERE VERY CLEAR AS WE WANTED TO BALANCE OUT THE ECONOMY AS WELL AS THE VIRUS AS WE APPROACH THIS. AND WE INVITED THE ECONOMISTS TO COME IN AND THEY GAVE US A PRESENTATION. AND I CAN STILL REMEMBER THE ECONOMISTS SAYING THAT WE COULD HAVE ABOUT A 20 PERCENT DIP IN OUR RETAIL SALES. AND I THINK WHAT WAS OUR DIP? THREE PERCENT? JUST ABOUT THREE PERCENT. LOOK AT OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE. MERCED COUNTY HAS FARED VERY WELL THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC. OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE ONLY DIPPED ABOUT TWO TO THREE PERCENT AT THE MOST. WE'RE ALWAYS DOUBLE DIGITS BEHIND THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. WELL, NOT ALWAYS. I MIGHT BE GOING A LITTLE, BUT VERY CLOSE TO. AND YET WE'VE BEEN STEP IN STEP WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IN OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE. AND I HEAR ALL THE TIME FROM EMPLOYERS RIGHT NOW NEEDING EMPLOYMENT. THERE'S A LARGE TRUCKING COMPANY HERE WHO IS DOWN, WHO NEEDS FORTY FOUR DRIVERS RIGHT NOW AND CAN'T FIND THOSE DRIVERS. SO IF THERE'S FOLKS OUT HERE WITHOUT A JOB RIGHT NOW, PLEASE, LET'S LOOK INTO IT. I KNOW WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. WE HAVE A TRUCK DRIVING SCHOOL THAT WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR FOLKS, BECAUSE THAT ISN'T JUST A JOB WE'RE GETTING. WE'RE GIVING YOU A CAREER THAT MAKES REALLY, REALLY GOOD MONEY. SO WITH THAT, THANKS, GUYS, FOR THIS POSITION. AND WE'LL GO AHEAD AND END THIS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING. THANK YOU. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.