[Call to Order]
[00:00:05]
THE SPREAD OF COVID 19 VIRUS, THE COUNTY IS CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS WITH THE SEATING FOR THE PUBLIC LIMITED TO TWENTY FIVE.
WE HAVE ALSO PROVIDED SOME OVERFLOW SPACE ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS FROM 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. WE WILL NOW START WITH THE INVOCATION LED BY PASTOR BRUCE LOGUE OF LIFE SPRING CHURCH HERE IN MERCED.
AND THEN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE LED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO SINCE HE INVITED PASTOR BRUCE HERE. THANK YOU.
DELIBERATE, FILL THEM WITH THE WISDOM THAT COMES FROM YOU, GIVE THEM CLARITY OF MIND AS THEY TACKLE THE DAY'S AGENDA.
AND MAY THEY FIND EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES, GIVE THEM FOCUS TO SEE THINGS THAT ARE POTENTIALLY TROUBLESOME AND REVEAL TO THEM SOLUTIONS THAT APPLY.
MAY POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOLLOW THEIR DECISIONS AND ENCOURAGE THE CITIZENS OF OUR COUNTY.
GIVE THEM THE VIRTUES THEY NEED TO LEAD EFFECTIVELY.
COMPASSION, KINDNESS, FAITHFULNESS, VISION, INTEGRITY.
I PRAY FOR THEM AS THEY PAY ATTENTION TO THE VOICES IN OUR COUNTY.
I PRAY THAT THEY SHOW UNUSUAL CARE AND CONCERN FOR THE WELL-BEING OF MERCED COUNTY AND FOR EVERY PERSON WHO CALLS HER HOME.
AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU, PASTOR. WE HAD CLOSED SESSION THIS MORNING DIRECTION TO INITIATE LITIGATION FOR ONE CASE HAS BEEN GIVEN TO COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE CEO BY A UNANIMOUS VOTE.
THE DEFENDANTS AND OTHER PARTICULAR SHALL BE DISCLOSED ONCE THE ACTION IS FORMALLY COMMENCED. IN ADDITION, STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION REGARDING REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATION ITEMS. IT IS NOW TIME FOR PUBLIC
[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK]
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.AND AT THIS TIME, WE'LL GO AHEAD, I KNOW WE HAD WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY COME IN THROUGH EMAIL OR VOICEMAIL. SO AT THIS TIME, I'M SEE SOMEBODY VERY ANXIOUSLY WAITING TO GET TO THE PODIUM. CHIEF, GO AHEAD, CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, CEO BROWN, MIKE VAN LOBEN SELS, FIRE CHIEF FOR THE MERCED COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT.
FOR ME, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE STANDING IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY.
I HAVE TWO PROMOTIONS RECENTLY WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION THAT I WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO TODAY. FIRST ONE IS CHRIS TRINIDAD, WHO'S NOW THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF OPERATIONS FOR THE CAL FIRE UNIT. AND HE WILL BE OVERSEEING THE DIRECT SUPERVISOR FOR CHIEF PIMENTEL, WHO IS ALSO A NEW PROMOTION, IS NOW THE NEW MERCED DIVISION CHIEF.
START OFF WITH CHRIS. CHRIS HAS BEEN A LIFELONG RESIDENT HERE IN MERCED AND STARTED HIS CAREER WITHIN MERCED COUNTY AS A VOLUNTEER AND HAS WORKED HIS WAY UP THROUGH THE RANKS FROM FIREFIGHTER, ENGINEER, CAPTAIN, BATTALION CHIEF.
AND NOW HE IS MY DEPUTY CHIEF.
AND HIS MAIN OFFICE WILL BE OUT OF MARIPOSA WORKING FOR ME, BUT HE'LL BE INVOLVED DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS DOWN HERE IN MERCED.
THE SECOND ONE IS CHIEF MARK PIMENTEL.
MARK PIMENTEL IS ANOTHER ONE, STARTED HIS CAREER AND WORKED AS MOST OF HIS CAREER THROUGH MERCED COUNTY. BOTH, AGAIN, ARE LOCAL TO THE COMMUNITY, WHICH I FEEL IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, WORKING AS A MERCED COUNTY FIRE CHIEF TO HAVE FOLKS LOCAL THAT ARE HERE TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE AS MUCH ATTENTION TO MERCED COUNTY AND THIS FIRE DEPARTMENT AS POSSIBLE.
SO, AGAIN, I'LL INTRODUCE CHRIS TRINIDAD LET HIM COME UP AND SAY A QUICK WORD.
AND CHIEF PIMENTEL, COME UP AND SAY A QUICK WORD ALSO.
[00:05:01]
CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.GOOD AFTERNOON OR GOOD MORNING, BOARD MEMBERS.
I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M HONORED AND HUMBLED TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I WILL NOT LET DOWN THE COMMUNITY OR ANY OF YOU GUYS AS I SERVE MERCED COUNTY.
BOARD MEMBERS, CEO BROWN, THANK YOU AGAIN.
I'VE GOTTEN MY OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH EACH OF YOU AND ACTUALLY WORKED IN PREVIOUS YEARS. I'M JUST HONORED AND EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MERCED COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT. ANYTIME YOU NEED OR ANYTHING YOU NEED, PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME.
I'M EXCITED TO HELP OUT AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE COUNTY OF MERCED THANK YOU AGAIN.
HAVE A GOOD DAY. SO SINCE I GOT 50 SECONDS LEFT REALLY QUICK, I JUST REALLY, REALLY THIS FOR ME IS A HUGE CHANGE.
THESE POSITIONS HAVE BEEN OPEN FOR A FEW MONTHS.
AND THE AMOUNT OF WORKLOAD THAT'S GOING TO COME OFF OF ME AND BE ABLE TO FOR THESE TWO THIS IS AMAZING FOR ME.
AND BEING THE FACT THAT THEY'RE BOTH LOCAL AND BOTH COMMUNITY BASED HERE, I THINK IS A HUGE, HUGE WIN FOR THIS UNIT AS WELL AS THIS COUNTY AS A WHOLE.
SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH AND I APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] WE APPRECIATE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH CAL FIRE BECAUSE I SEE A LOT OF THE OTHER COUNTIES WHO STRUGGLE WITH THEIR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT AND COST.
AND WE APPRECIATE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU GUYS.
GOOD MORNING. YOU CAN LOWER THAT PODIUM, IF YOU WILL.
THERE'S A BUTTON TO YOUR RIGHT, YOUR OTHER RIGHT.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS BETH DIAZ AND I AM FROM HILMAR, CALIFORNIA, AND I BRING IN FOUR OTHER MOMS WITH ME.
WE RECENTLY ATTENDED OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AND WE JUST HAD SOME QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO MASKS, THE MANDATES, STUFF LIKE THAT.
I'M SURE LOTS OF QUESTIONS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE ALREADY HEARD.
I'M SURE NONE OF THIS IS GOING TO BE NEW TO YOU, BUT AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN LEAVE HERE WITH ANY ANSWERS, BUT MAYBE JUST TO GET SOME INFORMATION ACROSS TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. SO IN HILMAR SO MERCED COUNTY, I BELIEVE WE FOLLOW THE STRONGER TOGETHER MODEL.
IS THAT CORRECT? WHICH STATES THAT K THROUGH TWO IS NO MASKS AND THEN THREE THROUGH 12 SHOULD WEAR MASKS, ESPECIALLY WHEN SOCIAL DISTANCING IS NOT.
IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO SOCIAL DISTANCE, THAT'S WHEN WE SHOULD WEAR THE MASKS.
CURRENTLY HILMAR IS ALL AGES, ALL MASKS.
I THINK THEY JUST CHANGED TO EXCEPT NOW WHEN YOU'RE OUTSIDE, THERE'S NO LONGER A NEED FOR A MASK. SO WITH THAT, MY QUESTION IS WHERE CAN WE FIND INFORMATION? WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT IF WE DON'T IF THE KIDS DON'T WEAR MASKS, THAT WE HAVE THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING SHUT DOWN AS A SCHOOL.
WE WERE TOLD IF OUR KIDS DIDN'T WEAR MASKS WHILE IN SPORTS OR IN THE DUGOUTS AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WOULD SHUT US DOWN AND TAKE OUR SPORTS AWAY.
WE ARE WHERE THERE'S NOW NO NEED TO WEAR MASKS OUTSIDE.
SO IF WE WERE THREATENED WITH BEING SHUT DOWN, WE WEREN'T.
SO I GUESS THAT'S MY QUESTION IS, IS THERE SOMEWHERE WHERE WE CAN GO, WHERE IT TALKS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE MANDATES? AND IS THIS A LOT OF THE KIDS HAVE TO WEAR MASKS? IS THIS SOMETHING THAT BECAUSE ACCORDING TO THE STRONGER TOGETHER MODEL, THEY SHOULD ONLY WEAR MASKS WHEN SOCIAL DISTANCING IS NOT POSSIBLE? SO WONDERING WHERE THAT'S STATED.
HILMAR IS ALSO STILL ON HYBRID LEARNING.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE OTHER SCHOOLS ARE IN MERCED COUNTY IF OTHER SCHOOLS ARE BACK FULL TIME, BUT HILMAR IS STILL ON A HYBRID LEARNING KIDS GO TWO DAYS A WEEK AND EVERY OTHER WEDNESDAY AND EVERY OTHER WEDNESDAY IS A HALF DAY.
SO YOU KNOW ME AS A PARENT, I'M EXTREMELY CONCERNED.
I AT ONE POINT HAD STRAIGHT-A STUDENTS AND NOW I HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE FAILING CLASSES BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT IN SCHOOL FULL TIME.
I HAVE DAUGHTERS, TWO DAUGHTERS NOW A FRESHMAN AND SOPHOMORE WHO ARE ON MEDICATION FOR CHRONIC MIGRAINES JUST FOR SEVERAL REASONS.
AND IT'S BEEN WAY HIGHER THIS YEAR THAN THE HEADACHES WERE LAST YEAR.
THEY STILL HAD THE HEADACHES BEFORE, BUT NOW IT'S JUST IT'S INSANE.
MY DAUGHTERS HAVE MISSED TWENTY ONE DAYS OF SCHOOL THIS YEAR JUST BECAUSE OF THEIR HEADACHES.
SO ANYWAY, SO THAT'S WHERE OUR FRUSTRATION COMES IN AS PARENTS.
AND WHAT DOES NEXT YEAR LOOK LIKE FOR US? YOU KNOW, IS THIS WHAT'S GOING TO BE GOING INTO NEXT YEAR? WE'RE HOPING NEXT YEAR IS A LOT DIFFERENT.
I WANT MY KIDS TO GO TO COLLEGE AND HAVE.
GOOD JOB, MOM. APPRECIATE YOU BEING A GOOD MOM AND COMING UP AND STATING THAT, BECAUSE I THINK THIS BOARD ALL FEELS THE SAME WAY.
DR. SULLIVAN SAID SHE WILL MEET WITH YOU ON THE WAY OUT IF YOU WANT TO TAKE YOUR GROUP AND MEET WITH DR. SULLIVAN.
[00:10:01]
SHE PROBABLY SHE HAS THE ANSWERS TO A LOT OF THOSE QUESTIONS.BUT THANK YOU FOR COMING BEFORE THE BOARD.
GOOD MORNING, DIRECTOR SUPERVISORS CHRISTINE CHAVEZ, I AM THE TRANSIT MANAGER FOR THE TRANSIT JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY.
THANK YOU. NICE TO SEE YOU ALL.
SO I WANTED TO PROVIDE YOU AN UPDATE ON SOME OF THE TRANSIT SERVICES THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON IN MERCED COUNTY. AND WE RECENTLY MODIFIED OUR EXISTING FIXED ROUTE SERVICES, FLEX ROUTE SERVICES ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE COMMUNITY OF DOS PALOS, SANTA NELLA, GUSTINE AND LOS BANOS AS OF MAY 1ST.
WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE LAUNCHED THE MICROBUS.
THE MICROBUS IS AN EIGHT MONTH PILOT THAT IS CATERING TOWARDS THE WEST SIDE COMMUNITIES TRANSIT NEEDS. FEEDBACK ON THE PILOT IS GOING TO BE VITAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM.
THE MICROBUS IS A BIT MORE OF A FLEXIBLE TRANSIT SYSTEM.
SO IT'S A MIX OF THE FIXED ROUTE AND AN ON DEMAND SERVICE.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT MIRRORING AN UBER LYFT WITH A FIXED ROUTE SERVICE.
AND SO YOU HAVE VIRTUAL STOPS THROUGHOUT YOUR COMMUNITY THAT YOU CAN TRAVEL TO TO GET PICKED UP AT THE STOP AT BY A BUS.
SO IT'S NOT ACTUALLY DOOR TO DOOR SERVICE, BUT WE DO OFFER DOOR TO DOOR SERVICE FOR THOSE ADA PASSENGERS THAT WOULD REQUIRE THAT.
THE MICROBUS IS PROVIDING DEMAND RESPONSE FOR ALL OF THOSE WEST SIDE COMMUNITIES.
AND WE HAVE ALSO MODIFIED THE LAS BANOS COMMUTER SERVICE TO PROVIDE HOURLY SERVICE.
SO IF YOU DOWNLOAD AN APP, YOU CAN BOOK YOUR RIDE WITHIN 10 TO 45 MINUTES OF REQUESTING YOUR RIDE ON THE SAME DAY, WE ALSO TAKE ADVANCE RESERVATIONS.
AND WITHIN THE APP YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THE VIRTUAL STOPS THAT ARE CLOSEST TO YOU.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET THEM ALL NO FURTHER THAN A QUARTER MILE FROM MOST RESIDENTS.
FARES ARE A DOLLAR FIFTY PER RIDE AND YOU CAN PAY WHEN BOOKING THE RIDE ON THE APP WITH CASH ON THE BUS.
OR IF YOU'RE A SENIOR VETERAN OR ADA ELIGIBLE PASSENGER, YOU CAN PAY A DISCOUNTED RATE.
BUT WE WILL NEED TO SET UP YOUR PROFILE.
SO IF YOU CAN CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE TO SET THAT UP, WE WILL TAKE CARE OF THAT.
THE OPERATING HOURS ARE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 6 A.M.
PASSENGERS NEEDING TO TRANSPORT A BICYCLE ON THE MICROBUS WILL JUST SELECT THE OPTION AT THE TIME OF BOOKING. AND ALL VEHICLES ARE ADA ACCESSIBLE.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE INFORMATION ON FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY ON HOW THE MICROBUS IS GOING. SO IF ANYONE HAS ANY FEEDBACK, FEEL FREE TO SEND IT MY WAY.
AND THEN SINCE I HAVE ABOUT 40 SECONDS LEFT, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A PLUG FOR THE OTHER HAT THAT I WEAR.
YOSEMITE AREA REGIONAL TRANSIT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AS OF YESTERDAY, WE'VE LAUNCHED THE SUMMER SERVICES ON THE HIGHWAY 140 CORRIDOR AND THE 120 CORRIDOR.
AND LAST MONDAY WE STARTED SERVICES ON THE 41 CORRIDOR.
SO I'D ENCOURAGE YOU OR ANYONE LISTENING TO BOOK YOUR RIDE ON YARTS.
AND MARIPOSA AND MERCED COUNTY RESIDENTS CAN RIDE FREE.
IF YOU CALL OUR CUSTOMER, IF YOU CALL OUR OFFICE.
SO DEFINITELY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.
I DO SIT ON YARTS AND MY COLLEAGUE IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE YARTS COMMITTEE.
AND THERE'S ONE QUESTION THAT I HAVE GOTTEN THAT I SHOULD HAVE REACHED OUT.
AND I BUT HERE IN THE PUBLIC, I'M SURE THEY HAVE THE SAME QUESTION.
SO IF FOLKS TAKE YARTS TO YOSEMITE, DO THEY NEED TO HAVE A REGISTRATION AHEAD OF TIME? BECAUSE I SAW WHERE THERE'S NO SHUTTLE BUSSES RUNNING IN YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK THIS SUMMER AND THEY'RE REQUIRING A RESERVATION.
SO HOW DOES THAT PROCESS WORK WITH YARTS? SO YOUR RIDE INTO YARTS FROM OUTSIDE OF THE PARK INCLUDES YOUR DAY USE.
OK, SO IF YOU BUY A TICKET ON YARTS TO GO INTO YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, THAT IS YOUR PASS TO GET IN. YES, BUT YOU CANNOT GET INTO THE PARK AND RIDE THE BUS IN THE PARK WITHIN THE PARK. YOU HAVE TO BE OUTSIDE OF THE PARK TO RIDE YARTS INTO THE PARK.
YOU CANNOT DRIVE INTO THE PARK AND RIDE YARTS.
VERY GOOD. YARTS WILL BE YOUR DAY PASS.
OR TAKE YOUR BIKE. YOU CAN ALWAYS WALK OR RIDE INTO THE PARK.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER FOLKS THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME, IF NOT, WE'LL MOVE INTO THE REGULAR PART OF THE MEETING.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
NEXT IS APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA CALENDAR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 12, PLEASE, NOTE ITEM 7 REQUIRES A FOUR FIFTHS VOTE.ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WANT TO CALL ATTENTION TO ITEM NUMBER 6.
IT IS A BUDGET TRANSFER IN THE AMOUNT OF ONE HUNDRED AND ONE DOLLARS TO COVER FREIGHT
[00:15:02]
CHARGES, NOT INCLUDED IN THE ORIGINAL QUOTE FOR THE PORT COUNT TABLETS.AND SO IN THINKING AND LOOKING OVER THIS ISSUE LAST WEEK, I WAS REALLY POISED TO VOTE NO ON THIS ITEM. BUT ULTIMATELY, I AGREE WITH WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR, WHAT I DON'T AGREE WITH IS THE PROCESS. AND SO JUST TO SHED A LITTLE BIT OF LIGHT ON THAT IS, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A COST ASSOCIATED WITH PUTTING EACH ONE OF THESE ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA.
AND IS IT THE BEST USE OF OUR TIME AND RESOURCES TO EXPEND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN MY MIND, I HAVE A NUMBER OF APPROXIMATELY A THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF STAFF TIME THAT GOES INTO EACH ONE OF THESE ITEMS. NOW, IS THAT TRUE ON EVERY ITEM? PROBABLY NOT, BUT I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY SOLID NUMBER AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYBODY TO CORRECT ME ON THAT IF I'M WRONG.
SO I GUESS WHAT MY ASK IS HERE IS REALLY AND I DO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE GOVERNED UNDER THE CALIFORNIA BUDGET ACT, I BELIEVE IS WHAT IT'S CALLED, AND IT REQUIRES SPECIFIC THINGS FOR BOARDS TO APPROVE.
I WOULD REALLY LIKE COUNCIL TO START DIGGING INTO.
IS THERE A WAY I AM PERFECTLY COMFORTABLE WITH GIVING THAT AUTHORITY OVER TO THE CEO'S OFFICE THAT IF AN ITEM COSTS MORE TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA THAN THE ACTUAL ASK FOR THE ITEM, IT'S PROBABLY NOT THE BEST USE OF THE TAXPAYER'S TIME AND RESOURCES.
AND SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO LOOK INTO THAT AND MAYBE COME UP WITH A SOLUTION.
AND WHAT IF THAT SOLUTION IS IF WE HAVE TO DO IT BY AN ORDINANCE I WOULD ENCOURAGE THIS BOARD TO CONSIDER THAT OR SOME KIND OF RESOLUTION TO REALLY KIND OF STREAMLINE AND MAKE OUR PROCESSES A LITTLE BIT MORE EFFICIENT AND UNDERSTANDING THAT EVERYBODY IS BEING PAID TO BE HERE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
BUT IF WE LOOK AT OPPORTUNITY COSTS OF, YOU KNOW, IF TIME IS BEING SPENT ON THIS, THAT'S TIME THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SPENT ON SOMETHING ELSE.
AND I'M SORRY, IT JUST KIND OF GETS UNDER MY SKIN A LITTLE BIT WHEN WE LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN AS SMALL AS AN EIGHT DOLLAR AND THIRTY SIX CENT ITEM COME BEFORE THE BOARD.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE A SEVEN HUNDRED AND TWENTY PLUS MILLION DOLLAR A YEAR OPERATION HERE.
AND WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS AND I DO BELIEVE THAT IF YOU WATCH YOUR PENNIES, THE DOLLARS WILL TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.
BUT IN THE INTERESTS OF TRANSPARENCY, SOMEHOW THAT THESE THINGS GIVING SOME AUTHORITY OVER TO THE CEO'S OFFICE TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS.
AND THEN WHETHER IT'S QUARTERLY OR EVERY OTHER MONTH, IN MY FAVORITE PART OF THE AGENDA, WHEN WE MOVE TO FILE LIKE SOME KIND OF JUST SIMPLE, UH, YOU KNOW, WHERE THAT COMES OUT THAT SAYS, HEY, OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST TWO MONTHS, THERE WAS A DECISION TO ALLOW FOR ONE HUNDRED AND ONE DOLLARS TO COVER SOME TABLETS.
THERE WAS A DECISION FOR EIGHT DOLLARS AND THIRTY SIX CENTS.
SO THERE WAS REPORTED OUT ALL AT ONCE.
I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE.
AND JUST REALLY TO KIND OF PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE FOR THE FOLKS THAT ARE THERE WATCHING, WHEN WE PUT ITEMS THROUGH, THERE'S IT'S JUST THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO IT.
YOU HAVE WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY IS, YOU KNOW, THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, THE FIRST PERSON THAT KIND OF PUTS THE ITEM TOGETHER, THAT PROBABLY GETS REVIEWED BY THEIR SUPERVISOR WITHIN THEIR DEPARTMENT, THAT GOES UP TO A DEPUTY DIRECTOR, THE DIRECTOR.
THEN THEY ENTER IT INTO [INAUDIBLE] WHICH THEN NOW THESE ITEMS NEED TO BE REVIEWED BY COUNSEL'S OFFICE AND THEY NEED TO BE REVIEWED BY POTENTIALLY AUDITOR CONTROLLERS OFFICE, H.R., THE CEO'S OFFICE.
THERE'S THE CEO STAFF THAT NOW HAS TO PUT THESE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE NUMBERED THAT ALL THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION GOES WITH THESE THINGS.
AND IT'S IT'S JUST REALLY A WAY OF HOW DO WE STREAMLINE THE PROCESS A LITTLE BIT.
SO IN THINKING ABOUT IT OVER THE WEEKEND, I DO SUPPORT WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.
AND I DON'T WANT TO, YOU KNOW, NOT LET BUSINESS HAPPEN, BUT JUST REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE. IS THERE A BETTER WAY THAT WE CAN BE DOING THIS? THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY CHAIR.
I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THAT.
ANY TIME SOMETHING COMES UP LIKE THAT AND LOOK FORWARD TO ADDRESSING EXACTLY YOUR IDEAS ON THAT. SO I DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZA.
WAS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS AT THIS TIME? WE'LL DO A BRIEF PRESENTATION BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA AS SOON AS WE'RE DONE.
AND AT THAT TIME, I'D LIKE FOR THE WHOLE BOARD TO JOIN US DOWN THERE.
LET'S TALLY THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
AND WITH THAT, WE DO HAVE A PRESENTATION OF A PROCLAMATION WHICH WAS NUMBER 12 ON OUR BOARD RECOGNITION.
IT'S A PROCLAMATION FOR ASIAN-AMERICAN NATIVE HAWAIIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.
I APPRECIATE SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION.
AND WE'LL LET HIM DO THE PRESENTATION IF WE CAN ALL JOIN HIM DOWN THERE FOR THE PICTURES.
[00:20:19]
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A TOUGH YEAR FOR ALL OF US WITH THE PANDEMIC, BUT ESPECIALLY FOR ASIAN AMERICANS, YOU KNOW, OF [INAUDIBLE] NATIONALS IN ASIA.IT'S YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD OF ALL THE INJUSTICE AND, YOU KNOW, PHYSICAL VIOLENCE THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACTED ON AND ON OLDER, YOU KNOW, ASIAN AMERICANS AND FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE ALL ACROSS OUR NATION.
SO WE WORK WITH MY FRIENDS [INAUDIBLE] FROM [INAUDIBLE] THE VALLEY TO GET A RESOLUTION WITHIN THE LAST MONTH. AND I ALSO APPRECIATE OUR BOARD HERE FOR SUPPORTING US AND BRINGING THE ATTENTION TO OUR COUNTY.
SO I'M JUST GOING TO READ FROM HERE A PROCLAMATION IN SUPPORT OF ASIAN-AMERICAN AND NATIVE HAWAIIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH IN 2021, WHEREAS THIS MADE DURING ASIAN, ASIAN-AMERICAN AND NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.
WE RECOGNIZE THE HISTORY OF ACHIEVEMENTS OF ASIAN-AMERICANS, NATIVE AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS ACROSS OUR NATION IN MERCED COUNTY.
WHEREAS IN THE MIDST OF A DIFFICULT YEAR OF PAIN AND FEAR, WE REFLECT ON THE TRADITION OF LEADERSHIP, RESILIENCE AND COURAGE SHOWN BY THE AANHPI COMMUNITIES.
AND WE COMMIT THE STRUGGLE OF AAPI EQUITY.
WHEREAS FEAR AND IGNORANCE ABOUT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS INCREASED, SCAPEGOATING AND ANTI-ASIAN SENTIMENT MANIFESTED IN GREATER HATEFUL RHETORIC, FALSE ACCUSATIONS OR REPORTS OF BULLYING, HARASSMENT AND VIOLENCE OF PEOPLE OF ASIAN HERITAGE ACROSS THE NATION.
AND WHEREAS IN DECEMBER OF 2019, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED AN ITEM UPDATING THE COUNTY'S MISSION, VISION AND VALUES TO BETTER REFLECT WHO WE ARE AS AN ORGANIZATION AND DEFINING WHAT WE WANT FOR THE FUTURE, THE MISSION PLACES AN EMPHASIS ON ENHANCING AND PROTECTING OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY.
THE VISION UNDERSCORES INCLUSION AND THE VALUES HIGHLIGHT THE NEED TO RESPECT AND VALUE DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AS AN ORGANIZATION.
AND WE BELIEVE THOSE ARE JUST WORDS ON PAPER, BUT A GUIDE TO OUR ACTIONS AS PUBLIC SERVANTS AND WHEREAS SEVERAL OF OUR PUBLIC FACING DEPARTMENTS PARTICIPATE IN ONGOING TRAINING FOCUSED ON THE EDUCATION AND CELEBRATION OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY, AS WELL AS RECOGNIZING IMPLICIT BIAS THAT THE COUNTY WILL CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN HIGH STANDARDS REGARDING TRAINING, CONTENT, METHODS AND PROTOCOLS THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED.
WE, THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 2021 AS ASIAN-AMERICAN AND NATIVE HAWAIIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH.
SO WE CALL UPON THE RESIDENTS OF MERCED COUNTY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF ASIAN-AMERICANS, NATIVE HAWAIIANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS, AND TO OBSERVE THIS MONTH WITH APPROPRIATE PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES SO WE CAN HAVE THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE [INAUDIBLE] COMMUNITY OR ANYBODY ELSE THAT OF ASIAN DESCENT THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP WITH NATIVE HAWAIIAN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MR. [INAUDIBLE] YOU KNOW, I REPRESENT TO THE ASIAN AMERICANS AND OTHER NHPI COMMUNITY THIS PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MERCED COUNTY. HERE YOU GO, SIR.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS, MR. CHAIR? THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
I THINK BY READING THE WHOLE THING, YOU PUT IT IN GREAT PERSPECTIVE.
MERCED COUNTY AS A BOARD, WE TOOK THAT ACTION A WHILE AGO.
AND WHEN YOU BROUGHT IT TO US, WE THOUGHT IT WAS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE COULD DO AS A BOARD WE'RE KNOWN AS GSD.
AND SO FROM THAT GOING FORWARD, THANK YOU TO YOU FOR BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION AND RODRIGO. THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU DID.
LEADERSHIP AND WORKING WITH OUR API LEADERSHIP TEAM HERE IN MERCED AND ALSO OTHER
[00:25:03]
SUPERVISORS FOR YOUR CONTINUOUS SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY.I WANT TO SAY YOU MAY BE THE FIRST COUNTY THAT DID A PROCLAMATION'S TO SUPPORT AAPI MONTH. SO I DON'T KNOW, BUT I'M SURE THAT WOULD BE THE CASE.
AND THAT'S A COMPLIMENT TO MAY AS A AAPI HERITAGE MONTH.
I JUST WANTED TO LIFT UP THAT.
IT HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT FOR ASIAN DESCENDED AND NOT JUST THE PANDEMIC, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S HATE CRIMES GOING ON ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
I'M GLAD MERCED HASN'T FACED A LOT OF THAT.
AND I HAVE MY WIFE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE AS WELL.
EVERY TIME SHE GOES OUT OF THE STORE, I HAVE TO GO WITH HER.
AND I THINK THAT ADDRESSES BEING PROACTIVE AND THE LEADERSHIP IN MERCED COUNTY IS ALWAYS KNOWN TO BE MORE PROACTIVE THAN REACTIVE.
SO THAT'S WHY WE BROUGHT THIS TO ATTENTION SINCE LAST YEAR.
WE HAVE OVER ALMOST 400 CASES INCIDENT, ABOUT ANTI ASIAN HATE.
SO WE ARE REALLY GLAD TO STAND FIRM WITH YOU TO ASK YOU TO STAND WITH US AS WELL AND CONDEMN ANY TYPE OF HATE AGAINST ANY PARTICULAR GROUP.
AND WITH THIS RESOLUTION, SPEAK LOUD AND CLEAR THAT MERCED COUNTY'S LEADERSHIP CANNOT AND WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY CRIMES AGAINST ANY PARTICULAR RACE.
SO WITH THAT, I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY TEAM, SAHEED, FROM THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY, HE'S BEEN A VERY ACTIVE OUTGROUP.
STEVE IS ALSO WHAT YOU SEE MERCED AND [INAUDIBLE] ALSO ACTIVE IN OUR GROUP AND SHE'S ALSO REPRESENTING SOMERSET, ALSO AAPI REAL ALLIANCE OF CALIFORNIA.
SO IT'S A NUMBER OF GROUPS AND I KNOW [INAUDIBLE] ASSOCIATIONS ALSO PARTICIPATE, BUT THEY COULDN'T BE HERE. BUT WITH THAT, I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN GIVING US THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] AND THANK YOU TO YOU.
I MEAN, YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN HUGE AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. YOU'RE NOT ONLY JUST FOCUSED, YOU'RE FOCUSED ON EVERYBODY.
AND THAT'S MUCH APPRECIATED WITH THE SCHOOLS WHEN YOU WERE A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER AND EVERYTHING ELSE. SO I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING AS WELL.
THANKS. LET'S GET IN CLOSER FOR A BETTER PICTURE.
[BOARD ACTION]
HIS TIMING WAS IMPECCABLE I WAS GETTING READY TO LOOK OUT AND SAY, IS OUR AG COMMISSIONER HERE TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS? AND HE WASN'T. BUT HE'S HERE NOW.ARE THERE NO QUESTIONS FOR OUR AG COMMISSIONER? OH, VERY GOOD CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
THANK YOU. JUST WANT TO COMMEND THE AG COMMISSIONER ON HIS LEADERSHIP ON REALLY TRYING TO IF YOU LOOK AT ITEM NUMBER 16 AND WHAT IT DOES IS INSTEAD OF HIM HAVING TO COME BACK EVERY YEAR WITH THESE PRETTY MUCH KNOWN CONTRACTS THAT HE HAS WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, KIND OF HE'S ASKING AND WE'RE GOING TO HOPEFULLY HERE IN A SECOND GRANT HIM THE ABILITY TO REALLY JUST KIND OF IN-HOUSE TAKE CARE OF THESE CONTRACTS THAT ARE GOING FOR ALL THE GOOD WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING OVER THERE AT THE AG COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE.
SO I APPRECIATE IT AND I'M GLAD THAT THESE WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF IN HOUSE.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU.
SUPERVISOR. AND HE WAS WALKING THE HALLS YESTERDAY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AS WELL.
SO I'M SURE ACTUALLY THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
YEAH, I WOULD. I'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT.
IF YOU'VE READ THE AGENDA, YOU SEE THERE'S THREE ITEMS THAT ARE RETROACTIVELY BEING
[00:30:02]
APPROVED AND THAT IS NO FAULT OF OUR AG COMMISSIONER, THOSE CONTRACTS WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. AND SO I DON'T WANT PEOPLE THINKING HE'S NOT DOING HIS JOB BECAUSE HE IS AND HE DOES IT VERY WELL.BUT THOSE FOLKS AT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA MAYBE AREN'T QUITE AS EFFICIENT AS HE IS.
SO IN YOUR DEFENSE, THANK YOU.
SUPERVISOR CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA JUST ONE COMMENT RELATING.
I KNOW. AND IT'S KIND OF LIKE OFF A LITTLE BIT.
BUT STILL, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, HE'S HERE AND IT'S REGARDING THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES TO REGARDING THE ON STORE, SOMETIMES THEY SEEM NOT TO PUT THE ACTUAL WEIGHT AND PRICE ON CERTAIN ITEMS. SO I YOU KNOW, I'VE SOMETIMES IF YOU CAN HAVE SOMEBODY CHECK, THAT WOULD CHECK THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT SOMETIMES THE PRICE DOESN'T SAY IT PEOPLE JUST PAY AT THE END WHEN IT'S WITH A CODE AND JUST TO REVIEW THAT.
BUT ON ALL THE GROCERY STORES.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR.
AND WITH THAT, I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER REQUESTS IN THE QUEUE.
I DO HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA WITH THE SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZA.
NEXT IS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES, ITEM 17 THROUGH 19.
WAS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITE? SEEING NONE, I HAD NO SPEAKERS IN THE QUEUE.
I HAVE A MOTION BY A SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE. OH, I'M SORRY.
HOLD ON. I DO HAVE A REQUEST IN THE QUEUE.
CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
BUT I JUST WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT THIS IS A MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH AND BE SURE TO CHECK IN WITH YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS THAT YOU THINK MIGHT NOT BE ADJUSTING WELL WITH COVID OR ACTUALLY ANY OTHER ITEM IN THEIR LIFE.
BUT THIS IS YOU KNOW, WE JUST WANT TO RAISE AWARENESS.
I ACTUALLY RAN MY GREEN LIME GREEN RIBBON THROUGH THE WASHING MACHINE.
AND SO ANYWAYS, I DON'T HAVE MINE ON, BUT I SEE SUPERVISOR PEDROZA DOES.
AND THANK YOU TO OUR DIRECTOR VALENTINE FOR ALL THE WORK THAT SHE AND HER STAFF DO TO TO HELP PEOPLE THROUGH TRAUMATIC ISSUES.
THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS AS WELL.
YOU'VE ALWAYS, ALWAYS BEEN POSITIVE ABOUT COMMENTING ON THAT.
AND YOU CAN VOTE WHEN YOU WANT TO MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT IS HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY ITEMS 20 THROUGH 24.
ARE THERE FURTHER COMMENTS HERE AT THE [INAUDIBLE].
OK, I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA, AND THERE IS NO REQUEST IN THE QUEUE, SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.
LET'S TALLY THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT IS COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ITEM 25.
ARE THERE FURTHER COMMENTS, MR. HENDRICKSON IS IN THE BUILDING IF WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ITEM.
SEEING NONE WE'LL GO AHEAD AND WE HAVE SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA WITH A MOTION AND SUPERVISOR PAREIRA WITH A SECOND.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.
LET'S TALLY THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT IS WORKFORCE INVESTMENTS ITEMS TWENTY SIX AND TWENTY SEVEN.
SO FURTHER DISCUSSION OF THE DYAS, WE DO HAVE ERIC IN HERE AS WELL.
[00:35:02]
WE NEED TO ASK HIM ANY QUESTIONS.I APPRECIATE THIS BECAUSE NOW I CAN VOTE ON ITEMS FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT.
ALWAYS WHEN I SIT ON THE COMMITTEE, I HAVE TO PASS ON A LOT OF THEM.
SO I DON'T SEE ANYBODY IN THE QUEUE.
I HAVE A MOTION BY A SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA WITH A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZA.
NOBODY'S IN THE SPEAKER QUEUE, SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.
NEXT IS BOARD APPOINTMENTS, ITEM TWENTY EIGHT.
OK, I ALSO ALREADY HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA WITH A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZA. IS THERE FURTHER COMMENTS? NOBODY'S IN THE QUEUE. LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.
DO WE GET A SECOND CHANCE AT THE VOTE? OK, SO IF YOU NEED TO CHANGE YOUR MIND, THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY.
NEXT IS LIBRARY ITEM NUMBER TWENTY NINE.
ITEM NUMBER TWENTY NINE, I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA WITH A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA, IS ARE THEIR COMMENTS.
I DO HAVE A SUPERVISOR PAREIRA THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES YOU, SIR.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SO THE LIBRARY IS BUYING A MOBILE LIBRARY.
AND ANYWAYS, SO THE COMMUNITY HAS PUT TOGETHER SOME FUNDING TO GRANT FUNDING.
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK OUR LIBRARIAN, AMY TAYLOR, FOR WORKING SO HARD.
PART OF MY COMMUNITY IS A LITTLE BIT LIBRARY CHALLENGED.
AND SO THE MOBILE LIBRARIES ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE CITIZENS THERE AND THE RESIDENTS.
AND SO I'M JUST GLAD THAT THIS IS COMING FORWARD.
SUPERVISOR PAREIRA [INAUDIBLE] OH, GO AHEAD.
OK, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR YEAH, IT'S THE SAME AS PAREIRA.
MY COMMUNITIES ARE SOMETIMES DON'T HAVE A LIBRARY, SO THE MOBILE IS VERY HELPFUL AND SUPPORTIVE OF OUR SMALL COMMUNITY.
SO I WANT TO THANK THE LIBRARIAN FOR PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA.
AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, MORE AND MORE OF OUR KIDS NEED TO BE EDUCATED.
AND HOPEFULLY THEY WITH THAT, SOMETIMES THEY CARRY A HOTSPOT.
AND HOPEFULLY, IF NOT, MAYBE WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT WAY WHEN IT'S AROUND, SOME KIDS CAN GO AROUND AND SOME CAN'T AFFORD INTERNET OR OTHER DEVICES KNOW CAN OBTAIN INTERNET.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR.
AND IT'S ALWAYS NICE WHEN THEY SHOW UP TO SOME OF OUR EVENTS THAT WE HAVE IN THE UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES AS WELL TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO GO TO THE LIBRARY.
SO WITH THAT, I HAVE NOBODY ELSE IN THE QUEUE.
MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY NEXT IS BOARD REPORTS.
[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION]
THANK YOU. LET'S GO AHEAD AND START.LET'S START ON THE WEST SIDE IN DISTRICT 5 WITH SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, REALLY NOT A LOT TO REPORT OUT TODAY, JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE, CHRIS TRINIDAD AND MARK PIMENTEL ON THEIR PROMOTIONS.
I REALLY DO THINK UNDER CHIEF VAN LOBEN SELS LEADERSHIP, REALLY SETTING MERCED COUNTY UP FOR THE NEAR FUTURE HERE OF HAVING SOME HOME GROWN TALENT FOLKS THAT ARE INTERESTED AND VESTED IN BEING HERE THAT THAT O1 POSITION.
IT OVERSEES MORE THAN JUST MERCED COUNTY.
BUT HAVING SOMEBODY LOCAL THAT LIVES IN MERCED, KIND OF WORKING WITH OUR NEW DIVISION CHIEF PIMENTEL I JUST THINK THAT IT'S I THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
[00:40:05]
SO AND I GREW UP WITH THESE GUYS IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND IT'S NICE TO SEE THEIR CAREERS PROGRESSED TO THE POINT NOW WHERE THEY'RE IN LEADERSHIP.AND AGAIN, A BIG THANKS TO CHIEF VAN LOBEN SELS FOR HIS VISION.
AND REALLY KIND OF I KNOW THAT HE'S GOT A FEW YEARS WITH US, BUT ULTIMATELY HE'S KNOCKING DOWN RETIREMENTS DOOR, BUT DOING A SUPER GREAT JOB OF SETTING IT UP FOR THE YEARS TO COME AND HAVING A GREAT LEADERSHIP TEAM BEHIND HIM.
SO VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES.
AND I'LL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY.
ONE OF OUR CONSENT ITEMS WAS THE PURCHASE OF A NEW FIRE TRUCK.
JUST KIND OF THIS KNOWING THAT WE HAVE 19, 20 STATIONS HERE IN MERCED COUNTY AND REALLY GROWING WITH AND EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT PROGRAM WHERE WE'RE BUYING ONE NEW FIRE TRUCK A YEAR. AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT EVEN THROUGH LEAN TIMES AND GOOD TIMES.
WE'RE STICKING WITH THIS REPLACEMENT PROGRAM.
WHERE IN YEARS PAST, WE MAY HAVE BOUGHT THREE OR FOUR AT ONE TIME.
WELL, WHEN YOU FAST FORWARD 20 YEARS NOW, YOU'VE GOT TO REPLACE THREE OR FOUR.
AND IN 20 YEARS, THE PRICE GOES UP.
IT'S REALLY KIND OF SOFTENING THE BURDEN, IF YOU WILL, THAT WE ARE REPLACING ONE EVERY YEAR. WE'RE BUYING FIRE TRUCKS NOW THAT WILL FIT IN EVERY FIRE STATION IN THE COUNTY.
SO WE'RE NOT HAVING TO RETROFIT STATIONS IN ORDER TO PUT A FIRE TRUCK IN IT.
SO JUST SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARE REALLY TRYING TO MAKE US A LEAN, MEAN FIGHTING MACHINE SO THAT WE CAN GET TO THAT EVENTUAL 2 0 STAFFING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. SO, AGAIN, I JUST CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM AND THE JOB THAT THEY'RE DOING.
SO, GENTLEMEN, AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU GUYS IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YEAH, JUST A WEEK SINCE OUR LAST MEETING, NOT MUCH TO REPORT, BUT I WANT TO AGAIN TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THAT MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH AND, YOU KNOW, REACH OUT TO FOLKS IF YOU'RE STRUGGLING, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S HARD TO SAY.
I HAVE SOMETHING I NEED TO TALK ABOUT.
BUT PLEASE, PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO DO THAT, BECAUSE THERE'S PLENTY OF FOLKS PROBABLY IN YOUR OWN NETWORK, BUT ALSO HERE AT THE COUNTY THAT ARE JUST READY TO HELP YOU THROUGH THAT PROCESS. AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO TO THANK CHIEF VAN LOBEN SELS FOR PICKING TWO FINE YOUNG MEN TO CONTINUE HERE AT OUR COUNTY.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST CAME ONTO THE BOARD, YOU KNOW, I WOULD GET A LOT OF CALLS REGARDING OUR MERCED COUNTY FIRE AND OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS WITH WITH YOURSELF AND CHIEF RON AND NOW WITH TWO NEW FOLKS, YOU KNOW, THOSE ISSUES HAVE GONE AWAY.
AND I HAVE LOCAL PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND REALLY I THINK AND THAT HAVE COME UP THROUGH THE RANKS, PROBABLY JUST AS IMPORTANT THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT TAKES TO DO EACH POSITION.
AND SO ANYWAY, JUST CONGRATULATIONS, GENTLEMEN, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU LEAD US. THAT IS IT.
THANK YOU SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, AND I THINK SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA HAS SOMETHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. JUST REALLY QUICKLY, I WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT ON MAY 22ND, FROM NINE TO THREE AT ESPANA’S IN LOS BANOS, WE'LL BE DOING THE 10TH ANNUAL DEBBIE PAREIRA MEMORIAL BLOOD DRIVE. GIVING BLOOD IS GIVING THE GIFT OF LIFE NO RESERVATIONS REQUIRED.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I PUT THAT OUT THERE.
IF YOU'RE IN THE AREA ON THE 22ND IN LOS BANOS, YOU CAN GO OVER TO ESPANA’S AND DONATE BLOOD. THANK YOU. IT IS FROM NINE TO THREE.
THANK YOU. SO I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY LAST WEEK TO ATTEND THE THERE WAS A 4H EVENT THROUGH THE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION WHICH WAS REALLY COOL AND IT'S THROUGH THE UC MERCED THROUGH UC MERCED, AND THEY DID SOME PROJECTS.
AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS THEY'RE DOING CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE RESOURCES ARCHIVE WHERE THEY'RE PRESERVING, PROVIDING ACCESS TO RECORDS OF ENDURING VALUE.
AND THEY'RE SPECIFICALLY LOOKING AT MERCED COUNTY AND FOCUSING ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MERCED COUNTY. AND SO IT WAS REALLY COOL TO SEE.
AND THEN THEY HAD SOME STUDENTS COME AND TALK ABOUT THE PROJECTS THAT THEY'RE DOING AND HOW IN DEPTH THAT THEY GET AND THE RECORDS THAT THEY KEEP FOR THAT.
AND SO IT'S REALLY COOL THAT THAT PROGRAM IS SOMETHING THAT'S STILL GOING ON.
I KNOW I WAS IN 4H I THINK A LOT OF US WERE IN 4HH UP HERE.
MY SON JUST STARTED 4H THIS YEAR, WHICH IS A GREAT THING.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALSO THE GREEN RIBBON AND MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS.
[00:45:02]
LIKE SUPERVISOR PAREIRA SAID, IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS IF YOU NEED HELP, GO OUT AND ASK FOR IT AND DON'T BE ASHAMED TO ASK FOR IT.I KNOW SOMEBODY THAT WAS A TEACHER FOR A LONG TIME THAT SOMETIMES YOU DON'T SEE THOSE SIGNS AND THE LAST THING THAT YOU WANT IS SOMETHING BAD TO HAPPEN.
SO YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAKING THAT AWARENESS KNOWN AND THE AVAILABILITY.
THE OTHER THING I ALSO WANT TO I JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS, UM, TO TRINIDAD AND PIMENTAL FOR THEIR PROMOTIONS.
AND THANK YOU, CHIEF, FOR YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
UM, AND THEN ON FRIDAY, I, UH, ATTENDED THE CAL COG MEETING, WHICH IS THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION COUNCILS OF GOVERNMENT.
UM, THAT'S FORTY NINE DIFFERENT ENTITIES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STATE.
AND ESSENTIALLY THEY ADVOCATE FOR COUNTIES BIG OR SMALL, BUT BEING AT THE TABLE AND HELPING TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS AND DISCUSSING THAT.
ALSO, I WANTED TO WISH MR. ALMO LORENZI A HAPPY 90TH BIRTHDAY.
HE'S DONE A LOT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WE RECOGNIZE THAT.
THEN ONE OTHER THING IS I WANTED TO MENTION AND I WOULD LIKE AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DO THIS, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
BUT I KNOW THAT RURAL BROADBAND AND BROADBAND IN GENERAL HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.
THERE HAS BEEN A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION FOR A REALLY LONG TIME, AND ESPECIALLY NOW SINCE PEOPLE ARE WORKING FROM HOME, PEOPLE ARE IN SCHOOLS OR DOING SCHOOL FROM HOME.
IT'S REALLY AFFECTING STUDENTS.
IT'S AFFECTING OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND IT'S AFFECTING PEOPLE'S WAY OF LIFE.
I KNOW THAT CHAIRMAN MCDANIEL HAD A MEETING WITH [INAUDIBLE] LAST WEEK AND WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH A PLAN BY MAY 28TH.
IS THAT CORRECT? AND I KNOW WE'RE NOT MEETING UNTIL THEN.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO AGREE TO THAT OR IF WE HAVE TO HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING. I KNOW IT'S NOT AGENIZED, SO WE CAN'T MAKE ANY DECISIONS TODAY, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON GETTING US TO WHERE WE'RE AT. I WAS DOING SOME RESEARCH AND OF THE POPULATION OF OF MERCED COUNTY, TWENTY ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED FORTY FOUR PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ACCESS.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, IN 2021 THAT'S NOT OK, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EDUCATION ATTAINMENT AND WE'RE ROLLING UP THE LIBRARY CHECK, WHICH IS GREAT BECAUSE I THINK LITERACY IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, AS A TEACHER.
AS A FORMER TEACHER, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DO, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE TOOLS TO OUR STUDENTS, OUR FAMILIES AND OUR JOB PRODUCERS THAT ACCESSIBILITY TO THIS.
SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE US TO REALLY CONSIDER MOVING FORWARD.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE HAVE TO DO WITH THAT.
AND THEN FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN THE MEETING IN HONOR OF MARY HOFFMAN.
MARY WAS A LONG TERM, LONG TIME RESIDENT OF MERCED, SHE WAS PART OF THE MERCED COUNTY LIBRARY COMMISSION MERCED CHAPTER OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, FRIENDS OF THE MERCED LIBRARY FRIENDS OF MERCED COUNTY LIBRARY LITERACY WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO HER AS WELL. I DIDN'T KNOW HER DAUGHTER KATHY, BUT I KNOW KATHY'S PARTNER, PHAEDRA, WHO I WORKED WITH FOR A LONG TIME.
BOTH REALLY GREAT EDUCATORS AND PEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT AND THIS FAMILY WAS A REALLY I ACTUALLY WENT TO SCHOOL WITH HER GRANDDAUGHTER, VANESSA ALSO.
SO I WANTED TO ADJOURN IN HER HONOR.
THANK YOU CHAIR THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR.
AND I'LL LET THE CEO DURING COMMENTS ADDRESS THAT.
THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA THANK YOU MR. CHAIR FIRST, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ON THEIR PROMOTION CHRIS TRINIDAD AND MARK PIMENTEL CONGRATULATIONS AND ALSO CHIEF VAN LOBEN SELS FOR DOING A GREAT JOB.
ALSO, I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT BOARD HERE IN MERCED COUNTY. AND RIGHT NOW, WITH SO MUCH OR SO MANY PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR APARTMENTS TO RENT. I THINK IT'S YOU KNOW, AND I HEAR ABOUT A LOT OF INJUSTICES AS PROBABLY AS MANY
[00:50:01]
AS YOU GET. YOU KNOW, THE BOARD GETS CALLS FROM THROUGHOUT OUR THE WHOLE COUNTY ABOUT UNFAIRNESS GETTING KICKED OFF OF APARTMENTS AND NOT JUST [INAUDIBLE] BUT ALSO A LOT OF AGENCIES THAT RUN DIFFERENT APARTMENT COMPLEXES THROUGHOUT YOU KNOW, MERCED COUNTY.AND SO WE JUST WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DIRECTORS AND ALL THE MANAGERS OF THE APARTMENTS THAT THEY ANALYZE, YOU KNOW, ALL THE ALL THEIR TENANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FAIR PROCESS IS THERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I IMAGINE THAT MOST OF THEM ARE TRYING TO DO A GREAT JOB.
BUT, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, YOU GET THE CASES OF PEOPLE GETTING KICKED OUT BECAUSE SUPPOSEDLY THEY MAKE A LOT OF MONEY WHEN IN REALITY THEY DON'T, THEY SAY.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE JUST I THINK THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY YOU KNOW, THEY ARE BEING TREATED FAIRLY BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, WITH SO MUCH DEMAND IN APARTMENTS AND NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE MAKING OR WORKING AS MUCH.
AND SO HOPEFULLY NOTHING UNFAIR IS HAPPENING.
BUT SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS AND PEOPLE ARE NOT TREATED CORRECTLY.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'LL BE KEEPING AN EYE ON OR ATTENDING THE BOARD MEETINGS AS POSSIBLE OR I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE STILL THERE HAVING VIRTUAL MEETINGS, BUT YOU JUST TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES ALL THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTY.
SO AND WITH THAT, OUR NEXT BOARD MEETINGS WILL BE JUNE 8TH AND JUNE 22ND.
AND I JUST WANT TO GET EVERYBODY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN GET VACCINATED.
AND I KNOW I HEARD THAT 60 PERCENT OF THE COUNTRY IS ALREADY VACCINATED.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET HIGH AS WE CAN SO WE COULD GET HER IMMUNITY AND WE COULD GET RID OF ALL THIS STUFF.
THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR COUNTY COUNCIL, NOTHING.
CEO BROWN, MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, UH, TO FOLLOW UP ON SUPERVISOR PEDROZA COMMENTS.
UM, YES. THERE WAS A MEETING LAST WEEK WITH YOUR CHAIR, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND OUR STAFF PARTICIPATED IN WITH RCRC LOCALLY.
THERE HAS BEEN A GROUP THAT HAS BEEN KIND OF WORKING ON BROADBAND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE SCHOOLS, REALLY.
AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME, UH, SOME POSITIVE MOVEMENT.
THERE'S BEEN SOME CHALLENGES, RCRC, IS IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER A COLLECTIVE GRANT PROGRAM.
SO ESSENTIALLY WHAT SUPERVISOR PEDROZA MENTIONED IS THAT RCRC IS TRYING TO GO AND APPLY FOR A GRANT WITH EDA THAT WOULD AGGREGATE THEIR MEMBERS IF YOU SO DESIRE, WHICH THEY HAVE. I THINK IT'S ABOUT THIRTY SEVEN NOW.
I THINK MEMBERS STATEWIDE TO APPLY AND THEN THEY WOULD ESSENTIALLY APPLY FOR THE GRANT, GO THROUGH THE COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT PROCESS TO OBTAIN ASSISTANCE TO HELP WITH PUTTING TOGETHER STRATEGIC PLANS FOR BROADBAND COUNTY WIDE BASIS.
THAT PROCESS, JUST TO GET TO EXPLAIN TO ALL THE BOARD, WOULD BE WHERE THE GRANT OPPORTUNITY DOESN'T COME TILL THIS FALL, AWARDS AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.
AND IT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE THE END OF THE.
THROUGHOUT NEXT YEAR TO DEVELOP IT, SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE BACK END OF 2022 BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY END UP WITH THE PRODUCT, BUT THAT IS WHAT'S GOING TO WHAT SUPERVISOR THE END OF MAY. WE HAVE TO JUST GIVE OUR NOTICE OF INTEREST IF WE WANT TO BE PART OF THAT PROGRAM.
THEY ARE ASKING SINCE THE GRANTS AT 80 PERCENT THAT BASICALLY FOR TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS MATCH. AND SO, YEAH, THAT PIECE ABOUT WHETHER COMMITTING THE ORGANIZATION OR NOT, SINCE IT IS JUST SELECTING INTEREST RIGHT NOW, WE AS STAFF ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE GOING AHEAD AND PUTTING OUR NAME AS MERCED COUNTY OF INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THAT PROCESS. SO I HOPE THAT'S HELPFUL.
I JUST KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH THE MAY REVISE THAT JUST CAME OUT FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE PROPOSING THE SEVEN BILLION DOLLARS IN BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND THEN I ALSO KNOW THAT THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET IS ALSO INCLUDING BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE. I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT NOW IS THE TIME TO STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT. I KNOW IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE, BUT AT LEAST WE'RE BEING PROACTIVE VERSUS REACTIVE. IF I MAY, MR. CHAIR, JUST ELABORATE ON THAT IS I ACKNOWLEDGE OR MENTION THAT THERE IS KIND OF A THERE IS A GROUP WITH YOUR SCHOOLS, AND I KNOW THE CITY OF MERCED PARTICIPATES.
AND WE'VE BEEN ON A KIND OF INVOLVED ON THE WITH THEM A LITTLE BIT.
THAT'S WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS. I WOULD SAY WE WOULD GO TRY TO LOOK AT THIS PROCESS THROUGH RCRC, BUT NOT REST ON THAT AND LOOK AT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES ON A PARALLEL PROCESS WHERE WE CAN DO THINGS FASTER IF WE CAN.
SO AS YOUR PAST CHAIR WITH RCRC, THAT WAS MY TOP PRIORITY WAS RURAL BROADBAND AND THAT WAS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.
AND WE WERE CHUGGING ALONG AND CONTINUING TO LOBBY THE WHOLE TIME WE'VE BEEN TELLING THE
[00:55:02]
SAME STORY. NOT ONLY IS IT FOR EDUCATION, BUT FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.IT'S THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS WHO WE NEED TO BE CONNECTED TO THE REST OF THE WORLD IN THAT CAPACITY. AND THAT WAS ONE OF MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITIES.
BUT WITH THIS COVID WHAT HAPPENED NOTICE HOW IT AFFECTED EVERYBODY.
SO WE WERE PITCHING AND LOBBYING THE WHOLE TIME AND IT NEVER GAINED SPEED.
BUT WHENEVER THE SCHOOL SHUT DOWN AND FOLKS STARTED HAVING THEIR KIDS NOT BE ABLE TO SIGN ON OR THEY'RE DOING A ZOOM MEETING AS A SUPERVISOR AND THEIR KIDS ARE TRYING TO DO SCHOOL AT THE SAME TIME, THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH BANDWIDTH WITH THEIR OWN HOME TO DO IT.
AND SO SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE TO TO FREE UP SOME BANDWIDTH.
AND SEEING HOW ALL THE MONEY WAS COMING IN, THAT'S WHY I TRIED TO TAKE A LEADERSHIP ROLE WITH SUPERVISOR PETERSON.
AND WE ARE TRYING TO GET A HOLD OF EVERYBODY BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE OPERATING IN SILOS AND THIS NEEDS TO BE A GROUP EFFORT.
AND WITH ALL THAT MONEY COMING IN, WE WERE TRYING TO DO IT ALONG WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, BECAUSE UNDERSTANDING I'LL SAY THIS RIGHT NOW, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN IT IN THE CAPACITY OF MANAGEMENT DEPLOYMENT OR ANYTHING ELSE.
THAT IS DEFINITELY A PRIVATE SECTOR ISSUE.
BUT IF WE CAN FACILITATE IT AND MAKE IT RIGHT FOR THEM TO GROW THE PRODUCT, THEN ABSOLUTELY, I THINK WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP TOO SUPERVISOR PEDROZA.
CONGRATULATIONS, CHIEF TRINIDAD CHIEF PIMENTEL.
PIMENTEL AND I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A HISTORY.
WE CAN DO THE STAIR CLIMB FOR FORTY EIGHT MINUTES WHEN WE COMMIT TWENTY MINUTES, BUT BECAUSE OF OUR CONVERSATIONS DURING OUR WORKOUT.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF YOU AND CHIEF VAN LOBEN SELS I THINK YOU DID A GOOD JOB OF PICKING, PICKING THE LEADERSHIP, MOVING FORWARD AND APPRECIATED THAT THEY ARE HOME GROWN.
I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY NEXT THURSDAY IS THE FOURTH THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH.
I CALL IT MY MOBILE DISTRICT OFFICE HOURS FROM ONE THIRTY TO THREE THIRTY AT THE ATWATER COMMUNITY CENTER. WE MOVED IT FROM CITY HALL TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
A LITTLE MORE CONSISTENT THERE.
YOU CAN COME SEE ME GET A COVID SHOT VACCINE AT THE SAME TIME, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE OUR COUNTY FACILITY IS THERE IN THE CITY OF ATWATER.
I THINK ONE OF OUR ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES SAID THAT ITS BEEN A WEEK.
BUT I TELL YOU, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THE COUNTY IS GETTING BACK TO REGULAR BUSINESS.
WE'RE GETTING CALLS ON ROADS, WASTE MANAGEMENT AND SOME OTHER STUFF.
THESE ARE STUFF THAT WE CAN CONTROL.
SO PLEASE. AND IN SAYING THAT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE, FOLKS, I'M GETTING HIT UP ON SOCIAL MEDIA, I'M GETTING HIT UP ON ALL THESE OTHER ONES.
LET ME TELL YOU, THE BEST WAY TO GET A HOLD OF ME IS ON MY EMAIL, BECAUSE THAT WAY I HAVE IT DOCUMENTED AND I CAN FOLLOW UP.
BUT MY EMAIL IS DARON DOT MCDANIEL AND I SPELL MY FIRST NAME, D A R O N AT COUNTY OF MERCED DOT COM THAT'S DARON.
MCDANIEL COUNTY OF MERCED.COM.
AND IF YOU CALLTHE OFFICE HERE.
IF IT GOES TO MY OFFICE, MY PHONE GETS FORWARDED TO MY MOBILE, SO I'M ACCESSIBLE.
SO PREFERABLY THROUGH THE EMAIL, IT'S EASIER TO TRACK AND I CAN GET BACK TO FOLKS BECAUSE I WENT THROUGH AND I CHECKED SOME SOCIAL MEDIA MESSAGING AND I WAS LIKE, HOLY SMOKES.
I GOT ALL KIND OF FOLKS REACHING OUT.
I HAVE THREE DIFFERENT FACEBOOK PAGES AND THEY MESSAGED ME ON ALL THREE DIFFERENT ONES.
I WANT TO GET BACK TO EVERYBODY.
SO IF WE CAN HARNESS THAT AND KEEP IT JUST TO THE EMAIL AND THE MOBILE PHONE, THAT WOULD BE THE BEST WAY TO DO IT.
SO WITH THAT, DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS SEEING NONE WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ADJOURN THE MEETING.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.