[Call to Order]
[00:02:03]
>> THIS MORNING WE HAD CLOSED SESSION MEETING AND STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION.
>> IT'S NOW TIME FOR PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON
[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK]
ANY MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST WITHIN THE BOARD'S JURISDICTION, INCLUDING ITEMS ON THE BOARD'S AGENDA, EXCEPT FOR THOSE ITEMS SPECIFICALLY SCHEDULED AS PUBLIC HEARINGS.TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE ONE EMAIL AND IT WAS SUBMITTED TO PUBLIC RECORD AND WE ALSO HAVE THREE VOICEMAILS RECEIVED AND THEY ACTUALLY CAME IN QUITE LATE.
DO WE WANT TO GO AHEAD AND DO THE VOICEMAILS BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT HERE?
>> [INAUDIBLE] I'M HERE TO MAKE A PUBLIC STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF A NEW ORGANIZATION THAT IS FORMING AND IS CALLED ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICAN PUBLIC AFFAIRS, APIAPA FOR SHORT.
WE ARE A NON-PROFIT AND NON-PARTISAN ORGANIZATION WITH A DIVERSE MEMBERSHIP, PRESENTING ALL THE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE NATION.
WE'VE LISTED THE PATH, THE EFFORTS OF EMPOWERING ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER IN CIVIC AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
WE'RE HERE TO INSPIRE, ENGAGE, AND EMPOWER THE PUBLIC ABOUT PUBLIC POLICY AND HOW WE FOSTER FUTURE LEADER FROM MINORITY COMMUNITY TO SERVE AT FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVEL IN THE GOVERNMENT.
THIS GROUP IS LED BY DARROW YOUNG ATTORNEY.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS GROUP, PLEASE EMAIL US AT SUPORT@NEWMANCENTER.ORG AND WE WILL CONNECT YOU.
>> I'M CALLING IN REFERENCE TO THE CHAIRS PROGRAM AND CONTRACT WITH A REFERENCE TO THE ACCESSIBILITY FOR UNINCORPORATED AREA AND ALSO THE RESULT OF A PAST FEW REPORTS OF THOSE WHO PROVIDED IN AND INCORPORATED AREAS HAVE BEEN VERY LOW IN THE MAP PROVIDING PORTABLE OR SOMEONE COMING UP INTO THE AREA TO ASSIST.
WE'RE ASKING THIRD PARTY ORGANIZATION TO SUBMIT THE APPLICATIONS FOR THEM OR PROCESS IN PARTICULAR DIRECTLY WHEN THEY'RE BETWEEN THE CONTRACT IN A GREEN HUB PROCESS AND THE TRANSPORTATION AND THE MOBILE SERVICE UNIT TO COME UP TO RURAL COMMUNITIES AND HELP THEM WITH THE APPLICATIONS.
THE SECOND QUESTION IS, WHY IS IT THAT THE BANDED ORIGINAL ON THE ARM APPLICATION IS BEING ALTERED WHEN THEY GET THERE TO ASK THESE OPTIONAL QUESTION,
[00:05:03]
THAT MAKE THEM FEEL OBLIGATED? ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE SPANISH SPEAKERS, ENGLISH IS THE PRIMARY LANGUAGE AND WE STILL HAVING A LOW RESPONSE IN THE MOST NEEDY COMMUNITIES IN THE RURAL AREA.WE NEED TO BE EVALUATING THE SERVICE PROVIDED IN THE CONTRACT BECAUSE IF THEY'RE PROVIDING SERVICES AND TAKING IT OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY LIKE WITH THE MOBILE UNIT, THEN THEY'RE NOT ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF THOSE THAT REALLY ARE IN NEED OF PROCURED PROGRAM.
THAT'S THE FIRST QUESTION. THAT SECOND COMMENT HAS TO DO WITH.
>> THE REMAINDER OF THIS MESSAGE PERTAINS TO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS WHICH WILL BE PLAYED THIS AFTERNOON DURING THAT ITEMS PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD.
>> MY NAME IS ELLIE SALLY GARCIA GONZALEZ, I AM A POLICY ADVOCATE OF LEADERSHIP COUNCIL FOR GUESTS AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF MERCED COUNTY.
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS REGARDING THE ANALYSIS REFERENCE AND THE MOU FOR THE ITEM ON THE VIRGINIA SMITH CHART.
FIRST, WILL THIS ANALYSIS INCLUDE A STUDY ON HOW PROJECT PROPOSALS FOR HOUSING IN THE CITY AND COUNTY MERCED? IS THE COUNTY PROACTIVELY SPEAKING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF HOUSING FOR ITS RESIDENTS? SECONDLY, HOW WILL THE ANALYSIS ASSESS THE CITY'S WATER AND WASTEWATER CAPACITY BEYOND THE DEMANDS OF THE PROPOSED PROJECTS, INCLUDING, FOR EXAMPLE, WATER AND WASTEWATER NEEDS IN EXISTING COMMUNITIES WITHOUT WATER, WASTEWATER, AND OR PROPOSED AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT? THIRDLY, HOW WILL THE ANALYSIS IMPACT OF THE PROJECT ON SHORT AND LONG-TERM TRANSPORTATION MEANS, INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN THE PROJECT AREA AND THE EXISTING CITY OF MERCED, IF THE COUNTY IS NOT PROACTIVELY THINKING ABOUT TRANSPORTATION, THEN MANY RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY WILL BE EXCLUDED FROM THE DEVELOPMENT? LASTLY, HOW WILL THE ANALYSIS AFFECT THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF THE PROJECT APPLICATIONS ON EXISTING COMMUNITIES IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF MERCED? THANK YOU. I HOPE THE BOARD WILL SPEND TIME DISCUSSING THIS ITEM.
>> THAT CONCLUDES E-MAIL PUBLIC COMMENTS.
>> THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW TAKE COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC HERE IN THE CHAMBERS.
PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND YOU'LL BE DIRECTED TO THE PODIUM.
IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING, WE ASK THAT ONLY ONE PERSON SPEAK AT A TIME.
YES, SIR. COME ON UP TO THE PODIUM.
THANK YOU FOR COMING TO THE BOARD MEETING TODAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. TODAY I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT AN ISSUE THAT GOES UNDER UNCOVERING AWAY AND THAT'S A CLIMATE CHANGE.
BUT NOT ONLY THAT, AS WE'RE GETTING INTO THE MIDDLE OF 2021, THE DROUGHT SITUATION IS GETTING JUST WORSE AND WORSE AND WORSE.
I KNOW MANY PEOPLE COME UP WITH MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF SOLUTIONS, AND THIS ISN'T REALLY A SOLUTION, BUT AN ATTEMPT TO BRING ON INFORMATION.
NOW THE CITY OF MERCED HAS A POST-CONSTRUCTION STANDARD PLAN, AND IT WAS PREPARED TO GUIDE PROPONENTS AND MUNICIPAL PLANT CHECKERS THROUGH VARIOUS SITE DESIGN REQUIREMENTS.
SO THE PHASE 2 MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM WATER SEWAGE SYSTEM, THE PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT IS TO PROVIDE DEVELOPERS AND MUNICIPAL PLAN CHECKERS WITH INFORMATION AND HOW TO MEET STATE OR WATER-BORNE REQUIREMENTS FOR MITIGATING THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF INCREASED STORM WATER RUNOFF CAUSED BY NEW DEVELOPMENTS.
THE POST CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENT AND PROGRAM HAS BEEN CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE YEARS.
THE LAST UPDATE WAS EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2015.
THE CONTROL MEASURES REQUIRED BY MUNICIPALITIES CAN CAUSE CONFUSION FOR DEVELOPERS AND THE COMMUNITY.
IN ADDITION, I'M SHOWING WITH YOU, I HOPING THAT YOU GUYS GOT THE E-MAIL, BUT IT'S A GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE TOOLKIT, AND WHAT IS MEANT TO DO IS TO GUIDE CITY COUNCILS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS LOOKING INTO DIFFERENT TYPES OF PILOT PROGRAMS. THE PILOT PROGRAM, THAT IS GOING TO BECOME THE RULE SOON IS GOING TO BE DEALING WITH RAIN GARDENS.
ONE ROOF, SAY ABOUT A 100 SQUARE FEET CATCH
[00:10:03]
ABOUT 400 GALLONS OF WATER IN A ONE-INCH RAIN EVENT.IF THAT'S ONLY ONE ROOF, JUST IMAGINE WHAT 10 PERCENT OF THE ROOFS IN MERCED COULD DO, NOT JUST STORING WATER, BUT SLOWING DOWN THAT EROSIVE FORCE, AND ALSO DOING A LITTLE BIT OF REMOVING CONTAMINANTS SO THAT THAT STORM WATER DOESN'T JUST HIT THE PAVEMENT, TAKE ALL THE OILS AND DIRT AND PUT IT INTO OUR RIVER BODIES IS A COST-EFFECTIVE WAY TO DO IT.
IT'S A SMART WAY, BUT PEOPLE ARE PRETTY TENTATIVE ABOUT GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEM.
IT'S THE NEWEST, OLD TECHNOLOGY THAT WE HAVE [LAUGHTER].
MY GOAL HERE IS, I KNOW YOU GUYS CAN MAKE ANY MOVES, BUT I WANT TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT THERE AND FIGURE OUT I'VE GOT GET MYSELF INVOLVED WITH THE CITY TOO.
YOU GUYS HAD A CITY CLEAN UP, THAT WAS EXCELLENT AND I'M SHARING THIS INFORMATION WHICH YOU GUYS TOO.
>> PLEASE. YEAH. JUST SET IT RIGHT THERE IN THE BASKET.
DO YOU WANT TO STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD?
>> IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE AT THIS TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
>> NEXT IS APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 1-24, PLEASE NOTE A FOUR-FIFTHS VOTE IS REQUIRED IN ITEMS 19, 20, 21 AND ITEM 16 HAS BEEN PULLED.
>> IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS? YES. SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA, YOU'RE BEING RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I'LL JUST COMMENT ON NUMBER 3, I JUST WANT TO THANK PUBLIC WORKS FOR THE STOP SIGN ON BEGLAR AND WATT AND THE TUNNEL PINATA.
THEY'D BEEN WAITING FOR THAT SUBSTANCE FOR A WHILE AND THEN ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THERE'S A CHURCH NOT TOO FAR AWAY, AND SO THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A DANGER OF SOMEBODY RUNNING OVER ON THE WEEKENDS OR IN ANYTIME.
BUT ESPECIALLY ON THE WEEKENDS WHEN THERE'S LARGE TRAFFIC AND MOVEMENT WITH PEOPLE WALKING ACROSS THERE SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT SUBSTANCE PUBLIC WORKS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR. ARE THERE ARE FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? IF NOT, WE'RE GOING TO DO THE PRESENTATION AFTER WE DO THIS.
I'M WAITING FOR [BACKGROUND] A MOTION ALL THE WAY UP, WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, AND THEN SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.
MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WITH THAT, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION.
[PRESENTATIONS]
MR. LAMAR HENDERSON WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION AND SAY A FEW WORDS AND PLAY A VIDEO IN REGARDS TO ITEM NUMBER 11, ALL DADS MATTER, AND I THINK EVERYBODY RECOGNIZES LAMAR AS BEING ALL DADS MATTER, AND I LOVE THE SPORT COAT THAT HAS THE LOGO ON IT.>> GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU VOTED SUPERVISORS AND ESTEEMED COLLEAGUES IN OUR COMMUNITY, OUR COUNTY AND MERCED COUNTY WHICH SHARE A RICH HISTORY OF NEARLY 20 YEARS OF COMMITMENT TO FATHERHOOD.
I THINK ABOUT THE DAYS OF THE SKY PEDIGREES, THE JIM SANDERS AND THE PAUL LINDBERG'S IN THEIR EFFORTS TO TARGET AND BRING SUPPORT TO FATHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE STARTED WITH OUR BOOT CAMP FOR NEW DAD WORKSHOP, AND WE HAVE NEARLY 20 YEARS OF SERVING FATHERS, NEW DADS IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH BOOT CAMP FOR NEW DADS.
WHAT'S AMAZING ABOUT IT IS THAT EVEN THOUGH I'VE BEEN WITH COUNTY FOR ALMOST 17 YEARS NOW, THOSE BABIES THAT WERE NOT EVEN BORN YET BACK THEN AND NOW PULL UP TO ME AT THE STOPLIGHT.
[LAUGHTER] IT'S JUST AN AMAZING LEGACY AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE, I'M PART OF THAT FAMILY FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPORTANT ROLES, [NOISE] CRITICAL ROLES, THAT WE AS FATHERS PLAN OUR CHILDREN'S LIVES, AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR FATHERS AND OUR FAMILY SO THAT OUR FATHERS KNOW THAT THE SAFEST, MOST CARING, LOVING PLACE FOR THEIR CHILDREN IS RIGHT IN THEIR ARMS, AND THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT AND THAT LOVE AND ENCOURAGEMENT AND UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE GRAVITY OF OUR ROLE AND OUR WORDS AS FATHERS AND AS PARENTS.
THEN WE USE THOSE WORDS IN THAT TREMENDOUS POWER TO LIFT OUR CHILDREN UP.
[00:15:08]
AS A FATHER AND A SON MYSELF, ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS, ONE OF THE GREATEST IMPACTS IN MY LIFE WAS WHEN MY FATHER TOLD ME WELL DONE.THIS WORK IS SO PERSONAL TO ME AS I THINK ABOUT MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY OWN FATHER, AND I HAD AN AMAZING DAD.
HE WAS A PG&E MAN, HE DROVE A BIG TRUCK, WHICH WAS HUGE FOR A LITTLE BOY.
[LAUGHTER] I JUST ALWAYS REMEMBER LOOKING AT HIM AND WANTING TO BE LIKE HIM.
WELL, WE LOST MY DAD ABOUT 25 YEARS AGO ON FATHER'S DAY, VERY SUDDEN DEATH.
BUT SIX MONTHS BEFORE HE PASSED AWAY, I HAD AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY AND A GIF FROM MY DAD.
MY WHOLE FAMILY LIVED DOWN IN BAKERSFIELD, AND I WAS VISITING WITH MY DAD AND WE WERE IN THE GARAGE TALKING.
AT THE TIME, I WAS WORKING FOR THE CITY OF MERCED AND I WAS A FATHER AT THAT TIME AND I HAD BEEN MARRIED FOR A FEW YEARS.
WE WERE IN THE GARAGE TALKING AND I NOTICED THAT IT WAS A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION.
IT WASN'T A CONVERSATION BETWEEN A FATHER AND A SON, IT WAS A CONVERSATION BETWEEN TWO FATHERS, TWO HUSBANDS AND WE WERE SHARING THIS PEER TYPE CONVERSATION, AND IT WAS SO POWERFUL FOR ME BECAUSE I'VE ALWAYS WANTED THAT APPROVAL FROM HIM.
IN THAT MOMENT I FELT SO COMPELLED AND SO DRIVEN I HAD TO SHARE WITH HIM HOW I FELT ABOUT HIM.
I SAID, "DAD, I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING." I SAID, "L WANT TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU.
I WANT TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THE KIND OF ROLE MODEL YOU'VE BEEN FOR ME AND MY BROTHERS." I SAID, "I KNOW I WASN'T AN EASY KID TO RAISE, BUT YOU NEVER GAVE UP ON ME.
I WANT TO TELL YOU HOW GRATEFUL I AM FOR THAT." IT'S NOT LIKE WE ALWAYS TALKED LIKE THAT BETWEEN MY DAD.
HE STOPPED AND LOOKED AT ME GOES, "JUN," YEAH, I'M A JUNIOR.
HE GOES, "OH, THANK YOU JUN." HE SAYS, "WELL, I LOVE YOU TOO." HE SAYS, "BUT YOU WERE NEVER A HARD KID TO RAISE, YOU WERE ALWAYS A REALLY GOOD KID." BUT RAISING THAT PARENTING STYLE BACK IN A DAY WHERE I FELT THAT IF I WASN'T BRINGING THE GARBAGE CANS ON AND OFF THE CAR FAST ENOUGH OR PICKING UP THE DOG POOP, I WAS DESTINED FOR TERRIBLE THINGS IN MY LIFE.
[LAUGHTER] FORTUNATELY, I GOT THE HANG OF THE WORK ETHIC.
THEN MY FATHER SHARED SOMETHING WITH ME THAT WAS THE MOST HEALING MEDICINE THAT A SON COULD EVER HEAR FROM HIS FATHER.
MY DAD LOOKED AT ME, A GROWN MAN, AND HE SAID, "SON, IF I HAD TO RAISE YOU ALL OVER AGAIN, I WISH I WOULD HAVE HELD YOU MORE." THAT WAS HIS ONE REGRET WAS THAT HE WISHED HE WOULD HAVE HELD ME MORE.
THAT IMPACTED ME SO DEEPLY AND IT'S A MESSAGE THAT I SHARE WITH ALL DADS TODAY.
WHEN YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN, TELL THEM THAT YOU LOVE THEM, HOLD THEM, KISS THEM, EMBRACE THEM, BECAUSE THAT POWER IS SO DEEP.
THIS YEAR WE'RE PROUD TO EMBARK ON A NEW ADVENTURE, A NEW VENTURE, A NEW PROJECT WITH ALL DADS MATTER, AS WE WANTED TO CELEBRATE SOME OF THE FATHERS THAT HAD BEEN THROUGH OUR PROGRAM.
WE EMBARKED ON A JOURNEY TITLED 30 DADS FOR 30 DAYS.
WE'D HAVE TO GET ANY COPYRIGHTS FROM THE ESPN.
[LAUGHTER] I APPRECIATE OUR LEADERSHIP FOR SUPPORTING US IN THIS ADVENTURE.
FROM OUR DIRECTOR MS. SILVEIRA, TO OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR, KIMIKO AND OUR PROGRAM MANAGERS AND OUR TEAM.
JOANNE ROMEROS AND ALEJANDRO ARAISERS, SAM RANGO, AND EVERADO SARAGON, AND IF THEY HAVE ACUTE UP, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU A CLIP.
EVERY DAY, IF YOU GO TO THE ALL DADS MATTER FACEBOOK PAGE, YOU'LL SEE A DIFFERENT DAD THAT HAS GONE THROUGH OUR PROGRAM AND WE'LL PROFILE THEM IN OUR 30 DADS FOR 30 DAYS.
SO WITH THAT, I PRESENT TO YOU ALL DADS MATTER, 30 DADS IN 30 DAYS.
>> [MUSIC] FOR ONE THING I LEARNED AT DAD BOOT CAMP IS I'M ALWAYS HERE TO FIGHT FOR MY LITTLE BABY HERE, [LAUGHTER] WHO I LOVE SO MUCH.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND FUTURE FATHERS OR THOSE THAT WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEMSELVES AND HOW TO BE A GREAT BAD.
>> [MUSIC] WHEN MY SON WAS BORN, I REMEMBER CALLING MY MOM, JUST CRYING TO HER AND APOLOGIZING FOR GIVING HER SO MUCH CRAP WHEN I WAS GROWING UP.
IT WAS AT THAT MOMENT WHERE I REALIZED THAT THE DEPTH OF THEIR LOVE WAS UNSCRATCHED TILL I HAD MY OWN SON.
BIGGEST TIP FOR FATHERS, IS THAT THERE'S NO ROOM FOR OUR EGO WHEN IT COMES TO BEING A FATHER.
LET THOSE EMOTIONS OUT, EXPRESS THOSE EMOTIONS.
LOVE, HUG, KISS, SMILE FOR NO REASON, SHOW AFFECTION, BE PLAYFUL.
EVEN TO YOUR BOYS, IT'S NOT ABOUT TEACHING THEM TO BE TOUGH, THAT DON'T CRY AND DON'T SHOW YOUR SADNESS OR ANYTHING.
[00:20:01]
THOSE ARE IMPORTANT FEELINGS THAT EVERY CHILD IS ABLE TO EXPRESS, WHETHER IT'S TO THE MOM OR TO THE DAD.>> [MUSIC] SEEING MY CHILD BORN, IT WAS JUST POWERFUL EXPERIENCING THAT LIFE, THAT PERSON YOU WANT TO TAKE CARE OF FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
I'M NOT A CRIER, BUT I CRIED A LITTLE BIT. I'LL ADMIT IT.
I'M GOING TO CHEER AND ALSO TELL YOU ALL ONE WORD WHAT IT'S LIKE TO DESCRIBE BEING A FATHER, IT'S A JOURNEY.
>> [MUSIC] AS SOON AS MY DAUGHTER CAME OUT MAN, THE WARMEST FEELING I COULD FEEL IN THE THE WORLD, HER HEART WAS BEATING.
JUST ALL THE LOVE [INAUDIBLE] JUST LIKE ANOTHER YOU IN THIS WORLD.
YOU JUST COULD IMAGINE [NOISE] EVERYTHING THAT KIDS WANT TO ACCOMPLISH IN LIFE AND EVERY STEP YOU'RE GOING TO BE WITH THEM.
I ALWAYS WANTED A BOY, GOT MY LITTLE BOY, MY LITTLE SIDE KICK AND MY LITTLE TWIN.
>> [MUSIC] MY EXPERIENCE AS A DAD HAS BEEN LIKE A DELICIOUS ALL YOU CAN EAT BANQUET.
I NEVER KNEW LIFE COULD TASTE SO GOOD AS WHEN MY SON AND DAUGHTER ENTERED MY LIFE.
MY DAYS WITH THEM ARE ADVENTUROUS AND FULL OF GRACE.
>> [MUSIC] WHEN I THINK ABOUT BEING A GOOD DAD, I THINK ABOUT BEING A ROLE MODEL.
IT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE CAN DO FOR OUR CHILDREN.
KIDS DON'T ALWAYS LISTEN TO WHAT WE SAY, BUT THEY'RE ALWAYS WATCHING AND IMITATING WHAT WE DO.
>> [MUSIC] WE WANT TO SEND A GOOD WORD OUT TO ALL THE FATHERS, ALL THE STEP FATHERS THAT HAVE STOOD UP AND ARE STANDING FOR WHAT IS RIGHT TODAY AND ARE RAISING THEIR CHILDREN, STAYING CONNECTED TO THEIR FAMILIES NO MATTER WHAT THE PRICE IS, OR NO MATTER WHAT THE COST IT IS TO GO THROUGH THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH TO BE A GOOD FATHER.
I COMMEND YOU BECAUSE THERE'S NOT TOO MANY TODAY THAT ARE DOING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
>> [MUSIC] BEING A DAD IS AWESOME.
BESIDES MY WIFE, MY CHILDREN ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN MY LIFE.
BUT WHAT I TELL NEW DADS ALL THE TIME IS TO HAVE PATIENCE.
YOUR CHILDREN WILL HAVE DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES, BUT WATCHING THESE PERSONALITIES DEVELOP IS A REALLY COOL THING.
BUT IT ALSO MAKES YOU WISH YOU COULD SLOW DOWN TIME.
MY FOUR-YEAR-OLD, LUCY, HAS ALREADY SAID SHE'S GOT FOUR BOYFRIENDS.
OWEN HAS ALREADY TOLD HIS MOM ABOUT HIS CRUSH, WHICH JUST MEANS THAT I'M GOING TO LOSE MORE HAIR.
I'M NOT READY FOR THAT. BUT I WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY A HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, ALL DADS MATTERS IS A GREAT PROGRAM, AND I RECOMMEND IT TO EVERYBODY.
>> THANK YOU, LAMAR. THAT'S PRETTY POWERFUL.
EVERY TIME YOU COME TO THE DAIS, YOU MAKE IT VERY POWERFUL.
I GET TO SAY WHEN I WAS GROWING UP AS A KID, AND I CAN'T REALLY PIN THE TERM ON WHO EXACTLY SAID IT, BUT ANYTIME EGO GOT IN THE WAY, I BELIEVE IT WAS MY GRANDMOTHER.
SHE ALWAYS SAID YOU'RE EDGING GOD OUT.
WHEN YOU KEEP THAT AND YOU CARRY THAT WITH YOU, IT HUMBLES YOU AND MAKES YOU REALIZE THAT IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE FELICIA GRAHAM.
SHE'LL PROVIDE INFORMATION, SAY A FEW WORDS IN REGARDS TO ITEM NUMBER 12, ELDER AND DEPENDENT ADULT ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH. THANK YOU FOR FELICIA.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME, I ALWAYS HATE FOLLOWING LAMAR [LAUGHTER] HE'S SUCH A GREAT ORATOR THAT I'M LIKE, "OH MAN, I DON'T SOUND LIKE THAT."
>> THAT'S WHY YOU GOT UP EARLY.
>> I KNOW. I WAS LIKE," I'M GOING TO BEAT HIM." NO. ANYWAYS, I'M FELICIA GRAHAM, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ADULT AGING SERVICES, AND JUNE IS ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH.
I HAVE A PACKET OF GOODIES FOR YOU GUYS.
IT'S A BUNCH OF APS, OMBUDSMAN INFORMATION, PURPLE PINS.
I'LL LET YOU PERUSE THAT ON YOUR OWN.
LAST MONTH, MERCED COUNTY ADULTS AND AGING SERVICES HONORED OUR SENIORS FOR OLDER AMERICANS MONTH.
WE CONTINUE TO HONOR THEM BY PROCLAIMING JUNE AS ELDER AND DEPENDENT ADULT AWARENESS MONTH, WORLD ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY, OR WE ADD IS ON JUNE 15TH.
OUR ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN TEAM WANTS TO PULL TOGETHER OUR COMMUNITY TO HELP US BUILD CONNECTIONS AND SUPPORT FOR SENIORS INDEPENDENT ADULTS TO PREVENT ABUSE AND NEGLECT.
IN 2015, THE NEW YORK STATE ELDER ABUSE PREVALENT STUDY FOUND THAT FOR EVERY REPORTED ABUSE AND NEGLECT, 24 REPORTS GO UNREPORTED.
IN 2020, MERCED COUNTY APS RECEIVED OVER 1200 INDIVIDUAL ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT.
OUR OMBUDSMEN HAS COMPLETED REVIEWS OF 218 COMPLAINTS FROM RESIDENTS IN FACILITIES.
THIS MEANS THOUSANDS OF INCIDENTS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT GO UNREPORTED ANNUALLY IN MERCED COUNTY.
2020 WAS AN UNPRECEDENTED YEAR AND IT LEFT MANY OLDER ADULTS ISOLATED AND WITHOUT SUPPORTS.
UNLIKE OTHER COUNTIES WHO SAW DECREASES IN REPORTING, MERCED COUNTY ADULTS AND AGING SERVED MORE IN OUR DEPENDENT ADULTS DURING COVID THAN IN PRIOR YEARS.
AS A COMPARISON, THE YEAR PRIOR, APS RECEIVED JUST OVER 1,000 ALLEGATIONS, AND THIS PAST FEBRUARY, OUR APS CASELOAD WAS THE 16TH HIGHEST NUMBER OF CASES OPEN OUT OF THE 58 COUNTIES.
[00:25:06]
ADDITIONALLY, OUR APS HOME SAFE SOCIAL WORKER WAS ABLE TO HELP OVER 60 SENIORS, INDEPENDENT ADULTS AT RISK OF BECOMING OR WHO WERE CURRENTLY HOMELESS REMAIN SAFELY IN THEIR HOME OR FIND A NEW HOME BY PROVIDING FOR PAST DUE RENT OR UTILITY PAYMENTS, SECURITY DEPOSITS PASS TO PROPERTY TAXES, MINOR HOME MODIFICATIONS, TEMPORARY HOUSING, AND HABITABILITY ITEMS. AS MERCED COUNTY SENIOR POPULATION CONTINUES TO GROW, ELDER AND DEPENDENT ADULT ABUSE AWARENESS WILL BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK MY FOUR APS SOCIAL WORKERS AND THREE OMBUDSMEN STAFF IN ALL THE WORK THEY DO.
THE APS AND OMBUDSMAN PROGRAMS ARE SMALL BUT MIGHTY, AND THEY ARE DEFINITELY PART OF THE COUNTY'S GSD CLUB.
[LAUGHTER] THEY DID NOT SKIP A BEAT AS THEY PUSHED THROUGH COVID CONDITIONS AND ENSURED OUR COMMUNITY WAS SAFE AND HAD THE SUPPORTS IT NEEDED.
THIS MONTH, WE WILL BE COMPLETING COMMUNITY AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS ADDRESSING ABUSE AND NEGLECT.
ON JUNE 15TH, WE ASK THE COMMUNITY TO WEAR PURPLE IN SOLIDARITY WITH WE ARE MOVEMENT AND JOIN US FOR OUR VIRTUAL FLAG-RAISING ON OUR ADULTS AND AGING FACEBOOK PAGE AND BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR PURPLE RIBBONS AROUND MERCED.
WE'RE INCREASING AWARENESS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT TO HOPEFULLY WORK TO BUILD A FOUNDATION IN THE PREVENTION OF THIS ABUSE AND NEGLECT.
APS AND OUR OMBUDSMEN WORK DAILY TO HONOR THE DIGNITY OF THE PERSON AND ALLOW FOR SELF-DETERMINATION WHILE ADDRESSING SAFETY CONCERNS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL APS AT 209-385-3105, AGAIN, 209-385-3105 OR OUR OMBUDSMAN AT 385-7402, AGAIN, 385-7402, AND BOTH OF THESE LINES ARE AVAILABLE 24/7. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND AGAIN, WITH FELICIA AND LAMAR, THESE ARE TWO PROGRAMS THAT THE COUNTY OFFERS THAT DOESN'T UNDERSTAND UNINCORPORATED OR INCORPORATED.
THIS GOES WITHIN THE CITIES AS WELL AS MANY OF OUR OTHER PROGRAMS, AND I BELIEVE THEY'RE BOTH UNDER HSA.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THOSE PRESENTATIONS.
>> NEXT IS BOARD ACTION PUBLIC WORKS,
[BOARD ACTION]
ITEMS 25 THROUGH 28.PLEASE NOTE ITEM 26 HAS BEEN PULLED AND A 4/5 VOTE IS REQUIRED ON ITEM 28.
>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? I ALREADY HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
I SEE WE'RE GOING TO GET A LITTLE COMPETITIVE HERE.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.
>> NEXT IS HEALTH, ITEMS 29 THROUGH 33.
>> ARE THERE FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? SEEING NONE.
I DO SEE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S TALLY THE VOTE.
>> NEXT IS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES, ITEMS 34 THROUGH 37.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING THIS? IF NOT, I DO HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE. LET'S TALLY THE VOTE.
>> NEXT IS HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY, ITEMS 38 AND 39.
>> ITEMS 38 AND 39. I DO HAVE SUPERVISOR PEDROZO, CHAIR RECOGNIZES YOU AT THIS TIME.
>> THANK YOU. THIS GOES FOR BOTH OF THEM.
I THINK THESE ARE GREAT PROGRAMS AND I REACHED OUT TO DIRECTOR BROWN YESTERDAY TO TALK TO HER ABOUT WHAT OUTREACH IS BEING DONE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN A TOUGH YEAR BUT WHAT WAS SAID TO ME WAS THERE'S INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE AND THERE'S STUFF THAT'S GOING OUT THERE.
I THINK WITH THESE PROGRAMS THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT AND WE TALK ABOUT, WE SHOULD CELEBRATE OUR SUCCESSES MORE, I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE WAYS THAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE BROUGHT TO LIGHT.
[00:30:01]
I RECENTLY FOUND OUT ABOUT SOME OF THIS STUFF.MY WIFE'S GRANDMOTHER JUST MOVED INTO TOWN.
SHE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO ACCESS SOME OF THIS INFORMATION, AND IF IT WASN'T FOR HER, SHE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET THE INFORMATION.
I JUST WANTED TO GO AND JUST ASK IF YOU COULD, I KNOW YOU SENT THE INFORMATION TODAY ON THINGS YOU HAVE DONE TO DO OUTREACH, BUT IF YOU COULD LET PEOPLE KNOW, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.
>> LET ME CALL [INAUDIBLE] EXPERT TEAMS JUST IN CASE I'M MISSING A THING
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M IVANA BROWN, THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN SERVICES.
>> DO WE WANT TO LET FELICIA GO FIRST? [LAUGHTER].
>> OH, NO I'M NOT [INAUDIBLE] NEED TO GO TO CLASS.
[LAUGHTER] BY THE WAY OF THE CHAIR, SUPERVISOR PEDROZO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS ITEM OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE SO WE CAN HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE DONE TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY AND EDUCATE THEM ON THE HEALTH INSURANCE COUNSELING ADVOCACY PROGRAM.
IT'S ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE MADE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS AND IN NOTIFYING THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO PROVIDING RESOURCES AND HELPING PEOPLE NOT TO PAY AS MUCH, AS THEY NEED TO PAY FOR INSURANCE BY GETTING THEM HOOKED UP WITH MEDICARE.
TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE HAVE DONE OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR COURSE WITH COVID 19.
A LOT OF THE ACTIVITIES WERE PUT ON HOLD BUT HOWEVER, YOU KNOW FELICIA SHE'S A VERY STRONG ADVOCATE FOR OUR ADULT AND SENIOR POPULATIONS.
SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE HAVE DONE TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY AROUND THIS DIFFERENT PROGRAM IS THAT WE HAVE [NOISE] ELECTRONIC DIGITAL DISPLAYS ON THE DIGNITY MERCED, MERCY EMERGENCY ROOM CAFETERIA, AND WE DO OUTREACH EVENTS.
WE ALSO HAVE PRESENTATIONS AT RETIREMENT TEACHERS ASSOCIATION, ALL THOMAS SUPPORT GROUPS.
SENIOR CITIZENS, SENIOR CENTERS, CONGREGATE MEAL SETTINGS, SENIOR CLUBS, [NOISE] RETIREMENT HOMES, SENIOR APARTMENT COMPLEXES THAT WE GIVE OUR INFORMATION BOTH IN COMMUNITY EVENTS AND WE ALSO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO OUR STAFF WHO MEETS WITH CLIENTS TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
BUT I'M ALSO GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO FELICIA, I'M SURE THERE'S MUCH MORE THAT IS BEING DONE, THAT I WILL MAKE SURE SHE HIGHLIGHT THAT FOR THE COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU. HICAP IS ANOTHER SMALL BUT MIGHTY PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE.
IN FACT, ALL OF OUR ADULTS AND AGING PROGRAMS, DEFINITELY WERE FIGHTERS AND SO WE WILL ADVOCATE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
IF INTERESTED IN OUR HICAP PROGRAM, THEY CAN CONTACT OUR TRIPLE A OR AREA AGENCY ON AGING AT 385 -75- 50.
IVANA HAD MENTIONED THAT OUR HICAP PROGRAM ASSISTS WITH GOING THROUGH MEDICARE COVERAGE, PART A THROUGH D, MEDICAL QUESTIONS.
THEY DO COUNSEL, INDIVIDUALS ON THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF INSURANCE PLANS THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE OR COULD HAVE.
OVER THE FISCAL YEAR 1920, WE WERE ABLE TO SAVE THE SENIORS THAT WE SERVED $863,293 OVER THAT YEAR.
THAT'S MONEY THAT WENT BACK INTO THOSE SENIORS POCKETS, WENT BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITY.
IT IS A VERY CRITICAL PROGRAM WITH THE NEW DESIGN OF CALAIM, HICAP WILL BE MORE UTILIZED, SO MORE THINGS TO COME.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE MASTER PLAN FOR AGING AND A LOT OF THE FUNDING THAT'S COMING THROUGH THE STATE FOR THE AGING PROGRAMS. EXCITED, YOU'LL PROBABLY SEE ME COME UP A LOT MORE THROUGHOUT THE NEXT SIX MONTHS OR SO WITH ALL OF THESE NEW AND IMPROVED PLANS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU.
>> VERY GOOD. I DID HAVE A QUESTION TOO.
I REMEMBER BACK IN THE DAY WHEN I WAS A YOUNG MAN OUT OF COLLEGE, YOU WENT TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WHEN YOU MOVED INTO A NEW COMMUNITY TO GET THE CHAMBER PACKET, DO THEY STILL DO THAT HERE AND DO WE ADD SOMETHING? BECAUSE I THINK AS MY COLLEAGUE HAD MENTIONED, SHE MOVED TO THE AREA AND I WONDER IF THAT'S SOMETHING.
>> I KNOW THAT OUR HICAP PROGRAM HAS PRESENTED PREVIOUSLY TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
I WILL CONFIRM WITH OUR PROGRAM MANAGER TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE FLYERS AND INFORMATION IS STILL GOING THERE, BECAUSE IT IS VERY VALUABLE FOR OUR SENIORS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY STOP THERE FIRST TO GET TO KNOW OUR COMMUNITY AND WHERE THE RESOURCES ARE.
AGAIN, THEY CAN CALL THE 38- 57-550 NUMBER, AND THEN THEY CAN BE CONNECTED TO A WHOLE ANOTHER SET OF RESOURCES AS WELL.
[00:35:02]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE DO HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
JOSH, DID YOU HAVE MORE COMMENTS? JUST GO AHEAD AND PUSH YOUR BUTTON AGAIN.
>> NEXT IS COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ITEMS 40 AND 41, AND THEY WILL BE TAKEN SEPARATELY.
>> WE'LL GO WITH ITEM 40 BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE A PRESENTATION ON ITEM 41.
ARE THERE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? I DO HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA WITH NO COMMENTS IN THE QUEUE LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE.
WE'LL TAKE THE PRESENTATION FIRST.
>> NO PRESSURE. YOU DID FOLLOW LAMAR AS WELL.
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF BOARD.
>> GOOD MORNING AGAIN. I'M MARK HENDRICKSON, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
EARLIER THIS YEAR ON MARCH 2ND, THE BOARD RECEIVED AN INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION FROM ITS STAFF, FROM DR. [INAUDIBLE] AND HIS PLANNING TEAM ABOUT THE VIRGINIA SMITH TRUST PROJECT.
THE PROJECT THAT WILL CREATE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR CHILDREN, WILL SPUR JOB CREATION, WILL CREATE A WIDE ARRAY, AND MIX OF HOUSING OPTIONS.
MOST NOTABLY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS, AND WILL ALSO ENHANCE AMENITIES FOR THOUSANDS WHO CALL MERCED COUNTY HOME.
HERE IN A FEW MINUTES, MR. MAX, IS GOING TO WALK THROUGH FOR YOU.
IT'S JUST A VERY BRIEF SLIDE PRESENTATION.
THERE WILL BE THREE RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FOR YOU TODAY.
FIRST, TO APPROVE AN MOU BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE CITY RELATING TO THE VST DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND OTHER LAND USING ENTITLEMENTS, ESSENTIALLY ESTABLISHING THE ROLES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND EXPECTATIONS AS PART OF THE ENTITLEMENT PROCESS.
TWO, TO DIRECT STAFF TO ACCEPT THE APPLICATION AND BEGIN THE ANALYSIS PROCESS FOR THIS PROJECT.
THEN THIRDLY, TO AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OF THIS ORGANIZATION TO CARRY OUT THE PROVISIONS OF THE MOU.
OF NOTE, THE MERCED CITY COUNCIL DID LAST NIGHT APPROVE THE MOU THAT'S BEFORE YOU TODAY.
AT THIS POINT, PRIOR TO TURNING IT OVER TO MR. MAX, HERE TO MAKE A FEW BRIEF COMMENTS, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE BOTH HE AND MR. BROWN, I THINK, HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING THIS DOCUMENT TO YOU TODAY.
I WANT TO THANK BOTH OF THEM FOR THEIR HARD WORK.
AGAIN, SHOULD THE BOARD HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT IT'S CONCLUSION, BOTH STAFF AND MR. PECK FROM THE VST TEAM WILL BE PLEASED TO RESPOND.
AT THIS POINT I'LL TURN OVER TO STEVE.
>> GOOD MORNING MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, STEVE MAXEY , DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PLANNING FOR THE COUNTY.
AS MENTIONED, THIS IS REALLY AN ACTION THAT'S TIED TO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF MERCED AND THE COUNTY OF MERCED FOR THE VIRGINIA SMITH TRUST PROJECT.
JUST A VERY BRIEF REFRESHER OF WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.
THE PROJECT AREA SOUTH OF CURRENT UC MERCED CAMPUS AND THE NORTHERN PORTION OF WHAT WE CALL THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY PLANNER AREA.
THAT'S WAS A COMMUNITY PLAN THAT WAS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD BACK IN THE EARLY 2000S AND HAS JUST BEEN BIDING ITS TIME UNTIL WE'RE AT WHERE WE ARE TODAY WHICH IS THE NEXT PHASES OF DEVELOPMENT HERE.
BECAUSE THIS IS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY PLAN AREA OF THE PROJECT AS A WHOLE WHICH COMPRISES OF WHAT I'VE GOT ON THE SLIDE HERE, WOULD BE ANALYZED FOR CONSISTENCY WITH THAT UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY PLAN, WHICH COVERS EVERYTHING FROM INFRASTRUCTURE TO SERVICES SUCH AS SCHOOLS, POLICE, FIRE, SENIOR, AND YOUTH SERVICES, THINGS LIKE THAT, ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES THAT ARE WITHIN THE PLAN ITSELF, AND THEN HOUSING, AS MR. HENDRICKSON MENTIONED, WHAT THE AFFORDABILITY AND DENSITY MIX LOOKS LIKE IN THE COMMUNITY PLAN AREA AND THEN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS A WHOLE.
ALL OF THESE THINGS FOLD INTO WHAT THE PROJECT IS BEING PROPOSED AS CURRENTLY BY THE VIRGINIA SMITH TRUST.
THAT'S JUST SHY OF 4,000 DWELLING UNITS.
THAT WOULD INCLUDE A COMMITMENT TO DEVELOP A HOUSING STRATEGY CONSISTENT WITH OUR HOUSING ELEMENTS THAT WOULD BE A PROPORTIONATE SHARE OF OUR REGIONAL HOUSING NEATER.
WHAT WE NEED TO ACCOMMODATE AS THE COUNTY, DIFFERENT HOUSING TYPES, DENSITIES, AFFORDABILITY, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THE APPLICANT AND VST IN THIS CASE HAS COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING THAT STRATEGY.
THAT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE ABOUT 800,000 SQUARE FEET OF RETAIL OR OFFICE SPACE, AND WOULD BE BUILD OUT OVER THE COURSE OF 15 YEARS.
FOR THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, JUST WHY WE ENTER INTO SOMETHING LIKE THIS?
[00:40:01]
THE PROJECT AREA ITSELF IS UNINCORPORATED, BUT IT IS WITHIN THE CITY'S SPHERE OF INFLUENCE, MEANING IT COULD SOMEDAY BE ANNEXED BY THE CITY OR OTHERWISE SERVED BY THE CITY THROUGH SOME OUT OF AGENCY SERVICE AGREEMENT OR SOME OTHER MEANS.THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY PLAN ITSELF CALLS FOR COORDINATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY ON DEVELOPING THE SPECIFIC PLANS FOR WHICH THIS WOULD QUALIFY.
THERE ARE REALLY TWO THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO ESTABLISH WITH THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.
ONE THAT WOULD BE THAT WE MAINTAIN THAT THE CITY AND COUNTY ARE IN LOCKSTEP IN HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS PROJECT, HOW WE'RE DOING OUR ANALYSIS SO THAT WHEN THERE'S SOME TURNOVER, AGAIN THROUGH ANNEXATION OR SOME OTHER SERVICE MEANS TO THE PROJECT, THAT WE'RE IN AGREEMENT AS A CITY AND COUNTY WORKING ON THIS PROJECT AT THE SAME TIME.
THAT'S ADDING AN INCREDIBLE VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY, AND HOW THIS IS BEING PROCESSED IN THAT THERE'S NO TIME LOST IN THAT TRANSITION PERIOD.
THAT'S REALLY THE FIRST AND OVERARCHING GOAL OF THE MOU.
THE SECOND IS TO ENSURE THAT WE KNOW WHAT THAT TRANSITION LOOKS LIKE, HOW WE'RE HITTING A LOT OF THE POLICY GOALS AND TARGETS THAT ARE WITHIN OUR UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY PLAN AND THIS IS LAUNCHING THAT STARTING POINT.
THERE'S ALSO A COMPONENT OF THAT MOU AS PROPOSED BEFORE YOU TODAY THAT WOULD ESTABLISH A PROJECT REVIEW TEAM.
THAT WOULD REVIEW THE PROJECT JUST AS WE WOULD ANY OTHER PRIVATE PROJECT THAT WOULD COME BEFORE THE COUNTY FOR CONSIDERATION.
THAT PROJECT REVIEW TEAM WILL BE THE CITY AND COUNTY INTERACTING WITH THE DEVELOPER TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT DEVELOPER MIGHT NEED TO DO OR TWEAK, OR ANALYZE OR WORK WITH US ON TO MEET A LOT OF THOSE GOALS AND POLICIES THAT ARE ALREADY ADOPTED AND IN PLACE.
SAME THING THAT YOUR STAFF AND THE CITY STAFF WOULD DO ON ANY OTHER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
THERE'S ALSO A SECRET REVIEW OR ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COMPONENT.
THAT'S WHERE WE LOOK AT THE IMPACTS OR THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS RELATED SPECIFICALLY TO THIS PROJECT.
THEN CUMULATIVELY WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THE COUNTY AND THE CITY AS A WHOLE, BUT AGAIN, TIED DIRECTLY TO POTENTIAL IMPACTS RESULTING FROM THIS PROJECT.
ANOTHER PIECE OF WHAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING TODAY IS THE ALIGNMENT OF CAMPUS PARKWAY.
AS YOU MAY RECALL IN NOVEMBER OF 2020, THE COUNTY ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AND UC MERCED SPECIFICALLY TO DEFINE THE TYPE OF SCALE, THE TIMING, BASICALLY, HOW MUCH IS THE UC GOING TO PUT INTO CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEXT PHASE OF CAMPUS PARKWAY AND WHEN IS THAT GOING TO OCCUR? ONE OF THE TERMS OF THAT AGREEMENT WAS A REQUIREMENT THAT THE COUNTY, THE CITY, THE UC, PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE AREA AGREED TO WHAT A FINAL, SCORE AS WE CAN GET TO A FINAL ALIGNMENT WITHOUT DOING ENGINEERING DRAWINGS.
ALIGNMENT WOULD BE OF THAT CAMPUS PARKWAY SEGMENT.
WE'VE, AS OF APRIL AGREED TO WHAT THAT ALIGNMENT WOULD LOOK LIKE AND EVERYBODY SEEMS TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE.
THIS WOULD BE THE FINAL NOD OR GO-AHEAD FROM THE BOARD HERE TODAY TO CONTINUE OUR ANALYSIS WITHOUT ALIGNMENT IN MIND.
DO WANT TO THANK YOU AS A BOARD FOR PROVIDING INPUT ON THAT ALIGNMENTS AT OUR PAST MEETING AS WELL.
JUST A QUICK VIEW OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
THAT'LL BE THE DARKEST LINE THAT RUNS NORTH-SOUTH THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE THE FIGURE THERE, SQUIGGLY LINE THAT RUNS UP FROM YOSEMITE ALL THE WAY UP TO BELLEVUE, WHAT IS CURRENTLY THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE UC MERCED CAMPUS.
THAT'S ALL. I'LL STOP TALKING NOW.
THE THREE ACTIONS HERE IN FRONT OF YOU ARE FIRST TO APPROVE THE MOU, WHICH AGAIN AS MR. HENDRICKSON MENTIONED THE CITY APPROVED AT THEIR COUNCIL MEETING LAST NIGHT, TWO TO GIVE STUFF DIRECTION ON INITIATION OF THE PROJECT AND CONSIDERATION OF THE APPLICATIONS, AND THREE, TO AUTHORIZE THE COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR TO CARRY OUT THE PROJECT AND MOU ITSELF.
>> THANK YOU, STEVE. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
>> FIRST UPFRONT, I WANT TO APOLOGIZE BECAUSE I'M GOING TO QUESTION SOMETHING HERE THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN THAT CAMPUS PARKWAY ALIGNMENT IN TOTALITY.
IT LOOKS A LOT DIFFERENT THAN I IMAGINED FROM THE SMALL SNIPPETS THAT I HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST.
MY ONLY CONCERN IS THAT TURNS GENERALLY INCREASE ACCIDENTS.
I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THIS CAMPUS PARKWAY WAS GOING TO HAVE MAYBE 2-3 TURNS IN IT.
I SEE A LOT MORE THAN THAT IN THE FINAL ALIGNMENT.
IS IT TOO LATE TO ANALYZE THAT OR HAS SOMEBODY ALREADY ANALYZED THAT AND WE'RE OKAY IF YOU COULD RESPOND PLEASE.
>> SURE. THROUGH THE CHAIR, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CONSIDERATIONS HERE.
ONE, I THINK IS A GENERAL RULE, TURNS DON'T ALWAYS INCREASE ACCIDENTS, ONE CONSIDERATION HERE TO THIS SEGMENT OF CAMPUS PARKWAY IS THERE WOULD BE LIMITED ACCESS AS TO WHERE YOU COULD HAVE INTERSECTIONS OR CONFLICTS WITH TRAFFIC FLOW.
THE TURNS THEMSELVES ARE ENGINEERED TO ACCOMMODATE A CERTAIN SPEED AND LONG ENOUGH SIGHT LINES TO HANDLE THAT, THAT WOULD BE ENGINEERED TO ACCOMMODATE FOR THOSE SAFETY CONCERNS.
[00:45:05]
THERE'S ALSO A COMPONENT TO THIS WHERE, THE SPEED WILL DROP AS TRAFFIC STARTS TO FLOW INTO THIS VIRGINIA'S SMITH TRUST PLAN AREA, JUST BY WAY OF DENSITY, IT'S GOING TO BE A MORE DENSE, SLIGHTLY MORE URBAN AREA THAN WHAT WAS OUT THERE TODAY.THAT'LL REDUCE ACCIDENTS QUITE A BIT AS WELL.
AS FAR AS WHY THEY NEED FOR THE TURNS, THERE'S A FEW REASONS.
ONE IS WHERE THE CURRENT ACCESS WOULD PICK UP ON YOSEMITE FROM THE SEGMENT OF CAMPUS PARKWAY THAT'S BEING BUILT TODAY TO THE VIRGINIA SMITH TRUST PROJECT IN PARTICULAR, HAS TO ACCOUNT FOR SOME FLOW OF CREEKS THAT GO THROUGH THEIR PROJECT, COUNT FOR DRAINAGE WITHOUT HAVING TO REALLY OVER-ENGINEER THE SITES OR IN A VERY COSTLY AND INEFFICIENTLY AND USE MANNER.
THOSE WOULD ALSO HAVE TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECTS INTO WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN FOR THE ACCESS AS COUNTY MERCED MOVES ON TO THE UC MERCED SITE AS WELL.
THAT IN AND OF ITSELF IS ANOTHER CONSTRAINT ALTOGETHER.
THE UC AS PART OF ITS LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN, I'LL SAY SOMEWHAT UNILATERALLY MADE THE DECISION THAT WAS GOING TO BE THE LAND, THAT STRIP OF GREEN AT THE VERY TOP OF THE IMAGE THERE, WAS ALL THAT UC WAS WILLING TO CONSIDER FOR DEDICATION OF LAND FOR CAMPUS PARKWAY? WELL, WITHOUT ANY CONSULTATION WITH THE COUNTY PRIOR TO THAT LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT BY BEING ADOPTED BY THE REGION.
THERE ARE JUST A NUMBER OF CONSTRAINTS THAT PLAY INTO THIS.
BUT OVERALL, THE ENGINEERING WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SUCH A WAY TO ADDRESS ALL THE SAFETY CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE.
>> THANKS FOR BRINGING THAT UP LAST MOMENT AND APPRECIATE THE ANSWERS.
>> I SEE NO OTHER FOLKS IN THE QUEUE.
FOR SOME REASON I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE ROUNDED OFF, AS IT WENT INTO BELLEVUE.
WELL, THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN IT AS A INTERSECTION.
>> I BELIEVE CURRENTLY IT'S PLANNED AS A ROUNDABOUT.
CORRECT. THAT'S THE UC'S EXPECTATION AS WELL?
>> YEAH. SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA LIKES ROUNDABOUTS TOO.
[LAUGHTER] ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND, I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE. LET'S TALLY THE VOTE.
>> NEXT IS PROBATION ITEM 42 HAS BEEN PULLED, WE MOVE ON TO SHERIFF.
[BACKGROUND] [NOISE] SHERRIF ITEMS 43 THROUGH 46.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? SEEING NONE, I ALREADY HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S TALLY THE VOTE.
FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR ITEM 47? SEEING NONE, I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S TALLY THE VOTE.
NEXT IS WORKFORCE INVESTMENT, ITEM 48.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, BUT I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
ON ITEMS 49 AND 50, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
[00:50:01]
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA, AND I DO HAVE COMMENTS COMING.THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE RECALL ELECTION, WHAT THAT'S GOING TO COST.
IT'S GOING TO COST THE COUNTY OF MERCED, AND I THINK THERE'S SOME REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE STATE ON THAT THAT'S GOING TO COST THE TAXPAYERS JUST FOR MERCED COUNTY OVER A MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE RECALL ELECTION.
THESE CHOICES THAT WE HAVE AS WE VOTE ON ONE FOR LAS MENINAS UNIFIED SCHOOL JUST TO HAVING A SPECIAL ELECTION, THE TAXPAYERS IN LAS MENINAS UNIFIED ARE GOING TO SPEND $30,000 OR $40,000 TO HAVE A SPECIAL ELECTION.
THESE THINGS ALL COME AT A COST TO THE TAXPAYER.
JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT. THANK YOU.
OVER A MILLION DOLLARS WAS ACTUALLY JUST THE GOVERNOR'S RECALL.
I SEE NO OTHER REQUESTS IN THE QUEUE.
NEXT IS HUMAN RESOURCES RISK MANAGEMENT, ITEMS 51 AND 52.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
I HAVE A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S TALLY THE VOTE.
BOARD INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION,
[BOARD INFORMATION & POSSIBLE ACTION]
ITEMS 53 AND 54.LOOKING FOR A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
NEXT, WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FROM COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AMENDMENT OF THE
[COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - PUBLIC HEARING]
AGRICULTURAL PRESERVE AS PER THE CALIFORNIA LAND CONSERVATION ACT OF 1965, WILLIAMSON ACT, IN MERCED COUNTY.GOOD MORNING. IF THIS IS AN ITEM THAT STACK PERIODICALLY BRINGS TO YOU TO CONSIDER AMENDING THE AGRICULTURAL PRESERVE UPON APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM, TWO PROPERTY LAND ADJUSTMENTS IN TWO MINOR SUB-DIVISIONS WILL BE FLUCTUATED.
SECTION 51233 OF THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE DOES REQUIRE THE BOARD TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING TO ACTUALLY AMEND THE AGRICULTURAL PRESERVE.
UPON YOUR ACTION, A TOTAL OF 24.16 ACRES WILL BE REMOVED AND 7.5 ACRES WOULD BE ADDED UPON YOUR ACTION.
NONE OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTIES ARE ACTUALLY UNDER WILLIAMSON ACT CONTRACT.
AT THIS POINT, STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE FOLLOWING, ONE FOR YOU TO OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING, TWO, CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THEN THERE ARE ACTUALLY TWO SEPARATE POLICY CONSIDERATIONS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY.
FIRST OF WHICH IS TO MAKE A MOTION TO FIND THE REMOVAL OF LAND FROM THE AC RESERVE LISTED IN THIS BOARD AGENDA ITEM AS EXEMPT FROM CEQA UNDER SECTION 15183 PROJECTS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMMITTEE PLANNER IS ON BASED ON THE FINDINGS POLICE IN THE STAFF REPORT, AND THEN SECONDLY, TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION, AMENDING THE ACT PRESERVE AS AGAIN PER THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAND CONSERVATION ACT OF 1965.
STAFF WOULD BE PLEASED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU, MR. NIXON. I SEE NO QUESTIONS IN THE QUEUE.
AT THIS TIME, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYBODY HERE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SO THERE'S NOBODY HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON IT.
AT THIS TIME, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE A SHORT BREAK AND WE WILL RETURN AT 11 O'CLOCK.
WERE THERE ANY COMMENTS RECEIVED? WE RECEIVED NO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
OKAY. CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE'LL BRING IT BACK HERE TO THE DAIS.
I DON'T SEE ANY REQUESTS IN THE QUEUE.
WITH THAT, I WILL LOOK TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR SOME DIRECTION.
[00:55:04]
[NOISE] WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.>> YOU WANT TO DO IT? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, MOTION TO FIND THAT THE REMOVAL IN ADDITION OF THE LAND FROM THE AGRICULTURE PRESERVE PERTAINING TO THE INFORMATION IN THE STAFF REPORT THAT THE PROJECT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE COMMUNITY PLANNER ZONING BASED ON THE FINDINGS LISTED IN THE ABOVE-BOARD AGENDA ITEM. THAT'S MY MOTION.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, IS THERE A SECOND?
>> I HAVE A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
>> ALSO IF IT'S OKAY WITH COUNCIL, I WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE IN MY MOTION THE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE AGRICULTURE PRESERVE AS PER THE REQUIREMENT OF THE LAND CONSERVATION ACT, THE WILLIAMSON ACT.
>> SECOND, YOU'RE OKAY WITH THAT AS WELL.
ALL RIGHT, WE GET IT ALL DONE WITH ONE SWOOP.
IS THERE FURTHER? SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
>> YOU WERE IN THE QUEUE BUT IT'S OKAY.
WITH THAT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR IT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, "AYE."
>> ANY OBJECTIONS? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION]
>> THANK YOU. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND LOOK TOWARDS MY COLLEAGUE AND NUMBER ONE, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
>> NOW LET ME PUT IT ON DISCUSSION MODE.
>> MIC IS ON, THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. WELL, I LIKE JUST TALKING ABOUT RECALLS, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S A RECALL IN MY DISTRICT, IN THE COMMUNITY OF THE CITY OF LIVINGSTON, AND BEING IN THE RECALLS IS A TOUGH AND NOT EASY TASK.
UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF BAD BLOOD COMES OUT.
SO I'M JUST TRYING TO STAY IN THE MIDDLE, STAY AWAY, SO I'VE STATED THAT TO THE COMMUNITY, JUST HOPEFULLY THAT THE BEST THING FOR THE COMMUNITY COMES OUT.
I'LL JUST STAY WITHOUT, LIKE WE STATED EARLIER, RECALLS ARE EXPENSIVE AND THE CITIZENS ARE THE ONES THAT WE END UP PAYING FOR EVERYTHING ANYWAY.
ALSO, I'D JUST LIKE TO STATE THAT I WAS REACHED OUT BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE LIVINGSTON VFW HALL, AND ALSO I'VE BEEN REACHED OUT BY THE MERCED VFW HALL.
I KNOW THEY'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THEIR UPGRADES IN MERCED AND LIVINGSTON AND I THINK WE HAVE A MEETING WITH OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR ON WEDNESDAY THAT THE DIRECTOR FOR LIVINGSTON WANTED TO MEET WITH ME AND PUBLIC WORKS REGARDING THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AND HOPEFULLY, WE CAN GET THAT OUT STARTING THIS YEAR OR HOPEFULLY EARLY NEXT YEAR AND THE UPGRADES BECAUSE WE'RE DEFINITELY, I GUESS ALL ACROSS OUR COUNTY, THE VFW HALLS ARE REALLY OLD AND THEY NEED UPGRADES, THE AC SYSTEMS, SOME ROOMS, WINDOWS AND WHATEVER IT NEEDS TO BE DONE, THESE ARE BUILDINGS THAT BELONG TO THE COUNTY AND THAT THEY FEEL THE COUNTY SHOULD UPGRADE THEM.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S ALWAYS DIVISIBLE OPINION, BUT THIS IS WHERE OUR VETERANS MEET, AND LIKE I SAID, I LIKE TO SUPPORT OUR VETERANS AND ALSO THESE HALLS ARE USED BY CITIZENS OF OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL, SO I KNOW THEY CAN RENT IT OUT.
ANOTHER GUARANTEED OUTCOME. WITH THAT, I'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE.
I'M ALSO REQUESTING AGAIN, THAT WE TRANSLATE AGENDAS FOR OUR MEETINGS HERE IN SPANISH, HMONG, AND SIKK.
LIKE I ADDRESSED IT BEFORE, WITH GOOGLE TRANSLATE, IT SHOULD BE PRETTY EASY AND THEY SHOULDN'T BE HAVING A PROBLEM.
I KNOW THAT PUTTING OUT THE GENDER, IT'S A LOT OF WORK, BUT WITH THE GOOGLE TRANSLATE,
[01:00:01]
IT SHOULD BE EASY FOR OUR STAFF TO JUST LOOK OVER IT AND MAKE MINOR MODIFICATIONS.SO IT SHOULD BE A BIG EXPENSE TO OUR COUNTY.
ALSO, OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING WILL BE JUNE 22ND, JUST FOR THE PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE, AND WITH THAT MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
WE'LL MOVE TO DISTRICT 2, SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
>> THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO MENTION A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ON THE 26TH, MERCED COLLEGE BROKE GROUND ON THE RAJ KAHLON AGRICULTURE BUILDING ON THE CAMPUS AT MERCED COLLEGE.
IT'S REALLY GREAT TO SEE THE DEVELOPMENT OF MERCED COLLEGE AND THE CONTINUED GROWTH AND INVESTMENT THAT THEY'RE PUTTING INTO THE COMMUNITY.
I DO WANT TO MENTION ALSO, LAST NIGHT, I MADE A BRIEFING ON THE DISTRICTING PROCESS THAT WE ARE GOING TO START THIS AFTERNOON AND I SAID THE WEBSITE WAS MERCED COUNT, INSTEAD OF MERCED COUNTY, [INAUDIBLE] SAID COUNTY, AND SO I WANTED TO CORRECT THAT.
I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE MR. PAZIN'S 93RD BIRTHDAY, HE'S A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF MERCED COUNTY.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY AT THE MERCED COUNTY CEMETERY, HERE IN MERCED.
IT'S ALWAYS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS THAT MAKE YOU TAKE THE TIME TO REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT WE HAVE AND WHAT WE GET TO DO.
ALSO, I WANTED TO, SINCE THIS IS THE LAST MEETING BEFORE THE 19TH, ON SATURDAY, JUNE 19TH, THERE IS A JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION AT MCNAMARA PARK.
THEY SAID IT STARTS AT SUNRISE AND THEY'RE GOING TILL 7:00 PM.
THEY WELCOME EVERYBODY TO GO OUT THERE AND TO HAVE A GOOD TIME.
FINALLY, IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BUT IT IS FAIR WEEK, THIS WEEK.
I WANTED TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE IS THE YOUTH LIVESTOCK AUCTION THAT'S GOING ON AT THE FAIR.
THEY'RE DOING IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY, IT'S ONLINE, BUT IT'S ALSO IN-PERSON ON SATURDAY STARTING AT 8:30.
IT'S A REALLY COOL OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT THE 4-H AND FFA KIDS BY PURCHASING ANIMALS AND REALLY SHOWING THEM THAT THEIR HARD WORK PAYS OFF.
I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WAS A PART OF, GROWING UP, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY HELPS OUT.
SO IF YOU'RE ABLE TO, PLEASE COME OUT, YOU CAN GET MORE INFORMATION AT MERCEDCOUNTYFAIR.COM, IT'LL LIST EVERYTHING OUT FOR YOU.
MOVE INTO DISTRICT 4, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE TODAY'S MEETING IN MEMORY OF DILLARD [INAUDIBLE].
DILLARD WAS A VERY UNIQUE CHARACTER WHO LIVED IN THE COMMUNITY AT DELHI.
I BELIEVE HE'S ACTUALLY BORN IN TEXAS, BUT CAME TO DELHI PROBABLY IN THE '50S.
HE SERVED AS A VOLUNTEER FIREMAN THERE AT LEAST 45 YEARS, IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MORE, BUT I KNOW IT'S AT LEAST 45 YEARS.
A FELLA HIS AGE AND THAT MANY YEARS OF SERVICE, HE WAS STILL GOING TO CALLS AS OF A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE HE PASSED AWAY.
IT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE THAT WHEN YOU RETIRE, BECAUSE HE WORKED FOR TURLOCK DISTRICT FOR LOT OF YEARS AND RETIRED.
WHEN HE RETIRED, HE DIDN'T JUST QUIT, HE STAYED ACTIVE IN HIS COMMUNITY, AND HIS CHURCH, AND ANYWAYS, HE'LL BE MISSED BY ALL OF US.
HE WAS A GOOD MAN, A UNIQUE CHARACTER, SERVED ON THE WATER BOARD AS WELL, SO THANK YOU FOR SERVING OUR COUNTY, DILLARD.
NEXT, MEMORIAL DAY JUST PASSED, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE GET CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT MEMORIAL DAY IS ABOUT.
IT IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO DIED SERVING OUR COUNTRY, SO WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT A GOLD STAR MOM OR A GOLD STAR DAD OR A GOLD STAR FAMILY, THAT MEANS THOSE FOLKS HAVE LOST ONE OF THEIR LOVED ONES IN SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY, AND IT'S DIFFERENT THAN VETERANS DAY.
VETERANS DAY IS VERY IMPORTANT AS WELL, HOWEVER, THAT ULTIMATE SACRIFICE CHANGES LIVES FOREVER, AND SO IT WAS MY PLEASURE TO DO A COUPLE OF THINGS IN HONOR
[01:05:02]
OF OUR DECEASED VETERANS AND ONE OF THEM WAS TO GO TO WINTON.THEY DIDN'T HAVE A PROGRAM THIS YEAR, BUT THE LOCAL VFW THERE PUT OUT FLAGS IN THE CEMETERY AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO BE TO MY NEXT DAY EVENT FOR QUITE A WHILE, SO I HUNG OUT IN THE CEMETERY AND WATCHED ALL THE FOLKS COME THROUGH AND PAY THEIR RESPECTS, AND IT WAS A VERY HUMBLING MOMENT.
THEN I DROVE OUT TO AUGUSTINE, THEY HAD A PARADE THROUGH TOWN.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS COVID OR IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS A HOT DAY BUT IT WAS LIGHTLY ATTENDED, WHICH WAS JUST DISHEARTENING BECAUSE THOSE VETERANS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THE PARADE, THEY DESERVE OUR UTMOST RESPECT.
THEY MAY NOT HAVE PASSED AWAY, BUT THEY DEFINITELY PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR OUR COUNTRY.
ANYWAYS, I JUST WANT TO HONOR THEM AS WELL.
THEN JUST A LITTLE FOLLOW-UP SUPERVISOR PEDROZO MENTIONED THAT THE MERCED FAIR STARTS TOMORROW AND GOES THROUGH SATURDAY.
OF COURSE, THERE WON'T BE ALL THE EXHIBITS IN THE COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS AND THERE WON'T BE A CARNIVAL RIDE, BUT THERE WILL BE YOUTH OUT THERE SHOWING THEIR ANIMALS AND SELLING THEM, AND SO ANY SUPPORT THAT THE COMMUNITY WOULD LIKE TO GIVE TO THEM WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
PEOPLE OFTEN ASK ME, THEY HAVE MOVED TO MERCED, WHAT SHOULD THEY GET INVOLVED IN? I ALWAYS TELL THEM, GET YOUR KIDS INVOLVED IN 4-H AND FFA.
THE ANIMAL IS IMPORTANT, HOWEVER, IT'S REALLY THE ANIMAL THAT GETS THE KIDS INVOLVED, AND THEY LEARN SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST RESPONSIBILITY OF TAKING CARE OF AN ANIMAL.
THEY LEARN LEADERSHIP SKILLS, PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILLS, AND IT GOES FAR BEYOND.
ANYWAYS, THERE IS ALSO A GROUP CALLED THE FRIENDS OF THE FAIR, AND IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN GETTING INVOLVED IN SUPPORTING THE FAIR IN OUR COMMUNITY, PLEASE GET A HOLD OF ME AND I WILL GET YOU CONNECTED.
TONIGHT THERE IS A DINNER THERE.
WELL, THE DINNER WILL BE ABOUT SIX O'CLOCK, BUT THE EVENT OPENS UP AT 5:36.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME TO THAT AND SEE WHAT THE FRIENDS OF THE FAIR DOES, REACH OUT TO ME TODAY AND YOU COULD BE MY GUEST.
THAT IS IT, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR. MOVING TO DISTRICT 5, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO REITERATE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN SAID, BUT JUST REALLY ON MEMORIAL DAY, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING AT THE LOS BANOS DISTRICT CEMETERY AND THE DOS PALOS DISTRICT CEMETERY FOR SOME MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS.
I JUST REALLY WANT TO COMMEND THAT THE FOLKS OVER IN DOS PALOS, THEY'RE DOING A REALLY GREAT JOB OVER THERE.
THEY HAD SOME CHALLENGES EARLY ON IN MY TERM, BUT A REALLY GOOD WORKING BOARD.
JUST TO REMIND FOLKS THAT ON THESE CEMETERY DISTRICTS, THEY ARE SPECIAL DISTRICTS.
WHAT IS OUR AFFILIATION WITH THEM IS THAT THEY ARE TAX IMMUNITY, THOSE ARE TECHNICALLY ELECTED SPOTS.
THEY COLLECT TAXES, A PORTION OF YOUR PROPERTY TAX, BUT THE GOVERNMENT CODE ALLOWS FOR SPECIAL DISTRICTS THAT REALLY CAN'T AFFORD TO BE PUTTING ON ELECTIONS.
IT ALLOWS FOR THEM TO ASK THEIR COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO APPOINT THEIR BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON THE CEMETERY DISTRICTS.
I HAVE TWO OF THEM IN MY DISTRICT, BUT PEOPLE ARE KNOCKING ON THE DOOR TO BE ON THE CEMETERY BOARDS.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS A FUN JOB, BUT I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK ALL OF THOSE FOLKS THAT SIT ON THE CEMETERY DISTRICTS FOR US AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OUT IN OUR DISTRICT AND DOING THE TIRELESS WORK AND IT'S CHALLENGING.
WHEN YOU'RE HEAR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH IN TODAY'S WORLD, IT WOULD SHOCK YOU.
AGAIN, A BIG SHOUT OUT TO DOS PALOS CEMETERY DISTRICT BOARD, THEY GOT A REALLY WELL OILED MACHINE OVER THERE, AND THE FACILITIES JUST LOOKED ON POINT FOR THE MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATION.
ALSO THE FAIR, MY KIDS ARE THERE RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE SHOWING DAIRY ANIMALS, SO THEY'RE NOT GOING TO THE SALE, THEY'LL COME BACK HOME.
BUT I THINK THE KIDS ARE JUST REALLY EXCITED TO GET BACK TO SOMETHING THAT THEY USED TO KNOW AS NORMAL, HAVING MISSED TWO MAY DAYS, SO THIS IS THE FIRST FAIR.
THEN I REMIND THEM THAT THIS IS BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN WE USED TO SHOW A COW PALACE WHERE THERE WAS NO CARNIVAL OR NOTHING, IT WAS JUST AN ANIMAL SHOW, AND THAT'S WHERE I LEARNED HOW TO THROW QUARTERS, BECAUSE YOU HAD TO ENTERTAIN YOURSELF, THERE WASN'T CARNIVAL.
I THINK THAT THEY'RE ALL REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
THEIR AG TEACHER OVER THERE IN LOS BANOS, MR. MCCULLOUGH, SAID TO ALL THE KIDS, WHEN WE WALK OUT OF THERE ON FRIDAY BECAUSE OUR SHOW WILL BE OVER ON FRIDAY, WE'LL TAKE THE ANIMAL'S HOME.
HE SAID HE WANTS TO SEE A SMILE ON EVERYBODY'S FACE AND THAT THEY HAD A GOOD TIME.
BECAUSE I SHARED WITH THEM, THE ANIMALS AREN'T IN THE BEST OF SHOW SHAPE, THEY'RE LITTLE LOW ON THE HEAVIER SIDE AND THEY'D BEEN
[01:10:03]
SITTING AT HOME THAT UNHAPPY FOR GOING ON, I DON'T KNOW, 18 MONTHS NOW, SO THEY'RE NOT QUITE ALL IN SHOW SHAPE AS THEY WOULD BE IF IT WAS A NORMAL YEAR.BUT THE KIDS WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT AND I ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO GO OUT ON SATURDAY.
I KNOW I'M GOING TO BE OVER THERE FOR A LITTLE BIT AND TRY TO HELP SUPPORT WHAT IS OUR NUMBER 1 INDUSTRY IN MERCED COUNTY IS THE AG INDUSTRY.
I TELL FOLKS, AS WE GET KIDS INVOLVED IN 4-H AND FFA, AND ESPECIALLY AS WE'VE HAD A LOT OF FOLKS THAT HAVE MOVED INTO OUR COUNTY, ESPECIALLY IN MY DISTRICT, THAT COME FROM OVER THE HILL THAT DON'T HAVE THAT INTERACTION WITH AGRICULTURE.
THIS IS OUR WAY OF CHANGING HEARTS AND MINDS FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES AND GETTING THEM INVOLVED AND GETTING THEM A PROJECT, AND SUPERVISOR PAREIRA SAID, IT'S NOT JUST THE RESPONSIBILITY, IT'S A WORK ETHIC THAT YOU'RE TEACHING THEM, IT'S HOW TO MANAGE MONEY.
THESE KIDS SOMETIMES TAKE OUT LOANS AND THERE'S ALL KINDS OF GREAT THINGS THAT COME OUT OF BEING INVOLVED IN 4-H AND FFA, AND I WANT THEM TO HAVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE WITH IT, BECAUSE FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES, THEY'RE ARE ALL VOTERS.
IN THE AG INDUSTRY, WE ALWAYS FACE CHALLENGES, IS THAT AS WE GET BETTER AND BETTER AT WHAT WE DO, IT TAKES LESS AND LESS OF US, AND SO OUR VOTING BASE GETS SMALLER.
SO ANY OPPORTUNITY THAT WE CAN TO LET THESE KIDS HAVE A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT, SHOW THEM WHAT AG IS REALLY ABOUT, IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
ENTRANCE IS FIVE DOLLARS TO THE FAIR.
IT'S VERY NOMINAL COST, IF ANYTHING ELSE, YOU GET TO GO OUT AND SEE SOME ANIMALS. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR. COUNTY COUNCIL?
>> YOU GOT NOTHING TO ANNOUNCE? [LAUGHTER] WITH THAT, I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THE FOURTH THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH AT THE ATWATER COMMUNITY CENTER IS MY MOBILE DISTRICT OFFICE.
SEEMS LIKE WITH COVID, IT HAS SLOWED DOWN A LITTLE BIT, THE CONSTITUENTS AREN'T GETTING LINED UP LIKE THEY USED TO, BUT I ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO COME OUT THERE.
AGAIN, COMMUNICATING WITH ME, I WANT TO REMIND FOLKS I AM GETTING HIT FROM EVERY SOCIAL MEDIA MESSAGING OUTLET WITH TEXTS, BUT THE BEST WAY TO GET A HOLD OF ME OR FOR ME TO RESPOND IS SEND ME AN E-MAIL OR A TEXT.
EITHER WAY, I'VE SAID IT MANY TIMES, YOU CAN FIND MY E-MAIL WHICH IS DARON, REMEMBER HOW I SPELL IT, DARON.MCDANIEL@COUNTYOFMERCED.COM, THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO DO IT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JOHN PAZIN AS WELL, IT WAS HIS 93RD BIRTHDAY.
I'D LIKE TO THANK MARK PAZIN, OUR FORMER SHERIFF FOR REACHING OUT AND INVITING ME TO THAT.
IT WAS GOOD TO SEE A LOT OF THOSE FOLKS.
AGAIN, IT'S ANOTHER ONE WHERE WE WERE FACE-TO-FACE AND IT WAS GOOD TO SEE FOLKS ALL COMING TOGETHER.
WE'RE GETTING CLOSER TO THE NORMAL THAT WE HAVEN'T KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME.
I'LL BE REPRESENTING YOU AT THE RCRC INDUSTRY MEETING IN MONO COUNTY.
AGAIN, IT'S GOING TO BE THE FIRST RCRC MEETING.
WE'RE GOING TO GO IN PERSON MEETINGS MOVING FORWARD, SO I BELIEVE SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES WILL BE JOINING ME THERE.
RCRC IS DONE A LOT, I'LL BE REPRESENTING THERE AS THE IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR.
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE I WAS THE CHAIRMAN DURING 2020, VERY DISAPPOINTING, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I FELT LIKE WE WERE ABLE TO GET A LOT OF STUFF DONE IN THAT.
[BACKGROUND] YEAH. WITH THAT, I WILL GO AHEAD AND WE'LL STOP THE MEETING NOW AND WE'LL BE COMING BACK FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE REDISTRICTING PUBLIC HEARING TODAY, AND WE'LL BE HERE AT 1:30.
[NOISE] [BACKGROUND] GOOD AFTERNOON. I'D LIKE TO RECONVENE THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING.
IT'S THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR OUR REDISTRICTING,
[EXECUTIVE OFFICE - REDISTRICTING PUBLIC HEARING]
SO WELCOME TO THE FIRST HEARING OF THE 2021 REDISTRICTING PROCESS.EVERY 10 YEARS, PUBLIC AGENCIES INCLUDING MERCED COUNTY MUST REDISTRICT, TO DETERMINE HOW CURRENT BOUNDARIES OF THEIR VOTING DISTRICTS MIGHT BE REDRAWN BASED ON NEW DATA FROM THE US CENSUS.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOVERNMENT CODE, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DRAWING SUPERVISORIAL DISTRICTS BASED ON US CENSUS DATA, AND INPUT FROM THE MERCED COUNTY RESIDENTS.
DISTRICTS MUST BE REDRAWN SO THAT EACH DISTRICT IS SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL IN POPULATION.
ALL DISTRICT LINES MUST BE REVIEWED TO MEET DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS FOR POPULATION EQUALITY AND VOTING RIGHTS PROTECTIONS.
TO ENSURE THE RESOURCES AND EXPERTISE NECESSARY FOR PREPARATION OF ILLEGALLY ADEQUATE REDISTRICTING PLAN, THE COUNTY HAS RETAINED LEGAL COUNSEL,
[01:15:04]
A DEMOGRAPHIC CONSULTANT, AND A COMMUNICATIONS FIRM TO ASSIST WITH THE NAVIGATION OF THE COMPLEX LEGAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC ISSUES, AS WELL AS EXTENSIVE OUTREACH REQUIREMENTS.WITH US TODAY ARE CHRIS SCHENKEL FROM NIELSEN MARKS MIRROR, AND JEFF TILTON FROM THE NATIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS.
DURING TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING, MR. TILTON WILL PROVIDE A PRESENTATION OUTLINING THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS, AND SEEKING PUBLIC TESTIMONY REGARDING THE DISTRICTS AND THE COUNTIES COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST.
THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS THE FIRST OF FOUR HEARINGS, WHERE MERCED COUNTY RESIDENTS CAN PROVIDE INPUT AND PUBLIC TESTIMONY, ON THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS.
SUBSEQUENT PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 10, 2021, AT 1:30, NOVEMBER 16, 2021, AT 6:30, AND DECEMBER 7, 2021, AT 1:30.
ADDITION TO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, RESIDENTS WILL ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT DRAFT MAPS, AS WELL AS PROVIDE FEEDBACK THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.
COMING UP IN JULY, THERE WILL BE WORKSHOPS ON A VIABLE MAPPING TOOL RESOURCES.
RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO VISIT THE COUNTIES REDISTRICTING WEBSITE, AT DRAWMERCEDCOUNTY.ORG.
AGAIN THAT'S DRAWMERCEDCOUNTY.ORG.
[LAUGHTER] THERE YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR UPDATES ON THE COUNTY'S REDISTRICTING EFFORTS.
LEARN ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED, AS WELL AS ASSESS A NUMBER OF EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, AND ONLINE MAPPING TOOL.
WE REALLY HOPE RESIDENTS GET INVOLVED WITH THE COUNTIES REDISTRICTING EFFORTS.
WE RELY ON LOCAL KNOWLEDGE OF GEOGRAPHIC ELEMENTS, AS WELL AS SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SO WE CAN PROPERLY AND FAIRLY PLACE THEM.
NOW I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MR. TILTON FROM NATIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS.
INFACT YOU DID SUCH A GREAT INTRODUCTION, AND I THINK WE'RE FINISHED. ANY QUESTIONS? [LAUGHTER].
THAT WAS A GREAT INTRODUCTION AND IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.
PAST LIFE AS A RETIRED EDUCATOR, I WAS ACTUALLY EMPLOYED IN MERCED COUNTY FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS THROUGH A UNIQUE SCHOOL DISTRICT, MERCED COUNTY PARTNERSHIP, AND SOME OF YOU MIGHT KNOW OF THAT PARTNERSHIP, ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO.
YES. PART OF THE PROCESS OF TODAY IS THE FIRST HEARING THAT WE WILL FACILITATE.
WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER ONE IN AUGUST 10, AND THESE ARE WHAT WE CALL PRE-DRAFT MAP PUBLIC HEARINGS.
THE INTENTION IS REALLY TO EDUCATE, RESONANCE THE BOARD ABOUT THE PROCESS, TRY TO REALLY GET THEM ENGAGED IN BECOMING PART OF THE PROCESS AS WELL.
AS MENTIONED WE ARE PLANNING A WORKSHOP IN JULY TO EDUCATE FOLKS THAT WANT TO PARTICIPATE USING THE VARIOUS MAPPING TOOLS.
WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT AT THAT WORKSHOP BUT ALSO IN AUGUST.
AS WE KNOW WITH THE PANDEMIC, OUR CENSUS DATA ARE DELAYED, SO WE EXPECT TO RECEIVE THAT INFORMATION IN LATE AUGUST AND THEN CALIFORNIA WILL RELEASE ITS OFFICIAL PRISONER ADJUSTED 2020 REDISTRICTING DATA, EARLY TO MID OCTOBER.
THEN WE CAN REALLY START LOOKING AT DRAWING DRAFT MAPS BECAUSE OUR DATA WILL BE EMBEDDED INTO THE SYSTEMS. WITH THAT, WE WILL BRING TO YOU, AND I SAY WE, I'M SAYING NATIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS CORPORATION, BUT I HOPE A GREAT PERCENTAGE WILL COME FROM THE COMMUNITY DRAFT MAPS.
WE WILL LOOK AT THOSE DRAFT MAPS, AND YOU WILL PROVIDE DIRECTION, YOU'LL TAKE PUBLIC INPUT OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING.
NOTE IT THAT THIS PARTICULAR HEARING WILL BE AT 06:30 P.M. BECAUSE OF THE NEW FAIR MAPS ACT.
WE MUST HAVE ONE OF THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS EITHER ON A SATURDAY OR SUNDAY OR AFTER 06:00 P.M, HENCE, THAT'S 06:30 P.M. MEETING ON NOVEMBER, 16.
THEN WE HAVE TO HAVE EVERYTHING FINISHED IN DECEMBER, WHICH IS JUST ABOUT SIX MONTHS FROM NOW.
IT MIGHT SEEM LIKE IT'S QUICK ON ONE END, BUT WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE BENEFIT OF TIME TO REALLY GENERATE SOME ROBUST COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, [NOISE] AND BY THE BOARDS SECURING THROUGH PEPE SMITH,
[01:20:03]
AS A COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST.I THINK ONCE YOU SEE THE WEBSITE THAT IT'S ALREADY BEEN DEVELOPED, YOU'LL SEE THAT IT REALLY IS HIGH-QUALITY STUFF.
PART OF THE RULES AND GOALS THAT WE MUST ADHERE TO IS OBVIOUSLY THE FEDERAL LAWS.
WE MUST IN THE FIVE DISTRICTS BE IN EQUAL POPULATION, WE CAN HAVE SOME DEVIATION, BUT IDEALLY WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE 100 PERCENT EQUAL IN ALL FIVE OF THOSE DISTRICTS.
WE MUST FOLLOW THE FEDERAL VOTING RIGHTS ACT, AND WE CAN HAVE NO RACIAL GERRYMANDERING.
THEN WITH THE FAIR MAPS ACT FOR CALIFORNIA, IN PRIORITY, WE MUST FOLLOW THESE FIVE PARTICULAR STEPS.
MAPS MUST BE GEOGRAPHICALLY CONTIGUOUS, THE NEIGHBORHOODS MUST BE UNDIVIDED AND WITH COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST, AND WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE CITIES AND THE CENSUS DESIGNATED PLACES, AND ARE THERE EASILY IDENTIFIABLE BOUNDARIES THAT WILL HELP RESIDENTS IN DETERMINING WHERE THOSE BOUNDARIES ARE FOR THE VARIOUS DISTRICTS, AND THEY MUST BE COMPACT.
I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S PROHIBITED IN A FEW MINUTES.
ONCE WE GO THROUGH ALL OF THOSE, THEN WE CAN LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER TRADITIONAL REDISTRICTING PRINCIPLES, AND THAT ARE LISTED THERE.
BUT WE MUST THEN THAT MIDDLE COLUMN, WITH THE FAIR MAPS ACT WE MUST FOLLOW THE STEPS HERE WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT MAPS FOR CONSIDERATION.
A BIG PART OF THE PROCESS IS RATHER THAT, WE REALLY WANT TO GET COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.
WE WANT THE COMMUNITY TO HELP EVERYBODY IN THIS PROCESS TO FIND, WHAT IS YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES.
THINGS LIKE WATERWAYS, FREEWAYS, CANALS, RURAL AREAS, URBAN AREAS, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
ALONG WITH THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY, WE CAN LOOK AT PLANNING RECORDS, THE GENERAL PLAN, ETC.
THOSE ARE ALL DOCUMENTS THAT COULD HELP US INFORM IN DRAWING DRAFT MAPS.
AGAIN, WHEN I SAY US, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL.
THEN LOOKING AT COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST, AREAS WHERE THERE ARE SHARED ISSUES OR CHARACTERISTICS, THINGS LIKE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, HOME OWNERSHIP VERSUS RENTER, EDUCATION.
THOSE ARE TYPES OF THINGS THAT WOULD HELP TO FIND COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST.
WE REALLY NEED THE COMMUNITY TO TELL US, AND WHEN I TALK ABOUT AGAIN, ALL OF US, WHAT IS THEIR COMMUNITY? THEN WE WANT TO LOOK AT WOULD THIS COMMUNITY BENEFIT FROM BEING INCLUDED WITHIN A SINGLE DISTRICT FOR THE PURPOSES OF IT'S EFFECTIVE AND FAIR REPRESENTATION, OR WOULD BENEFIT FROM HAVING MULTIPLE REPRESENTATIVES, OR MULTIPLE IN THIS CASE, SUPERVISORS? THERE IS A DEFINITION OF COMMUNITIES OF INTERESTS.
IT IS A POPULATION THAT SHARES COMMON SOCIAL OR ECONOMIC INTERESTS THAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED WITHIN A SINGLE DISTRICT FOR PURPOSES OF ITS EFFECTIVE AND FAIR REPRESENTATION.
THE KEY HERE IS COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST DO NOT INCLUDE RELATIONSHIPS FOR POLITICAL PARTIES INCUMBENTS OR POLITICAL CANDIDATES.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO.
I SHOWED YOU SOME POSSIBLE NEIGHBORHOODS CHARACTERISTICS IN THIS PARTICULARS.
THE COUNTIES GENERAL PLANNED LAND-USE DIAGRAM THAT IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF SOME DOCUMENT THAT WE COULD USE TO HELP INFORM A COMMUNITY OF INTEREST IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, ETC.
IN JULY, WHEN WE HAVE A WORKSHOP, WE WILL BE GOING THROUGH THE VARIOUS MAPPING TOOLS.
WE HAVE A TOOL THAT WE USE, THAT ONCE DRAFT MAPS ARE SUBMITTED, WE IMPORT THOSE INTO OUR WEBSITE, AND FOLKS CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE VARIOUS MAPS WITH VARIOUS LAYERS AS WE CALL IT A REVIEW DRAFT MAP TOOL.
WE ALSO HAVE ANYTHING FROM PAPER WHERE IF SOMEONE WANTS TO DRAW ON A NAPKIN AND THEY WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE AND SEND IT TO US, WE'LL USE THAT.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PAPER OPTIONS AS WELL.
WE WILL HAVE A MAP OF THE COUNTY WITH CENSUS BLOCKS AND WITH THE POPULATIONS AND EACH OF THOSE CENSUS BLOCKS, SO THEY CAN DRAW THE CENSUS BLOCKS ARE COLOR-CODE OR WHATEVER AND TRY TO GET EQUAL POPULATION PIECE.
IF FOLKS ARE PROFICIENT IN MICROSOFT EXCEL, THEY CAN USE THAT PARTICULAR TOOL AND THE CENSUS BLOCKS ARE DESIGNATED WITH A SINGLE NUMBER, AND THEY JUST ATTACH THAT NUMBER TO A DISTRICT THAT THEY WANT THAT CENSUS BLOCK TO GO INTO.
THEN THERE'S ALSO A COMPUTERIZED DRAW MAP TOOL THAT IT'S DONE ONLINE AND THEN THEY
[01:25:06]
SUBMIT THAT TO NDC AND WE PUT THOSE TOGETHER AND WE PROVIDE THOSE AS DRAFT MAPS.WE LOVED TO HAVE AUTHORS OF THOSE MAPS BECAUSE IN CASE WE HAVE QUESTIONS FOR FOLLOW-UP WITH THE MAP AUTHOR THAT WE WANT TO REPRESENT AND HONOR THEIR WORK.
LIKE I SAID, WE'LL EVEN TAKE A NAPKIN WITH A PHOTOGRAPH OR WHATEVER, IT'LL WORK.
WE'RE LOOKING AT MAPPING WORKSHOPS SOMETIME IN MID JULY AND WE WILL GO OVER AND TALK ABOUT ALL THOSE.
BUT THE OTHER PART OF THE WORKSHOP IS, TRIPEPI SMITH WILL BE FACILITATING THAT WORKSHOP AND THE CO-FOUNDER OF, I'M GOING TO STEAL SOME OF HIS LANGUAGE HERE, HE SAID, IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE A PHIL DONAHUE SHOW.
HE'S GOING TO GO AROUND AND ASK PEOPLE WHAT'S THEIR COMMUNITY, PUT THEM IN SMALL TABLE GROUPS AND TRY TO GET THEM ENGAGED TO HELP DEFINE WHAT ARE THE COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST IN THE COUNTY SO THAT IT'LL HELP INFORM EVERYBODY WHO WANTS TO DRAW DRAFT MAPS.
AS PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARING AND DISCUSSION, WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT ARE YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND WHERE ARE ITS BOUNDARIES, AND WHAT ARE THE OTHER NOTABLE AREAS IN THE COUNTY AND ITS CITIES, AND WHAT ARE THEIR BOUNDARIES.
I KNOW IT'S STILL PREMATURE TO TALK ABOUT THE MAPPING TOOLS, BUT HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS.
WHEN WE COME BACK AGAIN FOR THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING, WE'RE REALLY GOING TO NEED TO IDENTIFY THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST AND SOME SORT OF A FORMAL ACTION GOING FORWARD, THEN COUNSELOR SKINNELL COULD ADDRESS THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS WITH RESPECT TO MAYBE WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE.
I HOPE I'M NOT SPEAKING FOR HIM, BUT WE CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT.
I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU A HEADS UP ON THAT SO YOU'RE NOT CAUGHT BY SURPRISE.
DRAWMERCEDCOUNTY.ORG IS THE WEBSITE.
IT'S A GREAT WEBSITE AND THERE'S A PHONE NUMBER AND ALSO AN EMAIL THAT FOLKS CAN SUBMIT.
THERE'S ALSO A GREAT FORM THAT THEY CAN FILL OUT AND SUBMIT THAT FORM, MAKES IT REALLY EASY TO GET FOLKS INVOLVED.
WE JUST NEED TO GET FOLKS INVOLVED.
THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
IT WAS GREAT SEEING EVERYONE. THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD HERE AT THE DAIS BEFORE WE MOVE ON?
>> THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. QUICK AND CURIOUS QUESTION.
WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE OF DIFFERENCE IN NUMBERS EACH DISTRICT CAN HAVE? IS THEIR PERCENT WHERE IT CAN'T BE OUTSIDE OF RANGE?
>> YEAH. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ON.
COUNSELOR SKINNELL COULD GIVE YOU MORE OF A LEGAL RESPONSE.
WE AT NDC TRIED TO STAY UNDER 10 PERCENT.
WE ACTUALLY TRIED TO MAKE IT AS CLOSE TO ZERO AS POSSIBLE, BUT SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.
AGAIN, HE CAN RESPOND TO IT IN ILLEGAL PIECE.
>> THAT'S OUR PRACTITIONER PIECE THOUGH.
>> DO YOU NEED A LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF IT?
>> WELL, SOMEBODY MIGHT WANT TO KNOW.
[LAUGHTER] INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW.
THE 10 PERCENT COMES FROM SUPREME COURT CASE LAW AND THE COURT SAYS, WHAT YOU DO IS YOU TAKE THE LARGEST POPULATION AND THE SMALLEST POPULATION DISTRICT, AND YOU FIGURE OUT THE DIFFERENCE.
THEN YOU DIVIDE THAT BY THE SIZE OF AN IDEAL DISTRICT, WHICH WOULD BE EXACTLY ONE-FIFTH.
IF THAT CALCULATION IS GREATER THAN 10 PERCENT DIFFERENCE, THEN THE COURT HAS SAID THAT IT IS PRESUMPTIVELY UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
IT DOESN'T MEAN IT COULD NEVER BE UPHELD, BUT IN A JURISDICTION THE SIZE OF MERCED COUNTY, THERE'S NO REAL REASON IT HAS TO BE BIGGER THAN THAT.
IF YOU'RE WITHIN THAT 10 PERCENT, IT'S PRESUMPTIVELY CONSTITUTIONAL.
THEN YOU FOCUS ON THE OTHER CONSIDERATIONS THAT JEFF WAS TALKING ABOUT, THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT AND THE STATE LAW CONSIDERATIONS.
>> I HAD THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING LUNCH WITH YOU TODAY, BUT I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
>> NOT ONLY TO MERCED COUNTY, BUT I THINK IT'S VERY INTERESTING IN HOW YOU'VE ARRIVED TO WHERE YOU ARE TODAY.
IT WAS A GOOD STORY, SO I THINK FOLKS WOULD FEEL A LITTLE MORE CONFIDENT KNOWING WHY WE'VE ACQUIRED YOU FOR THIS PROCESS.
>> MY PLEASURE. ACTUALLY, THIS IS NOT MY FIRST RODEO WITH MERCED COUNTY.
THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST CLIENTS I WORKED WITH
[01:30:01]
COMING STRAIGHT OUT OF LAW SCHOOL BACK IN 2003 WHEN THE RECALL OF GRAY DAVIS WAS ONGOING AND MERCED COUNTY GOT SUED UNDER THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.MY FIRST CASE WAS WORKING ON THAT AND WORKING ON THE COUNTY'S PRE-CLEARANCE SUBMISSIONS BECAUSE AT THE TIME IT HAD TO SUBMIT ANY CHANGE IN VOTING PRACTICES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FOR APPROVAL.
THEN THERE WERE A COUPLE OF SUBSEQUENT LAWSUITS AND SO MY COLLEAGUES AND I HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT A DECADE TO ULTIMATELY HELP THE COUNTY GET OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THAT REQUIREMENT OF SUBMITTING ALL OF ITS VOTING CHANGES.
OVER THE COURSE OF THAT PERIOD, I GOT TO KNOW THE COUNTY VERY WELL.
I WAS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS 10 YEARS AGO.
I ALSO HAVE WORKED WITH A NUMBER OF THE CITIES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN MERCED COUNTY.
I DID WORKED WITH LOS BANOS IN 2014 WHEN THEY MOVED FROM MOUTLAHAGE TO DISTRICT.
I HAVE A LONG HISTORY ON VOTING RIGHTS AND REDISTRICTING WORK HERE IN THE COUNTY.
HE DOES RESIDE IN DAMON CONNOLLY'S DISTRICT AND IN MARIN COUNTY. [BACKGROUND]..
>> STILL WE HAVE THAT CONNECTION AS WELL.
I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND THE HISTORY AND WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW ABOUT MERCED COUNTY AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
I DO HAVE SOME OTHER QUESTIONS HERE.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
>> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. WELL, THE NEXT MEETING WOULD BE A PUBLIC MAPPING WORKSHOP.
JUST A QUESTION REGARDING THIS.
ARE WE GOING TO HAVE SCENARIOS OF WHAT'S IT GOING TO LOOK LIKE IF WE CHANGE CERTAIN SIZES OF THE MAP AND DATA NUMBERS OR JUST INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC ON HOW THE PROCESS IS GOING TO WORK?
>> AT THAT POINT, IT WILL JUST BE INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC AND ALSO GETTING FEEDBACK ON THE COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST.
UNDER THE NEW STATE LAW REQUIREMENTS THAT WERE ADOPTED A COUPLE YEARS AGO, WE CAN'T START DRAWING DRAFT MAPS UNTIL THREE WEEKS AFTER THE STATE PUTS OUT.
JEFF MENTIONED THIS, THE PRISONER ADJUSTED DATABASE.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE LINES.
THE PUBLIC CAN SUBMIT PROPOSALS BEFORE THAT, BUT THE COUNTY STAFF AND OUR DEMOGRAPHER CAN'T START DRAWING LINES UNTIL LATE, PROBABLY OCTOBER, AT THE EARLIEST.
THE JULY AND AUGUST HEARINGS WILL BE FEEDBACK AND INFORMATION TO GET READY FOR THAT PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD TO KNOW. JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION ALSO TOO.
THIS IS WHERE A LOT PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN THROUGH THIS PROCESS, BUT ALSO IN A WAY, ALL THOSE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY AND MAC BOARDS I GUESS THEY CAN COME IN AND EITHER VIRTUALLY OR IN PUBLIC, THEY CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO RUN THE PROCESS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
>> YOU'VE GOT IT. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR.
YEAH, I THINK WE NEED THE NUMBERS BEFORE WE CAN DRAW THE LINES.
I THINK THAT WAS THE SIMPLE ANSWER.
CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. MINE I GUESS PROBABLY MORE JUST COMMENTS REGARDING WHY ARE WE HERE AND AT THIS POINT I GUESS SOME MIGHT THINK EARLY IN THE PROCESS WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS, BUT JUST WANT TO PUT IT OUT THERE THAT REALLY BECAUSE OF THE CENSUS DATA BEING RELEASED SO LATE, WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER OPTION.
THEN THE OTHER PIECE TOO IS SINCE THE LAST TIME WE WERE A DISTRICT, THAT WAS PART OF THE [INAUDIBLE] GOING TO DISTRICTS.
WE CHOSE TO VOTE IT IN BEFORE WE GOT SUED AND TOLD WE HAD TO PUT IT IN.
EVEN IN MERCED COUNTY, A LOT MORE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, CITIES THAT ARE ALL BY DISTRICT ELECTIONS AND EVERYBODY'S HAVING TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
I THINK IT'S REALLY VERY WISE ON OUR PART TO REALLY HAVE SOME OF THESE PUBLIC WORKSHOPS AHEAD OF TIME.
THESE PUBLIC HEARINGS GET PEOPLE EDUCATED ON WHAT THE PROCESS IS.
BECAUSE ONCE WE DO GET THE NUMBERS, THE TURNAROUND TIME YOU SAW IN THE PRESENTATION IS IN DECEMBER, I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT DATE, BUT IN DECEMBER WHEN WE HAVE TO HAVE MAPS ADOPTED BY.
SO THAT'S WHY MAYBE SOME FOLKS MIGHT THINK YOU'RE PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE HERE, WHEN IN ACTUALITY WE'RE JUST REALLY, I KNOW CEO BROWN, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLY ON, GETTING YOU FOLKS ON BOARD BECAUSE I'M SURE THE CLIENT LIST, THERE'S A PLETHORA OF THEM OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.
BECAUSE EVERYBODY THAT DIDN'T, I MEAN, CITY OF [INAUDIBLE] , THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING THROUGH REDISTRICTING.
JUST WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE TO THE PUBLIC. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR. CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
>> HIT IT AGAIN. CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
>> THANK YOU. YOU KEEP BRINGING UP AND I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT CAN YOU GO OVER THE PRISONER ADJUSTMENT, PLEASE?
[01:35:03]
>> SURE. THIS IS SOMETHING NEW FOR THE FIRST TIME. I'LL JUST GO AROUND.
HISTORICALLY, COUNTIES HAVE HAD DISCRETION WHEN THEY HAVE PRISONS IN THEIR JURISDICTION, WHETHER TO INCLUDE OR EXCLUDE THEM.
BUT THIS TIME, CALIFORNIA HAS GONE A STEP FURTHER.
IT SAID A, YOU NO LONGER HAVE DISCRETION.
YOU HAVE TO EXCLUDE PRISONERS FROM STATE AND FEDERAL PRISONS.
THEN IT ALSO HAS REQUIRED THAT THE CALIFORNIA STATEWIDE DATABASE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY, IS SUPPOSED TO TAKE ALL THOSE PRISONERS, RESIDING IN THOSE PRISONS, IF IT CAN, AND REDISTRIBUTE THEM BACK OUT TO THEIR LAST KNOWN PLACE OF RESIDENCE.
SO THAT POPULATION, INSTEAD OF BEING CLUSTERED IN ONE SPOT, GETS REDISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
IF THEY DON'T HAVE ADDRESSES FOR THEM, THEN THEY GET EXCLUDED.
BUT IF THEY CAN, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO THAT.
IN MERCED COUNTY, GIVEN THAT THERE ARE NO PRISONS HERE ANYMORE, PROBABLY, IT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE THAT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF THE POPULATION NUMBERS, BUT THE STATE REQUIRES THEM TO DO IT, SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE THEM ABOUT SIX WEEKS, THEY SAY, TO MAKE ALL OF THE ADJUSTMENTS.
NORMALLY, WE WOULD JUST TAKE THE DATA STRAIGHT FROM THE CENSUS AND GO.
NOW WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THEM TO MAKE THESE CHANGES FIRST BEFORE WE START DRAWING LINES.
>> MR. [INAUDIBLE] IF I COULD.
JUST BECAUSE OF THAT, FOLLOW-UP ON THAT, WE DO HAVE A FEDERAL PRISON HERE, SO MAYBE TOUCH UPON HOW THAT POPULATION WILL BE ADDRESSED HERE LOCALLY.
>> FEDERAL PRISONS, THE REQUIREMENT TO REDISTRIBUTE PRISONERS APPLIES ONLY TO INMATES OF STATE PRISONS.
FEDERAL PRISONS JUST GET LEFT OUT ALTOGETHER, SO THAT POPULATION DOESN'T COUNT AT ALL IN TERMS OF THE EQUAL POPULATION.
THOSE PRISONERS, BECAUSE THE STATE DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE ACCESS TO FEDERAL PRISON RECORDS, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET REDISTRIBUTED.
IT'S A FAIRLY SMALL POPULATION AS I MIGHT RECALL, IT'S ABOUT A 1,000 PEOPLE AT MOST.
AGAIN, IT'S NOT LIKELY TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON ANY OF THE LINES, BUT THEY JUST WILL BE EXCLUDED ALTOGETHER.
>> CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
>> THANK YOU. MAYBE YOU DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION.
BUT IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE THE STATE'S GOING TO TAKE THREE OR FOUR WEEKS TO TURN THOSE NUMBERS AROUND.
IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE IF THEY HAVE A DATABASE, IT'S ALL COMPUTERIZED NOW THAT IT SHOULD BE A LOT QUICKER THAN THAT. ANY THOUGHTS?
[LAUGHTER] THERE ARE TWO STEPS THAT ARE GOING TO REQUIRE THE SIX WEEK, SUPPOSEDLY.
PART OF THE ISSUE IS THAT THE CENSUS BUREAU IS GOING TO BE RELEASING THE DATA IN A MUCH LESS USER-FRIENDLY FORMAT THAN USUAL.
THEY NORMALLY RELEASE WHAT'S KNOWN AS P. L. 94-171 DATA IN A VERY SPECIFIC FORMAT.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO COME OUT UNTIL THE END OF SEPTEMBER, BUT THEY'VE MADE AN AGREEMENT TO RELEASE THE RAW VERSION OF THOSE DATA IN MID-AUGUST.
SO THIS PART OF THE SIX WEEKS IS GOING TO BE THE STATE TAKING IT AND PROCESSING IT IN A WAY THAT'S FUNCTIONAL AND USEFUL FOR PEOPLE.
SO IT'S NOT JUST THIS PRISONER DATABASE PIECE, IT'S PARTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE CENSUS BUREAU AND THEIR PROCESS.
IN THEIR PARTIAL DEFENSE, I'D SAY SIX WEEKS SEEMS A LITTLE LONG TO ME, BUT THEY'RE THE ONES DOING IT.
I'M NOT GOING TO SECOND GUESS THEIR CAPABILITIES.
>> COULD ANYBODY GUESS WHAT HIS SENIOR THESIS WAS IN HIS UNDERGRADUATE? [LAUGHTER] I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
AT THIS TIME, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, SO I DON'T LEAVE ANYTHING OUT.
WE WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT LIVE IN PERSON AND VIA VOICEMAIL.
THE VOICEMAIL MESSAGE LINE HAS BEEN OPENED TO ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENTS SINCE THE POSTING OF THE AGENDA.
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL TAKE A BREAK TO ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO LEAVE A VOICEMAIL MESSAGE.
AGAIN, THAT'S 209-726-2755, AND REFERENCE THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT YOU ARE CALLING IN REGARDS TO.
VOICEMAILS WILL BE PLAYED AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE BREAK.
AT THIS TIME, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE BREAK AND WE WILL RETURN AT 2:05.
[01:40:10]
OKAY, THAT CONCLUDES OUR BREAK.THERE WAS NOBODY HERE, IN THE CHAMBERS, WANTING TO MAKE A COMMENT.
I WILL GO TO OUR VOICEMAILS NOW.
>> THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS THE REMAINDER OF A MESSAGE FROM PATRICIA RAMOS, WHICH WAS PLAYED EARLIER.
THE LAST HALF OF THE MESSAGE PERTAINS TO THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
>> THE SECOND COMMENT HAS TO BE WITH REDISTRICTING THE COMMITTEE, AND PUBLIC HEARING.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO BE ACCESSIBLE, AGAIN, IN LOW AREAS, TO PARTICIPATE AND ENGAGE ENGLISH AS A PUBLIC LANGUAGE AND TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING? THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY VITAL AND KEY IN ORDER FOR THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS, SO ALL THE VOTERS SHOULD BE INFORMED OF WHAT REDISTRICTING THEY ARE IMPACTING, AS WELL AS ALL RESIDENTS IN THE COUNTY OF MERCED, AND ITS QUESTIONABLE ISSUES.
THEY'RE NOT BEING PLANNED OUT [INAUDIBLE] COMPLICATION FOR EITHER NO ACCESSIBILITY AND ALSO KEEPING UP WITH THESE INTO DIFFERENT REGIONS OF THE COUNTY.
THAT'S THE TIME WHEN EVERYONE COMES TO YOU, OR TRIES TO BROADBAND OR INTERNET CONNECTIONS, TO A LOT OF THESE COMMUNITIES.
WE NEED TO RETHINK THE PROCESS, THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO ENGAGE THE AREAS, AND THE PUBLIC ON HOW THEY ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S ALL BEING DONE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENTS, BECAUSE THEY ALSO HAVE SOUND INTERNET.
THEY HAVE ALSO ACCESS TO BROADBAND.
THAT THE MAJORITY OF RURAL AREAS AND SOME [INAUDIBLE] DON'T HAVE THOSE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY NAME IS PATRICIA RAMOS ANDERSON, PRESIDENT OF [INAUDIBLE].
AMERICAN CITIZENS, WE NEED TO BE EQUITABLE, AND THE LAST POINT IS BUDGET.
IT NEEDS TO BE A PROCESS OF ADJUSTING THE INEQUALITY, INEQUITY OF BUDGET ALLOCATION IN RURAL AREAS.
WE NEED TO REPORT OUT HOW MUCH EACH RURAL AREA IS RECEIVING FROM THE COUNTY BUDGET.
>> HI, MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] AND I'M THE CIVIL ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR FOR THE CENTRAL VALLEY UNITED FOR POWER.
WE'RE A COALITION THAT CONSISTS OF EIGHT ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CENTRAL VALLEY.
I WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS THAT MERCED HAS PUT OUT.
WE ALL KNOW THAT REDISTRICTING IS A FOREIGN PROCESS THAT ONLY OCCURS EVERY 10 YEARS.
COMPANY LEADERS SHOULD WANT TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO BE ACTIVE IN THIS PROCESS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
THE FACT THAT MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS SCHEDULED THREE OUT OF FOUR REDISTRICTING PUBLIC HEARING AT 1:30, MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR MANY RESIDENTS TO BE ENGAGED IN THIS HEARING.
I WOULD WANT TO, AND ALSO ENCOURAGE THE BOARD MEMBERS TO PLEASE SCHEDULE ALL FUTURE PUBLIC HEARINGS AT A TIME THAT MORE RESIDENTS CAN ATTEND, AND PREFERABLY IN THE EVENING. THANK YOU.
>> HI, MY NAME IS OLIVIA SEIDEMAN.
I AM THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR WITH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL FOR JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY, A COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS WITH COMMUNITY RESIDENTS IN MERCED COUNTY, TO ADVOCATE FOR EQUITABLE AND JUST POLICY SOLUTIONS.
I'M CALLING TO COMMENT ON THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS TODAY, JUNE 8, 2021.
WHAT I WANT TO ASK FIRST IS THAT WHILE IT IS MANDATORY THAT AT LEAST ONE MEETING BE ON AN EVENING OR A WEEKEND, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THAT IS SUFFICIENT TO ACCOMMODATE THE SCHEDULES OF MANY WORKING FOLKS.
I ENCOURAGE THAT DURING SCHEDULING, SOME OF THE 1:30 P.M. MEETINGS WHICH ARE THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY, ARE VERY INCONVENIENT FOR FOLKS WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO MISS WORK, DO NOT PROPERLY REACH SOME OF THEM [INAUDIBLE] EXCLUDED FROM THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS.
SECOND OF ALL, I WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR LANGUAGE JUSTICE IN THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS.
OUTREACH SHOULD BE CONDUCTED IN LANGUAGES SUCH AS SPANISH, HMONG, AND PUNJABI, TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS FROM THOSE COMMUNITIES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE, AND INTERPRETATION SHOULD BE EASILY AVAILABLE AT ALL PUBLIC HEARINGS IN THESE LANGUAGES.
THIRD, I WANT TO ASK WHAT'S THE NEED FOR, WHILE PUBLIC MEETINGS MAY TRANSITION INTO IN-PERSON BASED ON COVID CASES.
[01:45:06]
THERE SHOULD STILL BE VIRTUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLKS TO PARTICIPATE REMOTELY.THIS MAKES PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WHO OTHERWISE COULDN'T JOIN.
A POINT THAT IS, ESPECIALLY, SALIENT FOR FOLKS WITH DISABILITIES OR MOBILITY ISSUES, PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, RURAL COMMUNITIES WHO ARE FAR FROM MEETINGS IN MERCED CITY, AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM REMOTE PARTICIPATION. THANK YOU.
>> THIS CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.
IS THERE ANYBODY HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? SEEING NOT. [NOISE] I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE'LL BRING IT BACK HERE TO THE DIAS.
THIS IS THE FIRST OF FOUR HEARINGS, HERE IN MERCED COUNTY, WHERE THE RESIDENTS CAN PROVIDE INPUT AND PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON REDISTRICTING PROCESS.
IN ADDITION TO ATTENDING AND SPEAKING AT THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, WE ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO VISIT THE COUNTIES REDISTRICTING WEBSITE AT DRAWMERCEDCOUNTY.ORG.
ARE THERE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. WELL, ALTHOUGH TODAY WAS A LIGHT PARTICIPATION, I REALLY WANT TO THANK STAFF, AND OUR CONSULTANTS, FOR TAKING THEIR TIME TO PUT THIS TOGETHER.
HOPEFULLY, WE CAN CREATE IT AS ITS OWN LINK, SEPARATE FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING, SO PEOPLE CAN SHARE IT.
I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN GETTING THE WORD OUT AND, HOPEFULLY, OTHERS THAT CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FUTURE, WILL REALIZE THIS WAS FIRST STEP, AND IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO GET INVOLVED. THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE.
THIS CONCLUDES THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING FOR JUNE 8TH, 2021.
OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD ON JUNE 22ND, 2021, AND THE NEXT REDISTRICTING PUBLIC HEARING IS SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 10TH, 2021 AT 1:30. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.