[00:00:09]
WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS HERE TODAY.
THIS IS VERY WELCOMING FROM SEEING THE SCARCE SEATING OUT THERE AND WONDERING IF SOMEBODY IN THOSE SEAT THAT WAS COVERED UP OR NOT.
BUT GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO THE JUNE 22ND,
[Call to Order]
2021 MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING.FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO DO NOT WISH TO ATTEND IN PERSON, WE HAVE BEEN ACCEPTING GENERAL COMMENTS VIA EMAIL AND VOICEMAIL FOR NON-AGENDA AND AGENDA ITEMS, WHICH HAS BEEN VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO DON'T SEEM TO LIKE US A LOT AS A BOARD WHO ARE ALWAYS CHALLENGING US HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN COMPLIMENTING ON US THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE CONTINUED TO DO THE EMAIL AND THE VOICEMAIL PROCESS.
WITH THIS, WE WILL NOW START WITH AN INVOCATION FROM MY PASTOR, JOHN MOTZ FROM ATWATER AND THEN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE LED BY SUPERVISOR JOSH PEDROZO.
BEFORE I DO PRAY FOR OUR OPENING OF THE MEETING, I AM JOHN MOTZ FROM NEW LIFE CHURCH, RIGHT IN THE HEART OF DISTRICT 3.
SO NOT ONLY IS DARON A MEMBER OF OUR CHURCH, BUT HE IS ALSO OUR SUPERVISOR, AND SO WE APPRECIATE YOU AS WELL AS ALL THOSE SERVING HERE TODAY.
JUST BEFORE I PRAY, JUST ON A PERSONAL NOTE, THERE'S BEEN A REAL CHALLENGE THE LAST WEEK AND A HALF, DARON JUST LOST HIS MOM RATHER SUDDENLY AND SO IT'S BEEN A DIFFICULT TIME FOR HIM.
SO JUST AS WE PRAY, BE MINDFUL, NOT ONLY OF DARON, BUT ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE GOING THROUGH CIRCUMSTANCES OR SITUATIONS THAT WE'RE NOT AWARE OF AS WE BRUSH ACROSS PEOPLE AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH AND THE CHALLENGES THEY'RE FACING.
BUT AS WE SEEK TO BE COMMUNITY TOGETHER, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE AS WE LIFT UP EACH OTHER AS NEIGHBORS.
FATHER, IT IS TO YOU WE LOOK TODAY FOR YOU ARE OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH, OUR EVER PRESENT HELP IN TIMES OF TROUBLE, AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE DO LOOK TO YOU AND LIFT UP OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE CALL HOME, TO LIFT UP OUR FELLOW RESIDENTS THAT WE CALL NEIGHBORS.
FATHER, WE LIFT UP THE COMMUNITY OF THIS COUNTY THAT WE RESIDE IN AND THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE FACED IN ALL CORNERS IN ALL PARTS, I LIFT UP COMMUNITIES LIKE ATWATER, BUT ALSO LIVINGSTON AND MERCED, SNELLING AND LOS BANOS, DOS PALOS, GUSTINE, PLANADA, LE GRAND, GOD AND ALL THE REST, NOT MEANING TO LEAVE OUT, BUT SIMPLY TO REPRESENT THE VARIETY THAT IS HERE IN THIS PLACE THAT WE CALL HOME AND WE THANK YOU FOR IT.
EACH ONE HAS CERTAIN AND DISTINCT CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE IN AS A COMMUNITY TOGETHER HERE AT THE SUPERVISORS ARE MEETING, GOD WE LOOK FOR YOU TO BE OUR HELP AND OUR DIRECTOR.
GOD I LIFT UP EACH OF THE SUPERVISORS WHO GATHER AND HAVE BEEN SELECTED NOT ONLY BY THEIR CONSTITUENTS, BUT ALSO BY YOUR HAND TO BE IN THIS PLACE AT THIS TIME TO HELP GUIDE US THROUGH.
ALL THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACED OVER THIS PAST YEAR, THE CHALLENGE IS THAT NOW WE FACE COMING OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC SEASON, THE UNCERTAINTIES OF THE FUTURE THAT LIE BEFORE US, THOSE CHALLENGES WE CAN SEE COMING AND THE CHALLENGES WE DON'T YET KNOW ABOUT, GOD WE LIFT THEM ALL TO YOU, AND I DO LIFT UP THIS SUPERVISORS THIS MORNING.
I WANT TO PRAY FOR SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA AND SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
GOD, I LIFT UP SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
FATHER, I ALSO LIFT UP MY FRIEND, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, AND GOD, THAT YOU WOULD BE THEIR EVER-PRESENT HELP IN TIMES OF TROUBLE, THAT YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO BE THE ONE WHO GUIDES THEIR STEPS, THEIR THOUGHTS, THEIR WORDS, THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY WOULD CONTINUE TO GROW IN SECURITY, THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY WOULD CONTINUE TO GROW IN COMPASSION AND CARE, THAT WE WOULD BE A PLACE THAT ALL CAN CHERISH AND CELEBRATE AS HOME.
SO FOR YOUR HELP TODAY, WE GIVE YOU THANKS AND WE ASK YOUR LEADING ON THIS MEETING IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.
[00:05:09]
>> THANK YOU, JOSH. THANK YOU, JOHN. CLOSE SESSION TODAY.
IN THE MEETING, STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION.
I HAVE TO MAKE SURE I SAY THAT ON BEHALF OF COUNSEL.
>> IT'S NOW TIME FOR PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER OF
[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK]
THE PUBLIC'S 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.
>> WITH THAT, I ALREADY SEE SOMEBODY READY TO SPEAK.
>> GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR MCDANIEL AND SUPERVISORS.
MEMBERS OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF MERCED COUNTY READ WITH INTEREST THE ARTICLE IN THE MERCED COUNTY TIMES ON JUNE 10TH TITLED, REDISTRICTING TALKS BEGIN BUT WHERE'S THE INTEREST? AS PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF MERCED COUNTY, I AM HERE TO ASSURE YOU THAT THE LEAGUE AND MANY OF ITS COMMUNITY PARTNERS ARE VERY INTERESTED IN THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS.
TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THIS IMPORTANT AND CONSEQUENTIAL PROCESS, THE LEAGUE, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND MEMBERS OF COMMUNITIES AT LARGE WILL NEED INFORMATION ON POPULATION CHANGES SINCE THE LAST REDISTRICTING PROCESS.
CRITICAL QUESTIONS INCLUDE, WHAT ARE THE ESTIMATED CHANGES IN POPULATION FOR EACH SUPERVISORIAL DISTRICT? WHAT ARE THE ESTIMATED CHANGES IN AGE, GENDER, RACE, ETHNICITY, AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS FOR THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE AND FOR EACH SUPERVISORIAL DISTRICT.
WHAT ARE THE POPULATION GROWTH AREAS ALREADY ADOPTED IN THE COUNTY GENERAL PLAN? IN ORDER TO PROVIDE USEFUL INPUT TO REDISTRICTING MAPS AND TO PROVIDE INFORMED COMMENT ON COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST, THIS INFORMATION SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE EARLY IN THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS.
IN LOOKING AT THE ADOPTED SCHEDULE ON DRAW MERCED COUNTY, WE WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL IN IDENTIFYING OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES.
THE FAIR AND INCLUSIVE REDISTRICTING FOR MUNICIPALITIES AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS ACT REQUIRES CITIES AND COUNTIES TO ENGAGE COMMUNITIES IN THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS BY HOLDING PUBLIC HEARINGS AND/OR WORKSHOPS AND DOING PUBLIC OUTREACH, INCLUDING TO NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING COMMUNITIES.
THE LEAGUE IS VERY INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THESE ACTIVITIES, AS WELL AS ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO PARTICIPATE.
ARE THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES LISTED SOMEWHERE ELSE, OR IS THE PLANNING FOR THEM STILL UNDERWAY? THE LEAGUE COULD ALSO NOT LOCATE AN EXPLANATION OF HOW COMMENTS AND CONCERNS FROM THE PUBLIC WILL BE SHARED WITH COMMUNITIES AT LARGE.
WILL THERE BE A REDISTRICTING COMMISSION IN MERCED COUNTY, SIMILAR TO THOSE IN SAN DIEGO, SANTA BARBARA, SANTA CLARA, RIVERSIDE ORANGE, SOLANO, AND OTHERS.
THESE COMMISSIONS WILL BE CONDUCTING PUBLIC HEARINGS AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THEIR BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS.
THE LEAGUE LOOKS FORWARD TO RECEIVING ANSWERS TO OUR QUESTIONS.
WE ARE EAGER TO WORK WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE MERCED COUNTY'S REDISTRICTING PROCESS TRANSPARENT, INCLUSIVE, AND REFLECTIVE OF POPULATION AND COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST IN THE COUNTY.
THE LEAGUE IS HERE TO HELP YOU WHERE WE CAN.
SINCE MY PRINTER BROKE THIS MORNING, I WILL EMAIL YOU ALL OF THE COPIES OF THIS LETTER, INCLUDING YOU, MR. BROWN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> PRINTER'S TIMINGS ARE IMPECCABLE.
>> YES THEY ARE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SHERIFF, ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> CHAIR, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY ON THESE THREE MINUTES.
HOPEFULLY I WON'T GO OVER, BUT THE INFORMATION I HAVE NEEDS TO BE SHARED.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I'M SURE THAT MOST OF THE BOARD IS AWARE OF THE EXPLOSION AND FIRE WE HAD AT THE SANDY [INAUDIBLE] FACILITY LAST NIGHT.
WE'RE SO BLESSED THAT NOBODY GOT HURT, AT LEAST AS OF REPORTING THIS MORNING.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND BOARD, AND I SEE DAN IS HERE TOO, I MEAN, EVERYTHING IS BEING DONE POSSIBLE TO GET IT TAKEN CARE OF, BUT WE'RE DEALING WITH SOME STUFF.
I WANT YOU GUYS TO BE AWARE THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN AND THAT PUBLIC WORKS AND CREW ARE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO GET TO THIS THING TAKEN CARE ABOUT THERE SO WE CAN GET IT BACK AS INMATES GOT TO BE.
THE EXPLOSION OCCURRED IN THE KITCHEN, SO ALL OF OUR FOOD CAPABILITIES FOR INMATES HAVE BEEN DWINDLED TO NOTHING.
THE SECOND THING, [NOISE] I'VE BEEN MAKING IT A POLICY,
[00:10:02]
I ACTUALLY HAVE THE THREE DEPUTY SHERIFFS THAT ARE ON DIFFERENT CITY COUNCIL BOARDS IN THIS COMMUNITY.GENERALLY, DOESN'T BLEED OVER INTO MY OFFICE.
BUT RECENTLY ABOUT A MONTH AGO IT DID, AND I TAKE EXCEPTION TO IT.
ONE OF MY DEPUTY SHERIFFS CALLS ME UP AND ASK FOR A PERSONAL PRIVATE MEETING AT MY HOUSE ON A WEEKEND.
HE BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION THAT HE WAS CALLED BY A SUPERVISOR ON THIS BOARD TO HAVE A MEETING WHICH IS NOT UNCOMMON BECAUSE AS YOU ALL WELL KNOW, I HATE BUREAUCRACY.
WHEN YOU'VE GOT A PROBLEM, YOU REACH OUT TO THE PERSON WHO CAN TAKE CARE OF THAT PROBLEM, YOU GET IT TAKEN CARE OF, THEN I'M INFORMED AND THAT'S BEEN THE STANDARD.
GETTING THAT CALL WAS NOT AN UNCOMMON THING.
HOWEVER, THIS CALL WAS TO DIRECT THAT INDIVIDUAL WHO HAPPENS TO BE A MAYOR PRO TEM IN A LOCAL CITY, THAT HE WAS BEING UNDER THE AUSPICE OF A RECALL ELECTION.
FIRST THING WAS HE WAS CALLED WHILE HE WAS WORKING FOR ME AS A DEPUTY SHERIFF.
THEN WHILE HE'S IN CONVERSATION WITH THE SUPERVISOR, HE'S TOLD BY THE SUPERVISOR THAT HE MIGHT WANT TO RESIGN THAT POSITION ON CITY COUNCIL, HE DOESN'T GET IN TROUBLE AT HIS JOB.
TWO THINGS HAPPENED ON THAT DAY.
HE WAS CALLED ON DUTY, AND THEN HE WAS INFORMED BY A VEILED THREAT THAT HE COULD GET IN TROUBLE WITH THE JOB.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THE DEPUTY SHERIFF IS AN OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL.
HIS CHARACTER IS ABOVE REPROACH.
I WANT YOU TO BE AWARE THAT WHEN IT COMES INTO MY OFFICE, I'M NOT GOING TO STAND AROUND AND LET IT DWINDLE, I'M NOT.
BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I HAVE TAKEN NOTICE OF IT, AND I EXPECT THAT NOTHING LIKE THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.
I ALSO KNOW THAT COUNTY COUNCIL HAS WRITTEN AN OPINION ON IT, ALTHOUGH I DO NOT AGREE WITH IT.
IT HAS BEEN OUT THERE THE MINUTE IT INVOLVED AN ON DUTY DEPUTY AND A VEILED THREAT, I DON'T THINK IT WAS CORRECT IN THAT IT HAPPENED AT ALL.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND EFFORT INTO THIS, AND JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I DO CARE A LOT ABOUT WHAT GOES ON AT MY AGENCY, AND I AM VERY PROUD OF THE MEN AND WOMEN THERE, AND I TAKE VERY STRONG PRIDE IN THE FACT THAT WE'VE GOT SOME PEOPLE THAT NOT ONLY PUT THEIR LIVES IN DANGER EVERYDAY.
THANK YOU. IS IT BACK? OKAY, I GOT IT.
BUT THEY ALSO TAKE IT UPON THEMSELVES BECAUSE AS ELECTEDS, WE ALSO KNOW WHAT THE SOCIETY AND THEIR CITIZENS ARE EXPECTING OF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, AND I KNOW THIS VERY WELL BECAUSE I AM ONE.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME ON THIS, BUT I WANTED TO ADDRESS EVERYBODY AS A WHOLE, THAT I DO TAKE EXCEPTION, AND THAT IT IS NOT GOING TO BE TOLERATED IN THE FUTURE.
LIKE I SAY, WHEN IT CROSSED THE LINE AND BROUGHT IT INTO MY AGENCY, I AM GOING TO BE ADDRESSING IT. OTHERWISE, I DON'T CARE.
THE POLITICS LOCAL CITIES HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR BAZILLION YEARS.
TILL RECENTLY IT HASN'T AFFECTED MY OFFICE, BUT IT DID WHEN I GET THAT CALL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SHERIFF. ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I THINK WE DO HAVE A VOICEMAIL REGARDING ITEM NUMBER 50.
AT THIS TIME LET'S PLAY THE VOICEMAIL.
>> [INAUDIBLE] GARCIA GONZALEZ, I AM A POLICY ADVOCATE WITH LEADERSHIP COUNSEL FOR JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF MERCED COUNTY.
I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 50.
FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR CLARIFICATION AS TO WHY AN OPERATIONAL BUDGET WILL BE ADOPTED.
I'M JUST BRINGING THIS UP BECAUSE I THINK TRANSPARENCY AND BUDGET DECISIONS ARE IMPORTANT FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS TO UNDERSTAND HOW AND WHY THE COUNTY MAKES DECISIONS SUCH AS ADOPTING AN OPERATIONAL BUDGET.
SECONDLY, FOR YEARS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR AND REQUESTING A MORE INCLUSIVE AND PARTICIPATORY APPROACH TO THE COUNTY'S BUDGET ADOPTION PROCESS, AND WE ARE REALLY URGING YOU TO PUT IN PLACE A MORE INCLUSIVE PARTICIPATORY APPROACH, INCLUDING PROCESSES FOR DECIDING HOW THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN DOLLARS WILL BE SPENT.
THIS INCLUSIVE APPROACH [NOISE] SHOULD INCLUDE MULTIPLE COMMUNITY MEETINGS WITH SUPERVISORS THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL RESIDENTS.
THESE MEETINGS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE WITH SYNCHRONOUS INTERPRETATION PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY FOR RESIDENTS OF VARIOUS CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS.
THESE MEETINGS SHOULD ALSO BE HELD AT VARIOUS TIMES OF THE DAY TO ENSURE THAT BOTH WHO WANT TO ATTEND ARE ABLE TO AND DON'T HAVE WORK CONFLICTS OR CHILDCARE CONFLICTS.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE REALLY EXCITED TO SHARE THE CLARITY WITH YOU ALL AND IT IS THE COUNTY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ENGAGE WITH THEIR CONSTITUENTS, AND I REALLY HOPE THAT THE BOARD TAKES TIME TO REALLY THINK ABOUT THIS AND TO SCHEDULE MEETINGS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THIS CONCLUDES VOICEMAILS RECEIVED.
[00:15:03]
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. I'LL BRING IT BACK HERE TO THE DAIS AND I'LL LOOK WITHIN THE BOARD CHAMBERS TO SEE IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS A PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE. I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO ITEM NUMBER 50 PLEASE.
I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE SUPPORT STAFF AT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THE BOARD SHOULD RECOGNIZE THAT IN THE 2.5 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN THE ELECTED DISTRICT ATTORNEY, I HAVE ONLY SPOKEN ONCE BEFORE NOW.
SO THAT SHOULD BRING TO THE BOARD'S ATTENTION THE LEVEL OF SERIOUSNESS I TAKE THIS ITEM.
IN FISCAL YEAR 1819, THERE WERE NO INCREASES TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S BUDGET.
IN FISCAL YEAR 1920, THERE WERE NO INCREASES TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY BUDGET, AND THE COUNTY MADE REDUCTIONS THAT RESULTED IN THE REMOVAL OF ANY CUSHION OR SAFETY NET AMONG BUDGET LINES.
IN FISCAL YEAR 2021, THERE WERE NO INCREASES, AND IN ADDITION, THERE WERE REDUCTIONS WHICH REMOVED A DEPUTY DA AND A LEGAL STAFF SERVICES MANAGER WITHIN OUR OFFICE.
WITHIN FISCAL YEAR 21/22, THERE HAVE BEEN NO INCREASES, AND WITH THE ANTICIPATED DEFICIT OF 4.5 MILLION, WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL BE REQUESTED TO MAKE CUTS TO OUR BUDGET.
HOW THIS HAS AFFECTED OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN THAT IN 2019 WHEN I CAME IN, WE HAD A NUMBER OF STAFF TRANSITIONS, WE HAD MEDICAL LEAVES AMONG SUPPORT STAFF, AND WE HAD DIFFICULTY ADJUSTING TO THOSE TRANSITIONS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAD ADEQUATE STAFF IN OUR SUPPORT STAFF AREA.
IN 2020, THERE WERE COVID LEAVES AGAIN AND REDUCED SCHEDULES BECAUSE OF COVID, AND THEN ADDITIONAL LONG-TERM LEAVE REQUESTS, INCLUDING A SUPERVISOR, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR STAFF TO PERFORM ALL OF THEIR DUTIES WITH THE PEOPLE WHO WERE AVAILABLE.
IN 2021, WE'VE HAD CONTINUED COVID LEAVES, MEDICAL LEAVES, AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE DEALING WITH TWO LONG-TERM MEDICAL LEAVES WITH TWO SUPERVISORS IN OUR SUPPORT STAFF AREA.
FOR 2.5 YEARS, WE'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH ADEQUATE SUPPORT STAFF COVERAGE, AND THAT'S CAUSED UNION COMPLAINTS AMONG OUR SUPPORT STAFF AND CONCERNS THAT THEIR WORKLOAD IS TOO HIGH AND THAT THEY ARE VERY STRESSED IN DEALING WITH THE WORKLOAD THAT THEY'RE BEING ASKED TO ACCOMMODATE.
BUT IN FISCAL YEAR 2018/2019, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE UNDER-SPENT THEIR STAFF SALARY AND BUDGETS BY $1.4 MILLION.
THE TOTAL EXPENSES WERE UNDER-SPENT BY $1.8 MILLION.
IN FISCAL YEAR 1920, OUR SALARY AND BENEFITS WERE UNDER-SPENT BY $1.8 MILLION.
OUR TOTAL EXPENSES WERE UNDER-SPENT BY $1.9 MILLION.
PROJECTED FOR THIS CURRENT YEAR FOR 2021, OUR SALARY AND BENEFITS WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $1.4 MILLION UNDER-SPENT BECAUSE WE WERE ON A HIRING FREEZE FOR NINE MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR.
THANK YOU. [BACKGROUND] I'M WINDING UP.
IN 2021, WE HAVE A PROPOSED BUDGET THAT REQUESTS A TOTAL INCREASE OF $396,000, AND THE COUNTY SHARE OF THAT INCREASE IS $350,000.
IN THE TOTAL TIME THAT I'VE BEEN THE ELECTED DISTRICT ATTORNEY, OUR BUDGET SAVINGS FOR THE COUNTY HAS BEEN $5.1 MILLION IN SAVINGS IN UNSPENT FUNDS.
IN SEPTEMBER, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE BOARD WILL BECOMING AGAIN TO DEAL WITH THE BUDGET IN THE FINAL BUDGET.
WHILE I DON'T ASK FOR CHANGES NOW IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, I DO ASK THAT THE BOARD GIVE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO THE REQUESTS THAT WE'VE MADE.
WE HAVE DEEP AND SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH OUR SUPPORT STAFFS AND OUR LEVELS OF SUPPORT STAFF BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PLAN FOR THE UNEXPECTED.
PEOPLE TAKE MEDICAL LEAVES AND THERE ARE TRANSITIONS.
IF EVERYBODY WERE TO REPORT TO WORK, WE WOULD BE FINE.
BUT THAT'S NOT HOW LIFE WORKS, AND SO WITH THAT, I'M ASKING THE BOARD TO PLEASE LOOK CAREFULLY AT THE BUDGET AND TO SEE IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN FIND AN INCREASE THAT WOULD COST THE COUNTY AND COUNTY DOLLARS A TOTAL OF $350,000. THANK YOU.
IS THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS?
[00:20:02]
BECKY, YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY? [LAUGHTER] WITH THAT, LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA CALENDAR.[CONSENT CALENDAR]
>> NEXT IS APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA CALENDAR ITEMS 1-16.
PLEASE NOTE, ITEMS 9, 14, AND 16 REQUIRE A FOUR-FIFTHS VOTE.
ITEM NUMBER 1 HAS BEEN PULLED, AND ITEM NUMBER 3, THERE HAVE BEEN MODIFICATIONS TO THE AMENDMENT AS ATTACHED ON THE ONLINE WEB AGENDA.
STAFF WAS NOTIFIED YESTERDAY BY MOTT MACDONALD GROUP INCORPORATED THAT THEIR BUSINESS ADDRESS LISTED IN SECTION 1 UNDER MODIFICATIONS HAS CHANGED.
IN ADDITION, THERE HAVE BEEN TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO THE INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS.
THE FINAL UPDATED AMENDMENT WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS UPON REQUEST.
I'LL LOOK TO THE BOARD HERE ON THE DAIS, IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENT? I DON'T SEE ANYBODY IN THE QUEUE.
[LAUGHTER] WE WILL LOOK FOR A MOTION.
>> YEAH, IT'S CLOSED. [BACKGROUND].
>> OH, MOTION CLOSED. [LAUGHTER] YOU ALREADY HAVE IT? IT'S JUST A SECRET, WHO DID THE MOTION?
>> THERE WE GO. IT'S SCOTT SILVEIRA, OF COURSE.
A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, WHICH IS SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. WE'LL GO AHEAD.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? I'M SEEING NONE.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.
[NOISE] WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO OUR REGULAR CALENDAR.
>> I'VE NEVER NOTICED THE COUNTER AT THE TOP OF THE TIMER.
DOES EVERYBODY HAVE ONLY [INAUDIBLE] TO VOTE? [LAUGHTER]
>> I'VE NEVER NOTICED THAT BEFORE.
>> IT'S NOT SHOWING. SORRY ABOUT THAT.
>> BOARD ACTION, PUBLIC WORKS: ITEMS 17-24.
[BOARD ACTION (Part 1 of 2)]
PLEASE NOTE, ITEMS 22, 23, AND 24 REQUIRE A FOUR-FIFTHS VOTE, AND ALSO ITEM 19, STAFF FOUND THAT THE LINK TO THE INTERACTIVE APPROXIMATION MAP INCLUDED IN THE ONLINE WEB AGENDA IS NOT ACCURATELY REFLECTING THE FULL ALIGNMENT AS IDENTIFIED IN THE BOARD AGENDA ITEM IDENTIFIED AS DPW 1044.STAFF IS PROVIDING THE BOARD MEMBERS WITH AN ALTERNATE HARD-COPY MAP.
COPIES OF SAID MAP WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS UPON REQUESTS.
ALSO, ITEM NUMBER 21, THE WORD "AMENDMENT" WAS ERRONEOUSLY INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA UNDER SECTION 2.
THE REQUEST RECOMMENDATION ACTION NEEDED IS ACCURATELY WRITTEN ON THE BOARD AGENDA ITEM IDENTIFIED AS DPW 1048.
>> THAT WAS A LOT. WE'LL BRING IT UP AGAIN.
IS THERE ANYTHING ON THE DAIS THE FOLKS WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT OR HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT, I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER 21.
THIS IS THE APPROVAL OF DRAFT OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT AUTHORIZING CASTLE VETERANS ORGANIZATION.
WE HAVE TWO FOLKS HERE, BOTH VETERANS OF OUR MILITARY WHO HAVE COME TOGETHER, WHO HAVE SHOWN GREAT LEADERSHIP.
I JUST WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THE BOTH OF YOU, TOM LEGG, JOHN CALE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A LONG TIME AND WORKING TOGETHER, AND I THINK WE'VE PROBABLY CREATED A MODEL THAT SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED TO OTHER PLACES, NOT JUST IN THIS COUNTY, BUT OTHER COUNTIES.
AS WE CONTINUE TO GO FORWARD, I'D APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT FROM MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS, AND I WANT TO JUST THANK THE TWO OF YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'VE PUT IN ON THIS.
I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF HOURS ON YOUR OWN TIME, AND IT'S MUCH APPRECIATED.
IT'S BEEN A LONG PROCESS, BUT WE'RE THERE, SO THANK YOU.
[00:25:01]
I DO HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.I HAVE A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. HE BARELY BEAT YOU.
[LAUGHTER] WITH THAT, I HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND.
[LAUGHTER] LET'S TALLY THE VOTE.
>> NEXT IS AG COMMISSIONER ITEMS 25 AND 26.
>> I DO SEE THE AG COMMISSIONER IN THE BUILDING.
IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO HAVE YOU HERE.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR OUR AG COMMISSIONER? [LAUGHTER] I DON'T SEE ANY REQUESTS IN THE QUEUE.
WITH THAT, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING.
LET'S GO AHEAD. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S TALLY THE VOTE.
>> I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD LET THEM OFF SO EASY NEXT TIME.
>> WELL, I TRIED TO QUEUE IT UP FOR FOLKS ASKING QUESTIONS.
AS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, I'VE BEEN VERY KIND TO HIM THIS TIME BECAUSE PREVIOUSLY, ANYTIME HE WASN'T HERE, I'D ALWAYS ASK WHERE HE WAS.
[LAUGHTER] MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM.
>> THERE'S ONLY ONE ITEM ON HERE FOR HEALTH? [BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER] I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
WE CAN EMBARRASS HER JUST AS MUCH AS I TRY TO EMBARRASS DAVE.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, OR ANYBODY HAVE ANY COMMENTS? NOBODY IN THE QUEUE. WE'LL GO AHEAD.
I HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND, LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE.
>> NEXT IS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES, ITEMS 28-34.
LLOYD USUALLY HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, I'M SURE.
>> BUT I WON'T MAKE THE MOTION.
>> I DO HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA.
ARE THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? I DO.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I'M JUST GOING TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND FOLKS THAT AS WE COME OUT OF COVID, TO PLEASE BE AWARE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE INTERACTIONS WITH PEOPLE AND PLEASE BE AWARE OF SOMEBODY THAT MAYBE IS ACTING DIFFERENT NOW THAT YOU'RE INTERACTING WITH THEM, THAT THEY WERE A YEAR AND A HALF AGO WHEN YOU INTERACTED WITH THEM.
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND I THINK COVID AND THAT TIMING HAS MASKED A LOT OF THAT.
I JUST WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE TO BE AWARE.
IT'S ALWAYS EASIER TO ASK THE QUESTION AND HAVE SOMEBODY SAY, "I'M OKAY.
THANK YOU FOR ASKING," THAN IT IS AFTER SOMETHING HAPPENS AND THEN YOU WISH YOU WOULD'VE ASKED THE QUESTION.
THAT'S JUST MY BIT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR. WELL SAID.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA.
LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S TALLY THE VOTE.
[NOISE] MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
>> NEXT IS HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY, ITEMS 35-39.
>> THERE WE GO. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU. MY QUESTIONS ARE ON 36 AND 37, AND THEY CAN BE ANSWERED THE SAME TOGETHER, AND I BROUGHT THIS UP AT OUR LAST MEETING ALSO.
I DID REACH OUT TO MS. BROWN YESTERDAY.
AGAIN, THESE ARE GOOD THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING; PROVIDING MEALS AND STUFF, BUT HOW IS THAT INFORMATION AVAILABLE AND HOW ARE WE GETTING THAT INFORMATION OUT?
[00:30:05]
I JUST WANTED TO KNOW THAT.>> GOOD MORNING. FELIZA GRAY WITH ADULTS AND AGING FOR MERCED, COUNTY, HSA.
OUR CONGREGATE MEALS AND OUR HOME-DELIVERED MEALS ARE ADVERTISED THROUGH OUTREACH EVENTS VERY SIMILAR TO HOW WE DO WITH OUR HIGH CAP.
THIS YEAR, BECAUSE OF COVID, WE DID A LOT OF OUTREACH TO INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE UNDER THE STAY-AT-HOME ORDER WITH THE GOVERNOR IN 2020, SO OUR HOME-DELIVERED MEALS ACTUALLY INCREASED BY 400 PERCENT.
WE HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT, WE MAKE PHONE CALLS.
TO INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE REFERRED, THEY CAN CONTACT OUR AREA AGENCY ON AGING AT THE 385-7550 NUMBER, SO THAT WAY, THEY CAN ALSO CALL TO INQUIRE.
THERE'S NO INCOME LIMITS BUT THERE ARE LIMITATIONS AS FAR AS AMBULATION, INABILITY, AND BEING HOMEBOUND.
THAT'S HOW WE'RE ADVERTISING IT.
WE DO HAVE OUTREACH TOWARDS OTHER ARTICLES AND NEWSLETTERS THAT WE SEND OUT.
IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH OUR HIGH CAP.
WE HAVE NOT DONE ANY NEWS LIKE ADVERTISING ON TELEVISION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT WE HAVE A VERY FIXED BUDGET AS FAR AS WITH ADVERTISING.
>> THANK YOU. YOU'RE SAYING ANY KIND OF SOCIAL MEDIA OUTREACH THAT WE DO AS BOARD MEMBERS WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED AS WELL.
DOES THAT CONCLUDE YOUR QUESTIONS?
>> OKAY. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
THERE ARE NO MORE REQUESTS TO SPEAK IN THE QUEUE, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS? WE HAVE THE NEW CHIEF SITTING IN HERE.
ANYBODY WANT TO PUT HIM ON THE HOT SEAT?
>> LET'S GO AHEAD AND WE'LL HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND, LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE.
LET'S TALLY THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
>> NEXT IS DISTRICT ATTORNEY, ITEMS 41 AND 42.
>> DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, I HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND, LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE.
>> [NOISE] NEXT IS TREASURER, ITEM NUMBER 43.
>> I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
SOUNDS LIKE A BROKEN RECORD RIGHT NOW.
WHAT'S GOING ON, GUYS? FINGERS AREN'T FAST ENOUGH. [NOISE]
>> IF YOU GET ALL OF THEM, ACTUALLY.
>> [LAUGHTER] NO REQUESTS TO SPEAK IN THE QUEUE, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.
>> NEXT IS EXECUTIVE OFFICE, ITEMS 44 THROUGH 48.
WE WILL HEAR ITEMS 44 AND 45 TOGETHER.
>> THE FIRST ONE, 44 AND 45, WILL BE BUNCHED TOGETHER?
>> UNLESS YOU WANT TO TAKE THEM SEPARATELY.
>> LET'S GO AHEAD AND BRING THOSE TOGETHER.
I READ MY SCRIPT, SO I'M AWARE.
>> IT'S UP TO THE BOARD FIRST.
>> YEAH. SO IS THERE ANY COMMENTS? OKAY, I DO HAVE A REQUEST.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I JUST QUICKLY WANT TO COMMENT ON ITEM 44 AS WE GO THROUGH AND WE ARE CHANGING SOME DEFINITIONS OF POSITIONS AND MOVING THEM AROUND, THIS IS ALL CLEAN UP FOR OUR MOVING CODE ENFORCEMENT OVER TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE,
[00:35:02]
AND SO THEY WERE WORKING UNDER THE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, AND NOW THEY'RE SWITCHING OVER TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, SO THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF THIS IS TO CLEAN UP THOSE POSITIONS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY ALIGN TO THE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY'RE IN.JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT BECAUSE IT IS PART OF OUR BIGGER OVERALL APPROACH WITH OUR ONE-STOP-SHOP AND REALLY TRYING TO GIVE OUR FOLKS, AND YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD ME SAY UP HERE BEFORE, OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT, THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR, AND I THINK BY MOVING THEM OVER TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, IT ALMOST MAKES OUR DEPUTIES ALL DE FACTO CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
I KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT THEIR PRIMARY FUNCTION AT ALL BUT JUST HAVING THEM WITH RADIOS BEING IN AND AROUND THE PUBLIC TO HELP US KEEP UP WITH THOSE ISSUES THAT SEEM TO BE GROWING MORE AND MORE.
LOOKING FORWARD TO REPORTING OUT OUR ACTUAL FIRST, FOR LACK OF BETTER WORDS, CONVICTION ON OUR NEW POLICY THAT SAYS THAT IF YOU [INAUDIBLE] FINE TO IDENTIFYING PIECES OF INFORMATION, THAT [NOISE] IT WILL BE DEEMED AS YOUR TRASH AND WE CAN HOPEFULLY MAKE THOSE FOLKS PAY TO CLEAN THAT UP.
THAT'S ALL I WANTED. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CEO BROWN.
>> MR. CHAIR, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA DID A NICE JOB IN OUTLINING IT.
JUST TO ADD A LITTLE BIT, AS YOU CALL WHEN WE BROUGHT THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES RELATING TO THE PERMANENT PROCESS, THERE WERE TWO AREAS THAT WE WERE STILL EVALUATING, CODE ENFORCEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.
JUST TO ADD A LITTLE BIT WITH THE CODE ENFORCEMENT RELATED TO IS THAT, AS SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SAID, THERE WILL BE FUNCTIONS RELATED FROM COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BUT ALSO FROM ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH THAT WE WILL BE MOVING OVER TO UNDERNEATH THE SHERIFF.
NUISANCE-TYPE ACTIVITIES AND OTHER THINGS, YOU'VE GOT DEPUTIES ON THE STREET AND JUST STREAMLINES THE PROCESS AND PLUS, YOU HAVE MORE LEVERAGE ON THE ENFORCEMENT SIDE.
THE REASON I WANTED TO ALSO SHARE OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE IS AS A RESULT, AS WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, JUST AS AN UPDATE TO THE BOARD, ONE OF THE ISSUES HAD TO DO WITH FACILITIES AND THE ABILITY TO BRING AND CONSOLIDATE STAFF TO THE SECOND FLOOR OF THIS BUILDING.
AFTER FURTHER ANALYSIS ON THAT, THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS FEASIBLE OR RELATED TO THE WHOLE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH STAFF.
JUST AS AN UPDATE, WE DO THINK FUNCTIONALLY, IT MAKES SENSE TO MOVE THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OVER UNDERNEATH COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FROM ESPECIALLY THE LAND AND WATER FUNCTION RELATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.
HOWEVER, IT'S CLEARLY A CAPITAL ISSUE, SOME OF YOU EXPRESSED CONCERNS ON HOW MUCH CAPITAL AND DIFFERENT THINGS IN JUST FEEDING PEOPLE.
WE ARE LOOKING AT OTHER OPTIONS, SO WE ANTICIPATE COMING BACK TO YOU, THE BOARD, AT SOME POINT WITH A POTENTIAL RECOMMENDATION ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, IF WE CAN IDENTIFY AN OPTION.
WE DO THINK FUNCTIONALLY, IT MAKES SENSE TO MAKE THAT MOVE.
FROM THE CODE ENFORCEMENT STANDPOINT, WE WILL NEED TO COME BACK TO YOU BECAUSE THERE WILL BE SOME CHANGES IN COUNTY CODE AND ORDINANCES, BUT UNTIL WE COMPLETE THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH THINK, WE'D RATHER DO IT ALL AT ONCE.
AS WE CONTINUE THIS, THERE WILL BE OTHER ITEMS THAT WILL BRING ME BACK TO IT AS WE CONTINUE THAT ASSESSMENT.
>> THANK YOU, JIM. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, I SAW YOU PULL YOUR NAME OFF. YOU STILL WANT TO SPEAK?
>> THERE YOU GO. NOW, YOU JUST TOOK IT OFF. [LAUGHTER]
>> THERE. NOW, YOU'RE ON. HOLD ON.
>> [LAUGHTER] CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I BELIEVE THAT THIS ITEM 44 IS IN CHANGING CODE ENFORCEMENT OVER IS A GOOD MOVE.
AS AN INDIVIDUAL THAT BELIEVES IN PERSONAL PROPERTY RIGHTS, I JUST WANT TO, I GUESS, EXPLAIN MY THOUGHT PROCESS IN THAT IF YOU OWN A PIECE OF PROPERTY AND IT'S WITHIN CODE AND YOU WANT TO DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
I GET CALLS FROM PEOPLE AND THEY'RE COMPLAINING ABOUT THEIR NEIGHBORS AND WHATEVER.
THE NEIGHBOR IS DOING SOMETHING BUT THAT'S THEIR LAND AND THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO DO WITH IT UNTIL IT GETS TO A POINT WHERE IT AFFECTS THE NEIGHBORS IN EITHER A HEALTH CONDITION OR A PUBLIC SAFETY CONDITION, THEN I'M ALL IN FOR RECTIFYING THOSE SITUATIONS.
I JUST WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT EVEN THOUGH WE'RE MOVING THIS OVER TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, THAT I ANYWAYS, AND I BELIEVE MY COLLEAGUES ARE IN THE SAME POSITION, WE RESPECT YOUR PROPERTY RIGHTS.
HOWEVER, THERE COMES A TIME WHEN SOMETIMES YOU'RE IMPEDING ON THE ABILITY OF OTHERS TO USE AND ENJOY THEIR COMMUNITY AND THEIR PROPERTY.
[00:40:04]
AT THAT TIME, THEN SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT, SO THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. [NOISE]
>> NO, THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR, THAT WAS VERY WELL PUT.
I'M GLAD YOU SAID IT. I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE'RE ALL AT ON THIS.
OUR APPROACH ISN'T TO COME IN AND CONVICT RIGHT AWAY, OUR APPROACH IS TO COACH AND TO HELP FOLKS BECOME COMPLIANT AND TO HELP THEM WITH THAT EFFORT.
ALSO, I THINK THE LEADERSHIP OF MARK HENDRICKSON AND OUR SHERIFF ON THIS, BOTH IDENTIFYING AND WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS MOVE IS VERY REASSURING.
AGAIN, I LOOK AT THE BOARD AND VERY PROUD THAT WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR FOLKS, AND THIS IS PART OF THAT PROCESS.
WITH THAT, I SEE NO OTHER SPEAKERS IN THE QUEUE.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON OVER HERE WITH YOU TWO?
>> [LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND] WITH THAT, I HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND, LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE.
>> LET'S TALLY YOU THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
I THINK THE IT GUYS HAVE ALREADY FAVORED THEM, SO I WOULD GET ON THEM.
I THINK YOUR BUTTON, IT'S A LITTLE SLOWER.
SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEMS. I SEE YOU, DAVID MARIONI, STEPPING UP.
>> THANK YOU. MR. MARIANI DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT?
GOOD MORNING CHAIRMAN MCDANIEL, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, CEO BROWN, AND COUNTY COUNCIL.
HANSEN, WANTED TO TALK TODAY ABOUT ITEMS 46, 47, AND 48.
I WANT TO JUST GIVE YOU A STEP BACK THROUGH THE HISTORY OF THESE THREE ITEMS. ON MARCH 16TH OF 2020, YOUR BOARD RATIFIED TWO PROCLAMATIONS THAT ONE CONFIRM THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL HEALTH EMERGENCY DUE TO COVID-19 AND THAT PROCLAMATION WAS SIGNED ON MARCH 13TH OF 2020.
THAT SAME DAY, ANOTHER PROCLAMATION WAS SIGNED CONFIRMING THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY.
ONE WAS THE HEALTH EMERGENCY ANOTHER ONE, A LOCAL EMERGENCY, ALSO SIGNED ON MARCH 13TH.
TWO MONTHS LATER, ON MARCH 19TH, YOUR BOARD ISSUED A PROCLAMATION CONFIRMING THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL ECONOMIC EMERGENCY DUE TO COVID-19.
THOSE THREE HAVE REMAINED IN PLACE THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.
AS YOU KNOW, ON JUNE 15TH, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA SUNSETTED THE BLUEPRINT FOR A SAFER ECONOMY, WHICH ENDED THE COUNTY TIER SYSTEM THAT WE SPOKE OF FOR THE LAST YEAR, TALKING ABOUT THE DIFFERENT COLORS.
THEN THAT ALSO LIFTED FACE COVERING RESTRICTIONS FOR MOST CALIFORNIANS.
THEN ADDITIONALLY, ON JUNE 17TH, CAL/OSHA MADE A RULING THAT AFFECTED AND LIFTED THE FACE COVERINGS FOR MOST EMPLOYEES.
WITH THAT, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE JUNE 16TH, THE COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER RESCINDED MERCED COUNTY STAY SAFE TO STAY OPEN HEALTH ORDER.
ALL OF THESE THINGS COMBINED, WE WANTED TO COME FORWARD AND LOOK FOR YOUR DIRECTION.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR, IN REGARD TO EXTENDING OR REPEALING, THE LOCAL HEALTH EMERGENCY AND THE LOCAL EMERGENCY, WEND ADDITIONALLY, LOOKING FOR DIRECTION FOR EITHER EXTENDING, MODIFYING, OR REPEALING THE LOCAL ECONOMIC EMERGENCY.
EACH OF THOSE ITEMS IS BROUGHT SEPARATELY AS THOSE WHERE EACH SEPARATE BOARD ACTIONS BUT WANTED TO PRESENT THEM TO YOU TODAY AND SEEK YOUR DIRECTION.
THANK YOU, BECKY. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES A SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MR. MARIANI IF I COULD I ASK YOU A QUESTION; CAN YOU LET US KNOW OF ANY ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF DECISIONS ONE WAY OR ANOTHER? OR DID YOU WANT TO DO THAT?
>> THANK YOU. THROUGH THE CHAIR; RIGHT NOW,
[00:45:02]
WE HAVE SEEN THE RESCUE PLAN DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN BEEN DISCUSSED OUT THERE.WE HAD THE CARES DOLLARS COME THROUGH THAT YOUR BOARD HAS HAD MEETINGS UPON AND REVENUE OF BACKFILL FOR REALIGNMENT THAT WE HAD DISCUSSED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.
AT THIS POINT, WE'RE NOT SEEING THAT ALTHOUGH THERE COULD BE FUTURE DECISIONS DOWN THE ROAD WHERE IT SAYS THAT THERE COULD BE THAT IMPACT.
I HAVE NOT SEEN A FORMAL DECISION ON THAT, BUT DOWN THE ROAD AS YOU'VE SEEN WITH THE PANDEMIC, THINGS CAN SHIFT AND TURN, SO AT THIS PARTICULAR MOMENT, I DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING IN WRITING, BUT I CAN'T REPRESENT THAT THAT WOULD NOT CHANGE IN THE FUTURE.
AS I THINK WE'VE ALL GROWN ACCUSTOMED THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.
>> THANK YOU. CHAIR RECOGNIZES CEO BROWN
>> MR. CHAIR, AND JUST TO FURTHER ELABORATE, MR. MARIANI DID A NICE JOB AS FAR AS, OUR BEST GUESS RELATED TO SOME OF THE FEDERAL AND STATE DOLLARS THAT ARE FLOWING DOWN.
I MEAN, WE DON'T SEE ANYTHING.
I ALSO WANTED TO ADD RELATED TO FEMA.
AS WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS, WE ARE TRYING TO MAXIMIZE OUR REVENUES WHERE WE CAN.
OF COURSE, FEMA HAS BEEN A VERY CHALLENGING PROCESS.
BUT FEMA TECHNICALLY IS WHEN YOU'RE UNDER IT.
IF WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD, WE'RE NOT SURE THAT WE WOULD BE TRYING TO APPLY FOR ANY FUTURE FEMA CLAIMS, BUT REACHING BACK, WE STILL ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THOSE.
WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
HOWEVER, AS MR. MARIANI SAID, WITH A LOT OF THE DIFFERENT STIMULUS DOLLARS AND DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HAVE FOLLOWED THROUGH, YOU HAVE TO LOOK OUT WHICH SOURCE WHERE YOU'RE MAXIMIZING AND SPENDING THE ADMINISTRATIVE TIME AND HOW LONG THE PROCESS IS GOING FORWARD WHERE FEMA SOMETIMES CAN PLAY OUT FIVE YEARS LATER THAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THOSE PROCESSES.
SO WE'VE ADJUSTED THE LONG WINDOW WHERE WE THINK ECONOMICALLY WE'RE OKAY. THERE ARE SOME RISKS THERE.
THE ONLY OTHER THING I'D LIKE TO ADD RELATED TO THE EMERGENCIES JUST FOR THE BOARD'S INFORMATION HAS TO DO WITH DISASTER SERVICE WORKER.
NOT SO MUCH ECONOMIC, BUT JUST IN ALL TRANSPARENCY IS THAT UNDER EMERGENCY WE CAN DECLARE DISASTER SERVICE WORKERS.
ESSENTIALLY WHAT THAT DOES IS UNDER EMERGENCY IS IF WE USE VOLUNTEERS AND WE SWEAR THEM IN AS DISASTER SERVICE WORKERS, WE CAN PUT THEM UNDER THE STATE'S WORKERS COMP SYSTEM WHERE NOT BEING UNDER THE EMERGENCY ANYMORE, THEY FALL UNDER OUR WORKER'S COMP SYSTEM.
THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF AN ECONOMIC, BUT WE HAVE SLOWED THINGS DOWN AND FROM A STANDPOINT OF THE ACTIVITY OUT THERE, WE'RE STILL TRYING TO DO THE VACCINATION CLINICS, WE'RE STILL GOING ON.
BUT FROM A VOLUNTEER PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE UTILIZING OTHER AVENUES TO DELIVER THOSE CLINICS SO MUCH, IS WHERE WE HAVEN'T HAD AS HEAVILY VOLUNTEER EFFORTS.
WE DON'T SEE THAT NEED SO MUCH ANYMORE ON A BROAD SCALE.
THEN THE ONLY OTHER THING IS OF COURSE, THE ONLY WAY WE ARE ABLE TO GET THROUGH THIS EMERGENCY IS AS A TEAM, AND WE HAD TO SHUFFLE THE CHAIRS OF THE DECK AS YOU KNOW, WITH EMPLOYEES.
WHEN WE'RE USING DISASTER SERVICE WORKER, IT DOES ALLOW US MORE LATITUDE TO BE ABLE TO ASSIGN EMPLOYEES WHERE WHEN EMERGENCIES NO LONGER GUESS, WE CANNOT USE THAT DISASTER SERVICE WORKER.
IT LIMITS SOME OF THE FLEXIBILITY WE HAVE TO ASSIGN STAFF.
AS WE'VE ASSESSED THIS, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'VE COME UP WITH.
>> THANK YOU, MR. BROWN. AGAIN, I'VE BEEN VERY PUBLIC ABOUT THIS; THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
THIS IS A TIME MAYBE YOU CAN GET SOME SLEEP NOW.
BECAUSE BY US RESENDING THIS, IT WILL PUT US IN A BETTER POSITION.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR TEAM THAT YOU PUT TOGETHER TO DO THIS.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
>> ONE OTHER QUESTION; ON THE PROCLAMATION FOR THE LOCAL ECONOMIC EMERGENCY, IF WE WERE TO RESCIND THAT WOULD IT THEN TAKE ANY TOOLS OUT OF OUR CONSTITUENTS HANDS?
I HADN'T HEARD BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO PREVENT SOMEBODY FROM APPLYING FOR FUNDING OR SOMETHING THAT WE BY REPEALING THIS, WOULD TAKE THEM OUT OF THE RUNNING. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I WOULD SAY I DON'T THINK IT DOES TAKE ANY TOOLS AND I'M SORRY.
I THINK SINCE TECHNICALLY, THE GOVERNOR HAS NOT RESCINDED THE STATE DECLARATION, TOOLS THAT ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES WOULD STILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY.
>> THANKS FOR REASSURING THE CONSTITUENTS.
>> YEAH. GOOD QUESTION. [OVERLAPPING].
>> DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD?
>> ON THE GRANT APPLICATIONS THAT OUR TEAM HAS HELPED BUSINESSES WITH ON ALL THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS OUT THERE,
[00:50:03]
THERE'S NOT BEEN A DIRECT TIE TO THE ECONOMIC EMERGENCY, SO I DO NOT SEE THAT WOULD PRECLUDE ANYBODY FROM APPLYING FOR THOSE SET PROGRAMS.>> YEAH, I THINK OUR ECONOMIC EMERGENCY WAS SHOWING WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY TAKING A STAND SHOWING THE GOVERNOR THAT IT'S GOING TO AFFECT US AND PLEASE HANDLE IT IN A WAY.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. OBVIOUSLY I'M IN FAVOR OF REPEALING ALL OF THEM.
I'M STILL KNOWING THAT WE FALL UNDER THE STATES THAT THE GOVERNOR'S, THINK I LAST HEARD, HE'S GOING TO HOLD ON TO THEM TILL SEPTEMBER TO GIVE HIMSELF THE ABILITY TO MAKE CHANGES IF NECESSARY.
WITH THAT, GOD FORBID, SOMETHING DOES GET WORSE, THERE'S NOTHING THAT PRECLUDES US FROM HAVING TO DECLARE ANOTHER EMERGENCY.
BUT AT THIS POINT, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE, ON JUNE 15TH, EVERYTHING WENT BACK TO NORMAL AND SO I'M IN FAVOR OF REPEALING.
ARE WE GOING TO TAKE IT ALL IN ONE MOTION IF THE DIRECTION IS TO REPEAL ALL OF THEM OR DO WE NEED THOSE SEPARATELY? THAT WOULD BE A QUESTION FOR COUNSEL.
>> YEAH, YOU COULD MAKE A MOTION TO REPEAL THEM ALTOGETHER.
OF COURSE, IF SOMEBODY DISAGREES WITH ONE OF THOSE, THEN THEY WOULD HOPEFULLY BRING THAT UP AND YOU CAN SEPARATE THEM OUT, BUT I THINK YOU COULD TAKE THEM ALTOGETHER.
>> WELL, THEN I WOULD MAKE THAT AS MY MOTION CHAIR THAT WE REPEAL THE LOCAL HEALTH EMERGENCY DUE TO COVID-19, THE LOCAL EMERGENCY DUE TO COVID-19, AND THE LOCAL ECONOMIC EMERGENCY DUE TO COVID-19.
>> YOU WANT TO QUEUE THAT UP? IN THE MEANTIME, I STILL HAVE SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA CHAIR RECOGNIZES YOU.
>> I GUESS SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA ALLUDED TO IT A LITTLE BIT, BUT THE PANDEMIC HAS WINDING DOWN.
LAST JUNE THE PANDEMIC WAS WINDING DOWN AND THEN LATE JUNE THE NUMBERS STARTED COMING BACK UP.
IT REALLY WAS A SURPRISE TO ME AND SO IT'S COMFORTING TO ME TO KNOW THAT WE CAN REPEAL THESE AND IF SOMETHING CHANGES IN THE STATUS OF COVID-19 ON OUR COMMUNITY, THAT WE CAN COME BACK AND CHANGE OUR POSITION.
BUT I GUESS THE FACT THAT THE NUMBERS IN OUR HOSPITAL ARE SO LOW AND THAT DOESN'T TAKE AWAY FROM THE FACT THAT PEOPLE HAVE LOST LOVED ONES TO IT.
ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS GOT COVID AND MADE IT THROUGH, BUT HE SPENT ABOUT THREE WEEKS JUST KNOCKED DOWN.
SO I UNDERSTAND THE SERIOUSNESS OF IT, BUT I THINK AT THIS POINT JUST MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO REPEAL THESE OR TO END THESE THREE ORDERS AND SO THAT'S IT.
I DO HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR [INAUDIBLE].
GET THE QUICK FINGER THERE, JOSH.
SO WE HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND, ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR ANYBODY HAS ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY? SEEING NONE, LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.
LET'S TALLY THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
THIS IS A BIG RELIEF BY ALL. SO THANK YOU.
>> NEXT IS BOARD APPOINTMENTS, ITEM NUMBER 49.
>> CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I AM THE CHAIR OF THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE COMMITTEE.
IF YOU READ THROUGH THE STAFF REPORT ON THIS, I'M JUST THANKFUL TO JIM CLARK AND THE HOSPITAL AND WHOEVER HE HAD TO TALK TO YOU.
THIS WILL ACTUALLY FILL OUR WHOLE LIST OF EVERYBODY THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE ON THAT EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE COMMITTEE IN WHICH WAS A GOAL SINCE I TOOK OVER THE COMMITTEE WHEN I GOT ON AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
SO THANKS TO TED SHELBY FOR HELPING US REACH THAT GOAL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR. I DO HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA.
ARE THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? WE HAVE NONE. LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.
[00:55:01]
LET'S TALLY THE VOTE.>> NEXT, WE WILL GO TO BOARD INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ITEM 52,
[BOARD INFORMATION & POSSIBLE ACTION]
WHICH WILL BE TAKEN BEFORE ITEMS 50 AND 51.>> THANK YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO DO CHAIRMAN PREROGATIVE AND MOVE IT IF YOU DIDN'T DO IT FOR ME. THANK YOU.
>> SO THIS IS SCOTT'S FAVORITE [NOISE] PART [NOISE]. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS? I DON'T SEE ANYBODY IN THE QUEUE.
CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
>>YEAH. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT STARTING ON JULY 1 [INAUDIBLE] AS IF I REMEMBER MY DATE RIGHT.
JULY 1 ALL THESE THE STATE IS DEEMED THAT WE CAN NO LONGER CHARGE FEES, SHERIFF'S OFFICE, PUBLIC DEFENDER PROBATION.
THAT THOSE AS BILL AB 1869 THAT REPEALS THE IMPOSITION AND COLLECTION OF VARIOUS ADMINISTRATIVE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE FEES CURRENTLY BEING CHARGED BY THOSE DEPARTMENTS I JUST PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED.
JUST TO SHOW YOU FOLKS, WHAT WE DEAL WITH AT THE COUNTY LEVEL IS WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, THERE ARE JAIL BOOKING FEES, THERE ARE HOME MONITORING FEES FOR FOLKS THAT ARE ON ANKLE MONITORS, IN-LIEU FEES $5 A DAY, ADMINISTRATIVE SENTENCING PROGRAMS, WEEKENDERS THAT COME IN ON THE WEEKEND, THERE'S A $25 PER WEEKEND FEE.
WE'RE NO LONGER ABLE TO CHARGE THOSE FEES.
WHAT THAT MEANS TO OUR BOTTOM LINE IS THE TAXPAYERS IN MERCED COUNTY IS, THAT'S A LOSS OF $596,000 IN REVENUES THAT HELPS TO RUN OUR DEPARTMENTS.
WHAT THE STATE LOVES TO DO IS THEY LOVE TO JUST SEND THEIR MANDATE DOWN THAT SAYS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO FORCE US TO NO LONGER BE ABLE TO CHARGE THOSE FEES, BUT IT'S AN UNFUNDED MANDATE.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE DON'T JUST CHARGE THOSE FEES SO THAT WE CAN ALL GO ON VACATIONS.
IT'S A WAY OF HELPING TO ACTUALLY PAY FOR THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE.
NOW, WE'RE IN A POSITION OF JULY 1 THAT BETWEEN PROBATION PUBLIC DEFENDER AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THERE WOULD BE $596,000 LESS OF REVENUE COMING IN.
I GUESS THE BIGGEST POINT IS WITH NO, AS FAR AS I'VE BEEN TOLD SO FAR, THE STATE HASN'T TOLD US ANY WAY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE UP THOSE REVENUES, BUT WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE BUDGET, WHICH WE WILL BE HERE IN A MINUTE, THAT'S HALF A MILLION THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE AVAILABLE, BUT THERE ARE STILL BILLS THAT HAVE TO BE PAID.
WHEN WE MAKE DECISIONS ON OTHER THINGS, THIS IS WHY THERE'S NEVER ANYTHING LEFT.
IT'S A LOT OF THIS UNFUNDED MANDATE FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA THAT PUT US IN THAT POSITION.
>> I THINK IT'S MISREPRESENTED WHEN THEY CALL IT A FREE AND A CHARGE WHEN IT'S ACTUALLY A REIMBURSEMENT.
>> ALRIGHT. I AGREE WITH SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, BUT I WANTED TO GO BACK AND I GUESS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS CONFUSING TO ME IS THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE A BACKLOG OF 9.7 MILLION.
THEN THE STATE IS GOING TO PROVIDE THE 65 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEARS 2021 THROUGH 22-25, 26.
BUT THERE'S NO, I WANT TO POINT OUT THERE'S NO FORMULA OR NO DISCUSSION ON HOW WE GET THAT 9.7 OR ANYTHING.
ARE THEY JUST GOING TO WIPE IT AWAY OR WE DON'T KNOW?
>> THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR. WILL GO AHEAD AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
[LAUGHTER] THIS IS LIKE HEINZ KETCHUP.
>> HERE WE ARE. A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
>> WOW. COULD THE ITEM DIE BY LACK OF A SECOND?
>> DOES THAT MEAN WE DON'T HAVE TO
[01:00:04]
IMPLEMENT IT? [LAUGHTER].>> IT'S FOR YOUR INFORMATION ONLY.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND SECOND THAT MOTION AS A CHAIR WHICH I BEGRUDGINGLY DO.
I'D LIKE TO HAND IT OFF TO MY COLLEAGUES.
WITH THAT, WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE, BUT I APPRECIATE OUR CANDOR.
MOTION PASSES WITH FOUR TO ONE WITH SUPERVISOR PAREIRA VOTING NO.
[BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER] LET'S RETURN AT 11:15 AND WE'LL CONTINUE ON TO OUR BUDGET.
I HOPE EVERYBODY GOT THEIR SNACKS AND GOT THEIR STUFF TOGETHER.
IF NOT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO ITEM 50 AND 51.
[BOARD ACTION (Part 2 of 2)]
ARE WE TAKING THESE TOGETHER? WE'LL GO AHEAD AND START WITH ITEM NUMBER 50.LOOKS LIKE JIM BROWN HAS QUEUED IT UP.
MR. BROWN, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES YOU.
>> MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AND FOR THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE, BEFORE WE BEGIN, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS AWARE THAT THERE ARE COPIES OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET DOCUMENT, THE PRESENTATION, AND A SUMMARY CALLED AN AT-A-GLANCE THAT ARE BACK IN THE FOYER.
IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GO GET ONE FOR YOURSELF.
WHILE WE LOOK AT WHERE WE'VE BEEN THIS LAST YEAR, AND MOST ARE GRATEFUL THAT EVERYTHING IS NOW STARTING TO OPEN UP, BUT I DON'T THINK ANY OF US CAN DENY THAT THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF HAS CHANGED EVERYBODY'S LIVES.
FROM THE COUNTY'S PERSPECTIVE, IN THE ORGANIZATION, IT'S IMPACTED AND CHALLENGED US BOTH OPERATIONALLY AND FISCALLY.
FROM WHAT WE WERE PLANNING, HOW WE APPROACH ISSUES, HOW WE DELIVER SERVICES, THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE, AND OF COURSE, AN ENVIRONMENT OF EXTREME UNCERTAINTY.
TO ALL THE EMPLOYEES IN THE COUNTY, THANK YOU.
YOUR HARD WORK THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC AND STAYING THE COURSE FOR WHY WE EXIST AS AN ORGANIZATION TO SERVE THE PUBLIC.
THE ORGANIZATION'S SUCCESS IS BECAUSE OF YOUR GREAT DEDICATION AND TEAMWORK, HANG IN THERE.
WE MUST CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AND DELIVER THE BEST SERVICE AS POSSIBLE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AS WE TURN TO OUR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, WE ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION TO ALL THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, DEPARTMENT HEADS, AND OUR STAFF FOR ALL YOUR COOPERATION AND HARD WORK IN DEVELOPING THIS YEAR'S PROPOSED BUDGET.
THANK YOU, AND I DO HAVE TO SAY IT'S NOT OVER.
WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO BEFORE FINAL BUDGET.
TO THE BOARD, A THANK YOU FROM ALL OF US.
YOUR FORESIGHT AND PRIORITIZING THE COUNTY'S FISCAL STABILITY WITH PRUDENT AND CAUTIOUS BUDGETING PRACTICES AND ALLOCATING RESOURCES TOWARDS ONETIME ISSUES POSITIONED US WELL TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.
AS WE LOOK FORWARD, THE CRYSTAL BALL IN FRONT OF US IS MURKY STILL, SO WE WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE THIS THOUGHTFUL APPROACH TO YOUR DISCUSSIONS AND DEVELOPMENT OF THIS YEAR'S UPCOMING BUDGET.
THE ECONOMY SEEMS TO BE RECOVERING AND THE OUTLOOK IS POSITIVE FOR THE SHORT TERM.
HOWEVER, QUESTION STILL EXISTS TO THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY WITH THE SIGNIFICANT FEDERAL AND STATE ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS THE VACCINE EFFECTIVENESS WITH NEW STRAINS AND HESITANCY.
OUR LOCAL REVENUES HAVE WEATHERED THE PROVERBIAL STORM AND REMAIN RELATIVELY STABLE DUE TO OUR LARGE MAKEUP OF ESSENTIAL INDUSTRIES UNLIKE OTHER REGIONS OF THE STATE THAT RELY HEAVILY ON ENTERTAINMENT AND TRAVEL AND TOURISM FOR THEIR REVENUE.
OUR OVERALL ASSESSMENT ROLE FOR THE COUNTIES UP 4.9 PERCENT FOR NEXT YEAR AND LOCAL SALES TAX WITHIN YOUR CITIES ARE STRONG.
HOWEVER, WE DO SUGGEST CAUTION BECAUSE A FEDERAL AND STATE STIMULUS FUNDING THAT HAS HELPED KEEP LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND YOUR RESIDENTS, SOLVENT ARE ONETIME REVENUES AND THE LONG-TERM ECONOMIC PICTURE IS UNCERTAIN AS AT FUNDING BEGINS TO DISAPPEAR AND IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE.
WITH ALL OF THAT IT LOOKS AS WE WILL IN THE YEAR STRONG WITH REVENUE EXCEEDING EXPENDITURES HOWEVER, THAT IS DUE TO THAT SIGNIFICANT ONETIME REVENUE.
AT THIS POINT, YOUR PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES AN ESTIMATED FUND BALANCE OF 51.5 MILLION, WHICH IS 5.1 MILLION MORE THAN LAST YEAR.
HOWEVER, EVEN WITH THIS INCREASE, THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES A PRELIMINARY SHORTFALL OF $4.6 MILLION.
[01:05:02]
HOWEVER, WE'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT ONETIME EXPENDITURES BUILT INTO THE BUDGET AS WELL AS CONSERVATIVE REVENUE ESTIMATES INCLUDED, SO THAT WE WILL REVIEW FOR FINAL BUDGET AND HOPE WE'LL CLOSE SOME OF THE GAP.WITH THE INCREASED FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING, ESTIMATING THE FUND BALANCE HAS BEEN MORE CHALLENGING THIS YEAR, AND OF COURSE, ALL YOU ARE AWARE THEY'RE CRUEL PERIODS, SO WE CANNOT FINALIZE TILL AUGUST.
IF THE FUND BALANCE COMES IN LESS, THE NUMBER GOES UP.
IF IT COMES IN HIGHER, WHICH WE ARE HOPEFUL AND VERY CANDIDLY ANTICIPATING DUE TO THE ONE TIME REVENUE AND OTHER REVENUE THAT APPEARS TO BE DOING WELL AT YEAR END COMPARED TO WHAT WE ASSUMED, THEN THE $4.6 MILLION GETS SMALLER.
ALTHOUGH THE ESTIMATE IS STRONGER THAN PREVIOUS YEARS AND ANTICIPATING THAT IT MAY CAME IN A LITTLE HIGHER, WE WOULD ENCOURAGE RESTRAINT.
WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO ON THE 4.6 MILLION, AND FROM A BIGGER PICTURE PERSPECTIVE, WE STILL HAVE SOME CONCERNS AT ONGOING COSTS DO EXCEED THOSE LOCAL REVENUES.
WHAT THIS MEANS IS A HEAVY RELIANCE ON THE ANNUAL FUND BALANCE WHICH REQUIRES CONSTANT MANAGING THROUGH THE YEAR TO ENSURE ONE CONTINUES TO EXIST FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND ANY INCREASES IN THAT FUND BALANCE OR ONE TIME REVENUE BE USED TOWARDS RESERVES, INFRASTRUCTURE, OR ONE TIME ISSUES.
THIS IS A CRITICAL CONSIDERATION FOR YOU TO CONTINUE THE COUNTY'S CURRENT AND FISCAL FINANCIAL STABILITY.
REGARDING THE STATE BUDGET, ON JUNE 14TH, THE LEGISLATURE PASSED INITIAL EXPENDITURE MEASURES, WHICH FULFILL THEIR TECHNICAL REQUIREMENT TO PRESENT A STATE BUDGET TO THE GOVERNOR PRIOR TO THE JUNE 15TH CONSTITUTIONAL DEADLINE.
HOWEVER, THE MEASURES ARE ONLY A FRAMEWORK AND ARE MISSING MANY SPECIFICS.
THERE ARE ALSO CONTINUES TO BE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR ON WHAT THAT FINAL SPENDING PLAN LOOKS LIKE.
OTHERWISE, THERE ARE STILL MANY DETAILS THAT NEED TO BE CONSIDERED AND WE ANTICIPATE THEY'LL WORK ON DURING THE NEXT MONTH SO WE'LL BE WATCHING THE TRAILER BILLS CLOSELY.
AS IN THE PAST, YOUR PROPOSED BUDGET IS PRELIMINARY AND A WORK IN PROGRESS AT THIS POINT.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH DEPARTMENTS AND RECOMMEND FURTHER ADJUSTMENTS IN FINAL BUDGET TO BRING IT INTO BALANCE.
AT THIS POINT IT PROVIDES YOU AN OPERATING PLAN, TEMPORARY OPERATING PLAN UNTIL FINAL BUDGET ALLOWS YOU TO BEGIN TO OPERATE ON JULY 1ST AND PAY THE BILLS.
UNTIL THAT PICTURE IS CLEAR WITH YOUR YEAR END FUND BALANCE, WHERE DO REVENUES ACTUALLY END UP, AND WHAT ARE THE DETAILS ON THE STATE BUDGET? THIS TIME, WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO MR. MARONI AND MR. [INAUDIBLE] TO WALK THROUGH AN OVERVIEW.
BEFORE I GET STARTED, I'D LIKE TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY THANK YOU AND INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR TEAM HERE THAT WORKED WITH ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS TO PUT THIS PROPOSED BUDGET TOGETHER FOR YOU.
YOU'LL MEET MR. [INAUDIBLE] , OUR BUDGET MANAGER LATER IN THE PRESENTATION, BUT LINDSEY JOHNSON, AMBER PHILLIPS, NICOLE DESMOND, AND ADRIANA VALDEZ HAVE WORKED ON THIS BUDGET ALONGSIDE OF MANY COVID-RELATED TASKS THAT TYPICALLY WOULD NOT BE SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD DO ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.
THEY HAVE WORKED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENTS TO BRING THIS BUDGET TOGETHER FOR YOU, BUT HAVE ALSO WORKED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR MANY OF THE VACCINE CLINICS AND DIFFERENT EVENTS AND MARKETING AND ALL OF THOSE TYPES OF DIFFERENT ITEMS IN THE PANDEMIC RESPONSE.
THEY DID IT WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE COMMUNITY IN MIND AND WITHOUT EVER BAD, AND I'D LIKE TO JUST TAKE A MINUTE TO RECOGNIZE THEM.
THEN WE HAVE OTHERS ON OUR TEAM THAT ARE NOT WITH US TODAY THAT AREN'T SO TIED INTO THE BUDGET DIRECTLY, BUT WE ALL COME TOGETHER ON THAT, AND THAT'S OUR PIO MIKE NORTH, AND OUR GRANT WRITER PADDY TOSETI, AND THEN MARCY BARRERA [INAUDIBLE] IN OUR TEAM, AND ALEX PIERCE IS WITH OUR TEAM.
BEFORE I GOT STARTED, I JUST WANTED TO POINT THEM OUT AND SAY THANK YOU.
THE FIRST SLIDE THAT WE HAVE TODAY IS GOING TO BE OUR ACTUAL REVENUES VERSUS EXPENDITURES.
THIS GIVES YOU AN IDEA FROM '08, '09, WE'D LIKE TO COME BACK TO THAT TIME TO GIVE YOU THAT GREAT RECESSION PERSPECTIVE SO YOU CAN SEE THE CHANGES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE 2021 WE ARE STILL WRAPPING THAT UP THAT GOES THROUGH JUNE 30TH SO THAT YEAR IS NOT OVER SO THAT IS AN ESTIMATE AT THIS TIME.
WE ARE CURRENTLY PROJECTING THAT OUR REVENUES WILL EXCEED EXPENDITURES BY 6-7 MILLION.
CEO BROWN DID TOUCH ON THAT IN HIS OPENING COMMENTS.
WE ARE PROJECTING TO EXCEED BUDGET IN A FEW AREAS WHICH WE'LL GO OVER SHORTLY.
NEXT I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE CASH FLOW FOR THE GENERAL FUND.
WE ARE ESTIMATING AN INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR.
[01:10:01]
THAT'S WHERE THAT BLACK DOTTED LINE IS ESTIMATED GOING TO 97.8 MILLION FROM 91.3 MILLION.I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT A VARIETY OF FACTORS AFFECT THIS, WHICH YOUR FUND BALANCE, ENCUMBRANCES, RESERVES, AND OTHER NON SPENDABLE CASH.
ANY CHANGE IN ONE OF THOSE FOUR ELEMENTS CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON THIS FIGURE HERE.
AGAIN, THIS IS AN ESTIMATE AND WHEN WE COME BACK IN SEPTEMBER, WE WILL HAVE CLOSED OUT THAT YEAR.
THAT WILL BE A A SOLID LINE WHERE WE KNOW WHAT THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT IS AND THAT WILL HELP INFORM THE FINAL BUDGET PROCESS.
THE AVAILABLE FUND BALANCE AFTER RESERVES.
CEO BROWN MENTIONED 51.5 MILLION AND A 4.6 MILLION SHORTFALL.
IF YOU TAKE A LOOK HERE AGAIN, WE GO BACK FROM '08, '09 AND THIS PROJECTION OF OUR YEAR IN CASH FLOW, IT DOES ALLOW US TO ESTIMATE THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE.
WE ARE ESTIMATING AN INCREASE FROM PRIOR YEAR AT THE 55 OR 51.5 AND AT 4.6, THAT IS ONETIME FUNDING IN ORDER TO BALANCE THE BUDGET SO WHEN CEO BROWN MENTIONED THE 4.6 THAT'S WHERE THAT PLUGS IN THERE AND SO OUR FUND BALANCE IS CONTINUING TO MIRROR THE CASH FLOW AS SHOWN IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDES.
OUR LOCAL REVENUE TREND, THIS IS THE ANNUAL REVENUE TREND BACK FROM '08, '09.
YOU CAN SEE WE WERE AT 81.8 MILLION IN '08, '09.
YOU CAN SEE THE IMPACTS OF THE RECESSION AND THE SLOW CLIMB BACK TO ABOVE THAT POINT.
LAST YEAR WE WERE AT 99.9 MILLION.
FOR THIS BUDGET, WE USED A FIGURE OF 102.3, WHICH IS AN ESTIMATE AT THIS TIME AS LOCAL REVENUES STILL CONTINUE TO FINALIZE.
SO WE ARE PROJECTING AN UPWARD TREND THERE.
TO BREAK THAT DOWN, I'LL GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON HOW WE BUILT THE BUDGET OUT AND WHERE THOSE LOCAL REVENUES ARE BROKEN OUT BY THEIR VARIOUS COMPONENTS.
PROPERTY TAX AND PROPERTY TAX RELATED REVENUES, THOSE ARE YOUR FIRST TWO LINE ITEMS THERE.
WE HAVE PROJECTED UP BY TWO POINTS [INAUDIBLE] , SALES TAX UP TO 100 THOUSAND.
WE'RE MONITORING THIS AMOUNT AS THE ECONOMY CONTINUES TO OPEN UP AND BUSINESSES GET BACK TO THE NORMAL SWING OF THINGS.
WE ARE BUDGETING THAT FLAT AS WE'RE UNSURE OF MARKETS AT THIS TIME.
THEN THE CHARGES FOR SERVICE, WE HAVE REDUCED BY 200 THOUSAND.
THE OTHER TAXES DOWN AT THE BOTTOM, WE HAVE BUDGETED THOSE FLAT AND THAT WOULD BE OUR TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX AND OUR TRANSFER TAX.
THIS GRAPH HERE SHOWS THE TREND IN TOTAL LOCAL RESOURCES.
IT'S A COMPILATION OF THE SLIDES THAT I JUST WENT OVER THE 102.3 ON YOUR FAR RIGHT.
THAT IS THE PROJECTED REVENUE THAT WE JUST DISCUSSED, AS WELL AS THE FUND BALANCE WITH THAT $8 MILLION BEING HIGHLIGHTED THERE AS ONE-TIME COMPONENTS OF THE FUND BALANCE AND THEN THAT 4.6 MILLION BEING THE SHORTFALL THAT WE BROUGHT IN ONE TIME TO BALANCE THAT BUDGET WITH.
THE NEXT SLIDE HERE IS RESERVES FOR THE GENERAL FUND AND FIRE FUND, AND SO THIS AGAIN, WE'RE TAKING IT BACK TO THE '08, '09 TIMEFRAME.
IN 1819, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT YOUR BOARD BROUGHT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT BACK TO THE '08, '09 LEVEL OF $31.1 MILLION.
AT LAST YEAR'S FINAL BUDGET, YOUR BOARD SET A PRE-APPROVED A RESERVE POLICY THAT SET THE RESERVE WITHIN A RANGE OF 79 PERCENT OF THE AVERAGE GENERAL FUND REVENUES OF THE PRECEDING THREE YEARS.
IF YOU LOOK HERE, 31.1 PERCENT COMES OUT TO 31.1 MILLION.
LAST YEAR THAT SAME 31.1 MILLION WAS ABOUT 7.36 PERCENT.
AS REVENUES INCREASE, THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT BECOMES LESS OF THE PROPORTION.
JUST FOR POINT OF CLARITY, YOU'LL NOTICE ON THE 31.1 APPLYING THAT SAME RESERVE POLICY PERCENTAGE, THAT 31.1 MILLION WOULD'VE BEEN 10.19 PERCENT.
[01:15:02]
TO COMPARE THAT 10.19 PERCENT IN THIS YEAR WOULD EQUATE TO ABOUT 44.5 MILLION TO GIVE YOU THAT COMPARISON OF THE DIFFERENCE OVER TIME AND WHAT THOSE DOLLARS MEAN IN TODAY'S DOLLARS.IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, WE RECOMMEND LEAVING THE RESERVES AT THE CURRENT LEVEL.
THIS IS BASED ON REVENUE ESTIMATES AND WILL BE RE-EVALUATED FOR FINAL BUDGET.
YOU'LL SEE BELOW THE YELLOW LINE THAT IS THE FIRE FUND RESERVE AND WE'RE RECOMMENDING BUDGETING THAT FLAT.
IT'S COMPARED TO LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.
THE GENERAL FUND CONTINGENCY, THIS HAS BEEN INCREASED LAST YEAR FROM 7.5 TO $9.5 MILLION.
WE'RE RECOMMENDING TO KEEP IT AT THAT LEVEL FOR THIS YEAR GOING FORWARD.
THE SAME AMOUNT, BASICALLY, IT'S A HEALTHY GENERAL FUND CONTINGENCY AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD PLACE TO LEAVE IT THERE COMPARING IT TO LAST YEAR.
AT THIS POINT, I'M GOING TO STEP AWAY AND INVITE SCOTT DOCS, DEBTOR OUR BUDGET MANAGER TO GO OVER THE NEXT HANDFUL OF SLIDES WITH YOU. SCOTT.
>> GOOD MORNING BOARD. NOW, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A DEEPER DIVE INTO THE BUDGET.
YOU'LL SEE HERE THIS FIRST SLIDE IS AN OVERVIEW AND WE'LL GET DEEPER INTO IT.
TOTAL COUNTY BUDGET IS BUDGETED AT $752.3 MILLION, WHICH REPRESENTS $25.7 MILLION INCREASE OVER THE PRIOR YEAR.
YOUR GENERAL FUND IS BUDGETED AT 585 MILLION, WHICH REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF 37.1 MILLION.
DEPARTMENT DEDICATED REVENUE IS BUDGETED AT 426.6 MILLION, LEAVING AN ICONIC COST, OF 158.4 MILLION, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF $12.1 MILLION YEAR-OVER-YEAR.
WE'LL GET INTO THE MAKEUP OF WHAT THOSE DRIVING SOME OF THOSE INCREASES IN JUST A MOMENT.
YOUR NEXT SLIDE, [INAUDIBLE] BREAKDOWN THAT BUDGET INTO FUNCTIONAL AREAS.
THE FIRST PIE CHART TO THE LEFT THERE, REPRESENTS A TOTAL BUDGET 752.3 MILLION.
OF THAT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IS 370.4 MILLION OR 49 PERCENT OF THE OVERALL BUDGET.
MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY WIDE SERVICES AT 151.2 MILLION OR 20 PERCENT, LOCAL PUBLIC SAFETY AT 127.8 OR 17 PERCENT, AND SUPPORT SERVICES AND YOUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AT 102.9 OR 14 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL BUDGET.
YOUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET OF 585 MILLION IS COMPRISED OF 348.2 MILLION PER HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OR 60 PERCENT OF YEAR GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
47.8 MILLION FOR A MUNICIPAL COUNTY WIDE SERVICES AT EIGHT PERCENT, YOUR LOCAL PUBLIC SAFETY JUSTICE AT 127.8 OR 22 PERCENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES COUNTY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AT 61.3 MILLION OR 10 PERCENT OF YEAR GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
[NOISE] THIS NEXT SLIDE REPRESENTS THOSE FUNCTIONAL AREAS OF THE OVERALL BUDGET FOR THE PAST FOUR FISCAL YEARS.
YOU'LL NOTICE OUR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES INCREASE OF $16.8 MILLION.
THIS IS REALLY RELATED TO OUR HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY AND OUR BEHAVIOR HEALTH IN RECOVERY SERVICES HAVING INCREASES IN THEIR SERVICES.
MUNICIPAL COUNTY WIDE SERVICES ACTUALLY HAS A DECREASE OF 5.1 MILLION.
THIS IS DUE TO THE REDUCTION AND THE CAMPUS PARKWAY PROJECT WINDING DOWN.
I WILL SAY THAT THERE ARE SOME OFFSETTING INCREASES DUE TO THE BLACK RASCAL CREEK PROJECT, WHICH IS MOVING FORWARD.
PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUSTICE SYSTEM AN INCREASE OF $5.8 MILLION, OUR SUPPORT SERVICES CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AN INCREASE OF 8.3.
THIS IS REALLY RELATED TO CAPITAL PROJECTS AND THE JAIL PROJECT WHICH IS MOVING FORWARD.
[NOISE] THIS BUDGET OVERVIEW AGAIN, TOTAL BUDGET OF 752.3 MILLION, GENERAL FUND BUDGET OF 585.
THE OTHER FUNDS OF A 167.3 MILLION.
THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET OF 585 HAS DEPARTMENT DEDICATED REVENUES OF 426.6 MILLION,
[01:20:02]
WHICH IS 73 PERCENT.THEN THE NET COUNTY COST OF A 158.4 MILLION OR 27 PERCENT OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
THEN WE'LL TAKE THAT GENERAL FUND BUDGET IN THE NEXT SLIDE HERE AND BREAK THAT DOWN INTO THE FUNCTIONAL AREAS TO SHOW NET COUNTY COST BY FUNCTIONAL AREA.
OUR LOCAL PUBLIC SAFETY JUSTICE SYSTEM IS 82.4 MILLION OR 52 PERCENT OF YOUR NET COUNTY COST.
YOUR SUPPORT SERVICES, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PROGRAM, 46.4 OR 29 PERCENT.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, 6.3 OR 4 PERCENT.
MUNICIPAL COUNTY WIDE SERVICES AT 23.3 OR 15 PERCENT OF YOUR NET COUNTY COST.
[NOISE] THIS NEXT SLIDE IS A TABLE THAT REPRESENTS THOSE FUNCTIONAL AREAS IN THE NET COUNTY COST OVER THE LAST FEW FISCAL YEARS.
YOU CAN COMPARE AND SEE THE INCREASES.
LOCAL PUBLIC SAFETY HAS AN INCREASE OF 4.5 MILLION.
THESE INCREASES ARE REALLY RELATED TO JOE MEDICAL, FACILITY MAINTENANCE COSTS AND INCREASES IN SALARIES AND BENEFITS.
OUR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY HAS AN INCREASE.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, INCREASE OF 600,000 WHICH IS REALLY RELATED TO FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTIONS.
CASE LOADS IN OUR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY, OUR MUNICIPAL COUNTY WIDE SERVICES OF $4.6 MILLION INCREASE.
AGAIN, THIS IS THE BLACK RASCAL CREEK PROJECT THAT I SPOKE OF EARLIER.
WE HAVE SOME PLANNING IN THERE SET ASIDE FOR A MULTI-YEAR SOFTWARE SYSTEM.
SUPPORT SERVICES, CAPITALS PERMIT PROGRAM, AN INCREASE OF 2.4 MILLION.
AS YOU'RE WELL AWARE OF THIS YEAR FOR ELECTIONS, WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON.
WE'RE HAVING SOME INCREASES THERE FOR THE RECALL FOR SPECIAL ELECTIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING.
WE HAVE SOME INCREASES THERE IN OUR SUPPORT SERVICES AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
OUR NEXT SLIDE HERE, WE'LL GO THROUGH THE TOP 5 DEPARTMENTS WITH A NET COUNTY COST INCREASES.
THE FIRST BEING OUR DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND DIVISION OF CREEKS, $2.5 MILLION, AGAIN, THE BLACK RASCAL CREEK PROJECT THAT I SPOKE OF EARLIER.
THE NEXT BEING OUR OPERATING TRANSFERS, $1.8 MILLION.
AGAIN, THIS IS PLANNING FOR A MULTI-YEAR SET-ASIDE FOR SYSTEM SOFTWARE.
OUR NEXT INCREASE FOR SHARE OF CORRECTIONS, $1.6 MILLION.
THIS IS THE GEL MEDICAL THAT I SPOKE OF.
THE FACILITY MAINTENANCE AND THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS.
SHERIFF OPERATIONS IS AN INCREASE OF 1.2 MILLION.
REALLY THAT'S RELATED TO SALARIES AND BENEFIT INCREASES AS WELL.
THEN THE FIFTH AND FINAL ONE, ASSISTANCE TO THE NEEDY, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 800,000 WHICH IS OUR FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION CASELOAD THAT I SPOKE OF EARLIER.
THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS OUR COUNTYWIDE POSITIONS AND THEN ALSO OUR GENERAL FUND POSITIONS.
YOU'LL NOTICE IN YOUR PROPOSED BUDGET THERE ARE NO POSITIONS AT THIS TIME BEING RECOMMENDED TO MOVE FORWARD.
THE POSITION NUMBERS ARE FLAT.
I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT YOUR FISCAL YEAR 2021 POSITION COUNT INCLUDES ACTIONS THAT YOU BOARD HAS TAKEN DURING THE COURSE OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.
WE'VE ADDED A DISPATCHER AND DONE SOME THINGS AS YOU SPOKE HAVING THE MEETING EARLIER WITH YOUR CODE ENFORCEMENT AND THOSE POSITION CHANGES ARE REFLECTIVE IN YOUR 2021 POSITION NUMBERS.
THERE ARE NO POSITIONS BEING RECOMMENDED CHANGES AT THIS TIME FOR PROPOSED BUDGET.
WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK THE TIME BACK OVER TO MR. [INAUDIBLE].
>> THANK YOU. SAW OUR NEXT SLIDE IS A SERIES OF BUDGET ISSUES AND POINTS TO CONSIDER AS WE GO THROUGH THE BUDGETING PROCESS THROUGHOUT FINAL BUDGET.
I WANTED TO TAKE JUST A MOMENT TO WALK THROUGH SOME OF THESE ITEMS WITH YOU.
SOME OF WHICH HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE IN YEARS PASSES ARE ONGOING ITEMS. UNDER FISCAL STABILITY, THE RESERVES AND CONTINGENCIES.
NOW, WE DID MENTION THE RESERVE POLICY THAT YOUR BOARD ADOPTED LAST FINAL BUDGET
[01:25:05]
AND THAT WAS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PROPOSED BUDGET AS WILL IT BE DURING FINAL BUDGET.AS CEO BROWN MENTIONED THAT RESERVES WILL BE AN ITEM OF FOCUS FOR FINAL BUDGET.
IN THE FINAL BUDGET LAST YEAR AS WELL, YOUR BOARD ADOPTED A PENSION RATE STABILIZATION PROGRAM, AND THAT IS FACTORED IN, THAT DID BECOME OPERATIONALIZED DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR WHEN AFTER YOUR BOARD TOOK ACTION.
THAT'S AN ONGOING PROGRAM THAT WAS FACTORED IN AND AS PART OF THE FIGURES IN TODAY'S PROPOSED BUDGET.
THEN ONE TIME VERSUS ONGOING COSTS CEO BROWN DID MENTION IN HIS OPENING REMARKS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MONITORING THE ONETIME COSTS AND ONGOING COSTS AS WE DEVELOP THE BUDGET GOING FORWARD.
CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES UNDER PUBLIC SAFETY, WE DID HAVE ON JUNE 8TH, THE CONSULTANT CONTRACT THAT WAS APPROVED FOR WORKING THROUGH THE TIMELINES OF THE PHASE 2 OF THE JAIL PROJECT.
DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE REALIGNMENT, THAT ALONG WITH PRE-TRIAL RELEASE AND BAIL REFORM, YOUR STAFF IS CONTINUING TO MONITOR THOSE ITEMS, AS WELL AS SB 1869.
THAT WAS THE ITEM MENTIONED EARLIER TODAY FOR THE LAST ITEM BEFORE WE WENT TO BREAK WITH THE DECREASE OF REVENUES DUE TO THE ABILITY TO NOT COLLECT THOSE FEES.
THAT WAS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THROUGHOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUDGET, AS WELL AS THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF LOOKING AT THE SERVICES THAT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES.
FOR PROP 72 AND 2011 REALIGNMENT, WE'RE CONTINUING TO MONITOR THOSE AS WE DO EACH YEAR.
[NOISE] ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
HOW THE CALIFORNIA AUTO TESTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER, THAT IS ALWAYS A FOCAL POINT OF YOUR BOARDS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS AND ACTIVITIES.
THAT PROJECT AND PROGRAM CONTINUES TO MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
AS DIRECTOR HENDRICKSON, MANY MONTHS AGO, BROUGHT FORWARD A GREAT NEW PARTNERSHIP, AND THAT CONTINUES TO UNFOLD, AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES ON THE MID CALIFORNIA INTERNATIONAL TRADE DISTRICT.
WE SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT THE PERMITTING PROCESS, AND THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THAT, AS WELL AS SUBSTANDARD HOUSING AND CODE ENFORCEMENT BASED ON THE ACTIONS YOUR BOARD TOOK EARLIER TODAY, ALONG WITH ACTIONS YOU'VE TAKEN THROUGHOUT SOME OF THE LAST BOARD MEETINGS AS WELL.
THERE WILL STILL CONTINUE TO BE A FOCUS ON THAT.
THE ACTUAL OPERATIONALIZE THAT UNIT AND GET THAT GOING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
WATER BUDGET MANAGER, SCOTT DOCS [INAUDIBLE] DID MENTION THE BLACK RASCAL FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT.
THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AUTHORITY THAT WE CONTINUE TO KEEP AN EYE ON AND MONITOR THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET PROCESS.
THE NEXT SLIDE IS A CONTINUATION WITH INFRASTRUCTURE AND FACILITIES, ROADS.
WE CONTINUE WITH OUR SP1 AND MEASURE V-PROJECTS, CAPITAL, OR THE AME CAMPUS PARKWAY.
WE'RE CONTINUOUSLY LOOKING AT GRANT OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP THAT PROJECT MOVE ALONG.
CAPITAL PROJECTS, A STRONG FOCUS ON CAPITAL PROJECTS, CEO BROWN MENTIONED A FOCUS ON CAPITAL PROJECTS IN HIS OPENING REMARKS.
THEN THE COMMUNITY AND VETS HALLS.
WE HAD AN ACTION EARLIER TODAY, AND SO THERE IS ALWAYS THAT STRONG FOCUS ON THE PROGRESS OF THE UPGRADES TO THOSE COMMUNITY AND VET HALLS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, OUR STATE ALLOCATIONS AND 2011 REALIGNMENTS, SO WE ARE KEEPING AN EYE ON THAT.
AS CEO BROWN MENTIONED, THE STATE DID PASS THEIR BUDGET.
BUT THERE WILL BE QUITE A BIT OF A TRAILER BILLS COMING THROUGH TO REALLY ROUND THAT OUT, SO WE DO HAVE OUR EYE ON THAT AS WELL.
WE COULD SEE INCREASES FOR SOME PROGRAMS, SOME MAYBE NOT, SO WE ARE KEEPING AN EYE ON THAT AS THAT EVOLVES.
HOMELESS, WE ARE CONTINUING THOSE EFFORTS IN THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
WE DID LAUNCH THAT NEW POSITION HOUSED IN HSA TO TAKE A STRONG FOCUS WITH JOHN CHECKLEY, HAD A STRONG FOCUS ON BRINGING
[01:30:02]
THE HOMELESS AND RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND CONTINUING THAT FOCUS AND THOSE EFFORTS MOVING FORWARD.CONTINUING TO MONITOR THE STATE BUDGET FOR IHSS IMPACTS AS WELL AS THE CAL AIM ROLL-OUT IS THAT WE'LL HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND OUR HSA, AND SO WE'RE DEFINITELY KEEPING AN EYE ON THAT THERE.
MR. [INAUDIBLE] MENTIONED FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION.
WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN CASELOADS AS WELL AS THE COST PER CASE.
DIFFERENT LEVELS OF CASES REQUIRE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF REIMBURSEMENTS, AND THAT IS AN INCREASED COUNTY SHARE THAT WAS BUILT INTO THE BUDGET THIS YEAR SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THAT.
ADDITIONALLY, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, WE ARE AWAITING FINAL GUIDANCE RIGHT NOW.
THE INTERIM FINAL RULE IS OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT THROUGH JULY 16TH ALONG WITH THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS WERE RECENTLY RELEASED AS WE SIT ON WEBINARS AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT.
THERE ARE SOME CHANGES AND DIFFERENT DIFFERENCES OF OPINIONS.
WE ARE MONITORING THAT AS WE LOOK TO PUT THAT FRAMEWORK TOGETHER, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY FRAMEWORK THAT'S DEVELOPED IS WELL WITHIN THE GUIDELINES OF THE FUNDING SOURCE.
WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR REDISTRICTING.
AT OUR LAST MEETING, WE HAD A PRESENTATION ON REDISTRICTING AND THAT PROCESS HAS KICKED OFF, AND SO THAT WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE FISCAL YEAR.
MR. [INAUDIBLE] MENTIONED ELECTIONS, AND SO IT IS AN UNPRECEDENTED YEAR FOR ELECTIONS THIS YEAR.
WE'RE MONITORING THE FISCAL IMPACTS AND THE REVENUE STREAMS THERE.
CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE SPRING FAIR AS THE ECONOMY OPENS BACK UP, LOOKING AT HOW THE SPRING FAIR IS ABLE TO MAKE THAT RETURN TO NORMAL AS WELL AND GET BACK ON THEIR FEET AS THEY'RE ALLOWED TO BEGIN TO START HAVING ACTIVITIES THAT THEY WERE SO ACCUSTOMED TO IN THE PAST.
THE LIBRARY, WE HAD THE PILOT AND THE BOOKMOBILE.
THE BOOKMOBILE WILL GO LIVE THIS YEAR.
YOUR BOARD DID APPROVE A PILOT AND THEN COVID STRUCK.
IT IS HARD TO SAY IF THAT PILOT WAS EFFECTIVE WHEN SHORTLY AFTER IT WAS LAUNCHED, THE LIBRARY HAD TO EITHER SEVERELY LIMIT HOURS OR FOR A PERIOD OF TIME CLOSE ALTOGETHER, SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THAT AND THEN STAFFING.
WE ALWAYS HAVE AN EYE ON STAFFING AND HOW THAT AFFECTS OUR BUDGET GOING FORWARD.
WITH THAT, GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKED OUR BUDGET STAFF TO ALL STAND, PLEASE, TO BE RECOGNIZED.
IF ANY OF THE SUPERVISORS SNUCK IN TO DO A LITTLE WORK ON SUNDAYS, YOU WOULD SEE A LOT OF THESE FOLKS HERE AND LATE NIGHT.
I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DID.
I THINK ADRIANA IS PROBABLY THINKING, WHAT DID I SIGN UP FOR AT THIS POINT? [LAUGHTER] BUT NO, THANK YOU.
IT WAS VERY THOROUGH, VERY CHALLENGING, AND APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE. THANK YOU.
I DO KNOW CEO BROWN IS QUEUED UP ALREADY.
[BACKGROUND] DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SAY?
>> NO, AT THIS POINT, AS WE SAID, THIS IS A TEMPORARY OPERATING PLAN.
MANY OF THOSE ISSUES THAT MR. MARIANI JUST WORK THROUGH, SOME OF THEM ARE ISSUES THAT MAY OR MAY RAISE THEIR HEAD THIS YEAR.
SOME OF THEM ARE ISSUES THAT MAY LOOK FOR GUIDANCE FROM THE BOARD.
AS YOU KNOW AND FOR THE PUBLIC'S BENEFIT, THIS IS REALLY THE KICKOFF TO THE BUDGET PROCESS FOR YOU.
THIS IS PUTTING THE INFORMATION OUT THERE PUBLICLY.
THEN FROM A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE, REALITY IS THAT THE BOARD HISTORICALLY HAVE NOT WANTED TO FINALIZE A BUDGET TILL THEY KNOW WHAT'S THEIR YEAR IN CASH POSITION, WHAT THEIR REVENUES LOOK LIKE, AND WHERE IS THE STATE AT.
OTHERWISE, YOU COULD GO MAKE A MINI POLICY DECISIONS AND THAT COULD CHANGE.
THAT'S WHY FROM A COUNTY STRUCTURE, IT'S NORMALLY YOU FIND MOST COUNTIES WILL COME INTO THEIR FINAL BUDGETS IN REALLY SEPTEMBER IS BECAUSE OF WE ARE SO CONNECTED WITH THE STATE AND THINGS MOVE SO QUICKLY THAT UNTIL WE KNOW WHERE THEY'RE AT AND WHERE THAT YEAR IN FUND BALANCE IS, IT'S HARD FOR YOU PUT A POLICY DECISIONS IN PLACE UNTIL YOU KNOW THAT INFORMATION.
>> WITH THAT, I RECOGNIZE SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA BECAUSE HE HAS A COMMENT THAT IT IS VERY COMMON ON THIS DAY.
[01:35:03]
>> [INAUDIBLE] IN KEEPING WITH THE TRADITION OF MY PREDECESSOR, JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THIS IS STAFF AND THE CEO'S BUDGET.
IT DOESN'T BECOME THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS BUDGET UNTIL SEPTEMBER, SO THERE'S A LOT OF TIME THAT IT'S GOING TO GO ON BETWEEN THEM, BUT WE DO APPRECIATE THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO IN PRESENTING US YOUR GUISES BUDGET, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
BUT WITH THAT, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.
IF I COULD ASK YOU TO TURN BACK TO SLIDE 11, PLEASE.
I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT. THE FIRST BUDGET THAT I'VE BEEN SITTING IN THIS CHAIR I PRESIDED OVER WAS A $674 MILLION BUDGET.
THEN YOU LOOK AT LAST YEAR AND IT'S A $726.6 MILLION BUDGET, AND THEN THE PROPOSED BUDGET RIGHT NOW IS 752 MILLION.
IT'S A HUGE INCREASE OVER WHERE WE WERE JUST TWO SHORT YEARS AGO, BUT I WANT TO ALSO POINT YOU DOWN TO LOOK AT WHAT THE LOCAL REVENUES ARE.
REALLY, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THOSE LOCAL REVENUES, SITTING IN THIS BODY IS THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE DISCRETION OVER ON HOW IT GETS SPENT.
THEN YOU'D LOOK JUST RIGHT ABOVE THAT AT THE DEPARTMENT DEDICATED REVENUES, A LOT OF THAT FALLS IN OUR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ARENA.
YOU CAN SEE THE TREND THERE, THAT'S WHERE THE GROWTH HAS BEEN.
THOSE ARE MONIES THAT HAVE BEEN COMING IN FROM THE STATE.
THERE'S A BUNCH OF ADDITIONAL DOLLAR THAT CAME IN FOR COVID.
JUST EVEN IN OUR DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS THAT WE USE, WHETHER IT WOULD BE AN HSA OR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
THERE WAS AMENDMENTS THAT CAME BACK TO US TO APPROVE THAT JUST BECAUSE OF COVID AND THE NEW WAY OF DOING BUSINESS, THOSE CONTRACTORS WERE BEING PAID MORE TO HANDLE FOR THE ADDITIONAL PRECAUTIONS THAT NEEDED TO BE TAKEN BECAUSE OF COVID.
I GUESS WHERE I'M GOING WITH IS IT'S GREAT.
I REALLY DO WANT TO STRESS THE FACT THAT WE SPEND ONE TIME MONIES ON ONETIME THINGS, NOT ONGOING EXPENSES BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN AN UNPRECEDENTED TIME WHERE THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE JUST PUSHING MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF CASH EVERYWHERE.
MY GREAT-GRANDKIDS ARE STILL THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO BE ON THE HOOK FOR ALL THIS MONEY, BUT WE HAVE ALL THIS MONEY COMING IN.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AS FUTURE THINGS COMING UP IS THE RESCUE PLAN DOLLARS AND COMING UP WITH A PLAN ON THOSE, THAT'S [OVERLAPPING] $27 MILLION THAT'S COMING IN THIS YEAR AND AN ADDITIONAL 27 MILLION THAT COMES IN NEXT YEAR.
IT'S LIKE IT WILL AWE PEOPLE INTO A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY.
THE LOCAL REVENUES HAVE NOT GROWN BY THAT MUCH.
THAT IS STRICTLY MONEY THAT CAME IN FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THAT BEING SAID, ONE TIME MONEYS ON ONETIME THINGS.
WE NEED TO BE SMART ABOUT THE WAY THAT WE SPEND THE MONEY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME NOT FALL IN LOVE.
WE JUST GOT ALL THIS CASH SITTING AROUND, LET'S GO CRAZY.
THE OTHER THING I WANT TO POINT OUT IS THIS, I DO APPRECIATE THAT WE KEPT OUR RESERVE AT THE SAME, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE THE RESERVE GROW.
IF YOU GO BACK AND I WASN'T HERE BUT HAVING, WHAT PAGE WAS THAT ON, DAVID?
>> RIGHT THERE. YOU GO LOOK AT THE GREAT RECESSION THAT HAPPENED STARTING IN '08, '09, AND '9, '10.
LOOK AT HOW BIG OF A DROP THAT WAS FROM WHERE THEY WERE AND THAT WAS JUST HOLDING ON.
IT WAS TRYING TO KEEP FROM HAVING TO CUT IT.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT AND YOU LOOK AT IT, IT REPRESENTED A 10.19 PERCENT BACK IN '08, '09, AND THAT SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY REPRESENTS A LITTLE OVER SEVEN PERCENT TODAY.
AGAIN, I THINK THAT AS WE GO INTO FINAL BUDGET, I'M JUST SHARING ALL MY THOUGHTS ON ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE PROPOSED HERE, THAT NUMBER WE NEED TO GET OURSELVES TRAINED TO THE WORD.
THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO GO UP WITH WHAT OUR OVERALL BUDGET IS AND NOT JUST STAY STAGNANT THERE, BECAUSE THAT IS THE RAINY DAY FUND AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE SAID BEFORE.
AS SURE AS THE SUN COMES UP, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DOWNTURN IN THE ECONOMY AT SOME POINT.
IT'S, DO WE MAKE SMART DECISIONS NOW THAT PUT US IN A POSITION TO BE ABLE TO WEATHER THOSE STORMS? REALLY IN A PERFECT WORLD, WE GOT THAT 7-9 PERCENT IS OUR RANGE RIGHT THERE IS CONTINUE WITH THAT 31.1 MILLION REPRESENTED LAST YEAR, AND YOU SAID THE NUMBER 7.33.
>> STICK WITH THAT, AND LET'S SEE WHAT THAT NUMBER GOES UP TO BECAUSE WE DO HAVE TO SAVE FOR A RAINY DAY.
THEN IF WE CAN GO BACK TO THE SECOND TO LAST PAGE, I JUST WANT TO DISCUSS A COUPLE OF.
ISSUES. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BUDGET ISSUES, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE FACING US AS A BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND ULTIMATELY OUR BOSSES, THE CONSTITUENTS.
CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, FOLKS, WE HAD A GRANT
[01:40:02]
TO DO A REMODEL OR BUILD NEW FACILITY OUT OF THE JOHN LATORRACA CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.BY THE TIME WE GET THROUGH THE PROCESS, WHAT WAS A $40 MILLION GRANT THAT WOULD HAVE BUILT US EVERYTHING WE NEEDED, TODAY IT COSTS 65 MILLION IF YOU WANT TO BUILD THE SAME PROJECT.
AT SOME POINT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS, THAT WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO BITE THE BULLET AND GET THESE THINGS DONE.
THEY'RE NOT GETTING ANY CHEAPER, AND SO THAT'S HUGE.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FIRE STAFFING, I KNOW THIS TO BE A FACT, WE ARE THE LAST CONTRACT WITH CAL FIRE THAT HAS 10 STAFFING.
VOLUNTEERISM IS NOT THAT IT DOESN'T EXIST, IT'S JUST THAT ALL THE RULES HAVE CHANGED.
TO BECOME A VOLUNTEER FIREMAN TODAY, YOU HAVE TO BE TRAINED TO THE LEVEL OF WHAT A PAID FIREMEN IS.
IT'S A TREMENDOUS ASK ON PEOPLE WHO ALREADY ARE BUSY IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
WHEN I WAS A VOLUNTEER FIREMAN, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY ASPIRATIONS OF MAKING A CAREER OUT OF IT, IT'S JUST SOMETHING I WANTED TO DO TO GIVE BACK TO MY COMMUNITY.
I WAS GRANDFATHERED IN ALONG THE WAY BUT THESE NEW GUYS, YOU GET TO ME, THEY'RE PUTTING IN 250, 300 HOURS OF TRAINING BEFORE THEY EVER GO ON A CALL AND IF YOU'RE NOT LOOKING TO MAKE A CAREER OF IT, IT'S A HUGE ASK.
WE'VE GOT TO GET TO A POSITION TO WHERE WE ARE REALLY LOOKING AT, HOW DO WE GET TO 20 STAFFING IN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND THEN OUR AGING FACILITIES WITHIN FIRE.
I THINK NEEDS TO BECOME A PRIORITY, BECAUSE AGAIN, THE LONGER WE WAIT, THE MORE IT'S GOING TO COST.
I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM IN PLACE WITH FIRE RIGHT NOW WITH WHICH CHIEF [INAUDIBLE] AND HIS STAFF AND PAYMENT TAIL.
LET'S HAVE THE HARD DISCUSSIONS ON HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THERE AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO ACHIEVE IT.
I DON'T THINK THAT GETTING THERE AND ACHIEVING IT IS GOING TO BE DONE THE WAY THAT WE MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO GET DONE 20 YEARS AGO OR EVEN 10 YEARS AGO.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME UP WITH CREATIVE SOLUTIONS ON HOW WE GET THERE.
I DEFINITELY HAVE SOME IDEAS THAT I DIDN'T COME UP WITH THAT I TALKED TO OTHER FOLKS AND THAT WILL HELP US TRY TO ACHIEVE THAT.
ULTIMATELY, WHEN WE LOOK AT SERVICES IN GOVERNMENT, WE HAVE TO GET TO A MINDSET AND A PLACE WHERE WE START THINKING ABOUT NOT DUPLICATING SERVICES, HOW DO WE NOT DUPLICATE SERVICES? TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE, 20 YEARS AGO, YOU COULD HAVE BOUGHT A FIRE CHECK FOR $350,000.
THAT SAME FIRE TRUCK TODAY COST YOU $750,000.
IT COSTS US ADDITIONAL MONEY TO HAVE EMPLOYEES, AN EMPLOYEE 20 YEARS AGO COSTS A LOT LESS THAN IT DOES TODAY.
HOW DO WE GET TO A PLACE WHERE WE'RE NOT DUPLICATING THOSE SERVICES AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY PART OF THE SOLUTION? AGAIN, THE PERMITTING PROCESS, THE ONE-STOP SHOP, MOVING THOSE THINGS, WE'VE ALL TALKED ABOUT THEM.
OUR JOB NOW IS TO SUPPORT THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE AS GOOD AS WE THINK THEY ARE.
WHATEVER THAT TAKES, AT LEAST YOU HAVE A COMMITMENT FOR ME THAT I WANT TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS THAT'S GOING TO GIVE HENDRICKSON AND HIS DEPARTMENT THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL TO SEE THIS ONE-STOP SHOP THROUGH, BECAUSE THEY THINK IT PAYS DIVIDENDS FOR US ON THE LONG RUN WHEN WE HAVE HAPPIER CUSTOMERS, PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME AND DO BUSINESS WITH MERCED COUNTY, AND WANT TO EXPAND THEIR BUSINESSES AND POTENTIALLY BRING NEW BUSINESSES HERE.
ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO ON THAT, AT LEAST FROM MY END, I THINK THAT IT HAS TO BE A PRIORITY.
AGAIN, INFRASTRUCTURE AND FACILITIES, WHICH IS ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
I JUST WANT TO BRIEFLY SHARE IT.
THE CAPITAL PROJECTS, OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND VETERANS HALLS, WE'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB.
WELL, I KNOW THAT MONEY HAS BEEN SET ASIDE.
THERE'S A PLAN IN PLACE THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MANY FACILITIES THAT WE OWN AS A COUNTY AND REALLY TRYING TO MAKE HEADWAY INTO, IT'S NOT JUST FIXING THE AIR CONDITIONERS ANYMORE, NOW WE HAVE ADA COMPLIANCE ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO COME UP WITH.
AGAIN, THOSE THINGS WE STILL NEED TO KEEP SUPPORTING AND MOVING THOSE FORWARD.
ONE TIME MONEY ON ONETIME THINGS, THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE SPENDING ANY KIND OF EXTRA STUFF THAT WE CAN FIND.
THEN AS YOU GUYS ALL KNOW, I'M A BIG SUPPORTER OF SPRING FAIR.
I APPRECIATE THAT SPRING FAIR IS BEING BUILT INTO THIS BUDGET.
THE ABILITY FOR THEM TO RAISE MONEY WAS NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, WAS TAKEN AWAY FOR TWO YEARS.
I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES AND THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THE SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE.
WE'VE DONE SOME CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS OVER THERE.
WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE COVID TIME OFF, IF YOU WILL, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO DO SOME PRETTY BIG CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS OVER THERE, AND THERE'S STILL A FEW MORE THAT ARE ON THE BOOKS.
SPECIFICALLY, I WANT TO THANK LINDSAY AND MERCY, STEPPING INTO THAT ROLE AND REALLY HELPING SPRING FAIR GET THERE.
THEN THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, I KNOW THAT WE'RE STILL WORKING ON GUIDANCE ON THAT, BUT LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND REDISTRICTING.
I KNOW THERE WAS SOME COMMENTS MADE EARLIER, BUT SINCE IT'S HERE,
[01:45:01]
THERE'S GOING TO BE DOLLARS ASSOCIATED WITH ALL THE STUFF WE NEED TO DO.I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO THINK THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PLAY ANY GAMES HERE BECAUSE OF COVID, BECAUSE ALL THE INFORMATION IS GETTING RELEASED LATE TO US, I GET IT.
WELL, WHY ARE YOU HAVING A MEETING AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE.
WELL, IN ORDER TO MEET THE TIMELINE, THE VERY SHORT TIMELINE ON WHEN WE HAVE TO HAVE ALL THIS DONE, WE GOT TO PRESET THE TABLE A LITTLE BIT.
WE GOT TO BE ABLE TO LET FOLKS KNOW, HEY, THIS IS WHAT'S COMING.
THEN WHEN WE DO ACTUALLY GET THE NUMBERS, WE'RE GOING TO MAYBE TAKE AWAY SOME OF THE LEARNING CURVE AND BE ABLE TO REALLY HIT THE GROUND RUNNING TO REALLY DO A REDISTRICTING PROCESS THAT NORMALLY YOU GET A GOOD YEAR TO DO JIM, MAYBE IT MAYBE A LITTLE LESS THAN THAT, TO WHERE WE'RE DOING IT DOWN IN A SHORT FEW MONTHS.
THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT AND IF THE FOLKS FROM LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA WOMEN VOTERS, IF THEY WANT TO REACH OUT, I'M SURE THAT WE CAN GIVE THEM ANY INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED.
THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I'LL TALK ABOUT THE ELECTIONS PIECE.
IT'S JUST CRAZY, I DO FEEL FOR OUR NEW REGISTER OF VOTERS.
SHE'S GOING TO EXPERIENCE IT IS LIKE A WHOLE FOUR YEARS WORTH OF ELECTIONS IN A FEW SHORT MONTHS IS BASICALLY WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO.
YOU HAVE THE RECALL ELECTION, WHICH I'M GUESSING IS GETTING NOW MOVED UP BECAUSE GOV'S NUMBERS ARE LOOKING BETTER, SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THAT UP.
WE HAVE RECALL ELECTIONS THAT ARE GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND THAT'S NOT JUST UNIQUE TO OUR COUNTY, THAT'S ALL OVER THE PLACE.
THEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, AND THEN NEXT TUNE WE ALREADY SAID WE START THE PROCESS AGAIN FOR THE PRIMARIES, AND THEN NEXT A YEAR FROM THIS NOVEMBER COMING UP, WE'RE RIGHT BACK INTO THE GENERAL ELECTION OR GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION.
THERE'S GOING TO BE DOLLARS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
I HOPE OUR FRIENDS IN SACRAMENTO PAYING ATTENTION AND REALLY I THINK THAT THEY SHOULD BE THE RECALL ELECTION, THEY SHOULD BE REIMBURSING THE COUNTIES FULLY FOR THOSE EXPENSES.
THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR?
>> THANK YOU SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
>> REALLY QUICK ONE THING, I DO WANT TO MENTION ALL OF THE BUDGET STAFF.
I SEE THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO.
YOU GUYS LIVE, BREATHE AND SLEEP THESE NUMBERS.
I DO ENJOY GOING OVER THERE AND VISITING ONCE IN A WHILE.
I LIKED IT WHEN YOU GUYS WERE DOWN THE HALL OVER HERE.
I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE BIT TIGHT BUT IT WAS EASIER FOR ME TO GET OVER THERE.
BUT THESE ARE THE FOLKS THAT PUT ALL THESE NUMBERS TOGETHER AND THE PRESENTATION THAT YOU SEE RIGHT NOW, IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ONE OF THE COUNTY'S BUDGET BOOKS THEY'RE THAT THICK.
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT PLUGGING IN ALL THOSE NUMBERS.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU, SCOTT, EVERYBODY FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
THIS IS THE FIRST HURDLE AND THEN WE WILL GET OVER THAT AND, THEN WE'LL GET THIS WHOLE THING WRAPPED UP BY SEPTEMBER.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
ONE LITTLE ITEM THAT YOU SAID I JUST LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ON, IS THOSE MONIES THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE MANDATED.
IT MIGHT LOOK BIG AS A SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY SIX MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET LED TO UNDERSTAND.
IN COMPARISON, THE WEALTHIEST COUNTY IN THE COUNTRY IS MARIN COUNTY.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE BUDGET, OUR BUDGET IS VERY SIMILAR TO MARIN COUNTY, EXCEPT YOU JUST HAVE TO FLIP IT OVER THE OPPOSITE WAY.
ALL THEIR TAX DOLLARS GENERATED IS 80 PERCENT OF THEIR BUDGET AND 20 PERCENT THAT THEY GETTING FROM THE STATE.
THEY HAVE A LOT MORE FREEDOM TO SPEND THE MONEY THE WAY THEY INTEND TO, WHEREAS WE ALREADY HAVE A MANDATE ON US.
SUPERVISOR PEDROZO, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU. BY THE WAY, WHERE WAS THAT TIMER FOR SCOTTY, I'M JUST CHECKING [LAUGHTER].
NO. A LOT OF WHAT SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SAID, I AGREE WITH AND BEING THAT THIS IS MY FIRST BUDGET WITH THE COUNTY.
I WANT TO THANK ALSO THE BUDGET STAFF.
I KNOW I'VE GONE OVER THIS BUDGET MULTIPLE TIMES AND I REALLY THANK EVERYBODY FOR HELPING ME, EVEN IN HOW DUMB MY QUESTIONS MIGHT BE, YOU TOOK THE TIME TO ANSWER THEM AND REALLY GO STEP-BY-STEP.
BEING ELECTED DURING UNPRECEDENTED TIMES IN WEATHERING THE PROVERBIAL STORM BUDGET WISE, IS NOT EASY, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THE CONSERVATIVE APPROACH OF THE BUDGET PROCESS THAT WE HAVE.
IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT WE HAVE A GREAT BUDGET TEAM.
AGAIN, I AGREE WITH SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA THAT ONETIME COSTS AND ONE TIME EXPENSES THAT ARE JUST THAT AND WE HAVE TO BE STRATEGIC WITH THOSE FUNDS, BUT ALSO CONTINUE TO GROW OUR RESERVES.
I THINK LIKE SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SAID, WE ARE GOING TO FACE SOMETHING AGAIN, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF WHEN AND IF WE HAVE THOSE RESERVES TO COUNT ON.
AGAIN, FIRE STAFFING IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ASPECT OF IT.
[01:50:04]
THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, ESPECIALLY OUR PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES, IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES ARE SAFE, WHO ARE PROVIDING THE SAFETY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.BUT AGAIN, I REALLY WANT TO THANK THE BUDGET TEAM FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AND I KNOW HOW HARD YOU GUYS WORK ON THIS.
IT CAN'T BE EASY WHEN YOU ARE TAKING DIRECTION FROM A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE, BUT IT'S VERY MUCH APPRECIATED ON MY END. THANK YOU.
SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
>> [NOISE] EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU, SIR.
WELL, I JUST WANT TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW, I GUESS I'LL ASK FOR THE COO IF THE BOOK OR THEY FILE OFF THE BUDGET IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, ANYBODY CAN COME IN AND ASK FOR A COPY OR ANY INFORMATION WHETHER ABOUT THE BUDGET.
ANY MEMBER, MY CONSTITUENTS IN THE DISTRICT THEY WANT TO COME AND ASK ME A QUESTION ABOUT CERTAIN SOMETHING.
IF I CAN ANSWER IT, I'LL BE GLAD TO MAYBE SIT DOWN ONE OF OUR WONDERFUL STAFF AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS , WHAT FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE OR WHAT PROJECTS ARE GOING ON IN MY DISTRICT OR IN ANOTHER DISTRICTS.
SO I'LL LET YOU KNOW THAT THE [INAUDIBLE] I'M ALWAYS AVAILABLE.
MY CELL NUMBERS IS UNDER THE WEBSITE.
SO GIVE ME A CALL AND I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE BUDGET AND THANK YOU FOR THE BUDGETING FOR DOING A GOOD JOB. THANK YOU.
>> REMINDER, OUR CELL PHONES WE PAY FOR OURSELVES, NOT WE SUPERVISOR? [LAUGHTER] SUPERVISOR LLOYD PAREIRA. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I THINK MY COLLEAGUES HAVE STATED A LOT OF THE POINTS, AND SO I WON'T REHASH THOSE.
ONE ITEM THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE IS ON THE LAST SLIDE WITH BUDGET ISSUES, UNDER WATER, WOULD BE THE GSAS.
WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WIDE AREAS AND THOSE COSTS ARE CHANGING AND THAT WE'RE AWARE OF THAT AND THAT YOU'RE KEEPING US AND MY COLLEAGUES AWARE OF THAT AS TIME GOES ON.
THEN EARLIER, WE HAD A PUBLIC COMMENT.
I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY CALLS REGARDING THE BUDGET FROM CONSTITUENTS.
I THINK THAT PEOPLE ELECT US BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN WHAT WE BELIEVE AND THEY WANT US TO ADVOCATE ON THEIR BEHALF.
HOWEVER, I WANT TO OPEN THE INVITATION UP; IF SOMEBODY HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET, FEEL FREE TO CALL OR EMAIL ME, AND IF I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER, I WILL GET IT AND CHANCES ARE, IT'LL TAKE ME SOME TIME TO GET AN ANSWER.
THE CITIZENS THAT ARE WATCHING THE MEETING, WE'RE VERY TRANSPARENT.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE TALKED TO ABOUT THE BUDGET, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND ANY OF IT.
I JUST HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY INPUT OUTSIDE OF A FEW QUESTIONS.
THEN THOSE QUESTIONS ACTUALLY JUST COME FROM PEOPLE I INTERACT.
VERY FEW PEOPLE REACH OUT AND ASK ABOUT THE BUDGET.
IT JUST BOTHERS ME SOMETIMES THAT PEOPLE QUESTION WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE PROCESS WHEN I THINK WE HAVE PUBLIC MEETINGS AND I THINK WE DO A GREAT JOB OF TRYING TO EXPLAIN THINGS TO THE CONSTITUENTS.
I GUESS IN A WAY, I WANT TO DEFEND STAFF WITH THAT AND THAT I THINK THEY DO A GREAT JOB, AND I'VE NEVER HEARD STAFF EVER NOT BE WILLING TO ANSWER A QUESTION, SO, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I KNOW THIS TAKES A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY.
ANYWAYS, I JUST APPRECIATE OUR BUDGET STAFF AND THE REST OF THE STAFF.
ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THEIR STAFFS, ALL PUT A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY INTO THIS AS WELL.
THEY'RE ASKED TO JUSTIFY WHERE THEY'RE AT AND THEY'RE ASKED TO JUSTIFY WHERE THEY WANT TO GET TO AND I THINK THEY ALL TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY, AND THEN THAT MAKES OUR BUDGET STAFF'S JOB EASIER AND OUR CEO JOB EASIER.
SO THANK YOU, ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND YOUR STAFFS AS WELL. THAT IS IT.
IF I GET UP HERE, I'VE USED REPEAT IN A RECORD LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
THIS IS VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE.
ONE THING I'D LIKE TO LOOK AT, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE PLACE TO BRING IT UP, BUT OUR VETERAN SERVICE OFFICE; I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT OFFICE AND WE'VE LOST THREE FANTASTIC VSOS, VETERAN SERVICE OFFICERS, TO THAT POSITION.
[01:55:03]
ONE, WE PLUCKED AND [LAUGHTER] PROMOTED, BUT THE ABILITY WE JUST LOST RALPH AS WELL.THEY'RE GETTING HIGHER-PAID JOBS ELSEWHERE.
RICKY PAL WHO WHO DID A FANTASTIC JOB AND ACTUALLY REVAMPED THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT FOR OUR VETERAN SERVICES.
I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT DEPARTMENT AND FOCUS ON, BECAUSE WE'VE LOST THREE REALLY GOOD ONES.
EVEN THE ASSISTANTS TO THEM HAVE TAKEN ON VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER POSITIONS IN OTHER COUNTIES AND GOT PAID A LOT MORE MONEY.
THAT'S WHY WE LOST THEM. THEY DID WANT TO STAY HERE IN MERCED COUNTY, THEY UNDERSTAND THE VETERANS WE HAVE HERE WITH A FORMER AIR FORCE BASE.
I'D LIKE FOR US TO FOCUS ON THAT AND SEE WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO RETAIN OUR GOOD FOLKS AND GET THEM IN THERE.
IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, WE ONLY HAVE ONE VETERAN IN THERE WORKING RIGHT NOW.
I THINK WE NEED TO EXPAND THAT AND FIGURE OUT WHAT OUR SHORTFALL IS, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S ONE THING WE'VE BEEN VERY GOOD AT, IS SERVICING OUR VETERANS, AND I DON'T WANT TO LOSE THAT AT THAT.
I'M NOT SAYING WE'RE NOT SERVICING AT NOW, BUT AT THIS POINT, AS WE KNOW A VETERAN LIKES TO TALK TO A VETERAN, SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN IN THE TRENCHES AS WELL TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THAT.
I TOO, I PUSHED FOR THE POLICY ON THE RESERVE LAST TIME AND I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY SUPPORTING THAT.
I DO SEE THE NEED WHEN WE SEE THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE IN THE EXPANSION THAT WE HAVE OF OUR BUDGET.
AT THIS POINT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT AND SEE IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN EXPAND THAT AS WELL.
SCOTT COVERS THE BASE FOR US AND THERE'S REALLY NOT A LOT WE CAN SAY AFTER THAT.
I CAN'T SAY THAT HE WAS WRONG ON ANYTHING THAT HE SAID, SO, I'M NOT GOING TO ARGUE WITH THEM.
[LAUGHTER] WITH THAT, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? YES. SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
>> YEAH, THANK YOU. [NOISE] EXCUSE ME.
I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THE PERCENTAGE OF THE TOT TAX IS, TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX.
>> THE PERCENTAGES IS AT A 10 PERCENT RATE.
>> I KNOW A LOT OF CITIES WHERE YOU TRAVEL IS 12, 13, 15, AND SO, USUALLY THE TAX IS PAID BY PASSERS BY, SO WHO AM I MAY ENTERTAINING IN INCREASING THAT TO 12, 13 IN THE FUTURE.
LIKE I SAID EVERYTHING IS SO HIGH, BUT MOST OF THE TAXES, SANTA NELLA HAS ALLOWED THE HOTELS IN OKINAWA, SO MAYBE WE CAN LOOK AT THAT IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WE'LL HAVE TO TAKE THAT TO THE BALLOT TO INCREASE THAT.
BUT THANK YOU SUPERVISOR FOR THAT.
I AGREE A LOT WITH THAT BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF IMPACT FROM THOSE FOLKS.
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK NOW THAT IT'S OPENING UP AND WE GET A LOT OF THOSE FOLKS COMING THROUGH THERE AS OUR FINE YARDS SYSTEM TRACKS THEM TO START HERE ON THEIR WAY UP.
WITH THAT, I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR ANYBODY IN THE QUEUE.
ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY, OR DO WE GET TO BRING IT UP AND DO IT THIS WAY? [BACKGROUND] OH, I ALREADY HAVE A MOTION, IMAGINE THAT.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
HE HAS THE HIDDEN BUTTON OVER THERE, I SWEAR TO GOD.
[BACKGROUND] SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, ARE THERE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS? SEEING NONE. LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.
SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
>> THIS IS QUITE A LARGE ACTION THAT WE'RE TAKING HERE.
I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS ALSO SCHEDULES THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE APPROPRIATIONS LIMIT ON SEPTEMBER 22ND.
THEN ALSO FOR OUR PROPOSED BUDGET WILL BECOME FINAL ON SEPTEMBER 22ND, AS WELL AS AS THERE IS A LIST OF PROJECTS THAT WILL BE DEEMED READY TO GO, IF YOU WILL.
ONCE WE PASS THIS, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY START GETTING SOME OF THE WORK, SO, IT WON'T KEEP OUR PROGRESS ON SOME OF OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL WE PASS THE SEPTEMBER FINAL BUDGET FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
THEY'LL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DO THE GOOD WORK IN THE MONTHS THAT ALLOW FOR IT.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE A FIRST AND THE SECOND ALREADY UP THERE.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND OFFICIALLY CALL FOR THE VOTE. SUSPENSE.
CONGRATULATIONS, GREAT WORK STAFF.
[02:00:04]
>> THANK YOU. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND START TO MY LEFT.
[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION]
[INAUDIBLE] [BACKGROUND]>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. ONE THING I WANT TO START OUT WITH IS NUMBER 1, IT'S NICE SEEING PEOPLE WITHOUT THEIR MASKS ON.
ACTUALLY, SOME OF THE SECURITY GUARDS DOWN AT THE FRONT ARE JUST LIKE, "WOW, YOU LOOK DIFFERENT WITHOUT A MASK." BECAUSE SOME OF OUR NEWER EMPLOYEES HAVE NEVER SEEN ME WITHOUT A MASK.
I HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING THE RCRC CONFERENCE IN MONO COUNTY LAST WEEK WITH A FEW OF MY COLLEAGUES.
GENN WAS NICE BEING ABLE TO JUST GO AND SEE PEOPLE IN PERSON.
SEEING A LOT OF THESE FOLKS ON ZOOM FOR DIFFERENT MEETINGS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THAT WAS VERY NICE.
WE HAD A REALLY GOOD CONVERSATION WITH THE SECRETARY OF NATURAL RESOURCES, WADE CROWFOOT.
HOPEFULLY THAT'LL BEAR SOME FRUIT WITH THIS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR BLACK RASCAL CREEK PROJECT WITH HIM.
BUT ALWAYS THOSE CONFERENCES, THE INSIGHT THAT YOU GAIN.
WE DO THE IMPORTANT WORK OF HAVING THE REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING.
BUT IT'S MAKING THOSE CONNECTIONS WITH OTHER SUPERVISORS AND TALKING ABOUT ISSUES THAT DO YOU HAVE IN COMMON WITH EACH OTHER AND TRYING TO NOT REINVENT THE WHEEL.
DO WANT TO REPORT THAT OUT TO MY CONSTITUENTS THAT I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND ON BEHALF OF THEM.
THEN, TODAY'S IT'S BEEN A ROUGH COUPLE OF WEEKS FOR OUR FAMILY HERE AT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OFFICE.
I DO WANT TO ADJOURN TODAY'S MEETING IN MEMORY OF MY GOOD FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT 3 'S MOTHER, MEREDITH MCDANIEL, WHO PASSED AWAY ON JUNE THE 9TH UNEXPECTEDLY.
THAT WAS A BIG LOSS FOR ALL OF US, AND ESPECIALLY FOR MY COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND BECAUSE I DO KNOW HOW CLOSE HE WAS WITH HIS MOTHER.
THEN I WILL JUST SHARE MY QUICK STORY BECAUSE I ACTUALLY GOT TO MEET HER ONE TIME.
IT WAS HERE IN THE COUNTY BUILDING AND I DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT WAS DARON MOM.
SHE WAS GETTING HER PASSPORT BECAUSE, I THINK SHE WAS MAYBE POTENTIALLY GOING TO PLAN ON DOING SOME TRAVELING.
I WALKED DOWN THE HALLWAY AND HE DOESN'T SAY IT'S HIS MOMMY JUST SAID TO HER, "I WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MY COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT 5." HE SAID, "IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS, THIS IS THE GUY YOU NEED TO TALK TO." WITHOUT MISSING A BEAT, SHE'S LIKE, "OH YOU'RE JUST THE GUY I NEED TO TALK TO." I'M ALL OF A SUDDEN I'M THINKING, "OH CRAP, WHAT DID I DO?" I FEEL LIKE I KNOW MY DISTRICT PRETTY WELL BUT I WAS LIKE, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
THEN IMMEDIATELY WE STARTED LAUGHING.
BUT A VERY SWEET LADY AND DARING.
WE HAVE CHATTED THROUGHOUT THIS.
OUR EXTENDED FAMILY OUTSIDE OF JUST OUR COLLEAGUES HERE.
BUT EVEN LIKE WHEN WE'RE AT RCRC, WHICH DARON WAS THE PAST CHAIR OF THAT.
JUST THE CONDOLENCES THAT THEY ALL PASSED ALONG TO ME TO PASS ALONG TO YOU.
WE'RE HERE FOR YOU. IT IS A CHALLENGING TIME.
I AM A BIG BELIEVER IN THAT IT DIDN'T EVER GETS EASIER, BUT TIME DOES HEAL ALL WOUNDS. WE'RE HERE FOR YOU.
BUT AGAIN, WANT TO ADJOURN TODAY'S MEETING IN HONOR OF MEREDITH MCDANIEL MY GOOD FRIEND'S MOTHER. THANKS BUDDY.
>> I TOO WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN TODAY'S MEETING IN MEMORY OF DARON'S MOM.
I ONLY MET HER ONE TIME AS WELL AND DARON AND I WERE TOGETHER AND HIS MOM CALLED AND SHE NEEDED SOME HELP AND SO WE STOPPED BY HER HOUSE AND DARON WAS JUST LIKE ANY SON HE'S OKAY, YOU KNOWN HE'S BUSY AND WE'RE BUSY, BUT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE TIME AND WE STOPPED IN AND HE HELPED HER.
ANYWAYS, MY MOM PASSED AWAY 26 YEARS AGO.
YOUR MOM PASSED AWAY HAS BROUGHT UP MY OWN EMOTIONS.
LIKE SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SAID, TIME HELPS.
BUT ANYWAY, THE THING THAT I'LL SAY IS THAT AND WATCHING YOU INTERACT WITH YOUR MOM YOU WERE A GREAT SON AND IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT SHE APPRECIATED YOU.
FOREVER MORE YOU CAN KNOW THAT.
I THINK THAT WE'RE HERE ON THE LIFE AND WE DO A LOT OF THINGS AND WE COME UP HERE AND WE VOTE AND WE DO THINGS, BUT ULTIMATELY THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE HAVE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT.
OUR FAMILIES, OF COURSE FIRST AND THEN OUR FRIENDS AND CO-WORKERS.
ANYWAYS, EVERYBODY THAT I KNOW THAT KNOWS DARON APPRECIATE HIM.
[02:05:03]
LIKE SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SAID WE'RE OVER AT RCRC CONFERENCE AND EVERYBODY THAT I TALKED TO ASKED HOW YOU WERE DOING.WHEN I TOLD THEM THAT YOU ARE DOING AS WELL AS COULD BE EXPECTED, WHICH I THINK IS HOW YOU WOULD HAVE ANSWERED HIM IF YOU WERE THERE AND JUST THE LOVE THAT YOU HAVE AROUND THE STATE IS PRETTY AWESOME.
THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT CHIEF PIMENTEL ALSO GOT A CALL AND WE HAD TO WALK OUT.
BUT LAST NIGHT WE HAD AN EVENT IN SNELLING.
THERE'S A FELLOW NAMED GEORGE NORMAN THAT'S IN HIS MID 90S.
HE WAS ACTUALLY A COUNTY FIREMEN AND RETIRED IN 1989.
[LAUGHTER] IF YOU COULD IMAGINE THAT AS A DISTRICT FIRE CHIEF.
ANYWAYS, BACK IN 1957, HE WAS IN SNELLING AND THEY GOT A PHONE CALL THAT THERE WAS AN INFANT THAT HAD BEEN STARTLED AND STARTED GASPING FOR AIR AND IT JUST ESCALATED.
YOU'RE OUT IN THE COUNTRY AND SO THE FAMILY DROVE ABOUT THREE MILES AND THEY DROVE ABOUT THREE MILES AND MET IN AN INTERSECTION AND THERE CHIEF NORMAN AND HIS COLLEAGUE, KENNETH FINCH, PROCEEDED TO ADMINISTER CPR, GIVE HIM SOME OXYGEN, GET HIM TO THE HOSPITAL.
NOW FROM 1957 UNTIL LAST NIGHT, THAT INDIVIDUAL WHO ACTUALLY WAS IN MY SISTER'S CLASS IN GRAMMAR SCHOOL WANTED TO THANK THEM.
WE PUT TOGETHER A LITTLE CAKE AND A COUPLE OF PLAQUES.
ONE IT'S GOING TO GO IN THE MUSEUM IN SNELLING THAT ACTUALLY HAS A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE.
THE INFANT ACTUALLY HE HAD THAT ARTICLE, IN HIS POSSESSION AND HAD IT IN LITTLE FOLDER.
ANYWAYS, CHIEF PIMENTEL AND RETIRED CHIEF RON AND CHIEF [INAUDIBLE] ALL HELPED PUT THIS TOGETHER ALONG WITH THE FOLKS, THE FIREMEN THERE IN SNELLING.
ABOUT 50 PEOPLE SHOWED UP AND IT WAS A LITTLE WARM, BUT WE HAVE NICE CEREMONY.
I WANT TO THANK CHIEF PIMENTEL AND THE REST OF HIS STAFF FOR HELPING MAKE THAT POSSIBLE.
THEN SWITCHING TOPICS A LITTLE BIT.
THE EVICTION MORATORIUM IS OVER AT THE END OF THE MONTH.
I JUST WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE, BOTH RENTERS AND LANDLORDS, THAT THE COUNTY HAS PLACED MONEY IN A RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
IT'S DISTRIBUTED OUT THROUGH CENTRAL VALLEY OPPORTUNITY CENTER.
THEIR PHONE NUMBER IS OF COURSE 209-357-0062.
BUT DO OUTREACH AND ARE PREPARED TO HELP PEOPLE WHEREVER THEY ARE.
LET'S NOT LET THIS OPPORTUNITY GO BY BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE EVICTED.
THERE IS HELP TO HELP KEEP THEM IN THEIR RESIDENCES.
WE JUST NEED TO SPREAD THE WORD.
IF YOU'RE A LANDLORD AND YOU'VE GOT A TENANT THAT HASN'T PAID YOU, THIS MONEY IS THERE TO HELP YOU HELP THEM.
LET'S TRY TO MAKE EVERYBODY AS WHOLE AS WE CAN AND IT'S INTO MILLIONS OF DOLLAR.
THEN THE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY IS THAT WE'RE AT A CHANGE IN TIMES.
WITH THE GOVERNOR LIFTING AND [INAUDIBLE] LIFTING THE COVID RESTRICTIONS THIS PAST WEEK, IT LEAVES US IN A SPOT OF, LET'S GET OUR LIVES BACK TOGETHER, BUT LET'S ALSO BE DILIGENT IN WHAT WE DO.
JUST LAST WEEK OR TWO WEEKS AGO, A FRIEND OF MINE'S FAMILY, SHE CONTRACTED COVID AT WORK TOOK AT HOME AND FOR MOM AND DAD AND BROTHER ALL CONTRACTED COVID.
IT'S STILL REAL AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HAS SAID IT'S NOT.
BUT JUST BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS AND LET'S GET BACK TO IT. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU. I WANTED TO JUST MENTION I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY ON SATURDAY TO ATTEND THE THREE DIFFERENT JUNETEENTH CELEBRATIONS THAT WERE HERE IN MERCED.
THE GILBERT REUS PARK, MCNAMARA PARK, AND THEN ALSO APPLEGATE PARK, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS REALLY COOL TO SEE THEY HAD VACCINATION CLINICS SETUP OUT THERE, ESPECIALLY THE APPLEGATE, THEY DID.
EVEN THOUGH IT WAS REALLY HOT THAT DAY, YOU STILL HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE SHOW UP, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS AWESOME.
THE FAIR CONCLUDED LAST WEEK, WHICH I KNOW SCOTTY WAS THERE AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO AND WATCH MY SON SHOW
[02:10:03]
FOR HIS FIRST TIME IN THE AUCTION AND JUST SEEING THE KIDS GETTING BACK TO SOME SENSE OF NORMALCY BY DISPLAYING THEIR LIVE SOCCER, I THOUGHT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.THEN ALSO LAST WEEK, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE MENTION THAT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT THE TRAINING FACILITY FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OUT AT CASTLE, WHICH THEY PROVIDE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 12 TO 25 TRAININGS A YEAR, AND THE STRUCTURES THAT THEY HAD.
THIS IS COUNTYWIDE, BUT IT'S ALSO PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE THE COUNTY WHICH I THOUGHT WAS REALLY COOL.
WHAT THEY FOCUS ON IS REALLY BEING PROACTIVE VERSUS REACTIVE.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY COOL.
THEN I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN IN HONOR OF MEREDITH MCDANIEL.
I NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET YOUR MOM, BUT I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR A WHILE AND YOU CAN TELL THAT SHE REALLY HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND YOUR FOCUS ON THE COMMUNITY.
YOU'VE BEEN INCREDIBLY STRONG THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS AND IT'S ADMIRABLE THAT THROUGHOUT EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE GONE THROUGH OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, YOU NEVER STOPPED SERVING YOUR COMMUNITY AND PROVIDING INSIGHT ONTO ME AS A NEW BOARD MEMBER OR ANYTHING, EVEN WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON AND I THINK SCOTTY PUT IT BEST.
I DON'T WANT TO KEEP TELLING HIM THAT HE'S RIGHT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT IT SAID TO GET BIGGER OR ANYTHING, BUT IT'S BEEN A VERY ADMIRABLE THING FOR YOU TO CONTINUE TO SHOW UP TO WORK, TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON YOUR FAMILY BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S IMPORTANT AND MIKE SCOTTY SAID, WE ARE A FAMILY AND WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT AFFECTS ONE OF US, WE ALL FEEL IT.
KNOW THAT MY FAMILY'S THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
>> THANK YOU. I JUST ALSO WANT TO CLOSE THIS MEETING IN MEMORY OF YOUR MOM.
I KNOW THAT I NEVER HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO MEET HER AS WELL, BUT I KNOW THAT WE WANT TO ALSO REPORT OUT THAT WE WENT TO A TOUR INTO THE RCRC CONFERENCE AND LAST YEAR YOU WERE PRESENT AND UNFORTUNATELY, YOUR MOM PASSED AWAY YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO ATTEND TO SO MUCH WONDERFUL FIGHTING FOR A COUNTY AND REPRESENTING OUR COUNTY AS PRESIDENT AND NOW STILL ON THE RCRC.
I KNOW IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO DO PART OF THE BUSINESS, BUT ALSO HARD TO LEAVE THE AREA TO ATTEND TO YOUR FAMILY.
I'M PRAYING FOR YOU. HOPEFULLY, ALL YOUR FAMILY IS OKAY.
WE'RE THERE FOR YOU, SO JUST TO LET YOU KNOW.
I ALSO WANTED TO SPOKE OF PUSHING AGENDAS IN SPANISH.
MANY TIMES, THE SPANISH MOM AND SEEK, BIG PERCENTAGE OF THE MAJORITY OF THIS COUNTY IS HISPANIC, BUT ALSO MOM AND SEEK.
DIFFERENT TIMES AROUND THE YEAR THEY ASKED ME TO SPEAK TO GROUPS, THE PARENT LEADERSHIP TRAINING INSTITUTE, AND THEY'RE ALWAYS ASKING ME ABOUT WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS, WHAT THE JAVA SUPERVISOR IS.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AND IT'S ALSO, MOST OF THE TIME IS IN SPANISH.
THE GROUPS, ESPECIALLY, I HAVE ANOTHER ONE ON WEDNESDAY AND THEY ASKED ME HOW MANY DEPARTMENTS WE HAVE, WHAT THE BUDGET IS LIKE AND WHAT DOES THE BUDGET INCLUDE, AND WHAT'S MY JAM CLEAR TO THE BUDGET, AND TELLING ME, OF COURSE, WE ALL PUT THE BUDGET, AND FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS AS WELL WITH A LOT OF THINGS THAT DEPEND ON THE COUNTY.
I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE THAT DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH FLUENTLY OR DON'T UNDERSTAND ENGLISH HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, LIKE SAID, MOM AND SEEK AS WELL, THAT IF THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS BUDGET IN ENGLISH THAT WE HAVE THE AGENDAS OR THE BUDGET IN SPANISH AVAILABLE IN CASE THEY WANT TO.
OF COURSE, BUSINESS CAN STILL CONTINUE JUST IN ENGLISH, BUT WE WANT TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION AVAILABLE FOR THE EDUCATION OF OUR CONSTITUENTS.
I KNOW SOMETIMES THEY CAN'T ATTEND OUR BOARD MEETINGS EARLY IN THE MORNING, BUT I THINK IT'S HARDER TO PROVIDE AS MUCH INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC AS WE CAN.
THE NEXT BOARD MEETING WILL BE JULY 13 AND JULY 27 FOR ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ROD. COUNTY COUNCIL?
>> YEAH, I'D JUST LIKE TO ECHO WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS SAID.
MY CONDOLENCES AND MY FAMILY'S THOUGHTS GO TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
I KNOW YOU WERE CLOSE WITH YOUR MOM AND APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO.
[02:15:04]
>> I KNOW WE'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS, AND YOU WERE CLOSE TO HER, AND IT WAS A SHOCK, BUT I ALSO KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CARED AND LOVED HER, AND OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS, AND CONDOLENCES ARE FOR YOU.
MY MOM ALWAYS TREATED EVERYTHING WITH HUMOR.
I MEAN, THERE WAS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT SHE SAID, AND I THINK SHE EVEN GOT YOU AND ME A TUBE LIGHT WHENEVER WE'RE OVER THERE HELPING HER.
I HAVE A VERY UNIQUE FAMILY, THEY'RE ALWAYS VERY OPEN AND HONEST.
MY MOM'S MOM WAS A 35-YEAR TEACHER.
WE ALWAYS HAVE, IF YOU READ THE OBITUARY, AN INFECTIOUS SMILE, WELL, EVERYBODY ALWAYS SAYS, ALWAYS SMILING, WELL, NOW YOU KNOW WHERE I GET IT, BECAUSE MY MOM ALWAYS DID.
AS A COMPETITIVE ATHLETE, VERY COMPETITIVE IN POLITICS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, I GET FRUSTRATED WITH MY MOM BECAUSE MY MOM COULD ALWAYS FIND THE GOOD THING IN EVERYTHING AND I'LL BE LIKE, MOM, I WANT TO WIN, I WANT TO DO THIS, BUT SHE COULD ALWAYS SPIN IT TO WHERE IT WAS REALLY GOOD, TO WHERE YOU WEREN'T MAD ANYMORE.
AS OF RIGHT NOW, I'M SPINNING IT TO BRING HUMOR TO IT.
BUT SHE WAS A BIG INFLUENCE ON ME.
I MOVED HER CLOSER TO ME IN ATWATER WITH A LITTLE SHORT STAND, I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA THAT SHE WOULD LIVE WITH ME.
SHE WANTED HER OWN FRONT DOOR AND HER OWN BACKYARD.
[LAUGHTER] WE'RE ABLE TO FIND A PLACE IN ATWATER THAT WAS LESS THAN A MILE AWAY.
AS LLOYD REFERRED TO, IF SHE CALLED, I WAS THERE.
SHE HAD AN ANEURISM ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO THAT SHE SURVIVED.
SHE WAS AT THE TOP OF HER GAME THESE PAST TWO YEARS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN SAY, THE POSITIVE WE FOUND IN COVID IS WHEN MY BOYS MOVE BACK FROM LA TO LIVE HERE, ONE OF MY PROUDEST MOMENTS IS HOW CLOSE THEY GOT WITH MY MOM.
IT'S GREAT WHEN YOU GET THE PHONE CALL FROM YOUR MOM AND SHE TELLS YOU HOW GREAT YOUR BOYS ARE.
THEY WENT OVER TO HELP HER WITHOUT ME HAVING TO CALL OR TO GO GET GRANDPA.
THEY WERE DOING IT ON THEIR OWN.
FOR ME AND MY WIFE'S RELATIONSHIP WITH MY MOM TO ANOTHER THING, YOU ALWAYS WANT YOUR WIFE TO HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR MOM BECAUSE SHE WAS YOUR FIRST LOVE.
MY WIFE HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH HER.
EVERYTHING WAS GOING REALLY WELL.
I THINK GOD MIGHT HAVE GIVEN US THE PAST, BECAUSE MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER BERG AND MY GRANDMA STEIN HAD MANY YEARS OF BEDRIDDEN AND SUFFERING THEIR LATTER PART OF THE YEAR SO I THINK MAYBE WITH THIS CARDIAC ARREST, MY MOM WAS GIVEN THE PASS AND ABLE TO NOT HAVE TO SUFFER LIKE THAT AND GO INTO HEAVEN.
WITH THAT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND ADJOURN THIS MEETING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE SUPPORT FROM EVERYBODY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.