* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:03:05] GOOD [CALL TO ORDER] MORNING, EVERYONE. AND WELCOME TO THE JULY 27TH MEETING OF THE MERCER COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. UM, I'D LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT SUPER VISOR MCDANIEL WILL BE UNABLE TO JOIN US THIS MORNING. AND SUPERVISOR PEDROZA IS JOINING US REMOTELY TODAY. AND AS SUCH, WE WILL NOT BE USING OUR ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEM INSTEAD. WILL WE BE, WILL WE BE CONDUCTING A ROLL CALL AFTER EACH VOTE? UM, ANDREA, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL? OKAY. SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA, SUPERVISOR. PEDROSO JOSH, ARE YOU THERE? YES, I'M HERE. THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PEREIRA, RESIDENT SUPERVISOR. SOLVERA. ALL RIGHT. UH, WE WILL NOW START WITH THE INVOCATION LED BY DANIEL DEL RIELLE FROM GATEWAY COMMUNITY CHURCH, AND THEN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY MR. BROWN, FLORIDA. WE, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER TOGETHER AND, UH, MEET TODAY. WE, UH, WE INVITE YOU IN TO, UH, TO OUR MEETING AND, UH, WE JUST PRAY FOR YOUR INSIGHT, WISDOM, AND GUIDANCE FOR SUPERVISORS. AND WE PRAY FOR THE COUNTY OF HER SAID, UH, AND THE PEOPLE THAT RESIDE HERE THAT YOUR BLESSING WOULD, WOULD REST ON US AND ABOVE ALL THAT YOUR WILL BE DONE IN YOUR NAME. JESUS. AMEN. HEY MAN, PLEASE JOIN THE PLEDGE. THE FLAG, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS [00:05:01] ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL, BUT DANIEL, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR, UH, PROVIDING US AN INVOCATION, RIGHT? ALL RIGHT. UH, THIS MORNING WE HAD CLOSED SESSION. WE HAD FOUR ITEMS AND IN ALL CASES, STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION. PLEASE NOTE THE SCHEDULED AND NOTICE PUBLIC HEARING FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION TO IMPOSE A $1 INCREASE IN THE VEHICLE. SERVICE FEE HAS BEEN PULLED AT THE REQUEST OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY. IF AN ITEM IS BROUGHT BACK TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, IT WILL BE NOTICED AS A NEW PUBLIC HEARING. IT IS NOW TIME FOR PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST WITHIN THE BOARD'S JURISDICTION, INCLUDING ITEMS ON THE BOARD'S AGENDA, EXCEPT FOR THOSE ITEMS SPECIFICALLY SCHEDULED AS HEARINGS. TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON. OKAY. WE WILL NOW TAKE PUBLIC [PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK] COMMENT FROM THE, UM, UH, MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE. UH, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND LET ME KNOW AND, AND, UH, YEP. COME ON FORWARD. GIVE ME JUST A SECOND. OKAY. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. MY NAME IS AND I AM A RESIDENT LIVING HERE IN MERCER COUNTY. THE TIME RIGHT NOW IS AROUND 10:00 AM ON A TUESDAY, MEANING THAT MOST PARENTS AND RESIDENTS ARE WORKING AT THIS TIME BECAUSE THIS MEETING IS DURING WORK HOURS. MANY PEOPLE FOR THE COMMUNITY ARE UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING. I'M ASKING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO CHANGE THE TIME OF THEIR MEETING TO 6:00 PM OR LATER, SO THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, MEETING IN PERSON. DURING THESE MEETINGS, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OFTEN MAKE IMPORTANT DECISIONS THAT IMPACT THE RESIDENTS OF MARCET COUNTY. MOVING THE TIME TO 6:00 PM OR LATER, WE ALLOW PEOPLE TO COME AND PARTICIPATE IN VOICE HOW YOUR POLICIES, YOUR PROGRAMS AND THE BUDGET IS AFFECTING THEM. IT'S ALSO USEFUL FOR YOU AS A BORDER SUPERVISOR TO HEAR WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE A BETTER INFORMED POSITION AND A BETTER INFORMED TO VOTE, TO REPRESENT THE VOTERS WHO VOTED UN, IF YOU DO MOVE THE TIME TO 6:00 PM OR LATER, THIS WILL HELP PROVE THAT THIS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DO CARE ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND HAVING EVERYONE AT THE TABLE. UM, THE SECOND THING I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IS REDISTRICTING OF MERCER COUNTY. I WANT TO REQUEST THAT PHASE TWO MEETING ON AUGUST 10TH. THE TIME IS AT ONE 30 TO BE CHANGED TO 6:00 PM OR LATER, SO THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN COME OUT AND PARTICIPATE. I AM ALSO REQUESTING THAT IN OCTOBER THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CAN HAVE A WORKSHOP FOR THE COMMUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE CENSUS AND THE DATA FROM THE CENSUS ABOUT BARSA COUNTY AND THE DATA FROM CALIFORNIA AS, UH, PRISONERS, I'M REQUESTING THIS BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY DOES WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN REDISTRICTING THE MERCER COUNTY. AND, UH, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THE DATA AND THE TOOLS IN ORDER TO MAKE THE MAPS. THE LAST THING I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IS THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT ARPA IS ALSO KNOWN AS ARPA OR A R P A. THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT IS FEDERAL FUNDING GIVEN TO THE COUNTY OR THE CITY IS FUNDING FROM THE FEDERALIST IN ORDER TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE IMPACTED BY COVID-19. AND RIGHT NOW, UH, MERCER COUNTY IS GIVEN ABOUT $54 MILLION. AND MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, ARE YOU PLANNING TO TALK ABOUT THIS? IS THAT ALL YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT? UM, YES. UM, SO MY QUESTION IS IF YOU'RE PLENTY TO TALK ABOUT THIS AND WHEN, AND THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE COMMUNITY, SO THAT YOU ARE TRANSPARENT ON HOW YOU'RE SPENDING THE MONEY AND, UM, THE, THE AMERICAN WITH BLUE PEN, INTERIM RURAL GUIDELINE SAYS THAT THIS MONEY HAS TO BE FUNDED AND HELPING THE UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY. SO PLEASE USE THAT FUNDING FOR THE UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY WHO ARE MOST IMPACTED BY COVID-19. THANK YOU. SO JUST SO YOU KNOW, IN THE FUTURE, YOU'RE PARTICIPATING IN PUBLIC COMMENT. AND SO IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, WE'RE NOT GOING TO ANSWER IT AT THAT TIME. IT COULD BE ANSWERED LATER. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? GOOD MORNING. CHAIRMAN BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, CEO BROWN, I'M DARLENE INGERSOLL, THE MERSEYSIDE COUNTY REGISTER OF VOTERS. I'M HERE TO PRESENT INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC [00:10:01] ON UPCOMING ELECTIONS. THERE ARE UPCOMING ELECTIONS IN MERSEYSIDE COUNTY. ACTIVE REGISTERED VOTERS WILL BE RECEIVING MAIL BALLOTS FOR TWO UPCOMING ELECTIONS, ONE MERSEYSIDE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT AREA THREE FOR A SPECIAL VACANCY MALE ELECTION, AUGUST 31ST, 2021, AND THE SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2021, CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL RECALL ELECTION VOTERS CAN EXPECT TO START RECEIVING BALLOTS VERY SOON, EVEN AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK. THESE ARE SEPARATE ELECTIONS WITH SEPARATE MAILINGS AND BALLOTS BALLOTS FOR THE MERSEYSIDE UNION S UH, SCHOOL SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL, CAN BE RETURNED TO BE A POSTAGE FREE MAIL DROP BOX. OUR ELECTIONS OFFICE THAT IS AN ALL MALE ELECTION MUST BE POSTMARKED BEFORE OR ON AUGUST 31ST BALLOTS FOR THE GHOUTA GUBERNATORIAL RECALL ELECTION MAY BE RETURNED TO BE A POSTAGE FREE MAIL DROP BOX LOCATIONS, INCLUDING DRIVE-THROUGH AND WALK UP DROP BOXES HERE AT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING OR AT ANY VOTING ASSISTANCE CENTER. THERE WILL BE 13 VOTING ASSISTANCE CENTERS THROUGHOUT MERSEYSIDE COUNTY OPEN SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11TH THROUGH TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH, WHERE SAID COUNTY IS TRANSITIONING TO THE VOTER'S CHOICE ACT THIS YEAR AND WILL BE FULL BCA OR VOTER'S CHOICE ACT WITH THE 2022 ELECTIONS IN VCA, LIKE FOR THE GUBERNATORIAL RECALL ELECTION, THESE CHANGES FOR THE VOTER'S CHOICE ACT INCLUDE ALL ACTIVE REGISTERED VOTERS WILL RECEIVE A VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT BALLOT, AND TRADITIONAL POLLING PLACES ARE REPLACED WITH VOTING ASSISTANCE CENTERS ALL OPEN FOR FOUR DAYS. AND IN 20 22, 3 OF THOSE BEING OPEN FOR 11 DAYS BECAUSE OF STATE LAW THIS YEAR AND SHORTENED TIMEFRAMES FOR THE RECALL ELECTION, OUR COUNTY WILL BE VCA LIKE WITH VOTING ASSISTANCE OPEN FOR FOUR DAYS, RATHER THAN, RATHER THAN THREE OF THOSE PER 11 DAYS. I WANTED TO BRING THAT TO THE PUBLIC. AND ALSO I HAVE A LISTING OF OUR VOTING ASSISTANCE CENTERS AND DROP OFF LOCATIONS, AND PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE WITH ANY QUESTIONS. UM, AREA CODE 2 0 9 3 8 5 7 5 4 1. AGAIN, THAT'S 3 8 5 7 5 4 1 WWW.ELECTIONS.ORG ELECTIONS.ORG. OR YOU CAN EMAIL US@ELECTIONSATCOUNTYOFMERCEDES.COM. AND I HAVE A SUPPLY OF THE VOTING ASSISTANCE CENTERS AND DROP OFF LOCATIONS. AND SINCE I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY KNEW WE DID OUR BEST TO BE VERY CONSISTENT WITH THE NOVEMBER LOCATIONS. HOWEVER, THERE IS A FEW ALTERNATE LOCATIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, IN . UH, WE HAVE THE UC CO-OP EXTENSION WILL BE A VOTING ASSISTANT CENTER IN DAS PALO'S. WE HAVE THE D S D S HALL AND IN, WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A VOTING ASSISTANT CENTER IN WINTON AT THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS BUILDING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. UH, VICE CHAIRMAN PERRERA MEMBERS OF THE BOARD MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. UH, SARAH SHARK WAS I'M HERE WITH MY MERSEYSIDE COUNTY FOUR H FAMILY, UM, IN THE BACK THERE, UH, HERE WITH ME TODAY IS JOSE CAMPOS. OUR FOUR H PROGRAM REPRESENTATIVE, UM, ALONG WITH US IS, UH, AIDEN MONDO IN THE BACK AND ANDREW REILAND POST AND, UH, CLAUDIA DOMINGUEZ. UH, THESE YOUTH ARE HERE PARTICIPATING IN WHAT WE CALL THEM OR SAID FOCUS A CIVIC ENGAGEMENT CONFERENCE FOR HIGH SCHOOL AGED YOUTH. OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE THE YOUTH OF MERSEYSIDE COUNTY WITH THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO MAKE THEIR VOICES AND OPINIONS HEARD A FOUR H HAS A HISTORY OF ENRICHING, MANY OF OUR PAST AND CURRENT LEADERS, EVEN SOME OF YOUR SUPERVISORS WHO SIT UP THERE TODAY, UH, GREW UP IN THE FOUR H PROGRAM THIS WEEK. THEY'RE LEARNING THE INS AND OUTS OF OUR GOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTIONS TO EXPLORE THE VARIOUS WAYS THAT THEY CAN BECOME INVOLVED. UM, WE ARE INSPIRING OUR YOUTH TO CONTINUE WORKING TOWARDS A HAPPY AND HEALTHY FUTURE FOR ALL OF OUR MERSEYSIDE COUNTY COMMUNITIES. UH, WE HOPE THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED OUR INVITATION TO EACH OF, UH, EACH OF YOU FOR OUR RECEPTION THIS FRIDAY, JULY 30TH, AT SIX O'CLOCK, UH, LOCATED AT THE MERCEDES CIVIC CENTER ON 18TH STREET. UH, HERE, THE YOUTH WILL BE DISPLAYING THEIR COMPLETED PROJECTS, FOCUSED ON A TOPIC OF THEIR CHOICE. UH, WE HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. I HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. WELCOME TO OUR FOUR H FAMILY. I BELIEVE THREE OF THE CURRENT SUPERVISORS WERE FOUR H MEMBERS AS YOUTH. [00:15:01] WE WERE, YOU KNOW. OKAY. SO ANYWAYS, ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY. UM, WE HAVE, UH, UH, ONE EMAIL THAT WAS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE. THAT WILL BE PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD. AND WE DO NOT HAVE ANY VOICEMAIL PUBLIC COMMENTS, CORRECT. OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT IS APPROVAL [CONSENT CALENDAR] OF CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS, ONE THROUGH 13. ALL RIGHT. GO FOR IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR. SOLVERA SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA. UH, ANY COMMENT SEEING NONE? UM, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL SUPERVISOR. ESPINOSA. YES. SUPERVISOR PEDROSO. YES. SUPERVISOR PERERA. YES. SUPERVISOR SOLVERA. YES. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. OKAY. NEXT IS BOARD ACTION. [BOARD ACTION (Part 1 of 2) ] PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS 14 AND 15. PLEASE NOTE A FOUR-PIECE VOTE IS REQUIRED ON BOTH. HI, IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR ESPANOZA. SEEING NO COMMENT, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL SUPERVISOR. ESPINOSA SUPERVISOR PEDROSO. YES. SUPERVISOR PERERA. YES. SUPERVISOR SOLVERA MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. AND I SHOULD SAY THAT THAT'S FOUR ZERO. NEXT IS HEALTH ITEM 16 THROUGH 20. BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SOLVERA UH, SEEING NO COMMENTS. UH, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL SUPERVISOR. ESPINOSA SUPERVISOR PEDROSO. YES. SUPERVISOR PERRERA. YES. SUPERVISOR SOLVERA MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. OKAY. NEXT IS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES ITEMS 21 THROUGH 25. THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR SOLVERA AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA. UM, ALL THOSE ARE PLEASE CALL THE ROLL SUPERVISOR. ESPINOSA. YES. SUPERVISOR PEDROZA. YES. SUPERVISOR PERRERA. YES. SUPERVISOR SOLVERA MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. OKAY. HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY ITEMS 26 THROUGH 28. BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SYLVERE. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL SUPERVISOR. ESPINOSA. YEAH. SUPERVISOR PEDROSO. YES. SUPERVISOR PERERA. YES. SUPERVISOR SOLVERA. OKAY. MOTION CARRIES. UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT IS CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES. ITEM 29. IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SOLVERA AND A WELCOME, OR DO YOU HAVE A, IS IT A PRESENTATION? OKAY. I'M SORRY. I MISSED THAT. YEAH. GLAD YOU'RE HERE. I'M GOOD MORNING. UH, SUPERVISOR PRAYER, A BOARD MEMBERS, CEO AND COUNTY COUNCIL HANSEN. I AM SHARON WARDELL TREJO. THE DIRECTOR OF THE MERSEYSIDE MARIPOSA, REGIONAL DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES. AND AUGUST IS CHILD SUPPORT AWARENESS MONTH. AND AS A TIME FOR US TO HIGHLIGHT OUR PROGRAM SERVICES AND RAISE AWARENESS ON HOW WE CAN ASSIST SINGLE PARENTS PROVIDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT, RAISING THEIR CHILDREN. SO WHAT IS CHILD SUPPORT? IT'S THE MONEY OR HEALTH INSURANCE PAID BY A PARENT OUT OF THE HOME TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN. IN 2020, THE MERCER COUNTY CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES COLLECTED 3 31 $0.1 MILLION, 88% OR 27.4 MILLION WENT DIRECTLY TO FAMILIES. EITHER PARENT CAN APPLY FOR CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES. THE DEPARTMENT IS A NEUTRAL PARTY AND WE DON'T REPRESENT EITHER PARENT CHILD SUPPORT IS A POVERTY PREVENTION TOOL. AND AS A SAFETY NET ASSISTING NEEDY FAMILIES IN MERSEYSIDE COUNTY, OUR PROGRAM IS THE THIRD HIGHEST PROGRAM SERVING CHILDREN AFTER MEDI-CAL AND CALFRESH. LASTLY, THE CHILD SUPPORT PROGRAM IS FUNDED THROUGH STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDS WITH NO COST TO THE COUNTY. OKAY. THE PROGRAM ASSISTS THOSE MOST VULNERABLE FAMILIES. THE CHILD SUPPORT COLLECTIONS CAN HELP FAMILIES BECOME STABLE AND SELF-SUFFICIENT NATIONALLY. IT LIFTS ABOUT 1 MILLION PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY. [00:20:01] EVERY YEAR. CHILD SUPPORT CAN ALSO ACT AS A STABILIZING FACTOR PROVIDED TO FAMILIES THOSE MOST IN NEED. DURING TOUGH TIMES, CHILD SUPPORT ORDERS ALSO INCLUDE HEALTH INSURANCE TO ENSURE THE CHILD HAS A CONTINUOUS AND STABLE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE. THEREBY PROMOTING HEALTHY CHILDREN, HEALTHY CHILDREN, THRIVE DOING BETTER IN SCHOOL AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. AND IT SETS US FOUNDATION FOR A HEALTHY FUTURE. AS ADULTS IN MERSEYSIDE COUNTY, WE MANAGE NEARLY 15,000 CASES. WE ESTABLISH AND FORCE AND MODIFY FINANCIAL AND MEDICAL SUPPORT ORDERS. WE ALSO HAVE A VARIETY OF ONLINE TOOLS AND INTERFACES THAT PROVIDE ROBUST LOCATE SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR ASSETS. PART OF OUR SERVICE INCLUDES PROVIDING CUSTOMERS WITH A COMPREHENSIVE ACCOUNTING FOR THEIR CASE. CHILD SUPPORT DOES NOT CURRENTLY ESTABLISH CUSTODY OR VISITATION. WE ALSO DO NOT MANAGE DIVORCES OR DISSOLUTIONS, BUT DO ASSIST WITH ENFORCEMENT OF CHILD SUPPORT. AFTERWARDS OUR DEPARTMENT DOESN'T OBTAIN RESTRAINING ORDERS, NORRIS ESTABLISHED SPOUSAL SUPPORT, BUT WE CAN ENFORCE SPOUSAL SUPPORT. IF IT'S INCLUDED IN THE CHILD SUPPORT ORDER, I SHOULD FAMILY SEEK OUT OUR SERVICES. I'VE INCLUDED A ONE-PAGE INFORMATION SHEET IN YOUR PACKET, AND I HAVE THE PACKETS HERE AND I'LL PUT THEM IN THE BASKET, UM, THAT HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR DEPARTMENT. WE'RE EFFECTIVE WITH, WITH OUR COLLECTIONS TOOLS, WE'RE ABLE TO OBTAIN SUBSTANTIAL COLLECTIONS. WE'RE EFFICIENT. WE COLLECT $3 AND 69 CENTS FOR EVERY DOLLAR SPENT OPERATING THE PROGRAM, MAKING US VERY COST-EFFECTIVE FAMILIES IN MERSEYSIDE COUNTY NEED OUR HELP WITH A HIGH POVERTY RATE AND COSTLY HOUSING MARKET CHILD SUPPORT CAN HELP BRIDGE THAT GAP. I WANTED TO SHARE A LITTLE OF SOME OF THE TOTAL COLLECTIONS FIGURES TO HIGHLIGHT THE OUTSTANDING WORK. OUR STAFF HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PERFORM HELPING THE FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE AVERAGE ABOUT 26 MILLION COLLECTIONS PER YEAR, BUT THIS PAST YEAR MERCY COUNTY AND THE STATEWIDE PROGRAM SAW SIGNIFICANT INCREASES. PARENT PAYING SUPPORT. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ADVANTAGES TO OPENING A CASE THROUGH OUR DEPARTMENT. CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES ARE FREE TO PARENTS PAYING SUPPORT. ANY PAYMENT MADE IS PROCESSED AND POSTED WITHIN 48 HOURS. AND THERE'S MAXIMUM CONVENIENCE WHEN PAYING SUPPORT WE'VE RIGHT, OFFER A VARIETY OF TOOLS TO MAKE THAT EASY FOR PAYMENTS. AS A PARENT RECEIVING SUPPORT, OPENING A CASE THROUGH THE CHILD SUPPORT OFFICE ENSURES COLLECTIONS ARE PROCESSED QUICKLY. IT'S LOW OR NO COST UP TO $35 A YEAR, DEPENDING UPON CASE CIRCUMSTANCES AND INCOME, YOU CAN COUNT ON EACH MONTH. OKAY. THERE, RIGHT? BENEFITS FOR BOTH PARENTS, MURCIA COUNTY HAS A PROFESSIONAL AND RESPECTFUL TEAM AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT. THE CASE REMAINS OPEN UNTIL THE CHILD EMANCIPATES OR THE DEBT IS PAID OFF. WE'RE THERE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, OUR TEAM OF 75 PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS MANAGES ALL ASPECTS OF THE CASE WHILE TAKING TIME TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND EXPLAIN PROCESSES. WE WORK WITH BOTH PARENTS TO ESTABLISH A CHILD SUPPORT ORDER THAT IS RIGHT-SIZED AND AFFORDABLE FOR THE PARENT PAYING SUPPORT. WHILE IT'S SOMETHING THAT FAMILY CAN RELY UPON EACH MONTH, WE DO OUR BEST TO REACH THE CUSTOMERS WHERE THEY ARE WE'RE AVAILABLE IN, EXCUSE ME, WE'RE AVAILABLE IN PERSON BY PHONE, EMAIL, TEXT, AND MOST RECENTLY, WE NOW OFFER VIRTUAL MEETINGS FOR CUSTOMERS BY OPENING A CASE, WHETHER OUR OFFICE PARENTS CAN LET GO OF THE CHALLENGES OF TRYING TO MANAGE CHILD SUPPORT ON THEIR OWN. WE'VE GOT THIS SO PARENTS CAN FOCUS ON WHAT'S TRULY IMPORTANT, THEIR CHILDREN, AND WORKING TOGETHER TO CO-PARENT THEIR CHILDREN. OUR OFFICE IS LOCATED ON THE CORNER OF HIGHWAY 59 AND BUENA VISTA DRIVE. WE'RE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND OUR BUSINESS HOURS ARE MONDAY, TUESDAY, THURSDAY, AND FRIDAY EIGHT TO 5:30 PM. AND ON WEDNESDAYS 9:00 AM TO 5:30 PM. THIS PAST YEAR HAS BEEN CHALLENGING FOR EVERY COUNTY AGENCY. UH, AND, BUT I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT OUR TEAM WAS ABLE TO COLLECT MORE THAN EVER AND PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES THE ENTIRE TIME. I WANT TO THANK THEM PUBLICLY TODAY FOR THEIR EFFORTS DURING THIS PANDEMIC, WE SUPPORTED MANY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THIS PAST YEAR, AND THOSE COLLECTIONS SCREEN CREATED STABILITY IN THESE, IN THIS TIME OF CHAOS. IN CLOSING, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. I'VE INCLUDED OUR OFFICES ADDRESS AND CONTACT INFORMATION, AS WELL AS A LINK ON HOW TO OPEN A CASE HERE IN THE PRESENTATION. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I AM AVAILABLE TO ANSWER THEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. BROWN. NOPE. SORRY. MR. CHAIRMAN [00:25:01] MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AS THIS ITEM IS FOR AUGUST, UH, CHILD SUPPORT AWARENESS MONTH. UM, THINK IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE, UM, MISS, UH, MISS WARDALE, UH, WAS, UH, AWARDED BY HER ASSOCIATION. UM, YOU KNOW, BUT FOR THE PUBLIC'S BENEFIT, UH, DEPARTMENTS HAVE STATEWIDE ASSOCIATIONS THAT THEY WORKED THROUGH WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR BROADER GOALS FOR THE CALIFORNIA AND WORKING WITH THE STATE AND HER ASSOCIATION RECOGNIZED HER AND HER EXCEPTIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITH A TRULY BE KNOX AWARD. AND IT IS TRULY WITHIN HER ASSOCIATION AND AWARD TO HAVE MERIT AND TO BE RECOGNIZED BY YOUR PEERS ACROSS THE STATE IS WONDERFUL. IN ADDITION, UM, I WANTED TO START WITH THIS AND I'M GOING TO TURN IT BACK OVER TO HER IF SHE COULD RECOGNIZE IS, AND IT'S INTERESTING BEING CHILD AWARENESS MONTH RECOGNIZE THAT THE AWARD THAT THE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED FROM THE ASSOCIATION, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, PLEASE. CERTAINLY. UM, AND I DIDN'T INCLUDE THE PRESENTATION AND I APOLOGIZE. UM, THE DEPARTMENT ALSO RECEIVED, UH, A PUBLIC AWARENESS AWARD, UH, RECOGNIZING THE ORGANIZATION FOR OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS AND FOR PRESENTING CHILD SUPPORT IN A POSITIVE LIGHT. UM, IN 2019, WE, WE ATTENDED OVER 21 OUTREACH EVENTS AND ALSO HAD OUR, UM, VERY SUCCESSFUL KIDS CONNECTION, COMMUNITY CELEBRATION. UH, SO THESE, THESE EVENTS WERE RECOGNIZED AND LED TO IN 2020, THE MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO, UM, NOT NECESSARILY DO OUTREACH, BUT BE INCLUDED WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, UM, AS THEY DID COMMUNITY EVENTS. AND SO IT WAS A VERY, UM, IT'S A VERY POSITIVE THING FOR OUR ORGANIZATION TO HAVE THAT RECOGNITION AND TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED FOR, UM, A POSITIVE, UM, PROGRAM AWARENESS EFFORTS. WELL, CONGRATULATIONS. UM, IS THERE ANYBODY FROM YOUR STAFF, UH, HERE? SO WE HAVE LISA CARPENTER HERE FROM OUR OFFICE. THANK YOU. AND THEN IF I COULD, UH, BEG YOUR INDULGENCE, UM, AS I LISTENED TO YOUR PRESENTATION, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS. SO COULD YOU, I MEAN, MY UNDERSTANDING IS, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG OR SAY IT, HOW IT IS, BUT THAT THE COURTS DECIDE AND MAKE, MAKE, UH, UM, CHILD SUPPORT DECISIONS. AND THEN YOUR OFFICE HELPS THOSE THAT ARE HAVING TROUBLE WITH THAT SYSTEM COLLECT THEIR MONEY. IS THAT AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OR THAT IS ONE WAY, CORRECT. SO IF A FAMILY, UM, IS DIVORCED OR IS THERE A DE DISILLUSION, THEN THAT ORDER THAT IS OBTAINED THROUGH THE COURTS CAN COME TO US AND WE CAN ENFORCE IT, BUT WE ALSO, UM, ESTABLISH CHILD SUPPORT ORDERS ON OUR OWN. SO WHEN, UM, A SINGLE PARENT WANTS TO, UM, PURSUE CHILD SUPPORT, THEY CAN COME TO OUR OFFICE, WE CAN OPEN A CASE, UH, WE'LL USE THEIR INCOME INFORMATION, WE'LL USE THE OTHER PARENT'S INCOME INFORMATION AND, AND VISITATION INFORMATION. AND THEN WE WILL ESTABLISH A CHILD SUPPORT ORDER THAT IS THEN PRESENTED TO THE COURTS. THE COURTS WILL THEN, UM, MAKE A RECOMMENDATION OR MAKE A FINDING, AND THEN WE PURSUE AND ENFORCE THAT ORDER. SO IF PARENTS ARE STRUGGLING TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT, YOU CAN HELP THEM PRESENT SOMETHING. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL SUPERVISOR? ESPINOSA SUPERVISOR PEDROSO SUPERVISOR PERRERA YES. SUPERVISOR SOLVERA MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. NEXT IS WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ITEM 32ND. ALL RIGHT. IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA AND SECRETARY BY SUPERVISOR SOLVERA. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL SUPERVISOR. ESPINOSA SUPERVISOR SUPERVISOR PERRERA. YES. SUPERVISOR SOLVERA MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT IS FIRE ITEMS, 31 AND 32. IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR SOLVERA AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR ESPANOZA. PLEASE CALL THEM SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA. YES. SUPERVISOR PEDROSO. YES. SUPERVISOR PERRERA. YES. SUPERVISOR SOLVERA MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUS ITEM 33 IS FROM THE SHERIFF. IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR SOLVERA AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA. I SEE NO, UH, COMMENTS. UM, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL SUPERVISOR. ESPINOSA SUPERVISOR PEDROSO. YES. SUPERVISOR PERRERA. YES, SUPERVISOR SOLVERA. OKAY. MOTION CARRIES. UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT IS DISTRICT ATTORNEY ITEMS 34 AND 35. [00:30:01] BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR SOLVERA SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA. UH, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL SUPERVISOR. ESPINOSA. YES. SUPERVISOR PEDROSO. YES. SUPERVISOR PERERA. YES. SUPERVISOR SOLVERA MOTION CARRIES. UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT IS HUMAN RESOURCES, RISK MANAGEMENT ITEM 36. BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR SOLVERA AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR ESPANOZA. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL SUPERVISOR. ESPINOSA SUPERVISOR PEDROSO. WAS THAT A YES? YES. THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PERREIRA. YES, SUPERVISOR SOLVERA A MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT IS BOARD APPOINTMENTS ITEMS 37 AND 38. BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SOLVERA. UH, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL SUPERVISOR. ESPINOSA SUPERVISOR PEDROSO. YES. SUPERVISOR PERRERA. YES. SUPERVISOR SOLVERA MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. [BOARD INFORMATION & POSSIBLE ACTION] NEXT IS BOARD INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ITEM 39. WAS THAT A MOVE TO FILE? OKAY. IS THERE A SECOND? ALL RIGHT. IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZA UH, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL SUPERVISOR. ESPINOSA SUPERVISOR PEDROSO YES. SUPERVISOR PERRERA. YES. SUPERVISOR SOLVERA MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUS. YES. WELL ACTUALLY WE JUST AGREED TO FILE THE PETITION WE'RE WE'RE NOT VOTING, BUT YEAH, YEAH. YES. ALL RIGHT. SO MOTION. DID I SAY MOTION CARRIES? I DID, YES. YEAH. [BOARD ACTION (Part 2 of 2) ] NEXT TO SCHEDULED ITEMS, AS STATED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, THE PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S ITEM HAS BEEN POLLED. WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FROM THE SHERIFF TO CONSIDER PROPOSED ORDINANCE ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE INCREASE OF FEES FOR ADOPTION BOARDING DISPOSAL AND LICENSING OF ANIMALS, AMENDING TITLE SEVEN CHAPTER 7.04 OF THE MERSEYSIDE COUNTY CODE. GOOD MORNING BOARD. GOOD MORNING, CAPTAIN GREG SULLIVAN. BARSADE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. AND I ALSO HAVE LAUREN PERRY WHO RUNS OUR DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS AT OUR ANIMAL SHELTER, ALONG WITH SERGEANT SIMON, SIMON SARKIS WHO OVERSEES OUR, OUR ANIMAL SERVICES BUREAU. UM, TODAY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAD APPROVED ORDINANCE 1864 AND MERSEYSIDE COUNTY CODE CHAPTER 7.04, WHICH UPDATED THE ANIMAL CONTROL FEE SCHEDULE IN 2009, AND HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE THAT POINT IN TIME. OUR FEE SCHEDULE AT THIS TIME, THE DEPARTMENT REQUESTS TO AMEND MERSEYSIDE COUNTY CODE CHAPTER 7.04 AUTHORITY TO CHARGE AND SET FEES AND AMEND SECTION 7.0 4.330. THE A FEE SCHEDULE, THE SERVICE FEES LISTED IN SECTION 7.0 4.330 REFLECT CURRENT DEPARTMENTAL COSTS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FEES SET BY STATUE, LICENSED PERMIT AND PENALTY FEES ARE SET AT A REASONABLE LEVEL TO ENCOURAGE COMPLIANCE AT OUR ANIMAL SHELTER. THE FEES THAT ARE BEING INCREASED ARE FOR ADOPTION BOARDING DISPOSAL AND LICENSING OF ANIMALS. UM, OUR TEAM HERE WENT THROUGH AND CHECKED WITH OTHER FACILITIES TO SEE WHAT REASONABLE FEES ARE. AND I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE IN LINE WITH FEES CHARGED BY OTHER FACILITIES, UH, AWAY, FURTHER READING. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS WE'RE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU. UH, MANY QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES. YEAH. WELL, I SEE NO QUESTIONS FOR YOU, SO THAT'S A GOOD SIGN. UM, SO YEAH, WE'LL UM, UH, ALL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WE'LL, UH, FOR TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING, WE WILL BE ACCEPTING PUBLIC COMMENT LIVE IN PERSON AND VIA VOICEMAIL. THE VOICEMAIL MESSAGE LINE HAS BEEN OPEN TO ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT SINCE THE POSTING OF THE AGENDA, WE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTING PUBLIC COMMENT BY EMAIL. [00:35:01] FOLLOWING THE OPENING OF THE HEARING, THERE WILL BE A BRIEF PAUSE TO ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO LEAVE VOICEMAIL MESSAGES. UH, THE PHONE NUMBER TO LEAVE A MESSAGE IS 2 0 9 7 2 6 2 7 5 5 AND REFERENCE, UH, THE, UM, SHERIFF'S PUBLIC HEARING IN YOUR VOICEMAIL, PLEASE. UH, AND THEN, UH, VOICEMAILS WILL BE PLAYED AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE BREAK THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO TAKE. OKAY. JUST TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. AND THEN, SO WE'RE OPEN. SO I'VE OPENED A PUBLIC HEARING. WE'RE NOW GOING TO RECESS FOR FIVE, SIX MINUTES FOR FIVE MINUTES TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT. AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK. WE'LL HEAR THOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS. WE'LL TAKE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT THAT IS HERE IN THE ROOM. AND THEN AFTER THAT WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. THANK YOU. [00:41:06] 35 MINUTES. YEAH. OKAY. I'D LIKE TO, UH, CALL THE PUBLIC HEARING. UH BACK-END TO ORDER I, DID WE HAVE, UH, ANY, UH, VOICEMAILS OF PUBLIC COMMENT? WE RECEIVED NO PUBLIC COMMENT. OKAY. IS THERE ANY FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENT HERE IN THE ROOM OR THE CHAMBERS? OKAY. SEEING NONE I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING CHAIR COMMENTS. I'D LIKE TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE AND TITLE ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE INCREASE IN FEES FOR ADOPTION BOARDING DISPOSAL AND LICENSING OF ANIMALS OF ANY TITLE SEVEN CHAPTER 7.04 OF THE MERCER COUNTY CODE. OKAY. IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR SOLVERA AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR ESPANOZA. I SEE. NO FURTHER COMMENT, PLEASE CALL FOR THE ROLE SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA. YES. SUPERVISOR PEDROSO YES. SUPERVISOR PERRERA. YES. SUPERVISOR SOLVERA. OKAY. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. UM, DO YOU WANT TO DO BOARD REPORTS NOW? CAUSE PEOPLE WILL LEAVE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO WE'LL MOVE [Delta-Mendota GSA] TO THE MERCEDES COUNTY DELTA MENDOTA GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY AGENDA. IT'S TIME FOR PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST WITHIN THE BOARD'S JURISDICTION, INCLUDING ITEMS ON THE BOARD'S AGENDA, EXCEPT FOR THOSE ITEMS SPECIFICALLY SCHEDULED AS PUBLIC HEARINGS. TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON. UH, THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW TAKE COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. PLEASE FORM A LINE TO THE SIDE. OH, ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. WERE THERE ANY VOICEMAILS? NO VOICEMAILS. THANK YOU. NO COMMENTS. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM ONE HAS BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR SOLVERA AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA. SEE NO OTHER COMMENTS, PLEASE CALL FOR THE ROLE SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA. YES. SUPERVISOR PEDROZA. YEAH. SUPERVISOR. YES. SUPERVISOR SOLVERA MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. YEAH. WE'LL DO BOARD REPORTS. ARE THERE ANY BOARD REPORTS, SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA. OH, YOU GOT TO, THERE YOU GO. OKAY. THANK YOU. UM, SO THIS WEEKEND I HAD A CHANCE TO, UH, I'M SORRY. UM, WE'RE DOING BOARD [REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION] REPORTS FOR THE GSA IT'S FOR EVERYBODY. OH, YOU CAN COMBINE THEM. OKAY. SORRY, GO AHEAD. NO PROBLEM. UM, AGAIN, UH, THIS WEEKEND I HAD A CHANCE TO A TOUR, FIRST OF ALL, ATTEND, UH, THE CALIFORNIA LATINO CAUCUS, UH, CALIFORNIA COUNTIES IN, UH, IN SAN DIEGO. IT WAS A RETREAT. UH, AND, UH, AND WITH, WITH THE GROUP, WE HAD TOURED, UH, SEMPRA'S ENERGY COMPANY. IT'S A WEATHER CENTER FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN THE SAN DIEGO AREA. SO THEY'RE IN CHARGE OF MONITORING, UM, YOU KNOW, THE FIRES, THE WIN, UM, UH, AROUND THIS AND DIEGO AREA. SO, UH, IT, IT WAS VERY, YOU KNOW, WE [00:45:01] WERE PRETTY IMPRESSED BECAUSE IT WAS VERY HIGH-TECH. AND SO NOW THERE, THERE WERE DISCUSSIONS THAT THERE WAS, UH, THEY HAVE A LOT OF COMMENTS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGION, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE MOUNTAINS AND THEY GOT CAMERAS. AND WITH THOSE CAMERAS NOW THEY'RE USING AI TO, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, DETERMINE OR JUST THEY GO AROUND AND, AND, AND MONITOR WHERE SMOKE AND FIRES ARE STARTING. SO, BECAUSE THEY GET A LOT OF STRONG WINDS, UH, THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE THERE ANOTHER UPDATED AS MUCH AS THEY CAN, UH, IN REGARDS TO THE WHEN, AND IF THERE'S A FIRE, UH, THEY WANT TO GET, UH, YOU KNOW, THE SAFETY IS THAT IF THERE'S A FIRE WITH A HIGH WINDS, THE, YOU KNOW, THE FIRES, OF COURSE, OF COURSE, A SPLIT FAST. AND SO THEY WERE TO, UH, THEY, I, UH, OF COURSE RIGHT AWAY, UH, THEY SEND A SIGNAL TO, UH, ANY, ANYBODY MONITORING OTHER THEIR PHONES AND, UH, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S VERY, IT WAS A VERY IMPRESSIVE AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL ABOUT IMPROVING, UH, THE SAFETY OF, UH, OF THE REGION. AND, UH, I'M PRETTY SURE I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S GOING TO ACROSS THE STATE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SO IT'S ALL, IT WAS ALL ABOUT SAFETY. AND ALSO WE HEARD A, UM, A PERSON TALK ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A REPRESENTATIVE FROM GENERAL MOTORS AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO ELECTRIFY AMERICA AND PUSH FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND WHAT GM IS DOING TO, UH, ENHANCE, UH, ESPECIALLY WITH BATTERIES AND, UH, IMPROVE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE LONGEVITY OF THE BATTERIES, AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, THE, THE MILES PER HOUR OR PER CHARGE. SO, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE DISCUSSING ABOUT WHETHER BATTERIES INSTEAD OF DISPOSING OF THE BATTERIES, WHEN THE DON'T WORRY, JUST, YOU KNOW, UH, THEY DO COMPARTMENTS ON SALES AND WHEN THERE'S A BAD CELL, THAT'S A WORD THAT JUST REPLACED INSTEAD OF JUST THROWING OR IN A RECYCLING, THE OLD BATTERY. SO THEY JUST REPLACE WHATEVER CELL DOESN'T WORK. AND, UH, SO, YOU KNOW, JUST A, YOU KNOW, A LOT MORE INTELLIGENCE IS WORKING ON THAT AS WELL. SO, UM, THIS AFTERNOON WE'LL BE ABLE TO, UH, THERE IS A MARINE, UH, FROM VALLEY CAN, OR, UH, UH, ELECTRIFY AMERICA WILL BE HERE TO, UH, FOR 12:45 PM. I KNOW THAT THAT SUPERVISOR, UH, PARA KNOWS HIM FROM THE VALLEY AIR DISTRICT, UH, THAT THEY WILL BE DONATING A, UM, A VEHICLE ELECTRICALLY WHO GO TO A MODULE, A, A MARCET, UM, CITY, LOCAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION. AND, UH, THAT, UH, I GUESS ONE, IT'S A NONPROFIT, UH, I THINK, UM, UH, BRILL, I CAN'T REMEMBER HER NAME, BUT THERE'S A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE NONPROFIT WILL BE HERE TO, UH, TO RECEIVE THE KEYS TO THE CAR FOR THE NONPROFIT, FOR THE SERVICE OF THAT NONPROFIT. SO THAT'S VERY, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, WELL FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND SO THEY WANT TO PUSH TO MAKE SURE THAT MORE BE MORE PEOPLE BUY ELECTRIC VEHICLES ALSO ON REDISTRICTING. UM, YOU KNOW, IT WAS KINDA SAD THAT WE HAD OUR FIRST REDISTRICTING, UH, COMMITTEE MEETING AND PUT THE PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE. THEY ASKED FOR, UM, MORE, UH, MEETINGS IN THE EVENING HOURS, ESPECIALLY FOR THE PUBLIC ALL AROUND OUR COUNTY. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE MORE EVENING MEETINGS AS WELL, YOU KNOW, JUST TO APPEASE THE COMMUNITIES, BUT IT'S PRETTY UPSETTING THAT NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE COME TO THESE MEETINGS, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY, BUT ESPECIALLY THE YOUTH WE GET, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE YOU COME BECAUSE OF THIS ONLY HAPPENS EVERY 10 YEARS AND THERE'S PLANS WHERE PEOPLE THERE, THEY CAN SUBMIT MAPS OF. HOW WILL YOU WILL LIKE, UH, YOUR, YOUR COUNTY, UM, DIVIDED IN ALL THE DISTRICT. IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR NEW DISTRICTS, AS LONG AS YOU MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS OF, UM, HOW A DISTRICT IS SUPPOSED TO BE FORMED. BUT I THINK THERE'S A GUIDE THAT WILL SHOW YOU ON THE WEBSITE, UH, OUR SECOND WEBSITE ON REDISTRICTING AND HOW TO SUBMIT A MAP. SO ANYBODY CAN SUBMIT A MAP AND THE COUNTY WILL CONSIDER WITH THE CONSULTANTS AS WELL. SO, UH, JUST INFORMATION, BUT PLEASE ATTEND A REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE MEETINGS. I MEAN, THE MEDIANS, BECAUSE LATER ON WE'LL, YOU KNOW, WE GET A LOT OF HEAT BECAUSE WHY IS A DISTRICT ONE? MY DISTRICT HAVE A, A FINGER LOOKING UP, YOU KNOW, UNTIL LIVINGSTON, INSTEAD OF BEING FORMED AT DIFFERENT WAY, OR, YOU KNOW, UH, THE COUNTY HAD BEEN ACCUSED OF GERRYMANDERING OR WHATEVER. SO SHE'S PLEASE GIVE INPUT, UH, COME TO THESE MEETINGS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SUPERVISOR. PEDROZA ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO TRY, CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME OKAY? YES. OKAY. UM, SO, UH, FIRST I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO DO THIS VIA ZOOM. I KNOW THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK THAT WENT INTO THIS, SO I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR ALLOWING THAT TO HAPPEN. UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO MENTION WAS, UM, I KNOW DR. ASADI, UH, WAS A LITTLE BIT LATE TO THE MEETING, UH, THIS MORNING, BUT, UM, SHE IS REALLY PUSHING VACCINES AND, AND THE, THE VACCINATIONS OF COVID AND THE IMPORTANCE OF IT, BECAUSE AS WE ALL WANT TO GET BACK [00:50:01] TO SOME SORT OF, UH, SOME SENSE OF NORMALCY, ESPECIALLY AS SCHOOL IS GETTING STARTED IN A WEAVER STARTED. AND, UH, I KNOW THE, UH, MORISSETTE HIGH UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT IS STARTING SOON AND THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT STARTING SOON. UH, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE, UM, YOU KNOW, EAT HER ADVICE AND WE, WE ALL GOT THE REPORT AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE, UH, SERIOUSLY. UM, ALSO, UH, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO SARAH. UH, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE FOUR H GROUP YESTERDAY. UM, THE MERSEYSIDE FOCUS GROUP, THERE ARE, UH, SOME REALLY, UH, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD STUDENTS THAT ARE A PART OF THAT, THAT ARE REALLY FOCUSING, UM, ON, ON WHAT THEY CAN DO TO BETTER YOURSELF, BUT ALSO DEVELOP THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS. AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. AND AS YOU SAID, UM, MR. VICE CHAIR, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE MEMBERS THAT WERE PART OF FOUR H AND ME BEING ONE OF THEM, I KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF FOUR H AND, UH, AND FFA, UM, GOING, UH, GOING FORWARD, UH, ALSO, UH, ATTENDED THE BREAKING BARRIERS IN LOS BANAS RIBBON CUTTING, UH, LAST FRIDAY, UH, KELLY SAID GENEVIEVE AND ERIC WERE REALLY EXCELLENT EXPLAINING THE PROGRAM AND WHAT THEIR VISION IS, AND I WAS HAPPY TO DO THAT. UM, AND THEN FINALLY, UH, I HAD, UH, AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE LUNCH WITH, UH, HIS ORIEN VICE PRESIDENT. I KNOW, UH, MR. BURR AND, UH, MR. SILVERA, YOU, YOU WERE THERE ALSO. UM, BUT IT WAS A GREAT DISCUSSION AND A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ECONOMIC, UM, OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE CAN BRING TO, UM, THIS AREA AND BEING ONE OF THE TWO COUNTIES THAT HAVE THE, UH, THREE OUT OF THE, UH, OF THE BOARD MEMBERS AS PORTUGUESE PEOPLE, UM, THEY WANTED TO SPECIFICALLY MEET WITH US. SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS, UH, THE DELEGATION WANTED TO MEET WITH US. I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY COOL. SO, UM, OTHER THAN THAT, AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR, UM, ALLOWING ME TO, TO ZOOM IN AND FOR THE STAFF FOR, FOR, FOR SETTING EVERYTHING UP. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME SUPERVISOR SOLVERA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, A FEW THINGS. UM, I DID ATTEND THE LUNCHEON THE OTHER DAY, UM, WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE AIDS GOVERNMENT. IT WAS REALLY GOOD CONVERSATION, JUST TRYING TO LOOK AT THINGS THAT WERE, THAT WE CAN, THAT ARE SIMILAR, THAT WE HAVE BOTH HAVE INTEREST IN AND HOW CAN WE PARTNER TOGETHER AND MAKE BOTH OF OUR GOVERNMENTS BETTER FOR IT. SO IT WAS REALLY, REALLY INTERESTING CONVERSATION, AND I APPRECIATE THE FOLKS THAT PUT THAT ON. UM, I DID WANT TO SAY THAT I ATTENDED AN EVENT. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SCHEDULED IN LOS BANUS AT THE FAIRGROUNDS, AND THEN IT GOT MOVED. AND I FOUND OUT LATER IN THAT DAY AND SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA, I BELIEVE IT'S IN YOUR DISH. IT WAS IN YOUR DISTRICT IN SOUTH MORISSETTE, AND IT JUST KIND OF WORKED OUT REALLY QUICKLY. AND I DIDN'T EVEN REALLY GET A TIME TO TALK TO YOU. SO HEALTH NET IS KIND OF, AND THEY PICK A PARTNER AGENCY AND THIS KIND OF GOES ALONG WITH VACCINATIONS. AND SO IN THIS PARTICULAR EVENT, THEY, THEY PARTNERED UP WITH, UM, THE UFW FOUNDATION, THE UFW FOUNDATION OFFERED UP FOOD BOXES, UH, FOR PEOPLE COMING THROUGH. AND THEY KIND OF HAD A LITTLE DRIVE-THROUGH AT THE TONIGHT MIDDLE SCHOOLS WHERE THEY DID IT AT, UM, AND THEY, AND, AND IN TALKING WITH THE GENTLEMEN, UM, GEORGE, THAT WAS KIND OF OVERSEEING THE EVENT FOR THEM. THEY THEY'VE, THEY STARTED IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DOING, DOING CLINT, UM, HEALTH, EXCUSE ME, VACCINATE VACCINATION CLINICS. YOU KNOW, THEY WERE PART OF CLINICS THAT WERE DOING 5,000 DOSES A DAY. AND AS THEY'VE MOVED KIND OF INTO THE CENTRAL VALLEY, YOU KNOW, THEY KIND OF WENT THROUGH THIS WHOLE CYCLE WHERE THERE WAS SOME EVENTS WHERE LITERALLY THEY HAD ZERO. THIS IS A NO SCHEDULE, NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED. THEY KIND OF PIGGYBACK ON SOME OTHER KIND OF EVENT GOING ON AND JUST OFFER RIGHT THERE SERVICES THAT IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO GET VACCINATED. AND SO, UM, THEY ACTUALLY, ON THAT DAY, UM, THEY DID ABOUT 15 OF THEM. AND IT, UH, IN WHAT, WHAT HE TOLD ME IS, IS AS THIS DELTA, VARIANT IS BECOMING MORE, YOU KNOW, UM, ACTIVE I'LL CALL IT. THERE ARE, THEY'RE SEEING AN UPTAKE IN PEOPLE THAT ARE WANTING TO GET VACCINATED. UM, SO AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE FOLKS THAT PUT THAT TOGETHER AND INVITED ME OUT. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE OUT AT THE FAIRGROUNDS IN LAS VEGAS AND FOR WHATEVER REASON IT GOT MOVED, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, WHEN IT, WHEN IT COMES TO THE VACCINATION PIECE, YOU KNOW, I, I I'M OPEN TO ANY IDEA ON HOW TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE, UM, WHAT WE CAN DO TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED. UM, I'M OPEN TO ANY IDEA THAT YOU HAVE. AND SO PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE THOSE WITH ME, BECAUSE I WAS TALKING TO A GENTLEMAN WHO, UM, YOU KNOW, [00:55:01] IS, IS DOING SOME OF THIS VACCINATION IS OUT HELPING PUT CLINICS TOGETHER, TRYING TO COME UP WITH CREATIVE WAYS. AND WE REALLY JUST RUN INTO A SPOT WHERE THERE'S JUST A LOT OF HESITANCY. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A WHOLE HOST OF REASONS THAT WE CAN ALL ARGUE FOR HOURS AND HOURS ABOUT ON WHETHER YOU THINK THE RIGHT OR THE WRONG, BUT THERE'S A WHOLE HOST OF REASONS. BUT ULTIMATELY FOR ME, IT IS A PERSON'S CHOICE AS TO WHETHER THEY WANT TO GET VACCINATED OR NOT. I'M NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF FORCING SOMEBODY TO DO SOMETHING THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO DO. I TAKE THOSE RIGHTS THAT THEY HAVE VERY SERIOUSLY AND WILL DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO UPHOLD THOSE RIGHTS. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'LL TRY TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS ON WHY, IF YOU FALL WITHIN THOSE CATEGORIES, WHY IT IS IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, UM, IT'S, IT'S FOR REAL THERE'S I KNOW THERE'S STILL PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT BELIEVE THAT IT'S NOT REAL, I'M NOT ONE OF THOSE FOLKS. UM, BUT, UM, JUST KIND OF IT'S, IT'S REALLY, IT'S KIND OF RIGHT IN THE FENCE IN THE MIDDLE OF SOME PEOPLE MIGHT THINK, BUT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK WE ARM THEM WITH THE FACTS. WE LET THEM KNOW WHAT THE FACTS ARE AND THEN A PERSON GETS TO MAKE THEIR CHOICE AND THEN KIND OF MOVING ON FROM THAT. UM, I JUST GOT BACK LAST NIGHT, I ATTENDED MY YARD'S MEETING, WHICH IS THE ACIDITY AREA, REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. I AM ACTUALLY BECAUSE OF MY ROLE HERE AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. I'M ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT REPRESENTS MERCY COUNTY ON THAT JPA. WE HAD OUR MEETING, UM, YESTERDAY IN MAMMOTH, IN MONO COUNTY. UM, OUR, OUR YARD STAFF IS REALLY RMC, AAG STAFF. THEY KIND OF CONTRACT ARTS CONTRACTS WITH MCG RUNNING A GOOD PROGRAM OVER THERE. I THINK IT'S VERY VALUABLE. UM, IT'S A VERY, EVERY COUNTY THERE'S IT'S MYSELF OR MYSELF, IT'S OURSELVES, MERCEDE COUNTY MARIPOSA. UH, MADERA IS SOON TO COME ON BOARD, UM, MONO COUNTY TO ALL MEET COUNTY. ALL OF US KIND OF HAVE DIFFERENT INTERESTS, UM, AS TO WHY WE'RE THERE, BUT IT, BUT REALLY THE MAIN THING IS, IS IT IS AN ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR ALL OF US. AND SO SOMETHING THAT I'M GLAD THAT WE'VE CONTINUED TO SUPPORT. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, AS I WOULD JUST CAME OFF OF MY TERM AS CHAIR OF THAT COMMITTEE, AND ONE OF MY GOALS WAS TO GET TO ALL OF ME ON BOARD. THEY WERE JUST LIKE, UH, THEY WEREN'T A VOTING MEMBER AND THEY TOOK ACTION. AND THEN ON MY LAST DAY OF MY TERM, WE SENT THE LETTER TO MADERA COUNTY AND I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE FROM A DERRICK COUNTY, TOM WHEELER WHO'S BEEN WORKING ON, HE WAS ACTUALLY, BEFORE HE WAS ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WAS W WAS JUST A COMMUNITY MEMBER THAT WAS KIND OF PICKED BY A SUPERVISOR THEN TO HELP FORM WHAT WAS THE ARTS 20 SOMETHING YEARS AGO, AND THEN FAST FORWARD, IT'S BEEN HIS GOAL TO GET, UH, MADERA COUNTY AS PART OF IT. SO HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION THERE AND THINK IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT TOOL FOR ALL OF US. AND THE LAST THING THAT I WANT TO LEAVE WITH, UM, IS IT'S NOT EVERY DAY THAT I'M IN THIS JOB WHERE WE GET TO HEAR ABOUT THE GOOD THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING. WE TYPICALLY, WHEN I GET THE PHONE CALLS, IT'S USUALLY, LET'S JUST SAY, THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS HAPPY WITH THE SITUATION. SO THERE THAT'S TYPICALLY WHEN I GET THE PHONE CALL AND THIS JUST HAPPENED BY CHANCE THIS MORNING, UM, A GOOD FRIEND OF OURS. WELL, A LOT OF YOU MAY KNOW HIM, DWAYNE ANDREWS, I'M GOING TO KIND OF CALL HIM OUT FOR A SECOND. YOU KNOW, DWAYNE USUALLY COMES IN AND I USUALLY GET TO HEAR ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HE'S GOT A CONCERN WITH. AND THIS MORNING HE ACTUALLY PASSED ON A REALLY GREAT COMPLIMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND SAYING THAT THAT THINGS ARE JUST GOING REALLY GREAT DOWN THERE. SO THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO FIRST IT'S, IT'S THE STAFF THAT ARE DOING THE GOOD WORK DOWN THERE. SO I KNOW THAT, UM, DIRECTOR HENDRICKSON IS HERE AND I KNOW THAT HE WOULD BE THE FIRST ONE TO ADMIT THAT IT'S NOT JUST HIM, IT'S A TEAM EFFORT AND HE'S GOT A GREAT TEAM SURROUNDING THEM. UM, BUT ALSO THE WISDOM OF THIS BOARD TO KIND OF PUT, PUT THIS, THIS DEPARTMENT INTO KIND OF A NEW DIRECTION INTO WHERE WE REALLY, WHERE YOU SAY THAT WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS IN MERCEDE COUNTY, AND WE'RE NOT JUST GIVING YOU LIP SERVICE. WE ACTUALLY MEAN IT. SO THAT'S KUDOS TO THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT. UM, YOU KNOW, DWAYNE ANDREWS HAS BEEN AROUND THIS COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME. UM, AND FOR HIM TO KIND OF PASS THAT COMPLIMENT ALONG, THAT MEANT A LOT TO ME. AND I'D MET, WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I SHARED IT WITH, WITH NOT ONLY YOU HEAR MARK RIGHT NOW, BUT FOR THE PUBLIC TO HEAR THAT. SO WE ARE DOING GOOD THINGS. WE ARE, I THINK WE'VE MADE SOME HUGE STRIDES IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I'M EXCITED. UM, AND, AND SO I JUST WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK YOU AND ALL THE FOLKS THAT YOU HAVE WORKING DOWN IN THERE. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE. MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU, MR. BROWN, NOTHING. THANK YOU, MR. HANSON. UH, SO I'D LIKE TO SHARE THAT, UH, NOW, UM, UH, THE MACS, UH, MUNICIPAL ADVISORY COUNCILS THAT ARE IN THE UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES, UH, AT LEAST IN MY DISTRICT HAVE STARTED MEETING AGAIN. AND I THINK IN OTHER DISTRICTS AS WELL. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I EXPECTED THAT WHEN WE STARTED THESE BACKUP, I WOULD HEAR A TON OF, YOU KNOW, CONCERNS AND COMPLAINTS. AND, AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, UH, YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD THREE SO FAR AND THEY'VE BEEN PRETTY MILD. AND SO, UH, I THINK, UH, I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR, UH, DEPARTMENT HEADS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE TAKING CARE OF, UM, OUR CONSTITUENTS [01:00:01] AND WE'RE PROACTIVELY TAKING CARE OF ISSUES. SO, YOU KNOW, A YEAR AND A HALF GOES BY, OR ALMOST A YEAR AND A HALF. AND AT THE FIRST MEETING BACK, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST NOT A PLETHORA OF ISSUES, RIGHT. THEY, THEY BASICALLY HAVE BEEN RESOLVED AND OF COURSE THERE'S ALWAYS NEW CONCERNS, BUT, UH, ANYWAY, SO I'M, I'M THANKFUL FOR OUR STAFF FOR THAT FOR TAKING CARE OF, UH, OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, UH, ON AN ONGOING BASIS. UM, I, UH, I SERVE ON A COUPLE OF GSA BOARDS, THE GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCIES, AND I JUST WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR STAFF. UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GETTING TO THE POINT NOW WHERE DECISIONS ARE HAVING TO BE MADE, UH, ON AS FAR AS, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW WE'RE GOING TO STOP OVERDRAFTING OUR BASINS. AND, UH, AND THOSE AREN'T ALWAYS EASY DECISIONS, RIGHT? BECAUSE, UH, UH, ONE, UM, IT AFFECTS INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES THAT ARE FARMING OR, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT HAVE COMMERCIAL, UH, EVENTS OR NOT EVENTS, BUT BUSINESSES THAT UTILIZE WATER. AND THEN IT ALSO AFFECTS THE ECONOMY OF THE COUNTY AND HOW, UH, HOW WE ARE ABLE TO AFFORD, UH, TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO YOU, THE CONSTITUENTS. AND SO, UM, IF, UH, IF YOU'RE OUT THERE, UH, AND YOU'RE LISTENING AND YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON, I INVITE YOU TO FIND OUT WHICH BASE IN YOU'RE IN, AND THEN SHOW UP, START SHOWING UP TO THOSE MEETINGS BECAUSE DECISIONS ARE GETTING MADE HERE OVER THE NEXT YEAR THAT ARE GONNA AFFECT YOU AND HOW YOU, UM, UTILIZE GROUNDWATER HERE IN MERCER COUNTY. AND, UM, AND IF YOU'RE NOT SURE WHERE TO GET STARTED, GIVE ME A CALL OR, OR GIVE YOUR SUPERVISOR A CALL IF, UM, UH, IF YOU WANT TO GET MORE INVOLVED. UM, AND THEN I, I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT. UH, WE GET ASKED PERIODICALLY TO HOLD MEETINGS AT NIGHT. AND, UM, AND SO I, I JUST WANT TO SHARE MY LATEST EXPERIENCE WITH, UH, HAVING A MEETING AT NIGHT. SO WE DID A REDISTRICTING MEETING AT SIX O'CLOCK, UH, BOTH IN LOS BANUS AND HERE IN . AND, UH, WE HAD 11 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SHOW UP, AND WE HAD, UM, MORE THAN THAT AND STAFF, UM, COUNTY AND MCOE AND OTHER STAFF THAT WERE INVOLVED. AND, UH, AND, AND OF THE 11, UH, PUBLIC MEMBERS THAT SHOWED UP, UH, THREE WERE ACTUALLY, UM, UH, ARE COMPENSATED BY ORGANIZATIONS TO ADVOCATE BEHALF OF, OF DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES AND THE RESIDENTS. AND SO, SO TWO OF THEM WERE JUST SPOUSES WHO CAME ALONG AND, UH, SO REALLY WE HAD SIX MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC REPRESENTED. AND, UM, UH, AND SO I JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT, UM, THAT IN MY EXPERIENCE, IN THE PAST, WHEN WE START HOLDING MEETINGS AT NIGHT, THE FIRST MEETING, THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT SHOW UP THE SECOND MEETING, THERE IS FAR FEWER, AND BY THE THIRD OR FOURTH MEETING, WE'RE BACK TO NORMAL OF WHO ATTENDS, UH, OUR DAILY MEETINGS OR OUR MEETINGS THAT ARE HELD IN THE AFTERNOON. AND IT IS SO MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE FOR US TO HOLD MEETINGS AT NIGHT. AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE, ALLOWING THEM TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT, UM, AT ANY TIME, REALLY BEFORE THE MEETING, ONCE THE AGENDA COMES OUT. AND SO, UH, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE, WE, WE TRY TO DO OUR BEST, UM, TO, UM, HAVE CIVIC AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND, UM, EH, YOU KNOW, BUT I JUST WANT TO SHARE WHAT MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN WITHHOLDING, HOLDING MEETINGS AT NIGHT. UM, I ALSO, UH, ATTENDED THE BRICK BREAKING BARRIERS, UM, UH, OPEN HOUSE ON FRIDAY. AND I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, TO LET YOU KNOW THAT, UM, W WHEN, WHEN GOVERNMENT GETS GOING, WE G WE HAVE ALL THESE DEPARTMENTS AND THEY GENERALLY OPERATE IN SILOS, YOU KNOW, AND, AND OUR DEPARTMENTS WORK REALLY HARD AT BREAKING DOWN THOSE BARRIERS. AND, UH, SO, SO AT THIS BREAKING BARRIER SITE, AND IT'S BREAKING BARRIERS OF PEOPLE ON PROBATION, RIGHT, AS WHO WE'RE TRYING TO HELP BREAK BARRIERS, BUT IT ALSO BROKE DOWN THE BARRIERS OF OUR COUNTY DEPARTMENTS. AND SO, UH, THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT, UH, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES, WORKFORCE INVESTMENT, UM, ARE ALL EMBEDDED IN ONE BUILDING. AND, UH, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, SO WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO HELP CHANGE PEOPLE'S LIVES. AND, UH, AND SO I JUST WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THE DIRECTORS OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS, UH, KUDOS. AND, AND THEN, UH, HSA HAS ALSO, UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT THE NECESSARILY EMBEDDED, BUT THEY PROVIDE SERVICES AS WELL. ALL DADS MATTER CLASSES, UH, ALL MOMS MATTER CLASSES. AND, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY THAT'S, UH, THAT'S, UH, IN THE, UM, JUDICIAL SYSTEM, RIGHT? SOMETIMES THEY DON'T SEE A WAY OUT OF IT. AND SO OUR, UH, OUR DEPARTMENTS, I'M REAL PROUD OF THEM FOR PUTTING TOGETHER A SPACE THAT, UH, WE CAN CHANGE PEOPLE'S LIVES. AND NOT ONLY WE DO, WE SERVE THE PERSON THAT'S ON PROBATION THERE, BUT, BUT STAFF HAS MADE THE RECOMMENDATION AND IMPLEMENTED TREATING THE WHOLE FAMILY. RIGHT. IMAGINE IF YOU'RE A CHILD OF A PERSON WHO'S, UH, WHO'S BEEN INCARCERATED, UH, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU SEE A BETTER FUTURE FOR YOURSELF? AND SO, ANYWAYS, JUST KUDOS TO OUR STAFF. I [01:05:01] REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE THERE, AND THAT IS IT FOR MY BOARD REPORT. I'M SEEING NOTHING ELSE TO COME BEFORE THE MEETING. I'LL CALL IT A JOURNEY. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.