[00:00:04]
OKAY.[Call to Order]
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.WELCOME TO THE AUGUST 10TH, 2021 MERCER COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO DO NOT WISH TO ATTEND IN PERSON.
WE HAVE BEEN ACCEPTING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS VIA EMAIL AND VOICEMAIL FOR NON AGENDA AND AGENDA ITEMS. PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOU HAVE LEFT A VOICEMAIL, THAT THAT, UH, GOES TOWARDS YOUR THREE MINUTES AND IF YOU WANT YOUR VOICEMAIL SUBMITTED, UM, THERE WON'T BE A PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON.
SO WE CAN'T DOUBLE DIP HERE NOW TO START WITH THE INVOCATION LED BY PASTOR HAMMOND FROM LOS BANOS AT THE BETHEL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
THANK YOU SIR, FOR COMING IN DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET HERE TOGETHER, CONDUCT A BUSINESS AND FOR OUR COUNTY, WE THANK YOU FOR THE FREEDOMS THAT WE ENJOY AS AMERICANS TO DO.
SO I THANK YOU FOR EACH SUPERVISOR FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND COURAGE IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES.
I THANK YOU FOR EACH DEPARTMENT, HEAD AND STAFF MEMBER.
WE ASK YOUR BLESSINGS UPON EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM UPON THEIR FAMILIES, PROTECT THEM, KEEP THEM SAFE AS THEY CONTINUE TO LEAD US THROUGH THE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE ALL FACING, GIVE EACH OF THEM, YOUR WISDOM AND GUIDANCE AS THEY NAVIGATE THROUGH THE HARD DECISIONS, UNPRECEDENTED CIRCUMSTANCES, AND PRESSURES FROM OTHER ENTITIES.
I THANK YOU FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT, AND FOR THE THINGS THAT OUR CITIZENS NEED THE MOST MAY, WE ALWAYS KEEP A RIGHTEOUS PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT IS TRULY IMPORTANT AND NEEDFUL.
WE THANK YOU FOR KEEPING YOUR HAND UPON HER SAID COUNTY.
AND WE ASKED THAT YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO KEEP US IN YOUR HANDS SO THAT OUR FUTURE WOULD BE BRIGHT AND PROSPEROUS.
WE ASK THESE THINGS IN THE NAME OF JESUS, AMEN.
AND TO KEEP IN THE SPIRIT OF THE WEST SIDE.
WE'LL ASK SUPERVISOR SOLVERA TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE READY.
SO I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF AMERICA, FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR OLVERA AND PASTOR HAMMOND, FOR THOSE KIND WORDS MOVING RIGHT ALONG THERE WAS NOT A CLOSED SESSION.
SO THERE IS NOTHING TO REPORT OUT TODAY.
[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK]
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT.WE WILL NOW TAKE COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND YOU WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE PODIUM.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, LET'S, UM, I THINK YOU HAD MY CUE THAT IF YOU'VE ALREADY LEFT A VOICEMAIL, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO TALK AS A PUBLIC COMMENT, OR IF YOU WANT TO DELETE YOUR VOICE NOW AND SPEAK HERE, WE CAN DO THAT, BUT IT MIGHT TAKE A LITTLE PLUS GO AHEAD AND DO THE VOICEMAILS FIRST, AND THEN WE'LL BE DIRECTED TO THE PODIUM AFTER THAT.
IT'S NOW TIME FOR PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER OF 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 LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.
THIS IS JOSEPH CASTEEL RESIDENT OF DEL HEIGHT, AND I AM CALLING, UH, REGARDING TO LEAVE A COMMENT FOR AGENDA ITEM 23 ON TOMORROW SUPERVISOR MEETING, UH, UH, FOR AUGUST 10TH, UH, 2021.
AND THE COMMENT IS THAT, UH, AS A RESIDENT OF DEL HI, UH, I WOULD LIKE AMERICAN RESCUE FUNDS TO BE SET ASIDE FOR A RECREATION CENTER SLASH PARK FOR THE COMMUNITY OF DEL HYDE.
I THINK IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT AND NECESSITY, UH, THE COMMUNITY'S GROWING, UM, AND WE'RE AN OUTLINED BEDROOM COMMUNITY FOR BIGGER COMMUNITIES, SUCH AS TURLOCK, UH, UH, BUT THAT STOWE AND, UM, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR YOUNG ADULTS AND CHILDREN
[00:05:01]
HAVE A PLACE TO COME TOGETHER AND MEET AND, AND HELP THE COMMUNITY GROW.AND, UM, UH, JUST TO HAVE A GENERAL PLACE, UH, UH, FOR COMMUNITY SPIRITS.
SO AGAIN, UH, THIS IS, UH, FOR AGENDA ITEM 23, UH, AMERICAN RESCUE FUNDS FOR, UH, THE RESTORATION CENTER SLASH PARK FOR DOHA, CALIFORNIA.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY I DIDN'T GET THE NAME OF THE PERSON, UM, BUT THE PERSON IS SPEAKING ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 23, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT AND WOULD LIKE FUNDS TO BE APPLIED TO THE DEL HIGH AREA, UH, SPECIFICALLY, UM, UH, PARK, UH, IS NEEDED IN THE AREA FOR YOUNG ADULTS TO BE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AND MEET EVERYTHING ELSE WAS TOO DISTORTED TO UNDERSTAND
I WASN'T ABLE TO CAPTURE THE NAME OF THE PERSON, BUT THEY'RE CALLING FROM DALE HIGH, ALSO REFERRING TO THE FUNDS ON ITEM NUMBER 23, UM, WITH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.
THEY'RE ALSO ASKING FOR A MEETING ROOM TO BE, UH, ADDED TO THE DALE HIGH AREA SO THAT THEY CAN COME TOGETHER AND MEET, UM, AS WELL AS A PARK.
THIS COMMENT IS ALSO REGARDING, UM, THE DELTA AREA AND ITEM NUMBER 23.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED A PARK IN DEL HI IN ORDER FOR A MEETING ROOM FOR US TO BE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AND, AND MEET.
I WOULD CALL THAT THE ITEM NUMBER ON THE AGENDA WILL BE NUMBER 23 AND CALLING TO VOICE MY SUPPORT REGARDING HAVING A COMMUNITY PARK IN DELL HEIGHTS BECAUSE THE CHILDREN BIKES BELONG TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND TO THE NATION, THE COMMUNITY CANNOT USE IT IN SCHOOL.
I WENT THERE WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN, UH, THE GROUNDS, THE PLAYGROUND BY THE, UM, HIGHER EDUCATION, UH, STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ALSO LIMITED ACCESS FOR US.
WE WERE SORRY, BUT WE COULD SAY THAT WE COULDN'T USE ALL OF IT ANYWAY, THE COMMUNITY DEDICATED TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY THE MATTER I THEN, AND I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S NUMBER 23, UH, THE COMMUNITY NEEDS, UM, UM, UM, AND THAT WOULD NOT BE THE PROPERTY OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SO THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN MEET WHENEVER NECESSARY AND ACCORDING TO THE NEEDS, RATHER THAN ACCORDING TO THE SCHEDULE PROVIDED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
ALSO THAT ROOM COULD BE USED TO, UM, UM, COULD BE USED FOR, UM, PHYSICAL EXERCISE CLASSES, NIGHT CLASSES RIGHT NOW THAT HAPPENED IN, UM,
[00:10:01]
I, ONE OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THAT THE DISTRICT, WHICH IS ALLOWING US TO USE THAT AGAIN, ACCORDING TO THE RULE.SO IT TOTALLY WILL BACKSEAT THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN EAT AND AS WELL FOR PHYSICAL EXERCISE.
OH, I'M NUMBER 2 0 9 2 2 6 3 9 4 5.
THIS CONCLUDES THE VOICEMAILS RECEIVED.
AND AT THIS TIME, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO PUBLIC COMMENT HERE WITHIN, AND WE'LL GO AHEAD AND START FROM THE BACK.
SO TODAY IT'S THE THREE P'S THAT I PRESENTED AT THE LE GRAND HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION.
NUMBER ONE, PASSION PICK A GOAL.
MY GOAL IS THE SAME GOAL IT'S BEEN FOR OVER A YEAR NOW TO GET THESE KIDS BACK INTO SCHOOL, THE RULES AND THE PARAMETERS ARE BEING OF THIS GAME HAVE BEEN SET BY SOMEBODY ELSE.
AND AT THIS POINT, UM, UH, I CAN'T DO MUCH ABOUT IT, BUT, UM, I'VE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION AND, UM, WHETHER IT CAME TO TESTING VACCINATING, UM, I'VE BEEN DOING WHAT I CAN TO MOVE THIS WHOLE EFFORT FORWARD.
UM, IN SCHOOL HAS ALREADY STARTED FOR SOME STARTS TOMORROW FOR A GOOD MAJORITY.
AND VERY SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE REST, UH, I AM VERY PROUD OF WHAT I'VE DONE.
UM, I'M PROUD THAT OF YOU, UH, STOOD RIGHT ALONG BESIDE ME, RODRIGO I'M IN LIVINGSTON, IN PLANADA, UH, MIGRAINE CAM JOSH IN MY PARKING LOT.
UM, I'M SURE THERE WERE OTHER PLACES AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.
UM, AND, UM, I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT, JIM, YOUR OFFICE, UH, THE CITY HALL.
I MEAN, THERE WERE MANY PARTS OF THIS WHERE I NEEDED YOUR HELP AND YOU DIDN'T HESITATE AND YOU GOT ME THE RESOURCES I NEED.
UM, SO FOR YOUR COLLABORATION AND STANDING SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH ME, ROLLING UP YOUR SLEEVES, AND IN SOME CASES TAKING IT IN YOUR ARM, I'M VERY PROUD THAT I WAS ABLE TO BE PART OF THIS, BUT WE NEED THE FLIGHT'S NOT OVER AND WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.
UM, I REGRETFULLY FEEL SOME POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS GOING INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR.
THERE'S A CHANCE THAT WE MIGHT FALTER, UH, THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE.
KIDS ARE GOING TO BE SENT HOME AGAIN.
THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE TEACHERS.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH OF THEM.
IF THEY GET SICK, THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH SUBSTITUTES.
AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WHERE WE WERE WITH CLASSROOM CLOSURES AND GOD FORBID, SCHOOL CLOSURES.
AND, UH, THAT WOULD BE A FAILURE THAT I DON'T WANT TO SEE.
UM, I'M CONTINUING MY EFFORTS.
UH, THERE'S UH, A BIG EFFORT I'M TRYING TO COORDINATE BETWEEN GOLDEN VALLEY HEALTH CENTERS AND, UH, AND THE SCHOOLS.
I'M GOING TO TRY TO PUSH THAT FORWARD AS FAR AS I CAN.
SO I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT I CAN.
MY ASK IS, IS THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU FIND YOUR THREE-PIECE FIND YOUR PASSION, PAY ATTENTION AND MOVE US FORWARD, PLEASE.
CHAIR SUPERVISORS, COUNTY COUNCIL CEO BROWN.
THE FIRST TWO ITEMS ON YOUR CONSENT CALENDAR ARE PROCLAMATIONS TO PREPARE OUR COMMUNITY FOR SEPTEMBER 21 SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH AND NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH.
EVERY YEAR BHRS WANTS TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF SUICIDE PREVENTION AND NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH.
BUT I THINK IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE STOP AND TAKE AN EXTRA MOMENT THIS YEAR AND HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THOSE STATISTICS.
ACCORDING TO THE CDC, DURING THE PANDEMIC 20% OF OUR CHILDREN, BETWEEN THE AGES OF FIVE AND 12 EXPERIENCED AN INCREASE IN MENTAL HEALTH SYMPTOMS, 25% INCREASE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 12 AND 18, A 63% INCREASE
[00:15:01]
FOR THOSE, BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 24, 40 8% OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOLERS CONTEMPLATED SUICIDE IN THE LAST 30 DAYS.THAT IS ACCORDING TO THE CDC, ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH ACROSS ALL AGE GROUPS, SUICIDE WAS IN THE TOP 10TH CAUSE OF DEATH.
LAST YEAR, SUICIDE WAS THE EIGHTH CAUSE OF DEATH FOR THOSE OVER THE AGE OF 65 AND THE SECOND CAUSE OF DEATH FOR THOSE, BETWEEN THE AGES OF 10 AND 25, WE NO LONGER HAVE A SILENT PANDEMIC.
IT IS SURGING AND IT IS THERE.
AND AS THE DEPARTMENT HEAD OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, I REFUSE TO BE SILENT.
WE HEAR YOU AND WE SEE YOU AND WE WILL EMBRACE YOU.
I ASKED OUR COMMUNITY TO PAY ATTENTION, PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR CHILDREN.
PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR PARENTS AND YOUR GRANDCHILDREN.
PAY ATTENTION TO THE WORDS OF DR.
ASADI PAY ATTENTION TO THE WORDS OF OUR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS.
PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR OWN MENTAL HEALTH SYMPTOMS. IF YOU ARE NOT OKAY, ASK FOR HELP.
OUR PHONE NUMBER IS THREE EIGHT ONE SIX EIGHT ZERO ZERO.
ONCE AGAIN, OUR PHONE NUMBER IS THREE EIGHT ONE SIX EIGHT ZERO ZERO.
WE ARE OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
WE ARE HERE BY PHONE, BY TELE-HEALTH BY WALK IN.
WE ARE GOING TO EMBRACE ANYONE WHO NEEDS MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT.
AND WE ARE PREPARING TO MAKE SURE THAT SUICIDE PREVENTION AND RECOVERY PREVENTION IS ALL AROUND THIS COUNTY.
AND IF I COULD KEEP YOU HERE, UM, KNOWING AND HAVING A FAMILY MEMBER WHO WENT THROUGH THIS, WHAT'S THE PROPER STEPS.
I'VE HAD FRIENDS WHO HAVE GONE TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM BECAUSE OF THEIR ANXIETY AND FEELING THAT THERE MAY BE LOSING CONTROL.
SO IF ANYBODY CAN REFER SOMEBODY OR RECOMMEND HOW, WHAT, WHAT IS THE PROCESS, IF YOU COULD TOUCH ON THAT? BECAUSE I THINK IT'S A LITTLE, UM, CONFUSING ON HOW THAT COULD BE, BUT WE'D LIKE TO MAKE THAT AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THIS IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
THE FIRST THING TO DO IS CALL OUR NUMBER, WHICH IS THE 2 0 9 8 1 6 8 0 0.
WE WILL TRIAGE YOU OVER THE PHONE IMMEDIATELY.
IF YOU ARE NOT IN IMMEDIATE RISK, WE WILL EITHER SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT.
WE WILL SCHEDULE EITHER VIA TELEHEALTH OR DIRECTLY IN OUR OFFICE, OR WE WILL LINK YOU TO THE APPROPRIATE SERVICE IF THERE IS IMMEDIATE RISK BECAUSE OF COVID.
AND WE DON'T WANT TO CLOSE DOWN OUR INPATIENT FACILITIES.
WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE OUR MURRAY GREEN, NOT BE ABLE TO BE OPERATIONAL.
WE ARE SENDING PEOPLE TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FIRST TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS TAKEN CARE OF.
UM, WE DO HAVE ALL PROTOCOLS AND AGREEMENTS WITH SUTTER AND DIGNITY.
THIS IS NOT ME DOING ANYTHING WRONG.
UM, SUTTER AND DIGNITY WE'LL THEN DO A MEDICAL CLEARANCE.
WE THEN HAVE STAFF EMBEDDED THERE OR DOING TELE-HEALTH SCREENINGS THROUGH THOSE FACILITIES AND THEN LINKING DIRECTLY TO OUR CSU OR DIRECTLY TO OUR MARIE GREEN.
BECAUSE AS SUPERVISORS, THIS IS A DISCUSSION WE'RE HAVING WITH A LOT OF HER CONSTITUENCY AT THIS POINT.
SO NOW WE HAVE A DIRECTION OF HOW WE CAN FOCUS AND HELP FOLKS OUT.
I THINK HE, MY NAME IS WILLIAM TURNED OUT I'M FROM THE WEST SIDE OF MERCIA, RIGHT? AND, UM, WE HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH OUR SOCIAL LIFE OVER THERE.
IF YOU PEOPLE CAN HELP US GET A BETTER PLATFORM THAN WHAT WE HAVE TO FACILITY, TAKE A BETTER PLACE WHERE WE COULD, UH, SOCIALIZE THEN MCNAMARA PARK.
WE WANT TO, UM, BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF OUR THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN YOUR, IN YOUR COMMUNITY, LIKE OUR CULTURAL FOODS AND, UH, ART AND WHATEVER WE HAVE.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S NOT EVEN NOWHERE AROUND.
AND WE ASK THEM THAT YOU COULD HELP US ON THE WEST SIDE OF MERCY.
AND IT'S NOT JUST, UH, FOR THE BLACKS, IT'S JUST FOR THE WHOLE
[00:20:01]
WEST SIDE PEOPLE IN ITSELF.WE HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING TO, UH, A LOT OF THESE PLACES FOR NOT HAVING THE, THE PLATFORM, NOT, NOT HAVING THAT ACCESSIBILITY, THAT, THAT WE NEED TO, UM, BETTER EYE CONDITION AS FAR AS, UH, SOCIALIZING.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? SO IT IS A LOT OF US HAS BEEN SOMEWHERE, BUT IT'S NOT WHERE WE'VE BEEN.
THAT'S WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO GO.
AND, UH, WE NEED HELP OVER THERE.
AND, UM, IT'S NOT THE KIND OF HELP YOU JUST COME AND LOOK AT IT AND SAY, OKAY, AND THEN WE NEVER SEE YOU.
THEN WE NEED YOU TO COME BACK AND CHECK ON US EVERY NOW AND THEN, ESPECIALLY WITH THINGS THAT I HEAR PROBLEMS WITH, PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH MENTAL, THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND SOMETIME MUSIC IS THE BEST THING THAT HAPPENED.
I'VE NEVER HEARD MUSIC PLAYED IN THE PARK, NOWHERE AROUND HERE IN A LONG TIME AND, UM, NEEDED A RADIO STATION THAT CAN, UH, REALLY TRUSTED PEOPLE'S MIND THAT COULD CALM SOMEBODY DOWN.
IT SEEMED LIKE THE MUSIC, IT HAS ALL RAP MUSIC AND, AND, AND, AND MUSIC THAT PEOPLE MIDDLE-AGED, PEOPLE CAN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND.
SO WE, WE HAVE TO SIT BACK AND GO FOR SOME THINGS IT'S REALLY NOT HELPING US NONE, BUT TO SIT WITH OUR HEAD AND OUR CHIN, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, IF YOU COULD HEAR ME IN TERMS OF, UH, HELPING US TO GET SOME TYPE OF SOCIAL LIFE OTHER THAN MCNAMARA PARK, IT WOULD BE A GREAT HELP BECAUSE THAT'S NOT EVEN A GOOD PLACE FOR OUR KIDS.
EITHER THE SLIDES ARE IRONED, THE SIGN IS HEATING IT UP, WHERE KIDS CAN GO PLAY ON THAT THING.
AND, UH, IT'S NOT LIKE THE OTHER PARKS AROUND HERE, NOT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE LOOKING DOWN ON THOSE BAD, BUT IT SEEMED LIKE WE'D BEEN FORGOTTEN A LITTLE BIT OVER THERE.
AND, UH, WE NEED SOME HELP OVER THERE.
IF YOU GUYS JUST BE CONSIDERING SOMETIME CALL ME UP.
I'LL, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL WORK WITH YOUR HAND IN HAND ABOUT HOW TO, UH, GET A SOCIAL PLATFORM FOR THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, PLUS ANYBODY IN THE STATE OF MIND THAT WE'RE IN.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, IT'S FOR THE WEST SIDE OF MYRCENE AND ANYBODY THAT HAS A CONFUSED STATE OF WHAT'S GOING ON, LIKE WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, THIS SUICIDE AND ALL THIS STUFF, MUSICAL COMEDY SAVAGE, BEAST, YOU KNOW, AND, UM, IT'S NEEDED.
UM, SIR, IF, IF YOU COULD PLEASE, UM, IN THE OFFICE, THEY HAVE, I HAVE SOME CARDS, UH, WITH MY CONTACT INFORMATION, AND THEN IF YOU CAN LEAVE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION SO THAT I CAN TOUCH BASE WITH YOU AND WE CAN, I CAN FOLLOW UP WILL.
IT'S RIGHT OVER HERE, BUT YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH HR.
I SEE STAFF GRABBING STAFF IS GOING.
SO JUST, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, SO I, SO WE CAN TOUCH BASE.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME AS BLANCA MAKES HER WAY TO THE PODIUM NOW, BLANCA, ON THE LEFT SIDE, YOU CAN LOWER THE PODIUM.
YOU CAN LOWER IT SO YOU CAN GOOD MORNING.
HONORABLE TABLE BORE ON BARSADE AND YOUR FAMILY ARE WELL IN HELL.
MY NAME IS BLANCA LOZANO FROM THERE.
I CAME TO THE AND TELL YOU ABOUT MY TOWN.
THEY'LL HYPE IS NEEDS A ROOM TO MAKE THEIR MEETINGS IN A SPECIAL MUG.
I AM MY SAY COMPETITION IS TO HAVE ONE PACK GUAM PARK FOR TWO FAMILIES AND THE KIDS.
THEY HAVE A SPACE FRIENDLY AND FREE LIBERTY WITH HAVE PLAYGROUNDS.
NOW I, NOW YOU HAVE $56 MILLIONS DOLLARS IN YOUR HANDS.
AND I WANT TO TAKE THAT CHANCE IN ISP.
MY WORDS ARE SPECIAL TO MY SUPERVISOR, LAURIE PEREDA MANY THINGS I HEAR ME AND GOD BLESS YOU.
[00:25:06]
UM,WE ALSO HAVE HERE WITH OUR TEAM THREE, UH, MEMBERS FROM DELL.
HI THERE ARE THREE BASEBALL PLAYERS WHO WON THE NATIONAL TITLE IN NEVADA, RENO, NEVADA WE NEED A RECREATIONAL PARK BUILT IN DELL HIGH SO THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO PLAY IT'S THE END ON THE
WE HAVE TO ASK PERMISSION FROM THE SCHOOL AT ALL TIMES IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT PARK.
SO THE PARK IS IN REALLY BAD CONDITION AND WE NEED A PARK BUILT SO THAT THEY CAN MEET AND PRACTICE THERE.
WE NEED THEM TO BE ABLE TO STAY IN DELL HIGH AND BE AN EXAMPLE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
AT THIS POINT, MAYBE THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO, UH, BENEFIT FROM THIS, BUT THERE ARE GOING TO BE FUTURE GENERATIONS THAT WILL BE ABLE TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I LIVE IN OHIO AS WELL, AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY, I AM A REPORTER FOR ITEM 23.
I WANT TO, UM, FEED HER HIGH IMPROVEMENT.
UH, WE DO WANT TO SEE SOME PART FOR THE YOUNG KIDS AND FOR THE FAMILY TO HAVE FUN.
AND, UM, MAYBE SOME SOMETHING WITH WATER BECAUSE KIDS LOVE WATER.
AND SO I SHOW WE NEED SOME, SOME BUILDING FOR THE COMMUNITY FOR YOUNG KIDS TO, UM, ANYBODY TO BE WELCOME TO COME IN, LEARN ABOUT PROGRAM AND TRAINING, TO KEEP KIDS, UM, OFTEN DRUGS AND PROGRAM TO PREPARE THEM IN THE FUTURE.
UM, I 10 IN HERE I'M VERY PROUD FOR THE YOUNG KIDS WHO HAVE A POSITIVE LIFE AND TO CONTINUE TO APPLY POSITIVE LIFE AND THAT SUPPORT.
UM, IT'S SAD THAT NOT ALL THE KIDS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE WHAT THEY HAVE BECAUSE A LOT OF THE YOUNG KIDS INVOLVED IN DRUGS AND IN JAIL, IN PRISON.
SO LET'S CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE YOUNG KIDS AND THEY'LL HIDE AND, UM, TO THE POLICE TO HELP US THEN TO CONTINUE.
AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR HEARING MY, MY PEACE.
IS ANYBODY ELSE WANTING TO SPEAK? KHALISA I SEE YOUR HAND KIND OF RAISED.
DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT WAS JUST A GESTURE, I GUESS.
UM, I AM HERE TODAY REPRESENTING NOT JUST MY ORGANIZATION, BUT A REGIONAL COALITION THAT WE ARE A PART OF CALLED CENTRAL VALLEY UNITED FOR POWER.
CVR IS COMPOSED OF EIGHT REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.
THE LORD IS WORTH THE FOUNDATION FAITH IN THE VALLEY POWER, CALIFORNIA, UM, LEADERSHIP COUNCIL CENTER FOR RACE AND, UM, THE ENVIRONMENT AND, UM, HMONG INNOVATING POLITICS TOGETHER.
WE ENSURE THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACROSS THE REGION IS CENTERING EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYONE.
WHEN THEY MAKE POLICY DECISIONS, IT'S REALLY CRITICAL FOR US THAT BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES ARE HEARD, SEEN, AND VALUED.
UM, THIS PANDEMIC, UM, YOU KNOW, HAS MADE THE ISSUE SEEM ENDLESS AND WE'RE LIVING THIS UNPRECEDENTED AND HISTORIC MOMENT.
UM, THIS MOMENT HAS ALSO UNDOUBTEDLY GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US AS LEADERS TO, UM, BE MORE DECISIVE AND INNOVATIVE IN THE WAY THAT YOU CHART A NEW PATH FORWARD FOR OUR PEOPLE, SPECIFICALLY YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLOR IN MERCER COUNTY, IMMIGRANT, AND REFUGEES THAT WORKED FOR MANY OF Y'ALL AND, UM, LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES.
[00:30:01]
EXACERBATED AND BROUGHT TO LIGHT.MANY OF THE INEQUITIES THAT HAVE ALREADY EXISTED IN MERCER COUNTY, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FUN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN MOST IMPACTED BY COVID AND INVESTING IN SERVICES THAT KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE, HOUSING, HEALTH CARE, UTILITY PAYMENTS, FOOD, ACCESS, YOUTH, INVESTMENT INFRASTRUCTURE, AND RAIL INVESTMENTS.
UM, AMONG OTHERS, WE URGE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO PROTECT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE BY INVESTING IN EQUITABLE YOUTH AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
AND SPECIFICALLY WE ARE ASKING MERCER COUNTY TO, UM, FOCUS ON YOUNG PEOPLE AND UNINCORPORATED LOW INCOME COMMUNITY FOR COLOR FOR CHILDS.
UM, THEY'LL HIGH AS THE DIRECTOR OF 99 ROOTZ I WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS SOMERSET COUNTY.
WE, UH, CONDUCTED A YOUTH POLL.
AND IN OUR SURVEY, WE FOUND THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE TOP THREE ECONOMIC PRIORITIES FOR YOUTH ACROSS THE CENTRAL VALLEY ARE ENCOMPASSED UNDER BASIC NEEDS, HELP WITH WAGES AND INCOME RENT, OR MORTGAGE RELIEF AND HELP WITH FOOD MEDICINE AND BASIC RESOURCES.
IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR, WE CONDUCTED ANOTHER YOUTH SURVEY IN, UH, THIS TIME, OUR YOUTH SURVEY FOCUSED.
IF YOU WANT TO MAKE YOUR POINT THAT THE THREE MINUTES YOU ALL GOT OUR LETTER, WE'RE HOPING TO FOLLOW UP AND WORK WITH YOU ALL TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE GET INVESTMENT IN YOUTH PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING, AND ALSO UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME.
I'M A POLICY ADVOCATE FOR LEADERSHIP COUNCIL FOR JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY, AND A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF MERCER COUNTY.
UM, I WANT TO THANK JIM BROWN FOR HIS PHONE CALL, LETTING ME KNOW ABOUT IT AT GIANT AGENDA ITEM 23.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GIVING ME THAT HEADS UP.
UM, I HAD AN COMMUNITY MEETING IN DOLL HIGH LAST NIGHT, AS YOU CAN SEE, AND I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT EVERYONE SHOWED UP TO TALK ABOUT AGENDA ITEM 23 HERE, AND, UM, I'M HERE ALONGSIDE ANY NINE ROUTES AND FAITH IN THE VALLEY.
AND I WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT SPECIFICALLY ABOUT HOUSING AND MERSEYSIDE COUNTY.
AND I AM ASKING FOR THE COUNTY TO ALLOCATE $5 MILLION TO RIGHTS TO COUNCIL.
AND DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE SAW A LOT OF VOLUNTARY EVICTIONS HAPPEN FOR UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE WHO WERE TOO AFRAID TO FIGHT ILLEGAL EVICTIONS, UH, BECAUSE OF THEIR UNDOCUMENTED STATUS.
UH, WE ARE EXPERIENCING A HOUSING CRISIS, NOT JUST IN THE CITY OF MARSAI, BUT ACROSS ALL OF OUR SET COUNTY.
WE'RE SEEING SO MANY COMPANIES MOVE IN NON-UNIONIZED JOBS, SUCH AS AMAZON THAT DO NOT PAY A LIVING WAGE.
PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.
AND WE CAN SEE THAT THE CENTRAL VALLEY IS BEING DEVELOPED AT AN ALARMING RATE, WHICH IN THEORY IS GREAT, BUT PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.
AND, UM, SECONDLY, I'VE BEEN MEETING WITH VARIOUS PEOPLE IN SOUTH NARSAD, FARM WORKERS WHO HAVE DREAMS OF HOME OWNERSHIP AND WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO AFFORD BUYING A HOUSE.
AND I'M ASKING THAT THE COUNTY INVEST IN A FARM WORKER, SPECIFIC HOMEOWNER, UH, PROGRAM WITH THESE FUNDS.
UM, THE PEOPLE THAT GROW OUR FOOD, WHO WORK IN YOUR DAIRIES, WHO ARE OUT UNDER THE HOT SUN, THEY DESERVE TO OWN A HOME.
AND I HOPE THAT THE COUNTY TAKES THE OPPORTUNITY WITH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS TO CONSIDER A PROGRAM LIKE THIS.
ADDITIONALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT INCREASED PUBLIC SERVICES IN SOME UNINCORPORATED, UH, DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.
I MEET WITH LADIES IN
AND I KNOW THAT ATWATER HAS A PROGRAM WHERE A SPECIALIST WILL COME FROM TURLOCK ONCE A WEEK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I'M HOPING THAT THE COUNTY WILL FUND SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND THOSE MILLENNIALS WILL LOOK INTO CREATING SOMETHING SO THAT FOLKS DON'T NEED TO LEAVE ALL THE WAY TO MERCY SAID TO RECEIVE, UH, BASIC HEALTH CARE SERVICES.
UM, I'M WOULD BE HAPPY TO HELP WITH RESEARCH ON THAT, ALTHOUGH I'M SURE YOUR STAFF CAN HANDLE THAT.
[00:35:01]
WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.CAUSE THESE LADIES HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH HAVING TO TRAVEL FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
AND I ALSO AM HOPING THAT WITH THESE FUNDS, YOU ALL CONSIDER A HEALTHCARE FOR ALL UNDOCUMENTED FOLKS DESERVE ACCESS TO INCOME.
I CANNOT SAY THIS ENOUGH, THIS REGION IS DEPENDENT ON UNDOCUMENTED LABOR.
I, WE SEE THIS AND WE NEED THEM AND THEY DESERVE RESOURCES LIKE THE REST OF US.
THANK YOU BUTTONS TO THE RIGHT.
IF YOU NEED TO LOWER IT A LITTLE BIT.
UH, MY NAME IS BLANCA AND, UM, I'M A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER WITH FAITH IN THE VALLEY.
I'M ALSO A MERSEYSIDE CITY RESIDENT.
UM, AND I'VE BEEN A MERCER COUNTY RESIDENT FOR A REALLY LONG TIME LIVING IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS.
UM, I'M HERE TODAY, HOWEVER, TO, TO LIFT UP, UM, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONALLY, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE SEEN AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, UM, AND AS A MEMBER OF OUR COALITION OF CENTRAL VALLEY COALITION, UM, AND KIND OF REITERATE, UH, THE NEED FOR HOUSING, UH, ADDITIONAL, YOU KNOW, UM, W W WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS, YOU KNOW, THE UNLAWFUL EVICTIONS HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, UM, THROUGHOUT DIFFERENT AREAS OF, OF
UM, AND I REALLY WANT TO LIFT UP, YOU KNOW, THE, THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL, UM, ALLOCATING FUNDING TO HAVE SO THAT OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS COULD HAVE, UM, A RIGHT TO COUNSEL THAT IS A COUNTY WIDE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, UM, SEEING FROM, AND HEARING FROM MANY PEOPLE IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF MERCER COUNTY.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THAT, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT PARKS AND RECREATION, UM, ALLOCATING 15 MILLION FOR IMPROVED AND INCREASED A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY CENTERS IN RURAL PARTS OF THE COUNTY, WHICH PROVIDE IMPORTANT SITES FOR DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES, SUCH AS FOOD, WATER PPE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND WILDFIRE, FIRE, AND DROUGHT SEASON, AND OTHER IMPORTANT ITEMS, A COMMUNITY CENTER SPECIFICALLY, UM, AS YOU'VE HEARD, SOME, SOME FOLKS MENTIONED ALREADY IN DELHIGH WITH OUTDOOR SHADED AREAS FOR COMMUNITIES TO MEET, UM, INDOORS AND OUTDOORS, UM, ALLOCATE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC RESTROOMS, UM, ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES SUCH AS PINATA, UH, ACCESS TO BATHROOMS AT THE PARKS.
UH, IN MANY AREAS, THE COUNTY HAS LOCKED THE BATHROOMS, UH, ALLOCATING AT LEAST 5 MILLION FOR PARKS IN MARSET COUNTY, INCLUDING 350,000 TO 500,000 FOR PARKS, UH, AND A MASTER PLAN AND UPGRADES TO EXISTING PARKS AND AREAS SUCH AS SOMETHING NYLA, LOS VINYLS, UM, ADDING TREES AND BATHROOMS, UH, AGAIN, UM, AND AREAS SUCH AS LITTLE SPANIELS AND, UM, IN THE GROUPS OF WOMEN THAT I'VE ALSO HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEAK TO FOLKS, UH, WOULD LIKE TO SEE A COMMUNITY CENTER PLACED IN DOS PALOS.
SO THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE LIFT UP TODAY.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME SEEING NONE? I KEEP HEARING EVERYTHING ABOUT ALL THESE UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES, BUT I IT'D BE REMISSED IF WITH JOHN SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE HERE THAT BEACHWOOD FRANKLIN AREA WASN'T MENTIONED A ONE TIME, BUT WE ALWAYS HAD TO KEEP THEM IN MIND AS WELL.
AND WITH THAT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE FROM THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
IS APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA, CALENDAR ITEMS, ONE THROUGH FIVE ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS? I THINK WE'RE DOING THE FULL CONSENT AGENDA, CORRECT? NOT JUST ITEMS ONE THROUGH FIVE, ONE THROUGH FIVE.SORRY, BECAUSE I THINK THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT YOU WANTED TO PULL.
SEE I'M GOING BY THE SCRIPT INSTEAD OF GOING BY THE AGENDA.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PRAIRIE, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SOLVERA AND I SEE NO, UM, COMMENTERS IN THE QUEUE.
SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.
[00:40:04]
MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.NOW WE'LL DO OUR PRESENTATIONS.
SO DO WE PRESENTATION BY, BY J PRE-B ASSOCIATE CHIEF OF OPERATIONS AT GOLDEN VALLEY HEALTH CENTERS? LET ME GRAB THIS OVER HERE.
THIS IS A WHOLE LOT OF LOAD FOR JUST COMING BACK.
I APOLOGIZE FOR A STUMBLING INTO THIS ONE, BUT WE'LL STUMBLE TOGETHER.
SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO, UH, BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, WE ARE HERE TO RECOGNIZE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, CHEMISTRY FOR STRONG COMMUNITIES.
THIS IS NATIONAL HEALTH CENTER WEEK.
IT'S AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION RECOGNIZING INNOVATION AND QUALITY CARE PROVIDED BY COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS NATIONWIDE.
AND, UM, ON BEHALF OF THE MERCER COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, I'D LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS BLACK CERTIFICATE PROCLAMATION.
NO, WE, WE DEFINITELY, DURING THIS PANDEMIC TIME, WE REALLY APPRECIATE WORKING WITH YOUR GROUP AND HOW WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS.
WE CAN'T COULDN'T DO IT ALONE AT ALL.
AND WE LEAN ON YOU HEAVILY AT GOLDEN VALLEY HEALTH CENTERS.
SO IN RECOGNITION OF THIS WEEK, I'D LIKE TO PRESENT THIS WITH, TO YOU.
AND I WILL HAND YOU THE MIC YOU GET TO SPEAK.
YOU KNOW, UH, WHAT I WILL SHARE IS THAT I'M ACTUALLY NEW TO MARCET.
UH, I RECENTLY MOVED HERE FROM SEATTLE WASHINGTON TO ASSUME THIS ROLE AT GOLDEN VALLEY AND, AND IT'S AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE TO WORK FOR AN ORGANIZATION, TENACIOUS HEALTHCARE WORKERS, PROVIDING INCREDIBLE CARE TO THE CENTRAL VALLEY, UM, THROUGH A VERY DIFFICULT TIME, AND THEY CONTINUE TO GRIND AWAY AT IT.
SO IT'S, IT'S AN HONOR TO, TO BE A LEADER WITH THE ORGANIZATION AND BE A PART OF, UH, THE MERSEYSIDE COMMUNITY.
AND THANK YOU MLS FOR ORGANIZING THIS AND PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
SHE'S A GOOD PARTNER AND WE'VE WORKED WITH HER ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE PREVIOUS ONE, WASN'T FUN, BUT THIS ONE IS REALLY FUN, ESPECIALLY COMING FROM DISTRICT THREE.
I KNOW DEL HIGH WANTS THOSE BALL FIELDS, BUT I KNOW THE TEAMS FROM ATWATER AND PRACTICE A LOT IN THAT WATER.
IN FACT, I THINK I HAVE A NEIGHBOR NEIGHBORS ON THIS TEAM AS WELL.
SO, UM, WITH US TODAY ARE THE COACHES AND TEAM PLAYERS OF GAME TIME, BASEBALL, 13 AND UNDER REPRESENTING ATWATER AND MERCY COUNTY, WHO I AM PROUD TO ANNOUNCE HAVE NOT ONLY PARTICIPATED IN THE RENO TAHOE, YOUTH BASEBALL NATIONALS, BUT RETURNED AS NATIONAL CHAMPIONS.
IF I COULD INVITE YOU GUYS UP HERE, THANK YOU FOR SITTING THROUGH THE COMMENTS.
AS YOU CAN SEE, GOVERNMENT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART, BUT PLEASE, EVERYBODY COME ON UP.
GOVERNMENT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PART.
SO YOU GUYS GOT TO WITNESS THAT YOU THOUGHT YOU GOT OUT OF SCHOOL TODAY, BUT YOU ACTUALLY LEARNED SOMETHING AT THE SAME TIME AND THE COACH, OR HEY, MOLINA IS UP HERE.
AND I'M GOING TO TURN THE MIC OVER FOR YOU TO KIND OF EXPLAIN THIS WHOLE SITUATION, BEING A DAD AND A COACH AND EVERYTHING ON MY PART, I'VE PARTICIPATED IN WATER POLO AND BASKETBALL, TRAVELING ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES IN THOSE TOURNAMENTS.
SO I KNOW HOW MUCH TIME AND EFFORT, NOT ONLY BY THE KIDS PLAYING THE GAME, BUT BY THE PARENTS HAVING TO, HAVING TO PARTICIPATE AND BE THERE AS WELL AND CHEER YOU ON.
AND YOU GUYS ALL KNOW YOU COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOUR PARENTS.
SO WE'VE GOT TO GIVE THEM SOME CREDIT AS WELL.
UM, WELL THIS IS OUR TEAM HERE.
UH, WE STARTED THIS PROGRAM IN 2017, UH, COACH CEDAR AND I, UH, HIS WIFE, CLAUDIA, MY WIFE, SANDRA, UH, WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GETTING OURSELVES INTO WHEN WE DID IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WANTED TO DEFINITELY, UH, WE ALWAYS COACHED LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL AND WE FINALLY COMMITTED TO GO TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
AND WE'RE LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO FIND THESE BOYS THEY'VE BEEN TOGETHER FOR SUCH
[00:45:01]
A LONG TIME NOW, UM, TO MAKE, TO MAKE IT SHORT.UM, SINCE 20, UH, SINCE 20, UH, LAST YEAR, UH, 2020, BEFORE WHOLE COVID HIT, THEY'RE ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO BE COMPETING IN COOPERSTOWN AND NATIONALS, UH, LAST YEAR, BUT BECAUSE OF ALL THAT, IT GOT CANCELED.
SO WE WERE ACTUALLY ABLE TO PREPARE FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS FOR NATIONALS AND A MAN AT THE END OF THE DAY, THESE GUYS WENT OUT THERE, COMPETED AGAINST THE BEST FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
AND, AND THEY CAME OUT ON TOP AND, AND, UH, THEY BECAME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS.
WOW, GREATER THRILL THAN THAT.
AND JUST TO DO IT THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND HAVING TO STAY PRACTICING AND BEING COMMITTED TO EACH OTHER IS VERY IMPORTANT.
AND FOR COACHES BE ABLE TO PULL IT TOGETHER.
AND AGAIN, LET'S GIVE CREDIT TO THE PARENTS AS WELL.
UM, SINCE YOU GUYS, NOT ONLY, I HAVE CERTIFICATES HERE FOR THE COACHES AND THE PLAYERS, AND I BELIEVE THERE WERE SOME PLAYERS THAT EVEN MADE THE ALL-STAR TEAM AS WELL, ALL TOURNAMENTS.
WE HAD FOUR PLAYERS WHO, WHO GOT ELECTED TO PLAYING THE, UH, WHO WERE, UM, ALL STARS FOR THE NATIONAL TOURNAMENT.
AND THEY'RE ALSO GOT INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ALL-AMERICAN GAMES AND THE IRVINE, CALIFORNIA SUPPOSED TO BE HAULED IN FLORIDA, BUT IT GOT CHANGED.
THE, UH, IRVINE, UH, AND THEN ONE OF THEM IS, UH, HE'S NOT HERE TODAY.
UNFORTUNATELY IS ADAM PLACENTIA.
UM, NUMBER TWO, UH, MATT MCQUILLAN, IS HE HERE? OH, THEY CALL HIM, THEY CALL HIM SUNSHINE AND, UH, ANGEL RIVERA AND OUR MVP OF THE TOURNAMENT.
UH, JOE SAPIENS, THERE THERE'LL BE OUT THERE COMPETING AND, UM, THE OPPORTUNITY AS WELL TO, TO MAKE THE NATIONAL TEAM.
DID YOU SAY MVP OF THE TOURNAMENT? HE'S THE MVP OF THE TOURNAMENT? YES.
TO BRAG THAT AS DIVISION, THAT IT'S DISTRICT THREE, BUT I'D LIKE TO INVITE ALL THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS COME DOWN.
CAUSE YOU GUYS REPRESENT THE WHOLE ENTIRE COUNTY WHENEVER YOU'RE OUT THERE.
WE HAVE OUR, UH, PHOTOGRAPHER HERE.
I DO HAVE THE CERTIFICATES HERE ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
AND WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, UH, FOR WHAT YOU DO.
I KNOW AS KIDS, YOU'RE THINKING, MAN, I'M JUST PLAYING.
I JUST DO WHAT I DO, BUT NOW IT'S A BIG DEAL.
CAUSE YOU GUYS ROSE ABOVE THE OTHER LEVELS AND, AND PARTICIPATE, PARTICIPATE AT A HIGHER LEVEL.
JUST TAKE WHAT YOU LEARN AND CONTINUE THAT ON.
AND UH, LET LET'S, LET'S GO TO GREATER HEIGHTS.
CAUSE WHAT'S THE NEXT ONE, 15 AND UNDER, UH, THEY'RE ACTUALLY, THESE BOYS ARE GOING ON THE 14TH.
SO MAJORITY OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE PLAYING HIGH SCHOOL NEXT YEAR.
AND LET'S IT A BUNCH UP TOGETHER, COACH, IF YOU KNOW HOW TO PUNCH THEM UP TO, YOU KNOW, HAD A BUNCH OF STUFF THERE.
COME ON BACK A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS, THIS IS GOING ON THE WEBSITE.
HOLD ON, HOLD ON JUST A SECOND.
WANT TO TAKE SOME PICTURES?
AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING NOW.
YOU'RE NOT RELATED TO THE DEREK MOLINA.
THAT'S PLAYING PRO BALL RIGHT NOW.
I COACHED DEREK AND BASKETBALL.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS GUYS FROM ATWATER.
THERE'S THREE GUYS FROM DELL HIGH.
WELL, WE DON'T WANT TO BREAK UP THAT TEAM SO WE BETTER BE CAREFUL IF WE GET THAT BALL FIELD IN DELL, YOU GOT TO START YOUR OWN TEAM.
[BOARD ACTION]
OKAY.AT THIS TIME, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO THE BOARD.
ACTION ITEMS. NEXT IS BOARD ACTION.
ITEM SIX THROUGH NINE, PLEASE.
NOTE ITEMS SIX, SEVEN, AND EIGHT REQUIRE A FOUR FIFTH VOTE.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS? ARE WE TAKING COMMENTS ON ITEMS OR WE TOOK THOSE ALL AT THE BEGINNING.
I TOOK THEM ALL AT THE BEGINNING.
WE TOOK ALL OUR COMMENTS ON THESE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING.
[00:50:06]
UH, I BELIEVE SHE, YEAH, WE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING AGENDA AND NON AGENDA ITEMS. SHOULD I GO AHEAD? I WILL MAKE, AS THE CHAIRMAN, I WILL GO AHEAD AND ALLOW NOT ON EVERY ITEM.THIS IS YOU HAVE TO, IF YOU OPEN IT UP, THEN I'LL OPEN IT UP.
UM, I, UM, WAS WONDERING, UM, I HAD WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, UM, ITEM NUMBER EIGHT AND 23.
SHOULD I SPEAK ABOUT IT NOW OR WAIT TIL 23 COMES UP.
UM, FOR NUMBER EIGHT, UM, I THINK THAT IT'S A REALLY GOOD THING THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ARE WORKING TO ADDRESS THE EMERGENCY REGARDING THE DRINKING WATER WELL RESERVED AT THE CORRECTIONAL CENTER.
UM, IT'S ESTIMATED TO BE FIXED BY MID SEPTEMBER.
AND SO I'M REQUESTING THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, IF YOU COULD MEET IN PERSON WITH THE PEOPLE WHO WERE LIVING AT THE CORRECTIONAL CENTER AND TO TALK TO THEM, UM, AND TO, TO SEE FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE OF HOW THEY'RE DOING, IF THEY HAVE CLEAN WATER TO DRINK, IF THEY HAVE WATER TO WASH THEIR HANDS OR TAKE SHOWER AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR HYGIENE DURING COVID-19, UM, UM, THE PRISONERS ARE UNABLE TO COME HERE AND USE THEIR VOICE TO SPEAK TO YOU AT THIS MEETING.
SO I'M, I'M ASKING FOR YOU TO MEET WITH THEM AND TO TALK TO THEM AND TO HEAR FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE, ALL THE WATER ISSUES.
UM, I, I'M ALSO ASKING THAT YOU GIVE THEM PROTECTION FROM RETALIATION AND THAT THEIR, THEIR SENTENCE IS NOT EXTENDED OR ANY RETALIATION FOR THEM TO TELL THE TRUTH TO YOU.
WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DIOCESE.
IS THERE A FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS SEEING NONE? I DO HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR.
SOLVERA SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PERERA.
NEXT IS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES ITEMS 10 THROUGH 13.
ARE THERE FURTHER COMMENTS SEEING NONE SEEING NONE FROM THE PUBLIC? I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PRAYER SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROSO WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.
NEXT IS HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY ITEMS 14 THROUGH 16 ITEM NUMBER 14 WILL BE TAKEN SEPARATELY.
ARE THERE FURTHER COMMENTS? I SEE NOBODY IN THE SPEAKER QUEUE.
I HAVE A MOTION NOW BY SUPERVISORS.
SOLVERA SECOND ADVICE, SUPERVISOR PEDROZA.
ARE THERE FURTHER COMMENTS SEEING NONE I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE?
CAN YOU TALK, ARE YOU TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW HE'S GOING TO GET A BASEBALL TEAM GOING AT LIVINGSTON? I KNOW NEXT IS ITEM 15 AND 16.
CHAIRMAN MCDANIEL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD COUNTY COUNCIL HANSON, CEO BROWN.
MY NAME IS DAVID MARIONI, ASSISTANT COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER, AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE ALONG WITH OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY.
MR. JOHN CHECKLEY TO PROVIDE YOU WITH AN UPDATE ON THE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND BRING YOU UP TO DATE WITH SOME RECOMMENDED ACTIONS AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE PRESENTATION.
IT'S THE FIRST AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE'LL BE DISCUSSING.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING BOTH, UH, BOTH PROGRAMS. SO, UH, THERE WAS ACTUALLY TWO PROGRAMS PROGRAM ONE AND PROGRAM TWO.
AND SO PROGRAM ONE IS OUR LOCAL PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE, UH, DONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CENTRAL VALLEY OPPORTUNITY CENTER.
AND I WILL GIVE AN UPDATE ON THAT AS WELL
[00:55:01]
AS AN UPDATE ON THE SECOND ROUND OF FUNDING.THE SECOND PROGRAM THAT WAS RELEASED BY THE U S TREASURY TREASURY, WE HAVE STATE PROGRAM CHANGES FROM ASSEMBLY BILL 8 32, WHICH, UH, IMPACT, UH, THE RENTAL PROGRAM TOO, AND THEN OUR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
SO
UH, THIS PROGRAM AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL IS ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY.
AND THEN THE ALLOCATIONS WERE DISTRIBUTED DOWN TO STATES, TERRITORIES, INDIAN TRIBES, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE MORE THAN 200,000 RESIDENTS.
AND SO ON THE FIRST ROUND OF FUNDING, THE COUNTY OF MERCY SAID DIRECTLY RECEIVED JUST OVER 8.2 MILLION.
AND THEN THE STATE WHERE WE MENTIONED THAT THE STATES ALL RECEIVED ALLOCATIONS, THEY RECEIVED A ALLOCATION THAT WAS BROKEN OUT BY COUNTY AS WELL.
AND SO THAT ALLOCATION WAS $8.8 MILLION.
AND SO, UM, WE SUBMITTED A SIGNED ACCEPTANCE AWARD TERMS JANUARY 12TH AND, UM, THAT TRIGGERED THE U S TREASURY TO PROVIDE US WITH THAT FIRST ROUND OF $8.2 MILLION IN FUNDING.
WE CAME TO YOUR BOARD ON FEBRUARY 9TH TO DISCUSS, UH, THE THREE OPTIONS THAT WERE MADE AVAILABLE WITH THE STATE.
AS I MENTIONED, THE STATE RECEIVED FUNDING.
SO THEY PUT THREE DIFFERENT CHOICES OUT THERE AND OPTION A, B OR C OPTION A WAS TO, UH, DIVERT THE LOCAL FUNDING TO THE STATE TO BLEND IT WITH THEIR, THEIR FUNDING AND OPERATOR PROGRAM AS JUST THROUGH THE STATE MECHANISM, OPTION B WAS TO, UM, TO HAVE THE STATE PUSH THOSE DOLLARS, UH, TO THE COUNTY.
AND THEN OPTION C WAS, UH, WAS A BIFURCATED VERSION WHERE BOTH PROGRAMS RAN SIDE BY SIDE AND, UM, WITH AN ELIGIBILITY DIFFERENCE.
AND SO, UM, THE NEXT SLIDE TALKS ABOUT, OR THE NEXT, UH, BULLET POINTS SHOWS OUR COUNTY PROGRAM WAS, UH, SERVING THOSE THAT WERE AT 50% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
AND OUR PROGRAM DID A HUNDRED PERCENT REIMBURSEMENT FOR RENTAL ARREARS AND PROSPECTIVE RENTS THE STATE PROGRAM AT THAT TIME.
UM, THEIR PROGRAM, UH, SERVED 51 TO 80% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME, BUT THEIR PROGRAM AT THAT TIME, UM, PROVIDED 80% OF THE RENTAL ARREARS AND THEN 25% REIMBURSEMENT FOR PERSPECTIVE RENTS.
SO NOW I'M GOING TO PASS IT OVER TO OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR, JOHN CHECKLEY TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON HOW THE FIRST PROGRAM, UH, WENT IN OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH CVRC AND THEN SOME BACKGROUND ON THE SECOND ROUND OF FUNDING.
UH, GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AS STATED JOHN SHAKLEE DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR THE HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY, AND MY BRANCH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF OUR LOCAL PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CVRC.
UM, SO JUST WANTED TO REVIEW THE, THE EFFORTS OF CBOC.
UM, AND AS A FORMER ELIGIBILITY WORKER, WHAT WE ASKED THEM TO DO WAS TO STAND UP A RENTAL AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHICH IS A VERY, UM, DIFFICULT TASK TO DO.
AND IT REQUIRES A LOT OF RESOURCES AND CBOC APPROPRIATELY, UM, IDENTIFIED THOSE RESOURCES AND THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE PROGRAM, WHICH BEGAN IN FEBRUARY AND WAS REALLY IMPLEMENTED IN MARCH, HAD 19 STAFF WORKING ON THIS, INCLUDING THREE WORK EXPERIENCE, INTERNS WHO REALLY HELPED OUT WITH THE OUTREACH, WHICH WE'LL COVER IN A FEW MINUTES, UH, SERVICES WERE PROVIDED AT THIS BOARD'S DIRECTION AND MULTIPLE LANGUAGES, INCLUDING ENGLISH, SPANISH, PUNJABI, AND HMONG, UH, PHASE ONE WAS OPENED ON MARCH 15TH AND WE HAD, UH, A TWO WEEK OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD WHERE PEOPLE COULD COME IN, UM, GET PRE-SCREENED AND THEN BE GIVEN APPOINTMENTS, UM, AT A LATER DATE.
SO WE WANTED TO HAVE EVERYONE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A SPECIFIC AMOUNT OF TIME TO COME IN AND, YOU KNOW, SEE WHAT, SEE WHAT THAT WAS GOING TO LOOK LIKE, UH, THROUGH THE END OF THE MARCH 30TH DATE AND INTO MAY, THOSE APPLICATIONS WERE PROCESSED, UH, THAT NECESSITATED A NEW PHASE TO BE OPENED ON MAY 25TH.
AND THAT THAT PHASE HAS REMAINED OPEN AND ONGOING SOMEWHAT IN RESPONSE TO THE EVICTION MORATORIUMS. AND THEY EXPECT AN EXPIRATION DATE ON JUNE 30TH, WHICH HAS NOW SINCE BEEN EXTENDED TO SEPTEMBER 30TH.
SO IT REALLY KIND OF FLEXIBILITY.
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IN THESE PROGRAMS AND THE ADJUSTMENTS OF THE PHASES AND THE CONTINUAL REEVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM AND THE ADJUSTMENTS
[01:00:01]
THAT WERE NECESSARY.UM, REALLY, REALLY, AND THESE NUMBERS TO ME WERE, WERE STRIKING, UH, WHEN TALKING TO CBOC THE 87 TOTAL OUTREACH EVENTS.
AND I THINK WHEN I HIGHLIGHTED THE WEX WORKERS, THAT'S WHERE THESE DOOR TO DOOR EVENTS, WHICH WERE INCLUDED WHERE THEY WENT INTO COMMUNITIES IN YOUR DISTRICTS AND KNOCKED ON DOORS AND, AND PROMOTED THIS PROGRAM.
SO, UH, THROUGH THOSE EFFORTS, OVER 3000 FLYERS WERE DISTRIBUTED, UM, OVER 879 MEALS WERE ALSO JUST DISTRIBUTED AT THE SAME TIME, UH, AS WELL AS 1,758 HAND SANITIZERS OVER 17,000 MASS AND 1,633 PPE KITS, LOCAL LOCAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED THROUGH JULY 28TH HAS BEEN $1,543,370 IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
UM, SO THAT, THAT COVERS BOTH THE REARS AND PERSPECTIVE RENTS, UH, AS WELL AS OVER 321,498 AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE.
AND I KNOW IT WAS IMPORTANT TO THIS BOARD, WITH THE BIFURCATION AGREEMENT TO FOCUS ON INDIVIDUALS AT 50% OR LESS OF THE AMI.
UM, IN MY OPINION, THIS IS REALLY A HOMELESS PREVENTION PROGRAM AND WHEN FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES ARE AT 50% OF THE AMI WITH RENTAL ARREARS, THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES.
SO TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND SERVE OVER 400 HOUSEHOLDS, REALLY WE COULD AT THE END OF THE DAY SAY COULD HAVE PREVENTED MANY OF THOSE FAMILIES ONCE IT'S EVICTION MORATORIUM EXPIRES FROM BECOMING HOMELESS, WHICH WAS REALLY THE PRIMARY PURPOSE FROM MY OVERSIGHT OF THIS, OF THIS PROGRAM.
AND THE AVERAGE ASSISTANCE PER HOUSEHOLD WAS ABOUT $3,800.
SO REALLY MEANINGFUL ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILIES AT 50% OR BELOW OF THE AMI YEAH.
PROGRAM WAS ROLLED OUT AND IMPLEMENTED.
AND THE LEGISLATION PASSED BACK IN DECEMBER.
UM, THE NEW CONGRESS PASSED ANOTHER BILL, UH, WHICH THEY'RE CALLING ERA TOO.
SO EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE ROUND TWO, AND WE'LL LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCES.
THERE ARE SOME, SOME, SOME MINOR DIFFERENCES IN THESE TWO PROGRAMS AND SOMEWHAT IN RESPONSE TO WHAT COULD BE CALLED.
UH, SOME UNFORESEEN CHALLENGES OF THE FIRST PROGRAM WERE ADDRESSED THROUGH THE ERA TWO PROGRAM.
THIS PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED TO THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT ON MARCH 11TH, 2021 PROVIDED ANOTHER 21.5, $5 BILLION TO ASSIST HOUSEHOLDS WHO ARE UNABLE TO PAY THEIR RENT AND UTILITIES DUE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC.
AND IT ALSO IS ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE U S DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE WITH THIS NEW PROGRAM AND OUR BIFURCATED FIRST PROGRAM.
THIS IS REALLY A THIRD AND POTENTIALLY A FOURTH PROGRAM LOCALLY HERE.
UM, SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING AS WE LOOK AT ALL THESE PROGRAMS, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE WE'RE MOST EFFECTIVELY SERVING THE CONSTITUENTS ACROSS SOMERSET COUNTY, UM, AND REDUCING SOME OF THE CONFUSION BEHIND THAT.
SO THESE PAYMENTS SIMILAR TO THE FIRST PROGRAM WENT DIRECTLY TO STATES TERRITORIES, TRIBES, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OF MORE THAN $200,000, 200,000 RESIDENTS, EXCUSE ME, THE DIRECT FEDERAL COUNTY OF MARCET ALLOCATION WAS OVER $9 MILLION.
AND THE COUNTY OF MERSEYSIDE STATE ALLOCATION, WHICH IS ADMINISTERED BY THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WAS 7 MILLION, $862,000.
YOU DID MENTION SOME PROGRAM DIFFERENCES.
UH, THEY, THEY FEEL SOMEWHAT NUANCED, BUT, BUT CAN MAKE QUITE AN IMPACT.
UM, SO 10% FOR ADMINISTRATION, UH, FOR ERA WAN VERSUS A 15% FOR ADMINISTRATION IN THE ERA TO OUR EXPERIENCE THROUGH
AND THAT WAS, UH, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE WERE FACING WITH THE, WITH THE FIRST PROGRAM, UH, ERA WON FOR UP TO 12 MONTHS OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE WITH THE PRIORITY BEING ON RENTAL ARREARS.
SO YOU HAD TO PAY RENTAL ARREARS BEFORE, BEFORE YOU COULD PAY EXISTING OR PERSPECTIVE RENTS.
UM, YOU COULD PAY UP TO THREE MONTHS OF PERSPECTIVE RENTS TO ENSURE HOUSING STABILITY FOR A TOTAL OF 15, UH, WITH ERA TWO, THEY HAVE A PROVISION.
NOW WE'RE UP TO 18 MONTHS, CUMULATIVE OF BOTH PROGRAMS CAN BE PAID TO THESE FAMILIES, UH, IN, IN AND ACROSS THE STATE AND COUNTRY.
UH, THERE WAS A PROVISION TO ENSURE NO DUPLICATION OF BENEFITS.
UM, SO AGAIN, ANOTHER ADMINISTRATIVE MAKING SURE THAT THESE FAMILIES HAVEN'T RECEIVED BENEFITS FROM ANOTHER FEDERAL PROGRAM, UM, WHICH REQUIRES SOME WORK ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF ERA ONE IN ER, A TWO.
IT'S INTERESTING, IT WASN'T SPECIFIED IN STATUTE, BUT CLEARLY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DUPLICATION OF BENEFITS IS NOT DONE AND THAT THERE'S A, UH, UH, THE LEAST AMOUNT OF FRAUD POSSIBLE, OBVIOUSLY.
UM, SO AGAIN, I'VE MENTIONED THIS ALREADY THAT YOU MUST PAY RENTAL ARREARS, UH, IN ERA WON BEFORE COVERING PROSPECTIVE RENTS ERA TO REMOVES THAT RESTRICTION.
SO IF THERE'S SOMEONE WITH RENTAL ARREARS AND THEY HAVE PERSPECTIVE RENTS THAT THEY CAN PAY, YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO PAY THOSE RENTAL ARREARS IN ORDER TO PAY EXISTING RENT, A DEADLINE TO SPEND THE FUNDS.
UH, SO THEY HAD ACTUALLY EXTENDED THE DEADLINE TO SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2022 FOR ERA ONE FOR ERA TWO.
NOW THE DEADLINE IS THROUGH 2020 5TH OF SEPTEMBER.
[01:05:01]
SO FISCAL FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 2025 ERA ONE DID NOT HAVE A HIGH NEED SET ASIDE IN ERA TWO.I THINK THE DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY REALLY WANTED TO BE TARGETED AND FOCUSED.
SO THEY IDENTIFY THESE HIGH NEED AREAS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
UH, MERSEYSIDE COUNTY IS INDEED ONE OF THOSE HIGH NEED AREAS AND OF THAT $9 MILLION THAT WE RECEIVED 2.5 MILLION OF THAT WAS BECAUSE OF OUR HIGH NEED DESIGNATION AND THEN ERA ONE HAD A LUMP SUM DISTRIBUTION.
UM, SO WE RECEIVED ALL OF THE FUNDING AT ONCE FROM THE TREASURY.
WHEREAS ERA TWO IS GOING TO BE DISTRIBUTED IN TWO TRAUNCHES OF 40% TRAUNCH UPFRONT.
AND THEN FOR THE SECOND TRAUNCH, ONCE YOU'VE REACHED A CERTAIN SPECIFIC SPEND-DOWN, UM, LASTLY IN ONE OF THE NUANCED, YOU KNOW, TENANTS MUST SUFFERED FINANCIAL HARDSHIP DUE TO COVID-19 FOR ERA ONE, FOR ERA TWO, IT JUST SAYS DURING, SO IT ADDS THE WORD DURING, SO IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE DIRECTLY RELATED TO, HEY, COVID CAME.
AND I LOST MY JOB BECAUSE IT HAD TO SHUT DOWN IF YOU'VE SUFFERED ANY KIND OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP DURING COVID, YOU WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR ERA TOO.
SO THEY BROADENED IT UP A LITTLE BIT, MADE IT A LITTLE EASIER, UH, TO HELP PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH THE ERA TOO.
SO ON JUNE 28TH, 2021, A VERY IMPORTANT LAW WAS PASSED, UH, BY THE STATE ASSEMBLY HERE, ASSEMBLY BILL 8 32, UM, MOST IMMEDIATELY WHAT IT DID FACING A JUNE 30TH EVICTION MORATORIUM EXPIRATION.
IT EXTENDED THAT FOR AN ADDITIONAL THREE MONTHS UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2021, I THINK MOST IMMEDIATELY THAT'S PROBABLY THE GREATER IMPACT.
UM, AS THERE ARE EVICTIONS THAT ARE PENDING, WE SEE A HUGE REDUCTION IN MERCER COUNTY.
AND I IMAGINE ACROSS THE STATE FROM OVER A THOUSAND ANNUALLY TO, TO HUNDREDS NOW IN THE LOW HUNDREDS.
SO WE, WE HAD MET WITH THE DEPARTMENT, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TO JUST KIND OF GET THE LAY OF THE LAND AT WHERE THINGS ARE.
WE IMAGINE THERE'S SOME PENT UP DEMAND THERE.
SO IT'S HOUSING SERVICE PROVIDERS SEEING THAT IT WAS SOMEWHAT ALLEVIATED THROUGH COVID, UH, WAS REASSURING TO US AS MENTIONED BY MR. MARIONI.
UH, AND AGAIN, IMPORTANT TO THIS BOARD.
ONE OF THE DECIDING FACTORS WAS, HEY, THE STATE PROGRAM, AT LEAST FOR AR ERA ONE, THEY'RE NOT PROPOSING TO MAKE LANDLORDS WHOLE, THE STATE SAW THAT AS A BURDEN AND HAS SINCE MADE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS AND EQUALED THE LOCAL PROGRAM THAT MERCER COUNTY HAT THROUGH ERA ONE, UM, THEY INCREASED IT FROM 80% TO A HUNDRED PERCENT AND PROSPECTIVE RENTS FROM 25% TO A HUNDRED PERCENT.
SO THEY MATCHED THE LOCAL PROGRAM THAT THIS BOARD IMPLEMENTED.
UH, THIS THERE'S A FEW OTHER DIFFERENCES HERE AS WELL, THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO LAND LORDS IN NON OCCUPANCY SITUATIONS.
SO IF THE TENANT HAD ACTUALLY LEFT, THE LANDLORD COULD STILL BE MADE WHOLE THROUGH SOME OF THIS LEGISLATION.
AND IT'S ALLOWING RESIDENTS TO APPLY DIRECTLY IF LANDLORDS OR UTILITY COMPANIES CHOOSE NOT TO PARTICIPATE AN IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE RA ONE AND TWO
THAT WAS THE FIRST YOU HAD TO, WE WERE REQUIRED TO DO THAT.
ERA TWO IS ALLOWING, UH, JURISDICTIONS TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH TENANTS WITHOUT THE, UH, OUTREACH TO THE LANDLORD.
SO UTILITY COMPANIES, WHAT IT ALSO DID IS REQUIRED COUNTIES TO PROVIDE A LETTER OF INTENT PRIOR TO JULY 27TH, 2021 REGARDING THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE STATE LOCAL, THE STATE ALLOCATION.
SO SIMILAR TO ERA ONE, THEY PROVIDED THREE OPTIONS, WHICH WAS REDIRECTING THE LOCAL JURISDICTION ALLOCATION TO THE STATE PROGRAM, STOP TAKING NEW APPLICATIONS FOR ERA ONE AND SWITCH ERA ONE OPTION OPTION B WAS TO REQUEST FROM THE, FROM THE STATE THAT FUNDING, UM, IN ORDER TO ADMINISTER IT LOCALLY.
AND IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE STATE, THERE ARE, THERE ARE COMMUNITIES THAT OPTED TO DO THAT.
TYPICALLY THESE WERE LARGER COMMUNITIES THAT HAD ESTABLISHED PROGRAMS, PRE PANDEMIC PROGRAMS FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO FOLD THAT IN ADMINISTRATIVELY WITHOUT MUCH BURDEN AND ADMINISTER THAT FUNDING LOCALLY.
SO THE STATE WENT SO FAR AND WE'VE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM TO ACTUALLY ENCOURAGE COUNTIES THAT HAD THAT INFRASTRUCTURE TO, HEY, YOU DON'T, WHY WOULD WE ADMINISTER ON YOUR BEHALF? YOU'RE ABLE TO DO THIS ON YOUR HOME.
UM, AND LASTLY, OPTION C, WHICH WAS TO ADMINISTER A NON-CONFORMING BIFURCATED PROGRAM.
SO THAT'S A NON NON-CONFORMING PROGRAM TO THE STATE, WHICH WOULD HAVE ESSENTIALLY RESULTED IN FOUR PROGRAMS IN MERSEYSIDE COUNTY.
IF WE WENT FOR THE OPTION C ROUTE, RIGHT, YOU WOULD HAVE ERA ONE AND TWO, AND THEN ERA TO THE STATE AND THE LOCAL PROGRAM.
THE STATE PROGRAM ITSELF, UH, IS ADMINISTERED THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE@HOUSING.CA.GOV.
THEY'VE REVAMPED THAT WEBSITE, THE STATE HAD HAD INITIAL CHALLENGES, GETTING PEOPLE TO ACCESS THIS WEBSITE, KIND OF A CUMBERSOME PROCESS, VERY DOCUMENT, HEAVY AND NEW.
SO THERE'S UNCERTAINTY WITH ANYTHING NEW.
I THINK FROM THE TENANT PERSPECTIVE, THE LANDLORD PERSPECTIVE, THE STATE PERSPECTIVE, THE LOCAL, IT WAS JUST A NEW PROGRAM BEING IMPLEMENTED, UM, WITH
[01:10:01]
MULTIPLE FAQ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS THAT CAME OUT AND KIND OF GUIDED HOW WE ADMINISTER THESE PROGRAMS. SO THEY'VE SINCE REVAMPED THE WEBSITE TO MAKE A MORE USER CENTRIC APPLICATION PROCESS.UNFORTUNATE, I DIDN'T CREATE A UNIQUE, UH, APPLICATION FOR MYSELF, BUT I WAS TEMPTED TO, TO SEE WHAT IT IS BECAUSE FROM TALKING TO THE STATE, THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO SIMPLIFY THIS WHERE FEWER DOCUMENTS ARE ACTUALLY REQUIRED AND SIMPLIFIED QUESTIONS FOR A LITTLE EASY, UM, MORE OF AN EASE, EASY USER INTERFACE.
AND THEY'VE ALSO, I THINK, IMPORTANTLY ESTABLISHED A, A RELIEF CALL CENTER, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, NOT EVERYONE IS TECHNOLOGICALLY CAPABLE OF JUST LOGGING IN AND WE'LL SEE IN A, IN A, IN A FUTURE SLIDE, UM, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
UM, AND THEN THERE'S A LOCAL PARTNERING NETWORK.
SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY CALL A DIFFERENT NUMBER IF YOU WANT TO, TO LIAISON WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION, UM,