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[CALL TO ORDER]
WELCOME TO THE SEPTEMBER 21ST, 2021 MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING.IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A FULL HOUSE.
WE HAVE SOME GUESTS FROM OUT OF THE AREA.
THEY'LL BE PRESENTING TODAY AS WELL.
SO AT THIS TIME, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND START WITH THE INVOCATION LED BY GENEVIEVE VALENTINE.
AND THEN REMAIN STANDING, AND WE'LL DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY RODRIGO ESPINOZA.
IF YOU ARE SO INCLINED, PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS.
DEAR GOD, I PRAY FOR OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, OUR CEO, OUR COUNTY COUNCIL, OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ALL OF OUR COUNTY LEADERS.
PLEASE, DEAR GOD, BESTOW STRENGTH, WISDOM, INTEGRITY AND STEADFAST CONVICTION TO DO YOUR WILL. MAY OUR JOBS TODAY AND EVERY DAY BE CENTERED ON THOSE WHOM WE SERVE.
I ASK THAT YOU PROTECT OUR COUNTY AND ALL WHOM WE SERVE AS WE HONOR SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH. PLEASE, DEAR GOD, GIVE STRENGTH TO THOSE WHO HAVE LIMITED STRENGTH AND TO GIVE THEM THE COURAGE TO REACH OUT, TO RESTORE THEIR COURAGE AND TO RESTORE THEIR HOPE.
ADDITIONALLY, PLEASE GOD, I ASK THAT YOU GIVE ADDITIONAL PRAYERS TO SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND HIS FAMILY AS THEY GRIEVE THE LOSS OF HIS MOTHER.
PLEASE, DEAR GOD, I ASK YOU TO PROTECT ALL WHOM WE SERVE AND ALL WHOM WE GUIDE TODAY.
PLEASE, DEAR GOD, IN YOUR SON'S NAME, PROTECT MERCED COUNTY.
AMEN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU, GENEVIEVE.
WE HAD A CLOSED SESSION THIS MORNING AND STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION.
IT'S NOW TIME FOR PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER OF THE PUBLIC'S INTEREST
[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK]
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.
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE WILL BE TAKING PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ALL ITEMS AT THIS TIME.
YES, AND WE'LL CLARIFY THAT WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE BUDGET RIGHT BEFORE THE BUDGET HEARING, SO YOU CAN WAIT FOR YOUR COMMENTS FOR THE BUDGET AT THAT TIME. WERE THERE ANY VOICEMAILS? OK, LET'S GO AHEAD AND PLAY THE VOICEMAIL.
THE [INAUDIBLE] LAST MONTH COME SEPTEMBER 13TH, THERE WAS A PRESENTATION BY THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ADVISORY BOARD AND OTHER WORDS TO SAY THAT MANY OF THE PROGRAMS THAT THEY SERVED UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
[INAUDIBLE]. THE FIRST IS TO WORK ON THE VISIBILITY [INAUDIBLE] WHO THEY ARE AND WHERE THEY GO, AND THE IT RELIES HEAVILY ON THE BOARD [INAUDIBLE] A LOT OF THEM DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO IT.
THE GOAL IS CAN WORK ON ENCOURAGING [INAUDIBLE].
THEY NEED TO KNOW HOW THE PROBLEM IS DOING AND HOW IT'S IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY OVER THIS COMING YEAR. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ADVISORY BOARDS WORK BY INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF CLIENTS ASSIGNED TO A CLINICIAN.
RIGHT NOW, SOME PROGRAMS HAVE 100 PERCENT CLINICIANS OR 200 CLIENTS.
I THINK A LOT OF CLINICIANS SAY WE SHOULD PUT A CAP MAXIMUS IN THAT THERE SHOULD BE TOO MANY OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF ASSOCIATE FELLOWSHIPS BECAUSE IT REDUCES THE QUALITY OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
I KNOW THE WORKERS PRODUCTIVITY IS 100 PERCENT THE POWERS THAT THEY HAD TO BE PRODUCTIVE AND ARE REQUESTING THAT THEY CHANGE IT TO 75 PERCENT BECAUSE THE WORK WITH THAT TIME TO TURN PEOPLE AWAY INSTEAD OF BEING PUNITIVE FOR THE WORKERS AND NOT GETTING A PRODUCTIVITY RATE, THAT THERE COULD BE MORE INCENTIVE FOR GROUP TO MAKE A PARTICULARLY.
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[INAUDIBLE] PROGRAMS. AND THEN THEY HAVE PROGRAMS THAT ARE NONPROFIT PROGRAMS BUT EACH PROGRAM SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO HAVE A CLIENT AND FAMILY ADVOCATES IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING, AND THEY DO NEED TO HAVE LGBTQ ADVOCATES AND UNDOCUMENTED ADVOCATES IN A FORMERLY [INAUDIBLE] EACH PROGRAM, BECAUSE THESE POPULATIONS ARE THE POPULATIONS THAT ARE FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS OF THEIR PROGRAMS SO THAT NOW MANY OF THE PROGRAMS IN THE HEALTH PROGRAMS ACTUALLY HAVE A PROBATION OFFICER LAW ENFORCEMENT STATION THERE, AND THEY'RE VERY SAD TO SEE.INSTEAD OF HAVING A PROBATION OFFICER INVOLVED FOR HIS SOCIAL APP.
AND WITH THE HELP OF HOUSE, WE CAN HAVE A FAMILY ADVOCATE, LGBTQ ADVOCATES, UNDOCUMENTED ADVOCATES FOR FORMERLY INCARCERATED ADVOCATES.
OK, WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE ROOM, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? PLEASE, AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE ARPA FUNDS, AND I KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE PUBLISHING YOUR ANNUAL REPORT OF HOW YOU'RE USING THE ARPA FUNDS.
BUT I AM REQUESTING THAT YOU ALSO PUBLISH YOUR QUARTERLY REPORT ON HOW YOU'RE USING YOUR ARPA FUNDS. THE PURPOSE OF THE ARPA FUNDS IS TO HELP THE UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY THAT ARE IMPACTED BY COVID 19.
THAT'S WHY IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU ALLOCATE THIS MONEY TO HELP THEM.
DURING COVID 19, THE HOMELESSNESS RATE WENT UP AND THE FRONTLINE WORKERS RISKED THEIR LIVES TO WORK FOR LOW WAGES AS GROCERY STORE WORKERS MEET PACKAGES AT FOSTER FARMS, AND THEY WORKED AS FARM WORKERS AND AMAZON DELIVERY WORKERS.
AND SO WITH THAT, I AM REQUESTING FOR PREMIUM PAY FOR LOW WAGE WORKERS.
I AM ASKING FOR YOU TO INVEST IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I'M ASKING FOR YOU TO INVEST IN PARKS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS FOR SMALL TOWNS LIKE WINTON DEL MAR DELHI, LA PLAYA, LE GRAND AND SANTA MILA.
I'M ALSO ASKING FOR YOU TO INVEST IN YOUTH JOBS.
THE PURPOSE OF COVID 19 AND THE PURPOSE OF THE ARPA FUNDS IS TO HELP THE UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, NOT JUST FOR REVENUE REPLACEMENT, AND I AM REQUESTING FOR A TOWN HALL SO THAT YOU CAN GATHER THE COMMUNITY INPUT ON HOW THIS FUNDS SHOULD BE SPENT.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE? JUST REMIND PEOPLE THERE'S A BUDGET.
YEAH, AND I WILL JUST REMIND EVERYBODY THERE IS THE BUDGET COMMENTS THAT ARE LATER IN THE MEETING. GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS GLORIA SANDOVAL.
I, TOO, AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE DECISIONS BEING MADE REGARDING THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.
AND WE DO HAVE A LOT OF NEEDS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
BUT I DO WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT OUR DEMOCRACY WORKS BY THE INPUT OF THE PUBLIC.
YOU'VE BEEN ELECTED, BUT THIS IS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING REAL SPECIFIC.
AND I DO FEEL THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE A RIGHT TO HEAR OR TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISPLAY TO YOU WHAT WE FEEL IS NEEDED.
I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN YOUR DISTRICTS, BUT THEN LET'S GET THIS POWER OUT TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN ALL HAVE AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE.
SO I KNOW IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AN EASY TASK BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY NEEDS.
BUT I, TOO, AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT YOUTH AND THE HOMELESS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, I WAS AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING UNTIL 11 O'CLOCK LAST NIGHT AND THE MEETING BEFORE 12 O'CLOCK, SO SOMETIMES WE GOT TO DO WHAT IT TAKES.
BUT I AM GETTING UP THERE IN AGE, SO I HOPE OTHERS WILL GET INVOLVED.
YOU KNOW, EVEN TO BE ELECTED TO POSITIONS LIKE YOURS.
THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE? WHICH WAY? ALL RIGHT.
OH, OK, THANK YOU. YES, MY NAME IS JAMES HODGES, AND I WANT TO BRING A FEW THINGS UP.
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FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU RODRIGO FOR HELPING ME AND MY WIFE GET OUR VACCINE SHOT. HE WAS NOT IN MY DISTRICT, BUT HE'S WILLING TO HELP PEOPLE, NOT IN HIS DISTRICT.I APPRECIATE THAT, YOU KNOW, AND THEN I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
I WOULD PUT THOSE IN THE BUDGET NUMBER ONE, TWO AND THREE BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF REALLY BAD CRIMES IN MERCED COUNTY PEOPLE TORTURED OUT IN THE COUNTRY.
I REMEMBER ALL THESE THINGS FROM 25 YEARS AGO.
SO THIS IDEA THAT YOU WANT TO GET RID OF THE POLICE, I DON'T THINK THAT'S FEASIBLE, YOU KNOW, AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO DO THAT OR TRYING TO UNDERMINE THINGS, REALLY.
AND THEN CRIME SOLVING, I THINK YOU NEED MORE SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT.
SO WHEN PEOPLE LIKE THROW BEER BOTTLES IN PEOPLE'S YARDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES THE POLICE DON'T EVEN WANT TO ACT ON BECAUSE THEY CAN'T REALLY DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY'VE CHANGED THE LAW.
ONE IN FIVE ACCIDENTS IS A HIT AND RUN NOW.
I CAME OUT ON CHANNEL 30 NEWS, SO THAT'S NOT GOOD.
YOU KNOW, IT MAKES EVERYBODY'S INSURANCE GO UP.
AND I CAN READ BETTER WITH THESE OFF.
DEFENSIVE EQUIPMENT KEEPS THE POLICE FROM OVERREACTING TO PEOPLE THAT THEY FEEL ARE THREATENING THEM OR ANYTHING.
AND THAT WOULD PUT THEM IN A MORE DEFENSIVE MOOD.
AND IT COULD STOP SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT MAYBE IF THERE'S AN OVERREACTION THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY THEM, NOT FEEL THREATENED BY PEOPLE THAT DON'T COMPLY WITH THE REQUESTS, YOU KNOW, OK.
AND THEN THAT WOULD BE LIKE SHIELDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND EVEN POLICE DOGS THAT WOULD HELP THAT WAY BECAUSE I KNOW THEY DID THAT IN FRESNO AND THEY ARRESTED SOMEBODY. THEY USED A POLICE DOG.
SO THE GUY WHO ATTACKED HIM AFTER HE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE COUCH SO THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO SHOOT HIM BECAUSE THE DOG GOT HIM, YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S OK.
IS THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT GOING TO COORDINATE WITH THE COLLEGE FOR THE 16 FIVE PLUS COVID BOOSTER SHOTS THAT WORKED OUT REAL WELL FOR ME AND MY WIFE THE LAST TIME.
SO I'D LIKE TO GET HEAR A RESPONSE FROM YOU GUYS IF IF THERE'S ANY PLANS ON THAT IN THE WORKS, YOU KNOW, AND THEN IF NOT, WHAT IS THE PLAN? YOU KNOW, AND I GUESS IN MY UNDERSTANDING, THEY HAVE TO KEEP THESE SHOTS AT NEGATIVE ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY FIVE DEGREES FAHRENHEIT OR THEY DETERIORATE.
SO I ASSUME THEY'RE DOING THAT AND, YOU KNOW, JUST EVERYBODY DOESN'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO DO THAT. SO YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'VE BEEN KEPT.
OK. OH, AND ONE MORE THING, TURNOUTS ON SANTA FE.
THERE YOU GO. OK, THANK YOU, MR. HODGES. OK, BYE.
OK, YOU'VE ALREADY. I DIDN'T USE ALL MY TIME.
WE DON'T. ON SUNDAYS, I CHECKED THE AGENDA, BUT THE AGENDA WASN'T POSTED.
OK. WELCOME TO THE PODIUM, IF YOUR MICROPHONES TO TALL, THERE'S A BUTTON TO YOUR RIGHT.
OK. OH, YOU ALL HAVE THIS NOW.
THAT'S KIND OF COOL. PER YOUR REQUEST.
YOU KNOW, SMALL THINGS ARE, SHALL I SAY, BIG THINGS DO COME IN SMALL PACKAGES.
ALL OF OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND STAFF AND AUDIENCE MEMBERS TODAY.
I LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE $54 MILLION THAT WAS ALLOTTED.
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO SAY IS THAT COMMUNITY INPUT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT ABOUT HOW THE MONEY IS SPENT AND GOING BACK AND HAVING TOWN HALL MEETINGS IN EACH OF YOUR DISTRICTS ONTO HOW THEY WOULD LIKE THAT MONEY SPENT, THAT IS FOR FOOD RELIEF, FOR HOUSING RELIEF. AND SO.
I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO SAY THAT HAVING DECISIONS MADE BEFORE COMMUNITY INPUT MAKES IT SEEM LIKE THERE IS SHADOW GOVERNING GOING ON AND NOT A LOT OF TRANSPARENCY.
AND SO I BELIEVE THAT THIS BOARD IS A TRANSPARENT BOARD.
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AND SO SAYING THAT, I'M WONDERING WHERE THE PUBLIC MEETINGS WERE, WHERE THE TOWN HALL MEETINGS WERE TO DISCUSS WHERE THIS MONEY IS GOING FOR PEOPLE WITH RENTAL ASSISTANCE, WITH DAY CARE ASSISTANCE, WITH, YOU KNOW, ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELP WITH FOOD INSECURITIES.YOU KNOW, WE KNOW SEVERAL FOOD PANTRIES THAT HAVE FED OVER 200000 MEALS DURING THIS LAST YEAR. AND SO AND A LOT OF THAT MONEY CAME OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKETS FOR HELPING FEED OUR COMMUNITIES. AND IT WASN'T JUST THE CITY OF MERCED, BUT IT WAS THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
AND SO SAYING THAT, I'M WONDERING, HAVE THERE BEEN MEETINGS IN YOUR DISTRICTS? HAVE THERE BEEN INPUT FROM YOUR COMMUNITIES ON HOW THIS MONEY SHOULD BE SPENT? QUICK THAT WAS THE QUESTION.
THERE'S NO INTERACTION HERE, YOU'RE JUST OK.
BUT I THINK THAT THAT SHOULD BE BECAUSE AGAIN, TRANSPARENCY IS EVERYTHING TO YOUR COMMUNITIES, TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO GOVERNING AND TO MAKING PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY ARE INCLUDED AND COUNTED AND WHERE THIS MONEY GOES.
AND SO AGAIN, IT WOULD BE ADVANTAGEOUS AND IT WOULD BE A VERY, VERY GOOD IDEA TO HAVE THOSE TYPE OF MEETINGS AND TALKING WITH YOUR COMMUNITIES AND BRINGING IT BACK COLLECTIVELY FOR PEOPLE TO HEAR WHAT WAS BEING SAID AND HOW TO SPEND THIS MONEY. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE ALL WE'RE DONE WITH THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, WE ONLY HAD ONE.
YEAH, WE ONLY HAD ONE VOICEMAIL.
AND AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM PATRICK BLACKLOCK, WHO IS PRESIDENT AND CEO
[PRESENTATION: RURAL COUNTIES REPRESENTATIVES OF CALIFORNIA]
OF RURAL COUNTIES REPRESENTING CALIFORNIA, WHICH I AM THE IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR.I COULD GO ON AND TELL YOU ALL ABOUT OUR RCRC, BUT I'LL LET PATRICK TAKE IT FROM HERE AND FOR YOU AS WELL, THERE'S A BUTTON TO THE RIGHT OF YOU AND TO RAISE THE PODIUM.
THANK YOU, CHAIR MCDANIEL AND SUPERVISORS FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.
AS A FORMER COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, I HAVE TO SAY AS A SPECIAL TREAT TO BE BACK IN BOARD CHAMBERS. SO I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR RCRC WITH YOU, BUT ALSO TO EXTEND OUR APPRECIATION FOR YOU HAVING CHAIR MCDANIEL BE OUR CHAIR LAST YEAR AND EXPRESS SOME APPRECIATION TO YOUR COMMUNITY AS PART OF THAT.
BUT LET ME BEGIN BY SHARING JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT RCRC FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT BE AS FAMILIAR WITH US.
WE ARE THE RURAL COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES OF CALIFORNIA AND WE ARE A NONPROFIT MUTUAL BENEFIT CORPORATION MADE UP OF THIRTY SEVEN MEMBER COUNTIES FROM MODOC IN THE NORTH TO IMPERIAL IN THE SOUTH. AND AND MERCED HERE TODAY.
OUR PRIMARY BREAD AND BUTTER, SO TO SPEAK, THAT WE'RE KNOWN FOR IS OUR ADVOCACY, OUR LOBBYING. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT MANY KNOW US FOR.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE SEVERAL BUSINESS LINES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO MEET UNMET NEEDS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES, AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AND PROVIDE SOME SPECIFIC INFORMATION REGARDING MERCED AROUND THAT.
AS I MENTIONED, RCRC HAS A NUMBER OF DIVISIONS GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AS THE PRIMARY ONE, BUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS A NEW AREA WE'VE STARTED WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO ASSIST COUNTIES THAT MAY NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO, FOR EXAMPLE, PULL DOWN SOME OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY THAT IS COMING.
HOPEFULLY, OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION CAN MAKE SURE OUR MEMBER COUNTIES GET ALL THAT IS POTENTIALLY AVAILABLE TO THEM.
IN ADDITION, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IS A FUNCTION WHERE WE'RE LOOKING KIND OF WITH A CREATIVE, ENTREPRENEURIAL LENS TOWARDS AGAIN UNMET NEEDS AND COUNTIES.
AND HOW CAN WE HELP FILL THOSE NEEDS? AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BROADBAND, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THAT ARENA BEFORE I FINISH AND THEN NOT NOT UNEXPECTED IS THAT WE HAVE AN ADMINISTRATION OF FINANCE DIVISION, BUT RCRC IS THAT IS OUR MAIN ENTITY.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE FOUR OR FIVE NOW ADDITIONAL ENTITIES AS WELL.
GOLDEN STATE FINANCE AUTHORITY IS A JOINT POWERS AGENCY MADE UP OF THIRTY SIX OF OUR MEMBER COUNTIES, AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IT IN ANOTHER SLIDE.
NATIONAL HOMEBUYERS FUND IS A NATIONAL NONPROFIT THAT DOES WORK IN THE HOUSING WORLD.
OUR ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES JOINT POWERS AGENCY IS MADE UP OF 22 MEMBER COUNTIES, AND ESJPA IS THERE TO HELP OUR SMALLER COUNTIES MEET THEIR REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS WHEN AND ACHIEVE SOME ECONOMIES OF SCALE.
IN DOING SO, AND THEN GOLDEN STATE NATURAL RESOURCES IS ONE OF OUR NEWEST.
IT WAS UNTIL TWO WEEKS AGO OUR NEWEST ENTITY, BUT WE NOW HAVE EVEN EVEN NEWER ENTITY.
GOLDEN STATE FINANCE AUTHORITY IS AGAIN, IT'S OUR LONGEST SERVING JOINT POWERS AGENCY IS
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MADE UP OF THIRTY SIX MEMBER COUNTIES, BUT IT'S BIGGER THAN THAT.WE ACTUALLY HAVE 56 OF THE 58 COUNTIES AS PARTICIPATING MEMBERS AND SEVERAL HUNDRED CITIES AS WELL.
THE PRIMARY THING GOLDEN STATE FINANCE AUTHORITY DOES IS TO HELP PEOPLE PURCHASE HOMES.
WE PROVIDE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY HERE IN MERCED SO THAT THEY CAN BE ABLE TO PURCHASE A HOME, AND WE ARE EXPANDING BEYOND THAT.
NOW WE'VE DONE SOME MULTIFAMILY HOUSING PROJECTS AS PART OF OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING EXERCISE. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN HELP COUNTIES POTENTIALLY CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WORKFORCE HOUSING GOING FORWARD.
SO THAT'S THIS IT'S A AN ENTITY FOR US THAT HAS LONG HELPED PROVIDE STABILITY IN THE FORM OF HOME OWNERSHIP AND IS NOW BROADENING TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN HELP COMMUNITIES MEET THEIR HOUSING NEEDS AS WELL.
BUT YOU CAN SEE IN THIS SLIDE IN TERMS OF MERCED COUNTY THAT GSFA, AS WE CALL IT, HAS HELPED A LITTLE OVER SEVEN HUNDRED FAMILIES PURCHASE HOMES, AND THAT'S RESULTED IN ABOUT TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY SIX MILLION IN TOTAL LOAN FINANCING.
GSFA ALSO PARTICIPATES IN THE PACE PROGRAM, WHICH YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO PUT, FOR EXAMPLE, SOLAR ON YOUR HOMES.
AND IN MERCED COUNTY, THERE HAVE BEEN, IT LOOKS LIKE, ABOUT TWENTY EIGHT PROJECTS, INCLUDING ONE COMMERCIAL PROJECT PENDING THAT HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THAT PROGRAM.
NATIONAL HOMEBUYERS FUND IS VERY SIMILAR TO GSFA, JUST DOES IT ON A NATIONAL LEVEL, AND PART OF THE REASON FOR THAT IS WE'RE ABLE TO DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS WITH HOUSING ENTITIES AND OTHER STATES THAT CAN BE MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL, THAT NOT ONLY CAN WE HELP THEM, BUT THEY AT TIMES HELP US, WHICH IN TURN HELPS US WITH OUR GOAL OF PROMOTING COMMUNITY STABILITY THROUGH HOME OWNERSHIP THROUGH OUR THROUGH GSFA.
BUT IN MERCED COUNTY AND NHF HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE, YOU'LL SEE ABOUT TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY ONE FAMILIES HERE HAVE BEEN HELPED THROUGH OUR NHF HOUSING PROGRAMS, AND THAT'S RESULTED IN ABOUT FORTY THREE MILLION IN SINGLE FAMILY FINANCING.
I MENTIONED THE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES JOINT POWERS JPA, PRIMARILY SMALLER COUNTIES, TWENTY TWO SMALLER COUNTIES.
BUT THESE ARE FOUR COUNTIES THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE CHALLENGED IN MEETING THE CAL RECYCLE WASTE MANAGEMENT RULES.
I WAS A FORMER COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR IN A VERY SMALL COUNTY THAT DIDN'T HAVE DEDICATED WASTE MANAGEMENT STAFF AND ESJPA ESSENTIALLY WAS THEIR STAFF FOR FIGURING OUT HOW TO MEET THOSE REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS.
AND SO THAT'S AN AREA WHERE RCRC TRIES TO PROVIDE ECONOMIES OF SCALE TO OUR RURAL MEMBERS AND MEETING AGAIN REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS.
GOLDEN STATE NATURAL RESOURCES IS OUR SECOND TO NEWEST ENTITY.
IT'S A 501-C3, AND IT IS MEANT TO HELP WITH FOREST HEALTH AND WILDFIRE REDUCTION, NAMELY WHAT TO DO WITH THE BIOMASS THAT IS CLEARED AS PART OF FOREST HEALTH PROJECTS.
THE GOAL OF GOLDEN STATE NATURAL RESOURCES DEVELOP THAT A MARKETABLE COMMODITY OUT OF THAT BIOMASS, NAMELY INDUSTRIAL PELLET STOCK THAT CAN THEN BE USED AS A FUEL REPLACEMENT FOR COAL, PRIMARILY IN JAPAN, AS THE PRIMARY MARKET FOR THAT RIGHT NOW.
SO WE'RE WELL UNDERWAY AND DEVELOPING THAT BUSINESS LINE.
IN FACT, WE'RE JUST IN THE VERGE OF LAUNCHING THE SECRET DOCUMENTS TO GO THROUGH THE ENTITLEMENT PHASE FOR HOPEFULLY TWO SITES, ONE THAT WE'VE ALREADY ACQUIRED AND ONE THAT WE'RE ON THE VERGE OF ACQUIRING THAT WOULD THEN BE BASED ON OUR FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENTS, MAKE IT A MARKETABLE, FEASIBLE COMMODITY TO PROCEED WITH.
AND SO THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS WILL BE VERY BUSY FINISHING THE ENTITLEMENT PROCESSES, GETTING THE FINANCING AND HOPEFULLY BY SOMEWHERE IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE, ACTUALLY PRODUCING THE FIRST PELLET AS A RESULT.
AND THEN OUR LAST, OUR NEWEST ENTITY AS GOLDEN STATE CONNECT AUTHORITY, I MENTIONED BROADBAND AT THE START, AND THAT'S WHAT GOLDEN STATE CONNECT AUTHORITY IS FOCUSED ON.
AND IT IS A NEW JOINT POWERS AGENCY.
ACTUALLY, IT WENT LIVE, I THINK, TWO WEEKS AGO WHEN SIERRA INYO AND LASSEN APPROVED JOINING IT. WE'VE HAD SEVERAL COUNTIES.
I THINK DEL NORTE HAS APPROVED JOINING IT SINCE, SO IT'S OFFICIALLY A JOINT POWERS AGENCY. AND OUR GOAL IS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS TO GO THROUGH THAT INITIAL FORMATIVE STAGE AND BE UP AND RUNNING BY DECEMBER.
BUT WE'RE NOT WAITING TO MOVE FORWARD THE BROADBAND PROJECTS THAT ULTIMATELY GSCA WILL BE IN CHARGE OF. AND THAT'S THE THREE PHASES LISTED ON THE SLIDE.
ONE IS THAT WE'RE HELPING 26 OF OUR MEMBER COUNTIES DEVELOP BROADBAND STRATEGIC PLANS.
WE JUST SUBMITTED TWO WEEKS AGO A $4 MILLION GRANT TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION TO HOPEFULLY COMPLETE THOSE BROADBAND STRATEGIC PLANS.
SECONDLY, FOR THOSE COUNTIES, WE DO HAVE A FEW WHO HAVE READY TO GO BROADBAND STRATEGIC PLANS. WE'RE TRYING TO CONNECT THEM WITH THE TECHNICAL RESOURCES THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ACTUALLY DEPLOYING FIBER.
AND WE HAVE CONTRACTS IN PLACE WITH ENTITIES THAT HAVE DONE THAT SO WE CAN IMMEDIATELY CONNECT THEM AND THEY CAN MOVE FORWARD RAPIDLY TO DEPLOY FIBER IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
AND LASTLY IS IN AREAS WHERE PRIVATE PROVIDERS ARE UNABLE, FOR SOME REASON TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FIBER.
THAT'S WHERE GSA IS LOOKING AT HOW CAN WE DEPLOY FIBER SO THAT WE ENSURE THERE'S EQUITABLE ACCESS FOR ALL OF OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES? WE'RE LOOKING AT A MODEL OUT OF UTAH, UTOPIA FIBER, WHERE IT'S AN OPEN ACCESS MODEL.
AND THINK OF IT, NOT UNLIKE AN AIRPORT WHERE YOU GO IN AND CONSTRUCT AN AIRPORT AND THEN PRIVATE ENTITIES COME IN AND FLY OUT OF THERE LIKE SOUTHWEST.
WELL, IN THIS MODEL, GSCA WOULD CONSTRUCT THE ACTUAL LAST MILE OF FIBER, BUT THEN MAKE IT OPEN ACCESS FOR PRIVATE VENDORS TO COME IN AND PROVIDE INTERNET SERVICE OVER THAT FIBER.
WE ARE RIGHT NOW WORKING WITH A STEERING COMMITTEE OR ADVISORY COMMITTEE MADE UP OF NOT
[00:25:03]
ONLY COUNTY SUPERVISORS BUT ALSO IT DIRECTORS TO EVALUATE A NUMBER OF SITES ACROSS THE STATE USING BUSINESS CRITERIA EVALUATIVE CRITERIA.THE GOAL IS TO, BY THE TIME, AS I MENTIONED, SERVE ON A SEQUENTIAL PATHWAY AS GSCA IS COMING TO ITS FIRST BOARD MEETING.
WE'LL HOPEFULLY BE DEVELOPING OUT A POTENTIAL DEMONSTRATION SITE FOR THEM TO CONSIDER.
AND THE GOAL THERE IS SIMPLY IF WE CAN DEMONSTRATE SUCCESS WITH THAT INITIAL SITE, THEN IMPROVE THE MODEL, THEN WE'LL BE SCALABLE TO GO TO ADDITIONAL RURAL COMMUNITIES BEYOND THAT USING THAT FINANCING MODEL.
SO I KNOW I'VE MOVED VERY QUICKLY THROUGH RCRC, BUT I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF IT. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE LESS FAMILIAR AND ON THE HORIZON IS OUR BROADBAND WORK IS WE'RE COMPLETING A STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WILL BE COMPLETE BY DECEMBER AND THEN THE FOREST HEALTH PROJECTS TO GOLDEN STATE NATURAL RESOURCES.
ANY QUESTIONS ON RCRC BEFORE I SHIFT GEARS? I DON'T SEE ANY QUESTIONS UP HERE, BUT I WOULD JUST LIKE TO COMMENT AT THIS TIME, PATRICK BEING THE THE FORMER CHAIRMAN OF RCRC, I'VE BEEN VERY ACTIVE AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE GOLDEN STATE, I'M ACTUALLY THE VICE CHAIR OF THAT COMMITTEE, SEEING HOW MUCH AND PATRICK ACTUALLY SHARED HOW MUCH IT'S IMPACTED MERCED COUNTY AND FOLKS GETTING INTO HOUSING AND WE HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM.
IN FACT, THEY HAVE ME FACILITATING A MEETING AT OUR EVENT NEXT WEEK AND I'LL BE FACILITATING A MEETING REGARDING THE THE MIGRATION OF FOLKS INTO THE BAY AREA COMING INTO RURAL COUNTIES.
WE'RE AFFECTED IN THAT HERE AND THAT'S WHERE I THINK WHERE NHF AND GOLDEN STATE FINANCIAL AUTHORITY REALLY HELPS US BE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE FORGET THAT WE ARE CONTIGUOUS TO SANTA CLARA COUNTY AND WE DEAL WITH THAT ALL THE TIME WITH THE COST OF HOUSING GOING UP.
SO I JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON THAT BECAUSE THAT'S BEEN MY PASSION AND I'VE BEEN VERY INVOLVED WITH THE BROADBAND AS WELL.
AND I DIDN'T DIVE TOO DEEPLY, BUT GOLDEN STATE FINANCE AUTHORITY HAS ALSO JUST LAUNCHED A MINORITY LENDING INITIATIVE TO TARGET THOSE COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE BEEN UNDERREPRESENTED IN TERMS OF HOMEOWNERSHIP.
BECAUSE THE REALITY IS, IS ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE PREDICTORS OF BUILDING WEALTH OVER YOUR LIFETIME IS HOMEOWNERSHIP.
AND SO GOLDEN STATE FINANCE AUTHORITY IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO HELP OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES IN MEETING THAT NEED AS WELL.
THANK YOU. AND RCRC HAS BEEN A GREAT VEHICLE TO HELP US WITH THAT HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.
ARE THERE ANY? CHAIR RECOGNIZES MR. BROWN.
MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, JUST ADD ON, AS MR. BLACKLOCK MENTIONED, GOLDEN STATE CONNECT AUTHORITY GETTING UP AND GOING.
WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON TODAY FOR, YOU KNOW, AS YOUR BUDGET, BUT OUR GOAL IS TO BRING FOR CONSIDERATION FOR YOU AT YOUR NEXT ON THE OCTOBER 5TH BOARD MEETING FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TO BE JOINING THE JPA.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU WERE ALL AWARE BECAUSE YOU'VE ASKED US TO EXPLORE THIS AND WORK WITH THEM ON IT. THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? DON'T LET THEM OFF THIS EASY.
HE TRAVELED A LONG WAY THIS MORNING.
WELL, SWITCHING GEARS, CHAIR MCDANIEL, WE DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU AND TO THE BOARD FOR ALLOWING YOU TO PARTICIPATE AS OUR CHAIR BECAUSE I KNOW IT IS A SIGNIFICANT TIME COMMITMENT AND PART OF THE WAY THAT RCRC AND OUR BOARD MEMBERS EXPRESS THEIR GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION IS TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO NONPROFITS IN THE COMMUNITY OF THE CHAIR, AND SO SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL SERVED AS OUR CHAIR IN 2020, AND WE ARE HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION IN THE FORM OF A VERY OVERSIZE CHECK.
CHAIR MCDANIEL, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WANT TO PROCEED HERE IF YOU WANT THE INDIVIDUALS TO COME UP OR IF YOU WANT TO COME DOWN OR? YES, LET'S INVITE CLAUDIA DOWN.
SHE LOVES BEING IN FRONT OF PEOPLE.
SO. AND WE'LL HAVE WE'LL HAND CLAUDIA THE MIC. WOW.
YEAH. I DON'T THINK SHE BELIEVED ME WHEN I CALLED HER AND ASKED HER IF WE.
I ASKED HER IF WE COULD DO THIS.
WHAT AN HONOR. SO MAYBE WE SHOULD TURN IT AROUND AND RIGHT IN THE CENTER? SURE. I DON'T KNOW IF WE THOUGHT IT HERE.
GET IN BETWEEN US. OH, THERE YOU.
OH, SHE WANTS TO CATCH THE CHECK.
OH, IT IS A TIME COMMITMENT, AND A LOT OF TIMES FOLKS DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH TIME IT IS IN SACRAMENTO. I GOT TO SAY THIS WAS PROBABLY THE HARDEST TIME BECAUSE IT WAS IN 2020 AND NOT ONLY SERVING ON THIS BOARD, BUT FOR THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AND OTHER ONES.
COVID WAS THE CONTINUOUS CONVERSATION AND IT WAS ALL ZOOM, SO THERE IS NO TRAVEL.
AND SO FOR THE FACT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GIVE BACK TO OUR NONPROFITS AND CALL [INAUDIBLE], THANK YOU SO MUCH. CLAUDIA HAS DONE SUCH A FANTASTIC JOB.
SHE DOES A LOT OF WORK IN MY DISTRICT AND IT IS MUCH APPRECIATED.
CLAUDIA AND I HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A LONG TIME, AND I KNOW SHE'S DOING SOMETHING FOR UC MERCED NOW.
AND IN FACT, WHENEVER SHE SAID SHE WAS GOING TO UC MERCED, I CALLED HER RIGHT AWAY, GOING,
[00:30:04]
YOU'RE NOT LEAVING WHAT YOU WERE DOING BECAUSE I WOULD APPRECIATE THE PROMOTION, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.SO CLAUDIA, I'D LIKE TO HAND YOU THE MIC NOW.
THANK YOU. WE WERE TRULY HONORED.
I WASN'T EXPECTING THIS AND THESE FUNDS ARE TRULY GOING TO SUPPORT SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE JUST MENTIONED HERE EARLIER BECAUSE THINGS LIKE FOOD, SO WHEN PEOPLE HAVE TO LIKE QUARANTINE AND THEY HAVE TO ISOLATE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE FOOD.
SO ALL OF OUR GRANTS THAT WE GET SOMETIMES DON'T ALLOW US TO PURCHASE FOOD.
WHEN WE HAVE MEETINGS WITH OTHER PEOPLE LIKE WE CAN'T EVEN SOMETIMES PROVIDE FOOD FOR OURSELVES BECAUSE SOME OF THESE GRANTS ARE SO LIMITED, SO FLEXIBLE FUNDING LIKE THIS JUST GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRULY SERVE THE COMMUNITIES THAT YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR PRESENTATION. AND I'M TRULY HONORED TO HAVE RECEIVED THIS AND TO BE RECOGNIZED BY ALL OF YOU. SO JUST KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO BE PUT INTO VERY GOOD USE IN OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU. CLAUDIA. THANK YOU.
PLEASE, SOMEBODY FACE TIME WHERE SHE'S TRYING TO TAKE THAT INTO THE BANK.
AGAIN, PATRICK, WITH RCRC, THANK YOU SO MUCH, IT'S GOING TO BENEFIT.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE LIST, THERE'S STILL MORE CHECKS TO BE PRESENTED HERE IN MERCED COUNTY. IT'S GOING TO BE VERY HELPFUL.
YES. CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YEAH, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE DR.
[INAUDIBLE] THERE'S A LOT OF PLENTY OF, YOU KNOW, LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES SHE'S BEEN SO HELPFUL IN IN ALL OUR COMMUNITIES HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.
SO VERY MUCH APPRECIATIVE OF ALL YOUR TIME.
CLAUDIA, THEN THEY SPENT WITH ALL THESE CITIZENS IN NEED, A LOT OF SUPPORT.
I ALSO DON'T WANT TO STEAL YOUR THUNDER.
I KNOW THAT FROM THE LIST IS, YOU KNOW, VERY NICE ORGANIZATIONS, NONPROFITS.
AND I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I WAS WITH YOU AT THE SWAG STUDENTS WITH ASPIRING GOALS WHERE MY DAUGHTER WAS PARTICIPATING AND I WAS THERE FOR A FUNDRAISER, SO WE HAD TO CONTRIBUTE. AND YOU KNOW, YOU SHARE THAT ANOTHER $10000 FROM OUR [INAUDIBLE], SHE'S GOING TO GO TO A SWAG.
AND PATRICK, WE HAVE MUCH APPRECIATION.
THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR.
PAREIRA. YEAH, I WOULD HAVE COMMENTED EARLIER IF I KNOWN THAT WE WERE DONE.
BUT ANYWAYS, PATRICK, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND RCRC FOR THE GOLDEN STATE NATURAL RESOURCE ORGANIZATION. YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE MUCH FOREST IN MERCED COUNTY, BUT WE CERTAINLY ARE AFFECTED BY THE SMOKE.
AND YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF, IT JUST REALLY SHOCKED ME THAT, YOU KNOW, OVER THE LAST IN MY LIFE, PROBABLY THIRTY FIVE YEARS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A BUNCH OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE ADVOCATED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP OF THE FOREST.
AND REALLY WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT DIDN'T GET STEWARDED; RIGHT? IT JUST GOT LEFT ALONE TO TO BECOME WHAT IT IS TODAY.
WHEN I WAS A KID, YOU KNOW, WE'D HEAR A FOREST FIRES OF, YOU KNOW, FIVE THOUSAND ACRES, TEN THOUSAND ACRES, AND NOW THEY'RE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, TO BE ABLE TO NOW COME ALONG AND MANAGE THAT FOREST TO, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY IN THE FUTURE, I MEAN, IT MIGHT NOT BE IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO, BUT OVER TIME, MAYBE WHEN ONE OF OUR KIDS ARE SITTING IN THESE SEATS, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING HAPPENED IN 2020 THAT CHANGED THE AIR QUALITY HERE, ESPECIALLY IN THE VALLEY. AND I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THAT AND WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. I APPRECIATE THAT SUPERVISOR AND I DIDN'T ELABORATE A LOT ON OUR LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM, GSNR IS WHERE WE'RE PUTTING BOOTS ON THE GROUND TO HELP ADDRESS THE ISSUE.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE FORMED A NEW WILDFIRE AD HOC COMMITTEE OF COUNTY SUPERVISORS THAT'S MEETING FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS WEEK.
WE HAVE A LOT OF POLICY ON POINT, BUT CLEARLY WILDFIRE IS GOING TO BE ONE OF OUR TOP THREE CONTINUING, GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE ONE OF OUR TOP THREE GOING FORWARD.
SO THIS COMMITTEE IS GOING TO MEET TO REALLY PUT A FINER POINT ON OUR LEGISLATIVE POLICY FOR NEXT YEAR, BUT ALSO TO BE A VENUE FOR MEETING WITH STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS TO TALK ABOUT THE THE IMMEDIACY AND THE URGENCY OF THE PROBLEM.
YEAH. AND I DON'T WANT TO SAY AND I ALSO AM VERY HAPPY THAT BROADBAND IS COMING, TOO.
BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, I SERVE ON THE SOUTH KING AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT BOARD AND YOU KNOW, AND WHEN YOU HAVE ONE WILDFIRE DUMP MORE POLLUTION INTO OUR VALLEY IN 10 DAYS
[00:35:02]
THAN REALLY THE REST OF IT THE REST OF THE YEAR, IT'S REALLY IMPACTFUL.AND I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO MANAGE THE FOREST.
AND YOU KNOW, YOU'LL BE A PART OF THAT.
THANK YOU. AND THANKS TO CHAIR MCDANIEL, I KNOW HE WORKED HARD ON THAT AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU. CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
THANK YOU, CHAIR. YEAH, PATRICK, I DO.
IT'S MORE COMMENTS AND JUST BEING THANKFUL FOR FOR YOUR GUYS' LEADERSHIP AND CHAIRMAN MCDANIEL LEADERSHIP IN THIS ORGANIZATION, AND WHAT IT DOES IS IT ALLOWS A SMALLER RURAL COUNTIES TO BE ABLE TO UNITE OUR VOICES.
AND LET'S BE REAL, WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE ON EVERYTHING.
BUT WHEN YOU GET ALL OF US AROUND THE TABLE AND WE COME UP WITH THE LIST OF PRIORITIES AND NOW INSTEAD OF ONE COUNTY ADVOCATING TO THE STATE ON AN ISSUE, YOU COME WITH THIRTY SEVEN COUNTIES AND YOU KNOW, YOU SAW ON THE SLIDE EARLIER.
WE REPRESENT 12 PERCENT OF CALIFORNIA'S POPULATION, BUT YET IT'S 50 PERCENT OF CALIFORNIA'S LAND MASS AND OVER SEVENTY FIVE PERCENT OF THE FOREST.
SO IT'S A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ADVOCATE AND GO WITH THE PHILOSOPHY THAT, YOU KNOW, A RISING TIDE LIFTS ALL SHIPS.
AND SO IT'S JUST, IT'S REALLY TREMENDOUS AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE A PART OF THAT THE RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT FOR BEING A PART OF THIS IS JUST IT'S PHENOMENAL. IT'S REALLY GOOD.
AND SO WE'RE LUCKY TO BE A PART OF IT.
AND IT'S JUST IT'S NICE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE GET BACK TOGETHER AND WE GOT A CONFERENCE COMING UP HERE PRETTY QUICK TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING TO COLLEAGUES UP AND DOWN THE STATE. YOU GUYS SAW THE MAP AND REALLY BEING ABLE TO HONE IN ON THE ISSUES THAT ARE AFFECTING ALL OF US.
YOU KNOW, THEY SAY EVEN THE IF THERE'S 58 COUNTIES IN CALIFORNIA, AND IF YOU'VE BEEN TO ONE, YOU'VE ONLY BEEN TO ONE. WE ALL DO IT A LITTLE.
IT DIFFERENT, BUT THE AREAS THAT WE CAN FIND COMMONALITY AND REALLY ADVOCATE, AND THEN IT'S THAT CREDIBILITY THAT WHEN RCRC GETS BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND GOES TO THE STATE LEGISLATORS, THEY TEND TO LISTEN BECAUSE WE COME WITH CREDIBILITY.
SO IT'S CONTINUE THE GOOD WORK.
THANK YOU, CHAIR MCDANIEL ON, JUST I WANT TO POINT OUT, YOU KNOW, THERE RCRC FOR THEIR APPRECIATION, THE DONATIONS BACK TO OUR COUNTY AND YOUR DISTRICT.
AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND THANK YOU ON JUST THE DIVERSITY OF THE GROUPS THAT YOU'RE HELPING OUT WITH THOSE DONATIONS, IT'S MUCH APPRECIATED.
SO THANK YOU BOTH. THANK YOU, SILVEIRA.
AND I REQUESTED THE MAP TO COME BACK UP SO YOU CAN SEE THAT THE 37 COUNTIES THAT RCRC REPRESENTS AND SAN BERNARDINO BEING THE BIG COUNTY THERE.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, FIFTY ONE PERCENT OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY IS FEDERAL LAND, NATIONAL PARK LAND, BUT THE MAP USED TO BE, YOU SEE ALL THAT BLUE.
NOW YOU CAN SEE LOS ANGELES COUNTY UP THERE.
ALL THAT BLUE ONLY REPRESENTS SEVEN PERCENT OF THE REGISTERED VOTERS IN THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY, SO YOU CAN SEE HOW IMPERATIVE IT IS FOR RCRC TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF US RURAL COUNTIES BECAUSE WE AREN'T HEARD, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE VOTERS TO SUPPORT IT.
SO OUR ADVOCACY THERE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
AND IN SACRAMENTO IS IMPERATIVE.
SO TO THE SUPERVISOR POINT, WE TRY TO HAVE AN OVERSIZE IMPACT BY WORKING TOGETHER AND BY HAVING UNITY OF PURPOSE.
AND SOMETIMES IT WORKS VERY WELL LIKE BROADBAND THIS YEAR.
AND SO THERE ARE SOME EXCITING TIMES WHERE IT ALL COMES TOGETHER.
EXACTLY. ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YEAH. CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE AS MUCH EXPERIENCE WITH RCRC BEING THAT THIS IS JUST MY FIRST YEAR, BUT I'VE HEARD A LOT FROM MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT IT, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO WHAT SCOTT SAID IS THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE ONE PERSON YELLING DOWN THE HALL, IT DOESN'T MAKE HIS A LOT OF VOICES, A GROUP OF PEOPLE.
AND BEING THAT WE ALL HAVE SIMILAR INTERESTS, I THINK THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND IT JUST GOES TO SHOW THE AMOUNT OF COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION THAT WE ARE ARE DOING UP HERE AND THAT WE LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
AND SO I'M EXCITED TO GET MORE FAMILIAR WITH IT.
I'M EXCITED TO GO TO THE CONFERENCE AND THANK CHAIR MCDANIEL.
I KNOW I'VE HEARD HIM ON MANY ZOOM CALLS OVER THIS LAST EIGHT MONTHS OR WHATEVER DEALING WITH THIS. AND I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY ALSO.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR.
OK, PATRICK. SEE, THEY GOT YOU AT THE END.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU.
OUR PAST PRESIDENT DECIDED TO QUIT WHENEVER I WAS THE CHAIRMAN.
AND SO THROUGH A VIGOROUS RECRUITING PROCESS, PATRICK ROSE TO THE TOP.
BEING A FORMER COUNTY CAO, HE JUST FITTED IN HERE.
PERFECT, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCACY.
HE DOES HAVE A LITTLE CONNECTION TO MERCED COUNTY PER SAY, AS WHEN HE WORKED FOR THE CATTLEMEN'S ASSOCIATION.
SO HE GETS RURAL CALIFORNIA FOR SURE, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP THERE.
[00:40:03]
THANK YOU, CHAIR. IT'S A IT'S QUITE AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO BE, AS I REFER TO, A TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES, HAVING LIVED AND WORKED IN RURAL COMMUNITIES MY ENTIRE LIFE. SO I FEEL FORTUNATE TO BE HERE.OK, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
NEXT IS APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH THREE.IS THERE FURTHER COMMENTS AT THE DAIS? I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S TALLY THE VOTE, MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. AND THEN AT THIS TIME, AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO CALL UP UNITED WAY TO RECOGNIZE INDIVIDUALS FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION IN PROVIDING FACE TO FACE MEDICAL INTERPRETATION DURING THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC.
JUAN, I'LL MEET YOU DOWN THERE.
THE BOARD WANTED TO RECOGNIZE ALL OF OUR INTERPRETERS.
A LOT OF TIMES FOLKS WHO DON'T USE INTERPRETATION DON'T UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT THEY DO AND THE IMPACTS THEY HAVE.
AND SO JUAN HAS BEEN, YOU'VE BEEN HERE EVERY DAY, IT SEEMS LIKE, AND HE AND I HAVE A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS. AND SO WITH THIS, WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPERATIVE THAT WE HAD TO RECOGNIZE ALL THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE.
SO WHAT DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY? YES. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING RECOGNIZED AND I'M NOT A, YOU KNOW, A ONE MAN SHOW. I COULDN'T DO IT WITH ALL OF MY WITHOUT MY TEAM OF INTERPRETERS, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF THERE FOR ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK IN THIS PAST YEAR DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO INTERPRET AND PROVIDE OVER 10000 HOURS OF INTERPRETING TIME DURING THE PEAK OF COVID, AND WE'VE PROVIDED INTERPRETING SERVICES FACE TO FACE FOR OVER SEVENTEEN THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE SOME OTHER CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE OUTSIDE OF OF CALIFORNIA.
BUT AGAIN, IT'S JUST AN HONOR TO BE RECOGNIZED AND KEEP US IN YOUR PRAYERS SO THAT WE STAY HEALTHY AND WE CAN HELP OUR MOMS AND GRANDPARENTS AND PARENTS.
I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, SIR.
THANK YOU, JUAN. AND SO THESE ARE CERTIFICATES THAT WE'D LIKE FOR YOU TO PASS ON TO THE INTERPRETERS FOR THEIR APPRECIATION.
AND CAN I READ OFF THEIR NAMES? ABSOLUTELY, PLEASE.
AND THIS IS MY TEAM OF INTERPRETERS.
I'LL READ OFF THEIR NAMES REALLY QUICKLY.
I KNOW WE'RE PRESSED FOR TIME, BUT I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO MR. [INAUDIBLE]. WHO IS OUR HMONG, LAO, AND THAI INTERPRETER.
TO MR. TU-YANG [INAUDIBLE] CHAO, WHO IS OUR HMONG INTERPRETER.
KAY CHAO. HE'S NOT HERE, HE'S MIANG.
REFAAT WALI, WHO IS OUR PUNJABI INTERPRETER AND SPEAKS MULTIPLE LANGUAGES.
ALBERT AGUILAR. HE'S AT CANTOR CENTER AS WE SPEAK.
LINDA AGUILAR, WHO'S ALSO AT THE HOSPITAL.
ADALENA PENA, ELVA PENA, WHO INTERPRETED ALL THE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND IS OUR COORDINATOR. SHE'S IN THE BACK THERE.
LORENA PADILLA, SHE'S ALSO AT THE HOSPITAL AT THIS TIME.
TERESA REAGAN AND TERESA LOPEZ.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT, AND IT'S AN HONOR TO WORK AND REPRESENT MERCED COUNTY IN THE WAY WE DO. THANK YOU.
OK, ANGIE. NEXT IS BOARD ACTION PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS FOUR AND FIVE.
[BOARD ACTION]
PLEASE NOTE ITEM FOUR REQUIRES A FOUR-FIFTH VOTE.OK. THERE ARE FURTHER COMMENTS HERE AT THE DAIS.
OR DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
THANK YOU, CHAIR. IF I CAN ASK FOR JUST A BRIEF UPDATE ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR, IF WE COULD HAVE OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR DANA HERTFELDER, JUST GIVE US A BRIEF UPDATE.
[00:45:04]
GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.QUALITY WELL DRILLERS FINISHED DRILLING THE WELL THEY'VE PULLED OFF THE SITE, THE WELL'S SLIGHTLY OVER 700 FEET IN DEPTH.
RIGHT NOW, SHANNON PUMP IS CURRENTLY DEVELOPING IT.
AS SOON AS THEY'VE COMPLETED THEIR WORK WILL TAKE THE NECESSARY SAMPLES SINCE IT'S A DRINKING WATER SYSTEM AND THEN HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET IT ONLINE.
WE EXPECT TO HAVE THAT ON LINE BY THE END OF THIS MONTH.
CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR, ESPINOZA.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE AT THE JAIL HAVE ENOUGH, YOU KNOW, CLEAN POTABLE WATER TO DRINK, AND THERE'S NO ISSUES REGARDING, YOU KNOW, SHOWERS AND ALL THAT. YES, THE CURRENT ONE OF THE OLDER WELLS, THE ONE THAT WE'RE HAVING ISSUES WITH IS CURRENTLY OPERATING.
IT'S PROVIDING SUFFICIENT WATER FOR SHOWERS, COOKING, CLEANING, AND THEY'RE ALSO PROVIDED POTABLE WATER.
OK. YEAH, THERE HAVE BEEN CONCERNS REGARDING, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE THERE AND PEOPLE CALLING US TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE ENOUGH POTABLE WATER.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS THE PURCHASE OF A PROPERTY, A REAL PROPERTY.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM.
AS YOU KNOW, I FEEL PRETTY STRONGLY ABOUT THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH. AND AND THIS IS A SITE THAT OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WILL BE ABLE TO EXPAND SERVICES, YOU KNOW, TO KIND OF THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY.
AND ANYWAYS, I JUST I'M REAL THANKFUL AND I'D LIKE TO THANK GENEVIEVE AND DANA FOR WORKING HARD TO MAKE THIS PROJECT COME BEFORE US.
AND ANYWAYS, I JUST THINK IT'LL GO A LONG WAY TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF ALL OF THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT THAT ARE LEAST OF THESE.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR.
THERE, I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER COMMENTS, SO I DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA IN A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
NEXT IS HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY ITEM SIX AND SEVEN.
WE'LL BRING IT BACK HERE TO THE DAIS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, I DO HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND IT'S SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. WELL, GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.
NEXT IS COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
THANK YOU. I'M LOOKING HERE AT THE DAIS TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.
SEEING NONE, I ALREADY HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.
NEXT IS LIBRARY ITEM NUMBER NINE.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
YEAH, I JUST JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THAT OUR LIBRARIAN, AMY TAYLOR, WORKS REAL HARD AT TRYING TO BRING FUNDING INTO THE LIBRARY AND AND HERE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE AN ITEM THAT WORKS WITH OUR WORKFORCE RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT, YET WE HAVE HIGH JOB OPENINGS.
AND SO IF WE CAN GET PEOPLE CONNECTED TO JOBS, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.
AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DON'T READ BOOKS SO MUCH ANYMORE.
AND SO IF WE CAN GET THE LIBRARY TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE NEEDS, IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR US TO PROVIDE FUNDING. SO THANK YOU.
FOR THE RECORD, I DO HAVE MY LIBRARY CARD.
OK. SO I DO HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
THERE ARE NO MORE COMMENTS, SO I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS HERE AT THE DAIS?
[00:50:02]
SEEING NONE, I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.[BOARD INFORMATION & POSSIBLE ACTION]
NEXT IS BOARD INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.THIS IS SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA'S FAVORITE ITEM.
SO ARE THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THIS ITEM.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR, PEDROZO, I SEE NO REQUESTS FOR COMMENTS.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.
THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
OK, SO THIS CONCLUDES THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING AGENDA AT THIS TIME, WE WILL TAKE A 10 MINUTE BREAK. WE WILL RETURN AT 11:05, IT WILL GIVE US A LITTLE EXTRA TIME.
WE'LL TURN 11:05 AND WE WILL BEGIN OUR FISCAL YEAR 2021-2022 FINAL BUDGET HEARINGS.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.