>> WELCOME BACK TO THE REGULAR MEETING PORTION OF TODAY'S BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING. [00:00:05] WE WILL NOW START WITH INVOCATION LED BY MONICA GRASSLEY, LIFELINE CDC, AND THEN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY SUPERVISOR PEREIRA. >> THANK YOU LORD FOR A NEW DAY. THANK YOU FOR THE FREEDOM TO ASSEMBLE AND ABOUT THE DECISIONS OF THE WELL-BEING OF OUR COUNTRY AND ESPECIALLY OF OUR COUNTY RIGHT HERE. AS WE APPROACH CHRISTMAS, WE ARE REMINDED OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH THAT YOU CAME TO SET US FREE FROM OUR OWN SELF AND TO LIVE OUT YOUR VALUES. YOU TOLD US THAT YOUR KINGDOM VALUES INCLUDE TO REMOVE THE HEAVY CHAINS OF OPPRESSION, TO STOP EXPLOITING WORKERS, TO SET FREE THE CRUSHED AND MISTREATED, TO BREAK OFF EVERY YOKE OF BONDAGE, TO SHARE FOOD WITH THE HUNGRY, PROVIDE FOR THE HOMELESS, AND CLOTH THE NAKED. LORD AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISOR MAKES DECISIONS TODAY, GIVE THEM YOUR WISDOM TO LIVE OUT THESE VALUES, GIVE THEM TO SEE YOUR EYES, TO SEE AND TO RESPOND THE RIGHT WAY. THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT. WE HAVE STRUGGLED, WE HAVE LOST PEOPLE, WE HAVE LOST SO MUCH. WE'RE TIRED AND WE RESPOND OFTEN IN UNKIND WAYS. WE LASH OUT AT EACH OTHER AND MAKE FOOLISH DECISIONS. WE SEE OUR CHILDREN STRUGGLE WITH FOCUS, OUR TEACHERS EXHAUSTED AND OUR FIRST RESPONDERS STRETCHED TO THE LIMITS, WE SEE OUR COUNTRY DIVIDED, BUT CHRISTMAS REMINDS US THAT YOU MOVED INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU CAME TO SHOW US A DIFFERENT WAY OF LIFE. A WAY WE CAN LIVE AT AT PEACE WITH OURSELVES, PEACE WITH EACH OTHER, AND TO LIVE OUT YOUR KINGDOM VALUES. AS WE'RE COMING TO THE CLOSE OF 2021, WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE IN THIS COUNTRY. IT'S STILL GIVES US THE FREEDOM TO WORSHIP, FREEDOM TO CHOOSE OUR WORKPLACES, FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, FREEDOM TO LIVE OUT THE WAY THAT WE DESIRE. HELP US TO NOT MISUSE THAT FREEDOM, BUT TO ALWAYS LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE, THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, AND HOW WE CAN LIVE OUT YOUR VALUES. TODAY AS THE BOARD MAKES DECISIONS, HELP THEM TO BE AT PEACE WITH THEMSELVES, AT PEACE WITH YOU, AND AT PEACE WITH THE JOB THAT YOU HAVE INSTRUCTED THEM TO DO. BECAUSE WE KNOW EMMANUEL GOD WITH US. AMEN. >> AMEN. >> BEGIN. >> >> THANK YOU, MONICA. THIS MORNING WE HAD A CLOSED SESSION MEETING AND STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION. >> IT IS NOW TIME FOR PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON [PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK] 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 IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON. PLEASE NOTE THAT EMAIL PUBLIC COMMENTS WILL NOT BE READ DURING THE MEETING. ALL EMAILS RECEIVED BY THE CONCLUSION OF THE MEETING WILL BE PLACED INTO THE MEETING RECORD. >> I'D LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT THIS IS NOW THE TIME TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON BOTH NON-AGENDA AND AGENDA ITEMS. THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ALL AGENDA ITEMS. >> WE WILL NOW TAKE COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. IF YOU ARE HERE IN PERSON, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND YOU WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE PODIUM. IF YOU ARE JOINING US REMOTELY VIA ZOOM, PLEASE USE THE ZOOM FEATURE TO RAISE YOUR HAND. FOR INDIVIDUALS CALLING IN THROUGH ZOOM, YOU CAN RAISE YOUR HAND BY PRESSING STAR 9. WHEN YOU ARE CALLED UPON, EITHER BY NAME OR THE LAST FOUR DIGITS OF YOUR PHONE NUMBER, YOU WILL BE DIRECTED TO UNMUTE YOUR MIC OVER THE PHONE. THIS CAN BE DONE BY PRESSING STAR 6. >> VERY GOOD, AND WE HAVE THREE MINUTES PER ITEM. GO AHEAD. >> MORNING. MY NAME IS DEAN IRAH AND I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF THE FRIENDS OF THE [INAUDIBLE] COUNTY LIBRARY, REGARDING THE USE OF ARPA FUNDS TO ESTABLISH A MARY HOFFMAN TEEN CENTER AT THE MERCED COUNTY LIBRARY. SOME OF YOU I KNOW EITHER FROM THE FOOD PANTRY AT THE METHODIST CHURCH OR I KNEW HIS MOTHER SINCE I MOVED TO MERCED BECAUSE I WAS A LIBRARIAN HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR 41 YEARS. OF THOSE 15 YEARS AT MERCED COUNTY LIBRARY, SOME OF YOU MAY BE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER WE DIDN'T HAVE A COUNTY LIBRARY AFTER JANUARY 1994 AND THEN I WAS BLESSED TO MOVE TO MERCED COLLEGE LIBRARY. WHAT I WANT TO REMIND YOU IS THAT THE TEENS IN OUR COMMUNITY DO NOT HAVE [00:05:05] A SAFE PLACE TO GATHER UNLESS PERHAPS THEY'RE AN ATHLETE AND THEN THEY USE SCHOOL. [INAUDIBLE] KNOW ABOUT HIGH SCHOOLS CERTAINLY SERVE OUR STUDENTS VERY WELL. I WANT YOU TO REALIZE THAT WHEN I MOVED TO MERCED COLLEGE, I WAS REALLY A PUBLIC LIBRARIAN AT HEART AND I HAD A HEART FOR OUR STUDENTS VERY MUCH. I ESTABLISHED A BOOK CLUB AT THE MERCED COLLEGE LIBRARY. PEOPLE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID STUDENTS IN COLLEGE WANTING TO BE IN A BOOK CLUB? WELL, YES, BECAUSE THEY HAD BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE REALLY GOOD LIBRARIANS AT THEIR HIGH SCHOOLS AND THEY WERE STILL INTERESTED IN GATHERING AND TALKING ABOUT OLD-FASHIONED ITEMS LIKE BOOKS. TEENS DO NOT CHANGE AS THEY GET OLDER, THEY WANT A SAFE PLACE TO BE. THEY WANT A PLACE WHERE TEENS CAN GATHER. MONICA AND I WERE SPEAKING BEFORE THE MEETING THIS MORNING ABOUT THE WHITTON COMMUNITY CENTER WHERE THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE WANT TO GO. THEY GO AFTER SCHOOL. IT'S A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN SEE THEIR FRIENDS, THEY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THEIR PARENTS INVOLVED WATCHING WHAT'S GOING ON. OF COURSE, THERE IS A STAFF AT THE MERCED PUBLIC LIBRARY THAT WOULD BE MAKING SURE THEY WERE SAFE ACTIVITIES HAPPENING IN THE LIBRARY, BUT THIS IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE DO NOT DO ENOUGH. IN MY OPINION, 41 YEARS, I WAS A GIRLS SCOUT LATER FOR 12 YEARS, WE DO NOT DO ENOUGH FOR THE TEENS IN OUR COMMUNITY. YOUNG CHILDREN, CUTE, GREAT. EVERYBODY WANTS TO DO SOMETHING FOR THEM. COLLEGE STUDENTS HAVE A LOT OF ACTIVITIES, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE UC IN OUR COMMUNITY NOW, BUT WE REALLY NEED A SAFE PLACE FOR THOSE 13-18 YEAR-OLDS WHO PERHAPS ARE NOT INVOLVED IN OTHER ACTIVITIES AT THEIR SCHOOL, SOME SAFE PLACE FOR THEM TO BE. I'M ENCOURAGING YOU TO LOOK AT THE ARPA FUNDS, THINK ABOUT HELPING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MARY HOFFMAN TEEN CENTER AT THE MERCED COUNTY LIBRARY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. YES, PLEASE. COME FORWARD. >> GOOD MORNING. I'M MAJOR GENERAL CLAY GARRISON, RETIRED UNITED STATES AIR FORCE. I'M THE RECENTLY APPOINTED, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AT THE CASTLE AIR MUSEUM. I HAVE A THREE PURPOSES FOR BEING HERDED. ONE IS I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO MEET ANY OF YOU PERSONALLY FACE-TO-FACE AND I HOPE WE GET TO DO THAT AT LATER TIMES AS WE TALK ABOUT CASTLE AIR MUSEUM, AND HOW IT FITS INTO CASTLE AIRPORT AND MERCED COUNTY SO THAT YOU ALSO HAVE A FACE TO GO WITH THE NAME WHEN YOU DO HEAR THAT IF YOU'RE EVER TALKING TO JOE OR DAY. THE SECOND WAS, I WAS GOING TO ASK FOR YOUR HELP AT ACQUIRING A SMALL PARCEL OF LAND THAT WE WERE HOPING TO TURN INTO A PARK. IF WE WERE ABLE TO GET FUNDS, WE WERE GOING TO BUILD A PAVANE IN A PARK, BUT SADLY, WE GOT NEWS YESTERDAY THAT OUR ATTEMPT TO GET STATE FUNDS TO BUILD THAT PARK ADJACENT TO THE MUSEUM WERE DENIED YESTERDAY, SO NOT REQUIRED. BUT THE THIRD THING I WANTED TO WAS REALLY A THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE MUSEUM, SPECIFICALLY IN REFERENCE TO OUR RESTORATION HANGERS. WE'RE GETTING READY TO SIGN A NEW LEASE. OBVIOUSLY, THOSE TWO HANGERS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO US BECAUSE IT ALLOWS US TO STORE SOME OF OUR MOST FRAGILE ARTIFACTS AND ALSO GIVES US A PLACE TO PUT OUR ARTIFACTS THAT WERE RESTORING OUT OF THE WEATHER, SO THAT CONTINUED ACCESS TO THAT LEASE IN EXCESS OF THOSE HANGERS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US IN OUR ABILITY TO MAINTAIN THE MUSEUM BECAUSE AS THE NEW CHAIRMAN, I'M VERY INTERESTED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AIRPORT. I HAVE OBVIOUSLY A HISTORY WITH CASTLE AIR MUSEUM WHEN I WAS MUCH YOUNGER. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND I FLY NOW. I FLY, THAT'S WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING. I HAVE A GREAT INTEREST IN THE AIRPORT GROWING AND BECOMING A PART OF THE COMMUNITY. I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN IT BECAUSE AS THE AIRPORT GROWS AND BECOMES PART MORE PART OF THE COMMUNITY, THE MUSEUM WILL ALSO GROW AND I WANT IT TO BE A PLACE WHERE OUR YOUTH AND THEIR PARENTS CAN COME, AND SEE THE HISTORY. YOU CAN'T APPRECIATE THESE MACHINES VIRTUALLY. YOU HAVE TO BE UP CLOSE BECAUSE THERE'S THAT MERE SIZE OF THEM. YOU CAN'T APPRECIATE THEM; HOW THEY'RE MADE, HOW THEY'RE BUILT. THEN OBVIOUSLY THE DOCENTS AND THE ACCESS TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO FLEW THEM, THAT'S WHAT THIS MUSEUM DOES. I'M VERY INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH THE BOARD AND WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY SO THAT WE BECOME AN INTEGRAL PART OF MAINTAINING THIS HISTORY BECAUSE IT IS A GREAT PART OF THE HISTORY OF MERCED COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE. I'M JUST HERE, ONE, TO THANK YOU FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT THAT YOU GIVE TO THE MUSEUM, AND ALSO TO ASK THAT, HEY, WE'RE PART OF THIS. YOUR PROCESS AS YOU'RE BUILDING OUT THE AIRPORT, WE'RE VERY INTERESTED IN BEING A PARTNER THERE BECAUSE WE SEE IN THE AIRPORT GETTING BETTER, IS US GETTING BETTER AS WELL. THANK YOU. HOPEFULLY I GET A CHANCE TO TALK TO YOU-ALL IN PERSON, ONE-ON-ONE IN THE FUTURE. >> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. WAS THERE ANYBODY ELSE? [00:10:01] SEEING NONE, I WILL LOOK OVER TO MY RIGHT. IS ANY HANDS UP VIRTUALLY? >> YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY INDIVIDUALS ON ZOOM WITH THEIR HANDS RAISED. [CONSENT CALENDAR] >> THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ALONG TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. >> NEXT IS APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA CALENDAR, ITEMS 1 THROUGH 11. PLEASE, NOTE THAT ITEMS 3 AND 4 REQUIRE A 4/5 VOTE. >> IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS? ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, I DO HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEREIRA. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. TALLY THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >> NEXT IS PUBLIC WORKS, ITEM NUMBER 12. [BOARD ACTION] >> ITEM NUMBER 12. ARE THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I SEE NO REQUESTS IN THE QUEUE. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEREIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S TALLY THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >> NEXT IS HEALTH, ITEM NUMBER 13. >> IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION AT THE DAIS ON THIS ITEM? I DO HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA. THERE ARE NO REQUESTS IN THE QUEUE. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S TALLY THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >> HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY, ITEM NUMBER 14. >> IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY ITEM? SEEING NONE, NO REQUESTS IN THE QUEUE, I DO HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S TALLY THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. FOR THE RECORD, ADD COMMISSIONER HAS ENTERED THE ROOM. [LAUGHTER] >> NEXT IS ITEM 15, [NOISE] COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. >> ITEM 15 IS COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? I SEE NO REQUESTS IN THE QUEUE, BUT I DO SEE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEREIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S TALLY THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >> NEXT, OUR ITEM 16 AND 17 FROM FIRE. THESE ITEMS WILL BE TAKING SEPARATELY. CHIEF PIMENTEL WILL BE PROVIDING A PRESENTATION IN REGARDS TO ITEM 16. >> CHIEF, NICE TO SEE YOU HERE THIS MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. [INAUDIBLE] I'M GOING TO PROVIDE YOU SOME INFORMATION IN REGARDS TO THE FIREWORKS. WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT POSSIBLE OPTIONS FOR REDUCTION OF USE FOR ILLEGAL FIREWORKS IN MERCED COUNTY. JUST MAKE SURE I GOT THIS RIGHT. PERFECT. JUST TO GIVE YOU THOUGHTS AS EVERYBODY TENDS TO THINK ABOUT THE FIREWORKS AND BELIEVES THAT THOSE FIREWORKS ARE SOMETHING THAT JUST CURVES AROUND 4TH OF JULY. WELL, IT DOES HAPPEN AT 4TH OF JULY AND THE BIG TIMES, BUT OBVIOUSLY DURING THE FIRST OF THE NEW YEAR'S, WE HAVE EVENTS AT THE HIGH SCHOOLS. FIREWORKS ARE DEFINITELY A CELEBRATION THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. THEY ENHANCE FESTIVITIES AND CREATE LONG-LASTING MEMORIES. I DEFINITELY DO ENJOY SEEING THE FIREWORKS, BUT OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE AN ISSUE IN THE COUNTY AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY. SOME OF THESE DISADVANTAGES OF THOSE; THEY CAUSE INJURY, THERE ARE PROPERTY DAMAGES, NEIGHBORHOOD DISTURBANCES AND DISTURBANCES TO PETS, AND LIVESTOCK. OOPS, I'M SORRY. WHEN WE WERE AT THE BOARD LAST TIME, WE WERE GIVEN DIRECTION OF GATHER [00:15:01] INFORMATION AND REGARDING OF THE POSSIBLE INCREASE OF FINES, THE ABILITY FOR PROSECUTION BY THE DA'S OFFICE FOR VIOLATION OF THESE ORDINANCES AND LANGUAGE FOR FINES IN THE ORDINANCE THAT FOCUS ON PROPERTY OWNERS. DURING MY TIME OF LOOKING INTO THESE THINGS, SOME OF THE FINES CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW IN THE COUNTY FOR THE FIRST VIOLATION IS $1,000. THAT WOULD BE YOUR FIRST OFFENSE. SECOND OFFENSE IS 2,000 AND 3,000 FOR THE THIRD OFFENSE. TALKING WITH THE DA, SHE HAS ASSURED ME THAT SHE IS THERE TO SUPPORT ANY OF THE INFORMATION OR ANY VIOLATIONS IN THE COUNTY AS LONG AS THAT INFORMATION IS DONE APPROPRIATELY AND DOCUMENTED APPROPRIATELY, AND THE VIOLATION OBVIOUSLY VIOLATES THE LAW THAT WE HAVE IN THE STATE. I'M DEVELOPING THESE LANGUAGES FOR PROPERTY OWNERS. I DO HAVE SOME ISSUES AND CONCERNS. LOOKING AROUND IN THE COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS, SOME PEOPLE HAVE DONE AS IF THERE'S FIREWORKS THAT HAVE BEEN [NOISE] DONE ILLEGALLY ON PROPERTY, IT WOULD DEFINITELY GO TOWARDS THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS. I DO SEE SOME OF THE ISSUES. MY CONCERN IS YOU SEE THESE FIREWORKS BEING DISPLAYED EITHER IN THE BACKYARD AND HAVING TO DICTATE THAT IN THAT FINE OR THAT CITATION IS TO SHOW HOW DOES THAT INDIVIDUAL KNOW WHERE THAT FIREWORK ACTUALLY CAME FROM. AN INDIVIDUAL COULD BE JUST WALKING DOWN THE STREET, GO ON TO A PERSON'S PROPERTY IN THEIR FRONT PORCH AND SHOOT OFF THOSE FIREWORKS. HOW WOULD WE HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS AS WE VIOLATE THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS? [OVERLAPPING] NOBODY WOULD DO THAT. BUT SOME OF THOSE ARE THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE AS I LOOKED THROUGH THIS PROCESS. >> CHIEF, BEFORE WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THE SHERIFF IS HERE RIGHT NOW, BUT HOW MANY VIOLATIONS HOW MANY TICKETS WERE WRITTEN LAST TIME? HOW MANY DID WE FOLLOW THROUGH WITH AND ACTUALLY CITE WITH A CRIME? DO WE KNOW THAT? >> WE DO NOT HAVE THAT INFORMATION AS HOW MANY AND HOW MANY WERE ACTUALLY CITED. IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT PROCESS. KNOWING IT IS WORKING IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE FOR CAL FIRE, ACTUALLY GOING OUT AND SEEING THE INDIVIDUAL LIGHT OFF THOSE FIREWORKS, YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY CATCH THEM IN THE ACT OR HAVE SOME VIABLE EVIDENCE TO ACTUALLY PURSUE A CITATION OR MISDEMEANOR FELONY OFFENSE WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. YOU ACTUALLY NEED TO SEE THESE PEOPLE DOING THESE THINGS. >> PERFECT THINGS. >> SO VERY DIFFICULT. >> YEAH. CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA. >> YEAH. ALSO ON THE SALES AND ON THE PAST, THE SHERIFF HAS CAUGHT PEOPLE SELLING FIREWORKS BUT NINO WHAT'S THE PENALTY IF YOU COUGHT SELLING [INAUDIBLE] PEOPLE MIGHT JUST TRACK THESE BUT HAVE PEOPLE COME IN AND BRING FIREWORKS FROM OUT OF STATE? WHAT'S THE WORST PENALTY OR IS IT A MISDEMEANOR OR A FELONY? >> IT WOULD BE A MISDEMEANOR. THEN ALSO IT WOULD GO TO IS HOW MUCH THE FIREWORKS HAD BEEN ACTUALLY OBTAINED FROM THOSE INDIVIDUALS. I BELIEVE SHERIFF MIGHT BE ABLE TO QUOTE ME ON IT BUT I BELIEVE IT'S OVER 500 POUNDS OF FIREWORKS WOULD BE CONSIDERED A FELONY OFFENSE. AGAIN, IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU'RE GOING TO GET OFF THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND IT MAYBE THOSE ARE ILLEGAL WHICH THE ILLEGAL FIREWORKS ARE THE ONES THAT SHOOT OFF INTO THE AIR. >> ARE WE ABLE TO INCREASE THE FINE AS A BOARD IF YOU'RE GOT SELLING THE FIREWORKS TO SOMEBODY, ILLEGAL FIREWORKS? >> YOU CAN EXCEED WHAT'S CURRENT LAW RIGHT NOW, IF THAT'S YOUR CHOICE AS THE BOARD, IF YOU GUYS DECIDE TO INCREASE IT FURTHER THAN WHAT IS IN THE STATE. BUT AGAIN THAT WOULD BE THE BOARD'S DECISION TO DO. >> BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT PEOPLE ARE SELLING. THAT'S WHY I SAID SO. IT JUST CANNOT HANDLE THE WHOLE COUNTY. NOT JUST MERCED COUNTY BUT WE'RE FOCUSING ON ANOTHER COUNTY. I THINK WE SHOULD INCREASE THE FINE AS A BOARD FOR THOSE PEOPLE CAUGHT SELLING. I KNOW EVERYBODY SHEDS SOME OFF, WE WANT TO GET THOSE BUT LIKE I SAID, IT'S HARD TO SEE SOMEBODY PUT OUT THE FIREWORKS BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE INCREASE THE FINE ON PEOPLE CAUGHT SELLING. THANK YOU. >> IT'S ILLEGAL JUST TO HAVE POSSESSION OF ILLEGAL FIREWORKS, RIGHT? >> YES. >> WE CAN INCREASE THE FINE ON POSSESSION OF ILLEGAL BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO CATCH HIM IN THE ACT. IT'S HARD TO CATCH HIM IN THE SALES ACT SO MAYBE WE ANYWAY, CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE SUPERVISOR BRAY. >> YEAH. JUST A COMMENT. ONE THING I GET CONCERNED ABOUT IS WE HAVE HERE LANGUAGE FOCUSED ON ON THE PROPERTY OWNERS. FIREWORKS ARE SOMETHING THAT CAN HAPPEN LIKE THAT. IT WAS VERY REALISTIC FOR US TO BELIEVE THAT A PROPERTY OWNER MAY NOT KNOW THAT FIREWORKS ARE COMING ONTO THEIR PROPERTY ESPECIALLY IF IT'S A RENTAL. [00:20:04] RATHER THAN PROPERTY OWNER, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US WORK TOWARDS LANGUAGE THAT WOULD SAY, WHOEVER HAS CONTROL OF THE PROPERTY. IF IT'S A TENANT, THEN THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE. IF A PERSON LIVES IN HER OWN HOME, THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE. TO ME ANYWAY IS THAT HOLDS THE PERSON CAUSING THE ISSUE ACCOUNTABLE. >> I AGREE. I SAID SOME OF THOSE ISSUES AND AGAIN, YOUR TEND INSTANCE OF IT THAT REALLY PUTS A LOT OF BURDEN ON THE INDIVIDUALS PROPERTY OWNERS SO IT'D BE HARD FOR THEM TO ACTUALLY CONTROL THOSE INDIVIDUALS IF THEY WOULD, SO I AGREE WITH YOU 100 PERCENT. THE INFORMATION YOU HAD REQUESTED PRIOR TO, WE TALKED ABOUT THE LANGUAGE AND THEN ALSO WE TALKED ABOUT NOTIFICATION APPLICATIONS. DURING THE DISCUSSIONS WE TALKED ABOUT CIVIC MOBILE. THIS IS A PUBLIC USE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION FOR AREAS OF CONCERN. FAMILIARIZES LIKE THE POTHOLES OR THINGS OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE DEBRIS THAT SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT COULD ACTUALLY GO ONTO THIS APP. THEY END UP PUSHING THE ROAD CONCERNS AND IS ABLE TO UPLOAD INFORMATION AND GET IT TO THE COUNTY AND THEN PUBLIC WORKS WOULD ACTUALLY REVIEW THOSE AS THEY CAME IN AND GO AHEAD AND TRY TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE ISSUES. DURING MY TIME OF LOOKING INTO THIS APP, AND I WAS THINKING WE CAN EXPAND AND PUT IN FIREWORKS. AGAIN, MY IDEA WAS WE CAN AT LEAST GET SOME NOTIFICATIONS, NOT THAT WE'RE GOING TO CATCH THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE ACT AT THAT TIME BUT IT WOULD BE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO NOTIFY US AND WE COULD BE HAVING AREAS OF INTERESTS AS WE PURSUE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE, WE CAN ACTUALLY BE FOCUSING IN ON CERTAIN AREAS AS WE GET THOSE INFORMATION. BUT IN KNOWING THAT FINDING OUT MORE ABOUT THIS APP, IT DOES NOT PROVIDE LOCAL GOVERNMENT THE OPPORTUNITY TO UTILIZE A TOOL OR CHANGE THE TOOL TO ADD THOSE FIREWORKS INFORMATION IN THERE. ALSO THIS APP IN THE COUNTIES BECOMING OBSOLETE HERE SHORTLY AND LOOKING AT WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE LATER ON WITH THE NEWER VERSION IS, WE HAVE NOT HAD THE DIALOGUE WITH THE COMPANY AND IT DOES NOT KNOW WHERE EXACTLY THEY'RE GOING WITH THIS CIVIC MOBILE. WE DO HAVE ARCGIS COLLECTOR THAT IS IN THE COUNTY. THIS WOULD BE A TOOL THAT'S UTILIZED IN THE COUNTIES WITH THE STAFF. THIS WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO THE STAFF BE ABLE TO LOCATE AND PINPOINT A LOCATION WHERE THEY'VE SEEN A FIREWORK OCCUR. AGAIN, THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING WHERE WE WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE OUR JOB DESCRIPTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE COUNTY, BECAUSE IF WE WANTED TO USE THIS AS OTHER COUNTIES HAVE, YOU HAVE THIS AND THE SURVEY 123. THE SURVEY 123 WOULD BE THE WAY THAT OUR STAFF WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE DESIGNATED INFORMATION ABOUT THE CURRENTS AND WE WOULD GO PURSUE TRY TO FIND BUT AGAIN, WE WOULD HAVE TO IDENTIFY INDIVIDUALS WITHIN OTHER THAN LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE WOULD HAVE TO DEPUTIZE SOME INDIVIDUALS WITHIN FIRE TO ACTUALLY BE PURSUING ANY KIND OF FINES IN USING THIS PROCESS. AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MERCED CITY WAS USING. THOSE ARE THE TWO APPS THAT THEY USE. IT SEEMS VERY INTERESTING IN THEIR SCOPE OF HOW THEY'RE USING IT BUT AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING FOR THE STAFF. >> CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. >> CHAIR. CHIEF, HOW WOULD THIS BENEFIT THE PUBLIC? WOULD THEY, THE ARCGIS AND THE SURVEY 123, THE PUBLIC WOULD INPUT INFORMATION TO THAT? I GUESS I'M CONFUSED A LITTLE BIT ON IF THERE'S THE STAFF PIECE OF IT, BUT HOW WOULD THAT BE POPULATED WITH INFORMATION? >> THE ARCGIS 123 WOULD BE STRICTLY FOR COUNTY STAFF. THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC USED APP. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO HAVE HERE, WHAT WE USE FOR WEED ABATEMENT INFORMATION. WE TAG THE INFORMATION WE ARE ABLE TO GO AND SURVEY 123 AND PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE WEED ABATEMENTS, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THEY'LL GET NOTICES. NOT NECESSARILY FINDS JUST NOTICES ON THE OCCURRENCES OF THE WEED ABATEMENT SIDE OF IT. MERCED CITY USES THESE TWO APPS FOR THEIR STAFF TO GO OUT AND SET VIOLATIONS FOR NOTICE OF ILLEGAL FIREWORKS USAGE IN THEIR CITY. >> GOT YOU. SO STAFF WOULD BE ENTERING THE INFORMATION AND THEN THIS TOOL WOULD ALLOW YOU TO SEND OUT THE FINES AND NOTIFICATIONS? >> YES, SIR. >> PERFECT. THANK YOU. AFTER GOING THROUGH ALL OF THE INFORMATION AND LOOKING AT THIS, I CAME UP WITH TWO OPTIONS THAT WOULD BE VIABLE OPTIONS FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER IN MAINTAINING CURRENT STATUS WITH FIRE AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. I THINK WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL TO WHAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR. [00:25:04] WE WOULD JUST INCREASE, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT FURTHER. THEN OPTION TWO WOULD BE INCREASED FINES IN RELATIONS TO THE CURRENT ORDINATES. LOOKING AT WHAT'S THE BENEFITS FOR MAINTAINING. OUR STAFF IS FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS. JOINT EFFORTS WITH FIRE AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN THE PAST AND START EARLY IN THE YEAR TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND INCREASE FOCUS ON FIREWORKS VIOLATIONS. AGAIN, WE'VE DONE THIS IN THE PAST, TALKING WITH THE SHERIFF AND THE UNDER-SHERIFF AS WE'VE DONE TASK FORCE TOGETHER, WHERE WE BROUGHT CAL FIRE INDIVIDUALS IN. THEY ARE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE OF IT AND WORK WITH THEIR DIFFERENT TEAMS WITHIN THEIR DEPARTMENT AND ACTUALLY DO SOME UNDERCOVER WORK AND IT WAS SUCCESSFUL. WE STARTED WHEN WE HAD THE TIME, AS WE LOOK FORWARD, WE'RE LOOKING AT SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO MAYBE START A LITTLE BIT EARLIER. BUT MAINTAINING THAT WE HAD FAMILIARITY WITH EACH OTHER AND WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL IN THE PROCESS WHEN WE DID THIS. CHALLENGES OBVIOUSLY, IT IMPACTS THE STAFF'S DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES AND THEN CONTINUES. YOU'RE STILL GOING TO GET THOSE ILLEGAL FIREWORKS OUT THERE, OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY. THEN ASSOCIATED COSTS WITH STAFF'S TIME AND EFFORTS. SHERIFF, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING? >> MORNING SHERIFF? >> GOOD MORNING. WITH WHAT WE'VE GOT GOING ON, CHIEF AND I TALKED WITH THE UNDER-SHERIFF OBVIOUSLY BEFORE THE MEETING STARTED. WE DO HAVE A LOT OF ACCESSIBLE EQUIPMENT, EVERYTHING THAT'S NEEDED TO ACTUALLY GET THROUGH THIS. MAYBE THE BOARD COULD CONSIDER DURING THAT TIME, WE COME UP WITH A TIME FRAME AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS AND WE FOCUS EFFORTS AND ACTUALLY PUT A TEAM TOGETHER ON AN OVERTIME BASIS TO ACTUALLY COMBAT THIS. WE DO HAVE SURVEILLANCE TECHNIQUES THAT OBVIOUSLY I'M NOT GOING TO DESCRIBE IN PUBLIC, BUT WE DO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES AND AVAILABILITY FOR A LOT OF THINGS TO HAPPEN AND WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR BROTHER FROM CAL FIRE. I THINK WE COULD DO SOMETHING TO CONTINUE AND INCREASE THE COLLABORATION WITH THE STAFFING AND STUFF THAT WE DO HAVE. YES, I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE TEETH IN IT. YES. I'D LIKE TO SEE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY BE ABLE TO FILE CHARGES AND BRING SOME FOLKS TO VISIT VAL'S BED AND BREAKFAST AND [LAUGHTER] HAVE A NICE TURKEY BREAKFAST OUT THERE. WE WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN TO SEND A MESSAGE, BUT AS TIME PROGRESSES, WE'RE TALKING. WE'VE GOT A CHIEFS' MEETING IN JANUARY, I WOULD LIKE TO GET THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN ON THIS BECAUSE AS YOU ALL ARE AWARE THAT EVERY PERSON IN THIS COUNTY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY AND WE WORK FOR THEM NO MATTER WHERE THEY LIVE IN AS LONG AS THEY HAVE A MERCED COUNTY ADDRESS. I THINK THAT THE CHIEFS WILL BUY INTO THIS, BECAUSE THEY GET THE COMPLAINTS TOO. SOMEBODY TOLD ME THAT THIS IS THE NEW POTHOLE, FIREWORKS. LET'S UNDERSTAND THAT WE DO WANT TO GET THIS DONE AND WE DO HAVE STAFFING AND I THINK WE CAN CREATE A FOCUS ON DOING SOME OF THESE THINGS USING SOME OF THE MORE TECHNOLOGICAL AREAS. YOU GUYS ARE WELL AWARE WE ARE BUSY BUT WE COULD DO SOMETHING, MAYBE BRING SOME EXTRA HELP DEPUTIES IN AND GET SOME OUT OF THE COURTS. WE HAVE JUST A WHOLE BUNCH OF AVENUES THAT WE CAN TAKE. WE DO WANT TO PURSUE THIS. [NOISE] BUT IF THERE'S AN [NOISE] ACTION THAT THE BOARD CAN TAKE TO MAKE THIS HURT, EVEN FINANCIALLY FOR OUR FOLKS THAT ARE DOING THESE ILLEGAL. IT'S SIX WEEKS BEFORE THE FOURTH AND I'M LISTENING TO THESE, IT JUST SOUNDS LIKE CANNONS GOING OFF. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT THE FOLKS ARE FEELING WHEN THEY ARE LIVING RIGHT NEXT TO THESE. IT'S NOT JUST THE STUFF THAT'S LEAVING THE AIR, IS THESE GUYS THAT ARE DIGGING THE HOLES AND DROPPING A QUARTER STICK OF DYNAMITE IN THERE. I MEAN, JUST HAVING THAT. ANYWAY, MY TWO CENTS CHIEF, THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. I'LL BE HERE IF THERE'S ANY MORE QUESTIONS. >> SHERIFF, CHIEF, AND I HAVE A REAL QUICK ONE. WE KEEP SAYING THAT WE HAVE TO CATCH THEM IN THE ACT AND WE HAVE TO DO THIS AND THAT. WHAT TOOLS CAN THE BOARD PROVIDE YOU WITH AN ORDINANCE? IF YOU SHOW UP TO A PLACE AND THERE'S DISCARDED, [NOISE] OBVIOUSLY THEY SET HIM OFF BECAUSE WE HAVE RESIDUALS SITTING THERE. IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN ADD INTO OUR ORDINANCE, WHETHER IT'S POSITION, WHETHER POSSESSION OR WHETHER IT'S RESIDUAL, OR WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOU AND FOR THE CONSTITUENTS, BECAUSE I LIKE THE REFERENCE TO A NEW POTHOLE BECAUSE I MEAN, FOR THE TWO MONTHS BEFORE FOURTH OF JULY, DEFINITELY I GET MORE CALLS ON FIREWORKS OR SOCIAL MEDIA THAN WE DO ON POTHOLES AT THAT POINT. >> I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LEAD TIME THE BOARD NEEDS, BUT IF YOU GIVE US A MONTH OR SO TO SIT DOWN AND GO OVER WHAT WE COULD USE AS AN ACTION PLAN, GETTING MY BOSSES ADMINISTRATION WISE INTO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. [00:30:01] GET THEIR INPUT SO WE CAN ALL SIT DOWN TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH A PLAN TO PRESENT IT TO YOU. I DO LIKE SHOOTING FROM THE HIP, BUT ON THIS ONE HERE I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M HITTING WHAT I'M AIMING AT. >> RIGHT. WE WANT TO GIVE YOU THE ABILITY TO DO IT AND WE WANT TO GIVE THE DA THE ABILITY TO PROSECUTE IT. >> MAYBE WE CAN COME UP WITH SOME KIND OF A NEXUS TO HAVE THAT DONE. GET WITH THE DA'S OFFICE AND FIND OUT WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN REFERENCE TOO DOING SOME OF THESE, I'LL CALL THEM REFERENCED VIOLATIONS. IF WE FIND THIS RESIDUE, IF WE FIND THESE THINGS, THERE'S GOING TO BE ISSUES THAT WE MAY NOT WANT TO BROADCAST BECAUSE IF FOLKS REALIZE WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR THEIR JUNK, THEY'RE GOING TO BE GETTING RID OF IT IN A HURRY. >> RIGHT. >> THERE'S JUST A WHOLE HOST OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO. WE'VE GOT TECHNOLOGY THAT WE CAN USE, TECHNOLOGY BASED UNDERCOVER AND WE COULD FOCUS A LOT OF THAT DEPENDING ON WHAT'S GOING ON. WE'VE GOT A VERY SUCCESSFUL TASK FORCE AND MAGNET. WE CAN DO A LOT OF THINGS. >> MAYBE WE COULD PUT TOGETHER A AD-HOC TO THE SUPERVISORS TO JOIN YOU GUYS ON THAT COMMITTEE TO WORK THROUGH THAT. >> COME ON. >> CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA. >> YEAH. JUST A QUESTION. IS IT CREDIBLE EVIDENCE IF SOMEBODY TAKES PICTURES, VIDEO OR THEY HAVE A RING VIDEO FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD? BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY ANYBODY CAN ACCUSE SOMEBODY OF OR GO OVER THERE AND PUT THEM UP ON THE NEIGHBORS, JUST TO PISS THAT NEIGHBOR OFF. >> THAT'S VERY GOOD EVIDENCE TO HAVE, IF WE HAD SOME PHOTOGRAPHIC OR VIDEO EVIDENCE THAT'S OUTSTANDING BECAUSE WE WOULD USE THAT IN ANY OTHER CRIME. WE COULD STILL USE THAT IN THIS ONE. WE JUST GOT TO BE ABLE TO TELL WHO THE PERSON IS. "THAT LOOKS LIKE VERNE, BUT WHO KNOWS. HE'S NOT WEARING A COWBOY HAT, SO WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S VERNE OR NOT." I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE DO HAVE THAT, WE HAVE A VERY CREDIBLE, ALONG WITH VIDEO. WE'RE ALSO GOING TO NEED A PERSON TO GO ALONG WITH THAT "YEAH, I TOOK THE VIDEO, " AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM. IF SOMEBODY GOING, YEAH, IT WAS ME THAT TOOK THE VIDEO. >> IT'S HARD TO RECOGNIZE VERNE IN WEEKEND WEAR [LAUGHTER]. >> I'VE BEEN ACCUSED [LAUGHTER]. >> THANK YOU. >> OKAY. >> THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR. CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA? >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. WHERE IS THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM? IS IT THE STATE NOT ENFORCING BECAUSE, I MEAN, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'S JUST GOTTEN WORSE AND WORSE OVER THE LAST YEAR. I KNOW THE PANDEMIC CAME AND THERE WAS PEOPLE WHO WERE STAYING HOME AND THEY'RE SPENT UP. BUT EVEN BEFORE THAT, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THERE'S MORE AND MORE FLOW COMING IN. I DON'T PUT THAT ON US. WE'RE RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF THE STATE, IT DOESN'T START HERE, IT PASSES THROUGH. IS THERE ANY PRESSURE THAT WE CAN PUT ON AT THE STATE LEVEL LIKE AT THE STATE BORDERS COMING IN, TO HAVE THEM LOOK FOR MORE BECAUSE IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'S GETTING CRAZIER AND CRAZIER? >> IT IS GETTING CRAZIER AND THE ISSUE THAT WE HAVE IS A LOT OF THESE FOLKS ARE NOT STUPID TO THE FACT THAT IT'S LIKE CHRISTMAS TIME. WHEN YOU START YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING IS WHEN THEY START PUTTING IT OUT. WELL, THERE'S SOME STATES, WYOMING AND NEVADA THAT SELL FIREWORKS YEAR ROUND. I BELIEVE THEY PROBABLY DO IT IN MEXICO ALSO AND THE FOLKS THAT ARE GOING ACROSS THE SOUTHERN BORDER ARE COMING BACK WITH THESE THINGS. THIS IS GOING TO BE A YEAR ROUNDING. IT'S NOT JUST A SEASONAL GLITCH, THESE PEOPLE ARE COME I N. THEY'RE STOCKPILING RIGHT NOW. I'LL TELL YOU THAT RIGHT NOW, THEY'VE GOT STORAGE BOXES, THEY'VE GOT THEIR GARAGES, THEY'RE STACKING THIS STUFF AS CHRISTMASES. THEY'RE ALSO DOING IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY LATER ON TO SELL THESE PRODUCTS. IT'S GOING TO BE THAT BUT IT'S GOING TO BE AT THE BORDER. AT WHAT POINT DO WE VIOLATE THE FOURTH AMENDMENT? THAT'S AN ISSUE. IF I'M TRAVELING ACROSS THE BORDER AND I'VE GOT MY LOVELY BRIDE AND MY TWO DOGS AND OUR FIFTH WHEEL, AND THEY DECIDE TO STOP ME AND GO THROUGH MY FIFTH WHEEL, BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW HOW THESE GUYS ARE GETTING IT IN. WHAT POINT IS IT GOING TO BECOME UNREASONABLE? WE'VE GOT TO CONCERN OURSELVES WITH THAT. WE GOT 10 BAD GUYS, WE GOT A MILLION GOOD GUYS AND TRYING TO CATCH THEM. IF THEY'RE LOOKING FOR FIREWORKS, KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF, HAVE A DOG THAT CAN DETECT THAT GUNPOWDER, THAT WOULD BE THE WAY TO GO. >> THE OTHER QUESTION IS, I GUESS WHAT CONCERNS ME IS AS WE TALK ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE GET ENOUGH EVIDENCE AND WHETHER OR NOT THE DA'S GOING TO PROSECUTE THEM OR HAS THE RIGHT EVIDENCE. CAN WE TAKE AN APPROACH LIKE WE DID WITH OUR ILLEGAL DUMPING ORDINANCE WHERE IT'S JUST THERE'S PERCEIVED AND WE GO AFTER THEM WITH ADMINISTRATIVE CITATIONS, INSTEAD OF GOING AFTER THEM WITH CRIMINAL CITATIONS? BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT STAYING AT THE BURN BED AND BREAKFAST, THEY'RE GOING TO BE OUT BECAUSE IT'S NOT A SERIOUS CRIME. >> THE DUMPING ISSUE WAS AN INFRACTION. THAT'S IT. THAT'S AN INFRACTION NO MATTER HOW MANY WAYS YOU SLICE IT, IT'S AN INFRACTION. THEY'RE GOING TO GET A TICKET AND THEY KNOW THEY'RE ONLY GOING TO GET A TICKET. IF THESE GUYS ARE ALREADY TRYING TO CHEAT THE DUMP OUT OF IT, DO YOU THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOWN OR TO PAY WHATEVER FINE WE LEVY ON THEM? THAT'S THE ISSUE THAT I LOOK AT. THERE'S WAYS THAT WE CAN ATTACH SOMETHING, BUT I HAVE PERSONALLY SIFTED THROUGH TRASH ALONG THE ROAD WAY TO FIND IN DITCH, TO FIND OUT WHO DUMPED IT. I'VE GONE TO THEIR HOUSE, ESCORTED THEM BACK, WATCH THEM PICK IT UP, ESCORTED THEM OVER TO THE DUMP, WATCH THEM DUMP IT. [00:35:02] THERE'S THINGS BUT YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE SOME TEETH BEHIND IT. LIKE I SAY YOU TALK ABOUT THE TRASH ORDINANCE. WELL, YEAH, WE CAN LEVY THE FINES, BUT WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GO WITH THIS? WE FIND A GUY THAT'S GOTTEN AN EXPLOSIVE. IF I COME OUTSIDE AND I'M SHOOTING AT A TARGET, AND I DON'T DO ANYTHING SILLY WITH THAT, THEN THAT'S A LEGAL ACTION. IF I START DOING THIS WITH MY GUN, THAT'S AN ILLEGAL ACTION. WHAT POINT ME SHOOTING AT THE TARGET SAFE AND SANE FIREWORKS, CORRECT? IF I START SHOOTING OUT, NOT SAFE AND SANE. WELL, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? IF I CATCH SOMEBODY THAT'S GOT A QUARTER STICK OF DYNAMITE, AT WHAT POINT DO WE SAY IS THAT A FELONY? BECAUSE IF HE TAKES THAT AND LAUNCHES IT INTO A CAR, IT'S GOING BY GUESS WHAT. JUST THE MERE POSSESSION OF THE ABILITY FOR THAT PERSON TO DO SOMETHING VERY BAD IS WHAT WE'VE GOT TO FOCUS ON. IT'S NOT JUST GOING, "WELL, LET'S CITE HIM FOR MISDEMEANOR AND THINK THAT WE'LL BE ALL RIGHT." WHAT OTHER THINGS CAN HAPPEN? BECAUSE HEAVEN FORBID THAT ANYBODY'S CHILD BE WALKING ALONG OR HAVE ONE OF THESE THINGS GO SIDEWAYS AND HAVE IT SHOOT OFF INTO THE STREET AND HIT ONE OF THESE KIDS OR DOGS OR WHATEVER. BUT THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO. I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH A COLLECTIVE PLAN AND IF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO SIT TWO PEOPLE ON THIS, WE CAN SIT DOWN AND COME UP WITH SOME THINGS, THAT WAY TWO BOARD MEMBERS CAN COME BACK AND SAY, "THIS IS WHAT WE CAN DO HERE, AND THEN WE'LL BE THE TEETH BUT YOU GOT TO GIVE IT TO US.". >> THANK YOU. >> TO RECOGNIZE THE SUPERVISOR PEREIRA. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MIKE, YOU ANSWERED ONE OF MY QUESTIONS AND IS THAT A BOMB DOG BE UTILIZED HERE. BUT I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN CHANGE IN THE BEHAVIOR. IF CRIMINALLY THAT'S PRETTY TOUGH TO DO, THEN I THINK WE SHOULD DO IT HERE AS WE DID THE TRASH ABATEMENT AS WE SOMEHOW FIGURE OUT A WAY. BACK TO THE IF WE DO AN AD HOC, WHICH TWO DISTRICTS HAVE THE MOST ISSUES, IS IT EVENLY SPREAD OUT OR IS IT MY FAULT? >> THAT'S A CRAP SHOOT I WOULD SAY BECAUSE WHERE I LIVE IS JUST OUTSIDE OF WINTON AND I'M HEARING IT ON A REGULAR BASIS. I GET THE CALLS FROM DELL HIGH, I GET THE CALLS FROM PLINATA, LE GRAND, OUTSIDE ON LIVINGSTON. YOU NAME THE PLACE AND THERE'S GOING TO BE PEOPLE UPSET WITH IT. WE'RE LOOKING AT YES, IT'S THE PEOPLE FIRING THESE THINGS OFF. BUT IT'S ALL BOILED BACK DOWN TO SOMEBODY MAKING MONEY. THE GUYS THAT ARE COLLECTING THIS AREN'T THE ONE SETTING THEM OFF. THEY'RE THE ONES MAKING THE MONEY AND PEOPLE PAY GOOD MONEY TO BLOW IT UP. IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME. MINDS WILL TAKE YOU A $100 BILL AND LIGHT FIRE TO IT. IF WE CAN COME AFTER THAT. I MET WITH THE ASSEMBLY WOMAN GRAY YESTERDAY WITH REGARDING SOME OF THE ISSUES WE'VE BEEN GOING ON AND WE COME UP WITH SOME IDEAS PERTAINING TO CATALYTIC CONVERTERS, SERIAL NUMBERS, WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HELP PROHIBIT THAT BECAUSE HE WAS SAYING ALL THE COUNTIES' ALREADY GOTTEN ORDINATES. IF PEOPLE GO TO ANOTHER COUNTY, THERE'S STILL STEALING IT AND HERE WE STILL HAVE THE VICTIMS HERE, BUT THEY CAN TAKE IT TO ANOTHER COUNTY. WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ON A STATEWIDE LEVEL. IT'S NOT JUST MERCED COUNTY THAT'S SUFFERING WITH IT. IT'S EVERY COUNTY UP AND DOWN. IF WE CAN GET SOMETHING AT THE BORDERS BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE IT'S COMING ACROSS AND DOING THAT. THEN AGAIN, WAS COLLABORATIVE, WORKING TOGETHER WITH UNDERCOVER UNITS AND WE CAN DO THAT. THERE'S JUST A MYRIAD OF STUFF THAT WE CAN DO. BUT IF WE PLAN NOW AND GO FOR IT INSTEAD OF GOING, IT'S 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND, WE'RE GOING TO ASSIGN THREE EXTRA DEPUTIES." WELL, WE NEED TO DO THIS TWO MONTHS BEFORE AND ACTUALLY START WORKING IT AND ACTUALLY HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE TO DO THAT. >> MY LAST COMMENT IS YOU MENTIONED IT, AND I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS. IT'S NOT FIREWORKS, BUT CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. CAN SMART WATER WORK ON CATALYTIC CONVERTERS OR DOES THE HEAT BURN IT OFF? >> I ACTUALLY CHECKED IN WITH THE MANUFACTURER ON THAT AND THEY TALKING ABOUT THROWING STUFF INTO A BONFIRE AND SO ON. BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE HEAT, THEY'RE UNDER THE CAR AND WITH THE HEAT AND ALL THAT. BUT WHAT WE TALK ABOUT DOING IS ACTUALLY HAVING A MANUFACTURER ISSUE A VEHICLE ID NUMBER, AN ID NUMBER ON EACH CATALYTIC CONVERTER, THAT'S WHEN THE CAR IS SOLD. THEN IT'S GOT AN ID. >> REGISTERED TO THAT. >> IF YOU SHOW UP SOMEWHERE AND IT'S FILED OFF, IT'S LIKE HAVING A GUN WITH SERIAL NUMBER GROUND OFF, IT BECOMES A FELONY. THERE'S SOME OTHER THINGS THAT ASSEMBLY WOMAN GRAY AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT TO HELP OUR CONSTITUENTS BATTLE THIS TOO. WE'VE GOT SOME IRONS IN THE FIRE. BUT FIRST STEP, AND I THINK WE COMBAT IT THIS YEAR WITH THE FOURTH COMING UP. >> WE DON'T VIOLATE THE BROWN ACT. LET'S CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT FIREWORKS AND NOT THE OTHER STUFF. [OVERLAPPING] >> NO, BECAUSE IT'S AGENDIZED FOR FIREWORKS. >> OH, YEAH. [LAUGHTER] >> EXACTLY. >> ARE WE DONE TALKING FIREWORKS? >> NO, WE'RE NOT YET. CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. >> THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO MAKE A POINT TO JUST SAY THAT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS [00:40:02] THAT WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THE FOURTH OF JULY BECAUSE I THINK THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US HAS HEARD STUFF GO OFF ANY HOLIDAY, BIRTHDAYS, NEW YEARS', ALL THAT TYPE OF STUFF. I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT IF WE ARE GOING TO START THIS, THAT WE START IT AT LEAST PUBLIC OUTREACH TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT JUST SPEAKING FOURTH OF JULY, THIS IS YEAR ROUND, SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. >> ON NEW YEARS WHEN I WAS A PATROL SERGEANT, I TOLD EVERY DEPUTY WHO WAS WORKING FOR ME AT MIDNIGHT BE UNDER AN OVERPASS, BECAUSE OF THE GUN FIRE. >> OR A PARKING GARAGE. >> OR A PARKING GARAGE. YEAH, SOMETHING BECAUSE BULLETS ARE COMING DOWN. THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH, AND THAT'S A YEAR-ROUND BASIS. BUT LIKE I SAY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IT UNTIL OUR GRAND CHILDREN ARE DOING OUR JOBS. IT'S GOING TO BE CONTINUALLY GOING ON, BUT WE CAN DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO COMBAT THIS BECAUSE HAVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE FOR ME TO DEAL WITH IS VERY IMPORTANT. >> VERY GOOD. IT SOUNDS LIKE WE GOT TO GET TO THE CORE OF IT. POSSESSION. >> I'LL DO WITH THE UNDER SHERIFF AND WE'LL HAVE ONE OF OUR ADMINISTRATION BE THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR THIS IN OUR FUTURE SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO ROUND THIS UP, SO YOU HAVE A PERSON TO GO TO, BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS, IS THAT PERSON WILL LET EVERYBODY IN OUR ADMINISTRATION KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE MEETINGS AND WHAT PLANS WE'RE DOING. >> RIGHT AND SINCE WE HAVE YOU HERE, I KNOW SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA HAS BEEN VERY VOCAL ABOUT THIS. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WOULD WANT TO JOIN SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA ON THE AD HOC COMMITTEE TO PUT THIS TOGETHER? >> PICK ME. PICK ME. [LAUGHTER] >> OKAY. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND LOOK AT, THAT'S YOU TWO DOING IT THEN, SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA AD-HOCKING ON THIS PARTICULAR CAUSE. >> SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN. >> ALL RIGHT. >> THANK YOU, GUYS. >> THANK YOU, CHIEF. YOU GOT MORE? >> NO, WE DID, BUT I THINK [OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU SHERIFF. >> THANK YOU SHERIFF. MR. BROWN HAS SOME COMMENTS. >> NO, I WAS JUST SAYING WE BASICALLY COVERED WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, THE SHERIFF, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HELPING ME OUT WITH THAT, AND BASICALLY WITH THE REST OF THE PRESENTATION WAS EXACTLY WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THERE. IF THERE'S ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER FOR YOU GUYS. >> SUPERVISOR [INAUDIBLE] SILVEIRA. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I REALLY WANT TO SEE, LET ME JUST PUT IT OUT THERE WHETHER THE AD HOC COMMITTEE IS STIFFING THE FINES ON THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SELLING THEM. THEN WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT UNDERCOVER WORK, I KNOW THAT SOME OF THESE PEOPLE THINK THEY'RE REALLY INTELLIGENT, BUT THEN THEY ACTUALLY ADVERTISE IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND WHATNOT, AND SO I THINK WE HAVE TOOLS THERE, THAT I THINK THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT GO AFTER, I THINK THAT THE FINES ON THE DISTRIBUTORS, THE PEOPLE SELLING THEM NEEDS TO BE HEFTY. THEY NEED TO CAUSE THEM TO, BECAUSE NOT ONLY ARE THEY GOING TO LOSE WHAT THEY GOT, BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE MONETARY FINES ASSOCIATED WITH IT THAT MAYBE HOPEFULLY MAKES THEM RETHINK THEIR LINE OF WORK. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN IT, IS YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE ONE-OFFS. I KNOW LIKE IN THE CITY OF [INAUDIBLE] THEY RECENTLY PASSED, IF IT COMES FROM THE HOUSE, THE PROPERTY OWNER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. I HEARD A SCENARIO WHERE IT WAS ONE WHERE KIDS ARE WALKING BY, IT WENT OFF, COP COMES AROUND THE CORNER, BOOM, THERE IT IS, AND SHE ENDED UP WITH THE $1250 FINE AND I THINK SHE WAS ABLE TO APPEAL IT OR WHATEVER. BUT I AGREE WITH SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, WE HAVE SO MANY RENTERS THAT ARE OUT THERE UNKNOWING TO A PROPERTY OWNER, YOU HAVE A HOUSE RENTED, SOMEBODY SHOOTS OFF FIREWORKS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY'RE GETTING A BILL IN THE MAIL. I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL THERE. I THINK THAT IT NEEDS TO BE WHOEVER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROPERTY. WHETHER THAT BE WHOEVER IS LEASING IT OR IF THE PROPERTY OWNER LIVES THERE. BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR BECAUSE YOU CAN PUT ALL THE RULES IN THE WORLD THAT YOU WANT, YOU CAN'T HAVE NO ILLEGAL FIREWORKS AT YOUR HOUSE, BUT THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS STOP PEOPLE. THOSE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I'M LOOKING FOR WHEN THIS COMES BACK IS, AND MAYBE IT'S A TWO-PRONG APPROACH WHEN IT COMES TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE CITATIONS AND THEN GOING AFTER HIM CRIMINALLY, AND THEN YOU JUST THROW THEM BOTH AT THEM AND THEN WE SEE WHICH ONE STICKS. I JUST KNOW IT'S HARD TO GET BLOOD OUT OF A TURNIP IN THESE SITUATIONS, BUT I STILL THINK THAT WE NEED TO TRY SOMETHING AND UNFORTUNATELY AT NO FAULT OF OUR OWN RIGHT NOW, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, THERE'S JUST NOT A LOT OF JUSTICE IN IT. EVERYBODY IS JUST GETTING LET GO, AND I KNOW THAT'S NOT OUR FOLKS FAULT. I KNOW THAT THERE'S HIGHER UPS THAT ARE NO BAIL AND [INAUDIBLE], AND I DON'T SEE THAT CHANGING ANY TIME SOON. I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ALL THE TOOLS AVAILABLE, AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING WHAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAYS THAT THEY NEED IS [00:45:01] THOSE TOOLS AND THEN WE'LL GO FROM THERE. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> VERY GOOD. I DON'T WANT TO SIDESTEP POSSESSION. POSSESSION IS INTENT TO SELL OR INTENT TO SHOOT, SO SHOOT HIM OFF. POSSESSION, I THINK IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS CATCHING THEM IN SALES. CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. BUT I ALSO THINK THAT WE HAVE TO CONSTANTLY WORK WITH THE PUBLIC AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON SUPPORT, BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT REGARDING GETTING ACCESS, TAKING PICTURES, VIDEO, AND PROVIDE THAT TO, BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S TIRED OF THE FIREWORKS. I THINK THAT WE WILL SUPPORT THAT, AND WE GOT EARS AND EYES IN ALL AROUND THE COUNTY. THANK YOU. >> I BELIEVE WE CAN PROBABLY USE OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S NOT JUST THE FOURTH OF JULY, IT MAY BE SOMETHING WE CAN DO PERIODICALLY TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT WE STILL HAVE OUR EYES OUT EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT THE FOURTH OF JULY. JUST LIKE TO SHERIFF SAID, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING YEAR ROUND. IF WE CAN PUT SOME EFFORT FORTH NOW AND NOT WAIT TILL THE FOURTH, I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL. >> VERY GOOD. DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH DIRECTION ON THAT ONE? >> YEAH, I BELIEVE SO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> VERY GOOD. THANKS. [BACKGROUND] >> MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER 17. YOU PUT 16 AND 17 TOGETHER? >> ITEM NUMBER 17 AND 16. [OVERLAPPING] >> SIXTEEN WAS DIRECTIONS. >> OKAY, ITEM 17. [BACKGROUND] >> FOR THE SAKE OF IT, WE COULD USE 16 AND 17 TOGETHER, RIGHT? YEAH. [BACKGROUND]. >> CHAIR, MOTION TO [INAUDIBLE] NUMBER 17. >> I'LL SECOND IT. >> THERE IS NO MOTION ON THIS. >> IT WAS UP THERE FOR A SECOND. [BACKGROUND] >> ACTUALLY, HE'S GOT TWO OUT OF THREE. [BACKGROUND] >> THAT'S 16. >> THAT'S 16. >> WE NEED SEVEN. [LAUGHTER] WE NEED JUST 17. >> THINK IT'S GOING TO RAIN TODAY? >> LETTING ME KNOW? >> [BACKGROUND] ARE THERE FURTHER COMMENTS ON ITEM 17? [LAUGHTER] WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROSO. I THINK IT WAS THIRD BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S TALLY THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >> NEXT IS WORKFORCE INVESTMENT, ITEM NUMBER 18. >> ARE THERE ANY DISCUSSION? WE DO HAVE ERIC SERRADO IN THE ROOM. ANY QUESTIONS FOR ERIC? IF NOT, I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEREIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. TALLY THE VOTE. [BACKGROUND] MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >> EXECUTIVE OFFICE, ITEMS 19 AND 20. PLEASE NOTE A FOUR-FIFTH VOTE IS REQUIRED. >> ON BOTH? >> ON 19. >> I HEAR A LOT OF DISCUSSION UP HERE. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THESE ITEMS, 19 AND 20? >> I DO HAVE SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA IN THE QUEUE. [00:50:03] CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER 19. THIS IS A LOT OF WORK AND A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE COMING TO A POINT WHERE THERE'S ROUGHLY $30 MILLION THAT WE'RE COMMITTING HERE TO PHASE 1 OF THE JOHN LATORRACA CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. IT'S THE ONE THAT IT IS OUT THERE. IT'S A LOT OF WORK. I WISH WE COULD HAVE GOT HERE SOONER BECAUSE I THINK IF WE HAD GOTTEN HERE SOONER, IT WOULD HAVE COST US A LOT LESS MONEY. BUT THAT BEING SAID, KNOWING THAT WE'RE REALLY PUSHING THROUGH AND GETTING THIS DONE NOW AND NOT HOLDING OFF, WE'RE BUILDING WHAT WE ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO BUILD, I THINK IT'S GOING TO SAVE US MONEY IN THE LONG RUN INSTEAD OF TRYING TO SAVE A FEW BUCKS, THAT IT JUST COST US FIVE TIMES THAT DOWN THE ROAD. BUT IT'S A HUGE UNDERTAKING, SO I WANT TO COMMEND STAFF THAT HAD BEEN WORKING THROUGH THIS. I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS ISN'T NECESSARILY A MERCED COUNTY PROCESS BY ITSELF. WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH A LOT OF STATE AGENCIES WHO, IN MY OPINION, CHANGE THEIR MIND ALL THE TIME FOR NO GOOD REASON, BUT OUR STAFF HAS PERSEVERED THROUGH THAT AND HERE WE ARE AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN ACTUALLY START TO GET SOME GROUND TURNING AND ACTUALLY GET SOME OF THE GOOD WORK DONE. SHERIFF'S, STAFF, THANK YOU. I KNOW THAT THERE'S 3RD FLOOR STAFF IN THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE THAT HAD BEEN WORKING ON THIS. OUR CEO HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS SO I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> THANK YOU. CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. WE HAVE SOMEONE IN THE HOUSE, GREG SULLIVAN, WHO HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY ON THIS, AND WE'RE THINKING A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT I SPECIFICALLY WANT TO THANK HIM. WE'VE HAD MANY DISCUSSIONS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. HIS COMMITMENT TO THIS PROJECT HAS REALLY HELPED IT GET TOWARD THIS, SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU IN PUBLIC. YOU DID AN AWESOME JOB AND I'M THANKFUL FOR YOU. [BACKGROUND] >> WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. >> YOU'RE IN THE QUEUE BUT NOT ON THE SCREEN. >> NO, IT'S NOT ON THE SCREEN. [INAUDIBLE] [NOISE] >> I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROSO. ARE THERE FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S TALLY THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >> NEXT IS BOARD APPOINTMENTS, STARTING WITH ITEM NUMBER 21. >> WE'RE TAKING THESE SEPARATELY, AND I THINK ITEM NUMBER 21, WE HAVE TO NAME THE APPOINTEE, SO PLEASE, IN YOUR MOTION, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, MAYBE PUBLICLY, IF YOU WANT TO NAME THE APPOINTEE, WHICH IS ITEM 21. OH, YEAH. SORRY ABOUT THAT. >> CHAIR, AS PART OF MY MOTION ON ITEM 21, I WANT TO APPOINT ERIC BARNETT LYNCH AS BUSINESS SERVICES SUPERVISOR TO THE SPECIAL DISTRICT ALTERNATE FOR THE TREASURY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. >> THANK YOU. CAN YOU SECOND? YOU AGREE WITH THE STATEMENT? THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S TALLY THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >> NEXT ARE ITEMS 22 AND 23. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SO FURTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT THESE? SEEING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S TALLY THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >> ITEM NUMBER 24. >> CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. AFTER SPEAKING WITH MR. ALBERTI, HE WOULD LIKE TO DO A TWO-YEAR APPOINTMENT, SO MY MOTION WOULD BE TO APPROVE RON ALBERTI'S REAPPOINTMENT BEING A TWO-YEAR TERM. >> THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR. THAT'LL BE INCLUDED INTO THE MOTION. [00:55:02] AS INCLUDED IN YOUR SECOND, SUPERVISOR PEDROSO. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROSO. CALL FOR THE VOTE. TALLY THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >> NEXT IS ITEM 25. >> THE CHAIR WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION [LAUGHTER]. >> CHAIR COULD MAKE THE MOTION [LAUGHTER]. >> MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO? CHAIR'S LOOKING FOR A SECOND. SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. TALLY THE VOTE, MOTION PASSES WITH FOUR AND ONE ABSTENTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. [BOARD INFORMATION & POSSIBLE ACTION] >> NEXT IS BOARD INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ITEMS 26-28. PLEASE NOTE NUMBER 28, THE EXPENDITURE AMOUNT SHOULD READ 28,907,507. >> I DIDN'T CATCH THAT. >> JUST LOOK AT FILE PAGE. >> ARE WE DOING THESE ONE-BY-ONE? >> NO, WE DO IT ALL AS ONE VOTE. >> THERE'S ONLY ONE UP AT THE TOP HERE. >> THERE WE GO. >> [BACKGROUND]. >> SOME FACILITATING THIS MEETING. MR. BROWN. [LAUGHTER] I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. >> YES. JUST TO POINT OUT ON THE CORRECTION, THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT SHOULD BE $28,907,577. IT WAS AMENDED INCORRECTLY. >> THANK YOU. DOES THAT AFFECT THE MOTION OR THE SECOND? WE'VE GOT THAT CLEAR. I'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. THANK YOU, MR. MARCONI. I'M CALLING FOR THE VOTE. YES, MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >> NEXT, WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FROM [CLERK RECORDER - PUBLIC HEARING] THE CLERK RECORDER TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 5, CHAPTER 5.36 OR SAID COUNTY CLERK'S RECORDER FEES, SECTION 5.36.020 FEE FOR SERVICE OF THE MERCED COUNTY CODE. [NOISE] >> YES, WE'RE GOING TO INTRODUCE A PROPOSED ORDINANCE. CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AND TITTLE THE NORTHERN INSTEAD, MINDY AND TITLE 5, CHAPTER 5.36 OF THE MERCED COUNTY CLERK RECORDER FEES SECTION 5.36.020 FEE FOR SERVICES OF THE MERCED COUNTY CODE AND WAIT FOR THE READING. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE, MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. AT THIS TIME WE'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. PLEASE COME FORWARD. SEEING NONE, [01:00:03] AND I WILL LOOK OVER TO MY RIGHT. >> FOR TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING WE WILL BE ACCEPTING PUBLIC COMMENTS LIVE IN PERSON AND VIA ZOOM. IF YOU ARE HERE IN PERSON, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND YOU WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE PODIUM. IF YOU ARE JOINING US REMOTELY VIA ZOOM, PLEASE USE THE ZOOM FEATURE TO RAISE YOUR HAND. FOR INDIVIDUALS CALLING IN THROUGH ZOOM, YOU CAN RAISE YOUR HAND BY PRESSING STAR NINE. WHEN YOU'RE CALLED UPON, EITHER BY NAME OR THE LAST FOUR DIGITS OF YOUR PHONE NUMBER, YOU WILL BE DIRECTED TO UNMUTE YOUR MIC OVER THE PHONE. THIS CAN BE DONE BY PRESSING STAR SIX. >> VERY GOOD. I DON'T SEE ANYBODY IN HERE. I DON'T SEE ANY HANDS RAISED OVER THERE SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. I'M LOOKING FOR A MOTION AND I HAVE CHAIR RECOGNIZED SUPERVISOR, SILVEIRA. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE SET ORDINANCE. >> I HAVE A MOTION OF LAW BY SILVEIRA. >> SECOND. >> SECONDED BY PEDROZO. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, I WILL CALL FOR THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >> LAST IS BOARD REPORTS. [REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION] >> THANK YOU. I WILL LOOK OVER TO DISTRICT ONE, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA YOU CAN GO FIRST. LET ME PUT IT ON DISCUSSION MODE. >> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. I WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY A MERRY CHRISTMAS. WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A MEETING TILL JANUARY 11TH. IT'S GOING TO BE ALMOST A MONTH, IT'S GOOD THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE TILL JANUARY 11 BECAUSE UNTIL WE COME BACK RIGHT AFTER CHRISTMAS. IT WASN'T TOO FUN LAST YEAR AND AFTER I GOT COVID IN JANUARY. I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO BE PATIENT WITH PALO WORKS, I KNOW DINA AND THE PUBLIC CREW WILL BE BUSY OVER THE HOLIDAY SINCE WE GOT SOME RAIN. DUE TO THE RAIN, WE GET A LOT MORE POT HOLES ALL AROUND OUR COUNTY. THERE'LL BE BUSY ALL THROUGHOUT THE HOLIDAYS UNTIL THE NEW YEAR TRYING TO GET EVERYBODY TO SIGN OFF, JUST BE PATIENT AND CALL ANY OF YOUR SUPERVISORS AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO TRY TO GET [INAUDIBLE] IN THE COUNTY. ALSO, I JUST WANT TO IGNORE MY DISPLEASURE WITH REDISTRICTING VOTE THAT MY COLLEAGUES MADE LAST WEEK REGARDING MY INCREASE OF MY DISTRICT ONE, WHICH WILL INCLUDE ALL THE WAY SALMONELLA. I WILL DO MY BEST AGAIN TO REPRESENT EVERYBODY AND HELP OUT AS MANY PEOPLE AS I CAN BUT ALSO MY DISTRICT AND MY COMMUNITY WILL BE TOO FAR APART. THAT THEY'LL LOSE A BENEFIT OF BEING REPRESENTATIVE WITH SOMEBODY THAT'S CLOSER. I JUST WANT TO STAY THERE AND THAT WILL BE IT, MERRY CHRISTMAS. THANK YOU AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. THANK YOU SUPERVISOR. SUPERVISOR PEDROSA? THANK YOU. I WANTED TO JUST POINT OUT THAT OUR AG COMMISSIONER HAS LEFT NOW JUST TO LET YOU KNOW. [INAUDIBLE]. HE'S THERE. I STAND CORRECTED. I'M SORRY. TOMORROW NIGHT AT SIX O'CLOCK HERE IN THE CHAMBERS, WE WILL BE HAVING THE DISTRICT 2 ARPA COMMUNITY MEETING STARTING AT SIX O'CLOCK. AGAIN, IT'LL BE HERE. YOU CAN TAKE THE SURVEY IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO BE HERE. THE DEADLINE FOR THE SURVEY'S, JANUARY 31ST, 2022, IN THE SURVEY, YOU CAN FIND THE COUNTYOFMERCED.COM\ARPASURVEY. AGAIN, THAT'S COUNTYOFMERCED.COM\ARPASURVEY. BUT PLEASE COME OUT TOMORROW NIGHT. DAVID HAS A TRAVELING ROADSHOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PUT ON A PRESENTATION AND THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT THE DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN SO FAR AND THE DIRECTION THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO STAFF. BUT AGAIN, WE'RE STILL LOOKING AND TALKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT SOME OF THE INTERESTS ARE. I TOO WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR, BEING THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO MEET FOR A WHILE. PLEASE STAY SAFE, AND I WANT TO ECHO WHAT MY COLLEAGUE SAID IN REGARDS TO PATIENTS WITH ALL THE RAIN, IT'S NOT JUST THE POTHOLES BUT JUST DRIVING AROUND TOWN, YOU SEE TREE LIMBS, YOU SEE STUFF FALLING ALL OVER THE PLACE SO BE PATIENT, BE SMART, BE SAFE. [01:05:02] AS YOU GO TO THESE HOLIDAY PARTIES AND YOU GO TO THESE GATHERINGS, JUST REMEMBER, IF YOU'RE NOT VACCINATED, I WOULD HEAVILY ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET THE VACCINATION, AND THEN ALSO FLU SEASON IS UPON US AS WELL SO PLEASE GET THAT AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PEREIRA? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. A COUPLE OF THINGS FIRST. ONE, I'VE BEEN GETTING CALLS FROM CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS ASKING ABOUT RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND WANTING THAT TO BE A PART OF OUR ARPA. SO I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA LEFT PROBABLY ABOUT $10 MILLION FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE ON BEHALF OF MERCED COUNTY RESIDENTS. IF YOU GO TO HOUSING.CA.GOV, YOU CAN ACCESS THAT. AND IF YOU JUST PUT CALIFORNIA STATE RENTAL ASSISTANCE IN A GOOGLE SEARCH, THAT WEBSITE COMES UP FOR YOU. IF YOU KNOW SOMEBODY THAT NEEDS HELP, PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH THEM OR IF YOU NEED IT, WELL, THEN HOPEFULLY YOU CAN USE IT. I WOULD LIKE TO WISH EVERYONE A MERRY CHRISTMAS. THIS SEASON IS VERY SPECIAL TO ME AND IMPORTANT TO ME. ANYWAYS, I JUST WANT TO LET FOLKS KNOW THAT THE REASON FOR THE SEASON IS MERRY CHRISTMAS OR REALLY FOR THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST AND NOT HAPPY HOLIDAYS AT LEAST IN MY HOUSE, AND I HOPE THAT AT SOME POINT IT'S THAT WAY IN YOUR HOUSE AS WELL. THEN I WOULD LIKE TO THANK STAFF. WE HAD OUR CHRISTMAS PARTY LAST NIGHT AND IT WAS AT THE TARMAC AND THEY DID A WONDERFUL JOB THERE HOSTING US. I WAS REALLY CONCERNED AHEAD OF TIME BECAUSE MOST OF TARMAC AS AN OUTDOOR AND OF COURSE YOU ALL KNOW THE WEATHER LAST NIGHT, BUT THEY HOUSED US INDOORS AND THE FOOD WAS INCREDIBLE AND SO THANK YOU, MARCI BARRERA AND THE REST OF THE STAFF FOR PUTTING THAT TOGETHER. DALIA AS WELL. AND WITH THAT, I WILL JUST WISH YOU ALL A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND BE SAFE OVER THE HOLIDAY SEASON. IF YOU KNOW SOMEBODY IS DRINKING PLEASE DON'T LET THEM DRIVE. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA? THANK YOU, CHAIR. HERE WE ARE. IT'S ALREADY THE END OF 2021. IT FLEW BY. I WANT TO THANK SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL FOR BEING THE CHAIR, AND I BELIEVE THIS WILL BE YOUR LAST MEETING OR YOU'LL START THE NEXT MEETING AND THEN WE'LL PICK A NEW CHAIR SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP THIS YEAR. IT'S BEEN CHALLENGING TO DEAL WITH. AND FOR THAT SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA THE YEAR BEFORE WITH JUST ALL THE DIFFERENT RULES OF WHAT WE USED TO KNOW IS THE NORMAL WAY THAT WE HELD MEETINGS, AND NOW YOU HAVE THE ZOOM FEATURE AND YOU'RE GETTING EMAILS AND YOU'RE GETTING PHONE CALLS AND SO A GREAT JOB ON THAT. THIS YEAR IT'S BEEN A REALLY JUST A CRAZY ROLLER COASTER YEAR. WE'VE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF LOVED ONES, IT'S MADE IT DIFFICULT AT TIMES. I WANT TO THANK THIS BOARD, MY COLLEAGUES FOR REALLY BEING THERE FOR ME. JUST IT'S UNFORTUNATE NOT ONLY TO CALL THEM MY COLLEAGUES, BUT I CALL THESE FOLKS UP HERE MY FRIENDS AND IT REALLY MAKES IT A REALLY GREAT PLACE TO BE AND I LOVE COMING TO WORK BECAUSE OF THAT. I BUILT RELATIONSHIPS WITH ALL OF THEM THAT WE CAN SHARE PERSONAL STUFF, AND SO IT'S REALLY GOOD. JIM BROWN, WE'VE MADE SOME PRETTY HUGE DECISIONS THIS YEAR AND THEY'RE PROBABLY LOST ON SOME FOLKS. BUT YOU KNOW, OUR CEO OF THE PAST 11, 12 YEARS, BUT SOMEBODY THAT'S BEEN WITH THE COUNTY FOR 30 PLUS YEARS IS LEAVING US IN FEBRUARY AND WE MADE THE BIG DECISION TO BRING ON MR. MENDEZ. SO WE GOT A LOT OF INTERESTING THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE GOING ON IN THE NEXT, NEXT YEAR WITH A NEW PERSON AT THE HELM. AGAIN, I THINK THAT JIM AND HIS LEADERSHIP IS REALLY A GREAT STAFF TOGETHER, A REALLY GREAT TEAM OF DEPARTMENT HAS AB LEVEL MANAGERS ALL THE WAY AROUND. I THINK WE PUTTING TOGETHER A REALLY GREAT TEAM SO I EXPECT NOTHING BUT GREAT SUCCESS FOR RAUL WHEN HE GETS HERE. REDISTRICTING, LISTEN, IN A PERFECT WORLD, LAS MINAS WOULDN'T AGREE WITH THE WAY THAT IT DID, AND I WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP [INAUDIBLE]. I HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART FOR [INAUDIBLE], BUT IT'S REALLY THE WAY THAT IT WORKS OUT IN THE WEST SIDE, WHICH IS THE BEST SITE. IT CONTINUES TO KEEP GROWING, OUTPACING THE REST OF THE COUNTY, AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE, THERE'S A HUGE DECISIONS BECAUSE FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS THAT'S THE WAY THAT THE MAP IS GOING TO BE. TEN YEARS FROM NOW, GOD WILLING, MAYBE I'LL STILL BE AROUND HERE. I THINK IT'S GOING TO EVEN CHANGE MORE. I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THIS COUNTY IS REALLY GOING TO, THE CITY OF LOS BANOS BY ITSELF IS GOING TO BE LIKE MERCED AS IN THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE REPRESENTED BY ONE SUPERVISOR IS JUST GONNA BE TOO MUCH POPULATION. AS I TOLD SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA, I JUST WANT TO WELCOME OVER TO THE BEST SIDE OF THE COUNTY NOW THAT HE'S REPRESENTING A PIECE OVER THERE AND WE WILL DEFINITELY CLAIM YOU AND AND AND I'M SURE YOU'LL BE SAYING THAT BEFORE LONG. [01:10:02] [LAUGHTER] WITH THAT, I DO WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND LISTEN FOR ME, IT'S MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS, FLOATS YOUR BOAT, HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU, HAPPY NEW YEAR. IT'S YOUR CHOICE. THAT'S WHY WE LIVE IN THE GREATEST COUNTRY ON EARTH, BECAUSE WE GET TO MAKE THAT CHOICE. WITH THAT, I WILL CLOSE OUT 2021 ON A GOOD NOTE, KNOWING THAT WE DID A LOT OF GOOD WORK AND WE GOT A LOT OF GREAT WORK TO GO AHEAD OF US SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR, SILVEIRA, COUNTY COUNCIL? NOTHING? NOTHING TODAY. CEO BROWN. MR. CHAIR, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THANK YOU FOR THE YEAR. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. WANT TO GIVE A FAKE YOU OUT THERE TO ALL THE COUNTY STAFF. AS YOU'VE HEARD, IT'S BEEN A TOUGH YEAR AGAIN, AND IT'S BEEN UPS AND DOWN AND A LOT, AND WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THROUGH IT WITHOUT THE COUNTY FAMILY AND THE COUNTY TEAM. A BIG THANK YOU AND A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES OUT THERE, AND PLEASE BE SAFE. THANK YOU. MR. BROWN. LAST WEEK HERE IN MERCED SAID WE DID HOST RCRC 37 RURAL COUNTIES HERE IN THIS CITY OF MERCED. ON ZOOM, WE HAD 38 COUNTIES BECAUSE WE DID WELCOME THE COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA, AND RCRC THIS YEAR. THERE WERE 33 COUNTIES, THOUGH, HERE IN MERCED COUNTY, WE GAVE HIM A TOUR CASTLE, SHOW THEM WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY OUT THERE. WE'VE GOT TO SHARE AND SOME GOOD EATS AND DRINKS AT BLAKER, AND THEN MOVING OUT FOR A DINNER. IT WENT VERY WELL. I DON'T THINK, I KNOW MERCED COUNTY IS ON THE CUTTING EDGE MOST OF THE TIME WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE, SO WE THINK MR. HENDRICKSON, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION OUT THERE ALONG WITH WAYMO AND TRC. BUT IT GAVE THEM CONFIDENCE KNOWING THAT IN RURAL COUNTIES WE CAN STEP UP AND WE'RE NOT JUST COMPELLED TO WHO WE ARE GEOGRAPHICALLY, BUT WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE WITH A LOT OF HARD WORK AND INGENUITY. TODAY'S A SOMBER DAY FOR ME. TODAY'S CORPORATE MICHAEL ANDERSON JUNIOR WILL NEVER FORGET HIM. HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION AT THE BATTLE OF FALLUJAH IN IRAQ, DECEMBER 14TH 2004. BECAUSE OF HIM AND HIS FATHER, I AM HERE TODAY WORKING FOR GOVERNMENT TRYING TO MAKE THIS A BETTER PLACE. WITH THAT, WE'LL GO AHEAD IN THE MEETING, THANKS * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.