[Call to Order ]
          [00:00:06]
          GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME BACK TO THE FEBRUARY 8TH MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. WE'VE RETURNED FROM CLOSED SESSION AND STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION ON ALL FOUR ITEMS. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE THE INVOCATION, WHICH WILL BE LED BY MARK HENDRICKSON AND THEN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, LED BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA. 
          MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS THE BOARD. 
          I MUST ADMIT I WAS NOT EXPECTING TO GIVE THIS INVOCATION THIS MORNING, BUT PRIVILEGE TO DO SO. SO LET US PRAY. 
          LORD, WE HAVE MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR. 
          THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY, WHICH REPRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO RIGHT BY OTHERS. 
          THANK YOU, LORD, FOR EACH AND EVERY DAILY BLESSING THAT YOU GIVE US. 
          THANK YOU FOR OUR COMMUNITY, LORD AND ALL WHO CALL OUR COUNTY HOME. 
          THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU PROVIDE US AGAIN EACH AND EVERY SINGLE DAY. 
          LORD, MAY WE ALWAYS BE MINDFUL THAT THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE. 
          THOSE WHO ARE DOWNTRODDEN. 
          THOSE WHO ARE OFTEN FACED WITH THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY CHALLENGES. 
          PEOPLE WHO OFTEN FACE DECISIONS AND CHOICES. 
          CHOICES BETWEEN PUTTING FOOD ON THEIR TABLES OR PAYING THEIR UTILITY BILLS EACH MONTH. 
          LORD PLEASE ALLOW US TO REMAIN FOCUSED, ALWAYS WITH A RAZOR SHARP PRECISION ON OUR MISSION AS AN ORGANIZATION, WHICH IS TO HELP THOSE MOST IN NEED. 
          MAY YOU PLEASE GRANT THIS BOARD THIS GOOD GROUP OF PEOPLE, THE STRENGTH AND COURAGE TO MAKE WISE DECISIONS, DECISIONS OF CONSEQUENCE DECISIONS OF COMPASSION, AND TO ALWAYS DO SO WITH ETHICS, INTEGRITY AND A FULL HEART. 
          LORD, PLEASE BLESS THIS BOARD AND ITS STAFF AND EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT AND OUR EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM. MAY WE, AS PROFESSIONAL STAFF, NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF OUR ROLES. 
          WE ARE ENTRUSTED IN SO MANY WAYS TO ASSIST PEOPLE THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY WHO IN SO MANY CASES HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO. 
          AS WE DEAL WITH GLOBAL ILLNESS, MAY WE CONTINUE TO BE MINDFUL OF THOSE AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO STRUGGLE TO DEAL WITH ITS RAMIFICATIONS, MOST CERTAINLY FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDPOINT? LORD, PLEASE WATCH OVER MR. BROWN AND HIS FAMILY AS HE PREPARES FOR HIS RETIREMENT, AND I THANK YOU FOR HAVING GIVEN ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK FOR JIM AND TO CALL HIM MY FRIEND. 
          LORD, PLEASE ALSO LOOK AFTER MR. MENDEZ AND HIS FAMILY AS HE PREPARES TO ASSUME THIS MOST IMPORTANT ROLE. 
          IN CLOSING OFF FOR ONE QUICK PASSAGE TODAY IN JAMES CHAPTER 1 VERSES 19 AND 20. 
          MY DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS TAKE NOTE OF THIS. 
          EVERYONE SHOULD BE QUICK TO LISTEN, SLOW TO SPEAK AND SLOW TO BECOME ANGRY BECAUSE HUMAN ANGER DOES NOT PRODUCE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT GOD DESIRES. 
          IN CHRIST NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. 
          THANK YOU FOR THE FINE INVOCATION MR. HENDRICKSON AND THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA. 
          [PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK]
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT. 
          AS A REMINDER, IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT RELATED TO EITHER THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND THE ARPA HEARING WILL BE HELD THIS AFTERNOON AT TWO O'CLOCK FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE INTERESTED IN THAT AND WE WILL BE TAKING COMMENTS FOR THOSE ITEMS, OF COURSE, AT THOSE HEARINGS. 
          IT IS NOW TIME FOR PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST WITHIN THE BOARD'S JURISDICTION, INCLUDING ITEMS ON THE BOARD'S AGENDA, EXCEPT FOR THOSE ITEMS SPECIFICALLY SCHEDULED AS 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 CONCLUSION OF THE MEETING WILL BE PLACED INTO THE MEETING RECORD. 
          WE WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT IT IS NOW 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 THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. 
          IF YOU WERE 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 ARE CALLED UPON EITHER BY NAME OR THE LAST FOUR DIGITS OF YOUR PHONE NUMBER. 
          YOU'LL BE DIRECTED TO UNMUTE YOUR MIC. 
          OVER THE PHONE THIS CAN BE DONE BY PRESSING STAR SIX. 
          THANK YOU. AND PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES. 
          YES, MA'AM, IN THE FRONT. YES, MA'AM. 
          ASADI. EVERYBODY ELSE SEEMS TO KNOW WHO I AM. 
          AS I WAS WALKING IN HERE, I WAS ASKED, WHICH SIDE AM I ON? LET ME MAKE IT CLEAR I'M ON THE CHILDREN'S SIDE. 
          I'M A PEDIATRICIAN HERE IN MERCED, COMMUNITY PEDIATRICIAN. 
          I COME HERE TODAY WITH A HEAVY HEART. 
          DESPITE HAVING FOURTEEN THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED AND NINETEEN OFFICIAL DOSES OF COVID VACCINE UNDER MY NAME, INCLUDING TWO THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY EIGHT DOSES FOR 5 TO 17 YEAR OLD'S, MERCED COUNTY REMAINS IN THE BOTTOM FIVE OF THE COUNTIES IN CALIFORNIA 
          [00:05:04]
IN VACCINATION RATES AND UNFORTUNATELY, COUPLED WITH THAT IN THE TOP FIVE HIGHEST DEATH RATES FROM COVID. 
          AND AT THIS POINT, I HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IN TERMS OF COVID VACCINATION, THERE IS NO STICK BIG ENOUGH AND NO CARROT SWEET ENOUGH TO CHANGE THAT REALITY. 
          THEREFORE, I AM GOING TO REFOCUS MY EFFORTS ON RETURNING LIFE, IN PARTICULAR SCHOOL LIFE, TO AS CLOSE TO NORMAL AS POSSIBLE FOR CHILDREN. 
          FROM WHERE I STAND, MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THAT CHILDREN ARE BEING USED AS PAWNS BY THE STATE, THE UNIONS, THE SCHOOL BOARDS AND PARENTS. 
          THERE ARE DAYS IN MY OFFICE WHERE I WRITE MORE PRESCRIPTIONS FOR PROZAC THAN I DO AMOXICILLIN. I REMIND CHILDREN ABOUT THE STORY OF THE TITANIC. 
          LEADERS GO ON AND ON ABOUT WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST, WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST, SAVE THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST. 
          AND WE ALL KNOW HOW THAT STORY ENDS WHEN THE SHIP SINKS THE ROSTER NOT SO MANY WOMEN AND CHILDREN ON THAT ROSTER. 
          THEREFORE, FOR MY PART, AS A SWORN ADVOCATE FOR THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN, I WILL CONTINUE TO ADMINISTER COVID VACCINE TO THE PATIENTS THAT ARE REQUESTING IT. 
          I WILL CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO STAY IN PERSON AT SCHOOL BECAUSE THE ALTERNATIVE OF INDEPENDENT STUDY FOR MOST CHILDREN IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT IN THEIR ROOMS AMOUNTS TO SEX, DRUGS AND TIK TOK. 
          I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH MY COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS, SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS OR TEACHERS TO ENCOURAGE VACCINATIONS. 
          AND FOR NOW, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY WHEN I CAN TAKE DOWN THE FACE COVERING REQUIRED SIGN OFF IN FRONT OF MY DOOR AND ALLOW CHILDREN IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH TO BE FREE TO DO WHAT IS COMFORTABLE FOR THEM. 
          THANK YOU. OK. 
          YES. 
          GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. 
          HELLO. MY NAME IS ANNISSA FRAGOSO, AND I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE MERCED COUNTY HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. 
          THIS MORNING, I'M HERE TO THANK THE SUPERVISORS FOR SUPPORTING AND SUPPORT FOR THE TEEN CENTER AT THE MERCED COUNTY LIBRARY. 
          TEENS ARE OUR FUTURE, OUR FUTURE BUSINESSMEN, BUSINESS WOMEN, VOTERS, TAXPAYERS, CITIZENS, PARENTS AND LIBRARY USERS. 
          THE LIBRARY OFFERS UNIQUE RESOURCES, SERVICES AND SPECIALLY TRAINED STAFF THAT OTHER PLACES AND PROGRAMS DO NOT. 
          TEENS NEED. [INAUDIBLE] OH, EXCUSE ME, JUST A SECOND, SORRY. 
          LET ME RESET THE TIMER. 
          OK, GO AHEAD. 
          WELL, YOU JUST TAKE YOUR TIME ON FINDING IT, AND I'LL. 
          IT'S SURE A BEAUTIFUL DAY, ISN'T IT, WHEN YOU'RE READY? [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU. 
          I'M JUST KIDDING. TEENS NEED A WEALTH OF FREE PRINT AND ONLINE RESOURCES THAT MEET THEIR NEEDS AND INTEREST. 
          MATERIALS THAT REFLECT A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS AND OPINIONS. 
          THEY NEED TO BE CONNECTED TO INFORMATION THAT CAN HELP IN PREPARING FOR COLLEGE AND THE WORKFORCE. LIBRARIES AND THE PROGRAMS THEY OFFER PROVIDE TIME BEYOND THE SCHOOL DAY FOR CAREER EXPLORATION, SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND EVEN JOBS AND INTERNSHIPS THAT WILL PREPARE TEENS FOR LIFE BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL. 
          THE HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN THESE PROGRAMS, AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU FOR ONE REASON AND ONE REASON ONLY. 
          I HAVE A VERY INTEREST [INAUDIBLE] IN PROVIDING THE INTERNSHIPS WITH THE HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO HELP THEM AND HOPEFULLY PROVIDE THEM WITH THE SKILLS NEEDED TO BECOME YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS, THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH OUR LOCAL MEMBERSHIP IN MERCED COUNTY AND ALSO TO GET AN INSIGHT ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN BEING A YOUNG BUSINESS OWNER. 
          I KNOW IN MY DAYS WE DID NOT HAVE A TEEN CENTER. 
          I KNOW THAT THERE'S A NEED FOR ONE SPECIFICALLY THAT IT'S GOING TO PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES. THERE'S A LOT OF COLLEAGUES OF MINE THAT ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT A TEEN CENTER IS GOING TO GIVE. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN FOR SUPPORTING THE TEEN CENTER. 
          WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER WITH FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          YES. GOOD MORNING. 
          HELLO. MY NAME IS DIANA ODOM-GUNN. 
          I RESIDE IN THE CITY OF SAID AND I SPEAK TODAY AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN. 
          I'M HERE TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE TEEN CENTER AT MERCED COUNTY LIBRARY, AS PROPOSED BY FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY. 
          [00:10:02]
I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME RESEARCH. 
          IT SHOWS THAT TEENS GET THE LEAST FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF ANY OTHER AGE GROUP FROM GOVERNMENT, PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS AND NONPROFITS. 
          THE 2020 CENSUS SHOWS THAT MERCED COUNTY HAS A LOT OF KIDS. 
          FULLY, A THIRD OF RESIDENTS ARE BELOW AGE 19 AND 44 PERCENT, WHILE ALMOST HALF OF HOUSEHOLDS INCLUDE A CHILD UNDER AGE 18 AND OUR YOUTH DO NOT READ. 
          ABOUT 60 PERCENT OF SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADERS AND 50 PERCENT OF HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS DO NOT READ AT GRADE LEVEL. 
          OUR YOUTH NEED TO GET TO THE LIBRARY. 
          LET'S ENCOURAGE THEM WITH A REALLY COOL TEEN CENTER AT THE LIBRARY. 
          TO INTEREST TEENS THAT TEEN CENTER NEEDS TO BE INNOVATIVE AND APPEALING. 
          SURVEY RESPONSES FROM THE TEENS THEMSELVES ARE THE FOUNDATION OF THE PROPOSED DESIGN FOR THE LIBRARY, AND THEY ENSURE ITS FOCUS ON TEEN NEEDS. 
          TEEN SERVICES ARE NOT JUST GOOD FOR TEENS, THEY'RE GOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITY. 
          THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. 
          YES. GOOD MORNING, BOARD, MR. CHAIRMAN, JUAN MARTINEZ, IS WITH UNITED WAY MERCED. 
          IT'S JUST A PLEASURE TO BE HERE THIS MORNING AND ON BEHALF OF USA BOXING AND HARO BROS BOXING TEAM HERE IN MERCED. 
          I JUST WANTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE A NEW SILVER GLOVES NATIONAL CHAMPION IN RENE HULK MARTINEZ. HE COMPETED THIS LAST WEEKEND, CAME HOME WITH GOLD AND HAD ANOTHER ONE OF OUR YOUNG FIGHTERS COME UP AS A RUNNER UP. 
          HE WAS RUNNER UP LAST YEAR FOR THE JUNIOR OLYMPICS, SO HE'S MOVING FORWARD NOW TO COMPETE FOR THE NATIONAL GOLDEN GLOVES AND THEN WILL BE REPRESENTING MERCED COUNTY AT THE JUNIOR OLYMPICS AT THE END OF THE YEAR. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THE PAST AND HOPE TO HAVE YOU SUPPORT US MORE IN THE FUTURE. THANKS AGAIN. 
          YOU'RE WELCOME. YES. 
          BOARD, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO HEAR ME TODAY. 
          I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 13. 
          I HOPE THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME TO SPEAK ON IT. 
          YES PERFECT. ALL RIGHT. SO MY NAME IS EUGENE MORRIS. 
          I'M A FIELD REPRESENTATIVE FOR CARPENTERS LOCAL 152. 
          WE REPRESENT TWENTY FIVE HUNDRED MEMBERS IN THE REGION, WHICH IS ON THIS NUMBER I JUST DID STANISLAUS, MERCED, MADERA AND MARIPOSA COUNTIES, MERCED COUNTY ALONE WE REPRESENT 500 MEMBERS AND 100 APPRENTICES. 
          THE ISSUE I HAVE WITH THE SELECTION OF THE GC ON THE PROJECT OF THE JOHN LATORRACA CORRECTIONAL FACILITY PHASE ONE AND TWO. 
          YOU KNOW, IN THE INTERVIEW PROCESS, WHERE WE'RE ASKING SOME TOUGH QUESTIONS. 
          YOU KNOW, WE'RE ASKING [INAUDIBLE] CONSTRUCTION ARE THEY GOING TO REQUIRE LOCAL HIRE, YOU KNOW, LOCAL USE OF APPRENTICES HERE OUT OF THE CENTRAL? I MEAN, OUT OF MERCED. 
          ONE OF THE OTHER ISSUES IS THIS IS AN OUT OF STATE CONTRACTOR. 
          THERE WAS THREE OTHER CONTRACTORS ON BOTH PROJECTS, ON THE PHASES WHERE THEY DO UTILIZE LOCAL APPRENTICES. THEY DO UTILIZE, YOU KNOW, LOCAL RESIDENTS FOR THEIR PROJECTS. 
          MERCED COUNTY ALONE HAS BEEN ONE OF THE HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATES IN THE AREA WITH STANISLAUS SAN JOAQUIN. 
          YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TO BE DOING A BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO BE GIVING OUR APPRENTICES THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE HERE, WORK HERE IN MERCED COUNTY. 
          IT'S A DESIGN BUILD PROJECT, SO I'M PRETTY SURE THERE'S A SKILLED AND TRAINED MECHANISM TO IT. 
          YOU KNOW, SKILLED AND TRAINED MEANS THAT THE JOURNEYMAN HAS GOT TO HAVE GRADUATED AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM. 
          AND I DON'T SEE WHERE [INAUDIBLE] CONSTRUCTION IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO FULFILL THAT NEED, SO IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO AND LOOK AT. 
          THERE WAS OTHER GCS ON BOTH PROJECTS THAT HAVE DONE PROJECTS IN THE AREA WHERE THEY'VE UTILIZED IT. I'VE ALREADY STATE THAT, BUT IN MERCED COUNTY ALONE, I LOOKED UP ON MY PROJECTS AND MY INFORMATION. 
          THERE IS 20 PROJECTS OVER 20 MILLION BUCKS. 
          EVERY ONE OF THOSE GCS UTILIZE LOCAL APPRENTICES, LOCAL WORKFORCE AND UTILIZE PUTTING GOOD PEOPLE TO WORK IN THIS AREA. 
          MAJORITY OF OUR WORKFORCE TRIES TO GO OVER TO THE BAY AREA TO GO TO WORK EVERYWHERE ELSE. 
          WE NEED TO DO MORE OF A BETTER JOB TRYING TO GET OUR LOCAL WORKFORCE WORKING HERE AT OUR LOCAL PROJECTS. THANK YOU. 
          YOU'RE WELCOME. YEAH. 
          YES. GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. 
          MY NAME IS ERIC SWENSON, AND I'M THE DISTRICT ENGINEER FOR THE MERQUIN COUNTY WATER 
          [00:15:04]
DISTRICT, AND I SIT ON THE GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY BOARD FOR THE MERCED SUBBASIN. 
          I BELIEVE TODAY YOU HAVE THE SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO GROUNDWATER MINING AND EXPORT. 
          I HAVE TWO REQUESTED CHANGES TO THAT PROPOSED ORDINANCE. 
          THEY'RE BOTH IN SECTION 9.27.050 EXEMPTIONS. 
          ITEMS TWO AND THREE TALK ABOUT THE ABILITY OF AN ENTITY TO EXPORT WATER FROM THE SUBBASIN OUTSIDE OF THE SUBBASIN OR OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY. 
          I BELIEVE THAT THAT EXPORT OF WATER OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY WITHIN THE MERCED SUBBASIN IS APPLICABLE OF CONTROL AND OVERSIGHT BY THE MERCED SUBBASIN GSA. 
          SO FOR PARAGRAPHS TWO AND THREE, WHICH I WON'T BOTHER TO READ, BUT ONE DEALS WITH THE CONSERVATION OF GROUNDWATER, THEN LEADING TO THE ABILITY TO EXPORT. 
          AND THE THIRD ONE IS THE RECHARGE OF GROUNDWATER, ALLOWING THAT WATER TO THEN BE EXPORTED. THAT TO BOTH OF THOSE PARAGRAPHS, WORDS SHOULD BE ADDED THAT BOTH OF THOSE ACTIONS MUST REQUIRE EXPLICIT APPROVAL OF THE GSA GOVERNING THOSE AREAS AND MUST COMPLY WITH THE CURRENTLY ADOPTED GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY PLAN. 
          IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAINTAIN AS MUCH GROUNDWATER AND SURFACE WATER WITHIN THE SUBBASINS AS WE CAN BECAUSE WE'RE IN A CRITICALLY OVER DRAFTED SITUATION AND EXPORT OF THOSE JUST EXASPERATES THAT SITUATION. 
          SO I THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THESE RECOMMENDED CHANGES AND FOR THE TIME THIS MORNING. 
          YOU'RE WELCOME. OK ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE DO WE HAVE ANY ON ZOOM? WE DO HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS WITH THEIR HAND RAISED. 
          WE WILL BEGIN WITH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL. 
          OK. GOOD MORNING, SUPERVISORS. 
          THIS IS MADELINE HARRIS WITH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL. 
          I THINK I'VE MET A FEW OF YOU NOW AT [INAUDIBLE] MEETINGS, BUT TO THOSE WHO I HAVEN'T MET, GOOD MORNING. 
          NICE TO MEET YOU. I WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT SUGGESTING THAT THE COUNTY PUT A POLICY ON THE AGENDAS FOR REQUESTING INTERPRETATION FOR MEETINGS. 
          I TRIED TO REQUEST INTERPRETATION FOR THE HEARING THIS AFTERNOON AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED TO REQUEST INTERPRETATION 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE IN THE FUTURE. 
          SO I JUST WANTED TO SUGGEST THAT THE COUNTY MAKE THAT POLICY CLEAR ON THE AGENDAS FOR FOLKS SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHEN TO REQUEST INTERPRETATION IN ADVANCE OF HEARINGS OR ANY AGENDA ITEMS THAT THEY'D WANT TO HEAR. 
          SO I WANTED TO MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION AND ALSO JUST SEE IF THERE'S ANY WAY THAT INTERPRETATION COULD BE PROVIDED VIA ZOOM FOR THIS AFTERNOON'S HEARING. 
          THANKS SO MUCH. THANK YOU. 
          WAS THERE ONE OTHER? YES. OK. 
          GIVE ME ONE MOMENT. 
          DISAPPEARED WE MAY NEED TO TAKE A. 
          ALL RIGHT, FOR THE AUDIENCE, THE PERSON WITH THE RAISED HAND LOST THEIR CONNECTION AND SO WE ARE WAITING FOR THEM TO REJOIN THE MEETING SO WE CAN HEAR THEIR PUBLIC COMMENT. 
          SO IT WASN'T THE INDIVIDUAL'S CONNECTION, IT WAS THE COUNTY'S CONNECTION, SO WE'LL TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS. 
          [00:20:01]
BACK TO ORDER. AND SO WE DID. 
          DO WE HAVE A RAISED HAND? YES. VANESSA, YOU ARE ALLOWED TO SPEAK. 
          ALL RIGHT. HELLO. 
          HELLO. WE HEAR YOU. 
          I'M VANESSA VILLEGAS, AND I JUST WANTED TO RAISE A BIG, ALARMING ISSUE, WHICH I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE AWARE AND HEARD, BUT JUST IN THE CITY OF MERCED, THERE IS A DATA THAT JUST CAME OUT REGARDS TO OUR STUDENTS. 
          CURRENTLY, WE HAVE ELEVEN THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY STUDENTS AND DATA JUST CAME OUT THAT 73 PERCENT OF THE STUDENTS HERE IN MERCED ALONE ARE BEHIND OR THREE YEARS IN THEIR READING. EIGHTY THREE PERCENT OF STUDENTS OF THOSE STUDENTS ARE ALSO BEHIND IN THEIR MATH. I JUST WANT TO RAISE THAT CONCERN BECAUSE OF THE COVID ISSUE. 
          IT HAS REALLY SET CHILDREN BACK, NOT JUST ACADEMICALLY BUT EMOTIONALLY. 
          AND WE SHOULD ALL BE WORRIED ABOUT THIS COVID GENERATION. 
          THE LAST TWO YEARS, OUR STUDENTS HAVE LOST A HUGE PART OF THEIR EDUCATION AND ARE AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR FUTURE. 
          IF WE DON'T RESCUE THESE KIDS FOR THE SAKE OF OUR NATION, OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE TOMORROW LEADERS ARE NOT READY TO PREPARE, ARE NOT READY OR PREPARED FOR AMERICA ITSELF, AND WON'T BE ABLE TO LEAD. THIS IS CONCERNING BECAUSE WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE IN 12TH GRADE THAT ARE READING AND 12TH GRADE STUDENTS ARE CURRENTLY IN A NINTH GRADE LEVEL. 
          11TH GRADE STUDENTS ARE IN EIGHTH GRADE LEVEL 10TH GRADE STUDENTS OR IN A SEVENTH GRADE LEVEL. NINTH GRADE STUDENTS ARE AT A SIXTH GRADE LEVEL. 
          EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS ARE AT FIFTH GRADE LEVEL. 
          SEVENTH GRADE STUDENTS ARE A FOURTH GRADE LEVEL. 
          SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS ARE A THIRD GRADE LEVEL. 
          FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS ARE A SECOND AND FOURTH FIRST GRADE AND THIRD GRADE IS KINDERGARTEN LEVEL. THIS IS REALLY CONCERNING TO ME. 
          AND STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT EVEN THIRD GRADERS WHO DON'T SUCCEED WERE MORE LIKELY TO DROP OUT IN HIGH SCHOOL. NOT ONLY IS EDUCATION A BIG CONCERN, BUT MENTAL HEALTH IS A HUGE CONCERN HERE IN THE CITY OF MERCED. 
          MY DAUGHTER IN CRUICKSHANK MIDDLE SCHOOL HAS WITNESSED SOMEONE NEXT TO HER CUTTING HERSELF ON HER WRIST. 
          IT IS SO BAD THAT THESE STUDENTS CAN NO LONGER JUST HIDE [INAUDIBLE] IN THEIR HOMES, BUT THEY'RE DOING IT WITHIN THE CLASSROOM. 
          MY DAUGHTER'S NOT BIG ENOUGH TO TAKE IN THESE KIND OF THINGS. 
          AND WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING AS A COMMUNITY. 
          I'M ASKING THAT YOU PLEASE END THE PROCLAMATION AND DECLARATION OF LOCAL EMERGENCY TRANSITION BACK TO NORMAL. 
          HELP REMOVE THE MASK MANDATES. 
          THE GOVERNOR HAS DIVIDED US SO MUCH, AND I'M ASKING THAT THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT WE CAN DO THE DIFFERENCE IS US WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND TO HELP AND BE A VOICE FOR OUR CHILDREN, FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND TO NORMALIZE THINGS BECAUSE WE NEED TO PUT THEIR EDUCATION AND THEIR MENTAL HEALTH FIRST. 
          THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL. 
          VANESSA, WE DON'T NORMALLY, RIGHT, IT'S PUBLIC COMMENT. 
          IT'S NOT PUBLIC DISCUSSION. 
          AND SO NORMALLY WE DON'T COMMENT BACK, HOWEVER, WHEN SAFETY AND HEALTH ARE INVOLVED. 
          I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME TO GIVE YOU A PHONE NUMBER AND IT IS 381-6800 AND THAT IS OUR YOUTH HOTLINE TO THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT. 
          AND SO IF YOU COULD GIVE THAT TO YOUR DAUGHTER AND OTHERS SO THAT THEY COULD SHARE. 
          AND SECONDLY, WE AS A COUNTY HAVE PUT A LOT OF ENERGY AND EFFORT INTO BOLSTERING OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM BECAUSE EARLY ON, I THINK APRIL OF 2019 IS WHEN IT REALLY KIND OF BECAME APPARENT TO ME THAT THIS COVID WAS GOING TO HAVE A LASTING EFFECT ON OUR CITIZENS. SO OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS REALLY STEPPED UP AND CREATED SOME PROGRAMS TO HELP MITIGATE THE ISSUES. 
          AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO REACH OUT TO OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DIRECTOR GENEVIEVE VALENTINE, AND SHE COULD MAYBE SHARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE ARE DOING THAT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH YOUR CONNECTIONS. 
          SO THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? THERE ARE NO OTHER INDIVIDUALS WITH THEIR HAND RAISED. 
          ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE HOUSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT? OK, THANK YOU, SEEING THAT WE WILL OR I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. 
          [PRESENTATION: RETIREMENT PRESENTATION ]
AT THIS TIME WE HAVE A RETIREMENT PRESENTATION AND I ASSUME OR SUSPECT THAT MANY OF YOU ARE HERE FOR THAT PURPOSE. 
          I'VE ASKED A FEW INDIVIDUALS TO COME UP AND SPEAK. 
          AND SO AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT. 
          [00:25:03]
AND THEN ONCE THOSE HAVE BEEN DONE, THEN WE AS A BOARD WILL MAKE A FORMAL PRESENTATION. 
          SO CHIEF, CHIEFS. 
          WHAT'S THAT . THAT'S COOL. GOOD MORNING. MAYOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD GOOD MORNING, CEO BROWN, VERY GOOD MORNING TO YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR UPCOMING RETIREMENT. 
          MYSELF AND CHIEF PIMENTEL FELT IT APPROPRIATE TO COME UP HERE BEFORE THE BOARD AND BEFORE YOU. WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR THIS FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE COUNTY'S FIRE DEPARTMENT INSTILLING A GOOD WORK ETHIC, INSTILLING US IN BUILDING TO CREATE A LARGER AND BETTER FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT PROVIDES A GREAT SERVICE FOR THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. 
          AND WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT, WITHOUT YOUR MENTORSHIP, WITH US, WITHOUT HELPING US WITH THE BOARD, GETTING US WHAT WE NEED TO, TO FACILITATE THE BEST PROTECTION POSSIBLE THE COUNTY WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. 
          AND YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN QUITE A FEW YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE COUNTY AND BEING A FIRE CHIEF FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO PERSONALLY WORK WITH YOU AS WELL AS WORK WITH OTHER PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE STATE. 
          YOU BY FAR HAVE BEEN ONE OF MY BIGGEST MENTORS FOR ME PERSONALLY, AND I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE. 
          I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY CONTINUING FRIENDSHIPS AFTER THIS AND BEING ABLE TO HAVE SOME TIME AWAY FROM WORK, WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY FINALLY START MAYBE DOING SOME FISHING OR STUFF LIKE THAT. 
          SO WITH THAT, I JUST WANT TO SAY A BIG CONGRATULATIONS. 
          I'M GOING TO HAVE CHIEF PIMENTEL COME UP. 
          WE DO HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR YOU, AND I'M GOING TO LET CHIEF PIMENTEL SAY A FEW WORDS. 
          YOU NEED TO LOWER THAT. YEAH. 
          [LAUGHTER] CHAIR BOARD ALSO CEO BROWN, ON BEHALF OF MERCED COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT AND CAL FIRE. A COUPLE OF OUR INDIVIDUALS, SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS BEHIND US WERE ACTUALLY TOOK THE TIME AND EFFORT AND WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORT, EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR US. WE'VE ENJOYED YOUR HELP, YOUR DIRECTION AND HELPING US MOVE FORWARD. 
          I KNOW I'VE BEEN IN THIS POSITION FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, BUT AGAIN I'VE BEEN MENTORED BY YOU AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME AND EFFORT AND THIS IS OUR WAY OF SHOWING OUR THANKS. AND HOPEFULLY YOU DON'T FORGET ABOUT US, BUT WE DID HAVE A LEATHER THAT WAS MADE BY ONE OF OUR OWN. 
          IT DOES SAY, JIM BROWN, MERCED COUNTY CEO, SO THAT YOU DO REMEMBER US AND WE DO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU, SIR. 
          THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. 
          CHIEF IF I MIGHT IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR DEPARTMENT MEMBERS TO COME UP AND BE IN THE PICTURE AS WELL, I THINK THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE. 
          I'D LIKE TO. YEAH, WELL, THIS IS CAPTAIN LOMBARDI ACTUALLY MADE THAT. 
          OH, I LIKE IT. 
          HIGH SKILLED WORK THERE. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. SURE, THERE'S MORE OF THAT. 
          THERE HE IS. 
          OH, MAYBE COME BACK UP A BIT AND. 
          THAT WORKS. YEP. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. OK, NEXT. 
          NO, I THOUGHT THERE WAS. 
          IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WAS GOING TO THERE, WE GO. 
          SOMEBODY BEING SHY. 
          THAT'S NOT THE [INAUDIBLE] YEAH I KNOW I WAS, OH BOY, WE WEREN'T SURE WHO WAS GOING FIRST. 
          [LAUGHTER] IF ANYONE KNOWS MR. BROWN, YOU KNOW, HE'S NOT ABOUT POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE. 
          I'M JUST GOING TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY A FEW WORDS, AND I HAD TO WRITE IT DOWN BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN GET THROUGH. 
          ON BEHALF OF THE CITY MANAGERS OF MERCED COUNTY I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE MR. BROWN ON AN OUTSTANDING CAREER. 
          YOUR LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY, ARE EVIDENCED BY THE EXCELLENT PARTNERSHIPS THE COUNTY HAS WITH EACH CITY. 
          SOLUTIONS TO TODAY'S PROBLEMS DON'T COME EASY. 
          AND YOUR COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT AND SERVANT'S HEART WILL BE THE LONG LASTING LEGACY FELT IN THIS COUNTY FOR YEARS TO COME. 
          I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK YOU PERSONALLY FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE TO SUPPORT ME. 
          MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM KNOW, BUT IT SHOULDN'T GO WITHOUT SAYING JIM HAS BEEN THE 
          [00:30:04]
MOST INFLUENTIAL MENTOR IN MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER. AND ALTHOUGH AT TIMES OUR APPROACHES MAY DIFFER, JIM'S VOICE IS STILL THE VOICE I HEAR IN MY HEAD ASKING QUESTIONS DURING MY FINAL REVIEW OF THE CITY'S BUDGET WHEN I APPROVE STAFF REPORTS FOR COUNCIL AGENDAS, OR WHEN I ASKED STAFF TO TAKE A TWO STEP APPROACH IN OBTAINING POLICY DIRECTION. 
          HE WAS MY BIGGEST SUPPORTER DURING THE TRANSITION TO CITY MANAGER AND MY STRONGEST PARTNER. WITHOUT FAIL, I COULD ALWAYS COUNT ON JIM TO PICK UP THE PHONE. 
          JIM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR INVESTING IN PEOPLE LIKE ME. 
          YOU INSTILLED IN ME THE VALUE OF PUTTING OTHERS BEFORE SELF AND TO PLACE THE COMMUNITY AT THE CENTER OF OUR DAILY WORK. 
          MAY RETIREMENT BRING YOU PEACE AND BALANCE, AND I HOPE THAT YOU ALWAYS STAY JUST A TEXT AWAY. 
          [APPLAUSE] HEY, OLD TIMER. 
          OH, BOY. 
          DO YOU MIND IF I TAKE MY MASK OFF? NOT AT ALL, SIR. 
          GOOD MORNING, JOHN PEDROZO, FORMER SUPERVISOR, NOW RETIRED FROM THIS KIND OF STUFF, SO IT'S KIND OF FUN. BUT ANYWAYS, A COUPLE OF STORIES. 
          I WANT TO CONGRATULATE MR. BROWN. HE'S NOT ONLY A COLLEAGUE, BUT A FRIEND, CLOSE FRIEND. 
          AND LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE STORY. 
          WHEN D TATUM LEFT? RETIRED. I WENT TO JIM BROWN. 
          I GO, JIM, ARE YOU READY? NOT READY. NOT READY. 
          NOT READY. [LAUGHTER] I'M GOING TO GO ON, JIM. 
          SO ANYWAYS,  JIM SAYS, I'M NOT READY. 
          HE CAME INTO MY OFFICE. I'M NOT READY. 
          I'M NOT READY. NOT READY. 
          I SAID, OK, JIM, WE'RE GOING TO GO OUT. 
          AND WE HIRED LARRY COMBS. 
          THEN LARRY WAS HERE FOR A YEAR AND ALMOST TWO YEARS. 
          I HAD JIM COME INTO MY OFFICE AND I CAN'T SAY EXACTLY WHAT I SAID. 
          DO YOU REMEMBER THIS? I REMEMBER BOTH OF YOU AND SUPERVISOR O'BANION. 
          MM HMM. AND WE SAID, IT'S TIME TO OFF THE POT AND YOU'RE READY. 
          AND SO HE SHOOK HIS HEAD AND SAID, OK. 
          SO OVER THE YEARS, WE DEVELOPED NOT ONLY A WORKING RELATIONSHIP, BUT THE QUALITY OF THIS MAN AND THE DEDICATION TO HIS FAMILY, HIS JOB, HIS KIDS. 
          THE ROUTINE I'LL NEVER FORGET WE WERE AT, I THINK IT WAS THE FIRST YEAR I WAS ON THE BOARD AND JIM WAS THERE AND HE'S SHAKING HIS HEAD ABOUT SOMETHING. 
          WE'RE IN SAN DIEGO AND WE'RE GETTING READY TO GET ON THE BUS AND SHAKING HIS HEAD, AND HE'S GOING BACK AND FORTH. 
          AND WHAT'S WRONG, JIM? IT GOES, WELL, MY WIFE JUST CALLED ME, AND SHE'S PREGNANT AGAIN WITH NUMBER SIX. 
          [LAUGHTER]. 
          I GO, JEEZ, JIM, YOU'RE GOING TO BE AT OLM LONGER THAN MY SISTER. 
          SO ANYWAYS, BUT THE TRIPS THAT WE MADE, THE RELATIONSHIP AND THEN ONE OTHER THING WHEN WE DO THE COUNTY NIGHT AND WE'RE COOKING STEAKS AND EVERYBODY WANTS, THEIRS EITHER RARE OR MEDIUM JIM'S HAS GOT TO BE WELL DONE. 
          HE GOES YOU GUYS EAT THAT STUFF. 
          YEAH, JIM, TRY IT. 
          I'M NOT TRYING THAT. I'M NOT TRYING THAT. 
          SO WE HAD OUR LITTLE ROUTINE UNTIL SCOTTY UPGRADED AND GOT A TRAILER OUT THERE NOW AND STUFF AND FIRE GUYS COME AND HELP AND ALL THAT. 
          BUT JUST STUFF LIKE THAT, THAT PEOPLE DON'T SEE THE OTHER SIDE OF JIM. 
          WELL, I GOT TO BE AROUND THAT AND WE GO TO LUNCH. 
          WE WE STILL DO. I CALL HIM EVERY NOW AND THEN AND JUST TO GET CAUGHT UP. 
          AND OF COURSE, THINGS HAVE CHANGED NOW SINCE THERE'S A FAMILY MEMBER BACK ON THE BOARD AND BUT THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE WE BUILT, I'LL NEVER FORGET. 
          AND I WANT TO WISH YOU NOTHING BUT THE BEST WITH YOU, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR GRANDKIDS NOW AND HOPE EVERYTHING ALL WORKS OUT AND YOU HAVE A HAPPY RETIREMENT AND CONTINUE DOING WHAT 
          [00:35:04]
YOU'RE DOING. ENJOYING LIFE. 
          THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OK. ANYONE ELSE? I DON'T WANT TO MISS ANYBODY. 
          YEAH. OH BOY. 
          OH YEAH, YOU'RE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE. 
          ARE YOU A SWIMMER? YEAH, I AM. 
          I HATE TO PUT A DAMPER ON THIS PARTY, BUT I REPRESENT A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT FRANKLY, WE DON'T WANT JIM TO GET TOO MUCH CREDIT FOR THE GOOD JOB HE'S DONE BECAUSE HE HAD HELP, RIGHT? THE PRESIDENTS HAVE THEIR UNOFFICIAL ADVISERS ANDREW JACKSON HAD HIS KITCHEN CABINET, AND WARREN G. 
          HARDING HAD HIS OHIO GANG AND HARRY TRUMAN HAD HIS POKER GAME. 
          JIM HAD HIS MORNING LAP SWIM CREW. 
          IN FACT, I WAS GOING TO GIVE HIM THE SWIMMERS GREETING THIS MORNING LIKE, HEY, I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE YOU WITH YOUR CLOTHES ON UP THERE, JIM. 
          [LAUGHTER] NOW, WHEN HE FIRST JOINED US, HE SAID HE WANTED TO STAY FIT AND TRIM FOR THERESA. RIGHT. 
          BUT IT SOON BECAME PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT HE NEEDED HELP RUNNING THE COUNTY AND SO HE RECRUITED A FEW OF US COMMUNITY MEMBERS. 
          THERE WAS MYSELF AND DOUG [INAUDIBLE] AND CLARK BIRD. 
          I DON'T THINK THE GREAT TRIUMVIRATE WOULD BE STRETCHING THAT TOO FAR. 
          BUT EVENTUALLY HE NEEDED INSIDE HELP. 
          SO WE BROUGHT ARNIE CARVAJAL IN AND JIMMY LOU FROM THE COUNTY BUILDING THEMSELVES AND LARRY WRIGHT FOR SAGE WISDOM AS FAR AS THAT GOES. 
          NOW, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA HAS REMINDED ME THAT HE IS NOT FINISHED YET, AND SO I SHOULDN'T DIVULGE ANY INFORMATION THAT MIGHT GET JIM FIRED IN THIS LAST TWO WEEKS OF HIS JOB HERE. 
          [LAUGHTER] LET ME JUST SAY OUR GREATEST PIECE OF WISDOM TO HIM WAS HOW TO SPEND YOUR VACATION PAY AND HOW TO KEEP YOUR NAME OFF THE FRONT PAGE OF THE MERCED SUN STAR. 
          NOW, SERIOUSLY, I HAVE KNOWN JIM FOR FORTY FIVE YEARS. 
          WHEN I FIRST STARTED COACHING AT MERCED COLLEGE, AT THE MERCED [INAUDIBLE] AND THAT JIM WAS 11 AND 12 YEAR OLD, 13 14 YEAR OLD, AND I TAUGHT WHEN I FIRST STARTED COACHING AT MERCED HIGH HE WAS ON MY FIRST TEAM THERE. 
          HE WAS OUR TEAM CAPTAIN AND HE WAS THE FIRST ALL-AMERICAN THAT I GOT TO COACH AT, MERCED HIGH, AND IT WAS VERY OBVIOUS THAT HIS LEADERSHIP SKILLS THAT HE HAD WAY BACK THEN, AS FAR AS IT GOES. AND YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE GREAT JOYS OF BEING A TEACHER AND A COACH IS WATCHING YOUR STUDENTS AND YOUR ATHLETES GROW UP TO BE PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS AND CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR SOCIETY, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY BRING THEIR FAMILY, WHEN THEY COME BACK TO THEIR LOCAL TOWN AND THEY RAISE THEIR FAMILIES BECAUSE THEY KNOW IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO BE. AND SO I'VE ALWAYS APPRECIATED THAT ABOUT JIM. 
          AND THE TWO WORDS THAT COME TO MY MIND WHEN TALKING ABOUT HIM IS HONESTY AND INTEGRITY. 
          AND I KNOW HE'S USED THOSE TWO GUIDING PRINCIPLES IN THE JOB THAT HE'S DONE HERE OVER THE YEARS, AS FAR AS THAT GOES. 
          AND SO I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR RETIREMENT. 
          WE'RE JUST SHIFTING OUR SERVICES NOW FROM HOW TO RUN THE COUNTY TO HOW TO BE RETIRED. 
          AS FAR AS THAT GOES. AND MR. MENDEZ, I WANT TO WELCOME YOU IF WE CAN GET YOUR SUIT SIZE AND YOUR CAP SIZE, GET YOU A PAIR OF SPEEDOS AND SOME GOGGLES AND A CAP AND OUR SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE. 
          [LAUGHTER] SO THERE YOU GO. 
          JIM, CONGRATULATIONS. 
          WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW MORNING. [APPLAUSE] THAT WOULD BE A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW. 
          DON'T BE SHY. YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT AS WELL JUST GET A CHAIR, JIM AND HOWEVER IT IS A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW. 
          BREANNE VANDENBERG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR MERCED COUNTY FARM BUREAU. 
          JIM, YOU HAVE BEEN A GREAT CONFIDANT FOR MERCED COUNTY FARM BUREAU AND AGRICULTURE IN GENERAL. THANK YOU FOR THAT RELATIONSHIP. 
          NOT ALWAYS EASY, BUT THEY WERE ALWAYS HONEST, AND OUR BOARD HAS THOROUGHLY APPRECIATED THAT. 
          OUR DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN TO YOU. 
          ON A PERSONAL NOTE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR ME. 
          MR. MENDEZ, OUR DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN. 
          PLEASE COME IN ANY TIME. 
          I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING TO KNOW YOU AND HELPING GUIDE, AS THE LAST COMMENTER SAID THROUGH THE PROCESS. SO THANK YOU. 
          GREAT. [APPLAUSE] HEY, BRE, MR. 
          [00:40:02]
MENDEZ, I THINK HAS A QUESTION, AND THAT WOULD BE, DOES HE HAVE TO WEAR A SPEEDO TO GO TO YOUR GROUP? PLEASE NO, ACTUALLY. 
          [LAUGHTER] OK. IF THERE ARE NO OTHERS THAN AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO. 
          MR. BROWN, YOU MIGHT AS WELL STAY UP FRONT. 
          I'D LIKE TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME OUT IN FRONT AND THAT WE MIGHT HONOR YOU. 
          YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE NOTICED, BUT THE FIRE CHIEFS, THEY BOLTED THAT HELMET ONTO THAT FRAME SO THAT I THINK SO JIM WON'T BE PUTTING IT ON AND RUNNING OUT TO FIGHT FIRES. 
          [LAUGHTER] BUT ANYWAYS, MR. BROWN, IT'S MY HONOR REALLY IS AN HONOR TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS PLAQUE FROM MY COLLEAGUES AND REALLY FOR EVERYBODY AT THE COUNTY. 
          I HAVE NEVER ONCE HEARD ANYONE SAY AN ILL WORD ABOUT YOU. 
          AND YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE IN YOUR POSITION AND BEING WITH THE COUNTY FOR, YOU KNOW, 31 PLUS YEARS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE. 
          AND YOU KNOW, AS THOSE THAT HAVE SPOKE EARLIER TALKED ABOUT YOUR. 
          BUT BUT ANYWAY, SO ON BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO THANK YOU. 
          AND PERSONALLY, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T COME REALLY FROM POLITICS. 
          YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST A FARMER AND DAIRYMAN. 
          AND WHEN I CAME ON THIS BOARD, YOU KNOW, YOUR GUIDANCE AND YOUR WISDOM AND AND YOUR INTEGRITY, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF FUNNY, RIGHT? ALL OF US HAVE OFFICES IN THE HALLWAY. 
          AND ONE THING THAT MR. BROWN WAS VERY SURE TO DO WAS TO HEAR US AND LISTEN TO US INDIVIDUALLY, BUT NEVER ONCE REALLY SHARE WHAT OTHERS WERE DOING OR THINKING, YOU KNOW, HE REALLY HELD IT PROFESSIONALLY. AND YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A GOOD BOARD, RIGHT. 
          WE'RE ALL FRIENDS AND WE GET ALONG WELL. 
          AND SO THAT'S NOT ALWAYS PROBABLY EASY TO DO, BUT YOU WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND BUT I WISH YOU WELL IN YOUR RETIREMENT. 
          AND I KNOW YOU'RE A UP EARLY AND UP LATE KIND OF GUY. 
          AND SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST PRAY THAT YOU KNOW THAT YOU FILL YOUR TIME WITH PRODUCTIVE THINGS TO DO. 
          AND I KNOW YOU'VE PROBABLY ALREADY HAVE IT ALL LINED OUT. 
          AND I DIDN'T LOOK AT YOUR WHITEBOARD IN YOUR OFFICE, BUT YOU KNOW, IT MAY HAVE SOME OF THOSE DETAILS ON IT. 
          AND THEN I'D LIKE TO GIVE MY COLLEAGUES AN OPPORTUNITY TO TO SAY A FEW WORDS AS WELL. 
          THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. WELL, JIM, I JUST HAVE TO SAY, I THINK YOU'RE THE ONLY MANAGER THEY HAD IN FIRE, YOU KNOW, COMING FROM LIVINGSTON RIGHT. 
          YOU KNOW, AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A POSITIVE. 
          YOU'VE BEEN VERY HELPFUL. 
          THIS IS MY SIXTH YEAR ON THE BOARD AND YOU'RE ALWAYS BEEN A PROFESSIONAL. 
          YOU ALWAYS COME INTO MY OFFICE AND YOU KNOW GIVEN THOSE UPDATES AND YOU GO DOWN THE HALL LIKE THE CHAIRMAN SAID. AND LIKE I SAID, I THINK, YOU KNOW, I'VE DEVELOPED A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU AND, YOU KNOW, BEEN A GOOD FRIEND AND I WANT TO WISH YOU THE BEST IN LIFE. AND I KNOW YOU'RE LIKE, I SAID, YOU DON'T WANT TO STAY BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU VALUE YOUR FAMILY AND LIKE WE ALL DO. 
          BUT I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO WISH YOU THE BEST IN THE FUTURE. 
          SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          OK, THANK YOU. JIM, I JUST WANT TO SAY I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR A REALLY LONG TIME AND I'VE HAD TWO OF YOUR CHILDREN IN MY CLASSES. 
          I'VE KNOWN YOU FROM CHURCH AND AS A CITY COUNCILMAN BEING ABLE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT DIFFERENT ISSUES. 
          BUT BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH YOU IN THIS CAPACITY AS A BOARD MEMBER HAS REALLY SHOWN ME WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A LEADER. 
          AND YOU REALLY DO PUT SERVICE ABOVE YOURSELF. 
          THE COUNTY, BEFORE YOURSELF AND YOU REALLY LOOK OUT FOR PEOPLE AND YOUR LEADERSHIP IS SOMETHING THAT I TRULY VALUE. 
          I'VE BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE SOME VERY GOOD MENTORS IN MY LIFE. 
          AND WHEN I STARTED HERE, I THOUGHT I KNEW WHAT I WAS DOING AND I HAD NO IDEA. 
          BUT YOU NEVER TOLD ME I DIDN'T HAVE ANY IDEA. 
          BUT YOU HELPED GUIDE ME IN. 
          YEAH, IT WAS THESE GUYS. [LAUGHTER] BUT YOU HELPED GUIDE ME IN THE DIRECTION. 
          AND FOR THAT, I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL. 
          AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE BECAUSE I WILL STILL SEE YOU AT OLM OR I'LL SEE YOU AT CHURCH, AND I STILL BUG YOU FOR DIFFERENT QUESTIONS AND ADVICE AND STUFF. 
          BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR FRIENDSHIP, YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR MENTORSHIP. 
          IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO STICK WITH ME FOREVER. 
          SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          THANK YOU, CHAIR. SO JUST TO, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN ON THIS JOB NOW FOR I'M STARTING ON MY FOURTH YEAR AND I CAME IN HERE AND I HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH JIM. 
          I REMEMBER BEING PRESIDENT OF THE VOLUNTEER CHIEFS ASSOCIATION, SITTING IN 310 WHEN JIM 
          [00:45:05]
WAS THE WAS THE DEPUTY OR ASSISTANT CEO AND D TATUM WAS HERE. 
          AND SO I KNEW HIM. I KNEW HIM FROM MY TIME ON CITY COUNCIL AND I GOT HERE AND YOU COME, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD ME SAY BEFORE THAT IT'S YOU GET HERE AND YOU KNOW THAT YOU DON'T KNOW A LOT AND THEN YOU GET HERE AND YOU REALIZE YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW A LOT AND HAVING SOMEBODY BY JIM. 
          AND IT TOOK ME A MINUTE TO KIND OF GET USED TO BECAUSE I'M A KIND OF INSTANT. 
          I SAY IT AND I WANT AN INSTANT REACTION BACK, AND JIM IS OBVIOUSLY A LITTLE BIT MORE CALCULATED THAN ME, BUT HE'S REALLY JIM, HE'S TAUGHT ME HOW TO GET THERE. 
          HE'S THE ONE THAT'S KIND OF LIKE FOCUS, YOU KNOW, ON THE ISSUES I'M TELLING YOU LIKE I HAVE NO BAD WORD TO SAY ABOUT THIS MAN AND I APPRECIATE I GAINED NOT ONLY, YOU KNOW, A COLLEAGUE, I'M ONE OF HIS FIVE BOSSES, NEVER ONCE DID IT EVER SEEM LIKE THAT TO ME, BUT I GAINED A FRIEND OUT OF IT. SOMEBODY THAT AND I MEANT SOMEBODY SAID EARLIER, I HOPE THAT YOU STILL HAVE YOUR PHONE [INAUDIBLE] UNLESS HE BLOCKS MY NUMBER. 
          HE'S GOING TO BE GETTING CALLS FROM ME, RIGHT. 
          AND SO AND I KNOW THAT'S HIS KIND OF DEDICATION, AND I DO WISH YOU ALL THE BEST. 
          I PROMISE YOU, FOLKS, LIKE I TRIED, LIKE HECK TO GET HIM TO STAY. 
          I DID. MY COLLEAGUE AND I WE TRIED REALLY HARD, BUT ULTIMATELY WE RESPECT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. 
          BUT JUST THE LEVEL OF DEDICATION, THERE'S STUFF THAT'S ON THE AGENDA TODAY THAT IT WAS SUPER IMPORTANT FOR THIS MAN WHO'S, YOU KNOW, HE'S A SHORT TIMER NOW. 
          HE'S ONLY GOT A COUPLE MORE WEEKS. 
          BUT TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE HE WANTS TO, THESE ARE PROJECTS THAT HE'S BEEN WORKING ON, THAT HE'S WRAPPING UP AND MAKING SURE THAT WE GET THEM OFF. 
          SO THAT OUR CEO DESIGNEE, YOU KNOW HIS INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE. 
          IT IS IRREPLACEABLE. 
          IT'S THAT THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO SAY IT. 
          HE JUST KNOWS SO MUCH ABOUT THIS COUNTY AND HAS WORKED FROM THE GROUND UP. 
          HE STARTED AT THE GROUND AND WORKED AND JUST KNOWS EVERY, EVERY DEPARTMENT. 
          I JUST I'M SAD. 
          IT'S A SAD DAY FOR MERCED COUNTY, BUT I'M HAPPY FOR YOU. 
          I'M HAPPY FOR YOUR FAMILY. 
          AND I SUSPECT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO ENJOY THE KIND OF LIKE NOT HAVING SOMETHING TO DO FOR A HOT MINUTE. BUT THEN WHAT I KNOW ABOUT YOU IS YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A PLAN ON FINDING SOMETHING ELSE TO DO. AND THAT'S WHY YOU'VE SAID ALL ALONG, YOU'RE NOT RETIRING, YOU'RE JUST KIND OF STEPPING AWAY. 
          BUT MAN, I SURE APPRECIATE YOU, BUDDY. 
          I REALLY DO. AND AGAIN, I WILL MISS YOU. 
          RAUL, IT IS BIG SHOES TO FILL, BUT I'LL HELP YOU TRY TO FILL THEM. 
          OK, SO THANK YOU, JIM. 
          APPRECIATE IT, BUDDY. WELL, I CAN SAY YOUR COACH SPOKE EARLIER AND HE HAD MENTIONED HOW IT'S NICE TO SEE HOW WELL YOU'VE DONE. 
          I THINK IT'S HE WAS AMAZED AT HOW WELL YOU DONE. 
          [LAUGHTER] BEING YOUR FRIEND FROM COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL. 
          WE GO WAY BACK. THERE'S STORIES WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T SHARE HERE IN THIS BUILDING, BUT. 
          SINCE I WAS ELECTED, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE RENEWED FRIENDSHIP. 
          I ALWAYS MADE IT A POINT NOT TO CALL YOU AFTER HOURS. 
          SOMETIMES I'D FLOAT A TEXT TO YOU, BUT YOU'D ALWAYS KNOW IT WASN'T FOR YOU TO GET RIGHT BACK TO ME. I THINK NOW THAT YOU'RE RETIRED, YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO GET MORE PHONE CALLS FROM ME AFTER HOURS, MAYBE BEFORE HOURS, SINCE YOU'LL BE OUT THERE ON THE POOL DECK GETTING ADVICE FROM THOSE FOLKS. 
          MAYBE YOU CAN THROW IT AROUND TO ALL OF THEM. 
          BUT BEING ELECTED AND COMING IN, I THINK I WAS THE FIRST NEW ELECTED IN A LONG TIME. 
          SO ALL YOU GUYS GOT IT GOOD. 
          I THINK MAYBE JIM ASSUMED THAT I KNEW A LOT. 
          BUT YET I LEANED ON HIM VERY MUCH. 
          FULLY IMPRESSED BY THE LEADERSHIP. 
          YOU HAD SUCH A WAY TO BUILDING PEOPLE UP. 
          AND A WAY OF TELLING PEOPLE WHEN THEY NEED TO DO A LITTLE BIT BETTER. 
          AND SOMETIMES I DON'T EVEN THINK THEY COULD SEE THAT. 
          BUT YOU WERE ABLE TO ELEVATE THEM TO A WHOLE ANOTHER LEVEL. 
          AGAIN, I HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE FRIENDSHIP. 
          IT'S BEEN AMAZING. 
          AND SHOULD I PRESENT HIS GIFT NOW? SURE. SO AS A SENIOR MEMBER, THE BOARD COLLECTIVELY PUT TOGETHER SOMETHING FOR YOU. 
          SO THE FIRST THING WE WANTED TO DO. 
          YOU ALWAYS TALK ABOUT FISHING. 
          SO WE WANTED TO PUT TOGETHER A FISHING TRIP, A COMMERCIAL FISHING TRIP FOR YOU. 
          SO IT WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE JIM AND FIVE GUESTS, BUT WE DIDN'T WANT TO COMMIT A BROWN ACT VIOLATION. [LAUGHTER] SO NO, IT'S JIM AND THREE GUESTS. 
          WE KNOW YOU WANT TO TAKE YOUR BOYS OUT. 
          WE WANT TO GET YOU OUT THERE ON THE OCEAN. 
          AND SO WE HAVE A CARD TO GO WITH THIS WITH THE CERTIFICATE. 
          SO JIM, THIS IS IN GREAT APPRECIATION, NOT ONLY FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND MENTORSHIP, FOR ALL OF US, BUT FOR ALL YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE HERE, FOR MERCED COUNTY AND TO THESE PEOPLE. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] YEAH. 
          THERE YOU GO. 
          POST COVID PICTURES. 
          HOLD YOUR BREATH. [LAUGHTER] A FAMOUS MAYOR 
          [00:50:08]
ONCE SAID THAT. 
          BUT ANYWAYS JIM, HERE'S A PLAQUE ON BEHALF OF US, AND I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO SHAKE YOUR HAND OR GIVE YOU A HUG, SO I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY NOW. 
          THANK YOU. A FEW WORDS. 
          WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU TO THE BOARD, APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. 
          WITHOUT THAT SUPPORT, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET THINGS DONE. 
          WHICH LEADS ME TO. 
          ALLERGIES ARE BAD HERE TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO GET PUBLIC HEALTH ON IT. 
          [LAUGHTER] THE TEAM. 
          I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH, BUT THANK YOU. 
          FROM DEPARTMENT HEADS TO THEIR LEADERSHIP THROUGH ALL THE ORGANIZATION, TO THE EMPLOYEES WHO SERVE ON THE FRONT LINE ARE REALLY ARE THE ONES THAT CONNECT WITH THE PEOPLE. 
          BOARD, YOU HAVE ONE OF THE BEST TEAMS IN MY CAREER. 
          AND SO WITHOUT THEM. 
          YOU KNOW, AND THEIR SUPPORT, YOU'RE GOING TO GO FAR AND THANK YOU TO I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE AMAZING COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE TEAM. 
          IT IS LITERALLY ONE OF THE STRONGEST IN MY CAREER ALSO. 
          I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COUNTY, I THINK YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS GOING FOR YOU. 
          I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE ACCOMPLISHING A LOT OF THINGS, AND I'M JUST PRIVILEGED AND HONORED I WAS ABLE TO BE PART OF THAT PLANNING PROCESS. 
          AND I JUST AGAIN, I'M GOING TO KEEP IT SHORT JUST BECAUSE, BUT I CAN'T EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION ENOUGH AND TO THE STRENGTH OF THIS ORGANIZATION. 
          AGAIN, YOU HEAR ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION AND THE LIMITED RESOURCES, AND IT'S THE PEOPLE AND THE TEAM THAT ARE ABLE TO GET THINGS AND MOVE THINGS FORWARD. 
          AND THE LEADERSHIP FROM YOU AS A BOARD, THAT GUIDE US AND SET US ON OUR PATH. 
          SO THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY. 
          AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE FROM THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE SHOWN TO COME HERE TODAY. 
          APPRECIATE AGAIN YOUR TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR DAY AND TO COME HERE AND AGAIN, THE COLLABORATION WITH THE CITIES. 
          I WOULD SAY LOOKING AT BOTH FROM A POLICY LEVEL AND A STAFF LEVEL, I THINK IT IS THE MOST COLLABORATIVE I'VE SEEN IN MY CAREER ALSO, AT THIS TIME, AND I'M HOPEFULLY THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF THINGS MOVING FROM A REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE OF THAT, AND I'M HOPING THAT CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD COLLECTIVELY. 
          SO AGAIN, THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. 
          [APPLAUSE] YOU KNOW, JIM'S KIND OF DOESN'T LIKE THE POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO HONOR YOU. 
          I'VE NEVER REALLY BEEN A PART OF SUCH AN AMAZING TEAM AND I JUST APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH AND SO THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          YEAH. HEY, RAUL, YOU STAY HERE [INAUDIBLE] YEARS. 
          YOU GET ONE OF THOSE WELL, I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CELEBRATE JIM WITH US. 
          YOU KNOW, HE'S A GOOD MAN AND DESERVES OUR TIME, AND SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. 
          MR. MENDEZ LIKE WAS SAID EARLIER, THERE'S BIG SHOES TO FILL, BUT YOU KNOW, WE FEEL VERY CONFIDENT IN YOU AND ARE READY TO BE THAT SUPPORT FOR YOU AS WELL. 
          SO YOU'RE WELCOME. 
          [COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - PUBLIC HEARING ]
SO WE ARE NOW GOING TO CONDUCT THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE FOSTER TOWNSEND RAIL LOGISTICS LEASE AGREEMENT. 
          WE WILL ALSO BE CONSIDERING ACTION ITEMS 17 AND 18 AT THIS TIME AS WELL. 
          MR. HENDRICKSON OH, SORRY, CLERK. 
          GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN MEMBERS. 
          MR. HENDRICKSON, IF I COULD GET YOU HOLD ON JUST A SECOND. 
          ABSOLUTELY I'M SORRY. I GOT KIND OF EXCITED AND A LITTLE AHEAD OF MYSELF. 
          THAT'S FINE. IT'S A GOOD DAY. 
          NEXT IS A PUBLIC HEARING FROM COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REGARDING FOSTER TOWNSEND RAILROAD LOGISTICS LEASE AGREEMENT. 
          PLEASE NOTE, ACTION ITEM THREE OF THIS ITEM REQUIRES A FOUR FIFTHS VOTE AND WE WILL BE TAKING BOARD ACTION ITEM 17 AND 18 ALONG WITH IT. 
          MR. BROWN. 
          MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. 
          I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SOME INITIAL COMMENTS ON THIS. 
          [00:55:05]
DURING LATE 2016 THE BOARD AT THAT TIME ADOPTED A FOCUSED BUT ADAPTABLE DEVELOPMENT PLAN WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE NEEDED TO ADDRESS SOME HURDLES AT THE TIME THAT WE NEEDED TO DEAL WITH BEFORE ATTRACTING A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNER THAT TRY TO DRAW THAT OUTSIDE REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT, TO BE ABLE TO IMPROVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND ESTABLISH DEVELOPMENT READY SITES AT CASTLE. 
          THE THREE THINGS AT THAT TIME, THE BOARD SAID, IS WE NEEDED TO DEAL WITH THE ZONING TO MATCH WITH THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN. 
          THE AIRPORT LAYOUT PLAN WITH THE FAA NEEDED TO ALIGN THE TECHNOLOGY COMPONENT AND TRY TO ENHANCE THE AIRPORT OPERATIONS. 
          AND MOST CRITICAL ONE AT THE TIME WAS ESTABLISH A TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR OR A WAY TO GET TO CASTLE WITH THE ATWATER MERCED EXPRESSWAY. 
          AT THIS TIME, TWO OF THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. 
          HOWEVER, WITH THESE AGENDA ITEMS, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT CONSIDERATION ON CONTINUING TO TRY TO STRENGTHEN THE ZONING OUT AT THE RAIL DISTRICT TO ENSURE THAT THE AREA REMAINS FOR RAIL PURPOSES IN THE FUTURE. 
          REGARDING THE AME, THERE HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN A PLAN PUT IN PLACE FROM HIGHWAY 99 TO SANTA FE, AND WE'RE WORKING ON THE FINAL, HOPEFULLY ON THE FUNDING PLAN FOR THE FINAL PIECE, WHICH IS THE CONNECTION FROM SANTA FE TO BELLEVUE AT FRANKLIN, WHICH WOULD COMPLETE THE LOOP FROM THE AME TO THE CAMPUS PARKWAY. 
          WHILE WORKING ON THESE THINGS OVER THE YEARS, THOUGH YOUR LEADERSHIP, THE COUNTY STRATEGICALLY FOCUSED DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS AND BUILDING A FOUNDATION TOWARDS THE AUTO TECHNOLOGY AND THE RAIL COMPONENTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN. 
          LAST YEAR, THE COUNTY WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION ON AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE TESTING AREA AND BRING A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AUTONOMOUS MOBILE COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH COMPANY OR TRC, TO OPERATE THE FACILITY. 
          ALTHOUGH IT JUST OPENED IN NOVEMBER, TRC HAS ALREADY SEEN A STEADY INCREASE IN OPERATION IN CUSTOMERS AND HOURS OF SERVICE. 
          AND TODAY WE HAVE, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, ANOTHER KEY RELATIONSHIP WITH A NATIONAL OPERATOR, PATRIOT RAIL TO LEASE THE EXISTING TRACK AND EVALUATE POSSIBLE FUTURE EXPANSION OF RAIL OPERATIONS AND WAREHOUSING. 
          PARTNERING WITH PATRIOT RAIL IS A CRITICAL STEPS TOWARD DEVELOPING A DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE CONNECTION BETWEEN MERCED COUNTY AND THE PORTS. 
          AS YOU KNOW, ONE OF OUR LARGEST CHALLENGES IN WORKING WITH THE PORT OF LA ON THE INLAND PORT FRAMEWORK HAS BEEN TRYING TO IDENTIFY SOMEONE TO OPERATE AND DEVELOP THE RAIL FACILITIES. WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE PATRIOT RAIL HERE TODAY AND THANK YOU, MR. FENTON AND YOUR TEAM FOR BEING HERE TODAY. 
          WE'RE OPTIMISTIC THAT THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A LONG TERM PARTNERSHIP THAT HELPS CONNECT THE CENTRAL VALLEY. 
          AT THIS POINT WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO MR. HENDRICKSON. 
          MR. BROWN. THANK YOU, SIR. 
          MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. 
          IT IS IN FACT A VERY GOOD DAY AGAIN, MARK HENDRICKSON, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. TODAY IS TRULY SPECIAL AND IT'S WITH BOTH PRIDE AND PRIVILEGE THAT I BRING TO YOU THIS ITEM TODAY WITH FOSTER TOWNSEND RAILROAD LOGISTICS AND RELATED ITEMS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AS WELL. 
          BUT BEFORE I GET TO THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, JUST AS MR. BROWN JUST DID, I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REFLECT A MOMENT. 
          AS TODAY IS ACTUALLY YEARS OF WORK IN THE MAKING THAT ACTUALLY DATE BACK TO ABOUT 2013. 
          I CAN RECALL CONCEPTUAL THOUGHT PROCESS UNDERWAY AT THAT TIME. 
          THE BOARD, AS MR. BROWN JUST MENTIONED, HAS UNDERTAKEN MANY STEPS TO DRIVE CASTLE'S DEVELOPMENT SINCE THAT TIME, AND YOUR STAFF HAS SUCCESSFULLY UNDERTOOK MARKET STUDIES, CONDUCTED MARKET SOUNDING, COMPLETED UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE ANALYSIS AND DEVELOPED A LEADING STRATEGIC PLAN. 
          THE PLAN THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL AND IN FACT, INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCES. THIS LED TO BUILDING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH GLOBAL PORTS, CLASS ONE RAILROADS AND INDUSTRY LEADERS. 
          WE REVERSE ENGINEERED THE SITE SELECTION PROCESS, AND NOW OTHERS LOOK TO US. 
          IN FACT, LOOK TO YOU AS TO HOW BEST TO APPROACH PUBLIC AGENCY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 
          SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND I IN THE EARLIEST DAYS UPON HIM COMING INTO OFFICE HAD REALLY GOOD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CASTLE AND ENVISIONED THE VERY THINGS YOU ARE GOING TO BE ACCOMPLISHING TODAY SHOULD YOU TAKE THESE ACTIONS IN FRONT OF YOU. 
          THESE TYPE OF EFFORTS DO TAKE TIME. 
          THEY REQUIRE PATIENCE. 
          THEY REQUIRE STEADFASTNESS. 
          THEY REQUIRE COUNTLESS HOURS OF HARD WORK AND DETERMINATION. 
          THEY ALSO REQUIRE TIME TO MARKET AND TO CAREFULLY CONSIDER BRINGING THE RIGHT PARTNERS TO THE TABLE WITH US. 
          AT TIMES, IT'S EASY FOR THE PUBLIC TO THINK THAT THINGS AREN'T IN MOTION, WHICH COULDN'T BE FURTHER FROM REALITY. 
          THE AFOREMENTIONED STEPS THAT WE TOOK RESULTED IN THE BOARD IDENTIFYING MULTIPLE CORNERSTONE PROJECTS FOR CASTLE, AS MR. BROWN MENTIONED. ONE WAS ACTUALLY COMPLETED LAST YEAR WHEN THE BOARD ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH CENTER, AN ORGANIZATION WHO OVERSEES THE LARGEST PROVING GROUND IN NORTH AMERICA FOR AUTO TECH TESTING. 
          THEY COMPETED AGAINST OTHER GLOBAL INTERESTS, AND NOW TRC CALIFORNIA IS WELL UNDERWAY, AND CASTLE IS NOW HOME TO A WORLD CLASS AUTO TECH PROVING GROUND OF ITS OWN, INCLUDING A BRAND NEW TWO AND ONE QUARTER MILE OVAL TRACK. 
          AS MR. BROWN MENTIONED, THEY WERE ALREADY EXPERIENCING TREMENDOUS GROWTH AS THEY ARE 
          [01:00:03]
SERVICING AUTOMOTIVE COMPANIES FROM AROUND THE GLOBE. 
          THAT PROJECT BROUGHT SEVERAL PARTNERS TO THE TABLE, NOTABLY ASSEMBLY MEMBER ADAM GRAY, WHO HELPED TO SECURE A SIX AND A HALF MILLION DOLLAR GRANT TO BUILD THAT FACILITY. 
          THE COUNTY, UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP, BROUGHT ON KPMG, WHO HELPED US SHAPE THE BUSINESS CASE AND SET THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE GLOBAL PROCUREMENT. 
          ASIDE FROM MY ORGANIZATION, IT INVOLVED MANY OTHERS INTERNALLY TO IMPROVE OUR ADMIN SERVICES TEAM, COUNTY COUNCIL'S OFFICE, DPW AND CERTAINLY OUR CEO. 
          THE POINT BEING IS THAT IT WAS A COLLECTIVE TEAM EFFORT. 
          NOW TRANSITIONING TO TODAY, THESE ACTIONS, IF APPROVED BY THE BOARD, WILL REPRESENT THE OTHER CORNERSTONE PROJECT SUCCESSFULLY BEING ACHIEVED. 
          OUR BOARD HAS BEEN CLEAR IT WANTED TO SEE A RAIL DISTRICT DEVELOP THE CASTLE. 
          AS SUCH, A PROJECT WOULD LEAD TO JOB CREATION AND PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT. 
          WE HAVE BELIEVED FROM THE OUTSET THAT SUCH A FACILITY WOULD BE A BOON FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS AND MANUFACTURERS FROM THROUGHOUT THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY. 
          AND WHILE SOME IN THE VALLEY TALK ABOUT DOING THIS, MERCED COUNTY IS GETTING IT DONE. 
          THERE ARE THREE ITEMS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY. 
          THE FIRST IS THE LEASE AGREEMENT WITH FOSTER TOWNSEND RAIL LOGISTICS FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED FEET OF EXISTING TRACK AND LESS THAN ONE ACRE OF ASSOCIATED PROPERTY. TYPICALLY AT THE SOUTH END OF CASTLE. 
          TWO AN ITEM TO TERMINATE THE EXISTING TRACKER AGREEMENT WITH BNSF, AND THREE AN ITEM SEEKING TO GRANT LICENSE TO FOSTER TOWNSEND SO THEY CAN EVALUATE AN ADDITIONAL 70 ACRES, INCLUDING THE AFOREMENTIONED TRACK, FOR A POSSIBLE ACQUISITION AND OR LARGER LEASEHOLD. 
          NOW, BEFORE I GET TO A BRIEF BREAKDOWN OF EACH OF THESE ITEMS FOR YOU, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO INTRODUCE FOSTER TOWNSEND OR, AS WE KNOW THEM, PATRIOT RAIL. 
          THEY ARE A RECOGNIZED PREMIUM PROVIDER OF SHORT LINE TRANSPORTATION AND REGIONAL FREIGHT SOLUTIONS, OPERATING A NUMBER OF LOCATIONS AROUND THE UNITED STATES. 
          THEY HAVE A VAST EXPERTISE IN RAIL AND TRANSPORTATION AND HAVE A FIRM COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN EACH OF THE AREAS THEY SERVE. 
          IN THIS REGARD, YOUR OWN GOALS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAVE BEEN MIRRORED. 
          SHORTLY YOU WILL HEAR FROM MR. JOHN FENTON, THEIR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, FOR WHOM WE'VE HAD THE GREAT PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH IN RECENT MONTHS. 
          THE LEASE AGREEMENT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION INCLUDES SEVERAL COMPONENTS THAT WILL AGAIN BE LEASING THE TRACK, THE EXISTING TRACK. 
          THE PROPOSED LEASE TERM IS FOR 20 YEARS WITH A POTENTIAL 10 YEAR RENEWAL TERM. 
          AGAIN SUBJECT TO MUTUAL AGREEMENT AND INCLUDES A PAYMENT STRUCTURE THAT HAS BOTH A GUARANTEED MINIMUM FLOOR OR A PERCENTAGE OF ANNUAL GROSS REVENUE, WHICHEVER IS GREATER. 
          THEY WILL ASSUME ALL RESPONSIBILITY OF THESE FACILITIES, INCLUDING MAINTENANCE REPAIRS, INSPECTIONS OPERATIONS, RELIEVING THE COUNTY OF ALL OF THOSE SET OBLIGATIONS, AND WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF COMMENCEMENT, THEY ANTICIPATE MAKING $1.2 MILLION DOLLARS IN TRACK OPTIMIZATION IMPROVEMENTS. 
          AGAIN, GOING BACK TO ONE OF YOUR EARLIER GOALS, WHICH WAS TO FACILITATE PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT THEY HAVE BIG PLANS FOR THIS PIECE OF CASTLE AND THOSE WILL SOON BE SHARED BY MR. FENTON. ALSO RELATED TO THIS ITEM TODAY IS ONE PERTAINING TO TERMINATING THE TRACK AGREEMENT ON CASTLE WITH BNSF. 
          THIS IS AN AGREEMENT THAT DATES BACK TO 2017 AND AUTHORIZE THEM TO SERVE EXISTING TENANTS ON CASTLE. IN ORDER FOR THE FOSTER TOWNSEND TO ESTABLISH ITSELF AS THE RAILROAD AT CASTLE WITH THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD, IT REQUIRES US TO TERMINATE THAT AGREEMENT. 
          THAT SAID, BNSF, UNDER ITS COMMON CARRIER OBLIGATIONS WILL STILL BRING FREIGHT TO AND FROM CASTLE. IT WILL DO THE HANDOFF TO PATRIOT. 
          WHILE BNSF PROVIDES A COUPLE OF DAYS PER WEEK SERVICE TODAY, PATRIOT WILL PROVIDE ENHANCED SERVICE BY HAVING FIVE DAYS PER WEEK TO START. 
          THE THIRD ITEM IS A PROPOSED LICENSE AGREEMENT, WHICH WOULD GIVE FOSTER TOWNSEND 120 DAYS. AGAIN, [INAUDIBLE] OF MUTUAL AGREEMENT OF BOTH PARTIES TO EXTEND SO THAT THEY CAN EVALUATE THE POTENTIAL ACQUISITION OF AGAIN, THE TRACK AND AN ADDITIONAL 70 PLUS ACRES OF DEVELOPMENT FOR A COMPREHENSIVE RAIL DISTRICT THAT WOULD ULTIMATELY INVOLVE CONSTRUCTION OF ADDITIONAL TRACK BUILDINGS AND WOULD GENERATE WIDESPREAD OPERATIONAL ACTIVITY. 
          NOW THESE THREE ITEMS ARE ALL RELATED, BUT THEY'RE ALSO SEPARATE AND DISTINCT. 
          NOW, PRIOR TO TURNING IT OVER TO MR. FENTON FOR HIS PRESENTATION, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HELPED MAKE TODAY POSSIBLE BEGINNING WITH THIS BOARD. 
          THE ENTIRE BOARD DESERVES THIS MOMENT, AND I PERSONALLY COULD NOT BE HAPPIER FOR EACH OF YOU. MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE BOTH YOU AND SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AS THE AD HOC COMMITTEE FOR CASTLE, FOR ALL OF THE SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE GIVEN TO ME AND TO THIS PROJECT. 
          SO THANK YOU BOTH. 
          I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO ESPECIALLY RECOGNIZE FORREST HANSEN AND JEFF GRANT FROM COUNTY COUNCIL'S OFFICE. SARAH BAKER FROM RISK. 
          ERICK SERRATO FROM WORKFORCE INVESTMENT, MIKE NORTH FROM THE CEO'S OFFICE. 
          DAVID MIRRIONE, OUR ASSISTANT CEO. 
          OUR CEO DESIGNEE MR. MENDEZ, WHO HAS BEEN IN COUNTLESS MEETINGS OVER HIS FIRST FEW WEEKS AND CERTAINLY OUR CEO, JIM BROWN. THIS IS A BITTERSWEET DAY FOR ME WITH TODAY BEING JIM'S LAST MEETING. 
          BUT I CAN THINK OF NO BETTER WAY THAN FOR HIM TO LEAVE HIS POST THAN WITH A MONUMENTAL AGREEMENT LIKE THIS BEING ACHIEVED. 
          I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH OR FOR JIM FOR OVER 15 PLUS YEARS. 
          SIR, CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS ACHIEVEMENT. 
          TO MARK MIMMS AND FOR MY TEAM, I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO EXPRESS HOW PROUD I AM OF YOU. 
          [01:05:03]
THANK YOU, MARK, FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING WORK ON THIS PROJECT. 
          I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK JENNIFER FITZGERALD FROM BNSF AS WELL, AND WE TALKED ABOUT BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS. SHE ACTUALLY BROUGHT TO US PATRIOT, WHICH WE WERE ABSOLUTELY GRATEFUL. THANKS TO THIS RELATIONSHIP WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BUILD WITH INDUSTRY LEADERS. 
          PARTNERSHIPS LIKE THIS CAN OFTEN PROVE FRUITFUL. 
          IN THIS CASE, IT CERTAINLY DID. 
          I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK BUD WALLACE, WHO IS A LOCAL CERTAINLY PROVIDED MY TEAM AND I WITH JUST EXCELLENT COUNSEL ALONG THE WAY. 
          TO THE PATRIOT TEAM, YOU HAVE BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF EXTRAORDINARY TO WORK WITH. 
          TO MR. FENTON, TO MR. ROB THRALL, TO MR. DON ITZKOFF, TO MR. HARRY ZANDER, MR. OWEN ZIDAR, MR. PATRICK DOVER AND MS. LISA BATTAGLIA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROFESSIONALISM, YOUR COLLABORATION AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO INVEST YOUR RESOURCES TALENT EXPERTISE RIGHT HERE IN MERCED COUNTY. 
          SO MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, ONCE MR. FENTON CONCLUDES HIS REMARKS AND BRIEF PRESENTATION, STAFF RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS PERTAINING TO THIS PUBLIC HEARING. 
          ONE FOR YOU TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, OBVIOUSLY ACCEPTING PUBLIC INPUT. 
          TWO TO MAKE THE ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION AS STATED IN YOUR BOARD AGENDA ITEM. 
          THREE TO FIND THE GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 25536.9 SUBDIVISION B HAS BEEN MET AND APPROVE THE LEASE AGREEMENT. AND OF COURSE, YOU WILL NEED TO TAKE THE OTHER ACTIONS PERTAINING TO THE OTHER ITEMS AS WELL. 
          WITH THAT, MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. 
          I'D LIKE TO PLEASE WELCOME MR. JOHN FENTON, CEO OF PATRIOT RAIL, TO THE PODIUM. 
          THANK YOU. YES, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GO A LITTLE LOWER MYSELF, SO. 
          WELCOME. GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. 
          THANK YOU. GOOD TO BE HERE. 
          CHAIRMAN PAREIRA, MEMBERS OF THE STAFF, COUNTY SUPERVISORS, THE STAFF, THE CITIZENS HERE IN MERCED. 
          I'M JOHN FENTON. I'M THE CEO OF PATRIOT RAIL, AND IT'S A REAL PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO BE HERE TODAY. YOU KNOW THE THINGS I HEARD AND JIM, CONGRATULATIONS. 
          I KNOW IT'S A BITTERSWEET DAY FOR YOU. 
          BUT I ECHO THE SENTIMENTS ABOUT THE VISION, THE INTEGRITY OF THIS BOARD AND THE PROFESSIONALISM OF THIS BOARD. 
          I COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH SUCH A GREAT ORGANIZATION AND A GREAT COMMUNITY. SO IT'S A REAL PRIVILEGE FOR US TO BE HERE AND TO WORK WITH YOU ON THIS GREAT PROJECT, WHICH I THINK IS GOING TO BE TREMENDOUS FOR WHAT IT'S GOING TO MEAN TO THIS COMMUNITY. 
          JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT US. 
          WE OPERATE IN 15 STATES. 
          WE HAVE 13 SHORT LINE RAILROADS. 
          AND AGAIN, IT'S SUCH A PRIVILEGE FOR US TO BE HERE AND ME BEING ABLE TO REPRESENT ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH OUR ORGANIZATION. 
          IF WE ARE SELECTED TODAY, YOU KNOW, IT IS OUR GOAL TO PARTNER WITH YOU ON CREATING THE VISION THAT YOU LAID OUT SO ELOQUENTLY. 
          THE FIRST TIME I MET WITH YOU TO MOVE MORE GOODS IN THIS COMMUNITY TO HAVE A WORLD CLASS TRANSPORTATION CENTER TO SUPPORT REALLY THE BREADBASKET OF THIS COUNTRY. 
          WE HAVE ACHIEVED THIS GROWTH VISION AT OUR OTHER RAILROAD, WHICH YOU'VE GOT TO VISIT IN SACRAMENTO, WHICH I'M GLAD YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO SEE WHAT THIS CAN BECOME BECAUSE ONE DAY THIS IS GOING TO BE A MONUMENTAL DECISION. 
          IT'S GOING TO BENEFIT SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY. 
          I'M GOING TO TURN A LITTLE BIT TO HERE'S OUR FOOTPRINT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. 
          AGAIN, ONE OF THE THINGS WE REALLY HIGHLIGHT ON IS OUR SAFETY RECORD. 
          YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A FIRM COMMITMENT TO OUR EMPLOYEES. 
          WE HAVE A PHILOSOPHY IN THIS COMPANY. 
          IT'S ABOUT EMPLOYEE FIRST LEADERSHIP, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES, TO GIVE THEM THOSE HOPES, DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS. 
          SO IT'S THIS IS WHERE WE ARE AND WE THINK THAT HOPEFULLY WE CAN MEET YOUR EXPECTATIONS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ON A GOOD PARTNER TO HELP YOU AGAIN ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS. 
          THE CLICKER, IF I CAN ADVANCE, I DIDN'T GRAB THE. 
          OK. THIS RIGHT? THERE YOU GO. THERE WE GO. 
          THIS IS THE EXISTING FACILITY TODAY, AND YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT, HOW IMPORTANT THIS REGION IS TO THE WORLD, WHAT THIS CAN BECOME IS GOING TO BE MONUMENTAL IN HELPING THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY TAKE THEIR GOODS AND SERVICES TO MARKET IN SUCH A MORE EFFICIENT WAY. 
          WHAT OUR PLANS ARE WORKING WITH YOU CLOSELY. 
          THE FIRST INVESTMENT YOU TALKED ABOUT WOULD BE TO BUILD SOME EXISTING THE $1.2 MILLION INVESTMENT TO GROW THE FOOTPRINT IF WE GET IT UP HERE. 
          THIS WILL BE OUR FIRST INVESTMENT OF $1.2 MILLION DOLLARS TO FACILITATE THE HANDOFF FROM BNSF TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN INTERCHANGE SEAMLESSLY IN A VERY EFFICIENT WAY. 
          CONTINUED MOVEMENT WITHIN THE BNSF SYSTEM. 
          THE OTHER THING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO US IS TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE STONE RIDGE SCHOOL AS A TOP PRIORITY OF OURS, TO MAKE SURE IT'S A SEAMLESS TRANSITION, TO MAKE SURE 
          [01:10:01]
THAT IT'S SAFE FOR THE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ATTEND THOSE BALL FIELDS. 
          SO THAT'LL BE ANOTHER ONE OF OUR MAJOR PRIORITIES. 
          IF YOU LOOK AT OUR FIRST WHAT WE LOOK FOR, IF I CAN GET THIS TO WORK, I APOLOGIZE. 
          THIS IS OUR FIRST VISION OF WHAT WE SEE AS THE GROWTH POTENTIAL FOR THIS FACILITY. 
          THE 70 ACRES, YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE'S TWO WAREHOUSES THAT WE'VE BUILT AND ARE DRAWN ONTO THIS DIAGRAM THAT WILL HOPEFULLY BE ONE OF THE VERY FIRST ANCHOR CUSTOMERS. 
          WE'RE WORKING TO SEVERAL AGRICULTURAL GROUPS IN THE REGION TO ENSURE THAT WE MEET THEIR EXPECTATIONS WE'LL BE REACHING OUT TO ALL THE MAJOR GROWERS AND AGRICULTURAL SHIPPERS IN THIS REGION THAT THEY HAVE INPUT INTO THIS FACILITY TO WHERE WE MAKE SURE THAT WE HIT THINGS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR. 
          AND THIS IS JUST THE START. 
          AND I THINK THIS COULD BE MUCH BIGGER AND GRANDER AS WE MOVE FORWARD. 
          IF YOU COULD ADVANCE THE SLIDE FOR ME, PLEASE. 
          ONE THING I BELIEVE IN, AND I FOUND THAT HERE PARTNERSHIPS ARE BASED ON WIN WIN. 
          AND I THINK WHEN YOU CAN FIND GROUPS THAT SHARE SIMILAR VALUES ABOUT INTEGRITY AND DOING THE RIGHT THINGS, I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THAT PIECE AS WELL. 
          I THINK OUR VISION AND VALUES ARE VERY WELL ALIGNED ABOUT MAKING THIS SOMETHING THAT REALLY BENEFITS THIS COMMUNITY. 
          AND MAKE IT SOMEPLACE WHERE MY FATHER WAS A MINISTER FOR OVER 50 YEARS AND ONE OF THE THINGS HE ALWAYS TAUGHT ME, ALL PEOPLE ARE ALIGNED AROUND ONE COMMON THING HOPES, DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS. 
          WE HOPE THAT WE CAN BE A PART OF HELPING THIS COMMUNITY AND THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY FIND THOSE THINGS WHERE THEY CAN BUILD THE KIND OF LIFE AND HAVE THE KIND OF JOBS THAT WILL GIVE THEM WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR. 
          BUT PARTNERSHIPS AND COMMITMENT TO WORKING WITH EACH OTHER, I BELIEVE, IS THE ESSENCE OF MAKING SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL HAPPEN. 
          AND I HOPEFULLY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS THAT WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER, WE'VE FOUND THAT COMMON BOND AND ENSURING THAT THAT HAPPENS. 
          SO AGAIN, I'M VERY HUMBLED AND PRIVILEGED THAT WE'RE HERE AND THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING US AS THE OPERATOR AND WE JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH US AND HAVING THE PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY. 
          SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT AND GETTING US TO THIS POINT. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          YOU'RE QUITE WELCOME. AND THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR INVESTING HERE. 
          AT THIS TIME I GUESS IT'S TIME TO OPEN UP OUR PUBLIC HEARING. 
          IS THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES BEFORE WE DO THAT? NO. OK. ALL RIGHT. 
          THEN I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. 
          OH SIR, YOUNG MAN. 
          [LAUGHTER] HOW ARE YOU DOING, SHANE? YOU CALLED YOUNG MAN, RIGHT? YEAH. 
          GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN, BOARD MEMBERS. 
          MY NAME IS SHANE PARSONS. 
          I'M A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER AND DEVELOPER AT CASTLE. 
          PARDON ME, SHANE, JUST FOR A SECOND. 
          I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THIS IS THE PUBLIC HEARING. 
          OK. 
          I'M A PARTNER AND DEVELOPER IN THE BLAKER BREWERY TARMAC SIDE AT CASTLE, AMONG OTHER SITES THAT I'VE PURCHASED FROM THE COUNTY OVER THE YEARS AND CREATED SOME JOBS OUT THERE. 
          I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF FOSTER TOWNSEND PROJECT. 
          HAVING A SHORT LINE OPERATOR AT CASTLE WILL BE A HUGE ADVANTAGE TO CASTLE. 
          I FEEL THAT WILL BE A POSITIVE THING FOR THE LOCAL AND VALLEY BUSINESSES AND AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY IN GENERAL. 
          THE OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES TO BRING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS TO CASTLE AND BE SHIPPED ON RAIL WILL BENEFIT TO THE WHOLE REGION. 
          THIS WILL NOT ONLY HELP CREATE JOBS BUT ALSO HELP REMOVE TRUCKS FROM HIGHWAYS AND GIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES TO EXPAND AND REACH. 
          WITH THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS AT CASTLE, THE FUTURE IS EXCITING. AS A BUSINESS OWNER AND A PERSON WHO HAS ALWAYS WANTED SUCCESS FOR MERCED COUNTY, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE GROWTH WITHIN THE RAIL PROJECT. 
          THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK? MAYOR PRO TEM CALE, WELCOME. 
          GOOD MORNING. I WANT TO COME AND CONGRATULATE YOU GUYS ON A MONUMENTAL EVENT HERE TODAY. THIS IS A EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THING FOR OUR COMMUNITY. 
          [01:15:07]
I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING IT. 
          I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I'VE SHARED GOVERNMENT WORKS SO SLOWLY. 
          I'M GLAD TO SEE THIS IS FINALLY GOING. 
          WE CRUSHED IF YOU GET THE CITY ATWATER MORE INVOLVED IN THIS SINCE IT IS RIGHT IN OUR BACKYARD. 
          AND IF YOU DO, WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE AFFECTED. 
          I KNOW THAT EVENTUALLY WITH THE RAIL COMING IN, IT'S GOING TO STOP EVERYTHING. 
          THE TRAFFIC AT [INAUDIBLE] IT STOPS AS SOON AS A [INAUDIBLE] GET FIXED [INAUDIBLE]. 
          BUT THEN NOW WE'RE ADDING THIS TOO [INAUDIBLE]. 
          SO I DO ASK YOU THAT AND DO CONGRATULATE YOU. 
          MR. BROWN, YOU WILL BE MISSED. 
          APPRECIATE ALL YOUR ASSISTANCE IN EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THE CITY OF ATWATER. 
          THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. 
          ANYONE ELSE? YES. 
          GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I'M ROBERT HENRY. 
          I REPRESENT THE MORNINGSTAR COMPANY. 
          WE ARE A VERY LARGE EGG PRODUCER IN THE COUNTY. 
          WE ARE ALSO HEAVY ON RAIL. 
          WE CURRENTLY SHIP THOUSANDS OF RAILCARS AND WE FULLY SUPPORT PATRIOT AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING BECAUSE WE'LL POSSIBLY BE A POTENTIAL USER AS WELL. 
          SO NOT JUST IN OUR [INAUDIBLE] OPERATIONS, BUT POSSIBLY IN OUR OTHER THINGS THAT WE DO, BRINGING IN LUMBER, STEEL, METAL, ETC. 
          SO MORNINGSTAR IS IN FULL SUPPORT OF PATRIOT AND THE ACTIVITIES GOING ON. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          GOOD MORNING, CHAIR, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. 
          MY NAME IS RENE GUTIERREZ, A RESIDENT OF CITY OF MERCED. 
          YESTERDAY I OPENED UP THE MERCED COUNTY TIMES AND I SAW IN THE FRONT PAGE THIS PROJECT COMING UP TO YOUR ATTENTION TODAY. 
          SO I WANT TO SHOW MY FULL SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT. 
          WE'VE TALKED WITH SOME OF YOU SUPERVISORS THAT HALF THE BATTLE TO IMPROVING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN MERCED IS INFRASTRUCTURE. 
          JOSH, RODRIGO, DARON YOU GUYS ARE HUGE. 
          I COMMEND THIS BOARD AND THE STAFF FOR BRINGING PROJECTS LIKE THIS AGAIN, [INAUDIBLE] GOVERNMENT WORK DOES TAKE FOREVER, BUT THIS IS A GOOD STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. 
          IN MY PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT WITH AVIS CAR RENTAL, I WOULD ALWAYS PICK UP CUSTOMERS AT CASTLE AIR FORCE BASE FOR FIVE PLUS YEARS. 
          EACH TIME I WAS OUT THERE, IT SEEMED LIKE A DESERT ISLAND. 
          THINGS HAVE CHANGED AS OF RECENTLY. 
          OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IT'S GREAT TO SEE PEOPLE OUT THERE FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND SEEING PROJECTS LIKE THIS TO IMPROVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BRINGING JOBS OUT HERE, IMPROVING TRACK INFRASTRUCTURE. 
          IT'S NOT SEEN IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY, SO I COMMEND AGAIN THE PARTNER THAT'S BY COMING OUT TO CENTRAL VALLEY TO ATWATER, TO INVEST IN THIS COMMUNITY, TO BRING BETTER WAGE JOBS AND NOT MINIMUM WAGE JOBS AND IMPROVE MERCED COUNTY AS A WHOLE. 
          SO AGAIN, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO FULLY SUPPORT THIS PROJECT AND KEEP CASTLE AIR FORCE BASE GOING. SO ONE DAY WE COULD SEE IT, JUST LIKE IT WAS BACK IN ITS HEYDAY, WHICH I WASN'T BORN AT THAT TIME. BUT YEAH. 
          BUT YOU'VE SEEN PICTURES. [LAUGHTER] YES, THANK YOU GUYS. 
          OK. 
          ANYONE ELSE IN PERSON WISH TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT? OK. DO WE HAVE ANY ON ZOOM? WE DO NOT. I WOULD LIKE TO JUST GIVE A QUICK REMINDER TO THE CALLERS AND EVERYBODY ON THE COMPUTER. IF YOU'RE JOINING VIA THE COMPUTER, THERE IS A RAISE YOUR HAND FEATURE. 
          IF YOU'RE CALLING IN, PLEASE PRESS STAR NINE TO RAISE YOUR HAND. 
          OK, WE'LL GIVE JUST A MOMENT IN CASE SOMEONE'S INTERESTED. 
          OH, THERE YOU GO. CALLER WITH THE LAST FOUR DIGITS, EIGHT EIGHT ONE ZERO IF YOU CAN UNMUTE YOUR MIC BY PRESSING STAR SIX. 
          HELLO, THERE. IT'S DAVE CHAMBERS FROM [INAUDIBLE] UP IN SACRAMENTO. 
          GLAD TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE VIA ZOOM. 
          WE ARE REALLY, REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY OF EXPANDING OUR WAREHOUSE OPERATIONS IN THE VALLEY AND LOOK FORWARD TO PATRIOT OPERATING THEIR SHORELINE TO FACILITATE OUR BUSINESS GROWTH IN YOUR AREA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          THERE ARE NO FURTHER HANDS RAISED. 
          ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. THEN AT THIS TIME, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. 
          [01:20:02]
YES, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. 
          THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN. I THINK I SENT YOU A TEXT THIS MORNING THANKING YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND WORKING WITH ME AS A COLLEAGUE, AND I THINK I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION ALL THE OTHER FOLKS. 
          I THINK MARK ACTUALLY MENTIONED EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN AND IT WAS REALLY GOOD. 
          I THINK ONE PERSON WE HAVEN'T MENTIONED WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED TO THIS BOARD AND WE STARTED THAT AD HOC COMMITTEE, IT WAS ACTUALLY HUB WALSH AND I SAT THERE TOGETHER AND HUB ALWAYS WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW WE NEED TO TURN THIS OVER TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR. 
          WE WERE BOTH IN COMPLETE AGREEANCE WITH IT. 
          AND SO HE HAS A HAND IN THIS AS WELL. 
          I WANT TO ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE FOR THIS. 
          THIS IS MONUMENTIS FOR MERCED COUNTY AND I THINK THE WHOLE CENTRAL VALLEY. 
          WE'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF GROWERS AND A LOT OF OTHER FOLKS SAYING THIS IS GOING TO CHANGE MOVEMENT OF GOODS WITHIN THE CENTRAL VALLEY. 
          LET'S UNDERSTAND THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE STILL TRYING TO STUDY THIS. 
          THEY'RE OUT THERE TRYING TO GET MONEY FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO CONTINUE TO DO IT, AND SOME OF THEM ACTUALLY ARE TRYING TO TRY TO STEAL IT FROM MERCED COUNTY. 
          BUT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU, WE'RE BEYOND STUDY. 
          WE'RE IN IMPLEMENTATION MODE. 
          ONCE WE VOTE ON THIS TODAY, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD, AND I DO EXTEND MY ENCOURAGEMENT TO OUR GOVERNOR, WHO IS TRYING TO WORK WITH THOSE FOLKS IN FRESNO COUNTY. 
          PUT YOUR INVESTMENT HERE IN MERCED COUNTY BECAUSE WE IMPLEMENT IT. 
          WE DON'T JUST THINK ABOUT IT. 
          WE DON'T JUST TALK ABOUT IT. 
          WE'RE DOING IT. 
          THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND IT REMINDS ME OF THE GST PHILOSOPHY. 
          WELL, AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT, AND I'D LIKE TO THANK SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. 
          YOU KNOW, HE WAS HERE A COUPLE OF YEARS BEFORE MYSELF. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, JOBS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS REALLY HOW YOU CHANGE PEOPLE'S LIVES WHEN THEY'RE ON, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC ASSISTANCE YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD FOR THEM TO GET OUT. 
          AND SO AS WE CREATE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T CREATE JOBS, BUT AS WE FACILITATE THE CREATION OF JOBS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S REALLY NO GREATER FEELING. 
          YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN THAT CAME AND SPOKE AT WORKFORCE INVESTMENT HAD HELPED HIM WITH THE TRUCK DRIVING SCHOOL AND HOW THAT WAS GOING TO CHANGE HIS LIFE. 
          A FEW YEARS AGO, I WAS ABLE TO SPEAK AT A GRADUATION FOR LIUNA OUT AT CASTLE. 
          IT WAS A PRE APPRENTICE PROGRAM. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, AND IT JUST STRUCK ME THAT THOSE FOLKS ARE STEPPING UP TO CHANGE THE LIVES OF THEIR FAMILIES, REALLY FOR GENERATIONS. 
          AND SO I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED AND THANKFUL AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP DARON. 
          I DON'T THINK WE, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN IT DONE WITHOUT YOUR CONSTANT LEADERSHIP. AND YOU KNOW, IT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM OF ATWATER. 
          AS GOVERNMENT DOES MOVE SLOW, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE UNFORTUNATE PARTS OF OUR BUSINESS. BUT WE'RE THANKFUL FOR PATRIOT RAIL TO MOVE AT THE SPEED OF RAIL AND AND WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THAT. SO ANYWAY, SO I CALL ON MY COLLEAGUE, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA. 
          THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WE TOOK A TOUR WITH SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND WE MET THE TEAM. 
          I THINK JIM BROWN AND THE TEAM FROM PATRIOT RAIL. 
          AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE TOURED THE FACILITY THAT YOU KNOW, AND ALL THE SERVICES AND BUSINESS THAT THEY HAVE BROUGHT ON WITH THE PATRIOT RAIL IN SACRAMENTO. 
          SO I THINK THEY GOT A LOT OF BUSINESS MOVING IN, AND THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB OF BRINGING IN BIG BUSINESS AND EXPANSION OF THE CURRENT BUSINESSES THAT THEY'RE THERE. 
          SO WE SAW THAT THEY ARE AND THEY ARE REALLY POSITIVE WHAT THEY'VE DONE OVER THERE. 
          SO, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THAT CAN COME FORWARD AND INTO MERCED COUNTY, AND I THINK THAT WE'RE ALL EXCITED. 
          I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE AD HOC COMMITTEE, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND MCDANIEL, FOR DOING A GREAT JOB AND IN DEALING WITH PATRIOT RAIL, BUT ALSO TO THE WHOLE BOARD. 
          I THINK WE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS WITH PATRIOT RAIL BACK AND FORTH OF WHAT WAS BEST FOR MERCED COUNTY. 
          AND EVENTUALLY THIS IS FOR, YOU KNOW, ALL THE RESIDENTS HERE IN MERCED COUNTY BRINGING THE JOBS, SUPPORTING OUR BUSINESSES HERE IN MERCED COUNTY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY MOVE THE PRODUCTS, YOU KNOW, LOCALLY. 
          AND IF IT'S ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WELL, LET'S SAY IT JUST CAN BENEFIT THEM BECAUSE IT BENEFITS EVENTUALLY, YOU KNOW, OUR CONSTITUENTS THAT WORK FOR THESE COMPANIES AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT WE BEEN PROMOTING SO MUCH CASTLE AND IN THE HOPES OF BRINGING THE JOBS THAT EVERYBODY HAS BEEN SEEKING AND EVERY ELECTION THAT WE GO FORWARD. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO DO WITH CASTLE? AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL THRIVE, AND I KNOW THAT IT'S GETTING HARD TO FIND GOOD PEOPLE TO WORK. BUT ALSO, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THE BUSINESSES THAT COME IN AND USE 
          [01:25:02]
THESE SERVICES WILL PAY GOOD PAYING JOBS AND, YOU KNOW, ENHANCE THE LIFE AN EVERYONE IN MERCED COUNTY. SO I'M GLAD TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, AND BE PROUD THAT I HAD PART OF IT. 
          AND SO I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD AND PATRIOT RAIL TOO FOR BEING SO COURTEOUS. 
          AND HOPEFULLY THERE'LL BE A GREAT PARTNER WITH MERCED COUNTY FOR A LONG TIME. 
          SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YOU'RE WELCOME. 
          SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. 
          THANK YOU, CHAIR. YEAH, YOU KNOW THIS FIRST OFF, IT WAS STARTED BEFORE I GOT HERE. 
          EXCUSE ME. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU KNOW IS WE INHERITED CASTLE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND WE HAD THIS THING OUT THERE, THIS BIG, HUGE THING THAT WE INHERITED. 
          AND IT JUST IT WAS NEW AND WE'VE TAKEN IT OVER AND IT HAS TAKEN A LOT OF EFFORT. 
          IT'S TAKEN OUR COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT A LOT OF EFFORT TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH THIS. 
          AND I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN, YOU KNOW, I'VE SAID IT UP HERE BEFORE IS THAT THE RISING TIDE RAISES ALL SHIPS AND AS WE GET CASTLE UP AND GOING AND I THINK THAT I CAME IN AT JUST A REALLY OPPORTUNE TIME THAT A LOT OF THE WORK THAT HAD BEEN DONE BEFORE I GOT HERE, THE STUFF THAT TAKES FOREVER. 
          MAYOR PRO TEM CALE THE SLOW WHEELS OF GOVERNMENT, BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY GETTING TO SEE A LITTLE BIT OF THE FRUITS OF OUR LABOR ON THIS THING. 
          AND SO I APPRECIATE IT. 
          AND I THINK MR. FENTON HAD MENTIONED IT. THERE WAS DISCUSSION, THERE WAS A LOT OF THE CLOSED SESSION DISCUSSION AND HAMMERING OUT A DEAL OR WE'RE WORKING ON FINE DETAILS ON IT. 
          BUT I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT WE END UP WITH SOMETHING IS THAT'S WIN WIN FOR EVERYBODY. AND I KNOW AT LEAST MY COMMITMENT TO IT IS, IS THAT IF YOU GUYS ARE SUCCESSFUL, WE'RE SUCCESSFUL, RIGHT. 
          WE HAVE SOME MINIMUM THRESHOLDS SET IN PLACE. 
          AND SO AND THAT'S WHY I FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH. 
          WHEN AFTER WE TOOK THE TOUR UP THERE AT MCCLELLAN, OF WHICH YOU GUYS DO YOUR FIRST CLASS OPERATION, THEY'RE VERY DIFFERENT THAN US. 
          BUT THIS WHOLE DEAL HAS SOMETHING IN IT FOR EVERYBODY WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT GETTING TRUCKS OFF THE ROAD, RIGHT. 
          YOU KNOW, WE HAD THE GENTLEMAN FROM MORNINGSTAR SPEAK. 
          I KNOW WE TOURED UP IN MCCLELLAN. 
          THOSE WERE COMING OUT OF WOODLAND IN THE WEST SIDE OUT OF MINE AND NOW SOON TO BE SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA'S PART OF HIS DISTRICT. 
          THOSE TRUCKS, IF THAT STUFF'S GOING OVERSEAS, THEY'RE HAULING IT TO A PORT SOMEWHERE THAT TRUCKS GOING FROM LOS BANOS TO OAKLAND OR TO WHEREVER. 
          IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY THAT THEY CAN HAUL THAT STUFF TO RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTY JUST THINK ABOUT HOW MANY LOADS A TRUCK COULD MAKE, GO INTO OAKLAND EVERY DAY VERSUS FROM LOS BANOS TO ATWATER. SO I THINK THERE'S WIN WINS IN THIS THING FOR EVERYBODY. 
          I'M SUPER SUPPORTIVE OF IT. 
          AND WHAT MY COMMITMENT IS, IS LONG TERM IS THIS IS A RAIL DISTRICT AND I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT SOMETHING COMING IN THERE THAT'S NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO RAIL AT THIS POINT. 
          SO ANYWAYS, I THINK THAT IT'S A GOOD THING. 
          AGAIN, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND PAREIRA, WHO HAVE BEEN KIND OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON THIS, BUT WE'VE BEEN KEPT APPRIZED OF IT. 
          AND IT'S A DAY WHERE WE GET TO, YOU KNOW, ENCOURAGE. 
          AND I THINK IT SOUNDS LIKE ALL MY COLLEAGUES ARE GOING TO SUPPORT THIS. 
          BUT I WOULDN'T WANT TO JUST, YOU KNOW, THINK THAT OR SAY THAT FOR SURE. 
          WE'LL WAIT AND SEE WHAT THE VOTE HAPPENS. 
          BUT IT'S A GOOD DAY FOR MERCED COUNTY. 
          IT'S A DAY WHERE AND I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE THAT WE DON'T DO A GOOD JOB OF CELEBRATING OUR VICTORIES. WE'RE ALWAYS SO FOCUSED ON PUTTING OUT THE NEXT FIRE OR DEALING WITH THE NEXT THING. I THINK THAT TODAY IS A DAY WHERE WE GET TO ACTUALLY CELEBRATE A VICTORY AND IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND LISTEN, TIME WILL TELL. 
          HISTORY WILL JUDGE US ON THIS WHERE IT ALL ENDS UP, BUT I THINK WE'VE GOT A REALLY GOOD PARTNER, A SOLID PARTNER IN THIS, AND I'M EXCITED. 
          SO THANK YOU, CHAIR. 
          YOU'RE WELCOME. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. 
          I THINK EVERYBODY'S REALLY SAID EVERYTHING ALREADY, BUT I THINK THIS IS AN ENORMOUS STEP FORWARD FOR MERCED COUNTY IT'S A GREAT DAY, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT IS POTENTIAL AND HOW POTENTIAL IS BOTH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE, AND THIS MAXIMIZES AND THEN ALSO CAPITALIZES ON THE POTENTIAL THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE TO GROW OUR ECONOMY, ESPECIALLY ONE THAT'S CENTERED ON AGRICULTURE. 
          AND THE DEVELOPMENT OUT THERE IS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN MANY YEARS IN THE MAKING AND I WANT TO THANK THE LEADERSHIP OF AGAIN, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. 
          I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER SEEN HIM THIS HAPPY IN BRINGING SOMETHING TO THE BOARD AND THEN ALSO SUPERVISOR PAREIRA FOR, YOU KNOW, SERVING ON THAT AD HOC COMMITTEE. 
          BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, THE TEAM THAT WORKED ON THIS, I THINK, DESERVES A LOT OF ATTENTION, WHETHER IT'S THE CEO BROWN, WHETHER IT'S MR. HENDRICKSON, MR. MIMMS, BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CRITICISM OVER THE YEARS ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AT CASTLE, WHAT'S HAPPENING AT CASTLE, BUT THEY'VE BEEN STEADFAST IN THEIR BELIEF THAT IT'S GOING TO GET DONE. 
          WE'RE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO KEEP OUR HEADS DOWN AND GET IT DONE. BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY AND THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY. 
          AND I THINK THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL TO NOT ONLY MERCED COUNTY BUT THE REGION. 
          [01:30:05]
AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP. 
          AND LIKE SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SAID, YOU KNOW, IN THE GOING BACK AND FORTH AND, YOU KNOW, HAVING A WIN WIN, I THINK THAT BOTH SIDES. 
          IT WAS REALLY FUN TO SEE HOW BOTH SIDES WERE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL. AND FOR THAT, I THANK YOU GUYS AND I THINK OUR TEAM FOR RECOGNIZING THAT WE AS A BOARD, YOU KNOW, WE SAY IT ALL THE TIME. 
          WE JUST WANT TO GET STUFF DONE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE HERE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SUCCESSFUL. 
          AND THIS WILL, YOU KNOW, HELP CONTINUE TO TURN MERCED COUNTY INTO, YOU KNOW, A DESTINATION AS OPPOSED TO JUST A LOCATION. 
          AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON AND LOOK AT MOVING FORWARD. 
          SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS AND CAN'T WAIT TO SEE, YOU KNOW, THE FUTURE GROWTH. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          BEFORE I TURN TO MY COLLEAGUE, WHO I'M ASSUMING WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION. 
          I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE MORE COMMENTS. 
          ONE IS TO THANK BUD WALLACE. 
          YOU KNOW, HERE AT THE COUNTY, WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ANY RAIL EXPERIENCE OR EXPERTISE. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, SO HE CAME ALONGSIDE AND COACHED OUR TEAM A LITTLE BIT. 
          AND SO I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT. 
          AND THEN THE OTHER POINT THAT I WANT TO MENTION TO FOLKS IS THAT SGMA, THE GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY ACT IS REALLY GOING TO MAYBE COST A FEW JOBS HERE AS WE GO FORWARD AND WE TRY TO GET OUR GROUNDWATER SUBBASIN BALANCED. 
          AND SO, YOU KNOW THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE ONE, THOSE JOBS TO SWITCH TO, YOU KNOW, SIMILAR INDUSTRY STILL GOODS MOVEMENT AND IN PRODUCTION. 
          AND THEN SECONDLY, THIS WILL HELP THE FARM OWNERS, RIGHT, BE ABLE TO GET THEIR PRODUCT TO MARKET MORE EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVE. 
          BUT I'VE GOT A GOOD FRIEND THAT SHIPS FARMING EQUIPMENT ALL OVER THE WORLD. 
          IT'S MANUFACTURED HERE IN MERCED. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, IN THE OLD DAYS HIS TRUCK DRIVER COULD LEAVE MERCED IN THE MORNING. 
          TAKE A LOAD DOWN TO THE PORT OF LONG BEACH OR LOS ANGELES AND AND BE BACK HOME IN THE EVENING. WELL NOW WITH THE RULES AND THE BACKLOG THERE AT THE PORT, YOU KNOW, IT TAKES SOME, YOU KNOW, HE HAS TO STAY OVERNIGHT, RIGHT. 
          AND SO I JUST THINK THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN ADDITION TO THAT IS JUST THIS IS AN AWESOME PROJECT. AND THEN I ALSO WANT TO MAKE MENTION OF BNSF RAILROAD. 
          YOU KNOW, ONE OF OUR VOTES IS TO CANCEL OUR AGREEMENT WITH THEM, AND THAT REALLY IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT WE'VE HAD WITH THEM. 
          IT'S JUST THAT THIS WILL, YOU KNOW, MOVE THAT MANAGEMENT OF THAT TRACK OVER TO PATRIOT RAIL, WHICH WILL IN EFFECT HELP BNSF RAILROAD. 
          AND I THINK THEY'RE ON BOARD WITH THAT. 
          AND SO I JUST WANTED THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT THAT'S A POSITIVE ATTRIBUTE OF BNSF, NOT A NEGATIVE ATTRIBUTE. 
          AND THEY'VE BEEN A GREAT PARTNER THROUGHOUT. 
          AND WITH THAT, I'LL OH, WITH THAT, I WILL CALL ON MR. BROWN. YOU GOT. 
          IT'S ON. OH, GO AHEAD, MR. CHAIR. IF THE BOARD WOULD NOT BE SO INCLINED, THIS IS A SCHEDULED PUBLIC HEARING AND AS MR. HENDRICKSON ALLUDED TO, THERE ARE THREE ITEMS ON YOUR AGENDA. 
          SO IF WHENEVER SOMEONE IS OPEN TO MAKING THE MOTION AND USE THE TRADITIONAL WAY VERBALLY, IF THEY COULD INCLUDE ITEMS 17 AND 18 IN THAT YEAH 17 AND 18 IN THAT MOTION PLEASE. 
          SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. 
          THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. 
          THIS IS WITH GREAT HONOR TO MAKE THIS MOTION AND THERE IS ONE OTHER THANK YOU THAT I WANT TO THROW OUT THERE. 
          AND ACTUALLY, FORMER CONGRESSMAN JEFF DENHAM, EVERYBODY MIGHT LOOK AROUND WHY, BUT HIS LEADERSHIP ON AS CHAIRMAN OF RAIL ACTUALLY HELPED US WITH OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH BNSF, SO THAT HELPED OUT TREMENDOUSLY. 
          IN FACT, THEY WERE AWARE OF IT BEFORE I WAS AWARE OF IT WHEN WE FIRST MET THEM THERE AT THE PORT OF L.A.. SO IT'S WITH GREAT PLEASURE TO MOTION TO FIND THE PROPOSED LEASE AGREEMENT AND RAIL PROJECT CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT UNDER SECTIONS 15301 15302 15303 15304 15305 AND 15311 OF THE CEQA GUIDELINES BASED ON STAFF CEQA ANALYSIS ON THIS ITEM, AND I'D LIKE TO FIND THE CONDITIONS SPECIFIC TO GOVERNMENT CODE 25536.9 SUBDIVISION B HAVE BEEN MET AND APPROVED LEASE AGREEMENT WITH FOSTER TOWNSEND RAIL LOGISTICS LLC FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED FEET OF RAIL TRACK AND LESS THAN ONE ACRE OF ASSOCIATED PROPERTY GENERALLY LOCATED AT THE SOUTH END OF 
          [01:35:02]
CASTLE COMMERCE CENTER WITH THE LEASE TERM OF 20 YEARS AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIR TO EXECUTE THE SET AGREEMENT. 
          AND ALSO, I'D LIKE TO INCLUDE ITEM 17 AND 18 WITHIN OUR AGENDA IN MY MOTION. 
          THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO SEEING NO OTHER REQUEST IN THE QUEUE. 
          I WILL CALL FOR A VOTE. 
          ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. 
          AYE. ANY OPPOSED SAME SIGN. 
          MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          WELL, CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE. 
          [APPLAUSE] OK. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO INVITE MY COLLEAGUES AND MR. FENTON AND YOUR TEAM AND MR. HENDRICKSON TO COME UP. 
          I'D REALLY LIKE TO CAPTURE THIS MOMENT IN A PHOTOGRAPH, SO PLEASE JOIN ME HERE IN FRONT OF THE DAIS. MR. BROWN, YOU TOO. 
          THIS HAS BEEN A OBVIOUSLY A MONUMENTAL EVENT HERE IN MERCED COUNTY, AND I'VE ASKED MR. FENTON FROM PATRIOT RAIL TO MAKE A FEW CLOSING REMARKS. 
          WELL, IT REALLY IS A BIG DAY AND YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN IN TRANSPORTATION 40 YEARS IN MY CAREER. I'VE ALSO BEEN FORTUNATE TO SPEND PART OF MY CAREER HERE IN CALIFORNIA. 
          FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, I WAS PRIVILEGED TO RUN METROLINK AFTER THE CHATSWORTH ACCIDENT. I ALSO BEEN AN OPERATING MANAGER IN CALIFORNIA. 
          I CUT MY TEETH ON RAILROADING IN CALIFORNIA. 
          I HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESPECT FOR THE HONOR THAT YOU BESTOWED UPON US TO HELP THIS COMMUNITY, AND I TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY, AND I TAKE IT VERY PERSONALLY. 
          I GIVE YOU MY WORD WE WILL DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO MAKE THIS SUCH A SUCCESSFUL ENDEAVOR. WORK WITH YOU IN A COLLABORATIVE WAY. 
          REALLY TRY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT'S JUST AS IMPORTANT TO ME TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. AND I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE LEGACY MOMENTS THAT WE CAN ALL INFLUENCE THE FUTURE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS INTO THE FUTURE. 
          AND AGAIN, THIS THE PROFESSIONALISM, THE WAY WE WERE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AND WORK THROUGH ALL THESE ISSUES. 
          AND FOR YOU TRUSTING US TO TAKE ON THIS. 
          I PROMISE YOU, WE'LL DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO MAKE THIS A GREAT, GREAT OUTCOME FOR EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE. AND AGAIN, WE'RE JUST SO HONORED THAT WE'VE BEEN CHOSEN TO DO THIS AND HOPEFULLY WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE FUTURE. 
          AND I THINK BACK ABOUT ONE OTHER AREA THAT WE WATCHED THEM FROM THE TRANSITION TO THE NEW AND TO THIS DAY, THE GROUP THAT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT, THOSE DIRECTIONS IN THAT 
          [01:40:04]
VISION, IT WAS A HIGHLIGHT OF THEIR CAREER. 
          AND I'VE SEEN THE DIFFERENCE THAT CAN BE MADE THROUGH COLLABORATION AND WORK WITH THE LEADERS OF THE COMMUNITIES. 
          AND SO, HEY, WE'RE EXCITED. 
          I THINK IT'S GOING TO MAKE A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE. 
          AND HOW OFTEN DO YOU GET IN YOUR LIFETIME TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES? AND SO JUST THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS. 
          AND JIM, CONGRATULATIONS, YOU KNOW, ON YOUR THIRTY ONE YEARS AND I GOT THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR YOU IN THE SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER AND THAT LOVE THAT'S BEEN POURED OUT FOR YOU THAT IS SOMETHING TO BE REALLY PROUD OF WHEN YOU MAKE THAT KIND OF DIFFERENCE IN YOUR CAREER. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE A PART OF THIS. 
          YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. 
          SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL YEAH. 
          THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN. I DID WANT TO MENTION ONE OTHER THING FOR MAYOR PRO TEM CALE FROM THE CITY OF ATWATER. WE'VE GOT TO REMEMBER THAT WE WILL BE BUILDING A OVERPASS AT SANTA FE WITH THE ATWATER MERCED EXPRESSWAY. 
          AND WE DO IN DISCUSSIONS UP HERE NOW IS A NORTHEAST INTEREST INTO CASTLE. 
          SO WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO KEEP THOSE TRUCKS OFF OF SANTA FE AND TRY TO KEEP THEM ON THE MAIN AREA. SO A LOT OF YOUR STUFF ISN'T GOING WITHOUT BEING HEARD. 
          SO. 
          THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. ALL RIGHT. 
          AND NOW WE WILL RETURN TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING. 
          [CONSENT CALENDAR ]
NEXT IS APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA CALENDAR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 12. 
          PLEASE NOTE ITEMS TWO THROUGH FIVE REQUIRE A FOUR FIFTHS VOTE. 
          THANK YOU. ITEMS 1 THROUGH 12 HAVE BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, WELCOME BACK TO THE MOTIONING AND SECONDING. 
          [LAUGHTER] AND YES, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA. 
          YEAH. ON WHICH ITEM IS IT? ON THE JAIL THE WELL? CAN I GET A QUICK UPDATE BY DANA ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE WELL FOR THE JAIL? GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DANA HERTFELDER, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. THE WELL HAS BEEN DRILLED. 
          IT'S PRETTY MUCH COMPLETE. 
          WE ARE WAITING ON THE CONTRACTOR TO FINISH HOOKING UP THE ELECTRICAL TO THE WELL PUMP. 
          AND ALSO, THERE'S ONE FINAL CONNECTION THEY NEED TO MAKE TO THE BUFFERING TANK, WHICH IS PART OF THE WATER SYSTEM. 
          IT WAS OUR UNDERSTANDING THEY WERE GOING TO GET OUT THERE LAST WEEK AND GET IT DONE. 
          THEY WERE UNABLE TO. 
          WE'RE HOPING THEY'LL BE OUT THERE IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO AND WE CAN FINALLY GET THIS PROJECT COMPLETED. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC KNOWS ABOUT IT. 
          AND WE'RE DOING, LIKE I SAID IN THE PAST DOING THE, YOU KNOW, WITH STAFF SUPPORT AND, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO GET IT QUICK DONE, MAKE SURE THAT THE EVERY INMATE HAS AND PERSON WORKING THERE HAS THE BEST QUALITY OF WATER TO BE ABLE TO BE THERE. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YOU'RE WELCOME. 
          AND NOW I WILL CALL FOR THE VOTE. 
          PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. 
          THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          [BOARD ACTION ]
NEXT IS BOARD ACTION PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS 13 THROUGH 16. 
          PLEASE NOTE, ITEMS 13 AND 16 REQUIRE A FOUR FIFTHS VOTE. 
          ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. 
          SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. 
          THANK YOU CHAIR. JUST WANTED TO. I DON'T KNOW I DON'T WANT TO GET [INAUDIBLE] ITEM 13 DIRECTOR HERTFELDER. THERE WAS SOME COMMENTS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP EARLIER, AND I DON'T WANT TO GET MYSELF IN TROUBLE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE COMMENTS THAT, YOU KNOW, I WOULD HOPE THAT ANYBODY THAT'S DOING BUSINESS IN MERCED COUNTY WOULD PUT A PREMIUM ON HIRING MERCED COUNTY PEOPLE TO COME AND WORK THERE. 
          AND I KNOW THAT'S NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE THAT, YOU KNOW, BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WHETHER IT'S JUST MERCED COUNTY OR IF ITS MERCED COUNTY REGION. 
          YOU KNOW, IF YOU LIVE IN MARIPOSA, WELL, YOU'RE CLOSER TO MARIPOSA FROM HERE THAN YOU ARE TO YOU KNOW, PARTS OF THE WEST SIDE OF THE COUNTY. 
          SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT A REGIONAL AREA, I WOULD HOPE, AND I WOULD JUST THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE MORE BENEFICIAL TO ANY COMPANY, RIGHT. 
          YOU'RE BRINGING IN LOCAL LABOR TO YOUR PROJECTS, PUT A PREMIUM ON THAT. 
          WE TALK ABOUT TRYING TO KEEP BUSINESS LOCAL SPENDING OUR DOLLARS AT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES. 
          I DON'T WANT. AND AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN AT THIS FOR A LONG TIME. 
          [01:45:02]
THESE PROJECTS, THIS JAIL STUFF, YOU'VE GOT GRANT MONEY THAT'S COMING IN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. AND I DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO HAMPER THAT BECAUSE IT'S WE'VE COME TOO FAR AND THE STATE HAS MADE IT VERY CLEAR TO US THAT IF YOU CHANGE WHAT YOUR ORIGINAL SCOPE WHERE YOU CHANGE ANYTHING ON THIS, YOU'RE BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND WE'VE COME TOO FAR TO DO THAT. 
          BUT I WOULD JUST WOULD HOPE THAT YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GOING TO SAY BECAUSE I CAN'T REQUIRE IT AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I COULD REQUIRE AT THIS POINT IN THE PROCESS. 
          BUT I WANT TO PUT OUT THERE THAT AND I'LL TELL YOU THAT I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU'RE PUTTING PREFERENCE ON HIRING OUR LOCAL FOLKS FIRST, IF FOR NO OTHER REASON, IT MAKES BUSINESS SENSE TO BRING SOMEBODY IN LOCALLY VERSUS BRINGING SOMEBODY FROM OUT OF THE AREA. 
          AND THAT'S WHAT MY COMMENTS ARE. 
          THANK YOU, CHAIR. IN RESPONSE TO WE ENCOURAGE ALL THE COMPANIES THAT DO WORK FOR US IN MERCED COUNTY TO HIRE LOCAL LABOR, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. 
          YOU KNOW, IT GENERALLY IS JUST MORE EFFECTIVE. 
          IT'S CHEAPER, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BRING PEOPLE IN FROM THE OUTSIDE. 
          WITH THAT SAID, WE ARE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THE PUBLIC CONTRACT CODE AND THOSE REQUIREMENTS. IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE CAN GENERALLY REQUIRE FROM THE CONTRACTOR, BUT IT IS SOMETHING WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE. 
          THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. 
          MR. BROWN. OH, MR. BROWN, MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS OF BOARD, JUST TO ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON MR. HERTFELDER. AS YOU'VE HEARD, MR. HERTFELDER, AS FAR AS THE REQUIREMENTS PIECE, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE BOARD TO SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA'S COMMENT. 
          I KNOW I'VE ALREADY HAD A CONVERSATION, AND I INCLUDED MR. MENDEZ IN THAT CONVERSATION LAST WEEK WITH THE GROUP OR CONSULTANT THAT WE'RE USING RELATED TO LABOR AND, YOU KNOW, TO THESE CONCERNS. 
          AND SO THERE HAS BEEN RECEPTIVENESS FROM THAT SIDE IN, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE FOCUSING ON THE LOCAL AREA. 
          WE CAN'T COMMIT. WE CAN'T REQUIRE. 
          BUT I KNOW WE'VE I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW WE HAVE ALREADY STEPPED OUT AND TRIED TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND HAVE STARTED IT. 
          THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. 
          IT'S BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS. I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. 
          PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. 
          THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          NEXT IS COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ITEM NUMBER 19. 
          OK. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS. I GOT A COMMENT. 
          OH OK, GO AHEAD. 
          IT WAS ON [INAUDIBLE] OK. 
          WELL, I HAVE SOME CONCERNS REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE AND AFTER READING A LITTLE BIT MORE AND WE GOT SOME EMAILS REGARDING, YOU KNOW, THE EAST TURLOCK GSA, YOU KNOW, AND THEN THEY'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT, YOU KNOW, STANISLAUS COUNTY AND OTHER COUNTIES HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS OF GOING AROUND IT. 
          AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, OF USING THE WORD STANISLAUS COUNTY IS BEING THE PROCESS IS GOING TO GO THROUGH THEM. 
          AND I THINK THAT THEY'RE ASKING IF WE CAN DELAY THIS. 
          I DON'T THINK DELAYING IT WOULD CAUSE ANY ISSUES. 
          I KNOW THAT A LOT OF SOME FARMERS MIGHT WANT TO BE DRILLING WELLS, BUT AND I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT. YOU KNOW, WHOEVER, IF GSA IS FOR SOME REASON, I KNOW THAT THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE, YOU KNOW, FOLLOWING THE STATE LAW ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHETHER TO PUMP MORE THAN IF THERE IN AN EXTREME SHORTAGE IN A CERTAIN GSA OR THE BASIN, IF IT'S AN EXTREME SHORTAGE OF GROUNDWATER, THAT IF TOO MANY PERMITS ARE ISSUED BY GSA, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE UNDER EXTREME SHORTAGE, THAT THEY'RE STILL GOING TO BE ALLOWED TO BE GRANTED A WELL PERMIT. AND THEN THEY'LL COME TO THE COUNTY AND IF THE COUNTY WILL ISSUE THE WELL DEPENDING ON WHETHER THE GSA ALLOWED THEM TO GET THE PERMIT IF IT WAS OK. 
          I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THESE NEW WELLS PUMPING, THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO PUMP MORE WATER, PUTTING MORE PRESSURE AND MORE AGGRIEVANCE ON THE BASIN OR CERTAIN AREAS OF THE BASIN. [INAUDIBLE] GSA THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT SOME PEOPLE WON'T CARE ABOUT 
          [01:50:04]
PUMPING TOO MUCH AND IT'S GOING TO BENEFIT. 
          EVENTUALLY, IT'S GOING TO BENEFIT THE BIG FARMERS OR BUSINESSES THAT PUMP TOO MUCH INSTEAD OF ALLOW THE SMALL FARMERS OR SMALL BUSINESSES. 
          AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY, YOU KNOW, REDUCING OR HAVING TO REDO THEIR WELLS AND MAKE IT WHAT THEY HAVE TO COME BACK AND GET ANOTHER PERMIT TO LOWER THEIR WELLS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW THAT GSA OR THE BASIN'S CAN BE WORSE OFF. 
          SO I THINK THAT EVENTUALLY IN THE FUTURE, THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE LOSSES AGAINST PUTTING ONE GSA AGAINST EACH OTHER. 
          AND YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS ORDINANCE WILL CERTAINLY BE AFFECTING EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, IN OUR COUNTY. 
          AND YOU KNOW, WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS I REPRESENT AREAS THAT ARE BOTH URBAN AND THOSE THAT ARE RURAL, INCLUDING THE AREAS OF LIVINGSTON AND OTHER COMMUNITIES WHICH HAVE SIGNIFICANT GROUNDWATER ISSUES. 
          WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE IN PLACE FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND I AM CONCERNED WE MAY SEE A RUSH OF PEOPLE WANTING TO NEW PERMITS TO DRILL WELLS ONCE THE AMENDMENT IS PASSED, THE CHANGE IN THIS AMENDMENT WILL ABSOLVE THE COUNTY FROM DETERMINING WHETHER A WELL CAN BE INSTALLED. 
          THE AMENDMENT DOES THUS PROVIDE DIRECTION ABOUT THE [INAUDIBLE] AND WHETHER THERE IS A NEED FOR A LEAD AGENCIES, RESPONSIBLE AGENCIES, ET CETERA. 
          I MEAN, WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT THESE ISSUES. 
          THERE'S GOING TO BE A HUGE INCREASE IN PUMPING IN RURAL AREAS, LIKE I SAID, AS ARE MORE URBAN AREAS THAT WILL FURTHER HARM THE WATER QUALITY IN OUR URBAN AREAS AND MERCED COUNTY, WHICH AGAIN, THEY ARE ALREADY FACING SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES. 
          ALSO, I'D LIKE STAFF TO EXPLAIN HOW OTHER COUNTIES WITHIN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY ARE HANDLING THIS ISSUE SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE THE MOST WISE DECISIONS POSSIBLE. 
          AND I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD DO A SINGLE PROGRAMMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR OUR WELL PERMITTING THAT ADDRESSES THE ENTIRE COUNTY. 
          WILL THIS TAKE MORE TIME? YES, IT IS WORTH OUR TIME TO GET IT RIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE LIVING IN OUR COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY THE QUALITY OF THEIR WATER AND ESPECIALLY THEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN. 
          I THINK IT'S WORTH THE TIME. 
          SO THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. 
          YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. 
          COULD STAFF PLEASE COME UP AND ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS? MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AGAIN MARK HENDRICKSON, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I'M ALMOST ALL TALKED OUT TODAY, BUT I'M GOING TO DO MY BEST. 
          THE SUPERVISOR RAISES A NUMBER OF GOOD POINTS. 
          MR. MAXEY IS GOING TO PROVIDE SOME SPECIFIC BACKGROUND AND RESPONSES. 
          THAT BEING SAID, I DO WANT TO GO BACK A LITTLE BIT IN TIME BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KIND OF TALK ABOUT HOW WE GOT HERE. 
          YOU KNOW, THE BOARD ADOPTED ITS GROUNDWATER MINING AND EXPORT ORDINANCE BACK IN MARCH OF 2015 AS A BRIDGE SOLUTION, UNTIL WHICH TIME THE GSA'S WERE ESTABLISHED AND GSP'S WERE IMPLEMENTED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AS REQUIRED BY SGMA. 
          STAFF HAS UNDERTAKEN SEVERAL BRIEFINGS AND OBVIOUSLY PRESENTATIONS TO THE BOARD OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND PRESENTED THE BOARD IN NOVEMBER ON 2021 TO THIS VERY ISSUE, CONTENDING THAT SINCE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT BY THE GSA'S WAS UNDERWAY, THE TIMING WAS APPROPRIATE TO DO EXACTLY WHAT THE BOARD ENVISIONED, WHICH WAS TO TRANSITION THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO THE GSA'S, AS WAS ORIGINALLY ENVISIONED. 
          TO THIS END, THE BOARD DID GIVE STAFF DIRECTION TO PROCEED WITH THE ORDINANCE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR ADOPTION TODAY WITH AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF MAY 1ST, AGAIN GIVING THEM MORE TIME TO BE PREPARED. 
          AS THE BOARD IS ALSO WELL AWARE, STAFF HAS UNDERTAKEN SIGNIFICANT OUTREACH EFFORTS WITH EVERY SINGLE GSA. 
          IN SOME CASES DATING BACK TO LATE 2020. 
          THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, I DO HEAR THE SUPERVISOR AND HIS CONCERNS LOUD AND CLEAR AND THROUGH THE CHAIR TO THE BOARD MEMBER MR. MAX IS GOING TO WALK YOU THROUGH A HANDFUL OF RESPONSES, HOPEFULLY TO PROVIDE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF COMFORT. YOU KNOW, THE BOARD HAD THREE OPTIONS THAT WE PRESENTED TO IT. 
          ONE OF WHICH WAS TO HAVE KIND OF AN ORDERLY TRANSITION OF RESPONSIBILITY FROM US TO THEM, AS THIS IS ACTUALLY THEIR FUNCTION. 
          THE GSA'S ROLE IN RESPONSIBILITY TO MANAGE GROUNDWATER WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE AREAS. 
          AND SO THE STAFF ULTIMATELY WILL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO YOU TODAY TO WANT TO AGAIN FIND THAT THE ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE EXEMPT UNDER CEQA PURSUANT TO SECTION 15061. 
          AND ULTIMATELY, WE'RE VERY HOPEFUL THAT YOU WILL ADOPT THE ORDINANCE. 
          BUT AGAIN, I WANT TO GIVE MR. MAXEY AN OPPORTUNITY JUST REAL QUICK TO TO WALK SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA YOU THROUGH YOU KNOW CONCERNS THAT YOU'VE RAISED, ALL OF WHICH ARE LEGITIMATE. 
          AND SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND REALLY WANT TO THANK THIS BOARD FOR ITS TIME AND ITS EFFORT AND ITS LEADERSHIP, HELPING US CRAFT THE PRODUCT THAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY. 
          THAT BEING SAID I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MR. MAXEY. MORNING, AFTERNOON, AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, STEVE MAXEY, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PLANNING FOR THE COUNTY. 
          TO SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA'S QUESTIONS AND I GUESS CONCERNS ABOUT NEW WELLS MAYBE PUMPING MORE WATER. REALLY, THE GSA'S ARE GOING TO KNOW BEST, RIGHT? 
          [01:55:04]
AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO WITH THE ORDINANCE THAT'S PROPOSED IN FRONT OF THE BOARD AND AS MR. HENDRICKSON JUST MENTIONED GSA'S HAVE THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO REGULATE GROUNDWATER EXTRACTION AND REGULATE GROUNDWATER UNDER SGMA. 
          THAT'S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. 
          SO TO SAY THAT THE COUNTY SHOULD TAKE ON ANY KIND OF ROLE IN PREPARING, CONDUCTING, OVERSEEING, MAINTAINING, MONITORING, REPORTING ANY KIND OF ANALYSIS THAT THEY'RE THEN GOING TO USE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THEIR PLANS IS REALLY TANTAMOUNT TO THEM STEPPING AWAY FROM THAT RESPONSIBILITY. 
          YOU KNOW THAT AGAIN, THE GSA'S KNOW BEST. 
          AND SO UNDER OUR CURRENT ORDINANCE, THAT KIND OF ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH THAT I'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE DOESN'T GIVE THE BEST CONSIDERATION TO EACH OF THE GSA'S VARIOUS CHALLENGES THEIR DIFFERENT GOALS, THEIR DIFFERENT IMPLEMENTATION PLANS, HOW THEY WANT TO GO ABOUT IMPLEMENTING. 
          SO AGAIN, THAT ONE SIZE FITS ALL IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO KIND OF GET AWAY FROM AND GIVE THAT DISCRETION AND MAKE SURE THAT THE GSA'S ARE ABLE AND ARE TAKING ON THAT RESPONSIBILITY UNDER SGMA. 
          WITH REGARD TO THE LETTERS AND SOME OF THE DISCUSSION AROUND CEQA THAT THE BOARD HAD RECEIVED YESTERDAY, BOTH OF THE LETTERS FOCUSED ON COMPLIANCE WITH THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT, OR CEQA. 
          AND THEN THE ROLE OF THE GSA'S WITHIN THAT CEQA COMPLIANCE. 
          AND I WANT TO REPEAT REALLY WHAT I COVERED DURING THE FIRST HEARING OR THE FIRST READING OF THIS ORDINANCE, AND AS WELL AS THE INITIAL READING WHERE THE BOARD GAVE DIRECTION. 
          AND THEN REALLY WHAT WE'VE COVERED WITH THE GSA'S OVER THE LAST 13 MONTHS, THE ORDINANCE AND THE WAY THAT IT'S CONSTRUCTED TODAY, THE COUNTY WOULD LOOK AT FOUR WELLS WITHIN GSA'S. WE WOULD LOOK AT WELL CONSTRUCTION ONLY THE COUNTY WOULD SERVE AS THE LEAD AGENCY FOR WELL CONSTRUCTION ONLY. 
          WE'D ONLY CONSIDER THE INSTALLATION, THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE WELL. 
          WE WOULDN'T LOOK AT EXTRACTION OR ANALYZING A WELL PROJECT UNDER ANY KIND OF PROCESS THAT WOULD INVOLVE DISCRETION FROM STAFF AND IS THEREFORE ACTUALLY CONSIDERED A MINISTERIAL PROJECT THAT'S EXEMPT FROM CEQA ALTOGETHER. 
          THAT'S WHAT THE COUNTY IS STEPPING INTO THE LEAD AGENCY ROLE FOR. 
          IN THE CASE OF WHETHER THAT MEANS GSA'S WOULD NEED TO, OR IN THE INSTANCE OF ONE LETTER, THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THEY CAN STEP INTO ANY KIND OF CEQA ANALYSIS ON THEIR OWN AS THE LEAD AGENCY. I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT DWR CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES HAS SEEMINGLY MADE THAT CLEAR IN THEIR CEQA FILINGS WITH THE STATE CLEARINGHOUSE, WHERE THEY STATE AND I'LL QUOTE DIRECTLY FROM THEIR FILING THAT DWR EXPECTS GSA'S WILL SATISFY ANY APPLICABLE CEQA OBLIGATIONS WHEN APPROVING OR CARRYING OUT PROJECTS AS PART OF GSP IMPLEMENTATION. SO WE HAVE A STATE AGENCY LOOKING DIRECTLY AT WHAT GSA'S MAY BE ABLE TO DO OR SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO UNDER CEQA AND HERE LOCALLY TO GET TO WHAT WE SEE THROUGHOUT THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY. WE CAN SEE THAT HAPPENING IN WEST TURLOCK, WHERE THAT GSA IS TAKING UP THE RESPONSIBILITY AS A LEAD AGENCY ON THEIR OWN AND PREPARING A PROGRAMMATIC EIR FOR THEIR GSA ALONE. 
          AGAIN, THEY KNOW BEST, THEY KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO NEED TO LOOK AT THEIR OR ANALYZE THEIR THE DATA THAT THEY HAVE AVAILABLE AND THEN IMPLEMENT THAT IN THE LONG RUN. 
          I WANT TO REITERATE THAT KEEPING THIS ORDINANCE ULTIMATELY PROVIDES A TOOL FOR THE GSA'S AND IMPLEMENTING THEIR PLANS AND THEIR POLICIES. 
          AND IT ALSO PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CUSTOMERS TO GAIN A COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THEY MIGHT BE AFFECTED BY FUTURE GROUNDWATER REGULATION THROUGH THE GSA'S WELL BEFORE THEY GO THROUGH THE FINANCIAL EXPENSE OF OF DRILLING A NEW WELL. 
          AND SO THE ISSUE RAISED BY GSA IS OF HAVING TO ACT AS A LEAD IN ESTABLISHING THOSE POLICIES RELATED TO WELL INSTALLATION OR GROUNDWATER EXTRACTION IS NOT UNIQUE TO GSA'S IN MERCED COUNTY. YOU CAN GO UP AND DOWN THE STATE AND THERE ARE GSA'S THAT ARE CURRENTLY WORKING THROUGH HOW TO REGULATE WELLS OR ACT AS A LEAD AGENCY IN COUNTIES WHERE THERE'S NO WELL PROHIBITION IN PLACE LIKE WE HAVE HERE. 
          AND TO THE POINT OF ONE LETTER, THEY'RE DOING SO WITH LIMITED DATA, OR THEY'RE FIGURING OUT HOW TO GET THAT DATA IN THE NEAR TERM. 
          TO THE POINT OF THE PROGRAMMATIC EIR. 
          AND BOTH OF THE LETTERS REFERENCED STANISLAUS COUNTY, WHETHER THE COUNTY WERE TO HAVE A ROLE IN PREPARING A PROGRAMMATIC EIR AGAIN, THAT COULD BE SOMETHING TAKEN UP INDIVIDUALLY BY ANY GSA THAT WANTED TO. 
          AND IT'S PROBABLY A BETTER APPROACH, BECAUSE AGAIN, IT'S NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL, IF WE WERE TO COME UP WITH A ONE SIZE FITS ALL PROGRAMMATIC DOCUMENT TO FIT EVERY GSA IN THE COUNTY, WE'RE AGAIN THE COUNTY WOULD BE TAKING ON THAT RESPONSIBILITY OF HAVING TO RECONCILE ALL OF THOSE GOALS OR DIFFERENT CHALLENGES THAT EACH GSA MIGHT HAVE TO CONSIDER 
          [02:00:07]
. NOT ONLY DURING THE DRAFTING OF THE EIR, BUT ALSO IN THE 20 YEAR TIME HORIZON OF EACH GSP. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTY AGAIN APPLYING THAT ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH TO IS NOT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF EACH OF THOSE GSA'S. 
          AND THEN STANISLAUS COUNTY IS FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT JUST TO WHAT WAS DISCUSSED IN A COUPLE OF THOSE LETTERS. 
          STANISLAUS COUNTY DECIDED TO TAKE ON A DISCRETIONARY ROLE IN PREPARING A PROGRAMMATIC EIR WITH A FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR GRANT BACK IN 2016. 
          THAT WAS A CHOICE THAT THE COUNTY MADE AT THAT POINT IN TIME BASED ON THEIR ORDINANCE AND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY WERE EXPERIENCING UNIQUE TO THAT COUNTY. 
          AND THEY'VE CARRIED THAT FORWARD TO TODAY, AND THAT'S PART OF THE REGULATORY SCHEME. 
          WE ACTUALLY JUST HEARD THROUGH OR DURING A MEETING THIS WEEK THAT THAT PROCESS IN STANISLAUS COUNTY TAKES A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO WORK THROUGH AND LOOK AT EACH AND EVERY WELL ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS BECAUSE IT'S GOING FROM THE COUNTY TO THE GSA BEING WEIGHED AGAINST THIS PROGRAMMATIC EIR. 
          SO IT IS A LESS CUSTOMER FRIENDLY APPROACH. 
          AND THEN JUST ONE LAST POINT JUST TO KIND OF HIT ALL THE POINTS IN THE LETTERS HERE. 
          SORRY FOR TAKING UP SO MUCH TIME. 
          THERE WAS ONE COMMENT ON HOW THE COUNTY WILL CONSIDER DOMESTIC DE MINIMIS WELLS. 
          AND AGAIN, THE PROPOSED APPROACH HERE. 
          WE'VE SHARED THIS AT LENGTH WITH THE GSA'S OVER THE PAST YEAR PLUS, THE COUNTY WILL CONTINUE TO SHARE ALL OF OUR AVAILABLE WELL INFORMATION ON EACH AND EVERY DOMESTIC DE MINIMIS WELL, AND THEN OF COURSE, AS WE GO FORWARD INTO UPDATING OUR GENERAL PLANS, WE'LL INVOLVE THE GSA'S. 
          THAT'S A STATE LAW REQUIREMENT NOW THAT WE, AS THE COUNTY HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR GSAS ARE INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS. SO I THINK I'VE HIT ALL THE POINTS OF THE LETTER. 
          IF I HAVEN'T ANSWERED ANY PART OF YOUR QUESTION, I'M HAPPY TO DO SO OR ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD. WELL, YEAH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR INFORMATION. 
          LIKE I SAY, I'M JUST CONCERNED AND ESPECIALLY FOR, LIKE I SAID, DOMESTIC WELLS AND SMALL FARMERS WILL BE AFFECTED SUBSTANTIALLY IF GSAS ARE ALLOWED TO GIVE OUT TOO MANY WELL PERMITS. 
          YOU KNOW, MOST OF MERCED COUNTY IS AN EXTREME SHORTAGE. 
          SO I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS THAT FOR THE SMALL FARMERS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE BIG FARMERS, I'M NOT SAYING THEY DON'T CARE, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE AND BUSINESS IS BUSINESS AND THEY'RE JUST MOVING FORWARD. AND IT'S GOING TO AFFECT A LOT OF THE DOMESTIC WELLS. 
          AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE DOMESTIC WELLS JUST HAVE A, YOU KNOW, A SMALL ONE ACRE, FIVE ACRE, 10 ACRE PARCELS AND THEY'RE BARELY SURVIVING. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR COMMENTS. 
          I GUESS JUST TO ADD ON ONE OTHER THING, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE OPTIONS THAT WE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD WAS A FULL REPEAL OF THE ORDINANCE, AS IT IS TODAY. 
          AND IN THAT SITUATION, I WOULD AGREE. 
          I THINK THAT WOULD CAUSE A RUN OR A KIND OF A BIG SLUG OF NEW WELL PERMITS BEING ISSUED BECAUSE THERE'D BE NO REVIEW OR CONSIDERATION BY THOSE GSA'S. 
          THE GSA'S ALSO WOULDN'T HAVE THE INFORMATION IN FRONT OF THEM OF ALL THESE NEW WELLS COMING THROUGH LIKE THEY WOULD UNDER THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE. 
          SO THERE'S MORE CONSIDERATION THAT'S GIVEN BY EACH OF THE GSA'S AS PART OF THIS. 
          AGAIN, THEY KNOW BEST, THEY KNOW HOW TO MAKE THOSE SUSTAINABILITY DECISIONS AND COMPLY WITH THEIR GSP. SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, I THINK, AS PROPOSED, A FAR BETTER APPROACH TO ENSURING THAT THERE'S A LONG TERM COMPLIANCE WITH THE GSP'S VERSUS A FULL REPEAL OF THE ORDINANCE, WHICH IS GOING TO AGAIN KIND OF GIVE THAT RUN OF NEW WELLS. 
          OK, THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. 
          THANK YOU, CHAIR, THE WAY I READ IT, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S JUST THE OPPOSITE, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, IF THE GSA WASN'T MAKING THE DECISION, WE COULD GO FULL FOURTH, AND SAY, YEAH, YOU CAN HAVE A WELL. 
          AND THEN AFTER THEY PAY FOR ALL THEIR PERMITTING AND EVERYTHING TO GET DONE, THE GSA WOULD SAY, NO, YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR PERMIT OR YOU CAN'T HAVE A WELL. 
          SO I THINK IT'S YOU CAN'T PUMP. 
          YEAH. SO I THINK THAT THIS ACTUALLY RIGHTS THE CART. 
          IT PUTS IT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT ULTIMATELY THE GSA IT'S NOT THAT I AGREE WITH THIS BY ANY MEANS BECAUSE IT'S ANOTHER APPOINTED BOARD MAKING DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF EVERYBODY ELSE. BUT THIS IS MORE SPECIFIC TO THOSE AREAS. 
          BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK THIS ACTUALLY AND REFLECTIVE IN THE DOCUMENT YOU GUYS HAVE TAKEN ALL OF OUR CONSIDERATIONS AND AND PUT IT IN THERE. 
          SO I THINK IT ACTUALLY RIGHTS THE CART. 
          IT PUTS THE END USERS IN A BETTER SITUATION TO BE ABLE TO PUMP THE WATER ONCE THEY HAVE THE WELL, IF THEY GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS. 
          SO THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YOU'RE WELCOME. 
          ANY OTHER COMMENTS? 
          [02:05:07]
OK, THERE YOU GO. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MR. MAXEY SO IF THIS ORDINANCE OR TO THIS CHANGE OF THE ORDINANCE WERE TO PASS, IF I WANTED TO PUT A WELL IN, I WOULD HAVE TO GET APPROVAL FROM MY GSA. 
          WE WOULDN'T PUT THE DE MINIMIS WELLS AS THE ONES FOR LIKE FOR, YOU KNOW, LESS THAN TWO ACRE FEET A YEAR FOR RESIDENTIAL THOSE HAVE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES. 
          BUT IF I WANTED TO GO PUT AN AGRICULTURE WELL IN, I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE PERMITTING PROCESS THROUGH MERCED COUNTY IF THE GSA DIDN'T SIGN OFF ON IT. 
          AM I CORRECT IN SAYING THAT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE AREAS THAT ARE NOT IN THE GSA? CORRECT? IN A GENERAL SENSE, YES. 
          THE WAY THAT THE ORDINANCE IS CRAFTED, WELLS ARE EXEMPT. 
          WELLS WITHIN GSA'S ARE EXEMPT FROM THE WELL PROHIBITION IN THE ORDINANCE. 
          IF A GSA HAS ISSUED SOME SORT OF, I WON'T USE THE WORD CONCURRENCE OR CONSISTENCY DETERMINATION, BUT THEY'VE AT LEAST REVIEWED THE WELL. 
          THEY'VE REVIEWED IT AND SOMEHOW CHECKED OFF ON IT, SIGNED OFF ON IT, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, RIGHT. OKAY, PERFECT. 
          AND I THINK THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS THING FOR MONTHS. 
          I WANT TO COMMEND YOU GUYS ON THE OUTREACH LACEY ON THE OUTREACH THAT YOU GUYS DID. 
          I KNOW THAT YOU TALKED TO THE FOLKS IN THE GSA'S OUT IN MY AREA ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, LETTING THEM KNOW WHERE THIS WAS GOING. 
          AND IT REALLY PUTS THE DECISION, WHETHER THEY WANT IT OR NOT, WHETHER THEY THINK THEY'RE READY FOR IT OR NOT. 
          IT PUTS IT IN THE BEST PLACE. 
          IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY KNOW WATER THAT LIVE AND BREATHE THIS STUFF EVERY DAY. 
          WE'RE ACTUALLY PUTTING THAT KIND OF THAT DECISION. 
          AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT OTHER OTHER COUNTIES ARE DOING, FRESNO COUNTY IS, YOU CAN JUST WALK UP AND GO GET ONE. 
          I CAN GO RIGHT NOW AND JUST GO SUBMIT FOR MY APPLICATION IN FRESNO COUNTY TO GET A WELL, THAT'S IT'S ABOUT AS HOW SIMPLE IT IS. 
          I ACTUALLY AM A PART OF ON THE PARTNERSHIP FOR THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY OF THE KIND OF FORMER CHAIR OF THE WATER WORKING GROUP. 
          AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT AS WE HAVE THIS, KIND OF BEST PRACTICES SUBGROUP OF THAT COMMITTEE, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT IS JUST LIKE REALLY NOW WITH SGMA AND GSA'S AND GSP'S ALL BEING A PART OF THIS THING, TALKING TO THE PERMITTING AGENCY, THAT'S WHAT THE COUNTY IS, IS THAT THE PERMITTING AGENCY LIKE WE, WE DETERMINE LIKE WHETHER OR NOT IT'S NEAR A SEPTIC TANK, HOW MANY FEET IT'S BACK FROM HERE. 
          THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING AND REALLY MAKING SURE THAT GOOD CLEAN WELLS ARE AND WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, CONTAMINATING AND ALL THAT. 
          BUT PART OF THAT WORKING GROUP IS TO REALLY LIKE, WHAT ARE THE BEST PRACTICES? SO THAT KIND OF FIGURE OUT, WE'RE NOT NOBODY IS REINVENTING THE WHEEL. 
          THIS IS THE EIGHT VALLEY COUNTIES ON, YOU KNOW, YOU MAKING SURE LIKE HOW DO YOU HAVE THAT SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES? HOW DO WE MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR THOSE GSA'S TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH US AND SHARING INFORMATION? SO I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE CURRENT ORDINANCE. 
          I KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE LOOKED AT THIS THING BACK IN NOVEMBER. 
          I THINK IT WAS. AND THEN WE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS AN EARLIER MAYBE START DATE, AND I KNOW ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES HAD SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE COULD PUSH IT BACK, GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME. I WASN'T OPPOSED TO THAT. 
          AND IF YOU COULD REFRESH MY MEMORY. 
          MR. MAXEY ON WHEN THIS WOULD GO INTO EFFECT. 
          MAY 1ST. MAY 1ST. 
          OK. SO IT STILL GIVES THEM EVEN ADDITIONAL TIME BEING THAT WE'RE ONLY ON FEBRUARY THE 8TH TO REALLY PREPARE FOR IT. 
          AND SO I'VE OBVIOUSLY SECONDED THE MOTION AND I'M IN FAVOR OF MOVING THIS FORWARD AND MOVING ON TO TAKE ON THE NEXT BIG THING. 
          OK. ALL RIGHT. 
          I SEE NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. 
          I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE . AND THE MOTION CARRIES FOUR TO ONE. 
          PLEASURE OF THE BOARD. 
          NEXT IS AUDITOR ITEM 20. 
          ALL RIGHT IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. 
          SEEING NO DISCUSSION, I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. 
          PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          NEXT IS ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ITEM 21. 
          [02:10:07]
ITEM 21 HAS BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. 
          SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. 
          PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. 
          THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          NEXT IS HUMAN RESOURCES ITEM 22. 
          IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA. 
          SEEING NO DISCUSSION, I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. 
          PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. 
          THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          NEXT, IS EXECUTIVE OFFICE ITEMS 23 AND 24. 
          THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SO ITEM 23, I JUST WANT I HAD A COUPLE OF BRIEF COMMENTS ON IT. 
          SO THIS ITEM GOES BACK TO WHEN THE COUNTY USED TO BE IN THE HOSPITAL BUSINESS AND THEN WE GOT OUT IN DIGNITY, WHICH IS MERCY NOW CAME IN AND TOOK OVER. 
          THERE WAS BASICALLY A PERFORMANCE AS A PERFORMANCE BOND IS WHAT I'M GOING TO CALL IT, RIGHT. AND SO THEY HAD TO PUT MONEY ASIDE IN CASE OF LIKE THEY COMPLETELY JUST DIDN'T DO IF THEY DID A BAD JOB AND WE HAD TO HIRE SOMEBODY ELSE TO COME IN. 
          AND THAT MONEY SAT IN ESCROW FOR A LOT OF YEARS, AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO SIT THERE UNTIL THE AGREEMENT WAS ENDED. 
          BUT IT WAS KIND OF A DEAL WHERE WE BOTH HAD TO SIGN OFF ON IT, MEANING THE COUNTY HAD TO SIGN OFF AND SAY THAT THEY COULD HAVE THEIR MONEY BACK. 
          IF MY FRIENDS OVER AT MERCY ARE LISTENING, I WOULD SURELY HOPE THAT YOU KNOW THAT MONEY GOT PARKED, AND I'M GOING TO ASK THE CEO TO SHARE WITH US HOW MUCH THAT MONEY ACTUALLY IS. BUT IT'S BEEN SITTING THERE AND IT'S BEEN GAINING INTEREST. 
          AND YOU KNOW, THEY WANT THE MONEY. 
          AND I WOULD I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO, IS TO, YOU KNOW, REINVEST THAT MONEY LOCALLY. 
          THOSE ARE LOCAL TAXPAYER DOLLARS. 
          I MEAN, I KNOW THEY HAD TO PUT IT UP, BUT YOU KNOW, IT GOT INVESTED HERE. 
          I THINK THIS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD TO THEM, AND I JUST WOULD HOPE THAT I MEAN, IT'S GAINED A LITTLE, AT LEAST MINIMALLY THE INTEREST REINVEST THAT BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITY. BUT YOU KNOW, THERE IS NO MECHANISM IN THE AGREEMENT THAT WE CAN FORCE ANYBODY TO DO THAT. BUT I COULD ASK THEM OUT OF THE KINDNESS OF THEIR HEARTS TO REALLY THINK ABOUT REINVESTING THAT MONEY BACK INTO MERCED COUNTY AND MR. BROWN, IF WOULDN'T MIND SHARING WITH US HOW MUCH EXACTLY THAT IS. 
          MR. BROWN. 
          THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, IN RESPONSE TO SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. 
          IT IS ABOUT PLUS OR MINUS 9 AND A HALF MILLION AT THIS TIME, WITH THE INTEREST THAT'S ACCRUED OVER THE PERIOD OF TIME. 
          AND JUST FOR THE BOARD'S BENEFIT, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. I THINK ALL OF YOU, WE'VE KEPT YOU UP, KEEP YOU IN TUNE OF HOW THEY'RE GOING. 
          WITH MR. KASSIS HIM AND I HAD HAD, YOU KNOW, PRESIDENT OF THE HOSPITAL. 
          HIM AND I HAD NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS RELATED TO HOW CAN WE BE ABLE TO AT LEAST RETAIN SOME OF THIS FUNDING LOCALLY, WHETHER IT'S TO A VARIETY OF ISSUES ALL THE WAY FROM THE HOMELESS TO, YOU KNOW, THE JUST VARIETY OF THINGS WE'VE TRIED TO, YOU KNOW. 
          BUT AGAIN, THE CURRENT HOSPITAL UNDER THEIR CORPORATE STRUCTURE HAS AGAIN HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE. BUT I JUST WANT TO WE'VE MADE AN EFFORT, BUT WE WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL AS FAR AS TRYING TO. AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, IT IS THEIR MONEY UNDER THE OPERATING AGREEMENT THAT'S BEEN GONE AWAY. 
          AND SO AT THIS POINT, WE DO NEED TO CLOSE THIS OUT, AND THE TRUSTEE HAS ASKED US FOR THIS ACTION FROM THE BOARD. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. 
          THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I DID WANT TO TOUCH ON ITEM NUMBER TWENTY FOUR. 
          THIS IS A BIG DEAL, ACTUALLY. 
          WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE THE DESIGNATION OF DEPUTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER SOMMER MONIZ. 
          THE PRIMARY REPRESENTATION OF PRISM TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. 
          JIM BROWN WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN THE FORMATION OF THIS GROUP. 
          HE IS PROBABLY THE LONGEST LASTING SERVING PERSON ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, AND WE KNOW HE WAS VERY, VERY DEDICATED TO THIS. 
          SO NOT TO SCARE YOU OFF OR ANYTHING OR UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE BIG SHOULDERS TO CARRY A BIG LOAD. 
          BUT JIM BROWN DID A VERY GOOD JOB IN THIS COMMITTEE, AND WE ALWAYS LOOK TO HIM FOR THAT LEADERSHIP MADE MERCED COUNTY BETTER OFF BECAUSE OF IT. 
          THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YOU'RE WELCOME. 
          SO THESE TWO ITEMS HAVE BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. 
          [02:15:05]
PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          NEXT IS BOARD REPORTS. 
          WE'LL START WITH SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. 
          YES, SIR. 
          THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. 
          JUST A COUPLE THINGS THAT I WANT TO REPORT ON, I DID HAVE A COFFEE WITH MY CONSTITUENTS OUT IN DOS PALOS OUT IT WAS ON SATURDAY AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK THEM FOR COMING OUT. 
          AND YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HEAR FROM LIKE, BASICALLY, I CALL BOOTS ON THE GROUND, YOU KNOW, AS MUCH AS I WOULD LOVE TO BE IN EVERY SQUARE INCH OF MY DISTRICT ON A DAILY BASIS THAT'S JUST NOT HUMANLY POSSIBLE. 
          AND SO WHEN I GET TO HEAR FROM FOLKS, YOU KNOW, AND YOU GET A LOT OF TIMES, I KNOW YOU'RE BUSY, I KNOW, BUT IT'S NO REALLY, THAT'S WHAT I SIGNED UP FOR. 
          THAT'S THE JOB THAT WHEN I RAN FOR OFFICE WAS JUST TO BE YOUR ADVOCATE. 
          AND QUITE HONESTLY, IF I DON'T KNOW ABOUT AN ISSUE, THEN I DON'T KNOW HOW TO HELP TRY TO FIX IT. AND SO AGAIN, I WANTED TO THANK THE FOLKS OUT THERE AND THANK THE MAYOR OF DOS PALOS, AND SHE HAD MY LITTLE COFFEE AT THE COFFEE SALOON IN DOS PALOS. 
          SO THAT'S HER LITTLE PLACE THERE. 
          COOL LITTLE PLACE. A REALLY GOOD DISCUSSION, PROBABLY OUT THERE FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF TWO HOURS. 
          AS THINGS GET, YOU KNOW, KIND OF LOOSEN UP A LITTLE BIT AND I SEE OUR NUMBERS ARE TRENDING DOWN. AND I WILL TELL YOU LIKE FOLKS ARE ITCHING TO GET OUT AND I AGREE WITH WHAT DR. 
          ASADI SAID EARLIER. 
          IT'S JUST LIKE, WE'VE GOT TO REALLY FOCUS ON KIDS. 
          IT'S WHEN YOU GOT KIDS CALLING LIKE THEY CALL THEM COVID KIDS AND NOT BECAUSE THEY HAD COVID. JUST BECAUSE, LIKE THE LITTLE GUYS, THE LITTLE ONES THAT ARE LIKE, YOU KNOW, TWO, THREE, FOUR OR FIVE YEARS OLD, YOU KNOW, YOU FIGURE YOU DON'T START REMEMBERING STUFF. 
          SOME PEOPLE EARLIER, SOME A LITTLE LATER, BUT MAYBE FOUR YEARS OLD. 
          WELL, IF YOU'RE FOUR OR FIVE, YOU DON'T KNOW A WORLD WITHOUT COVID, AND IT'S JUST REALLY HAS CHANGED THEM. AND EVEN COVID PETS LIKE, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT CAME UP SOMEBODY BROUGHT UP THE OTHER DAY IS THEY GOT A NEW PET AND THIS PET HAS BEEN USED TO, YOU KNOW, FAMILY BEING HOME FOR LIKE A YEAR, LIKE EVERY DAY. 
          AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY GO AWAY AND THEN THE PETS GET A LITTLE ANXIETY. 
          SO THERE'S ALL KINDS OF CRAZY STUFF THAT'S GOING ON THERE AND AGAIN, AS LONG AS WE CAN TRY COOLER HEADS PREVAIL AND TRY TO APPLY COMMON SENSE TO THE DECISIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING. YOU KNOW, AND I'M JUST THANKFUL THAT WE'RE KIND OF I KNOW I'M NOT AN EXPERT, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THIS OMICRON IS KIND OF WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BUILD UP A LOT OF HERD IMMUNITY, NATURAL IMMUNITY. 
          WE'RE GOING TO CALL IT. AND YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I AM VACCINATED. 
          IT WORKED FOR ME. 
          I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET VACCINATED. 
          I KNOW, YOU KNOW, YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, A YEAR AGO, WELL, IF YOU GOT VACCINATED, OR NOT QUITE A YEAR AGO, MAYBE LIKE NINE MONTHS AGO, 10 MONTHS, EIGHT SEVEN MONTHS AGO. 
          ANYWAYS, YOU IF YOU'VE GOT A VACCINE WELL YOU WEREN'T GOING TO GET IT, BUT WE KNOW THAT'S NOT, THAT HASN'T PROVEN TO BE TRUE. 
          AND I JUST WISH LIKE SOMETIMES THAT THE EXPERTS, YOU KNOW, THE DR. 
          FAUCI'S OF THE WORLD, WOULD JUST COME OUT AND ADMIT WHEN THEY'RE WRONG, IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT'S I'M NOT PERFECT. 
          I'M WRONG PROBABLY A LOT MORE THAN I'D EVEN LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU RIGHT NOW. 
          BUT SOMETIMES WE'RE WRONG. 
          THE DATA HAS CHANGED THE SCIENCE CHANGE. 
          ADMIT WHEN YOU'RE WRONG BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S DRIVING THE DIVIDE AND LIKE WHY WE'RE STRUGGLING TO GET TO THE SAME LIMITS AS OTHER PLACES, BUT THAT'S HERE NOR THERE. 
          IF YOU, YOU KNOW, TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR AND IF THEY ENCOURAGE IT, I SAY, HEY, GOD BLESS YOU AND DO IT. 
          AND THEN LASTLY, I KNOW WE'VE SAID ALREADY A LOT, BUT I TRULY DO MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE STILL HAVE JIM HERE FOR A FEW MORE WEEKS. 
          BUT THIS IS HIS OFFICIAL LAST BOARD MEETING. 
          HE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED. 
          I JUST AS A SUPERVISOR AND KNOWING MY DAILY ROUTINE AND KNOWING LIKE, YOU KNOW, JIM IS SPEED DIAL NUMBER NINE ON MY PHONE AND HOW OFTEN I HIT THAT. 
          AND AND THEN EVENTUALLY, WHEN JIM'S, WHEN YOU TRANSITION AND YOU WILL BECOME SPEED DIAL NUMBER NINE ON MY PHONE. 
          BUT IT'S JUST IT'S KIND OF WORKING. 
          IT'S WORKING IN THAT THAT WHOLE JUST IT'S DIFFERENT, RIGHT? AND WE ALL KNOW THAT GOING INTO IT. 
          AND I SAID, LIKE, I'VE MENTIONED IT BEFORE, THAT THE BIGGEST TRANSITION IS GOING TO BE FOR ME. IT'S BECAUSE I'M SO USED TO JIM'S STYLE AND I'VE BEEN HERE WORKING ON MY FOURTH YEAR WITH HIM AND JUST YOU KIND OF HAVE THAT. 
          AND SO I'LL HAVE TO LEARN, LEARN HOW WE ARE GOING TO COMMUNICATE TOGETHER. 
          BUT JIM, YOU WILL BE MISSED MY FRIEND AND MISSED IN THAT SENSE OF THE CURRENT ROLE THAT YOU'RE IN AND WHAT YOU MEAN TO THIS COUNTY AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THIS COUNTY. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE THAT ESCROW DEAL, THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JIM WANTED TO GET OFF THE BOOKS BEFORE HE LEFT, SO THAT RAUL DIDN'T HAVE TO INHERIT. 
          AND THE THING IS, IS JIM WAS HERE WHEN THEY PUT IT TOGETHER. 
          SO HE'S KNOWN ABOUT THIS LITERALLY FROM WHEN IT STARTED UNTIL TODAY, WHEN IT WHEN IT ENDED. AND THAT'S THE COOL PART THE STORIES OF YOU CALL HIM AND ASK HIM ABOUT SOMETHING. 
          AND HE WAS THE STAFFER WHO WROTE THE POLICY ON WHEN IT ACTUALLY WENT INTO PLACE. 
          [02:20:02]
THAT'S THE KIND OF KNOWLEDGE THAT HE HAS. 
          AND I KNOW I'M KIND OF RUNNING ON AND ON HERE, BUT IT'S JUST I KNOW THAT YOU WON'T BE HERE NO MORE. BUT I DO REALLY BELIEVE THAT YOU'LL BE SOMEHOW SOME WAY JUST KNOWING YOU, YOU'RE GOING TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE INTERACTING ON PROBABLY A NORMAL BASIS. 
          SO. BUT I DO WISH YOU ALL THE BEST AND I WISH YOUR FAMILY ALL THE BEST AND YOU GET TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH THEM AND, YOU KNOW, JIM'S FAMILY SPANS A LITTLE BIT THERE. 
          HE'S GOT MARRIED ONES, HE'S GOT SOME THAT ARE STILL, YOU KNOW, IN SCHOOL. 
          SO I'M LUCKY FOR THEM. 
          THEY GET TO SPEND THAT TIME WITH YOU. 
          SO. THANK YOU, FRIEND. 
          SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING THE PATRIOT AGREEMENT TODAY. 
          THIS WAS BIG FOR NOT ONLY MERCED COUNTY, BUT IT'S FOR THE ENTIRE REGION. 
          AND I APPRECIATE THAT, AND I DO WANT TO PUT OUT ANOTHER SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MARK HENDRICKSON, MARK MIMMS, DAVE MIRRIONE AND ERICK SERRATO FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON IT AND ESPECIALLY JIM BROWN. 
          THAT GOES WITHOUT SAYING JIM BROWN NEVER LIKES US TO MENTION HIM OR THANK HIM AND REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP, NOT ONLY THIS, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING. 
          AND IF I COULD, I WANT TO PLUG IT RIGHT NOW. 
          I WANT TO CALL THE RAIL THAT WE PUT OUT AT CASTLE, CASTLE VETERANS' RAIL. 
          THAT'S THAT'S MY LITTLE INPUT ON IT. 
          BUT JIM, WE ARE DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY GOING TO MISS YOU. 
          AND I THINK EVERYBODY SAID IT WHERE IT'S MORE FRIENDSHIP, MORE THAN PROFESSIONAL. 
          AND I DIDN'T MENTION IT OUT THERE. 
          I KIND OF FORGOT ABOUT IT, BUT THEY TALK ABOUT HOW THERE'S YOU DON'T LET US KNOW WHICH WAY WE'RE GOING. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT EVERYBODY'S DOING. 
          AND THERE'S A COUPLE OF TIMES THAT I'VE BEEN IN YOUR OFFICE AND I'VE PRESENTED A GREAT IDEA THAT I THOUGHT. 
          AND YOU GIVE ME THAT KIND OF LOOK, YOU'RE GIVING ME RIGHT NOW. 
          IT'S A LITTLE PUZZLED QUESTION, AND I CAN READ IT RIGHT THEN, AND I'M LIKE, OK, I'LL DROP IT, I'LL MOVE ON. [LAUGHTER] BUT AT THE SAME TIME, APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND EVERYTHING ELSE. I DO WANT TO TOUCH ON HIGHWAY 99. 
          FINISH THE 99 ITEM ON THAT COMMITTEE, WHICH IS TULARE COUNTY, MADERA COUNTY, MERCED COUNTY. WE'RE JUST WANTING THEM TO FINISH THE PROJECT AS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS. WE DO HAVE A SUMMIT COMING UP ON MARCH THE 3RD AND 4TH, WHICH WILL BE IN TULARE COUNTY AT THE AG. 
          WORLD AG. THE WORLD AG EXPO. 
          THANK YOU FOR THAT. 
          AND SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. 
          I THINK RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT A BUNCH OF CALTRANS BUREAUCRATS GOING TO TALK AT US AND TELL US WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING. 
          BUT AS ELECTED WE'RE STANDING STRONG, TELLING THEM WHAT THEY NEED TO BE DOING AND REMINDING THEM THEY WORK FOR US, WE DON'T WORK FOR THEM. 
          THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YOU'RE WELCOME. 
          SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA. 
          ALL RIGHT, WELL, THIS IS MANY THANKS TO ALSO DR. 
          ASADI. SHE HAS BEEN WONDERFUL AND A WONDERFUL VOLUNTEER. 
          I KNOW THAT SHE WORKS AS A DOCTOR, BUT ALSO SHE'S BEEN VOLUNTEERING SO MUCH AND LIKE SHE SAID, IT'S ALL FOR OUR KIDS AND THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY. 
          SO MANY THANKS TO HER. 
          ALSO, JIM, AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT. 
          YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT WE TEXT SOMETIMES [INAUDIBLE] HE TEXTS US ON THE WEEKENDS GIVING US UPDATES, SO IT'S LIKE YOU NEVER STOP WORKING. 
          SO FINALLY, YOU CAN PROBABLY RELAX AND [INAUDIBLE] TAKE SOME TIME OFF, TAKE A TRIP TO THE OCEAN [LAUGHTER] AND HOPEFULLY BRING BACK A FEW FISHES. 
          SO MANY THANKS AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR TIME AND SUPPORT. 
          SO ALSO AND AGAIN, THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE. 
          [INAUDIBLE] TAKE OVER, AND LIKE I SAID, WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT YOU, WE'LL BE HERE. 
          THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL. 
          SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA, I MEAN, PEDROZO. 
          THANK YOU. YEAH, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO ON SATURDAY TO THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION GOOD CITIZENS SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS. 
          IT WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE THE AMOUNT OF THE DIFFERENT STUDENTS THAT WERE HONORED AND THEN LISTENING TO THEM SPEAK. 
          WE'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO HAVE SOME COMPETITION IN THE NEXT COMING YEARS BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY OUTSPOKEN, VERY, LEADERSHIP MINDED, WHICH WAS REALLY COOL. 
          AND I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION AT THE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK. 
          AND I AGREE WITH SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. 
          I HAD A LONG CONVERSATION WITH DR. 
          ASADI THIS WEEKEND SHE CALLED ME. 
          YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF THESE KIDS ARE BEING USED AS PAWNS, AND IT'S BECAUSE FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, IT'S THE LOW HANGING FRUIT. 
          AND SO ONCE YOU PUT THEM OUT THERE, THEN EVERYBODY'S GOING TO JUMP TO IT. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, MY DAUGHTER'S FIVE, SHE'S NEVER LIVED IN A WORLD 
          [02:25:01]
WHERE SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE. 
          MY SON IS 10, HE DOES KNOW, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE FOR THEM. 
          BUT WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO BE THE BIGGER PEOPLE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING THE BEST THAT WE CAN. AND I SAY THIS ALL THE TIME. 
          YOU KNOW, JUST CONTINUE TO STAY SAFE. 
          IF YOU SO CHOOSE, GET VACCINATED, THAT'S ON YOU. 
          THE MASK MANDATE IS SUPPOSED TO BE LIFTED NEXT ON THE 15TH, I BELIEVE, AND SO IT'S SOMETHING TO STAY ON TOP OF. 
          AND HOPEFULLY AS LONG AS WE ALL HOLD OUR BREATH, WE SHOULD BE FINE. 
          SO I ALSO DO WANT TO ECHO AGAIN AND SAY THANK YOU TO JIM. 
          I FORGOT TO MENTION OUT THERE ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WHEN I STARTED HERE, THE CITY MANAGER FOR MERCED, IS I CONSIDER A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE. 
          AND SHE WORKED AS SHE SAID A LOT WITH JIM, AND I WOULD CALL HER AND SAY, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHERE JIM'S COMING FROM. 
          SHE GOES, WELL, YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO SPEAK, JIM. 
          JIM HAS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF LANGUAGE, AND SO ONCE YOU LEARN, YOU'LL GET IT. 
          AND SO IT TOOK ME ABOUT SIX MONTHS, BUT I GOT IT. 
          AND THAT JUST SHOWS YOU THE THING ABOUT JIM IS WHEN YOU'RE TALKING TO HIM, LIKE DARON SAID, IF YOU'RE TALKING TO HIM, HE'S ALREADY THINKING TWO STEPS AHEAD. 
          SO HE'S ALREADY GOT IT ALL MAPPED OUT. 
          AND SO AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I SEE IN RAUL ALSO IS THAT THEY'RE ALWAYS KIND OF THINKING ON ANY QUESTION THAT YOU HAVE. 
          AND THAT'S REALLY IMPRESSIVE. 
          AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. 
          AND YOU ARE REALLY GOING TO BE MISSED. 
          BUT LIKE I DID SAY OUT THERE, I HAVE NO PROBLEM STOPPING YOU AFTER CHURCH. 
          [LAUGHTER] SO THANK YOU. 
          ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. 
          MR. MENDEZ. OH, EXCUSE ME. 
          THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. 
          I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY A FEW REMARKS PUBLICLY ABOUT CEO BROWN. 
          AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALL BEEN SPENDING A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER THESE PAST FEW WEEKS AS PART OF OUR TRANSITION PLAN. 
          IT IS VERY OBVIOUS ALL THE RESPECT, THE ACCOLADES TOWARDS MR. BROWN THAT I HEARD BEFORE EVEN JOINING THIS ORGANIZATION. 
          THEY'RE ALL ABSOLUTELY TRUE. 
          THANK YOU, JIM, FOR YOUR PROFESSIONALISM, YOUR GRACE DURING MY ACCLIMATION ONBOARDING PROCESS. DEFINITELY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND ASSISTANCE TO ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION IN LEADERSHIP. AND JUST I KNOW THAT'S BECAUSE YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS ORGANIZATION MOVES FORWARD EFFECTIVELY. 
          IT'S A TESTAMENT TO YOUR COMMITMENT TO MERCED THAT'S VERY OBVIOUS. 
          YOU OBVIOUSLY CAN'T REPLACE A JIM BROWN OR HIS SHOES OR HIS, I GUESS, SWIM FLIPPERS. 
          [LAUGHTER] BUT WE CAN BUILD OFF OF HIS FULL BODY OF WORK. 
          AND PLEASE KNOW, JIM, YOU ARE LEAVING THIS ORGANIZATION, THIS COMMUNITY IN GREAT HANDS, IN GOOD HANDS. 
          YOU HAVE ASSEMBLED QUITE AN IMPRESSIVE TEAM OF COUNTY STAFF, AND WE ARE ALL POISED TO CARRY ON YOUR LEGACY. 
          SO IN CLOSING, THANK YOU, MR. BROWN, FOR SETTING THE BAR HIGH FOR US AS PUBLIC SERVANTS, AND I WISH YOU ALL THE VERY BEST IN A WELL-DESERVED RETIREMENT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MR. HANSEN. I JUST LIKE TO ECHO WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS SAID, AND I THINK AS I STILL CONSIDER MYSELF A RELATIVELY NEW COUNTY COUNCIL, MY TRANSITION TO THIS POSITION WAS PROBABLY MADE ABOUT AS EASY AS IT COULD BE MADE, DUE IN MAIN PART TO JIM'S KNOWLEDGE OF THE ORGANIZATION AND THE COUNTY. 
          SO THANK YOU, JIM, AND I WON'T WISH YOU A HAPPY RETIREMENT BECAUSE I CAN'T IMAGINE YOU RETIRING, BUT GOOD LUCK IN YOUR NEXT ENDEAVOR. 
          [LAUGHTER] MR. BROWN. WELL, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN. 
          SORRY TO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF REPEAT IT ALSO, BUT REALLY THANK YOU TO THE BOARD. 
          APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. 
          THANK YOU TO THE ORGANIZATION AND ALL THE EMPLOYEES. 
          THANK YOU TO THE EXECUTIVE TEAM, THEY ARE PHENOMENAL. 
          RAUL, I DO, TO THE BOARD WITH RAUL, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SPEND SOME TIME TOGETHER. 
          SORRY TO SAY I THINK HE LEARNING HOW FAST I LIKE TO MOVE FROM SUBJECT TO SUBJECT, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT I DO FEEL GOOD. 
          HE'S VERY ASTUTE. 
          HE'S INTELLIGENT. 
          HE CARES FOR THE COMMUNITY. 
          AND HE ASKED GOOD QUESTIONS. 
          AND HE REALLY THE QUESTIONS HE ASKED THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE COMMUNITY, THE BENEFIT OF THE ORGANIZATION AND WHAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. 
          [02:30:01]
SO WITH THAT, I FEEL VERY GOOD IN THE DIRECTION THAT YOU'RE GOING. 
          AND SO THANK YOU AND I APPRECIATE THE GIFT. 
          I LOOK FORWARD TO IT. 
          I'M EXCITED. 
          AND AGAIN, I THANK YOU TO ALL THE STAFF. 
          OKAY. WELL, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO WORK WITH YOU. 
          IT REALLY HAS. AND I, I DON'T KNOW. 
          YOU KNOW, PART OF MY, YOU KNOW, HERE AT THE COUNTY IS WE DON'T ALWAYS TELL OUR STORY RIGHT. AND A LOT OF IT IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT HASN'T HAPPENED YET, RIGHT. 
          AND YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T PREDICT HOW SOMEBODY'S GOING TO VOTE OR WHATEVER. 
          AND BUT I JUST REALLY DON'T BELIEVE OUR COMMUNITY FULLY UNDERSTANDS YOUR COMMITMENT TO US. AND SO FOR EVERYBODY OUT THERE THAT MIGHT BE LISTENING. 
          MR. BROWN, WHEN I GOT HERE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW HE COULD SWIM AT 5:30 BECAUSE IT SEEMED LIKE HE WAS HERE ALREADY, RIGHT. 
          BUT YOU KNOW, HE REALLY WAS THE FIRST ONE IN THE BUILDING AND GENERALLY THE LAST ONE TO LEAVE. AND YOU KNOW, IF I, YOU KNOW, WHEN I STARTED IT, I DIDN'T, YOU KNOW, WHEN I THINK A LOT AT NIGHT AND SO I'LL SEND TEXT OR EMAILS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS HAVE ACTUALLY DONE THIS AS WELL, BUT I DON'T EXPECT A RESPONSE. 
          I JUST WANT TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS AND EITHER, YOU KNOW, CONCERNS OR WHATEVER. 
          AND YOU KNOW, AND THEN I WOULD NOTICE PROBABLY ABOUT NINE O'CLOCK I WOULD GET A RESPONSE, YOU KNOW, AND SO I ASKED HIM ABOUT ONE DAY. 
          AND HE SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, I GET HOME, I SPEND MY TIME WITH MY FAMILY. 
          THEN ONCE THEY'RE ALL TAKEN CARE OF OR TO BED OR WHATEVER, THEN I, YOU KNOW, HE STARTS WORKING AGAIN. AND THAT'S JUST HIS ETHIC. 
          AND ANYWAYS, I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR EXAMPLE. 
          SO THANK YOU. 
          THE WELL ORDINANCE THAT WE DID TODAY, YOU KNOW, I THINK, YOU KNOW, I SERVE AS CHAIRMAN OF ONE OF THE GSA BOARDS, AND YOU KNOW, IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY, AND SO I'D LIKE TO THANK STAFF FOR STAYING STEADFAST AND PUTTING TOGETHER A GREAT ORDINANCE BUT I THINK ONE FOLLOWS THE LAW OF SGMA AND TWO, YOU KNOW, DOES WHAT'S BEST FOR THE COUNTY AND FOR OUR RESIDENTS. AND I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE PEOPLE DRILLING WELLS AND PUMPING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WATER. 
          IN FACT, A NEW WELL, REALLY UNDER SGMA ONLY HAS ACCESS TO THE REALLY THE SUSTAINABLE NATIVE YIELD OF WATER AND DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS TO TRANSITIONAL WATER, WHICH CURRENT WELLS ACTUALLY KIND OF DO AS WE GET TO SUSTAINABILITY IN OUR BASIN. 
          SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH FOLKS. 
          AGAIN, AN EXCITING DAY FOR MERCED COUNTY AND THE RAIL PIECE. 
          I JUST REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT STEPS AND AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR STAFF THAT WORKED ON THAT PROJECT. 
          AND THANK YOU FOR PATRIOT RAIL FOR, YOU KNOW, PICKING MERCED COUNTY AS A SPOT THAT THEY'VE COME TO WORK WITH. SO WITH THAT, I SEE NOTHING ELSE TO COME BEFORE THE MEETING, WE WILL CALL IT ADJOURNED. 
          OH, WE WILL BE ADJOURNED UNTIL TWO O'CLOCK. 
          THANK YOU. WELCOME BACK TO THE MERCED COUNTY FEBRUARY 8TH 
          [COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE – PUBLIC HEARING ]
2022 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING. 
          [INAUDIBLE] THIS IS TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING. 
          STACY. 
          NEXT IS A PUBLIC HEARING FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE REGARDING AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, ARPA, CORONAVIRUS, STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS. 
          PLEASE NOTE, ACTION ITEMS FIVE AND SIX REQUIRE A FOUR FIFTHS VOTE ON THIS ITEM. 
          THANK YOU. 
          HUH? OK. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN PAREIRA, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD CEO BROWN, CEO DESIGNEE MENDEZ AND COUNTY COUNCIL HANSEN. 
          DAVID MIRRIONE, ASSISTANT COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER. 
          SO TODAY I HAVE THE DISTINCT PRIVILEGE TO PRESENT DURING OUR AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS PUBLIC HEARING. 
          AS PART OF THIS PROJECT, COUNTY STAFF CONDUCTED A ROBUST PUBLIC OUTREACH CAMPAIGN REGARDING THE FUNDING. 
          THROUGHOUT TODAY'S MEETING AND EARLIER AGENDA ITEMS, THE THEME OF TEAMWORK AND DEDICATION TO THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN PREVALENT. 
          SO BEFORE I BEGIN, I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS MY SINCEREST GRATITUDE TO THE COUNTY TEAM, WHOSE EFFORTS ENSURED THAT OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROCESS WAS A SUCCESS. 
          SO BEAR WITH ME. 
          IT'S A LONG LIST. 
          IT WAS A BIG EFFORT. 
          VANESSA ANDERSON, MIKE NORTH, ARACELI SANCHEZ, AMBER PHILLIPS, LINDSEY JOHNSON, ADRIANA VALDEZ, SCOTT DOCKSTADER, CESAR VERA, LIONEL GARCIA, PATTY DOSSETTI, DOLLY ACOSTA, 
          [02:35:01]
[INAUDIBLE] HENSON AND THE TEAM AT WORKNET MAYA YANG, HILDA LOPEZ, TARAH HERNANDEZ AND TERRY [INAUDIBLE] IN HR, ERICK SERRATO, JOHN CHECKLEY AND MONICA VALENZUELA. 
          THE TEAM AT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, JOHN NISHIYAMA AND HIS TEAM AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, CAPTAIN SULLIVAN, OUR TEAM OF TRANSLATORS AND THE MAC MEMBERS WHO WERE THEY WERE GRACIOUS WITH THEIR TIME, EXTREMELY HOSPITABLE AND ACCOMMODATING TO US AND OUR TEAM. 
          SO I'D LIKE TO EXTEND A THANK YOU TO ALL OF THEM. 
          AND SO THIS TEAM CAME TOGETHER TO WORK MANY HOURS AND SPEND EVENINGS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AS WE CONDUCTED THE PRESENTATIONS AND AGAIN, JUST A FINAL THANK YOU. 
          IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS, YOUR BOARD HAS REFERRED TO ARPA AS ONCE IN A LIFETIME FUNDING THAT SHOULD BE FOCUSED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE ON CREATING GENERATIONAL IMPACTS. 
          AS MY FELLOW ASSISTANT CEO MARCI BARRERA AND I WERE DISCUSSING THIS ITEM, WE FOUND IT FITTING THAT THIS IS THE FINAL ITEM THAT YOUR BOARD WILL VOTE ON WITH MR. BROWN SERVING AS OUR CEO. 
          AS MR. BROWN IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME LEADER, HE'S DEDICATION TO PUBLIC SERVICE HAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO LEAVE GENERATIONAL IMPACTS ON THE COUNTY OF MERCED. 
          ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TEAM THANK YOU, JIM, FOR ALL OF YOUR LEADERSHIP AND MENTORSHIP TO US. 
          FIRST, I'D LIKE TO START WITH A BRIEF HISTORY AND TIMELINE, SO I'M GOING TO RECAP, WE'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME UPDATES. 
          SO ON MARCH 11TH OF 2021, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW, AND A KEY PROVISION WITHIN THE RESCUE PLAN ACT IS THE STATE AND LOCAL CORONAVIRUS FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS. AND YOU'LL SEE THAT ABBREVIATED AS SLFRF, AND THAT PROVIDES 65.1 BILLION IN DIRECT FLEXIBLE AID FOR EVERY COUNTY, CITY, PARISH AND BOROUGH IN THE UNITED STATES. 
          CALIFORNIA WAS ALLOCATED 26.2 BILLION, WITH MERCED COUNTY RECEIVING AN ALLOCATION JUST SHY OF $54 MILLION DOLLARS. 
          THE ALLOCATION WOULD BE DELIVERED IN TWO TRANCHES, WITH THE FIRST ONE BEING RECEIVED IN MAY OF 2021 AT JUST SHY OF 27 MILLION, WITH THE SECOND ONE BEING EXPECTED TO BE RECEIVED IN MAY OF 2022. 
          SO IN ADDITION TO THE SLFRF PROGRAM, ARPA IS GOING TO PROVIDE AND HAS ALREADY PROVIDED TO YOUR BOARD OTHER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES VIA GRANTS THROUGH THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. SO AT TIMES YOU MAY SEE SOME OF YOUR DEPARTMENTS BRINGING FORTH ITEMS THAT MENTIONED AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING. 
          THOSE COULD BE DIRECT ALLOCATIONS FROM DIFFERENT GRANT SOURCES, INCLUDING THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. SO THE DOLLARS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY IS THE SLFRF. 
          SO THINK OF THE ARPA AS THE ACT AND THEN SLFRF AS THE PROGRAM. 
          SO ON MAY 10TH OF 2021, THE TREASURY ISSUED THE INTERIM FINAL RULE AND OPENED THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. 
          THAT PERIOD CLOSED JULY 16TH AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER WE BROUGHT FORWARD ON AUGUST 10TH, WE HAD A DISCUSSION ON A FUNDING FRAMEWORK FOR THOSE DOLLARS AND YOUR BOARD PROVIDED AS GUIDANCE. 
          ON JANUARY 6TH THE FINAL RULE WAS PUBLISHED, AND SO AS YOU COULD SEE, IT DID TAKE ABOUT FIVE MONTHS TO GET THAT FINISHED. 
          AND SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF COMMENTS RECEIVED. 
          SO IF YOU CAN IMAGINE IT HITTING ALL OF THE DIFFERENT STATES, COUNTIES, CITIES, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF COMMENTS THAT CAME THROUGH. 
          SO THEY GOT THAT PUBLISHED ON JANUARY 6TH. 
          AND IN REGARDS TO THE FUNDING FRAMEWORK, I WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT AS WELL AS SOME MODIFICATIONS. AND THEN WE WILL BE REVIEWING SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FINAL RULE IN THE UPCOMING SLIDES AS WELL. 
          MARCH 3RD THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST OF 2024 THAT'S WHEN THE FUNDS MUST BE INCURRED AND OBLIGATED. OK. 
          SO BASICALLY, THINK ABOUT IT AS WE CANNOT CREATE NEW PROJECTS REPROGRAM DOLLARS AFTER DECEMBER 31ST OF 2024. 
          WE HAVE THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST OF 2026 TO EXPEND AND THE WORK MUST BE COMPLETED. 
          SO THAT'S A KEY HIGHLIGHT TO POINT OUT. 
          THE FINAL RULE DID TAKE EFFECT ON APRIL 1ST OR IT WILL TAKE EFFECT ON APRIL 1ST 2022. 
          SO THE FINAL RULE, AS I SAID, IS EFFECTIVE ON THE FIRST, BUT COUNTIES COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PROVISIONS PRIOR TO ITS EFFECTIVE DATE, SO THEY DID PROVIDE THAT FLEXIBILITY. AND IN PREVIOUS PRESENTATIONS, WE SPOKE ABOUT REVENUE REPLACEMENT AND HOW OUR FRAMEWORK WAS BUILT AROUND REVENUE REPLACEMENT. 
          FROM THE TIME OF THE INTERIM TO THE FINAL RULE THERE WAS A CHANGE IN THE FINAL RULE THAT ALLOWED COUNTIES TO USE UP TO $10 MILLION DOLLARS OF THEIR FUNDING AS REVENUE 
          [02:40:06]
REPLACEMENT, EVEN IF THEY DID NOT ACHIEVE REVENUE REPLACEMENT, PER THE FORMULA. 
          SO IF A COUNTY OR A CITY RECEIVED $5 MILLION DOLLARS, THEY DON'T GET NEW FUNDING, BUT THEY COULD GO ALL THE WAY UP TO THAT $5 MILLION DOLLARS. 
          THINK ABOUT IT ALMOST LIKE A STANDARD DEDUCTION, RIGHT. 
          WHEREAS IF YOU COULD SHOW MORE THAN YOU COULD GO ALL THE WAY UP TO THE MAXIMUM OF YOUR ALLOCATION. SO THE OTHER CHANGE ON REVENUE LOSS IS, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD A STANDARD RATE OF 4.1 PERCENT. 
          THEY INCREASE THAT TO 5.2 PERCENT AS THE NEW STANDARD DEFAULT ALLOWANCE. 
          SO BASICALLY, IF YOU WEREN'T GROWING AT 5.2 PERCENT, THAT WAS THE LOWEST THRESHOLD THAT THEY WOULD LOOK AT. AND THOSE CHANGES BASICALLY HAVE LED TO 70 PERCENT OF THE NATION'S COUNTIES NOW BEING ELIGIBLE TO USE REVENUE LOSS AND REVENUE REPLACEMENT AS PART OF THEIR PLANNING. IT CLARIFIES ELIGIBLE USES FOR CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND WRITTEN JUSTIFICATIONS FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS THAT IS IN CATEGORIES OTHER THAN REVENUE REPLACEMENT. 
          IT ALLOWS RECOVERY FUNDS TO BE USED FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF CYBERSECURITY, INCLUDING HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE, AND YOUR BOARD AND YOUR FINAL BUDGET HAS TAKEN MADE SOME ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS IN THOSE AREAS. 
          BROADENS THE ELIGIBLE USE FOR FUNDS FOR WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS TO INCLUDE CULVERT REPAIR, DAM AND RESERVOIR REHABILITATION. 
          AT OUR LAST MEETING, WE DID TALK ABOUT THE BLACK RASCAL CREEK FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT WE'RE SEEING IN THE FINAL RULE REALLY A, YOU KNOW, MORE FLEXIBILITY TOWARDS SIMILAR TYPE PROJECTS. AND THEN IT BROADENS THE ELIGIBLE BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS TO ENSURE BETTER CONNECTIVITY TO BROADER POPULATIONS. 
          AND SO AS PART OF THE FUNDING FRAMEWORK, WE DID TALK ABOUT ONE OF THE EXAMPLES OF BEING BROADBAND TYPE PROJECTS, AND WE RECENTLY ISSUED AN RFP TO SEEK A CONSULTANT TO HELP ISSUE A COUNTYWIDE BROADBAND FEASIBILITY STUDY, WHICH IS TYPICALLY YOUR FIRST STEP IN SECURING ANY DOLLARS TO INCREASE YOUR BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. 
          SO YOU CAN'T JUST COME IN WITH, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT SHOULD BE BETTER IN THIS AREA. 
          WE HAVE TO COME WITH THE ANALYSIS AND THEN FUND PROJECTS IDENTIFIED THROUGH THAT ANALYSIS. AND SO THAT'S THAT FIRST STEP. 
          SO INELIGIBLE USES OF FUNDS. 
          FUNDING MAY NOT BE DEPOSITED INTO A PENSION FUND, PAYING INTEREST OR PRINCIPAL ON OUTSTANDING DEBT, REPLENISHING A RAINY DAY OR OTHER RESERVE FUNDS SETTLED, PAYING FOR SETTLEMENTS OR JUDGMENTS, AND THEN USES THAT CONTRAVENE OR VIOLATE THE ARPA UNIFORM GUIDANCE CONFLICT OF INTEREST REQUIREMENTS AND OR ANY OTHER FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
          SO ELIGIBLE USES OF FUNDS. 
          SUPPORTING THE PUBLIC HEALTH EXPENDITURES. 
          ADDRESSING NEGATIVE ECONOMIC IMPACTS CAUSED BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY. 
          PROVIDING PREMIUM PAY FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS WATER, SEWER AND BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE. 
          AND THEN REPLACING LOST PUBLIC SECTOR REVENUE, WHICH IS THAT REVENUE REPLACEMENT. 
          SO THOSE ARE THE BROAD CATEGORIES THAT PROJECTS CAN BE ALIGNED WITH AS PART OF THE FUNDING PLAN. SO REVENUE REPLACEMENT. 
          SO COUNTIES MAY USE THESE FUNDS TO REPLACE REVENUE AND USE THEM FOR A BROAD RANGE OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES, PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS OUTSIDE OF THE EXPLICIT ELIGIBLE USES OF RECOVERY FUNDS. 
          AND IT ENABLES THE COUNTY TO SUPPORT PROJECTS IDENTIFIED AS CRITICAL TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE. AND THE FRAMEWORK THAT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD AND DISCUSSED ON AUGUST 10TH WAS DEVELOPED USING REVENUE REPLACEMENT TO CREATE CATEGORIES OF PROJECTS THAT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED AND ALSO GAVE US AN AREA TO WHEN WE SURVEYED THE COMMUNITY TO GET FEEDBACK ON AS WELL, IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER CATEGORIES I JUST DISCUSSED. 
          SO JUST A REAL QUICK ILLUSTRATION. 
          THE TREASURY PROVIDES A FORMULA FOR REVENUE REPLACEMENT. 
          YOU'RE LOOKING AT YOUR THREE YEAR AVERAGE PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, AND IT ESSENTIALLY YOU RUN THE FORMULA AND IT TELLS YOU WHERE YOUR REVENUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN, EXCLUDING FEDERAL REVENUES. AND SO LET'S SAY USING THE FORMULA, IT'S PROJECTED THAT WE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED $10 MILLION DOLLARS. 
          IN ACTUALITY, YOU RUN THOSE RECEIPTS AND IT'S SEVEN MILLION, THEN THREE MILLION WOULD QUALIFY FOR REVENUE REPLACEMENT TYPE PROJECTS. 
          SO IN OUR CASE, AFTER THE FIRST TWO YEARS BECAUSE WE WENT ON CALENDAR YEAR, THE FINAL 
          [02:45:04]
RULE ACTUALLY PROVIDES A FLEXIBILITY TO GO CALENDAR OR FISCAL ON CALENDAR YEAR AFTER YEAR TWO, WHERE WE WILL BE SURPASSING THE FIFTY FOUR MILLION. 
          SO WE ARE ABLE THEN TO MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION AS PART OF TODAY'S PRESENTATION. 
          SO QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE FRAMEWORK THAT WAS PROVIDED ON THE 10TH AND DISCUSSED WE HAD HOMELESS SERVICES WITH NAVIGATION AND DISTRIBUTIVE HOUSING AS EXAMPLES WITH A TARGET OF FOUR MILLION DOLLARS. 
          THE BOARD SINCE THAT TIME, THERE HAS BEEN SOME ALLOCATIONS MADE ACTUALLY IN FINAL BUDGET AS WELL. SO THE FRAMEWORK AND THE TARGETS WERE BROUGHT FORWARD AND DISCUSSED ON AUGUST 10TH, WITH EXPENDITURES BEING APPROVED ON THE 10TH AS WELL AS FINAL BUDGET. 
          SO THIS DOES REFLECT THE THE APPROVALS AND FINAL BUDGET. 
          SO NO DOLLARS YET ALLOCATED TO HOMELESS SERVICES COVID 19 TWO MILLION DOLLARS, WITH THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND ALLOCATED IN THOSE EFFORTS WITH A BALANCE OF ONE POINT SEVEN. 
          I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION THAT UPON FURTHER REVIEW IN MY COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS, I DID HAVE AN ALLOCATION OF FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. 
          I HAVE SINCE UPDATED THAT WITH THE ADDITIONAL TWO HUNDRED IN THE COMMUNITY FACILITIES CATEGORY. AS FOR COMMUNITY FACILITIES, A TARGET OF FOURTEEN POINT EIGHT MILLION WITH SIX POINT SEVEN BEING ALLOCATED, LEAVING A BALANCE THERE OF EIGHT POINT ONE. 
          THAT'S COMMUNITY HALLS, VETERAN HALLS, LIBRARIES, PARKS, COUNTY FACILITIES AND I TOUCHED ON BROADBAND EARLIER. 
          FLOOD CONTROL AND WATER THE BLACK RASCAL PROJECT. 
          AND AT THAT TIME WE WERE LOOKING AT THE JLCC WELL REPLACEMENT THAT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER TODAY IN YOUR MEETING. 
          YOU'RE LOOKING AT TARGET WAS SET AT SEVEN POINT TWO MILLION WITH AN APPROVAL OF TWO POINT FIVE, LEAVING A BALANCE THERE OF FOUR POINT SEVEN AND THEN A ROADS ALLOCATION OF TEN MILLION, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN TOUCHED OR ALLOCATED. 
          AND THEN AS WELL AS CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AT THIRTEEN POINT FIVE WITH NO ALLOCATION, AS WELL AS CONTINGENCY AT TWO AND A HALF. 
          SO AS WE WENT OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, WE WERE SHOWING, YOU KNOW THAT FIFTY FOUR MILLION WITH NINE AND A HALF ALLOCATED AND A BALANCE THERE OF FORTY FOUR POINT FIVE. 
          SO I SPOKE IN MY OPENING REMARKS ABOUT COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND WANTED TO JUST KIND OF GIVE A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THOSE EFFORTS. 
          SO ONLINE AND HARDCOPY COMMUNITY SURVEYS WERE DEVELOPED. 
          THEY WERE OPEN FROM AUGUST 15TH TO JANUARY 31ST, SO WE GAVE FOLKS PLENTY OF TIME TO TO HEAR PRESENTATIONS, TO GO TO THE, YOU KNOW, PULL IT FROM OUR WEBSITE. 
          IT WAS AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH, SPANISH AND HMONG, WITH OVER NINETY SIX HUNDRED SURVEYS BEING RECEIVED THROUGHOUT THAT PROCESS. 
          SO THERE'S NO SILVER BULLET TO GETTING THESE OUT TO INTO THE COMMUNITY. 
          SO WE TRIED A LOT OF DIFFERENT APPROACHES COUNTYWIDE TEXT MESSAGING OF THE EXCUSE ME OF THE SURVEY, A COUNTYWIDE MAILER TO RESIDENTIAL ADDRESSES, AND WE DID INCLUDE A RETURN POSTAGE ENVELOPE WITH THAT. 
          SO FOLKS COULD MAIL THAT RIGHT BACK. 
          WE HAD A STRONG RESPONSE TO THAT AND AGAIN, THANK YOU TO OUR TEAM THAT DILIGENTLY KEYED THOSE IN. THEN WE HAD MEETINGS WITH THE MUNICIPAL ADVISORY COUNCILS AND COMMUNITY AND VIRTUAL PRESENTATIONS. 
          SO ALL IN ALL, WE HAD TEN PRESENTATIONS, INCLUDING THE VIRTUAL ONE. 
          WE DID HAVE TRANSLATION AVAILABLE AT. 
          THE PRESENTATIONS OUR GOOD FRIENDS HERE HAVE MANY OF THESE PRESENTATIONS WITH US, AS WELL AS PROVIDING TRANSLATION ON THE VIRTUAL SESSION. 
          THE ONGOING UPDATES TO THE COUNTY ARPA WEB PAGE. 
          SO ON THAT SITE, WE HAD THE SURVEYS POSTED AS WELL AS REPORTS, SO WE DID GET OUR FIRST QUARTERLY EXPENDITURE REPORT POSTED ON THERE. 
          IN THE PAST, WE'VE HEARD COMMENTS THAT THEY WERE NOT POSTED ON THERE. 
          THE FIRST ONE WAS DUE JANUARY 31ST AND THE GUIDANCE FOR HOW TO ACTUALLY COMPLETE THAT REPORT WAS ISSUED IN THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY. 
          SO IT ACTUALLY GOES BACK TO THE VERY BEGINNING, I SAID MARCH 3RD. 
          SO IT'S ACTUALLY A PERIOD OF MARCH 3RD THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST AND THEN ONGOING. 
          IT'S GOING TO BE EVERY QUARTER THAT WE REPORT THERE. 
          SO. AND THOSE ARE POSTED PROMINENTLY. 
          WE HAVE AN ARPA BUTTON RIGHT ON THE COUNTY WEB PAGE IT'LL TAKE YOU RIGHT THERE. 
          AND THEN FINALLY, TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING. 
          SO I WANTED TO GIVE A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE SURVEY AS PART OF YOUR BOARD PACKET. 
          THE ENTIRE SURVEY WAS PROVIDED IN THE ENGLISH RESPONSES SPANISH AND HMONG, WITH THE 
          [02:50:06]
WRITTEN COMMENTS IN SPANISH AND HMONG BEING TRANSLATED WITH A LITTLE CROSSWALK IN THE BACK AS WELL. ALONG WITH A WRITTEN SUMMARY OF THE VERBAL COMMENTS THAT WE HEARD THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITIES WHEN WE WENT OUT AND GAVE PRESENTATIONS. 
          SO ARE YOU A RESIDENT, I THINK YOU COULD SEE HERE IT WAS VERY, VERY STRONG, ONLY 65 OUT OF THE COUNTY ITSELF. 
          WHAT I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED WITH IS WE HAD A STRONG TURNOUT FROM THOSE WHO IDENTIFIED AS A BUSINESS OWNER, WITH FIFTEEN HUNDRED RESPONDENTS IDENTIFYING AS SOMEONE WHO OWNS AND OPERATES A BUSINESS WITHIN THE COUNTY. 
          THEN WE HAD FOR FOLKS TO SELECT THE AREA WITHIN THE COUNTY THAT THEY RESIDE AND SO PRETTY MUCH CLOSE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE POPULATION SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. 
          WE HAD A NICE, A NICE SPREAD A NICE RESPONSE THERE. 
          AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, SO WE FEEL THAT OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS GOT OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND THE RESULTS ARE SHOWING HERE. 
          AND THEN QUESTION FOUR. 
          SO THIS HERE IS WHERE WE TALK ABOUT THE FIVE CATEGORIES. 
          AND SO JUST A QUICK EXPLANATION OF HOW THIS WORKS. 
          THIS IS A RANKING TYPE QUESTION, SO RESPONDENTS ARE ABLE TO GO IN AND AND RANK EACH OF THESE FROM A ONE TO FIVE AND THEN THOSE GET WEIGHTED BY BY ONE BEING THE HIGHEST AND FIVE BEING THE LOWEST. 
          AND SO AS THOSE AS THOSE HAVE COME THROUGH, YOU'LL SEE THE FIRST ONE THERE IS INVEST IN WATER, SEWER AND BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE. 
          WE DID SEE THROUGHOUT THE WRITTEN COMMENTS A LOT OF CORRELATION WITH INFRASTRUCTURE AND ROADS AS WELL, AND ADDITIONALLY ADDRESSING THE NEGATIVE ECONOMIC IMPACTS CAUSED BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY AND THEN FOLLOWED BY PUBLIC HEALTH EXPENDITURES, PREMIUM PAY AND THEN REVENUE REPLACEMENT. 
          HOWEVER, WHEN WE BRING FORWARD THE CATEGORIES THAT CAME THROUGH ON YOUR FRAMEWORK, WHICH WAS THE NEXT SET OF QUESTIONS, WE WERE ABLE TO SEE THAT ROADS REALLY JUMPED OUT FAR AND WIDE AHEAD OF THE OTHERS. 
          AND AS WE LOOK AT A FRAMEWORK BUILT ON REVENUE REPLACEMENT, IT'S REALLY EASY TO REMEMBER THAT REVENUE REPLACEMENT EQUALS ROADS WITHOUT REVENUE REPLACEMENT. 
          YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO DO ROAD WORK. 
          AND I IT'S OF, YOU KNOW, YOU HAD SEEN THAT WAS A LOT OF THE STRONG ADVOCACY TO GET EVERY COUNTY TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO, TO HAVE REVENUE REPLACEMENT, TO DO ROADS. 
          I HAD SEEN SOME OTHER COUNTIES WHO SURVEYS ACTUALLY HAD A DISCLAIMER ON THE TOP SAYING YOU CANNOT FUND, WE CANNOT FUND ROADS BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT. 
          THEY PROBABLY DIDN'T HAVE REVENUE REPLACEMENT AT THE TIME. 
          SO SECOND IS AGAIN, FLOOD CONTROL, WATER INFRASTRUCTURE. 
          SO WATER IS, YOU KNOW, A STRONG THEME THROUGHOUT THEN INTO HOMELESS SERVICES, FOLLOWED CLOSELY BY COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND COVID 19 SUPPORT, AND THEN FINISHING LOWER WAS CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. 
          THE NEXT QUESTION IS WHERE WE TOOK KIND OF THE EXAMPLES THAT WERE LISTED OUT AND TYPES OF PROJECTS AND ASKED FOLKS TO BASICALLY CHECK THE ONES THAT THEY'D LIKE TO SEE AS THE MOST IMPORTANT, THIS WASN'T A RANKING. 
          THIS WAS A YOU COULD CLICK ONE, YOU COULD CLICK ALL, YOU COULD CLICK NOTHING BUT THE ONE OTHER. WHEN YOU HAVE OTHER, YOU GET A FREE FORM TEXT BOX THAT COMES UP. 
          ALL OF THOSE RESPONSES ARE THERE FOR FOR NOT ONLY YOUR BOARD, BUT THE PUBLIC TO REVIEW AS PART OF THE AGENDA. 
          AND SO AGAIN, ROADS, AS YOU CAN SEE, VERY, VERY STRONG, FOLLOWED CLOSELY BY PUBLIC SAFETY AND THEN HOMELESS SERVICES AND THEN PARKS AND STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE COMING IN AND LIBRARIES AS WELL. 
          AND THEN OTHER AND A LOT OF THE FOLKS IN OTHER DID HAVE ITEMS THAT KIND OF REITERATED SOME OF THESE HERE. 
          REALLY, WHEN YOU WHEN YOU WENT THROUGH THOSE COMMENTS, ROADS AND WATER AND HOMELESS AND HEALTH AND HOUSING REALLY JUMPED OUT, AS WELL AS YOUTH POLICE, PARKS AND MENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY. 
          SO KIND OF A COMMON THEME THROUGHOUT. 
          YOU KNOW, OVERALL IN GOING THROUGH WE'RE REALLY HAPPY WITH THE, YOU KNOW, THE DEPTH AND THE LEVEL OF THOUGHT THAT THE COMMUNITY PUT INTO THOSE SURVEY RESPONSES, THERE WAS SURE THERE WAS SOME THAT WERE A WORD OR TWO, BUT THERE WAS A LOT WHERE YOU COULD TELL FOLKS, 
          [02:55:03]
REALLY, YOU KNOW, LAID OUT AND PUT A NICE, NICE SUMMARY OF THEIR THOUGHTS IN. 
          AND THEN FINALLY, WE HAD A SEVENTH QUESTION AND FINAL QUESTION, BASICALLY SAYING, ARE THERE ANY OTHER PROJECTS OR ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY YOU FEEL SHOULD BE ADDRESSED WITH WITH THE FUNDING? AND THIS WAS JUST AN OPEN BOX. 
          YOU KNOW THAT NO LIMITATIONS YOU COULD TYPE ALL DAY IF YOU'D LIKE NO LIMITATIONS ON THE CHARACTER LIMITS. AND SO WITH THAT, WE RECEIVED OVER THREE THOUSAND RESPONSES. 
          AND AGAIN, ROADS, HOMELESS, HOUSING, WATER, PARKS, PUBLIC SAFETY, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, LIBRARY AND YOUTH. 
          AND YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WENT OUT AND DID THE PRESENTATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY AND TALKED ABOUT THESE THINGS, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE HOMELESS AND HOUSING AND YOUTH SERVICES, WE ACTUALLY HAD BOTH THE WORK NET DIRECTOR MR. ERIC SERATO COME OUT AS WELL AS JOHN CHECKLEY WITH THE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY TO GIVE KIND OF A PRESENTATION ON THE SERVICES THAT THEY ARE PROVIDING IN THE COMMUNITY ALREADY AND WHAT'S AVAILABLE OUT THERE, AS WELL AS MR. CHECKLEY GIVEN AN OVERVIEW ON RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE. 
          EVICTION PROTECTIONS, AS WELL AS A RECENTLY RELEASED MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 
          SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WHILE FOLKS WERE FILLING OUT THIS SURVEY, THEY DID KNOW THAT THOSE SERVICES WERE AVAILABLE ON THE MAILER OF THE SURVEY AS WELL. 
          WE DID HAVE INFORMATION ON MY TURN, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE OTHER SERVICES AS WELL. 
          SO WE USE THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT ONLY PROVIDE THIS SURVEY, BUT SINCE WE WERE REACHING SO MANY PEOPLE TO PUT SOME OF THOSE OTHER SERVICES OUT IN FRONT OF THEM. 
          SO THAT LEADS ME TO RECOMMENDED FRAMEWORK MODIFICATIONS. 
          AND SO LIKE TO TAKE A SECOND TO WALK THROUGH THESE. 
          AND SO I'M GOING TO START WITH CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES BECAUSE AS YOU COULD SEE, THAT IS BEING THE FUNDING IS BEING ADJUSTED TO ACTUALLY COME DOWN TO THIRTEEN FIVE. 
          AND SO THE FINAL RULE RIGHT NOW PROHIBITS NON-REVENUE REPLACEMENT FUNDING FOR CORRECTIONAL FACILITY CONSTRUCTION. 
          AFTER ANALYZING THE FINAL RULE, STAFF FEEL THAT THE COUNTY HAS THE DISCRETION TO FUND THESE CONSTRUCTION COSTS UNDER A REVENUE REPLY REPLACEMENT CATEGORY. 
          HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO REMOVE ANY CLOUD OF UNCERTAINTY AND TO PROTECT THE COUNTY GENERAL FUND FROM POSSIBLE DISALLOWED COSTS AND FUTURE AUDITS CHANGES, YOU KNOW THESE DOLLARS YOU CAN SPEND THROUGH 2026 STAFF IS RECOMMENDING TO ELIMINATE THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES CATEGORY AND REALLOCATE THOSE THIRTEEN AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS TO COMMUNITY FACILITIES BY SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS AND SIX AND A HALF MILLION TO PUBLIC SAFETY FUNCTIONS. 
          AND SO THAT WOULD BE A NEW CATEGORY THAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT IS ADDED TO THE FRAMEWORK. ADDITIONALLY, TAKING ONE MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE CONTINGENCY AND ADDING IT TO THAT SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS ON WHERE COMMUNITY FACILITIES IS. 
          SO JUST TO GIVE A RECAP NOW HOMELESS SERVICES AGAIN, THERE HAVE BEEN NO ALLOCATIONS MADE. 
          WE ARE RECOMMENDING AND I'LL WALK THROUGH THE RECOMMENDATIONS. 
          A TWO MILLION DOLLARS RECOMMENDATION THERE. 
          FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND OF COVID 19 SUPPORT. 
          ELEVEN MILLION IN COMMUNITY FACILITIES. 
          FOUR POINT SEVEN FOR FLOOD CONTROL AND WATER. 
          TEN MILLION FOR ROADS. 
          SIX AND A HALF FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. 
          AND THEN NO, NO ADDITIONAL OTHER THAN THE ADJUSTMENT FOR CONTINGENCY. 
          SO TO RECAP, YOU STARTED AT APPROXIMATELY FIFTY FOUR MILLION. 
          YOUR BOARD HAS ALREADY APPROVED THE ALLOCATION OF NINE AND A HALF, LEAVING A BALANCE OF FORTY FOUR POINT FIVE STAFF IS BRINGING BEFORE YOU TODAY THIRTY FOUR POINT SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS OF RECOMMENDATIONS, LEAVING A BALANCE OF NINE POINT EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS IN THE CATEGORIES ON THE SCREEN. 
          SO I'M GOING TO TAKE A MINUTE TO WALK THROUGH THOSE ALLOCATIONS THAT STAFF ARE RECOMMENDING TODAY. 
          SO HOMELESS SERVICES ALLOCATING ONE MILLION DOLLARS IN THE 2022-23 BUDGET FOR HOMELESS NAVIGATION CENTER OPERATIONS AND EXISTING COUNTY FUNDED FUNDED EMERGENCY SHELTER PROJECTS. SO THIS WOULD BE GIVING STAFF DIRECTION TO PROGRAM THESE DOLLARS INTO THE BUDGET AS WE PREPARE FOR THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS FOR 2022-23. 
          ADDITIONALLY, WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT SAME THOUGHT, BUT IN THE 23-24 BUDGET AS WELL FOR AN ADDITIONAL ONE MILLION DOLLARS THAT WOULD BRING THE ALLOCATION TO TWO MILLION DOLLARS 
          [03:00:06]
AND LEAVE A BALANCE OF TWO MILLION DOLLARS AS WELL. 
          COVID 19 SUPPORT SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING A REIMBURSEMENT OF ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR COVID 19 AND ARPA OUTREACH EXPENDITURES IN 21-22, AS WELL AS ALLOCATING THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND IN 22-23 FOR COVID 19 TESTING AND VACCINATION ACTIVITIES. 
          WHETHER THAT BE SUPPORTING PROVIDING THE CLINICS THEMSELVES, PROVIDING OUTREACH, PROVIDING MORE MARKETING AND NOTIFICATION SERVICES, FLOOD CONTROL WATER. 
          SO IN REVIEWING THE BLACK RASCAL FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT IN THE CASH FLOW NEEDS OF THAT PROJECT, WE ARE RECOMMENDING ALLOCATING THE BALANCE OF THAT CATEGORY AT FOUR POINT SEVEN MILLION IN THE 2022-23 BUDGET. 
          ROADS, AGAIN ALLOCATING TEN MILLION DOLLARS IN THE 2022-23 BUDGET FOR PROJECTS, ROAD RECONSTRUCTION AND RESURFACING PROJECTS THAT WOULD BE BROUGHT FORWARD IN THE 22-23 BUDGET . AND THEN PUBLIC SAFETY, ALLOCATING SIX AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN THE 2022-23 BUDGET FOR PUBLIC SAFETY FUNCTIONS. 
          NOW WE HAVE COMMUNITY FACILITY PROJECTS, AND I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT JUST TO WALK THROUGH THESE. I SEPARATED THEM OUT BY HVAC AND THEN THE OTHER CATEGORIES, WHICH ARE LIBRARIES, PARKS AND ROOFS. 
          SO FOR OUR VENTILATION SYSTEMS, WE HAVE EIGHT PROJECTS LISTED HERE, INCLUDING FOUR VETERAN HALLS THE LIBRARY, THE DELHI SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER, AS WELL AS A HILMAR COMMUNITY HALL AND THE COUNTY ADMIN BUILDING. 
          A TOTAL OF THAT IS JUST SHY OF NINE POINT FIVE MILLION, WITH ONE POINT EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS OF THAT BEING FOR THE LIBRARY ACROSS THE STREET LIBRARY PARKS AND ROOF FOR THE LIBRARIES, MAKING A RECOMMENDATION OF TWO PUBLIC SERVICE COUNTERS AT THE ATWATER AND AUGUSTINE LIBRARIES, AS WELL AS ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FUND CONSTRUCTION FOR A TEAM, EXCUSE ME, A TEEN CENTER AT THE MERCED LIBRARY FOR PARKS UPGRADES TO THE DELHI AT ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND AND THEN PUTTING THOSE DOLLARS ASIDE FOR PURCHASING PARKLAND IN DELHI. 
          AND THEN ROOFS, THE ATWATER LIBRARY, THE LE GRAND VETERANS HALL AND THEN OUR OLD COURTHOUSE MUSEUM. 
          AND SO GRAND TOTAL OF THOSE IS JUST OVER ELEVEN MILLION DOLLARS. 
          I'D LIKE TO NOW PASS IT OVER TO CEO BROWN TO TALK ABOUT OUR ADDITIONAL PROJECTS FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION THAT WE WANTED TO BRING FORWARD AND MAKE THE BOARD AWARE OF. 
          AS YOU CAN SEE, MR. MARONEY HAS GONE THROUGH KIND OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TODAY AND, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON WHERE THE BOARD GOES WITH THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AT THE END OF IT, THEY'RE STILL LEAVES ABOUT FIVE MILLION DOLLARS IN COUNTY FACILITIES, WITH JUST UNDER TEN  MILLION DOLLARS OVERALL FOR FUTURE, YOU KNOW, DISCUSSIONS AS FAR AS ALLOCATIONS FROM THE RESCUE PLAN. 
          AND SO WE THOUGHT WHAT WE WOULD DO IS JUST KIND OF SUMMARIZE SOME OF THE DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE HEARD THAT YOU'VE ALREADY EITHER PREVIOUSLY TAKEN ACTION ON OR FROM A GENERAL GUIDE, YOU KNOW, DISCUSSIONS ON AND TRY TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF SOME OF WHAT I WILL CALL THERE ACTUALLY SOME HEAVY LIFTS OUT THERE ON SOME OF THESE PROJECTS. 
          BUT TO GET TO BE ABLE TO HAVE YOU TO START THINKING ABOUT THAT FUTURE AND WHERE YOU MIGHT WANT TO THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE, OUR RESCUE PLAN. 
          SO IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THESE, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THESE ARE CENTERED AROUND PARKS, YOU KNOW, AREAS, AND MANY OF THESE ARE CENTERED AROUND AREAS YOU'VE ALREADY STARTED OR YOU'VE ALREADY TAKEN ACTION ON. 
          FOR EXAMPLE, YOU'VE YOU'VE JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED PROPERTY FOR A BEACHWOOD FRANKLIN PARK IN THE FUTURE, YOU'VE JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED PROPERTY FOR SANTA NELLA. 
          THERE THERE'S BEEN CONVERSATIONS, YOU KNOW, ON DELHI AS FAR AS THE PARK. 
          THERE YOU HAVE A WINTON COMMUNITY PARK THAT ALREADY EXIST, BUT IT'S GOT A MASSIVE LANDSCAPE. BUT IT COULD USE SOME IMPROVEMENTS ALSO, AND IT HAS GRANTS. 
          SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE FOUR AREAS, EITHER ONE, YOU'VE ALREADY STARTED THE PROCESS BY PURCHASING LAND OR TWO THERE IS A NEED TO DO EITHER A RENOVATION AND OR, YOU KNOW, KIND 
          [03:05:01]
OF WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY ON TRYING TO DO SOMETHING. 
          SO WE WANTED TO PUT THOSE UP THERE FOR YOU AS CONSIDERATION. 
          YOU KNOW, COUPLE OF THESE YOU HAVE AND YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE [INAUDIBLE] PALOS PARK COMBINED WITH THE LIBRARY AND THE DEL HALE HALL. 
          THAT'S A PROJECT THAT YOU'VE ALL BEEN TALKING ABOUT HAS BEEN UP HERE. 
          REVIEW FOR POLICY DIRECTION. 
          WE'VE GONE AFTER GRANTS AND THEN WITH THE FRANKLIN BEACHWOOD COMMUNITY ALSO POTENTIALLY A CENTER THERE, YOU KNOW, SO YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE ALL LARGER PROJECTS THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT COLLECTIVELY AS A BOARD, YOU HAVEN'T PRIORITIZED THEM, BUT YOU HAVE TOLD STAFF WORK IN A DIRECTION TO TRY TO MOVE FORWARD ON THESE. 
          WHEN YOU GO THROUGH, YOU LOOK AT THE COURTHOUSE MUSEUM THAT IS AN ASSET OF YOURS. 
          IT IS AN EXISTING COUNTY FACILITY. 
          YOU'RE ALL AWARE OF THE CONDITION AND HOW WE DO NEED TO DO SOME WORK. 
          THE BOARD HAD PREVIOUSLY SET ASIDE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, A MILLION DOLLARS TOWARDS ITS PLUS OR MINUS THREE MILLION FOR THE, YOU KNOW, TO IMPROVE AND WORK ON THE EXTERIOR. 
          AND I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CONGRESSMAN AS FAR AS THAT PROCESS AND TRYING TO POTENTIALLY IDENTIFY THE, YOU KNOW, THE REMAINING COUPLE MILLION ON THAT. 
          BUT THAT IS AN EXISTING ASSET. 
          IT'S I THINK MANY OF YOU KNOW FROM, YOU KNOW, MANY COUNTY RESIDENTS AND ESPECIALLY LONGTIME GENERATIONS OF HOW VALUABLE THAT THAT THAT FACILITY IS TO THE COMMUNITY. 
          I DON'T WANT TO MISS ANYTHING. 
          SPEAKING OF PARKS, HAGAMAN PARK. 
          THERE IS A, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A THERE IS A CHALLENGES THERE WITH THE RESTROOM THERE ON HAGAMAN PARK WHERE IT'S LOCATED. 
          THAT IS A REGIONAL PARK. 
          AND THAT'S ANOTHER AREA LOOKING AT LAKE YOSEMITE. 
          YOU KNOW, THE PARKING LOT PAVEMENT IS OUT THERE. 
          IT IS VERY AGED. 
          IT IS VERY, YOU KNOW, FROM A MAINTENANCE PERSPECTIVE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. 
          YOU KNOW, IT IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO NEED SOME ATTENTION. 
          WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH MID ON TRYING TO IDENTIFY RENEWING THE LEASE, SO THERE'S SOME CERTAINTY THERE. 
          SO YOU CAN THEN START TO DETERMINE WHETHER TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE FACILITY AT THIS POINT. WATER SEWER OUT AT LAKE YOSEMITE, WE'VE GOT MULTIPLE SEPTIC SYSTEMS OUT THERE. 
          THE QUESTION BECOMES IS DO YOU CONTINUE TO DO STANDALONE SEPTIC SYSTEMS OUT THERE? OR AT SOME POINT YOU CONNECT TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE WITH THE CITY IS A LONG TIME SITUATION OUT THERE. UP HERE, I LAKE. 
          I WAS THINKING OF LIKE YOSEMITE, AND I THOUGHT THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE UP THERE, SORRY. 
          WITH PARKS, WE TALKED ABOUT SOUND AND WE TALKED ABOUT WHEN THE LAST ONE UP THERE I REALLY HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT IS THE MERCED CP42. 
          I THINK YOU'RE ALL AWARE THE THIS IS A THIS IS NOT COUNTY LAND. 
          THERE'S BEEN POLICY DIRECTION AT BOTH THE CITY AND THE HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT. 
          THERE IS AN EXTENSIVE AREA OUT, ACTUALLY, IT IS IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA WHERE THE CITY OWNS A LARGE AREA OF LAND. 
          THE HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT OWNS A LARGE AREA OF LAND, AND BOTH OF THEM ARE LOOKING AT TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD ON A LARGE REGIONAL COMPLEX OF SOME TYPE. 
          THEY HAVE ASKED THE COUNTY TO PARTICIPATE. 
          THEY HAVE ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO OTHER JURORS ENTITIES FROM THE CITY SCHOOLS AND MCOE. 
          AND SO THERE THERE IS A QUESTION AND THEY'RE THEY'RE MOVING FORWARD ON THAT DISCUSSION OF IS THERE SOMETHING THAT THERE CAN BE A BROAD GROUP OF PUBLIC ENTITIES THAT CAN COMBINE TOGETHER AND WORK TOWARDS A LARGE, LARGE REGIONAL COMPLEX OF SOME TYPE? SO THAT'S WHAT THE MERCED CP42. 
          YOU KNOW WHERE HE IS AND THESE ARE AGAIN, ALL THINGS THAT WE HAVE HEARD UP HERE OR HEARD INDIVIDUALLY FROM YOU. 
          WE MAY BE MISSING SOMEONE AND I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE IF WE'RE MISSING SOME OF THOSE LARGE WHAT I'LL CALL COMMUNITY OR PARK TYPE RELATED, YOU KNOW, AREAS. 
          BUT WE WANTED YOU TO START THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, AS YOU MOVE FORWARD AGAIN WITH THESE RESOURCES, YOU HAVE TO PROGRAM BY THE END, BY 24, BUT YOU HAVE TO USE BY 26. 
          SO AS YOU CONSIDER, YOU ALSO GOT TO MAKE SURE YOU IDENTIFY PROJECTS THAT YOU CAN COMPLETE. 
          AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING AGAIN, THERE'S NO ACTION FOR YOU TODAY OR WE'RE NOT REQUESTING ANY ACTION FOR YOU TODAY. 
          WE'RE ALWAYS OPEN TO YOUR GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION AS FAR AS IF THERE'S SPECIFIC ONES THAT EITHER, YOU KNOW, COMMENTS CAN BE OUT OR COLLECTIVELY AS A BOARD IF YOU WANTED TO PROVIDE DIRECTION. I WILL TELL YOU WHEN LOOKING AT THESE, PROBABLY THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO COME BACK TO YOU SOONER THAN LATER IS THE MERCED CP42. 
          THAT IS ONE THAT AT SOME POINT STAFF IS GOING TO NEED GUIDANCE FROM THE BOARD BECAUSE WE 
          [03:10:05]
DO NEED TO LET THE CITY AND HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT KNOW, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTY WANTS TO BE A PARTNER IN? YOU KNOW, AND SO THEY HAVE AN IDEA FROM THEIR PLANNING PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW HOW TO PLAN OUT THAT LARGE AREA OF LAND. 
          AND I THINK I'LL PAUSE THERE AND THEN MAYBE TURN IT BACK TO MR. MIRRIONE AS FAR AS TO, YOU KNOW, WITH THE CURRENT RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEN STAFF WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION. 
          OK, THANK YOU, MR. BROWN. 
          SO AS RECAPPED, WE'LL HAVE A RECAP FROM THE BOARD AGENDA ITEM, SO WE ARE ASKING FOR THE APPROVAL TO USE THE ALLOCATION ALL FOR REVENUE REPLACEMENT PROJECTS. 
          THAT'S FIFTY THREE MILLION NINE HUNDRED AND THIRTY SIX THOUSAND EIGHTY FIVE DOLLARS. 
          PROVIDE STAFF GUIDANCE REGARDING THE FUNDING FRAMEWORK THAT WE'VE PRESENTED TO YOU TODAY. 
          AND THEN WE HAVE THE AUTHORIZING THE USE OF THOSE DOLLARS FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT WE WENT OVER. 
          THAT'S THE ELEVEN MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF PROJECTS THERE, ALONG WITH AN ASSOCIATED BUDGET TRANSFER AND THEN A BUDGET TRANSFER TO RECOUP A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS OF ELIGIBLE EXPENSES RELATED TO PRIMARILY THE OUTREACH AND WORK ON THIS PROJECT TO DATE AND THEN DIRECT STAFF IN AS WE ARE PROGRAMING NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET TO PROGRAM FOUR POINT SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE BLACK RADICAL FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT, AS WELL AS TEN MILLION FOR RESURFACING AND RECONSTRUCTION OF COUNTY ROADS. 
          A MILLION DOLLARS TO SUPPORT THE HOMELESS NAVIGATION CENTER OPERATIONS, AS WELL AS EXISTING COUNTY FUNDED EMERGENCY SHELTER PROJECTS SIX AND A HALF MILLION TO SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY FUNCTIONS. 
          AND THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND TO SUPPORT COVID-19 TESTING AND VACCINATION EFFORTS. 
          YOU WOULD ALSO WE ARE ALSO ASKING FOR APPROVAL FOR US TO BE DIRECTED TO PROGRAM IN THE 23-24 BUDGET, AN ADDITIONAL MILLION DOLLARS TO SUPPORT THE HOMELESS NAVIGATION CENTER OPERATIONS, AS WELL AS EXISTING COUNTY FUNDED EMERGENCY SHELTER PROJECTS. 
          AND THAT REALLY GIVES US THE ABILITY TO HAVE SOME, YOU KNOW, REALLY SOME GOOD BASELINE FUNDING FOR THOSE OPERATIONS THAT THEY'VE PROVED SUCCESSFUL SINCE THEIR LAUNCH UNDER MR. CHECKLEY'S LEADERSHIP. SO WITH THAT, I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. 
          YEAH, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU, DAVID, FOR THAT PRESENTATION. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TEAM, JIM BROWN, EVERYBODY THIS HAS BEEN A LONG PROCESS AND WE'VE GONE OUT A LOT AND DID MORE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAN WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED AND MUCH APPRECIATED. AND I JUST NOTICED WE HAVE SOME FOLKS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO HAVEN'T PARTICIPATED, AT LEAST IN THE TOWN HALLS THAT I WAS IN. 
          MAYBE YOU COULD TOUCH ON AND I MIGHT. 
          I DON'T MEAN TO BE CALLING YOU OUT ON THIS. 
          MAYBE TOUCH ON THE ARPA DOLLARS AT EACH OF THE CITIES WERE PROVIDED AS WELL. 
          OK. I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT DOLLARS IN FRONT OF ME NOW, BUT THE TOTAL IS JUST SHY OF $51 MILLION. OK, THAT'S WHAT I JUST WANT TO KNOW THAT THE CITIES HAD ARPA AS WELL, AND WE'VE BEEN A LITTLE MORE FOCUSED ON THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS BECAUSE OF THE CITIES HAVING THEIR FUNDING. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT THAT CLEAR. 
          AND I JUST THINK THIS IS A ONE TIME MONIES THAT WE'RE MAKING GENERAL OR GENERATIONAL INVESTMENT THAT'S GOING TO COVER A LOT OF GENERATIONS IN THIS COMMUNITY TO PARTAKE WITH THESE INVESTMENTS WE'RE MAKING. 
          I LIKE WHAT'S BEING SUGGESTED UP HERE NOW, BUT I'LL GO AHEAD AND YIELD TO ANYBODY ELSE WHO HAS COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS. 
          THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YOU'RE WELCOME. 
          MR. BROWN. 
          MR. CHAIR, SORRY. THANK YOU. 
          THERE IS SOMETHING THAT I JUST WANTED TO SHARE. 
          AGAIN, IT WAS A HEAVY LIFT FROM YOUR TEAM. 
          THEY DID A PHENOMENAL JOB ON THE OUTREACH AND I JUST WANT TO SHARE. 
          I THINK, YOU KNOW, OR KNOW, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW AS YOU REFER BACK TO TELLING OUR STORY. 
          MR. MIRROINE WAS ASKED AT THE CSAC ANNUAL CONFERENCE TO ACTUALLY SIT ON A PANEL AT THE STATEWIDE ANNUAL CONFERENCE BECAUSE CSAC, WHICH IS OUR BROADER STATEWIDE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH THE OUTREACH PLAN THAT THE COUNTY HAD PUT TOGETHER THAT THEY MR. MIRRIONE WAS ASKED TO SIT ON A PANEL OF THREE FROM ACROSS THE STATE TO PRESENT WHAT WE WERE DOING WITH OUR OUTREACH PLAN. 
          SO I JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT AND REFLECT ON THAT AS FAR AS YOU KNOW THAT THE OUTREACH PLAN WAS GETTING RECOGNIZED ACROSS THE STATE. 
          THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. 
          THANK YOU. YEAH. YOU KNOW, ON THE SURVEYS THAT WE DID, I MEAN, I KNOW WE GOT A LETTER THAT WAS SENT TO US AND IT SAID ABOUT NOT BEING TRANSPARENT AND QUITE HONESTLY, I MEAN, 
          [03:15:03]
THREE THOUSAND AND NINETY THREE RESPONSES. 
          AND I'M NOT GOING TO PROMISE YOU THAT I READ THROUGH EVERY ONE OF THEM BECAUSE SOME OF THEM MIGHT HAVE BEEN JUST AS SIMPLE AS NA OR A NO OR WHATNOT. 
          BUT THROUGH, I READ THROUGH LAST YESTERDAY AND LAST NIGHT WAS READING THROUGH A LOT OF THESE. AND SO I MEAN, I FEEL LIKE WE WE ARE TRYING TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY. 
          AND I KNOW WHEN I WAS OUT AND TALKING ABOUT THIS, I'M REAL WITH PEOPLE AND SAID, LOOK, IF WE FIND A ONE OFF IN HERE, YOU'RE THE ONLY PERSON THAT RESPONDED TO IT, IT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO GET THE SAME LEVEL OF ATTENTION THAN IF I'M READING THROUGH THIS AND YOU SEE, IN SOME CASES, A COUPLE HUNDRED PEOPLE SAYING KIND OF THE SAME THING THAT'S GOING TO MAKE ME PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THEY'RE DOING. 
          AND THEN JUST AS AND I KNOW WE'RE NOT THERE YET, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING. 
          WE'RE GOING TO GET TO HEAR THE PUBLIC AND HAVE SOME MORE DISCUSSION. 
          BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, WE'RE BEING ASKED TODAY TO ALLOCATE 11 [INAUDIBLE] CALL. 
          IT WAS CALLED LIKE JUST JUST SHY OF $12 MILLION THAT WE ALLOCATE TO IT BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT WE STILL DON'T EVEN HAVE THE SECOND. 
          THE SECOND TWENTY SEVEN MILLION DOESN'T GET PUT INTO OUR TREASURY UNTIL MAY. 
          HOPEFULLY THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID AND THEY DID IT LAST TIME, AND I'M GOING TO TAKE THEIR WORD THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT NEXT TIME. 
          AND THEN PART OF THE NEXT DEAL IS WE'RE THE TWENTY TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IS STAFF IS LOOKING FOR DIRECTION BECAUSE AS HERE WE ARE ALREADY IN FEBRUARY AND OUR FISCAL YEAR ENDS IN JUNE AND WE START A NEW FISCAL YEAR IN JULY. 
          WORK IS ALREADY GOING ON TO PUTTING TOGETHER NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. 
          AND SO I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO OUR STAFF, TO, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY LEADERSHIP THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY TO BE ABLE TO KIND OF HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING. 
          OK, YEAH, WE'RE GOING. I MEAN, WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING THESE DIFFERENT DOLLARS THAN WE WOULD NORMALLY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO START PROGRAMING THEM. 
          SO NOTHING IS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NOT DECIDED ON A SPECIFIC ROAD THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE PAVED. I JUST WANT LIKE I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S NOT THE LEVEL OF DETAIL. 
          BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PUTTING $10 MILLION INTO ROADS IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, THERE'S STILL A PLAN THAT HAS TO BE DEVELOPED ON HOW THAT'S ALL GOING TO ACTUALLY PENCIL OUT TO A ROAD BEING PAVED IN A COMMUNITY. 
          BUT KNOWING THAT ROADS THIS JOB WE'VE ALL HEARD, LIKE NO MATTER HOW IMPORTANT, DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? COVID HITS EVERYTHING ROADS, ROADS, ROADS, ROADS, EVERYBODY'S GOT ROAD ISSUES AND BECAUSE IT'S WHAT CONNECTS ALL OF US, WHETHER YOU LIVE IN MERCED, LOS BANOS, DOS PALOS, [INAUDIBLE] OR WHATEVER. 
          WHEN YOU GO FROM ONE COMMUNITY TO THE NEXT, YOU WILL DRIVE ON A COUNTY ROAD. 
          THAT'S WE'RE NOT THE METROPOLITAN AREAS WHERE IT JUST GOES FROM CITY TO CITY TO CITY, AND WITH NO COUNTY IN BETWEEN. 
          YOU WILL YOU HAVE TO DRIVE ON COUNTY ROADS. 
          AND SO I'M THANKFUL FOR THE LAYOUT, BUT I DO WANT TO, YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY OPTIMISTIC THAT WE'RE MAKING ONE TIME INVESTMENTS IN ONE TIME THINGS THAT WE CAN SUSTAIN MOVING FORWARD. AND AGAIN, STAFF THANK YOU FOR KIND OF PUTTING A FRAMEWORK TOGETHER, REACHING OUT, HAVING THESE MEETINGS IN THE PUBLIC. 
          AND I KNOW WE GET CRITICIZED AS IF WE HAVE THEM AT NIGHT. 
          THEY WANT THEM DURING THE DAY. IF WE HAVE THEM DURING THE DAY THEY WANT THEM AT NIGHT. 
          THEY WANT A VIRTUAL OPTION, THEY WANT AN IN-PERSON OPTION. 
          AND IT'S IT'S TWO PEOPLE FROM SOMETIMES THE SAME GROUP, BUT THEY'RE SAYING THEY WANT DIFFERENT THINGS. ONE WANTS THE MEETING IN THE MORNING, ONE WANTS THE MEETING AND WE'VE TRIED TO AND I THINK YOU GUYS DID A GREAT JOB OF REALLY MAKING IT ACCESSIBLE GOING OUT TO THE MAX. I KNOW WE HAD ONE IN SANTA NELLA WHERE WE DON'T HAVE A MAC, BUT REALLY ENGAGING THE COMMUNITIES TO TRY BECAUSE WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT PART OF THIS IS, IS IT'S NOT JUST US SITTING UP HERE DICTATING WHAT'S GOING ON, IT'S LISTENING TO OUR CONSTITUENTS. WHAT ARE THE ISSUES OUT THERE AND HOW DO WE HELP ADDRESS THOSE? THANK YOU, CHAIR. 
          MR. BROWN. I JUST TO REITERATE, SO MAKE SURE THE BOARD IS UNNECESSARY AND FOR THE PUBLIC IS YOU ARE CORRECT THAT NUMBER FIVE RIGHT THERE IS JUST DIRECTION TO STAFF TO PROGRAM. 
          SO AS WE AS STAFF STARTS TO PUT THE BUDGET TOGETHER, THEY HAVE ALL OF THOSE WILL COME BACK TO YOU AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS AND SPECIFICALLY TO THE ROADS. 
          YOU ARE CORRECT. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE A PLAN IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE PUT TOGETHER AND COME BACK TO YOU FOR YOUR DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION. 
          SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT ITEM NUMBER FIVE AND NUMBER SIX FOR THAT PERIOD, THAT DOES NOT MEAN STAFF IS GOING TO GO AND MOVE FORWARD ON THOSE. 
          THAT MEANS STAFF IS GOING TO PUT THE BUDGET TOGETHER IN A PLAN TOGETHER FOR EACH ONE OF THOSE TO BRING BACK TO YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MIRROINE, AT THIS TIME, I SEE NO REQUEST TO SPEAK, SO I WOULD LIKE TO DO THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK AND AND FEATHER THIS OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE. 
          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 NINE. 
          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 SIX. 
          [03:20:02]
AS A REMINDER, TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON. 
          ALL RIGHT, SO AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WE HAVE SOMEBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. 
          PLEASE GO AHEAD. 
          YES, HI. I HAD A FEW CONCERNS. 
          I'M A RESIDENT HERE IN MERCED AND MERCED COUNTY, AND I HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT HAD COVID THE VIRUS, AND I FEEL LIKE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS BEING LEFT OUT. 
          I OVERHEARD THAT THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT WAS REACHING OUT AND TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE RESIDENTS AND ASKING WHAT WE REALLY NEED. 
          AND IN MY COMMUNITY, THERE ARE PLENTY HOMELESS PEOPLE. 
          THERE ARE PLENTY PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY THAT HAVE GOT COVID 19 WITH CHILDREN. 
          THEY COULDN'T GO TO WORK. 
          THEY HAVE TO HAVE THEIR KIDS HOME. 
          THEY HAVE TO SELF-QUARANTINE. 
          THE PRICES FOR FOOD WENT UP, WATER WENT UP. 
          I UNDERSTAND THE ROADS GOT TO BE FIXED. 
          I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF THINGS. 
          THE MAN BEFORE ME AND I RESPECT THAT WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT. 
          BUT I THINK THAT PEOPLE'S BEEN LEFT OUT. 
          MY FAMILY, I HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS EVERYWHERE AND IN MONTERREY AND SAN FRANCISCO, THEY HAD A PROGRAM THAT WAS CALLED SELF-ISOLATION STIPEND PROGRAM AND WHAT THAT PROGRAM WAS BASICALLY FOR PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITY THAT CAUGHT COVID 19. 
          THEY HAD THE VIRUS. 
          THEY DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY FUNDS FROM UNEMPLOYMENT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. 
          THEY WERE GIVEN $1000 TO SHELTER IN. 
          THESE ARE FOR PEOPLE ALSO THAT'S WORKING AND CHILDREN AT SCHOOL. 
          THEY HAD TO GO AND GET THEIR KIDS. 
          THEY CAN'T WORK BECAUSE THEY GOT TO WATCH THE KIDS. 
          THIS MONEY WAS ALLOCATED FOR THAT AND I WAS ASKED OF, DID WE HAVE THAT HERE? SO I CALLED OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND I ASKED HIM, I SAID, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT'S ALLOCATED FOR PARENTS AT HOME OR RESIDENTS AT HOME THAT HAVE COVID 19? AND THEY SAID NO. 
          AND THEN I ASKED TO SPEAK TO THEIR DIRECTOR, WHICH WASN'T AVAILABLE, BUT THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WAS AVAILABLE AND SHE SAID NO. 
          THEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS MEETING. 
          SO MY QUESTION TO THE PANEL IS I UNDERSTAND ALL THE NEEDS FOR EVERYTHING ELSE. 
          BUT THE PEOPLE ARE CRYING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          THEY'RE SUFFERING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, SO I JUST WANTED TO KNOW. 
          PLEASE CONSIDER US DO SOMETHING FOR THE PEOPLE, THE CHILDREN IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          I'M ON THE WEST SIDE OF MERCED, AND THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY. 
          KEEP US IN MIND. DON'T FORGET US. 
          MAY I ASK YOU ONE QUICK QUESTION? DO YOU LIVE IN THE CITY LIMITS OR THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF MERCED? THE CITY LIMITS. 
          OK. THE CITY OF MERCED ALSO RECEIVED AN ALLOCATION. 
          HOW MANY MILLION? TWENTY FOUR MILLION DOLLARS OR TWENTY SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS. 
          SO THAT MONEY WOULD BE THE MONEY THAT WOULD BE ALLOCATED TOWARDS PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE CITY OF MERCED, OK, AND THEN OR WILL IT BE SOMEONE AS LIKE, FOR INSTANCE, SOME OF THE QUESTIONS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THEY ASKED WAS IN REGARDS TO STIPENDS IN REGARDS TO ELECTRIC BILLS IN REGARDS TO THE WATER BILL. 
          IN REGARDS TO FOOD. 
          OK, THAT'S GREAT. THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING. 
          THERE IS $16 MILLION OR WAS ALLOCATED $16 MILLION SPECIFICALLY FOR THOSE PURPOSES. 
          AND SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS THE GENTLEMAN IN THE FRONT ROW IN THE END CAN HELP CONNECT YOU TO THOSE. 
          WE GAVE OUR ALLOCATION TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO DISTRIBUTE BACK TO MERCED COUNTY BECAUSE THEIR RULES WERE MORE LENIENT THAN WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GAVE IT GAVE TO US SO WE COULD HELP MORE PEOPLE. 
          SO JOHN WILL, WOULD LOVE TO CHAT WITH YOU AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET YOU SOME RESOLUTION TO YOUR REQUEST. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          YOU'RE WELCOME. PUBLIC COMMENT. 
          OK, SEEING NONE, DO WE HAVE ANY ONLINE? WE DO HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS. 
          THE FIRST ONE IS LEADERSHIP COUNCIL. 
          OK. GOOD AFTERNOON, SUPERVISORS. 
          THIS IS MADELINE HARRIS FROM LEADERSHIP COUNCIL AGAIN. 
          MADELEINE. EXCUSE ME FOR A SECOND. 
          DID YOU ALREADY SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENT? I'D LIKE TO MAKE A VERBAL COMMENT. 
          WELL, BUT. OH OK. 
          GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. 
          SO I WANT TO FIRST POSE A QUESTION. 
          I'M HAVING A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING THE SLIDE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION FOR 53.936 MILLION 
          [03:25:03]
OUT OF YOUR FIFTY FOUR MILLION DOLLARS ALLOCATION GOING TOWARDS REVENUE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT ACCORDING TO THE FINAL RULE, MERCED COUNTY WOULD NEED TO SHOW ITS CALCULATIONS OF REVENUE LOSS FROM THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE GUIDELINES. 
          AND YOU CAN'T EXCEED THE CALCULATION. 
          SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THOSE CALCULATIONS TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE MAJORITY OF THE ARPA DOLLARS IS GOING TOWARDS REVENUE REPLACEMENT. 
          AND THEN I ALSO JUST WANT TO UPLIFT SOME OF THE COMMUNITY PRIORITIES THAT WE HEARD FROM FOLKS THROUGH OUR OUTREACH PROCESS, WHICH ARE HONESTLY A LOT OF THE SAME PRIORITIES THAT YOU HIGHLIGHTED IN YOUR PRESENTATION, WHICH LETS ME KNOW THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF FOLKS PRIORITIES THAT THEY WANT TO SEE THINGS LIKE COMMUNITY CENTERS AND PARKS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND OUTDOOR WALKABILITY THAT'S ADA ACCESSIBLE. 
          SO I'M HAVING A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING WHY THAT'S FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION, BECAUSE I JUST WANT TO REMIND THE BOARD THAT, YOU KNOW, A WONDERFUL OUTREACH PROCESS LIKE YOURS, WHERE YOU GOT SO MUCH VALUABLE FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY IS ONLY AS VALUABLE AS YOUR INCORPORATION OF THAT FEEDBACK, RIGHT. 
          SO WE'D LOVE TO SEE NOW THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE, YOU DECIDE TO USE THE FUNDING TO INVEST IN THOSE PRIORITIES. 
          AND AGAIN, I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU ABOUT THE CALCULATIONS OF YOUR REVENUE LOSS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          NEXT IS PATRICIA RAMOS. 
          PATRICIA, IT LOOKS LIKE YOUR MIC IS MUTED. 
          THERE YOU GO. HELLO, THIS IS PATRICIA. 
          CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. 
          OK. MY COMMENTS HAVE TO DO WITH THE ARPA FUNDING AND THAT MANY THE CITY FUND THEIR PROJECTS THROUGH THEIR BUDGETS THAT THEY HAVE ALLOCATED. 
          YOU ALSO HAVE THE SAME THING WITH THE COUNTY, AND A LOT OF THE RURAL COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND FROM DAY ONE. 
          SANTA NELLA IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF LACK OF PARK RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AT [INAUDIBLE] SIDEWALKS THEY STILL HAVE THAT PROBLEM AND EVEN ACCESS TO THEIR COMMERCIAL DISTRICT. 
          BUT WITH ARPA FUNDING, THEY REALLY DO LOOKING AT THE COMMUNITIES THAT NOT ARE REFURBISHING PROPERTIES OR PROJECTS, BUT ACTUALLY INVESTING IN AREAS THAT STILL DON'T HAVE ANY OF THE ENTITIES THAT OTHER COMMUNITIES WOULD NORMALLY HAVE. 
          OR WHEN YOU HAVE NEW HOUSING BUILT, YOU WOULD HAVE A PARK BUILT. 
          SO THAT'S THE ISSUE, AND CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE IS THAT WE NEED TO INVEST IN THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY AND NOT ON [INAUDIBLE] OR A LOT OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IMPROVING SOMEONE THEY ALREADY HAVE A FACILITY THAT THEY CAN HAVE, AND THEIR CITY CAN ALSO BE THE PARTNER THAT PAYS INTO THAT AS WELL. 
          AND SOME RURAL COMMUNITIES ARE LEFT BEHIND. 
          AND THAT'S A KEY, AND THEY BRING IN REVENUES TO THE COUNTY THAT THEY'RE BRINGING IN REVENUES AT LARGE QUANTITIES, ESPECIALLY LIKE SANTA NELLA MILLIONS OF DOLLARS MORE THAN SOME OF THE EVEN SMALLER CITIES. 
          THE REINVESTMENT HAS NOT BEEN THERE. 
          IT HASN'T, EVEN WHEN YOU EVEN WHEN THE COUNTY APPROVED DEVELOPERS TO BUILD HOUSING, EVEN THE LAST DEVELOPMENT THEY DIDN'T PUT A PARK. 
          IT WAS GIVEN A SIDE OR IT WAS LIKE YOU TOOK THE MONEY AND YOU WOULD BUILD IT, OR IT WOULD'VE BEEN BETTER OFF TO HAVE THE DEVELOPER BUILD THE PARK. 
          SO WE NEED TO WORK THAT WE THERE'S AN INEQUITY OF DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDING AND RESOURCES FROM THE COUNTY OR RESOURCES THAT COME BACK TO REIMBURSE THE COUNTY. 
          BUT THE INEQUITY IN THE RURAL COMMUNITIES ARE VERY MUCH IMPACTED AND THEY HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN. SO WE'RE NOT. 
          WE'RE WORKING WITH YOU, MR. ESPINOZA. HIS HISTORY OF WORKING WITH HIS OWN APPROPRIATORS HAVE [INAUDIBLE], AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT [INAUDIBLE] I'VE BEEN TOLD, NO, IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE [INAUDIBLE] WITH MR. ESPINOZA AS THE NEW DISTRICT SUPERVISOR IN OUR AREA BECAUSE HE'S SHOWN THE EXAMPLE, WHAT HE'S DONE IN HIS AREA. 
          THAT'S WHAT WE NEED IN SANTA NELLA. 
          SO THAT WAY, WE CAN HAVE OUR FAIR SHARE. 
          BUT DON'T FORGET THE OTHER RURAL UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES, IF THEY GOT ALREADY FACILITIES THEY'RE JUST GETTING MONEY TO MAKE THEM LOOK PRETTIER OR NEWER WHILE IN UNINCORPORATED AREAS OR [INAUDIBLE] FOLLOW THAT COMMUNITY. 
          THEY DON'T HAVE SIDEWALKS OR EVEN CURBS TO GET TO THE COMMERCIAL DISTRICT OR LIGHTING. 
          THAT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. 
          WE NEED IT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT ALSO INVEST IN EACH OTHER IN THE WEST SIDE OF THE RURAL COMMUNITY. AND THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO SAY. 
          [03:30:02]
[INAUDIBLE] TO DO THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. 
          THANK YOU. SAYS GLORIA. 
          YES, GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING THIS PUBLIC HEARING. 
          I DID HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT YOUR DEFINITION OF PUBLIC SAFETY. 
          THAT'S ONE. 
          AND THEN I HAVE A COUPLE OTHER THINGS THAT I WANTED TO ASK YOU. 
          IF THE SURVEY WAS I KNOW THERE WAS LIKE 211 PAGES OR 16 PAGES OR SOMETHING, I COULDN'T GO THROUGH THE WHOLE THING, BUT I WONDERED IF ANY OF THE STAFF ACTUALLY PARTICIPATED IN CATEGORIZING, YOU KNOW, THE ACTUAL COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE BY THE BY PEOPLE ON THE SURVEY. AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS ANOTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS, ARE YOU NOW AT THIS TIME DECIDING THE USE OF THE ENTIRE AMOUNT OF THE MONEY, YOU KNOW, FOR THE THE EVEN THE THE UPCOMING MAY 2020 OR 2022 MONIES? ARE YOU MAKING UP YOUR MIND OR DECIDING ON WHAT PROJECTS ARE GOING TO BE COVERED NOW? SHALL I WAIT FOR AN ANSWER OR? NO. CONTINUE TO MAKE YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. 
          OK, ONE LAST THING IS I DO APPRECIATE YOUR THE WEBSITE, THE COUNTY WEBSITE, INCLUDING THE MONIES RECEIVED BY OTHER ENTITIES, YOU KNOW, INCLUDING CITIES, INCLUDING EVEN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. I THINK EARLY ON I TRY TO FIND THIS INFORMATION OUT AND THERE WAS REALLY NOT TO BE FOUND ANYWHERE. 
          SO I DO KNOW THAT THIS IS QUITE A IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF COLLABORATION FOR JOINT VENTURES WHEN WE CALL UP TALK ABOUT THIS. 
          I WOULD LIKE SOME OF THE PARK UPDATES ALSO TO INCLUDE LIKE EXERCISE STATIONS OR SOMETHING TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY TRY TO STAY FIT. 
          I KNOW I'VE BEEN PUTTING ON SOME POUNDS, ESPECIALLY WITH THIS COVID, AND IT WOULD BE NICE THAT OUR PARKS WOULD INCLUDE THINGS THAT WOULD GIVE SOME DIRECTION AND EXERCISE. 
          SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE. 
          THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. 
          NEXT, WE HAVE ANOTHER LEADERSHIP COUNCIL. 
          HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. SORRY. 
          THIS IS SHANE JOHN WITH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL. 
          CAN YOU LET ME KNOW, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE HEAR YOU. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          I WANTED TO MAKE MY COMMENT TO ONE OF THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS A POINT ABOUT COVID SICK PAY FOR PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY AND EVEN THOUGH THEY SHARE THAT THEY LIVE WITHIN CITY LIMITS. 
          I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY COVID AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO WORK BECAUSE OF SICK CHILDREN AND OR THEY ARE SICK THEMSELVES AND BECAUSE THEY HAVE STOPPED COVID PAY SINCE LATE LAST YEAR. 
          PEOPLE HAVE JUST BEEN FORGOING LIKE INCOME OR GOING TO WORK BECAUSE THEY CAN'T, YOU KNOW, THEIR WORK WON'T LET THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE AT HOME WITH SICK CHILDREN, YOU CANNOT COME TO WORK. 
          AND SO I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD FOLLOW THE EXAMPLES OF OTHER CITIES WHO HAVE SHOWN CARE FOR THEIR COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN GIVING THEM DIRECT MONEY FROM ARPA. 
          BECAUSE THIS IS FOR THOSE WHO ARE COVID IMPACTED AND A THOUSAND ISN'T ANYTHING, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY MISS A WHOLE WEEK OF WORK. 
          AND SO I DO BELIEVE THAT WE MUST FIND BETTER, MORE EFFECTIVE WAYS TO PUT THIS HAND, TO PUT THIS MONEY DIRECTLY INTO THE HANDS OF VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. 
          AND I ALSO WANT TO SHARE THAT RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY HAVE EXPRESSED BETTER ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE. 
          THEY ARE VERY FAR FROM HEALTH SERVICES, AND ON TOP OF THAT, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT LIKE THE TIME COMMITMENT IT TAKES TO GET FROM AREAS TO THE CITY OF MERCED. 
          AND YOU KNOW, IT'S A COST TO THEIR DAY, THEIR TIME TAKEN OFF WORK AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT DOES IN TERMS OF CREATING EMISSIONS FOR TRAVEL HERE, BACK AND FORTH. 
          AND THEN LASTLY, I AM GLAD TO SEE THAT THE COUNTY IS AWARE THAT THESE FUNDS CANNOT GO 
          [03:35:01]
DIRECTLY TO EXPAND JAILS OR WHATNOT. 
          BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT SOMEHOW AUTOMATICALLY REALLOCATING THOSE FUNDS TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES IS VERY CONCERNING AND WANT TO KNOW HOW THAT NEED ALL OF A SUDDEN ROSE THAT IN THOSE AMOUNTS. 
          AND SO IT JUST LOOKS LIKE THE COUNTY IS COVERING ITSELF IN REALLOCATING THE FUNDS, BUT THAT IT MIGHT STILL GO TO CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. 
          SO THAT IS A CONCERN TO ME, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A BREAKDOWN OF WHAT THAT 8 MILLION AND 6.5 MILLION WOULD BE USED FOR SO THAT WE ARE STILL COMPLIANT WITH THE FINAL RULE. 
          AND SO I KNOW MY TIME IS RUNNING OUT, SO I WANTED TO SEE THOSE THINGS ADDRESSED. 
          THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. 
          NEXT, WE HAVE [INAUDIBLE]. 
          HI, CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? YES. HI, EVERYONE. 
          [INAUDIBLE] MY GENDER PRONOUNS ARE SHE, HER, I ECHO WHAT OTHER FOLKS HAVE SHARED. 
          I HAVE QUESTIONS OF WHAT PUBLIC SAFETY INVESTMENTS WILL LOOK LIKE IN MERCED COUNTY FOR ME AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT I WORK WITH. 
          PUBLIC SAFETY MEANS INVESTMENT IN HOUSING, INVESTMENT IN YOUNG PEOPLE AND PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN, LIKE, REALLY IMPACTED BY COVID. 
          I'M STILL HAVING A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING WHY THE COUNTY IS NOT GIVING THIS MONEY TO THE MOST VULNERABLE TIME AFTER TIME, LIKE OUR FARM WORKERS HAVE BEEN SHOWING UP TO MERCED CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS TO DEMAND PREMIUM PAY AND WE SEE THAT THE GOVERNING BODY THAT IS CITY COUNCIL IS NOT SUPPORTING FARMWORKERS, AND I DO EXPECT MY COUNTY BOARD TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I WILL INVEST IN IN FARM WORKERS GETTING PREMIUM PAY. 
          MANY OF YOU ARE ACTUALLY EMPLOYED FARMWORKERS AND DAIRY WORKERS, AND THEY SHOULD BE GETTING PREMIUM PAY, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD DO WITH THIS MONEY INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, INVESTING IT IN A VETERAN'S HALL WHEN PEOPLE ARE LITERALLY LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK, UNABLE TO PAY RENT. 
          I ALSO SUPPORT THE INVESTMENT OF A COVID SICK PAY PROGRAM. 
          I KNOW UNDOCUMENTED MERCEDIANS THAT HAVE NEVER RECEIVED HELP WITH ANY UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS OR ANY TYPE OF PAID SICK LEAVE, AND THEY'VE HAD TO STRUGGLE AND NOT EVEN TAKE OFF. IT PUTS OUR FAMILIES IN A REALLY HARD SITUATION WHEN YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO TAKE ONE DAY OFF WORK. SO YOU HAVE TO SHOW UP SICK TO WORK BECAUSE THERE IS NO ASSISTANCE AND YOU ARE THE HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD AND YOU HAVE TO PAY RENT, RIGHT. 
          AND SO I REALLY ENCOURAGE THE COUNTY TO BE PROACTIVE IN YOUR DEFINITION ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY RIGHT. 
          PUBLIC SAFETY IS INVESTING IN HOUSING IN COVID, SAFE PAY IN PREMIUM PAY FOR FARM WORKERS AND INVESTMENTS IN YOUTH JOBS. 
          I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS COUNTY LEVERAGE THE ONE 1.25 MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENTS THAT MERCED CITY IS DOING. 
          THEY'RE LITERALLY INVESTING MONEY INTO A YOUTH JOBS PROGRAM THROUGH WORK NET. 
          CAN THIS COUNTY DEMONSTRATE THAT IT STANDS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND THAT THEY WILL ALSO ALLOCATE AT LEAST $1 MILLION INTO THIS YOUTH JOBS PROGRAM? OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ESSENTIAL WORKERS DESERVE TO BE AT THE CENTER OF THIS NOT, YOU KNOW, VETERAN HALLS AND LITERALLY BUILDINGS. 
          THANK YOU. ANY OTHER ONLINE? THERE ARE NO OTHER INDIVIDUALS WITH THEIR HAND RAISED. 
          OK, I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE CHAMBERS. 
          IS THERE ANYBODY IN HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT? ALL RIGHT, THEN WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS TIME. 
          MR. BROWN, MR. BROWN. SORRY, MR. CHAIR, IN ANTICIPATION OF A FEW QUESTIONS, I THOUGHT WE WOULD GO AHEAD. 
          IF IT'S OK, YOU WANT US TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION RELATED TO SOME OF THE COMMENTS. THAT'D BE FINE. 
          OK. 
          RELATED TO THE, YOU KNOW, REVENUE REPLACEMENT IN THE FORMULA. 
          YOU ACTUALLY PREVIOUSLY IN AUGUST, AS MR. MIRROINE REFERRED TO, GAVE US DIRECTION BACK IN AUGUST TO MOVE DOWN THAT PATH. 
          [03:40:03]
AND IN THAT PRESENTATION IN AUGUST, WE ACTUALLY WALKED THROUGH WITH A SLIDE THAT SHARED THE CALCULATION AT THAT POINT IN TIME. 
          HOWEVER, IN TO SHARE, I'LL ASK MR. MIRROINE KIND OF WALKED THROUGH THE CALCULATION VERBALLY A LITTLE BIT, BUT ALSO REMEMBER THAT THAT WAS FOR THE FIRST YEAR. 
          AND SO REALLY, THIS IS SOMETHING YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO EACH YEAR. 
          HOWEVER, THE CALCULATIONS ALREADY FOR THE SECOND YEAR LOOK LIKE YOU FAR EXCEED THE FIFTY FOUR MILLION ALREADY. SO THAT'S WHY WE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD IN THAT DIRECTION. MR. THANK YOU, CO BROWN. 
          SO HOW IT WORKS IS YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT YOUR LAST THREE YEAR OF GROWTH BEFORE THE PANDEMIC. 
          SO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS WE LOOK AT THE 2015-16 YEAR AND THEN YOU START THERE, YOU LOOK AT THE GROWTH IN '16-17. 
          SO THAT'S YOUR ONE, A GROWTH '17-18. 
          AND YOU LOOK AT THAT YEAR OF GROWTH AND THEN '18-19 IN OUR FISCAL YEAR ENDS OF JUNE OF 19. OK, SO IT SEEMS A LITTLE BIT FURTHER BACK, BUT THE PANDEMIC HIT DURING THAT '19-20 BUDGET YEAR. AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE AVERAGE THREE-YEAR GROWTH, THAT IS A 7.6 PERCENT GROWTH. AND SO WHAT YOU DO IS YOU LOOK AT YOUR BASELINE ALLOCATION OF OUR REVENUES AND WE HAVE TO EXCLUDE ANY FEDERAL REVENUE. 
          SO AS YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY DOES RECEIVE QUITE A FEW FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT COME THROUGH. 
          WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH AND PULL THOSE DOLLARS OUT OF THE CALCULATION. 
          WHAT THEN HAPPENS IS IS THE TREASURY PROVIDES A FORMULA THAT THEIR TERM IS PROVIDES COUNTERFACTUAL REVENUE. 
          SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT PERIOD. 
          SO IF OUR FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30TH OF 2019 AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THE END OF CALENDAR YEAR 20, THEN THAT IS AN 18 MONTH PROCESS OR A SPAN OF TIME. 
          AND SO WHAT IT DOES IS IT LOOKS AT IF YOU WERE TO BE AT THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY, THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY ONE AND I'M GOING TO USE ROUND NUMBERS. 
          THREE HUNDRED FIFTY ONE MILLION OF BASE REVENUE IN 18-19. 
          THEN WITH THAT ADJUSTMENT, THEIR FORMULA IS SHOWING, WE SHOULD HAVE APPROXIMATELY THREE HUNDRED AND NINETY TWO MILLION OF REVENUE AND WE CAME IN AT THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY SIX. 
          SO THAT DIFFERENCE IS $36 MILLION. 
          SO RIGHT OFF THE BAT, I TAKE THAT FIFTY FOUR MILLION DOLLARS AND I KNOW THIRTY SIX MILLION IS ELIGIBLE. THAT WAS CALENDAR YEAR 2020 IN CALENDAR YEAR 2021. 
          WE GO BACK AND WE APPLY THAT SAME PROCESS. 
          AND SO THEY'RE LOOKING AT APPLYING THAT WE CAN USE A 7.6 OR WE COULD USE FIVE POINT TWO. 
          SO IF WE CAME IN AND OUR AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE RAN THAT INITIAL CALCULATION OF 7.6, IF IT CAME IN BELOW, WE COULD HAVE ACTUALLY USED THAT, YOU KNOW, THE FIVE POINT TWO PERCENT. 
          AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT, ESSENTIALLY WE NEED TO GET TO $18 MILLION OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE LOSS PER THEIR FORMULA IN GOING THROUGH THE 2021, WHERE WE'RE JUST ABOVE THE $40 MILLION MARK. SO THAT FAR EXCEEDS AT THAT POINT, YOU'RE PAST FIFTY FOUR MILLION. 
          NOW YOU CAN'T ADD TO IT, IT IS THE ALLOCATION. 
          SO WE'RE ABLE TO SHOW THAT THERE AND WE DO END UP THE TREASURY PORTAL DOES ASK FOR US TO REPORT ON THAT AND WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE, THAT WILL GET REPORTED IN THERE. 
          WE DID HAVE TO SUBMIT THE 2020 CALENDAR YEAR. 
          IT DID GET PUSHED OUT BECAUSE SOME JURISDICTIONS CAN GO INTO A FISCAL YEAR NOW, WHICH WAS A CHANGE IN THE FINAL RULE PROCESS. 
          SO THAT WILL BE POSTED IN THERE, PER THE TREASURY GUIDANCE. 
          THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION. 
          ANY OTHERS YOU WANT US TO? I MEAN, WELL, I GUESS I'LL ANSWER ONE QUESTION, IT WAS IT'S ASKED. 
          YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SAFETY FUNCTIONS AND WHAT THAT 6.5 MILLION IS GOING TO BE USED FOR? WELL, SO IF YOU LISTEN TO THE PRESENTATION, WE DIDN'T ALLOCATE THAT MONEY. 
          WE JUST PUT IT IN AN ACCOUNT THAT COULD BE USED FOR THAT. 
          AND THEN AS THINGS COME UP IN PUBLIC SAFETY, THEN THE STAFF COULD BRING THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD AND THOSE MONIES COULD BE ALLOCATED AT THAT TIME. 
          AND SO UNTIL WE HAVE AN ACTUAL ITEM, IT WOULD BE SUSPECT TO SPECULATE. 
          DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT? NO. 
          THAT'S BASICALLY ANY. 
          THIS WILL BE PROGRAMED IN. 
          IT WOULD BE SEEN IT WOULD BE PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS IF ANYTHING COMES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR LIKE THIS ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND WE'RE RECOMMENDING, WE BRING IT FORWARD AS A BUDGET TRANSFER SO THIS ISN'T STAFF GOING OFF AFTER ALL OF THOSE WOULD BE BROUGHT BACK BEFORE YOU FOR CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. 
          THE PLAN THAT WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD TODAY IS MINDFUL OF THE TWO TRANCHES OF DOLLARS, SO THE TWENTY SEVEN MILLION AND THEN THE ADDITIONAL TWENTY SEVEN MILLION COMING IN. 
          [03:45:04]
THAT'S WHERE THOSE ADDITIONAL PROJECTS FOR '22-23 BASED ON THE TIMING. 
          BY THE TIME THAT COMES BEFORE YOU IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET CYCLE, WE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THAT SECOND TRANCHE AND THOSE DOLLARS WOULD BE IN THE BANK IF FOR SOME REASON THEY'RE NOT, WE WOULD OBVIOUSLY BRING THAT FORWARD AS PART OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET PROCESS AND INFORM YOU OF THAT SO THAT IS THE PLAN. 
          SO IT IS, YOU KNOW, IT IS MINDFUL OF THAT. 
          SO. OKAY. 
          AND THEN ONE LAST COMMENT THAT I HEARD THAT I THINK BEARS OUT A LITTLE BIT OF TIME IS HELPING THOSE THAT HAVE PERSONALLY BEEN AFFECTED BY LOSS OF INCOME FOR COVID. 
          AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE MERCED COUNTY WAS ALLOCATED ABOUT $16 MILLION FOR THAT TYPE OF HELP, WHICH WOULD HELP PAY FOR RENT, UTILITIES. 
          AND SO IS THERE A PHONE NUMBER THAT WE COULD SHARE WITH FOLKS THAT THEY COULD GO TO TO HAVE ACCESS OR TO GAIN ACCESS TO THAT SOURCE OF MONEY? YES, MR. CHECKLEY IS PULLING THE PHONE NUMBER. 
          THE WEBSITE IS HOUSING.CA.GOV AND IT'S THE HOUSING IS KEY PROGRAM. 
          HOUSING IS KEY. IF YOU GOOGLE HOUSING IS KEY, IT'LL COME UP THERE. 
          IT'S HOUSING.CA.GOV. 
          A PHONE NUMBER I DO NOT HAVE OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. 
          AND THEN THIS IS ANOTHER OFF THE TOP YOU HEAD. 
          BUT DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY DOLLARS THE STATE HAS ALLOCATED OF THAT MONEY INTO MERCED COUNTY OR APPROXIMATELY? I'D LIKE TO ASK MR. CHECKLEY TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THAT. 
          SURE. THANK YOU. CONTACT WITH THE STATE. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR. 
          MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, AS OF LAST FRIDAY, IT WAS ABOUT 16 MILLION THAT HAD BEEN APPROVED. THERE'S BEEN FAR MORE IN APPLICATIONS THERE. 
          THEY'RE APPROVING OUT OF ABOUT A MILLION DOLLAR PACE. 
          THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP THAT OPEN THE PORTAL AT LEAST THROUGH MAY. 
          SO AGAIN, STRONGLY ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO CONTINUE TO APPLY FOR RENTAL AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE. 
          IT DOES GIVE A SECONDARY BENEFIT AS WELL THAT IF YOU ARE ARREARS ON YOUR RENT, IT WILL GIVE YOU SOME EVICTION PROTECTIONS THROUGH MARCH 31ST, AND THE STATE IS ACTIVELY SPEAKING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY AND TRYING TO GET ADDITIONAL ALLOCATIONS TO PROLONG THIS PROGRAM AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. 
          OK, THANK YOU. 
          ALL RIGHT, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. 
          THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. 
          EXCUSE ME, I'M GOING TO ANSWER A COUPLE OF THINGS. 
          SO YOU TALK ABOUT SOMEBODY MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT LIKE YOUR WATER IN ARREARAGES AND YOUR AND EVEN YOUR SEWER ARREARAGES. 
          LIKE IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER IT'S A COUNTY JURISDICTION, IT'S A CITY JURISDICTION. 
          I KNOW THAT THE STATE WATER BOARD HAD MONEY THAT WAS ALLOCATED THROUGH THE STATE BUDGET THAT THEY WENT THROUGH, AND THE ACTUAL WATER SYSTEM COULD GO IN AND APPLY AND IT WOULD WIPE OUT ALL OF IT. AND IT HAD SPECIFIC DATES, BUT IT WOULD WIPE OUT ALL THOSE ARREARAGES FOR ALL THOSE CUSTOMERS AND RESET THEM BACK TO ZERO. 
          THEN THE OTHER THING I DO WANT TO MENTION IS IS, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT ARPA, AND I KNOW THAT YOU BROUGHT THIS UP EARLIER MR. MIRRIONE, BUT ARPA IS THE OVERALL BILL THAT WAS PASSED AND THEN AND THEN YOU HAVE THE PART THAT IS THE SLFRF, WHICH IS THAT'S THE FIFTY ALMOST FIFTY FOUR MILLION THAT CAME TO US. ARPA HAS BENEFITED A LOT OF THE PROGRAMS THAT THAT WE ADMINISTER IN THE COUNTY. 
          THOSE PROGRAMS, WHETHER IT'S THERE'S SOME BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS, THERE'S HSA PROGRAMS, THERE'S PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE ALREADY, YOU KNOW, IN THE COURSE OF OUR 2021-2022 BUDGET HAD ALLOCATED THAT THEY'VE CAME BACK FOR WITH AMENDMENTS BECAUSE THERE WAS ADDITIONAL DOLLARS THAT WERE ADDED TO THOSE PROGRAMS FOR ARPA. 
          SO I KNOW IT'S ARPA IS THE EASY ONE TO JUST KIND OF REMEMBER ARPA, BUT BUT IT IS VERY DIFFERENT AND OUR COUNTY HAS BENEFITED A LOT FROM ARPA IN OTHER WAYS THAT'S COME IN FROM OTHER SOURCES. AND THEN THE OTHER PIECE THAT I WANT TO MENTION, SOMEBODY SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY AND YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL PROJECTS THAT THAT THE CEO HAD MENTIONED THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT. 
          WELL, LISTEN. IF THEY WOULD HAVE GIVEN US A BILLION DOLLARS, WE COULD HAVE PROBABLY DID ALL THE PROJECTS, BUT THEY DIDN'T GIVE US A BILLION DOLLARS. 
          THEY GAVE US FIFTY FOUR MILLION AND IT COMES IN TRANCHES AND YOU HAVE TO YOU HAVE TO KIND OF START PICKING AND CHOOSING ONES. 
          AND ONE OF THE APPROACHES THAT I LIKE ABOUT THAT, WE'VE PICKED THESE ONES BECAUSE SOME OF THEM FOR FOUR, THEY WERE PICKED. 
          I'M GOING TO SAY IT IS BECAUSE THERE ARE ALREADY THINGS THAT THAT KIND OF NEEDED TO BE DONE. AND NOW WE ALREADY HAVE, WE KNOW HOW MUCH THEY'RE GOING TO COST. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE ALL ESTIMATED COSTS. 
          AND SO NOW HAVING YOU KNOW THIS, THIS ONE TIME MONEY, THIS ONCE IN A GENERATION INVESTMENT, WE HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME TO SPEND IT. 
          SO NOW IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, IF WE APPROVE THE ELEVEN MILLION, FIFTY NINE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED TODAY, THAT'S IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, THAT WAY WE GET ROLLING ON THOSE PROJECTS SO THAT WHEN WE COME BACK NEXT YEAR, I DON'T IMAGINE THAT EVERY ONE OF THOSE ESTIMATES WAS DOWN TO THE PENNY. 
          EXACTLY RIGHT. I KNOW THAT WE WOULD LOVE FOR IT TO BE THAT WAY, BUT THAT'S NOT REALITY. 
          SO, YOU KNOW, YOUR PROGRAM SOMETHING BASED ON WHAT YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO COST. 
          AND IF THERE'S COST SAVINGS, THAT MEANS THAT THERE'S ADDITIONAL DOLLARS THAT WE CAN PUT INTO TO, YOU KNOW, THOSE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WERE ON THAT SECONDARY PAGE OF ADDITIONAL 
          [03:50:05]
PROJECTS THAT YOU NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT. 
          SO I LIKE OUR APPROACH, YOU KNOW, AND THE DECISION ON ALL THE I SAID IT ALREADY ONCE, BUT I'LL REPEAT IT IS THAT THERE'S THE DECISION TO SPEND, WE'RE GIVEN THAT THE AUTHORITY TODAY TO SPEND ROUGHLY JUST A LITTLE OVER ELEVEN MILLION, 11.2 MILLION DOLLARS IS WHAT WE'RE GIVEN THE AUTHORITY TO SPEND TODAY. 
          IF WE TAKE THE NEXT ACTION, WHICH IS NUMBER FIVE AND PRODUCE. 
          FOR THOSE OF YOU HERE, YOU CAN SEE THAT'S NUMBER FIVE ON THE SCREEN. 
          AND IF YOU'RE WATCHING AT HOME, THAT'S GIVING STAFF DIRECTION TO ALREADY PREPARE FOR NEXT YEAR. WE DON'T EVEN HAVE THAT MONEY YET. 
          THAT MONEY IS NOT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT SPENDING THE MONEY UNTIL WE GET IT AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN IT YET. BUT WHEN PUTTING TOGETHER AN EIGHT HUNDRED AND FORTY FOUR MILLION, I THINK, IS THE NUMBER [INAUDIBLE] OUR BUDGET EIGHT HUNDRED AND FORTY FOUR MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET, IT TAKES MONTHS OF WORK TO DO THAT. 
          AND SO I THINK IT'S ONLY FAIR TO OUR STAFF AND TO BE ABLE TO KIND OF HAVE AN IDEA, OKAY, THIS IS WHERE WE'RE KIND OF LEANING SO THAT WE DON'T GET THE MONEY IN MAY. 
          AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A BUDGET TO APPROVE IN JUNE, A PRELIMINARY BUDGET AND EVERYBODY SCRAMBLING HOW TO TRY TO FIGURE FIT ALL THIS STUFF IN. 
          SO I THINK WE'RE TAKING A GOOD APPROACH. 
          I APPRECIATE THE FOLKS THAT PARTICIPATED TODAY. 
          I APPRECIATE THE FOLKS THAT ARE ACTUALLY PARTICIPATING IN THE PROCESS THAT THIS MONEY, WHEN IT WAS SET FORTH BY THE BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, A LOT OF THE RULE THEY WANT PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE PROCESS. 
          AND I KNOW THAT THAT I FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT WE'VE DONE THAT WE'VE ALLOWED FOR THAT. 
          WE WANT TO HEAR FROM FROM THE PUBLIC. 
          I KNOW I THINK ALL OF US AT ONE POINT OR ANOTHER, I KNOW THAT LIKE THEY DIDN'T COME OUT TO THE BRIEFING IN SANTA NELLA. 
          BUT EVERYBODY, EVERY ONE OF US WAS AT THESE BRIEFINGS AND GOT TO HEAR FIRSTHAND ON THE WAYS THAT THAT FOLKS WANTED TO SEE BECAUSE IT'S THEIR MONEY, RIGHT? IT'S THIS MONEY. 
          WELL, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD TO PRINT THIS STUFF, BUT IT'S MY GREAT GRANDKIDS GOT TO PAY IT BACK. BUT IT IS THE TAXPAYERS MONEY. 
          AND SO I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THAT THE BIG BLUE STATE BAILOUT WAS THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO KICK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH. 
          OK, [INAUDIBLE] WE HAVE THIS MONEY, AND SO I'M COMMITTED TO MAKING THE BEST USE OF IT, AND I'M STILL RELYING FOR MY COLLEAGUE HERE, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. 
          THESE ARE THESE ARE ONCE IN A GENERATION INVESTMENTS. 
          THEY GENERATIONAL INVESTMENTS. 
          YOU INVEST INTO A COMMUNITY. 
          AND I KNOW THERE WAS SOMEBODY HAD MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT HERE TO PICK WINNERS AND LOSERS, BUT I'M GOING, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU IS WHEN YOU INVEST IN A VET'S HALL OR A COMMUNITY HALL, IT'S NOT JUST THE VETERANS THAT ARE USED IN THAT HALL. 
          THOSE FACILITIES ARE BEING USED FOR LITTLE FOR LOCAL EVENTS FOR AND THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A WEDDING. YOU HAVE ALL THE WAY FROM BABIES TO GRANDMAS AND GRANDPAS THAT ARE THERE. 
          EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY GETS TO BENEFIT FROM IT. 
          SO I'M COMFORTABLE WITH IT. 
          I THINK WE'VE MADE WE WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND TO BE ABLE TO TRANSPARENCY SHOW HOW WE'RE SPENDING THE DOLLARS AND REALLY PUTTING IT INTO THINGS THAT JUST THAT BENEFIT THE MOST AMOUNT OF PEOPLE POSSIBLE, RIGHT. 
          AND THEN, YOU KNOW, JUST TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE, TALK ABOUT A PROGRAM WHERE YOU GIVE PEOPLE A THOUSAND DOLLARS. 
          AND IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, YOU KNOW, THOUSAND DOLLARS IS MAYBE NOT SO MUCH MONEY AS SOME PEOPLE. IT MIGHT BE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY TO OTHER PEOPLE. 
          FIFTY FOUR MILLION, YOU KNOW, AND YOU GIVE EACH PERSON A THOUSAND DOLLARS. 
          WELL, THERE'S TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY THOUSAND RESIDENTS IN MERCED COUNTY. 
          THAT MEANS WE ONLY FIFTY FOUR THOUSAND OF THEM GET A THOUSAND DOLLARS. 
          AND I CAN TELL YOU BY OUR DATA AND THE AMOUNT OF FOLKS THAT YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL THAT ARE ON SOME KIND OF GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE, NOW YOU'RE PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS. 
          AND THAT'S NOT THE BUSINESS THAT I WANT TO BE IN IS PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS. 
          SO I WANT TO MAKE INVESTMENTS THAT BENEFIT THE MOST AMOUNT OF PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE AND GET THE MOST AMOUNT OF PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO SEE THOSE INVESTMENTS. 
          BECAUSE THE REALITY IS, THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO ANYWAYS. 
          THEY'RE ALL THINGS THAT I'M COMMITTED TO DOING ANYWAYS. 
          IT'S JUST NOW WE HAVE THIS OTHER, THESE OTHER SOURCES OF MONEY TO HELP WITH THOSE THAT'S ABLE TO ALLOW US TO DO IT VERSUS AGAIN, PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS AND SAYING, WELL, THIS PROGRAM IS NOT IT'S NOT THAT IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE NEED WE HAVE THESE VETS HALLS, WE HAVE THESE COMMUNITY HALLS. IT'S JUST A PLACE WHERE WE'RE AT IN TIME WHERE THESE THINGS THAT WERE BUILT IN THE 60S AND 70S ARE NOW NEEDING REPLACEMENT AND WE'RE ON THE HOOK FOR THOSE AS TAXPAYERS. WE'RE ALL ON THE HOOK FOR THOSE. 
          AND SO I THINK WE'RE DOING GREAT THINGS HERE. 
          STAFF, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE, THE FOLKS THAT PARTICIPATED ON THE CALLS. 
          YOU KNOW, WE TALK. 
          I'M GOING TO GO ON A SIDE RANT FOR A SECOND IS WE TALK ABOUT HOW SLOW GOVERNMENT WORKS AND I THINK WE'RE ALL FRUSTRATED WITH IT. 
          AND YOU KNOW, WE GET A WE'VE GOT PROPERTY BOUGHT IN FOR A PARK IN SANTA NELLA, AND THAT JUST HAPPENED. LIKE THEN IT TOOK A WHILE AND WAY LONGER THAN I WANTED. 
          BUT I JUST I'M NOT GOING TO LIE TO YOU AND TELL YOU THAT WE BOUGHT THE PARK AND TOMORROW THAT THE THREE-STORY [INAUDIBLE] COMMUNITY CENTER WITH A SWIMMING POOL AND THE LIBRARY 
          [03:55:01]
AND AN END IS GOING TO BE THERE. 
          THAT'S JUST NOT REALITY. 
          WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO THAT, BUT I JUST I GET FRUSTRATED JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE IMPATIENCE. I'M IMPATIENT, BUT IT'S NOT LIKE, WE'RE NOT TRYING. 
          SO TO MY FRIENDS AND SANTA NELLA, I STILL COMMITTED. 
          WE WILL GET A PARK BUILT THERE. 
          IT'S ON THE LIST. 
          I KNOW I GOT MY COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT ONE THAT SUPPORTS IT TOO. 
          WE WILL GET IT DONE. 
          IT'S JUST IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN TODAY. 
          I'M SORRY. THAT'S THAT'S REALITY, BUT IT'S NOT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT WORKING ON IT. 
          THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. OH, OK. 
          SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. 
          THANK YOU. I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THAT. 
          THE RODRIGO ESPINOSA PARK HAS OPENED UP IN SANTA ANA. 
          IT'S GOING TO BE AWESOME. [LAUGHTER] I WANT TO THANK STAFF ALSO FOR AND I THINK MY COLLEAGUE SAID IT BEST. 
          I REALLY THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN LONG. 
          AND STAFF HAS GONE TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE, THEN READING THROUGH A LOT OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS GOING THROUGH. 
          YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'VE ALL SAID SINCE DAY ONE AND I TOO AM GOING TO STEAL FROM SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND SAYING THAT THESE ARE GENERATIONAL PROJECTS, AND I THINK THEY'RE REALLY IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE MAKING IN THE COUNTY. 
          THESE ARE ONE TIME FUNDS FOR LONG TERM INVESTMENTS THAT THE COUNTY IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE MOVING FORWARD. 
          AND SO I'M REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THE ENGAGEMENT THAT TOOK PLACE. 
          YOU KNOW, FOR SO LONG, PEOPLE WILL THINK THAT WE TRY TO HIDE STUFF. 
          AND I THINK THAT GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS, YOU'VE REALLY SEEN US GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND TO KIND OF GET PEOPLE'S INVESTMENT OR GET PEOPLE'S ADVICE AND WHAT THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT MOVING FORWARD. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DO WANT TO MENTION BECAUSE WE HAVE KIND OF ALREADY MADE MR. BROWN HAD MENTIONED THIS ALSO. 
          BUT SINCE WE HAVE MADE ALREADY AN INVESTMENT IN THE COURTHOUSE PARK, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO IN THE COURTHOUSE, SPECIFICALLY THE RENOVATIONS. 
          I MEAN, WE'VE MADE A MILLION INVESTMENT. 
          I KNOW THAT WE ARE PART OF THE FEDERAL PROJECTS OR PROCESS, BUT NOBODY WITH ALL THE UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THAT. 
          I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO START PROGRAMING OR REALLY LOOKING AT MOVING FORWARD FOR THAT ADDITIONAL $2 MILLION TO FINISH THAT PROJECT IF WE AREN'T SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THAT, THAT MONEY. 
          AND SO I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT SPECIFICALLY. 
          ALSO C.P. 
          FORTY-TWO IS SOMETHING THAT I REALLY THINK THAT WOULD BENEFIT MERCED COUNTY MOVING FORWARD, AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT. 
          BUT I DO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY. 
          PUBLIC SAFETY CAN BE DEFINED IN SO MANY DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT WAYS, RIGHT? AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT IT, A MAJORITY OF THE THE COMMENTS, YOU KNOW, I STARTED KIND OF TALLYING THEM UP. A LOT OF IT HAD TO DO WITH PUBLIC SAFETY. 
          YOU KNOW, BOOTS ON THE GROUND TYPE STUFF. 
          AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION. 
          WE HAVE TO REALLY LOOK AT HOW WE'RE WHAT WE'RE DOING OUT THERE. 
          AND SO AGAIN, I APPRECIATE STAFF. 
          I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE. 
          WE'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB US AS A BOARD AS WELL AS STAFF REALLY PROVIDING, YOU KNOW, TAKING ALL THE INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN AND THEN PUTTING IT OUT THERE AND REALLY COMING UP WITH A PLAN MOVING FORWARD. 
          SO I'M REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THIS. 
          YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE GET TO DO VERY OFTEN, BUT THIS IS IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE DOING NOW TO REALLY POSITION OURSELVES TO CONTINUE THIS SUCCESS AND GROWTH THAT WE HAVE. SO THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH. 
          I'D LIKE TO SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA, I'M SORRY. 
          NO WORRIES. THANK YOU. WELL, YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH MOST OF THE THINGS THAT, SUPERVISOR PEDROZA SAID. 
          I AGREE WITH C.P. FORTY TWO, I THINK, WOULD BE A REGIONAL PROJECT, INCLUDING THE CITY OF MERCED AND, YOU KNOW, MCOE AS WELL. 
          SO HOPEFULLY THEY'LL CONTRIBUTE AND WE CAN PLAN SOMETHING FOR THE WHOLE COUNTY AND NOT JUST THE COUNTY BUT REGIONAL. 
          YOU KNOW, IT'D BE A LOT OF TAX REVENUE THAT THAT THAT YOU KNOW, THAT WE COULD GET AND BE A BIG COMPLEX, WHATEVER SUPPORTS THE DESIRE TO BE GREAT, YOU KNOW, ANY, YOU KNOW WHETHER SOCCER OR BASEBALL OR FOOTBALL, I THINK THERE'LL BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR FOR THE, YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS AND THE YOUTH TO AND ADULTS TO PARTICIPATE IN. 
          AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALL WE GET EVERY EVERY YEAR IS THEY FIX THE ROADS, DUE MORE PARKS, FIX OUR COMMUNITY HALLS AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT HERE. 
          [04:00:01]
YOU KNOW, I GOT A CALL FROM A FRIEND OF MINE SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT COMMUNITY VETERANS HALL IN WHICH THE COUNTY VETERANS HALL IN LIVINGSTON HASN'T BEEN FIXED IN SO MANY YEARS. 
          AND MY WIFE, HAD A BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR HER 40TH BIRTHDAY, AND SHE'S 50 NOW. 
          SO LIKE I SAY, THAT'S THE USE FOR QUINCEANERAS, FOR [INAUDIBLE], FOR LIONS CLUB MEETINGS. 
          ANYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF COMMUNITY GROUPS. 
          IT JUST IT'S GETTING OLD AND IT'S A LOT, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S A NEW AC, JUST LIKE MANY OTHERS IN THE LIBRARIES AS WELL. 
          SO BUT THIS IS WHAT WE NEED. 
          I KNOW THAT THERE'S SO MUCH NEED AND LIKE I SAID, EVEN A BILLION DOLLARS, PROBABLY WONT'T FIX EVERYTHING. SO I THINK THEY WILL TRY AND DO AS BEST WE CAN WITH WHAT WE GOT, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY. 
          BUT AT LEAST, LIKE I SAID, IT'S JUST GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, FIXING THESE COMMUNITY CENTERS. I THINK WE'LL END PROJECTS WILL BENEFIT A BIG PART OF MERCED COUNTY RESIDENTS. 
          SO THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. 
          TWO KIND OF PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT I DON'T THINK WE'VE ADDRESSED YET THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS. ONE IS WE RECEIVED ABOUT NINE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED SURVEYS AND LITERALLY EVERYONE WAS TOUCHED BY OUR STAFF. 
          AND SO WE I MEAN, EVERY STATISTIC IS 100 PERCENT ACCURATE. 
          WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S 100 PERCENT ACCURATE BECAUSE MISTAKES DO HAPPEN. 
          BUT BUT EVERY SURVEY, EVERY RESPONSE, EVERY PUBLIC COMMENT WAS LISTED IN THOSE NUMBERS. 
          IS THAT CORRECT? YES, THAT IS TRUE. 
          WE WE KEYED THE MAILER THAT CAME BACK IN ANY PAPER OR SURVEYS THAT WERE GIVEN TO US AT THE PRESENTATIONS OR AT THE BOARD OFFICE AND THEN THOSE THAT CLICKED ON THE LINK HAD THE ABILITY TO JUST KEEP IT IN THEMSELVES. 
          BUT THOSE STATS ARE A COMBINATION OF ALL. 
          OF EVERYONE. MR. OK, THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND THEN SECONDLY WAS WHAT HOW MANY DOLLARS OF THE FIFTY FOUR MILLION THAT WE ARE ALLOCATING? AND SO WITH OUR LAST ALLOCATION, AND IF THIS ONE PASSES TODAY, THAT WOULD BE ABOUT 20.6 MILLION OF THE FIFTY FOUR MILLION. 
          IS THAT FAIRLY ACCURATE? THAT IS FAIRLY ACCURATE. 
          OK, SO JUST WANTED FOLKS TO KNOW THAT WE'RE WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT DONE YET. 
          THEY'RE STILL GOING TO BE A LONG PROCESS. 
          SO. ALL RIGHT. 
          AND SIR, IF I MAY, YOU MAY. 
          YOU HAD ASKED FOR THE PHONE NUMBER FOR THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AND THAT'S AREA CODE EIGHT THREE THREE FOUR THREE ZERO TWO ONE TWO TWO. 
          THAT'S THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND UTILITY PROGRAM OFFERED BY THE STATE. 
          THE HOUSE. YOU SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME? ABSOLUTELY. EIGHT THREE THREE FOUR THREE ZERO TWO ONE TWO TWO. 
          THANK YOU. WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF MY COLLEAGUES? SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SEEING, HOW NOBODY ELSE WAS WILLING TO MAKE THE MOTION, I WILL BE HONORED TO MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE USE OF MERCED COUNTY, ARPA, SLR, EXCUSE ME, SLFRF ALLOCATION OF FIFTY THREE NINE THIRTY SIX ZERO EIGHT FIVE AS REVENUE REPLACEMENT NUMBER TO PROVIDE STAFF GUIDANCE REGARDING THE ARPA SLFRF FUNDING FRAMEWORK, WHICH I THINK THE GUIDANCE THAT I WOULD PROVIDE IS IS I LIKE THE GUIDANCE THAT YOU GAVE US ON PAGE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PAGE NUMBER IN THE PRESENTATION AND NUMBER THREE, AUTHORIZE THE USE OF THOSE SAID FUNDINGS IN THE AMOUNT OF ELEVEN MILLION FIFTY NINE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED TOWARDS THE RECOMMENDED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2021-22 AND THE ASSOCIATED BUDGET TRANSFER, WHICH REQUIRES A FOUR FIFTHS VOTE. 
          SORRY, STACEY DIDN'T MEAN TO STEAL YOUR JOB FROM YOU AND ALSO ITEM NUMBER FOUR, APPROVE OF BUDGET TRANSFER AND THE AMOUNT OF ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND FOR THE RECOUPMENT OF FISCAL YEAR '21-22 ARPA SLRFR ELIGIBLE EXPENSES. 
          FOUR FIFTHS VOTE REQUIRED THERE AND ITEM NUMBER FIVE DIRECT STAFF TO PROGRAM THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS IN THE FISCAL 22-23 BUDGET AND THAT WOULD BE 4.7 FOR THE BLACK RASCAL FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT AND 10 MILLION FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION RESURFACING OF COUNTY ROADS, C ONE MILLION TO SUPPORT HOMELESS NAVIGATION CENTER OPERATIONS EXISTING COUNTY FUNDED EMERGENCY SHELTER PROJECTS, D 6.5 MILLION TO SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY FUNCTIONS AND E THREE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND TO SUPPORT COVID 19 TESTING AND VACCINATION EFFORTS, ALONG WITH ITEM SIX DIRECT STAFF TO PROGRAM THE FOLLOWING ALLOCATION IN THE FISCAL YEAR '23-24 BUDGET OF THE ONE MILLION TO SUPPORT THE HOMELESS NAVIGATION CENTER OPERATIONS IN EXISTING COUNTY FUNDED EMERGENCY SHELTER PROJECTS. 
          PACE HAS BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. 
          [04:05:06]
I WOULD LIKE TO GO TO ITEM 5B AND ASK THE MAKER OF THE MOTION IF HE WOULD ACCEPT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. OTHERWISE, THEN MAYBE I WOULD JUST MAKE AN AMENDMENT, BUT THAT FOR ROADS WE HAVE MEASURE V. 
          WE HAVE SB-1. 
          THOSE DOLLARS GENERALLY GET USED FOR PROJECTS THAT YOU KNOW THROUGH THE EAST SIDE OR WEST SIDE COMMITTEE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, THOUGH, THAT THE $10 MILLION BE USED ON REGULAR SURFACE ROADS THAT EVERYBODY USES AND TO SOMEWHAT BE ALLOCATED BY MILEAGE PER DISTRICT OF ROADS. OH, SORRY. 
          THE WHOLE VOTE. IT COULD. 
          A MOTION, BUT WE WILL FIND OUT BECAUSE I HAVE GLADLY TO ACCEPT THAT FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. 
          NOW COMES THE HARD PART WITH THE SECOND OF THE MOTION, ACCEPT THAT. 
          YES. THANK YOU. 
          APPRECIATE THAT. ALL RIGHT. 
          OK. WELL, DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE OR DO YOU WANT TO VOTE? NO, NO, NO. ALL RIGHT. 
          DOESN'T VOTE. OK, WELL, I KNOW THAT. 
          SORRY, I KNOW THIS IS MY LAST MEETING, BUT I JUST I DON'T WANT TO SEE STAFF IN THE FUTURE CAUGHT IN A POSITION OF NOT MEETING BOARD EXPECTATIONS. 
          UNDERSTAND THAT THE MOTION IS TO COME BACK WITH A PLAN FOR THE $10 MILLION BASED ON MORE COMMUNITY ROADS THAT AND ALLOCATED BASED ON MILES KIND OF MILES PER DISTRICT, ACCORDING TO THE ALLOCATION OF THE ROADS WE HAVE. 
          ACCORDING TO THE ALLOCATION, ROAD MILES. 
          AND CURRENT PAST REDISTRICTING OR FUTURE REDISTRICTING. 
          SORRY, I JUST, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN GIVE YOU OPTIONS ON? AND YOU COULD GIVE US OPTIONS. 
          OK. 
          YEAH. I MEAN, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT USED ON THE ROADS VERSUS CAMPUS PARKWAY OR [INAUDIBLE] RIGHT, I MEAN, THAT'S IMPORTANT. 
          DON'T GET ME WRONG, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO [INAUDIBLE]. 
          NOT YEAH, NOT REGIONAL ROAD TO NOT TIE WITH MEASURE V PROJECTS OR REGIONAL [INAUDIBLE] EAST AND WEST REGIONAL PROJECTS, BUT THAT THESE ARE LIKE THESE ARE THE COUNTY ROADS. 
          YOU KNOW, I ENVISION IN MY MIND IS YOU HAVE A MATRIX OF KIND OF YOU LOOK AT ROADS AND HOW MANY, HOW MANY TRIPS A DAY DOWN THEM OR WHATEVER. 
          AND SOME OF THESE ROADS THAT ARE JUST REALLY BAD SHAPE THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME BEFORE THEY MEET THAT REQUIREMENT. 
          WE ALL CAN AGREE THAT THEY'RE IN REALLY BAD SHAPE. 
          THOSE THOSE TYPE OF ROADS? OK. ALL RIGHT, THEN I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. 
          ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. 
          AYE. OPPOSE SAME SIGN? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          YOU WANT TO TALK? ALL RIGHT. 
          WITH ALL OF OUR BUSINESS BEING TAKEN CARE OF, WE WILL CALL THIS MEETING ADJOURNED. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.