[00:00:02]
WELL, THANK YOU FOR BEARING WITH US.
GOOD MORNING, AND WELCOME BACK TO THE MARCH 1ST MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF
[Call to Order]
SUPERVISORS. NOW THIS MORNING, WE HAD CLOSED SESSION DIRECTION TO INITIATE LITIGATION FOR ONE CASE HAS BEEN GIVEN TO COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE CEO, AND THE VOTE WAS FIVE ZERO TO INITIATE LITIGATION.THE DEFENDANTS AND THE OTHER PARTICULAR SHALL BE DISCLOSED ONCE THE ACTION IS FORMALLY COMMENCED. IN ADDITION, STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION REGARDING LABOR NEGOTIATIONS AND EXISTING LITIGATION AND REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATION ITEMS. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL NOW START OUR MEETING WITH AN INVOCATION, AND IT WILL BE LED BY GENEVIEVE VALENTINE, WHO WILL BE COMING UP AND THEN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WOULD BE LED BY JOSH PEDROSA.
PLEASE RISE IF YOU'RE SO INCLINED.
GOOD MORNING. IF YOU'RE SO INCLINED, PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS, DEAR GOD, I ASK YOU TO SHINE YOUR LIGHT ONTO MERCED COUNTY, ALLOW OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, OUR NEWLY APPOINTED CEO, OUR COUNTY COUNCIL DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ALL THE LEADERS OF OUR COUNTY TO SEE CLEARLY SO THAT OUR DECISIONS ARE MADE THROUGH THE LENS OF DIVERSITY, GRACE AND MERCY.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO SEND GUARDIAN ANGELS TO DEFEND OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR MILITARY, OUR HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKERS.
I ASK YOU TO FIGHT ALONGSIDE US AS WE TRY TO DO YOUR WORK.
I THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY, AND I THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME AND THOSE IN THIS ROOM TO SERVE YOU AND TO BE INSTRUMENTS OF YOUR PEACE.
YET ANOTHER DAY IN YOUR NAME, I PRAY.
MRS. VALENTINE AND THANK YOU FOR LEADING THE PLEDGE.
SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AT THIS TIME, WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.
IT'S NOW TIME FOR A PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST WITHIN
[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK]
THE BOARD'S JURISDICTION, INCLUDING ITEMS ON THE BOARD'S AGENDA.THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ALL AGENDA ITEMS. TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.
IF YOU ARE HERE IN PERSON, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND YOU'LL 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 WERE 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.
THANK YOU. I WILL NOW OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT.
YES, SIR, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.
I'M NOT A PUBLIC SPEAKER, BUT I GOT SOMETHING TO SAY.
BEAR WITH ME. MY NAME IS MELVIN RODRIGUEZ.
I'M SEVENTY SEVEN YEARS OLD AND I'VE LIVED IN MERCED COUNTY FOR 40 YEARS AND I HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY APARTMENT, THE HEATING.
I'VE BEEN WITHOUT HEATING FOR OVER TWO MONTHS AND IT CAME TO THE MR. PEDROZO. I APOLOGIZE NOT PRONOUNCING YOUR NAME RIGHT, BUT I CAME TO HIS OFFICE.
HE WASN'T THERE AND THE SECOND TIME I CAME, HE WAS OUT OF TOWN, BUT HIS STAFF WAS JUST BRILLIANT WITH ME.
THEY TOOK GOOD CARE OF ME AND THEY GOT ME IN TOUCH WITH HIM.
AND WITHIN TWO DAYS AFTER I GOT IN TOUCH WITH HIM, I GOT HEATING, AN ELECTRIC BLANKET AND I JUST WANT TO THANK HIM FOR WHAT HE'S DONE.
AND HIS OFFICE STAFF WAS JUST I WAS FRUSTRATED NOT HAVING ANY HEAT, AND HIS OFFICE STAFF WAS SO PROFESSIONAL AND KIND OF CALMED ME DOWN AND HELPED ME A LOT.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, SIR.
I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
THANK YOU. THEY ARE USUALLY PEOPLE COME WHEN THEY HAVE A COMPLAINT, AND SO IT'S PLEASANT TO HAVE SOMEBODY COME AND AND HAVE BEEN HELPED.
[00:05:07]
YOU'LL HAVE TWO IN A ROW.MY NAME IS SUSAN FLINPACH, AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE FRIENDS OF THE MERCED COUNTY LIBRARY, AND I AM HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE FRIENDS TO THANK THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR FUNDING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE LIBRARY WITH THEIR ARPA FUNDS.
THE LIBRARY TRULY IS A GEM FOR COUNTY RESIDENTS AND WE APPRECIATE VERY MUCH YOUR HELP IN SUPPORTING IT. ALSO, ON BEHALF OF THE FRIENDS, THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN, MERCED BRANCH, THE UNIT, THE FRIENDS OF THE LIVINGSTON BRANCH LIBRARY, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF MERCED COUNTY AND THE MANY MEMBERS WHO SUPPORTED OUR EFFORTS FROM THE MERCED SUNRISE ROTARY CLUB AND THE CALIFORNIA RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION OF MERCED AND MARIPOSA COUNTIES.
ALL OF US THANK THE BOARD VERY MUCH FOR INVESTING IN THE MARY HUFFMAN TEEN CENTER.
YOU SAID DURING YOUR DISCUSSIONS OF ARPA FUNDING THAT YOU WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE FUTURE OF MERCED COUNTY.
I'M FELICIA GRAY, I'M THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ADULT AND AGING SERVICES AND REPRESENTING HSA TODAY.
I WANTED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT TODAY KICKS OFF SOCIAL WORK APPRECIATION MONTH.
THE THEME FOR 2022 IS THE TIME IS RIGHT FOR SOCIAL WORK AND I COULDN'T AGREE MORE.
OUR SOCIAL WORKERS HAVE BEEN UNSUNG HEROES THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC.
THEY CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, AS WELL AS VULNERABLE ADULTS, REMAIN SAFE AND HAVE THEIR NEEDS MET.
IT COULD BE AS SIMPLE AS PROVIDING A HEATER OR AS COMPLEX AS HELPING NAVIGATE THROUGH THE WHOLE SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF SUPPORTS AND SYSTEMS. EVERYDAY SOCIAL WORKERS TOUCH HUNDREDS OF LIVES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
ON OUR FRONT LINES, SOCIAL WORKERS REGULARLY HELP FAMILIES IN A MOMENT OF CRISIS AND WORK THROUGH THAT. I WANTED TO TAKE THIS TIME TO THINK NOT ONLY MY STAFF, BUT ALL OF THE SOCIAL WORKERS IN MERCED COUNTY FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO SERVICE, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THEM THAT FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE ABLE TO MEET THEIR NEEDS AND STAY SAFE AT HOME, REMAINING WITH THEIR DIGNITY AND THEIR SELF DETERMINATION.
HAVE A GOOD DAY. YOU'RE WELCOME.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING US AWARE.
YEAH, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO GO HIGH ENOUGH, BUT KEEP PRESSING TO GIVE ME A CHAIR.
IT'S NOT MOVING YET, SO YOU'RE NOT PRESSED ON THE RIGHT TRIANGLE.
WE'RE GOING UP THERE. THERE WE GO.
ACTUALLY, IT'S PRETTY CLEVER. I LIKE THAT.
YEAH. MY NAME IS ALAN CLAUNCH, 204 WEST TWENTY SEVENTH STREET.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE BEFORE THE BOARD TODAY.
IT KIND OF REMINDS ME ALSO WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AMERICAN AND HOW GRATEFUL I AM.
AFTER LISTENING TO THE INVOCATION OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE ABLE TO STAND UP HERE AND TALK IN PEACE AND AND BASICALLY HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY IN OUR DEMOCRACY.
ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS IS THAT HAVING LIVED HERE MY ENTIRE LIFE, MY FATHER STARTED AND WORKED HIS ENTIRE CAREER FOR THE MERCED COUNTY DOWN IN UH OH, WHAT WAS IT? SECOND FLOOR.
HE COLLECTED MICROFICHE FOR TRANSFERS OF PROPERTIES.
BUT ANYWAY, SO I REMEMBER WHEN THIS BUILDING WAS BUILT, THE POLICE ADMINISTRATOR WAS GOING TO TURN THIS KIND OF THE LITTLE FOUNTAIN THAT IS NOW THE USE TO MEMORIALIZE POLICE OFFICERS WAS WAS FIRST A FOUNTAIN THAT WHEN I WAS IN FIRST GRADE, THE VERY FIRST PROJECT I MADE WAS A LITTLE FLOAT BOAT THAT HAD A LITTLE PADDLE THAT I REMEMBER I WOUND UP AND BROUGHT IT DOWN HERE WITH MY CLASSMATES AND FLOATED IT.
AND IT'S KIND OF NEAT TO COME HERE TODAY BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE COUNTY, YOU KNOW THIS BEING WHEN IT WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1976 AND TODAY THE LANDSCAPE HAS UNDERGONE A TREMENDOUS CHANGE. WE'VE HAD DECADES OF WHEN IT WAS KIND OF IN DISARRAY AND I CAN REMEMBER BASICALLY WALKING MY DOGS AND IT WAS LIKE FOUNTAINS COMING OFF THE SIDEWALK.
AND SO THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WATER LOSS AND THIS IS KIND OF DIRECTED A LITTLE BIT AT SGMA. AND SO I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNTY TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT ITS
[00:10:05]
OWN CREATION THAT IT'S DONE HERE AND COLLECT DATA POINTS TO HOW THE WATER IS UTILIZED WITHIN YOUR OWN SPACE.YOU HAVE TYPES OF IRRIGATION DEVICES THAT YOU CAN EASILY MEASURE.
YOU HAVE LANDSCAPE MATERIAL, BOTH TREES FOR OVER STORY AND UNDERSTORY THAT YOU CAN MEASURE BOTH IN ITS GROWTH, HOW SUCCESSFUL IT IS WHEN IT GROWS, HOW THE WATER IS USED BASED UPON STATION THE STATION SO THAT YOU CAN USE DETERMINANTS IN ORDER TO SEE ARE WE MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR WHAT WE'RE GAINING VERSUS WHAT WE'RE SPENDING? AND I SAY THIS BECAUSE AS A AS A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF MERCED SAID, I AM A STAKEHOLDER IN THIS JUST AS YOU ARE BECAUSE AS A AS THE COUNTY, YOU ARE TAKING WATER FROM THE CITY OF MERCED. AND I THINK IT'S ALL OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THE VERY BEST WE CAN TO NOT ONLY CONSERVE BUT TO UTILIZE WHAT WE HAVE IN THE BEST MANNER POSSIBLE.
AND I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT THINGS LIKE CARBON STORAGE AND WE LOOK AT ITEMS SUCH AS OXYGEN REPLENISHED BY THE CANOPIES OF THE TREES, SO I'LL ALLOW YOU JUST TO MAKE YOUR ONE FINAL POINT.
OH, MY ONE FINAL POINT IS THAT I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNTY TO UTILIZE THE TOOLS THAT IT HAS IN PLACE BASED UPON THE PAST WATER USAGE OVER THE, LET'S SAY, THE PAST DECADE AND NOW MOVING FORWARD TO DETERMINE FROM A STANDPOINT OF OF DAY TO DAY AND ALSO ON A YEARLY BASIS HOW THE GROWTH OF THE PLANTS ARE RESPONDING TO THE WATERING NEEDS AND HOW YOU CAN BENEFIT THAT AS AS A WHOLE FOR OUR ENTIRE PLANET.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL YOU GOT TO.
ANYONE ELSE? IS THERE ANYBODY ONLINE? WE DO HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL ONLINE.
HI, GOOD MORNING. THIS IS MADELEINE FROM LEADERSHIP COUNCIL FOR JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY. AND I WANTED TO MAKE A VERBAL COMMENT ON ITEM 20.
WE ARE COMMENTING TO URGE THE BOARD TO REJECT THE PIPELINE LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR THIS BIOMETHANE PIPELINE ON THE BASIS THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS THAT YOU'RE RELYING ON FROM STANISLAUS COUNTY ARE FLAWED AND INCOMPLETE IN THEIR ANALYSIS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS THAT THIS PROJECT WOULD CREATE.
SPECIFICALLY WITH REGARDS TO AIR QUALITY, GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, WATER QUALITY AND GROUNDWATER SUPPLY.
AND THEN LASTLY, IMPACTS TO DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES HAVEN'T BEEN ANALYZED.
AND SO I GUESS ON A HIGH LEVEL, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT WHAT THE MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION FAILS TO ACKNOWLEDGE ARE THE INDIRECT IMPACTS THAT COULD OCCUR FROM THIS PROJECT. SO, FOR INSTANCE, WE KNOW THAT BIOMETHANE INFRASTRUCTURE AND DAIRY DIGESTERS CREATE A MARKET FOR BIOMETHANE AND THUS FOR COW MANURE, AND WE DON'T SEE ANY ANALYSIS OF THE AIR QUALITY IMPACTS THAT THAT COULD CREATE BY INCENTIVIZING DAIRY EXPANSION.
AND WE KNOW THAT DAIRY DIGESTERS DON'T ADDRESS THINGS LIKE ENTERIC EMISSIONS FROM THE COWS THAT CREATE A LOT OF HEALTH IMPACTS TO FOLKS WHO LIVE NEAR DAIRIES.
AND THEN I WOULD ALSO SAY THE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS ANALYSIS WAS VERY DEFICIENT IN THAT IT DIDN'T ANALYZE WHAT THE IMPACTS WOULD BE OF INCREASING DEMAND AT THE REFINERY FACILITY WHERE THIS BIOMETHANE IS GOING TO BE SENT.
IT DIDN'T ANALYZE THE IMPACTS THAT CREATING AND SOLIDIFYING DEMAND FOR NATURAL GAS BECAUSE BIOMETHANE BURNS THE SAME AS NATURAL GAS WHEN USED FOR ENERGY, IS GOING TO CREATE IN TERMS OF THE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS THAT ARE CREATED WHEN THIS ENERGY IS BURNED.
AND THEN LASTLY, DIDN'T ACCOUNT FOR THE FACT THAT THIS MARKET DOES INCENTIVIZE HERD SIZE EXPANSION, WHICH AGAIN INCREASES ENTERIC METHANE EMISSIONS ON DAIRY.
AND THEN LASTLY, I WOULD JUST ADD THAT I KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITY OF SYLMAR, PART OF IT IS DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY, AND WE DIDN'T SEE ANY ANALYSIS ABOUT THE IMPACTS THAT THIS PROJECT COULD HAVE IF THERE WAS LIKE A PIPELINE RUPTURE MALFUNCTION ON NEARBY COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING IN ESPECIALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.
SO WE ELEVATED THESE CONCERNS IN A COMMENT LETTER, WHICH WE SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD THIS MORNING. AND AGAIN, WE URGE YOU NOT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT AND TO CONDUCT YOUR
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OWN ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS THAT ADDRESSES AND ANALYZES THESE IMPACTS.THANK YOU. ANY OTHERS ONLINE? THERE ARE NO OTHER INDIVIDUALS ONLINE REQUESTING TO SPEAK.
OK. ANYBODY IN THE ROOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT? ALL RIGHT, SEEING NONE.
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO ONTO THE CONSENT AGENDA CALENDAR.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
NEXT IS APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 19.PLEASE NOTE, A FOUR FIFTHS VOTE IS REQUIRED ON ITEM SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, 14 AND 17.
THANK YOU. WHAT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? IT'S BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
ALL THOSE OH NO, I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT IS BOARD ACTION, PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS 20 THROUGH TWENTY FOUR.
[BOARD ACTION]
PLEASE NOTE A FOUR FIFTHS VOTE IS REQUIRED ON ITEM TWENTY THREE AND ITEM TWENTY FOUR WILL BE TAKEN SEPARATELY.OK. WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? OH, THERE IT IS. NOW WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? NO, TWENTY THROUGH TWENTY THREE.
YEP, OK, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
I HAVE REQUEST TO SPEAK, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YEAH, JUST SPEAK ON NUMBER TWENTY ONE.
REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENTS OF THE WINTON QUAIL HOLLOW ESTATES.
IN THE PAST, I'VE STATED THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN, YOU KNOW, IT'S PROBABLY MY FAULT.
I KNOW I SHOULD HAVE GONE TOGETHER WITH PLANNING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GO OVER THE SIDEWALKS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, YOU KNOW, THE EASEMENTS AND THE SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY. BUT ALSO WHAT ADDRESSED IN THE PAST IS THAT A LOT OF THE POOR COMMUNITIES, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN ORDINANCE REGARDING TOWER ROOFS ON MOST DEVELOPMENTS.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IT PROVIDES BETTER ESTHETICS AND THE ROOFS WILL LAST A LONG TIME, WHICH IS MOSTLY A LIFETIME THAT WILL LAST ON MOST OF THE HOMES.
I KNOW IT ADDS A VALUE AND A HIGHER INCREASE, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY THESE DAYS TO MOST OF THE HOMES. BUT I THINK THAT IN THE END, IT SERVES AS AN EXTRA VALUE TO THOSE HOMES AS WELL. AND YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, MOST SHINGLES DON'T LAST FIFTEEN, I KNOW THERE'S 30 YEARS SHINGLES NOW, BUT I THINK THE QUALITY OF THE HOMES WILL MAINTAIN AND FOR THAT AREA. AND SO I SEE IT IN OTHER COMMUNITIES LIKE IN HILMAR OR DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES THAT DO REQUIRE THE [INAUDIBLE] AND MOST OF THE DEVELOPMENT.
SO I THINK THAT IT WOULD ENHANCE THE VALUES AND ESTHETICS OF THAT COMMUNITY.
SO THAT'S JUST MY COMMENT AND ALSO AN ITEM NUMBER TWENTY TWO, THE SIGNAL INSTALLATION AND THE BNSF RAILROAD IN [INAUDIBLE] PLANADA.
I THINK WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT AND I THINK THAT COMMUNITY NEEDS TO THAT SIDEWALK THAT'S BEEN ON HOLD FOR, I MEAN, NOT ON HOLD, BUT, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO FINISH THAT SIDEWALK THERE ON PLANADA THAT LEADS FROM HIGHWAY 140 ALL THE WAY TO THE CHAVEZ MIDDLE SCHOOL. SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME AT THIS TIME.
NEXT IS ITEM TWENTY FOUR, INTRODUCE AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE, ADDING CHAPTER 9.06, ORGANIC WASTE DISPOSAL REDUCTION TO TITLE NINE OF THE MERCED COUNTY CODE AND WAIVE FURTHER READING SET POSSIBLE ADOPTION OF SAID ORDINANCE ON THE MARCH 22, 2022 BOARD AGENDA. WELL, HELLO FIRST BEFORE YOU START.
YEP, GO AHEAD, PLEASE SUNSHINE.
DANA HERTFELDER, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
[00:20:03]
SENATE BILL THIRTEEN EIGHTY THREE.REDUCING SHORT LIVED CLIMATE POLLUTANTS IN CALIFORNIA WAS SIGNED INTO LAW ON SEPTEMBER AND SEPTEMBER OF 2016.
THIS STATE MANDATE REQUIRES JURISDICTIONS TO PROVIDE MANDATORY ORGANICS COLLECTION SERVICES TO ALL RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES, CONDUCT EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS TO THE COMMUNITY, DEVELOP INSPECTION COMPLIANCE REVIEW AND ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS. ESTABLISH FOOD RECOVERY PROGRAMS. ON FEBRUARY 8TH OF 2022, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVED A NOTICE OF INTENT TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SB THIRTEEN EIGHTY THREE.
TODAY'S REQUESTED ACTION IS THE NEXT STEP IN COMPLYING WITH SB THIRTEEN EIGHTY THREE.
THE COUNTY IS REQUIRED TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE IMPLEMENTING THE REQUIREMENTS OF SB THIRTEEN EIGHTY THREE BY APRIL 1ST OF 2022.
THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE BEFORE YOU INCLUDES THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A TWO CART SYSTEM FOR FRANCHISE AREA SIX AND SEVEN, AND A THREE CART SYSTEM FOR FRANCHISE AREAS ONE THROUGH FIVE AND THE SOUTH DOS PALOS AREA.
IT ALSO INCORPORATES THE OTHER REQUIREMENTS, AS SET FORTH IN SB THIRTEEN EIGHTY THREE.
IF ADOPTED, THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE DOES NOT GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL JANUARY 1ST OF 2023.
IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH, FOR OR TO QUALIFY FOR THE CALORIE CYCLE, LOCAL GRANT ASSISTANCE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF SB THIRTEEN EIGHTY THREE, THE COUNTY MUST ADOPT THE ORDINANCE BY APRIL 1ST, 2022.
THANK YOU. ONE QUICK QUESTION IN THE ORDINANCE, THERE IS A SECTION EXCLUDED WASTE WHICH [INAUDIBLE] PUT IN THERE LIKE CORROSIVE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS.
ONE OF THOSE ITEMS IS CALLED DESIGNATED WASTE.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS? I DON'T OFF THE TOP MY HEAD.
WE'LL HAVE TO GET BACK TO THE BOARD ON THAT.
THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
THANK YOU, CHAIR. FIRST OFF, I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR THE BRIEFING AND HELPING US TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, THE REASON WHY WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS POTENTIAL ADOPTION OF THIS ORDINANCE IS REALLY TO REALLY STUDY.
IF YOU NOTICED WE TALKED ABOUT A TWO CART AND A THREE CART SYSTEM, BUT THEY REALLY WERE GIVEN STAFF THE ABILITY TO GO IN AND NEGOTIATE WITH OUR CURRENT HAULERS TO FIND OUT WHAT THAT COST IS GOING TO BE.
FUNDAMENTALLY, I'M STILL OPPOSED TO SB THIRTEEN EIGHTY THREE IN THAT OUR GOOD FRIENDS IN SACRAMENTO, IN THEIR INFINITE WISDOM, HAVE COME UP WITH THIS REALLY GREAT IDEA, BUT NEVER BOTHERED TO TALK TO THE FOLKS THAT THEY LOVE TO TALK ABOUT THE UNDERSERVED, THE UNSERVED, THE POORER, UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE WHO IT'S GOING TO ADVERSELY AFFECT. AND JUST IN LOOKING AT IN MY BOARD BRIEFING, STANISLAUS COUNTY WENT THROUGH THAT.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE TALKING TWO HUNDRED AND 300 PERCENT INCREASES, AND THAT SOUNDS LIKE CRAZY NUMBER. BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WENT UP FROM TWENTY DOLLARS TO SIXTY DOLLARS, YOU KNOW THAT WOULD BE A 200 PERCENT INCREASE.
I THINK IF MY NUMBERS ARE RIGHT THERE.
SO I'M AGREEING TO MOVE FORWARD TO STUDY WHAT THAT RATE IS.
TO FIND OUT WHAT KIND OF UNDERSTANDING THAT WE DIDN'T CAUSE THIS.
WE'RE BEING MANDATED BY THE STATE TO DO THIS.
I STILL THINK THAT THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT SOME SMALLER RURAL COUNTIES MAY BE ABLE TO JOIN IN. AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN, BUT I'M GOING TO SURE AS HECK TRY IS JOIN IN SOME KIND OF CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, BECAUSE IT'S JUST NOT WHAT THEY'RE, IT'S JUST NOT, YOU KNOW, THE ORGANICS TAKING THEM OUT OF THE LANDFILL.
IT'S ALL THE OTHER STUFF THAT'S REQUIRED AS PART OF THIRTEEN EIGHTY THREE, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY HAS TO HAVE A PURCHASING POLICY NOW THAT WE WON'T WILL A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF ALL OF OUR PAPER THAT WE BUY IN THE COUNTY HAS TO BE RECYCLED.
YOU KNOW, ALL GREAT THINGS, BUT THERE'S A COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
AND AGAIN, POORER, RURAL COUNTIES.
THAT'S THAT'S A BURDEN THAT'S GOING TO BE PLACED UPON OUR TAXPAYERS.
IT'S JUST IT'S THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON TAKING.
AND THEN YOU LOOK AT THE THIS THE MULCH, THE, YOU KNOW, THE COMPOST.
EVERY COUNTY IS REQUIRED TO TAKE A PERCENTAGE OF COMPOST AND USE IT.
WELL, WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO USE IT.
SO THERE'S GOING TO BE AN ADDITIONAL, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S IT'S SIMPLE SUPPLY AND DEMAND.
WE HAVE ALL THIS SUPPLY THAT WE HAVE TO GET RID OF BY LAW, THAT WE HAVE TO USE.
AND IF THERE'S NOT A DEMAND FOR IT, WE CAN'T USE IT.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START PAYING PEOPLE TO TAKE THAT.
AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF HIDDEN THINGS THAT ARE A PART OF THIS, AND I'M VERY FRUSTRATED WITH IT. AND I REALLY THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT WAS DESIGNED FOR PLACES LIKE SAN FRANCISCO WHO ALREADY HAVE THESE TRANSPORT CENTERS WHERE ALL THEIR TRASH GOES TO THIS ONE
[00:25:01]
FACILITY AND THEY HAVE ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE TO BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THE TRASH AND AND BASICALLY TAKE OUT EVERYTHING YOU KNOW, THE RECYCLABLES AND AND YOUR ACTUAL GARBAGE AND YOUR GREEN WASTE, EVERYTHING THEY GOT, THEY GOT A LOT FANCIER STUFF TO BE ABLE TO DO IT. AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR A LOT LONGER TIME WHERE WE HAVEN'T.AND AGAIN, WE TALK ABOUT EQUITY.
WE TALK ABOUT THE UNDERSERVED, THE UNSERVED.
THIS PUNISHES THOSE FOLKS AND I AND I UNDERSTAND, LISTEN, THE COST OF BUSINESS GOES UP, YOU KNOW, POWER GOES UP.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH IT, BUT IT'S JUST IT'S PUTTING THIS UNDUE BURDEN IN REALLY SOME OF THE, YOU KNOW, MOST POOREST PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I DON'T LIKE IT, BUT I WILL AGREE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AT LEAST STUDYING WHAT THOSE RATES ARE GOING TO BE SO THAT THEN WE CAN MAKE AN EDUCATED DECISION ON WHAT THAT'S GOING TO COST ALL OF OUR BOSSES BACK IN OUR RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS.
SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR THE CITIES TO DO BECAUSE THEY ALREADY KIND OF HAVE A LOT OF THIS STUFF IN PLACE, YOU KNOW, BUT IT JUST I'M FRUSTRATED WITH IT.
I HAVE BEEN SINCE THE BEGINNING AND WE REALLY DID THINK THAT, AND I THINK THEY DID PUSH IT BACK A LITTLE BIT WITH THE PANDEMIC.
BUT BUT IT'S JUST IT'S UNREASONABLE.
BUT I WILL SUPPORT MOVING FORWARD SO THAT AT LEAST WE CAN GET A LITTLE BIT OF THAT ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY TWO THOUSAND TO HELP US TO BE ABLE TO RESEARCH THIS SO THAT WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PASSING ON TO OUR CITIZENS.
THANK YOU, CHAIR. YOU'RE WELCOME, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
THANK YOU. I DON'T GET AS LONG WINDED AS MY COLLEAGUE HERE TO MY LEFT FROM THE WEST SIDE, BUT THIS IS JUST ANOTHER UNFUNDED.
WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE IN THIS.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT ALL DAY LONG.
BUT IT'S ANOTHER UNFUNDED MANDATE.
IMPOSED US WITH SB THIRTEEN, EIGHTY THREE COMING FROM THE FROM OUR LEGISLATORS AT THE STATE, AND I KNOW WE COMPLAIN ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.
THE SMALLEST TWENTY THREE COUNTIES IN THE STATE DON'T EVEN REPRESENT THREE PERCENT OF THE REGISTERED VOTERS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, AND THIS IS BEING IMPOSED ON US.
SOME OF THE POOREST COUNTIES ARE GOING TO BE HIT THE WORST ON THIS.
SO SORRY, I JUST HAD TO SAY IT.
I AM FRUSTRATED WITH THIS BECAUSE I KIND OF BOUGHT IT FROM THE BEGINNING.
I THINK I EVEN VOTED NO WHEN WE WERE FIRST EVEN TALKING ABOUT IT, BUT UNDERSTANDING THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT THIS.
SO THIS IS THE STATE SO YOU CAN CALL THE SENATOR AND OUR ASSEMBLYMAN.
THIS IS AN ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
WHEN THE LETTER GOES OUT, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT IT SAYS THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T NEED OUR LETTERS GOING OUT, BLAMING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ANYMORE FOR THIS.
AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE COMMENTS I WAS GOING TO MAKE.
THE SECOND ONE IS THAT IS THAT I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT, YOU KNOW, THAT IN THE CITIES, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GO FROM FROM ONE HOUSE TO THE NEXT WITH A GARBAGE TRUCK TO PICK UP THE RECYCLABLES, YOU'RE GOING WHATEVER ONE HUNDRED FEET, 300 FEET, NOT VERY FAR IN THE RURAL AREA. SOMETIMES YOU'RE GOING TO BE DRIVING 10 15 MILES.
AND THE DIESEL EXHAUST THAT THIS PROGRAM IS GOING TO CREATE HERE IN THE VALLEY IS FAR MORE DETRIMENTAL TO OUR HEALTH THAN THE GOAL OF RECYCLING EVERYTHING RIGHT? RECYCLING MORE. I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH THAT, BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. I SERVE ON THE AIR DISTRICT BOARD AND AND NOW WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE TRUCKS RUNNING, HAULING, REALLY HAULING THE SAME GARBAGE, BUT JUST AT AN INCREASED VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED.
SO ANYWAYS, I LIKE WITH MY COLLEAGUES, WILL PROBABLY BE VOTING YES FOR THIS BECAUSE WE NEED TO. BUT I'M NOT REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
SO THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. HERTFELDER? NO. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. WHAT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? IT'S BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA? THANK YOU. I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU. NEXT IS HEALTH, ITEMS TWENTY FIVE AND TWENTY SIX.
OK. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, SEEING NO REQUEST TO SPEAK, I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
ITEMS TWENTY SEVEN AND TWENTY EIGHT ARE FROM BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
[00:30:01]
SEEING NO REQUESTS TO SPEAK, I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT IS HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY ITEMS 29 AND 30.
CAN WE DO 30 AND 32, AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK INTO TWENTY NINE AND THIRTY? IT HAS BEEN MOVED, NOPE.
.. THERE WE GO, IT SHOULD BE 29 AND 30.
OK. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT, IS WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ITEMS THIRTY ONE AND THIRTY TWO.
PLEASE NOTE, A FOUR FIFTHS VOTE IS REQUIRED ON ITEM THIRTY TWO.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
OK, NOW CALL FOR THE VOTE, PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
NEXT IS FIRE ITEMS THIRTY THREE AND THIRTY FOUR.
PLEASE NOTE, A FOUR FIFTHS VOTE IS REQUIRED ON ITEM THIRTY THREE.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
I ASSUME WE'RE GOING TO DO GOOD THINGS WITH THE SIXTY TWO THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY FIVE. THANK YOU, CHIEF.
ALL RIGHT, I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
ITEMS THIRTY FIVE AND THIRTY SIX ARE FROM THE SHERIFF.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SO ON ITEM NUMBER THIRTY SIX, IT'S A CONTRACT WITH LIVINGSTON PD AND THE THE USE OF THE OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT USE OF THE FOR THREE YEARS OF CONTRACT WITH LIVINGSTON PD.
BUT I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SAY REGARDING THE RANGE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A VERY USE IS VERY USEFUL AND A LOT OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS, NOT JUST MERCED COUNTY BUT ALSO STANISLAUS COUNTY AND OTHER REGIONS, EVEN MERCED COLLEGE USE THIS RANGE.
SO I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A SERGEANT, THAT IT'S THE INTERIM CITY CHIEF OF POLICE FOR THE CITY OF LIVINGSTON, AND WE HAD A CHANCE TO TOUR LAST TUESDAY WITH OUR NEW CEO, RORY MENDEZ. AND SO THEY GIVE US THE, YOU KNOW, FIRST TIME VIEW OF OF THE AREA.
AND I KNOW THAT'S LIKE I SAID, IT'S VERY USEFUL AND WHERE MANY POLICE OFFICERS TRAIN AND FOR THEIR SAFETY AS WELL.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT IS AUDITOR ITEM THIRTY SEVEN.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
THANK YOU, CHAIR. JUST WANTED TO THANK LISA CARDILLO PRESTO, OUR AUDITOR CONTROLLER WHO HAD A FEW QUESTIONS ON A FEW THINGS IN THE AUDIT REPORT.
JUST WANTED TO SAY, I ALWAYS LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE HAD NO FINDINGS.
I BELIEVE THAT WAS A SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY TWO MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET.
THAT AND TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, OUR SYSTEMS OF CONTROLS AND ARE REALLY GOOD.
[00:35:04]
AND I'M VERY CONFIDENT IN SAYING THAT OUR MONEY IS SAFE AND WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THINGS WITH IT. AND I KNOW AUDITOR CONTROLLERS ALL OVER THAT.THE ONE THING THAT I WILL KIND OF PUT OUT THERE, MAYBE FOR THE NEXT TIME IS IS, YOU KNOW, WE GOT OUR AGENDAS ON FRIDAY.
AND IF YOU GUYS TOOK A LOOK AT THAT, IT'S ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY ONE PAGES IN JUST ONE OF THE REPORTS ON THERE.
IT'S KIND OF A LOT OF INFORMATION TO DIGEST IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.
SO JUST MOVING FORWARD AND I KNOW THAT THE AUDITOR COMPTROLLER IS AWARE OF THIS AND MAYBE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE CAN GET A DRAFT FORM OF IT OUT JUST A LITTLE BIT EARLIER IF WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE ON THAT AGENDA SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO REVIEW IT.
YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AND IT REALLY DOES TELL, YOU KNOW, WE MAKE A LOT OF VOTES UP HERE AND THE WAY WE'RE SPENDING MONEY, BUT THIS IS KIND OF THE PLACE WHERE YOU GET TO SEE IT ALL, AND IT REALLY TELLS A STORY ABOUT OUR COUNTY AND OUR FINANCES.
SO IF WE CAN GET THAT TO US JUST A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, IT'D BE MUCH APPRECIATED.
BUT I WANT TO THANK THE AUDITOR, COMPTROLLER AND THE STAFF OVER THERE, JENNY CABRAL FOR FOR ALL THE GOOD WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING.
THANK YOU, CHAIR. YOU'RE WELCOME.
ALL RIGHT. I'VE CALLED FOR THE VOTE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT IS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, ITEM THIRTY EIGHT.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS.
I THINK THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE I THINK THAT THE ARTS AND MERCED COUNTY OR SOMETHING THAT SOMETIMES ARE OVERLOOKED A LOT OF TIMES AND MY SON BEING SOMEBODY THAT TAKES PART IN IT, I THINK THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY SHOULD FOCUS ON.
AND I APPLAUD MR. DENNIS, WHO'S IN THE AUDIENCE IN THE BACK OVER THERE FOR REALLY BEING A PART OF THIS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE SUCCESSFUL WITH THAT.
SEE, NO OTHER REQUEST TO SPEAK.
CONGRATULATIONS. PORT INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION, ITEM THIRTY NINE.
[BOARD INFORMATION & POSSIBLE ACTION]
IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.I SEE A REQUEST TO SPEAK, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
THANK YOU, CHAIR. JUST REALLY QUICKLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, I MEAN, THIS IS PART OF THE GOOD WORK THAT THE REGISTRAR OF VOTERS OFFICE IS DOING.
AND YOU KNOW, WE DID REDISTRICTING AND THEN THEY'VE BEEN TASKED SINCE WE VOTED ON THOSE FINAL MAPS OF ACTUALLY MAKING THAT WORK SO THAT EVERY, EVERY, EVERY ADDRESS IS IN THE PROPER DISTRICT AND HAVING DONE SO ON A VERY SHORTENED TIMELINE.
SO DARLENE, THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF.
I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN VERY BUSY WITH GETTING THAT DONE AND THEN THEY'RE JUST GOING TO START THE NEXT ONE, WHEN WE GET TO ALL THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS, THOSE ARE STARTING TO COME. I BELIEVE IN APRIL, THEY HAVE TO HAVE THEIR MAPS ADOPTED BY, SO THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT, REFINE THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THE CITY DISTRICTS AND WHATNOT.
AND JUST A TESTAMENT TO THE GOOD WORK THEY DID, FOUND AN ERROR IN WHAT THE ORIGINAL MAPS THAT WERE PRESENTED. AND IT REALLY JUST PUT ONE HOUSE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THIS DISTRICT INTO ANOTHER DISTRICT, BUT TESTAMENT TO THE GOOD WORK THAT THEY DID, THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND THAT. AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO GET THOSE MAPS COMPLETELY, COMPLETELY FINALIZED. SO THANK YOU.
THE MOTION PASSES FOUR TO ONE.
HE'S BEEN CONSISTENT ON THAT ONE [LAUGHING] MOVE TO THE GSA AGENDA.
[Chowchilla GSA]
OH YES. SO NOW WE'LL MOVE TO OUR SECOND HAT THAT WE HAVE ON TODAY, AND THAT IS THE AGENDA FOR THE CHOWCHILLA GROUNDWATER BASIN.IT'S 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.
THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ALL AGENDA ITEMS. TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.
IF YOU ARE HERE IN PERSON, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND YOU'LL BE DIRECTED TO THE PODIUM.
IF YOU ARE JOINING US REMOTELY VIA ZOOM, PLEASE USE THE ZOOM FEATURE TO RAISE YOUR HAND.
[00:40:02]
FOR INDIVIDUALS CALLING IN THROUGH ZOOM, YOU CAN RAISE YOUR HAND BY PRESSING STAR NINE.WHEN YOU WERE 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.
OK. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT, SO ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK.
OK. ANYBODY ONLINE? THERE ARE NO INDIVIDUALS ON ZOOM WISHING TO SPEAK.
I'M SORRY, DID YOU SAY YES OR NO? THERE ARE NO. NO.
OK, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME.
OUR FIRST ITEM? COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ITEM NUMBER ONE.
OK. IS THERE A MOTION? YEAH, THIS IS ROLL CALL GENTLEMEN.
OK, SO WE'LL GO WITH THE MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
AND THEN WOULD YOU SECOND IT AND THEN SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL? OK. I SEE NO FURTHER REQUEST TO SPEAK.
I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AND THEN, OH, AT THIS TIME, I'LL ADJOURN THE THE CHOWCHILLA GROUNDWATER GSA MEETING, GO BACK TO BOARD REPORTS.
[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION]
ALL RIGHT. LET'S START ON MY LEFT, SUPERVISOR SILVERA.THANK YOU, JUST A COUPLE THINGS I WANTED TO DISCUSS.
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE OUR NEW CEO OUT IN THE DISTRICT NOW IT'S BEEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, DID SOME TOURING OF SOME LOCAL FACILITIES OUT ON THE WEST SIDE? WE TOURED MORNINGSTAR PACKING IN THE MORNING AND THEN WE WENT OUT TO PAREIRA.
ALMOND PROCESSING, ENJOYED A LITTLE BIT OF LUNCH AT WOOLGROWERS, THEN WENT TO OUT TO BULLS FARMING AND TO DELTA FARMS, AND THEN FINISHED OUR DAY AT THE ORCHID BARN THERE ON HIGHWAY 152.
I WANT TO THANK LIONEL AND CESAR.
THEY CAME OUT AND REALLY GOT SOME COOL PICTURES OF ALL THE GOOD WORK.
WELL, OF ALL THE VISITING THAT WE WERE DOING, JUST REALLY GLAD TO GET THE NEW CEO, THE CEO OUT. OUR ASSISTANT CEO'S, MARCI BARRERA AND DAVID MARRONE ARE ALSO ABLE TO JOIN US ON THE TOUR ALONG WITH JIM BROWN.
JUST REALLY KIND OF WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, YOU KNOW, WE GET BUSY WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE DO HERE AT THE GOVERNMENT AND THEY KNOW THAT THEY'VE HEARD ME SAY THIS BEFORE, BUT I TALK ABOUT THESE FOLKS AS IF THEY ALL KNOW THEM, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY'RE SUCH AN INTEGRAL PART OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN MY DISTRICT AND REALLY A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR RAUL TO BE ABLE TO PUT FACES WITH THE NAMES.
AND JUST, YOU KNOW, WE WHEN YOU TOUR PAREIRA ALMOND PROCESSING, THEY CAN HE CAN DO 40000 POUNDS. THEY CAN PROCESS FORTY THOUSAND POUNDS OF ALMONDS IN AN HOUR.
IT'S PRETTY INSANE TO THINK THAT THAT'S JUST GOING ON IN LITTLE LOS BANOS.
I THINK THAT THEY ARE THE ONLY IN THE UNITED STATES THAT ARE THE ONLY PLACE THAT CAN DO THAT. THAT'S THE KIND OF INVESTMENT THAT FOLKS ARE MAKING INTO OUR AREA.
WE DID GET AN INVITE BACK AND WANT TO TAKE THEM UP ON IT TO GO BACK OUT TO MORNINGSTAR AND LIBERTY PACKING WHEN THEY'RE ACTUALLY IN SEASON.
EVERYTHING WAS KIND OF IS KIND OF THERE IN MAINTENANCE MODE RIGHT NOW, BUT JUST KIND OF WALKING THROUGH THE PROCESS AND LISTENING HOW YOU KNOW WHAT STARTED AS THIS LITTLE PLANT AND THEY HAVE THE ORIGINAL, WHATEVER THAT DEAL WAS CALLED THERE VERSUS THE NEW STUFF THAT'S BEEN PUT IN PLACE.
AND JUST WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING IS GRAVITY FED SO THAT THEY'RE USING LESS ENERGY, THE REUSE OF WATER OR USING, YOU KNOW, WATER THAT'S BEEN HEATED AND SENT OUT AND THEN COOLED DOWN AND BROUGHT BACK, WHICH IS REALLY A COOL EXPERIENCE.
SO RAUL ALL THANK YOU FOR THAT FOR JOINING US.
AND THEN ALSO JANUARY, WHATEVER DAY IN TWENTY TWENTY THREE IS WHEN MY TERM ENDS IN THE CURRENT POSITION, YOU KNOW, THE CURRENT DISTRICT THAT I REPRESENT.
BUT ON THAT DATE, AT NOON THAT DAY, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA WILL TAKE OVER PARTS OF MY DISTRICT CURRENTLY THAT I REPRESENT.
AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO GO OUT AND TOUR SANTA NELLA.
THANK YOU SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA FOR LUNCH.
WE HAD LUNCH AT PEA SOUP ANDERSEN, AGAIN, OUR CEO WAS OUT THERE WITH US, BUT AGAIN ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CEO TO ACTUALLY GET OUT AND SEE KIND OF BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY'RE FACING OUT THERE IN SANTA NELLA, ONE BEING THE MOBILE HOME PARK OUT THERE, USED TO BE OWNED BY ONE PERSON BACK WHEN THEY BUILT THE DAM IN THE SIXTIES AND THEN EVENTUALLY, LIKE HALF OF THAT, GOT SPLIT OFF AND SOLD OUT INTO
[00:45:01]
INDIVIDUAL LOTS. AND SO A LOT OF CHALLENGES OUT THERE.WHEN IT WAS OWNED BY ONE PERSON, THEY HAD A LIKE A CLUBHOUSE AND A SWIMMING POOL AND ALL THESE THINGS. BUT WHEN THAT WENT AWAY, THEY LOST ALL THE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY.
SO AGAIN, JUST ANOTHER UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO GET TO SEE IT.
AND THANK YOU SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA FOR BEING OUT THERE AND ALLOWING ME TO COME.
SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR TODAY, CHAIR.
THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
THANK YOU, CHAIR. AS YOU KNOW, OUR LAST MEETING, WE DID ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH PATRIOT AND AGAIN, JUST WANT TO THANK MARK HENDRICKSON AND MARK MIMMS FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THEY DID TO PUT THAT AGREEMENT TOGETHER.
BECAUSE SINCE THAT DECISION WAS MADE BY THIS BOARD, MY COLLEAGUE THAT'S ON THAT AD HOC AND I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS MEETINGS WITH DEVELOPERS AND OTHER FOLKS.
I JUST WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW IT'S IN FULL FLEDGED FULL MODE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF INTEREST IN THE AREA AND IT'S JUST IT'S I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN IT.
WHO KNEW ONCE WE MADE THAT DECISION, HOW FAST EVERYTHING WOULD BE COMING TOGETHER.
AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO ASK MY CONSTITUENTS NOT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE TRAFFIC.
ATWATER MERCED EXPRESSWAY IS GOING TO GET FINISHED.
WE'RE GOING TO BRING THE TRUCKS IN ON THE BACK SIDE.
BUT UP UNTIL THAT POINT, PLEASE APOLOGIZE BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF JOBS AND A LOT OF ACTIVITY GOING ON OUT THERE.
THAT'S GOING TO HELP A LOT OF US, A LOT OF FOLKS AND LOOKING THROUGH, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE OUR CEO FOR YOUR FIRST MEETING.
THIS IS HIS FIRST WEEK AS OUR SITTING CEO.
I HAVE NOT BEEN NERVOUS ONE TIME.
JUST KIDDING. BUT NO, WE'VE MADE THE RIGHT DECISION AND I'M VERY EXCITED.
I WAS, BIG THANK YOU GOES OUT TO JOE SCOTTO, WHO IS A FARMER IN MY DISTRICT WHO HOSTED A COFFEE AND DONUTS WITH ABOUT I THINK THERE WAS TWENTY FOUR OTHER FARMERS THERE, SO HE GOT TO GET IN THERE.
THEY GOT TO SAY GOODBYE TO JIM WITHOUT PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS, AND THEY WELCOMED OUR NEW CEO, RAUL MENDEZ, WITH OPEN ARMS ALONG WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS.
IT WAS A GREAT, FRUITFUL DISCUSSION.
AND NOT ONLY ARE THEY COMPLAINING, THEY ALSO HAVE SOLUTIONS.
SO IT'S A GREAT CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE AND IT'S GOOD.
AND IN FACT, WE'RE GOING TO START DOING THAT MORE OFTEN.
WE'RE GOING TO START SCHEDULING THAT AS A ONGOING MEETING, PROBABLY QUARTERLY.
WE DON'T WANT TO DO IT MONTHLY, BUT AT LEAST QUARTERLY TO GET THEM ALL TOGETHER BECAUSE IN THE FARM BUREAU WAS INVOLVED IN IT AS WELL.
BUT IT WAS A GREAT, FRUITFUL DISCUSSION AND IT OPENED OUR EYES TO KIND OF THE STUFF WE ALREADY KNEW. BUT IT HELPS US FOCUS WITH A REASON WHY WE HAVE OUR FOCUS IS THERE.
YOU'RE WELCOME, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. WELL, LIKE SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SAID, WE TOOK A TOUR OF AND ALSO WANT TO THANK HIM FOR JOINING US IN SANTA NELLA FOR LUNCH.
AND, YOU KNOW, GIVE ME A LOOK AROUND AND SHARING SOME OF THE INSIGHTS INTO SANTA NELLA.
SO WE KNOW OUR CEO WAS GOT TO TOUR THAT AREA AS WELL.
BUT FIRST IN THE MORNING WE STARTED IN LIVINGSTON CITY HALL, WE WERE JOINED BY VANESSA CARILLO OR PORTILLO FROM THE CITY OF LIVINGSTON.
MAYOR JUAN AGUILAR AND ALSO COUNCIL MEMBER [INAUDIBLE].
SO THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, THEY GAVE US A LITTLE BIT INSIGHT OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY OF LIVINGSTON. AND WE ALSO HAD CHIEF INTERIM CHIEF CHUCK HALE SHOW US AROUND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ALSO THE FIRE STATION THERE AS WELL.
SO I CAN'T REMEMBER THE FIRE PERSON THAT WAS THERE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD THAT, YOU KNOW, HE WAS ABLE TO [INAUDIBLE] SO.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO THANK CHIEF MARC PIMENTEL FOR HIS, HE JOINED US IN THE FIRE STATION IN SANTA NELLA. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THAT WAS VERY WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE A PICTURE AND GIVE US SOME MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THE SURROUNDING AREAS ARE GOING FOR.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE ALSO GOING BACK TO LIVINGSTON BACK AND FORTH IN THE MORNING.
SO WE WENT WE FINALLY MADE IT TO THE FIRE RANGE, WHICH I ADDRESSED EARLIER.
BUT, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT THE COUNTRY, WHICH IS [INAUDIBLE] WITH THE CITY OF LIVINGSTON, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW THOSE OFFICERS CAN SHOOT AFTER A VERY SHAKY RIDE ALL THE WAY TO THE FIRE RANGE, RIGHT.
SO I THINK WE NEED A NEW ROAD ON THE WAY OVER THERE.
THERE'S A NICE BRIDGE, BUT YOU KNOW, OVER THE CANAL.
BUT I THINK WE NEED A NEW ROAD, YOU KNOW, SO I THINK YOU'RE SHAKING, BUT THEN YOU GET OVER THERE, RIGHT? AND SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY CAN SHOOT ACCURATELY AT THE END.
SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN WORK ON THE ROADS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND ALSO TOO WE STOPPED AFTER
[00:50:06]
THAT IN THE MORNING AROUND 11 O'CLOCK WITH SUPERINTENDENT ANDRES SAMORA.SO HE SHARED WITH US SOME OF THE CONCERNS.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAD IN THE LIVINGSTON UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT AND ALSO HOW THE KIDS ARE DOING. AND, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW THEY'VE LOST SOME KIDS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND PEOPLE MOVING OUT OF STATE, SO.
BUT NOW I THINK WE'RE GAINING SOME OF THE SOME OF THE KIDS BACK AND BECAUSE THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE A 20 ACRE SITE FOR A NEW SCHOOL, BUT YOU KNOW, THEY HAVEN'T NEEDED TO BUILD IT YET. SO THAT'S KIND OF IN A WAY, I GUESS IS GOOD.
SO AND WE'LL BE TOURING THE SECOND.
THE SECOND TOUR WILL BE WITH PLANADA LE GRAND ONEIDA AREA ON MARCH 10TH.
SO IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US ON A TOUR SOMEWHERE? LOOK, GIVE ME A CALL AND THEN I'LL BE GLAD TO SHARE THE ITINERARY WITH WHETHER YOU GUYS AND ALSO MOVING ON TO THE SIDEWALK.
WE JUST ALSO APPROVED THE, YOU KNOW, THE [INAUDIBLE] WOULD BE AN ASSET WITH THE [INAUDIBLE] CROSSING THERE ON SANTA FE AND PLAINSBURGH, BUT ALSO TOO I WANT TO SEE IF THE BOARD COULD SUPPORT ME IN THE FUTURE ON GETTING A SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL FROM THE MIGRANT CAMP ON NORTH 140 AND PLAINSBURG TO HIGHWAY 140, WHICH WILL, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO DO THE CROSSING, WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS THERE.
AND CALTRANS WAS NICE ENOUGH TO HAVE THE FOUR-WAY STOP SIGN.
BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST WHEN THE MIGRANT CAMPS WERE BUILT, I DON'T THINK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LOOKED AT THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF HAVING A MIGRANT CAMPS NORTH OF TOWN, WHICH GOES AGAINST PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
YOU KNOW, IN MY MIND, WHICH I ADDRESSED ALREADY TO THE BOARD IN AND MARK FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT REGARDING, YOU KNOW, ITS PLANNING SHOULD BE TOGETHER CLOSE TO THE CITIES, CLOSE TO TOWNS AND NOT FARTHER APART BUILT, YOU KNOW, A DEVELOPMENT WHICH YOU KNOW, PROHIBITS IT'S, YOU KNOW, MIND BOGGLING, THE SERVICES AND ALL AMENITIES ARE FAR AWAY FROM ESPECIALLY SCHOOLS, WHICH THEY HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, WALK TO SCHOOL FROM NORTH OF TOWN TO THROUGH TOWN AND ACROSS THE BUSY AND UNSAFE HIGHWAY 140 ALL THE WAY TO CESAR CHAVEZ SCHOOL. SO HOPEFULLY THAT SIDEWALK, YOU KNOW, CAN BE IF WE CAN APPLY FOR A GRANT, I'M PRETTY SURE WE GET THAT PRETTY SOON.
SO. AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO THANK OUR STAFF [INAUDIBLE] FOR ALL THE THE GOOD PICTURES THAT THEY HAD.
YOU KNOW, THEY JOINED US DURING THE TOUR.
AND WITH THAT, AND THAT'S ALL MY COMMENTS.
THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO A COUPLE OF QUICK THINGS.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE MERCED COUNTY FRIENDS OF THE FAIR EVENT ON FRIDAY NIGHT, WHICH I KNOW SUPERVISOR PAREIRA WAS THERE AS WELL, WHICH WAS IT WAS REALLY COOL, THE EXCITEMENT AND THE ENERGY THAT WAS THERE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE FAIR IS GOING TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR IN PERSON, WHICH I THINK IS GREAT.
IT'S BEEN GONE FOR FOR FOR TOO LONG AND GETTING SOME SENSE OF NORMALCY BACK WILL BE REALLY GOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE KIDS THAT TAKE PART IN THE LIVESTOCK AND ALL THAT TYPE OF STUFF.
IT'S A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM.
I DO ALSO WANT TO I TOLD HER THIS YESTERDAY, BUT I WANT TO THANK [INAUDIBLE].
WHEN THE GENTLEMAN CALLED ME THE LAST WEEK, I WAS HEADING BACK FROM OUT OF TOWN AND I CALLED HER AND RIGHT AWAY THEY THE STAFF WAS RIGHT THERE.
AND SO IT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU THAT WE HAVE SUCH A GREAT STAFF HERE AT MERCED COUNTY THAT DOES REALLY DOES EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAN FOR OUR CITIZENS AND CONSTITUENTS, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
VERY MUCH SO. ALSO TO ECHO A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL SAID, THANKING MARK MIMS AND STEVE MAXY.
THEY GAVE A PRESENTATION AT THE BOOSTER EVENT ON LAST WEDNESDAY AND JUST DID A PHENOMENAL JOB. PEOPLE KEPT COMING UP TO ME AND TELLING ME HOW GOOD, HOW GOOD THEY'RE DOING AND HOW GOOD OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM IS DOING.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO TO SAY THAT AS WELL AS EVERYBODY AND THEN AGREE WITH AGAIN WITH DARON AND WELCOMING RAUL UP TO THE THE THE BIG CHAIR UP HERE.
I'VE MADE A JOKE. YOU KNOW, HE'S MOVED FROM HERE TO HERE AND NOW UP HERE.
THE ONLY PROBLEM IS I'M NOT GOING TO SHOW, BUT HE'S GOT AN L.A.
DODGERS COASTER UP HERE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MESS WITH, BUT WE'LL FIGURE THAT OUT.
[00:55:06]
BUT BUT OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S ALL I HAVE.WELL, DID DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING? DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING? I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT.
IF I COULD MR. CHAIR, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
HAVE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED TOURING THE THE COMMUNITY WITH EACH OF YOU.
APPRECIATE IT. THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUT INTO YOUR SUPERVISOR PAREIRA DISTRICTS AND KIND OF SEE THEM EXPERIENCE THEM FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME THROUGH YOUR LENS.
ALSO, APPRECIATE, APPRECIATE ALL THE CITY OR COUNTY PARTNERS, CITY PARTNERS, BUSINESS OWNERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT HAVE JOINED US.
IT HAS PROVIDED ME A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO ACCLIMATE MYSELF TO THIS COMMUNITY, MERCED AND COMMUNITY. SO I APPRECIATE THAT.
LOOK FORWARD TO FURTHER CONVERSATIONS AS WE GO FORWARD.
IN ADDITION, I'VE BEEN BUSY AS PART OF YOUR TRANSITION PLAN.
I THINK IT'S GONE BETTER THAN I EXPECTED HAVE MET WITH ALMOST EVERY COUNTY DEPARTMENT HEAD. I THINK I'M CONCLUDING MY MEET AND GREETS THIS WEEK.
IT'S BEEN IT'S BEEN GOOD TO SIT DOWN WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DIRECTORS AND TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE INITIATIVES, CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE.
SO I APPRECIATE EVERY DEPARTMENT HEAD PROVIDING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN.
I DO LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING OUT TO EVERY COUNTY OFFICE AS WE GO FORWARD.
I'VE ALWAYS ALREADY ASKED DALIA TO KIND OF SCHEDULE ME OUT IN THE NEXT FOUR TO SIX MONTHS BECAUSE I KNOW THERE IS QUITE A FEW COUNTY OFFICES, SO LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING TO KNOW AND MEET SOME OF THE STAFF AS WELL.
THAT OBVIOUSLY SERVES THIS COMMUNITY.
LASTLY, TO OUR COUNTY TEAM ON THE THIRD FLOOR, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE, COUNTY COUNCIL, THE BOARD OFFICE, YOU'VE ALL BEEN VERY GRACIOUS AND WELCOMING TO ME, SO THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME FEEL AT HOME.
AND I GUESS I SHOULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE NERVOUS THAN I AM TODAY.
AND I'M NOT. AND I THINK IT'S A CREDIT TO ALL OF YOU JUST MAKING A VERY SMOOTH TRANSITION FOR ME. VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE HERE IN MERCED COUNTY FROM EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE OBSERVED.
I KNOW THAT THE STAFF IS PREPARED TO APPROACH ANYTHING THAT THE FUTURE MAY BRING AND WE'LL BE READY. SO AGAIN, MR. CHAIR, THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.
I'M REALLY HAPPY TO BE HERE AND LEAD THIS ORGANIZATION FORWARD.
YOU'RE WELCOME. WELL, I'D LIKE TO PUBLICLY WELCOME YOU TO OUR TEAM.
YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU BEFORE THIS PROCESS ALL STARTED AND I HAVE THOROUGHLY BEEN IMPRESSED AND THE NERVES THAT I FELT AND THE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS THAT I HAD WHEN MR. BROWN SAID HE WAS GOING TO RETIRE QUICKLY WERE SUBDUED AND AND I SLEEP WELL, AT NIGHT, KNOWING YOU'RE HERE WITH US, AND SO I WANT TO SHARE THAT I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU WANT TO GET TO KNOW US RIGHT, THAT YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO KNOW US ON A NOT JUST A BUSINESS LEVEL, BUT A PERSONAL LEVEL AND WHAT MAKES US TICK AND AND SO WELCOME, CONGRATULATIONS AND AND THANK YOU FOR PICKING US.
THANK YOU. SO, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
DID YOU HAVE PLANS TO TOUR SOUTH MERCED AS WELL? I DIDN'T HEAR YOU MENTION THAT BUT.
ALL RIGHT. AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT.
I KNOW WE'VE BEEN A LITTLE LONG-WINDED THIS OR THIS THIS MORNING, BUT WHEN YOU KNOW WE VOTED TO APPROVE THE DEAL WITH PATRIOT RAIL ON TUESDAY AT OUR LAST MEETING AND SO THURSDAY AFTERNOON, I CALLED MARK MIMS AND JUST ASKED HIM HOW HAS THE RESPONSE BEEN RIGHT? WHENEVER WHENEVER A BOARD DOES SOMETHING, THERE'S THERE'S ALWAYS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO TO BE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED AS WELL OR TO HAVE COMPLAINTS.
AND AND AND HIS WORDS WERE, OH OH MY.
I MEAN, YOU CAN'T BELIEVE THE POSITIVE RESPONSES THAT'S FAR EXCEEDED WHAT WE EXPECTED.
AND YOU KNOW, AND THAT WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, LESS THAN 48 HOURS AFTER THAT DECISION WAS MADE. AND SO YOU KNOW, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU KNOW, TO RAUL, TO MR. BROWN, TO MR. HENDRICKSON, MR. MIMS, MR. MAXEY AND ALL THE TEAM THAT AND MY COLLEAGUES, RIGHT? I MEAN, I JUST THINK THAT'S A PHENOMENAL DEAL.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AN AIRPORT OUT THERE.
THAT, YOU KNOW, IT GETS YOU SOME, BUT, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY TWO PERCENT OF ITS CAPACITY AND OF ITS VALUE. AND ALREADY AIRFREIGHT IS A TOPIC THAT'S COMING TO US.
AND SO ANYWAYS, I JUST THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, A SGMA, AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, YOU KNOW, KIND OF RESTRICTS OUR AG PRODUCTION IN THIS COUNTY AND FOLKS ARE GOING TO LOSE SOME JOBS.
YOU KNOW, I JUST REALLY AM THANKFUL THAT THIS OPPORTUNITY HAS COME TO US.
AND SO INSTEAD OF LOSING A JOB, YOU'LL FIND PEOPLE TRANSITIONING TO ANOTHER JOB AND AND
[01:00:03]
YOU KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, TO ME, THAT'S THE KEY FOR REALLY EVERYTHING WE DO IN THE COUNTY. IF FOLKS CAN'T WORK, THEY CAN'T PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.AND THE SPIRAL FROM THERE IS EVIDENT, AS I THINK, TO MOST OF US.
SO ANYWAYS, CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE.
AND THEN WITH THAT, I WILL CONCLUDE THIS MARCH 1ST MEETING, REMINDING YOU THAT THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING IS MARCH 22ND AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL THEN.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.