YOU CAN WE CAN KIND OF PULL IT OUT.
[Call to Order]
[00:00:04]
GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE JUNE 7TH MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.WE HAD A CLOSED SESSION THIS MORNING AND STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION.
AND AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE THE INVOCATION AND PLEDGE.
THE INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY DR.
KEITH DE JOHNSON, WHO'S THE PASTOR OF THE NEW CANAAN MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH IN LOS BANOS.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE WANT TO THANK YOU THIS MORNING FOR THIS GOVERNING BOARD.
WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM.
GIVE THEM THE KNOWLEDGE, LORD, TO MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT ARE NEEDED FOR THIS GREAT COUNTY.
BLESS THEM, THEIR FAMILIES, BLESS THIS NATION, BLESS THIS COUNTY.
AND WE GIVE YOU ALL THE PRAISE IN JESUS NAME.
PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TO THE REPUBLIC WHICH STANDS FOR NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, PASTOR JOHNSON.
[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK]
TESTIMONY LIMITED TO 3 MINUTES PER PERSON AND 20 MINUTES TOTAL.AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
MY NAME IS SHAUGHNESSY MACHADO AND I AM THE SUPERVISING ELECTION SPECIALIST FOR THE REGISTRAR VOTER.
I HAVE PROUDLY SERVED THE VOTERS OF MERCED COUNTY FOR 20 YEARS.
I STAND HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY FOR TWO REASONS.
FOR THOSE OF YOU IN THE PUBLIC COMPACTION ISSUES IS WHEN YOUR EMPLOYEE SALARY OVERLAPS WITH YOURS.
I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS THAT STAFF IS ALLOWED TO CREATE POSITIONS WITH COMPACTION ISSUES, AND AFTER IT IS BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION, THEY MAKE NO CHANGES AND CONTINUE TO RECRUIT FOR THE SAME CLASSIFICATION.
THE SECOND REASON IS TO REQUEST FOR A SUCCESSION PLAN.
THE CURRENT PLAN DOES NOT ALLOW AN EMPLOYEE WHO HAS STATE AND NATIONAL CERTIFICATIONS AND ELECTIONS TO ADVANCE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OR EVER BECOME THE REGISTRAR OF VOTERS WITH SOMEONE WITH TWO DECADES OF EXPERIENCE IN ELECTION ADMINISTRATION.
LEADERSHIP IN THIS FIELD IS CRITICAL FOR SUCCESSFUL ELECTIONS.
THIS IS WHY I BELIEVE OTHER COUNTIES ALLOW FOR SUBSTITUTION.
PLEASE CONSIDER MY RECOMMENDATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
AND I'M SO HAPPY. I DON'T HAVE TO ASK IF THERE'S ANYBODY ONLINE.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
WE'LL MOVE TO OUR CONSENT CALENDAR.ARE THERE ANY DEPARTMENTS WHO WISH TO PROVIDE COMMENTS OR INFORMATION IN REGARDS TO THEIR ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR? COME ON UP, PLEASE. NEXT IS CONSENT CALENDAR.
IS IT ON OK? GOOD MORNING. I'M FELICIA GRAHAM, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ADULT AND AGING SERVICES.
AND I'M HERE TODAY TO HIGHLIGHT BOARD AGENDA ITEM 18 ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
ONE OF THE CRITICAL KEYS TO ALLOWING ELDER AND DEPENDENT ADULTS TO AGE THE WAY THEY CHOOSE IS TO PROVIDE THEM COMMUNITY SUPPORTS, INCLUDING PROTECTIONS FROM ABUSE AND NEGLECT. WORLD ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY OR WE ADD IS JUNE 15TH.
[00:05:01]
OUR PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND LONG TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN TEAM WANT TO PULL TOGETHER OUR COMMUNITY TO HELP US BUILD CONNECTIONS AND SUPPORTS FOR OUR SENIORS AND DEPENDENT ADULTS TO PREVENT ABUSE AND NEGLECT.ON JUNE 15TH, WE'LL BE HOSTING AN AWARENESS AND HEALTH FAIR AT THE MERCED COMMUNITY CENTER, LOCATED ON 755 WEST 15TH STREET IN MERCED, SAID TO ABUSE AND NEGLECT AWARENESS AND CONTEXT FOR MERCED COUNTY IN 2021, OUR APS HOTLINE RECEIVED OVER 1015 REFERRALS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT, AND OUR OMBUDSMAN COMPLETED REVIEWS OF OVER 119 COMPLAINTS FROM RESIDENTS AND FACILITIES AND RESPONDED TO 339 HOTLINE CALLS.
THE NEW YORK STATE ELDER ABUSE PREVALENCE STUDY FOUND THAT FOR EVERY ONE REPORTED ABUSE OF NEGLECT OR NEGLECT EXCUSE ME, 24 REPORTS GO UNNOTICED OR UNREPORTED. THIS MEANS THOUSANDS OF INCIDENTS OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT GO UNREPORTED ANNUALLY.
2021 WAS A TRANSITION YEAR AS WE SAW SENIORS BEGIN TO REENGAGE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS JANUARY, OUR APS POPULATION AGE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ADULTS 60 AND OVER.
AND SINCE JANUARY, OUR APP'S REPORTING HAS INCREASED 30% AS COMPARED TO 2021.
AS MERCED COUNTY SENIOR POPULATION CONTINUES TO GROW.
ELDER AND DEPENDENT ADULT ABUSE AWARENESS WILL BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.
THIS MONTH WILL BE COMPLETING COMMUNITY AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS, ADDRESSING ABUSE AND NEGLECT.
ON JUNE 15, WE ASKED THE COMMUNITY TO WEAR PURPLE IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE WE ADD MOVEMENT AND JOIN US FOR OUR AWARENESS AND HEALTH FAIR AS WE WORK TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT.
THIS WILL WORK TO BUILD A FOUNDATION IN THE PREVENTION OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REPORT ELDER ABUSE OR DEPENDENT ADULT ABUSE NEGLECT, CALL APS AT 2093853105 OR OUR OMBUDSMAN AT 2093857402.
BOTH OF THESE LINES ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, SHERIFF.
I'M GLAD TO SEE EVERYBODY WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE LAND OF SHERIFF.
AND WE'VE GOT A BRAND NEW OFFICE WE OPENED UP IN SYLMAR.
WE'RE GETTING THE FINAL TOUCHES PUT ON IT FOR OUR CLIO COMMUNITY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICE.
IN OTHER WORDS, OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM.
AND LIKE I SAY, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA YOU.
THAT'S YOUR DISTRICT. YOU COME ON DOWN AND SIT DOWN WITH ME AND WE'LL TALK TO SOME FOLKS.
BUT WE GOT THAT COMING OUT AT, I'M GOING TO SAY 99% ALL VOLUNTEER MONEY FROM THE COMMUNITY.
THE ONLY THING I THINK WE HAVE TO PAY FOR IS THE ALARM SYSTEM AND MAYBE A PHONE LINE.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S ALL COMMUNITY SUPPORTED.
APPARENTLY, WE'VE GOT SOME ISSUES AND THE TRAGEDY THAT HAPPENED IN TEXAS BROUGHT A LOT OF FOLKS TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW PREPARED WE ARE JUST FOR THIS AUDIENCE.
AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY BEING RECORDED.
WE ARE PROBABLY PROBABLY THE AT THE FOREFRONT OF ALL THE TRAINING THAT GOES ON.
WE'VE ACTUALLY GOT CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS.
WE'VE BEEN GOING TO THE SCHOOLS FOR YEARS, TRAINING FOR SITUATIONS JUST LIKE THAT.
SO WANT EVERYBODY HERE TO KNOW THAT WE TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY AND WE HAVE SPECIALLY TRAINED DEPUTIES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PLACING AT SCHOOLS TO DO NOT ONLY LAW ENFORCEMENT WORK, BUT TO CRIME PREVENTION, GANG INTERVENTION, THAT KIND OF STUFF.
SO SHERIFF'S OFFICE MOVING FULL STEAM AHEAD AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET THINGS TAKEN CARE OF.
BUT WE DO HAVE THAT OFFICE IN SYLMAR WE'RE OPENING UP.
AND AS TIME AND STAFFING, WHEN I SAY STAFFING, WE GET MORE VOLUNTEERS ON THEIR BOOKS.
WE'LL START IN GOING BACK INTO THE COMMUNITIES AGAIN THAT WE CAN.
SO ANYHOW, ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THAT OR.
YEAH, I DO. I JUST A CLARIFICATION.
YOU MENTIONED THAT IN YOUR COMMENT THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM BEFORE YOU TALKED ABOUT THE AH YOU MENTIONED THAT LIKE THE SCHOOLS HAVE ISSUES AND NEED HELP AND SO THEY'RE LOOKING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PRESENT.
RIGHT NOW, THE CITY OF ATWATER, THEIR SUPERINTENDENT, REACHED OUT AND NEGOTIATED WITH US.
SO THAT WAS THEIR REQUEST FOR US.
[00:10:09]
AGENDA GO ACCORDINGLY.SO. ANYTHING ELSE? ANYBODY ELSE? NOPE.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SEE YOU GUYS IN THE BACK ROOM.
ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS? NOPE. OKAY, SO LET'S SEE.
AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS ONE THROUGH 26.
ANYBODY WISH TO SPEAK? COME ON UP. NO.
OKAY. WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
THANK YOU. NEXT IS BOARD ACTION PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS 27 THROUGH 30.
[BOARD ACTION]
PLEASE NOTE ITEM 27 REQUIRES A 4/5 VOTE.OKAY. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.
NEXT IS HEALTH ITEM NUMBER 31.
OKAY. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
I'LL OPEN UP FOR A PUBLIC COMMENT.
PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE OR I'M SORRY.
PLEASE CALL FOR THE ART. I'D LIKE TO CALL FOR THE VOTE NOW.
NEXT IS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES ITEMS 32 AND 33.
ALL RIGHT. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
I'LL OPEN UP FOR A PUBLIC COMMENT.
SEEING. THEN I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.
ALL RIGHT, PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
NEXT IS HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY ITEMS 34 THROUGH 39.
WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? WHAT'S THAT? OH, YES.
SO PEOPLE CAN TALK. FOR DISCUSSION.
OH, YOU DON'T WANT TO JUST REQUEST, AND I CAN DO THAT.
GOOD MORNING. SUPERVISOR CHAIRMAN PAREIRA, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, CEO MENDEZ AND COUNTY COUNCIL.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS YVONNE BROWN, THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY AND I STAND BEFORE YOU WITH GREAT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE FOR CONSIDERATION TODAY IS ON OUR AGENDA ITEM, OUR NEW VSO OFFICER WHO BRINGS 27 YEARS OF MILITARY EXPERIENCE TO THE COUNTY.
I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS DURING OUR INTERACTION TO SEE THAT MR. WILLIAMS IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE A GREAT ASSET TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THE MILITARY VETERANS THAT WE HAVE.
AND I THINK WITH YOUR SUPPORT TODAY, I HOPE THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER HIM FOR THIS POSITION.
IN THE MEANTIME, I HAVE MR. WILLIAMS TO ALSO PRESENT HIMSELF TO YOU AND ALSO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME AGAIN.
I WANT TO THANK YOU EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH ME.
GIVE ME YOUR GUIDANCE, GUIDANCE, YOUR DIRECTION.
AS YOU KNOW, MANY, MANY OF OUR VETERANS ARE STRUGGLING OUT THERE.
AND MY MY MY DIRECTION IS TO REACH OUT, MAKE THIS OFFICE KNOWN, MAY RE ANNOUNCE IT, IF YOU WILL, AND LET THEM KNOW THAT WE ARE OPEN AND OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND WE ARE READY TO SERVE THEM TO FIND THE BENEFITS THEY'VE ALREADY EARNED THROUGH THEIR SERVICE.
[00:15:03]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME.ALL RIGHT. AM I MISSING SOMETHING HERE? OH. BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
YEAH. I'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE A VOTE FOR MR. YARMUTH ON THIS. IN THIS POSITION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, MARINE.
I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE.
AND I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE.
AND THANK YOU FOR WEARING OUR NATION'S CLOTH.
THANK YOU, CHAIR. ECHO THE COMMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUE AND I DO STRONGLY ENCOURAGE A YES VOTE FOR FOR MR. YARMUTH. I KNOW THAT HE'S GONNA DO A GREAT JOB AND DO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
IT'S ALWAYS MAKES IT BETTER FOR ME.
SO. BUT NO. AND I KNOW THAT HE'S GOING TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
I'M NOT ONLY EXCITED FOR THE COUNTY, BUT I'M EXCITED FOR OUR VETERANS BECAUSE YOU HAVE AN ADVOCATE IN MR. YARMUTH. AND THEN THE LAST THING THAT I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH IS REFUGIO.
I HAVE I'LL BE SITTING YOU A CONTACT FOR MR. MCGLYNN AND DOSS PALACE SO YOU CAN MAKE THAT INTRODUCTION.
THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME, SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO I WANT TO ECHO THE SAME THING.
I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WHEN WE EACH HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THEM.
THE ONE THING I THINK THAT THIS BOARD HAS REALLY DONE IS IT LOOKED AT THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX AND DOING DIFFERENT THINGS TO MAKE IT THE BEST COUNTY THAT WE CAN BE.
AND SPEAKING TO MR. YARMUTH, HE REALLY WAS SAYING, HEY, THIS IS WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.
THIS IS WHAT I'M GOING TO LOOK AT.
I'M GOING TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT COUNTIES AND HOW THEY'RE DOING THINGS.
AND IF I CAN BRING IT AND IF I CAN WORK WITH IT, I'M GOING TO DO THAT.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT APPROACH.
BUT THE ONE THING THAT HE DID SAY THAT I THOUGHT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT AND I THINK SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL SAID WAS AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S ABOUT THE VETERANS AND REALLY ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED FOR THEM FOR THE SACRIFICES AND FOR WHAT THEY'VE GIVEN TO US TO BE ABLE TO BE UP HERE DOING THIS.
AND SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE A YES VOTE AS WELL.
AND I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR FOR YOUR SERVICE.
THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA.
UM, BUT I ENCOURAGE MR. YARMUTH TO PLEASE REACH OUT TO US, ME INDIVIDUALLY OR TO THE REST OF THE BOARD TO SEEK SUPPORT.
SO JUST REACH OUT TO US AGAIN AND IF THERE'S ANY ISSUES IN SUPPORT OF YOURSELF OR, YOU KNOW, IVANA OR LIKE I SAID, JUST TO HELP YOU WITH WITH THE THE LOCALS AND IN EACH OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND AND SUPPORT YOU.
YOU HAVE OUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN BLESSED WITH SOME PRETTY GOOD VSOS, ACTUALLY ONE IN THE ROOM.
I APPLAUD YOU FOR THAT AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.
CONGRATULATIONS. NEXT IS COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ITEM NUMBER 40.
ANY COMMENT THERE, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
GO AHEAD. DO YOU WANT TO THANK COUNTY COUNCIL? BECAUSE HE CALLED ME BEFORE I EVEN SAW THE AGENDA TO WARN ME THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE ITEMS ON HERE FOR $125 AND $150.
AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT KIND OF DRIVE ME CRAZY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE A ALMOST BILLION DOLLAR A YEAR BUDGET IN THIS COUNTY AND WE STILL BRING 102 HUNDRED ITEMS.
[00:20:01]
I KNOW THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY TO INDIVIDUALS, BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF STAFF TIME THAT GOES INTO EACH ONE OF THESE AGENDA ITEMS, WHEN AND I MY PHILOSOPHY IS IF IT COSTS MORE TO PUT THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA THAN THE ACTUAL ITEM, WE PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE LOOKING AT IT.IT'S IT'S I THINK IT'S PRETTY WELL KNOWN TO EVERYBODY THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR MONEY'S INFLATION.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU USED TO HAVE A $50 CHANGE ORDER 20 YEARS AGO, HEY, THAT WAS GOOD.
BUT THINGS HAVE GONE UP A LITTLE BIT.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MAYBE SOME POLICY CHANGE THAT TAKES THESE THINGS AND PUTS THEM AT MORE OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL VERSUS REALLY COMING TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL. WE APPROVE THESE THINGS IN OUR OVERALL BUDGET AND NOT TO SAY THAT WE'RE NOT WATCHING OUR PENNIES HERE IN MERCY COUNTY, BUT AGAIN, WHEN WE SEE THINGS, IN MY ESTIMATION, IT COSTS $1,000 FOR EVERY ITEM ON THIS AGENDA.
AND LISTEN, THEY'RE ALL HERE DOING THEIR WORK.
BUT IF THEY'RE DOING THIS, THEN THEY'RE NOT DOING SOMETHING ELSE.
AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT.
I MEAN, I AGREE, OF COURSE, WITH SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND NOT WASTING MONEY.
BUT I ALSO APPRECIATE OUR OUR STAFF WORRYING ABOUT THE MONEY.
RIGHT. AND EVEN THOUGH IT'S $150, THEY'RE TAKING THE TIME TO MAKE SURE WE DO IT LEGALLY, I GUESS IS THE WAY TO PUT IT, BECAUSE AS OUR SOCIETY DEGRADATION SO QUICKLY BEFORE OUR EYES, YOU KNOW, IF WE DON'T DO THINGS BY THE BOOK, WE CAN'T EXPECT OTHERS.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? I'LL OPEN THAT AT THIS TIME.
I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.
IT DIDN'T TAKE THE FIRST TIME YOU PUSHED IT.
ALL RIGHT. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
THE EMOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT IS SHERIFF ITEMS 41 THROUGH 43.
NUMBER 41, ADOPT AN ORDINANCE INTRODUCED ON MAY 24TH, 2022 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE RELATED TO THE ABATEMENT AND ABANDONED, WRECKED, DISMANTLED AND OR INOPERATIVE VEHICLES, WHICH REPEALS AND REPLACES TITLE NINE CHAPTER 9.14 OF THE MERCED COUNTY CODE.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT SEEING.
THEN I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.
I'M SORRY. SORRY. SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
THANK YOU. REGARDING ITEM NUMBER 41, RELATING TO ABATEMENT ABANDONED VEHICLES.
SO IT'S NOT JUST WINTON, BUT LIKE I SAID, MANY COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTY, IF WE CAN LOOK AT IT AND I KNOW SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, I USED TO DRIVE A TOW TRUCK, SO I USED TO CALL THE CHP ALL THE TIME. SO I KNOW BOTH, UH, YOU KNOW, CHP AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT CAN PROBABLY CHECK THAT FOR ME, SO I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. OKAY.
CALL FOR THE BOAT. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT IS COUNTY COUNCIL ITEM NUMBER 44.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME SEEING.
THEN I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.
[00:25:01]
NEXT IS EXECUTIVE OFFICE ITEMS 46 AND 47, WHICH WILL BE TAKEN SEPARATELY.THAT'S OKAY. HUMAN RESOURCES ITEM 45.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA IN A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? I'LL OPEN THAT AT THIS TIME.
SEE, THEN I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND CALL SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
I'M THINKING, MONSIEUR, I'D JUST LIKE TO STATE THAT I'VE GOTTEN MANY CALLS FROM EMPLOYEES, AND I'VE EXPRESSED MY FEELINGS THAT WE LET THE NEGOTIATING TEAMS, THE UNIONS AND OUR STAFF NEGOTIATE, THAT WE TRY NOT TO GET IN THE MIDDLE.
SO NOT THAT WE DON'T CARE ABOUT OUR EMPLOYEES.
WE DO CARE ABOUT ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
SO. LIKE I SAID, WE WE DO CARE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T GET IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S FIVE OF US UP HERE.
SO WE GOT TO LET THE NEGOTIATING NEGOTIATING TEAMS HANDLE THAT.
SO OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.
SEE, IT DIDN'T GO THE FIRST TIME I PUNCHED IT EITHER.
NEXT IS EXECUTIVE OFFICE ITEMS 46 AND 47.
THESE ITEMS WILL BE TAKEN SEPARATELY.
THANK YOU. WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
I'LL OPEN UP FOR A PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME.
SEE, NOT I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.
OKAY. WE HAVE PRESENTATION FOR ITEM 47.
RIGHT. WE DO HAVE A PRESENTATION THAT SHOULD BE CUED UP IN A MOMENT.
ALL RIGHT. WE'LL WAIT FOR THAT.
THANK YOU. IT'S HARD TO SEE IT UNTIL THEN.
DAVID MARION ASSISTANT COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN PAREIRA AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD CEO MENDEZ AND COUNTY COUNCIL HANSON FOR ALLOWING ME TO GIVE AN UPDATE AND BRING FORWARD SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.
AND SO I'M GOING TO START WITH BRIEF HISTORY AND TIMELINE, AND I'VE DONE THIS IN THE PRESENTATIONS IN THE PAST, JUST AS A REFRESHER TO KIND OF BRING US UP TO DATE ON WHERE WE'RE AT. AND SO AGAIN, MARCH 11TH, THAT'S WHEN THE RESCUE PLAN WAS SIGNED INTO LAW.
AND AS PART OF IT, YOU'LL SEE ASL, FRF, THAT'S THE STATE AND LOCAL CORONAVIRUS FISCAL RECOVERY FUND.
IN THE PAST, WE'VE HAD BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SPRING ITEMS FOR ARPA.
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS THIS PARTICULAR POT OF FUNDING, WHICH WAS THE $54 MILLION.
AND SO WHEN YOU SEE ASL, FRF, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
SO ALTHOUGH WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALLOCATIONS ON THIS PARTICULAR POT, YOU MAY SEE AND WE'LL SEE OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN THE FUTURE PROBABLY BRINGING ITEMS FORWARD AS A RESULT OF GRANTS THAT THAT ARE COMING FORWARD AND MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THROUGH THE STATE.
AND SO THE ALLOCATION WAS BASICALLY DIVIDED IN HALF IS HOW THEY DID IT.
AND THIS WENT TO STATES, COUNTIES, CITIES ALL THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
SO IN MAY 10TH, THE TREASURY OF 2021, THE TREASURY ISSUED INTERIM FINAL RULE AND OPEN A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD THAT RAN FOR TWO MONTHS AND CLOSED JULY 16TH.
[00:30:02]
AND AT THAT POINT, WE BROUGHT FORWARD TO YOU IN AUGUST 10TH OF 2021, A FUNDING FRAMEWORK THAT THAT YOUR BOARD DISCUSSED AND GAVE STAFF GUIDANCE ON.WHILE THAT WAS UNDERWAY, THE FINAL RULE WAS FINALLY PUBLISHED ABOUT FOUR MONTHS LATER OR FIVE MONTHS LATER, EXCUSE ME, AFTER RECEIVING ALL OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND TAKING THAT INTO ACCOUNT AND THAT HAD A FINAL EFFECTIVE DATE OF APRIL 1ST OF 2022.
AND SO THE LAST TIME I WAS BEFORE YOU WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING, WELL, THAT WAS FEBRUARY 8TH WHERE WE GAVE AN UPDATE ON THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH, WHICH I'LL GO OVER IN A MOMENT THAT WE DID, ALONG WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FUNDING FRAMEWORK.
AS A REMINDER, THE FUNDS MUST BE INCURRED AND OBLIGATED BY DECEMBER 31ST OF 2024.
SO THINK OF THE CALENDAR YEAR 2024, AND THEN THOSE FUNDS MUST BE FULLY EXPENDED AND THE WORK MUST BE COMPLETE BY CALENDAR YEAR, THE END OF CALENDAR YEAR 2026 AS A REFRESHER ITEMS THAT THAT CAN'T BE THE FUNDS CAN'T BE USED FOR IS PAYING INTO A PENSION FUND THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN A PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS OF EMPLOYEE PAYROLL.
THIS IS MORE GOING BACK AND MAKING A LARGE SCALE ONE TIME DONATION OR NOT DONATING IT EXCUSE ME, PAYING INTEREST OR PRINCIPAL ON OUTSTANDING DEBT, REPLENISHING OF A RAINY DAY OR RESERVE FUNDS, PAYING SETTLEMENTS OR JUDGMENTS.
AND THEN ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S OUTSIDE THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST REQUIREMENTS OR ANY LOCAL, STATE, FEDERAL, LOCAL LAWS OR REGULATIONS SO ELIGIBLE USES SUPPORT PUBLIC HEALTH EXPENDITURES ADDRESSING NEGATIVE IMPACTS CAUSED BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, PROVIDING PREMIUM PAY FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS, WATER, SEWER, BROADBAND, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND FINALLY REPLACING LOST PUBLIC SECTOR REVENUE, OR, AS IT WAS KNOWN, REVENUE REPLACEMENT.
AND SO THE FRAMEWORK THAT YOUR BOARD GAVE DIRECTION ON WAS BASICALLY BUILT IN A REVENUE REPLACEMENT MODEL WHERE THEN NEW CATEGORIES WERE CREATED AND DIRECTION WAS GIVEN.
WHAT'S INTERESTING IS WHEN THE FINAL RULE CAME OUT, THEY ACTUALLY GAVE ANY RECIPIENT UP TO THE FIRST $10 MILLION OF THEIR FUNDS COULD BE USED TOWARDS REVENUE REPLACEMENT OF OVERWHELMING FEEDBACK IN THE COMMENTING PROCESS ABOUT THE ABILITY TO HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY.
SO WE ENDED UP DOING A VERY LARGE SCALE COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORT.
WE WENT OVER THAT IN GREAT LENGTH AT THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THE SURVEY RESULTS WERE POSTED ON OUR ARPA SECTION OF OUR COUNTY WEB.
SO THERE'LL BE MANY, MANY REPORTS THERE BY THE TIME THE PROGRAM IS WRAPPED.
WE WE RECEIVE NEARLY 10,000 SURVEYS.
SO SURVEYS WERE IN ENGLISH, SPANISH AND HMONG.
WE DID A COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS, VIRTUAL PRESENTATIONS.
LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE ALL OF THAT AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE.
SO AT THE FEBRUARY 8TH BOARD MEETING, THERE WERE SOME ADJUSTMENTS MADE TO THE FUNDING FRAMEWORK.
AND SO AS THE TOWARDS THE FINAL DECISION AT THAT MEETING WAS THE NUMBERS YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY, WHICH WERE HOMELESS SERVICES AT $4 MILLION AND THERE WAS AN ALLOCATION OF $2 MILLION MADE.
SO 22.8 MILLION WITH 17.8 ALLOCATED ROADS.
THERE WAS A $10 MILLION ALLOCATION MADE.
AND SO THAT'S THERE TEN AND THAT'S BEEN FULLY ALLOCATED.
THE ACTUAL ROADS THEMSELVES THAT WILL COME UP IN A IN A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM.
BUT FOR THE SAKE OF TODAY AND FOR BUDGETING STANDPOINT, THAT IS NOT AN ITEM FOR TODAY.
SO THAT $10 MILLION HAS BEEN ALLOCATED.
[00:35:04]
AND WHEN WE COME AT BUDGET HEARINGS, THE NEXT MEETING TWO WEEKS FROM NOW, THAT IS ONE OF THE PROGRAMED ITEMS IN, IN THE BUDGET AS WE PRESENT FOLLOWING THE DIRECTION GIVEN AND THEN CONTINGENCY OF A MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS.SO WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE, THERE WAS A BALANCE OF $9.6 MILLION STILL IN THOSE CATEGORIES.
SO TODAY WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD SOME RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND SO FIRST HOMELESS SERVICES.
AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS A TOTAL OF $4 MILLION IN THE CATEGORY, AND THEN THERE WAS A DIRECTION TO PROGRAM $1 MILLION IN THIS UPCOMING BUDGET.
AND THEN THE FOLLOWING YEAR, AN ADDITIONAL AN ADDITIONAL MILLION DOLLARS.
I DO HAVE TO POINT OUT THAT FOR THE RECOMMENDATION THAT SECOND ONE SHOULD READ 2526.
SO I DO APOLOGIZE ABOUT A TYPO UP IN THE IN THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO ULTIMATELY WHAT THAT'S DOING IS, IS PROVIDING THE THE THE SERVICES THROUGH THE HOMELESS NAVIGATION CENTER OPERATIONS AND EXISTING COUNTY FUNDED OPERATIONS.
ANOTHER TWO YEARS OF THOSE $1 MILLION OF FUNDS PROGRAMED INTO THE BUDGET.
NEXT IS A NEW CATEGORY AND I'LL GET INTO THE SHIFTING OF CATEGORIES IN A MOMENT, BUT A CATEGORY ENTITLED PANDEMIC PAY AND SO THAT THERE IS A RECOMMENDED ALLOCATION OF $3 MILLION.
SO IN 2122, OUR CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, THE COUNTY STAFF HAS BEGUN LABOR NEGOTIATIONS WITH ALL 12 EMPLOYEE BARGAINING UNITS, AS YOU SAW AT THE ITEM THAT WAS JUST APPROVED MOMENTS AGO.
WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT THESE ONE TIME PAYMENTS ARE ISSUED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT OF THE WORKFORCE AS THEY NAVIGATED THROUGH THE CHALLENGES OF COVID 19.
SO WHAT IT WOULD BE DOING IS CREATING THE CATEGORY.
AND THEN AS AGREEMENTS COME BEFORE YOU, THAT WOULD BE WHERE IF AGREED, THAT'S WHERE THOSE DOLLARS WOULD COME FROM, IF AGREED. SO IT'S NOT AN A, IT'S NOT AN OVERALL APPROVAL OF $3 MILLION.
IT'S THE CREATION OF A CATEGORY.
SO WHAT WE HAVE HERE FOR PROJECTS ALL AROUND PARKS AND AND I'M INCLUDING THE SPRING FAIR IN THE PARK CATEGORY. BUT OVERALL IN PARKS WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A SERIES OF SIX RECOMMENDATION RECOMMENDED PROJECTS. SO THE FIRST BEING COMMUNITY PARK 42 IN MERCED SAID YOU MAY HAVE HEARD IT AS CP 42.
AND SO WE'RE RECOMMENDING A MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS OF FUNDING AND THAT'S TO GET THAT PROJECT, WHICH IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF MERCY AND THE MERCED UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT, OVER SOME PARKLAND, OVER AN EAST MISSION, TYLER AND EAST GIRARD AVENUES.
AND TO DO THE WORK TO GET THAT SHOVEL READY WHICH WOULD BE YOUR INITIAL STUDY YOU TITLE UTILITY ENTITLEMENTS DESIGN WORK AND ANNEXATION WORK. NEXT WOULD BE DAILY HIGH EDUCATIONAL PARK RESTROOMS AT 500,000.
SO THAT WOULD BE TO TO ADD RESTROOMS TO THAT FACILITY TO MAKE IT A MORE PLEASANT EXPERIENCE, TO SAY THE LEAST, WITH WHERE THE CURRENT RESTROOMS ARE AND HOW YOU HAVE TO GET TO THEM.
AND SO WE FELT THAT THIS WAS A GOOD RECOMMENDATION.
SO WE'VE BROUGHT TO YOU IN THE PAST SOME GRANT APPLICATIONS, THE PURCHASING OF THE PARK LAND THERE AS YOU AS YOU KNOW, AND WE'RE APPLYING FOR GRANTS. THE SUCCESS RATE GOES UP EXPONENTIALLY WHEN PROJECTS ARE SHOVEL READY.
WE'RE COMPETING OUT THERE AGAINST MANY, MANY SHOVEL READY PROJECTS.
AND THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH MONEY EVEN FOR ALL THE SHOVEL READY PROJECTS.
[00:40:05]
FUNDED AT THE LEVELS WE NEED TO TO BRING THOSE PROJECTS TO LIFE.SO IT'S CURRENTLY NOT BEING USED AND WE WANT TO BRING THAT BUILDING BACK TO A USABLE STATE.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING TO TO GET THAT GOING HAGAMAN PARK RESTROOMS. AND SO FOR THAT ONE THAT WOULD BE THE CREATION OF NEW RESTROOMS. THERE'S A LOT OF ADA WORK THAT GOES INTO THAT.
THAT'S A VERY BIG NUMBER FOR FOR RESTROOMS, WHICH I'LL ACKNOWLEDGE.
SO THERE'S SOME WORK TO TO ELEVATE THOSE RESTROOMS. AND ANY TIME YOU HAVE ELEVATION, THAT'S ENHANCED ADA WORK, THAT WOULD GO ALONG WITH THAT.
SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT AS A PROJECT.
AND FINALLY, WE BROUGHT FORWARD NOT TOO LONG AGO, BACK AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE YEAR IN JANUARY 25TH, THE PURCHASE OF PARKLAND IN SANTA BELLA, A THREE ACRE SITE OVER VERACRUZ DRIVE AND LUIS AVENUE.
AND SO, AGAIN, UNDER THE THE THEME OF SHOVEL READY PROJECTS, BRINGING THIS ONE FORWARD TO DO SIMILAR WORK TO TO FRANKLIN BEECHWOOD, WHICH WOULD BE THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND DESIGN WORK.
SO IN ORDER TO HAVE THIS PLAN ALL PAN OUT, THERE IS SOME ADJUSTMENTS MADE SIMILAR TO HOW WE DID BACK AT THE PUBLIC HEARING IN FEBRUARY. AND SO YOU'LL SEE HOMELESS SERVICE.
WE'RE BASICALLY RECOMMENDING THE ALLOCATING THE BALANCE OF THOSE FUNDS FOR COVID 19 SUPPORT AND COMMUNITY FACILITY SUPPORT. AND THEN FINALLY, CONTINGENCY BE A SLIGHT REDUCTION THERE, THE TOTAL OF THOSE EQUALING $3 MILLION, WHICH WOULD CREATE THE THE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO CREATE THAT NEW CATEGORY UNDER PANDEMIC PAYMENT.
WHAT THAT DOES THERE IS THAT TAKES THE COMMUNITY FACILITIES BALANCE FROM 5 MILLION DOWN TO 4.6.
AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I JUST PROVIDED TOTAL OUT TO THAT 4.6.
SO THIS WOULD BE ULTIMATELY THE FUNDING FRAMEWORK IN ITS REVISED STATE WITH THE PROJECTS ALL ALLOCATED OUT WITH STAFF EITHER HAVING DIRECTION TO GO FORWARD AND BEGIN WORK OR TO HAVE OUR BUDGET TEAM WITH THE DIRECTIONS FOR THIS UPCOMING BUDGET AND FUTURE BUDGET YEARS.
WE? SO LASTLY, RECOMMENDED ACTIONS WE HAVE ACTUALLY, I'LL GO BACK.
AGAIN, THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON WITH GRANTS, FRANKLIN BEECHWOOD, THE DELL HILL HALL, COMMUNITY HALL AND PARK AND DEL HIGH, VETERAN UPGRADES. SOME LIKE THE LIBRARY IN WINTON, THE PARKS, LAKE, YOSEMITE, PARKING LOT, PAVEMENT AND THEN WATER AND SEWER OUT THERE, LA GRANDE PARK AND SANTA NELLA PARKS AND THEN SOME PROJECTS WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
AGAIN, I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU THROUGH THOSE AS THE ACTUAL ACTIONS THAT ARE IN YOUR BY.
SO FOR THE STAFF TO PROGRAM THE FOLLOWING ITEMS FOR THE 2223 BUDGET, WHICH WOULD BE THE 51.5 MILLION FOR COMMUNITY PARK 42.
SO I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT CONFUSION.
AT THIS POINT. I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT OFF THE SCREEN IN THE BY ITSELF FOR 2122 BUDGET THAT WOULD BE THE 1.5 FOR COMMUNITY PARK 42 AND 600,000 FOR THE GERMANO BUILDING.
THAT ALLOWS US TO GET THOSE PROJECTS STARTED.
NOW FOR THE FINAL FOUR PROJECTS ON ITEM TWO, THAT WOULD BE TO DIRECT THE STAFF TO PROGRAM THE FOLLOWING ALLOCATIONS FOR THE 2223 BUDGET.
SO WE WOULD WORK THAT THROUGH IN BETWEEN PROPOSED AND FINAL BUDGET.
[00:45:03]
THAT WOULD BE 500,000 FOR THE HIGH EDUCATION PARK BATHROOMS, 700,000 FOR THE FRANKLIN BEECHWOOD PARK ENVIRONMENTAL AND DESIGN WORK, $1 MILLION FOR THE HAGAMAN PARK RESTROOMS, 300,000 FOR CENTENNIAL PARK AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN.AND THEN THE THIRD RECOMMENDATION IS FOR THE 2425 BUDGET TO PROGRAM $1 MILLION TO SUPPORT THE HOMELESS NAVIGATION CENTER OPERATIONS AND EXISTING COUNTY FUNDED EMERGENCY SHELTER PROJECTS.
AND LASTLY, TO APPROVE A BUDGET TRANSFER IN THE AMOUNT OF 2.1 MILLION ASSOCIATED WITH THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2122, THOSE BEING THE FIRST TO THE CP 42 AND THE JIMENO BUILDING.
WITH THAT, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS? NO, I DO HAVE ONE ON THE CP 42.
THAT'S A THAT'S A HIGH SCHOOL AND CITY PARK.
SO WHAT'S THE WHAT'S THE NEXUS FOR THE COUNTY? WELL, WE HAVE ACCESS TO THE FACILITIES SEPARATE FROM JUST THE PUBLIC GOING.
OKAY. UH, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. GOOD. GOOD QUESTION.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING AN MOU THAT WOULD FORMALIZE SPECIFICALLY ISSUES AROUND WHAT THE FUNDING WOULD GO FOR AND ALSO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE IN TERMS OF ACCESS TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT IS INTENDED TO BE A REGIONAL FACILITY THAT WILL SERVE NOT ONLY CITY RESIDENTS BUT ALSO RESIDENTS IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA.
AND SO WILL THE. WHAT MY QUESTION IS, IS IS FOR US FOR THE COUNTY.
WHAT WHAT I MEAN, ARE WE JUST GIVEN THEM A MILLION AND A HALF FOR THEIR PROJECT OR IS LIKE OUR PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MOWING AND AND EDGING AND SPRINKLERS AND LIGHTS? AND IF THERE'S GOING TO BE A FACILITY THERE, DO WE HAVE ACCESS TO USE IT WITHOUT PAYING A RENTAL FEE.
I THINK MAYBE ASKING OR ANSWERING YOUR LAST QUESTION FIRST.
WE FULLY INTEND TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE FACILITY THAT WILL BE FORMALIZED IN THE MOU.
YEAH, WE WOULD WE WOULD OBVIOUSLY TRY TO PURSUE THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE SOLUTION, HAVING THREE ENTITIES THAT ALL PROVIDE LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE SERVICES. THAT'LL BE SOMETHING THAT WE'LL HAVE TO KIND OF WORK THROUGH THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
YEAH. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
AND THE COUNTY HAS BEEN KIND OF LIKE PLANNED.
THE CITY HAS ALREADY COMMITTED AND HAVE THEIR OWN 40 ACRES.
AND THIS WOULD BE LIKE IN THE CORNER OF TYLER AND MISSION.
SO IT WOULD BE IN MY DISTRICT.
SO I THINK THIS WOULD BE A REGIONAL PROJECT FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ALL.
MERCED COUNTY AS A REGIONAL FOR WEATHER.
IF I'M CORRECT IN LIKE A SPORTS COMPLEX OR JUST A COMMUNITY CENTER OF ALL TYPES WHERE EVERYBODY IN, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST MERCER COUNTY, BUT LIKE THE REGION WILL BRING MORE REVENUE TO THE COMMUNITY AND MERCER COUNTY.
[00:50:02]
SO JUST WANT TO STATE THAT.THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA CHAIR JUST GETS CLARIFICATION.
YES. THIS IS ESSENTIALLY GRANTING STAFF THE APPROVAL THAT WE NEED TO PURSUE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
THIS IS SIMPLY TRYING TO ALLOCATE A PORTION OF THE ARPA DOLLARS FOR THIS PROJECT.
AS I THINK I'VE MENTIONED AND MENTIONED IN OUR INDIVIDUAL BRIEFINGS, IT IS A MEASURED APPROACH REALLY INTENDED TO BRING THE COUNTY TO THE TABLE AS A PARTNER AND ALSO ADDRESSING SOME OF THE ENTITLEMENT, THE ANNEXATION.
PERFECT. AND I THINK THAT IT'S IT'S IN KNOW THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE CITY'S BEST INTEREST THAT WE GOT SOME WE'RE PUTTING SOME MONEY INTO THIS AND AND ON THE OTHER HAND, I MEAN THAT WE HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE IF IF IT TRULY IS A REGIONAL PROJECT AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT, I THINK IT'S A GOOD START AND KNOWING THAT WE WANT TO GET THIS MONEY KIND OF ALLOCATED, I THINK IT JUST FOR BUDGET PURPOSES.
IT MAKES THINGS EASY MOVING FORWARD THAT WE DON'T HAVE BECAUSE I STILL DO THINK ON THIS WHOLE ARPA THING AND I KNOW DAVID'S ON TOP OF THIS, BUT WE'RE GOING INTO KIND OF HYPER MODE WITH ALL THESE PROJECTS THAT WE GOT GOING ON.
AND WE ALL GOT TO REMEMBER THAT DEADLINE OF THESE FUNDS HAVE GOT TO BE SPENT BY 2026.
AND THAT, YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S A LONG WAY AWAY, BUT THAT'S GOING TO GO BY FAST.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP OUR PORTION OF OUR TAX DOLLARS.
WELL, IN THIS CASE, THEY PRINTED THEM, BUT THAT WE KEEP THEM HERE LOCALLY.
SO I GET ALL THAT I'M WILLING TO GO DOWN THE ROAD.
AND THEN WE'RE JUST THE CASH COW THAT'S GIVEN THEM MONEY.
BUT IF IT'S JUST A WELL, WE'RE LOOKING FOR A MILLION AND A HALF TO HELP US GET OUR PROJECT FUNDED, BUT WELL, IT TECHNICALLY RESIDES IN MERCED COUNTY, BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT WE WANT AND WE DON'T GET A SAY IN IT.
I'M JUST KIND OF PUTTING THAT OUT THERE NOW THAT I WOULD HAVE SOME RESERVATION ABOUT THAT.
BUT I THINK WE'RE GOING DOWN THE CORRECT PATH.
THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR PEDROZO THANK YOU.
THE ONE THING I DO WANT TO SAY, AND I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, IS THAT I THINK THAT AS A COUNTY, WE HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB IN BEING TRANSPARENT AND REALLY REACHING OUT TO THE COUNTY ABOUT THESE ARPA FUNDS.
AND, YOU KNOW, CP 42 IS A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY.
I AGREE WITH WHAT SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA IS SAYING THAT IF IT'S NOT A REGIONAL PROJECT, THEN, YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T SUPPORT THIS, BUT THIS IS MORE OF A LONG TERM VISION TYPE THING TO WHERE WE'RE GOING TO.
WE'RE GOING TO BE AT THE TABLE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE WHEN YOU GO TO A DANCE, DO YOU WANT TO BE THE DJ OR DO YOU WANT TO JUST LISTEN TO THE MUSIC? AND SO WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE DJ AND SO WE CAN BE THERE AND MAKE THESE DECISIONS AND MAKE SURE THAT IT HAPPENS.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING.
BUT ALSO IT GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR I MEAN, IT'S A 78 ACRE PARK, SO THERE'S A HUGE OPPORTUNITY TO HOST TOURNAMENTS, TO HOST DIFFERENT EVENTS REGIONALLY.
YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT DIFFERENT PARKS UP AND DOWN 99 THAT HAVE THIS.
BUT THEN ALSO THERE'S A CONNECTIVITY NOT JUST WITH THE PARK, BUT HOW MUCH MONEY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BRING IN TO THE COUNTY, THE DIFFERENT HOTELS, THE RESTAURANTS AND THAT TYPE OF STUFF.
AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK AT THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW FORWARD.
AND I THINK THAT'S ALL SOMETHING THAT CAN BE WORKED OUT.
AND I TRUST OUR OUR STAFF HAS HEARD AND THEY'LL THEY'LL BE ABLE TO GET IT ALL IRONED OUT.
SO THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO I AM IN SUPPORT OF THIS.
IT IS GENERATIONAL INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE MAKING.
[00:55:02]
THESE ARE MONIES THAT DON'T COME AROUND IN A GENERATION.AND I THINK THIS IS WHERE WE'RE DOING A BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT GENERATIONS PAST US WILL BE ABLE TO ENJOY AND APPRECIATE THESE INVESTMENTS WITH THE CP 42 THAT 7878 ACRE SPORTS PARK I'M DEFINITELY AN.
SO I DEFINITELY THINK IT IS A REGIONAL APPROACH AND I KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE FOLKS WHO HAVE THAT ARE INVOLVED IN IT, IN THE PLANNING OF IT, LOOK AT IT AS A REGIONAL SPORTS PROJECT.
BUT IT'S GOING TO BE OPEN FOR ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT SPORTS AND CONCERTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA JUST REAL QUICK, I JUST WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT I'M ADDRESSING THE ISSUES OF TRAFFIC, WHICH IS INTERMISSIONS, ALREADY BEING IN FRONT OF THIS PROPERTY AND IT'S GOING TO BRING UP IT'S ALREADY CONGESTED AND THE ROAD'S PRETTY BAD.
SO I'M ADDRESSING THE ROAD ISSUE AND THE TRAFFIC, OF COURSE, IN THAT AREA.
SO THANK YOU. OK SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA CHAIR IS.
I KNOW THAT CP 42 TOOK UP A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION, BUT I ALSO WANT TO DIRECT ATTENTION TO MY CONSTITUENTS OUT IN SAN MANILA AND MY COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT ONES, FUTURE CONSTITUENTS, THAT THIS 300,000 IS JUST ONE STEP CLOSER TO SANTA GETTING THE PARK THAT THAT THAT THEY DESERVE AND SO THAT ALL THESE PARKS ON HERE AND I DO AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL ON THE IT'S A ONCE IN A GENERATION I MEAN THIS IS $4.6 MILLION THAT OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE COME OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND.
AND SO I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE DOING IT.
AND THEN JUST TO ADD ON, IT'S WHAT YOU THE MONEY, YOUR MONEY BEING SPENT BACK HERE, BUT WE HAVE REGIONAL TYPE FACILITIES THAT FOLKS FROM OUR COMMUNITIES, WHETHER IT'S OUR INCORPORATED COMMUNITIES OR UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES, AREN'T DRIVING UP AND DOWN THE ROAD.
THAT'S A THAT'S A PENNY THAT THEY SAVED, TOO.
SO IT'S I THINK IT'S A WIN WIN DEAL AS LONG AS EVERYTHING KIND OF LINES OUT IN THE NEGOTIATIONS.
THANK YOU, CHAIR. AND MY ORIGINAL QUESTION WAS, WAS TO MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT SOME CO USE FACILITIES IN THE COUNTY AND THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS GO SMOOTH.
SO I JUST WANTED TO GET IT OUT EARLY.
I'M NOT AGAINST THE PROJECT EITHER.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE'RE DOING THAT MOU THAT, THAT, THAT IT'S SPELLED OUT AND THAT THE COUNTIES INTEREST ARE PROTECTED, RIGHT? I MEAN BECAUSE OUR PARKS AND REC MAY WANT TO DO SOMETHING THERE IN THE FUTURE AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT WITHOUT JUST DISCOVERED A JOINT USE.
I MEAN, I WASN'T QUESTIONING WHAT YOU'RE DOING, I JUST WANTED TO HAVE A GOOD DISCUSSION.
RIGHT. SO WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE.
SO TO REMIND MYSELF, WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
AND AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
I SEE NO MORE QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES.
THANK YOU. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? SEE, THEN I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.
AND MERCED COUNTY WINS THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU. NEXT IS BOARD APPOINTMENTS ITEMS 48 AND 49.
ALL RIGHT. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
I SEE MY COLLEAGUE SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
IF YOU LOOK, WE HAVE SIX FOLKS HERE TO BE APPOINTED TO THE BOARD.
[01:00:03]
THOSE ARE ALL RE APPOINTMENTS AND THEY ARE EXCITED TO BE REAPPOINTED.MOST PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET OFF OF BOARDS.
WE HAVE PEOPLE WANTING TO GET ON THIS BOARD.
SO AND MARK HENDRICKSON IS OVER THERE.
HE'S UP FOR THE REAPPOINTMENT AS WELL.
THIS IS A VERY GOOD WORKING BOARD AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK THEY'RE DOING.
AND THANK YOU, ERIC. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
YOU'RE WELCOME. I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT IS BOARD INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ITEM NUMBER 50.
[BOARD INFORMATION & POSSIBLE ACTION]
SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.THIS IS THE HOMELESS HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND PREVENTION PROGRAM, ACTION PLAN AND APPLICATION LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS AND OUTCOME GOALS AND STRATEGIES FOR ACHIEVING THOSE GOALS.
IT'S QUITE, QUITE THE MOUTHFUL THERE, AND IT'S A VERY DETAILED REPORT.
THANK YOU. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
IS ANYONE INTERESTED IN A SECOND? SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEREIRA AND COMMENT FROM SUPERVISOR PEDROZO? I WILL TELL YOU, WITH BEING NOW A PART OF ON THE S.O.S., WITH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT ACRONYMS THAT THEY HAVE SESSION HIP HOP AND HOP AND ALL THIS OTHER STUFF, THIS IS IT'S NICE TO HAVE IT SPELLED OUT.
SO WHAT'S THE ACRONYM FOR THIS? MR. CHECKLEY I'M JUST KIDDING.
NO, I'M SORRY. YOU ARE THE KING OF THE ACRONYMS. SO ANYWAY, SORRY FOR FOR THAT.
ALL RIGHT, OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
SEEING. THEN I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.
NEXT, WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FROM COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO SOLICIT COMMENTS ON SUBMISSION OF 2022 STATE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING HOUSING REHABILITATION AND HOMEBUYER ASSISTANCE GUIDELINES.
ADOPTING THE HOUSING REHABILITATION AND HOMEBUYER ASSISTANCE GUIDELINES.
[SCHEDULED ITEMS]
IN THREE, A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SUBMITTAL OF THE CDBG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PLANNING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT APPLICATION UP TO AN AMOUNT OF 250 GRAND IN INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT BUSINESS GRANT APPLICATIONS.EXCUSE ME, AS SUPPORT A BUSINESS GRANT APPLICATION THE AMOUNT OF UP TO 750 GRANT.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH IS REQUIRED FOR THE STATE, IS TO PROVIDE THE PUBLIC WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE COMMENTS REGARDING OUR SUBMISSION FOR THE CDBG APPLICATIONS RELATED AGAIN TO HOUSING, REHAB, HOMEBUYER ASSISTANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
ULTIMATELY, IF AWARDED, THE COUNTY WOULD RECEIVE $1 MILLION FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO SUPPORT BUSINESS AKASOL AND FUNDING TO STUDY THE CONNECTION OF THE U.P TO CASTLE RELATED TO THE HOUSING COMPONENT.
STAFF IS ALSO SEEKING AUTHORITY TO APPLY FOR CDBG PROGRAM INCOME FUNDS UP TO 2.5 MILLION.
THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE USED TO ASSIST LOCAL HOMEOWNERS WITH REHAB FUNDS AND TO ASSIST LOW AND MODERATE INCOME PERSONS WITH DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE AND CLOSING COSTS TO PURCHASE A HOME OF NOTE FOR THE BOARD.
THERE IS NO MATCH REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AFOREMENTIONED FUNDS IF AWARDED.
THREE STAFF DOES RECOMMEND THAT YOU ADOPT THE THE AFOREMENTIONED RESOLUTIONS AND FOUR DIRECT STAFF TO RETURN TO THE BOARD WITH AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM WHEN THE APPLICATION RESULTS ARE KNOWN DOWN THE ROAD.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
PLEASE COME FORWARD. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE HEARING.
AT THIS TIME, IT IS PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK REGARDING THE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
PUBLIC HEARING TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO 3 MINUTES PER PERSON.
[01:05:06]
SEEING NO ONE OR CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE THREE MENTIONED RESOLUTIONS AND DIRECT THE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR TO RETURN BACK TO THE BOARD WITH INFORMATION WHEN THE ITEMS ARE WHEN THE APPLICATION RESULTS ARE KNOWN.
THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
YEAH, I DID HAVE A QUESTION ON THIS.
ON THE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, IS THERE ARE THERE PARAMETERS ALREADY SET FOR THOSE FOLKS BECAUSE.
I'M SUSAN LONG. I'M WITH SELF HELP ENTERPRISES.
THE COUNTY HAS APPROVED GUIDELINES THAT SET OUT WHAT WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR A FAMILY.
SO WE HAVE THEM SET OUT THEN YOU DO ALREADY HAVE SET OUT.
OKAY. IS IT SOMETHING YOU THINK WE MIGHT NEED TO READDRESS OR.
THE CDBG PROGRAM IS FAIRLY OPEN, SO THERE'S NOT A LOT OF RESTRICTIONS ON THAT PROGRAM, WHICH MAKES IT MUCH MORE FEASIBLE FOR US TO HELP THOSE LOW INCOME FAMILIES OBTAIN HOUSING WITH THOSE FUNDS.
YOU'RE WELCOME. AND WITH THAT, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SHARE WITH MY COLLEAGUES MAYBE WE SHOULD READDRESS THESE AND SEE WHERE WE ARE BECAUSE THE ECONOMY IS MUCH DIFFERENT NOW THAN WHAT IT WAS PREVIOUSLY.
YEAH. AND I WILL SECOND THIS MOTION AT THAT OK.
WELL, LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
OKAY. WE'RE ROLL CALL VOTE OR MANUAL, OR CAN WE DO IT? ALL THE PAPERS SAY, OH, WE DON'T NEED OK.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING I I ANY OPPOSE SAME SIGN MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
THE HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY IS SEEKING BOARD APPROVAL TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION IN RESPONSE TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FOR PUBLIC SERVICES.
OUR APPLICATION, SHOULD YOU SO AUTHORIZE, WILL ALLOW MERCED COUNTY TO PROVIDE RENTAL AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE TO VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS AT OR BELOW 50% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME. THIS ASSISTANCE WILL INCLUDE RENT, RENTAL ARREARS, UTILITY AND HOME ENERGY COSTS AND UTILITY AND HOME ENERGY ARREARS IN THE AMOUNT OF $500,000.
THIS PROGRAM WILL BE A MODIFIED VERSION OF THE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND WILL PROVIDE RENT, UTILITY AND HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED THREE MONTHS IN ONE CALENDAR YEAR.
FAIR MARKET RENTS ARE PUBLISHED BY HUD ANNUALLY BY COUNTY JURISDICTION AND REPRESENT THE COST OF TO RENT A MODERATELY PRICED DWELLING UNIT WITHIN THE COUNTY'S LOCAL HOUSING MARKET. IN 2019, THE FAIR MARKET RENT FOR A THREE BEDROOM HOME IN MERCER COUNTY WAS 1213 DOLLARS IN 2022.
FAIR MARKET RENT FOR THE SAME THREE BEDROOM HOME IS NOW $1,591.
AND WE'RE HOPEFUL THIS PROGRAM WILL HELP.
IF AWARDED THIS FUNDING, STAFF WOULD FOLLOW ALL COUNTY APPROVED PROCUREMENT PROCESSES TO ENSURE THE TO SECURE THE BEST QUALIFIED CONTRACTOR WITH THE CAPACITY TO IMPLEMENT AND OPERATE THIS PROGRAM PENDING ANY QUESTIONS.
[01:10:05]
DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.AUTHORIZE THE BOARD CHAIR TO EXECUTE AN ACT ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY APPLICATION.
AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OF THE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY TO SUBMIT THE APPLICATION FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT AND, IF SUCCESSFUL, AUTHORIZE THE BOARD CHAIR TO ACCEPT THE AWARD. AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OR THEIR DESIGNEE TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM, AND DIRECTOR, DIRECTOR OF THE HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY TO RETURN TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WITH AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM WHEN APPLICATION RESULTS ARE KNOWN.
AT THIS POINT, STAFF RECOMMEND YOU OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. CHECKLEY BEFORE HE STEPS DOWN? I THOUGHT SO. MR. CHECKLEY, WHERE DID YOU GET THE RESULTS OF THE RENT? THAT WAS ACTUALLY FROM THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY OFF OF I'M SORRY, THAT WAS THAT WAS FROM HUD.
THAT WAS FROM HUD FOR HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.
YES, SIR. BECAUSE FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THOSE RENTS ARE A LOT HIGHER.
I WOULD SAY MARKET RATE IS ABSOLUTELY A LOT HIGHER THAN THAT.
THAT'S GOING TO BE A REASONABLE, FAIR MARKET RENT IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE'RE SEEING RENTS DRAMATICALLY IN EXCESS OF THAT.
SO THAT'S KIND OF OUR CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW.
NO OTHER QUESTIONS. SO THANK YOU.
SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SLIPPED IN.
WHAT'S HHC, THE HOUSING HOMELESS SERVICES BRANCH.
IT'S ONE OF THE ACRONYMS THAT WE'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH HERE.
PERFECT. THAT'S WHY I SEE JOHN BRENNAN.
WELL, THANKS FOR CLARIFYING IT FOR PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T KNOW.
ALL RIGHT. SO AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AT THIS TIME, IT IS PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK REGARDING THE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY.
PUBLIC HEARING TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO 3 MINUTES PER PERSON.
SURPRISE. JOHN DIDN'T WEAR A BOW TIE.
I KNOW. SEEING THE ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND LOOK TO MY COLLEAGUES.
THANK YOU, CHAIR. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO FOLLOW STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS IN TO ADOPTING THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE BOARD CHAIR THREE AUTHORIZING THE BOARD CHAIR TO SIGN AND ACT ON THE COUNTY'S BEHALF.
AND WHEN FIVE AND SIX AND SEVEN IN THE STAFF REPORT.
ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND WE HAVE A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING I ANY OPPOSE.
SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
ALL RIGHT, I'LL START TO MY RIGHT.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. WELL, AS I STATED LAST MEETING, LIKE THE NOTIFY THAT I WENT TO A CONFERENCE IN ALASKA, ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, ON THE WESTERN INTERSTATE REGION CONFERENCE AND ON MAY 18TH AND ALONG WITH SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
IT WAS A VERY INFORMATIVE CONFERENCE REGARDING ONE OF THE SESSIONS WAS ON THE ECONOMY AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE KIND OF LIKE WE'RE AT AND I THINK IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD.
AND ONE OF THE STATEMENTS WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE WITH POLITICS IS KIND OF LIKE WE'RE WAITING TILL THE END OF THE YEAR AFTER THE ELECTION AND THEY ASSUME THIS KIND OF RECESSION IS GOING TO GO DOWN.
SO IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD FOR AS IT LOOKS RIGHT NOW.
SO, YOU KNOW, PLEASE DO YOUR BEST DUE DILIGENCE AND SAVE FOR WORSE TIMES.
AND I THINK IT'S ALL OVER, YOU KNOW, THE NEWS NOW.
ALSO, I ALSO HAD THE CHANCE OF OF ATTENDING A TOUR IN ALASKA
[01:15:10]
AND VISITED IN AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS POLICY STEERING COMMITTEE AND MEETING AND WHERE IT TOOK US AND SHOWED US HOW THE FARMING GOES IN IN ALASKA, WHICH IS THEY DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH LAND AVAILABLE SINCE WITH ALL THE FROST, OBVIOUSLY, AND THERE'S A LOT OF PERMAFROST IN THE GROUND.SO BUT NOW WITH THE, YOU KNOW, WARMING OF THE CLIMATE AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT HAS ITS POSITIVES AND NEGATIVES BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE PERMAFROST IN SOME REGIONS, YOU KNOW, IT'S FROST IT AND THEN IT JUST KIND OF LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT IT MELTS IN THE HOLES EVERYWHERE. SO IF YOU LOOK AT MOST OF ALASKA, IT'S KIND OF LIKE MUSHY, WATERY, AND MOST OF THE ROADS HAVE TO BE ELEVATED SO THAT PEOPLE CAN TRAVEL AROUND.
SO, OF COURSE, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
AND THEY SAY 90 MORE THAN 80% OF ALASKA IS WILD.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL AREA.
AND WE ALSO HAD THE CHANCE TO ATTEND ANOTHER TOUR WITH, YOU KNOW, A VISIT TO THE ANCHORAGE ELECTION CENTER. ALASKANS HAVE A VOTE AT HOME SYSTEM, KIND OF LIKE WE DO, AND OFFER VOTERS THE OPTION TO VOTE THEIR BALLOT IN THE CONVENIENCE OF THEIR OWN HOME OR TO CHOOSE OTHER OPTIONS TO VOTE AS WELL.
THEY SHOWED US HOW THEY ARE SAFE.
WELL, THEY ARE A WELL RUN ELECTION AND CENTERS THAT HANDLES AND DISTRIBUTES THEIR BALLOTS FOR THE MUNICIPALITY OF ANCHORAGE AND SOME OF THEIR TOWNS ARE CALLED BURROS.
SO THE STATE RUNS THE ELECTION SYSTEM.
SO, UM, I ALSO HAD THE CHANCE TO TOUR A, A, A LITTLE BUS THAT TOOK US AROUND THE COMMUNITY AND SEE ALL, I GUESS MOST, MOST PEOPLE HAVE A WATER TAXI AND NOT EVERYBODY HAS A LICENSE, A PILOT LICENSE.
AND LIKE I SAID, MOST OF ALASKA IS RURAL.
SO EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LAKE AND WITH HUNDREDS OF OF PLANES THERE.
SO AT ONE TIME THEY HAD A 20 YEAR WAITING PERIOD.
SO YOU CAN GET A PARKING IN THAT LAKE.
BUT STILL, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE MOST PEOPLE, INSTEAD OF DRIVING, THEY THEY FLY A PILOT.
I MEAN, THEY'RE PLAYING AROUND TO WHERE THEY NEED.
SO IT WAS PRETTY, PRETTY INTERESTING AND AND EDUCATIONAL AS WELL.
SO I KNOW THAT THEY STATED ON BACK GOING BACK TO THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE LIKE A A FEW THOUSAND ACRES WHERE THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SELL OFF TO.
AND THAT'S WHY THE PRICES ARE SO HIGH.
SO BUT I WAS SURPRISED BY THE PRICE OF OF THEIR HOME VALUES, TOO, AS WELL.
THEY'RE LIKE AS MUCH AS HERE OR MORE.
BUT IT'S NOT NOTHING IS CHEAP.
SO. YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY DO SO.
IT WAS A GOOD EXPERIENCE AS THEY DID SO.
ALSO, I'VE GOTTEN SOME CALLS ON SOME FROM RESIDENTS AND FROM SALMONELLA, AND I'M GOING TO SEND THEM TO SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA TO ADDRESS TO UNTIL UNTIL JANUARY TO ADDRESS THE THE WEED ISSUES OVER THERE AND THE ROADS AND OBVIOUSLY CONCERNS WITH THE PARK. AND LIKE I SAID, WE'RE TRYING TO DO OUR PART AND AND I'M TRYING TO DO MY PART IN SUPPORTING SUPERVISOR SO VERY UNTIL HIS HIS TERM ENDS REGARDING THE REDISTRICTING.
SO WE'LL BE ADDRESSING THOSE CONCERNS.
ALSO, LIKE I STATED BEFORE, I'LL BE WITH THE CP TOO FOR THE CIP 42 PROPERTY IN SUMMER SAID.
SO I KNOW THAT THROUGH DMG, SO WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO USE REGIONAL DOLLARS.
[01:20:06]
VOTERS. BUT I'VE STATED BEFORE HER POSITION WAS POINTED WAS THAT OLIVIA USED TO BE A AN ELECTED POSITION.THAT POSITION USED WAS AN ELECTED POSITION.
NOW IT'S AN APPOINTED POSITION.
AND I THINK THAT POSITION GOES UNDER EXTREME PRESSURE EVERY ELECTION, JUST AS IT IS TODAY.
OBVIOUSLY, THE LAST DAY OF VOTING AND NOVEMBER, I STILL STATED THAT THAT POSITION SHOULD BE AN ELECTED POSITION AND I AM PRETTY SURE THAT SHE SHE'S VERY WELL QUALIFIED FOR THAT POSITION. BUT LIKE I SAID, I GET CALLS AND I'VE TOLD HER LIKE SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, THE BOARD DECIDED TO, TO MAKE IT A AN APPOINTED POSITION.
BUT LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, SHE'S THERE NOW, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'LL BE TAKEN UP IN THE FUTURE.
SO WE'LL SEE ABOUT THAT IN THE FUTURE.
IF YOU HAVEN'T SENT IN YOUR YOUR YOUR BALLOT, THEN PLEASE BRING IT IN OR, YOU KNOW, OR ONE OF YOUR COMMUNITY CENTERS AROUND YOUR AREA AND PLEASE VOTE.
THANK YOU. OKAY, SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
THANK YOU. JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK THINGS.
ONE OF THE COMMITTEES I'M ON, LIKE I SAID, IS THE S.O.S.
AND WE HAD OUR MEETING LAST WEEK.
AND I THINK ONE OF THE THE COOL THINGS ABOUT THAT IS THERE IS A VERY DEDICATED GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE REALLY WORKING TOWARDS FIXING HOMELESSNESS IN MERCED COUNTY.
AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT ALL AREAS OF THE COUNTY IS REALLY IMPORTANT, WHETHER IT'S THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON GOING ON IN LOS BANOS, WHICH IS REALLY, REALLY COOL TO SEE BECAUSE THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THERE WASN'T A LOT, BUT NOW THAT THEY'RE REALLY DOING SO MUCH.
SO I'M INCREDIBLY EXCITED AND I REALLY ENJOY WORKING WITH THEM.
I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE DISPATCHER OF THE YEAR AWARDS, THE LUNCHEON LAST WEEK.
THE DISPATCHERS IN THE COUNTY FOR WHATEVER AGENCY THEY WORK WITH, THEY DEAL WITH A LOT OF THINGS AND THEY HAVE TO BE SOME OF THE MOST PATIENT PEOPLE ON EARTH.
AND SO I'M HAPPY THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE ABLE TO DO THAT.
AND JUST THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THEM THAT GOT THEIR AWARDS, THEIR SUPERVISORS COULDN'T SAY ANYTHING NICER ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY WERE JUST VERY, AGAIN, PATIENT.
ALSO, I'M GOING TO DO A LITTLE SHAMELESS PLUG HERE.
SO I TOLD THEM THAT I WOULD LET THE BOARD KNOW.
AND THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, WE WERE THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES AND WE WERE THE ORIOLES AND SO MY TEAM THAT ALSO THE FAIR STARTS THIS WEEK PLEASE MAKE SURE TO GET OUT THERE AND IT'S IT'S IT SHOULD BE A LOT OF FUN I KNOW ONCE I LEAVE HERE, I'M GOING TO BACK OUT THERE BECAUSE MY SON IS FINISHING SHOWING HIS HIS PIG.
BUT HAVING SAID THAT, ALSO THIS MONTH IS ALSO.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT DAIRY IS A $1.9 BILLION INDUSTRY IN MERCED COUNTY.
AND SO I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE AND IN SUPPORT.
ALSO, THE BOY I WENT TO, THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, THEY HAVE A NEW CEO, C LI, AND I WAS ON THE INTERVIEW PANEL THAT SELECTED HER.
THEY DID A RIBBON CUTTING FOR THEIR SUMMER PROGRAM, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS REALLY COOL BECAUSE WHAT PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND IS IT'S NOT JUST THE MERCED CITY BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, IT'S MERCED COUNTY BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.
AND SO THERE'S FOUR DIFFERENT LOCATIONS THAT THEY'RE OFFERING A SUMMER PROGRAM THROUGH.
AND SO FOR INFORMATION TO DO THAT AND WHAT THEY AND IT'S THEY HAVE EDUCATION ACTIVITIES AND ATHLETICS AND SO IT'S REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS TO DO SOMETHING. I KNOW THAT KIDS REALLY HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING STUFF TO DO DURING THE SUMMER, AND THIS IS A GOOD AVENUE FOR THEM TO GET INVOLVED OR TO DO STUFF. IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION, YOU CAN CALL THEM AT 7229922 AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO POINT YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION REGARDLESS OF THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES THAT THEY'RE IN.
[01:25:02]
ALSO, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE AND LAST WEEK IT WAS A BUSY WEEK FOR ALL THE GRADUATES.AND THEN I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADJOURN THE MEETING TODAY IN HONOR OF JAMES FERNANDES.
HIS FAMILY HAS BEEN IN THE DAIRY BUSINESS FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME AND HE WAS VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN THE ST PATRICK'S CHURCH AND ELKS AT HOPETOUN, THE HOPED AND FESTA.
I MEAN, THEY TREAT YOU LIKE FAMILY.
SO IT WAS A HUGE LOSS, UNEXPECTED LOSS.
AND THEN ALSO FOR FRED WAS WESTMORELAND.
HE WAS A VETERAN, A FARMER AND AN ENGINEER.
HE WAS MORE IMPORTANTLY, A CAL POLY GRADUATE.
BUT ALSO HE WAS MY AUNT'S UNCLE.
SO WITH THAT, EVERYBODY ENJOY FAIR WEEK, RIGHT? THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
I KIND OF HEARD THAT THAT WAS THE RUMOR ON THE STREET.
I HAVE A LOT OF I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO REFUGIO YARMOUTH'S.
REFUGIO ALSO SITS ON THE LOS BANOS CITY COUNCIL, BUT I JUST THINK THAT HE'S HE'S GOING TO CONTINUE ON AND REALLY HELP WITH THIS BOARD'S VISION OF WHAT WHERE WE WANT TO SEE OUR VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER AND THE VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE GO AND DO SO.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE HIM ON BOARD IN ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
WE THERE WAS A NEGOTIATION, I'M GOING TO CALL IT, OR THE CITY OF LOS BANOS, WHO'S NOT AN ENTITLEMENT CITY, DID KICK IN SOME OF THEIR ARPA FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO HELP OUT WITH THE PROJECT.
ROOMKEY. CORRECT, THERE'S HOMEKEY AND ROOMKEY, SO THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF LAS VEGAS FOR THAT.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE GRADUATES.
MY SON GRADUATED ON FRIDAY NIGHT.
WE HAD A NICE LITTLE GET TOGETHER FOR HIM AND PEOPLE ASKED IF WHO IS THE PARTY FOR? FOR MY SON OR FOR FOR THE ADULTS.
SO EXCITED FOR ALL THE GRADUATES.
MY KIDS, TOO, ARE BOTH AT THE FAIR RIGHT NOW SHOWING ANIMALS.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET OUT TO THE MERCED COUNTY FAIR AS WELL.
SO I ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITY TO COME OUT AND VISIT.
AND IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY LOW VOTER TURNOUT, BUT IT'S NOT TOO LATE.
THERE ARE MULTIPLE PLACES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
THERE'S A PLACE IN EACH COMMUNITY WHERE YOU CAN DROP OFF THOSE VOTES.
OR GO IN AND VOTE AT THIS POINT.
YOU GOT UNTIL 8:00 TONIGHT OR IT HAS TO BE POSTMARKED BY TODAY AT 8:00, CORRECT? DARLENE? JUST TODAY, YOU POSTMARKED BY THE DATE YOU SENT AND RECEIVED IN YOUR OFFICE BY NEXT TUESDAY, JUNE 14.
I THINK THERE WAS A CITY WAS A CITY ANYWAYS, A LOT OF SPECIAL DISTRICT ELECTIONS.
I WILL I WILL PUT OUR SYSTEM UP AGAINST ANYBODY'S AND THE PROFESSIONALISM AND THE THE AMOUNT OF TRANSPARENCY AND REDUNDANCY AND JUST EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO OVER THERE IS DONE UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF A CAMERA WITH NO LESS THAN TWO PEOPLE MONITORING IT.
[01:30:01]
IT'S A SAFE ELECTION SYSTEM.NOW, WHAT HAPPENS OUT IN THE PUBLIC? THAT PART I CAN'T WE CAN'T CONTROL.
BUT ONCE THE BALLOT GETS TO US AND WE TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE BALLOT, I.
I KNOW THAT WE WENT THROUGH A RECOUNT WHEN IT GOES LAST.
NO, WHENEVER IT WAS AND IT DIDN'T CHANGE.
THEY WENT THROUGH NUMEROUS, NUMEROUS BALLOTS, RECOUNTED EVERYTHING.
AND IT CAME OUT EXACTLY HOW IT CAME OUT WHEN IT WAS RAN THE FIRST TIME.
SO THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO OUR OUR ELECTION SOFTWARE SYSTEM AND THE FOLKS THAT ARE RUNNING IT.
SO I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT, AND I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR TODAY.
MY COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT THREE.
AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS ALL DAD'S MATTER MONTH AND IN HONOR OF LAMAR HENDERSON AND WEARING HIS BOW TIE AS HIS PRESENTATION AT OUR LAST MEETING, I SENT OUT THE CHALLENGE AND EVERYBODY MET THE CHALLENGE.
I APPRECIATE IT. WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD A LOT OF FUN DOING IT.
AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE LAST FIVE SCHOOL SHOOTINGS THAT WERE DONE BY THE THE SHOOTER THEMSELVES, THE DAD WAS NOT PRESENT.
SO I THINK IT'S A CHALLENGE TO ALL OF US.
DADS, STEP UP AND BE FATHERS BE PRESENT.
LET'S WE CAN CHANGE THIS SOCIETY.
IT'S UP TO THE DADS TO STEP UP AND BE THE FATHERS IN THE HOUSEHOLD.
BUT I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY WEARING THEIR BOW TIES.
IT'S I THINK I MADE ANOTHER CHALLENGE TO OUR CEO TO DO WE HAVE TO WEAR PURPLE BOW TIES AT OUR NEXT MEETING IN COORDINATION WITH ANOTHER THING THAT SOMEBODY WE JUST DID A PROCLAMATION TODAY.
SO ANYWAY THERE'S ANOTHER CHALLENGE OUT THERE.
I DID HAVE THE HONOR OF ATTENDING A I ME.
THE US ARMY DID INDUCTION INDUCTION TO ALL THE SENIORS IN MERCER COUNTY.
IT WAS HELD AT THE ATWATER VETERANS BUILDING.
AND I KIND OF JUST GOT A TEXT AND SAID, YOU SHOULD SHOW UP AND CHECK THIS OUT.
INTERESTING SEEING THE SWEARING IN OF THE FOLKS GOING INTO THE MILITARY.
HOW POSITIVE AND WHAT IS IT? THEY JUST LOOK PROUD TO BE ABLE TO DO IT.
BUT YOU SAW THE MOTHERS IN SUCH A NERVOUS STATE WHERE THEY WERE PROUD AND BEAMING WITH JOY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER IT WAS.
BUT I TRIED TO ENCOURAGE EVERY MOTHER THAT YOUR SON IS AN ADULT OR YOUR YOUR DAUGHTER IS AN ADULT.
THEY'RE GOING TO SWEAR TO WEAR THE CLOTH OF THIS NATION.
AND YOU COULDN'T BE ANY MORE PROUD OF SOMEBODY WHO DOES THAT.
JOHN, WITH YOU IN THE AUDIENCE, I SAY IT DIRECTLY TO YOU AS WELL.
AND LET ME SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE.
I MEAN, EVERYBODY GOT ALL TALKY TODAY, SO I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE I DON'T MISS ANYTHING.
I THINK. I THINK I TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING, MR. CHAIR. THAT'S IT.
I'M HAPPY. ALL RIGHT. MR. HANSON? MR. MENDEZ? YES.
SO AS THE BOARD IS AWARE AND AS OUR LEGISLATIVE STAFF STARTED, I BELIEVE, LAST WEEK, CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING REQUESTS OR EARMARKS, AS THEY'RE KNOWN FOR THE DOS PALOS LIBRARY AND THE FRANKLIN BEECHWOOD PARK, HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED BY SENATOR BY THE $3.5 MILLION EACH.
SENATOR FEINSTEIN ALSO SUBMITTED A REQUEST FOR $1,000,000 FOR FOR DOS PALOS LIBRARY.
[01:35:03]
ALSO WANTED TO SHARE, AS MOST FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY KNOW, CAMPUS PARKWAY SEGMENT THREE IS NEARING COMPLETION SHOULD BE COMPLETE.NIGHT ROADWAY, VERY IMPORTANT ROADWAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE ALL WEARING BOW TIES.
WANTED TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY WILL BE HOSTING ALL OF THAT MANNER.
A CELEBRATION OF FATHERHOOD JUNE 11TH FROM 5 TO 8 P.M.
THE OPPORTUNITY, MR. CHAIR, AND THANK YOU.
MINE WILL BE QUICK AND WELL, IT MIGHT NOT BE QUICK, BUT IT'LL BE QUICK IN COMPARISON.
AND I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE COMMITTEE FOR DOING JUST A WONDERFUL JOB.
WE WERE VERY THANKFUL WE HAD GOOD WEATHER.
THE LAST TIME I WAS OUT THERE, IT WAS 104 DEGREES.
THIS YEAR IT WAS IN THE EIGHTIES.
AND SO ANYWAY, IT WAS MINE ANYWAY.
SO JUST A NEAT EVENT FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND, AND I SAW PEOPLE THERE FROM DELPHI HIGH AND I SAW SOME FROM JUSTINE.
SO KIND OF REACHING OUT TO TO THE AREA.
AND I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT COMMITTEE FOR PUTTING TOGETHER THE FIREWORKS WERE RAPID.
THEY SAID THEY'RE GOING TO BE RAPID.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW I LIKE THAT.
YOU KNOW, I KIND OF LIKED THE ANTICIPATION OF IT GOING UP AND BOOM AND VERSUS IT JUST BOOMING.
BUT ANYWAYS, IT WAS CERTAINLY WONDERFUL I TO WANT TO TO KIND OF ACKNOWLEDGE ALL DAD'S MATTER.
LAMAR HENDERSON HAS DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB AND HIS NAME WASN'T MENTIONED TODAY.
AND AND I KNOW THAT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT WE ALL WOULD HAVE DONE IF IF WE'D HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
I AGREE THAT THAT THAT THE DAD MATTERS.
RIGHT. AND OUR SOCIETY HAS THE PHILOSOPHY THAT DADS DON'T.
RIGHT. THE THE WELFARE SYSTEM PENALIZES FAMILIES IF THE DADS INVOLVED.
RIGHT. FINANCIALLY AND AND IN TODAY'S WORLD, EVEN FAMILIES INTACT.
RIGHT. AND AND EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, THEY COME TO US, RIGHT? YOU'RE PUTTING PEOPLE IN JAIL AND.
WELL, BUT IT REALLY STARTS WHEN THE WHEN THE KIDS ARE YOUNG.
RIGHT. AND IS THE DAD INVOLVED? AND AND MOMS ARE IMPORTANT, TOO, RIGHT? I'M NOT SAYING THAT THEY'RE NOT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, OUR OUR SYSTEM JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST JUST ELIMINATES THE DAD A LOT OF TIMES.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THE WORK THAT LAMAR DOES IS PHENOMENAL.
AND HIS TEAM AND OF COURSE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF AVANDIA BROWN WANT TO RAISE UP THE THERE'S AN ASSOCIATION OF MERCED COUNTY THAT DOES AN OLD TIMERS LUNCHEON AND SO THEY RECOGNIZE PEOPLE WHO ARE AT LEAST 85 YEARS OLD AND HAVE LIVED IN MERCED COUNTY FOR OVER 50 YEARS NOW, COULD HAVE BEEN 20 WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG AND 30 WHEN YOU'RE OLDER OR CONTINUOUS, IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER.
AND SO THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOME HELP.
AND AND REALLY WHAT SPEAKS TO ME THERE IS A LOT OF TIMES THE GRANDKIDS DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW AWESOME THEIR GRANDPARENTS OR THEIR GREAT GRANDPARENTS WERE WHEN THEY WERE OUR AGE, RIGHT. WHEN THEY WERE MOVING AND SHAKING.
RIGHT. AND AND SO TO ME, ANYWAYS, IT'S PERSONAL.
IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO GET MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
AND WITH THAT, WE WILL ADJOURN THIS MEETING.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.