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[00:00:01]

GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE AUGUST 9TH MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

[Call to Order]

THIS MORNING WE DID HAVE CLOSED SESSION WITH TWO ITEMS AND STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION.

WE'LL NOW START WITH THE INVOCATION LED BY PASTOR JERMAINE PASTOR AND THEN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE LED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

WELCOME, JERMAINE.

WE BOW OUR HEADS.

FATHER GOD, THANK YOU FOR THIS THIS OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME.

BUT I PRAY THAT YOU JUST LAY HANDS OVER ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS AND THAT YOU TOUCH THEIR HEARTS AND THEIR MINDS AND THEY'RE ABLE TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS ABOUT OUR COUNTY AND THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE GOING IN AND THAT YOU BLESS OUR PEOPLE IN HERE WITH THEIR HEALTH, FATHER GOD, AND THAT YOU TOUCH THEM IN EVERY WAY IN YOUR IN YOUR SON'S NAME AND THAT YOU CONTINUE TO GUIDE US AND GIVE US STRENGTH AND THAT YOU CONTINUE TO BUILD US BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, THE DIFFICULT TIMES AND THINGS THAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH. WE RELY ON YOU LORD.

WE RELY ON YOU TO LIFT US UP, LORD, AND GIVE US GUIDANCE, FATHER GOD AND GIVE US DIRECTION IN YOUR SON'S NAME LORD.

WE CONTINUE TO PRAY AND THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, THAT YOU HAVE HANDS ON THAT AND THAT WE DON'T MAKE A DECISION FIRST BEFORE GOING TO YOU, LORD.

AND WE CAN, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, WE CONTINUE TO PRAY, LORD, THAT YOU JUST, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU WOULD JUST TOUCH OUR HEARTS, THAT YOU WOULD JUST DIG DOWN, YOU KNOW, IN WITH OUR CHILDREN, FATHER, GOD, AND EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, YOU KNOW, IN OUR IN OUR FIELD OF WORK, FATHER GOD, IN OUR DAILY LIVES, THAT YOU TOUCH THAT AND THAT YOU KEEP US HEALTHY MENTALLY, PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND SOCIALLY.

LORD THAT WE, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO LEARN HOW TO INTERACT WITH ONE ANOTHER.

LORD AND THAT WE FOLLOW YOUR SCRIPTURE AND EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IN ALL WAYS, FATHER GOD AND YOUR SON'S NAME.

IN JESUS NAME, WE PRAY.

AMEN. THANK YOU.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU FOR THOSE GOOD WORDS.

[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK]

IT'S TIME FOR PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST WITHIN THE BOARD'S JURISDICTION, EXCLUDING ITEMS ON THE BOARD'S AGENDA.

TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO 3 MINUTES PER PERSON AND 20 MINUTES TOTAL.

THANK YOU AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT.

PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM.

NO ORDER.

JUST WALK UP.

YES. WELL, GOOD MORNING, MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE TIME TO SPEAK.

[INAUDIBLE] I AM A FIELD REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE CARPENTERS UNION AND I REPRESENT OVER 40,000 MEMBERS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

AND I'M HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT 500 PLUS OF THOSE MEMBERS LIVE RIGHT HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.

AND I CAN GUARANTEE YOU LESS THAN HALF OF THE 500 PLUS MEMBERS EVEN GET TO WORK IN THEIR OWN COUNTY.

SO INSTEAD, MY MEMBERS HAVE TO TAKE THEIR SKILLED AND TRAINED WORK ETHICS OVER THE [INAUDIBLE] TO THE BAY AREA, THROW HALF THEIR PAYCHECK IN THE TANK AND COUNTLESS HOURS ON THE HIGHWAY TO GO WORK IN A CITY THAT THEY DON'T EVEN PAY TAXES IN.

SO TODAY I'M HERE TO SHOW MY MEMBERS AND DEMONSTRATE TO THEM WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE PROACTIVE, STAND UP, HAVE A VOICE, AND FIGHT FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN.

SO WE BELIEVE IN RESPONSIBLE CONTRACTORS THAT PAY AREA STANDARD WAGES AND BENEFITS AND THEIR FAIR SHARE OF TAXES.

WE BELIEVE THAT NOT EVERY CHILD IS PROGRAMED TO GO TO COLLEGE.

IN FACT, WE HAVE A HANDFUL OF YOUTH THAT HAVE A STRONG PASSION FOR PHYSICAL HANDS ON LABOR, AND WE WANT TO EDUCATE OUR YOUTH AND LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU CAN HAVE A GREAT CAREER AS A CONSTRUCTION WORKER WITH AREA STANDARD WAGES AND BENEFITS OF RETIREMENT WITH A GREAT PENSION.

WE DON'T WANT TO DISCOURAGE THEM BY TELLING THEM THAT THE ONLY WAY THAT THAT'S POSSIBLE IS BY GOING OVER THE [INAUDIBLE].

SO WE BELIEVE IN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS. SO MEN AND WOMEN WHO ENTER OUR INDUSTRY ARE TRAINED BY STATE CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS ON HOW TO WORK SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M REACHING OUT TO THE COUNTY OF MERCED TODAY, NOT AS SOMEONE WITH AN ISSUE, BUT AS SOMEONE WHO'S WANTING TO BE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY OF MERCED TO PUT THE CITIZENS OF MERCED COUNTY BACK TO WORK IN MERCED COUNTY.

[00:05:03]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I'LL BE LEAVING MY CONTACT INFORMATION AFTER THIS.

THERE'S A BASKET RIGHT THERE.

YOU COULD LEAVE YOUR CONTACT IN IF YOU WANT.

AWESOME. I'LL LEAVE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SEVEN.

GOOD MORNING. COUNTY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE 528 MEMBERS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR UNION SIGNATORY.

THE ONLY THING I HAVE A PRETTY SIMPLE MESSAGE.

NON-SIGNATORY CONTRACTORS HAVE A RIGHT OFF THE BAT A 15% ADVANTAGE OVER US.

I'M NOT HERE ASKING FOR PITY.

ALL WE NEED IS YOUR HELP TO MAKE THIS FIGHT FAIR SO THEY HAVE THIS 15% ADVANTAGE.

WE GO TO PREVAILING WAGE JOB THE WAY THEY THEY ALREADY HAVE THAT 15% ADVANTAGE.

AND THEN WHAT THEY DO OR WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY MISCLASSIFY WORKERS.

SO WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY'LL BRING IN CARPENTERS AND LABORERS.

THOSE HAVE DIFFERENT PAY SCALES.

SO THE CARPENTERS STILL DO THE WORK, BUT YET THEY'LL BE GETTING PAID LABOR WAGES.

SO FROM 15%, THAT BECOMES A 30% ADVANTAGE.

SO IN 1,000 HOURS, THAT'S $30,000 RIGHT OFF THE BAT WE HAVE TO COMPETE WITH.

SO I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK FOR FAIRNESS ON THESE JOBS.

SAME THING, VICE VERSA.

THEY'LL HAVE CARPENTERS COME IN AND THEN THEY HAVE THE LABORERS.

AND THEN THE LABORERS WILL DO THE CARPENTER WORK, WHICH THEY SAVE MONEY.

THEY MISCLASSIFY IT. THEY'LL HAVE THE LABORERS ACTUALLY DOING OUR WORK, WHICH BY STATE LAW IS ILLEGAL.

SO ALL WE'RE ASKING IS FOR HELP POLICING THESE IRRESPONSIBLE CONTRACTORS.

WE ARE.

THE UNION PAYS OUT HEALTH BENEFITS AND RETIREMENT FUND.

IRRESPONSIBLE CONTRACTORS DON'T.

THAT'S ANOTHER ADVANTAGE.

THAT'S LESS OR LESS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WOULD CALL THAT A BURDEN ON SOCIETY OR ON YOUR COUNTY.

IF WE NEED TO OBTAIN THESE PREVAILING WAGE JOBS, BECAUSE THAT'S ALL WE HAVE LEFT, WE TELL PUBLIC PRIVATE JOBS ARE OUT.

WE'RE OUT OF THAT MARKET, BUT WE'RE ASKING FOR HELP IN ALL FAIRNESS AND PREVAILING WAGE JOBS.

SO IF WE CAN POLICE OR START POLICING THE IRRESPONSIBLE CONTRACT OR THE MISCLASSIFIED WORKERS, WE'D REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

AND THAT'S ALL WE'RE ASKING FOR.

WE DON'T WANT NOTHING MORE.

WE JUST WANT A FAIR FIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND HAVE A GOOD AFTERNOON OR MORNING.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISORS.

WHEN YOU DEAL WITH THESE LABOR UNIONS, KEEP IN MIND THAT THE TAXPAYER IS THE ONE THAT'S ACTUALLY PAYING FOR THESE WAGES AND THE BILL KEEPS GOING UP, BUT OUR WAGES DON'T KEEP GOING UP.

SO BE TOUGH ON THESE GUYS AND AND NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH, BUT VERY STRENUOUSLY TO MAKE SURE YOU GET VALUE. AND SOMETIMES NONUNION LABOR IS THE BEST WAY TO GO.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT NON-LABOR NON-UNIONIZED LABOR HAVE NO SKILLS.

PERHAPS THEY ACTUALLY CHOOSE TO WORK OUTSIDE THE UNION, SO BE TOUGH ON THEM.

THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING, SUPERVISORS.

NICE TO SEE YOU ALL LOOKING SHARP THIS MORNING.

I WANTED TO RUN A FEW THINGS BEFORE YOU.

I'M CHRISTINE CHAVEZ. I'M THE TRANSIT MANAGER FOR TRANSIT JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY OF MERCED COUNTY AND YARDS.

I WANTED TO SHARE THAT WE HAVE OUR SHORT RANGE TRANSIT PLAN AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, AND THAT PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD CLOSES ON AUGUST 18TH.

WE'LL BE SEEKING ADOPTION.

THE SHORT RANGE TRANSIT PLAN IS A FIVE YEAR PLAN FOR THE TRANSIT SERVICES IN MERCED COUNTY.

IT ALSO INCLUDES OUR FLEET PLAN AND OUR OPERATIONAL PLAN, ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FARES AND THAT SORT OF STUFF.

SO IF THERE'S ANY COMMENTS THAT YOU OR ANY OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, PLEASE POINT THEM TO MCAJOV.ORG OR MERCED AT THE BUS FOR A COPY OF THE PLAN.

IT IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN OUR OFFICE DOWNTOWN AT 369 WEST 18TH STREET.

IF SOMEBODY WOULD LIKE TO VIEW A PHYSICAL COPY OF IT.

WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON MODIFYING SOME ROUTES THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM NETWORK.

THOSE WILL BE EFFECTIVE THIS SATURDAY, AUGUST 13TH.

WE'VE TRIED TO GET THE WORD OUT VIA THE RADIO AND ONBOARD OUR BUSSES AND VARIOUS FACILITIES THAT A LOT OF TRANSIT HUBS, A LOT OF TRANSIT RIDERS ARE AT. BUT WE ARE MODIFYING THE P-ROUTE, WHICH IS THE ROUTE THAT GOES OUT TO PLANADA AND WE'RE INCREASING OUR FREQUENCY THERE THAT WILL BE MEETING ONE OF OUR UNMET TRANSIT NEEDS

[00:10:10]

. AND THEN WE'LL BE MODIFYING AND INCREASING THE COVERAGE IN NORTH MERCED VIA THE ROUTE M-4.

AND SO THAT WILL BE SERVICING THE CITY OF MERCEDS' NEW PARKING RIDE LOT THAT'S GOING IN AT M STREET AND THEN WE'LL BE MODIFYING THE LB COMMUTER, THE LOS BANOS COMMUTER.

WE INCREASED THE FREQUENCY TO THREE BUSSES, SO HOURLY SERVICE BACK IN 2021 AND WE'VE SEEN A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN RIDERSHIP.

SO WE'RE GOING TO BE REDUCING THAT TO TWO BUSSES SO SERVICE EVERY HOUR AND A HALF.

AND THEN WE ARE ALSO INCREASING THE COVERAGE FOR THE LIVINGSTON ROUTE.

WE'RE ELIMINATING THE ROUTE W-2.

AND SO WE'LL BE INCREASING THE FREQUENCY OR THE COVERAGE WITHIN LIVINGSTON AND MODIFYING THE FREQUENCY A BIT THERE.

AND THEN THE M-7 ROUTE IS A NEW ROUTE AND IT'S THE NEWEST OF THE ROUTES SERVING THE MERCED REGION, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE PROVIDING SERVICE TO SOUTH MERCED.

AND SO THIS ROUTE WILL SPECIFICALLY SERVICE THE MISSION THAT'S GOING IN ON COHN AVENUE, AS WELL AS THE CHILDS AND B MULTIFAMILY HOUSING UNIT.

WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON A NUMBER OF BUS STOP INSTALLATIONS AND SOME SHELTER REPLACEMENTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS PROJECT.

AND SO OVER THE NEXT THREE MONTHS, YOU'LL START SEEING SOME NEW SHELTERS GOING IN IN VARIOUS COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

AND THEN SINCE I'M UP HERE, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THAT YARTS IS STILL OFFERING FREE RIDES FOR ALL MERCED COUNTY RESIDENTS ON THE BUSSES.

AND SO YOU CAN GO ONLINE TO GET THE APPLICATION OR YOU CAN COME INTO OUR OFFICE AT 369 WEST 18TH STREET TO GRAB AN APPLICATION AND ANY RESIDENT OF MERCED AND MARIPOSA COUNTY CAN RIDE FOR FREE ON YARTS.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING.

YOU'RE WELCOME. HE USED ALL YOUR TIME.

YOU GOT 2 SECONDS LEFT.

HAVE A GOOD DAY. SHE'S DONE THAT IN A FEW PLACES.

I KNOW. HELLO.

MERCED COUNTY SUPERVISORS.

I HOPE YOU'RE ALL DOING WELL THIS MORNING.

MY NAME IS CHRISTIAN ARTEAGA AND I'M A FIELD REPRESENTATIVE WITH THE NORTH CARPENTERS UNION.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE 40,000 PLUS MEMBERS, 528 MEN AND WOMEN, INCLUDING VETERANS WHO RESIDE HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.

DUE TO THE LACK OF LACK OF LOCAL WORK THE MAJORITY OF THESE MEMBERS HAVE TO COMMUTE HOURS UPON HOURS JUST TO GET TO WORK.

AND WITH THE RISING GAS PRICES THAT RELATES TO LESS MONEY TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

AS MEMBER AS MEMBERS OF UNION, WE ARE THE VOICE FOR ALL CARPENTERS WHO DON'T HAVE A VOICE ON THEIR BEHALF WE ADVOCATE FOR IMPROVEMENT OF EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS TO CREATE A BETTER STANDARD OF LIFE.

I CALL ON ALL OF YOU TO SUPPORT THE ADDITION OF NEW LANGUAGE INTO THE UPCOMING PROJECTS AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS.

FOR EXAMPLE, LOCAL HIRE, HEALTH AND WELFARE, LIVABLE WAGES, AND THE APPRENTICESHIP STANDARDS THAT SPECIFICALLY HIGHLIGHT BETTER BENEFITS FOR MEN AND WOMEN WHO HELP BUILD OUR CITIES.

PROMISING HIGHER WAGES AND THE CREATION OF A STANDARD OF LIVING IS IMPORTANT TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR MANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS AND CREATING THE OPPORTUNITIES.

THESE OPPORTUNITIES WILL BE FELT THROUGHOUT THE MERCED COUNTY, WHERE WE HAVE AN AMAZING APPRENTICESHIP, WHICH IS FUNDED IN PART BY RESPONSIBLE CONTRACTORS.

THROUGH OUR APPRENTICESHIP, WE CAN PROVIDE A NUMBER OF CARPENTERS WITH SKILLS THAT WILL OPEN NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND ALLOW THEM TO ADVANCE THEMSELVES IN THE NEW AND THE AMERICAN DREAM.

OUR APPRENTICESHIPS NOT ONLY BUILD ON AND ENHANCE THE SKILLS OF OUR CARPENTERS, BUT THEY ARE ALSO THEY ALSO PROVIDE COLLEGE CREDIT.

PROVIDING THIS CREDIT VASTLY ENHANCES THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN MERCED COUNTY.

PROVIDING A PATHWAY THAT ENCOURAGES EDUCATION FOR OUR CARPENTERS IS A GREAT WAY FOR OUR MEMBERS TO FIND NEW OPPORTUNITIES.

THIS EFFECT WILL GREATLY BENEFIT THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE, INCREASING THE EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT THAT CONTINUE TO MOVE OUR COUNTY FORWARD.

ONCE AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

PLEASE. NO CLAPPING.

THIS PUBLIC COMMENT.

ANYONE ELSE.

ALL RIGHT, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

SUPERVISOR, IS THIS THE CONSENT CALENDAR COMMENTS ALSO AS WELL? NO NON AGENDA ITEMS. OH, I'M SORRY.

I DID NOT REALIZE THE PUBLIC COMMENTS WERE OVER.

MAY I HAVE A MOMENT TO SPEAK? SURE. YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES.

MY NAME IS STEVE IRWIN. I'M A UNION CARPENTER.

CARPENTER BY TRADE, PREACHER BY CHOICE.

EVERYTHING YOU SEE GOING WRONG IN THE WORLD IS ABOUT DISHONORABLE LEADERSHIP.

AND IF PEOPLE STEP UP AND TRY TO FIND A BETTER PLAN AND MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR EVERYONE, IT SHOULD BE THROUGH UNION CARPENTRY, UNION ETHICS AND LOYALTY TOWARDS MEN THAT DO THE

[00:15:07]

RIGHT THING MEN AND WOMEN, UNTIL WE BAND TOGETHER TO TRY TO LIFT THE LIVELIHOOD OF EVERYONE, WHICH IS ONLY POSSIBLE BY FOLLOWING GOD, BY DOING THE RIGHT THING, BY DOING THE HONORABLE THING WHERE WE FIND CHANGE IN THE WORLD.

EVERYONE'S FOUGHT AGAINST EACH OTHER RIGHT NOW.

DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS.

IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE WHICH SIDE YOU'RE ON.

IF YOU'RE DISHONORABLE, IF YOU STEP UP AND DO THE RIGHT THING FOR OTHER PEOPLE, YOU START TO VALUE YOUR OWN LIFE.

YOU START TO VALUE THE LIVES OF YOUR CHILDREN AND THE CONSTITUENTS THAT VOTE FOR YOU.

BANDING TOGETHER, WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD, BUT SITTING BACK ON YOUR ASS.

PARDON MY LANGUAGE. SITTING BACK AND NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT DUE TO FEAR, LACK OF COURAGE OR LACK, OR BECAUSE YOU WERE PURPOSELY MIS TAUGHT THE MEANING OF WHAT THE RIGHT THING TO DO IS IN LIFE.

EVERYBODY KNOWS THE RIGHT THING, YOU KNOW, GOOD FROM EVIL.

YOU CAN LAY BACK ON YOUR EDUCATION AND CONTINUE TO TWIST THINGS FOR OTHERS, OR YOU CAN STAND UP AND TRY TO BE THE STALWART TO MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR EVERYONE.

SO WORKING TOGETHER, I KNOW THE UNIONS HOW IT'S HELPED ME IS BEYOND WORDS AND BEYOND 3 MINUTES, BUT IT'S HELPED ALL OF HUMANITY FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING.

IF YOU LOOK, THE REST OF THE WORLD DOESN'T HAVE OUR STANDARDS.

THEY'RE FAILING AND EVERYTHING THAT DOESN'T HAVE GOD WITHIN THE PLAN IS FAILING.

IF WE STEP UP TOGETHER.

I KNOW THAT. I THINK I WAS TOLD THREE MEMBERS ARE ON OUR SIDE.

I PRAY THAT THEY HAVE MORE STRENGTH TO HELP THE OTHER MEMBERS SEE WHAT THE TRUTH IS AND WORK IN THAT DIRECTION.

ONLY BY GOING THAT WAY CAN WE HELP RAISE THE WORLD TO TO A BETTER STANDARD AND A HIGHER STANDARD.

SO WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT DON'T BELIEVE IN GOD AND TRUTH PURPOSELY ARE A STUMBLING BLOCK TO EVERYONE ELSE.

GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO OUR CONSENT CALENDAR AGENDA.

[CONSENT CALENDAR]

NEXT IS APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 12.

PLEASE NOTE A 4/5 VOTE IS REQUIRED ON ITEMS 1, 2 AND 3.

ARE THERE ANY DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE COMMENTS ON ANY OF THEIR ITEMS? OK SEEING NONE AT THIS TIME.

I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 12.

SUPERVISORS, RICK WENDLING, OF MERCED I FORGOT TO LET THE RECORD KNOW WHO I AM.

I'M SPEAKING ON NUMBERS FOUR AND FIVE AS I SPOKE LAST NIGHT AT COUNCIL.

MY OPINION, BASED ON THE KNOWLEDGE I'VE GAINED, IS THAT PROGRAMS FOR MENTAL HEALTH ARE NOT WORKING, AND YOU PROPOSE TO SPEND A COUPLE OF MILLION MORE DOLLARS ON SUCH PROGRAMS AS I READ THE AGENDA.

IF THIS KIND OF PROGRAM WORKED AND IT JUST DIDN'T SOAK UP TAXPAYER MONEY, WE WOULD HAVE FEWER FIGHTS IN OUR HIGH SCHOOLS AND FEWER ROBBERIES AND FEWER HOMICIDES, ALL OF WHICH HAVE GONE UP IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, ACCORDING TO STATISTICS.

SO I URGE YOU TO NOT SPEND ADDITIONAL MONIES ON THESE PROGRAMS. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? SEEING NONE. I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR [INAUDIBLE].

SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

[BOARD ACTION]

NEXT IS BOARD ACTION PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS 13 THROUGH 20.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ITEM 18 IS TO INTRODUCE AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 5.64 OF THE MERCED COUNTY CODE TO ADJUST USER CHARGE RATES PURSUANT TO THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX CPI IN ZONES OF BENEFIT NUMBERS 333, 266, 269 AND 206 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023 AND MAINTAIN FISCAL YEAR 2021-2022.

USER CHARGE RATES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023 FOR THE REMAINING ZONES OF BENEFIT IN COUNTY SERVICE AREA NUMBER ONE AND ITEMS 19 AND 20 REQUIRE A 4/5 VOTE. THANK YOU AT THIS TIME.

OH, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ON ITEMS 15 AND 16.

AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THESE ARE THOSE RETAINER AGREEMENTS WITH A COUPLE OF ENGINEERING FIRMS, O'DELL ENGINEERING AND ROBERT TANAKA.

[00:20:06]

TANAKA DESIGN GROUP.

JUST WANT TO REITERATE IS DAN, YOU DON'T NEED TO GET UP THIS IS MORE JUST ME MAKING A COMMENT ABOUT IT IS AS WE REWARD THESE THESE WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE GENEROUS CONTRACTS ON CALL CONTRACTS RETAINER AGREEMENTS WITH THESE WITH THESE FIRMS BOTH OF THEM FOR $1.5 MILLION, AND THAT'S UP TO $500,000 PER OCCURRENCE.

JUST I JUST HOPE THAT THERE IS EXCITED ABOUT US AWARDING THEM THESE $1.5 MILLION CONTRACTS AS WE ARE ABOUT GIVING THEM.

AND WHAT I MEAN BY EXCITEMENT IS, IS THAT AS WE CALL ON THEM FOR SERVICES THAT WE'RE GETTING TIMELY BEING THE MAIN ISSUE, TIMELY SERVICE BACK FOR THEM. WE TAKE THE TIME TO PUT THESE THINGS OUT TO BID.

AND WE CAME UP I BELIEVE THERE WAS FOUR NAMES THAT SHOWED UP ON THE LIST WHEN WE WENT OUT FOR THE REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS OR RFP, WHATEVER IT WAS.

AND WE PICKED WHAT I'M GUESSING IS THE TWO BEST ONES, BUT JUST I'M JUST FINDING MORE AND MORE THAT I FEEL LIKE WE'RE GOING TO GET WE GET THE SHORT END OF THE STICK SOMETIMES THEY'RE NOT AS PASSIONATE ABOUT HAVING THESE GENEROUS CONTRACTS AS WE ARE AS TO GIVING THEM.

AND SO JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE ARE, I DON'T KNOW WHO SITS ON THE SCREENING COMMITTEE, BUT THAT WE'RE HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

AND WHAT I MEAN IS, IS I UNDERSTAND THAT GOVERNMENT DOES WORK SLOW AND THERE'S THINGS THAT WE DO THAT TAKE YEARS.

AND I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE WE HAVE PROJECTS THAT WE NEED TO GET PUSHED THROUGH FASTER.

AND A LOT OF TIMES THAT HAS TO DO WITH GRANTS BEING AVAILABLE AND DEADLINES AND NEEDING INFORMATION DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER.

I JUST HOPE THAT THEY CAN LIKE WE GET COMMITMENT FROM THEM.

WE HAVE A PERSON THERE THAT IS LOOKING OUT FOR THE TAXPAYER'S BEST INTEREST.

SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YOU'RE WELCOME.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS 13-20.

SEEING NONE WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

AND I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO, AND I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ITEMS 21 AND 22.

I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME.

SEE NONE I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND I WILL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

OH, SHOOT. I'LL CALL FOR A MOTION OR A SECOND.

PLEASURE OF THE BOARD.

IT'S ALWAYS MORE FUN WHEN YOU HAVE A MOTION AND YOU VOTE.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

THERE WE GO. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS LIBRARY ITEMS 23 AND 24.

HEY, THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

SEE NONE I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.

OH. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

ITEM 25 THROUGH 27 FROM THE SHERIFF.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS 25 THROUGH 27.

SEEING NONE I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

[INAUDIBLE] YEAH, WELL, THAT IS TRUE.

AT LEAST IT'S NOT LYING TO US.

YEAH, WE'VE SEEN A FEW OF THOSE.

[00:25:04]

YEAH OR NO.

WE'RE DEFINITELY WE'RE OKAY ON THAT ONE.

SO SO IT DIDN'T SHOW THE VOTE.

WE NEVER SAW IT.

YEAH. SO GO BACK TO 20 WAS IT 25 THROUGH 27.

WE CAN DO A VOICE VOICE VOTE IF WE NEED TO.

OKAY. CAN YOU DO A MANUAL VOTE? YES. SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS 25 THROUGH 27, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

OKAY. NEXT IS ITEM 28 FROM HUMAN RESOURCES.

ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS 28.

SEEING NONE I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

AND WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA, AND I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE IF YOU CAN.

THERE WE GO. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS EXECUTIVE OFFICE ITEM 29 OK.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 29.

SEEING NONE I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.

I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA AND A SECOND BY SUPER SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

OKAY. SO LET'S LET'S DO A VOICE VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM 29 SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY AND THE MOTION WAS BY ESPINOSA AND THE SECOND WAS BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

THANK YOU. BOARD APPOINTMENTS ITEM 30.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM 30, WHICH IS A RE-APPOINTMENT OF KENG GER CHA TO THE HEALTH ADVISORY BOARD FOR DISTRICT THREE. POOR FELLOW.

I'LL SEEING NONE I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? I'LL MOTION TO APPROVE.

MOVED BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSE SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

[SCHEDULED ITEM]

NEXT, WE HAVE A SCHEDULED ITEM, A PUBLIC HEARING FROM COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO CONSIDER PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF THE AGRICULTURAL PRESERVE AS PER THE CALIFORNIA LAND CONSERVATION ACT OF 1965 WILLIAMSON ACT IN MERCED COUNTY.

WELL, HELLO, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

GOOD MORNING. IT'S NICE TO SEE EACH OF YOU AGAIN.

MARK HENDRICKSON, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING FOR YOU THIS MORNING IS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER AMENDING THE AGRICULTURAL PRESERVE AND UPON YOUR POTENTIAL APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM THREE APPLICANT REQUESTED PROPERTY LINE ADJUSTMENTS WILL BE EFFECTUATED.

SECTION 51233 OF THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE REQUIRES THE BOARD TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING TO AMEND THE AG PRESERVE SHOULD YOU SO CHOOSE.

A TOTAL OF 29.08 ACRES WILL BE REMOVED AND 2.12 ACRES ADDED.

NONE OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTIES ARE UNDER WILLIAMSON ACT CONTRACT.

AT THIS POINT STAFF RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING ONE FOR YOU TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND TAKE PUBLIC TESTIMONY.

TWO CLOSE THAT PUBLIC HEARING.

THEN THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE ACTIONS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

THE FIRST IS FOR A MOTION TO BE MADE TO FIND THE REMOVAL OF LAND FROM THE AG PRESERVE LISTED IN THE BOARD AGENDA ITEM AS EXEMPT UNDER CEQA SECTION 15061B3, WHICH IS THE COMMON SENSE EXEMPTION AND SECTION 15183, WHICH IS PROJECTS CONSISTENT WITH BASED ON THE FINDINGS AS DEPICTED IN YOUR STAFF REPORT.

AND THEN SECONDLY, TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AS INCLUDED IN YOUR BOARD ITEM.

AGAIN, AMENDING THE AG PRESERVE AS PER THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAND CONSERVATION ACT OF 1965.

STAFF WILL BE, OF COURSE, PLEASED ANSWERING QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

[00:30:05]

I SEE NO QUESTIONS FROM THE DAIS.

SO AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING, COME UP TO THE FRONT IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK.

CHIEF PIMENTEL WERE YOU COMING UP OR NO? NO. OKAY.

I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

AND WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? IS THERE A MOTION FROM THE BOARD? SURE. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

IS YOUR MIC ON? OH, I'M SORRY.

THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS 2 THROUGH 5 AS STATED BY THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, MR. HENDRICKSON, SECOND.

THERE'S ONLY THREE ITEMS. DID YOU MEAN 2 THROUGH 3? I'M SORRY. I SAW THE FIVE UNDERNEATH THE THREE THERE.

UM. SORRY.

TWO AND THREE ITEMS. TWO AND THREE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

AND THERE WAS A SECOND BY WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

I SEE NO FURTHER COMMENTS.

I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

OH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS BOARD REPORTS.

[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION]

ALL RIGHT, I'LL START TO MY RIGHT WITH SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

I MEAN, ESPINOSA, ME AND THE COMPUTER ARE ON THE WRONG DEAL TODAY.

I'M TRYING TO GET THERE.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. WELL, I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT I ATTENDED THE LIVINGSTON FARMERS ASSOCIATION, RIBBON CUTTING LIVINGSTON FARMERS ASSOCIATION, RIBBON CUTTING IN LIVINGSTON LAST WEEK.

THE LIVINGSTON FARMERS BROKE GROUND A YEAR AND A HALF AGO AND FINALLY FINISHED, AND THEY WORKED THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

AND SO THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY CAME OUT WITH A HUGE I THINK IT WAS A 50,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING AND WHICH IS WILL BE ALLMAN HALL OR SCHILLER.

THEY USED TO BE IN DOWNTOWN LIVINGSTON AND THEY, UH, THEY MOVED OUT TO, OUTSIDE OF LIVINGSTON AND THEY SOLD THE DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS TO THE CITY OF LIVINGSTON FOR A FUTURE RECREATION CENTER.

SO WITH THE HELP OF LIVINGSTON, THE, UH, THE WAY THEY ALSO, UM, OBTAIN, UM, A WATER SERVICE FROM THE CITY, AND THEY HAD TO GO THROUGH A LOT OF PUBLIC PROCESS GOING THROUGH THE COUNTY AND EVENTUALLY SO THEY'LL BE SERVICED, UH, BECAUSE OF THE BAD WATER AND THEN THE GROUNDWATER OVER THERE FOR, UH, FOR THEIR SERVICES OVER THERE. SO IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL RIBBON CUTTING THAT MR. CHAIR WAS THERE AS WELL.

UH SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

AND I THINK IT WAS VERY WELL ATTENDED, A LOT OF A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE FOOD.

AND SO I JUST GIVE THEM KUDOS.

IT'S A HUGE BUILDING ALSO AND TO THE CONTRACTORS AND EVERYBODY THAT THEY HAD THEIR INPUT ON THE BUILDING.

SO IT WAS A NICE, NICE EVENT.

I ALSO ATTENDED THE LIVINGSTON COUNCIL MEETING LAST TUESDAY.

I KNOW THE UNDERSHERIFF WAS THERE.

WE HE DID A GREAT JOB REPRESENTING THE, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY.

YOU KNOW, THEY HAD A CONVERSATION REGARDING THE CONTRACT.

AND EVEN THOUGH THERE'S AN INTERNAL PROBLEMS WITH THEIR COUNCIL AND SO THEY ONE COUNCIL MEMBER HAD ABSTAINED.

SO THE CONTRACT DIDN'T MOVE FORWARD WITH THE EXTENSION.

SO IT WAS A TWO, TWO, AND SO IT DIDN'T PASS.

SO AS YOU SAW, WE HAD THAT, UH, AGENDA ITEM HERE IN IN OUR AGENDA ITEM TODAY.

SO THE, THE COUNTY WILL BE PROVIDING, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WILL PROVIDE SERVICES TO CITIZENS TO HOPEFULLY TO THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

AND SO SEE WHAT THE CITY DECIDES TO DO WITH THE REST.

SO, I ALSO ATTENDED GOLD VALLEY HEALTH CENTERS YESTERDAY ON THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF SINCE THEY STARTED.

NOW THE, UH, OUR SERVICE IN, THEY HAVE CLINICS ALL OVER THREE COUNTIES, BUT THEY STARTED IN SOUTH MERCED.

SO UH, IT IS, IT WAS ALSO A WELL-ATTENDED, A LOT OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZED ORGANIZATIONS WERE THERE.

AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THE GOLDEN VALLEY PROVIDES MANY HEALTH SERVICES TO THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES AND COUNTIES.

AND SO THEY ARE TRYING TO HELP RIGHT NOW WITH THE IMMUNIZATIONS, WITH THE SCHOOLS, UH, YOU KNOW, READY TO OPEN.

THEY TRY TO EMPHASIZE ON AND, YOU KNOW, UH, HELPING THE KIDS.

SO IT WAS ALSO A NICELY ATTENDED AND WE PROVIDED A CERTIFICATE FOR THEIR 50TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK MARK PIMENTEL THAT GAVE US A TOUR, UH, LAST WEEK OF, OF THE,

[00:35:08]

THE MERCED FAIRGROUNDS.

THEY WERE THERE, THEY HAVE ALL OF THE FIREMEN, UH, FROM ALL AROUND THE, UH, THE CALIFORNIA, THEY'RE HELPING OUT WITH THE FIRES IN, UH, IN MARIPOSA.

SO IT WAS, YOU KNOW, WE SAW HOW THEIR PLANS, THEIR STRATEGIES AND HOW THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THEY GET TOGETHER AND THEY PROVIDED MEALS.

THEY PROVIDE MEALS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR THEIR JOB AND AND ALSO THE SAFETY THAT THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH.

SO I APPRECIATE.

MARK PIMENTEL. THANK YOU.

THAT'S ALL MY COMMENTS, SUPERVISOR PEDROZO THANK YOU.

I WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ALBION SOCCER CLUB.

IT'S A SOCCER CLUB HERE BASED OUT OF MERCED COUNTY.

IT'S A 13 AND UNDER SOCCER CLUB.

THEY BEAT TEAMS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND WON THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, WHICH IS WHICH IS REALLY COOL.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2002.

SO I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.

ALSO WANTED TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT EVENT LAST WEEK I THOUGHT IT WAS A VERY WELL ATTENDED AT APPLEGATE PARK AND IT REALLY PROVIDES SERVICES TO THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE THEIR MESSAGE TO PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING THAT THAT NEED SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.

ALSO WANTED TO THANK CHIEF PIMENTEL FOR HIS TIME LAST WEEK TAKING ME OUT TO THE FAIRGROUNDS AND THE CASTLE. THE ONE THING THAT I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE IS THAT IT'S ALMOST LIKE A CITY WITHIN A CITY.

AND SO WHEN YOU GO AND YOU LOOK AT THIS, THE LAST THAT I HAD CHECKED AND THIS WAS AT THE END OF LAST WEEK, IT WAS LIKE 2,800 PEOPLE. BUT AT ANY ONE TIME, IT COULD BE WAY MORE THAN THAT.

AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE SLEEPING IN TENTS, BUT THEY COME AND THEY SET UP AND THEY FEED AND THEY MOVE.

AND THEN IF YOU GO TO A BRIEFING, YOU REALLY SEE THESE PEOPLE ARE VERY FOCUSED AND VERY DETERMINED ON PROVIDING PUBLIC SAFETY AND PROVIDING FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES TO OUR COUNTY.

AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY, REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.

SO THANK YOU. ALSO, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE CFC MEETING LAST WEEK AND I'M INCREDIBLY ENCOURAGED ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF HOUSING AND THE FOCUS THAT HAS BEEN PUT ON NOT JUST THE CITY OF MERCED.

AND I KNOW IN THE CITY OF MERCED SAID THERE'S 215 UNITS THAT ARE GOING TO COME AND THESE ARE GOING TO BE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR WHO MIGHT EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS OR FAMILIES WHO MIGHT BE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT ON THE WEST SIDE, LOS BANOS IS DOING A LOT AS WELL.

AND SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT EVERYBODY RECOGNIZES THIS THE ISSUE THAT WE'RE FACING.

FINALLY, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION AS A FORMER TEACHER AND KNOWING THAT MY KIDS STARTED SCHOOL YESTERDAY, THAT SCHOOL, FOR THE MOST PART STARTS FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE TOMORROW, FOR A LOT OF STUDENTS TOMORROW.

BE PATIENT ON THE ROADS.

BE VIGILANT. MAKE SURE A LOT OF TIMES KIDS AREN'T LOOKING.

THEY HAVE THEIR HEADPHONES IN AND THEY'RE WALKING ACROSS THE STREET.

THEY'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THE LIGHTS.

SO JUST BE PATIENT.

GIVE YOURSELF A LITTLE BIT MORE EXTRA TIME.

WE DON'T WANT TO SEE ANYTHING BAD HAPPEN TO ANYBODY.

SO WITH THAT, THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. NOT A WHOLE LOT TO REPORT, BUT I DID WANT TO THANK CHIEF PIMENTEL AND CHIEF TRINIDAD.

I WAS ACTUALLY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND I WERE ABLE TO GO UP AND FLY AROUND THE WE FLY AROUND THE FIRE.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO TELL YOU IS, IS BY THE TIME THAT WE WENT UP, THINGS HAD SETTLED WAY DOWN.

THEY WERE WORKING, I THINK IT WAS THE EASTERN FLANK OF THE FIRE.

AND JUST THESE GUYS THAT HAVE THAT, IT WAS A SIX HOUR HIKE DOWN TO WHERE THEY NEEDED TO GO TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE ONE PART OF THE FIRE THAT THEY WERE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT. AND AS WE WERE FLYING AROUND, I TOOK A PICTURE OF JUST THE AMAZING WORK THAT THESE FIREFIGHTERS DO.

IT'S COMPLETELY SURROUNDED, 360 DEGREES WITH BLACK.

AND THERE'S THERE'S A HOUSE AND A BARN THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO SAVE.

AND I KNOW THAT IN THE NEWS THEY REPORT A LOT ON THE AMOUNT OF HOUSES THAT WERE LOST.

BUT WHEN YOU FLY AROUND THERE AND MIND, YOU WERE UP AT 6,000 FEET, SO YOU DON'T HAVE A GREAT VIEW, BUT IS THE AMOUNT OF HOUSES THAT THEY SAVED.

[00:40:07]

AND, YOU KNOW, AND JUST TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE, CHIEF [INAUDIBLE] SHARED OR CHIEF TRINIDAD THAT THAT FIRE WAS SPOTTING TWO MILES AHEAD.

THE MAIN FIRE WAS HERE WHEN IT FIRST STARTED.

TWO MILES AHEAD OF IT IS WHERE THEY WERE GETTING SPOT FIRES.

AND SO TO HOLD IT TO A LITTLE OVER 20,000 ACRES, 22,000 ACRES OR WHATEVER IT IS, WAS PRETTY AMAZING FEAT.

AND AND JUST, YOU KNOW, WE DID TAKE A TOUR OF THE COMMAND POST HERE AT MERCED FAIRGROUNDS.

AND IT IS IT IS JUST AMAZING TO SEE THESE INCIDENT COMMAND TEAMS, THE LOGISTICS, LITERALLY OVERNIGHT TRAILERS AND TRUCKS AND MORE JUST I MEAN, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO WHEN YOU'RE IN THE BRIEFING, ALL OF THE THE AUDIOVISUAL EQUIPMENT THAT THEY'RE DOING, IT JUST IT'S REALLY AMAZING TO SEE THEM WORK.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS IT'S A BAD SITUATION FOR THOSE FOLKS UP IN MARIPOSA.

UM, THIS IS THE WHOLE INSURANCE PIECE UP THERE.

IT JUST, IT BLOWS ME AWAY THAT IN A STATE THAT LOVES TO PUT MONEY INTO LOTS OF CRAZY THINGS, THAT WE CAN'T FIGURE OUT A WAY TO HELP THESE FOLKS WITH INSURANCE.

THEY'RE BASICALLY TOLD THAT UNLESS, YOU KNOW, THEY WANT TO PAY THESE JUST EXORBITANT AMOUNTS OF MONEY FOR INSURANCE, THEY'RE LEFT WITH NO INSURANCE. AND AND, YOU KNOW, AND REALLY, YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT CLIMATE ISSUES.

YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT FORCED MISMANAGEMENT.

A LOT OF THINGS THAT THE STATE CAUSED, IN MY OPINION, THE STATE CAUSED THE THESE SITUATIONS TO BE WHERE THEY ARE NOW.

AND THESE FOLKS HAVE BEEN LIVING UP THERE FOR A LONG TIME.

AND IT'S JUST IT'S REALLY SAD THAT YOUR WHOLE LIFE'S WORK, YOU GUYS HAVE SAW THE STUFF ON THE NEWS, YOU KNOW, FOLKS THAT SPENT THEIR WHOLE WORKING LIFE PAYING FOR THIS PLACE, THEY HAVE IT PAID OFF NOW.

THEY DON'T HAVE INSURANCE AND COMPLETELY EVERYTHING'S GONE.

THEY. MERE MINUTES TO GET OUT OF THERE.

THAT'S HOW FAST IT WAS MOVING.

BUT IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE GOOD WORK THAT OUR PARTNERS IN CAL FIRE DO, IN THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES THAT THEY BRING IN.

AND WHEN YOU'RE UP THERE AS WELL, JUST AROUND MERCED, IT'S SAD FOR THEM.

BUT BUT IT WAS IT WAS A NICE LITTLE FINANCIAL BOOM FOR THE CITY OF MERCED FOR FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME, YOU COULDN'T FIND A MOTEL ROOM.

YOU DIDN'T GO TO VERY MANY RESTAURANTS WITHOUT SEEING EVEN THOUGH THEY PROVIDED FOOD AT THE COMMAND POST, FOLKS WENT OUT AND EAT.

AND SO IT JUST REALLY AMAZING WORK THAT THEY DID AND THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO HOLD IT TO THAT.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

MR. CHAIR, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I DID ATTEND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES MEETING IN ABSENCE OF OUR REPRESENTING MEMBER.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS THAT COMES OUT OF THAT, I MEAN, WE KNOW WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH BOTH OUR FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS, IS THEY'VE ALREADY STARTED RENEGOTIATING THE FARM BILL.

AND SO THAT'S WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO AND WE'RE VERY ENGAGED.

BUT ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS THAT CAME OUT OF IS OUR SONOMA COUNTY SUPERVISOR, JAMES GORE WAS ELECTED THE SECOND VICE CHAIR.

SO IN SAYING THAT THE RURAL COUNTIES OF CALIFORNIA WILL BE REPRESENTED ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

AND SO THAT'S GOOD THAT WE DO HAVE THE EAR OF THE FOLKS IN CHARGE UP THERE AND HOPEFULLY THEY LISTEN.

ALSO, CHIEF PIMENTEL, THANK YOU FOR THE THE TOUR AND THE BREAKFAST.

I GOT TO SAY THAT WAFFLE WAS ONE OF THE BETTER WAFFLES I'VE EVER HAD, AND IT CAME OUT OF A BAG, BUT I APPRECIATED THAT.

AND TO CHIEF TRINIDAD AS WELL FOR THE FOR THE TOUR.

BUT I HAVE TO JUST ECHO WHAT MY COLLEAGUE SAID WHEN WE WENT OVER.

YES, WE HEAR ON THE NEWS ABOUT THE THE HOMES THAT WERE LOST.

BUT IT WAS AMAZING 360 DEGREES AROUND THESE AND THESE HOMESTEADS WERE STILL SAVED.

AND YOU CAN TELL BY THE HARD WORK AND THAT AND WE'RE NOT JUST THE FIREFIGHTERS.

I KNOW THE THE CATERPILLAR DRIVERS, THE DOZER DRIVERS UP THERE.

IF YOU SAW THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT THEY DID, IT'S AMAZING.

AND MAYBE FROM 6,000 FEET, YOU CAN SEE THAT.

AND YOU DON'T SEE SO MUCH ON THE GROUND.

BUT THE PATHWAYS AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY CUT AND WHERE YOU SAW FOLKS FIGHTING FIRES FROM EVERY I MEAN, EVERY ANGLE, IT WAS IMPRESSIVE.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MR. HANSEN. MR. MENDEZ. YES, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. A FEW ITEMS THIS MORNING.

YOUR STAFF DID PARTICIPATE IN A WEBINAR PUT ON BY OUR STATE LOBBYISTS, [INAUDIBLE] LAST WEEK.

SO IT'S CRUNCH TIME AT THE STATE LEVEL.

OBVIOUSLY, WITH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION QUICKLY APPROACHING ITS CONCLUSION, AUGUST IS IT COMPRISES OF FINAL COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND HEARINGS.

AND THEN IN SEPTEMBER, WE DO ANTICIPATE THE GOVERNOR TO TAKE ACTION ON SOME OF THE BILLS THAT ARE AT HIS DESK.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO TRACK KEY PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT ARE OF INTEREST TO COUNTY GOVERNMENTS, SPECIFICALLY CARE COURT SEPARATION OF THE CORONER'S FUNCTION FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO NAME A FEW.

CERTAINLY WE'LL BRING BACK ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AS AS THOSE CONVERSATIONS REACH A CONCLUSION.

[00:45:03]

I DID ALSO WANT TO EXTEND AN APPRECIATION TO OUR PUBLIC DEFENDER, VINCENT [INAUDIBLE], AND ALSO OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY WHO'S BACK, KIMBERLY HELMS LEWIS FROM BEING OUT FOR SOME TIME, THEY PROVIDED ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO TOUR THEIR OFFICES AND THEY AND THEIR STAFF WERE VERY GRACIOUS AND WELCOMING ME TO TO THEIR OFFICES AND APPRECIATE THEIR TIME JUST SPENDING TIME TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE WORKING ON, SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AHEAD, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH STAFF AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL.

AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME CO STAFF CHANGES SPECIFICALLY THAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK.

WE WELCOME EDGAR GARCIA TO OUR TEAM AS OUR MANAGEMENT ANALYST.

HE'S HERE IN THE AUDIENCE THIS MORNING.

EDGAR PREVIOUSLY WORKED WITH THE CITY OF MODESTO.

WE'LL BE WORKING CLOSELY WITH LINDSEY JOHNSON OR OTHER MANAGEMENT ANALYSTS IN SUPPORT OF OUR ASSISTANT AND OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM AND YOUR BOARD AS WE GO FORWARD.

SO DEFINITELY WANTED TO WELCOME EDGAR TO OUR ORGANIZATION.

AND THEN WE ALSO DID BID FAREWELL TO WENDY ALVAREZ, OUR HR MANAGER, WHO ACCEPTED AN EXCITING POSITION WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR BLUE DIAMOND ALMOND.

SO WE CELEBRATED OBVIOUSLY WENDY'S TIME WITH US LAST WEEK AS WELL.

I DEFINITELY WISH HER THE BEST.

SO THAT'S ALL FOR ME THIS MORNING.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YOU'RE WELCOME.

WELL, I, TOO, WANT TO THANK CHIEF PIMENTEL FOR THE TOUR OF THE OPERATIONS CENTER AT THE FAIRGROUNDS.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT IS AMAZING OF ALL THAT GETS DONE AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THEIR PART.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE PRIVATE CIVILIANS IN THERE AND THEN YOU HAVE YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE FIREFIGHTERS AND ADMIN OF FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

AND IT JUST REALLY IS A VERY WELL-OILED MACHINE FOR THEM TO JUST POP IT UP.

AND, YOU KNOW, THEY ALSO JUST POP IT DOWN.

AND OUR OPERATIONS COMPLETELY DONE THERE.

YEAH. SO YEAH, THEY DID REACH 4,000 PERSONNEL FIGHTING THE FIRE.

AND AND SO IT'S IT'S CLOSING DOWN QUICKLY.

I WANT TO ALSO MAKE NOTE.

LET'S LET'S TAKE SOME TIME BECAUSE WE'RE WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF FIRE SEASON.

AND, OF COURSE, WITH OUR WEATHER PATTERNS THESE YEARS, FIRE SEASON DOESN'T END UNTIL SOMETIMES NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER.

WHEN I LOOKED AT SOME OF THE HOUSES THAT WERE SAVED, WHAT REALLY HAPPENED WAS THAT THE RESIDENTS GAVE THE FIREFIGHTERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE THEIR HOME BECAUSE THEY HAD CLEARED THEIR OWN DEFENSIBLE SPACE.

AND IN MERCED COUNTY, WE DON'T THINK MUCH.

RIGHT, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE FOREST FIRES GENERALLY WE HAVE SOME ON THE ON THE WEST SIDE, BUT GENERALLY IT'S UNPOPULATED AREAS.

HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, EVERY HOUSE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A FIRE AND HAVE GRASS AROUND IT AND CATCH THE NEIGHBORS ON FIRE.

SO, YOU KNOW, OUR TEAMS GO OUT AND HAVE TO TELL PEOPLE THEY NEED TO [INAUDIBLE] AROUND THEIR HOUSE, WHICH IS SAD.

BUT FOR THOSE, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO EVEN THOUGH LATE IN THE SEASON, IF YOU HAVE A IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF GRASS AND BRUSH AROUND YOUR HOUSE, YOU KNOW, TAKE THE TIME TO TO ABATE IT BECAUSE THE HOUSE YOU SAVE MAY BE YOUR OWN.

I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE LIVINGSTON FARMERS ASSOCIATION FOR THEIR NEW FACILITY.

I BELIEVE IT HAS THE CAPACITY TO PROCESS 4 MILLION POUNDS OF ALMONDS.

THEIR RECORD SO FAR, I THINK IS 27 MILLION.

BUT THEY THEY BUILT TO EXPAND.

AND, YOU KNOW, AS I WAS SITTING THERE THAT THEY GAVE THEY GAVE SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA AND I AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

AND AND I WAS THINKING, YOU KNOW, HERE WE HAVE ALL THIS MECHANIZED EQUIPMENT THAT IS REPLACING PEOPLE, YOU KNOW.

AND SO FOR A MOMENT, I WAS SAD, BUT THEN THEN I REALIZED, BUT WHAT THIS DOES IS IT ALLOWS FARMERS TO BE MORE PROFITABLE AND TO EXPAND.

AND SO THEY'LL HIRE MORE PEOPLE.

SO REALLY NET JOBS IN MERCED COUNTY PROBABLY WENT UP BECAUSE OF THIS PROJECT, NOT DOWN.

AND SO, JIM SCHNEIDER, I'VE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME, HE'S WORKED THERE FOR 31 YEARS, STARTED OUT AS JUST A GUY, AND NOW HE'S RUNNING THE PLACE AND AND THEY DO A PHENOMENAL JOB. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM.

AND WITH THAT, I WILL ADJOURN TODAY'S MEETING.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.