[00:00:01]
GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE SEPTEMBER 27TH MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
[Call to Order]
THIS MORNING WE DID HAVE A CLOSED SESSION AND STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION.[INAUDIBLE] . OKAY. GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
I'M GOING TO START WITH THE INVOCATION, AND IT WILL BE IN HEBREW AND THEN IN ENGLISH.
. MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU.
MAY THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE SHINE UPON YOU AND BE GRACIOUS TO YOU.
YESHUA,AMEN. NOW I'M GOING TO SOUND THE SHOFAR, THE RAM'S HORN.
[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK]
IT'S TIME FOR A 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.
AT THIS TIME. I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'M THE COUNTY LIBRARIAN FOR THE MERCE COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM.
I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE NEW BOOKMOBILE.
I'M PLEASED TO REPORT THAT IT IS GOING TO BE DELIVERED TOMORROW TO THE COUNTY, SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO TRAIN STAFF, LOAD IT UP AND GET IT BACK OUT AND HAVE A WORKING BOOKMOBILE FOR OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES VERY SOON, WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.
YOU'RE WELCOME. WONDERFUL NEWS.
VERY WELL. AND IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE.
GOOD MORNING. I'M NANCY BERGMAN.
IT'S SO NICE TO SEE SO MANY FAMILIAR FACES.
SO GET OUT YOUR HERE LATER, HOSEIN.
WE KNOW YOU'VE GOT THEM HIDDEN IN YOUR CLOSET.
AND I'VE GOT SOME BROCHURES BUT IT'S GOING TO BE OCTOBER 8TH, AND WE NEED YOU THERE.
WE NEED YOUR BODIES AND YOUR DESSERTS BECAUSE YOU MAY HAVE TO DO, DRUM ROLL.
I KNOW IT IS. AND WE JUST LOVE TO HAVE YOU THERE.
IT'LL BE IN THE MONDO BUILDING OCTOBER THE EIGHTH, STARTING AT 5:30.
I'VE GOT SOME BROCHURES I CAN LEAVE UP HERE WHEREVER.
PUT THEM IN THE BASKET RIGHT NEXT TO YOU.
PUT THEM RIGHT HERE? NO, IN THE BASKET.
[00:05:01]
IN THE BASKET. ALL RIGHT.YEAH. OKAY. HOW MANY OF YOU WENT? AND I KNOW SCOTTY DID, BECAUSE HE AND I'VE ALREADY TALKED, WENT TO CAMP GREEN MEADOWS.
ISN'T IT WONDERFUL HOW MANY OF US REALLY LEARNED SO MANY NEW THINGS? NOW THEY HAVE NATURALISTS.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU KNEW THAT OR NOT.
IT'S SO MANY IMPORTANT THINGS.
SO THE MERCED COUNTY EDUCATION FOUNDATION RAISES FUNDS FOR CAMP GREEN MEADOWS.
WE DID ALL THE RENOVATIONS FOR THE CABINS.
WE RAISED 200,000, I THINK IT WAS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
AND WE'VE DONE ALL THE CABINS AND WE HAVE HAD A WONDERFUL RESPONSE FROM THE COMMUNITY.
IT LOOKS LIKE 4000 LITTLE FOURTH GRADERS COME DOWN THE AISLES AND IT'S THE MOST EXCITING THINGS.
SO WE TEACH THEM ABOUT MUSIC, ABOUT PERFORMING ARTS.
WHEN I WAS YOUNG, 40,000 YEARS AGO, WHEN I WAS YOUNG, WE ACTUALLY HAD MUSIC CLASSES.
BUT WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU THERE.
WE ALSO NEED, AS I SAID, YOUR DESERTS.
AND I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU MY PHONE NUMBER.
I'VE ALREADY GOT A COUPLE THAT I KNOW OF.
LLOYD TRIED TO CALL ME AND LEFT A MESSAGE.
WHAT HAPPENED? SO YOU HAVEN'T ESCAPED ME YET.
I JUST GOT TO TELL YOU, IF YOU DON'T ANSWER MY CALL, I WILL COME AND GET YOU.
AND YOU ALL KNOW THAT FROM MY DAYS OF MARKETING CASSETTE.
OKAY, HERE'S OUR OH, IS MY TIME UP? YOUR TIME'S UP. YEP.
OKAY. WELL, I LOVE SEEING YOU.
I HOPE TO BE BACK. JUST LET ME COME BACK SOMEDAY.
THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? I KNOW IT'S KIND OF HARD TO FOLLOW, NANCY.
[CONSENT CALANDER]
NEXT IS APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 15.PLEASE NOTE A 4/5 VOTE IS REQUIRED ON ITEMS ONE, TWO AND 11.
I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS ONE THROUGH 11.
SEEING NONE. I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
DO I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND? THE SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE DOWN.
YOU'RE GETTING IT RIGHT NOW, I THINK.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
[BOARD ACTION]
NEXT IS BOARD ACTION PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS 16 AND 17.PLEASE NOTE A 4/5 VOTE IS REQUIRED ON BOTH.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT HEAD? NO, THANK YOU.
AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS 116 THROUGH 17.
SEEING NONE. I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT IS HEALTH ITEMS 18 AND 19.
AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS 18 AND 19.
SEEING NONE. I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
[00:10:01]
BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
ITEM 20 IS FROM BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES.
I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 20 AT THIS TIME.
SEEING, NONE, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY ITEM 21.
I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM 21 AT THIS TIME.
SEEING NONE I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
OKAY, WE'RE ALL GOOD. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT IS COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ITEM 22.
PLEASE NOTE A 4/5 VOTE IS REQUIRED.
OK. I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM 22.
SEEING NONE. I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT IS WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ITEM 23.
OKAY. I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
ELECTIONS ITEM 24 OKAY, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM 24.
SEEING NONE THEN I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA AND THE SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
ALL RIGHT. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
OKAY, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 25.
SEEING NONE. I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, PLEASE.
THANK YOU. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
NEXT AS DISTRICT ATTORNEY ITEMS 26 THROUGH 28.
I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS 26 THROUGH 28.
SEEING NONE. I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 29.
SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 29.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
NEXT IS BOARD APPOINTMENTS, ITEMS 30 AND 31.
[00:15:05]
I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS 30 AND 31.SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT IS BOARD INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ITEM 32.
I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 32.
PLEASE FORM A LINE TO THE RIGHT.
JUST MAKING SURE YOU'RE ALL AWAKE.
I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA. THANK YOU.
WE WILL TAKE A 15 MINUTE BREAK TO GIVE STAFF TIME TO GET PREPARED FOR OUR BUDGET HEARING.
PRESENTATION. I WANT TO JUST MAKE A COMMENT.
YOU KNOW, YOU GET A NEW CEO AND YOU GET NEW IDEAS.
AND SO HE AND DAVID MIRRIONE WERE HAVING A DISCUSSION AND THAT'S HOW THAT WAS BORN.
AND SO I'D LIKE TO THANK STAFF FOR REACHING OUT TO ME AND JUST FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, THIS IS THE ORIGINAL COUNTY SEAT AND SNELLING, YOU KNOW, WE BECAME A COUNTY IN 1855 AND THIS BUILDING WAS BUILT UP TWO YEARS LATER.
UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, THE RAILROAD BECAME THE DEMISE OF SNELLING AND EVERYBODY MOVED TO TOWN I THINK ABOUT 1871, IF I REMEMBER RIGHT. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT AND I WILL AT THIS TIME WE'LL HAVE A PRESENTATION BY THE MERCED COUNTY FISCAL TEAM FOR OUR
[PRESENTATION: COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE - FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023 FINAL BUDGET]
2023 FINAL BUDGET AND IT IS, OF COURSE, BY OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE.AND I'LL TURN THE MIC OVER TO OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER, RAUL O'MALLEY MENDEZ.
OH, HOLD ON. LET ME HELP YOU THERE.
GREAT. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING TO PRESENT OUR RECOMMENDED FINAL BUDGET FOR 2022-23 FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO MS. ANDERSON AND MR. DOCKSTADER FOR THE FORMAL PRESENTATION, I DID WANT TO MAKE A FEW OPENING REMARKS.
FIRST OFF, FOR THOSE INTERESTED MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE A COPY OF THE BUDGET PRESENTATION AND ALSO THE BUDGET OF THE GLANCE HANDBOOK.
COPIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR YOU IN THE BACK OF THE CHAMBERS.
I WANTED TO BEGIN MY REMARKS APPROPRIATELY SO, THANKING OUR COUNTY TEAM.
THIS INCLUDES, OBVIOUSLY, STAFF FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE, THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, AND OUR ELECTED AND APPOINTED COUNTY DEPARTMENTS, OUR RESPECTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAMS AND OBVIOUSLY OUR BUDGET AND HUMAN RESOURCE TEAM AND STAFF THAT HAVE WORKED LONG HOURS TO BRING THIS PACKAGE FOR YOU FOR CONSIDERATION THIS MORNING.
AS THE BOARD IS AWARE, YOU ADOPTED A $983.4 MILLION BUDGET PROPOSED BUDGET BACK ON JUNE 21ST, WHICH HAS SERVED AS OUR INTERIM OPERATING PLAN COMMENCING ON JULY 1ST AND OBVIOUSLY IS IN PLACE UNTIL YOU ADOPT YOUR FINAL BUDGET.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET WAS BASED ON A CONSERVATIVE SPENDING PLAN FOR THE ORGANIZATION AND IT ALLOWS US TO HAVE ADEQUATE TIME TO REALLY ASSESS HOW THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR CLOSED AND ALSO ASSESS HOW DECISIONS AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL MATERIALIZE THAT HAVE IMPACTED COUNTY SERVICES AND PROGRAMS.
[00:20:04]
THE APPROACH DURING THE PROPOSED BUDGET WAS SIMPLE TO REC ONE TIME REVENUES TO ONE TIME INVESTMENTS AND ENSURE ONGOING OBLIGATIONS CONTAINED STABLE AND RELIABLE FUNDING SOURCES.I AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THE ORGANIZATION FINISHED THE FISCAL YEAR 2021-22 STRONG, WHICH PROVIDES YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO DIRECT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO STRENGTHEN RESERVES, PROGRAM, PRIORITY CAPITAL PROJECTS, AND ALLOCATE STAFFING RESOURCES ACCORDINGLY TO MAINTAIN LEVELS OF SERVICE AND STRATEGICALLY ADDRESS CHALLENGES IN SPECIFIC FUNCTIONAL AREAS OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
THE RECOMMENDED FINAL BUDGET THIS MORNING IS A BALANCED BUDGET THAT ALSO STAYS TRUE TO THE ORGANIZATION'S PHILOSOPHY OF PRESENTING A FISCALLY SUSTAINABLE PLAN THAT IS FOCUSED ON LONG TERM STABILITY.
I'M GOING TO REPEAT THAT A FISCALLY SUSTAINABLE PLAN THAT IS FOCUSED ON LONG TERM STABILITY.
IT IS CAUTIOUSLY CONSTRUCTED WITH CONSIDERATION TO THE ANTICIPATION OF PHASING OUT OF FEDERAL AND STATE REVENUE SOURCES THAT ARE UNPRECEDENTED AS A RESULT OF THE RECENT PANDEMIC THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED AND OBVIOUSLY AFFORDED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO RESPOND APPROPRIATELY.
IT ALSO TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE UNCERTAINTY THAT MAY EXIST IN THE FUTURE ABOUT ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND ALSO OBVIOUSLY THE DROUGHT, WHICH FOR OUR RURAL COMMUNITY CAN HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.
PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY WE HAVE IS BEING A GOOD STEWARD OF THE PUBLIC DOLLAR, AND WE TAKE THIS RESPONSIBILITY, VERY SERIOUSLY AND AS A RESULT, FOLLOW GOOD BUDGETING PRACTICES IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE PUBLIC'S TRUST OF HOW RESOURCES ARE ALLOCATED AND ACCOUNTED FOR.
IN CLOSING, MERCED COUNTY HAS BEEN TESTED IN RECENT YEARS DURING THE MOST CHALLENGING TIMES.
BUT UNDER YOUR STEADY LEADERSHIP AND THROUGH THE GOOD WORK OF OUR TALENTED AND DEDICATED PROFESSIONAL STAFF, WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE LASER FOCUSED ON EFFECTIVELY SERVING THE NEEDS OF THIS COMMUNITY.
WITHIN THE APPROVED RESOURCES ALLOCATED BY THIS BOARD.
I WOULD LIKE TO NOW TURN IT OVER THE PRESENTATION OVER TO MS..
ANDERSON, WHO WILL WALK YOU THROUGH THE DETAIL.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN PAREIRA, SUPERVISORS CEO MENDEZ AND COUNTY COUNCIL.
I WILL BE STARTING OFF OUR PRESENTATION THIS MORNING AND TURNING IT OVER TO MR. DOCKSTADER TO FINISH OFF.
WE HAVE MULTIYEAR HISTORY HERE.
JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF PERSPECTIVE.
YOU SEE THAT THE PAST THREE YEARS, OUR REVENUES ARE EXCEEDING EXPENDITURES, WHICH IS LARGELY DUE TO THE ONE TIME REVENUES THAT HAVE BEEN INFUSED INTO OUR ORGANIZATION. AND THE REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES YOU CAN SEE HAVE BEEN TRACKING CONSISTENTLY.
HERE WE HAVE OUR CASH ON HAND OR OUR THIS SLIDE REFLECTS OUR CASH ON HAND, WHICH DRIVES THE FUND BALANCE THAT WE USE TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET AS OF JUNE 30TH.
YOU CAN SEE THE AMOUNTS FOR THE PAST YEARS, INCLUDING THE YEAR WE JUST CLOSED OUT FISCAL YEAR 21-22, OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE STAFF WORKS VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR AUDITOR COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE MAKING SURE THAT THIS CRITICAL ELEMENT OF OUR ORGANIZATION IS MONITORED CLOSELY.
THE GROWTH LARGELY AGAIN ATTRIBUTED TO OUR ONE TIME REVENUES.
FISCAL YEAR 21-22 ENDED WITH $127.9 MILLION.
OUR FISCAL YEAR 22-23 BUDGET INCLUDES THE USE OF AVAILABLE FUND BALANCE OF $68.7 MILLION.
$62 MILLION OF THAT IS JUST OUR ESTABLISHED GENERAL FUND OR OUR FUND BALANCE THAT'S BEING USED.
AND $6.7 MILLION ARE FROM ONE TIME SOURCES.
YOU CAN SEE THE LAST THREE FISCAL YEARS HAVE HIGHER ONE TIME AMOUNTS THAN PRIOR YEARS.
[00:25:07]
AND AGAIN, I WILL REPEAT THAT IS LARGELY DUE TO THE ONE TIME SOURCES WE'VE SEEN.AS CEO MÉNDEZ MENTIONED IN HIS OPENING REMARKS THAT THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED, BUT ALSO WE ARE PREPARING PERHAPS FOR THAT TO SHIFT AND MAYBE NOT BE SO READILY AVAILABLE.
THIS INCLUDES $117.9 MILLION IN OUR FISCAL YEAR 22-23 BUDGET FOR OUR GENERAL FUND.
IT REPRESENTS A $12.6 MILLION INCREASE FROM OUR PRIOR YEAR.
AND BETWEEN OUR PROPOSED AND OUR FINAL BUDGET, WE WORKED WITH OUR AUDITOR'S OFFICE TO IDENTIFY ADJUSTMENTS TO MORE CLOSELY BRING OUR ANTICIPATED REVENUE INTO LINE WITH OUR ANTICIPATED RECEIPTS.
THIS IS A CRITICAL AND ADDITIONAL COMPONENT TO OUR GENERAL FUND IN ADDITION TO DEDICATED PROGRAM REVENUES, WHICH WE'LL SEE IN OTHER SLIDES. OUR BUDGETED LOCAL RESOURCES SHOWN HERE IS BROKEN DOWN.
THE CHANGE HERE THAT YOU SEE IS $5.2 MILLION FROM OUR PROPOSED BUDGET.
THERE ALSO IS OUR FISCAL YEAR 21-22 APPROVED BUDGET THAT YOU SEE FOR REFERENCE AT 165.4.
BUT ALSO THE COMPONENT OF FUND BALANCE THAT'S BEEN INCLUDED TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET.
WE HAVE $62 MILLION, AS MENTIONED ON ANOTHER SLIDE AND THEN THE 6.7 FROM OUR ONE TIME SOURCES, FOR A TOTAL OF $186.6 MILLION TO BALANCE OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
HERE WE HAVE OUR BUDGETED LOCAL REQUIREMENTS, WHICH IS ALSO OUR NET COUNTY COST 186.6 SHOWS FOR OUR FISCAL YEAR 22-23 FINAL BUDGET.
YOU SEE A MULTI YEAR VIEW HERE TO AGAIN REALLY SHOW THE GROWTH THAT OUR BUDGETS SEEN IN THE PAST 12 YEARS.
IT'S BEEN A TRACK UPWARDS AND WE'LL SEE MORE ABOUT THAT LATER.
THE GROWTH THAT WE'VE SEEN AS AN ORGANIZATION.
AGAIN, THE 117.9 AND OUR COUNTY WIDE REVENUES AND OUR $68.7 MILLION IN FUND BALANCE.
THAT MIDDLE SECTION INCLUDES OUR ONGOING USE OF NET COUNTY COST, WHICH OF COURSE THE 117.9 MILLION OF OUR LOCAL RESOURCES AND ONLY $42.7 MILLION OF OUR FUND BALANCE IS TIED TO ONGOING COSTS.
YOU SEE THE BALANCE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF OUR ONE TIME NET COUNTY COSTS OF $26 MILLION, WHICH IS REALLY ATTRIBUTED TO A LOT OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE INCLUDED IN OUR BUDGET FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
THE TOTAL GENERAL FUND RESERVES IS ANOTHER COMPONENT OF IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF YOUR BUDGET.
YOU SEE, FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS HERE, THE HISTORY FROM FISCAL YEAR 11-12 TO OUR 22-23 FINAL BUDGET, YOU SEE THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING INCLUDING $42.1 MILLION IN THIS FINAL BUDGET, WHICH IS WITHIN THE BOARD ESTABLISHED POLICY OF 7 TO 9% OF GENERAL FUND REVENUES. IT'S THE POLICY INDICATES THAT AT 7 TO 9% OF THE AVERAGE ACTUAL GENERAL FUND REVENUES FOR THE PRECEDING THREE FISCAL YEARS.
BUT THIS CURRENT RECOMMENDATION IS WITHIN THE EXISTING POLICY, AND THIS IS VERY CRITICAL FOR A DECLARED EMERGENCY UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES.
[00:30:08]
ANOTHER COMPONENT INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET IS YOUR GENERAL FUND CONTINGENCY.WE HAVE NINE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS HERE FOR OUR FISCAL YEAR 22-23 FINAL BUDGET.
THAT HAS BEEN THE SAME AMOUNT FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.
THIS ALSO IS ANOTHER SAFETY NET INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET FOR UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES.
HOWEVER, IT IS LESS STRINGENT AS THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE THAT WE JUST MENTIONED.
AGAIN, REALLY FOR THOSE UNFORESEEN EMERGENCIES OR CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WEREN'T OTHERWISE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET, AND I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO MR. DOCKSTADER TO SHARE MORE DETAILS ABOUT YOUR BUDGET.
GOOD MORNING. CHAIRMAN PAREIRA, BOARD, CEO MENDEZ.
COUNCIL HANSEN. OUR NEXT SLIDE SHOWS OUR COUNTY WIDE POSITIONS.
YOU'LL SEE THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING TO INCREASE OR ADD POSITIONS AS PART OF THE FINAL BUDGET PACKAGE FROM FISCAL YEAR 21-22 TO 22-23.
THERE'S AN INCREASE OF 93 POSITIONS AT PROPOSED BUDGET.
YOUR BOARD TOOK ACTION TO ADD POSITIONS AS PART OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
NOW, AS PART OF THE RECOMMENDED FINAL BUDGET FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, THERE ARE 23 POSITIONS THAT ARE BEING RECOMMENDED AS PART OF THE AD WITH THIS BUDGET, AND THOSE POSITIONS ARE PART OF AN ITEM THAT YOU'LL VOTE ON A LITTLE BIT LATER.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE FINAL BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS.
AS MENTIONED EARLIER, AT PROPOSED BUDGET, WE HAD A BALANCED BUDGET.
WE INCREASED OUR COUNTY WIDE REVENUES $5 MILLION AND WE HAD ABOVE OUR PROJECTED FUND BALANCE AVAILABLE. WE HAD AN ADDITIONAL $225,000 THAT GAVE US AN ADDITIONAL.
$2 MILLION FOR BUDGETING PURPOSES OR RESOURCES TO USE TOWARDS BUDGET PURPOSES.
YOU'LL SEE THE BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS BELOW THAT.
WE ALSO, AS PART OF PROPOSED BUDGET, HAD AN ASSUMPTION FOR MORE NEGOTIATIONS.
AS WE'VE BEEN PROGRESSING THROUGH THOSE MOU NEGOTIATIONS, WE'VE HAD TO INCREASE THAT ASSUMPTION BASED OFF OF THE MOU NEGOTIATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN AGREED UPON. THAT INCREASE IN ASSUMPTION HAD AN IMPACT ON NET COUNTY COST OF $4.6 MILLION.
WE INCREASED OUR PROP 172 REVENUE ASSUMPTION BY 2 MILLION.
OUR 1991 REALIGNMENT REVENUES BY 1 MILLION.
OUR SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS AGAIN INCREASED DUE TO THE INCREASE IN THE MOU ASSUMPTIONS.
WE DID HAVE AN INCREASE IN OUR WELL PATH CONTRACT FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES IN JUVENILE HALL.
WE HAVE A DECREASE OVERALL IN OUR NET COUNTY COST OF CAPITAL PROJECTS, NOT THAT OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE DECREASING, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO FIND OTHER FUNDING SOURCES THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SHIFT THOSE PROJECTS TO, WHICH FREED UP AN ADDITIONAL $329,000 FOR OPERATING TRANSFERS.
WE HAVE COUNTY WIDE CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS PLAN THAT IS BEING FACILITATED BY FIRE OS THAT WE'VE INCLUDED 300,000 FOR WE AS PART OF THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET HAVE $200,000 PROGRAMED IN FOR DISTRICT PROJECT FUNDS.
SO WE DID INCLUDE $200,000 AS A RECOMMENDED PLACEHOLDER BASED ON YOUR DISCUSSION.
WE DID INCLUDE $150,000 ALSO FOR ELECTIONS FOR A SERVER UPGRADE THAT'S NEEDED FOR THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT AND THEN ALL OTHER DEPARTMENTS HAD CHANGES THAT NETTED OUT TO 217,000 INCREASE.
SO THOSE INCREASES IN REVENUES AND INCREASES IN APPROPRIATIONS BOUNCED OUT.
SO AS CEO MENDEZ MENTIONED EARLIER, OUR TOTAL BUDGET HAS EXCEEDED THE $1 BILLION MARK.
SO WE HAVE A TOTAL BUDGET OF 1 BILLION, $57.4 MILLION OF THAT.
OUR OTHER FUNDS ARE $320.2 MILLION, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF $20.9 MILLION.
[00:35:06]
AND THAT INCREASE IN OTHER FUNDS IS LARGELY DUE TO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WE'RE DOING.THAT'S AN INCREASE OF $53.1 MILLION FROM PROPOSED BUDGET.
AND WE'RE SEEING SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FUNCTIONAL AREA.
EARLIER, IT WAS MENTIONED THE DEPARTMENTAL DEDICATED REVENUES.
ONE INCREASE I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THOUGH, HERE IS THE STATE HAS GIVEN A 21% COLA INCREASE TO COW WORKS RECIPIENTS, WHICH IS CAUSING AN INCREASE OF ABOUT OF OVER $13 MILLION.
AND AGAIN, THAT IS LARGELY OFFSET BY STATE FEDERAL REVENUES.
SO DEPARTMENTAL DEDICATED REVENUES OF $550.6 MILLION, LEAVING US A NET COUNTY COST OF $186.6 MILLION, WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY THE REVENUE SOURCES THAT MS. ANDERSON SPOKE OF JUST MOMENTARILY AGO.
SO WE HAVE A TOTAL BUDGET OF $1,000,000,057.4 MILLION.
OUR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FUNCTIONAL AREA IS 43% OF THAT BUDGET OR $451.3 MILLION.
OUR MUNICIPAL COUNTYWIDE SERVICES ARE 22% OR $234 MILLION.
OUR LOCAL PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUSTICE SYSTEM IS 15% OR $155.3 MILLION.
AND OUR SUPPORT SERVICES, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS ARE 21% OR $216.8 MILLION OF THAT.
OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET 737.2 MILLION FROM HUMAN SERVICES IS 58%, AT 430.7 MILLION.
MUNICIPAL COUNTYWIDE SERVICES 9%.
LOCAL PUBLIC SAFETY JUSTICE 21%.
AND OUR SUPPORT SERVICES CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM 12% OR $85.4 MILLION.
AND AGAIN, THESE ARE PROGRAMS THAT ARE LARGELY SUPPORTED BY FEDERAL AND STATE REVENUES AND INCLUDES OUR DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, RECOVERY SERVICES, PUBLIC HEALTH, OUR HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY, MUNICIPAL COUNTYWIDE SERVICES HAS AN INCREASE OF $57.4 MILLION TO $234 MILLION.
AND THIS IS REALLY LARGELY RELATED TO AN OPERATING TRANSFER THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN FOR THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND ALSO OUR RESCUE PLAN DOLLARS FOR PROJECTS, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY FUNCTIONAL AREA, $155.3 MILLION OR A $19.9 MILLION GROWTH.
AND THIS IS LARGELY DUE TO STAFFING, DUE TO THE INCREASE IN MOU ASSUMPTIONS THAT I SPOKE OF EARLIER AND ALSO POSITIONS THAT ARE BEING RECOMMENDED AS PART OF THE RECOMMENDED FINAL BUDGET PACKAGE.
SO OUR TOTAL BUDGET OF $1,000,000,057.4 MILLION.
AND OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS 70% OF THAT OR $737.2 MILLION.
OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS THEN 75% COMPOSED OF DEPARTMENTAL DEDICATED OFFSET APPROPRIATIONS, $550.6 MILLION, AND THEN LEAVING $186.6 MILLION OF NET COUNTY COST, WHICH IS 25% OF OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
[00:40:06]
THAT NET COUNTY COST IS THEN BROKEN DOWN INTO FUNCTIONAL AREA ON THIS SLIDE.SO OUR LOCAL PUBLIC SAFETY JUSTICE SYSTEM IS 47% OR $87.3 MILLION OF OUR NET COUNTY COST SUPPORT SERVICES CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM IS 29% OR $55 MILLION.
OUR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FUNCTIONAL AREA IS 3%, $5.3 MILLION, AND OUR MUNICIPAL COUNTYWIDE SERVICES ARE 21% OR $39 MILLION. THIS NEXT SLIDE SHOWS THAT SAME DATA TABULAR WITH A FEW YEARS OF HISTORY AS WELL, SHOWING KIND OF THE GROWTH IN EACH OF THOSE FUNCTIONAL AREAS.
SO OUR LOCAL PUBLIC SAFETY, $87.3 MILLION IS AN INCREASE OF $1.8 MILLION.
AND THIS IS HAS A COMPONENT THAT WELL PATH COMPONENT FOR THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT THAT I SPOKE OF EARLIER FOR IN JUVENILE HALL SORRY IS INCLUDED IN THIS.
AND THEN STAFFING ASSUMPTIONS.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FUNCTIONAL AREA HAD A SLIGHT DECREASE DUE TO SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
MUNICIPAL COUNTYWIDE SERVICES IS $39 MILLION.
IT'S AN INCREASE OF $1.8 MILLION.
OUR CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS PLAN IS IN HERE AND THEN ALSO THE INCREASES THAT ARE DUE TO MOSTLY STAFFING AND THEN OUR SUPPORT SERVICES CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, $55 MILLION IS AN INCREASE OF $1.9 MILLION.
HERE WE HAVE OUR SERVER UPGRADE.
AND THEN THE OTHER PIECE THAT IS REALLY DRIVING THE INCREASE IS OUR STAFFING.
THIS IS A NEW SLIDE THIS YEAR FOR YOUR BOARD.
WE WANTED TO KIND OF DEMONSTRATE THE GROWTH AND OUR DIFFERENT REVENUE STREAMS. SO YOU'LL NOTICE THE YELLOW LINE AT THE BOTTOM ARE COUNTY WIDE REVENUES AND THE BLUE LINE AT THE TOP, WHICH IS OUR DEPARTMENTAL DEDICATED REVENUES.
SO SINCE FISCAL YEAR 1112, OUR SPENDING AUTHORITY HAS INCREASED BY 142% FROM $436 MILLION TO $1.1 BILLION.
HOWEVER, THE CORRESPONDING REVENUES HAVE INCREASED AT VARIOUS RATES DEPARTMENTAL DEDICATED REVENUES, WHICH ARE DEDICATED TO OFFSET SPECIFIC DEPARTMENTAL PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES, HAS GROWN BY 141%.
SO I KNOW THAT OUR BUDGET AS A WHOLE HAS BEEN GROWING PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY.
BUT WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT MOST OF THAT GROWTH IS BEING DRIVEN BY DEPARTMENTAL DEDICATED REVENUES OR FEDERAL, STATE AND OR OTHER GRANT FUNDING STREAMS THAT ARE OFFSETTING OR BRINGING IN REVENUES TO HELP SUPPORT THAT GROWTH.
AT THIS TIME. I'LL TURN THE TIME OVER TO CEO MENDEZ.
APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION, THE PRESENTATION.
JUST WANTED TO OUTLINE KIND OF THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS.
THESE INCLUDE ANNUAL ACTIONS REQUIRED AS PART OF THE FINAL BUDGET, PUBLIC HEARING AND THE FORMAL PROCEEDINGS, THE LIKES OF SETTING THE APPROPRIATION LIMIT, APPROVING OR AUTHORIZING THE FINAL BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS, LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENTS OUT OF STATE TRANSPORTATION AND TRAINING PERSONNEL ACTIONS, ORDER SCHEDULES, AND IN ITS TOTALITY, THE FINAL BUDGET ADOPTION.
WE HAVE ALSO PREPARED FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION SEVERAL POLICY DISCUSSIONS INVOLVING OUR ROADWORK PROGRAM, OUR CAPITAL ASSET LIST, CAPITAL PROJECT LIST, AB 109 STRATEGIC PLAN WILLIAMSON NAP PROGRAM, GENERAL FUND, RESERVE POLICY DISTRICT PROJECT FUNDS AND A FUNDING ALLOCATION FOR PARK PROJECTS. FOR THE POLICY DISCUSSIONS, OUR STAFF OR COUNTY STAFF IS PREPARED TO INTRODUCE EACH RESPECTIVE ITEM FOR YOUR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE DIRECTION AND ACTION.
I FEEL LIKE GILDA RADNER UP HERE.
[LAUGHTER]. ALTHOUGH YOU YOUNGER PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHO THE GILDA RADNER IS, BUT WE DO.
[SCHEDULED ITEM]
[INAUDIBLE] OKAY. NEXT, WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FROM THE AUDITOR TO CONSIDER SETTING THE APPROPRIATION LIMITATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 2023, ESTABLISHED UNDER ARTICLE[00:45:06]
13 B OF THE OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION.PLEASE NOTE THAT VOTE LINKS WILL NOT BE USED FOR THIS ITEM.
THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT RELATED TO SETTING THE APPROPRIATION LIMIT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 2023.
ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE. I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I'LL CALL FOR THE QUESTION.
WHAT ARE MY COLLEAGUES? WHICH PLEASURE? I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE.
SO IT'S BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSE, SAME SIGN? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
[BUDGET CALENDAR]
OKAY. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR BUDGET CALENDAR.ITEM ONE FINAL BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS.
I'LL GO UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEM ONE? SEEING NONE WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I JUST.
I KNOW WE KIND OF MOVED ALONG THERE, BUT I JUST WANT TO.
I DON'T KNOW HOW HARD IT'S GOING TO BE FOR SOMEONE TO PULL BACK UP THE SLIDES.
THE SLIDES? YEAH. I REALLY WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THE SECOND TO LAST SLIDE THAT WE HAD UP IT.
JUST AS WE GET READY TO VOTE ON A BUDGET, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO HIGHLIGHT.
I KNOW THAT MY COLLEAGUES UNDERSTAND IT.
BUT THIS SLIDE, I THINK, IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND, FOR STAFF TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT NUMBER, THAT TOP LINE NUMBER OF A BILLION, 57 MILLION.
AND THAT'S IF YOU ADD 117.9 TO THE 808.7 MILLION IS REALLY THE IMPORTANT PART IS THOSE DEPARTMENT DEDICATED REVENUES. I KNOW THAT THAT THROUGHOUT THE PRESENTATION THEY HIGHLIGHTED THAT WE HAD UNPRECEDENTED I WANT TO SAY ONCE IN A LIFETIME, ONCE IN A GENERATION, MONIES THAT CAME IN THAT CAME TO US FROM THE STATE AND MOSTLY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SOME OF IT PASSED THROUGH THE STATE GOVERNMENT, SOME OF IT DIRECTLY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, WE FALL IN LOVE.
BUT IT REALLY WASN'T A LOT OF WHAT WE DID.
BUT THAT LOCAL SHARE, THAT COUNTY WIDE REVENUE, THAT'S THE PART THAT WE REALLY HAVE DISCRETION OVER.
THE FIRST BUDGET THAT I WAS A PART OF WAS IN JUNE OF 2019.
OUR OVERALL BUDGET TOP LINE NUMBER WAS $684 MILLION.
OUR LOCAL SHARE WAS 100,000,000.6.
FAST FORWARD TO TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO BE VOTING ON A $1,000,000,057 MILLION BUDGET.
THAT NUMBER HAS GROWN BY IS $373 MILLION IN THREE YEARS.
IN 36 MONTHS, OUR BUDGET NUMBER IS GROWN BY 373 MILLION.
IT HAS ONLY GROWN BY $18 MILLION.
I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE COME IN AS A BOARD MAKING SOUND DECISIONS.
[00:50:01]
BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS WHY THERE ISN'T JUST AN ENDLESS SUPPLY OF MONEY.WE DIDN'T COMMIT IT TO ONGOING EXPENSES.
I HOPE AND PRAY THAT I'M WRONG, BUT SOMETHING'S OUT OF WHACK.
EVERYTHING'S KIND OF CRAZY OUT THERE.
I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING INTO RECESSION.
I'M NOT AN ECONOMIST, BUT EVERYTHING THAT I SEE OUT THERE KIND OF LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THE HOUSING MARKET HAS THE BRAKES HAVE GOTTEN PUT ON IT WHEN INTEREST RATES GO UP.
I SAW AN ARTICLE ON ON TV THE OTHER DAY THAT ON A $500,000 HOUSE ON A 30 YEAR NOTE, PUTTING 20% DOWN WITH WHAT THE INTEREST RATES WENT UP THIS PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS MEANS AN ADDITIONAL $700 A MONTH IN A PAYMENT TO SOMEBODY.
THAT'S REAL MONEY. THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOMEBODY BUYING A HOUSE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO SEE SLOWDOWNS.
AND THAT'S WHY, AGAIN AND I KNOW I'M GETTING A LITTLE AHEAD OF MYSELF, BUT I'M GOING TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT RESERVES, THOSE RESERVES, ONCE YOU USE THEM, THEY'RE GONE. THEY DON'T JUST AUTOMATICALLY GET REPLACED THE NEXT YEAR.
AND SO, AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO COMMEND OUR STAFF, THE BOARD, COMMITTING TO THAT RESERVE POLICY, BECAUSE IT JUST FEELS LIKE, MAN, WE EVEN GET INTO THIS MODE WHERE WE WANT TO SPEND, BUT WE NEED TO SAVE IT FOR A RAINY DAY.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT'S THERE FOR, IS FOR A RAINY DAY.
AND OUR POLICY THAT WE PUT IN PLACE WHILE I WAS HERE TO CREATE THIS GENERAL FUND RESERVE POLICY, REALLY IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US THAT IF WE ARE GOING TO DIP INTO THAT EMERGENCY SAVINGS ACCOUNT, WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A PLAN ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO REPLACE IT.
BUT DON'T FALL IN LOVE WITH THAT NUMBER, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO ALMOST GUARANTEE THAT NUMBER IS NOT GOING TO BE THAT HIGH NEXT YEAR BECAUSE A LOT OF THAT ONE TIME MONEY GOES AWAY. SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.
MR. CHAIR, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
BUT YOU CAN TAKE MARIN COUNTY, WHO HAS A BUDGET JUST ABOUT EQUAL TO OURS.
THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THOSE LINES ARE SWITCHED THERE.
FEDERAL AND STATE MONEY WOULD BE THE BOTTOM LINE AND THEIR REVENUES WOULD BE THE TOP LINE.
AND SO FOR US, WE ALREADY HAVE IT SHOWS YOU THE BIG PORTION WE HAVE THERE ALREADY, STATE AND FEDERALLY MANDATED, AND WE'RE KIND OF HANDCUFFED ON HOW WE CAN SPEND THAT MONEY. WE DO THE BEST WE CAN.
BUT LIKE MY COLLEAGUE SAID, THAT BOTTOM LINE IS WHAT REPRESENTS US.
SO THANK YOU, CHAIR. YOU'RE WELCOME.
WELL, I WANT TO THANK YOU, MR. MENDEZ, FOR WORKING DILIGENTLY, YOU KNOW, NEW TO OUR COUNTY.
I KIND OF EXPECTED THERE TO BE A LOT MORE HICCUPS IN THE BUDGETING PROCESS.
RIGHT. AND, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, WE HAVE A GREAT STAFF THAT HELPED KEEP THAT ALL TOGETHER.
AND I ALWAYS FEEL FUNNY CALLING THIS OUR FINAL BUDGET BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IT'S AN AMENDED BUDGET.
BUT ANYWAYS, I JUST I WANTED TO SAY THAT AND THEN JUST MAYBE A BIT TO ECHO WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID AND MAYBE KIND OF TAKE JUST A LITTLE BIT FURTHER, IS THAT GRAY LINE IS GOING TO IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO GO UP NEXT YEAR.
AND IF IT DOES NEXT YEAR, IT MAY BY A LITTLE BIT.
BUT HERE'S CERTAINLY IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO OR THREE MIGHT SEE THAT NUMBER COMING BACK DOWN AND SO I JUST IT'S HARD, RIGHT? YOU'VE GOT ALL THIS MONEY AND YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND IT.
BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING PRESENTING TO US A DILIGENT EFFORT TO KEEP OUR COUNTY SOLVENT AND GO FORWARD WITH A BUDGET THAT MAKES SENSE THAT I BELIEVE MY GRANDKIDS SOMEDAY COULD LOOK AT AND SAY, YOU KNOW, GRANDPA MADE THE RIGHT I DON'T HAVE GRANDKIDS YET, BUT I MEAN, IF I DID THAT, THEY WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, GRANDPA AND HIS COLLEAGUES, YOU KNOW, WERE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE ENOUGH TO HAVE OUR COUNTY STILL BE HERE.
AND I DON'T FEEL THAT WAY ABOUT MY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.
I CAN'T REALLY DO ANYTHING AT THE STATE GOVERNMENT.
AND SO I'M PROUD OF US AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL PASS.
[00:55:04]
I DON'T WANT TO YOU KNOW, THEY CAME FORWARD WITH WHAT THEY REALLY NEEDED AND SO THEY WORKED HARD ON THEIR END AS WELL.OH, I'M SORRY, SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT ECHOING THE FACT OR ECHOING WHAT MY COLLEAGUE SAID.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT STAFF HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB.
AND I THINK ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT OUR CEO SAID WAS THAT WE TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SPENDING THE TAXPAYER MONEY VERY SERIOUSLY. PEOPLE WORK REALLY HARD FOR THEIR MONEY, AND WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE BIGGEST BANG OUT OF OUR BOOK.
AND I KNOW THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A BUNCH OF ONE TIME MONIES THAT HAVE COME IN, AND I THINK THAT OUR STAFF HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB IN PRIORITIZING THOSE ONE TIME MONIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE USING THEM THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT AND I THINK THAT GOES TO STAFF.
I ALSO THINK, YOU KNOW, MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD ALSO TAKE IT VERY I TAKE THEIR JOBS VERY RESPONSIBLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO SPEND THIS MONEY IN A WAY THAT'S RESPONSIBLE AND WISE TO DO THE BEST WE CAN FOR OUR PEOPLE AND FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND IT'S NOT JUST OUR DISTRICTS, RIGHT? LIKE WE ALL REPRESENT DIFFERENT DISTRICTS OF MERCED COUNTY, BUT WE'RE DOING A VERY WE TRY TO LOOK AT MERCED COUNTY AS A WHOLE.
AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK TO MY FOR MY COLLEAGUES, BUT I'VE GOTTEN A SENSE OF THAT WE KIND OF LOOK OUT FOR WHAT'S BEST FOR MERCED COUNTY. AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND WE'RE DOING THAT.
I KNOW THAT STAFF IS GOING TO TAKE A HUGE DEEP BREATH, HOPEFULLY AFTER THIS IS ALL DONE, BUT I APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK AND THE EFFORT THAT HAS BEEN PUT INTO THIS.
AND, WELL, I SEE NO FURTHER REQUESTS TO SPEAK.
WHO WANTS TO? WHO WANTS TO HAVE THEIR NAME ON $1,000,000,000 BUDGET? [INAUDIBLE].
OH, YOU'RE GOING TO BRING IT BACK UP.
OH, BECAUSE YOU HAD ASKED FOR THE SLIDE.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
WE'RE GOING TO CALL YOU THE BILLION DOLLAR MAN FROM NOW ON.
AND SECOND, BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OH, I'M SORRY. I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.
THE WEST SIDE TRYING TO SPEND ALL THE MONEY.
RIGHT? PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
YOU KNOW, ITEM TWO IS LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENTS.
AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER TWO.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM THREE.
SEEING NONE I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
NEXT, IT'S POLICY ACTION ITEM 4 ROAD DIVISION WORK PROGRAM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 2023.
DANA HERTFELDER, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.
[01:00:03]
PUBLIC WORKS HAS PREPARED ITS ANNUAL ROAD DIVISION WORK PLAN AS REQUIRED BY THE CALIFORNIA STREETS AND HIGHWAYS CODE.SB ONE MEASURE V AND OTHER FUNDS THAT ARE DEPOSITED INTO THE ROAD FUND.
THIS YEAR'S ROAD DIVISION PLAN INCLUDES WORK ASSOCIATED WITH THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TEN COUNTY BRIDGES, SEGMENT THREE AND FOUR OF THE CAMPUS PARKWAY AND PHASE TWO B OF THE ATWATER MERCED EXPRESSWAY.
TOTAL RESOURCES, INCLUDING THIS YEAR'S ROAD DIVISION WORK PROGRAM, INCLUDES APPROXIMATELY $64 MILLION, OF WHICH APPROXIMATELY 40 MILLION IS COMMITTED TO SPECIFIC REIMBURSABLE PROJECTS AND 23 MILLION IN GENERAL REVENUE THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR THE OPERATION, MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE COUNTY MAINTAIN ROAD SYSTEM.
THE ROAD DIVISION WORK PROGRAM ATTEMPTS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE ENTIRE COUNTY ROAD SYSTEM AND BALANCE CURRENT STAFFING LEVELS WITH THE ABILITY TO ACQUIRE THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THIS YEAR'S WORK PROGRAM.
BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD MAY HAVE.
SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. DANA, I WAS LOOKING AT ON THE PROJECT LIST, I THINK IS THE LAST PAGE. BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DISTRICT PRIORITIES.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE BOARD TO.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S ITEM NUMBER 13, 15 AND 18 IS ON THERE.
WELL, TWO OF THEM ARE IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT AND ONE IS IN LA GRANDE.
I DIDN'T REQUEST THOSE. BUT ALSO I KNOW THAT THE HUSBAND, BANK OR COTTONWOOD, THEY'RE NOT IN MY DISTRICT YET BECAUSE I'M REPRESENTING THAT DISTRICT YET, BUT THEY'RE IN THIS PART OF THE ARPA ROAD PROJECTS.
BUT EVEN THOUGH I REMEMBER THE BOARD VOTED TO ON THE REDISTRICTING FUNDS USING KEEPING THE OLD ALLOCATIONS FOR THE OLD DISTRICTS, NOT THE NEW DISTRICTS.
SO BUT THESE NEW ROADS ARE FOR THE NEW DISTRICTS.
AND YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE PLACING IT ON MY DISTRICTS RIGHT NOW.
SO I THINK THIS SHOULD BE IN DISTRICT FIVE, NOT INDUSTRY ONE.
NOT THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY DON'T NEED TO BE PAVED, YOU KNOW, OR WORKED ON.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO REPLACE BROADWAY.
I KNOW WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON BROADWAY.
WASN'T ON THERE. I ASKED [INAUDIBLE] BE ON THERE AND IT WAS CHANGED, BUT NOT BROADWAY.
AND I ADDRESSED MISSION BOULEVARD FROM 99 TO HIGHWAY 59 AS WELL, THAT I WANTED IT ON THERE AND ALSO WANT TO PLACE WHITE CRANE ROAD IN LIVINGSTON, WHICH I ADDRESSED TO YOU AS WELL.
THAT'S PROBABLY, I DON'T KNOW, NOT THE WORST ROAD IN THE COUNTY, BUT I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO PLACE IT ON MY THEN ON MY PRIORITY LIST AS WELL, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN CALLED ON THAT ONE. RIGHT NOW PEOPLE ARE DRIVING JUST LIKE MANY OTHER ROADS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE IT'S SO BAD.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE 13, 15 AND 18 AND REPLACE IT WITH BROADWAY, SOUTH SIDE OF BROADWAY.
RIGHT. AND ALSO OUT OF WHITE CRANE AND MISSION BOULEVARD IN SOUTH JERSEY.
THANK YOU. THE PROJECT LISTED AS THE BOARD PRIORITIES WAS DEVELOPED AS PART OF THE ARPA FUNDING PROGRAM AND THESE WERE APPROVED BY THE BOARD, I BELIEVE, IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR.
I INCLUDED THE LIST JUST AS PART OF THE ROAD WORK PROGRAM.
IF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO REVISIT THIS LIST, I'D BE HAPPY TO BRING IT BACK AT A LATER DATE.
I DON'T THINK WE CAN ADJUST IT BASED AS PART OF THIS ITEM.
[01:05:05]
I'D HAVE TO DEFER TO COUNTY COUNCIL ON THAT, BUT I DON'T THINK WE CAN.I THINK IT WOULD NEED TO BE BROUGHT BACK.
WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH OUR AN ENGINEERING FIRM DEVELOPING THE BID PACKAGE FOR THIS.
WELL, LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, [INAUDIBLE] WAS CHANGED SO, YOU KNOW, WAS PUT ON THERE AND YOU KNOW, THE OTHER ROADS SHOULD BE PLACED ON THERE AS WELL. I'VE BEEN MENTIONING IT FOR TWO MONTHS AND THEY SAID IT WAS GOING TO BE REPLACED.
AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T SEE IT ON HERE.
I KEEP SEEING THE SAME THING ON THERE.
IF I MIGHT MAKE A SUGGESTION IS THAT THE TOTAL OF THESE PROJECTS IS ABOUT $50 MILLION AND WE'VE ALLOCATED $10 MILLION FOR ARPA.
AND SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET DOWN TO THOSE PROJECTS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
IS THAT CORRECT? MR. HERTFELDER? SO MAYBE WE COULD TAKE A LOOK AT THEM AT A DIFFERENT TIME BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE DONE NOW ANYWAYS, I GUESS IS MY POINT.
AND THERE, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY EVERYBODY WANTS THEIR ROADS FIXED AND, YOU KNOW, HUSBAND ROAD AND CENTINELA BUNKER ROAD AND CENTINELA AND COTTONWOOD ROAD AND CENTINELA, THEY RUN PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER OUT IN CENTINELA.
AND, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND WE'VE GOT TO FIX EVERY ROAD IN THE COUNTY, BUT LIKE I SAID, THERE'S A LOT OF CITIZENS THAT DRIVE AROUND CLOSE TO TOWN, JUST OUTSIDE THE CITY, THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES AND A FEW ROADS OUT THERE AND A FEW VEHICLES OUT THERE.
SO I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR.
I DON'T MIND THAT, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ADDRESSED AND THAT AS MY PRIORITIES.
I'M JUST PLACING MY PRIORITIES ON THERE.
WE'LL ALSO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE REST OF THE BOARD TO LOOK AT THEIR PRIORITY LISTINGS BECAUSE THESE ARE INTENDED TO BE YOUR PRIORITIES FOR ROADWAY PROJECTS AND WHERE WE NEED TO FOCUS OUR EFFORTS.
SUFFICE OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIMELY LOOKING TO THE SUPERVISOR? OH, GO AHEAD.
WELL, YEAH, BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR, IF I CAN.
GREAT. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
I MEAN, I REALIZE THAT SOME OF THE ROADS THAT THEY HAVE IN YOUR DISTRICT WERE IN MY DISTRICT, BUT I GUESS TO ME, THIS WAS JUST KIND OF LIKE THE WISH LIST, KNOWING THAT WE'RE ALLOCATING 10 MILLION TO.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE I CAN'T READ THAT $50 MILLION WORTH OF ROADS.
MY QUESTION FOR MR. HERTFELDER IS AS KIND OF THESE ALL THESE ARPA ROADS WHERE YOU'RE TRYING TO PUT A BID PACKAGE TOGETHER, RIGHT, TO GO OUT AND HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO DO ALL OF THEM? CORRECT. THE PLAN RIGHT NOW IS WE WORKING WITH ONE OF OUR CONSULTANTS TO PREPARE A BID PACKAGE AND THE PLAN IS TO BID THESE OUT RIGHT AROUND THE FIRST OF THE YEAR AND START CONSTRUCTION ON THEM NEXT SPRING, SUMMER, DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER AND GET ALL THESE PROJECTS, AS MANY AS WE CAN GET DONE IN ONE NEXT SEASON. YEAH, PERFECT.
BECAUSE I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY TO ALSO THAT ARPA FUNDS COME WITH AN EXPIRATION DATE AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I KNOW THAT I'VE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT AND I'VE TALKED TO STAFF ABOUT THAT WE NEED TO BE VERY ON TOP OF BECAUSE 2026 WILL BE HERE BEFORE WE KNOW IT.
AND I HAVE NO INTEREST IN SENDING NOT ONE PENNY BACK.
SO I JUST DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO JEOPARDIZE THAT BID PACKAGE GOING OUT.
SO THEN THAT WAY WE'RE NOT JEOPARDIZING GETTING THIS BID PACKAGE DONE.
BUT I MAKE A SUGGESTION THAT HERE, WHEN IT'S APPROPRIATE IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO AND WHEN YOU KIND OF HAVE AN IDEA OF WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO BE ON THE LIST, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT'S ONLY GOING TO BE THE TOP, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, TWO, THREE, FOUR ROADS PER DISTRICT THAT ARE GOING TO GET DONE RIGHT AND THE REST OF THEM WILL BE LATER IS IS
[01:10:08]
JUST TO HAVE A CONVERSATION TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS.ALL RIGHT. I SEE NO FURTHER REQUESTS TO SPEAK.
WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
PLEASE, PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
NEXT IS ITEM FIVE CAPITAL ASSET LIST AND CAPITAL PROJECT LIST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 2023.
YES, MR. CHAIRMAN. I KNOW WE'RE MAKING REALLY GOOD TIME, BUT I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE THINGS OUT THERE THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT ARE HAPPENING, AT LEAST IN MY DISTRICT AND THEY'RE HAPPENING IN EVERYBODY'S DISTRICTS, BUT IT'S THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, REPLACING SOME ROOFS AT SOME VETERANS HALLS, REPLACING SOME HVAC SYSTEMS, SOME LIGHTING OUT AT SPRING FAIR.
I'M JUST HIGHLIGHTING A FEW OF THEM AS WE GO THROUGH.
WE HAVE THE JIMENO BUILDING RETROFIT, JUST THINGS THAT THESE ARE LITTLE THINGS.
AND AGAIN, THESE ARE TRYING TO USE ONE TIME MONEYS, ONE TIME THINGS WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
WE'RE USING ARPA MONEY FOR THESE ONE TIME PROJECTS.
BUT I KNOW THAT IN EVERY DISTRICT THAT THERE'S A LOT OF LITTLE PROJECTS.
WE ARE TAKING CARE OF THESE THINGS.
AND WHEN I SAY LITTLE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOVERNMENT.
SO A LITTLE ONES LIKE 40, 50,000, MAYBE EVEN 100,000, THESE AREN'T THESE AREN'T YOUR MULTI MILLION DOLLAR PROJECTS THAT TAKE A LOT MORE RESOURCES, A LOT MORE ENERGY AND STAFF TIME TO TRY TO GET THEM DONE.
BUT IT'S A LOT OF THESE LITTLE YOU KNOW I'M GOING TO CALL IT BETWEEN ZERO AND 200,000 PROJECTS THAT ARE HAPPENING THAT ARE BEING APPROVED IN THIS BUDGET ALL THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY THAT I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE GOOD WORK THAT WE'RE DOING ON THOSE.
YOU'RE WELCOME. I SEE NO OTHER REQUEST.
I. YOU KNOW, SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT.
WE HAVEN'T HAD MONEY TO DO A LOT OF THINGS TO FIX.
YOU KNOW WHAT I CONSIDER COUNTY RESPONSIBILITIES, AND I'M JUST HAPPY WE'RE IN THAT SPOT.
YOU KNOW? I KNOW WE ALL TALK ABOUT THE RECESSION COMING IN THIS MONEY.
AND BUT, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE REALLY DOING A GOOD JOB WITH THE MONEY WE'RE GIVING.
WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
ALL RIGHT. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
FISCAL YEAR 2022 2023 STRATEGIC PLAN.
GOOD MORNING, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
GOOD MORNING. BOARD, CHAIRMAN, LISA MAPLES, DEPUTY PROBATION OFFICER.
DEPUTY CHIEF PROBATION OFFICER.
SO ASSEMBLY BILL AB 109 EXPANDED THE ROLE OF THE COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS PARTNERSHIP THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, WHICH IS THE CP EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, WHICH IS CHAIRED BY THE CHIEF PROBATION OFFICER, WITH ADDITIONAL MEMBERS BEING THE SHERIFF, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, PUBLIC DEFENDER, LOCAL CHIEF OF POLICE, HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY, DIRECTOR, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES DIRECTOR, AND A SUPERIOR COURT REPRESENTATIVE.
THIS YEAR, THE CCP EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ADDED A PROBATION PROGRAM SPECIALIST POSITION TO PROVIDE DIRECT OVERSIGHT OF ALL THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT WILL FALL WITHIN THE ADULT DIVISION.
SO I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
[01:15:01]
ANY QUESTIONS? OH, YOU GET OFF EASY TODAY.AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM SIX.
SEEING, NONE WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
ALL RIGHT. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
NEXT IS ITEM SEVEN WILLIAMSON IMPACT PROGRAM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 2023.
DO WE RECUSE NOW OR LATER? NOW OK TWO OF US OWNED LAND PROPERTY THAT IS IN THE WILLIAMSON ACT.
THANK YOU. AND THEN VICE CHAIR SILVEIRA WILL CONDUCT THE MEETING.
YOU DON'T GET TO SPEAK FREELY.
YES, I DO. I GET IT I'M IN THE CAPTAIN'S CHAIR FOR A MINUTE, SO.
MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
AGAIN. GOOD MORNING. MARK HENDRICKSON, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY.
YOU MAY RECALL THAT IN ORDER TO CONTINUE THE WILLIAMS SNACK PROGRAM IN MERCED COUNTY, THIS BOARD MUST MAKE AN ANNUAL FINDING THAT THE COUNTY RECEIVED LESS THAN ONE HALF OF ITS FORGONE GENERAL FUND PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.
PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 16142E.
STAFF HAS DETERMINED THAT SINCE THE COUNTY DID NOT RECEIVE ANY SUBMISSION SUBVENTION PAYMENTS FROM THE STATE, THIS BOARD CAN MAKE THAT NECESSARY FINDING AS NOTED IN YOUR BOARD ITEM TO CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2223, IF IT SO CHOOSES, AND STAFF RECOMMENDS ACCORDINGLY.
THANK YOU, SIR, AND WE'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
YES, THAT'S JUST I THINK WE ASK IT EVERY YEAR.
SO WHEN WE'RE VOTING ON THIS, WE ARE VOTING TO ULTIMATELY YOU ARE VOTING TO DECLARE THAT THE STATE HAS NOT PROVIDED YOU WITH ANY OF THE RESOURCES AS NECESSARY TO KEEP THE PROGRAM ALIVE, AND YOU'RE DOING IT YOURSELF.
AND BY SO DOING, THE WILLIAM SNACK PROGRAM IS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE IN MERCED COUNTY.
SO THE AYE VOTE CONTINUES THE PROGRAM AS CORRECT, SIR.
I KNOW WE ALWAYS MAKE THAT CLEAR TO EACH YEAR.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEM NUMBER SEVEN? SEEING NONE WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND WE'LL NOW BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD.
I THINK ANDREW IS GOING TO VOTE FOR ME.
WE'LL DO IT AGAIN. DID YOU GET IT? IS THAT GOING TO MESS IT UP? CALL FOR THE QUESTION OR PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
PERFECT. ALL RIGHT, MR. MENDEZ, IF YOU COULD BRING BACK THE CHAIR.
YEAH, WE GOT VOTED OFF THE ISLAND WHILE WE WERE GONE.
OH, HOW DID SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA DO IN MY ABSENCE? OH IT WAS GREAT.
YEAH, WE THOUGHT IT WOULD TAKE A LOT LONGER.
ITEM EIGHT, GENERAL FUND RESERVE POLICY.
GOOD MORNING AGAIN, CHAIR PAREIRA MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
DID YOU WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT FIRST? NOPE. GO AHEAD. AGENDA NUMBER EIGHT.
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER EIGHT BEFORE YOU.
AS REGARDING THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE POLICY.
[01:20:02]
LATER IN THE AGENDA, THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER ITEM NUMBER 12, WHICH INCLUDES A RECOMMENDATION TO INCREASE THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE BY $3 MILLION, WHICH WAS INCLUDED IN THE PRESENTATION EARLIER.THIS WOULD BRING THE BALANCE TO $42.1 MILLION AND IS 8.6 OF THE EXISTING POLICIES RANGE.
GENERAL FUND RESERVE POLICY RANGE TO INCREASE FROM 7 TO 9% TO 7 TO 12%.
WE ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. NOT REALLY QUESTIONS.
SO IF WE EXPAND THAT RANGE A LITTLE BIT, IT DOESN'T TAKE SPECIAL ACTION LATER.
I THINK IT'S KIND OF BEING OUT IN FRONT OF IT.
AND I'M IN FAVOR OF AMENDING THE POLICY FROM 7 TO 9 TO 7 TO 12%.
THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I AM IN FAVOR OF THIS AS WELL.
AND AS WE ALL NEGOTIATE AND DO WHAT WE DO.
THANK YOU. SO I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE POLICY, AND I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO SOCK AWAY AS MUCH MONEY AS WE CAN TO BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE POLICY IS FUNDAMENTAL AND THERE'S FIVE DIFFERENT RULES RESPOND STRATEGICALLY AND RESPONSIBLY TO THE CHALLENGES OF A CHANGING FISCAL ENVIRONMENT, MAINTAIN ADEQUATE FISCAL RESOURCES, MANAGE UNANTICIPATED COSTS, MITIGATE OPERATIONAL IMPACTS, AND DEMONSTRATE CREDIT WORTHINESS TO RATING AGENCIES.
AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE MOVING THIS NUMBER UP.
SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO YOU AS WELL.
I THINK WAS PREVIOUSLY I ALSO ASKED THAT IT'D BE HIGHER, BUT I GUESS IT WAS ONLY 9%.
SO WE IT WAS $31 MILLION FOR A LONG TIME.
AND SO WE'VE BEEN INCREASING IT AND PROTECTING OURSELVES FOR WHAT IS COMING, I ASSUME.
SO THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, I'LL SAY I TOO AGREE.
I MEAN, I DON'T THINK THERE'S AN ISSUE HAVING AN UPPER LIMIT THAT'S HIGHER.
HOWEVER, AT A LATER DATE, I LEARNED THAT WE HAD PULLED 11.5 MILLION OUT OF OTHER SPACES, RIGHT? SO REALLY THAT 18 MILLION WAS CLOSER TO SIX AND A HALF MILLION.
AND ANYWAYS, SO I DON'T WANT US TO LOSE SIGHT OF THAT AND PUT SO MUCH MONEY AWAY THAT WE STOPPED DOING SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I BELIEVE WERE WERE TASKED WITH DOING SO ANYWAYS.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
[01:25:04]
PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.DISTRICT PROJECT FUNDS ANNUAL ALLOCATION.
I WILL BE PRESENTING THIS ITEM.
SO AS MENTIONED EARLIER, AS PART OF THE BUDGET PRESENTATION, WE ARE RECOMMENDING TO REINSTATE THE DISTRICT PROJECT FUNDS PROGRAM STARTING IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR 2223.
AFTER FURTHER EVALUATING AND HAVING CONVERSATION WITH EACH OF THE BOARD MEMBERS.
SO YOUR STAFF FELT THAT THIS WAS THE BEST WAY TO REINSTATE AT A VERY MEASURED LEVEL AND OBVIOUSLY PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVISE IT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS GOING FORWARD BASED ON OUR FISCAL HEALTH AS AN ORGANIZATION.
WE ALSO HEARD THAT THERE WAS PERHAPS A DESIRE TO LOOK AT THE EXISTING POLICY THAT ALREADY PROVIDES PARAMETERS FOR HOW YOU UTILIZE THESE FUNDS AND THE PROCESS AT THE BOARD AND OBVIOUSLY COUNTY STAFF NEEDS TO GO THROUGH TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE.
SO WE ARE SEEKING MAYBE SOME DIRECTION FROM THE BOARD IN REGARDS TO IF THERE IS INTEREST TO MAYBE FORM A COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT THE POLICY OR SOME OTHER PROCESS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER IN THE REC STAFF.
AND BACK TO YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT IN THE PAST I HAVE NOT SUPPORTED THIS.
I CAN SEE WHERE IT DOES NEED TO BE TWEAKED, MAYBE IN SOME AREAS.
I GAVE IN A LOT BECAUSE JERRY TALKED ME INTO IT, BUT THAT'S HOW WE COME UP WITH GOOD POLICY, RIGHT? SO GOING FORWARD WITH THE POLICY WE HAVE IN PLACE, I CAN SUPPORT THIS RIGHT NOW WITH VISITING THE POLICY MEETING MAYBE AT A LATER DATE AND PUTTING A COMMITTEE TOGETHER TO GO FORWARD WITH THAT.
SO I AM IN SUPPORT OF THIS AS IT IS NOW.
THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA THANK YOU, CHAIR.
SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT IT'S BACK.
I CAN SUPPORT IT WITH THE CURRENT POLICY THAT'S IN PLACE.
BUT I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF SUPPORTING THIS AS IT IS TODAY WITH THAT EXISTING POLICY, BUT ALSO WANTING TO REVISIT IT AND MAYBE BRING BACK SOME POTENTIAL CHANGES TO THAT POLICY.
SUPERVISOR PEDROZO I WOULD AGREE, AND I THINK THAT HAVING A COMMITTEE WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO TALK ABOUT IT AND KNOWING JUST THE HISTORY AND HOW MUCH DARREN AND SUPERVISOR O'BANION WORKED ON THIS. I TRUST THEIR JUDGMENT AND I'M OKAY WITH THE POLICY.
THE POLICY IS A LITTLE VAGUE THOUGH, IN SOME PARTS.
AND SO I THINK IT WOULD BE IT'D BE BETTER FOR US TO GET TOGETHER AND WORK ON IT.
SO I WOULD NOMINATE SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL TO BE ON THAT COMMITTEE AGAIN AND GO FROM THERE.
SO THANK YOU. IS THAT A MOTION OR A SUGGESTION? YEAH. ALL RIGHT, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A LOT OF COMMUNITY NONPROFITS THAT REACHED OUT TO ME.
I TOLD THEM THAT I DIDN'T HAVE ANY FUNDS.
SO BUT I'M HOPEFULLY WE CAN DO SOME INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS FOR ANY OF THE COMMUNITIES IN MY DISTRICT SO THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO HELP THE RESIDENTS OF THE MUCH NEEDED COMMUNITIES.
SO THANK YOU. I WANT TO SHARE SOMETHING WITH MY COLLEAGUES.
[01:30:04]
THERE WAS A PREVIOUS SUPERVISOR THAT CHOSE TO ALLOCATE SOME MONEY TO WRAP THE TRANSFORMERS HERE IN THE CITY OF MERCED.AND TO ME THAT WAS A TERRIBLE USE OF THE TAXPAYERS MONEY.
IF SOMEBODY PERSONALLY WANTS TO WRAP A TRANSFORMER IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE THEY DRIVE BY IT ALL THE TIME AND WANT IT TO LOOK NICER, THEN THAT'S GREAT, RIGHT? I KNOW IN THE PAST THERE'S BEEN SUPERVISORS HAVE USED A FEW OF THE DOLLARS FOR SOMETHING THAT THE POLICY KIND OF REIGNED IN.
BUT IF SOMEONE COULD STILL USE THOSE DOLLARS TO DO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I BELIEVE ARE COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITIES, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US GO AHEAD AND FORM THAT COMMITTEE AND AND HAVE A TIGHTER POLICY BEFORE, YOU KNOW, BEFORE THE DOLLARS ARE SPENT.
I MEAN, I TRUST ALL OF YOU AND I KNOW YOUR PRIORITIES.
AND SO MAYBE IT'S OKAY, BUT I WANT US TO HAVE A DEFINITE OR I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A DEFINITE COMMITTEE AND THEY SHOULD BE GIVEN A DATE TO BRING A POLICY BACK SOONER RATHER THAN LATER AND SO I GUESS IF IF THAT WAS A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO TO APPROVE THE POLICY AND, AND WHICH INCLUDES HAVING AN AD HOC COMMITTEE TO COME BACK WITH A POLICY FOR THE FULL BOARD, THEN YOU KNOW, I CAN SUPPORT THAT.
I WOULD LIKE TO BE ON THE POLICY COMMITTEE AS WELL.
AND SO IF YOU ACCEPT THAT AS A.
YEAH. NO. AND I'LL, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE SET THAT AND THEN HAVE YOURSELF AND SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL ON THERE TO KIND OF PUT THIS TOGETHER.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF POSSIBLE AND I DON'T KNOW TIME FRAMES OR ANYTHING, BUT IF WE COULD AT LEAST HAVE IT DONE BY THE END OF THE YEAR, I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
[INAUDIBLE]. YEAH. I JUST LIKE I SAID, I JUST THINK THAT THE.[INAUDIBLE] YEAH, I THINK IT JUST NEEDS TO BE TIGHTENED UP A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THE CHAIRMAN WHAT YOU SAID IS CORRECT, THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT I KNOW THAT SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL ISSUE WITH IT BEFOREHAND WAS WOULD YOU CALL IT BRICKS AND STICKS? AND SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
BUT THEN, LIKE SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA SAID, THERE ARE A LOT OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND THAT COME TO US ASKING FOR MONIES AND THAT TYPE OF STUFF AND A LOT OF TIMES IT'S YOUTH PROGRAMS OR YOUTH ISSUES.
I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A COMMITTEE.
OKAY. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SO IT SEEMS WE'RE GOING TO SET UP A COMMITTEE.
BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS IF YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF THOUSAND DOLLARS WITH EVERYBODY, THAT'S BY THE CURRENT POLICY, EVERYBODY'S MONEY THAT'S SITTING ON THAT LIST RIGHT NOW STILL STAYS THERE. BUT THE NEW POLICY THAT WAS PUT BUT NEVER ACTUALLY WENT INTO EFFECT BECAUSE THE BOARD GOT RID OF THE 40,000 A YEAR.
I JUST DON'T LIKE I FEEL LIKE IT HOWEVER GOOD INTENDED IT WAS.
I THINK IT CAUSES MAYBE SOME BAD BEHAVIOR IN THAT.
I DON'T WANT TO LOSE IT BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND.
SO NOW I'M JUST GOING TO GO FIND WAYS TO GO OUT AND SPEND IT.
SO IT'S NOT GOING BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND THAT SHOULD BE ABLE TO STAY.
AND THEN SO THAT THE NEXT YEAR YOU GET YOUR 40,000 ALLOCATION AND MAYBE YOU DO A LITTLE BIT MORE.
AND WHAT I WOULD PREFER TO DO IS HAVE IT ALLOCATED TO A PROJECT, AND I KNOW THAT FALLS WITHIN THE POLICY, BUT IF THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN, THEN THERE'S THE POSSIBILITY THAT NOW YOU'RE JUST GOING OUT AND TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO SPEND IT BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
SO I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE TO POTENTIALLY THE TWO THAT ARE GOING TO BE ON THAT POLICY.
AND THAT'S BUT AS FAR AS THE STICKS AND BRICKS PIECE, I REALLY AGREE WITH IT.
[01:35:10]
THAT IT SHOULD BE USED ON.I MEAN, IT'S CALLED THE SMELL TEST, RIGHT? DOES IT PASS THE SMELL TEST IF IT'S ABOVE THE FOLD IN THE NEWSPAPER AND EVERYBODY READS IT AND THEY THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA, THEN IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA.
IF EVERYBODY READS IT AND THEY THINK IT'S A BAD IDEA, IT'S PROBABLY A BAD IDEA.
AND THAT'S WHAT I USE AS A JUDGE WHEN MAKING THESE DECISIONS.
SO THANK YOU, CHAIR. YOU'RE WELCOME.
PUSHED IT AFTER I PUSHED IT IN THERE.
SO THE DIRECTION TO THE SUPERVISORS MOTION IS TO FORM A COMMITTEE COMPRISED OF THE CHAIRMAN AND SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL TO LOOK AT THE EXISTING POLICY AND THEN BRING BACK AN ITEM FOR CONSIDERATION BEFORE THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S CORRECT.
I MEAN, THAT'S THE OTHER PIECE I DIDN'T HEAR THAT IN THE MOTION.
SO JUST WHAT. [INAUDIBLE] GOTCHA.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT.
OKAY. I'LL YOU KNOW, I'LL SHARE THAT THE WAY THAT THE DOLLARS WERE USED IN THE PAST WAS SOMETIMES THINGS THAT I FELT WERE NOT THE COUNTY'S RESPONSIBILITY OR THAT ALL THE TAXPAYERS SHOULDN'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO DO I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO DO A BOY SCOUTS PROJECT NOW, IF IT'S A COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT AND IT'S SOMETHING THEY'RE DOING FOR THE COUNTY, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT'S OKAY.
BUT IF IT'S GIVEN MONEY TO FUND A LITTLE LEAGUE TEAM TO PLAY.
I BELIEVE THAT'S UP TO THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE KIDS.
YOU KNOW, SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT NON-PROFITS, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S OKAY.
BUT IT SHOULD BE STUFF THAT EVERY TAXPAYER OR THE MAJORITY OF THE TAXPAYERS IN YOUR DISTRICT WOULD EITHER ENJOY OR, YOU KNOW, GET A BENEFIT FROM AND YOU KNOW AND WHAT IT DOES THE THING THAT I LIKED ABOUT IT, THE DISTRICT PROJECT FUNDS IN THE PAST WAS THAT THEY COULD BE USED FOR THINGS THAT I BELIEVE ARE COUNTY RESPONSIBILITY.
AND IF A SUPERVISOR IS HEARING FROM HIS CONSTITUENTS THAT, HEY, YOU KNOW, THIS WHATEVER IS BROKE AND WE WANT IT FIXED AND AND OF COURSE DPW IS GOING TO DO THAT, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A LONGER PROCESS, RIGHT, BECAUSE IT HAS TO FALL BEHIND THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT THEY'RE DOING.
BUT THE SUPERVISOR COULD MOVE IT UP IN PRIORITY.
RIGHT? THAT'S THAT'S KIND OF HOW I SEE IT.
AND SO ANYWAYS, JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT AS WELL.
SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND I KNOW WE TALK ABOUT THE NONPROFITS AND WHAT WE'RE GETTING INTO THAT ONE THING THAT I NOTICED, AND THAT WAS ONE OF OUR LONG DISCUSSIONS IN THE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ON THIS, BUT WHAT WE NOTICE A LOT OF THIS ALLOCATION WAS HAPPENING GOING TO NONPROFITS TO START NEW PROGRAMS. AND SO THESE ARE ONE TIME MONIES AND THESE PROGRAMS CAN'T CONTINUE.
AND SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE HANGARS THAT WE HAD DURING THAT COMMITTEE DISCUSSION.
HOW DO WE EXPAND ON THAT? AND MAYBE IT COULD BE DISTRICT SPECIFIC OR HOWEVER WE HAVE TO DO IT, BUT I THINK THAT'S THE DIRECTION THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE COMMITTEE AND THAT SO WE CAN EXPAND ON THAT AND MAKE IT WORK WITHIN WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE GOING ON INSTEAD OF REINVENTING THE WHEEL.
SUPERVISOR PEDROZO NO, AND I DON'T DISAGREE.
I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S ONE TIME FUNDS FOR THINGS LIKE THIS.
BUT WHEN I LOOK AT THE POLICY AND THEY LOOK AT HOW DOES IT ADD TO MERCED COUNTY, IT'S NOT JUST THE BUILDING, YOU KNOW, OF A FACILITY.
NOW, I'M NOT SAYING LIKE SPONSORING A LITTLE LEAGUE TEAM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I'M NOT GOING TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN.
[01:40:02]
AND SO I THINK BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO SAY, HEY, LIKE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, YOU DON'T REINVENT THE WHEEL, BUT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE KIND OF GIVING, HELPING, GIVING A HELPING HAND TO SAY, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WHAT'S AVAILABLE.THIS IS WHAT WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW.
BUT UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ONGOING FOREVER.
LIKE I'M NOT PAYING A SALARY, I'M NOT DOING ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BECAUSE I JUST KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF YOUTH PROGRAMS THAT ARE INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY THEM.
SO THAT'S JUST KIND OF WHY I BROUGHT THAT UP, THE YOUTH PROGRAMS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
MY MOTION, I'M GOING TO KEEP WITH MY MOTION BECAUSE AND I TRUST YOUR GUYS JUDGMENT.
I THINK WE JUST NEED TO CLEAN IT UP A LITTLE BIT.
AND I THINK HAVING YOU GUYS ON THERE WILL BE VERY BENEFICIAL.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION OR ANY OTHER DISCUSSION.
I DON'T SEE ANY OK WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND A SECOND BY.
WAS IT SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL? NO. I'LL SECOND.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
WE HAVE A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
I'LL GO OUT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME.
SEEING NONE THEN WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.
WE HAVE A MOTION, OF COURSE, RESTATED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
NEXT TO ITEM TEN PARK PROJECTS ANNUAL ALLOCATION.
WELCOME BACK, MR. HERTFELDER. GOOD MORNING AGAIN, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD DANA HERTFELDER DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AS PART OF FISCAL YEAR 2022 AND 2023, THE PARKS DIVISION OF PUBLIC WORKS IS REQUESTING TO ADD ONE PARK MAINTENANCE SPECIALIST AND ONE GROUNDS MAINTENANCE WORKER TO HELP US IMPROVE THE LEVEL OF MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP PROVIDED AT THE COUNTY PARKS.
AN ANNUAL ALLOCATION WILL ALLOW STAFF TO MAKE A MORE LONG TERM PLAN FOR PARK PROJECTS BASED UPON THE NEEDS AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PRIORITIES.
THE ALLOCATION OF PROJECTS WOULD BE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET EACH FISCAL YEAR.
THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP FOR A PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM TEN SEEING NONE THEN WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
YES, I AM IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM I THINK THAT THIS BOARD HAS SHOWN THAT WE HAVE A STRONG INTEREST IN OUR PARKS IN MERCED COUNTY AND REALLY TAKING. THERE WAS A LONG PERIOD OF TIME WHERE, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE MONEY GOT TIGHT, WE PROBABLY DIDN'T DO AS GOOD A JOB AS WE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THE PARKS.
AND I THINK THERE'S BEEN A COMMITMENT TO KIND OF REALLY REBUILD THAT BACK UP.
AND SO I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS 500,000 ANNUALLY, SO LONG AS WE CAN AFFORD IT, SO THAT IT GIVES THE PARKS STAFF KIND OF THE ABILITY TO PLAN AND DO SOME LONGER TERM PLANNING, BECAUSE NOT ALL THESE PROJECTS, AGAIN, ARE THE BIG SHINY MILLION AND $2,000,003 MILLION PROJECTS, UNLESS IT'S LIKE YOSEMITE.
BUT OTHERWISE IT'S THE LITTLE 10,000, 20,000 REPAIRS THAT NEED TO BE DONE.
AND SO I THINK THIS GIVES THEM A LITTLE FLEXIBILITY.
AND THEN ALSO IN THERE IS A GROUND MAINTENANCE WORKER AND A PARKS MAINTENANCE SPECIALIST.
AND SO THESE ALL COME AT A COST, A COST TO THE TAXPAYER.
I WILL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, I'M IN FAVOR OF AND GOING TO SUPPORT THIS, BUT I WILL BE WATCHING CLOSELY THAT THE TAXPAYERS GET A GOOD RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENT WITH THE NEW INVESTMENT THAT WE'RE PUTTING INTO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
WE BOUGHT SOME GROUND TO ADD A PARK IN SANTA NELA.
YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WE KEEP UP WITH THESE INVESTMENTS.
[01:45:06]
GOING TO BE COMMITTING INTO OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT AND I KNOW, DANA, I APPRECIATE BECAUSE THEY CALL ME AND THEN I CALL YOU AND BUT IT'S REALLY I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY.I THINK THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A LITTLE WHILE HERE.
WE NOW KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, AND NOW WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS IT WITH SOME SOLUTIONS.
SO THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AS THE ONLY MEMBER SITTING HERE WITHOUT A PARK IN MY DISTRICT, I AM IN SUPPORT OF THIS AND I AM PROUD OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO ACTUALLY PURCHASING LAND IN THE BEECHWOOD FRANKLIN AREA FOR THE HOPEFULLY THE NEWEST PARK IN MERCED COUNTY.
AND LIKE I SAID, WE NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON IT.
THANK YOU. MR. CHAIR. YOU'RE WELCOME.
SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I THINK MORE THAN THANKFUL TO STAFF AND PUBLIC WORKS OF UP KEEPING IN ALL MY DISTRICT, BUT ESPECIALLY IN PLANADA WITH ALL THE NEW PARK.
IT REQUIRES A LOT OF MAINTENANCE.
AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE CALLING ME REGARDING THE OTHER LITTLE ISLANDS THERE THAT I'VE CALLED PUBLIC WORKS ON THE, YOU KNOW, THE KNEE CARE. SO I THINK THAT, LIKE I SAY, EVERY DISTRICT NEEDS A LITTLE BIT MORE AND WE GET THE COMPLAINTS NOT JUST ON ROADS, BUT ALSO PARKS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO EVERYBODY, JUST LIKE SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL SAID.
AND DURING THE PANDEMIC, IT WAS TOUGH FOR EVERYBODY IS STILL TRYING TO RECOVER.
AND, YOU KNOW THEY NEED I WALK A LOT AND LIVINGSTON IN THE PARK THAT WE HAVE SO PARKS IS WHERE WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME SO THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING. WELL, THAT WAS IT.
YOU DID, GOAL ACCOMPLISHED? [LAUGHTER] YEAH, I.
YOU KNOW, I'LL SAY, YOU KNOW, I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I THINK, YOU KNOW, OUR CURRENT SYSTEM FOR TAKING CARE OF OUR PARKS ISN'T WHAT I THINK IT SHOULD BE.
AND SO I'M TRUSTING THE STAFF THAT THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS.
SO ANYWAYS, HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, STAFF TAKES IT AS SERIOUS COMMITMENT AS WE DO.
NO COMPLAINTS. WELL, I WOULDN'T SAY NO, BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE, BUT I MEAN.
ALL RIGHT. SO ANYWAYS, I HAVE A MOTION.
DID WE GO OUT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM NUMBER TEN SEEING NONE I'LL CLOSE.
PUBLIC COMMENT. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA MOVED AND SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL SECONDED.
I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
OKAY. WE HAVE A PRESENTATION OR.
ALL RIGHT. WHAT'S THE PLEASURE? I'LL GO OUT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME ON ITEM 11.
THAT'LL BRING CLOSED PUBLIC COMMENT.
WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
NEXT IS AUDITOR SCHEDULES ITEM 12.
I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 12 SEEING NONE.
I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE'LL GET BACK TO THE BOARD.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
I'LL PLEASE OR I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.
ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO VOTE? ALL RIGHT. YEAH.
ITEM 13 FISCAL YEAR 2022 2023, FINAL BUDGET ADOPTION.
[01:50:07]
ALL RIGHT, I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 13.THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. IN KEEPING WITH TRADITION, MY PREDECESSOR USED TO SAY, AND I BELIEVE IT AND WILL CONTINUE TO SAY IT, THAT STAFF GIVES US THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK ALL THE STAFF THAT WERE INVOLVED IN IT.
THIS IS DEPARTMENT HEAD FISCAL MANAGERS ALL THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE COUNTY, THE BUDGET OFFICE FOLKS.
I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS LIVE AND BREATHE THIS STUFF.
I THINK THAT NOT EVERYBODY GOT EVERYTHING THEY WANTED, BUT I THINK THAT WE MADE INVESTMENTS IN WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE THE RIGHT AREAS AND ARE REALLY TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. AND AGAIN, GOING BACK TO THESE ONCE IN A GENERATION MONEYS THAT HAVE COME IN FROM FROM THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THOSE TO TRY TO HELP AS MANY OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, AS MANY OF THE CITIZENS OF MERCED COUNTY AS POSSIBLE.
AND I THINK THAT EVERYBODY GOT A LITTLE BIT OF SOMETHING ON THIS.
AND SO I'M PROUD TO CALL TO BE A PART OF THIS BUDGET.
THANK YOU, MS. CHAIR. YOU'RE WELCOME.
AND I YOU KNOW, I GUESS I WANT TO AGAIN, I THANK YOU EARLIER BUT REALLY COMMEND YOU.
AND, YOU KNOW, SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THESE DEALS WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE SIT HERE AND, YOU KNOW, DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THEIR STAFFS AND US AND SO NOW THIS MONEY IS GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED.
RIGHT AND SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO SAY A THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY THAT'S NOT A PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, BUT THAT WORKS FOR THE COUNTY AND IT IS EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT WITH OUR MONEY.
AND, YOU KNOW, EVERY DAY THE EMPLOYEES OF THE COUNTY HAVE A CHOICE TO COME TO WORK AND TO BE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT WITH THEIR TIME OR TO NOT.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THE MAJORITY DO AND THAT'S AWESOME.
AND I JUST I WANT TO BE THANKFUL FOR EVERYBODY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, NO MATTER WHAT WE DO UP HERE, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT FACE OUR CONSTITUENTS ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS OR HELP THOSE IN NEED.
THOSE THAT WORK IN HSA CAN JUST SAY WE'RE SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW.
RIGHT. THESE ARE REAL ISSUES IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.
SO ANYWAYS, THAT'S MY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU.
SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO THANK STAFF AS WELL.
THIS IS AN A CAUTIOUS APPROACH AND I APPRECIATE THE CAUTION BECAUSE I THINK THAT IT REFLECTS A LOT OF OUR I MEAN, ALL OF OUR INPUT AND I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
YOU GUYS HAVE PUT A LOT OF HOURS IN IT AND IT IS MUCH APPRECIATED.
BUT I THINK MOVING FORWARD, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S BEFORE US.
AND I THINK THIS APPROACH IS DEFINITELY THE RIGHT WAY TO APPROACH IT.
SO AND A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES FOR ALL YOUR INPUT.
YOU CAN SEE ALL THE INPUT IN HERE FROM EVERYBODY.
SO TO ALL STAFF, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SUPERVISOR PEDROZO YEAH, I WANT TO ECHO WHAT I SAID EARLIER AND ECHO WHAT MY COLLEAGUES UP HERE SAID IS THAT, YOU KNOW, STAFF SPENDS A LOT OF TIME WORKING ON THIS BUDGET, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE COMMEND THEM FOR THAT.
AND SO THEY HAVE TO TAKE FIVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON HOW.
TO SPEND THIS MONEY OR HOW TO USE THIS MONEY AND GIVE US SOMETHING THAT'S BALANCED AND THEN GET ALL OF OUR OPINIONS AND PUT THEM TOGETHER TO WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER.
[01:55:04]
ISSUES. AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT WORK.AND SO TAKE A BIG SIGH OF RELIEF.
BUT ALSO I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES UP HERE AS WELL.
I THINK IT'S WE WORK YOU KNOW, WE JOKE BACK AND FORTH, BUT WE ALL UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE GOING.
AND LIKE I SAID EARLIER, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT OUR DISTRICTS.
IT'S ABOUT THE COUNTY OF MERCED.
AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN I GO TO THESE DIFFERENT CONFERENCES, IT'S REALLY INTERESTING TO HEAR THAT PEOPLE ASK ALL THE TIME, HOW DO YOU GUYS WORK SO WELL TOGETHER? LIKE, WHAT'S THE SECRET? I SAID, WELL, WE GENERALLY WE LIKE EACH OTHER.
I DON'T LIKE SCOTTIE, BUT I'M JUST KIDDING BUT WE WORK WELL TOGETHER BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO TALK TO EACH OTHER AND WE'RE ABLE TO GET STUFF DONE IN THAT REGARD. SO BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU GUYS STAFF VERY MUCH.
AND I THINK THAT THE STAFF DOES AN AMAZING JOB IN NOT ONLY SHOWING UP TO WORK AND SERVING THE COUNTY, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING THE INFORMATION, PREPARING US AND HELPING US SUCCEED IN OUR ROLES.
AND I THINK THAT ALSO STARTS WITH OUR CEO, WHO HE'S PROBABLY GOT THE TOUGHEST JOB UP HERE.
SO I WANT TO THANK HIM AND ALL OF OUR STAFF FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT THEY DO.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT GOES WITHOUT ME THAT I DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
WELL, I WANT TO THANK RAUL MENDEZ.
YOU KNOW, FIRST CEO FIRST BUDGET OF THE WITH US HERE AND EVERYBODY ON THE BUDGET TEAM, I THANK YOU FOR A GOOD JOB.
I THINK HE WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST BUDGETS WE HAD IN A LONG TIME.
BUT LIKE I SAY, IT'S I KNOW IT'S THE DOLLARS, BUT ALSO I WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR EVERY EMPLOYEE IN OUR COUNTY, EVEN THOUGH SOMETIMES WE'RE NOT ABLE TO MEET EVERYBODY.
AND RIGHT NOW, LIKE I SAID, IT'S HARD ON EVERYBODY RIGHT NOW WITH THE FEARS WITH WE DON'T GET THE SALARY THAT WE WANT EVERYBODY IN THIS COUNTY BUT AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH EVERYBODY TO MAKE IT THE BEST WE CAN.
AND LIKE SUPERVISOR PEDROZO SAID, WE DON'T AGREE WITH EACH OTHER ALL THE TIME.
BUT I THINK THAT, YES, I AGREE.
AND YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME TO REACH OUT TO ME.
REACH OUT TO ME. LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT PERFECT, BUT I WILL LISTEN AND TRY TO DO MY BEST.
YOU'RE WELCOME. WELL, GUYS, READY TO VOTE? YOU GOT A FIRST IN THE SECOND CHAIR.
ALL RIGHT. HOW DO YOU GUYS FEEL?
[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION]
[INAUDIBLE] BOARD REPORTS.ALL RIGHT, I'LL START TO MY RIGHT.
OH, LET ME GO ON DISCUSSION MODE HERE FIRST.
THANK YOU AGAIN. I DON'T KNOW IF I REPORTED ON SEPTEMBER 8TH.
I ATTEND A MAYTAG TOUR AS A FARMER.
I REPRESENT YOU KNOW, I'M ON THE MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT ADVISORY COMMITTEE TOUR, AND WE DID A TOUR OF THE ELECTRIC HYDRO PLANT UP NORTH AND IN THE HILLS THERE WITH LAKE MCCLURE AS WELL.
SO I ENJOYED THE TOUR VERY WELL WITH A LOT OF THE FARMERS AND WE WERE ABLE TO LOOK AT LAKE MCSWAIN, THE CROCKER HUFFMAN DIVERSION DAM, WHERE WATER IS DIVERTED DOWN THE CANALS, AND IT GOES ALL OVER THAT ONE GOES DOWN TO THE AREA IN DEL HYDE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, AND ANOTHER PLACE IS ALSO IN MERCER COUNTY.
[02:00:02]
SO I THINK THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, THE NEW SHAKER DAM AS WELL AND HOW LOW IT IS.YOU KNOW, IT WORRIES A LOT OF FARMERS ABOUT BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE WATER TO PROVIDE THE PRODUCTS FOR NOT JUST MERCED COUNTY, BUT LIKE I SAID, THE WHOLE WORLD.
SO WE FEED THE WORLD AS PART OF, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HERE IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO SEE THE OLD DAM THAT WAS BUILT IN THE TWENTIES.
AND THIS ONE, AS I UNDERSTAND, WAS BUILT IN THE SIXTIES.
AND SO BUT ALSO IT WAS A VERY LEARNING AND NICE EXPERIENCE TO SEE.
SO I WANT TO THANK MID AND ALL THE REPS THAT WERE THERE LET ME SEE HERE.
ALSO, I KNOW PUBLIC WORKS IS STILL HERE.
DANA YOU KNOW, THAT WAY WHEN THEY HAVE A SEPARATE CLEANUPS, IF THEY CAN DO ONE IN THE LA GRAND AND ONE AND THEN THE FALL CAN GO TO PLANADA SO THAT WAY THEY WERE ABLE TO WORK, GO TO ONE OR GO TO THE OTHER.
SO IT'S NOT AROUND THE SAME TIME.
WE ALSO JUST LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FIRST RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING WITH THE LE GRAND RECREATION COMMITTEE AND WILL BE A 5:00 PM AND THE MAC WILL BE MUNICIPAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE WILL BE AT 6:00 PM ON MONDAY, THE THIRD.
AND THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR PEDROZO THANK YOU.
I JUST WANTED TO I KNOW MYSELF, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THE PRESIDENT OF PORTUGAL, MARCELO RUBELLA DESOUZA, WITH A CERTIFICATE ON SUNDAY NIGHT AT DINNER, WHICH WAS A REALLY COOL EVENT.
AND HE WAS VERY HIS COMMENTS WERE VERY PROFOUND AND INTROSPECTIVE, AND I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO LISTEN TO WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.
AND THEN ALSO I ATTENDED THE SPIN LOVE EVENT LAST NIGHT AT UC MERCED AND THE SPIN LOVE.
THEY GIVE BACK TO SOMEBODY THAT'S PROVIDED SOMETHING TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO THE FIRST PERSON THAT EVER WAS RECEIVED THIS AWARD WAS CHARLES OGLETREE, A LONG TIME ATTORNEY FROM MERCED, WELL, LAST NIGHT THEY GAVE IT TO THE DALAI LAMA.
AND ALTHOUGH THE DALAI LAMA WASN'T ABLE TO SHOW TO COME THAT NIGHT, HE DID A VIDEO CONFERENCE, WHICH WAS REALLY COOL AND REALLY INTERESTING TO HEAR WHAT HE HAD TO SAY IN REGARDS TO, YOU KNOW, WORLD RELATIONS AND EVERYTHING.
I ALSO I KNOW WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME THANKING STAFF, BUT I DO WANT TO THANK DARLENE FOR MY WIFE IS A LIBRARIAN AT MERCED HIGH SCHOOL, AND MY WIFE IS VERY FOCUSED ON CIVIC ENGAGEMENT THIS MONTH.
AND SO WHAT SHE'S TRYING TO DO IS HELP STUDENTS PRE-REGISTER OR BE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO REGISTER WHEN THEY TURN 18 TO VOTE AND THAT TYPE OF STUFF. AND SO MY WIFE HAS BEEN PUTTING STUFF TOGETHER IN ORDER TO EXPLAIN TO THE STUDENTS WHAT'S IMPORTANT AND WHY THEY SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN THAT TYPE OF STUFF.
AND DARLENE WAS NICE ENOUGH TO TAKE THE TIME OUT OF HER DAY TO COME AND SPEAK TO OUR OR MY WIFE'S STUDENTS AND EXPLAIN TO THEM THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING AND BEING CIVICALLY ENGAGED.
AND SO I WANTED TO PUBLICLY THANK HER FOR THAT.
I KNOW IT MEANT A LOT TO MY WIFE.
AND THEN AS SOMEBODY THAT'S BEEN IN THIS.
JOB. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO STUDENTS WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET INVOLVED AND TO BE INVOLVED IN GOVERNMENT AND PAY ATTENTION. SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I, TOO, ATTENDED ON SUNDAY.
I WANT TO THANK MANUEL VIEIRA FOR INVITING TO INVITED US.
AND HE HOSTED A RECEPTION FOR THE PRESIDENT OF PORTUGAL AT HIS PLACE.
OUT IN LIVINGSTON WAS A GREAT EVENT.
AND IT'S NOT EVERY DAY THAT YOU GET TO HAVE DINNER WITH THE PRESIDENT OF A COUNTRY.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE POINTS THAT THE PRESIDENT HIT ON IS JUST REMEMBERING THAT.
[02:05:05]
AND YOU HAVE THESE POCKETS OF PORTUGUESE COMMUNITIES ALL OVER THE WORLD AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO THAT RELATIONSHIP TO THE COUNTRY OF PORTUGAL.SO, AGAIN, AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE.
I ATTENDED THE ICRC CONFERENCE.
WE LEFT IMMEDIATELY AFTER LAST MEETING, AND I CAN'T REMEMBER IF I WAS ABLE IF I ANNOUNCED IT, BUT I DID ATTEND THAT AGAIN, AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO NETWORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES, NOT ONLY FROM MY COUNTY, BUT ALSO OTHER COUNTIES UP AND DOWN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND ALL OF THEM IN THIS CASE BEING RURAL COUNTIES WHERE WE'RE ALL DIFFERENT, BUT WE ALL SHARE A LOT OF THE SAME CHALLENGES.
IT JUST KIND OF WANT TO RUN DOWN HERE AGAIN, THANKFUL TO ALL STAFF, ALL MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM, THAT IS MERCY COUNTY TO HIGHLIGHT, TO KIND OF TOUCH ON A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT MY COLLEAGUE SAID EARLIER.
IF I COULD JUST ASK YOU ONE QUESTION.
AS A MEMBER OF THE TEAM THAT IS MERCED COUNTY, IF YOU'RE EVER IN A POSITION TO SPEND THE COUNTY'S MONEY, JUST ASK YOURSELF, WOULD YOU PERSONALLY WRITE THAT CHECK? AND MY BELIEF IS THAT WAY MORE TIMES THAN NOT, BECAUSE THERE'S SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST NOT GOOD WITH MONEY AND ARE GOING TO MAKE BAD DECISIONS.
BUT FOR THE MOST PART THAT IF YOU ASKED YOURSELF, WOULD I PERSONALLY WRITE THAT CHECK, WHATEVER, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, AND YOU LOOK AT YOUR OWN PERSONAL FINANCES AND YOU SAY, YOU KNOW, I WOULD MAKE THAT SAME DECISION, I WOULD STILL WRITE THAT SAME CHECK IF IT WAS MY COMING OUT OF MY PERSONAL ACCOUNT.
I THINK THEN WE'RE GOING TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE.
AND REALLY, THEN I WILL REMIND YOU THAT IF YOU'RE WORKING FOR THE COUNTY OF MERCED SAID, I DON'T CARE IF YOU ARE THE CEO OR IF YOU'RE JUST AN EXTRA HELP WORKER IN ANY ONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS, YOU ARE PAYING TAXES.
IT IS YOUR MONEY THAT IS YOUR MONEY THAT YOU'RE SPENDING.
WE JUST GOT DONE PASSING A $1,000,000,057 MILLION BUDGET THAT ULTIMATELY EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM, EVERYBODY THAT'S WATCHING THIS, ANYBODY THAT WATCHES THIS TEN YEARS FROM NOW, AS LONG AS THEY ARE ALIVE, THEY WERE PART OF THEY HELPED TO RAISE THIS MONEY.
AND I TAKE THAT JOB SERIOUSLY.
SO IF I COULD ASK YOU TO DO THAT, I THINK THAT HELPS US GET TO IN MY MIND THAT THE 10% THAT WE SPEND IN GOVERNMENT DUE TO WASTE AND INEFFICIENCY, WE CAN HELP TRIM THAT NUMBER DOWN. SO IF YOU JUST PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE, WE JUST GOT DONE PASSING OVER BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET.
IF WE SPEND 10% DUE TO WASTE AND INEFFICIENCY IN GOVERNMENT, THAT'S $100 MILLION.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY ROADS WE COULD PAY FOR? $100 MILLION? DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PARKS WE COULD BUILD? DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY DO YOU KNOW WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR YOU KNOW, LISTEN, I GET IT.
I WANT TO IF WE HAD ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD, WE'D.
WE'D MAKE ALL OF OUR STAFF MILLIONAIRES, EVERYBODY THAT WORKS FOR THE COUNTY.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE THAT. BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT $100 MILLION THAT SPENT DUE TO WASTE AND INEFFICIENCY, WE CAN WE COULD WE COULD DEFINITELY BE ABLE TO AFFORD OUR EMPLOYEES MORE, PAY OUR EMPLOYEES MORE MONEY.
IF YOU'RE EVER IN A POSITION TO SPEND THE COUNTY'S MONEY, IT'S YOUR MONEY.
AND ASK YOURSELF, WOULD YOU PERSONALLY WRITE THAT CHECK? AND THEN I WANT TO JUST WALK THROUGH JUST KIND OF MY THANK YOU LIST TO OUR CEO WHO CAME INTO THIS PROCESS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP THROUGHOUT THIS.
I JUST IT'S YOUR FIRST BUDGET.
AND I WISH HIM NOTHING BUT THE BEST OF LUCK.
AND THEN I JUST WANT TO GO DOWN THE LIST WITH VANESSA AND SCOTT, DOCTOR IN THE BUDGET OFFICE, ALSO GREG, ADRIAN AND AMBER, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT LIVE AND BREATHE THIS DOCUMENT THAT IS.
AND THEN THEY HAVE TO GO INTO BRIEFINGS AND THEY HAVE TO LISTEN TO CRAZIES LIKE ME AND SAY, WELL, NO, WHAT ABOUT THIS? AND THEN EVERYTHING THAT THEY THOUGHT THAT WAS GOING WELL, THEN THINGS HAVE TO GET CHANGED.
AND SO I REALLY DO FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
I APPRECIATE YOU AGAIN, I WILL SAY IT ONE MORE TIME, IS THAT I'M PROUD OF THIS BUDGET.
I'M NOT IN ANY KIND OF DELUSION THAT IT'S GOING TO BE THIS BIG NEXT YEAR.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YOU'RE WELCOME.
SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I TOO DID ATTEND OUR CRC ANNUAL MEETING IN NAPA COUNTY.
THERE WAS A ROBUST ECONOMIC DISCUSSION.
WHO I HAVE TO SAY EVERY SLIDE MERCED COUNTY WAS IN THE TOP FOUR IN SUCCESSFUL.
AND THIS ISN'T JUST WHAT WE'VE ACHIEVED, BUT MOVING FORWARD.
[02:10:03]
THE BLUEPRINT THAT WE HAVE IN MERCY COUNTY RIGHT NOW GOING FORWARD IS LOOKING VERY POSITIVE ALL THE WAY.THE ECONOMIST HAD IT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO HOW MANY KIDS WE HAVE IN OUR SCHOOLS AT THIS TIME, BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE OLDER COUNTIES ARE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE RETIRING OUT OF THE BAY AREA, MOVING INTO THE COUNTY.
WELL, THERE'S NO KIDS TO HELP SUPPORT ANYWAY.
I WON'T GET INTO THE WEEDS ON THAT.
BUT I ALSO LAST WEEK I WAS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
I'M THE POLICY MEMBER ON THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY POLICY COUNCIL, AND WE WERE LOBBYING IN D.C.
I HAVE TO SAY, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER BEEN IN WASHINGTON, D.C., WHERE EVERY DEPARTMENT I WENT TO, THEY HAD SMILES ON THEIR FACE SAYING, WE HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY TO GIVE OUT. BUT WHEN WE GET IN THE WEEDS WITH THEM AND DISCUSSING IT, THEY HAVE NO IDEA HOW THEY'RE GOING TO HAND IT OUT.
THERE'S I'VE NEVER SEEN SO MUCH MONEY AVAILABLE FOR EVERY PROJECT.
I DID HAVE A ROBUST DISCUSSION WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.
THAT WAS ONE TASK THAT WE HAVE, ATWATER SAID EXPRESSWAY IS KIND OF BEEN RUNNING INTO.
THE MODELING THAT THEY HAVE IN PLACE CAN COMPLETELY HANDCUFFS US FROM MOVING FORWARD ON AM.
BUT THOSE HANDCUFFS THAT THEY HAVE ON US BY GETTING IT OUT TO COUNCIL, WE'RE ACTUALLY TRYING TO ACHIEVE EVERY GOAL THAT THEY'RE WANTING TO ACHIEVE OUT AT CASTLE BY PUTTING GETTING TRUCKS OFF THE ROAD AND GETTING OUR AG PRODUCTS ONTO THE RAIL, THE ELECTRIC VEHICLES, THE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE TESTING EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON AT CASTLE AS WELL AS UC MERCED IN THE NORTH ENTRANCE INTO UC MERCED, CHECKS EVERY BOX THAT THE EPA'S BIG GOALS ARE. BUT THEIR PARTICULAR MODELING OF THE ROAD ITSELF, THEY'RE SAYING, SHOULDN'T EXIST.
SO WITH THAT, IT WAS DEFINITELY A SUCCESSFUL TRIP TO D.C.
I'M JUST AFRAID FROM ALL THOSE OTHER DEPARTMENTS WE'RE GOING TO SEE A WHOLE LOT MORE BUREAUCRACY AND A LOT OF THE MONEY YOU SEE IN ALLOCATED TO COME TO US LOCALLY WILL ACTUALLY BE GOING TO BUREAUCRATS DISTRIBUTING THE MONEY TO US.
MR. O'MALLEY. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YES. JUST VERY BRIEFLY, I WANTED TO JUST MAKE SOME COMMENTS REGARDING THE SUPPORT APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF THE BOARD.
OBVIOUSLY, TODAY IS OUR SUPER BOWL.
AND AS INDICATED BY SOME OF YOUR COMMENTS, YOU KNOW EXACTLY.
YOU KNOW THAT THE DEPARTMENTS ARE VERY WELL STAFFED WITH TALENTED INDIVIDUALS.
OBVIOUSLY, AS PART OF THE BUDGET PREPARATION, THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE INVOLVED, WHETHER IT'S LEADERSHIP TEAMS OR BUDGET STAFF OR HUMAN RESOURCE STAFF. BUT CERTAINLY I THINK IT'S NICE TO RECOGNIZE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE DOING THE WORK AS WE HAVING CONVERSATION.
RIGHT. BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
AND NOW WE CAN ACTUALLY GET TO WORK.
SO APPRECIATE IT, MR. CHAIR, JUST SHORT AND BRIEF TODAY.
THE ROLE GETS TO 39 RURAL COUNTIES AND SO THEIR ISSUES AND PROBLEMS ARE VERY SIMILAR TO OURS.
BUT ANYWAYS, YOU KNOW, BUT IT JUST IT FELT GOOD.
AND THEY PROVIDED THE STAFF AND THE EXECUTIVE TEAM PUT TOGETHER A GOOD PRESENTATIONS FOR US.
AND SO I CAME HOME FEELING MORE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT GOING FORWARD AND SO WANTED TO SHARE THAT.
THE MERCED COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS HAS SENT OUT A JPA RENEWAL AGREEMENT AND SO WE WORKED REALLY HARD. WE HAD A WORKSHOP LAST FALL, A LOT OF BOARD INPUT AND SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT COME UP ON OUR OCTOBER 18TH AGENDA IF IT'S
[02:15:05]
POSSIBLE. I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE AG DOES A LOT OF GOOD WORK AND WE WANT TO KEEP THAT JPA GOING.I ATTENDED THE MANUFACTURING COUNCIL OF CENTRAL VALLEY, HAD A RECEPTION AND I GOT INVITED NOT BECAUSE IT WAS IN MY DISTRICT, WHICH IT WAS, IT WAS AT HILMAR CHEESE, BUT BECAUSE I SERVED ON THE AIR DISTRICT BOARD ON BEHALF OF THIS BOARD.
AND YOU KNOW, I'LL JUST SHARE THAT THEY'RE VERY HAPPY WITH THE WAY THAT THE APPROACH IS FROM THE SILICON VALLEY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT THAT, YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE REGULATED AND THEY HAVE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE TO COMPLY WITH, THEY FELT LIKE THE STAFF WAS FAIR AND EQUITABLE AND AND LOOKED AT DOING THE BEST THEY COULD WITH WHAT THEY HAD.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT.
I HAD TO ATTENDED THE DINNER AT MANUEL VERA'S HOUSE WITH THE PRESIDENT OF PORTUGAL.
AND AND IT WAS A HUMBLING EXPERIENCE.
HE, YOU KNOW, AT ONE TIME, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL KNOW, BUT PORTUGAL WAS A WORLD POWER AND HAD, YOU KNOW, HAD REALLY PORTUGUESE COMMUNITIES ALL OVER THE WORLD. AND, YOU KNOW, AND SINCE THEN IT'S KIND OF SHRUNK BACK.
RIGHT. IT'S MORE OF A REGIONAL POWER IF YOU WANT TO STRETCH IT A BIT AND SO HE CAME AND ASKED JUST YOU KNOW FOR THOSE THAT ARE AND THE ELECTEDS THAT WERE THAT HAD PORTUGUESE HERITAGE WERE THE ONES INVITED IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY AND HE WAS HUMBLED.
DIALOG AND COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN US AND THE PORTUGUESE GOVERNMENT.
AND SO IT WAS KIND OF AN OLIVE BRANCH OUTREACH, I FELT.
AND I HAVE A COUSIN THAT'S THE MAYOR OF OAKDALE AND WE DON'T SEE EACH OTHER VERY OFTEN.
WE SIT TOGETHER AT THE TABLE AND SO IT WAS FUN TO CATCH UP.
A COMMUNITY OF 300 PEOPLE HAVE SUCH A BIG EVENT AND DO SO WELL AND DEEP PIT DINNER WAS GREAT.
SO ANYWAYS, WITH THAT I SEE NOTHING ELSE TO COME BEFORE THE MEETING AND WE WILL CALL THIS
ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.