Oct 04, 2022 Board Meeting

GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE OCTOBER 4TH MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

[00:00:07]

AT THIS TIME. WE'LL DO THE INVOCATION BY [INAUDIBLE], AND THEN WE WILL HAVE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY MR. MENDEZ. IF THAT'D BE OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, CHAIR, CEO, LEGAL COUNSEL.

I THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

LET US PRAY. DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE EXALT YOU AND LOOK TO YOU AS OUR FATHER THAT LOVES AND SUPPORT US.

LORD, WE ASK YOU NOW TO GUIDE THIS MEETING AND THOSE THAT YOU HAVE BLESSED US WITH.

MAY THE GUIDANCE SUPPORT THIS COMMUNITY SO THAT YOUR WILL MAY BE DONE? LORD, WE ESPECIALLY ASKED TODAY FOR THE PROTECTION AND THE CARE OF THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN KIDNAPED.

LORD, WE ASK THAT YOU KEEP THEM SAFE AND IN YOUR LOVING CARE AND RETURN THEM HOME TO US.

LORD, WE ASK THAT YOU WATCH OVER ALL THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN VICTIMS IN VIOLENCE AND TRAUMA.

MAY YOU SHOW THEM YOUR LOVING CARE AND PROTECTION.

LORD, MAY THIS PRAYER BE AN HONOR AND GLORY TO YOU.

WE ASK THIS IN YOUR NAME OF YOUR SON, OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.

AMEN. AMEN.

READY TO BEGIN? THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

AMEN. THANK YOU, SHARON.

AND THANK YOU ROLE.

[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK]

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR NON AGENDA ITEMS. GOOD MORNING SUPERVISORS, RICK WENDLING, MERCED.

$1,000,000,000 AS I HEAR IS WHAT THE BUDGET'S COMING UP THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND.

HOWEVER, THE ROADS ARE BAD.

THE JAILS ARE BAD, HOMICIDES ARE UP, ROBBERIES ARE UP.

TAXES ARE UP.

BAD BEHAVIOR IN THE SCHOOLS IS UP.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE COSTS ARE UP.

SO WHAT HAS IMPROVED SINCE YOUR BUDGET WAS UNDER $1,000,000,000? I DON'T SEE ANYTHING.

SO WHAT GOOD IS A CONSTITUTION IF YOU DON'T OBEY IT? HOUSING IS NOT A RIGHT.

HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH COMMUNITY IN THE, I'M SORRY, IN THE COMMUNITY IS DETERIORATING AND YOUR MENTAL YOUR HEALTH OFFICER COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER IS NOT WILLING TO DISCUSS THE ISSUES.

THE MAIN ISSUE THAT'S BEEN BOTHERING EVERYBODY FOR THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS.

YOUR PROGRAMS ARE FINANCED BY FEDERAL AND STATE DEFICIT SPENDING, WHICH CAUSES THE INFLATION, WHICH HURTS THE VERY PEOPLE THAT YOU ALL SAY THAT YOU WISH TO HELP.

IT'S A LOSING PROPOSITION IF YOU DON'T SPEND THE MONEY PROPERLY AND WISELY.

SO I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO ACT CONSTITUTIONALLY.

I JUST WISH YOU WOULD.

THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE.

NOPE. WELL, AT THIS TIME, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE'LL MOVE TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA CALENDAR.

[CONSENT CALENDAR]

PLEASE NOTE THAT ITEMS ONE THROUGH FOUR AND 12 AND 13 REQUIRE A 4/5 VOTE.

ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS ONE THROUGH 18.

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CEO MENDES.

IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE THIS MORNING.

MY NAME IS PAULA FRANCO.

I'M THE MERCED COUNTY LONG TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN COORDINATOR HERE TODAY TO HIGHLIGHT BOARD AGENDA ITEM NUMBER NINE ON THE PROCLAMATION OF RESIDENT RIGHTS.

OCTOBER IS RESIDENT RIGHTS MONTH, AN ANNUAL EVENT THAT RECOGNIZES THE RESPECT, DIGNITY AND RIGHTS TO WHICH ALL RESIDENTS OF LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES ARE ENTITLED.

BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS REQUIRE NURSING HOMES TO HAVE WRITTEN POLICIES THAT COVERS THE RIGHTS OF RESIDENTS.

[00:05:07]

OKAY. SORRY. ANY PERSON REQUIRING NURSING HOME CARE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ENTER THE NURSING HOME AND RECEIVE APPROPRIATE CARE.

BE TREATED WITH COURTESY AND ENJOY CONTINUED CIVIL AND LEGAL RIGHTS.

THESE RIGHTS INCLUDE DIGNITY, RESPECT, AND A COMFORTABLE LIVING ENVIRONMENT.

QUALITY OF CARE AND TREATMENT WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION.

FREEDOM OF CHOICE TO MAKE ONE'S OWN INDEPENDENT DECISIONS.

THE SAFEGUARD OF ONE'S PROPERTY AND MONEY.

SAFEGUARDS AND ADMISSION TRANSFER AND DISCHARGE.

PRIVACY AND COMMUNICATIONS.

PARTICIPATE IN ORGANIZATIONS AND ACTIVITIES OF ONE'S CHOICE AND EASY TO USE AND RESPONSIVE COMPLAINT PROCEDURE.

AND EXERCISE ALL OF ONE'S RIGHTS WITHOUT FEAR OF REPRISAL.

FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, THE MERCED COUNTY LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM HAS BEEN PROCLAIMING RESIDENT RIGHTS MONTH AS AN IMPORTANT TIME TO NOT ONLY HELP BRING AWARENESS TO OUR COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THIS ANNUAL EVENT WITH OUR RESIDENTS AND LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES.

THIS YEAR, WE WILL BE HONORING THE THEME OF INSPIRING UNITY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE ASK THAT OUR COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER, FOCUS ON AND CELEBRATE AWARENESS OF DIGNITY, RESPECT AND THE RIGHTS OF EACH RESIDENT.

RESIDENT RIGHTS AND CHOICE ARE PARAMOUNT TO THE MISSION OF OUR LONG TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM BECAUSE WE CONTINUE PROVIDING RESIDENT CENTERED SERVICES AND PROMOTE EMPOWERMENT TO RESIDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

ADDITIONALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK OUR OMBUDSMAN REPRESENTATIVES THAT INVEST THEIR TIME AND INTERESTS ON THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN LONG TERM CARE SETTINGS.

OUR OMBUDSMAN REPRESENTATIVES WORK DILIGENTLY TO RESOLVE PROBLEMS AFFECTING RESIDENTS, HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE AND RIGHTS TO ENSURE THAT WE HELP PROTECT AND PROMOTE RESIDENT RIGHTS INTO OUR DAILY WORK.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON RESIDENT RIGHTS AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT COMMUNITY RESOURCES, INDIVIDUALS MAY CONTACT THEIR LOCAL OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM AT 209.385.7402. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

MY NAME IS MARION PITT. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE MANUFACTURERS COUNCIL OF THE CENTRAL VALLEY.

AND I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE AGENDA ITEM RELATIVE TO THE PROCLAMATION OF MANUFACTURERS MONTH FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER.

WE JUST WANT TO THANK YOU.

WE HAVE MANY MEMBERS.

I THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE ONE, BUT TODAY IS THERE HAVE AN OPERATIONAL ISSUES OUT IN VOLTA TODAY.

AND SO WE JUST LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF MANUFACTURING AND WHAT IT DOES IN TERMS OF JOB CREATION AND THE MULTIPLIER OF THREE AND ONE HALF TIMES OF WHAT IT PROVIDES TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

AND SO WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PROCLAIMING OCTOBER AS MANUFACTURING MONTH AND GIVING ME A MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT THE THE COOPERATIVE OR EXCUSE ME RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE WITH MERCED COUNTY.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU'RE WELCOME. OH, YOU'RE GOING TO GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK WHEN WE DO THE PROCLAMATIONS.

YES. ALL RIGHT.

ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT, I'LL BRING THAT CLOSE.

I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT, SUPERVISOR PEDROZO? THANK YOU. I JUST.

HIT IT AGAIN. NOW WATCH IT.

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

OKAY. SORRY.

ALL RIGHT. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER 17.

THE THE 4H PROCLAMATION.

I THINK THAT IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE STUFF THAT THEY PROVIDE FOR THE YOUTH.

AND WHEN PEOPLE LOOK AT 4H, THEY THINK THAT IT'S ONLY ABOUT AG AND THAT TYPE OF STUFF FOR FARMING.

BUT THERE'S SO MUCH MORE LEADERSHIP INVOLVED AND THERE'S OTHER SKILLS THAT ARE TAUGHT IN THAT I WAS INVOLVED IN 4H, MY KIDS ARE INVOLVED IN 4H. I THINK SCOTTY'S KIDS WERE HE WAS INVOLVED IN 4H I'M PRETTY SURE LLOYD WAS AS WELL.

AND SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THE CHAIRMAN BROUGHT THAT UP BECAUSE IT'S A IT'S A GREAT ORGANIZATION.

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO ON SUNDAY TO WITNESS SOME OF THE KIDS GET THEIR AWARDS AND IT WAS REALLY COOL TO SEE THEM AND HOW HAPPY THEY WERE AND TO SEE HOW HARD, HOW HARD THEY WORKED TO GET THOSE AWARDS.

[00:10:08]

SO THANK YOU. SORRY.

I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

NO WORRIES. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

A MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

[Adopt a Proclamation declaring October 2-8, 2022 as “4-H Week” in Merced County.]

AND THE FIRST ONE THAT I'M GOING TO DO IS FOR 4H AND SO JOSIE CAMPUS, WOULD YOU COME UP AND DO YOU HAVE ANYBODY ELSE WITH YOU? OUR OFFICE ASSISTANT, PASCO CORTEZ.

ALL RIGHT. HI, CRYSTAL.

COME ON UP. WE'RE IN THE FRONT ROW.

RIGHT OVER HERE IN THE MIDDLE.

YOU KNOW, I WILL TELL YOU, AS SUPERVISOR PEDROZO MENTIONED, MANY OF US WENT THROUGH THE 4H PROGRAM.

AND I BELIEVE WHAT WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF 4H IS PIGS AND GOATS AND COWS.

AND AND IT CERTAINLY IS THAT.

AND AND THOSE PROJECTS TEACH KIDS RESPONSIBILITIES HOW TO BE RESPONSIBLE, HOW TO TAKE CARE, HOW TO HAVE EMPATHY FOR SOMETHING ELSE.

RIGHT. IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S DARK AND YOU'RE TIRED AND YOU DON'T WANT TO GO OUT AND FEED, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU FORCE YOURSELF TO OR THE PARENTS TEACH THEM THAT YOU HAVE TO.

AND AND SO THEY LEARN, YOU KNOW, THAT TO THINK OUTSIDE THEMSELVES.

AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THE LEADERSHIP SKILLS THAT ARE TAUGHT AND WORKING TOGETHER, TEAMWORK, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF SIMILAR THINGS THAT YOU FIND IN SPORTS, BUT JUST MORE WITH THE LEADERSHIP FOCUS VERSUS SCORING A RUN OR A GOAL FOCUS.

AND SO IT'S MY HONOR TO PROCLAIM OCTOBER OR THIS WEEK NATIONAL 4H WEEK.

WHEREAS 4H IS AMERICA'S LARGEST YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION, HAVING SUPPORTED ALMOST 6 MILLION YOUTH ACROSS THE COUNTRY THUS FAR.

AND. WHEREAS, 4H HAS HELPED THOUSANDS OF YOUTH AND MERCED COUNTY TO BECOME CONFIDENT, INDEPENDENT, RESILIENT AND COMPASSIONATE LEADERS.

AND. WHEREAS, 4H IS DELIVERED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, A COMMUNITY OF MORE THAN 100 PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE NATION THAT PROVIDE EXPERIENCES WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE LEARN BY DOING AND HANDS ON PROJECTS IN AREAS INCLUDING HEALTH, SCIENCE, AGRICULTURE, CITIZENSHIP. AND.

WHEREAS, CALIFORNIA 4H IS DELIVERED BY UNIVERSITY EXTENSION STAFF, THE RESEARCH AND OUTREACH ARM OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVISION OF AG AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

WHEREAS NATIONAL 4H WEEK SHOWCASES THE INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCES THAT FOUR OFFERS TO YOUNG PEOPLE AND HIGHLIGHTS THE REMARKABLE 4H YOUTH AND ADULT VOLUNTEERS IN MERCED COUNTY WHO WORK EACH DAY TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THOSE AROUND THEM.

WHEREAS 4H IS A NETWORK OF 600,000 VOLUNTEERS AND 3500 PROFESSIONALS PROVIDE CARING AND SUPPORTIVE MENTORING TO ALL 4HERS, HELPING THEM TO GROW INTO TRUE LEADERS, ENTREPRENEURS AND VISIONARIES, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, WE, THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 2ND-8TH, 2022 AS NATIONAL 4H WEEK THROUGHOUT MERCED COUNTY, AND ENCOURAGE ALL OF OUR CITIZENS TO RECOGNIZE MERCED COUNTY 4H.

FOR THE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IT HAS MADE IN THE 105 YEARS AND CONTINUES TO MAKE BY EMPOWERING YOUTH WITH SKILLS THEY NEED TO LEAD FOR A LIFETIME.

SO, JOSE, I'LL GIVE YOU THIS PROCLAMATION AND I'LL SHAKE YOUR HAND.

AND ARE YOU ALL RIGHT? AND THEN WOULD YOU SAY A FEW WORDS, PLEASE? YES. IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE THIS MORNING.

THANK YOU. BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CEO MENDEZ.

THE LAND GRANT UNIVERSITY DOES A LOT OF RESEARCH, AND BECAUSE WE ARE UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THE UC LOCALLY, THE MERCED COUNTY 4H EXISTS UNDER THE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION. WE ARE CONSTANTLY DELIVERING POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, PROVIDING OPTIONS FOR OUR YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGES OF FIVE AND NINE. BUT OUR PROGRAM IS BASICALLY LED BY A KEYWORD THAT SUPERVISOR PAREIRA MENTIONED VOLUNTEERS.

ADULT VOLUNTEERS HAVE A PASSION TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, GIVE BACK TO OUR YOUTH, PROVIDE THEM WITH THAT CONFIDENCE AND EXPLORATION OF THEIR POTENTIAL SO THAT THEY

[00:15:03]

AND THAT IS OUR MISSION IS TO CONSTANTLY ENGAGE OUR YOUTH IN SOMETHING POSITIVE, HELP THEM TURN THINGS AROUND, OR PROVIDE THEM A PATHWAY TO HIGHER EDUCATION AS A HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION.

THAT IS OUR CLEAR, CLEAR PATH.

AND WE DO COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS FROM TIME TO TIME.

BUT AGAIN, WE ENCOMPASS A BROAD RANGE OF LIFE, SKILL AND EXPLORATION.

IT'S NOT JUST AG BASED, ALTHOUGH IT IS SUPPORTED, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT GREATLY, ESPECIALLY BEING IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY.

BUT THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR FOR ACKNOWLEDGING US.

AND IT IS NATIONAL 4H WEEK.

SO IF YOU SEE WINDOW DISPLAYS OUT AND ABOUT IN RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES WITH FOUR LEAF SHAMROCKS, THAT IS BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITY WANTS, OUR 4H CLUBS WANT THAT VISIBILITY AND APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT LOCALLY.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

MARIN, WOULD YOU COME UP?

[Adopt a Proclamation declaring October 2022 as “Manufacturing Month” in Merced County.]

OOH, I SHOULD PUT MY GLASSES ON.

I COULD READ IT, BUT I'D HAVE A HEADACHE BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE BOTTOM.

SO. AND IS IT OKAY IF I DON'T READ IT ALL? YEAH, BUT, YOU KNOW, MERCED COUNTY, YOU KNOW, HAS BEEN VERY BLESSED TO BE AN AGRICULTURAL BASED COUNTY.

AND MOST OF THE MANUFACTURING THAT HAPPENS IN MERCED COUNTY IS AROUND THAT INDUSTRY.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, RIGHT, AS IS FOR US, THAT, YOU KNOW, THE COMPANIES THAT YOU REPRESENT HAVE LOCATED HERE.

YOU KNOW, SOME OF THEM ARE HOMEGROWN THAT STARTED HERE AND THEN OTHERS AREN'T.

YOU KNOW, THEY CHOSE TO BE IN MERCED COUNTY.

AND SO WE WANT TO BE A BUSINESS FRIENDLY COUNTY, AND WE WORK HARD TO HELP THE BUSINESSES GO THROUGH THE PERMITTING PROCESS AND ALL THAT.

AND AND WE DO THAT BECAUSE WE APPRECIATE ALL THE JOBS THAT THEY BRING TO MERCED COUNTY AND THE TAX REVENUES THAT ALLOWS US TO DO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND WOULD YOU JUST SAY A FEW WORDS THAT KIND OF I KNOW YOU GAVE PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT JUST A FEW MORE.

SHE'S PRETTY TALKATIVE.

OH, YOU'RE ONTO ME, LLOYD.

YES, THE MANUFACTURERS COUNCIL, THE CENTRAL VALLEY REPRESENTS MANUFACTURERS PRIMARILY AND MERCEDES STANISLAUS AND SAN JOAQUIN COUNTIES.

MANY OF THEM ARE FOOD BASED MANUFACTURERS, ALTHOUGH WE ALSO HAVE PLASTICS, PACKAGING, PETROLEUM AND A FEW OTHERS.

BUT WE WERE CREATED 31 YEARS AGO WHEN THE AIR DISTRICT, THE COUNTY AIR DISTRICTS CONSOLIDATED AND BECAME THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT AND THE VALLEY WATER BOARD.

AND OUR FOCUS IS THREEFOLD.

ONE IS PRIMARILY ON AIR AND WATER REGULATIONS, AND THE OTHER PIECE IS ON THE REGULATORY CLIMATE AND THEN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

AND SO WE'RE INVOLVED IN ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND ALL THREE COUNTIES, AND WE APPRECIATE VERY MUCH THE SUPPORT OF THE MERCED GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE, AS WELL AS THE BOARD AND THE BOARD'S REPRESENTATION ON THOSE REGIONAL GOVERNING BOARDS AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE RECOGNITION.

THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.

YOU KNOW, I'LL JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO SHARE.

SO, MARIN TOUCHED ON THE AIR DISTRICT, AND I SERVE.

I'M THE MERCED COUNTY'S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT, AND SINCE IT WAS FORMED 31 YEARS AGO.

SO. SO YOU THINK OF POLLUTION AS STATIONARY.

SO THOSE ARE OUR SITES, THOSE ARE BUSINESSES, PAINT SHOPS, WHATEVER.

AND THEN YOU ALSO HAVE MOBILE SOURCES.

AND THE MOBILE SOURCES ARE BASICALLY TRUCKS AND CARS THAT RUN RUN THROUGH OUR VALLEY.

AND THE MANUFACTURERS.

RIGHT. THE FOLKS THAT THAT WE HAVE JURISDICTION OVER HAVE REDUCED THEIR POLLUTION BY 85% IN THAT TIME PERIOD.

AND, YOU KNOW, MY YOU KNOW, OF COURSE WE HAVE METERS THAT THAT THAT TEST ALL THAT RIGHT ON A DAILY BASIS AND WE HAVE REQUIREMENTS TO TO STAY UNDER.

BUT I LIVE OUT TOWARD SNELLING AND I CAN SEE HALF DOME IN YOSEMITE ON A CLEAR DAY.

AND WHEN I WAS A KID, RIGHT UP INTO MY EARLY TWENTIES, I COULD ONLY SEE HALF DOME RIGHT AFTER A STORM, RIGHT ONCE THE POLLUTION HAD ALL BEEN BLOWN OUT OF THE VALLEY.

AND TODAY I SEE HALF DOME REGULARLY.

WELL, NOT DURING GOLDEN HARVEST, BUT YOU KNOW.

BUT, BUT GENERALLY. RIGHT.

AND SO I KNOW PERSONALLY THAT THAT THERE IS LESS SMOG IN THE AIR AND THEN OUR METERS VERIFY THAT AND AND SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MANUFACTURERS AND MERCED COUNTY FOR REDUCING THEIR EMISSIONS BY 85%.

THAT'S NO SMALL FEAT AND IT'S VERY COSTLY.

RIGHT. WHICH I GUESS WE ALL PAY FOR IN THE COST OF HIGHER PRICES FOR FOOD.

[00:20:02]

SO THANK YOU. AND

[Adopt a Proclamation declaring October 2022 as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month” in Merced County.]

YES. YES.

WE'LL DO THEM TOGETHER.

SO WE JUST VOTED TO PROCLAIM OCTOBER AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.

AND SO WE'VE ASKED VALLEY CRISIS TO BE HERE BECAUSE THEY DO A LOT OF GOOD WORK IN MERCED COUNTY AND BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THEIR WORK. RIGHT. HELPING PEOPLE AND KEEPING IT UNDER THE RADAR SO THAT WHOEVER MIGHT BE ABUSING THEM DOESN'T REALLY KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.

AND AND THEY DON'T REALLY GET THE RECOGNITION THAT I BELIEVE THEY DESERVE.

I WENT TO THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING SUMMIT THAT THEY HAD.

IT'S BEEN FOUR, FOUR MONTHS AGO OR SO NOW.

AND ANYWAYS AND SO JUST TO SEE ALL THE GOOD WORK, RIGHT THERE WAS PEOPLE THERE THAT SPOKE ON WHAT THEY DID.

AND AND IT IS REALLY AMAZING.

AND SO WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THE VALLEY CRISIS CENTER TO BE HERE.

AND, YOU KNOW, I GUESS I WON'T READ THE WHOLE PROCLAMATION EITHER.

I LEARNED A LESSON WHEN I DID 4H.

BUT YOU KNOW, THESE ARE FOLKS THAT NEED HELP, RIGHT? AND OFTENTIMES THEY'RE HERE WITHOUT FAMILY, RIGHT? PEOPLE THAT MOVE TO A COMMUNITY AND THEY DON'T HAVE THAT SUPPORT SYSTEM.

AND AND AND SOME DO.

AND THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM.

RIGHT. AS WELL. AND SO JUST THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S VERY VALUABLE TO THE PEOPLE YOU'RE HELPING, BUT IT'S ALSO VALUABLE TO THE REST OF US BECAUSE ANYBODY COULD BE IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES AT ANY GIVEN TIME AND TO KNOW THAT THAT SYSTEM IS IN PLACE TO CARE FOR PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF ON THEIR WORST DAY.

WELL, NOT THE WORST DAY, BECAUSE GENERALLY IT'S A WORST SEASON OF THEIR LIVES.

SO THANK YOU. AND WOULD YOU SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT YOU DO AND YOUR NAME? YEAH, SURE. THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.

THANK YOU. AND SO MY NAME IS LUPE GARCIA.

I AM THE NEW PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR VALLEY CRISIS CENTER.

AND IN HONOR OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MONTH, WE ARE INVITING EVERYBODY TO OUR NEW OFFICE WHERE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EXPAND OUR SERVICES.

AND SO AT VALLEY CRISIS CENTER, WE PROVIDE SERVICES THROUGH EMERGENCY RESTRAINING ASSISTANCE, EMERGENCY SHELTER ADVOCACY COUNSELING TO APPROXIMATELY 900 SURVIVORS AND VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PER YEAR.

AND THAT'S LIKE A ROUGH NUMBER.

BUT GENERALLY, THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

WE PROVIDE SERVICES TO ANYBODY WHO IS SEEKING THAT TYPE OF ASSISTANCE.

AND SO, YEAH, AND SO WE JUST GOT A NEW SPACE AND WE ARE VERY PROUD OF OUR OFFICE AND WE ARE HAVING AN OPEN HOUSE TOMORROW FROM 5 TO 7.

WE ARE AT 79 [INAUDIBLE].

AND SO IF ANYBODY WANTS TO COME BY AND VISIT AND JUST STOP BY AND SEE THE NEW SPACE, WE WOULD REALLY, REALLY BE GRATEFUL AND JUST HAPPY TO SEE YOU THERE.

BUT YEAH, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. WE WOULD LIKE TO.

SORRY. I HAVE TO LEAVE AGAIN.

I'M HAVING SERIOUS BACK ISSUES.

OH, SHOOT. OKAY, WELL, I'LL MAKE IT QUICK.

SO. SO LISA DESANTIS WORKS IN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND.

AND MOST OF YOU PROBABLY KNOW THEIR WORK BY WHEN THEY DO THE VICTIM RIGHTS CEREMONIES EVERY SPRING.

AND. AND I'VE BEEN GOING.

I DIDN'T. I'D NEVER WENT BEFORE I BECAME A SUPERVISOR.

RIGHT. BUT BUT SINCE I HAVE, I'VE BEEN GOING.

AND IT IS JUST AMAZING TO SEE THE PAIN IN THE FAMILIES FACES RIGHT AS AS THEY KIND OF REKINDLE OR REVISIT THEIR LOSS.

AND A LOT OF THEM AREN'T SOLVED YET.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE WORK THAT LISA AND HER STAFF DO IS AMAZING.

AND AND I YOU KNOW, AND THEN IT'S ALSO ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE THEY DON'T REALLY TALK ABOUT IT TOO MUCH BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THEIR BUSINESS.

BUT I HAVE HAD TWO PEOPLE SHARE WITH ME, YOU KNOW, THEIR GRATITUDE FOR THE COUNTY HAVING THAT DEPARTMENT AND FOR YOU AND YOUR STAFF.

SO, YOU KNOW, ON BEHALF OF THEM AND ALL THE PEOPLE, THANK YOU.

AND HERE'S A PROCLAMATION FOR YOU AS WELL.

AND WOULD YOU SAY A FEW WORDS? ABSOLUTELY. FIRST OF ALL, I THINK IT WAS VERY FITTING TO HAVE US COME UP HERE TOGETHER BECAUSE OUR OFFICES DO WORK QUITE CLOSELY TOGETHER IN THE MANY YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN THERE, EVEN BEFORE I STARTED AT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, I WAS VERY MUCH INVOLVED WITH THE PRIOR AGENCY TO VALLEY CRISIS CENTER.

[00:25:05]

I CAN'T SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH.

HE IS VERY RIGHT.

THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE WHO DON'T ATTEND.

I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU MAY NOT HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF A VIOLENT CRIME.

HOWEVER, YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN, EVEN IF THEY HAVEN'T DISCLOSED TO YOU, THAT THEY HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF A VIOLENT CRIME.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT I RECENTLY EXPERIENCED MYSELF, AND IT IS CERTAINLY AT A TOTALLY DIFFERENT LEVEL NOW.

THE WAY I LOOK AT THINGS, NOT THAT I LOOKED AT THEM BADLY BEFORE, BUT I THINK YOU KIND OF HAVE A BETTER INSIGHT TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE REALLY EXPERIENCING.

THE TRAINING IS THERE FOR US, WE DO UNDERSTAND.

BUT TO A CERTAIN DEGREE, IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN A VICTIM YOURSELF, I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE THERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE FOR YOURSELF OR ON BEHALF OF SOMEONE ELSE THAT YOU MIGHT KNOW.

WE HELP WITH COURT SUPPORT.

WE HELP WITH POSSIBLE RELOCATION.

THERE'S SOMETIMES SOME OF THEIR VICTIMS NEED TO BE RELOCATED AND OUR OFFICE IS ABLE TO HELP WITH RELOCATION AT TIMES, COUNSELING SERVICES THAT CAN BE PAID FOR IF A VICTIM DOES NOT HAVE A MEANS TO PAY FOR THAT COUNSELING.

THAT'S JUST A TIDBIT OF THE SERVICES THAT WE OFFER.

THERE'S A WHOLE ARRAY, A MYRIAD OF SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE.

I WISH WE HAD MORE TIME, BUT WE DON'T.

BUT I DO WANT TO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR BEING SUPPORTIVE TO BOTH OF OUR AGENCIES.

THANK YOU AGAIN AND BE SAFE.

WE DO ONE MORE PICTURE, MIKE.

WITH THE TWO OF US.

THREE OF US. TWO OF THEM.

THANKS.

WE'LL NOW MOVE TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED ITEMS.

[BOARD ACTION]

IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 19? SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.

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

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUS.

I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 20.

NEXT IS. OH YEAH.

NEXT IS COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

ITEM 20 PUBLIC COMMENT IS STILL OPEN.

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 SILVEIRA.

I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS ELECTIONS ITEM 21.

OK. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. UM, YEAH.

I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION ON ITEM 21, AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO NEED SOMEONE FROM ELECTIONS TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

UM, SO I DO KNOW THAT IT'S PRACTICE.

IT'S WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE REGISTER OF VOTER AND STATE LAW THAT YOU CAN APPOINT PEOPLE TO.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, IN SPECIAL DISTRICTS THERE, IF THERE'S THEY'VE GOT THREE PEOPLE RUNNING AND ONLY THREE PEOPLE RAN INSTEAD OF THEM ACTUALLY HAVING TO GO ON THE BALLOT, THEY CAN ACTUALLY APPOINT. BUT MY QUESTION LIES ON EXHIBIT A.

THERE'S SPECIFICALLY IN THE VOLTA COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT, THE VOLTA WATER DISTRICT OUT THERE.

THEY HAVE VACANCIES AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY APPLY.

IF SOMEBODY WAS INTERESTED IN APPLYING NOW, COULD THAT PROCESS START BEFORE THE ELECTION? GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS BLANCA TORRES, ASSISTANT REGISTRAR OF VOTERS FOR MERCED COUNTY.

AND THE ANSWER TO THAT IS THAT THE SPECIAL DISTRICT IS ABLE TO APPOINT AND WE HAVE COMMUNICATION THAT WE CAN HAVE WITH THEM THAT WILL GIVE THEM DIRECTION ON

[00:30:05]

SO WOULD IT BE ABLE TO DO IT NOW OR DOES IT HAVE TO WAIT TILL AFTER THE ELECTION THERE? I'D HAVE TO GO BACK TO ELECTION CODE, BUT THERE IS A CERTAIN NUMBER OF DAYS THAT THEY HAVE PRIOR TO THE ELECTION TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

I CAN HAVE THAT INFORMATION TO YOU TODAY.

PERFECT. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

BECAUSE I JUST LIKE I SAID, THEY HAD NOBODY FILE FOR IT.

AND THEY HAVE THEY HAVE ONE POSITION OPEN.

AND I KNOW THAT THEY'RE HAVING CHALLENGES EVEN GETTING A QUORUM.

SO. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 21.

SEE NONE, I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS FIRE. ITEM 22.

ALL RIGHT, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 22.

SEEING NONE, I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.

I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS SHERIFF ITEM 23.

ALL RIGHT, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM 23.

SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ITEMS 24 AND 25.

I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS 24 AND FIVE.

I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.

I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS HUMAN RESOURCES ITEM 26.

OKAY. I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.

SEEING NONE, I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS BOARD APPOINTMENTS, ITEM 27.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

WE'VE BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN OUR STATE ORGANIZATIONS, AND THIS IS WITH THE CALIFORNIA STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES.

I'VE BEEN PROUD OF HOW MY COLLEAGUE SCOTT SILVEIRA HAS RAISED, ROSE THROUGH THE RANKS AND HAS TAKEN A SEAT AS THE ALTERNATE ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

THIS IS ONE WHERE WE DON'T HAVE THE POPULATION IN MERCED COUNTY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

BUT AT CSAC WE ALL HAVE ONE VOTE PER COUNTY, AND HE HAS RAISED OUR ISSUES NUMEROUS TIMES AND HAS ACTUALLY CROWD PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY JOIN WITH US.

AND THEY ACTUALLY AGREE WITH SCOTT.

HE HAS THAT. I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S USING HIS SKILLS AS A AS AN ANNOUNCER OR WHAT IT IS, BUT I APPRECIATE HIS LEADERSHIP AND I WOULD BE PROUD TO NOMINATE HIM TO BE OUR REPRESENTATIVE AT CSAC.

I EXPECT TO SEE HIM PRESIDENT OF CSAC ONE DAY.

AND IS THERE A NOMINATION FOR AN ALTERNATE? I HAVEN'T TALKED TO ANYBODY OK.

AND THEN I WILL INCLUDE JOSH PEDROZO AS THE ALTERNATE FOR CSAC BECAUSE HE IS REPRESENTING US AT NACO AS WELL.

SO YEAH. DID YOU STILL WANT TO SPEAK?

[00:35:05]

NO, I WANT TO SAY I AGREE.

AND I THINK THAT HAVING SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AS OUR REP ON THAT BOARD I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND I THINK AS OUR DELEGATE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES RIVERSIDE COUNTY GETS OVERLOOKED ON SOME OF THESE THINGS AT CSAC, NOT NECESSARILY AT RCRC, BUT IF ANYBODY KNOWS SCOTTY, THEY KNOW THAT HE'S NOT GOING TO LET THEM NOT LISTEN TO HIM.

SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT LEADERSHIP AND THAT VOICE.

AND SO I'M VERY HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS AND VERY WILLING TO SERVE AS THE ALTERNATE AGAIN.

THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.

SO WE'LL TAKE A VOTE.

ARE WE GOING TO DO IT MANUALLY? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA BEING RC SAC PRIMARY AND SUPERVISOR PEDROZO BEING OUR ALTERNATE.

PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED, SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

CONGRATULATIONS, GENTLEMEN.

[SCHEDULED ITEMS]

WELL, HELLO, DIRECTOR HENDRICKSON.

GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

MARK HENDRICKSON, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THE BOARD MAY RECALL THAT IN 2016 THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA APPROVED SENATE BILL 1383, WHICH ESTABLISHED STATEWIDE TARGETS TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF ORGANIC WASTE DISPOSED OF IN LANDFILLS.

THIS NEW LAW REQUIRES LOCAL JURISDICTIONS TO ADOPT ORDINANCES RELATED TO THE DISPOSAL OF ORGANIC WASTE.

IN RESPONSE TO THAT REQUIREMENT, THIS BOARD APPROVED ORDINANCE NUMBER 2015 ON MARCH 22ND OF THIS YEAR, WHICH ADDED CHAPTER 9.06 ORGANIC WASTE DISPOSAL REDUCTION TO THE COUNTY CODE.

NOW, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THESE NEW STATE REQUIREMENTS, THE COUNTY'S ADOPTED ORDINANCE ALSO REQUIRES THAT THE COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, VIA ITS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIVISION, IS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION, TO PERFORM INSPECTIONS, TO COLLECT DATA AT THE FACILITIES THAT HAVE ORGANIC WASTE, AND THEN, OF COURSE, REPORT THAT BACK TO THE STATE.

CHAPTER 14 OF THE CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS ALLOWS THE COLLECTION OF FEES TO COVER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS STATE AND AGAIN, I EMPHASIZE STATE DRIVEN PROGRAM AND POLICY.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY IS THE ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD AMEND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH FEES TO COVER THE COST OF THE AFOREMENTIONED RESPONSIBILITIES.

AND IN THIS REGARD, STAFF RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING FEES $118 OR ONE HOUR OF STAFF TIME PER EACH CURRENTLY PERMITTED FACILITY TO ACCOUNT FOR THE ADDITIONAL TIME TO AGAIN CONDUCT THE INSPECTIONS, DATA COLLECTION AND REPORTING.

OR $236 OR 2 HOURS OF STAFF TIME FOR A FACILITY THAT IS NOT CURRENTLY PERMITTED.

NOW, THESE FEES, ALONG WITH OTHER CPI ADJUSTMENTS, WILL TAKE EFFECT ON JANUARY 1ST, 2023.

THESE FEES WILL APPLY TO TIER ONE AND TIER TWO EDIBLE FOOD GENERATOR FACILITIES.

TIER ONE FACILITIES WILL BE FIRST AND INCLUDES INSTITUTIONS LIKE SUPERMARKETS, GROCERY STORES, FOOD SERVICE PROVIDERS, FOOD DISTRIBUTORS AND WHOLESALE FOOD VENDORS. AND THEN IN JANUARY 2024 WILL ALSO INCLUDE TIER TWO FACILITIES LIKE RESTAURANTS, HOTELS WITH ONSITE FOODS FACILITIES, HEALTH FACILITIES WITH ONSITE FOOD FACILITIES, EVENT CENTERS, STATE AGENCIES WITH CAFETERIAS AND LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES WITH ONSITE FOOD FACILITIES.

NOW, STAFF IS PROPOSING TO MAXIMIZE OUR EXISTING EFFICIENCIES TO KEEP COSTS AS LOW AS POSSIBLE FOR THESE AFFECTED FACILITIES.

AND THESE NEW FEES ARE EXPECTED TO GENERATE APPROXIMATELY $81,522 PER YEAR.

NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY PRIMARILY TO EMPHASIZE TO THE PUBLIC THAT THERE ARE TIMES WHERE THE STATE DEVELOPS PROGRAMS THAT REQUIRE LOCAL IMPLEMENTATION.

IN MANY OF THOSE CASES, THEY ARE UNFUNDED MANDATES.

AND WE BELIEVE THAT SB 1383 IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.

THE STATE CREATED A PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE TO IMPLEMENT AND IF WE DO NOT, PENALTIES ARE SEVERE.

SO I BELIEVE IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT THESE TYPES OF APPROACHES COMING OUT OF SACRAMENTO FRUSTRATE BOTH THIS BOARD AND ITS STAFF.

NOW, TO BE CLEAR, TODAY'S FOCUS IS ONLY ON THE PIECE THAT ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HAS TO UNDERTAKE.

THERE WILL BE OTHER ITEMS COMING TO THE BOARD PROSPECTIVELY THAT WILL DEAL WITH OTHER RELATED COMPONENTS TO SB 1383, MOST NOTABLY HALLING AND ITS ASSOCIATED COST.

[00:40:09]

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH FEES.

AND BEFORE I BEFORE I CONCLUDE, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE A HANDFUL OF FOLKS WHO CERTAINLY WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN IN HELPING THE COUNTY NAVIGATE THROUGH THE SB 1383.

WATERS EVERYBODY FROM OBVIOUSLY THE CEO OF HIS TEAM, LINDSEY LINDSEY WEST, HAS DONE AN EXTRAORDINARY JOB.

MR. HERTFELDER BUT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE COUNTY COUNCIL'S OFFICE, MR. PROFOND AND NICOLE DESMOND FROM MY TEAM, ALONG WITH WAYNE FOX AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SQUAD, FOR DOING OUR VERY BEST TO PUT SOMETHING IN FRONT OF THE BOARD THAT AGAIN IS GOING TO MINIMIZE IMPACTS TO OUR RESPECTIVE BUSINESSES AS BEST AS WE CAN AT THIS POINT.

MR. CHAIRMAN, I WILL CONCLUDE AND STAFF WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

SURE. WELL, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL HAS THE FIRST COMMENT OR QUESTION.

THANK YOU. I THINK YOU PUT IT VERY WELL.

THIS IS OUR FRUSTRATION THAT WE HAVE ON THIS BOARD.

I THINK THIS WOULD BE A UNANIMOUS NO VOTE ON ANY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCE.

BUT BECAUSE OF LIKE MR. WENDLING LIKES TO BRING TO OUR ATTENTION THE STATE FORCES ON OUR HAND TO DO THESE TYPE OF THINGS.

THIS IS A MANDATE THAT'S BEEN CREATED BY THE STATE THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO CAUSE MORE POLLUTION AND MORE GREENHOUSE GAS IN THIS STATE.

AND YET THEY CAN STAND THERE AND POINT THEIR FINGER AT US SAYING THEY'RE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

AND IN THE PROCESS, WE'RE HAVING TO RAISE OUR FEES FOR COLLECTION.

I MEAN, THIS IS JUST FRUSTRATING, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.

I MEAN, WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD TO THIS OR WE'RE GOING TO COST OUR TAXPAYERS EVEN MORE MONEY BECAUSE OF THE FINES THAT WILL BE IMPOSED ON US.

SO I JUST OUT OF FRUSTRATION, YOU WERE SAYING WHAT I WOULD SAY.

YOU WERE A LITTLE MORE ELOQUENT AT IT.

BUT THIS IS JUST VERY FRUSTRATING.

AND I CAN'T SUPPORT WHAT THE STATE'S DOING ON THIS.

BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO CAUSE MORE POLLUTION BY MANDATING THIS.

IT MAKES NO SENSE.

MAYBE IN THE URBAN AREAS IT'LL WORK, BUT NOT IN THE RURAL.

THANKS. UH, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I CAN'T AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE MORE.

IT IS FRUSTRATING, AND I DON'T THINK IT'S OVER.

I DON'T THINK IT'S OVER.

I THINK THAT I KNOW THAT SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL SITS ON RCRC AND THEY'RE APPROACHING THE ISSUE WITH THEM.

I THINK AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO PUSH BACK ON THE STATE.

I REALLY DO THINK THAT IT'S, IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY, IF ANYBODY, I COULD PROBABLY GO GET ONE OF THE FIRST GRADERS OUT OF MY WIFE'S CLASS AND EXPLAIN TO THEM HOW THIS SITUATION AND THEY'RE GOING TO COME UP WITH THE SAME CONCLUSION THAT I DID THAT YOU'RE GOING TO NOW TAKE WHEN WE HAVE ONE TRUCK THAT GOES DOWN THE ROAD AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO TAKE AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT WHERE IT'S THREE TRUCKS, MAYBE IN SOME CASES TWO TRUCKS GO UP AND DOWN THE ROAD TO TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF ORGANICS THAT ARE CREATING LANDFILL GAS.

BUT YET WE'RE POLLUTING WITH ALL THOSE TRUCKS.

IT'S AND IT'S REALLY IT'S YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT AT THE STATE WE LOVE THE THEY LOVE TO USE WHAT WE CALL BUZZWORD BINGO UP THERE WHERE IT'S YOU KNOW, IT'S EQUITY, IT'S UNDERSERVED, IT'S UNSERVED.

ALL THESE THINGS THAT I TRULY DO BELIEVE IN.

BUT I GET SO TIRED OF THE STATE SAYING AND NOT MEETING IT.

POLICIES LIKE THIS, LAWS LIKE THIS AFFECT THE UNDERSERVED THE MOST.

THEY ARE THE RATES.

IF YOU HAVE TRASH SERVICE, THEY'RE GOING TO GO UP FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN NOW.

LISTEN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE'S A COST.

THAT TRUCK DOESN'T RUN UP AND DOWN THE ROAD FOR FREE.

SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

SO JUST THINK ABOUT IT. IF IT COSTS YOU.

I'M JUST USING A NUMBER.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF IT COSTS YOU $30 A MONTH TO HAVE ONE CAN PICKED UP.

WELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO COST YOU TO HAVE TWO CANS PICKED UP? RIGHT. AND ARE WE MAXIMIZING THOSE CANS? YOU KNOW, NO, YOU'RE JUST TAKING WHAT YOU HAD IN ONE CAN AND NOW YOU'RE GOING TO SPLIT IT OVER TWO CANS OUT OF THE SAME SIZE, BUT YET STILL, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO BE CHARGED THE COST TO BE ABLE TO HAVE TO BE PICKED UP TWICE.

THERE'S QUESTIONS THAT I ASKED IN ONE OF OUR BRIEFINGS.

YOU KNOW, I'M USING WHERE MY MORE MY PARENTS LIVE.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE'VE HAD A DUMPSTER THERE.

I MEAN, IT GOES BACK TO THE DAYS BEFORE WE EVEN HAD DUMPSTERS.

WE USED TO HAVE BURN BARRELS.

THAT'S HOW YOU GOT RID OF THE TRASH BACK THEN WHEN I WAS A LITTLE KID.

BUT NOW, SINCE WE HAD TO START HAVING TRASH SERVICE, WE'VE HAD A DUMPSTER THERE.

SO WHAT HAPPENS NOW? THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE US PUT ANOTHER DUMPSTER.

IT JUST IT'S FRUSTRATING.

AND I THINK COUNCIL I'M SERIOUS.

THEY I GET IT.

THEY GOT LAWYERS.

RIGHT. AND ULTIMATELY, WHO DOES IT COST? IT COST US BECAUSE IT'S THE TAXPAYERS MONEY.

BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO STAND UP AGAINST.

AND I BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE TALK TO OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE RURAL COUNTIES THAT THEY'RE GOING TO THEY'RE GOING TO FEEL THE SAME WAY.

[00:45:02]

IF YOU HAVE LOW DENSITY POPULATION AREAS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE REQUIRED.

BUT THERE'S SO MANY NUANCES TO THIS BILL, AND THIS IS JUST ONE PIECE OF IT.

AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT THE FEES BECAUSE I'M OKAY WITH THAT PART OF IT.

BUT THE PREMISE OF THIS WHOLE BILL IS JUST ABSOLUTE GARBAGE.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING TO REQUIRE PUN INTENDED.

THEY'RE GOING TO REQUIRE THAT NOW COUNTIES HAVE TO BUY ALL THEIR PAPER HAS TO BE RECYCLED PAPER MOVING FORWARD, WHICH LOOK IT GREAT CONCEPT, BUT WHAT IF THERE'S NONE AVAILABLE? WHAT DO YOU DO? WELL, NOW ON THE BACK END OF THIS THING, YOU COULD BE PUNISHED FOR NOT DOING IT.

SO THERE'S JUST SO MANY.

AND THEN IT'S THE COST THAT'S GOING TO BE ADDED TO THESE BUSINESSES THAT WE HAVE TO NOW ARE CONSIDERED TO BE HIGH GENERATORS OF ORGANICS.

WHAT IS THE WHERE DOES THAT COST GOING TO BE BORNE BY BACK TO, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GOT A BUSINESS TO RUN AND NOW THERE'S GOING TO BE ADDITIONAL COSTS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT FEES HERE THAT I GET.

IT MIGHT NOT SEEM LIKE A LOT IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, BUT IT'S $236 MORE.

THAT COST HAS TO BE PASSED ON TO SOMEBODY.

RIGHT. SO WHO DOES IT AFFECT BACK TO THOSE UNDERSERVED UNSERVED? WE TALK ABOUT EQUITY AND THE RURAL AREAS.

IF THESE RULES ARE MADE BY THESE BY THESE LIBERAL URBAN DEMOCRATS THAT COME UP WITH THESE CRAZY RULES, BUT THEY DON'T THEY JUST THINK THAT THEY LIVE IN A IN A ONE PARTY STATE AND THEY FORGET ABOUT SOME OF US IN THE RURAL AREAS THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.

WE DON'T WE DON'T HAVE WE'VE SPENT THINK ABOUT THIS, TOO, IS JUST A SIDE NOTE TO IT.

WE'VE SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS PIPING IN PUTTING IN LINES AT OUR LANDFILLS TO COLLECT THIS GAS.

AND YET HERE WE'RE MAKING A RULE THAT WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO GET RID OF THE GAS.

IT JUST IT'S STATE NONSENSE AND I'M FRUSTRATED WITH IT.

AND I JUST GET TIRED THAT WE'RE FORCED TO VOTE YES ON SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER.

AND SO IF THAT'S THE CASE, AND IF THEY'RE ALL WIELDING AND THEY KNOW IT ALL WELL IN SACRAMENTO, THEN THEY SHOULD.

IF THEY HAVE THESE RULES, WHY ARE WE VOTING ON THEM? BECAUSE WHAT IS IT? IT'S A WAY FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO SAY, WELL, WE'RE ALL COMPLICIT WITH IT.

WE ALL VOTE. WELL, WE VOTED YES ON IT.

WELL, IT'S ALWAYS THE THREAT OF PENALTY 10,000 A DAY.

FINE, IF YOU'RE NOT IN COMPLIANCE.

SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS START BILLING THEM FOR OUR TIME.

I THINK EACH ONE OF US SUPERVISORS.

SPECIFICALLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 1383, OUR TIME IS WORTH 2000 A MINUTE.

SO EVERY MINUTE THAT WE TALK ABOUT IT, WE SEND A BILL TO THE STATE AND THEN WE COULD PROBABLY START TRYING TO OFFSET SOME OF THOSE 10,000 A DAY FINES THAT ARE REALLY NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING THAT IT WAS INTENDED TO DO.

AND I KNOW THAT'S GOING ON A RANT, BUT IT'S FRUSTRATING.

AND AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO STAND UP AND SAY, NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS.

FINE, YOU GOT LAWYERS, WE GOT A LAWYER TO ENFORCE.

WE GOT YOU. LET'S GO.

EVENTUALLY WE CAN GET WE CAN GET SOME JUDGE SOMEWHERE TO PUT A STAY ON THIS DEAL.

AND IF IT HAS TO GO ALL THE WAY TO THE CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT, WELL, AT LEAST FOR FOUR OR FIVE YEARS BEFORE IT GETS THERE, WE DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS NONSENSE.

SO I DON'T KNOW. THAT'S MY SUGGESTION.

AT SOME POINT, WE HAVE TO PUSH BACK ON ON THESE NONSENSE RULES THAT ARE COMING OUT OF SACRAMENTO, OTHERWISE TALKED ABOUT $1,000,000,000 BUDGET AND WHERE ALL THE MONEY GOES.

WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE AT THE BOTTOM END OF THAT DEAL ALWAYS, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO GET BETTER AND IT'S GOING TO GET TOUGHER AND TOUGHER FOR FOR FOLKS IN RURAL CALIFORNIA TO EXIST AND TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE BASIC SERVICES THAT GOVERNMENT ARE SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE.

RIGHT. HEALTH, WELFARE AND SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS.

WELL, IT'S GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO DO THAT WHEN WE'RE BREAKING EVERYBODY ALONG THE WAY.

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

SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

OH, COME ON, NOW. NO CLAPPING.

THANK YOU. AND YOU'RE.

MIKE SAID YOU TURNED YOUR MIC OFF AGAIN.

OKAY, HOLD ON. DON'T TOUCH IT.

ALL RIGHT. YOU THINK AFTER A WHILE, I GET USED TO IT? NO. I JUST WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT SOMETIMES THE STATE PUTS OUT THESE LAWS AND RULES THAT THEY THINK ARE GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE POLLUTION PART OF IT.

IT'S THE ROADS.

ROADS COST MONEY.

AND SO THE MORE THAT YOU HAVE THESE TRUCKS THAT ARE DRIVING ON THESE ROADS, THE MORE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET TURNED UP.

ROADS HAVE A LIFE SPAN.

AND SO IF WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT THAT AND THEN THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PAY US FOR THE ROADS AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO RECOUP THAT COST.

SO, I MEAN, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT I REALLY DISLIKE WHEN WE HAVE TO HOLD YOUR NOSE AND VOTE FOR BECAUSE WE HAVE TO DO IT.

IT'S JUST THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION.

I DON'T BELIEVE IN IT.

I THINK IT'S WRONG.

[00:50:01]

IN CONCEPT, I GUESS IT'S OK, BUT IN PRACTICALITY IT ISN'T.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THEM STEPPING UP AND MAKING COMMENTS ABOUT THAT.

AND I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY HOPE THAT WE CAN TAKE A LEAD THROUGH OUR CRC OR THROUGH CSAC OR SOMETHING AND SAY, HEY, WE DON'T LIKE THIS.

WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT A BETTER SOLUTION AND THAT'S IT.

OKAY, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO ADD ON THAT RC RC IS HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE LITTLE HOOVER COMMISSION IS NOW HAVING HEARINGS.

THEY'VE ALREADY HAD TWO HEARINGS ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND OUR GOVERNOR DO LISTEN TO THE LITTLE HOOVER COMMISSION BECAUSE THEY HAVE LIBERALS ON THAT COMMISSION AS WELL.

AND IF YOU WOULD HEAR THESE HEARINGS, THEY'RE EVEN SCRATCHING YOUR HEAD LIKE, WHAT THE HECK, I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.

IT GOES JUST LIKE THE WILD.

THE WILD HOGS, RIGHT.

RURAL COUNTIES SAY WE'VE HAD A HOLE.

WE'VE HAD A PROBLEM WITH WILD HOGS FOR A LONG TIME.

THEY'RE UPROOTING OUR STUFF.

BUT LO, LO AND BEHOLD, THESE WILD PIGS GET INTO SANTA CLARA COUNTY AND START UPROOTING SOME OF THEIR YARDS.

AND GUESS WHAT? THERE'S A WHOLE LOT MORE TAGS NOW ON WILD BOARS, AND WE CAN HUNT THEM.

SO MAYBE WE GO DUMP THEIR TRASH IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY AND SEE HOW THEY REACT TO THAT.

THANKS. SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA WELL, I USUALLY DON'T AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON EVERYTHING, BUT I AGREE 100%.

I AGREE WITH HIM 100% ON THIS ONE.

IT'S LIKE BUYING BUYING ELECTRIC BY ELECTRIC VEHICLES, BUT DON'T USE THEM IN THE SUMMER.

RIGHT. SO THANK YOU.

I'LL JUST STAY WITH THAT.

ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER I SEE NO OTHER QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

SO THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.

WELL, THANK YOU, SUPERVISORS, FOR PUSHING BACK UP THE UP THE CHAIN OF COMMAND, BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE ARE ARE FORCING US TO DO THINGS THAT DON'T MAKE ECONOMIC SENSE AND THEY DON'T REALLY CARE WHO PAYS FOR IT BECAUSE THEY KEEP GETTING THEIR SALARIES.

SO THE LAST TIME I CHECKED, ASSEMBLYMAN GRAY, YOU KNOW HIM, OF COURSE, WAS GETTING SOMEWHERE AROUND $115,000 A YEAR FOR STAFF PLUS HIS SALARY.

SO LET ME ADMONISH YOU TO ASK ASSEMBLYMAN GRAY WHILE HE'S STILL IN OFFICE IF HE VOTED FOR THIS.

AND WHEN YOU FIND THAT OUT, AND I'LL TRY TO FIND OUT AS WELL, GUESS WHO YOU SHOULD BE VOTING FOR FOR CONGRESS THIS FALL INTO IN IN NOVEMBER.

AND IT'S NOT ASSEMBLYMAN GRAY TRYING TO GO TO CONGRESS.

SO I KNOW I'M PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES HERE, BUT WE HAVE TO PUSH BACK.

THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.

MANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT.

SEE NOW AND I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

I DON'T KNOW IF LEGALLY I HAVE TO DO THAT, BUT IT KIND OF MAKES IT FEEL LIKE WE'VE DONE SOMETHING WHEN I DO.

ALL RIGHT. WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO HOLD YOUR NOSE WHILE YOU MAKE YOUR MOTION.

SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I'D MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AMENDING MERCED COUNTY TITLE NINE, CHAPTER 9.49.

SECTION 9.49.010.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH FEES.

IN FACT, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

I MEAN, YEAH. PEDROZA SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

I WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO SECOND THAT WITH AN AMENDMENT THAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS WHERE THEY PEEL IT BACK, THAT WE PEEL BACK OUR FEES AT THE SAME TIME BECAUSE GOVERNMENT HAS A WAY OF RAISING THEIR FEES AND THEN THEY NEVER LOWER THEM WHENEVER THEY CAN.

SO I WOULD.

I'D AMEND THAT MOTION TO INCLUDE THAT.

HMM. WHAT'S THAT? WELL, OUR COUNCIL WAS SAYING THAT IT MAY REQUIRE A SECOND HEARING TO.

TO TO REPEAL THE FEES, BECAUSE THAT WAS AN.

ON THE THE THE INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.

WELL, MAYBE THAT'S A DIRECTION I'M GIVING STAFF, THEN, THAT IF THIS GOES AWAY, THEN WE NEED TO PEEL BACK OUR FEES AS WELL

[00:55:10]

MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS THE BOARD TO THE SUPERVISORS QUESTION, I THINK STAFF WOULD ANTICIPATE DOING EXACTLY JUST THAT.

THIS IS AGAIN, JUST TO GO BACK WITH SOME OF MY EARLIER COMMENTS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP THEM AS LOW AS POSSIBLE TO TO COMPLY.

AT THE SAME TIME, SHOULD THAT SITUATION EVER PRESENT ITSELF, I WOULD ANTICIPATE THE STAFF WOULD RETURN TO.

TO PRESENT SOMETHING TO THE BOARD FOR ITS CONSIDERATION AT THAT POINT IN TIME.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

I SEE NO FURTHER REQUEST TO SPEAK.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING I.

I KNOW ANY OPPOSE.

SAME SIGN. THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY IT THE DIRECTION GIVEN.

YEAH, AND STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION.

LAST IS BOARD REPORTS.

[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION]

OH, SORRY. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. FIRST OFF, AGAIN, THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR FOR HAVING THE FAITH IN ME TO CONTINUE TO REPRESENT MERCED COUNTY ON THE CSAC BOARD AND AND NOW IS A PART OF THAT IS AS AN ALTERNATE ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AT DUKE.

WHEN WE GO TO THESE MEETINGS, I'M ACTUALLY NEXT WEEK I'LL BE AT AN EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING.

AND SO WHERE WE'RE KIND OF TRYING TO SET POLICY FOR THIS NEXT LEGISLATIVE YEAR AND YOU CAN REST ASSURED THAT 1383 WILL BE A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION AS LONG AS WELL AS SOME WATER ISSUES.

ALSO, I WANT TO REPORT OUT THAT LAST WEEK MYSELF AND A COUPLE OF MY COLLEAGUES ATTENDED THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY COUNTIES REGIONAL COUNTIES ASSOCIATION.

AND SO IT'S THE NINE VALLEY COUNTIES.

WE INCLUDE MARIPOSA IN THERE.

WE MET DOWN IN KINGS COUNTY.

KINGS COUNTY DID A REALLY GREAT JOB OF HOSTING IT.

IT'S YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT CALIFORNIA AND THERE'S 58 COUNTIES AND WE HAVE WE HAVE CSAC, WHICH REPRESENTS ALL 50.

THEN YOU HAVE RC RC, WHICH REPRESENTS THE RURAL COUNTIES.

ALL OF US FACE A LOT OF THE SAME CHALLENGES, BUT WE'RE ALL VERY DIFFERENT.

ONE THING IN THE VALLEY WE FACE A LOT MORE OF THE SAME ISSUES.

I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT KINGS, WHICH IS A SMALLER COUNTY AND YOU HAVE FRESNO, WHICH IS THE LARGEST COUNTY THAT FACE SOME DIFFERENT CHALLENGES, BUT WE FACE A LOT OF THE SAME VALLEY ISSUES. AND SO IT'S ALWAYS GOOD WHEN WHEN OURSELVES AS HAS AS THE ELECTEDS AS WELL AS STAFF GET TOGETHER AND REALLY KIND OF WE WE'VE SET UP A STANDING MEETING WITH THE GOVERNOR THROUGH THIS ORGANIZATION AND HOW OFTEN DOES IT WORK.

I, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I THINK IT DOES WORK.

I THINK THAT THERE'S POINTS IN THERE WHEN WE BRING WE BRING UP ISSUES THAT THAT REALLY YOU'RE GOING TO GET A UNITED FRONT BY ALL NINE VALLEY COUNTIES COMING AT THEM UP THERE IN SACRAMENTO. THEY DO TEND TO LISTEN TO US.

I THINK IT MAKES A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENCE.

SO I'M HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THAT ORGANIZATION AND THANKFUL THAT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN IT.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE 1383 THING, IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING.

BUT WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP KEEP UP.

THE GOOD FIGHT ON IT IS THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO AFFECT CHANGE TO ALLOW THESE FOLKS IN SACRAMENTO TO CONTINUALLY JUST SHOVE STUFF DOWN OUR WAY, THESE UNFUNDED MANDATES, IT'S AT SOME POINT IT'S GOING TO BREAK US.

IT'S GOING TO BREAK US IN THE BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET, BIG IN NUMBER.

BUT IT IS QUITE DECEIVING.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF THAT MONEY.

IT WAS POURED IN THROUGH THROUGH, YOU KNOW, ARPA CARES ACT MONEY NEXT YEAR, FULLY EXPECTED.

THAT NUMBER GOES DOWN.

AND, YOU KNOW, AND I'M PROUD OF THIS BOARD THAT WE CHOSE TO USE THOSE ONE TIME MONIES ON ONE TIME THINGS AND AND MAYBE HAVEN'T SEEN SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.

BUT WE'VE PROGRAMED THAT MONEY INTO A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS, OUR VETERANS HALLS, OUR PARKS, THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.

AND WE FOUND SOME ONE TIME MONEY TO BE ABLE TO DO THOSE.

AND OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO YEARS, YOU'LL REALLY START TO SEE, I BELIEVE, A NOTICEABLE IMPROVEMENT IN THOSE THINGS BECAUSE YOU GOT TO BUDGET FOR THEM AND THEN IT TAKES A YEAR. BUT I'M PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE THERE.

IT'S A TOTAL, COMPLETE TEAM EFFORT AND SO THAT'S WHAT I HAVE FOR YOU TODAY.

THANK YOU. MR.. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I DO WANT TO REPORT OUT THAT I DID.

I THINK WE CALL IT THE TSS JV RAC, I THINK IS WHAT THE COMMANDER OF THE LEMOORE NAVAL AIR STATION ACTUALLY CALLED IT. HE THOUGHT IT SOUND A LITTLE MORE MILITANT, I THINK, THAT WAY.

WE ACTUALLY GAVE US A CAUSE AND A CHEER TO DO IT, BUT THIS IS JUST ANOTHER GROUP THAT WE ARE PART OF THAT WHEN WE COME TOGETHER, WE ARE ONE VOICE

[01:00:03]

SB 1383 IS JUST ONE OF THEM.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE TALKED ABOUT HERE AT THIS CONFERENCE AS WELL.

BUT WE TRY TO STAND TOGETHER BECAUSE WE CONSIDER OURSELVES THE OTHER CALIFORNIA, BECAUSE EVERYBODY THINKS THAT WE'RE PART OF THE LIBERAL GROUPS THAT ARE SITTING ON THE BEACHES AND UNDER THE PALM TREES AND, YOU KNOW, DRINKING MAI TAIS AND HANGING OUT ALL THE TIME OR SURFING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WHICH IS VERY DIFFERENT, AS YOU CAN TELL.

YOU KNOW, MERCED COUNTY IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST MANUFACTURING OR THE FASTEST GROWING MANUFACTURING COUNTY IN THE STATE.

SO WE'RE HERE TO GET WORK DONE.

AND BUT BEFORE I WAS AT JV R REC DISCUSSING THAT, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD STRATEGIC RETREAT.

THANK YOU, ERIC AND MARIO SITTING IN THE BACK THERE.

THAT WAS ACTUALLY A VERY, VERY INFORMATIVE CONFERENCE.

IN FACT, YOU CAN ASK MY COLLEAGUES WHEN I GOT TO LEMOORE FOR OUR CONFERENCE UP THERE, I SAID I HATED LEAVING HOURS EARLY BECAUSE OF SO MUCH INFORMATION THAT THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD WAS BRINGING FORTH.

AND AS WE WERE LOOKING AND HOW DO WE ASSIST ON OUR JOB CREATION WITH OUR PRIVATE EMPLOYERS, WHICH THAT'S WHAT DRIVES OUR ECONOMY, WE HAVE A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT THINKS THEY CAN SEND MONEY TO US AND WE'RE GOING TO CURE PROBLEMS AND IT'S GONE INTO REVERSE.

BUT OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD STANDS STRONG AND WE'RE WE'RE GIVING PEOPLE AN EXCUSE OR NOT THE EXCUSE TO STAY HOME.

WE HAVE MORE JOBS IN MERCED COUNTY THAN WE HAVE UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE.

AND THOSE WAGES KEEP GOING UP BECAUSE OUR WORKERS ARE BECOMING A COMMODITY AND OUR MANUFACTURERS AND OUR EMPLOYEE EMPLOYMENT SEE THAT THEY NEED TO INVEST IN OUR OUR WORKFORCE.

AND THAT'S MUCH APPRECIATED.

SO WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.

HOW MUCH DID YOU GIVE ME? SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.

THANK YOU, MS.. CHAIR.

WELL, I JUST WANTED TO.

I ATTENDED THE SWEET POTATO FESTIVAL, UM, SUNDAY IN LIVINGSTON, I THINK IS WHERE IT WAS VERY WELL ATTENDED.

I THINK IT STARTED THURSDAY OR FRIDAY WITH THE RIDES.

AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE COMMUNITY CAME OUT AND ENJOYED IT, AND I THINK THE CHAIRMAN WAS THERE.

THE CAMEL, I THINK THE COMMITTEE ALWAYS ENJOYS, ENJOYS THAT.

SO I HAVEN'T GOTTEN IT ON IT, BUT I WAS IN THERE EARLY, BUT I WOULD MAYBE I WOULD HAVE TRIED.

SO I KNOW YOU GOT ME BACK ON MY BACK, RIGHT? SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I ATTENDED THE THE REC FALL CONFERENCE AS WELL WITH MY COLLEAGUES.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE.

AND LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, UM, IT WAS, UH, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT WATER STORAGE, DROUGHT REALIGNMENT OF FUNDS, UH, FROM THE STATE THAT WE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF, UH, HISTORY ON IT, UH, AND LISTEN TO OTHER CEOS OF UH, OTHER COUNTIES AS WELL.

SO I, YOU KNOW, I THINK EVERYTHING WE DO IS VERY EDUCATIONAL AND EVERYTHING WE, WE, YOU KNOW, ALL THE INFORMATION AND EDUCATION THAT WE GET IS TRY TO IMPROVE OUR JOBS TO, YOU KNOW, FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS HERE.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE IT THAT, UH, AND I KNOW THAT THE CHAIRMAN AND, AND OTHERS STAY THERE FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, AS MEMBERS TO DISCUSS, UH, FUTURE, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, DISCUSSIONS ON, ON THE VALLEY VALLEY VOICE HERE.

SO. OKAY.

UM, ONE, ONE THING THAT I, I'VE, THAT I'VE HEARD WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSIONS AROUND THE COUNTY REGARDING SELLING OF WATER FROM OUT OF COUNTY.

I DON'T AGREE WITH SELLING OUR WATER OUT OF COUNTY.

I DON'T MIND WHEN IT'S TWO OTHER FARMERS BEGIN BEING A FARMER MYSELF, IT'S OKAY TO SELL WATER TO OTHER NEARBY FARMERS FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR CROPS, BUT NOT OUT OF STATE FOR OR OUT OF COUNTY FOR AN INVESTOR TO MAKE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

SO I AGREE WITH THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS I'M ON BOARD, I WON'T BE VOTING FOR ANY ANY SALES OF WATER FOR TO MAKE SOMEBODY INVESTORS MILLIONS.

SO WE'RE YOU KNOW, KEEP AN EYE ON THAT.

AND LIKE I SAID, MY OUR BOARD MEMBERS ARE HERE AND HOPEFULLY WE DON'T HAVE TO, UH, BRING THAT TO THE AGENDA WHERE WE'LL BE GIVING SOMEBODY AN AUTHORIZATION TO MAKE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, YOU KNOW, ON THEIR OWN FOR OUR STATE, OUR COUNTY WATER.

UM, AND, UH.

ALSO REGARDING OUR ROAD PROJECTS.

I KNOW THAT DANA HERTFELDER IS NOT HERE.

UM, UH, YOU KNOW, REGARDING, I WAS AT, UH, AT THE LE GRAND MAG MEETING LAST NIGHT AND ALSO RECREATION COMMITTEE, BUT I KNOW THAT WE DISCUSSED LAST MEETING AND WE APPROVED THE BUDGET AND ALSO ALL OUR ROAD PROJECTS WERE FUNDED IN MY PRIORITY, BUT ALSO TO WHAT ONE.

UH, MY DISCUSSION IS, I KNOW WE HAVE MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF, OF UNDER SB ONE AND, UH, MEASURE V AND OTHER FUNDS.

[01:05:01]

BUT I KNOW THAT I GOT, I RECEIVED AN EMAIL SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, OTHER ROADS ARE GOING TO BE FUNDED FIRST BEFORE THE PRIORITY LIST.

AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I ADDRESS THAT.

AND, UH, SO I THINK WE, WE GOT A EMAIL FROM OUR PUBLIC WORKS THAT OTHER ROAD PROJECTS WERE BEING FUNDED BEFORE THE PRIORITY LIST.

SO I'LL SHOW THIS TO YOU ON THAT.

SO THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

THANK YOU. I WANTED TO JUST MENTION THAT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB EVENT ON FRIDAY NIGHT. THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB IN MERCER COUNTY DOES A LOT OF GOOD FOR OUR YOUTH AND THE COMMUNITY.

I ALSO WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE NAACP EVENT ON SATURDAY NIGHT, WHICH WAS THEIR VERY IT'S A VERY VOCAL COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE THAT REALLY CARE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MERCED AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE THAT EVERYBODY IS BEING THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF EVERYBODY IS TAKING CARE OF.

AND SO THAT WAS VERY INTERESTING.

I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY I DIDN'T GET TO GO TO THIS CONFERENCE THAT EVERYBODY ELSE DID.

I WAS AT THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA CENTRAL CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE FOR HEALTH RETREAT.

I'M THE VICE CHAIR FOR THAT GROUP.

AND WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON HIRING A NEW CEO.

AND THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE FOR HEALTH REPRESENTS MERCED, MONTEREY AND SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES.

SO THERE'S THREE SUPERVISORS THAT ARE PART OF THIS, AND THEN THE OTHER ONES ARE DOCTORS FROM HOSPITALS AND HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS AND INSURANCE MINDED PEOPLE THAT WE GET TOGETHER AND DISCUSS SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

AND SO THIS MORNING, WE HAD OUR FIRST INTERVIEW WITH A POTENTIAL CEO CANDIDATE, WHICH WAS VERY INTERESTING.

LET'S SEE. AND THEN FINALLY, I WAS JUST I DIDN'T KNOW THIS, BUT SUPERVISOR PAREIRA SAID THERE'S A DISCOVERY CENTER. YEAH.

I HAD RECEIVED AN EMAIL ABOUT A MONTH AGO SAYING THAT THERE WAS A DISCOVERY CENTER EVENT TOMORROW NIGHT.

SO THERE'S A DISCOVERY CENTER EVENT TOMORROW NIGHT.

IT'S AT 350 WEST YOSEMITE AVENUE.

SO THE DISCOVERY CENTER IS IT'S IT'S A REALLY COOL EXPERIENCE FOR IF YOU HAVE YOUNG KIDS OR JUST PEOPLE IN GENERAL JUST TO GO AND CHECK IT OUT.

BUT 6:00 TOMORROW NIGHT, 350 WEST YOSEMITE AVENUE AND GO AND CHECK IT OUT AND IT'S AS MUCH SUPPORT AS WE CAN GIVE THEM.

IT'S IT'S FOR THE BEST.

SO THANK YOU. MR. HANSEN. MR. MENDEZ. YES.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. JUST ONE ITEM.

I KNOW THE BOARD PROCLAIM SEVERAL IMPORTANT INITIATIVES AND EFFORTS UNDERWAY FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER.

I WANTED TO JUST HIGHLIGHT ONE OF YOUR PROCLAMATIONS, WHICH WASN'T MENTIONED EARLIER, AT LEAST VERBALLY.

FIRE PREVENTION WEEK.

IT'S UPON US OCTOBER 9TH THROUGH THE 15TH.

SO ON BEHALF OF CHIEF VAN LOWMAN, SELLERS AND CHIEF PIMENTEL WANTED TO JUST PUT THAT REMINDER OUT THERE.

OBVIOUSLY, A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO JUST BRING AWARENESS TO SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT IN EVERY COMMUNITY FOR OUR PROTECTION SERVICES.

SO AGAIN, OCTOBER 9TH THROUGH THE 15TH, JUST SHOWCASING SOME OF THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE BY CAL FIRE AND SOME OF OUR LOCAL FIRE DISTRICTS.

AND JUST ANOTHER THING TO KIND OF PUT ON YOUR RADAR FOR OCTOBER, AND THAT'S IT.

MR. TURNER, THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME. I, TOO ATTENDED THE JV RAC CONFERENCE.

AND AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S ONE OF THOSE EVENTS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU LEARN AND AND CREATE AS MUCH VALUE IN BETWEEN THE MEETINGS AS YOU DO DURING THE MEETINGS, WORKING WITH OTHER SUPERVISORS.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S NINE COUNTIES.

THAT'S 45 SUPERVISORS.

I WOULD SAY PROBABLY HALF ATTENDED OR MAYBE EVEN MORE.

AND, YOU KNOW, JUST TO KIND OF TALK ABOUT AND DISCUSS WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, OF COURSE, IT WAS FOREST, YOU KNOW, AND FOREST FIRES. MERCED COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE MUCH FOREST, BUT EXCEPT FOR THE REAL ONE.

RIGHT. I MENTIONED LAST WEEK.

BUT, YOU KNOW, NOW WE'RE SHIFTING TO WATER BECAUSE THE STATE HAS GIVEN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MOVEMENT TOWARDS REHABILITATING OUR FORESTS.

AND, YOU KNOW, AND SO I THINK THE SYNERGY THAT WE'RE BUILDING WILL, ALONG WITH THE WILLINGNESS OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO TAKE A LOOK AT WATER STORAGE, YOU

[01:10:09]

AND AND I MET WITH ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA ABOUT A MONTH AGO WHO SUGGESTED THAT WE KIND OF REGIONALLY LOOK AT TEMPERANCE FLAT AGAIN.

THAT WAS KIND OF A PROJECT DOWN SOUTH THAT WOULD HELP THE VALLEY THAT WAS KIND OF VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

BUT MAYBE NOW THERE'S A CHANCE TO GET IT BACK ON THE TABLE.

SO VERY, VERY VALUABLE AS FAR.

AS I'M CONCERNED. AND I THINK YOU GOT THAT SAME SENSE FROM MY COLLEAGUES.

AND THEN I CAME BACK ACTUALLY ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND WENT TO A FUNDRAISER AND HILMAR.

AND SO OUR THE COMMUNITY OF HILMAR HAS WORKED WITH OUR SHERIFF TO OPEN UP A COMMUNITY OR A CLIO COMMUNITY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICE.

AND THE SHERIFF IS GOING TO ACTUALLY HAS AN INVESTIGATOR THAT WILL DO HIS WORK FROM THERE.

HE LIVES IN HILMAR AND AND SO THAT OFFICE WON'T COST US ANY MORE MONEY TO HAVE HAVE A SHERIFF'S PRESENCE THERE.

MOST OF YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT CRIME HAS JUST REALLY GONE UP EXPONENTIALLY.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME AG BUSINESS INVASIONS, I GUESS IS THE WAY TO CALL THEM.

THEY'RE NOT HOME INVASIONS, BUT WE'RE PEOPLE COME UP TO BUSINESSES WHERE PEOPLE ARE WORKING.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S HAPPENED IN SWEET POTATO FIELDS, IT'S HAPPENED IN MILK BARNS, AND IT'S ALSO HAPPENED IN A PACKING SHED.

AND AND SO AND SOME OF IT'S OUT IN THAT AREA.

SO THIS IS KIND OF A WAY TO INCREASE THE SHERIFF'S PRESENCE THERE RIGHT NOW WHEN A DEPUTY IS PATROLLING HILMAR AND AND HE NEEDS TO USE THE FACILITIES OR HE NEEDS TO SIT AT A DESK TO DO SOME WORK, HE'S GOT TO DRIVE BACK TO OUR SUBSTATION IN DELPHI, WHICH TAKES THEM OUT OF HILMAR.

AND SO ANYWAYS, IN A THREE WEEKS THEY SOLD 500 TICKETS AND RAISED $10,900 TO HELP PAY FOR THE THE RENTAL OF THE OFFICE AND AND THE UTILITIES. AND SO REALLY, NO, THE COMMUNITY WANTED IT AND THEY STEPPED UP AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY NO NET COST TO THE COUNTY.

THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE WORKING THERE ARE ALREADY DOING A JOB AND THEY'LL JUST DO IT FROM THAT LOCATION.

SO ANYWAYS, OUR CEO'S OFFICE AND COUNTY COUNCIL WORKED WELL WITH THE SHERIFF TO GET THAT SET UP.

AND SO WE'RE WE'RE THANKFUL AND APPRECIATIVE.

AND MY MY LAST COMMENT IS THAT IT IS BACK TO THE 1383 I SERVE ON THE AIR DISTRICT BOARD.

AND EARLIER YOU HEARD ME COMMENT ABOUT THE POLLUTION REDUCTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE HERE IN THE VALLEY.

AND SO HERE ARE OUR STATE LEGISLATURES.

AND AND I BELIEVE THAT IT WAS PASSED WITH THE PARTIZAN VOTE OF ALL DEMOCRATS TO CREATE THIS 1383, YOU KNOW, WHICH MAKES SENSE IN AN URBAN AREA, RIGHT? TO SOME DEGREE, YOU KNOW, THE FOOD WASTE IS REALLY A SMALL PORTION OF WHAT GOES INTO THE TRASH.

AND SO I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF IT MAKES SENSE IN AN URBAN AREA, BUT I'LL GIVE THEM THAT.

BUT BUT HERE YOU HAVE FOLKS THAT FIGHT ALL THE TIME TO TO TO DO STUFF FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

AND WITH THIS LEGISLATION, THEY'RE HURTING THE ENVIRONMENT.

AND IT'S JUST REALLY FRUSTRATING THAT COMMON SENSE CAN'T PREVAIL.

RIGHT. AND THAT SOMEBODY GETS EMOTIONALLY TIED UP OR THEY YOU KNOW, THEY THEY THEY THINK THEY'RE HURTING SOMEBODY.

YOU KNOW, THEY THINK THEY'RE HURTING BUSINESSES AND THEY FEEL GOOD ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW? WELL, WELL, ALL OF US RELY ON THOSE BUSINESSES.

EARLIER I MENTIONED WHEN COSTS GO UP, IT COSTS ALL OF US.

AND SO IF YOU WANT TO HELP A DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY, DON'T DO SOMETHING STUPID.

AND THAT'S THAT'S MY THING.

SO ANYWAYS, I HOPE I DON'T GET COINED FOR THAT, BUT, BUT IT'S TRUE.

SO ANYWAYS, WITH THAT, I WILL CLOSE TODAY'S MEETING.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JERRY.

IT WAS.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.