Oct 18, 2022 Board Meeting

[00:00:01]

GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE OCTOBER 18TH MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

[Call to Order]

AT THIS TIME WE WILL HAVE THE INVOCATION TO BE LED BY PASTOR JUAN URIOSTEGUI FROM THE IGLESIA DE CRISTO CHURCH, AND JUST FOR CONTEXT, IF YOU'VE SEEN THE CARS THAT GO AROUND, THAT HAVE ALL THE WORDS ON THEM, THAT TALK TO YOU ABOUT DRUGS AND HELP TO GET OFF THAT'S THE CHURCH THAT HE PASTORS AND SO ANYWAYS AND THEN I'LL LEAD THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE MYSELF.

[SPANISH] OH, DON'T TOUCH.

[SPANISH] WE'RE GOING TO PRAY.

[SPANISH] WE THANK.

WE GIVE THANKS FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL OPPORTUNITY.

[SPANISH] THAT ALLOW US TO BE IN YOUR PRESENT CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE [SPANISH] WE COME BEFORE YOUR THRONE OF GRACE.

[SPANISH] TO ASK YOU FORGIVENESS FOR THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE IN OUR LIVES THAT ARE NOT PLEASING TO YOU.

[SPANISH] THAT WAY THERE'S NOTHING THAT WILL INTERFERE WITH THIS PRAYER [SPANISH] WE THANK YOU FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF MERCED COUNTY [SPANISH] FOR EACH SUPERVISOR THAT WORKS IN DIFFERENT AREAS [SPANISH] WE ASK YOU TO WATCH OVER THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR HOMES.

[SPANISH] BRING PROTECTION AND BLESSINGS OVER THEIR LIVES.

[SPANISH] AND IN THIS MOMENT, A VERY SPECIAL MOMENT [SPANISH] WE ASK FOR YOUR DIVINE INTERVENTION IN THIS PLACE. [SPANISH] WE ASK THAT YOU GIVE THEM WISDOM, EACH ONE OF THEM.

[SPANISH] SO THAT WE CAN BE PLEASED AND YOU CAN BE PLEASED WITH US. [SPANISH] WE ASK THAT YOUR GRACE WILL BE WITH EACH LEADER IN THIS COMMUNITY [SPANISH] GIVE THEM PEACE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CONFLICT.

[SPANISH] AND WE ASK FOR YOUR HELP IN EVERYTHING THAT WILL HAPPEN TODAY IN THIS PLACE [SPANISH].

WE NEED YOU [SPANISH] THIS COMMITTEE IS IN YOUR DIVINE HANDS.

[SPANISH] AND EACH LEADER THAT IS IN THIS CASE IS IN YOUR HANDS.

[SPANISH] AND THANK YOU FOR EACH PERSON THAT IS HERE TODAY.

[SPANISH].

WE ASK FOR PEACE AND HARMONY IN THIS PLACE.

[SPANISH] IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOR, WE ASK THIS.

AMEN. AMEN.

AMEN.

AMEN. THANK YOU, PASTOR JUAN, FOR THOSE GRACIOUS WORDS.

WE SINCERELY APPRECIATE THEM.

[Message from CEO]

THIS ISN'T AN AGENDA ITEM, SO THERE WILL NOT BE ANY DISCUSSION OR ACTION ON THE SUBJECT, BUT WE WANT TO PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY, AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU [INAUDIBLE] MENDEZ.

YES. THANK YOU, MR.

[00:05:02]

RAUL MENDEZ, MERCED COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER, WANTED TO SHARE SOME WORDS BOTH IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH IN REGARDS TO THE ISSUE THAT SURFACED WITH OUR ELECTIONS HERE THIS LAST WEEK. SO AGAIN.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

LAST WEEK WE DID BECOME AWARE OF BALLOT ISSUES AFFECTING VOTERS IN THE COMMUNITIES OF ATWATER, GUSTINE, SANTA NELLA AND MERCED IN ADDITION TO A PRIOR ISSUE THAT WE ADDRESSED IN THE LOS BANOS AREA.

FOLLOWING THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS, THERE WERE SOME COMPLICATIONS ADJUSTING THE LINES THAT SEPARATE VOTING PRECINCTS IN MERCED COUNTY.

AS A RESULT, SLIGHTLY MORE THAN 4100 REGISTERED VOTERS RECEIVED BALLOTS THAT CONTAINED INCORRECT LOCAL RACES.

AFTER DISCOVERING THIS ISSUE, STAFF CAME TOGETHER, WORKING DAY AND NIGHT AND THROUGH THE WEEKEND TO IDENTIFY WHERE THE DISCREPANCIES WERE AND TO ISSUE CORRECTED BALLOTS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THOSE CORRECTED BALLOTS WERE PRINTED OVER THE WEEKEND AND MAILED OUT YESTERDAY.

SUCH CORRECTED BALLOTS WERE MAILED ONLY TO THE AFFECTED VOTERS.

THE CORRECTED BALLOTS WILL HAVE A NUMBER TWO ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VOTE BY MAIL ENVELOPE.

AFFECTED VOTERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE A LETTER FROM THE MERCED COUNTY ELECTIONS OFFICE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, CONTAINING INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO IDENTIFY THE CORRECT BALLOT TO COMPLETE AND RETURN, AS WELL AS WELL AS INFORMATION THAT MAY HAVE BEEN MISSING FROM THE VOTER INFORMATION GUIDE.

AFFECTED VOTERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE A CALL OR EMAIL IF THEY HAVE A PHONE NUMBER OR EMAIL ADDRESS ON FILE WITH THE REGISTRAR OF VOTERS OFFICE.

THE ELECTIONS OFFICE WILL REVIEW EACH BALLOT SUBMITTED FROM THE AFFECTED PRECINCTS TO ENSURE THAT VOTERS RETURNED THE CORRECT BALLOT.

IF AN INCORRECT BALLOT IS RETURNED, THE ELECTIONS OFFICE WILL REACH OUT TO THE VOTER TO ASSIST WITH RETURNING A CORRECT BALLOT PRIOR TO 8 P.M.

ON ELECTION DAY. IN THE EVENT THAT A VOTER RETURNS AN ORIGINAL BALLOT CONTAINING ERRORS AND DOES NOT RETURN AN UPDATED BALLOT, ONLY THE RACES PERTAINING TO THE DISTRICT HE OR SHE RESIDES IN WILL BE COUNTED.

THE ENTIRE BALLOT WILL NOT BE VOIDED.

ALSO, NO VOTES WILL BE COUNTED TWICE.

WE HAVE SYSTEMS IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT.

LET ME REPEAT THAT JUST TO BE CLEAR.

IN THE EVENT THAT A VOTER RETURNS THE ORIGINAL BALLOT CONTAINING ERRORS AND DOES NOT RETURN AN UPDATED BALLOT, ONLY THE RACES PERTAINING TO THE DISTRICT HE OR SHE RESIDES IN WILL BE COUNTED.

THE ENTIRE BALLOT WILL NOT BE VOIDED.

ALSO, NO VOTES WILL BE COUNTED TWICE.

WE HAVE SYSTEMS IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT.

WE AS AN ORGANIZATION PRIDE OURSELVES IN DELIVERING QUALITY SERVICES AND ACCURATE INFORMATION.

THAT DID NOT HAPPEN THIS TIME, AND WE HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE.

WE, I, FAILED MERCER COUNTY RESIDENTS.

THIS APPEARS TO BE A HUMAN ERROR AFFECTING RANDOM PRECINCTS AROUND THE COUNTY, AFFECTING BOTH CANDIDATES AND BALLOT MEASURES.

MOVING FORWARD, WE'LL BE WORKING ON IDENTIFYING THE ISSUES THAT LED TO THESE MISTAKES AND DEVELOPING AN ACTION PLAN TO LIMIT AND ELIMINATE FUTURE ERRORS OF THIS NATURE IN THE FUTURE. MERCED COUNTY IS WORKING WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE, AS WELL AS OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL TO MAKE SURE THE SITUATION IS HANDLED APPROPRIATELY.

THE INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTIONS IS CRITICAL TO THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS.

WE UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS EXPRESSED BY THE COMMUNITY AND APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE.

WE HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK LONG HOURS DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO FIX THIS AND DELIVER AN ACCURATE ELECTION FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

WE FULLY RECOGNIZE THE GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION AND WE WON'T REST UNTIL IT IS RESOLVED.

IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, THEY CAN CALL THE MERCED COUNTY ELECTIONS OFFICE AT 209-385-7541 OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT COUNTY OF MERCED.COM, WHICH HAS INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON ITS FRONT PAGE.

VOTERS CAN ALSO UTILIZE OUR VOTING ASSISTANCE CENTERS TO VOTE IN PERSON.

THOSE LOCATIONS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE ELECTIONS PAGE OF THE MERCED COUNTY WEBSITE AND WILL HAVE ALL CORRECTED BALLOTS ON HAND LEADING UP TO ELECTION DAY.

IF ANYONE IS CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT BALLOTS YOU VOTE ON, THEY CAN UTILIZE ONE OF THE VOTING ASSISTANCE CENTERS TO ENSURE THEY'RE USING THE CORRECT BALLOT FOR THEIR PRECINCT.

A BALLOT COMPLETED AT A VOTING ASSISTANCE CENTER WILL BE COUNTED AND VOID ANY PREVIOUS BALLOT SUBMITTED BY THE VOTER.

VOTERS CAN ALSO CHECK THE STATUS OF THEIR BALLOT AT WHERE'S MY BALLOT.SOS.CA.GOV AGAIN.

WHERE WHERE'S MY BALLOT.SOS.CA.GOV.

AS A REMINDER, THE DEADLINE TO VOTE AT 8 P.M.

[00:10:02]

THE DEADLINE TO VOTE IS 8 P.M.

ON ELECTION DAY, NOVEMBER 8TH, AND I WILL MAKE THE STATEMENT IN SPANISH.

GRACIAS, SENOR PRESIDENTE [SPANISH].

[SPANISH]

[00:15:42]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

I DO HAVE ONE.

ONE CLARIFICATION.

SO THE COUNTY HAS STAFF REACHING OUT TO EACH OF THE VOTERS.

IF THEY'VE IF THERE'S AN EMAIL OR A PHONE NUMBER LISTED ON THEIR VOTER REGISTRATION, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT. AND THOSE AND THE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE CALLING ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO INTERPRETATION FOR ALL THE LANGUAGES.

THAT IS CORRECT. YES, THAT IS CORRECT, MR. CHAIR. OKAY, THANK YOU.

SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I KNOW THIS ISN'T A DISCUSSION, BUT I WOULD JUST LIKE TO PUT MY INPUT IN THIS.

FOR THE SAKE OF THE FOLKS AND THE INTEGRITY OF THIS ELECTION, I'D LIKE TO CALL FOR A THIRD PARTY INVESTIGATION.

I WANT TO KNOW WHO, WHEN AND WHY, AND IF THERE WAS ANY INTENT.

I WANT TO TAKE THE FULL AND THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW TO MOVE FORWARD TO THIS, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT RIGHT TO THE PEOPLE OF MERCED COUNTY.

AGAIN, IF THERE WAS INTENT THROUGHOUT OUR INVESTIGATION, I WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT AND I APPRECIATE IT IF MY BOARD WOULD JOIN ME IN WANTING TO DO THE SAME THING.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

YOU'RE WELCOME. YEAH, I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD DO THE SAME.

SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK COMMENTS ON IT.

I KNOW THAT THIS AFFECTS ALL AREAS OF THE COUNTY IN THE SENSE OF THERE'STHERE'S WE FOUND SOME CHALLENGES WITH SOME PRECINCTS OVER IN THE LOS BANOS AREA, SANTA NELLA AREA, IN THE GUSTINE AREA, AS WELL AS IN MERCED AND ATWATER.

I TOO WOULD CONCUR THATTHAT THERE'S A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION AS TO THE DETAILS OF WHY THIS HAPPENED AND HONESTLY, TO FIGURE OUT AND PUT THINGS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

LIKE THE CEO SAID, I FEEL LIKE WE'VE LET THE VOTERS OF MERCED COUNTY DOWN AS WELL, BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS, IS THAT THIS INVESTIGATION IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

I BELIEVE IT IS.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANSWERS TO THAT IMMEDIATELY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE ALSO HAVE AN ELECTION COMING UP, AND IT IS OUR JOB IS ALL OF OUR STAFF'S JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE, AND THE ASK THAT I PUT OUT THERE, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF FRUSTRATION, BELIEVE ME, WE'RE GETTING THE PHONE CALLS, WE'RE GETTING THE EMAILS, BUT WHAT I ASK IS, IS AS WE WORK PRETTY DILIGENTLY TO, WE'VE NOW IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEMS AND WE'VE IDENTIFIED WITHIN THE LAW THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO TRY TO RECTIFY THOSE PROBLEMS. IS MY ASK IS TO PLEASE HELP US GET GOOD INFORMATION OUT TO FOLKS, BECAUSE I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE FOLKS OUT THERE THAT THINK

[00:20:09]

IT'S NOT ONLY OUR LOCAL RACES, BUT THERE'S STATE AND FEDERAL RACES THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE THAT ARE.

SO THE ELECTION HAS TO BE CERTIFIED.

SO MY ASK TO THE PUBLIC IS, IS WE'RE DOING OUR VERY BEST TO GET INFORMATION OUT TO YOU ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE FOUND.

WE'RE GOING TO GET INFORMATION OUT TO YOU.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET IT OUT TO YOU IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES SO THAT SO THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND , BUT PLEASE HELP US PASS THIS GOOD INFORMATION.

THE TEAM HAS WORKED PRETTY TIRELESSLY TO MAKING SURE THAT WE IDENTIFIED ALL THE PROBLEMS AND THAT WE'RE GETTING YOU THE SOLUTION.

IS IT PERFECT? NO, BUT I CAN'T UNDO WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE.

ALL WE CAN DO FORWARD IS, IS PLEASE JUDGE ME BY HOW WE HOW WE'VE REACTED TO THIS AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO FIX IT, BUT AGAIN, I'M GOING TO RESTATE IT.

THE ASK OF THE PUBLIC IS AS WE'RE PUTTING OUT THIS INFORMATION, SHARE IT WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS, SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS ON HOW BECAUSE IT MAKES IT A LOT EASIER IF PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THE FIRST BALLOT IS GOING TO BE INVALIDATED UNLESS NOTHING ELSE COMES IN, BUT THOSE LOCAL RACES WILL BE EXCLUDED, BUT IF YOU REALLY TRULY WANT YOUR VOTE TO BE COUNTED, YOU'VE GOT TO VOTE ON THE SECOND BALLOT, AND I KNOW IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT IT'S THIS WAY, BUT THAT'S THE WAY THAT IT IS NOW.

SO I'M ASKING YOU, HELP US GET THE GOOD INFORMATION OUT THERE AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN KIND OF RESTORE TRUST IN OUR ELECTION PROCESS, BECAUSE I THINK I CAN SPEAK FOR ALL OF US UP HERE THAT IT'S OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO US.

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

THANK YOU. I AGREE 100%.

I THINK WE SHOULD DO AN INVESTIGATION, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT BE BENEFICIAL TO HAVE AN OUTSIDE PERSON OVERSEEING THIS ELECTION AS WELL, JUST BECAUSE TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE VOTES ARE COUNTED AND EVERYTHING MY DISTRICT WAS IMPACTED THE MOST, AND I DO NOT EVER WANT TO THINK THAT PEOPLE, WHEN THEY VOTE, THAT THEIR VOTE DOESN'T COUNT, THEIR VOTE COUNTS.

THAT'S THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT OF AN AMERICAN CITIZEN.

WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO VOTE.

DOESN'T MATTER WHO YOU VOTE FOR, IT'S JUST VOTE.

THAT'S YOUR VOICE, AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THAT.

I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I REALLY DO APPRECIATE STAFF RECOGNIZING THE ISSUE, STAFF GETTING AHEAD OF THE ISSUE, STAFF REALLY WORKING TIRELESSLY.

I MEAN, THEY WERE HERE UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR A COUPLE OF NIGHTS GETTING THIS THING FIGURED OUT BECAUSE THEY APPRECIATE THE INTEGRITY OF THE ELECTION , AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE CAN'T QUESTION THAT.

WE CAN'T QUESTION IF OUR VOTE'S GOING TO COUNT OR IF OUR VOTE MATTERS.

EVERY SINGLE VOTE MATTERS.

THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT.

SO I KNOW IT'S KIND OF CONFUSING, BUT AGAIN, PLEASE GO TO THE WEBSITE.

ALL OF THE INFORMATION IS ON THE WEBSITE AND IT'LL DIRECT YOU TO WHERE YOU NEED TO GO.

OR YOU CAN CALL MY OFFICE AND I'LL DIRECT YOU IF IT'S CONFUSING.

I DON'T THAT'S MY JOB, BUT I THINK IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT AND I APPRECIATE THE CEO FOR HIS WORDS.

WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WERE MISTAKES THAT WERE MADE.

WE'RE GOING TO INVESTIGATE, FIGURE OUT WHERE THAT HAPPENED AND MAKE SURE THAT WE MOVE ON SO THAT IT DOES NOT EVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

THAT'S IT. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE PUBLIC HAS LOST SOME TRUST IN OUR VOTING SYSTEM , AND I KNOW WE'RE DOING THAT AS BEST THE STAFF IS DOING ITS BEST TO WORK OVERTIME AND TO CORRECT IT, AND WE HAVE FAITH IN AND THE CITIZENS THAT WE ARE DOING A PROPER PROCESS AND A FAIR PROCESS FOR EVERYBODY.

YOU KNOW, BUT READING THE INFORMATION THAT THE CEO READ SHOULD HAVE BEEN BY THAT DEPARTMENT, THE REGISTRAR OF VOTERS.

WHEN I HAD ISSUES OR COMPLAINTS FROM CITIZENS IN THE PAST, I WOULD EMAIL BARBARA [INAUDIBLE].

SHE WAS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

THIS POSITION SHOULD BE UP FRONT AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T REACHED OUT TO DEPARTMENT HEAD ON THIS ISSUE

[00:25:08]

IF SHE WAS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, YOU KNOW, SHE WOULD BE HOLDING UP HIGH IN OUR HEAD HIGH AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, RESPONDING TO ALL THE ISSUES.

SHE SHOULD HAVE HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE RIGHT AWAY TO APPEASE AND CALM PEOPLE'S FEARS OF HAVING A OF NOT HAVING A FAIR PROCESS.

LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHAT ERRORS ARE MADE EMPLOYEES MAKE ERRORS, AND BUT ANY EMPLOYEE UNDER THAT DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY SHE'S IN CHARGE OF THEM.

RIGHT. WE SHOULD NOT BE TAKING THE FAULT FOR IT AS A BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, AND THAT'S WHY I WENT OUT THERE TO MY CONSTITUENTS WHO WERE ASKING ME TO DO A PRESS CONFERENCE, SAY A FEW WORDS.

I DID. YOU KNOW, I DID ON MY PART.

YOU KNOW, THEY THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE THE CHOICE OF GOING OUT THERE, BUT I JUST WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT WE'RE DOING AS BEST WE CAN BY STAFF.

I KNOW THAT I'VE SEEN THEM WORK HARD AND THEY'VE GIVEN ME UPDATES, BUT LIKE I SAID, IF THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, THEY'RE UP FRONT WITH THE PUBLIC AND THEY'RE ADDRESSING THE ISSUE, AND I THINK WE'VE HELD BACK, AND THAT'S WHY THERE'S A LITTLE MISTRUST ON VOTERS, THAT THERE'S NOT A FAIR PROCESS, DIFFERENT PERCEPTIONS.

THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE DIFFERENT PERCEPTIONS.

EVERY ELECTION HAS BEEN A FAIR PROCESS, AND EVERY COUNTY SHOULD BE ABLE TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN TO APPEASE THE MINDS OF PEOPLE, WHERE THERE IS ANY ISSUE, ANY ERROR BY ANYTHING IN THAT DEPARTMENT, NOT JUST THE REGISTERED VOTERS.

THANK YOU, CEO MENDEZ.

YES, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

JUST A COMMENT IN REGARDS TO THE REQUEST FOR AN INVESTIGATION OR STAFF LOOKING INTO KIND OF WHAT OCCURRED.

AS INDICATED, THE PRIORITY RIGHT NOW IS THE INTEGRITY AND ACCURACY OF THE ELECTION.

THAT'S KIND OF BEEN OUR FOCUS.

WE DO BELIEVE WE HAVE FOUND FACTS THAT HAVE LED TO THE BALLOT ISSUES.

THAT INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.

SO AT THIS TIME, WE'RE NOT PREPARED TO SHARE ANY MORE INFORMATION OTHER THAN THAT, AND WE DO PLAN TO BRING BACK SOME MORE INFORMATION AT A FUTURE DATE.

SO I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE THAT CLARIFICATION FOR THE BOARD AND MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE AND ALSO THE PUBLIC.

THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT, AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING BECAUSE I THINK THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW.

ALL RIGHT OKAY, ALL RIGHT, WE'RE READY.

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

[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK]

AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT AGAIN FOR THIS NON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE COME UP TO THE PODIUM AND SHARE YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.

IS THIS ON? YES, I THINK IT IS MAYBE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER.

HI, EVERYBODY. GOOD MORNING, SIR.

YOUR COMMENTS ARE TO THE BOARD, NOT TO THE PUBLIC.

MY NAME IS JAVIER FUENTES.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, I'M A CANDIDATE FOR A PUBLIC OFFICE FOR THE CITY OF MERCED DISTRICT FOUR, WHERE I THINK MR. PEDROZO IS IN CHARGE COUNTYWIDE.

I'M VERY FRUSTRATED FOR MANY REASONS, BUT THE FIRST ONE IS THAT I BELIEVE THAT THE CREDIBILITY OF THE ELECTION PROCESS HAS BEEN DAMAGED PERMANENTLY IN THIS CITY, IN THIS COUNTY AND IN THE STATE, AND WHY DO I SAY THAT? WELL, I SAY THAT BECAUSE BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, MIDTERM ELECTIONS, YOU KNOW, THE TURNOUT AND THE PARTICIPATION IS LOW.

WITH THIS KIND OF DAMAGE THAT HAS BEEN DONE, WHETHER IT WAS INTENTIONAL OR INTENTIONAL.

WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT HAS BEEN THERE HAS BEEN PERMANENT DAMAGE TO OUR DEMOCRACY.

THE DAMAGE HAS RESULTED, I BELIEVE, IN VOTER SUPPRESSION.

VOTER SUPPRESSION, WHETHER IT WAS INTENDED OR NOT INTENDED, HAPPENS BECAUSE THERE IS CONFUSION.

SO PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, HEY, WAIT A MINUTE, I ALREADY VOTED.

WHY DO I HAVE TO VOTE AGAIN? DO THESE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THE HECK THEY'RE DOING? AND THAT IS THE REASON THAT I BELIEVE THAT A COMMON PERSON WOULD ASK THEMSELVES THAT QUESTION.

WHEN I DID MY FILING, I WAS CALLED A WEEK LATER.

[00:30:04]

YOU SHOULD BE RUNNING. YOU ARE IN DISTRICT SIX, AND I SAID, NO.

ARE YOU IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE CITY? BECAUSE THE CITY HAS REDRAWN THE BOUNDARIES, AND I KNOW THAT I AM IN DISTRICT FOUR NOW.

SO THEN THEY CALLED ME ABOUT A WEEK LATER, A FEW DAYS LATER, AND SAID, YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU ARE IN DISTRICT FOUR.

SO THEY KNEW FROM THAT TIME, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, THAT THEY HAD THE INFORMATION WRONG.

MY QUESTION BECAME AT THAT POINT IS WHY DOESN'T THE CITY AND THE COUNTY USE WHAT WE CALL COMMUNICATION IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM SO THAT THEY KNOW WHERE THOSE BOUNDARIES ARE AND ESPECIALLY THE COUNTY THAT IS IN CHARGE OF THIS OFFICIALLY OF THIS ELECTION? WHY ISN'T THE COUNTY GETTING THE INFORMATION, THE CORRECT INFORMATION? I TALKED TO THE CITY MAYOR YESTERDAY AND HE SAID WE PROVIDED ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WAS NECESSARY, AND SO THE BALL IS NOT IN OUR [INAUDIBLE].

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

OH, THERE WE GO.

I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS TO FIX THE NEW BALLOT, BUT I STILL THINK THAT THE CURRENT BALLOTS OUGHT TO BE INVALIDATED, AND BETTER, I ASK THAT THE PERSON OR PERSONS WHO ERRED IN THIS PARTICULAR PROCESS OF GETTING THE WRONG BALLOTS SHOULD BE FIRED.

WITH THIS REPUBLIC, WE GET RIGHTS AND WE GET RESPONSIBILITIES AND WHEN YOU MESS UP, YOU SHOULD PAY A PRICE, AND THAT ISN'T A REPRIMAND AND CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT BY THE COUNTY.

SECOND POINT IS THE GOVERNOR'S HEALTH EMERGENCY.

I UNDERSTAND I'M GLAD THAT HE'S LIFTING THIS HEALTH EMERGENCY AFTER ONLY TWO YEARS AND EIGHT MONTHS OF SOMETHING OR OTHER, THE SHUTTING DOWN OF THE ENTIRE CALIFORNIA ECONOMY FOR AS LONG AS HE DID, DID BOTH ECONOMIC AND MENTAL HEALTH DISSERVICE TO THE STATE AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN IT, AND I WANT TO SAY THAT VACCINES THAT DON'T [INAUDIBLE] IMMUNIZE, SORRY, CALM DOWN, VACCINES THAT DON'T IMMUNIZE ARE MERELY DRUGS AND THEY SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH, AND THAT MASKS THAT.

WE HAVE FOUND OUT IN THE FOLLOWING TWO YEARS OF HIS MANDATE ARE LARGELY INEFFECTIVE BECAUSE PEOPLE TOUCH THEIR FACES ALL THE TIME, AND EVEN N-95 MASKS ONLY STOP 95% OF THE VIRUS PARTICLES COMING IN.

SO OUR COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER WHO IS PAID, I BELIEVE 230,000 OF OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS, IS GROSSLY UNRESPONSIVE TO MY ENTREATIES TO TALK ABOUT THE CONTINUING ILL EFFECTS OF ON MERCED COUNTY CITIZENS, AND HE SHOULD BE INSTRUCTED TO COOPERATE.

SO I ASK YOUR HELP IN RETIRING THE GOVERNOR FROM HIS OFFICE IN NOVEMBER, AND YOU'RE SPENDING MILLIONS OF OUR COUNTY DOLLARS ON MENTAL HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE.

SO I DON'T THINK YOU'RE MEASURING SUCCESS PROPERLY AND YOU COULD MEASURE IT BETTER, BUT HERE'S WHAT THE VA IS DOING.

THEIR COUNSELING IS NOW ENCOURAGING THE CITIZEN OR THE VETERAN TO SPEND MORE TIME SOLVING HIS OR HER OWN PROBLEMS RATHER THAN CONTINUING COUNSELING FOR YEARS ON END.

SO I THINK IF YOU YOU SHORTEN TREATMENT AND IN THE COUNTY, THAT WILL ALSO BE BETTER.

[INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

[00:35:01]

IT WASN'T BEFORE, BUT NOW WE ARE.

BOARD, I ADDRESS YOU. I'M CASEY STEED.

I COME TO YOU AS A CITIZEN.

A RESIDENT OF JOSH PEDROZO'S DISTRICT TWO, A LANDOWNER, A VOTER, AND I'M ALSO A CANDIDATE IN THIS UPCOMING ELECTION.

I'M A CANDIDATE FOR DISTRICT FOUR.

DISTRICT SIX IS ALSO AFFECTED.

LET ME GIVE YOU SOME NUMBERS. THERE'S 4200 BALLOTS THAT WERE SENT TO WRONG VOTERS, 2200 IN MY DISTRICT, 2000 IN DISTRICT SIX.

THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE NUMBER OF VOTES.

MY FRIENDS, THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN CORRUPTED.

I APPRECIATE THE STRONG WORDS FROM THE SUPERVISORS, BUT I HOPE THAT STRONG ACTIONS ALSO FOLLOW.

A THIRD PARTY IS NECESSARY BECAUSE WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO GET AN ELECTION OFF, IT NEEDS TO BE CORRECT.

IT NEEDS TO BE TRANSPARENT.

PEOPLE ARE BEING DISENFRANCHISED HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? WHY WAS IT ALLOWED TO HAPPEN AND WHY DID IT GO ON SO LONG? HERE WE ARE 21 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION AND WE DON'T HAVE AN ADEQUATE REMEDY.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DISENFRANCHISED.

MY VOTERS ARE CONFUSED.

I'M CONFUSED.

I'VE HAD TO REACH OUT TO THE COUNTY ELECTIONS TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.

THEY'RE GOING TO SEND OUT A TWO PAGE DOCUMENT TO ALL THE AFFECTED VOTERS.

ACTUALLY, IT'S TWO TWO-SIDED PAGES.

INSTEAD OF A NEW VOTER GUIDE, WHICH WE ALL GOT WITH EVERYBODY'S INFORMATION AND A SAMPLE BALLOT INSIDE HERE THAT CAN BE FILLED OUT AND TAKEN TO A VOTING CENTER OR TAKEN WHEN YOU FILL OUT YOUR BALLOT.

WE'RE NOT GIVING THAT TO 4200 PEOPLE IN DISTRICT FOUR AND SIX.

THAT IS NOT A TRANSPARENT PROCESS, MY FRIENDS.

THAT'S NOT A TRANSPARENT PROCESS.

THE RIGHTS OF THE VOTERS HAVE BEEN ABRIDGED.

THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, THE VOTING RIGHTS, THE CITIZENS OF THIS CITY, THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY HAVE BEEN DONE A DISSERVICE.

IT'S YOUR JOB TO FIX IT.

THIS IS CAUSED GRIEVOUS HARM TO THIS PROCESS.

THIS ELECTION WILL HAVE A STENCH ON IT UNLESS IT'S RESOLVED APPROPRIATELY, AND I APPRECIATE ABOUT GETTING PUBLIC INFORMATION OUT, BUT WE NEED TO GET IT OUT. IT SHOULDN'T IT BE INCUMBENT UPON MY VOTERS TO REACH OUT TO ELECTIONS.

WE'LL GET A CALL BACK.

HEY, TURN THE BALLOT IN, AND THIS REMEDY OF ONLY THE RACES PERTAINING TO THE DISTRICT HE OR SHE RESIDES IN WILL BE COUNTED.

THE RACE IS PERTAINING TO THE DISTRICT.

I'M ONE OF THOSE RACES AND THE DISTRICT PERTAINS TO ME, BUT YET YOU SAY YOU'RE NOT GOING TO COUNT IT.

IF THEY TURN IN THE FIRST BALLOT WITHOUT MY RACE OR DISTRICT SIX'S RACES.

I JUST WANT A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.

MY FRIENDS, I'M NOT HERE FOR PERSONAL INTERESTS.

I'M HERE FOR THE INTERESTS OF THE VOTERS, FOR THE CANDIDATES.

TWO OF YOU HAVE BEEN ENDORSED.

TWO OF YOU SUPERVISORS HAVE ENDORSED THREE CANDIDATES IN THESE RACES.

YOU HAVE AN INVESTMENT IN THESE RACES.

[INAUDIBLE] AND IT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING A COMMENT.

YES? OH, SORRY, SIR.

I DIDN'T SEE YOU. I JUST SAW THE LADY IN FRONT.

COME ON. WE'LL GET YOU NEXT.

OKAY, DON'T GO AWAY.

TRYING TO TAKE ACTION AFTER A TERRIBLE EVENT LIKE THIS.

I'M A FORMER TEACHER.

MY NAME IS IRENE MCCLANAHAN.

FAIRLY NEW TO THE COMMUNITY.

I'M JUST APPALLED AT THIS.

SENT OUT BY DARLENE INGERSOLL TO THE COMMUNITY.

NOWHERE IN HERE HAS IN TO VOTE OTHER THAN MAIL, AND AT MY CHURCH, CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, I KNOW TWO PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY DID TELL ME THEY WILL BE POLL WATCHERS, BUT IN THE LAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, ALL OF THE MAIL WAS STOLEN AND IT WAS STOLEN OUT OF MY OWN MAILBOX TRYING TO GIVE MONEY TO TWO CANDIDATES.

I'M VERY ANGRY ABOUT THAT, BUT NO OTHER MAIL IN MY MAILBOX WAS STOLEN AND I HAD MONEY IN THERE, A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR TWO CANDIDATES, AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A HUGE RUSH TO GET US TO VOTE BY MAIL. I DON'T TRUST THE PROCESS.

I AM AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.

ALSO IN THE MERCED COUNTY TIMES, IT TALKED ABOUT OUTSIDE MONEY COMING IN FOR CANDIDATES.

THAT IS WRONG.

IT SHOULD BE AGAINST THE LAW.

WE'VE GOT TO STOP THAT BECAUSE OF SOROS, A MULTIMILLIONAIRE, GIVES CANDIDATES FOR HIS POLITICAL PARTY

[00:40:07]

IT SHOULD BE THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE GIVING MONEY TO THEIR CANDIDATES.

I'VE BEEN PART OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HERE.

I'M VERY ACTIVE WRITING LETTERS TO THE EDITOR AND SO FORTH, AND I JUST CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE PROCESS HAS BEEN COMPLETELY DECEIVED AND IMMORAL AND UNJUST.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

HELLO, BOARD. MY NAME IS DAVID RODRIGUEZ.

I LIVE AT 8980 WEST TOPEKA STREET IN PLANADA.

I'M HERE TO OPPOSE THE FUTURE EXPANSION OF THE HILLCREST DAIRY AND PLANADA CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 20-013.

CALIFORNIA IS GOING THROUGH ANOTHER DROUGHT AND MERCED COUNTY IS STILL IN A SEVERELY OVERDRAFT SITUATION WITH OUR WATER SUPPLY.

THE EXPANSION AT HILLCREST DAIRY WILL INCREASE THE HERD OF COWS FROM 8050 TO 9750.

WHEN ONE COW USES 30 PLUS GALLONS OF WATER A DAY.

THAT IS A DEEP CONCERN, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE DAIRY HAS OVER 8000 COWS.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT DOES NOT DIRECTLY IMPLY THE SEVERE DAMAGE IT WOULD HAVE ON THE COMMUNITY OF PLANADA.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY STATES THAT 2000 COWS PRODUCE 240,000 LBS OF MANURE A DAY.

ONE SINGLE COW PRODUCES ANYWHERE FROM 154 TO 264 LBS OF METHANE GAS A YEAR.

WITH THE STENCH OF MANURE FILTERING THROUGH OUR TOWN, NITRATES AND METHANE AFFECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT AND PLANADA BEING DESIGNATED AS A SEVERELY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY.

I IMPLORE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO DENY THE FUTURE EXPANSION FOR THE HILLCREST DAIRY IN PLANADA, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

YOU'RE WELCOME. ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT? YES. HELLO, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

MY NAME IS JAS DIAZ.

I LIVE IN MERCED JOSH PEDROZO'S DISTRICT.

I'D LIKE TO START BY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE'RE ON [INAUDIBLE] NORTHERN VALLEY [INAUDIBLE] LAND.

I AM ALSO HERE TO BRING ATTENTION AND SUPPORT AGAINST THE EXPANSION OF THE HILLCREST DAIRY.

THIS IS BROUGHT TO ALTHOUGH I LIVE IN MERCED AND WE'RE NEIGHBORING TO PLANADA.

IT IS CONCERNING.

WE'VE ALREADY SEEN IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY THE IMPACTS THAT THESE DAIRY COMPANIES HAVE.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AROUND IT, WHETHER IT IS WATER CONTAMINATION, SOIL, SOIL CONTAMINATION, AS WELL AS AIR POLLUTANTS FOR THOSE THAT LIVE IN THOSE NEIGHBORING AREAS.

WE'VE SEEN WITH COUNTY OF TULARE AND PIXLEY, I URGE YOU TO THINK ABOUT NOT JUST FOR THE NOW AND THE EXPANSION OF THE ECONOMY RIGHT NOW, BUT TO LOOK AT THE SEVEN GENERATIONS AND HOW THAT WILL IMPACT THE SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE.

ARE WE WILLING TO COMPROMISE WATER? ARE WE WILLING TO COMPROMISE AIR QUALITY? AND PLANADA'S ALREADY HURTING.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES THAT AREN'T BEING MET AND LIVING IN THE CITY OF MERCED.

THEY'RE NOT THAT FAR AWAY, AND I FEEL LIKE SOMETIMES WE DON'T GIVE THEM THE ATTENTION THAT THEY DESERVE, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

OH, AND IF I HAVE ONE MORE SECOND, I ALSO JUST ON SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE SAID BEFORE, I WANT TO GIVE A THANKS TO NURSES AND HEALTH CARE WORKERS WHO HAVE BEEN PUTTING THEIR TIME AND LIVES AND FAMILIES AT RISK.

SO THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE STILL AFFECTED AND TO THANK THEM.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

ANYBODY ELSE? YEAH. YOU'RE A VERY PATIENT LADY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] MARIA, AND I'M A RESIDENT HERE IN MERCED, CALIFORNIA.

I'M IN DISTRICT SIX.

I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS SILVEIRA, IS THAT HOW YOU SAY YOUR LAST NAME? I KNOW YOU WERE SAYING TO HELP GET THE INFORMATION OUT FOR THE VOTERS AND NOT, YOU KNOW, WITH THE CONSPIRACY, BUT IT'S PRETTY HARD TO NOT FOR PEOPLE NOT TO HAVE THOSE THOSE THOUGHTS ON THE WEBSITE, ON YOUR WEBSITE AT THE VERY TOP, IT'S DARK.

[00:45:08]

IT'S SAYING THAT THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH THE VOTERS.

SO NOT EVERYONE'S GOING TO SEE THAT INFORMATION.

I DO THANK YOU, SIR, FOR ACTUALLY ADDRESSING YOUR PEOPLE AND EXPLAINING WHAT'S GOING ON, BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY IS DOING IT.

THE OTHER THING IS, ON THE WEBSITE, IT STATES AND I QUOTE, IN THE EVENT THAT A VOTER RETURNS AN ORIGINAL BALLOT CONTAINING ERRORS AND DOES NOT RETURN AN UPDATED BALLOT, ONLY THE RACES PERTAINING TO THE DISTRICT HE OR SHE RESIDES IN WILL BE COUNTED.

THE ENTIRE BALLOT WILL NOT BE VOIDED.

END QUOTE. HOWEVER, WHEN I CALLED THE PHONE NUMBER, WHICH IS 209-385-7541 THIS MORNING I WAS TOLD BY THE GENTLEMAN THAT ANSWERED THE PHONE THAT THOSE BALLOTS WERE GOING TO BE SET ASIDE AND IF THEY DIDN'T RECEIVE A BALLOT, THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE COUNTED.

SO ARE THE BALLOTS NOT GOING TO BE COUNTED? ARE THEY GOING TO BE COUNTED? SUPPRESSION IS PART OF CONFUSION.

SO THEN YOU DO THINK, OKAY, WELL, THERE IS VOTER SUPPRESSION GOING ON HERE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE CONFUSED.

SO I'M TRYING TO JUST FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE? SEEING NONE. I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA CALENDAR.

[CONSENT CALENDAR]

PLEASE NOTE ITEMS ONE THROUGH FOUR REQUIRE A 4/5 VOTE.

SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK ON NUMBER 14 AND I WAS GOING TO SAVE IT FOR MY COMMENTS AT THE END, BUT THIS IS FOR THE PHOENIX PROJECT, WHICH IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MERCED COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL PROGRAM. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THEIR GRADUATION LAST WEEK AND THE PROGRAMS THAT THEY ARE DOING FOR OUR ADULTS BY TEACHING THEM A NEW TRADE AND EVERYTHING THEY'RE DOING I THINK IS REALLY EXCEPTIONAL.

AND I'M IN COMPLETE SUPPORT OF THIS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THIS PROGRAM, THEY RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE MADE MISTAKES AND THEY'RE TRYING TO FIX THAT, AND I REALLY THINK THAT BY THEM GOING OUT I MEAN, I WAS TALKING TO AN HVAC PERSON, A WELDER, ELECTRICIAN, THESE PEOPLE DO SUCH AN AMAZING JOB AND THEY'RE REALLY ROLE MODELS BECAUSE IT'S ENCOURAGING TO SEE THEIR EFFORTS. SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT AND I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO MAKE THE MOTION.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

SO I'LL OPEN UP ITEMS ONE THROUGH 19 FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

OH, I THOUGHT WE HAD.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

OKAY, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME, AND I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS BOARD ACTION PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS 20 THROUGH 22.

[BOARD ACTION]

OKAY, SO I'LL BE SPEAKING ON ACTION ITEM 20.

HELLO, ALL. I'M [INAUDIBLE] WITH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL.

I'M HERE TO RAISE CONCERNS WE'VE RAISED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE, AND WE WILL PROBABLY, UNFORTUNATELY, HAVE TO CONTINUE TO RAISE UNTIL THIS BOARD STOPS APPROVING AND LICENSING DAIRY BIOGAS PROJECTS.

AS WE'VE NOTED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE, THE DEVELOPMENT OF BIOGAS, UPGRADING FACILITIES AND BIOGAS PIPELINE FACILITIES, AND INCENTIVIZES DAIRY OWNERS AND FUEL PRODUCERS TO PRODUCE GAS MADE FROM DAIRY MANURE, WHICH PRODUCES GAS MADE FROM DAIRY MANURE, WHICH IN FOLLOWS INCENTIVIZES THE CREATION OF MANURE ITSELF, WHICH IN TURN INCENTIVIZES INCREASED POPULATIONS OF COWS IN MERCED COUNTY.

[00:50:04]

WE ASK THAT YOU NOT APPROVE THE LICENSE BEFORE YOU TODAY AS IT WILL CONTINUE THE TREND OF BUILDING OUT BIO GAS INFRASTRUCTURES AND THE POLLUTION, THE NUANCES THAT FOLLOW.

FURTHERMORE, WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW DONE TO DATE HAS ADEQUATELY ANALYZED THE FULL IMPACTS OF THE BIO GAS BY PIPELINE AT ISSUES BEFORE YOU TODAY AND REQUEST FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.

THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THESE COMMENTS AS YOU DETERMINE HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS AND SIMILAR PROJECTS.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA.

THANK YOU. I WAS JUST GOING TO COMMENT ON NUMBER 22.

I KNOW WE'RE APPROVING THE ADOPTION OF A STREETLIGHT AND DRAINAGE AGREEMENT AND ALL THAT STUFF TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY, UH, THEY PROVIDE THE LANDSCAPE, THE LIGHTING AND ALL THAT STUFF FOR THOSE DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE APPROVED, AND I KNOW THOSE FUNDS ARE IT'S LIKE A TAX ON THE HOMES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY COVER THE EXPENSES FOR THAT DEVELOPMENT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M ADDRESSING I KNOW THAT [INAUDIBLE] DISTRICT FOUR BUT WHAT I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS THAT WHETHER IT'S THERE OR ANY OTHER DISTRICT THAT THOSE FUNDS ARE SPENT AS THEY SHOULD ON ALL THE DEVELOPMENTS.

I EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS ON SOME DEVELOPMENTS, UH, AROUND THERE.

THEY ARE NOT BEING TAKEN CARE OF AND SOME CITIZENS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT.

THEY ARE PAYING FUNDS INTO THE DISTRICTS AND [INAUDIBLE] DISTRICTS AND UH, THEY'RE NOT BEING USED PROPERLY WHERE THEY'RE, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, GRASS IS BEING, YOU KNOW, DRY AND NOT MAINTAINED AND THEIR LANDSCAPING OR LIGHTING IS NOT BEING MAINTAINED AS WELL. SO I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS THAT IF WE'RE GONNA CHARGE THAT, WELL, YOU KNOW, GET THOSE FUNDS THAT WE USE IT BACK INTO THOSE AREAS.

SO THANK YOU, AND ALSO IF WE CAN, UH, DO A SEPARATE VOTE ON NUMBER 20, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

ALL RIGHT, SO WE'LL PULL THAT ONE SEPARATE.

ALL RIGHT, SO I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

THIS IS ON ITEM 20 ONLY.

ALL RIGHT, I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1.

NOW MOVE ON TO ITEMS 21 AND 22.

WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? WE'VE ALREADY HAD PUBLIC COMMENT.

IT'S BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS HEALTH ITEMS 23 AND 24.

OKAY, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEM 23 AND FOUR.

SEEING NO PUBLIC COMMENT.

I'LL CLOSE IT. 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 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES ITEMS 25 THROUGH 28.

I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS 25 THROUGH 28.

SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

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

ALL RIGHT, OH, NO WORRIES.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY ITEMS 29 THROUGH 33.

[00:55:03]

BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.

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

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS SHERIFF ITEMS 34 THROUGH 36.

PLEASE NOTE ITEM 34 REQUIRES A 4/5 VOTE.

THANK YOU. I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THESE ITEMS. SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.

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

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS FIRE, ITEMS 37 AND 38.

I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THESE TWO ITEMS. SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

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

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY, ITEM NUMBER 39.

OKAY, I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 39.

SEEING NONE.

I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

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

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS LAW LIBRARY, ITEM NUMBER 40.

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

SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS BOARD APPOINTMENTS.

THESE ITEMS WILL BE TAKEN SEPARATELY, ITEMS 41 AND 42, STARTING WITH 41, AND THIS WILL BE A MANUAL VOTE.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I'D LIKE TO MOTION FOR SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AS THE PERMANENT MEMBER AND SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AS THE ALTERNATE MEMBER, AND THAT WOULD BE MY MOTION.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

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

SURE. I GUESS I JUST MADE THE MOTION AND SECOND.

AND THIS IS FOR RCRC, WHICH IS RURAL COUNTIES REPRESENTING CALIFORNIA.

JUST WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR FOR THE REPRESENTATION ON THAT BOARD AND WANT THEM TO CONTINUE THE GOOD WORK THAT THEY THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING.

REALLY AS I SAID ON CSAC, I'M IN THE CSAC LANE AND YOU GUYS ARE IN THE RCRC LANE AND OUR WORLDS DO COMBINE ON QUITE A BIT OF THINGS, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY A DIFFERENT VIBE WHEN WE'RE TALKING TO COUNTIES THAT ARE MORE RURAL LIKE US VERSUS BEING IN MEETINGS WITH ORANGE COUNTY AND LA COUNTY AND SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

SO REALLY APPRECIATE THE REPRESENTATION ON THERE.

THANKS FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE.

I SEE NO OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS.

I'LL DO A ROLL CALL VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING I ANY OPPOSE.

SAME SIGN MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

ITEM 42.

I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

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

SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA, COMMENT? OH, YES. THANK YOU.

THESE ARE MY APPOINTMENTS TO THE PLAINSBURG CEMETERY BOARD.

I'M GLAD YOU KNOW THOSE APPOINTEES.

WELL, IF THEY'RE APPOINTED, IF I GET THE SUPPORT FROM THE BOARD, I THINK THEY'VE BEEN DOING A WONDERFUL JOB, AND I KNOW ONE STEPPING DOWN, [INAUDIBLE], SO I THINK WE GOT ONE MORE.

[01:00:01]

GOOD LUCK TO THEM, AND IF THEY NEED ANY SUPPORT AND LET ME KNOW.

THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME, AND I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.

OKAY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA.

WELL, ACTUALLY, WE'RE DOING THIS ONE THROUGH THE SYSTEM, AND THE SECOND WAS BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS BOARD INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.

[BOARD INFORMATION & POSSIBLE ACTION]

I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 43.

SEEING NONE I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT WITH THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD.

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

ALL RIGHT, PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT, WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FROM COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AMENDMENT OF THE MERCED COUNTY AGRICULTURAL PRESERVE AS PER THE CALIFORNIA LAND CONSERVATION

[SCHEDULED ITEMS]

WILLIAMSON ACT.

GOOD MORNING, DIRECTOR HENDRICKSON.

MR. CHAIRMAN, BOARD.

GOOD MORNING. MARK HENDRICKSON, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER AMENDING THE AGRICULTURAL PRESERVE [INAUDIBLE]. OKAY, SURE.

NO WORRIES. BETTER BE SAFE THAN SORRY.

RIGHT? GO AHEAD, DIRECTOR HENDRICKSON.

YES, SIR. SO, AGAIN, THE PURPOSE OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER AMENDING THE AGRICULTURAL PRESERVE UPON APPROVAL OF YOUR OF THIS ITEM TODAY, SHOULD YOU SO CHOOSE.

ONE APPLICANT REQUESTED PROPERTY LINE ADJUSTMENT AND ONE APPLICANT REQUESTED MINOR SUBDIVISION WILL BE EFFECTUATED.

SECTION 51233 OF THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE REQUIRES THE BOARD TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING AT ANY TIME SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO AMEND THE AGRICULTURE PRESERVE TODAY, UPON YOUR ACTION, A TOTAL OF NINE ACRES WOULD BE REMOVED UPON UPON AGAIN YOUR CONCURRENCE TO DO SO.

NONE OF THESE SUBJECT PROPERTIES ARE ACTUALLY UNDER WILLIAMSON ACT CONTRACT.

STAFF RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING THAT YOU ONE OF COURSE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CLOSE THAT PUBLIC HEARING, AND THEN THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE ACTIONS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

FIRST, TO MAKE A MOTION TO FIND THE REMOVAL OF LAND FROM THE AG PRESERVE AS LISTED IN THIS BOARD AGENDA ITEM AS EXEMPT UNDER CEQA UNDER SECTION 15061B3. THE COMMON SENSE EXEMPTION AND SECTION 15183 PROJECTS CONSIST WITH A COMMUNITY PLAN OR ZONING BASED ON THE FINDINGS AS LISTED IN YOUR STAFF REPORT, AND THEN SECONDLY, TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AS INCLUDED IN YOUR BOARD ITEM.

AGAIN, AMENDING THE AG PRESERVE AS PER THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAND CONSERVATION ACT OF 1965, STAFF WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE, MR. CHAIRMAN, I SEE NO REQUEST TO SPEAK.

SO YOU DID VERY WELL EXPLAINING YOUR ITEM.

AT THIS TIME. I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.

WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO MAKE COMMENT? SEEING NONE. I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I'M GOING TO TAKE THIS ALL IN ONE.

SO I'M GOING TO MY MOTION IS GOING TO BE THAT WE'RE GOING TO FIND THAT THE PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESERVE BOUNDARY REFLECTING THE REMOVAL OF THE LAND IN RELATION TO THE FOLLOWING PROPERTIES THAT ARE LISTED IN THE STAFF REPORT ARE EXEMPT UNDER SCOPE BASED UPON THE SECTIONS THAT ARE LISTED IN THE BOARD AGENDA ITEM, AND ALSO ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE AGRICULTURAL RESERVE AS PER THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAND CONSERVATION ACT OF 1965 WILLIAMSON ACT.

I HAVE A MOTION A SECOND SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

SORRY, I WAS GOING TO SECOND THE MOTION IN THE QUEUE.

OH, OKAY, ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING I.

ANY OPPOSED. THE MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 0 WITH ONE ABSTENTION, WHICH IS SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA.

THANK YOU. NEXT, PUBLIC HEARING IS FROM BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES TO CONSIDER A PROPOSED ORDINANCE FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FEES.

GOOD MORNING, [INAUDIBLE] CEO MENDEZ AND LEGAL COUNSEL.

SO EVERY YEAR WE BRING BEFORE YOU THE NEW RATES FOR THE MEDI-CAL BILLINGS AND FOR MEDICARE, BUT SO THAT'S

[01:05:10]

THESE RATES ARE BASED OFF OF OUR 2021 COST REPORT, AND SO WE PUT ALL OF OUR COSTS TOGETHER, SUBMIT THEM TO THE STATE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE BASE OUR FUTURE RATES ON. THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS? I SEE NONE.

AT THIS TIME. I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT.

TO QUOTE SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, PLEASE FORM A LINE TO THE RIGHT.

SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT, AND WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? WOULD SOMEBODY LIKE TO MOVE TO ACCEPT THE ORDNANCE? I'LL MOVE TO ACCEPT THE ORDINANCE.

IT'S BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

I SEE NO FURTHER COMMENTS.

I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

ANY OPPOSED SAME SIGN MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

LAST IS BOARD REPORTS.

[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION]

THANK YOU. UM, I ATTENDED THE PLANADA HEALTH FAIR LAST THURSDAY AT THE SAN JOAQUIN DRUGS PHARMACY IN PLANADA, AND I JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT I GOT MY FIFTH COVID [INAUDIBLE] VACCINE AND THE FLU SHOT THERE AS WELL, AND SO IT WAS YOU KNOW, IT WAS VERY ATTENDED.

IT WAS SORE FOR A DAY, BUT I'M STILL HERE AND HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T AFFECT US.

RIGHT? SO I KNOW SOME PEOPLE ALWAYS GET SICK AND I THINK THAT'S NORMAL, BUT EVENTUALLY THEY RECOVER.

SO I KNOW, UM, LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S MY FIFTH ONE, SO I'M JUST GONNA KEEP ON DOING IT.

I KNOW EVERYBODY HAS A PREFERENCE AND HAS THE RIGHT TO NOT TAKE IT IF THEY DON'T WANT TO, BUT IT WAS VERY WELL ATTENDED AND ALSO I ATTENDED SATURDAY THE ONE IN [INAUDIBLE] CLINIC IN WINTON WHICH WAS ALSO VERY WELL ATTENDED AND THEY WERE PROVIDING COVID VACCINES, FLU SHOTS AND CANCER SCREENINGS AND OTHER SERVICES. SO I WANT TO THANK ALL THE VENDORS AND NONPROFITS THAT WERE THERE.

A LOT OF OUR COUNTY SERVICES WERE THERE AS WELL, REPRESENTING, UH, YOU KNOW, HSA AND, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH REPRESENTATIVES WERE THERE FROM OUR DEPARTMENTS, AND SO I JUST ALSO TO END THIS, I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS THAT.

I HAVE NO ILL WILL TO ANY DEPARTMENT.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, LIKE I SAID, MY COMMENTS WERE IN RELATION TO THE REGISTRAR OF VOTERS, AND, YOU KNOW, FROM THE BEGINNING I HAVE STRESSED TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT BEFORE THE POSITION WAS APPOINTED THAT I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT IT WAS SHOULD BE AN ELECTED POSITION, AND MY BOARD KNOWS THAT, THAT I STRESSED IT BEFORE THE POSITION WAS APPOINTED.

SO NOTHING AGAINST THAT POSITION.

SO, BUT LIKE I SAID, I JUST STRESS THAT AND I THANK YOU FOR DOING A GREAT JOB, AND HOPEFULLY LIKE I SAID, WE'RE GOING TO PEACE AND CALM THE WATERS WITH, WITH THE PUBLIC, AND I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE HARD, BUT HOPEFULLY THE PROCESS WILL BE FAIR AND THE CANDIDATES, I KNOW THEY'RE NOT HAPPY BECAUSE THEY GET CALLS JUST LIKE WE DO.

SO THAT'S ALL MY COMMENTS.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

THANK YOU. I MADE MY COMMENTS VERY CLEAR EARLIER, BUT AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE FOCUS ON MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE AN ELECTION THAT IS UP AND RUNNING AND THAT IT IS TAKEN CARE OF BUT I REALLY DO THINK THAT TO ECHO WHAT DARREN SAID, WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON THE ISSUE , AND IF IT HAS TO BE AN OUTSIDE INVESTIGATOR, THEN WE HAVE TO DO THAT.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION WAS BECAUSE I KNOW WE'VE ALL BEEN CALLED ABOUT THIS QUITE A BIT AND EMAILED.

I ACTUALLY GOT MY FIRST CALL ABOUT THIS WHEN I WAS AT SIXTH GRADE CAMP WITH MY SON, AND I WASN'T REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING AS A CABIN LEADER WITH A BUNCH OF 11 AND 12 YEAR OLD KIDS AND A CABIN, BUT I'M GLAD I DID, AND JUST SEEING THE EDUCATION THAT THE KIDS WERE ABLE TO GET JUST BY BEING OUTSIDE WAS INCREDIBLY AWESOME, AND SO I WOULD

[01:10:03]

SO THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER TO TALK WITH OTHER STUDENTS FROM DIFFERENT PLACES, BUT THEN ALSO LEARN, AND THAT WAS REALLY COOL.

ALSO, I DO WANT TO MAKE A MENTION BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE FLYER IS OUT THERE AND IF I DIDN'T, I'D PROBABLY GET IN TROUBLE.

BUT I ALWAYS DO A PUSH FOR THE ARTS BECAUSE I THINK ARTS ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND MERCED COUNTY AND EMERSON AND THERE'S SIGNS UP ON THE FIRST FLOOR IN THE ELEVATOR ABOUT THE DESCENDENTS PLAY THAT'S GOING TO START THIS WEEK ACTUALLY, AND MY SON IS ACTUALLY IN IT AGAIN BECAUSE HE'S NOT BUSY ENOUGH, BUT IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE LOOK AT THE SIGNS.

PLEASE GO SUPPORT AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.

I KNOW THEY SELL OUT VERY QUICKLY, BUT PLEASE, IF YOU CAN SUPPORT THEM.

I KNOW THAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR YOUTH BECAUSE IT TEACHES THEM SKILLS LIKE COMMUNICATION.

THEY'RE ABLE TO PRESENT.

THEY ARE ABLE TO GATHER COURAGE.

IT'S REALLY IMPRESSIVE.

SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU, IT'S OCTOBER 21ST, 22ND, 28TH, 29TH.

THE 23RD AND THE 30TH ARE AT 2 P.M, AND YOU CAN GET INFORMATION AT 388-1090 OR 645 WEST MAIN STREET, WHICH IS THE MAC, MERCED MULTICULTURAL ARTS CENTER.

SO THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

OH, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

USUALLY YOU GO TO MY LEFT AND ANYWAY, I WANT TO EXPRESS I APPRECIATE THE STAFF WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE TO GET THIS ELECTION RIGHT, AND SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAD MENTIONED A LOT OF LATE NIGHT AND A LOT OF GOING THROUGH IT, BUT I STILL WANT TO REITERATE THIRD PARTY INVESTIGATION, WHO, WHEN AND WHY AND IF THERE WAS INTENT.

I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD AS A BOARD OR AS A COUNTY TO ENSURE TO OUR PUBLIC, OUR CONSTITUENTS THAT THIS BOARD IS NOT AFRAID TO TAKE ACTION. SO WITH THAT, I DID.

I WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF LIVINGSTON FOR THE CITY COUNTY DINNER THAT THEY DID LAST WEEK.

THEIR PRESENTATION IN UNISON WITH UC MERCED FOR THEIR CENTENNIAL WAS ACTUALLY QUITE IMPRESSIVE.

THAT WAS A VERY NICE PRESENTATION AND LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE CITY OF LIVINGSTON, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THESE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR CITIES BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THEY FEEL LIKE IT'S SEPARATE, BUT IT'S NOT.

WE'RE COMMUNICATING AS ELECTED OFFICIALS WITH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS IN EACH OF THESE CITIES ON A CONTINUAL BASIS, AND I KNOW OUR STAFF WORKS WITH STAFF AS WELL.

I ATTENDED YESTERDAY A YARDS MEETING AND I WANT TO THANK OUR CEO MENDEZ FOR ATTENDING AS WELL, LEARNING ABOUT YARDS AND UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE.

LIKE MY COLLEAGUE TO THE LEFT LIKE TO SAY THIS IS A FEDERAL PROBLEM THAT LOCALLY WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE IN GETTING FOLKS INTO THE NATIONAL PARK, AND THIS IS ONE ITEM THAT I FEEL LIKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SHOULD BE PROBABLY PAYING A LITTLE MORE THEIR SHARE BECAUSE THIS IS A REALLY NICE SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO NORMALLY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET TO YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK TO BE ABLE TO GO TO YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK.

I DID WANT TO PUT IT OUT THERE.

THE BALLOT INFORMATION GUIDES HAVE YET TO BE DELIVERED IN MCSWAIN AREA.

I KNOW THAT'S A PROBLEM.

I GOT MINE ON FRIDAY AND I'M NOT PUTTING THAT ON OUR ELECTION BOARD.

UNDERSTANDING, WORKING ON MANY ELECTIONS THROUGHOUT MY MY LIFE THAT A LOT OF TIMES WHEN BULK MAIL IS DROPPED OFF AT THE US POST OFFICE, THEY TRY TO GET THE REGULAR MAIL OUT AND THEY KIND OF SET THE BULK TO THE SIDE AND GET IT OUT WHEN THEY CAN, BUT THE INFORMATION GUIDE IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE BALLOT.

THE BALLOTS WERE DELIVERED IN A TIMELY FASHION, AND YET OUR BALLOT INFORMATION GUIDES ARE LATE, AND I WOULD SAY I KNOW YOU'RE CALLING THE COUNTY ON THOSE INFORMATION GUIDES.

I THINK YOU'D BETTER BE CALLING THE US POST OFFICE AND ASK FOR THE POSTMASTER HIMSELF AND ASK THEM WHERE THEIR BALLOT IS, BECAUSE IT'S MORE THAN LIKELY SITTING IN OUR

[01:15:01]

THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.

SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. FIRST OFF, I WANT TO JUST KIND OF PUT OUT THERE, AND I KNOW FOLKS WILL WATCH THIS LATER, SO I'M SPECIFICALLY GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE VOTER ASSISTANCE CENTERS THAT ARE THAT FOLKS IN MY DISTRICT WERE THAT WERE AFFECTED BY SOME WRONG BALLOTS.

SO FIRST OFF, THERE ARE VOTER ASSISTANCE CENTERS FOR THE DAS PALACE AREA.

IT'S AT THE DES HALL.

IN GUSTINE IT'S THE ALGOMA COMMUNITY CENTER, AND IN LOS BANOS, IT'S AT THE LOS BANOS COLLEGE GREEN PARK AND LOS BANOS COMMUNITY CENTER, AND THOSE FIRST THREE, THE DES HALL, ALGOMA CENTER AND COLLEGE GREEN ARE OPEN SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH TO MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH FROM 8 TO 4:00 PM, AND THEN ON ELECTION DAY, NOVEMBER 8TH, THEY WILL BE OPEN FROM 7 A.M.

TO 8:00 PM, AND NOW WHERE THE LOS BANOS COMMUNITY CENTER IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT IS THAT'S ONE OF THE TEN DAY ONES.

SO THEY ACTUALLY OPEN SATURDAY, OCTOBER THE 29TH AND WE'LL RUN THROUGH ELECTION DAY.

THE FIRST NINE DAYS WILL BE FROM 8 TO 4:00 PM AND ON ELECTION DAY THEY WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE 7 A.M.

TO 8 P.M..

SO AGAIN, IF FOLKS HAVE QUESTIONS, HOLD ON TO YOUR BUT YOU CAN TAKE YOUR BALLOT DOWN TO THOSE VOTING VOTER ASSISTANCE CENTERS AND THERE WILL BE PEOPLE THERE THAT CAN HELP YOU WITH ANY QUESTIONS, MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE VOTING ON THE RIGHT BALLOT, AND THOSE ARE OPEN ON WEEKENDS AND WEEKDAYS.

SO IF FOLKS THAT WORK DURING THE WEEK, YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO THERE ON THE WEEKEND AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT.

I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER MEETING, BUT I JUST WANT TO PUT IT ON FOLKS' RADAR.

VETERANS DAY IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IN A FEW WEEKS, AND SO THERE'S TWO VETERANS PARADES COMING UP THAT I TYPICALLY I'M A PART OF AND ONE OF THOSE BEING THE CITY OF LOS BANOS, THE VETS HOST A VETERANS DAY PARADE THE SATURDAY BEFORE.

SO ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER THE FIFTH, WE'LL HAVE THE LOS BANOS VETERANS DAY PARADE, AND THEN ALSO WANT TO GIVE A REMINDER THAT ON NOVEMBER THE 11TH, WE'LL BE DOING WE CALL IT THE MORE THE COUNTY WIDE ONE HERE IN MERCED.

SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO PUT THOSE ON YOUR CALENDARS AND ATTEND.

INTERESTING LITTLE SIDE NOTE, LITTLE FUN FACT THAT I LEARNED AFTER GOING TO THE CITY COUNTY DINNER IN LIVINGSTON THAT ORIGINALLY IT WAS CALLED LIVINGSTONE, AND THEN WHEN THEY WENT TO APPLY FOR, I BELIEVE IT WAS A POST OFFICE, SOMEBODY INADVERTENTLY LEFT THE E OFF OF LIVING STONE AND THEN IT BECAME LIVINGSTON MOVING FORWARD. SO THAT WAS SOMETHING I LEARNED THAT WAS PRETTY INTERESTING.

FUN LITTLE FACT ABOUT MERCED COUNTY.

LAST WEEK I ATTENDED A CSAC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING IN MONTEREY, AND THIS IS KIND OF LIKE THE PRE MEETING BEFORE OUR ANNUAL CONFERENCE. IT REALLY STARTS TO TRY TO GET OUR HEADS AROUND KIND OF AS AN ORGANIZATION, THE AREAS THAT WE'RE GOING TO KIND OF REALLY INVEST IN AS FAR AS POLICY, AND THE ONE THING THAT WAS VERY CLEAR TO ME THERE IS IMPORTANT AS WATER IS TO US AND TO EVERYBODY IN THE VALLEY AND STATEWIDE, I'M PRETTY CONVINCED THAT IT WILL BE HARD FOR THAT STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION TO HAVE A UNIFIED POLICY AROUND WATER, BECAUSE WE'RE A MUCH SMALLER GROUP, THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, AND WHEN YOU BRING UP WATER WITH A DOZEN OR SO COUNTY SUPERVISORS SITTING IN THE ROOM FROM UP AND DOWN THE STATE EAST TO WEST OF THE STATE, YEAH, THERE'S BASICALLY A DOZEN OR SO DIFFERENT IDEAS ON WATER AND HOW THEY LOOK AT WATER.

AND SO I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE CHALLENGING FOR THAT ORGANIZATION, BUT I THINK THAT STILL AS A VALLEY, WE CAN COME TOGETHER ON THOSE ISSUES AND ADVOCATE AND ALSO ATTENDED THE ARTS MEETING YESTERDAY.

MYSELF, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND CEO MENDEZ WENT UP TO YOSEMITE FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING, MEETING FOR YARDS, AND I DON'T WANT YOU TO QUOTE ME ON EXACT NUMBERS, BUT I'M PRETTY CLOSE IN SAYING THAT IT'S 70,000, GIVE OR TAKE FOLKS THAT RIDE YARDS.

IT'S A FIVE COUNTY JPA.

AGAIN, IT GIVES ACCESS TO FOLKS HERE IN OUR COUNTY FROM ANYWHERE BECAUSE YOU CAN CATCH THE BUS, YOU CAN RIDE IT TO THE TRANSPO CENTER AND CATCH [INAUDIBLE].

THERE'S FARES THAT WE OFFER FOR OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS, FOR LOW COST, TO NO COST TO THEM TO BE ABLE TO GO TO YOSEMITE THAT MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO GET THERE, AND AS WE HAD THE CONVERSATIONS, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A KIND OF A WAKE UP MOMENT FOR, I THINK ALL OF THE MEMBER AGENCIES THAT THE FUNDING SOURCES THAT WE HAVE NOW ARE NOT SUSTAINABLE AND THAT IF WE FAST FORWARD IN FIVE YEARS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR TO RUN THE OPERATION.

AND I EXPRESSED IT YESTERDAY AT OUR MEETING, AND I'LL LET YOU ALL KNOW WHAT I'M ADVOCATING FOR IS, IS THAT REALLY THIS IS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT SOLUTION TO A FEDERAL

[01:20:05]

WELL, IF YOU JUST KIND OF DO SOME MATH AND THERE'S PROBABLY AN EXPERT THAT CAN GET YOU BETTER NUMBERS, BUT IF YOU RUN 80,000 PEOPLE A YEAR ON THE BUS IN THERE, IF YOU FIGURE TWO PEOPLE PER CAR, THAT'S 40,000 CAR TRIPS THAT WE'RE SAVING INSIDE THE PARK A YEAR, AND SO I THINK AND IT'S NOT THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND IN YOSEMITE, THE FOLKS THAT ACTUALLY DO THE WORK. I DON'T BLAME THEM.

I THINK THEY'RE DOING AS MUCH AS THEY CAN WITH WHAT THEY HAVE, BUT REALLY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THEY NEED TO INVEST IN THIS.

IT'S AND IF NOT, THE ALTERNATIVE IS AS A COUNTY AND AS THE OTHER FOUR COUNTIES THAT ARE IN THERE, WE PUT OUR RESOURCES INTO HAVING THIS SERVICE AND IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE FOR US.

SO REALLY, WE KIND OF PUT THE PARK FOLKS ON NOTICE AND WE'VE BEEN DOING SOME ADVOCACY WORK BACK IN D.C.

TO LET THEM KNOW THAT IF YOU GUYS DON'T WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE A PART OF THIS SOLUTION, IT'S GOING TO GO AWAY.

IT WON'T EXIST, AND THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD WORK AND A LOT OF YEARS OF REALLY OPERATING ON SHOESTRING BUDGETS THAT HAVE ALLOWED US TO KIND OF CONTINUE, BUT WE'RE AT THAT POINT NOW WHERE WE CAN'T CONTINUE AT THE PACE WE'RE GOING.

SO I THINK IT WAS A VERY PRODUCTIVE MEETING AND I HAVE SOME IDEAS THAT I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH MY COLLEAGUE, LIKE ON HOW WE CAN, YOU KNOW, ENGAGE OUR OUR STATE, OUR US SENATORS ON HOW CAN THEY GET A FIX AND IT IS A LOT OF MONEY.

IT'S $1,000,000 A YEAR, BUT WHEN YOU PUT IT INTO PERSPECTIVE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., WHERE THEY THROW AROUND BILLION LIKE IT USED TO BE, THE MILLION, AND I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND, THEY DO FUND THE PARK, DOES FUND A GOOD PORTION OF OUR BUDGET ALREADY, BUT IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE, BUT WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS AROUND $4 MILLION A YEAR FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND IF YOU PUT THAT INTO THE TRILLIONS THAT THEY SPEND, IT'S REALLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BUDGET DUST, THEY WOULDN'T EVEN THOSE ARE LIKE ROUNDING ERRORS FOR THEM.

SO BUT WE NEED TO MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND IT BECAUSE WE ARE UNIQUE.

IT'S A UNIQUE SYSTEM, AND IT'S AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE FIVE COUNTIES I'VE SAID IT UP HERE BEFORE, I BELIEVE IS YOU HAVE FIVE COUNTIES THAT ARE VERY DIFFERENT.

MONO COUNTY, TUOLUMNE COUNTY, MADERA IS PROBABLY MOST SIMILAR TO MERCED AND MARIPOSA COUNTY THAT ALL COME TOGETHER BECAUSE WE DO BENEFIT FROM IT.

THAT'S WHY WE'VE INVESTED IN IT.

MERCED IS THE GATEWAY TO YOSEMITE.

THERE'S FOLKS THAT COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD THAT TRAVEL THROUGH MERCED TO GET UP TO YOSEMITE.

SO IT'S WELL WORTH OUR WHILE, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE WORTH IT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS WELL, AND AGAIN, MY COMMITMENT TO ALL OF MY BOSSES IS THAT I WILL CALL ME WITH THE ELECTION STUFF.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE WILL TRY.

IT'S NOT A GOOD SITUATION.

I GET IT, AND ALL THE FOLKS THAT CAME UP HERE AND SPOKE, I GET THEIR FRUSTRATION, BUT AT THIS POINT I CAN'T UNDO WHAT WAS ALREADY DONE.

ALL I CAN DO IS IS COMMIT TO DOING OUR VERY BEST TO MOVE FORWARD, AND I TRULY DO.

THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME PEOPLE THAT GET CONFUSED ON THIS, BUT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE AN EFFORT.

THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN ASSURED, THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO MAKE THAT THESE VOTERS THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANYBODY WHO SAYS AT THE END OF THIS, WELL, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO OR I WASN'T ABLE TO VOTE BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU EVERY OPPORTUNITY POSSIBLE THAT WE KNOW HOW.

AS LONG AS WE GOT INFORMATION WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO CALL YOU, WE'RE GOING TO EMAIL YOU, WE'RE GOING TO SEND YOU LETTERS, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO DO THE OUTREACH.

BUT AGAIN, I WILL ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO SAY THAT AS IMPORTANT, IT IS TO ME TO VOTE IN AN ELECTION, IF IT'S THAT IMPORTANT TO YOU, YOU'RE GOING TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT A WAY AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE THAT RESOURCE FOR YOU.

ALL MY INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ONLINE.

YOU CAN GET A HOLD OF ME.

I'LL DO MY VERY BEST TO GET BACK TO EVERY PERSON, AND THEN THE LAST THING THAT I'LL END WITH IS, IS WHEREVER THIS IN.

INVESTIGATION TAKES US IS WHERE IT TAKES US, AND AT THE END, MY COMMITMENT IS, IS THERE WILL BE A FULL AND TRANSPARENT PROCESS THAT I WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE FACTS ON WHAT IT IS, AND WHEREVER IT GOES, IT GOES, BUT SOMEBODY WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR FOR BECAUSE THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE TO ME.

IT'S TOO IMPORTANT, AND NO MATTER HOW GOOD OF A JOB THAT WE DO, CORRECTING ERRORS THAT WE FOUND, NUMBER ONE, I WILL SAY IT, THERE'S BEEN A SHADOW OF DOUBT CAST OVER THIS ELECTION AND WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING A LONG TIME TO REBUILD WHAT FOLKS HAVE PERCEIVED AS BEING MESSED UP , AND IT IS WHAT IT IS.

I CAN'T CHANGE THAT, BUT MY COMMITMENT IS, IS WE WILL DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT THIS IS A FAIR ELECTION AND ALL ELECTIONS MOVING FORWARD WILL BE FAIR, AND I WILL WORK EVERY DAY TO TRY TO GET THAT CONFIDENCE BACK FROM OUR VOTERS, AND THAT'S WHAT I HAVE, MR. CHAIR, THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.

CEO MENDEZ.

NOTHING TO ADD THIS MORNING.

THANK YOU. REALLY? ALL RIGHT.

SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

I FORGOT TO MENTION I WASN'T ABLE TO STAY AT THE LIVINGSTON CITY COUNTY RELATIONS CENTER.

[01:25:05]

I KNOW THE SHERIFF WORKED VERY, VERY HARD.

I KNOW THE UNDERSHERIFF AND EVERYBODY WORKED REALLY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UPHELD THAT, BUT THEN ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN THE MEETING FOR CHARLES [INAUDIBLE].

CHARLES WAS A NEIGHBOR OF A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, AND HE HAD AN UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENT, BUT HE WAS A REALLY NICE GUY, VERY DEDICATED TO MERCIA AND COUNTY, AND SO I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN FOR HIM.

SURE. THANK YOU.

I, TOO, WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF LIVINGSTON, THE MAYOR AND THE STAFF AND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR PUTTING ON WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A VERY WONDERFUL DINNER.

THANK YOU TO FOSTER FARMS FOR HOSTING US IN THEIR BANQUET ROOM, AND IT JUST WAS A VERY NICE EVENING.

SO SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SINCE YOU KIND OF LIKE SOME ODD FACTS [INAUDIBLE] WHERE I WOULD TO GRAMMAR SCHOOL WAS IN 1855 WAS CALLED FORLORN HOPE, AND THEN WHEN THEY CREATED THE POST OFFICE, IT WAS CHANGED TO [INAUDIBLE].

SO I GUESS IT WAS MODERNIZED, YOU KNOW, IN THE 1800S AND PROBABLY $5 YOU CAN GET AN ICE CREAM.

SO ANYWAYS, I ATTENDED THE CLINIC IN WINTON, I'D LIKE TO THANK ED [INAUDIBLE] AND HIS TEAM FOR PUTTING ON A GREAT DAY BUT, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR BRINGING THAT CLINIC TO WINTON.

WINTON HAD NO HEALTH CARE AVAILABLE TO THE RESIDENTS AND, AND SO WHEN THEY BUILT THAT FACILITY THAT HAS BOTH MEDICAL AND DENTAL IN IT, IT REALLY INCREASED THE QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE FOR THAT COMMUNITY, AND SO I'M VERY THANKFUL.

I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LOSS OF THE [INAUDIBLE] FAMILY.

MY WIFE AND I, ALONG WITH SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND HIS WIFE, ATTENDED THE SUNDAY NIGHT VIGIL AND IT WAS THE FOURTH NIGHT I EXPECTED IT TO BE, YOU KNOW, NOT MANY PEOPLE, AND BOB HART'S SQUARE WAS PACKED, AND IT WAS VERY WONDERFUL TO SEE THE SUPPORT THAT THE COMMUNITY GAVE TO THE FAMILY. I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH THE FATHER OF THE GENTLEMAN AND GRANDFATHER OF THE OF THE TODDLER AFTERWARDS.

AND I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE THE PAIN AND GRIEF THAT HE AND HIS FAMILY ARE GOING THROUGH, BUT AGAIN, OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WAS VERY SWIFT IN THE INVESTIGATION AND I APPRECIATE THAT, AND HOPEFULLY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WILL BE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO PROSECUTE THIS CASE WITH THE FACTS AND THAT THE COMMUNITY GETS SOME AND THE FAMILY GETS RESOLUTION TO THAT HORRIFIC EVENT, AND THEN THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS IN REGARDS TO THE ISSUES WITH WITH THE VOTING PROCESS, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR STAFF.

MANY PEOPLE WORKED AND AS SOMEONE MENTIONED EARLIER, WORKED SOME NIGHTS UNTIL MIDNIGHT TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM AND TRY TO COME UP WITH A STRATEGY, AND WE CAN'T GO BACK AND FIX WHAT HAPPENED, BUT I FEEL CONFIDENT IN THE PLAN THAT WE HAVE GOING FORWARD THAT, AND ESPECIALLY WITH WE'RE REACHING OUT TO EVERY INDIVIDUAL VOTER THAT WAS AFFECTED WITH WITH A PERSON, RIGHT.

SOMEBODY IS CALLING THEM OR EMAILING THEM.

IF WE DON'T HAVE A PHONE NUMBER, THAT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE WON'T NECESSARILY BE DISENFRANCHISED, BUT THEY'LL ACTUALLY SOME PEOPLE THAT PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE VOTED MIGHT VOTE BECAUSE OF THE OF THE PERSONAL INTERACTION AND WALKING THEM THROUGH THE STEPS.

SO ANYWAYS VERY UNFORTUNATE BUT WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS AND THEN I LIKE MY COLLEAGUES EXPECT THAT YOU KNOW THE INVESTIGATION OF ONCE WE FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED THAT WE'RE ABLE TO SHARE THAT WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THAT EVERYBODY WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE A SENSE THAT GOING FORWARD OUR ELECTIONS WILL BE FAIR AND HAVE INTEGRITY.

SO WITH, OUR NEXT MEETING IS NOVEMBER 1ST, AND WE WILL ADJOURN.

THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.