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THE NOVEMBER 8TH MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
[Call to Order]
WE OPENED UP AT 9:00 AND HAD CLOSED SESSION, AND DURING THAT TIME STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION.AND WE WILL NOW START THE MEETING WITH THE INVOCATION LED BY MARK HENDRICKSON.
AND THEN THE PLEDGE WILL BE LED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
LORD, WE HAVE MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR.
THANK YOU FOR THE BLESSING OF THIS RAIN TODAY.
AND THANK YOU FOR OUR AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.
WHO WILL LEVERAGE IT TO FEED THE WORLD.
THANK YOU, LORD, FOR OUR COMMUNITY, ITS RICH HERITAGE AND VIBRANT DIVERSITY.
THANK YOU FOR OUR CEO, OUR COUNTY COUNCIL, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE TEAMS. THANK YOU, LORD, FOR OUR DEPARTMENTS, THEIR STAFF, AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO TO ASSIST THOSE MOST IN NEED.
MAY YOU GRANT THE COUNTY STAFF THE WISDOM TO KNOW THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BENEFIT THE LIFE OF SOMEONE ELSE AND THAT PUBLIC SERVICE IS A GRANT IS A GIFT GRANTED TO US FROM YOU.
MAY YOU PLEASE GRANT THIS BOARD AND ITS LEADERSHIP TEAM THE STRENGTH AND COURAGE TO MAKE WISE DECISIONS, DECISIONS OF CONSEQUENCE, DECISIONS OF COMPASSION, AND TO ALWAYS DO SO WITH ETHICS, INTEGRITY, AND FULL HEARTS.
LORD, ON THIS ELECTION DAY, PLEASE HELP US RECONCILE OUR DIFFERENCES ACROSS THE NATION TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, TO SEE COMMUNITIES PROSPER, AND TO MOVE BEYOND THE MINDSET OF SOMEONE HAVING TO WIN AND SOMEONE HAVING TO LOSE.
IN CLOSING OUT, FOR ONE QUICK PASSAGE, MATTHEW 5:16 READS "IN THE SAME WAY, LET YOUR GOOD DEEDS SHINE OUT FOR ALL TO SEE, SO THAT EVERYONE WILL PRAISE YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER ." IN CHRIST NAME WE PRAY.
THANK YOU FOR THAT FINE INVOCATION, MR. HENDRICKSON APPRECIATE IT.
[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST WITHIN THE BOARD'S JURISDICTION EXCLUDING ITEMS ON THE BOARD'S AGENDA ]
MINUTES PER PERSON AND 20 MINUTES TOTAL.ALL RIGHT. WELL, AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR NON AGENDA ITEMS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
HOW ARE YOU? I'M NICOLA ADAMS. I KEEP FORGETTING I'M A LITTLE SHORT.
THERE'S A BUTTON ON YOUR RIGHT SIDE.
THERE'S AN ARROW. YEAH, IT'S KIND OF LIKE OUR CARS, YOU KNOW.
I'M NICOLA ADAMS. I'M THE PRESIDENT, ORGANIZER OF THE MERCED COUNTY FESTIVAL.
I WANT TO COME AND SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING THE 2022 MERCED COUNTY FESTIVAL.
SUPERVISOR PEDROZO WAS OUT THERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF I SAW ANYONE ELSE OUT THERE.
WE HAD CLOSE TO 4000 PEOPLE ATTEND, WE STOPPED COUNTING AT 3700 BECAUSE THERE WERE OTHER EVENTS COMING IN AND THEY WEREN'T SURE IF THE CARS WERE FOR US OR THE OTHER EVENTS, ALTHOUGH WE SAW SOME OF THE PEOPLE FOR THE OTHER EVENTS COMING TO THE FESTIVAL.
SO IT WAS KIND OF IT WAS PRETTY COOL.
NEXT YEAR WE'RE PLANNING ON HAVING OVER 100 VENDORS.
10,000 PEOPLE. AND WE WILL HAVE A WINE BAR NEXT YEAR.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO BRING A COUPLE OF THINGS TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE SUPERVISORS.
IT IS OUR MERCED COUNTY FESTIVAL HAT AND THEN ONE OF THE PROGRAM BOOKLETS FROM THE MERCED COUNTY FESTIVAL AND ON ALL OF OUR BANNERS, OUR MEDIA, OUR SIGNS ACTUALLY HAD THE LOGO FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT THEY SUPPORTED THE COMMUNITY AND THIS EVENT.
EVERY SINGLE ONE ASKED TO COME BACK TO THE NEXT YEAR'S.
AND I EVEN BROUGHT SOME EXTRA HATS FOR STAFF.
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THERE'S A CHAIR TO DIVVY THOSE OUT.DO YOU WANT ME TO PUT THEM IN HERE OR? PUT THEM IN THE BASKET. OKAY.
YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ALL RIGHT. IT'S OK THERE'S ALWAYS NEXT YEAR.
IN ABOUT TEN YEARS, THIS WILL BE AS BIG AS THE GILROY GARLIC FESTIVAL.
AND THIS WILL DO GREAT THINGS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? HELLO. I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY CLARIFYING.
I'M SURE YOU ALL KNOW ME. MY NAME IS ANDREW.
I'M A DISPATCHER OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AS THIS BOARD IS AWARE.
MERCED COUNTY EMPLOYEE CONVERSATIONS COMPARED TO A SEVEN COUNTY SURVEY WHERE MY SALARY IS COMPARED TO SALARY OF EMPLOYEES WORKING IN COMPARABLE CLASSIFICATIONS IN MADERA, STANISLAUS, FRESNO, TILLERY, SAN JOAQUIN KERN AND KINGS COUNTIES.
THESE ARE THE MAJOR COUNTIES OF THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY.
THE AVERAGE OF THESE SALARIES ARE COMPARED TO MY SALARY TO SEE WHERE I RANK.
THEREFORE, WHEN THE JUDGE IN THIS COUNTY GETS A RAISE, YOU GET A RAISE.
NO QUESTIONS ASKED, NO REVIEW, NO JUSTIFICATION, NO SURVEY.
THE HYPOCRISY OF THAT NOTIONS FOR A FUTURE MEETING, THOUGH.
BACK TO THE SEVEN COUNTY SURVEY.
OUR UNIT 14 MEMBERS ARE 16% UNDERPAID TO THE AVERAGE.
THAT MADE ME WONDER IF THIS BOARD PLAYED BY THE SAME RULES AS EVERY OTHER COUNTY EMPLOYEE IS FORCED TO PLAY BY WHERE WOULD THEY RANK? GRACIOUSLY. I DID THAT WORK FOR YOU.
QUICKLY APPROACHING NUMBER TWO.
FURTHERMORE, THIS BOARD SUPERVISES A THIRD LOWEST POPULATION IN THAT SAME SURVEY.
ACCORDING TO CENSUS DATA FROM THIS RECENT CENSUS.
THE AVERAGE ANNUAL INCOME IN MERCED HOUSEHOLD FOR THE COUNTY IS $56,000.
THIS BOARD MAKES DOUBLE THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF THE AVERAGE CITIZEN IS TASKED TO SERVE.
ADDITIONALLY, THE SAME DATA SHOWS 16% OF MERCED COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE LIVING IN POVERTY.
IN MY OPINION, THIS BOARD SHOULD SHOW ITS COMMITMENT TO SERVING THE COMMUNITY BY DRAFTING AN AGREEMENT THAT STATES ALL FUTURE SALARY INCREASES THIS BOARD RECEIVES WILL BE DONATED TO LOCAL NONPROFITS THAT ASSIST SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, HOMELESS ISSUES, ADDICTION SERVICE AND ANY OTHER NONPROFIT DEEMED FIT BY AN INDEPENDENT PANEL CREATED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
UNTIL YOU'RE PAID 100% TO THE AVERAGE OF THE SEVEN COUNTY SURVEY.
BUT I FEEL LIKE YOU SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED THAT YOU ALLOW EMPLOYEES TO BE PAID 16% UNDER WHAT THEY SHOULD BE WHILE YOU CAN, WHILE YOU CONTINUE TO BE COMPENSATED WELL ABOVE YOUR AVERAGE MARKET VALUE.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, CEO MENDEZ, COUNTY COUNCIL HANSEN.
I'M DARLENE INGERSOLL, SERVING AS THE MERCED COUNTY REGISTRAR OF VOTERS.
IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY MAILED IN OR DROPPED OFF YOUR BALLOT, THERE IS STILL TIME TO DO SO.
BALLOTS CAN BE DROPPED OFF AT ANY OF THE MERCED COUNTY BALLOT DROP OFF LOCATIONS LISTED ON OUR WEBSITE, INCLUDING THE DROP BOXES HERE AT THE MERCED COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING 2222 M STREET IN MERCED.
LOOK UP BUTTON ON THE FRONT OF OUR PAGE.
THERE IS ALSO THAT PAGE IN OUR COUNTY VOTER INFORMATION GUIDES.
WE HAVE 13 VOTING ASSISTANCE CENTERS AVAILABLE AND OPEN TODAY THROUGH 8 P.M.
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VOTING AND LANGUAGE SERVICES.AGAIN, THESE LOCATIONS ARE AVAILABLE AND I ALSO BROUGHT COPIES HERE AND I'LL DROP OFF.
CORRECT. BALLOTS WERE MAILED OUT ONLY TO AFFECTED VOTERS.
ALSO LETTERS WITH INSTRUCTIONS AND HOW TO IDENTIFY AND RETURN THE CORRECT BALLOT.
NUMEROUS ADDITION WAS MAILED AND NUMEROUS ADDITIONAL EFFORTS WERE MADE TO INFORM AFFECTED VOTERS OF THESE ISSUES THROUGH PHONE CALLS, EMAIL, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND LOCAL NEWS. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR BALLOT, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT OUR OFFICE.
OUR OFFICE IS AREA CODE 209-385-7541.
WITH THAT, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, IT'S A VERY BUSY DAY.
GOOD MORNING BOARD. MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE].
SO I'M JUST HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT HOW MANY RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN WANTING TO SEE MOVEMENT AND EFFORTS IN FINALIZING A LOCATION FOR THE PARK CENTER, AND ALSO RECEIVING A TIMELINE FOR THE PROJECTS AND EXPECTED CONSTRUCTION.
MORE THAN ANYTHING, RESIDENTS JUST WANT THE COUNTY TO ENGAGE WITH THEM DIRECTLY TO INCORPORATE THEIR INPUT FOR THE PARK CENTER DETAILS AND ALL THROUGHOUT THE PARK PLANNING PROCESS. THEY EXPRESS WANTING TO MEET WITH THE COUNTY STAFF, ESPECIALLY SUPERVISOR LLOYD PAREIRA, TO SEE THE PROJECT GO THROUGH.
SO I'M JUST HERE TO KIND OF REITERATE ALL THEIR CONCERNS AND EXPRESS THAT TO YOU ALL.
SO WE JUST KIND OF HOPE THAT THE COUNTY WILL BE REACHING OUT TO RESIDENTS AND JOINING OUR MEETINGS TO ENSURE THAT DELHI RESIDENTS RECEIVE UPDATES AND EFFORTS ARE STILL GOING ON IN MAKING THAT PROJECT PLANNING COMPLETE.
THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE.
I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON AGENDA ITEMS AT THIS TIME.
[PRESENTATION]
AGENCY. AND THE HE HAS WITH HIM HIS AND WOULD LIKE TO INVITE UP THE HOUSING SUPPORT TEAM.WE DIDN'T. WE DIDN'T REHEARSE THIS, SO.
SO I WILL JUST SAY THAT I'VE WORKED WITH JOHN [INAUDIBLE] FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, AND.
AND HE STARTED IN OUR VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE, AND.
AND THEN CAME INTO THE CEO'S OFFICE AND WORKING WITH WITH OUR HOMELESS HOUSING.
AND JOHN HAS BEEN SUCH AN EXEMPLARY PERSON IN THAT FIELD THAT HE HAS CONTINUED TO MOVE INTO TO BIGGER AND GREATER CHALLENGES AND COME ON UP THIS WAY, JOHN, AND LET YOUR TEAM HERE BEHIND YOU ANYWAYS.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MUCH APPRECIATED.
SO THIS TEAM IS IS COMPOSED OF 27 COUNTY MEMBERS, RIGHT?
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THERE'S 2500 COUNTY EMPLOYEES PROVIDING VERY FUNDAMENTAL SERVICES SUCH AS ROADS, PUBLIC SAFETY, FIRE.WE'VE SEEN A STRIKING INCREASE IN FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
ACTUALLY, SINCE 2020, WE'VE HAD 170% INCREASE IN FAMILIES WHO HAVE ACCESSED OUR SERVICES.
AND THIS IS THE TEAM THAT MEETS WITH THOSE FOLKS.
AND REALLY WHAT THEY WHAT THEY DO, ALTHOUGH THEY PROVIDE HOUSING SERVICES, INTERIM HOUSING SERVICES, THEY REALLY HELP RESTORE HOPE, IDENTITY AND DIGNITY TO THE MOST VULNERABLE FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
LAST YEAR IN OCTOBER, WE GOT A CALL FROM THE STATE.
THE GOVERNOR HAS AN INITIATIVE, GOVERNOR'S 100 DAY CHALLENGE.
THAT CHALLENGE ENDED TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF APRIL, AND IN THE MIDDLE OF APRIL IS WHEN OUR 2022 POINT IN TIME COUNT WAS PRODUCED AND WE NOTICED A 19% REDUCTION IN UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS, WHICH WE WERE VERY ENCOURAGED ABOUT FROM THE STRATEGY WE'VE BEEN PURSUING.
WE DID SEE AN OVERALL INCREASE OF 2% AND I THINK MOST ALARMINGLY FOR A LOT OF US AND FOR THIS TEAM, WAS THAT THAT THAT INCREASE WAS REALLY DRIVEN BY FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. SO CHALLENGE THE TEAM TO STEP UP IN A MORE MEANINGFUL WAY, WHICH THEY DO EVERY DAY, AND TO SEE WHAT WE COULD DO ABOUT HOUSING 100 CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN 100 DAYS.
PRIOR TO THAT, WE WERE AVERAGING ABOUT 6.6 FAMILIES A MONTH.
SO IN ORDER TO REACH THIS AUDACIOUS GOAL, WE WOULD HAVE TO MORE THAN DOUBLE THAT.
THIS WHOLE THIS WHOLE TEAM, INCLUDING OUR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES BRANCH PARTNERS, THE FISCAL SIDE OF THE HOUSE, WAS ABLE TO HOUSE 48 FAMILIES AND 116 CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN 100 DAYS.
THIS COMPARED TO THE PRIOR 100 DAYS WE HAD HOUSED 45 CHILDREN AND YOUTH, SO MORE THAN DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF FOLKS THAT WERE HOUSED.
WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT DOING IT COLLECTIVELY AS A TEAM.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT ME AS ONE OF THE LEADERS AND WE'RE ALL LEADERS HERE, IS MOST PROUD OF THIS.
WE'RE IN WHAT'S CALLED A SUSTAINMENT PHASE.
NOW. HOW DO WE TAKE THAT METHODOLOGY WHERE WE GET A CATALYST AND TEAM LEADS TO TO GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, PARTNER WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, WITH SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS, AND CONTINUE THAT MOMENTUM AND REALLY FOCUS ON ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
OBVIOUSLY, THEIR ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, NUTRITIOUS FOOD, SOME REALLY BASIC FUNDAMENTAL SERVICES.
SO APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BY.
EACH ONE OF THOSE FAMILIES THAT'S HOUSED.
THERE'S THERE'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE PIECE BEHIND THAT.
AND, YOU KNOW, BILLS HAVE TO GET PAID AND THEY'VE COME TOGETHER.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE WHEN YOU'RE MORE THAN DOUBLING YOUR OUTPUT, IT'S NOT DONE ALONE.
SO, YOU KNOW, SARAH HERE, NOT ONLY DOES SHE CARRY CASES, SHE HELPS WITH THE MOVE IN PAYMENTS, THE ONGOING RENT PAYMENTS, SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT AS GOOD STEWARDS OF STATE FUNDING WE HAVE TO DO.
AND SHE'S DONE THAT ADMIRABLY WITH A LOT OF HELP FROM EVERYONE YOU SEE UP HERE ON THIS ON THIS DAIS.
SO I REALLY WANTED TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY.
WE'RE EARNEST ABOUT THAT WORK.
SO, AGAIN, JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THIS TEAM.
THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.
REALLY EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE AND HOW BLESSED I FEEL TO BE EVEN A PART OF WHAT YOU ALL DO EVERY DAY.
AND IT'S NOT TAKEN FOR GRANTED.
IT'S A VERY, VERY HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY THAT I HOLD.
AND I KNOW YOU ALL. YOU ALL TAKE IT SINCERELY AS WELL.
IT OBVIOUSLY HASN'T BEEN EASY WITH WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
THESE FOLKS SHOW UP EVERY DAY AND WORK THEIR TAILS OFF FOR ALL OF YOU.
SO THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MUCH APPRECIATED.
EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT, THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
I APPRECIATE THE TIME [APPLAUSE].
AS YOU AS YOU WALK BACK TO YOUR SEATS.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WHEN I FIRST WAS RUNNING FOR SUPERVISOR, THE HOMELESSNESS WAS ONE OF THE THREE AREAS THAT I WANTED TO HELP FOCUS THE COUNTY ON. AND AND WE CERTAINLY DID FOCUS.
BUT AS A BOARD OF SUPERVISOR, WE CAN'T DO TOO MUCH WITHOUT THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
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WE PLANNED THIS ON A RAINY MORNING SO WE WOULDN'T TAKE AWAY FROM THEIR TIME IN THE FIELD.WE'LL NOW MOVE TO OUR CONSENT CALENDAR.
[INAUDIBLE] SO THIS IS THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
I KNOW THAT SOMEBODY MENTIONED THAT YOU WANTED TO SPEAK.
WELL, I THOUGHT THEY WANTED TO SPEAK [INAUDIBLE].
ALL RIGHT. SO WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR CONSENT CALENDAR AGENDA.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
NEXT IS CONSENT AGENDA CALENDAR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 12.PLEASE NOTE ITEMS 1 THROUGH 4 REQUIRE A 4/5 VOTE.
THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT HAVE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE COMMENT? SEEING NONE AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT ON THESE ITEMS. SEEING NONE. I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
NEXT IS BOARD ACTION PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS 13 THROUGH 20.
[BOARD ACTION]
PLEASE NOTE ITEMS 13, 16, 19 AND 20 REQUIRE A 4/5 VOTE.PLEASE ALSO NOTE THAT A CORRECTION TO THE RECOMMENDED ACTION LANGUAGE IS NEEDED FOR ITEM NUMBER 13.
THE ACTION LANGUAGE SHOULD READ APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS TO SIGN AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE AND CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE TO CONTRACT NUMBER 202 2014 WITH SLETTEN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,321,947 FOR A NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $71,305 OR $71,305,776 FOR ADDITIONAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH MATERIALS, ESCALATION, INSURANCE, PLAN REVIEW, AND SCOPE CHANGE ON THE JOHN LAROCCA CORRECTIONAL CENTER PHASE ONE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT.
A 4/5 VOTE IS REQUIRED, STAFF REQUESTS THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE ACTIONS AS MODIFIED.
THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT ON THESE ITEMS. HELLO. GOOD MORNING.
I'M A VETERAN. I'M IN LAST DUTY OF SERVICE IN IRAQ.
AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE AGREEMENT THAT YOU HAVE WITH THE VETERANS, THE VETERANS BUILDING THAT'S ON MAIN STREET AND THE CONTRACT THAT IS BEING LOOKED AT TODAY. WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS THAT I HAVE CALLED MR. PEDROZA. I HAVE WRITTEN HIM A LETTER.
I HAVE NEVER GOTTEN A RESPONSE.
THE ISSUE THAT WE'RE HAVING THAT IS BEING HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED SINCE PROBABLY TEN YEARS NOW HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. THIS CONTRACT IS NOT INCLUSIVE OF ALL VETERANS.
THIS CONTRACT ALSO HAS A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH IT IN TERMS OF HOW IT'S WRITTEN.
WE ARE VFW HAS BEEN PART OF THAT ORGANIZATION, A PART OF THAT BUILDING.
AND ON THE CONTRACT, WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS THAT WE HAVE TO MOVE OUR THINGS WITHIN 30 DAYS.
AND AND THE THING ABOUT IT IS THAT BUILDING IS VERY OLD.
THE VFW HAS BEEN THERE FOR 40 YEARS.
THAT BUILDING SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AS A HISTORICAL SITE.
IT'S PART OF THE VETERANS MEMORIAL.
VFW HAS BEEN HOMELESS NOW FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS.
AND EVEN THOUGH THEY SAY THAT WE CAN GO THERE, THERE'S BEEN VIOLENCE, THERE'S BEEN THREATS OVER THE YEARS THAT THESE ARE MY ELDERS AS AN INDIGENOUS WOMAN, IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE CARE OF ELDERS.
AND THESE VETERANS ARE SERVICE WAR VETS.
AND I ALSO ASKED I WENT OVER THERE TO TRY TO SET AN APPOINTMENT.
THEY SAID, YES, WE COULD MEET THERE.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE NO PLACE TO PUT OUR THINGS THAT ARE IN THE 933 ADDRESS BUILDING.
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AND THEY SAID IT'S CONDEMNED IS WHAT THEY TOLD US.AND WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED A NOTICE SAYING THAT WE HAVE TO MOVE IT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PROBLEMS AS FAR AS THE AS FAR AS THE WHAT DO YOU CALL IT, THEY HAVE A BOARD THERE THAT MEETS AND MAKES DECISIONS. NO VETERAN HAS BEEN ASKED TO OTHER THAN AMERICAN LEGION HAS BEEN ASKED TO BE PART OF THAT BOARD, TO MAKE DECISIONS, TO BE A PART OF IT, EVEN THOUGH IT SAYS HERE THERE IS NO SOLE OWNER OF IT.
AND AT ONE POINT, THE OUR COMMANDER TRIED TO TALK TO MR. PEDROZO, HAD LUNCH WITH HIM, AND MR. PEDROZO SAID HE DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT.
SO I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT.
AND I KNOW I ONLY HAVE 3 MINUTES, BUT I ALSO WENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL LAST NIGHT.
MS. DIETZ MADE A PHONE CALL TO MR. PEDROZO AND LEFT A MESSAGE, I BELIEVE, TO.
UNFORTUNATELY, YOUR YOUR TIME IS UP, BUT WE UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT.
THANK YOU. RIGHT THERE IN THE BASKET.
SURE. OH, YOU LEFT YOUR HAT UP ON THE PODIUM, MA'AM.
OKAY. IS THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME? GOOD MORNING.
SERVED THE MILITARY FOR OVER 37 YEARS.
I AM A VETERAN OF THE IRAQ WAR, DESERT STORM, VIETNAM AND AFGHANISTAN.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW ME OR HAVEN'T SEEN ME BEFORE, JUST GO DOWNSTAIRS.
LOOK AT THAT POSTER OF THE GENTLEMAN THAT'S IN THAT UNIFORM.
JUST TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF HISTORY AND FIRST OF ALL, LET ME ASK THE BOARD HERE.
HOW MANY OF YOU, BY RAISE OF HAND, HAVE SERVED IN THE MILITARY? LET ME GIVE YOU A BRIEF HISTORY OF BOTH THE AGENCIES.
BUT IN THIS ISSUE ABOUT OCCUPYING A BUILDING HAS JUST GONE OVERBOARD.
THE AMERICAN LEGION ITSELF WAS CHARTERED IN 1919 AS A PATRIOTIC VETERAN ORGANIZATION FOCUSING ON SERVICES TO THE VETERANS SERVICE MEMBERS AND COMMUNITIES.
THERE WAS NO MEDICAL CARE OR VETERANS PENSIONS FOR THEM, AND THEY WERE LEFT TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES.
THE VFW ESTABLISHED THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION, DEVELOPED NATIONAL CEMETERIES, PASSED THE GI BILL, COMPENSATION FOR VIETNAM VETS, EXPOSED AGENT ORANGE AND GULF GULF WAR SYNDROME, IMPROVED VA MEDICAL CENTER SERVICES, FUNDED THE CREATION OF THE MILITARY SERVICE MEMORIALS AT OUR NATION'S CAPITAL, THE VIETNAM, KOREAN WAR, WORLD WAR TWO, WOMEN AND MILITARY SERVICES, DISABLED VETERANS LIFE MEMORIAL.
AND THEY ALSO FIRST SUPPORTERS OF THE DESERT STORM WAR MEMORIAL.
NO ONE HAS DONE MORE FOR VETERANS.
AGAIN, I TAKE NOTHING AWAY FROM THE AMERICAN LEGION.
BUT THE ISSUE REGARDING THIS LEASE HERE BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE AMERICAN LEGION 8383 SHOWS HERE IN THE AGREEMENT THAT THE COUNTY AND VETERANS ENTERED INTO THIS AGREEMENT FOR THAT BUILDING, THE BUILDING STATE'S VETERANS MEMORIAL CENTER OR VETERANS MEMORIAL BUILDING.
MAY I FINISH THIS LAST ONE SENTENCE? SURE. WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF THE VETERAN AS OUTLINED IN THE 38 UNITED STATES CODE [INAUDIBLE] . PERSON WHO HAS SERVED IN THE MILITARY SERVICE.
IT HAS BEEN RELEASED OR DISCHARGED HONORABLY.
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IT IS AN ACTIVE INACTIVE FOR TRAINING WHERE THE PERSON HAS BECOME DISABLED OR HAS PASSED AWAY OR INACTIVE DUTY WHERE THE PERSON HAS BECOME DISABLED OR HAS PASSED AWAY BECAUSE OF AN INJURY, INFRACTION OR INCIDENT.I AM THE PAST DISTRICT 13 COMMANDER FOR THE VETERANS FOREIGN WARS.
I'M CURRENTLY THE STATE INSPECTOR FOR THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS.
WHEN I FIRST BECAME AWARE OF THE ISSUES BETWEEN THE AMERICAN LEGION AND VFW BACK IN 1996, I'VE BEEN AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF BOTH ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE PAST 25 YEARS.
THIS IS NOT A NEW ISSUE, NOTHING NEW.
THE PROBLEM IS WHEN THE COUNTY ENTERED INTO ENTERED INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE LEGION YEARS AGO, BEFORE I EVEN BECAME INVOLVED, THEY GOT THE VFW OFF THAT LEASE.
THAT IS A COUNTY OWNED BUILDING.
IT IS A VETERANS MEMORIAL BUILDING, BUILT FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE FOR VETERANS TO MEET THERE.
JUST BECAUSE THE LEGION HAS THE SOLE LEASE OF THE BUILDING DOES NOT PREVENT THEM OR PRECLUDE ENABLE THEM TO PREVENT OTHER VETERANS FROM MEETING THERE, OKAY.
THEY HAVE TO LET THE VFW MEET THERE.
NOW, THE VFW HAS ACCOMMODATED THEM OVER THE YEARS BY OCCUPYING THE QUONSET HUT, AND IT'S NOW MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE COUNTY HAS NOW SOUGHT FIT TO CONDEMN THAT BUILDING AND FORCED THEM OUT OF IT. A BUILDING THAT I KNOW THEY'VE BEEN MEETING IN FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS OR LONGER.
SO I PROJECT THIS, PROPOSE THIS.
BRING THAT BUILDING UP TO ADA COMPLIANT AND ALLOW THEM TO CONTINUE MEETING THERE OR TELL THE AMERICAN LEGION THAT THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE SPACE AND MEETING TIME FOR THE VFW MEETING INSIDE THAT BUILDING, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE BUILDING WAS MEANT FOR AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE USED FOR.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ANDREA CHAVEZ, FUGAZI.
I AM THE VFW POST 8327 COMMANDER IN LIVINGSTON.
I'M HERE, OBVIOUSLY TO SUPPORT OUR VETERANS AND I AM PLEADING WITH YOU ALL TO PLEASE LOOK AT THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR VETERANS HAVE A PLACE TO MEET.
OBVIOUSLY, THEY DO FUNDRAISERS TO TRY TO HELP OTHER VETERANS IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO I URGE YOU TO PLEASE LOOK AT THAT.
PLEASE DO NOT LET THEM BECOME HOMELESS.
YOU ALL RECOGNIZED ANOTHER GROUP HERE, RIGHT? TO HELP OUT FOLKS.
I'VE DEPLOYED. I JUST RECENTLY RETIRED LAST YEAR, BUT I'M ACTIVELY INVOLVED.
SO PLEASE TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT ME.
I KNOW I HAVE MY FACE MASK ON, BUT I WILL BE AROUND.
SO YOU'RE RECRUITING NEW GENERATIONS HERE, AND I WILL BE STEPPING IN TO HELP OUT OUR VETERANS.
SO, AGAIN, I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THAT THOUGHT.
THANK YOU. BEFORE YOU GO TODAY, MA'AM, WOULD YOU MIND LEAVING YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION IN THE IN THE BASKET THERE AT THE PODIUM? THANK YOU. HELLO, MY NAME IS ANGEL [INAUDIBLE].
I'M A 100% DISABLED MARINE VETERAN.
I'M ALI PEYTON CROWES SON, I JUST WANTED TO FINISH WHAT SHE DIDN'T GET TO SAY.
IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MS. DIETZ HAD CALLED MR. PEDROSA TO AND LEFT A MESSAGE TO TABLE TO VOTE FOR THE LEASE ON THIS BUILDING FOR THE VETERANS VFW BUILDING.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, I RECENTLY JOINED A SEPARATE ORGANIZATION THAT HAD TO BE STARTED, A MARINE ORGANIZATION THAT HAD TO BE STARTED FOR MARINES BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T MEET IN THE MEMORIAL BUILDING BECAUSE THE PERSON THAT STARTED THIS ORGANIZATION, HE WAS ATTACKED AT THIS MEMORIAL BUILDING BY MEMBERS
[00:35:03]
OF, I GUESS, THE AMERICAN LEGION.SO JUST JOINING THIS ORGANIZATION, I HAD TO HEAR ABOUT THIS.
AND IT WAS IT WAS A LITTLE DISTURBING.
YOU KNOW, JUST HEARING ABOUT VETERANS ATTACKING OTHER VETERANS DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.
AND I JUST HOPE THAT WE COULD FIND THESE VFW VETS A HOME.
HELLO. MY NAME IS CURTIS HAMILL.
I'M THE COMMANDER OVER AT THE AMERICAN LEGION.
YOU KNOW, THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR A WHILE NOW.
HE KNOWS THE ACTUAL FACTS OF WHAT ARE GOING ON.
I'M SURE HE'S PASSED IT ALONG.
BUT WE DID MEET WITH THEM AND WE HAVE OFFERED NOT ONLY THEM A PLACE TO MEET.
WE HAVE IT ON OUR CALENDAR IN THE OFFICE.
WE ARE THERE TO OPEN FOR ANY VETERAN ORGANIZATION.
WE HAVE OFFERED TO ALL THE OTHER GROUPS AROUND.
IF THEY WANT TO COME IN AND HOLD FUNDRAISERS, WE CHARGE NOTHING.
THE ONLY THING WE DO NOT DO IS PROVIDE THEM FULL ACCESS TO THE BUILDING AT ANY TIME BECAUSE WE RUN OUR OWN OPERATIONS OUT OF THERE, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO PAY ALL THE BILLS, WE PAY PG&E, WE PAY WATER, SEWER, GARBAGE, WE PAY ALL THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL THERE FIGHTING FOR THE SAME CAUSE, AND WE'RE WILLING TO WORK WITH THEM IF SITTING DOWN TO TELL THEM THEY COULD COME IN AND MEET WITH OUR BUILDING WAS INTERPRETED AS VIOLENCE.
I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEBODY ELSE WENT AND WAS VIOLENT WITH THEM.
I DON'T KNOW. BUT IT WASN'T THE AMERICAN LEGION.
AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, JOSH IS ALREADY AWARE OF THIS.
HE ALREADY KNOWS WHAT'S ACTUALLY GOING ON.
I JUST WANT TO COME UP AND MAKE THAT CLEAR.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ARTURO [INAUDIBLE], AND I HAPPEN TO BE A CITIZEN OF THIS COUNTY.
ACTUALLY, I HAVE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON, JUST LIKE EVERYBODY DOES IN THEIR DAY.
IT STARTED RAINING THIS THIS MONTH.
THIS MORNING IN OVER AT OUR RANCH.
BUT THIS WEEK WE ARE COMMEMORATING VETERANS DAY.
IT'S A DAY IN WHICH WE ACTUALLY HIGHLIGHT WHAT MANY INDIVIDUALS HAVE DONE THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFE.
MANY OF THEM HAVE SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES.
I AM RETIRED FROM THIS COUNTY, THE COUNTY OF MERCED, WHICH I AM VERY, VERY GRATEFUL.
I JUST HAPPENED TO HAVE MET SOME INDIVIDUALS JUST RECENTLY.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THROUGH MEETING AND UNDERSTANDING WE CAN COME TO SOME SORT OF AN AGREEMENT.
HELLO, MY NAME IS SANDY [INAUDIBLE] AND I AM A PAST UNIT PRESIDENT FOR THE AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY UNIT 83 AND THE CURRENT SECOND BASE FOR THIS ORGANIZATION.
I HAVE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN THIS LEGION FOR WELL OVER TEN YEARS.
AND AS SOMEBODY WHO'S DOWN THERE ALMOST DAILY, I CAN TELL YOU THAT OVER THEY'RE SAYING OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS I HAVE BEEN DOWN THERE WHEN WHEN THE VFW HAS SAID, YES, WE'RE GOING TO BE THERE TO MEET.
I HAVE BEEN DOWN THERE TO OPEN THE BUILDING AND THEY HAVEN'T SHOWN UP.
THAT BEING SAID, THERE'S STILL MORE THAN WELCOME.
WHERE THEY'RE SAYING THERE'S FIGHTING.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT THEY COULD EVEN BE TALKING ABOUT, BUT WE ARE VERY WELL OPEN TO THIS ORGANIZATION.
WE'VE HAD MANY MEETINGS THROUGH OUR BUILDING COMMITTEE MEETING THAT WE WERE MEETING WITH MONTHLY THROUGHOUT OUR CONSTRUCTION THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON AND ON SEVERAL OF THOSE MEETINGS, THEY DIDN'T EVEN SHOW UP TO TO HAVE A SAY SO IN THAT OR TO TO VOICE THEIR OPINION.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, WE ARE THERE.
WE ARE A VETERAN ORGANIZATION.
I AM VERY MUCH MY BROTHER IS VFW.
I'M VERY MUCH FOR THE VETERANS.
[00:40:01]
I WORK FOR THE VETERANS.SO LIKE I SAID, WE ARE OPEN TO ALL THE VETERAN ORGANIZATIONS.
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE HELPING THEM AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, WHY AREN'T THEY OPENING THEIR ORGANIZATIONS TO THEM AS WELL? SO, YOU KNOW, NOT SURE WHAT'S GOING ON.
YES, THIS THIS BICKERING HAS TO STOP BECAUSE WE'RE ALL HERE FOR THE SAME PURPOSE.
WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT CAN BE THERE TO OPEN THIS BUILDING FOR THEM.
AND THEY ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO USE OUR BUILDING.
ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE. I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC.
THAT'S OKAY. I AM A CHARTER MEMBER.
MY NAME IS DAVID JOSEPH LOSER.
THAT'S RIGHT. I REALLY AM A LOSER.
I'M A CHARTER MEMBER OF THE MERCED POST.
WE STARTED THE MERCED POST IN 74.
MY FATHER AND I NAMES ARE ON THE BOARD FOR THE CHARTER MEMBER.
I'M ALSO A PRESIDENT OF OUR COMMANDER OF THE DAV.
THE DAV WAS ASKED TO LEAVE THE BUILDING BY THE AMERICAN LEGION.
WE WENT TO THE ATWATER BUILDING AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE STILL AT THE ATWATER BUILDING.
BUT IT'S NO LONGER A MUNICIPAL BUILDING.
YES, I KNOW THE AMERICAN LEGION AND THE VFW ARE LIKE BROTHER AND SISTER, WE ARGUE.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE WAS, BACK THEN, WE WERE STILL VETERANS.
I AM A MEMBER OF EVERY ORGANIZATION THAT HAD CAME UP HERE.
I SERVED WITH THE CORPS IN VIETNAM.
100%. COMBAT MILITARY, DISABLE INFANTRY.
AIN'T TOO MANY AIR FORCE, I CAN SAY THAT.
BUT I AM MILITARY FIRST, LAST AND ALWAYS.
I BELONG TO THE LEGAL AMERICAN LEGION POST.
I AM A TRUSTEE FOR THE AMERICAN LEGION POST.
I MEAN THE VFW POST IN MERCED.
ALL WE'RE ASKING FOR IS LETS GET BACK TO WHERE IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING.
I KNOW PERSONALLY THAT IF SHE, THE NICE LADY, SAID SHE INVITED US.
I LIKE TO SEE WHERE WE HEARD ABOUT IT.
I KNOW THE DAV NEVER HEARD ABOUT IT.
NOW THAT WE'RE NOT IN THERE, BUT I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY INFORMATION THING.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO SOMETHING IN OUR BUILDING? ALL I KNOW AND I GO TO THE VFW IN THAT QUONSET HUT.
I'VE BEEN GOING THERE SINCE 91.
WHEN I RETARDED RETIRED, MY WIFE SAID I'M RETARDED.
SHE'S RIGHT. BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS, LET'S GET BACK TO VETERAN'S FIRST ORGANIZATION.
I KNOW THERE'S A POWER GRAB OVER THERE.
I KNOW IT'S NOT PART OF THE REAL AMERICAN LEGION.
I BELIEVE THE PART OF THE ROUGH RIDER GROUP.
I KNOW THEY'RE NOT IN CHARGE, BUT ANYTHING THEY WANT, THEY COME IN, PRESS THEIR VOICE, THEY GET IT.
SO PLEASE FORGIVE ME AS A LOSER.
BUT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE HELP US.
OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? WELL, GENTLEMEN, I AM THE POST COMMANDER OF THE VFW IN MERCED.
I'VE BEEN AFFILIATED AS A COMMANDER OFF AND ON FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS.
AND THIS BULL ABOUT NO ARGUMENTS OR ANY CONFRONTATIONS OCCURRING IN THAT BUILDING OR AROUND THAT BUILDING IS WRONG.
BILL BAKER AND DENNIS TUCKER STARTED ALL OF THIS MESS, THE RIDERS, THEY CAME IN THERE AND THEY STIRRED EVERYTHING UP.
THEY ATTACKED MY MEMBERS AND THEY THREATENED THEM.
THEY THEY BROKE DOWN THE DAMN DOOR IN THE POST BUILDING AFTER I WAS A COMMANDER OF THE SECOND YEAR AND THEN BUSTED UP MY GUN SAFE IN THE BUILDING.
[00:45:03]
THEREAFTER, WE PUT IN SECURITY IN THE BUILDING SO WE CAN PREVENT A LOT OF THAT.BUT NO, NOTHING LIKE THIS LADY SAYS NOTHING HAS EVER HAPPENED.
AND YOU PEOPLE BETTER START PAYING ATTENTION TO WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO FOR THIS COUNTRY AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE FOR THIS COUNTRY. NOW WE NEED A BUILDING SO WE CAN FUNCTION THE PROPER WAY.
MIXING WITH THEM IS NOT WORKING AND NEVER HAS DONE IN THE PAST OR IN THE FUTURE.
IT'S VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO WORK DOWN THERE.
THAT'S WHY I NEVER BRING MY POST IN THERE FOR MEETINGS BECAUSE THERE'S TOO MUCH NEGATIVITY.
LAST YEAR THE LEGION SAYS, OKAY, YOU CAN HAVE YOUR MEETINGS OVER THERE AFTER THE CONSTRUCTION WAS DONE, RIGHT AFTER THE CONSTRUCTION WAS DONE, THEY MOVED THEIR BAR OVER IN THE EAST WING WHERE WE WAS GOING TO DO OUR MEETING ON FRIDAY NIGHTS.
THAT CONTINUED SO I JUST BACKED OFF AND I TOOK ALL OF MY POST MEMBERS TO MY HOME IN MY DINING ROOM AND WE BEEN CONDUCTING BUSINESS FOR THE LAST YEAR.
OK NO YOU SAID THAT MAYBE YOU'VE GOT A SHORT MEMORY FOR ONE YEAR.
BUT ANYWAY, THE THING IS, I WANT A BUILDING SEPARATE FROM THEM AND I KNOW THERE'S ONE AVAILABLE.
IT'S OVER THERE AT THE ARMORY WHERE THE NATIONAL GUARD USED TO BE.
YOU JUST GOT THROUGH DOING SOME WORK IN THERE, AS FAR AS I KNOW.
AND THE THING IS, I KNOW THE BUILDING WELL.
I SERVED IN THERE WITH THE NATIONAL GUARD.
AND THE THING IS, I THINK IT WOULD BE ADEQUATE FOR THE VFW.
THINK ABOUT IT. I'VE HAD ABOUT ENOUGH OF THIS.
I'VE BEEN DOWN HERE FOR TEN YEARS BACK AND FORTH.
I'M TIRED OF THE BACK AND FORTH.
ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK? SEEING NONE. I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.
I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT ITEM 17 BE VOTED ON SEPARATELY.
WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS SINCE THREE YEARS AGO ABOUT WORKING WITH A CONTRACT.
UNTIL THIS DATE, I DON'T THINK I'VE GOT AN UPDATE.
AND ESPECIALLY WITH SO MANY ISSUES.
YOU KNOW, I THINK WE OWE THESE VETERANS, YOU KNOW, OUR HONOR AND THANK YOU BESIDES THAT CONSIDERATION IN CONTINUING THIS ITEM SO WE WE CAN BE UPDATED A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE CONTRACT AND THE ISSUES AND TO HOPEFULLY WE CAN ALL COME TO SOME TYPE OF AGREEMENT OR ANOTHER BUILDING IF IT'S POSSIBLE, LIKE THE GENTLEMAN STATED, YOU KNOW, BUT AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, WE GET AN UPDATE OR MYSELF IF I AM GOING TO UPDATE YOU KNOW UM, SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO CONTINUE ITEM 17, UH, AND MAYBE BRING IT BACK NEXT MONTH.
THANK YOU. I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION.
THANK YOU. I JUST KIND OF FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO DEFEND MYSELF A LITTLE BIT HERE BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN SOME STUFF SAID THAT'S JUST ISN'T TRUE. MRS. PAINTED CROW DID CALL ME.
SHE WROTE. SHE CAME INTO THE OFFICE, LEFT HER HER INFORMATION.
WHEN I CALLED HER BACK, SHE SAID, I DIDN'T THINK YOU WERE GOING TO CALL ME BACK.
AND I SPENT 20 MINUTES ON THE PHONE WITH HER EXPLAINING WHAT THE SITUATION WAS.
THAT IS AN HONEST TO GOD STATEMENT.
AND SO TO SAY THAT I WASN'T RESPONSIVE ISN'T TRUE.
I DID TALK TO MS. DIETZ LAST NIGHT AND SHE TOLD ME WHAT WAS GOING ON AND THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A GROUP THAT WAS HERE.
SHE DIDN'T LEAVE A MESSAGE ONCE I MISSED HER CALL BECAUSE I WAS PUTTING MY KIDS DOWN TO BED.
WHEN I HAD LUNCH WITH MR. GRISSOM. I TOLD HIM I DIDN'T SAY I DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR THAT.
I SAID, I DON'T WANT TO HEAR WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO FOCUS ON THE MISSION MOVING FORWARD TO SERVE OUR VETERANS?
[00:50:01]
AND I SAID, LOOK, WHATEVER'S HAPPENED HAS HAPPENED.I WASN'T AROUND. I DON'T KNOW.
I HAVE GONE TO AS MANY OF THE LEGION MEETINGS AS I CAN, AND IF I CAN'T GO, I ALWAYS GO TO THE COMMANDERS AND TELL THEM WHY I CAN'T GO.
WE SAT IN ON THE LEASE NEGOTIATIONS MULTIPLE TIMES TO COME UP WITH AN AGREEMENT FOR YOU GUYS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A CERTAIN AREA TOO, BECAUSE ONE OF THE BIG THINGS WAS WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE STORAGE AND YOU WANTED TO HAVE A COMPUTER, THEN YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO POST SOME STUFF. THEY SAID, OKAY, BUT WE CAN'T ALLOW YOU TO USE THE COMPUTER BECAUSE I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHY.
BUT THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T ALLOW YOU TO USE THE COMPUTER.
BUT EVERYTHING ELSE IS FACTUALLY NOT TRUE.
I PRIDE MYSELF ON GETTING BACK TO PEOPLE AS MUCH AS I CAN.
SOMETIMES YOU'RE NOT GOING TO WANT TO HEAR WHAT MY ANSWER BECAUSE IT'S NOT WHAT YOU WANT ME TO SAY.
BUT I DO TRY AND PUT IT ALL OUT THERE BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR FOR ME TO TELL YOU WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR AND THEN NOT BE ABLE TO DELIVER ON IT.
WE HAVE WORKED VERY HARD AND I HAVE MADE IT VERY CLEAR TO BOTH SIDES.
THIS IS ABOUT. WHAT'S THE FOCUS? THE FOCUS IS VETERANS.
THAT'S THE FOCUS REGARDLESS OF THE ORGANIZATION.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I HOLD VERY STRONG FAITH IN AND BELIEF IN, NOT JUST THIS WEEK OR NOT JUST FRIDAY, BUT IT ALLOWS FOR YOU TO BE HERE.
IT ALLOWS FOR ME TO BE UP HERE AND TO BE ABLE TO SAY THIS.
SO TO SAY THAT I'M NOT AND I'LL BE I'LL I'LL ALSO ADD TO THAT THAT WHEN I FIRST GOT ON HERE, I HAVE REACHED I REACHED OUT TO MY PREDECESSORS AND SAID, HEY, HOW DID YOU GUYS WORK WITH THIS? LIKE, WHAT WAS GOING ON? YOU KNOW WHAT? THEIR RESPONSE TO ME WAS GOOD LUCK.
THAT'S WHAT THEY RESPONSE WAS.
AND SO I'VE TRIED TO DO MY HARDEST.
I SPOKE WITH SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND HE SAID, HEY, ATWATER IS DOING REALLY WELL.
MAYBE WE SHOULD, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN TALK TO THEM AND STUFF.
SO I HAVE REACHED OUT AND ASKED FOR PEOPLE'S ADVICE ON THIS ISSUE.
SO TO SAY THAT I'M NOT RESPONSIVE OR THAT I SAID I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT, THAT'S JUST SIMPLY NOT TRUE. BECAUSE WE TALKED AND I SAID I SAID, HEY, LET'S TRY.
I SAID, AND I ASKED YOU, SIR, I SAID, CAN YOU PLEASE MEET WITH HIM? YOU SAID, I CAN'T.
CAN YOU RATIONALIZE WITH THIS GROUP? AND I SAID, IF YOU CAN REACH OUT AND IF THEY TELL YOU TO KICK ROCKS, THEN THEN I'LL TALK TO THEM.
BUT WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS BRING IT TOGETHER.
AND FOR THIS TO BECOME SUCH A HUGE ISSUE OR TO SAY THAT I'M NOT I'M NOT RESPONSIVE OR I'M LYING ABOUT SOMETHING, IT'S SIMPLY NOT TRUE. MY FOCUS IS THE VETERANS.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF.
I'M PROUD OF ALL OF OUR VETERANS AND ALL OF THE SACRIFICES THAT YOU HAVE DONE AND YOUR FAMILIES HAVE DONE, TO DEAL WITH, YOU KNOW, YOUR TIME AWAY AND THE HARD WORK AND MOVING AROUND AND STUFF.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS COMING UP AND SPEAKING.
AND I KNOW THERE'S A MOTION ON THE TABLE, SO I WILL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT.
THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
OH, THANK YOU. YES, WE DID HAVE A CONVERSATION.
ATWATER TOOK A WHOLE DIFFERENT APPROACH.
I MEAN, IT WAS A PERFECT STORM WHERE OUR CHARTER WAS LOST.
BUT WHAT WE DID IS WE FORMED A NONPROFIT SPECIFICALLY FOR VETERANS, AND WE'VE INVITED ALL VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS, DAV, AMONGST ONE OF THEM, TO PARTICIPATE.
AND WITH THIS NONPROFIT VETERANS ORGANIZATION THAT OVERSEES THE VETERANS HALL, THERE'S A MEMBER FROM EACH OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAS THE ABILITY TO SIT ON THAT BOARD.
[00:55:01]
SO IT'S AN UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION THAT OVERSEES FOR EVERYBODY TO PARTICIPATE THIS WAY, EVERYBODY HAS A VOTE.I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON IN MERCED FOR A LONG TIME.
I THINK A COUPLE OF THE GENTLEMAN YOU'VE MENTIONED HAVEN'T BEEN INVOLVED IN A LONG TIME OVER THERE.
BUT IT'S HARD FOR US TO GET INVOLVED IN THOSE POLITICS FROM UP HERE.
AND HE CAN SIT THERE AND WE'D HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM AND THEY'D START ARGUING.
I SAID I'D STEP BACK ON, YOU GUYS GOT TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
OUR GOAL AS A COUNTY IS TO KEEP THIS BUILDING OPEN FOR VETERANS.
IT'S THE LEAST THAT WE CAN DO.
BUT THIS BOARD SUPPORTS OUR VETERANS.
WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE FOR US, AND IT'S MUCH APPRECIATED.
I DID NOT SERVE, BUT I'M THIRD GENERATION OF MILITARY THAT EVERY MALE IN MY FAMILIES HAVE SERVED.
SO IT'S IN MY HEART TO HELP VETERANS IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE THAT I CAN.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE INNER POLITICS, WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE THAT.
YOU'VE GOT TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
IT IS A MODEL IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO ATWATER TO SEE HOW WE DID IT.
IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING SEAMLESSLY BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS A VOTE AT THE TABLE.
I KNOW THE AMERICAN LEGION HAS HAD THAT BUILDING FOR A LONG TIME.
WE HAVE TO LEASE IT TO A VETERANS ORGANIZATION.
SO I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THIS RIGHT NOW.
BUT I DO KNOW WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION.
BUT THE INNER POLITICS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE GOING ON THERE, THIS BOARD CAN'T SOLVE THOSE, SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS. BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR US.
THANK YOU, CHAIR. YOU'RE WELCOME.
SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND I'LL JUST PUT IT OUT THERE THAT I AM IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION OF CONTINUING THIS TO A MEETING, BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT THERE'S FURTHER DISCUSSIONS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN. BUT I CAN'T AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE MORE.
AND I AND I'LL SHARE WITH YOU, TAKE A LOOK IN LOS BANOS IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW ANY BETTER AND YOU WALKED IN TO THE VFW HALL THERE, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE VFW AND THE AMERICAN LEGION IS SEAMLESS.
THEY WORK REALLY WELL TOGETHER.
SUPPORTING WHAT YOU GUYS, I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT YOUR NUMBER ONE FOCUS IS SERVING VETERANS.
AND SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO REACH OUT TO COMMANDER ALLEN [INAUDIBLE] OR MIKE HUGHES FROM FROM LOS BANOS AND MAYBE LOOK AT SOME OF THE WAYS THAT THEY'RE WORKING TOGETHER. I THINK IT WORKS WELL.
AND AND I CAN TELL YOU AT LEAST OVER IN MY AREA THEY SERVE THE VETERANS VERY, VERY WELL.
BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE'S SOME MAYBE SOME CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS THAT NEED TO GO ON.
BUT ULTIMATELY, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS, IS WE'RE GOING TO LEASE THE BUILDING.
I'VE ONLY BEEN ON THE BOARD NOW FOR YEARS.
I DON'T HAVE ALL THE HISTORY OF ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE GONE ON PRIOR TO ME BEING HERE.
BUT I THINK THIS IS A MOMENT IN TIME WHERE IF YOU'RE TRULY SERIOUS ABOUT MAKING IT BETTER, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PUT SOME OF THE PAST IN THE PAST AND LET'S TRY TO FIND A SOLUTION MOVING FORWARD.
AND I THINK RIGHT NOW IS THE OPPORTUNITY.
CLEARLY, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME SEEING YOU FOLKS UP HERE.
I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS.
BUT AT SOME POINT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TURN THE PAGE BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE'RE GOING TO WALK AWAY.
AND WE STILL HAVE SOLVED NO PROBLEMS IN TEN YEARS.
SO THIS IS WHAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO.
I'VE HEARD THEM SPEAK FROM THE AMERICAN LEGION.
THEY'RE SAYING THAT THEY WANT TO MEET WITH YOU.
AGAIN, IF THEY THROW YOU OUT OF THE BUILDING OR SOMETHING PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
I KNOW IT'S NOT IN MY DISTRICT, BUT I WANT TO SUPPORT MY COLLEAGUE.
AND I THINK IF WE CAN DO THAT, I THINK ULTIMATELY EVERYBODY WINS BECAUSE WE SERVE OUR VETERANS.
[01:00:02]
SO THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YOU'RE WELCOME.MR. MENDEZ. YES, MR. CHAIR. WHEN YOU'RE READY.
I KNOW A MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA, WHICH YOU SECONDED JUST SOME CLARIFICATION AS TO THE MOTION AND MAYBE THE EXPECTATION OF WHEN YOU WOULD WANT US TO BRING THIS ITEM BACK.
SO JUST LOOKING FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE CLARIFICATION ON THE MOTION.
AS MY QUESTION TO STAFF, IS, IS THERE AN URGENCY TO THE CONTRACT? MAYBE NOT. MAYBE, LIKE I SAID, MAYBE A MONTH OR TWO.
YOU KNOW I'LL ASK OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, DANA HERTFELDER, TO COME DOWN HERE.
BUT I KNOW THIS ITEM BEFORE YOU IS RETROACTIVE.
SO IT'S ALREADY A LITTLE LATE IN COMING TO YOU.
DANA HERTFELDER, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
CURRENTLY, THE LEASE WITH THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 883 HAS EXPIRED. WE'VE BEEN NEGOTIATING THIS FOR A WHILE, TRYING TO GET BECAUSE WE NEED SOMEBODY TO MANAGE THIS BUILDING FOR US.
THAT'S HOW WE'RE SET UP AS THE COUNTY AS WE HAVE A NONPROFIT VETERANS GROUP MANAGING ALL THE BUILDINGS, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE EQUAL ACCESS TO ALL VETERANS AND ALL VETERANS GROUP.
AND WE HAVE A SUPERVISOR PEDROZO POINTED OUT.
WE'VE HAD MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH THEM WHERE WE'VE TRIED TO RESOLVE THESE ISSUES, BUT AT SOME POINT WE NEED TO HAVE A LEASE IN PLACE. AS I SAID, THE AMERICAN LEGION HAS HAD A LOT INVESTED IN THIS BUILDING.
AND WE JUST NEED TO GET SOMETHING BACK IN PLACE.
SO WOULD IT BE WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO CHANGE THE DATE OF THE LEASE AND MAYBE GIVE IT FROM SEPTEMBER 1ST, GIVE IT SIX MONTHS WORTH OF LIFE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A CONTINUANCE OF OPERATIONS, SOMEBODY PAYING THE WATER, SEWER, SCHEDULING EVENTS, AND THEN THAT GIVES SOME TIME FOR THIS TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD.
YES. I BELIEVE WE COULD DO A SHORT TERM LEASE.
OR IS IT MONTH TO MONTH DOESN'T MATTER? OR MONTH TO MONTH. YEAH.
IS THAT OR IS THAT PART OF WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON TODAY? I MEAN, HOW WHAT'S IS IT JUST HAPPENING WHERE THEY'RE THE AMERICAN LEGION IS MAINTAINING THE BUILDING AS THEY AS IF THEY LEASED IT? YES. THERE'S JUST NO LEASE.
AND SO HOW LONG COULD THAT CONTINUE? I MEAN, I'D RATHER PUT SOME SORT OF SCHEDULE ON IT.
UH, DANA, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, UH, WHAT TYPE OF, UH, FUNDS ARE WE ASKING FOR? UH, YOU KNOW, ANY OF THE OTHER REMODELING AND OTHER BUILDINGS THAT TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR IN CASE THERE'S NO AGREEMENT HERE, WE CAN HAVE ANOTHER BUILDING WHERE THEY CAN HOLD THEIR MEETINGS. THE BUILDING IN QUESTION IS ACTUALLY A STORAGE BUILDING IT'S LOCATED IN THE BACK OF THE GROUNDS FOR MERCED VETERAN HALL . THIS BUILDING WAS, I GUESS, THE BEST WAY TO PUT IT, A CASUALTY OF THE COUNTY'S SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
IT ONE DOES NOT HAVE ADEQUATE ACCESSIBILITY.
BUT IT'S APPARENT THAT IT'S JUST FOR WHATEVER REASON, ISN'T WORKING AT THIS POINT.
AND THEN HOW ABOUT THE OTHER BUILDING THAT WAS MENTIONED OVER AT [INAUDIBLE].
I'M UNAWARE OF THE THAT AS FAR AS I KNOW IS NOT A COUNTY FACILITY.
I REALLY DON'T KNOW. WE CAN LOOK INTO IT, BUT I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR FACILITY.
OKAY. SO IF WE IF WE CONTINUE THIS, THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE POSSIBILITIES, I GUESS.
OKAY. YEAH, I'M JUST, LIKE I SAID, SIX MONTHS WITH 30 DAY CANCELLATION CLOSURE OR IS THE MONTH TO
[01:05:08]
MONTH? OH, YES, MR. CHAIR. THE CURRENT TERM IS FIVE YEARS.IT IS TERMINABLE ON 30 DAYS NOTICE WITHIN THE AGREEMENT.
THE MOTION ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW, THOUGH, IS TO SIMPLY CONTINUE THE ITEM.
THE CURRENT AGREEMENT DOES NOT HAVE A PROVISION TO GO TO A MONTH TO MONTH.
BUT I THINK UNDER THE OLD AGREEMENT IT WAS A TEN YEAR TOTAL LEASE WHICH HAS EXPIRED.
SO THEN AS A BOARD RIGHT NOW, COULD WE EXTEND THE PRIOR LEASE FOR SIX MONTHS? MR. CHAIR, WE CAN'T TECHNICALLY EXTEND THE LEASE BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY EXPIRED OR JUST CONTINUE AS IT IS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU COULD APPROVE.
OKAY. SO ONE THING THAT I SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA I'D LIKE TO GET YOUR COMMENTS, PLEASE.
SO I DON'T KNOW FOR ME, I THINK I DON'T THINK AMERICAN LEGION'S GOING ANYWHERE.
I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE IT AS THEY'VE BEEN OPERATING IT.
YOU KNOW, I KNOW THE HOLIDAYS ARE COMING UP AND EVERYBODY'S BUSY.
I MEAN, I HATE TO BE JUST BLUNT ABOUT IT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE IT OUT.
AND AND THEN ULTIMATELY, WE'LL WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION AS A BOARD BECAUSE PART OF OUR POLICIES, WE JUST CAN'T HAVE THIS BUILDING SITTING OUT THERE WITH NOBODY HAVING A LEASE ON IT. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A MOVE ON THAT.
BUT I THINK WE HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO GET EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM AND REALLY TRY TO FIGURE SOME STUFF OUT HERE, BUT STILL KIND OF KEEP SOME PRESSURE ON OURSELVES THAT WE DON'T LET THIS DEAL GO FOR ANOTHER SIX MONTHS AND ANOTHER SIX MONTHS.
BUT JUST EXTENDING THE CURRENT ITEM AND AGAIN ASKING THE GROUPS THAT ARE INVOLVED TO PLEASE WORK WITH US, I'M SURE IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME WORK ON OUR PART TO FACILITATE SOME MEETINGS, BUT BE WILLING TO WITH AN OPEN MIND AND HOW CAN WE COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE BEST CASE SCENARIO FOR ALL OF US IF THE MAKER AND THE SECOND OF THE MOTION WOULD ENTERTAIN MOVING IT TO HAVING STAFF COME BACK AT EITHER THE 24TH OR THE 7TH MEETING. AND I WOULD LEAVE THAT UP TO STAFF TO KIND OF WORK THAT IN THERE, WHICH WOULD BE BEST TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AMEND MOTION TO THE FIRST MEETING IN FEBRUARY, PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT LONGER THE BETTER SO THAT WE CAN ALL YOU KNOW, I KNOW THE HOLIDAYS WOULD BE HARD TO GET TOGETHER ANYWAY, SO IS THAT OKAY? YEAH. I MEAN, IF I MIGHT SHARE JUST A THOUGHT.
IS THAT I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF NOT HAVING A LEASE IN PLACE.
RIGHT. ESPECIALLY FOR THAT LONG OF TIME.
SO WHAT I'D MAYBE SUGGEST IS THAT IS THAT WE CHANGE THE, THE TERM OF THE LEASE, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO START SEPTEMBER 1ST AND THEN HAVE IT GO THROUGH MAYBE MARCH 31ST AND THEN AND WITH NO FIVE YEAR EXTENSION.
AND THEN AND THEN AT THE FEBRUARY MEETING, WE EXPECT TO HAVE A RESOLUTION TO BE VOTED ON THAT WOULD THAT CAN GO I MEAN, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? IS THAT WOULD THAT WORK, MR. HERTFELDER? OR DO YOU WANT ME TO ASK COUNCIL FIRST? WELL, I WOULD DEFER TO COUNCIL, BUT I'M SORRY, I WAS TRYING.
COULD YOU REPEAT? I WAS TRYING TO WRITE IT DOWN.
THE LEASE WOULD GO THROUGH MARCH WITH NO FIVE YEAR EXTENSION.
RIGHT. SO IT'S JUST GOING TO END ONE OR ANOTHER INTO MARCH.
[01:10:03]
AND THEN THE EXPECTATION WOULD BE THAT YOU'D COME BACK AT THE FIRST MEETING IN FEBRUARY WITH A DEAL EITHER EITHER WE'VE WORKED IT OUT OR WE'VE WE'RE GOING TO LEASE IT TO THE AMERICAN LEGION UNDER THESE TERMS, YOU KNOW.RIGHT. I MEAN, OR MAYBE HAVE FOUND THE VFW A SEPARATE BUILDING.
RIGHT. GIVES US THE CHANCE TO GET THAT KIND OF STUFF DONE.
I GUESS MY ONLY QUESTION WOULD BE, WOULD WE BRING THIS BACK AT THE FIRST MEETING IN DECEMBER? NO, NO. CHANGE THE TERM.
YES. BRING IT BACK IN FEBRUARY.
YEAH. OKAY. TO MODIFY THE TERM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE COULDN'T DO THAT TODAY.
SO WHAT THE BOARD WOULD BE APPROVING TODAY WOULD BE THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT THAT'S ON THE BOARD AGENDA TODAY FOR A TERM COMMENCING RETROACTIVE SEPTEMBER 1ST THROUGH THE 1ST OF MARCH, NO END OF MARCH, OR END OF MARCH 2023 ON THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, ALL THE OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS BEING THE SAME.
AND THAT WOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE AMERICAN LEGION LEGION FOR THEIR APPROVAL.
YES. RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE PAYING FOR THE INSURANCE TO OPERATE THE BUILDING.
AND THEY AS I SAID, THEY HAVE A LOT INVESTED IN IT, IN OPERATION.
AND WE WANT TO RESPECT THAT AS WELL.
I'LL AMEND MY MOTION, AS STATED BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
OKAY. AND THEN I'LL SECOND THAT.
SO WE'RE GOOD. SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA, SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA THAT WOULD MAKE THE TERM OF THIS AGREEMENT THROUGH MARCH OF 2023.
AND WELL, IT WAS ALREADY STATED SO END OF MARCH.
OK I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN CALLED FOR.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
AND, YOU KNOW, I WILL SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, PLEASE TAKE TO HEART WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS, SIR.
IT'S DONE. SORRY. NO, NO, SIR.
I'M SORRY. YOU KNOW, AFTER THE MEETING, YOU CAN COME AND TALK OR WHATEVER, BUT.
BUT ANYWAYS, THAT YOU KNOW, THAT THE GROUPS AND THERE'S MORE THAN TWO GROUPS, RIGHT? THAT EVERYBODY COMES TOGETHER.
AND I MIGHT SERIOUSLY SUGGEST YOU LOOK AT THE MODEL THAT ATWATER HAS DONE.
OK. WE'LL MOVE ON TO CLERKS ANNOUNCEMENT.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE. PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS 13 THROUGH 16 AND 18 THROUGH 20.
I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS.
WE ALREADY HAD PUBLIC COMMENT.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 21.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
ALL RIGHT, PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
NEXT IS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES ITEM 22.
I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.
SEEING NONE I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
[01:15:05]
PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.NEXT IS HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY, ITEM 23.
ALL RIGHT, I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.
DID YOU HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT, SIR? I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA, CALL FOR THE VOTE.
BOY. ANYWAYS, PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
NEXT IS COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ITEMS 24 THROUGH 27.
CAN YOU CORRECT IT ON THE SCREEN, PLEASE? OKAY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
WELL, A COUPLE THINGS. ARE WE VOTING ON ITEM 27 OR ARE WE GETTING A PRESENTATION ON 27? DO WE HAVE TO VOTE TO GET THE PRESENTATION? NO, I THINK WE.
YEAH. SO, YEAH, WE'LL TAKE IT SEPARATELY.
THEY PASSED A NEW, UM, FIRE, UM, CODE.
AND THEN THEY ARE WE'RE EXPECTED TO ADOPT IT.
AND IF WE DON'T ADOPT IT, THEN THEY, THEY DO BAD THINGS TO US AND WITHHOLD STUFF.
AND THEN ITEM NUMBER 25, YOU SEE THAT THERE'S QUITE A FEW, UM, DOLLAR AMOUNTS THAT ARE BEING ASSESSED, UM, ON, ON PROPERTIES.
AND THESE ITEMS ARE IT'S, I THINK THIS IS A KIND OF THE APPROACH WE'VE REALLY AS A COUNTY TRY TO WORK WITH FOLKS TO CLEAN UP THEIR PROPERTIES AND WHEN THEY HAVE, WHEN THEY HAVE NUISANCES ON THEIR PROPERTY, WHEN IT'S REALLY JUST REALLY BAD SHAPE.
AND THIS IS THE COUNTY'S EFFORT.
AND, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE VAGRANTS IN THERE, YOU HAVE RODENTS THAT ARE MOVING IN THERE.
SO I'M GLAD THAT I KNOW THERE WAS A [INAUDIBLE].
THERE'S QUITE A FEW OF THEM THERE.
THEY RANGE FROM I'M LOOKING AT IT QUICKLY HERE IS JUST A LITTLE OVER $1,000 TO SOME OF THEM THAT ARE OVER $20,000 ON WHAT IT COSTS TO CLEAN UP THESE PROPERTIES.
THE BEFORE IS IN THE AFTER'S AND I'M HAPPY THAT OUR BOARD HAS SUPPORTED THIS.
AND THEN AS THESE, EVENTUALLY WE'RE GOING TO GET TO A POINT HOPEFULLY WHERE THE REVENUES, AS THEY COME BACK IN, WILL HELP TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE SENDING THE MESSAGE OUT THERE THAT JUST LEAVING GARBAGE ALL OVER YOUR PROPERTY AND LETTING IT BE A NUISANCE ISN'T GOING TO BE TOLERATED.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YOU'RE WELCOME, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
I SHOULD HAVE CALLED YOU ON THIS, BUT ITEM NUMBER 25, AS MY COLLEAGUE WAS SAYING.
SO THESE ARE ALL DIFFERENT [INAUDIBLE] NUMBERS.
BUT IT WAS ALL ON ONE ROAD AND I AND I WAS JUST INTERESTED IN WERE THE NEIGHBORS JUST OVERLOOKING IT OR DID THEY JUST ALL PARTICIPATE IN IT, OR IS IT ONE PROPERTY OWNER? SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL THROUGH THE CHAIR.
AND ALSO TO ADDRESS SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA COMMENTS, MULTIPLE PROPERTY OWNERS.
SO THIS HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT STRETCH FOR A QUITE A PERIOD OF TIME.
AND WHAT I WILL SAY, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS MADE BY MR.
[01:20:04]
SILVEIRA THIS MORNING, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIVISION HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT SOLID WASTE ACCUMULATION ON THESE PROPERTIES LOCATED AS MENTIONED IN YOUR BOARD ITEM FOR IT TO BE HONEST, MANY YEARS.THIS IS A REALLY IT'S A GOOD TEAM EFFORT TO GET US TO WHERE WE'RE AT.
BUT THIS IS REALLY, AGAIN, GOING BACK TO TO SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA COMMENTS.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
BUT REALLY TO A LONG WINDED WAY OF SAYING, SIR, YOU KNOW, THIS IS MULTIPLE PROPERTY OWNERS, ALL OF WHICH WERE JUST HAPPENED TO BE ON A ON A FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT STRETCH, ALL UNDERTAKING THE SAME TYPES OF ACTIVITIES, WHICH IS JUST REALLY, TO BE HONEST, NOT TAKING A WHOLE LOT OF PRIDE IN THEIR PROPERTY AND THAT PLACE IS AN IMPOSITION ON NEIGHBORS AS WELL. BUT I JUST WONDERING.
YEAH, BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WERE SOME PROPERTIES THAT WERE ALREADY CLEAN.
AND I WAS WONDERING, DID THE COMPLAINTS COME FROM THEM? I THINK THIS WAS. ROD IS THIS YOUR DISTRICT WHERE THIS IS.
AND AS THE SUPERVISOR JUST MENTIONED, IT WOULD REALLY ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC AS WELL TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE BEFORE AFTER PICTURES THAT WERE INCLUDED IN YOUR BOARD PACKETS, PRETTY SIGNIFICANT TURNAROUNDS.
THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT FACES US IN EVERY SINGLE CORNER OF THE COUNTY.
YOU KNOW WHAT. IT'S REALLY INCUMBENT UPON ALL OF US, PROPERTY OWNERS INCLUDED, TO DO THEIR PART TO TO DO EXACTLY WHAT THIS BOARD IS BEING ASKED TO DO TODAY, WHICH IS WHICH IS ULTIMATELY TO HOLD THESE FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE AND THROUGH THE CHAIR.
THANK YOU, MARK, AND THANK YOU TO YOUR STAFF FOR DOING THAT WORK.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER, BUT OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT TEAM.
IT'S PROBABLY BEEN, I DON'T KNOW, THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO.
ACTUALLY WENT OUT TO WITH WITH OUR HOMELESS TEAM TO BECAUSE THERE WAS HOMELESS PEOPLE LIVING AT THE END OF THE STREET AND THEY DROVE IN AND REALIZED IT WAS ONE WAY IN, NO WAY OUT.
AND IT WAS A PRETTY ROUGH CROWD.
I MEAN, THAT'S HOW BAD THIS LITTLE POCKET WAS AND PARTLY PART OF THE IMPETUS OF US MOVING CODE ENFORCEMENT FROM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS BECAUSE IT WAS A VERY, VERY UNSAFE AREA.
GO OUT FOR A PUBLIC COMMENT ON THESE THREE ITEMS. 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. THERE.
OH, I'M SORRY. NO, NO, IT SAYS ON.
AGAIN. GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN. AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
THIS PRESENTATION THIS MORNING IS REALLY INTENDED TO PROVIDE YOU AS THE BOARD AND THE PUBLIC, WITH A BRIEF REVIEW AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS EXISTING WATER POLICY ISSUES IN MERCED COUNTY.
THE 2022 UPDATE TRANSFERRED THE DETERMINATION OF THE SUSTAINABILITY OF PROPOSED GROUNDWATER WELLS FROM THE COUNTY TO THE GSA'S, AS WAS ACTUALLY ORIGINALLY ENVISIONED BY ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS BACK IN 2015.
NOW, OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS, THE COUNTY HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH EACH OF THE GSA'S TO COMPLY WITH THE UPDATED REQUIREMENTS OF THE GROUNDWATER ORDINANCE AND A STATE EXECUTIVE ORDER REGARDING GROUNDWATER WELL PERMITTING.
IN THIS REGARD, MS. MCBRIDE IS GOING TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A SIX MONTH KIND OF UPDATE ON THAT THIS MORNING.
AND LASTLY, YOUR CEO AND STAFF SEEKS GUIDANCE FROM THE BOARD ASSOCIATED THERETO.
SO PRIOR TO TURNING OVER TO MS. MCBRIDE, THOUGH, I DO WANT TO TAKE A BRIEF MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE LACEY, AND I THINK EACH OF YOU WOULD WOULD AGREE WITH THIS.
[01:25:06]
AND I WOULD I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY THAT I FEEL LUCKY TO WORK WITH HER.SO AT THIS POINT, MR. CHAIRMAN, I'M GOING TO TURN OVER TO MS. MCBRIDE SO SHE CAN LAUNCH RIGHT INTO HER PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU, SIR. WELCOME, MRS. MCBRIDE. THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING. LACEY MCBRIDE, WATER RESOURCES MANAGER.
WE'LL START WITH A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE FEW SLIDES TODAY.
SO THE MERCED COUNTY GROUNDWATER MINING AND EXPORT ORDINANCE WAS ORIGINALLY ADOPTED IN APRIL 2015 FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROTECTING GROUNDWATER RESOURCES FROM ADVERSE IMPACTS RESULTING FROM THE MINING AND EXPORT OF THOSE RESOURCES.
THEY WERE FORMING GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCIES OR GSA'S BY 2017, AND BY 2020 OR 2022, THEY HAD DEVELOPED AND SUBMITTED GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY PLANS.
IN FEBRUARY OF 22, AFTER THE GSA'S SUBMITTED THE GSP OR GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY PLANS TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES FOR ALL OF THE SUBBASIN IN MERCED COUNTY, THE BOARD APPROVED AMENDMENTS TO THE WELL PERMITTING ELEMENT OF THE GROUNDWATER ORDINANCE, WHICH REQUIRES THE GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCIES TO DETERMINE THE CONSISTENCY OF PROPOSED WELL APPLICATIONS WITH THE GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY PLANS.
IN MARCH OF 22, THE GOVERNOR ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER N-7-22, PROHIBITING COUNTIES FROM ISSUING WELL PERMITS WITHOUT WRITTEN GSA APPROVAL.
AND THEN IN MAY OF 22, THE UPDATED GROUNDWATER ORDINANCE WAS ENACTED AND THE COUNTY STOPPED ISSUING WELL PERMITS WITHOUT THE GSA CONSISTENCY DETERMINATION FOR EACH WELL APPLICATION.
OVER THIS TIME, 23 NEW AGRICULTURAL WELLS HAVE BEEN PERMITTED UNDER THE NEW ORDINANCE.
14 IN THE MERCED SUBBASIN, WHICH ON THE SMALL MAP ON THE SCREEN IS IN RED.
4IN THE DELTA MENDOTA SUBBASIN ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE COUNTY IN BLUE.
OVER THIS TIME, 156 DOMESTIC WELLS HAVE BEEN PERMITTED.
THERE ARE CERTAIN EXEMPTIONS IN PLACE, INCLUDING FOR CONTIGUOUS PARCELS UNDER COMMON OWNERSHIP, WHERE SOME OF THE PARCELS OR PARTS OF THE PARCELS STRADDLE THE BASIN BOUNDARY. AND THAT IS STILL IN PLACE.
AS THE BOARD CONSIDERS, IF THE EXPORT POLICY CONTINUES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF MERCED COUNTY.
THERE ARE CERTAIN STAKEHOLDERS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES TO KEEP IN MIND AND THEY'RE LISTED HERE.
GSA'S ARE CURRENTLY MANAGING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF SINGLE GROUNDWATER BASINS AND THEY WOULD HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT GROUNDWATER LEAVING THEIR RESPECTIVE BASINS.
LANDOWNERS WHO OWN PROPERTY ACROSS BASIN BOUNDARIES.
[01:30:01]
WATER BANKING MAY BE A VALUABLE TOOL IN MANAGING GROUNDWATER RESOURCES GOING FORWARD, AND RIGHT NOW THE GROUNDWATER ORDINANCE DOES NOT CONTEMPLATE GROUNDWATER BANKING OR THE EXTRACTION OF DEVELOPED WATER.AT THIS TIME SELF HELP ENTERPRISES IS CURRENTLY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF SAFER DRINKING WATER FUNDS FROM THE STATE WATER BOARD FOR EMERGENCY WATER PROGRAMS LIKE TANKED WATER, BOTTLED WATER AND REPAIRING OR REPLACING DOMESTIC WELLS FOR ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS.
SELF HELP ENTERPRISES HAVE STARTED ALERTING COUNTIES THROUGHOUT THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY THAT THEY ARE AT RISK OF THEIR FUNDING RUNNING OUT BY MARCH OR APRIL OF 2023, WHICH MEANS THEY WOULD HAVE TO STOP PROVIDING EMERGENCY WATER SERVICES AT THAT TIME.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY 60 HOUSEHOLDS IN MERCED COUNTY RECEIVING TANKED WATER THROUGH SELF HELP ENTERPRISES, THOUGH WE KNOW THEY ARE IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE STATE TRYING TO GET ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO CONTINUE THOSE SERVICES MOVING FORWARD.
BUT THAT IS NOT IN PLACE AT THIS TIME.
THE COUNTY IS CURRENTLY COMPLYING WITH SB 552, THE DROUGHT PLANNING FOR SMALL WATER SUPPLIERS, STATE WATER SYSTEMS AND DOMESTIC WELLS, A STATE LAW THAT REQUIRES COUNTIES TO FORM DROUGHT TASK FORCES AND WATER SHORTAGE RISK PLANS.
COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS WORKING WITH THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, WHO HAS ALREADY INITIATED A DROUGHT WORKING GROUP THAT MEETS QUARTERLY IN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS LAW.
AND THEY ARE WORKING ON THE NEXT STEPS OF DEVELOPING THE WATER SHORTAGE RISK PLAN FOR MERCED COUNTY, DOMESTIC WELLS AND STATE SMALL PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS, WHICH ARE SYSTEMS WHO HAVE LESS THAN 15 CONNECTIONS.
BULLETIN 74 IS THE CALIFORNIA WELL STANDARDS.
AND FINALLY, AS THE COUNTY CONTINUES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCIES REPRESENTING THE UNINCORPORATED OUT OF DISTRICT OR WHITE AREAS, THERE MAY BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MERCED COUNTY TO INVEST IN RECHARGE PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE GROUNDWATER BASINS AND FOR THE RESIDENTS IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS.
AND THEN WRAPPING UP AT THIS TIME, STAFF IS REQUESTING THE BOARD PROVIDE DIRECTION TO STAFF, POSSIBLY TO ENGAGE THE GSA'S AND INTERESTED STAKEHOLDERS IN DISCUSSION REGARDING THE EXPORT PIECE OF THE GROUNDWATER ORDINANCE.
AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
I SEE SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA [INAUDIBLE].
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SO JUST I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IT OR BRING IT UP.
SO YOU MENTIONED ABOUT SELF HELP IN YOUR REPORTING.
AND I KNOW THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR CONTINUOUS FUNDING TO CONTINUE THEIR FUNDING.
AND I JUST WANT TO PUT IT ON THE RADAR OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT IF IT COMES TO A POINT WHERE THIS THIS BOARD NEEDS TO SEND A LETTER IN SUPPORT OF THAT, I WOULD BE HIGHLY RECOMMENDING THAT.
THEY'VE MADE THEMSELVES THE RESIDENT EXPERTS ON I MEAN WITHIN 72 HOURS IS THEIR COMMITMENT TIME FROM THE TIME THAT SOMEBODY CALLS THEM AND SAYS I'M OUT OF WATER, I HAVE MY WELL WENT DRY.
WITHIN 72 HOURS THEY ARE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, EVERYTHING THEY MINIMALLY GETTING THEM SOMETHING TO DRINK AND SETTING UP FOR TANKLESS WATER.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO FIND SOME FUNDING.
[01:35:02]
FUNDING. SO THE OTHER PART ON BRINGING THIS UP TODAY IS I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST STEP.I'VE BEEN DISCUSSING IT FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
I'M GOING TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS AND I AM OPEN TO DISCUSSION.
AND I WANT TO START OUT BY SAYING THAT TRULY THE LAST BULLET POINT THEY'RE ENGAGING THE GSA'S AND INTERESTED STAKEHOLDERS TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE IS GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT ON ON WHATEVER WE COME UP WITH.
AND SO WHAT I GUESS MY FRUSTRATION AND I WASN'T HERE AND SO I CAN MAYBE CRITICIZE A LITTLE BIT.
WHEN THIS ORDINANCE WAS PUT INTO PLACE.
AND SO AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS, IS IF I OWN A PIECE OF GROUND ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER, I AM IN THE DELTA MENDOTA SUBBASIN, I CAN MOVE GROUNDWATER 40 MILES FURTHER, LET'S CALL IT SOUTH AND WEST THROUGH CONVEYANCE BECAUSE WE HAVE REALLY GOOD CONVEYANCE SYSTEMS. AND THAT'S NOT THAT'S THAT'S FINE.
I THINK THAT IN THIS SITUATION, I KNOW THAT THERE'S A COUPLE WATER DISTRICTS OVER OVER IN MY DISTRICT THAT HAVE PROGRAMS IN PLACE THAT ALLOW FOLKS TO JUST HAVE IT AS A TOOL IN THEIR TOOL BAG TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, IF I IF I HAVE A PIECE OF PROPERTY, YOU KNOW, PROPERTY A AND I HAVE TREES ON PROPERTY AND I HAVE PROPERTY B THAT I'M I'M PRO CROP FARMING AND WE HAVE A CRITICAL WATER HERE, MEANING IT'S REALLY HARD FOR ME TO GET ENOUGH WATER TO KEEP MY TREES ALIVE ON ON PROPERTY IF I CHOOSE TO FORGO FARMING PROPERTY B AND MOVE THAT WATER PROPERTY A FOR A YEAR OR TWO, GETTING THROUGH A COUPLE OF CRITICAL DROUGHT YEARS, I THINK WE SHOULD OFFER THAT OPPORTUNITY.
STILL UNDERSTANDING THAT AG IS THE NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY IN MERCED COUNTY AND REALLY GIVING SOME OF OUR FARMERS THE ABILITY TO REALLY MANAGE, YOU KNOW, AS BEST POSSIBLE THAT THEY CAN.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WHAT I WHAT I THINK WHEN THIS ORDINANCE WAS PUT IN PLACE, THERE WAS SOMETHING GOING ON WHERE NOT ONLY WERE THEY PUMPING GROUNDWATER AND EXPORTING IT OUT, BUT THEY WERE ALSO STILL DOING EVERYTHING ELSE THAT THEY WOULD NORMALLY DO, WHICH TO ME IS NOT GOOD FOR FOR THE OVERALL HEALTH OF ANY BASIN OR ANY SYSTEM.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE DISCUSSION ON IT.
THAT'S KIND OF BEEN MY THOUGHTS ALL ALONG WHEN WE BROUGHT THE WELL PERMITTING PIECE OF THIS ORDINANCE BACK SIX MONTHS AGO, IT HAD IT BEEN UP TO JUST ME ALONE, I WOULD HAVE TOOK THE WHOLE ORDINANCE ON.
BUT I THINK WITH GOOD ADVICE FROM STAFF AND I BELIEVE COUNSEL EVEN COMMENTED ON IT.
IT WAS PROBABLY TOO HEAVY OF A LIFT TO DO EVERYTHING AT ONE TIME.
AND SO WE'VE GOT THAT FIRST PIECE DONE AND NOW IT'S TIME TO LOOK AT THIS SECOND PIECE.
AND AND REALLY THE URGENCY HERE IS, IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK OUTSIDE TODAY, IT'S RAINING.
AND IF IT CONTINUES TO RAIN, SOME OF THESE SOME OF THESE DISCUSSIONS MIGHT TAMPER DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
BUT WHAT I WILL TELL YOU IS, IS THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GO AWAY.
WITH THE WEATHER CYCLES. NOW IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE MORE FEAST OR FAMINE.
AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO WE GET A LOT OF RAIN AND WE DON'T GET RAIN FOR A WHILE.
SO BUT THERE'S FOLKS THAT ARE MAKING CROPPING DECISIONS TODAY AND I'M HOPING THAT THEY AT LEAST HAVE A GOOD INDICATION HERE OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW MONTHS ON, ARE THEY GOING TO BE ABLE TO RELY ON ON BEING ABLE TO MOVE SOME MOVE SOME WATER I'M NOT INTERESTED IN.
I THINK THAT KEEPING IT IN THE COUNTY IS I'M PERFECTLY FINE.
THAT WOULD BE, I THINK, REALLY DETRIMENTAL TO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO PUT SOME BASIC RULES AND PARAMETERS AROUND THAT.
BUT I ALSO THINK WE SHOULD LET THE PEOPLE THAT KNOW A LOT MORE ABOUT WATER REALLY KIND OF MAKE DECISIONS THAT THEY THAT THEY SEE FIT AS LONG AS THEY'RE STAYING AND PLAYING BY THE RULES. AND THAT'S WHAT I HAVE FOR NOW.
CHAIR THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO ACTUALLY PROTECT IT, BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE BIGGER FARMERS, AND I'LL USE KING'S COUNTY AS AN EXAMPLE, KINGS COUNTY NOW, THERE ARE NUMBER ONE EXPORT OUT OF THEIR COUNTY IS WATER.
[01:40:10]
HILLS, BUT THEY CONTINUE TO BUY LAND, EXPORT THE WATER OUT, AND THEY DRAIN THAT COUNTY OF JOBS OF REVENUE AND EVERYTHING ELSE.SO I JUST WANT TO BE VERY PROTECTIVE IN WATERING THE BASINS.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, I WANT TO KEEP THAT IN THE FRAMEWORK.
IT'S SIMPLE. THE MORE YOU LEARN ABOUT WATER, THE MORE YOU REALIZE YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT WATER.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED TO CAPTURE IT HERE WITHIN THIS COUNTY.
AND I KNOW WHEN TIMES GET TOUGH, WE HAVE TO MOVE.
AND AND I DO STAND STRONG ON STAYING WITHIN BASIN AND WITHIN COUNTY LINES.
YOU'RE WELCOME. SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
AGAIN, YEAH, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN AGAINST, YOU KNOW, BEING A FARMER AS WELL AS AS AN ELECTED.
YOU KNOW, I'M, YOU KNOW, I'M HERE FOR THE CITIZENS, MY CONSTITUENTS IN MERCED COUNTY.
AND I COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO BE SELLING WATER OUT OF COUNTY, SANTA CLARA OR OTHER BIG COMPANIES WATER COMPANIES WANT TO COME IN AND BUY THE LAND, BUYING THE WATER RIGHTS AND TAKE OUR WATER AWAY.
SO WE'RE HERE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH WATER AS IT IS.
SO HOPEFULLY IT RAINS A LOT THIS YEAR.
AND LIKE I SAID, WE CAN HAVE A BIG WATER YEAR THIS YEAR.
ALSO, REGARDING THE SELF HELP, I KNOW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GETTING IN THEIR THEIR TANKS AND HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, THEY THEY'RE ABLE TO DRILL A NEW WELL OR, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST GET ENOUGH WATER FOR THEIR THEIR HOMES.
THEY HAVE YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO MEET CERTAIN INCOME LEVEL, OTHERWISE YOU PROBABLY WON'T QUALIFY.
I AGREE. I THINK THAT WE SHOULD KEEP THE WATER WITHIN MERCED COUNTY.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
YEAH. I LIKE TO KEEP IT WITHIN BASIN, BUT WITHIN REASON.
SO I KNOW THERE'S CONTIGUOUS PROPERTIES TO WHERE YOU CAN MOVE THE WATER.
I'M FOCUSED ON BASINS AND I CAN GIVE A LITTLE TO GET TO WHERE EVERYBODY CAN COME TOGETHER, SO.
AND I. AND I STANDING ON AN ISLAND BY MYSELF.
IF WE HAVE TO CHANGE A LITTLE BIT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN COME TO A CONSENSUS TO KEEP THE WATER IN MERCED COUNTY, THAT I'M OKAY WITH THAT ALSO. I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT.
I AGREE WITH SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA IN WHAT HE SAID IN REGARDS TO, YOU KNOW, LETTING THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW ABOUT THIS STUFF REALLY WORK ON IT.
BECAUSE I'VE SAID MULTIPLE TIMES, I'M GLAD LACEY DOES THIS, BECAUSE THIS IS LIKE DOING CALCULUS AND I'M AN ALGEBRA PERSON AT BEST WHEN IT COMES TO WATER BECAUSE LIKE AND SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL LIKE WHAT YOU SAID, THE MORE YOU DON'T KNOW OR THE MORE YOU FIND OUT, THE MORE YOU DON'T KNOW.
AND SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE.
AND SO WHEN I FEEL LIKE WHEN LACEY WAS GONE, WE WERE DROWNING AGAIN, NO PUN INTENDED, YOU KNOW.
ALSO IN REGARDS TO THE SELF HELP.
I'M 100% IN FAVOR IF WE NEED TO WRITE A LETTER.
I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAD TO UTILIZE THIS AND THERE'S A BIG TANK IN HIS BACKYARD AND SO HE WASN'T ABLE TO GET A PERMIT FOR A WELL DRINKING PERMIT FOR A WHILE, BUT FINALLY WAS ABLE TO GET IT.
BUT IT'S JUST THEY'RE SO BACKED UP, SO THEY JUST NEEDED DRINKING WATER.
THEY NEEDED WATER FOR SHOWERS AND THAT TYPE OF STUFF.
[01:45:01]
SO BUT I KNOW THEY DO A REALLY GOOD THING, SO.THE GSA'S THE GSA'S ARE GOING TO BE A PART OF THIS BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THE GSA'S ARE GOING TO BE THE ONES THAT REGULATE HOW MUCH WATER YOU COULD ACTUALLY PUMP. AND SO THAT'S AGAIN WHY IT'S IMPORTANT.
AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE AND I WILL DO MY PART SO LONG AS YOU NEED THE HELP LACEY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET FOLKS FROM FROM ALL THE GSA'S THERE BECAUSE I KNOW THIS DISCUSSION IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT IN DIFFERENT PLACES, BUT I THINK IT'S A DISCUSSION WORTH HAVING.
AND JUST TO KIND OF SHARE LIKE SOME OF THE POLICIES THAT ARE OUT THERE, LIKE IN CCID, YOU COULD MOVE YOUR WATER OFF OF ONE OFF YOUR PIECE OF PROPERTY, BUT YOU CAN'T DO IT OVER A THREE YEAR PERIOD.
YOU CAN ONLY DO IT FOR TWO YEARS.
AND THEN SO YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT YOU HAVE TO IT HAS TO GO BACK ON YOUR PROPERTY FOR A YEAR.
THERE'S ANOTHER SCENARIO OUT THERE WHERE IT'S A THREE YEAR ROLLING AVERAGE AND SO IF YOU START OUT AT THREE YEARS OF TWO ACRE FEET AND THEN YOU GET A YEAR OF ZERO IN THERE, YOUR NUMBER THAT YOU COULD THAT YOU COULD MOVE THE NEXT YEAR GOES DOWN.
I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF ANYBODY THAT THINKS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO COME AND DO A KINGS COUNTY WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO COME IN HERE, THEY'RE GOING TO BUY UP LAND, AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO THEY'RE GOING TO SELL THEIR WATER RIGHTS AND MOVE IT SOMEWHERE.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PUMP GROUNDWATER, WHETHER IT'S SURFACE WATER OR GROUNDWATER.
I'LL PUBLICLY STATE THAT, AGAIN, WITHIN OUR OWN COUNTY.
I'M LOOKING AT IT KIND OF JUST COUNTY WIDE, THAT IF ONE OF OUR BIGGEST INDUSTRIES, WHICH WE CAN ALL AGREE IS AGRICULTURE, IF THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE A NEED TO BE ABLE TO WHEEL SOME WATER AROUND.
AND WHEN I SAY WELL WATER AROUND, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THE ACTUAL MOLECULE OF WATER THAT THEY PUMP OUT OF THEIR PLACE WILL NOT BE THE ACTUAL MOLECULE WATER THAT ENDS UP SOMEWHERE ELSE.
IT IT'S BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, THIS WATER IS GOING TO END UP HERE.
AND THEN IN EXCHANGE FOR THAT WATER OR THAT WATER, IT'S SO IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED SYSTEM.
AND WE HAVE VERY INTELLIGENT PEOPLE THAT WORK WITHIN THE WATER WORLD THAT COULD PROBABLY EXPLAIN IT A LOT BETTER THAN ME, BUT JUST KIND OF MAKE EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND THE INTEREST HERE IS KEEP IT IN COUNTY.
BUT BUT BUT REALLY NOT LOOKING AS A A BOUNDARY, A BASIN BOUNDARY LINE BEING WOULD PRECLUDE YOU FROM MOVING SOME WATER SOMEWHERE WHEN WE DO HAVE SUCH GREAT CONVEYANCE THAT WE COULD AND AND I WANT FOLKS I DON'T WANT TO MAKE THIS AN EAST SIDE WEST SIDE THING, BUT BUT IT'S A TWO WAY STREET.
WATER CAN COME THE OTHER WAY, TOO, I CAN SHOW YOU IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A DRIVE INTO MY DISTRICT TODAY AND IT'LL BE SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA DISTRICT COME JANUARY, WHERE THERE'S A TWO WAY CANAL.
THERE'S THERE'S IT FLOWS ONE WAY, AND THEN THEY HAVE ONE THAT LIFTS AND PUSHES IT THE OTHER WAY SO THAT AGENCIES ON THE ON THE EAST SIDE IN THE MERCED SUBBASIN SUBBASIN AND THE DELTA MENDOTA SUBBASIN.
THEY REALLY WHAT THEY TRY TO DO IS MOVE WATER BACK AND FORTH, BECAUSE IN ONE DISTRICT THEY MIGHT HAVE A HIGHER NEED FOR WATER TODAY THAN IN A DISTRICT OVER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE OTHER, ANOTHER BASIN.
THAT'S AGAIN, LET THOSE WATER FOLKS REALLY MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.
AND I THINK THE GSA'S NEED TO BE INVITED AND ARE GOING TO HAVE A SAY IN THIS WHETHER THEY TRULY WANT TO OR NOT, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A SAY IN THAT THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ULTIMATELY REGULATE HOW MUCH YOU CAN PUMP YOUR WELL.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YOU'RE WELCOME.
SO MY COMMENTS WOULD BE THAT THAT WE DO ENGAGE THE GSA'S.
ONE THING THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT IS THAT IS THAT EACH GSA IS NOT 100% THE SAME.
AND I KNOW IN THE LET'S SAY, TAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE MERCED BASIN.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S AREAS WHERE WE HAVE SUBSIDENCE.
AND SO FOR SOMEBODY TO STOP FARMING THERE AND TRY TO MOVE THAT WATER SOMEWHERE ELSE IS GOING TO BE PRETTY DETRIMENTAL TO THE BASIN AND PROBABLY CAUSE THE STATE TO NEED TO COME IN.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COVERING ALL THE BASES AND THAT WE DON'T MAKE A BLANKET RULE THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO MOVE WATER ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTY, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE GSA'S.
AND SO THEIR INPUT, IF THEY AGREE TO IT, I GUESS WE'RE OKAY.
BUT I CAN'T SEE THEM WANTING TO AGREE TO THAT.
RIGHT. AND THAT'S A PRETTY COMPLEX ORDINANCE.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WE GET THERE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE THAT'S THE TASK THAT STAFF AND THE STAKEHOLDERS ARE GIVEN.
[01:50:02]
SO. ALL RIGHT.DID YOU WANT TO COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE SO WE CAN PUT THIS ONE TO SLEEP? CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AGAIN, GOOD MORNING.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION.
AND I DO HOPE THAT THAT THAT YOU FELT IT WAS WORTH YOUR TIME TODAY AND FOR THE PUBLIC.
I THINK IF I IF I HEARD THINGS CORRECTLY, ONE, I THINK IT'S PRETTY MUCH UNIVERSAL.
THIS BOARD IS COMMITTED TO WANTING TO KEEP WATER WITHIN THE COUNTY.
RIGHT SIZE THE ISSUE SO AS TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT THAT MR. SILVEIRA BROUGHT UP, BUT ALSO THE ISSUES THAT THAT MR. PAREIRA DID AS WELL.
ONE THING I MAYBE WOULD ADD TO THAT IS WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT.
WE WILL CERTAINLY ENGAGE AGAIN, EVERY CORNER OF THE COUNTY, EVERY SINGLE GSA.
BUT THE ONE FAVOR PERHAPS I WOULD ASK OF YOU IS MAYBE TO ENSURE THAT WE HIT EVERY RIGHT STAKEHOLDER.
SO AGAIN, I THINK HOPEFULLY THAT SUMS IT UP.
I THINK AND IF I MISSED SOMETHING, PLEASE TELL ME.
BUT BUT YOUR STAFF WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TO TO WORK ON THIS AND BRING SOMETHING TO YOU.
I CAN'T GIVE YOU A TIME FRAME YET, BUT WE WOULD CERTAINLY BE WORKING ON THIS, CERTAINLY AT THE CONCLUSION OF 2022, AND MOST LIKELY IF I WAS A BETTING GUY, PROBABLY THIS IS A 2023 KIND OF VENTURE WITH YOU.
ONE THING THAT WE NEED TO DO IS OPEN THIS UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I KNOW IT'S NOT AN ACTION ITEM, BUT WE STILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE DONE IS I HAVE SIGNED ON TO A LETTER AND WRITTEN A LETTER WITH MID TO THE STATE WATER BOARD ABOUT OUR WATER SITUATION AND KEEPING WATER IN OUR COUNTY. I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE SET UP HERE.
AND I KNOW THAT BACK IN 1996, MY HUSBAND AND I ACTUALLY DESIGNED A THEME PARK FOR MERCED, A WATER PARK, AND IT WAS ENGINEERED BY THE ENGINEER WHO DID WILD WATER VENTURES, BUT NOBODY WANTED IT IN THE AREA.
AND SO THAT'S KIND OF SOMETHING I DON'T REALLY HEAR MUCH ABOUT IS WATER RECLAMATION TANKS, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT'S SET UP DIFFERENT PLACES, KIND OF LIKE THE ANTENNAS FOR THE CELL PHONES, HOW THEY PING ON IT.
AND THEY LOOK LIKE CHRISTMAS TREES EVERYWHERE.
SO IT JUST KIND OF RUNS OFF AND IT BECOMES THIS BIG MONEY MESS FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE WHERE YOU HAVE WATER RECLAMATION TANKS AND ACTUALLY COLLECTS IT AND SENDS IT BACK INTO THE GROUND WITHOUT ALL OF THAT MESS AND RUNOFF.
SO THAT'S KIND OF ONE THING THAT WE LOOKED AT.
AND I HAVEN'T REALLY DISCUSSED IT WITH MID, WHICH I WILL BE DOING IN A LITTLE WHILE.
YOU KNOW, ANOTHER THING THAT I BROUGHT UP TO THE CITY COUNCIL ABOUT SAVING WATER IS HAVING RECIRCULATION TANKS ON YOUR WATER TANKS. AND WE HAVE ONE.
AND IT JUST RECIRCULATES HOT WATER, WHICH SAVES WATER.
AND SO WE LOOKED AT, YOU KNOW, THE AVERAGE SHOWER TAKES ABOUT 3 TO 5 MINUTES TO TO WARM UP.
AND IN THAT 3 TO 5 MINUTES, YOU LOSE ANYWHERE FROM 5 TO 10 GALLONS OF WATER.
AND SO WE DID A STUDY ACTUALLY, I PRESENTED IT TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
I JUST GOT INVISALIGN'S ABOUT A WEEK AGO.
[01:55:02]
SO I'M STILL DEALING WITH HAVING BRACES.BUT WE APPRECIATE THE INTENT OF YOUR COMMENT.
ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? ALL RIGHT, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
NEXT IS ITEM 28 FROM ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.
ALL RIGHT, I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.
SEEING NONE, I'LL 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.
NEXT IS FIRE, ITEMS 29 THROUGH 31.
OKAY, I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THESE THREE ITEMS. SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
NEXT IS LIBRARY ITEMS 32 AND 33.
PLEASE NOTE ITEM 33 REQUIRES A 4/5 VOTE.
THANK YOU. I'LL OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THESE TWO ITEMS. SEEING NONE. I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.
PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT IS PROBATION, ITEMS 34 AND 35.
OK I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THESE TWO ITEMS. SEEING NONE I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
NEXT IS ITEM 36 FOR HUMAN RESOURCES.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
WHAT'S THAT? BETTER HIM THAN ME.
PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT IS THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE ITEM 37.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. IN GOING OVER THE CALENDAR, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY LIKE TO REQUEST THAT WE MOVE THE JULY 25TH MEETING TO JULY THE 18TH.
AND THE THOUGHT PROCESS ON THAT.
I KNOW THAT THAT MAKES IT TOUGH ON STAFF BECAUSE IT'S BACK TO BACK MEETINGS, BUT UNDERSTANDING THAT A LOT OF OUR STAFF HAVE CHILDREN THAT ARE IN SCHOOL AND THAT'S KIND OF SUMMER BREAK, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE OUT ON SUMMER BREAK IN THAT AREA.
I THINK IF WE KIND OF HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY WHERE THERE'S THREE WEEKS WITH AND I KNOW THAT DOESN'T AFFECT EVERYBODY THAT WORKS FOR THE COUNTY, BUT I KNOW THE FOLKS THAT ACTUALLY PUT THE AGENDAS TOGETHER AND THE DEPARTMENT HEADS IS REALLY JUST GIVING THEM KIND OF THAT SUMMER BREAK TO WHERE THERE'S THREE WEEKS IN BETWEEN MEETINGS. I THINK IT'S A GOOD PRACTICE TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT FOR THEM.
SO I WOULD MAKE THE MOTION TO I CAN IF IF.
WELL, YOU'RE WELCOME TO MAKE THE MOTION.
OKAY. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT, SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
THANK YOU. I WOULD ALL AGREE WITH THAT.
I HAVE THE NACO ANNUAL CONFERENCE AT THE END OF THAT WEEK.
AND SO I KNOW IT'S KIND OF TOUGH TO HAVE IT BACK TO BACK, BUT I JUST THINK IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL AND WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR ALL THE REASONS THAT YOU MENTIONED.
[02:00:01]
SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.JUST A LOCATION WITH THE BOARD MEETING TO THE COURTROOM OR THE COURTHOUSE.
SO I THINK IT WAS, UH, I THINK I BROUGHT IT UP THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A MEETING OUT THERE ONCE IN A WHILE SO THAT AT LEAST CITIZENS ARE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, GO VIEW THAT BEAUTIFUL BUILDING AND AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE GET SOME MORE VISITORS IN THERE AS WELL.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I WAS PRETTY IMPRESSED WITH THE BUILDING.
SO AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE TRYING TO RENOVATE IT AS WELL.
SO ALSO, ALONG WITH THE CALENDAR, I, I SEE WE HAVE A TENTATIVE NIGHT MEETING FOR THE 25TH OF APRIL AND ONE FOR DECEMBER, WHICH IS I'M PRETTY GLAD ABOUT.
AND I HOPEFULLY I KNOW THAT THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN REQUESTING EVENING MEETINGS, SO HOPEFULLY THE PUBLIC WILL ATTEND AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S MORE REQUESTS, HOPEFULLY WE CAN HAVE MORE MEETINGS AT NIGHT.
BUT IF NOT, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC DOESN'T CONTINUE COMING TO THE MEETINGS.
I KNOW I GET ASKED ALL THE TIME FOR THAT, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PUTTING THEM ON AND IF WE DON'T GET THEM, THEN I GUESS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE ANY EVENING CLASSES. SO THANK YOU.
YOU'RE WELCOME, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
LIKE SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA SAID, THE LAST TIME WE WERE THERE, IT WAS OUR COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT FIVE'S LAST DAY HERE WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
AND PLUS, I THINK IT JUST GETS FOLKS INTO THE OLD COURTHOUSE TO APPRECIATE IT.
AND SO MOVING ON AND A COUPLE OF NIGHT MEETINGS.
I KNOW WE PUT THAT ON THE SCHEDULE.
I WAS HOPING MAYBE WE COULD FOCUS ON THE PINNING, THE 30 YEAR, 15 YEAR THAT WAY, FOLKS WHO ARE GETTING THOSE PINS THAT THAT THEIR WHOLE FAMILY CAN ACTUALLY BECAUSE THE WHOLE FAMILY'S PUT UP WITH THEM WORKING HERE THAT LONG.
SO THEY MIGHT AS WELL BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE THAT WITH THEM AND BE ABLE TO SEE THEIR THEIR PARENT OR GRANDPARENT GET THAT PIN FOR THE SERVICE THAT THEY'VE DONE HERE AT THE COUNTY. JUST SO AND MAYBE I THOUGHT WE ALL KNEW, BUT I HAD ASKED STAFF AND A COUPLE ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES, I KNOW FOR SURE TO ASK STAFF OUR DECEMBER 2ND OUR DECEMBER MEETING THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BE AT THE COURTHOUSE.
SO YEAH, NO, THAT THIS IS FOR NEXT YEAR.
ITS ACTUALLY PART OF THE SAME OH, I'M SORRY.
SUPERVISOR. I MEAN, DID YOU HAVE COMMENTS? YES. I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF CLARIFY THAT AS WELL FOR, UH, PURPOSE OF, OF JUST, UH, MAKING EVERYBODY AWARE.
SO YEAH, AFTER DISCUSSING WITH THE CHAIR THE 13TH DECEMBER 13TH REGULAR REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING THAT RECOMMENDED ACTION IS THAT THAT BE HELD AT THE COURTROOM AT THE COURTHOUSE MUSEUM REGULAR MEETING.
WE THOUGHT IT'D BE A NICE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT ONLY SHOWCASE THE COURTHOUSE ITSELF, BUT ALSO TO PROVIDE ALSO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT ARE COMING INTO THEIR NEW TERMS IN 2023 TO PARTICIPATE AND PERFORM THE OATH THERE IF THEY'RE SO WILLING TO JOIN US.
WE WILL TRY TO KEEP THIS ON OUR RADAR TO KIND OF KEEP MAYBE REVISITING THIS MOVING THIS, UH, MEETING TO OR THE LAST MEETING OF THE BOARD, UH, TO THAT VENUE, UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE MAY BE SOME CONSTRUCTION OCCURRING.
SO THAT MAY PROHIBIT US FROM DOING THAT FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT.
BUT HOPEFULLY WE'RE ABLE TO KIND OF GET THROUGH THAT PRETTY QUICKLY.
SO THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YOU'RE WELCOME.
IT'S ALL WE'RE ALL ABOUT DOING THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS IN PUBLIC.
AND BUT THEN AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE CONSIDERED TO BE FISCAL STEWARDS OF THE TAXPAYERS MONEY.
AND SO MOVING THOSE MEETINGS TO NIGHT MEETINGS, THERE'S ADDITIONAL COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
AND IT RANGES ANYWHERE FROM BASICALLY IF IT'S A TWO HOUR MEETING, IT'S ABOUT $900 BUCKS.
AND IF IT'S A FOUR HOUR MEETING, IT COULD BE AS MUCH AS $2,000.
AND SO YOU SAY, WELL, WHERE DOES THAT COME FROM? WELL, WHEN WE HAVE THEM DURING THE COURSE OF NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS, WE DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE FOLKS, OUR SECURITY STAFF THAT ARE HERE, THERE'S THERE'S STAFF MEMBERS THAT WILL BE PARTICIPATING AFTER HOURS.
I KNOW MANAGEMENT HAS MANAGEMENT TIME OFF AND THOSE THINGS, BUT THERE'S A COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
[02:05:08]
AND WHAT I WILL BE LOOKING FOR IS IS REALLY I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU CAN FIGURE IT ALL OUT IN ONE MEETING, BUT THEN OVER THE COURSE OF TWO MEETINGS, DO WE SEE MORE PARTICIPATION AND REALLY TRYING TO MAKE? BECAUSE WHAT SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL ASKS IS CAN WE TIE THOSE TO LIKE SOME SERVICE PIN AWARDS? SO WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME ADDITIONAL PEOPLE THERE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE KIND OF LOOKING OR WE THE GENERAL PUBLIC, IS JUST SHOWING UP TO THE MEETING.ARE WE GOING TO SEE MORE THERE? AND THEN I WILL TELL YOU, THAT WOULD BE HELP ME IN DETERMINING WHETHER WE WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE DO MOVING FORWARD.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. DID YOU HAVE ANY MORE COMMENTS? CUZ I WAS GOING TO MAKE A MOTION.
YEAH. ARE YOU GOOD? I AM. ALL RIGHT, THEN.
WELL, YOU CAN MAKE THE MOTION IN IT AND WE CAN STILL VOTE.
OKAY, SO THEN THE MOTION IS IS TO APPROVE EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED AND EVERYTHING THAT WAS DISCUSSED WITH WITH THE ONE CHANGE OF MOVING THE, UH, THE JULY 25TH MEETING TO THE JULY THE 18TH.
ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO MOVE EVERYTHING THAT WAS DISCUSSED? YEAH, I'M PRETTY SURE.
WHY? WHAT WAS DISCUSSED? WELL, THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE NIGHT MEETINGS NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT WAS DISCUSSED.
RIGHT. SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA ASKED FOR MORE NIGHT MEETINGS.
IS THERE A SECOND? OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SILVEIRA, A SECOND BY PEDROZO [INAUDIBLE] OH I ALREADY DID PUBLIC COMMENT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OR I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.
WELL, YOU GOT ME ALL RILED UP HERE.
BRING RAINFALL IS HITTING ON SOMEBODY TODAY VOTING.
OKAY. NEXT IS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ITEMS 38 AND 39.
OKAY, I'LL OPEN IT 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 MCDANIEL.
I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
NEXT IS BOARD APPOINTMENTS, ITEMS 40 AND 41.
I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THESE TWO ITEMS. SEEING NONE. I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
NEXT IS ITEM 42 BOARD INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.
[BOARD INFORMATION & POSSIBLE ACTION]
I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.SO WE'LL CALL IT INFORMATION FOR LACK OF A MOTION OR A SECOND.
WE'RE MOVING ON. IT JUST BECAME AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM.
[SCHEDULED ITEMS]
BEFORE THE BOARD IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ENGINEER'S REPORT, FORMATION OF CYPRESS ESTATES NUMBER THREE, STREET LIGHTING AND STORM DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE ON A BENEFIT.THE CLERK OF THE BOARD MAILED THE WAIVER OF NOTICE AND BALLOT TO THE RECORD OWNER OF THE REAL PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN THE PROPOSED ZONE OF BENEFIT, REGARDING THE PROPOSED LEVY OF ASSESSMENTS. STAFF HAS NOT RECEIVED THE RETURN BALLOT AND RECOMMENDS THAT THE BOARD OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IF THE RECORD OWNER OF REAL PROPERTY IS IN ATTENDANCE TO SUBMIT THEIR BALLOT OR THERE IS A PUBLIC OR THERE IS PUBLIC THAT WISH TO COMMENT ON THIS ITEM IF THE BALLOT IS NOT STILL NOT RECEIVED DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE PUBLIC HEARING BE CONTINUED TO THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING ON DECEMBER 6TH, 2022.
AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM.
[02:10:02]
ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING THAT THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME.DO I HAVE A MOTION TO CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING TO A REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF DECEMBER 6TH? I SO MOVE. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, AYE.
ALL RIGHT. I'LL START TO MY LEFT.
[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION]
SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.MY LITTLE MACHINE OVER HERE HAS BEEN FEISTY WITH ME TODAY.
IT DOESN'T LIKE IT'S DOING WEIRD THINGS AGAIN.
JUST WANTED TO AGAIN THANK THE AMERICAN LEGION AND LOS BANOS AND THE VFW FOR AGAIN PUTTING ON A GREAT VETERANS DAY PARADE THIS PAST SATURDAY. THANK YOU TO MERCED COUNTY FIRE FOLKS AND CHIEF PIMENTEL, BATTALION CHIEF JOEY FELIX FOR BRINGING THE RESCUE OUT. AND I GUESS APPARENTLY THE RESCUE HAD BEEN OUT ON A CALL LIKE JUST RIGHT BEFORE THAT.
AND SO THEY THEY THEY DID DOUBLE TIME TO GET THAT THING ALL CLEANED UP AND BE READY FOR THE PARADE.
AND I KNOW THAT SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA HEAD MADE IT OVER, BUT A GREAT PARADE.
I WAS THANKFUL TO THE TO THE FOLKS OVER THERE BECAUSE THEY KIND OF PUT US TOWARD THE FRONT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.
THE ADS, I'M SO THANKFUL THAT IT'S GOING TO BE OVER AFTER TODAY.
I'M JUST SO SICK OF THE COMMERCIALS OF JUST ONE AFTER ANOTHER, AFTER ANOTHER AFTER ANOTHER.
IT MAKES ME NOT EVEN WANT TO WATCH LIVE TV BECAUSE IT'S SO BAD.
AND I, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY, AND I PROMISE YOU, IT IS NOT IT'S NOT THE REGISTER OF VOTERS FAULT AND IT'S NOT THE COUNTY'S FAULT THAT IT ACTUALLY RAINED ON ELECTION DAY.
SO BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, AS WE AS WE GO THROUGH THIS ELECTION, YOU KNOW, IF IT WAS UP TO ME AND ME ALONE, I WOULD GO BACK TO THE WAY THAT WE USED TO DO ELECTIONS WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAD AN ELECTION DAY AND THOSE THAT CHOSE TO BE ABSENTEE BALLOT VOTERS WOULD CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO VOTE BY THEIR ABSENTEE BALLOT.
BUT THAT'S THAT'S KIND OF NOT WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
BUT, YOU KNOW, ELECTION RESULTS ARE GOING TO BE DELAYED BECAUSE EVERY BALLOT HAS TO BE NOW RUN THROUGH A TABULATOR AND YOU DON'T GET THAT SLUG OF VOTES THAT COMES IN, YOU KNOW, NORMALLY OF THE PEOPLE THAT VOTED ON ELECTION DAY.
BUT AS WE WRAP WRAP UP AND GET THROUGH THIS, WE HAVE TEN DAY VOTE CENTERS WE'RE REQUIRED BY BY CALIFORNIA LAW, FOR EVERY 50,000 RESIDENTS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A TEN DAY VOTE CENTER.
AND I DID SEE SOME PRELIMINARY NUMBERS.
AND IT'S REALLY QUITE DISAPPOINTING THAT WE'VE HAD THESE VOTE CENTERS, SPECIFICALLY THE ONE IN LOS BANOS, OPEN FOR TEN DAYS AND TWO AND THREE VOTERS SHOW UP ON THE FOR THE FIRST WEEK.
AND THERE'S THERE'S AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT OF COST THAT GOES INTO HAVING THAT FACILITY STAFFED.
I THINK THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ADVOCACY WORK, WE JUST WRAPPED UP OUR KIND OF OUR LEGISLATIVE DAY HERE AT THE COUNTY WHERE WE MET WITH OUR STATE LOBBYISTS AND OUR FEDERAL LOBBYISTS. I THINK IT'S SOMEWHERE THAT WE NEED TO ADVOCATE FOR WHEN YOU GET TO THESE POOR RURAL COUNTIES AND WE'RE ALREADY SHORT STAFFED WHEN IT COMES TO THIS ELECTION, STUFF LIKE THE BANG FOR OUR BUCK.
YOU KNOW, I WANT EVERYBODY TO HAVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND PLENTY OF ACCESS TO VOTE.
BUT HAVING TEN DAY VOTE CENTERS THAT ARE STAFFED WITH THREE AND FOUR PEOPLE, THE AMOUNT OF EQUIPMENT THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL THOSE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT GOT TO BE TURNED ON AND READY AND UP AND RUNNING AND USING ELECTRICITY, ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS FOR THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY VOTED ON IT, IT'S REALLY QUITE DISAPPOINTING.
[02:15:01]
BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE FOLKS, YOU KNOW, IN FUTURE ELECTIONS, IF WE GOT THOSE VOTE CENTERS OPEN, I GET IT.SOME PEOPLE DON'T TRUST THE MAIL.
AND I FORGOT TO PUT MY STICKER ON THIS MORNING.
BUT I DID VOTE. AND THAT'S DEMOCRACY AT ITS FINEST RIGHT THERE.
AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU.
COFFEE? [INAUDIBLE] DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE YOU WANTED TO ADD? BECAUSE I DO HAVE. [INAUDIBLE] WHAT DID I MISS? THERE WAS A FOOTBALL GAME LAST FRIDAY NIGHT, THE FIRST ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS OF HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL.
YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IT UP HERE.
SO AT THIS TIME, I THINK I WILL STIR IT UP.
BUHACH COLONY HIGH SCHOOL DID BEAT LOS BANOS HIGH SCHOOL 64 TO 48 IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS, JASON PERKOS FROM BUHACH COLONY RUSHED FOR 346 YARDS.
THE STREETS ARE PACKED. IT'S GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY OUT THERE SUPPORTING OUR VETERANS.
AND TODAY, I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN OUR MEETING IN HONOR OF GARY BROWN, OUR FORMER CEO, JIM BROWN'S FATHER. GARY BROWN WAS A LONG TIME RESIDENT AND BUSINESS OWNER HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.
AND YOU CAN TELL BY HOW WELL HE RAISED HIS SON, JIM BROWN.
HE IS QUITE A MAN AND HE LEADS BY.
SO MY THOUGHTS AND MY PRAYERS ARE WITH JIM BROWN'S FAMILY.
AND WE'RE HERE FOR YOU IF YOU NEED ANYTHING.
THANK YOU. WELL, I'D ALSO TO MY BEST TO THE FAMILY OF JIM BROWN.
UM, SO I JUST LIKE TO MENTION [INAUDIBLE] EMPLOYEES.
AND LIKE, THIS YEAR WE ATTENDED THE ETHICS TRAINING LAST WEDNESDAY AND ALSO THE [INAUDIBLE] TRAINING AT NIGHT IN THE TOWN OF PLANADA WITH OUR COUNTY COUNCILS. I WANTED TO JUST TO MENTION THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, AS I THINK WE'RE AS WE'RE PLANNING THE PARK IN CENTINELA, I'D LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN HAVE A PUBLIC INPUT DAY OVER THERE IN CENTINELA TO OR I THINK OUR, OUR TENDENCY HERE.
YEAH. IF WE'RE ABLE TO GET A UH, UH COMMUNITY DAY OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, JUST DURING, IN THE EVENING.
SO, UH, I KNOW THE ROADS ARE ISSUES OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY WITH THE RAIN.
SO, UH, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF WE HAVE ANY POTHOLES.
AND WE'RE DOING AS AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST COVER ALL THOSE ROADS.
AND, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET TO YOU, UH, YOUR ROAD CLOSE TO YOUR HOUSE OR NEAR YOU.
I JUST. I WANT TO APPRECIATE THE [INAUDIBLE] FOR BEING HERE.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S ALWAYS ISSUES, BUT HOPEFULLY WE CAN, UH, GET COME ACROSS TO, UH, WITH THE WITH THE LEGION AMERICAN [INAUDIBLE] BUILDING TO SOME TYPE OF, UH, OF, UH, YOU KNOW, COMBAT OR.
I KNOW THAT. WELL, IT'S, IT'S HARD.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES THERE, BUT I, I KNOW THAT, UM, THE [INAUDIBLE] FROM LIVINGSTON, I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH HER, SO I KNOW THAT SHE'S WAS HERE SUPPORTING US, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET THE VETERANS HALL RENOVATED.
THE ONE IN LIVINGSTON AS WELL, TOO.
AND I THINK SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL SAID VETERAN'S PARADE IS ON FRIDAY.
AND LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, JUST PLEASE VOTE.
YES. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
THANK YOU. I SPOKE WITH I SPOKE WITH CEO MENDEZ AND MR.
[02:20:04]
HENDRICKSON AND ALSO MY COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT THREE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS BOARD GET AN UPDATE ON THE DIRECTION OF CASLE AND WHERE WE'RE AT, WHAT'S HAPPENED, WHERE WE'RE GOING.AND KIND OF JUST AN UPDATE JUST TO LET US KNOW WHAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND I THINK SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL SAID HE WAS OKAY WITH THAT BEING THAT IT'S HIS DISTRICT.
I ATTENDED THE JUVENILE JUSTICE COMMITTEE MEETING LAST WEEK, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO, IT'S IT'S FROM A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE GETTING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE PLANS IN PLACE FOR SOME OF THE THE JUVENILES THAT ARE IN THE DETENTION CENTER.
I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE FIELD OF HONOR EVENT AT MERCED COLLEGE ON SUNDAY.
IT'S TEN YEARS THEY'VE HAD IT.
AS OF SUNDAY, THERE WAS 1850 FLAGS.
AND HE SAID THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE CLOSER TO 2000 BY THE END OF THE CLOSING.
AND IT'S I GET THE OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE I DRIVE BY IT EVERY DAY AND IT'S A REALLY COOL EXPERIENCE FOR ME TO EXPLAIN TO MY CHILDREN WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S OUT THERE AND WHAT IT'S ABOUT.
AND WHEN I GOT THERE, I WAS JUST GOING TO OBSERVE AND TAKE PART IN THE CEREMONY AND THE PERSON WAS IN CHARGE OF IT. AND I THINK THE ROTARY ROTARY IS THE ONE THAT PUTS IT ON.
IT WAS HE SAID, HEY, DO YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? AND I SAID, OH, I WASN'T PLANNING ON SAYING ANYTHING.
HE GOES, WELL, IT'S ONLY GOING TO BE AT 3 TO 5 MINUTES, NOT 25 MINUTES.
AND I SAID, I THINK YOU HAVE ME CONFUSED WITH MY COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT FIVE.
BUT BUT NO, I ENCOURAGE ANYBODY, IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT AND LOOK AT IT, JUST JUST KIND OF WALK AROUND, IT'S REALLY COOL TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN IN ORDER OF HONORING THE VETERANS.
ALSO, AS AS MENTIONED, THE OPENING CEREMONY FOR THE VETERANS DAY PARADE IS AT NOON.
THERE'S A FLYOVER, WHICH IS REALLY COOL.
AND THEN THE PARADE WILL START AT 1:00 AND THAT'S AT BOB HEART SQUARE.
AND THEN ALSO I GOT A CALL LATE AFTERNOON.
AND I SAID, WELL, WHO'S THE SPECIAL GUEST? AND HE SAID, IT WAS THE GOVERNOR.
AND SO REGARDLESS OF YOUR POLITICS OR WHATEVER, IT'S ALWAYS KIND OF A COOL THING TO SEE THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA COMING TO MERCED AND REALLY TALK AND ENGAGE WITH THE STUDENTS.
AND IT WAS FUNNY, ONE OF THE STUDENTS ACTUALLY TOLD THEM THAT SHE VOTED FOR HIS RECALL AND WASN'T GOING TO VOTE FOR HIM IN THIS ELECTION.
HOW DO YOU COME TOGETHER WITH THAT? AND HE SAID, YOU DON'T HAVE TO VOTE FOR ME, BUT IF I WIN, I'M STILL GOING TO WORK FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS KIND OF A GOOD LIFE LESSON FOR HER TO HEAR, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS COOL.
AND THEN MARK HENDRICKSON SON ALSO IS THE STARTING QUARTERBACK FOR BUHACH COLONY.
AND BEING THAT I KNOW MARK MARKS ON OUR TEAM, SO I FIGURED JOSH IS ON OUR TEAM.
SO I'M ROOTING FOR BUHACH AS WELL.
AND THEN THE LAST THING, VOTE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE VOTE.
I DON'T IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO YOU VOTE FOR OR WHAT YOU VOTE FOR.
I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
SO WITH THAT, I AND MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH THE BROWN FAMILY.
YES. UH, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. JUST A COUPLE OF ITEMS THIS AFTERNOON.
I DID WANT TO JUST THANK THE BOARD, THANK OUR COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND OUR EXECUTIVE STAFF, MIKE NORTH AND DARLA COSTA FROM OUR TEAM FOR KIND OF PUTTING TOGETHER A NICE LEGISLATIVE DAY YESTERDAY WITH OUR FEDERAL AND STATE LOBBYISTS, AS INDICATED BY BY THE SUPERVISOR EARLIER, IT WAS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND A FULL DAY WITH THE FOLKS THAT ARE ADVOCATING ON OUR BEHALF FOR MERCED COUNTY, THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO FELT REALLY GOOD ABOUT THE SESSION.
AGAIN, I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF TIME SPENT TALKING ABOUT KIND OF WHAT'S TRENDING, WHAT'S COMING, BUT I THINK IT DOES HELP WITH OUR DEVELOPMENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM THAT COMES BEFORE THE BOARD EVERY YEAR OR SO.
AGAIN, JUST WANTED TO THANK THE BOARD AND OUR STAFF, OUR TEAM.
[02:25:05]
I HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH, UH, I DON'T BELIEVE ANY OF YOU YET.WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU TO BEST ADDRESS YOUR NEEDS.
AND THEN ALSO WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR DEDICATION AND EXTEND THAT SAME THANKS AND APPRECIATION TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR ORGANIZATION THAT SERVED IN THE MILITARY. AND I KNOW SOME OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE REPRESENTED, UH, THIS MORNING AS WELL.
I THINK WE SHOULD OPT IN, UH, TAKE THE TIME TO THANK THOSE THAT OBVIOUSLY GAVE, SACRIFICED FOR, FOR THE REST OF US TO ENJOY THE FREEDOMS OF THIS COUNTRY.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU AS WE GO FORWARD.
AND ANYWAYS, IT'S JUST KIND OF NEAT TO GET OVER THERE AND SPEND SOME TIME.
WHEN I GO TO THE WEST SIDE, IT'S ONLY TO GUSTIN.
I TRY NOT TO GO SOUTH OF THERE MUCH, BUT NO, JUST KIDDING.
ANYWAY, SO WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND THANKS FOR THAT INVITE.
LAST WEEK I ATTENDED A KIND OF A RIBBON CUTTING OF SORTS.
MOST OF YOU KNOW THAT DOLE HAS A PLANT HERE IN ATWATER, SITS IN MY DISTRICT.
THEY PICKED THE MERCED COUNTY BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB TO RECEIVE KIND OF A IT'S A PROGRAM, REALLY.
IT'S A CULINARY PROGRAM FOR YOUTH.
I MEAN, THEY BROUGHT IN EQUIPMENT.
I MEAN, DOLE COMPANY ACTUALLY THOUGHT IT ALL OUT.
AND THEY PICKED MERCED COUNTY FOR A REASON.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS AN OPTION.
BUT DOLE REACHED OUT TO THEM AND IT WAS JUST KIND OF A NEAT PROGRAM.
AND THEY HAVE A NEW CEO OVER THERE.
HER NAME IS SEALY, AND SHE'S BEEN AROUND MERCED.
OH, AND CHEF MITCH YEAH FROM THE EC IS GOING TO TEACH THE PROGRAM.
BUT ANYWAY, IT'S JUST KIND OF A NEAT THING.
I MEAN, IT WAS REALLY, REALLY HEARTFELT AND WARMING TO SEE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU IF YOU'RE [INAUDIBLE], YOU'LL NEVER WORK A DAY IN YOUR LIFE.
AND SO HOPEFULLY SOME KIDS IN THERE COME OUT WITH WITH THAT PASSION.
I WOULD SAY IT'S PRETTY EASILY NORTH OF $30 OR $40,000 AND JUST A NEAT EVENT.
WHAT I WAS SURPRISED BY WAS THAT OUR SHERIFF AND HIS HIS ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM, ROSENBURG, SULLIVAN, I'M NOT SURE WHO ELSE I SAW THERE, BUT THEY ACTUALLY PREPARED THE MEAL THE 4H BOUGHT, BOUGHT THE ITEMS AND THEN AND THE REST THE LABOR AND THE CATERING WAS DONATED AND THEY PLATED, SERVED/PLATED.
SO THAT WAS KIND OF KIND OF COOL 4H IS VERY DEAR AND NEAR TO MOST OF US.
AND IT'S ONE PLACE WHERE KIDS GET A LOT OF SKILLS.
AND I'D LIKE TO THANK THE THE PETER J.
THEY ARE THE MAJOR SPONSOR FOR THE FOR THE FLAGS THAT FLY OUT AT THE COLLEGE THAT SUPERVISOR PEDROZO MENTIONED EARLIER. AND IF YOU HAVEN'T DRIVEN BY THERE AT NIGHT, I WOULD SAY IT'S WORTH THE DRIVE WHEN THAT THING IS LIT UP AND THOSE FLAGS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BREEZE GOING THAT'S JUST AND YOU JUST YOU JUST CAN'T HELP BUT STIR YOUR HEART.
SO THANK YOU TO THE SUNRISE ROTARY AND TO THE GALLO FAMILY.
AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE MY CONDOLENCES TO THE BROWN FAMILY.
AND I KNOW I KNOW WHAT THAT'S LIKE AND IT'S TOUGH.
AND SO I JUST PRAY THAT THAT YOU FIND GOD'S COMFORT IN THIS.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL ADJOURN OUR MEETING.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.