Dec 13, 2022 Board Meeting

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING.

[10:00 A.M. – REGULAR MEETING]

[00:00:04]

WE WILL NOW START WITH THE INVOCATION LED BY PASTOR MICHAEL OTTEN FROM FAITH WORD MINISTRIES.

AND THEN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE LED BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING.

FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE RECIPIENTS TODAY FOR THE HONOR AND WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN BESTOWED UPON THEM.

BUT LET ME JUST GO TO THE WORD OF GOD.

TODAY, I URGE, FIRST OF ALL, AS THE BIBLE SAYS, FOR ALL PETITIONS, FOR PRAYERS AND INTERCESSION, THANKSGIVING BE MADE FOR ALL PEOPLE, FOR ALL THOSE IN AUTHORITY THAT MAY LIVE A PEACEFUL AND QUIET LIVES AND ALL GODLINESS AND HOLINESS, AND THAT ALL THE PEOPLE WILL BE SAVED AND COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH.

SO I PRAY THAT YOU GOT THEM IN THE DECISIONS THAT THEY MAKE AND THAT MIGHT FULFILL YOUR PURPOSES AND GIVE HONOR AND GLORY TO YOU.

THEY PROVIDE RIGHTEOUS, HONEST, GOD FEARING LEADERS AND INFLUENCERS CAUSE THEM TO TURN TO HONOR YOU AS A SOURCE OF THEIR WISDOM AND POWER.

SO THEREFORE, I PRAY THAT ON BEHALF OF ALL WHO ARE GATHERED TOGETHER TODAY, THAT YOU AND ALL YOUR MANY BLESSINGS THAT YOU GIVE TO US, THANKS FOR LIFE ITSELF, FOR THE MEASURE OF HEALTH THAT WE NEED TO FULFILL OUR CALLINGS FOR SUBSTANCE AND FOR FRIENDSHIP.

THANK YOU FOR THE ABILITY TO BE INVOLVED IN USEFUL WORK AND FOR THE HONOR OF BEARING APPROPRIATE RESPONSIBILITIES.

THANKS AS WELL FOR THE FREEDOM TO EMBRACE YOU OR NOT TO EMBRACE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR BEING SO LOVING TO US.

FOR ALL YOUR BALANCE AND GRACIOUS NATURE IN THE SCRIPTURE, YOU HAVE SAID THAT CITIZENS OUGHT TO OBEY THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES SINCE YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED THOSE VERY AUTHORITIES TO PROMOTE PEACE AND ORDER AND ALSO JUSTICE.

THEREFORE, I PRAY FOR OUR MAYOR, FOR ALL THE LEVELS OF CITY OFFICIALS AND IN PARTICULAR FOR THIS ASSEMBLED COUNCIL.

I ASK THAT YOU WOULD GRACIOUSLY GRANT THEM WISDOM TO GOVERN A SENSE OF WELFARE, A KEEN THIRST FOR JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUS FOR CONFIDENCE IN WHAT IS GOOD AND FITTING, AND FOR THE ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER IN HARMONY, EVEN WHEN THERE IS HONEST DISAGREEMENT AND PERSONAL PEACE IN THEIR LIVES AND JOIN THEIR TASKS.

I PRAY FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR THE DAY THAT YOU GUIDE THEM AND LEAD THEM.

AND I PRAY, FATHER GOD, THAT YOU WOULD GRANT THIS PEACE FOR ALL THOSE HERE AS WE COME TO THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON AND GIVE BLESSINGS TO THEIR HOST, THEIR HOUSEHOLDS IN JESUS NAME, AMEN. AND GOD BLESS YOU.

MR. CHAIR, IF I MAY, BEFORE I START, I JUST WANT TO THANK PASTOR MICHAEL OTTEN.

HE'S BEEN INSTRUMENTAL AND LIVINGSTON, JUST ALWAYS, A VOLUNTEER HELPING OUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS A PASTOR.

LIVINGSTON HIGH SCHOOL, MY DAUGHTER'S COACH, BASKETBALL COACH.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR, FOR COMING IN TODAY.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU. AND IF YOU CAN PLEASE JOIN ME.

OF ALLEGIANCE] THANK YOU, PASTOR OTTON, FOR THOSE FOR THOSE GOOD WORDS.

WE HAVE WE HAVE ONE QUICK HOUSEKEEPING ITEM THIS MORNING.

THE RESTROOM FACILITIES ARE LOCATED ON THE FIRST FLOOR, ALSO KNOWN AS THE GROUND FLOOR.

THE MEN'S ROOM IS UNDER THE STAIRWELL.

THE WOMEN'S IS TO THE END OF THE HALL TO THE LEFT.

[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST WITHIN THE BOARD'S JURISDICTION EXCLUDING ITEMS ON THE BOARD'S AGENDA TESTIMONY LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON AND TWENTY MINUTES TOTAL).]

EXCLUDING ITEMS ON THE BOARD'S AGENDA.

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

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

YES. GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING TO THE BOARD AND TO EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS SARAH LIM.

I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE MERCED COUNTY COURTHOUSE MUSEUM, AND I'M SO EXCITED.

SO AT THE MUSEUM, STAFF MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS, WE ARE SO EXCITED TO HAVE THE BOARD MEETING HERE.

THIS BUILDING WAS BUILT IN 1875, AND IT WAS USED AS A COURTHOUSE AS WELL AS A COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING.

AND IT WAS USED FOR THE COURTS UNTIL THE 1950S WHEN THEY MOVED TO THE NEXT DOOR, WHICH RIGHT THERE WHAT NOW WE CALL THE OLD COURTHOUSE, BECAUSE THE NEWER ONE IS ON THE OTHER SIDE.

AND THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING CONTINUE THE COUNTY CONTINUES TO USE THIS BUILDING AS A THE HEADQUARTERS OF ADMINISTRATION UNTIL 1970. AND THEY MOVED TO THE CURRENT LOCATION AT 222 M STREET.

SOME OF YOU ASKED ME EARLIER, WHEN WAS THE LAST BOARD MEETING BEING HELD HERE?

[00:05:01]

WHEN THE NEW COURTHOUSE WAS BUILT WITH THE NEWER FACILITIES, THE BUILDING GONE THROUGH A EXTENSIVE AND EXTENSIVE RENOVATION IN THE 1970S AND OPENED AS A HISTORY MUSEUM IN 1983.

AND WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE THIS BUILDING, ONE OF THE FEW BUILDINGS LEFT IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, WHOSE ARCHITECT, ALBERT BENNETT, WAS ALSO THE SUPERVISING ARCHITECT FOR THE STATE CAPITOL BUILDING.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THE SEVERAL COURTHOUSES THAT HE DESIGNED IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY.

AND WE ARE THE ONLY ONE REMAINS STANDING TODAY.

SO WE SHOULD ALL BE VERY PROUD THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PRESERVE THIS 147 YEAR OLD BUILDING.

AND THAT WILL BE THE END OF MY PUBLIC COMMENTS.

AND I THINK THE PRESIDENT OF THE MERCED COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

OH, BY THE WAY, DON'T FORGET TO VISIT OUR CHRISTMAS TREE DISPLAY.

WE HAVE OVER 83 CHRISTMAS TREES DECORATED BY OVER 80 COMMUNITIES TO FOR FOR THE TIME BEING OF THE DECEMBER.

SO AFTER THE BOARD MEETINGS, JUST WALK THROUGH DIFFERENT ROOMS AND SEE DIFFERENT TREES, YOU WILL FIND YOUR FAVORITE.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS BOB SOUZA.

I'M PRESIDENT OF THE MERCED COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES HERE TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU GUYS FOR SECURING THE FUNDING THAT HAS HELPED RESTORE THE ROOF.

THE HVAC IS GOING TO GO IN IN JANUARY, WHICH WE NEED REALLY BAD HERE.

AND THEN I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE SOME FUNDING THAT YOUR STAFF HAS WORKED VERY HARD ON.

AND I UNDERSTAND HOW HARD IT IS TO GET MONEY THESE DAYS TO REFURBISH THIS BUILDING, WHICH, LIKE SARAH SAID, IS 147 YEARS OLD.

IF WE CAN GET THE MONIES AND ALL THE THE WORK DONE IN 2025, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A HUGE OPEN HOUSE HERE FOR THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY.

YOU KNOW, AND YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO BE A BIG PART OF THAT.

AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS AND YOUR STAFF'S EFFORTS FOR HELPING US OUT TO GET THE FUNDING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, SUPERVISORS.

RICK [INAUDIBLE] LAKE MERCED.

JUST BRIEFLY, I WISH TO REMIND SUPERVISORS WOW, [INAUDIBLE] TO REMIND SUPERVISORS THAT MY REQUEST OF ONLY A WEEK AGO TO HELP GET YOUR HELP TO REESTABLISH COMMUNICATIONS WITH OUR COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER AND SO THAT WE HAVE MUCH TO DISCUSS WITH HIM BECAUSE I STILL, I STILL SEE PEOPLE WEARING MASKS THAT HAVE NO EFFICACY THESE DAYS.

SO WE NEED TO RESUME CONVERSATION.

SO I ASK YOUR HELP AGAIN.

THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.

GOOD MORNING. I'M ANDREW.

I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE SHERIFF'S DISPATCHERS, UNIT 14 OF THE MERCED COUNTY DSA.

THIS BUILDING IS BEAUTIFUL, AND IT WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1875.

IT'S VERY ADMIRABLE.

BUILDINGS LIKE THIS MAY NOT BE CONSTRUCTED IN THIS MANNER ANY LONGER, BUT PRACTICES IN MERCED COUNTY REMAINS STUCK IN THAT TIME PERIOD THAT THIS BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED.

IF THIS BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED TODAY AS A REPRESENTATION OF MERCED COUNTY, I HAVE NO DOUBT THERE WOULD BE AN ENORMOUS GLASS DOME ABOVE US.

IT'D BE A PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION OF THE METAPHORICAL GLASS CEILING THE COUNTY NURTURES THAT PREVENTS OUR SHERIFF DISPATCHERS FROM BEING TREATED FAIRLY.

I'M NOT REFERENCING A GLASS CEILING THAT COMPENSATES MEN AND WOMEN WORKING IN THE SAME CLASSIFICATION DIFFERENTLY.

I'M SPEAKING OF A GLASS CEILING THAT HOLDS ENTIRE CLASSIFICATIONS BELOW A THRESHOLD THAT MALE DOMINATED CLASSIFICATIONS ARE NOT HELD BENEATH.

I INTENTIONALLY USE THE WORD FAIR IN THE CONTEXT INSTEAD OF THE WORD EQUAL.

THE TRUTH IS THIS BOARD TREATS OUR SHARE OF DISPATCHERS EQUALLY WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS COMPOSED MAINLY OF WOMEN.

OUR SHERIFF DISPATCHERS ARE EQUALLY MISTREATED, UNDER COMPENSATED AND EXPLOITED.

I THOUGHT MYSELF RECENTLY, WHY IS A SMALL GROUP OF ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEES WHO ARE THE LIFELINE BETWEEN ORDER AND CHAOS VIEWED LIKE SECOND CLASS CITIZENS BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS? THEN I BEGIN TO THINK, WHAT'S THE DEMOGRAPHICS SHARE OF DISPATCHERS? A CAREER PERFORMED BY WOMEN, BOTH HISTORICALLY AND PRESENTLY.

HISTORICALLY, OUR COMMUNICATIONS CENTER HAS BEEN ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY FEMALE POST CERTIFIED SHERIFF DISPATCHERS.

I'M THE ONLY CURRENT POST CERTIFIED MALE SHERIFF DISPATCHER, AND ONLY ONE OF TWO I CAN RECALL HISTORICALLY.

BOARD MEMBERS LOOK TO YOUR LEFT AND RIGHT AND YOU'LL SEE WHAT I SEE.

LOOK AT THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART ON YOUR COUNTY WEBSITE, THE TOP OF YOUR CHART, THE SHOT CALLERS POSITIONS, HOLDING ALL THE INFLUENCE AND POWER OCCUPIED BY MEN.

[00:10:04]

FOR FURTHER EVIDENCE, JUST REFER TO THE COUNTY JOB POSTING.

CLERICAL POSITIONS STATISTICALLY SHOWN BEING HELD BY WOMEN AT A RATE OF 80%, CONSISTENTLY THE LOWEST COMPENSATED POSITIONS IN MERCED COUNTY.

I'M NOT CLAIMING YOU CREATED THIS DISCREPANCY.

THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM THAT HAS EXISTED FOR DECADES.

HOWEVER, YOU'VE DONE NOTHING TO REVERSE THIS OBVIOUS SYSTEMIC ISSUE AND ONLY EMBOLDENED IT DURING OUR CURRENT PROCESS.

I'M HONORED THAT MY FEMALE COWORKERS TRUST ME, TO BRING THIS INJUSTICE TO THE PUBLIC.

SHERIFF DISPATCHERS I WORK ALONGSIDE ARE SOME OF THE MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY STRONGEST WOMEN THAT I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE TO KNOW.

YOU CAN REST ASSURED I'LL CONTINUE TO SPEAK TO THIS BOARD DURING 2023 PERTAINING TO ISSUES OF INJUSTICE WITHIN YOUR PURVIEW.

WITH ALL THIS BEING SAID, HOW DOES THIS BOARD CLAIM IT TREATS MALE AND FEMALE EMPLOYEES THE SAME? I URGE EVERYBODY VIEWING THIS TO CONTACT THESE BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERVISORS AND REMIND THEM AND DEMAND THEM THAT THEY BEGIN TREATING ALL CLASSIFICATIONS FAIRLY.

AND TO THIS BOARD, PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO REVERSE THIS INJUSTICE AND GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS THE BOARD THAT ENDED THE SYSTEMIC ECONOMIC ABUSE OF MERCED COUNTY.

I CHALLENGE YOU TO PUSH MERCED COUNTY INTO THE 21ST CENTURY AND COMPENSATE ALL COUNTY CLASSIFICATIONS AT 100% OF THE MEDIAN SALARY WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE 27 COUNTY SURVEYS.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

GOOD MORNING. I'M HERE AGAIN TO REMIND YOU OF THE FACT THAT HALF OF THE ALLIANCE'S MEMBERS, A COMPANY LOCATED 125 MILES FROM HERE, ARE MERCED COUNTY RESIDENTS.

CENTRAL CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE FOR HEALTH HAS ONE OVERSTAYED ITS WELCOME IN MERCED COUNTY SUPERVISORS.

AND THOUGH YOU CONTINUE TO DO BUSINESS WITH THEM, THERE WILL COME A DAY WHEN THEY'LL BE REPLACED, OR AT LEAST A COMPETING MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATION WILL BE AN OPTION FOR MERCED COUNTY RESIDENTS.

WHEN I CONTACTED THE MERCED SUN STAR RECENTLY TO DISCUSS THE ALLIANCE WITH ONE OF THEIR REPORTERS, HE LAUGHED AND QUICKLY APOLOGIZED TO SAY HE WASN'T LAUGHING AT ME BUT AT THE JOKE THAT THE ALLIANCE IS THAT THEY RECEIVE CONSISTENTLY COMPLAINTS FROM CITIZENS ABOUT THE ALLIANCE.

HE AGREED WITH ME THAT AFTER THE 2020 SECURITY BREACH OF MEMBERS PERSONAL AND MEDICAL DATA, THE COUNTY SHOULD HAVE FIRED THE ALLIANCE AND REPLACED THEM WITH A LARGER, BETTER SECURE AND MORE REPUTABLE MCO.

SO WHY SUPERVISORS DO YOU CONTINUE TO SUBJECT MERCED RESIDENTS TO THIS SECOND RATE MCO? WHAT BENEFIT IS THERE TO MERCED COUNTY WHEN THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD ONE SIZE FITS ALL COMPANY IS CONTRACTED WITH EVERY YEAR? WHY DO YOU CARE SO STRONGLY TO KEEP THEM IN BUSINESS AT OUR PERIL? LET THIS BAY AREA COMPANY WITH BAY AREA SECOND CLASS MORALS FIND BUSINESS IN BAY AREA CITIES WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED.

WHAT ARE THEY OFFERING MERCED COUNTY THAT'S SO TANTALIZING THAT THEY'RE SELECTED AS THE MCO YEAR UPON YEAR.

I'M LEAVING THIS COUNTY FEET FIRST AND WILL CONTINUE TO COME BEFORE YOU AND YOUR SUCCESSORS TO DISCUSS THROWING THE ALLIANCE INTO THE DUSTBIN WHERE IT BELONGS. AS MORE PEOPLE THAN MERCED COUNTY BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID, MEDI-CAL AND ARE TOSSED INTO THIS GROSSLY INCOMPETENT MCO, PEOPLE LIKE ME WILL BE HERE TO ORGANIZE THEM TO TERMINATE ALLIANCE'S CONTRACT WITH MERCE D COUNTY.

YOU CAN MAKE ALL THE AMENDMENTS YOU WANT WITH THE ALLIANCE.

IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT THEY'RE INEPT, NEGLIGENT, INCOMPETENT AND THEREFORE DANGEROUS TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND HEALTH IN MERCED COUNTY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA MEMBERS OF THE BOARD CEO RAUL MENDEZ AND FOR AS OUR COUNTY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS YVONNA BROWN, THE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY DIRECTOR.

I COME BEFORE YOU TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY STAFF FOR AN EXCELLENT JOB.

WE HAD A STATE AUDIT BACK IN NOVEMBER FOR OUR FAMILY SERVICES BRANCH, AND I HAVE MS. [INAUDIBLE] HERE TO KIND OF HIGHLIGHT.

AND WE HAVE STAFF.

I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS BECAUSE THEY HAD AN AUDIT AND WE ONLY HAD THREE FINDINGS AT THE LARGE [INAUDIBLE], WHICH IS EXCEPTIONAL, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE OVER 1,000 CASES PER WORKER.

AND THAT'S TO BE COMMENDABLE THAT WE ARE STILL ABLE TO MEET THE STATE EXPECTATIONS AND STILL RECEIVE AN AWARD.

AND WE HAVE STAFF HERE AVAILABLE JUST TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR A JOB WELL DONE.

SOMETIMES THEY GO BEHIND THE SCENES TO SERVICE OUR FAMILIES UNDER CAL FRESH, AND I WANTED TO EXTEND THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THEM HERE, BUT ALSO TO ACKNOWLEDGE

[00:15:07]

I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE.

AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MS. LEON. GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING, CECILIA LEON, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR FAMILY SERVICES BRANCH AT MERCED COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY.

BEFORE I START, IF IT'S APPROPRIATE, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE HERE.

WE HAVE ABOUT 12 OF OUR FAMILY SERVICES REPRESENTATIVES AND ONE OF OUR REGISTRATION INFORMATION ASSISTANTS.

THEY COULD JUST STAND UP AND BE ACKNOWLEDGED BECAUSE THIS AWARD REALLY IS A REFLECTION OF THEIR WORK AND I WANT TO GIVE THEM A PROPER CREDIT.

SO IF YOU GUYS COULD PLEASE STAND UP AND BE ACKNOWLEDGED AND RECOGNIZED, PLEASE [APPLAUSE].

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, CEO MENDEZ COUNTY COUNCIL AND DR.

BROWN FOR PROVIDING ME THIS PLATFORM TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXCEPTIONAL WORK THAT FAMILY SERVICES REPRESENTATIVES DO EVERY DAY.

AS MANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS, WE HAVE FACED NUMEROUS CHALLENGES.

THIS AWARD IS SO MEANINGFUL AT THIS TIME BECAUSE OF THOSE CHALLENGES.

IT IS A TRUE REFLECTION OF THE COMMITMENT STAFF HAVE TO MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THEIR WORK ENSURES THAT MANY OF THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, CAN BUY GROCERIES AND PAY THEIR RENT.

I FEEL PRIVILEGED TO BE A PART OF SUCH A HARDWORKING TEAM.

WE SHARE THE SUCCESS WITH OUR PARTNERS IN RECEPTION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS.

THEY PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN ENSURING THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS ACCESS TO THESE SERVICES.

LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR PREVIOUS CAL FRESH MANAGER LUPE CISNEROS, WHO LED THIS MANAGEMENT EVALUATION, AND MY PREDECESSOR, MARY ELLEN NORONHA, WHO HAS PLANTED THE SEEDS OF STRONG WORK, WORK ETHIC AND RESILIENCY THROUGH HER LEADERSHIP.

SO I THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD MORNING.

CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME.

OK SEEING NONE.

I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

[PRESENTATION]

WE ASK THAT THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT IN WHICH EACH INDIVIDUAL IS FROM TO JOIN US UP FRONT.

AND ONCE, ONCE THE INDIVIDUAL IS RECOGNIZED THEIR LOVED ONES ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME UP FOR A PHOTO OP FOLLOWING THE SERVICE PIN PRESENTATIONS WILL TAKE A 15 MINUTE BREAK AND THERE ARE LIGHT REFRESHMENTS ON FLOOR ONE.

SO WE'LL START WITH SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.

BRENDA, CAN YOU COME FORWARD, PLEASE. BRENDA MOJICA.

BRENDA MOJICA WAS HAS BEEN WITH WITH MERCED COUNTY FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS.

NOW, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING.

AND WE'RE ALL PROUD OF YOU. NOW, BRENDA IS INSTRUMENTAL, THE MERCED COUNTY EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION.

SHE'S THE MOST TENURED STAFF MEMBER WITH MERCED MERCED [INAUDIBLE] TEAM.

HER ABILITY TO REMEMBER IMPORTANT FACTS FROM OVER TEN YEARS AGO IS COMMENDABLE.

THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE THAT SHE CARRIES FORWARD TO NEW STAFF IS PRICELESS.

MERCER [INAUDIBLE] IS STRONGER BECAUSE OF IT, AND WE WANT BRENDA AND ALL OF YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE HER DEDICATION TO CONTINUE TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF OUR ASSOCIATION. THERE'S DEPARTMENT HEAD COMMENTS.

BRENDA IS A VALUED TEAM MEMBER OF MERCER [INAUDIBLE], AND HER LOYALTY AND SERVICE TO THE COUNTY AND MEMBERS IS UNSURPASSED.

WE APPRECIATE ALL BRENDA HAS DONE FOR OUR ORGANIZATION AND OUR MEMBERS.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH BRENDA FOR SEVERAL MORE YEARS TO COME.

SO THANK YOU.

HERE'S A 20 YEAR PIN [APPLAUSE]. I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD OF

[00:20:02]

IT'S IT'S AN HONOR TO HAVE A LATINO SERVE MY DISTRICT AND TO BE PRESENTED BY YOU NOT ONLY THIS PIN, BUT MY 15 YEAR PIN TO MY DEPARTMENT.

IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK THERE.

I LOVE IT. EVEN THOUGH WE'VE HAD OUR DAYS AND STUFF LIKE THAT WITH OUR NEW COMPUTER SYSTEM.

BUT IT HAPPENS, RIGHT? SO WE FIGURE IT OUT AND WE MOVE ON TO MY THE DIRECTOR OF OUR DEPARTMENT.

KRISTIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING THE STAFF THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE PANDEMIC AND KEEPING US SAFE.

THAT'S ESSENTIAL.

AND I LOVE WHAT I DO.

AND I SEE SOME OF THE RETIREES HERE AS WELL.

IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE. AND IF THERE'S ONE THING TO THE MEMBERSHIP PLAN EARLY, BECAUSE NO ONE WANTS TO HAVE A FUDDY DUDDY RETIREMENT.

THANK YOU.

DISTRICT TWO SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

SO I HAVE THE HONOR TO RECOGNIZE TWO INDIVIDUALS.

MISS JULIE GILLIS.

THIS IS HER 15TH YEAR HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.

JULIE'S DAILY RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES CONSIST OF INTERFACING WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC AT THE RECEPTION WINDOW AND RECEIVING AND PROCESSING IRIS GRANT, [INAUDIBLE] JUVENILE JUSTICE, CORRECTIONAL COMPLEX, MALE AND YOUTH GRIEVANCES.

SOMETHING AS A FORMER TEACHER, I'M SURE IT'S NO SMALL TASK.

JULIE CONTINUES TO TRACK AND PROVIDE OFFICER CALLOUTS AND OVERTIME REPORTS FOR ADMINISTRATION TRACK AND ORDER SUPPLIES FOR THE FACILITY WHEN NEEDED TO TRACK AND PROVIDE MILEAGE FOR ALL FACILITY VEHICLES, ISSUE EQUIPMENT, LOCKER ASSIGNMENTS TO NEW EMPLOYEES, ASSIST WITH THE TROUBLESHOOTING OF COMPUTER RELATED EQUIPMENT AND COLLABORATING WITH INFORMATION SERVICES FOR ONSITE REPAIR.

JULIE DOES AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB COMPOSING DETAILED AND ACCURATE MINUTES FOR ALL MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM MEETINGS AND SUPERVISING JUVENILE INSTITUTIONS OFFICER MEETINGS.

JULIE DID AN EXCELLENT JOB IN PUTTING TOGETHER ALL OF THE INITIAL TITLE 15 MINIMUM STANDARDS, TABLE OF CONTENTS DOCUMENTS INTO BINDERS AND ASSISTING AND GATHERING OTHER DOCUMENTS AS NEEDED FOR OUR BOARD OF STATE AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS.

PRE INSPECTIONS AND INSPECTIONS IN 2022.

ON TOP OF THAT, SHE HAS TIME TO SLEEP.

IS ANYBODY FROM THE DEPARTMENT HERE? OKAY. COME ON UP, PLEASE.

OK. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS LISA MAPLES.

I'M THE DEPUTY CHIEF PROBATION OFFICER WITH MERCED COUNTY PROBATION DEPARTMENT.

JULIE EMBODIES WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MERCED COUNTY PROBATION DEPARTMENT TEAM MEMBER.

SHE IS HIGHLY RELIABLE.

GOES THE EXTRA MILE TO HELP THOSE IN NEED, GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND IN HER DUTIES.

AND SHE'S HERE TODAY TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR HER HARD WORK.

TIME AND TIME AGAIN, JULIE WAS COUNTED ON TO ASSIST WITH SPECIAL PROJECTS, TASKS AND THAT TOOK HER AWAY FROM HER DAILY DUTIES.

BUT HOWEVER, SHE CONTINUES TO COMPLETE ALL OF THE TASKS WITHOUT ISSUE.

JULIE IS A CONTRIBUTING MEMBER OF THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT TEAM AND SHE REFERS TO HER MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND VAST KNOWLEDGE OF THE SYSTEM WE WORK WITHIN DAILY.

JULIE IS THE EPITOME OF AN OFFICE ASSISTANT TO CONFIDENTIAL THAT OTHERS SHOULD EMULATE.

JULIE IS A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE.

SHE ADAPTS WELL TO CHANGE AND HAS A POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND CONTRIBUTES TO THE DEPARTMENT.

JULIE IS A DEDICATED EMPLOYEE AND AN ASSET TO THE DEPARTMENT.

I WORK WITH JULIE EVERY DAY AND I JUST CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT HOW MUCH WE VALUE HER AS PART OF THE TEAM [APPLAUSE].

[00:25:01]

AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE.

I KNOW IT'S PROBABLY A VERY DIFFICULT POSITION, BUT JUST READING THE ACCOLADES AND EVERYTHING.

YOU'RE VERY WELL APPRECIATED.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OKAY, MY NEXT ONE IS MS. KATHARINE ABBOTT.

IS KATHARINE HERE TODAY? OKAY. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO TELL YOU REALLY QUICKLY.

UM, MY.

WE JUST LOST A DOG.

WE HAD TO PUT HIM DOWN.

AND MY KIDS REALLY WANT ANOTHER ONE.

AND SO THEY'RE ON THE THE ANIMAL SHELTER WEBSITE ALL THE TIME.

AND MY WIFE SENT ME ALL THESE EMAILS TODAY SAYING, YOUR SON IS RELENTLESS.

WE NEED THIS DOG. WE NEED THIS DOG.

AND I SAID, I TOLD YOU, THAT'S JUST HOW WE DO THINGS.

SHE'S LIKE, NO. SO IF YOU GUYS DON'T UPDATE THE WEBSITE AS MUCH AS AS OFTEN AS YOU DO, THAT'D BE OKAY.

JUST KIDDING. I WANT IT.

ALL RIGHT. AS A 20 YEAR EMPLOYEE WITH MERCED COUNTY, KATHARINE ABBOTT HAS BEEN AN INSTRUMENTAL PART OF ANIMAL SERVICES.

IN 2008, WHEN THE ANIMAL SHELTER MOVED FROM GROGAN TO ITS PRESENT LOCATION ON CASTLE.

KATHARINE WAS INFLUENTIAL IN HOW THE NEW FACILITY WOULD OPERATE AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE EFFICIENCY OF HOW THE SHELTER IS RUN.

IN ADDITION, MS. ABBOTT HAS TAKEN ON A SPECIAL INTEREST IN HANDLING THE FERAL CAT POPULATION AT THE SHELTER AND ENJOYS ATTENDING COMMUNITY EVENTS AND HAS A GENERAL LOVE FOR HELPING AND WORKING WITH THE ANIMALS.

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE APPRECIATES MS. ABBOTT'S DEDICATION TO THE COMMUNITY, THE COUNTY, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE ANIMALS.

SO THANK YOU. IS ANYBODY FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE? GOT COREY OVER HERE.

COREY GIBSON, UNDERSHERIFF, MERCED COUNTY.

KAT I JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS ON A 20 YEAR CAREER, THAT SHE'S THEN SHOWED US HER INTENT TO RETIRE HERE IN FEBRUARY.

THE WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU POSSESS AND THE DEDICATION YOU'VE HAD TO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THOSE ANIMALS IS GOING TO BE HARD TO REPLACE.

SO UNFORTUNATELY, THE SHERIFF HAD ANOTHER COMMITMENT, BUT HE DID WANT TO PRESENT YOU WITH A CERTIFICATE FOR YOUR 20 YEARS OF SERVICE, AND HE SIGNED IT THERE FOR YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS [APPLAUSE].

NEXT, WE WILL HAVE SUPERVISOR PAREIRA FROM DISTRICT FOUR.

ON THE WAY BACK, I'LL PROBABLY KNOCK THAT OVER.

FIRST, I WOULD LIKE I HAVE TWO TO PRESENT AND FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO CALL UP MS. DELILAH GARZA TO RECEIVE HER 25 YEAR PIN [APPLAUSE].

I'LL TELL A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOU.

DELILAH STARTED HER CAREER WITH MERCED COUNTY AS AN ELIGIBILITY WORKER, MOVED ON TO BECOME AN EMPLOYMENT TRAINING WORKER AND THEN SOCIAL WORKER WITHIN THE ADULT AND AGING SERVICES DIVISION.

DELILAH SPENT 20 YEARS IN THE ADULT AND AGING SERVICES, SERVING IN THE ROLES OF IHS SOCIAL WORKER AND APS SOCIAL WORKER.

SHE JOINED THE MANAGEMENT TEAM IN ADULT AND AGING SERVICES AS A SUPERVISING SOCIAL WORKER AND THEN PROMOTED TO SUPERVISING DEPUTY PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR, GUARDIAN CONSERVATOR UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES.

CONGRATULATIONS. AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOUR CAREER STEADILY MOVED IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION.

SO WE APPRECIATE THAT.

DURING HER TENURE AT THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING, DELILAH EARNED CERTIFICATION THROUGH THE NATIONAL ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES ASSOCIATION AND TRAINED AND MENTORED DOZENS OF MSW INTERNS IN ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES.

AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO INVITE UP SHARON MENDONCA, THE INTERIM DIRECTOR OF HRS, TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

[00:30:03]

AS THE SUPERVISOR, DEPUTY PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR, GUARDIAN CONSERVATOR, DELILAH OVERSEES LPS CONSERVATORSHIP PROGRAM AND THE REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE PROGRAM FOR MERCED COUNTY.

SHE IS VERY DEDICATED LEADS BY EXAMPLE AND AS A TREMENDOUS ASSET TO THE PUBLIC CONSERVATORS OFFICE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FROM MERCED COUNTY FOR YOUR HELP [APPLAUSE].

ON BEHALF OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, I'D LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH YOUR 25 YEAR PIN.

CONGRATULATIONS [APPLAUSE].

THANK YOU, EVERYONE.

I AM BOTH HUMBLED AND GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE BEEN AFFORDED TO ME.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY MANAGEMENT TEAM, SPECIFICALLY SHARON MENDONCA AND SABRINA PARKER, FOR THEIR GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT.

MY FAMILY FOR ALWAYS BEING BY MY SIDE AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

THANK YOU [APPLAUSE] CONGRATULATIONS.

NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL UP MRS. ANITA RICHARDS [APPLAUSE].

ANITA RICHARDS STARTED HER CAREER WITH PUBLIC HEALTH ON JANUARY 22ND, 1996.

YOU'RE JUST TEN ANYWAY, SAYS COMMUNITY HEALTH AID IN THE HIV PROGRAM, PROVIDING CASE MANAGEMENT AND DETERMINING INTAKE BENEFITS UNDER THE RYAN WHITE HIV AIDS GRANT PROGRAM.

ANITA PROMOTED TO COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER, WHERE SHE WORKED FOR THE CHILD AND DISABILITY PREVENTION PROGRAM KNOWN AS CHDP.

ANITA WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN PROMOTING DENTAL HEALTH AND CHDP WELLNESS EXAMS FOR CHILDREN LIVING IN MIGRANT CAMPS.

ANITA PROVIDED OUTREACH AND EDUCATION AT PARENT MEETINGS, AT THE MIGRANT HEAD STARTS AND THROUGH THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS.

LATER TRANSITIONING TO COMMUNITY HEALTH SPECIALIST IN THE CHILDHOOD LEAD POISONING PREVENTION PROGRAM.

SHE WAS ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE CALIFORNIA LED PREVENTION PROGRAM, WHERE SHE DISCOVERED LEAD POISONING WAS RELATED TO FAMILIES OF AUTOMOTIVE WORKERS WHO REPAIRED OLD RADIATORS MADE OF LEAD.

ANITA WAS ASKED TO SPEAK AND SHARE THE RADIATOR PROJECT AT THE STATE CHILDHOOD LED PREVENTION PROGRAM STATE CONFERENCE.

ANITA TRANSITION TO THE CALIFORNIA CHILDREN'S SERVICES PROGRAM IN SEPTEMBER OF 2004 AS A CCS CASEWORKER, WHERE SHE WORKED FOR OVER 17 YEARS. SHE HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN DETERMINING PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY AND PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT FOR FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

ANITA FACED THE UNFORTUNATE LOSS OF HER SON, FRANK GASPAR, WHILE HE WAS SERVING IN IRAQ IN 2008, WHICH MAKES HER A GOLD STAR MOM.

SHE AND HER HUSBAND, JOEL RICHARDS, STARTED THE RUN FOR THE FALLEN HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.

ORGANIZING THE EVENT FOR NINE YEARS IN HONOR OF THE FALLEN SOLDIERS HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO MERCED COUNTY, NOT ONLY THE COUNTY, BUT THE COMMUNITY.

AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE DR.

NINA JO KEMP TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

AND WHILE SHE'S ON HER WAY UP, THERE IS A SPECIAL PROJECT THAT ANITA HAS PARTICIPATED IN, IN A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY EVENTS SHE HAS VOLUNTEERED FOR IN HELPING SERVE THE UNHOUSED.

SHE ASSISTED DR.

SANDOVAL IN EXAMINING AND TREATING HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AT HOMELESS SHELTER CLINICS.

SHE HAS VOLUNTEERED TO HELP FEED THE UNHOUSED AT THE D STREET SHELTER.

ANITA HELPED WITH HAMBURGER NIGHT AT THE WINTON VFW, WHICH WE DID TOGETHER AND SERVED THE VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

ANITA SEWED MANY BLUE STAR BANNERS FOR ACTIVE DUTY SOLDIERS AND SENT CARE PACKAGES TO SOLDIERS OVERSEAS.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, ANITA.

I'VE ALREADY SEEN YOU ONCE, SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

I HAVE BEEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT SINCE 2018, WHICH SEEMS FOREVER AGO.

BUT ANITA WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE I ENCOUNTERED.

THERE WAS A TRANSITION TAKING PLACE WITH CALIFORNIA CHILDREN'S SERVICES.

AND EVERY ENGAGEMENT I'VE HAD WITH HER I CALLED HER LIKE MOTHER EARTH.

YOU KNOW, SHE ALWAYS KIND OF KNOWS LIKE, HEY, DO YOU HAVE A COUGH THERE OR DO YOU NEED SOMETHING OR DO YOU NEED SOMETHING SWEET? SHE ALWAYS TAKES THAT EXTRA TIME.

AND EVEN IN THE FACE, I SAW HER A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AND SHE SAID, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE FOLLOWING.

[00:35:02]

AND SHE'S LIKE, BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO SAY THANK YOU.

EVEN IF YOU'RE AT THE TOP, EVERYONE NEEDS TO FEEL APPRECIATED.

AND I WAS LIKE, WOW.

ANITA AND YOU REMEMBER WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.

AND I THINK THAT THAT INTERACTION KIND OF ENVELOPS THE PERSON AND EMBODIES THE PERSON THAT ANITA IS.

SHE'S VERY RESILIENT.

SHE HAS WORKED IN PUBLIC HEALTH FOR 25 YEARS.

SHE'S LOYAL, SHE'S DEDICATED.

SHE'S ALWAYS THAT JUST EXTRA SPLASH OF SOMETHING THAT YOU NEED TO GO FROM GOOD TO GREAT.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR ORGANIZATIONS TO SEE THAT LONG A TENURE, AND I'M REALLY PLEASED TO SAY IT'S WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND AND HOPEFULLY HERE'S TO ANOTHER 25.

CONGRATULATIONS [APPLAUSE]. SHE SAID ONLY ANOTHER FIVE YEARS.

BUT WE'LL TALK. WE'LL TALK.

WELL ANITA, ON BEHALF OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND AND ALL OF US HERE AT THE COUNTY, I'D LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH YOUR 25 YEAR PIN.

AND THANK YOU FOR NOT ONLY BEING A WONDERFUL EMPLOYEE, BUT A WONDERFUL HUMAN BEING [APPLAUSE].

WHEW.

25 YEARS.

AND I'M HAPPY THAT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE THE MANAGERS THAT I HAD TO PUSH ME FORWARD, TO HAVE TRUST IN ME, THAT I COULD DO DIFFERENT JOBS IN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.

AND I'VE HAD GOOD LEADERSHIP AND I'VE ENJOYED WORKING AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

I LOVE MY JOB, I LOVE MY FAMILIES.

THEY ARE EVERYTHING TO ME AND I AND THAT'S WHY I DO IT.

THAT'S WHY I GO TO WORK EVERY DAY FOR THE FAMILIES OF SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN.

AND I JUST WANT TO THANK MY FAMILY, MY HUSBAND, MY COWORKERS, AND SHARING IN THIS DAY WITH ME TODAY, I WANT TO THANK MY MANAGERS, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES WHO HAVE PUSHED ME AND HAVE HAD FAITH IN ME TO JUST KEEP DOING AND KEEP GOING AND BEING BY MY SIDE.

AND THANK YOU TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS [APPLAUSE].

CONGRATULATIONS. [INAUDIBLE] WE'RE GOING TO DO PICTURES ON THE WAY OUT WHEN WE TAKE THE 15 MINUTE BREAK.

WELL, COME ON UP, JOEL.

YEAH, IF SHE ASKED AND SHE'S [INAUDIBLE].

AS A SIDE NOTE, JOEL AND I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL TOGETHER HERE AT MERCED.

GO BEARS.

NEXT WILL BE DISTRICT FIVE SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

SO WE HAVE LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, WE JUST KIND OF GO IN NUMERICAL ORDER.

SO FIVE ALWAYS GETS TO GO.

LAST I LIKE TO THINK IT'S BECAUSE THEY SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST.

BUT THAT'S JUST MY OWN INTERNAL STUFF I HAVE GOING ON HERE.

SO I'M GOING TO ASK MARY STRAUGHTER TO COME ON UP [APPLAUSE].

ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO READ YOU GUYS A LOT OF NICE THINGS ABOUT MARY HERE AND IT'S IT'S A LIST AND IT'S VERY, VERY SOME VERY TECHNICAL STUFF THAT SHE'S A PART OF.

SO BEAR WITH ME.

ALL RIGHT. MARY MANAGES FACILITIES, SWEEPS THAT ARE WELL ORGANIZED, SPECIFICALLY THE LOGISTICS OF THE OPERATIONS AND PROVIDES GOOD OPERATIONAL WRITTEN PLANS.

MARY IS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE TYLER SUBVERSION AND PROVIDES TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR TYLER SUPERVISION.

SORRY I SAID THAT ONE WRONG.

SO SUPERVISION AND BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS.

BI'S EMP BRACELETS.

SHE IS THE POINT OF CONTACT WITH MERCED COUNTY IT WHEN ERRORS OCCUR WITHIN THE SYSTEM AND THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR BI, SHE CAN ACCURATELY DESCRIBE ISSUES THAT OCCUR AND REPORT THEM PROMPTLY.

IN ADDITION, MARY CAN TRAIN HER PEERS AND SUBORDINATES ON THE CORRECT PROCEDURES FOR PUTTING ON THE EMP BRACELETS.

MARY KEEPS AN INVENTORY OF ALL OUR EMP BRACELETS AND MAKE SURE TO ORDER MORE BRACELETS WHEN WE'RE INVENTORY AND WHEN OUR INVENTORY GETS LOW.

MARY HAS BEEN ASSIGNED THE ROLE OF FACILITY TRAINING OFFICER.

SHE HAS EMBRACED THIS ASSIGNMENT AND HAS WORKED HARD ON UPDATING THE TRAINING MANUALS TO STAY CURRENT WITH THE CHANGES IN JUVENILE JUSTICE.

MARY HAS TAKEN THE LEAD ON LEARNING THE INS AND OUTS OF THE NEW LIFE SCAN MACHINE, AS WELL AS ASSISTING STAFF WHEN ISSUES ARISE AND CREATED INSTRUCTIONAL MANUALS.

MARY HAS CREATED MULTIPLE COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING SCHEDULES FOR ALL NEWLY HIRED STAFF MEMBERS.

SHE HAS MADE HERSELF AVAILABLE AND HAS DONE A GREAT JOB MENTORING NEW STAFF.

[00:40:01]

IN THE ABSENCE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPERVISING JUVENILE INSTITUTIONAL OFFICER.

IT'S A LOT MARY, I APPRECIATE YOU.

AND NOW I'M GOING TO ASK LISA TO COME ON UP AND SHE'S GONNA SAY A FEW COMMENTS.

HI, EVERYONE.

I'VE KNOWN MARY FOR OVER 30 YEARS, SO THERE'S JUST REALLY I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO SAY ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT I CAN SAY ABOUT HER AND HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE HER AND WHAT AN ASSET SHE IS, NOT ONLY TO ME PERSONALLY, BUT ALSO TO THE DEPARTMENT AND OTHERS.

GIVEN HER DEDICATION AND WORK ETHIC.

MARY WAS NOMINATED AND ULTIMATELY AWARDED SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR BY THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF PROBATION INSTITUTES AND ADMINISTRATORS, CAPIA, ON NOVEMBER 17, 2021.

MARY POSSESSES THE QUALITIES OF A GREAT LEADER, AND SHE IS HIGHLY RESPECTED BY MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT, GIVING HER KNOWLEDGE OF PROBATION AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE.

HER TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP STYLE, HER WORK ETHIC, HER GENUINE DEDICATION TO HER STAFF, AND PROVIDING STAFF WITH THE TOOLS TO BE MOST SUCCESSFUL.

THAT'S WHAT MARY DOES BEST.

MARY CAN BE CALLED UPON BECAUSE OF HER KNOWLEDGE AND THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION THAT SHE MAKES TO THE DEPARTMENT AND MEMBERS OF THE TEAM AS A WHOLE.

MARY ALWAYS GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND HER DUTIES AS A SUPERVISOR, AND SHE SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED FOR HER HARD WORK AND DEDICATION [APPLAUSE].

CONGRATULATIONS TO MARY.

MARY. MARY SAYS SHE'S NOT GOING TO SAY A FEW WORDS, AND THAT'S OKAY.

SO, MARY, ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND MY COLLEAGUES AND THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, WE WANT TO PRESENT YOU WITH YOUR 25 YEAR PIN AND WE HOPE THAT YOU STICK AROUND FOR A FEW MORE YEARS.

CONGRATULATIONS [APPLAUSE].

OKAY. THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATIONS.

SO JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HOUSEKEEPING.

WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE A BREAK.

SO THOSE OF YOU THAT WERE RECIPIENTS, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND I WILL STAY UP HERE AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET A PICTURE WITH WITH YOUR FAMILY AND THEN IF THE DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES COULD STAY AS WELL, AND THEN THE REST OF YOU, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND STARTING ON GOING DOWN TO THE FIRST FLOOR WHERE WE HAVE SOME LIGHT REFRESHMENTS AND WE'LL CATCH UP WITH YOU AS SOON AS THE PICTURES ARE TAKEN.

AND WE WILL RESUME THE BOARD MEETING AT 11:00.

THANK YOU. HEY, WELCOME BACK FROM THE BREAK WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO HONOR OUR LONG TERM EMPLOYEES HERE AT MERCED COUNTY.

AND WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA CALENDAR.

[CONSENT CALENDAR]

PLEASE NOTE ITEMS 3 THROUGH 6 AND 12 REQUIRE A 4/5 VOTE.

FITZGERALD WHO APPROVED? OKAY. ALL RIGHT, SO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP FOR THE COMMENT.

THE SUPERVISORS TO PULL 3, 4, 5 AND MAYBE 6 FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR A BRIEF DISCUSSION.

DO ANY SUPERVISORS WANT TO PULL ANY OF THOSE ITEMS? I'LL GO AHEAD. WHICH ONE? HE SAID 3, 4, 5.

OKAY, I'LL GO AHEAD. OKAY.

JUST WANTS TO COMMENT.

WELL, NO, WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT IS OPEN.

SO IF YOU WANT TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT, NOW IS YOUR TIME.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO PULL THOSE ITEMS. WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.

THAT'S FINE. SUPERVISORS, I NOTICED THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN HERE FOR A FEW MEETINGS AND I WISH TO REMIND YOU THAT ITEMS 3, 4, 5 FOR SURE, AND MAYBE 6 BECAUSE I DIDN'T PAY THAT CLOSE ATTENTION.

THIS THESE ARE CONTINUING EMERGENCIES AND BECAUSE THEY'RE AT THE SAME FACILITY.

MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THESE NOT SHOULD BE THESE SHOULD NOT BE TREATED AS A MERCED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, BUT SHOULD BE PULLED AND SENT OUT FOR PUBLIC BID.

IT'S JUST TOO MANY EMERGENCIES WITHOUT A BID.

[00:45:04]

ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT, IF NOT I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

AGAIN, A REMINDER, WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED NAY.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

[BOARD ACTION]

PLEASE NOTE THIS ITEM REQUIRES A 4/5 VOTE.

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

OH, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT? YES, I DID. I JUST.

I JUST WANTED TO I DON'T KNOW IF I DIDN'T CATCH THIS EARLIER, BUT I DID CATCH IT LAST NIGHT WHEN I WAS LOOKING OVER MY AGENDA AGAIN.

I THINK THAT THERE IS A TYPO ON IT'S 30.

IT SHOULD BE 3500 NORTH APRON AVENUE.

AND I'M NOT I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S AN APRIL AVENUE OUT AT CASTLE.

I JUST I NEED SOME JUST SOME CLARIFICATION ON THAT.

IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH.

AND I'M SORRY THAT I DIDN'T CATCH THAT EARLIER.

I READ IT NUMEROUS TIMES AND I WAS LOOKING OVER IT AGAIN LAST NIGHT AND I DIDN'T CATCH THAT.

SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CORRECTION.

THAT IS 3500 NORTH APRON AVENUE.

WITH THAT, DIRECTOR HERTFELDER, IS THAT CORRECT? GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN.

MEMBERS OF BOARD. YES. THE ADDRESS IS ACTUALLY 3500 NORTH APRON AVENUE.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

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

SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND.

WHO MOVED? OKAY.

SUPERVISOR PEDROZO MOVED AND SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SECONDED.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED SAY NAY.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES ITEMS 15 AND 16.

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

SEEING NONE I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS, WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD.

MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.

A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED NAY.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

ITEM 17 IS FROM HEALTH.

HEY, I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 17.

SEEING NONE I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED SAME OR ANY OPPOSED NAY.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY ITEM 18.

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

SEEING NONE I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

MR. CHAIR SILVEIRA MOTION TO APPROVE.

I'LL SECOND.

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

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

ANY OPPOSED PLEASE SAY NAY.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

ITEM 19 IS FROM COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

I MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND.

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

SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

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

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

ANY OPPOSED PLEASE SAY NAY.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ITEM 20.

PLEASE NOTE THIS ITEM REQUIRES A 4/5 VOTE.

WOULD THE DEPARTMENT LIKE TO GIVE US SOME INFORMATION.

HELLO, MR. COWART.

GOOD MORNING. MARK COWART, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR.

I'M HERE THIS MORNING TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATED INFORMATION RELATED TO THE LEASE AGREEMENT BEFORE YOUR BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION THIS MORNING.

VOLATILITY IN THE FINANCIAL MARKETS TURNED IN OUR FAVOR AND WE RECEIVED AN UPDATED LEASE PROPOSAL LATE YESTERDAY.

THE UPDATE WE RECEIVED YESTERDAY CHANGED THE LEASE AS FOLLOWS.

SCHEDULE B OF THE PROPOSED LEASE AGREEMENT IS UPDATED TO REFLECT AN INTEREST RATE REDUCED FROM 4.76% TO 3.87%.

THE UPDATED INTEREST RATE REDUCES THE PROPOSED ANNUAL LEASE PAYMENT FROM $2,250,729 TO $2,150,969.

[00:50:04]

THIS NEW INTEREST RATE LOWERS THE TOTAL COST OVER THE TEN YEAR FINANCING TERM BY $997,600.

LASTLY, WE NEGOTIATED A CHANGE TO SECTION 18 OF THE LEASE AGREEMENT THAT ALLOWS THE COUNTY TO MAKE OTHER FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS TO PURCHASE THE EQUIPMENT AT A DATE FAVORABLE TO THE COUNTY. AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT JEFF WADE FROM MOTOROLA IS HERE.

SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ON THE ITEM? THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.

DO ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT SECURITY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.

AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I USED TO DO TOWING AND I USED TO LISTEN TO A SCANNER, AND I KNOW THAT'S ALWAYS SAFETY IS ALWAYS A PRIORITY AND A RISK FOR OUR OFFICERS OUT THERE.

SO I THINK THAT THIS IS INSTRUMENTAL IN KEEPING OUR PUBLIC SAFETY SAFE.

I EVEN THOUGH I DON'T LIKE THE COST, WHICH ALWAYS SEEMS PRETTY HIGH TO ME THESE DAYS, YOU KNOW, BUT IT'S NEEDED AND IT WILL BRING UP, YOU KNOW, OUR COMMUNICATIONS UP TO DATE AND WITH TECHNOLOGY AND MAKE SURE THAT, AGAIN, ANYWHERE WHERE ANY OF OUR OFFICERS OUR PUBLIC SAFETY IS THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO BE HAVE COMMUNICATION WITH DISPATCH AND IN SUPPORT OF THEIR PEERS OR ANY OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICE.

SO I WILL SUPPORT THIS.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. JUST A COUPLE COMMENTS.

I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT ONE, AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PRICE TAG, IT IS HUGE.

BUT BUT YOU KNOW, WHAT VALUE DO YOU PUT ON ON ON SOMEONE'S LIFE? AND I KNOW THAT THIS KIND OF GOT BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION WHEN WE HAD AN INCIDENT OUT IN DOS PALOS, WHEN FOLKS THEY WERE ON THEIR HANDHELD RADIOS WEREN'T ABLE TO COMMUNICATE.

AND IT WAS I'M GOING TO CALL IT AN ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATION.

AND SO THE PRICE TAG IS BIG.

BUT THE ONE NICE THING THAT COMES OF THIS IS THAT WE'RE IN CONTROL OF OUR OWN SYSTEM.

WE'RE NOT RELYING ON OTHER OTHER FOLKS, OTHER PARTS OF SYSTEMS. WE HAVE OUR OWN SYSTEM THAT WHEN YOU SEE THE DIAGRAMS OF THE MODELING OF WHERE ALL THE BASE STATIONS ARE GOING TO BE OR THE SATELLITES OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL THEM, THE ANTENNAS, THE COUNTY WILL BE VERY WELL COVERED.

THERE SHOULD BE LITTLE TO NO DEAD SPOTS.

SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

AND THE OTHER THING I DO WANT TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT IS SOMETHING THAT MR. COWART MENTIONED IS I JUST WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL.

YOU COULD HAVE BROUGHT THIS ITEM FORWARD AND I WOULD HAVE BELIEVED YOU THAT THE BEST RATE THAT WE COULD HAVE GOT WAS 4..

I THINK YOU SAID 4.8%.

BUT DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE, TALKING WITH SOME OUTSIDE SOURCES THAT WE ALREADY INTERACT WITH AND JUST SAYING, HEY, WHAT KIND OF INTEREST RATES ARE OUT THERE ON THE STREET, WE WERE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE A BETTER RATE AND ULTIMATELY THAT BETTER RATE OVER THE COURSE OF THE TEN YEAR LEASE SAVES THE TAXPAYERS NEARLY A MILLION DOLLARS.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO ENCOURAGE STAFF TO DO MORE OF IS IS LOOK AT THESE THESE AREAS AND AND TRY TO BE ABLE TO HELP US FIND WAYS AS WE MOVE INTO A NEW YEAR. AND I DON'T WANT TO BE TOO DOWN ABOUT STUFF, BUT I JUST THINK OUR REALITY, FINANCIAL REALITY IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR IS GOING TO BE A LOT DIFFERENT THAN IT IS IN THIS YEAR. AND SO WHEREVER WE CAN LOOK TO BE ABLE TO DO MORE WITHIN WHAT WE HAVE AND BE MORE EFFICIENT AT IT AND I THINK IS A GOOD THING.

SO I REALLY WANT TO COMMEND STAFF ON THAT.

THAT'S A MILLION DOLLARS THAT LAST WEEK THAT WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE SPENT, BUT OTHERWISE TODAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO SPEND AND THAT'S A MILLION DOLLARS THAT SAVES THE TAXPAYER.

SO I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT.

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

YEAH. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

YEAH. I JUST REITERATE, I THINK WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN SET UP HERE, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MARK AND VANESSA FOR KEEPING YOUR FINGER ON THE PULSE AND SEEING WHAT WAS GOING ON. AND THANK YOU TO MOTOROLA FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THAT AND MOVING FORWARD WITH US ON THIS.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A LONG TIME.

SO, YES, WE HAVE. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

YEAH, I JUST WANT TO ECHO WHAT EVERYBODY'S ALREADY SAID.

I THINK MAKING SURE THAT, YES, IT IS A LOT OF MONEY, BUT WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH TECHNOLOGY FROM 1980 AND IT'S 2022, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAKING SURE ARE ENSURING OUR SAFETY OF OUR RESIDENTS AND NOT JUST THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING OUT AND RESPOND TO RESPONDING TO THESE CALLS.

AND SO I APPRECIATE THE THE DILIGENCE AND LOOKING AT THE WAYS TO SAVE MONEY ON THIS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

BUT IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE SAVE MONEY, IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE GETTING, YOU KNOW, A THRIFT STORE BARGAIN.

IT'S IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE WE'RE JUST KIND OF KEEPING OUR EYE ON THE BALL.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

OKAY. I'LL ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO BITE THE BULLET ON THIS ONE.

[00:55:06]

SEEING NONE. I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? MOTION TO APPROVE. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.

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

ANY OPPOSE SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS FIRE ITEM 21.

CHAIR SILVEIRA I MOVE TO APPROVE.

ALL RIGHT. DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THAT. ALL RIGHT, SO I'LL OPEN UP FOR A PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME.

SEEING NONE I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

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

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

ANY OPPOSED PLEASE SAY NAY.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS PROBATION ITEM 22.

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

SEEING NONE I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? MOVE TO APPROVE.

SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA.

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

ANY OPPOSED PLEASE SAY NAY.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

ITEM 23 IS FROM HUMAN RESOURCES.

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

SEEING NONE I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD.

I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE.

SILVERA SECOND.

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

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

ANY OPPOSED PLEASE SAY NAY.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS EXECUTIVE OFFICE ITEM 24.

I'LL OPEN UP FOR A PUBLIC COMMENT, OH WAIT THIS IS ITEM 24? RIGHT, SIR.

OH, VANESSA.

GOOD MORNING, CHAIR PAREIRA MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

ON SEPTEMBER 27TH, DURING OUR FINAL BUDGET HEARING, THE VOTE ORDERED TO REINSTATE ANNUAL ALLOCATIONS FOR THE DISTRICT PROJECT FUNDS.

THE ALLOCATION AMOUNT FOR FISCAL YEAR 22-23 IS SET AT $200,000 PER YEAR OR $40,000 PER [INAUDIBLE] DISTRICT.

AS PART OF THE BOARD'S CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF THE REINSTATEMENT OF THE DISTRICT PROJECT FUNDS, IT WAS REQUESTED TO REVISE THE EXISTING POLICY TO MORE ACCURATELY REFLECT PARAMETERS AND INTENTIONS OF SPENDING FUNDS.

CHAIR PAREIRA AND SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL WERE NOMINATED TO PARTICIPATE IN A SUBCOMMITTEE ADVISED BY COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE.

THE AUDITOR, COMPTROLLER AND DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS TO BRING A RECOMMENDATION FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION BY THE END OF DECEMBER 2022.

THE DOCUMENTS BEFORE YOU TODAY REPRESENT THE OUTCOME OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE'S WORK, WHICH INCLUDES A DRAFT OF THE DISTRICT PROJECT FUNDS POLICY AND UPDATED FORMS. CHANGES TO THE POLICY INCLUDE ESTABLISHING A MAXIMUM CARRYOVER BALANCE, FOCUSING THE USE OF FUNDS ON COUNTY FACILITIES OR OTHER PROJECT RELATED ACTIVITIES, REMOVING LANGUAGE ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF ENTITY IS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE FUNDING, AND DETAILS ON HOW TO PROCESS A REQUEST, INCLUDING PRE APPROVALS FOR PROJECT CONSIDERATION.

WE ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.

ANY QUESTIONS OF THE BOARD.

SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. FIRST OFF, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR THE HARD WORK THAT THEY DID ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.

I THINK THAT IT IT REFLECTS, AT LEAST FOR ME, REALLY, WHERE I THINK THIS POLICY SHOULD BE.

THE ONLY QUESTION THAT I REALLY HAD IS IS SEEMS, AND I KNOW I'M BEING REALLY KIND OF LIKE A LITTLE BABY OVER HERE, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE I DON'T HAVE ANY PRE EXISTING PRE DISTRICT FUNDS OR VERY LITTLE OF THOSE.

WHAT HAPPENS TO ANYTHING THAT WAS THAT THEY HAVE ON THE BOOKS NOW? DOES THAT FALL UNDER THE NEW POLICY? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I WOULD SAY YES, IT WOULD FALL UNDER THE MAXIMUM CARRYOVER THAT'S BEEN ESTABLISHED.

SO IF THERE ARE ANY EXCESS FUNDS THAT THEN EXCEED THAT, THAT MAXIMUM AMOUNT I KNOW WE'RE IN.

THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, ACTUALLY, BECAUSE WE'RE IN A UNIQUE YEAR WHERE IT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE THAT PRIOR YEAR THAT WAS IN EXISTENCE.

AND THEN THIS YEAR AS THE TWO YEARS THAT WOULD ESTABLISH THE MAXIMUM CARRYOVER.

PERFECT. YEAH, THAT WAS THE ONLY THING I READ THROUGH IT AND I DIDN'T QUITE SEE THAT CLEARLY OUTLINED.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I THINK THAT IT'S A GOOD POLICY AND I THINK THAT REALLY WHO'S GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THIS POLICY IS, YOU KNOW, MY CONSTITUENTS, MY BOSSES. THAT'S WHERE I SEE AND ENVISION MYSELF BRINGING PROJECTS FORWARD THAT ARE GOING TO BENEFIT DISTRICT FIVE.

[01:00:05]

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO YES, THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.

I REMEMBER WHEN SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL WAS FIRST ELECTED AND REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS BRICKS AND MORTAR AND THOSE TYPES OF PROJECTS.

AND I'M ENCOURAGED AT THE FACT THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO ABLE TO PUT IN IN THE POLICY TO PROMOTE LOCAL ECONOMY, INFRASTRUCTURE, EDUCATION, RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, TOURISM AND OR QUALITY OF LIFE IN MERCED COUNTY.

BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS, YOU KNOW, I ASKED FOR A LIST OF JUST THE DIFFERENT PROPERTIES THAT ARE IN DISTRICT TWO THAT ARE MAINTAINED BY THE COUNTY, THAT ARE DISTRICT TWO WIDE PROPERTIES, AND THERE'S REALLY NOT TOO MANY, BUT THERE ARE OTHER PROJECTS, AND I KNOW THAT SOME OF THESE FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED BEFORE TO BENEFIT DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND PROJECTS.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT IS THE EDUCATIONAL PART OF IT AND THE LOCAL ECONOMY PART OF IT AND THE TOURISM PART OF IT, AND BRINGING PEOPLE INTO MERCED COUNTY, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE ARTS, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING FROM ALL OVER THE VALLEY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ARTS HERE IN MERCED COUNTY. AND I THINK THAT BRINGING THEM HERE ADDS TO OUR APPEAL, IF YOU WILL, AND IF IT HELPS THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN MERCED COUNTY.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

YOU KNOW, I NEVER THOUGHT THAT I WOULD BE AS INVOLVED IN THIS AS MUCH, BUT BECAUSE MY CHILDREN ARE SO HEAVILY INVOLVED IN IT, MY WIFE AND I ARE IN A POSITION TO WHERE WE CANT AFFORD TO PAY FOR OUR CHILDREN TO BE A PART OF THIS STUFF.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER FAMILIES WHO MIGHT WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT THEY CAN'T.

AND SO IF WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE AN OUTLET OR SOMETHING FOR THEM FOR THAT, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

THE OTHER THING I, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION.

I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND WHY IT HAS TO BE SIGNED OFF BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS IF IT'S A BUILDING OR AN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT.

BUT I WOULD I MEAN, ULTIMATELY IT HAS TO COME TO US, RIGHT? SO I GUESS I'M OKAY WITH THAT.

THE OTHER ONE IS.

I WANT TO SAY THIS REALLY QUICKLY ALSO, AND I THINK THAT MY COLLEAGUES DID A REALLY GOOD JOB IN PUTTING THIS IN THERE IN THAT IT SAYS FOR APPROVED PROJECTS WILL AVOID SPECIFICALLY NAMING INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS IN MARKETING OR PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS. THE TERM MERCED COUNTY MAY BE USED WHEN ACKNOWLEDGING APPROVED PROJECTS.

I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK FOR MY COLLEAGUES UP HERE AT ALL.

BUT THE REASON I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT IS BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT KIND OF TAKES MAKES MENTION OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE ALL IN THIS FOR MERCED COUNTY AND WHAT'S THE BETTERMENT OF MERCED COUNTY AND HOW CAN WE BETTER SERVE THE PEOPLE OF MERCED COUNTY.

AND SO I'M VERY HAPPY THAT THEY HAD THE FORESIGHT TO PUT THAT IN THERE.

AND I JUST WANTED TO JUST MAKE MENTION OF THE COMMENTS THAT I THAT I HAD IN REGARDS TO BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME OF SOME NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, SOME OF THESE DISCRETIONARY FUNDING'S.

IF I MIGHT MAKE COMMENT AS AS ONE OF THE TWO COMMITTEE MEMBERS.

THESE FUNDS CAN'T BE USED TO PAY FOR KIDS TO GO TO CAMP OR TO TO PARTICIPATE IN AN EVENT.

RIGHT. JUST SO YOU UNDERSTAND, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE.

NO SCHOLARSHIPS? NO, IT HAS TO BE FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT.

SO IT HAS TO BE AVAILABLE TO TO EVERYBODY.

IT CAN'T BE AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUALS.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? RIGHT. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

YEAH. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

IT WAS AN HONOR TO DO THIS.

I KNOW MY COLLEAGUE MADE MENTION WHENEVER I CAMPAIGNED FOR THIS, I WAS VERY MUCH AGAINST THESE DISCRETIONARY FUNDS.

BUT AFTER HAVING CONSULTATION AND WORKING TOGETHER WITH MY COLLEAGUES, I COULD.

I SAW THE PUBLIC BENEFIT FOR THESE.

MY VETERANS HALL RECEIVES A LOT OF THE FUNDING.

ANY TIME THERE'S A LEAK IN THE ROOF OR THE REFRIGERATOR GOES OUT OR THE FLOOR IS MESSED UP, WHENEVER YOU PUT IT IN THE PUBLIC WORKS.

IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET TO THE PROJECT, WHERE THIS ALLOWS US AS INDIVIDUALS TO BE ABLE TO, AS A BOARD, BE ABLE TO PRIORITIZE THAT PROJECT AND GET

[01:05:08]

AND FOR ME, IT'S BEEN A LOT WITH FIRE DEPARTMENTS OUT OF CASTLE AND THE VETERAN'S HALL HAS BEEN MY MAIN FOCUS BECAUSE THOSE ARE DETERIORATING BUILDINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE BROUGHT UP TO SPEED PRETTY QUICK.

AND THIS WAS AVAILABLE AND I WE TRIED TO GRAB EVERYBODY'S INPUT ON THIS AND PUT IT ALL TOGETHER TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYBODY WITH THE TRUE GOAL OF BENEFITING ALL PEOPLE WITH THESE MONEYS.

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

YES, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA THANK YOU.

YES, I DO AGREE WITH WITH THE POLICY.

YOU KNOW, LIKE SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL SAID, I ALSO WAS AGAINST THIS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I GUESS WHEN IT SOUNDS IN THE PUBLIC EYES, $40,000 IS A LOT OF MONEY, BUT IT'S REALLY NOT A LOT OF MONEY THE WAY THE COSTS ARE TODAY. RIGHT.

AND THERE WERE SO MANY COMMUNITIES IN EACH DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, MOST OF OUR DISTRICTS ARE SO LARGE, BUT SOME COMMUNITIES AND SO MUCH NEED SO MANY NONPROFITS.

AND SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL USED PART OF HIS FUNDS LAST YEAR TO PURCHASE LAND FOR PARKING IN DISTRICT THREE.

SO THAT WAS A GREAT COST.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'LL BE HOPEFULLY A GREAT PARKING IN THAT COMMUNITY OF [INAUDIBLE].

SO, YOU KNOW, FOR US TO DIVIDE $40,000 BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN I TALK ABOUT DISTRICT, WHETHER IT'S [INAUDIBLE] PLANADA LE GRAND AND PLANADA, WELL, THERE'S $40,000 IS NOTHING BECAUSE EVERYBODY WANTED TO DO PROJECT HERE AND THERE AND IT JUST YOU KNOW, IT'S THERE'S NOT ENOUGH. SO IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF WORK THAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITIES MAY FOR A PROJECT TO MOVE FORWARD.

AND THAT'S WHY IT'S AN INSTRUMENTAL FOR FOR SOMEBODY TO, YOU KNOW, TRANSFER OVER TO THE NEXT [INAUDIBLE].

AND LIKE I SAID, THIS IS GREAT FOR FOR CONSTITUENTS.

SO THANK YOU. AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE A FINAL COMMENT.

ONE, THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR FOR ENTRUSTING SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND I TO KIND OF SPEARHEAD THIS IS KIND OF INTERESTING THAT, YOU KNOW, I WAS KIND OF THE DECIDING VOTE THAT ENDED THEM WHEN I GOT ELECTED AND SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL HAD CAMPAIGNED AGAINST HIM.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT MEANS A LOT THAT YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU ENTRUSTED US TO TO DESIGN THIS PROGRAM AND TAKE YOUR INPUT.

AND THE COMMENT I WANT TO MAKE IS THAT BEFORE I BECAME A SUPERVISOR AND I READ THE NEWSPAPER, THE TERM SLUSH FUND WAS USED TO DESCRIBE THESE DOLLARS.

AND AND ULTIMATELY THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I VOTED AGAINST THEM WHEN I FIRST GOT ON THE BOARD.

AND SO AS THIS THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN RECONSTRUCTED, IT'S NOT A SLUSH FUND.

AND SO I HOPE THE PUBLIC GETS THAT MEMO.

BASICALLY, THIS ALLOWS US SUPERVISORS TO HELP PRIORITIZE ITEMS THAT REALLY THE COUNTY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYHOW.

IT JUST LIKE SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL SAID, IF A REFRIGERATOR GOES OUT, YOU CAN'T GO THROUGH THE PAPERWORK.

YOU NEED TO BUY A REFRIGERATOR.

AND THIS KIND OF ALLOWS US TO DO SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

SO ANYWAYS, ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? OKAY. THANK YOU, VANESSA.

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

SEEING NONE I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT ALL RIGHT. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

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

ANY OPPOSED PLEASE SAY NAY.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ITEM 25.

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

SEEING NONE I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL I MEAN.

SILVEIRA SORRY. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. JUST COMMENT.

JUST MORE OF A HOUSEKEEPING THING, IF WE COULD.

JUST AS PART OF THIS LOGIC, IT'S NOT TOO MUCH WORK [INAUDIBLE].

PUT THE DISTRICT THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THE WITH THE AGENCIES.

AND THE REASON I'M ASKING FOR THAT IS, IS I COULD REACH OUT.

I KNOW SOME OF THESE FOLKS THAT ARE IN MY DISTRICT AND REACH OUT SO HOPEFULLY THEY CAN STAY CURRENT.

THESE ARE BIANNUAL NOTICES THAT ARE KIND OF REQUIRED, BUT NOT SOME OF THESE SMALLER SPECIAL DISTRICTS THAT DON'T MEET REGULARLY DON'T TEND TO FOLLOW THE EXACT DATES THAT THEY'RE REQUIRED.

SO IF I CAN DO SOMETHING TO HELP AND IT WOULD JUST MAKE IT EASIER, ESPECIALLY AS OUR DISTRICTS ARE CHANGING A LITTLE BIT HERE, YOU COULD HAVE A LOS BANOS ADDRESS AND NOT BE IN

[01:10:01]

SO IF WE HAD THE DISTRICT THAT THEY'RE IN, I WOULD BE WILLING TO HELP TRY TO REMIND THOSE FOLKS TO SEND THOSE NOTICES IN.

AND IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS, MR. CHAIR, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

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

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

ANY OPPOSED PLEASE SAY NAY.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS BOARD APPOINTMENTS, ITEMS 26 AND 27.

SILVEIRA MOTION TO APPROVE.

MCDANIEL SECOND.

OK I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

SEEING NONE I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

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

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

ANY OPPOSED PLEASE SAY NAY.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS BOARD INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ITEM 28.

[BOARD INFORMATION & POSSIBLE ACTION]

SEEING NONE I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED PLEASE SAY NAY.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION]

I'LL START ON MY LEFT WITH SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. DON'T HAVE A LOT TO REPORT OUT.

JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF OUR SERVICE PIN RECIPIENTS ON THEIR MANY, MANY YEARS OF SERVICE, DEDICATION TO MERCED COUNTY, AND HOPEFULLY THAT CONTINUES. AND AFTER THAT, I JUST WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR AND LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THE GOOD WORK DONE NEXT YEAR.

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

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I'D LIKE TO WISH EVERYBODY A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

KNOW THE REASON FOR THE SEASON AND CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I DO EVERY YEAR.

TOMORROW MARKS 20, 22 YEARS THAT WE LOST MARINE CORPORAL MICHAEL DE ANDERSON JR.

HE WAS KILLED IN THE BATTLE OF FALLUJAH.

HE'S MY BEST FRIEND'S SON AND HE IS THE REASON WHY I SERVE TODAY IN POLITICS.

I WAS ABLE TO CARRY THE GOLD STAR LICENSE PLATE LEGISLATION.

I HAVE THE PEN, BUT THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THE LEGISLATION WITH IN MY OFFICE ON MY DESK.

IT'S THE GOLD STAR FAMILIES THAT ENCOURAGED ME TO DO THIS, AND I CONTINUE TO SERVE ON THEIR BEHALF.

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

THANK YOU. JUST REALLY QUICKLY, I WANTED TO SAY THAT I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE GENERAL VANG PAO BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION EVENT LAST WEEK AND THEN ALSO LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE HMONG NEW YEAR.

THAT'S COMING UP THIS WEEKEND.

I THINK THAT IT HIGHLIGHTS THE DIVERSITY.

AND ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN MERCED COUNTY IS OUR CULTURAL DIVERSITY HERE.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT THERE AND AND TAKE A JUST GO WALK AROUND AND TAKE IN SOME OF THE THE ARTS AND THE CULTURE.

AND IN THAT IT'S IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

I ALSO ATTENDED THE [INAUDIBLE] HOUSING, LAND USE AND TRANSPORTATION MEETING YESTERDAY.

THAT'S WHERE WE ESTABLISH OUR PLATFORM MOVING FORWARD, THE NACO AD RURAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.

AND THEN YESTERDAY WE HAD THE FIRST FIVE COMMISSION MEETING AND I THINK IT WAS PUT VERY I THINK YVONNA SAID IT THE BEST YESTERDAY AT THE MEETING.

MS. BROWN WHEN SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOOD TO GET A REPORT FROM THE AUDITORS THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.

AND SO I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THAT.

AND THAT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT DURING THIS THIS TIME, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF A LOT OF TIMES WE DON'T REALLY SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH TO STAFF, BUT KNOW THAT I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR GUYS' WORK AND ALL STAFF'S WORK AND HARD WORK AND DEDICATION TO WHAT YOU DO BECAUSE IT MAKES US LOOK GOOD.

SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING.

AND I KNOW IT IT REALLY IRRITATES MY COLLEAGUES WHEN I SAY THIS, BUT HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

JUST KIDDING. MERRY CHRISTMAS.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

HAVE A GREAT NEW YEAR AND WE'LL SEE YOU IN JANUARY.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.

THANK YOU CHAIR. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO WELCOME [INAUDIBLE] WAS WAS HERE AND IT WAS A GREAT MEETING.

AND I HAVE BEEN ASKING MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT TRYING TO SEE IF WE CAN HAVE A MEETING OUT HERE.

[01:15:04]

BUT IT'S IT'S A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING SO IF I'M NOT WRONG, BUT IT JUST.

IT'S AMAZING FOR THIS BUILDING.

ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ITEMS 3, 4, AND 5 THAT WHICH HOPEFULLY THINK THAT HOPEFULLY.

AS I STATED BEFORE BUT IF IT'S NOT NECESSARY, I HOPE THAT WE PUT THEM OUT TO BID FIRST.

SO I JUST WANT TO STATE THAT.

AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL THE EMPLOYEES OF MERCED COUNTY, THE RESIDENTS, FOR SUPPORTING US, AND ESPECIALLY OUR STAFF, WHICH HAS BEEN GREAT TO WORK WITH. THIS IS MY SIXTH YEAR.

I STARTED WE STARTED MY SEVENTH YEAR NEXT MONTH AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING HARD, ESPECIALLY WITH MY COLLEAGUES.

AGAIN, WE DON'T AGREE ON EVERYTHING, BUT I THINK THAT WE TRY TO MOVE [INAUDIBLE] FIRST FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

AND SO I WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY A HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND JUST SAY THANK YOU.

SUPERVISOR PEDROZO YEAH, YEAH.

SORRY I MISSED ONE OF MY COMMENTS.

I FEEL LIKE I'M TALKING LIKE MY COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT FIVE TODAY I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN TO SARAH FOR THIS MEETING AND DOING IT HERE.

AS A FORMER HISTORY TEACHER, I THINK BEING IN THIS BUILDING IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND I KNOW THAT 20.

SHE MADE MENTIONED THAT 2025 WILL BE THE THE BUILDING'S 150TH ANNIVERSARY.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WANT US TO START CONSIDERING A CELEBRATION THAT'S WHY I'VE REALLY WORKED HARD IN GETTING SOME FUNDS TO RENOVATE THE BUILDING AND DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BUILDING IS AROUND FOR ANOTHER 150 YEARS.

AND I TOLD SARAH WHEN I STARTED ON THIS PROJECT THAT I WANTED.

IF I GET THE FUNDS, I GET TO GO TO THE TOP.

I WANT TO SEE THE VIEW FROM THE TOP.

AND SO SHE SAID, ANY TIME.

SO BUT I SAID, OKAY, ONCE WE GET IT, ONCE WE GET THE CHECK, THEN I'LL GO.

BUT, BUT YEAH, I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.

SO THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

I JUST IF YOU WANT TO SEE A PICTURE OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FROM UP THERE, I COULD, I COULD SHOW YOU.

BACK IN THE DAY, THE MERCED COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY USED TO DO A DINNER IN THIS BUILDING IN FEBRUARY, AND ME AND SEVERAL OF MY FRIENDS WERE WAITERS WHEN WE WERE IN OUR PROBABLY MID TWENTIES STARTED DOING THAT.

AND SO AFTER DINNER WAS SERVED, WHICH WAS GENERALLY ABOUT A FIVE COURSE MEAL, WE HAD ABOUT 45 MINUTES WHILE THEY HAD ENTERTAINMENT.

AND SO WE WOULD OFTENTIMES GO UP TO THE CUPOLA AND, YOU KNOW, IN FEBRUARY WHEN IT'S FOGGY OR WHEN IT'S RAINING, THE VIEW IS JUST STUNNING.

AND I KNOW SINCE THEN THEY THEY'VE CLOSED OFF THE CUPOLA, BUT MAYBE AS WE DO CONSTRUCTION WORK AND WE GET THAT SAFE AGAIN, WE CAN ALL THE BOARD WOULD PROBABLY LIKE A TOUR UP THERE. SO ANYWAYS, BACK TO MY PUBLIC COMMENT [INAUDIBLE] IT WAS 100 ANNIVERSARY DINNER [LAUGHTER].

YEAH. SO YOU KNOW, MY FAMILY WHEN I WAS A LITTLE KID ALWAYS CALLED ME AN OLD SOUL.

AND, AND SO BEING IN THIS BUILDING, YOU KNOW, IT'S 147 YEARS OLD BY BEING IN THE OFTEN IN THE SNELLING COURTHOUSE, WHICH WAS THE ORIGINAL COUNTY SEAT THAT WAS BUILT IN 1855.

AND, YOU KNOW, HISTORY IS JUST AMAZING.

I YOU KNOW, AS YOU LOOK AROUND HERE, RIGHT, THERE WAS NO AIR CONDITIONING.

AND SO YOU HAVE HIGH CEILINGS TO HELP THE HEAT ESCAPE.

AND IF YOU LOOK IN A LOT OF THE ROOMS, THERE'S WINDOWS OVER THE DOORS TO LET THE HEAT OUT.

AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK PEOPLE WALKING AROUND THINK ABOUT THAT.

AND ANYWAYS, BUT I THINK IT'S KIND OF NEAT OF HOW OUR FOREFATHERS WERE ABLE TO MAKE THEMSELVES COMFORTABLE WITHOUT THE INVENTION OF AIR CONDITIONING.

AND THEN I'D LIKE TO WISH EVERYBODY A MERRY CHRISTMAS AS A CHRISTIAN.

YOU KNOW, THIS TIME OF YEAR IS SPECIAL TO ME, THIS, THIS, THIS SEASON AND ALSO THE EASTER SEASON.

AND FOR MYSELF, YOU KNOW, THE BIRTH AND THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST IS FOUNDATIONAL TO WHAT I BELIEVE.

[01:20:07]

YOU KNOW, I TRY TO BE HONEST AND DILIGENT IN WHAT I DO.

I TRY TO SERVE EVERYBODY THAT'S IN IN OUR COUNTY, NOT JUST NOT JUST PEOPLE THAT I KNOW OR FRIENDS THAT I KNOW, OR EVEN NOT JUST PEOPLE THAT I LIKE.

YOU KNOW, IN THIS POSITION, SOMETIMES YOU GET PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE OPPOSED WITH AND YET, YOU KNOW, THEIR DESIRE IS TO MAKE MERCED COUNTY A BETTER PLACE, YOU KNOW, FOR WHAT'S IT, 167 YEARS MERCED COUNTY HAS BEEN HERE AND AND HAS EVOLVED INTO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

AND YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE GET ON THE GET ON THE MICROPHONE AND THEY THEY WANT CHANGE.

AND, YOU KNOW, AND I WANT IMPROVEMENT.

YOU KNOW, CHANGE MEANS WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS BAD AND WRONG AND HAS NOT BEEN GOOD.

AND I DON'T FEEL THAT MERCER COUNTY IS LIKE THAT.

I FEEL THAT THAT WE DO WELL HERE, THAT OUR STAFF WORKS REALLY HARD TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF MERCED COUNTY.

AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS PERFECT.

RIGHT? WE'RE ALL HUMAN. WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES.

WHEN SOMETHING COMES TO OUR ATTENTION, WE TRY TO RECTIFY IT AS BEST WE CAN.

AND I KNOW OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS HAVE REALLY TAKEN THAT TO HEART.

THAT CUSTOMER SERVICE IS IMPORTANT.

AND SO HERE AT THE END OF THE YEAR, I KIND OF WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STAFF FOR THAT.

TODAY WE WERE ABLE TO TO GIVE SOME PINS FOR YEARS OF SERVICE AND AND THOSE ARE WONDERFUL.

BUT OUR STAFF SERVES EVERY DAY, BASICALLY EVERY DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR.

NOT EVERYBODY, BUT BUT SOMEBODY IS ALWAYS ON THE WATCH WHEN THE STORMS HAPPEN HERE.

THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS, YOU KNOW, OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WAS EVERYWHERE IN OUR COUNTY MAKING SURE THAT THAT PEOPLE WERE SAFE.

AND SO WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THAT.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR SERVING WITH ME THIS YEAR.

I THINK IT'S BEEN A GREAT YEAR.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT GOING ON, A LOT OF TRANSITION.

AND AND I THINK WE'VE DONE WELL AND APPRECIATE ALL THAT WE DO AND THAT THAT'S IT FOR MY COMMENTS.

CEO MENDEZ, DO YOU HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT OR NOT PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT YOUR COMMENTS? YES. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND JUST VERY BRIEF, JUST ECHOING SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE BY THE BOARD JUST NOW, DID WANT TO APPRECIATE THE STAFF THAT WORKED BEHIND THE SCENES TO KIND OF MAKE TODAY POSSIBLE A VERY NICE, OBVIOUSLY CELEBRATION, VERY IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT AND SHOWCASE ONE OF THE GEMS OF MERCED COUNTY THAT'S RIGHT HERE.

AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THE BOARD CONDUCTING ITS BUSINESS IN PUBLIC IN A PUBLIC SETTING.

IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO SHOWCASE THIS FACILITY, TO INVITE OUR COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE.

ALSO, ABOUT A WEEK AGO, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY, SOME OF US, TO GET TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE THE CHRISTMAS SEASON.

THAT'S OBVIOUSLY QUICKLY APPROACHING A LOT OF FOLKS THAT WERE INVOLVED IN PREPARING A NICE AND SCHEDULING AND LOGISTICALLY PUTTING TOGETHER A NICE DINNER FOR OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM. I KNOW WE HAD A COUPLE OF BOARD MEMBERS THAT WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT OUT THAT EVENING.

I DID WANT TO JUST JUST SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT KIND OF THIS YEAR IN MY MY MIND, I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS A GOOD WAY TO GET A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT BACK AND ALSO LOOK FORWARD.

REFLECTING BACK.

OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF CHANGE THAT OCCURRED WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION AS EVIDENCED BY ME SITTING HERE AND NOT MISS AND NOT MR. BROWN, WHO OBVIOUSLY SAID IN THIS SEAT BEFORE I BUT CERTAINLY THERE'S BEEN CHANGE AND CHALLENGES ALONG THE YEARS.

BUT I THINK WE'VE DONE WELL AS AN ORGANIZATION UNDER THE STEADY LEADERSHIP OF THIS BOARD, WORKING WITH A VERY TALENTED GROUP OF PROFESSIONALS, OUR LEADERSHIP, OUR DEPARTMENT, HEAD LEADERSHIP AND THE EMPLOYEES OF MERCED COUNTY JUST FEEL REALLY PRIVILEGED TO BE ABLE TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY AS THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER WORKING WITH OUR ORGANIZATION OR OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, OBVIOUSLY, THAT PROVIDE EXCELLENT SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF MERCED COUNTY.

SO I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF PAUSE.

LOOKING FORWARD 2023, I AM VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT THINGS WILL CONTINUE TO KIND OF GO IN A VERY POSITIVE DIRECTION, NOT WITHOUT CHALLENGE, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THAT'S WHAT WE'RE EQUIPPED TO DO, IS TO RESPOND AND ADDRESS CHALLENGES AS A SERVICE, BUT MAYBE ALSO TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY PRESENT THEMSELVES AND JUST FEEL VERY BLESSED TO BE HERE SERVING THIS BOARD, WORKING ALONGSIDE MANY, MANY TALENTED, DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS, AND JUST WANTED TO KIND OF END MY REMARKS FOR THIS YEAR, OUR LAST BOARD MEETING OF THE YEAR, KIND OF WITH A REFLECTION BACK, BUT ALSO LOOKING FORWARD OPTIMISTICALLY AT WHAT, 2023.

SO WISH EVERYBODY A MERRY CHRISTMAS, A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

HERE WE GO. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME. I JUST WANT TO THANK SARAH LIM, THE DOCENTS HERE AND HER STAFF FOR ACCOMMODATING US AND OUR STAFF HERE IN THE PUBLIC REALLY APPRECIATE.

[01:25:01]

AND AND THEY SPEND A LOT OF TIME, ENERGY AND MONEY INSIDE THIS BUILDING.

SO WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THAT AT THIS TIME.

I WOULD LIKE TO CALL UP JUDGE BRIAN MCCABE, WHO WILL BE CONDUCTING THE SWEARING IN OF DISTRICT THREE SUPERVISOR DARON MCDANIEL, DISTRICT FIVE, SUPERVISOR SCOTT SILVEIRA, OUR ASSESSOR RECORDER MR. MATT MAY, OUR AUDITOR COMPTROLLER, LISA CARDELLA-PRESTO, AND YOUR TREASURER, TAX COLLECTOR KAREN ADAMS. EACH OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WERE REELECTED ON JUNE 7TH OF 2022 AND THE STATEWIDE DIRECT PRIMARY ELECTION AND START THEIR NEW FOUR YEAR TERM ON JANUARY 2ND OF 2023.

HE BESTOWED THAT HONOR UPON ME.

NEXT, I WOULD BEING IN THIS HISTORIC COURTHOUSE, HEARING SOME OF THE HISTORY.

IT REMINDS ME OF THE OLD SAYING YESTERDAY WAS A IS HISTORY.

TOMORROW IS TODAY.

TODAY IS A GIFT.

THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT THE PRESENT.

AND THIS THIS EDIFICE IS IS THE PRESENT TO MERCED COUNTY BECAUSE IT IS ANTIQUITIES JEWEL FOR MERCED COUNTY.

MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, IT IS UNIQUE.

FRESNO AND OTHERS HAD SISTER COURTHOUSES BUILT BY A BENNETT.

ALL TORN DOWN.

THIS IS THE SOLE SURVIVOR EXCEPT THE CAPITAL.

THIS IS IT.

SO TAKE PRIDE IN WHAT MERCED COUNTY HAS.

SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO FIRST START OUT WITH AN I AND THEN STATE YOUR NAME.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO IT ONE AT A TIME AS YOU STATE YOUR NAME IN IN ORDER, PLEASE.

AND THEN I'VE DONE THIS ENOUGH TIMES.

I'VE BROKEN THIS DOWN SO IT WON'T BE VERY LONG.

AND BEAR WITH ME.

SO I STATE YOUR NAME.

AND DEFEND CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AGAINST ALL ENEMIES THAT I WILL BEAR TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES THAT I TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE CONGRATULATIONS THAT CONCLUDES THE OATH FOR DISTRICT THREE SUPERVISOR DARON MCDANIEL.

CONGRATULATIONS. DISTRICT FIVE SUPERVISOR SCOTT SILVEIRA.

ASSESSOR RECORDER.

IF I GOT THAT CORRECT.

MATT MAY YOURS IS WAIT A MINUTE.

YOURS IS THE CONTROLLER.

I'M GOING TO GET IT. AUDITOR AUDITOR-CONTROLLER, LISA CARDELLA- PRESTO.

AND THEN TREASURER TAX COLLECTOR KAREN ADAMS. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOUR OFFICIALS [APPLAUSE].

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED, AND WE HAVE TIME FOR PICTURES.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.