Jan 10, 2023 Board Meeting

[00:00:02]

GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE JANUARY 10TH, 2023 MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

[CALL TO ORDER ]

WE WILL NOW START OUR MEETING WITH THE INVOCATION, WHICH WOULD BE LED BY BRUCE LOGUE FROM LIFE SPRING CHURCH, AND THEN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WOULD BE LED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

PASTOR LOGUE. GOD OF US ALL.

WE GIVE THANKS TO YOU FOR LIFE, FOR THE BOUNTIES WE ENJOY HERE IN CALIFORNIA AND FOR THE PEOPLE WE CALL NEIGHBORS IN MERCED.

WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THE WATER THAT WILL, IN THE SPRING START TO FILL OUR RESERVOIRS, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE CONCERNED FOR ALL THOSE PEOPLE FOR WHOM WATER IS NOT WELCOMED NOW BECAUSE OF THE WAYS THAT IT IS DESTROYING THEIR HOMES AND IN SOME CASES THEIR LIVES.

WE WANT WATER FOR DRINKING, BUT WE PRAY THAT YOU WILL PROTECT INNOCENT PEOPLE WHO ARE THREATENED BY IT.

LORD, I PRAY FOR THESE OUR COUNTY LEADERS AS THEY DELIBERATE ON ITEMS AFFECTING THE LIVES OF EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN MERCED COUNTY.

RICH AND POOR, EVERY RACE, EDUCATED AND NOT ALL OF US.

PLEASE GIVE THEM WISDOM AND COMPASSION AS THEY LEAD US.

MAY THEY DRAW ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE WORK THEY DO TO UPHOLD MERCEDIANS ACROSS THE COUNTY BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT AND GODLY WORK.

I PRAY THIS IN YOUR NAME.

AMEN. PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE TO OUR FLAG.

OF ALLEGIANCE] BEFORE WE HAVE OUR PUBLIC COMMENT.

I JUST WANT TO JUST TAKE A PERSONAL NOTE HERE, IF I SEEM OUT OF SORTS.

YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, OUR COUNTY IS UNDER A BUNCH OF STRESS TODAY, AND, YOU KNOW, USUALLY, YOU KNOW, I DO OKAY WITH THESE SITUATIONS, BUT FOR SOME REASON THIS TIME IT'S DIFFERENT FOR ME, AND I COULDN'T SLEEP LAST NIGHT.

MAYBE GOT A COUPLE OF HOURS DURING THE MIDDLE OF NIGHT, WOKE UP AT 3:40.

YOU KNOW, MY WIFE HATES IT BECAUSE I CAN GO BACK TO SLEEP IMMEDIATELY, EVEN AFTER BEING OUT, TAKING CARE OF A DOWNED COW OR SOMETHING, AND ANYWAYS, SO.

SO ANYWAYS, JUST BEAR WITH ME TODAY.

I THINK PART OF THE REASON WHY I'M SO BOTHERED AND UPSET IS SOME OF THIS FLOODING IS PREVENTABLE AND YOU KNOW AND GOVERNMENT YOU KNOW ALWAYS THINKS THAT THEY CAN SOLVE THE PROBLEMS BUT REALLY IN THIS CASE YOU KNOW PART OF OUR PROBLEM IS BECAUSE OF OUR STATE GOVERNMENT AND I JUST FELT COMPELLED TO SAY THAT AND I WILL MOVE ON AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THAT MOMENT.

IT'S NOW TIME FOR A PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST WITHIN THE BOARD'S JURISDICTION, EXCLUDING ITEMS ON THE BOARD'S AGENDA, TESTIMONY LIMITED TO 3

[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ]

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

THIS IS FOR NON AGENDA ITEMS. PLEASE COME UP TO THE PODIUM IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK.

MAYBE. SUPERVISORS, RICK WENDLING, MERCED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT ABOUT THE RISING WATERS AT THE STATE RESPONSIBILITY.

I TOO AM VERY PLEASED OF ALL THE NEW CATCHMENT BASINS THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS SINCE WE VOTED FOR $6 BILLION FOR NEW DAMS OR CATCHMENTS, BUT SUPERVISORS, HERE'S MY POINT THIS MORNING, PLEASE BE AWARE THAT I HAVE ASKED EVERY ONE OF YOU REPEATEDLY FOR AN OPEN AND TRANSPARENT COMMUNICATIONS WITH OUR COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER WHO HAS BLOCKED ME THIS CITIZEN FROM ALL EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE. WHY IS THIS? THAT'S NOT TRANSPARENCY, AND I'D LIKE SOME ANSWERS BECAUSE WE I NEED TO, I BELIEVE, ESTABLISH COMMUNICATIONS WITH THIS OFFICE AND GET SOME RESULTS.

OUR COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER IS PROMULGATING INCORRECT INFORMATION.

SO WE SAY ABOUT ALL OF THE COVID STUFF.

SO THANK YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSES THIS TIME.

[00:05:01]

GOOD MORNING, BOARD.

MY NAME IS NICHOLAS [INAUDIBLE].

FOR THE LAST THREE AND A HALF YEARS, I'VE BEEN THE DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE FOR CONGRESSMAN JIM COSTA IN THE 16TH DISTRICT.

NOW THAT WE ARE THE 13TH DISTRICT.

I AM NOW PLEASED TO REPORT THAT I AM NOW SERVING UNDER CONGRESSMAN JOHN DOHERTY OF THE 13TH DISTRICT.

SO GOING FORWARD, I AM STILL THE FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVE HERE TO HELP LIAISON BETWEEN THE BOARD AND THE CONGRESSMAN.

I AM ALSO HERE TO INFORM WE ARE THE OFFICE IS UP AND GOING, OF COURSE, NOW WITH THE SPEAKER BEING ELECTED, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE A LOT OF THE CASE WORK STUFF IS GOING TO TAKE A MINUTE BECAUSE WE'RE STILL TRYING TO GET EQUIPMENT, WE'RE STILL TRYING TO GET TECHNOLOGY OUT TO THE FIELD.

WE ARE ASKING THAT IF ANY OF THE POPULACE NEEDS HELP WITH CASEWORK, THEY CAN GO TO JOHN'S WEBSITE SET UP THROUGH THE HOUSE.

IT'S DUARTE.HOUSE.GOV.

THEY CAN FILL OUT A FORM.

THEY'LL GET TO D.C, AND WE CAN START WORKING ON FEDERAL CASES.

IF IT IS AN EMERGENCY, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE HELP, WE DO RECOMMEND THAT YOU DO GO THROUGH YOUR UNITED STATES SENATOR, SENATOR FEINSTEIN, OR SENATOR PADILLA'S OFFICE AND TO CONTACT EITHER SAN FRANCISCO OR FRESNO FOR THAT, I AM PLEASED TO STILL BE HERE AND NOT BE DRIVING TO FRESNO EVERY DAY FOR AN HOUR BACK AND FORTH, AND IT'S GREAT TO BE ABLE TO STILL HELP THE CITIZENS OF MERCED COUNTY.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU'RE WELCOME. ANYONE ELSE? WELL, AT THIS TIME, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

AT THIS TIME, I WILL TURN THE MEETING OVER TO RAUL MENDEZ AS CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO FACILITATE THE NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF THE

[PRESENTATIONS ]

SIR. YES, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, AND GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

RAUL MENDEZ MERCED COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER.

TRADITIONALLY, AS THE BOARD IS AWARE, AT THE FIRST MEETING OF THE CALENDAR YEAR, THE BOARD SELECTS ITS CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR.

IN PRIOR YEARS, THIS HAS BEEN DONE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

ONE OPTION IS FOR THE BOARD TO BRING FORWARD, NOMINATE A SLATE OF OFFICERS, CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.

THE OTHER OPTION IS TO DO IT INDIVIDUALLY BY POSITION.

DURING THIS PROCESS, BOARD MEMBERS CAN EITHER NOMINATE THEMSELVES OR NOMINATE ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER.

DURING THAT.

EXCUSE ME IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN UP THE NOMINATIONS FOR CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR, BUT BEFORE DOING THAT, I'M GOING TO ASK THE BOARD IF THERE IS.

OH, THERE IS A THE CLERK RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

WERE YOU FINISHED OR DID YOU HAVE MORE TO SAY? I'M SORRY. I WAS ASKING FOR QUESTIONS.

SO THIS WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE TIME IF YOU HAD ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE MR. SILVEIRA FOR CHAIRMAN, IF THAT'S THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO DO SO.

CERTAINLY. OKAY.

THE NOMINATION PERIOD IS OPEN.

SO LET THE CLERK RECOGNIZE THAT SUPERVISOR PEDROZO HAS NOMINATED SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA FOR THE POSITION OF CHAIR FOR THE 2023 CALENDAR YEAR.

I CAN'T REQUEST TO SPEAK, BUT I CAN TURN MY MIC ON.

GO AHEAD. [CHUCKLING] MR. CHAIRMAN.

I'D LIKE TO SECOND THAT MOTION.

SO A MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR, CHAIRMAN PAREIRA.

SEEING NO OTHER NOMINATIONS.

I WILL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION.

PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSITION? THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

CONGRATULATIONS, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN NOMINATIONS FOR THE VICE CHAIR POSITION.

THE CLERK RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

THANK YOU, MR. CLERK, FOR THE RECOGNITION.

I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE RODRIGO ESPINOZA AS VICE CHAIR.

A MOTION'S BEEN MADE BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO NOMINATED SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA FOR THE VICE CHAIR POSITION FOR THE

[00:10:03]

SEEING NO OTHER NOMINATIONS, I'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE NOMINATION PERIOD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE ALL IN FAVOR OF THE NOMINATION ON THE TABLE.

PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE. WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA FOR THE BEING NOMINATED FOR THE POSITION OF VICE CHAIR FOR THE UPCOMING OR THE CURRENT CALENDAR YEAR.

SO AT THIS POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT BACK TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD.

SUPERVISOR LLOYD PAREIRA.

THERE WE GO. AS WE TAKE ON A NEW YEAR OF OPPORTUNITIES, CHALLENGES AND ISSUES, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO IDENTIFY SOME OF WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED IN MERCER COUNTY IN THE PAST YEAR 2022.

WE WE ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISHED QUITE A FEW THINGS.

IT WAS AS WE SIT THERE AND GO DOWN THE LIST IS PRETTY AMAZING.

WE HAD A TRANSITION AT CEO, AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK OUR STAFF, INCLUDING CEO MENDEZ, MISSED A BEAT.

I CREDIT PART OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE PAST CEO JIM BROWN OF BEING WILLING TO TRANSITION FOR A PERIOD OF TIME ONCE THE CEO CAME ON BOARD, WHICH IS REALLY, I THINK, KIND OF WAS THE CATAPULT TO HIS ABILITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL, BUT EVEN WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, CEO MENDEZ, YOU TOOK ON ALL THE THINGS THAT WERE GOING ON AND YOU KEPT EVERYTHING MOVING FORWARD, AND AS CHAIR, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP, I GOT TO SEE IT A LITTLE MORE FIRSTHAND AND JUST TOTALLY A PLEASURE TO HAVE SERVED NEXT TO YOU FOR THIS PAST YEAR AND APPRECIATE ALL YOU YOU DID FOR US.

SO UNDER PARKS, MERCED COUNTY HAS REALLY WORKED HARD AT SECURING GRANT FUNDING TO CREATE SPACES IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE NOT ONLY USABLE BUT ARE REALLY A TREASURE TO THE COMMUNITIES, AND THE FIRST THE FIRST PARK THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET A GRANT FOR WAS HOULIHAN PARK IN PLANADA.

WE OPENED THAT BACK IN MAY, WAS IT MAY AND IT WAS A $2.4 MILLION GRANT, AND JUST THROUGH MY NORMAL DAYS, THERE'S BEEN SOME TIMES WHERE I'VE BEEN OUT IN THAT AREA AND I'VE PULLED IN TO TO SEE AND YOU KNOW, YOU EXPECT TO SEE KIDS OUT IN THE WATER FEATURE, BUT A COUPLE OF TIMES THE MOMS WERE OUT THERE, TOO.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY TOOK A LOT OF EFFORT, BUT, YOU KNOW, WAS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL AND FORTUNATE.

WE ALSO RECEIVED A GRANT FOR THE WINTON COMMUNITY PARK.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S A 20 ACRE PARK AND IT GETS A LOT OF USE, BUT IT'S NOT IN VERY GOOD SHAPE , AND SO $3.7 MILLION WILL GO A VERY LONG WAY IN MAKING THAT A MUCH NICER PARK FOR THE COMMUNITY OF WINTON.

WE ALSO PURCHASED LANDS FOR A PARK IN SANTA NELLA AND IN THE FRANKLIN BEECHWOOD AREA, AND STAFF IS CURRENTLY EXPLORING FUNDING OPTIONS AND WORKING WITH RESIDENTS TO DETERMINE WHAT THEY'D LIKE TO SEE IN A NEW PARK, AND THEN MOST RECENTLY, STAFF HAS LEARNED THAT WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH SENATOR ANNA CABALLERO'S OFFICE TO SECURE A $3 MILLION FUNDING ALLOCATION IN THE STATE BUDGET TO BUILD A NEW DOS PALOS BRANCH LIBRARY AND TO REDO THE O'BANION PARK.

THE UPGRADED LIBRARY WILL BE LOCATED NEXT TO THE DALE HALE HALL COMMUNITY CENTER, WHICH WILL ALSO BE RENOVATED.

SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN VERY DEAR TO ME OVER MY LIFETIME HAS BEEN THE COURTHOUSE MUSEUM.

I CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE KIND OF AN OLD SOUL, AND IN THIS PAST YEAR, MERCED COUNTY WAS OFFICIALLY ALLOCATED A $2 MILLION FEDERAL APPROPRIATION TO REFURBISH THE EXTERIOR OF THE COURTHOUSE MUSEUM, AND THAT FUNDING WAS A RESULT OF AN EFFORT BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF MERCED AND CONGRESSMAN JIM COSTA, AND SO, NICK, WE HAVE EXPECTATIONS GOING FORWARD AND THE SUPERVISOR [INAUDIBLE] ACTUALLY ALLOCATED $1,000,000 TOWARDS THAT EFFORT, OH, THREE YEARS AGO AND THEN THE MERCED COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY HAS ALSO ADDED MONEY TO DO THAT.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE OUTSIDE OF A BUILDING COULD TAKE $3 MILLION TO RENOVATE, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND WE'RE HAPPY TO DO IT. OUT AT CASTLE, IN MAY, PATRIOT RAIL OFFICIALLY BEGAN OPERATING THE CASTLE OR OPERATING AT CASTLE COMMERCE CENTER.

[00:15:07]

ANOTHER EXCITING DEVELOPMENT WAS THE TRC CALIFORNIA.

IT'S A COMPANY THAT FACILITATES ADVANCED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY TESTING.

WHEN WE FIRST STARTED IT, IT WAS AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE TESTING SITE AND IT IS THAT BUT IT HAS ALSO BECOME A LOT MORE.

THE SITE CONTINUES TO DRAW INCREASING INTEREST FROM MAJOR CAR COMPANIES, BOTH DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL AND SOON TRC PLANS TO EXPAND ITS FOOTPRINT AT CASTLE TO ACCOMMODATE THIS HIGH DEMAND.

IN ORDER TO MAKE ROOM FOR ALL THIS ACTIVITY, MERCED COUNTY TOOK MAJOR STEPS TOWARDS LAST FORWARD MAJOR STEPS FORWARD LAST YEAR BY DEMOLISHING UNINHABITABLE, UNUSABLE BUILDINGS AT THE FORMER AIR FORCE BASE.

IN THE AREA OF HOMELESSNESS, OUR 2022 HOMELESS COUNT AND SURVEY REPORT REFLECTED AN INCREASE IN HOMELESSNESS OF ABOUT 2%, BRINGING OUR MOST CURRENT ESTIMATED NUMBER TO 855 INDIVIDUALS, AND THAT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION AND MAYBE IN SOME EFFORTS THAT'S THE CASE.

HOWEVER, THAT DATA ALSO SHOWED THAT 19% DECREASE IN THE UNHOUSED.

SO EVEN THOUGH WE HAD A FEW MORE HOMELESS, WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH THEM AND GET THEM TO AGREE TO SERVICES AND AGREE TO A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD.

I KNOW THAT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SOMEBODY OUT LIVING IN THE ELEMENTS COULD BE AGAINST HAVING A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD, BUT THAT'S PART OF THE BATTLE, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, OUR PAST ASSEMBLYMAN GRAY AND THE GOVERNOR HAD ALLOCATED US SOME MONEY TO DO BUILD A NEW NAVIGATION CENTER , AND WHEN YOU GET FOLKS IN AND THEN YOU START WORKING WITH THEM, WE WERE ABLE TO GET THEM HOUSED, AND SO VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT, AND FOR OUR COUNTY STAFF THAT WORKS DILIGENTLY EVERY DAY TO ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL.

ADDITIONALLY, MERCED COUNTY PARTICIPATED IN 200 DAY CHALLENGES FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO HOUSE HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS, AND WE EXCEEDED THE CHALLENGE OF BOTH INSTANCES FINDING HOUSING FOR MORE THAN 120 HOMELESS PEOPLE, INCLUDING MANY USE, AND ON A FROM A BUDGET STANDPOINT, THE BOARD ADOPTED A FINAL BUDGET IN SEPTEMBER TOTALING 983.4 MILLION AND MAINTAINING RESERVES AT 39.1 MILLION.

THIS PAST BUDGET CYCLE SAW A LARGE INFLUX OF FUNDING FROM THE ARPA OTHERWISE KNOWN OR THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, ALSO KNOWN AS ARPA, AND THEN MOVING FORWARD, THIS ARPA FUNDING, WHICH TOTALS $54 MILLION, WILL BE USED TO FUND PROJECTS SUCH AS ROADS, COMMUNITY FACILITIES, PUBLIC SAFETY, COVID-19 SUPPORT, FLOOD CONTROL AND HOMELESS SERVICES, AMONG OTHER AREAS CONSISTENT WITH PUBLIC INPUT, AND I'D LIKE TO THANK STAFF FOR REACHING OUT AND DOING A SURVEY SO THAT AS WE ALLOCATED THAT MONEY, IT WAS WELL WITHIN NOT ONLY WHAT WE AS A BOARD THOUGHT, WHAT STAFF RECOMMENDED, BUT IT WAS ALSO WHAT OUR CONSTITUENTS WANTED, AND I THINK SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, THE LOUDEST GET HEARD, BUT IN THIS CASE WE DID SUCH A GOOD JOB IN OUTREACH THAT ANYBODY WHO WANTED TO BE HEARD, EVEN WITH A QUIET VOICE, COULD BE HEARD, AND I THINK WE DID A GREAT JOB IN ALLOCATING THOSE FUNDS.

IN TRANSPORTATION, LAST YEAR, WE REACHED A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE BY CUTTING THE RIBBON AND OFFICIALLY OPENING SEGMENT THREE OF CAMPUS PARKWAY CONNECTING HIGHWAY 99 WITH YOSEMITE AVENUE, AND AFTER A FEW PHONE CALLS AND A LITTLE BIT OF ADJUSTING THE STOPLIGHTS, IT REALLY HAS BEEN USED JUST AS IT WAS DESIGNED.

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DRIVE ON G STREET, YOU MAY NOT HAVE NOTICED THE DECREASE IN TRAFFIC, BUT IT CERTAINLY HAS HAPPENED, AND, YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S BEEN SO LONG AGO, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST THIS PAST YEAR, WE ARE STILL WORKING TO EXTEND THE ATWATER-MERCED EXPRESSWAY FROM ITS CURRENT INTERCHANGE ALONG HIGHWAY 99 TO THE CASTLE COMMERCE CENTER AND BEYOND AND EVENTUALLY THAT WILL TIE INTO CAMPUS PARKWAY NEAR UC-MERCED.

IN PUBLIC SAFETY, OUR EFFORTS ARE CURRENTLY UNDERWAY TO REFURBISH THE JOHN LATORRACCA CORRECTIONAL CENTER ON SANDY MUSH ROAD TO ADJUST SECURITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE

[00:20:08]

CONCURRENTLY, THERE IS ALSO A PROJECT TO REBUILD THE OUTDATED DOWNTOWN MAIN JAIL AND SHERIFF'S ADMINISTRATION BUILDING AND CO-LOCATED AT THE JOHN E LATORRACA SITE.

FOR THOSE DEPUTIES IN THE FIELD, MERCED COUNTY IS MOVING FORWARD WITH A PLAN TO UPGRADE ITS PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO SYSTEM TO ELIMINATE DEAD ZONES, DROPS IN COVERAGE AND IMPROVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE EAST AND THE WEST SIDES OF THE COUNTY.

I KNOW ALL THAT MAY SEEM LIKE AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF WHAT WE'VE DONE THIS PAST YEAR AT THE COUNTY, BUT IT REALLY, IN REALITY, IS ONLY A SNAPSHOT OF SOME OF WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE WORK WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE THE PROGRESS THIS YEAR UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF A NEW BOARD CHAIRMAN, SUPERVISOR SCOTT SILVEIRA, AND WITH THAT, WE WILL TAKE A TEN MINUTE BREAK TO READJUST THE SEATS IN THE POSITIONS HERE AT THE DAIS.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

BEFORE WE ADJOURN FOR A FEW MINUTES, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION.

A GIFT FOR YOU. FOR ME? FOR YOU. OH.

THERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT, ON BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUES, ON BEHALF OF THE STAFF, UH, ANOTHER GREAT YEAR IN THE BOOKS, AND WE WANT TO HONOR YOU WITH THIS GIFT, AND YOU GET TO OPEN IT IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY. YEAH.

CAREFUL. IT MIGHT JUMP OUT.

OH, WOW. WOW.

WELL, THANK YOU. I THINK RAUL HAS SOMETHING HE WANTS TO.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

ALSO WANTED TO PRESENT OUR CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, OUTGOING CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, SUPERVISOR LLOYD PAREIRA, WITH A SMALL TOKEN OF APPRECIATION ON BEHALF OF YOUR DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP TEAM. FOR ME, THIS IS SOMEWHAT SPECIAL.

OBVIOUSLY, TODAY MARKS A YEAR OF SERVICE WITH MERCED COUNTY.

IT'S BETTER THAN I EXPECTED.

I THINK DESPITE THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE FACED OVER THE COURSE OF THIS LAST YEAR AND OBVIOUSLY ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE CHAIRMAN TALKED ABOUT, I'VE ALWAYS FELT VERY MUCH SUPPORTED BY THIS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, AND AS THE CHAIRMAN INDICATED, KIND OF A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CHAIR.

SO, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, ON BEHALF OF YOUR LEADERSHIP TEAM, REPRESENTING OBVIOUSLY ALL OUR DEPARTMENTS, SOME OF WHICH ARE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE, SOME OF WHICH ARE PROBABLY AT THE EOC, OTHERS THAT ARE WATCHING ONLINE, JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR COMPASSION, AND FOR ME, ON A PERSONAL NOTE, JUST YOUR ADVICE AND COUNSEL AS I ACCLIMATED TO THIS ROLE.

I THINK WE'VE MADE A GOOD TEAM.

I THINK WE ALL MAKE A GOOD TEAM AND WE WILL CONTINUE THAT EXCELLENCE.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING THERE FOR US IN SUPPORT AND PROVIDING STEADY LEADERSHIP.

SO THERE YOU GO, SIR. [INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU, SIR. APPRECIATE IT.

IT'S CERTAINLY BEEN AN HONOR TO BE A SUPERVISOR, AND WHAT MAKES IT THAT MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE IS WORKING WITH WITH THE FOLKS ON THIS DAIS, AND NOT ONLY THEM, BUT OUR STAFF.

YOU KNOW, IN MY REPORT, WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS WE DID.

DIDN'T TALK ABOUT ALL THE DEPARTMENTS.

[00:25:03]

SO THANK YOU.

SURE , AND WITH THAT WE'LL TAKE A TEN MINUTE BREAK TO GIVE STAFF A CHANCE TO FIX THINGS UP HERE.

ALRIGHT, IT'S NOW 10:40.

WELCOME BACK, EVERYBODY.

THE CHAIRS PREROGATIVE, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE THE ADDENDUM ITEM UP ON THE AGENDA.

WE KNOW OUR FOLKS ARE BUSY OUT OF THE EOC, SO I WILL TURN IT OVER TO ANGIE.

NEXT IS BOARD ACTION FIRE.

[BOARD ACTION (Part 1 of 2) ]

ALL RIGHT, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THE ADDENDUM ITEM? THE CHIEF IS UP AND WANTS TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

GOOD MORNING, CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, CEO MENDEZ.

MARK PIMENTEL, ASSISTANT CHIEF OF MERCED COUNTY COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT.

I'D LIKE TO BEGIN THIS TODAY BY SAYING THANK YOU TO THE BOARD, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE, COUNTY DEPARTMENTS, AND THE DIVERSE GROUP OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR THE OUTSTANDING WORK AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER THE SEVERAL PAST SEVERAL DAYS AS WE'VE TAKEN ON THIS ENDEAVOR AND THE SEVERAL STRONG STORMS THAT WE'VE WITNESSED. OUR PRIMARY TASK, OF COURSE, IS TO PROTECT FOR LIFE, PROPERTY AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE COUNTY.

WE ARE EXTREMELY FOCUSED IN THIS REGARD AND WE WILL CONTINUE THIS EFFORT FROM THE DAYS AHEAD TO MINIMIZE THE OVERALL IMPACTS AND TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY, GIVEN THE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE BEEN FACING.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO BRING THE BOARD AND THE PUBLIC UP TO SPEED ON THE SITUATIONS THAT WE WERE DEALING WITH WITHIN THE COUNTY.

MERCED COUNTY DID LAUNCH THEIR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER LAST WEEK, WHICH IS FULLY STAFFED AND [INAUDIBLE] EXCUSE ME.

OUR EOC IS REPRESENTED BY OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNERS, STATE OES, COUNTY DEPARTMENTS, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND MANY OTHERS. COOPERATION OF EACH OF THE SIX CITIES AND THE INCORPORATED COMMUNITIES ON THE IS ONGOING AND PROVIDING A BENEFIT AS WE LEARN AS WE GO THROUGH THIS ENDEAVOR.

WE HAVE IDENTIFIED MULTIPLE TEMPORARY SHELTERS AND EVACUATION POINTS STRATEGICALLY POSITIONED TO SUPPORT OUR RESIDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

SOME OF THESE STORMS CONTINUE IN MERCED COUNTIES AND IN THE REGION.

WE MUST STAY FOCUSED AND VILLAGE [INAUDIBLE] AND BEING SAFE.

OUR GROUND IS SATURATED, WHICH HAS LED TO DOWNED POWER POLES.

HIGH WATER LEVELS IN OUR CREEKS AND RIVERBEDS AND MULTIPLE IMPACTS FOR THE ROADS THAT WE HAVE IN THE COUNTY.

THE COMMUNITIES CAN REST ASSURED, KNOWING THAT THE CREWS AND RESPONDERS, AS WE ARE RESPONDING QUICKLY AND RESPONSIBLY TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES AS THEY WERE FACED.

NOW, THE PURPOSE OF THIS TODAY IS THE RATIFICATION BY THE BOARD FOR A LOCAL EMERGENCY DECLARATION PURSUANT TO CHAPTER

[00:30:01]

EXTENSIVE ECONOMIC IMPACTS HAS BEEN SUFFERED BY BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS WITHIN THE COUNTY.

AS A RESULT OF THESE IMPACTS, THE EOC DEPUTY DIRECTOR, HAS ACTUALLY PROCLAIMED A LOCAL EMERGENCY ON JANUARY 4TH OF 2023. ADOPTING THIS PROPOSED RESOLUTION WILL FACILITATE THE ELIGIBILITY FOR THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS TO OBTAIN ANY ASSISTANCE WHICH MAY BECOME AVAILABLE FROM THE STATE.

SIMPLY, WE WANT TO BE PROACTIVE, MOVING FORWARD AND REBUILD THE NEEDS WITHIN THE STRENGTHS OF THE COUNTY.

STAFF, THEREFORE STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE BOARD RATIFIES THIS ACTION AND WILL BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD MAY HAVE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHIEF.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

MR. CHAIR, IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME, I'LL MOTION TO APPROVE THIS.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR.

WELL, LET ME. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER ONE.

NOT SEEING ANYBODY, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU, CHIEF. I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE BUSY, SO WE'LL LET YOU GET BACK TO WORK.

WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR REGULAR CALENDAR, AND WE HAVE?

[CONSENT CALENDAR ]

PLEASE NOTE ITEMS THREE, FOUR, SIX, TEN, 14 AND 15 REQUIRE A 4/5 VOTE.

ALL RIGHT, ARE THERE ANY DEPARTMENT HEADS WHO WISH TO PROVIDE COMMENTS OR INFORMATION REGARDING THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR? NOT SEEING ANYBODY.

AT THIS TIME, WE WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CONSENT.

SUPERVISORS. CONGRATULATIONS, SCOTT.

THANK YOU, RODRIGO. EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS PRINTED A LOT OF MONEY RECENTLY TO FUND ARPA, AMONG OTHER PROJECTS IN THE COUNTRY, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU SUPERVISORS KNOW AND THAT THE PUBLIC KNOWS ALSO THAT THE SPENDING OF TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF DEBT MONEY HAS CREATED INFLATION IN THIS COUNTRY, WHICH HAS AFFECTED US IN THE COUNTY, AND YOU AS SUPERVISORS, BECAUSE YOU'RE HAVING TO SPEND MONEY ON CONTRACTS.

SO I'M NOT GOING TO ASK YOU TO PULL ALL ITEMS OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR OUT, BUT I DO WANT TO ASK YOU SOME PRIVATELY, IF POSSIBLE, IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW THESE HOW MUCH INFLATION HAS AFFECTED THE CONTRACTS THAT YOU ARE NOW ADDING TO EXPENDITURES.

I DIDN'T PHRASE THAT QUITE RIGHT.

HOWEVER, IS INFLATION AFFECTING YOUR CONTRACT EXPENDITURES? I GUESS THAT'S A REAL QUESTION, AND SOMETIME I'D LIKE AN ANSWER IF YOU CAN FIGURE IT OUT.

I'LL GO DOWN TO PUBLIC WORKS AND JUST CHECK WITH THEM FOR A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES TO SEE IF INFLATION HAS AFFECTED YOU BECAUSE IT AFFECTS US AS WELL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? WE WILL NOW CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

NOT SEEING ANY OTHER REQUESTS TO SPEAK.

CALL FOR THE QUESTION.

RECORD THE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT WE HAVE.

NEXT IS BOARD ACTION PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS 19 TWO THROUGH 23.

[BOARD ACTION (Part 2 of 2) ]

[00:35:02]

ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD AND PUT YOURSELF IN THE QUEUE.

SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.

YEAH, NUMBER 20.

UM, ON THE SIDEWALK.

I KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN A FEW YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN PLANNING FOR THE SIDEWALK ON PLAINSBURG THAT LEADS FROM JUST SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 140 IN PLANADA TO ALL THE WAY TO CESAR CHAVEZ SCHOOL.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I KNOW WITH, YOU KNOW, LAST NIGHT'S FLOOD, IT WAS VERY THAT AREA WAS VERY FLOODED FROM THE TRACKS TO CHARLES AVENUE. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THE ENGINEERING WILL PROBABLY RELOOK AT THAT AREA AND HOPEFULLY THEY IMPROVE IT, YOU KNOW, AND RAISE THAT AREA SO THAT, YOU KNOW, ONCE IN THE FUTURE, HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T FLOOD AGAIN, BUT IT MOST LIKELY WILL, AND SO THAT WAY THE KIDS THAT HAVE TO WALK OVER TO CESAR CHAVEZ WON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE WATER TO GET OVER THERE.

SO THAT WAS ALL MY COMMENT.

THANK YOU, AND THANKS TO PUBLIC WORKS FOR PUTTING IT ON THE AGENDA.

THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALREADY OPENED UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

NOT SEE ANYBODY.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY A SUPERVISOR--DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON ONE? COME ON UP.

OKAY, I'M JUST GOING TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ON ACTION ITEM 21.

SO [INAUDIBLE] WITH LEADERSHIP COUNSEL.

SO JUST FIRST WANTING TO THANK, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, AS ESPINOZA SAID, IN KIND OF ADDRESSING INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS IN PLANADA WITH THE PLANADA SIDEWALK PROJECT. SO JUST WANTING TO BRING UP SOME IMPROVEMENTS THAT RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN BRINGING UP TO US DURING COMMUNITY MEETINGS.

OBVIOUSLY, THE IMPROVEMENTS ON PLAINSBURG ARE A HUGE ONES THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IMPLEMENTED.

ALSO A CROSSING BRIDGE FOR TRAIN TRACKS, AS THEY'VE BEEN SAYING THAT NEAR THAT AREA, IT'S BEEN VERY HARD WALKING, AND THEN ALSO JUST WANTING TO BRIEFLY MENTION THAT LEADERSHIP COUNCIL WILL BE IN COLLABORATION WITH MCAG FOR THE NEW ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN.

SO WE'LL ALSO BE BRINGING UP AND ADDRESSING CONCERNS WITH RESIDENTS ON WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IMPLEMENTED ON THAT, AND SO JUST HOPING THAT WE GET COUNTY SUPPORT AND COOPERATION TOO ON THAT END FOR FUNDS WITH THAT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

ANYONE ELSE? I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

CALL FOR THE QUESTION.

EXCUSE ME CALL FOR THE VOTE.

I GOT TO REMEMBER TO VOTE.

RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY ITEMS 24 THROUGH 28.

ALL RIGHT, DOES THE DEPARTMENT HEAD WANT TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS? NOT SEEING ANYONE. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THESE ITEMS? HI, MY NAME IS PINK SHAVING AND MY PRONOUNS ARE THEY THEM? AND FOR AGENDA ITEM 24 AND 28, IT'S ABOUT THE INTERNSHIPS FROM STANISLAUS STATE AND GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY.

A LOT OF THESE STUDENTS ARE OUT OF THE COUNTY CURRENTLY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, THE HSA EMPLOYEES, THE FRESNO INTERNSHIPS FROM THERE TOO AS WELL.

THESE STUDENTS INTERNS DON'T GET BENEFITS OR WAGES.

THE LEARNING SERVICE AGREEMENT DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT HSA REIMBURSE STUDENTS FOR BACKGROUND CHECKS, FINGERPRINTING, TB TESTS OR MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT, AND DOESN'T PROVIDE LIFE INSURANCE OR INJURY INSURANCE IN CASE A STUDENT DIES OR GET INJURES ON THE WORK PLACE, AND SO I AM ADVOCATING THAT THE HSA DOES REQUIRE AT LEAST THIS IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PAY THE STUDENT INTERNS, IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE BENEFITS TO THE STUDENT INTERNS, THEY SHOULD AT LEAST BARE MINIMUM REIMBURSE THESE SMALL COSTS FOR THE STUDENTS.

ALSO, I WANT TO SAY, LIKE A LOT OF THE HSA WORKERS HAVE BEEN COMING TO YOU AND SINCE 2022 SAYING THAT MAKING PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT THEY ARE NOT BEING PAID A LIVING WAGE, AND SO AS A BOARD, I THINK YOU'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF STUDENT INTERNS AND PROVIDING THAT FREE LABOR AND YOU'RE NOT USING YOUR ACTUAL MONEY AND INVESTING FOR HSA OR EVEN MORE WORKERS OR PAYING THEM A LIVING WAGE, GIVING THEM FULL BENEFITS, AND SO I KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW YOUR BUDGET, YOU'RE SPENDING MORE THAN 50% ON YOUR PRISON AND REMODELING YOUR

[00:40:01]

AND STOP RELYING ON FREE LABOR OF INTERNS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT? I'M NOT SAYING ANYONE.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA CALL FOR THE VOTE.

RECORD THE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ITEMS 29 AND 30.

WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

I'M NOT SEEING ANYBODY.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY MCDANIEL, A SECOND BY PEDROZO.

PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE.

I'LL GET THIS. GIVE ME A MEETING OR TWO TO GET IT.

WATCHING LLOYD DO IT MAKES IT LOOK SO EASY.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS ASSESSOR ITEM 31.

IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? NOT SEEING ANYONE.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY MCDANIEL, A SECOND BY ESPINOZA.

CAN WE PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE? YEAH. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

YEAH. OKAY, THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT, WE HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.

ITEM NUMBER 32.

IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? NOT SEEING ANYONE.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY MCDANIEL, A SECOND BY PAREIRA.

WE WILL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT. WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ITEM 33.

PLEASE NOTE THIS ITEM REQUIRES A 4/5 VOTE.

IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? NOT SEEING ANY.

I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY PAREIRA CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

MOVING ON. NEXT IS FIRE ITEMS 34 THROUGH 38.

IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THESE ITEMS? I DON'T SEE ANY. BACK TO THE DAIS.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA, AND WE CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

FIVE ZERO. NEXT ITEM, PROBATION ITEM 39.

IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? NOT SEEING ANY.

WE WILL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.

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

CALL FOR THE VOTE. QUICK DRAW OVER THERE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT ITEM, RETIREMENT ITEM 40.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? BACK TO THE DAIS.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

NEXT ITEM, PLEASE.

NEXT IS SHERIFF.

ITEM 41 THROUGH 43, PLEASE NOTE ITEM 42 REQUIRES A 4/5 VOTE.

ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? NOT SEEING ANY [INAUDIBLE].

I'M RUSTY [CHUCKLING].

[00:45:03]

PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

NEXT ITEM. COUNTY COUNSEL ITEMS 44 THROUGH 47.

ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? NOT SEEING ANYONE.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY THE NEXT ITEM.

NUMBER 48 IS FROM THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE.

APPOINT MELVIN LEVEY AS REGISTRAR OF VOTERS AT THE ANNUAL SALARY OF $158,329 AND APPROVE A-LEVEL BENEFITS WITH AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF JANUARY 10TH, 2023.

ALL RIGHT, WE WILL TURN IT OVER TO CEO MENDEZ.

YES, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I WANTED TO JUST TEE UP THIS ITEM.

I'M PLEASED TO INTRODUCE MELVIN LEVEY AS OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE REGISTER OF VOTERS POSITION.

AS THE BOARD IS AWARE, THE POSITION OF REGISTERED VOTERS WAS VACANT ON OR DEEMED VACANT ON JANUARY 2ND.

ALTHOUGH WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDING LEADERSHIP THROUGH OUR OFFICE, STAFF CONDUCTED A RECRUITMENT.

MR. LEVEY WAS THE TOP CANDIDATE AND WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE BEST FIT FOR THE POSITION.

HE HAS AN IMPRESSIVE RESUME WHICH WILL ALLOW HIM TO KIND OF SHARE WITH YOU THIS MORNING, BUT REALLY EXCITED ABOUT BRINGING THIS RECOMMENDATION FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, I THINK FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AS YOUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER.

I THINK MR. LEVEY HAS GREAT LEADERSHIP QUALITIES AND A LOT OF EXPERIENCE THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY APPLICABLE TO THE POSITION OF REGISTERED VOTERS.

LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM IF THAT'S THE DESIRE OF THIS BOARD.

SO BACK TO YOU, MR. CHAIR.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CEO MENDEZ AND I WILL ALLOW MR. LEVEY TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND BOARD.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

MY NAME IS MEL LEVEY.

I'M A NATIVE OF MERCED.

BORN AND RAISED HERE.

SERVED IN THE US ARMY FOR ABOUT 11 YEARS, INCLUDING THREE DEPLOYMENTS TO IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.

FOLLOWED BY MORE SCHOOLING AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY, AND THEN WORKING IN FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR FOR THE LAST HANDFUL OF YEARS.

I'M REALLY EXCITED TO GET TO WORK FOR THE RESIDENTS AND VOTERS OF MERCED COUNTY, AND PENDING YOUR APPROVAL TODAY.

I AM READY TO GET TO WORK TODAY.

THANK YOU TO THIS BOARD, TO OUR COUNTY CEO AND OUR ASSISTANT CEO FOR YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS AND LEADERSHIP IN FILLING THIS POSITION.

I'M EAGER TO HELP THE STAFF OF THE MERCED COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT DELIVER ON OUR CHARGE TO PROFESSIONALLY ADMINISTER FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS IN THIS COUNTY.

I KNOW THAT AS A TEAM WE WILL REINFORCE PUBLIC TRUST AND LIVE UP TO THE HIGH STANDARDS EXPECTED OF ALL OF OUR CIVIL SERVANTS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? HI, MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE].

I NOTICED THAT THIS POSITION FOR THE HEAD OF ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT IS APPOINTED INSTEAD OF ELECTED.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE THIS POSITION SHOULD BE AN ELECTED POSITION BY THE PEOPLE.

IN THE PAST, THIS POSITION WAS USED TO BE ELECTED, BUT NOW THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CAN APPOINT SOMEONE.

THE HEAD OF THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT SHOULD APPEASE AND WORK FOR THE PEOPLE AND VOTERS OF MERCED COUNTY.

THE HEAD OF THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT SHOULD NOT APPEASE OR WORK FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

WHEN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS RUN FOR REELECTION, AND IF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DOES WIN THEIR REELECTION TO KEEP THEIR POSITION, IT IS QUESTIONABLE ON WHETHER THE ELECTION WAS FAIR, HONEST AND TRANSPARENT.

WHEN THE HEAD OF THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT WAS APPOINTED BY YOU AND APPEASES YOU AND WORKS FOR YOU WHEN THINGS GO WRONG AND MISTAKES ARE HAPPENED WITH ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT, THE PUBLIC WILL WONDER WHETHER THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS BEHIND THIS TO IMPACT THE ELECTION RESULTS, AND IN THE PAST, THIS BOARD HAS ACTED AND PRETENDED TO CARE ABOUT PUBLIC INPUT, BUT IN THE END, THEY CHOOSE WHAT BENEFITS THEM AND WHAT BENEFITS THEIR REELECTION TO KEEP THEIR SEAT, AND SO IT IS CONCERNING THAT YOU ARE APPOINTING SOMEONE TO BE THE HEAD OF THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT AND NOT HAVING ELECTIONS SO THAT THE VOTERS CAN CHOOSE WHO THEY WANT.

THIS POSITION SHOULD BE AN ELECTED POSITION AND NOT AN APPOINTED POSITION BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

ONE MORE THING, MR.

[00:50:02]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

IS THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE.

I HAVE SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL IN THE QUEUE.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

MR. LEVEY, YOU DID KIND OF TOUCH ON YOUR COLLEGE.

MAYBE YOU CAN NAME THE COLLEGES THAT YOU ATTENDED AND MAYBE SHARE SOME OF YOUR ELECTION EXPERIENCE.

YEAH. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

SO I EARNED ADMISSION AND GRADUATED FROM THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY AT WEST POINT, WHICH IS THE PREMIER LEADERSHIP INSTITUTION IN THIS COUNTRY, TRAINS ABOUT A QUARTER OF ALL UNITED STATES ARMY OFFICERS.

DURING MY TIME IN THE ARMY IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, I HELPED ADMINISTER ELECTIONS IN IRAQ.

SO NATIONAL ELECTIONS WERE HELD IN IRAQ IN MARCH OF 2010.

ONE OF MY PRIMARY POSITIONS WAS ENSURING THAT POLLING SITES IN THE CITY OF KIRKUK, WHICH IS AN ETHNICALLY MIXED CITY IN IRAQ, WERE APPROPRIATELY STAFFED AND SECURED.

THAT ELECTION, NEEDLESS TO SAY, WAS FRAUGHT WITH DIFFICULTIES, AND YET I'M ALSO PROUD TO SAY THAT AMERICAN SOLDIERS, ALONG WITH IRAQI PARTNERS, WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF A REALLY SUCCESSFUL ELECTION AT THAT TIME.

SINCE THAT TIME, I ALSO HAVE EXPERIENCE WORKING FOR THIS ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT AS A VOLUNTEER, WORKING AT VOTING ASSISTANCE CENTERS FOR MULTIPLE ELECTIONS.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTION.

THANK YOU, AND I, JUST BEFORE WE I HAVE SOME MORE BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE FROM THE PUBLIC THAT LIKE TO SPEAK? I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION AND WE WILL GO TO SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

WELL, MR. LEVEY, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW YOU AND COME TO THIS POINT.

YOU KNOW, A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION, AS YOU KNOW, IS VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART, AND IN TALKING TO YOU EARLIER, I REALLY BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE A PERSON THAT HOLDS INTEGRITY, VERY IMPORTANT, AND I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT, AND I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE, GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONFIRM YOUR APPOINTMENT.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. WE'LL GO TO SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. TWO YEARS AGO, WHEN THIS POSITION USED TO BE ELECTED AND BARBARA LEVEY RETIRED, I EXPRESSED TO THE BOARD THAT THIS POSITION NEEDED TO BE AN ELECTED POSITION.

CONTINUE TO BE AN ELECTED POSITION.

IT WAS, THIS POSITION WAS DIVIDED INTO TWO, AND SO THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT WAS SEPARATED AND WAS APPOINTED, AND ONE OF THE POSITIONS WAS APPOINTED, AND I STRESSED THAT IT SHOULD BE AN ELECTED, AND SO THE BOARD DECIDED TO APPOINT ANOTHER PERSON FOR THAT POSITION, AND THE LAST TWO YEARS WE HAVE NOTHING BUT TROUBLES INSIDE ISSUES, NEPOTISM AND YOU KNOW, CHANGE OF POLICIES WHICH A LOT OF CANDIDATES EXPRESSED COMPLAINTS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HAVING TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF DOING AN APPOINTMENT TO WHEN THEY WHEN THEY APPLY FOR AN ELECTED POSITION ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTY.

SO, YOU KNOW, I'VE EXPRESSED THE CANDIDATE [INAUDIBLE] IF HE'S CHOSEN TO BRING UP, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE [INAUDIBLE] YOU KNOW, EVEN IF I DON'T SUPPORT HIM FOR THIS POSITION, I THERE'S NO ILL WILL OR ANYTHING THE NEGATIVE.

IT'S JUST THAT I JUST FEEL THAT THIS POSITION SHOULD BE AN ELECTED POSITION.

NOTHING AGAINST YOU, AND BUT ALSO TOO YOU KNOW, I JUST FELT THAT BEFORE WE HAD MANY EMPLOYEES IN THAT DEPARTMENT THAT QUALIFIED 20 PLUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN JUST ELECTIONS, AND, YOU KNOW, I FELT THAT ONE OF THOSE PERSONS SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THIS POSITION AND I'VE TALKED TO MANY, AND THEN THEY ALL FELT LIKE THEY WANTED TO RUN FOR ELECTION ON THIS POSITION AND THEY SHOULD HAVE YOU KNOW, BUT THEY DIDN'T FEEL THEY GOT, YOU KNOW, THE ABILITY TO FOR THEM TO RUN FOR THIS POSITION, WHICH THEY HAD [INAUDIBLE] ALL THESE YEARS, AND WHEN BARBARA RETIRED AND I KNOW BARBARA DID A WONDERFUL JOB AS WELL, AND THE LAST TWO YEARS WE HAD ISSUES IN THE CITY OF MERCED AND OTHER AREAS

[00:55:08]

SO, YOU KNOW, IN ORDER FOR THE PUBLIC TO HAVE A TRUST IN THIS COUNTY, I THINK THAT POSITION SHOULD BE ELECTED IN THE FUTURE. SO THANK YOU.

THAT'S ALL MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU.

SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

THANK YOU. I THINK YOU'RE ON.

[INAUDIBLE] ALL RIGHT, SO, HOPEFULLY, AND MR. LEVEY, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO INTERVIEW FOR THIS POSITION AND YOUR DEDICATION, NOT JUST WANTING TO COME BACK HERE, BUT FOR YOUR SERVICE IN THE MILITARY , AND I THINK YOUR EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE SKILL SET IN ORDER TO REALLY BRING THAT PUBLIC TRUST BACK, WHICH IS SOMETHING I THINK IS DESPERATELY NEEDED AT THIS TIME, AND SO I'M ENCOURAGED AT THE POTENTIAL OF YOU COMING ON BOARD.

I THINK THAT YOU ANSWERED THIS MORNING A LOT OF OUR QUESTIONS, AND I THINK I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK FOR MY COLLEAGUES, BUT I THINK WE WERE ALL IMPRESSED WITH THE ANSWERS AND WE LOOK FORWARD.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU, AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK IF ANYBODY AND I'M SORRY TO BE GOING FORMAL, I'VE KNOWN MEL MY ENTIRE LIFE AND HIS ENTIRE LIFE AND THIS HE'S A MAN OF THE HIGHEST INTEGRITY, AND IN NO WAY WOULD I EVER THINK THAT HIM COMING IN WOULD THAT HE WOULD MESS AROUND WITH ELECTIONS.

HE'S VERY FAIR, HE'S VERY HONEST, AND HE'S VERY RATIONAL, AND SO I THINK THAT IT'S A GOOD FIT RIGHT NOW.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

WE CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE VOTE PASSES 4 TO 1.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, MEL, CONGRATULATIONS.

NEXT IS BOARD APPOINTMENTS.

ITEMS 49 THROUGH 51.

ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS 49 THROUGH 51? NOT SEEING ANY.

BRING IT BACK UP TO THE DAIS.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION PASSES 5 TO 0 NEXT BOARD INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.

[BOARD INFORMATION & POSSIBLE ACTION ]

ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? NOT SEEING ANY.

BACK TO THE DAIS. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE, AND THE MOTION PASSES 5 TO 0.

LAST IS BOARD REPORTS.

[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION ]

SO I WILL START WITH DISTRICT FOR SUPERVISOR PAREIRA DISCUSSION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

AND CONGRATULATIONS, MR. CHAIR. I HAVE SURE ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS AND LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR LEADERSHIP GOING FORWARD, AND YEAH, DON'T FEEL BAD.

IT TAKES A MEETING OR TWO TO KIND OF SLIDE INTO YOUR ROUTINE, AND, YOU KNOW, THE SCRIPT CAN ALSO BE CHANGED IF YOU SAY STUFF A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY, YOU KNOW, JUST DON'T DON'T

[01:00:01]

I FIRST WANT TO THANK OUR COUNTY STAFF FOR RESPONDING SO WELL TO THE EMERGENCY.

YOU KNOW, IT'S NEVER PLEASANT, IT'S NEVER GOOD.

IT'S NEVER FUN.

HOWEVER. WELL, MAYBE JOKE ONCE IN A WHILE, BUT ANYWAYS, I TOOK A TOUR AROUND THE COUNTY OUT ON THE WEST SIDE WITH [INAUDIBLE] A COUPLE OF THREE WEEKS AGO FOUR WEEKS AGO.

YOU KNOW NOT KNOWING THAT TIME WE SPENT OUT THERE WOULD KIND OF CONNECT US BETTER SO THAT DURING THIS TIME WE'RE ABLE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH HIM AND KIND OF SHARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON AND SURE APPRECIATE HIS QUICK RESPONSE.

YOU KNOW, I KNOW HE'S GOT A MILLION THINGS GOING ON FOR US.

I'D I'D LIKE TO THANK BOTH OUR CEO AND OUR COUNTY COUNCIL FOR REALLY BEING ENGAGED IN THAT PROCESS AND MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE SYSTEM'S WORKING, AND IT SEEMS TO BE PUBLIC WORKS.

YOU KNOW, I GET CALLS AND TEXT AND PICTURES FROM CONSTITUENTS AND AFFORD THEM ON TO PUBLIC WORKS.

AND, YOU KNOW, ANYWAYS THEY THEY REALLY HAVE GONE OVER AND ABOVE KIND OF EVEN IN SOME INSTANCES WHAT I EXPECTED, AND SO DANA THANK YOU AND PLEASE THANK YOUR STAFF OR WORKING SO HARD.

I KNOW A LOT OF LONG HOURS AND IN TERRIBLE WORKING CONDITIONS, BUT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HEARD COMPLAINTS, BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY COMPLAINTS AND PEOPLE DOING THEIR JOBS WELL AND SO APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.

I KNOW BOTH SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND I HAD TALKED AND WERE AT MR. MARCHINI'S SERVICE ON SATURDAY, AND HE'S GOING TO CLOSE THE MEETING IN HIS HONOR, AND WHICH IS FINE.

MAYBE OTHERS WILL AS WELL, BUT MR. MARCHINI WAS JUST A WONDERFUL INDIVIDUAL.

WHEN I WAS IN MY LATE TWENTIES, I USED TO DO I WAS A WAITER AT A DINNER THAT THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY PUT ON IN THE OLD COURTHOUSE MUSEUM, AND THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY THAT BUILDING IS IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME, IS WE WOULD HAVE TIME TO GO THROUGH AND LOOK AND STUDY AND SEE WHAT'S IN THERE, AND IT'S JUST AN AMAZING ARCHIVE OF MERCED COUNTY'S HISTORY, AND ALTHOUGH THE ORIGINAL COURTHOUSE IS IN SNELLING IN DISTRICT FOUR, THE MIDDLE COURTHOUSE IS HERE IN MERCED, AND ANYWAYS, MR. MARCHINI AND HIS WIFE, JULIE, WERE INTEGRAL IN THAT EVENT, AND THAT'S WHERE I REALLY GOT TO KNOW HIM AND THAT'S BEEN A FEW YEARS AGO.

SO ANYWAYS, JUST WANT TO THANK HIS FAMILY FOR HONORING HIM SO WELL AND THEN THE OTHER ITEM I'D LIKE TO BRING UP IS YOU KNOW THE, THE, THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT, WE JUST PICKED A NEW DEPARTMENT HEAD OR CONFIRMED A NEW DEPARTMENT HEAD THAT WAS PICKED BY OUR CEO AND I JUST HAVE, YOU KNOW, JUST IN MY INTERACTIONS WITH HIM, ALTHOUGH VERY LIMITED, YOU KNOW, JUST THE MATTER OF FACTLY AND THE INTEGRITY THAT I THINK HE'LL BRING TO THAT POSITION.

I HOPE STAFF IS EXCITED TO HAVE HIM AS THEIR NEW LEADER, AND YOU KNOW, THAT WE DON'T GO THROUGH ANY MORE YEARS LIKE WE WENT THROUGH THIS PAST YEAR.

SO I WISH HIM WELL AND HIS STAFF WELL, AND, YOU KNOW, THE STAFF REALLY CAME THROUGH FOR US IN CORRECTING, YOU KNOW, WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG, ALL YOU CAN DO IS YOUR BEST TO FIX IT, AND I THINK THE ELECTION STAFF DID THAT WELL, AND SO ANYWAYS, I'M EXCITED FOR THAT, AND, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, YOU KNOW, I'M A VERY PATRIOTIC INDIVIDUAL, LOVE AMERICA, AND, YOU KNOW, THE BASIS, THE ULTIMATE BASIS IS THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES THAT VOTE ON THEIR BEHALF, AND IF THEY CAN'T PICK THE REPRESENTATIVES THAT THEY WANT, AT LEAST THAT THE MAJORITY WANTS, THEN THEN WHAT DO WE HAVE? AND SO ANYWAY, SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT WE HAVE NEW LEADERSHIP THERE AND LOOK FORWARD TO TO FUTURE ELECTIONS.

WELL, AND TO ANYBODY WATCHING, YOU KNOW, AS YOU SEE ISSUES COMING UP, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF IT'S BEFORE FLOODING.

RIGHT. IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE, BUT JUST TO LET PUBLIC WORKS KNOW OR TO LET ME KNOW PERSONALLY, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE IN DISTRICT FOUR, AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ISSUES GET ADDRESSED.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, CEO MENDEZ.

WE WERE CHATTING ON THE PHONE THIS MORNING, PROBABLY AROUND 5 A.M.

OR SOMETHING, AND HE DID INFORM ME.

I ASKED HIM AND HE WAS AT THE EOC LAST NIGHT, EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER ALL NIGHT.

HE PULLED A 24 HOUR SHIFT, AND AT THAT TIME HE DID INFORM ME THAT IT WAS HIS ANNIVERSARY TODAY.

[01:05:09]

SO HE SAID HE DID HAVE A SPORT COAT AND TIE IN HIS OFFICE AND HE WAS READY TO GO FOR OUR MEETING TODAY.

SO AND I THINK THAT JUST AS A EVEN THOUGH THIS LAST 24 HOURS IS A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING FOR US HERE AT THE COUNTY SINCE YOU'VE TAKEN ON THIS POSITION.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU.

SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP THIS PAST YEAR, AND THEN I'D LIKE TO WELCOME AND CONGRATS OUR NEW CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.

AS YOU CAN SEE, MR. SILVEIRA HAS ALREADY REALIZED YOU'VE GOT TO GET YOUR TIMING DOWN AND MOVE FORWARD AND ONCE YOU GET IT, HE'S AN AUCTIONEER.

HE'LL GET IT REAL QUICK.

HE'S JUST LOOKING FOR BIDS IN THE AUDIENCE, AND NOBODY WAS RAISING THEIR HAND, SO HE GOT THEM OFF A LITTLE BIT.

ALSO, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME MEL LEVEY AS OUR REGISTER OF VOTERS.

VERY IMPRESSED BY HIS RESUME, AND I THINK ACTUALLY WE ARE HONORED HERE IN MERCED COUNTY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOMEBODY LIKE THAT, WHETHER IT'S IN THAT POSITION OR ANY POSITION WITHIN THE COUNTY.

IT'S QUITE AN IMPRESSIVE WHENEVER YOU LOOK AT WHAT HE HAS ACHIEVED.

I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR COUNTY STAFF, NOT ONLY THE ONES WHO ARE IN THE EOC, BUT THE ONES WHO ARE OUT THROWING SAND BAGS, SHUFFLING OR SHOVELING SAND, MOVING WATER FROM HERE TO THERE.

ON MY WAY IN TODAY, TRYING TO COME IN.

I'M ALWAYS CONCERNED AND YOU CAN ASK STAFF BEECHWOOD FRANKLIN AREA ABOUT THE FLOODING.

EVERY TIME WE TALK ABOUT ANYTHING, WATER ISSUES ANYWHERE, I'M ALWAYS EARMARKING THAT AREA BECAUSE IT'S A BIG CONCERN OF HOW IT FLOODS THERE , AND SO I TOOK THE ROUTE THROUGH BEECHWOOD AND THROUGH ASHBY AND IT WAS COMPLETELY FLOODED JUST OVER THE BRIDGE COMING IN ON ASHBY, INTO MERCED.

MADE A U-TURN THERE, THE WATER HADN'T CRESTED THERE AT THE CANAL.

SO VERY THANKFUL, SAID A LITTLE PRAYER WHILE I WAS CROSSING THE BRIDGE THERE AND AS I CONTINUED TO COME IN, TRAFFIC WAS BACKED UP ALSO AT SANTA FE, AND OLIVE . DID A U-TURN THERE, TRAVELED OUT THROUGH BELCHER AND CAME IN AROUND FROM [INAUDIBLE] ONTO [INAUDIBLE] STREET AND CROSSING THE BRIDGE THERE AT BEAR CREEK.

I'VE NEVER, EVER SEEN THE WATER THAT HIGH AND BEEN THROUGH A COUPLE OF FLOOD EVENTS HERE IN THIS COUNTY, AND NOTHING, NOTHING LIKE THAT.

THERE'S A LOT OF WATER.

WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE IT WHERE WE WERE OR WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO.

IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF OUR BYWAYS OUT ON THE WEST SIDE ARE WORKING PROPERLY.

WHAT THEY'RE DESIGNED FOR, WE JUST GOT TO GET THE WATER OUT OF THE CITIES AND INTO THOSE BYWAYS SO WE CAN PROCEED FORWARD, BUT EVERYBODY, PLEASE DRIVE CAREFULLY, BE DILIGENT, AND I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE SIGNING UP FOR OUR EMERGENCY TEXT MESSAGES AND CELL PHONE CALLS ON OUR WEBSITE, AND THAT'S THE COUNTY OF MERCED.

SIGN UP. I'VE BEEN KEEPING TRACK ON IT, AND EVERY TIME MY PHONE BUZZES RIGHT NOW, IT MAKES ME A LITTLE NERVOUS WHEN I CHECK IT TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT BE DILIGENT.

CHECK ON YOUR NEIGHBORS, AND I THINK PRAYING IS IMPORTANT AT THIS TIME.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

WE'LL GO TO SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. WELL, MY PRAYERS ARE WITH EVERY FAMILY THAT'S BEEN AFFECTED HERE IN MERCED COUNTY AND EVERYWHERE WITH IN CALIFORNIA WITH THE FLOODS.

YOU KNOW, I WAS UP THERE IN PLANADA, LE GRAND ALL AROUND MERCED YESTERDAY WITH, YOU KNOW, BEFORE THE CREEK SPILLED OVER AND NOW, YOU KNOW, THE ALL AROUND AND FLOODED THE STREETS IN SOUTH MERCED AND FILLING UP BAGS IN PLANADA AND LE GRAND AND WHICH IS PROBABLY YOU KNOW MY DISTRICT IS THE MOST AFFECTED IN THAT AREA AND I KNOW THE WHOLE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN EVACUATED.

MANDATORY EVACUATION AND PG&E SHUT OFF THE POWER.

YOU KNOW, FORTUNATELY AND UNFORTUNATELY, BUT, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, FOR OTHERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO REMAIN AT HOME, BUT IT'S NOT UNSAFE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH ELECTRICITY, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE IN IN BETWEEN THAT AND THE POWER THAT IT BRINGS.

SO WE DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY FATALITIES OUT THERE.

SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO OUT AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW FROM COMING BACK FROM THE HOLIDAYS, WE WANT TO GET OUT, BUT HEY, IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO OUT FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS, STAY HOME, AND UNLESS YOU VOLUNTEER, IF YOU HAVE NECESSITIES, JUST PLEASE TRY TO STAY HOME.

I KNOW THAT OUR COMMUNITY CENTER IS PROVIDING SHELTER.

THE MERCED FAIRGROUNDS, THE LOS BANOS FAIRGROUNDS.

THE YOU KNOW, I WANT TO THANK ALSO TO THE MERCED UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR PROVIDING FOOD THAT'S DELIVERED TO THE MERCED COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS.

[01:10:03]

IF ANYBODY, JUST PLEASE GIVE US A CALL.

CALL ANY SUPERVISORS.

CALL ME AS WELL, AND I'LL BE GLAD TO.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE IN THE COUNTY.

HAPPY TO PASS ON TO MY COLLEAGUES ANY ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS AND OR SUPPORT, IF YOU CAN GET IT.

I WANT TO THANK OUR STAFF, ALL OUR STAFF IN THE COUNTY.

OH, YES. YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY UP HERE, DANA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.

IT'S YOU KNOW, I'M PRETTY SURE WE'RE ALL CALLING YOU DAY AND NIGHT.

I THINK WE'RE ALL JUST UP HERE WITH JUST A FEW HOURS OF SLEEP.

IF NOT, YOU KNOW THAT MANY.

WE WERE GETTING UPDATES ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT LAST NIGHT, AND, YOU KNOW, EVEN I GOT A LITTLE BIT OF LEAK IN MY HOUSE YESTERDAY.

SO, BUT WE GOT THAT FIXED, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT WAS DRY FOR A LITTLE BIT.

SO IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST MINOR COMPARED TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW.

SO I JUST ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE TWO BEST MAYORS IN THE COUNTY, LIVINGSTON AND MERCED, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE HARDWORKING AND THEY'RE OUT THERE. NOT JUST THOSE TWO, BUT I KNOW EVERYBODY MAYOR IN OUR CITY, AND OTHER CITIES ARE WORKING HARD, BUT, YOU KNOW, MY DISTRICT, [INAUDIBLE] AND JOSE [INAUDIBLE], ARE OUT THERE WORKING, HELPING OUT CONSTITUENTS AS WELL, AND JUST LIKE THE REST OF THE MAYORS IN MERCED COUNTY, I KNOW THEY WERE OUT TILL 1:30 IN THE CITY OF MERCED LAST NIGHT, YOU KNOW, HELPING OUT CLEAN GUTTERS AND ALL THAT STUFF.

OH, YES. FIRE PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS, SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, UH, YOU KNOW, ALL FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES, THE PUBLIC WORKS, AND PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH THE POTHOLES AROUND THE COUNTY.

I KNOW THEY'VE BEEN GETTING CALLS EVERY ROAD WITH WATER.

IT JUST BREAKS UP AND JUST BE PATIENT.

YOU KNOW, OUR PUBLIC WORKS CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH WITH THE TIME AND THE YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT I GOT A CALL RIGHT BEFORE THIS MEETING ON UNSAFE AREA WHERE THE WATER IS GOING OVER THE ROADS AND JUST A PLEASE SLOW DOWN.

I KNOW THERE'S I WOULDN'T WANT TO CAUSE MORE ACCIDENTS.

SO AND ALSO FOR THE SHELTERS UM I GOT A CALL THAT THE PEOPLE WERE ASKING FOR IDS AND THEY SHOULD BE ASKING FOR IDS IF YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO GET, YOU KNOW, A SUPPORT AND SERVICES INTO ANY SHELTER.

SO THEY SHOULD BE ASKING FOR IDS.

UM, AND ALSO TOO I'M WILLING TO PAY MY RESPECTS TO THE MARCHINI FAMILY AND MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY AND, UH, PRAYERS WITH ALL OF THEM.

SO THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL FOR TODAY.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.

SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

THANK YOU. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE AGAIN NICOLE SILVEIRA AND SHERIFF VERN WARNKE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THEIR SWEARING IN CEREMONIES OVER THE LAST WEEK, AND BOTH OF THEM ARE VERY DEDICATED PUBLIC SAFETY PEOPLE WHO JUST WANT TO KEEP OUR COUNTY SAFE.

I WANT TO ALSO THANK LLOYD FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AS CHAIRMAN.

YOU KNOW, HE SAID SOMETHING THAT REALLY RESONATES IS THAT, YOU KNOW, OTHER BOARDS WILL SEE US AT CONFERENCES AND STUFF AND THEY SAY, WELL, HOW DO YOU GUYS GET ALONG? LIKE, WHY DO YOU GUYS GET ALONG? LIKE, AREN'T THERE DIFFERENCES? WELL, THERE'S DIFFERENCES OF OPINION, BUT WE LIKE EACH OTHER.

I MEAN, WE ENJOY EACH OTHER'S COMPANY AND THAT TYPE OF STUFF, AND SO AND I THINK THAT GOES WITH JUST OUR PERSONALITY AND THE WAY WE ARE AND HOW WE KIND OF APPROACH THIS.

WE'RE VERY SERIOUS, BUT ALSO WE CAN DO GOOD THINGS, AND I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK NOW WITH TWO CHAIRMEN IN LLOYD AND WITH DARON, AND I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM BOTH OF THEM, AND SO I APPRECIATE IT.

HOPEFULLY AND CONGRATULATIONS TO SCOTTY AND RODRIGO.

HOPEFULLY THIS MEANS THAT WITH SCOTTY SITTING IN THE BIG CHAIR, HE'S NOT GOING TO TALK AS MUCH [CHUCKLING], BUT JUST KIDDING.

ACTUALLY, I SHOULD TURN YOUR MICROPHONE OFF, THEN ALSO, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT WAS REALLY I WENT TO THE EOC BRIEFING LAST WEEK, AND WHAT I REALLY APPRECIATED WAS THAT THEY WERE BEING PROACTIVE AND SOMETIMES INSTEAD OF REACTIVE , AND SO THAT WHEN EVERYTHING HAPPENED, THEY WERE READY TO GO, AND SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO THANK.

OUR STAFF AND EVERYBODY THAT'S IN THERE.

TO RAUL, CONGRATS.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AND CONGRATULATIONS, AND THANK YOU.

I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN UP LIKE, NONSTOP.

I KNOW MR. HENDRICKS, AND I KNOW A LOT OF STAFF HAVE AND IT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU THAT A LOT OF STAFF IS ON TOP OF IT.

WE CAN'T STOP THE RAIN, BUT AT LEAST WE CAN DO WHAT WE CAN TO MITIGATE SOME OF THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME OF

[01:15:08]

I KNOW THAT SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED.

THEY'RE ASKING PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, STAY OFF THE ROADS, STAY SAFE.

THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE THING, IS JUST STAY SAFE.

I KNOW LAST NIGHT I WAS DRIVING BACK HOME FROM A MEETING WHEN THERE WAS LIKE A DOWNPOUR AND YOU CAN'T SEE BECAUSE OF THE PUDDLES, AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS IS WITH THE ROADS AND STUFF, THEY GET POTHOLES, AND SO IT'S VERY DANGEROUS.

SO JUST BE CAREFUL, BE SAFE.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANYBODY GET HURT IN THIS DEAL.

SO WITH THAT, I ECHO WHAT DARREN SAID.

SIGN UP, GET THE APPS.

THEY'RE VERY ON TOP OF IT.

ALSO, FINALLY, I WANT TO ADJOURN.

THERE'S TWO ADJOURNMENTS I WANT TO DO.

I WANT TO DO ONE FOR MELISSA ST ANTONE.

SHE WAS 43 YEARS OLD, PASSED AWAY FROM CANCER.

SHE WAS ENGAGED TO A LONG TIME FAMILY FRIEND OF MINE.

SHE LEAVES BEHIND AN 18 YEAR OLD, A SIX YEAR OLD AND A THREE YEAR OLD, AND IT'S VERY SAD.

IT JUST IT CAME REALLY QUICKLY, AND IT WAS UNFORTUNATE ALSO FOR MR. MARCHINI. MR. MARCHINI IS A LIFELONG RESIDENT.

TO KNOW HIM FOR A LONG TIME, I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH HIS GRANDSON, AND HE HE WAS SOMEBODY THAT HE HE COULD TALK TO YOU AND TELL YOU YOU WERE MESSING UP, BUT YOU WOULDN'T FEEL BAD AT THE END OF THE CONVERSATION.

AND HE ALWAYS MADE YOU HE ALWAYS LIFTED YOU UP, EVEN IF HE WAS KIND OF SAYING, HEY, YOU'RE DOING THIS WRONG TYPE THING OR THIS IS WHAT YOU SHOULD DO OR SOMETHING, AND I THINK THAT HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO LE GRAND ARE ENORMOUS.

YOU KNOW, HE'S THE RADICCHIO KING, RIGHT? HE BROUGHT THE RADICCHIO FROM NORTHERN ITALY WHEN NOBODY THOUGHT IT COULD HAPPEN, AND NOW IT'S EVERYWHERE, AND SO HE WAS A MAN OF VERY HIGH INTEGRITY, A LOT OF FAITH.

HIM AND HIS WIFE, JULIE, HAVE RAISED THREE WONDERFUL CHILDREN WHO HAVE CHILDREN OF THEIR OWN, WHO HAVE GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT GRANDCHILDREN.

THEY'RE JUST A REALLY NICE FAMILY AND VERY MUCH PROVIDED FOR THE COMMUNITY.

MR. MARCHINI WAS VERY ACTIVE IN HIS CHURCH, AND SO HE HE FOUGHT REALLY HARD.

I MEAN, HE WAS DIAGNOSED TEN YEARS AGO AND THEY GAVE HIM LIKE SIX MONTHS TO LIVE AND HE LASTED FOR TEN YEARS, AND IT'S BECAUSE HE WAS GOING TO FIGHT AND HE WAS GOING TO PROVE EVERYBODY WRONG, AND SO HE'S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE MISSED.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA, YOU HAD A YEAH, JUST A COUPLE COMMENTS THAT I FORGOT.

THERE WILL BE NO PLANADA MAC MEETING TOMORROW.

OBVIOUSLY THE WHOLE TOWN IS DOWN.

SO I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE BOARD.

CONGRATULATIONS, MR. CHAIR, AND THANK YOU LLOYD AS WELL FOR THE LAST YEAR AS CHAIR.

WONDERFUL JOB, AND RAUL, ALSO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANNIVERSARY AND I'M ONE YEAR.

SO WELCOME. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, GO AHEAD.

YEAH, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, AND SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA, A LITTLE EMOTIONAL TODAY, AND I FORGOT TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR VICE CHAIR AND LOOK FORWARD TO AS WELL.

THANK YOU. OKAY, DARON, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD? I WROTE MINE DOWN. OKAY, GOOD.

COUNSEL HANSEN. YEAH.

I JUST WANT TO ALSO THANK SUPERVISOR PAREIRA FOR THE LAST YEAR'S CHAIR.

HE MAKES MY JOB EASY, AND CONGRATULATIONS.

SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

THANK YOU, SIR. CEO MENDEZ.

YES. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN SILVEIRA.

LIKE THE SOUND OF THAT.

THANK YOU, OUTGOING CHAIRMAN PEREIRA, FOR YOUR GUIDANCE THIS PAST YEAR.

VERY, VERY BRIEF.

I THINK I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T JUST EXTEND SOME APPRECIATION TO THE FOLKS THAT ARE WORKING TIRELESSLY TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY AS PART OF THIS EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

OBVIOUSLY, STARTING WITH THE MERCED COUNTY FAMILY THAT BEGINS WITH OUR ORGANIZATION, BUT EXTENDS OUT TO OBVIOUSLY, CITY PARTNERS, EDUCATION, BUSINESS, IRRIGATION DISTRICTS, NONPROFITS, BASICALLY.

WHAT I'VE SEEN OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FEW WEEKS IS THIS COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER IN A TIME OF NEED, AND IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME.

IT WON'T BE THE LAST TIME WE'LL CONTINUE TO LEAN ON EACH OTHER.

SO I DO APPRECIATE THAT LAST POINT, LEANING ON EACH OTHER BECAUSE THAT HAS BEEN VERY EVIDENT.

[01:20:02]

WE SERVE THE PUBLIC.

I STATE THAT PROBABLY MORE TIMES THAN MOST FOLKS CAN CAN REMEMBER, BUT I WILL CONTINUE DOING THAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE. I APPRECIATE WORKING WITH THIS BOARD.

APPRECIATE WORKING WITH ALL THE PARTNERS AND OBVIOUSLY OUR STAFF, AND LET'S LEAN ON EACH OTHER, BUT ALSO WATCH EACH OTHER TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS TAKING CARE OF THEMSELVES BECAUSE YOU CAN'T HELP ANYBODY IF YOU CAN'T TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

SO I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE BOARD AND TO THE COMMUNITY.

OBVIOUSLY, THE BOARD HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF OUTLINING SOME OF THE AVENUES WHERE OUR RESIDENTS CAN OBTAIN THE LATEST INFORMATION, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CERTAINLY I WOULD DIRECT YOU TO OUR WEBSITE AS KIND OF THE STARTING POINT, BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THAT'S IT FOR THIS AFTERNOON.

MORNING. IT'S STILL MORNING.

HIS HOURS ARE RUNNING TOGETHER AT THIS POINT.

THANK YOU, CEO MENDEZ.

SO I'LL START OUT WITH LLOYD.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR STEADY HAND UP HERE.

I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT, AND WE JUST AS WE CELEBRATE THE VICTORIES, WHICH WE DON'T DO ENOUGH OF IN GOVERNMENT, AND I LOOK AT THEM AS VICTORIES BECAUSE WE DO A LOT OF GREAT THINGS. TYPICALLY WHEN YOU COME TO THE MEETINGS OR IF YOU'RE FRUSTRATED TO COME TO THE MEETING, YOU'RE GOING TO COME AND TELL US ABOUT ALL THE BAD THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON, AND WE'RE NOT PERFECT AND WE'RE ALWAYS STRIVING TO DO BETTER, BUT I THINK THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF SUCCESSES LAST YEAR AND I WAS GLAD TO BE A PART OF IT AND HAVE YOU AT THE HELM FOR THOSE, AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING ON THOSE AND THEN REALLY PUTTING KIND OF MY OWN TOUCH ON IT.

I'M SURE A GENDER REVIEW WILL GO MAYBE A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY, BUT I THINK THOSE ARE ALL THINGS TO COME.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA AND TO ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES, THANK YOU GUYS FOR ENTRUSTING ME WITH THE CHAIRMANSHIP, AND SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA, CONGRATULATIONS ON VICE CHAIR.

MEL LEVEY, I THINK RIGHT PERSON, RIGHT TIME FOR THE JOB.

WE DO HAVE CHALLENGES THAT WE NEED TO OVERCOME FROM THE LAST ELECTION.

WE'LL GET THROUGH ALL THAT AND FIGURE OUT REASONS AS TO WHY.

I WANT TO COMMEND THAT THE CEO'S STAFF, THE ELECTION STAFF, ONCE WE WERE MADE AWARE OF PROBLEMS, THE EFFORT THAT WENT INTO FIXING THEM, REALLY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF HEARTBURN FROM SOMEBODY, BUT REALLY A GOOD ELECTION AS BEST AS WE POSSIBLY COULD HAVE PUT OUT THERE, AND SO I THINK THAT WORKS TO START REBUILDING THAT TRUST AND I THINK MEL WILL CONTINUE UPON THAT, AND WE GOT SOME HOUSECLEANING TO DO IN OUR OWN SHOP, AND THAT'S JUST THE REALITY OF IT, AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO HIS LEADERSHIP THERE, AND I'M GLAD TO HAVE HIM ON BOARD.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE FLOODS AND SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND SOME OF MY OTHER COLLEAGUES WERE OUT VISITING THE EOC WHEN IT GOT ACTIVATED ALREADY LAST WEEK IN PREPARATION FOR THESE STORMS AND PUTTING THE TEAM TOGETHER, FOLKS THAT IN SOME CASES HAD NEVER WORKED TOGETHER, WERE STARTING TO WORK TOGETHER, AND NOW THEY'RE LIKE FAMILY THAT WERE ON I DON'T KNOW WHAT DAY OF IT THAT THEY'VE BEEN UP AND RUNNING.

I WAS OUT AT THE SHELTER IN LOS BANOS LAST NIGHT.

THEY'RE PLANNING ON BEING OPEN UNTIL MIDNIGHT, AND THEN JUST TO TELL YOU HOW FAST THINGS CHANGE, I LEFT THERE AT ABOUT FIVE AFTER TEN.

I GOT A PHONE CALL THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO TAKE UP UNTIL MIDNIGHT AND NOBODY HAD SHOWED UP IN LOS BANOS CLOSED DOWN RESTART IN THE MORNING.

I GOT A PHONE CALL FOLLOWED BY A TEXT MESSAGE AT A COUPLE OF MINUTES AFTER 11.

THEY WERE TAKING ALL THE BEDS THAT THEY HAD FROM RED CROSS IN LOS BANOS AND MOVING THEM TO THE FAIRGROUNDS IN MERCED, BECAUSE THE EVACUATION WAS HAPPENING IN PLANADA.

SO THE TEAM IS VERY FLUENT, VERY.

THEY'RE MOVING WHEREVER, WHEREVER IT TAKES THEM.

SO YOU THINK YOU MIGHT BE HERE AND A FEW HOURS LATER, THAT COULD VERY WELL CHANGE.

SO I JUST WANT TO THANK, THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES.

IT'S EVERYWHERE. THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT BRANCHES OUT THERE.

FIRE GUYS, I'M TALKING WITH CHIEF VAN LOBEN SELS, WHO'S NOT THE INCIDENT COMMANDER BUT IS OUT JUST DRIVING LOS BANOS CREEK EVERY DAY, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE AWARE OF PROBLEMS AND ADDRESSING THEM, AND THE SAD PART THAT I WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW, IT'S NOT OVER YET.

IT'S PROBABLY ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE FOR MY CONSTITUENTS OUT ON THE WEST SIDE.

I KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD OUT IN THE GUSTINE AREA, WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF LEVEE BREAKS THAT ARE FLOODING.

LOS BANOS CREEK IS UP TO 800 CFS.

THAT'S A LOT OF WATER FOR A CREEK THAT DOESN'T USUALLY GET TOO MUCH DOWN IT.

SO WE'RE NOT DONE WITH IT YET, AND WE SAW FOR A LITTLE BIT I WATCHED THE BRIEFING THIS MORNING.

THERE'S MORE STORMS THAT ARE JUST LINED UP OUT THERE.

SO THE WORST ISN'T OVER, BUT I KNOW OUR TEAM IS OUT THERE DOING EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY CAN TO TRY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES AND REALLY TRYING TO BE OUT IN THE FOREFRONT OF IT AND ADDRESSING ISSUES BEFORE THEY BECOME ISSUES.

WE'RE NOT PERFECT. BEAR WITH US.

I MEAN, WE HAD STAFF MEMBERS HERE THAT WORK HERE ON THE THIRD FLOOR.

[01:25:03]

TODAY, I WATCHED ONE GAL THAT'S ALWAYS DRESSED VERY NICE EVERY DAY AT WORK, AND I SAW HER TODAY COME IN AND SHE'S WEARING A PAIR OF JEANS AND A BASEBALL CAP AS THAT'S BASICALLY ALL SHE COULD GET TO GET OUT BECAUSE SHE'S HAVING CHALLENGES AT HER HOME.

SO IT'S A REAL STRUGGLE FOR ALL OF US.

BE SAFE OUT THERE.

BEAR WITH US.

THESE FLOODED STREETS AND ROADS, I MEAN, IT PUTS A STRAIN ON OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES, WHETHER IT'S IN THE CITY OR THE COUNTY.

NORMALLY THEY WANT TO GET THERE THE FASTEST ROUTE POSSIBLE.

THAT MIGHT NOT BE POSSIBLE BECAUSE THERE ARE LITERALLY ROADS FLOODED OUT.

SO BEAR WITH US.

AGAIN, LIKE MY COLLEAGUE SUPERVISOR PAREIRA SAID, CHECK THE COUNTY WEBSITE, SIGN UP FOR THE ALERTS, NOTIFY PUBLIC WORKS.

THERE'S PHONE NUMBERS ON ALL THERE AND REACH OUT TO ME WHETHER MY CELL PHONE OR THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, AND I AM TRYING TO AS FAST AS I GET THOSE THAT INFORMATION PUSH IT ON TO THE CORRECT PLACE THAT IT NEEDS TO GO JUST SO THAT THEY'RE MADE AWARE OF IT.

I'VE CALLED NOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS JUST MAKING THEM AWARE OF STUFF THAT I'M BEING MADE AWARE OF AND THEY ALREADY KNOW ABOUT IT, BUT JUST IN CASE THEY DON'T. SO HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, AND YOU KNOW, WHAT A WAY TO START OUT THE NEXT YEAR, RIGHT? SO WE ARE EVERYBODY'S EVERYBODY'S WORKING DILIGENTLY AT THIS AND I'M PROUD OF THE TEAM THAT WE HAVE.

SO WITH THAT, OUR NEXT MEETING IS JANUARY 24TH, 2023.

THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.