Jan 24, 2023 Board Meeting

[00:00:01]

ALL RIGHT, GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME BACK TO THE JANUARY 24, 2023 MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

[Call to Order]

AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE LED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

THEY'LL BE HERE IN A MINUTE. DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, I COME TO YOU IN THE NAME OF MERCED COUNTY SUPERVISORS. LORD, I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS MOMENT FIRST TO RECOGNIZE YOU AS OUR CREATOR, AS OUR GOD, AS OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN, AND TO THANK YOU FOR BEING THAT FATHER WHO'S ALWAYS WILLING TO HEAR FROM US AT ANY TIME.

I THANK YOU.

AND I'D LIKE TO HONOR, GLORIFY YOU, LIFT YOU UP AND GIVE YOU ALL THE CREDIT YOU DESERVE AS MY GOD.

AND I ASK YOU TODAY TO BE PRESENT IN THIS ROOM, PUT YOUR HAND UPON THESE MEN AND WOMEN AS THEY CONDUCT THEIR BUSINESS, TOUCH THEIR HEARTS, LET THEM KNOW YOU ARE PRESENT. LET THEM DO THEIR WORK IN HONOR AND GLORIFY YOU IN THAT MOMENT.

LORD, MAY THEY DO IT KNOWING THAT YOU ARE LOVING GOD AND THAT YOU ARE HERE FOR US.

WE PRAY FOR THOSE VICTIMS OF THE FLOODS WE JUST HAVE.

MAY THEY FEEL YOUR COMFORT? MAY THEY KNOW YOUR PRESENCE, MAY THEY KNOW YOUR HAND IS UPON THEM AND THAT YOU DO LOVE THEM AND YOU WILL CARE FOR THEM IN THESE TIMES.

LORD AND I ASK YOU THIS IN THE NAME OF YOUR SON, OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, AMEN.

ALLEGIANCE].

NEXT IS THE NON AGENDA ITEMS PUBLIC COMMENT.

[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK]

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

ALL RIGHT. ARE NOW OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

COME ON UP, SIR. GOOD MORNING.

LEE GREENWALD, A RESIDENT OF MERCED CITY, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA CENTRAL VALLEY JOURNEY FOR JUSTICE.

THAT'S A LONG NAME, BUT THE WORD IS JUSTICE.

WE'VE BEEN OPERATING FOR 15 YEARS IN THE COUNTY, AND WE LOOK FOR PEOPLE WHO KIND OF FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE CHARITIES AND THE CHURCHES AND GOOD PEOPLE WHO KIND OF WANT TO HELP.

BUT SOMETIMES THEY FIND THE HELP DOESN'T REALLY MEET THEIR NEEDS.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS A GREAT PROGRAM AND THE CHARITIES REALLY WORK HARD.

BUT THERE ARE THOSE PEOPLE WHO JUST NEED INDIVIDUAL, HEY, WHAT'S MY PROBLEM? WE HAD TO GATE FOR PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER.

BUT TODAY I'M ADVOCATING FOR THE FAMILY OF JACOB APODACA , WHO WAS KILLED IN THE JAIL UNDER THE SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT.

THE JOURNEY FOR JUSTICE SENT A LETTER TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

WE ASKED SEVEN QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT IT? WE GOT NOTHING.

WE FOLLOWED IT UP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING.

HOW COULD THIS BE PREVENTED? HOW DID IT HAPPEN? THE FAMILY GOT NOTHING FOR QUITE SOME TIME, WHICH IS SOMEWHAT UNDERSTANDABLE.

YOU DO HAVE TO SORT OUT THE FACTS.

EVENTUALLY, THEY GOT A 75 PAGE DOCUMENT FULL OF LEGAL JARGONS AND GOVERNMENT.

SAY SO. THE OTHER PART OF A CRACK IS YOU'VE GOT A HARD PLACE ON ONE SIDE, YOU GOT EMPTINESS IN THE OTHER.

JOURNEY FOR JUSTICE ASKS THAT THERE WILL BE FILLED IN.

SO WE'RE ASKING NOW TO RESPOND TO THE LETTER.

WE WILL SEND IT TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND WE CAN TALK PERSONALLY WITH JACOB'S SISTER.

[00:05:04]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

MORNING. MY NAME IS GLORIA SANDOVAL.

I WOULD LIKE TO READ A PART OF THE OBITUARY FOR JACOB MERLIN APODACA, WHICH WAS HE WAS BORN ON JANUARY 29TH.

HE WILL BE HE WOULD HAVE BEEN CELEBRATING HIS 22ND BIRTHDAY THIS COMING SUNDAY.

I'M SURE IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME FOR THE FAMILY.

JACOB SPENT SOME OF HIS CHILDHOOD IN MERCED SAID, AND THE MAJORITY OF HIS ADOLESCENCE IN LIVINGSTON, WHERE HE PLAYED AS A LINEBACKER FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL'S FOOTBALL TEAM.

JACOB LOVED HIS FAMILY, PLAYING BASS GUITAR, WRITING SONGS AND WATCHING FOOTBALL GAMES.

HE ALSO ENJOYED COOKING AND PREPARING MEALS FOR HIS FAMILY.

JACOB WAS SUCH A HARD WORKER.

HE HELD HIS FIRST JOB AT 16 WITH MCDONALD'S.

IN 2013, JACOB RECEIVED CHRISTIAN CHRIST THROUGH BAPTISM FROM THE CHURCH OF THE KING, LOCATED IN LIVINGSTON, CALIFORNIA.

THIS LOSS IS UNIMAGINABLE AND JACOB WILL BE GREATLY MISSED.

THE LOVE THAT HE HAD FOR HIS NIECES AND NEPHEWS WAS TREMENDOUS.

WHILE THE BOND HE CARRIED WITH HIS BROTHERS WILL BE FOREVER.

JACOB IS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY AND I WON'T MENTION THAT, BUT I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET SOME KIND OF RESPONSE. WE'RE MOSTLY THROUGH THE JOURNEY FOR JUSTICE, WANTING TO PREVENT OTHER TRAGEDIES LIKE THIS.

WE KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT CAN BE REVEALED TO THE PUBLIC.

SO WE'RE GOING TO BE MAKING SOME NOISE BECAUSE WE REALLY WANT TO HEAR BACK FROM YOU.

WE, THE PUBLIC, NEED SOME TRANSPARENCY.

WE NEED SOME ACTIONS.

WE NEED SOME RECOGNITION OF THIS DEATH.

JACOB WAS ONLY 21 YEARS OLD, HAD NEVER BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE LAW, AS FAR AS I CAN TELL.

HE IS A YOUNG MAN THAT HAD A LOT OF LOVE GOING HIS WAY, AND I THINK THAT HOPEFULLY YOU CAN RELATE TO THAT.

I HAVE A GRANDSON THAT'S 26.

I KNOW WE ALL WILL HAVE OR HAVE CHILDREN AND WE MUST INVEST IN OUR CHILDREN.

I THINK IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT.

I SAW YOU HAVE A CONTRACT THAT'S $380 PER DAY THAT'S GOING TO BE PAID FOR PARTICULAR OFFENDERS, $380 A DAY TO BE PAID FOR THEIR CARE AFTER THEY COMMIT A CRIME.

LET'S DO PREVENTION.

LET'S INVEST THAT MONEY IN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE BEFORE THE CRIME IS COMMITTED.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

SORRY FOR PUTTING IT LOW FOR ME.

GOOD MORNING, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

I AM HERE TO ASK FOR AN INVESTIGATION TO BE DONE FOR THE LACK OF ACTION THAT WAS NOT DONE FOR PLANADA COMMUNITY.

IT STARTS WITH THE DISTRICT, SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA AND PLANADA.

WE ARE AWARE THE PLANADA COMMITTEE HAD HALF OF THE TOWN FLOODED, WHICH DAMAGES SCHOOL MOST OF THE BUSINESSES AND HOMES.

MOTHER NATURE CAN'T BE PREVENTED, BUT SOMETIMES THERE'S A TIME WINDOW TO TAKE ACTION AND TO NOT HAVE ONE.

FIVE YEARS AGO, IN 2018, WHEN THE CANAL MILES CREEK BROKE DAMAGED A NEIGHBORHOOD AND A SCHOOL LIBRARY.

THAT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO.

JULY 9TH, THE DAY OF THE FLOOD.

I CALLED DISTRICT SUPERVISOR A LITTLE AFTER 3:00.

I HAVE THE PROOF THAT'S ON MY PHONE.

TAKE THE ANALOGY.

THAT DAY OF THE FLOOD. HE DIDN'T SEEM THAT CONCERN ABOUT THE CANAL WASN'T.

AND I TOLD HIM THE CANAL IS NOT LOOKING GOOD.

THOSE STREETS AND FLOODED THE GROUND WERE BEING FLOODED.

WASHINGTON STREET AND LA GRANDE RESIDENTS WERE PANICKING BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ENOUGH SAT AND SANDBAGS.

THERE WAS NOTHING BEING DEAD.

I SAID, WHY DON'T YOU CALL YOUR SUPERVISOR? I SAID, WHY? WHAT IS HE GOING TO DO? HE NEVER DOES ANYTHING.

CHARLES AVENUE. AND ON MY WAY HOME, I ACTUALLY HAD A HARD TIME GETTING TO RESIDENTS TO HELP THEM BECAUSE I AM FROM SAINT PAUL AND I'M THERE FOR THE PEOPLE I COULD.

I TOOK ME A LONG WAYS. I HAD TO GO THROUGH DIFFERENT KINDS OF CANALS OR WERE FLOODING.

AND I PUT MY LIFE IN RISK.

IN THE CANAL BANK. WHEN I TAKE PICTURES, I PUT MY LIFE IN THE RISK I DID, BUT FOR MY COMMUNITY.

[00:10:05]

AND THERE WAS A RESIDENT OUT THERE ASKING FOR HELP.

AND I SAID, I'VE CALLED HELP.

NOTHING'S HAPPENING. AS YOU AND I KNOW, I WISH I HAD CALLED ONE OF YOU GUYS INSTEAD.

BE HONEST. ONE OF YOUR OTHER SUPERVISORS, MR. ESPINOSA, HAS HAS THAT RESPECT TO ME AND HAS HAD NEVER DONE ACTION FOR ME.

AS YOU'VE KNOWN, I'VE BEEN HERE FIVE TIMES.

I'VE CALLED ON IT. I FEEL THAT HE WAS PERSONAL THAT DAY AND DECIDED NOT TO LISTEN TO WHAT I WAS CRYING FOR MY RESIDENCE.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, HE CAUSED MY COMMUNITY, MY WHOLE COMMUNITY, TO GO THROUGH WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH NOW, WHICH IS COST OF THE COMMUNITY.

NOW WE CALL IT RESIDENTS AND CHILDREN ARE PETS ARE MOSTLY DISTRESSED.

YOU SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

MR. ESPINOSA.

I KNOW THAT THE OTHER SUPERVISORS, LIKE I SAID, WOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING IF I HAD CALLED THEM.

AND I WISH I HAD BE HONEST.

I WISH I COULD HAVE CHANGED THAT TIME.

WHEN I CALL THEM, I FEEL BAD THAT I MADE A DECISION AND I SHOULD HAVE CALLED SOMEONE ELSE BECAUSE I'M DEALING WITH THE AFTERMATH AND YOU SHOULD BE PAYING ME YOUR SALARY BECAUSE I'M WORKING HARD OUT THERE TO HELP THOSE RESIDENTS AND I'M DOING EVERYTHING TO VOLUNTEER AND MY VOICE IS GONE.

AND I'VE BEEN ADVOCATING AND THOSE WHO KNOW ME, I DO ADVOCATE.

SO PLEASE, MR. ESPINOSA, DON'T COME WHERE I'M WORKING AT AND VOLUME TRAIN AND GARZA AND TELL ME AND TRY TO BE HOSTILE TO ME.

STILL, IT IS UNCALLED FOR IT.

YOU'RE WORKING HOURS, I REMIND YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS KELSEY AND I'M A DISPATCHER FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY FRUSTRATION WITH THIS BOARD'S WILLINGNESS TO UNDER COMPENSATE OUR DISPATCHERS.

OUR COMMUNICATION CENTER HAS BEEN DROWNING FOR YEARS.

WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ATTRACT EXPERIENCED CANDIDATES DUE TO OUR BELOW AVERAGE COMPENSATION.

THIS ISSUE IS ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE IN THE FUTURE IF THIS BOARD DOES NOT ACT NOW.

WE HAVE EXPLAINED TO THIS BOARD AND ITS REPRESENTATIVES THAT WE CANNOT COMPETE WITH OTHER COUNTIES FOR QUALIFIED DISPATCHERS.

WE CAN'T EVEN CONSISTENTLY COMPETE LOCALLY FOR OUR ENTRY LEVEL APPLICANTS.

OUR DISPATCHERS START AT ABOUT $21 HOUR AN HOUR.

A BARISTA AT STARBUCKS ON CAMPUS PARKWAY STARTS ABOUT $18 AN HOUR.

A CASHIER AT WAL MART IN ATWATER STARTS BETWEEN $15 AND $25 AN HOUR.

A CLERK AT RAY LEE STARTS AT ABOUT $20 AN HOUR.

AND AN ASSET PROTECTION SPECIALIST AT TARGET ON OUR STREET STARTS AT ABOUT $23 AN HOUR.

SIMILARLY, BILL 257, THE FAST ACT WAS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR NEWSOME.

IT'S CURRENTLY BEING CHALLENGED IN COURT AND WILL BE VOTED UPON IN NEXT YEAR'S ELECTION.

BUT THOSE WHO SUPPORT IT APPEAR DETERMINED TO MAKE IT BECOME LAW.

FAST FOOD WORKERS WERE ELIGIBLE TO MAKE $22 AN HOUR BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

UNDER THAT LAW, WITH THE ANNUAL INCREASES OF ABOUT 3.5% IN THE YEARS TO FOLLOW.

OUR COMMUNICATION CENTER CAN BARELY COMPETE WITH LOCAL RETAIL JOBS, AND NOW WE'RE EXPECTED TO COMPETE WITH MCDONALD'S AND BURGER KING WORKERS MAKING THE SAME AS OUR NEWLY HIRED DISPATCHERS.

YOU WERE ASKING SOMEBODY TO TAKE ON THE STRESS THAT COMES WITH LISTENING TO AND DISPATCHING DEPUTIES TO LIFE AND DEATH SITUATIONS.

WE'RE WORKING GRAVEYARD SHIFTS FOR YEARS, WORKING WEEKENDS, HOLIDAYS, AND MISSING OUT ON NUMEROUS LIFE EVENTS FOR A COUPLE OF DOLLARS MORE AN HOUR THAN WORKING IN A RETAIL STORE OR FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS. IN MOST CASES, OUR INSURANCE PREMIUMS GO UP EVERY YEAR.

OUR COST OF LIVING GOES UP EVERY YEAR, OUR PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS GO UP EVERY YEAR.

THE CALLS FOR SERVICE GO UP EVERY YEAR.

UNFORTUNATELY, OUR PAY DOES NOT GO UP ENOUGH TO KEEP UP WITH THESE RISING ANNUAL COSTS.

SHERIFF DISPATCHERS HAVE BEEN UNDER COMPENSATED FOR DECADES, AND THESE RISING COSTS MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO EVER CATCH UP.

SADLY, YOU ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO HAVE THE POWER TO FIX THIS ISSUE, BUT YOU HAVE REFUSED TO FIX IT SO FAR.

SHERIFF [INAUDIBLE] DOES NOT HAVE THE POWER TO FIX OUR COMPENSATION.

ONLY THE MEN SITTING IN FRONT OF ME HAVE THAT POWER.

WE HAVE MULTIPLE MOTHERS IN OUR COMMUNICATION CENTER WHO SACRIFICE TIME, MILESTONES AND MEMORIES TO PERFORM THIS CAREER.

I AM ASKING, PLEASE, AS A NEW MOTHER MYSELF, WHO FEELS THE EFFECTS OF OUR UNDER COMPENSATION TO PROVIDE US WITH THE FAIR COMPENSATION INCREASE WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR SINCE LAST SUMMER. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

HELLO, SHERIFF DISPATCHER [INAUDIBLE] 14, I BEGIN BY THANKING MERCED COUNTY TIMES REPORTER IAN WHITTAKER FOR HIS SUPPORT IN THE ARTICLE TITLED EMERGENCY DISPATCHERS CALL FOR FAIR PAY, PUBLISHED ON JANUARY 5TH.

AND FOR KELSEY SPEAKING TODAY AS WELL, I'M HERE AS A VOICE FOR OUR DEPUTY CORNERS, HIGHLIGHTING THE ISSUES THEY AND OUR COMMUNITY FACE AS A RESULT OF THIS BOARD'S UNWILLINGNESS TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE.

OUR DEPUTY CORNERS ARE 18% UNDER COMPENSATED.

THEY'VE BEEN APPROACHED BY STANISLAUS COUNTY MULTIPLE TIMES WHO ASKED OUR EXPERIENCED DEPUTY CORNERS TO APPLY.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THOSE OFFICERS OFFERS ARE BEING STRUCK STRONGLY CONSIDERED.

THIS BOARD HAS THE OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW TO STOP OUR DEPUTY CO-OWNERS FROM LEAVING AGAIN.

OUR BARGAINING UNIT ISN'T BEING ASKED TO BECOME SAFE LIKE STANISLAUS COUNTY.

WE JUST WANT TO BE PAID LIKE THE AVERAGE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY COUNTY FOR UNIT 14.

THE FAIR 16% INCREASE WE REQUESTED FROM THE COUNTY WOULD BRIDGE THE GAP, KEEP EXPERIENCED PUBLIC SAFETY PROFESSIONALS SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.

[00:15:03]

BOTH ARE DOMINATED BY FEMALE CLASSIFICATIONS.

BOTH HAVE ONE NON PROBATIONARY FULL TIME MALE EMPLOYED WITHIN THE CLASSIFICATION.

BOTH ARE GROSSLY UNDER COMPENSATED.

I'VE SPOKEN ONCE ABOUT THE GLASS CEILING.

MERCED COUNTY SITS ON TOP OF FEMALE DOMINATED CLASSIFICATIONS.

SADLY, THIS BOARD HAS DECIDED THAT UNIT 14 AS A WHOLE WILL BE TRAPPED WITHIN THAT UNFAIR GLASS CEILING EXISTING FROM PAST TIMES, WHERE MARGINALIZATION WAS THE NORM IN THE WORKPLACE. MERCED COUNTY IS A THIRD TIER CHOICE IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY.

MAYBE THEY'LL BE THE LEGACY OF THIS CURRENT BOARD AND MAYBE IT DOESN'T BOTHER YOU, BUT I BELIEVE OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES THE HIGHEST QUALITY SERVICE AND ONLY YOU CONTROL THAT.

I ADMIT I DON'T KNOW THE DISCUSSIONS THAT OCCUR BEHIND CLOSED DOORS BETWEEN YOURSELVES AND MARCI BARRERA.

THEREFORE, I'M HERE TO ADVISE YOU THE SITUATION ON PUBLIC RECORD, SPECIFICALLY TO LLOYD, SCOTTY AND RODRIGO.

I WONDER WHAT THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN YOUR JURISDICTION, IF THEY'RE AWARE THAT OUR DEPUTY CORNERS DON'T SERVICE THE COUNTIES WEST SIDE OR NORTH END DUE TO STAFFING? COMMUNITIES OF DOS PALOS LOS BANOS.

[INAUDIBLE] IN LIVINGSTON HAVE DEPUTY SHERIFFS RESPOND TO THEIR CORNER.

CALLS FOR DECEDENT MUST BE TRANSFERRED TO THE CORONER'S OFFICE.

THE DEPUTY SHERIFF ON SCENE CANNOT LEAVE THE BODY UNATTENDED UNTIL CONTRACTED REMOVAL STAFF ARRIVE.

THIS LEADS TO DELAYED RESPONSE TIME FOR EMERGENCY CALLS.

NON-EMERGENCY CALLS MAY BE PENDING FOR A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF TIME, AND NO DEPUTY IS ACTIVELY PATROLLING THAT TOWNSHIP.

THAT'S TRUE OF BOTH DAY SHIFT AND GRAVEYARDS.

WE ALL KNOW THE INCREASED THEFTS OF MERCED COUNTY, ESPECIALLY AGRICULTURAL THEFTS, AND IT'S FRUSTRATING THAT OUR DISPATCHERS HAVE TO SEE SUSPICIOUS PERSON, SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE AND OTHER NON-LIFE THREATENING CALLS FOR SERVICE IN OUR COUNTY'S AGRICULTURAL TOWNSHIPS ARE SUBJECT TO A DELAYED RESPONSE DUE TO STAFFING SHORTAGES IN THE CORONER'S BUREAU, RESULTING FROM CONSTANT TURNOVER CAUSED BY UNDER COMPENSATION AND INCREASED WORK CASELOADS OVER DECADES.

DARON. IF OUR DEPUTY CORONER IS LEAVE FOR [INAUDIBLE] COUNTY OR OTHER AGENCIES, ATWATER IS GOING TO HAVE THIS VERY SAME ISSUE.

POSSIBLY. MAYBE EACH OF YOU WILL DO SOMETHING TO REMEDY THIS ISSUE, OR MAYBE YOU'LL JUST CONTINUE TO IGNORE IT.

BUT YET AGAIN, LIKE IT ALWAYS BEEN.

THE BALL IS IN YOUR COURT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.

MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] I'M REPRESENTING THE PROPERTY OWNERS ALONG THE BUCHANAN HOLLOW ROAD ON THE LE GRAND.

I BROUGHT SOME PHOTOGRAPHS ALSO.

I ACTUALLY MADE COPIES OF MY PETITION FOR ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS.

IF I CAN. WE ARE THE PROPERTY OWNERS ON ALONG THE BUCHANAN HOLLOW ROAD AT LEE GRANT.

WE WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THE BAD ROAD CONDITION OF THE BUCHANAN HOLLOW ROAD, WHICH IS ONLY ROAD TO REACH OUR PROPERTIES.

THIS IS AFFECTING OUR DAILY LIFE AND WE ARE SUFFERING FOR YEARS BECAUSE OF THE BAD ROAD CONDITION, PARTICULARLY NEAR THE TAIL END OF THE ROAD.

WE ARE REGULARLY PAYING PROPERTY TAXES, BUT WE ARE NOT GETTING THE SERVICES WE DESERVE.

THE ROAD IS FULL OF POTHOLES AND IT'S BAD FOR A LONG TIME.

IT'S VERY DAMAGING TO OUR VEHICLES.

NOBODY HAS PAID ANY ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEMS WE ARE FACING, PARTICULARLY IN BAD WEATHER, SUCH AS RAINY DAYS.

PARTICULARLY IN THE LAST 15 DAYS, WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REACH EVEN OUR PROPERTIES.

WE ARE ATTACHING SOME PHOTOGRAPHS TO SHOW THE BAD CONDITION OF THE ROAD.

WE CAN'T EVEN REACH OUR PROPERTY SAFELY.

OUR WORK IS SUFFERING.

OUR VEHICLES ARE GETTING BROKEN DOWN AND WE CANNOT REACH OUR PROPERTIES.

WE REQUEST THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO KINDLY HAVE A LOOK AT THE ROAD WHICH IS AFFECTING OUR DAILY LIVES AND OUR PROPERTIES.

APPRECIATE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS SERGEANT HAZEL MILLERMAN.

I SUFFERED A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY DURING MY TIME OF SERVICE.

I SERVED WITH THE COMMAND ELEMENT 26 MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNIT.

I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I WANT TO SET A REMINDER THAT MY FELLOW VETERANS AND I, THE VFW MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE IN MERCED ARE STILL HOMELESS. AND I'M ASKING THAT YOU DON'T FORGET US IN THE NEXT MEETING.

WE STILL HAVEN'T HAD THAT MEETING.

WE'VE REACHED OUT TO YOU ALL AND WE STILL HAVEN'T HEARD BACK.

WE HAVE OVER 60 PLUS MEMBERS AND WITH 50 OF THEM ARE WHICH ARE UNACCOUNTED FOR.

AND WE'RE ACTUALLY HAVING THAT PROBLEM BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO MEET.

IT'S BEEN THIS WAY FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS.

AND THESE ARE LIFETIME MEMBERS.

THESE MEMBERS ARE 50, 60, 70 YEARS PLUS AND TEN YEARS.

THEY HAVEN'T HAD A PLACE TO MEET WITH OTHER VETERANS TO HAVE SUPPORT.

THE WAY THAT VETERANS CAN ONLY SUPPORT EACH OTHER SOMETIMES AND.

[00:20:06]

WE'RE GOING DOWN THE RECALL AND DOING WHAT WE CAN YESTERDAY.

WE HAVE THE COMMITTEE AT THE VETERANS MEMORIAL BUILDING THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY LOCKED OUT OF.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE SET UP AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE AMERICAN LEGION TO HAVE A MEETING THERE THE OTHER DAY.

AND WE SHOWED UP.

WE WERE LOCKED OUT. WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A KEY TO OUR OWN BUILDING.

AND IT'S BEEN THIS WAY FOR TEN YEARS.

AND THAT'S WHY THESE VETERANS ARE NOT SHOWING UP.

AND WE DON'T KNOW.

WE CAN'T SUPPORT EACH OTHER.

SO I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU GUYS NOT TO FORGET US.

WHEN I JOINED THE MARINE CORPS, I LEFT.

I WENT TO BOOT CAMP AND THEY INSTILLED SOME CORE VALUES IN ME, LIKE HONOR, COURAGE, COMMITMENT, INTEGRITY.

BUT ONE OF THE VALUES THAT THEY TAUGHT ME, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT VALUES WAS TO NEVER LEAVE A MAN BEHIND.

TO NEVER LEAVE A MAN BEHIND.

A FELLOW SOLDIER.

AND I FEEL LIKE THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.

WE'RE GETTING LEFT BEHIND.

WE'RE GETTING LEFT OUT IN THE COLD.

AND. JUST LIKE YOU'VE SEEN THE MOVIES, JUST LIKE YOU SEE WHEN YOU WATCH THEM WAR MOVIES AND THE PLATOON'S UNDER FIRE AND THEY PICK UP THAT RADIO AND THEY SAY, HEY, WE NEED SUPPORT.

WE NEED SUPPORT.

WHILE I'M HERE TODAY TO PICK THAT RADIO UP, TO CALL FOR SUPPORT FROM ALL OF YOU, FOR ALL MY FELLOW VETERANS THAT DON'T HAVE A HOME THAT'S BEEN HOMELESS FOR TEN YEARS, THAT WE DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO MEET, THAT WE CAN'T SUPPORT EACH OTHER.

WE CAN'T COME TOGETHER AS A GROUP ANYMORE BECAUSE WE'RE HOMELESS.

WHILE I'M HERE TODAY TO PICK THAT RADIO UP AND CALL FOR SUPPORT FROM ALL OF YOU.

I HOPE YOU ALL PICK THAT CALL UP AND ANSWER THAT CALL.

THANK YOU. DON'T FORGET US AND DON'T LEAVE US BEHIND.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

CHAIR SUPERVISORS.

CEO, COUNCIL.

I COME TODAY BEFORE YOU AS MORE SO A CONCERNED CITIZEN, 24 YEAR VETERAN, A UNITED STATES COAST GUARD RETIREE, ALSO MOSTLY A VETERAN ADVOCATE NOWADAYS PICKING BACK ON MY COMRADES COMMENTS WANTED TO DRAW ATTENTION BACK TO THE BOARD AGENDA ITEM FROM NOVEMBER 8TH OF 2022, WHERE THE DECISION TO SIGN THE LEASE WITH THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 83 WAS TABLED UNTIL FEBRUARY 7TH.

THE NEXT BOARD MEETING.

PART OF THE DISCUSSION, AS I RECALL FROM RECORD, WAS THAT FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS WOULD OCCUR TO HELP MEDIATE SOME OF THE CONCERNS BY ALL THE INTERESTED PARTIES.

IF THOSE MEETINGS HAVE BEEN HELD.

MY ASK TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS TO PROVIDE THOSE RECORDS OF THOSE MEETINGS.

THE ESPECIALLY ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ANY MODIFICATIONS TO THE LANGUAGE OF THE LEASE AGREEMENT SO THAT THERE CAN BE, AS SOMEONE MENTIONED EARLIER, SOME TRANSPARENCY AS WELL AS SOME EQUITY TOWARDS ACCESS AND AVAILABILITY OF THE VETERANS HALL TO ALL VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, NOT JUST THE AMERICAN LEGION, NOT JUST THE VFW, BUT THE MULTIPLE VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE WITHIN MERCED COUNTY.

SO I JUST ASK ONCE AGAIN THAT IF THOSE MEETINGS HAVE BEEN HELD, THE MINUTES REPORTS OF THOSE MEETINGS BE PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS POTENTIALLY IF THERE IS A SPECIFIC POINT OF CONTACT WITHIN A COUNTY THAT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED TO FACILITATE THOSE MEETINGS, WE'D LOVE TO MEET WITH THEM AND SPEAK WITH THEM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS AGGIE FREEMAN.

I'M A RETIRED REGISTERED NURSE AND A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO OR SAID COUNTY WHERE SAID COUNTY LOVES ITS VETERANS.

I WAS INSPIRED TO RELOCATE HERE FOLLOWING MY RETIREMENT BECAUSE OF THE FIELD OF HONOR, WHICH IS SPONSORED BY MERCED SUNRISE, ROTARY AND AGAIN, MERCED POST 83 OF THE AMERICAN LEGION HAS BEEN OPERATING THE VETERANS MEMORIAL BUILDING.

I WAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT IN THE PAST AGREEMENT, AND IT APPEARS TO ME AS A CITIZEN THAT THE AMERICAN LEGION IS ASKING FOR EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE FACILITY IN THE PROPOSED CONTRACT CONTRACT DATED 11 EIGHT OF

[00:25:05]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ELLIE PAINTED CROW.

AND I'M TAKEN ABACK BY ALL THESE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS ARE DEALING WITH AND THE THINGS THAT ARE NOT BEING RESPONDED TO.

I'M REALLY TAKEN ABACK BY JUST ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING.

AND I HOPE YOUR GUYS REALLY CARE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH MERCED, BECAUSE JUST I'M JUST TAKEN ABACK BY THESE CONCERNS OF COMMUNITY IN THE FACT THAT WE ONLY HAVE 3 MINUTES TO TALK.

BUT I'M HERE TO ASK PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING.

I'M HERE TO ASK PEOPLE WHO ARE LISTENING THAT ARE NOT PRESENT TO CONTACT THEIR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, BECAUSE I AM HERE AGAIN FOR THE VFW. I'M HERE FOR THE VETERANS MEMORIAL CONTRACT THAT WE HAD ONE DISCUSSION AND NOTHING FURTHER.

AND I DON'T WANT THIS TO COME IN FEBRUARY AND WE HAVEN'T VOTED ON AND YOU GUYS VOTE ON IT AND NOTHING'S HAPPENED.

I'M WAITING.

I'M WAITING FOR I HAD ONE MEETING AND I THANK SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

BUT I BELIEVE THAT IT'S ALL OF YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, NOT JUST THE DISTRICT PERSON, BECAUSE A DISTRICT PERSON HAS NOT TAKEN CARE OF IT IN TEN YEARS.

SO I'M HOLDING ALL OF YOU ACCOUNTABLE AND RESPONSIBLE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS.

I AM ASKING EVERYBODY HERE WHO IS LISTENING TO WRITE AN EMAIL, MAKE A PHONE CALL AND LET THEM KNOW WE ARE HOMELESS.

WE ARE THE VFW, WE ARE WAR VETERANS, VFW, OUR WAR VETERANS.

IT MEANS WE WENT TO WAR THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN OTHER VETERAN ORGANIZATIONS.

OTHER VETERAN ORGANIZATIONS.

YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE BEEN A SERVICE MEMBER.

WE ARE MORE AND WE ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS TOTEM POLE.

AND I FIND THAT REALLY APPALLING THAT YOU ALL TALKS ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU LOVE OUR VETERANS AND YOUR WAR VETERANS ARE HOMELESS AND YOU SHOULD ALL REALLY BE THINKING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I'M SURE A LOT OF THESE VETERANS WHO ARE 80, 90 YEARS OLD, IF YOU HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS SERVED WITH THEM, THEY'VE BEEN PART OF THIS COMMUNITY FOR DECADES AND FOR DECADES THEY HAVE NOT HAD A PLACE TO MEET.

AND YOU CAN SAY, YEAH, THIS AND THAT.

WELL, WE HAD TO TRY TO HAVE A MEETING YESTERDAY AND WE COULDN'T GET IN.

WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY TO CALL.

AND THIS SEEMS TO ALWAYS BE THE PROBLEM.

AND SO THIS SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM.

THIS SHOULD BE RESOLVED.

THIS IF WE NEED TO RESOLVE IT, WE NEED TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU GUYS TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION.

I HOPE YOU GUYS REALLY CARE.

I DON'T SEE A VERY DIVERSE GROUP UP HERE.

I REALLY DON'T. I SEE WHAT TO ME, I CONSIDER A TOKEN AS PART OF THIS SUPERVISORY BOARD.

THERE'S NO FEMALES THERE.

THERE'S NO NOTHING. YOU ALL HAVE YOUR OWN MIND MADE UP ABOUT HOW THIS IS GOING TO WORK.

AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT I'M NOT GOING AWAY.

OUR VETERANS, I'M A 22 YEAR VET.

I SERVED IN IRAQ.

I HAVE A RIGHT TO HAVE A PLACE TO MEET.

I HAVE A RIGHT TO HAVE A PLACE TO SUPPORT MY FELLOW VETERANS WHO ARE IN NEED OF.

I'LL GIVE YOU TEN ADDITIONAL SECONDS TO FINISH UP YOUR COMMENT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

BUT I'M TELLING YOU, I'M NOT GOING AWAY.

SO PLEASE, ALL OF YOU OUT THERE, WRITE TO THESE GUYS.

CALL THESE GUYS. LET THEM KNOW OUR WAR VETERANS ARE HOMELESS AND WE NEED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

MORNING BOARD. COREY GIBSON, UNDERSHERIFF, MERCED COUNTY.

I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE SHERIFF TODAY.

HE WANTED TO BE HERE.

UNFORTUNATELY, HE HAD ANOTHER PERSONAL COMMITMENT HE HAD TO MAKE AND WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE BOARD MEETING.

HE WILL BE HERE AT A LATER BOARD MEETING, CONVEY SOME OF THE SAME THOUGHTS THAT I'M GOING TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT TODAY.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN MEETINGS ABOUT THE SHERIFF'S DISPATCH CENTER, DISPATCH PAY AND TODAY ABOUT THE CORONER'S OFFICE.

DISPATCH IS THE HEARTBEAT OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

IT IS WHERE ALL THE CALLS FOR SERVICE COME IN OR THE FIRST LINE.

AND THE FIRST PERSON SOMEONE HEARS IS THE PERSON ON THE PHONE WHEN THEY'RE ASKING FOR HELP.

IF IT'S SOMETHING AS SMALL AS A IS A THEFT OR SUSPICIOUS PERSON ALL THE WAY UP TO UP TO A HOMICIDE.

[00:30:02]

THEY PUT IT INTO THE VARIETY OF SYSTEMS AND THEY GET THE PROPER RESOURCES OUT THERE.

SOMETIMES IT'S NOT SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES, MAYBE IT'S MEDICAL, MAYBE IT'S FIRE, BUT WHATEVER IS NEEDED IS ACTUALLY SENT BY THAT STAFF.

AS TIME HAS PROGRESSED, THAT JOB HAS GOTTEN MORE DIFFICULT.

TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED.

WE NOW HAVE TEXT ON 911.

WE HAVE A VARIETY OF GPS AND MAPPING SYSTEMS AND SO THAT THE QUALITY OF CANDIDATE THAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO DO THOSE MULTITASKING HAS GOTTEN MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT. AND WE'VE STRUGGLED WITH SOME OF THE PAY AND SOME OF THE COMPENSATION THAT THESE DISPATCHERS ARE LOOKING FOR SO THAT WE CAN COMPETE WITH THE LOCAL MARKET. AND SO WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE BOARD ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND LOOKING AT A DIFFERENT WAY OF LOOKING AT HOW THOSE PUBLIC SAFETY MEMBERS ARE COMPARED AND HOW THAT PAY IS SEEN AS FAIR AND EQUITABLE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND SO I THINK THE BOARD HEARS THAT MESSAGE.

AND SO AT THE TIME, THIS TIME, THE BOARD MADE A DECISION AND THEY WENT AND THEY GAVE ACROSS THE BOARD THE SAME PAY RAISE TO ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

AND THAT WAS 6% ESSENTIALLY, AND 1500 DOLLARS ONE TIME PAYMENT THAT WAS OFFERED TO UNIT 14, WHICH COVERS CORNERS AND DISPATCHERS.

AND THEY HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO DO THAT.

THERE WAS ALSO OTHER INCENTIVES OFFERED TO THEM.

THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED IN THOSE.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT IS.

WE'VE HAD OUTSIDE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT LOOKING AT DIFFERENT DYNAMICS IN WAYS OF IMPROVING THE DISPATCH CENTER AND THE CEO'S OFFICE AND THE BOARD SEEM APPLICABLE TO THOSE CHANGES AS WE MOVE FORWARD. BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE DONE UNDER THE TACTICS THAT UNION IS USING.

AND SO I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THAT.

THE SHERIFF DOES NOT APPRECIATE HOW THE COMPANY SPEAK IN FRONT OF THE BOARD.

SOME OF THE ACCUSATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN LEVIED AGAINST THIS BOARD ARE SIMPLY NOT TRUE.

TALKING ABOUT SEXISM AND RACISM AND ALSO NONE OF THAT'S TRUE.

THIS BOARD, IF YOU LOOK AT THE DEPARTMENT HEADS ACROSS THIS BOARD, IS A VERY DIVERSE I THINK THE MAJORITY OF THE DEPARTMENT HAS A FEMALE.

AND SO I'M HERE TO REITERATE THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE BY THE SHERIFF AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

AND I APOLOGIZE ON HIS BEHALF TO YOU GUYS FOR THOSE SOME OF THOSE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE, SOME OF THE ACCUSATIONS ABOUT CORNER'S OFFICE NOT RESPONSIVE TO THE WEST SIDE AND THE NORTH, THOSE AREN'T TRUE STATEMENTS.

WE RESPOND AS NECESSARY WITH THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE.

BEING FAIR, FIRM AND CONSISTENT.

I WILL GIVE YOU 10 SECONDS TO FINISH UP YOUR THOUGHTS.

THANK YOU.

THANKS. I JUST APPRECIATE IT.

I SAID WE DON'T DON'T AGREE WITH THOSE TACTICS.

AND I SAID THE SHERIFF WILL BE BACK HERE AT A FUTURE MEETING TO EXPRESS THE SAME CONCERNS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

JEANNIE KNIGHT WITH CENTRAL VALLEY DISPOSAL 3218 NORTH BULWARK ROAD, ATWATER, CALIFORNIA.

I WANT TO THANK THE COUNTY.

YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB FILLING IN POTHOLES.

THE TWO LITTLE GUYS IN PLANADA THAT DRIVE THE TRACTORS, THEY HAVE LEVELED OUR DUMPSTERS EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THEY'VE BEEN OUT THERE. THEY HAVE WORKED HARD.

I'VE NEVER SEEN THEM SITTING AROUND.

YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A REMARKABLE JOB.

ALONG WITH DARREN MCDANIELS.

THANK YOU FOR OUR DISTRICT.

AND I WANT TO THANK THE SHERIFF AND CAL FIRE, OF COURSE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

[INAUDIBLE]. I KNOW.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS LUCIANA CHAVEZ.

I'M A RESIDENT OF PLANADA.

I THINK I EXPECTED MORE OF US TO BE HERE TODAY.

BUT I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO ONLY HEAR ONE VOICE.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HEARD FROM SOMEBODY WHO COULD SAY, I UNDERSTAND WHEN TRAGEDY AND DISASTER HAPPEN THAT IT'S A TIME TO REFLECT, IT'S A TIME TO REEVALUATE.

AND I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS REALLY DIG INTO THAT WORK.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENS IN A WHAT WE SUFFERED THE COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WAS.

MR. ROGERS SAYS LOOK FOR THE HELPERS.

WE KNOW WHO OUR HELPERS ARE.

WE KNOW EVERYBODY IN TOWN.

WE KNOW WHO TO LOOK FOR.

AND THOSE PEOPLE ARE ACTIVE, THEY'RE WORKING HARD.

ONE OF THEM, A GUY THAT I KNOW IS HELPING WITH THE DUMPSTERS AND JUST WAITING FOR THEM TO GET EMPTIED SO HE CAN GO BACK TO WORK PICKING UP PEOPLE'S TRASH THAT NEEDS TO BE DISPOSED OF. WHAT WAS I GOING TO SAY AGAIN? I WAS THINKING ABOUT IT BACK THERE.

JUST THAT.

DON'T FORGET ABOUT US.

LIKE I'M ECHOING THIS PERSON BACK HERE THAT WAS TALKING ABOUT THE VETERANS.

BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED THAT WE ALL FELT QUITE DEEPLY WAS WHERE IS THE CENTRAL OVERSIGHT? WHERE IS THE LEADERSHIP THAT COULD GET ALL OF THESE FORCES TOGETHER IN A COMMUNITY LIKE OURS THAT IS IN UNINCORPORATED, WE DON'T HAVE A MAYOR AND WE DON'T HAVE SOMEBODY TO KIND OF BE OUR VOICE, A CENTRAL VOICE.

BUT WE DO HAVE A COUNTY SUPERVISOR.

[00:35:03]

BUT WE HAVE REALLY BEEN NEEDING SOMEBODY TO GRAB ALL OF THE TENTACLES AND GATHER THEM SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.

SO PLEASE, LET'S DO A LOT OF THAT WORK AS WELL, BECAUSE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, THEY'RE DOING SO MUCH WORK AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THEY'RE DOING SO MUCH WORK HELPING FAMILIES.

AND WE'RE NOT QUITE SURE OR A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE NOT QUITE SURE KIND OF WHERE ALL THIS IS GOING AND WHERE THE HELP IS GOING TO BE.

THERE IS A FEMA OVER AT THE FAIRGROUNDS, BUT WE HAVE STILL PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST THERE WITHOUT CARS AND THINGS THAT NEED HELP.

AND EVEN GOING NINE MILES TO HER SAID CAN BE DIFFICULT.

SO PLEASE KEEP ALL OF THOSE THINGS IN MIND BECAUSE IT IS NINE MILES AWAY.

BUT SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE IT FEELS LIKE 900.

SO PLEASE DON'T FORGET ABOUT US.

AND IF THAT REQUIRES ME TO COME TO ANOTHER MEETING EVERY MONTH, TWICE A MONTH, THEN I'LL DO THAT.

BUT PLEASE KEEP YOUR EYES ON US.

WE NEED THE HELP.

NOT JUST.

WE'RE NOT SUFFERING OVER THERE FROM OTHER THINGS.

WE'RE SUFFERING FROM THIS THING RIGHT NOW.

AND IF WE DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO IT, IT'S GOING TO AFFECT OUR COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS.

PLEASE, WE CAN'T LEAVE THOSE PEOPLE ALONE BECAUSE WE NEED THEM TO BE THERE.

WE CAN'T LOSE ANYBODY FROM OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S TOO SMALL FOR THAT.

THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CHANGE THE ENTIRE TOWN FOR GENERATIONS.

LIKE I SAID, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

IF I'M NOT SEEING ANYONE, WE WILL NOW CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

AND, UM, SO WE WILL NOW MOVE TO PRESENTATIONS.

[PRESENTATIONS]

WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE 2023 FLOOD UPDATE.

PIMENTEL IS ON HIS WAY UP.

THE MORNING CHAIR OR CEO.

MARK PIMENTEL, ASSISTANT CHIEF FOR MERCED COUNTY FIRE.

ALSO, THE EOC DEPUTY DIRECTOR JUST CAME HERE TODAY AND THE LAST TIME I WAS A LITTLE BIT TIRED AND KIND OF WAS A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF WHAT WAS GOING ON.

BUT WE WOULD DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE KEEPING YOU ALL IN THE LOOP AS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

TODAY IS ANOTHER BRIEF AND THEN AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO MEET NEXT MONTH AS WELL, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BRING OUR STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS HERE TO ALSO HAVE SOME INFORMATION TO PROVIDE TO YOU GENTLEMEN.

LOOKING THROUGH THE RECENT EVENTS THAT ATMOSPHERIC RIVER THAT FLOW THROUGH MERCED COUNTY OBVIOUSLY TRIED AND CAUSE A LOT OF ISSUES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, STRESSED OUT OUR WATERWAYS IN REGARDS TO JUST A FEW RIVERS, TO OUR FEW WATERWAYS TO SPEAK OF IS BEAR CREEK, BLACK RASCAL CREEK, MILES CREEK, GARZA AND QUINTO TO JUST NAME A FEW.

IT IMPACTED THOSE AREAS SUCH AS PLANADA.

HAVE YOU GUYS HAVE OBVIOUSLY HEARD AND KNOWN OF? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SCHOOLS OF SCHOOLS AS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THE MIDDLE SCHOOL ACTUALLY WERE SUSPENDED FOR SOME TIME.

BUT THOSE SCHOOLS HAVE COME TOGETHER AND HAVE WORKED ON OPERATIONS IN ORDER TO GET THOSE KIDS BACK IN CLASS.

THEY'RE KIND OF ACCOMMODATING THEIR NEEDS AT THE FACILITY AND ACTUALLY ACQUIRING SPACE AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE MEETING THE NEEDS OF ABOUT 453 STUDENTS FROM THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

THE MIDDLE SCHOOL HAS ABOUT 432 STUDENTS.

AND SO OBVIOUSLY YOU SEE THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS THAT THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH, BUT THEY'RE WORKING WITH OUR STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS TO ACQUIRE MOBILE CLASSROOMS FOR USE ON AN OPEN FIELD THAT THEY HAVE NEXT TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

AND CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW.

WE DID A TOUR WITH ONE OF THE SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES YESTERDAY AND JUST TRYING TO MAKE THOSE ACCOMMODATIONS AVAILABLE SOON.

IN SHORT, SO WE CAN GET THOSE KIDS, KEEP THOSE KIDS GOING TO SCHOOL, CONTINUING WITH SOME SCHOOLS, WE'LL TALK ABOUT MCSWAIN ELEMENTARY.

I'M EXCEPT WAS ALSO SUSPENDED FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME DUE TO THE FACT OF ACCESSING THE SCHOOL.

NONE OF THE BUILDINGS WERE DAMAGED DURING THE THE FLOODS BUT THEY WERE HAD ACCESS ISSUES.

SO THE STUDENTS WERE DISPLACED.

ABOUT 887 STUDENTS WERE DISPLACED FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

BUT WITH DPW, CALTRANS ARE OUR PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

WE'RE ABLE TO GET THAT WATER SHUT OFF AND ARE STOPPED AND BEING ABLE TO RECEIVE THE WATER SO THEY CAN MAKE ACCESS TO THOSE SCHOOLS.

MERCED COUNTY IS APPROXIMATELY, WE'VE ESTIMATED, SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT 500 RESIDENTS THAT HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY THE FLOODS.

WE ARE STILL BEING EVALUATED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAPTURE ALL THAT.

AND THIS WILL BE A PROCESS THAT WILL CONTINUE ON FOR WEEKS AND MONTHS TO COME.

[00:40:02]

AND THESE BUSINESSES WILL BE IMPACTED RESULTING IN LONG TERM INTERRUPTION IN BUSINESS.

SO AGAIN, WORKING WITH OUR STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET ASSISTANCE AND HELP THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

DURING THE DURING THE FLOODS, WE FOR THE COMMUNITIES THAT WERE AFFECTED, THE PLANADA WAS ABOUT 4000 PEOPLE THAT ARE EVACUATED.

MCSWAIN WAS ABOUT 1400, AND LE GRAND WAS ABOUT 3400.

AGAIN, THESE WERE WARNINGS ON MOST OF THEM EXCEPT FOR THE PLANADA AREA WHERE THEY WERE EVACUATED.

SO WE WERE ALLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO UTILIZE OUR SHELTERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

OTHER THINGS TO THINK ABOUT IS WE DID CLAIM BACK ON JANUARY 4TH THAT WAS A FAST MOVING PROCESS MOVING FORWARD WITH YOU GENTLEMEN. AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT THAT WE GOT FROM YOU DURING THAT PROCESS.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

SHORTLY THEREAFTER, ON THE 15TH, IT WAS A PRESIDENTIAL DECLARATION WAS PROCLAIMED, AND THAT'S GOING TO ALLOW FROM SOME ASSISTANCE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY THROUGH AS WE MOVE THROUGH THESE PROCESSES.

DPW HAS BEEN A VERY STRONG FRONT RUNNING ON THIS PROCESS.

OBVIOUSLY, THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES AND EQUIPMENT, BUT THEY ARE WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITIES, THEY ARE WORKING WITH THEM ID, PGA AND ALL THESE RESOURCES TO KIND OF ADDRESS THOSE LEVEES THAT WERE OVERTOPPED OR BROKEN.

AND SOME OF THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE OUT THERE IS EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE.

THEY WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH SOME OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND HELP FROM THE SHERIFF, MAKING SOME OF HIS COMMUNICATIONS, WERE ABLE TO GET SOME EQUIPMENT OUT THERE TO HELP THOSE THAT BARE CREEK AREA THAT HAD TWO LARGE BREAKS AND WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL IN STOPPING THAT LEAK AND CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW ARE STILL EVALUATING THOSE AREAS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE WOULD BE ABLE TO SUBSTANTIATE OR BE ABLE TO HELP HOLD ANY FUTURE STORMS THAT ARE COMING FORWARD.

WE DID START UP OUR DRC, OUR DISASTER RESOURCE CENTER.

THEY WERE ESTABLISHED THERE ON THE 18TH AT THE FAIRGROUNDS, AND THEY RUN THEIR HOURS FROM 7:00 IN THE MORNING TILL ABOUT 7:00 AT NIGHT. THEY ARE THERE TO ASSIST AND ALLOW PEOPLE TO GET SOME.

WE HAVE THEM LOG AND GET THEIR INFORMATION SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THEM ASSISTANCE TO THE PROCESS.

THAT WAS A GREAT SETUP FOR THE PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITIES OF PLANADA AND THE MCSWAIN AREA.

THEY FIRST REPORTED ABOUT 429 HOUSEHOLDS HAVE BEEN SERVED AND ABOUT 1700 SERVICES HAVE BEEN ASSESSED AS OF NOW. WE WANT TO LOOK AT MERCED EXCUSE ME.

THE FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION WAS ABLE TO DONATE ABOUT $125,000 IN TWO DAYS.

OBVIOUSLY TRYING TO GIVE SOME HELP TO THOSE CITIZENS IN THOSE AREAS THAT WERE AFFECTED.

OUR CALL CENTER AS OF TODAY WAS JUST RECEIVED ABOUT OVER 1400 CALLS.

THESE CALLS VARIED FROM ASSISTANCE, GENERAL QUESTIONS, SANDBAG LOCATIONS.

BUT OVER THAT TIME, THEY WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION AND DIRECTION TO THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE AREA.

CURRENTLY, OUR SHELTER BREAKDOWNS ARE AT THE FAIRGROUNDS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 62 RESIDENTS AT THE MERCED FAIRGROUND.

THE OTHER TWO, WE HAD ONE IN LOS BANOS AND US ALSO ATWATER CITY.

AT ANY TIME, THOSE ARE MAYBE 1 TO 2 FAMILIES AT A TIME.

BUT THOSE WERE REALLY LOW NUMBERS THAT THOSE OTHER TWO.

SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE CLOSED THOSE SHELTERS AND BEEN UTILIZING THEM, SAID FAIRGROUNDS.

THEY ALSO HAVE ABOUT TEN LIVESTOCK, WHICH ARE THOSE LARGE ANIMALS LIKE HORSES AND PONIES, I GUESS IS WHERE WE HAVE ARE.

AND THEN AS WE WORK FORWARD, WE ARE HAVING DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR CONTRACTED COMPANY, THE DISASTER RECOVERY CONSULTING.

THEY ARE HAVING MEETINGS.

CURRENTLY, RIGHT NOW WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS OUT TO START EVALUATING THE AREAS.

THEY'RE GOING TO START THIS CLEANUP PROCESS AND IT WAS A GREAT DEAL IS TO GET THEM ON BOARD WAY BEFORE THIS.

I HAVE TO GIVE MY CREDIT TO ADAM AMARAL, OUR OFFICE MANAGER.

HE WAS FORETHOUGHT AND WORKING WITH LINDSEY AND KIM IN TRYING TO GET THAT AGREEMENT SET UP.

I BELIEVE IT WAS YOURSELF SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA THAT WAS KIND OF REALLY PUSHING THAT, WHICH WAS AWESOME TO GET THAT GOING BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE THAT CONSULTANT THAT WE CAN UTILIZE MOVING FORWARD.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WILL SEE THOUGH, AND JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE USING THEIR COUNTIES RIGHT AWAY FOR THOSE FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO DROP THEIR DISPOSED ITEMS OUT OF THEIR OUT OF THEIR FRONT WAY.

SO THOSE THOSE DUMPSTERS WILL BE REMOVED IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

THE ALLOWING THE PUBLIC FOR PLANADA MCSWAIN, LE GRAND, IF ANY OF THOSE AREAS THAT WE DO FIND WITH THE ISSUE THAT THEY WILL BE PUTTING THOSE DISPOSED ITEMS

[00:45:03]

AND AS FAR AS THAT, WE HAVE ABOUT WE HAVE PROVIDED ABOUT ASSISTANCE TO ABOUT 560 RESIDENTS AS OF JANUARY 18TH.

AND OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS GOING TO BE A PROCESS THAT'S GOING TO TAKE WEEKS AND MONTHS MOVING FORWARD.

AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE THERE FOR THE COMMUNITY OF MERCED COUNTY.

AND WE'VE BEEN BEING PART OF THE PROCESS IS ALSO HELPING OUT, MERGE SAID, AND WORKING WITH MERCED CITY AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ALSO GETTING THEIR NEEDS MET THROUGH THE STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE.

AS FAR AS THAT GO IN THE REPORT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UNLESS YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE CHIEF? WELL, I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION, BUT, MAN, IT'S JUST BEEN AWESOME TO WATCH YOU WORK.

I'LL SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, AND THE.

I SPENT A LOT OF TIME.

I DIDN'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME AT THE OFFICE BECAUSE MY DISTRICT WAS RELATIVELY PROTECTED FROM THE FLOODS AND I DIDN'T WANT TO BE IN THE WAY.

BUT WITH THE TIMES I DID GO THERE, IT WAS JUST AMAZING TO SEE THE NETWORKING.

AND I GUESS MAYBE I DO HAVE A QUESTION NOW ABOUT WHAT THE CITY OF MERCED IS THERE A SPOT WHERE WE CONNECT AND OVERLAP WITH THEM, AND ARE THERE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING TO HELP THEM AND THEIR RESIDENTS AS WELL? YEAH. WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING COOPERATORS MEETINGS.

WE DID POSTPONE THOSE THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND.

WE NEEDED SOME MUCH NEEDED REST AND DURING THE GOOD WEATHER WE WANTED TO CAPITALIZE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO GET SOME REST THIS LAST WEEKEND.

BUT WE WERE KEEPING IN WITH COOPERATIVE MEETINGS AND TRYING TO TALK TO THEM AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN RELAY ANY INFORMATION.

AND THEN ALSO WITH THE FEDERAL AND STATE ASSISTANCE THAT WE'RE GETTING, THEY ARE ALSO WORKING WITH THE CITY OF MERCED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE THIER NEEDS ARE MET AS WELL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE.

I DID SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN THE EOC.

I GOT TO KNOW YOU GUYS VERY WELL, BUT TOTALLY IMPRESSED AT HOW IT WAS RUN HANDLING PHONE CALLS, TEXT MESSAGES OF FOLKS IN THE MCSWAIN AREA WHERE WE HAD THE LARGE BREAK.

IT WAS AMAZING HOW QUICK WE COULD RESPOND TO EVERY DETAILED CALL.

I KNOW WE ALWAYS WANT TO GET EYES ON BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF SCARED FOLKS WHO ARE TURNING TEXTING ME WITH, OH, I THINK THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND WE WOULD YOU KNOW, I'D JUMP IN MY TRUCK BECAUSE YOU GUYS HAD ASKED ME TO GET EYES ON AND WE GET OUT THERE TO TO LOOK AT IT.

AND AS SOON AS YOU GET OUT TO A POSITION FOR EYES ON TO EXPERIENCE IT, WE GET ANOTHER TEXT MESSAGE.

AND I'D HAVE TO TURN AROUND AND RUN BACK TO THE EOC BECAUSE YOU GUYS WERE GETTING INUNDATED WITH PHONE CALLS AND TEXT MESSAGES AND EMAILS AS WELL.

BUT TO SEE HOW IT WORKED AND ME AS A COUNTY SUPERVISOR WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF THE PROFESSIONALS AND ALLOW THE SETUP WORK. AND I APPRECIATED THAT.

ADAM AMARAL YOU DID A GREAT JOB SITTING AT THE TOP OF THAT PYRAMID AND FILTERING IT DOWN.

ANY INFORMATION I NEEDED.

IT WAS REAL TIME.

ANY TIME I NEEDED SOMETHING DONE, IT WAS REAL TIME.

THE SYSTEM WORKED.

I KNOW WE NEED TO MEET AND PROBABLY MAKE SOME TWEAKS AND SOME IMPROVEMENTS, BUT IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE HOW IT WAS SET UP AND HOW IT WAS ABLE TO WORK.

AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU AS WELL.

AND I THINK THIS MIGHT BE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE DO SOME SHOUT OUTS FOR FOLKS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR THAT STEPPED UP AND HELPED AS WELL.

BUT A BIG, HUGE SHOUT OUT TO JOE SANTONI.

IT WAS HIS RANCH THAT WAS IMPACTED BY BOTH OF THE BREAKS ON BEAR CREEK.

AND FOR HIM TO HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL TO RALLY THE LOCALS TO HELP PUT THAT TO BED.

SHAWN SLATE HUGE HELP.

CHRIS MORROW WAS RIGHT THERE AND IT WASN'T JUST THEM.

THEY BROUGHT THEIR ENTIRE COMPANIES, WHETHER IT WAS TRUCKING, CONSTRUCTION, WHATEVER, TO STOP THE FLOW OF WATER BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND.

WE COULDN'T PUMP MCSWAIN.

MCSWAIN WAS UNDER FLOW FOR FOUR DAYS BEFORE WE COULD STOP THAT WATER TO PUMP IT OUT.

MARK FURTADO WAS ON THE GROUND DIRECTING TRAFFIC WITH THE TRUCKS AND STONE RIDGE CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL.

PARENTS, STUDENTS, COACHES, TEACHERS WERE NOT ONLY FILLING SANDBAGS OR DELIVERING SANDBAGS, WELL, THEY WERE ACTUALLY DELIVERING SANDBAGS FOR FOLKS WHO COULDN'T FOLKS IN THEIR EIGHTIES, LATE SEVENTIES WHO COULDN'T DO IT.

THEY WERE LOADING THE STUDENTS WERE LOADING SANDBAGS ON THE FLATBEDS AND GETTING THEM OVER THERE AND SANDBAGGING, SANDBAGGING THEIR PROPERTIES.

[00:50:08]

AND IT'S IMPRESSIVE WHAT WE HAVE THERE.

AND IT WASN'T JUST DPW, CAL FIRE, IT WAS HSA WAS THERE FOR THE HUMAN SERVICES PORTION OF IT, GETTING FOLKS INTO THE SHELTERS. IT WAS AN EFFORT THAT COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT COULD WORK TOGETHER AND IT WAS AMAZING WHAT WE DID TOGETHER.

IT WAS GREAT. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS.

SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.

EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

UM, YOU KNOW, I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU AL OF YOU EOC.

UH, MARK AND ADAM, YOU KNOW ALL THE STAFF.

PUBLIC WORKS HAS BEEN GREAT.

I KNOW. I'VE BEEN DRIVING A LOT OF PEOPLE CRAZY WITH CAUSE, YOU KNOW, MY DISTRICT WAS HIT HARD AND PLANADA THE COMMUNITY ALSO, YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF MERCED AND I, YOU KNOW, AS SYMPATHIZED WITH EVERYBODY AFFECTED.

EVEN OUR STAFF WAS AFFECTED BECAUSE SOME OF THEM LIVED THERE IN BEAR CREEK AREA.

YOU KNOW, BUT IF WE YOU KNOW, I GOT A LOT OF CONCERNS FROM RESIDENTS.

IF WE HAVE A COUNTY EMERGENCY PLAN, I THINK WE SHOULD UPDATE IT, BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM TOLD ME NOBODY RECEIVED THE TEXT WITH THE EMERGENCY TO EVACUATE OR, UH, FORESEEN KNOW BEFORE RIGHT BEFORE THE BREAK.

I THINK THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT, YOU KNOW, PREPPED, YOU KNOW, TO EVACUATE.

AND NOBODY RECEIVED A CALL, WHETHER IT WAS MERCED OR, PLANADA OR MCSWAIN, I DON'T KNOW.

BUT I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO REVIEW A LOT OF THINGS.

BUT OF COURSE, THE SUPPORT REALLY HELPED.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALL KINDS SUPPORT.

YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, I WAS CALLING IN.

I WAS I KNOW I KEPT THEM PRETTY BUSY WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, ASKING FOR CONTAINERS TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, ONCE THE WATER IS RECEDED AND, YOU KNOW, FIRST THEY HAD TO PUMP THE WATER OUT AND ONE DAY IT WAS THREE OR FOUR FOOT HIGH.

THE NEXT DAY IT WAS GONE.

I THINK WE DID A GREAT JOB OF PUMPING IT.

BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, ALSO THE PUBLIC SAFETY, THE DEPUTY SHERIFFS WERE AWESOME OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, AS I WAS CONCERNED.

SO I GOT A LOT OF CALLS FOR A FEAR OF LOOTING.

SO I ASKED FOR EXTRA SUPPORT.

AND ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FROM AROUND THE COUNTY CAME EVEN FROM LIVINGSTON, WHERE I LIVE.

I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THEM OVER THERE.

SO ALL THE AGENCIES HELP.

THEY SCORTED PEOPLE TO THEIR HOMES TO MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY WAS LOOTING BECAUSE I WAS GETTING CALLS OF PEOPLE PORTRAYING THEMSELVES LIKE THEY WERE LIVING THERE, BUT THEY WERE ALL LOOTERS. SO I ONLY GOT A COUPLE OF CONFIRMATIONS, BUT I KNOW THAT I HEARD THERE WAS MORE LOOTING GOING ON, SO THAT'S WHY IT WAS SAFETY.

BUT THEN ALSO TO, YOU KNOW, WE GET THE PEOPLE'S COMPLAINTS ABOUT THEM NOT BEING ABLE TO GO TO THEIR HOMES, BUT IT WAS FOR THE SAFETY.

AND WE WANT TO PREVENT THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, ONE RESIDENT TOLD ME THAT SHE LOST ALL HER ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS BECAUSE THERE WERE STOLEN, YOU KNOW, FROM THE KIDS PRESENTS, YOU KNOW, AND, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD TO GO TO THE MIGRANT CAMP SINCE THEY WERE RENTERS, SO THEY COULDN'T STAY IN THEIR HOME.

SO, UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, IT WAS STILL VERY ROUGH, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE CLEANING, A LOT OF THEM ARE FARM WORKERS.

AND THERE WERE A LOT OF WORK ALREADY BECAUSE DUE TO THE RAINS AND, YOU KNOW, THE IN THE WINTER, THERE'S LESS LABOR, SO THERE'S JOBS.

BUT I CERTAINLY THINK OUR STAFF AND ALL OUR TEAM.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.

SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. THANK YOU.

NO, I WANT TO THANK ADAM, MARK, ALL THE COUNTY STAFF.

MARK HENDRICKSON RAUL.

EVERYBODY. I THINK EVERY DANA.

BRIAN BAYNE. EVERYBODY DID AN AMAZING JOB COMING TOGETHER AND IT WAS VERY INTERESTING TO SEE THAT.

I THINK SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL IS THE ONE THAT SAID KIND OF LIKE YOUR SUPER BOWL.

YOU'VE TRAINED FOR IT.

AND YOU COULD SEE THAT IT WAS YOU KNOW, IT WAS DONE IN A WAY THAT YOU GUYS ARE ABLE TO HANDLE EVERYTHING.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS OR ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT I THINK RESONATED JUST NOW, YOU KNOW, THIS WEEK WHEN ALL OF THIS IS SAID AND DONE, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO REFLECT ON THIS AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REEVALUATE WHAT WE DID RIGHT AND WHAT WE DID WRONG.

AND I'VE SAID THAT SINCE DAY ONE.

THERE'S ALWAYS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH, RIGHT? I THINK THAT WE DID DO A GREAT JOB.

I THINK THAT OUR JOB AS SUPERVISORS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SETTING POLICIES IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AND NOT GET IN YOUR WAY OR TELL YOU WHAT TO DO WHEN IT COMES TO THIS TYPE OF STUFF.

BECAUSE YOU'RE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS FOR THIS.

WE YOU WORK FOR US.

YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

AND IF WE'RE IN THE WAY, THEN IT DOESN'T HELP YOU DO YOUR JOB.

OUR JOB IS TO, LIKE YOU SAID, YOU 14 ARE CALLS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND DIRECTION.

[00:55:01]

I TALKED TO YOU, I TALKED TO MARK QUITE A BIT JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE HAD EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, HEY, I GOT THIS CALL.

WHAT DO I TELL THEM? AND I ALWAYS TOLD THE PEOPLE THAT I CAN'T GUARANTEE YOU THAT THEY'LL BE THERE TOMORROW.

BUT I CAN ASK THE QUESTION AND I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT I ASK I CAN ASK A QUESTION, AND I WOULD ASK THE QUESTION.

AND SURE ENOUGH, THEY WERE THERE.

AND I GET THE ANSWER AND I'D CALL THE PEOPLE RIGHT BACK OR SOMEBODY FROM THE AREA WOULD CALL THEM BACK.

AND THEY WERE SO GRATEFUL TO JUST HAVE SOMEBODY PICK UP THE PHONE AND LISTEN TO THEM AND SAY, HEY, THIS IS WHAT'S GOING ON, AND THEN FEEL LIKE THEY WERE BEING HEARD.

AND SO I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.

YOU KNOW, AGAIN, ANOTHER QUOTE THAT I HEARD TODAY I THOUGHT WAS REALLY, UM, THAT I WROTE DOWN THAT I THOUGHT WAS REALLY COOL WAS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE THE CENTER FOR WHAT WE DO. AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE DON'T LOSE FOCUS ON THAT.

YOU KNOW, OUR JOB IS POLICYMAKERS IS TO DO JUST THAT.

WE MAKE THE POLICY AND WE LET THE PROFESSIONALS RUN WITH IT.

AND I THINK YOU GUYS ARE DOING EXACTLY THAT.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

LIKE DARREN SAID, ALSO, THE YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT MERCED AND MERCED COUNTY IS THAT WHEN UNFORTUNATE EVENTS LIKE THIS HAPPEN, PEOPLE COME TOGETHER RIGHT AWAY AND THEY WANT TO PROVIDE HELP.

THEY WANT TO PROVIDE SUPPORT ALMOST TO I DON'T WANT TO SAY TO A FAULT, BUT THEY JUST WANT TO HELP OUT BECAUSE WE'RE GIVING COMMUNITY WE CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER, EVEN IF IT'S IN PLANADA OR GRAND OR WHATEVER.

MCSWAIN PEOPLE WANT TO HELP.

I KNOW THAT.

AND I WANT TO THANK OUR LADY OF MERCED SCHOOL.

THEY FILLED THE STUDENTS FILLED 2500 SANDBAGS.

AND I WANT TO THANK THE PRINCIPAL, MRS. BLACKBURN, FOR ALLOWING FOR OPENING UP HER SCHOOL TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO COME IN, PICK UP BAGS AND GO THAT NOW, I THINK THE KIDS WERE DOING IT BECAUSE, ONE, THEY GOT OUT OF CLASS AND THEN TWO, THEY GOT IN AND OUT AFTERWARDS.

SO THEY WERE PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

BUT I WANT TO THANK THAT.

AND THEN ALSO SATURDAY THROUGH CONGRESSMAN DOHERTY'S OFFICE AND THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, THEY I WAS ABLE TO GO OVER THERE AND HELP THEM LOAD UP TRUCKS FOR FULL OF SUPPLIES THAT THEY WERE TAKING ALL OVER.

AND I DIDN'T KNOW THIS, BUT THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH HAS AN EMERGENCY DISASTER TEAM THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

AND SO WE WERE LOADING UP SUPPLIES FOR THE GRAND AND PLANADA, BUT THEN ALSO A VAN THAT WAS HEADED TO LODI BECAUSE OF LODI WAS HIT HARD.

AND SO JUST TO SEE THAT PEOPLE ARE, YOU KNOW, DURING THESE TIMES, MERCED COUNTY AND THE RESIDENTS OF MERCED COUNTY ARE VERY SERIOUS AND THEY REALLY WANT TO HELP PEOPLE OUT.

AND THAT'S WHY I REALLY THINK THAT WE'RE A MODEL FOR HOW WE HANDLE THESE TYPES OF THINGS.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S BAD WHEN THEY HAPPEN, BUT KNOWING THAT WE HAVE GREAT PROFESSIONALS TO HANDLE IT AND WE HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT RALLIES AROUND THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. SO THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR PEDROZO YOU KNOW, THE ACCOLADES IS.

FAR AS THANKING STAFF, THEY DID AN AMAZING JOB.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT I WILL GIVE OUR COUNTY.

WE HAD THE FORESIGHT TO OPEN THE EOC WHEN WE SAW THIS SERIES OF STORMS COMING.

AND WHAT THAT ALLOWED US TO DO WAS REALLY YOU HAD SOME PEOPLE THAT HADN'T WORKED IN THAT SETTING BEFORE AND SOMEBODY WHO PERIODICALLY VISITED THE EOC THROUGHOUT THIS EMERGENCY, YOU COULD SEE THAT TEAM GETTING BETTER AND BETTER AT WHAT THEY DO.

UNDERSTANDING THEIR ROLES BETTER AS EACH DAY WENT BY.

YOU JUST CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE CAL FIRE FOLKS STARTING ALL THE WAY FROM CHIEF AND LOGAN SALES DOWN.

TOO MANY TO MENTION ALL BY NAME.

BUT THIS IS WHAT THEY DO.

THIS IS THEY DO EMERGENCY INCIDENT MANAGEMENT.

NOW YOU'RE BRINGING IN OUTSIDE PLAYERS, IF YOU WILL.

YOU HAVE DPW AND HRSA AND PPG AND E AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, ALL THESE OTHER FOLKS IN THERE.

BUT REALLY JUST A PHENOMENAL JOB.

AND I KNOW FOR THE FOLKS THAT'S HOUSES THAT GOT FLOODED, IT'S NEVER ENOUGH.

WE COULD NEVER DO ENOUGH FAST ENOUGH.

BUT WHAT I CAN PROMISE YOU IS THAT OUR FOLKS WERE WORKING.

I MEAN. CHIEF PIMENTEL MADE THE COMMENT ABOUT OUR LAST MEETING, BOTH CHIEF PIMENTEL AND DIRECTOR HENDRICKSON, WHO WILL BE UP HERE IN A MINUTE.

I FELT BAD FOR HIM AT OUR LAST MEETING.

THEY BOTH LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE READY TO FALL ASLEEP DURING THE MEETING, AND THAT WASN'T BECAUSE THEY WERE OUT PARTYING THE NIGHT BEFORE.

IT'S JUST LITERALLY THE DAYS AND DAYS OF BEING OPEN.

[01:00:02]

WE DID HAVE SOME WE HAD A LEVEE BREACH ON A CREEK OFF OF THE COASTAL RANGE UP THERE, BUT THAT WAS ADDRESSED WORKING WITH DWR.

THEY RELEASING WATER OUT OF THE DETENTION DAM, BUT ALL THAT WAS HANDLED THROUGH LOS BANOS CREEK.

WE FARED VERY WELL.

BUT I WAS HERE TO SUPPORT MY COLLEAGUES AND I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO THINK FOR ONE SECOND THAT THIS WASN'T AN ALL HANDS ON DECK APPROACH.

IT REALLY TO THE DETRIMENT AND I'LL SAY THIS, IS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER STUFF BECAUSE COUNTY BUSINESS STILL GOES ON WITH OR WITHOUT THE EMERGENCY THAT KIND OF GOT PUT ON THE BACK BURNER TOO, SO THAT WE WERE DEALING WITH THE EMERGENCY AND DEALING WITH STUFF IN REAL TIME.

THERE WERE LITERALLY THERE'S A NEW CRISIS EVERY SECOND.

SO AGAIN, JUST A GREAT JOB ON IT.

BUT NONE OF US CAN FORGET THAT IS WE'RE THROUGH THE IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY PART AND WE'RE DEALING WITH THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF THAT.

BUT THE REBUILDING PROCESS IS GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME.

YOU KNOW, I HEARD ONE ESTIMATE 18 MONTHS BEFORE WE'RE GOING, AND I SAID THAT SHOULD NOT STOP US FROM PUSHING TO TRY TO GET IT DONE IN A YEAR.

WE HAVE A LOT OF THAT PRESIDENTIAL THAT SPECIAL PRESIDENTIAL DECLARATION WAS HUGE FOR MERCED COUNTY BECAUSE THE EMERGENCY FEDERAL EMERGENCY ALLOWED US ACCESS TO HELP US FIGHTING THE EMERGENCY.

THE SPECIAL PRESIDENTIAL DECLARATION ALLOWS THAT FEDERAL ACCESS FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO GET THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED.

AND IF YOU THINK COUNTY GOVERNMENTS, A BUREAUCRACY, STATE GOVERNMENTS BIGGER AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS BIGGER.

BUT WHAT WE'RE COMMITTED TO IS WORKING WITH ALL THOSE FOLKS TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN HELP ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS THAT WERE AFFECTED GET SOME KIND OF NORMALCY BACK IN THEIR LIFE.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S LOST ON ANY OF US, BUT ALSO UNDERSTANDING THAT, AGAIN, GOD REST HIS SOUL, I'M STILL LOOKING FOR THAT MAGIC WAND THAT SUPERVISOR O'BANION, MY PREDECESSOR, WAS SUPPOSED TO LEAVE ME, THAT I COULD JUST WAVE IT AND TAKE CARE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS I'VE BEEN.

I'VE YET TO BE ABLE TO FIND THAT.

BUT WE ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH NOT ONLY OUR LOCAL PARTNERS, BUT OUR STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS TO GET THE RESOURCES TO THE FOLKS THAT NEED THEM THE MOST.

I THAT IS MY COMMITMENT.

I THINK THAT'S THE COMMITMENT OF THIS BOARD.

AND I GET THAT SOMETIMES YOU'RE GOING TO BE FRUSTRATED WITH THIS BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO THINK THAT IT'S FAST ENOUGH.

I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT WE'RE COMMITTED TO THIS.

WE REALLY ARE. THIS.

NONE OF US STARTED THIS.

NONE OF US ASKED FOR THIS AGAIN.

ANOTHER. IF I CAN CONTROL MOTHER NATURE, I PROMISE YOU I WOULD NOT BE HERE.

I WOULD BE ON A NICE BIG ISLAND SOMEWHERE IF I COULD.

IF I HAD THAT ABILITY TO DO THOSE THINGS.

WE DON'T. BUT WHAT MAKES THIS COMMUNITY GREAT IS WE'VE SUFFERED A TRAGEDY.

THERE'S NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT.

PEOPLE LOST IN A MATTER OF A COUPLE OF HOURS.

EVERYTHING THAT THEY OWN IS GONE.

AND BUT THIS COMMUNITY, THE WAY THAT THEY COME TOGETHER AND SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL MENTIONED IT EARLIER, THERE ARE FOLKS THAT THIS IS WHAT THEY DO.

THIS IS THEIR JOB IS TO BE HERE IN THESE EMERGENCIES.

BUT THE BIG THANKS GOES TO JUST THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE OUT THERE.

YOU KNOW, I KNOW OUT THERE ON THE WEST SIDE, A FARMER SEES THAT ONE OF THE CREEKS IS STARTING TO GET SOME BACK UP IN IT.

WE'RE STRETCHED SO THIN ON RESOURCES.

IF THEY CALL ME TO CALL SOMEBODY, TO GET SOMEBODY OUT THERE TO GO LOOK AT IT, THEN GET A TRACTOR OUT THERE TO DO IT.

BY THEN, THE WHOLE THING IS BLOWN OUT.

NO, HE JUST WENT OVER THERE, GRABBED HIS BACKHOE, CLEAN THE DARN THING OUT SO THAT THE WATER COULD KEEP FLOWING.

THOSE ARE THE UNSUNG HEROES, REALLY JUST NOT HAVING TO BE ASKED.

JUST. THEY'RE OUT THERE JUST TO TRY TO HELP THEIR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS.

SO I'M PROUD OF THE EFFORT THAT OUR TEAM HAS PUT FORTH INTO THIS.

AGAIN, NONE OF US ASKED FOR THIS.

NONE OF US KNEW.

WE HAD SOME INSIGHT THAT IT WAS KIND OF LINING UP OUT THERE, BUT JUST A GREAT WORK ACROSS THE TEAM.

BUT WE'RE COMMITTED TO, I COMMITTED TO AND I BELIEVE THIS BOARD IS COMMITTED TO TRYING TO GET BACK ON THE RIGHT ROAD HERE.

SO, CHIEF, THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. OH, I'M SORRY I GOT SO BUSY TALKING.

I SEEN HERE OK SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND I JUST I FAILED TO MENTION THERE'S ONE OTHER SHOUT OUT.

IT WAS ANDY KIRSTEN, OUR SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, A MCSWAIN.

HE WAS TRYING TO GET THEM BACK, AND HE WAS READY TO GET A CHP ESCORT TO BE ABLE TO GET FOLKS TO DRIVE IN THROUGH THE FLOODED AREA TO GET THEM TO SCHOOL BECAUSE THE BUILDINGS WEREN'T HURT. THEY WERE SET UP A LITTLE HIGHER, BUT IT WAS FLOODED ALL THE WAY AROUND.

AND I DID WANT TO MENTION, I KNOW WE HAVEN'T SAID ANYTHING ABOUT C.O.

MENDEZ, BUT CO MENDEZ WAS RIGHT THERE FROM THE START TO THE END, ALONG WITH MARK HENDRICKSON.

I MEAN, I THINK YOU GUYS PULLED A 36 HOUR SHIFT OR YOU GUYS WERE THERE AND THE WHOLE EOC WAS THERE.

MR. PIM YOU WERE THERE AS WELL.

YOU GUYS WERE THERE ALL NIGHT.

I REMEMBER SHOWING UP AND THE NEXT MORNING AND YOU GUYS WERE IN THE SAME CLOTHES THAT YOU WERE IN WHEN I LEFT YOU THAT EVENING.

AND IT JUST SHOWS YOU THE TOTAL DEDICATION.

AND DURING THE TIME A LOT OF MY PHONE CALLS, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE POINTING FINGERS OF SAYING WHO IS AT FAULT, WHO'S AT FAULT HERE?

[01:05:08]

LET'S GET THIS DONE. LET'S I DON'T WANT TO POINT FINGERS, BUT I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, IT'S FISH AND WILDLIFE FAULT.

THEY'VE HELD UP OUR CREEK, HELD UP FOR US BEING ABLE TO WORK IN THOSE CREEKS FOR OVER FIVE YEARS.

I WAS AT RCR LAST WEEK, RURAL COUNTIES REPRESENTING CALIFORNIA, AND I CAME OUT HARD SAYING THAT THEY HELD UP OUR PERMITTING PROCESS.

IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS SINCE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO.

I MEAN, THEY'RE TREES NOW IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR CREEKS BECAUSE WE WEREN'T ABLE TO CUT THEM.

AND AS SOON AS I SAID THAT AT OUR CRC, SANTA BARBARA SUPERVISOR STEPPED UP AND SAID, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT ALL OF OUR INLAND FLOODING WAS CAUSED BY PERMITS HELD UP BY FISH AND WILDLIFE.

AS SOON AS I WAS DONE. SUPERVISOR LOPEZ OUT OF MONTEREY COUNTY.

SUPERVISOR THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.

MONTEREY COUNTY.

ALL THE INLAND FLOODING WAS CAUSED BY PERMITS BEING HELD UP BY FISH AND WILDLIFE.

SO THERE YOU HAVE IT. I'LL POINT THE FINGER.

IT'S FISH AND WILDLIFE AND WE HAVE TO WORK HARDER.

I KNOW OUR FORMER ASSEMBLYMAN WORKED VERY HARD.

HE WENT TO THE DEPARTMENTS TRYING TO GET THEM DONE.

BUT FISH AND WILDLIFE HAS HELD UP OUR PERMITTING PROCESS.

WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO CLEAN OUR CREEKS AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE FLOODING IN MERCED COUNTY.

THANK YOU, CHAIR.

SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.

OH, THANK YOU, MR. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, FOR ADDRESSING THAT.

I THOUGHT I WAS I FAULT SOMEBODY SAID I WAS AT FAULT FOR NOT, YOU KNOW, GETTING THE LEVEES REPAIRED.

AND IF YOU GO TO A MOUSE CREEK IN PLANADA AFTER THE FLOODS, CALIFORNIA CORPS OF ENGINEERS WAS OUT THERE.

THEY CLEANED UP THE CREEK.

IF YOU GO THROUGH THE CREEK RIGHT NOW, THERE'S JUST PILES AND PILES OF BRUSH THAT WAS CLEAN FROM THE INSIDE.

BUT ALSO, TOO, I WANTED TO ADDRESS THAT.

WE NEED A A NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY OF PLANADA THAT WAS YOU KNOW, I'VE GOTTEN SO MANY QUESTIONS AND I'VE INTERVIEWS LA TIMES AND MANY OTHER REPORTERS HAVE GONE THERE.

WE DON'T HAVE AN ACTUAL COUNT OF HOW MANY PEOPLE GOT FLOODED IN PLANADA I'D SAY 6 TO 800 HOMES.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE.

I'M JUST GOING OFF WHAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TELLING ME AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.

PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.

I NEED A COUNTY ASSESSMENT TEAM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS THAT FOR THE PUBLIC VIEW, NOT JUST IN PLANADA, BUT, YOU KNOW, MERCED AND MCSWAIN.

SO THAT WAY WE CAN GIVE THE RIGHT NUMBERS TO THE MEDIA, WHOEVER ASKS.

AND ALSO WE CAN HAVE, YOU KNOW, FROM THE STATE WE NEED MORE SUPPORT FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

I KNOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS THERE, BUT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO SUPPORT NOW, YOU KNOW, A YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT I'M GLAD TO BE THINKING EVERYBODY IN THE SUPPORT STAFF IN OUR COUNTY, BUT WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY NOW.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR. THERE'S ONE FINAL COMMENT, CHIEF.

I KNOW YOU GET TO STAND THERE AND LISTEN TO US.

I'LL RAMBLE ON UP HERE.

BUT AS TO SUPERVISOR MCDANIELS POINT, WHEN THE GOVERNOR WAS IN TOWN A COUPLE SATURDAYS AGO, I DIDN'T MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH HIM THAT, YES, MOTHER NATURE BROUGHT US A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RAINFALL THAT WE MORE THAN WE NORMALLY GET.

AND I'M NOT PUTTING ALL THE BLAME ON IT, BUT THE STREAM ALTERATION PERMITS HAD OUR STREAMS BECAUSE THE COUNTY IS RESPONSIBLE TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE, BUT WE HAVE TO GET THAT PERMIT.

IT USED TO BE FISH AND GAME.

NOW IT'S CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE.

THEM HOLDING UP THOSE PERMITS DOESN'T ALLOW US TO GO IN AND.

DO THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

AND IF YOU JUST IMAGINE YOU HAVE ALL THESE TREES FURTHER UP THE CREEK AND IT STARTS TO SLOW THE WATER UP, STOP STARTS GETTING BACKED UP, AND THEN EVENTUALLY WATER IS A VERY POWERFUL THING.

IT'S GOING TO BREAK LOOSE.

AND WHEN IT DOES, NOW YOU JUST HAVE THIS TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WATER THAT COMES DOWN TO A SYSTEM THAT'S NOT DESIGNED TO BE ABLE TO HOLD THAT KIND OF CAPACITY AGAIN.

YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR DID ACKNOWLEDGE THAT'S A CHALLENGE, BUT IT WILL BE INCUMBENT UPON THIS BOARD AND A LOT OF OTHER BOARDS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THESE SAME PROBLEMS TO KEEP THE BRIGHT LIGHTS ON THIS SITUATION BECAUSE OF THEIR INACTION.

THEY TAKE THEY HAVE TO BEAR SOME RESPONSIBILITY TO THE DEVASTATION THAT WE FACE IN MERCED COUNTY.

AND I'M NOT GOING TO LET THEM FORGET ABOUT THAT.

SO, CHIEF, I THINK YOU'RE DONE NOW.

BUT I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT SOME FOLKS HAD ALREADY MENTIONED ABOUT THE FLOODS.

THIS IS A FLOOD UPDATE. I WANT TO OPEN IT UP FOR A FEW MINUTES OF PUBLIC COMMENT, IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS IT.

NOT SEE ANYONE. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR SECOND PRESENTATION.

AND THIS IS GOING TO BE BECAUSE WE DO WE ARE STILL DOING GOOD WORK IN MERCED COUNTY AND THE FLOODS HAVE NOT ENVELOPED OUR WHOLE LIVES.

THEY WANT TO KIND OF CELEBRATE A LITTLE BIT OF A HIGHLIGHT HERE ON THIS IS AN UPDATE ON THE CASTLE COMMERCE CENTER 2022 OVERVIEW.

I KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT DIRECTOR HENDRICKSON WAS WORKING ON PRIOR TO THE FLOODS, AND THEN HE GOT TAKEN OFF TO DO FLOOD WORK.

[01:10:09]

SO, DIRECTOR HENDRICKSON, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. GOOD MORNING.

I CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, BEEN OVERSEEING COUNCIL FOR A LONG TIME.

AND I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE VERY FIRST PRESENTATIONS OF THIS TYPE IN FRONT OF THIS BOARD.

SO I CERTAINLY WANT TO GIVE SUPERVISOR PEDROZO THE CREDIT FOR THAT.

HE HAD MENTIONED THIS AS A AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO KIND OF SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY THE GOOD WORK THAT THIS BOARD HAS BEEN DOING.

AND TODAY IS REALLY GOING TO BE A CELEBRATION.

I THINK A LOT OF RESPECTS AS TO THE ACTIONS THAT THIS BOARD HAS TAKEN OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME BECAUSE WHERE WE'RE AT.

SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO SUPERVISOR PEDROZO, BUT I CERTAINLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE A COUPLE OF FOLKS THAT I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

BOTH SUPERVISORS, MCDANIEL AND PAREIRA, HAVE BEEN PART OF THE CASTLE AD HOC COMMITTEE, WHICH IS TO SAY THAT THEY HAVE BEEN HELPING GUIDE AND PROVIDING INPUT FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

AND SO TO THE TWO OF YOU, REALLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OVER MANY YEARS, TO BE HONEST.

BUT THIS BOARD, COLLECTIVELY, I WILL TELL YOU IT HAS HAD A RAZOR SHARP FOCUS IN TRYING TO GROW AND DEVELOP.

CASTLE AND I'M REALLY ALSO YOU CERTAINLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE TODAY MY TEAM, MARK MIMS, WHO IS NOT HERE TO THESE ACTUALLY ABLE TO SPEND ALL TIME WITH FAMILY IN A DIFFERENT STATE COULD NOT BE MORE PROUD OF HIM.

I COULD NOT BE MORE PROUD OF REALLY MY COLLECTIVE TEAM, WHICH INCLUDES OBVIOUSLY PLANNING.

THEY'VE BEEN A BIG PART OF THIS AS WELL AND SOME MORE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF.

AND SO THIS IS A THIS IS A BIG TEAM EFFORT THAT I JUST GET THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING A VERY SMALL PART OF.

SO I WANT TO START THERE AND JUST ACKNOWLEDGE EACH OF YOU.

SO THE AS WE THINK ABOUT THIS 2022, AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT IT FROM A YEAR END STANDPOINT, WAS A SUCCESS FOR THIS BOARD.

THIS BOARD SEVERAL YEARS AGO, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL CAME ON THE BOARD.

WE STARTED THINKING ABOUT WHAT CAN WE DO AND HOW CAN WE DO IT BETTER THAN WHAT WE'VE DONE BEFORE.

AND WE'RE GOING TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY TODAY BUT BY AND LARGE, THIS PAST YEAR SAW A COUPLE OF FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION THAT REPRESENTED STEPS TO ACCOMPLISH THIS BOARD'S KIND OF CORNERSTONE OBJECTIVES FOR CASTLE, ONE OF WHICH WAS RELATED TO ADVANCING AUTOMATED TECHNOLOGIES, THOMAS VEHICLES, THAT TYPE OF STUFF AT CASTLE, AS WELL AS LAUNCHING OUR RAIL DISTRICT, WHICH HAS BEEN LONG A PRIORITY FOR THIS BOARD AND IN SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

AND SO WANT TO WE'LL SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT TODAY.

BUT AGAIN, ONE IS CERTAINLY ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE PARTNERS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH, BOTH TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH CENTER, WHICH IS NOW REFERRED TO AT CASTLE'S TRC, CALIFORNIA.

WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT IN DEPTH.

AND PATRIOT RAIL, WHICH IS NOW OPERATING IN 16 OR 17 DIFFERENT STATES.

THEY'RE CONTINUING TO GROW, BUT ALREADY DOING GOOD THINGS WITH US.

SO KIND OF THINK ABOUT IT FROM A TIMELINE PERSPECTIVE.

YOU KNOW, WHAT'S REALLY NOT ON THIS SLIDE IS CASTLE CLOSED IN 1995.

THERE WAS A, I WOULD CHARACTERIZE, A PERIOD OF DISC GOVERNANCE BETWEEN ABOUT 1995 AND 2000 WHEN THERE WAS A JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY THAT DISSOLVED YEAR 2000.

IT WAS LEFT IN THE HANDS OF THE COUNTY.

WE DIDN'T OWN THE PROPERTY YET.

WE WERE MANAGING IT AS AN INTERIM ASSET UNDER AN INTERIM ASSET MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 2006.

THIS BOARD, THEN SUPERVISOR, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AT THE TIME, MIKE NELSON, EXECUTED THE AGREEMENT TO ACTUALLY TO ACCEPT 1912 ACRES OF PROPERTY.

2006, WE HAD ROUGHLY ABOUT 50 TENANTS ON SITE, KIND OF GOING DOWN THE TIMELINE A LITTLE BIT.

2013 WE START THINKING ABOUT KIND OF SOME STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESSES.

2019 WE START SEEING A LOT OF START UPS.

JUST ONE EXAMPLE THAT IS THE TARMAC OUT THERE, WHICH WAS A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF REPURPOSING BUILDINGS THAT OTHERWISE WOULD LIKELY BE TURNED TORN DOWN. SO BLAKE BREWERY JUST WAS ONE EXAMPLE WAS OPERATIONAL 2022 AGAIN, START THINKING ABOUT TRC AND PATRIOT RAIL, BOTH OF WHICH HAVE SEEN GROWTH.

AND THEN PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE.

TODAY WE'VE GOT ABOUT 65 TENANTS ON SITE, OUR ENTERPRISE FUND KEEPING IN MIND THAT CASTLE IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY'S GENERAL FUND.

THAT IS A WE'LL SHOW YOU A SLIDE HERE IN A SECOND.

IT'S THE NEXT SLIDE THAT SHOWS THAT FROM 2006.

PRIOR TO THAT, PRIOR TO OUR THIS DEPICTS 2012 OBVIOUSLY FROM ABOUT 2006 TO 2012, WE WERE ESSENTIALLY BEING THE GENERAL FUND WAS HELPING SUPPORT THIS ENTERPRISE FUND.

SO ABOUT 2012 WE WENT FROM BEING IN THE BIG IN THE RED TO BEING IN THE BACK TO BACK TO.

SQUARE ONE OR LEVEL.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE TODAY, WE HAVE A CASH BALANCE IN EXCESS OF $6 MILLION.

PRETTY PROUD OF THAT. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IF I WAS TO TAKE A LOOK AT OVER MY TENURE HERE WITH YOU RUNNING IT LIKE A BUSINESS, I THINK WAS PRETTY, PRETTY CRITICAL.

YOU'LL SEE ONE DIP. I JUST WANT TO REFERENCE THE DIP ON THAT LINE.

THAT WAS WHEN THIS BOARD HAD TO FLOAT THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR TREE PROJECT PRIOR TO ACTUALLY RECEIPT OF THOSE.

[01:15:04]

AND THAT'S AGAIN, WE HAVE TO GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT IN PARTICULAR TO FORMER ASSEMBLY MEMBER ADAM GRAY IN THAT RESPECT.

SO, AGAIN, AS WE CAN SEE FROM THIS SLIDE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GROW OUR ENTERPRISE FUND SIGNIFICANTLY.

NEXT SLIDE WAS THIS BOARD HAS ALSO HAD A FOCUS ON GOOD STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND GOOD DECISIONS RELATED TO PRIVATIZATION. THIS PAST YEAR, THIS BOARD EXECUTED FOR PROPERTY SALES GEMINI LLC, WHICH THE VERY TOP PICTURE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE IS A DEPICTION OF THE WORK THAT'S GOING TO BE ACCOMPLISHED TO TRANSFORM SOME OLD UNUSED DORMITORIES THAT WERE IN BAD SHAPE TO SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT MORE PRODUCTIVE, SOMETHING THAT COULD BE USED AS AN EXAMPLE.

MATTER OF FACT, THE PROPERTY OWNER DID REACH OUT TO ME AS TO EXPRESS INTEREST TO PROVIDE SOME TEMPORARY SHELTER DURING OUR MOST RECENT EVENT.

THE BOTTOM RIGHT, I'LL COME BACK TO THE OTHER TWO HERE IN A SECOND WAS THE LAST SALE THAT THIS BOARD AGREED TO, AND THAT'S TO A LOCAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY WHO'S ALREADY STARTING TO WORK ON THE SITE, GETTING THE SITE PREPARED TO BUILD THAT BUILDING THAT'S ACTUALLY DEPICTED ON THAT SLIDE.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO SEE TWO FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS, ALL AGAIN AS A RESULT OF YOUR WILLINGNESS TO PRIVATE TO PARTNER EFFECTIVELY WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

THE TWO IN THE MIDDLE ON THIS SLIDE, BOTH HYDRA AND PATRIOT RAIL.

THIS BOARD OBVIOUSLY HAD A VERY SIGNIFICANT FOCUS AS IT RELATES TO LOGISTICS AND THE MOVEMENT OF THINGS FROM THIS REGION TO THE PORTS.

AS AN EXAMPLE, HYDRA WAS IS A SACRAMENTO BASED COMPANY THAT OPERATES AT MCCLELLAN.

THIS BOARD HAS HAD ITS OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THEM.

THEY ACQUIRED THEIR PROPERTY IN SEPTEMBER.

AND PATRIOT RAIL WITH THIS BOARD ESTABLISHED A PARTNERSHIP WITH IN FEBRUARY LAST YEAR, ACQUIRED 6500 FEET OF EXISTING TRACK IN OCTOBER AS WELL.

ANOTHER THING I WOULD WANT TO GIVE THIS BOARD A LOT OF CREDIT.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS LONG OVERDUE.

THIS BOARD AND OUR CEO WORKED INCREDIBLY HARD TO IDENTIFY THE FUNDING NECESSARY TO TAKE DOWN SOME BUILDINGS IN EXCESS OF TEN WERE TAKEN DOWN, WHICH DOES WHAT IT CREATES MORE DEVELOPABLE SPACE FOR YOU TO ACHIEVE YOUR OBJECTIVES, WHICH IS LARGELY GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON WHAT CAN WE DO TO CONTINUE GROWING OUR RAIL DISTRICT, WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN A SUBSEQUENT SLIDE.

BUT ONE THING THAT I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AS A PART OF THIS, BECAUSE OF YOUR EFFORTS TO ACTUALLY IDENTIFY THAT FUNDING YOU HELPED MAKE CASTLE SAFER AND WE REMOVE SOME BLIGHT THAT WAS THERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME VERY PROUD OF THAT PROJECT.

AND I WILL SAY VERY PROUD OF OUR PUBLIC WORKS ORGANIZATION AS WELL, WHO IS WHO DID A VERY NICE JOB ORCHESTRATING THAT WITH THE CONTRACTORS THAT WERE ON SITE, REFERRED TO TRC.

CALIFORNIA MULTIPLE TIMES AS BOARD IS VERY WELL AWARE, BUT FOR THE PUBLIC THIS IS A ESSENTIALLY A 225 ACRE PLAYGROUND FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES IS THIS BOARD AND THE PUBLIC MAY KNOW.

YEARS AGO WE ESTABLISHED A PARTNERSHIP WITH WAYMO, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY GOOGLE'S DRIVERLESS CAR COMPANY.

THIS IS SEPARATE AND DISTINCT FROM THAT BECAUSE OF THE SUCCESS THAT WE IT HAS A COUNTY WITH WAYMO THAT LED US TO OTHER COMPANIES WHO BASICALLY SAID, HEY, IF YOU BUILD IT, WE WILL COME. AND THAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENED.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS SLIDE, THERE'S NOW 28 INDEPENDENT COMPANIES THAT'S GOING TO ALSO INCLUDE THE DIVISIONS WITHIN EACH ONE OF THOSE COMPANIES THAT COULD BE DIFFERENT.

BUT THEY'VE ALREADY LOGGED MORE THAN 12,000 TESTING HOURS ON SITE.

THEY'VE ALSO GROWN THEIR EMPLOYEES HAVE CURRENTLY HAVE 11 EMPLOYEES ON SITE.

ALL BUT ONE IS A LOCAL HIRE.

THE ONLY ONE THAT WAS NOT WAS A GENTLEMAN THAT CAME FROM THEIR PRIMARY SITE IN OHIO WHICH THERE THEY OPERATE THE LARGEST PROVING GROUND IN NORTH AMERICA. THE ONE THING I WOULD SAY IS, WELL, THIS HAS HELPED FACILITATE SOME FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS ON THE SITE.

THE ONE THAT WOULD PROBABLY HIGHLIGHT THE MOST IS THE OVAL TRACK KIND OF RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

THAT'S A TWO AND A QUARTER MILE OVAL TRACK THAT THESE COMPANIES ARE USING WITH REGULARITY.

AND THESE ARE COMPANIES THAT COME FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE GLOBE.

AND SO THAT'S HAPPENING IN YOUR BACKYARD AGAIN, AS A RESULT OF THIS BOARD'S LEADERSHIP ON TRYING TO BRING NEW TECHNOLOGIES, NEW ADVANCEMENTS TO COUNTY.

ONE THING I WOULD MENTION, THIS IS JUST A STAT THAT WAS GIVEN TO US FROM TRC THROUGH THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA WORK.

THEY'VE HAD MORE THAN 1.5 MILLION IMPRESSIONS AS A PART OF THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE IN COLLABORATION WITH US.

THE MERCED COUNTY CENTRAL VALLEY RAILROAD WAS LAUNCHED LAST YEAR.

THAT'S ACTUALLY A AS FILED WITH THE RAIL ADMINISTRATION BACK IN DC.

THAT'S THE NAME OF OUR RAILROAD.

[01:20:03]

SO WHAT DID THIS BOARD DO? THIS BOARD FACILITATED AN ENVIRONMENT FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS WITHOUT ACTUALLY USING LOCAL REVENUES.

PRETTY, PRETTY SIGNIFICANT STEP.

AND AGAIN, THAT'S JUST THAT'S LEADERSHIP.

ONE ON ONE IS TRYING TO PARTNER WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE.

THEY'VE ALREADY MADE OVER $2 MILLION IN INVESTMENTS ON SITE.

THE PICTURE AT THE BOTTOM WAS THE WHEN THEY WERE ACTUALLY INSTALLING.

SOME NEW TRACK ON ON CASTLE.

ONE THING I WOULD MENTION, ONE OF OUR TENANTS HAS ACTUALLY ALREADY TRIPLED THEIR VOLUME.

THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.

AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, THEY DID ACQUIRE THE EXISTING RAIL LINE ABOUT 6500 FEET.

THAT'S ON CASTLE.

OBVIOUSLY, THAT GOES OUT TO THE BURLINGTON NORTHERN MAIN LINE.

ONE THING I WOULD SAY, AGAIN, THINKING ABOUT TEARING DOWN THOSE BUILDINGS, WE'VE GOT AGAIN, ABOUT 70 PLUS ACRES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON NEXT.

WE'VE GOT SIGNIFICANT GROWTH POTENTIAL.

HOW DO WE CONNECT THE DOTS BETWEEN MERCED COUNTY AND GLOBAL PORTS? HOW DO WE HELP OUR AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY MEET THEIR NEEDS AND DEMANDS? UNDERSTANDING THAT THE SUPPLY CHAIN IS DIFFERENT TODAY THAN IT WAS PROBABLY YESTERDAY.

THIS BOARD AND YOUR EFFORTS HAVE ACTUALLY POSITIONED MERCED COUNTY TO BE A PART OF THAT SOLUTION, WHICH ACTUALLY LEADS ME TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

SO A FEW WEEKS AGO, THIS COUNTY HERCULEAN TASK, AGAIN, I HAVE TO GIVE MARK MEMS CONSULTANTS, PATRIOT RAIL, OUR GRANT WRITERS SIGNIFICANT CREDIT BECAUSE PUTTING TOGETHER A PROPOSAL TO AGAIN FOR THE PURPOSES OF GROWING OUT THIS RAIL DISTRICT THAT THIS BOARD ENVISIONS, WE ADVANCED A $49.2 MILLION PROPOSAL THAT WE HOPE SOMETIME THIS SPRING WE WILL FIND SOME SUCCESS.

IF WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT, OUR VISION COLLECTIVELY WILL RESULT IN WHAT'S ESSENTIALLY OVER TO THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, WHICH IS NEW BUILDINGS GOING UP, WAREHOUSES, ADDITIONAL TRACK, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF MORE USABLE SPACE, CONNECTING WITH THE OUTWARD MERCED EXPRESSWAY, CONNECTING AND INTEGRATING WITH OUR AIRFIELD.

THERE'S VERY FEW SITES, I WOULD ARGUE, ANYWHERE IN THIS COUNTRY WHERE WE'VE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE THAT NEXUS BETWEEN HIGHWAY, AIRFIELD AND RAIL.

BECAUSE OF YOUR EFFORTS, WE ARE POISED TO DO EXACTLY JUST THAT.

I THINK THIS IS MY LAST SLIDE AND THIS IS MORE JUST AN OUTLOOK, JUST A HANDFUL OF THINGS.

THIS BOARD, ALTHOUGH THE BOARD ACTED ON THIS IN 2022, THE TRC FOLKS HAVE ACTUALLY ONE OF OUR UNSTATED GOALS IN THE VERY BEGINNING WAS TO ATTRACT PERMANENT RESIDENT TENANTS.

SO IT'S AN UNNAMED TENANT.

I DON'T KNOW WHO THAT IS, I SUSPECT I KNOW WHO THAT IS, BUT THEY WILL BE ACTUALLY OPERATING OUT OF A BUILDING AT A CASTLE THAT IS GOING TO BE PLUS OR MINUS AN ADDITIONAL 50 OF FOLKS THAT WILL BE HERE AND MOST LIKELY HIRED LOCALLY.

AS IT RELATES TO THE RAIL DISTRICT, AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED, TRANS LOADING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW BUILDINGS IS ANTICIPATED TO TAKE PLACE OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT YEAR. IN PARTICULAR, IF WE'RE SUCCESSFUL WITH ALL OR A PORTION OF THE GRANT THAT WE SUBMITTED, CASTLE AIRPORT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A FOCUS.

THIS IS AS WE THINK ABOUT AND I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS EVEN IN RECENT DAYS ABOUT HOW DO WE LEVERAGE CASTLE FOR USE BY FEMA AND OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS AND CERTAINLY WANT TO COMPLIMENT YOU AGAIN, OUR PARTNERS IN THAT RESPECT WITH CAL FIRE TRYING TO HELP US CONTINUE TO POSITION CASTLE AIRPORT AS BEING A PLACE OF FOCUS.

BUT WE DO BELIEVE AS IT RELATES TO THE RAIL DISTRICT, THAT WE COULD WELL INTEGRATE THAT AS IT RELATES TO SHIPMENT OF CARGO AND ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED THERE WITH.

AND THEN LASTLY, CLOSE WITH AGAIN, KIND OF THE HEART OF CASTLE, WHICH IS WHEN YOU COME INTO THE FACILITY, IT'S YOU'VE GOT BLAKE OR RIGHT THERE TO YOUR RIGHT, BUT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE KIND OF A RENAISSANCE.

WE'VE SEEN BUILDINGS COME DOWN, WHICH IS CHANGING THE OVERALL LANDSCAPE AND WILL PROVIDE FOR EVEN GREATER OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW MANUFACTURING AND OTHER ASSOCIATED ACTIVITIES IN WHAT IS REALLY THE COMMERCE CENTER OF PORTION OF OF OUR FACILITY.

MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. THAT'S ABOUT IT CERTAINLY WANT TO AGAIN ACKNOWLEDGE EACH OF YOU THANK YOU FOR GIVING YOUR STAFF THE SUPPORT NECESSARY TO UNDERTAKE SOME OF THESE ACTIVITIES AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

THANK YOU, MR. HENDRICKSON.

SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MARK, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

PLUS, I JUST LIKE TO LOOK AT THE BOARD WITH MY COLLEAGUES.

YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

CASTLE IS LITERALLY MY LITERALLY MY BACKYARD.

IF I LOOK OVER MY FACE, MY COLLEAGUE SUPERVISOR PAREIRA HAS BEEN THERE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY SINCE YOU'VE BEEN ELECTED.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT AS WELL.

THIS IS SOMETHING I MEAN, I THINK TWO NIGHTS AGO WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE NOT WOKEN UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IN A COLD SWEAT WITH A DREAM OF A LEVEE BREAKING.

BUT ALL THE OTHER NIGHT, IT'S BEEN ABOUT CASTLE.

AND I MEAN, FROM THE TIME THAT I SWORE IN TO SIT IN THIS CHAIR.

[01:25:04]

HE GRACIOUSLY ACCEPTS THE TEXT MESSAGES OF 5:00 IN THE MORNING WHEN I'M TEXTING HIM AN ARTICLE FROM THE WALL STREET JOURNAL OF SOME OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE SEE OUT THERE AND TO ME BEING FEELING GOOD ABOUT IT.

HE USUALLY GETS A TEXT BACK AND HE'S ALREADY HAS BEEN ENGAGED WITH ONE OF THOSE COMPANIES.

HE KNOWS IT BEFORE IT'S BEING PUBLISHED.

AND JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE YOUR WORK THERE.

I KNOW THERE'S STILL A LOT MORE TO DO.

I THINK THAT PICTURE THAT YOU TOOK OF THE LAND WHERE WE DROP THOSE UNACCEPTABLE BUILDINGS, THEY ACTUALLY PLANTED IT.

AND WITH ALL THIS RAIN, IT'S ACTUALLY GREEN GRASS.

SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE MORE GRASS TO MOW OUT THERE.

BUT IT LOOKS VERY NICE AND IT'S VERY PRESENTABLE FOR FOLKS WHENEVER THEY COME AND WANT TO GROW THEIR COMPANIES, WHETHER IT'S OUT OF THE BAY AREA, WHICH WE KNOW WE'RE WORKING WITH SOMEBODY RIGHT NOW WHO WOULD LIKE TO RELOCATE A MANUFACTURING COMPANY OUT THERE FROM THE BAY AREA, IT LOOKS MORE PRESENTABLE AND IT'S MORE PALATABLE FOR FOLKS TO GROW. BUT NO, AGAIN, A BIG SHOUT OUT TO YOU.

I SEE MR. LEVEE OVER THERE KIND OF SNICKERING.

HE GETS TEXT FROM ME NOW EARLY IN THE MORNING AS WELL.

SO APPRECIATE ALL YOUR WORK ON THIS.

THANK YOU. CHAIR. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL SUPERVISOR PEDROZO THANK YOU.

I DID ASK FOR THIS UPDATE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, FOR THE LONGEST TIME, STAFF HAS BEEN KIND OF BEATEN UP ABOUT CASTLE AND NOT DOING ANYTHING.

AND EVERY TIME THEY DO, THEY JUST KEEP THEIR HEAD DOWN AND KEEP GRINDING AND KEEP GOING AND KEEP GOING.

AND I THINK THAT THE REASON SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL THAT YOU HAVE SO MUCH SUPPORT IS BECAUSE IT DOESN'T JUST AFFECT YOUR DISTRICT, IT AFFECTS THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

AND SO WE RECOGNIZE THAT BECAUSE AS IT GROWS, THE COUNTY GROWS.

AND I MEAN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING ONTO THAT PROPERTY THAT WANT TO DO BUSINESS, I MEAN, YOU LOOK AT PEOPLE LIKE SHANE PARSONS, WHO WANTS TO GROW EVEN MORE.

YOU LOOK AT JIM AND I SEE ALL THESE OTHER GROUPS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

IT GOES TO SHOW YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON THAT DEVELOPMENT AND WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF IT.

AND I JUST WANT TO THANK MR. HENDRICKSON AND YOUR STAFF FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND NOT LOSING FOCUS ON THE WHOLE GOAL, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE THAT AS SUCCESSFUL AS IT CAN.

AND I THINK YOU GUYS ARE CONTINUING TO DO GOOD WORK.

SO KEEP IT UP. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

YEAH, I KNOW IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING.

I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND YOUR TEAM STAYING STEADY AND AND REALLY CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLKS TO COME AND INVEST IN MERCED COUNTY.

YOU KNOW, SEVERAL OF US SIT ON SIGMA BOARDS, GSA BOARDS, AND WE KNOW THAT THE CUTBACKS IN WATER ARE COMING, AND THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT OUR AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY AND THEREFORE THE ECONOMY OF MERCED COUNTY.

AND SO MY IMPETUS WAS TO DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD CREATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

OUR COUNTY AND SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL HAD THIS VISION AND, YOU KNOW, ALTHOUGH IT HADN'T BEEN PERFECT ALONG THE WAY, YOU KNOW, I WILL SAY THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE REALLY HAVEN'T MISSED THE MARK AT ALL.

PRIOR TO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAD OUR GROWING PAINS, BUT, YOU KNOW, AND THEN I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE THE VALUE OF THIS CAL STATE GRANT AND WHAT THAT COULD DO FOR MERCED COUNTY.

SO, YOU KNOW, TO MY COLLEAGUES, ANY STATE REPRESENTATIVE THAT YOU HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH, YOU KNOW, PLEASE MAKE A PHONE CALL AND ASK THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT A LEGISLATIVE DECISION, THEY STILL HAVE INFLUENCE IN SACRAMENTO.

AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO US.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN AND I LOOK FORWARD TO TEN YEARS FROM NOW THEN, YOU KNOW, SEEING THIS UPDATE AGAIN AND JUST HOW IT'S IN, IT'S IMPROVED.

AND THEN THE ONE THING THAT I KNOW.

IS, EVEN THOUGH WE YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER OF BUSINESSES OUT THERE IS ONLY INCREASED MODESTLY.

THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES, PEOPLE WORKING OUT THERE HAS INCREASED IMMENSELY AND ULTIMATELY, THAT'S OUR GOAL IS TO HELP FOLKS GET JOBS SO THEY CAN PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND HAVE A BETTER LIFE.

SO THANKS AGAIN. THANK YOU.

HE HAD, I THINK, TO SUPERVISE A PERIOD AT THAT POINT IS THERE'S 65 BUSINESSES OUT THERE THAT ARE TENANTS, BUT A LOT OF THOSE ARE NEW TENANTS.

IT'S JUST THE YOU KNOW, SOME WENT AWAY AND WE GAINED SOME NEW ONES.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WITH ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT IS THIS BOARD AND TAKING THE INITIATIVE TO KNOCK THOSE DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS DOWN.

IF YOU LOOKED AT AN EARLIER SLIDE, IT TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE SALES OF PROPERTY OUT THERE.

[01:30:04]

BUT THE AMOUNT OF REMEDIATION THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE ON THAT SITE WAS PHENOMENAL.

IT WAS PILES OF MONEY.

AND SO BY US TAKING THE INITIATIVE TO GET THOSE BUILDINGS KNOCKED DOWN, NOW WE DON'T WE COULD SELL IT FOR WHAT THE VALUE OF THE LAND IS AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE REMEDIATION PIECE. SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING TO HIGHLIGHT.

WHEN I GOT ON THIS BOARD, I SAID THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK THAT WAS DONE BEFORE I EVER GOT HERE, AND I'VE BEEN HERE FOR YEARS, A LITTLE OVER FOUR YEARS NOW.

BUT WE WERE WHEN I GOT HERE, WE STARTED TO SEE THE FRUITS OF THE LABOR OF THE FOLKS THAT WERE HERE BEFORE ME, THE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE BEFORE I GOT HERE.

SO REALLY, FOR ME, IT WAS REALLY EASY TO GET ON BOARD WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING OUT THERE BECAUSE THEY DID ALL THE HEAVY LIFTING.

AND I JUST GOT TO, I'M GOING TO SAY, MAKE THE EASIER DECISIONS THAN THE FOLKS BEFORE ME.

SO AND AGAIN, IT GOES BACK TO IS, YOU KNOW, IF CASTLE'S DOING WELL, THE WHOLE COUNTY IS DOING WELL.

SO JUST GREAT WORK, YOU AND YOUR TEAM.

AND KEEP IT UP. KEEP LOOKING FOR THAT NEXT LITTLE NUGGET THAT'S GOING TO MAKE MERCED COUNTY EVEN GREATER THAN IT IS.

SO THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU, SIR.

ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON MR. HENDERSON'S PRESENTATION? NOT SEEING ANYBODY JUMPING UP.

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THAT ITEM AND WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO.

OUR CONSENT CALENDAR.

NEXT IS APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 15.

[CONSENT CALENDAR]

ALL RIGHT, I WILL.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT ITEM FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 15.

I'M NOT SEEING ANYONE.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.

CAN WE PLEASE? OH, I'M SORRY.

I'VE GOT TO GET USED TO THAT PART.

SUPERVISOR PARIERA.

THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO GIVE SOME RECOGNITION TO ITEM 15.

THIS IS FOR CERTIFICATES THAT WE'RE GIVING TO MEMBERS OF OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

YOU KNOW, I COULDN'T BE THERE ON TUESDAY MORNING FOR THEIR EVENT, AND I HAD ASKED STAFF TO PREPARE, AND MY COLLEAGUES SIGNED CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION AND CHAIR SILVEIRA WILL GET THOSE TO THE FOUR PEOPLE WHO WERE ACCOMMODATED.

AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE STORIES, YOU KNOW, IS ABOUT A PERSON THAT'S COMMITTING SUICIDE.

AND OUR DISPATCH AND SHERIFF'S OFFICE GET THERE SOON ENOUGH TO SAVE THE PERSON'S LIFE.

AND I MEAN, THAT'S JUST PHENOMENAL.

IT'S GOT TO BE PERSONALLY REWARDING FOR FOR THEM FOR THAT.

BUT ALSO, THERE ARE HEROES IN MY BOOK.

SO ANYWAYS, JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THEM ONE MORE TIME.

THANK YOU. WE HAVE CALLED FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

ALL RIGHT. NEXT, WE HAVE PUBLIC WORKS.

[BOARD ACTION]

PLEASE NOTE THAT ITEM 16 IS TO INTRODUCE AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE ADDING SECTION 9.06.1502 AND AMENDING SECTIONS 9.06.070 AND 9.06.080 OF CHAPTER 9.06 ORGANIC WASTE DISPOSAL REDUCTION TITLE NINE OF THE MERCED COUNTY CODE, WHICH WILL SUSPEND AND POSTPONE SPECIFIC PROVISIONS OF MERCED COUNTY CODE CHAPTER 9.06 AND WAIVE FURTHER READING. ITEM 17 IS TO INTRODUCE AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 5.90 OF THE MERCED COUNTY CODE TO INCREASE REFUSE COLLECTION FEES AND CHARGES FOR SOLID WASTE FRANCHISE AREAS ONE THROUGH FIVE AND UNINCORPORATED MERCED COUNTY AND WAIVE FURTHER READING.

AND PLEASE NOTE ON ITEM 21, THE CONTRACT WITH DRC PACIFIC IS BEING AMENDED TO INCLUDE EXHIBIT D, ENTITLED FEMA REQUIRED CONTRACT CLAUSES.

A COPY OF EXHIBIT D IS AVAILABLE IN THE BACK FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO REVIEW AND A FULL COPY IS AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW IN THE CLERK OF THE BOARD OFFICE.

THANK YOU. WE WILL GO TO PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR MR. HERTFELDER. GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

I WANT TO TAKE JUST A FEW MINUTES TO DISCUSS FIRST ITEM NUMBER 16.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGENDA ITEM IS TO INTRODUCE A PROPOSED ORDINANCE SUSPENDING AND POSTPONING SPECIFIC PROVISIONS OF MERCED COUNTY CODE.

[01:35:08]

SPECIFICALLY, THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE SUSPENDS FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME THE REQUIREMENT TO SUBSCRIBE TO MANDATORY ORGANIC RECYCLING REQUIREMENTS MANDATED BY SB 1383, WHICH THE COUNTY IS CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF NEGOTIATING WITH OUR HAULERS FOR A NEW FRANCHISE OR REVISED FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS TO COMPLY WITH SB 1383.

AND ONE OF THE ISSUES WE'RE STILL STRUGGLING WITH IS TRYING TO IDENTIFY A FACILITY THAT CAN TAKE THE ORGANIC WASTE AS REQUIRED BY SB 1383, WHAT WE CONSIDERED AFFORDABLE COST.

THERE JUST SIMPLY ISN'T ANYTHING RIGHT NOW LOCAL.

THERE ARE FACILITIES, BUT THEY'RE QUITE FAR AWAY AND WE JUST DON'T THINK THEY'RE VIABLE OPTIONS.

THE COUNTY IS WORKING WITH THE REGIONAL WASTE AUTHORITY AND OUR FRANCHISE HAULERS TO IDENTIFY AN ACCEPTABLE ORGANIC FOOD WASTE RECYCLABLES.

THE OTHER THING WE'RE ASKING IS TO POSTPONE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR TIER ONE EDIBLE FOOD RECOVERY REPORTING FOR ONE YEAR.

THIS PROGRAM HAS JUST BEEN ESTABLISHED BY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, BUT THERE SIMPLY HASN'T BEEN ENOUGH TIME TO ALLOW FOR THE REQUIRED PROGRAM REPORTING FROM THE TIER ONE FACILITIES.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. HERTFELDER? ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS 16 THROUGH 21? THAT'S AN WHAT WE'LL BRING BACK UP TO THE DICE.

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

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

NEXT, WE HAVE HEALTH ITEMS 22 AND 23.

ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THESE ITEMS? LET'S SEE. ANYONE BRING IT BACK UP TO THE DIAS.

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

WE CALL FOR THE VOTE.

SURPRISE FOR US. ESPINOSA WILL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

NO. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

OH. DID SOMEBODY HAVE A.

OH, OKAY. THANK YOU.

THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

5 TO 0.

NEXT, WE HAVE ITEM, UH, C, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES.

ITEM 24.

OKAY. ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEM 24? NOT SEEING ANYONE. BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA.

LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE VOTE PASSES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

NEXT, WE HAVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY OR EXCUSE ME, HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY.

ITEMS 25 AND 26.

ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? LET'S BRING IT BACK TO THE DYESS.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.

I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

NEXT, WE HAVE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ITEMS, 27 AND 28.

ALL RIGHT. ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? LET'S BRING IT BACK TO THE DYESS.

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

HIS FINGER MUST HAVE FELL ASLEEP TODAY.

ALL RIGHT. NOT SEEING ANY COMMENTS.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

EXCUSE ME. CALL THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

5 TO 0. NEXT, WE HAVE FIRE ITEMS 29 AND 30.

PLEASE NOTE A 4/5 VOTE IS REQUIRED ON ITEM 30.

IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM?

[01:40:01]

WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA, A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

WE WILL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

NEXT, WE HAVE PROBATION ITEMS 31 AND 32.

THE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THESE ITEMS. NOT SEE ANYONE. WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DICE.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

NEXT, WE HAVE ITEM 33 EXECUTIVE OFFICE.

I'M SORRY I STOLE YOUR THUNDER ITEMS. 33 AND 34 WILL BE TAKEN SEPARATELY.

PLEASE NOTE ON ITEM PLEASE.

NOTE ITEM 33 IS TO CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENT OF KIMIKO VANG AS DIRECTOR OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES AT THE ANNUAL SALARY OF $176,467 AND APPROVE A-LEVEL BENEFITS EFFECTIVE JANUARY 30TH, 2023, SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE STATE. ALL RIGHT.

WE WILL GO TO CEO MENDEZ.

YES, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO BRING BEFORE YOU OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES DIRECTOR POSITION, PUBLIC GUARDIAN CONSERVATOR.

MS. KIMIKO VANG IS THE CANDIDATE THAT WAS OUR TOP CANDIDATE DURING OUR RECENT RECRUITMENT.

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT KNOW MRS. VANG, SHE'S OBVIOUSLY KNOWN TO A LOT OF FOLKS HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.

SHE CURRENTLY WORKS WITH THE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY AS A DEPUTY DIRECTOR OVERSEEING THE FUNCTIONAL AREA OF EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING HAS A VERY IMPRESSIVE RESUME AND REALLY SEPARATE HERSELF FROM A VERY TALENTED GROUP OF PROFESSIONALS, BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL, THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE PROCESS. ULTIMATELY, IT CAME DOWN TO KIND OF HER LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND PHILOSOPHY ABOUT TRYING TO WORK AND FOCUS ON THE DEPARTMENT FIRST BEFORE EXTENDING SERVICES AND FOCUSING EFFORTS OUT INTO THE SERVICES, INTO THE COMMUNITY.

MS. VANG DOES HAVE OVER 15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH IN PUBLIC SERVICE QUITE A FEW OF THOSE YEARS WITH OBVIOUSLY MERCED COUNTY, BUT ALSO STINTS IN STANISLAUS COUNTY AND I BELIEVE SAN JOAQUIN TO NAME A FEW.

SHE ALSO HAS A VERY IMPRESSIVE EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND, BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S DEGREES FROM THE STATE OR CALIFORNIA STATE, UNIVERSITY OF STANISLAUS GO WARRIORS, AND THEN ALSO A DOCTORATE IN SOCIAL WORK FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, IN ADDITION TO BEING LICENSED AS A CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER.

SO JUST ALL IN ALL, REALLY HAPPY WITH THE PROCESS, REALLY HAPPY WITH OBVIOUSLY THE SELECTION OF MS. VANG TO LEAD THE DEPARTMENT GOING FORWARD.

AS ALL OF YOU ARE AWARE, THIS POSITION BECAME VACANT WITH THE RECENT DEPARTURE OF GENEVIEVE VALENTINE TO SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY OR A FEW MONTHS AGO.

I WANTED TO OBVIOUSLY EXTEND OUR APPRECIATION TO MISS YVONNE BROWN, WHO'S BEEN SERVING IN AS AN INTERIM OR ACTING DIRECTOR, PROVIDING LEADERSHIP, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THE REST OF THE LEADERSHIP TEAM.

IT'S BEEN KIND OF A SMOOTH TRANSITION AND I THINK THAT'S AN INDICATOR OF JUST A GOOD LEADERSHIP THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE WITH THE DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

I THINK MS. VANG WILL COUNCIL KIND OF ROUND OUT THAT LEADERSHIP TEAM AND REALLY POSITION IT TO DO GREAT THINGS, CONTINUE TO DO GREAT THINGS GOING FORWARD.

SO WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO BRING THAT RECOMMENDATION BEFORE YOU FOR CONFIRMATION AS VANG IS PREPARED TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS.

BUT I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO THE CHAIR.

BUT THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

MR. MENDEZ. ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? NOT SEEING ANY. WE'LL BRING IT BACK UP TO THE DAIS AND WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA.

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

THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

MS. [INAUDIBLE] , I'LL INVITE YOU UP TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

AND SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK NOW OR DID YOU? NO, I'LL WAIT. PERFECT.

COME ON UP. GOOD

[01:45:04]

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. CEO MENDEZ.

IT'S MY HONOR TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY.

MY NAME IS KIMIKO VANG, AND I'VE WORKED FOR MERCED COUNTY FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS IN LEADERSHIP POSITION.

FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS, I'VE SERVED AS DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY.

AND THERE I'VE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAILY OPERATIONS AND STRATEGIC PLANNING OF SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAMS. WE'RE PURPOSE TO STRENGTHEN INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, ADDRESS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES AND DRUG AND ALCOHOL ISSUES AND HOMELESSNESS WITH THE GOAL OF EMPLOYMENT TOWARDS SELF SUFFICIENCY. I AM A LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER WITH OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FIELD, AND MY CLINICAL EXPERIENCE INCLUDES PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO ADULTS AND CHILDREN WHO WERE VICTIMIZED WITH SEXUAL ABUSE, CHILDREN, VICTIMS OF CRIMES AND INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM TRAUMA.

I AM A LONG TIME RESIDENT OF MERCED COUNTY AND A PROUD ALUMNI OF MERCED HIGH SCHOOL AND MERCED COLLEGE.

AND AS CEO MENDEZ IS MENTIONED, I ALSO HOLD A BACHELOR'S IN SOCIOLOGY AND A MASTER'S IN SOCIAL WORK FROM CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, STANISLAUS, AS WELL AS A DOCTOR OF SOCIAL WORK DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

THIS IS A STRONG DEPARTMENT WITH PASSIONATE STAFF WHO ARE COMMITTED TO SERVING OUR COUNTY.

WE ARE HERE TO SERVE PEOPLE.

AND AS DIRECTOR, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE AT THE CENTER OF OUR SERVICES.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO JOINING THE DEPARTMENT AND WORKING WITH STAFF AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN LEADING OUR EFFORTS IN PROVIDING QUALITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO OUR COUNTY. I AM COMMITTED TO THE SUCCESS OF BEATRICE AND MERCED COUNTY, AND I'M READY TO GET TO WORK.

THANK YOU. SURPRISED OUR PRIOR DID YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND QUEUE IN? YOU QUEUED THERE FOR A SECOND.

THERE YOU GO. WELL, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. WELL, CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DEPARTMENTS.

SO, YOU KNOW, AS A SUPERVISOR, WELL, CONGRATULATIONS.

AND I'M KIND OF EXCITED TO HAVE YOU IN THIS POSITION.

AND, YOU KNOW, LISTENING TO YOU THIS MORNING AND YOUR VISION AND HOW YOU PLAN TO APPROACH THE DEPARTMENT IS JUST SPOT ON FOR ME.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR VISION.

AND THEN SECONDLY, YOU KNOW, AS A SUPERVISOR, RIGHT WHEN WE COME INTO THE MEETING, WE'RE ALWAYS KIND OF LOOKING AT THE CROWD AND TRYING TO SIZE UP, IS THERE SOMEBODY WHO'S GOING TO GOT A NEGATIVE THEY'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT.

BUT SO THERE'S SOME PEOPLE HERE THAT I DON'T RECOGNIZE.

AND WHEN YOU YOUR ITEM CAME UP, THEY PUT THE CAMERAS UP.

SO IS THERE SOMEBODY YOU'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE? SO MY PARENTS ARE HERE AS WELL AS MY STAFF IN THE BACK.

SO I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE MY SUPPORT SYSTEM HERE AND AS WELL AS MY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FROM [INAUDIBLE] SHARON IS HERE AS WELL AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.

WELL, THEN MY LAST COMMENT WOULD BE TO YOUR PARENTS.

THANK YOU FOR RAISING SUCH A FINE YOUNG LADY.

ALL RIGHT, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU, KIMIKO.

I THINK WITH THE EXPERIENCE AND I THINK THIS DEPARTMENT IS, UH, NEEDS A GOOD LEADER.

AND WITH ALL YOUR EXPERIENCE AND ON THE SIDE AND WITH YOUR EXPERIENCE IN MENTAL HEALTH, I THINK THAT YOU'LL BE A GREAT SUPPORTER FOR ALL MERCED COUNTY RESIDENTS AND EMPLOYEES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE LAST TWO DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HIRE ARE HOMEGROWN.

AND I THINK THAT IS A TESTAMENT.

AND THEN LISTENING TO YOU THIS MORNING ABOUT HOW YOU WANT TO REALLY FOCUS ON THAT AS WELL.

AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME BACK.

AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT REALLY STRUCK WITH ME WHEN YOU SAID THIS MORNING THAT, YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH YOU GOT HIRED BY SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY AND THEN WENT TO WORK AT OTHER PLACES, YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO COME BACK HERE.

AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

SO THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS.

SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

THANK YOU, [INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. CAMECO CONGRATULATIONS.

I'M EXCITED TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THERE'S A FEW WARRIORS HERE AT THE DAIS THAT ARE HAPPY TO SEE THAT STANISLAUS STATE IS REPRESENTED HERE AT MERCED COUNTY.

BUT NO, I REALLY ENJOYED YOUR VISION.

AND LIKE I SAID, KNOWING YOU FROM YOUR OTHER POSITION.

REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE WHAT YOU DO IN YOUR NEXT AT THE NEXT LEVEL.

SO THANK YOU AND THANK YOU TO YOUR PARENTS TO FOR RAISING SUCH A FINE PERSON.

THANKS. THANK YOU.

WE SPOKE EARLIER WHEN WE MET IN CLOSED SESSION.

JUST REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE POINT THAT YOU BROUGHT UP ABOUT JUST FOCUSING ON THAT HOMEGROWN TALENT.

[01:50:05]

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE OUR PATH TO VICTORY.

AND SO I HOPE THAT YOU CONTINUE WITH THAT.

CONGRATULATIONS. I'M SURE MOM AND DAD ARE PRETTY PROUD CAMPERS TODAY, TOO.

SO JUST EXCITED TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD.

IT'S WE TALKED ABOUT IT A LOT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THE SILENT PANDEMIC WAS THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS THAT'S GOING ON LOCALLY AND ACROSS OUR STATE AND ACROSS OUR COUNTRY.

IT'S A DAUNTING TASK THAT YOU'RE UP AGAINST, BUT I FEEL LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THE CHALLENGE HEAD ON AND TRY TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.

LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE.

FIND OUT WHERE OUR SUCCESSES ARE.

WE COULD ALWAYS DO A LITTLE BIT BETTER AND HOW DO WE MAKE OURSELVES MORE EFFICIENT.

SO THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU. YEAH.

OKAY. ITEM EXECUTIVE OFFICE ITEM 34.

I GO TO CEO MENDEZ ON THIS ONE? YES. UH, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AS OUR GUESTS ARE MAKING THEIR WAY TO THE PODIUM, JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE THIS ITEM.

ITEM BEFORE YOU IS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER THE RECOMMENDED ACTION OF ADOPTING A RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE COUNTY'S CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN THE MERCED COUNTY COUNTY REGIONAL WASTE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY'S FLOOD CONTROL POLICY, AS STATED IN YOUR AGENDA AS THE BOARD IS WELL AWARE, AS MEMBERS OF AG, THE MERCED COUNTY REGIONAL WASTE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY HAS BEEN WORKING FOR SOME TIME ON DEVELOPING OPTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER IN TERMS OF HOW TO PROCESS ORGANIC WASTE HERE LOCALLY. SO WE HAVE KYLE LAREDO, WHO IS A DIVERSION PROGRAM MANAGER THAT'S HERE TO PRESENT SOME INFORMATION.

ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT KYLE AND OUR CONSULTANT HAVE BEEN MAKING THEIR WAYS TO THE INCORPORATED CITIES.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY BELIEVE THEY'VE BEGUN THAT PROCESS.

I THINK I SAW A PRESENTATION WITH THE CITY OF LIVINGSTON HERE RECENTLY.

I KNOW CITY SAID IT'S SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY, SO MAYBE THEY CAN PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON KIND OF THAT SCHEDULE.

ATWATER LAST NIGHT. THANK YOU.

SO THEY'RE MAKING THE ROUNDS.

OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS REALLY KIND OF A POLICY DISCUSSION FOR YOU.

IT IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT, BUT CERTAINLY IT MAKES SENSE IF WE PROCEED FORWARD THAT THE TWO LARGEST JURISDICTIONS BE PART OF THE PART OF THE PARTNERSHIP. AND I'LL LEAVE IT UP TO KYLE, BUT I KNOW THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IT'S COMING BEFORE YOU AS A RECOMMENDED ACTION AS OPPOSED TO JUST AN INFORMATION ITEM.

SO AT THIS POINT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO KYLE TO PRESENT THE INFORMATION AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MENDEZ. YES. HAL, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

YES. GOOD MORNING, SUPERVISORS.

KYLE, ADULT DIVERSION PROGRAM MANAGER WITH RWA.

FOR THOSE NOT AWARE, THE RWA IS MERCED COUNTY'S WASTE AUTHORITY.

WE RUN THE TWO LANDFILLS HERE IN THE COUNTY.

AS MENTIONED EARLIER, SB 1383 IS REQUIRING DIVERSION OF ORGANIC MATERIAL FROM OUR LANDFILLS, WILL NO LONGER BE ALLOWED TO PUT IT INTO OUR LANDFILLS.

AND THERE ISN'T A VIABLE OPTION LOCALLY TO PROCESS THAT MATERIAL.

AND SO OUR BOARD, WHICH YOU ALL SIT ON, ASKED US TO HELP FIND AN OPTION AVAILABLE FOR THE COUNTY AS WELL AS THE CITIES IN MERCED AND SO PHILIP'S GOING TO UPDATE YOU ON WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING ON YOUR BEHALF AND GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION ON SB 1383.

THANK YOU TO THE BOARD CHAIR AND CEO FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK HERE TODAY.

I'M GOING TO DO A QUICK OVERVIEW OF 1383.

I'M SURE YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH IT.

WE'VE PRESENTED IT BACK IN THE SPRING, BUT I'LL GIVE A QUICK OVERVIEW.

MOSTLY FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION.

THEN I'LL TAKE A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE WITH ALL THE DUE DILIGENCE AND STEPS WE HAVE TAKEN TOWARDS IDENTIFYING A PROCESSING OUTLET FOR YOU.

AND THEN WE'LL CONCLUDE WITH QUESTIONS.

SO 1383 WAS PASSED IN 2016 AND SIGNED BY GOVERNOR BROWN WITH THE INTENTION OF REDUCING SHORT LIVED CLIMATE POLLUTANTS, PRIMARILY METHANE, AS IS WHAT WE'RE TARGETING IN THE SOLID WASTE SECTOR. AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS ORGANIC WASTE, INCLUDING FOOD WASTE AND YARD WASTE, CAN NO LONGER BE PLACED IN LANDFILLS.

WE CAN'T BURIED IN A HOLE.

WE HAVE TO FIND SOME DIVERSION OUTLET FOR IT, WHETHER IT'S COMPOSTING, ANAEROBIC DIGESTION OR ONE OF A FEW OTHER ALLOWABLE OPTIONS THAT WILL MOSTLY BE TASKED TO YOUR HAULERS. THE COLLECTION OF THAT.

BUT AS MR. HERTFELDER PREVIEWED, THERE'S A PRETTY LARGE OR AN ABUNDANT LACK OF PROCESSING INFRASTRUCTURE STATEWIDE.

AND ULTIMATELY YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COMPLIANCE OF ORGANIC WASTE GENERATORS WITHIN YOUR COMMUNITY, WHICH REQUIRES ORDINANCES AND POLICIES WHICH YOU HAD ADOPTED IN 2022 IN ORDER TO FILE A CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN.

BUT THERE'S ALSO A HOST OF OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT ARE RELATED, AS WELL AS WE DIVERT THIS ORGANIC MATERIAL AND PRODUCE THINGS LIKE ENERGY, COMPOST AND MULCH, SOMEONE NEEDS TO

[01:55:08]

AND THE STATE DECIDED THAT JURISDICTIONS LIKE YOURSELF WOULD BE A GOOD OUTLET FOR THIS.

SO THERE'S PROCUREMENT REQUIREMENTS TO PROCURE SOME OF THESE PRODUCTS OR TO FIND DIRECT SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO CAN PROCURE THEM ON THEIR BEHALF.

ANOTHER ELEMENT IS MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAMS AND IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE, THERE'S OBVIOUS EDUCATION AND OUTREACH THAT NEEDS TO OCCUR IN ORDER TO AFFECT BEHAVIOR CHANGE.

AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING TO LEVERAGE YOUR PARTNERS, SUCH AS THE FRANCHISE HAULERS TO PROVIDE THIS EDUCATION.

BUT QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER MAY NOT ALWAYS BE ENOUGH.

IN A SENSE, YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE ENFORCEMENT ARM.

YOU'LL ALSO NEED TO PROVIDE SOME EDUCATION WHEN YOU FIND VIOLATIONS.

AND THE FINAL COMPONENT THAT'S EFFECTIVE IS THE RECORDKEEPING AND REPORTING.

SO THERE'S VOLUMINOUS RECORD KEEPING REQUIREMENTS NOW SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN THERE WERE UNDER AB 939 IN THE PRIOR LEGISLATION.

AND THEN BEGINNING 2024, IF PEOPLE ARE IN VIOLATION, YOU'LL BE TASKED WITH ISSUING NOTICES OF VIOLATION.

AND THERE'S CORRECTIVE TIME PERIODS WHERE THEY HAVE TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE OR ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTERING FINES OR SOME OTHER REMEDY TO GET THEM INTO COMPLIANCE.

SO A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY.

IN 2019, THE AUTHORITY, THE RWA, HIRED US TO TO COME UP WITH ACTION PLANS FOR BOTH THEMSELVES AND EVERY MEMBER AGENCY OF THE RWA.

AND ONE OF THE TASKS WE UNDERTOOK WAS LOOKING AROUND WITHIN 150 MILES, WHICH SEEMED TO BE KIND OF THE TRUCKING LIMIT THAT COULD FINANCIALLY MAKE SENSE FOR MOVING THIS ORGANIC MATERIAL. AND WE FOUND THERE REALLY WAS NOWHERE TO TAKE IT AT THAT TIME.

SO THE RECOMMENDATION WE HAD WAS TO GO OUT TO BID AND MAYBE GET A TRANSFER FACILITY TO BRING IT SOMEWHERE.

MAYBE THERE WAS SOMEONE WHO WAS HIDING OR IN THE PERMITTING PHASE, OR MAYBE SOMEONE COULD RUN THIS FACILITY FOR YOU AT HIGHWAY 59, WHICH ALREADY HAS A FULL SOLID WASTE PERMIT, WHICH EASES THE DEVELOPMENT.

SO WE RELEASED THE RFP, AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT, WE ALSO DUSTED OFF OUR 2019 2020 STUDY.

WE KNOW THIS IS A NEW HOT BUTTON ISSUE IN FAST MOVING.

AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS THERE WAS ONLY ONE FACILITY WITHIN 100 MILES THAT COULD REASONABLY TAKE YOUR MATERIAL.

THEY DID NOT PROPOSE ON THE RFP, WHICH ALLOWED THEM TO PROPOSE, BUT WE DID NOT THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF COMPETITION OUT THERE.

IF THERE'S ONLY ONE ONE PERSON WHO CAN TAKE IT AT THIS JUNCTURE.

SO WE RECEIVED THREE PROPOSALS.

WE DID OUR DUE DILIGENCE, WENT TO THE SITES, MET WITH THEM, INTERVIEWED THEM, AND ULTIMATELY TWO WERE FOUND TO BE NON RESPONSIVE TO THE RFP PARAMETERS.

SO WE HAD AN EVALUATION COMMITTEE THAT CONSISTED OF SEVERAL OF THE MEMBER AGENCIES AND WE ENTERED NEGOTIATIONS WITH CALIFORNIA WOOD RECYCLING DBA AGREEMENT.

SO AGREEMENT WAS FOUNDED IN 1972 AND FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS THEY HAVE BEEN COMPOSTING.

THEY CURRENTLY HAVE 30 ORGANIC WASTE PROCESSING SITES, ONE HERE IN MERCED COUNTY AT BOLES FARM AND THEN THREE OTHER THAT ARE LOCATED AT LANDFILLS.

AND THE REASON THAT'S IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE IF YOU WERE TO TRY TO PERMIT A COMPOSTING FACILITY DOWN THE STREET, THAT'S GOING TO TAKE YOU SEVERAL YEARS IF YOU COULD GET THROUGH THE PERMITTING PROCESS, SINCE WE ALREADY HAVE A FULL SOLID WASTE PERMIT AT THE LANDFILL AND A COMPOSTING, IT'S A SIMPLE AMENDMENT TO THE PERMITTING, WHICH IS A MUCH QUICKER PROCESS, CAN GET YOU IN COMPLIANCE BY THOSE TIMELINES THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.

AND ALSO, THEY'RE USED TO BEING A PARTNER WITH PEOPLE WE'VE TALKED TO THERE, OTHER PARTNERS, BIOTECH DOWN IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, WHERE THEY'RE CO-LOCATED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE A RESPONSIBLE TENANT AND THEY'RE NOT BUTTING HEADS OVER THE SITE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THEY ALSO HAVE NO PAST LITIGATION OR NOTICE OF VIOLATION HISTORY FROM THE ARB OR WATER BOARDS OR THE STATE.

SO THEY SEEM TO BE PERFORMING WELL.

AND THERE'S A TERM LENGTH OF TEN YEARS WHICH ALIGNS PERFECTLY WITH THE DEPRECIATION SCHEDULE FOR ALL OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND ASSETS THAT THEY'LL BE PROCURING TO BUILD THIS FACILITY. SO IN TERMS OF THEIR TECHNICAL FACILITY, THERE'S A TWO PHASED APPROACH.

PHASE ONE IS TO BRING BRING THE MEMBER AGENCIES THAT USE THE FACILITY INTO COMPLIANCE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

AS WE SAW EARLIER, THE COMPLIANCE DEADLINE WAS JANUARY 1ST OF 2022.

WE HAVE GOTTEN A CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN FROM CAL RECYCLE, WHICH IS ALLOWS US TO TECHNICALLY KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD A LITTLE BIT AND THAT DELAYS THE RATE INCREASES TO YOUR RATEPAYERS. BUT A LOT OF THAT IS INCUMBENT UPON US OR YOURSELVES TAKING ACTIONS TO EVENTUALLY COMPLY.

SO PHASE ONE WOULD ALLOW FOR BAD FOOD WASTE TO GO IN THE RESIDENTIAL GREEN WASTE CONTAINERS ROLL OUT OF THESE CONTAINERS OF THE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE THEM, AND THEN THAT WOULD BE HANDLED AT THE FACILITY.

AND THEN PHASE TWO, THEY WOULD BE BUILDING A STATE OF THE ART COVERED A-RATED STATIC PILE FACILITY.

YOU'RE CURRENTLY RECEIVING ABOUT 30 TO 35000 TONS OF ORGANICS AT HIGHWAY 59.

WE'VE SIZED THIS FACILITY AT 90,000 TONS, SO THAT WAY MATERIAL CAN BE IMPORTED FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY TO HELP REDUCE THE OVERHEAD COSTS.

THERE'S A PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM WILL COMPLY WITH ALL THE MANUFACTURERS OF THE EQUIPMENT, AND THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO ACT AS A BROKER WITH THE COMPOST AND MULCH ON YOUR BEHALF. I TALKED EARLIER ABOUT THAT.

YOU WOULD BE THE ONES RESPONSIBLE FOR PROCURING THESE, AND YOU HAVE TARGETS THAT ARE SET AT 0.08 TONS PER PERSON OR PER RESIDENT, BUT THEY HAVE OUTLETS, THEY HAVE FARMING OPERATIONS.

SO IF YOU CAN'T USE ALL OF THIS COMPOST OR MULCH, THEY CAN PUT IT OUT TO FARMS AND DIRECT SERVICE PROVIDERS SELL IT, WHICH WILL HELP OFFSET THE COSTS AS WELL.

[02:00:06]

SO IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A COMMUNITY GIVEAWAY, USE IT ON YOUR MEDIANS.

USE IT FOR FIRE REMEDIATION, THINGS LIKE THAT, AND IT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO YOU.

SO THE PROPOSED PRICING IN PHASE ONE IS ABOUT $54 PER TON FOR THE GREEN WASTE SLASH FOOD WASTE, THE MIXED ORGANICS AND THEN SOURCE SEPARATED FOOD WASTE WOULD BE ABOUT $60 PER TON.

ONCE THEY BUILD THE NEW FACILITY, THE PRICE WILL GO UP TO COVER THAT CAPITAL INVESTMENT.

SO RESIDENTIAL MIXED ORGANICS WILL BE ABOUT $66 A TON.

AND THE FOOD SCRAPS, WHICH IS JUST GOING TO BE TRANSFERRED OFFSITE TO A DIFFERENT OPERATION, WILL MAINTAIN AT $60 PER TON.

AND FRANKLY, I WAS SURPRISED THAT THE REASONABILITY OF THIS PRICING, AS WE LOOK AROUND THE STATE, IT'S PRETTY EXPENSIVE.

I CAN RECALL IN THE LAST SIX YEARS I'VE WORKED ON PROBABLY 80 OF THESE DEALS.

I'VE SEEN A PRICE UNDER $100 TWICE THAT I CAN REMEMBER.

THAT'S OK. WE LOOK AT THEIR PANELS, SO WE'LL PICK THOSE APART IF THEY COME WITH HIGHER PRICES.

SO IN TERMS OF FLOW CONTROL, YOU'RE CURRENTLY HAVE AUTHORITY, CURRENTLY HAS FLOW FOR SOLID WASTE RECYCLING AND ORGANICS BECAUSE OF THIS LEGISLATION AND THE PRICE INCREASES WE'RE SEEING WITH MORE ROUTING, MORE LABOR, MORE TRUCKS AND PROCESSING, THEY RELAXED THIS IN 2020.

SO IF JURISDICTIONS CAN FIND ADDITIONAL OUTLETS THAT ARE CHEAPER, THEN THEY CAN GO TO THE AUTHORITY, AND THE AUTHORITY WILL LET YOU OUT OF YOUR OBLIGATION TO USE THEIR FACILITY.

WITH THAT SAID, WE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING.

I WAS TALKING WITH ONE OF YOUR HAULERS THIS MORNING AND THEY SAID, YEAH, WE HAVE AN OUTLET, BUT IT'S FAR AWAY AND IT'S GOING TO COST MORE.

SO WE WANT TO USE 59 AND IN ORDER TO DEVELOP THIS FACILITY, WE DO NEED SOME LEVEL OF COMMITMENT AND WE NEED ANCHOR TENANTS, RIGHT? NO ONE'S GOING TO COME OUT AND BUILD A 90,000 TON FACILITY AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN ON DAY TWO, WE SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT ELSEWHERE, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE SEEKING A RESOLUTION CONFIRMING FLOW.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL OPEN IT UP TO ANY QUESTIONS.

ANY QUESTIONS? SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

YEAH, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

YOU KNOW, THE. I GUESS WE HAVE A MANTRA UP HERE.

YOU KNOW, DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER.

AND SO I'M NOT BLAMING YOU FOR WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH.

I SERVE ON THE AIR DISTRICT BOARD, AND THIS ITEM, SB 1383, IS GOING TO INCREASE THE POLLUTION HERE IN THE VALLEY BECAUSE WE'RE RUNNING MORE TRUCKS AROUND.

AND THE AMOUNT OF POLLUTION THAT'S GOING TO STOP IS PRETTY MINIMAL COMPARED TO THAT.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN A BITTER PILL FOR ME AND YOU HAVEN'T BEEN HERE OR SOME OF THE LAST MEETINGS, BUT A BITTER PILL FOR MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL, AND ULTIMATELY A BITTER PILL FOR THE THE CONSTITUENTS THAT WE SERVE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, SORRY YOU HAD TO HEAR THAT, BUT I JUST CAN'T HELP BUT SHARE MY FRUSTRATION WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, YOU KNOW, DO GOODERS, YOU KNOW, MAKE PLANS THAT, YOU KNOW, MAY WORK SOMEWHERE, BUT THEY MAKE EVERYBODY PARTICIPATE IN THEM.

AND EVEN IF IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, RIGHT, WHEN YOU RAISE THAT ISSUE TO THE STATE, THEY BASICALLY SAY, WELL, WE DON'T CARE.

RIGHT. AND SO THAT'S FRUSTRATING.

BUT ANYWAY, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

AND I DON'T REALLY HAVE A QUESTION, BUT I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT ON PUBLIC RECORD.

THANK YOU. SO, I MEAN, MY COMMENTS ARE GONNA BE A LOT LIKE HIS.

UM, JUST FRUSTRATED WITH 1383 IN GENERAL.

APPRECIATE THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.

I KNOW THE FACILITY OUT ON THE WEST SIDE THAT THEY'RE PARTNERS WITH, WITH BULLS FARMING OUT THERE.

PRETTY LEGIT OPERATION.

I GUESS THE THING THAT INTRIGUES ME THE MOST ABOUT THIS PRESENTATION, I STILL THINK WE NEED TO SUE THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA OVER 1383 BECAUSE POORER RURAL COUNTIES ARE THE PEOPLE THAT THEY SAY THEY CARE ABOUT THE MOST ARE THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED THE MOST IN THE COST OF IT'S GOING TO IT'S GOING TO COST THEM MORE MONEY TO EMPTY THEIR TRASH.

BUT IS JUST IF AND I GET WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR HERE TODAY AND I'M PROBABLY GOING TO SUPPORT MOVING FORWARD, THIS IS JUST HAVING THE KIND OF THE SENSE THERE ARE NO OTHER LOCATIONS TO DO THIS RECYCLING.

IF WE'RE GOING TO DO ONE AT OURS, WE MIGHT AS WELL BUILD A FACILITY THAT'S NOT ONLY GOING TO HANDLE OURS AND HANDLE POTENTIAL FURTHER FUTURE GROWTH, BUT BEING ABLE TO MAYBE BRING IN SOME OUTSIDE SOURCES TO THAT.

THAT HELPS TO LESSEN THE COST TO MY BOSSES.

SO I APPRECIATE THE GOOD WORK THAT'S ON THAT BEING DONE ON THAT BACK.

IF YOU GO BACK ONE SLIDE, MAYBE IT'S A COUPLE SLIDES THERE ON THE PRICE PER TON.

WHAT DOES THAT WORK OUT TO PER LIKE A RESIDENT? DO WE HAVE THAT FIGURED OUT YET? WE DON'T HAVE THAT FIGURED OUT YET BECAUSE IT IMPACTS THE TRANSPORTATION.

THERE'S GOING TO BE THE ADDITIONAL CONTAINERS TRUCKING, LABOR.

SO WE ARE WORKING WITH THEIR FRANCHISEES TO GET PRICE PROPOSALS AND WE'LL LOOK AT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS THAT COME WITH THAT.

I WOULD ADD WE ARE SEEKING GRANT FUNDING AND AGREEMENT IS ALSO LOOKING INTO THAT.

SO WE'RE HOPING THAT WE CAN REDUCE THIS THROUGH THROUGH STATE OR FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING.

[02:05:04]

I BELIEVE THE COUNTY IS DOING ABOUT 5000 TONS PER YEAR.

SO AT A RATE INCREASE OF 48, WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 200000 TO 200000 ROUGHLY PER YEAR.

YEAH. PERFECT. OKAY.

SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, YOU JUMPED OUT.

THAT'S JUST FOR THE PROCESSING, BY THE WAY.

YEAH. INCLUDE THE OTHER ASPECTS.

GOOD. YEAH. I DID THE MATH THAT I WAS GOING TO SHARE THAT ANSWER, BUT YEAH, IT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE INCREASED COST FOR THE REFUSE PICKUP OR THE IMPACTS TO OUR ROADS FOR DRIVING ANOTHER TRUCK DOWN IT. YEAH.

SO PERFECT.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS UP AT THE DIAS? IF NOT, WE WILL OPEN UP ITEM 37 FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

NOT SEE ANYBODY. WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE SIDE OF IT AND BRING IT BACK TO THE DIAS.

THE CHAIR WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

THE SYSTEM DOES OKAY.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. NEXT, WE HAVE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, ITEM 35.

ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEM 35? LET'S SEE. BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.

LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0 BECAUSE WE HAVE BOARD APPOINTMENTS.

ITEM 36.

ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEM 36? NOT SEEING ANYBODY.

WE WILL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.

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

CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

NEXT, WE HAVE BOARD INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.

[BOARD INFORMATION & POSSIBLE ACTION]

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEM 37? BRING IT BACK TO THE DIAS.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA, PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

CALL FOR THE VOTE. NOW RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

NEXT, WE HAVE A SCHEDULED ITEMS.

[SCHEDULED ITEM]

SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.

I JUST WANT TO ADVISE THE COUNCIL.

I DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THIS ITEM ON OR CONFLICTS, SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND VOTE.

SO I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ON THAT SIDE OF THE COUNTY.

PERFECT. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GO TO DR.

HENDRICKSON. MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. GOOD AFTERNOON.

AGAIN, THE PURPOSE OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER AMENDING THE AGRICULTURAL PRESERVE.

UPON YOUR APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM, ONE APPLICANT REQUESTED PROPERTY LINE ADJUSTMENT WILL BE EFFECTUATED.

SECTION FIVE ONE, TWO, THREE, THREE OF THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE DOES REQUIRE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING TO AMEND THE AGRICULTURAL PRESERVE.

UPON YOUR ACTION IN TOTO, 5.32 ACRES WILL BE REMOVED UPON YOUR ACTION.

PARTICULAR NOTE THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS NOT UNDER WILLIAMSON THAT CONTRACT.

AT THIS POINT STAFF RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING ONE TO YOU FOR YOU TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

TWO FOR YOU TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

THERE ARE ACTUALLY TWO SEPARATE ACTIONS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

FIRST, TO MAKE A MOTION TO FIND THE REMOVAL OF LAND FROM THE EGG PRESERVE AS LISTED IN YOUR BOARD ITEM AS EXEMPT FROM SCHOOL UNDER SECTION 15061B3.

THE COMMON SENSE EXEMPTION AND SECTION 15183 PROJECTS CONSISTENT WITH COMMUNITY PLAN OR ZONING BASED ON THE FINDINGS AS LISTED IN YOUR STAFF REPORT.

AND THEN SECONDLY, TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AS INCLUDED IN YOUR BOARD ITEM AMENDING THE ACT PRESERVE AS PER THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAND CONSERVATION ACT OF 1965.

I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR HENDERSON.

I THINK I SKIPPED A PART, RIGHT? YEAH. YOU WANT TO MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT? PUBLIC HEARING FROM SAID TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT OF THE MERCED COUNTY AGRICULTURAL PRESERVE.

AS PER THE CALIFORNIA LAND CONSERVATION ACT OF 1965.

WILLIAMS, WILLIAMSON ACT.

[02:10:01]

SO I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.

NOT SEE ANYBODY.

I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK UP TO THE DAIS.

I HAVE SUPERVISOR PAREIRA TWO THINGS.

ONE QUICK QUESTION. WHAT'S THE CURRENT USE OF THE LAND? I BELIEVE IT'S JUST JUST AN AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION OR [INAUDIBLE].

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

AND THEN WOULD YOU YOU'RE READY FOR A MOTION? YES. AND THIS WILL BE A VOICE VOTE.

OKAY. SO I MOVE THAT WE FIND THE PROPOSED MODIFICATION OF THE AGRICULTURAL PRESERVE BOUNDARY, REFLECTING THE REMOVAL OF LAND IN RELATION TO THE FOLLOWING PROPERTY IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECA SECTION 15 061B3.

COMMON SENSE.

I LOVE IT WHEN WE USE COMMON SENSE AND DOES NOT REQUIRE ADDITIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PER SE.

SEQUENCE 15 183 AND THAT BASED ON THESE FINDINGS THAT WE APPROVE THE BUY FOR THE PARCEL PLAY 20 2020 LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF WEST HENRY MILLER AVENUE.

AND THEN I MOVE THAT WE ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE EGG PRESERVE AS PER THE QUIRE AS PER THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAND CONSERVATION ACT OF 1965, SECTION 51200 OF THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE.

SO I HAVE I HOPE I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. I HAVE A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE? OPPOSE, NAY, THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

OKAY, WELL, NOW GO TO THOSE BOARD REPORTS OR REPORTS AND WE'LL START WITH SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

LET ME PUT IT IN DISCUSSION MODE.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I ATTENDED THE RC RC OFFICER INSTALLATION LAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT UP IN SACRAMENTO, AND I REALLY FEEL LIKE WE GOT A GOOD SLATE OF OFFICERS.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL IS IS OUR PRIMARY ON OUR CRC AND HE ALWAYS MAKES SURE THAT THAT WE GET GOOD PEOPLE ONCE IN A WHILE SOMEBODY COMES IN BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO KIND OF GIVE AND TAKE.

AND SO YEAH, WE HAVE A REALL GOOD SLATE.

ALSO, THANK YOU FOR INTRODUCING ME TO FORMER GOVERNOR CANDIDATE BRIAN DOLLEY.

JUST, YOU KNOW, HAVE NEVER MET HIM BEFORE AND REALLY APPRECIATED THAT.

SEEMED LIKE A SINCERE GUY THAT REALLY CARES ABOUT CALIFORNIA.

AND I WANT TO AGAIN GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO STAFF THAT'S HANDLED THESE FLOODS.

AND, YOU KNOW, THEY JUST DID A GREAT JOB AND I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.

MY LAST ITEM IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET ANOTHER SET OF RAINS.

AND SO FOR FOLKS THAT MAY BE AFFECTED, EARLIER IT WAS MENTIONED THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T GET NOTIFIED.

MERCED COUNTY HAS A EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM.

AND SO IF PEOPLE GO AND SIGN UP, THEY GET NOTIFICATIONS.

AND I KNOW IT IN MY AREA HAS BEEN NOTIFIED BEFORE AND IT WORKS REALLY WELL.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU GET A NOTIFICATION AND THEN YOU CAN FOLLOW UP WITH IT OR AT LEAST YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO HOPEFULLY, MAYBE AS COUNTY STAFF GOES AROUND TO MAKE MEETINGS AND OTHER EVENTS, WE COULD ASK THEM TO GIVE ANOTHER HEADS UP OF THAT. AND THAT IS IT.

THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I'D LIKE TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR VOTING ON ITEM 20.

I KNOW I DIDN'T BRING IT UP DURING THE DISCUSSION BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE THE VOTE IN ANY WAY.

BUT ATWATER MERCED EXPRESSWAY IS CONTINUING TO MOVE FORWARD AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT ON THAT.

I TOO ATTENDED RCRC LAST WEEK.

WE HAD A LOT OF QUITE FRANK DISCUSSIONS, AS I MENTIONED IN MY EARLIER COMMENTS TODAY REGARDING FISH AND WILDLIFE, AND I DON'T BACK DOWN FROM THOSE COMMENTS.

I'M STILL STANDING STRONG ON THAT.

AND TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN THE MEETING IN MEMORY OF BARBARA HELLER, A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF ATWATER.

SHE ACTUALLY GRADUATED FROM LIVINGSTON HIGH SCHOOL WHILE LIVING IN ATWATER BECAUSE LIVINGSTON WAS A SCHOOL THAT THE ATWATER FOLKS ATTENDED.

SHE'S RAISED THREE REALLY GOOD BOYS THAT ARE VERY ACTIVE.

RANDY HELLER, WHO WAS THE SUPERINTENDENT OF WINTON MIDDLE SCHOOL, ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS, AND I'M PROUD TO SAY

[02:15:09]

AND THE CITY OF ATWATER IS REALLY GOING TO MISS A GREAT PERSON.

SHE LOST HER HUSBAND IN JULY OF LAST YEAR.

SO WE'VE LOST TWO LEADERS IN ATWATER AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE GREATLY MISSED.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.

THANK YOU. WELL, ON THE NOTIFICATION SYSTEM, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF IS TRANSLATED IN SPANISH TO I DON'T KNOW, IS THAT NOTIFICATION SIGN UP FOR NOTIFICATIONS? IS IT AVAILABLE IN SPANISH AS WELL? [INAUDIBLE] SHAKING HIS HEAD.

YES. OKAY, GOOD.

YEAH. JUST WANT TO KNOW.

MAKE SURE THAT I ADDRESS IT WHEN SOMEBODY ASKS.

WELL, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, CONTINUE THE WASTE DISPOSAL IN PLANADA I THINK HAS BEEN GREATLY USED.

THERE'S STILL, THERE'S A GOOD SAMARITAN GROUP OF COMPANY THAT'S GOING TO COME IN AND HELP A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS CLEAN UP.

I KNOW THEY TEXTED ME THAT THIS DAY.

WE'RE GOING TO START THIS MORNING. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE.

I KNOW THERE'S OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WANTING TO HELP THE RESIDENTS CLEAN UP THE COMMUNITIES.

AND I KNOW THEY'RE GOING UP TO FOUR FEET IN, YOU KNOW, GETTING RID OF THE SHEETROCK AND INSULATION AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ALL THE EXCUSE ME, THE MOLD IN THEIR HOMES.

SO I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS THAT.

I'M ALSO ADDRESSED THE PLANADA NEEDS A NEW COMMUNITY POST OFFICE SINCE THE RAINS IN 2017.

THEY YOU KNOW, IT WAS AFFECTED AS WELL.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE I'VE TRIED WITH THE PREVIOUS CONGRESSMAN OF TRYING TO GET IN THE OFFICE AND IT WASN'T TO NO AVAIL.

SO HOPEFULLY A NEW CONGRESSMAN, JOHN DUARTE, WILL BE ABLE TO HELP THIS COMMUNITY AND ALSO WITH MAIL DELIVERY TO THEIR HOMES, WHICH THEY CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE AS WELL.

SO A TEMPORARY POST OFFICE WOULD GREATLY HELP.

AND RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE TO GO TEN MILES TO HERE TO SEND AND GET THEIR MAIL.

I ALREADY ADDRESSED IN THE ASSESSMENT REPORT OF HOMES, YOU KNOW, FROM THE COUNTY.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET SUPPORT ALSO FROM THE STATE AND WITH FEMA, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO GET AN ACTUAL AMOUNT OF NUMBERS.

I'VE BEEN REAL BUSY EVERY DAY OUT THERE HELPING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

I'M NOT PERFECT. I JUST WANT TO YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO REACH OUT TO ME AND IT'S SOMETHING OUT THERE, LET ME KNOW IF I CAN HELP.

ALSO, I WANTED TO ADDRESS THE VFW, UH, MEMBERS, THE VETERANS.

I THINK THAT WE HOPEFULLY WE HAVE SOME TYPE OF COMMUNICATION.

I KNOW THAT WE HAD A MEETING WITH WITH SOME OF THE VETERANS, AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO SET UP A MEETING WITH THE LEGION SIDE.

AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE TRY TO GET AN EXTENSION BEFORE THAT AGREEMENT COMES TO US.

AND SO WE CAN LOOK AT THE AGREEMENT BEFORE IT'S PLACED ON THE AGENDA SO THAT WE YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS SINCE SUPERVISOR LILLARD WAS HERE, IT WAS GOING ON AND THERE HASN'T BEEN AN AGREEMENT AND THERE'S ISSUES.

SO WE NEED TO TALK BOTH SIDES.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET SOMETHING TOGETHER AND YOU KNOW, SO WE CAN HELP EVERYBODY.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO HELP ALL THE VETERANS.

I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A, UH, A LADY THAT CAME HERE AND ASKED, I KNOW THAT TALK BAD ABOUT ME, BUT THAT'S ALWAYS ALSO ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

AND THEY CAN SAY WHATEVER THEY WANT.

YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GOING TO ADDRESS THAT.

I'M JUST TRYING TO HELP THE COMMUNITY THERE.

AND THERE'S ALSO POLITICS GOING ON, YOU KNOW? SO IT'S JUST BEEN CONSTANT.

SO I'M NOT GOING TO WORRY ABOUT IT.

I'M JUST GOING TO WORRY ABOUT HELPING THE COMMUNITY AND ANY COMMUNITY THAT AS WELL THAT GETS AFFECTED.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE AND ALSO I WANT TO THANK ALSO THE VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE BEEN HELPING US THERE IN PLANADA, THE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE COME IN FROM AS FAR AS MODESTO, FRESNO, MADERA HAVE COME IN AND DONATED A LOT OF FOOD.

ALL TYPES OF DONATIONS, HEATERS AND EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, SO I JUST YOU KNOW, I JUST PRAISE THEM AND THANK GOD THAT YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DO CARE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ALL THE RESIDENTS, NOT JUST PLANADA AGAIN SAID AND EVERYBODY THAT WAS AFFECTED HERE, MERCED COUNTY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

THANK YOU, CHAIR. I TOO ATTENDED THE CRC INSULATION.

THAT'S ALWAYS ONE OF MY FAVORITE.

OUR CRC CONFERENCES ARE ALWAYS REALLY GOOD BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF LIKE MINDED PEOPLE FROM THE VARIOUS COUNTIES THAT ARE THERE THAT ATTEND.

THEN THE NEXT DAY I CHAIRED THE AG MEETING AND THEN AFTER THAT WE HAD THE COMMUNITY SWEARING IN FOR ASSEMBLYMEMBER SORIA AND THEN

[02:20:09]

AND I'M SURE SOME OF YOU ARE AWARE THAT WHEN HE FIRST STARTED HERE IN MERCED SAID MY WIFE WAS HIS FIRST AND ONLY STAFF PERSON HERE IN MERCED.

AND SO SHE HE WAS VERY APPRECIATIVE OF HER.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS, EVEN THOUGH HE'S NOT GOING TO BE OUR REPRESENTATIVE ANYMORE, HE SAID, YOU KNOW, HE'S STILL GOING TO.

AND IT WAS GENUINE THAT HE WAS KIND OF YOU COULD TELL HE WAS KIND OF UPSET TO HAVE TO LEAVE BECAUSE HE REALLY HAS HELPED OUT A LOT.

I MEAN, HE WAS VERY BENEFICIAL IN GETTING THE $2.1 MILLION FOR THE COURTHOUSE, PROBABLY BECAUSE HE WAS TIRED OF ME BUGGING HIM ABOUT IT SO MUCH.

BUT HE WAS ABLE TO DO THAT IN REGARDS TO THE LEGION.

OR ALSO, I WANTED TO SAY THIS YESTERDAY I WENT TO THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING MEETING AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING IS AND THIS IS COUNTY WIDE, IS THAT THEY ARE DOING A FREE TAX PREPARATION AND E FILE.

IT'S FROM FEBRUARY 1ST THROUGH APRIL 12TH.

IT'S AT THE MERCED SENIOR CENTER.

IT'S MONDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS, WEDNESDAYS FROM 9 A.M.

TO NOON. FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED.

IT'S FOR EVERYBODY, FOR PEOPLE ON THE WEST SIDE, WHATEVER.

IF YOU CAN MAKE IF YOU CAN COME OVER THERE, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO WAIT A LITTLE BIT.

SO GET THERE EARLY IF YOU'RE COMING FROM THE WEST SIDE.

BUT ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE ALL OF YOUR INFORMATION.

THEY GO THROUGH AND THEY FILL IT OUT FOR YOU.

IT'S PUT ON BY THE AARP THAT'S GOING TO BE THERE.

IN REGARDS TO THE LEGION, THEY MEET EVERY THE THIRD FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH.

I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS AND WITH THIS GROUP FOR BOTH SIDES SINCE I STARTED HERE TWO YEARS AGO.

I'VE TOLD THEM FROM DAY ONE THAT YOU GUYS NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET TOGETHER AND, YOU KNOW, WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU'RE LOSING FOCUS ON WHAT THE WHOLE GOAL IS.

THE GOAL IS TO SUPPORT THE VETERANS REGARDLESS IF IT'S FOREIGN WARS OR WHATEVER.

AND WE'VE PUT AND I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH BOTH SIDES, EVEN THOUGH THEY SAY THAT WE HAVEN'T.

I HAVE. I'VE MET WITH BOTH SIDES AND I'VE TOLD THEM BOTH.

ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE SOMETHING? ONE SIDE IS WILLING TO GIVE.

THE OTHER SIDE IS WE WANT OUR BUILDING.

WE WANT OUR BUILDING.

SO THEY GAVE THEM THE LEGION, SAID, OKAY, WELL, YOU GUYS CAN MEET IN THIS PART OF THE BUILDING, YOU CAN HAVE THIS PART OF THE BUILDING.

THEY DON'T WANT IT.

WHEN THEY SET UP A MEETING, THEY DON'T SHOW UP.

THEY'RE WELCOME TO COME TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE.

AND WE MEET THE THIRD FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH.

THEY'RE WELCOME.

I THINK I'VE SEEN THEM THERE ONCE OR TWICE AND THE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN GOING THERE.

SO WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS A MISCHARACTERIZATION OF THE FACTS.

THE FACTS ARE THAT EVERYBODY'S TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER, BUT THEY DON'T BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GETTING THE ANSWER THAT THEY WANT TO HEAR. THEY'RE JUST POINTING FINGERS SAYING THAT, WELL, IT'S THEM AND YOU GUYS AREN'T DOING YOUR JOB.

THAT'S NOT ACCURATE.

WE ARE DOING OUR JOB.

WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH THESE GROUPS.

I CAN TELL YOU MULTIPLE TIMES I'VE TALKED TO SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

HEY, WHAT DID YOU DO? AN HOUR? HOW IS IT WORKING IN ATWATER? AND EVEN TO BRING UP SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO THEM TO EITHER SIDE, THEY'RE LIKE, NO, THIS IS THE WAY WE WANT TO DO IT.

MY FOCUS ON THIS WHOLE THING IS ABOUT THE VETERANS MAKING SURE THAT THE VETERANS ARE TAKEN CARE OF.

I DON'T CARE WHAT ORGANIZATION OR WHAT PART OF THE VETERANS GROUP THAT YOU ARE A PART OF.

WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER.

AND SUPPORT THEM BECAUSE THEY NEED A PLACE TO GO.

I MEAN, NONE OF US UP HERE ARE VETERANS.

AND SO WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE GROUPS THAT PROVIDE SUPPORT AND SERVICES FOR EACH OTHER AND CAN DIRECT PEOPLE IN CERTAIN WAYS, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.

AND WE'RE LOSING FOCUS ON THAT.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT AND IT'S REALLY IT'S FRUSTRATING TO ME BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH THEM.

I'VE BEEN TRYING AND TRYING AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, NOBODY WANTS TO.

IT'S ALL A GAME OF FINGER POINTING AS OPPOSED TO SAYING, LET'S JUST WORK TOGETHER AND GET IT DONE.

NOBODY WANTS TO CONCEDE ANYTHING.

NOBODY WANTS TO DO ANYTHING.

AND IT'S GOTTEN TO THE POINT TO WHERE, I MEAN, THEY'RE ARGUING OVER SO SMALL LITTLE THINGS.

IT'S LIKE WHATEVER HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST, DON'T LOOK AT THE PAST AND MOVE FORWARD.

DON'T LOSE FOCUS ON SUPPORTING EACH OTHER AND SUPPORTING THE VETERANS BECAUSE THAT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE.

[02:25:02]

AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO COUNCIL ANYTHING? CEO MENDEZ YES, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS AND JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY.

SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA YES, WE DO HAVE THAT INFORMATION FOR FOLKS TO SIGN UP FOR EMERGENCY NOTIFICATIONS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE.

IT IS AVAILABLE IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES, SO YOU CAN NAVIGATE THAT.

ALSO, A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT OUR WEBSITE, COUNTY OF MERCED, HAS A NEW LOOK.

SO IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT.

IT'S STILL KIND OF A WORK IN PROGRESS, CERTAINLY IMPROVING AS WE GO.

IT'S BEEN A VERY HELPFUL TOOL TO SHARE INFORMATION WITH OUR COMMUNITY SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE FLOOD EVENT AND OUR RESPONSE AND THE AVAILABLE RESOURCES.

SO DEFINITELY WANT TO POINT FOLKS THAT WAY, AS WE HAVE BEEN DOING DURING OUR SOCIAL MEDIA POST ON THE EVENT.

SO JUST I THINK IT WAS SAID VERY WELL BY THE BOARD AND OTHERS, YOU KNOW, JUST THE RESPONSE OF THE COUNTY ORGANIZATION TO WHAT HAPPENED HERE IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS. WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS JUST REALLY IMPRESSIVE.

AS SOMEBODY THAT'S BEEN HERE NOW A YEAR AND BEING INVOLVED IN A PROCESS WHERE YOU RELY ON THE STRUCTURE, THE STRUCTURE OF THE EOC, THE STRUCTURE OF EVERYBODY HAVING THEIR ROLES, AND WE KIND OF FIT IT INTO OUR ROLES.

AND IT WORKED REALLY WELL.

WHETHER IT'S CAL FIRE OR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS PLANNING HRSA, WE HAD A HOST OF DIFFERENT COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND STAFF REPRESENTED THERE, AND THEN IT REACHES OUT RIGHT TO OUR EXTERNAL PARTNERS, CITIES AND IRRIGATION DISTRICTS AND STATE AND FEDERAL.

AND THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE.

SO I WANT TO SHARE KIND OF FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I AM VERY CONFIDENT THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE HAVE AN AMAZING TEAM AND WE HAVE AN AMAZING COMMUNITY. MERCED COUNTY IS AMAZING.

I HADN'T EXPERIENCED IT.

I EXPERIENCED IT OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF THE BOARD BECAUSE IT'S TOUGH.

I KNOW YOU ALL GET COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, YOU ALL RECEIVE QUESTIONS AND TEXTS AND EMAILS AND APPRECIATE YOU BEING THERE FOR US AND SUPPORT, BUT IT IS KIND OF A COLLECTIVE TEAM AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. GOOD WORK, OBVIOUSLY, AS WE SHIFT NOW FROM ADVANCED PREPARATION, EMERGENCY RESPONSE NOW TO RECOVERY AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. DEFINITELY MY HEART GOES OUT TO THOSE IMPACTED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, MANY OF WHICH ARE MEMBERS OF OUR STAFF.

RIGHT, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S PERSONAL STORIES WITH SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS IN OUR OFFICE.

I KNOW THAT EXTENDS OUT TO OUR COUNTY DEPARTMENT.

SO CERTAINLY FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, JUST WANTED TO KIND OF ADDRESS THAT POINT.

AND THEN THE LAST THING, YOU KNOW, AS AS EVERYTHING WAS HAPPENING OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, THE GOVERNOR DID PUT OUT HIS PROPOSED BUDGET.

SO THAT'S ON OUR RADAR.

WE'RE STILL KIND OF LOOKING AT THAT IN TERMS OF KIND OF WHAT'S BEING RECOMMENDED AT THIS POINT.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO OBVIOUSLY WORK WITH THE BOARD AND OBVIOUSLY OUR OUR DEPARTMENTS AND OUR LOBBYISTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR MERCED COUNTY AS BEST AS WE CAN THROUGH THE PROCESS AND CERTAINLY WANTED TO AND I KNOW IT WAS ALLUDED TO BY SOME OF THE BOARD MEMBERS, WE DID HAVE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FROM OUR FEDERAL AND STATE REPRESENTATIVES HERE IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

I THINK I'VE HEARD A COUPLE OF TIMES CONGRESSMAN DUARTE BEING MENTIONED.

ASSEMBLYMEMBER SORIA, ASSEMBLY MEMBER CABALLERO OR I'M SORRY, SENATOR CABALLERO ASSEMBLY MEMBER ALL OUR NIECE, SENATOR ALVARADO.

GILL THEY'VE ALL BEEN OUT TO HEAD COUNTY JUST TRYING TO EXTEND SOME SUPPORT AND A LOT OF TIMES ALSO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FROM THEIR VANTAGE POINT.

SO I APPRECIATE THE BOARD KIND OF MAKING THOSE CONNECTIONS AND BRINGING US TOGETHER BECAUSE I THINK THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE TO FOSTER, WE HAVE TO DEVELOP NOT ONLY FOR FLOOD RESPONSE AND PREPARATION AND MAINTENANCE OF CREEKS GOING FORWARD, BUT FOR EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE PROVIDE FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

SO AGAIN, I'M.

VERY ENCOURAGED AND VERY CONFIDENT IN OUR ABILITIES TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THE NEEDS HERE LOCALLY.

SO THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, FOR THE TIME.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO YOU HAD ONE THING YOU AND DAD.

YEAH, I WANTED TO ALSO ADJOURN THE MEETING FOR DONNA ATCHISON.

DONNA'S HUSBAND, BOB IS ON OUR PLANNING COMMISSION.

HE'S ONE OF OUR PLANNING COMMISSIONERS.

SHE AND DONNA AND BOB ARE MY NEIGHBORS.

AND DONNA WAS, YOU KNOW, COOKING DINNER ONE NIGHT AND JUST KIND OF BOB HAD JUST HAD SURGERY AND SHE JUST PASSED OUT AND NEVER WOKE UP.

IT WAS VERY TRAGIC.

IF ANYBODY KNEW DONNA, SHE WAS ONE OF THE SWEETEST LADIES YOU WILL EVER MET AT MERCED HIGH SCHOOL, SHE TRANSITIONED OVER TO WORK AT MERCED COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION, BUT SHE WAS A VERY GREAT LADY.

IT'S JUST A GREAT FAMILY.

AND EVERYBODY THERE.

I TAUGHT WITH THEIR DAUGHTER FOR A WHILE.

SO, YEAH, I JUST WANT TO ADJOURN FOR DONNA.

[02:30:01]

AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO KIMIKO.

I'LL KIND OF REMEMBER HER AS BEING THE FIRST DEPARTMENT HEAD THAT WAS HIRED UNDER MY TENURE AS CHAIR, SO I WILL ALWAYS HAVE THAT SPECIAL CONNECTION.

BUT I THINK WE GOT A GOOD ONE THERE.

I DID TOO ATTEND THE CRC EVENT WITH MY COLLEAGUES.

GOOD LEADERSHIP THERE.

IT'S REALLY OUR CRC REALLY, TRULY REPRESENTS IS AND I'M A MEMBER OF CSAC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, BUT OUR CRC TEND TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE LIKE MINDED AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF THE SAME ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IN THE SIZE COUNTY THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, AS WE MENTIONED, AND THE FLOODS AND A LOT OF THANK YOU'S WENT OUT TO DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.

ONE THAT I FAILED TO MENTION WAS THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

AND THERE'S NOT ONLY THE STAFF THAT WAS SITTING IN THE EOC DIRECTING AND HELPING MAKE ALL THE CRAZINESS I CALLED IT WAS ORGANIZED CHAOS THAT WAS GOING ON, BUT IT WAS THE DEPUTIES THAT WERE OUT ON, YOU KNOW, OUT IN THE FIELD.

THERE WAS ROAD CLOSURES EVERYWHERE.

IT WAS QUITE AN UNDERTAKING FOR A FEW DAYS THERE.

SO WANT TO THANK ALL THOSE FOLKS THAT ON TOP OF THEIR REGULAR DUTY OF JUST TRYING TO HELP KEEP THE PUBLIC SAFE ALSO TOOK IT A LITTLE TURN THERE IN THE SENSE OF THAT THEY HAD TO JUST STOP PEOPLE FROM GOING DOWN ROADS, THAT IT WAS NOT GOING TO BE A GOOD OUTCOME IF YOU WENT DOWN THAT ROAD.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE I SAID A THANK YOU TO THEM.

WE MENTIONED A CONTRACTOR EARLIER, DRC, THAT WE APPROVED.

WE HAD BEEN IN TALKS WITH THEM AND IT WAS REALLY ENCOURAGING TO TRY TO GET IT ON THIS MEETING.

AND BUT WE'RE ABLE THE CEO WAS ABLE TO DO THIS, DO SIGN THE CONTRACT, AND THEN WE RATIFIED IT TODAY.

BUT AN IMPORTANT PIECE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS THE AFTERMATH, THE RECOVERY PIECE, DRC IS GOING TO BE A BIG PART OF THAT.

SO LOOKING FORWARD NOW THAT WE HAVE THEM FULLY ON BOARD, OH, I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

I'M GOING TO KEEP IT SUPERVISOR PEDROZO TOOK UP SO MUCH TIME.

HE HAS A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT HE HAS TO GO TO.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ADJOURN.

NEXT MEETING WILL BE FEBRUARY THE SEVENTH.

THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.