Feb 07, 2023 Board Meeting

ARE YOU READY? YES.

[00:00:03]

[Call to Order]

WE WILL NOW START WITH THE INVOCATION LED BY STACY COOLEY.

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

GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS PRIVILEGE.

DEAR, GRACIOUS HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR THE WONDERS OF YOUR LOVE FOR EVERY PROVISION, EVERY GENTLE MOMENT OF YOUR HAND OF GRACE, EVERY PROMISE CONTAINED IN YOUR WORD.

TODAY WE ASK ONCE AGAIN THAT YOU WOULD BE PRESENT IN THIS ROOM.

FATHER, THERE'S NOT A DAY WE EVER WANT TO LIVE WITHOUT YOUR PRESENCE IN OUR LIVES.

SO WE INVITE YOU HERE.

PLEASE WALK THE HALLS OF THIS BUILDING AND BE PRESENT IN THIS MEETING.

LORD, I ASK THAT YOU WOULD ONCE AGAIN TOUCH OUR COMMUNITY.

YOU HAVE SEEN THE TROUBLE THAT THESE FLOOD WATERS HAVE CAUSED AND YOU KNOW ALL THE WORK THAT GOES INTO REESTABLISHING A COMMUNITY WHEN IT'S IN REPAIR AND WHEN REBUILDING EFFORTS ARE UNDERWAY. GOD, WE ASK FOR YOU TO PROVIDE FOR EVERY NEED SPOKEN AND UNSPOKEN DURING THIS TIME THAT YOU WOULD PROVIDE FOR THOSE WHO MAY FIND THEMSELVES ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE PARAMETERS SET BY ANY APPLICATION FOR ASSISTANCE.

FATHER MAY YOU SEE TO THOSE NEEDS, OPEN DOORS FOR HELP THAT HAVEN'T BEEN CONSIDERED BEFORE.

IN PSALM 50, YOUR WORD SAYS THAT YOU OWN CATTLE ON 1,000 HILLS, WHICH IS JUST A GREAT WAY OF SAYING THAT NO NEED IS TOO GREAT FOR YOU.

SO WE TRUST YOU TO MEET EACH AND EVERY FAMILY IMPACTED IN A WAY THAT SHOWS JUST HOW MUCH YOU LOVE THEM.

IN MATTHEW 10 IT SAYS THAT YOUR CARE IS SO GREAT THAT YOU SEE EVEN TO THE NEEDS OF THE LITTLE SPARROWS.

AND SO HOW MUCH MORE DOES A LOVING FATHER CARE FOR HIS CHILDREN? WE THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE GOING TO DO, EVERYTHING YOU'RE GOING TO PROVIDE, WHETHER THAT BE ASSISTANCE FROM OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, LOCAL ASSISTANCE FROM OUR STATE, OR EVEN BY PUTTING OUR COMMUNITY ON THE HEARTS OF FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS, NONPROFITS OR EVEN LARGE SCALE CORPORATIONS.

FATHER STIR THE HEARTS OF THOSE YOU WANT TO USE TO TOUCH OUR COMMUNITY.

FINALLY, FATHER, WE ASK FOR WISDOM, GUIDANCE, FAITH, AND COURAGE FOR OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, CEO MENDEZ AND COUNTY COUNCIL HANSEN.

I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD EQUIP THEM FOR ALL THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR COUNTY IS EXPERIENCING AND ANY THAT MAY COME IN THE FUTURE.

ANOINT THEM TO FULFILL YOUR PLANS AND PURPOSES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AND MAY THEY DO SO IN A WAY THAT BUILDS OUR COMMUNITY STRONGER, MORE COMPASSIONATELY, AND IN A WAY THAT DISPLAYS GREAT FAITH AND TRUST IN YOU, KNOWING THAT WE RELY ULTIMATELY ON YOUR GRACES TO CARE FOR WHAT YOU HAVE ENTRUSTED TO US.

WE THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL OF YOUR BLESSINGS, GUIDANCE AND PROTECTION, AND DEDICATE THIS MEETING TO YOU IN JESUS, PRECIOUS AND HOLY NAME, WE PRAY.

AMEN. PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, STACY AND SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

NOW, I KNOW STACY'S DOUBLE DUTY TODAY, SO WE'LL GIVE HER A SECOND TO GET BACK UP THERE.

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

[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK]

ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT? I'M GOING TO KEEP THE PUBLIC COMMENT BRIEF JUST BECAUSE I KNOW I'VE MENTIONED IT AT THE PLANADA TOWN HALL, TOO.

BUT IF THERE'S ANY SORT OF ACTION FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO AGENDIZE AN ITEM RELATING TO FLOOD RECOVERY AND FUNDS FOR THE PLANADA RESIDENTS, SPECIFIC CONCERNS THAT FOLKS HAVE BEEN MENTIONING HAVE BEEN RELATING TO RELOCATION ASSISTANCE, HOUSING ASSISTANCE, RENTER ASSISTANCE.

AND SO ADDING AN ITEM TO THE BOARD'S AGENDA WOULD BE VERY USEFUL AND BEING ABLE TO GET THOSE MONETIZED FUNDS TO FOLKS OR EVEN JUST TRY TO START ORGANIZING A PLAN OF ACTION FOR THEM.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

AND IT'S ALWAYS HELPFUL IF YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

[00:05:04]

I'M THE COMMANDER OVER AT THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 83.

JUST WANTED TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW ABOUT A COUPLE OF EVENTS WE GOT COMING UP.

WE'VE GOT A VETERAN'S AWARENESS AND MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION CAMPAIGN COMING UP ON THE 17TH, 18TH AND 19TH OF FEBRUARY.

IT'S GOING TO BE FROM 10 TO 4 EACH DAY.

SATURDAY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE GUEST SPEAKERS COMING DOWN TO SPEAK ABOUT VETERAN BENEFITS, AMERICAN LEGION HISTORY, VETERAN HOUSING VETERAN SUICIDE AWARENESS, NATIONAL EMERGENCY FUND FOR ASSISTANCE, AND A FEW OTHER OF OUR PROGRAMS. SERVICE OFFICERS FROM SIX COUNTIES WILL BE HERE TO SPEAK AND ASSIST ANY VETERANS WHO COME IN ON ANYTHING THEY MAY NEED.

AND THIS IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

SO ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO STOP BY IS MORE THAN WELCOME.

AND I'LL LEAVE THE FLIER ON THAT AS WELL.

AND THEN ALSO ON FEBRUARY 9TH, WE'VE GOT A COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE GOING ON DOWN AT THE POST.

SO IF ANYBODY WANTS TO COME DOWN AND DONATE SOME BLOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME FOR THAT AS WELL.

AND AGAIN, I'LL LEAVE THESE FLIERS RIGHT IN THE BASKET FOR YOU.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

[INAUDIBLE] THAT'S AT THE HALL.

YES. OKAY. THANK YOU.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? NOT SEE ANYBODY WE'LL NOW CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR NON AGENDA ITEMS. AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO CALL UP CHIEF PIMENTEL AND MERCED COUNTY OES MANAGER ADAM AMARAL FOR A PRESENTATION.

[PRESENTATIONS]

MY NAME IS ADAM AMARAL.

I'M THE MERCED COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES MANAGER.

MERCED COUNTY OES HAS BEEN IN CLOSE COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION WITH OUR STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS AS WE WENT THROUGH MANY DAYS OF ADVANCED PLANNING AND COORDINATION FOR THE WEATHER EVENTS THAT IMPACTED OUR COUNTY.

MERCED COUNTY EOC HAD MULTIPLE, STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES DEPLOYED TO OUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER TO SUPPORT OUR RESPONSE TO THE FLOODING THAT OCCURRED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. NOW, AS WE HAVE TRANSITIONED TO SHORT AND LONG TERM RECOVERY, OUR DISASTER RECOVERY OPERATIONS CENTER IS ACTIVATED AND WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SUPPORT FROM OUR STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCY PARTNERS.

I'D LIKE TO WELCOME CAL OES AND FEMA TO THIS BOARD MEETING TODAY TO BRIEF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, STAFF AND RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY OF MERCED ON THE ONGOING SUPPORT AND EFFORTS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR COUNTY.

IT IS MY PLEASURE NOW TO WELCOME ROBERT TROY THE STATE DISASTER RECOVERY COORDINATING OFFICER FROM CAL OES THANKS.

GOOD MORNING. I GENUINELY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME DOWN AND SPEAK WITH YOU ALL.

AND OUR LEADERSHIP SENDS THEIR BEST REGARDS AND IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING ALL NECESSARY SUPPORT TO MERCED COUNTY.

MY NAME IS ROBERT TROY.

I'M THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR INTERAGENCY RECOVERY COORDINATION.

AND AS ADAM MENTIONED, I'M SERVING AS THE STATE DISASTER RECOVERY COORDINATOR ON THIS DISASTER.

WE HAVE A SAYING IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT THAT ALL DISASTERS BEGIN AND END LOCALLY.

AND WHILE THAT IS CERTAINLY TRUE AT CAL OES, IT IS OUR INTENT THAT LOCAL COMMUNITIES SUCH AS MERCED COUNTY WILL NOT DO THAT ALONE.

SO WE HAVE BEEN HERE WITH MERCED COUNTY.

WE WILL STAY HERE WITH MERCED COUNTY AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO RECOVER FROM THIS DISASTER.

THIS IS A WIDESPREAD DISASTER ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE.

AS I'M SURE YOU KNOW, WE CURRENTLY HAVE 28 COUNTIES INCLUDED IN THE MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION, AND THERE WILL BE MANY MORE TO COME.

WE'LL CERTAINLY RAISE THAT NUMBER AS WE CONTINUE TO FINISH DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS AND GET ADDITIONAL COUNTIES ADDED.

BUT THERE IS NO COUNTY IN THE STATE THAT HAS BEEN HARDER HIT THAN MERCED COUNTY, PARTICULARLY IN THE COMMUNITIES OF PLANADA AND MCSWAIN.

SO AT CAL OES, WE'RE VERY MUCH AWARE OF THAT AND WE ARE DEDICATED TO PROVIDING WHATEVER HELP IT IS THAT MERCED COUNTY NEEDS TO PROVIDE DIRECT SUPPORT TO THE DISASTER SURVIVORS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES AND ELSEWHERE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

SINCE THE BEGINNING, OUR ROLE WITHIN OES HAS BEEN AS A COORDINATING BODY.

SO WHETHER THAT'S WITH OUR STATE PARTNERS OR OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS, WE'VE BEEN HERE THROUGH THE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT PROCESS THAT WAS CONDUCTED BY THE FEMA REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR BOB FENTON, AS WELL AS OUR DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR RYAN BURRUS.

ONGOING FROM THAT RECOVERY HAS BEEN IN PLACE SINCE DAY ONE.

RESPONSE IN RECOVERY HAPPEN CONCURRENTLY, NOT CONSECUTIVELY.

[00:10:03]

MANY OF YOU ARE PROBABLY ALREADY FAMILIAR OR BECOMING FAMILIAR WITH THE PRIMARY FEMA DISASTER RECOVERY PROGRAMS. AND I'LL BRIEFLY MENTION THOSE.

AND CERTAINLY THE STATE HAS A ROLE IN THOSE.

THE FIRST ONE IS THAT COMES ON BOARD FIRST IS CALLED PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.

AND REALLY THAT'S THE PROGRAM BY WHICH THERE IS DISASTER RECOVERY SUPPORT PROVIDED TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES AT THE GOVERNMENT LEVEL.

RIGHT. AND SO THAT IS HELPING THE COUNTY OF MERCED TO PAY FOR THE EXPENSES THAT ARE BEING INCURRED HERE, WHETHER IT'S PAYING FOR OVERTIME FROM PUBLIC SAFETY OR EOC OFFICIALS DURING THE EARLY HOURS AND DAYS AND WEEKS OF THE RESPONSE, OR WHETHER IT'S PAYING FOR REPAIR OF PERMANENT INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGES WITHIN THE COUNTY SUCH AS ROADS, ETC..

SO WE THANK OUR FEMA PARTNERS FOR A PUBLIC ASSISTANCE DECLARATION.

WE'RE FORTUNATE IN THE STATE THAT WE ALSO HAVE A STATE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AS WELL.

AND SO THE GOOD NEWS THERE IS THAT THE STATE WILL ALSO HELP TO PAY FOR THE COST SHARE OF THAT.

SO FEMA COVERS 75% OF THOSE COSTS, BUT THE STATE WILL COVER 75% OF THE REMAINING 25% COST SHARE, WHICH WILL GREATLY REDUCE THE BURDEN FOR COUNTIES LIKE MERCED AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

AND SO THAT FUNDING GOES THROUGH THE STATE VIA CAL OES.

YES, AND DOWN TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES LIKE MERCED AND AS WELL AS PLANADA AND MCSWAIN.

AND SO OUR TEAMS ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH ADAM AMARAL AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

SO WE'RE JUST DISCUSSING PRIOR TO THIS MEETING WHEN THE APPLICANTS BRIEFING WILL TAKE PLACE AND GETTING AN EXTENSION ON THE REQUEST FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ACCURATELY CAPTURING ALL OF THE DAMAGES THAT HAVE BEEN INCURRED HERE.

WE KNOW THAT YOUR STAFF AND YOUR RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMED, AND TO GO AND TRY AND DO MULTIPLE JOBS IS REALLY CHALLENGING.

SO WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR BEST TO GIVE YOU ALL THE TIME SUPPORT NEEDED TO MAKE SURE WE CAPTURE ALL OF THE IMPACTS HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.

THE SECOND PROGRAM AREA IN WHICH WE GAUGE IS CALLED THE INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AND THAT IS THE PROGRAM FROM FEMA THAT HELPS INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS IMPACTED BY THE DISASTERS. YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR AFTER ME FROM OUR FEMA PARTNERS ON THAT.

THAT'S A PROGRAM THAT'S DIRECTLY ADMINISTERED FROM FEMA TO DISASTER SURVIVORS.

HOWEVER, CAL OES DOES HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE TEAM, AND IT'S OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE WE ADVOCATE FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN CALIFORNIA AND TO BE A GOOD PARTNER TO OUR FEMA PARTNERS TO HELP SHOW THEM SHOW THEM THE ROPES HERE, SHOW THEM THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE HARDEST HIT AND IMPACTED AND HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE TRUE IMPACTS HERE ON THIS DISASTER HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.

BECAUSE ALL DISASTERS ARE DIFFERENT THEY MAY HAVE SOME OF THE SAME TYPES OF CHALLENGES WE SEE, BUT ALL COMMUNITIES ARE DIFFERENT AND THEREFORE THE IMPACTS WILL BE DIFFERENT, TOO.

SO WE APPRECIATE THAT PARTNERSHIP TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE AS EFFECTIVE SUPPORT AS POSSIBLE.

THERE'S ALSO THE HAZARD MITIGATION PROGRAM, AND I WON'T GET INTO THE DETAILS ON THAT, BUT THE GOAL THERE IS THAT WE ALSO PROVIDE FUNDING TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES AS WE BUILD BACK AFTER THE DISASTER TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING, TO BUILD BACK MORE RESILIENTLY.

SO BUILD BACK BETTER ROADS, BETTER BRIDGES, WHATEVER WAS DESTROYED DURING THE DISASTER.

BEYOND THAT, THOUGH, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THOSE THREE PROGRAMMATIC AREAS DO NOT MEET ALL OF THE NEEDS FROM DISASTER SURVIVORS ON TRULY CATASTROPHIC DISASTERS, SUCH AS THE IMPACTS OF THE COMMUNITIES HERE IN MERCED.

AND SO WE ALSO HAVE CAL OES WHAT'S CALLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CALIFORNIA DISASTER RECOVERY FRAMEWORK, WHAT WE CALL A RECOVERY SUPPORT FUNCTION TEAMS AS WELL.

AND THOSE TEAMS POST DISASTER ARE ACTIVATED AND WE BRING IN OUR FEDERAL AND STATE PARTNERS THAT WORK WITHIN THOSE SIX AREAS.

I WON'T GO INTO THE DETAILS OF THOSE AREAS, BUT WE HAVE ANOTHER SAYING IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, WHICH IS THAT DISASTERS EXACERBATE PREEXISTING CONDITIONS.

SO WHATEVER THE PREEXISTING CHALLENGES WERE BEFORE THE DISASTER, THOSE ARE MADE WORSE, POST-DISASTER.

SO WHETHER IT'S A LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH WE ALL KNOW IN CALIFORNIA, IS A WIDESPREAD CHALLENGE AND IS CERTAINLY THE CASE HERE IN MERCED, WE KNOW THAT THE DISASTERS ONLY MAKE THAT WORSE.

SO WE BRING IN THE STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS IN THE AREAS OF WHETHER IT'S HOUSING OR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES, WHICH CAN ALSO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FROM STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS AND THE EDUCATION WORLD.

SO WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE SCHOOL IMPACTS HERE IN MERCED.

WE KNOW THOSE ARE GOING TO BE AMONG THE MOST CHALLENGING AREAS TO SUPPORT RECOVERY.

WE WILL BRING IN THOSE PARTNERS.

WE ALREADY HAVE THOSE PARTNERS HERE TO HELP JOIN AT THE HIP WITH MERCED COUNTY TO PROVIDE IN WHATEVER TYPES OF OTHER ASSISTANCE ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH STATE AND FEDERAL RESOURCES.

WE ALSO HAVE SOMETHING CALLED A RECOVERY SUPPORT TEAM.

AND SO WE HAVE A RECOVERY SUPPORT TEAM THAT IS DEDICATED ACROSS THOSE DIFFERENT PROGRAMMATIC AREAS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO MERCED COUNTY.

SO WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH ADAM AMARAL ON THAT.

WE WILL BRING IN NEW MEMBERS TO THAT TEAM AS NEW AREAS OF EXPERTISE ARE REQUIRED.

SO WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO BRING THE RIGHT PEOPLE HERE TO MERCED AT THE RIGHT TIME TO DIRECTLY SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF MERCED COUNTY.

LASTLY, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, SPECIFIC TO HAZARD MITIGATION, OUR GOAL IS EVEN OUTSIDE OF THAT PROGRAM IS TO BUILD BACK IN A MORE RESILIENT MANNER.

SO EVEN OUTSIDE OF THE FEMA PROGRAMS, THERE ARE OTHER FUNDING PROGRAMS THAT CAN HELP UTILIZE STATE AND FEDERAL DOLLARS TO HELP BUILD BACK IN A MORE RESILIENT MANNER.

SO WHETHER IT'S PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE OR WHETHER IT'S THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS OR YOUR COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED, OUR GOAL WILL BE TO HELP

[00:15:07]

SO I'LL STOP THERE, AND I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY FEMA COUNTERPART, MARIA FIGUEROA.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS MARIA FIGUEROA.

I AM WITH THE GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS GROUP AND ALSO DOING MEDIA RELATIONS FOR PIO AS YOU CALL IT HERE FOR MERCED COUNTY.

I HAVE SOME LITERATURE THAT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO HAVE NOW SO THAT YOU CAN FOLLOW WHAT I SAY.

GIVE THAT TO TAMARA AND SHE'LL GIVE IT UP TO US.

THANK YOU. AS A GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS SPECIALIST, WHAT I DO IS I PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE SUPERVISORS AND THE ELECTED OFFICIALS OF THE COUNTY ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS AND ALSO ABOUT WHAT WE HEAR IS GOING ON, THE COMMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY, THEIR CONCERNS, THEIR ISSUES.

AS A PIO, WELL, I GIVE THE MESSAGING DURING THE DIFFERENT STAGES OF THE RECOVERY PROCESS.

SO THE EVENT HAPPENED ON DECEMBER 29TH, 27TH.

RIGHT THERE THE EMERGENCY DECLARATION KICKED IN.

SO FUNDS ARE RELEASED FOR EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE MEASURES TO SAVE LIVES AND PROPERTY OF YOUR RESIDENTS.

JANUARY 14TH, WE HAVE THE MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION.

THAT'S WHERE INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE KICKS IN.

MORE FUNDS ARE RELEASED.

SO WE BROUGHT OUR DSA TEAMS, WHICH ARE DISASTER ASSISTANCE SURVIVORS TEAMS, OUT TO THE GROUND.

YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THEM HERE.

THEY HAVE BEEN GOING AROUND ALL MERCED, PLANADA MCSWAIN AND THE CITY, ASKING PEOPLE IF THEY NEED TO REGISTER AND REGISTERING THEM ON THE SPOT. THEY PROVIDE A BRIEF INFORMATION OF THE PROCESS AND HOW IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

JANUARY 19TH WE OPEN THE DISASTER RECOVERY CENTER IN THE FAIRGROUNDS.

IT WAS A JOINT EFFORT, A LOT OF COLLABORATION, STATE, COUNTY AND FEMA.

AND IT WAS FULL OF RESOURCES, NOT ONLY FEDERAL RESOURCES, BUT LOCAL RESOURCES THAT WE NEED.

BECAUSE IF YOU SEE THE SEQUENCE OF DELIVERY THAT I'M SHOWING YOU HERE, IT ALL STARTS WITH THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND IT ENDS WITH THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.

SO THAT'S THE FIRST STEP.

WE PROVIDE THE PLACE SO THAT SURVIVORS CAN DO THE ONE STOP SHOP.

THEY CAN GO AND ASK QUESTIONS TO ALL THOSE RESOURCES THAT ARE THERE AND SEE IF THEY CAN GET ADDITIONAL HELP.

AFTER THAT ANOTHER ONE WAS OPEN IN PLANADA ON THE GROUNDS OF THE SACRED HEART CHURCH.

SO WE'RE STILL THERE AND WE'RE STILL OPEN.

THAT ONE IS NOT THAT BIG.

IT HAS FEMA, SBA AND HAZARD MITIGATION SPECIALISTS THAT HELP THE RESIDENTS TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.

ALSO AT THAT ONE, THE MEXICAN CONSULATE WAS PROVIDING SOME HELP.

THEY WERE INTERVIEWING RESIDENTS WHO CAME UP TO THEM, ASKING THEM FOR DOCUMENTATION REPLACEMENT.

SO THAT WAS A GOOD THING.

THEY'RE NOW SAYING THEY WERE THERE TUESDAYS FROM 9 TO 2.

NOW THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME MOBILE KIND OF THINGS.

SO WHEN THAT'S DONE, I CAN TALK ABOUT IT.

NOW WHEN THE SURVIVOR, THE RESIDENT GOES IN FOR ASSISTANCE AND APPLIES, THE PROCESS IS GOING TO MAKE THEM FEEL OUT A LOAN APPLICATION. THEY SAY WE DON'T WANT TO FILL OUT A LOAN APPLICATION, BUT THAT'S THE WAY THAT WE VERIFY IF THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE IS ENOUGH TO RECEIVE SOME ASSISTANCE, IF WE NEED SOME MORE INFORMATION.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO REPAY A LOAN, YOU WON'T BE GIVEN A LOAN OR YOU WILL BE SENT BACK TO FEMA FOR OTHER NEEDS ASSISTANCE.

SECOND, ANOTHER THING THAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING IS THAT SURVIVORS WHO DO NOT HAVE A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, THEY CAN STILL APPLY THROUGH THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OF ONE MEMBER IN THE HOUSEHOLD.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A CHILD.

JUST ONE MEMBER IN THE HOUSEHOLD NEEDS TO HAVE A VALID SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, AND THAT WILL GIVE THEM ENTRY INTO THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND THEY CAN RECEIVE BENEFITS.

SOME SURVIVORS RECEIVE BENEFITS AS LITTLE AS FOUR DAYS AFTER THEY APPLIED.

IT DEPENDS.

IT'S ALWAYS ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.

THAT DETERMINATION IS DONE DEPENDING ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

SO YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBOR MIGHT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING, BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET THE SAME AMOUNT OF AID.

SO THERE ARE THREE IMPORTANT FUNDING SOURCES FOR THE DISASTER.

THE FIRST ONE IS YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY, THE SECOND IS SBA.

AND THEN LAST IS FEMA.

YOU HAVE TO FILE A CLAIM WITH YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY AT THE SAME TIME THAT YOU APPLY WITH FEMA.

[00:20:06]

WE CANNOT DUPLICATE BENEFITS.

BUT IF YOU'RE UNDERINSURED OR YOU'RE NOT INSURED AS YOU THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE, WE MIGHT HELP GETTING THE REST OF THE ASSISTANCE THAT YOU NEED TO REPAIR.

WHAT IS WHAT WE PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR.

FEMA ASSISTANCE IS BASED ONLY ON IS ONLY FOR BASIC NEEDS AND THE NECESSARY EXPENSES TO MAKE YOUR HOME LIVABLE.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT MEANS THAT IT'S SANITARY, FUNCTIONAL AND SAFE.

SAFE MEANS THAT YOU HAVE ALL YOUR DOORS, ALL YOUR WINDOWS AND THE WALLS HAVE NO HOLES.

THE ROOF HAS NO LEAKS.

AND YOU CAN WALK ON YOUR FLOOR.

SANITARY, THAT MEANS THAT YOUR PLUMBING WORKS AND YOUR ELECTRICITY WORKS FUNCTIONAL.

THAT MEANS THAT IT IS A THREE BEDROOM HOUSE.

A BED CAN BE PUT IN EACH HOUSE AND IT CAN BE CALLED THE BEDROOM.

AND THE KITCHEN CAN BE USED AS A KITCHEN BECAUSE IT HAS A FRIDGE AND A COOKTOP.

THAT'S WHAT WE MEAN.

INSPECTORS GO OUT AFTER YOU FILL OUT THE APPLICATION AND VERIFY YOUR LOSSES.

SO SOME COMMENTS IN THE PLANADA TOWN HALL WERE LIKE, THEY WERE NOT THEY DID NOT AGREE WITH THE INSPECTORS DECISION. SO THAT CAN BE APPEALED.

FEMA HAS AN APPEAL SYSTEM WHERE IF YOU'RE NOT IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH THE DECISION THAT WE DETERMINE FOR YOU, YOU CAN WRITE US A LETTER AND TELL US GIVE US THE REASONS WHY WE SHOULD CONSIDER REVERSING THAT DECISION.

YOU CAN ALSO GIVE US DOCUMENTATION THAT SUPPORT YOUR CLAIM.

IF YOU AGAIN GET DENIED, YOU CAN APPEAL.

YOU CAN APPEAL AGAIN.

AGAIN, WHEN YOU DO A SECOND APPEAL, YOU HAVE TO INCLUDE NEW INFORMATION AND NEW DOCUMENTATION THAT YOU DID NOT INCLUDE IN THE FIRST ROUND OF APPEALS.

AND YOU HAVE 60 DAYS FROM THE DATE ON THE LETTER TO FILE YOUR CLAIM.

NOW YOU HAVE TO GIVE FEMA 90 DAYS TO GIVE YOU A DECISION.

SO THE DISASTER RECOVERY CENTERS ARE THERE SO THAT IF YOU NEED TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION AND YOU DON'T HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO DO IT THROUGH ON YOUR HOUSE BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE A FAX OR YOU DON'T HAVE A SCANNER, THAT CAN BE DONE AT THE DISASTER RECOVERY CENTER.

IF YOU GET A LOAN AND YOU DON'T WANT IT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE IT.

BUT KNOW THAT SIX MONTHS INTO YOUR RECOVERY, IF YOU FIND OUT THAT YOU STILL NEED MORE FUNDS THEN THAT LOAN THAT THEY GAVE YOU SEEMS ATTRACTIVE, YOU CAN GO BACK AND GET IT.

OKAY.

ALSO, THE PERSON THAT THE RESIDENCE THAT CANNOT BE HELD BY US ARE THEN REFERRED TO THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, THE NONPROFITS I'M SORRY, THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND THEY PROVIDE ASSISTANCE.

FOR EXAMPLE, ON SATURDAY WE HAD THE TZU CHI FOUNDATION AND THEY WERE AT THE DRC.

THEY SERVICE AROUND 152 PERSONS.

AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS THEY'RE GIVING OUT SOME GIFT CARDS WITH MONEY.

ALSO, THEY'RE GOING TO BE THERE THIS SATURDAY.

AND ANYONE THAT GOES THERE SATURDAY CAN GO THROUGH THEM AND SEE IF THEY CAN GIVE THEM SOME ASSISTANCE.

THAT'S ALSO GOOD.

NOW, WE HAVE BEEN HEARING THAT SURVIVORS SAY THAT THEY'RE WORRIED THAT IF THEY APPLY THROUGH THEIR CHILDREN OR THROUGH ONE OF THEIR KIDS, THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO REPAY THE MONEY WHEN THEY'RE OLDER, 18 YEARS OR OLDER.

THAT IS NOT TRUE.

FEMA'S MONEY IS GRANT MONEY.

IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE REPAID.

SBA LOANS HAVE TO BE REPAID, THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE.

SO WHEN WE GIVE YOU MONEY, WE EXPECT THAT YOU'RE USING IT FOR WHAT IT WAS INTENDED.

IF YOU DID NOT USE THAT MONEY CORRECTLY, WELL, THEN YOU'RE NOT GETTING ANY MORE ASSISTANCE.

ANOTHER THING IS THAT IF YOU APPLIED AND YOU WERE LIVING SOMEWHERE AND NOW YOU ARE BEING EVICTED, BECAUSE THAT IS ONE ONE THING THAT IS HAPPENING SO YOU DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO STAY, YOU NEED TO CALL FEMA AND LET THEM KNOW THAT YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE CHANGED, THAT NOW YOU DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO STAY BECAUSE WHAT THAT WILL MAKE HELP KICK IN SOME RENTAL ASSISTANCE MONEY FOR YOU TO TEMPORARILY STAY SOMEWHERE UNTIL YOU FIND A REAL PLACE TO STAY.

I KNOW THAT IN THE COUNTY SIDE, JOHN [INAUDIBLE] AND HIS TEAM ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO FIND PLACES FOR

[00:25:07]

FOR FEMA ASSISTANCE IS FOR RENTERS.

ALSO, IF YOU LOST ALL YOUR BELONGINGS, WE CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT.

THERE'S MONEY FOR THAT.

IF YOU LOST YOUR CAR, WE MAY HAVE FUNDS FOR THAT.

ALSO, AGAIN, YOU NEED TO GO THROUGH AN INSURANCE COMPANY FIRST.

AND WE HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM RESIDENTS THAT THE COMPANIES, THE INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE NOT PICKING UP THE PHONES AND IT'S BEING HARD FOR THEM TO FILE A CLAIM.

SO THAT'S ONE ISSUE THAT'S OUT THERE.

DO WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE THAT I AM MISSING? OKAY. SO WHEN THE THE RECEIPT GOES TO THE DISASTER RECOVERY CENTER, WE HAVE ENGLISH SPEAKING, SPANISH SPEAKING PERSONNEL.

WE ALSO HAVE FROM THE COUNTY SOME RESIDENTS THAT'S BEING SPEAK HMONG AND WERE ALSO IN THE MIX FOR US TO HELP THE RESIDENTS AND WE HAVE WHEELCHAIRS, WE HAVE SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS, WE HAVE BRAILLE MATERIAL, MATERIALS IN BRAILLE THAT THEY CAN READ.

SO WE REALLY ARE TRYING TO BE AS MUCH AS ACCESSIBLE AS WE CAN.

SO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? BECAUSE NOW IS THE TIME.

I HAVE ALL MY TEAM HERE.

YES, WE DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.

I HAVE SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

AND I REPRESENT THE MCSWAIN AREA AND FOLKS HAVE BEEN THERE KNOCKING DOOR TO DOOR, ASSESSING DAMAGES AND MUCH APPRECIATED.

ONE THING THAT'S COMING UP IS ONCE YOU ACCEPT THE FEMA MONEY THAT YOU ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE FOR TEN YEARS, IS THAT CORRECT? AND IT STAYS WITH THE PROPERTY IF THEY SELL IT, THE BUYER IS STILL ON THE HOOK FOR THAT MONEY AS WELL, EVEN IF THEY PAY FOR THE HOUSE WITH CASH.

YES, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.

BUT FOR THE TOWN HALL, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PERSON WHO KNOWS ABOUT.

AND IF I PAY, THAT'S NOT ME.

OKAY, WELL GOOD.

BUT I'M BRINGING HIM.

THAT'S A COMMON QUESTION THAT I'M GETTING NOW.

SO. YES. THANK YOU.

THANKS. THANK YOU.

I HAVE A QUESTION FROM SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.

THANK YOU. ON CLARIFICATION, JUST ON THE TZU CHI FOUNDATION GIFT CARDS, THEY'RE PROVIDING, PEOPLE STILL HAVE, AS YOU KNOW, AS I UNDERSTAND, PROBABLY UNTIL TOMORROW TO REAPPLY OR MAYBE UNTIL YOU KNOW, AS SOON AS THIS IS POSSIBLE.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT I GOT FROM THEM ON SATURDAY.

BUT THOSE FUNDS ARE OR FOR THOSE AFFECTED IN THE FLOOD AREA THAT WERE AFFECTED IN THE FLOOD AREA, THEY'LL BE CHECKING YOUR ID AND BILLS TO MAKE SURE YOU WERE INSIDE THAT FLOOD AREA.

SO IF YOU'RE NOT, THEN THEY MIGHT TURN YOU DOWN.

BUT YOU GOT TO PROVIDE AN ID AND BILLS WHEN YOU APPLY ONLINE OR IF YOU WANT TO GO.

I DON'T KNOW THERE.

ARE THEY THERE? THEY'RE GOING TO BE THERE SATURDAY.

AND OUR EXPERIENCE WAS THAT LAST SATURDAY WHEN YOU WERE THERE, THEY WERE TAKING RESIDENTS WITHOUT THE APPOINTMENT BECAUSE THEY PRE-APPROVED AND GAVE APPOINTMENTS TO SOME RESIDENTS THAT THEY SELECTED.

BUT APPARENTLY THEY HAVE MORE MONEY TO GIVE.

SO EVERY PERSON THAT CAME INTO THE DISASTER RECOVERY CENTER SATURDAY GOT SENT TO THE TZU CHI FOUNDATION AND THEN THEY DID THEIR THING.

IT'S A TAIWANESE COMPANY OR A NONPROFIT THAT'S PROVIDING FUNDS.

THEY PROVIDE ALL OVER DISASTER AREAS.

YOU KNOW, AND THANK GOD FOR THEM TOO AS WELL.

IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION I HAVE THE FLIER, YOU CAN APPLY ONLINE.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT. YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.

SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

THANK YOU. CAN YOU JUST REPEAT THE SIX MONTHS AND THE LOAN THING? SO IF IT WHEN DOES THAT TIME PERIOD BEGIN AND END? WHEN YOU APPLY, YOU HAVE ASKED TO FILL OUT AN SBA APPLICATION LOAN APPLICATION.

SO AT THAT TIME YOU SAY, I DON'T WANT TO LOAN I WELL, YOU HAVE SIX MONTHS, YOU GO SIX MONTHS IN OK SO YOU NEED MONEY.

THAT LOAN SEEMS ATTRACTIVE.

THERE'S NO INTEREST OR THERE'S VERY LOW INTEREST.

SO YOU GO BACK, YOU ASK THEM BECAUSE IT'S STILL IN THE SYSTEM.

I THINK IT'S IN THE SYSTEM FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR.

BUT WE HAVE THE SBA PIO GOING ALSO TO TONIGHT'S TOWN HALL IN MCSWAIN.

AND I CAN VERIFY.

SO IT'S SIX MONTHS FROM THE DAY YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION? YES. WHEN YOU RECEIVE WHEN THEY APPROVE YOUR LOAN, YOU SUBMIT THE APPLICATION.

[00:30:04]

SIX MONTHS IN, YOU SAY, OH, YOU KNOW WHAT I NEED THE LOAN.

YOU GO BACK AND THEN YOU SAY, I WANT THE LOAN NOW AND YOU CAN GET IT.

OKAY. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS AND I WAS JUST LOOKING IT UP AND I'VE ASKED THIS QUESTION MULTIPLE TIMES.

I KNOW SOME OF THE AREAS THAT WERE IMPACTED, AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU MENTIONED THE FACT THAT AS LONG AS ONE PERSON HAS A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.

YES. AND THERE'S NO THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ASKED TO SIGN PAPERWORK ABOUT CITIZENSHIP STATUS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL AFRAID OR NERVOUS GOING INTO THAT TYPE OF THING.

SO AS LONG AS THAT'S OUT THERE AND IT'S ON THE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE OUTSIDE AND THEN IT'S ON THE WEBSITE AS WELL, THAT REALLY SAYS, HEY, LOOK, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GIVE PEOPLE HELP.

SO THIS IS HOW IT WORKS OUT.

SO THANK YOU. YES.

AND I WANT TO SAY, WHEN I SEE PEOPLE THAT ARE TOO NERVOUS TO APPLY THROUGH ANOTHER SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, I TELL THEM TO GO AND TALK TO A LAWYER SO THAT THEY CAN BE PUT AT EASE BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW THEIR BACKGROUND OR WHY THEY'RE NERVOUS ABOUT.

AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO CONSULT WITH US.

THEY JUST GO PRIVATELY TO A LAWYER AND THEY ASK THEIR QUESTIONS AND THEN SOME OF THEM COME BACK AND APPLY.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I HAVE A QUESTION RENTER VERSUS HOMEOWNER? SO IF I MEAN, IN LISTENING TO YOU TALK, IT MADE IT SOUND LIKE THAT IF A PERSON IS RENTING A HOUSE THAT THEY CAN COME IN AND APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE TO FIX THE HOUSE.

IS THAT CORRECT? NO.

THE HOMEOWNER APPLIES FOR ASSISTANCE TO REPAIR THE HOUSE.

THE RENTER APPLIES FOR PERSONAL EFFECTS OR WHATEVER HE HAS IN THE HOUSE.

MAYBE THEY HAVE TOOLS THAT ARE FOR THEIR TRADE AND THAT THEY NEED THEM.

THAT COULD BE ALSO COVERED.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

THANK YOU, CHAIR. COMING BACK AROUND, ANOTHER PORTION I DON'T THINK WE'VE TOUCHED ON THIS IS PROP DAMAGE FEED THAT WAS DAMAGED AND ANIMAL LOSS.

IS THAT GOING TO BE ADDRESSED TONIGHT? BECAUSE A LARGE AG AREA IN MY DISTRICT WELL THAT SHOULD BE THROUGH USDA AND I DON'T KNOW.

I WILL. DO WE HELP WITH THAT ASSISTANCE? I MEAN, LIKE.

USDA HELPS. YES.

USDA HAS PROGRAMS OUT FOR THAT.

AND I DO HAVE SOME LINKS FOR THOSE.

I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS TIED DIRECTLY WITH.

WELL, THEY WERE AT THE DISASTER RECOVERY CENTER, THE FAIRGROUNDS.

BUT ALL THE RESOURCES OTHER THAN FEMA AND SBA LEFT FEBRUARY 1ST.

WE JUST HAVE THE REFERRAL INFORMATION.

RIGHT. SO WE REFER THEM TO THOSE CONTACTS THAT WE HAVE.

I'M JUST ANTICIPATING SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS TONIGHT AT THE TOWN HALL SO.

YEAH, THANK YOU.

ADAM, DID YOU WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THAT? YEAH, GOOD QUESTION.

SUPERVISOR. SO WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR AG COMMISSIONER NOW, CVFA AND USDA.

SO WE'RE WORKING ON DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT ARE OUT THERE TO PROVIDE THE RANCHERS AND FARMERS THAT INFORMATION.

AND AS WE GET MORE OF THAT INFORMATION, WHAT'S AVAILABLE.

I KNOW SHAWN IS WORKING ON, OUR AG COMMISSIONER IS WORKING ON, POTENTIAL SURVEYS AND THINGS THAT CAN GO OUT TO THE FARMERS AND WHAT THOSE PROGRAMS ARE, WOULD LOOK LIKE.

I THINK WHAT IT COMES TO IS IT'S GOING TO BE SOME TIME BEFORE WE START TO SEE IMPACTS AND WE KNOW THAT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS RELATED TO AGRICULTURE.

AS WE KNOW, THE ECONOMIC POTENTIAL ECONOMIC IMPACTS TO THIS COUNTY ARE GOING TO BE PRETTY DRAMATIC.

SO WE'LL BE PREPARED FOR THOSE TYPE OF QUESTIONS TONIGHT AT THE TOWN HALL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

IT'S PART OF THE SPECIAL DECLARATION I THOUGHT I READ OR SAW SOMEWHERE THAT DOES INCLUDE LIKE THE AG SIDE OF IT THAT USDA WILL BE INVOLVED.

I KNOW THAT THE FSA OFFICE HAD REACHED OUT TO ME LOOKING FOR IF WE HAD SPECIFIC MAPS OR AREAS THAT WERE AFFECTED AND THEY WERE TRYING TO DO THEIR HOMEWORK TO GET OUT IN FRONT OF AND TALKING WITH THOSE FOLKS, BECAUSE JUST LIKE ADAM SAID, I CAN SHOW YOU SOME WHEAT FIELDS ON [INAUDIBLE] ROAD THAT YOU'RE YOU KNOW, THAT IT'S DEAD BECAUSE THERE WAS STANDING WATER ON IT FOR WEEKS AT A TIME.

BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO KNOW THE EFFECTS OF THAT UNTIL THE CROP COMES TO ITS MATURITY AND THEY GO TO HARVEST AND THEY'VE LOST A THIRD OF THEIR FIELD.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVE THAT BY BASED ON THE TONNAGE THAT THEY GET.

SO.

THAT'S WHY DOCUMENTATION IS VERY IMPORTANT.

YES, VERY.

DOCUMENTATION, DOCUMENTATION, DOCUMENTATION.

RIGHT NOW THAT IS PART OF OUR MESSAGE BECAUSE RESIDENTS ARE RECEIVING THEIR DETERMINATION LETTER AND THEY THINK THEY'RE BEING DENIED WHEN IN FACT WHAT THEY'RE BEING ASKED FOR IS MORE DOCUMENTATION.

[00:35:01]

NO, YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE NOT.

YOU JUST NEED TO SUBMIT MORE INFORMATION.

SO THAT'S ONE THING THAT IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THE DISASTER RECOVERY CENTER THERE, BECAUSE THEY CAN GO THERE AND THEY CAN EXPLAIN WHAT KIND OF DOCUMENTATION, WHAT FOR, ETC.. YEAH.

AND I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AS WITH WHEN HAVING, YOU KNOW, THIS IS FEMA'S RULES.

THEY'RE NOT RULES THAT THIS BOARD MADE.

BUT WE'RE HERE TO KIND OF BE THAT CONDUIT TO GET THE SERVICES TO OUR RESIDENTS.

AND FEMA HAS RULES.

THE STATE HAS RULES.

ALL THESE THINGS. YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS ALL TAXPAYER DOLLARS THAT ARE GOING TO HELP OUR RESIDENTS.

AND WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO IF IT GETS AUDITED AND IT SAYS THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THIS PIECE OF PAPER AND THAT PIECE OF PAPER IN ORDER TO PROVE YOUR ELIGIBILITY, WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT PIECE OF PAPER. SO ANYBODY THAT'S LISTENING TO ME, IT MIGHT SEEM FRUSTRATING THAT WE'RE ASKING YOU FOR ANOTHER PIECE OF DOCUMENTATION.

IT REALLY WE'RE JUST TRYING TO COVER ALL THE BASES SO THAT NOBODY GETS PUNISHED FOR IT.

QUESTION BACK TO YOUR ON WHEN YOU GO IN TO THE DISASTER RECOVERY CENTER AND YOU APPLY YOU'RE APPLYING FOR FEMA ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS SBA ASSISTANCE? YOU APPLY FOR FOR FEMA ASSISTANCE, THEN YOU RECEIVE A LOAN APPLICATION LATER, AND THEN YOU FILL THAT OUT IN THAT INTERIM, AN INSPECTOR IS GOING TO CALL YOU TO GO INSPECT YOUR HOUSE AND YOU SET UP AN APPOINTMENT.

OKAY. JUST THIS IS FOLLOWING UP ON IS ON THE PART ABOUT YOU HAVE UP TO SIX MONTHS TO BE ABLE TO DECIDE WHETHER YOU TAKE IT OR NOT.

THAT DOESN'T PRECLUDE YOU THAT IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SOME OTHER KIND OF ASSISTANCE THAT STILL GOES YOU STILL HAVE THE OPTION DOWN THE ROAD THAT YOU SAY, HEY, I NEED THE MONEY, IT MAKES SENSE. NOW I CAN COME BACK AND DRAW ON THAT.

THAT'S CORRECT. PERFECT.

THANK YOU. I SEE SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA HAS ANOTHER QUESTION.

YEAH, FROM FEMA. I JUST WANT CLARIFICATION OR CONFIRMATION.

I KNOW THE USDA WAS OUT THERE PROVIDING INFORMATION REGARDING A POTENTIAL.

I KNOW THIS IS FOR A HOMEOWNER, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S FOR A FARM.

THEY WERE PROVIDING IF YOU'RE 62 OR OLDER, YOU CAN RECEIVE UP TO $36,000 GRANT MONEY IF YOU'RE A SENIOR CITIZEN, BUT IF YOU UNDER 62, YOU CAN QUALIFY UP TO $40,000 AT 1% LOAN REPAYMENT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW [INAUDIBLE] SO LONG, BUT IS THAT THAT'S SEPARATE FROM FEMA? YES. CORRECT? YES. THAT IS A USDA PROGRAM.

AND, USDA ROAD DEVELOPMENT HERE OUT OF OF G STREET IN MERCED.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER ONE FOR YOU KNOW, FOR MORE INFORMATION FOR TONIGHT.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

YEAH, SORRY. ONE MORE.

I'M KIND OF REGURGITATING MY QUESTIONS THAT I'M GETTING.

SO IS THERE A SET AMOUNT AFTER THE INSPECTION ON THE SBA LOANS? IS THERE A DETERMINED AMOUNT THAT THEY CAN GET A LOAN FOR? YES. AND I DO JUST HAVE TO SAY.

I AM NOT THE SBA PERSON.

SO. RIGHT. AND THERE IS A FRUSTRATION OUT THERE THAT IF THEY HAVE GOOD CREDIT, IT'S A 4% LOAN.

AND IF THEY HAVE BAD CREDIT, IT'S A 2% LOAN.

I CAN BE READY FOR THAT TONIGHT AS WELL.

OKAY. I'LL LET THEM KNOW.

LET ME SEE IF I HAVE THIS HERE.

OK FOR SMALL BUSINESS, SMALL AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVES, SMALL BUSINESS ENGAGE IN AGRICULTURE AND MOST PRIVATE NON-PROFITS OF ANY SIZE SBA OFFERS ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOANS TO HELP MEET WORKING CAPITAL NEEDS CAUSED BY THE DISASTER.

ECONOMIC INJURY ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE TO BUSINESSES REGARDLESS OF ANY PROPERTY DAMAGE.

BUSINESSES OF ALL SIZES AND PRIVATE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS MAY BORROW UP TO 2 MILLION TO REPAIR OR REPLACE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED REAL ESTATE, MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT, INVENTORY AND OTHER BUSINESS ASSETS.

SBA CAN ALSO LEND ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO BUSINESSES AND HOMEOWNERS TO HELP WITH THE COST OF IMPROVEMENTS TO PROTECT, PREVENT OR MINIMIZE THE SAME TYPE OF DISASTER DAMAGE FROM OCCURRING IN THE FUTURE.

DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? WELL, I'M JUST SAYING, DOES THE INSPECTOR, BECAUSE I SAW AN SBA INSPECTOR OUT AT SOME OF MY HOMES.

WELL, IN MY DISTRICT, NOT MY HOMES.

IS THERE LIKE A PREDETERMINED AFTER INSPECTION, HOW MUCH THEY CAN GET FOR THE LOAN OR IS IT UP TO ALREADY A PRE DETERMINED? YOU HAVE TO ASK THAT QUESTION? OKAY, I'LL ASK THAT TONIGHT.

BUT THANK YOU. I MEAN, THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS I'M GETTING.

AND WELL, IT IS GOOD THAT YOU'RE TELLING ME, YOU KNOW, I CAN WRITE THEM DOWN AND GIVE THEM TO THE PIO SO HE'S MORE INFORMED.

VERY GOOD. THANK YOU.

OKAY. OKAY. ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE.

I THINK THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL FOR THE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE AND FOR THE FOLKS THAT ARE WATCHING TO KIND OF UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS A LITTLE BIT.

I KNOW THAT IT'S NEVER FAST ENOUGH.

YOU NEEDED IT YESTERDAY.

[00:40:01]

BUT AGAIN, I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO BE ASSURED THAT AS A BOARD, OUR TEAM, OUR STAFF ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE STATE FOLKS AND THE FEDERAL FOLKS TO TRY TO GET THE ASSISTANCE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT THE MOST.

AND AGAIN, AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, BUT STILL UNDERSTAND THAT WE ALL HAVE RULES THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW.

AND IT'S NOT IN ANYBODY'S INTEREST THAT WE TRY TO CIRCUMVENT THEM RULES.

THAT'S MY BELIEF. THERE'S A PROCESS THAT'S SET IN PLACE.

AND NO MATTER HOW DEVASTATING THAT WE THINK THE FLOODS ARE FOR MERCED COUNTY, THEY ARE TRULY DEVASTATING FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

THIS IS WHAT THEY DO FOR A LIVING.

THERE'S DISASTERS THAT ARE MUCH LARGER AT MUCH BIGGER SCALES.

AGAIN, THEY SAID IT EARLIER THAT EVERY ONE IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BUT KIND OF THE BASIC RULES ARE THE SAME AND THESE FOLKS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE HERE TO TRY TO HELP OUR CITIZENS NAVIGATE THROUGH THIS PROCESS THAT IS IS GOING TO TAKE MONTHS, IF NOT YEARS, TO SEE IT TO ITS FINALITY.

SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

YOU'RE WELCOME. AND I WAS GOING TO SAY THE DECLARATION WAS JANUARY 14TH.

WE'RE NOT A MONTH IN AND I THINK WE'RE DOING FAIRLY WELL BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN REGISTERING A LOT OF RESIDENTS AND A LOT OF OUR OF THEM ARE GETTING HELP NOW.

AND I THINK THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE COMMITMENT OF THIS BOARD AND THE STAFF HERE AT MERCED COUNTY THAT HAVE WE OPENED UP OUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER BEFORE THE EVENTS JUST IN ANTICIPATION OF THE EVENTS, CALLING ON OUR PARTNERS, HAVING THEM AT THE TABLE ALREADY.

I THINK THAT'S IT'S SHOWING AGAIN, IF YOU'RE SITTING ON THE OTHER SIDE AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU KNEW OWN AND HAVE ONE DAY, NEXT DAY, IT'S ALL BEEN DESTROYED.

IT'S NEVER FAST ENOUGH.

BUT I FEEL GOOD THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO GET THE ASSISTANCE TO THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT.

SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR THAT. AND WE'RE HERE TO HELP YOU.

AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, EMAIL THEM TO ME.

I HAVE SENT ALL MY INFORMATION THROUGH MIKE NORTH AND HE'S THE ONE THAT SENDS IT TO YOU.

SO YOU ALREADY HAVE MY EMAIL.

YOU CAN EMAIL, WRITE THE QUESTIONS, EMAIL ME.

AND IF I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER, I'LL LOOK FOR ONE OF THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS TO ANSWER IT FOR YOU.

I APPRECIATE THAT. I APPRECIATE YOUR HONESTY.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER, YOU DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER.

BUT IF I DON'T KNOW IT, I DON'T KNOW IT.

THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD DAY.

ADAM, ANY FINAL COMMENTS? YEAH. I JUST WANTED TO THANK FEMA AND CAL OES BOTH FOR BEING HERE TO PROVIDE THESE UPDATES FOR THE BOARD, AGAIN, THE RESIDENTS AND STAFF TODAY.

AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS AGAIN, LONG TERM RECOVERY, AS WE SEE VERY COMPLEX PROGRAMS THAT WILL BRING A LOT OF QUESTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY. THIS WILL BE A WHOLE COMMUNITY APPROACH TO RECOVER.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US FROM ALL GOVERNMENT LEVELS, BUT AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY, BUT FOR US TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

BUT THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I HAVE ONE MORE QUICK QUESTION FROM SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE I JUST WANT TO MAKE A QUICK COMMENT.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES CAL OES AND FEMA PEOPLE DON'T RECOGNIZE BECAUSE WE DON'T SEE YOU GUYS, WHICH IS A GOOD THING.

SO YOU GUYS COMING OUT AND PROVIDING US THE INFORMATION, I APPRECIATE THAT QUITE A BIT.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.

WHEN I DO THIS JOB.

I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 11 YEARS, BUT WHEN I DO THIS JOB FOR THE SUPERVISORS AND THE MAYORS AND THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, I GO VISIT THEM PERSONALLY, EACH OF THEM, SO WE CAN DISCUSS WHATEVER ISSUES, CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE.

AND I CAN TAKE THAT UP MY CHAIN OF COMMAND.

AND THIS DISASTER HAS BEEN SO BUSY AND WE'VE BEEN DOING SO MUCH AND I'VE BEEN WEARING TWO HATS.

I HAVEN'T HAD THE TIME TO DO IT, BUT KNOW THAT YOU WILL GET AN EMAIL FROM ME TO SEE IF YOU WOULD LIKE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE YOUR ISSUES AND CONCERNS UP MY CHAIN.

THANK YOU FOR THAT COMMITMENT.

YOU'RE WELCOME. RIGHT. THANK YOU.

VERY INFORMATIVE.

ALL RIGHT. WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR.

[CONSENT CALENDAR (Part 1 of 2)]

PLEASE NOTE ITEMS 1 THROUGH 12 PLEASE NOTE ITEMS ONE, TWO AND FOUR REQUIRE A 4/5 VOTE.

ALL RIGHT. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT, WE'LL HAVE PUBLIC WORKS.

[BOARD ACTION (Part 1 of 2)]

[00:45:01]

PLEASE NOTE WE WILL BE TAKING ITEM 16 SEPARATELY.

CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

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

AND I'M SORRY, I FORGOT TO ASK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR, BUT I WILL LET YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.

DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON OK? I MADE A MISTAKE THERE.

LET ME FINISH THIS ONE AND THEN I'M GOING TO OPEN BACK ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.

THIS IS ON ITEMS 13 THROUGH 15.

OKAY. HELLO, BOARD.

MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] I WORK WITH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL FOR JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

I'M GOING TO BE SPEAKING ON ACTION ITEM NUMBER 14.

I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS THAT WE ARE THRILLED TO SEE THAT THE COUNTY IS APPLYING FOR THE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE CENTERS FUND FOR THE BEACHWOOD FRANKLINS COMMUNITY CENTER PROJECT.

BUT THIS FUNDING, SINCE IT'S RELATIVELY OPEN FUNDING SOURCE THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE SITE ACQUISITIONS OR CEQA CLEARANCE PRIOR TO APPLYING FOR FUNDING, WE WOULD WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE COUNTY TO ALSO CONSIDER APPLYING ON BEHALF OF DELHI FOR THEIR COMMUNITY CENTER AND PARK PROJECT.

AND JUST WANTING TO EXPRESS THAT BUILDING A COMMUNITY CENTER AND PARK IN DELHI IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR FOLKS AND FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT WE WORK WITH.

SO WE ENCOURAGE THE COUNTY TO PURSUE THIS PROGRAM, TO MOVE THE PROJECT FORWARD AND SECURE FUNDING FOR PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION.

IN ADDITION TO THE SITE ACQUISITION FUNDS THAT YOU HAVE SET ASIDE ALREADY.

THE DELHI RESIDENTS WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MEET WITH THE COUNTY YET AGAIN TO HEAR UPDATES ON HOW THE SITE ACQUISITION PROCESS IS GOING AND BEING DIRECTLY ENGAGED WITH THE PROCESS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

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

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

STACY ITEM 16.

YES, I WILL GO BACK TO IT.

LET ME JUST FINISH THE PUBLIC WORKS UP.

ITEM 16. YES.

SO ON ITEM 16, LET ME READ MY LITTLE ITEM 16 IS GOING TO BE TAKEN SEPARATELY AND WE'RE ASKING THAT THIS ITEM 16 WILL NEED TO BE CONTINUED TO THE FEBRUARY 28, 2023 FOR PROPER PUBLICATION PURPOSES.

SO I WOULD ASK THAT ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES MOTION TO.

I'LL MOVE. THANK YOU.

I'LL SECOND. SO THIS ITEM WILL BE MOVED TO THE FEBRUARY 28TH MEETING.

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

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

I WILL NOW CORRECT MY MISTAKE.

[CONSENT CALENDAR (Part 2 of 2)]

I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. SO WE'LL GO BACK AND THIS WILL BE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 12.

OKAY. HELLO AGAIN. [INAUDIBLE] LEADERSHIP COUNCIL.

AND THEN SO MY SECOND COMMENT IS GOING TO BE ON CONSENT CALENDAR ACTION ITEM FOUR REGARDING UTILIZING LEAP GRANT FUNDS TO PLAN A MISUSE SITE INVENTORY, REZONING AND CONDUCT CEQA ANALYSIS IN DELHI, PLANADA, LE GRAND, AND HILMAR.

WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS FOR THIS PLAN AND ASK THAT THE COUNTY AND YOUR CONSULTANTS DIRECTLY ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITY RESIDENTS IN EACH OF THESE COMMUNITIES TO GET THEIR FEEDBACK REGARDING LAND USE DECISIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

WE HOPE THAT THE COUNTY CAN AGREE THAT RESIDENTS SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO DECISION MAKING ABOUT THE LAND USES IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND WILL ENSURE RESIDENTS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS PROCESS. SO MY QUESTION FOR THE BOARD REGARDING THE ITEM IS WHEN CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PLAN FOR THIS? THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE ON TO COMMUNITY.

[BOARD ACTION (Part 2 of 2)]

HEALTH. ITEM 17 THROUGH 20, PLEASE NOTE ITEM 19 REQUIRES A 4/5 VOTE.

WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT FROM ITEMS 17 THROUGH 20.

[00:50:01]

CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN MOTION.

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

CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

NEXT, WE HAVE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY.

ITEMS 21 AND 22.

ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THESE ITEMS? NOT SEEING ANYONE. BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.

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

CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

NEXT, WE HAVE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

ITEMS 23 AND 24.

WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THESE ITEMS, NOT SEEING ANYONE.

WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.

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

CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

NEXT, WE HAVE LAW LIBRARY.

ITEM 25.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THESE ITEMS? NOT SEEING ANYONE.

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

CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

NEXT, WE HAVE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

ITEMS 26 AND 27.

ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THESE ITEMS? WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR, CLOSING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

SINCE NO ONE CAME UP.

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

CALL FOR THE VOTE.

I HAVEN'T DECIDED YET. NICE GUY.

SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL IS VOTING ON A SPECIAL PROJECTS FUNDS ITEM RIGHT HERE.

[LAUGHTER] PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

I'LL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES.

I KNOW THAT MY FRIENDS AT THE DOS PALOS Y FIRE STATION IN THE COMMUNITY OF DOS PALOS Y WILL APPRECIATE THAT I THINK THOSE DOORS WERE ORIGINAL TO THE STATION.

THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK THAT THAT MONEY IS A GOOD USE FOR AND IT WILL BENEFIT THE RESIDENTS THERE.

SO THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM IS BOARD APPOINTMENTS.

ITEMS 28 THROUGH 30.

ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THESE ITEMS? NOT SEEING ANY WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.

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

WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

LAST IS BOARD REPORTS.

[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION]

YES. LET ME PUT IT INTO DISCUSSION MODE.

WE'LL START WITH SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. WELL, JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE A LITTLE INFORMATION ON THE FELIX TORRES, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THERE'S DIFFERENT GROUPS RUNNING DIFFERENT THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY CENTER IN PLANADA.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WITH FEMA AND OTHER SERVICES THERE.

AND THEN ALSO THE FELIX TORRES.

I THINK THERE ARE 50 PLUS FAMILIES OVER THERE OR 96 AROUND THAT RIGHT, SO I KNOW THAT THEY'RE BEING TAKEN CARE OF.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, HOPEFULLY WE HAVE AN EXTENSION OF THE 45 DAYS FOR THE MIGRANT CAMP, THE FELIX TORRES FROM 45 DAYS TO 6 MONTHS AT LEAST, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AS THEY'RE STRUGGLING TO GET BACK IN THEIR RENTALS OR BEING EVICTED OUT OF THE RENTALS, THEY WILL HAVE NO WHERE TO GO, AS WELL AS THE HOMEOWNERS THAT WERE, YOU KNOW, MOVED FROM THEIR HOMES AND STILL TRYING TO FIX THEIR

[00:55:02]

SO IT'S NOT GOING TO IT'S GONNA TAKE MORE THAN, THAN 60 OR 90 DAYS, I ASSUME.

YOU KNOW. SO PLUS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE ENOUGH FUNDS TO PAY THE MORTGAGE AND INSURANCE AND EVERYTHING ELSE SO THAT HOPEFULLY THAT HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE AS WELL. AND ALSO THE GARBAGE PICKUP, I KNOW THAT THE COUNTY HAS A COMPANY AND TRYING TO PICK UP THE ALL THE GARBAGE THAT WAS TALKING ABOUT AROUND PLANADA.

AND SO HOPEFULLY YOU KNOW, THE RESIDENTS GIVE US SOME TIME AND TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY KNOW THAT ALL THE GARBAGE WILL BE PICKED UP AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE A STREET SWEEPER OUT THERE AFTER THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S PICKED UP, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE STUFF AND CLEAN UP THE TOWN.

JUST INFORMATION, SANTA NELLA, THERE WILL BE A PG&E MEETING IN SANTA NELLA ALONG WITH THE COUNTY REGARDING THE MOVEMENT OF SERVICES FROM THE CURRENT SUPPLIER OF GAS TO PG&E.

SO THAT THAT MEETING WILL BE THIS THURSDAY AT 6:00 PM AT THE ROMERO SCHOOL IN SANTA NELLA.

AND ALSO THE POST OFFICE, I KNOW THAT NICK IS HERE WITH, REPRESENTATIVE JOHN DUARTE.

I HAVE ADDRESSED, THE POST OFFICE WITH SAM [INAUDIBLE] AS WELL, AND HOPEFULLY THE, THE CONGRESSMAN DUARTE SUPPORTS US IN GETTING A TEMPORARY MOBILE OFFICE THERE IN PLANADA AND THAT DELIVERY OF MAIL STARTS GOING INTO THEIR HOMES.

SO I KNOW THAT NOT EVERYBODY HAS A POST OFFICE BOX THERE IN THEIR HOUSE OR A MAILBOX, BUT I KNOW AT LEAST HALF OF THE COMMUNITY WAS GETTING MAIL.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN FRUSTRATING FOR THEM ACCESSING THEIR MAIL IN MERCED.

SO HOPEFULLY IT HAPPENS SOONER THAN LATER.

AND ALSO THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A SPECIAL MEETING FOR TOMORROW NIGHT, AT THE PLANADA [INAUDIBLE] SPECIAL MEETING AND BUT I'VE SENT THEM EMAIL ABOUT THAT WE'RE GOING TO MOVE IT TO NEXT WEDNESDAY, HOPEFULLY THE 16TH.

SO THAT WAY, THE COUNTY CAN PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC AGAIN, AND, YOU KNOW, A WORKSHOP, YOU KNOW, TO GET QUESTIONS FROM THE CITIZENS AS WELL AS OTHER MORE INFORMATION.

SO NEXT WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH AND I MENTIONED THAT THE USDA ROAD DEVELOPMENT WILL GRANT AND $40,000 1% LOAN ALREADY WITH FEMA.

AND ALSO I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING ME IN STAYING ON THE PRIMARY AS PRIMARY UNDER LAFCO.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

HAVE A GOOD DAY. THANK YOU.

SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING ATTENTION THE FIRE DOORS FOR DOS PALOS.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND IT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE SHOULD BE USING FUNDS LIKE THAT FOR.

I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF QUICK THINGS.

ONE, I KNOW I SPOKE WITH DANA HERTFELDER THIS MORNING ABOUT THIS, BUT ALSO RAUL.

I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT KIND OF STUCK OUT WHEN THE CAL OES GUY WAS TALKING ABOUT WAS THAT DISASTERS HIGHLIGHT PREEXISTING CONDITIONS.

AND I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME PREEXISTING CONDITIONS AMONGST OUR CREEKS AND WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN DO.

NOT I MEAN, IT'S IMPORTANT TO GO THROUGH AND CLEAN THEM UP, BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN WITH THE WAY THAT THE WEATHER PATTERNS ARE GOING YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THESE EXTREMES, EXTREME DROUGHT, EXTREME RAIN EVENTS, AND SO ARE WE PROTECTING OURSELVES MOVING FORWARD.

AND THEN ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE KIND OF A A LIST OF THE CREEKS THAT WE'RE CLEANING UP AND THE PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE, IF POSSIBLE, SO THAT WE KNOW THAT IF SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN AGAIN, THAT WE'VE [INAUDIBLE] SAID, HEY, WE'VE CLEANED THIS, THIS IS WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN AND WE'RE AWARE OF IT SO WE CAN AT LEAST GET EYES OUT THERE.

AND I KNOW EVERYBODY'S WORKING REALLY HARD AND I GET IT AND I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH SO.

BUT I JUST DON'T WANT TO, YOU KNOW, LEAD BY LOOKING IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR.

HOW DO WE GET PROACTIVE ON THIS? AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.

THE OTHER THING JUST REALLY QUICKLY, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO TWO EVENTS LAST OR A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT ONES.

THE DAUGHTERS OF AMERICAN REVOLUTION THAT HANDED OUT GOOD CITIZENSHIP SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS TO THE STUDENTS, AND THEN ALSO THE FFA PROJECT COMP EVENT.

AND WHAT THE PROJECT COMP IS.

THESE FFA STUDENTS PUT TOGETHER A PROJECT AND THEY PRETTY MUCH DO ALL OF THE WORK AND IT'S SOME OF IT'S TECHNICAL, SOME OF IT'S JUST REALLY HANDS ON BIOLOGY, BUSINESS OWNERSHIP AND THAT TYPE OF STUFF.

[01:00:02]

AND THIS KID IS NO BIGGER THAN A MINUTE AND THEY SAID THAT HE COULD CHANGE THE OIL OF ONE OF THESE LITTLE THESE SMALLER SEMI TRUCKS IN LESS THAN LIKE 10 MINUTES.

AND I TEXTED MY WIFE, I SAID, GOSH, DANG, THESE KIDS MAKE ME FEEL DUMB BECAUSE I CAN BARELY WALK AND CHEW GUM SOMETIMES.

SO BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY IMPRESSIVE, ALL THE WORK THAT THESE KIDS ARE DOING OUT THERE.

AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY GOOD STUFF THAT'S GOING ON.

ALSO, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND LEARN A LOT MORE ABOUT HENRY MILLER AND THE HENRY MILLER ROAD AND THAT TYPE OF STUFF.

I KNOW LLOYD WAS THERE AS WELL, WAS REALLY INTERESTING.

AND THEN WE JUST APPROVED THE PRESENTATION TO OUR LADY OF MERCED SCHOOL FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK, WHICH WAS LAST WEEK.

I'M AN ALUMNI FROM THERE.

MY AUNT IS THE PRINCIPAL.

MY KIDS GO THERE AND THEY'RE ALSO CELEBRATING THEIR 95TH ANNIVERSARY OF BEING HERE IN MERCED.

SO IT'S A REALLY COOL THING FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE.

I MADE A JOKE THAT I THINK MY AUNT HAS BEEN PRINCIPAL FOR ALL 95 YEARS, THAT THE SCHOOL'S BEEN OPEN.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

YOU'RE WELCOME, MR. CHAIR.

[LAUGHTER] OH, IT'S MY TURN TO SPEAK.

I JUST WANTED TO.

I ATTENDED THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY POLICY COUNCIL MEETING LAST WEEK.

I WAS NOMINATED FROM THE FLOOR TO BE VICE CHAIR, SOMETHING I WASN'T SEEKING.

BUT I'M VERY PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT I HAVE BECOME THE VICE CHAIR NOW, THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY POLICY COUNCIL.

THAT IS ONE COUNCIL THAT REPRESENTS THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AND ABLE TO EXPRESS OUR ISSUES AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL.

IT'S DURING COVID, IT WAS VERY EFFECTIVE.

A LOT OF TIMES RCRC OR CSAC DIDN'T TAKE CERTAIN STANCES BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET ALL 58 COUNTIES OR 40 COUNTIES TO AGREE ON SOMETHING.

BUT OUR EIGHT COUNTIES HERE IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY, WE CAN USUALLY COME TO AN AGREEMENT AND SO WE'RE ABLE TO SEND A STRONG MESSAGE.

I WANT TO INVITE EVERYBODY TO THE TOWN HALL TONIGHT AT THE MCSWAIN GYMNASIUM FROM 6 TO 8 P.M..

I'M SURE IT WILL BE A LIVELY DISCUSSION THAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO.

ALSO, I JUST WANT WE HAVE NICK GOMEZ HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.

I JUST WANT TO DO A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO CONGRESSMAN DUARTE.

HE'S ANSWERING THE PHONE ANY TIME WE HAVE A CALL.

HIS STAFF HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL.

AND I JUST WANT TO PLEASE EXPRESS TO YOUR BOSS A BIG THANK YOU FOR HIS INVOLVEMENT.

AND ALSO, I KNOW THE MOST OF OUR TIME IS NOW BEING DOMINATED BY RECOVERY.

BUT MY NUMBER ONE CALL RIGHT NOW IS ON POTHOLES.

AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO EXPRESS TO EVERYBODY AT THIS TIME, PLEASE DOWNLOAD THE MERCED COUNTY APP AND REPORT THEM, BECAUSE IF YOU REPORT THEM TO ME, IT COMES TO ME.

THEN I GO TO DANA, AND THEN DANA GOES TO WHOEVER IT NEEDS TO GO TO, TO FILL THE POTHOLES.

IF YOU DO THE APP, YOU'RE GETTING DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE THAT YOU NEED TO FILL THE POTHOLES SO THEY CAN GET ON RECORD AND WE CAN GET FOLKS OUT THERE TO FIX THOSE POTHOLES.

NOW, THOSE ROADS ARE BAD, AND EVERY TIME I GET A CALL WITH A COMPLAINT, I TRY TO REFER THEM OVER TO OAK ROAD, WHICH MY COLLEAGUE GAVE TO ME OVER THIS REDISTRICTING TIME.

IT'S PROBABLY, I HAVE TO SAY, THE WORST ROAD IN THE COUNTY, BUT PLEASE USE THE APP, REPORT THOSE POTHOLES SO WE CAN GET OUT THERE AND FIX THEM. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU.

SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. THANK YOU, CHAIR.

AS SUPERVISOR PEDROZO MENTIONED, I ATTENDED THE MERCED COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY ANNUAL MEETING SUNDAY HERE IN THESE CHAMBERS.

IT WAS A PACKED HOUSE.

HAD TO BRING CHAIRS IN.

AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO CONVEY IS THEIR GRATITUDE FOR US HOLDING THE LAST DECEMBER MEETING OVER THERE TO NOT ONLY INTRODUCE US TO WHAT'S THERE, BUT ALSO TO RAISE AWARENESS COUNTYWIDE THAT AFTER THAT THAT WE DID THAT MEETING, THAT THEIR THROUGHPUT THROUGH THE GIFT STORE AND THE MUSEUM INCREASED.

AND SO I'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THIS YEAR'S CHAIR TO CONTINUE THAT.

AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BECOME AN ANNUAL TRADITION THAT LIVES ON LONG PAST US.

I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE ROADS CREW AT MERCED COUNTY AND TO THE DIRECTOR, DANA HERTFELDER.

YOU KNOW, AS SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL SAID, THE POTHOLES ARE HORRENDOUS OUT IN THE HILMAR, THE WINTON, DEL HI, SNELLING.

I MEAN, THEY'RE EVERYWHERE.

AND, AND WHAT'S AMAZING IS WITH ALL THE DAMAGE THAT THE FLOODING DID AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT THEY'VE HAD THERE, THEY'VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT IN THESE OTHER

[01:05:08]

AND DO SOME GOOD WORK OUT THERE SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND THE LAST THING THAT I'D LIKE TO TO SAY IS THAT YOU KNOW WE HAD A SPEAKER HERE EARLIER WANTING THE COUNTY TO DO A BUNCH OF THINGS THAT THE COUNTY IS NOT DESIGNED TO DO.

AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND CAL OES AND FEMA ARE HERE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND THOSE THINGS, THE COUNTY FACILITATES THAT, BUT IT'S NOT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE DO.

OUR HSA DEPARTMENT CAN HELP WITH THAT THROUGH FEMA.

SO AS RESIDENCES LOOK FOR ASSISTANCE, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THEY STAY CONNECTED WITH THESE AGENCIES THAT ARE HERE TO HELP BECAUSE THEY'RE ONLY GOING TO BE HERE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO LEAVE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, AND THEN THE YOU KNOW, FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE GETTING EVICTED THAT ARE RENTERS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH, YOU KNOW, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PEOPLE AT THE MIGRANT HOUSING OUT IN PLANADA, BUT THERE'S OTHER FOLKS THAT ARE COMING IN TO THAT HOUSING.

AND SO THAT'S NOT A PERMANENT SOLUTION.

AND SO FOR THE FOLKS THAT ARE YOU KNOW, I SPOKE TO TWO BOARD MEMBERS FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, AND THEY'RE CONCERNED THAT THEY HAVE PEOPLE COMING TO MOVE INTO THOSE HOUSES AND THERE'S PEOPLE IN THEM.

AND AND SO IT'S TOTALLY AN EMERGENCY HELP.

IT'S NOT A PERMANENT SOLUTION.

AND HOPEFULLY THEY CAN GET AN EXTENSION.

BUT THE FOLKS THERE NEED TO KNOW BE LOOKING FOR SOMEWHERE ELSE, BECAUSE IF THEY KEEP THINKING THEY'RE GOING TO STAY THERE, THEN AT SOME POINT IN TIME THERE'S GOING TO BE A TRAIN WRECK. AND SO ANYWAYS, JUST SOMETHING FOR YOU TO THINK ABOUT AND MAYBE CONVEY IF YOU WANT TO.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

THANK YOU. COUNSEL HANSEN.

NO. CEO MENDEZ. YES, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS THIS MORNING.

OBVIOUSLY WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT OBVIOUSLY HAS BECOME MORE OF A FOCUS HERE THIS LAST WEEK.

OBVIOUSLY WE WERE IN PLANADA LAST THURSDAY ENGAGING WITH THE IMPACTED RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES AND YOU HAD YOUR ENTIRE COUNTY TEAM AND SOME OF THE REPRESENTATIVES THAT WERE HERE EARLIER TODAY JUST TRYING TO LISTEN TO SOME OF THE CONCERNS SO THAT WE CAN KIND OF PIVOT IN AND KIND OF ADDRESS CONCERNS BETTER GOING FORWARD AND THEN ALSO JUST SHARING INFORMATION.

SO WE'RE COMMITTED TO THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

I KNOW THERE WAS THIS REQUEST THAT WE NOT FORGET ABOUT THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED.

WE WILL NOT FORGET.

I WANT TO ASSURE THIS BOARD, OUR STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY, WE WILL NOT FORGET.

WE WERE IN PLANADA LAST WEEK.

WE'LL BE IN MCSWAIN THIS EVENING.

LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT CONVERSATION AS WELL.

WE'RE NOT FORGETTING ABOUT THE OTHER AREAS CITY OF MERCED AND OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTY THAT HAVE ALSO BEEN IMPACTED.

IT'S JUST WE HAVE TO DO IT METHODICALLY.

WE HAVE TO DO IT COORDINATED WITH OUR FEDERAL AND STATE PARTNERS.

SO I APPRECIATE THIS BOARD'S PATIENCE WITH THE STAFF AND THE PROCESS AND ALSO RESIDENTS AS WELL.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO RESPOND.

AND IT DOES TAKE AN ENTIRE EFFORT OF EVERYBODY.

AS ADAM AMARAL INDICATED EARLIER, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR SCHOOL PARTNERS THAT DEFINITELY WANTED TO APPRECIATE THEM BOTH IN PLANADA AND MCSWAIN FOR OPENING UP THEIR FACILITIES TO US TO HOST THESE MEETINGS.

WE ARE ALSO ALSO TRYING TO COORDINATE WITH SOME OF THE LOCAL GROUPS THAT ARE THERE, YOUR MUNICIPAL ADVISORY COUNCILS AND OTHERS, BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE THERE AND THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE THERE TRYING TO PROVIDE SUPPORT.

SO JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE.

APPRECIATE ALL THE STAFF THAT'S MADE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE FOR THESE MEETINGS THEY ARE IMPORTANT MEETINGS THAT WE NEED TO BE AT AND JUST LEARN FROM THE FOLKS THAT WE'RE SERVING AND REALLY THE RESIDENTS OF THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN SEVERELY IMPACTED BY THE FLOOD EVENT THAT OCCURRED EARLIER THIS YEAR.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I THINK I WAS REMISS IN NOT MENTIONING THE NICE SEAL THAT IS BEHIND OUR OBVIOUSLY OUR DAIS HERE BEHIND THE CHAIR.

THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK THAT WENT INTO MAKING THAT POSSIBLE TO GIVE THIS BOARDROOM YOUR CHAMBERS A MORE PROFESSIONAL LOOK.

AND WE'RE NOT FORGETTING ABOUT THE OBVIOUSLY THE COURTHOUSE BECAUSE THAT WAS, I THINK THE IMAGE THAT WAS BACK THERE.

AND YOU'LL SEE IT STILL POPULATED IN SOME OF OUR SLIDES AND WHATNOT.

BUT DEFINITELY WANT TO APPRECIATE THIS BOARD FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND THEN OUR CLERK STAFF FOR MAKING THAT POSSIBLE.

I THINK FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE SEEN THE TRANSITION FROM THE PHOTO TO THE [INAUDIBLE] DOES GIVE THIS BOARD CHAMBERS A MORE PROFESSIONAL LOOK THAT WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF. AND OBVIOUSLY IT TOOK A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, BUT HAPPY TO SEE THAT IT'S THERE, IT'S PLACED AND WILL BE THERE FOR THE FUTURE.

SO THAT'S IT. MR. CHAIR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. SO FIRST, I WANT TO SAY THAT IT IS ON THE SCHEDULE TO BE, I THINK, AND WE'VE STARTED THAT TRADITION BEFORE ME, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVING THAT FINAL MEETING

[01:10:02]

AND AS MUCH AS I THINK THAT OUR STAFF HERE COULD DO A GREAT JOB OF DECORATING THE BOARDROOM FOR CHRISTMAS, IT GOT IT BUILT IN OVER THERE AND IT LOOKS REALLY COOL.

SO I WANT TO CONTINUE ON WITH THAT.

AND I THINK IT'S REALLY JUST ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SHOWCASE A JEWEL WITHIN OUR COUNTY.

SO THAT IS ON THE BOOKS AND WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.

SECOND, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS.

I KNOW IT KIND OF PASSED UNCEREMONIOUSLY JUST IN ITEM 27, BUT JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT FOR EVERYBODY REALLY, I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES AND THERE WAS NO CHANGES OTHER THAN THE ONES THAT HAVE TO CHANGE BECAUSE THERE'S A COUPLE POSITIONS ON DIFFERENT BOARDS AND COMMITTEES WHERE IT'S THE CHAIR AND THE VICE CHAIR.

OTHER THAN THAT, THE COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS ALL STAYED THE SAME.

AND REALLY THAT IT'S KIND OF OUR WORKLOAD.

YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS GET TO SEE US AT TWO MEETINGS A MONTH HERE IN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CHAMBERS.

HOW THESE COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS IS REALLY DRIVES WHAT AND DICTATES WHAT OUR SCHEDULES ARE FOR THE REST OF THE MONTH.

SO THANK ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES FOR REALLY CONTINUING TO STEP UP AND REPRESENTING MERCED COUNTY ON ON A PLETHORA OF OF DIFFERENT COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS THAT RANGE FROM LOCAL TO STATE TO NATIONAL LEVEL.

SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL OF THAT.

AND IT WAS REALLY SIMPLE.

TAMARA SENT ME OUT THE LIST AND WE'RE GOING TO DO IT FOR THE WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO DO AT THE END OF JANUARY.

AND WITH THE FLOODS AND EVERYTHING THAT GOT PUSHED BACK AND REALLY THERE WAS NO CHANGE.

NOBODY WAS LIKE, I WANT OFF OF THIS, OR I TRY TO GIVE SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL A FEW AND TAKE SOME LOAD OFF OF SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

BUT NEITHER ONE OF THEM WERE HAVING ANY PART OF THAT.

SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR THAT.

A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I ATTENDED SINCE THE LAST MEETING.

I WAS AT THE CSAC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING IN SACRAMENTO A COUPLE OF WEEKS BACK.

THIS BOARD HAS GIVEN ME THE PRIVILEGE TO REPRESENT MERCED COUNTY ON THE CSAC.

THAT'S THE CALIFORNIA STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES ON THEIR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

AND THEN AS PART OF THAT, TAKEN ON A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

AND JUST AS CHAIR, ONE LITTLE KIND OF TIDBIT THAT COMES FROM THESE MEETINGS, AS WE WERE SITTING IN THIS MEETING, THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CALIFORNIA, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, HIS NAME IS JOE STEPHENSHAW, WAS THERE AND DID A PRESENTATION AND I WAS ABLE TO HAVE A MOMENT AND CHAT WITH HIM AND JUST KIND OF GET SOME INSIGHT.

YOU GUYS ARE ALL AWARE THROUGH LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, THIS THROUGH SENATOR CABALLERO AND ASSEMBLY MEMBER GRAY, WE WERE ABLE TO GET A $3 MILLION DOLLAR DIRECT BUDGET ALLOCATION FOR THE PROJECT IN DOS PALOS AT THE DEL HALE HALL AND THE DOS PALOS LIBRARY.

AND THEN RUMORS CAME OUT WITH THE GOVERNOR'S KIND OF BUDGET THAT CAME OUT IN JANUARY THAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT 15% CUTS TO ALL OF THOSE DIRECT BUDGET ALLOCATIONS. AND I GOT TO ASK THEM POINT BLANK WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT? AND HE ASSURED ME THAT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE.

AND THEN AND I FORGOT TO RELAY THAT ON TO STAFF.

AND THEY HAD DID SOME HOMEWORK THAT BASICALLY CAME UP WITH THE SAME CONCLUSION.

SO MEETING SOME OF THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE AT HIGH LEVEL OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP.

AND WHEN WE HAVE QUESTIONS BEING ABLE TO GET DIRECT ANSWERS.

AND THEN FOLLOWING THAT, LAST WEEK I WAS IN SAN DIEGO FOR THE CSAC EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP FORUM.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE PARTNERS WITH CSAC'S FINANCE CORP, THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, REALLY GO THROUGH AND WE TALKED ABOUT SOMETHING THAT INDIRECTLY AFFECTS MERCED COUNTY, BUT IT WAS IN SAN DIEGO IS JUST THE BORDER CRISIS AND WHAT THAT DOES TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO WHO'S DIRECTLY ON THE BORDER BUT LISTENING TO THOSE ISSUES.

SO THERE'S ONE GROUP IT'S EQUIVALENT TO AND I FORGET THE NAME, BUT IT'S EQUIVALENT TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES, BUT IT'S JEWISH CHARITIES.

THEY RUN A PROGRAM THERE.

THEY HOUSE 200 FAMILIES A NIGHT THROUGH THEIR PROGRAM.

THEY HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH [INAUDIBLE] ESCAPING THE FEDERAL PROGRAM, BUT THEY BRING THESE FOLKS IN.

THEY AVERAGE 2 TO 3 DAYS IN THEIR PROGRAM, AND 97% OF THE PEOPLE THAT COME THROUGH THERE MOVE ON TO A DESTINATION OTHER THAN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

SO THAT'S THE PART WHERE IT IT AFFECTS US AND OUR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND ALL THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE IN MERCED COUNTY.

SO JUST REALLY EYE OPENING EXPERIENCES IN GETTING TO LOOK AT WE GET TO GET OUTSIDE OF OUR BUBBLE OF JUST WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH IN MERCED COUNTY, BUT WHAT OTHER COUNTIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE ARE DEALING WITH.

AND THIS COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF THE RURAL COUNTIES, THE URBAN COUNTIES AND THE SUBURBAN COUNTIES.

SO YOU GET A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE OF WE'RE 58 COUNTIES, WE'RE ALL VERY DIFFERENT.

WE EXPERIENCE SOME OF THE SAME CHALLENGES, BUT OUR CHALLENGES ARE JUST DIFFERENT.

SO AGAIN, THANK THIS BOARD FOR AND MY COLLEAGUES FOR ALLOWING ME TO REPRESENT THEM THERE.

THE LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I JUST AS WE HIGHLIGHT IN THE THANKS WITH OUR FOLKS AT OES AND ALL OF THE WORK THAT GOES INTO WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH THESE FLOODS, I WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK MAYBE SOME OF THE OTHER STAFF THAT DON'T QUITE GET THE RECOGNITION, BUT IT IS OUR FOLKS AT HSA THAT ARE DEALING WITH THE AFTERMATH OF THESE FLOODS JUST AS MUCH AS PUBLIC WORKS IS DEALING WITH THE POTHOLES AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

[01:15:06]

YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN YOU'RE WORKING UNDER EMERGENCIES, THINGS GOT TO GET PAID.

THOSE FOLKS HAVE TO BE ON BOARD.

PUBLIC HEALTH, THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY.

AND I KNOW WE JUST RECENTLY DECLARED A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.

I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU.

IT'S NOT PUBLIC HEALTH ANYMORE.

IT'S IN COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUT ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, FLOODS COME.

THERE'S A RESIDENT WHERE THEY HAD 55 GALLON DRUMS OF LEAD BASED PAINT THAT WHEN THE FLOODS CAME, KNOCKED THOSE OVER.

AND NOW WE HAVE AN ISSUE THERE THAT HAS TO BE CLEANED UP.

ALL THESE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

THE FLOOD WAS A HUGE PART OF IT AND IS A BAD DEAL.

BUT NOW WE'RE THE AFTERMATH OF IT.

CEO'S OFFICE, JUST ACROSS THE BOARD, FROM EVERYBODY FROM THE CEO, THE ASSISTANT CEOS, THE DEPUTY CEOS, THE PIO DEPARTMENT, EVERYBODY IT'S BEEN AN ALL HANDS ON DECK APPROACH TO TRYING TO GET INFORMATION OUT AND TRYING TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS IN REAL TIME.

SO, AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO THANK AND I'M SORRY IF I FORGOT ANYBODY, BUT THERE'S IT TAKES A TEAM EFFORT HERE TO TO REALLY TO GET THROUGH THIS THIS CRISIS.

AND WE WILL GET THROUGH IT BECAUSE WE ARE A STRONG COUNTY AND WE HAVE A GOOD TEAM AROUND US.

SO I WANTED TO THANK THEM AND I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND WITH THAT, WE'LL ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 11:16.

THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.