[00:00:02] ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME BACK TO THE MARCH 28TH, 2023 MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. [Call to Order] THIS MORNING WE HAD A CLOSED SESSION MEETING AND STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION. NOW WE WILL HAVE THE INVOCATION LED BY PASTOR TIM PISTORESI FROM JESUS SAVES MEN MINISTRY. AND THEN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE LED BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. THANK YOU. LORD GOD, WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH. AND I THANK YOU, LORD, FOR LETTING ME SERVE YOU TODAY IN THIS IN THIS FASHION. AND FIRST THING I WANT TO PRAY FOR IS FOR ALL THE FIRST RESPONDERS, LORD GOD, THOSE MEN AND WOMEN THAT PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR US, THAT COME IN THE EVENT OF EMERGENCIES IN TIMES OF GREAT NEED. THEY PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR US AND WE APPRECIATE THAT SO MUCH. IT'S HARD TO ASK THAT OF A FELLOW HUMAN BEING, BUT THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE THERE FOR. AND SO WE PRAY FOR THEIR SAFETY A SIXTH SENSE ABOUT THEM THAT THEY WOULD SEE TROUBLE COMING, IDENTIFY IT AND RESPOND TO IT AND LEAD ALL OF US TO SAFETY. SO PRAYING FOR FIRST RESPONDERS, LORD GOD, AND THEN LORD FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY HERE THAT HAS PRECIOUS, VITAL NEEDS TODAY THAT ARE BRINGING IT BEFORE THE SUPERVISORS HERE. AND THEN FOR EACH OF THE SUPERVISORS AND AND ALL THE SUPPORT FOR THEM, THAT IN EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO, THAT THEY KEEP CLEAR HEADS, THAT THEY SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND THEY KEEP YOU IN MIND, LORD GOD. AND THE BIGGER CALLING, BECAUSE YOUR WORD SAYS THAT IF THEY'RE HERE, IF THEY'RE IN THIS POSITION, YOU ALLOW THAT TO BE AND YOU'RE IN CONTROL OF THAT. AND OUR JOB IS TO FOLLOW THEM AND TO WORK WITH THEM ON EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED. AND SO WE KNOW THAT LORD SO I PRAY FOR THESE MEN AND WOMEN AS THEY DO THEIR JOB TODAY AND FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT'S HERE. BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM. BRING IT ALL TOGETHER FOR THEM AND DELIVER YOUR GOODNESS AND YOUR LOVE TO ALL OF THEM. AND WE PRAY IN JESUS PRECIOUS NAME. AMEN. AMEN. 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. AMEN. THANK YOU, PASTOR PISTORESI AND SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO NON-AGENDA ITEMS. [PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK] PUBLIC COMMENT. 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 THREE MINUTES PER PERSON AND 30 MINUTES TOTAL. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT. AND THIS IS FOR NON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY THE PUBLIC COMMENT. SO THERE WE GO. THERE'S A BUTTON RIGHT TO YOUR RIGHT DOWN BELOW THAT'LL LOWER THAT A LITTLE BIT FOR YOU IF YOU'D LIKE. OKAY. RIGHT HERE. YOU GOT TO PUSH IT AND IT'LL MAKE THE WHOLE PODIUM COME DOWN. OH, OH, I THINK I'M OKAY. OKAY. VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WELL, GOOD MORNING, BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS COREY, AND I AM AN IHS PROVIDER HERE IN MERCED COUNTY. I TAKE CARE OF A PERSON WITH DISABILITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I HAVE BEEN A HOME CARE PROVIDER FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS. AND I AM ONE OF THE 3700 IHS PROVIDERS CARING FOR ONE OF THE 4200 IHS RECIPIENTS HERE IN MERCED COUNTY. THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE IMPACT 8000 PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THIS COUNTY. A WAGE INCREASE WOULD COST THE COUNTY 16.5%, WHILE BRINGING IN OVER 80% OF FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDS TO MERCED COUNTY. THIS MEANS THAT IF MERCED COUNTY GIVES IHS PROVIDERS A $1 WAGE INCREASE, THE COUNTY WOULD PAY ABOUT $660,000 WHILE BRINGING IN $3.3 MILLION INTO THE ECONOMY. LET ME REPEAT THAT MERCED COUNTY PAYS 16.5% OF THE COST TO A WAGE INCREASE FOR IHS PROVIDERS. IF MERCED COUNTY WERE TO GIVE US A $1 WAGE INCREASE, THE COUNTY'S SHARE WOULD BE $660,000 WHILE BRINGING IN OVER 3.3 MILLION IN STATE AND FEDERAL DOLLARS INTO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY. THIS IS A GOOD INVESTMENT WITH A HIGH RETURN. WE HOPE THAT YOU DO THE RIGHT THING AND NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH. AND LIKE MY SHIRT SAYS, CAREGIVERS NEVER GIVE UP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. [00:05:04] GOOD MORNING, BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MAGDALENA CASTILLO AND I AM IN-HOME SUPPORT SERVICES PROVIDER HERE IN MERCED. I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS, SO. EXCUSE ME. I TAKE CARE OF MY DAUGHTER. I'VE BEEN A HOME HOME PROVIDER FOR 12 YEARS NOW. DURING THE COVID 19, WE WERE THE ONES THAT WERE THERE WITH THEM REGARDLESS. WE TOOK CARE OF THEM. WE WE KEPT THEM GOING BECAUSE WITHOUT US, THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BECAUSE THAT WAS WHAT WAS GOING ON AT THE TIME. SO I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE AS IN-HOME SUPPORT PROVIDERS, WE ARE AN ESSENTIAL GROUP THAT PROVIDES JUST THAT THE CARE. UNFORTUNATELY, HERE IN OUR COUNTY, WE ARE NOT BEING LOOKED AT AS UPON AS THAT, WE LITERALLY MAKE 60 CENTS OVER JUST THE MINIMUM WAGE, WHICH NO BENEFITS. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE BOARD IF THEY WOULD SEE THAT WE ARE AN ESSENTIAL GROUP. WE CANNOT JUST FUNCTION ON THAT 60 CENTS OVER. A LOT OF US DEPEND ON JUST THE HOURS. SO WE HAVE 50 HOURS A MONTH. THAT IS NOT SUFFICIENT. SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE BOARD TO PLEASE RECONSIDER TO LOOK AT OUR WAGES AND PLEASE INCREASE US BECAUSE WE DEFINITELY NEED IT TOO. SO ONCE AGAIN, MY NAME IS MAGDALENA CASTILLO. THIS IS MY DAUGHTER, LETICIA. I THANK EACH AND ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. MAY I HAVE HER A MINUTE AND 17? NO, I'LL START YOU WITH THREE. SUPERVISORS, RICK WENDLINGER SAID I'VE GIVEN YOU A HANDOUT COVERING A FEW WORDS ON THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF OUR REPUBLIC AND OUR STATE. THIS IS YOUR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT. MORE IMPORTANT IS THE MENTAL HEALTH OF OUR STATE, COUNTY AND CITY OF MERCED. UNLESS YOU, YOUR FAMILIES AND EMPLOYEES WATCH ONLY MSNBC, CNN AND THEIR ILK, YOU KNOW WHAT IS AFFECTED OR INFECTED OUR BODY POLITIC. AND BY WHOM? AFTER THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION, LENIN AND TROTSKY SENT THEIR MOLES TO INFECT THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE WORLD WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. NOW, ALL OUR BUSINESSES, LEGISLATURES, EDUCATORS AND MILITARY ARE INFECTED WITH THAT COMMUNIST IDEOLOGY WHICH HAS PROGRESSED FROM BEYOND POLITICAL CORRECTNESS TO BECOME WOKENESS. WOKENESS IS DERIVED FROM CRITICAL RACE THEORY, WHICH CALLS ANYTHING CREATED BY WHITE MEN AS EVIL. THE WOKE FORGET THE ADVANCEMENTS MADE IN MEDICINE, COMMUNICATION, TRANSPORTATION MADE BY THEM PEOPLE OF ALL COLORS AND BOTH SEXES. WHAT IS DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION? LEAVING GENDER DYSPHORIA FOR ANOTHER DAY. WHAT WOULD YOU CALL ALLOWING MEN AND SCHOOL BOYS WHO CALL THEMSELVES WOMEN TO DEMAND AND RECEIVE THE USE OF WOMEN'S FACILITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN WOMEN'S SPORTS? WHAT WOULD YOU CALL OUR LEGISLATURE MANDATING SEX EDUCATION TO OUR K-12 CHILDREN WHEN MANY OF THOSE CHILDREN ARE NOT LEARNING TO READ, WRITE OR DO MATH? WHAT WOULD YOU CALL OUR CITY BUSINESSES AND PUBLIC LIBRARY HOSTING DRAG QUEEN STORY HOURS FOR CHILDREN? ARE MURDER AND THEFT DECLINING IN OUR COUNTY? ARE THE DISCIPLINE PROBLEMS IN OUR SCHOOLS DECREASING? ARE HOMELESSNESS AND DRUG USE DECLINING? ARE ALL THE ABOVE WHAT YOU WOULD CALL IMPROVING COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH ON WHICH YOU SPEND MILLIONS EVERY YEAR? I WISH YOU COULD DO MORE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT, SIR. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MICHAEL WAGNER. I'M A US ARMY VETERAN AND I'M THE JUNIOR VICE COMMANDER FOR CHAPTER 31. A CORE MISSION OF THE DAV IS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND ASSISTANCE TO VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES SO THEY CAN GAIN ACCESS TO MANY FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL BENEFITS THAT THEY RIGHTFULLY EARNED THROUGH THEIR SERVICE TO THIS COUNTRY. WE ACCOMPLISH THIS MISSION, WORKING WITH THE NETWORK OF PARTNERS FROM FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. [00:10:08] A CRITICAL LOCAL PARTNER IS THE MERCER COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE. WE LEARNED THAT TODAY. MR. VAZQUEZ HAS WILLINGLY STEPPED UP TO FILL SOME OF THE VOID, THE VOID AND ENSURE OUR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES WOULD CONTINUE TO RECEIVE SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE. AND WE ARE VERY STRUCK AND IMPRESSED BY HIS DEDICATION TO WORK OUT OF CLASS FOR OVER 12 MONTHS. A VERY DAUNTING AND CHALLENGING UNDERTAKING FOR ANY GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE HE COMMITS TO OUR VETERAN COMMUNITY IS REMARKABLE AND HE SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED. AND THIS LEADS US TO TODAY, SANDINO. ON BEHALF OF THE MEMBERS OF THE DAV CHAPTER 31, WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO SANDINO AND FOR HIS SUPPORT AND HIS HONOR, PATRIOTISM AND DUTY TO THE COMMUNITY. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING A SHINING EXAMPLE OF CONTINUED SELFLESS SERVICE TO OTHERS. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE PRESENT THIS CERTIFICATE TO YOU. HEY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU. HELLO. HELLO. MY NAME IS KEITH CURRY. I AM A LOCAL PROVIDER AND VENDOR HERE IN THE COUNTY. MY COMPANY NAME IS FIRE SUPPORT UNLIMITED. WE PROVIDE SERVICES ALL OVER THE STATE, ALL THE WAY UP TO ALASKA. AND WE ARE CURRENTLY DEALING WITH A SITUATION WHERE I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND AND LOCATE HOW I CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SERVICES TO THE COUNTY DURING CRISIS. RIGHT AT CASTLE I HAVE MOBILE LAUNDRY UNITS, MOBILE SHOWER UNITS, ADA TOILETS. MANY TIMES THE COUNTY HAS COME TO ME IN THE PAST 4TH OF JULY COMMITTEE. UNITED RENTALS WANTS TO CHARGE US $112,000 FOR TOILETS. GIVE ME $2,200 WE'LL CALL IT A DEAL. RIGHT. THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. HEY, WE NEED A FEW TOILETS FOR THIS 5K EVENT. NO CHARGE. THEY'LL BE THERE. I WAS AFFECTED BY THE FLOOD. OKAY I LOST $80,000 IN EQUIPMENT IN THE FLOOD. BUT THEN WHEN I GO TO FEMA, THE SBA, AND I SEE TRIPLE A FROM VISALIA, WHO DOESN'T WE'VE HEARD PEOPLE WANT BETTER WAGES. I PAY GOOD WAGE. MOST OF MY GUYS MAKE $350 TO $500 BUCKS A DAY. ALL RIGHT. SO I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT I'M A BIG PROVIDER AND GAME PLAYER AND TEAM PLAYER IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I DID NOT FEEL THAT SUPPORT BACK FROM THE COUNTY. THIS IS NOT ME THROWING STONES. THIS IS JUST ME TRYING TO GET RESOLVE IT, FIGURE OUT WHO DOESN'T KNOW THAT I'M HERE SO THAT YOU CAN KNOW THAT I'M HERE. AND WHEN WE MOVE FORWARD, WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK AS A TEAM. THESE RESOURCES ARE JUST NOT, YOU KNOW, YELLOW PAGES IN THE PHONE BOOK AND FIND THEM. SO IF YOU HAVE A GUY RIGHT HERE IN YOUR COUNTY, I THINK IT WOULD BE IDEAL TO SUPPORT THAT. WE ARE CURRENTLY BUILDING A TYPE SIX FIRE ENGINE, WHICH IS NEAR COMPLETION. IT WILL BE CERTIFIED BY THE STATE AND THE FEDS ON APRIL 14TH. WHAT DOES THAT DO FOR THE COUNTY? NOW, ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO GET A BURN PERMIT CAN HIRE ME OR VOLUNTEER MY SERVICES TO GO OUT THERE AND SUPERVISE THAT BURN. WE DON'T TAKE AWAY FROM CAL FIRE. WE DON'T TAKE AWAY FROM THE COUNTY RESOURCES. BUT WE HAVE THAT ADDED PROTECTION BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THE AUTHORIZATION TO FIGHT FIRE IN THE STATE. ALSO, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD TO INQUIRE TENTS WITH HVAC SYSTEMS IN IT, AND OUR GOAL IS TO BE ABLE TO HOUSE A THOUSAND PEOPLE AND, YOU KNOW, IN A 24 HOUR NOTICE, THESE ARE BIG, BIG, HUGE RESOURCES. AND WHEN YOU GIVE THAT MONEY TO TRIPLE A, WHEN YOU GIVE THAT MONEY TO OTHER RESOURCES OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY, YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED. [00:15:07] BUT I'LL GIVE YOU TEN SECONDS TO FINISH UP YOUR THOUGHTS. MY NAME IS KEITH CURRY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. UM, AT THIS TIME, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON NON AGENDA ITEMS, AND WE HAVE A [PRESENTATION: FLOOD RECOVERY AND RESPONSE UPDATE] PRESENTATION. WE'LL RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON FLOOD RECOVERY AND RESPONSE, AND WE'LL HAVE CHIEF PIMENTEL. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, CEO. IT'S BEEN A FAMILIAR PLACE HERE GETTING TO TALK TO YOU GUYS QUITE OFTEN. SO JUST A QUICK UPDATE. NOTHING TO TAKE TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME, BUT WE THOUGHT IT'D BE GOOD JUST TO PROVIDE YOU SOME QUICK INFORMATION. AND ALSO AFTER I'M DONE, WE'LL HAVE ADAM ADD ON TO THAT AS WELL. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME. THE DEBRIS WAS PICKED UP FOR THE THIRD PICK UP THROUGH PLANADA THE OTHER DAY, BOTH ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. WORKING WITH DPW, RALPH GLADWIN WAS ALSO AN EXTRA HELP HIRE AND HAS BEEN HELPING WITH THAT PROCESS. BUT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE AREA PLANADA AND MCSWAIN TO MAKE SURE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT COMES ARISE THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THOSE OTHER AGENCIES THAT WE'RE UTILIZING FOR THAT CLEANUP AND AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT. AS FAR AS THE DRC IS, THE MOBILE DRC IS IN PLANADA WE'RE CLOSED ON THE 25TH AND THEN THE HERE ONE HERE AT THE FAIRGROUNDS WILL BE CLOSING ON FRIDAY, MARCH 31ST. THAT INFORMATION HAS ALSO BEEN SHARED THROUGH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AND THE COUNTY'S WEBSITE. WE DO HAVE STILL HAVE CAL FIRE THAT'S EMBEDDED AT OUR EOC AT THE [INAUDIBLE], AND THEY'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH ALL OF OUR PROCESSES AS WE MOVE FORWARD FOR SOME OF THE 404 406 GRANTS THAT WILL BE SUBMITTING ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY THROUGH THE PROCESS AND HOPEFULLY GET SOME OF THAT REIMBURSEMENT MOVING FORWARD. AND THEN WE DID ALSO SEE THE OTHER DAY THAT FIVE PORTABLES WERE PUT INTO THE PLANADA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AND WHEN WE WENT OUT THERE LAST WEEK, WE NOTICED THAT THE THEY WERE GETTING ALL THE ELECTRICAL DONE. SO HOPEFULLY THOSE KIDS WILL HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO UTILIZE THOSE NEW FACILITIES HERE SHORTLY. ALSO, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND AGAIN, DPW AND REVIEWING THOSE AREAS ALONG THE MERCED RIVER AS THEY COME INTO THE SAN JOAQUIN. AND WE'VE BEEN DOING SOME FLIGHTS. I KNOW THE SHERIFF IS CURRENTLY OUT THERE FLYING RIGHT NOW, CHECKING THOSE AREAS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE BEING WELL WATCHED AS WE MOVE FORWARD. AND WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT JUST BECAUSE THE RAIN IS KIND OF CALMED DOWN A LITTLE BIT, I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE'S STILL SOME WATER THAT WILL BE COMING THROUGH THAT WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING OUR EYE ON AND HAVING THE COUNTIES AS OUR BEST INTEREST AS FAR AS THAT GOES. UNLESS YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO ADAM AMARAL. OK SUPERVISOR PAREIRA YEAH. CAN YOU JUST SHARE FOR THE PUBLIC WHY THE CENTER WAS CLOSED AT PLANADA? ITS MEET ITS TIME FRAME AND THEY WERE JUST THERE CLOSING DOWN. SO THEY'VE GOT TO START WORKING BACK IN TO MAKING SURE THAT THEY MOVE ON FROM THERE. SO THEY'RE GOING TO CLOSE THAT ONE BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THERE WAS A LOT COMING, A LOT OF BUSINESS COMING THROUGH THERE. AND THEN THEY'RE EVALUATING AND THEY'RE DETERMINED THAT FRIDAY, MARCH 31ST WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO CLOSE THE ONE HERE AT THE FAIRGROUNDS. OKAY. YEAH, I'D HEARD THEY WERE JUST NOBODY WAS UTILIZING THEM. THAT'S WHY THEY'RE CLOSING. I JUST WANT TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW, THAT'S WHY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER. SO WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO ADAM. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, COUNTY COUNCIL AND CEO. MY NAME IS ADAM AMARAL. I'M THE OES MANAGER FOR MERCED COUNTY. JUST A QUICK UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF OUR RECOVERY EFFORTS. OBVIOUSLY, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE FEDERAL DECLARATION, THE DR4863 FROM THE JANUARY STORMS. TOMORROW WE'LL BE HOLDING A MEETING WITH FEMA, OUR FIRST SCOPING MEETING WITH FEMA TO START THE PROCESS FOR PROJECTS, SHORT, LONG TERM PROJECTS, THE REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS, AND THEN THE HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR SHORT AND LONG TERM OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROJECTS ON THE HAZARD MITIGATION SIDE. THIS PROCESS IS GOING TO GOING TO BE QUICK. IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME. YOU KNOW, WE LOOK AT POTENTIALLY 16 TO 24 MONTHS AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, INCLUDING THE REIMBURSEMENT. AND EVEN PAST THAT, WHEN WE LOOK AT MITIGATION AND MITIGATION PROJECTS. [00:20:02] I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF, ALL COUNTY DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE SUBMITTED THEIR DOCUMENTATION, REALLY, REALLY GOOD DOCUMENTATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO FEMA AND HOPEFULLY EXPEDITE THE PROCESSES FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR US. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU TO COUNTY STAFF FOR THAT. AS WE KNOW, WE WERE HIT AGAIN WITH THE MARCH STORMS INTO FEBRUARY AND MARCH STORMS. CAL OES AND FEMA WILL BE ON THE GROUND THIS WEEK DOING PRELIMINARY DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS. WE WERE GIVEN A FEDERAL EMERGENCY DECLARATION. THAT EMERGENCY DECLARATION WAS ONLY FOR CATEGORY A DEBRIS REMOVAL AND CATEGORY B FOR EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE MEASURES. THE PRELIMINARY DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS, WHEN CAL OES AND FEMA DO A JOINT PDA AND THEY COME IN AND LOOK AT ADDITIONAL DAMAGES TO SEE IF WE QUALIFY FOR ANY ADDITIONAL CATEGORIES FOR FUNDING AND REIMBURSEMENT. SO THAT PROCESS WILL BE STARTED THIS WEEK. THE PDA PROCESS ITSELF IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE DO AS A COUNTY. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE STATE AND FEMA DOES TO SUPPORT THE DAMAGES THAT WE'VE GIVEN THEM AND THE INITIAL DAMAGE ESTIMATES THAT WAS COMPLETED TWO WEEKS AGO. SO THAT, AGAIN, THAT PROCESS WILL BE COMPLETED THIS WEEK. THAT'S ALL I HAVE PENDING ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD. ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I DON'T SEE ANYONE IN THE QUEUE. SO ADAM, THANK YOU GUYS FOR FOR THE UPDATE. AND HANG IN THERE. WE'RE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET. IT'S WE GOT THESE NEXT SERIES OF STORMS AND IT SEEMS LIKE JUST WATCHING ON THE NEWS LAST NIGHT NOW THEY'RE CALLING FOR OVER AN INCH OVER HERE ON MERCED. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE WEST SIDE AND IT SEEMS TO BE FAVORING THE EAST SIDE. SO, YEAH, YEAH. AND I THINK CHIEF PIMENTEL, YOU KNOW, MADE A REALLY GOOD POINT. WE'RE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS. THE SNOWPACK THAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE SIERRAS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE. MEETINGS THAT I'VE BEEN IN WITH THE ARMY CORPS, THE FLOOD OPERATIONS CENTER OUT OF SACRAMENTO, WE COULD BE SEEING FLOODING TYPE OF EVENTS ON ALONG OUR RIVERS FOR FOR THROUGH SEPTEMBER, SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN FOR A LONG TIME. SO IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE ARE PREPARED FOR. WE'RE CONTINUING TO ADVANCE PLAN FOR THOSE TYPE OF SITUATIONS. SO PERFECT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [CONSENT CALENDAR] NEXT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. NEXT, WE HAVE OUR CONSENT AGENDA CALENDAR ITEMS NUMBERS 1 THROUGH 14. PLEASE NOTE ITEMS 2, 3, 7, 8 AND 10 REQUIRE A 4/5 VOTE. ALL RIGHT. I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 14. NOT SEEING ANY. WE'LL CLOSE. SORRY, I WAS A LITTLE QUICK ON THE DRAW THERE. GOOD MORNING. BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CEO MENDEZ AND COUNTY COUNSEL HANSON. MY NAME IS JAMEY JOHNSON. I'M THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR CHILDREN'S SERVICES BRANCH AT THE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY. DURING THE MONTH OF APRIL, WE RECOGNIZED NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH AND THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITIES WORKING TOGETHER TO HELP FAMILIES THRIVE AND PREVENT CHILD MALTREATMENT. CHILDREN THRIVE IN SAFE, STABLE, NURTURING FAMILIES BY ESTABLISHING PARTNERSHIPS THAT FORTIFY THE BONDS BETWEEN PARENTS AND CHILDREN, MERCED CAN BUILD STRONG, HEALTHY AND SAFE FAMILIES. SADLY, CHILD ABUSE REMAINS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO IDENTIFY THE RISK FACTORS THAT LEAD TO ABUSE AND NEGLECT. AND BY DOING SO, WE WILL ENSURE THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE SAFE AND SECURE. EACH YEAR, THE MONTH OF APRIL IS SET ASIDE IN ORDER TO RECOGNIZE THE DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS WHO MEET FAMILIES UPSTREAM BEFORE A CRISIS OCCURS, AND OFFER THEM ACCESSIBLE LIFELINES TO MITIGATE THEIR CHALLENGES. A COLLABORATIVE MULTI FACETED ENDEAVOR CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION INVOLVES THE DILIGENT WORK OF FAMILIES, FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, HOUSES OF FAITH, ADVOCACY GROUPS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS, HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, SOCIAL WORKERS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. ULTIMATELY, CHILD PREVENTION CANNOT BE RELEGATED TO A SINGLE COMMUNITY AGENCY OR SYSTEM. WE EACH HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY AS WE WORK TOGETHER TO PROTECT PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US. TOGETHER, WE CAN BRING ABOUT A BETTER, BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES SO THAT TOMORROW'S LEADERS CAN THRIVE AND REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. A FEW THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING IN MERCED COUNTY. IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, YOU'LL SEE WE'LL BE PLACING BLUE PINWHEELS IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN THE COUNTY. THE BLUE PINWHEEL IS THE NATIONAL SYMBOL FOR CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION, AND THE PINWHEEL IS REFLECTIVE OF THE BRIGHT FUTURE THAT ALL CHILDREN DESERVE. ON APRIL 12TH, WE ARE ENCOURAGING EVERYONE TO WEAR BLUE AS A STATEWIDE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN FOR CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH. AND ON APRIL 28TH AT 10 A.M., HSA WILL BE HAVING OUR ANNUAL FLAG RAISING CEREMONY IN FRONT OF THE FLAGPOLE AT HSA OFFICE IN [00:25:06] REMEMBRANCE OF CALIFORNIA'S CHILDREN, WHOSE LIVES ENDED ABRUPTLY DUE TO SENSELESS VIOLENCE. I DO HAVE AND I PLACE THESE ON THE TABLE, BUT I DO HAVE ONE OF THESE FOR YOU FOR OUR FLAG RAISING CEREMONY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL BRING IT BACK UP TO THE DAIS. IS THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? NOT SEEING ANY, WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT BACK TO THE DAIS. PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0. NEXT, WE HAVE PUBLIC WORKS. [BOARD ACTION ] ITEMS 15 AND 16. WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEMS 15 AND 16. NOT SEEING ANYONE, WE'LL CLOSE IT, BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0. NEXT, WE HAVE PUBLIC HEALTH. ITEM SEVENTEEN. I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA. CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0. NEXT IS COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. ITEM 18, WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEM 18. NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD IT. THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0. NEXT UP IS DISTRICT ATTORNEY. ITEM 19. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0. NEXT UP IS LIBRARY. ITEMS 20 AND 21 PLEASE NOTE ITEM 21 REQUIRES A 4/5 VOTE. ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 20 AND 21? NOT SEEING ANY. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. PLEASURE OF THE BOARD. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0. NEXT UP IS PROBATION. ITEMS 22 AND 23. WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THESE ITEMS. NOT SEEING ANY PUBLIC COMMENT, WE'LL CLOSE IT AND BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA. CALL FOR THE VOTE, PLEASE. RECORD THE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0. NEXT, WE HAVE SHERIFF. ITEM 24. ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? NOT SEEING NONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD. BRING IT BACK UP HERE TO THE DAIS. AND WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. OH, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. HERE WE GO. NOW, PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0. NEXT UP IS HUMAN RESOURCES. ITEM 25. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS OPEN FOR ITEM NUMBER 20. [00:30:02] MY NAME IS RICK SEYMOUR. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. I'M RESPONDING TO THE HUMAN RESOURCES AGENDA ITEM. WHAT I WANT TO FOCUS ON IS THE ASSISTANT PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR. SPECIFICALLY, THEY'VE CHANGED THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR EDUCATION PRIOR TO TODAY'S VOTE. IT WAS IN ORDER TO HOLD THIS POSITION, YOU NEED TO GRADUATED FROM AN ACCREDITED FOUR YEAR COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY. THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WAS ADDED. ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE MAY BE SUBSTITUTED FOR REQUIRED EDUCATION ON A YEAR FOR YEAR BASIS. SO MY QUESTION TO YOU GENTLEMEN IS WHY WAS THAT TAKEN OUT? DOES ANYBODY KNOW? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I THINK I'M GOING TO HAVE [INAUDIBLE] DEPUTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER SOMMER MONIZ COME UP AND JUST SHARE SOME INFORMATION THERE. I THINK SOME OF THE REASONS FOR KIND OF CHANGING THE CLASSIFICATION WAS GIVEN OUR RECENT EXPERIENCE TRYING TO FILL THAT POSITION, TRYING TO CREATE A GREATER POOL OF CANDIDATES THAT HAVE NOT ONLY THE EDUCATION BUT ALSO THE EXPERIENCE. BUT I'LL HAVE SOMMER MAYBE SHARE SOME OF THE INSIGHT UNLESS THERE'S IS THAT PRETTY MUCH IT? YEAH. SO I THINK IT'S JUST BASED ON OUR RECENT EXPERIENCE IN TRYING TO FILL THAT POSITION, IT'S BEEN CHALLENGING. AND SO THE THOUGHT WAS TO TRY AND KIND OF OPEN UP THE FIELD A LITTLE BIT TO KIND OF HAVE BOTH THE EXPERIENCE IN THE EDUCATION BE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE CHANGE IN THE CLASSIFICATION. SO WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME IS THAT THE SUPERVISORS WERE UNAWARE OF THIS CHANGE. I'M SORRY, SUPERVISORS WERE UNAWARE OF THIS CHANGE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHY THE CHANGE WAS HAPPENING. SO THEN MY SECOND FOLLOW UP QUESTION IS WHY ARE THEY VOTING ON SOMETHING THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND? WELL, I CAN ANSWER THAT. I THINK IT'S A LITTLE PRESUMPTUOUS TO SAY THAT I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE REASON FOR THE CHANGE. IT JUST FELT IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO HAVE STAFF ANSWER THE QUESTION. I MEAN, I KIND OF TOOK THAT AS IS. YOU'RE SAYING WE DON'T READ OUR PACKETS AND WE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON? NO, I DIDN'T SAY THAT. YEAH, I KNOW. INITIALLY, I ASKED YOU IF WHY WAS THE CHANGE AND NOBODY WOULD COMMENT EXCEPT FOR CEO MENDEZ. SO I WAS JUST A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT THAT. YEAH, I GOT IT. SORRY. YOU STILL HAVE 37 SECONDS LEFT ON YOUR COMMENT. OH, OKAY. WELL, YOU KNOW, THEY ALWAYS SAY ON TV AT COLLEGE EDUCATION DOESN'T MATTER ANYMORE. I GUESS THAT'S TRUE HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. SOMMER, DO YOU WANT TO COME UP AND JUST STATE IT FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE? GOOD MORNING, CHAIR BOARD, COUNTY COUNCIL AND CEO MENDEZ. AS CEO, MENDEZ STATED, WE DID MAKE A CHANGE TO THE CLASSIFICATION DUE TO A SMALL POOL WHEN GOING OUT FOR RECRUITMENTS AND WE ARE TRYING TO BROADEN OUR POOL OF APPLICANTS. IT DIDN'T REMOVE THE EDUCATION, IT JUST ALLOWS FOR THE EDUCATION OR SUBSTITUTION OF EXPERIENCE JUST TO MAKE OUR POOL BETTER, TO GET BETTER CANDIDATES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO [INAUDIBLE]. AND FOR THE RECORD, YOU DID TALK TO US ABOUT THIS, EACH OF US, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFOREHAND. AND THEN ALSO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NORMAL, RIGHT? I MEAN, IF YOU CAN'T FIND IT, THIS HAPPENS IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS, NOT JUST IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE AND STUFF. CORRECT. IT IS OUR PRACTICE IN HUMAN RESOURCES ANYTIME WE HAVE CHANGES TO CLASS SPECS AND WE'RE BRINGING AN ITEM FORWARD IS TO SPEAK TO EACH BOARD MEMBER, MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GIVEN YOU THE EXPLANATION AND TO BE VERY TRANSPARENT IN WHAT WE'RE DOING. AND WE CHANGE CLASS SPECS QUARTERLY JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE UP TO DATE. WE USE THE DEPARTMENT AS THE SOURCE TO TELL US WHAT KIND OF EDUCATION, WHAT'S CHANGING IN EACH DEPARTMENT SO THAT THEY CAN GET THE BEST CANDIDATES. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU, SOMMER. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. ALL RIGHT. ARE THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS ON HUMAN RESOURCE ITEMS? NOT SEEING ANY WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA. CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. [00:35:01] THE ITEM CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0. NEXT, WE HAVE BOARD APPOINTMENTS. ITEMS 26 THROUGH 32. I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THESE ITEMS. NOT SEEING ANY. I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA, A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0. LAST IS BOARD REPORTS. [REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION] OKAY. WE'LL START TODAY WITH SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. LET ME PUT IT IN THE DISCUSSION MODE. ONE SECOND. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR DOING THE COMMUNITY CLEANUPS AS THE SCHEDULE KIND OF WENT. A BUNCH OF THEM WERE IN MY DISTRICT HERE THIS MONTH, AND I ATTENDED EACH OF THEM AND, YOU KNOW, VERY WELL USED BY THE COMMUNITY, VERY, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE VERY THANKFUL, HOPEFULLY, THAT, YOU KNOW, ITS PURPOSE IS FULFILLED AND THAT WE'LL HAVE LESS ILLEGAL DUMPING ON THE SIDES OF OUR ROADS. AND THEN STAFF, I JUST WANT TO LET MY COLLEAGUES KNOW THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, THE WAIT TIMES WERE LIKE 20 TO 30 MINUTES. I MEAN, I THINK THAT THE SYSTEM THAT THAT THEY PUT TOGETHER WORKS REALLY WELL. AND SO ANYWAY SO THANK YOU BRIAN AND YOUR TEAM FOR HANDLING THAT AND THE ONE THIS PAST SATURDAY WAS IN THE COMMUNITY OF HILMAR. I KNOW THERE WAS I SPENT SOME TIME AND I WALKED DOWN THE LINE OF THE VEHICLES IN LINE AND JUST KIND OF CHECKED IN WITH PEOPLE. AND THERE WAS PEOPLE FROM DELHI, THERE WAS PEOPLE FROM LIVINGSTON ALSO THERE. AND SO IT'S KIND OF NEAT THAT THAT THE COMMUNITIES REALIZE THEY CAN GO TO OTHER COMMUNITIES IF THEY MISS THEIR DAY. AND AND SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, THE THE OTHER ITEM I GUESS ON ON MY LIST IS THAT THE FLOODING THAT'S THAT HAS HAPPENED. YOU KNOW WE ALL KNOW ABOUT BUT THIS POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE FLOODING IS VERY SIGNIFICANT. I MET WITH A GROUP OF CONSTITUENTS FROM THE STEVENSON AREA AND THE FLOODS. YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST GOING TO BE A CRAZY YEAR. THE LAKES THAT ARE IN THE IN THE SOUTH VALLEY ARE FULL. AND SO THE THOSE THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS IS DUMPING UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNTS OF WATER INTO THE RIVER SYSTEM. AND THE FLOODING OR THE FULL CHANNELS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN WELL INTO JULY. AND AS MR. AMARAL STATED, POSSIBLY INTO SEPTEMBER. AND SO LEVEES THAT WOULD NORMALLY HOLD UP IN A FLOOD EVENT ARE REALLY MAXED AND STRESSED TO THE POINT WHEN WHEN THEY'RE INUNDATED WITH WATER FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. YOU KNOW, ALL OF YOU KNOW, IF YOU GO OUT AND POUR A FIVE GALLON BUCKET IN THE GROUND, YOU KNOW, IT LEAKS IN A LITTLE BIT, BUT THE GROUND AWAY FROM IT STAYS DRY. WELL, IF YOU DO A FIVE GALLON BUCKET EVERY DAY, PRETTY SOON YOU GOT A WET SPOTS A LOT BIGGER AND THOSE LEVEES ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO TO THAT INFILTRATION OF THE WATER. SO YOU KNOW, IF YOU LIVE NEAR A NEAR AN AREA THAT'S RUNNING WATER, YOU KNOW, JUST BE VIGILANT, CHECK THE BANKS. AND IF YOU IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING. YOU CAN EITHER CALL THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. YOU COULD CALL THE DISPATCH, THE NON-EMERGENCY LINE FOR DISPATCH. YOU CAN CALL THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES OR CALL YOUR SUPERVISOR. WE NEED TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT. THERE WAS A LEVEE BREAK DOWN IN HILMAR. THE YOU KNOW, THE CONSTITUENTS KIND OF WATCHED IT, YOU KNOW, AS THE AS THE BANK GOT SATURATED, YOU KNOW, ONCE IT BROKE, I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT WENT OUT AND LOOKED. THEY SAID, WELL, IT JUST FLOODS THIS LITTLE FEW ACRES. AND IT DOES THAT EVERY TIME IT FLOODS. SO THEY WEREN'T REALLY CONCERNED. BUT IF THAT HAD BEEN AN AREA THAT WOULD FLOOD A LARGER AREA OR HOMES AND, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO KNOW. SO JUST BE DILIGENT, VIGILANT AND AND BE SURE TO IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU SUPERVISOR PAREIRA SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I'LL BE REPRESENTING MERCED COUNTY TONIGHT AND TOMORROW AT VALLEY VOICE. WE'LL BE TALKING WITH STATE LEGISLATURE AS WELL AS FOLKS FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE REGARDING HIGHWAY 99 AND MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON HERE, NOT ONLY IN THE COUNTY, BUT FOR THE WHOLE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY. ALSO, I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS TO USE LOCAL CONTRACTORS. I APPRECIATED MR. CURRY COMING UP AND STATING WHAT HE DOES, AND I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE US TO TRY TO KEEP THAT MONEY HERE LOCALLY. ALSO, WE WERE JUST TOLD THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FLOODING EVENTS AND MY COLLEAGUE EXPLAINED IT TO YOU ALL THE WAY UP AND THROUGH SEPTEMBER. [00:40:07] BUT OUR FARMERS HAVE ONLY GIVEN 35% ALLOCATION TO THEIR WATERING OF THEIR CROPS. IT MAKES NO SENSE. AGAIN, IT'S WHAT WE WORK WITH ALL THE TIME AND THAT'S WHAT I'LL BE DEALING WITH WITH TRANSPORTATION ISSUES IN SACRAMENTO FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. WITH THAT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU. OH, AND I DO I DID WANT TO TOUCH BASE. WHEN YOU COME AND PRESENT BEFORE THE BOARD. IT'S NOT A TWO WAY COMMUNICATION WITH THE SUPERVISORS IN ANY ONE INDIVIDUAL. IT'S YOU'RE PRESENTING TO THE WHOLE BOARD, AND WE WILL NOT RESPOND BACK. SO WE DID HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL HERE EARLIER EXPECTING US TO RESPOND BACK, AND THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN IN A PUBLIC MEETING SUCH AS THIS. SO THANKS. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. WELL, I'M JUST GOING TO ADD ON TO WHAT SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL SAID. YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN AN UNPRECEDENTED TIME AND THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO GROUNDWATER, RECHARGE. I DON'T AGREE ALSO WITH, YOU KNOW, LIMITED AMOUNT OF WATER THAT THE FARMERS WOULD BE GETTING. YOU KNOW, I'M MYSELF A FARMER, BUT ALSO, LIKE I SAID, AS AN ELECTED, I WILL PUSH TO [INAUDIBLE] IN TURLOCK TO YOU KNOW ALLOCATE A LOT MORE WATER SO THAT YOU KNOW THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER RIGHT NOW [INAUDIBLE] OBVIOUSLY BUT AND STILL RECHARGE THEM BUT IN THE SUMMER AS WE GO INTO JUNE JULY AUGUST IF THERE'S SO MUCH WATER THAT'S COMING DOWN, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO AS MUCH GROUNDWATER RECHARGE AS CAN ALLOW THE FARMERS TO YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THEM MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, TO PLANT ANYTHING ON ON SOME PROPERTY BECAUSE WE, YOU KNOW, AROUND THE ATWATER LIVINGSTON TURLOCK AREA, WE HAVE A LOT OF OPEN GROUND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, PLANTED IN IN ROW CROPS OR AS SWEET POTATOES. BUT, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE CHOOSE TO TO JUST DO GROUNDWATER RECHARGE. YOU KNOW, WE'RE ABLE TO RECHARGE OUR GROUNDWATER, ESPECIALLY HERE IN IN THE MERCED GSA, THE GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY IN THE MERCED AREA WHICH IS VERY IN EXTREME SHORTAGE, HOPEFULLY LIKE, SAY IT'S REFILLING. AND IF WE'RE, YOU KNOW, ALLOWED TO RECHARGE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, YOU KNOW, WE'LL HANDLE, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY FOR A LOT MORE YEARS THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO BE SUSTAINABLE HERE IN MERCED COUNTY AND, YOU KNOW, STANISLAUS COUNTY. SO, YOU KNOW, PLEASE CALL, YOU KNOW, YOUR BOARD MEMBERS FOR MID-TID. AND SO THAT WAY THEY CAN ALLOW MORE FARMERS AND AND PEOPLE TO DO GROUNDWATER RECHARGE. SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORK COMING DOWN. I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT WE HAD A PLANADA CLEAN CALIFORNIA EVENT IN PLANADA TWO WEEKS AGO. WE HAD IT IN SOUTH MERCED IN THE MCNAMARA PARK, SO WE CLEANED UP THE SOUTH MERCED. I THINK THE MAYOR OF MERCED, [INAUDIBLE] INVITED ME DOWN THERE AND I KNOW SUPERVISOR PEDROZO WAS DOWN THERE AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE. AND SO WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES, WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, MERCED OR ANYWHERE IN PLANADA OR ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTY TO HELP THE RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY THE RESIDENTS OF PLANADA, WERE VERY APPRECIATIVE THAT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE CAME OVER. WE HAD ABOUT 120 PEOPLE THAT REGISTERED AS VOLUNTEERS. WE HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS, GROUPS THAT CAME FROM DELHI, FROM MERCED, AND, YOU KNOW, SOME CHRISTIAN CHURCHES THAT JESUS CHRIST CHURCH IN HERE IN MERCED. SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY THAT CAME DOWN AND SUPPORTED THE CLEANUP. UM, ALSO, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I ATTENDED THE SAN JOAQUIN JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, A TRAINING COMMITTEE OVER IN FOR THE TEN COUNTIES HERE IN CENTRAL VALLEY. AND WE HAD A MEETING ON FRIDAY FROM 10 TO 2. USUALLY IT RUNS FROM 10 TO 12. BUT WE HAD AN IMPORTANT ISSUE, DECOMMISSIONING. WE'RE TAKING OUT A STATION IN THE CITY OF ANTIOCH. THE MAYOR WAS THERE WAS YOU KNOW, IT WAS A PRETTY LONG AND EVENTUALLY THE THE COMMITTEE HAD TO MAKE THE DECISION OF DECOMMISSIONING IT AND WITH POSSIBILITY OF BRINGING IT BACK ONE DAY, EVEN THOUGH BECAUSE IT WAS TORN DOWN, BECAUSE IT WAS VERY THEY HAD A LOT OF ISSUES WITH WITH THE HOMELESS THERE AND AND CRIME. AND SO NOW THE NEW STATION WILL BE IN THE CITY OF OAKLEY. SO HOPEFULLY, LIKE I SAID, IT'S IT'S A GOOD STATION AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO GET MAYBE IN THE FUTURE WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER STATION IN ANTIOCH. SO WE'LL SEE. BUT I ALSO MENTIONED THAT JUST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES I KNOW THAT WE I MENTIONED THE CITY OF MERCED HAS A STATION OVER HERE BY THE [00:45:01] TRACKS. AND LIKE, JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE HOMELESS DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE UPKEEP IT, WORK WITH THE CITY OF MERCED SO THEY CAN MAINTAIN IT. THEY THEY ALSO PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, SAFETY, PUBLIC SAFETY. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY KEEPS AN EYE THIS IS OUR STATION HERE IN MERCED, WANT TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T GO AWAY TO MAKE IT BETTER AND CLEANER. SO WE'LL BE PROVIDING MORE PARKING FOR THE STATION HERE, MERCED AS WELL. AND I JUST WANT TO LET LET THE GRAND CITIZENS KNOW THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THE PARK. I KNOW THAT THE GRASS IS GROWING, BUT BECAUSE OF SO MUCH RAIN, WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO KEEP IT UP. AND THAT PROBABLY GOES ALONG WITH A LOT OF PARKS IN MERCED COUNTY AS WELL. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. THANK YOU. YES, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE SECOND TIME TO ATTEND A DRUG COURT GRADUATION ON FRIDAY. IT'S A REALLY COOL EXPERIENCE. YOU REALLY SEE THE THING THAT THEY DO IS THEY SHOW A PICTURE FROM WHEN THEY FIRST COME IN AND THEN WHEN THEY LEAVE AND JUST TO HEAR THEIR TRANSFORMATION. AND JUDGE LOWE IS THE ONE THAT OVERSEES IT AND DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB IN MAKING THEM FEEL COMFORTABLE. AND HE SAID IT TO ONE OF THE GUYS. HE'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T THINK YOU WERE GOING TO MAKE IT, TO BE HONEST. AND THE GUY WAS REALLY, YOU KNOW, DETERMINED AND VERY FOCUSED AND JUST SEEING THEIR FAMILIES AND HOW PROUD THEIR FAMILIES ARE WITH THEM. AND THEY ALL HAVE THEY GET A JOB COMING OUT OR THEY'VE BEEN EMPLOYED. AND SO THAT'S REALLY FOR THEM TO DO THAT. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. ALSO, I WANTED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING FOR LIZ MCCABE. SHE'S THE MOTHER OF JUDGE BRIAN MCCABE. SHE WAS MARRIED TO A LEGENDARY EDUCATOR, LES MCCABE, WHO I'M SURE A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW, WHO IS A 4H VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT 4H AND FFA. AND SHE WAS A LIFELONG SUPPORTER OF EDUCATION AND CIVIC DUTY. AND VERY SHE PASSED THAT ON TO HER CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN. SO SHE WILL DEFINITELY BE MISSED. THANK YOU SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. UH, COUNCIL HANSON ANYTHING? CEO MENDES? YES. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. JUST TWO ITEMS TODAY. EXCUSE ME. I DID WANT TO JUST HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING THAT I THINK THE CHAIR ALLUDED TO AT OUR LAST MEETING. SO THE GOVERNOR HAS PRESENTED A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD MODERNIZE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, THE SYSTEM AS WE AS IT CURRENTLY EXISTS. I KNOW THAT THE BOARD AND STAFF IS ENGAGED IN WORKING WITH CSAC AND OTHER ASSOCIATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO KIND OF SHAPE THE CONVERSATION WITH THE GOVERNORS. THE CHAIRMAN, I THINK, HIGHLIGHTED THE HOME PLAN THAT WAS DEVELOPED RECENTLY, WHICH TRIES TO PROVIDE SOME INPUT FROM A COUNTY WIDE PERSPECTIVE. JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT. WE'RE CONTINUING TO KIND OF MONITOR THE PROGRESS AND FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF OF THE GOVERNOR GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS. SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO KIND OF BRING INFORMATION BACK AS AS IT'S APPROPRIATE. AND THEN THE SECOND ITEM I DID WANT TO LAST, I THINK YESTERDAY, I DID SEE THAT INTERNALLY WE ARE HAVING A WALKING CHALLENGE FOR SPRING 2023. I WANT TO INVITE THE BOARD AND OBVIOUSLY OUR DEPARTMENTS TO JOIN ME IN PARTICIPATING. I THINK OUR WELLNESS PROGRAM EMPLOYEE WELLNESS PROGRAM IS IS SOMETHING THAT'S HAS BEEN PUT TOGETHER HERE REALLY NICELY FOR FOR OUR ORGANIZATION. AND IT'S EASY FOR US TO PARTICIPATE. SO THE DATES ARE APRIL 3RD THROUGH THE 30TH. THERE'S BOTH THE SOLO CHALLENGE AND ALSO A DEPARTMENT CHALLENGE. SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN PARTICIPATING IN THAT. I KNOW DURING DIFFICULT, CHALLENGING TIMES IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO KIND OF DECOMPRESS. AND WHAT BETTER WAY THAN TO DOING IT HERE OBVIOUSLY IN THE OFFICE DURING OBVIOUSLY YOUR LUNCH HOUR DURING YOUR BREAK. SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN PARTICIPATING FOR THE WALKING CHALLENGE FOR SPRING 2023. INFORMATION HAS BEEN SENT OUT TO OUR EMPLOYEES THROUGH EMAIL. VERY EASY TO SIGN UP. I DID THAT YESTERDAY. LOOK FORWARD TO COMPETING WITH YOU ALL ON THAT WALKING CHALLENGE. IS THAT THE BOARD COMPETING WITH THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS? YOU CAN. YEAH, SURE. THANK YOU. THAT'S IT, MR. CHAIR. IT'S A POSSIBILITY. YEAH. SAYS THE GUY WHO JUST RAN A MARATHON THIS PAST WEEKEND. SO LITERALLY, HE DID. SO THANK YOU. A COUPLE THINGS I WANT TO ADD TODAY, TOO, IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GROUNDWATER RECHARGE. AND I DON'T WANT TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT JUST BY NATURE OF THE AMOUNT OF VOLUME OF WATER THAT'S PASSING THROUGH OUR COUNTY, WE ARE GETTING SIGNIFICANT GROUNDWATER RECHARGE. YOU KNOW, OVER ON THE WEST SIDE IN LOS BANOS. CCID HAS MONITORING. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE MONITORING WELLS, MONITORING STATIONS. THERE'S HOLES IN THE GROUND THAT'S GOT A PIPE IN THERE AND THEY CAN ACTUALLY CHECK GROUNDWATER DEPTHS. [00:50:01] AND WITH WITH THEM RELEASING WATER DOWN LOS BANOS CREEK, THOSE IN SOME PLACES, WATER LEVELS HAVE RISEN 20 AND 30FT ALREADY FOR GROUNDWATER RECHARGE. SO IT'S GOING ON OUT THERE. BUT TO HAVE FRIENDS, CONSTITUENTS THAT LIVE ALONG THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER, THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER, RIGHT NOW, IT'S THE HIGHEST I'VE EVER SEEN IT CONSISTENTLY. IT'S RIGHT THERE. AND THEY'RE TALKING EVEN MORE AND MORE RELEASES AS AS THESE RESERVOIRS THAT ARE OVER IN THE ABOVE FRESNO AND TULARE COUNTIES, ALL THOSE RESERVOIRS ARE GETTING FULL. THEY'RE HAVING TO RELEASE WATER JUST TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE SNOWMELT. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE DEALING WITH THIS FOR A WHILE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS OUT THERE, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW IT ALL TURNS OUT, BUT I KNOW THAT SENATOR CABALLERO AND I KNOW THAT EVEN SOME OF THE STATE WATER BOARD FOLKS ARE TRYING TO COME UP WITH STREAMLINING THE PERMITTING PROCESS IN ORDER TO GET THIS WATER RECHARGE TO HAPPEN QUICKER, GETTING TEMPORARY PERMITS, WHATEVER IT INVOLVES. RIGHT NOW, EVERYBODY'S SATURATED. BUT AS WE MOVE INTO THE DRIER MONTHS, WHEN THE WEATHER GETS A LITTLE BIT BETTER, THERE'S MORE PLACES THAT ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT WATER. AND AT THIS POINT, IF IT'S JUST FLOWING DOWN THE SAN JOAQUIN OUT TO THE BAY OR THE DELTA AND THEN OUT TO THE TO THE OCEAN, IF WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE FLOOD FLOWS IN JUNE AND JULY WHEN THERE COULD BE OTHER BENEFICIAL USES TO IT, WE HAVE TO BE THINKING ABOUT THOSE THINGS. AND I THINK AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, WHAT WE CAN DO IS ADVOCATE FOR IT. WE DON'T YOU KNOW, I HAVE NONE OF US UP HERE HAVE ANY CONTROL OF HOW MUCH WATER THEY RELEASE OUT OF FRIANT DAM. WE HAVE ZERO CONTROL OVER THAT. BUT ULTIMATELY, AS IT MAKES ITS WAY DOWN THE SYSTEM, IT PASSES RIGHT THROUGH OUR COUNTY AND WE ALL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE EFFECTS OF IT. SO AGAIN, I THINK IT'S IT'S EVERYBODY'S IT'S AT EVERYBODY'S AT THE FOREFRONT OF THEIR MINDS IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE MONITORING THIS BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO GET COMPLACENT. A SLUG OF WATER COMES WHEN THEY CAN'T HANDLE IT UP THERE. WE MIGHT HAVE YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT OF NOTICE, BUT IF IT'S COMING, IT'S COMING. AND WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE AFTERMATH. SO I APPRECIATE ALL OUR TEAM THAT ARE WORKING HARD ON JUST STAYING ON TOP OF THIS. I THINK I JUST WANT TO KIND OF CHAT ABOUT IS THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF FRUSTRATION THAT I HAVE IN REALLY IN PROJECT DELIVERY. AND I'M HOPING AND PRAYING AT THIS POINT THAT THAT OUR SPRING FAIR PROJECT WILL BE DELIVERED ON TIME. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE DONE BY THE END OF THIS MONTH. AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS OUT THERE YESTERDAY AND COMPARATIVELY TO WHERE IT WAS TWO WEEKS AGO AND LAST WEEK, IT'S GOTTEN BETTER, BUT STILL A CONCERN. AND SO I JUST WANT TO LET EVERYBODY. THERE'LL BE MORE TO COME BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MONTHS WHERE WE HAVE A BACK TO BACK MEETING. SO WE'LL BE WITH YOU GUYS BACK NEXT WEEK ON APRIL THE 4TH, AND I'LL HAVE A WHOLE LOT MORE TO REPORT ON THAT. AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SHARING ALL OF MY THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS AND CONCERNS AND CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM WITH EVERYBODY ON HOW MOVING FORWARD, WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THE DECISIONS AS POLICYMAKERS THAT WE MAKE UP HERE, WE YOU KNOW, WE SET THE SPENDING LIMITS. WE'RE THE ONES THAT AUTHORIZE THE SPENDING ON THESE PROJECTS. BUT THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE AROUND US ARE THE ONES THAT ARE DOING THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS AND ULTIMATELY SPENDING THAT MONEY. AND RIGHT NOW, I'M JUST A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT I DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE GIVING THE TAXPAYERS THE BEST RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENT. AND SO I'LL HAVE MORE TO SHARE ON THAT. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, AGAIN, SAYING A LOT OF PRAYERS OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND NEXT WEEK THAT OUR PROJECT AT SPRING FAIR CAN MAKE IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE. AND WITH THAT, OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE APRIL THE 4TH. RIGHT BACK HERE. MEETING ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.