[00:00:01]
[Call to Order]
YOUR CLOSED SESSION FOR TODAY IS THE FOLLOWING.[CLOSED SESSION]
IT IS THE INTENTION OF THE BOARD TO MEET IN CLOSED SESSION CONCERNING A CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS.MARK HENDRICKSON ASSISTANT COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER.
PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.8 AS FOLLOWS PROPERTY 3350 G STREET AT CASTLE COMMERCE CENTER AND INCLUDING APPROXIMATELY 1.70 ACRES OF PROPERTY BORDERED BY G STREET ACADEMY DRIVE, AIRDROME, ENTRY AND F STREET WITH AGENCY NEGOTIATOR MARK HENDRICKSON ASSISTANT COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER.
NEGOTIATION PARTIES TRI, LLC UNDER NEGOTIATION TO REQUEST AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF FACILITY AND VALUE ALSO PROPERTY BUILDING 1350 INCLUSIVE OF APPROXIMATELY 9.16 ACRES OF ASSOCIATED LAND AGENCY NEGOTIATOR MARK HENDRICKSON ASSISTANT COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER.
AND FINALLY WITH PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR DANA HERTFELDER, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.8 AS FOLLOWS PROPERTY APN 025-212-020 LOCATED AT 807TH STREET, LOS BANOS APPROXIMATELY 4100FT², BUILDING ON 0.32 ACRES. AGENCY NEGOTIATOR DANA HERTFELDER, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS NEGOTIATION PARTY.
TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.
ALL RIGHT. THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THE CLOSED SESSION ITEMS. I'M NOT SEEING ANYBODY.
WE WILL NOW ADJOURN INTO CLOSED SESSION.
WOULD YOU MIND GOING TO THAT PODIUM? RIGHT. AND REPEATING WHAT I JUST SAID IN SPANISH.
I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T HEAR WHAT YOU JUST SAID.
IT'S OKAY. I'LL SAY IT ONE MORE TIME.
WE HAD A CLOSED SESSION AT 4:30 P.M.
AND STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION.
NEXT WE WILL HAVE THE INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
AND THEN I WILL LEAD THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
PASTOR STEVE, LET'S PRAY TOGETHER.
BLESSED, HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS THAT WE HAVE FREEDOM AS AMERICANS TO GATHER TOGETHER TO CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF OUR COUNTY THIS EVENING, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR BLESSINGS, YOUR PROTECTION, YOUR PROVISION FOR OUR LIVES AND FOR OUR COUNTY.
WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD GRANT OUR SUPERVISORS, OUR COUNTY LEADERS AND STAFF, THE DIVINE WISDOM TO HELP US NAVIGATE THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES, TO LEAD US FORWARD INTO UNITY AND PROSPERITY.
GRANT THEM THE KNOWLEDGE TO KNOW WHAT IS RIGHT AND THE COURAGE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AT ALL TIMES.
WE PRAY YOUR BLESSING OVER OUR LEADERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
[00:05:03]
GIVE THEM DIVINE FAVOR IN THEIR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS SO THAT WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO A BRIGHT FUTURE IN MERCED COUNTY.IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WE PRAY.
AMEN. READY? SALUTE. 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.
PASTOR STEVE. THANK YOU, PASTOR STEVE'S FROM LOS BANOS.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU COMING OVER FROM THE WEST SIDE, SIR.
ALL RIGHT. NEXT, WE HAVE NON-AGENDA ITEMS.
[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ]
PUBLIC COMMENT.TESTIMONY LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON AND 30 MINUTES TOTAL.
SO WE HAVE A 30 MINUTE TOTAL ON NON AGENDA ITEMS. IF YOU'RE HERE TO SPEAK ON A SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM, I WOULD ASK YOU TO WAIT UNTIL WE GET TO THAT ITEM.
SO THE FIRST IS HELLO, BOARD MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS BLANCA LOZANO AND MY DAUGHTER'S NAME IS HAYDEE SANCHEZ.
WE DIRECT OUR COMMENT TO OUR DISTRICT SUPERVISOR LLOYD PAREIRA.
WE WANT TO REMIND THE SUPERVISOR THAT DELHI HAS ENTRUSTED THEIR FAITH AND CONFIDENCE THAT HE IS WORKING TOWARDS THE PARK FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY CENTER FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
SUPERVISOR LLOYD, THE DELHI COMMUNITY, AND MYSELF WILL BE IN SUPPORT OF YOUR CAMPAIGN FOR 2024.
HOWEVER, AS YOUR CONSTITUENTS, WE WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT OTHER SMALL, UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES SUCH AS PLANADA HAVE THEIR PARK AND COMMUNITY CENTER AND THAT DELHI ALSO HAS THE RIGHT TO HAVE THEIR OWN PARK AND COMMUNITY CENTER.
WE PAY OUR TAXES AND WE ARE ALSO A COMMUNITY OF RESIDENTS.
WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN HELPING MOVE THIS PROJECT FORWARD.
MY NAME IS FRANCISCO BRIONES AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DELHI.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT KNOWN THAT DELHI IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF A PARK.
YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS MATTER IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.
HELLO, BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JOSEPH CASTILLO AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DELHI, ALONG WITH MY FELLOW RESIDENTS OF DELHI, I AM ALSO ASKING THE BOARD TO CONTINUE ITS EFFORTS IN SEARCHING AND SECURING LAND, MONEY AND ANY OTHER RESOURCES NEEDED FOR OUR COMMUNITY PARK AND RECREATION BUILDING.
AS AN UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITY, WE TRULY RELY ON MERCED COUNTY FOR MOST OF OUR CIVIC NEEDS.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR DELHI UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT LEADERSHIP COUNCIL AND OTHER SUCH ORGANIZATIONS AND VOLUNTEERS FROM THE COMMUNITY FOR ASSISTANCE THEY PROVIDE FOR OUR RECREATION NEEDS, CLEANUPS, MEETING PLACE, ET CETERA.
BUT WE NEED TO RELY ON A PARK AND RECREATION BUILDING THAT BELONGS TO DELHI RESIDENTS.
THERE ARE MANY NEEDS AT THIS TIME IN MERCED COUNTY, WITH WINTER RAIN, FLOODS AND OTHER ONGOING ISSUES AND NEEDS, PLEASE CONTINUE YOUR WORK FOR DELHI IN ACQUIRING LAND FOR BOTH THE PARK AND COMMUNITY CENTER.
I THANK YOU ALL AND I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
ON BOTH SIDES. I'LL TELL YOU WHAT YOU CAME FROM THAT SIDE.
NEXT TIME WE'LL GO FROM THAT SIDE.
HOW'S THAT? SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.
AND THERE'S A BUTTON RIGHT TO YOUR RIGHT THAT YOU CAN LOWER THE PODIUM IF YOU'D LIKE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME ALL RIGHT. WELL, GOOD EVENING.
I'M A HOME CARE PROVIDER IN MERCED COUNTY, AND I AM ONE OF OVER 3700 IHSS PROVIDERS CARING FOR THE SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN MERCED COUNTY.
WE WAKE UP EVERY DAY AND DEDICATE OURSELVES TO SERVING OUR CLIENTS, WHETHER THEY ARE FAMILY OR NOT.
WE WE CARE WITH LOVE AND COMPASSION THAT THEY DESERVE.
OUR WORK SAVES MERCED COUNTY AND OUR TAXPAYERS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, EVEN MILLIONS, BECAUSE QUALITY SERVICE AT HOME MEANS FEWER STAYS IN NURSING HOMES AND HOSPITALS. CAREGIVING IS PART OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND CAREGIVERS DESERVE STABILITY FOR THE WORK THAT WE DO.
WE DESERVE TO KNOW THAT OUR FUTURE AS CAREGIVERS, AS RESIDENTS IN THIS COUNTY ARE SAFE.
AND OUR CLIENTS DESERVE THE QUALITY AT HOME CARE THAT THEY ARE QUALIFIED TO GET.
[00:10:08]
AND IT'S ABOUT TIME YOU PAY US THE WAGES THAT COME FROM ESSENTIAL QUALITY WORK.THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
I DO WANT TO SAY THAT HE WILL BE MAKING A SPANISH COMMENT.
AND SO IS THERE A TRANSLATION TO PUT THAT TO.
INTERPRETER OKAY. HIS NAME IS EFFREN MONTES.
[INAUDIBLE] WEARS THE GLASSES ON MY HEAD.
I COME TO YOU TO SPEAK ABOUT THE CRIME IN MERCED 35 HOMICIDES REPORTED IN 2022, WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE INVESTIGATING 21 AND ONLY 13 HAVE HAD ARRESTS MADE.
ALMOST EVERY DAY THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF SHOOTING.
MERCED SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS A TOTAL OF 11 DETECTIVES.
I'M SORRY. EACH ONE CAN CARRY A CASELOAD OF UP TO 120 CASES.
OTHER CRIMES BEING COMMITTED EVERY FIVE MINUTES IN MERCED.
WE ARE A PART OF THE FAMILIES OF THE HOMICIDE VICTIMS IN 2022, MY SON ELI CORREA, AND HIS BEST FRIEND SINCE THE AGE OF THREE AND TWO OF THEIR SURVIVING VICTIMS ON JULY 2ND, 2022.
SO MUCH CRIME IN THE COUNTY 11 DETECTIVES IS JUST NOT ENOUGH.
WHAT CAN BE DONE? HOW DO WE FAMILIES KNOW THE ONES THAT HAVE NO ARREST? HOW DO WE KNOW THAT EVERYBODY IS DOING WHAT THEY SAY THAT THEY'RE DOING? TODAY'S AGENDA, YOU HAVE THIS GRANT ACCEPTANCE MONEY BEING ACCEPTED FOR SO MANY GRANTS IN THIS COUNTY, PLEASE UTILIZE IT TO SOLVE THESE UNSOLVED HOMICIDES AND CONTROL THE GANG VIOLENCE AND CONTROL THE TRIGGER PEOPLE.
BECAUSE THE GUNS ISN'T THE PROBLEM.
IT'S THE COWARDS PULLING THE TRIGGERS.
I HAVE LIKE ALL KINDS OF THINGS TO SAY, BUT I'M LIKE, MY MIND IS BLANK RIGHT NOW.
THE CEREMONY WE ATTENDED TODAY, IT WILL NEVER BRING OUR LOVED ONES BACK.
YOU ARE ARRESTING SOMEONE FOR THE SENSELESS CRIMES.
IT WILL NEVER BRING OUR LOVED ONES BACK.
US ATTENDING MEETINGS AND SPILLING OUR HEARTS OUT TO YOU WILL NEVER BRING HIM BACK EITHER.
BUT MAKING CHANGES AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE CAN HONOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR LOVED ONES.
BECAUSE I HAVE NOT BEEN TREATED WITH RESPECT.
I'VE BEEN MADE OUT TO BE A PROBLEM.
UPDATING POLICY AND PROCEDURES, GIVING US A VOICE AS FAMILIES THAT DON'T HAVE NO ARREST MADE AND HELPING YOU ATTEMPT TO FIND THE KILLERS RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING OUR LOVED ONES INSTEAD OF US JUST SITTING AND TWIRLING OUR THUMBS AND ME TURNING LIKE A CRAZY LADY FROM 0 TO 100 IN 2.2 SECONDS.
I DON'T WANT TO BE A PROBLEM TO MERCED.
I WANT TO EMBRACE MERCED AND I WANT MERCED TO EMBRACE ME.
[00:15:02]
WERE THREE YEARS OLD.IT'S VERY HARD TO FOLLOW THIS MY NAME IS MAYA TOKMAN.
AND THERE ARE A LOT OF POSITIVES THAT HAPPEN FOR THE COMMUNITY.
SO I WANTED TO THANK THE SUPERVISORS AND THE CEO AND EVERYBODY IN MERCED COUNTY FOR ABOUT 12 MONTHS AGO GIVING US THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET $10,000 GRANT TO CONDUCT ONE FREE DAY FOR THE COMMUNITY EVERY MONTH, EVERY LAST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH.
AND I CAN TELL YOU, WE'VE ALREADY HAD NINE OF THEM.
AND THE LAST ONE IS COMING UP.
I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE ALL OF YOU TO COME AND VISIT BECAUSE WHAT YOU WILL WITNESS IS A LOT OF JOY, A LOT OF FAMILIES COMING TOGETHER AND A LOT OF JUST HAPPINESS, JUST PURE, UNADULTERATED HAPPINESS.
I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU, I KNOW THAT SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND MCDANIEL AND CEO MENDEZ ALREADY VISITED.
I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE AN INVITATION TO ALL OF YOU TO COME AND VISIT JUST TO SEE THAT.
AND YOU CAN ALSO TALK TO THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHO ARE THERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE KIDS ARE HAVING ABSOLUTE BALL WITH THAT.
SO 1,800 PEOPLE CAME IN THOSE NINE DAYS.
I'M PRETTY SURE WE'RE GOING TO BREAK 2,000.
SO THIS IS AN INVESTMENT OF $5 PER PERSON THAT BRINGS SO MUCH JOY AND SO MUCH INTEREST AND SO MUCH HAPPINESS THAT YOU CAN ONLY BE THERE TO WITNESS.
WE'VE ALREADY HAD 24,000 VISITS TO KIDS DISCOVERY STATION.
THESE ARE THE NUMBERS THAT ARE HARD TO FIND FOR ANY OTHER PROGRAM IN MERCED, MERCED COUNTY.
AND WE'VE HAD OVER 3000 STUDENTS COMING IN ON FIELD TRIPS WHO ARE LEARNING IN A VERY NEW WAY WHEN THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW THEY'RE LEARNING, THEY'RE PLAYING, AND BY THE WAY, THEY'RE LEARNING. SO I'D LIKE TO EXTEND THE INVITATION.
AND ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE SUPERVISORS TO CONSIDER TO CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM, BECAUSE WE WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO CONTINUE MERCED COUNTY SPONSORED DISCOVERY DAYS BASED ON THE SUCCESS THAT WE'VE ALREADY HAD SO FAR.
SO I'M HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
COULD YOU REPEAT THE DATE AND TIME? SURE. IT'S THIS SUNDAY.
SUNDAY. LET ME SEE WHAT THIS IS? THE CALENDAR.
IT'S AN OFFICIAL LAST DISCOVERY DAY SPONSORED BY MERCED COUNTY.
AND IT'S A FREE DAY OF THE MUSEUM.
WHAT TIME DOES IT START? THE MUSEUM OPENS AT 10:00 AND IT'S OPEN TILL FIVE.
THANK YOU. SO THAT'S IT? IF YOU DIDN'T HEAR THAT THE MUSEUM OPENS FROM 10:00 UNTIL 5:00, IT'S AN ALL DAY EVENT.
WE HAD SOMEBODY FROM THIS SIDE.
SO MY NAME IS ANGELO KIRILOV AND I'M A PROFESSOR OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AT UC MERCED AND ALSO A CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF KIDS DISCOVERY STATION THAT MY WIFE MAYA JUST TALKED ABOUT.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SHARE A COUPLE OF STORIES FROM THE DISCOVERY DAYS THAT I'VE ATTENDED.
AND IT'S SOME OF THE MOST HEARTWARMING STORIES THAT I'VE SEEN BECAUSE IT'S BASICALLY, I THINK, UNLIKE SOME OTHER CHILDREN'S MUSEUMS THAT EXIST ALL OVER THE WORLD, WE ARE KIND OF A MUSEUM FOR EVERYONE WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE THAT RICH IN ORDER TO COME INTO OUR MUSEUM.
AND IT'S BEEN THE MOST REWARDING EXPERIENCE FOR ME TO SEE SOME OF THE STUDENTS WHO ARE IN MY CLASSES WHO HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME SOME STUDENTS WHO ARE PARENTS AND THEY DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH MONEY.
[00:20:02]
AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER CONTINUING THAT SUPPORT FOR FOR KIDS DISCOVERY STATION SO THAT WE CAN BRING DISCOVERY DAY FOR THE NEXT YEAR AND CONTINUE SOME OF THOSE EVENTS.PERFECT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
AND I DON'T SEE ANYBODY ON THIS SIDE.
SO I'M GOING TO CONTINUE ON MY LEFT, YOUR RIGHT.
GOOD EVENING, CHAIRPERSON AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF DATA FROM THE POINT IN TIME SURVEY THAT'S REQUIRED BY GOVERNMENT HAPPENED IN FEBRUARY AND MR. PEDROZO IS PART OF THE CONTINUUM OF CARE AND IS VERY AWARE OF THIS.
I'D LIKE TO REPORT THAT ABOUT 68% OF THE 389 HOMELESS PEOPLE THAT WERE UNSHELTERED HAD LESS THAN $500 A MONTH INCOME.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, OTHER CITIES HAVE TRIED GUARANTEED INCOME TYPES OF PROGRAMS, OTHER THINGS THAT WOULD HELP SUBSIDIZE THE INCOME THAT PEOPLE HAVE.
BUT WE HAVE TO TRY TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS.
SO MANY PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS ASKING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER PROGRAMS THAT OTHER CITIES I KNOW STOCKTON FOR ONE, AND THEY EVEN HAVE STATISTICS ON HOW THINGS HAVE GONE.
YOU KNOW, WHAT PEOPLE HAVE DONE WITH THE MONEY.
AND IT'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, VERY HELPFUL TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND YOU KNOW THAT WE LIVE IN A COUNTY WITH HIGH POVERTY RATE.
WE NEED YOU TO TAKE CARE OF SOME OF THE SOLUTIONS FOR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
GOOD EVENING. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, BOARD MEMBERS, CEO MENDEZ, COUNTY COUNSEL HANSEN.
MY NAME IS KIMIKO VANG AND I AM THE DIRECTOR OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES.
JULIANNE IS A LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER WITH OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, INCLUDING TEN YEARS IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
JULIANNE HAS SPENT THE LAST TWO YEARS AS A DIVISION DIRECTOR FOR MARIPOSA COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY, WHERE SHE WORKED ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CALAIM AND OTHER STATEWIDE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INITIATIVES.
JULIANNE HAS ALSO SERVED IN THE ADMINISTRATION AND HUMAN SERVICES DIVISIONS.
VANG, FOR THE LOVELY INTRODUCTION.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE BACK IN MERCED COUNTY.
AS MENTIONED, I WAS IN MARIPOSA FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND IT'S LOVELY, BUT THE WEATHER WAS A BIT MUCH AND SO GLAD TO BE BACK AND GLAD TO BE PROMOTING WELLNESS AND RECOVERY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WELCOME ABOARD. GOOD EVENING.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, COMMUNITY AND STAFF.
MY NAME IS CECILIA CERVANTES AND I COME FROM THE COMMUNITY OF DELHI, CALIFORNIA.
I'M HERE TO ACTUALLY VOICE AN ADDITION TO THE OTHER INDIVIDUAL EARLIER, THE NEED FOR THE PARK AND THE COMMUNITY HALL IN DELHI. WE DO HAVE SOME MONIES OUT THERE.
AND SO BASICALLY MY QUESTION HERE IS TO OUR COUNTY DISTRICT SUPERVISOR IS, IS THERE A PLAN ON HOW TO ACQUIRE MORE MONEY AND FOR THIS VISION AND WHEN WE EXPECT TO SEE THAT PLAN? AND THE SECOND THING WE WANT IS CONTINUOUS UPDATES AS TO HOW THINGS ARE MOVING ALONG.
I'M GOING TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
[00:25:02]
I'M PERSONALLY WORKING ON BRINGING IN SERVICES FOR OUR SENIOR CITIZENS, SO I WORK REALLY HARD TO FIND A SPACE TO BRING ACTIVITIES FOR THEM.AND SO I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET ANY SITE OR HOW DO I SAY SPECIFIC LOCATION THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THEM.
SO IT'S GETTING THE SPACE KIND OF LIMITED TO UTILIZE SOME OF THESE FACILITIES.
AND BASICALLY, HONESTLY, WE NEED A PARK AND A COMMUNITY HALL IN DELHI.
SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT AT LEAST WE HAVE WHAT WE NEED.
AND THAT'S A BIG, BIG PART OF IT.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
OKAY. GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS SARIAH RAMIREZ WITH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL FOR JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
THE $550,000 ALLOCATED FOR THE PARK AND CENTER PROJECT, WHICH ORIGINATE FROM ARPA DOLLARS.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, IS ON A TIMELINE.
SO ARPA FUNDS MUST BE OBLIGATED BY DECEMBER OF 2024, BUT SPENT ON DECEMBER OF 2026.
SPECIFICALLY, RESIDENTS ARE REQUESTING PERIODIC MONTHLY DISCUSSIONS WITH COUNTY STAFF, PARK AND RECREATION SUPERINTENDENTS AND DIRECTOR AND THEN ALSO SUPERVISOR PAREIRA THAT FOCUSES ON SITE ACQUISITION, PARK FUNDS, PROJECT PLANNING AND STATUS UPDATES.
BUT OUR LAST COMMUNITY MEETING RESIDENTS DID STRATEGIZE ON THREE DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVE PROJECT SITES ONE ON AUGUST AVENUE NEAR HARMONY SCHOOL, THE SECOND ONE MERCED AND SCHENDEL ON SOUTHWEST FACING CORNER.
THERE'S LIKE AN OLD PARCEL AVAILABLE.
ALL OF THESE SITES HAVE BEEN EMAILED IN A FOLLOW UP TO COUNTY STAFF ON APRIL 12TH, AND SO RESIDENTS ARE WANTING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE STATUS UPDATE IS ON THOSE SITES AND IF SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND ANY RELEVANT COUNTY STAFF COULD FOLLOW UP IN A MEETING TO PRESENT ANY OTHER SITES THAT THE COUNTY MAY HAVE LOOKED INTO.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
OKAY MY NAME IS ANA MARIA FABIAN.
OKAY, I'M HERE AGAIN BECAUSE I'M TIRED OF ASKING FOR SOME THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED FOR BEFORE FOR THE SOUTH OF MERCED.
[00:30:32]
. 77 SOUTH P STREET IS IN HORRIBLE CONDITION.SHE HAS GONE TO THE CITY COUNCIL SEVERAL TIMES ASKING FOR HELP AND WHAT THEY TELL HER IS THAT IT'S NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. SO SHE IS ASKING, WANTING TO KNOW WHO IS RESPONSIBLE TO MAKE THE SITUATION OF THE STREET BETTER.
IT'S CONTAMINATED, THE WATER IS CONTAMINATED.
THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO COME TODAY.
SO SHE IS HERE REPRESENTING THEM.
OKAY? AND SO SHE SAYS THAT THEY ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, JUST LIKE ANYBODY ELSE.
AND SHE HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR 25 YEARS.
TODAY SHE CAME. SHE PAID HER OWN GAS.
NOBODY HELPS HER, BUT SHE IS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT SHE'S DOING AND SHE'S REALLY HOPING THAT YOU WILL ALSO BE PASSIONATE FOR THE CAUSE THAT SHE CAME TO REPRESENT TODAY.
GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
I'M A DEPUTY DIRECTOR WITH MERCED COUNTY HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY.
TYPICALLY, VETERANS STAND DOWNS ARE TARGETED FOR VETERANS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
AT THIS EVENT, ALL VETERANS ARE WELCOME TO COME.
THERE WILL BE THE VA ON SITE AND OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS DIRECTLY.
[00:35:02]
SO I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE ALL VETERANS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO MAY BE HEARING ME NOW OR HAVE BEEN TOUCHED BY OUR SOCIAL MEDIA OR PRINT EXCUSE ME, RADIO AD CAMPAIGN TO COME IN AND AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY CONNECT WITH NOT ONLY FELLOW VETERANS, BUT ALSO THE VA DIRECTLY.I HAVE LEFT SOME FLIERS IN THE BACK.
SO ANYONE IN ATTENDANCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO GRAB A FLIER, PLEASE DO SO.
WE HAVE A FAIRLY SMALLER VETERAN SERVICE OFFICE, SO WE REALLY DO COUNT ON THE VETERANS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO HELP US GET THAT MESSAGE OUT SO THEY CAN GET CONNECTED TO OUR OFFICE AS WELL AS THE VA.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, JOHN.
AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITY ON SOUTH MERCED, SOUTH P STREET.
AND AGAIN, THE SEWER AND THE WATER, WE HAVE ISSUES WITH THAT.
IT IS VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE TO WHEN YOUR [INAUDIBLE] LINE BREAKS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 4 OR $5,000.
I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY SITTING ON THE BANK, YOU KNOW, TO GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF.
I'VE BEEN THAT ADDRESS ON SOUTH P STREET SINCE 2000 [INAUDIBLE], AND WE HAVE FIXED A SEPTIC TANK A COUPLE OF TIMES.
WE HAVE TO DIP IN THE PIPE FOR THE WATER BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE WATER FROM THE CITY.
AND AGAIN, WE PAY OUR TAXES AND WE NEED YOUR HELP.
THEY SAID, WELL, THE COUNTY, BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE COUNTY, WE'LL TALK TO THEM.
THEY CAN PUT AN APPLICATION, SUBMIT A GRANT FROM THE STATE.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE WE KIND OF JUST GETTING THE RUNAROUND, YOU KNOW, GO TO THE CITY.
THE CITY SAYS GO TO THE COUNTY AND NOTHING HAPPENS.
DURING THE FLOOD WHERE I HAVE MY WELL, THE WATER WENT UP PROBABLY LIKE ABOUT A FEET OR TWO FEET FROM THE BASE OF THE WHERE THE WELL SITS.
AND I WAS VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE THE SEWER SEPTIC IS PROBABLY ABOUT 20FT ON THE SAME, YOU KNOW, SIDE.
AND SO I WAS VERY CONCERNED THAT IF WE MIGHT HAVE, THE WATER MIGHT BE CONTAMINATED.
SO I WENT TO FEMA AND I PUT AN APPLICATION AND THEY SENT SOMEBODY TO TO LOOK AT IT.
HE TOOK A SAMPLE AND HE SAID, WE'LL GET THAT WAS ON A FRIDAY.
HE SAID, I WILL GET SOMEBODY WILL CALL YOU ON MONDAY TO LET YOU KNOW IF YOUR WATER IS CONTAMINATED.
AND HE SAID, AND IF THE WATER IS CONTAMINATED, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO.
TIME IS UP. YOU GOT TEN MORE SECONDS JUST TO FINISH UP YOUR THOUGHT.
AND I HOPE YOU GUYS DO WHAT THE CITY'S SAYING.
I DON'T KNOW, SOMEHOW LET US KNOW.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
[00:40:09]
HOUSES TOGETHER.TWO YEARS AGO THE WATER LEVEL WASN'T HIGH ENOUGH.
SO THEY HAD TO CONTRACT A COMPANY TO GO DOWN 57M MORE TO FIND THE WATER.
I HAVE TWO GRANDCHILDREN SIX AND THREE.
AND FORTUNATELY WE ARE ABOUT 1000FT FROM THE CITY LIMIT.
WE COULD GET THE DRAINAGE OF THE CITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, SIR.
MADELINE HARRIS FROM LEADERSHIP COUNCIL.
SO AS YOU MAY KNOW, ALREADY A LOT OF FOLKS ON SOUTH P STREET AND IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS JUST OUTSIDE OF CITY LIMITS IN SOUTH MERCED ARE RELIANT ON SEPTIC TANKS, MANY OF WHICH ARE FAILING.
AND MANY RESIDENTS ARE ALSO RELIANT ON DOMESTIC WELLS.
AND SO RESIDENTS WOULD LIKE TO CONNECT TO THE CITY OF MERCED'S SEWER AND WATER SERVICES.
AND THE LAST THAT WE HEARD FROM THE CITY WAS THAT THEY'RE MORE THAN WILLING TO CONNECT THE SERVICES TO UNINCORPORATED AREAS IN SOUTH MERCED SO LONG AS THE COUNTY WOULD TAKE THE LEAD ON APPLYING TO THE STATE FOR FUNDING TO PAY FOR THE PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION COSTS, AS WELL AS CONNECTION FEES FOR RESIDENTS.
AND SO WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR THE COUNTY'S COLLABORATION ON THIS PROJECT.
OUR ORGANIZATION WILL BE DOING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE UNDER PROP ONE FOR THIS TO GET SURVEYS FILLED OUT FOR FOLKS IN SOUTH MERCED TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY INTERESTED IN CONNECTING TO THE CITY'S WATER AND SEWER.
AND THAT'S PART OF THAT PROCESS.
AND THEN SECONDLY, I WANTED TO BRING UP THE PETITION THAT ANA MARIE RESUBMITTED.
THIS IS A MAJOR CORRIDOR THAT PEOPLE NEED TO WALK ON.
IN THIS WAY, FOLKS HAVE BEEN PAYING THEIR TAX DOLLARS INTO MEASURE V SINCE IT PASSED, AND UNINCORPORATED SOUTH MERCED STILL HASN'T SEEN MEASURE V DOLLARS GET IMPLEMENTED AND PROJECTS COMPLETED IN THEIR COMMUNITY, SO THEY'D LIKE TO SEE THEIR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
MY NAME IS ELLIE PAINTED CROW.
[00:45:01]
AND I WANT TO SAY FOR THE RECORD THAT WHAT I WILL BE SHARING IN THE NEXT 4 OR 5 MEETINGS HAS CAUSED ALARM WITH SOME OF MY FELLOW VETERANS.THEY ARE WARNING ME THAT SHARING THIS INFORMATION MAY CAUSE HARM TO ME OR MY FAMILY.
I AM NOT AFRAID AND NEITHER IS MY FAMILY.
AND I HOPE IT WILL NOT COME TO THIS.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT CLEAR ON WHAT THE CONFLICT IS BETWEEN THE TWO VETERAN ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN BATTLED FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS, I'D LIKE TO SHARE AN OLD MEMO, AND THEN NEXT TIME I WILL SHARE A NEWER MEMO.
I HAVE READ YOUR LAST EMAIL THAT YOU SENT.
AND SO THE DEPARTMENT COMMANDER AS YOUR DEPARTMENT COMMANDER, I, JODY GRIFFIN, HAVE PROMISED YOU THAT MERCED POST 8 30 83 WILL DEAL WITH IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONSTITUTION BY LAWS SITUATIONS SUCH AS SERIOUS AS MERCED TAKES IT.
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS STATUS OF LIMITATION.
WE HAVE NOT ABANDONED OR DISREGARDED ANY COMPLAINTS THAT YOU WERE FILED BY YOU OR MEMBERS.
AGAIN, THE REASON I CANNOT COME FROM MERCED POST 83 IS BECAUSE THREATS HAVE BEEN MADE AGAINST ME.
THE OTHER REASON FOR MINIMAL COMMITMENT IS MERCED MEMBERS IN GOOD STANDING.
SO I'M NOT GOING TO READ IT ALL BECAUSE I'M GOING TO RUN OUT OF TIME.
BUT BASICALLY WHAT SHE'S SAYING, SHE WAS THE COMMANDER.
SO WE HAVE A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN HERE FOR TEN YEARS.
AND THIS LEASE HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE VIOLENCE THAT HAS OCCURRED HERE.
BUT YOU'VE REFUSED TO LISTEN TO THIS.
AND SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS I'M GOING TO BRING THE MEMOS.
I'M GOING TO BRING THE STORIES OF ALL THESE VETERANS WHO HAVE BEEN INFLICTED WITH VIOLENCE, WITH DISCRIMINATION, WITH ABUSE AND THEIR ELDERS, THEIR RIGHTS OF VIOLATION. I'M GOING TO COME HERE TO EVERY MEETING AND I'M GOING TO READ EVERY MEMO AND EVERY STORY UNTIL YOU LISTEN TO WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE LEASE.
THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE VETERANS FIGHTING WITH EACH OTHER.
THE PROBLEM IS HOW YOU ARE CREATING THIS PROBLEM AND ALLOWING IT TO CONTINUE BY NOT LISTENING.
AND I'M ASKING FOR THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
THESE VETERANS ARE VIETNAM VETERANS.
YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED. I'LL GIVE YOU TEN MORE SECONDS TO FINISH YOUR LAST THOUGHT.
AND YOU HAVE DONE NOTHING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
ALL RIGHT. THIS WILL BE OUR LAST PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE'VE REACHED OUR 30 MINUTE TIME FRAME.
MY NAME IS SERGEANT ANGEL MILLMAN AND I JUST WANT TO SHARE THE FOLLOWING.
SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, WHO IS ON THE LEASE COMMITTEE, SHOULD HAVE RECUSED HIMSELF FROM THIS COMMITTEE.
WHY DID YOU ALL ALLOW IT? IS THIS ANOTHER FORM OF CRONYISM HAPPENING? JUST ASKING.
THIS VETERANS DILEMMA HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A DECADE, AND THIS BOARD CONTINUES TO BLAME THE VETERANS FOR THE CONFLICTS OCCURRING BETWEEN ORGANIZATIONS AND TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS THIS BOARD MAKES IN PERPETUATING THE NOW UNREPORTED ACTS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST THE ELDERLY, DISABLED VETERANS OF THIS COMMUNITY.
HOW DOES THIS BENEFIT THE BOARD? WHY ARE YOU SO DETERMINED TO KEEP THE STATUS QUO KNOWING THIS EXISTS? WHAT DO YOU STAND TO GAIN? THESE ARE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS WE NEED ANSWERS TO SO THAT WE MAY BETTER UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS BEING ALLOWED.
I THINK THIS ISSUE IS WORTH ADDRESSING.
WHY SHOULD WE ELECT YOU IF YOU HAVE NO DESIRE OR THE SKILLS TO ADDRESS A DECADE OLD PROBLEM THAT REQUIRES A NEGOTIATION THAT IS EQUITABLE? IF IT WAS THERE FOR DECADES BEFORE 2012.
I HOPE THIS IS ADDRESSED IN YOUR TOWN HALL MEETINGS.
THIS COMPLACENCY OF CONCERN FOR DISABLED ELDERLY VETS IS APPARENT.
MAYBE WE NEED BETTER NEGOTIATORS ON THIS BOARD.
MAYBE WE NEED SOMEONE WHO REALLY CARES ABOUT THE 12,000 PLUS VETERANS WHO LIVE IN MERCED COUNTY.
[00:50:03]
SOMETHING FOR ALL OF US WHO WILL BE VOTING TO THINK ABOUT.THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, SIR.
ALL RIGHT. THAT CONCLUDES OUR 30 MINUTES OF COMMENTS.
JUST TAKE THREE MINUTES TO SEE WHAT I HAVE TO SAY, SIR.
SO I'M GOING TO ALLOW ONE MORE AND THAT'S IT.
OKAY. BECAUSE WE HAVE WE HAVE A LOT OF VOLUNTEER PRESENTATIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TONIGHT.
THANK YOU. MY NAME IS SHARON JOHNSON, AND I THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY DISPLACEMENT FROM 2355 K STREET APARTMENT 209 DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FIRE WHICH TOOK PLACE ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL THE 12TH, 2023.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS ARE FAMILIAR WITH IT.
UPON RECEIVING A TELEPHONE CALL FROM SEDOV'S MANAGER ON 4-13, FLORENCE BAKER STATING WE HAVE TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY DUE TO THE BUILDING BEING RED TAGGED AND TOLD TO GRAB WHAT WE CAN AND A DEADBOLT WILL BE PLACED ON DOORS TO PROTECT PROPERTY.
SHOULD WE NOT ABIDE WE WILL BE ARRESTED FOR TRESPASSING.
ALSO STATED THAT THEY CANNOT ACCOMMODATE US.
THE DISPLACED TENANTS ARE TEMPORARILY HOUSED AT MOTEL SIX.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG WE WILL GO OR HOW LONG THIS WILL LAST.
WE ARE BEING SUPPORTED BY BLANCA O'JACOB.
I'M SORRY IF I'M MISPRONOUNCING YOUR NAME, FAITH IN THE VALLEY ORGANIZATION.
AND GLORIA AND SAUL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, WHICH IS SUPPORTING US.
ANY TYPE OF SUPPORT, IF ANY, WOULD BE GRATEFULLY APPRECIATED.
IF YOU ALL CAN HELP US OR PASS IT ON TO THOSE THAT CAN HELP US.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
ALL RIGHT. WE ARE MOVING ON NOW TO OUR 2023 VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION.
[PRESENTATIONS: VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION ]
WE'LL START FROM RIGHT UP HERE AND THEN WE WILL MOVE DOWN THERE.SO I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE WHO IS HERE TODAY FOR OUR VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION CEREMONY.
THIS YEAR MARKS THE 49TH ANNIVERSARY OF NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK.
MERCED COUNTY'S PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1999.
WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE VOLUNTEERS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
FIRST OFF, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE AND THANK OUR SCREENING COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO SCORED THIS YEAR'S NOMINEES, AND I'LL ASK THEM TO RAISE THEIR HAND IF THEY'RE IN ATTENDANCE. EXCUSE ME, FROM DISTRICT ONE, WE HAD DAVID RODRIGUEZ FROM DISTRICT TWO WE HAD TRACY PERETTI.
AND CHARLENE'S BEEN DOING THIS IS HER SIXTH YEAR OF DOING IT.
AND THEN FROM DISTRICT FIVE, ANNE MCCAULEY, AND THIS IS HER NINTH YEAR OF DOING THAT.
ANNE THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS VOLUNTEERING TO HELP US OUT.
WE WILL BE INTRODUCING EACH OF THE RECIPIENTS, STARTING WITH DISTRICT ONE AND TELLING YOU ABOUT THE WORK THEY'VE BEEN DOING IN THE COMMUNITY AND PRESENTING THEM WITH CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION AS WELL AS A COUNTY PIN.
AND WITH US TONIGHT I HAVE THAT ARE ALSO GOING TO BE PRESENTING CERTIFICATES.
I HAVE CHRISTIANE SANTOS FROM CONGRESSMAN DUARTE'S OFFICE.
CRISTIAN IS HERE, AND I ALSO HAVE ALEJANDRO CARRILLO FROM ASSEMBLYWOMAN SORIA'S OFFICE.
AND I SEE WE HAVE SOMEONE ALSO HERE FROM STATE SENATOR'S OFFICE.
SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING HERE.
AFTER WE'RE DONE PRESENTING ALL THE CERTIFICATES, WE'LL GATHER UP FRONT, OUT IN FRONT IN THE LOBBY.
[LAUGHTER] CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE.
AND NOW LET'S LET THE CEREMONY START.
AND FIRST UP, WE HAVE SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA AND FOR DISTRICT ONE.
SO WELCOME AGAIN TO THE FIRST EVENING MEETING OF THE YEAR.
[00:55:03]
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I'M GOING TO CALL UP WELL, LET ME SAY A FEW WORDS.THERE ARE SO MANY VOLUNTEERS, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE FLOODS.
BUT STILL THEY WERE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, HELP OUT SO MUCH.
A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY, CHURCHES, PEOPLE NOT JUST FROM MERCED COUNTY OUT OF THE COUNTY, CAME AND HELPED SO, SO MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE AND INDIVIDUALLY, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY THAT DONATED, BROUGHT UP BROUGHT OVER FOOD.
SO I WISH I COULD RECOGNIZE EVERYBODY TODAY, YOU KNOW, AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE TRYING TO GET MORE NAMES SO I CAN HAND OUT MORE CERTIFICATES ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES, TO THANK AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN.
SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT SUPPORTED US.
FIRST OF ALL, HAVE LE GRAND HIGH SCHOOL IF THEY CAN COME UP, PLEASE.
[APPLAUSE] I THINK LIKE THE CHAIR SAID, WE HAD A COMMITTEE THAT FROM EACH DISTRICT THAT WAS MADE UP OF EACH DISTRICT MEMBERS THAT CHOSE LE GRAND HIGH SCHOOL FOR THEIR WONDERFUL WORK IN THE AREA FOR HELPING PLANADA AND THE COMMUNITY OF LE GRAND AS WELL.
SO. WE HAVE THE WONDERFUL STUDENTS, VOLUNTEERS THEY HELPED OUT, THE PRINCIPAL AND THE SUPERINTENDENT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR HELPING OUT SO MUCH.
THAT WAS NO DIFFERENT DURING THE FLOODING EVENTS IN PLANADA EARLIER THIS YEAR.
THEY COLLECTED DONATIONS FOR IMPACTED RESIDENTS, MADE FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS AND HELPED BRING SUPPLIES TO FAMILIES BEING TEMPORARILY HOUSED AT THE FELIX TORRES MIGRANT CENTER. WITHOUT THEIR HELP AND MANY OTHERS, MANY FAMILIES WOULDN'T HAVE HAD THE ESSENTIALS THEY NEEDED, ESPECIALLY IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF THE FLOODS.
SO HERE THEY ARE, LE GRAND HIGH SCHOOL.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS? SUPERINTENDENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND THE FFA GROUP AND OUR FFA TEACHERS, THE VERY NEXT DAY AFTER THE FLOOD, THEY WENT INTO ACTION AND WE STARTED DELIVERING THINGS TO PEOPLE.
AND HOPEFULLY, LIKE I SAID THIS OUR YOUTH IS ABLE TO WATCH, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, THE WONDERFUL SUPPORT THAT WE HAD AND HOPEFULLY THEY'LL CONTINUE IN THE FUTURE. SO I KNOW WE HAVE OTHER REPRESENTATIVES IF THEY WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? ON BEHALF OF CONGRESSMAN JOHN DUARTE, CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE FLOODING.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ON BEHALF OF SENATOR CABALLERO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU AGAIN. APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU. THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU, SIR.
OKAY. THANK YOU. WE GOT SOME SERVICE PINS.
WE JUST START HANDING THEM OUT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DO YOU WANT TO GIVE THEM TO HER? SHE CAN HAVE. OKAY.
OUR SECOND WINNER IS KONGPHENG THAO.
[01:00:10]
THE MERCED COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, THE MERCED COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY, CENTRAL CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE FOR HEALTH, HEALTHY HOUSE, THE HUB HMONG CENTER, UC MERCED, FRESNO FIRM AND THE FRESNO CENTER.HE VOLUNTEERED AT COVID 19 VACCINATION CLINICS AND HELPED TO COORDINATE AND TRANSLATE FOR MEMBERS OF THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN COMMUNITY THROUGH THE MERCED LAO FAMILY MR . THAO HELPS WITH FOOD BOX DISTRIBUTION EVERY THURSDAY MORNING.
MR. THAO IS HUMBLE AND DEDICATED.
[APPLAUSE] LET'S THANK HIM. LET'S TAKE A PICTURE. LET'S SEE.
NEXT, WE'LL HAVE FROM DISTRICT 2 SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
THANK YOU. AND I THINK MY COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT ONE SAID IT THE BEST AND I'M GOING TO ADD TO IT, YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS TO WHERE I'M REALLY GLAD THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO JUDGE THESE APPLICATIONS BECAUSE IT GETS REALLY DIFFICULT.
AND SO I WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE THAT DID JUDGE TO PICK.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS ABOUT MERCED AND MERCED COUNTY IS THAT NOT JUST IN TIMES OF CRISES DO PEOPLE COME TOGETHER AND THEY DON'T LOOK FOR RECOGNITION, BUT THEY GET IT AND THEY VERY MUCH DESERVE IT.
SO MY FIRST AWARD GOES TO HARVEST TIME.
SO IT IS HARVEST TIME HERE, SHEILA.
WELL, HARVEST TIME. THANK YOU, MA'AM.
YOU GUYS ARE THE. ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ THIS.
THIS IS A FOOD DISTRIBUTION TO THE HUNGRY AND NEEDY OF MERCED COUNTY.
COMPOSED OF MOSTLY SENIORS, SOME IN THEIR 80S, THE MEMBERS ARRIVE BEFORE DAWN TO PREPARE FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, ALONG WITH OTHER PERISHABLE ITEMS, PREPARE LUNCHES FOR THE UNHOUSED AND DRIVE TO VARIOUS SITES TO PICK UP DONATED FOOD.
AS PARTICIPANTS COME THROUGH, THE VOLUNTEERS FORM AN ASSEMBLY LINE TO FILL THE BOXES WITH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, DAIRY PRODUCTS, BREAD, MEATS, JUICE, FROZEN ITEMS AND DESSERTS.
EACH BOX WEIGHS APPROXIMATELY 65 POUNDS, AND YOU CAN TELL THAT I'M SURE THEY ALL LIFT, CAN DO IT.
THEY DO ALL OF THIS WITH A SMILE AND A WARM GREETING.
THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF BEHIND THE SCENES WORK INVOLVING SORTING REBOXING AND STORING DONATIONS.
25 YEARS OF SERVING THOSE IN NEED OF FOOD ASSISTANCE.
THAT ALONE DESERVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[APPLAUSE] THE VOLUNTEERS AT HARVEST TIME ARE TRULY AMAZING.
WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SOME OF THEM HERE WITH US THIS EVENING, AND I'M PROUD TO PRESENT THEM WITH THIS AWARD.[APPLAUSE] I'M ALSO GOING TO PRESENT TO YOU NOT JUST THE CERTIFICATE, BUT ALSO A CHALLENGE COIN.
[01:05:06]
AND IT'S FOR COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS.AND IT SAYS IN GRATEFUL APPRECIATION FOR YOUR DEDICATED CONTRIBUTIONS TO MERCED COUNTY.
[APPLAUSE] THERE YOU GO. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING, PLEASE? OH, I'M JUST VERY PROUD OF OUR GROUP THAT WORKS HARD, PRETTY MUCH SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
AND THEY'RE JUST AN INSPIRATION.
AND IT'S BEEN AN INSPIRATION TO SEE ALL OF THE OTHER GROUPS HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.
AND IT TAKES EVERYONE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
[APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT VOLUNTEER IS THE MERCED SUNRISE ROTARY CLUB.
SO I SEE MR. CHAIR IF GINA AND ANGIE AND THEN EVERYBODY ELSE WHO'S WITH THEM.
SORRY, SORRY, SORRY. I KNEW THAT.
SO THIS ORGANIZATION IS ONE OF MANY OF THE ROTARIES IN MERCED AND MERCED COUNTY, BUT THEY'RE THE SHRIMP ONES. SO MAKE SURE THAT YOU WHEN THE SHRIMP FEED COMES AROUND, THEY'RE THE ONE TO GO TO AND THEY'LL DEFINITELY SELL YOU TICKETS.
THERE'S NOT A THE LIST IS WAY TOO LONG.
THE MERCED SUNRISE ROTARY CLUB PERFORMS A VAST ARRAY OF SERVICES FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND BEYOND.
ONE OF THESE EFFORTS INVOLVES PURCHASING CLOTHING FOR CHILDREN IN NEED EVERY YEAR.
CHILDREN RECEIVE SHOES, JACKETS AND SMILES BECAUSE OF THIS CLUB.
THE CLUB ALSO WORKS TO DEVELOP THE YOUTH WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
FINALLY, THE MERCED SUNRISE ROTARY CLUB WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE SISTER CITY OF SOMOTO, NICARAGUA.
FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS, THE CLUB HAS PROVIDED EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS TO UNIVERSITY STUDENTS THERE AND HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN RAISING FUNDS TO PROVIDE CLEAN WATER AND MEDICAL SUPPORT TO THE COMMUNITY.
THIS GROUP IS A SPECIAL PART OF MERCED AND I'M HONORED TO PRESENT THEM WITH THIS AWARD TODAY.
[APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GOT YOUR COIN. IT'S NOT MONEY.
AS JOSH MENTIONED, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT WE DO.
THAT'S THAT'S A COMPILATION OF PROBABLY 20 TO 25 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE BASICALLY JUST SPEARHEAD IT.
WE DO FOCUS ON A LOT ON STUDENTS, BUT WE DO FOCUS A LOT ON VETERANS IN OUR ORGANIZATION.
AND I AM PRESENTING ALL OF YOU WITH A CHALLENGE COIN AS WELL.
WE HAD OUR 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIELD OF HONOR THIS YEAR AND IT WAS JUST AN AMAZING EVENT.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE GOT 2,000 FLAGS.
WE ACTUALLY GOT 2,022 FLAGS THIS YEAR.
BUT SO I'M GOING TO PRESENT YOU GUYS WITH A CHALLENGE COIN OF YOUR OWN, SO.
ALL RIGHTY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS HONOR AND WE GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.
[01:10:05]
I'VE NEVER BEEN [APPLAUSE] YEAH, YOU HAVE GET A QUICK PHOTO.AND YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO JOIN US ANY FRIDAY MORNING AT PAUL'S PLACE AT 6:30.
WE'RE CALLED THE SUNRISE CLUB.
THEY WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE REAL QUICK.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PICTURE. OKAY.
NEXT, WE'LL HAVE UP FROM DISTRICT AFTER THE PICTURE IS DONE.
SORRY. NEXT, WE'LL HAVE SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL FROM DISTRICT 3.
MENTION ARTURO'S NAME FROM SENATOR CABALLERO'S OFFICE.
SO ARTURO, THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING.
AND IT'S AN HONOR TO REPRESENT DISTRICT 3.
MY COLLEAGUES KNOW IT'S THE HEART OF MERCED COUNTY.
YOU CAN FEEL THE ECONOMIC PULSE.
FIRST UP, I'D LIKE TO HAVE A TSIA XIONG COME UP, PLEASE.
HE WAS NOMINATED BY KIMIKO VANG, AND WHEN IT CROSSED MY DESK, I WAS VERY EXCITED TO DO THIS.
MR. XIONG ENCOURAGES CIVIC PARTICIPATION AND REGULARLY ENGAGES IN VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVES.
HE ASSISTS IN THE HMONG COMMUNITY AND ISSUES.
DURING THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC, MR. XIONG HELPED PEOPLE TO REGISTER FOR VACCINATION CLINICS.
HE ADVOCATES FOR HEALTH EQUITY AND SERVES AS THE ADVISORY BOARD FOR UC DAVIS CANCER CENTER.
NOT IN THIS. HE ACTUALLY SERVES ON MY MUNICIPAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN THE BEACHWOOD FRANKLIN AREA.
HE'S BEEN ON THERE FOR A WHILE NOW.
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF COMMUNICATIONS WITH EACH OTHER.
HE'S BEEN LIKE HE'S BEEN A GOOD FRIEND AND HE KEEPS ME WELL INFORMED OF WHAT I NEED TO KNOW.
AND IF I DON'T KNOW IT, HE REMINDS ME OF WHAT I NEED TO KNOW.
[LAUGHTER] BUT I LIKE TO PERSONALLY THANK MR. XIONG FOR HIS DEDICATION TO THE COMMUNITY AND ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU THIS CERTIFICATE, WHICH IS A SMALL RECOGNITION OF ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE.
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.
DID YOU GET A PICTURE? NOW IT'S YOUR TURN. OKAY.
SOMETIMES I DON'T KNOW IF I WANT TO GIVE HIM THE MIC.
I HEAR HIM AT MY MAC MEETINGS.
YEAH. NOT EVERY DAY WE GET A RECOGNITIONS BY THE COUNTY SUPERVISORS.
BUT ANYWAY, I WANTED TO THANK KIMIKO FOR SUBMITTING MY NAME.
AND AS I WAS TELLING MY PARENTS, VOLUNTEERING IS PART OF MY DNA AND I'VE BEEN DOING IT OVER 30 YEARS AND I LOVE JUST PUTTING SMILES ON THE PARENTS WHEN THEY COME TO MEETING, GOING BACK THERE WITH A BIG OLD SMILE.
AND I ALSO GO BY A PRINCIPLE THAT IF YOU DO NOTHING, YOU PRODUCE NOTHING.
AND AS A PERSON OF FAITH, I THINK THE REWARD IS BIGGER UP THERE.
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. YEAH. AND I CAN SAY TSIA AND I DON'T AGREE ON EVERYTHING, BUT WE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE A CIVIL DISCUSSION ABOUT EVERYTHING.
THANK YOU. THE NEXT PERSON FOR DISTRICT 3.
CAN YOU FEEL IT? MR. SHANE PARSONS.
[01:15:02]
NOMINATED BY MARK MIMS. SHANE PARSONS HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY INSTRUMENTAL IN THE CASTLE COMMERCE CENTER AREA FOR MERCED COUNTY AS A WHOLE.HE MENTORS AND ASSISTS NEW BUSINESSES IN THEIR START UP PROCESS AND HAS HELPED AND MENTORED MANY COMPANIES AND STRUGGLED THROUGH COVID RESTRICTIONS OR FINANCIAL ISSUES LINKING THEM WITH THE RESOURCES TO STAY AFLOAT.
THERE IS NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL FOR MR. PARSONS. HE IS A FRIEND OF MANY.
HE'S A FRIEND OF OUR COMMUNITY.
HE'S A FRIEND OF MINE AND TO MERCED COUNTY.
AND I DO WANT TO MENTION, TOO, THIS ISN'T ON THERE, BUT WHEN PLANADA NEEDED SOME STORAGE BOXES, MR. PARSONS DELIVERED. [APPLAUSE] AND ON A PERSONAL NOTE WITH SHANE, I DON'T LIKE TO CALL HIM TOO MUCH BECAUSE HE NEVER, NEVER SAYS NO.
AND YOU DON'T WANT TO ASK OF TOO MUCH OF AN INDIVIDUAL, BUT THIS MAN DELIVERS.
THIS IS REALLY AN HONOR TO DO THIS.
AND LIKE THE MAN SAID BEFORE ME, YOU JUST VOLUNTEER.
YOU DO WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP.
[APPLAUSE] ON BEHALF OF MERCED COUNTY SUPERVISORS, IT'S A SMALL APPRECIATION WITH THIS CERTIFICATE.
THANK YOU, SIR. AND I'M GOING TO DO IT PROPERLY.
ALL RIGHT. [APPLAUSE] AND NEXT, WE HAVE UP SUPERVISOR PEDROZO OR EXCUSE ME, PAREIRA FROM DISTRICT 4.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO CALL UP ROSA NUNO.
SO ANYWAYS, VERY, VERY, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS HOW TO GIVE AND SERVE, RECOMMENDED SOMEBODY WHO GIVES AND SERVES IS OKAY IN MY BOOK . THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT SHE VOLUNTEERS FOR IS THE PARENTS LEADERSHIP TRAINING INSTITUTE VALLEY ONWARD.
AND SHE'S ALSO ON OUR MUNICIPAL ADVISORY COUNCIL IN DELHI.
ROSA HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN THE DELHI COMMUNITY FOR MANY YEARS.
FOR HER COMMUNITY PROJECTS SHE BEGAN A MEXICAN FOLKLÓRICO DANCE GROUP CALLED OH, HOW DO YOU SAY THAT? [INAUDIBLE].
SHE EVEN PRESENTED AT THE GALLO CENTER FOR THE ARTS IN MODESTO AND PERFORMED LIVE ON SPANISH TV.
MS. NUNO HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE DELHI MUNICIPAL ADVISORY COUNCIL SINCE 2016 AND SHE IS TRULY DEDICATED TO HER COMMUNITY AND WE THANK HER FOR ALL THAT SHE DOES.
PLEASE ACCEPT THIS AWARD AND MY SINCEREST APPRECIATION.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] DO YOU WANT TO FOLD THAT FOR ME? WOULD YOU.
OH, GO AHEAD. SORRY. NO, GO AHEAD.
[01:20:07]
THIS IS MY NOTE. I CAN'T WAIT.I HAVE OKAY. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? NO. OH, YOU KNOW, I'VE KNOWN ROSA SINCE I STARTED RUNNING FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS BACK IN 2016.
AND ALWAYS THIS BEAUTIFUL SMILE, ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP.
ALWAYS LOOKS FOR THE POSITIVE AND REALLY IS A GREAT CONTRIBUTOR TO THE COMMUNITY OF DELHI.
SO THANK YOU. AND I HAVE A COUPLE OF TOKENS FOR YOU AS WELL.
OKAY. AND THEN HERE IS TWO MERCED COUNTY PINS THAT YOU COULD WEAR IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[APPLAUSE] YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT HONOREE FOR DISTRICT 4 HAILS FROM THE TOWN OF GUSTINE.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FILBERTO OR FILBERT SOUZA TO COME UP, PLEASE.
SO HIS ORGANIZATION THAT HE VOLUNTEERS FOR IS THE PORTUGUESE PENTECOST.
AND HE'S GOING TO BRING A COUPLE OF FRIENDS UP WITH HIM.
HE WAS HE WAS NOMINATED BY THE POLICE CHIEF, AGUSTINE RUBEN CHAVEZ.
AND ANYWAYS, IT'S JUST AN HONOR TO BE HERE AND TO GIVE THIS TO YOU, MR. SOUZA. [APPLAUSE] CALM DOWN.
CALM DOWN. MR. SOUZA IS A ONE OF A KIND INDIVIDUAL.
HE HAS A BIG HEART AND SERVES HIS COMMUNITY WITH A SMILE.
MR. SOUZA IS A STAPLE AROUND THE BIG PORTUGUESE FESTIVALS AND DINNERS.
IT'S SAID THAT HE'S THE FIRST TO HELP SET UP SERVE FOOD, EMPTY GARBAGE CANS AND CLEAN THE TABLES.
BODO DE LEITE IS THE PARADE OF COWS IN PORTUGUESE.
IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS NO TASK THAT MR. SOUZA CAN'T HANDLE.
HE'S WELL KNOWN IN THE GUSTINE AREA AS WELL AS THE SURROUNDING AREAS.
AND IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO HONOR YOU THIS EVENING.
AND THANK YOU FOR FOR COMING HERE AND ACCEPTING THIS AWARD.
MR. SOUZA IS A MAJOR ASSET TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS.
[APPLAUSE] OKAY, HOLD ON TO THAT.
VERY NICE. CAN YOU SHOW IT TO EVERYBODY? TAKE A PICTURE. SMILE. [APPLAUSE] LOOK OVER THIS WAY.
SEE THAT GENTLEMAN WITH THE TIE? ONE MORE. ONE MORE. ONE MORE.
OH, NO. YOU'RE GOING TO BE FAMOUS TONIGHT.
THANK YOU. MY BOSS WANTS TO SAY YES.
WELL, AND AND AS YOU CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, FILBERT'S EMOTIONAL.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO LET THE CHIEF SAY A FEW WORDS ON HIS BEHALF.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY ABOUT FILBERT, I'VE KNOWN HIM FROM HIS SCHOOL YEARS AND HE'S ALWAYS BEEN PUSHED AROUND BY MANY PEOPLE, THAT MADE ME PRETTY MAD BECAUSE I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE PORTUGUESE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 50 YEARS.
I'VE BEEN HERE 63, AND I'VE ALWAYS TOOK PART OF IT FOR HIM.
AND WHAT MAKES ME GREAT, IT MAKES ME REALLY WONDER, IS HIM.
HE'LL SEE A PERSON WITH A WHEELCHAIR HAVING TROUBLE ON THE SIDEWALK.
HE GETS OUT OF THE CAR, RUNS TO HELP THEM AT THE PORTUGUESE FOR MAYBE, I'D SAY 38 YEARS.
HE'S PUT ON THAT VEST BEFORE ANYBODY EVEN ASKS.
AND THEN I'VE WORKED WITH THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS POST 3199, AND BEFORE I EVEN ASK, HE'S ALREADY THERE WAITING TO HELP THE VETERANS. IT'S ALL I CAN SAY.
YOU KNOW, HE'S A BLESSING TO THE PORTUGUESE COMMUNITY AND WE ARE VERY PROUD TO BE WITH HIM.
FIRST TO VOLUNTEER FOR ANYTHING.
BUT AS YOU KNOW, BATMAN HAS ROBIN.[LAUGHTER] THE GREEN HORNET HAS KATO.
I KNOW SOME OF THE YOUNG FOLKS DON'T KNOW WHO THE GREEN HORNET IS YOU KNOW.
AND ROBIN HOOD HAS HIS TRUSTY SERVANT, LITTLE JOHN.
AND THE GUSTINE COMMITTEE HAS OUR GOOD FRIEND AND OUR TRUSTY SERVANT HERE, FILBERTO.
[APPLAUSE] SO AND WE'RE BLESSED.
WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE HIM IN OUR COMMUNITY.
[01:25:03]
I'M JUST GOING TO SAY ONE MORE THING THAT IT'S KIND OF FUNNY WHEN WE HAVE THE AUGUSTINE CELEBRATION, OUR BISHOP, MYRON CARTER, WHICH WAS A YOUNGSTER, I REMEMBER HIM, HE KNOWS ME AND I'M ALWAYS PICKING ON HIM.AND HE'S FILBERT ALWAYS COMES RUNNING TO GIVE HIM A HUG.
AND THE BISHOP KIND OF HOLDS ON BECAUSE HE MIGHT KNOCK HIM OVER, BUT HE'S ALWAYS HIS FRIEND.
[LAUGHTER]. AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FILBERTO.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE. GOOD TO SEE YOU.
SUPERVISOR. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
LAST BUT NOT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, I GET TO DO DISTRICT 5.
SO I'M GOING TO ASK THE AMERICAN LEGION AND VFW IF YOU FOLKS WOULD COME ON UP.
YEAH. I'LL GET TO STAND UP HERE.
[APPLAUSE] MICHAEL. HOW YOU DOING SIR? NICE TO SEE YOU GUYS. GET YOU GUYS ALL UP HERE.
BUT IT'S MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO HONOR THESE FOLKS.
THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 166 WAS ESTABLISHED IN LOS BANOS IN 1920, AND THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WAR POST 2487 WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1932. IN MOST PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, THE AMERICAN LEGION AND THE VFW FUNCTIONS SEPARATELY AND RARELY JOIN TOGETHER FOR ACTIVITIES.
THEY ARE ALSO THE ONLY ATLAS CARE CENTER IN CALIFORNIA.
THIS ORGANIZATION IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF SERVING OUR VETERANS AND OUR COMMUNITY AT LARGE, AND THEY CERTAINLY DESERVE THIS RECOGNITION FOR THEIR EFFORTS, OF WHICH THEY ARE TOO MANY TO LIST. AND SO I'M GOING TO GO OFF SCRIPT A LITTLE BIT AND JUST KIND OF WHAT I LOVE ABOUT HAVING THESE FOLKS IN MY COMMUNITY AND YOU GUYS MIGHT HAVE HEARD A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, IT'S THOSE GROUPS DON'T ALWAYS GET ALONG.
I'M PRIVILEGED TO HAVE IN MY DISTRICT A GROUP THAT GETS ALONG WELL AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT I CAN'T CALL ANY ONE OF THESE FOLKS, BUT ESPECIALLY THESE TWO GENTLEMEN RIGHT HERE. I DON'T CARE WHAT THE NEED IS.
I CAN CALL THOSE FOLKS AND YOU CAN CONSIDER IT DONE AND YOU CAN CONSIDER THEM TO BE THERE.
THEY'RE A STAPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT'S THE FLAG SERVICES THAT'S 11 TIMES A YEAR.
HOW MANY? EIGHT, SORRY, EIGHT TIMES A YEAR WHERE THEY WHERE THEY PUT FLAGS OUT AROUND THE COMMUNITY, 900 FLAGS THAT THEY PUT OUT AROUND THE COMMUNITY FOR THESE SPECIAL HOLIDAYS.
AND NOT TO MENTION ALL OF THE MILITARY FUNERALS THAT THEY PROVIDE SERVICES FOR.
I'M LUCKY TO NOT ONLY CALL THEM MY BOSSES, BUT ALSO MY FRIENDS.
LOS BANOS AND THE SURROUNDING AREA IS A MUCH BETTER PLACE BECAUSE OF THEM.
SO WITH THAT, THE AMERICAN LEGION AND VFW FROM LOS BANOS.
[APPLAUSE] AND I WILL GIVE EACH ONE OF YOU GUYS A MINUTE OR SO TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
WE'D LIKE TO LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR THIS.
WE WE GREATLY, GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.
IT'S CALLED LOS BANOS VETERANS, WHERE WE TAKE CARE OF ALL THE VETERANS.
WE DON'T CARE WHAT BRANCH OF THE SERVICE THEY WERE IN, WHERE THEY SERVED.
WE WANT TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR ALL VETERANS AND WE DO IT TOGETHER.
[APPLAUSE] I JUST WANT TO THANK SCOTTY AND THE COMMUNITY, ALL THESE PEOPLE AROUND US.
WE COULDN'T GET IT DONE WITHOUT THEIR HELP.
PERFECT. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.
AND THEN AS YOU WALK OFF, TAMARA'S GOING TO GIVE YOU GUYS A COUNTY PIN.
[01:30:07]
THANK YOU FOR ALL THINGS.WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME MORE PICTURES THERE.
THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN AND LADIES, I APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE] JOINING ME UP HERE TONIGHT IS RANDY MILES, DANNY OROZCO AND CHARLES.
THE CLUB'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE SERVICE, FELLOWSHIP AND GOODWILL IN THE COMMUNITY.
THE CLUB HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN RAISING MONEY FOR VALLEY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND HAS ALSO HELPED LOCAL YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS 4H, FFA, DOS PALOS HIGH SCHOOL, SENIOR AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS AND THE MERCED COUNTY SPRING FAIR.
THEY HAVE ALSO SUPPORTED PUBLIC SPACES AND FACILITIES SUCH AS PARKS AND SCHOOLS.
I'M ALSO PROUD TO SAY THAT I'M ACTUALLY A MEMBER OF THE DOS PALOS Y SERVICE CLUB.
A GREAT GROUP OF FELLOWS, AGAIN, JUST LIKE OUR GROUP FROM LOS BANOS.
SO I AM PROUD TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE MEMBERS OF THE DOS PALOS Y SERVICE CLUB.
AND I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO THE PRESIDENT, RANDY MILES, TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
THANK YOU, SCOTTY. [APPLAUSE] WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE SCOTTY IN OUR CLUB.
I LIFT HIM UP. HE'S VERY, VERY HIGH, AND I APPRECIATE HIM FOR THAT.
AND THEN WE HAVE OUR VICE PRESIDENT, CHARLES LOWE, AND THEN DANNY OROZCO.
AND SO HE'S OUR MONEY COLLECTOR.
SO DANNY OROZCO IS OUR SERGEANT ARM AND OUR MONEY COLLECTOR.
SO AND LIKE HE SAID, OUR ORGANIZATION'S BEEN THERE SINCE 1950 AND WE LOVE TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN DO FOR THE COMMUNITY, FOR FUNERALS OR HIGH SCHOOLS OR WHATEVER.
AND SO WE APPRECIATE AND WE JUST GOT THROUGH DOING SATURDAY NIGHT, THE KICKOFF DINNER FOR THE QUEENS DINNER FOR THE MERCED COUNTY LOS BANOS FAIR. SO THANK YOU, SCOTTY.
AND WE THANK YOU, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR HAVING US HERE TONIGHT, ALL OF YOU.
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. AND THEY'RE ALSO A REALLY GREAT GROUP OF COOKS.
YOU WON'T FIND BETTER COOKS THAN WHAT WE HAVE AT THE DOS PALOS Y SERVICE CLUB.
ALL RIGHT. I WILL LET THESE GENTLEMEN HANDLE YOUR AWARDS.
THANK YOU. THAT'S FOR YOU, BUDDY.
THANK YOU. I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO TAKE ONE MORE PICTURE HERE.
[01:35:18]
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] AND FOLKS, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A AROUND 15 MINUTE RECESS. WE HAVE THE LITTLE PICTURE BOARD OUT THERE THAT YOU CAN STAND IN FRONT OF AND WE HAVE SOME FRESH REFRESHMENTS AND A FEW SNACKS OUT THERE.SO ABOUT A 15 MINUTE BREAK AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE ON WITH OUR MEETING.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
[01:54:49]
ALL[01:54:49]
RIGHT. IF I COULD ASK MAYBE MARCI OR SOMEBODY IF WE CAN CLOSE THE DOORS IN THE BACK BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.[01:54:49]
ALL RIGHT. IT'S 7:51 AND WE WILL CALL THE MEETING BACK TO ORDER.NEXT, WE HAVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS. ITEM NUMBERS 1 THROUGH 26, PLEASE NOTE ITEM ONE HAS BEEN PULLED.
A MODIFICATION IS NEEDED FOR ITEM TWO ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
THE REQUESTED AMOUNT OF THE BUDGET TRANSFER WILL NEED TO BE MODIFIED FROM $17,500 TO $25,000.
STAFF REQUESTS THE BOARD APPROVE THE ITEM AS MODIFIED AND ITEMS 2, 3, 4, 13, 18 AND 19 REQUIRE A 4/5 VOTE.
WE'RE DOING THE PRESENTATIONS NOW OR AFTER? NOW. ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAVE A FEW PRESENTATIONS ON THESE ITEMS.
[01:55:02]
SO I'M GOING TO START WITH GOING IN ORDER ON THE AGENDA, OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DIRECTOR, KIMIKO VANG.GOOD EVENING AGAIN, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, BOARD MEMBERS, CEO MENDEZ AND COUNTY COUNSEL HANSEN.
MY NAME IS KIMIKO VANG AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF BHRS.
I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH.
EACH YEAR BHRS, ALONG WITH MENTAL HEALTH PARTNERS AND ADVOCATES, RECOGNIZE THE MONTH OF MAY AS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH AS A WAY TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND TO CELEBRATE RECOVERY FROM MENTAL ILLNESS.
UNDOUBTEDLY, MENTAL HEALTH IS ESSENTIAL TO AN INDIVIDUAL'S OVERALL HEALTH.
IN SUPPORT OF THIS EFFORT, BHRS WILL BE HOSTING AN OUTREACH EVENT ON MAY THE 24TH FROM 9 A.M.
AT THE BHRS PARKING LOT, LOCATED AT 301 EAST 13TH STREET IN MERCED.
I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU AND THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO ATTEND THIS EVENT.
THIS MONTH OF MAY IS ALSO RECOGNIZED AS DRUG COURT MONTH IN MERCED COUNTY.
THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT DRUG COURTS IN MERCED COUNTY.
THE ADULT DRUG TREATMENT COURT, WHICH WAS IMPLEMENTED ON JANUARY 4TH, 2000.
THE JUVENILE DRUG TREATMENT COURT, WHICH WAS IMPLEMENTED ON AUGUST 2ND, 2001, AND THE DEPENDENCY DRUG TREATMENT COURT, WHICH WAS IMPLEMENTED ON JULY 1ST, 2006.
THE SUCCESS OF THE DRUG COURT SYSTEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED, WITH MORE THAN 70% OF DRUG COURT PARTICIPANTS HAVING SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE PROGRAM OR REMAINING ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS.
NEXT, WE WILL HAVE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HSA, FELIZA GRAY.
GOOD EVENING, CHAIR, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, CEO AND COUNTY COUNSEL.
I AM HERE TO GIVE SOME INFORMATION ON OLDER AMERICANS MONTH WHICH WE WILL BE PROCLAIMING, HOPEFULLY IF EVERYTHING GOES THROUGH FOR THE MONTH OF MAY AS WELL.
SO ESTABLISHED IN 1963, OLDER AMERICANS MONTH IS CELEBRATED EVERY MAY LED BY THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION FOR COMMUNITY LIVING, OLDER AMERICANS MONTH IS A TIME FOR US TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF OLDER AMERICANS, HIGHLIGHT IMPORTANT TRENDS AND STRENGTHEN OUR COMMITMENT TO HONORING OUR OLDER CITIZENS.
THIS YEAR'S THEME, AGING UNBOUND, OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE A WIDE RANGE OF AGING EXPERIENCES AND TO PROMOTE THE IMPORTANCE OF ENJOYING INDEPENDENCE AND FULFILLMENT BY PAVING OUR OWN PATH AS WE AGE.
HERE ARE SOME WAYS WE CAN ALL PARTICIPATE IN AGING UNBOUND; EMBRACE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE, FIND A NEW PASSION, GO ON AN ADVENTURE AND PUSH BOUNDARIES BY NOT LETTING AGE DEFINE YOUR LIMITS.
EXPLORE THE REWARDS OF GROWING OLDER.
CONTINUE TO GROW THAT KNOWLEDGE THROUGH READING, LISTENING CLASSES, AND CREATIVE ACTIVITIES.
STAY ENGAGED IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
EVERYONE BENEFITS WHEN EVERYONE IS CONNECTED AND INVOLVED.
STAY ACTIVE BY VOLUNTEERING, WORKING, MENTORING, PARTICIPATING IN SOCIAL CLUBS AND TAKING PART IN ACTIVITIES AT YOUR LOCAL SENIOR CENTER, WHICH IS OUR TRIPLE A AND WE ARE ALWAYS TAKING VOLUNTEERS.
OUR PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO GROW.
WE ENCOURAGE FORMING RELATIONSHIPS AS AN ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT OF WELL-BEING.
[BOARD ACTION]
RELATIONSHIPS CAN ENHANCE YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE BY INTRODUCING NEW IDEAS AND UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES.MERCED COUNTY AREA AGENCY ON AGING HAS SERVED OVER 5300 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH OUR INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE AND SERVED NEARLY 100,000 MEALS SINCE LAST JULY.
[02:00:10]
60 AND OVER.PLEASE CONTACT OUR TRIPLE A OFFICE AT (209) 385-7550.
FOR MORE INFORMATION IF YOU'D LIKE TO ATTEND.
[LAUGHTER] I DID HAVE FLOWERS, BUT FLIERS ARE OUTSIDE AND I HAVE FLIERS FOR YOU GUYS HERE.
NEXT, I WILL ASK OUR REGISTRAR OF VOTERS, MEL LEVEY, TO COME UP.
I'M LOOKING TO REALLOCATE THEM AGAINST SOME NEW NEEDS.
WITH OUR CURRENT POLL PADS REACHING THE END OF THEIR USEFUL LIFE PRETTY SOON, UPGRADED POLL PADS WILL ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO CHECK VOTERS IN AT VOTING ASSISTANCE CENTERS, MANAGE POLL WORKER TIME CARDS AND GIVE US SECURE COMMUNICATION AMONGST VOTE CENTERS.
ONCE WE'VE WIPED THEM CLEAN AND KIND OF PREPARED THEM FOR NON ELECTION USE.
LASTLY, I WANT TO MENTION PASSPORT SERVICES.
WE'RE LOOKING TO ADD THE CAPABILITY TO TAKE PASSPORT PHOTOS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.
THIS WILL ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR RESIDENTS TO HAVE TO GO TO A THIRD PARTY LOCATION IN ORDER TO GET THEIR PICTURE TAKEN AND THEN HOPE THAT IT IS TO STANDARD, ACCORDING TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT, RATHER, WE'LL BE ABLE TO OFFER THIS SERVICE HERE ON SITE AND KIND OF PROVIDE A ONE STOP SHOP FOR PASSPORTS.
THAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR MOVE JUST TODAY FROM 30 MINUTE APPOINTMENTS TO 15 MINUTE APPOINTMENTS, EFFECTIVELY DOUBLING OUR THROUGHPUT AND CAPACITY WITH PASSPORTS SHOULD IMPROVE THE EXPERIENCE.
AND OF COURSE THERE'S OTHER THINGS IN THE FUTURE.
NEXT MONTH I'LL BE LOOKING TO COME FORWARD TO PROVIDE A BIT MORE OF AN IN-DEPTH PRESENTATION ABOUT OUR CURRENT REDISTRICTING PROGRAM THAT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THIS YEAR, AS WELL AS THE STRIDES THAT THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT IS MAKING IN UPGRADING OUR SYSTEMS WITH OTHER EQUIPMENT UPGRADES AND ALSO BUILDING A TRAINED TEAM THAT IS EXPERTLY OPERATING THOSE SYSTEMS. AND AGAIN, I LOOK FORWARD TO SPEAKING TO YOU NEXT MONTH ABOUT THAT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, MR. LEVEY. NEXT, WE'LL HAVE ASSISTANT CHIEF PIMENTEL AND MANAGER ADAM AMARAL.
SO IT'S ALL ON YOU, CHIEF? GOOD EVENING, CHAIR BOARD SUPERVISORS CEO MENDEZ, ALSO COUNTY COUNSEL.
OBVIOUSLY, YOU'RE VERY FAMILIAR ABOUT THE FLOODS, AND I KNOW THAT THE WEATHER IS GETTING WARMER.
AND SO IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF GET YOU A QUICK BRIEF ON WHAT'S GOING ON.
IF WE LOOK BACK AT LIKE DR46-83, AND I KNOW THAT NUMBER JUST IS A RANDOM NUMBER, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY OUR INCIDENT THAT WOULD OCCURRED BACK IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY DURING THOSE FLOODS THAT WE DEALT WITH, WITH PLANADA AND MCSWAIN AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
SOME OF THOSE EVENTS THAT ARE STILL GOING ON NOW AND WE'RE STILL PURSUING A LOT OF PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND SOME MITIGATION EFFORTS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THERE.
SO OUR OFFICE IS STILL WORKING DILIGENTLY WITH ALL THE DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTY AS DPW, SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, OUR PARTNERS WITH FEMA AND ALSO CAL OES. WE STILL HAVE THOSE TWO ENTITIES, FEMA AND CAL OES, THAT ARE STILL EMBEDDED AT OUR EOC.
YOU ALSO LOOKING AT OUR DRC OR EXCUSE ME, DR4699, AND THAT'S THE MOST RECENT ISSUES THAT WE HAD.
[02:05:05]
THAT WAS BACK IN MARCH AND WE'RE STILL CURRENTLY WORKING THERE A FEW WEEKS AGO.ADAM AMARAL, SOME OF THE FEMA FOLKS AND CAL OES, ALONG WITH DPW, WERE OUT TO GO OUT AND SEE PROJECTS AND DO WHAT WE CALL THEIR PDAS. AND IT'S BASICALLY IDENTIFYING THOSE PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY THAT WILL HELP US KIND OF MITIGATE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE SAW DURING THAT.
AND WITH THAT 4699, WE WERE IDENTIFIED UNDER THE DECLARATION.
SO THAT WAS A GOOD NEWS FOR US.
AND IT WOULD BE ON THAT PDA SIDE.
ALSO, WE WILL BE HAVING FOR THAT SAME EVENT IN MARCH, WE'LL BE HAVING A MAY 10TH WILL BE OUR APPLICANTS BRIEFING AND ADAM AND ALONG WITH THOSE PARTNERS WILL BE KIND OF GATHERING INFORMATION AND KIND OF KICKS THE BALL OFF AND GETS US STARTED DOWN THAT PROCESS FOR THOSE MITIGATION EFFORTS.
AS AN OFFICE THOUGH, WITH OES, WITH FIRE, SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, DPW, WE'RE CURRENTLY MONITORING OUR CURRENT SITUATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, LOOKING AT ALL OF OUR WATERWAYS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING UP TO DATE ON WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE.
BUT WE HAVEN'T PLACED THEM YET.
BUT WE ARE WORKING WITH BRYAN WITH DPW AND PLACING THOSE HERE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
[BOARD INFORMATION & POSSIBLE ACTION]
SO LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THOSE OUT THERE AND STARTING USING THOSE HERE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.OUR MAJOR AREAS OF CONCERN RIGHT NOW IS GOING TO BE THAT SAN JOAQUIN AND THE MERCED RIVER AREA, AS EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT IN THAT STEVENSON, WE STILL HAVE THAT FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT AND WE CONTINUE TO WATCH THAT AND KEEP WORKING WITH MID AND OUR PARTNERS WITH THE LOWER LEVEE DISTRICT OVER ON THAT SAN JOAQUIN LOWER LEVEE DISTRICT AND BEEN WORKING WITH THEM.
AS I GO FROM THERE, I'LL GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO MR.
[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION]
HENDRICKSON, AND I KNOW HE HAS SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN REGARDS TO THAT.SAN JOAQUIN LOWER LEVEE DISTRICT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UNLESS YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I APPRECIATE THE TIME.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE CHIEF? NO, THANK YOU, SIR.
GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
MARK HENDRICKSON, ASSISTANT COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER.
AS THE BOARD WELL KNOWS, AND AS THE CHIEF JUST MENTIONED, WE STILL DO HAVE A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES IN FRONT OF US, NOTABLY THE INCREASED FLOWS COMING DOWN THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER AS WATER IS RELEASED FROM FRIANT DAM INTO THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER AND AS WARMER WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO FURTHER MELT THIS HANDLE THE OR EXPEDITE THE SNOW MELT EXCUSE ME.
WE ANTICIPATE FLOWS IN EXCESS OF THE CHANNEL'S CAPACITY OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.
THIS WILL ALSO IMPACT THE MERCED RIVER AT THE CONFLUENCE OF THE TWO RIVERS.
THIS UNFOLDING SITUATION HAS THE POTENTIAL TO IMPACT RESIDENTS, THEIR PROPERTIES AND OUR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS, SPECIFICALLY OUR DAIRY AND POULTRY OPERATORS IN PROXIMITY TO THE SAN JOAQUIN AND THE MERCED RIVERS.
AND ON BEHALF OF THE CEO, I WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR SHERIFF AND HIS TEAM, OUR CAL FIRE PARTNERS, OUR AG COMMISSIONER, OUR DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, AND OUR DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THEIR COLLABORATIVE WORK.
THREE QUICK HIGHLIGHTS FOR TONIGHT.
ONE, OUR TEAM HAS LAUNCHED A COMMUNICATION STRATEGY THAT IS FOCUSED ON INFORMING, EDUCATING AND PROVIDING MEANINGFUL INFORMATION TO OUR COMMUNITY SO THAT THEY CAN PREPARE IN ADVANCE WHETHER IT'S CARING FOR THEIR FAMILIES, RELOCATING THEIR ANIMALS, OR PROTECTING THEIR LIVELIHOODS.
TWO WE ARE IN CONSISTENT COORDINATION WITH A NUMBER OF STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING CAL OES, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, CDFA, USDA, THE LOWER SAN JOAQUIN LEVEE DISTRICT, AND THE MERCED COUNTY FARM BUREAU, AMONGST SEVERAL OTHERS, TO SHARE AND TO GATHER INTELLIGENCE.
AND THEN LASTLY, AND THE ONE THING I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU AND CERTAINLY FOR THE PUBLIC TONIGHT, WE HAVE DEVELOPED A GIS BASED INTUITIVE MAPPING TOOL WHERE OUR RESIDENTS CAN ENTER THEIR ADDRESS OR APN AND IT WILL DEPICT THEIR PROPERTY IN PROXIMITY TO EACH OF THESE RIVERS AND POTENTIAL HOTSPOTS OF CONCERN.
AND IN ADDITION TO DEPICTING THE HOTSPOTS, IT ALSO INCLUDES PHOTOS FROM THE FIELD.
THIS MAP CAN BE VIEWED AT WWW.COUNTYOFMERCED.COM/FLOODRISKMAP.
AGAIN, THAT'S W-W-W DOT COUNTY OF MERCED DOT COM BACKSLASH FLOOD RISK MAP.
AND WITH THAT, MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
[02:10:01]
THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? NOPE. ALL RIGHT.THANK YOU GUYS ALL FOR THOSE PRESENTATIONS.
SO I KNOW THAT THIS IS JUST A ITEM NUMBER TWO IS JUST APPROVING A BUDGET TRANSFER.
I GUESS MY CONCERN IS, IS THAT I MEAN, THAT'S THE FIRST I HEARD OF IT IS WHEN THE CLERK READ IT.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN I REVIEW MY AGENDAS, I LOOK AT THE ITEM AND I SAY, OKAY, THERE'S A $17,750 REQUEST TO DO A BUDGET TRANSFER.
AND THEN IT'S JUST THERE'S NEW INFORMATION THEN.
SO I GUESS CAN I GET MAYBE A LITTLE EXPLANATION ON THAT? BECAUSE OTHERWISE I'M WILLING TO JUST PULL THIS ITEM AND ASK FOR IT TO BE VOTED ON SEPARATELY.
CO MENDEZ. YEAH. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND I THINK WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING IN THIS CASE, AFTER THE AGENDA WAS PUBLISHED, THERE WAS SOME NEW INFORMATION THAT WAS RECEIVED KIND OF LOOK FOR OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR REPRESENTED BY BRYAN BEHN TO COME UP HERE AND KIND OF GIVE SOME EXPLANATION AS TO THE VARIANCE BETWEEN THE NUMBER THAT WAS DEPICTED IN THE PUBLISHED AGENDA AND THEN WHAT'S BEING CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD THIS EVENING.
CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
AND THAT IS CORRECT. WE SUBMITTED THE BT IN ORDER TO GET THIS GOING.
AND THEN IN THE CAN OF WORMS IS OPEN, SO I'LL ASK A QUESTION AND SORRY FOR NOT GETTING THIS TO YOU AHEAD OF TIME, BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE IT UNTIL THIS AFTERNOON. BUT THE BOX THAT'S CHECKED ON THE ITEM IS INCREASED APPROPRIATION BASED ON INCREASED ESTIMATED REVENUES.
SO IF WE'RE HAVING A LARGER EXPENSE, WHY ARE WE.
SO ESSENTIALLY, IN ORDER TO HAVE THE EXPENSE, WE HAVE TO HAVE AN OFFSETTING REVENUE.
AND SO SINCE THE ONE INCREASE THAT HAS TO OFFSET THE OTHER.
SO WHAT WAS I MEAN, I SEE THE TWO ITEMS THAT WE'RE DRAWING THE MONEY FROM.
YEAH. SO HOW WAS ONE OF THOSE HAD MORE REVENUE THAN THEY EXPECTED.
IT'S JUST THE ACCOUNTING THAT TAKES PLACE FOR THIS ITEM.
SO I GUESS BACK FOR ME, I UNDERSTAND THAT IT JUST.
I GUESS WHERE WAS HOW WAS IT THAT THE ESTIMATE WAS $17,750? AND IF WE SUBMIT THAT TO THE BOARD FOR REPAIR, I'M EXPECTING THAT SOMEBODY RESEARCHED IT AND FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST $17,750.
AND THEN THE ESTIMATE COMES IN HIGHER.
IT'S A MANDATED THIRD PARTY OVERSIGHT FOR CONTRACTS.
AND FOR THEIR SERVICES THEY GET A PORTION OF THE FEES AS WELL.
OKAY. AND AGAIN, WE'RE SORRY FOR THE CONFUSION.
WE DON'T LIKE OPERATING THIS WAY.
WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET IT DONE RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.
I APPRECIATE THE EXPEDIENCY AND WANTING TO GET DONE, ESPECIALLY IF WE HAVE A LEAKING HYDRANT.
IN THE FUTURE, IF SOMETHING IS GOING TO CHANGE LIKE THIS BEFORE IT COMES TO THE BOARD, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE LIKE MAYBE THAT THERE'S FURTHER ANOTHER LINE HERE ON THE AGENDA FOR THE ITEM THAT EXPLAINS ALL OF THAT AND THAT COULD HELP US GET THERE.
I MEAN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE TASKED WITH MONITORING THE TAXPAYERS MONEY.
[02:15:03]
AND WHEN SOMETHING GETS THROWN IN KIND OF LAST MINUTE LIKE THAT, THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR ME.AND WE WILL MAKE THAT ADJUSTMENT GOING FORWARD.
TO BE HONEST, THE WAY THAT WE'VE BEEN BRINGING FORWARD BUDGET JOURNALS HAS BEEN A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION INTERNALLY, AND THERE MAY BE CHANGES TO THE WAY WE DO THAT GOING FORWARD JUST TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S GOOD COMMUNICATION AND THAT THE INFORMATION IS BEING SHARED COMPLETELY IN A STAFF REPORT.
I KNOW THAT'S NOT THE WAY WE TYPICALLY DO BUDGET JOURNALS FOR MY KNOWLEDGE, BUT CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE WILL LOOK AT AND KIND OF REVISIT AND SEE IF THERE'S A BETTER WAY OF SHARING THAT INFORMATION GOING FORWARD.
THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
YEAH, I ECHO A LOT OF WHAT SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SAID.
YOU KNOW, I'M UNCOMFORTABLE VOTING ON THIS NOW BECAUSE I LIKE TO READ ALL THAT INFORMATION.
SO I THINK NEXT TIME IT'D BE VERY [INAUDIBLE].
ALL RIGHT. NOW IT IS TIME THAT WE WILL OPEN UP.
MIND YOU, I WANT TO JUST REMIND EVERYBODY THAT AS PART OF THIS ACTION IS TO REMOVE ITEM NUMBER ONE AND VOTE ON THE OTHER 25 CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS. SO I WILL OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 26.
WELL, WE'RE VOTING TO TAKE ONE OFF.
SO THAT'S THE WAY TAMARA EXPLAINED IT TO ME.
I BELIEVE THIS ONE GOT PULLED TODAY.
SO WE HAVE PART OF THE ACTION IS TO VOTE.
YOUR VOTE IS APPROVING THE OTHER 25 AND TAKING ONE OFF.
OKAY. SO I'M NOT SEEING ANYBODY FROM THE PUBLIC THAT WANTS TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.
CHAIR WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
I WILL SAY THAT, TAMARA, YOU'RE CORRECT.
I LOOK AT THE SCREEN TO MY RIGHT MORE I KEEP LOOKING OVER THERE AND THERE'S NOTHING THERE.
[LAUGHTER] ALL RIGHT. NEXT, WE HAVE PUBLIC HEALTH.
PLEASE NOTE ITEM 28 REQUIRES A 4/5 VOTE.
ALL RIGHT. WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS 27 AND 28.
NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
RIGHT NOW THAT SCREEN IS THROWING MY WHOLE ROUTINE OFF OVER HERE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT, WE HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES ITEMS 29 AND 30.
WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEMS 29 AND 30.
NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
ALL RIGHT. I GUESS I'M CALLING FOR THE VOTE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP IS THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY.
WE WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEMS 31 AND 32.
I'M NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO CALL FOR THE VOTE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP IS COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEM 33.
NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
[02:20:02]
PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEM 34.
NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
THE ITEM CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP IS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR 35 AND 36 IS NOW OPEN.
NOT SEEING ANYONE WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
SLACKING OVER THERE? I DON'T KNOW. OKAY, I GUESS WE GOT TO REDO THAT ONE.
YOU CAN VOICE VOTE IN, CAN'T YOU? ARE WE COMFORTABLE WITH THEM VOICE VOTING IN? YOU CAN IF YOU'D LIKE TO, BUT THEY HAVEN'T SET UP.
OKAY. I WOULD ASK THE MAKERS OF THE MOTION TO REENTER THOSE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN FOR ITEM 37.
NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD BACK UP HERE.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
IT'S NOW THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 38 THROUGH 41.
WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND BRING IT BACK UP HERE.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN FOR ITEM 42.
NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP IS WORKFORCE INVESTMENT.
IT'S NOW THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 43 AND 44.
I'M NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE.
ALL RIGHT. WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEM 45.
NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE IT, BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
[LAUGHTER] THREE AND FOUR ARE TESTING ME OVER THERE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP IS BOARD INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.
AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM 46.
NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD.
[02:25:01]
BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
ALL RIGHT. AND WE WILL START WITH SUPERVISOR PAREIRA THIS EVENING.
LET ME GET. WE GOOD? YEP. OKAY. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MIKE NORTH FOR A REALLY WORKING HARD TO PUT THE VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION PROGRAM TOGETHER FOR US.
BUT MAN, WHEN YOU SEE HIM OUT WORKING, YOU KNOW, HE'S ALL BUSINESS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS ARE KIND OF FUN FOR ME, RIGHT? AND ENJOYABLE.
AND YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THE JOB IS, YOU KNOW, GETS TO BROW BEATING YOU.
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A MOMENT LIKE THAT, IT ENCOURAGES YOU TO YOU KNOW, KEEP GOING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, HERE'S A GENTLEMAN THAT, YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY HAS ISSUES, YOU KNOW, BEING IN PUBLIC.
BUT WHEN HE'S WORKING, THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BOTHER HIM.
AND SO MAYBE THAT'S A GOOD SIGN FOR THE REST OF US.
KEEP WORKING. AND BEING IN PUBLIC WON'T BOTHER YOU.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO CONGRATULATE ROSA, ANOTHER PERSON THAT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF RELATIVELY LIMITED ENGLISH SPEAKING, BUT, YOU KNOW, HAS ALWAYS GOT A SMILE AND ALWAYS WORKING HARD.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO REMIND PEOPLE AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHO'S GOING TO BE WATCHING THIS AT 8:30 AT NIGHT, BUT SGMA, OUR GROUNDWATER ORDINANCES THAT WE'RE WORKING ON THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY ARE REALLY STARTING TO GET TO THE SPOT WHERE WE'RE MAKING REAL DECISIONS THAT ARE GOING TO AFFECT PEOPLE THAT ARE PUMPING WATER FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO FINALLY THANK THE FOLKS IN SNELLING.
WE HAVE A CITIZEN THAT LIVES IN SNELLING.
NEEDLESS TO SAY. AND THE GENTLEMAN HAS, YOU KNOW, HAS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES.
AND I'D LIKE TO THANK THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR WORKING DILIGENTLY TO TRY TO HELP US.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S GOING TO BE AN ACCIDENT.
AND THIS GENTLEMAN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT 2 OR 3:00 IN THE MORNING, 10:00 AT NIGHT.
AND SO ANYWAYS, I JUST I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY OF SNELLING THAT WE'RE WORKING ON IT THANKS TO OUR TWO TEAMS. WELL, IN ADDITION TO JOHN SHECKLER AND HIS TEAM TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND YOU KNOW, TO STAFF IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS ANY IDEAS OF HOW WE CAN WE CAN FIX THIS ISSUE, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, WHO WANTS THEIR CHILD TO HAVE TO CARRY THAT WITH THEM FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE? SO ANYWAYS, THAT'S JUST BEEN HEAVY ON MY HEART THE LAST TWO WEEKS.
THAT'S IT. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
OUR CHAIRMAN. TONIGHT, I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN THE MEETING IN HONOR JEAN KIRBY.
SHE WAS A LONG TIME OWNER OF GRANNY'S PANTRY DOWNTOWN ATWATER.
I'D POP IN JUST TO HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE WITH HER.
DURING COVID SHE WAS ONE WHO REALLY HER BUSINESS SUFFERED.
[02:30:06]
SOMEBODY ACTUALLY DROVE UP FROM ORANGE COUNTY AND JUST GAVE HER A DONATION TO HELP HER KEEP OPERATING.HER DAUGHTER HAS TAKEN OVER, SO BREAKFAST IS STILL BEING SERVED.
IT IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE BEST BREAKFASTS IN MERCED COUNTY.
ALSO, THANK YOU, MIKE NORTH, FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
I THINK IT RECOGNIZES THE PEOPLE.
ONLY A SMALL FRACTION OF THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY DO A LOT OF THE WORK HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
REALLY DID APPRECIATE I APPRECIATE JEAN KNIGHT FOR BEING MY VOLUNTEER.
IT DOES TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AND THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THE APPLICATIONS TO JUDGE THEM.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE HER FOR DOING THAT.
THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO SAY MY CONDOLENCES TO HER.
AND SO I ACTUALLY BUMPED INTO A FORMER MAYOR, JOHN FALL.
AND AND MR. CRANE, TOO, AS WELL. SO.
BUT ON SOUTH MERCED, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY OF MERCED I'VE, OBVIOUSLY CONVERSATIONS AND THE COUNTY AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HOPEFULLY HAVE ACCESS TO BETTER WATER AND SEWER.
USUALLY WHEN WHEN RESIDENTS THAT LIVE OUT JUST OUTSIDE THE CITY, THEY COME TO THE CITY AND THEN THE CITY RECOMMENDS THEM TO DO AN APPLICATION, THEN THEY SEND IT TO LAFCO WHERE WE SIT ALONG WITH SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AS AN ALTERNATE.
RIGHT? SO HOPEFULLY THAT CAN HAPPEN TOO, HERE IN SOUTH MERCED.
AND OF COURSE, IT CONTAMINATES THE GROUNDWATER AS WELL.
SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO HELP THEM.
THE SAME THING WITH THE COMMUNITY OF CELESTE TUTTLE ON HIGHWAY 140.
THE CITY OF MERCED PROVIDES WATER SERVICE ALREADY AND THEY'RE OUTSIDE THE CITY.
AND SO I'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH THE MAYOR OF MERCED [INAUDIBLE], AND AS WELL AS MY LAFCO TEAMMATES THAT WHEN THE CITY OF MERCED EXPANDS, THERE'S [INAUDIBLE] INFLUENCE IN CITY LIMITS THAT IT TAKES OVER CELESTE TUTTLE AREA TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, ONCE THEY'RE IN THE CITY LIMITS SO THE CITY OR DEVELOPERS WILL BE ABLE TO BUY THE LOTS AND RENOVATE THE LOTS AND MAKE THEM A LOT CLEANER.
AND YOU KNOW, AS WELL AS DO, YOU KNOW, SIDEWALKS AND JUST LIKE THEY DID IN ATWATER WHEN THEY APPROVED IT, EXTENDED THE CITY LIMITS INTO THAT SOUTHERN PART OF WHERE THE DEVELOPMENT IS OFF OF [INAUDIBLE] RIGHT.
SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITIES AND AS WELL WHEN WE SPEAK IN, YOU KNOW, ON THE NORTH SIDE, BEING FROM LIVINGSTON, I'VE ALWAYS YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS MAYOR AND NOW OVER HERE, I TALK TO, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES LIKE HERE I LIKE TO BRING UP THAT, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD BE WORKING WITH THE CITIES.
AND INSTEAD OF HAVING OUR FUNDS OR LEAKAGE OF FUNDS GO OUT TO STANISLAUS COUNTY.
SO WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE BETTER JOBS INDUSTRY WHERE THE JOBS.
AND THE MONEY WILL STAY HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.
SO THAT HELPS OUR TAX TAXES HERE.
I JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT WE HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION WITH THE MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR OF LIVINGSTON AND OUR CEO AND MYSELF. WE HAD A DISCUSSION ON REVENUE SHARING, ON DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE WORK TOGETHER WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THEM MOVING FORWARD.
AND SO HOPEFULLY THAT WAY PROGRESS WILL BE MADE IN THE FUTURE.
[02:35:04]
SO, I'VE BEEN GETTING CALLS, A FEW CALLS AND I THINK THE SUPERVISOR PAREIRA ALSO RECEIVED SOME CALLS REGARDING THE LIGHTING AND LANDSCAPING FEES THAT THE COMMUNITY PAYS.THEY'RE IN, YOU KNOW, IN THAT COMMUNITY.
I KNOW THAT EVERY TIME THERE'S A DEVELOPMENT THAT COMES TO THE BOARD, I ALWAYS STRESSED OUT THAT WE SHOULD BE, TO MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE APPROVE IT, THAT THOSE FEES THAT THOSE RESIDENTS PAY, I MYSELF PAY ONE BECAUSE I LIVE IN A DEVELOPMENT THAT PAYS FEES FOR BETTER LIGHTING AND LANDSCAPING AND ROADS.
SO HOPEFULLY THOSE FEES WILL BE PROPERLY OR ARE BEING PROPERLY USED TO MAINTAIN ALL THAT LANDSCAPING BECAUSE I FEEL THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE MAINTENANCE IS NOT DONE, THEN THOSE AESTHETICS OF THAT COMMUNITY SUFFERS.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROPERTY VALUES STAY THERE.
IT'S ALWAYS A BENEFIT FOR OUR TAX BASE HERE IN MERCED COUNTY REGARDING TAXES AS WELL.
SO I THINK THAT'S ALL FOR TODAY.
SO I'LL BE ON VACATION FOR A FEW DAYS.
SO BE BACK TO THE 6TH OF MAY AND HOPEFULLY BE BACK.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO, IT'S YOUR TURN.
THANK YOU. SO LAST WEEK I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE CAL ACT CONFERENCE.
IT'S THE TRANSPORTATION CONFERENCE.
AND SO AND THE COOL THING ABOUT IT WAS THEY WERE RECOGNIZED BY DIFFERENT TRANSIT AUTHORITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE. SO NOBODY FROM WITHIN MERCED COUNTY APPLIED FOR THEM.
THEY WERE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND THEIR EFFORTS.
IT WAS REALLY IT WAS REALLY AWESOME TO SEE.
SO THERE'S BOOKS, THERE'S 3D PRINTERS, THERE'S A GREEN SCREEN, THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY COOL THINGS THAT I THINK THE TEENS WILL REALLY HAVE A GREAT TIME USING.
ALSO, IT IS THE TIME TO CELEBRATE THE LAO NEW YEAR.
AND SO THERE'S A FESTIVAL THIS SATURDAY.
THERE'S ANOTHER ONE THIS SATURDAY THAT'S GOING TO BE, I BELIEVE, BANGKOK CAFE OR BANGKOK RESTAURANT BY THE THEATER DOWNTOWN.
SO THEY'LL CLOSE OFF THE STREET AND IT STARTS AT 10 A.M.
WE'LL HAVE LIKE TRADITIONAL BUDDHIST MONKS THERE TO PROVIDE THE BLESSING.
AND THEN ALSO WENT OUT TO BOBCAT DAY ON SATURDAY WHERE THEY HAD POTENTIAL STUDENTS WHO HAD RECEIVED THEIR PRE ACCEPTANCE LETTER.
ALSO, I WANTED TO THANK MR. NORTH FOR HIS TIME AND EFFORT PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, THE VOLUNTEER AWARDS, PLUS THE TOWN HALLS, PLUS EVERYTHING ELSE THAT HE DOES.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO THANK THEM.
A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO UP HERE, IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE GREAT STAFF.
AND SO MIKE DOES A GREAT JOB IN KEEPING EVERYTHING GOING.
SO IT'S LIKE I SAID EARLIER, IT'S NOT AN EASY THING, YOU KNOW, BEING ON SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEES AND TRYING TO PICK THE WINNER OF A SCHOLARSHIP IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS SO WORTHY.
BUT IT'S THOSE ONES THAT STAND OUT.
SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA HAD ONE OTHER COMMENT.
NEXT MONTH WE'LL BE HAVING A SUPERVISOR WILL BE HAVING OUR TOWN HALL.
SO MY DAY WILL BE MAY 18TH AT TENAYA SCHOOL IN SOUTH MERCED.
AND ALSO TENTATIVELY, WE'LL BE HAVING A SANTANELLA COFFEE WITH DISTRICT ONE AND FIVE SUPERVISORS.
IF THE SUPERVISOR IS STILL WILLING TO HAVE COFFEE WITH US AND ATTEND TO ANY QUESTIONS OR REGARDING, I KNOW THEY HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT MORE PARK AND MORE AMENITIES FOR THAT PARK OVER THERE, SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.
AND I KNOW THEY'RE GOING THROUGH A PROCESS OF CHANGING GAS SUPPLIERS OVER THERE TOO.
[02:40:05]
SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO ANSWER MORE QUESTIONS OVER THERE.SO MAY 26TH, OVER THERE IN SANTANELLA AT 10 A.M.
AT STARBUCKS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
THAT'S ALWAYS A GOOD SIGN WHEN HE HAS NOTHING TO REPORT.
THAT MEANS WE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING WRONG.
YES. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. JUST A COUPLE ITEMS, JUST TO KIND OF FOLLOW UP ON SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA'S COMMENT REGARDING THE TOWN HALLS.
THEY WILL BE OCCURRING IN MAY, THE MONTH OF MAY, THE 2023 TOWN HALL MEETINGS OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO HEAR FROM THEIR SUPERVISORS ON SOME OF THEIR INITIATIVES AND PRIORITIES, UPDATES FROM DEPARTMENT HEADS AND STAFF TO LEARN ABOUT PROJECTS, AND THEN ALSO TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS THAT RESIDENTS HAVE OF MERCED COUNTY AND THE COUNTY TEAM.
SO AS SUPERVISOR MENTIONED, WE ARE KICKING OFF IN MAY.
THE FIRST ONE IS ACTUALLY ON MAY 3RD, WEDNESDAY AT 6 P.M.
AT THE VETERANS MEMORIAL BUILDING, 939 WEST MAIN STREET IN MERCED.
SUPERVISOR JOSH PEDROZO WILL BE HOSTING THAT SESSION.
AND THEN WE DO HAVE OTHER TOWN HALLS SCHEDULED LATER IN THE MONTH, SPECIFICALLY ON MAY 17TH IN DELHI, MAY 18TH IN SOUTH MERCED.
MAY 25TH, IN ATWATER, AND THEN MAY 30TH IN DOS PALOS Y.
DEFINITELY APPRECIATE MR. NORTH AND THE TEAM THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES TO KIND OF DO ALL THE LOGISTICS TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE TOWN HALLS GO WELL WITH ALL THE PLANNING.
AND WE DO LOOK FORWARD TO TAKING THESE OBVIOUSLY INTO THE COMMUNITY, BEING IN PERSON.
SO ENCOURAGE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO ACCESS YOUR BOARD THROUGH THESE TOWN HALL MEETINGS IN MAY.
I THINK THIS IS HIS FIRST MEETING IN THAT CAPACITY, WHO IS A FAMILIAR FACE TO OBVIOUSLY MERCED COUNTY, AND THEN JEFFREY WITTHUN, WHO STARTED THIS WEEK AS OUR CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES DIRECTOR.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF LOGISTICS BEHIND THE SCENES THAT THEY HANDLE.
TAMARA WILLIAMS AND HER STAFF SO APPRECIATE THE GOOD WORK.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAYBE CONCLUDE WITH JUST THANKING OUR CLERK STAFF FOR THEIR GOOD WORK AND KIND OF DOING EVERYTHING BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS MEETING IN THE EVENING WENT WELL. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, TAMARA AND TEAM.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MENDEZ. SO A COUPLE OF THINGS.
I HAD ATTENDED THE CSAC LEDGE CONFERENCE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND THOSE KIND OF A ONCE NEVER REALLY HAD BEEN DONE BEFORE, AT LEAST NOT IN RECENT MEMORY, WHERE WE ACTUALLY HAD A JOINT SESSION WITH THE CALIFORNIA LEAGUE OF CITIES DISCUSSING THE AT HOME PROGRAM, WHICH IS AN ATTEMPT BY THE STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES TO ACTUALLY TRY TO WORK ON HOW TO DEAL WITH HOMELESS AND STREAMLINING PROCESSES AND MAKING THINGS MONEY THAT COMES FROM MANY DIFFERENT POTS THAT OUR FOLKS OVER AT HSA AND BRHS ARE VERY WELL AWARE OF.
HOW DO YOU MAKE THOSE THOSE FUNDING SOURCES TALK TO EACH OTHER BASICALLY IS MY WORDS.
AND SO THAT WE LET THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ACTUALLY DOING THE GOOD WORK ON THE GROUND ACTUALLY GIVE THEM A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY ON HOW TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS SO THAT WE CAN MAXIMIZE THE EFFICIENCIES ON THEM.
GREAT INFORMATION AT THESE CONFERENCES.
AND I'M THE FIRST PERSON TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT THE NETWORKING THAT GOES ON SOMETIMES AFTER 5:00 WITH OUR COLLEAGUES FROM ALL UP AND DOWN THE STATE IS JUST AS VALUABLE IN SHARING INFORMATION.
BUT WE DO SHARE A LOT OF SIMILARITIES AND ARE FACING THE SAME ISSUES.
SO IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE A SOUNDING BOARD TO OTHER FOLKS THAT ARE FACING THOSE ISSUES.
THE VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH TO THE TWO GROUPS THAT I RECOGNIZE AND COMING ALL THE WAY OVER FOR A NIGHT MEETING. I THINK SOME OF THEM WERE OUT PAST THEIR BEDTIME.
BUT I DO APPRECIATE THEM ALLOWING US TO HONOR THEM.
AND WHAT I SAID EARLIER, I DO TRULY MEAN THAT THOSE FOLKS ARE THERE IN MY COMMUNITY.
[02:45:05]
I MEAN, THE DOS PALOS Y SERVICE CLUB, IT'S A CLUB OF MEN.THEY DON'T RENT THEIR BUILDING OR ANYTHING.
BUT I CALLED ON THEM AND ASKED IF WE COULD USE THEIR FACILITY TO HOST MY TOWN HALL OUT THERE.
AND THEY'RE MORE THAN WILLING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT FOR US.
RIGHT. WE DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING.
SO THAT'S ALWAYS A GOOD THING.
HELPS SAVE THE TAXPAYERS A FEW DOLLARS.
MAY DAY FAIR. I CANNOT GO WITHOUT LETTING EVERYBODY KNOW THAT THE FAIR IS STARTS NEXT WEEK.
IT'S MAY 3RD THROUGH THE SEVENTH.
I DON'T HAVE ALL THE PRICES, BUT I KNOW THAT FROM NOW UNTIL 5:00 ON NEXT TUESDAY, THE SECOND YOU CAN YOU CAN GET DISCOUNT ADMISSION PASSES, DISCOUNT RIDE PASSES AT THE FAIR OFFICE.
I BELIEVE THERE'S AN ONLINE OPTION AS WELL.
SO FOLKS THAT ARE ON A LITTLE BIT TIGHTER BUDGET CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE SAVINGS.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU OUT THERE.
AND SO WE APPRECIATE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND WHAT THEY DO FOR US OUT THERE.
THE LAST THING THAT I WANT TO DO IS I WANT TO ADJOURN TODAY'S MEETING IN MEMORY OF HELEN GALLICHIO.
HELEN PASSED AWAY ON MARCH 31ST.
HELEN HAS BEEN A LONG TIME STAPLE IN LOS BANOS.
SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS, I'LL TELL YOU.
SHE WAS THE FIRST FEMALE PUT ON THE MERCED COUNTY SPRING FAIR BOARD BACK IN 1974.
SERVED THERE FOR 25 YEARS, WAS A 4H LEADER FOR OVER 50 YEARS.
IF YOU WERE TAUGHT SEWING IN 4H IN LOS BANOS, I MEAN, MY MOM WAS TAUGHT THERE.
SO ACROSS GENERATIONS, HELEN GALLICHIO WAS THE SEWING LEADER IN 4H.
SO BUT JUST A GREAT LADY, A GREAT FAMILY.
AND SHE WAS JUST WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND TONIGHT WE'RE HONORING VOLUNTEERS.
SHE WAS ONE OF THE BEST AT IT.
HER AND HER HUSBAND, FRANK, VOLUNTEERED AT NEW BETHANY RESIDENTIAL CARE CENTER.
AND LATER ON, THAT'S WHERE THEY WOULD BOTH BE AT NEW BETHANY.
AND THAT'S WHERE SHE PASSED AWAY ON MARCH 31ST.
AND SO, AGAIN, ADJOURN TODAY'S MEETING IN HONOR OF HELEN GALLICHIO.
AND WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES OUR BOARD MEETING FOR APRIL 25TH.
THANK YOU GUYS ALL FOR BEING HERE.
GOOD NIGHT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.