May 23, 2023 Board Meeting

I'M TO PULL 50%.

[Call to Order]

[00:00:02]

GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME BACK TO THE MAY 23RD, 2023, MEETING OF THE MERCER COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

PART SORRY FOR THE DELAY.

CLOSE SESSION RAN A LITTLE BIT LONG.

WE HAD QUITE A FEW ITEMS ON THERE THIS MORNING.

SO THIS MORNING WE HAD A CLOSED SESSION MEETING AS BOTH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND AS THE IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES PUBLIC AUTHORITY GOVERNING BOARD STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION ON ALL CLOSED SESSION ITEMS TODAY.

WE WILL NOW START WITH THE INVOCATION LED BY STACEY COOLEY, AND THEN SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

GOOD MORNING. PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS AND YOUR HEARTS WITH ME.

DEAR GRACIOUS, HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THE GRACE, COMPASSION AND MERCY YOU PROVIDE US EVERY DAY TO KEEP RUNNING THE RACE YOU HAVE SET BEFORE US.

WE ASK FOR YOUR MERCY TO COVER OUR SINS FROM YESTERDAY AND TO KEEP US IN GOOD STANDING WITH YOU TODAY.

WE ASK FOR YOUR PRESENCE TO BE HERE.

IN THIS MEETING. WE INVITE YOUR HOLY SPIRIT TO MOVE INSIDE THESE CHAMBERS AND TO SPEAK TO OUR HEARTS.

FATHER, WE ASK YOU TO BRING PEACE, COMFORT, WISDOM, DISCERNMENT, COURAGE AND STRENGTH TO EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM AND EVERYONE WATCHING FROM AFAR.

LORD, I LIFT UP THE BOARD MEMBERS COUNTY COUNCIL AND CEO MENDEZ, AS WELL AS ALL DEPARTMENT HEADS AND STAFF PARTICIPATING IN TODAY'S MEETING, AND ASK THAT YOU ANOINT THEM FOR EACH OF THE ROLES THEY ARE TO PLAY.

GIVE THEM THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO PERFORM THEIR DUTIES WITH EXCELLENCE AND ACCURACY AND GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO THINK ON THEIR FEET SHOULD THEY NEED IT.

WE ASK THAT YOU TOUCH OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.

LORD, YOU KNOW THE CRIES OF THE HEARTS OF EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR CONSTITUENTS.

YOU KNOW, THE NEEDS GREAT AND SMALL AND ALREADY HAVE THE PROVISION WAITING FOR OUR PRAYERS.

SO I ASK THAT YOU RELEASE THE BLESSINGS AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO MEET EACH AND EVERY NEED.

TOUCH OUR FARMING AND AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITIES.

YOU KNOW, THE STRUGGLES THEY FACED WITH ALL THE EXTRA RAIN THIS YEAR AND YOU KNOW THE SOLUTIONS TO THEIR OBSTACLES.

PLEASE GIVE THEM THE SUPERNATURAL WISDOM TO FIGURE THINGS OUT AND PROVIDE THE GOODS NEEDED TO FEED US AND OUR FAMILIES.

LORD, YOUR WORD SAYS IN PHILIPPIANS THAT WE CAN BE CONFIDENT THAT YOU WHO HAVE BEGUN A GOOD WORK IN US WILL CARRY IT ON TO COMPLETION.

SO WE ASK EXACTLY THAT, FATHER, THAT YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO GROW US, STRETCH US, AND MAKE US BETTER THAN WE WERE YESTERDAY AND GIVE US THE HOPE THAT WE NEED TO CARRY US ON INTO OUR TOMORROWS. WE GIVE YOU THIS DAY AND THIS BOARD MEETING AND ASK THAT YOU BLESS EVERYONE WHO ENTERS AND EXITS THESE CHAMBERS TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH A GOOD FATHER.

IN JESUS NAME, WE PRAY.

AMEN. 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.

[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK]

IT'S 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. NOW OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

GOOD MORNING, SUPERVISORS.

RICK WENDLING, MERCED AWFULLY LOUD HERE THIS MORNING.

I WOULD PREFER TO COME BEFORE YOU TO COMPLIMENT YOU ON THE EXCELLENT WAY YOU SPEND TAXPAYER MONIES ON PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE OF ALL CITIZENS OF MERCED COUNTY.

YOU SWORE OR AFFIRMED AN OATH TO SUPPORT, DEFEND AND OBEY THE CONSTITUTIONS OF BOTH THE STATE AND THE UNION.

SECTION EIGHT OF THE US CONSTITUTION FOLLOWS.

THE CONGRESS SHALL HAVE POWER TO LAY AND COLLECT TAXES TO PROVIDE, TO PAY THE DEBTS AND PROVIDE THE FOR THE GENERAL WELFARE OF THE UNITED STATES.

THIS, I BELIEVE, ENTITLES YOU TO SPEND THIS MORNING, IF MY ADDITION IS CORRECT, $14,010,200 ON HHS PROJECTS ALONE FOR MERCED COUNTY.

MY POINT IS THOUGH, YOU DO HAVE THE POWER TO SPEND THESE MONIES.

YOU HAVE NEITHER CREATED A MECHANISM TO CONTROL THE DETAILS OF HOW THESE MONIES ARE SPENT.

NOR HAVE YOU CREATED A THE A MECHANISM TO DETERMINE IF THE MONEY'S SPENT HAVE ACHIEVED THEIR DESIRED BENEFICIAL OUTCOME. THE RISE IN CRIME, HARMFUL DRUG UNITS USE AND GENERAL MALAISE AMONG OUR YOUTH TESTIFY TO THIS. IT IS MY OPINION SUPERVISORS THAT AS THE DECENT HUMAN BEINGS YOU ARE, YOU BASICALLY GO ALONG WITH

[00:05:04]

I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU YOUR SUGGESTIONS ON HOW THIS RETIRED BUSINESSMAN MIGHT HELP YOU DIG INTO THE DETAILS AND OTHER OF THESE AND OTHER EXPENDITURES YOU MAKE.

I THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, SIR.

GOOD MORNING, BOARD.

MY NAME IS MAGDALENA CASTILLO.

I AM AN IN-HOME SUPPORT SERVICES PROVIDER.

THIS IS MY DAUGHTER RIGHT HERE.

SHE'S 39 YEARS OLD.

I CARE FOR HER.

I AM ASKING, REQUESTING THAT WE RECEIVED A LIVABLE WAGE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

HI EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS CARMEN SOHA.

I AM HERE FOR THE IHSS, IHSS PROVIDER AND I AM TAKING CARE OF MY PARENTS AND MY DAD ALREADY PASSED AWAY THREE YEARS AGO, BUT I STILL TAKING CARE OF MY MOM AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASKING FOR NOT JUST ME, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK HIM FOR LIKE YOU CAN SEE HOW DIFFICULT AND HOW WE PUT THE EFFORT TO TAKING CARE FOR THE PARENT OR FAMILY.

AND I WOULD LIKE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND ALSO ONCE THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON IN, YOU KNOW, BOTH OF US AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, IT'S BETTER THAT YOU STAY AT HOME AND HAVE YOUR FAMILY TAKING CARE OF YOU MORE THAN JUST YOU.

THEY PUT YOU TO THE THE HOME CARE LIKE YOU KNOW, THE PLACE THAT YOU NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE.

SO I WOULD LIKE YOU CAN HAVE LOOKING FOR THE BETTER WAYS FOR US I WILL APPRECIATE THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

HI, MY NAME IS NORMA GONZALEZ.

I'M YOUR LOCAL PARA NUESTROS.

NINOS ESPECIALES UN SALARIO JUSTO.

OKAY, THIS IS SEE INTERPRETER EMPEZAR OTRA VEZ.

OKAY. MY NAME IS NORMA GONZALEZ.

MY NAME? WELL, MY NAME IS NORMA GONZALEZ.

OKAY, YOU KNOW WHAT SHE IS ASKING FOR IS FOR A SALARY THAT IS JUST PARA NUESTROS NINOS MUCHO TRABAJO EN LA CASA ES EN SU NECESIDADES ESPECIALES.

BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN ARE SPECIAL NEEDS AND THEY NEED A LOT, A LOT OF CARE.

YES. YES.

SALARIO JUSTO.

AND THIS IS ALL THAT SHE'S ASKING FOR TO HAVE A BETTER SALARY.

TENEMOS ESPECIALES NO PODEMOS TRABAJAR OTROS LADOS.

BECAUSE MOTHERS WOULD HAVE CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS CANNOT WORK IN OTHER PLACES BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD.

POR CIENTO CON ELLOS.

WE HAVE TO BE WITH THEM 100%.

YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

OKAY. SEE THE INTERPRETER.

YOU SAY THAT THIS PROCESO PARA TODOS MI NOMBRE ES.

RITA DOMINGUEZ. MY NAME IS RITA DOMINGUEZ.

ESTOY AQUI REPRESENTANDO EL GRUPO DE PROVEEDORES.

I AM HERE REPRESENTING THE PROVIDERS GROUP, BUT IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.

VENGO ES UN SALARIO JUSTO PORQUE TRABAJAMOS DURO CON PERSONAS Y CON NINOS.

OKAY. WHAT I'M HERE FOR IS TO ASK FOR A JUST SALARY.

WE WORK VERY, VERY HARD WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE.

YO TRABAJO PARA DOS PERSONAS.

ESTE ME GUSTA EL TRABAJO Y MUCHAS PERSONAS.

ESTAMOS RESPUESTAS AYUDAR PORQUE NOS GUSTA EL TRABAJO.

I WORK WITH TWO PEOPLE AND I LIKE MY JOB.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DO THIS JOB THAT LIKE IT.

ES TODO LO CUPIDO EL SALARIO PARA TODO LAS PERSONAS A MOTION ESTO ES PARA SEGUIR TRABAJANDO SEGUIR ADELANTE.

[00:10:08]

A JUST SALARY SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE WORKING AND WE CAN GO FORWARD.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, MA'AM.

GOOD MORNING, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

MY NAME IS LUIS BAUTISTA.

I AM A REPRESENTATIVE FOR UW.

I AM HERE WITH SOME IHSS PROVIDERS AND AS YOU HEAR, THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR WORK.

THEY MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS ARE ABLE TO STAY AT HOME.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DO IS AND, AND IT IS A LITTLE BIT DISHEARTENING TO HEAR THAT THEY CAN'T TAKE YOU KNOW, VACATIONS IS DISHEARTENING TO HEAR THAT THEY DON'T THEY DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, HEY, I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO RETIRE AT ONE POINT BECAUSE A LOT OF THE TIMES THEY DO THIS WORK FOR LIFE.

I AM HERE TO ASK, YOU KNOW, THE SUPERVISORS TO THINK ABOUT THEM AND THINK ABOUT THE WORK THAT THEY DO BECAUSE THEY DO SAVE THE COUNTY, THE STATE A LOT OF MONEY BY HELPING TO HAVE FOLKS AT HOME.

AND SO WE ARE ASKING YOU, ALL RIGHT.

TO THINK ABOUT THEM WHEN IT COMES TO NEGOTIATION TIME.

WE ARE ALSO HERE TO ASK THAT YOU, YOU KNOW, KEEP YOUR HEART AND YOUR MIND TOGETHER, BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR THEM.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, SIR.

WHEN DIAS DE TODOS.

GOOD MORNING TO EVERYBODY.

TAMBIÉN VENGO A LOS PROVEEDORES DE ESSER VENGO.

SORRY I COME HERE TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE FROM IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.

YO QUIERO CUARENTA ANOS.

I TAKE CARE OF MY SON.

HE IS 43 YEARS OLD.

HE WAS SICK AND WE ALL NEED SOMEBODY TO SUPPORT US.

QUÉ ES UN TRABAJO PUES NO, NO, NO.

LO QUIERO HACER.

THIS IS A JOB THAT NOT EVERYBODY OR ANYBODY WANTS TO DO.

MIJO, DIGITAL PARA PARA QUEDANDO.

MY SON NEEDS 24 HOUR CARE TAX.

HE HAS EPILEPSY.

HE IS NO ME GUSTA HABLAR.

PERO ES UN CASO DURO.

I DON'T LIKE TALKING ABOUT HIM THIS WAY, BUT THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT CASE.

YES, THIS IS ALL.

I WOULD LIKE YOU TO SUPPORT US.

GRACIAS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, SIR.

:44.. HOLA.

BUENOS DIAS. MI NOMBRE ES MARIA SALAZAR.

HELLO. GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS MARIA SALAZAR.

CASA REPRESENTANTES DE LA COMUNIDAD DE SANTANDER, AND I AM A STAY AT HOME MOM AND A REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY OF SANTANELLA IN DEL SOL COURT IN SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA.

I LIVE ON 29 337337 ON DEL SOL COURT IN SANTA NELLA.

SO UNA MADRE DE MI COMUNIDAD Y GRACIAS A LA SENORITA.

CLAUDIA CORCHADO EL PROGRAMA DE LA SALUD.

OKAY, CLAUDIA CORCHADO.

CORCHADO THANK YOU TO CLAUDIA CORCHADO THAT IS SUPPORTING THE GROUP THAT I BELONG TO, EL APOYO YA TENEMOS OCHO CLASSES CON ELLA.

WE ALREADY HAVE EIGHT CLASSES WITH HER NOS.

ESTA DANDO ESSER BUENOS LEADERS DE LA COMUNIDAD, AND SHE'S HELPING US TO BE GOOD LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

ESTOY AQUI PARA LOS SUPERVISORES.

I AM HERE TO ASK THE SUPERVISORS IN THE PARKS RECREATIONS SO THAT YOU MANDAN SEE BEING AND BEING THERE FOR YOU TO SEND SOMEBODY FROM PARKS AND RECREATION.

E PARA NOSOTROS HACER EL DISENO DEL PARQUE DE NUESTRA COMUNIDAD MR. AND FOR US TO DESIGN THE PARK THAT OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES AND NEEDS.

SANTA ANA DE VEINTE ANOS PIDIENDO UN PARQUE SANTANELLA HAS HAD MORE THAN 20 YEARS ASKING FOR A PARK PROMETIDO PROMESAS NO PASADO, AND THEY HAVE PROMISED US, BUT IT NEVER WENT PAST PROMISES.

[00:15:03]

WE ALSO WANT TO ASK IF THE MEETINGS FOR TOWN HALL COULD BE DONE IN SANTANELLA.

SANTANELLA NO NECESITA MS RESTAURANTES SANTILLAN SANTANELLA DOES NOT NEED MORE RESTAURANTS.

SANTANELLA NECESITA ES TRATO DE TODAS LAS COMUNIDADES DEL IS THAT WHAT WE WANT IS EQUAL ATTENTION COMPARED TO OTHER COMMUNITIES.

OTRAS COMUNIDADES IN COMO LA COMUNIDAD DE LIVINGSTONE ESSER TIENEN PARKWAYS DE VENTA DE GRANDES AND COMMUNITIES LIKE LIVINGSTON, THEY HAVE PARKS THAT ARE 20 ACRES LARGE.

YES, ANTONELLA LA BOCA CON UN PARQUE DE THREE ACRES AND SANTANELLA IS SHUT UP ONLY WITH A PARK OF THREE ACRES.

AQUI IN AMERICA SE HABLA DE IGUAL SE HABLA DE TODOS SOMOS IGUALES DEL MISMO TRATO.

HERE IN AMERICA THEY TALK ABOUT EQUAL TREATMENT, BUT WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED EQUAL TREATMENT.

USTEDES ESTAN SENTADOS NECESITAS TUVIERON TRABAJAR FUERTE PARA LLEGAR A VERDAD.

YOU THAT ARE SITTING IN THOSE CHAIRS, YOU HAD TO WORK HARD TO GET THERE, RIGHT? LES PEDIMOS DE CORAZON A SANTANELLA PORQUE NECESITAMOS EL PARQUE PARA LA SALUD DE NUESTROS HIJOS E NUESTRAS FAMILIARES.

AND WE ASK YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY, PLEASE TO CONSIDER THE PARK FOR SANTANELLA FOR THE PEOPLE, THE COMMUNITY, THE FAMILIES THAT LIVE THERE.

MUCHAS ENFERMEDADES COMO EL DIABETES.

SALUD. MENTAL Y MUCHAS CIUDAD NUESTROS HIJOS POR DONDE OUR CHILDREN SUFFER FROM DIABETES, MENTAL HEALTH ANXIETY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO GO AND PLAY AND RUN.

MUCHOS ACCIDENTES IN LA COMUNIDAD PEDIMOS DE CORAZON EN LA CONSIDERACION DE UN PARQUE.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ACCIDENTS, SO PLEASE CONSIDER VERY SERIOUSLY THAT YOU WILL GIVE US A PARK.

MUCHAS GRACIAS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, MA'AM.

YES. YES.

GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN. BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CEO MENDEZ AND STAFF.

GOOD MORNING TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND KUDOS TO MY FRIENDS HERE.

ALL DADS MATTER.

THANK YOU FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO.

I FORGOT MY BOW TIE THIS MORNING, BUT I DID WEAR MY PLAID BLAZER JUST FOR YOU.

I'M HERE THIS MORNING AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, AND I WANT TO INVITE YOU ALL TO OUR SUMMER CAMP THIS YEAR.

THIS SUMMER, WE WILL BE IN FOUR COMMUNITIES.

LOS BANOS AUGUSTINE, INCLUDING SANTANELLA AND SERVING THE WEAVER SCHOOL DISTRICT AS WELL.

SO WE HAVE A TON OF FLIERS HERE, KIND OF REALLY REPRESENTING EACH COMMUNITY.

AND AS WE JUST GOING TO LEAVE IT IN HERE, BY THE WAY, THOSE ARE NOT STOCK PHOTOS.

THOSE ARE KIDS FROM YOUR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES.

WE'RE REALLY PROUD TO BE SERVING THE WEST SIDE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE LAST 30 YEARS.

WE HAVE BEEN HERE IN THE CITY OF MERCED.

WE HOPE THAT FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS WE WILL BE THE PREMIER YOUTH SERVING ORGANIZATION, NOT JUST IN THE CITY OF MERCED, BUT IN THE COUNTY OF MERCED.

LAST SUMMER WE SERVED 400 KIDS AROUND THAT BALL.

WE ARE HOPING TO SERVE 500 KIDS THIS YEAR, INCLUDING NEWMAN COMMUNITY AS WELL.

AND LAST YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH OVER TWO DOZENS OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS, INCLUDING KVC, THE DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE INVESTMENT, WHERE WE ACTUALLY DELIVERED A WORKFORCE READINESS PROGRAM FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL TEENS AND 16 AND HOPE TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT THIS YEAR.

SO IF YOU HAVE A MOMENT THIS SUMMER AND WANT TO SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING, WE WOULD LOVE TO INVITE YOU TO ATTEND.

PLEASE LET ME KNOW SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A STAFF TO WALK YOU THROUGH THE GROUNDS AND THEN MY FINAL COMMENT.

AND THE NEXT 30 YEARS, WE AGAIN HOPE TO BE PRESENT IN ALL ASPECTS OF ALL PARTS OF THE COUNTY.

I HOPE THAT YOU WILL JOIN US IN FINDING WAYS TO DO SO.

AND FOR ME, WHY IT'S IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, DATA SHOWS THE NEEDS OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

THAT'S COMPOUNDED OVER YEARS.

RIGHT? AND GIVEN THE PANDEMIC AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S HAPPENING, THERE'S CERTAINLY A NEED TO HAVE A PROACTIVE APPROACH AND INVEST IN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. I AM AFRAID THAT IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS, IF WE DON'T ADDRESS THESE ISSUES NOW, THAT THE DATA ARE GOING TO BE WORSE THAN WHAT WE'VE SEEN SO FAR.

[00:20:07]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

HOLA. BUENOS DIAS.

HELLO. GOOD MORNING.

EL DIA DE HOY. I HOPE YOU ARE GOOD THIS MORNING.

MY NAME IS DANIEL FLORES VIVO IN SONORA DRIVE IN SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA.

MY NAME IS DANIEL FLORES.

I LIVE ON 29432 SONORA DRIVE.

SONORA DRIVE IN SANTA NELLA.

ESTOY AQUI AND USTED ES EL DIA DE HOY.

AND I'M HERE TODAY IN FRONT OF YOU PARA VER SI PODEMOS TRABAJAR IN SOLUCIONAR EL DEL MANTENIMIENTO DE LA COMUNIDAD.

TO SEE IF WE CAN WORK ON MAINTENANCE OR REPAIRING OR FIXING THE THE WIDOW, THE MANTENIMIENTO DE LA COMUNIDAD.

SEE? SO THE COMMUNITY IS NOT BEING MAINTAINED APPROPRIATELY? NO SÉ SI SOMOS UNA COMUNIDAD TANTO DE NOSOTROS.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BECAUSE WE ARE SUCH A SMALL COMMUNITY THAT YOU ALWAYS FORGET US.

NOSOTROS COMO PROPIETARIOS DE VIVIENDA AQUI IN SANTANELLA PAGAMOS UN PUESTO.

AS HOMEOWNERS WE PAY TAXES.

PARA LA COMUNIDAD ES 3% ESO NOS PUEDE! TAMBIÉN TO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY AND FOR YOU TO GIVE A SUPPORT.

NO, BUT STAY PRESENTABLE.

COMO ESTA LIMPIA FUMIGANT CONTRA LOS MOSQUITOS.

OH, OKAY.

SO FOR FOR YOU TOO.

FOR THE COMMUNITY TO BE PRESENTABLE AND TO FUMIGATE AGAINST MOSQUITOES, ETCETERA.

SOLO CUANDO NOS VEMOS COMO COMUNIDAD YA HACEMOS LLAMADAS PARA RECORDARLES.

AND THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN WE GET TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND WE START CALLING PEOPLE.

THAT RECORDARLES DE LA MALEZA LIMPIA LAS DOS PRINCIPALES TENEMOS FOR YOU TO CUT DOWN THE SHRUBS AND TO CLEAN THE ONLY TWO STREETS THAT MAIN STREETS.

MAIN STREETS, MAIN STREETS THAT WE HAVE FUMIGATE CUANDO NUESTROS HIJOS DE LOS MOSQUITOS, CUANDO SON ESPERANDO LAS VEGAS ESCOLAR AND FOR YOU TO FUMIGATE TO STOP THE MOSQUITOES THAT ATTACK OUR CHILDREN WHILE THEY WAIT FOR THE BUS.

POR ISSO AQUI ES UNA PETISYON PERO TAMBIÉN ES UNA GERENCIA.

I AM HERE FOR A PETITION, BUT I ALSO HAVE A SUGGESTION.

POR FAVOR. ALGUIEN AL PENDIENTE DE NUESTRA COMUNIDAD.

AND FOR YOU TO CONTRACT SOMEBODY THAT IS AWARE OF OUR COMMUNITY.

UN RESIDENT SANTANELLA AND WHAT BETTER THAT A RESIDENT OF THE SANTANELLA COMMUNITY.

TENEMOS MUCHAS PERSONAS EN SUS PROPIOS NEGOCIOS DE MANTENIMIENTO.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN SANTANELLA THAT HAVE BUSINESSES OF MAINTENANCE.

ESSER CIENTO DE LAS PERSONAS.

INDICADAS SOLIDARIA.

AND I KNOW THAT THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT SHOULD BE DOING THIS BECAUSE BELIEVE ME, THEY WOULD NOT FORGET.

TAMBIÉN PUEDEN AYUDAR A FAMILIA MINIMO.

AND IF YOU COULD HELP ME TO FUMIGATE MINIMUM UNA VEZ POR SEMANA EN LA TEMPORADA MAS FUERTES DE MOSQUITOS ONCE A WEEK IN THE THE TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN THE MOSQUITOES ARE REALLY, REALLY BAD.

MUCHAS GRACIAS POR SU TIEMPO ESPERAMOS ESCUCHAR DE USTEDES TAMBIÉN EN CUENTA.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND WE ARE WAITING FOR YOU.

YOUR RESPONSES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

SUPERVISOR PAREIRA YOU HAD A COMMENT? YES. IF SOMEBODY FROM OUR STAFF COULD COULD MEET WITH HER.

OKAY. THANK YOU, ARACELLI.

SO MOSQUITO ABATEMENT IS NOT A COUNTY PROGRAM.

IT'S AN INDEPENDENT PROGRAM.

AND SO ARACELI AND THE BLUE DRESS WILL MEET YOU AND SHE WILL SHOW YOU WHERE YOU CAN CALL TO GET THE MOSQUITO SPRAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE CONTINUING ON.

[00:25:01]

SACHSE RECALL, AS YOU ALL KNOW, I WAS HERE AT THE LAST MEETING.

AND WHAT I'M HERE FOR AGAIN, THE WEEDS ARE THIS TALL, NUMBERS HAVE MULTIPLIED.

WE WERE TOLD LAST TIME THAT I WAS UP HERE THAT THAT PIECE OF LAND BELONGS TO THE BANK.

BUT THAT VERY SAME AFTERNOON SHERIFF CAME, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT WAS THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OR THE SHERIFF ITSELF THAT TOLD US THAT THAT LAND BELONGS TO THE COWDENS. WE ARE GETTING OUT OF THAT STAGE.

I DON'T CARE WHO THAT LAND BELONGS TO, THE COWDENS, THE COUNTY OR THE BANK.

WHAT WE ARE, WHAT I'M HERE FOR IS I'M REPRESENTING THE STREET THAT I LIVE ON.

PEOPLE THAT FACE THAT LAND DAILY.

OKAY. WE HAVE RODENTS WHICH HAS MULTIPLIED.

WE HAVE BUGS THAT HAVE MULTIPLIED.

WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT GO OUT THERE AND USE OUTDOOR RESTROOMS, WALK OUT INTO YOUR BACKYARD AND YOU SEE PEOPLE URINATING. SO I'M ASKING THE BOARD, PLEASE, PLEASE DO SOMETHING.

HELP US SO I DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK HERE, HELP US SO WE COULD HELP YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT, SIR.

THANK YOU, SIR.

OH. SIR, COULD YOU THE ADDRESS ONE MORE TIME? COULD YOU? THE ADDRESS.

ELM AVENUE.

ELM AVENUE. THE WHOLE STREET.

AND PART OF FIR.

AND WHAT WAS THE OTHER ONE? FIR FIR IN ATWATER, BEACHWOOD AND FRANKLIN.

PERFECT. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY BOARD.

I HAVE SOMETHING THAT MAY BE TRIVIAL TO MANY PEOPLE.

I THOUGHT I WOULD BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTIONS.

BEING A VETERAN OF THE UNITED STATES AND SERVING HERE OUR COUNTRY FOR EIGHT YEARS, IT BOTHERS ME WHEN I DRIVE PAST BUILDINGS LIKE THE MID BUILDING HERE IN MERCED OFF OF FRANKLIN ROAD, WHO FLY THE AMERICAN FLAG BUT HAVE TAKEN DOWN THE POW MIA FLAG, REPRESENTING THOSE WHO ARE MISSING IN ACTION AND STILL MAY BE PRISONERS OF WAR IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

I WOULD THINK THAT IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION AND QUESTION WHY IT IS THAT THOSE WHO HONORED OUR COUNTRY AND SERVED OUR COUNTRY COULD NOT BE RESPECTED AND STILL LOOKED AFTER.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT, SIR, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

GOOD MORNING, SUPERVISORS AND STAFF.

MY NAME IS JEAN HAMEL AND I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING THE AMERICAN LEGION.

I'VE BEEN WATCHING THE SUPERVISORS MEETINGS FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND I'VE HEARD SOME EXTREMELY VICIOUS STORIES COMING OUT ABOUT THE AMERICAN LEGION AND THE PEOPLE THERE.

I'M HERE TO TELL YOU TODAY THAT IS NOT TRUE.

WE DO NOT ACT LIKE WHAT THESE PEOPLE HAVE SAID WE DO.

SO I'M JUST PUTTING IT ON THE RECORD.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE DO NOT BEAT PEOPLE UP.

WE DO NOT THROW THEM IN THE STREETS OR ANYTHING ELSE.

THAT BEING SAID, I DID WANT TO GIVE EVERYBODY A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND.

I'M SURE SOME OF YOU HAVE HEARD THIS MANY TIMES FROM ME, BUT THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVEN'T, I JUST WANT TO SET IT STRAIGHT THAT THE AMERICAN LEGION STARTED IN 1919.

OUR FOUNDERS PURCHASED THE LAND AT MOUNT MAIN STREET.

THEY BUILT THAT BUILDING.

THE AMERICAN LEGION NAMED THE BUILDING THE VETERANS MEMORIAL BUILDING.

THEY HAVE POURED SINCE THAT TIME UNTIL TODAY, WE HAVE ALL POURED OUR BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS INTO THAT PLACE.

WE HAVE PUT A TON OF MONEY INTO THAT PLACE.

WE HAVE GIVEN AND GIVEN AND GIVEN TO OUR VETERANS, OUR COMMUNITY.

AND NOW WE HAVE A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COMPLAIN AND WANT TO TAKE.

THEY WANT TO TAKE AND TAKE AND TAKE.

YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY MAY HAVE SERVED OVER IN A WAR, BUT THAT'S WHERE THE AMERICAN LEGION IS INCLUSIVE.

WE INCLUDE ALL VETERANS.

WHETHER YOU WERE SUPPORT IN THE US OR FIGHTING IN THE WAR, WE INCLUDE THEM ALL.

ANYWAY, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THE AMERICAN LEGION HAS BEEN THERE FOR 104 YEARS, TAKING CARE OF THAT BUILDING.

BUILDING THE BUILDING, PURCHASING THAT BUILDING.

YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO KEEP GIVING, BUT WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE THAT WANT TO KEEP TAKING FROM US.

SO I HOPE YOU'LL TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, SIR.

[00:30:06]

AND I AM HERE TO JUST REMIND YOU ALL ABOUT THAT LEASE.

WE'RE STILL WAITING ON IT.

AND YOU CAN TELL THE GUY WHO GOT THROWN OUT OF THAT BUILDING THAT IT'S NOT TRUE BECAUSE I HAVE TALKED TO HIM.

I HAVE CONTACTED HIM.

I HAVE A LIST OF NAMES OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN PART OF THAT SAME MEMBERSHIP WHO DO NOT GO THERE BECAUSE VIOLENCE HAS BEEN AGAINST THEM, THREATENED.

I HAVE A LIST OF NAMES.

I HAVE A LIST OF PEOPLE.

I HAVE A LIST OF EVENTS AT TIMES DATES.

I HAVE IT ALL SO THEY CAN CALL IT NOT TRUE.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT I'VE BEEN TALKED TO ABOUT ABOUT WITH THESE PEOPLE.

SO THAT BEING SAID, WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR THAT LEASE TO HAPPEN.

I'M SORRY THAT YOU CANCELED THE MEETING, MR. PEDROSO, AND I'M HOPING THAT YOU WILL CONTACT ME FOR A FUTURE MEETING BECAUSE THERE ARE FEW OF US THAT WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH YOU.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS I WANT TO SAY BEFORE IT'S NOT RELATED TO THIS, BUT I WILL BE THERE AT THE TOWN HALL BECAUSE I HAVE LOTS OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

NUMBER ONE IS THAT YOU HELD MR. PEDROZA, YOU HAD YOUR YOUR MEETING, YOUR TOWN HALL MEETING AT THE AT THE VETERANS HALL.

AND I SEE THAT AS CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

YOU SHOULD NOT BE DEALING WITH THAT LEASE BECAUSE IS THAT A QUID PRO QUO? WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THAT? YOU KNOW, ALSO.

MR.. MCDANIEL YOUR SPOUSE WAS ONCE OR STILL IS PART OF THAT.

MEMBERS AND THAT HAS BEEN ON A LIST ALSO.

SO YOU TWO THAT ARE ON THAT COMMITTEE TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN, I THINK WE NEED NEW PEOPLE TO BE HANDLING THIS LEASE.

THE OTHER THING I WANT TO SAY IS I'VE BEEN LISTENING HERE.

I'VE BEEN COMING TO THESE MEETINGS AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMING HERE FOR 20 YEARS, 25 YEARS ON A PROBLEM.

AND I LEARNED THE OTHER DAY THAT IT TAKES THREE OF YOU TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN IN ANY DISTRICT.

NOW, MR. ESPINOSA HAS BEEN WORKING ON SOME OF THESE THINGS, BUT APPARENTLY THERE AREN'T OTHER THERE ISN'T A TOTAL OF THREE OF YOU TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN.

THESE PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE COMING HERE FOR 25 YEARS, 20 YEARS, TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THING, WAITING, WAITING AND ASKING FOR YOU GUYS TO DO SOMETHING BECAUSE YOU WORK FOR US. YOU ALL WORK FOR US.

AND YOU SHOULD BE CONSIDERING WHAT IS A PRIORITY IN PEOPLE'S LIVES, NOT WHAT YOU THINK IS A PRIORITY, BUT WHAT THE PEOPLE THINK IS A PRIORITY.

AND THE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY IS THAT SO SOMEBODY NEEDS TO GET ON THIS COMMITTEE SO THAT SOMETHING CAN HAPPEN WITH P STREET, THAT WATER ISSUE, THE WHATEVER THOSE ISSUES ARE, 25 YEARS OLD, THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.

YOU ALL NEED TO TAKE CARE OF IT.

THE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY IS YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO APPROVE SOMEBODY GETTING PAID FOR $105,000 ANNUALLY TO BE PART OF SOME THING THAT YOU DO HERE.

I CAN'T READ IT ALL, SO I KNOW THAT IT'S ON HERE.

SO I WOULD HELP YOU, ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSIDER GIVING THESE PEOPLE A RAISE BACK HERE THAT DO IN-HOME SUPPORT.

I'VE DONE IT. I'VE CARED FOR MY MOTHER WHO PASSED AWAY WITH CANCER.

AND IF YOU ALL CAN PAY YOURSELF $100,000 A YEAR, I'M SURE YOU GUYS CAN GIVE THESE GUYS A RAISE.

SO I'LL SEE YOU ALL AT THE MEETING.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AT PUBLIC COMMENT? NOT SEEING ANYBODY.

WE'LL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND WE WILL.

[PRESENTATION: VALLEY RAIL UPDATE ]

MR. DAN LEAVITT FROM THE SAN JOAQUIN REGIONAL RAIL COMMISSION AND THE SAN JOAQUIN JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE US WITH A VALLEY RAIL UPDATE.

HOLD ON. LET ME MAKE SURE I GOT YOUR MIC ON.

OKAY. THANK YOU, CHAIR.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. GOOD TO SEE YOU THIS MORNING.

AND THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE VALLEY RAIL PROGRAM.

I DO REPRESENT TWO AGENCIES THE SAN JOAQUIN REGIONAL RAIL COMMISSION AND THE SAN JOAQUIN JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY AND TWO DIFFERENT RAIL SERVICES, THE SAN JOAQUINS AND THE ACE COMMUTER RAIL SERVICE.

GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON EACH OF THESE.

THE FIRST SERVICE, THE SAN JOAQUINS, WHICH IS MANAGED BY THE SAN JOAQUIN JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY, AND OUR VICE CHAIR IS SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA FOR THAT MERCED COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS IS ONE OF OUR MEMBER AGENCIES.

THE SAN JOAQUINS HAVE BEEN OPERATING FOR FOR SEVERAL DECADES.

AS SHOWN ON THIS MAP, IT'S THE ORANGE LINE GOING FROM SACRAMENTO TO BAKERSFIELD AND ALSO FROM OAKLAND TO BAKERSFIELD.

WE TYPICALLY RUN SEVEN ROUND TRIPS A DAY.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE RUNNING SIX BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

WE REDUCED SERVICE.

WE ARE LOOKING TO BRING BACK TO THE SEVENTH DAILY ROUND TRIP LATER THIS YEAR.

THE GREEN AND BLUE LINES YOU SEE ON THIS ARE THROUGH A BUS SERVICES THAT CARRY PASSENGERS REALLY THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA.

SO THIS SERVICE DOES REALLY CONNECT ALMOST ALL OF CALIFORNIA'S MAJOR POPULATIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

THE OTHER SERVICE IS THE ACE COMMUTER RAIL SERVICE BETWEEN STOCKTON AND SAN JOSE.

WE RUN WEEKDAY SERVICE, UNLIKE THE SAN JOAQUINS, WHICH IS AN INNER CITY SERVICE.

THIS IS A COMMUTER RAIL SERVICE WHICH REALLY FOCUSES ON BRINGING COMMUTERS FROM THE NORTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY INTO THE BAY AREA AND TO THE SILICON VALLEY AND THEN BRINGING

[00:35:08]

WE RUN FOUR DAILY ROUND TRIPS FOR THE ACE SERVICE.

IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

VALLEY RAIL IS THE EXPANSION PROGRAM FOR BOTH SERVICES.

IT'S A JOINT PROGRAM TO EXTEND ACE FROM FROM STOCKTON UP TO SACRAMENTO AND ALSO EXTEND ACE DOWN TO MERCED, AS WELL AS INCREASE THE SAN JOAQUINS, PARTICULARLY TO SACRAMENTO, BUT ULTIMATELY TO THE BAY AREA AS WELL.

ALL THE YELLOW DOTS YOU SEE ON THIS FIGURE, THOSE ARE NEW STATIONS WHICH WILL BE BUILT AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM.

OVER THE LAST 5 TO 6 YEARS, WE'VE SECURED ABOUT $1.6 BILLION FOR THE PROGRAM.

AND WE'RE LOOKING TO HAVE THE FIRST NEW SERVICE START OPERATING BY 2026.

THAT WILL BE A TRAIN FROM CERES DOWN TO SAN JOSE AND ALSO ONE FROM SACRAMENTO DOWN TO SAN JOSE AS WELL.

IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THIS FIGURE SHOWS THE ROUTE CONNECTING FROM FROM THE STOCKTON AREA DOWN TO MERCED.

THERE'S REALLY TWO DIFFERENT ROUTES.

THE ACE TRAIN WILL BE RUNNING ON THE UP LINE, WHICH IS SHOWN IN GREEN AND PURPLE, AND THEN THE QUEEN'S RUN ON THE BNSF, WHICH IS SHOWN ON THE GRAY, WHICH IS EAST OF THE LINE FOR THE UP WITH THE GREEN LINE.

THAT IS WHERE WE ARE FULLY FUNDED AND WORKING TO FINISH FINAL DESIGN AND START CONSTRUCTION EARLY NEXT YEAR.

THAT IS FROM CERES AND THE TRAIN WILL RUN INITIALLY FROM CERES.

SAN JOSE WILL ALSO RUN CERES TO SACRAMENTO.

WE ARE WORKING ON SECURING THE FUNDING TO GET SERVICE DOWN FROM CERES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO MERCED.

THE FIRST STEP IS FROM SERIES TO TURLOCK AND WE HAVE PARTIAL FUNDING FOR THAT.

WE'RE HOPING TO SECURE THE REST OF THE FUNDS THIS YEAR DOWN TO TURLOCK, AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE FROM STATION TO STATION, SECURING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FIRST DOWN TO LIVINGSTON AND THEN DOWN TO ATWATER STATION AND THEN TO TO MERCED.

WE ALSO WILL BE SEEKING ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR DOUBLE TRACKING ON THE BNSF LINE, WHICH WILL ALLOW MORE SAMUEL-CAHN SERVICE ALONG THE BNSF CORRIDOR.

IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

THIS FIGURE SHOWS YOU HOW WE CONNECT THE VALLEY RAIL PROGRAM WITH FUTURE HIGH SPEED RAIL BETWEEN MERCED AND BAKERSFIELD.

THE CONNECTION AT MERCED IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL.

IT WILL BECOME ONE OF THE BIGGEST RAIL HUBS IN CALIFORNIA, WHERE ACE WILL CONNECT DOWN TO MERCED.

BUT THE SAN JOAQUINS WILL ACTUALLY TRUNCATE OUR SERVICE ONCE HIGH-SPEED RAIL STARTS AT MERCED.

AND SO ALL THREE SERVICES WILL BE MEETING AT A MULTI-MODAL HUB STATION.

THE GREEN LINES ALSO SHOW THROUGH A BUS SERVICES TO AND WE ARE HAVING THROUGH A BUS SERVICE FROM MERCED TO SAN JOSE AND AS WELL CONNECTING WITH THE SERVICES TO YOSEMITE.

NEXT SLIDE. A VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT THAT WE HAVE IS CALLED THE MR PROJECT.

WHILE ACE IS IN THE IS ON THE RIGHT OF WAY.

AND ACTUALLY WE'RE BUILDING A NEW TRACK FOR UP IN ORDER TO RUN THIS SERVICE.

HIGH SPEED RAIL IS JUST ADJACENT TO THE UP CORRIDOR, BUT THE SAN JOAQUINS RUN ON THE BNSF BNSF LINE AND SO WE DO NEED A CONNECTION FOR THE SAN JOAQUINS TO BRING THEM TO THE HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION ALONG THE CORRIDOR.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE CALL THE MR PROJECT, THE MERCED INTERMODAL TRACK CONNECTION.

THIS PROJECT, WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE LARGELY AN ELEVATED STRUCTURE THAT TAKES THE LINE UP AND OVER THE UP MAIN LINE AND STAYS ELEVATED ALONG THE CORRIDOR TO CONNECT WITH THE ELEVATED HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION, WHICH IS ALONG AROUND THE R STREET AREA.

WE HAVE STARTED THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS ON THIS AND I'VE GOT A SCHEDULE ON THE NEXT SLIDE IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

SO WE'VE BEGUN THE PROCESS.

WE'VE GOTTEN THROUGH SCOPING.

WE LOOK TO HAVE A DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT FOR PUBLIC REVIEW BY EARLY NEXT YEAR AND LOOKING TO COMPLETE THAT PROJECT PROCESS NEXT YEAR AND THEN START THE NEPA PROCESS AS WELL. ON THE FEDERAL SIDE, WE DO LOOK TO START CONSTRUCTION SOMETIME AROUND 2026, 2027 AND HAVE THIS FULLY COMPLETED BY THE TIME HIGH SPEED RAIL IS READY FOR OPERATIONS AROUND 2030.

NEXT SLIDE. THIS FIGURE SHOWS HOW THE VALLEY RAIL PROGRAM FITS IN AGAIN WITH THE HIGH SPEED RAIL SERVICE, BUT ALSO SHOWS FROM THE STATEWIDE PERSPECTIVE.

SO YOU CAN SEE HOW THE SAMUEL QUEENS THROUGH A BUS CONNECTIONS IN ADDITION TO OUR RAIL CONNECTIONS NORTH THE THRUWAY BUS CONNECTIONS ALSO PROVIDE CONNECTIVITY ALL THE WAY TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND REALLY THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

AND SO THAT INITIAL HIGH SPEED RAIL SEGMENT BETWEEN MERCED AND BAKERSFIELD WILL BE FULLY CONNECTED INTO THE REST OF THE STATE.

AND THE SAN JOAQUIN JPA IS ALSO EXPECTED TO BE THE INITIAL OPERATING AGENCY FOR HIGH SPEED RAIL IN THAT SEGMENT BETWEEN MERCED AND BAKERSFIELD.

IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

SO THIS IS GETTING TOWARDS THE END OF THE PRESENTATION.

WE WE EACH OF THESE LINES THAT YOU SEE HERE REPRESENTS A ROUND TRIP.

AND WHAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS IS, IS CONNECTING THE 18 ROUND TRIPS THAT ARE EXPECTED TO BE RUNNING ON HIGH SPEED RAIL BETWEEN MERCED AND BAKERSFIELD WITH A ROUND TRIP ALONG THE SAN JOAQUINS OR THE ACE CORRIDOR.

[00:40:01]

SIX WOULD GO TO THE BAY AREA AND SIX WOULD GO TO SACRAMENTO.

AND THEN ON THE UP CORRIDOR WE'RE LOOKING TO HAVE SIX ADDITIONAL ROUND TRIPS, THREE OF THEM TO THE BAY AREA AND THREE TO THE SACRAMENTO AREA.

THIS ALSO SHOWS THE EXTENSION.

WE'RE LOOKING TO EVEN EXTEND THE LINE BEYOND SACRAMENTO ALL THE WAY UP NORTH TO CHICO.

AND WE ARE LOOKING TO DO ANOTHER EXTENSION IN THE BAY AREA TO CONNECT THE ACE CORRIDOR TO UNION CITY.

BART NEXT SLIDE.

SO THIS IS REALLY MY LAST SLIDE.

WE ARE THE NEXT STEPS LOOKING TO COMPLETE THE MR ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS AND BEEN LOOKING FOR FUNDING TO ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT THE MR PROJECT AS WELL.

WE'RE WORKING TO COMPLETE THE FINAL DESIGN AND START CONSTRUCTION AND GET CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED FOR THE INITIAL CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM AND SECURE ADDITIONAL CAPITAL FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE CONNECTIONS AT MERCED AND THEN ALSO TO SECURE THE NECESSARY OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE FUNDING FOR THE ACE RAIL SERVICE AS WELL FROM REGIONAL PARTNERS.

AND LAST IS JUST MY CONTACT INFORMATION AND OUR WEBSITE WHERE WE HAVE A LOT MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON BOTH OUR WEBSITES.

OPEN UP TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.

THANK YOU. DAN, I HAVE A QUESTION FROM SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

DAN, THANKS FOR DOING THAT.

YOU JUST GAVE US A WHOLE LOT OF INFORMATION REALLY FAST.

WHEN I SAW THE PACKET, I WAS THINKING, HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS MEETING TODAY WITH ALL THAT? BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION.

I DO WANT TO COMPLIMENT THE CITY OF ATWATER, WHICH RESIDES IN MY DISTRICT, FOR FULLY FUNDING THEIR OWN STATION FOR FOR ACE.

AND I THINK THAT'S JUST REALLY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE THE PROPERTY THERE.

THEY'RE GOING TO FUND THE STATION THEY ARE ALL IN.

AND I APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL AND THEIR CITY PLANNING AND THE CITY MANAGER FOR BEING A BIG FAN OF THAT.

ANOTHER THING IN THE PRESENTATION THAT CAUGHT MY EYE SITTING MY THE CHAIRMAN AND MYSELF SIT ON YARTS.

THAT WAS WHERE MY QUESTION WAS GOING TO COME TO.

AND I NOTICED YOU SAID YOU'RE GOING TO RUN A BUS INTO YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, YARTS NOW WE COORDINATE WITH THE SAN JOAQUINS TO GET THE BUS UP THERE.

AND WE OPERATE WITH TUOLUMNE COUNTY, MARIPOSA COUNTY, MONO COUNTY AS WELL.

AND FRESNO COUNTY IS LOOKING TO JOIN INTO THAT EFFORT AS WELL.

ARE YOU CONNECTING WITH US OR COMPETING WITH YOU? THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.

WHEN I SAY WE YARTS REALLY IS OUR SERVICE TO WE CONTRIBUTE TO YARTS AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO YARTS AND SO OUR PASSENGERS CAN GET ON YARTS DIRECTLY WITH A TICKET THROUGH OUR TICKETING.

AND SO IT'S REALLY WHEN I SAY WE, IT'S THAT IS YARTS.

I LOVE WE. AND THE OTHER THING I WOULD SUGGEST IS SINCE I GOT ON THE PAGE WHERE YOU HAVE ALL THE DIFFERENT.

YEAH. SO WHEN WE GOT THAT WE COULD JUST THROW A LITTLE YARD SYMBOL.

WE'LL GET THAT IN FOR YOU. GREAT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. WELL, THANK DAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING DOWN AND GIVING THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OF WHAT WE'VE, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON.

AND I WAS ABLE TO CHAIR THE LAST MEETING LAST FRIDAY IN STOCKTON.

SO I KNOW THAT WE DID APPROVE THE THE FUNDS TO BUILD OUT THE MADERA STATION AS WELL.

SO WE'RE WORKING ALONG WITH THE.

THE REST OF THE COUNTIES DOWN, DOWN SOUTH OF US.

SO IT JUST REPRESENTATION.

AND LIKE I SAID, WE'RE ON SUPPORT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR.

ALL RIGHT. UH SUPERVISOR PEDROZO THANK YOU, DAN, FOR COMING AND PROVIDING US WITH THIS INFORMATION.

I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC AS MUCH.

I KNOW I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO RIDE ON THE SAN JOAQUINS QUITE A BIT RECENTLY AND OR LATELY, AND THE EASE OF IT IS IS AWESOME. I MEAN, THAT'S THE ONLY WAY I CAN SAY IT.

JUST GETTING ON THE TRAIN AND IT DROPS YOU RIGHT OFF WHERE YOU NEED TO GO.

AND IT'S REALLY LESS EXPENSIVE THAN A TANK OF GAS AND THE TIME AND YOU'RE ABLE TO WORK, YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH TRAFFIC AND ALL THAT TYPE OF STUFF.

I THINK IT'S EXCELLENT.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR ESSER PAREIRA.

AND THEN BACK TO SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA.

WELL, I DIDN'T WANT TO BE LEFT OUT.

THANK YOU. AND THANKS FOR WORKING SO HARD ON THIS, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I KNOW IT'S BEEN YEARS AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST KIND OF EXCITING TO FEEL LIKE WE'RE FINALLY IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING HER DONE. BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION.

SO WHEN I DO A MAPQUEST AND I'M GOING TO TRAVEL FROM HERE TO SAN JOSE, I END UP YOU KNOW, GOOGLE SAYS WE'LL TAKE A BUS, YOU KNOW, AND THEN GET ON AND THEN GET ON A TRAIN IN SAN FRANCISCO OR HAYWARD OR GET ON BART.

SO AND EVEN IF I SAY, WELL, NO, I'M IN TRACY NOW AND I WANT TO GET TO SAN JOSE, IT STILL DOESN'T LIST ACE AS A POSSIBILITY.

YOU KNOW WHAT THE DYNAMICS IS THERE THAT IT SHOULD FOR FOR WHEN YOU'RE IN STOCKTON SO WE CAN CHECK ON THAT BUT YOU SHOULD I MEAN FOR, FOR GETTING FROM FROM TRACY TO SAN JOSE, THAT IS WHAT OUR SERVICE DOES, RIGHT? UM, BUT ONE THING I JUST WANT TO DID WANT TO MENTION, I TALKED ABOUT THE BUS THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO RUN BETWEEN MERCED AND SAN JOSE.

WE WERE ABOUT TO START OPERATING.

WE HAD THE FUNDS, WE HAD IT ALL READY TO GO AND THEN THE PANDEMIC HIT.

[00:45:03]

WE ARE LOOKING TO GET THAT BUS RUNNING LATER THIS YEAR.

ONCE IT'S KIND OF IT'S TIED TO THE SEVENTH DAILY ROUND TRIP BECAUSE ONE OF THE AT LEAST 1 OR 2 OF THE CONNECTIONS ARE WITH THE SEVENTH DAILY ROUND TRIP.

AND SO THAT WILL GIVE YOU ANOTHER OPTION FROM MERCED INTO SAN JOSE, WHICH WILL ALSO STOP AT LOS BANOS.

AND SO IT'LL PROVIDE A NICE NEW SERVICE THERE.

THAT DOES GIVE YOU ANOTHER OPTION, THE QUICKER OPTION, RATHER THAN HAVING TO GO ALL THE WAY UP TO STOCKTON AND BACK DOWN TO SAN JOSE.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA THANK YOU.

MR.. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. UM, WELL, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THE MARKETING PLAN THAT WE APPROVED AS WELL LAST WEEK, ESPECIALLY TO SUPPORT THE SENIORS AND STUDENTS GETTING SPECIAL DEALS TO STUDENTS THAT TRAVEL UP AND DOWN THE LIVING COUNTIES AND WHEREVER THEY'RE GOING TO SCHOOL.

SO THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT ALSO, TOO.

AND THERE'S SO MUCH EXPOSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE MARKETING IS DOING TO, LIKE I SAID, TO ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO RIDE THE TRAINS.

AND, YOU KNOW, CURRENTLY WE'RE ON TRACK TO, YOU KNOW, TO PASS OR DO BETTER THAN THAN, YOU KNOW, PAST PANDEMIC NUMBERS THAT WE HAD.

SO IT'S BEEN GREAT.

AND LAST YEAR, I WENT TO A CONFERENCE DOWN IN KINGS COUNTY AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS DRIVING AROUND AND I WENT TO HANFORD AND THEN WE HAD SOME, YOU KNOW, ADVERTISING THERE, SOME SOME CREW FROM THE MARKETING PLAN IN SAN JOAQUIN.

SO THAT WAS GREAT TO SEE THERE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE EXPOSURE IS EVERYWHERE.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO RIDE THE THE TRAINS.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

SEEING NO OTHER COMMENTS. DAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT.

OKAY. MAKE SURE I'M FOLLOWING MY SCRIPT HERE.

YEP. OKAY, SO WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR.

[CONSENT CALENDAR]

PLEASE NOTE ITEMS SEVEN, EIGHT, 17, 18 AND 20 REQUIRE A 4/5 VOTE.

UM SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

YEAH. MR. CHAIR, IF I COULD, I'D LIKE TO PULL ITEM NUMBER 15 FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION AND MAYBE GET A LITTLE PRESENTATION OR A FEW WORDS FROM ALL DADS MATTER.

AND WE DO HAVE THAT ON THE SCHEDULE.

YES. DO A PRESENTATION.

BUT SO? SO IS THAT YOUR MOTION THEN, IS TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR MINUS ITEM EIGHT, 18.

15. 15. 18? SURE. DO I HAVE A SECOND WITH ME? WELL, WE HAVE A SECOND.

I'M SORRY. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THIS ONE OFFLINE.

AND WE HAVE. SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA TO, UH.

MAN, I JUST DREW A BLANK TO APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 28 MINUS ITEM 15, WHICH WILL TAKE FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.

RIGHT. LET ME OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 28.

MINUS ITEM 15, NOT ANYONE.

WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD BACK UP TO THE DAIS.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

NEXT WE WILL. WE WILL BRING UP ITEM 15.

MRS YES.

SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE COMMENTS? I WOULD. I JUST LIKE AN ADVANCE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF MAYBE US PASSING THIS.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS IS A PROGRAM I'M PROUD TO SAY MY SON JUST GOT MARRIED THIS WEEKEND AND HE HAS ALREADY BEEN ENCOURAGED.

I DO GIVE HIM A CHOICE, BUT HE DEFINITELY WANTS TO ATTEND AND AND LEARN FROM THIS PROGRAM.

LAMAR HAS DONE SUCH A FANTASTIC JOB.

WE GO WAY BACK TO COLLEGE.

I KNOW I SAY THIS EVERY YEAR.

WE ALWAYS SAY GO BLUE DEVILS BECAUSE WE WERE THERE TOGETHER AND HE WAS AN EXTREMELY GOOD LEADER THERE.

HE LED BY EXAMPLE.

WE ALL LOOKED UP TO HIM AND THIS IS A REALLY GOOD PROGRAM.

AND I JUST ENCOURAGE I'D LIKE TO SEE THE PRESENTATION ON THIS AGAIN.

I DID WEAR THE BOW TIE AND I WANT TO PUT OUT THE CHALLENGE TO MY COLLEAGUES NEXT MONTH FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE, AFTER WE PASS THIS ALL DADS MATTER.

GOT TO WEAR BOW TIES IN SUPPORT.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. WE WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS 15 NOT SEE ANYONE.

WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

WE DO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU GUYS TO DO A PRESENTATION AFTER THE VOTE HERE.

SO WITH THAT WE HAVE ITEM.

[00:50:04]

DO WE OR DO YOU WANT TO DO IT SEPARATE? ANGIE I'M JUST GOING TO SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

SO AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE WE HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS FROM THE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY.

BUT FIRST WE WILL START OFF WITH MISTER LAMAR HENDERSON JUNIOR TO PROVIDE A PRESENTATION ON ALL DADS MATTER MONTH.

GOOD MORNING BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS ALONG WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND STAFF.

MY NAME IS LAMAR HENDERSON AND I'M A FAMILY SERVICES SUPERVISOR WITH THE MERCER COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY.

ALL DADS MATTER FATHERHOOD PROGRAM.

IT IS MY DISTINCT PLEASURE TO HUMBLY REPRESENT THIS AMAZING WORK, THIS PASSIONATE WORK THAT'S TAKING PLACE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

BEFORE WE BEFORE I GO INTO A PRESENTATION PIECE, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO SOME OF MY PASSIONATE TEAM MEMBERS WHO ARE JUST EXTREMELY COMMITTED AND DEDICATED COMMUNITY HELPERS, COMMUNITY SERVANTS.

AND SO WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MISTER ADRIAN ESPINOSA, WHO'S OUR LEAD.

MISTER EVERARDO SAHAGUN, WHO DOES A LOT OF OUR WORK IN SPANISH AND HELPS WITH OUR SUPERIOR COURT SELF-HELP STUFF.

MISTER SAM RANGEL, WHO IS A CO FACILITATOR OF OUR MEN'S SUPPORT GROUPS AND JUST JUST AN AMAZING SERVANT OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THEN MISTER RICHARD BROWN, WHO IS OUR LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER, ALL DADS MATTER PROVIDES ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT AND EDUCATION TO THE FATHERS AND FAMILIES OF OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT FATHERHOOD IS TO OUR CHILDREN, OUR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND WE OFFER AND WE WE PROVIDE WE SUPPORT THAT BY PROVIDING DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE FATHERS WITH THE DIFFERENT SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT THEY NEED AT THE DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES FOR THEIR CHILDREN, FOR THOSE WHO ARE EXPECTING NEW BABIES OR HAVE NEW BABIES, WE OFFER A WORKSHOP CALLED BOOT CAMP FOR NEW DADS, WHICH IS A ONE DAY, THREE HOUR WORKSHOP FOR FIRST TIME EXPECTANT FATHERS.

AND I'M ALWAYS PROUD TO SAY THAT WE HAVE A BOOT CAMP GRAD ON THE DIOCESE, MISTER JOSH PEDROSO, WHO IS A BOOT CAMP DAD.

IT'S A ONE DAY, THREE HOUR WORKSHOP FOR FIRST TIMER EXPECTANT FATHERS.

WE ALSO HAVE AN ALL DADS MATTER RESOURCE CENTER, WHICH IS BASICALLY A ONE STOP FOR DADS TO COME IN AND FAMILIES TO COME IN AND GET CONNECTED WITH SUPPORT SUPPORTS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, BE IT GOVERNMENT BASED, COMMUNITY BASED, FAITH BASED OR NONPROFITS.

WE WANT TO BE THERE FOR THEM.

IT'S A SAFE SPACE.

ONE PERSON I FAILED TO MENTION WHO IS NOT HERE TODAY, WHO IS HOLDING IT DOWN AT THE OFFICE IS OUR OFFICE ASSISTANT, MISS JOANNE RAMIREZ.

WE AFFECTIONATELY REFER TO HER AS ROZ, AND IF ANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN THE SHOW MONSTERS INC NEVER MESS WITH ROZ AND ALWAYS GET YOUR PAPERWORK IN.

ABSOLUTELY. WE ALSO OFFER FOR A CATALOG OF MALE ENGAGEMENT WORKSHOPS THAT WE OFFER AT EVERY HEAD START SITE IN THE COUNTY 32 TIMES A YEAR.

AND SO IT'S A GREAT RELATIONSHIP.

WE HAVE GREAT PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, BE IT CHILD SUPPORT, BE IT FAMILY COURT, BE IT THE MERCED OFFICES OF EDUCATION AND CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES.

SO WE HAVE GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH PROBATION AND A LOT OF OUR FOLKS THAT SERVE OUR COMMUNITY WITHIN OUR COUNTY.

WE ARE EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO OFFER THIS YEAR, ON JUNE 10TH OR I BELIEVE IT'S OUR 17TH ANNUAL CELEBRATION.

FATHERHOOD EVENT AT APPLEGATE PARK.

WE PARTNERED WITH THE GREATER MERCED KIWANIS TO OFFER KIDDIELAND.

WE PARTNERED WITH MERCED CITY PARKS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES TO HAVE THE SPACE AND HAVE APPLEGATE PARK ZOO.

WE'LL HAVE A BUBBLE ARTIST, A GAMES, SNACKS, MUSIC.

IT'S JUST A GREAT DAY TO CELEBRATE AND ENCOURAGE FATHERHOOD WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

AS MUCH AS WE ENJOY DOING THE HAPPY STUFF WITHIN OUR WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, KNOW THAT WE SERVE FATHERS AND FAMILIES ON A DEPTH OF LEVELS.

AS I SIT HERE AND SPEAK BEFORE YOU, I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK ABOUT A DAY RECENTLY WHERE I CAME TO WORK ON A MONDAY MORNING AND I GET A CALL FROM A SOCIAL WORKER SHARING THAT ONE OF OUR PREVIOUS CLIENTS HAD TAKEN HIS OWN LIFE.

BUT HE ALSO SAID WHAT WAS INTERESTING IS WHEN WE SHOWED UP ON THE SCENE, THE FIRST THING THAT HIS FAMILY SAID WAS, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SERVICES THAT HE RECEIVED WITH ALL DADS MATTER. YOU GUYS MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THAT SAME DAY.

A FEW HOURS LATER, I GET A CALL FROM ANOTHER DAD SAYING, HEY, LAMAR, I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I GOT THIS JOB.

I FOUND US A PLACE.

I'VE RECONNECTED WITH MY KIDS, AND I THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING THERE.

I KNOW I CAME IN AND CRIED ON YOUR SHOULDERS, BUT YOU WERE ALWAYS THERE FOR US.

THAT'S ALL. DADS MATTER.

THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

[00:55:01]

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW A VIDEO THAT HIGHLIGHTED OUR CELEBRATION OF FATHERHOOD CELEBRATION LAST YEAR.

I WANT TO THANK OUR TEAM, RICHARD GUERRERO AND ALEX AND HIS TEAM WHO ARE ON THE SPOT PUTTING IT TOGETHER.

AND SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, PLEASE SHARE THE VIDEO.

HI, MY NAME IS KEVIN, FATHER OF THREE HERE AT THE ALL DADS MATTER AT THE APPLEGATE PARK ZOO.

HAVING A LITTLE GET TOGETHER WITH THE FAMILY.

THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING A DAD IS JUST WATCHING YOUR CHILDREN GROW UP, SPENDING TIME WITH THEM, WATCHING THEM LEARN NEW THINGS, EXPLORING NEW THINGS.

BE THE BEST PART OF BEING A DAD TO ME.

NAME IS MATT SERRATO. I'M THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF MERCED.

FATHERS ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE FAMILIES AND PARENTS ARE THE FUNDAMENTAL INSTITUTION OF OUR SOCIETY.

FATHERS, MOTHERS AS WELL IMPART KNOWLEDGE, WISDOM, VALUES, EVERYTHING ON OUR CHILDREN.

TRULY. FAMILIES ARE THE FUNDAMENTAL INSTITUTION AND THE FUNDAMENTAL FOUNDATION THAT OUR REST OF OUR SOCIETY IS BUILT ON.

SO FATHERHOOD IS AN ENORMOUS, ENORMOUS PIECE OF THAT.

AND WE NEED ALL AGAIN, ALL DADS MATTER.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO RAISING CHILDREN, INSTILLING VALUES IN OUR CHILDREN, INSTILLING CULTURE, JUST INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT IN EVERY SINGLE WAY.

WHAT I WANT MY SON OR MY CHILDREN TO KNOW WHEN IT COMES TO HOW I FEEL ABOUT THEM IS I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT I'M A PERSON THAT THEY CAN COME TO WHENEVER THEY NEED TO TALK TO SOMEBODY THAT THEY CAN TRUST AND CONFIDE IN ME SO THAT I CAN HELP THEM WITH WHATEVER CONFLICTS OR PROBLEMS MAY ARISE IN THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PLAYING OUR VIDEO.

NONE OF THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT THE INTENSE SUPPORT OF OUR LEADERSHIP.

NONE OF THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT THE TRUST THAT WE'VE DEVELOPED WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO I WANT TO THANK OUR LEADERS.

I WANT TO THANK OUR DIRECTOR.

I WANT TO THANK OUR COMMUNITY FOR SUPPORTING FATHERHOOD.

WE CONTINUE. I WAS RECENTLY ON A WEBINAR WITH THE NATIONAL RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD CLEARINGHOUSE, AND THE TOPIC WAS WHY SHOULD FATHERHOOD PROGRAMS SERVE FATHERS WITH MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS? AND MY FIRST INSTINCT IS LIKE, WHY ARE WE ASKING WHY? RIGHT? WHY ARE WE ASKING? WHY DO WE REALLY NEED TO VALIDATE WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT? BECAUSE THAT'S AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S ABOUT HOW THAT THAT FATHER'S INFLUENCE, AS HE HELPS TO SHAPE AND MOLD THE WAY THAT CHILD SEES THEMSELVES GROWING UP.

AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT COMPONENT OF THAT IS DEFINITELY THAT OF FATHERS.

BUT AS I WAS ON THE THE WEBINAR, AS ONE OF THE PANELISTS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STUCK OUT FOR US IN NEARLY 20 YEARS OF FATHERHOOD SERVICE MERCED COUNTY CONTINUES TO BE THE MODEL, CONTINUES TO BE THE MODEL.

I WAS ON THE PANEL WITH A GENTLEMAN FROM KENTUCKY, ANOTHER GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.

WE WERE THE ONLY PROGRAM REPRESENTED WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI ON THIS ON THIS WEBINAR.

AND I CAN TELL YOU WHEN I TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER AND A STATE CERTIFIED DRUG AND ALCOHOL SPECIALIST ON OUR TEAM PROVIDING DIRECT SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY, THEY DIDN'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THAT.

THEY WERE LIKE, WELL, WE CAN'T EVEN COMPETE WITH THAT.

I'M LIKE, WELL, DON'T COMPETE.

JUST, YOU KNOW, PARTICIPATE AND BE A PART OF IT AND UNDERSTAND THAT THAT MAKES US UNIQUE, THAT MAKES US DISTINCT, DISTINCTIVE, AND THAT KEEPS US AHEAD OF THE GAME WHEN IT COMES TO SERVING FATHERS IN THESE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND I APPRECIATE IT.

HAVE A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU.

LAMAR. APPRECIATE IT.

AND JUST KNOW THAT YOU'RE A BIG PART OF WHY MERCED COUNTY IS IS KIND OF THE LEADER ON THIS.

I MEAN, SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD NOW FIVE YEARS, I JUST ASSOCIATE YOU WITH ALL DADS MATTER EVERY TIME.

[01:00:01]

AND, AND I GUESS AS AS ELECTEDS, AS LEADERS, IT REALLY MAKES IT AN EASY CALL, RIGHT? IT JUST IS BECAUSE WE MEASURE YOUR ENTHUSIASM AND IT'S IT'S A GREAT DEAL.

AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU AND THANK ALL THE GENTLEMEN.

AND ROZ IS BACK AT THE OFFICE FOR FOR ALL THAT YOU GUYS DO TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE DADS AND MERCED COUNTY.

SO APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHT.

NEXT, I WILL HAVE ROSALINA VALENCIA TO PROVIDE COMMENTS REGARDING THE ELDER DEPENDENT ADULT ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH.

GOOD MORNING.

I AM ROSA VALENCIA HERE TODAY TO HIGHLIGHT BOARD AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 16.

MERCED COUNTY'S ADULT AND AGING SERVICES HAS BEEN HONORING SENIORS FOR THE OLDER AMERICAN RECOGNITION THIS MONTH OF MAY.

THIS YEAR'S THEME IS AGING UNBOUND.

WE HAVE HAD A SERIES OF EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY WITH OUR LAST EVENT OF THE MONTH TAKING PLACE TOMORROW AT THE WINTON COMMUNITY CENTER FROM 10:30 A.M.

TO 1 P.M.

WE ASK THAT YOU JOIN US.

IN ADDITION, WORLD ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY, OR WE ADD, IS ON JUNE 15TH.

WE CONTINUE TO HONOR OUR ELDER ADULTS BY HOSTING BY HOSTING AN AWARENESS EVENT ON THURSDAY, JUNE 15TH, FROM 1 P.M.

TO 3 P.M.

AT THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING, LOCATED AT 851 WEST 23RD STREET IN MERCED.

WE ASK THE COMMUNITY TO WEAR PURPLE IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE WE ADD MOVEMENT AND JOIN US TO PROMOTE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT OF OLDER PERSONS BY RAISING AWARENESS OF THE CULTURAL, SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC PROCESSES AFFECTING ELDER ABUSE AND NEGLECT.

TO HIGHLIGHT OUR COUNTY'S EFFORTS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF OUR ELDER AND DEPENDENT ADULTS IN 2022, APS RECEIVED OVER 1490 ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT.

THE LONG TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN RECEIVED OVER 192 FOR INDIVIDUALS IN FACILITIES.

OUR ENHANCED CASE MANAGEMENT SOCIAL WORKER PLACED WITH MERCED POLICE DEPARTMENT'S DART PROGRAM HAS ENGAGED WITH CLOSE TO 200 INDIVIDUAL CALLS OUT IN THE FIELD SINCE THE START OF THE PILOT LAST YEAR.

WE HAVE PROVIDED TEMPORARY HOUSING TO 38 INDIVIDUALS, ASSISTED 12 INDIVIDUALS RETURNED TO THEIR COUNTY OR STATE OF ORIGIN, AND SIX INDIVIDUALS WERE REUNITED WITH FAMILY MEMBERS.

WE ARE WORKING WITH MERCY MEDICAL TO GET STATISTICS.

HOWEVER, WE SEE THAT THERE IS A DECREASE IN HOSPITAL USE BY THESE INDIVIDUALS.

HOME SAFE HAS ASSISTED 93 INDIVIDUALS WITH A COMBINATION OF CASE MANAGEMENT, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND REFERRALS TO OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS.

HOME SAFE HAS HOUSED 19 INDIVIDUALS AND HAS ASSISTED IN HOUSING PRESERVATION OF 45 OTHERS.

WE HAVE A NEW LONG TERM CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM STARTING IN JULY, WHICH AIMS TO PROVIDE SERVICE PLAN MONITORING IN ORDER TO MITIGATE ONGOING RISK OF OTHERS.

APS AND OMBUDSMAN WORK DAILY TO HONOR THE DIGNITY OF THE PERSON AND ALLOW FOR SELF-DETERMINATION WHILE ADDRESSING RISK AND SAFETY CONCERNS. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REPORT ELDER OR DEPENDENT ADULT ABUSE OR NEGLECT, CALL OUR 24 HOUR HOTLINE AT (209) 385-3105. OR TO REACH THE OMBUDSMAN, CALL 209 3857402. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK SOCIAL WORKERS FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO THE BOARD FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND TIME.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. SORRY, COULD YOU CUT? I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A QUESTION HERE OR A COMMENT.

YEAH. YOU KNOW, ONE, I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT DOES.

JUST, YOU KNOW, THERE'S PEOPLE LISTENING AND AND COULD YOU GIVE A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF THE KIND OF ABUSE THAT HAPPENS SO THAT IF SOMEBODY SEEING IT GOING ON AND THEY'RE WONDERING, WELL, SHOULD I SAY SOMETHING OR NOT, IT MIGHT ENCOURAGE THEM TO SAY SOMETHING.

[01:05:01]

SOMETIMES FAMILY MEMBERS GET OVERWHELMED AND THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THERE ARE RESOURCES OUT THERE TO ASSIST THEM IN THEIR COMPASSION FATIGUE. FINANCIAL ABUSE DEFINITELY IS ONE OF THEM WHERE IT CAN BE RELATIVES OR FRIENDS OR PEOPLE THAT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR FINANCES OR THEIR USE OF THEIR THEIR, YOU KNOW, VEHICLES, BANK ACCOUNTS WITHOUT CONSENT.

SO. THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF ABUSE THAT THAT WE THAT WE INVESTIGATE THROUGH APPS.

SO IF A IF A GRANDFATHER OR GRANDMOTHER HAS GIVEN A GRANDCHILD, AN ADULT GRANDCHILD MONEY, THAT'S OKAY.

BUT IF THEY DO IT WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT, THEN IT BECOMES ABUSE.

IS THAT RIGHT? CORRECT.

YES. THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU.

HOLD ON ONE SECOND. I HAVE SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

YES. THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION.

AND I WANT TO SAY THAT NEGLECT WITH THE SENIOR CITIZENS IS SOMETHING THAT'S INCREDIBLY HARMFUL BECAUSE WE WERE AT THE TRIPLE AA MEETING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO OR I THINK IT WAS MAYBE TWO MONTHS AGO, WHERE THEY SAID THAT ISOLATIONISM AMONGST SENIOR CITIZENS WAS LIKE SMOKING NINE PACKS OF CIGARETS THAT'S HOW NEGLECTFUL OR HARMFUL IT IS FOR THEIR HEALTH. SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, WE DO A LOT FOR YOUTH AND MAKING SURE WE REACH OUT TO YOUTH, BUT ALSO LET'S MAKE SURE WE'RE TAKING CARE OF OUR SENIORS AS WELL.

DEFINITELY. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

YES. I'LL SHARE A QUICK STORY REALLY QUICKLY THEN I'LL GO TO SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

I HAD SOME FOLKS THAT WERE STAYING AT A SENIOR FACILITY AND THEY WERE NOT HAPPY WITH THE FOOD THERE.

AND SO THEY CALLED ME AND THE OMBUDSMAN GOT A CALL BECAUSE THEY JUST WEREN'T REALLY HAPPY.

AND SO I REACHED OUT TO DIRECTOR BROWN AND ASKED, I SAID, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU DO IN THIS CASE? AND SO IT COULD BE I BELIEVE IT COULD BE AS SEVERE AS AS, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THEM FINANCIALLY OR NEGLECTING THEM.

BUT THESE FOLKS THAT ARE IN THESE, YOU KNOW, ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES OR RETIREMENT FACILITIES, SOMETIMES THEY NEED A VOICE AS WELL.

AND I KNOW THAT THAT THAT THE OMBUDSMAN IS OMBUDSMAN IS THE ONE WHO KIND OF IS THE ADVOCATE FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THOSE FACILITIES.

CORRECT? SO SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I'VE HAD A SIMILAR COMPLAINT AS WELL.

THEY WERE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE FOOD AT THEIR FACILITY.

BUT NO, YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT REALLY CAUGHT MY ATTENTION.

COMPASSION FATIGUE.

YES, I COULD.

I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE THAT.

BUT I CAN SEE HOW IT CAN HAPPEN.

I MEAN, CARING FOR MY MY FATHER IN LAW.

BUT IT WAS THERE WAS AN END.

BUT I CAN SEE FOR ONGOING WHERE THE COMPASSION FATIGUE COULD SET IN.

BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE SOMEHOW REACH OUT TO THOSE FOLKS TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THAT IS REAL.

BECAUSE I THINK AT SOME POINT YOU'RE THINKING LIKE, I SHOULDN'T I SHOULDN'T BE THIS WAY.

WHY AM I FEELING THIS WAY? BUT IT IS REAL.

AND IF THEY REACH OUT TO YOU, THEY CAN YOU CAN HELP WITH THAT? YES, WE CAN HELP THEM BY REACHING OUT TO ALL THE RESOURCES.

THERE ARE OTHER AGENCIES THAT ASSIST WITH CAREGIVING SUPPORT.

WE CAN LET YOU KNOW IF THERE'S ANY CLASSES THAT ARE GOING AROUND OR CONNECT THEM SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE SOMEONE TO TALK TO AND HAVE, MORE THAN ANYTHING, A SUPPORT PROGRAM.

A SUPPORT PERSON.

YEAH, THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT WORK.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ON TO BOARD ACTIONS BEGINNING WITH PUBLIC HEALTH ITEMS, 29 THROUGH

[BOARD ACTION]

THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 29 THROUGH 31.

NOT SEEING ANY. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS AND WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA. WE CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

NEXT, WE HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES ITEMS, 32 AND 33.

ALL RIGHT. THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON ITEMS 32 AND 33.

NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL BRING IT BACK UP TO WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, BRING IT BACK UP TO THE DAIS WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND A SECOND BY

[01:10:01]

CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

NEXT, WE HAVE THE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY ITEMS 34 THROUGH 39.

IT SAYS 15 ON THE PAPER UP THERE.

ONE MOMENT. SO WHILE THEY'RE WORKING ON THAT, THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON ITEMS 34 THROUGH 39.

NOT SEE ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

NEXT ON OUR LIST IS COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

ITEM 40.

AT THIS TIME, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM 40 AND NOT SEEING ANYONE.

WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND BRING IT BACK TO THE DAYS WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

NEXT UP IS WORKFORCE INVESTMENT.

ITEM 41.

PLEASE NOTE THIS ITEM REQUIRES A 4/5 VOTE.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL NOW OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEM NUMBER 41.

I'M NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA. AND I HAVE MR..

MCDANIEL IN THE QUEUE.

SUPERVISOR. YEAH.

I JUST LIKE TO LET ERIC KNOW THAT IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO VOTE ON THESE UP HERE BECAUSE DURING THE MEETINGS THAT THE IN THE COMMITTEE, I CAN'T VOTE FOR THEM.

I ALWAYS HAVE TO STEP ASIDE.

SO IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO VOTE ON THEM HERE.

THANKS. PERFECT.

ALL RIGHT. UH, THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS.

I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

NEXT UP, WE HAVE ELECTIONS ITEM 42.

AND AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO CALL UP OUR REGISTRAR OF VOTERS, MR. MEL LEVY, WHO WILL BE PROVIDING US WITH A PRESENTATION.

GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN SILVEIRA.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, CEO MENDEZ COUNTY COUNSEL HANSON.

GUESTS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

JUST OVER FOUR MONTHS AGO, YOU APPOINTED ME TO THIS POSITION.

AND TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ABOUT THE REGISTRAR OF VOTERS AND ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT.

NEXT SLIDE. AS WE PREPARE TO ADMINISTER MAJOR ELECTIONS NEXT YEAR, I'VE DESIGNATED THREE FOCUS AREAS FOR THE DEPARTMENT.

TEAM TRAINING AND TECHNOLOGY ON THE TEAM OR HUMAN TALENT FRONT.

WE'VE MADE GREAT PROGRESS IN RUNNING MULTIPLE SEARCHES TO FILL EVERY FULL TIME VACANCY IN THE DEPARTMENT.

THE INFUSION OF NEW TALENT WILL SOON GIVE THE DEPARTMENT A LEVEL OF OPERATIONAL CAPACITY THAT IT HAS SIMPLY NOT HAD BEFORE.

AMONG THE NEW HIRES IS AN EXPERIENCED ELECTION CYBERSECURITY AND IT EXPERT WHO'S ALREADY ASSISTING US IN EMBRACING THE MOST CUTTING EDGE SECURITY FEATURES, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME STANDARDIZING OUR EQUIPMENT, PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES TO ENSURE MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY AND ACCURACY.

IN ADDITION, WITH NEW STAFF MEMBERS ON BOARD, I'M NOW CONDUCTING AN ASSESSMENT TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE ORGANIZED PROPERLY, TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE ALIGNING DUTIES TO OUR SKILLS AND PLACING OUR TALENTED WORKFORCE IN THE BEST POSSIBLE POSITION TO SUCCEED.

TRAINING WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

THE CENTER COLUMN THERE IS CRITICAL AND WE'VE IDENTIFIED NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE OUR TRAINING REGIMEN.

IT IS NOW ANCHORED BY WEEKLY DEPARTMENTAL LEVEL TRAINING, DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE COHESIVENESS, THE KNOWLEDGE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR STAFF.

WITH NEW MEMBERS JOINING THE TEAM, WE HAVE REVAMPED OUR ONBOARD TRAINING TO ENSURE BASELINE LEVELS OF PERFORMANCE, WHICH HAS BECOME EVEN MORE IMPORTANT.

LASTLY, WE'VE BEGUN OUTLINING OUR STAFF TRAINING ON OUR ELECTIONS EQUIPMENT, BOTH LEGACY AND UPGRADED EQUIPMENT TO ENSURE THAT WE THAT WE OPERATE OUR SYSTEMS DURING ELECTION SEASON AND BEYOND AS EXPERTS.

THE LAST COLUMN THERE ON THE RIGHT.

AS YOU KNOW, TECHNOLOGY IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF WHAT WE DO.

IN FACT, IT'S NECESSARY TO ACCURATELY AND EFFICIENTLY ADMINISTER OUR ELECTIONS.

HAVING ASSESSED OUR CURRENT SYSTEMS, WE IDENTIFIED AREAS TO IMPROVE, INCLUDING UPGRADED SYSTEMS THAT ENHANCE SECURITY, USABILITY CAPACITY AND INCORPORATE REDUCED COMPLEXITY THAT COULD LEAD TO DELAY OR ERROR.

WE'VE THOROUGHLY COMBED THROUGH OUR CURRENT FISCAL YEAR BUDGET TO ALLOCATE SAVINGS FROM SOME AREAS TOWARDS THE PROCUREMENT OF THAT EQUIPMENT, AND I'LL SPEAK TO THOSE BUDGET TRANSFERS HERE IN A MINUTE.

[01:15:01]

THIS CENTER WILL PROVIDE A CONTINUOUS IN-HOUSE CAPABILITY TO INTEGRATE, ANALYZE AND APPLY GIS DATA AND OTHER TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS TO THE CRITICAL MAPPING AND DATA DRIVEN TASKS THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS.

AS YOU KNOW, THESE ARE NO FAIL TASKS AND TRAINING AND BUILDING THAT CAPACITY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT IS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN ENSURING THESE CRITICAL SKILLS ARE BUILT ORGANICALLY AND EMBEDDED THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. ON THE SUBJECT OF MAPPING, I WANTED TO SPECIFICALLY UPDATE YOU TODAY ON THE MERCED COUNTY REDISTRICTING 2023 PROJECT.

NOW, THIS IS A LOT OF WORDS ON THIS SLIDE, BUT THIS IS ONE OF THE DOCUMENTS THAT WE KIND OF USE TO TO KEEP OURSELVES ON ON TASK WITH THIS PROJECT TO ENSURE COMPLETE ACCURACY AND CONFIDENCE IN OUR MAPS, OUR BOUNDARIES AND OUR PRECINCT LINES.

MY DEPARTMENT HAS UNDERTAKEN A 100% REVIEW OF ALL LINES AND MAPS IN THE COUNTY.

WE ARE CONDUCTING A FOUR PHASE PROJECT TO ENSURE THAT OUR MAPS AND ASSOCIATED VOTER DATA IS UPDATED FOLLOWING THE LATEST CENSUS, DRAWN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ELECTIONS CODE AND PLACES VOTERS IN CORRECT LOCATIONS AND DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

PHASE ONE IS A COMPLETE REVIEW AND ADJUSTMENT WHERE NECESSARY OF ALL BOUNDARY AND DISTRICT LINES.

STEP ONE OF THAT PHASE WAS TO RECEIVE THE DISTRICT MAPS FROM ALL THE VARIOUS DISTRICTS, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WATER DISTRICTS, OTHER JURISDICTIONS IN THE COUNTY.

NEXT, WE IDENTIFIED ANY GAPS, OVERLAPS AND OTHER DISCREPANCIES WITH THESE MAPS.

WE DRILLED DOWN TO EACH PARCEL AND EVEN FURTHER TO ENSURE THAT WE FOUND ANY AREAS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

WE'RE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF ADJUDICATING AND FIXING THOSE DISCREPANCIES.

IN MOST CASES, THEY'RE MINOR TWEAKS TO ADJUST BOUNDARY LINES TO MORE FULLY INCORPORATE PARCEL OR TAX RATE AREA INFORMATION.

ONCE THIS FIRST PHASE IS COMPLETE, IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, EVERY DISTRICT WILL BE ABLE TO RECERTIFY THEIR MAPS USING NOT JUST PAPER MAPS, BUT THE LATEST IN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY. PHASE TWO WILL BE A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF ALL PRECINCT LINES WITHIN THE COUNTY.

WE WILL ENSURE THAT ALL PRECINCT LINES ARE DRAWN TO CODE WITH A NAMING CONVENTION THAT ALLOWS FOR EFFICIENT PROCESSING OF OUR DATA.

AT THE END OF THIS PHASE, IN THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS, ALL VOTERS WILL BE ALIGNED IN THEIR CORRECT PRECINCTS AND IN THEIR CORRECT DISTRICTS.

AT THAT POINT, I WILL HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE THAT WE ARE READY TO EXECUTE AND ADMINISTER OUR ELECTIONS ACCURATELY.

BUT WE ARE NOT STOPPING THERE.

PHASE THREE OF THIS PROJECT WILL SEE US CONVERT VOTER LOCATION DATA.

TO A SINGLE POINT ADDRESS CONVENTION IN CONVENTION IN CONNECTION WITH OUR GIS DATA.

THIS WILL ALLOW US TO BECOME EVEN MORE PRECISE WITH OUR MAPPING AND ENABLE US TO USE MORE TOOLS TO CORRECTLY PRECINCT OUR VOTERS AND CHECK AND RECHECK OUR VOTER ROLLS FOR ACCURACY.

FINALLY, WE HAVE PHASE FOUR, WHICH WILL CONSIST OF ONGOING MAINTENANCE OF OUR PROCESSES AS NEW VOTERS AND NEW ADDRESSES ARE ADDED TO THE SYSTEM, OR AS VOTERS MOVE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY OR INTO THE COUNTY OR OUT OF THE COUNTY.

THROUGHOUT THIS PROJECT, WE ARE DOCUMENTING AND CREATING THE WRITTEN TRAINING PROCEDURES AND PROCESSES.

LITERALLY, WE ARE WRITING THE BOOK TO ENSURE THAT THIS EXPERTISE, WHICH WE'RE SPENDING SO MANY HOURS BUILDING, CAN BE MAINTAINED AND BUILT UPON.

I WANT TO SPECIFICALLY CALL OUT THE MERCED COUNTY GIS TEAM, JEAN AND CHRISTY IN PARTICULAR.

THEY'VE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN ASSISTING AND TRAINING MY STAFF AND THEIR WORK IS CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS THAT WE ARE DOING AS WELL AS OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND PARTICULARLY THEIR EMBRACE OF THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY THAT IS OUT THERE REALLY GIVES THIS COUNTY INCREDIBLE TOOLS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO USE.

NEXT SLIDE. LAST MONTH, AS YOU KNOW, THIS BOARD APPROVED SEVERAL BUDGET TRANSFERS THAT WILL ALLOW THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT TO BETTER SERVE THE PUBLIC.

AMONG THOSE ITEMS WAS A SERVER UPGRADE, JUST NEW POLL PADS.

IN ADDITION, WE WERE ABLE TO ALLOCATE FUNDS FOR THE PURCHASE OF SIX ADDITIONAL SECURE DROP BOXES, WHICH WE'VE ALREADY DELIVERED THERE AT THE WAREHOUSE.

WE ARE CURRENTLY ASSESSING THE BEST LOCATIONS FOR THESE ADDITIONAL DROP BOXES SO THAT WE CAN BETTER SERVE EVERY COMMUNITY BIG AND SMALL THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

LASTLY, YOU APPROVE FUNDS TO PURCHASE CAMERA AND PRINTING EQUIPMENT FOR PASSPORT PHOTOS.

THAT EQUIPMENT WILL SOON BE PURCHASED AND THEN WE WILL BE ABLE TO BEGIN OPERATIONS AS A TRUE ONE.

STOP SHOP FOR PASSPORT SERVICES.

ON A RELATED NOTE, I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT IN THE LAST FOUR WEEKS WE'VE SUCCESSFULLY REDUCED OUR PASSPORT APPLICATION APPOINTMENT TIMES FROM 30 TO 15 MINUTES, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY DOUBLED OUR CAPACITY TO PROCESS PASSPORTS, RESULTING NOT ONLY IN MORE THROUGHPUT BUT IN REDUCED LEAD TIMES TO SCHEDULE THOSE APPOINTMENTS.

NEXT SLIDE. TODAY, IN SUPPORT OF OUR EFFORTS TO UPGRADE EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY, I'M REQUESTING AN INTRA DEPARTMENT TRANSFER OF FUNDS SO THAT WE CAN ALLOCATE THEM AGAINST THE PURCHASE OF 26 NEW DS 300 POLL PLACE SCANNERS AND TABULATORS AND TWO NEW DS 950 HIGH SPEED SCANNERS AND TABULATORS.

THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS COMPLETING FINAL CERTIFICATION OF THIS EQUIPMENT AND PENDING THAT EXPECTED ACTION, WE CAN FINALIZE THE PURCHASE ORDER FOR SIGNATURE BY THE

[01:20:07]

THESE MACHINES ARE THE LATEST IN SCANNING TECHNOLOGY FROM ESNS, A VENDOR AND PARTNER THAT WE'VE HAD GREAT SUCCESS WITH HERE FOR YEARS.

WHILE OUR CURRENT EQUIPMENT HAS PERFORMED ADMIRABLY, THESE UPGRADED MACHINES INCLUDE ADDITIONAL SECURITY FEATURES, MORE ACCURATE INTEGRATED SOFTWARE AND INCREASED CAPACITY. THESE FEATURES WILL IMPROVE OUR ABILITY TO TABULATE VOTES AND REDUCE THE NEED TO SEND BALLOTS FOR MANUAL ADJUDICATION.

THE RESULT IS FEWER MAN HOURS FOR STAFF AND MORE ACCURATE AND EFFICIENT REPORTING OF RESULTS.

INCORPORATING THESE MACHINES INTO OUR OPERATIONS NOW NEAR THE BEGINNING OF THEIR USEFUL LIVES ENSURES THAT WE CAN MAKE USE OF THESE THINGS FOR YEARS TO COME.

WE WILL BE TRAINING ON THESE MACHINES ONCE THEY'RE DELIVERED, CONDUCTING MOCK ELECTIONS IN ADVANCE OF THE MAJOR ELECTIONS THAT WILL BE ADMINISTERED NEXT YEAR.

TRAINING AND MAINTENANCE WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE CONTRACT FOR THESE MACHINES IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THEIR PURCHASE.

THEREAFTER, WE WILL HAVE AN ONGOING MAINTENANCE AND SOFTWARE COSTS FOR THESE SCANNERS AND TABULATORS THAT ONGOING COST DOESN'T NECESSARILY REPRESENT A NEW COST AS WE HAVE A SIMILAR ANNUAL MAINTENANCE AND SOFTWARE COSTS FOR OUR CURRENT MACHINES.

BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT FOR THESE MACHINES, JUST LIKE THE CURRENT ONES THAT THEY'LL BE REPLACING, THE MAINTENANCE COST AND SOFTWARE DOES REPRESENT ABOUT A $20,000 ANNUAL COST.

NEXT SLIDE. CLEARLY, THERE IS A LOT GOING ON IN THE DEPARTMENT AND I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF THE BOARD AND THE CEO'S OFFICE HERE ALONG THE WAY.

THE TEAM THAT I WORK WITH IN THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT IS A TALENTED, DEDICATED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE GROUP.

REALLY, THEY'RE ROCK STARS DOWN THERE AND I'M EXCITED TO SHOWCASE THEIR WORK HERE OVER THE NEXT MONTHS AND PARTICULARLY NEXT YEAR.

WE WILL NOT BE RESTING IN THE FUTURE.

OUR NEXT BIG MILESTONE WILL BE THE COMPLETION OF THE REDISTRICTING WORK THAT I SPOKE ABOUT IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

IN ADDITION, WE WILL CONTINUE AND EVEN INCREASE OUR SUBSTANTIAL OUTREACH EFFORTS TO THE PUBLIC.

BUILDING OFF THE OUTREACH WORK WE'VE BEGUN DOING WITH CIVIC AND SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE COUNTY, I WILL SOON BE REACHING OUT TO MUNICIPAL AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, SPEAKING TO THEM OF THE WORK WE'RE DOING AND INVITING THEM TO BE A PARTNER IN OUR ELECTIONS, WHETHER AT THE SPRING FAIR AND LOS BANOS OR AT DOWNTOWN.

TONIGHT OR DOZENS OF OTHER EVENTS.

MY TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO GET OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY BUILDING TRUST AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS.

WE WILL ALSO MAKE USE OF TECHNOLOGY OLD AND NEW, TO REACH OUT TO THE PUBLIC VIA MAIL, RADIO AND OTHER DIGITAL MEANS TO ENSURE THAT WE REINFORCE THE THEMES THAT I'VE SPOKEN ABOUT TODAY. OTHER STEPS THAT WE'RE TAKING INCLUDE REORGANIZING OUR CENTRAL ACCOUNT WAREHOUSE FACILITY TO ENHANCE OBSERVER AREAS AND IMPROVE THE FLOW OF OPERATIONS, WHICH SHOULD REDUCE DELAYS AND INCORPORATE EVEN MORE SECURITY.

AND I'D LIKE TO INVITE ALL OF YOU OUT TO THE WAREHOUSE FOR A TOUR.

ONCE WE ONCE WE GET THAT ON LINE HERE THIS SUMMER, AMONG OTHER THINGS, WE LOOK FORWARD TO PASSPORT EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY, OFFERING WALK UP SERVICE AND BETTER SERVING OUR RESIDENTS. I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THAT MY TEAM IS DOING.

I'M EAGER TO SHOW MERCED COUNTY THAT THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO CONDUCT ELECTIONS IN A FREE, FAIR AND TRANSPARENT MANNER, ALWAYS ACCORDING TO THE LAW, WHILE PROVIDING EVERY VOTER THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE.

THANK YOU. NOW, DON'T GO ANYWHERE.

I GOT QUESTIONS IN THE QUEUE FOR YOU IF WE CAN GET THE LIGHTS.

SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MEL, THANKS FOR THAT PRESENTATION.

I KNOW WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS SINCE YOU'VE TAKEN THIS POSITION AND YOU HAVE STEPPED UP AND DONE.

YOU'VE DONE WAY MORE THAN WHAT I EVER EXPECTED ON THIS BECAUSE THE ELECTION INTEGRITY IS THE HEART AND SOUL OF UNITED STATES AND OUR DEMOCRACY.

AND I APPRECIATE HOW YOU'VE TAKEN IT FOUR STEPS FURTHER THAN WHAT I CAN IMAGINE, BECAUSE WE NEEDED TO GAIN THAT INTEGRITY BACK HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.

AND I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR EFFORTS.

THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.

SUPERVISOR PAREIRA THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION AND OBVIOUSLY THE HARD WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE DOING.

IF YOU COULD FLIP BACK TO THE SLIDE THAT HAD THE TWO TYPES OF SCANNERS, THE DDS 300 AND THE DDS.

950 SO BOTH OF THEM SAY SCANNER AND TABULATOR.

SO I MEAN, I'VE SEEN THE SYSTEM IN THE WAREHOUSE OF HOW HOW A BALLOT COMES IN AND IT'S VETTED AND GOES THROUGH ALL THE PROCESS RIGHT.

TO MAKE SURE IT'S A LEGITIMATE BALLOT THAT IT'S SIGNED BY THE PERSON WHO'S SUPPOSED TO BE VOTING IT.

SO BUT KIND OF REASSURE ME ON THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO BE OUT AT THE POLLING PLACES, WHAT HOW DO WE TREAT THOSE AND HOW WAS THAT ALSO SAFE?

[01:25:01]

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF TALK ABOUT THEM.

SO THE DDS, THREE HUNDREDS, THOSE ARE THE POLL PLACE SCANNERS.

SO WE TYPICALLY PLACE TWO OF THOSE MACHINES AT EVERY VOTING ASSISTANCE CENTER IN THE COUNTY.

AND THAT ALLOWS VOTERS WHO WANT TO VOTE ON ELECTION DAY IN PERSON TO COME IN AND CAST A BALLOT DIRECTLY INTO THE MACHINE TO HAVE IT COUNTED RIGHT THERE ON THE SITE.

THOSE MACHINES ARE SECURE.

SO THERE A COUPLE OF SECURITY FEATURES THAT I'LL TALK ABOUT.

THEY'RE NEVER CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET.

RIGHT? SO THAT'S THAT'S A REALLY CRITICAL ONE, RIGHT? THAT IT IS A COMPLETELY ENCASED SYSTEM THAT IS TABULATING THOSE VOTES.

THEY'RE THEY'RE SECURED WITH SEALS AS WELL AS LOCKS.

AND SO WE'RE TRACKING THOSE SO THAT THERE IS A CHAIN OF CUSTODY ON NOT ONLY THE EQUIPMENT AT THOSE VOTING ASSISTANCE CENTERS, BUT ANY BALLOTS THAT ARE THAT ARE ACTUALLY RUN THROUGH THOSE TABULATORS. AND THEN WE'RE ABLE TO, AT THE END OF THE EVENING, ONCE WE'RE RETURNING THOSE THOSE MACHINES BACK TO THE WAREHOUSE FOR COUNTING, WE'RE ABLE TO ACTUALLY TRACK AND RUN REPORTS TO SEE WHAT'S BEEN RUN THROUGH THOSE AND VERIFY THAT AGAINST THE CHECK IN FOR THE VOTER ROLLS THAT WE'VE HAD AT THOSE SITES.

SO WE KIND OF HAVE MULTIPLE STEPS THERE TO KIND OF CHECK THOSE.

THE LARGER MACHINES THAT YOU SEE ON THE RIGHT THERE, THE NINE 50S, AS YOU MENTIONED, THOSE ARE DOWN AT CENTRAL COUNT DOWN AT THE WAREHOUSE.

ONCE BALLOTS ARE INSPECTED, REALLY ONCE THE SIGNATURES ON THE OUTSIDE ENVELOPE IS VERIFIED AND IT'S A SEPARATE MACHINE FROM THOSE, THEN THOSE BALLOTS ARE OPENED.

AND I KNOW, CHAIRMAN SILVERA, YOU'VE YOU'VE SEEN THE THE MACHINE CUTTING OPEN THOSE ENVELOPES.

THEN THOSE BALLOTS ARE INSPECTED AND FLATTENED AND THEN THEY'RE RUN THROUGH THAT MACHINE.

THIS UPGRADED MACHINE HERE ACTUALLY ALLOWS US TO REDUCE ERRORS OR REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF BALLOTS THAT NEED TO GO TO MANUAL ADJUDICATION SO THAT NEED TO BE KICKED OUT FOR WHATEVER REASON, SO THAT STAFF HAS TO LOOK AT IT, WHICH SHOULD ALLOW US TO COUNT QUICKER AND COUNT MORE ACCURATELY.

IT ALSO CREATES A RECORD, A VISUAL RECORD IN THE SYSTEM, THE ACTUAL SCAN OF EACH OF THOSE, SO THAT WE CAN GO THROUGH AND DO OUR AUDITS AFTERWARDS MUCH MORE QUICKLY.

I APPRECIATE THE EXPLANATION, BUT YOU MISSED ONE POINT THAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.

YES. OKAY. SO WHEN WHEN WHEN WE GET A BALLOT AT THE WAREHOUSE, IT'S PROCESSED, THE SIGNATURE IS VERIFIED, IT'S OPENED, IT'S PRESSED, IT'S.

SO WHERE IS THAT PROCESS IN THE DDS 300 SYSTEM.

YEAH. SO? SO THAT'S A GREAT POINT.

SO THOSE SYSTEMS ARE TAKING THE DDS 300.

THEY'RE ACTUALLY JUST TAKING THE BALLOT WITHOUT AN ENVELOPE.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE THAT'S FOR A VOTER WHO HAS CHECKED IN IN PERSON AND SIGNED ON ON OUR OUR IPAD INTAKE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.

SO THEY'VE SIGNED THEIR VOTER ROLL THAT THEY'RE CHECKING IN.

THEY'VE RECEIVED A BALLOT THAT'S PRINTED OUT.

THEY'RE ACTUALLY NOT RUNNING THEIR ENVELOPE THROUGH THERE.

THEY HAVE PREVIOUSLY SURRENDERED THEIR ENVELOPE AND IT HAS BEEN VOIDED.

SO THE BALLOT THAT THEY'RE RUNNING THROUGH THERE IS JUST THE BALLOT, NOT AN ENVELOPE.

AND SO IT'S ABLE TO COUNT IT ON THE SPOT BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY CHECKED IN ON THAT PULL PAD.

AND THEN AS THAT SIGNATURE THEN LATER VERIFIED OR IS IT VERIFIED WHEN THEY SIGN IT? SO SO IT IS SO IT'S VERIFIED WHEN THEY WHEN THEY'RE SIGNING IT.

WE'RE ALSO CHECKING THAT AGAINST THE VOTER ROLLS LATER ON DURING OUR DURING OUR PROCESS DOWN AT THE WAREHOUSE.

AND THANKS TO YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO EXPLAIN THAT.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WATCHING, BUT I KNOW SOME PEOPLE ARE WATCHING.

AND WHAT'S WHAT'S YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ASK ME, WELL, HOW HOW MUCH CONFIDENCE DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR SYSTEM? RIGHT. AND I TELL THEM ONCE THE BALLOT GETS TO THE COUNTY, I HAVE EXTREME.

CONFIDENCE IN IT. WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE THAT? I'M VERY SUSPECT.

IN FACT, I HAD A PERSON TELL ME THEY WERE CHEATING AND UNFORTUNATELY, I DIDN'T GET IT VIDEOTAPED.

BUT ANYWAY, SO I WANT THOSE THAT MIGHT BE WATCHING THIS AND THINKING OF WAYS TO GAME THE SYSTEM TO KNOW THAT THAT THE SYSTEM IS JUST AS COMPLETE AND FULL THERE AS IT IS ONCE THE BALLOT COMES IN.

SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME.

YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT.

YOU KNOW, I TALK TO A LOT OF GROUPS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND THERE IS A LOT OF MISINFORMATION ABOUT ELECTIONS.

AND OF COURSE, IT STARTS AT THE MACRO LEVEL.

ON A NATIONAL LEVEL, WE SEE IT DOWN TO THE VERY LOCAL OUR LOCAL JURISDICTIONS AS WELL.

AND SO BEING ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY, TALK ABOUT THE SYSTEMS THAT WE'RE DOING TO REINFORCE THAT LEGITIMACY AND REINFORCE THAT TRUST HAS BEEN A KEY MESSAGE.

I APPRECIATE I KNOW ALL OF YOU GUYS HAVE KIND OF HIT ON THOSE POINTS WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS AS WELL.

AND WE'RE ALWAYS HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, DO OUR TRAINING.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING DOWN AT THE WAREHOUSE IS WE'RE DOING THIS REORGANIZATION IS IMPROVING THE OBSERVER AREAS.

SO NOT ONLY THE PHYSICAL AREAS WHERE THEY CAN STAND AND SEE, BUT ALSO CAMERA COVERAGE SO THAT EVERYTHING WE DO IS UNDER CAMERA.

AND AND THOSE CAMERAS ARE VISIBLE BY THE PUBLIC.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE HOPE IS THAT BY BEING COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT AND OPEN WITH WHERE THESE BALLOTS ARE ARE BEING PROCESSED AND HOW THOSE RESULTS ARE ENTERED, THAT FOLKS WILL SEE THAT THAT THIS REALLY IS AN ABOVE BOARD PROCESS.

[01:30:02]

BUT SO SO CAN PEOPLE ACCESS THE FEEDS OF THOSE CAMERAS REMOTELY LIKE IF THEY WANTED TO WATCH IT FOR AN HOUR OR DO THEY NEED TO COME DOWN TO THE SITE? SO AS OF RIGHT NOW, THEY'LL NEED TO COME DOWN TO THE SITE TO TO DO THAT.

ALL RIGHT. THANKS. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

YOU TOOK IT AWAY BEFORE I COULD PUSH IT.

NO. OKAY. THANK YOU.

I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AND COMMEND YOU FOR DOING A GREAT JOB.

YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE COME UP TO ME AND ASKED QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE TRUST THE SYSTEM AFTER THE LAST ELECTION AND STUFF? AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE REALLY OUT THERE AND REALLY KIND OF BUILDING THAT BACK UP BECAUSE JUST LIKE SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL SAID, YOU KNOW, ELECTIONS ARE THE BACKBONE OF A DEMOCRACY AND HAVING INTEGRITY IN THOSE AND MAKING SURE THAT IT'S DONE THE RIGHT WAY IS VERY IMPORTANT.

SO I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND REALLY TAKING THIS RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO CAN WE GO BACK TO THE PHASE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR SLIDE RIGHT THERE.

SO IMPLEMENTING THE SINGLE POINT, ADDRESSING BRICK THAT LIKE IF I'M JUST A LAYMAN, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR ME? YEAH. SO THE THE GOAL IS THAT THAT STEP WILL ACTUALLY BE TRANSPARENT TO A VOTER.

RIGHT? THEY WON'T SEE ANY DIFFERENCE ONCE WE COMPLETE PHASE TWO HERE, ONCE THE PRECINCT LINES ARE ARE CORRECT AND WE'VE ENSURED THAT THEY'RE CORRECT, ALL VOTERS WILL BE IN THEIR CORRECT PRECINCT.

THEY WOULD RECEIVE THE CORRECT BALLOT.

WHEN WE'RE RUNNING THAT VOTER DATA OUT OF OUR VOTER ROLLS AND ACTUALLY SENDING IT TO THE PRINTER TO GET THOSE BALLOTS PRINTED.

WHAT IT ALLOWS US TO DO WHEN WE ACTUALLY TRANSITIONED TO THE SINGLE POINT ADDRESS IS WE'RE ACTUALLY ABLE TO PLACE THEM RIGHT AT THE PARCEL THAT THAT THEY ARE AT, WHICH MEANS IF IF THERE THERE IS A PARCEL THAT'S CLOSE TO A BOUNDARY LINE, SAY, A WATER DISTRICT, THAT THAT BUTTS UP TO ANOTHER WATER DISTRICT OR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WE'RE ABLE TO PLACE THEM.

AND WE KNOW FOR CERTAIN THAT THEY ARE ON SOUTH SIDE OF THE ROAD VERSUS THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ROAD OR, YOU KNOW, OR OTHER DIRECTIONS.

SO BY MOVING TO THAT SINGLE POINT ADDRESS, WE'RE ACTUALLY ABLE TO SEE ON THE MAP EXACTLY WHERE THAT WHERE THAT ADDRESS IS, WHERE IT LIVES.

AND THEN WHEN WE RUN OUR CHECKS, WE CAN RUN KIND OF A MYRIAD OF CHECKS.

IT OPENS UP SOME NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT WE CAN RUN TO, SAY, SHOW ALL THE VOTERS THAT ARE IN THIS CITY OR SHOW ALL THE VOTERS THAT ARE IN THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT AND IT WILL RUN THOSE AND WE WON'T HAVE ANY ANY DISCREPANCIES OR OR MISCHARACTERIZATIONS WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THOSE ADDRESSES.

AND WE'RE WONDERING WHERE ON THE ROAD DOES THAT ADDRESS LIE? SO IT REALLY IS JUST A FURTHER CHECK TO ENSURE THAT THE VOTER ADDRESS THAT WE HAVE IS CORRECT AND LIVES IN THE RIGHT DISTRICT OR THE RIGHT PRECINCT.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW LAW ENFORCEMENT AND KIND OF OTHER AGENCIES HAVE STARTED TO MOVE TO BECAUSE IT DOES GET THAT EXTRA, EXTRA PIECE OF FIDELITY WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT LOOKING AT THAT DATA.

PERFECT. THANK YOU. AND MEL, JUST THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE TOOK UP A LITTLE BIT OF TIME HERE, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND AND REALLY US GOING ON RECORD BECAUSE THE LAST ELECTION, THERE WAS DEFINITELY CHALLENGES AND THERE WAS CHALLENGES THAT I BELIEVE KIND OF REALLY HURT THE REPUTATION OF THE REGISTRAR OF VOTERS OFFICE AND PEOPLE'S CONFIDENCE AND TRUST IN ELECTIONS. AND AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE WE'VE DONE SOME HOMEWORK ON THAT AND DID SOME SELF-REFLECTING AND NOW WE'RE IN A PLACE WHERE I'M A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE WITH IT AND JUST RESTORING THAT CONFIDENCE IN THE PUBLIC THAT THE ELECTIONS THAT WILL START UP HERE IN MARCH WILL BE YOU CAN REST ASSURED, AND I SITTING UP HERE WILL BE ABLE TO SPEAK CONFIDENTLY IN THE FACT THAT, AGAIN, ONCE IT GETS TO US, I KNOW THAT IT'S ALL TOP NOTCH AND ABOVE BOARD WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE IT GETS TO US.

WELL, THAT'S A DIFFERENT STORY.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

IF THERE'S NO OTHER COMMENTS, WE'RE GOING TO NOW MOVE ON TO WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE ELECTIONS ITEM 42. I'M NOT SEEING ANYONE.

WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION AND BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

NEXT UP, WE HAVE SHERIFF ITEM 43.

PLEASE NOTE THIS ITEM REQUIRES A 4/5 VOTE.

ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A QUESTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

THANK YOU. THIS QUESTION IS FOR COREY.

[01:35:05]

I'M JUST CURIOUS AS TO WHY IS IT WAS IT NOT BUDGETED THE RIGHT WAY TO BEGIN WITH? BECAUSE WE'RE RETROACTIVE $50,000 FROM APRIL 20TH 6TH TO JUNE 2ND.

SO WHY WHY THE DISCREPANCY? SO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WAS CONTACTED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT A FEW MONTHS AGO AFTER AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED UP THERE WHERE THERE WAS SOME CONCERNS ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY WITH A STUDENT.

AND SO PRIOR TO THAT DATE, WE HAD NO ARRANGEMENT OR CONTRACT WITH DELTA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT IN REGARDS TO SRO DUTIES.

SO WE AGREED WE WOULD IMMEDIATELY IMPLEMENT WHAT THEY WERE ASKING FOR AND THEN BRING THAT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. NOT SEEING ANY OTHER COMMENTS OF DICE.

WE'LL NOW OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR SHERIFF'S ITEMS. THAT'S ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, BRING IT BACK TO THE DAYS WHERE 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, WE HAVE PROBATION ITEMS, 44 AND 45.

PLEASE NOTE ITEM 45 REQUIRES A 4/5 VOTE.

THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 44 AND 45, NOT SEEING.

WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS AND WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA.

CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

NEXT UP, WE HAVE FIRE.

ITEM 46.

THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM 46.

THAT'S ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

ANY. SECOND BY.

SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

YOU HAVE A COMMENT? YEAH, JUST A QUESTION.

ONCE THESE DEFIBRILLATORS REMOVED FROM OUR ASSETS, WHAT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO IT? I DON'T SEE CHIEF PIMENTEL.

GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR BOARD.

THESE DEFIBRILLATORS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM OUR OUR POSSESSION AND WENT BACK TO THE COUNTY SURPLUS SEVERAL MONTHS, ACTUALLY PROBABLY ALMOST A YEAR AGO.

THEY WERE JUST LISTED STILL IN OUR ITEMS UNDER FIRE AND THAT'S WHY WE BROUGHT THEM TO YOUR BOARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE REMOVED AS AN ITEM FROM THE FIRE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND THEY WERE PROPERLY DISPOSED OF IN 2020.

CORRECT, SIR? YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. SO.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

WE ALREADY DID PUBLIC. WE DID PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.

WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE MOTION BY MCDANIEL.

SECOND BY PAREIRA CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

NEXT UP, WE HAVE THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE.

ITEM 47 IS TO CONFIRM APPOINTMENT OF STEPHEN C MAXEY AS DIRECTOR, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AT AN ANNUAL SALARY OF 176,467 AND APPROVE A LEVEL BENEFITS EFFECTIVE JULY 3RD, 2023.

WE'LL GO TO CEO MENDEZ.

YES, MISTER CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD PLEASED TO BRING THIS RECOMMENDATION FORWARD FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

CONFIRMATION. CONSIDERATION.

APPOINTING STEVE MAXEY TO THE POSITION AS AS INDICATED BY THE THE BOARD CLERK, THE COUNTY DID RUN A RECRUITMENT PROCESS FOR THIS POSITION FOLLOWING THE PROMOTION OF MARK HENDRICKSON TO THE POSITION OF ASSISTANT CEO.

REALLY PLEASED WITH THE RESPONSE THAT WE RECEIVED.

A LOT OF TOP NOTCH CANDIDATES PARTICIPATED.

MISTER MAXEY WAS THE TOP CANDIDATE.

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW, MISTER MAXEY DOES HAVE OVER TEN YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN WORK, WHICH IS RELEVANT TO THIS POSITION PLANNING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TRANSPORTATION, PLANNING, ENGINEERING.

HE HAS SPENT SOME TIME WITH MERCED MERCED COUNTY SPECIFICALLY BEING WITH US IN A DEPUTY DIRECTOR POSITION FOR OVER SIX YEARS.

MOST RECENTLY, THOUGH, HE IS THE OWNER AND FOUNDER OF A LOCAL PLANNING CONSULTING FIRM.

[01:40:04]

HE HAS A REALLY GOOD GROUP OF PROFESSIONALS THAT CURRENTLY RESIDE AT THE DEPARTMENT, AND I BELIEVE WE CAN EXPECT GREAT THINGS FROM MISTER MAXEY AND HIS TEAM GOING FORWARD.

MISTER MAXEY DOES HAVE A DEGREE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.

BA FROM CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, CHICO.

HE IS OR THE VACANCY OF THE CD IS IS THE LAST VACANCY THAT WE HAVE SO HE WILL COMPLETE OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM REALLY EXCITED WITH SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE JOINED US IN OUR HIGHER LEADERSHIP POSITION.

MISTER MAXEY BRINGS SOME OF THAT PASSION, NEW ENERGY, AND REALLY HAS A UNIQUE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EXPERIENCE THAT HE'S BRINGING TO THE FIELD.

I KNOW THIS BOARD IS VERY FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THAT MERCED COUNTY IS A GREAT PLACE TO DO BUSINESS.

MISTER MAXEY ALIGNS TO THAT PHILOSOPHY AND I THINK WILL BE A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR TEAM PENDING YOUR CONFIRMATION.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MISTER CHAIR.

GIVE IT BACK TO YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MISTER MENDEZ.

SO AT THIS TIME, WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEM 47.

I'M NOT SEEING ONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

BRING UP BACK UP TO THE DAIS WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA.

AND WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

SHOW THE MOTION CAT PASSES 5 TO 0.

MR. MAX. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME YOU UP TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

BUT. PURSUIT.

YEAH. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

I APPRECIATE. THE VOTE OF CONFIDENCE GOES A LONG WAY.

YOU'VE ALL BEEN VERY WARM AND SUPPORTIVE IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

HERE. POST THE.

THE DECISION FROM MR. MENDEZ AND YOUR EXECUTIVE TEAM.

THAT SAME WARMTH HAS ABSOLUTELY TRICKLED DOWN THROUGH THE WHOLE EXECUTIVE TEAM WITH MR. MENDEZ, MR. HENDRICKSON, MS. PAREIRA EVERYBODY THAT I'VE WORKED WITH BEFORE AND WORKED THROUGH OR WORKED WITH THROUGH THIS PROCESS, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY VALUE.

AS WAS MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT THE EXPERIENCE HERE AT THE COUNTY LEFT FOR A LITTLE BIT, BUT I THINK FOR ME PERSONALLY AND I'M SURE EACH OF YOU WOULD AGREE, PUBLIC SERVICE IS KIND OF A CALLING AND BEING ABLE TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE PUBLIC IS SOMETHING THAT I REALLY, REALLY MISSED ON ON THE PRIVATE SIDE.

SO, YOU KNOW, TO COME BACK AND SERVE THE COMMUNITY THAT MY WIFE AND I MOVED OUR FAMILY TO, STARTED OUR FAMILY HERE AND SERVE THEM NOW IN THIS CAPACITY IS IS AN HONOR THAT I DON'T TAKE LIGHTLY.

AND SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW, A BIG PIECE OF THIS DECISION ON MY END WAS, AS CEO MENDEZ MENTIONED, IS THE PROFESSIONAL TEAM THAT IS THERE IN THE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE LEADERSHIP AND DEPARTMENT HEADS AND KD IN PARTICULAR, WORKING WITH THOSE THOSE PEOPLE OVER THE LAST SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS.

NOW, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALL EXTREMELY PROFESSIONAL, VERY PROACTIVE AND REALLY CARE ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE, WHICH ARE THE VALUES THAT I REALLY HOLD NEAR AND DEAR AND THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO BE THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THE DEPARTMENT AND CONTINUE ON THE GOOD WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE BY BY MR. HENDRICKSON FOR THE LAST, WHAT, TEN, 12 PLUS YEARS.

SO AGAIN, I THANK YOU.

READY TO GET TO WORK.

THANK YOU. AND JUST ADMIT YOU GOT TIRED OR YOU GOT YOU MISSED WORKING WITH ALL OF US CRAZY ELECTED OFFICIALS.

THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.

YOU KNOW, THAT TOOK THE MOST OF A SALES JOB FROM ALL OF YOU.

YEAH. YEAH. WELL, WELCOME ABOARD AND CONGRATULATIONS.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT, WE HAVE BOARD APPOINTMENTS, ITEMS 48 THROUGH 51.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BOARD APPOINTMENTS.

NOT SEEING ANYBODY. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK UP TO THE DAIS WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA.

CALL FOR THE VOTE, PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

[BOARD INFORMATION & POSSIBLE ACTION]

WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEMS 52 THROUGH 55.

THAT'S ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, BRING BACK TO THE DAIS WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.

CALL FOR THE VOTE.

[01:45:03]

THERE WE GO. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

YEAH. OKAY.

[SCHEDULED ITEM]

AND FIRST, WE WILL BEGIN WITH A PUBLIC HEARING AS SUBMITTED BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

THIS IS TO REVIEW THE ANNUAL MILITARY EQUIPMENT USE REPORT FOR 2022.

ALL RIGHT. AND WE'LL GO TO UNDERSHERIFF GIBSON, AFTERNOON BOARD CEO MENDEZ AND COUNCIL HANSON COREY GIBSON, UNDERSHERIFF FOR MERCED COUNTY.

I'M SUBMITTING TO YOU THE ANNUAL MILITARY EQUIPMENT USE REPORT FOR SHERIFF VERN WARNKE FOR 2022.

ASSEMBLY. BILL 481 REQUIRES LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, TO SUBMIT TO THE GOVERNING BODY AN ANNUAL MILITARY EQUIPMENT REPORT FOR EACH MILITARY EQUIPMENT APPROVED BY THE GOVERNING BODY WITHIN ONE YEAR OF APPROVAL AND ANNUALLY THEREAFTER FOR FOR AS LONG AS THE MILITARY EQUIPMENT IS AVAILABLE FOR USE IN COMPLIANCE WITH AB 481.

MERCED COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE POSTED THE ANNUAL REPORT TO OUR WEBSITE BACK IN FEBRUARY AND HAVE COMPLETED PROPER NOTICE OF THIS HEARING AS WELL AS PROVIDED THE REPORT FOR YOUR REVIEW.

LIEUTENANT LEDFORD AND I ARE HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, WE OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE DICE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NOT SEEING ONE.

I WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM.

I SEE. I OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 1158.

NOT SEEING ANYONE.

I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 1158 AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK UP TO THE DAIS.

PLEASURE OF THE BOARD.

MOTION TO APPROVE. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS ONE VOICE SO YOU'LL VOTE? I'M SORRY, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA YOU HAVE A COMMENT? THERE YOU GO. WELL, NO, I JUST WAS GOING TO MOVE THAT WE APPROVE AND ACCEPT THE ANNUAL MILITARY EQUIPMENT USE REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2022.

SECOND. ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING I.

I. ARE THERE ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

SORRY. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL HAS A COMMENT.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT. WE DID SEE THOSE VEHICLES IN SERVICE DURING THE FLOODING EVENT THIS PAST YEAR, AND WE HAD MANY RESIDENTS THAT WERE VERY HAPPY TO SEE RESCUE WRITTEN ON THE SIDE OF THEM AS THEY WERE COMING IN TO HELP THEM OUT OF SOME OF THEIR PLACES THAT WERE FLOODED.

SO THANKS FOR THE EFFICIENT USE OF THOSE VEHICLES.

YEAH, THE ONLY ONE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SEE IS THAT THE ONE THAT THE SHERIFF ROLLED OUT ON APRIL 1ST, MAKE SURE THAT'S ON THE 2023 REPORT.

OKAY? ALL RIGHT.

THAT, UH, THAT CONCLUDES OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ITEM.

WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO THE FIRST OF THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS SUBMITTED BY COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE MERCED COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS.

VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED THRESHOLDS AND GUIDELINES.

OKAY. AND WE'LL GO.

MISS HO. GOOD MORNING.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, CEO MENDEZ AND COUNCIL HANSEL HANSEN.

MY NAME IS TIFFANY HO, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PLANNING, AND I HAVE THE HUMBLE OPPORTUNITY OF PROVIDING THE NEXT THREE PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS. THE FIRST ITEM IS THE MERCED COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED THRESHOLDS AND GUIDELINES, AND THIS IS BROUGHT TO YOU BEFORE BECAUSE THE STATE PASSED SB 743, WHICH REPLACED LEVEL OF SERVICE WITH VEHICLE MILES, TRAVELED AS THE METRIC TO EVALUATE TRANSPORTATION IMPACTS FOR ANALYSIS BECAUSE THE COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE ADOPTED THRESHOLDS OF SIGNIFICANCE FOR VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED. WE HAVE BEEN RELYING ON THE OFFICE OF PLANNING AND RESEARCH AS THRESHOLDS, WHICH SETS OUR VMT SCREENING THRESHOLD AT 15% OR 85% OF THE REGIONAL AVERAGE.

ON NOVEMBER 2022, MERCED COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS ADOPTED THEIR OWN VMT THRESHOLDS AND IMPLEMENTATION GUIDELINES WHICH MEMBER JURISDICTIONS COULD USE AFTER THEY'VE BEEN ADOPTED BY THOSE AGENCIES.

THIS IS WHY THIS ITEM IS BEFORE YOU, BEFORE BEFORE YOU TODAY IS THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO EFFECTUATE AND UTILIZE THIS FOR OUR ANALYSIS, THE BOARD WILL HAVE TO ADOPT

[01:50:03]

OOPS. THIS NEXT SLIDE SHOWS THE CATEGORIES OF SCREENING CRITERIA THAT THESE VMT THRESHOLDS HAVE OUTLINED.

SO IF ONE OF OUR PROJECTS MEETS ANY ONE OF THESE CRITERIA, THEN THE PROJECT WOULD BE SCREENED FROM VMT THRESHOLDS.

THIS IS NICE AS COMPARED TO USING OPR'S THRESHOLDS BECAUSE THERE'S NUMEROUS TYPES OF THRESHOLDS THAT WE CAN BASICALLY STREAMLINE OUR TRANSPORTATION IMPACTS WHEN IT COMES TO VMT ANALYSIS.

OKAY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.

THIS ACTION WOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO SEQUA SEQUEL ANALYSIS BECAUSE IT IS AN ACTION BY REGULATORY AGENCY FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

IT IMPLEMENTS STATE POLICY.

THERE IS NEGLIGIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS BECAUSE THERE IS NO PROJECT AND AS BEFORE, IT IS NOT DEFINED AS A PROJECT AS IT DOES NOT AUTHORIZE OR PROHIBIT DEVELOPMENT. GIVEN THE INFORMATION SUMMARIZED TODAY IN THE STAFF'S PRESENTATION, STAFF HAS ONE RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD, WHICH IS TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION FINDING THAT THE MERCED COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS OF VMT THRESHOLDS AND GUIDELINES IS EXEMPT FROM ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND THEN ADOPTING THE VMT THRESHOLDS AND GUIDELINES TO COMPLY WITH SENATE BILL 743 AND THE PROVISIONS OF SEQUA.

THIS CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION ON THIS ITEM.

ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A QUESTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

IT'S NOT A QUESTION. I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT.

VMT IS ALWAYS GET ME A LITTLE A LITTLE NERVOUS BECAUSE IN RURAL CALIFORNIA, IN RURAL AREAS IN GENERAL, OUR VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED ARE A LOT FURTHER NOT ONLY TO GET OUR GROCERIES, BUT TO GO TO MEDICAL SERVICES TO GO ANYWHERE ARE VEHICLE MILES TRAVEL ARE A LOT FURTHER.

SO I APPRECIATE THIS REDUCTION.

I WISH IT WAS A LOT MORE BECAUSE LITERALLY JUST TO GO TO THE DRUGSTORE, WE HAVE TO TRAVEL MUCH FURTHER THAN URBAN AREAS.

AND I KNOW THE STATE REALLY PUSHES US ON THE VMS AND MY REPRESENTATION AT CRC.

WE REALLY FIGHT BACK ON THESE VMS BECAUSE OF JUST GENERAL SERVICES HAVING TO TRAVEL FURTHER DISTANCES FOR US TO GET THERE.

AND ANY OF YOU OUT THERE WHO HAVE THE REAL, REAL COOL NEW ELECTRONIC PLATE, BEWARE, THEY ARE TRACKING YOUR VMS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THOSE WORDS OF WISDOM.

SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

ALL RIGHT. NOT SEEING ANY OTHER COMMENTS.

WE'LL NOW OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 1203.

RECEIVE COMMENT ON THIS COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ITEM.

NOT SEEING ANYONE.

WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 12 ZERO FOUR AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK UP TO THE DAIS WHERE THE CHAIR WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

ANYONE. YOU CAN JUST SAY IT OUT LOUD.

I WILL ADOPT A RESOLUTION FINDING THE MERCED COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED THRESHOLDS AND GUIDELINES EXEMPT FROM ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 15308 ACTIONS BY REGULATORY AGENCIES FOR PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

15061B3 COMMON SENSE EXEMPTION AND 15378B NOT A PROJECT OF THE GUIDELINES AND ADOPT THE VMT THRESHOLDS AND GUIDELINES TO COMPLY WITH THE SENATE BILL 743 AND NEW PROVISIONS OF THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT.

I'LL SECOND. I THINK I GOT SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL IN BEFORE YOU SUPERVISOR PAREIRA SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.

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

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ARE THERE ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

OKAY, NOW WE ARE MOVING ON TO OUR SECOND OF THE THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AND WE HAVE TIFFANY AGAIN.

THANK YOU. SO THIS ITEM IS GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT GPA 20 2-001 AND ZONE CHANGE ZC 20 2-001 FOR THE APPLICANT, JOSE RODRIGUEZ.

THE REQUEST IS TO AMEND THE LAND USE DESIGNATION OF THE SOUTHERNMOST 20FT OF A 0.27 ACRE PARCEL, CONSISTING OF APPROXIMATELY 300FT² OF LAND FROM GENERAL COMMERCIAL TO LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AND CHANGE.

THE ZONING DISTRICT OF THAT SAME AREA FROM C TWO GENERAL COMMERCIAL TO R2 TWO FAMILY RESIDENTIAL TO ALIGN WITH EXISTING DEVELOPMENT.

THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER, SOUTHEAST CORNER OF EAST HIGHWAY 140 NORTH GWYNN STREET IN PLANADA AREA.

[01:55:06]

SO YOU CAN SEE HERE THE PINK AREA SHOWS THE GENERAL COMMERCIAL AND C TWO ZONING AND THE PROJECT SITE IS HIGHLIGHTED IN RED.

AND THEN THE YELLOW SECTION SHOWS THE LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AND THE TWO FAMILY R TWO ZONING.

THE DASHED AREA SHOWS THE AREA THAT WILL BE CHANGED FROM C TWO AND GENERAL COMMERCIAL TO LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AND R TWO.

THIS PROJECT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE GENERAL PLAN AND ZONING.

IT WILL NOT CREATE ANY NONCONFORMING STATUSES FOR THE EXISTING DEVELOPMENT.

THE EXISTING DEVELOPMENT WILL CONTINUE TO MEET SETBACKS AND ALL APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE ZONING CODE.

ADDITIONALLY, DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE SOUTHERN PORTION WILL BE SUBJECT TO R TWO STANDARDS.

ONCE DEVELOPED, THE APPLICANT WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A PROPERTY LINE ADJUSTMENT TO ALIGN THE PROPERTY LINES TO PREVENT SPLIT ZONING AS PART OF THIS PROJECT.

AND IF THIS THE PROPERTY LINE ADJUSTMENT IS NOT SUBMITTED AND APPROVED, THEN THIS ZONE CHANGE AND GENERAL PLAN LAND USE AMENDMENT WOULD BE VOID AND NULL FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.

STAFF HAS DETERMINED THAT THE PROJECT WOULD BE EXEMPT FROM ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PURSUANT TO SECTION 1506B3 COMMON SENSE EXEMPTION BECAUSE IT INCLUDES A NEGLIGIBLE AMOUNT OF AREA THAT WILL BE RE DESIGNATED AND RE ZONED AND WOULD NOT CREATE NONCONFORMING STATUS TO THE EXISTING DEVELOPMENT PARCELS, STRUCTURES AND OR USES AND DOES NOT ALLOW DENSITY OR LAND USES NOT PREVIOUSLY ALLOWED.

NOTICE OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING WAS PUBLISHED IN THE MERCED SUN-STAR AND MAILED TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS ON MAY 11TH AND MAY 12TH RESPECTIVELY.

AND AS OF THAT NOTICING AND TODAY'S PRESENTATION, NO COMMENTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED.

I JUST WANT TO AS MERCED COUNTY TIMES IS WHAT THE MERCED COUNTY TIMES.

THANK YOU. GIVEN TODAY'S PRESENTATION, STAFF HAS THREE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE BOARD.

THE BOARD FIRST STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DETERMINE THAT THE PROJECT IS EXEMPT FROM ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.

SECOND, THE STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE BOARD ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT GPA 20 2-001 TO AMEND THE LAND USE DESIGNATION OF THE SOUTHERNMOST PARCEL SEVENTH SORRY, EXCUSE ME, SOUTHERNMOST 20 FOOT OF THE PROJECT SITE IDENTIFIED AS SACHSE PARCEL NUMBER 037053023.

LOCATED ON THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF EAST HIGHWAY 140 AND NORTH GWYNN STREET IN THE PLANADA AREA, FROM GENERAL COMMERCIAL TO LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AND THEN TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE APPROVING ZONE CHANGE.

ZC 20 2-001 TO CHANGE THE ZONING DISTRICT FROM C TWO TO R2.

THAT CONCLUDES STAFF'S PRESENTATION ON THIS ITEM.

THANK YOU, TIFFANY.

ALL RIGHT. I HAVE A SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.

YOU HAVE A COMMENT? OH, I CAN MAKE A MOTION, BUT I GUESS YOU HAVE TO OPEN IT UP.

YEAH, LET ME DO THE PUBLIC HEARING FIRST.

SO AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

ITEM NUMBER TWO, AND WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THAT AT 1209.

ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS? NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE IT AT 1209 AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS WHERE I HAVE SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA WANTS TO MAKE A MOTION.

THANK YOU. HOLD ON.

I'M GOING TO GO FROM THAT TO THAT.

THERE WE GO. OKAY.

UM, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO FOLLOW STAFF'S DIRECTION AND FOLLOW ALL THREE MOTIONS.

OKAY. ARE YOU GOOD WITH US? MAKING ALL THREE AT ONCE.

ALL RIGHT, SO THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR AND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA.

AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

THANK YOU.

NEXT. WE'RE POWERING THROUGH TODAY, FOLKS.

WE'RE POWERING THROUGH.

OKAY, SO NOW WE'LL HAVE THE THIRD AND FINAL PUBLIC HEARING FOR TODAY FROM THE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.

OUR BOARD CLERK WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AN APPEAL OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S DECISION TO APPROVE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NUMBER CP 22011. PLEASE NOTE THAT EACH PARTY, THE APPLICANT SIDE AND THE APPELLANT SIDE WILL EACH BE GIVEN TEN MINUTES TO PRESENT THEIR CASE. OUR BOARD CHAIR WILL THEN OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT.

TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.

[02:00:03]

PERFECT. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. SO AT THIS TIME, WE WILL BE ACCEPTING COMMENTS FROM STAFF AND THE APPLICANT.

AND THIS IS LIMITED TO TEN MINUTES.

SO AS SOON AS YOU START TALKING, THAT'S WHEN THE TEN MINUTES STARTS.

OKAY? THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

LET ME TURN YOUR MIC ON.

THANK YOU. SO THIS ITEM WAS APPROVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY ON APRIL 26TH, 2023.

THIS ITEM WAS TO CONSTRUCT A THREE MEGAWATT SOLAR FACILITY ON AN 11.3 ACRE PARCEL OR PORTION OF A 39 ACRE PARCEL LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF SOUTH HIGHWAY 33, APPROXIMATELY 2000FT NORTH OF WEST CAMELLIA AVENUE IN THE DOS PALOS AREA.

THE APPEAL WAS FILED WITHIN THE TEN DAY APPEAL PERIOD ON MAY 5TH, 2023.

THE APPEAL CAN BE SUMMARIZED IN FOUR MAIN POINTS.

ESSENTIALLY, THE APPELLANT IS REQUESTING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DENY THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S APPROVAL OF THE PROJECT BASED OFF OF THE LOSS OF VALUABLE AGRICULTURAL LAND, THE AVAILABILITY OF FALLOW LAND, THE LACK OF IDENTIFIED AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION LAND AND A DISCREPANCY ON THE STAFF REPORT REPORTING ITS EXISTING LAND USE REGARDING LOSS OF VALUABLE AGRICULTURAL LAND.

THEY HAVE DEFINED VALUABLE AGRICULTURAL AND AGRICULTURAL LAND BASED OFF OF SIZE, ZONING, LAND USE AND DESIGNATION FARMLAND TYPE, AS WELL AS THE WATER RIGHTS.

REGARDING THE SIZE THIS PARCEL WILL, THIS PROJECT WILL AFFECT 11.3 ACRES OF A 39 ACRE PARCEL AS REQUIRED BY THE ZONE.

A MINIMUM OF 20 ACRES IS REQUIRED TO BE INTERNALLY CONSISTENT WITH OUR GENERAL PLAN POLICY, WHICH SAYS THAT 20 ACRES IS THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF ACREAGE REQUIRED FOR A VIABLE FARMING OPERATION.

SO A BALANCE OF 27.7 ACRES WILL BE MAINTAINED AND CONTINUE TO BE FARMING OUTSIDE OF THIS PROJECT AND IS IN EXCESS OF THAT MINIMUM PARCEL SIZE.

REGARDING ZONING AND LAND USE, THE PARCEL IS ZONED A ONE GENERAL AGRICULTURAL AND DESIGNATED AGRICULTURAL IN THE GENERAL PLAN.

THE A ONE ZONE DOES ALLOW FOR ENERGY GENERATION FACILITIES FOR OFF SITE ENERGY USE WITH APPROVAL OF A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, AS WELL AS FOR SITE USE WITH MINISTERIAL PERMIT. THE GENERAL PLAN ENCOURAGES SOLAR FACILITIES IN THE AG ZONE AS A WAY TO ESSENTIALLY PROMOTE THE STATE'S GOALS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GREENHOUSE GAS, ENERGY EMISSION REDUCTIONS, ENERGY USAGE, AS WELL AS AIR QUALITY.

IT ALSO PROVIDES FARMERS AND PROPERTY OWNERS WITH ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, POTENTIALLY OFFSETTING THE COST OF FARMING OPERATIONS OR FOR REPURPOSING ACTIVITIES TO HELP WITH GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT.

THE PROJECT DOES NOT PERMANENTLY CONVERT AGRICULTURAL LAND, BUT THE COUNTY, THROUGH OUR GENERAL PLAN POLICY, DOES REQUIRE US TO MITIGATE FOR THE LONG TERM TAKEN OUT OF PRODUCTION.

SO JUST TO GIVE THE BOARD A CONTEXT, SINCE 2008 HAS PROCESSED APPROXIMATELY 24 LAND USE APPLICATIONS AND 390 BUILDING PERMITS ON AGRICULTURALLY DESIGNATED LANDS AND ZONED LANDS WHERE PRODUCTIVE FARMLAND OR PRIME, UNIQUE OR STATEWIDE AND IMPORTANCE FARMLAND IS INVOLVED.

AGRICULTURE MITIGATION IS REQUIRED PER COUNTY POLICY.

FARMLAND TYPE.

THIS PROJECT IS CONSISTING OF PRIME FARMLAND.

AS MENTIONED BEFORE, THE REMAINING FARMLAND WILL BE CONTINUED TO BE FARMED WHEN THE PROJECT HAS ENDED ITS LEASE, IT SHALL BE DECOMMISSIONED AND RECLAIMED INTO FARMING GROUNDS BECAUSE THE PROJECT REQUIRES MINIMAL TO NO GRADING, NONE OF THE TOP SOIL THAT WOULD AFFECT THE GROUND OF THE FARMLAND TO MAKE IT PRODUCTIVE WILL BE AFFECTED.

AND THEN FINALLY, BECAUSE OF COUNTY POLICY, WE ARE REQUIRING THEM TO ALSO PAY OR OBTAIN A CONSERVATION EASEMENT FOR AGRICULTURAL LANDS ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTY THAT WILL PRESERVE THAT LAND FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, FOR THE PERPETUITY, FOR WATER RIGHTS.

THIS PROJECT DOES HAVE WATER RIGHTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS LAND, AS PROVIDED BY CSID AND THE EXCHANGE CONTRACTORS, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE BECAUSE MOST OF THE COUNTY IS IN A CRITICALLY OVERDRAFTED AREA, A SUB BASIN, AND THESE ENTITIES PROVIDE SURFACE WATER.

SO THIS PROJECT SITE DOES HAVE ACCESS TO SURFACE WATER.

THAT SAID, THE PROJECT ITSELF REQUIRES MINIMAL TO NO WATER USAGE BECAUSE THERE IS NO O&M BUILDING ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROJECT AND THE PROJECT WILL BE UTILIZING

[02:05:09]

THE REMAINING WATER ALLOCATION, WHICH IS ALL OF THE WATER ALLOCATION TO THE SITE, WILL BE USED EITHER ON THE FARMING LANDS THAT'S CURRENTLY USED IN THE 27.7 ACRE ACREAGE OR RETURNED BACK TO THE BOUNDARY OF THE SUB BASIN IN REGARDING TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FALLOW LAND.

THE PROJECT APPLICANT AND THE PROPERTY OWNER HAVE AGREED TO ENTER A LEASE AGREEMENT AND APPLY FOR THIS PROJECT TO THE COUNTY STAFF HAS THE DUTY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO PROCESS AND EVALUATE EACH PROJECT ON THE MERIT OF WHAT IS SUBMITTED.

SO AT THIS TIME, PLANNING COMMISSION DID EVALUATE THE MERIT OF PROJECT BASED OFF THE INFORMATION RECEIVED ON THE PROJECT SITE AND ITS CONSISTENCY WITH EXISTING LAW AND POLICY, AND DECIDED TO APPROVE AGAIN UNANIMOUSLY AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HEARING ON APRIL 26TH FOR THE LACK OF AN IDENTIFIED AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION LAND.

AS MENTIONED, THIS PROJECT WILL BE REQUIRED TO PRESERVE AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AS PART OF MITIGATION AND.

COUNTY POLICY.

SO THIS MEANS THE APPLICANT WILL WORK WITH A QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL TRUST TO IDENTIFY LANDS THAT HAVE LIKE FOR LIKE SOIL TYPES TO BE PUT UNDER A CONSERVATION EASEMENT IN PERPETUITY.

THIS AGRICULTURAL MITIGATION THROUGH STANDARD CONVENTION IS SATISFIED PRIOR TO SUBMITTING TO PROJECT BUILDING PERMITS AND CONSTRUCTION PERMITS RATHER THAN PROJECT APPROVAL IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE TIME THAT'S SPENT BY THE AGRICULTURAL TRUST TO IDENTIFY, ANALYZE AND FIND PROPERTIES WITHIN THE COUNTY THAT ARE SUITABLE FOR AG CONSERVATION TRUST.

FINALLY REGARDING THE DISCREPANCY REPORTED IN THE STAFF REPORT.

SO STAFF AND THE APPLICANT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE PROPERTY WAS FARMED PRIOR WITH ROW CROPS AT THE TIME OF A FIELD LEVEL RECONNAISSANCE SURVEY ON DECEMBER 22ND, 2022.

THE CENTER OF THE PROPERTY WHERE THE PROJECT SITE WOULD OCCUR WAS FOUND TO BE FALLOW.

SUBSEQUENT VERIFICATION WAS DONE EITHER THROUGH A SURVEY TO THE SITE OR GOOGLE EARTH IMAGERY THAT CONFIRMED THAT THE PROJECT SITES AFFECTED AREA WAS FALLOWED OR DISK. PORTIONS OF THE PROPERTY ARE STILL BEING FARMED AND THAT ARE NOT INTENDED FOR THE SOIL DEVELOPMENT, WHICH MEANS THEY COULD HAVE BEEN PLANTED AT THE TIME THE APPELLANT HAD REPORTED THE DISCREPANCY.

AND SO ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WERE AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF COMPLETION OF THE STAFF REPORT, AS WELL AS THE PRESENTATION TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, IT CAN BE REASONABLY ASSUMED THAT THE AFFECTED AREA WAS FALLOW AT THAT TIME.

PUBLIC COMMENTS.

NOTICE OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING WAS PUBLISHED IN THE MERCED SUN-STAR AND MAILED TO PROPERTY OWNERS ON MAY 12TH.

BETWEEN THE TIME OF THE MAILING OF THIS PUBLIC HEARINGS, NOTICE AS WELL AS THIS HEARING TODAY, NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS WERE RECEIVED.

GIVEN THE INFORMATION PRESENTED TODAY AND PROVIDED IN YOUR BOARD ACTION ITEMS, STAFF HAS TWO RECOMMENDATIONS.

FIRST, TO AFFIRM THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S DECISION TO ADOPT THE MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION AND MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM FOR THE PROJECT.

AND SECOND, AFFIRM THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S DECISION TO APPROVE THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND RULE ON THE APPEAL AND DENY IT BASED OFF THE FINDINGS SET FORTH IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF REPORT AND THE FINDINGS CONTAINED IN THE BOARD ACTION ITEM.

THIS CONCLUDES STAFF'S PRESENTATION.

IF THE APPLICANT WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE SOME COMMENTS, THIS IS THE TIME.

YOU GOT TWO MINUTES LEFT ON YOUR TIME, SIR.

YES. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONER.

BOARD. SO I WANT TO NOT REPEAT EVERYTHING YOU ALREADY HEARD.

SO I HAVE JUST ADDITIONAL THINGS, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BACKGROUND OF THIS PROJECT.

SO THIS CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HAZARD HAS IDENTIFIED THIS PARCEL AS A 92% SUFFERING UNDER POLLUTION. SO IT'S IDENTIFIED AS DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY.

AND THAT IS WHY WE STARTED THE WHOLE DEVELOPMENT ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO.

AND THIS PROJECT IS SUPPORTED BY PENINSULA CLEAN ENERGY, WHICH IS A COMMUNITY CHOICE AGGREGATOR THAT HAS A SERVICE TERRITORY IN LOS BANOS.

SO THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT BACKGROUND INFORMATION THAT I WANT TO JUST ADD TO WHAT YOU ALREADY HEARD FROM TIFFANY.

WE BASICALLY HAVE INVESTED IN THIS PROJECT BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO SUPPORT THAT COMMUNITY AND THE ELECTRICITY IS GOING TO BE USED THERE.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE PHYSICALLY POSSIBLE TO TRANSFER IT THROUGH LOS BANOS.

IT'S JUST ALLOCATED TO THAT SERVICE TERRITORY.

BUT THAT PEOPLE THERE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A BENEFIT THROUGH A MORE GRID RELIABILITY AND HAVING CLEAN ENERGY

[02:10:07]

AND THESE ARE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS THAT I WANT TO JUST PUT INTO THE BASKET.

RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT, SIR.

ALL RIGHT, YOU GUYS HAVE 30S LEFT.

YOU WILL WAIT TILL REBUTTAL.

OKAY. YOU DON'T GET 30 EXTRA ON THE REBUTTAL, BUT YOU GET THREE MINUTES.

OKAY, SIR. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, SO NOW WE WILL HAVE ACCEPTING.

WE'LL BE ACCEPTING COMMENTS FROM THE APPELLANT.

AND YOU HAVE TEN MINUTES.

GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS BO KARIYA, PRINCIPAL AT KOREA DAGER LLP.

WE ARE AN AG LAW FIRM WITH MANY AGRICULTURE CLIENTS IN THE AREA.

I FIRST WANT TO JUST THANK THE PROFESSIONALISM OF YOUR STAFF.

I UNDERSTAND AN APPEAL HASN'T BEEN MADE IN QUITE SOME TIME.

I WORK CLOSELY WITH MISS HO AND MISS WILLIAMS AND OTHERS.

THEY'RE VERY, VERY PROFESSIONAL, VERY NICE TO WORK WITH AND MADE MADE TODAY POSSIBLE.

SO GOOD JOB TO ALL OF THEM.

WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THIS PROJECT.

I JUST WANT TO BE HERE TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION.

WHAT'S GOING ON? WE APPEARED AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND IT WAS PRETTY MUCH A FOREGONE CONCLUSION.

IN FACT, ONE OF THEM EVEN COMMENTED THAT THEIR HANDS WERE TIED BECAUSE SORT OF ALL THE BOXES HAVE BEEN CHECKED THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR A PROJECT LIKE THIS.

SO THIS IS GOING TO INVOLVE YOU FOLKS THINKING A LITTLE BIT OUTSIDE THE BOX CHECKING REALM AND MORE ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IN THE COUNTY.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SIX REASONS WHY THIS PROJECT SHOULD BE DENIED OR RELOCATED.

SO TODAY ON OUR AGENDA, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT PRIME AG LAND, HOW IT CANNOT BE REPLACED.

IT IS OUR COUNTY'S NUMBER ONE RESOURCE, HOW YOUNG AND DISADVANTAGED FARMERS WILL BE HURT.

IT WOULDN'T BE A CONVERSATION FOR THE BOARD IF WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT EQUITY AND INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY.

PRIME WATER RIGHTS LAND WILL BE LOST TO PRODUCTION.

MRS. HO DID A GOOD JOB OF ADDRESSING THE ERROR IN THE REPORT.

I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

I'D LIKE TO TALK WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SO CALLED SEQUEL MITIGATION, THIS IDEA THAT THERE'S EQUIVALENT AG LAND TO REPLACE AND A QUICK CONCLUSION ON WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO FOLLOWED UP WITH SOME QUESTION TIME IF YOU HAVE IT.

AND I'M GOING BACKWARDS.

HERE WE GO. SO AS I SAID, THIS IS PRIME AG LAND, A ONE SOME OF THE BEST CROP GROUND IN THE STATE CERTAINLY HAS THE BEST WATER RIGHTS. DID YOU ALL KNOW SOME STARTLING STATISTICS FOR YOU? YOU PROBABLY DO KNOW, BUT WE'LL PUT IT ON THE RECORD DOLLAR WISE.

MERCED IS THE FIFTH MOST IMPORTANT AG COUNTY IN THE STATE AND THE NATION.

I MEAN, THAT'S BIG TIME WITH THE RAW PRODUCT VALUE OF ALMOST $3 BILLION.

AG IS MERCED COUNTY'S NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY AND THE COUNTY'S LARGEST EMPLOYER.

IN FACT, THE FARMERS ALONE PRODUCTION AGRICULTURE EMPLOYS A FIFTH OF THE COUNTY'S RESIDENTS.

AND IF YOU INCLUDE FOOD PROCESSORS AND ALL THE OTHER RELATED SORT OF INDUSTRY, IT IT'S ABOUT A THIRD AND I WOULD SAY PROBABLY FARTHER IF YOU WANT TO INCLUDE TRACTOR DEALERSHIPS, MECHANICS, YOU KNOW, WHO KNOWS? IT ALL TIES TO AG IN THIS COUNTY.

AND THIS IS A FUN FACT.

WE DO 110 DIFFERENT PRODUCTS IN THIS COUNTY.

I WASN'T EVEN AWARE OF THAT UNTIL I STARTED RESEARCHING THIS PROJECT.

AND THAT'S A NICE PICTURE OF WHAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE IN THE FUTURE.

THERE'S BILLIONS OF DOLLARS COMING OUR WAY FOR THIS PROJECT.

WE LOVE SOLAR. EVERYBODY LIKES SOLAR, BUT THE BOARD HAS A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO THINK ABOUT THIS TODAY.

WHERE DO YOU WANT IT TO BE? OH, THAT'S TOO FAST.

SO I MENTIONED YOUNG AND DISADVANTAGED FARMERS.

TODAY, 78% OF YOUNG FARMERS DIDN'T GROW UP IN FARMING.

THEY THEY'RE COMING FROM OUTSIDE OF AG FAMILIES.

AND HERE'S A GOOD ONE.

HALF OF ALL THE FARMLAND IS GOING TO CHANGE HANDS IN THE NEXT 15 YEARS WHEN WE ALLOW THESE SOLAR DEVELOPERS TO COME IN AND PUT LONG TERM CONTRACTS FOR 30, 35 YEARS.

IT DISRUPTS THE CYCLE OF THE TRANSITION OF FARMLAND TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

AND THEY LOVE TO PUT THIS ON FARM GROUND THAT'S ALREADY BEEN LEVELED.

THEY TALKED ABOUT THERE'S NO GRADING REQUIRED, AS IF THAT'S A GOOD THING.

BUT THE TRUTH IS IT LOWERS THEIR COST.

SO THE FARMERS HAVE ALREADY PAID TO HAVE IT LEVELED, LASER LEVELED LAND PLANED, ALL THAT.

[02:15:01]

THAT'S WHY THEY LIKE OUR FARMLAND AND AND OUR YOUNG AND DISADVANTAGED FARMERS.

THEY CAN'T COMPETE WITH $2,000 AN ACRE RENT MONEY THAT THESE DEVELOPERS ARE OFFERING.

IF WE ALLOW THESE ACRES TO BE TAKEN OUT OF PRODUCTION, THEY'RE GONE.

NOBODY ELSE WILL BE ABLE TO FARM THEM.

PRIME WATER RIGHTS. YOU HEARD IT FROM MISS HO.

THIS IS KID GROUND, SOME OF THE BEST WATER, RIGHT GROUND IN THE PROBABLY STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

MERCED COUNTY WE HAVE THE BEST WATER RESOURCES IN ALL OF CALIFORNIA.

AND THIS IS HISTORIC SUPERIOR CD EXCHANGE CONTRACTORS.

I HAVE NOT SEEN NOR CAN I FIND ANY ALTERNATIVE LAND IN THE COUNTY THAT WILL BE EQUIVALENT TO THIS 11 ACRES THAT WILL HAVE SIMILAR WATER RIGHTS OR QUALITY.

AND OUR TIMER DIDN'T GO ON.

SO I HOPE SOMEBODY IS KEEPING TRACK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SO MISS HO ADDRESSED THIS.

APPARENTLY, YOU KNOW, IT WAS PROBABLY AN OVERSIGHT.

I HONED IN ON IT RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE I KNOW THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN FARMED FOR DECADES.

IT'S NEVER BEEN FALLOW.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN FARMED.

AND THEY PROBABLY DID LOOK AT IT DURING THE WINTER, DURING THE CROP ROTATION.

AT THE MEETING LAST MONTH, THERE WAS ACTUALLY A WINTER WHEAT CROP.

I WENT OUT AND LOOKED AT IT MYSELF, SO IT WAS BEING FARMED.

AND THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE IT IS ALMOST AS IF IT WAS JUST, LIKE I SAID, A CHECK TO BOX ISSUE.

IT'S FALLOW FARM GROUND.

THERE'S MITIGATION AVAILABLE.

LET'S JUST APPROVE IT AND MOVE ON.

AND AND ALL OF THAT'S WRONG.

IT NEVER WAS FALLOW.

THIS LAND CAN'T BE REPLACED.

ONCE WE TAKE IT OUT OF PRODUCTION, IT'S OUT OF PRODUCTION FOR AT LEAST 30 YEARS.

AND THERE'S MORE OF THESE PROJECTS COMING, GENTLEMEN.

THERE'S BILLIONS OF DOLLARS COMING.

IF WE JUST CONTINUE TO CHECK THE BOX BEFORE WE KNOW IT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 11 ACRES, THEN 100 ACRES, THEN A THOUSAND.

10,000. WHERE DOES IT STOP? YOU GUYS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO STOP IT GETTING TO THAT POINT.

THE SEQUA.

THERE'S A LOT OF TALK IN THE SEQUA.

IN FACT, IT'S THE NUMBER ONE THING THEY TALK ABOUT.

AG ONE, THE REQUIREMENTS TO TAKE THE AG LAND OUT OF PRODUCTION.

THERE'S THREE CHOICES THEY HAVE.

THEY CAN DO THE EASEMENT WHERE THEY PAY TO LOCK UP SOME ACRES INTO FARMING.

THEY SHALL DO THAT.

THEY CAN DO SOME OTHER PROCEDURES.

BUT I BELIEVE STAFF AND EVERYBODY RECOMMENDED THAT THEY JUST BUY EASEMENT LAND.

WHERE DOES IT WHERE IS THIS LAND AT? NOBODY HAS PROVIDED ANY EVIDENCE THAT THERE IS GROUND THAT CAN GROW TOMATOES, COTTON, PEPPERS, PISTACHIOS, ALL THE CROPS THAT HAVE BEEN GROWN ON THAT LAND AND AROUND THAT ARE IN THESE EASEMENTS THAT HAVE CURSED SURFACE WATER. NOBODY HAS SHOWN US THAT YOU ALL ARE THE ONLY BACKSTOP TO THE TAKING OF OUR FARMLAND BY BIERI.

THESE ARE BAY AREA INVESTORS.

I'M SURE THERE'S OTHER INVESTORS COMING FROM OTHER PLACES.

LIKE I SAID, THERE'S BIG BILLIONS OF DOLLARS COMING.

THERE'S AN INITIATIVE FOR THE STATE TO DO THESE PROJECTS.

IT'S GOOD. IT'S GOING TO PROVIDE CLEAN POWER TO POOR FAMILIES.

WE SHOULD GET BEHIND THAT.

BUT IT NEEDS TO BE THOUGHT ABOUT HOW DON'T PICK THESE OUTSIDERS TO COME PROFIT ON OUR AG LAND, CHANGE OUR PRIORITIES.

THEY WANT TO PUT IT ON HERE BECAUSE IT'S GOOD ON THEIR POCKETBOOK.

THIS IS A GREAT PHOTO I WANT YOU GUYS TO SEE.

THERE'S OUR PROPOSED SITE ON THE RIGHT HAND CORNER, AND JUST A STONE'S THROW AWAY IS A COUPLE HUNDRED ACRES OF LAND THAT'S NEVER BEEN FARMED, HAS NO WATER RIGHTS AND IS READY FOR DEVELOPMENT.

SO WE'RE NOT SAYING DON'T PUT A SOLAR PROJECT IN DOS PALOS.

WE THINK IT'S GREAT.

WELL, LET'S THINK ABOUT WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE.

THERE'S AN ALTERNATIVE JUST DOWN THE STREET.

IT WOULDN'T AFFECT OUR AG LAND.

IT WOULDN'T TAKE ANYONE'S JOBS.

WE SHOULD, AS A GOVERNING BODY, START THIS PATHWAY TO SOLAR IMPROVEMENT ON LANDS THAT ARE ALREADY FALLOW, THAT FOR REALS THAT ARE FALLOW, NOT JUST THAT SAY SO IN THE REPORT SO THE BOX CAN GET CHECKED.

THERE'S THOUSANDS OF ACRES LIKE THIS IN THE COUNTY.

THERE'S GROUND THAT HAS SALT.

THERE'S GROUND THAT'S CONTAMINATED.

LOTS OF GOOD PLACES TO PUT SOLAR.

[02:20:02]

I'LL LEAVE IT FOR THE BOARD FOR QUESTIONS.

ANYBODY. WE'LL HAVE A WE'LL HAVE.

LET ME SEE. I'M FOLLOWING MY.

OKAY, SO THAT YOU'RE RIGHT.

SO BEFORE WE MOVE INTO PUBLIC COMMENT, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? I'M NOT. I DON'T SEE ANYONE.

SO. VERY GOOD.

ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THIS, UH, THE THIRD COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC HEARING ITEM.

AT THIS TIME, WE WILL ALLOW BOTH SIDES TO GET AHEAD OF MYSELF.

LET ME OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND YOU GET THREE MINUTES.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON. BOARD.

THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

I AM ROBERT MILBOURNE.

I OWN THE PARCEL IN QUESTION.

I ALSO OWN TWO ADJACENT PARCELS FOR A TOTAL OF 99 ACRES.

THE SOLAR POWER DEVELOPER IS LEASING ONLY 11.5 ACRES FROM ME AND NO MORE.

PAFFORD. FAMILY FARMS WILL CONTINUE TO FARM MY REMAINING PRIME AGRICULTURAL LAND.

I HAVE REFUSED OFFERS FROM TWO OTHER SOLAR POWER DEVELOPERS TO LEASE MORE LAND FROM ME.

I'VE REFUSED THEM.

ARTICLE SEVEN OF MY LEASE TO THE SOLAR POWER DEVELOPER EXPRESSLY STATES THAT I RETAIN ALL WATER RIGHTS TO THE PROPERTY.

I HAD INSISTED ON THAT DURING THE LEASE NEGOTIATIONS.

I GREW UP ON THAT FARM.

THE HOUSE ON THAT FARM IS NOW VACANT.

IT'S UNINHABITABLE AND IT'S BOARDED UP.

IT AND A HEAPING DEBRIS PILE NEARBY HAVE BECOME SERIOUS EYESORES AND A PUBLIC NUISANCE.

IF THIS PROJECT IS APPROVED, THE HOUSE AND THE DEBRIS WILL BE REMOVED AND REPLACED BY A WELL MAINTAINED SOLAR ENERGY FARM.

BEFORE SHE DIED, MY MOTHER WISHED FOR THAT HOUSE TO BURN DOWN.

SHE KNEW WHAT A BURDEN THAT OLD HOUSE HAD BECOME FOR ME.

WITH BREAK INS, THEFTS AND GRAFFITI, I HAD EXPLORED PAYING SOMEONE TO CLEAR THE LOT FOR ME.

BUT THE PERMIT HURDLES AND THE COST WERE EXORBITANT.

THE SOLAR POWER DEVELOPER HAS COMMITTED TO DEMOLISH THE HOUSE AND CLEAR THE DEBRIS AT THEIR EXPENSE.

I HOPE YOU WILL APPROVE.

THIS PROJECT WILL ALLOW ME TO DIVERSIFY MY LAND BETWEEN ENERGY AND CROP PRODUCTION.

IT WILL ALSO BE A PUBLIC SERVICE TO HELP WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTION.

AT THE END OF THE LEASE, THE 11.5 ACRES CAN REVERT TO AGRICULTURAL USES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, SIR.

WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS JOE CASTILLO.

I'M A RESIDENT OF DOS PALOS.

I AM THE NEIGHBOR TO MR. WILBURN HERE.

AND I DISAGREE WITH WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT THE SOLAR SYSTEM COMING IN.

I REALLY BELIEVE THAT IT'S IT'S NOT THE RIGHT TIME.

IT'S NOT THE RIGHT PLACE.

I THINK THERE'S OTHER LIKE MR. CORREA SAID, THERE'S OTHER LOCATIONS.

THERE ARE MORE PROPER FOR THE SOLAR SYSTEM AT THIS TIME.

I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE FUTURE OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM.

REPLACING FARMLAND.

FARMLAND IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY THAT WE SHOULD HAVE TO BE ABLE TO FEED OUR PEOPLE.

ONCE IT'S PRESIDENT, IT BECOMES A PRESIDENT'S.

ONCE YOU APPROVE THIS, THEN EVERYBODY'S GOING TO WANT TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO KEEP PUTTING SOLAR AND SOLAR AND SOLAR AFTER THAT, TAKING UP MORE FARMLAND THAN WE NEED.

THIS IS JUST NOT RIGHT FOR THE DIRECTION OF MERCED COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE, HIS WORKERS, THAT WE JOBS THAT WOULD BE LOST THERE. THERE WOULD BE NO MAN WORKING THERE, LOST OUR HOURS.

THERE WILL BE TRACTORS RUNNING THERE.

THERE'LL BE DIESEL THAT'S NOT BEING SOLD TO THOSE PEOPLE THERE.

THE FARMER, TO USE HIS EQUIPMENT INCOME IS GOING TO THE THE BURGER PLACES THERE WHERE THE FARMERS, THE WORKERS GO AND EAT THEIR LUNCH AND STUFF.

[02:25:08]

AND WE GOT TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

DO WE REALLY WANT TO GO THAT DIRECTION WHEN WE SET THE PRESIDENT'S AND EVERYBODY'S GOING TO WANT TO DO THIS, OUR WHOLE MERCED COUNTY IS GOING TO BE SOLAR THEN, AND IT STARTS WITH A LITTLE FOOTPRINT COMING IN AND THAT FOOTPRINT CAN BECOME A BIG FOOTPRINT THEN.

AND THERE'S NO BACKING UP NO MORE BECAUSE IT'S BEEN APPROVED AND IT'S DELEGATED THIS WAY.

AND THAT'S THE WAY THE FOOTPRINT IS GOING TO BE.

SO I THINK WE WE GOT TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE HERE TO START OFF WITH.

AND THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO PUT OUR STAMP ON IT AND SAYING SOLAR IS NOT RIGHT FOR HERE.

THERE ARE PROPER PLACES AND LOCATIONS THAT WE CAN USE IT.

I DON'T I'M NOT AGAINST THAT SOLAR BEING PLACED AT THE RIGHT LOCATION, THOUGH.

WE CAN BE PRODUCTIVE AND A LOT OF STUFF IS GOING ELECTRIC ALSO.

SO THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM.

JUST THE RIGHT LOCATION.

DON'T TAKE OUR FARMLAND.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED. WE DON'T WANT TO BE WE DON'T WANT TO DEPEND ON OTHER COUNTRIES SENDING US SENDING US FOOD TO BE ABLE TO EAT HERE.

OKAY. WE WANT TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, SIR.

HI, MY NAME IS DEAN COLLINS.

I'M ALSO A LIVE NEXT, YOU KNOW, NEXT TO IT.

AND I'M ALSO AGAINST IT.

NOT JUST BECAUSE I LIVE BY IT, BUT ANOTHER PART OF THIS IS THE ESTHETICS OF IT.

IT'S ONLY A PROBABLY ABOUT A MILE OUT OF TOWN.

AND IF MY UNDERSTANDING IS 40 ACRES THAT THIS IS GETTING ZONED FOR NOT JUST THE SMALL LITTLE AMOUNT. SO I KIND OF THINK I'M HERE FOR DOS PALOS A LITTLE BIT HERE TOO, BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS GOING ON. I WOULD HAD NO IDEA THIS WAS GOING ON EXCEPT FOR I GOT A LETTER IN THE MAIL.

UM, SO AGAIN, I'M AGAINST THE AG PART OF IT TO TAKING MORE AG OUT OF PRODUCTION.

IT'S NOT THE RIGHT DIRECTION WE NEED TO BE GOING IN.

I. MISTER KOREA SHOWED A MAP UP THERE OF THAT 200 ACRES WHICH I HADN'T TALKED TO HIM.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT MAP WAS THERE, BUT THAT IS ACTUALLY MY FATHER IN LAW'S.

UM, I'VE EVEN TALKED TO HIM.

HE WOULD BE ALL FOR IT OVER THERE.

THAT GROUND IS NOT FARMABLE.

THERE'S NO WATER.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOTHING OUT THERE.

IT'S NOT TOO FAR.

PROBABLY EVEN DO A LAND SWAP IF YOU WANTED TO.

IF YOU REALLY YOUR HEART DESIRES ON A SOLAR.

YOU KNOW, I'M NOT AGAINST SOLAR, BUT THIS IS NOT THE PLACE.

AND IF YOU START THERE, IS IT FAIR TO SOMEONE ELSE NEXT TO THIS FACILITY, IF IT WAS TO BE PUT IN, IS IT FAIR TO THEM THAT THEY CAN'T DO IT TOO? I MEAN, IT SHOULD BE.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET STARTED, LET'S JUST DO THE WHOLE HIGHWAY 33 ALL THE WAY TO Y TO DOS PALOS.

SO IF YOU DO ONE, YOU SHOULD BE DOING IT ALL FOR EVERYBODY.

THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT I GOT TO SAY.

THANKS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

IS THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? OKAY. SO THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.

WE'LL CLOSE IT AT 1240.

AND AT THIS TIME, WE'LL ALLOW BOTH SIDES TO PROVIDE A REBUTTAL.

THE TIME ALLOCATED WILL BE A MAXIMUM OF THREE MINUTES EACH, AND WE'LL GO IN THE SAME ORDER WITH THE STAFF AND APPLICANT GOING FIRST.

SO I'M I WON'T TAKE UP YOUR TIME FOR YOU TO ASK US A GENERAL QUESTION, SIR.

YEAH, MY. THANK YOU.

BRAD JOHNSON WITH RIVERVIEW LIMITED.

I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT HERE.

MY QUESTION WAS SIMPLY IF STAFF IS GOING FIRST, IS THAT EATING INTO THE APPLICANT'S TIME? NO. THREE YEAH.

YOU'RE SHARING TIME. YOU'RE SHARING TIME.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

SO YOUR THREE MINUTES STARTS NOW.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO AGAIN, BRAD JOHNSON, I'M A LAND USE AND ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY HERE ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT, A RENEWABLE AMERICA LLC.

SO I WANTED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THAT WE'VE HEARD HERE TODAY.

SO THERE'S TWO TWO ISSUES, I THINK TWO BUCKETS THAT WE CAN USE TO LOOK AT THE THE APPEAL HERE.

THE FIRST IS A POLICY QUESTION THAT'S BEING RAISED.

IS IT APPROPRIATE TO HAVE SOLAR HERE? IS THE ZONING CORRECT? WHAT ABOUT AG LAND CETERA? AND THE REALITY IS THAT THE BOARD HAS ALREADY MADE THAT DECISION.

THIS PROPERTY IS ZONED PRIME AG.

IT IS PRIME AG AND THE BOARD HAS ALREADY MADE THE DECISION THAT UNDER THE GENERAL PLAN, THERE'S ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOLAR AND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY PROJECTS ON

[02:30:08]

SO IN TERMS OF POLICY DECISION, IN TERMS OF WHETHER OR NOT SOLAR SHOULD BE SITED ON PRIME AG, THE BOARD HAS ALREADY MADE THAT DECISION AND THIS PROJECT COMPLIES WITH THE BOARD'S DIRECTION ON THAT ISSUE.

WITH RESPECT TO SPECIFIC ISSUES REGARDING THE PROJECT, WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING TODAY THAT RELATES TO A LEGAL OR A FACTUAL BASIS FOR OVERTURNING THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S UNANIMOUS APPROVAL.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THE APPELLANT POINTED OUT THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE THE LAND WAS ACTUALLY FALLOW OR NOT IN DECEMBER, IF IT WASN'T PLANTED, THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT'S WEBSTER'S DEFINITION OF FALLOW.

IT MAY NOT MEAN THAT IT WAS PERMANENTLY FALLOW.

BUT IF THERE WAS A PLANT, IF THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THAT WAS GROWING THERE AT THE TIME, THAT'S FALLOW.

SO AND I BELIEVE STAFF HAS ALREADY POINTED OUT THAT SHE HAS DONE HER DUE DILIGENCE AND EVALUATING THAT VERY ISSUE.

IT'S SIMPLY NOT A BASIS TO OVERTURN THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S DECISION.

THE IDEA THAT PRIME AG CAN'T BE REPLACED, I THINK THAT'S OBVIOUSLY TRUE.

THAT'S SELF EVIDENT.

THIS PROJECT DOES NOT PERMANENTLY DISPLACE PRIME AG LAND.

IT HAS A 35 YEAR SHELF LIFE.

AT THE END OF THE 35 YEARS THE EQUIPMENT GETS REMOVED AND IT GOES RIGHT BACK INTO AG PRODUCTION.

THE BENEFIT OF THE PROJECT THOUGH, IS THAT EVEN THOUGH IT'S ONLY A TEMPORARY IMPACT TO AG LAND, IT RESULTS IN A PERMANENT CONSERVATION OF OTHER AG LAND.

AND I THINK THE APPELLANT DOESN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND THE COUNTY'S AG LAND MITIGATION ORDINANCE BECAUSE IT'S NOT AN ORDINANCE THAT REQUIRES THE CREATION OF NEW AG LAND.

IT'S AN ORDINANCE THAT REQUIRES THE PERMANENT CONSERVATION OF AG LAND.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS PROJECT WILL DO.

SO IT WILL RESULT IN A NET BENEFIT, PERMANENT CONSERVATION OF AG LAND, EVEN THOUGH THE PROJECT ITSELF IS ONLY A TEMPORARY IMPACT.

AND LASTLY, RELATED TO SEQUA ISSUES, WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANY DISCUSSION AT ALL ABOUT THE MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION.

THE AS WE EXPLAINED IN OUR LETTER THAT WE SUBMITTED TO THE BOARD, THE STANDARD AT PLAY IS THE FAIR ARGUMENT STANDARD.

HAS THERE BEEN ANY SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE THAT'S BEEN POINTED TO BY THE APPELLANT? THAT IS INDICATIVE THAT THE PROJECT MAY RESULT IN A SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.

AND THE ANSWER IS APPELLANT HAS DISCUSSED NONE.

THE MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION THAT STAFF PREPARED IS THOROUGH.

IT'S WELL DONE. IT'S CORRECT.

IT COMPLIES WITH SEQUA AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION CORRECTLY APPROVED IT.

ALL RIGHT. YOUR YOUR THREE MINUTES IS EXPIRED.

I'LL GIVE YOU 30S TO FINISH UP YOUR LAST COMMENT.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND HOPE THAT YOU REAPPROVE THE PROJECT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

WELL, THANK YOU BOARD FOR THIS TIME.

THEY POINTED OUT SOME GOOD POINTS.

YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY MADE A DECISION TO TO MOVE AND TO ALLOW SOLAR PROJECTS.

BUT JUST BECAUSE THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE DOESN'T MEAN IT CAN'T BE LOOKED AT AGAIN.

THAT'S WHY YOU GUYS ARE HERE.

YOU'RE ELECTEDS BY YOUR PUBLIC TO RUN THIS COUNTY.

AND IF DECISIONS WERE MADE IN THE PAST THAT ARE FRESH AND BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT THERE'S AN ISSUE, IT'S OKAY TO LOOK AT THAT.

YOU GUYS HAVE THE POWER.

THERE IS LEGAL AND FACTUAL ISSUES.

I MEAN, THE FACT THAT IT SAID IT WAS FALLOW IN THE REPORT, EVERYTHING'S TAINTED FROM THERE.

IT NEVER WAS FALLOW.

THAT'S ON THE RECORD.

THAT IS A FACTUAL ISSUE THAT'S SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.

AND I WOULD ARGUE THAT THE SEQUA IS TAINTED BECAUSE OF THAT AS WELL.

THIS GROUND HAS ALWAYS BEEN FARMED.

IT'S NEVER BEEN FALLOW.

AND THE MITIGATION DECLARATION IS PREDICATED ON THE FACT THAT THAT WAS FALLOW LAND.

THAT ALONE IS ENOUGH TO OVERTURN IT.

AND EVEN IF THERE WEREN'T FACTUAL AND LEGAL ISSUES, JUST THE COUNTY AND IT'S WANTING TO SUPPORT AG REALLY SHOULD BE THOUGHT IS A REASON TO OVERTURN IT.

AND FOR YOU ALL TO THINK BACK AND SAY WHERE DO WE WANT THESE PROJECTS TO COME? THERE'S MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS COMING IN SOLAR, PROBABLY THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF ACRES OVER THE NEXT DECADE.

IT'S A PLAN.

WE SHOULD BE PUTTING THAT ON GROUND THAT ISN'T FARMED.

IT'S SO EASY.

THERE'S PLENTY OF IT.

THERE'S IT'S IN EL NIDO WITH SIGMA COMING, 500,000 ACRES ARE GOING TO BE TAKEN OUT OF PRODUCTION WHEN THOSE ACRES ARE OUT THERE, OUT.

THAT MAKES THIS 11 ACRES WITH SURFACE WATER EVEN MORE VALUABLE.

THAT'S COMING.

AND I DO UNDERSTAND HOW THE EASEMENT PROCESS WORKS.

AND I STILL HAVEN'T HEARD WHERE THIS LAND IS GOING TO COME FROM.

WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO COME UP WITH PRIME SURFACE WATER ANYONE FARMLAND?

[02:35:01]

JUST A BOX CHECKED.

WE WOULD ASK YOU TO PLEASE DENY THIS REQUEST, PUT IT BACK FOR RECONSIDERATION AND LOOK AT THE POLICY.

SHOULD THE COUNTY BE WANTING TO PUT THESE PROJECTS ON MARGINAL GROUND OR PRIME A1 FARMLAND? IT'S AN EASY DECISION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, SIR.

OKAY. AT THIS TIME.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? SUPERVISOR PEDROZO YEAH, I'M JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE WHO ARE YOU REPRESENTING? AND I'M REPRESENTING A NEIGHBORING LANDOWNER, NORMAN CLARK, WHO ALSO RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL FROM THE LETTER IN THE MAIL, FROM THE NOTICE THAT THIS WAS GOING ON.

OKAY. THE 300 FOOT RANGE FOR LANDOWNERS.

OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? QUESTIONS? SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

YEAH, FOR STAFF.

HAS THE MITIGATED LAND BEEN IDENTIFIED? THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

SO PER TYPICAL PROCEDURE IS ONCE THE PROJECT IS APPROVED, THEN WE WOULD ENGAGE WITH THE CALIFORNIA FARMLAND TRUST, WHICH IS THE ONLY QUALIFIED ENTITY BEFORE THE BOARD TO ADMINISTER THESE PROJECTS.

THEY WE ENGAGE WITH THEM, DEVELOP A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY WILL BE KIND OF WORKING ON THIS PROJECT.

THEY'LL IDENTIFY AND I KNOW FOR A FACT THEY DO HAVE A LIST OF LANDS WITHIN MERCED COUNTY THAT THEY'RE HOPING TO SECURE UNDER AN AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT. TYPICALLY THEY LOOK FOR LANDS THAT AGAIN ARE PRIME FARMLAND, HAVE SUITABLE WATER, SUITABLE SOIL TYPES AND THEN ALSO ARE THREATENED.

SO THREATENED FOR CONVERSION, PROBABLY DUE TO URBAN DEVELOPMENT, NOT SO MUCH THE AREAS THAT ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTY WHICH LIKELY WON'T BE THREATENED FROM CONVERSION. AND THEN ONCE THAT'S IDENTIFIED, THEY ACTUALLY ASSESS THE SITE THAT'S GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY THE PROJECT AND THEN THEY ASSESS THE AREAS THAT WOULD BE LOOKED AT FOR THE EASEMENT AND SEE IF IT'S A LIKE FOR LIKE EXCHANGE ESSENTIALLY.

AND AT SUCH A TIME, ONCE THAT'S DONE, THEN THE APPLICANT WOULD PAY FOR THE PURCHASE AND ADMINISTRATION AGAIN TO PUT THAT LAND INTO A CONSERVATION EASEMENT IN PERPETUITY.

SO SHORT ANSWER IS NOT AT THIS TIME.

THERE'S NOT A SPECIFIC PIECE OF LAND THAT'S BEEN IDENTIFIED, BUT IT'S PART OF A PROCESS AND PART OF OUR STANDARD PROCESS FOR ALL AGRICULTURAL MITIGATION LANDS.

THANK YOU. JUST A QUICK FOLLOW UP QUESTION TO THAT.

IT HAS TO BE IN THE COUNTY, CORRECT? CORRECT. IT HAS TO BE WITHIN MERCED COUNTY.

OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

WELL, PERSONALLY, I'VE PUT ALMOST 120 ACRES IN THE FARMLAND CONSERVATION EASEMENT.

I'M A FARMER AND ALONG WITH MY BROTHERS AND MY FAMILY, UM, LIKE I SAID, I CARE ABOUT FARMING.

I CARE ABOUT CONTINUED FARMING.

UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, WITH THE DROUGHT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN A DROUGHT OBVIOUSLY THIS YEAR, BUT I THINK CONTINUED DROUGHT, THERE WILL BE A LOT MORE LAND GOING INTO BEING FALLOWED IN THE FUTURE.

AND YOU KNOW, THE WAY IT LOOKS IN CALIFORNIA, LIKE I SAID, BUT HOPEFULLY NOT PRIME FARMLAND.

BUT YOU KNOW, EVERY EVERY PERSON HAS A RIGHT TO PUT SOME, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THEY WANT IN THEIR LAND.

THAT'S WHAT YOU BUY.

AND YOU THINK, RIGHT, UM, I DON'T THINK THAT SOLAR IS A NUISANCE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S WELL, IT'S SEEING RIGHT NOW AS ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY, RIGHT? AND OBVIOUSLY IT'S DOING ITS FAIR FOR THAT.

BUT I THINK THAT IF I WANT TO PUT A WALL, I THINK THAT LOOKS BETTER THAN, THAN A WALL NEXT TO YOUR NEIGHBOR.

UM, I KNOW ESTHETICALLY, YOU KNOW, IT DEPENDS.

LIKE I SAID, WE'RE ALL HAVING A DIFFERENT OPINION, BUT, UM, I THINK IT'S BETTER TO, YOU KNOW, PUT IT FOR 25, 30 YEARS AND BE ABLE TO COME BACK AND FARM IT AGAIN. AND PLUS, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF THE SOLAR PROJECT IS CONTRIBUTING FOR THE FARMLAND CONSERVATION EASEMENTS FOR OTHER LAND, BUT HOPEFULLY THEY ARE IN THE CASE.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BENEFIT OTHER FARMLAND LIKE LIKE IT WAS STATED.

SO, UM, SO THAT'S WHY IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A TOUGH, TOUGH, UH, DECISION WE HAVE TO MAKE.

AND LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE TO MAKE TODAY.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO YEAH.

UM, SO ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT WAS BROUGHT UP WAS JOBS.

[02:40:04]

NO, 99 ACRES.

99. I'M SORRY.

AND SO DO YOU HAVE A HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DO YOU HAVE THAT WORK ON YOUR FARM OR WORK THERE? AT LEAST THE ENTIRE PROPERTY OUT.

SIR, IF I COULD JUST. IF I COULD TROUBLE YOU TO COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE.

SORRY.

YEAH, I OWN A TOTAL OF 99 ACRES.

AND THOSE 99 ACRES HAVE BEEN LEASED OUT MY ENTIRE LIFE.

MY FATHER BEFORE ME.

ORIGINALLY MY GRANDPARENTS ON MY FATHER'S SIDE WERE WERE WERE FARMING THE LAND THEMSELVES.

BUT AFTER MY GRANDPARENTS PASSED AWAY, IT HAS SINCE THEN BEEN LEASED OUT.

IT WAS FIRST LEASED OUT TO HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATES OF MY FATHER'S WHO WERE THE RAVEN BROTHERS.

AND MY THE RAVEN BROTHERS QUIT FARMING AND WE STARTED LEASING IT OUT TO THE PAFFORD BROTHERS DAN AND SAM PAFFORD.

AND GOSH, THAT'S BEEN OVER 30 YEARS AGO, I GUESS.

AND NOW THE PAFFORD BROTHERS ARE NOT FARMING, BUT THE SON OF SAM PAFFORD IS FARMING IT.

SO HE'S CONTINUING TO FARM IT AND I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO LEASE IT TO HIM.

THE JOB ISSUE, THOUGH, IS IT'S NEGLIGIBLE.

I MEAN, IT'S IT'S WHEN THEY'RE SAYING THEY'RE GOING TO REMOVE A BUNCH OF JOBS, THAT DOESN'T REALLY.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S NOT A FACT.

NO. OKAY.

UM, AND MY QUESTION WOULD BE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS CLOSED.

JOE. WE'RE NOW IT'S THE BOARD'S CHANCE TO ASK QUESTIONS.

OKAY. UM, SO I UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE AG AND I TALKED THIS MORNING ABOUT OR WITH THIS MORNING WITH STAFF ABOUT THE HOW THE EASEMENT PROCESS WORKS.

AND I AGREE WITH IT.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING HMONG LEGALLY FACTUAL IN THE OPPONENTS ARGUMENTS AGAINST THIS PROJECT EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT IT'S THEY DON'T THEY JUST DON'T WANT IT NEXT TO THEM OR THE PEOPLE DON'T WANT IT NEXT TO THEM.

AND YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SAY RIGHT LOCATION, OKAY, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT THE DIFFERENT AREAS OF PROPERTIES, THEY MIGHT NOT BE OWNED BY THE GENTLEMAN WHO HAS THIS PROPERTY WHO IS APPROACHED AND HE'S ALLOWED TO DO WITH HIS PROPERTY WHAT HE WANTS TO DO WITH IT.

I MEAN, IT'S A PROPERTY RIGHTS THING.

YOU MAY NOT AGREE WITH THE FACT THAT IT'S TAKING OUT AG LAND, PRIME AG LAND, BUT THERE'S A PROCESS IN PLACE TO CONSERVE THAT AG LAND.

AND I THINK THAT THEY'RE VERY WELL AWARE OF THAT AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SKATE BY AND NOT LET IT HAPPEN BECAUSE THE POLICY OF THE MERCED COUNTY IS THAT MITIGATION.

SO I THINK THIS, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS DOES GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY.

I THINK WITH THE AIR QUALITY STUFF, YOU KNOW, WE JUST DID SOMETHING ABOUT THE VMS BECAUSE AIR QUALITY IS GOING TO BE A HUGE ISSUE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO REDUCE THE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY A CERTAIN AMOUNT HERE SOON.

SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE ALL THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.

AND WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT, THE WATER RIGHTS REMAIN WITH THE PROPERTY.

I MEAN, HE MADE THAT VERY CLEAR.

AND 35 YEARS WHEN IT'S UP, THEY CAN REFORM IT.

IF IF SO CHOOSE IF THEY SO CHOOSE.

I JUST THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS TO WHERE, YES, IT'S GOING TO BE FRUSTRATING.

BUT I WOULD I KIND OF AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE.

I'D MUCH RATHER HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT THAN IF, LET'S SAY, HE WANTED TO BUILD UP A WALL AROUND HIS ENTIRE PLACE.

YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO SEE THAT.

SO I'M IN FAVOR OF IT.

I ALSO, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE WHEN THE PLANNING COMMISSION WE ALL APPOINT THE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS.

AND SO I'M SURE THAT THEY TOOK JUST AS MUCH TIME AND CONSIDERATION INTO THINKING THIS AND APPROVING THIS REQUEST A UNANIMOUSLY THAT TO OVERTURN IT.

I JUST I DON'T THINK THAT'S THAT SHOWS GOOD FAITH AND WHY EVEN HAVING A PLANNING COMMISSION.

[02:45:03]

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

YEAH. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN.

SO I'VE HEARD THERE'S TWO.

I'VE HEARD TWO TYPES OF INFORMATION.

ONE, YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE YOUR WATER RIGHTS.

ONE, YOU SAID YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LOSE YOUR WATER RIGHTS.

SO WHAT'S WHAT'S THE TRUTH TO THAT? SO IN THE LETTER THAT WAS PROVIDED BY THE APPLICANT THAT HAS PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC IN THE BACK TABLE AS WELL AS TO THE DAIS, THERE IS.

THE LEASE AGREEMENT EXCERPT THERE THAT SHOWS VERY CLEARLY THAT THE APPLICANT WILL NOT BE TAKING ANY WATER RIGHTS AND THE WATER RIGHTS ARE RESERVED WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER. OKAY.

THAT'S WHAT I SAW IN WRITING.

BUT I HEARD DIFFERENT UP HERE AT THE DAIS.

AND SECOND OF ALL, WE HEAR ABOUT LOST JOBS.

BUT I'M ON THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD AND I SEE THE SOLAR PROJECTS AND THE JOBS AND THE WAGES THAT ARE COMING IN WITH THOSE.

I DON'T KNOW. DO WE HAVE ANY DATA? I MEAN, WE'RE SAYING THERE'S GOING TO BE LOST AG JOBS ON THESE ACRES, BUT I CAN SEE THE CONSTRUCTION BEING VERY GOOD WAGES IN THAT AREA.

THAT ACTUALLY BENEFITS FOLKS.

I DON'T KNOW IF WORKFORCE DO WE HAVE ANY DO YOU HAVE ANY DATA ON WAGE DIFFERENCES THERE? WE CAN. I CAN'T DO THAT.

I'LL DEFER TO COUNSEL.

I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S ABOVE BOARD HERE.

I'M JUST SAYING WHATEVER JOB LOSSES THAT WE HEAR CLAIM THERE'S GOING TO BE JOBS GAINED.

AND I I'M BRINGING IN SPECULATION FROM PEOPLE WHO AREN'T PART OF THE.

YEAH. SO THAT'S.

ERIC I'M SORRY. WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU TO SIT THIS ONE OUT, BUDDY.

OKAY, GOOD.

SO ANYWAY, WHAT I'M SAYING IS THIS ISN'T PERMANENT LOST JOBS AND THE WAGES WILL BE THERE FOR THE SOLAR IS GOING TO BE MUCH HIGHER ANYWAY, SO THANKS.

I JUST WANT TO GET THAT OUT.

SO QUESTION TO BE ANSWERED.

WAS THERE A QUESTION TO BE ANSWERED ON YOU ANSWERED? TIFFANY ANSWERED ON THE ON THE WATER RIGHTS PIECE.

OKAY. AND I, I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS ALL BEARING WITH ME.

AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T HAD ONE OF THESE APPEALS, AT LEAST SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.

AND I'M FIGURING THIS OUT AS I GO.

STAFF HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF TRYING TO KEEP ME CUED IN SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

I'M SORRY. MY FAULT.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I WANT TO JUST GET A CLARIFICATION ON THE FALLOW.

COULD STAFF COULD YOU GIVE ME THE DEFINITION OF FALLOW? BECAUSE I WENT TO GOOGLE EARTH AND DID A HISTORY, AND THIS LAND IS OBVIOUSLY FARMED.

SO IS THERE A IS CAN YOU GIVE ME THE DEFINITION THAT WOULD JUSTIFY THE FACT THAT IT'S FALLOW TODAY AND THAT MAKES IT FALLOW? SO THE DEFINITION OF FALLOW HERE IS FARMLAND THAT HAS BEEN PLOWED OR HARROWED, BUT LEFT UNSOWN FOR A PERIOD OF TIME SO AS TO RESTORE THE FERTILITY OF THE CROP ROTATION OR AVOID SURPLUS PRODUCTION.

SO IN THIS CASE, AGAIN, MR. MILBOURNE OWNS AND LEASES 99 ACRES OF LAND.

SO IT'S VERY LIKELY THAT MAJORITY OF THE PROJECT AREA HAS BEEN FARMED.

BUT THE SPECIFIC AREA FOR A PERIOD OF TIME DURING THE PROCESSING OF THIS PROJECT AND AGAIN RECONFIRMED THROUGH SURVEYS MOSTLY FOR BIOLOGICAL SURVEYS WITH THE ANALYSIS, SHOWED THAT THE SITE WAS DISKED AT THE TIME.

AND I THINK THE PROCESSING ITSELF TOOK ABOUT A YEAR AND YEAR AND A HALF TO PROCESS THIS PROJECT.

SO COULD DEFINITELY BE REPLANTED IN AREAS.

BUT IN THIS CASE, AT THE TIMES WHEN WE HAD VISITED THE SITE, IT WAS IT WAS NOT SOWN.

THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.

SUPERVISOR PEDROZO, YOU KNOW, STILL SHOWING YOU Y'ALL MY DEAL.

OKAY. SO THE DEFINITION OF FALLOW.

I WOULD AGREE THAT YOU MET IT NOW BEING PART OF AN AG COMMUNITY.

I THINK THAT WE PROBABLY COULD HAVE DID A LITTLE BETTER JOB IN ACTUALLY.

I MEAN, IF YOU GROW COTTON, YOU FALLOW IT OVER THE WINTER TECHNICALLY, RIGHT? IT'S NOT SOWN, BUT YOU'RE, YOU'RE LEAVING THAT GROUND THAT WAY SO THAT YOU'RE READY TO GO AND PRE IRRIGATING IN FEBRUARY SO YOU COULD PLANT AND YOU KNOW IN APRIL.

NOW IF YOU'RE GROWING CORN OR WHEAT, YOU PUT A WINTER CROP IN THERE AND IT'S WHEAT AND THEN, YOU KNOW, TURN THAT AROUND AND PUT YOUR CORN IN SO YOU HAVE A CROP IN THE GROUND MOST OF THE WHOLE YEAR.

I THINK WE COULD HAVE DID THERE'S SOME DISCREPANCY OVER WHETHER YOU AGREED IT WAS FALLOWED OR NOT.

RIGHT. I THINK TECHNICALLY BY THE BY AT LEAST BY WHAT GOOGLE'S DEFINITION OF FALLOW IS, IT WAS FALLOWED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.

[02:50:08]

THAT GROUND HAS ALWAYS BEEN FARMED.

NOW THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A TIME WHEN IT WAS JUST SITTING THERE AS DIRT WHILE THEY WERE WAITING TO PUT IN THE NEXT CROP.

I GOT TO TELL YOU, I KNOW MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THIS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, AND I AND I AND I DO STRUGGLE WITH IT.

AND AND THE REASON IS, IS BECAUSE I AM A PROPERTY RIGHTS PERSON.

I'D ASK ANY ONE OF YOU IF THAT WAS YOUR PROPERTY AND YOU MADE A DECISION YOU WANTED TO DO SOMETHING, WOULD YOU WANT THE GOVERNMENT COMING IN THERE AND TELLING YOU, NO, YOU CAN'T DO THAT? RIGHT? AND I KNOW I WOULDN'T.

AT THE SAME TIME, I KIND OF GUESS LOOK AT SOLAR AS IT IS ANOTHER IT'S ANOTHER PIECE OF AGRICULTURE.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SIGMA AND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH SIGMA AND THE GROUND THAT'S GOING TO BE FALLOWED NOT BECAUSE OF CHOICE, BECAUSE THERE'S JUST NO WATER FOR IT. THERE'S GOING TO BE FOLKS THAT ARE GOING TO LOOK TO SOLAR TO TO KIND OF OFFSET THOSE LOSSES THAT THEY WOULD HAVE HAD AS FARMING.

AND MAYBE I'M GOING TO TAKE A DIFFERENT TAKE ON THIS AND I'M PROBABLY GOING TO GET BEAT UP FOR IT.

BUT I JUST IT STICKS IN MY MIND IS, IS IF YOU'RE NOT PERMANENTLY TAKING THIS FARM GROUND OUT OF PRODUCTION, THEN WHY ARE WE PUTTING A PERMANENT EASEMENT SOMEWHERE? I GET THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF, OF OF AG MITIGATION, BUT I'M JUST IT BUGS ME WHEN WE TALK ABOUT IN PERPETUITY, I AM NOT GOING TO BE HERE FOR IN PERPETUITY.

I THINK THAT YOU A MORE REALISTIC APPROACH WOULD PROBABLY BE TO PUT SOME KIND OF TIME LIMIT ON IT.

BUT IF, IF THE PEOPLE MY, MY GREAT, GREAT, GREAT GRANDPARENTS WOULD HAVE STARTED PUTTING PERMANENT EASEMENTS IN PERPETUITY ON STUFF, WHERE WOULD WE BE NOW? I MEAN, THIS IS WHEN THEY WERE LIKE, YOU KNOW, LITERALLY HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES RUNNING AROUND MERCED AND LOS BANOS AND DOS PALOS.

AND IT WAS A COUPLE BUILDINGS THAT CONSTITUTED THIS COMMUNITY.

AND THEY JUST AND MIND YOU, WE DIDN'T HAVE IRRIGATION IN SOME OF THE TECHNOLOGY WE HAVE NOW.

BUT IF THEY WOULD HAVE STARTED PUTTING STUFF IN PERPETUITY BACK THEN, HOW WOULD THAT HAVE HAMSTRUNG US NOW? SO I THERE'S, THERE'S THERE'S DEFINITELY A LOT OF THINGS THAT PLAY HERE.

YOU KNOW, I DO GET ON THE OTHER SIDE ON THE SOLAR FOLKS.

IT IS THE WAY CALIFORNIA IS GOING.

THEY'RE PUSHING THIS STUFF.

THERE REALLY ARE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NOW.

THE STATE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN FOR A WHILE INCENTIVIZING, MAKING IT MORE POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO MEET THEIR, YOU KNOW, CRAZY THINGS LIKE WE'RE NOT GOING TO SELL ANY ELECTRIC POWER OR EXCUSE ME, GAS POWERED VEHICLES IN THE NEXT 15 YEARS.

WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING. IF YOU GUYS JUST REMEMBER LAST SUMMER, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HAVING TO DO POTENTIAL ROLLING BLACKOUTS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ENERGY ON THE GRID. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF IT, I'M GOING TO BE REAL WITH YOU GUYS.

WHAT HAPPENS TO ALL THESE SOLAR POWERED SOLAR PANELS IN 20 YEARS? WHERE ARE THEY GOING? I HAVEN'T HEARD A REALLY GREAT PLACE FOR THEM, EXCEPT FOR KETTLEMAN CITY OR, YOU KNOW, THE WHAT IS IT? THE DEPARTMENT, THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TOXIC SUBSTANCE, WHATEVER THEIR TITLE IS, YOU KNOW, THEY CONSIDER THESE THINGS TO BE A HAZARD.

AND AS WE'RE NOW GETTING TO, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S BEEN A BENEFIT TO AND I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT AS WE HAVE.

I CAN TAKE YOU TO FARMING OPERATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN YOU KNOW, THEY PUT IN THESE SOLAR ARRAYS TO HELP OFFSET THE COST OF RUNNING THEIR BUSINESS AND TRYING TO HAVE A FIXED COST FOR ENERGY. BUT WE'RE STILL NOT NOW WE'RE STARTING TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE SOME OF THOSE FOLKS HAVE BEEN IN LONG ENOUGH TO WHERE WE'RE GOING TO MEET THE THE USEFUL LIFE, THE END OF THE USEFUL LIFE OF THESE PANELS.

AND SO WHERE DO THEY GO? I DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS TO THAT.

BUT THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT ARE JUST RATTLING AROUND IN MY BRAIN AS YOU MAKE A DECISION.

I DON'T LIKE ANYBODY SAYING THAT MY HANDS ARE TIED BECAUSE GUESS WHAT? I GOT 58,000 BOSSES I HAVE TO ANSWER TO.

AND WE LIVE IN A DEMOCRACY AND WE GET TO VOTE.

RIGHT? SO I HAVE I MY HANDS ARE NEVER TIED.

I ALWAYS DO WHAT I THINK IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

SO THAT THAT KIND OF CHALLENGING A LITTLE BIT, THAT IF SOMEBODY SAYS, WELL, MY HANDS ARE TIED BECAUSE IF IT WAS ALL A.

MINISTERIAL AND IT WAS ALL EASY, THEN THEY WOULDN'T EVEN NEED ANY OF US.

IT WOULD ALL JUST TAKE CARE OF ITSELF.

JUST KIND OF A FEW THOUGHTS RIGHT NOW AND INTERESTED TO LISTEN.

MY COLLEAGUE SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M KIND OF MORE OF A IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING AND YOU WANT TO DO IT IN PERPETUITY, THEN THAT'S OKAY, BECAUSE SOMEBODY MADE A CHOICE TO DO IT, YOU KNOW? SO ANYWAYS, BUT I WAS GOING TO SAVE THIS AND MAYBE MAKE IT DURING BOARD REPORT, BUT THEN I GOT TO THINKING, WELL, THAT MAYBE IT'S NOT AGENDIZED AND SO I BETTER SAY IT NOW.

SO, MR. KARIYA, YOU'VE MADE A LOT OF OF GOOD POINTS, RIGHT, ABOUT AGRICULTURE, ABOUT THE WATER, ABOUT THIS LAND HAVING GOOD WATER AND BEING ABLE TO GROW GOOD CROPS.

AND SO PROBABLY, IN MY OPINION, OR FOR MY VOTE, YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE TODAY.

HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, THE POINTS THAT YOU BRING UP ARE VERY VALID.

[02:55:03]

AND SO, YOU KNOW, MY MY COMMENT TO STAFF IS SOMEHOW WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT OUR POLICIES AND CATCH UP WITH WHERE WE'RE GOING.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I YOU KNOW, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I'M WITH YOU.

IT JUST KILLS ME TO HAVE TO TO TO POTENTIALLY HERE VOTE TO PULL WATER OR LAND THAT HAS SURFACE WATER OUT OF PRODUCTION.

HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, PERSONAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AND THE SYSTEM WE HAVE IN PLACE ALLOWS FOR IT TO HAPPEN.

AND, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY NO PROJECTS COME BEFORE US AGAIN LIKE THIS UNTIL WE'VE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT OUR POLICIES AND MAYBE MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS.

SO ANYWAYS, THANK YOU FOR THE TIME, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU.

UM, JUST ANOTHER QUICK QUESTION.

THIS PROJECT ONLY APPROVES THE 11.3 ACRES.

THAT'S IT. SO IF FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, TWO YEARS FROM NOW, YOU WANTED TO ADD ANOTHER ACRE THAT WOULD THAT WOULD TRIGGER COMING BACK FOR ANOTHER CUP, CORRECT? ALL RIGHT, TURN YOUR MIC ON THERE.

CORRECT. OKAY, PERFECT.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE I HEARD I THINK I THOUGHT I HEARD EARLIER LIKE IT WAS APPROVING ALL 40 ACRES.

AND I AND I AGREE WITH SUPERVISOR PAREIRA IN THE SENSE OF THAT MAYBE IT'S TIME THAT WE RELOOK AT, YOU KNOW, OUR POLICY, BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT THE RULES THAT WERE GIVEN TO THESE FOLKS, THAT THEY'RE THEY'RE FOLLOWING THE RULES THAT WE THAT WE LAID OUT FOR THEM.

AND SO IF WE WANT TO CHANGE THOSE RULES, I KIND OF THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT LATE IN THE GAME TO DO THAT NOW.

SO I DON'T KNOW.

MR. DISAGREE. I THINK YOU I THINK YOU DID BRING UP VERY VALID POINTS.

THE OTHER QUESTION THAT MR. MILBOURNE, DO YOU STILL LIVE IN DOS PALOS, SIR? NO, I DO NOT KNOW.

I LIVE IN PINOLE, CALIFORNIA.

YEAH, BUT I DID I DID WORK HERE FOR THE WHAT WAS KNOWN AS A PRODUCTION CREDIT ASSOCIATION AT THE TIME.

I WORKED HERE FOR FIVE YEARS AND I WORKED ANOTHER FIVE YEARS IN THE FARM CREDIT SYSTEM FURTHER NORTH UP IN SANTA ROSA.

SO I HAVE DEEP ROOTS IN AGRICULTURE.

AND I, I DO APPRECIATE THE, YOU KNOW, THE THE COMMENTS BY THE OPPOSITION, MY NEIGHBORS. I MEAN, I HEAR THEM.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

I YOU KNOW, I'M KIND OF CONFLICTED ABOUT IT MYSELF.

BUT NEVERTHELESS, THIS IS THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO GET RID OF A A NUISANCE THAT'S BEEN A NUISANCE TO ME AND HAS BEEN A NUISANCE.

WELL, PROBABLY TO MY IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS, MAYBE NOT THOSE PARTICULAR NEIGHBORS, BUT IT IS A NUISANCE.

AND THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO GET RID OF THAT NUISANCE AND AND, YOU KNOW, PRODUCE SOME SOLAR ENERGY, WHICH IS NOT A NUISANCE AND IS GOING TO BE HELPFUL TO THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. ALL RIGHT.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS, UM, WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS AND THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD.

YEAH. WHY DON'T WE JUST TALK ABOUT.

SO I'M GOING TO PUT IT IN DISCUSSION MODE.

SO GO AHEAD. OKAY.

UM, I'M GOING TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION OR MAKE A MOTION AFFIRMING THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S DECISION TO ADOPT THE MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION AND MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM FOR THE PROJECT.

BASED ON THE FINDINGS SET FORTH IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF REPORT DATED APRIL 26TH, 2023.

AND CAN I DO BOTH AT THE SAME TIME? YES. AND MAKE A MOTION AFFIRMING THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S DECISION TO APPROVE THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NUMBER CUP 20 2-011 AND RULE ON APPEAL NUMBER APP A 20 3-001.

[03:00:08]

ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THAT. SO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL EXCUSE ME.

BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

WE HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE.

SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA? YES. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO? YES. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

I SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

NO. SO THE MOTION CARRIES FOUR WITH ONE DISSENT.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOLKS FOR BEING HERE.

AND APPRECIATE YOU GUYS WALKING THROUGH THIS PROCESS WITH US.

I THINK IT WAS KIND OF EDUCATIONAL FOR ALL OF US.

SO AND THEN I WILL ADDRESS IN MY BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS, WHICH ARE NEXT MY THE REASON FOR MY NAY VOTE.

ALL RIGHT. SO NEXT, WE HAVE BOARD REPORTS.

[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION]

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

UM, WELL, I WOULD HAD A TOWN HALL LAST WEEK, AND WE, YOU KNOW, I GOT A BIG DISTRICT, EIGHT COMMUNITIES.

BUT BUT I CHOSE DELPHI TO HAVE THAT MEETING.

AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE STAFF MEMBERS THAT WERE THERE THAT EVENING TO NOT ONLY SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU DO, BUT TO ANSWER QUESTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY.

I'VE HAD JUST A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF COMMENTS NOT ONLY THAT EVENING, BUT BUT FOLLOW UP, UM, JUST APPRECIATING, YOU KNOW, THE STAFF BEING THERE AND PROVIDING THE ANSWERS AND INFORMATION AND, AND EVEN THOUGH I HAD TO ASK A COUPLE OF THE QUESTIONS MYSELF TO KIND OF GET THE INFORMATION OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, CHIEF PIMENTEL TALKING ABOUT ABOUT THE WEED ABATEMENT AND, YOU KNOW, LIEUTENANT FRAMSTAD TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CODE ENFORCEMENT AND SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS.

I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT EVENING.

BOY, IT'S PRETTY AMAZING TO HAVE A TOWN HALL AND NOT REALLY HAVE ANYBODY, YOU KNOW, COMPLAIN OR YELL AND COMPLAIN.

I'VE HAD ONE BEFORE AND, YOU KNOW, YOU GET THOSE.

BUT REALLY TO HAVE PEOPLE ASK THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS AND TO GET THOUGHTFUL ANSWERS BACK WAS IT WAS JUST A PLEASURE FOR ME TO WATCH.

AND SO YOU KNOW CEO MENDEZ AND AND YOU KNOW THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THAT TOGETHER AND ALLOWING THE STAFF TO TO BE THERE AND PARTICIPATE LIKE YOU DID AND AND TEND TO THOSE THAT REPRESENTED DEPARTMENTS.

AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU KNOW, NOW I'M ASKED TO HAVE ONE OF THOSE IN EVERY COMMUNITY.

AND, YOU KNOW AND OBVIOUSLY THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT A FEW SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT WATCHED IT ON FACEBOOK THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY, REALLY A GOOD TOWN HALL AND OF COURSE, LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

SO ANYWAYS, WITH THAT, THAT'S MY BOARD REPORT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

SUPERVISOR PAREIRA SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I JUST WANT TO KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN STATED TWICE HERE BEFORE THIS BOARD THAT MY WIFE IS A MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY, AND I JUST WANT TO CLEAR THAT UP, THAT SHE IS NOT A MEMBER, NOR HAS SHE EVER BEEN A MEMBER.

THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE THAT HAVE PRESENTED THAT TWICE TO US, AND SHE ACTUALLY DID HER DUE DILIGENCE AND ACTUALLY CONTACTED IN CASE SOMEBODY PUT HER NAME IN OR SOMETHING AND CONTACTED THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES THAT RECORDS IT FOR EVERY TEN YEARS OR SO.

I WAS ELECTED HERE IN 2015 AND SHE'S NEVER, NEVER BEEN A MEMBER OF THE AUXILIARY.

SO I JUST WANT TO CLEAR THAT UP.

IT'S BEEN STATED HERE TWICE.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MY TOWN HALL ON THURSDAY NIGHT AT THE VETERANS BUILDING THERE IN THE CITY OF ATWATER.

ALSO, I WANT TO REPORT OUT THAT I DID ATTEND ONE VOICE SINCE THIS LAST TIME WE WERE HERE.

FOLKS, EARMARKS ARE BACK.

THEY CAN CALL THEM WHATEVER THEY WANT, BUT EARMARKS ARE BACK.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE THE, UM, THE PRIORITIES GOING TO ONE VOICE NOW TRYING TO GET THOSE MONIES HERE.

AND THEN I WOULD LIKE MR. KOREA TO BRING UP A GOOD, A GOOD DISCUSSION ON MAYBE GOING FORWARD, HOW DO WE IDENTIFY WORKING WITH OUR GSA'S, MAYBE SEEING POTENTIAL PROPERTIES THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE FOLLOWED AND MAYBE WE CAN POINT THAT IN THE DIRECTION OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT WHICH SOLAR WOULD WORK FOR.

AND I APPRECIATE THE ARGUMENT THAT HE BROUGHT HERE.

IT IT REALLY MAKES YOU THINK, BUT IF WE CAN IDENTIFY THOSE AHEAD OF TIME AND WORKING WITH OUR GSA'S, THAT MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HELP OUT SOME OF THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE

[03:05:08]

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.

THANK YOU. UM, WELL, I HAD MY TOWN HALL LAST WEDNESDAY AS WELL.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK ALL OUR STAFF AND, YOU KNOW, THE DEPARTMENT HEADS THE DA FOR ATTENDING THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR, YOU KNOW, THE SHERIFF WASN'T AVAILABLE TEN SO HE SENT SOMEBODY THERE.

SO I WANT TO THANK HIM AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THE OFFICERS AS WELL, TOO, FOR BEING THERE.

PROBATION WAS THERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UM, YOU KNOW, JUST I THINK IT WAS A GOOD TOWN HALL, BESIDES THE FACT THERE WAS A GROUP THAT WAS STARTED ATTACKING ME, BUT, YOU KNOW, POLITICAL, THEY BROUGHT UP ISSUES ABOUT THE GRAND JURY FROM 2008, WHICH THEY FOUND NOTHING, OBVIOUSLY.

AFTER THAT, I GOT ELECTED FOUR TIMES AS MAYOR.

THE FIRST TIME WAS TWO MONTHS AND THEN THREE MORE TIMES THERE'S TWO YEAR TERMS. AND THEN I'M STILL YOU KNOW, I GOT, YOU KNOW, ELECTED HERE TWICE.

SO THEY ALSO BROUGHT A FACT ABOUT A ISSUE WITH, UH, WITH A CONFLICT OF INTEREST REGARDING MY BROTHER'S BUSINESS.

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, A CONFLICT COMES WHEN YOU VOTE ON SOMETHING.

I I'M ON THE BOARD OVER HERE, NOT ON THE COUNCIL OVER THERE.

THEY HAD TO MAKE A DECISION WHETHER, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT HE WANTED A EXCLUSIVE CONTRACT WITH THE CITY.

BUT THAT'S HIS ISSUE WITH THE COUNCIL, PAST COUNCIL, NOT THE CURRENT COUNCIL.

AND THEY NEVER EVEN YOU KNOW, I THINK THEY DISCUSSED A LITTLE BIT, BUT IT WAS NOT BROUGHT FORWARD FOR A VOTE.

SO THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION.

SO THERE'S NO CONFLICT.

I WANTED TO CLEAR THAT OUT AS WELL.

AND THIS NON-GROUP IT'S A THE WEED NUNS OF THE VALLEY, I THINK AS ARE CALLED ON CANNABIS OR MARIJUANA AS A STATE.

YOU KNOW, WHETHER THEY WANT TO PORTRAY THEMSELVES AS REMNANTS, THAT'S UP TO THEM.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S HOW THEY GO.

I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO THAT, BUT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED OVER THERE.

BUT I WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR COMING OUT, ASKING QUESTIONS.

AND LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, I, I AM THERE FOR THE PEOPLE AND WE ARE THERE FOR THE PEOPLE.

SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO STATE THAT ALSO, TOO.

UM, I WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, WE GOT WE GOT AN EMAIL AND WAS ASKED TO SUPPORT THE CENTRAL VALLEY PRIDE AND TO PUT UP THE LGBTQ FLAG IN THIS BUILDING.

AND I SHARED IT WITH WITH THE CEO AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU GET THE CONSENSUS FROM THE BOARD WHETHER WE WANT TO PLACE IT ON THERE.

SO BUT, YOU KNOW, PERSONALLY, I WANT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, AS AN ELECTED, I, I SUPPORT THE LGBTQ AND, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO SEE IT ON THE BUILDING. I KNOW THAT THE CITY, UH MERCED HAS DONE IT THE LAST THREE YEARS, BUT I KNOW THAT'S UP TO THE BOARD.

AND, YOU KNOW, IF THE BOARD DECIDES NOT TO TODAY, THEN I WOULD LIKE TO PLACE IT ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT AGENDA.

BECAUSE I KNOW THAT PRIDE MONTH IS NEXT MONTH FROM JUNE 1ST TO THE 30TH.

AND THERE'S STILL, LIKE I SAID, TRYING TO GET CONSENSUS FROM US SO WE CAN PUT THAT, YOU KNOW, FLAG ON OUR BUILDING.

I GO, I THINK WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH TIMES PERSONALLY AND, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT ALL OUR COMMUNITY GROUPS AS BEST AS WE CAN AND ALL OUR COMMUNITY.

SO ALSO YESTERDAY I HAD A MEETING WITH THE DE LA SALUD, INVITED ME TO, UH, TO ATTEND A MEETING TO SPEAK WITH CONSTITUENTS IN SANTA NELLA REGARDING THEIR PARK OVER THERE.

AND I ATTENDED AND I GUESS THEY'VE HAD THIS IS THEIR EIGHTH MEETING THERE, JUST LIKE THEY DID IN PLANADA REGARDING MEETINGS TO FOR THE PARK. AND THAT'S HOW THE COUNTY WAS ABLE TO USE THOSE MEETINGS TO BRING FORWARD A APPLICATION FOR A GRANT.

AND I KNOW THAT OUR GRANT WRITER SAID THAT SHE'S READY TO, YOU KNOW, SHE'LL BE READY PRETTY SOON TO HOPEFULLY APPLY FOR A GRANT FOR THAT COMMUNITY.

AND WE'VE JUST BEEN SEEKING, YOU KNOW, A PARK LIKE THE CITY.

EARLIER TODAY ALSO, WE HAD A, UH, COMMUNITY DAY ON THE 10TH.

WAS IT THE 10TH OF 13TH AT 13TH, I THINK IN A PLANADA AND IT WAS VERY WELL ATTENDED.

A LOT OF VENDORS, A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR BEING THERE AND ALL OUR STAFF, DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS FOR BEING THERE AS WELL.

AND THIS WEEKEND WILL HAVE LE GRAND COMMUNITY DAY AS WELL TOO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE SUPPORT AND HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY SOMEBODY FOR THE LE GRAND COMMUNITY DAY.

AND ALSO UH, YOU KNOW AS A LIKE IT WAS STATED BEFORE, YOU KNOW, THE SOUTH MERCED COMMUNITY IS SEEKING A GRANT ALSO AS WELL FOR, FOR PEACE STREET, FOR THEIR SEWER AND WATER IMPROVEMENTS AND AS WELL AS AS SIDEWALKS.

[03:10:05]

SO THANK YOU.

ALSO, I WANT TO THANK, UM, DANA FOR ALWAYS CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE ROADS.

AND ALSO WE CAN FINISH THE CHARLES AND SANTA FE CROSSING THERE.

THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN WANTING THAT SINCE LAST AUGUST.

HASN'T BEEN FINISHED. I KNOW THAT WE WERE BEING WAITING ON BNSF TO BE FINISHED WITH OUR IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE TRACKS.

AND NOW IF WE CAN FINISH THAT.

APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO SUPERVISOR OR EXCUSE ME, ESPINOSA.

SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

THANK YOU.

LAST WEEK I ATTENDED.

WELL, I WANT TO CLEAR SOMETHING UP REAL QUICK, BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN MENTIONED NOW MORE THAN ONCE.

THE REASON THE LEGION HALL WAS CHOSEN FOR MY TOWN HALL, BECAUSE INITIALLY IT WAS GOING TO BE IN THIS BUILDING, BUT THE WHOLE IDEA OF A TOWN HALL IS TAKING IT TO YOU AND TO THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO THAT WAS THE BEST OPPORTUNITY WE HAD TO USE THAT.

AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE INVITING.

AND SO IT WASN'T DONE TO KEEP ANYBODY OUT.

IT WAS JUST THAT WAS AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME THAT WE NEEDED IT.

AND IT HAD ALL THE IT HAD EVERYTHING THAT WE HAD THAT WE NEEDED FOR THE FOR THE MEETING.

AND SO IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT.

WE TRY TO BRING PEOPLE IN AND I THOUGHT WE'D GET MORE PEOPLE BY DOING IT OUTSIDE OF THIS BUILDING.

SINCE WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE FOR ANOTHER ONE NEXT NEXT WEEK.

ALSO LAST WEEK, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE NACO WESTERN INTERSTATE REGION CONFERENCE IN SAINT GEORGE, UTAH. IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING.

WE GOT TO TOUR THREE DIFFERENT WATER STORAGE FACILITIES.

WE ALSO GOT TO TOUR DAM.

IT WAS PRETTY DAMN IMPRESSIVE.

GET IT? SORRY.

AND WE THERE WAS SOME REALLY COOL PROJECTS THAT ARE DISCUSSIONS THAT THEY HAD IN REGARDS TO THESE WHOLE NEW ATMOSPHERIC RIVERS AND HOW THEY'RE TESTING THEM AND HOW THEY'RE PLANNING FOR THEM, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE OF THOSE HEAT AND RAIN THAT WE JUST HAD.

AND SO THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON THAT.

ALSO TOMORROW AT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, THERE IS AN EVENT FROM 9 TO 12.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYBODY TO GO OUT THERE.

I KNOW I'LL GO OUT THERE.

AND THEN ALSO I RAN INTO THE THE FOUNDERS AND OWNERS OF THE KIDS DISCOVERY CENTER, AND THEY WANTED ME TO MAKE MENTION THAT ON SUNDAY THEY'RE DOING A MID IS SPONSORING A FREE DAY FOR THE KIDS AS THEY'RE OPENING UP A NEW EXHIBIT.

SO IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN THERE YET, GO OUT THERE.

IT'S PRETTY IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

UNFORTUNATELY, MY KIDS AREN'T GOING TO BE IN TOWN, BUT I'M GOING TO TAKE MY WIFE AND SHOW HER AROUND OUT THERE.

SO THANK YOU. OH, AND BE SAFE.

THIS MEMORIAL DAY, THE RIVERS ARE STILL CLOSED AND.

BUT JUST BE SAFE.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL HANSON.

ANYTHING? CEO MENDEZ? YES, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. JUST A COUPLE ITEMS. I DID WANT TO JUST AGAIN WORKING OFF OF THE SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL COMMENT ABOUT THE TOWN HALLS.

WE ARE ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH OF SIX TOWN HALLS WE'VE HELD OR THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS HELD THREE.

WE DO HAVE ONE LATER THIS WEEK IN ATWATER AT THE ATWATER MEMORIAL BUILDING.

SO THAT'S THURSDAY, MAY 25TH AT 6 P.M.

AND BECAUSE WE'RE NOT MEETING UNTIL BECAUSE OUR NEXT MEETING IS AFTER OUR FOLLOWING TOWN HALLS, I WANTED TO ALSO HIGHLIGHT WE WILL BE IN DISTRICT FIVE. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA WILL BE HOSTING THE TOWN HALL DOS PALOS WIFE SERVICE CLUB.

THAT'S ON TUESDAY, MAY 30TH AT 6 P.M.

AND THEN OUR VIRTUAL TOWN HALL WILL BE WEDNESDAY, MAY 31ST AT 6 P.M.

COUNTY OF MERCED.COM.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR ANYBODY THAT'S INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT THOSE SPECIFIC DATES AND LOCATIONS.

AND THEN JUST RESPONDING TO SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA'S COMMENTS.

YES, THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS RECEIVED A REQUEST FOR FLYING A FLAG IN TO COMMEMORATE PRIDE MONTH. NEXT NEXT MONTH, JUNE.

BUT BASED ON MY RESEARCH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE COUNTY HAS HISTORICALLY ONLY FLOWN THE USA AMERICAN FLAG IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FLAG HERE AT THE MERCED ADMIN BUILDING.

SO STAFF IS EVALUATING THE REQUEST.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE THOUGHTFUL AND FULLY VET THE REQUEST AND HOW BEST TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THIS BOARD.

BUT CERTAINLY IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAME IN LATE LAST OR MID LAST WEEK.

[03:15:01]

CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING FURTHER CONVERSATION WITH EACH BOARD MEMBER ON HOW TO PROPERLY HANDLE THAT REQUEST, BE RESPECTFUL OF THE REQUEST, BUT HANDLED IT APPROPRIATELY BASED ON OUR PAST PRACTICE AND PRECEDENT.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. MR.. MENDEZ.

SO A COUPLE THINGS ON THE LAST PUBLIC.

GOSH, MY BRAIN IS FREEZING HERE IT IS PUBLIC HEARING ITEM.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE NO VOTE IS IS WHEN I LOOK AT IT MY.

CONSTITUENCIES HERE AND THERE, MY BOSSES.

AND THEY'RE TELLING ME KIND OF THE WAY THEY FEEL OR I'M I'M INCLINED TO GO ALONG WITH WITH WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE AND I GUESS IT WAS KIND OF TELLING TO ME AND MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE ASKED THE QUESTION WHEN HE WAS HERE.

BUT HE'S A PROPERTY OWNER.

HE HAS PROPERTY RIGHTS.

I SHOULD HAVE ASKED THE QUESTION.

I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HEAR THE ANSWERS.

WOULD YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY IF YOU STILL LIVED ON THE PROPERTY? THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN KIND OF MAYBE GIVEN ME A LITTLE BIT MORE INSIGHT.

BUT I DO THINK THAT IT CAUSES US NOW TO MAYBE REEVALUATE AS SOLAR IS GOING TO BECOME MORE AND MORE PREVALENT.

I BELIEVE IT IS.

YOU KNOW, ARE WE IS IT JUST SHOULD IT BE JUST AN IF IT'S IT'S IT'S AN ACCEPTABLE USE IN THE AGRICULTURAL ZONING, THEN WE'RE GOING TO LET IT GO ANYWHERE WHERE YOU HAVE THE AGRICULTURAL ZONING.

I THINK THAT THAT'S A FURTHER DISCUSSION THAT WE NEED TO AS A BOARD ON A POLICY LEVEL KIND OF TACKLE AND FIGURE OUT WHERE WE WANT TO GO BECAUSE DON'T WANT TO FAULT THE APPLICANTS IN THAT THEY PLAYED THE CARDS THAT WERE DEALT TO THEM.

RIGHT? THOSE ARE THE RULES THAT WERE OUT THERE AND THEY FOLLOWED THOSE RULES.

MY TOWN HALL, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME OUT.

HOPEFULLY MINE'S NOT AS LIVELY AS THE LAST ONE AT DOS PALOS.

WHY? I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT WILL BE, BUT YOU NEVER KNOW.

BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU, I WOULD ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO COME OUT TO IT.

IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO WHERE WE HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM EVERY DEPARTMENT.

SO IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS REGARDING SERVICES, OPPORTUNITIES, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, WITH THE COUNTY, IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO TO BE ABLE TO COME OUT AND GET THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED, BECAUSE AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE TO THINK I KNOW EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, I CAN PROMISE YOU I DON'T.

AND REALLY, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THE RESIDENT EXPERTS THERE TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.

I ALSO, TOO, ATTENDED THE ONE VOICE TRIP.

GOOD OPPORTUNITY.

WE ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WHAT'S WORKING, WHAT WE DO.

I CAN'T POINT TO YOU JUST A ONE THING THAT WE'VE BROUGHT BACK.

BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS, IS AS YOU BUILD THESE RELATIONSHIPS IN WASHINGTON, DC, WHEN YOU WALK INTO A MEETING AND THEY THEY KNOW YOU BY NAME AND THEY KNOW YOUR COUNTY, THEN YOU'RE KIND OF MAKING AN IMPACT ON THOSE FOLKS.

AND I LIKE TO THINK THAT AT SOME POINT THAT'S GOING TO PAY DIVIDENDS FOR US.

NEXT MEETING WILL BE I HAVE IT WRITTEN DOWN HERE SOMEWHERE.

JUNE 13TH WILL BE OUR NEXT MEETING.

I WANT TO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD.

AND THE OTHER THING IS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST KIND OF A PET PEEVE OF MINE.

IF YOU'RE TRULY PASSIONATE ABOUT SOMETHING AND YOU REALLY WANT THIS BOARD TO TAKE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION, POLICY CONSIDERATION, DON'T WAIT TILL THE 11TH HOUR TO SEND US SOMETHING, BECAUSE TO ME THAT ULTIMATELY THAT JUST TELLS ME YOU WANT IT TO FAIL AND YOU WANT TO FIGHT.

IF YOU TRULY WANT TO AFFECT CHANGE, ENGAGE ME EARLY AND I'LL SPEAK ON MY ON BEHALF OF MYSELF.

AND I WOULD THINK I'M SPEAKING FOR MOST OF MY COLLEAGUES TO ENGAGE US EARLY ON AN ISSUE.

DON'T WAIT TILL IT'S THE 11TH HOUR.

WE HAVE THIS LITTLE THING CALLED THE BROWN ACT AND THESE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT PUT TIME CONSTRAINTS ON US, ON WHEN AGENDAS HAVE TO BE OPPOSED.

AND WE'RE ULTIMATELY TASKED WITH DOING THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS IN PUBLIC.

AND SO IF YOU, YOU KNOW, AGENDAS HAVE TO BE POSTED OUT 72 HOURS IN ADVANCE, I'LL TELL YOU, OURS COMES OUT EARLIER THAN 72 HOURS IN ADVANCE.

AND THAT'S AT LEAST MY REQUEST AND MY COLLEAGUES REQUESTS, I'D LIKE TO THINK IS THAT BE ABLE TO REVIEW THE INFORMATION THAT WE'RE ULTIMATELY ASKED TO VOTE ON.

AND IF WE JUST STUCK TO THE MINIMUM 72 HOUR RULE, I JUST LISTEN, IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THAT INFORMATION AT A AT A LEVEL OR, YOU KNOW, ATTENTION LEVEL TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

SO ENGAGE EARLIER IN THE PROCESS.

I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT THAT'S NOT DIRECTED TO ANY ONE PERSON OR GROUP THAT'S DIRECTED TO EVERYBODY.

IF YOU IF YOU REALLY WANT TO AFFECT CHANGE, DON'T WAIT UNTIL, YOU KNOW, AN HOUR BEFORE OR A DAY BEFORE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR MEETING AND SEND, YOU KNOW, A LETTER REQUESTING SOMETHING. IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.

I TELL YOU GUYS ALL THE TIME, WE'RE VERY SLOW HERE IN GOVERNMENT AND SO DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEND US SOMETHING.

YOU KNOW, A COUPLE HOURS BEFORE A MEETING AND WE'RE GOING TO ACT ON IT, LET ALONE.

SO ANYWAYS, JUST KIND OF MY CLOSING THOUGHTS AND THE LAST THING I DO, MY HEART AND MY CONDOLENCES GO OUT TO CHUCK HALES AND HIS FAMILY.

THEY I'M OBVIOUSLY GOING TO ASK THAT WE ADJOURN THIS MEETING IN MEMORY OF CHUCK HALE.

UM, NOT ONLY WAS CHUCK THE LIVINGSTON POLICE CHIEF, HE WAS A LONG TIME DEPUTY OR IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

[03:20:03]

HE HAD PROMOTED UP.

BUT I ALSO GOT TO CALL CHUCK A FRIEND.

I GREW UP WITH HIM. I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH HIM.

AND IT JUST AND IT JUST REALLY IT'S KIND OF SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO JUST KIND OF FIGURE IT OUT.

I MEAN, HE'S 46 YEARS OLD.

HE'S A YEAR OLDER THAN ME. I THINK HE WAS TWO YEARS OLDER THAN ME IN SCHOOL AND JUST, YOU KNOW, A ROUTINE SURGERY AND A COMPLICATION FROM THAT.

AND HE'S NO LONGER WITH US.

AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, HIS DAUGHTER OR HIS SON'S GRADUATING IN TEN.

ESSER HERE. SO SO JUST A REALLY TOUGH TIME FOR FOR THEIR FAMILY.

MY HEART GOES OUT TO THEM AND MY FRIENDS AND LIVINGSTON, YOU KNOW, THEY THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD A GOOD ONE THERE AND ONE THAT THEY COULD KEEP AROUND FOR A WHILE AND ACHIEVE THEIR.

I KNOW WE LOST A GOOD FRIEND IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

SO AGAIN, I WANT TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING IN MEMORY OF CHIEF CHUCK HALE.

THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.