[00:00:06]
WE HAD A CLOSED SESSION THIS MORNING AND STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION.THE CONFERENCE WITH COUNTY OF MERCED STAFF NEGOTIATORS CONCERNING NEGOTIATIONS WITH TEAMSTERS UNITS TWO AND 12 CLOSED SESSION ITEM HAS BEEN CONTINUED IF NECESSARY. SO NEXT, WE'LL START WITH THE INVOCATION LED BY KELLY PEDROZO OF SAINT PATRICK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.
AND THEN SUPERVISOR PEDROZO WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.
OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME.
THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD AND FORGIVE OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
LORD, WE ARE MEETING TODAY TO CONDUCT MATTERS OF BUSINESS.
GUIDE OUR HEARTS AND OUR MINDS IN THE SPIRIT OF FAIRNESS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR SOURCE OF GUIDANCE TODAY.
AMEN. IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT.
MRS. PEDROZO AND SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK]
NON-AGENDA ITEM PUBLIC COMMENT.TESTIMONY LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON AND 30 MINUTES TOTAL.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN SILVEIRA.
VICE CHAIR ESPINOZA, ESTEEMED BOARD MEMBERS, STAFF AND DISTINGUISHED GUESTS.
I AM THE STATE COMMANDER OF THE AMERICAN LEGION.
I'VE BEEN A POLICE OFFICER FOR 31 YEARS.
CURRENTLY HOLD THE RANK OF POLICE CAPTAIN, AND I AM ALMOST DONE WITH MY TERM.
IT'S COMING DOWN TO THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.
I CAN CLEARLY RECOGNIZE WHEN THERE'S A LANDLORD TENANT DISPUTE OCCURRING.
I'M HERE TO DISCUSS MERCED POST 83.
I HAVE A LOT IN COMMON WITH YOU.
THEY VOTED ME TO THIS POSITION OF STATE COMMANDER.
I CURRENTLY REPRESENT 80,000 VETERANS IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
AN ADDITIONAL 50,000 AUXILIARY MEMBERS AND SONS.
AND MERCED POST 83 HAS BEEN A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY FOR 100 YEARS.
SO WE DO OWE A LOT OF OUR LEADERSHIP TO THOSE CONSTITUENTS.
WE PROMISE THEM THAT WE WOULD LEAD.
THAT MEANS IT WAS BUILT BY THE VETERANS OF WORLD WAR ONE.
OVER THERE IN FLANDERS FIELD, THE VETERANS OF D-DAY.
WE JUST CELEBRATED THE INVASION OF OMAHA.
RIGHT. THE EVACUATION OF KABUL.
SO WE HAVE A LEGACY, A STEWARDSHIP, AS YOU WOULD SAY, TO PROTECT THAT BUILDING.
I'M GOING TO SIMPLY END WITH THE FACT THAT I HAD WISHED THAT THESE NEGOTIATIONS REGARDING THIS CONTRACT HAD BEEN OPENED UP IN A MUCH MORE FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT.
HE BROUGHT UP THE CODE SECTION.
BUT OTHER COUNTIES HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS.
[00:05:03]
THEY PUT TWO DISTINCT SEPARATE AREAS, ONE FOR THE VFW AND ONE FOR THE AMERICAN LEGION.THE CITIES ACTUALLY MOVED FOUR SECONDS.
THEY BUILT THEM BRAND NEW BUILDINGS.
AND I CERTAINLY. I'LL GIVE YOU TEN MORE SECONDS TO FINISH YOUR THOUGHT, SIR.
I WOULD CERTAINLY HOPE THAT THIS BOARD WOULD MEET WITH THIS AGREEMENT MORE EQUITABLY AND FAIRLY.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN SOLARA AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
I'M LARRY LEONARDO, RESIDENT OF MERCED COUNTY.
THIS POST HAS PROVIDED MANY, MANY YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR VETERANS.
AND IN FACT, THIS LAST FEBRUARY, THE SPONSORED A THREE DAY EVENT WHERE WE BROUGHT IN THE COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE OFFICERS FROM NOT JUST MERCED, BUT ALSO STANISLAUS AND OTHER AREAS SO WE COULD TAKE CARE OF OUR VETERANS.
AND WE NEED TO HAVE A BUILDING WHERE WE CAN DO THIS, WHERE WE CAN PROVIDE THE SOCIAL AND THE ORGANIZATIONAL AREA TO HANDLE OUR POSTS.
SO WITH THIS IN MIND, PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AGREEMENT AND TAKE IT IN YOUR HEARTS THAT WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO AND WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING FOR OVER 100 YEARS.
THIS IS KIND OF THE FLAGSHIP POST OF MERCED COUNTY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, SIR.
WE COULD PLEASE HOLD THE APPLAUSE.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ED BENES.
I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF MERCED POST 83 FOR 27 YEARS.
I WANT TO THANK THE COUNTY OF MERCED FOR BEING A GOOD LANDLORD DURING THE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN A MEMBER, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU FEEL THAT WE'VE BEEN A GOOD TENANT OF THAT FACILITY DURING THIS TIME.
AS YOU MAY KNOW, THE LAND AT 939 WEST MAIN STREET WAS ORIGINALLY OWNED BY A PERSONNEL THAT WERE PART OF THE ORIGINAL AMERICAN LEGION POST.
THAT LAND WAS DONATED GIVEN TO THE COUNTY.
AND I BELIEVE WE'VE MANAGED TO DO THAT NOW FOR ABOUT 100 YEARS.
BUT THERE HAS NEVER IN MY MEMORY BEEN ANY REASON TO RADICALLY CHANGE THE NATURE OF THAT AGREEMENT.
NOW, HOWEVER, THE COUNTY SEEMS TO SEE IT NECESSARY TO CHANGE THE AGREEMENT IN A MANNER THAT CREATES SOME SERIOUS CONCERNS FOR US REGARDING OUR CONTROL OF ACCESS AND OTHER MATTERS.
WE REALIZE WE ARE A TENANT, BUT TENANTS HAVE A RIGHT TO PRIVACY.
WE WELCOME COMMUNITY AND COUNTY RATHER COUNTY INVOLVEMENT VISITS, SCHEDULED INSPECTIONS.
BUT CONSIDER THAT ACCESS SHOULD BE WHEN ACCOMPANIED BY LEGION PERSONNEL AND SCHEDULED IN ADVANCE SIMILAR TO A HOME TENANT.
YOU DON'T JUST LET THE LANDLORD ACCESS THE BUILDING WHENEVER THEY CARE TO.
THEY NEED TO MAKE SOME KIND OF PRIOR ARRANGEMENTS.
ANOTHER CONCERN THAT WE HAVE IS REGARDING THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE VETERANS MEMORIAL BUILDING COMMITTEE, AND AN EMPLOYEE OF THE COUNTY HAS BEEN NAMED IN THE CONTRACT TO BE THE CHAIRMAN.
THAT CHANGES THE THE RELATIONSHIP WHERE IN THE PAST THE CHAIRMANSHIP WAS ALWAYS THE COMMANDER OF THE LOCAL POST, WHILE THE COUNTY OWNS THE BUILDING.
THE CONTROL AND OPERATION IS RIGHTLY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE AMERICAN LEGION.
[00:10:03]
WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT OUR CONCERNS WITH A PROPOSED AGREEMENT BE FULLY CONSIDERED, AND WE HAVE BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE GOOD AND TRUSTED ASSOCIATES WORKING TOGETHER TO SERVE OUR VETERANS AND THE CITIZENS OF OUR COUNTY.THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, SIR.
I AM THE PAST DIRECTOR OF THE AMERICAN LEGION RIDERS.
CHAPTER 83 THE CURRENT SECRETARY AND AND AN AUXILIARY MEMBER.
I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE CURRENT PROPOSED CONTRACT THAT WAS PRESENTED TO THE LEGION.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE RIDERS ARE PART OF THE LEGION.
WE ARE COMPRISED OF VETERANS, AUXILIARY AND SONS.
WHAT WE ARE NOT IS A MOTORCYCLE GANG OR CLUB.
WE DO NOT BULLY PEOPLE, HARASS PEOPLE OR BEAT PEOPLE UP.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANY KIND OF THE NEGATIVE BEHAVIOR THAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED HERE RECENTLY.
AND THE RECENT CONTRACT IS THE WORST JOB DESCRIPTION I'VE EVER READ.
PUTTING ALL THE COST AND RESPONSIBILITY ON THE LEGION WHILE OTHERS GET A FREE RIDE.
IT MAY SURPRISE YOU TO KNOW THAT THE LEGION'S PURPOSE AND GOALS ARE NOT TO FUNDRAISE FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF SUPPORTING A COUNTY BUILDING, BUT TO SUPPORT VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
WE HAVE SUCH PROGRAMS AS SCHOLARSHIPS, WHICH THE CALIFORNIA RIDERS RAISED $6,000 FOR THIS YEAR.
BASEBALL. AND IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW, POST 83 TEAM MADE THE NATIONAL MADE NATIONAL LAST YEAR.
AS THAT CONTRACT GOES, I HIGHLY DOUBT ANYONE HERE WOULD SIGN THAT THING.
AND IN MY OPINION, IT'S ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.
AND THE COUNTY SHOULD BE ASHAMED.
AND IN MY OPINION, THE WORST MISTAKE EVER MADE.
AT EVERY MEETING WITH THE COUNTY.
THEY'VE SAID THEY DON'T WANT TO MANAGE THE BUILDING.
THEY WANT US TO DO IT WELL TO YOU, I SAY, THEN GIFT IT BACK.
I'M A 28 YEAR MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN LEGION, AND I'VE BEEN ACTIVE FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS.
I HAVE SEEN THAT THERE ARE PERSONALITY DISPUTES.
IT'S NOT A DISPUTE BETWEEN THE AMERICAN LEGION AND THE VFW.
THERE'S NO ADVERSARIAL THING THERE.
WE'RE ALL WORKING FOR VETERANS.
NOW, SURE, WE'VE GOT THIS PERSON OVER HERE AND THIS PERSON OVER HERE THAT DON'T REALLY GET ALONG, BUT WE DON'T NEED THE COUNTY TO COME IN AND SAY WE'RE GOING TO PUT KEYCARD ACCESS. AND IF WE HEAR ANY COMPLAINTS, WE'RE LOCKING YOU OUT OF YOUR BUILDING.
HOW CAN WE DO BUSINESS LIKE THAT? YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE HAVE THE COUNTY SAYING COME ONCE A YEAR AND PICK YOUR DATES THAT YOU WANT TO COME AND MEET? AND IF YOU WANT TO HAVE AN EVENT, WE'LL PUT IT ON YOUR CALENDAR AND THEN WE'LL TELL THE LEGION.
THESE ARE THE DATES THAT YOU HAVE TO BLOCK OUT.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
IF WE'RE PAYING FOR EVERYTHING, IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
WE JUST WANT THE GOVERNMENT OUT OF OUR BUSINESS.
WE WILL HANDLE ANY LITTLE DISPUTES THAT WE HAVE.
IF WE CAN'T, WE HAVE A SUPERVISOR THAT WE CAN GO TO AND SAY, HEY, WE SEEM TO BE HAVING A DISPUTE WITH MORE THAN THAN JUST 1 OR 2 PEOPLE FROM EACH GROUP OR WHATEVER WE MIGHT HAVE A DISPUTE WITH WITH ONE OF THE SUPERVISORS.
IF WE GO TO OUR SUPERVISOR AND SAY, HEY, WE GOT A DISPUTE HERE, CAN YOU HANDLE IT? CAN YOU HELP US? BUT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO COME TO YOU.
YOU SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DICTATE TO US WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
WE ARE A PRIVATE, NONPROFIT CORPORATION.
WE DO NOT NEED GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION.
[00:15:03]
AND THE COUNTY SHARING COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES AND ASSOCIATIONS TO TELL US WHAT AND WHEN WE ARE GOING TO DO THINGS.I APPRECIATE THAT YOU ARE TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY, BUT YOU NEED TO TAKE THE AMERICAN LEGION SERIOUSLY.
WE HAVE 600 MEMBERS AND WE SERVE OUR COMMUNITY HERE.
YOU SEE THE AMERICAN LEGION OUT IN THE COMMUNITY ALL THE TIME.
WHEN HAVE YOU SEEN THE? WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW ANY OTHER GROUP OUT IN THE COMMUNITY? YOU KNOW, DAV'S BEEN COMING FROM ATWATER, BUT THEY TOOK A VOTE.
THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BE ON THIS AGREEMENT.
BUT COUNTY SAID, DOESN'T MATTER.
THEY JUST NOT SHOW UP AND CLAIM ANY DATES.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO PUT THEM IN THERE ANYWAY.
SO I JUST ASK YOU TO PLEASE REMOVE YOURSELVES FROM OUR AGREEMENT.
LET'S GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT THAT EVERYBODY HAD SAID YES AND WE HAD SIGNED ALREADY.
IT GOT TAKEN OFF THE TABLE LAST YEAR.
AS FAR AS I KNOW, IT NEVER GOT TAKEN OFF OR PUT BACK ONTO THE TABLE.
AND I APOLOGIZE IF I WAS TOO AGGRESSIVE TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT, SIR.
THE CONGRESSMAN WAS HONORED TO BE A PART OF THE MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY AT THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY NATIONAL CEMETERY IN SANTA NELLA AND TO JOIN FFA CHAPTERS AND 4H KIDS FROM ALL OVER MERCED COUNTY AT THE MERCED COUNTY FAIR THIS WEEKEND TO HELP CELEBRATE OUR AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE AND TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL DAIRY MONTH.
AND ON THURSDAY, THE CONGRESSMAN WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN A FULL NATURAL RESOURCES HEARING WITH NOTABLE WITNESSES, INCLUDING GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM OF SOUTH DAKOTA, TO DISCUSS A BILL THAT WE'RE A CO-SPONSOR ON HR 3397, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT TO WITHDRAW A NEW RULE RELATING TO CONSERVATION.
AND IT WOULD CREATE A NEW CATEGORY, A LEASE FOR CONSERVATION.
IT COULDN'T BE USED FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE, INCLUDING RECREATION, ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AND TIMBER.
IT WOULD DEVASTATE THE ECONOMIES OF THOUSANDS OF RURAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE WESTERN UNITED STATES.
AND WE ALSO POINT OUT THAT THERE IS NO SPECIFIC PARAMETERS REGARDING THE FUNDING.
SO IN THEORY, YOU KNOW, NGOS COULD PURCHASE WIDE SWATHS OF LAND WITH FOREIGN MONEY AND LOCK UP HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES FROM BEING USED FOR ENERGY PRODUCTION, TIMBER GRAZING OF LIVESTOCK, WHICH POSES A GRAVE THREAT TO THE NATION'S FOOD SUPPLY AND THE NATION'S DOMESTIC ENERGY SUPPLY.
WE ALSO ARE GOING TO BE PART OF THE DISCUSSIONS ON THE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE FOR THE REAUTHORIZATION FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS FOR THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION. I KNOW THAT'S GOING TO BE EXTREMELY RELEVANT TO OUR STAKEHOLDERS HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.
IT WOULD ALLOW THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO EXISTING DISASTER ASSISTANCE FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS OF SPECIALTY CROPS AUTHORIZED BY THE EMERGENCY RELIEF PROGRAM TO BE DISTRIBUTED IN THE FORM OF BLOCK GRANTS, WHICH WOULD HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THE FLOODING RELIEF THAT WE'RE STILL DEALING WITH HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.
SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. PROVIDE THIS UPDATE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, SIR.
GOOD MORNING, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND CHAIRMAN SILVEIRA.
SO YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD A LOT OF THE CONCERNS.
BUT ONE OTHER THING I WANTED TO BRING UP IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE BEING ASKED TO SIGN THAT WE'RE ACCEPTING EVERYTHING IN THE AMERICAN LEGION'S AND THE VETERANS MEMORIAL BUILDING IN GOOD CONDITION.
THAT BUILDING'S BEEN THERE FOR 100 YEARS.
A LOT OF THINGS IN THERE THAT ARE NOT UP TO STANDARD THAT ARE MAJOR.
[00:20:02]
IF WE'RE GOING TO SIGN SOMETHING, IT NEEDS TO BE LISTED IN THERE.THE THINGS THAT ARE NOT UP TO CODE, THE THINGS THAT ARE NOT UP TO STANDARD, SO THAT IF AN ISSUE OCCURS FROM THAT, WE'RE NOT THE ONES GETTING BLAMED FOR IT NOT BEING DONE. AND ALSO, I JUST WANT TO ADD, YOU KNOW, THIS BUILDING ALLOWS US TO KEEP A LOT OF OUR PROGRAMS GOING, A LOT OF THE THINGS WE DO FOR THE COMMUNITY.
EIGHTH GRADE SCHOOL AWARDS, AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL, WHICH IS HUGE.
THEY'VE GONE TO SEVERAL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS, THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.
WE'VE GOT A BE THE ONE VETERAN SUICIDE AWARENESS PROGRAM WE'RE KICKING OFF.
IT'S GOING TO BE A HOME WHERE WE CAN GET STUFF GOING FOR VETERANS WHO NEED HELP.
PROGRAMS LIKE THESE WE NEED A BUILDING FOR AND WE NEED THE COUNTY TO WORK WITH US ON THIS SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THESE GOOD THINGS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, FOR OUR COUNTY, TO HELP SAVE LIVES IN OUR COUNTY, VETERAN LIVES IN OUR COUNTY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, SIR.
GOOD MORNING. NAMES ARE GRANADO.
RETIRED MILITARY COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR 9, 37 YEARS OF SERVICE.
I'M HERE TO KIND OF TALK ABOUT THE AGAIN, THE MEMORIAL BUILDING.
BUT WHAT I HEAR IS A LOT OF FEAR.
A FEAR JUST LIKE A CHILD WHO HAS A ROOM DOESN'T WANT THE PARENTS TO GO IN THERE.
YOU BOARD MEMBERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO GO INTO THAT BUILDING AND INSPECT THAT BUILDING.
YOU JUST HEARD RIGHT NOW OF THE ISSUES IN THAT BUILDING.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO GO IN THERE AND INSPECT IT, HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THAT BUILDING? THAT IS YOUR RIGHT.
YOU SHOULD BE IN THERE NO MATTER WHAT TIME IT IS.
THAT BUILDING, IN FACT, WAS DEDICATED FOR ALL MILITARY VETERANS.
YOU'VE JUST HEARD RIGHT NOW THAT THE BUILDING IS OWNED BY A PARTICULAR PARTY.
THAT IS NOT THE CASE, AT LEAST FROM WHAT I'VE READ IN YOUR CONTRACT.
THAT BUILDING IS OWNED BY THE COUNTY, NOT ANY VETERANS ORGANIZATION.
THE BUILDING NEEDS TO BE ESTABLISHED AND PUT INTO PLACE ON A WRITTEN AGREEMENT THAT ALL VETERANS BUILDING, DESPITE WHAT ORGANIZATION THEY BELONG TO, AND NO PARTICULAR ORGANIZATION HAS RULE OR AUTHORITY OVER ANOTHER.
AND THAT BUILDING SHOULD BE EQUITABLE USE SAFETY AT ALL TIMES.
SO I ASK YOU AGAIN, HERE ARE THE WORDS THAT ARE BEING SAYING OWNERSHIP.
THE BUILDING NEEDS TO BE REFURBISHED.
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THAT BUILDING? IF ISSUES WEREN'T OF CONCERN, WE WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.
IF THE AMERICAN LEGION WANTS TO HELP OUT VETERANS, THAT'S GREAT.
THEY HAVE A LONG STANDING HISTORY FOR DOING THAT.
MY CONCERN AND DISCUSSION HERE TODAY IS WHY CAN'T THEY WORK TOGETHER TO HELP VETERANS IN THIS COUNTY AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE? SO AGAIN, I ASK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS, SERIOUSLY, THAT CONTRACT IS FOR ALL VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS AND YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO ENTER THAT BUILDING AT YOUR OWN PLEASING TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THERE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT, SIR.
GOOD MORNING. OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY OF MERCED.
I'VE BEEN A 40 YEAR RESIDENT OF THIS COUNTY.
I SERVED MY COUNTRY FOR EIGHT YEARS HONORABLY.
AFTER READING YOUR REVISED CONTRACT.
THERE ARE SEVERAL SECTIONS THAT I DISAGREE WITH, BUT SEVERAL THAT I DO AGREE WITH.
THEY SAID IT WAS BUILT BY THE AMERICAN LEGION AND DONATED BACK TO THE COUNTY.
YOU OWN THE BUILDING? YES. YOU'RE WRITING A CONTRACT FOR IT? RIGHT. AND WE WOULD LIKE TO RESPECTFULLY GET TOGETHER ON THAT CONTRACT AND COME TO SOMETHING THAT IS AGREEABLE.
THERE'S PORTIONS OF IT THAT ARE NOT AGREEABLE.
[00:25:02]
WE ARE ALL VETERANS.ALL THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, THE AMERICAN LEGION, THE VFW, THE AUXILIARY.
BUT IF YOU DON'T SHOW UP AND YOU DON'T PARTICIPATE, THEN YOU'RE NOT REPRESENTED, ARE YOU? ANYHOW, THE AMERICAN LEGION, WHICH HAS BEEN DOWN THERE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND SUPPORTS THIS AREA WITH ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT IT DOES, DOES NOT HAVE PAID PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING FOR THEM.
IT IS 100% DONE ON THEIR OWN TIME, FREELY.
YOU CAN LOOK AT THE RECORDS AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE MONEY GOES AND A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF IT GOES TO SUPPORTING, MAINTAINING AND KEEPING THE BUILDING UP AND RUNNING WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING. AND A TREMENDOUS GOES OUT TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTY, THIS STATE AND THIS AREA TO SUPPORT AMERICANISM IN SO MANY OTHER THINGS. I'M AMAZED WHEN I LOOK AT A SITUATION WHERE NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT WE'RE GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING.
AND THEN I GET TO LOOK AT THE LAW RIGHT IN AREAS.
1260, 1261, 62, 63 AND 64 OF THE STATE LAW ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AS TO WHAT SAYS WILL OR WON'T BE DONE ON THIS BUILDING AND WONDERING WHERE ARE YOU AT AND WHAT'S GOING ON NOW.
WELL, HOW DID IT GET IN THAT CONDITION IN THE FIRST PLACE? WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE BALCONY THAT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED, ELECTRICAL WIRING THAT IS STILL MOST LIKELY CLOTH.
OTHER AREAS WHICH I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO GET INTO OR BRING UP.
WANT TO WRITE A CONTRACT FOR A FEW MORE SECONDS TO FINISH UP YOUR FINAL COMMENTS OR CONTRACT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO RENT OR USE THIS BUILDING AS A GOOD LANDLORD.
MAYBE YOU SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THE BUILDING AS WELL TOO, JUST LIKE THE LAW SAYS.
12 60 THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT, SIR.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS VICKI GRAHAM AND I AM A MEMBER OF THE ALA OF THE AMERICAN LEGION.
WHEN I SAW THIS CONTRACT, I WAS APPALLED.
I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT A LAWYER WROTE THIS.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT A FIRST WEEK OF THE FIRST YEAR LAW STUDENT WOULD DO A CONTRACT LIKE THIS.
YOU SAY YOU DON'T WANT THE BUILDING, BUT YOU WANT FULL CONTROL OF IT.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE US DID TO THE INDIANS.
THEY DIDN'T WANT THE LAND GIVEN TO THE INDIANS.
THEY JUST WANTED TO RULE OVER IT IN EVERY ASPECT.
IT APPEARS YOU ARE DOING THE SAME THING.
YOU EXPECT THE LEGION TO PAY FOR EVERYTHING THAT RENTERS SHOULD PAY.
TO DO THIS WOULD CAUSE THE MEMBERS TO GO BROKE IN SIX MONTHS.
IT SEEMS THE ONLY REASON YOU WROTE SUCH AN AWFUL AGREEMENT IS TO APPEASE THE WHINY ONES.
THEY SEEM TO HAVE ANNOYED YOU ENOUGH THAT YOU ARE GOING AFTER THE WRONG GROUP.
THIS IS NOT AN AGREEMENT IN GOOD FAITH.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
SO LET EVERYBODY KNOW WE'RE ABOUT ABOUT FIVE MINUTES LEFT ON OUR NON AGENDA COMMENT PERIOD HERE.
GOOD MORNING, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CHAIRMAN SILVEIRA.
I'M A RESIDENT OF MERCED COUNTY.
I'M A PROUD MEMBER OF AMERICAN LEGION POST 83.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, I AM AN ACTIVE VOTER.
NOW, WHAT I SEE IN THAT PROPOSED CONTRACT IS THAT SOME PARTS ARE VERY VAGUE AND AMBIGUOUS.
[00:30:05]
THE ONLY THING THAT'S GOING TO ACCOMPLISH IS GOING TO MAKE SEVERAL LAWYERS RICH AS LITIGATION GOES ON AND ON AND ON OVER THE LIFESPAN OF THAT CONTRACT.WE VEHEMENTLY CONDEMN BULLYING OF YOUTH IN OUR SCHOOLS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
WHY SHOULD WE, AS THE AMERICAN LEGION, ACCEPT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TRYING TO BULLY POST 83? I ASK YOU, PLEASE DIRECT YOUR STAFF TO REVIEW THE DRAFT, MEET AND BARGAIN IN GOOD FAITH WITH THE AMERICAN LEGION REPRESENTATIVES.
WHAT WE SEEK IS AN HONORABLE, FAIR RIGHT.
ENFORCEABLE WITH RIGHTS FOR BOTH PARTIES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, SIR.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ELLIE PAINTED CROW.
I'M A 22 YEAR VETERAN, SERVED IN IRAQ.
I WANT TO COMMENT ON A COUPLE OF THINGS.
NUMBER ONE, THE BOARD MEETING THAT YOU ALL CANCELED, THE TOWN HALL THAT YOU ALL TURNED INTO A THREE MINUTE MEETING HAS BEEN A BROWN ACT VIOLATION.
AND I JUST HOPE THAT YOU WILL RESPOND TO THAT IN A WAY IN A COUPLE OF WAYS.
I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO IT BECAUSE YOU ALL KNOW THAT'S NOT OKAY.
AND ON THIS BLOG, WE'RE GOING TO BE POSTING THE HISTORICAL HISTORY OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED BETWEEN ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE ONCE BOTH PART OF THE AMERICAN LEGION, WITH BOTH INTERVIEWS, RECORDINGS FROM DISTRICT ATTORNEY, FROM POLICE REPORTS AND EMAILS OF THE VIOLENCE THAT HAS INTERACTED.
SO YOU DON'T SEE IT AND YOU DON'T HEAR ABOUT IT.
AND SOME OF THESE PEOPLE HAVEN'T BEEN HERE LONG ENOUGH OR DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT I'M GIVING YOU ALL A LETTER HERE, EVERYBODY, AND REQUESTING A MEETING.
I REQUESTED MR. PEDROZO FOR A MEETING.
HE MADE ONE AND THEN CANCELED IT AND NEVER CAME BACK TO ME ABOUT IT.
AND SO I AM PUBLICLY REQUESTING A MEETING WITH HIM AND SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
AND IF THERE HAS TO BE ANOTHER PERSON.
I'M FINE WITH THESE TWO PEOPLE.
AND THERE'S A GROUP OF US THAT WANT TO MEET AND WE'RE NOT HERE.
WE'RE HERE TO REPRESENT ALL VETERANS AND EQUAL EQUITY AND SAFETY IN THAT BUILDING.
NOW, YOU NEED TO CLARIFY FOR US WHO OWNS THE BUILDING, BECAUSE SURE, IT WAS DONATED TO THE COUNTY, BUT THE OWNERSHIP STILL LOOKING LIKE IT'S NOT IT'S NOT FAIR FOR THE REST OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ONCE PARTOOK IN THAT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TIME I HAVE, BUT THE QUESTIONS ARE LISTED HERE.
AND I'M ASKING IF YOU GUYS HAVE THEM FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS BECAUSE I DO NOT SEE THEM.
AND WHEN WE WERE ASKED TO, WE ASKED TO GO SEE THEM.
WE WERE TOLD THAT WE HAD TO COME TO THE OFFICE TO SEE THEM.
IF IT'S AN ORGANIZATION THAT'S PUBLIC THAT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE.
AND DO YOU GUYS KNOW THAT THAT A 1099 HAS NOT BEEN SUBMITTED FOR SEVERAL YEARS? IS THAT ARE YOU ALL OKAY WITH THAT? WE HAVE A THREE YEAR PENDING LEASE.
ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT? IS THERE A LAW AROUND THAT? I HAVE LOTS OF QUESTIONS THAT I WOULD LIKE ANSWERED.
JUST A FEW MORE SECONDS TO FINISH UP YOUR FINAL COMMENT.
I'M HOPING THAT MR. PEDROZO WILL CALL ME AND SCHEDULE A MEETING AND THAT MR. ESPINOSA CAN BE AVAILABLE.
AND IF THERE IS A THIRD PARTY, THEN PERHAPS WE CAN HAVE THAT OTHER PERSON.
BUT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
I GOT ONE MORE MINUTE LEFT ON OUR 30 MINUTE COMMENT PERIOD.
MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
MR. SERRATOS IN SACRAMENTO AND SENDS HIS REGARDS.
[00:35:01]
THEY DID NOT PROVIDE AND FILE A WARN NOTICE, WHICH WOULD TYPICALLY ALERT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND WORKFORCE BOARD OF A MAJOR WORKFORCE REDUCTION.OUR DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE INVESTMENT AND THE WORKFORCE BOARD DID RESPOND QUICKLY TO THIS ISSUE.
THIS WAS IN PART BECAUSE OF ITS CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH LOCAL LEADERSHIP.
AS A MEMBER OF BITWISE'S NATIONAL TV SERVES ON THE MERCED COUNTY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD.
OUR TEAM, OUR WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD TEAM WAS THE FIRST TO ACTUALLY HOLD A LAYOFF RESPONSE EVENT IN THE STATE, MOBILIZING LOCAL STAFF AND THE EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO MEET NINE LOCAL WORKERS AT THE BITWISE OFFICE ON JUNE 1ST, JUST DAYS AFTER THE FURLOUGH NOTICE DWI THROUGH WORK NET HAS MADE WORKFORCE SERVICES SUCH AS TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE TO UNEMPLOYED INSURANCE AND ASSISTANCE TO UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AVAILABLE.
AND IT HAS ALSO BEEN CONNECTING INTERESTED EMPLOYERS WITH IMPACTED EMPLOYEES.
ON BEHALF OF ERIC, I WOULD LIKE TO ACTUALLY TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ASSEMBLYWOMAN SORIA, WHOSE OFFICE ALSO REACHED OUT TO THE WORKFORCE BOARD TO ASSIST THOSE IMPACTED WORKERS IN ACCESSING STATE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
OUR TEAM REMAINS COMMITTED TO ASSISTING THESE IMPACTED BY THIS IN THE DAYS AHEAD.
AND CERTAINLY WE WILL BE AS A AS A TEAM, READY TO RESPOND SHOULD IT BECOME NECESSARY.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, SIR.
[PRESENTATION: Merced County Association of Governments (MCAG) Measure V Annual Report]
OUR MCAG EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, STACEY GUZMAN, WHO WILL BE PROVIDING US WITH A MEASURE V ANNUAL REPORT.AND THEN. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M NOT USED TO BEING ON THIS SIDE, SO I DON'T.
I'VE NEVER USED THE FANCY THING.
ALL RIGHT. GREAT TO SEE YOU ALL THIS MORNING.
AS MR. CHAIR MENTIONED, I'M STACY GUZMAN.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE MERCED COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS.
AND I'M HERE THIS MORNING TO GIVE YOU AND THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WATCHING AND HERE IN THE ROOM A QUICK UPDATE ON MEASURE V AND REALLY THE OCCASION IS THE RELEASE THIS SPRING OF OUR ANNUAL REPORT ON THE MOVE, WHICH IS OUT ON THE FRONT TABLE, AVAILABLE BOTH IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
SO AS YOU ALL KNOW, AND I SHOULD START BY SAYING THANK YOU TO THIS BOARD, MANY OF YOU WERE IN THE ROLES THAT YOU SET THAT YOU'RE IN NOW WHEN WE PASSED MEASURE V, SOME OF YOU ARE IN OTHER ROLES, BUT JUST TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SUPPORT FROM THIS BOARD.
SO AS YOU KNOW, MR MEASURE V IS A HALF CENT SALES TAX THAT'S COLLECTED IN MERCED COUNTY.
IT WAS PASSED BY VOTERS IN 2016 WITH ASSURANCES THAT ALL OF THE FUNDS THAT WOULD BE COLLECTED WOULD BE SPENT ON TRANSPORTATION NEEDS IN MERCED COUNTY. AND ACCORDING TO THE FUNDING CATEGORIES SET FORTH IN THE EXPENDITURE PLAN, THE PLAN STIPULATES THAT 50% OF ALL THE FUNDING MUST GO TO LOCAL JURISDICTIONS FOR LOCAL TRANSPORTATION NEEDS.
44% OF THE FUNDING MUST GO TO REGIONAL PROJECTS, AND THAT'S BROKEN DOWN TO 27% ON THE EAST SIDE AND OF THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER AND 17% ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE RIVER.
EACH YEAR, THE CITIZENS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE REVIEWS ALL THE MEASURE EXPENDITURES TO CONFIRM THAT THE FUNDS ARE SPENT IN ACCORDANCE TO THE EXPENDITURE PLAN, AND THEN IN TURN THEY ARE AUDITED AND THEN HIGHLIGHTED IN THIS ANNUAL REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY CALLED ON THE MOVE.
AND IT FOCUSES ON THOSE AUDITED FINANCIALS OF THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR.
SO THIS 2023 ON THE MOVE REFLECTS FUNDING INVESTMENTS THAT WERE MADE FROM JULY 1ST OF 2021 TO JUNE 30TH OF 2022. AS I MENTIONED, COPIES OF THESE REPORTS HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE ACTUALLY TO ALL OF THE JURISDICTIONS AND THEY ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE MCAG WEBSITE, AGAIN, BOTH IN ENGLISH AND IN SPANISH.
AND SO AS YOU CAN SEE FOR THE 20 2122 FISCAL YEAR, MEASURE V GENERATED NEARLY $27 MILLION IN REVENUE, WITH HALF OF THAT GOING DIRECTLY TO JURISDICTIONS BY FORMULA.
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REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION NEEDS.AND YOU CAN SEE HERE WITH JUST A COUPLE OF THE BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES, THE IMPACT THAT MEASURE V IS ABLE TO HAVE THROUGHOUT OUR ROADWAY THAT OUR ROADWAY NETWORK.
THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE THAT WAS HIGHLIGHTED IN OUR ANNUAL REPORT.
AND AS YOU KNOW, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THIS BOARD AS MEMBERS OF THE MCG GOVERNING BOARD AS WELL, WE'VE BEEN VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT TRYING TO ENSURE THAT THE BENEFITS OF THESE 5% OF FUNDS FOR TRANSIT ARE REALIZED COUNTY WIDE AND ARE THAT ARE OF BENEFIT TO RESIDENTS COUNTY WIDE. AND SO THE FIRST ACTION, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THAT THE MCG GOVERNING BOARD TOOK WITH MEASURE V WAS TO CREATE A FREE FARE PROGRAM FOR VETERANS, SENIORS AND ADA ELIGIBLE PASSENGERS.
SERVICES PARATRANSIT OR MICROTRANSIT SERVICES FOR FREE THANKS TO MEASURE V, AND THAT EQUATES TO MORE THAN 156,000 FREE RIDES THAT WERE PROVIDED LAST YEAR.
SO AS I MENTIONED, THIS ANNUAL REPORT IS THE PRODUCT OF WORK THAT'S DONE BY THE CITIZENS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, WHICH INCLUDES REPRESENTATIVES APPOINTED BY EACH MEMBER JURISDICTION OR MEMBER AGENCY.
I WILL MENTION I'LL SEE I'M ALREADY POINTING IN THE SHEET.
SHE WARNED ME. I NEED TO POINT TO HER.
SO AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE REPORT REFLECTS JUST THAT ONE ANNUAL YEAR OF REVENUE.
SO SINCE THE MEASURE BEGAN ON APRIL 1ST, 2017, THROUGH THE END OF THE 2122 FISCAL YEAR, MEASURE V HAS GENERATED MORE THAN $111 MILLION IN NEW TRANSPORTATION REVENUE FOR OUR REGION.
THAT MEANS MORE THAN $55 MILLION HAS GONE DIRECTLY TO JURISDICTIONS FOR LOCAL NEEDS AND NEARLY $49 MILLION HAS BEEN ALLOCATED TO REGIONAL PROJECTS, AND THAT'S $30 MILLION OF OF THAT GOING TO PROJECTS ON THE EAST SIDE AND $19 MILLION SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATED FOR PROJECTS ON THE WEST SIDE.
YOU CAN SCAN THE CODE ON THE SCREEN.
IT'S ALSO ON THE ANNUAL REPORT.
AND THAT IS A WAY FOR US TO KEEP TRACK OF PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED IN PROGRESS AND PLANNED AS WE IMPLEMENT UPDATE THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN EVERY TWO YEARS.
SO THAT'S THAT'S ALL SUMMED UP.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT ON THIS SLIDE, BUT IT'S A LOT OF REALLY GOOD INFORMATION.
SO IN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS, THE FIRST FIVE FISCAL YEARS OF THE MEASURE, THE COUNTY HAS RECEIVED MORE THAN $46 MILLION IN I'VE.
THERE WE GO. IN TRANSPORTATION FUNDING, $28 MILLION IS THOSE LOCAL FUNDS THAT I TALKED ABOUT.
$18 MILLION IN REGIONAL PROJECT FUNDING.
NOW, THE COUNTY IS UNIQUE IN THAT YOU BENEFIT FROM BOTH EAST AND WEST SIDE REGIONAL FUNDING BECAUSE OF COURSE, THE COUNTY'S JURISDICTION ENCOMPASSES BOTH SIDES OF THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER.
AND IN ADDITION TO THAT $18 MILLION THAT YOU'VE SECURED FOR REGIONAL PROJECT FUNDING, THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL 28.7 MILLION THAT'S ALREADY BEEN SECURED AND PROGRAMS PROGRAMED TO PROJECTS IN THE FUTURE.
[00:45:07]
SO AS YOU CAN SEE HERE IN THE TABLE, THE COUNTY'S REGIONAL PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED FUNDS, SOME OF THESE HAVE BEEN EXPENDED WITH THE COMPLETION OF BRADBURY AND SANDY MUSH REHAB PROJECTS AND SEVERAL OTHERS THAT ARE STILL IN PROGRESS.NOW, MIND YOU, THIS IS AS OF JUNE 30TH OF 2022.
I HAVE COMMUNICATED WITH THE COUNTY STAFF THAT SOME OF THESE THAT REFLECT ARE IN PROGRESS ARE STILL TECHNICALLY CONSIDERED OPEN, BUT THE WORK HAS LARGELY BEEN COMPLETED AND SOME OF THEM HAVE NOT BEEN BECAUSE THE MONEY THAT'S AVAILABLE IS IN A YEAR BEYOND TODAY.
SO IT'S FUTURE FUNDING THAT'S BEEN SECURED AND NOT YET ACCESSIBLE TO THE PROJECT FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND ALL OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS. I KNOW, THOUGH, THAT YOU ALL ARE ALL VERY INVOLVED WITH THE MEASURE, BUT FOR THE PUBLIC, I WOULD REALLY ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO VISIT THE MCAG WEBSITE AND THERE IS THE MEASURE V ICON THERE ON THE FAR RIGHT.
YOU CLICK ON THAT AND YOU WILL FIND MORE INFORMATION THAN PROBABLY YOU WANT TO READ.
YOU'LL FIND PREVIOUS ANNUAL REPORTS, AUDITS, FINANCIAL REPORTS BY EACH JURISDICTION SINCE THE CREATION OF THE MEASURE AND ALL OF THE THE ORIGINAL EXPENDITURE PLAN, THE AMENDED EXPENDITURE PLAN AND ALL VERSIONS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
AND THAT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT PROGRAMS FUTURE PROJECTS.
AND WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN BY DECEMBER OF 2023.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? I THINK WE'RE IN DISCUSSION.
GOOD MORNING. I DON'T PARTICULARLY HAVE A QUESTION, BUT I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO COME HERE AND UPDATE US AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, UPDATE OUR CONSTITUENTS ON ON WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH MEASURE V.
BUT THAT'S OKAY AS LONG AS WE'RE GETTING THE WORK DONE.
I'M HAPPY TO COME BACK EVERY YEAR.
OKAY. STACY, THE ONE COMMENT THAT I WILL MAKE IS THAT THE MAP, THAT MAP THIS IS KIND OF SHOWS THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE AND THE ONES THAT ARE IN PROGRESS. I THINK THAT'S VERY HELPFUL TOOL FOR FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE A LOOK AT AND SEE THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I'M NOT SEEING OTHER ANY OTHER COMMENTS.
THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
NEXT IS CONSENT AGENDA CALENDAR ITEMS. NUMBER NUMBERS ONE THROUGH 31.PLEASE NOTE ITEMS 417, 18 AND 20 REQUIRE A 4/5 VOTE AND WE WILL BE TAKING ITEM 19 SEPARATELY.
ALL RIGHT. PLEASURE OF THE BOARD.
WE'RE GOING TO DO THOSE AFTER WE VOTE.
SO. IS IT WORKING? I DON'T HAVE ANY. I DON'T KNOW.
HERE WE GO. HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS ONE THROUGH 31 MINUS ITEM 19.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SADIE RAMIREZ WITH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL.
I JUST WANT TO BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT BOARD ITEM 20.
SO FIRST, WE ARE GLAD TO SEE THE COUNTY SUPPORT IN ONGOING EFFORTS FOR FLOOD RESPONSE AND RECOVERY.
[00:50:01]
RESIDENTS FROM PLANADA WHO WERE LEFT HEAVILY AFFECTED BY THE JANUARY JANUARY FLOODS WANT TO ENSURE THAT FUNDING SECURED IN SUPPORT OF THESE EFFORTS ADDRESS COMMUNITY PRIORITIES, WHICH INCLUDE INFRASTRUCTURE AND ROAD REPAIRS.TWO QUESTIONS I WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE CLARIFICATION FROM THE COUNTY ON INCLUDE.
ONE HOW WILL THE PROPOSED FUNDING LEVERAGE THE FUNDING THAT WILL HOPEFULLY COME FROM THE STATE? AND TWO, HOW WILL THE COUNTY ENSURE THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS IMPACTED BY FLOODS ARE INVOLVED IN FUNDING DISCUSSIONS AND ARE KEPT INFORMED ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THIS FUNDING? THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON ITEMS ONE THROUGH 31 MINUS ITEM 19.
NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
EXCUSE ME? THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
CAN WE CALL FOR THE VOTE? PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP, WE WILL TAKE ITEM NUMBER 19.
SORRY, MARK. I'M HAVING SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY UP HERE.
YOU'RE FINE, MR. CHAIRMAN. GOOGLE CHROME.
MR. HENDRICKSON, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN. AGAIN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
AGAIN, MARK HENDRICKSON, ASSISTANT COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER OVER THE NEXT FEW MINUTES, OUR TEAM WILL BE PROVIDING YOU AND THE PUBLIC WITH A BRIEF UPDATE AS TO OUR CONTINUED FLOOD RECOVERY EFFORTS.
OUR PRESENTATION TODAY WILL BE FOCUSED ON EACH OF THE ELEMENTS AS DEPICTED ON THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A BRIEF MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE FIRE OES, HSA, CDD AND DPW FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS PRESENTATION AND ALSO TO ACKNOWLEDGE LINDSAY JOHNSON FOR HELPING BUILD WHAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIR, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND CEO MENDES.
LET ME BACK STEP A LITTLE BIT ALSO TO TALK ABOUT THIS.
19 IS GOING TO BE TO CONTINUE OUR PROCLAMATION FOR THE LOCAL EMERGENCY CAUSES OF THE MARCH FLOODS.
LOOKING AT OUR EOC IS CURRENTLY AT A LEVEL THREE.
THIS LEVEL THREE IS ONE OF OUR LOWEST LEVELS, BUT IT ALLOWS US TO BE AVAILABLE FOR ANY KIND OF SITUATIONS THAT MAY ARISE AS WE SEE THE INCREASE OF SNOW MELT AND WATER FLOWING THROUGH OUR WATERWAYS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
WE ALSO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR STATE PARTNERS AND FEDERAL PARTNERS AND A DAY TO DAY BASIS, WE DO HAVE ONE OF OUR OES REPRESENTATIVES IN THE BACK THERE THAT'S BEEN HERE WITH US FROM THE INCEPTION OF THESE INCIDENTS, AND WE ARE REALLY APPRECIATIVE TO HAVE THESE FOLKS THERE AT OUR OUR EOC TO HELP US CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD THROUGH THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.
BUT AS WE TALK ABOUT OUR DAILY BASIS THAT WE ARE WORKING ON, WE'RE WORKING ON RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, OUR RESOURCE ALLOCATIONS AND THE PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETINGS AS THEY MOVE FORWARD. WE ALSO WANT TO TOUCH POINTS AS FAR AS THE SHERIFF'S ORDER.
WE AS A OES AND EOC, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADVISE THOSE RESIDENTS AND THOSE VISITORS OF MERCED COUNTIES TO ABIDE BY THE SHERIFF'S ORDER AND STAY OUT OF THOSE WATERWAYS.
ALL THAT PAPERWORK HAS BEEN SUBMITTED.
[00:55:02]
AND FEMA, WE'RE WORKING WITH FEMA ON ANY BACKUP DOCUMENTATION.WE ALSO ARE SUBMITTING FOR REQUEST FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FOR DR 4699 FOR FUTURE MEETINGS WILL BE HELD IN SCHEDULE TO DETERMINE AND IDENTIFY THESE DAMAGES.
AND ON MAY OF 24, WE SUBMITTED ON THE BEHALF OF THE COUNTY FOR A DIRECT FUNDING ASSISTANCE TO BE SUPPORTED IN RECOVERY EFFORTS OF THE DR 4683.
WE WERE FORTUNATE TO HEAR BACK IN MAY OF 26 THAT WE WERE SUCCESSFUL AND AWARDED THOSE FUNDS.
THESE FUNDS CAN ONLY BE USED TO ASSIST THE COUNTY OF THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND WE'LL BE ADDRESSING THOSE TEMPORARY AND THOSE PERMANENT PROJECTS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED WITH DPW AND THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
JUST GOING ALSO AS A COUNTY, TRYING TO BE PROACTIVE, VERY EXCITED ABOUT HOW WE ACTED AND HOW WE WERE ABLE TO STAND UP AND ASSIST THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE.
AGAIN, I WANT TO STRESS THAT THE FACT THAT THIS IS A LONG, LONG PROCESS.
AND WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH BOTH OF THESE DISASTERS AND CONTINUING THAT.
ADAM IS OUR OES MANAGERS WAS ABLE TO HOST A AFTER ACTION REVIEW OF WHAT WE CALL A HOT WASH.
WE WERE ABLE TO BRING IN ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS INTO THIS ACTUAL THIS ROOM HERE AND COMMUNICATE AND TALK ABOUT OUR TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS AND THINGS THAT WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO, LOOK AT OUR POSITIVE POINTS AND THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS MOVING ON IN THE FUTURE.
THE ANALYSIS OF THE GROUP WAS POSITIVE AND EVERYBODY WAS VERY RECEPTIVE OF EACH DEPARTMENT IN WAYS THAT WE CAN IMPROVE AND BE MORE PREPARED MOVING FORWARD.
AS FAR AS THAT GOES, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, PUBLIC WORKS STAFF, HAS BEEN WORKING HARD IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE STORM EVENTS AS WELL AS YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN BRIEFED ON MULTIPLE TIMES AND ARE AWARE OUR CREEK BANKS CONTAIN AN ESTIMATED 200,000 CUBIC YARDS OF VEGETATIVE DEBRIS ON OUR AGENDA TODAY.
AS YOU GUYS KNOW, WE HAVE A COUPLE ITEMS FOR CONTRACTS TO BE APPROVED.
AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER ROADS CREWS WERE INUNDATED WITH POTHOLE REPAIRS.
DPW STAFF HAS PLACED THOSE IN AT THREE LOCATIONS, AND CHIEF PIMENTEL NOTIFIED ME YESTERDAY THAT WE HAVE FIVE MORE MONITORS AS WELL THAT WE CAN PUT IN ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS TO HELP US REMOTELY TRACK THE HEIGHT OF THE WATER WITHIN OUR CREEKS.
CALTRANS HAS DEEMED THAT BRIDGE UNDRIVABLE DUE TO FLUCTUATIONS IN THE ELEVATIONS OF THE BRIDGE.
THE DURATION OF THE CLOSURE IS NOT KNOWN AT THIS TIME.
SO THAT COULD BE A LONG TERM CLOSURE.
AND UNTIL WE GET THAT INFORMATION AND THEN THE LAST THING, PUBLIC WORKS STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING WITH OUR MERCED TEAM TO PUT TOGETHER THE FEMA PACKAGE. SO I WANT TO THANK OUR STAFF FOR WORKING ON GETTING CONTRACTS, INVOICES, TIME SHEETS, PHOTOS, LATITUDE, LONGITUDE, EVERYTHING ELSE THAT GOES ALONG WITH ALL THE REPAIRS THAT THAT WE'VE MADE. BUT OUR CREWS HAVE BEEN BUSY AND WE'RE HERE TO CONTINUE SERVING THE COMMUNITY.
GOOD MORNING. LACEY MCBRIDE, WATER RESOURCES MANAGER.
THE STORMS IN JANUARY AND MARCH HAVE BROUGHT HISTORIC SNOWPACK TO THE SIERRA NEVADA, WHICH HAS LED TO INCREASED FLOWS IN OUR WATERWAYS AND ESPECIALLY ALONG THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER. THIS IS THE LARGEST SNOWPACK ON RECORD IN THE SAN JOAQUIN HYDROLOGIC REGION, DATING BACK TO 1950.
[01:00:03]
IN MARCH, THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS APPROVED INCREASING FLOWS OUT OF FRIANT DAM BEYOND THE CHANNEL CAPACITY IN ORDER TO QUICKLY MOVE THE STORM WATERS AND SNOWMELT.THESE INCREASED HIGH FLOWS ARE ANTICIPATED TO CONTINUE THROUGH MID-JULY.
MERCED COUNTY IS IN CLOSE COORDINATION WITH THE LOWER SAN JOAQUIN LEVEE DISTRICT, WHICH MAINTAINS THE EAST SIDE BYPASS ON THE IMPACTS OF THE HIGH FLOWS ALONG THE BYPASS MAY HAVE THROUGH MERCED COUNTY.
HIGH FLOWS MAY RESULT IN IMPACTS TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE LEVEES, BRIDGES AND POSSIBLE IMPACTS TO SURROUNDING AGRICULTURAL AND RESIDENTIAL LANDS SHOULD THERE BE A BREACH IN THE LEVEE AS A RESULT? MERCED COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, FIRE COMMISSIONER, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT'S ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND WATER RESOURCES DIVISIONS AND THE CEO'S OFFICE, ALONG WITH OUTSIDE STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING THE LOWER SAN JOAQUIN LEVEE DISTRICT, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND CAL OES STARTED COORDINATING WEEKLY, THEN BIWEEKLY, TO STAY ON TOP OF THESE ISSUES AND PREPARE FOR AND REACT TO THE HIGH FLOWS.
THERE IN THE DISTANCE, YOU CAN SEE SANDY MUSH ROAD.
THIS IS ON MAY 18TH, 2023, WHICH IS SHOWING ABOUT 10,000 CUBIC FEET PER SECOND OF FLOW COMING FROM RELEASES OUT OF BOTH THE KINGS RIVER AND THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER.
THE PUBLIC MAPPING TOOL SHOWN HERE IS AVAILABLE ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE AND IS A RESOURCE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC SPECIFICALLY FOR STAKEHOLDERS ALONG THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER AND THE BYPASS. IT'S SEARCHABLE BY APN.
IT ESTIMATES AN EXTENT OF FLOODING.
SHOULD THERE BE A BREACH IN THE BYPASS? AND IT INCLUDES LEVEE MAINTENANCE LOCATIONS AS SEEN IN THE PHOTOS HERE, ALSO PROVIDED BY THE LOWER SAN JOAQUIN LEVEE DISTRICT.
IT INCLUDES ROAD CLOSURES AND EVACUATION NOTICES.
INFORMATION IS SHARED SO THE PUBLIC CAN BE WELL INFORMED AND MAKE THEIR OWN PREPARATIONS FOR IMPACTS OF POTENTIAL FLOODING RELATED TO THE HIGH FLOWS AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR AGRICULTURAL PREPARATION AND RESPONSE TO DISASTERS IS ALSO BEING COMMUNICATED THROUGH THIS EFFORT AND IS AVAILABLE AT THE AG COMMISSIONER'S WEBSITE.
GOOD MORNING. LISA GRAY, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR OUR HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY.
I WILL BE PRESENTING ON THE NEXT FEW SLIDES REGARDING OUR SOCIAL SUPPORTS RECOVERY EFFORTS.
SO AS YOU CAN RECALL, IN AFTER QUICKLY AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT IN JANUARY, WE COORDINATED VERY QUICKLY WITH OUR FEMA PARTNERS TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP THE DISASTER RECOVERY CENTER, BOTH AT THE FAIRGROUNDS AND AT THE PLANADA, ORIGINALLY THE CHURCH AND THEN IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
FEMA HAS APPROVED OVER $4.8 MILLION IN HOUSING ASSISTANCE, WHICH INCLUDED HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR REPAIRS, RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND OTHER NEEDS ASSISTANCE WHICH WOULD COVER ITEMS THAT WERE NOT COVERED BY HOUSING OR RENTAL ASSISTANCE, SUCH AS CARS, FOR EXAMPLE.
AS PART OF THE RECOVERY EFFORTS, CDSS DID ENGAGE WITH THE COUNTY FOR DISASTER CASE MANAGEMENT AND THEY APPLIED AND THEN HAD SINCE AWARDED CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF FRESNO TO BE THE DISASTER CASE MANAGERS FOR THIS EFFORT.
SO THEY ARE CURRENTLY JUST UNDER CONTRACT.
LUCKILY, CATHOLIC CHARITIES STEPPED IN VERY QUICKLY IN MERCED.
A LOT OF OUR EFFORTS MOVED VERY FAST INTO RECOVERY, SO WE WERE ABLE TO COORDINATE VERY QUICKLY.
CURRENTLY, CATHOLIC CHARITIES DOES CASE MANAGE 75 HOUSEHOLDS.
HOWEVER, THEY DO RECEIVE THE LIST.
THE COMPLETE LISTING OF THE 3300 THAT HAVE BEEN APPLIED OR REGISTERED WITH FEMA.
THEY DID COLLABORATE VERY CLOSELY WITH US INITIALLY FOR OUR COMMUNITY, THE FELIX TORRES CENTER.
[01:05:01]
THEY WANTED TO HELP US ASSIST THEM TO GET NEW HOUSING PLANS FOR THEM AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.SO WE WERE ABLE TO TRIAGE AND TO PUT A LOT OF EFFORT DAY TO DAY CONTACT.
TRADITIONALLY, DISASTER CASE MANAGEMENT DOES NOT HAVE HOUSING NAVIGATION SERVICES, BUT CATHOLIC CHARITIES WAS ABLE AND THEY WERE COMMITTED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE HOUSING NAVIGATION ASSISTANCE, WHICH INCLUDED APPLYING FOR RENTALS, LOOKING AND FINDING OPEN AVAILABILITY.
WE ALSO COORDINATED WITH THE USDA HOUSING PROGRAMS THAT HAD AVAILABLE UNITS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY THAT WOULD PRIORITIZE THE FEMA APPLICATION NUMBER AS AN AS A URGENCY TO BE ABLE TO GET INTO THOSE HOMES.
WE DID WORK WITH THEM VERY CLOSELY AND WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY MOVED SEVERAL AND TRANSITIONED SEVERAL OF THE FAMILIES OUT. I BELIEVE THERE'S ONE FAMILY REMAINING AT THE FELIX TORRES CENTER THAT IS CURRENTLY FINALIZING THEIR HOUSING PLAN SO THAT WE CAN HELP THEM MOVE FROM THERE.
SO THEY WERE WHEELCHAIR BOUND OR HAVE OTHER ACCESS NEEDS AND WE HAVE WRAPPED HOME SAFE THROUGH APS SERVICES AROUND THEM AS THEY MET ELIGIBILITY SERVICES FOR THOSE AND WE ARE HELPING THEM GET HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS SO THAT THEY CAN FIND NEW HOUSING AVAILABLE TO THEM AS WELL FOR SOCIAL SERVICES RECOVERY IN GENERAL.
WE DO WORK CLOSELY WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES, AS I STATED BEFORE, AND OUR HOUSING AUTHORITY.
WE DO HAVE CURRENT HOUSING PROGRAMS AND EXISTING PROGRAMMATIC MANDATES THAT WE DO SCREEN ALL OF THOSE THAT COME WITHIN OUR KNOWLEDGE FOR THOSE SERVICES.
THAT IS, THEY'VE DEEMED THEMSELVES THE LONG TERM RECOVERY GROUP FOR UNMET NEEDS.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES, AGAIN, IS THE DOORWAY FOR THOSE UNMET NEEDS.
THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE SUCH AS MATTRESSES, NEW APPLIANCES, OTHER HOUSEHOLD ITEMS THAT AREN'T GENERALLY OR WEREN'T COVERED BY OTHER AREAS.
THESE ARE BI WEEKLY MEETINGS AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF COMMUNITY.
THE GROUPS THAT ARE PART OF THAT, AS WELL AS STATE RECOGNIZED GROUPS LIKE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.
WE'VE ALSO, AS HSA, PROVIDED ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE.
THE STATE OFFERED THE DISASTER CALFRESH, WHICH WE HAD TWO WEEKS TO IMPLEMENT.
SO I WANT TO SHOUT OUT TO OUR ELIGIBILITY SERVICES PROGRAM THAT WAS ABLE TO PROCESS OVER 323 APPLICATIONS, WHICH ISSUED OVER $100,000 IN CALFRESH BENEFITS TO OUR COUNTY WITHIN ONE WEEK.
SO IT WAS VERY EXCITING TO BE ABLE TO OFFER ALL OF THESE DISASTER SERVICES.
OUR AREA AGENCY ON AGING ALSO WRAPPED SERVICES WITHIN THE HIGHWAY 59 SENIOR MOBILE HOME PARK.
THERE WAS A LOT OF NEEDS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED THERE, SO WE WERE ABLE TO WRAP AND SUPPORT FOR OUR ADULT AND AGING SERVICES AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR WORKING WITH US VERY CLOSELY ON THAT.
THE LAST THING THAT WE HAVE, AND I DO HAVE SOME FLIERS THAT I'LL PUT IN HERE FOR YOU IS WE HAVE THIS WEEKEND ON SATURDAY, ORGANIZED WITH CARLOS AND UNITED WAY AND OURSELVES, HSA AND THE COUNTY TO CREATE A PLANADA RESOURCE FAIR.
SO HERE AT THIS FAIR, IT WILL BE AT HOULIHAN PARK.
THEY WILL BE HAVING DEMONSTRATIONS FOR THE SHOCKWAVE, WHICH IS THE MOLD.
THEY'LL BE HAVING HABITAT FOR HUMANITY WILL BE THERE TO DO THOSE DEMONSTRATIONS.
THEY WILL ALSO BE TAKING INFORMATION FOR THOSE THAT NEED ASSISTANCE.
WE HAVE CATHOLIC CHARITIES WILL BE THERE AND PRESENT.
WE HAVE SELF-HELP ENTERPRISES, WHICH WILL BE ALSO HAVING RESOURCES AND SERVICES AVAILABLE.
AND WE ALSO WILL HAVE CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE.
[01:10:04]
FOR OUR IMMIGRANTS OR THOSE THAT WERE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR FEMA SERVICES DUE TO IMMIGRATION STATUS.SO THOSE FOLKS WILL BE AVAILABLE.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I CAN HELP HOPEFULLY ANSWER THEM.
SO, MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT WRAPS UP STAFF'S PRESENTATION.
SO BE ON BEHALF OF THE THE CEO AND HIS TEAM.
WE WOULD BE PLEASED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THIS BOARD MAY HAVE.
MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK FELICIA GRAY AND MARY ELLEN AND OUR STAFF FOR SUPPORTING US.
I KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD THE LAST FEW DAYS TALKED TO SOME TENANTS THAT HAD ISSUES WITH WITHOUT LIVING.
AND SO THE OTHER TWO ONE LEFT AND THE OTHER ONE WAS HELPED GETTING A HOTEL ROOM TO, YOU KNOW.
AND I KNOW THAT HE STATED TO ME THAT HE'S NOT GOING TO STAY THERE FOR 30 DAYS AT THE HOTEL.
HE'S GOT ANOTHER RENTAL PRETTY SOON, HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, THEY'LL GET SUPPORT.
SO, UM, JUST HOPE THAT WE CAN WORK WITH THE LAST FAMILY TO GET HER SOMEWHERE OR, YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT'S BEEN HARD AND THEY'VE, THEY'VE GONE THROUGH A LOT OF STRESS AND THERE'S A LOT OF STRESS WHEN THEY HAVE TO.
THEY HAVE A DATE THAT THEY KNOW THEY HAVE TO BE OUT BY.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT SHOWED.
AND ALSO WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, THEY WERE THERE.
I WAS THERE WITH THEM LAST FRIDAY WE MET.
AND SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT HELPED THERE, TOO.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I'LL SAY IT ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND MY COLLEAGUES.
JUST THANK YOU TO THE WHOLE TEAM AND EVERY PART OF IT.
YOU HEAR THE UPDATE COMES FROM HSA AND WATER AND FIRE AND OES.
AND YOU KNOW, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND THEY'VE STATED IT BEFORE.
YOU KNOW, THE FLOOD CAME IN WITHIN A FEW HOURS IT WAS THE WATERS WERE GONE.
SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU TO TO ALL OF THE TEAM, EVERYBODY THAT SPOKE UP HERE AND EVERYBODY THAT'S WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES THAT'S CONTINUING TO KEEP THIS RECOVERY EFFORT UP IN THE FOREFRONT. SO AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER 19.
NOT SEEING ANYONE, WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
SO I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO CALL FOR THE VOTE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
ALL RIGHT. NOW, AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS.
THE FIRST PRESENTATION I WILL DO, AND THE SECOND PRESENTATION SUPERVISOR PEDROZO WILL DO.
THANK YOU. IF I CAN CALL MR. ALEX RUIZ UP HERE.
SO IF YOU GUYS, AS ALEX IS MAKING HIS WAY UP HERE, YOU GUYS, IF YOU COME AROUND TO OUR COUNTY MEETINGS, YOU SEE ALEX HERE A LOT AND YOU PROBABLY DON'T SEE ALEX A LOT ON TV, BUT YOU SEE A LOT OF WHAT ALEX DOES ON TV.
SO ALEX WAS AWARDED AN EMMY, SO I'M GOING TO READ RIGHT IN RECOGNITION FOR BEING SELECTED AS THE RECIPIENT OF THE 52ND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA EMMY AWARDS BY NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS AND SCIENCE FOR ACTION NEWS LIVE AT 11 OAK FIRE, SATURDAY, NEWSCAST, ABC 30 KFSN.
BUT BUT HE'S THE ONE THAT MAKES THAT MAGIC HAPPEN.
[01:15:01]
ALEX THANK YOU. DO YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS? YEAH. IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A MOVIE STAR.ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO ASK JUANITA PEDROZO TO COME UP, PLEASE.
SHE IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE PFSA, WHICH IS THE PORTUGUESE FRATERNAL SOCIETY.
THIS IS A PROCLAMATION OF PORTUGUESE NATIONAL HERITAGE MONTH, THE FIRST PORTUGUESE, WHEREAS THE FIRST PORTUGUESE SETTLERS CAME TO CALIFORNIA FROM THE AZORES ISLANDS AND THE NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN EARLY IN THE 19TH CENTURY.
AND. WHEREAS, SINCE THE 1860S, THE PORTUGUESE COMMUNITY HAS MADE INDELIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CENTRAL VALLEY, SUCH AS IN AGRICULTURE, PARTICULARLY THE DAIRY INDUSTRY, TECHNOLOGY, THE ARTS, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, INTEGRATION AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE AMERICAN DREAM AND THE EMBODIMENT OF PORTUGUESE NATIONAL HERITAGE MONTH AND MERCED COUNTY CELEBRATES A UNIQUE COMMUNITY ROOTED IN PERSEVERANCE, PRIDE AND DEEP FAMILIAL TIES, ALONG WITH VALUES OF COMMITMENT TO TRADITION, HARD WORK, AND TO BUILDING BRIDGES WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES IN THE AZORES, SUCH AS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CALIFORNIA PORTUGUESE AMERICAN COALITION AND THE PORTUGUESE HOLY SPIRIT, FESTAS AND OTHER CULTURAL FESTIVALS HAVE BECOME AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY ARE HELD, DRAWING INDIVIDUALS OF MANY OTHER ETHNICITIES THAT COMPOSE OUR COUNTRY TO CELEBRATE PORTUGUESE TRADITIONS AS THEY STRIVE TO KEEP INDIVIDUAL TRADITIONS, LANGUAGE AND CULTURE ALIVE.
AND NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE TRAVEL ALL OVER THE STATE REPRESENTING THIS WONDERFUL FRATERNAL SOCIETY THAT MERGED 13 YEARS AGO.
AND I APPRECIATE THE RECOGNITION.
OKAY. I AM ALSO IRISH AND HISPANIC, TOO, SO REPRESENTING A LARGE POPULATION.
I MARRIED A PORTUGUESE LADY. THEN YOU.
ABSOLUTELY. I MARRIED A PORTUGUESE MAN.
THEREFORE, I'M A PORTUGUESE GUY.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
ONE, THIS PAST WEEK, I WENT TO SACRAMENTO AND MET WITH ITS CALIFORNIA PORTUGUESE AMERICAN COALITION, AND THEY HAD PUT TOGETHER KIND OF THE SAME SYSTEM OR THE SAME RESOLUTION IN THE ASSEMBLY AND THE SENATE IN CALIFORNIA.
DURING THAT TIME, I FOUND OUT THAT I HAVE THE LARGEST PORTUGUESE POPULATION OF ANY SUPERVISORIAL DISTRICT IN CALIFORNIA AT 9.9%.
AND AND THEN MY COLLEAGUES SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, I THINK WAS HIS DISTRICT IS 4% AND SUPERVISOR PEDROZO DISTRICT IS 3%, WHICH IS KIND OF INTERESTING THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT SMALL AMOUNT OF POPULATION COULD GET US ELECTED.
SO THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
ALL RIGHT. WE'RE NOW GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE BOARD ACTION BEGINNING WITH FIRE ITEM
[BOARD ACTION]
[01:20:08]
32. ALL RIGHT.WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEM 32.
NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
I JUST WANT TO COMMENT THIS $13 MILLION IS KIND OF WAS MENTIONED EARLIER TODAY.
THIS IS THAT DIRECT ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE THAT'S HELPING US WITH OUR DISASTER RECOVERY EFFORTS.
AND SO WE'RE VERY, VERY APPRECIATIVE TO THAT.
AS YOU SAW EARLIER, WE TALKED ABOUT BUDGET TRANSFERS OF MONEY WITH THE WAY FEMA WORKS.
WE FRONT THE MONEY AND THEN HOPEFULLY ADAM AND ALL THE REST OF THE CREW HAVE DOTTED ALL THE I'S AND CROSS ALL THE T'S, AND THEN WE SUBMIT IT FOR REIMBURSEMENT AND THEN WE GET PAID BACK. IN THIS CASE, WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO GET SOME OF THAT MONEY FRONT LOADED.
SO WE'RE PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE PUBLIC WORKS.
PLEASE NOTE ITEMS 35 AND 36 REQUIRE A 4/5 VOTE.
ALL RIGHT. SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
I HAVE A COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER 34.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A FEW PROJECTS FROM LIKE IT STATES ON THE ON THE AGENDA.
IT'S GOING TO BE FUNDED BY SB 1 PROJECTS.
BUT I KNOW THAT I'VE ADDRESSED WITH OUR CEO REGARDING THE BOARD PROJECTS.
SO EVERY YEAR THE BOARD HAS PROJECTS 1-10, 1-15.
AND YOU KNOW, I KNOW THERE'S BUNKER ROAD, IT'S A NEW ROAD.
SO OBVIOUSLY I CAN'T I'M GOING TO SUPPORT IT.
BUT LIKE ALREADY ADDRESSED IT, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PROJECTS, YOU KNOW, AS THEY GO ONE THROUGH, THROUGH, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER NUMBER IT IS, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE PRIORITIES.
AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S FOLLOWED BECAUSE OTHERWISE THERE'S NO SENSE IN IN US MAKING PRIORITIES OR SITTING DOWN AND AND WASTING OUR STAFF TIME, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, ACTING ON OUR PRIORITIES.
BUT I HAVE OTHER PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN THERE LONGER ON, YOU KNOW, ON THE PRIORITY LIST.
AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THE CROWDS ARE COUNTY.
I GOT, YOU KNOW, ALL AROUND THE DISTRICT THERE'S PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN WAITING ALREADY.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? NOT SEEING ANYONE AT THE DAIS.
I'M JUST THANKFUL THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PULL THAT TOGETHER AND GET THAT ON THIS AGENDA.
AND SO THIS HELPS TO PUT THAT CONTRACT IN PLACE.
AND THE TETRA TECH IS THE ONES THAT OVERSEE THE CONTRACT.
ALL RIGHT. WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS. GO AHEAD.
OKAY. GOOD MORNING TO MEET US WITH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL.
JUST BRIEFLY WANT TO SPEAK ON ITEM 33.
SPECIFICALLY, RESIDENTS FROM DELPHI AND SOUTH MERCED, AS YOU ALL HAVE HEARD, HAVE RAISED CONCERNS ON ROAD MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BOARD THROUGH PAST BOARD OF SUPERVISOR MEETINGS, TOWN HALLS AND MUNICIPAL ADVISORY COUNCILS.
[01:25:02]
RESIDENTS FROM BOTH DELPHI AND SOUTH MERCED WOULD WANT MERCED COUNTY TO UTILIZE FUNDING FROM THE LOCAL TRANSPORTATION FUND IN ORDER TO ADDRESS ROAD IMPROVEMENT PRIORITIES THAT INCLUDE ROAD ROUTINE MAINTENANCE FOR EXISTING AND LOCAL, FOR EXISTING AND NEW LOCAL STREETS SLASH ROADS TO ADDRESS ONGOING CONCERNS ON POTHOLES AND RUNDOWN ROADS. ROAD IMPROVEMENTS FOR EXISTING AND NEW INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS STREET LIGHTING AND SIDEWALKS, CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF EXISTING AND NEW PEDESTRIAN SAFETY FACILITIES THROUGH MEANS OF SPEED REDUCERS.RESIDENTS OF DELPHI AND SOUTH MERCED MERCED REQUEST THAT THE MERCED COUNTY REFLECT THEIR PRIORITIES WHEN ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM TRANSPORTATION FUNDING SOURCES IN ORDER TO SECURE EQUITABLE INVESTMENTS FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
ALL RIGHT. ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS? NOT SEEING ANYONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
RECORD THE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE AG COMMISSIONER ITEMS 39 AND 40 AND COMMENTS ON ITEMS 39 AND 40 AT THE DAIS.
NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEMS 39 AND 40.
NOT SEEING ONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENTS SECTION AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.
WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5-0.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES ITEMS, 41 THROUGH 44.
ALL RIGHT. WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEMS 41 THROUGH 44.
NOT SEEING ONE. WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5-0.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY.
ACTUALLY, IT'S CALLED THE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY.
ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS 45 THROUGH 49? WE HAVE A. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
THAT'S A BIG CHUNK OF CHANGE AND I JUST HOPE THEY DISPERSE IT WELL AND DO A GOOD JOB WITH IT, BECAUSE I KNOW I SIT ON THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD AND WE PUSH A LOT OF THAT MONEY THROUGH THERE AS WELL. SO JUST $8.1 MILLION.
I WANT TO BRING IT TO EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION.
SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL NOT SEEING ANYONE ELSE FROM THE PUBLIC WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ITEMS. 5353. THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 50 THROUGH 53.
WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT WE HAVE PROBATION ITEMS 54 AND 55.
SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, YOU HAVE A COMMENT? I DO. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS CLARIFIED AND I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS IN MY DISTRICT WILL RECOGNIZE IT ON ITEM NUMBER 54.
IT'S AN AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE WITH THE COUNTY OF MENDOCINO.
I'VE ALREADY GOT THE CLARIFICATION.
[01:30:06]
THAT'S CORRECT, YES.SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLARIFICATION HERE FOR THE PUBLIC.
LET'S SEE. NO MORE COMMENTS AT THE DAIS.
WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEMS 54 AND 55.
NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD.
BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
THE MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1 WITH A NO VOTE BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
I WOULD. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR IT, SIR.
GO FOR IT. WELL, SO THIS IS WHY I VOTED NO.
I MEAN, I GUESS I SHOULD HAVE SHARED IT EARLIER, BUT I HIT THE WRONG BUTTON.
THERE YOU GO. I MEAN, I THINK IT'S CHAIR'S PREROGATIVE.
WE COULD PROBABLY REDO THE VOTE IF THAT WOULD MAKE YOU FEEL MORE OR.
YOU GOT TO MAKE US REDO THAT ONE.
OKAY, LET'S SEE. REALLY? CAN WE DO A MANUAL VOTE? WE CAN DO A MANUAL VOTE. YEAH.
LET'S SEE IF I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO MADE THE MOTION NOW.
WE HAD A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, AND I THINK A SECOND WAS BY PEDROZO.
ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ARE THERE ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YES, SIR.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP, WE HAVE THE RECORDER.
OKAY. UM, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS AT THE DIAS? WE DON'T GET TO HEAR FROM THE RECORDER'S OFFICE VERY OFTEN.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE THEM COME UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THEIR ITEM.
I SHOULD HAVE WARNED YOU A LITTLE BIT, BUT.
YEAH. YEAH. GOOD MORNING, MERCED ASSESSOR CLERK RECORDER.
ASSISTANT CLERK RECORDER, PHILIP ROBINSON.
JUST WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR HERE.
WELL, IT COVERS TWO THINGS, REALLY.
PARTIALLY, THE IMAGING PROJECT IS SOMETHING WE WERE GOING TO DO ANYWAYS, AND THEN WHEN THEY PASSED AB 1466, WE HAVE TO INCORPORATE THE REDACTION PIECE AND THE INTO IT.
IS THAT PARTIALLY? YES, SIR. PARTIALLY. OKAY.
SUPERVISOR PAREIRA HAS A QUESTION.
OH, GO AHEAD. ACTUALLY, I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION, BUT THIS PAST WEEK, MY WIFE WENT INTO TO YOUR OFFICE, MR. ROBINSON, AND SAID THAT ACTUALLY YOU HELPED HER AND THAT SHE WAS VERY IT FELT LIKE YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS INCREDIBLE.
AND SHE CAME HOME AND ACTUALLY MADE MENTION OF IT TO ME.
SO I FIGURED I MIGHT AS WELL SHARE THAT SINCE YOU'RE HERE.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.
ALL RIGHT. WE'LL NOW OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEM 56.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
WE'LL BE THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON SHERIFF'S ITEM 57 THROUGH 59.
NOT SEE ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, BRING IT UP BACK TO THE DAIS FOR DISCUSSION MOTION OR WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL CALL FOR THE VOTE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP WILL BE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT.
PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM 60.
[01:35:04]
NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
ANY COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? NOT SEEING. WE WILL NOW OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEM 61.
NOT SEEING ANY PUBLIC COMMENT, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5-0.
NEXT WE HAVE EXECUTIVE OFFICE ITEM 62.
ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 62? OKAY. I'LL SEE HIM.
WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
THIS IS JUST A, I JUST WANT TO MAKE A QUICK COMMENT ON THIS.
THIS IS THE AT HOME PROGRAM, CALIFORNIA STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES REALLY LOOKING AT A IT'S A COALITION FOR ACCOUNTABILITY ON HOMELESSNESS, HOW HOMELESSNESS PROGRAMS THAT ARE ADMINISTERED IN THE STATE, WHO HAS THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
AND THIS IS A RESOLUTION THAT BASICALLY SAYING THAT THAT AS MERCED COUNTY WE SUPPORT THIS MOVING FORWARD, WE SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM AND ARE SIGNING ON TO IT.
SO I WANT TO THANK MY FRIENDS AT CSAC FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE UP THERE.
AND I'M HAPPY TO VOTE YES ON THIS ITEM.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5-0.
NEXT, WE HAVE BOARD APPOINTMENTS.
ALL RIGHT. THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM 63 THROUGH 66.
WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.
EXCUSE ME. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO HAS A COMMENT.
MY COMMENT IS WHEN I WENT AND LOOKED AT THIS ROSTER, THERE'S A LOT OF EXPIRED PEOPLE ON THIS ROSTER AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE STILL INVOLVED OR NOT, BUT I THINK THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO IF THEY'RE STILL GOING TO BE INVOLVED, I THINK THAT WE JUST NEED TO CORRECT IT.
WHICH ONE ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? OH, I'M SORRY, THE FAIR BOARD.
SORRY, BUT YOU HAVE THE DISTRICT ONE REP FOR EXPIRED 2016, DISTRICT TWO, 2022.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO KIND OF UPDATE THAT.
WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5-0.
NEXT, WE HAVE BOARD INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ITEM 67.
[BOARD INFORMATION & POSSIBLE ACTION]
ALL RIGHT. THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM 67.NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5-0.
ALL RIGHT. SCHEDULED ITEMS AT THIS TIME.
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR SCHEDULED ITEMS.
[SCHEDULED ITEMS]
WE HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED FOR TODAY.[01:40:02]
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT OWNER, OCCUPIED REHABILITATION AND FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER PROGRAMS. AND WE WILL GO TO MR. HENDRICKSON. IT SHOULD BE GOOD.GOOD MORNING. I SWEAR, THIS DEAL, IT WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO.
BUT HERE. WE'LL TRY IT. TRY IT AGAIN.
MR. CHAIRMAN. AGAIN. GOOD MORNING.
MARK HENDRICKSON ASSISTANT COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER JUST VERY BRIEFLY, THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS A REQUIRED FINAL STEP BY HCD TO ACTUALLY CLOSE OUT OUR 2017 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, WHICH LARGELY FOCUSED ON OWNER OCCUPIED REHAB PROJECTS.
IN SHORT, OUR PROGRAM PROVIDED DEFERRED NO INTEREST LOANS TO LOW AND MODERATE INCOME CLIENTS FOR THE FULL COST OF QUALIFIED REHAB PROJECTS THAT WERE NEEDED TO COMPLY WITH STATE AND LOCAL CODES.
STAFF RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS THIS MORNING.
ONE FOR YOU TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO ACCEPT COMMENTS.
TWO TO CLOSE THAT PUBLIC HEARING.
THREE TO ACCEPT AND APPROVE THE CLOSEOUT REPORT, AND THEN FURTHER TO DIRECT STAFF TO PROCEED WITH THE CLOSEOUT OF THE 17-CDBG-12022 GRANT. STAFF WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HIS ASSISTANT CEO? HENDRICKSON NOW IS GOING TO CALL YOU DIRECTOR HENDRICKSON.
SO WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 1148 SO THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 1149 AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. IF THERE'S.
OH, I HIT IT. SORRY. ONE MORE TIME.
IF THERE'S NO OTHER COMMENTS AND MOVING FORWARD, I'LL GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT AND APPROVE THE CLOSEOUT REPORT ON THE 17 DASH CDBG DASH 12022 OWNER OCCUPIED REHABILITATION AND FIRST TIME BUYER PROGRAMS AND DIRECT THE ASSISTANT COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER OR DESIGNEE TO PROCEED WITH THE CLOSEOUT OF THE 17 DASH CDBG DASH.
ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
SO WE HAVE A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
OKAY. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A TEN MINUTE BREAK.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A TEN MINUTE BREAK AND WE'LL START BACK UP AT NOON.
WELCOME BACK. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR BEARING WITH US FOR A SHORT LITTLE BREAK THERE.
SO NEXT ITEM BEFORE THE BOARD IS A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE IMPASSE BETWEEN MERCED COUNTY AND TEAMSTERS REPRESENTING UNITS TWO AND 12.
I WILL REFER TO TEAMSTERS AND UNITS TWO AND 12 JOINTLY AS UNITS TWO AND 12.
BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, THE COUNTY AND UNITS TWO AND 12 BEGAN NEGOTIATIONS ON A SUCCESSOR MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON OR ABOUT MARCH 31ST, 2022. THE COUNTY PRESENTED UNITS TWO AND 12 WITH A LAST OFFER ON AUGUST 15TH, 2022.
IMPASSE PROCEDURES WERE INITIATED BY UNITS TWO AND 12 AND HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, WHICH INCLUDED UNITS TWO AND 12 REQUEST TO THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE RELATIONS BOARD FOR A FACT FINDING HEARING.
A FACT FINDING HEARING BEFORE A THREE MEMBER PANEL OCCURRED AND RESULTED IN A REPORT ISSUED BY A NEUTRAL FACT FINDING CHAIRPERSON CONTAINING ADVISORY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SETTLEMENT.
ATTACHED TO THE REPORT IS A DISSENT BY THE COUNTY PANEL REPRESENTATIVE.
UNITS TWO AND 12 DID NOT RESPOND TO THE FACT FINDING REPORT IN WRITING.
THE REPORT AND ATTACHMENTS WERE MADE PUBLIC ON MAY 18TH, 2023.
[01:45:04]
IT IS NOW APPROPRIATE TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BOARD'S CONSIDERATION OF IMPASSE AND UNILATERAL UNILATERAL IMPLEMENTATION OF COUNTY'S LAST OFFER ON UNITS TWO AND 12.THE PROCEDURES WILL BE AS FOLLOWS.
FIRST, WE'LL ALLOW THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO SPEAK.
UNDER OUR RULES OF PROCEDURE, EACH SPEAKER WILL BE PERMITTED UP TO THREE MINUTES.
THE TOTAL COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE LIMITED TO 15 MINUTES.
EACH WILL BE ABLE TO SPEAK FOR UP TO 15 MINUTES AT THAT CONCLUSION.
AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE COMMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS, THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE CLOSED.
SO WITH THAT, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN FOR COMMENTS REGARDING THE IMPASSE AND THE BOARD'S CONSIDERATION OF UNILATERAL, UNILATERAL AND UNILATERAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COUNTY'S LAST PROPOSAL.
SO WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 1205.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
OH, WAIT, LET ME GET GET YOUR MIC ON AND GO AHEAD.
I HAD A SPEECH PLANNED OUT WHERE I SPOKE AS OFFICER COUPON AND WHAT THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, WHAT THEY WANTED FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
BUT INSTEAD, I STAND HERE BEFORE YOU AS ADRIANA.
YES, I AM AN OFFICER, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I AM A WIFE, A MOTHER, A SISTER AND A DAUGHTER.
THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS HAVE NEW LEADERSHIP REPRESENTATION, AND I ASK FOR YOU TO RECONSIDER.
AND PASSING THIS ONE SIDED CONTRACT ON THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS.
I HUMBLY ASK THAT WE RECOGNIZE AND RESPECT THE NEEDS AND CONCERNS OF THE WIVES, HUSBANDS, FATHERS, MOTHERS, SISTERS AND BROTHERS THAT SERVE THE COMMUNITY AS CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS.
MY NAME IS LACEY GRAHAM, CURRENTLY A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER WITH MERCED COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE DO HAVE NEW LEADERSHIP AND I AM REQUESTING YOU TO RECONSIDER IMPOSING THE LAST AND FINAL OFFER FROM THE COUNTY AND REOPEN NEGOTIATIONS TO US TO WORK ON A MORE MUTUAL, HONEST AND FAIR AGREEMENT.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ASHLEY PENA.
I'M A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER HERE FOR MERCED COUNTY.
I AM PROBABLY ONE OF THE YOUNGEST.
I'VE BEEN EMPLOYED WITH THE COUNTY THAT NOW REPRESENTS THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS.
WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF CEOS LEAVE TO STAND COUNTY, CDCR, OR JUST FLAT OUT QUIT BECAUSE OF THE CONDITIONS AND THE JOB REQUIREMENTS. WHEN LOOKING AT PAY SCALE FOR ME, I CONSIDER MYSELF, IN A SENSE, THE FUTURE FOR THE COUNTY.
I STILL HAVE MANY YEARS TO GO.
TUOLUMNE COUNTY. THEIR STARTING PAYS 27.
TWO SMALLER COUNTIES THAT TOUCH OURS.
OUR STARTING PAY IS $23 RIGHT NOW WITH THE AMOUNT OF OVERTIME THAT'S BEING DONE.
WE WANT YOU GUYS TO RECONSIDER THIS 6%.
THE SIX WE'RE NOT LIKE MANY OTHER JOB CLASSIFICATIONS WITHIN THE COUNTY.
WE WERE CONSTANTLY EXPOSED, NOT EXCLUDING, NOT INCLUDING THE HOSPITALS TO COVID.
I CAUGHT COVID THREE SEPARATE TIMES DUE TO CONSTANTLY HAVING TO BE AT WORK.
WE WEREN'T ABLE TO SIT AT HOME DURING THE PANDEMIC.
[01:50:10]
WE'RE THE ONES WHO ARE THE UNSEEN FIRST RESPONDERS BECAUSE WE'RE IN A PRISON, WE'RE LOCKED AWAY.WE'RE NOT OUT IN THE PUBLIC VIEW.
THE PUBLIC DOESN'T COME IN AND SEE WHAT WE DO.
I'M ALSO PUBLICLY INVITING YOU GUYS TO COME DO A SHIFT WITH OFFICERS.
OBVIOUSLY, I KNOW FOR THE OFFICERS WE GET, WE'RE SUBJECT TO BEING ATTACKED BY INMATES.
WE'RE SUBJECT TO BODILY FLUIDS BEING THROWN AT US.
BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T SEE OR HEAR ABOUT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
ARE THERE ANY MORE PUBLIC COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT, WE'LL CLOSE.
OKAY. SO WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND THAT'S GOING TO CLOSE AT 1210.
WE'LL NOW ALLOW UNITS TWO AND 12 TO MAKE THEIR PRESENTATION ON THESE ISSUES.
IS THERE ANYONE REPRESENTING UNITS TWO AND 12 WHO WISHES TO MAKE A PRESENTATION? OKAY. YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP TRACK OF THE TIME BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE 15 ON THIS.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M ALSO LIKE MY COWORKERS HERE BEHIND ME, A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
I AM ALSO A FORMER SHOP STEWARD FOR UNIT TWO, WHICH IS REPRESENTED BY TEAMSTERS LOCAL 856.
AND I WAS THE SECOND PANEL MEMBER DURING THE FACT FINDING HEARING FOR THE COUNTY.
IF IT COMES OFF THAT WAY DURING MY SPEECH, JUST KNOW IT'S BECAUSE I WAS A SHOP STEWARD FOR 15 YEARS.
SO I TAKE THIS, YOU KNOW, I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT I DO AND I'M VERY SERIOUS ABOUT IT.
WE SAID YES TO SEVERAL OF YOUR PROPOSALS WHILE YOU SAID NO TO ALMOST ALL OF OURS.
DURING THESE NEGOTIATIONS, ONE THING BECAME CLEAR TO US THAT IS THAT YOU WANTED US TO SAY YES TO EVERYTHING ON YOUR SIDE AND YOU WANTED US TO TAKE MOST OF OUR STUFF OFF THE TABLE BECAUSE IT DIDN'T FIT YOUR AGENDA.
I'VE BEEN AT THAT TABLE MANY TIMES.
I UNDERSTAND IT'S JUST MORE THAN LIKELY A LAWYER TACTIC, BUT NONETHELESS, IT'S A FALSE ACCUSATION.
ALL I STILL SAYING YES TO MOST OF YOURS.
THAT ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE THE REASON, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE.
THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS OF THIS COUNTY.
AS MY COWORKERS SAID, WE ARE THE HIDDEN FROM PUBLIC VIEW LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, THE ONES WHO SPEND 8 TO 16 HOURS A DAY IN A PLACE THAT NONE OF YOU WOULD WANT TO WORK IN. BUT LET ME PUT SOMETHING INTO PERSPECTIVE FOR EVERYONE HERE.
WE'RE NOT JUST CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS.
WE HAVE TO BE COUNSELORS TO THESE INMATES OR INCARCERATED PERSONS WHEN THEY HAVE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS. WE HAVE TO CARE FOR THEM.
WE HAVE TO WORK THROUGH THEIR ISSUES WITH THEM WHEN THEY'RE SUICIDAL.
WE'RE ALSO FIRST RESPONDERS DURING EMERGENCIES.
WE HAVE TO BE NEGOTIATORS AT TIMES, AND WE ALSO HAVE TO BE DE-ESCALATION EXPERTS.
BUT NONE OF US ARE REALLY EXPERTS IN THAT FIELD.
WE JUST GO WITH OUR TRAINING AND WE JUST DO THE BEST WE CAN AND ALL THAT AND SO MUCH MORE.
I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO EXPLAIN.
AND WHILE THIS JOB ONLY REQUIRES A SIX WEEK ACADEMY AND A FEW MONTHS OF ON THE JOB TRAINING TO LEGALLY DO IT TAKES YEARS TO REALLY GRASP EVERYTHING THAT WILL HAPPEN BEHIND THOSE WALLS. I HAVE BEEN WITH THIS DEPARTMENT FOR MORE THAN 21 YEARS AND A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER FOR MORE THAN 18, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THINGS STILL SURPRISE ME TO THIS DAY.
[01:55:02]
DURING THESE YEARS, WE SEE JUST AS ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS DO, MORE THAN MOST PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE TO STOMACH.SORT OF NO ONE WILL TELL YOU EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS OVER THE COURSE OF YOUR CAREER, THE HOMICIDES, THE SUICIDES, THE PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES SO SEVERE THEY PLAY WITH AND EAT THEIR OWN FECES, OR SOMEONE WITH SUCH SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT WHEN THEY START TO FIGHT, THEY BECOME SUPERMAN FOR A SHORT TIME AND THEY ARE UNSTOPPABLE.
EVEN WITH ALL THIS, WE STILL SHOW UP AND DO OUR JOB.
IT'S WHAT WE SIGNED UP FOR AND WE DO NOT BACK DOWN FROM ANYTHING EVER.
NO MATTER THE CHALLENGE, THE PERSON, THE CIRCUMSTANCES, WIN OR LOSE, WE ARE RIGHT THERE.
SO HOPEFULLY I'VE BEEN ABLE TO PAINT JUST A SMALL PICTURE OF WHAT IT IS WE DO NOW.
AT THE END OF OUR NEGOTIATIONS WITH YOU, WE WERE SIMPLY ASKING FOR AN EXTRA 10% PAY INCREASE.
IT COULD BE A LOT. IF I HAD 10% TO YOUR GUYS' SALARY, THAT'S VERY SIGNIFICANT.
BUT IF YOU HAD 10% TO OURS, IT'S NOT MUCH AT ALL, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, AS MY COWORKERS SAID, WE ARE THE LOWEST PAID CEOS IN THIS AREA, EVEN LOWER THAN MARIPOSA AND TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
IT'S TWO CAR PAYMENTS, MORE MONEY FOR THE HIGH GAS, WHICH YOU GUYS EVERYONE SEES THE RISING COST OF GROCERIES AND THE RISING COST OF MEDICAL THE FAMILY PLAN IN THIS. COUNTY, $1,400 A MONTH.
$1,500 A MONTH HELPS A LOT MORE THAN YOU MIGHT THINK IT DOES.
IT COULD HELP THE SINGLE PARENT IN OUR DEPARTMENT WHO RAISES THEIR CHILD ON ONE INCOME OR CHILDREN.
AND I BRING UP THE DIVORCED PARENT FOR A REASON.
WHY ARE WE TREATED SO MUCH DIFFERENTLY THAN PATROL? I'M NOT ASKING TO MAKE WHAT THEY MAKE.
WE STILL HAVE A DANGEROUS JOB JUST LIKE THEY DO.
AND WE AREN'T ASKING FOR THE WORLD HERE JUST WHAT'S FAIR BUT $1,500 A MONTH? THAT IS A RIDICULOUS GAP.
WE DON'T DESERVE THAT TYPE OF TREATMENT FROM YOU, ESPECIALLY WITH EVERYTHING WE DO.
THEY ARE THE LOWEST IN SENIORITY ON THEIR SHIFT AND THEY HAVE YET TO SEE ONE HOUR OF OVERTIME.
NONE. WHY? OUR OFFICERS ARE WORKING THOUSANDS A YEAR AND DURING NEGOTIATIONS, WE WARNED YOU THAT WE ALREADY LOST A SMALL HANDFUL AND THAT WE WERE GOING TO LOSE MORE.
AND YOUR RESPONSE WAS THAT WE GAVE YOU THOSE 16, 16 OPEN OFFICER SPOTS.
THERE'S NO GUARANTEE YOU'D FILL THE SPOTS.
AND THEN EVEN IF YOU DO, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO RETAIN THEM? ADD TO THAT THAT THIS JOB ISN'T SOMETHING A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO DO ANYMORE.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT TURNS OUT WE WERE RIGHT.
IN FACT, THE OPPOSITE HAPPENED.
WE LOST MORE, APPROXIMATELY DOUBLE THAT 16.
EXCUSE ME. WE ARE CURRENTLY DOWN APPROXIMATELY 33 OFFICERS.
33. WE ARE WITNESSING A MASS EXODUS FROM THIS DIVISION AND IT NEEDS TO STOP BEFORE IT GETS WORSE.
AND I CAN PROMISE YOU IT IS GOING TO GET WORSE IF YOU DON'T CHANGE SOMETHING.
WE ARE ALREADY BACK TO THE 2011 NUMBERS AFTER THE RIFF HAPPENED MAY BE WORSE.
WE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF THIS.
WE WANT TO HIRE OFFICERS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE NEED TO RETAIN THEM.
THIS THIS REVOLVING DOOR, IT DOESN'T WORK.
WE NEED PEOPLE TO STAY HERE LONG TERM.
BUT ONCE THEY GET HIRED ON AND THEY SEE HOW UNDERSTAFFED WE ARE AND HOW MUCH OVERTIME THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK, THEY JUST USE OUR DEPARTMENT JUST AS THAT A STEPPING STONE AND THEY LEAVE. AND I UNDERSTAND WHY THEY'RE DOING IT.
AND I WILL BE HONEST, I CAN'T BLAME THEM.
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH BETTERING YOURSELF OR BETTERING YOUR SITUATION, BUT IT NEEDS TO STOP.
THE SENIOR OFFICERS AREN'T LEAVING.
BUT LIKE I SAID, SOMEONE YOUNGER WHO'S HERE STARTING OUT, THOSE ARE THE ONES ARE LEAVING.
[02:00:03]
AND ADD TO THAT, THERE AREN'T A LOT MORE SENIOR OFFICERS LEFT THAT WE'RE SLOWLY RETIRING.THAT'S NO EMERGENCY EXPERIENCE, NO CRITICAL INCIDENT EXPERIENCE OR A MINIMUM OF EXPERIENCE AT THAT.
BUT IF THIS CONTINUES, DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU.
AND RETENTION NEEDS TO BE A LONG TERM GOAL BECAUSE IT WILL SAVE YOU MONEY IN THE LONG RUN.
IT TAKES MONEY TO HIRE, MONEY TO TRAIN, SEND TO THE ACADEMY.
NOW, I'M NOT SAYING OUR DEPARTMENT HAS LOWERED ITS HIRING STANDARDS.
I'M JUST USING THAT AS A STANDARD BUSINESS MODEL.
YOU NEED JAILS AND YOU NEED GOOD OFFICERS.
THIS JOB HAS TO BE DONE BY SOMEONE, AND WE NEED MORE PEOPLE TO EFFECTIVELY DO IT.
WE'RE ALREADY WITNESSING THE LATTER.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE THE FIRST ONE HAPPEN.
AND FOR WHAT? JUST FOR THE COUNTY TO SAVE A LITTLE EXTRA MONEY AND MONEY THAT I'M SURE YOU HAVE TO GIVE US.
AND I WILL SAY THIS REAL QUICK.
I DO. DESPITE EVERYTHING I TOLD YOU, I'M NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT MY JOB.
I LOVE WHAT I DO AND I LOVE THE OPPORTUNITIES THIS DEPARTMENT HAS GIVEN ME.
BUT I WANT OTHER PEOPLE TO FEEL THE SAME AS ME.
NOW, BACK TO THIS SUBJECT OF MONEY REAL QUICK.
WE DIDN'T GET INTO THIS JOB TO BE RICH.
NOBODY GETS INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BE RICH.
WE DO IT BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND WE KNOW WE PROVIDE A SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC, WHICH IS MAKING SURE THAT WHEN OFFICERS AND DEPUTIES MAKE ARRESTS, THEY HAVE A GEL TO TAKE THEM TO AND THAT OFFICERS ARE WORKING IN THAT JAIL.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT A BIG PAY RAISE.
IT'S NOT. WE'VE SETTLED ON SMALLER RAISES OVER THE YEARS WITH YOU GUYS.
IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT THIS TIME IT IS ABOUT A DECENT PAY RAISE.
WE ASKED FOR THAT 10% WHEN THAT LAW PASSED.
YOU SAID, WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT WHEN IT HAPPENS.
I UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCES IN THE JOB, BUT WE NEED TO CLOSE THAT $1,500 A MONTH GAP A LITTLE BIT.
AND WHAT'S FUNNY ABOUT THAT IS THE COUNTY HAS NO PROBLEM PAYING SERGEANTS THE SAME.
I'M A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER AND LET'S SAY THERE'S A DEPUTY HERE.
IF WE BOTH PROMOTE TO SERGEANT TOMORROW, WE GET THE EXACT SAME PAY.
EXACT. SO THE WAY IT'S SET UP NOW, THE COUNTY HAS NO PROBLEM PAYING THE SERGEANTS THE SAME.
THEY'RE EQUAL. BUT LINE STAFF WERE WERE NOT EQUAL.
AND THEN LAST ON THE MOU, THE COUNTY PROPOSED THE OVERTIME POLICY, A POLICY THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE FILED AN UNFAIR PRACTICE FOR AN UNFAIR PRACTICE CHARGE FOR EXCUSE ME, WITH PAREIRA SIX OR SO YEARS AGO, IF YOU REMEMBER, A NEW OVERTIME POLICY WAS UNILATERALLY IMPLEMENTED.
WE YOU GUYS APPEALED, WENT BACK AND IN THE END PERB UPHELD THE ORIGINAL DECISION.
THE COUNTY FOLLOWED THE RULING AND YOU RETURNED US TO OUR OVERTIME POLICY.
NOW I UNDERSTAND THIS TIME IT'S BEEN DONE THE CORRECT WAY.
NEGOTIATIONS. EVERYTHING'S BEEN GOING THROUGH THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.
BUT WHY WOULD WE WANT TO GO BACK TO A POLICY THAT WE FOUGHT FOR THREE YEARS IN COURT TO GET RID OF OUR MEMBERS VOTED US THE PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THOSE FACILITIES. WE DON'T WANT THAT POLICY CHANGED.
I'M NOT SAYING YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO, BUT IF YOU DO CHOOSE TO IMPLEMENT, WHY WOULD YOU GO AGAINST YOUR OWN OFFICERS? ALL YOU'RE GOING TO DO IS FURTHER UPSET THE ONES THAT WORK HERE.
AND IT'S JUST GOING TO TELL THEM THAT THEY'RE NOT CARED ABOUT.
NOW, IN CLOSING, I WILL JUST END WITH THIS.
WE ARE DEALING WITH MORE VIOLENT CRIMINALS TODAY THAN WE EVER HAVE.
WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE IN JAIL FOR MURDER, ATTEMPTED MURDER, CHILD SEX CRIMES THAN WE EVER HAVE.
[02:05:03]
CRIMINALS AND MAKE OUR JOB HARDER.I JUST WANT ALL OF YOU TO SERIOUSLY THINK ABOUT WHAT I SAID.
DON'T THINK ABOUT THE BUDGET FOR A MINUTE.
WHAT DOES YOUR HEART TELL YOU AS A PERSON THAT THE RIGHT THING IS TO DO? HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT EVERYTHING? I JUST TOLD YOU, I'M JUST ASKING.
JUST DO THE RIGHT THING FOR YOUR OFFICERS.
DON'T INVOLVE POLITICS IN YOUR DECISION.
BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU SITTING UP THERE KNOWS WHAT THE RIGHT THING IS TO DO.
WILL THE COUNTIES. NEGOTIATOR PLEASE IDENTIFY HERSELF AND MAKE HER PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD? GOOD AFTERNOON. BOARD CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, CEO AND COUNTY COUNCIL AND GOOD AFTERNOON, UNITS TWO AND 12.
THANK YOU. MY NAME IS CHARLENE BENNETT AND I AM AN ATTORNEY.
MAYBE THE ATTORNEY THAT MR. SHAMBAUGH WAS REFERRING TO AT LIEBERT CASSIDY WHITMORE.
I HAVE SERVED AS THE COUNTY'S NEGOTIATOR FOR A FEW YEARS, INCLUDING MOST RECENTLY DURING NEGOTIATIONS, THE IMPASSE PROCESS, FACT FINDING ON SUCCESSOR MOUS WITH UNITS TWO AND 12.
AND I WAS THE COUNTY'S FACT FINDING PANEL MEMBER.
AND THIS MORNING I'M REPRESENTING THE COUNTY BARGAINING TEAM TO YOUR BOARD AND THE TEAM RECOMMENDS THAT YOUR BOARD RESOLVE THE IMPASSE THAT'S BEEN GOING ON WITH YOUR COUNTY AND UNITS TWO AND 12 SINCE LAST AUGUST 2022 WHEN WE PUT ON THE TABLE A 6% BASE WAGE INCREASE.
THAT WOULD HAVE HELPED WITH A NUMBER OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU'VE HEARD FROM UNITS TWO AND 12 ARTICULATE THIS MORNING VERY WELL TO YOUR BOARD AND ANOTHER $1,500 IN ONE TIME MONIES THAT MAY HAVE ALSO ASSISTED BACK IN AUGUST OF 2022 WITH THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION ISSUES THAT, AGAIN, YOUR BARGAINING GROUPS HAVE ARTICULATED TO YOU TODAY.
AND THAT IS AND ARE SIGNIFICANT RECRUITMENT ISSUES IN THE WORLD OF THE BLUE PUBLIC SAFETY, SIGNIFICANT RETENTION ISSUES. THESE ARE NOT UNUSUAL.
I NEGOTIATE UP AND DOWN THE STATE.
THAT IS IN MY REALM A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE.
AND AGAIN, I WILL GET INTO THOSE ISSUES.
SO ULTIMATELY, YOUR BOARD AND CHAIR AND BOARD WERE ASKING THAT YOU ADOPT THE RESOLUTION THAT'S BEFORE YOU TODAY UNILATERALLY IMPLEMENTING ON TWO AND UNITS TWO AND 12 OF THE COUNTY'S LAST OFFER DATED AUGUST 15TH.
AND IT INCLUDES, AS MR. SHAMBAUGH ARTICULATED, A MODIFICATION TO THE OVERTIME SHERIFF OPERATION POLICY.
AND YES, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT FOR QUITE A WHILE WITH UNITS TWO AND 12 SINCE OCTOBER 2016.
WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO RESOLVE THOSE ISSUES.
SO THAT'S ABOUT SEVEN YEARS NOW THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING WITH THEM ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT ARE CONFRONTING MANAGEMENT IN STAFFING AND THE ISSUES THAT ARE CONFRONTING THE MEMBERS. AND WE HAVEN'T REACHED AN AGREEMENT.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE ASKING YOUR BOARD TO RESOLVE THOSE ISSUES TODAY.
I WOULD NOTE ONE PROCEDURAL CORRECTION.
BUT ON MAY 18TH, WHEN 2023, WHEN THE COUNTY MADE THE FACT FINDING REPORT PUBLIC, UNFORTUNATELY, THE FACT FINDING CHAIRS REPORT THAT WAS PUBLISHED, IT HAD AN ERROR IN IT WHERE THE FACT FINDING CHAIR INCORRECTLY NOTED THAT THE PARTIES AGREED TO A 50%
[02:10:07]
INCREASE IN MEDICAL INSURANCE PREMIUM CONTRIBUTIONS BY THE COUNTY.UNITS TWO AND 12 ACKNOWLEDGED IT'S INACCURATE.
SO THAT HASN'T YET HIT THE PUBLIC.
YOUR RESOLUTION OF THE IMPASSE TODAY WOULD PROVIDE TWO OVERRIDING AND CRITICAL BENEFITS FOR YOUR CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS AND YOUR SECURITY SYSTEMS OFFICERS.
ONE, IT WOULD BE PROVIDING THEM WITH ECONOMIC ENHANCEMENTS THAT NURSES THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED AND YOUR OTHER BARGAINING GROUPS REACHED AGREEMENT ON WITH THE COUNTY, ALL OTHER GROUPS AND.
AND BOTH OF THOSE TOGETHER SHOULD HELP WITH THE CURRENT ISSUE OF RECRUITING AND RETAINING THESE VALUABLE EMPLOYEES. FIRST, THE ECONOMIC INCREASES.
THE BOARD'S IMPLEMENTATION WOULD INCLUDE INTERNAL CONSISTENCY.
THAT'S ACTUALLY A LEGAL CRITERIA.
AND HERE THAT CONSISTENCY WOULD BE WITH EVERY OTHER BARGAINING GROUP.
IN ADDITION TO INTERNAL CONSISTENCY, EXTERNALLY, THE COUNTY SALARY SURVEY SHOWED THAT AFTER THE 6% WAGE INCREASE, EMPLOYEES IN THE BARGAINING UNIT WOULD BE ABOVE THE AVERAGE FOR THE TOP STEP OF THE SURVEYED CLASSIFICATIONS.
I ALSO MENTIONED THE 1500 FOR ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES IN THE UNIT, BUT THERE WOULD ALSO BE FOR CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS ONE AND TWO DESIGNATED IN THE SPECIAL ENFORCEMENT REACTION TEAM.
THEY'D BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL 5% PAY DIFFERENTIAL.
SO THOSE ARE THE ECONOMIC FACTORS CONSISTENT WITH THE OTHER BARGAINING GROUPS.
IMPLEMENTATION WOULD INCLUDE MANDATORY DIRECT DEPOSIT, ADDITIONAL HEALTH PLAN OPTIONS FOR EMPLOYEES AND A FEW OTHER NON ECONOMIC ITEMS THAT ARE IN THERE THAT YOUR OTHER BARGAINING GROUPS AGREED TO.
THE SECOND OVERRIDING AND CRITICAL ISSUE IS EQUITY IN OVERTIME AND YOUR POTENTIAL IMPLEMENTATION TODAY WOULD INCLUDE CONSISTENCY WITH OTHER SHERIFF'S SAFETY GROUPS, ALLOWING MANAGEMENT THE NEEDED FLEXIBILITY TO ASSIGN ALTERNATE WORK SCHEDULES, INCLUDING EIGHT, TEN AND 12 HOUR SHIFTS, WHICH IS CRITICAL FOR EFFECTIVE OPERATIONS.
AND CONSISTENT WITH THAT CHANGE WOULD BE THESE CHANGES TO THE SOP, 2 TO 5 CHANGES ARE NEEDED THERE AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT MUST MANAGE TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS OF OVERTIME.
AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM YOUR EMPLOYEES THIS AFTERNOON, FOR CORRECTIONAL STAFF IN THESE TWO CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES HOUSING UP TO 670 INMATES, 24 OVER SEVEN OPERATIONS. THE DEPARTMENT UTILIZES MANDATORY OVERTIME IF THERE'S INADEQUATE LEVEL OF STAFFING AND A LACK OF STAFFING WILLING TO TAKE ON OVERTIME.
SO THE CURRENT MOU EXPRESSLY STATES, QUOTE, OVERTIME SHALL BE ASSIGNED ON AN EQUAL BASIS, END QUOTE.
THIS HAS NOT OCCURRED, BUT THIS IS WHAT UNITS TWO AND 12 WANT TO REMAIN.
THE STATUS QUO IS THE PRACTICE AND THAT PRACTICE HAS BEEN BASED ON SENIORITY.
SO YOUR MOU SAYS OVERTIME HAS GOT TO BE ASSIGNED EQUALLY.
THE PRACTICE THAT'S HAPPENING IS THAT OVERTIME IS BASED ON SENIORITY.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S WHAT TWO AND 12 DO NOT WANT CHANGED.
HOWEVER, WHEN ADEQUATELY STAFFED AND I ADMIT WE ARE NOT CURRENTLY ADEQUATELY STAFFED AT A 29% VACANCY RATE AT 32 VACANT CORRECTIONAL OFFICER POSITIONS OUT OF THE ALLOCATED 108 WHEN WE ARE AND THAT SHOULD HOPEFULLY BE AN ANOMALY.
BUT WHEN WE ARE ADEQUATELY STAFFED, WHAT HAPPENS IS THIS SENIORITY BASED PRACTICE OF ASSIGNING OVERTIME RESULTS IN LESS SENIOR OFFICERS, SIGNIFICANTLY BEARING THE BURDEN OF WORKING OVERTIME.
THIS ALSO HAS RESULTED IN WHAT WE'VE SPOKEN WITH YOUR BOARD ABOUT BEFORE, AND THAT'S NEWER FEMALE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS BEING ASSIGNED SIGNIFICANTLY MORE OVERTIME AND QUITTING, PLACING SO MUCH OF THE UNEQUAL OVERTIME BURDEN ON THE NEWLY HIRED OFFICERS WOULD CONTINUE TO LEAD TO THE COUNTY LOSING THOSE TRAINED
[02:15:07]
OFFICERS AND FURTHER EXACERBATES EXACTLY WHAT TWO AND 12 TOLD YOU TODAY.AND THAT IS THIS ISSUE OF RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.
SO THE IMPOSITION SHOULD HELP WITH THOSE ISSUES.
THE COUNTY HAS ATTEMPTED TO REACH AGREEMENT WITH TWO AND 12 ON THE MANDATORY OVERTIME ISSUE SINCE OCTOBER 2016 AND DURING THE LAST ROUND OF BARGAINING, TWO UNITS, TWO AND 12 DID NEGOTIATE, AS MR. SHAMBAUGH ACCURATELY INDICATED.
WHAT THEY DID NOT DO IN NEGOTIATING WAS THEY PROVIDED A RESPONSE TO THE MANDATORY OVERTIME CHANGES PROPOSED BY THE COUNTY OF STATUS QUO.
THERE WAS NO ENGAGEMENT BACK AND FORTH.
TAKE IT. OR LEAVE IT AT STATUS QUO WHERE IT'S NOTHING ELSE.
THE OVERTIME PROCEDURE OUTLINED IN THE RESOLUTION BEFORE THE BOARD TODAY RESOLVES THESE ISSUES BY ADDRESSING THE NEED TO ASSIGN MANDATORY OVERTIME ON A FAIR AND EQUAL BASIS AND BALANCING THE OPERATIONAL NEEDS THAT MANAGEMENT IS DESPERATELY IN NEED OF BY ASSIGNING THAT MANDATORY OVERTIME TO EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE WORKED THE LEAST AMOUNT OF OVERTIME.
FIRST, A BASIS THAT ENSURES THE MOST SENIOR LEVEL EMPLOYEES ARE INCLUDED IN THE PROCESS AND ASSIGNED MANDATORY OVERTIME, BUT ONLY WHEN NO OTHER EMPLOYEES ARE AVAILABLE FOR ASSIGNMENT AND A BASIS THAT IS MORE FAIRLY DISTRIBUTED AMONG NEWER EMPLOYEES WHERE YOU'RE LOSING EMPLOYEES, WHICH WILL ALSO HELP THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN ARTICULATED.
SO WE ASK THAT YOUR BOARD, HAVING CONSIDERED PUBLIC COMMENT, THE PRESENTATIONS OF TWO AND 12 AND THIS PRESENTATION, AS WELL AS THE FACT FINDING REPORT THAT WILL BE CORRECTED ON JUNE 16TH, WE RECOMMEND TO YOUR BOARD TO IMPLEMENT THE COUNTY'S AUGUST 15TH LAST OFFER WITH ATTACHED REVISED SOP 2 TO 5.
AND THAT IS WHAT'S IN YOUR RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU.
AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
ALL RIGHT. I WILL ALLOW FOR A THREE MINUTE REBUTTAL.
PROBABLY. I'LL GIVE YOU A THREE MINUTE REBUTTAL.
IN IN RESPONSE TO SPECIFICALLY THE OVERTIME STUFF THAT MISS BENNETT WAS JUST OR MRS. BENNETT WAS JUST SPEAKING ON, IF THAT OVERTIME POLICY IS IMPLEMENTED, YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO MAKE HISTORY BECAUSE WE'LL BE THE ONLY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN THE STATE THAT DOESN'T FOLLOW SENIORITY FOR OVERTIME.
EVERY PATROL AGENCY, CITY, COUNTY UP AND DOWN THIS STATE USES SENIORITY AS A METHOD OF OVERTIME, AS JUST A STANDARD IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. THAT'S HOW IT IS.
WE'VE CHECKED WITH NUMEROUS AGENCIES UP AND DOWN THE STATE.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM UTILIZES SENIORITY WHEN IT COMES TO OVERTIME.
MANDATORY OVERTIME, SPECIFICALLY.
VOLUNTARY IS A DIFFERENT SUBJECT.
PEOPLE THAT WANT THE OVERTIME, SURE SIGN UP FOR IT.
BUT AS IT COMES TO MANDATORY OVERTIME, IT'S THAT'S HOW IT SHOULD BE.
AND I AND I DO UNDERSTAND THE LOWER SENIOR OFFICERS DO GET HIT WITH MORE OVERTIME.
IT'S JUST IT'S JUST KIND OF IT'S A RITE OF PASSAGE IN A WAY.
WHEN YOU'RE THE NEW GUY AND YOU'RE LOW, YOU WORK THE OVERTIME.
EVERYBODY EVERYBODY WHO STARTED IN THIS AGENCY HAS BEEN THROUGH IT.
THERE'S REALLY NO ONE'S NO ONE'S REALLY SAFE ANYMORE FROM IT.
BUT WHEN WE WHEN WE ARE ADEQUATELY STAFFED, THAT THAT SHOULD BE THE STANDARD MODEL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, MISS BENNETT.
I'LL ALLOW YOU A THREE MINUTES FOR.
CHAIR AND BOARD. I'M NOT ABLE TO FACT CHECK, MR. SHAMBAUGH, THAT EVERY OTHER AGENCY IN THE STATE UTILIZES SOLELY SENIORITY AS THE BASIS FOR ASSIGNING MANDATORY OVERTIME. I AM GOING TO DISAGREE THAT THAT'S THE CASE.
I JUST CANNOT CITE TO YOU THE OTHER AGENCIES THAT DO AND DO NOT.
HOWEVER, AS MR. SHAMBAUGH JUST SAID, IT'S WHAT HE WENT THROUGH, SORT OF A RITE OF PASSAGE.
[02:20:04]
CLEARLY, YOUR BOARD, IT'S NOT WORKING.THE INCLUDING THE NEWER, THE LEAST SENIOR WHO ARE THE MOST HEAVILY BURDENED.
SO LET'S TAKE THEN THE ARGUMENT THAT MR. SHAMBAUGH IS MAKING THAT EVERY OTHER AGENCY IS DOING THIS WAY.
I WOULD POSE TO YOU DOING IT THIS WAY.
I WOULD POSE TO YOUR BOARD THAT THAT'S NOT WORKING.
YOU NEED THE FAIR AND EQUITABLE CHANGE.
OKAY. SO THIS WILL CONCLUDE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.
MR. CHAIR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
VERY COMPELLING COMMENTS FROM BOTH SIDES.
APPRECIATE THIS TIME AND MY FIRST TIME PARTICIPATING IN IN SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
AND THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD AND SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
BUT AT THIS TIME, WITH THE BOARD AND WHERE WE ARE GOING RIGHT BACK INTO NEGOTIATIONS HERE IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS MOVING FORWARD, I WOULD LIKE TO MOTION THAT WE TAKE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
ALL RIGHT. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA SURE.
SOMETHING SOMETHING DOESN'T SIT WITH ME.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S IF I MISUNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS OR IF SOMEBODY ELSE IS, BUT IF WE VOTE TO IMPOSE, THAT IMMEDIATELY GIVES THE EMPLOYEES A 6% RAISE.
I GUESS YOU CALL IT BONUS OR PAY.
AND THEN WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE REALLY STARTING NEGOTIATIONS RIGHT BACK OVER.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT JUST I MEAN, I YOU KNOW THERE'S I DON'T KNOW NOT EVERYBODY IS IS HERE TO STATE HOW THEY WOULD VOTE AS FAR AS THE MEMBERS GO.
RIGHT. I JUST HADN'T THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS POSSIBLE.
AND AND THEN AND THEN WE'RE RIGHT BACK IN NEGOTIATIONS.
SO I DON'T SEE IT AS A LOSE LOSE.
I SEE IT AS A MAYBE A LOSE WIN OR A WIN WIN.
BUT ANYWAYS, SO WITH THAT, I WOULD SECOND SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL'S MOTION.
THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR SUPERVISOR PEDROZO, YOU HAVE A COMMENT? YES, AND I AGREE THAT VERY COMPELLING ARGUMENTS FROM BOTH SIDES.
YOU KNOW, ONE SOMETHING WAS WAS SAID AND I AGREE WITH SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND ALSO MCDANIEL AND THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN I'VE BEEN DOING NEGOTIATIONS, WHETHER IT WAS WITH THE CITY COUNCIL OR NOW HERE FOR A LONG TIME.
AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SAID WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, DON'T LOOK AT IT AS A MONETARY THING OR A BUDGET THING. DO WHAT'S BEST IN YOUR HEART TYPE THING.
AND TRUST ME, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME, A LOT OF TIME GOING OVER THIS.
I KNOW I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME JUST GOING OVER IT IN MY HEAD AND RECOGNIZING THE FACT THAT YOU'RE CORRECT AND IN THE SENSE THAT WE ARE LOSING PEOPLE.
IT'S A DIFFICULT JOB, BUT THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH OF THE PIE TO GO AROUND.
AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR ARGUMENT IS.
BUT WE DON'T WE REALLY DON'T HAVE AN ENDLESS SUPPLY OF FUNDS.
I WISH WE COULD PAY EVERYBODY A LOT MORE, BUT WE JUST CAN'T.
AND THAT'S JUST THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION.
AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT AND I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR OPENING PART.
I DON'T TAKE OFFENSE TO THAT AT ALL.
ANYTHING YOU SAID, I THINK YOU HAD A GOOD ARGUMENT.
SO I'M NOT OFFENDED BECAUSE IT'S PASSIONATE.
RIGHT. YOU'RE VERY PASSIONATE, JUST LIKE WE ARE UP HERE AS WELL.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THE THING IS, WE HAVE TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT BY MERCED COUNTY.
AND SO I THINK THAT AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE THIS OFFER ON THE TABLE.
[02:25:09]
WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK TO NEGOTIATE AND HOPEFULLY SOMETHING COMES OUT OF IT IN THE NEXT GO ROUND.BUT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO SUPPORT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA WELL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND, YOU KNOW, DOING YOUR ARGUMENTS.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I UNDERSTAND YOUR YOUR POSITION.
YOUR JOB IS VERY HARD DEALING WITH EMOTIONS, PEOPLE'S ISSUES IN THERE ALL THE TIME.
AND LIKE I SAID, JUST LIKE WITH THE PUBLIC, WE KNOW WE HAVE TO WEIGH OUR CONSTITUENTS, YOU KNOW, THE REGULAR RESIDENTS, AND THEN YOUR JOB AS AN EMPLOYEE AS WELL, TOO.
SO, YOU KNOW, I, I SAY, BUT SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO MAKE HARD DECISIONS.
WE ELECTED TO BE HERE AND WE GET ELECTED BY THE COMMUNITY.
SO LIKE I SAID, I'M ALWAYS WITH YOU.
THANK YOU. JUST ONE CLARIFYING QUESTION.
I KNOW WHEN WE DID THE COVID INCENTIVE PAY, THERE WAS SPECIFIC DATES THAT WERE ATTACHED TO IT.
BUT IF THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT CAME IN A YEAR AGO, WOULD THEY STILL BE ENTITLED TO THE TOTAL 1500? I'M GOING TO NEED SOME CLARIFICATION ON THAT.
SO LONG AS THEY WORKED WITHIN THE CERTAIN TIMEFRAMES.
THE ANCHOR IS THAT THEY WERE HERE DURING THOSE TIME FRAMES RELATIVE TO COVID.
SO, YES. OKAY. SO JUST I GUESS IN MY OWN MIND, IT'S THAT IF SOMEBODY STARTED A YEAR AGO, THEY DIDN'T WORK THE WHOLE TIMEFRAME SO THEY WOULDN'T GET THE FULL 1500, CORRECT? CORRECT, VERY GOOD.
I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT I DO.
I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO BE RIGHT BACK AT THIS.
I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH ONE OF YOU MADE THE OFFER TO COME AND COME BE ON.
RIGHT. THE BAD GUYS AND GALS THAT ARE IN JAIL ARE THE ONES THAT GET TO SEE YOU.
WE WE DON'T SEE YOU GUYS OUT ON THE STREET.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT BY ME SUPPORTING STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION TODAY, ANY DOES IT IN ANY WAY MAKE ME THINK ANY LESS OF WHAT YOU GUYS DO? AND WE'RE VERY WELL AWARE OF ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU'RE FACING.
IT'S IT'S I MEAN, WE GO TO CSAC OR CRC, WHICH OUR STATE ASSOCIATION AND COUNTY EVENTS AND AND WE'RE HEARING, YOU KNOW, I WAS IT'S WE'RE ALL KIND OF EVERYBODY'S JUST UP IN THE GAME UP IN THE GAME AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THAT BALANCE OF HOW DO WE STILL COMPETE.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'LL SHARE WITH YOU GUYS A NUMBER.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED IN THIS JOB, THE FIRST BUDGET THAT I GOT TO ACTUALLY VOTE ON WAS $684 MILLION.
AND OF THAT $684 MILLION, 99 MILLION OF IT WAS LOCAL REVENUES.
SO WHAT DO WE MEAN BY LOCAL REVENUES? THAT'S THAT'S THE LOCAL SHARE OF REVENUE THAT THAT THIS BOARD ACTUALLY HAS COMPLETE DISCRETION OVER HOW THEY SPEND.
RIGHT. FAST FORWARD, I DON'T THINK I'M GIVING ANYTHING AWAY.
BUT OUR LOCAL SHARE OF REVENUES IN THAT SAME AMOUNT OF TIME HAS ONLY GROWN BY 24 MILLION.
24 MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY, DON'T GET ME WRONG.
BUT YOU SEE, SO WE HAVE THIS WHOLE BIG BALANCING ACT AND JUGGLING, BUT IT'S NOT LOST ON US.
THE PRESSURES THAT WE'RE FEELING FROM OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES WHO ARE UPPING THEIR GAME.
AND MY COMMITMENT IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE IN THE FIGHT.
WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU GUYS DO.
I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY.
IT'S TOUGH WHEN YOU HAVE TO MAKE THESE THESE FINANCIAL DECISIONS.
AND AND I HOPE LIKE I AGREE WITH SUPERVISOR PAREIRA CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT TO CALL IT.
I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS A COMPLETE LOSE LOSE FOR EVERYBODY.
SO, I MEAN, SO AGAIN, APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO.
[02:30:10]
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NO. NO. OKAY.
SO THE MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1 WITH SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA VOTING IN THE.
OKAY. WE'LL NOW REASSESS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING AND CONVENE AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AS THE COUNTY OF MERCED GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY, CHOWCHILLA BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AS THE COUNTY OF MERCED GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY.
WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO SPEAK ON NON AGENDA ITEMS? IT IS NOW TIME FOR PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST WITHIN THE BOARD'S JURISDICTION, EXCLUDING ITEMS ON THE BOARD'S AGENDA, TESTIMONY LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON AND 30 MINUTES TOTAL.
OKAY. AGAIN, PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
NOT SEE ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON NON AGENDA ITEMS. WE HAVE ONE ITEM ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS A SCHEDULED ITEM, A PUBLIC HEARING AS SUBMITTED BY THE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENTS TO THE CHOWCHILLA SUB-BASIN GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY PLAN.
GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY PLANS ARE REQUIRED BY THE SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT ACT AND ALL HIGH AND MEDIUM PRIORITY GROUNDWATER BASINS WITHIN CALIFORNIA, AND THEY OUTLINE HOW THE BASINS WOULD BECOME SUSTAINABLE OVER A 20 YEAR TIME PERIOD.
THE CHOWCHILLA SUB-BASIN FIRST SUBMITTED A GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY PLAN OR GSP IN JANUARY 2020 TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES. IN JANUARY OF 2022, DWR NOTIFIED THE CHOWCHILLA GSAHS THAT THE GSP WAS INCOMPLETE AND IDENTIFIED DEFICIENCIES THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED.
OVER THE NEXT 180 DAYS, THE FOR GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCIES IN THE CHOWCHILLA SUB BASIN, WHICH INCLUDE THE CHOWCHILLA WATER DISTRICT, GSA, THE TRIANGLE TE WATER DISTRICT, GSA, MADERA COUNTY, CHOWCHILLA, GSA AND MERCED COUNTY, CHOWCHILLA GSA WORKED TO AMEND AND ADOPT A REVISED GSP, ADDRESSING THE DEFICIENCIES AND SUBMITTED THAT AMENDED GSP IN JULY OF 2022.
UNFORTUNATELY, IN MERCED OF THIS I'M SORRY, IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, DWR PROVIDED A FINAL NOTIFICATION TO THE CHOWCHILLA GSA'S THAT THE AMENDED GSP SUBMITTED IN THE PRIOR YEAR WAS INADEQUATE AND SHIFTED THE GSP TO THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD FOR ENFORCEMENT OF SIGMA AND STATE INTERVENTION.
THE CHOWCHILLA GSA'S HAVE ACTED QUICKLY, CONVENING A MEETING OF THE CHOWCHILLA GSP ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN MARCH AND RECEIVING DIRECTION TO WORK WITH DWR AND WATER BOARD STAFF TO RESPOND TO THE DEFICIENCIES IMMEDIATELY, THUS NEGATING THE NEED FOR A STATE WATER BOARD PROBATIONARY HEARING.
AFTER REVIEWING APPROACHES THAT APPROVED GSP TOOK TO THESE SUSTAINABILITY INDICATORS, THE CHOWCHILLA GSA MOVED FORWARD WITH UPDATING THE GROUNDWATER LEVELS AND SUBSIDENCE SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT CRITERIA TO MATCH THE APPROACH THAT THE MERCED SUBBASIN, GSP AND NEIGHBORING APPROVED GSP TOOK.
THE CHOWCHILLA GSP ADVISORY COMMITTEE MET ON JUNE 5TH AND REVIEWED THESE SUGGESTED MODIFICATIONS TO THE GSP, AND THEY UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED EACH OF THE CHOWCHILLA GSA'S ADOPT THE AMENDED GSP TO RESUBMIT TO THE STATE WATER RESOURCES WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD.
AT THIS TIME, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THE BOARD OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT, CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION APPROVING THE REVISED CHOWCHILLA GSP.
AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MRS. MCBRIDE? I DON'T SEE ANY AT THE DAIS.
WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT AT 1254.
[02:35:08]
ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC? NOT SEEING ONE.WHERE ARE WE? LET'S GO TO SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
WE HAVE A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA.
ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
OKAY. WE'LL NOW ADJOURN THE MEETING AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AS THE COUNTY OF MERCED GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY CHOWCHILLA AND RECONVENE AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
IT IS NOW TIME FOR BOARD REPORTS.
ALL RIGHT. AND WE WILL START TODAY WITH SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA.
[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION]
HOLD ON. LET ME SWITCH INTO DISCUSSION.GO AHEAD, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. WELL, I'VE JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID IN THE PAST, I'VE GOTTEN COMPLAINTS ABOUT LIGHTING AND LANDSCAPING FEES THAT WE HAVE AROUND THE COUNTY, AND PEOPLE JUST REQUEST THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE CHARGE LED LIGHTING AND LANDSCAPING FEES, THAT THEY SHOULD BE USED ON THE LANDSCAPING, BECAUSE A LOT OF THE COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTY ARE NOT BEING UPKEPT JUST LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO.
SO THEY SHOULD BE HOPEFULLY USED.
SO WE'RE MID WHEREVER THEY'RE AT.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO SAUL RIVAS AND HER NONPROFIT.
SO I'VE ASKED HER TO COME IN OR, YOU KNOW, WE CAN I CAN GO DELIVER THOSE.
I ALSO WANT TO STATE THAT I DID A TOUR OF THE COLORADO RIVER ON JUNE 2ND THROUGH THE FOURTH.
IT WAS A GREAT WATER AND EXPERIENCE.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD A COHORT OF ABOUT 18 ELECTEDS FROM AROUND THE STATE THAT TOOK US FROM, YOU KNOW, FLEW FROM FRESNO TO LAS VEGAS.
AND WE GOT TO SEE THE THE THE DAM HOOVER DAM OUT THERE.
WE EVENTUALLY WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM.
AND THEY NOW I DON'T THINK THEY GIVE TOO MANY TOURS INSIDE THE THE DAM AND WE'RE ABLE TO GO DOWN THE RESERVOIR AND AND LOOK AT THE ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND EVERYTHING.
AND I KNOW THEY WAS BUILT AROUND IN THE 30S.
SO AND THEN HALF OF THE RESERVOIR IS LOCATED HALF IN ARIZONA AND HAVE ON THE NEVADA SIDE.
AND SO IT WAS JUST GOOD TO HEAR ALL THE HISTORY WITH THAT.
AND AFTER THE TOUR WE ENDED UP GOING TO DOWN THE COLORADO RIVER.
WE WENT, YOU KNOW, THE ROAD ALL THE WAY TO ABOUT FOUR HOURS TO HAVASU LAKE.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS ABOUT 26 MILE, YOU KNOW, ROAD YOU KNOW, RIVER AND WITH ALONG WITH THE WITH THE LAKE. AND EVENTUALLY FROM THERE THEY START PUMPING INTO THE MOUNTAINS AND THEY GO 250 MILES WITH TUNNELS AND CANALS THROUGH THE MOJAVE DESERT ALL THE WAY TO LA.
SO THEY PUMP ALL THAT WATER ALL THE WAY TO.
SO THEY SHOWED US, YOU KNOW, PRETTY AMAZING WORK AND ALL THE CAMPS.
AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THIS WAS PAID BY THE METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
SO THEY HAVE A $2.5 BILLION BUDGET, ANNUAL BUDGET.
IT'S A NON PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
SO I GUESS ALONG WITH THAT, THEY HELP TO PAY FOR, UH, HOOVER DAM AND ALSO, UM, THE CALIFORNIA AQUEDUCT THAT THEY, I THINK THEY TAKE, I THINK I HEARD 1.9 MILLION ACRE FEET A YEAR AND THEY'RE TAKING THAT RIGHT NOW.
SO I GUESS THEY CAN RESERVE THE WATER ON ON HOOVER DAM AND THE RESERVOIR, LAKE MEAD.
SO BUT I KNOW THAT FOR YEARS IT'S BEEN DEPLETED.
AND SO AND I KNOW THAT THE COLORADO RIVER TAKES THE COLORADO RIVER.
[02:40:02]
YOU KNOW, IT DEALS WITH SEVEN STATES AND ALSO PART OF MEXICO DOWN TO THE GOES DOWN TO BAJA CALIFORNIA.SO IT WAS A GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCE.
AND, YOU KNOW, AND AND FRIENDSHIP WITH ALL THAT.
SO, UM, ALSO TO GO ON TO FELIX TALKS AGAIN I WILL SAY THAT I WAS INVOLVED IN THE MEETING LAST FRIDAY WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND ACTUALLY CATHOLIC CHARITIES AND HSA.
SO THEY, THEY'RE ALL GREAT AND THEY WANTED ME THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY, THOSE LAST THREE RESIDENTS OR THREE FAMILIES THAT WERE THERE, UM, THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY WANT ME TO LISTEN JUST IN CASE, YOU KNOW, I GOT THE CALLS.
I HAD GOTTEN THE CALLS ALREADY ANYWAY.
SO BUT I KNOW THAT THEY WERE TRYING AS MUCH AS THEY CAN, BUT I KNOW THE RESIDENTS.
I KNOW IT'S HARD FOR THEM TO AFTER FIVE MONTHS TO TO LEAVE.
BUT EVENTUALLY MOST OF THEM LEFT AND THEN THEY'RE DEALING WITH THE LAST ONE LIKE LIKE IT WAS STATED.
SO THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL MY COMMENTS.
THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
AND I KNOW THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY OUR FAIR, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING UP TO ME WHO ARE UNDER THE THEY THINK THAT IT IS OUR THAT WE CONTROL THAT FAIR. AND IT'S NOT IT'S A STATE FAIR.
THE MERCED COUNTY FAIR IS THE ONE IN LOS BANOS.
AND SO I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF CONTROL, BUT I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE COMMUNICATION.
AND THEN WHEN PEOPLE WERE COMING TO ME AND I HAD TO EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT WE DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT EXCEPT FOR, YOU KNOW, WE PROVIDE SECURITY THROUGH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT IT WAS REALLY COOL TO SEE.
FIRST OF ALL, IT'S ALWAYS COOL TO SEE THE KIDS WHO'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH THEIR ANIMALS AND GETTING THEM READY AND THEN GOING OUT AND SHOWING AND REALLY IT'S A BUSINESS FOR THEM, BUT THEY REALLY ENJOY DOING WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
BUT ALSO IT WAS AWESOME TO SEE ALL OF THE JUST DIFFERENT COUNTY DEPARTMENTS THAT WERE OUT THERE.
I MEAN, IT WAS IT WAS REALLY I COULDN'T GET AROUND TO EVERYBODY BECAUSE AFTER YOU'VE BEEN THERE FOR LIKE SIX STRAIGHT DAYS, IT GETS A LITTLE A LITTLE TEDIOUS.
UM, THIS SATURDAY THERE WAS THE CELEBRATION OF FATHERHOOD THAT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND.
I TOOK MY DAUGHTER, AND IT WAS.
IT WAS A LOT OF FUN, YOU KNOW, THE ZOO WAS OPEN, KENNY LAND WAS OPEN.
THERE WAS A BUNCH OF BOOTHS THERE, WHICH WAS REALLY COOL.
AND THEN ALSO WE HAVE I WENT UP TO THE MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY.
I KNOW WE HAVEN'T MET SINCE THEN, BUT I WENT OUT THERE AND IT'S ALWAYS A VERY SOMBER EXPERIENCE.
AND THEN FINALLY, FOREST REMINDED ALL OF US REMINDED ME THIS MORNING, WELL, HE KIND OF ASKED.
HE GOES, HEY, WE'RE ALL FATHERS UP HERE, RIGHT? AND I SAID, I'M PRETTY SURE FOREST, BUT BUT I WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY A HAPPY FATHER'S DAY.
THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
I ALSO ATTENDED A MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE THAT WAS OUT AT THE HILLS FERRY CEMETERY IN GUSTINE.
AND I'LL TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, IT WAS IT WAS KIND OF INTERESTING.
THERE WAS QUITE A FEW YOUNG KIDS THERE, YOU KNOW, 18 DOWN TO PROBABLY 5 OR 6.
AND, YOU KNOW, JUST KIND OF MADE MY HEART SWELL A LITTLE TO SEE PARENTS BRINGING THEIR CHILDREN OUT.
THE VFW, THE AMERICAN LEGION AND THE AUXILIARY FROM AUGUSTINE KIND OF OFFICIATE THE CEREMONY.
AND YOU TALK ABOUT THREE GROUPS GETTING ALONG WELL TOGETHER.
YOU KNOW, I HAVE NO IDEA WHICH ONE OF THEM LEASES THE HALL, RIGHT.
SO HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, SOME FOLKS THAT ARE STRUGGLING WILL WILL TAKE THAT AS AN EXAMPLE.
ATTENDED THE MERCED COLLEGE FOUNDATION LUNCHEON WHERE THE CAO FAMILY HONORED THEIR MOM WITH A PIECE OF ARTWORK, WHICH IS A REPLICATION OF A TREE FROM AFRICA.
AND WHEN I WAS FIRST LOOKING AT IT, IT LOOKED A LITTLE SILLY.
[02:45:09]
EVERY PIECE OF METAL WAS HAND BENT.SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FAMILY.
I WANT TO THANK STAFF AGAIN FOR OUR TOWN HALL ON ON MAY 31ST.
APPRECIATE ALL THE TIME AND ENERGY THAT OUR CEO'S OFFICE AND AND OUR DEPARTMENTS PUT INTO HELPING US ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS. I ATTENDED THE LAST WEEK, ATTENDED THE SHELBY SCHOOLS 50TH ANNIVERSARY.
NOT EVERYBODY'S PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH THE SHELBY SCHOOL, BUT IT'S AN MR OPERATED SCHOOL FOR, WELL, I SAY CHILDREN, BUT I BELIEVE I BELIEVE THEY HAVE STUDENTS THAT ARE UP TO 22 YEARS OLD THAT ARE HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS.
AND AND SO IT'S KIND OF A NEAT PROGRAM.
AND IRONICALLY, NOT IRONICALLY, INCIDENTALLY, MY DAD WAS ON ONE OF THE ADVISORY BOARDS TO THAT SCHOOL BACK IN THE LATE 80S AND AND THOMAS C WILLIAMS MANY OF YOU KNOW THOMAS C WILLIAMS CONSTRUCTION YOU KNOW IT TODAY BUT HIS DAD AND MY DAD WERE GREAT FRIENDS AND SERVED THERE TOGETHER.
SO IT WAS KIND OF NEAT TO WALK AROUND AND LOOK AT SOME OF THE STUFF FROM DAYS GONE BY.
I'D LIKE TO WISH EVERYBODY A HAPPY FATHER'S DAY.
I'M TRYING TO TRAVEL TO OKLAHOMA ON FATHER'S DAY TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH MY DAUGHTER.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. PAREIRA SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
I, TOO, ATTENDED THE ANNUAL STATE OF THE COLLEGE ADDRESS.
THAT WAS IT WAS ACTUALLY A REALLY GOOD EVENT.
IT WAS. I THINK EVERY BOARD MEMBER UP HERE WAS UP THERE AND APPRECIATED THAT.
UM, AND I ALSO ATTENDED THE ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDERS EVENT AT THE FIRST CHURCH OF GOD.
SUPERVISOR RODRIGO ESPINOSA AND MYSELF DID THAT AND THEY ASKED US TO ATTEND.
AND THEN WE ENDED UP BEING PULLED UP ON STAGE AND HAD TO SPEAK AND THEN ANSWER QUESTIONS.
ALSO, I JUST WANTED TO TOUCH BASE ON THAT.
ON THE INCLEMENT WEATHER EVENT, THE R HOTWASH MEETING, I KIND OF SAW THAT IT WAS ON MY SCHEDULE FOR TWO HOURS AND I WAS THINKING, OH MY GOODNESS. BUT I WENT AHEAD AND MADE SURE I WAS HERE AND ATTENDED IT.
AND IT WAS VERY IT WAS AMAZING HOW MUCH INFORMATION WE DID COME UP WITH IN TWO HOURS.
AND IT WAS IT WAS VERY REFRESHING OF HOW EVERYBODY WAS ALREADY TAKING NOTES AND HOW WHEN THE FIRST EVENT HIT, HOW IT WAS VERY CHALLENGING, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE IT.
AND THEN WHEN THE SECOND EVENT HIT, HOW WE WERE ALREADY ON PAGE AND AND WORKING FORWARD TO THAT.
SO I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR THAT.
I MEAN, IT WAS A FULL ROOM HERE IN THE BOARD CHAMBERS AND IT WAS VERY, VERY GOOD EVENT.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S BEEN SO LONG SINCE OUR LAST MEETING.
I DID ATTEND THE TOUR OF LAKE YOSEMITE.
AND YEAH, VERY, VERY INTERESTING IN MOVING FORWARD AND WHAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE ON OUT THERE.
I KNOW I HAVE TALKED TO SOME BOARD MEMBERS FROM MID AND I KNOW THAT THEY'VE INVITED MAYBE OUR STAFF OR SOMEBODY TO ATTEND THEIR MEETING TO MAYBE HELP THEIR BOARD WITH A DISCUSSION ON MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT.
THEY WERE VERY UNAWARE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT THE COUNTY HAD.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT AND VERY INTERESTED IN WHAT OUR CHALLENGES ARE.
ALSO, I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY, AS YOU SEE, WE'RE WEARING OUR BOW TIES.
LAMAR HENDERSON ALWAYS WEARING A BOW TIE AND WE HAVE LIGHTS FOLLOW UP.
AND IT'S REALLY IT MIGHT WE MIGHT JUST SAY IT AS A CLICHE, BUT IT'S ON OUR SHOULDERS.
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO EVERYBODY.
AND TODAY I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF MR. ANTHONY CAMP.
HE'S A LONGTIME ATWATER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYEE WHO PASSED AWAY LAST WEEK OF CANCER.
THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL COUNTY COUNCIL.
ANYTHING? CEO? MENDEZ YES, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. JUST VERY BRIEFLY, JUST WANTED TO AGAIN APPRECIATE THE BOARD AND THE STAFF FOR THEIR GOOD WORK.
[02:50:04]
IT'S BEEN A BUSY MONTH ALREADY, AS THE CHAIR INDICATED AT THEIR NEXT MEETING THAT WILL BE CONSIDERING THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 2324.I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S ALREADY THAT TIME, BUT CERTAINLY WHETHER IT'S TOWN HALLS, WHETHER IT'S PRESENTATIONS BEFORE THIS BOARD, LIKE WHAT YOU SAW TODAY FROM OUR TEAM THAT'S BEEN WORKING ON THE FLOOD RESPONSE AND RECOVERY, JUST A REAL PROFESSIONAL STAFF THAT'S HERE IN THE ORGANIZATION.
MARK HENDRICKSON, OUR ASSISTANT CEO, VANESSA ANDERSON, SOME OF DIDN'T YOU KNOW, OUR ORGANIZATION DIDN'T SKIP A BEAT AND THEY KIND OF HELD DOWN THE FORT WHILE WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF GET AWAY FOR A LITTLE BIT.
BUT NOW WE'RE READY TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AGAIN IN ADVANCE OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
THANK YOU, MR. MENDEZ. EVERYBODY KIND OF STOLE THE THUNDER.
SO I'M GOING TO START OFF FIRST BY SAYING HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO EVERYBODY.
ONE IS ALSO NEXT DAY, SEND A CONGRATULATIONS TO MY DAUGHTER.
SHE GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL AND SHE'LL BE OFF TO ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY SOMETIME HERE IN THE NEXT.
I HAVEN'T I HAVEN'T PINNED DOWN THE EXACT DATE WE'RE LEAVING YET, BUT THAT'S COMING UP.
AND SO BIG, BIG LIFE CHANGE FOR US.
I TOO ATTENDED TWO MEMORIAL DAY SERVICES, ONE IN LOS BANOS AND DOS PALOS.
AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I GOT TO AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT FOUR.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE AMERICAN LEGION, THE VFW AND THE AUXILIARY AND LOS BANOS, THEY'RE SEAMLESS.
YOU WOULDN'T YOU WOULDN'T KNOW ONE FROM THE OTHER.
THE ONE IN DOS PALOS, THE AMERICAN LEGION DOES.
I DON'T BELIEVE THEY HAVE A VFW IN DOS PALOS.
THEY HAVE THE AMERICAN LEGION THERE.
BUT GOOD GUYS AND I KNOW THAT THEY WORK WITH EACH OTHER, SOMETIMES HELPING EACH OTHER OUT.
LAKE YOSEMITE, YOU KNOW, WE WENT OUT THERE AND TOOK A TOUR OF IT.
AND I WILL TELL YOU, IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE BEEN TO LAKE YOSEMITE.
I THINK THE LAST TIME I WAS THERE WAS FOR A CITY COUNTY DINNER OR SOMETHING A WHILE BACK.
I DON'T REMEMBER WHO HOSTED IT AND REALLY TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO WALK THROUGH THE WHOLE FACILITY.
IT IS. IT IS. IT'S A JEWEL THAT WE HAVE THERE.
I MEAN, IT'S LAKE YOSEMITE IS NOT IN MY DISTRICT.
IT'S IT'S IN SUPERVISOR PAREIRA DISTRICT.
AND I WANT TO ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, LOOK TO HIS DIRECTION ON WHAT HE WANTS TO DO WITH IT.
BUT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE OUT THERE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S WE'RE THINKING REAL SMALL OUT THERE WHEN WE NEED TO BE THINKING A LOT BIGGER.
THEY'RE PART OF, YOU KNOW, AS A COMMUNITY, YOU HAVE THESE FACILITIES AND YOU WANT THEM TO GET USED.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT THING IS IT'S A $300,000 A YEAR, GIVE OR TAKE.
BUT IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR SOME OF THESE PARKS GRANTS, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SHOW DEMONSTRATE THAT YOU HAVE 25 OR 30 YEARS WORTH OF YOU'RE GOING TO RUN IT FOR THE NEXT 25 OR 30 YEARS.
AND AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN, YOU KNOW, I'D BE WILLING TO SAY THEN YOU GUYS CAN TAKE IT OVER.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU REALLY LOOK AND DIG IN THERE, IT'S AN AGING FACILITY.
RIGHT. AND SOME OF THESE ARE PRETTY BIG, MASSIVE PROJECTS.
IF YOU WANT TO BE A PARTNER WITH US, THEN ABSOLUTELY.
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE A GOOD PARTNER WITH US, THEN YOU CAN BE A PARTNER BY YOURSELF.
AND I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR THAT.
AGAIN, WE'LL ALWAYS LOOK TO MY COLLEAGUE THAT IT'S IN HIS DISTRICT TO GET HIS GUIDANCE ON IT.
[02:55:03]
BUT THAT'S JUST KIND OF MY PERSPECTIVE ON IT.AND IT'S QUITE LARGE WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL THE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES, RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE AND YOU WANT TO SEE IT BE SUCCESSFUL, BUT AGAIN, NEED WILLING PARTNERS ON THAT.
SO I WANT TO THANK CEO MENDEZ.
I THINK THAT HE'S GROWING INTO THIS ROLE.
AND AFTER HAVING GONE THROUGH OUR EVALUATION THIS MORNING, I THINK THAT WE ALL CAN AGREE THAT HE'S DOING HE'S DOING HE'S DOING A GOOD JOB, AND WE ALL GOT THINGS THAT WE CAN BE BETTER AT. AND I, AS A SUPERVISOR KNOW THAT THERE'S THINGS THAT I NEED TO BE BETTER AT.
SO APPRECIATE YOU AND THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT FOR MERCED COUNTY.
SO WITH THAT, WE'LL ADJOURN THIS MEETING.
IT'S GOING TO BE ON THE 27TH OF JUNE AND IT WILL BE A GOOD ONE.
THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT A ONE OVER $1.1 BILLION BUDGET FOR MERCED COUNTY COUNTY.
SO WITH THE BILLION WITH A B, 1 BILLION, 135 MILLION, THAT'S A LOT.
THAT'S A LOT OF A LOT OF C NOTES.
RIGHT THERE. YEAH, A LOT OF SCROLL.
ALL RIGHT. MEETING ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.