[00:00:01]
[Call to Order]
THIS MORNING WE HAD A CLOSED SESSION MEETING DIRECTION TO INITIATE LITIGATION FOR ONE CASE HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE COUNTY COUNSEL AND THE CEO BY UNANIMOUS VOTE, THE DEFENDANTS AND THE OTHER PARTICULARS SHALL BE DISCLOSED ONCE THE ACTION IS FORMALLY COMMENCED.AND THEN SUPERVISOR PEDROZO WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
BY THE WAY, WE ARE SHRINE OF SAINT JUDE THADDEUS NOW WE'VE BEEN ELEVATED, SO IT'S KIND OF COOL.
ONE TRUE GOD, WE STAND BEFORE YOU ASKING YOUR BLESSING UPON THESE MEETING CHAMBERS.
COME AND REMAIN HERE ENLIGHTEN OUR HEARTS, GIVE US STRENGTH AND WISDOM TO KNOW YOUR WILL THAT WE MIGHT LIVE OUR LIVES JUSTLY . GUIDE THE DECISIONS THAT WILL BE MADE HERE, ENABLE US TO UPHOLD THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS.
DO NOT LET ANYONE BE MISLED BY IGNORANCE OR CORRUPTED BY FEAR OR FAVOR.
MAY YOUR FAITHFUL SERVANTS WHO LEAD THIS COMMUNITY BE UNITED AS THEY WORK FOR THE COMMON GOOD.
WE ALSO ASK YOUR BLESSING UPON YOUR PEOPLE THAT WE MAY ALWAYS LIVE IN PEACE AND HARMONY AS WE WALK TOGETHER IN THIS PILGRIMAGE WE CALL LIFE.
AMEN. PLEASE REMAIN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU MONSIGNOR FONSECA AND SUPERVISOR PEDROZO NON AGENDA ITEMS PUBLIC COMMENT.
[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK]
IT'S 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 IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON AND 30 MINUTES TOTAL.
ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT AGAIN.
THIS IS FOR NON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY.
IT'S THREE MINUTES PER PERSON AND A TOTAL OF 30 MINUTES.
FOLKS WHO COULDN'T MAKE IT TODAY BUT WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KEEP US IN MIND.
UH, AGAIN, IHSS PROVIDERS, THEY'RE BRINGING OUT SO MUCH, YOU KNOW, TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE CAME OUT HERE TO REMIND YOU WE'RE HERE.
SO WE WILL BE REACHING OUT TO YOU THIS WEEK.
WE WANTED TO COME OUT HERE TO REMIND YOU THAT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT, SIR.
GOOD MORNING. BOARD CHAIR SILVEIRA.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CEO MENDEZ AND COUNTY COUNSEL HANSON KALISA ROCHESTER CHIEF PROBATION OFFICER.
THE COFFEE CART WILL NORMALLY BE LOCATED AT 350 WEST YOSEMITE AVENUE.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DAYS IN JULY, JULY 18TH, THEY WILL BE LOCATED AT WARDROBE AVENUE.
JULY I'M SORRY, JULY 11TH, THEY WILL BE AT WARDROBE AVENUE, JULY 18TH.
THEY WILL BE AT THE MCO COMPLEX.
JULY 25TH, THEY'LL BE AT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES.
AND THIS PROGRAM IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH MCOE.
AND ALSO THERE ARE SOME OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT I WANT TO THANK FOR THE PARTNERSHIP, AND THAT IS MERCO CREDIT UNION, WHO CLOSED THEIR DOORS AND ALLOWED OUR KIDS TO COME IN AND OPEN THEIR VERY FIRST CHECKING ACCOUNT, SORRY, SAVINGS ACCOUNT, AND ALSO DWI FOR HELPING NOT ONLY TO BE THE FIDUCIARY BUT TO ALLOW THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE JOBS PROGRAM.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
GOOD MORNING, BOARD OF COUNTY SUPERVISORS.
BEFORE I SPEAK, I HAVE A HANDOUT I'D LIKE TO HAND OUT TO EACH BOARD.
[00:05:01]
IS THAT OKAY IF I APPROACH? JUST PUT IT IN THE.I'M THE MERCED COUNTY HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
AND I'M JUST GOING TO READ MY LITTLE STATEMENT THAT I'VE PREPARED TODAY.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS REQUEST IS A REQUEST FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR DISCRETIONARY FUNDS.
THIS REQUEST IS TO EDUCATE OUR SMALL POTENTIAL SPANISH SPEAKING ENTREPRENEURS THE INFORMATION NEEDED TO OBTAIN PUBLIC HEALTH PERMITS ANNUALLY TO DO FOOD VENDING. THIS OPPORTUNITY WOULD REDUCE LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSES TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BEING REPORTED BY THE PUBLIC, WHO ARE BEING ACCUSED OF VENDING ILLEGALLY. WITH GUIDANCE GIVEN BY US AND THE STREET, VENDORS WILL HAVE ALL NECESSARY RESOURCES TO SUCCESSFULLY OBTAIN THE HEALTH PERMITS. THE CHAMBER, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE COUNTY CAN COMMIT TO HOSTING A BI MONTHLY WORKSHOP FOR OUR TARGETED POTENTIAL VENDOR VENDORS COUNTYWIDE.
IF GRANTED, THIS WILL ALSO BOOST MERCED COUNTY ECONOMICALLY.
IN ADDITION, THE COUNTY CAN BE REASSURED THAT THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MERCED COUNTY HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WILL ENSURE EDUCATION AND SAFETY MEASURES AND THE IMPORTANCE OF FOLLOWING GUIDELINES AND PROTOCOLS SET ASIDE BY PUBLIC HEALTH.
MANY SPANISH SPEAKING VENDORS HAVE EXPRESSED HESITATION OF SEEKING HELP FROM LOCAL AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, MAINLY DUE TO THEIR LANGUAGE BARRIER AND CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF GOVERNMENTAL POLICY AND PROCEDURES.
THE ASK, OF COURSE, IS FOR $10,000 FOR THE FOR STARTING AUGUST 1ST AND CONCLUDING JULY OF 2024.
I HAVE DETAILED THE BUDGET AND ONE OTHER ITEM, ACTUALLY TWO OTHER ITEMS. THE MERCADO'S BEING HOSTED ON JULY 6TH, DOWNTOWN MERCED.
SO I'M INVITING THE PUBLIC TO COME DOWN.
AND IN CLOSING, I'D LIKE TO ASK HOW WE CAN PLACE ON YOUR AGENDA IN THE FUTURE TO DISCUSS AB 626 AND THE MICROENTERPRISE HOME KITCHEN OPERATIONS THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED AND APPROVED BACK IN.
HOW IS IT THEY ARE SO EMBOLDENED TO SHAME, BLAME AND DISRESPECT ALL OF YOU, DESPITE ALL THE SUPPORT YOU HAVE GIVEN THEM, YOU HAVE GIVEN THEM THE POWER TO CLAIM THE VETERANS MEMORIAL BUILDING, EVEN IF YOU ALL SAY THE BUILDING BELONGS TO THE COUNTY.
THEY WANT YOU TO FIX THE BUILDING WHILE THEY CLAIM OWNERSHIP.
THE AMERICAN LEGION CLEARLY STATED IT WAS THEIR BUILDING.
LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THIS SITUATION AND MEMBERS OF POST 83.
HOW DID THIS LOOK TO THE REST OF THE VETERANS YOU CLAIM TO SUPPORT? THE AMERICAN LEGION PUBLICLY EXPRESSES THEIR DISDAIN OF ANOTHER, MIND YOU ACTUAL WAR VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS, AND YET YOU DO NOTHING.
THE AMERICAN LEGION ABUSES THE DISTINCTION OF THE MEANING OF VETERAN WHEN THEY PLACED A MEMBER OF THEIR ORGANIZATION WHO AFTER ONE DAY OF SERVICE WAS DISCHARGED FROM THE MILITARY AND NOW CONTROLS THE BUILDING.
THEY RECRUIT FAMILY MEMBERS AND PUT NON VETERANS IN CHARGE OF A VETERAN MEMORIAL BUILDING, WHICH IS A DISHONOR AND DISRESPECTFUL TO ALL MEMBERS WHO ONCE FILLED THAT BUILDING. HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE BULLIED IN LARGE NUMBERS.
IF THEY ARE ALSO EMBOLDENED TO COME UP AND SAY THESE THINGS TO YOU IN PUBLIC MEETING EXERTING THEIR PRIVILEGE AS THE OWNERS OF THE BUILDING, CALLING YOU NAMES AND STATING THAT THEY WILL NOT SIGN THE AGREEMENT THAT YOU PRESENTED.
[00:10:02]
FOR OVER TEN YEARS THEY HAVE BEEN REPORTING THIS IN MANY DEPTHS.THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SO MANY VETERANS AND SOME WERE MEMBERS AND THE AL ORGANIZATIONS.
ALL OF YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO MAKE THIS ISSUE BETWEEN VETERAN ORGS AND IN FACT, THE ISSUE IS YOU SIDING WITH AMERICAN LEGION POST 83 WITH THE LEASE OF THAT BUILDING.
ALL OF YOU HAVE TAKEN A BACK SEAT TO THE PROBLEM CENTERED AROUND THIS SITUATION.
SO IT SEEMS NECESSARY NOW OUTSIDE INTERVENTION IS IN ORDER HERE.
THEY ARE AN UNORGANIZED EACH CAME WITH A DIFFERENT MESSAGE.
WHY WOULD YOU NOT WANT TO SHARE POWER WHEN YOU HAVE ALLOWED THIS FOR OVER A DECADE? THEY HAVE EVEN TAKEN YOUR RIGHTS SAYING THIS BOARD NEEDS TO ASK PERMISSION TO ENTER THE BUILDING.
AND YOU SAY IT'S A COUNTY BUILDING.
WOW. LET'S SEE IF THEIR BULLYING WORKED.
THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 83 CLAIMS TO MAKE OVER $100,000 IN REVENUE.
I'LL GIVE YOU A FEW MORE SECONDS JUST TO FINISH UP YOUR THOUGHT, SIR.
THEY HAVE HUNDREDS OF MEMBERS.
FIRST THEY ARE FIRST OF ALL, THEY ARE ALL VETERANS.
SECOND, WHY ISN'T SOME OF THIS REVENUE NOT BEING USED TO FIX THE BUILDING? I HOPE THAT WHAT HAS BEEN CLAIMED SHOWS UP.
LIKE WHAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT, SIR.
GOOD MORNING. I'M GOING TO FINISH UP WHAT WAS SAID HERE.
THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 83 CLAIMS TO MAKE OVER OVER $100,000 IN REVENUE AND HUNDREDS OF MEMBERS.
FIRST OF ARE THEY AALL VETERANS? ALL OF THEM. NO, THEY'RE NOT ALL VETERANS.
SECOND, WHY ISN'T SOME OF THIS REVENUE NOT BEING USED TO FIX THE BUILDING? I HOPE WHAT HAS BEEN CLAIMED SHOWS UP LIKE WHAT THEY SAY WHEN YOU GET THE FINANCIAL REPORTS OF THE LAST TWO YEARS AND ARE POSTED FOR THE COMMUNITY TO SEE THAT IS BY LAW THEY SHOULD BE DOING THAT AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN DOING THAT.
EVEN IF THE IRS IS BEHIND ON THEIR POSTING, THE AMERICAN LEGION HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO COMPLETE THESE REPORTS AND POST THEM AND MAKE THEM AVAILABLE TO ANY COMMUNITY MEMBER UPON REQUEST.
THEY SHOULD BE AVAILABLE ONLINE.
I HOPE THAT THIS BOARD WILL ENSURE THAT THE NON PROFIT REQUIREMENTS ARE MET BEFORE RENEWING ANY LEASE FROM ANY OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS. I LOOK FORWARD, MR. PEDROZO TO OUR MEETING ON JULY 6TH AND HOPE IT WILL NOT BE CANCELED AGAIN.
I HAVE QUESTIONS FOR YOU AND I HAVE SENT THEM TO YOU, SO I HOPE THAT YOU WILL ANSWER THEM.
TELLING ME YOU'LL GET BACK TO ME IS NOT OKAY.
NOW I WANT TO ADDRESS THE COMMUNITY AND ITS CITIZENS.
MYSELF AND OUR TEAM HAVE BUILT A BLOG CALLED MERCED COUNTY VETERANS ALLIANCE.
YOU CAN FIND US ON MERCED COUNTY VETERANS ALLIANCE.COM.
WE'RE GOING TO BE POSTING THE HISTORY OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE VETERANS IN THAT BUILDING.
WE'RE GOING TO BE POSTING ALL OF THAT HAS OCCURRED UP UNTIL THIS POINT.
SO WE GOT SOME HELP AND WE ARE GOING TO BE POSTING ALL THAT HELP.
IF ANY OF YOU WANT TO MAKE CHANGE IN MERCED, WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER.
EVERYBODY COMES HERE AND ASKS LIKE WE'RE ASKING THE KING TO COME AND HELP US WHEN IN FACT THEY ARE OUR EMPLOYEES AND WE NEED TO CHANGE HOW WE COME AND ADDRESS THESE PEOPLE WITH SOME INFORMATION, SOME FACTS AND THE PROCESS.
BECAUSE YOU GUYS MAKE IT REALLY COMPLICATED AND EVEN COSTLY.
AND IF YOU DON'T STEP UP, THEN IT AIN'T GOING TO CHANGE.
YOU CAN COME AND COMPLAIN, BUT UNTIL YOU DO SOMETHING AND COME TOGETHER AND BE ONE VOICE ON ALL SUBJECTS BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY IN HERE, THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY THAT HAS NOT BEEN SPENT AND SHOULD BE.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS GILBERT ARIAS.
I RESIDE IN DISTRICT TWO, AND I'M HERE BECAUSE OF THE TRAFFIC THAT HAS DEVELOPED AS A RESULT OF THE I CALL IT THE SPEEDWAY. EVERYBODY ELSE CALLS IT THE PARKWAY.
[00:15:02]
WE'VE HAD TRAFFIC INCREASE DRAMATICALLY, AND AS A RESULT, PEOPLE ARE SPEEDING.WE HAVE TRAFFIC ALMOST 24/7 THAT DOESN'T STOP.
WE HAVE DIFFICULTY WHEN WE OPEN OUR BEDROOM WINDOW.
IT'S LIKE THE TRAFFIC IS RIGHT ADJACENT TO OUR BEDROOM.
I HAVE READ PARTS OF THE CALIFORNIA MUTCD.
I HAVE SUBMITTED SEVERAL PROPOSALS TO MY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND OTHER SUGGESTIONS I'VE MADE, AND IT SEEMS LIKE NOTHING SEEMS TO REGISTER.
IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING WHEN I'VE TAKEN SOME OF MY TIME TO READ THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT AS WELL FROM 2020 THAT PROPOSES DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS IN DEALING WITH THE TRAFFIC NOISE.
AND I'VE LIVED IN THAT AREA FOR OVER 25 YEARS.
NEVER ONCE UNTIL THE SPEEDWAY WAS OPENED DID I EVER CALL CHP.
I CALL CHP ALMOST DAILY, IF NOT TWICE.
THEY KNOW MY NUMBER ALMOST BY HEART BECAUSE WHEN I CALL, THEY SAY, OH, IS THIS ABOUT THE SPEED? YES. AND SO MY NUMBER, MY TELEPHONE NUMBER IS KNOWN QUITE WELL BY THE THE FOLKS THAT ANSWER THE PHONE AT CHP.
I HAVE SPOKEN TO A NUMBER OF NEIGHBORS.
I'VE SUBMITTED AN I DRAFTED AN EMAIL THAT I SUBMITTED TO NEIGHBORS.
I WENT DOOR TO DOOR AND EVERYBODY IN MY AREA HAS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I AM TALKING TO YOU ABOUT.
IT'S THE SPEED, THE NOISE, AND THE TRAFFIC IS OUT OF CONTROL.
I DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS IT BECAUSE THAT'S THE RESPONSE I'VE GOTTEN.
WE HAVE NOTHING COMPARED TO YOSEMITE AVENUE.
YOSEMITE AVENUE HAS LIGHTS AND STOPS.
I'LL GIVE YOU A FEW MORE SECONDS TO FINISH UP YOUR COMMENT, SIR.
WE HAVE NOTHING TO HELP CONTROL THE TRAFFIC FROM MCKEE TO THE ROUNDABOUT.
GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN.
KIRSEN SANTOS HERE REPRESENTING THE OFFICE OF CONGRESSMAN JOHN DUARTE.
WORKING VALLEY FAMILIES DESERVE ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE.
YESTERDAY, CONGRESSMAN DUARTE HAD A PRODUCTIVE MEETING WITH LEADERS FROM SUTTER HEALTH AT LOS BANOS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, AND HE WAS ABLE TO DISCUSS STRATEGIES TO INCREASE HEALTH CARE ACCESS FOR DISADVANTAGED AND RURAL COMMUNITIES ON THE WEST SIDE AND ACROSS THE VALLEY.
CONGRESSMAN DUARTE ALSO HAD THE HONOR OF JOINING ATWATER FFA ADVISOR DAN FLATT AND HIS FFA OFFICERS AND MANY OF THE ATWATER HIGH SCHOOL TEAM TO TOUR ATWATER'S HANDS ON TECHNICAL LEARNING FACILITIES AND TO DISCUSS THEIR VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF ATWATER FFA.
ONE OF THE LARGEST CHAPTERS IN THE ENTIRE STATE.
OUR OFFICE ALSO HAD THE SINCERE HONOR OF JOINING THE FAMILY OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL CLIFFORD CLIFF JAMES, ALSO KNOWN AS MR. MUSEUM AND THE CASTLE AIR MUSEUM BOARD FOR HIS BEAUTIFUL MEMORIAL DEDICATION CEREMONY AT CASTLE AIR MUSEUM THIS PAST SATURDAY.
AND SPEAKING OF CASTLE, WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE A BROAD BIPARTISAN EFFORT ON THIS YEAR'S FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION REAUTHORIZATION TO REFORM THE PROTOCOLS AND PROCEDURES THAT HAVE JURISDICTION OVER THE FAA.
THIS BILL DRAMATICALLY REDUCES THE BUREAUCRACY AND RED TAPE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAA, AND WE ARE PLEASED TO SEE IT PASSED WITHOUT OBJECTION, WITH TWO OF OUR AMENDMENTS, ONE REQUIRING THE FAA ADMINISTRATOR TO OPEN AN ONLINE PORTAL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND GIVE AN ANNUAL REPORT AND A SECOND, GIVING THE FAA SOLE AUTHORITY AND JURISDICTION TO STREAMLINE THE MAINTENANCE OF MILITARY SURPLUS AIRCRAFT USED TO FIGHT WILDFIRES.
[00:20:01]
TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE HEARING.OUR VALLEY THRIVES WHEN WE HAVE WATER ON THE FARMS AND HOMES SAFE FROM FLOODING, AND THE CONGRESSMAN IS COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WORKS FOR AND NOT AGAINST OUR WORKING FAMILIES, FARMERS AND BUSINESSES.
TO 8:30 P.M. TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS AND CONCERNS.
AND WE HOPE THIS WILL BE THE FIRST OF MANY TOWN HALL MEETINGS IN THE DISTRICT.
MUCH OF THE STORY OF MERCED COUNTY IS A STORY OF THOUSANDS OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO LEFT THE AZORES TO CROSS AN OCEAN AND THEN CROSSED A CONTINENT WITH ONLY A FEW DOLLARS IN THEIR POCKET. BUT A WHOLE LOT OF HOPE.
THE PORTUGUESE COMMUNITY OF MERCED COUNTY IS A LIVING EMBODIMENT OF THE AMERICAN DREAM, AND FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE VALLEY AND THE NATION, THE CONGRESSMAN WOULD LIKE TO SAY OBRIGADO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, SIR.
SARAHI RAMIREZ WITH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL.
I JUST BRIEFLY WANT TO SAY WE ARE THRILLED TO SEE THE NEWS THAT THE $20 MILLION WAS FINALIZED IN THE CALIFORNIA STATE BUDGET FOR PLANADA DEDICATED TO HELPING THE COMMUNITIES FULLY RECOVER FROM THE DEVASTATING WINTER FLOODING DISASTER.
WE ALSO WANT TO EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO PLANADA COMMUNITY RESIDENTS VALLEY ONWARD, THE COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS THEY WORK WITH THE MERCED COMMUNITY AND LABOR CENTER, SENATOR CABALLERO, ASSEMBLY MEMBER SORIA FOR PUSHING FOR THIS FUNDING FOR PLANADA AND SECURING THE FUNDING IN THE STATE BUDGET.
THIS HUGE INVESTMENT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT EACH OF THESE PARTNERS AND WE ARE VERY WE ARE VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT THIS FUNDING IS DISTRIBUTED EQUITABLY, PROMPTLY AND WITHOUT ADMINISTRATIVE BARRIERS TO THE FOLKS IN PLANADA WHO NEED IT THE MOST IN CORRELATION TO THE NEED FOR EACH HOUSEHOLD.
THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, WE HEARD CLEARLY FROM RESIDENTS IN THE MERCEDES NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND AGAIN IN COMMUNITY MEETINGS, DOOR TO DOOR OUTREACH THAT THE FUNDING IS NEEDED FOR EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE, HOME REPAIRS AND INSPECTIONS, LOST DAMAGED VEHICLES, AND COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIRS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
GOOD MORNING, CEO MENDEZ, BOARD AND STAFF.
THAT TOOK A LOT OF WORK AND ADVOCACY AND FOLLOWING UP WITH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, WE ASK FOR YOUR COOPERATION AND PARTICIPATION AND COLLABORATION AS THESE FUNDS DO GET DISTRIBUTED. I DON'T FORESEE THAT AS A PROBLEM.
I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE REACHED OUT ALREADY TO SAY THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A COMMUNITY KIND OF COLLABORATIVE PROCESS AS VALLEY ONWARD AS SOL RIVAS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MY HOPE IS THAT IT IS COMMUNITY LED.
A HANDFUL OF THE PROMOTORAS THAT WALKED THE STREETS AT THE HOT HOURS OF THE DAY TO COLLECT THESE SURVEYS ARE HERE AND WILL RECEIVE AN AWARD FROM ALL OF YOU AS PROMOTORAS FOR VALLEY ONWARD. AND AGAIN, I'M JUST HERE TO SAY THAT I HOPE THAT WE COULD BE A LIAISON TO COMMUNITY AND WORK WITH ALL OF YOU SO THOSE FUNDS COULD BE DISTRIBUTED IN AN EQUITABLE WAY. AND IT'S MUCH NEEDED IN THE COMMUNITY OF PLANADA.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS VICTORY ALONGSIDE US.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
GOOD MORNING TO THE BOARD AND ALL IN ATTENDANCE.
WHAT I'M HERE FOR IS PROBABLY WILL SOUND VERY, YOU KNOW, VERY LITTLE.
[00:25:04]
DESTROYED. YOU KNOW, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO START OFF SOMETHING WITH SEED? AND THEN WHEN IT'S READY TO PRODUCE, IT'S GONE.SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW FROM THE SUPERVISORS WHAT KIND OF HELP CAN WE GET TO CONTROL THAT? WEEDS ARE THIS TALL.
DO YOU THINK WE FEEL SAFE LIVING AROUND THERE ON 4TH OF JULY? WHAT IF? WHAT IF IT CATCHES ON FIRE? WHAT DO YOU THINK WE'LL FEEL? YOU THINK WE FEEL SAFE LIVING UP THERE THINKING THAT 4TH OF JULY IS COMING UP? OUR GARDEN'S GETTING DESTROYED.
I'M NOT HERE ONLY TO REPRESENT MY GARDEN.
I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THE GARDEN OF ALL MY NEIGHBORS.
OUR FRUIT. THE FRUIT OF OUR LABOR IS BEING DESTROYED.
THE RODENT POPULATION IN THE MIDDLE.
YES, THE SQUATTERS WERE REMOVED.
BEECHWOOD IS GETTING SIDEWALKS.
THAT'S FINE. BUT WHAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IS THAT 16 ACRES THAT'S SITTING RIGHT BEHIND OUR RESIDENCE, THAT'S DESTROYING THE FRUIT OF OUR HARD LABOR EVERY DAY, THINGS THAT YOU'VE STARTED FROM SEEDS AND IT'S READY TO PRODUCE AND IT'S ALL DESTROYED.
WE WE JUST DON'T SPEND NOTHING TO KEEP THAT UP.
WE SPEND MONEY TO GET OUR CROPS GOING.
WE SPEND MONEY TO KEEP THE RODENTS AWAY.
BUT IT'S NOT NO HELP IF NOTHING'S BEING DONE TO THE SOURCE.
THANK YOU. HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, SIR.
ALL RIGHT. I DON'T SEE ANYBODY ELSE.
SO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS. NEXT, WE HAVE UP THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 29.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
PLEASE NOTE A FOUR-FIFTHS VOTE IS REQUIRED ON ITEM 5.[INAUDIBLE] LISA, WERE YOU COMING UP TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM? YEP. OKAY, PERFECT.
NO, NO, YOU'RE GOOD. GOOD MORNING AGAIN.
KALISA ROCHESTER CHIEF PROBATION OFFICER.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SPEAK ABOUT PROBATION SERVICES WEEK, AND I WANTED TO TAKE SOME TIME TO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY ON EXACTLY WHAT PROBATION DOES.
PROBATION DEPARTMENTS WORK TO MAXIMIZE THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE WITHIN THE COURTS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, SOCIAL SERVICES, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, SCHOOLS, CRIME SURVIVOR ORGANIZATIONS, NONPROFITS AND OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR WORK BALANCES THE NEED FOR ACCOUNTABILITY WITH INDIVIDUALIZED REHABILITATIVE TREATMENT AND SERVICES, PROVIDING OUR CLIENTS THE SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THEIR LIVES.
PROBATION EMPLOYEES ARE TRAINED EXPERTS, PREPARED TO MANAGE TRAUMA AND OTHER NEEDS OF SYSTEM INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS AND SAFELY CONNECT THEM TO THE SUPPORTS THEY NEED TO SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITION BACK TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
PROBATION DEPARTMENT SUPPORT POLICIES THAT FURTHER THIS FOCUS AND APPLY AN EQUITY LENS TO ENSURE OUR POLICIES EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF THOSE WE SERVE. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE GRATITUDE TO MY STAFF FOR THEIR LOYALTY AND HARD WORK.
AND WE CERTAINLY WOULD NOT SO MANY GREAT THINGS THIS PAST YEAR WITHOUT THEM.
SO ONCE AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK AND HONOR THEM.
[00:30:04]
WORK. ALL RIGHT.ARE THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS ON CONSENT CALENDAR? NOT SEEING ANY. WE WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 29 AND BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
AT THIS TIME, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA WILL BE PRESENTING CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION TO VALLEY ONWARD AND SOL RIVAS, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF VALLEY ONWARD, FOR BEING RECOGNIZED BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER SORIA AS NONPROFIT OF THE YEAR.
OKAY, FIRST, LET ME IF YOU COULD WAIT A SECOND.
I'M GOING TO DO NUMBER 26 FIRST, BRING UP THE MCOE PLTI TEAM FIRST.
UH, [INADUIBLE] RAMOS AND THE REST OF THE [INAUDIBLE].
SOL YOU'RE PART OF PLTI TOO SO YOU CAN COME RIGHT NOW FOR THIS.
ON JUNE 12TH AND THE 22ND I WAS ABLE TO.
YOU GUYS WANT TO COME UP HERE, PLEASE? ON JUNE 12TH AND THE 22ND, I WAS INVITED BY MCOE AND THE PLTI TEAM TO THANK YOU FOR COMING.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL WORK THEY'VE BEEN DOING.
YOU KNOW, ENERGIZING, EDUCATING, TRAINING.
THEY, THEY DO SO MUCH TO GO ALL AROUND THE COUNTY INCLUDING SOL [INAUDIBLE] IN LIVINGSTON AND DELHI AS WELL SO I KNOW [INAUDIBLE] IS NOT HERE, IT'S PART OF MERCED COUNTY AS WELL.
AND I'M GOING TO ASK [INAUDIBLE] RAMOS WHAT ELSE THEY DO.
FOR THE 20 WEEKS CONSIST OF THE FIRST THERE ARE TWO PHASES.
THE FIRST PHASE IS VERY MUCH DEDICATED TO PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS.
WE, YOU KNOW, TEACH ON ON SUBJECTS SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, HOW TO FRAME COMMUNICATION, HOW TO ANALYZE INFORMATION, HOW TO, YOU KNOW, JUST DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO LITERALLY DEVELOP YOUR SKILLS IN A WAY THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE IN YOUR HOME.
BUT THEN THE SECOND PHASE IS ALL ABOUT THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND HOW WE GO AHEAD AND INTERACT WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, COMMUNITY AGENCIES, BOARDS, ET CETERA. AND WE PREPARE THESE INDIVIDUALS TO BECOME LEADERS IN THEIR OWN RIGHT, AT THEIR SCHOOLS, AT THEIR IN THEIR CITIES AND THEIR COUNTIES, ET CETERA.
SO WE'RE VERY PLEASED TO HAVE SOME OF THEM HERE.
JUST JOINED A COUPLE OF THEM JUST JOINED US.
AND THEN WE HAVE SOME IN THE AUDIENCE AS WELL.
AND I KNOW THAT SOL AND HER TEAM ARE DOING VERY MUCH THE SAME IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE COUNTY.
SO WE'RE VERY PLEASED TO HAVE ALL OF THE PLTI MEMBERS.
I SEE SOME OF THEM HERE WHO ARE CURRENTLY TAKING SOME OF OUR CLASSES.
WE DO TEACH OTHERS OTHER THAN PARENT LEADERSHIP TRAINING INSTITUTE, BUT ONCE AGAIN, VERY HAPPY TO SEE THE LEVEL OF COMMITMENT, THE DEDICATION TO IMPROVING OUR COUNTY BY BECOMING THE BEST ADVOCATES THEY CAN BECOME FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
YEAH, WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, LIKE I SAID I WANT TO CONGRATULATE HIM AND THANK YOU FOR INVITING US.
A LOT OF THE ELECTORS THAT COME UP AND TO SPEAK.
AND OTHER ELECTEDS FROM THE I KNOW THE MAYOR WAS THERE AS WELL, TOO, IN LOS BANOS AND SO THANK YOU.
AND WOULD LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING.
I'M CAROLINE SUTHERLAND, PLTI COORDINATOR.
I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE ACTUALLY HAD 39 GRADUATES GO THROUGH OUR PLTI INSTITUTE THIS YEAR AND WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE MORE AS THE YEAR GOES ON. AND SO WE ARE GOING TO BE STARTING OUR NEXT PLTI SESSION IN SEPTEMBER.
SO WE HOPE TO SEE A LOT OF YOU GUYS THERE.
[00:35:01]
CIVICS AND LEADERSHIP.AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO LEADING THAT TEAM HERE NEXT YEAR.
I THINK THEY PRETTY MUCH HAD IT.
[SPANISH] [SPANISH] THANK YOU. DO YOU WANT TO MOVE OVER A LITTLE BIT SO I CAN TAKE A PICTURE? ANYBODY.
VERY MUCH WANT TO APPRECIATE THIS WONDERFUL MAN RIGHT HERE FOR ALL OF HIS SUPPORT.
RODRIGO VERY MUCH APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT.
[SPANISH] [APPLAUSE] NOW, IF WE CAN HAVE RALLY ONWARD AND SOL.
[SPANISH] WELL, JUST ALONG WITH PLTI, LIKE I SAID, SOL RIVAS HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL TO IN DOING SO MUCH FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
DIFFERENT GROUPS, DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, NONPROFITS.
BUT I WANT TO THANK PERSONALLY ALL THE NONPROFITS.
YOU KNOW, MANY ACROSS OUR COUNTY THAT HAVE DONE SO MUCH, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST FOR EVERYDAY, YOU KNOW, PLANADA, YOU KNOW, OVER HERE IN MERCED, IT'S JUST BEEN SO, SO MUCH.
BUT LIKE I SAID, THIS GROUP WAS WAS HONORED BY ESMERALDA SORIA, OUR ASSEMBLY 27TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT REGARDING THE THE NONPROFIT OF THE YEAR.
SO I'M GOING TO READ, YOU KNOW, SO I DON'T INVENT REINVENT THE WHEEL READ FROM WHAT SHE GOT FROM THE STATE ON WHAT DAY DID YOU GUYS GO UP THERE? LIKE TWO WEEKS AGO. TWO WEEKS AGO.
WHEREAS THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF NONPROFITS IS CELEBRATING A CALIFORNIA NONPROFITS DAY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CALIFORNIA STATE LEGISLATURE AND IN RECOGNITION OF A STANDARD RECORD OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
AND WHEREAS, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A COMMUNITY AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION IS A VITAL AND INTERDEPENDENCE ONE DERIVING STRENGTH FROM THE CIVIC INVOLVEMENT AND DEDICATION OF THOSE WHO ENGAGE WITH SUCH ORGANIZATIONS.
AND VALLEY ONWARD IS ONE SUCH STELLAR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.
AND WHEREAS, BORN OUT OF THE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL BUILDING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE, A TEN YEAR 1 BILLION COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY INITIATIVE LAUNCHED BY THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT IN 2009 TO ADVANCE STATEWIDE POLICY, CHANGE THE NARRATIVE AND TRANSFORM
[00:40:08]
[INAUDIBLE]. I PROMISE YOU, I DIDN'T TURN THAT OFF.THAT I THINK THE BATTERIES MIGHT HAVE JUST WENT DEAD.
YOUR THREE MINUTES ARE UP. NO.
YEAH. THEY PLANNED FOR ONE PRESENTATION, NOT TWO.
I TALK TOO MUCH. THE LEADERSHIP OF FOUNDING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SOL RIVAS AND COMMITTEE OF RESIDENTS AND IS DEDICATING DEDICATED TO HARNESSING AND CULTIVATING NEW LEADERS IN CALIFORNIA'S CENTRAL VALLEY IN AN EFFORT TO ORGANIZE AROUND ISSUES THAT IMPACT WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR AND DISINVESTED COMMUNITIES ACROSS RURAL AREAS IN MERCED COUNTY.
AND WHEREAS, TRAINING AND BUILDING CAPACITY FOR COMMUNITY RESIDENTS TO BE CIVICALLY ENGAGED THROUGH THE PARENT LEADERSHIP TRAINING INSTITUTE, A 20 WEEK LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, VALLEY ONWARD ENCOURAGES AND PROVIDES TECHNICAL TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITY LEADERS TO SERVE AS A LOCAL, REGIONAL OR STATE BOARD OR COMMISSION THROUGH THE BOARDS AND COMMISSION LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE.
AND WHEREAS, A STEWARD OF GIVING A VOICE TO MARGINALIZED AND DISINVESTED COMMUNITIES IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY BY PROVIDING THEM WITH A GREAT SEAT AT THE TABLE. VALLEY ONWARD HAS FACILITATED WORKSHOPS IN PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING, DEMOCRACY, DEMOCRATIC PROCESS THROUGH WHICH COMMUNITY RESIDENTS ARE ABLE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE PROJECTS THEY CARE ABOUT MOST ABOUT AND IT IS ANY RESPONDED TO THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC BY INVESTING IN COMMUNITY RESIDENTS, LEADERS AND TRAINING THEM IN PROMOTORAS AS A COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS WITH THE GROUP HOSTING COVID 19 INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS, TALKING TO RESIDENTS DOOR TO DOOR LIKE THEY'VE BEEN DOING HOLDING COVID 19 VACCINE CLINICS AND PARTICIPATING IN FOOD BOX DISTRIBUTIONS ACROSS MERCED COUNTY.
AND WHEREAS, BY CONTRIBUTING TO THE SUCCESS AND WELL-BEING OF THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH IT SERVES.
VALLEY ONWARD HAS CHANGED, HAS ENHANCED THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS, INSTILLED A STRONG SENSE OF PRIDE IN THE INDIVIDUALS WITH WHOM IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH AND ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF MERCED COUNTY.
VALLEY ONWARD AND SOL RIVAS [APPLAUSE].
SO I KNOW I GOT A TEAM OUT HERE, BUT EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT CHANGING COMMUNITIES TAKES AN ENTIRE TEAM.
AND I ALWAYS TELL MY TEAM AT VALLEY ONWARD, YOU MAKE ME AN AMAZING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
I COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT THEM.
THE BEAUTIFUL WOMEN AND GENTLEMEN BEHIND ME SHOULD BE IN FRONT OF ME ARE THE ONES THAT KNOCKED ON DOORS TO GET THAT SURVEY WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MERCED TO BE ABLE TO GET THOSE $20 MILLION.
THEY SHOWED UP EVERY MORNING, STAYED UNTIL THE WEE HOURS OF THE NIGHT.
THEY VACCINATED MORE THAN 5,000 PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY OF MERCED.
I AM JUST A SMALL PORTION OF VALLEY ONWARD.
BUT WHAT WE DO IS ENSURE THAT WE INVEST IN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE SOMETIMES IGNORED.
AND WE WANT TO THANK THE COUNTY RODRIGO AND EVERYBODY FOR CONTINUING TO SUPPORT VALLEY ONWARD, OUR ASSEMBLYWOMAN ESMERALDA SORIA, FOR RECOGNIZING US AT THE STATE AGAIN, WE'RE TWO YEARS IN AND WE GOT I GOT GRAY HAIRS I'M SURE I GIVE THEM ALL GRAY HAIRS.
BUT WE ARE TRANSFERRING TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES ONE STEP AT A TIME.
AND OUR HOPE IS THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO CHANGE POLICY AT THE LOCAL AND STATE LEVEL.
I'D LIKE TO PASS IT ON TO SOMEBODY IN SPANISH.
[SPANISH] THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PICTURE.
[00:45:01]
YEAH.[BOARD ACTION]
AND WE WILL START WITH PUBLIC WORKS ITEM 30.ALL RIGHT. THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 30.
NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT, WE HAVE AG COMMISSIONER, ITEM 31.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM 31.
NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD.
BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL CALL FOR THE VOTE. CALL FOR THE VOTE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE PUBLIC HEALTH ITEMS, 32 AND 33.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 32 AND 33.
NOT SEE ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT, WE HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES ITEMS 34 THROUGH 40.
GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, CEO MENDEZ COUNTY COUNSEL HANSEN, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION BEFORE YOU IS THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ACT THREE-YEAR PLAN, WHICH REPRESENTS AN INVESTMENT OF ABOUT $19.7 MILLION WORTH OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PER YEAR FOR THE NEXT THREE FISCAL YEARS FOR OUR COUNTY FOR A TOTAL OF ABOUT $59.1 MILLION.
THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ACT, OR MHSA, WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2004 THROUGH PROPOSITION 63, A CALIFORNIA BALLOT INITIATIVE THAT IMPLEMENTED A 1% TAX ON INDIVIDUALS WITH TAXABLE INCOME OVER $1 MILLION.
MHSA FOCUSES ON ENHANCING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS IN NEED.
MERCED COUNTY BEGAN IMPLEMENTING THE MHSA PROGRAM IN 2006 AND HAS SINCE BEEN ACTIVELY PROVIDING SERVICES AND INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES.
AS MANDATED BY WELFARE INSTITUTION CODE 5847, BHRS IS SUBMITTING AN UPDATED THREE YEAR PLAN WHICH COVERS FISCAL YEAR 23-24 THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 25-26.
[00:50:03]
DEVELOPED.AS MANDATED STAFF SOUGHT FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY AND CONDUCTED OVER 20 FOCUS GROUPS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND DIVERSE STAKEHOLDER GROUPS TO DISCUSS MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS IN OUR COUNTY.
SPECIFICALLY IN THE AREAS OF PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION, COMMUNITY SERVICES AND SUPPORT.
SERVICES OFFERED WILL LEAD TO VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND YOUTH BEING BETTER SERVED.
WITH THE ADOPTION OF THIS THREE YEAR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ACT PLAN.
I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE SHARON JONES, OUR MHSC COORDINATOR, AND OUR MHSC STAFF, FOR YOUR EFFORTS IN DEVELOPING THIS PLAN, AS WELL AS OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ADVISORY BOARD AND SUPERVISOR PAREIRA FOR YOUR FEEDBACK AND GUIDANCE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR DIRECTOR VANG? ALL RIGHT. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
YEAH, I JUST WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TO THANK KUMIKO.
YOU KNOW, COMING IN, YOU KNOW, INTO THIS, YOU KNOW, MID, MID STREAM, I GUESS.
YOU KNOW, SHE REALLY HAS WORKED HARD AND HAS DONE A GREAT JOB.
SO, YOU KNOW, AS A REPRESENTATIVE TO TO YOU ON THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ADVISORY BOARD, I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT SHE'S DOING A GREAT JOB AND HAS REALLY DELVED RIGHT IN TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AND SO I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THAT SHE'S DOING A GREAT JOB.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
KUMIKO, IF YOU WOULD SHARE AND IF YOU COULD JUST I'M GOING TO ASK AND THROW A CURVE BALL HERE.
ESTIMATED THE AMOUNT OF HOURS THAT GOES INTO PUTTING IN PUTTING THIS REPORT TOGETHER.
DO YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATION? SO I'M GUESSING IT'S IN THE FOCUS GROUPS AT ABOUT AN HOUR TO AN HOUR AND A HALF, DEPENDING ON THE CONVERSATIONS.
AND SO TIME IS THAT AT LEAST TWO STAFF DURING EACH FOCUS GROUPS ADDING THE PLANNING AND THEN PUTTING TOGETHER THE PLAN.
SO GETTING ALL OF THAT FEEDBACK TOGETHER, GOING THROUGH ALL OF THE DATA LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT THEMES OF WHAT WAS COMMUNICATED THROUGH THE FOCUS GROUPS AND THEN PUTTING THE PLAN TOGETHER, PRESENTING IT.
I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY THAT THERE'S THOUSANDS OF MAN HOURS THAT GOES INTO THIS 347 PAGE REPORT THAT IS VERY, VERY, VERY DETAILED IN ALL ASPECTS OF BHRS. AND, YOU KNOW, JUST KIND OF WANT TO HIGHLIGHT FOR MAYBE FOLKS THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND THE, YOU KNOW, THESE PROGRAMS THAT WE ADMINISTER, A LOT OF OUR FUNDING COMES THROUGH THE STATE. THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO THESE THINGS.
BUT REST ASSURED THAT THAT WE HAVE A VERY WELL QUALIFIED STAFF UNDER KUMIKO'S LEADERSHIP THAT PUTS THESE REPORTS TOGETHER, NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO, BUT ALSO IT'S REQUIRED BY LAW IN ORDER FOR US TO CONTINUE TO GET THAT FUNDING FROM THE STATE.
AND REALLY NOW WITH THE AT HOME PROGRAM AND BHRS BEING A PART OF THAT AND REALLY TALKING ABOUT THE ACCOUNTABILITY, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU MIGHT HEAR OUT THERE IS IS WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PUTTING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESOURCES IN IT.
BUT THE ACCOUNTABILITY THAT THOSE THAT THAT MONEY IS BEING SPENT RIGHT.
AND THAT WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THINGS.
AND I THINK THAT THIS IS A TESTAMENT OF THAT.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND TO ALL YOUR STAFF.
WE GET TO VOTE ON IT AT THE END OF THE DAY.
BUT WE KNOW THAT ALL THE HARD WORK IS DONE BY BY YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? NOT SEEING ANY.
WE WILL NOW OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BHRS ITEMS 34 THROUGH 40.
[00:55:10]
NOT SEEING ANYONE.THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE THE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON ITEMS 41 THROUGH 47.
WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
RECORD THE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
OH, I'M SORRY. FIRE ITEMS, 48 AND 49.
GOOD MORNING CHAIR BOARD CEO MENDEZ COUNCIL HANSON.
TODAY WILL BE FOR YOUR OPTIONS AND YOUR CONSIDERATION WILL BE THE CAL FIRE AGREEMENT.
JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND, BACK IN JULY 1ST OF 1988, MERCED COUNTY WAS AUTHORIZED TO GO INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH CAL FIRE, WHICH IS ALSO KNOWN AS CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION.
WE MAINTAIN THIS SERVICE FOR THE LAST 35 YEARS, WHICH I THINK IS A GREAT TESTAMENT OF OUR BOTH OF OUR DEPARTMENTS WORKING STRONG TOGETHER AND BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE A HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE AND FOLLOWING ALONG WITH WHAT THE COUNTY'S EXPECTATIONS OF CAL FIRE IS.
WE'VE PROVIDED THIS SERVICE IN DIFFERENT TYPES AND DIFFERENT MEANS, JUST TO NAME A FEW.
WE LOOK AT LIKE PSA, PUBLIC SERVICE ASSISTS, MEDICAL AIDS PREVENTION, CODE ENFORCEMENT RESCUES, FIRES OF ALL NATURE AND THEN DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION.
AGAIN, THOSE ARE JUST TO NAME A FEW THAT WE JUST COME OFF THE TOP OF THE HEAD.
AND OBVIOUSLY YOU GUYS ARE KNOWN IN RECENT EVENTS.
WE WERE A KEY PORTION OF DEALING WITH WITH THE COVID AND THEN ALSO WITH THE RECENT FLOODS.
AND AGAIN, I GOT TO SAY, WITH ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND BRINGING US ON BOARD AS A FAMILY MEMBER WITHIN THE COUNTY AND BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH THIS DEPARTMENT, ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, WE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN DONE WITHOUT EACH OTHER.
AND GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
THAT WOULD BE LIVINGSTON, GUSTINE AND DOS PALOS.
THE NATIONAL STANDARD CURRENTLY SITS AT 4-0 FOR AN ENGINE COMPANY, BUT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY WITH CEO MENDEZ AND EVEN BROWN BEFORE THAT TO TRY TO BRING THOSE STAFFING LEVELS UP.
AND AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, WE HAD IT UP TO TEN OF THOSE STATIONS.
BUT SINCE WE ALL HAVE BEEN IN WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE PAST 35 YEARS, WE WILL JUST BE WORKING TOWARDS THAT 2-0 STAFFING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR YEARS PAST TO GET THOSE STATIONS TO THOSE LEVELS.
THIS WILL ALLOW US TO STAFF SIX OF THE STATIONS.
THOSE SIX STATIONS ARE PLANADA, LE GRAND, EL NIDO, CRESSEY, BALLICO AND STEVINSON.
THOSE ARE THE SIX COUNTY STATIONS THAT ARE LEFT WITHOUT 2-0 STAFFING.
[01:00:05]
THEM TO INCREASE THE STAFFING IN THOSE THREE STATIONS AS LONG.AND ALSO WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THE UC, WHICH MYSELF AND SUPERVISOR PEDROZO HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE UC MOST FREQUENTLY TO TO WORK WITH SOME KIND OF AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM AS WELL TO AVOID OR CONTINUE THAT STAFFING OVER THERE AT THE MCKEE STATION.
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. PEDROZO, SO THAT ONCE WE HAVE A PLAN AND START WORKING THROUGH SOME OF THESE PROCESSES, OUR PLAN IS TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD WITHIN SIX MONTHS TO PROVIDE YOU A PLAN AND POSSIBLE ASSESSMENT OF THE PLAN AND DIRECTION BY THE BOARD.
AS FAR AS THAT GOES, IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANYTHING.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR CHIEF PIMENTEL? NOT SEEING ANY RIGHT NOW.
SO WE WILL TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR FIRE ITEMS 48 AND 49.
NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.
AND I KNOW THAT THEY'VE HAVING NEW PEOPLE IS IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
SO I GUESS I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE A COMMENT.
AND AS REQUIREMENTS CHANGE, WE USED TO BE 1-0 STAFF STATIONS AS THERE'S ONE PERSON PER STATION.
AND BACK WHEN WE HAD THAT, WE HAD A VERY ACTIVE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THAT NUMBER OVER TIME HAS DRASTICALLY DECREASED.
AND I THINK PART OF THE REASONS OF IT, WHEN I STARTED AS A VOLUNTEER FIREMAN, IT REALLY WAS JUST YOU HAD A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT JUST KIND OF WANTED TO HELP SUPPORT THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
AND THE REQUIREMENTS BACK THEN WERE PRETTY SIMPLE.
AND THEN ONCE THEY AGREED IT LITERALLY, THIS IS HOW FAR IT GOES BACK.
YOU USED TO DO YOUR PHYSICAL AT THE COUNTY HEALTH BUILDING, AND AS LONG AS YOU COULD PASS THAT PHYSICAL, YOU GOT A YOU GOT TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AT STATION 81 AND YOU GOT ISSUED YOUR GEAR AND YOU GOT YOU WENT BACK TO THE STATION AND YOU DID A FOUR HOUR STATION ORIENTATION AND THEY GAVE YOU YOUR PAGER AND SAID, I'LL SEE YOU ON THE NEXT CALL.
UM, THINGS HAVE CHANGED A LOT SINCE THEN.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW WILD IT WAS BACK THEN THAT YOU JUST LITERALLY YOU HAD FOUR HOURS OF STATION ORIENTATION AND THAT REALLY CONSISTED OF THIS IS HOW THE PUMP WORKS, THIS IS WHERE THIS IS AT AND THAT'S WHERE THAT IS AT.
AND THEN YOU DID ON THE JOB TRAINING.
TO NOW, JUST WITH LIABILITY ISSUES, FOLKS NEED TO BE TRAINED AT A HIGHER LEVEL.
AND NOW WE'RE AT A LEVEL, YOU KNOW, AND I WANT TO THANK CHIEF VAN LOBEN SELS AND CHIEF PIMENTEL AND ALL THEIR LEADERSHIP AND WORKING WITH THE STATE TO GET US TO A POINT WHERE WE ARE TWO ZERO STAFFED AND JUST IN THE WORLD WE LIVE IN, IT ONLY MAKES SENSE HAVING ONE PERSON ON AN ENGINE GOING TO A CALL.
HISTORICALLY, OUR FIRE FUND HAS ALWAYS PAID FOR OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.
IT'S SO BACK PEOPLE THAT HAD A LOT OF WISDOM BEFORE I WAS EVER HERE.
AND SO FOR ME, WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT, I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
AND I'M FULLY IN SUPPORT OF MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS.
BUT IF WE'RE BEING REAL WITH OURSELVES, WE WE LIVE IN A DIFFERENT WORLD.
[01:05:05]
AND IT PROBABLY TOOK YOU FIVE MILES TO GET IT UP TO 55 MILES AN HOUR.WE HAVE STATIONS THAT ARE SIX MILES APART.
AND AND IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.
AND SO IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE WE'RE AT AND WE'RE THERE'S A NEW RULE THAT'S GOING TO COME INTO EFFECT.
IT'S THE 3.1 [INAUDIBLE] 2-0 STAFFING AT 3.0.
WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE INCREASES.
WE'RE NOT ON A SUSTAINABLE PATH.
AND I THINK THAT IF WE'RE ALL BEING REAL WITH OURSELVES AND NOBODY EVER WANTS TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION, IS IS WE NEED TO LOOK AT IS HOW DO WE NOBODY EVER LIKES TO CLOSE FIRE STATIONS. NOT INTERESTED, DON'T WANT TO DO THAT IF WE DON'T HAVE TO.
BUT I THINK THAT WE COULD BE MORE STRATEGIC IN WHERE OUR FIRE STATIONS ARE LOCATED.
IF YOU LIVE IN THAT COMMUNITY I KNOW THAT THE THE I'M NOT GOING TO CONVINCE YOU OTHERWISE, BUT REALLY MAKING A COMMITMENT TO WHERE DO WE BUILD STATIONS IN BETWEEN? AND REALLY.
SO NOW YOU'RE GETTING A TWOFER, RIGHT? YOU HAVE A STATION HERE AND A STATION HERE AND YOU PUT ONE IN BETWEEN AND THE RESPONSE TIMES, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE VERY LITTLE CHANGE IN THOSE.
AND I'M WILLING TO AND WILL ENTERTAIN THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YOU KNOW, AND I GUESS I'M A LITTLE BIT CONCUR WITH WITH MY COLLEAGUE, RIGHT.
AND, YOU KNOW, NOBODY LIKES TO OVERSPEND.
AND ANYWAYS, I AGREE, RIGHT? WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONSOLIDATE STATIONS THAT MAKE SENSE.
BUT THE ONE THING THAT THAT I DON'T THINK WE'VE DONE, AT LEAST AS AS I FEEL LIKE IN MY DISCUSSIONS WITH STAFF, THAT I'M THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS ASKED US TO LOOK OUTSIDE THE BOX IN TRYING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.
SO I'D LIKE TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO MAYBE SUPPORT A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THAT EFFORT.
AND UNTIL WE FIND OUT THAT THAT EFFORT IS A WRONG DIRECTION, WE SHOULD AT LEAST TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
SO ANYWAYS, THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.
THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
THANK YOU. YEAH, I JUST WANT TO ECHO WHAT SUPERVISOR PAREIRA SAID, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT IN ANYTHING WE DO, WE LOOK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND TRY AND COME UP WITH, WITH SOMETHING THAT CAN WORK TO AND IS SUSTAINABLE.
THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING IS SUSTAINABILITY, ESPECIALLY WITH THE LIMITED AMOUNT OF RESOURCES WE HAVE.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, I THINK THAT'S CRITICAL.
IT PUTS THE PERSON IN DANGER THAT THEIR HOUSE ARE GOING TO IF THEY CAN'T GO IN.
AND SO IT'S VERY IT'S A TOUGH THING TO DO, BUT IT HAS TO BE DONE TO TO MAINTAIN SAFETY.
IT JUST HAS TO BE SUSTAINABLE.
THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL YEAH.
CHIEF VAN LOBEL SELS AND CHIEF PIMENTEL HAVE BROUGHT STUFF TO MY DESK AND VERY BEING VERY CREATIVE IN HOW WE CAN CREATE NEW STATIONS IN A CHEAPER WAY AND, AND POSSIBLY RELOCATING A LOT OF STUFF.
SO I JUST WANT TO REASSURE YOU THAT IS HAPPENING.
THEY ARE DEFINITELY THINKING OUT OF THE BOX.
AND I THINK CHIEF VAN LOBEN SELS HAS BROUGHT A LOT OF GOOD IDEAS.
IT'S WE'RE JUST TRYING TO SEE WHICH ONES CAN WORK OUT BETTER FOR MERCED COUNTY THANK YOU.
SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
YEAH, THEY'VE COME TO MY DESK TOO, AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT THEY'RE NOT DOING A GREAT JOB.
I JUST THINK THAT THAT, THAT THEY'RE LOOKING, NOT LOOKING AT ALL AVENUES.
THEY'RE LOOKING AT POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS, WHICH I THINK ARE FINE.
AND YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE'VE GOT TO BE SAFE.
[01:10:02]
BUT, YOU KNOW, THE THE YOU KNOW, I GET I GET PUSHBACK FROM STAFF, YOU KNOW, ON THE PAID FOR CALL SIDE. RIGHT.[INAUDIBLE] AND I KNOW WHEN YOU KNOW CHIEF RON WAS OUR WAS OUR CHIEF YOU KNOW HE WAS WORKING ON CREATING A PROGRAM THAT WOULD ALLOW MORE PEOPLE BECOME PAID FOR CALLS AND THAT'S KIND OF SLOWED DOWN AND OR MAYBE STOPPED.
I MEAN, I'M NOT SAYING WE'RE SITTING HERE DOING NOTHING.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT THERE'S OTHER POTENTIAL IDEAS THAT AREN'T GETTING VETTED OUT.
AND I'D LIKE TO SEE US DO THAT.
SOME OF THAT WORK REQUIRES A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO COMPILE, BUT WE ARE OBVIOUSLY COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT YOU HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION IN FRONT OF YOU TO MAKE DECISIONS, INFORMED DECISION AS WE GO FORWARD.
WE HEAR YOU ALL LOUD AND CLEAR.
APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION AND THE DIALOG THIS MORNING BECAUSE I THINK IT DOES HELP US AS STAFF, YOU KNOW, CHART THE COURSE FORWARD IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE DECISIONS THAT ARE GOING TO BE COMING BEFORE YOU BEFORE THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR.
I THINK THE ANTICIPATION IS THAT WE'LL BE BRINGING THESE DISCUSSIONS FORWARD, YOU KNOW, BEFORE THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR, BECAUSE WE NEED TO START FULLY VETTING SOME OF THOSE OPTIONS BEFORE YOU.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE COMMENTS.
AND THEN MY FINAL KIND OF COMMENTS ARE IS.
WE HAVE SOME INCORPORATED CITIES THAT THAT WE'RE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH.
AND I REALLY THINK THAT WE NEED TO EXPLORE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE CITIES.
UM, WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT WHERE WE'RE AT WITHOUT THOSE FOLKS AND REALLY HELPING.
IT'S SO NICE TO HAVE A UNIT CHIEF AND A DIVISION CHIEF AND FOR THAT MATTER IS A DEPUTY UNIT CHIEF THAT ALL ARE FROM OUR COUNTY. WE HAVEN'T ENJOYED THAT HISTORICALLY IN THE PAST.
THEY'VE COME FROM OTHER PLACES.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, OUR LEADERSHIP NOW, THESE ARE FOLKS THAT ACTUALLY STARTED IN THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM IN MERCED COUNTY AND WHO'VE RISEN THROUGH THE RANKS OF CDF AND CAL FIRE AND JUST WE'RE SO BLESSED TO HAVE THEM ON BOARD.
AND SO REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU FOLKS.
AND WITH THAT, WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON ITEM 50.
I'M NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP WILL BE DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON ITEM 54.
NOT SEEING WELL, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
OH, WE HAVE A REQUEST BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
EXCUSE ME. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, IT KIND OF MAKES ME SAD THAT THAT THIS ITEM HAS TO BE ON OUR AGENDA.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE WE HAVE A FACILITY THAT'S JUST NOT USABLE ANYMORE, AND THE LANDLORDS HAVEN'T BEEN WILLING TO STEP UP AND MAKE, YOU KNOW, FIX THINGS THAT ARE BROKEN.
AND SO ANYWAYS, I'D LIKE TO THANK AMY.
[01:15:04]
THAT SPACE WORK.BUT UNFORTUNATELY THAT HASN'T BEEN THE CASE.
SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. YEAH, I JUST.
I KNOW HE'S NOT HERE, BUT I WASN'T GOING TO.
BUT DIDN'T WE BUY A BUILDING THAT WE WERE GOING TO TRY TO MAKE SOME ROOM IN IN THE WINTON AREA FOR A LIBRARY? YEAH. YEAH. THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BUILDING THAT WE PURCHASED.
THERE'S NOT A BUILDING, BUT THERE'S JUST SPACE THERE THAT HOPEFULLY WILL BE USED.
ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? NOT SEEING ANY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
CALL FOR THE VOTE, PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM 55.
WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM 56.
NOT SEEING ANYONE WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON TREASURER ITEMS. NOT SEEING ONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
OH, EXCUSE ME. WE HAVE SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA CALL FOR THE VOTE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT, WE HAVE HUMAN RESOURCES.
ALL RIGHT. THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM 59.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM 60 NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP WILL BE BOARD APPOINTMENTS.
ALL RIGHT. THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON BOARD APPOINTMENTS ITEM 61 THROUGH 64.
NOT SEEING WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
AND I HAVE A COMMENT OR QUESTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
COMMENT. COMMENT. NO QUESTION.
BUT ANYWAYS, JUST WANT TO THANK THANK THESE FOLKS FOR BEING WILLING TO SERVE.
AND ANYWAYS, I JUST JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THEM AND HONOR THAT.
OH, NO. I'M GOING TO YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND SAY THAT ONE.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
CALL FOR THE VOTE, PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
[01:20:03]
ALL RIGHT. NOW, THE FUN PART, I THINK I THINK SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS BEFORE WE GET INTO OUR FABULOUS BUDGET PROCESS.ALL RIGHT. I DON'T NEED A SECOND.
IF I COULD ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO MAKE THEIR WAY BACK UP TO THE DAIS.
WE'RE GOING TO GET STARTED HERE SHORTLY.
SUPERVISORS PEREIRA AND ESPINOSA.
SO NEXT, WE HAVE FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024, PROPOSED BUDGET ITEM 65 AND 66.
ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, I WILL TURN THE MIC OVER TO OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER, RAUL LOMELI.
[INAUDIBLE] RAUL LOMELI MENDEZ TO KICK OFF THE PROPOSED BUDGET PRESENTATION.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, COUNSEL HANSON, COUNTY STAFF AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC STILL IN ATTENDANCE.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED WITH TODAY'S PRESENTATION, WE DID WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE WAS AWARE THAT WE HAVE A FEW HANDOUTS AVAILABLE AT THE FOYER AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE OF THE CHAMBERS.
SO IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GRAB COPIES OF THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION, THE BUDGET OF THE GLANCY ARE AVAILABLE FOR FOR YOU TO REFER TO AS WE MAKE THIS PRESENTATION.
ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO EITHER NOW OR AT THE END OF TODAY'S MEETING.
THIS INCLUDES ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS, DEPARTMENT HEADS, AND THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF.
SO WE DO HAVE GRATITUDE TOWARDS THEM AND COOPERATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PACKAGE THAT'S BEFORE THE BOARD AND FOR THE IN FRONT OF THE COMMUNITY THIS MORNING. THIS IS A HEAVY LIFT AND A TOTAL TEAM EFFORT.
AND I KNOW OUR OTHER DEPUTY CEO, SAM ROMANES, ALSO PROVIDED ASSISTANCE IN REGARDS TO ALL THE PERSONNEL HUMAN RESOURCE ITEMS RELATED TO THE BUDGET. ALSO WANTED TO EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION TO LISA [INAUDIBLE] AND HER TEAM.
YOU CONTINUE TO BE MEASURED, STRATEGIC AND INTENTIONAL IN ALLOCATING THE SCARCE RESOURCES IS THAT WE ARE ENTRUSTED TO MANAGE AND EFFECTIVELY BALANCING CRITICAL NEEDS FOR THE ORGANIZATION AND ONE TIME EXPENDITURE REQUESTS.
I'M GOING TO MAYBE ASK THAT WE ADVANCE THE SLIDE TO THE TO.
WITH ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY ON THE HORIZON AND ANTICIPATED DEFICITS BOTH AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL YET TO BE ADDRESSED, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE AND MAINTAIN THAT APPROACH AND RESTRAINT THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2023-24 FINAL BUDGET IN THE UPCOMING MONTHS. YOU'LL SEE THAT BASED ON OUR LATEST PROJECTIONS, IT APPEARS THAT WE WILL END THE YEAR, THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, STRONG WITH REVENUE SOURCES HOLDING AND EXCEEDING REVENUES, EXCUSE ME, REVENUE SOURCES HOLDING AND EXCEEDING EXPENDITURES OR EXPENSES.
ALTHOUGH SALES TAX REVENUE, PROPERTY TAX AND INTEREST REVENUE CONTINUE TO COME IN STRONG .
AT THIS POINT, THE PROPOSED BUDGET BEFORE YOU IS BALANCED AND FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR EXCEEDS $1 BILLION AT $1.14, BUT RELIES ON ESTIMATED FUND BALANCE OF $70.1 MILLION, WHICH IS A $1.6 MILLION INCREASE FROM THE CURRENT YEAR.
[01:25:07]
REVIEW THOSE IN ADVANCE OF THE FINAL BUDGET.AFTER THE FISCAL YEAR ACCRUAL PERIOD ENDS IN AUGUST, WE WILL HAVE A REFINED FUND BALANCE AND A MORE ACCURATE FISCAL OUTLOOK FOR THE ORGANIZATION AND TO FURTHER ADDRESS KEY PRIORITY AREAS.
YOUR STAFF IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT MERCED COUNTY REMAINS FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.
THE RESIDENTS WE SERVE EXPECT THAT MUCH OF US AS STEWARDS OF THE PUBLIC DOLLAR.
REGARDING THE STATE BUDGET ON JUNE 15TH, THE LEGISLATURE APPROVED THE BUDGET BILL BY THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEADLINE, BUT ALSO SENT TO THE GOVERNOR A PLAN HE HAS NOT ENDORSED, NOR HAS OR NOR WAS REFLECTIVE OF OUTCOMES OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH HIS ADMINISTRATION.
IN THE LAST WEEK, SEVERAL TRAILER BILLS HAVE BEGUN TO TAKE SHAPE, WHICH INCLUDE IMPORTANT LOCAL EARMARK AND FUNDING REQUESTS THAT WILL IMPACT THE STATE BUDGET.
AND POTENTIALLY LOCAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
OUR STAFF CONTINUE TO CLOSELY MONITOR THESE BILLS FOR LOCAL IMPACTS AND WILL RECOMMEND ADJUSTMENTS DURING THE FINAL BUDGET ACCORDINGLY. AS IN THE PAST, THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS PRELIMINARY AND A WORK IN PROGRESS.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND WILL RECOMMEND FURTHER ADJUSTMENTS AT FINAL BUDGET FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION BASED ON OUR ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS AND YOUR BOARD'S PRIORITIES. THIS APPROACH ENSURES THAT THE COUNTY'S ABILITY TO OPERATE ON JULY 1ST, THE START OF THE FISCAL YEAR, AND UNTIL WE HAVE A CLEARER PICTURE OF OUR REVENUES AND THE YEAR END FUND BALANCE.
I WILL NOW TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER TO OUR BUDGET TEAM, LED BY MS. ANDERSON AND MR. DOCKSTADER, NOW A DIVISION MANAGER WITH THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE.
YOUR THREE MINUTES STARTS NOW.
I'M JUST KIDDING. I'LL MAKE IT QUICK.
THE INFORMATION INCLUDED HERE FOR FISCAL YEAR 22-23.
THE ESTIMATED VALUE ON THE RIGHT SIDE REPRESENTS ESTIMATES THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM OUR DEPARTMENTS.
YOU CAN SEE THE YELLOW LINE THERE INDICATES THE REVENUES THAT WE HAVE.
AND THE TRENDED INFORMATION ALSO TELLS A GOOD STORY.
THE BLUE LINE OF EXPENDITURES.
YOU CAN SEE THE GAPS KIND OF GO AWAY FROM EACH OTHER AND THEN THEY COME BACK TO EACH OTHER.
SO IT DOES APPEAR TO SHOW THE SIGNS OF OF CERTAIN ECONOMIC INDICATORS WHERE WE'RE PROCEEDING VERY CAUTIOUSLY AND AND WAITING TO SEE HOW WE TRULY DO END UP IN WHAT THE STATE AND FEDERAL SOURCES SHOW.
THE EXPENDITURES, THE BLUE LINE THERE, INCREASES THAT WE'VE SEEN PRIMARILY STEM FROM OUR SALARIES AND BENEFITS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE SIGNIFICANT PROGRAMING IN OUR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WHERE FUNDING IS INCLUDED.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF PROJECTS, AS YOU WELL KNOW, GOING ON WITH OUR COUNTY.
AND ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT BEING OUR JAIL PROJECT THAT IS NOW UNDERWAY.
AND WE ALSO HAVE SOME PROPERTY TAX REVENUES THAT HAD INCREASED DRIVEN THE INCREASE THERE.
THE FUND BALANCE THAT WE SEE YEAR OVER YEAR HERE ENDING AS OF JUNE 30TH.
WE'RE ESTIMATING OUR FISCAL YEAR 22-23 TO END WITH $131.1 MILLION.
[01:30:05]
WE'RE SEEING DEFINITELY THAT LINE ALMOST IN A PLATEAU WHERE THERE'S NOT AS MUCH GROWTH AS THERE HAS BEEN IN THE PRIOR YEARS.AND THE FUND BALANCE WILL BE IMPORTANT IN FUTURE SLIDES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WHERE THERE IS A CERTAIN UTILIZATION OF OUR FUND BALANCE . UNPACKING CERTAIN COMPONENTS OF OUR FUND BALANCE WHEN WE WANTED TO SHOW $131 DOES SEEM LIKE QUITE A BIT OF MONEY.
BUT WE WANTED TO UNPACK WHAT IS CONSISTED IN THAT AMOUNT.
YOU CAN SEE MULTI YEAR DIFFERENT TRENDS THERE.
THE VERY STARTING AT THE VERY BOTTOM, YOU SEE THE AVAILABLE AMOUNT THAT WE'RE PROGRAMING.
RAUL HAD MENTIONED, CEO MENDEZ HAD MENTIONED $70.1 MILLION.
THAT'S THE BOTTOM SECTION AND THAT IS AVAILABLE.
THE YELLOW SECTION INCLUDES THE ENCUMBRANCES.
THOSE ARE DRIVEN FROM THE PURCHASE ORDERS AND OR COMMITMENTS THAT THE COUNTY HAS YEAR AFTER YEAR.
THE TOP SECTION YOU CAN SEE FOR 22-23 INCLUDES $42.1 MILLION AND THAT IS FROM THE BOARD POLICY, THE RESERVES THAT WE HAVE BASICALLY THE RAINY DAY FUND.
SO WE CAN CALL UPON THAT FOR CERTAIN EMERGENCIES.
AND CURRENTLY IT'S PROGRAMED AT $42.1.
THOSE ARE NON SPENDABLE COMPONENTS OF OUR FUND BALANCE.
JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CERTAIN LOANS, CERTAIN INVENTORIES, BUT THAT COMPRISES OUR $131.1 MILLION OF FUND BALANCE IN OUR FISCAL YEAR 22-23. MOVING ON TO OUR LOCAL REVENUE.
THESE ARE GENERAL PURPOSE REVENUES.
THESE ARE THE FUNDS THAT THE BOARD TYPICALLY HAS THE MOST DISCRETION FOR PROGRAMING.
THESE ARE COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE NET COUNTY COST.
THIS IS WHAT WE CALL UPON TO SUPPORT PROGRAM NEEDS.
WE ARE PROGRAMING $124.3 MILLION FOR OUR 23-24 PROPOSED BUDGET.
YOU CAN SEE IT'S NEARLY DOUBLED SINCE OUR 12 FISCAL YEAR 12-13 BUDGET HERE ON THE SLIDE.
IT SEEMS IMPRESSIVE AND THERE HAS BEEN QUITE A BIT OF GROWTH.
BUT IN ANOTHER SLIDE, WE'LL SEE HOW THAT COMPARES TO OTHER SOURCES WITHIN OUR BUDGET.
A LITTLE MORE DETAIL PROVIDED HERE FOR OUR LOCAL RESOURCES.
DIFFERENT BREAKDOWNS OF WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THAT.
THE PRIMARY SOURCE IS THE PROPERTY TAXES THAT YOU CAN SEE IN OUR PROPOSED BUDGET.
WE HAVE $58.2 IN PROPERTY TAXES AND THEN A PROPERTY TAX SWAP SOURCE OF $42.6.
SALES TAX IS THE OTHER LARGEST COMPONENT AT $11 MILLION.
ONE THING I WANTED TO POINT OUT IS THAT WE ARE HOLDING THAT FLAT.
WE WERE SEEING SOME GROWTH IN THAT SOURCE.
SEEING AT OTHER LOCAL PARTNERS KIND OF CITY SOURCES, ET CETERA.
SO WE WANTED TO PROCEED CAUTIOUSLY AND NOT OVER PROGRAM FOR THAT SOURCE OF FUNDING.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR PROGRAMS. AND THEN TOWARDS THE BOTTOM, YOU CAN SEE BRINGING THE WHOLE PACKAGE TOGETHER, THE PROGRAMING OF OUR $70.1 MILLION IN FUND BALANCE AND THEN THE $124.3 IN OUR LOCAL REVENUES. ALSO, THE GENERAL PURPOSE REVENUES MAKES UP THE TOTAL LOCAL RESOURCES.
YOU CAN SEE ON THE RIGHT THERE OUR FISCAL YEAR 23-24 PROPOSED BUDGET, $124.3 MILLION IN THE LOCAL REVENUE AND $70.1 IN THE FUND BALANCE. CERTAIN REVENUES WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT HERE IN THAT THE BLUE LINE I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE YELLOW LINE THERE IS OUR COUNTYWIDE REVENUES, THE $124.3 MILLION GENERAL PURPOSE REVENUES.
THESE ARE REALLY STEMMING FROM OUR FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, ANY OTHER FUNDING SOURCE THAT PROGRAMS WITHIN OUR GENERAL FUND DRAW UPON TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES AND THE PROGRAMS. AND YOU CAN SEE THE GROWTH THERE HAS BEEN EXPONENTIAL.
[01:35:03]
AND NEXT TO OUR LITTLE YELLOW LINE THERE, IT REALLY MAKES IT SEEM LIKE IT HASN'T EXPERIENCED MUCH GROWTH IN COMPARISON TO ALL THE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE PROGRAMING WE'VE SEEN WITH SUBVENTED OR OFFSETTING REVENUES.AND THE ONE OTHER THING I KNOW THAT THAT BLUE LINE WILL ACTUALLY BE THE ONE PROBABLY THAT IS THE MOST IMPACTED IF THE STATE AND FEDS DO MAKE CHANGES AND DIFFERENT SHIFTS IN PROGRAMING AS THEY EXPERIENCE AND TRY TO BALANCE OUT THEIR BUDGET.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS A MULTI YEAR VIEW OF EACH FUNCTIONAL AREA.
SO WE HAVE OUR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IN THE BRIGHT BLUE AND THEY UTILIZE THE LEAST AMOUNT.
IT'S TYPICALLY DRIVEN BY THEIR MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT REQUIREMENTS THAT THE COUNTY HAS OR OTHER LOCAL CONTRIBUTIONS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR OUR FISCAL YEAR 23-24 PROPOSED BUDGET. THEY'RE ONLY AT $6.2 MILLION.
THE YELLOW SECTION THERE IS OUR MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY WIDE FUNCTIONAL AREA AND THAT INCLUDES DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS LIKE OUR PUBLIC WORKS, AG COMMISSIONER, THE LIBRARY, CORONER, AND ANIMAL SERVICES.
AND YOU CAN SEE IN THE IN THE TWO RIGHT YEARS ON THE END OF THAT SLIDE, THE SIGNIFICANT GROWTH THAT YOU'VE SEEN THERE PRIMARILY STEMMING FOR CONTRIBUTIONS THAT WE'VE MADE FOR OUR JAIL PROJECT THAT AS YOU KNOW, IS A VERY PROMINENT IT'S A BIG PROJECT THAT WE'RE UNDERTAKING IN OUR COUNTY AND AND MOVING THE NEEDLE THERE.
THE GRAY SECTION IS OUR PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUSTICE AREA.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THAT LINE IS THE HIGHEST.
AND SO THE HIGHEST UTILIZERS THERE.
AND THEN WE HAVE OUR SUPPORT SERVICES, WHICH IS THE DARKER BLUE LINE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, AND THAT INCLUDES PRIMARILY OUR CENTRAL SERVICES DEPARTMENTS, BUT ALSO HAS OUR ASSESSOR, OUR TAX COLLECTOR, REGISTRAR OF VOTERS AND ELECTIONS.
THIS ALSO INCLUDES OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
THAT AGAIN, IS THE FUNDING THAT THE BOARD HAS TO TO PROGRAM AS DISCRETIONARY REVENUE, THE MOST DISCRETIONARY SOURCE AND THE SUM ON ANY GIVEN FISCAL YEAR THAT YOU CAN SEE IF YOU TAKE EACH FOUR OF THOSE BLOCKS, STACK THEM UP ON TOP OF EACH OTHER, THE NEED IS GREATER THAN WHAT WE HAVE IN OUR LOCAL SOURCE OF REVENUE. SO INTER FUND BALANCE AND THAT'S WHERE WE START PROGRAMING IN OUR USE OF FUND BALANCE, WHICH USUALLY IS TYPICALLY DEDICATED TO THE USE OF ONE TIME NEEDS BECAUSE WE DON'T LIKE TO UTILIZE THAT, FUND THOSE FUNDS FOR ONGOING SOURCES.
AND WITH OUR NEXT SLIDE, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO SCOTT TO FINISH OUT OUR PRESENTATION.
GOOD MORNING CHAIR, BOARD, CEO MENDEZ, COUNCIL, COUNSEL HANSON, PUBLIC.
SO WE'RE GOING TO WALK THROUGH THE BUDGET A LITTLE BIT MORE, KIND OF THE APPROPRIATION SIDE.
SO AS CEO MENDEZ MENTIONED EARLIER, WE ARE AGAIN OVER THE $1 BILLION MARK.
SO OUR TOTAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 23-24 PROPOSED BUDGET IS $1.14 BILLION.
UM, IT'S A IT'S A BIG BUDGET STILL.
YES. UM, THIS STEMS FROM $346.1 MILLION IN OTHER FUNDS, WHICH INCLUDES FIRE, WHICH WE KIND OF SPOKE OF EARLIER.
AND A LOT OF THOSE ARE, WELL, NOT A LOT.
THOSE FUNDS ARE SUPPORTED BY THEIR OWN REVENUE SOURCES LEAVING IN OUR GENERAL FUND, $792.5 MILLION OF APPROPRIATION.
AND THIS IS THE PORTION THAT IS WITHIN KIND OF USING THE DEPARTMENT DEDICATED REVENUES THAT VANESSA SPOKE OF JUST A MOMENT AGO THAT SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND THOSE DEPARTMENT DEDICATED REVENUES ARE SUPPORTING $598.1 MILLION, LEAVING A NET COUNTY COST OF $194.4 MILLION.
[01:40:06]
AND WE'RE USING THOSE LOCAL REVENUES OF $124.3 MILLION AND OUR FUND BALANCE OF $70.1 MILLION TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET.SO THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT SLIDE THAN WE'VE HAD IN HISTORICALLY IN PAST YEARS.
BUT THIS SHOWS OUR $1.14 BILLION BUDGET AND SHOWS THE OTHER OTHER FUNDS, $346.1 MILLION THERE ARE 30% OF OUR BUDGET AND THE $792 OR 70% OF OUR WHICH IS OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET, AND THEN BREAKING DOWN THAT GENERAL FUND BUDGET, THAT 70% YOU CAN SEE THERE, ROUGHLY 75% OR $598.1 MILLION IS SUPPORTED BY DEPARTMENT DEDICATED REVENUES, FEDERAL, STATE GRANT FUNDING.
THEN IT ALSO SHOWS OUR GENERAL PURPOSE REVENUES OF $124.3 MILLION OR 16%, AND THEN OUR FUND BALANCE OF $70.1 MILLION OR 9%.
SO OUR BUDGET IS ROUGHLY 75% FUNDED OUTSIDE FROM OTHER FUNDING SOURCES.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATIONS BROKEN DOWN INTO SPENDING CATEGORIES WITH THE MOST SIGNIFICANT EXPENSES BEING OUR SALARIES AND BENEFITS.
AND AGAIN, WE HAVE A LOT OF COUNTY OVER 2,000 COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND WE'LL SEE A SLIDE IN JUST A LITTLE BIT OF SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AS PART OF PROPOSED BUDGET. BUT WE ARE RECOMMENDING TO ADD POSITIONS AS PART OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET PACKAGE.
SO YOU CAN SEE THEIR INCREASES OF $7.4 MILLION IN OUR SALARIES AND BENEFITS, $18.1 MILLION AND OUR SERVICE SUPPLIES $18.7 MILLION IN OUR OTHER CHARGES, A REDUCTION ACTUALLY IN TRANSFERS.
AND THIS IS TRANSFERS TO OTHER FUNDS OR WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND ITSELF.
AND THEN CAPITAL ASSETS AN INCREASE OF $25.9 MILLION.
AGAIN, KIND OF SPEAKING TO THE PROJECTS THAT VANESSA SPOKE OF EARLIER, WE'VE BEEN MOVING FORWARD WITH A LOT OF PROJECTS AND THEN OUR TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS OF $192.5 MILLION.
SO THIS SHOWS OUR GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATIONS BROKEN DOWN INTO SPENDING CATEGORIES.
IT SHOWS A HISTORY OF THE LAST THREE YEARS, INCLUDING OUR FISCAL YEAR 23-24 PROPOSED BUDGET.
THE PREVIOUS SLIDE INCLUDED ALL SPENDING CATEGORIES.
THIS ONE'S JUST INCLUDING KIND OF THE MAJOR SPENDING CATEGORIES.
BUT YOU CAN SEE THERE THAT OUR SALARIES AND BENEFITS, AGAIN, IS THE LARGEST SPENDING CATEGORY AND IT CONTINUES TO INCREASE, ALBEIT AT A SLOWER PACE THIS COMING YEAR.
DID WANT TO POINT OUT, THOUGH, CAPITAL ASSETS, WHILE THAT HAS BEEN THE SMALLEST CATEGORY WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, SOME VERY LARGE INCREASES IN GROWTH IN THAT CAPITAL ASSETS CATEGORY.
SO THIS SLIDE IS ONE THAT WE HAVE SEEN HISTORICALLY THROUGH MANY BUDGET CYCLES, SHOWING OUR TOTAL BUDGET OF $1.14 BILLION IN THE YELLOW ON BOTH SIDES.
OUR TOTAL BUDGET AND OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET IN THE YELLOW IS OUR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FUNCTIONAL AREA, COMPRISING 42% OF OUR TOTAL BUDGET AND 59% OF OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET, OUR MUNICIPAL COUNTYWIDE SERVICES AT 20% OF OUR TOTAL BUDGET. 8% OF OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
OUR LOCAL PUBLIC SAFETY IS 15% OF OUR TOTAL BUDGET AND 21% OF OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
[01:45:02]
OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET.AND AGAIN, A LOT OF SPECIFIC REVENUE SOURCES THAT ARE TOWARDS SPECIFIC PROGRAMS THAT ARE SUPPORTING THOSE APPROPRIATIONS.
I ALSO WANTED TO POINT OUT AGAIN AT THE BOTTOM THERE SUPPORT SERVICES CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
WE'VE SEEN SOME LARGE INCREASES ALSO IN THAT FUNCTIONAL AREA.
AGAIN, DUE TO THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE ARPA DOLLARS ONE TIME, ONE TIME MONEY THAT WE'RE USING FOR THOSE PROGRAMS. I MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT AGO THAT WE WERE INCLUDING POSITIONS AS PART OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET PACKAGE.
THIS SHOWS OUR TOTAL COUNTY WIDE POSITION TOTALS AND OUR GENERAL FUND POSITION TOTALS.
THERE ARE 46 NEW POSITIONS THAT ARE BEING INCLUDED AS PART OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET PACKAGE.
THOSE POSITIONS REFLECTED HAVE NO ADDITIONAL NET COUNTY COST AS THEY'RE ALL RECOMMENDED AS SWAPS OR CHANGING ONE POSITION TO ANOTHER OR REQUESTS THAT ARE SUPPORTED BY SUBVENTED DEPARTMENTS OR HAVE REVENUES THAT ARE SUPPORTING THOSE POSITIONS. I ALSO WANTED TO NOTE THAT YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THE INCREASE ON THE THE SLIDE ITSELF, THERE'S 57 AND I MENTIONED 46 POSITIONS AS PART OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET PACKAGE.
THERE ARE 11 POSITIONS THAT WERE ADDED DURING THE COURSE OF FISCAL YEAR 2022-23 MID-YEAR STAFFING ADJUSTMENTS THAT YOUR BOARD APPROVED. AND SO THOSE POSITIONS HAVE ALSO BEEN INCLUDED AND ARE PART OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET PACKAGE.
OUR GENERAL FUND RESERVE AMOUNTS ARE BEING PROVIDED HERE FOR THE LAST 11 YEARS.
THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE AMOUNT IS BEING HELD FLAT FOR THE PROPOSED BUDGET PACKAGE UNTIL MORE INFORMATION CAN BE OBTAINED AFTER FISCAL YEAR END SO THAT WE CAN CALCULATE THE BOARD ESTABLISHED RANGE.
ANY RECOMMENDATIONS TO UPDATE THIS WILL BE BROUGHT FORWARD AS PART OF THE FINAL BUDGET PACKAGE.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS OUR GENERAL FUND CONTINGENCY.
YOU WILL NOTICE FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS WE HAD A CONTINGENCY OF $9.5 MILLION.
BEGINNING IN FISCAL YEAR 2021, IT WAS INCREASED TO $9.5 MILLION.
PART OF THAT WAS IN KIND OF PREPARATION FOR THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC AND THE UNCERTAINTY THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO BE GOING ON WITH THAT PANDEMIC.
NOW THAT WE ARE PAST THAT PANDEMIC, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT WE HAVE A $6.5 MILLION CONTINGENCY.
$3 MILLION HAS BEEN DEPROGRAMMED FROM THE CONTINGENCIES TO PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR CERTAIN PRIORITIES AND OBLIGATIONS THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WITHIN THE LAST PAST FISCAL YEAR.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOU KNOW THAT TALKING ABOUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO SYSTEM.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL TURN THE TIME BACK OVER TO RAUL OR CEO MENDEZ.
I'M SORRY I PUT THE LIGHTS BACK ON.
WELL, SORRY, MR. MENDEZ. THANK YOU, SCOTT.
VANESSA, FOR THAT INFORMATION, FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
THERE WERE FOUR CATEGORIES THERE ON THE SCREEN THAT ARE IMPRINTED IN THE BUDGET AND IN OUR PLANNING, INCLUDING FISCAL STABILITY, WATER, FLOOD RECOVERY, PUBLIC SAFETY, JUSTICE AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND FACILITIES.
WE HAVE TOUCHED ON MANY OF THESE ITEMS IN THE PRESENTATION, WHETHER IT'S PREPARING OURSELVES FOR DEFICITS AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL, HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF OUR WORK ON THE CAPITAL PROJECT FRONT, OUR JAIL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS THAT BROKE GROUND HERE
[01:50:10]
RECENTLY. AND I KNOW WE WILL BE HOLDING A RIBBON CUTTING, COORDINATING WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HERE IN THE UPCOMING WEEKS.CONTINUED WORK ON FLOOD RECOVERY, AS INDICATED EARLIER.
VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE THAT GOOD WORK, TRYING TO MAXIMIZE EVERY OPPORTUNITY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WAS IMPACTED BY THAT DEVASTATION EARLIER THIS YEAR. AND THEN LASTLY, CONTINUED EMPHASIS ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, ROADS, PARKS, COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT WILL CONTINUE THOSE AREAS WILL CONTINUE TO BE A FOCUS FOR US AS WE GO FORWARD WITH RESOURCES ALREADY PROGRAMED AND OTHERS THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE THIS UPCOMING YEAR. WE CONTINUE TO TRY AND LEVERAGE OUR LOCAL DOLLARS TO ACCESS GRANT FUNDING, EARMARKS, ADDITIONAL EXTERNAL FUNDING THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE TO US TO CONTINUE PROGRESS IN THESE AREAS.
IN CLOSING, AND AS I CLOSE OUT THIS PRESENTATION, I DID WANT TO JUST THANK OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES OUR MOST VALUABLE RESOURCES OR RESOURCE EXCUSE ME, WHICH OBVIOUSLY THIS PAST YEAR HAS BEEN A CHALLENGING ONE ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS BOARD, AND JUST FEEL REALLY FORTUNATE TO BE IN AN EXECUTIVE LEVEL POSITION WORKING WITH A GROUP OF TALENTED PROFESSIONALS.
MR. CHAIR, THIS CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION.
OUR ENTIRE TEAM IS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU OR YOUR COLLEAGUES MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU, MR. MENDEZ. I'LL JUST GET MY SCRIPT BACK OUT HERE.
SO AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR OUR PROPOSED BUDGET ITEMS, 65 AND 66.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A CONGRATULATIONS OR A THANK YOU, BUT TO CEO MENDEZ AND YOUR TEAM FOR, YOU KNOW. WELL, ACTUALLY.
WELL, I'LL FINISH THIS ONE, BUT JUST THANK YOU FOR DELVING IN.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE RELATIVELY NEW TO OUR BUDGET.
YOU WENT THROUGH IT LAST YEAR, BUT THAT WAS A STEEP LEARNING CURVE.
SECONDLY, WHICH I SHOULD HAVE DONE FIRST IS I WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR BEING WRONG LAST YEAR AT OUR WELL, IT WAS ACTUALLY FINAL BUDGET, BUT I SAID THAT WE'LL NEVER SEE A BILLION BUDGET AGAIN. AND HERE WE ARE.
AND I THOUGHT, MAN, YOU KNOW, WE GOING BACK DOWN BELOW A BILLION, BUT WE DIDN'T.
AND AND SO WE GOT THAT ON THE RECORD.
AND IF MY WIFE'S NOT WATCHING, I'LL BE SURE TO TELL HER THE MOMENT THAT I SAID THAT BECAUSE SHE'LL GET A KICK AND THEN A COUPLE OF ITEMS. SO, SO ONE AND, AND I AND THIS IS FOR MY COLLEAGUES.
MY REQUEST TO YOU IS AND I TALKED TO PUBLIC WORKS ON THIS.
WE HAVE AN ITEM IN THE BUDGET.
IT'S $83,600 WHICH IS STRUCTURES AND IMPROVEMENTS AND AND THAT'S IT'S $12.7 MILLION AND THAT'S FOR PROJECTS COMING THIS NEXT YEAR.
RIGHT. IT'S IT'S REALLY A PLACEHOLDER AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT THAT WE WOULD TAKE $450,000 OF THAT AND TRANSFER IT TO $81,487, WHICH IS THE DELHI PARK ACQUISITION.
AND THEN JUST TO REMIND YOU THAT, OF COURSE, DELHI IS THE LARGEST COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, IT'S 11,000 PEOPLE AND IT DOESN'T HAVE A COUNTY PARK.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT.
AND THEN AND THEN SECONDLY, AND I'M NOT 100% SURE THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT NUMBER, BUT WE HAVE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX CATEGORIES IN OUR IN OUR ROADS BUDGET.
AND THEY'RE THE LARGE, YOU KNOW, THE CAMPUS PARKWAYS, THE LET ME GET TO IT JUST TO CAMPUS PARKWAY,
[01:55:05]
THE, YOU KNOW, SB 1 MONEY.I'M CONCERNED THAT THAT THAT $87,200 IT'S $500,000 FOR THE FOR LIKE ROAD PATCHING AND YOU KNOW THOSE AND I'M CONCERNED THAT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY THAT'S WHAT WE HAD ALLOCATED LAST YEAR.
WE WENT OVER THAT BECAUSE OF THE STORMS. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE ROADS ARE IN WORSE CONDITION TODAY THAN THEY WERE.
AND I THINK THAT THAT NUMBER SHOULD BE INCREASED A LITTLE BIT.
SO WHAT I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST IS THAT IF THERE'S COST SAVINGS AND I'LL NAME THE THE SIX FUNDS, BUT IF THERE'S COST SAVINGS IN THERE THAT AREN'T LARGE ENOUGH TO DO ANOTHER ROAD PROJECT, THAT THAT MONEY GETS PUT INTO THE, THE MAINTENANCE MONEY.
SO WE CAN WE CAN CONTRACT AND GET MORE ROADS PATCHED.
YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE ALL HAVE ROADS.
IF WE HAVE A SAVINGS, BUT IT'S NOT LARGE ENOUGH TO DO SOMETHING ELSE, WE PUT IT THERE.
THE AND I'LL I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT THE THE.
AND I BELIEVE WHERE THE MONEY NEEDS TO GO IS IN OUR OVERLAYS AND PATCHING, WHICH IS $87,200.
THAT WAS IT. OKAY. IF YOU DON'T MIND ME ASKING, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, IS THAT IS THAT YOU MAKING THAT AS PART OF PASSING THE PROPOSED BUDGET OR IS THERE DO YOU WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THAT CHANGE BEFORE WE GET TO FINAL BUDGET? WELL, I'D LIKE TO DO IT IN PROPOSED BUDGET.
SO WE'LL KEEP THAT. WELL, I'LL AND I'LL I'LL GO TO DEFER TO MY COLLEAGUES.
RIGHT. BUT THE PARK MONEY I WOULD LIKE TO SEE DONE NOW.
THAT MONEY I KNOW IS AVAILABLE.
YOU KNOW, I'VE TALKED TO DIRECTOR HERTFELDER.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
I THINK IT IS VERY REFLECTIVE FROM THE BOARD'S INPUT, WHICH IS VERY.
I KNOW THAT MY COLLEAGUE, MR. PEDROZO AND MYSELF WENT THROUGH IT TOGETHER AND WE WERE WE WERE VOCAL AND YOU GUYS TOOK OUR IDEAS AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
I'M SURE OUR COLLEAGUES WERE PRETTY MUCH ON THE SAME PAGE.
UM, BUT NO, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS.
I LIKE HOW WE ARE BEING CAUTIOUS MOVING FORWARD.
I TOO ECHO WHAT LLOYD SAID BECAUSE I THOUGHT LAST YEAR IT WAS GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST ONE AND I THOUGHT FOR SURE THIS YEAR WAS GOING TO BE BAD. AND GOING INTO THE BUDGET BRIEFING, I WAS.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR THE BUDGET BRIEFING.
I WANT TO THANK CEO MENDEZ FOR REALLY BREAKING IT DOWN AND THEN, YOU KNOW, REALLY EXPLAINING IT AGAIN, BECAUSE THIS THING CHANGED. I MEAN, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT CHANGES, BUT IT CHANGES SO MUCH.
AND SO IT'S DIFFICULT, YOU KNOW, AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME, IT BECOMES OLD HAT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF MY BIG THINGS ABOUT BUDGETS IS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I AM VERY CONSERVATIVE WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGETING, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A DOWNTURN AT SOME POINT IN TIME AND WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PREPARE.
AND SO I THINK BEING CAUTIOUS MAKE SURE MAINTAIN THE ABILITY FOR US TO BE SUSTAINABLE.
YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD TO WORK OR I'VE HAD TO PASS BUDGETS WHERE WE'VE HAD TO LAY PEOPLE OFF AND I REFUSE TO DO THAT AND CUT PROGRAMS. AND SO I LIKE THE THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE HEADED THAT, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S A ONE TIME REVENUE, IT GOES TO ONE TIME COST.
[02:00:01]
WE CAN'T BUDGET BASED ON ONE TIME REVENUES AND THINKING THAT IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE THERE.AND SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT.
SUPERVISOR PAREIRA I WOULD SUPPORT THE MONEY FOR THE DELHI AND MOVING THAT AROUND.
I MEAN, DELHI HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT A PARK FOR FOR A LONG TIME AND THEY NEED SOMETHING.
BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE STAFF BY REALLY FOLLOWING OUR DIRECTIONS OF SUSTAINABILITY, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE CAUTIOUS AND MAINTAINING OUR ABILITIES TO, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE AS A COUNTY.
AND THERE'S OTHER PLACES THAT ARE IN BAD, IN WORSE SHAPE THAN WE ARE.
AND I THINK THAT WE ARE DOING A GOOD JOB.
SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA. THANK YOU.
I'M GOING TO JUST CHECK ON I KNOW WE'RE ADDING A ANOTHER ASSISTANT HEALTH DIRECTOR AND IT'S GOING TO BE $230,000 PLUS ALL THE ADDITIONAL COSTS IS GOING TO BE CLOSE TO $400,000.
BUT I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT HEALTH DIRECTOR AND AND PUBLIC HEALTH TEAM.
AND I MEAN, NOT NOT THAT THEY'RE NOT DOING THEIR JOB, BUT I THINK THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO THEIR JOB OPENLY AND WITHOUT BEING STOPPED. AND NOT I'M NOT SAYING I'M NOT SAYING THAT THEY'RE FIGHTING WITH ANYBODY.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO BE WILLING TO BE SUPPORTED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE CEO TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DO PROGRAMS THAT ARE SAFE FOR THE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR THE PUBLIC.
I KNOW WE HAD ISSUES IN THE PAST.
YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, VERY YOU KNOW, HE'S BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB, BUT HOPEFULLY, LIKE WITH HIS ASSISTANT, HE CAN IMPROVE THAT AND HELP OUT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH, DO A BETTER JOB IN, YOU KNOW, IN SUPPORTING ALL THE SERVICES IN THE MERCED COUNTY.
SO I WANT TO I'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS TO SAY.
BUT FIRST OFF, I WANT TO START OFF BY I KNOW FOR ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, I KNOW THAT THIS YEAR WE TRANSITIONED OVER TO AN ALL ONLINE BASED BUDGETING SYSTEM AND HOPEFULLY THAT WORKED OUT WELL FOR EVERYBODY.
I KNOW WHEN IT'S BRAND NEW, IT'S PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING.
AND SO I'M THANKFUL THAT THAT ALL WORKED OUT.
AND SO HOPEFULLY THAT WORKED OUT FOR YOU.
I KNOW THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE TOOK ON IN ORDER TO MAKE THINGS MORE EFFICIENTLY AND AND HAVE FOLKS BETTER TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE BUDGET AND SUBMIT THEIR REQUESTS.
AND SO HOPEFULLY THAT WORKED OUT.
I MEAN, WE SEE THE PROPOSED FINAL PROJECT HERE, SO I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT.
UM, JUST TO ECHO SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES COMMENTS, I THINK THE QUARTERLY MEETINGS THAT WE'VE HAD, THAT BUDGET OFFICE HAS HAD WITH THE SUPERVISORS, I THINK THAT GIVES YOU GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY AS THE ELECTEDS TO KIND OF LET YOU KNOW IN REAL TIME WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE.
AND REALLY THE ONLY KIND OF REQUEST THAT CAME OUT OF IT IS A $450,000, I BELIEVE IT WAS DOLLAR CHANGE ON SOMETHING, IN MY OPINION, THAT'S PRETTY DOGGONE GOOD. SO I THINK THAT, AGAIN, THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO STAFF'S WORK ON IT.
AND SO I THINK IT'S I THINK WE'RE YOU KNOW, I SAY IT ALL THE TIME.
WE'RE HEALTHY IN MERCED COUNTY.
AND I JUST WANT TO GO BECAUSE YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD ME SAY IT BEFORE AND I THINK IT'S WORTH REPEATING EVERY TIME IS WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED, THE FIRST BUDGET THAT I WAS A PART OF, OUR TOTAL BUDGET WAS $684 MILLION, AND OF THAT OUR LOCAL SHARE WAS $100 MILLION, $100.6 MILLION.
THAT WAS WHAT OUR LOCAL REVENUE WAS.
HERE WE ARE FIVE YEARS LATER WITH A $100,138.6 BILLION BUDGET.
THAT'S AN INCREASE OF $454 MILLION IN FIVE YEARS.
[02:05:03]
BUT I WANT TO GO BACK TO MY NUMBER.THE LOCAL SHARE THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BE $124.3, AN INCREASE OF $20.
I'M GOING TO CALL THAT $23.7 MILLION.
SO YOU LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS, THEN YOU SEE THAT TOP LINE NUMBER.
BUT UNDERSTAND THAT THE MONEY THAT WE TRULY HAVE THE MOST DISCRETION OVER HOW WE WANT TO SPEND IN THAT TIME HAS ONLY WENT UP BY $23 MILLION, WHICH IS NOTHING TO SNEEZE AT, BUT STILL WANT TO.
I THINK IT JUST KIND OF SHOWS YOU THAT THINGS ARE A LITTLE WONKY OUT THERE.
I DON'T KNOW. THERE'S IT'S CRAZY.
AND I'M WITH SUPERVISOR PAREIRA IN THAT I WAS CONVINCED.
I DIDN'T THINK THAT. I NEVER SAID WE WOULD NEVER GO OVER A BILLION AGAIN.
AND IN REALITY IT IS OVER A BILLION AND WE'RE UP BY.
I WROTE THE NUMBER DOWN. IS IT $80 SOMETHING MILLION DOLLARS MORE THIS YEAR THAN WE WERE LAST YEAR.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS THIS IS, YOU KNOW, QUOTE, MY PREDECESSOR.
THIS IS THIS IS THE CEO AND STAFF'S BUDGET.
AND THEN WE'LL GET TO OUR BUDGET WHEN WE PASS THE FINAL ONE COME SEPTEMBER.
AND I KNOW THAT WE'LL BE HAVING DISCUSSIONS, BUT I JUST APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT'S GONE INTO IT.
IT'S IT'S NO NO SMALL FEAT AND SPENDING $1 BILLION OF NOT MY MONEY, BUT OUR BOSS'S MONEY, THE TAXPAYERS MONEY, WE TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY HERE.
AND WE'VE HAD I THINK WE HAD GOOD, HEALTHY DISCUSSION ON OUR ON OUR FIRE CONTRACT.
I THINK THAT IT'S WORTH HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
BUT WE'RE WE'RE SETTING THE PLAN FORWARD TO GO DO THE GOOD WORK FOR THE PEOPLE OF MERCED COUNTY.
AND I APPRECIATE WHERE WE'RE AT AND I APPRECIATE THE COMMITMENT TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND KEEPING, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY NOW OR WE'RE GOING TO SPEND IT LATER.
AND IF WE SPEND IT LATER, WE'RE GOING TO SPEND A LOT MORE OF IT.
I KNOW THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES.
BUT RIGHT NOW, I SAID AT ONE POINT I FELT LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY WAS RUNNING AT A C PLUS.
AND I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT WE RAN AT ABOUT AN A MINUS TO AN A, AGAIN ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
STILL GOT ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET.
I THINK THAT I CAN SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND I'M GOING TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE DOING IN OUR DISTRICTS, I THINK THAT IF WE'RE ADVOCATING AND WE'RE ALL KIND OF GETTING OUR FAIR SHARE, I KNOW SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF ROADS IN HIS DISTRICT AND WANTS TO COME UP WITH A NEW FORMULA THAT THAT BECAUSE EVERYBODY TRAVELS DOWN HIS ROADS.
BUT YOU KNOW AND PUBLIC WORKS YOU KNOW I KNOW I PICK ON YOU GUYS A LITTLE BIT BUT THE ONE AREA THAT I THINK THAT WE'RE DOING REALLY WELL IN IS OUR ROADS DEPARTMENT. WE'RE GETTING SOME ROADS REPAVED.
AND I SAID THIS, I WAS AT KIWANAS YESTERDAY WITH SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
AND AND QUITE HONESTLY, BEFORE WE HAD MONEY TO FIX ANY ROADS, EVERYBODY WAS EQUALLY PISSED OFF.
AND THEN NOW THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY FIXING ROADS, NOW, THEY'RE THEY'RE MORE PISSED OFF BECAUSE THEY SEE THE ROAD NEXT, YOU KNOW, TWO ROADS DOWN GETTING DONE AND NOT THEIR ROAD. BUT WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS ON IT.
AND AGAIN, IF WE HAD THE PROVERBIAL MONEY TREE, I WOULD FIX EVERYBODY'S ROADS YESTERDAY.
BUT WE DON'T AND SO WE HAVE TO MAKE CALCULATED DECISIONS.
AND SO OVERALL, I THINK IT'S A GOOD DAY FOR COUNTY.
I'M NOT SCARED OF THE $1.13 BILLION.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN WE CAN SUSTAIN IT.
AND THE LAST THING THAT I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH IT CONCERNS ME EVERY YEAR IS OUR FUND BALANCE.
OUR FUND BALANCE IS CONTINUING TO GROW.
AND THAT SCARES ME. AND SO JUST SO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT FUND BALANCE, THAT MEANS THAT IF EVERYTHING THAT WE VOTED ON AND THEN WE'LL GET TO A FINAL BUDGET AND FINAL NUMBERS, EVERYTHING THAT WE VOTED TO APPROVE, IF EVERYBODY DOES WHAT THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO DO AND SPENDS THAT MONEY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A $70 PLUS MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT NEXT YEAR.
I DON'T I'M JUST NOT COMFORTABLE WITH IT.
I KNOW IT'S THE WAY THAT IT IS.
BUT IF I CAN ENCOURAGE STAFF IS IS HOW DO WE WORK ON GETTING BACK TO TRUER NUMBERS AND NOT HAVING THAT FUND BALANCE THERE? THAT SCARES ME.
SCOTT I APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK.
SO IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS, CHAIR WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
[02:10:05]
WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.AND THAT'S JUST FOR THE PARK, FOR THE $450 FOR DELHI AND THEN WITH THE COMMITMENT THAT WE WILL TRY TO GET SOMETHING FIGURED OUT A LITTLE BIT BETTER BY THE TIME WE GET TO FINAL BUDGET. PERFECT.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
THANK YOU. STAFF THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.
AND ON BEHALF OF MY 58,000 BOSSES, THEY THANK YOU, TOO.
[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION]
ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA GET TO MY PAGE.AND TODAY WE WILL START WITH SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
MAN AFTER THAT, I'M KIND OF DRAINED.
WELL HOPETON HAD THEIR PORTUGUESE CELEBRATION THIS WEEKEND.
MOST OF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE HOPETON IS BECAUSE IT'S NOT A TOWN ANYMORE.
AND SO ANYWAYS, IT'S A NEAT COMMUNITY TO ME.
THANK THANKFUL FOR THE FOR THE WONDERFUL WEATHER FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT MADE IT THERE.
WE GENERALLY DONATE ABOUT 80% OF OUR OUR LEFTOVER MONEY TO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.
AND WITH THIS YEAR WE'LL BE SOMEWHERE NORTH OF $300,000 THAT WE'VE DONATED TO THEM.
AND SO IF YOU HAVE A IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY THAT YOU KNOW IN YOUR FAMILY WHO'S BEEN TO VALLEY CHILDREN'S, YOU KNOW, WELL, WE'RE TRYING TO TO HELP MAKE THAT HAPPEN FOR YOU AS WELL. I'M WEARING MY RED, WHITE AND BLUE TIE.
THIS IS AS CLOSE AS WE GET TO 4TH OF JULY.
AND I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT I DON'T HAVE TO I DON'T HAVE TO TALK THIS BECAUSE I'M NOT BRITISH.
AND SO AND I'M THANKFUL FOR OUR MILITARY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO TALK CHINESE, GERMAN, JAPANESE.
AND WELL, I GUESS I SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID CHINESE, BUT AT LEAST THE JAPANESE AND THE GERMAN.
SO ANYWAYS, OTHER THAN THAT, I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER BOARD REPORTS.
THANK YOU. AND OH, I WILL SAY THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY DEAL HERE.
IT'S BEEN RUNNING 5,000-6,000.
RIGHT. SO THIS IS WAY DOWN AND THIS IS A NORMAL NUMBER.
I KNOW THE SHERIFF HAS REMOVED HIS STAY OUT OF THE WATER ORDER.
AND THE MERCED RIVER HAS ROTARIAN HABITAT THAT HANGS OUT INTO IT ALL OVER THE PLACE.
AND, YOU KNOW, DON'T BE DON'T BE A RESCUE ON 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND.
ALL RIGHT, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL LET ME GO TO DISCUSSION MODE.
AND I GUESS CONGRATULATIONS TO STAFF ON THIS BUDGET.
THEY HAVE A NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM THERE AND THEY'RE LOOKING TO EXPAND BY ANOTHER THIRD AND BRING ON SOME NEW ITEMS. AND SO THAT'S EXCITING FOR MERCED COUNTY AND FOR THE CITY OF ATWATER.
ALSO WITH ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES, I GOT TO TOUR THE PICK AND PULL SITE AND I MEAN, I'VE REBUILT AN OLD CAR AND WAS OUT IN PICK AND PULL FOR A LONG TIME AND REBUILT IT FROM THERE.
AND HOW ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS AS THEY ARE.
YOU KNOW, WE COMPLAIN THAT WE HAVE TO DIVIDE UP OUR TRASH INTO THREE DIFFERENT BINS.
[02:15:10]
WHAT WE'RE WHAT WE'RE DOING THERE.I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TOUR THE NEW JUNIPER SCHOOL IN THE CITY OF ATWATER.
I THINK ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS MIGHT BE SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE.
AND BUT ANYWAY, IT WAS BEAUTIFUL SCHOOL DONE VERY WELL.
PROUD OF THE CITY OF ATWATER AND MOVING FORWARD.
ALWAYS DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO FORGET THAT I DO HAVE MY MOBILE DISTRICT HOURS IN THE CITY OF ATWATER.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'D LIKE THOSE STATE FOLKS TO BE INVOLVED AS WELL.
THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
LET'S GO TO SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN A PAIN IN THE BUTT WITH THE PLANADA POST OFFICE, WHICH WE I KNOW THAT SINCE 2018, WE KNOW THAT ALL THOSE REINS BACK THEN, THAT POST OFFICE HAS BEEN NEGLECTED.
AND NOW WITH THE FLOODS, IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN DOWN FOR A LONG TIME.
BUT, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, WE TOURED IT WITH THE JOHN DUARTE THERE.
AND I KNOW THAT A CORPORATION BACK EAST OWNS THAT BUILDING AND THEY WERE IN THE POST OFFICE HAVE BEEN HAVE BEEN TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, COMMUNICATE WITH THE WITH THE OWNERS.
THERE'S NO COMMUNICATION WITH WITH THE OWNERS, WHICH IS A CORPORATION AGAIN.
AND, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER POLITICS IS BACK THEN BACK THERE IN THE YOU KNOW, IN BACK EAST WITH WASHINGTON, THERE IS WITH THAT POST OFFICE, THEY CAN'T BREAK THE LEASE, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, I DON'T AGREE WITH.
BUT HOPEFULLY, LIKE I SAID, IF WE CAN HAVE A ANOTHER MOBILE SITE THERE UNTIL THEY FIX THAT ONE.
THE PLANADA COMMUNITY HAS ALREADY SUFFERED A LOT.
AND SOMETIMES IT'S NOT THERE FOR DAYS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, OF WHATEVER DELAYS IS WITH THEIR MAIL.
UM, SO ALSO I WANT TO THANK OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR DOING A GOOD JOB.
UM, ALSO AGAIN WANTED TO THANK THE TEAM FROM MCOE, WHICH, WHICH THEY, UH, YOU KNOW, WERE PRESENTED HERE WITH THE, UH, WITH THE APPRECIATION AND ALSO TO US AGAIN, UM, ALSO THANK OUR BUDGET TEAM, CEO MENDEZ AND YOUR BUDGET TEAM AND, YOU KNOW, ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS WHICH, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO WORK THE NUMBERS TO BRING, YOU KNOW, ALL THE ALL THOSE NUMBERS TO OUR TEAM AND EVENTUALLY TO US.
AND WE ARE BUT ALSO MAINLY TO OUR EMPLOYEES THAT.
AND WE'RE WE'RE SPENDING YOUR TAX DOLLARS AND HAVE A HAPPY 4TH OF JULY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE RIBBON CUTTING FOR RISE TO HIGHER GROUNDS ON THE 20TH.
IT WAS REALLY COOL TO SEE TO GO OUT THERE AND SEE THE KIDS.
THEY CUT THE RIBBON AND THEN THEY ACTUALLY SPOKE.
AND ONE OF THE BIG THINGS ABOUT THOSE, YOU KNOW, AS WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS, IT WAS ALMOST SCRAPPED BECAUSE THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT THE THE KIDS WHO WERE WORKING IT WOULD GET TOO ANXIOUS DEALING WITH THE PUBLIC AND THEY COULDN'T HAVE BEEN NICER.
I DID THE CENTRAL VALLEY RAIL WORKING GROUP ON FRIDAY.
ESSENTIALLY, IT WAS THE SAME PRESENTATION THAT DAN CAME AND GAVE TO US AT OUR LAST MEETING.
I TOO WENT TO THE FESHA IN HOPETON BUT COULDN'T STAY VERY LONG BECAUSE MY SON WAS KIND OF GETTING
[02:20:11]
ON MY NERVES, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.SO, SO WE, WE DIDN'T GET TO STAY, BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET SOME [INAUDIBLE] ALSO LATER.
ON TO KIND OF TO MY COLLEAGUE'S POINT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LIGHT FIREWORKS, REMEMBER TO BE SAFE AND SAFE AND SANE, BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS IT, YOU KNOW, A THREAT TO THE LANDSCAPE OR SOMEBODY'S HOUSE, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF PETS THAT ESCAPE AND THEY GET REALLY NERVOUS AND SKITTISH.
AND SO YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL.
AND, YOU KNOW, I KNOW PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE A GOOD TIME AND CELEBRATE THE 4TH.
BUT REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, SOME KIDS, THEY DON'T LIKE TO HEAR A LOT OF THAT STUFF ALL THE TIME.
SO JUST, YOU KNOW, DON'T GO TILL 1:00 IN THE MORNING.
UM, ALSO, IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY HOT THIS WEEKEND.
I KNOW THE COOLING STATIONS OR COOLING CENTERS ARE GOING TO BE OPEN, BUT JUST BE SAFE.
YOU KNOW, LIKE SUPERVISOR PAREIRA SAID.
BUT THE LAKES OPEN SO YOU CAN GO OUT TO THE LAKE.
UM, SO ALSO I WANT TO SAY I WANT TO ADJOURN TODAY FOR MRS. HELEN BLACKBURN.
MRS. BLACKBURN IS MY AUNT'S MOTHER IN LAW AND SHE WAS LIKE A SECOND OR SHE WAS LIKE A GRANDMOTHER TO US AND SHE WAS ALWAYS AT OUR HOUSE ON CHRISTMAS EVE.
WE'D ALWAYS SEE HER. SHE'D GO OUT OF HER WAY TO SAY HI TO US OR JUST TALK TO US.
AND SHE WAS A VERY GREAT WOMAN.
SHE SPENT 25 YEARS WORKING THE TELETYPE FOR THE SUPPLY AT CASTLE.
AND THEY AT HER SERVICE YESTERDAY, THEY SAID A GOOD POINT THEY MADE.
BUT THEY WERE AFRAID OF MRS. BLACKBURN AND WHICH I FOUND THAT VERY ODD BECAUSE MRS. BLACKBURN WAS LIKE THE NICEST PERSON IN THE WORLD.
SO I WANT TO ADJOURN FOR HER TO THAT OR TODAY AND THEN HAVE A HAPPY 4TH OF JULY, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO COUNSEL HANSON.
NOTHING YOU VERY RARELY HAVE SOMETHING.
THE BUDGET DOCUMENTS A LOT OF NUMBERS, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE SEEN OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR AT LEAST, IS KIND OF A SHIFT IN TRYING TO IT TRYING TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE USER FRIENDLY.
I KNOW LAST YEAR WE SHOWCASED NELLING ON THE COVER OF THE BUDGET DOCUMENT, THE ORIGINAL MERCED COUNTY COURTHOUSE THIS YEAR, HENRY MILLER PLAZA AND LOS BANOS.
SO MIKE NORTH CAESAR, LIONEL, I KNOW THEY DO A LOT OF WORK BEHIND THE SCENES, JUST PUTTING INFORMATION TOGETHER SO THAT IT'S EASE MORE EASILY DIGESTIBLE BY BY OUR RESIDENTS.
OF THE BUDGET DOCUMENTS AND HOW TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THEM.
SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT COMPLIMENT OUR FOLKS THAT ARE KIND OF BEHIND THE SCENES.
AND I KNOW THERE'S FOLKS IN EVERY DEPARTMENT THAT PROBABLY DO THE SAME.
BUT ON THAT NOTE, JUST ALSO WANTED TO WISH EVERYBODY A HAPPY 4TH OF JULY HOLIDAY AND BE SAFE.
LET'S BE LET'S BE SMART ABOUT IT.
AND THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
THAT'S IT. UM, SO A COUPLE OF THINGS I WAS GOING TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE PHOTO BECAUSE AND I THINK THE KIND OF THE THEME IS, IS WHEREVER WHOEVER IS THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD, THEY'RE FINDING A PHOTO FROM IN THEIR DISTRICT.
I THINK THAT STARTED UNDER MY COLLEAGUE SUPERVISOR PEREIRA'S LEADERSHIP.
SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR THAT MIKE NORTH AND THE TEAM.
I WANT TO JUST OFFER MY CONDOLENCES TO AMY TAYLOR.
SHE'S SHE IS OUT AND LOST OF A LOVED ONE.
AND MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU.
[02:25:02]
I KNEW THAT YOU YOU HAD BEEN HERE IF YOU COULD HAVE BEEN.I HAD MY FIRST TIME EVER ATTENDING BECAUSE I WAS IN IT.
BUT I ACTUALLY PRESENT CERTIFICATES AT DRUG COURT AND AS VERY, VERY I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU, IT'S A VERY UNIQUE PROGRAM.
THERE'S NO SET TIMELINE ON THE PROGRAM.
YOU KIND OF HAVE THESE THESE BENCHMARKS THAT YOU NEED TO OCCUR.
SOME PEOPLE TAKE A LITTLE BIT LESS TIME.
SOME PEOPLE TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME.
BUT AS WHEN THEY GRADUATE DRUG COURT, THEY GET A REDUCED SENTENCE.
THEIR FINES ARE REDUCED AND AND THEY GIVE THEM A PICTURE, A PICTURE OF WHEN THEY WERE ARRESTED, INCARCERATED, AND THEN A PICTURE ON THE DAY THEY GRADUATE. AND AND I'LL TELL YOU, IT'S A VERY SEEING THAT WAS VERY, VERY IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THE SAME PERSON.
AND I'M SAYING ONLY WITNESSED THERE WAS THREE THAT GRADUATED THAT DAY.
BUT LIKE LIFE CHANGING FOR THOSE FOLKS.
HOPEFULLY YOU NEVER HAVE TO BE INVOLVED IN IT.
BUT BUT THESE ARE THE KIND OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER OUT THERE.
AND I KNOW JUDGE LOWE IS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROGRAM.
I MEAN, THESE PEOPLE, WHEN THEY GRADUATE, THEY GIVE THE JUDGE A BIG HUG.
AND IT'S A VERY DIVERSE GROUP.
WHEN YOU WALK IN THERE, YOU SEE FOLKS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE THAT ARE A PART OF IT.
SO I WAS VERY HONORED TO BE A PART OF THAT, LIKE I SAID, MY FIRST TIME.
SO THAT WAS GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR ME TO SEE.
SOL RIVAS I WANTED TO JUST MENTION I KNOW THAT SHE THEY WERE AWARDED THE NONPROFIT OF THE YEAR, BUT YOU KNOW, THAT $20 MILLION THAT THAT'S COMING TO PLANADA.
I WAS AT THE MEETING WITH SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA WAS THERE AND COUNTY STAFF WAS THERE.
MR. HENDRICKSON AND I THINK MR. MENDEZ WAS THERE AT THAT ONE.
ASSEMBLYWOMAN SORIA, SHE HAD ASSEMBLY MEMBER OR SPEAKER ELECT OF THE ASSEMBLY.
MR. RIVAS WAS THERE AND SENATOR CABALLERO WAS THERE.
SO JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.
ALSO, I GOT INVITED YESTERDAY MYSELF AND MY COLLEAGUE MR. MCDANIEL GOT INVITED TO GO SPEAK AT THE KIWANIS CLUB.
SO I WANT TO THANK KAREN ADAMS FOR INVITING US INTO JUST AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO HAVE LUNCH WITH THEM AND THEN REALLY KIND OF TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OURSELVES AND WHAT WE DO AND THEN REALLY OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS AND, AND THANK THE DA MADAME DA WAS THERE AND SHE IS THE PAST PAST PRESIDENT, SO SHE HAD TO RUN THE MEETING.
OKAY, WE'RE DONE. MEETING ADJOURNED.
AND THEN BEFORE THAT, I HAD A MEETING.
I WANT TO THANK THE CITY MANAGER FROM DOS PALOS, DWAYNE JONES AND MAYOR APRIL HOGUE MET WITH, HAD MET WITH FAITH IN THE VALLEY IN DOS PALOS, AND A LOT OF THEIR QUESTIONS WERE A LOT MORE CITY CENTRIC QUESTIONS THAT I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ANSWERS TO.
AND SO I HAD ASKED THE CITY MANAGER AND.
THE MAYOR IF THEY WOULD JOIN FOR A MEETING.
AND SO I GOT TO MEET WITH THOSE FOLKS.
AND I KNOW THE MAYOR GOING INTO IT WAS, YOU KNOW, DIDN'T KIND OF KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE REALLY GREAT CONVERSATIONS.
DO WE ALWAYS AGREE ON EVERYTHING? ABSOLUTELY NOT. BUT IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN TO.
AND I THINK SHE WALKED AWAY FROM IT KNOWING THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE JUST FOLKS THAT THAT JUST WANT TO BE ENGAGED AND WANT TO, YOU KNOW, FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND WHAT CAN THEY DO TO BE SUPPORTED.
AND THEN YOU'LL PROBABLY GET LIKE A ONE WEEK BREAK AND THEN YOU START ON THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, RIGHT? SO WE KEEP YOU GUYS BUSY OVER THERE.
SO YOU GUYS ARE AN INSTRUMENTAL PART IN THAT.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR FOR THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO ON THAT.
AND OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE JUNE 27TH.
NOPE, THAT WOULD NOT BE I'M SORRY.
OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE JULY 11TH.
SO WITH THAT MEETING ADJOURNED. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.