[Call to Order]
[00:00:14]
IT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE CEO ON A 5-0 VOTE.
THE DEFENDANTS AND OTHER PARTICULARS SHALL BE DISCLOSED ONCE THE ACTION IS FORMALLY COMMENCED.
IN ADDITION, STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION REGARDING THE OTHER TWO CLOSED SESSION ITEMS. WE'LL NOW START WITH THE INVOCATION LED BY STACY COOLEY AND THEN SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
GOOD MORNING. PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS AND YOUR HEARTS WITH ME.
DEAR GRACIOUS, HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU AND ASK FOR YOUR FORGIVENESS, FIRST AND FOREMOST.
LORD, IF THERE'S ANYTHING IN OUR HEARTS THAT'S KEEPING US FROM YOUR PRESENCE, I ASK THAT YOU REVEAL IT, REMOVE IT, AND HELP US TO OVERCOME IT SO THAT WE CAN COME BOLDLY TO YOUR THRONE OF GRACE TO RECEIVE MERCY AS YOUR WORD DECLARES WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO.
SECOND, WE INVITE YOU INTO THIS MEETING AND ASK THAT YOU GUIDE, DIRECT AND GRANT PEACE TO OUR BOARD AS THEY MAKE THEIR DECISIONS ON TODAY'S AGENDA ITEMS. FATHER, YOUR WORD SAYS IN MATTHEW THAT ANYTHING WE ASK IN YOUR NAME SHALL BE GIVEN.
SO I ASK THAT YOU GIVE OUR BOARD CEO MENDEZ AND COUNTY COUNSEL HANSEN THE WISDOM TO MAKE THEIR TOUGH DAY TO DAY DECISIONS WHEN TIMES ARE DIFFICULT OR SITUATIONS HAVE SHADES OF GRAY.
I ASK THAT YOU HELP LEAD THOSE CHOICES.
IN THE MOMENTS WHEN THERE ARE MORE THAN ONE RIGHT ANSWER.
I PRAY BLESSINGS, PROTECTION, PEACE AND PROVISION OVER THEIR FAMILIES.
I ASK THE SAME FOR ALL OF OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES, THEIR FAMILIES, AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AS WELL.
YOUR WORD SAYS IN GENESIS 22 THAT YOU ARE JEHOVAH JIREH OUR PROVIDER.
SO I ASK THAT YOU WOULD PROVIDE FOR EACH AND EVERY NEED REPRESENTED HERE TODAY.
WE DEDICATE THIS MEETING TO YOU AND PRAY THAT YOU TOUCH OUR STATE AND NATIONAL LEADERS AS WELL.
FATHER, MAY WE BE A NATION THAT RECOGNIZES AND RELIES ON YOU.
BLESS THIS MEETING WITH PEACE, PROTECTION AND PROVISION.
WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THESE THINGS.
IN JESUS' PRECIOUS NAME WE ASK.
THANK YOU, STACY AND SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK]
BOARD'S AGENDA, TESTIMONY LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON AND 30 MINUTES TOTAL.I DROPPED A LITTLE FLYER OFF FOR YOU GUYS READING TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST AGAIN.
WE'RE STILL LOSING PEOPLE RIGHT AND LEFT, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU READ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S MESSAGE THAT MERCED COUNTY IS NUMBER ONE IN THE STATE PER CAPITA FOR HOMICIDES AGAIN. IT'S A CRYING SHAME AT THIS POINT, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE COMING WEEKS WHERE I GET TO SIT DOWN AND CHAT WITH THE CEO AND OTHER FOLKS HERE ABOUT THE I CALL IT A CRISIS WE'RE HAVING AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
THANK YOU, GUYS. THANK YOU, SIR.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN SILVEIRA AND THE BOARD CEO MENDEZ AND STAFF.
THE CONGRESSMAN IS GLAD TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE MERCED COUNTY'S PORTUGUESE HERITAGE BY JOINING THE AUGUSTINE PENTECOST SOCIETY FOR [INAUDIBLE], AND I HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING THE BULLFIGHT AT BELLA VISTA PARK LAST NIGHT.
OUR OFFICE IS EXTREMELY EXCITED TO JOIN YOU LATER THIS AFTERNOON TO COMMEMORATE YOUR DILIGENT EFFORTS TO SECURE THE NEARLY $50 MILLION HISTORIC AWARD FOR CASTLE RAIL DISTRICT , AND SPEAKING OF THE FORMER CASTLE AIR BASE, CONGRESSMAN DUARTE IS PROUD TO HAVE VOTED WITH BOTH HIS DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT.
FAR TOO MANY ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBERS AND VETERANS IN THE VALLEY LIVE ON THE EDGE OF POVERTY, AND THIS BILL IS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN GETTING THEM THE COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS THEY'VE EARNED. THIS YEAR'S NDAA INCLUDES THE LARGEST PAY RAISE FOR OUR TROOPS IN OVER 20 YEARS, IMPROVED SERVICE MEMBER HEALTH CARE AND CRACKS DOWN ON THE WASTE AND ABUSE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
[00:05:08]
EARLIER THIS MORNING IN WASHINGTON, D.C., CONGRESSMAN DUARTE PARTICIPATED IN A PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING HE WAS A CO-SPONSOR OF THE H2 IMPROVEMENTS TO RELIEVE EMPLOYERS, ALSO KNOWN AS THE HIRE ACT.H-2A AND H-2B WORKERS ARE THE FOUNDATION OF AMERICA'S FOOD SUPPLY.
DESPITE THE MASSIVE BENEFITS OF THE H2 VISA PROGRAM, THE CURRENT SYSTEM IS CONFUSING, COMPLEX AND HURTS WORKING FAMILIES, SMALL BUSINESSES, AND RURAL EMPLOYERS HERE IN THE VALLEY. THE HIRE ACT SOLVED THESE PROBLEMS BY CUTTING THE RED TAPE AND SIMPLIFYING OUR TEMPORARY WORK VISA PROGRAMS BY EXPANDING THE LABOR CERTIFICATION PERIOD TO THREE YEARS, SIMPLIFYING REQUIREMENTS FOR RETURNING WORKERS AND INCREASING JOB TRANSPARENCY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME FOR THIS REPORT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, SIR.
GOOD MORNING. BOARD OF SUPERVISORS [INAUDIBLE] WITH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL.
THEY HAVE ALSO FLAGGED THE DELHI PARK/MERCED COUNTY ON A LIST OF PROJECT OUTREACH AND CAN GRANT AND CAN GRANT FUNDS FOR IMPLEMENTATION PROCESSES. WE ALSO STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE COUNTY TO TAKE A LOOK INTO THE LAND, REPURPOSE PROGRAM TO OPEN UP MORE OPTIONS FOR PARKSIDE ACQUISITION.
BOTH CRC FUNDS AND THE LAND REPURPOSING PROGRAM WOULD MOVE THE PARK PROJECT ALONG.
WE HAVE TRANSLATORS. WE HAVE TRANSLATORS.
YES. [SPANISH] GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS BLANCA LOZANO, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DELHI.
[SPANISH] I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR SUPERVISORS, ESPECIALLY OUR LLOYD PAREIRA.
[SPANISH] FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PARK AND THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
[SPANISH] BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING DIFFICULTIES WITH REUNIONS.
[SPANISH] THE VETERANS HALL IS IN REALLY BAD SHAPE AND BAD CONDITION AND IT SMELLS LIKE GAS.
[SPANISH] AND AT THE PARK WHERE WE OFTEN OR SOMETIMES REUNITE WITH ONE ANOTHER, IT DOESN'T HAVE RESTROOMS. [SPANISH] IT'S A DISTRICT PARK.
[SPANISH] WE NOW HAVE LEADERS IN DELHI AND WE'RE FIGHTING TO BETTER DELHI.
[SPANISH] WE WANT DELHI TO GROW.
[SPANISH] THAT IT WOULD BE A BETTER TOWN ALTHOUGH UNINCORPORATED.
[SPANISH] IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE UNINCORPORATED TOWNS.
[SPANISH] WE WANT THESE TOWNS TO BE FIXED, NOT FORGOTTEN.
[00:10:03]
[SPANISH] MY NAME IS MANUEL JIMÉNEZ.[SPANISH] I ALSO LIVE IN DELHI.
[SPANISH] I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
[SPANISH] BECAUSE WE NEED TO PREVENT AND NOT SET ASIDE.
[SPANISH] I'M REFERRING TO THE ROAD WORK THAT'S BEING DONE ON HIGHWAY 99 COMING INTO TOWN.
THERE IS AN AREA THERE WHERE THERE'S TWO LANES AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TWO LANES GO INTO ONE LANE, BUT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT BECAUSE THE ONE LANE ONLY HAS A WHITE LINE THAT IDENTIFIES THAT.
SO FOLKS WANT TO TEND TO GO INTO THAT LANE AS WELL.
[SPANISH] AND IT'S HAPPENED TO ME AND THAT'S WHY I MENTIONED IT.
SO I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO LET THE FOLKS KNOW WHO ARE IN CHARGE OF FIXING THIS, THIS HIGHWAY.
THAT IS WHERE THAT LINE WAS MADE.
[SPANISH] THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND HOPEFULLY YOU PAY ATTENTION TO THIS BECAUSE NONE OF US WOULD LIKE TO LOSE A FAMILY MEMBER.
[SPANISH] OFTEN ONCE SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS HAPPENS, IT'S WHEN WE REACT AND WANT TO FIX SOMETHING, BUT IT'S TOO LATE FOR THE FAMILY AT THAT POINT.
[SPANISH] THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND HAVE A GOOD DAY.
GRACIAS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
[SPANISH] I'LL TALK TO HER, BUT IT STARTS OFF IN DELHI AND IT ENDS ALL THE WAY OVER IN LIVINGSTON.
GOOD MORNING, [SPANISH] MY NAME IS GONZALEZ, AND I'VE LIVED IN DELHI FOR THREE YEARS.
[SPANISH] I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MR. LLOYD PAREIRA WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE MILLION DOLLARS THAT IS SET ASIDE FOR THE PARK TO BE BUILT? [SPANISH] FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN LIVING THERE, I'M AWARE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
[SPANISH] BUT THE PARK SEEMS OUTDATED AND THE LOOKING, LOOKING FOR THE LAND STILL CONTINUES, BUT ALSO SEEMS THAT THERE'S ALWAYS A LOT OF EXCUSES.
[SPANISH] I ALSO WANT TO KNOW THAT IF THAT MONEY FOR THE PARK IS UTILIZED, CAN IT BE UTILIZED FOR OTHER ACTIVITIES, FOR OTHER THINGS? [SPANISH] I WORK FOR THE PARKS IN MERCED COUNTY, AND I KNOW THAT A PARK IS IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY FOR LOTS OF FAMILIES WHO UTILIZE IT, [SPANISH]
[00:15:03]
AND IT'D BE NICE TO HAVE A PARK IN DELHI.A LOT OF THE TIMES THE KIDS ARE STUCK ON THEIR PHONES, STUCK ON THEIR TABLETS AND UNFORTUNATELY WE DO HAVE KIDS WHO ARE WHO HAVE SOME DISABILITIES AND IT WOULD BE NICE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THOSE KIDS WITH THE DISABILITIES OUT TO THE PARK JUST TO HANG OUT.
[SPANISH] THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT COULD BE DONE, BUT THE PARK IS THE EMPHASIS AND I PRAY TO GOD THAT THE FOLKS LEND US A HAND TO GET THIS DONE.
[SPANISH] IN THE LONG RUN, OF COURSE, OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE COME UP WILL GET TAKEN CARE OF, BUT RIGHT NOW THE EMPHASIS IS THE PARK.
I WANT TO MENTION THE PARK THAT PLANADA.
THAT'S A REALLY NICE PARK AND WE TALK A LOT AMONGST OUR FAMILIES ABOUT THAT PARK, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET OURS AS WELL [SPANISH] AND I MIGHT HAVE TAKEN UP TOO MUCH TIME.
SORRY ABOUT THAT, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, SIR. OKAY.
[SPANISH] JUST A QUESTION. SHE'S ABLE TO SPEAK ENGLISH.
WOULD YOU LIKE FOR ME TO THEN TRANSLATE FOR THE PUBLIC INTO SPANISH? I USUALLY DON'T. THAT'S FINE.
HELLO. GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS HEIDI SANCHEZ AND I LIVE IN DELHI.
I AM PART OF DISTRICT FOUR LLOYD PAREIRA, AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY REAL QUICK THAT I AM A SUPPORTER FOR THE FOR HAVING A PARK IN OUR AREA AS WELL.
[SPANISH] I THINK HAVING A PARK IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, FOR FAMILY VALUES AND FOR CHILDREN TO GET TOGETHER.
WE DON'T HAVE A PUBLIC BATHROOM.
[SPANISH] AND ALSO I HAVE TO GO DRIVE EITHER TO TURLOCK OR MERCED TO GO TO THE PARK.
[SPANISH] I THINK HAVING A PARK IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE I REMEMBER IN MY CHILDHOOD MY PARENTS USED TO TAKE US TO THE PARK AND THOSE ARE THE MOMENTS THAT I CAN REMEMBER HAVING A FAMILY IS THE BONDING.
[SPANISH] I WAS MARRIED TO MY HUSBAND FOR TWO YEARS AND UNFORTUNATELY HE PASSED AWAY AND WE NEVER HAD CHILDREN, BUT I KNOW IF I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY HAVING A DELHI PARK.
[SPANISH] AND I WOULD DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE TO TAKE.
I DON'T HAVE KIDS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MY CHILDREN GO TO DELHI PARK AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO HAVE EVERYBODY HERE, NOT ONLY MYSELF, BUT OTHER SUPPORTER COMMUNITY BEING THE VOICE FOR TODAY.
[SPANISH] THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MUCHAS GRACIAS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
I'M TERESA GOMEZ. [SPANISH] I LIVE IN DELHI; I'M FROM DELHI.
[SPANISH] IT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE I HAVE A BIG FAMILY AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE AN AREA OR A PLACE WHERE WE CAN ALL REUNITE AND GET TOGETHER.
[SPANISH] THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
[00:20:01]
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, MA'AM.[INAUDIBLE] CORONADO, RETIRED, 37 YEARS, VETERAN OF FOUR CAMPAIGNS.
THIS PROBLEM HAS PLAGUED THIS COUNTY FOR OVER A DECADE.
THE MAIN ISSUE DEALT WITH THE LEASING AGREEMENT OF THE MEMORIAL BUILDING.
YOU HAVE LISTED AMERICAN LEGION POST 83 AS THE PRIMARY LEASING OF THE BUILDING.
THIS MAY HAVE WORKED IN THE BEGINNING, BUT WITH CHANGES OF PERSONNEL WITHIN THE RANKS OF POST 83 AND AMERICAN LEGION CONVOLUTING THE TRUE MEANING OF WHAT IT IS TO BE A VETERAN, AN ATTEMPT TO RAISE MEMBERSHIP.
THINGS HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF HAND.
YET YOU HAVE GIVEN POST 83 A COPY, AND THIS WAS EVIDENT BY HOW DISGRUNTLED THEY WERE ON JUNE 13TH BOARD MEETING BY EMPHATICALLY STATING THEY WILL NOT ACCEPT NOR SIGN YOUR LEASING AGREEMENT BY YOUR OWN DOCUMENT I CAN REQUEST A PRA BY THE USE OF THIS DOCUMENT PUT TOGETHER BY YOUR OWN CEO, PAUL MENDEZ.
OR I CAN REQUEST A NON PRA BY MEANS OF A VERBAL WHICH I HAVE BEFORE THIS BOARD.
WHAT ARE PUBLIC RECORDS? THE PRA DEFINES PUBLIC RECORDS AS ANY WRITING CONTAINING INFORMATION RELATING TO THE CONDUCT OF PUBLIC BUSINESS PREPARED, OWNED, USED OR RETAINED BY STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES, REGARDLESS OF PHYSICAL FORM OR CHARACTERISTICS.
SO A WRITING IS DEFINED AS ANY HANDWRITING TYPE WRITING, PRINTING PHOTO STATING, PHOTOGRAPHING, PHOTOCOPYING, TRANSMITTING BY ELECTRONIC MAIL OR FACSIMILE, AND EVERY OTHER MEANS OF RECORDING UPON ANY TANGIBLE THING OR ANY FORM OF COMMUNICATION OR PRESENTATION, INCLUDING LETTERS, WORDS, PICTURES, SOUNDS OR SYMBOLS OR COMBINATION THEREOF, AND ANY RECORD THEREBY CREATED, REGARDLESS OF THE MANNER IN WHICH THE RECORD HAS BEEN STORED.
IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR, MYSELF, MEMBERS OF THE VFW POST 83 MARINE, CENTRAL CALIFORNIA VETERANS AND THE DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS, ALONG WITH THE MAJORITY OF THIS BOARD, MET TO DISCUSS THE LEASING AGREEMENT ON HOW TO IMPROVE IT.
IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, JOSH PEDROZO CALLED BOB GRISSOM, VFW COMMANDER, TO SET UP A MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF POST 83, AND THE MAJORITY OF YOU WERE PRESENT.
THESE MEETINGS SHOW YOUR BLATANT DISREGARD FOR THE LAW.
THE BROWN ACT APPLIES TO ALL LEGISLATIVE BODIES, INCLUDING THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
WHAT IS A MEETING UNDER THE BROWN ACT? A MEETING IS DEFINED AS ANY OCCASION IN WHICH A MAJORITY OF THE VOTING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD COME TOGETHER AT THE SAME TIME AND LOCATION TO HEAR, DISCUSS AND DELIBERATE ON ANY MATTER.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU TEN MORE SECONDS TO FINISH YOUR LAST THOUGHT THERE.
THE NOTICE OF AGENDA MUST BE POSTED FREELY ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC, AND THE AGENDA MUST BE POSTED.
THIS WAS ENACTED BY THE CALIFORNIA STATE LEGISLATURE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT, SIR.
I'M NOT TALKING AND IT'S MOVING.
THE BOARD ACT APPLIES TO ALL LEGISLATIVE BODIES, INCLUDING THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
WHAT IS A MEETING UNDER THE BROWN ACT? A MEETING IS DEFINED AS AN OCCASION IN WHICH A MAJORITY OF THE VOTING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD COME TOGETHER AT THE SAME TIME LOCATION AND TO HEAR DISCUSSED DELIBERATE ON ANY MATTER.
THAT IS WHEN THE SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION OF THIS BODY.
THE BROWN ACT REQUIRES THAT THE TIME, PLACE AND AGENDA BE RELEASED AT LEAST 72 HOURS IN ADVANCE.
THE NOTICE AND AGENDA MUST BE POSTED FREELY ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC, AND THE AGENDA MUST BE POSTED TO THE BOARD WEBSITE. THIS IS ENACTED BY THE CALIFORNIA STATE LEGISLATURE.
WHO GETS THE DOCUMENTS? ANY DOCUMENT DISTRIBUTED TO ALL OF THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD BY ANY PERSON BECOMES AND ARE PUBLIC RECORDS.
[00:25:03]
ADDITIONALLY, ANY DOCUMENTS THAT ARE MADE PUBLIC NEED TO BE MADE PUBLIC TO EVERYONE.EVERYONE. SB 126 REQUIRES COMPLIANCE WITH THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RECORDS ACT.
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RECORDS ACT, ENACTED IN 1968.
REASON FOR THE ACT WERE TO ONE SAFEGUARD THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF GOVERNMENT TO PUBLIC PROMOTE MAXIMUM DISCLOSURE AND OF THE CONDUCT OF GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS. THAT WAS TWO.
THREE EXPLICITLY CLEARLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRINCIPLE AND THE SECRECY OPPOSED UNDER THE DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT, WHEREAS GOVERNMENT IS OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, AND FOR THE PEOPLE.
THE PUBLIC RECORD ACT IS TRANSPARENCY.
THIS VIOLATION OF THE PRA AND VIOLATION BY AND VIOLATING THE BROWN ACT CAN EXPOSE YOU BOARD MEMBERS TO LITIGATION AND POLITICAL INDIVIDUAL LIABILITY.
YOU CONDUCT YOURSELVES AS IF YOU ARE ABOVE THE LAW.
WHEN WILL ALL THIS STOP? RONALD REAGAN ONCE SAID GOVERNMENT DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
YOU HAVE DISHONORED OUR PAST VETERANS AND CONTINUE TO DISHONOR OUR PRESENT VETERANS, AND YOUR ACTIONS SHOW THAT YOU ALL DISHONOR WILL DISHONOR OUR FUTURE VETERANS.
SO I HOPE YOU ALL REALLY CONSIDER THIS PRAYER THAT WAS SAID THIS MORNING.
IT WAS VERY PROFOUND AND VERY FITTING, AND I WILL INVITE YOU TO REMEMBER SOME OF THAT PRAYER OF MAKING RIGHT DECISIONS THAT SERVE THE PEOPLE AND NOT YOURSELVES, AND YOU WILL HEAR OUR WORDS AND ACTUALLY TAKE RIGHT ACTION INSTEAD OF HAVING TO COME HERE TIME AFTER TIME TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SAME THING AND FALL ON DEAF EARS AND.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, MA'AM.
I'M A FULL TIME CAREGIVER TO A CLIENT WHO SUFFERS FROM DEMENTIA.
THE PATIENT THAT I'M CARING FOR IS A WOMAN THAT WORKED ALL HER LIFE AND RAISED FIVE CHILDREN.
LIKE ALL PARENTS, SHE GAVE HER ALL TO MAKE SURE THEY BECAME GOOD CITIZENS.
I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK MY BOARD SUPERVISOR, JOSH PEDROZO, TO STAND UP FOR US IHS PROVIDERS DURING THE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS, I, ALONG WITH OTHER PROVIDERS IN YOUR DISTRICT, NEED YOUR HELP.
THANK YOU, SIR. APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.
IF WE CAN KEEP THE APPLAUSE DOWN, I'D APPRECIATE IT.
I'M A CITIZEN HERE IN MERCED, AND I'M ALSO A CARE PROVIDER FOR MY MOTHER WHO LIVES IN ATWATER.
RIGHT NOW, MY MOTHER IS IN THE HOSPITAL.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU GUYS HEAR US BECAUSE WE NEED TO EARN A LIVING WAGE, AND IT'S VERY HARD TO TAKE CARE OF SOMEONE AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR OWN BILLS.
I BECAME MY MOTHER'S CAREGIVER AFTER SHE TOOK A SERIES OF FALLS ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO.
I AM A MEDICAL ASSISTANT BY BACKGROUND, FORMER REALTOR, FORMER INSURANCE AGENT AND FORMER NOTARY, BUT MY MOTHER IS MY MAIN OCCUPATION.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO MAKE THIS STATEMENT BECAUSE I DON'T JUST REPRESENT MYSELF.
IN OUR UNION, THERE ARE 165,000 CAREGIVERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
I MEAN, I'M SORRY, IN CALIFORNIA, PROBABLY MORE IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT I'M HERE BECAUSE THE WORK WE DO AS IHSS PROVIDERS IS ESSENTIAL, AND SO ARE WE IT JUST IT KIND OF PAINS ME.
MY SUPERVISOR IS JOSH PEDROZO; I LIKE HIM.
I THINK HE LIKES ME. WE SEE EACH OTHER.
[00:30:01]
IN YOUR SEAT OF POWER? WE REALLY NEED YOU GUYS TO VOTE CORRECTLY ON OUR CONTRACT.IT'S VERY IMPORTANT IF YOU CAN HEAR ME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, MA'AM.
MY NAME IS FLORENCE CROSON, BUT EVERYBODY CALLS ME [INAUDIBLE] AND I AM A MERCED RESIDENT.
I'M IN DISTRICT TWO, JOSH PEDROZO.
I TAKE CARE OF A PERSON WITH DISABILITIES IN THEIR HOME AND I STARTED BECOMING A PROVIDER WHEN IN 2008 WHEN MY MOM GOT REALLY SICK AND SHE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL AND THE DOCTORS TOLD US TO PRAY.
SO SHE NEEDED US TO TAKE CARE OF HER AND ME IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE I WAS THE YOUNGEST , AND THIS IF IT WASN'T FOR THIS PROGRAM, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO TAKE CARE OF HER AND ALSO MEET GET MY BILLS PAID.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT SOMETIMES WHEN YOU'RE IN THAT SITUATION.
IT'S VERY, VERY OVERWHELMING, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE THIS PROGRAM TO HELP YOU ASSIST YOU TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR MOM AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR BILLS, IT'S VERY GREAT, AND AS YOU CAN SEE BEHIND ME, WE HAVE PROVIDERS FROM DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES THAT I AM PROUD TO REPRESENT HERE RIGHT NOW, AND SO I AM HERE TO ASK THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, ESPECIALLY PEDROZO HE'S MY DISTRICT TO SUPPORT THE IHSS PROGRAM AND THE PROVIDERS DURING THIS CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS BECAUSE WE WORK HARD AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET A FAIR CONTRACT. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME AND CONSIDERING MY REQUEST.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, MA'AM.
I AM A CARE PROVIDER FOR TWO CLIENTS, AND AS I SIT HERE AND LISTEN TO WHAT EVERYBODY IS SAYING, WHY ARE WE UP HERE ASKING TO BE PAID FOR WHAT WE DO JUST TO GET OUR BILLS PAID? OKAY, EVERYBODY WORKS FOR SOMETHING AND I KNOW YOU ALL WORK FOR SOMETHING AND YOU MAKE DECENT MONEY, AND I KNOW YOU DO, BECAUSE I'VE LOOKED IT UP.
I'VE EVEN THOUGHT OF RUNNING FOR COUNTY SUPERVISOR MYSELF.
WHY DO WE HAVE TO CONTINUALLY ASK YOU TO DO THINGS THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO? ONE OF MY CLIENTS IS BLIND.
I HAVE TO SET THE WASHING MACHINE FOR HER.
I HAVE TO TAKE HER SHOPPING AND TAKE HER BY THE CART JUST TO GET HER OUT IN THE PUBLIC.
WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR SOMETHING THAT'S UNREALISTIC, OKAY? NOTHING THAT'S UNREALISTIC.
SO YOU ALL, NOT JUST JOSH, ALL OF YOU NEED TO SEE THAT WHAT WE DO IS IS FROM THE HEART.
FIRST OF ALL, BECAUSE EVERYBODY CAN'T DO THIS.
I DON'T CARE IF IT'S A FAMILY MEMBER OR NOT.
EVERYONE CANNOT DO THIS TYPE OF WORK.
SOMETIMES I DON'T EVEN SLEEP BECAUSE I LIVE WITH ONE OF MY CLIENTS, SO I'M UP AND DOWN.
YOU GUYS SHOULD BE ASKING US, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS A FAIR WAGE THAT WE SHOULD BE GIVING YOU? JUST THINK ABOUT IT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, MA'AM.
ALL RIGHT. WAS ANYBODY ELSE COMING UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? ARE WE LEAVING? ALL RIGHT. NOT SEEING ANYONE.
WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND WE WILL GO TO OUR CONSENT CALENDAR.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
[00:35:13]
NEXT IS CONSENT AGENDA CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH NINE.PLEASE NOTE ITEM ONE REQUIRES A 4/5 VOTE.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEMS ONE THROUGH NINE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0 AT THIS TIME.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN SILVEIRA, CEO MENDEZ, COUNTY COUNSEL HANSEN AND FELLOW SUPERVISORS.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW ME, ALTHOUGH IF YOU DO REMEMBER, YOU DID HIRE ME BACK IN APRIL.
I'M JEFF WITTHUN. I'M THE NEW CHILD SUPPORT DIRECTOR, AND WHILE WE DON'T GET A LOT OF FACE TIME WITH YOU GUYS BECAUSE A LOT OF THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS HAVE A LOT OF PRESSING ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE PUBLIC AND COME UP MORE FREQUENTLY.
AUGUST IS REALLY OUR TIME TO CELEBRATE.
SO IN CHILD SUPPORT NATIONALLY AND ALSO HERE IN THE COUNTY AND SAID, WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE AS WELL, AND I'LL SHOW YOU SOMETHING ABOUT THAT IN JUST A SECOND, BUT I APPRECIATE THE PROCLAMATION DECLARING AUGUST CHILD SUPPORT AWARENESS MONTH NATIONALLY WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
IT IS CHILD SUPPORT AWARENESS MONTH IN AUGUST, AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT ON AT THE STATE LEVEL AND THE COUNTY LEVEL ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, WE ENGAGE, GET OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND TRY TO DO OUTREACH IN ORDER TO SHOW FOLKS THAT WE'RE THERE AND WE'RE THERE TO TRY TO HELP THEM.
THIS IS A POVERTY ELIMINATION PROGRAM, CHILD SUPPORT, PEOPLE PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW.
WE ESTABLISH CHILD SUPPORT ORDERS AND MODIFY AND ENFORCE THOSE ORDERS, AND MOREOVER, WITH SO MANY CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES BORN OUT OF WEDLOCK, WE PROVIDE AND ESTABLISH PARENTAGE SO THAT EVERY CHILD IN OUR CASELOAD AND WE HAVE OVER 15,000 CASES.
SO THAT INVOLVES OVER 30,000 PARENTS AND NUMEROUS CHILDREN THAT THEY ALL HAVE TWO PARENTS, WHICH IS A KEY TO SUCCESS IN A CHILD'S LIFE, AND SO THE WORK THAT WE DO IS VERY IMPORTANT AND I CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK MY STAFF, MY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, NICOLE CORTEZ, PROGRAM MANAGER LISA CARPENTER, DAVID HAYCRAFT, OUR CHIEF ATTORNEY, THE REST OF OUR ANALYSTS AND SUPERVISORS AND OUR SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM, AND ABOUT 64 OR 65 TEAM MEMBERS, ALL WHO WORK DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO MAKE LIVES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES BETTER IN OUR COMMUNITY AND TRY TO LIFT MOSTLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN OUT OF POVERTY.
THEY'RE SO DEDICATED TO THIS PROGRAM AND THIS PROCLAMATION CELEBRATES THEM, AND I THANK YOU.
NATIONALLY, THE $30.5 BILLION IN FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 22, WHICH IS ENDING, IT ENDED LAST SEPTEMBER 30TH.
IN TOTAL, CHILD SUPPORT COLLECTIONS WERE DISTRIBUTED NATIONWIDE, WITH OVER 96% OF THAT MONEY GOING DIRECTLY TO THE HOMES OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, AS OPPOSED TO GOVERNMENT RECOUPMENT FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, WHICH WAS MUCH MORE HOW THE PROGRAM WAS DIRECTED 50 YEARS AGO, BUT MORE OF THAT MONEY IS GOING INTO THE HOMES.
13 MILLION CHILDREN NATIONWIDE ARE SERVED BY THE CHILD SUPPORT PROGRAM.
THAT'S ONE OF EVERY FIVE CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES, AND THE NATIONAL COST EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CHILD SUPPORT PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE MOST THE PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE MOST FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS, COLLECTING $4.73 IN CHILD SUPPORT FOR EVERY DOLLAR SPENT ADMINISTRATIVELY.
NOW, TRANSLATING THAT ALL TO MERCED COUNTY, LAST YEAR, WE COLLECTED $27,750,000 IN CHILD SUPPORT, DISTRIBUTING OVER 88% OF THAT DIRECTLY TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO NEEDED IT MOST AND THAT'S ON OUR 15,234 CASES THIS YEAR, WE ARE PROJECTED TO COLLECT WELL OVER 28 MILLION.
[00:40:02]
SO WE ARE IMPROVING ON THAT FIGURE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.OVER 93% OF OUR CASES HAVE A CHILD SUPPORT ORDER ESTABLISHED, AND ON AVERAGE, WE COLLECT HERE IN MERCED COUNTY NEARLY 62% A MONTH OF THE CURRENT SUPPORT PAYMENTS DUE AND OVER 66% OF PAYMENTS ON CASES THAT HAVE ARREARS.
A COUPLE OF HIGHLIGHTS REAL QUICK.
WE WERE JUST RECENTLY AWARDED AND WE'RE VERY THANKFUL TO FIRST FIVE.
A $10,000 GRANT TO HELP US TO INCREASE OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS IN THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST IN THE CITY OF MERCED, BUT OTHER AREAS THAT WE'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE ABLE TO REACH, BUT THE FEDERAL FUNDS THAT FUND OUR PROGRAM THROUGH THE STATE DON'T COVER OUTREACH, AND SO THIS DONATION FROM FIRST FIVE WILL MAKE THAT POSSIBLE, ALLOWING US TO EXPAND OUR EFFORTS, EDUCATE PEOPLE ON WHO WE ARE AND BE ABLE TO RECRUIT ADDITIONAL FAMILIES WHO MAY NEED OUR SERVICES INTO OUR PROGRAM.
ALSO IN FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 23, WHICH WILL END THIS SEPTEMBER 30TH.
WHAT OUR GOALS HAVE BEEN TO INCREASE THE COLLECTIONS OF CURRENT SUPPORT AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PAYMENT ON ARREARS ON ITS CASELOAD EVEN HIGHER SO THAT BETTER SERVES AND MAKES IT MORE LIKELY THAT WE ARE ABLE TO LIFT FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY, WHICH IS THE GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM.
WHAT WE ARE ALSO HERE I AM HERE TODAY FOR ALSO IS THAT IN CELEBRATION OF CHILD AWARENESS MONTH, THE THING WE'RE DOING IN MERCED COUNTY FOR DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES IS ON, IT'S A PROGRAM WE CALL KIDS CONNECT, AND IT'S OUR FOURTH ANNUAL KIDS CONNECT CELEBRATION, AND IT'S FREE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
IT'S GOING TO BE ON AUGUST, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2ND FROM 3 TO 7 P.M..
OUR THEME IS ALL TEAMS ONE GOAL.
IT'S SORT OF A SPORTS RELATED THEME.
THIS YEAR WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE WEARING REFEREE SHIRTS AND WE CERTAINLY INVITE YOU TO COME OUT.
WE'RE HOPING TO BE CONNECTING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH COMMUNITY SERVICES.
WE'LL HAVE A LOT OF OTHER PARTNERS WITH THE COUNTY THERE.
THERE'LL BE FREE BACKPACKS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES, RAFFLE PRIZES, KIDS ACTIVITIES, REFRESHMENTS, ENTERTAINMENT, READING BOOKS TO SCHOOL, TO KIDS AT THE LIBRARY, ALL SORTS OF THINGS, BUT I REALLY DON'T DO IT JUSTICE, AND I WASN'T THERE LAST YEAR, BUT MY STAFF SHOWED ME, HEY, WE'VE GOT A VIDEO FROM LAST YEAR AND SO BETTER THAN I CAN EXPLAIN IT.
I'D RATHER HAVE YOU WATCH THIS VIDEO AND YOU'LL SEE WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE.
IN ATWATER LAST YEAR, WHERE WE HAD OVER 700 FOLKS SHOW UP.
SO, TAMARA, THANKS , SO WE CERTAINLY INVITE YOU TO COME AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE PROCLAMATION AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO SPEAK AND TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CHILD SUPPORT TODAY.
NEXT, I'D LIKE TO CALL UP YAMILET [INAUDIBLE].
I DON'T WANT TO BUTCHER IT. YAMILET [INAUDIBLE]? YES, PERFECT.
WITH ME I HAVE MELINDA MARSHALL WHO IS OUR VP OF OPERATIONS.
[00:45:06]
I ALSO HAVE CYNTHIA MCAFEE, WHO'S OUR DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, AND I HAVE JASON WEST, WHO IS OUR VP FOR SENIOR PROGRAMS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.DO YOU WANT ME TO TOUCH BASE? SO NATIONAL HEALTH CENTER WEEK IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS THAT SERVE 1 IN 5 PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA AND IN THE US 1 IN 7.
WE HAVE 19 HEALTH CENTERS IN MERCED.
WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 44 UP AND DOWN THE VALLEY WHERE WE SERVE 150,000 PATIENTS WITH 600,000 VISITS AND WE HAVE A LOT OF EVENTS COMING UP AND WE'D LOVE TO INVITE THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THE GRAND REOPENING FOR PLANADA.
THAT'S GOING TO BE ON AUGUST 10TH, WHICH IS ON THURSDAY.
THE PROGRAM WILL BE AT 915 IN THE MORNING, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR CHILD HEALTH EVENT AT OUR CHILD'S AVENUE HEALTH CENTERS, WHERE WE WILL HAVE VARIOUS DIFFERENT HEALTH INFORMATION RESOURCES FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, AND IT'S OUR ABSOLUTE PLEASURE TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL HEALTH CENTER WEEK WITH THE COMMUNITY HERE IN MERCED COUNTY AND CONTINUE TO EXPAND OUR SERVICES.
SO THAT'S GOING TO BE A WONDERFUL THAT'S GOING TO BE THE FIRST OF ITS KIND HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.
SO THANK YOU, AND I HAVE SOME FLIERS THAT I'LL LEAVE IN THE BACK, TOO.
WELL, THIS IS MY [INAUDIBLE] IT IS WELL, THE ONLY REASON THAT I GOT CHOSE TO HAND THIS OFF BECAUSE I WAS THE FIRST SUPERVISOR TO ACTUALLY FORWARD IT TO TAMARA SO WE COULD DO THIS PROCLAMATION, AND I WILL JUST MAKE IT PUBLIC RIGHT NOW THAT ANYTIME YAMILET SENDS ME AN EMAIL, I READ IT RIGHT AWAY.
FOR MANY YEARS WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER AND SHE DOES A FANTASTIC JOB.
SO ANYTIME I GET THAT EMAIL, I READ HERS FIRST.
SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT SHE DOES IN THIS COMMUNITY, BUT ON BEHALF OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, I'D LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS PROCLAMATION FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS WEEK AND OR FOR THE WEEK.
SO IF YOU COULD COME UP HERE AND WE'LL DO A PICTURE.
[INAUDIBLE] ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY'S BACK. THANK YOU.
WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO BOARD ACTION, BEGINNING WITH PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS TEN AND 11.
[BOARD ACTION]
ALL RIGHT. THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEMS TEN AND 11.NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.
BOARD, I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND A SECOND BY.
OKAY, PERFECT. MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
THANK YOU. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON HEALTH ITEMS 12 AND 13.
NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD.
BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA.
[00:50:02]
RECORD THE VOTE.THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP, WE'LL HAVE SHERIFF ITEMS, 15 AND 16.
ALL RIGHT. THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 15 AND 16.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE TREASURER TAX COLLECTOR, ITEM 17.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM 17.
WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD.
BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM 18.
NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD.
BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE BOARD APPOINTMENTS.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 19 THROUGH 21.
NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT, WE HAVE BOARD INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.
[BOARD INFORMATION & POSSIBLE ACTION]
ITEM 22.THANK YOU. I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO OUR ASSISTANT CEO, MARK HENDRICKSON.
MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, GOOD MORNING AGAIN.
MARK HENDRICKSON, YOUR ASSISTANT COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER.
THANKS TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS BOARD, MERCED COUNTY WAS SUCCESSFUL IN RECENTLY SECURING A $49.6 MILLION GRANT FROM THE CALIFORNIA STATE TRANSPORTATION AGENCY TO BUILD OUT OUR INLAND PORT PROJECT AT CASTLE.
WE'D LIKE TO TAKE A BRIEF MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MR. MAXEY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND SPECIFICALLY MARK MIMMS, FOR HIS WORK IN MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS GRANT AND FINDING SUCCESS AS THIS GRANT REPRESENTS ONE OF THE LARGEST GRANTS IN THE COUNTY'S HISTORY AND IN FACT, ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEYS.
THIS GRANT WILL FACILITATE THE EXPANSION OF OUR ONSITE RAIL CAPACITY, WILL CREATE JOBS, WILL IMPROVE AIR QUALITY, WILL REMOVE TRUCKS FROM OUR STATE'S HIGHWAYS, AND OPENED UP SHIPPING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR AGRICULTURAL SECTOR, MANUFACTURERS AND PRODUCERS.
MAJOR SUCCESSES LIKE THESE ARE SHARED, HOWEVER, AS THEY ARE THE RESULT OF HARD WORK, OF COURSE, BUT ALSO REFLECTIVE OF OUR MANY LOCAL, REGIONAL, STATE AND NATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS. I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE OUR STRATEGIC PARTNER, PATRIOT RAIL, WHO HAS BEEN OPERATING AT CASTLE SINCE MAY OF 2022.
PATRIOT RAIL IS A LEADING REGIONAL AND SHORTLINE FREIGHT RAILROAD OPERATING 32 SUCH RAILROADS NOW INCLUDING CASTLE, WITH OVER 1200 TOTAL MILES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
THEY WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN ASSISTING THE COUNTY WITH OUR SUCCESSFUL, FULLY FUNDED GRANT PROPOSAL TO THE PATRIOT TEAM, NOTABLY DON ITZKOFF, ROB THRALL, BOB [INAUDIBLE], KATIE WINTER, SEAN MIDRIFF, AND NOTABLY MR. JOHN FENTON, PATRIOTS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ALL OF WHOM ARE HERE TODAY.
AT THIS POINT, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MR. FENTON, WHO HAS COMMENTS PREPARED FOR THE BOARD THIS MORNING.
JOHN HAS MORE THAN 40 YEARS OF A PROFESSIONAL PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE RAIL INDUSTRY, HAVING SERVED IN SEVERAL SENIOR LEADERSHIP ROLES WITH MULTIPLE RAILROADS AND TRANSPORTATION COMPANIES.
HE HAS LED THE EFFORT TO EXPAND THE PATRIOT'S REACH ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ALWAYS EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY AS A KEY COMPONENT OF PATRIOT'S MISSION, AND HE'S, OF COURSE, A FRIEND OF MERCED COUNTY.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING MR. JOHN FENTON. THANK YOU.
I REMEMBER LAST TIME I WAS STANDING UP HERE WAS FEBRUARY OF 22, WHEN YOU AWARDED US THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU TO DEVELOP THIS ASSET AND I'VE GOT TO TIP MY HAT WE HAD A VISION.
[00:55:04]
YOUR VISION, AND WE WERE GLAD TO PARTICIPATE TO HELP KIND OF REALIZE WHERE YOU WANT TO GO WITH THIS, BUT I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR JUST ALLOWING US TO BE HERE, AND AS A PART OF THIS TEAM BECAUSE WHEN MARK WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS, IT REALLY GAVE ME GOOSEBUMPS BECAUSE THIS IS A TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECT BOTH FOR THE COUNTY, FOR THE STATE, FOR OUR COUNTRY, FOR THE SHIPPERS, AND TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS.IT'S QUITE A I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE QUITE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT WHEN YOU SIT DOWN AND YOU YOU LOOK AT THE WORK WE'VE DONE HERE AND A LOT OF THAT WORK WAS JUST LISTENING TO A LOT OF THE SHIPPERS, THE ASSOCIATIONS, THE SUPERVISORS ON WHAT YOUR VISION WAS, WHAT YOUR DREAM WAS, WHAT YOU WERE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.
ONE THING WE LEARNED THERE IS A LOT OF INTEREST IN THIS PROJECT.
THIS BEGS FOR RAIL SERVICE IN THIS REGION, AND I'VE BEEN IN LOGISTICS MY WHOLE CAREER.
THIS, AGAIN, IS GOING TO SOLVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS. I MEAN, I THINK WE LIVED A LOT WHAT HAPPENED WITH COVID WHEN PORT OF LONG BEACH AND LA AND OAKLAND WAS REALLY STRUGGLING.
I USED TO WORK IN THOSE REGIONS, SO I HAVE A FIRM APPRECIATION FOR WHAT THAT MEANS, BUT IT'S REALLY AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE, I THINK, ABOUT WHERE WE'RE GOING, WHAT THE CUSTOMERS ARE GOING TO EXPERIENCE HERE, THE JOB GROWTH, THE WHAT IT'S GOING TO EVEN MEAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
IT TOUCHES ON SO MANY KEY STRATEGIC INITIATIVES, AND FROM MY TIME IN PUBLIC POLICY AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION THESE ARE LONG TERM PROBLEMS THAT TAKE A LOT OF VISION TO THINK ABOUT.
YOU'RE SOLVING THINGS FOR TEN, 20, 30 YEARS FROM NOW.
SO I TIP MY HAT TO EVERYBODY THAT WAS A PART OF THIS WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT YOU THINK ABOUT I KNOW SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS TO THIS REGION AND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE ABLE TO GET YOUR YOUR PRODUCT TO MARKET IN A COMPETITIVE WAY WHEN YOU CAN OVERLOAD THESE CONTAINERS, AND I MEAN, THE VISION IS ONE DAY TO BUILD TRAINS THAT GO STRAIGHT, STRAIGHT TO THE DOCK, STRAIGHT TO THE SHIP, STRAIGHT TO THE DESTINATION THE OVERSTUFFING OF THE CONTAINERS, THE ABILITY TO GET YOUR PRODUCT TO MARKET IN A MORE COMPETITIVE FASHION.
THESE ARE ALL GREAT THINGS, AND WE'RE VERY PRIVILEGED AND HONORED TO BE HERE.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYBODY.
IT WAS YOUR VISION WHEN I FIRST SAT DOWN AND YOU STARTED TO TALK ABOUT THE VISION OF AN INLAND PORT.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT YET IS YET TO BE DONE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
ALL RIGHT. ANY COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES RIGHT NOW OR.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM 22.
SORRY ABOUT THAT. LITTLE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES HERE.
YEAH. SO THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM 22.
I'M NOT SEEING ANYONE, SO WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS WHERE WE HAVE SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT.
NO, THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR I MEAN, WHAT A SHOWING FROM PATRIOT TO BE HERE.
THIS IS FANTASTIC, AND I HAVE TO SAY THE SAME THING.
I MEAN, EVERY MEETING I GO TO, WHETHER IT'S AT CRC OR WHETHER IT WAS AT YARTS IN [INAUDIBLE] YESTERDAY, EVERY TIME THEY LIKE TO MENTION THAT WE RECEIVE THAT AWARD, I CONTINUE TO GET GOOSEBUMPS.
IT WAS A WHOLE LOT OF PRAYING.
IT WAS A WHOLE LOT OF WORK, AND STAFF DID A FANTASTIC JOB TO GET US THERE.
YOUR COOPERATION WITH US WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS EVEN BEFORE YOU GOT INVOLVED, AND WHEN IT WAS LIKE GOD'S TIMING, WHEN YOU SHOWED UP, YOU SHOWED UP AT THE RIGHT TIME, AND WE CONTINUE TO EXPRESS HOW LET THE PRIVATE SECTOR DO THIS AND DO IT THE RIGHT WAY, AND YOU GUYS ARE THE PERFECT PARTNERS TO DO THAT.
WE'RE JUST GOING TO GET OUT OF YOUR WAY AND LET YOU DO WHAT YOU DO.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
[01:00:01]
THE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE INDUSTRY KIND OF CAME, AND THAT'S BEEN A BLESSING TO US AS WELL, BUT THERE'S A THING CALLED SIGMA IN CALIFORNIA THAT'S GOING TO DRY UP SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 20 AND 30% OF THE FARM GROUND, AND THE HE OPPORTUNITY TO, ONE, HELP THOSE THAT ARE STILL IN THE INDUSTRY BE MORE EFFICIENT IN SHIPPING THEIR PRODUCT TO MARKET AS YOU SAID, JOHN, BUT ALSO TO CREATE JOBS THAT THOSE THAT GET DISPLACED BY BY THAT HAPPENING.YOU KNOW THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY I'VE NEVER REALLY WELL, I COMMUTED WHEN I GOT OUT OF COLLEGE, I DROVE DOWN TO RIVERDALE AND IT TOOK ME ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF TO GET THERE, BUT I ONLY HAD TO GO IN THE OFFICE TWO DAYS A WEEK AND I HATED THAT DRIVE AND SO FOR THESE FOLKS THAT MAKE THE TREK OVER THE HILL INTO THE BAY AREA OR EVEN OR EVEN UP TO MODESTO OR TRACY AND FIGHT THAT TRAFFIC I JUST THEY'RE GOING TO BE THANKFUL WHEN AND THEY'RE NOT EVEN GOING TO REALIZE IT WHEN THEY'RE WORKING AT CASTLE.
THEY'RE NOT MAKING THAT COMMUTE, AND SO ONE THE JOBS TWO, THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE LOCALS TO CONTINUE TO BE COMPETITIVE IN THE MARKET AND TO GET FRESH PRODUCE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY IMMEDIATELY IS JUST GOING TO BE A BLESSING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WE THANK YOU FOR FOR CHOOSING MERCED AS WELL AS YOU KNOW, THANK YOU TO OUR TEAM FOR CHOOSING YOU, BUT I THINK THE SYNERGY IS IS JUST PHENOMENAL, AND I JUST LOOK FORWARD TO THE CREATION OF JOBS, AND AND WHEN WHEN WHEN PEOPLE ARE WORKING, THEY'RE HAPPY IT'S KIND OF FUNNY WHEN YOU'RE WORKING, YOU'RE NOT HAPPY, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A JOB, YOU'RE HAPPY, I GUESS IS A WAY TO SAY IT.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. WELL, I'LL JUST LOOK FORWARD TO AND THANK, FIRST OF ALL, STAFF AND PATRIOT RAIL FOR ALL YOUR WORK HERE AND ALSO OBTAINING THE $49.6 MILLION AND THAT'S WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS IS JOBS AND SUPPORTING OUR BUSINESSES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET OUR MERCED COUNTY PRODUCTS ALL ACROSS THE NATION.
SO THIS WILL BE A MORE EFFICIENT AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT GETS US A LOT OF TRUCKS OFF THE ROADS, AND SO AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED IS MORE VITALITY, MORE TO PUSH FOR FOR BUSINESS IN MERCED COUNTY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
YEAH. THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR DOING THIS AND MY COLLEAGUES, ESPECIALLY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND PAREIRA FOR REALLY PUTTING THE FOCUS ON THIS, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU GUYS.
I THINK IT'S A VERY CREATIVE APPROACH AND I THINK IT'S REALLY GOING TO BENEFIT MERCED COUNTY AND THE REGION AS A WHOLE, AND SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS AND THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CONTINUE DEVELOPING OUR COUNTY.
I REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE UP IN MCCLELLAN WHEN I MET YOU GUYS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN PERSON AND REALLY SEEING WHAT WHAT WAS DONE UP THERE AND KIND OF IN YOUR MIND WONDERING, OKAY, WE'RE NOT AS BIG AND DON'T HAVE DON'T HAVE ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT THEY HAVE UP THERE, BUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THAT HERE IN MERCED COUNTY? AND THEN THANK YOU FOR BEING PATIENT WITH US, BECAUSE WE WERE GOING THROUGH ALL OF THIS AT FIRST TIME, TOO AND I KNOW THAT THERE WAS PROBABLY SOME STICKING POINTS ALONG THE WAY ON HOW WE EXACTLY GOT THERE, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE GOT THERE AND I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THE PARTNERSHIP, AND JUST TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE ARPA WAS A ONCE IN A GENERATION AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT CAME INTO OUR COUNTY AND THAT WAS $54 MILLION, AND THIS IS A 49, ALMOST $50 MILLION GRANT.
THAT'S A HUGE DEAL FOR OUR COUNTY.
I ACTUALLY GOT A TEXT MESSAGE LAST NIGHT FROM THE EDITOR OF THE WEST SIDE EXPRESS WANTING TO KNOW SPECIFICALLY, WHICH I'LL CALL HIM BACK LATER, BUT I WANTED TO SHARE MY COMMENTS HERE FIRST HOW IS THIS GOING TO BENEFIT THE WEST SIDE? AND SO WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS AS WE WERE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION, MY AGRICULTURE PARTNERS ON THE WEST SIDE SAID, HEY, YOU GUYS PUT THIS IN, LET ME KNOW.
WE'LL BE THE FIRST PERSON, THE FIRST PEOPLE TO SIGN UP.
SO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE, WHETHER IT'S OUR TOMATO PROCESSING PLANTS, WHICH ON THE WEST SIDE OF MERCED COUNTY, WE HAVE THE SINGLE LARGEST CONCENTRATION OF TOMATO PROCESSING PLANTS IN THE WORLD.
THE MORNING STAR COMPANY HAS THREE PROCESSING PLANTS.
TWO OF THEM RESIDE WITHIN MINE AND NOW SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA'S DISTRICT, AND THE THIRD ONE IS UP NORTH SOMEWHERE, WOODLAND, AND WOODLAND IS THEIR LARGEST PLANT.
LIBERTY IS THEIR SECOND LARGEST PLANT, AND THE ORIGINAL MORNING STAR PLANT IS THEIR THIRD PLANT, AND THOSE ARE THE NUMBER ONE, TWO AND THREE LARGEST TOMATO PROCESSING PLANTS IN THE WORLD. SO THOSE FOLKS THAT TAKE THAT PRODUCT AND PUT IT ON A TRUCK AND THEY DO HAVE SOME RAIL CAPACITY OUT THERE, BUT NOT VERY MUCH OF IT, THAT STUFF'S GOING ON.
SO JUST IMAGINE CUTTING THAT DRIVING TIME.
[01:05:01]
HOW MANY LOADS CAN THEY MAKE IN A DAY DRIVING FROM LOS BANOS TO OAKLAND, WHEN YOU FIGURE IN TRAFFIC VERSUS HOW MANY TRIPS A DAY CAN THEY MAKE DRIVING FROM LOS BANOS TO ATWATER? SO IT'S A WIN WIN FOR EVERYBODY.SUPER PROUD OF OUR TEAM, OUR PARTNERS THAT WE'VE CHOSEN TO PARTNER WITH AND REALLY BEING SUCCESSFUL AND REALLY THE LEADERSHIP OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT ARE ON THE STANDING COMMITTEE FOR CASTLE OUT THERE, AND IN PARTICULAR SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, WHO EVERYWHERE HE GOES, HE TALKS ABOUT THE INLAND PORT EVERYWHERE.
HE'S VERY WELL KNOWN FOR THE INLAND PORT, THE ONLY STATEWIDE EVERYWHERE WE GO, AND I THINK BEATING THAT DRUM, WHAT I FOUND IN MY TIME HERE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS THE SQUEAKY WHEEL TENDS TO GET THE GREASE AND WE'VE NEVER WASTED AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WHETHER WE'RE AT AN RCRC FUNCTION OR THE STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES FUNCTION TALKING ABOUT THIS INLAND PORT AND I THINK YOU SEE IT PAID OFF, AND AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY FROM ALL THE WORK THAT STAFF HAS DONE, OUR PARTNERS HAVE DONE TO BE ABLE TO PUT THIS GRANT TOGETHER AND REALLY GET THE FULL ASKING AMOUNT $49.6 MILLION.
SO PATRIOT RAIL, YOU FOLKS THAT HAVE COME OUT HERE AND JOINING US TODAY, WE APPRECIATE IT.
I COULD JUST TELL YOU, THERE WAS A POINT HERE A WEEK, TEN DAYS AGO, WHATEVER IT WAS, WHERE WE GOT A PHONE CALL AND IT WAS SECRET SQUIRREL COULDN'T TELL NOBODY , BUT I WILL TELL YOU, THERE MAY HAVE BEEN MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN A FEW TEARS SHED IN THAT OFFICE WHEN WHEN WE GOT WORD OF THIS GRANT.
THAT'S HOW MUCH OF A BIG GAME CHANGER IT IS FOR US.
SO JUST A WIN FOR US, AND YOU GET TO LISTEN TO SOME OF OUR PUBLIC COMMENT EARLIER AND SOME FOLKS DON'T THINK WE DO MUCH RIGHT, BUT IN THIS CASE RIGHT HERE, THIS IS ONE OF THE ONES THAT WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE THIS VICTORY BECAUSE IT IS ABSOLUTELY THAT A BIG VICTORY FOR MERCED COUNTY.
SO WITH THAT, WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
WITH ENTHUSIASM, I SAY THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
ALL THAT HARD WORK, AND THEN IT'S OVER THAT FAST FOR THE VOTE RIGHT, BUT NOW THE REAL WORK BEGINS IN MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE GOOD FISCAL STEWARDS OF THE TAXPAYER MONEY AND PUT THAT MONEY TO WORK AND MAKE GREAT THINGS HAPPEN FOR MERCED COUNTY.
[SCHEDULED ITEMS]
WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR SCHEDULED ITEMS. WE HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED THIS MORNING.WE'LL START WITH PUBLIC WORKS.
NEXT, WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS REGARDING A PROPOSED RESOLUTION FOR THE GENERAL VACATION OF PORTIONS OF JASPER SEARS ROAD, BRANCH ROAD, BILLY WRIGHT ROAD, OUR BUREAU ROAD, LANGDON ROAD, AVERY ROAD, LAGUNA SECA ROAD, LINDBLOOM ROAD AND PAUL NEGRA ROAD IN THE LOS BANOS AREA.
WE WILL START WITH OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, MR. HERTFELDER. GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
LINDBLOOM ROAD AND PAUL NEGRO ROAD IN THE LOS BANOS AREA.
ONE THING ALL THESE ROADS HAVE IN COMMON IS THAT ON DECEMBER 17TH OF 1996, THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ADOPTED RESOLUTION NUMBER 96274, TERMINATING MAINTENANCE ON THESE ROADS.
THESE ARE NO LONGER COUNTY MAINTAINED ROADS.
SECTION 8324 OF THE CALIFORNIA STREETS AND HIGHWAYS CODE PROVIDES THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MAY VACATE A STREET OR HIGHWAY IF IT FINDS THAT IT IS UNNECESSARY FOR PRESENT OR PUBLIC FUTURE PUBLIC USE.
SECTION 8324 ALSO PROVIDES THAT THE VACATION OCCURS ONLY AFTER CONDITIONS REQUIRED BY THE LEGISLATIVE BODY HAVE BEEN SATISFIED AND MAY INSTRUCT THE CLERK OF THE BOARD THAT THE RESOLUTION OF VACATION NOT BE RECORDED UNTIL THESE CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN SATISFIED.
PUBLIC DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS BELIEVES THAT THESE UNPAVED MAIN UNMAINTAINED DIRT ROADS ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR GENERAL PUBLIC USE AND ARE A POTENTIAL SAFETY CONCERN IF THE PUBLIC IS ALLOWED TO USE THEM.
[01:10:05]
THE GENERAL VACATION IS CONSISTENT WITH THE MERCED COUNTY GENERAL PLAN AND TWO IS CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM CEQA UNDER 1560 1(B)(3) COMMON SENSE AND 15301(C) EXISTING HIGHWAYS AND STREETS.THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS ALSO POSTED NOTICES OF THE VACATION ALONG THESE ROADS, AS REQUIRED BY SECTION 8323 OF THE CALIFORNIA STREETS AND HIGHWAYS CODE.
FINALLY, SECTION 8353 OF THE CALIFORNIA STREETS AND HIGHWAYS CODE REQUIRES THAT A CLAIMANT OR PROPERTY OWNER OF THE VACATION TO RECORD A VERIFIED NOTICE WITHIN TWO YEARS OF THE DATE OF VACATION.
THE VERIFIED NOTICE MUST DESCRIBE THE PRIVATE EASEMENT THAT IS CLAIMED WITHIN THE VACATED ROADS AND BE AVAILABLE TO ALL AFFECTED PARTIES OF THE VACATION.
NOTICE MUST BE RECORDED WITH THE OFFICE OF THE MERCED COUNTY RECORDER.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
MAY I APPROACH TO PROVIDE THEM TO THE CLERK FOR THE BOARD? PUT THEM IN THAT NICE LITTLE BASKET RIGHT THERE AND SHE WILL MAKE SURE TO GET THEM TO US.
GOOD MORNING, HONORABLE CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M AN ATTORNEY AT SHEPPARD MULLIN.
WE REPRESENT WRIGHT SOLAR PARK, LLC, THE OWNER OF THE WRIGHT SOLAR PARK PROJECT.
THE ENTIRE PORTION OF THE COUNTY ROAD KNOWN AS LANGDON ROAD.
THE LANGDON ROAD PORTION IS INELIGIBLE FOR VACATION UNDER THE STREETS AND HIGHWAYS CODE BECAUSE IT IS NECESSARY FOR PUBLIC ACCESS TO A MITIGATION SITE ASSOCIATED WITH THE WRIGHT SOLAR PROJECT.
THE WRIGHT SOLAR PROJECT RECEIVED PERMITS FROM THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE AND THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE, WHICH REQUIRE [INAUDIBLE] OF A CONSERVATION EASEMENT OVER A MITIGATION SITE AND CONTINUED HABITAT MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES OVER THAT MITIGATION AREA.
THE LANGDON ROAD PORTION IS THE ONLY MEANS OF PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE MITIGATION AREA OVER WHICH A CONSERVATION EASEMENT HAS BEEN RECORDED IF THE LANGDON PORTION OF THE ROAD IS VACATED.
PARTIES CRITICAL TO THE TASKS REQUIRED BY THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT WILL LOSE THE ONLY PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE LANGDON TO THE MITIGATION SITE. FOR THIS REASON, THE LANGDON ROAD PORTION IS INELIGIBLE FOR GENERAL VACATION UNDER STREETS AND HIGHWAYS CODE SECTION 8324B. ALTERNATIVELY, SHOULD THE BOARD WISH TO VACATE THE LANGDON ROAD PORTION, IT MAY ONLY BE VACATED UPON SATISFACTION OF A CONDITION REQUIRING AFFECTED LANDOWNERS TO GRANT A PERPETUAL ACCESS EASEMENT TO THE MITIGATION AREA FOR CERTAIN PARTIES CRITICAL TO CARRYING OUT THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT ACTIVITIES ON THE MITIGATION SITE.
WITH RESPECT TO THIS OPTION, WE'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH COUNTY COUNSEL AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT AN ALTERNATIVE RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR SUCH A CONDITION OF APPROVAL HAS BEEN PROVIDED. WE'VE REVIEWED THAT CONDITION AND WE THINK THAT CONDITION ADEQUATELY ADDRESSES THIS ACCESS ISSUE, AND WE'D BE WE'D BE OKAY WITH ADOPTION OF THE REVISED RESOLUTION.
I WANT TO NOTE THAT [INAUDIBLE] IS HERE.
SHE'S WITH CLEAN ERA, WHICH IS THE COMPANY THAT DEVELOPED THE WRIGHT SOLAR PROJECT.
SHE'S INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH THE PROJECT AND WITH THE MITIGATION.
I'LL GIVE YOU A COUPLE MORE SECONDS HERE TO FINISH UP YOUR COMMENTS.
THANK YOU. LET ME [INAUDIBLE] ON MY COMPUTER.
[01:15:03]
TRY IT AGAIN. THANK YOU.I WAS JUST GOING TO NOTE THAT [INAUDIBLE] IS HERE AND SHE'S INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH THE PROJECT AND THE MITIGATION SIDE ITSELF, SO SHE'S AVAILABLE TO FIELD ANY PROJECT SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT THE BOARD MAY HAVE.
PERFECT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, SIR.
THERE'S ALSO COPIES AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC OF THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION.
GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU.
MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE], AND I WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO THE PROPOSED GENERAL VACATION ROAD VACATION ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND MY FAMILY BUSINESS OUT OF [INAUDIBLE] FARMS IN LOS BANOS.
I KNOW THIS HELPS WITH THIEVES, VANDALS, AND ALSO PREVENTS ANIMALS FROM ESCAPING OUR PROPERTY.
HOWEVER, BY ENDING THIS PUBLIC ACCESS, WE WILL NO LONGER HAVE ACCESS TO OUR PROPERTY AT ALL.
SO AS WE ARE LANDLOCKED BY BDART'S PROPERTY AND HAVE NO ACCESS TO OUR [INAUDIBLE] ROAD, DOES THE COUNTY HAVE A SOLUTION FOR OUR PROBLEM? AND WAS THAT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN THESE VACATION ROADS WERE PROPOSED? AND IF YOU DO NOT, WE'D LIKE TO REQUEST A PERMANENT EASEMENT FOR [INAUDIBLE] FARMS AND ALL OF OUR PARTNERS USING IT TO ACCESS OUR PROPERTY FOR BUSINESS USAGE.
THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, MA'AM.
DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY? WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THE FARM AGAIN? ONE MORE TIME. [INAUDIBLE] FARMS. YEAH, THAT'LL PROBABLY HELP BE HELPFUL.
IS THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? IF NOT, WE WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 11:23 DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY COMMENTS? PERFECT. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
YEAH. COULD WE GET DIRECTOR HERTFELDER TO COME BACK UP AND SHARE OR ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF THE PREVIOUS PUBLIC COMMENTER? GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
DANA HERTFELDER, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
WASN'T THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE OF VARINA FARMS? I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THEM.
BASICALLY, MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE VACATION IS ANYONE WHO CURRENTLY HAS A LEGAL RIGHT TO ACCESS THEIR PROPERTY FOR USE ON THESE ROADS WILL CONTINUE THAT LEGAL RIGHT, AND THEY HAVE TWO YEARS TO RECORD AN EASEMENT ACROSS THOSE ROADS THAT THEY USE TO ACCESS THEIR PROPERTY.
TO US, LANDLOCKED MEANS THEY DON'T HAVE A LEGAL RIGHT TO ACCESS THEIR PROPERTY, BUT IF THEY CURRENTLY HAVE A RIGHT TO USE THESE ROADS, THAT CONTINUES WITH THE VACATION. OKAY, AND THEN THEY THEN THEY JUST HAVE AND THEY HAVE TWO YEARS TO RECORD THAT.
AN EASEMENT. YES, AND WE SEND WE'LL SEND A LETTER THAT STATES THAT SPECIFICALLY AND WHATEVER THE BOARD ACTION DECIDES TO TAKE TO ALL THE PROPERTY OWNERS THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THIS ACTION.
THANK YOU. SO WHAT I'LL COMMENT ON IT IS, IS IT'S AN AREA WHERE, AS DIRECTOR HERTFELDER STATED, THE COUNTY QUIT MAINTAINING THESE ROADS SOME YEARS BACK, AND WHAT YOU END UP HAVING IS, IS YOU HAVE FOLKS THAT ARE BECAUSE IT'S STILL A COUNTY ROAD OR ENTERING INTO AREAS THAT QUITE HONESTLY THEY DON'T BELONG IN.
NOT EVERY GATE UP THERE HAS A CATTLE GUARD ON IT.
IF FOLKS LEAVE GATES OPEN, THEN YOU HAVE ANIMALS POTENTIALLY WANDERING AROUND, AND I DO WANT TO REST ASSURED, BECAUSE I DID HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITH SOME OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS AS EARLY AS THIS MORNING ON THIS TWO YEAR PERIOD, THIS TWO YEAR PERIOD, WHERE BECAUSE THE WAY IT KIND OF WORKS UP IN THAT HILL COUNTRY, IF YOUR RANCH IS FURTHEST IN THE BACK, YOU GO ACROSS OTHER RANCHES TO GET THERE.
YOU HAVE THAT ACCESS ON A COUNTY ROAD NOW TO GET THROUGH THERE, BUT THIS ALLOWS FOR THEM WITHIN THE NEXT TWO YEARS TO BE ABLE TO RECORD THEIR EASEMENTS ACROSS THAT LAND, AND I AND AGAIN, I CAN'T SAY THAT I SPOKE TO EVERY PROPERTY OWNER, BUT THE ONES THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO ALL UNDERSTAND IT, AND REALLY IT'S A WAY FOR THEM TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.
[01:20:02]
RIGHT NOW, EVERYBODY KNOWS EACH OTHER, BUT IF YOU MOVE, MOVE AHEAD.A GENERATION OR TWO PROPERTY SELLS.
THESE EASEMENTS ARE IMPORTANT.
SO LET IT BE UNDERSTOOD THAT IF YOU CURRENTLY USE THE COUNTY ROAD TO GET ACCESS TO YOUR PROPERTY, YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO RECORD THIS EASEMENT WITH THE COUNTY IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THATTHAT EASEMENT IS SECURED AND REALLY WITHOUT A WHOLE LOT OF HICCUPS IN IT AND IT REALLY KIND OF CLEANS AN AREA UP UP THERE BECAUSE THEY DO KNOW AND I TEND TO GO UP THERE A COUPLE OF TIMES A YEAR VISITING SOME FOLKS UP IN THAT AREA, AND YOU DO THERE'S A PRETTY TIGHT KNIT FAMILY UP THERE AND EVERYBODY KIND OF KNOWS WHO BELONGS THERE AND WHO REALLY DOESN'T BELONG THERE, AND YOU END UP WITH I WAS SPEAKING WITH ONE PROPERTY OWNER THIS MORNING AND HE BROUGHT UP THINGS LIKE CAR GOES UP THERE.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO GET OFF THE COUNTY ROAD, BUT THEY PARK IN THE DRY GRASS, STARTS A FIRE.
WHOSE LIABILITY IS THAT? YOU KNOW, AND THESE ARE THESE FOLKS LIVELIHOOD.
THERE'S A FEW RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.
SO I'M VERY IN SUPPORT AND I DO UNDERSTAND THE RIGHT SOLAR PROJECTS NEED THERE, BUT I THINK WITH THE LANGUAGE THAT I SAW THIS MORNING THAT ADDRESSES THAT, THAT THE ABANDONMENT WOULDN'T GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL THOSE EASEMENTS WERE SATISFIED.
THE ONE THING THAT I WOULD ASK OF YOU IS THAT WE'RE NOT WAITING TWO YEARS TO GET IT DONE.
THAT'S PROBABLY MORE OF A COMMENT.
SO ALL RIGHT, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN.
THAT WAS ACTUALLY MY QUESTION.
WHEN DOES THIS TAKE IN EFFECT? BUT I THINK YOU ANSWERED IT IN YOUR COMMENTS ON AS THE EASEMENTS ARE SECURE, THEN WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ABANDONMENT.
SO THE WAY THAT I UNDERSTOOD IT JUST TO BE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M CLEAR, IS THAT THE ONE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SPECIFICALLY FOR THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT, IT WOULDN'T GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL AFTER THAT ONE IS.
SO FOR NOT ALL PROPERTY OWNER, HOW SOON DOES IT GO INTO EFFECT FOR ALL PROPERTY OWNERS? BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THEM TO LOSE ACCESS BY OUR ACTIONS TODAY.
THEY WOULDN'T THEY WOULDN'T LOSE ACCESS.
THEY WOULD JUST NEED AND THEY HAVE TWO YEARS TO, I GUESS, MEMORIALIZE THOSE EASEMENTS CONTINUE TO HAVE ACCESS UNTIL THAT FOR THE TWO YEARS.
OKAY. SO [INAUDIBLE] I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S CORRECT.
I'M GOING TO CHECK WITH COUNSEL ON THAT.
OH, I'M SORRY. YES, MR. CHAIR. THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, IS THAT ONCE THE VACATION OCCURS SO YOU CAN CONDITION THE VACATION TODAY ON THE EASEMENT FOR THE RIGHT SOLAR MITIGATION PROJECT, BUT OTHER LANDOWNERS CAN RECORD THOSE EASEMENTS TWO YEARS WITHIN TWO YEARS OF THE VACATION BECOMING EFFECTIVE SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO CONDITION THE VACATION ON OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE LEGAL ACCESS RIGHT NOW BY PUBLIC ROADS BUT THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECORD EASEMENTS CONSISTENT WITH THOSE PUBLIC ROADS FOR TWO YEARS AFTER VACATION, WITHIN TWO YEARS OF THE VACATION.
SO I THINK WHAT I'M ASKING BY OUR ACTION TODAY, DO THEY STILL HAVE ACCESS TO THAT ROAD? AND UNTIL THEY RECORD THE EASEMENT, THEY WOULD, YES.
SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SO IS THE ROAD OR ARE THESE ROADS GOING TO BE VACATED TODAY WITH THIS ACTION OR WHEN THE RESOLUTION OR EASEMENT IS PERFECTED? WHEN IS THE ROAD? WHAT DATE IS THE ROAD EVACUATED OR VACATED? PAREIRA. THE DATE.
WE COULD RECORD THE VACATION OF THE ROADS AFTER THE CONDITION THAT'S BEING PROPOSED TODAY IS SATISFIED, AND THAT WOULD BE RECORDING THE EASEMENTS FOR THE WRIGHT SOLAR PROJECT.
OKAY, AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS TO A PROPERTY OWNER IF THEY IF THEY DON'T RECORD THEIR EASEMENTS, SAY THIS GETS SATISFIED IN THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS.
SO BETWEEN FOUR MONTHS AND TWO YEARS FROM NOW, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS? THEY STILL HAVE ACCESS DURING THAT TWO YEAR PERIOD.
THEY WOULD HAVE ACCESS AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECORD THOSE EASEMENTS, AFTER WHICH THEY MAY HAVE PRESCRIPTIVE EASEMENTS OR OTHER RIGHTS, BUT I BELIEVE THE RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THEY RECORD THOSE EASEMENTS WITHIN THE TWO YEAR PERIOD.
OKAY, AND JUST AS A SIDE NOTE TO THAT, I HAVE REACHED OUT TO A COUPLE OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS THAT KNOW ALL THE PROPERTY OWNERS, AND THEY JUST TOLD THEM, I THINK IT'S JUST GOOD GOVERNANCE IS I KNOW THEY'RE ALL GOING TO GET A LETTER THAT SAYS THAT THEY HAVE TWO YEARS TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF THEM
[01:25:04]
DON'T WAIT TWO YEARS TO GET THOSE EASEMENTS RECORDED AND GET THAT DONE.WELL, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, FROM EXPERIENCE, I'M FARMING TOO I I THINK IT WAS ALREADY SAID NOBODY LOSES THEIR RIGHT TO HAVE THE ACCESS TO THEIR PROPERTY, BUT IF AT ANY TIME THERE'S ANY LOCKS ON IT, EVERYBODY HAS A RIGHT TO HAVE A LOCK ON IT AND NOBODY HAS A RIGHT TO KEEP YOU OUT FROM GOING TO YOUR PROPERTY.
SO IF THAT HAPPENS YOU CAN CUT IT OFF BECAUSE THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE THAT RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, ARE THERE ANY OTHER REQUESTS TO SPEAK? NO OTHER REQUESTS. OKAY, WELL, THEN I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, AND THAT IS TO FIND THAT THE PROPOSED VACATION EXEMPT FROM CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT AND UNDER CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15061(B)(3), COMMON SENSE AND SECTION 15301(C) EXISTING HIGHWAYS AND STREETS FOR THE REASONS STATED IN THE ATTACHED RESOLUTION.
I ALSO WOULD INCLUDE MOVING TO ADOPT THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION TO VACATE PORTIONS OF JASPER SPEARS ROAD BRANCH ROAD, BILLY WHITE ROAD, [INAUDIBLE] ROAD, LANGDON ROAD, AVERY ROAD, LAGUNA SECA ROAD AND LINDBLOOM ROAD AND PAUL NEGRA ROAD IN THE LOS BANOS AREA AND THAT, AND JUST TO NOTE THAT THE RESOLUTION DOES INCLUDE THE ABILITY FOR THE FOLKS THAT OPERATE THE BILLY WRIGHT SOLAR PROJECT TO HAVE THEIR EASEMENT GRANTED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
ARE THERE ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE HAVE AN ITEM FROM COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND I WILL HAVE I GET TO CHAT WITH MR. MAXEY. GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, STEVE MAXEY, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THIS PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE YOU IS EXTENSION NUMBER EXT.
23001 TO MAJOR SUBDIVISION NUMBER MAS04014.
THIS IS AN EXISTING SUBDIVISION TENTATIVE MAP THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY THE BOARD FOR SUBDIVIDING A 58 ACRE LOT INTO 35 LOTS FOR A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION.
THIS WAS APPROVED BY THE BOARD IN 2013.
IT HAS RECEIVED FOUR STATUTORY EXEMPTIONS THAT'S KEPT THE MAP VALID TO DATE.
THE NEW EXPIRATION DATE WOULD BE MAY 31ST OF 2024.
IT WOULD BE A ONE YEAR EXTENSION.
THE APPLICANT HAS REQUESTED EXTENSION WHILE THEY WORK WITH THE SERVICES DISTRICT THERE IN SNELLING TO ADDRESS SEWER SERVICE TO THE PROJECT , AND SO IN THE EVENT THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN IN THE NEXT YEAR, IT IS ENTIRELY LIKELY THAT WE'D SEE THE SAME REQUEST BEFORE THE BOARD AGAIN IN A YEAR.
SO WITH THAT, THERE ARE THREE RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FOR THE BOARD.
TWO WOULD BE TO FIND NO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO CEQA SECTION 15162 SUBSEQUENT EIRS AND NEGATIVE DECLARATIONS, AND THREE WOULD BE TO APPROVE THE EXTENSION APPLICATION NUMBER EXT 23001 BASED ON THE FINDINGS INCLUDED IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF REPORT, I DO WANT TO NOTE THIS WAS PRESENTED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION. PLANNING COMMISSION DID VOTE TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND IT'S BEFORE YOU TODAY FOR ACTION.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. MAXEY? NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE WILL NOW THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING SUPERVISOR PAREIRA THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MR. MAXEY, I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION.
THE PERMIT EXPIRED MAY 31ST OF 2023.
SO WHAT'S THE LEGALITY THAT ALLOWS US TO EXTEND IT AFTER IT'S BEEN EXPIRED? SO SUBDIVISION MAP OUT.
[01:30:10]
MAP. IN THIS CASE, THAT LETTER CAME IN TO THE COUNTY ON FEBRUARY 9TH OF THIS YEAR.THE COUNTY HAS 60 DAYS OR EXCUSE ME, THE VALIDITY OF THAT MAP IS VALID FOR 60 DAYS PAST EXTENSION OR UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT THE COUNTY TAKES ACTION. SO WE'RE STILL WITHIN THE LEGAL BOUNDS TO MAKE MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION AND DECISION BY THE BOARD.
OKAY, THEN THANK YOU FOR THE ANSWER, AND I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO RECOMMEND THAT WE FIND NO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 15162 OF THE CEQA GUIDELINES AND RECOMMEND THE BOARD APPROVE THE EXTENSION APPLICATION NUMBER EXT . 23-001 BASED ON THE FINDINGS INCLUDED IN THE STAFF REPORT.
ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I WILL SECOND. I'M GOING TO GO WITH YOU GIVE IT THE OLD GUY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ARE THERE ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
WE HAVE ONE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM ON THIS AGENDA AT THIS TIME.
I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BOTH NON AGENDA ITEMS WITHIN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AS THE COUNTY OF MERCED GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY CHOWCHILLA JURISDICTION, AS WELL AS FOR THE ONE AGENDA ITEM.
TESTIMONY LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON AND 30 MINUTES TOTAL.
ALL RIGHT. THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
WE'LL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THIS ITEM AND WE WILL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE? AYE. ARE THERE ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
ALL RIGHT. NOW WE'LL ADJOURN THE MEETING AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS THE COUNTY OF MERCED GSA, CHOWCHILLA AND RECONVENE AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. NEXT IS BOARD REPORTS.
ALL RIGHT. WE WILL START WITH SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION]
WELL, LET ME GO INTO DISCUSSION MODE.SORRY, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. WELL, MR. MIMMS HAS LEFT THE ROOM, BUT JUST AFTER I GOT DONE SPEAKING EARLIER ON ITEM 22, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKED ON THIS PROJECT, BUT HE WAS KIND OF THE POINT GUY TO EVERYBODY ELSE AND ANYWAYS, I'M JUST REAL PROUD OF THE WORK HE HE DID AND THE SUCCESS THAT WE'VE HAD, AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK HIM PUBLICLY, AND THAT IS IT. THANK YOU.
I DO WANT TO REPORT OUT THAT I DID REPRESENT YOU AT RCRC LAST WEEK IN SACRAMENTO.
I AM THE CHAIRMAN OF GSFA AND MOVING FORWARD, VERY BUSY IN SACRAMENTO RIGHT NOW, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, WITH ALL THE RIDERS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S BEING IMPLEMENTED , AND I DID WANT TO REPORT OUT THAT I DID HAVE A TOUR WITH AND GEMINI FLIGHT SUPPORT OUT AT CASTLE.
IT'S NICE TO SEE IT FROM THE FBOS POINT OF VIEW.
ALSO, I ATTENDED THE UNITED STATES PENITENTIARY ATWATER COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD LUNCHEON.
THEY WERE VERY EXCITED WHEN I SHARED, OF COURSE, THE INLAND PORT GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED FROM CALSTA ANOTHER GOOSE PIMPLY MOMENT , BUT ANYWAY, I THINK THAT'S AN ONGOING THE PRISON HAS BEEN VERY ENGAGED WITH THE COMMUNITY AND I RECOMMEND IF ANYBODY GETS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THAT ONE AS WELL.
ALSO IN IN ATTENDED THE VALENTINE'S DAY IN JULY WITH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WHICH WAS WHERE ERIC SERRATO HAS BROUGHT IN ALL OF OUR CONTRACTORS ALL IN TOGETHER WHERE WE COULD ALL COMMUNICATE AND THEY COULD FIND PINCH POINTS WHAT WASN'T WORKING, WHAT ISN'T, WHAT IS
[01:35:03]
WORKING AND EXPAND FROM THERE, AND IT'S AMAZING BECAUSE THE COUNTY KIND OF SITS IN THAT ROLE WHEN WE WORK WITH OUR CITIES AND TRANSPORTATION AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT HOW INVOLVED WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS WITH NOT ONLY NONPROFITS, BUT MCOE AND EVERYBODY ELSE.SO THAT WAS A VERY GOOD THING, AND THEN ALSO ATTENDED THE FINISH THE 99 MEETING IN MADERA COUNTY, WHERE TULARE COUNTY, MADERA COUNTY AND MERCED COUNTY ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER.
AS YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU DRIVE DOWN 99, THE PINCH POINTS ARE EXACTLY THOSE THREE COUNTIES THAT I TALK ABOUT, AND SO IT SEEMS LIKE THE REST OF THE VALLEY HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND WE DO NOT WANT THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO FORGET THAT THEY NEED TO FINISH THESE ITEMS THERE, AND THEN WE HAD A VERY FRUITFUL AND HAPPY CASTLE AD HOC MEETING AS WELL ON FRIDAY, AND WITH THAT AND THEN ALSO WE ATTENDED OUR YARTS MEETING IN MAMMOTH COUNTY OR NOT, BUT IN MAMMOTH AT MONO COUNTY ON MONDAY, AND FOR ALL OF YOU, YES, IT WAS IN THE 80S, THE LAST TWO DAYS WHEN WE WERE THERE , BUT THOSE PEOPLE UP THERE WERE EXTREMELY HOT.
THEY WERE ALL SO EXCITED TO BE THERE, AND IN FACT, YESTERDAY ON MY WAY TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, I STOPPED TO GET SOME WATER AT THE 7-ELEVEN, AND THIS KID, HE'S LIKE, HEY, DO YOU REMEMBER ME? I SAID, NO. HE GOES, I WAS IN THE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT AND YOU CAME AND GAVE ME A HIGH FIVE AND STUFF.
SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY COOL, BUT GUSTINE ENDED UP WINNING.
THEY SAID THEY CHEATED FOR WHATEVER REASON, BUT I'M JUST KIDDING, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK CEO MENDEZ AND ASSISTANT CEO MARK HENDRICKSON FOR THEIR PRESENTATION AT THE MERCED CITY COUNCIL MEETING LAST NIGHT ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT GETTING THIS GRANT AND IT IS LIKE GOOSEBUMPS WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT AND EVERY TIME YOU HEAR IT, IT'S SURREAL, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS IS I DON'T THINK WE DO ENOUGH CELEBRATING OUR SUCCESSES, AND THIS WAS REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HIGHLIGHT ONE OF THOSE HUGE WINS FOR US. SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING OUT AND DOING THAT.
ALL RIGHT, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. WELL, I GOT A CALL REGARDING THE WEEDS ON THE ISLANDS ON CAMPUS PARKWAY, SO WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT I HAVEN'T SEEN IT, SO THEY JUST TOLD ME OR I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS.
THEY JUST SAID CLOSE TO THE ROUNDABOUTS.
I ALSO ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE AND I WILL BE REPORTING OUR NEXT MEETING AS I COMBINE MY NOTES.
THIS IS FROM PLANADA. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME REGARDING OBTAINING FUNDS FROM THE $20 MILLION AWARDED BY THE STATE FOR PLANADA AND AS MANY PEOPLE ARE CALLING ALSO TO INFORM, ASK HOW THAT'S GOING TO BE DISTRIBUTED AS WELL.
UM, AND AS THE BUSINESS DID NOT RECEIVE ANY FUNDS, THEY WERE ONLY ASKED TO APPLY FOR LOANS FROM THE SMALL BUSINESS LOANS, BUT LIKE I SAID, THEY FELT THEY WERE LEFT OUT AND WHICH THEY SOME OF THEM DID GET A LOT OF DAMAGE WITH THE FLOODS AND ALSO, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT LIKE I SAID, WE'RE HAPPY THAT MERCED COUNTY RECEIVED THE $50 MILLION GRANT AND A LOT OF GRANT FOR THE FRANKLIN BEECHWOOD PARK AND ALSO THE $300,000 FOR THE GRANT IN [INAUDIBLE] FOR THAT PARK , AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER [INAUDIBLE] I CAN'T REMEMBER THE EXACT NUMBER ALREADY, SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN COMBINE THAT AND MOVE THAT FORWARD AND FINISH THAT PARK.
THANK YOU. COUNSEL HANSON? CEO MENDEZ? YES, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I JUST WANTED TO AGAIN GO OVER THE SPECIFICS FOR THE COUNTY'S PRESS EVENT THAT'S SCHEDULED THIS AFTERNOON TO CELEBRATE THE AWARD OF THE $49.6 MILLION FOR CASTLE COMMERCE CENTER.
SO IT'S 3 P.M., OBVIOUSLY, THIS AFTERNOON.
THE LOCATION IS A PATRIOT RAIL LOCOMOTIVE AT THE CORNER OF SPACE PORT ENTRY AND SHUTTLE DRIVE.
THERE AT THE CENTER, THERE WILL BE A RECEPTION TO FOLLOW AT WORK AT 1900 AIR DRONE ENTRY.
[01:40:03]
SO JUST THOSE ARE THE SPECIFICS.LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE BOARD THERE.
WE'VE ALSO RECEIVED CONFIRMATION FROM SOME OF OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES THAT THEY PLAN TO BE THERE.
IN ADDITION TO OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE REACHED OUT TO LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND STAFF WANT TO CELEBRATE THIS INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT FOR ALL THE REASONS STATED PREVIOUSLY BY OBVIOUSLY OUR STAFF, OUR PARTNERS, AND THIS BOARD ALSO WANTED TO JUST REMIND THE BOARD THAT LAST MONTH YOU DID PROCLAIM THIS WEEK, JULY 16TH THROUGH THE 22ND, AS A PRETRIAL PROBATION PAROLE SUPERVISION WEEK.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS WERE AWARE THAT IS ACTUALLY THIS WEEK AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE HAVE HAD SOME INITIAL CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES IN REGARDS TO THE $20 MILLION FOR PLANADA.
THE DETAILS ARE STILL BEING DEVELOPED, BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT AS THAT INFORMATION GETS FINALIZED, WE WILL BE CONNECTING WITH THEM AND BE PROVIDED ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE SO THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO BEST ADMINISTER THOSE THOSE FUNDS, THOSE FUNDS, THAT FUNDING AS INTENDED BY OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE. SO CERTAINLY WE'LL CONTINUE TO REPORT BACK AS THERE'S MORE INFORMATION.
THANK YOU, MISTER CHAIR. THAT'S ALL FOR TODAY.
THANK YOU. UM, A COUPLE THINGS I JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL WENT TO THE FINISH THE 99 SUMMIT, AND REALLY, IT'S NOT JUST TO FORGET ABOUT US, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY TO CONTINUE ON THE INVESTMENTS THAT THEY'VE MADE.
THEY'VE INVESTED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO HIGHWAY 99 AND THEY LEFT AT LEAST IN MERCED COUNTY.
THE MOST EXPENSIVE PART IS STILL LEFT TO DO SO.
IT'S REALLY IT'S MORE OF A TO REMIND THEM LIKE THEY'VE MADE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF TAXPAYERS MONEY AND THEY'VE INVESTED IT INTO THIS HIGHWAY 99 CORRIDOR AND WE JUST WANT TO SEE THEM FINISH THEIR INVESTMENT.
I TOO ATTENDED THE YARTS MEETING IN MAMMOTH AND SO WE TOOK A DRIVE OVER TIOGA PASS IS NOT OPEN, SO WE WENT A LITTLE BIT LONGER ROUTE OVER SONORA PASS , BUT IT'S JUST CRAZY THAT HERE YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST AND AT THE 9624FT, I BELIEVE IS THE ELEVATION UP THERE AND YOU'RE DRIVING ALONG AND THE SNOW IS COVERING THE RIVER, AND WE SAW SOME NOT SO SMART PEOPLE THAT WERE YOU COULD SEE THE RIVER AND THEN THE SNOW IS COVERING THE RIVER AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE RIVER AGAIN AND THEY'RE WALKING ACROSS IT, AND SO I PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN THAT KIND OF RISK, BUT IT'S JUST AMAZING THE AMOUNT OF SNOW, AND IT'S IF YOU DON'T EVER GET A CHANCE TO DO IT, AND THIS TIME I GOT TO RIDE UP THERE AND TYPICALLY I DRIVE, AND SO YOU GET TO SEE A LOT MORE WHEN YOU'RE RIDING, AND IT'S WHEN YOU'RE AT THE VERY TOP AND WHEN YOU'RE GOING UP OR COMING DOWN, YOU SEE THESE LITTLE CREEKS, THESE LITTLE TRIBUTARIES THAT ARE FEEDING IN, AND THE FURTHER YOU GET DOWN THE RIVER GETS BIGGER. IT'S PRETTY, PRETTY COOL EXPERIENCE, AND THEN ALWAYS HAD A GOOD YARTS MEETING.
SO STILL, AGAIN, AS I REMIND EVERYBODY, THAT'S LOCAL GOVERNMENT SOLVING A FEDERAL PROBLEM WE KIND OF LIKE TO GET STUFF DONE AND THAT'S HOW YARTS WAS CREATED AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE IT AND JUST AS SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA MENTIONED THERE'S FOLKS THAT ARE CALLING ABOUT THE $20 MILLION IN STATE FUNDING THAT CAME FROM THE STATE IS JUST WANT TO MANAGE EXPECTATIONS.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT MONEY AND AT LEAST IN PRELIMINARY CONVERSATIONS I KNOW OUR STATE ELECTED ARE WORKING AS DILIGENTLY AS POSSIBLE TO GET THAT MONEY TO US AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE, BUT THE REALITY IS, IS THE STATE DOESN'T WORK SUPER FAST SOMETIMES, AND SO THAT MONEY WE'RE STILL MONTHS AWAY, NOT DAYS AWAY FROM THAT MONEY ACTUALLY GETTING TO US AND WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY GOING TO ALLOW STAFF THE TIME TO KIND OF DEVELOP THE ACTUAL PROCESS ON HOW MONEY IS GOING TO GO OUT, BECAUSE WE'RE KIND OF YOU KNOW, WE BASICALLY GOT HANDED A $20 MILLION CHECK AND SAID, HEY, YOU GUYS FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET IT DISTRIBUTED AND ALSO WANT TO BE RESPECTIVE OF OUR STATE LEADERS AND WHAT THEY ENVISION OF IT, AND SO IT'S GOING TO BE QUITE A TASK FOR US AND OUR STAFF TO DEVELOP THAT, AND I KNOW THAT MISTER MENDEZ AND HAS REACHED OUT TO THE MONTEREY COUNTY CAO, BECAUSE THEY GOT A SIMILAR TYPE OF MONEY, AND SO THEY'RE VERY DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S THINGS THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM EACH OTHER ON ON HOW THIS GOES OUT, AND SO HOPEFULLY IT'LL GET TO THE FOLKS THAT WERE KIND OF LEFT BEHIND, IF YOU WILL, IN THE OTHER PROCESSES.
SO WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS.
SO I'LL SEE YOU ALL BACK HERE AT 1:30.
[01:45:08]
ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY.THE PURPOSE OF THIS AFTERNOON'S SESSION IS TO HOLD A TRANSPARENT REVIEW OF UNJUST TRANSFERS AND HOLDS ACT COMMUNITY FORUM PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 7283.1(D).
WE DO HAVE INTERPRETATION SERVICES AVAILABLE IN BOTH SPANISH AND HMONG.
IF YOU NEED THESE SERVICES, PLEASE LET US KNOW AS YOU COME TO THE PODIUM.
FOLLOWING A PRESENTATION TODAY BY THE SHERIFF, PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE TAKEN.
YOU MAY NOT YIELD THE REMAINDER OF YOUR TIME TO ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CEO MENDEZ AND CONSEL HANSEN.
GOOD AFTERNOON TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE AND WATCHING ONLINE.
AS THE CHAIRMAN MENTIONED TODAY, WE WILL WALK THROUGH SOME OF THE COMPONENTS OF THE TRUTH ACT.
IN SEPTEMBER OF 2016, GOVERNOR BROWN SIGNED INTO LAW ASSEMBLY BILL 2792, KNOWN AS THE TRANSPARENT REVIEW OF UNJUST TRANSFERS AND HOLDS ACT COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE TRUTH ACT.
AS ADOPTED, AB 2792 REQUIRES THAT IN ADVANCE OF ANY INTERVIEW BETWEEN ICE AND AN INDIVIDUAL AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT CUSTODY REGARDING CIVIL IMMIGRATION VIOLATIONS, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ENTITY SHALL PROVIDE THE INDIVIDUAL WITH WRITTEN CONSENT FORM.
THAT EXPLAINS THE PURPOSE OF THE INTERVIEW, THAT THE INTERVIEW IS VOLUNTARY AND THAT HE OR SHE MAY DECLINE TO BE INTERVIEWED OR MAY CHOOSE TO BE INTERVIEWED ONLY WITH HIS OR HER ATTORNEY PRESENT.
AB 2792 ALSO STATED THAT UPON RECEIVING ANY ICE HOLD NOTIFICATION OR TRANSFER REQUEST, THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY SHALL PROVIDE A COPY OF THE REQUEST TO THE INDIVIDUAL AND INFORM HIM OR HER WHETHER THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY INTENDS TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUEST.
THE LOCAL GOVERNING BODY OF ANY COUNTY IN WHICH A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY HAS PROVIDED ICE ACCESS TO AN INDIVIDUAL DURING THE LAST YEAR SHALL HOLD AT LEAST ONE COMMUNITY FORUM DURING THE FOLLOWING YEAR THAT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT ICE'S ACCESS TO INDIVIDUALS AND TO RECEIVE AND CONSIDER PUBLIC COMMENT.
AS PART OF THIS FORUM, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT MAY PROVIDE THE GOVERNING BODY WITH DATA IT MAINTAINS REGARDING THE NUMBER AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF INDIVIDUALS TO WHOM THE AGENCY HAS PROVIDED ICE ACCESS.
AS A REMINDER, PER STATE LAW, THE PURPOSE OF TODAY'S FORUM IS FOR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE INFORMATION RELATED TO ANY ACCESS HERE IN MERCED COUNTY AND ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT ON THAT INFORMATION.
IT IS NOT MEANT TO BE A BACK AND FORTH DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE PUBLIC, THE BOARD OR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AFTER RECEIVING INFORMATION FOR THE 2022 YEAR, THERE WAS NO ACCESS FROM THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT TO INDIVIDUALS UNDER THEIR SUPERVISION, AND THE SHERIFF IS HERE TO PROVIDE DATA AND INFORMATION REGARDING THEIR PROCESSES RELATED TO THE TRUTH ACT.
WE'LL NOW TURN IT OVER TO SHERIFF WARNKE FOR A BRIEF PRESENTATION.
I WILL BE COMPLETING THIS REPORT AS REQUIRED AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UNDER THE DISCLAIMER, THE MERCED COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE DOES NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY JOINT AGENCY OPERATIONS WITH IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES.
[01:50:02]
TOPICS FOR TODAY IS IMMIGRATION FORMS AND SHERIFF PROCEDURES.DID THE DETAINER REQUESTS INCARCERATED PERSON AND ATTORNEY NOTIFICATIONS, INTERVIEW CONSENT FORMS, CONSULAR NOTIFICATIONS, AND THIS WILL BE DONE FOR THE 2022 IMMIGRATION STATISTICS.
ONCE AN INCARCERATED PERSON IS BOOKED INTO THE JAIL, THEY ARE LIVE, SCANNED, FINGERPRINTED, AND THE FINGERPRINTS ARE SENT TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THE FBI FOR ANALYSIS.
IF THEY FIND A MATCH, A DETAINER REQUEST IS SENT TO THE CLASSIFICATION UNIT VIA EMAIL.
RELEASE DATES ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR THE PUBLIC ON THE SHERIFF'S WEBSITE.
ONCE A DETAINER REQUEST IS RECEIVED BY THE JAIL, THE SUPERVISOR COMPLETES AN INCARCERATED PERSON ATTORNEY NOTIFICATION FORM THAT IS SIGNED BY THE SUPERVISOR AND THE INCARCERATED PERSON.
THE INCARCERATED PERSON RETAINS A COPY AS WELL.
IN THE EVENT ICE AGENTS WISH TO INTERVIEW SOMEONE IN CUSTODY, THE INCARCERATED PERSON IS GIVEN A CONSENT FORM TO SIGN WITH HIS CHOICE REGARDING THE ENCOUNTER.
THE CORRECTIONS BUREAU HAS CONTACT NUMBERS FOR ALL FOREIGN CONSULATES AS REQUIRED BY LAW.
THE MERCED COUNTY SHERIFF'S CORRECTION BUREAU HAS FORMS TRANSLATED INTO THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGES ENGLISH, SPANISH, CHINESE, HINDI, HMONG, KOREAN, PUNJABI, VIETNAMESE.
THE NUMBER OF IMMIGRATION DETAINER REQUESTS SENT TO THE JAIL BY ICE IN 2022 WAS 145.
THE NUMBER OF INCARCERATED PERSONS ICE AGENTS ARRESTED AFTER RELEASE ZERO.
THE NUMBER OF INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED BY ICE WITHIN THE JAILS.
ZERO. THE NUMBER OF TIMES THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE PROVIDED ICE INFORMATION REGARDING PROBATION AND PAROLE CHECK IN TIMES ZERO. IN 2022, THE IMMIGRATION STATISTICS.
ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDERS SIX EUROPEAN CAUCASIAN ZERO AFRICAN AMERICAN ZERO OTHER SIX.
OUT OF THE TOTAL 145 IMMIGRATION STATS FOR 2022.
THE AGE BREAKDOWN 18 TO 30 WAS 59, 31 TO 40, 53, 41 TO 50, 24. 51 TO 60, 7.
THE FOLLOWING STATISTICS ARE RELATED TO BOOKING CHARGES PRESENT AT THE TIME OF ARREST.
FOR THE 145 PERSONS WE RECEIVED ICE DETAINER REQUESTS FOR IN 2022.
NARCOTICS RELATED 15 PROPERTY CRIMES ZERO.
ALCOHOL RELATED 11 AND OTHER CRIMINAL OFFENSES TOTAL 55.
ICE DOES NOT HAVE AN OFFICE SPACE IN THE MERCED SHERIFF'S CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.
ICE AGENTS HAVE NOT CONDUCTED INTERVIEWS AT THE MERCED COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES IN 2022.
ICE AGENTS DO NOT HAVE A HAVE FULL ACCESS TO THE MERCED SHERIFFS CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.
[01:55:01]
THEY WOULD REQUIRE A SHERIFF'S ESCORT TO WALK AROUND THE FACILITY, AND THIS IS REQUIRED BY OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.ICE DETAINERS ARE REVEALED BY THE MERCED SHERIFF'S OFFICE BY ONE WAY EMAIL.
THE MERCED SHERIFF'S OFFICE DOES NOT COLLECT IMMIGRATION STATUS ON ANY INDIVIDUAL OTHER THAN TRACKING ICE DETAINERS IN THE CURRENT JAIL BOOKING. MERCED SHERIFF'S OFFICE DOES NOT TRANSFER INCARCERATED PERSONS TO ICE WITHOUT A FEDERAL WARRANT.
INCARCERATED PERSONS RELATED OR RELEASED FROM THE MERCED SHERIFF'S CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES ARE NOT DELAYED OR STOPPED DUE TO ICE DETAINERS. IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS SEEN AN INCREASE IN ENFORCEMENT ACTION IN THE COMMUNITY FROM ICE, BELIEVED TO BE DUE TO THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION BY THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.
I CAN'T SEE IF I'M READING THAT RIGHT HERE.
THE PAST FEW YEARS, SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS SEEN AN INCREASE IN ENFORCEMENT ACTION IN THE COMMUNITY FROM ICE, BELIEVED TO BE DUE TO THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION BY THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. GOT THAT ONE.
THANKS. THANK YOU, AND THE STATISTICS AND INFORMATION WITHIN ARE PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER AB 2792 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 7283.1.
THANK YOU, SHERIFF. ALL RIGHT.
AT THIS TIME, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND YOU WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE PODIUM.
HELLO. MY NAME IS JAVIER FUENTES.
I WAS WONDERING WHAT WAS WHAT IS THE PROCESS, WHAT IS THE PROTOCOL? HOW DOES THE SHERIFF OR HOW DOES THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OF MERCED COUNTY KNOW WHEN ICE IS HAVING ACTIVITIES IN THE IN THE COUNTY? THAT IS WHAT I AM WONDERING.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT, SIR.
SIR. HOLD ON ONE SECOND, [INAUDIBLE].
MY MACHINE'S NOT WORKING HERE.
IT'S NOT ALLOWING ME TO RESET IT.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO A MANUAL CLOCK HERE.
MY MACHINES DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
I'M ONLY GOING TO TAKE ABOUT 10S.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, SUPERVISORS, DO ANY OF YOU THINK THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE FEWER ICE RELATED PROBLEMS IN MERCED COUNTY, GIVEN THAT WE'RE A SANCTUARY STATE AND THAT OUR SOUTHERN BORDER IS OPEN AND POROUS AS A SIEVE? PERHAPS EVEN MORE SO.
I HOPE YOU HAVE SOME SOLUTIONS HERE IN THE COUNTY BY TALKING WITH THE STATE REPRESENTATIVES AND THE FEDERAL PEOPLE, BECAUSE I DON'T SEE IT GETTING BETTER. THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? COME ON UP, MA'AM.
HELLO, BOARD, MY NAME IS AMELIA JOHNSON.
I LIVE HERE IN THE CITY OF MERCED.
I JUST HAD A FOLLOW UP QUESTION.
I KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO JUST BE ABLE TO HAVE IT ANSWERED, BUT THAT ITEM ABOUT AN INCREASE IN ICE ACTION IN THE COMMUNITY, LIKE IF THERE'S ANY FURTHER EXPLANATION ABOUT HOW WE KNOW THAT OR IF IT'S ANECDOTAL OR IT'S JUST SOMETHING I NOTICED AS NEW FROM PREVIOUS REPORTS. SO IT SOUNDS LIKE IF ICE ISN'T FINDING COLLABORATION WITH IN CORRECTIONS THAT THEIR ACTIONS ARE FORCED INTO THE COMMUNITY.
SO IT'D JUST BE I'D BE CURIOUS JUST TO KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS AND WHERE THAT DATA CAME FROM.
[02:00:05]
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.I'M A DOCTORAL STUDENT AT UC MERCED.
I WAS JUST HOPING THAT YOU WOULD ALL CONSIDER HAVING THIS FORUM ANOTHER TIME IN THE YEAR.
SO RIGHT NOW IT'S SUMMER AND A LOT OF STUDENTS WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE HERE AND REPRESENT AND HEAR THE FORUM IN PERSON CAN'T BE HERE BECAUSE THEY'VE ALL GONE AWAY FOR THE SUMMER.
I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE STATISTICS ON PAGE SEVEN OTHER YEARS YOU'VE HAD THE LAST CATEGORY BE NONVIOLENT OR LIKE NON CRIME RELATED OR SOME SORT OF CATEGORY THAT WAS NONVIOLENT, BUT NOW IT'S OTHER CRIMINAL OFFENSES AND IT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT TO SEE A BREAKDOWN OF WHAT THAT MEANS SO THAT WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION WHEN WE'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS OUTSIDE OF THIS BOARD MEETING. THANK YOU.
I AM [INAUDIBLE] A RESIDENT OF FRESNO COUNTY.
I WAS JUST WONDERING. THE SHERIFF JUST GAVE A REPORT AND LEFT.
SO I'M JUST CONCERNED I THOUGHT IT WAS A LACK OF RESPECT ON THE SHERIFF FOR WALKING OUT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, SIR.
COME ON UP, MA'AM. [INAUDIBLE] THERE'S A BUTTON ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE THAT WILL LOWER THE PODIUM.
[SPANISH] LET ME MAKE SURE WE GET OUR TRANSLATOR UP HERE AND LET HER KNOW THAT WILL GO DOWN A LITTLE BIT, PLEASE.
SO. [SPANISH] GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE]. I LIVE IN LIVINGSTON.
[SPANISH] I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND PAGE NUMBER FIVE.
[SPANISH] BECAUSE I HAD MY SON HERE ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO IN MERCED.
[SPANISH] AND I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL.
[SPANISH] REGARDING THE CASE HE'S INCARCERATED FOR.
[SPANISH] THE FIRST THING I WAS TOLD WHEN I RECEIVED THE CALL WAS.
[SPANISH] I WAS ASKED WHERE WAS HE BORN? [SPANISH] I TOLD HIM THANK GOD HE WAS BORN HERE IN MERCED.
[SPANISH] I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY I WAS ASKED THAT.
[SPANISH] ONCE AGAIN, I REPEAT WHAT IS STATED HERE ON PAGE NUMBER FIVE.
[SPANISH] HOPEFULLY SOMEONE CAN EXPLAIN THAT.
GLORIA SANDOVAL IT SEEMS LIKE A VERY UNDEMOCRATIC PROCESS TO NOT GET ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS THAT ARE BEING ASKED AND I MAY BE OUT OF ORDER, BUT I REALLY FEEL THAT YOU ARE OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AND OUR DEMOCRACY AND YOU REALLY NEED TO CORRECT THIS.
THERE HAS TO BE ANSWERS FOR THE PUBLIC.
THE COMMUNITY ALMOST DIDN'T EVEN COME UP.
[02:05:10]
FARM ACTIVITY AND YOU DO HIRE PEOPLE, AND MAYBE THAT'S WHY CONGRESSMAN DUARTE NOW WANTS TO EXPAND THE H-2A PROGRAM.SO IT'S EASIER AND LONGER FOR YOU TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE DOCUMENTS BUT THAT CAN BE HERE LEGALLY WE'RE TIRED OF THIS GAME THAT'S BEING PLAYED IN THIS COUNTY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNTY SUPERVISORS.
I THINK I'M IN ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID.
I THINK SINCE 2019 WE'VE BEEN COMING TO THE FORUMS OR HAVE BEEN LISTENING IN, THOSE OF US THAT CAN, AND IN THE PAST WE'VE ALSO TRIED REACHING OUT TO SHERIFF WARNKE AND HE'S BEEN UNRESPONSIVE TO OUR PETITIONS TO MEET WITH HIM.
WE JUST HAVE, WE FEEL LIKE IT'S A LACK OF RESPECT AND IT'S A LACK OF COMMUNICATION THAT WE WANT TO HAVE WITH HIM AS WELL, AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I VOICED THAT TODAY AND CONSIDER DOING ANOTHER FORUM WITH THE COMMUNITY, WITH THE SHERIFF PRESENT AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS THAT WE ALL HAVE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
ANYONE ELSE. [INAUDIBLE], PRESIDENT OF THE CENTRAL VALLEY LEADERSHIP ROUNDTABLE.
I'M HERE TODAY TO LET YOU KNOW THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC, A LOT OF THE FARM WORKING FAMILIES, IT WAS IT WAS SURPRISING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE HARD WORK AND THE RISK THAT IT TOOK TO CONTINUE HARVESTING THE DIFFERENT CROPS AND MAINTAINING FOOD IN THE MARKETS, FEEDING THE STATE AND FEEDING THE ENTIRE NATION THESE ESSENTIAL WORKERS IN FACT, THERE WAS EVEN RED CARDS THAT WERE GIVEN IN CASE THEY WERE STOPPED BY ICE THAT THEY WOULD BE LET GO DURING THE PANDEMIC TO GO ON AND DO THAT ESSENTIAL WORK THAT MOST WERE NOT WILLING TO RISK THEIR HEALTH OR WERE ABLE TO AVOID AND BE EXPOSED TO COVID.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK THAT THEY DO AND HOW VALUABLE THEY ARE TO THE GREAT ECONOMIC OF OUR SOCIETY HERE AND KEEPING AMERICA STRONG, BUT AMERICA STRONG IS ONLY DUE TO THE HARD WORK OF THESE LABORERS.
MYSELF, AS AN IMMIGRANT, MY FATHER WHO CAME TO THIS COUNTRY ON THE [INAUDIBLE] PROGRAM AND GAVE HIS ENTIRE YOUTH TO THIS COUNTRY AND WE'RE THANKFUL FOR IT AS A PROUD AMERICAN BUT IT WAS THESE FOLKS THAT DID THE HARD WORK FOR LITTLE PAY, AND ONE OF THE MOST TERRIFYING NOW AS AN EDUCATOR THAT I SEE IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS IS CHILDREN BEING DROPPED OFF AND DON'T KNOW IF THEIR MOMMY OR DADDY ARE COMING HOME, AND I KNOW ALL OF YOU CAN RELATE TO YOUR OWN CHILDREN AND DAUGHTERS AND SONS.
THIS IS THE FEAR THAT THESE FAMILIES GO THROUGH ANY TIME THEY GET STOPPED BY OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THE WORK YOU DO AND THE WORK TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE, BUT ALSO REMEMBER THAT YOU'RE IN A POSITION OF AUTHORITY WEARING A UNIFORM, AND THAT CAN BE VERY INTIMIDATING FOR SOMEONE WHO IS WORKING TO FIX THEIR UNCERTAIN STATUS, AND IT IS THAT FEAR THAT THESE CHILDREN GROW UP AND MANY OF THESE ICE RAIDS AND SO FORTH, THEY COME LOOKING FOR BAD PEOPLE.
[02:10:09]
BUT AS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN UN-AMERICAN TO SEPARATE FAMILIES, TO SEPARATE CHILDREN FROM THEIR FAMILIES.THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT, SIR.
SO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED.
THIS CONCLUDES THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING AND TRUTH ACT COMMUNITY FORUM FOR JULY 18TH, 2023.
OUR NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY, AUGUST THE 8TH.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.