[00:00:01]
[Call to Order]
GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE AUGUST 8TH, 2023, MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.I'M GOING TO JUST WAIT FOR ONE SECOND HERE.
WE'LL START OFF WITH THE INVOCATION LED BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AS WELL AS WE'LL WAIT FOR HIM TO GET BACK UP HERE, AND HE'LL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE.
OKAY. THANK YOU. WELL, HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU FOR LOVING US AND FOR BEING IN THIS ROOM.
I PRAY THAT YOU WATCH OVER US AND KEEP US SAFE.
AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, BAD THINGS HAPPEN.
I PRAY THAT THOSE THAT HAVE GONE, YOU KNOW, THAT HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE WEATHER, THE FLOODING AND THAT THAT YOU WOULD COME ALONGSIDE THEM AND HELP THEM FEEL WHOLE. AND, LORD, I ASK THAT YOU WOULD ALSO BLESS OUR STATE AND OUR COUNTRY.
AND I JUST PRAY THAT YOU WOULD GUIDE US BACK TO A PLACE OF SOCIETY, OF CIVILIZATION, THAT WE MIGHT RESPECT EACH OTHER, RESPECT EACH OTHER'S PROPERTY, AND NOT FEEL LIKE WE'RE OWED WHAT SOMEBODY ELSE HAS.
THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, FOR DOING DOUBLE DUTY TODAY.
NEXT, WE HAVE NON-AGENDA 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.
FIRST THING I WANT TO DO IS READ A LETTER THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME THIS MORNING.
AND MY LAST DAY WILL BE AUGUST 18TH.
HOWEVER, SHE COMES IN TODAY AND DECIDES TODAY WAS IT.
THOSE ARE THE REASONS I WILL PUT THAT IN HERE.
[00:05:04]
DURING YOUR CAMPAIGNS, INDIVIDUAL CAMPAIGNS, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HAS PROMISED TO SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY.THE TWO TOP PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS ARE STANDING HERE IN FRONT OF YOU.
I ALSO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH ONE OF THE SUPERVISORS LAST WEEK AND GREAT CONVERSATION.
BUT HE TOLD ME, SHERIFF, I'M A NUMBERS MAN.
NUMBER ONE IN THE STATE FOR HOMICIDES PER CAPITA, AS ACCORDING TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, 51 OPEN HOMICIDE CASES TO BE TRIED BY OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY WITH SEVEN VACANCIES.
63 DEFENDANTS IN THOSE HOMICIDES, 33%.
AS OF THIS MORNING, WE ARE DOWN 20%.
14 DEPUTY SHERIFFS DOWN, NOT INCLUDING THE ALMOST TEN THAT ARE ALL FOR LONG TERM.
30% DISPATCHERS ALSO WITH MANDATORY OVERTIME EVERY SINGLE WEEK.
AND THEY'RE PULLING 12 HOUR SHIFTS ON THEIR REGULAR SHIFT.
SOMETIMES THEY HAVE TO EXTEND 106, EIGHT HOUR SHIFTS THIS PAST WEEK FOR OUR CORRECTIONAL BUREAU, WHICH TOTALED 848 HOURS OF PLANNED OVERTIME.
THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE CALLING IN SICK HOSPITAL TIME, MULTIPLE PHONE CALLS FROM THIS BOARD TO MY AGENCY FOR STUFF GOING ON IN YOUR DISTRICTS.
AND WE DO IT WITH A VERY GLAD HEART.
LAST. I'M GOING TO LEAVE THIS LAST ONE SECOND AND THEN A 14 TO 17% RAISE ALL AT ONCE FOR A COUPLE OF DEPUTY CEOS BECAUSE, WELL, YOU HAD TO PAY THEM WHAT THEY'RE WORTH. WELL, FOLKS, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, I'M NOT SAYING THEY'RE NOT WORTH IT.
WHAT I AM SAYING IS WHEN YOU CALL 911, WE'RE THE ONES TO GO.
AND THE LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I'M GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AROUND HERE.
I DON'T SEE THE SIGN, BUT I KNOW THE MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY RATE OF THIS ROOM WILL EXCEED 100.
THIS BOARD HAS GOT TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS, HARD DECISIONS.
REMEMBER, WHO HAS TO RESPOND TO THESE CALLS, AND ONCE THEY'RE DONE, I CATCH HIM.
IF YOU'VE GOT ANY QUESTIONS. OH, ANIMAL SHELTER.
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, THAT LAST YEAR ALONE WAS 4402 ANIMALS AND ALMOST 2000 WE HAD TO EUTHANIZE BECAUSE OF STAFFING AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN'T TAKE CARE OF. SO WE'VE GOT AN ISSUE GOING ON, FOLKS, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 24 HOURS A DAY OPERATION AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
I'M HOPING YOU TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.
I'M NOT OUT HERE WHINING LIKE OLIVER WISHING FOR ANOTHER CUP OF PORRIDGE.
THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY FOR RIGHT NOW.
AND I KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME OTHERS COMING UP, BUT I APPRECIATE THE EXTRA MOMENT ON THIS.
REALLY QUICKLY, SHERIFF SUPERVISOR PEDROZO HAS A QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU.
SHERIFF, I JUST HAVE A QUICK CAN YOU REPEAT THE NUMBER WITH THE CORRECTIONS? WE'RE AT 33% DOWN, WHICH IS 34 ACTUAL BODIES THAT AREN'T WE DON'T HAVE WE'VE GOT THE POSITIONS.
WE DON'T HAVE THE BODIES. WE HAVE NO WAY OF RECRUITING THEM BECAUSE OF THE PAY DIFFERENCES.
IF YOU GUYS ARE SERIOUS ABOUT DOING THIS, WE'RE TALKING YOU DROP 15% DOWN AND THEN SAY TO THE UNIONS, WE'LL COME BACK AND TALK ABOUT WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO TO HELP YOU STAY. AND I KNOW THAT'S A BONE OF CONTENTION FOR SOME SUPERVISORS IN THIS ROOM ABOUT LONGEVITY PAY.
BUT FOLKS, WE CAN'T RECRUIT THEM AND HIRE THEM AND THEN HAVE THEM GO TO ANOTHER AGENCY.
WE'VE GOT TO HAVE SOME KIND OF INCENTIVE FOR OUR PEOPLE TO STAY HERE.
THE ONES THAT ARE ANSWERING THE CALL TO 911.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THOSE NUMBERS, WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO RECRUIT.
BUT THE TOOLS I'M GIVING, THE FINANCIAL TOOLS ARE NOT HAPPENING.
BUT WHAT WAS THE THE THE SHIFT HOURS? YOU SAID 106.
EIGHT HOUR SHIFTS WOULD TOTALED 848 HOURS OF OVERTIME.
[00:10:03]
THAT WAS THE PLANNED OVERTIME.SO WE'RE PROBABLY NEAR A 1000 HOURS A WEEK IN OVERTIME A WEEK.
THAT'S JUST ABSURD. IF WE WERE FULLY STAFFED AND READY TO GO, WE WOULDN'T HAVE THAT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST THE BAD GUYS.
WE'VE GOT CODE ENFORCEMENT AND WE'RE DEALING WITH STUFF ON THE WEST SIDE THAT WE'RE GOING AFTER.
IT'S NOT AN EACH ONE OF YOU I RESPECT.
I TAKE A BULLET SQUARE IN A CHEST FOR YOU.
YOU'VE GOT AGENCIES THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY CLOSE, SHUT THE DOORS, DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
MIGHT TAKE A LITTLE LONGER FOR THE STREETS TO GET PAVED OR WHATEVER.
SO THAT TELLS ME THAT THERE'S NO THEY DON'T CARE.
THEY'RE NOT SAYING THEY DON'T CARE. THEY DON'T HAVE THE STAFFING TO COME IN RIGHT AWAY AND DO IT.
WELL, IF YOU HAVE THAT LUXURY, WE DON'T THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WE'RE DEALING WITH.
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND I ARE THE FRONT RUNNERS IN PUBLIC SAFETY IN THIS COUNTY.
AND THIS LITTLE TIME WITH YOU IS JUST THE BEGINNING.
SHERIFF, IF I COULD JUST ENCOURAGE YOU FOR THE NEXT TIME, LIKE WORK ON GETTING ON THE AGENDA SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU AND NOT DO IT IN THE PUBLIC FORUM BECAUSE WE HAVE THE THREE-MINUTE TIME LIMIT.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN SILVEIRA.
THE BOARD AND STAFF, KRISTEN SANTOS HERE REPRESENTING THE OFFICE OF CONGRESSMAN JOHN DUARTE.
AND CONGRESSMAN DUARTE RECENTLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH HILMAR CHEESE.
EFFORTS LIKE THE GATES ACT WILL HELP INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN CONSERVATION PROGRAMS WHILE KEEPING FEDERAL FUNDING ASSOCIATED WITH THESE PROGRAMS DIRECTED AT THOSE WHO ARE ACTUALLY ON THE GROUND IMPROVING OUR AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITIES.
THE GATES ACT IS ESPECIALLY IMPACTFUL FOR CALIFORNIA BECAUSE THE EXISTING AGI LIMITATION OF $900,000 FOR CERTAIN USDA CONSERVATION PROGRAMS DISQUALIFIES MANY HARDWORKING FARM FAMILIES IN THE STATE DUE TO THEIR PRODUCTION OF HIGH VALUE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.
AND DURING THIS NATIONAL HEALTH CENTER WEEK, I'D LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT CONGRESSMAN JOHN DUARTE JOINED DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS IN INTRODUCING THE RURAL HOSPITAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ACT.
THIS ACT WOULD CREATE PROGRAMS FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AND COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT RURAL HOSPITALS AND HEALTH CLINICS IN VARIOUS AREAS, FROM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TO INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES AND HEALTH CARE INNOVATION.
THAT'S GOING TO BE AT THE ATWATER MEMORIAL BUILDING.
THAT'S 1390 BROADWAY AVENUE IN DOWNTOWN ATWATER 95301.
THAT'S TUESDAY, AUGUST 29TH AT 7 P.M.
AND WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS IN FRESNO COUNTY AND STANISLAUS COUNTY.
SO I'M GUESSING IT'S GOING TO BE VERY HEAVY ON VETERANS ISSUES.
SO, AGAIN, TUESDAY, AUGUST 29TH AT 7 P.M.
SO WE CHAMPIONED OURSELVES ON BEING AN ACCESSIBLE OFFICE AND HAVING AN ACCESSIBLE CONGRESSMAN.
SO PLEASE, WE'D LOVE TO SEE YOU THERE.
[00:15:05]
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS OMAR ODEH.I'M A BUSINESS OWNER IN PLANADA.
I'M ONE OF THE BUSINESSES THAT GOT EXTREMELY AND SEVERELY IMPACTED BY THE FLOOD.
AND I DIDN'T GET ANY HELP FROM EVEN THE SBA.
WE DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR ANY HELP FOR COVID EITHER.
I MANAGED TO SURVIVE AND STAY IN BUSINESS, WHICH HAS BEEN VERY HARD.
BUT WHEN THE FLOOD HIT, I WAS ONE OF THE BUSINESSES OR THE ONLY BUSINESS THAT GOT SEVERELY IMPACTED.
I GOT ALL THE EVIDENCE, VIDEOS AND LOSSES AND I WASN'T ABLE TO GET ANY HELP.
I COULDN'T QUALIFY FOR THE LOAN DUE TO THE FACT THAT I'M JUST BARELY STAYING AFLOAT.
I DID SEE THAT THERE WAS $20 MILLION THAT WENT PART OF THE BUDGET TO HELP SOME OF THE FLOOD VICTIMS. HOWEVER, I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING FOR BUSINESSES.
I DID HAVE THE SENATOR, ANNA CABALLERO, VISIT MY STORE AT THE TIME WHEN IT HAPPENED.
SHE SAW THE DEVASTATION HAND ON HAND.
THEY TOOK VIDEOS, THEY DID EVERYTHING.
I REACHED OUT TO HER OFFICE RIGHT AFTER I SAW THAT THE $20 MILLION THAT WERE GOING TOWARDS THE FLOOD VICTIM AND PLANADA AND STUFF, AND THEY DID REMEMBER ME, BUT THEY SAID THAT SOMETHING IS UP TO THE COUNTY.
THEY'RE THE ONES WHO'S GOING TO MAKE A DECISION TO WHO IT GOES TO.
BUT US AS A BUSINESS COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY DIDN'T GET ANY HELP.
I KNOW THAT THE HOMEOWNERS AND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE DID GET AND ARE GETTING THE HELP.
I SPENT 13, 14 HOURS A DAY EVERY DAY IN THERE.
I DO OWN THE PROPERTY, BOTH PROPERTIES THERE.
I KNOW ONE OF THEM. IT'S GOT THE BAKERY.
THEY GOT REALLY HIT VERY HARD.
I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIX OR DO ANYTHING.
I HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS TRYING TO GET MY INVENTORY BACK, GET THE STORE BACK.
BUT IT'S BEEN VERY, VERY HARD BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT SPENDING THE MONEY.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SPENDING THEIR MONEY ON FIXING THEIR HOMES, DOING WHATEVER.
SO WE LIKE FOR THE COUNTY TO WHEN THEY DECIDE HOW TO WHERE WHO THE MONEY TO GO TO, TO ALSO INCLUDE THE SMALL BUSINESSES JUST LIKE ME, MINE.
I'VE ONLY BEEN THERE FOR FOUR YEARS.
AND IT'S JUST THE TIMING AND EVERYTHING HAS BEEN VERY HARD.
I CLOSED MY BUSINESS FOR AT LEAST A MONTH OR MORE.
I HAVE BEEN TRYING VERY, VERY HARD.
BUT THE DEVASTATION IT WAS I GOT TWO AND A HALF, TWO FEET INSIDE, YOU KNOW, AND I LOST A LOT OF INVENTORY AND STRUCTURAL DAMAGE AND STUFF LIKE THIS.
THANK YOU, GUYS. AT LEAST GIVE ME A FEW MORE SECONDS.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN I FELT DISCRIMINATED US, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY FROM THE BEGINNING.
I UNDERSTAND THE HOMEOWNERS, THE RENTERS, EVERYBODY GOT HURT.
BUT WE GOT HURT JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
AND I AM PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
I SPEND MORE TIME IN THE COMMUNITY THAN I SPEND AT HOME.
I WORK VERY HARD AND I ALMOST LOST EVERYTHING.
YOU KNOW, MY INVESTMENT SINCE I'VE BEEN THERE HAS JUST BEEN PURELY INVESTMENT.
ALL RIGHT. THANKS. OUR CEO HAS A QUESTION FOR YOU.
HOLD ON. YEAH, THANK YOU, SIR.
JUST WANTED TO CONNECT YOU WITH OUR ASSISTANT CEO, MARK HENDRICKSON.
I'VE ASKED HIM TO GET YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION.
THAT WAY WE CAN KEEP YOU INFORMED AS WE KNOW MORE ABOUT THE FUNDING THAT'S COMING TO PLANADA.
AND I REALLY I KNOW HE DIRECTED ME TO THE SBA.
THERE WAS NOT NOT MUCH HELP THERE.
SO I DO REMEMBER HIM UNDERSTAND THAT.
I KNOW THERE IS A NEW, OBVIOUSLY, FUNDING SOURCE COMING OUR WAY.
GOOD MORNING. ON BEHALF OF JUAN MARTINEZ WITH THE UNITED WAY.
[00:20:04]
THIS LAST WEEKEND IN SACRAMENTO.HE REALLY SACRIFICES A LOT, GIVES BACK A LOT TO THE COMMUNITY WE ALL DO AS A GYM.
AND HE WAS ABLE TO KNOCK OUT HIS OPPONENT IN THE FOURTH ROUND.
HE'S NOT KNOWN FOR HAVING THAT KNOCKOUT POWER.
HE'S JUST NOT MUCH OF A SHOWOFF TYPE OF A GUY.
BUT HE DEFINITELY BROUGHT IT ON SATURDAY.
SO, I'M HONORED TO ANNOUNCE AGAIN THAT CHIQUITO HARO HAS SUCCESSFULLY FOUGHT IN THE USA.
THAT WAS HIS FIRST DEBUT FIGHT IN THE USA, WON BY FOURTH ROUND KNOCKOUT.
SO HE'S JUST GETTING WARMED UP, GUYS.
SO IN THE FUTURE, I HOPE TO BE HERE MORE OFTEN AND LET YOU KNOW AND KEEP YOU UPDATED.
MORNING. MORNING. I'M HERE TO THANK A FEW PEOPLE TODAY FOR THE WORK THEY'VE DONE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THEN THE THIRD IS MY DISTRICT SUPERVISOR, DARREN MCDANIEL, FOR REVIVING THAT PARK AGAIN.
MOTHER NATURE IS SAYING THANK YOU.
THE BIRDS ARE SAYING THANK YOU.
AND THE PEOPLE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE THANKING YOU VERY MUCH.
LET'S TAKE THE SECOND AND THIRD ONE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, SIR.
RIGHT. NOT SEEING ANYONE ELSE.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH TEN.PLEASE NOTE A 4/5 VOTE IS REQUIRED ON ITEM TWO.
ALL RIGHT. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
YEAH, IF I COULD, I JUST WANT TO.
CAN WE TAKE ONE OUT FOR A SEPARATE VOTE? ALL RIGHT. SO IS THAT.
CAN'T IT FROM THERE ANNOUNCE YOU'RE.
OR WE COULD JUST ADDRESS IT FROM NOW.
I JUST. THAT'S IF YOU WANT TO ADDRESS IT NOW.
THAT'S UP TO YOU. I'LL JUST ADDRESS IT NOW.
LET'S GO AHEAD. WE'LL TAKE IT ALL TOGETHER.
I JUST WANT TO SHOW YOU HOW FRUSTRATING I AM WITH THIS PROJECT.
IT SHOULD. IT'S MOVED IT NOW SIX MONTHS FURTHER BACK BECAUSE UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS DECIDED TO RETROACTIVELY PUT IN SOMETHING THAT WE HAD TO DO TO MOVE FORWARD ON IT.
AND IT'S NOT A CONSISTENT THING THAT THEY ALWAYS DO.
BUT JUST TO, IT'S ANOTHER BUREAUCRATIC FEDERAL HURDLE THAT IS KNOCKING US BACK FURTHER.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MAYBE WE COULD HAVE GOTTEN IN PLACE BEFORE THE NEXT FLOODING EVENT.
BUT YET THIS EXTRA STUDY THAT THEY HAVE IMPLEMENTED AND PUT INTO PLACE, IT'S AND YOU CAN SEE HOW MUCH MORE IT'S $1.3 MILLION MORE JUST TO DO THIS STUDY THAT'S NOT CONSISTENTLY REQUIRED ON EVERY PROJECT.
SUPERVISOR PEDROZO YEAH, I WANT TO ECHO THAT BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY TIME WE SEE THE FINISH LINE, THE GOALPOST GETS PULLED BACK FROM AND KEEPS GOING BACK AND BACK AND BACK.
AND YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT THE THE FLOODING.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS AT STAKE FOR THIS.
AND WE'RE PUTTING YOU KNOW; FAMILIES ARE TRYING TO PLAN FOR SOME THINGS.
AND IT'S REALLY NOT THE GREATEST FORM OF GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW.
AND JUST BY HAVING TO DO THINGS THAT ARE UNNECESSARY JUST SETS US BACK.
IT'S JUST, IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING.
I THINK IT'S I THINK THAT IT'S NICE THAT WE HAVE CONGRESSMAN DUARTE'S CHRISTIANE HERE SO HE CAN PASS THAT ALONG TO THE CONGRESSMAN. AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE COMMITMENT OF MONEY OF COUNTY DOLLARS OF GRANT DOLLARS THAT HAVE COME IN CAME FROM THE STATE.
WE'VE COMMITTED SOME ARPA DOLLARS TO THIS PROJECT.
AND THERE'S SO MANY MOVING PARTS TO THIS PROJECT, THE BLACK RASCAL CREEK FLOOD PROJECT.
IT'S JUST NOT AS SIMPLE AS ONE THINKS THAT WE'RE JUST BUILDING A STRUCTURE OUT THERE.
THERE'S FAMILY FARMS THAT ARE BEING AFFECTED THERE.
THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT MOVING PARTS TO THIS AND YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.
[00:25:05]
BUT EVERY TIME WE SEEM LIKE WE MAKE SOME PROGRESS, HERE COMES ANOTHER STATE OR FEDERAL AGENCY THAT PUTS ANOTHER LAYER, ANOTHER LAYER OF NONSENSE, IN MY OPINION, ON IT.SO I AGREE WITH ALL MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS.
SO WITH THAT, THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON ITEMS ONE THROUGH TEN.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP, WE'LL HAVE PUBLIC WORKS.
[BOARD ACTION]
ITEM 11.NOT SEEING ANYONE IN THE QUEUE.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM 11 PUBLIC WORKS ITEM.
WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP IS AG COMMISSIONER, ITEM 12.
ALL RIGHT. THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 12.
NOT SEEING ONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC SUPERVISOR PEDROZO WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS WHERE WE HAVE A QUESTION BY OR COMMENT BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
NO, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION REALLY QUICKLY.
RIGHT. OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? THAT'S MY ONLY QUESTION.
WE'LL HAVE OUR AG COMMISSIONER, MR. RUNYON, UP.
THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IS THAT IT'S STANISLAUS COUNTY IS IS HIRING THE THE CONTRACTOR AND OUR GROWERS WILL BE ALLOWED TO TAKE THEIR MATERIALS UP TO STANISLAUS COUNTY TO DISPOSE OF IT.
SO IT'S FOR UNREGISTERED PESTICIDES, ONES THAT AREN'T BEING USED.
SO THEY'LL BE ABLE TO TRANSPORT THOSE UP TO STANISLAUS.
SO NO, HEY, I'D RATHER HAVE IT BE DUMPED IN STANISLAUS THAN MERCED COUNTY, SO I'M FINE WITH THAT.
I JUST WASN'T SURE. SO YEAH, THEY'LL BE DISPOSING OF IT IN A LAWFUL MANNER.
YEAH, WELL, THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
AND THIS IS A WAY FOR THEM TO LEGALLY DISPOSE OF IT.
IS THAT RIGHT? YES. UNREGISTERED PESTICIDES OR MAYBE, YOU KNOW, CALIFORNIA, AS YOU GUYS WILL KNOW, THE REGULATIONS ARE CONSTANTLY CHANGING AND SOMETIMES PESTICIDES BECOME UNREGISTERED OR THE TOLERANCES ON THEM BECOME REVOKED.
AND SO THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO BE ABLE TO USE IT ANYMORE.
SO AND THEN WHAT'S THE PUBLIC OUTREACH? HOW ARE WE LETTING PEOPLE KNOW WE'VE ALREADY OUTREACH.
SO THIS WAS APPROVED IN TO 2022.
AND SO AT THAT POINT WE REACHED OUT TO OUR GROWERS AND WE DID A SURVEY AND SO WE ALREADY HAVE A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL LIST OF GROWERS THAT ARE ALREADY PRETTY MUCH SIGNED UP FOR IT. THERE COULD BE THE POSSIBILITY THAT WE MIGHT HAVE A LITTLE BIT EXTRA SO WE CAN ADD THEM TO A WAIT LIST OR WE MIGHT WANT TO DO THIS IN THE FUTURE, OR THERE MIGHT BE ADDITIONAL FUNDING OR OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FUTURE SO THEY CAN CALL OUR OFFICE AT 3857431 AND GET ON A LIST AND WE'LL KIND OF KEEP THAT UP TO DATE.
SO THANKS FOR GIVING THE NUMBER.
RIGHT. AND SO, THEY'RE NOT ON THE MAILING LIST OR THE CONTACT LIST.
AND JUST TO ADD TO THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED BY COMMISSIONER, I KNOW FROM MY TIME IN STANISLAUS COUNTY, THEY DO HAVE A HAZARDOUS WASTE FACILITY IN CHARGE OF GETTING RID OF WASTE LIKE ITEMS THAT ARE MAYBE KEPT OVER PAST THEIR DUE DATE.
SO, I KNOW SAN JOSEPH'S COUNTY IS WELL EQUIPPED MATERIALS IN THE PROPER MANNER.
SO JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT INFORMATION.
THERE ARE NO FURTHER COMMENTS.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA CALL FOR THE VOTE.
[00:30:02]
PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT, WE'LL HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES ITEMS 13 AND 14.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICE ITEMS. 13 AND 14.
NOT SEE ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT, WE HAVE THE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY ITEMS 15 THROUGH 19.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE DIRECTOR BROWN IS GOING TO COME UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND CEO MENDEZ ALONG WITH COUNCILMAN HENSON. IT'S A GREAT PLEASURE.
I'M IVANA BROWN, THE HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY DIRECTOR.
I HAVE JAMEY JOHNSON, OUR DEPUTY OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES, WHO'S GOING TO GIVE A BRIEF.
I TOLD HER TEN MINUTES, SHE WAS LIKE, NO, NO, NO.
I SAID NO. THREE MINUTES OF WHAT OUR CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT PLAN REALLY REPRESENTS FOR THIS COMMUNITY OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A FIVE YEAR PLAN, BUT DUE TO COVID, WE ARE REDUCING IT DOWN TO TWO YEARS.
I'M PRETTY SURE I CAN GET IT DONE IN TWO, BUT WE'RE GOING TO SEE.
THERE'S ACTUALLY THREE PARTS TO THE REVIEW PROCESS.
THERE'S A PEER REVIEW WHICH WE COMPLETED IN 2021.
THERE'S A COUNTY SELF-ASSESSMENT WHICH WE COMPLETED IN 2022, AND HERE WE ARE AT OUR SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT PLAN, WHICH I'LL PROBABLY CALL IT A CIP BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I'M USED TO CALLING IT. BUT OUR SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT PLAN, WHICH IS, IS WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON NOW.
SO YOU'LL SEE THINGS IN THE REPORT SUCH AS TIMELINESS TO INVESTIGATION, MALTREATMENT AND FOSTER CARE, PERMANENCY WITHIN SIX MONTHS OR 12 MONTHS OR 18 MONTHS.
AND WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE SEEING OUR KIDS IN PLACEMENT WHERE WE SHOULD BE SEEING THEM EVERY MONTH.
SO BASICALLY THE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT PLAN OUTLINES GOALS AND GIVES US TIMELINES TO MEET THOSE GOALS.
WE ALSO CHOOSE STRATEGIES TO MEET THOSE GOALS.
AND TYPICALLY, CHILD WELFARE DOES 4 TO 5 STRATEGIES.
IN OUR FIVE YEAR PLAN, PROBATION USUALLY DOES 3 OR 4.
SO, FOR CHILD WELFARE, WE WE CHOSE STAFF RETENTION AND FATHER ENGAGEMENT, AND PROBATION IS ESTABLISHING A PARENT CAFE, WHICH IS A PEER-TO-PEER LEARNING PROCESS. ONCE OUR CIP IS FINALIZED, THEN WE HAVE QUARTERLY MEETINGS WITH PROBATION AND COLLABORATION WITH THE STATE AND WE GO OVER OUR OUTCOME DATA MEASURES AND OUR AND OUR TIMELINES AND OUR WHERE WE STAND WITH OUR OUTCOME MEASURES.
AND THEN WE DO ANNUAL REPORTS.
SO OUR FIRST ANNUAL REPORT WILL BE DUE IN MARCH OF 2024.
AND HOW DID I DO ON TIME? TWO MINUTES. YOU'RE GOOD.
OKAY. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENT. I'LL JUST MAKE A QUICK COMMENT.
MS. JOHNSON, AS I LOOK AT THIS REPORT, I SEE THAT YOU GOT A LOT OF JOBS.
YOU'RE THE CAT LIAISON, THE CBCP LIAISON THE.
YOU GOT LOTS OF TITLES IN THIS REPORT.
NOT SEEING ANY QUESTIONS AT THE DAIS.
WE'LL NOW OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY ITEMS. ITEM SIX. WELL, HOLD ON A SECOND.
NOT SEE ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ITEMS. 20 AND 21.
ALL RIGHT. THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 20 AND 21.
[00:35:15]
BUENOS DIAS.GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS TERRY OCHOA.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE THEME HERE ON NUMBER 21.
[SPANISH]. I AM REPRESENTING MY COMMUNITY.
[SPANISH]. THE NECESSITY TO HAVE ACCESSIBLE HOUSING.
BECAUSE I'VE BEEN IN THIS COUNTRY FOR NOW 20 TO 25 YEARS, AND I KEEP SEEING THE SAME THING.
THAT PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS NEEDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND IT'S I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THIS THEME REGARDING FOLKS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN WHO EARN LOW INCOME AND NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
[SPANISH] . IT'S NOT AN ORDER, BUT IT'S A DECISION THAT YOU CAN MAKE IN ORDER TO DISTRIBUTE THAT MONEY EQUALLY. [SPANISH].
THAT ALL COMMUNITIES CAN BENEFIT.
[SPANISH]. BECAUSE IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THIS MONEY TO BE DISTRIBUTED EQUALLY SO THAT EVERYONE HAS ACCESSIBILITY TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
[SPANISH] . BECAUSE I CAN STILL REMEMBER AS IF IT WERE YESTERDAY AND BACK IN 96, WHERE IT WAS REALLY EXPENSIVE TO RENT A ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENT.
AT THAT TIME, IT WAS $900 FOR RENT.
SINCE THEN OR AT THE TIME I DIDN'T KNOW WHO TO GO TO IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO DEFEND MYSELF.
[SPANISH]. BUT EVEN DURING THESE TIMES AND DURING THESE YEARS, I SEE THE SAME PROBLEM.
SO, I SUGGEST THAT YOU TAKE THINGS VERY CAREFULLY, TREAT THINGS VERY CAREFULLY, SO THAT WE'RE ABLE, YOU'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE HOUSING THAT'S AFFORDABLE AND THAT PEOPLE CAN AFFORD TO MAKE THE PAYMENT ON THE RENT.
AND THAT THE RENT WOULD BE ACCORDING TO LOW-INCOME HOUSING.
[SPANISH] . AND STUDIOS MAYBE FOR THE YOUTH BECAUSE ONCE THEY MOVE OUT, A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO AFFORD THE PAYMENT.
[00:40:06]
[SPANISH] . A QUESTION THAT I HAVE FOR YOU IS HOW IS THAT MONEY GOING TO BE DISTRIBUTED? DO YOU HAVE EQUAL AMOUNTS GOING EQUALLY TO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS? HOW WOULD THAT MONEY BE DISTRIBUTED? [SPANISH] . AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT YOU HAVE A WORKSHOP IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES THAT WOULD BE IN SPANISH SO THAT CONSTITUENTS CAN COME OUT AND SPEAK AND GIVE YOU THEIR THOUGHTS ON WHAT THEY MIGHT BE THINKING ABOUT OR GOING THROUGH.[SPANISH]. THAT'S ALL IN MY PART.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
MY NAME IS PATRICIA RAMOS ANDERSON.
I AM A RESIDENT OF MERCED COUNTY.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, ALSO PRESIDENT OF LULAC, LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS.
IT GIVES ME MY PLEASURE THAT AB 686 LEGISLATION WAS AFFIRMING A FAIRER HOUSING, AND THAT WAS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT STATEWIDE BECAUSE OF THE NIMBY IMPACT THAT WAS OCCURRING FOR GENERATIONS AND DECADES, NOT JUST HERE, BUT THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND IN THE UNITED STATES AS WELL AS A WHOLE.
WE HAVE NOW THAT OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THAT.
WE PROVIDE HOUSING, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE TAXPAYERS VOICES TO BE HEARD AND ALSO TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THOSE SAME POOR WORKING CLASS TAXPAYERS TO HAVE A SAY OF WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE.
HOUSING HAS CHANGED FROM WHAT IT USED TO BE.
I COME FROM THE CITY OF SAN JOSE.
WE DID HOUSING PROJECTS, BUT THEY'RE DONE DIFFERENTLY NOW.
WE HAD MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND MULTIPLE LANGUAGES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, AT THEIR LOCAL SCHOOLS, NOT ONE, NOT TWO, BUT MEANINGFUL THROUGHOUT THE AREA, ESPECIALLY THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT WERE LEFT BEHIND AND WERE THE NEEDIEST AS WELL, AS WELL AS OUR SPECIAL NEEDS AND OUR SENIOR CITIZENS.
AND KEEP IN MIND, OUR FOSTER CARE CHILDREN THAT AGE OUT.
THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE PART OF FREE HOUSING OR A FAMILY TO WATCH OVER THEM TO.
ALSO, THE FACILITIES THAT WERE BEING BUILT NOW WERE IN SOME RURAL AREAS OR OUTSCORED AREAS, BUT THEY HAD ON SITE SERVICES, THEY HAD LEGAL AID SERVICES, THEY HAD FOSTER CARE ASSISTANCE FOR THE CHILDREN THAT WERE LIVING THERE.
NOW, AS AN SRO, IT WAS MIXED HOUSING.
IT WASN'T JUST SENIOR, IT WAS A MIXTURE.
AND THAT'S WHAT MADE IT DIVERSE AND MULTICULTURAL AS WELL AND DIVERSE LANGUAGES.
AND THAT'S WHAT CHANGE HAPPENS IN ALL COMMUNITIES AND ALL REGIONS OF THE OF THE COUNTY.
WE ALSO HAD ON SITE DAYCARE SERVICES.
WE HAD AN ON SITE SUBSTATION FOR THE POLICE HERE.
IT WOULD BE SHERIFF, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU'RE AT.
BUT IT HAD ALSO AN AREA WHERE THEY CAN MEET AND HAVE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE OR LEGAL AID SERVICES.
AND YOU HAD ON SITE EVEN A PICNIC AREA INSIDE THE COMPLEX.
SO, THE FACILITY HOUSING WAS BUILT AROUND THE PARKING AROUND IT INSIDE WHERE ALL THESE FACILITIES, ONE OF THEM EVEN HAD A SWIMMING POOL BECAUSE IT WAS AWAY FROM ALL RESOURCES AND SERVICES FROM THE CITIES, AND YOU HAVE TO KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN.
I'LL GIVE YOU A FEW MORE SECONDS TO WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS.
AND IN CLOSING, IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT THAT UP UNTIL THIS POINT, WE STILL DO NOT HAVE THIS DAY ANY TYPE OF HOUSING OR NEW PROGRAMS GOING ON. IT'S ABOUT TALKING, TALKING, TALKING.
GOOD MORNING. BOARD MEMBERS SARA RAMIREZ WITH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM 21.
[00:45:06]
ESPECIALLY RESIDENTS THAT FACE BARRIERS TO ACCESSING QUALITY HOUSING THAT THEY CAN AFFORD.THE NEW LAW THAT REQUIRES THIS IS AB 686 AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHER FAIR HOUSING OR AF GUIDELINES.
AF GUIDELINES REQUIRE MERCED COUNTY TO BROADLY EXAMINE THEIR EXISTING AND FUTURE POLICY AND PLANS, SUCH AS THE HOUSING ELEMENT, AND MAKE PROACTIVE CHANGES THAT BETTER ENGAGE THE PUBLIC, COMBAT THE ONGOING CONSEQUENCES OF SEGREGATION AND TO PROMOTE MORE INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES.
THE HOUSING ELEMENT MUST BE UPDATED WITH MEANINGFUL, FREQUENT AND ONGOING COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION, CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION THAT IS INTEGRATED WITH BROADER STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH AND A COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION PROCESS FOR THE OVERALL HOUSING ELEMENT.
SO WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN? RIGHT? BECAUSE WE ALSO HEARD COMMENTS FROM RESIDENTS.
IT MEANS THAT THE COUNTY SHOULD BE DOING THINGS LIKE THE FOLLOWING TO ENGAGE PUBLIC ON HOUSING ELEMENT HOUSING ELEMENT WORKSHOPS AT ACCESSIBLE TIMES IN THE EVENING WITH MULTIPLE LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION TRANSLATION SUPPORT OFFERED OUTREACH OUTREACH PLANS THAT GEOGRAPHIC BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION, ESPECIALLY IN GEOGRAPHICALLY EXTENSIVE JURISDICTIONS AND RURAL AREAS, MULTIPLE IN-PERSON MEETINGS IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS TO ENSURE RESIDENTS FROM ACROSS THE JURISDICTION HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE.
DRAFTS OF HOUSING ELEMENT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC FOR REVIEW AND COMMENT WITH AMPLE TIME BEFORE SUBMISSION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR REVIEW. AND THEN IN-PERSON AND ELECTRONIC OPTIONS FOR PARTICIPATION.
PARTICIPATION SHOULD ALSO BE MADE AVAILABLE.
WE ARE HAPPY TO HELP FACILITATE ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS.
I KNOW I'VE REACHED OUT A COUPLE OF TIMES.
RESIDENTS WE WORK WITH ARE EAGER TO BE ENGAGED.
AS YOU ALL HEARD ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE OF HOUSING LOOK LIKE LOOKS LIKE IN MERCED COUNTY, BECAUSE THEIR COMMUNITIES NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND BETTER PROTECTIONS AND RESOURCES FOR LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS.
WE URGE THE COUNTY TO SEEK AND THEN INCORPORATE FEEDBACK FROM ALL COMMUNITIES IN MERCED COUNTY.
IF THE COUNTY DOES NOT TAKE ADDITIONAL STEPS TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC, YOU WILL NOT BE COMPLYING WITH THE STATE REQUIREMENTS I MENTIONED, AND IT COULD JEOPARDIZE THE VIABILITY OF YOUR HOUSING ELEMENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON? ITEMS 20 OR 21.
AND THAT'S ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.
WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE LIBRARY ITEM 22.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM 22.
I'M NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE SHERIFF ITEMS 23 THROUGH 26.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 23 THROUGH 26.
NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD.
BRING BACK TO THE DAIS WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION BY.
SUPERVISOR PEDROZO A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL CALL FOR THE VOTE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM 27.
NOT SEE ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP WILL BE DISTRICT ATTORNEY ITEM 28.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM 28.
NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD.
[00:50:03]
CALL FOR THE VOTE.THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT WE HAVE THE AUDITOR ITEM 29.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM 29.
NOT SEEING ONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE HUMAN RESOURCES, ITEM 30.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 30.
GOOD MORNING, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
I'M HERE TODAY TO REPRESENT THE MEN AND WOMEN OF MERCED COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE CORRECTIONS BUREAU REGARDING THE OVERALL UNION REPRESENTATION FOR BARGAINING UNITS TWO AND 12. MANY OF MY PEERS WOULD HAVE ATTENDED THIS MEETING.
JUST THIS MORNING WE HAD SOMEONE QUIT.
RECENTLY, THREE OF YOU TOURED THE JAILS, WHICH I THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING AND SEEING WHAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH, TO SPEAK WITH STAFF AND OBSERVE THE WORKING CONDITIONS OF THE JAIL AND DIFFICULT SITUATIONS FACED BY THE SHERIFF OFFICE.
ON TODAY'S AGENDA, THE MEMBERS OF BARGAINING UNITS TWO AND 12 HAVE ASKED FOR YOUR APPROVAL TO REGISTER A NEW CORRECTIONS ASSOCIATION THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO TRANSITION TO FOR SOLE REPRESENTATION OF OUR MEMBERS.
TEAMSTERS 856 HAS AGREED TO ALLOW THE TRANSITION TO THE NEW ASSOCIATION WITHOUT REQUIRING A CERTIFICATION AND WILL PROVIDE A TRANSITION LETTER TO THE NEW ASSOCIATION UPON REGISTRATION WITH THE COUNTY.
ALLOW US THE OPPORTUNITY TO ESTABLISH A PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION THAT DESIRES THE BARGAINING IN GOOD FAITH OVERALL ON BEHALF OF THE HARD WORKING MEN AND WOMEN IN CORRECTIONS. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 30? NOT SEEING WELL, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE BOARD APPOINTMENTS, ITEM 31.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM 31.
I'M NOT SEEING ONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
ITEM 32 REAPPOINT FORREST HANSON AS THE COUNTY COUNSEL AT AN ANNUAL SALARY OF $259,397, WITH A-LEVEL BENEFITS EFFECTIVE AUGUST 8TH, 2023.
ALL RIGHT. THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM 32.
NOT SEEING ANY. WELL, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND WE HAVE SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
SO, SINCE HE'S NOT HERE, WE CAN REALLY TALK BAD ABOUT HIM NOW OR JUST KIDDING.
I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING BAD TO SAY ABOUT FORREST.
I THINK HE'S A LITTLE NERVOUS.
SUPERVISOR PAREIRA YEAH, WELL, I JUST WANT TO SHARE MY SUPPORT FOR VOTING YES ON THIS ITEM.
[00:55:07]
YOU KNOW, WHEN OUR PREVIOUS COUNCIL LEFT, YOU KNOW, AND, YOU KNOW, YOU GET A NEW COUNTY COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE A LITTLE NERVOUS AT FIRST, RIGHT? HOW'S THE TRANSITION GOING TO BE? HOW IS THE STAFF GOING TO REACT? AND, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT'S JUST BEEN POSITIVE, POSITIVE, POSITIVE.ALL RIGHT, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
WELL, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, IT'S BEEN GREAT TO WORK WITH.
YOU KNOW, I USUALLY A LOT OF TIMES I DON'T AGREE WITH THEM.
SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, WE ARGUE A LITTLE BIT BACK AND FORTH.
BUT LIKE I SAID, I TAKE HIS OPINION, LEGAL OPINION AT HEART.
I THINK HE ALWAYS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A QUESTION AFTER HOURS, I CALL HIM OR HE CALLS ME.
EVERYTHING'S OKAY. EVERYTHING'S OKAY ON THE AGENDA, ANY QUESTIONS ON THE AGENDA? SO HE'S VERY THOROUGH.
AND LIKE I SAID, I ADMIRE HIM FOR DOING A GREAT JOB.
SO I THINK THAT HE DESERVES ANOTHER FOUR YEARS.
HE ACTUALLY CALLED ME FROM MEXICO ON HIS VACATION ON A ON AN ITEM.
YEAH, NO, I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF ECHO AND I THINK THAT SUPERVISOR MCDANIELS BRINGS THAT UP QUITE A BIT AND IT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU HOW MUCH FOREST REALLY DOES CARE ABOUT HIS POSITION HERE IN THE ORGANIZATION.
HE'S ALWAYS WALKING THE HALLS.
AND SO I WAS LIKE, OKAY, I GOT TO LEAVE BEFORE HE STEPS INTO MY OFFICE.
BUT BUT NO, IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, FORREST DOES A GREAT JOB.
I MEAN, HE'LL TAKE YOUR CALL ANY TIME.
AND IF HE DOESN'T ANSWER, HE CALLS YOU RIGHT BACK, EVEN FOR THE SIMPLEST OF QUESTIONS.
AND SO I'M VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF THIS.
PERFECT. THANK YOU. AND THEN I'LL CONCLUDE COMMENTS AND JUST THAT.
AND HE DOES HE REALLY TRULY HAS THE COUNTY'S BEST INTEREST AT HEART.
AND BUT FORREST IS THERE TO KEEP US ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING ALL THE PROPER RULES BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY, THE WORLD DOESN'T WORK ACCORDING TO THE WAY I WANT IT TO ALL THE TIME.
AND OUR COUNSELORS ARE THE ONES THAT KIND OF STEER US BACK IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
AND WE WILL TAKE A VOTE HERE SHORTLY AND THEN WE'LL ASK FOR US TO COME BACK IN.
SO, IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER COMMENTS, LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE.
ALL RIGHT. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE BY A SQUEAKER BY 5 TO 0.
UNANIMOUS. BARELY MADE SQUEAKING.
OKAY. WE WELCOME YOU BACK TO THE DANCE FLOOR.
AUGUST 8TH. MEAN, YOU'RE STUCK WITH US FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS OR.
NEXT AT THIS TIME, WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR SCHEDULED ITEMS.
[SCHEDULED ITEMS]
WE DO HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED FOR THIS MORNING.WE'LL NOW HEAR THE ITEM REGARDING THE TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX.
HONORABLE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS KAREN ADAMS, YOUR TREASURER, TAX COLLECTOR.
[01:00:02]
AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T TURN THIS ITEM OVER TO MY ASSISTANT TREASURER, TAX COLLECTOR WHO'S COMPLETED ALL THE HEAVY LIFTING TO ENSURE TOTAL CLARIFICATION AND EXPLICIT LANGUAGE IN OUR CURRENT TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX ORDINANCE.GOOD MORNING. HONORABLE CHAIRMAN SILVERA, BOARD MEMBERS CEO MENDEZ AND COUNTY COUNSEL HANSEN.
I'M KAREN KAREN HELMS ADAMS ASSISTANT TREASURER, TAX COLLECTOR.
THE ITEM BEFORE YOU TODAY IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND REVISING.
CHAPTER 5.32 OF THE MERCED COUNTY CODE REGARDING TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX.
THE CHANGES PRESENTED ADD ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE FOR CLARIFICATION SPECIFICALLY SECTION 3.32.030 ENTITLED EXEMPTIONS REFLECTS LANGUAGE CONSISTENT WITH OTHER COUNTIES ORDINANCES AND SECTION 3.32.060 ENTITLED COLLECTIONS EXPRESSLY STATES THAT ANY OPERATOR IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF MERCED COUNTY THAT OPERATES A SHORT-TERM RENTAL, REGARDLESS OF REGISTRATION STATUS, IS STILL OBLIGATED TO COLLECT AND SUBMIT TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAXES.
AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
SO I ALSO NOTICED IN THE LEGISLATIVE FORM THERE'S SOME LANGUAGE CHANGES REGARDING STATE AND STATE AND FEDERAL ELECTED OFFICIALS OR ANY FEDERAL OR STATE OFFICER WHEN ON OFFICIAL BUSINESS.
IS THAT JUST LIKE CLARIFICATION LANGUAGE? YES. YEAH.
ALL RIGHT. ARE THERE NO QUESTIONS FROM THE DAIS? I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING THIS ITEM.
SO WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 1102 PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 11 ZERO TWO AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.
WHERE THE CHAIR WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE? AYE. ARE THERE ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
ALL RIGHT. SEEING HOW OUR SECOND ONE WAS PULLED FROM TODAY, LAST IS BOARD REPORTS.
[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION]
BOARD REPORTS. THANK YOU.AND WE WILL START TODAY WITH SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
WELL, LET ME GO TO DISCUSSION MODE.
GO AHEAD, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
OKAY. WE'LL JUST WE HAD A VISIT FROM SISTER CITY OF THE CITY OF LIVINGSTON ON JULY 19TH THROUGH 26.
WE HAD A GREAT TIME WITH THEM.
I'VE MISSED A FEW DAYS AT WORK, BUT I WAS ABLE TO YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, IT'S PART OF MY DISTRICT.
UM, A LOT OF BUSINESS, A LOT OF ENTERPRISE.
THEY HAVE A TEQUILA, JOSE CUERVO, YOU KNOW, TEQUILA, COMPANY THERE.
AND THEN ALSO THEY HAVE TEQUILA IS ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF AWAY, THE TOWN OF TEQUILA.
SO WHOEVER WANTS TO GO TO BARRERA, DON'T MISS ON TEQUILA, THE TOWN.
AND VERY TOURISTY. LIKE I SAID.
THERE'S ALSO A TRAIN RIDE JUST LIKE NAPA.
SO, TEQUILA COUNTRY IS EVERYWHERE.
SO ACTUALLY, THEY BROUGHT ME A BOTTLE OF TEQUILA, SO I'M HAPPY TO, YOU KNOW, DRINK.
DRINK A SHOT WITH YOU GUYS AFTER A MEETING.
AND I DON'T DRINK, BUT YOU GUYS CAN DRINK IT.
LIVINGSTON HAD WELCOME TO JAPAN.
I WAS ACTUALLY ON THE COUNCIL IN 2004 WHEN I STARTED IN 2002.
SO THEY SENT ME AS A REPRESENTATIVE, ALONG WITH THE STUDENTS FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL AND JUNIOR HIGH.
AND WE VISITED WAKAYAMA, JAPAN, AND IT WAS, YOU KNOW, A NICE WEEK.
[01:05:04]
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, AFTER I THINK THAT WAS AFTER THE TSUNAMI HIT, AFTER THAT.AND SO THE CITY WAS, UM, WAS TAKEN OVER BY ANOTHER CITY DUE TO THE DISASTER.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S UNFORTUNATE.
WE LOST A SISTER CITY, BUT THAT'S THE WAY.
AND NOW, UM, IN 2015, WE WERE ABLE TO CLOSE BECAUSE THE MAYOR LOST REELECTION.
SO THEY BOTH JOINED SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL.
SO FINALLY THEY FINALIZED THE MENU.
MAYOR JOSE MORAN, WHICH MANY OF YOU KNOW, FINALIZED IT.
AND THEY CAME AND I GAVE THEM A TOUR OF ANOTHER TEQUILA COUNTRY THAT WE HAVE IN CALIFORNIA.
WOW. HOPEFULLY SOON THERE'S A GENTLEMAN IN HURON, THE CITY OF HURON, ABOUT TWO, 2.5 HOURS SOUTH.
THEY PLANTED 200 ACRES OF AGAVE PLANT.
SO HOPEFULLY THEY'LL BE MAKING TEQUILA ON THESE YEARS THEY JUST PLANTED THIS YEAR.
AND, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY IN THE VALLEY I ASSUME THEY WILL BE HAVING IN THE FUTURE MORE AGAVE PLANS.
RIGHT. SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT.
UM, I ALSO HAD A MEETING WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT OF EL NIDO SCHOOL REGARDING EL NIDO SCHOOL ROADS AND ROOSEVELT ROADS IN THE AREA OF EL NIDO, WHICH ARE VERY IN EXTREME, YOU KNOW, THE FLOODS AS WELL.
AND SHE HOPEFULLY SHE'LL BE COMING TO ONE OF THE BOARD MEETINGS EXPRESSING OUR NEED FOR THE COUNTY TO FIX THAT, ESPECIALLY ANOTHER ROAD IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL, WHICH OUR KIDS HAVE, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO GO THROUGH THERE EVERY TIME OR WALK THROUGH THERE.
SO, UM, UH, WE'LL BE TO HOPEFULLY HAPPY, BE HAPPY TO HELP THEM ON THE 29TH OF JULY WITH PLENTY OF FOOD DISTRIBUTION AND ALSO A RESOURCE FAIR EVENT THAT WAS HELD VERY NICE BY THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF MERCED WITH SUE I'VE HMONG.
AND SHE DID A GREAT JOB, AND WE HAD MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT CAME OUT AND REACHED OUT AND OBVIOUSLY THEY HAD FOOD FOR MOST OF THE DAY TO GIVE OUT.
SO, THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY THAT CAME.
AND THE FAMILIES WERE HELPED AND ESPECIALLY TO SUE AND SEE FOR THEIR SUPPORT.
HIS HIS BUSINESS WAS INUNDATED WITH ABOUT TWO.
FEET OF WATER AND HE LOST ALL THE STUFF ON THE BOTTOM.
AND SO HE LOST PROBABLY OVER $100,000 OR MORE, YOU KNOW, AND FIRST HE WAS HIT WITH THE PANDEMIC.
SO HE BOUGHT THE BUSINESS RIGHT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.
THEN THE PANDEMIC HIT. HE WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE, YOU KNOW, KEEP IT UP OPEN OR SELL MUCH.
AND THEN HE GOT HIT WITH THE FLOOD.
SO HE'S BEEN VERY STRESSED AND, YOU KNOW, ECONOMICALLY.
AND, YOU KNOW, I SAID IT JUST MENTALLY, HE'S HE'S BROKEN DOWN.
YOU'RE SEEING HIM. HE'S ALMOST CRYING WHEN I TALK TO HIM IN THE PAST.
AND SO HE EVEN BAKED ME A PIZZA.
SO HE'S TRYING TO DO WHATEVER HE CAN TO SURVIVE.
SO I HOPE THAT WE CAN HELP HIM WITH THE $20 MILLION.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HELP BUSINESSES IN EVERY PART OF THE COUNTY.
AND I ALSO WANT TO REPORT THAT I ATTENDED THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN NEW YORK CITY ON JULY 11TH THROUGH THE 14TH, AND I ATTENDED A COUPLE DIFFERENT SESSIONS.
UM, ONE WAS LATINOS HOLD THE KEY TO SOLVING THE HOUSING CRISIS.
AND YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT ACROSS THE NATION, STATES AND CITIES ARE ENCOUNTERING INCREASING AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS AND LATINOS ESPECIALLY CONTINUE TO FACE HARDSHIPS AND SECURE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AS MUNICIPALITIES HAVE EXPLORED SOLUTIONS TO THE CRISIS, MANY HAVE ENCOUNTERED ISSUES OF LIMITED HOUSING AVAILABILITY IN BOTH URBAN AND RURAL AREAS, HIGH CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND REDUCED LAND AVAILABILITY TO BUILD HOMES, ALL OF WHICH HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO RISING RENTAL PRICES, INCREASE HOMELESSNESS AND THE DISPLACEMENT OF LOW INCOME FAMILIES.
AND THIS PRACTICES LEARNED WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS THAT THAT CAN HELP DEVELOPERS AND MUNICIPALITIES BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS ACROSS THE NATION.
ANOTHER ONE WAS ON BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY EVOLVING, WHICH IS EVOLVING AN EXTRAORDINARY PACE.
IT IS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO KEEP UP.
SINCE ITS INTRODUCTION IN 2008, BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY HAS CONTRIBUTED TO GROW.
[01:10:08]
TO EVOLVE AND INTERACT WITH CONSTITUENTS EVERYDAY LIFE.SO THAT'S JUST A COUPLE OF THE SESSIONS THAT I ATTENDED.
YOU KNOW, ANOTHER ONE ON OPIOID ON THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC.
SO, YOU KNOW, JUST VERY INFORMATIVE AND EDUCATIONAL.
THAT'S ALL. ALL RIGHT, SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
SO, I THINK WE HAVEN'T MET SINCE WE ALL WENT TO THE NACO CONFERENCE.
SO, I ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE AND BEING THAT I WAS ON THE I'M ON THE RURAL AG AND RURAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, I ATTENDED THAT AND WHERE WE HAD A LONG DISCUSSION ABOUT A LOT OF DIFFERENT ITEMS AND ACTUALLY WAS APPOINTED AS VICE CHAIR OF THAT COMMITTEE, WHICH IS GOING TO REALLY HELP OUT AND PRETTY MUCH, YOU KNOW, TELL WHAT'S GOING ON IN MERCED COUNTY NATIONALLY.
BUT WHILE I WAS OUT THERE, I ALSO WENT TO A PLACE CALLED LOAVES AND FISHES.
AND IT'S A HOMELESS VILLAGE, IF YOU WILL.
AND IT'S SOMEPLACE WHERE THEY WELCOME IN EVERYBODY.
AND SO WHAT THEY DO IS THEY BRING PEOPLE IN.
THEY TREAT THEM, THEY THEY TRAIN THEM.
THERE'S FACILITIES IN THERE FOR THEM TO LEARN HOW TO DO DIFFERENT SKILLS AND TASKS.
IT'S A REALLY, REALLY NEAT IDEA AND A WAY TO REALLY HELP PEOPLE AND CHANGE THEIR LIVES.
AND IT'S EVERYBODY WAS SUPER NICE OUT THERE AND IT WAS IT WAS A REALLY COOL EXPERIENCE.
I ATTENDED THE RIBBON CUTTING FOR JUNIPER ELEMENTARY, OF WHICH ASSISTANT CEO HENDRICKSON IS THE PRESIDENT OF THEIR SCHOOL BOARD. AND THAT WAS A REALLY COOL PLACE TO SEE.
I MEAN, YOU CAN'T FIND YOU COULDN'T FIND PARKING ANYWHERE AROUND THERE.
I JOKED TO MY WIFE WHEN WE WERE GOING.
I MEAN, IT WAS THE ENTIRE APPLEGATE PARK.
THE ZOO WAS OPEN. KIDDY LAND WAS OPEN.
IT WAS IT WAS A GOOD, GOOD, GOOD TURNOUT THE NEXT DAY.
AND I KNOW MY COLLEAGUE DID THIS AS WELL.
MAYOR SERRATO INVITED ME TO SEE WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO RIDE THE BUS TO TURLOCK AND BACK AND JUST TO SEE LIKE HOW THE ROUTE GOES AND WHAT WE CAN DO.
BECAUSE AS AS IT'S KNOWN, WE'RE ALL ON THE BIG BOARD AND THAT'S ONE OF OUR BIG JOBS, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ON THE BUS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING RIDERS AND THAT TYPE OF STUFF AND MAKING SURE THOSE ROUTES ARE EFFICIENT.
AND CHARLES OGLETREE STILL HAS FAMILY THAT LIVES IN MERCED.
AND CHARLES PASSED AWAY LAST WEEK.
HE WAS A TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.
HE WAS A HARVARD LAW PROFESSOR.
HE TOOK ON THE FIGHT WHEN A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT TO.
BUT SOMETHING THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING TO ME WAS AND I DIDN'T KNOW THIS UNTIL A FRIEND OF MINE TOLD ME ABOUT IT, IS THAT WHEN APARTHEID ENDED IN SOUTH AFRICA, NELSON MANDELA CALLED HIM TO GO AND HAVE HIM HELP DRAFT THE NEW CONSTITUTION FOR THE COUNTRY OF SOUTH AFRICA, WHICH IS I THINK IS IS PHENOMENAL.
AND THEN ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN IN HONOR OF MY UNCLE VIC WARDEN, EVEN THOUGH MY UNCLE WAS LIVED IN SALINAS, HE WAS FROM MERCED COUNTY.
HE PLAYED HE WENT TO GRADUATE OF LIVINGSTON HIGH SCHOOL, LIVED IN GUSTINE AND THEN MOVED TO SALINAS.
AND HIS BURIAL IS ACTUALLY THIS AFTERNOON HERE IN MERCED.
SO HE'S GOING TO BE BURIED IN MERCED.
SO I WANT TO ADJOURN FOR THOSE TWO.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
I TOO ATTENDED THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES CONFERENCE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, JULY 21ST THROUGH 24TH, AND I DO HAVE TO GIVE MY KUDOS TO MY COLLEAGUE.
[01:15:10]
FALL UNDER THE USDA PARAMETERS AS BEING A RURAL COUNTY.I SAID IT WAS TABLED AND NOT COMPLETELY CLOSED OUT.
SO WE'RE STILL DISCUSSING IT AND I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THAT.
I ALSO ATTENDED THE JUNIPER ELEMENTARY RIBBON CUTTING.
MARK HENDRICKSON, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ATWATER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THEY DID A REALLY GOOD JOB WITH THE NEW SCHOOL.
MY QUOTE IN THE PAPER WAS, WHAT THEY GOT FOR THE MONEY IS PRETTY UNBELIEVABLE.
THEY DID A GOOD JOB OVER THERE AND RIDING THE BUS.
IT'S AMAZING HOW MANY FOLKS ACTUALLY READ THE RIDE, THE BUS, ESPECIALLY ON THAT MORNING COMMUTE.
WE PROBABLY HAD 20 PEOPLE AT ONE TIME ON THE BUS.
WE HAD FROM FOLKS GETTING ON AN ATWATER.
I ACTUALLY CAUGHT IT IN ATWATER AND WE HAD FOLKS RIDING, HAD THEIR BOOTS ON AND WENT INTO THE FOSTER FARMS. SO THEY'RE COMMUTING TO WORK ALONG WITH A LOT OF COLLEGE STUDENTS GETTING OFF AT CAL STATE STANISLAUS.
IT WAS GOOD. THE BUS WAS CLEAN, THE AC WORKED, AND THE WI-FI ACTUALLY WORKED REALLY WELL.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN IN HONOR TODAY.
GURVINDER SINGH, EVERYBODY PROBABLY REMEMBERS, KNOWS BOBBY'S LIQUOR IN ATWATER HE VERY SUCCESSFUL IN REAL ESTATE AS WELL AS OTHER STORES.
HE PASSED AWAY A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO BEFORE OUR LAST MEETING, BUT VERY ACTIVE.
HIS FAMILY IS STILL VERY ACTIVE IN THE ATWATER COMMUNITY.
HE WILL BE GREATLY LOST WITH HIS LEADERSHIP AND COMPANIONSHIP THAT HE HAD WITH EVERYBODY THERE.
AND HIS FAMILY IS LOOKING FORWARD TO CARRY ON A LOT OF WHAT HE DID.
SO THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
I'D LIKE TO SHARE THAT I HELPED FACILITATE AND ATTENDED A MEETING BETWEEN MY ASSEMBLYMAN.
I LIVE NORTH OF THE RIVER, SO MY ASSEMBLY PERSON IS DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHER FOUR OF YOU.
[INAUDIBLE]. HE'S ON THE STATE ASSEMBLY'S PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.
AND SO, WE GOT HIM TOGETHER WITH THE SHERIFF AND I THINK HAD A REALLY GOOD DIALOG, EVEN THOUGH THEY KIND OF KNEW EACH OTHER, YOU KNOW, THEY HADN'T REALLY DEVELOPED A WORKING RELATIONSHIP YET.
AND I THINK AFTER THAT MEETING THAT WILL BE STARTED AND AND THE ASSEMBLYMAN IS REALLY FOUGHT HARD FOR, YOU KNOW, COMMON SENSE PUBLIC SAFETY IDEALS UP IN IN SACRAMENTO. AND AND IN THAT I THINK HE REALLY ALIGNS WITH OUR SHERIFF AND SO I COULD SEE THOSE TWO CONTINUING AND INCREASING THEIR ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER.
I ATTENDED ANOTHER EVENT IN GUSTINE.
THERE'S A POOL IN GUSTINE THAT I BELIEVE IS 50 YEARS OLD AND AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW IT AT THE TIME, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLASTERED AND THAT IS ACTUALLY A FIBERGLASS POOL.
AND AND IT'S LARGE, IT'S LONG, IT'S ACTUALLY TOO LONG TO BE A LIKE A LEGAL COMPETE COMPETITION POOL.
AND SO THEY'RE WORKING ON A PROGRAM TO ONE KIND OF SHORTEN IT UP SO THAT THEY CAN THEY CAN HAVE SWIM MEETS THERE AND THEN AND THEN SECONDLY, TO REPLASTER IT, IT'S $250,000.
THERE'S FOLKS FROM AS FAR AWAY AS PATTERSON THAT COME AND SWIM THERE.
A LOT OF THE COMMUNITIES OUT THERE DON'T HAVE POOLS.
THEY EVEN GET PEOPLE FROM LOS BANOS AND SANTANELLA AS WELL.
WELL, I'M A MEMBER, SO WE DO AN EVENT IN HILMAR EVERY YEAR CALLED THE DAIRY AND FARM FESTIVAL.
AND SO THEY ACTUALLY RAISED ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY $22,000 IN FIREWORKS.
AND AND AT THE END OF THE EVENT, THEY STILL NETTED ABOUT $12,000.
UM, YOU KNOW, I HOPE IF SOMEBODY KNOWS THE THREE PEOPLE THAT MADE PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 21 THAT THAT THEY WOULD REACH OUT TO THEM AND LET THEM KNOW BECAUSE THE TWO AT LEAST TWO OF THEM SPOKE ABOUT THE COUNTY MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS.
[01:20:03]
AND AND SO, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY SOMEBODY CAN SHARE WITH HIM THAT THAT HE NEEDS TO BE CALLING THE SENATOR AND CONNECTING WITH HER OFFICE.AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY DIRECTED HIM TO US, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S ACCURATE.
IS THAT ACCURATE THAT THAT THE THAT THE STATE IS GOING TO MAKE THE RULES? THAT'S CORRECT. YEAH.
AND THAT REALLY IS A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT.
AND WE'RE JUST APPROVING OUR SHARE.
WE DON'T BUILD HOUSES IN THE COUNTY.
YOU KNOW, WE JUST WE JUST ALLOW FOR THE ZONING.
SO ANYWAYS, UM, AND OH, AND I'LL SHARE, I WANT TO SHARE THIS.
SO AT THE LAST MEETING WE, I CLOSED IN MEMORY OF VERNON WICKSTROM FROM HILMAR.
AND SO YESTERDAY I WAS GOING TO HILMAR.
SO EARLIER IN THE DAY I REACHED OUT TO HIS WIFE, MARY, AND SHE DIDN'T RESPOND.
YOU KNOW, I TEXTED HER, ACTUALLY.
AND ANYWAY, SO I SPENT A COUPLE HOURS IN HILMAR.
I HAD THE CHAMBER MEETING AT 530.
I HAD ABOUT AN HOUR TO KILL. SO I WENT TO HILMAR CHEESE TO GET AN ICE CREAM.
I WALK IN AND THERE SHE IS, AND SHE'S SITTING WITH HER SISTER IN LAW.
AND, YOU KNOW, WELL, GUYS, WE CALL IT ALLERGIES, RIGHT? OR HER EYES WERE A LITTLE RED AND PUFFY.
AND SO I WAS ABLE TO PRESENT OUR CERTIFICATE THAT WE SIGNED FOR HER AND GIVE THAT TO HER.
AND SHE SAID IT WAS JUST AT THE RIGHT MOMENT.
COUNSEL HANSON THANKS, MR. CHAIR. I JUST LIKE TO THANK THIS BOARD AND THE CHAIR FOR THE KIND COMMENTS EARLIER.
I WASN'T ABLE TO PARTICIPATE, BUT THE LADIES IN THE CONTROL ROOM LET ME LISTEN IN.
I THINK YOU GUYS KNOW, I, I LOVE THIS POSITION.
I LOVE WORKING FOR THIS BOARD.
I LIKE WORKING WITH THE CEO'S OFFICE.
SO, I JUST APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ANOTHER FOUR-YEAR TERM WITH THIS BOARD.
YES, MR. CHAIR, JUST A COUPLE ITEMS JUST TO KIND OF FOLLOW UP.
CONGRATULATIONS TO FOR US ON THE REAPPOINTMENT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU, OBVIOUSLY.
ALSO, THANK YOU, BOARD, FOR KEEPING THIS TEAM INTACT.
ALSO, I DID WANT TO JUST HIGHLIGHT ANOTHER EVENT THAT OCCURRED BETWEEN YOUR LAST MEETING AND TODAY.
WE HAD SUPERVISOR BOTH ESPINOSA AND PEDROZA AT THE CP 42 GROUNDBREAKING THAT TOOK PLACE ON JULY 26TH, ALONG WITH SOME OF YOUR CITY OR I'M SORRY, YOUR COUNTY STAFF SUPPORTING OUR CITY PARTNERS.
SO I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT COLLABORATION.
SO JUST WANTED TO I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN BETWEEN MEETINGS.
I KNOW THAT WAS ONE, WE WERE THERE TO OBVIOUSLY CELEBRATE THAT AMAZING MILESTONE FOR THIS COMMUNITY, THIS REGIONAL PROJECT THAT AT SOME POINT WE CAN ALL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.
SO, THANK YOU, BOTH SUPERVISORS, FOR BEING THERE.
MR. MENDEZ SO I'VE GOT A COUPLE THINGS.
ONE, I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL THE STAFF AND MY COLLEAGUES THAT WE DID HAVE OUR GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY OUT AT THE FOR THE DOS PALOS LIBRARY AND THE DEL HILL HALL REMODEL. SO THAT IS UNDERWAY.
REALLY GOOD COMMUNITY SUPPORT OUT FOR THAT.
I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY 25 OR 30 COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON A WARM DAY OUT THERE.
SO PRETTY EXCITED TO SEE THAT PROJECT MOVING FORWARD.
AND I'VE BEEN ASSURED THAT I WILL BE GETTING MY HARD HAT.
SO WHEN I DO MY WEEKLY INSPECTIONS, THEY KNOW WHO I AM.
I THINK CEO MENDEZ WANTS ONE WITH.
AGAIN, THANK OUR STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS.
AND FINALLY, AND YOU KNOW, I'M EXCITED THAT WE GOT THE GRANT AND WE'RE ACTUALLY PUTTING THE MONEY TO USE QUICKLY SO THAT THE STATE CAN'T, YOU KNOW, FIND ANOTHER NEED FOR IT AND MAYBE TAKE IT BACK AND USE IT ON SOMETHING ELSE.
[01:25:02]
SO THANKFUL FOR THAT.TO THE KIDS CONNECT COMMUNITY CELEBRATION.
MR. WOOTEN, MYSELF AND THE CEO WENT OUT FOR THAT AND THEY WERE PULLING IN BIG NAMES.
BERNARD BERRIAN WAS OUT THERE AND GAVE QUITE A QUITE A REALLY GOOD SPEECH.
THE CROWD WAS VERY DIVERSE IN AGE.
YOU HAD A LOT OF LITTLE ONES OUT THERE, BUT YOU HAD PARENTS ALONG THE WAY.
AND JUST, YOU KNOW, ONE OF HIS MESSAGES IS JUST, YOU KNOW, CELEBRATE YOUR VICTORIES.
RIGHT? IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE TALK ABOUT AT THE COUNTY.
EVERY VICTORY. YOU NEED TO CELEBRATE IT.
IT WAS REALLY GOOD LITTLE MOTIVATIONAL SPEECH.
GOT TO TAKE SOME PICTURES WITH HIM.
STEVE MAXEY IS OUR IS IN HIS ROLE NOW FOR A LITTLE OVER A MONTH OR I THINK IT'S A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AS AS THE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING COMING IN.
SO THANK YOU AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK THERE.
SHE WAS OUR HOST FOR THE TOUR OF THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY OUT THERE.
AND WE DID ACTUALLY WORKED OUT PERFECT.
WE GOT TO GO. WELL, A FEW OF THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS WERE ON BREAK AND HAD SOME GOOD MOSTLY ONE-WAY CONVERSATION ON ON WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE, BUT VERY EYE-OPENING EXPERIENCE.
AND SO, JUST WANT TO THANK HER FOR THAT.
IT JUST WAS A MATTER OF TIMING.
THERE WAS A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON, BUT DEFINITELY LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING OUR NEW FACILITY, BECAUSE I CAN REST ASSURE YOU, I'VE NEVER BEEN IN THERE EXCEPT FOR ON A TOUR. IT FOR ALL THE REASONS OF NOT WANTING TO BE INCARCERATED.
AND THEN OUR FACILITY IS IT'S IN IT'S WE'RE MAKING DO WITH WHAT WE HAVE AND IT'S NOT REALLY GREAT.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING OUR NEW FACILITIES UP AND RUNNING.
CAPTAIN SULLIVAN OVER THERE, I KNOW THAT'S HIS THAT'S HIS BABY OUT THERE.
AND SO LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THAT STUFF DONE.
SO WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS.
AND THIS CONCLUDES THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING FOR AUGUST 8TH, 2023.
OUR NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING WILL BE HELD TUESDAY, AUGUST 22ND, 2023.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR BEING HERE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.