Aug 22, 2023 Board Meeting

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GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE AUGUST 22ND, 2023 MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

[CLOSED SESSION (Part 1 of 2)]

AGENCY NEGOTIATOR MARCI BARRERA.

NEXT CLOSED SESSION IS CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL INITIATION OF LITIGATION.

ONE CASE.

THE PUBLIC WILL BE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON ANY MATTER TO BE CONSIDERED IN CLOSED SESSION PRIOR TO THE BOARD'S ADJOURNING INTO THE CLOSED SESSION TESTIMONY LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.

ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CLOSED SESSION ITEMS. NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, AND WE WILL NOW ADJOURN INTO CLOSED SESSION.

GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME BACK TO THE AUGUST 22ND, 2023 MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

IN CLOSED SESSION THIS MORNING, STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION ON THE INITIATE INITIATION OF LITIGATION AND WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO GET TO OUR SECOND CLOSED SESSION ITEM ON LABOR NEGOTIATIONS.

SO WE WILL BE RECONVENING BACK INTO CLOSED SESSION AFTER THIS MEETING.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL NOW START WITH THE INVOCATION LED BY PASTOR EDDIE VARGAS FROM BIG DOG MINISTRY.

AND THEN SUPERVISOR PAREIRA WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU MEN FOR THIS PRIVILEGE.

I WAS HANDED THIS SHIRT AS I CAME IN.

I DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT.

FIGHTING FOR THE WORKERS AND THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S SAD THAT IN OUR PRAYER, FATHER GOD, WE LOVE YOU.

WE THANK YOU ALWAYS FOR THE PRIVILEGE THAT YOU GIVE US TO GATHER TOGETHER.

WE ASK FATHER THAT YOU WOULD BE WITH THESE MEN THAT ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY, THAT YOU WOULD ENTER THEIR HEARTS.

ALLOW YOUR SPIRIT TO ENTER THEIR SPIRITS, FATHER.

THEY'RE ALL GREAT MEN.

AND THEY LOVE YOU, FATHER. AND WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD HELP THEM TO MAKE THE RIGHT JUDGMENTS, THAT THEY WILL LOOK AT IT THROUGH YOUR EYES.

AND WE KNOW, FATHER, THAT THEY'RE GREAT MEN THAT LOVE YOU.

SO WE ASK FATHER THAT YOU WOULD GUIDE AND DIRECT THEM IN ALL THE THE FAMILY MEMBERS AND PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE THAT YOU WOULD WATCH OVER THEM, THAT YOU WOULD SOFTEN ALL THEIR HEARTS AND THE THINGS RIGHT HERE GO ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL THAT EVERYTHING COULD BE HANDLED IN PEACE LOVING AND UNDERSTANDING.

WE LOVE YOU, LORD, AND WE TRUST YOU ALWAYS.

IT IS IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY.

AMEN. AMEN.

AMEN. PLEASE JOIN ME.

THANK YOU, PASTOR VARGAS AND SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

THANK YOU. NON AGENDA ITEM PUBLIC COMMENT.

[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK]

EXCLUDING ITEMS ON THE BOARD'S AGENDA, TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON AND 30 MINUTES TOTAL.

ALL RIGHT.

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING.

SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.

THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF MERCED COUNTY IS HERE TODAY TO ASK FOR YOUR HELP.

TRUSTED MESSENGERS AND COMMUNITY ALLIES HAVE BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT SOME IN MERCED COUNTY LEADERSHIP ARE PROPOSING TO SOLVE A COUNTY BUDGET CHALLENGE BY CLOSING THE MERCED COUNTY LIBRARY.

WE ASK YOU TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS NOT TO COUNTENANCE SUCH DISCUSSION IN COUNTY OFFICES AND CERTAINLY AS THE DECISION IS YOURS. FINALLY, NOT TO CLOSE OR DISADVANTAGE THE MERCED COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM IN SUPPORT OF ANOTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENT BASED ON ITS REQUEST.

A QUICK ASIDE.

AS YOU KNOW, I'M OLDER THAN MOST OF YOU, AND THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN HERE.

WE SAID THE FIRST THING IN 1993, IN NOVEMBER.

AND WE'VE I'VE GOT PART OF THESE COMMENTS THAT I COPIED FROM THE LEAGUE'S COMMENTS.

THE PRESIDENT AT THE TIME, NICOLA ADAMS, IN FEBRUARY OF 2007.

AND WE JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE PREPARED TO STAND FOR THE LIBRARY WHEN WE BECOME CONCERNED. THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS IS PUZZLED BY THE CHOICE OF DEPARTMENTS TO TARGET, IN PART BECAUSE THE MERCED COUNTY LIBRARY IS ALREADY SO

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OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM HAS BEEN FINANCIALLY TROUBLED FOR DECADES BECAUSE IN 1993, MERCED COUNTY SHUT DOWN ITS LIBRARY SYSTEM.

WHILE IT HAS BEEN RESUSCITATED, IT CONTINUES TO BE ONE AT THE BOTTOM OF PUBLIC LIBRARY FUNDING PER RESIDENT IN ALL OF CALIFORNIA.

FIFTH FROM THE BOTTOM OF ALL PUBLIC LIBRARIES, CLOSING THE ONLY PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVING OUR 286,000 RESIDENTS WILL BE BAD FOR RESIDENTS, BAD FOR GOVERNMENT, AND BAD FOR THE ECONOMY.

IF IT IS ALLOWED TO HAPPEN, IT WILL BE LIKE THE STORY OF THE CITY OF MCFARLAND, WHO PROPOSED TO CLOSE ITS LIBRARY FOR A POLICE STATION.

A NATIONAL NEWS STORY THAT WILL MAKE MERCED COUNTY LOOK LIKE A TERRIBLE PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY OR START A BUSINESS.

THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF MERCED COUNTY SUPPORTS AN ADEQUATELY STAFFED AND FUNDED LIBRARY SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL, RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES TO ALL SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION IN ALL LIBRARY SERVICE AREAS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE.

HELLO, MY NAME IS KENDRA BRAGONIER AND I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST OF ALL THANK THE SUPERVISORS AND THEIR STAFF FOR THEIR RECENT SUPPORT OF THE MERCED COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM.

SOME EXCITING THINGS ARE HAPPENING, AS YOU ARE VERY WELL AWARE.

AN EXAMPLE OF THIS IS THE MERCED MARY HOFFMAN TEEN CENTRAL.

THE NEW WELL IMPROVED BOOKMOBILE AND THE PLANS FOR THE DOS PALOS LIBRARY.

THOSE ARE REALLY EXCITING THINGS FOR OUR LIBRARY.

SO THANK YOU.

HOWEVER, OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, I HAVE RECEIVED TEXTS, EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS FROM MANY CONCERNED PEOPLE WHO KNOW I AM ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE FRIENDS OF THE MERCED COUNTY LIBRARY.

THEY ARE COMMUNICATING BECAUSE THEY ARE HEARING RUMORS ALLEGEDLY BEING FLOATED BY AN ELECTED OFFICIAL ABOUT THE POSSIBLE DEFUNDING OR CLOSURE OF OUR LIBRARY.

NOW, I AM AWARE THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS COME BEFORE YOU TO ACT UPON, BUT I AM SURE YOU ARE AWARE OF THE UNDERCURRENTS THAT ARE FLOATING AROUND ABOUT THIS.

IS IT POSSIBLE, AS THE SAYING GOES, THAT WHERE THERE'S SMOKE, THERE'S FIRE.

SO MANY COUNTY RESIDENTS REMEMBER ALL TOO WELL THE CLOSURE OF OUR LIBRARY IN 1993, AND MANY FEEL WE DID NOT SPEAK OUT SOON OR LOUDLY ENOUGH ABOUT HOW WE FELT ABOUT OUR LIBRARY, THAT THE BIG OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT CAME AFTER THE CLOSURE.

AND WHAT REALLY SURPRISED, I THINK, A LOT OF PEOPLE ABOUT THE ARDENT SUPPORT THE LIBRARY HAD.

WE DO NOT EVER WANT TO BE AFTER THE FACT AGAIN.

THIS IS WHY I'M HERE TODAY, BECAUSE I BELIEVE ALL OUR COUNTY DEPARTMENTS SHOULD BE ON THE SAME TEAM, PROVIDING COMPLEMENTARY SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITIES, NOT WORKING TO DAMAGE OR DEFUND ONE DEPARTMENT.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

THAT'S ALL FROM ME. GOOD MORNING.

I'M SANDRA HAY AND I'M HERE TO ALSO VOICE MY STRONG OPPOSITION TO THIS IDEA OF CLOSING PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN ORDER TO ALLOCATE MORE FUNDS TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

PUBLIC LIBRARIES ARE MORE THAN JUST REPOSITORIES FOR BOOKS.

THEY ARE VIBRANT CENTERS OF LEARNING, IMAGINATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

LIBRARIES PROMOTE EDUCATION AND LIFELONG LEARNING.

OUR LIBRARIES LITERACY CENTER OFFERS FREE TUTORING FOR ADULT LEARNERS, WHICH I PARTICIPATE IN.

IT HELPS THEM TO CONTINUE THEIR LEARNING AND GET THEIR GEDS AND HELP THEM FIND JOBS AND PASS COURSES AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

AND LIBRARIES OFFER DIGITAL ACCESS AND INCLUSION.

THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER REPORTS THAT LIBRARIES PROVIDE ESSENTIAL DIGITAL ACCESS TO THOSE WHO MAY NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES AT HOME.

THIS INCLUDES INTERNET ACCESS FOR JOB SEARCHES, ONLINE EDUCATION AND ACCESSING GOVERNMENT SERVICES.

LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND MINORITIES ARE MORE LIKELY TO USE LIBRARIES, INTERNET SERVICES, BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AND DIVIDE AND PROMOTING EQUITY IN LIBRARIES PROVIDE COMMUNITY SPACES, SAFE AND INCLUSIVE SPACES FOR ALL.

OUR LIBRARY OFFERS ACTIVITIES FOR TEENS WHO MAY NOT OTHERWISE HAVE ACTIVITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN.

WE'RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT LET'S HAVE MORE ACTIVITIES FOR THE YOUTH.

BUT WE SEEM TO JUST BE FOCUSING ON SPORTS.

THERE ARE LOTS OF TEENS THAT DON'T DO SPORTS.

THEY CAN COME AND THEY CAN DO LEARN CROCHET, THEY CAN DO D&D.

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THERE'S EVEN ACTIVITIES FOR ADULTS SUCH AS THE QUILTING GROUP THAT MEETS THERE ON A REGULAR BASIS.

AND JUST RECENTLY THERE WAS AN ACTING WORKSHOP THAT WAS HOSTED BY THE LIBRARY AS WELL.

LIBRARIES SUPPORT VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.

ALL OF OUR MINORITIES ON OUR LOWER INCOME PEOPLE, THEY COME AND THEY USE THE LIBRARIES.

OUR HOMELESS PEOPLE COME IN FOR WARMING CENTERS AND COOLING CENTERS AND HAVE A PLACE TO TO BE.

THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION SAYS THAT FOR EVERY DOLLAR INVESTED IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES, COMMUNITIES SEE A RETURN OF INVESTMENT UP TO $5.

SO WE NEED TO NOT PIT DIFFERENT AGENCIES AGAINST EACH OTHER, BUT FIND A WAY TO SUPPORT ALL OF OUR AGENCIES IN AN EQUITABLE MANNER.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS SHEILA SELLERS.

I'VE BEEN AN EDUCATOR, AN ELEMENTARY TEACHER, FOR 31 YEARS.

LIBRARIES WERE STARTED BY BENJAMIN FRANKLIN IN THE 1600S.

LIBRARIES TEACH LITERACY AND TEACH PEOPLE TO READ.

WHO'VE NEVER READ EVER.

LIBRARIES READ STORIES TO LITTLE PEOPLE.

LIBRARIES HAVE COMPUTERS TO USE FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD THEM.

LIBRARIES HELP WITH RESEARCH FOR STUDENTS THAT ARE IN HIGH SCHOOL AND OLDER FOLKS.

LIBRARIES HAVE TEENAGE ROOMS WHICH ARE A PLACE FOR TEENAGERS INSTEAD OF BEING ON THE STREETS.

LIBRARIES HAVE BOOKS.

FOR THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD KINDLES OR LIKE TO HOLD A BOOK WHEN THEY READ.

LIBRARIES PROVIDE ACCESS TO AUTHORS IN PERSON AND ON THE SHELF.

LIBRARIES HAVE LITTLE CARDS THAT PROVIDE A WINDOW TO THE WORLD.

LIBRARIES ARE A FREEDOM AND A PRIVILEGE THAT IS ALWAYS BEEN PART OF AMERICA.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, MA'AM.

GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN SILVEIRA.

CEO MENDEZ AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, CHRISTINE SANTOS HERE REPRESENTING THE OFFICE OF CONGRESSMAN JOHN DUARTE.

WE WERE SO GLAD TO JOIN MERCED COUNTY FOR THE REOPENING OF THE PLANADA COMMUNITY CENTER.

IT'S A BUILDING THAT HAS SENTIMENTAL VALUE FOR OUR DISTRICT DIRECTOR, SAM SAMRA, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT BUILDING BEING A PLACE TO SERVE OUR SENIORS AND BE A PLACE FOR HAPPY MEMORIES LIKE QUINCEANERAS AND BIRTHDAY PARTIES FOR PLANADA FAMILIES.

ONCE AGAIN, WE HAD THE HONOR OF JOINING THE MERCED MULTICULTURAL ARTS CENTER FOR THEIR SHELTER IN PLACE.

MERCED COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION, MIGRANT EDUCATION, STUDENT MULTIMEDIA ARTS SHOWCASE.

STUDENTS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS HOW COVID AFFECTED THEM AND AN EXPERIENCE THAT WAS AFFECTED, ESPECIALLY IN EXACERBATED BY THE EXPERIENCE OF GROWING UP IN A FARMWORKER HOUSEHOLD. DESPITE MANY OF THESE ARTISTS BEING A FEW WORDS AND LITTLE ENGLISH, THEY EXPRESS THEMSELVES SO LOUDLY THROUGH OUR ART.

AND OUR OFFICE WAS HONORED TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THESE LOCAL STUDENT ARTISTS FROM THE AMERICAN DREAM AND PROMISE ACT, THE DIGNITY ACT.

CONGRESSMAN DUARTE WILL ALWAYS PURSUE BIPARTISAN, DIGNIFIED AND PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM TO BRING OUR UNDOCUMENTED NEIGHBORS OUT OF THE SHADOWS, SECURE OUR BORDER, AND PROTECT OUR FARMWORKER FAMILIES IN MERCED COUNTY.

THE CONGRESSMAN ALSO TOOK PART IN A WESTERN CAUCUS FIELD TOUR AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE HEARING IN YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK.

THE CONGRESSMAN HIGHLIGHTED THAT THANKS TO MISGUIDED FOREST MANAGEMENT POLICY, OUR KIDS MAY BE THE GENERATION THAT SEES THE END OF GIANT SEQUOIAS DUE TO WILDFIRE.

ALREADY TENS OF MILLIONS OF ACRES OF NATIONAL FORESTS HAVE BEEN LOST TO WILDFIRE OVER THE PAST DECADE.

AND WILDFIRE SMOKE IS A CONSISTENT HEALTH RISK FOR MERCED COUNTY FAMILIES.

CONGRESSMAN DUARTE BELIEVES THAT AN ACTIVE SCIENCE BASED FOREST MANAGEMENT POLICY THAT INCLUDES FUEL BREAKS AND FUEL THINNING IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE HEALTH OF OUR BEAUTIFUL NATIONAL FORESTS AND NATURAL LANDSCAPES FOR OUR CHILDREN, OUR GRANDCHILDREN AND GENERATIONS TO COME.

THE CONGRESSMAN HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH LATINO COMMUNITY ROUNDTABLE AND STANISLAUS COUNTY AND HEAR THE CONCERNS OF THE HISPANIC AND LATINO CONSTITUENTS IN THE 13TH DISTRICT.

AND WE'RE SO HONORED TO BE ABLE TO HOST OUR FIRST MERCED COUNTY TOWN HALL COMING UP IN ATWATER ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 29TH AT 7 P.M.

AT THE ATWATER MEMORIAL BUILDING AT 1390 BROADWAY AVENUE.

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WE'VE HOSTED THEM IN STANISLAUS COUNTY AND FRESNO COUNTY SO FAR.

AND THIS WILL BE AN OPEN FORUM FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS HERE IN MERCED COUNTY TO GET TO ASK THE CONGRESSMAN QUESTIONS.

WE CHAMPION OURSELVES AND BE AN ACCESSIBLE OFFICE WITH AN ACCESSIBLE CONGRESSMAN.

AND WE HOPE TO SEE ALL OF YOU AND EVERYONE IN THIS CHAMBER THERE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU, SIR. GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN SILVEIRA. SUPERVISORS CEO MENDEZ COUNTY COUNCIL, HANSON AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

I AM AMY TAYLOR, YOUR COUNTY LIBRARIAN.

I AM HERE TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF UPDATE ON OUR SUMMER READING PROGRAM THAT JUST COMPLETED ON AUGUST 5TH, 2023.

THIS PROGRAM HAD READING CHALLENGES, ARTS AND CRAFTS PROGRAMS, LIVE PERFORMANCES WITH MAGICIANS, BUBBLES, REPTILES AND ZUMBA, AS WELL AS FAMILY GAME NIGHTS, MOVIES AND PUZZLE CHALLENGES, TO NAME A FEW OF OUR ACTIVITIES.

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION INCREASED BY 674 PARTICIPANTS.

THE NUMBER OF BOOKS LOGGED WERE 26,095 TITLES FROM JUNE 5TH THROUGH AUGUST 5TH.

THIS IS AN INCREASE OF OVER 10,000 TITLES READ IN THE COMPARED TO SUMMER 2022.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR LIBRARY STAFF FOR BEING PERCEPTIVE TO OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS AND HOSTING PROGRAMS THAT SO MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS WANTED TO ENGAGE WITH US THIS SUMMER.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK OUR COMMUNITY FOR JOINING US ON OUR JOURNEY TO FIND YOUR VOICE THROUGH BOOKS AND LIBRARY PROGRAMING.

THE LIBRARY WILL CONTINUE TO ADAPT TO THE CHANGING NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT INFORMATIONAL NEEDS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM OR VISIT OUR LIBRARY WEBSITE AT MERCED COUNTY LIBRARY.ORG.

LIBRARY STAFF. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE AT THE LIBRARY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING. MORNING.

MORNING. MORNING. MORNING. MY ISSUE HERE TODAY WAS NOT THE LIBRARY, BUT FENTANYL.

BUT I'LL SPEAK ON THE LIBRARY FOR A MINUTE.

WE DO NEED THAT LIBRARY FOR PEOPLE LIKE US THAT DON'T HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE IN TECHNOLOGY.

WE GO OUT THERE AND PICK UP BOOKS, BRING THEM HOME AND READ TO KEEP OURSELVES SHARP.

SO PLEASE THINK ABOUT THE LIBRARY.

MY SECOND ISSUE IS THAT CAMP.

THE TENT CAMP THAT'S GOING UP RIGHT THERE ON THE CORNER OF HIGHWAY 59, SANTA FE AND OLIVE.

IT'S GETTING LARGE EVERY DAY AND IT'S PUSHING IT TOWARDS MY NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS BEACHWOOD AND FRANKLIN.

AND WITH THAT, I SEE FENTANYL.

I'M NOT JUST HERE SAYING FENTANYL.

I AM HERE SAYING FENTANYL BECAUSE I, AS A PARENT AM GOING THROUGH THAT.

AND IT'S NOT EASY.

CHINESE HAVE MADE IT SO EASY THAT FENTANYL IS HERE IN LITTLE PACKAGES, JUST LIKE SKITTLES.

FENTANYL HAS NO MERCY.

IT DOESN'T HAVE MERCY ON GRANDKIDS, KIDS, FATHERS, GRANDFATHERS.

SO I'M HERE TODAY TO FIND OUT FROM THE BOARD WHAT IS THE BOARD DOING? WHAT IS OUR REPRESENTATIVE IN WASHINGTON DOING ABOUT THAT FENTANYL ISSUE IN MERCEDES THAT IS BECOMING AN EPIDEMIC.

HAVE YOU ALL SEEN THE MOVIE DEAD MAN WALKING? IF YOU HAVEN'T, THEN YOU NEED TO SEE THAT MOVIE.

THAT'S WHAT I SEE. MERCEDES NOW.

THAT'S ALL I SEE. AND THE REASON WHY I'M SAYING THAT BECAUSE I'VE SEEN MY OWN COLLEGE EDUCATION JOB WITH THE COUNTY OF MODESTO, BUT THAT LITTLE GRAIN OF FENTANYL, HE FORGOT WHO HE WAS.

HE DOESN'T EVEN CARE IF HE'S GOT SHOES ON.

AND DO YOU THINK I WANT TO SEE ANY OF THAT UP HERE? NO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. AND PLEASE PROVIDE THE LAW WITH HELP THAT THEY NEED.

HELLO. I'M NEW TO THIS.

I DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW TO ADDRESS YOU, SO I WANT TO SAY GOOD MORNING.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE FOR US.

AND I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT IT'S MUTUAL.

AND YOU THANK US FOR BEING HERE FOR YOU.

I'M A UC MERCED STUDENT.

I STARTED AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN 96.

I CAME FROM A LOW INCOME FAMILY AS A NATIVE AMERICAN FROM CHOWCHILLA.

AND MERCED MEANT EVERYTHING TO ME BECAUSE IT MEANT IT WAS HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.

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AND I HAVE NIECES AND NEPHEWS NOW THAT USE THE LIBRARIES HERE IN MERCED, AND IT MEANS EVERYTHING TO THEM AS WELL.

SO I JUST HEARD ABOUT A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBLE PLAN TO CLOSE THE LIBRARY HERE AND I WANTED TO COME AND REPRESENT LIKE A COMMUNITY MEMBER, 46 YEARS OLD, TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO GET HERE FROM UC MERCED.

I TRANSFERRED FROM THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

WHEN I WENT BACK IN 2019, I TRANSFERRED TO UC MERCED IN 2021.

THE FACT THAT THIS UC IS HERE MEANT HOPE FOR ME WHEN THEY BUILT IT, AND IT'S JUST A CHAIN OF HOPE IN THE COMMUNITY FROM A LOW INCOME PERSPECTIVE.

NOW I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO STAND UP HERE AND HOPEFULLY STAND FOR LIKE MAYBE THE LITTLE PEOPLE THAT YOU MAY CONSIDER LITTLE THAT DON'T HAVE THE PRIVILEGES THAT I HAVE AND THAT YOU PROBABLY ALL HAVE, MAYBE EVEN INTERNET ACCESS.

AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO JUST ASK YOU TO RECONSIDER IF YOU WERE EVEN CONSIDERING CLOSING OUR LIBRARY HERE, BECAUSE IT MEANS A LOT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT EXIST HERE IN THIS COUNTY.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

THE GOOD MORNING BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

MY NAME IS SERGIO ORTIZ.

I'M A CAREGIVER.

CARING FOR A PATIENT IS OFTEN A WHOLE DAY'S WORK, OFTEN BEYOND THE LOUD HOURS OF GIVING OF GIVING BY A SOCIAL WORKER.

AS CAREGIVERS, WE ARE FACED WITH A CRITICAL ROLE.

A CRITICAL ROLE OF A EXCUSE ME, A CARING.

OH, MY GOD. OH, EXCUSE ME.

A CRITICAL ROLE OF CARING FOR A LOVED ONE OR A FAMILY MEMBER WHOSE WISH IS TO FUNCTION ON A DAILY BASIS WITH LOVE, TENDERNESS, TENDERNESS AND RESPECT. SACRIFICES VERY OFTEN NEED TO BE DONE.

IN MY CASE, I HAD TO TERMINATE MY EMPLOYMENT AS A AFTER SCHOOL MENTOR COUNSELOR FOR THE MODESTO DOWNEY HIGH SCHOOL.

WE ALL KNOW THAT LIFE IS TOUGH AND SACRIFICES NEED TO BE DONE DAILY.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, PLEASE TAKE IN ACCOUNT OUR STORIES WHEN YOU MEET WITH US.

THE THE.

AND YOUR NEXT NEGOTIATIONS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT, SIR.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE SPACE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT I'M FEELING.

MY NAME IS SALVADOR. I'M AN ORGANIZER WITH THE NORTH VALLEY LABOR FEDERATION.

I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY DISAPPOINTMENT IN HIGHER TRAINING THESE COUNTY WORKERS AS CAREGIVERS.

SO IT'S MY FIRST TIME HERE, TOO.

YOU KNOW, I NOTICED A BIG PLAQUE OUTSIDE THIS BOARD ROOM.

THE VALUES OF THE COUNTY OF MERCED.

ONE OF THEM SAID INNOVATION.

SOME, QUOTE, READ IT TO FOSTER A CREATIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT THAT ATTRACTS AND RETAINS EMPLOYEES WHO PROVIDE QUALITY SERVICES THROUGH COUNTY WIDE COLLABORATION, UNQUOTE. SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOU GUYS AREN'T DOING ANY OF THE INNOVATION AS IT SAYS BACK HERE IN THIS BOARD ROOM.

THESE ARE YOUR WORKERS, YOUR CONSTITUENTS, YOUR VOTERS, YOUR NEIGHBORS, OUR FRIENDS.

THE MESSAGE THAT YOU'RE SENDING IS THAT YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT THESE WORKERS.

SO NEXT TIME YOU GUYS COME TO THE BARGAINING TABLE AND GIVE THESE WORKERS WHAT THEY DESERVE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT, SIR.

GOOD MORNING, SUPERVISORS.

HOW ARE YOU THIS MORNING? MY NAME IS MAGDALENA CASTILLO.

I AM A MERCED RESIDENTS.

I'M ACTUALLY IN MR. JOSHUA'S I'M SORRY.

A MASSACRE. YOUR NAME? PEDROZA. IN YOUR.

IN YOUR DISTRICT.

UM, I HAVE BEEN A PROVIDER FOR 13 YEARS.

THIS IS MY DAUGHTER.

SHE IS 39 YEARS OLD.

I CARE FOR HER.

IF I DIDN'T HAVE IN-HOME SUPPORT, I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO.

TO BE COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO PUT HER IN SOME FACILITY AND THEN HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE, DO, YOU KNOW, DO THAT JOB.

I'M NOT GOING TO CRY.

BUT THE THING IS, IS THAT HERE WE ARE.

I MEAN, WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR MUCH.

WE JUST WANT A LIVABLE WAGE.

I CARE FOR HER 24 OVER SEVEN, BUT I DON'T GET PAID 24 OVER SEVEN.

I ONLY GET PAID FOR FOR FOR SO MANY HOURS.

AND THAT'S THE WAY IT IS HERE.

BUT I'M ASKING YOU, WHEN YOU YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GO BACK TO YOUR MEETINGS OR WHAT HAVE YOU THINK ABOUT US? I MEAN, THINK ABOUT HER.

I MEAN, I WOULDN'T WANT TO PUT HER IN A FACILITY WHERE SHE WON'T GET THE CARE SHE NEEDS CONSTANT CARE.

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WE HAVE TO TRAVEL TO SAN FRANCISCO, PALO ALTO, TO GET HER CARE.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING YOU, IS TO IS TO SEE THAT THAT THIS PROGRAM, IN-HOME SUPPORT SERVICES, IT WORKS, BUT WITHOUT IT, WHERE WOULD SHE BE? I WOULD NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE KNOWING THAT MY DAUGHTER IS IN SOME PLACEMENT BECAUSE THERE'S NO SERVICES.

SO I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO REMEMBER US.

I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE AND I'LL BE BACK.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

GOOD MORNING, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

MY NAME IS DISCIPLE REINHART AND I'M COMING FROM WINTON AND I'M A PROVIDER FOR THE COUNTY OF MERCED AND I WORK WITH MY GRANDMOTHER. UM, BEFORE THIS I WAS DOING TREE TRIMMING IN UKIAH, MENDOCINO COUNTY, AND I WOULD SAY GOOD WORK. AND BEFORE THAT I JUST WAS STATIONED IN DIFFERENT PLACES AND I'M REALLY BIG ON TRAVELING AND JUST, YOU KNOW, GOING WITH THE FLOW.

UM, BUT I CAME HOME TO VISIT MY GRANDMOTHER BECAUSE SHE HAD WENT TO A NURSING HOME HERE IN MERCED COUNTY FOR 30 DAYS AND SHE DIDN'T GET THE CARE THAT SHE DESERVED.

IF SHE GETS A CHANCE TO SPEAK, SHE SHE'LL TELL YOU THAT SHE THOUGHT ABOUT COMMITTING SUICIDE BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE FACILITY WAS RAN AND SHE FELT LIKE SHE WASN'T BEING LISTENED TO AND IT WAS JUST A LIVING NIGHTMARE.

SO I, I DECIDED THAT WITH A LOT OF WITH A LOT OF JUST THOUGHT, BUT DOING THE RIGHT THING REALLY JUST DECIDED TO STAY AND HELP HER OUT. AND IT'S BEEN GOOD.

IT'S BEEN A LOT OF GROWTH FOR ME PERSONALLY AS HELPING A PERSON.

AND I WOULD SAY THAT THIS BENEFITS MERCED AND WE'RE DOING A WAY BETTER JOB THAN THOSE NURSING HOMES ARE RIGHT NOW.

AND I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO HAVE MANY BOSSES IN MY LIFE WORKING DIFFERENT JOBS, MEN AND WOMEN.

AND I CAN REMEMBER SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE TAUGHT ME HOW TO BE A LEADER.

AND I WOULD SAY I DON'T GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO HAVE A COFFEE WITH YOU OR TO KNOW YOU OR TO, YOU KNOW, SHAKE YOUR HAND.

BUT I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, I'M ASKING YOU FOR A RAISE THAT LIKE, I WOULD ASK SOMEBODY ELSE, YOU KNOW, THAT I WAS WORKING HARD FOR.

SO EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN'T SEE IT, JUST TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A YEAR AND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE.

SO WE APPRECIATE THAT.

YOU KNOW, YOU COULD GIVE US A RAISE.

AND IF YOU IF YOU GO OUT AND LOOK AROUND, YOU CAN SEE THAT WALMART AND MCDONALD'S AND PLACES LIKE THAT PAY MORE MONEY.

AND IT'S HARD TO LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, COULD I BE DOING SOMETHING ELSE? BUT MY MOTHER NEEDS SO MUCH CARE.

AND SO IT'S IT'S VERY APPRECIATED THAT YOU WOULD TAKE IT INTO CONSIDERATION.

AND SO THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, SIR.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS SONIA MENDOZA.

I'VE BEEN. I'M FROM MERCED COUNTY.

I'VE BEEN WITH IHSS SINCE 2018.

I JUST WANT TO SAY, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME.

I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS, BUT I WAS DOWN HERE AND FIGHT FOR OUR PEOPLE.

NO MATTER WHAT THEY ARE.

WE ARE THEIR VOICES. WE ARE THEIR EARS.

WE ARE THEIR EYES.

WE ARE THEIR MOUTH.

WE ARE THERE TO BE MOBILE, TO MAKE THEM MOBILE.

WE ARE. WE GIVE THEM COMPANIONSHIP EVERY DAY.

WE ARE THERE ON THE DAILY.

IF IT WASN'T FOR US, WHO ELSE WOULD IT BE? AND THAT'S IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

HELLO. GOOD MORNING, BOARD.

MY NAME IS SIMONE SAMRA AND I'M A STUDENT AT UC MERCED AND I HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO INTERN WITH UW FOR IHSS PROVIDERS FOR THE PAST SEVEN WEEKS AND I COME TO THIS BOARD OF SUPERVISOR MEETING AS SOMEONE JUST AS YOU WHO IS FAR FROM THE WORK THESE PROVIDERS DO.

AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF IN THEIR SUPPORT FOR A LIVABLE WAGE.

AS YOU AND I WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND THE HARD WORK THESE PROVIDERS DO WHAT THEY DO IN THEIR HOMES.

AS YOU'VE HEARD EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEIR STORIES, THEY WORK OVER HOW MUCH THEY'RE GETTING PAID, AND ALL THEY'RE ASKING IS FOR A LIVABLE WAGE.

SO I'M HERE TO SHOW YOU THAT IT'S NOT JUST ME, IT'S THE STUDENTS IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, NOT JUST IHSS PROVIDERS WHO ARE STANDING WITH THEM.

SO PLEASE GIVE THEM THE LIVABLE WAGE THAT IS FAIR AND JUST FOR THEM.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS. HOW ARE YOU DOING WHAT SHE SAID.

[00:30:02]

IT'S GOOD FOR EVERYBODY.

I JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, WHERE I WAS AT WAS A DIFFERENT SPOT, DIFFERENT PLACE.

I WAS IN THE BAY AREA, LIVING MY OWN LIFE, DOING WHATEVER THINGS FELL INTO PLACE BECAUSE GOD HAD CERTAIN CALLINGS FOR US AND CERTAIN WAYS TO SERVE SOCIETY.

AND NOW I'M FINDING, YOU KNOW, THAT FOR THIS PAST THREE PLUS YEARS, I'VE BEEN TAKING CARE OF MY BROTHER AND MY MOM.

AND IT IS GOD GIVEN, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T KNOW.

BEHOLD, THIS IS A CALLING FOR ME.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S SO SUBSTANTIAL AND SO NEEDED.

JUST LIKE ALL YOU HAVE A CALLING AND A PURPOSE FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND FOR THE GROWTH AND PROGRESS.

THE OTHER DAY I WAS ON THE BACK ROADS OVER HERE AND I SEEN THIS BEAUTIFUL STREAM OF BEAUTIFUL NEW ROADS COMING UP TOWARDS 99, NEW PROGRESS, NEW WAYS OF GROWTH HERE IN MERCED.

AND IT'S AWESOME.

AND IT'S A GOOD COORDINATES TO SEE THIS KIND OF THING AND THE PROGRESS AND THE GROWTH THAT COULD BE OBTAINABLE.

AND IT'S A GOOD SOLUTION THAT EVERYBODY I GUESS TOGETHER WE CAN REACH AGREEMENTS AND SOLUTIONS FOR THE FUTURE BECAUSE I KNOW I WOULD LIKE TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE WHEN I REACH THAT AGE, I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE IN A HOME.

I WOULD WANT SOMEBODY, ONE OF MY RELATIVES, TO HAVE THIS PROGRESS, THIS PROGRAM, EXCUSE ME.

SO THAT COULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BETTER AT HOME.

SO AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, SIR.

GOOD MORNING TO ALL OF YOU.

TO ALL OF YOU TO.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MARTINA CASTILLA.

I COME FROM WINTON.

AND LIKE MY GRAND SON SAID THAT I WAS I WAS PUT IN A NURSING HOME AND I HAD NO CHOICE.

AND WHAT I SUFFERED THERE WAS JUST HORRENDOUS, HORRENDOUS.

AND I LOOKED EVERYWHERE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE, AND THEY ALL WANTED TO GO HOME.

AND I SAID, WELL, WHY DON'T YOU GO HOME? BECAUSE BECAUSE YOUR FAMILY HAS TO COME AND GET YOU.

AND I SAID, OKAY.

AND SO I MY SON WOULD CALL ME FROM BELIZE, WHERE HE WAS AT HAWAII, WHERE HE WAS AT.

AND I WOULD ALWAYS GO SUGARCOAT MY SITUATION.

AND FINALLY HE SAID, YOU KNOW, I'M COMING HOME TO SEE YOU.

SO HE CAME AND THEN HE KNEW THE REALITY OF IT.

AND WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.

HE DIDN'T KNOW I DID BECAUSE I DID 25 YEARS OF IT.

I WAS A HOME CARE PROVIDER.

AND SO I KNOW THE WORK.

I KNOW HOW PEOPLE ARE MORE HAPPY BEING AT HOME, BEING WITH FAMILY, AND THEY DON'T SUFFER. I SUFFERED A LOT AND I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND ANYBODY.

BEING HOME IS THE BEST MEDICINE THAT WE CAN HAVE.

AND THESE WORKERS, THEY WORK LIKE MY GRANDSON.

HE DIDN'T KNOW HE KNEW HIS MOM TO WORK IN LIFE, BUT HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I DID.

AND SO I STARTED TELLING HIM.

I STARTED TEACHING HIM.

AND SO HE SAYS, THIS IS WHAT YOU DID.

I SAID, YES, SIR, THIS IS WHAT I DID.

I COMFORT THE PERSON.

YOU TAKE HIM OUT, TAKE HIM TO THE LIBRARY.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO GO PICK OUT A BOOK, YOU KNOW, TO LOOK AROUND, TO, YOU KNOW, JUST BE OUT, GO TAKE THEM FOR A LUNCH OR HAVE A PICNIC OR.

I USED TO DO A LOT OF THINGS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I TOOK CARE OF IN THIS COUNTY, I CAN I THINK YOU WOULD KNOW THEM.

AND SO BY MY EXPERIENCE, I THINK THIS PROGRAM IS AWESOME.

AND I THINK A LOT OF FAMILIES ARE MORE HAPPIER FOR IT.

BUT LIKE MY GRANDSON, HE HAS TO LIVE.

YOU KNOW, HE'S GOT HE'S GOT HIS HIS BILLS, HIS THINGS THAT HE HAS TO.

[00:35:09]

SO I JUST WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PROGRAM HELPS EVERYBODY.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE.

GOOD MORNING, BOARD STAFF.

I'M MARIA SOTO.

I AM COUNCILWOMAN FROM THE CITY OF LIVINGSTON.

I BELIEVE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER ADDRESSED THIS BOARD, BUT I HAVE FOUND IT VERY NECESSARY TO COME HERE.

I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS COMING FROM SOME RESIDENTS IN THE AREA THAT I AM ELECTED IN.

HOWEVER, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT MY OWN DISTRICT SUPERVISOR, DISTRICT ONE, RODRIGO ESPINOSA, WILL NOT ADDRESS ME.

SO I'M ADDRESSING YOU HERE ON AUGUST? NO, NO. WE'RE IN AUGUST.

APRIL 18TH.

RODRIGO ESPINOSA CAME TO A COUNCIL MEETING AND HE SAID TO ME, THIS IS THE BACKGROUND.

SO, QUOTE, COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU ARE ATTACKING ME.

YOU COME HERE REFERENCING SOCIAL MEDIA, LOOKING FOR MORE DIRT ON ME BECAUSE I'M RUNNING FOR REELECTION NEXT YEAR.

YOU KNOW THAT.

I KNOW THAT.

I'M NOT GOING TO DIRECT MY COMMENTS.

I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE ANY MORE COMMENTS FROM YOU IN THE FUTURE.

I WILL DIRECT THE BOARD, BUT NOT ANY QUESTIONS FROM YOU, UNQUOTE.

SO I HAVE HAD SOME CONCERNS BROUGHT TO ME FROM CITIZENS OF LIVINGSTON.

AND I HAVE TO ONE, I'D LIKE TO HAVE CLARITY ON THE MONIES THAT WERE ALLOCATED THAT DISTRICT SUPERVISOR HAD PROMISED BACK IN, I BELIEVE, 2018 TO OUR VFW IN LIVINGSTON.

IT WAS IN THE AMOUNT OF $380,000.

I'VE ASKED HIM QUITE FREQUENTLY OF OF THIS MONEY.

AND RECENTLY IN A MEETING HE DID SAY, I'M SURE WE CAN FIND IT SOMEWHERE.

SO IF I CAN GET SOME FOLLOW UP OR SOME CLARIFICATION BACKUP FOR HIS STATEMENT FOR THE $380,000.

SECONDLY, BECAUSE DIRECTOR, SUPERVISOR, DISTRICT SUPERVISOR RODRIGUEZ ESPINOSA HAS REFUSED TO TAKE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM ME IN THE COMMUNITY THAT I REPRESENT AS AN ELECTED, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO HERE CAN I ADDRESS MY COMMENTS AND CONCERNS TO? SO WITH THAT, I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH AN EMAIL BECAUSE I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.

WE ARE IN CONVERSATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COUNTY, OBVIOUSLY, AND WE ARE ENTERING INTO SOME NEGOTIATIONS.

SO I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS AND I MEAN, I HAVE ALREADY BEEN TOLD THAT I MAY NOT ADDRESS THEM OR GO TO MY DISTRICT.

MY OWN DISTRICT SUPERVISOR.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

ALL RIGHT. THAT CONCLUDES OUR 30 MINUTES FOR NON-URGENT OUTWARD PAST.

THE 30 MINUTES ALREADY WENT OVER.

SO WE WE LIMIT 30 MINUTES, THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.

SO WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO OUR CONSENT CALENDAR.

[CONSENT CALENDAR]

PLEASE NOTE ITEM NUMBER ONE REQUIRES A 4/5 VOTE.

RIGHT. THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY.

YEAH, I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS EXITING THE ROOM RIGHT NOW, SO I'LL GIVE IT A SECOND.

I PUT. I'LL BE.

[00:40:10]

THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEMS ONE THROUGH EIGHT.

NOT SEE ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD.

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

CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0 AT THIS TIME.

JULIANNE SIMS, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES, WILL BE PROVIDING COMMENTS REGARDING THE RECOVERY MONTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH PROCLAMATIONS. ITEM NUMBER TWO AND THREE.

GOOD MORNING. BOARD CHAIR SILVEIRA, CEO LOMELI MENDEZ AND COUNTY COUNSEL HANSEN.

AS MENTIONED, I'M JULIE SIMMS. I'M THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL SERVICES AT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES.

WE PRESENTED TWO PROCLAMATIONS BEFORE THE BOARD TODAY.

THE FIRST IS RECOVERY MONTH.

EVERY YEAR WE PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER AS RECOVERY MONTH TO HIGHLIGHT THAT RECOVERY FROM SUBSTANCES IS POSSIBLE, AND WE ENCOURAGE THOSE STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE USE TO SEEK SUPPORT AND TREATMENT.

WE ARE HAVING OUR ANNUAL RECOVERY MONTH BARBECUE SEPTEMBER 22ND, 2020, 2023 AND THE PARKING LOT.

I HAVE FLIERS IN THE BACK AND I'LL LEAVE A FLIER IN THE BASKET.

AND THE SECOND PROCLAMATION IS A HARD ONE TO TALK ABOUT, BUT IT IS SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH.

IN 2022, THE US RECORDED THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF DEATHS BY SUICIDE ON RECORD.

FOR ALL THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE AND LISTENING IN.

IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE IS EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, YOU CAN CALL OR TEXT NINE, EIGHT, EIGHT AT ANY TIME TO BE IMMEDIATELY DIRECTED TO A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL AND HOPEFULLY GET THE HELP YOU NEED AND CONNECT IT TO SERVICES.

WE ARE ALSO DOING A SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH EVENT ON SEPTEMBER 20TH FROM 9 TO 12 AND OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PARKING LOT.

AND I HAVE ANOTHER FLIER AND AGAIN, SOME FLIERS IN THE BACK ON EXITING.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

WITH YOUR WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I'D LIKE TO ASK IF BRUCE METCALFE, WHO RUNS THE MERCED COUNTY RESCUE MISSION, COULD COME UP AND JUST SHARE THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION.

IF ANYBODY'S INTERESTED IN RECOVERY, I'M HOPING THAT THEY'RE WATCHING TODAY.

AND WOULD THAT BE OKAY? ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU, MR. METCALFE. WHILE HE'S WALKING UP, MANY, MANY OF THE FOLKS THAT I RAN INTO WHEN I WAS IN THE, YOU KNOW, HELPING WITH THE HOMELESS, A LOT OF THEM HAD THEN SINCE WENT INTO THEIR PROGRAMS WITH GREAT SUCCESS.

AND SO I JUST THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO KNOW.

THANK YOU, LLOYD AND THANK YOU SUPERVISORS PRIVILEGED TO BE HERE.

I JUST, AS A MEMBER OF THE ADVISORY BOARD FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, I JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT TO BE EYES AND EARS AND AND A PERSON FROM THE COMMUNITY ABLE TO JUST REALLY HELP OUR WHOLE COUNTY KNOW THE GOOD WORK THAT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IS DOING.

AND I KNOW THAT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE MERCED COUNTY RESCUE MISSION, WHERE WE WORK IN LOS BANOS AND MERCED AND NOW IN WINTON AND AND WE'RE REACHING OUT TO BEACHWOOD AND OTHER AREAS.

SO MANY OF OUR PEOPLE HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROBLEMS, ADDICTION PROBLEMS THAT ARE ADDRESSED BY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.

AND IT'S REALLY A PRIVILEGE TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE COUNTY, WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, WITH HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY.

AND I THINK COLLABORATION IS REALLY THE NAME OF THE GAME, WORKING WITH ALL OF YOUR AREAS AND WORKING TO HELP PEOPLE GET THE HELP THAT THEY REALLY NEED. AND WE HAVE BEEN PRIVILEGED TO BE ABLE TO HELP MANY, MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE MILD AND MODERATE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES.

THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT DEALS WITH SEVERE.

AND SO ONCE AGAIN, WORKING TOGETHER IS THE NAME OF THE GAME.

AND WE'RE JUST PRIVILEGED TO HAVE PEOPLE COME.

AND WITH ALL THE SERVICES THAT THE RESCUE MISSION OFFERS, THAT OTHER NONPROFITS OFFER AND THAT THE COUNTY OFFERS THROUGH ITS VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS SO THAT WE CAN HELP PEOPLE TOGETHER, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND FOR WHAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER.

GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU, SIR.

ALL RIGHT. NEXT, WE HAVE PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS NINE THROUGH 12.

[BOARD ACTION]

ALL RIGHT. THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS.

[00:45:02]

WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

NEXT UP, WE HAVE HEALTH ITEM 13.

THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 13.

NOT SEE ANYONE.

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

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

NEXT UP, WE HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES ITEMS 14 THROUGH 19.

THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 14 THROUGH 19.

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

BRING BACK TO THE DAIS WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

NEXT UP WILL BE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY ITEMS 20 THROUGH 24.

THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 20 THROUGH 24.

I HAVE A SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL IN THE QUEUE.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER 21, KNOWING THAT WE HAVE CAL POLY WANTING TO PARTICIPATE HERE AT MERCED COUNTY.

I THINK IT'S A PRIVILEGE AND JUST ALL THE GOOD WORK THAT THE NEW CAL POLY UP AT SONOMA IS DOING.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

AND I AND I WOULDN'T EXPECT ANYTHING LESS.

I HAVE SUPERVISOR PEDROZO IN THE QUEUE.

WELL, THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW, I'VE ALWAYS LIKED TO HAVE INTERNS THAT ARE WILLING TO COME AND PROVIDE THESE SERVICES FROM THE BECAUSE I THINK IT PROVIDES GOOD PRACTICE FOR STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY FROM HUMBOLDT STATE UNIVERSITY.

WE KNOW THAT THERE'S ONE CAL POLY AND THAT'S IN SAN LUIS OBISPO.

SO I AM GOING TO VOTE YES ON THIS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF AMAZING THAT TWO THIRDS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WENT TO CAL POLY, SAN LUIS OBISPO, AND AND FOR ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES TO KIND OF POKE AT US WAS, I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S IN JEST, I GUESS, AND IN GOOD, GOOD FAITH.

BUT ONE THING ABOUT THE CAL POLY UNIVERSITIES IS THERE A LEARN BY DOING PHILOSOPHY AND AND IT WAS VERY BENEFICIAL TO MYSELF WHEN I WENT THERE.

I WAS A DAIRY MAJOR, YOU KNOW, SO, YOU KNOW, MILKING COWS AND FEEDING CALVES.

BUT I THINK IT'S A IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO COME GET SOME FIELD EXPERIENCE AND THEN GO BACK, FINISH THEIR EDUCATION.

AND WHEN THEY COME OUT, THEY'RE BETTER PREPARED.

ALSO DURING THEIR EDUCATION, THEY'RE LEARNING AND THEY KNOW WHAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE WHEN THEY GET OUT.

AND SO I JUST I REALLY BELIEVE IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

AND SO I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, I MEAN, OUR HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY FOR FOR REALIZING THAT AND CREATING THIS OPPORTUNITY.

I'LL ALSO BE VOTING YES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

AND YOU KNOW, IN ALL SERIOUSNESS WITH THE HOPE IS IS BY PARTNERING WITH THESE UNIVERSITY CITIES IS REALLY FOR ME OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE GETTING PEOPLE FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE WORKING YOU KNOW ON THE JOB TRAINING BUT THEN THE SECONDARY HOPEFULLY BENEFIT BENEFICIAL PIECE IS IS THAT MAYBE THEY COME HERE AND THEY REALIZE HOW GREAT MERCED COUNTY COUNTY IS AND ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER AND THE GREAT THINGS THAT WE GET TO DO.

AND THEN HOPEFULLY SOME OF THOSE FOLKS ACTUALLY STAY HERE AND WANT TO MAKE THEIR HOMES HERE.

SO ALL AROUND JUST I KNOW THERE'S A LITTLE POKING BACK AND FORTH BECAUSE WE HAVE CAL POLY IN SAN LUIS OBISPO AND WE HAVE THE NEW CAL POLY UP IN HUMBOLDT.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK MERCED COUNTY BENEFITS IS THAT WE GET SOME OF THESE YOUNG FOLKS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY YOUNG FOLKS, FOLKS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF SCHOOL AND GET SOME REAL FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE.

SO WITH THAT, IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, NO OTHER COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

NEXT, WE HAVE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

ITEM NUMBER 25.

STAFF IS REQUESTING TO MAKE THIS ITEM OR HAVE THIS ITEM CONTINUE TO THE SEPTEMBER 12TH BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING.

OKAY. DO YOU NEED A MOTION TO TABLE UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING?

[00:50:02]

NOT SEEING ONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS WHERE THE CHAIR WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CONTINUE THIS ITEM TO SEPTEMBER 12TH.

SO MOVED. SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

DO WE WANT TO DO IT ON THE VOTE LINKS.

WE CAN DO IT SUPERVISOR PAREIRA IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND QUEUING IN.

FOR THE MOTION. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO WOULD YOU MIND SECONDING THAT? THERE WE GO. LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

NEXT, WE HAVE THE MOTION.

WHAT'S THAT? BY THE MOTION THAT WAS STATED.

CORRECT. LET ME LET ME REPHRASE.

YES, IT WAS BY THE MOTION TO CONTINUE THE ITEM UNTIL SEPTEMBER THE 12TH.

PERFECT. NEXT UP, WE HAVE AUDITOR ITEM 26.

ALL RIGHT. THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM 26.

I'M NOT SEEING 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 PEDROZO.

LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

NEXT WE HAVE SHERIFF ITEMS 27 AND 28.

THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 27 AND 28.

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

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

LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

NEXT UP WILL BE FIRE.

ITEM 29.

ALL RIGHT. THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM 29 FOR FIRE.

NOT SEE ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD.

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

LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

NEXT UP WILL BE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT.

ITEM 30.

THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM 30.

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 PAREIRA.

CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

NEXT, WE WILL HAVE BOARD APPOINTMENTS.

ITEMS 31 THROUGH 33.

ALL RIGHT. BEFORE WE OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, WE HAVE SUPERVISOR PEDROZO WANTS TO MAKE A COMMENT.

THANK YOU.

I JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE JOE RAMIREZ, WHO WILL BE SERVING AS MY PLANNING COMMISSIONER FOR DISTRICT TWO.

AS WE ALL KNOW, IT'S HARD TO FIND REALLY GOOD PEOPLE, AND I THINK JOE IS GOING TO DO A FANTASTIC JOB.

SO I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.

PERFECT. ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 31 THROUGH 33.

SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

SO NOW, OFFICIALLY, WE CAN SAY THAT YOU'RE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

SUPERVISOR PEDROZO GOT A LITTLE AHEAD OF HIMSELF RIGHT THERE.

WE HADN'T VOTED YET.

NEXT UP, WE HAVE BOARD INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ITEM 34.

[BOARD INFORMATION & POSSIBLE ACTION]

LET'S SEE 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 PEDROSO.

CALL FOR THE VOTE, PLEASE.

RECORD THE VOTE.

OH, I KNOW.

I'M SORRY I JUMPED THE GUN ON THAT.

I NEED TO RESET THAT ONE.

SORRY, SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.

I GOT A LITTLE CARRIED AWAY THERE.

ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

[00:55:02]

CALL FOR THE VOTE.

NOW, PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.

THANK YOU. WHAT? ALL RIGHT. SO WE ARE GOING TO RECONVENE NOW, BACK INTO CLOSED SESSION.

[CLOSED SESSION (Part 2 of 2)]

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

WELCOME BACK.

FOR THE THIRD TIME TO OUR TUESDAY, AUGUST 22ND, 2023 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING.

WE HAVE JUST RETURNED FROM CLOSED SESSION WHERE STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION AND WE WILL START BOARD MEMBER REPORTS.

[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION]

I'M GONNA CHANGE IT UP AND I'M GOING TO START WITH SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA TODAY.

I'M READY. LET ME GO TO DISCUSSION MODE.

HOLD ON ONE SECOND. SEE YOU THERE.

OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. ALL RIGHTY.

UM, I JUST WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES THAT WENT TO THE PLANADA COMMUNITY CENTER REOPENING, UM, A LITTLE BIT AGO.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE COMMUNITY WAS JUST HAPPY THAT THE COMMUNITY CENTER WAS WAS REOPENED AND ESPECIALLY THE SENIORS SINCE THEY HAVE THE MEALS THERE.

THEY ALSO WISH TO FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO STAY THERE UNTIL 2:00 AND ESPECIALLY ON HOT DAYS.

IT'S VERY HOT. AND, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THEY'RE BEING PUSHED OUT EARLIER.

SO, UM, AND ALSO TO USE THE COMMUNITY CENTER AS, UM, AS A COOLING CENTER.

SO HOPEFULLY I THINK IN THE PAST IT'S BEEN A COOLING CENTER SO WE CAN TALK TO, UH, HSA AND PUBLIC WORKS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

ALSO, UM, WE HAD THE GOLD VALLEY HEALTH CENTER REOPENING AND PLANADA THE COMMUNITY, A LOT OF COMMUNITY CENTER.

YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY MEMBERS WERE THERE AS WELL AS A LOT OF VENDORS FROM AROUND THE COUNTY.

SO WE APPRECIATE GOLDEN VALLEY, EVERYTHING THEY HAVE DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND ALL MERCED COUNTY.

UM, ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO I THINK THAT FIRE DEPARTMENT REOPENED UP AGAIN.

SO I WANT TO THANK THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AS WELL, THE CAL FIRE, AND ALSO PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE POST OFFICE BEING REOPENED, ESPECIALLY MOST PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO MERCED AND GET THERE.

IT'S A HASSLE FOR THEM TO GET THEIR MAIL AND MEMBERS THAT DON'T HAVE A A CAR.

UM, WE'VE TOLD THEM THAT THE BUS GOES TO MERCED EVERY DAY FOR FREE, ESPECIALLY ALL THIS MONTH.

IT'S STILL FREE, SO THEY'RE ABLE TO TAKE A BUS TO MERCED AND BACK FOR FREE.

UM, ALSO DURING THE FLOODS, WE WERE ASKED FOR A STREET SWEEPER AND I'VE TALKED TO THE CEO.

THE COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE A STREET SWEEPER.

SO I THINK THAT, UM, THE COUNTY HAD A STREET SWEEPER.

WE IT WOULD THE, THE COUNTY WOULD BENEFIT ALL THE COMMUNITIES THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S PLENTY OF TRASH OR DIRT ON SOME STREETS.

SO I THINK THE STREET SWEEPER IF WE CAN LOOK FORWARD MAYBE TO NEXT YEAR AND PUT IN A STREET SWEEPER ON A ON A BUDGET, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

UM, LIKE I SAID, IT CAN GO THROUGH MANY COMMITTEES THAT THEY NEED AND ALL AROUND THE COUNTY AND ALSO HAD A DISCUSSION WITH SOME RESIDENTS AND AGAIN THEY'VE REQUESTED MORE SUPPORT FOR P STREET AND OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THE UH, COUNTY ISLANDS THAT THEY REQUIRED, UH, MORE SIDEWALKS, DRAINAGE AND SEWER AND SEWER FOR THAT PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

SO, UM, THAT WOULD BENEFIT FROM, UM, LIKE I SAID, IF WE CAN APPLY FOR GRANTS, THAT'D BE GREAT.

THANK YOU. THAT WAS ALL.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

UH, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO TO JUST REPORT OUT THAT I ATTENDED A HABITAT FOR HUMANITY PROJECT ACTUALLY IN PLANADA ON SATURDAY AT THE INVITATION OF THE SENATOR CABALLERO, WHO PUT IT TOGETHER.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE FLOODS HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, I KIND OF PURPOSELY STAYED OUT OF THE WATER UNLESS IT WAS IN MY DISTRICT, BECAUSE I, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T WANT TO BE A DISTRACTION. AND BUT, YOU KNOW, AND I'VE KIND OF FELT LIKE I'VE WANTED TO GO TO PLANADA JUST TO KIND OF SEE WHAT HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, AND AND SO ANYWAYS, NICE YOUNG COUPLE HAD BOUGHT THEIR HOUSE.

THEIR MORTGAGE WAS SOLD FROM ONE COMPANY TO ANOTHER.

AND WHEN THE SECOND COMPANY TOOK IT OVER, THEY TOOK THE AMOUNT THAT WAS BEING PAID INTO ESCROW FOR FLOOD INSURANCE.

AND THEN THEY COULDN'T GET AS MUCH INSURANCE FOR THE SAME MONEY.

SO THEY LOWERED THE PEOPLE'S INSURANCE.

AND SO THEY GOT 15,000, YOU KNOW, BUT THEIR HOUSE WAS FLOODED THREE FOOT DEEP.

AND ANYWAY, SO, YOU KNOW, SENATOR CABALLERO AND ASSEMBLYWOMAN SORIA HEARD THE STORY FIRSTHAND.

[01:00:02]

AND AND, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T MAKE IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT WOULD BE LEGAL TO DO THAT UNLESS THEY SENT THE HOMEOWNERS NOTICE AND THEY JUST DIDN'T REALIZE IT.

BUT ANYWAYS, NICE YOUNG COUPLE, THE SIRNAS VERY EMOTIONAL, THANKFUL THAT THAT FOLKS WERE THERE AND THE COMMUNITY OF PLANADA SHOWED UP AND PUT SHEETROCK UP. AND IT WAS IT WAS PRETTY INTERESTING TO SEE.

AND THEN AND THEN I SAY THAT TO KIND OF SUNSHINE THAT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HAS KIND OF CHANGED AS OF ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY.

SO MERCED AND STANISLAUS COUNTY, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY ARE COMBINED AND THEY HAVE PROGRAMS THAT HELP SENIORS THAT ARE HAVING TROUBLE STAYING IN THEIR HOMES.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, IF ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SENIORS THAT HAVE HOUSES THAT ARE DETERIORATING AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX THEM, THERE'S A PROGRAM THAT COMES IN AND FIX THEM. AND THEN WHEN THE HOUSE GETS SOLD, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY GETS THEIR MONEY BACK.

SO JUST AS.

YOU RUN INTO CONSTITUENTS, YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY NEAT PROGRAM.

AND THEN ANITA HELLAM IS WORKS IN STANISLAUS COUNTY AND LIVES ACTUALLY IN MY DISTRICT.

WE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION AND SHE'S INTERESTED IN MAYBE COMING TO THE BOARD SOME TIME AND SHARING OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE.

AND SO MAYBE AT SOME POINT IN TIME IN THE FUTURE, WE COULD WE COULD GET THAT DONE.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

I'M GOING TO GO TO SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I JUST WANT TO THANK STEVE MAXEY AND MARK MIMS. WE'VE BEEN ON THIS THE THE SPEAKING CIRCUIT.

IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE DOING A LOT OF PRESENTATIONS OVER THE $49.6 MILLION GRANT THAT WE GOT FOR CASTLE.

THEY DO A FANTASTIC JOB.

WE'VE HAD SOME TOUGH PRESENTATIONS.

WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE HARD, BUT WE ANSWERED ALL THE QUESTIONS AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY THE PEOPLE WERE MORE EXCITED ABOUT IT WHEN WE WERE FINISHED THAN WHAT THEY WERE GOING INTO THE MEETING.

I WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING IN HONOR OF NICK GOMEZ.

HE HE WAS NOT ONLY A GOOD FRIEND, BUT HE WAS A GOOD MEMBER OF CONGRESSMAN, BOTH COSTA AND CONGRESSMAN DUARTE STAFF.

HE DID A LOT OF WORK FOR A LOT OF FOLKS HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.

AND HE WAS WAY TOO YOUNG TO PASS AWAY LIKE HE DID SO WITH THAT CHAIR.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR PEDROZO THANK YOU.

LAST WEEK OR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE COMMENTS AT THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND PATIENT APPRECIATION DAY AS PART OF NATIONAL HEALTH CENTER WEEK. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE GOLDEN VALLEY HEALTH CENTER CEO TONY WEBER AND HIS TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS FOR BEING A LEADING HEALTH CARE CENTER IN OUR COMMUNITY. THEY'VE BEEN AROUND FOR 50 YEARS, WHICH IS A LONG TIME.

I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE WTS DINNER.

THIS IS CONNECTING CALIFORNIA IN THE STATE OF TRANSPORTATION IN FRESNO.

WTS IS AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN IN TRANSPORTATION, TRANSPORTATION, MEDICINE.

THERE WERE TWO SPEAKERS WHO KIND OF GAVE AN UPDATE ON THE DIRECTION OF OF CALIFORNIA TRANSPORTATION.

YOU HAD I'M GOING TO MESS UP HIS NAME, TALKS A MOTION, WHO'S THE SECRETARY OF CALIFORNIA STATE TRANSPORTATION AGENCY, AND TONY TAVARES, WHO'S THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR CALTRANS.

HE WAS EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE PERSON TO SEE, I GUARANTEE.

AND THEN, AS MENTIONED, I DID THE I WENT TO THE PLANADA RIBBON CUTTINGS, CELEBRATION, CELEBRATION.

WE WERE DOING THE GRAND REOPENING OF THE PLANADA COMMUNITY CENTER, AS WAS MENTIONED, AND IT WAS REALLY NICE TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE CAME OUT TO SUPPORT THE PLANADA COMMUNITY. THOSE PEOPLE OF PLANADA ARE VERY STRONG AND THEY PERSEVERE.

SO IT WAS IT WAS REALLY COOL TO SEE THEM AND THEY WERE SO HAPPY.

I MEAN, THEY WERE REALLY HAPPY TO GET I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WERE HAPPY TO JUST HAVE IT BEING OPENED OR BECAUSE IT WAS SO HOT AND THEY WERE GOING INSIDE THE AIR CONDITIONING BUILDING. BUT BUT NO, I THINK IT WAS REALLY THEY WERE REALLY EXCITED TO JUST GET BACK AND AND HAVE THEIR SENSE OF SOME SENSE OF NORMALCY BACK.

AND THEN TO I'D LIKE TO OFFER MY CONDOLENCES AND ADJOURN FOR NICK GOMEZ.

I I'VE KNOWN NICK AND HIS FAMILY FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.

HIS SISTER AND MY SISTER GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL TOGETHER.

I USED TO GO WATCH NICK PLAY FOOTBALL.

HIS DAD, STEVE.

DR.. GOMEZ WAS A LEADERSHIP TEACHER OF MINE.

AND SO I'VE KNOWN THE FAMILY FOR A LONG TIME.

AND IT WAS JUST REALLY TRAGIC NEWS TO HEAR THAT MORNING.

AND SO I KNOW THE FAMILY IS STAYING STRONG AS MUCH AS THEY CAN, BUT JUST LIKE TO DO THAT FOR IN HONOR OF NICK.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO COUNCIL.

HANSEN CEO MENDEZ.

YES, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

I JUST WANTED TO JUST ONE ITEM TODAY, A PLUG YOU MAY HAVE RECALLED A FEW MONTHS AGO.

[01:05:02]

ONYANGO, PROVIDED A PRESENTATION, KIND OF A PREVIEW OF THE COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT.

WE ARE WORKING WITH THEIR OFFICE TO GET THAT FINAL PRODUCT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, JUST MAKING FOLKS AWARE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE AVAILABLE FOR FOR FOR REVIEW. SO JUST WANTED TO KIND OF GIVE YOU SOME ADVANCE NOTICE.

SO THIS IS A MERCED COUNTY 2023 COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT, WHICH PROVIDES JUST KIND OF A SNAPSHOT OF CONDITIONS HERE, PUBLIC HEALTH CONDITIONS HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.

YOU SHOULD BE RECEIVING SOME INFORMATION BY EMAIL.

AND THEN WE WILL BE OBVIOUSLY WORKING WITH OUR PIO TEAM TO GET THE WORD OUT.

SO JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

UM, YEAH, I DID.

TO ATTEND THE PLANADA COMMUNITY CENTER GRAND REOPENING AND YOU COULD JUST TELL I THINK THE SUPERVISOR PEDROZO HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD THERE.

VERY WELL ATTENDED BY THE COMMUNITY AND AND THE FOLKS THAT.

WE ACTUALLY WE ASKED TO COME UP AND BE PART OF THE PICTURE WHEN WE DID THE RIBBON CUTTING.

THOSE ARE FOLKS THAT YOU COULD SEE THAT UTILIZE THAT COMMUNITY CENTER QUITE OFTEN.

SO I'M THANKFUL THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT BACK OPEN SO THOSE FOLKS HAVE A PLACE.

AND THEN I HOPE THAT IT'S NOT LOST ON STAFF'S EARS.

THE IDEA OF BEING ABLE TO THAT FOR THAT TO STAY OPEN TILL 2 P.M., I THINK THAT'S PRETTY IMPORTANT TO THOSE FOLKS OUT THERE.

I ALSO, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO ATTENDED THE CSAC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING IN SACRAMENTO.

AGAIN, A LOT OF MOVING PARTS.

YOU KNOW, WE PASS THE BUDGET AT THE STATE LEVEL, BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE BACK IN SESSION AFTER THEIR SUMMER RECESS.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON AND THERE'S STILL A LOT MORE TO COME OUT OF SACRAMENTO AND THAT BUDGET AND HOW IT AFFECTS US HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.

ALSO, I ATTENDED THE AG LEADERSHIP DINNER.

I WAS INVITED AND CEO MENDEZ ATTENDED WITH ME IN LOS BANOS.

AG LEADERSHIP IS IS A PROGRAM OF THE FIND A VERY DIVERSE GROUP OF FOLKS THAT IN SOME WAY THEIR FIELD OF WORK TOUCHES AGRICULTURE. AND IT COULD BE ALL THE WAY FROM THE BANKING SIDE OF IT, THE ENVIRONMENTAL SIDE OF IT, ACTUALLY SOMEBODY WHO OWNS A FARM AND THEY BRING THESE FOLKS TOGETHER AND IT'S A TWO YEAR PROGRAM AND THEY DO A WATER TOUR FOR BASICALLY THE CENTRAL VALLEY PROJECT, THE EXCHANGE CONTRACTORS.

AND SO THEY IT CULMINATES WITH A DINNER WHERE THE GUEST SPEAKER THAT NIGHT WAS DEEDEE D'ADAMO FROM THE STATE WATER BOARD, ALONG WITH SCOTT. I CAN'T THINK OF SCOTT'S LAST NAME OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT ANYWAYS, HE'S WITH SAN LUIS DELTA, MENDOTA WATER AUTHORITY.

PETERSON PETERSON THANK YOU ESCAPED ME.

I WANTED TO SAY PHILLIPS. I DON'T KNOW WHY ANYHOW, BUT THAT NIGHT WAS SOMETHING THAT INTERESTING HAPPENED THERE.

AND IT DOESN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

TYPICALLY, WHEN CONSTITUENTS CALL, IT'S USUALLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE AN ISSUE AND IT HAPPENS ONCE A WHILE, BUT NOT VERY OFTEN.

BUT THIS IS WE HAPPEN TO BE SITTING AT THE DINNER TABLE.

AND ONE OF MY CONSTITUENTS WHO'S HAD A REALLY GREAT EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH STEVE MAXEY AND THE BUILDING PLANNING FIRE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AS THEIR COMPANY IS GOING THROUGH AN EXPANSION, HE TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO TO TELL CEO MENDEZ LIKE HOW GREAT IT WAS WORKING WITH THE COUNTY.

AND I KNOW THAT WAS UNDER MARK HENDRICKSON'S LEADERSHIP BEFORE, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS ONE CONSTITUENT A CONVERSATION THAT HIM AND I HAD MAYBE 3 TO 4 YEARS AGO WAS IS LOOKING TO EXPAND MY COMPANY, BUT I'M LOOKING TO GO MOVE IT TO STANISLAUS COUNTY BECAUSE AT THAT TIME, THE REPUTATION IS THAT IT WAS SO DIFFICULT TO DO BUSINESS IN MERCED COUNTY.

AND HE WENT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS COMPANY, I'M GOING TO CALL THEM, THEY'RE A PRETTY LEGITIMATE COMPANY.

THEY USE THEY USE HIGH QUALITY CONTRACTORS TO DO THEIR WORK.

IT'S SPECIALIZED WORK.

THEIR CONTRACTORS WERE EXPRESSING THEIR GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION OF HOW WELL THINGS ARE WORKING IN MERCED COUNTY.

AND I AND I THINK IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THIS BOARD AND TO THE STAFF, OBVIOUSLY IS KIND OF YOU KNOW, WE STARTED WITH THE ONE STOP SHOP AND THEN WE MADE SOME TWEAKS TO THAT TO BRING THAT ALL UNDER ONE UMBRELLA.

AND I THINK THAT THAT DIRECTOR MAXEY IS CARRYING ON THE GOOD WORK THAT DIRECTOR HENDRICKSON WELL, PREVIOUSLY DIRECTOR HENDRICKSON ASSISTANT CEO, HENDRICKSON NOW STARTED AND WE'RE REALLY STARTING TO SEE THE FRUITS OF THAT LABOR.

AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS, IS I CAN TELL YOU WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED, THE CALLS THAT I WOULD GET THAT CAME OUT OF THOSE ISSUES, WHETHER IT WAS PLANNING, BUILDING FIRE, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH WERE A LOT MORE.

THOSE CALLS DON'T COME AS OFTEN ANYMORE.

AND SO I THINK THAT'S A TESTAMENT OF THE GOOD WORK THAT WE'RE DOING.

AND THEN THE LAST OR SECOND TO LAST THING THAT I WANTED TO IS SO AS WE'RE WORKING THROUGH OUR DEL HILL HALL REMODEL WITH THE NEW LIBRARY IN IN DOS PALOS, I HOPE THAT SENDS A MESSAGE TO SOME OF THE FOLKS FROM FROM THE LIBRARY, FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY, THAT THIS BOARD IS COMMITTED TO LIBRARIES.

WE BROKE GROUND ON A BRAND NEW LIBRARY, MERCEDES, MERCEDES COUNTY'S NEWEST LIBRARY.

[01:10:03]

AND THEN I JUST WANT TO THANK JUAN BRAVO.

HE'S THE PROJECT MANAGER ON ON DEL HILL HALL AND THE LIBRARY PROJECT OVER THERE.

AND AS PART OF WHETHER I'M ALLOWED TO OR NOT ALLOWED TO, I'VE KIND OF INSERTED MYSELF IS I'M GOING TO BE VERY INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROJECT.

AND JUAN HAS BEEN GIVING ME WONDERFUL UPDATES, WHICH I APPRECIATE SO MUCH BECAUSE AS YOU HAVE OUR DOS PALOS LIONS CLUB, WHO THAT'S THEIR HOME TERRITORY RIGHT THERE, THE DEL HILL HALL IS THEIR BUILDING AND THEY ARE DISPLACED FROM THAT BUILDING FOR THE NEXT HOPEFULLY NOT 18 MONTHS, BUT THAT'S WHAT THE CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE SAYS.

SO I HEAR FROM THOSE FOLKS.

AND SO AS THINGS ARE HAPPENING OUT THERE, I'M ABLE TO COMMUNICATE IN PRETTY MUCH REAL TIME WITH THEM WHERE OUR PROGRESS IS.

SO, JUAN, IF YOU'RE LISTENING, I APPRECIATE THOSE UPDATES.

I THINK THAT IT GOES A LONG WAY FOR FOR ME AS THE ELECTED OFFICIAL TO.

BE ABLE TO TELL THE STORY ON SOME OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING OUT THERE FOR OUR MERCED COUNTY RESIDENTS.

AND THE LAST THING IS I WILL JOIN MY COLLEAGUES IN ADJOURNING THIS MEETING IN MEMORY OF NICK GOMEZ.

MY STORY WITH NICK GOES BACK TO WHEN HIS DAD WAS THE AG TEACHER AT MERCED HIGH SCHOOL, AND I SHOWED DAIRY AND HE SHOWED BEEF AND EMMER SAID, FAIRGROUNDS, YOU HAD THE TWO WASH RACKS. IT WAS ONE WASH RACK, BUT TWO SIDES.

AND IT WAS IN THE SUMMERTIME.

AND THERE WAS A LOT OF WATER FIGHTS THAT WENT BACK AND FORTH OVER THAT WALL.

AND THAT'S WHERE I FIRST MET NICK.

GOOD PERSON, ALWAYS WAS MY GO TO IN CONGRESSMAN COSTA'S OFFICE.

WHEN WE HAD CONSTITUENT ISSUES, I COULD CALL HIM IN THE OFFICE OR AT HOME AND WAS ALWAYS VERY RECEPTIVE AND VERY HELPFUL TO OUR CONSTITUENTS.

AND SO IT WAS I WAS TAKEN BACK BY THAT WHEN I GOT THE NEWS OF THAT.

AND MY HEART GOES OUT AND MY THOUGHTS AND MY PRAYERS TO THE GOMEZ FAMILY AS THEY YOU KNOW, IT'S SAYING A PARENT SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO BURY THEIR CHILD.

AND IN THIS CASE, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

AND IT'S JUST SUPER UNFORTUNATE AND I FEEL FOR HIM.

SO WITH THAT, WE WILL ADJOURN THIS MEETING.

THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. BEFORE YOU ADJOURN, YOU KNOW, I KIND OF OUT OF RESPECT FOR SUPERVISOR PEDROZO, I DIDN'T I DIDN'T SAY MUCH BECAUSE I, YOU KNOW, HE WAS GOING TO CLOSE IN HIS MEMORY.

BUT YEAH, I TOO, WHEN I WAS A SOPHOMORE GOING INTO MY SOPHOMORE YEAR, MR. GOMEZ CAME OUT TO MY DAIRY AND SAID, HEY, YOU NEED TO QUIT SHOWING FOUR H, YOU NEED TO COME JOIN FFA.

AND YOU KNOW, HE GOES AND YOU'LL HAVE A LOT MORE FUN.

AND, AND HE WAS RIGHT, YOU KNOW.

AND SO I'VE KNOWN THE GOMEZ FAMILY BASICALLY SINCE THEN AND AND HAVE TRAVELED THE INTERNATIONALLY WITH THEM AND AND I TALKED TO TO STEVE THE OTHER DAY AND YOU KNOW THEY'RE THEY'RE HOLDING IT TOGETHER BUT JUST BARELY.

AND I KNOW MY MY I HAVE AN OLDER SISTER THAT PASSED AWAY WHEN SHE WAS 28.

AND I KNOW WHAT MY PARENTS WENT THROUGH.

AND AND SO I KNOW HOW TOUGH IT IS ON THEM.

AND AND SO, YOU KNOW, NICK, NICK WAS ALWAYS A HAPPY GUY AND, YOU KNOW, PLAYED FOOTBALL.

HE WAS A GREAT FOOTBALL PLAYER IN HIGH SCHOOL.

AND AND, YOU KNOW, AND THEN GOT HURT IN COLLEGE.

OTHERWISE, HECK, WE MIGHT EVEN HAVE SEEN HIM ON THE NFL ON SUNDAY.

BUT ANYWAYS, IT'S JUST A SAD, SAD EVENT THAT HE PASSED.

AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME A MOMENT TO SHARE THAT.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

MEETING IS ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.