[00:00:04]
YOUR CLOSED SESSIONS THIS AFTERNOON ARE.
MEET AND CONFER. AGENCY NEGOTIATOR MARCI BARRERA.
SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE TO LITIGATION, ONE CASE INITIATION OF LITIGATION ONE CASE AND THEN ON THE IHSS AGENDA, MEET AND CONFER AGENCY NEGOTIATOR MARCI BARRERA.
TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.
ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CLOSED SESSION ITEMS FOR BOTH AGENDAS.
[ Call to Order]
ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME BACK TO THE DECEMBER 5TH, 2023 MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.THIS EVENING, WE HAD A CLOSED SESSION MEETING AS BOTH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND ACTING AS THE IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES PUBLIC AUTHORITY GOVERNING BOARD STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION ON ALL CLOSED SESSION ITEMS. WE WILL NOW START WITH THE INVOCATION LED BY PASTOR RICHARD MILLER WITH VICTORY BAPTIST CHURCH OF ATWATER, AND THEN SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AS WE GO TO THE LORD IN PRAYER.
JUST WOULD LIKE TO READ ONE, ONE VERSE IN LUKE CHAPTER NUMBER TWO, VERSE NUMBER 14, THE ANGELS SAID TO THE SHEPHERDS, GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE, GOODWILL TOWARD MEN AND AS WE GO TO THE LORD IN PRAYER, I JUST WANT US TO REMEMBER WHO WE'RE INVOKING TONIGHT.
WE'RE INVOKING THE PRINCE OF PEACE IS WHAT ISAIAH 9:6 SAYS.
DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOODNESS TO US.
WE THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO COME TOGETHER THIS EVENING.
WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT ARE IN ATTENDANCE.
FATHER, WE DO PRAY FOR YOUR HAND TO BE UPON THIS MEETING.
WE PRAY FOR YOUR PEACE TO BE UPON THOSE THIS EVENING THAT MIGHT BE HURTING.
AMEN. THANK YOU, PASTOR MILLER AND SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK]
PUBLIC COMMENT.TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON AND 30 MINUTES TOTAL.
GOOD EVENING, SUPERVISORS AND STAFF.
I JUST WANTED TO COME TONIGHT FORMALLY REINTRODUCE MYSELF.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN THE COMMUNITY FOR SO LONG, BUT NOW I'M.
I'M WORKING WITH HLUB HMONG CENTER AS THEIR NEW PROJECT DIRECTOR ON STOP THE HATE PROJECTS IN MERCED COUNTY, BUT THE REAL REASON I'M HERE TODAY OR TONIGHT IS JUST TO FORMALLY INVITE ALL OF YOU TO THE HMONG NEW YEAR, WHICH WILL BE IN TWO WEEKS, DECEMBER 15 TO 17 AT THE FAIRGROUND, AND SECONDLY, TO GIVE YOU A STORY CLOTH POSTER THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE ALL THE SUPERVISORS AND THE STAFF PUT IN YOUR OFFICE, AND THAT MEANS TO SHOW SOLIDARITY AND TO SHOW MULTI-CULTURE.
WHEN I MEAN SOLIDARITY, THAT MEANS ALL STANDS AGAINST HATE, RIGHT? SO THE STORY IS ABOUT BUILDING BRIDGES, AND IT'S ABOUT THE HMONG STORY, HOW WE IMAGINE HOW MERCED COUNTY WOULD LOOK LIKE, AND THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL DESIGNS AND I'LL GIVE IT TO THE CLERK.
SO MAKE SURE EVERY DEPARTMENT AND SUPERVISOR PUT IT ON YOUR WALL.
IF I'M THERE IN YOUR OFFICE AND I DON'T SEE IT, I'M GOING TO HAVE A COW, OKAY? [CHUCKLING] SO AGAIN, THANK YOU AND FORMALLY INVITE YOU TO COME OUT AND CELEBRATE WITH US, AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU IN ADVANCE.
[00:05:05]
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, SIR.GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN SILVEIRA AND THE BOARD, [INAUDIBLE] SANTOS, HERE REPRESENTING THE OFFICE OF CONGRESSMAN JOHN DUARTE.
HOPE YOU ALL HAD A WONDERFUL TIME AT THE VARIOUS CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS AND PARADES THAT TOOK PLACE ACROSS MERCED COUNTY, AND IT WAS ALSO A PLEASURE TO JOIN SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND THE BOARD, MERCED COUNTY TEAM AND THE WINTON COMMUNITY FOR THE WINTON PARK GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY YESTERDAY.
CONGRESSMAN DUARTE RECENTLY JOINED A COALITION OF DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS IN CO-SPONSORING THE EXPANDING PUBLIC LANDS OUTDOOR RECREATION EXPERIENCES, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE EXPLORE ACT.
IT REMOVES THE RED TAPE FROM THE PERMITTING PROCESS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES THAT DEPEND ON RELIABLE ACCESS TO PUBLIC LANDS, AND IT ALSO SUPPORTS GATEWAY COMMUNITIES DEALING WITH HOUSING SHORTAGES AND INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MODERNIZATION.
OUTDOOR RECREATION HAS A $1.1 TRILLION ECONOMIC OUTPUT AND SUPPORTS 5 MILLION JOBS ANNUALLY.
THE EXPLORE ACT IS NOT JUST ABOUT FOSTERING ENJOYABLE OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES, IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITIES, SMALL BUSINESSES AND THE WELL-BEING OF ALL AMERICANS. CONGRESSMAN DUARTE ALSO RECENTLY JOINED THE CONGRESSIONAL BIPARTISAN RURAL HEALTH CAUCUS AFTER CO-SPONSORING THE RURAL HOSPITAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ACT EARLIER THIS YEAR.
IT IS A CAUCUS THAT PROMOTES AND ADVANCES POLICIES THAT INCREASE ACCESS TO QUALITY AND AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR RURAL AMERICANS, AND IT PRIORITIZES STEMMING HOSPITAL CLOSURES, ENSURING FAIR AND ADEQUATE REIMBURSEMENT RATES, STRENGTHENING THE HEALTH WORKFORCE, REDUCING HEALTH INEQUITIES, AND EXPANDING TELEHEALTH AND OTHER INNOVATIVE CARE DELIVERY MODELS. EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE CLOSURE OF MADERA COMMUNITY HOSPITAL SENT SHOCKWAVES THROUGHOUT OUR VALLEY AND THE ISSUES STILL FACING MADERA HOSPITAL TO THIS DAY SHED LIGHT ON THE LARGER PROBLEM OF HEALTH CARE DELIVERY IN RURAL COMMUNITIES.
FINANCIAL STRAINS, WORKFORCE SHORTAGES AND LIMITED ACCESS TO RESOURCES ARE JEOPARDIZING HEALTH AND SAFETY OF RESIDENTS, AND ACROSS THE NATION, OVER 180 RURAL HOSPITALS HAVE CLOSED THEIR DOORS SINCE 2005.
THIS IS A CATASTROPHIC TREND FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES.
OUR LIVES AND THOSE OF OUR NEIGHBORS DEPEND ON IT.
GOOD AFTERNOON OR GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE SIRS.
YOU GUYS KNOW VERY WELL THAT THE INCREASE THAT WE RECEIVED IS NOT ENOUGH TO COVER THOSE EXPENSES.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.
THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, FOR GIVING US A SMALL BREAK IN OUR INSURANCE PREMIUMS. WE DO APPRECIATE THAT, BUT THAT'S NOWHERE NEAR ENOUGH TO HELP US WITH WHAT WE NEED.
SO WE'RE NOT TRYING TO BE GREEDY.
WE ARE COMPLETELY OVER OVERWORKED.
UNDERSTAFFED IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT.
OUR ANXIETY IS THROUGH THE ROOF.
A LOT OF THE WORKERS ARE SEEKING EMPLOYMENT ELSEWHERE.
WE ARE DEALING WITH WALK INS, CASES AFTER CASES.
PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING THEIR BENEFITS THIS MONTH ON TIME.
I HAVE THEIR INFORMATION TO PROCESS WHAT I NEED TO DO.
I JUST DON'T HAVE THE TIME FOR IT AND IT IS BECAUSE WE ARE SEVERELY UNDERSTAFFED.
WE HOLD UP SIGNS LIKE THIS EVERY FRIDAY.
WE NEED ASSISTANCE. WE NEED HELP.
WE ARE OVERWORKED, UNDERSTAFFED, UNDERPAID.
UM, THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN THAT WAS COMING OUT OF A MEETING ONE TIME, AND HE SAW US WITH A SIGN, AND HE WAS APPROACHING US, AND I SHOWED HIM MY SIGN, AND AS SOON AS HE SAW COUNTY WORKERS MATTER, HE SHOOK HIS HEAD AND WALKED AWAY, AND I THINK THAT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE THE IDEA THAT COUNTY WORKERS MAKE SO MUCH MONEY AND THAT WE'RE, I GUESS, GREEDY OR LAZY OR SOMETHING.
YOU SHOULD SEE HOW HARD WE WORK.
SINCE COMING JANUARY, I DID MY BUDGET, MY OWN BUDGET, AND AND I'M VERY THRIFTY, BUT COMING JANUARY, I'M PROBABLY GOING TO BE ONE OF YOUR FIRST COUNTY EMPLOYEES THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE HOMELESS OR FIND SOMEPLACE ELSE TO LIVE, BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD MY OWN HOME, AND I HATE TO SAY THAT FOR MYSELF, BECAUSE I SHOULD BE SETTING AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THE COUNTY DOES FOR YOU.
[00:10:06]
BECAUSE I WENT THROUGH THE SYSTEM, I WAS A WELFARE RECIPIENT, AND I WORKED MY WAY TO WHERE I'M AT RIGHT NOW, AND FOR ME TO HAVE TO BE GOING BACKWARDS FINANCIALLY IS REALLY--I'M TRYING NOT TO CRY--IT'S REALLY A SETBACK, AND I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT'S STRUGGLING.SO WE IMPLORE YOU TO PLEASE HELP US.
HELP US WITH WHAT WE THAT INCREASE IN PAY THAT WE RECEIVED DOES NOT EVEN BEGIN TO COVER WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PAYING IN THE INSURANCE PREMIUMS. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO ASK YOU.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DO HEAR ABOUT IT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING OUT IN SUPPORT OF THAT.
SO PLEASE, CAN YOU GUYS SEE IT AS WELL, TOO? I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU JUST A FEW MORE SECONDS TO FINISH UP YOUR FINAL THOUGHT.
LET ME KNOW WHEN. OKAY. GO AHEAD.
I'M SURE YOU GUYS CAN SEE IT AS WELL TOO.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
I'M GOING TO LET ME I'M GOING TO ROTATE SIDES.
I'M GOING TO LET THIS GENTLEMAN COME UP HERE AND THEN I'LL COME BACK TO YOU.
HI. MY NAME'S RENE DIAZ WITH BFCI BEACHWOOD-FRANKLIN COMMUNITY COMMITTEE FOR IMPROVEMENT.
THE CURRENT PRESIDENT JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF HISTORY OF HOW IT ALL STARTED.
IN 2012 WE GOT THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER FIRST, AND WE WERE FINDING OUT WHAT WE NEEDED TO IMPROVE OUR PARK BECAUSE IT'S FOR IMPROVEMENT.
SO I WENT AROUND PERSONALLY BACK, BACK IN 2012 AND WAS GETTING KIDS WANTING TO SKATE BECAUSE THEY ALL HAD SKATEBOARDS. THEY DIDN'T HAVE STUFF, AND SO WE GOT THIS SKATE THING WITH SKATEMASTER TATE, WHICH IS THE BOARD RIGHT HERE.
HE WAS A PRO SKATER, WELL, AMBASSADOR OF SKATEBOARDING AND HE CAME FROM LA.
HE HAD A NICKELODEON CHANNEL SERIES THAT HE HAD FOR SKATE TV.
SO WHAT WE WANTED TO DO IS JUST WE'VE BEEN PUSHING THIS FOR OVER TEN YEARS SO WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS SKATEPARK AND WE SAY THAT DARREN MCDANIEL, HE JOINED US AND HAS HELPED US AND PUSHED FOR THE PARK, BUT WE WANTED TO KEEP THE PARK INCLUDED, THE SKATEPARK INCLUDED AS WELL.
SO THE KIDS WANT SOMETHING TO DO AND SKATEBOARDING IS PART OF IT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, SIR.
SUPERVISORS, RICK WENDLING, MERCED.
WHY ARE SALARY DISCUSSIONS OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, BOTH UNIONIZED AND NON-UNIONIZED, HELD IN CLOSED SESSIONS? I RARELY TALK TO YOU ON MATTERS ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE MOST OF THEM ARE MANDATORY OR OPERATIONAL, AND YOU HAVE HARDLY ANYTHING THAT INFLUENCE OVER THEM.
HOWEVER, I'VE COME UPON A BOOK BY FREDERICK BASTIAN TITLED THE LAW, WRITTEN CIRCA 1850. IN IT, AS OFTEN HAPPENS, BASTIAN PROPOSED THAT WHAT OUR FOUNDERS PROPOSED 50 YEARS EARLIER THAN THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS GRANTED TO ALL HUMAN BEINGS, IF NOT BY GOD, THEN BY REASONABLE MEN FOR SEVERAL THOUSAND YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, AND THOSE ARE LIFE, LIBERTY, AND PROPERTY.
YOUR DUTY AS ELECTED OFFICIALS IN OUR CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC IS TO PROTECT LIFE, LIBERTY, AND PROPERTY OF THE PEOPLE, OF ALL THE PEOPLE.
BY SPENDING THE TAXPAYERS PEOPLE'S MONEY BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, YOU ARE VOIDING YOUR OATH TO DEFEND, PROTECT AND OBEY THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
[00:15:10]
AND WEAPONIZED SOME GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AGAINST SOME CITIZENS FOR THE BENEFIT OF SOME OTHER CITIZENS.EVERYBODY NOT WATCHING MSNBC AND CNN KNOWS THIS TO BE TRUE.
AS BASTIAN WROTE, THE LAW IS NOW A WEAPON USED BY THE LAWLESS AGAINST THE TAXPAYING CITIZENS.
I WISH YOU ALL A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
OKAY, SO MY NAME IS MERCEDES RODRIGUEZ.
I'M FROM THE FRANKLIN BEACHWOOD COMMITTEE FOR IMPROVEMENT, AND THIS IS MARIA, AND THIS IS MARIA.
SO THE BEACHWOOD-FRANKLIN COMMITTEE FOR IMPROVEMENT HAS RECEIVED A GRANT FOR $30,000 FOR THE DESIGN OF THE SKATEPARK, AND NEEDS TO MEET WITH THE COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES TO DISCUSS LOCATION AND SIZE IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE SKATEPARK. SO WE ARE NOT ASKING THE COUNTY FOR MONEY, WE ARE ONLY ASKING FOR SPACE AND THIS SPACE IN OUR NEW PARK, AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE A PICTURE HERE.
SO WE ARE ASKING FOR 100 BY 200 SQUARE FOOT SPACE AT THE SOUTHEAST END OF THE PARK.
SO IT'S THIS LITTLE SQUARE DOWN HERE.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE.
WE HAVE FOUND THAT THIS SIZE OF PARK WOULD CREATE A SAFE SPACE FOR THE DIVERSE ABILITY LEVELS AND THE VARIETY OF WHEEL TYPES THAT WE HAVE FOUND NEEDED IN THE FRANKLIN BEACHWOOD COMMUNITY, AND IT WOULD ALSO ACCOMMODATE OUR GROWING POPULATION.
WE HAVE DONE PETITIONS, WE HAVE GOTTEN SIGNED PETITIONS, AND WE HAVE ALSO GOTTEN DONE A SURVEY SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT ABILITY LEVELS ARE WITHIN OUR AREA AND THE KINDS OF WHEEL TYPES THAT PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THERE.
OKAY, SO OF THE 50 SURVEYS THAT WE HAVE COMPLETED, WE HAD ONE PERSON SAY NO TO THE PARK.
SO WE HAVE FOUND THAT OVERALL WE HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT, AND IF YOU NEED, WE WILL CONTINUE TO ACCUMULATE MORE PETITIONS IF THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED, BUT ANYWAY, SO BUT OUR ASK IS JUST THAT WE NEED TO SIT DOWN AND TALK TO SOMEONE BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS MONEY, WE CAN DESIGN THE PARK WE HAVE, WE CAN HIRE THE DESIGNER AND GET THE PARK DESIGNED, BUT YOU CAN'T DESIGN ANYTHING UNTIL YOU KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE AND WHAT SIZE YOU'RE GOING TO WORK WITH, AND SO THAT'S OUR ASK, AND LIKE I SAID, WE WANT 100 BY 200FT² OF SPACE, WHICH IS THIS LITTLE PIECE HERE.
I'LL LEAVE IT FOR YOU GUYS TO LOOK AT, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M A STAFF ATTORNEY WITH CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, AS MERCEDES AND I HAVE COME BEFORE AND SPOKEN BEFORE THE BOARD ABOUT THIS SKATEPARK ADVOCACY THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER A DECADE NOW, AND IT'S WHERE EVERYTHING GOT REALLY STARTED.
THERE WAS THIS PUSH FOR A SKATEPARK AND A COMMUNITY CENTER, WHICH THE COUNTY HAS BEEN DOING FANTASTIC WORK ON ALL OF THESE COUNTS, GETTING THE PARK MONEY TOGETHER, WORKING WITH SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND GETTING THE COMMUNITY CENTER THE GRANT GOING, AND WE HAVE THE COUNTY HAS AN AGREEMENT WITH BFCI TO GET DEVELOP COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR THAT COMMUNITY CENTER.
YEAH. IT STARTED AT FOR THREE MINUTES OKAY.
GOTCHA. IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S COMING TO.
MINE SAYS TWO. OH THERE WE GO.
I'M SO SORRY. IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY.
SORRY, FOLKS. SO ANYWAY, WHEN IT COMES TO THE SKATEPARK; WE'VE JUST HAD A LITTLE BIT OF TROUBLE.
[00:20:05]
I THINK THERE WERE SOME MISCOMMUNICATIONS THAT OCCURRED DURING THE TIME OF THE PANDEMIC EARLY ON THE COUNTY WAS TRYING TO DO SOME OUTREACH, BUT IT WAS DURING A TIME WHEN I THINK WE ALL KNOW IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO GET OUT, AND I THINK THERE WAS SOMETHING WAS LOST IN THE TRANSLATION THERE DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME, BUT WHAT WE'VE WHAT WE'VE FOUND, AND I ACTUALLY HAVE HERE ALL OF THE PETITIONS THAT THESE COMMUNITY RESIDENTS HAVE ALL COLLECTED.WE HAVE 248 SIGNATURES FROM PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ALL ARE IN SUPPORT OF HAVING A SKATEPARK INCLUDED IN THIS NEW PARK PLAN, AND THERE'S STILL OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FOR THE SKATEPARK PEOPLE SHARE STORIES ABOUT THEY YOU KNOW, THEY SEE KIDS GOING TO SCHOOL ON SKATEBOARDS.
THERE'S A HUGE SKATING INFLUENCE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND A HUGE NEED, AND THE COMMUNITY WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THE RESOURCES THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDED. THERE'S JUST THIS ONE MAP THAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN SO FAR IN ALL OF OUR ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE COUNTY ABOUT IT, BUT WITH THAT INFORMATION WE HAVE WE'VE IDENTIFIED A LOCATION THAT WE THINK WOULD WORK FOR SKATEPARK IN THIS MAP, REALLY JUST TO HAVE SOME SPACE SET ASIDE FOR THAT SKATEPARK, BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE HAVE A $30,000 GRANT THAT CAN COVER THE SKATEPARK DESIGN AND PAY FOR DESIGN CONSULTANT TO DO SOME COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SKATEPARK LOOKS LIKE WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS.
WE'VE CONCLUDED THAT 100 BY 200FT² IS ABOUT THE RIGHT SIZE TO ACCOMMODATE ALL OF THE FEATURES THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS, DUE TO THE SIZE OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE DIVERSITY OF INTERESTS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO ABILITY LEVELS.
THE LARGER THE SKATEPARK, THE MORE SPREAD APART THE COMPONENTS CAN BE AND THE SAFER THAT WILL END UP BEING FOR THE KIDS, AND SO ULTIMATELY, YEAH, WE COME HERE, AND JUST TO REITERATE THE REQUEST THAT'S BEEN MADE, WE WOULD LOVE TO.
I'LL GIVE YOU A FEW MORE SECONDS TO JUST FINISH UP YOUR FINAL THOUGHTS, SIR.
THANKS. WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A SIT DOWN MEETING TO DISCUSS WHERE IN THIS PARK.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, AND I THINK IT'S 20,000FT².
IF 100FT² TO 200FT² IS NOT VERY BIG.
GOOD EVENING, BOSS MEN, AND LADIES THAT ARE OVER HERE.
I AM THE SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT AND I AM ALSO A PARENT.
I WATCH AND A TEACHER AND A SUBSTITUTE AND A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS THAT I DO FOR OUR COUNTY.
I HAVE LIVED HERE FOR SEVEN YEARS.
I GREW UP IN STANISLAUS COUNTY.
I LEFT STANISLAUS COUNTY HOPING TO HAVE A BETTER FUTURE FOR MY FAMILY, STARTED MERCED COLLEGE, BECAME A GRADUATE, STARTED BECOMING A TEACHER, AND I'M SITTING HERE WATCHING MY SON GROW UP IN ALL OF THIS AND STARTING TO WORRY ABOUT WHERE HIS PREDICAMENT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE, IF HE'S EITHER GOING TO BE A STUDENT WHO IS SCHOLARLY AND GOES FORWARD AND DOES SOMETHING AMAZING, OR IF HE'S GOING TO BECOME A PROBLEMATIC CHILD, LIKE A LOT OF STUDENTS ARE LOOKED ABOUT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, MY STUDENTS ARE NOT AND I MEAN MY STUDENTS BECAUSE I SEE ALL OF THESE STUDENTS DAILY.
THEY'RE NOT PROBLEMATIC STUDENTS.
THEY COME FROM DISTRESSED NEIGHBORHOODS.
THEY COME FROM AREAS WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT GIVING IT NURTURING CARE AND GUIDANCE.
I KNOW MR. MCDANIEL IS AN ATHLETIC MAN, AND HE HAS DEFINITELY SHOWN IN HIS BASKETBALL CAREER AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT HE WANTS ATHLETES.
SO BRINGING A SKATEPARK, AN OLYMPIC SPORT, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO NOT ONLY BRING OTHERS OUTSIDE, BUT ALSO TO BRING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CLOSER TOGETHER, BECOME, TO BECOME A COMMUNITY, TO BECOME ONE.
WE NEED THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR BOYS AND OUR GIRLS ARE OUT OF TROUBLE, AND WE'RE NOT CREATING OR PERSUADING EVERYBODY THAT OUR AREA IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT'S NOT.
IT REALLY ISN'T. I WALK AROUND THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, I'VE WALKED AROUND.
I HAVE ELDERS WHO WALK AROUND THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE HAVE CHILDREN WHO WALK FROM SCHOOL.
WE WANT THIS LOCATION, AND I REALLY PUSH ALL OF YOU GUYS TO REALLY LOOK INTO THE SITUATION, BECAUSE THAT 18.2 ACRE PARK IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO BUILD AN AWESOME, INCLUSIVE AREA FOR EVERYBODY, NOT JUST KIDS, ADULTS TOO, BECAUSE I LIKE TO SKATE, MY
[00:25:07]
HUSBAND LIKES TO SKATE.I MEET QUITE A FEW SKATERS THAT ARE OLDER THAN ME.
NOW PUT IT INTO CONSIDERATION PLEASE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
WE ALREADY HAVE SET PRICING FOR IT.
WE JUST NEED THE OKAY ON A PLACE TO START THE PROCESS.
MERCEDES STARTED THIS PROCESS AND RENÉ A LONG TIME AGO.
I'D LIKE TO SEE IT. I'D LIKE TO SEE THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROW.
MERCED'S GROWING IN MORE WAYS THAN I THINK ANY OF US HAVE SEEN IN A LONG TIME, AND I'D LIKE TO SEE MY NEIGHBORHOOD GROW ALONG WITH IT INSTEAD OF STAYING WHERE IT'S AT AND JUST KIND OF ROTATING.
I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE ALL HEARD ALL THE POINTS.
WE ARE ASKING FOR YOU TO LOOK INTO IT AND GIVE US A SET TIME AND A SET PLACE.
WE ALREADY HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR IT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT, SIR.
GOOD EVENING, COUNTY SUPERVISORS.
I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SHARE MY PASSION FOR SKATEBOARDING AND WHAT IT HAS DONE FOR ME.
I EVEN HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY POP WARNER FOOTBALL FOR THE MERCED STEELERS.
I SOON REALIZED THAT I DIDN'T FIT INTO ANY OF THOSE SPORTS OR ACTIVITIES.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE SCIENTIFIC NAME OR REASON IS, BUT I JUST KNEW I DIDN'T FIT IN.
MUCH LIKE THE BEACHWOOD-FRANKLIN AREA, THE AREA OF LOUGHBOROUGH AND MEADOWS IN MERCED IS WHERE I GREW UP AND WAS NOT CONDUCIVE TO A YOUNG PERSON WITH A STRUGGLING SINGLE MOTHER AND NO FATHER FIGURE IN THE HOME.
THE ALLURE OF NOT CONFORMING TO SOCIETY WAS PULLING ME IN.
LUCKILY FOR ME, AND MY FUTURE, I CHOSE THE UNACCEPTABLE ACTIVITY OF SKATEBOARDING.
WE AS SKATEBOARDERS SEE THE WORLD DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHERS.
WHEN WE HEAR THE CLICK CLACK OF A SKATEBOARD ON THE SIDEWALK.
WE DON'T LOOK TO SEE WHAT RACE OR RELIGION THEY ARE.
WE DON'T LOOK TO SEE WHAT GENDER THEY ARE, NOR DO WE SEE AN AGE.
WE SEE A FELLOW SKATEBOARDER AND JUST WANT TO KNOW IF THEY CAN DO A KICKFLIP.
IN CLOSING, LET THE SKATEPARK GIVE AN OPTION TO THOSE IN THIS GROWING COMMUNITY OF BEACHWOOD AND FRANKLIN THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE THE CORRECT FORK IN THE ROAD SO THEY CAN SELECT AN ACCEPTABLE ACTIVITY, BE IT FOOTBALL, BASEBALL, SOCCER, BASKETBALL, OR SKATEBOARDING.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT, SIR.
HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING TODAY? DOING WELL. THANK YOU.
WHAT I HAD TO SAY, MY COLLEAGUES ALL PUT IT OUT THERE, BUT I HAVE A FEW THINGS TO SAY.
I'VE DONE MY OWN SURVEY I'VE JUST BEEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW.
[CHUCKLING] SO I FEEL THAT SKATEPARK IS LONG OVERDUE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT, SIR.
I'VE ONLY GOT THREE MINUTES, SO FORGIVE ME.
I'M HERE TONIGHT ALSO AS A COUNTY EMPLOYEE, TO SPEAK ABOUT THE INCREASE TO INSURANCE PREMIUMS. I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS BEING VIEWED BY THE STAFF.
THIS ESSENTIALLY LOOKS LIKE A PAY CUT.
MY OWN INSURANCE PREMIUM IS GOING TO INCREASE BY 1,125%.
[00:30:01]
TAKE HOME PAY.THIS IS NOT A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION.
THIS ISN'T A BARGAINING TACTIC.
I BELIEVE YOURSELVES INCLUDED TO A DIFFERENT DEGREE, BUT IT'S GOING TO IMPACT ALL OF US.
YOU WANT MORE WORK FOR LESS PAY.
WHEN STAFF LEAVE, WE FILL IN THE GAPS.
YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO ASK US TO DO IT.
WE JUST DO IT BECAUSE WE'RE THAT COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE'RE RESIDENTS HERE, WE LIVE HERE, WE WORK HERE, WE RAISE OUR CHILDREN HERE, OUR FAMILIES ARE HERE.
WE STAY HERE WHEN WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO GO ELSEWHERE BECAUSE OUR COMMITMENT RUNS THAT DEEP.
THE CONSENSUS AMONG STAFF AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS HAPPENED, BUT I'VE HEARD THIS REPEATED MULTIPLE TIMES THAT THE BOARD THINKS THAT WE SHOULD JUST BE HAPPY TO BE COUNTY EMPLOYEES, REGARDLESS OF THE COMPENSATION, THAT SOMEHOW BRAGGING RIGHTS ARE GOING TO KEEP OUR BILLS PAID.
THOSE OF US WHO HAVEN'T LEFT YET ARE EXHAUSTED FROM TRYING TO COVER THE VACANCIES.
WE HAVE REACHED THE ENDS OF OUR ROPES.
THAT'S NOT THE WAY THAT THIS WORKS.
THE ONE REASON THAT PEOPLE BYPASS MERCED COUNTY IS THE COMPENSATION PACKAGE, AND I'M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THE TAKE HOME PAY THAT IS PART OF IT, BUT THE ENTIRE COMPENSATION PACKAGE. WE ARE NOT COMPETITIVE ANYMORE.
WE ARE NEVER GOING TO RECOVER FROM THIS.
IF WE DON'T TAKE ACTION NOW, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE TO GIVE OUR STAFF SOMETHING TO HOPE FOR, SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN, AND THEY DON'T HAVE IT.
I HAVE STAFF APPROACHING ME EVERY SINGLE DAY WHO ARE CONCERNED THAT IN THREE WEEKS TIME THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO QUIT BECAUSE THEY'RE PAYING ESSENTIALLY TO WORK FOR THE COUNTY NOW, AND PLEASE REMEMBER.
I'LL GIVE YOU A FEW MORE SECONDS TO FINISH UP YOUR FINAL THOUGHT.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE ALSO COUNTY RESIDENTS, AND WE ARE YOUR CONSTITUENTS TOO.
COME ELECTION DAY, PLEASE DON'T MAKE US REGRET THAT DECISION.
WE WANT IT TO CONTINUE, BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING YOUR RESPONSE SOON.
GOOD EVENING. BOARD. MY NAME IS ROBERTO TORRES.
I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE MERCED COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION.
THIS MEDICAL INCREASE IS GOING TO REALLY HURT MY DEPUTIES, MY CORONERS, MY DISPATCHERS.
WE LOST TWO DISPATCHERS WITHIN A WEEK BECAUSE OF THE COST OF THIS MEDICAL.
THE BOARD OFFERED THE DSA A OFFER WHICH IS NOT GOING TO HELP WITH RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT.
WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOCKING AT OUR DOOR BECAUSE THEY CAN GO TO STAN COUNTY, THEY CAN GO TO MADERA, THEY CAN GO TO AGENCIES WITHIN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, IN OUR BACKYARD, NO LONGER ACROSS THE BAY TO MAKE LIVABLE WAGES.
THE MEDICAL HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR OVER A DECADE.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAVE FAILED TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE, AND HERE WE ARE.
SO WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM.
SITTING BACK SAYING, WELL WE HAVE, LIKE SHE SAID, ENDLESS APPLICANTS.
WE DON'T, AND IT'S GOING TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE SOMEONE OR YOUR CONSTITUENTS, THE RESIDENTS OF MERCED COUNTY, ARE GOING TO BE CALLING 9-1-1, AND THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A DISPATCHER OR THE DEPUTY SHERIFF.
THE DEPUTY THAT'S GOING TO BE RESPONDING IS GOING TO HAVE A DELAYED TIME.
SO WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE NOW, NOT DOWN THE ROAD NOW.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT, SIR.
[00:35:09]
HELLO, MY NAME IS ANDREW.I'M THE UNIT 14 REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE DSA FOR DISPATCHERS AND CORONERS.
I'M HERE YET AGAIN TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE.
OUR COMMUNICATION CENTER IS HAVING.
CURRENTLY, EVERY DISPATCHER IS ON CALL EVERY OTHER WEEK, ONE WEEK ON, ONE WEEK OFF.
WE SHALL RESPOND WITHIN AN HOUR, WHICH MEANS LEAVING THIS COUNTY DURING OUR TIME OFF.
OUR DAYS OFF IS ESSENTIALLY IMPRACTICAL.
WHETHER PLANNING A VACATION, FAMILY PARTY, OR A SIMPLE DAY TRIP.
CURRENTLY, WE HAVE SEVEN AVAILABLE DISPATCHERS COVERING EIGHT SLOTS THAT NEED TO BE FILLED.
ON PAPER, WE HAVE 11 DISPATCHERS.
THREE OF THEM ARE BEGINNING A NINE MONTH TRAINING PROGRAM THAT'S GOING TO TAKE FOR THEM TO BE SOLO.
ONES ON FMLA IS NOT EVEN GUARANTEED TO RETURN.
IT'S MUCH MORE PROFITABLE TO GO TAKE A LOWER PAYING JOB THAT HAS MORE MONEY PUT BY THE FROM THE EMPLOYER INTO THE MEDICAL, SO PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO TAKE PAY CUTS TO COME OUT AHEAD AND TAKE HOME PAY.
AS YOU'RE AWARE, UNIT 14 REJECTED OUR MOU EXTENSION.
THE 10% CAP DOESN'T EVEN FIX THE ISSUE.
IT'S NOT GOING TO STOP ANYBODY WHO'S ALREADY PUT THEIR APP IN SOMEWHERE ELSE FROM COMING BACK.
A 10% INCREASE IS BETWEEN 42 TO $75 PER CHECK PRE-TAX.
THE MEDIAN INCREASE OF THIS HIKE IS $102 PER CHECK.
SO EVEN THE SOLUTION YOU COME OUT AS A LOSS AS A COUNTY WORKER IS DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS THOSE OF US AT THE LOWER RUNGS OF THE SALARY LADDER, AND THE SUREFIRE WAY TO STOP THIS BLEEDING, WHICH I DON'T THINK WILL BE DONE, IS TO RECREATE THE FORMER PAST AGREEMENT, WHERE THE COUNTY COVERED 100% OF EMPLOYEES AND 50% OF THE DEPENDENTS, DISPATCHERS AND DEPUTIES ARE LEAVING THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
I, LIKE MANY, ARE IN THE PROCESS OF FINDING OTHER EMPLOYMENT, NOT BECAUSE WE WANT TO, BUT BECAUSE THE COUNTY'S ACTIONS HAVE LED US TO GIVE UP THE FAITH THAT COMPENSATION WILL EVER BECOME A REALITY FAIRLY IN MERCED COUNTY AS AN EMPLOYEE.
THE SERVICE OUR COMMUNITY IS RECEIVING IS DECREASING IN QUALITY AND FRUSTRATIONS BUILDING.
NONE OF IT'S OUR DESIRE BECAUSE NOBODY WAS ACTIVELY LOOKING TO LEAD TO LEAVE.
WANT TO EXPLAIN THIS AS THE END.
MY NAME IS DETECTIVE BENAVIDES.
I WORK WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
I KNOW TORRES JUST SPOKE ABOUT 15 PEOPLE THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN BACKGROUNDS, AND ONE OF THE 15.
I'M EXPECTED TO PROBABLY BE GONE BY JANUARY 16TH.
I AM A MEMBER OF OUR INVESTIGATIONS TEAM.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE SWAT TEAM.
THE SWAT TEAM WILL ALSO LOSE ANOTHER MEMBER DUE TO THE FACT THAT I AM LEAVING.
I'M TAKING MY FAMILY OUT OF THIS COUNTY.
WE ARE ALL RELOCATING ELSEWHERE.
I JUST WANT YOU GUYS TO BE AWARE OF THAT.
I BELIEVE THE OPEN ENROLLMENT WAS RELEASED ON THE 21ST OF SEPTEMBER.
I PUT IN MY APPLICANT ON THE 22ND, SO IT WAS A HARD DECISION.
I GO [INAUDIBLE] EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME, FOR THE COUNTY INCLUDED, AND IT'S SAD TO SEE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING.
IT'S FRUSTRATING, BUT I JUST WANT YOU GUYS TO BE AWARE THAT I BELIEVE THE MEDICAL INCREASE IS
[00:40:02]
HUGE, AS FAR AS THE REASON WHY PEOPLE ARE LEAVING, AND I THINK THAT'S THE ONLY REASON WHY PEOPLE ARE LEAVING AT THIS POINT.I LOVE WORKING FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
I LOVE WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I STILL HAVE TO FEED MY FAMILY, AND IT'S HURTFUL TO SAY THAT LIVING ON THIS COUNTY WAGE, IT'S NOT POSSIBLE WITH THE RENT INCREASES, COST OF LIVING, GOING UP, STATE TAXES, YOU NAME IT.
ALL RIGHT. SO I JUST WANTED YOU GUYS TO BE AWARE OF THAT, AND I'M GLAD I SERVED THE FOUR YEARS THAT I DID, BUT MY TIME HERE IS DONE, SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
OKAY. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS. WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR CONSENT CALENDAR.
NEXT IS APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH EIGHT.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ITEM TWO REQUIRES A 4/5 VOTE.
YOU NEED TO SWITCH THE SCREENS.
[INAUDIBLE] ALL RIGHT, LET'S TRY THAT ONE MORE TIME.
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS NUMBER ONE THROUGH EIGHT.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
PLEASE NOTE THAT ITEM TWO REQUIRES A 4/5 VOTE.ALL RIGHT. THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH EIGHT.
NOT SEEING ANYONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS, AND HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
THERE WE GO. I THINK WE'RE READY NOW.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT, WE'LL MOVE TO OUR REGULAR CALENDAR.
[ BOARD ACTION]
FIRST UP, WE HAVE PUBLIC WORKS.PLEASE NOTE ITEM TEN REQUIRES A 4/5 VOTE.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS NINE AND TEN.
WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD.
CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP WE HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES.
ALL RIGHT. THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 11 THROUGH 13.
WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT ITEM 11 A LITTLE BIT I'VE MET WITH STAFF AND AND UNDERSTAND THE REASONS WHY WE NEED TO DEFER UNTIL JANUARY OF 2026.
ONE, AND FOR THE PUBLIC'S INFORMATION.
ONE, THERE IS NO SYSTEM THAT WORKS.
[00:45:09]
IF A YEAR FROM NOW, MAYBE EITHER DECEMBER OR JANUARY OF 24 OR 25, THAT WE GET AN UPDATE FROM OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DIRECTOR ON WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT WE'RE DOING, BECAUSE I YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO THINK THAT WE'RE JUST PUNTING THIS BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO DO IT RIGHT.WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE THAT AS PART OF THE MOTION? WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA.
OKAY. OKAY THEN I'LL SECOND IT.
I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. I KNOW AS WE GOT BRIEFED ON THIS ITEM I THINK IT'S WE'RE MOVING IT TO START DATE OF JANUARY 1ST, 2026, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'RE NOT TRYING TO GET IT ROLLED OUT AND UP AND RUNNING SOONER.
SO I THINK AN UPDATE IN A YEAR FROM NOW WOULD BE REALLY, REALLY GREAT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT SUGGESTION, SIR.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE THE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY ITEMS 14 AND 15.
ALL RIGHT. THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 14 AND 15.
WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY, 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
ALL RIGHT. THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
NO, NO. THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
HOLD ON. MY NAME IS JEAN OKUI.
YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED YESTERDAY TWO OPPOSITION LETTERS TO THIS.
IT WAS SENT TO ALL FIVE OF THE SUPERVISORS.
I'D JUST LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THINGS.
YOU AS SUPERVISORS, COVER THE ENTIRE COUNTY, AND I HAVE CONCERNS.
ENTIRE GROUNDWATER BASIN SHARES THE SAME WATER.
WITH THIS AMENDMENT, MERCED COUNTY WOULD BE ALLOWING GSAS WHERE I HAVE NO REPRESENTATION, TO ADOPT EXPORT POLICIES THAT AFFECT MY GROUNDWATER RIGHTS, SUPPLY AND LIVELIHOOD.
I'M JUST WANT YOU TO BE AWARE I'M OPPOSING THIS AND WE HAVE.
ORIGINAL COPIES ONE HAS ABOUT 40 SIGNATURES AND THE OTHER ONE'S FROM VALLEY LAND ALLIANCE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, MA'AM. THANK YOU.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CHASE HURLEY.
I'M THE GENERAL MANAGER FOR PACHECO WATER DISTRICT ON THE SOUTH END OF MERCED COUNTY, AND I REPRESENT AROUND 15 LANDOWNERS, A DIVERSITY OF CROPS, AND WHOSE LANDOWNERS HAVE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN THE LAST 12 TO 15 YEARS OF GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT IN A VARIETY OF ARENAS, ONE OF WHICH IS THE NEW STATE LAW SIGMA, THAT CAME INTO EFFECT 10 TO 12 YEARS AGO.
SO I AM THE ONE THAT HAS SORT OF BEEN SPEARHEADING AN EFFORT TO TRY TO TAKE YOUR GROUNDWATER ORDINANCE, WHICH WHEN YOU PUT IT INTO EFFECT, I THINK YOU HAD A GOOD REASON TO DO IT, AND THERE'S SOME GOOD, STURDY BACKBONE OF THAT ORDINANCE.
WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO CHANGE THE ORDINANCE DRASTICALLY.
WE'RE ASKING TO LET THE POLICY MATURE, LET THE ORDINANCE MATURE AS LOCAL LANDOWNERS TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD IN A NEW WORLD OF LEGISLATIVE LEGISLATION OUT OF THE STATE, AND THAT IS ALL ABOUT LOCAL CONTROL, AND SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS TO KEEP ALL THE GROUNDWATER IN MERCED COUNTY.
I THINK THAT IS THE BACKBONE OF YOUR ORDINANCE.
WE'RE JUST ASKING THOSE LANDOWNERS THAT HAVE HOLDINGS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
MY VISION IS TO ALLOW THEM TO BE CREATIVE, TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITHIN THE RULES AND THE POLICIES OF THE LOCAL GSAS, AND BE ABLE TO MOVE A SMALL AMOUNT OF GROUNDWATER FROM THE MERCED SUB-BASIN ACROSS INTO AN ADJACENT SUB-BASIN.
IN MY CASE, IT WOULD BE INTO THE CENTRAL DELTA, THE CENTRAL DELTA MENDOTA GSA, WHICH IS IN THE DELTA MENDOTA SUB-BASIN UNDER THE PROPOSAL THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO AND HOW I'M TRYING TO HELP OUR FARMERS, THE MERCED SUB-BASIN WILL BE LEFT WHOLE OR ACTUALLY IN A BETTER STATE AFTER THE TRANSFER.
[00:50:08]
IT WOULD BE A SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER, AND OUR LANDOWNERS WOULD BE LOOKING TO BACK OFF THE AMOUNT OF GROUNDWATER THAT THEY'RE PUMPING IN THE MERCED SUB-BASIN AND TAKE A SMALL AMOUNT OF THAT INTO THE DELTA MENDOTA SUB-BASIN.SO THE VISION WAS TO WORK WITH STAFF AND TO WORK WITH EVERYBODY IN THE SUB-BASIN.
WE HAD A LOT OF MEETINGS WITH A LOT OF FOLKS, A LOT OF STAKEHOLDERS.
WE FLESH THIS OUT AND I THINK WE'VE COME TO A GOOD PLACE.
IS IT PERFECT? NO, BUT I THINK IT DOES ALLOW THE RATEPAYERS, THE TAXPAYERS, THE FARMERS IN THE AREA TO HELP CREATE DIFFERENT METHODS TO MOVE WATER AROUND WITHIN THE COUNTY.
IT STAYS WITHIN THE COUNTY AND STILL FALL WITHIN THE GUIDELINES AND POLICIES SET THROUGH THE GSAS AND UNDER THE GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY PLANS THAT EACH OF THEM HAVE TO WORK UNDER, AND I JUST FEEL AT THE END OF THE DAY, HAVING THE TECHNICAL FOLKS WITHIN THE GSAS APPROVE SUCH A TRANSFER IS ACTUALLY A BETTER SPOT FOR THE COUNTY, BECAUSE YOU'RE LETTING FOLKS WITH A TECHNICAL EXPERTISE MAKE THE DECISION.
MIGHT GIVE YOU A FEW MORE SECONDS TO FINISH UP YOUR FINAL THOUGHTS.
THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN AND BOARD MEMBERS.
JUST WANTED TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE LANDOWNERS AND OUR DISTRICTS WITHIN THE EXCHANGE CONTRACTORS.
JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND.
WE'RE 140,000 ACRES OR 80 MILES LONG.
WE'RE WITHIN FOUR COUNTIES MADERA, FRESNO, MERCED AND STANISLAUS COUNTY.
WE DO. WE HAVE ACTIVELY MANAGED GROUNDWATER WITHIN OUR SERVICE AREA AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS, NOT JUST WITHIN THE EXCHANGE CONTRACTORS AREA, BUT THE SO-CALLED WHITE AREAS BETWEEN US AND THE RIVER.
WE'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB, IN MY OPINION.
I'M A LITTLE BIASED IN THAT OPINION, BUT WE'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB FOR MANY YEARS.
SO I WOULD JUST SAY THAT AN ORDINANCE THAT RELIES ON US, THE LOCALS AND OUR EXPERTISE AND DETERMINING WHAT IS A VIABLE TRANSFER OR A VIABLE MOVEMENT OF GROUNDWATER THAT PROTECTS THE LOCALS, YOU CAN COUNT ON US TO GIVE OUR OPINION AND DO DO SOMETHING THAT IS PROTECTIVE OF LOCAL LANDOWNERS AND AND YET GIVES LANDOWNERS SOME ABILITY AND FLEXIBILITY TO HELP THEMSELVES, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT, SIR.
GOOD EVENING. BOARD. MY NAME IS HICHAM ELTAL.
I'M THE CHAIR FOR THE MERCED IRRIGATION URBAN GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THE CHANGES AS THEY ARE STATED.
I WOULD RATHER THAT IF THERE IS AN EXISTING SITUATION THAT I'VE HEARD ABOUT AND THEY'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, THAT WOULD BE HANDLED AS A SEPARATE SITUATION RATHER THAN CHANGING THE ENTIRE ORDINANCE.
THE CONCERN IS THESE WE HAVE WE HAVE A GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY PLAN THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE STATE ON THE MERCED GROUNDWATER BASIN, WHICH IS UPGRADIENT.
MOST OF THE WATER IS GOING TO GO DOWNHILL.
IT'S GOING TO GO TO AN AREA THAT IS MOSTLY DELTA-MENDOTA OR SOME SOME OTHER AREA THAT IS DOWNHILL AS FAR AS THE GROUNDWATER, AND THE GSP HASN'T BEEN APPROVED BY THE STATE. WE DON'T EVEN HAVE WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE AND SO ON AS FAR AS SUSTAINABILITY ON BOTH SIDES.
SO OUR POSITION IS THAT THERE SHOULD BE A WAY FOR THE GSAS ACROSS THE BASINS TO SET THE RULES ON WHAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE AS FAR AS SUSTAINABILITY GOES, MAKING SURE WE DON'T CREATE HARDSHIP BECAUSE, YEAH, YOU COULD HAVE YOU COULD HAVE A GSA ON ONE BASIN THAT IS WORKING WITH ANOTHER GSA AND OTHER BASIN, BUT IT MAY HURT OTHER LOCAL FOLKS IN THE AREA.
[00:55:06]
SAFEGUARD, MAKING SURE THAT WE AT THE AT THE GROUNDWATER EXPERTS WORK WITH EACH OTHER AND COME UP WITH SOME RULES THAT ARE ACCEPTABLE.WE I AM NOT AGAINST MOVING MAYBE ACROSS THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER SIDE IF WE FIGURE OUT WHERE THAT IS GOING, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WOULDN'T BE A DOMINO EFFECT WHERE SOME WATER IS MOVING FROM THE MERCED BASIN TO A DISTRICT THAT IS IN BOTH IN MERCED COUNTY AND MAYBE STANISLAUS.
NEXT THING WE KNOW, WATER IS MOVING DOWNHILL AND SO ON.
SO JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALL TRYING TO KIND OF LOOK AT SUSTAINABILITY, WHICH IS THE MOST THIS IS THE JOB OF THE GSAS AND THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT, SIR.
OH, GOT ONE MORE, AND I WON'T BE LONG.
I'M ROGER TANIOKA, AND I JUST WANTED TO STATE MY OPPOSITION TO THE AMENDMENTS.
AS LOCAL FARMERS, WE ARE CONCERNED AS A FAMILY OF LOCAL FARMERS, WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE WATER BEING MOVED OUT, AND AS THE PREVIOUS PERSON HAD SAID, I THINK IT'D BE BEST LEFT UP TO THE EXPERTS ON DECIDING.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT, SIR.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ITEM 16.
ON THIS ITEM, I READ THROUGH IT.
IT WAS A IT WAS A LITTLE CONFUSING FOR ME AS WELL.
I HAVE TO SAY. I GOT A LOT OF CALLS FROM FARMERS WITHIN MY CONSTITUENCY, AND THEIR BIGGEST CONCERN, I'LL JUST TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, IS THEY KNOW THIS IS THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE GOING TO MOVE EVENTUALLY.
WITHOUT THE GSPS BEING FINALIZED, THEY THINK THERE'S STILL A LITTLE AMBIGUITY OUT THERE.
WHAT THEIR BIGGEST CONCERN WAS, TOO, IS WE DID OUR FIRST READING LAST WEEK, AND NOW WE'RE VOTING ON IT THIS WEEK, AND THERE'S A LOT OF UNINFORMED GROWERS OUT THERE WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS STANDS FOR.
I KNOW I DON'T THINK IT WAS ON THE BACKS OF THE STAKEHOLDERS TO HAVE TO COMMUNICATE THAT, AND I'VE ALREADY GOT A MEETING SET UP WITH A LOT OF MY GROWERS SO WE CAN MEET, PRESENT AND HAVE AN OPEN DISCUSSION WHERE THEY CAN ASK QUESTIONS AND FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND PROPOSE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS AND SO WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO MOTION TO CONTINUE THIS AT A LATER DATE, SAY WITHIN A MAYBE BY THE END OF JANUARY. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
YOU KNOW FROM THE BACKSIDE, FROM THE GSA SIDE.
WE'RE REALLY NOT PREPARED HERE IN OUR BASINS TO PROTECT GROUNDWATER.
ONE IS THERE'S ONLY ONE GSP THAT'S BEEN APPROVED BY THE STATE, AND SECONDLY, I DON'T KNOW OF ANY GSA THAT HAS A POLICY THAT IS READY TO MANAGE THIS CHANGE, AND AND I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST THAT, THAT WE PUT A DATE WHERE THIS WOULD BE EFFECTIVE DOWN THE ROAD BUT IN CONSIDERATION OF MY COLLEAGUE'S SUGGESTION, I THINK THAT'S WISE, AND SO I'LL DEFER TO THAT AND I'LL SECOND HIS MOTION.
THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. WELL, I AGREE WITH EXTENDING IT FOR NOW, BUT I THINK I OPPOSED ANY MODIFICATION OF ALLOWING EXTRACTION. SINCE I THINK WE NEED WE WOULD PROBABLY BENEFIT FROM A GSA AGREEMENT WITH ALL AN AGREEMENT WITH ALL GSAS IN CONCURRENCE WITH SUSTAINABILITY AS A COUNTY AS A WHOLE.
BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT OF SMALL FARMERS AND, AND AND RESIDENTS THAT LIVE ON THE COUNTY, THEIR WELLS ARE RUNNING DRY.
SO EVERY GSA IS DIFFERENT AND IT'S A DIFFERENT PLACE, AND LIKE I SAID, ONLY ONE GSP HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE STATE, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WORK WITH ALL THE GSA'S FOR AN AGREEMENT THAT WE CAN ALL TALK TO EACH OTHER BEFORE WE TAKE A STANCE ON THIS ORDINANCE SO FOR NOW, I WILL AGREE TO EXTEND ON THAT. THANK YOU.
I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT, BUT I THINK IT SHOULD BE.
I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME MORE INFORMATION DELIVERED STRICTLY TO THE FARMERS AND THE GSAS.
[01:00:03]
I DO AGREE WITH THE TECHNICAL ASPECT OF IT AND LETTING THE GSAS HANDLE THIS STUFF, BUT I WOULD I WOULD BE OKAY WITH AT LEAST DELAYING IT, BUT NOT DELAYING IT FURTHER THAN JANUARY.I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT AND SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DO.
YEAH. SO I'M GOING TO MAKE MY COMMENT.
I'LL GET BACK TO YOU, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
IS THAT OKAY OR DO YOU WANT TO GO NOW? OH, I'M SORRY, I JUST TURNED MY MIC OFF.
OKAY. SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA YOU HAVE.
I GET THAT THERE'S BEEN THERE'S BEEN ONE GROUP THAT HAS PUSHED OUT A LOT OF INFORMATION IN THE LAST WEEK THAT'S GOT EVERYBODY ALL KIND OF SPUN UP, BUT I JUST, I WANT TO LIKE, REMIND EVERYBODY THAT FACT THAT I HAVE A LIST IN FRONT OF ME THAT HAS NO LESS THAN PROBABLY JUST ESTIMATING HERE 30 NAMES OF EVERY GSA, EVERY WATER AGENCY IN THE COUNTY THAT WAS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN ON THIS BANDWAGON SINCE I GOT ELECTED, THAT I THOUGHT THAT OUR WELL ORDINANCE AND OUR EXPORT ORDINANCE WERE BOTH ARCHAIC, THAT THEY WERE PUT INTO PLACE, AND I GUESS IT'S A DEMOCRACY, AND AT THAT TIME, THAT'S WHAT THOSE FOLKS AGREED THOUGHT WHAT THE RIGHT THING TO DO WAS, BUT THIS WAS HASTILY PUT INTO INTO EFFECT BECAUSE OF ONE BAD ACTOR, AND I GET IT, AND IT STOPPED THAT, BUT WE TOOK WE TOOK THE, THE CHANGE OF THE WELL ORDINANCE, AND WE GOT SOME OF THE SAME PUSHBACK FROM GSA SAYING THAT THEY'RE NOT READY, BUT BY ALL ESTIMATIONS, EVERYTHING THAT I'VE HEARD SINCE WE'VE AMENDED THAT ORDINANCE, EVERYBODY HAS BEEN ABLE TO MANAGE IT, AND IT'S BEEN WORKING JUST FINE.
IT TAKES ALL OF THESE GSAS ARE PUBLIC AGENCIES, AND IT SEEMS TO ME WHAT THEY WANT TO DO IS THEY WANT TO PUT THE PRESSURE ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE MAKING ANYWAYS.
IF YOU READ WHAT THIS SAYS, IT BASICALLY SAYS THAT IT TAKES IT OUT OF THAT.
YOU DON'T HAVE COUNTY FOLKS THAT ARE NOT WATER EXPERTS.
I AGREE WITH WHAT MOST EVERY ONE OF THE SPEAKERS SAID PUT IT IN THE HANDS OF THE WATER EXPERTS, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT THEY DO. THEY LISTEN.
I LIKE TO THINK I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WATER, BUT I'M SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT'S VERY LITTLE.
IT'S LIKE A THIMBLEFUL, RIGHT? VERSUS SOMEBODY LIKE CHRIS AND HICHAM AND CHASE, THESE FOLKS, THEY KNOW WATER.
THIS IS WHAT THEY LIVE AND BREATHE AND DO EVERY DAY, AND SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT FRUSTRATING THAT WE DID THE OUTREACH TO AND HAD STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS, AND YOU HEARD MR. HURLEY SAY IN HIS COMMENTS THAT NOT EVERYBODY WAS HAPPY, BUT IT TAKES US TO A POSITION TO WHERE WE'RE PUTTING TOOLS IN FARMER'S TOOL BAGS.
RIGHT. THIS IS THE EXAMPLE I USE.
I HAVE A PIECE OF I HAVE A PIECE OF GROUND IN TWO DIFFERENT BASINS.
LET'S JUST BE REAL. ONE OF MY PIECES OF GROUND IS NOT A VERY PRODUCTIVE PIECE OF GROUND, AND I HAVE ANOTHER PIECE OF GROUND OVER HERE, ANOTHER BASIN THAT'S ACTUALLY PRETTY PRODUCTIVE IN A CRITICAL YEAR WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT MOVING WATER AND WHEELING IT AROUND, THERE'S LOSS FACTORS THAT GO INTO THERE'S THE COST OF PUMPING IT.
THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT FOLKS ARE DOING ON THE CHEAP.
RIGHT? SO WHY WOULDN'T I WANT TO TAKE OFF MY MARGINAL GROUND, TAKE THAT WATER OFF OF THAT AND PUT IT ON ON BETTER PRODUCTION, ON BETTER PRODUCTIVE GROUND, RIGHT? WHEN WE TALK ABOUT JOBS AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT, THESE FOLKS DON'T HAVE THAT OPTION ANYMORE.
HOW MANY JOBS DO THEY LOSE ON THAT? SO IT JUST AND I LISTEN, I WAS BRIEFED JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE WAS ON THIS ITEM, AND I LIKE TO THINK I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WATER.
I FEEL LIKE THEY HAD, LACEY, HOW MANY ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS DID WE HAVE? THREE OF THEM, AND THIS WE'VE BEEN AT THIS ABOUT A YEAR.
HOW MUCH? TEN MONTHS. COULD YOU COME UP SO THAT FOLKS THAT ARE HERE AND WATCHING US CAN HEAR YOU? TEN MONTHS, THE FIRST STAKEHOLDER MEETING WAS IN FEBRUARY.
I GUESS THAT'S JUST LIKE MY OWN PET PEEVE IS, IS THAT WE WAIT UNTIL THE 11TH HOUR.
THIS IS THIS THIS THIS TRAIN HAS ALREADY LEFT THE STATION, AND NOW HERE WE ARE IN THE 11TH HOUR, AND QUITE HONESTLY, I'LL SAY IT, I THINK THAT THERE WAS SOME BAD INFORMATION THAT COULD PUT OUT TO FOLKS.
I DON'T THINK THAT IT GOT EVERYBODY ALL SPUN UP, AND THEN NOW WE WE START, WE GET LETTERS IN BETWEEN ONE MEETING AND THE NEXT MEETING, AND AGAIN, THAT WAS NOT A SURPRISE THAT THIS WAS COMING BACK TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
THAT WASN'T LIKE WE JUST MAGICALLY PICKED A DATE OUT OF NOWHERE AND PUT IT ON OUR AGENDA.
WE MAKE IT GO INTO EFFECT ON JUNE 1ST.
THAT GIVES FOLKS TIME TO FIGURE OUT STUFF, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, IF WE SEE SOME KIND OF EXPLOSION OR THERE'S SOMETHING REALLY BAD THAT SOMEBODY BRINGS UP, THEN MAYBE IT CAN COME BACK THEN, BUT I WANT TO SEE THIS MOVE FORWARD.
ALL I WANT TO DO IS LISTEN, AT OUR VERY LAST MEETING, WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY IN MERCED COUNTY? AGRICULTURE. RIGHT.
IF WE WERE OUR OWN STATE, IT WOULD BE NUMBER 3332.
[01:05:06]
IF MERCED COUNTY WAS ITS OWN STATE, WE'D BE 32, THE 32ND LARGEST AG ECONOMY.RIGHT? SO, I MEAN, I LIKE TO PUT MY MONEY WHERE MY MOUTH IS.
I DO HAVE SOME CHALLENGES WITH IT.
SO I MEAN, IF I CAN GET A SECOND ON THAT, IT'D BE GREAT BUT I JUST THINK THAT WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.
SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR I DON'T DISAGREE WITH A LOT OF WHAT YOU SAID.
THE ONLY CONCERN I HAVE IS THAT THE TRACKS AREN'T BUILT YET DOWN THE DOWN THE ROAD, AND I DON'T THINK A REQUEST FOR 30 DAYS TO COME BACK AND AND VOTE ON THIS IS AN UNREALISTIC REQUEST.
IF THAT HAPPENS, WE CAN STILL BE TO A MAY 1ST OR JUNE 1ST IMPLEMENTATION, AND I JUST THIS IS A BIG DEAL, AND JUST UNFORTUNATELY OUR MEETINGS ARE BACK TO BACK, AND SO WE'VE ONLY HAD A WEEK, AND SO I THINK I MEAN, I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE ROOM. I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF FOLKS OUTSIDE THE ROOM AND AND ALL OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
THERE'S PEOPLE THAT WANT TO SEE IT MOVE FORWARD.
I THINK 30 MORE DAYS OR I DON'T KNOW WHEN'S OUR NEXT MEETING IS JANUARY? I MEAN, JANUARY 9TH, IS THAT OUR JANUARY MEETING OR THE 23RD? OKAY. EITHER WAY, I MEAN, IT'S WELL BEFORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE NEEDING TO MOVE WATER, AND SO I MEAN, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND I I THINK WE'RE ON THE SAME TRACK.
RIGHT? WELL, WE MAY HAVE TO, I GUESS, BUT ANYWAYS, SO THAT'S MY THOUGHTS.
THANK YOU SIR. JOSH. YEAH, I THINK THAT I MEAN, BECAUSE OF THE MISINFORMATION THAT'S BEEN PUT OUT THERE, I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO HURT US TO WAIT UNTIL THAT JANUARY MEETING.
I THINK THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE PUT OUT A BUNCH OF BAD INFORMATION.
THIS ALLOWS US TIME TO CLEAR THAT UP AND THEN WE CAN STILL GO WITH IT.
I'M IN FAVOR OF IT, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO CLEAR THAT BAD INFORMATION UP.
I DON'T DISAGREE WITH ANYTHING YOU SAID.
IT'S JUST THE CONVERSATIONS I HAD WITH GROWERS LAST NIGHT UP UNTIL 11:30 P.M..
I JUST FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO DISCUSS THIS.
I THINK WE NEED TO BETTER INFORM EVERYBODY ON THIS AS WE MOVE FORWARD, AND I DID LIKE THE ANALOGY THAT THE TRACKS REALLY AREN'T BUILT YET, AND IF WE RUN THAT TRAIN, THERE'S NO REAL DIRECTION ON IT.
I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT, AND IF THAT'S WHERE THE BOARD WANTS TO GO, I'M FINE WITH THAT, BUT IT JUST IT'S IF THIS WAS A DIFFERENT GROUP ON A DIFFERENT ISSUE, WE WOULD BE FRUSTRATED THAT IN THE 11TH HOUR WE'RE GETTING STUFF THROWN AT US AND I GUESS THAT'S WHERE I HAVE THE CHALLENGE, AND IT'S REALLY TO ME, WHAT IT SEEMS LIKE IS, IS IT'S YOU'RE SAYING IT'S ONE IRRIGATION DISTRICT.
ONCE GROWERS TO GO THROUGH EVEN MORE OF A CHALLENGE WHEN IT'S I AGREE THAT LET THE GSPS LET THE GSAS THOSE ARE THE WATER EXPERTS.
THEY HAVE A SAY IN THIS, AND IF YOU READ WHAT'S WHAT THEY ARE INTENDING, THIS IS GOING TO GO.
IF THERE'S A DEAL TO BE MADE BETWEEN ONE GSA AND ANOTHER GSA, IT'S GOING TO GO OUT TO ALL THE GSA'S.
THEY ALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON IT.
IT GOES BACK TO IS WHERE THEY WANT THE COUNTY TO BE THE BAD GUY.
THIS WAS A STOPGAP MEASURE TO GET US TO SIGMA.
AT SOME POINT YOU GOTTA LEARN HOW TO FLY, MAN.
I'M SORRY, AND SO I CAN TELL THAT MY MY AMENDMENT IS GOING TO DIE FOR A LACK OF A SECOND.
SO IF THERE'S NO OTHER COMMENTS, WE WILL CALL FOR THE.
ACTUALLY, WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
THEN SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL SAID JANUARY 2023, JANUARY 23RD.
SO WE'LL COME BACK AND DO THIS DANCE AGAIN ON JANUARY THE 23RD.
ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED? I'M GOING. I VOTED YES ON IT.
NEXT WE HAVE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT.
COULD YOU GUYS WANT TO JUST PUNCH IT IN SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
WOULD YOU PUNCH IT IN? [INAUDIBLE].
IF IT MAKES IT EASIER, WE CAN.
WE CAN PUNCH IT IN ON THE MOVE TO THE NEXT ONE, AND I CAN PUT IT IN MANUALLY LATER IF YOU'D LIKE.
[01:10:03]
OKAY. PERFECT, PERFECT.ALL RIGHT. THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON WORKFORCE INVESTMENT.
NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD.
WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE FIRE ITEMS 18 AND 19.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ITEM 19 REQUIRES A 4/5 VOTE.
ALL RIGHT. THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON FIRE ITEMS 18 AND 19.
WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM 20.
NOT SEEING ANYONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
NEXT WE HAVE BOARD APPOINTMENTS.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON BOARD APPOINTMENTS.
ITEM 21. NOT SEEING ANYONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5 TO 0.
[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION]
ALL RIGHT, AND WE WILL START WITH.OH, LET ME SWITCH TO DISCUSSION MODE, SIR.
[INAUDIBLE] NOW. OKAY. THANK YOU.
WELL, I JUST WANT TO SAY I ATTENDED THE MERCED VETERANS PARADE.
I WAS AMAZED AT HOW MANY PEOPLE CAME OUT AND ENJOYED.
THE PARADE IS JUST A LOT OF PEOPLE AND I THINK THEY HAD A LOT OF FUN.
I THINK THE COMMUNITY IS VERY EXCITED FOR THAT PARK.
SO I THINK THE COMMUNITY HAS NEEDED IT FOR A LONG TIME.
SO IT WAS GREAT ATTENDING THAT.
ALSO, UM, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE EVERYBODY THAT WON ON THE COS GAME BALL WINNERS TODAY.
I THINK IT WAS MARK MIMS. KRISTIN, WHO WAS THE LAST OTHER TWO? JENNA ANDERSON. JENNA ANDERSON AND ADAM MONROE.
YEAH. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.
SO THANK YOU, AND THAT'S IT, AND MERRY CHRISTMAS I THINK WE GOT NEXT WEEK MEETING.
THANK YOU SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.
SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. THANK YOU.
I TOO ATTENDED THE WINTON PARK GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY YESTERDAY, AND IT WAS REALLY COOL THAT AS WE WERE THERE WITH THE SHOVELS AND THE MOVING THE SAND OR WHATEVER, THERE WAS ACTUAL WORK BEING DONE BEHIND US WITH THE TRACTORS AND EVERYTHING, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS REALLY COOL, SEEING THEM MOVE THE DIRT.
SO THAT WAS THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN.
SO CONGRATULATIONS ON GETTING THAT DONE.
I ATTENDED THE CHRISTMAS PARADE ON SATURDAY HERE IN MERCED, WHICH WAS A LOT OF FUN.
THERE'S A LOT OF HAPPY PEOPLE OUT THERE, A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE.
SO BUT I DID GET TO LEARN A LOT ABOUT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT AREAS IN MINNESOTA.
THANK YOU SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
I TOO ATTENDED THE WINTON PARK GROUNDBREAKING.
I HAVE TO SAY, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, YOU DEFINITELY KNOW WHAT YOUR COMMUNITY IS DOING THERE, AND I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH YOUR PRESENTATION AND HOW ALL THE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FOLKS WHO ATTENDED, THEY WERE YOU WERE LOCKSTEP WITH WHAT THEY WANTED AND THAT WAS VERY GOOD.
[01:15:06]
I ALSO ATTENDED A VERY UNIQUE EVENT.IT WAS AT THE ATWATER VETERANS HALL.
EVERYBODY WROTE DOWN SOMEBODY WHO HAS PASSED WHO THEY ARE STILL WANTING TO REMEMBER, AND WE HUNG THOSE ORNAMENTS ON THE TREE, AND IT WAS NICE TO OPEN UP DISCUSSIONS OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO WE'VE LOST AND BEING ABLE TO TELL THEIR STORIES AGAIN, AND IT WAS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
I'VE NEVER KNOWN ABOUT THIS EVENT, BUT I RECOMMEND ANYBODY DOING THIS.
THIS WAS VERY, VERY GOOD, AND PASTOR MILLER, YOU DID A GREAT JOB THERE TOO.
WITH THAT, I DID ATTEND THE ATWATER CHRISTMAS PARADE AS WELL.
I PROMISE TO PASTOR MILLER AND TO LLOYD PAREIRA.
I TRIED TO GET OVER TO SEE YOU GUYS AT THE BLOSS HOUSE, BUT ONCE I GOT OFF THE FIRE TRUCK AT THE FIRE STATION, THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GETTING ANYWHERE CLOSE TO THAT BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE IN DOWNTOWN ATWATER.
IT WAS TRULY AND IT IS EVERY YEAR, JUST A FUN, FUN PARADE AND FESTIVAL, AND LIKE I SAID, PASTOR MILLER AND VICTORY BAPTIST CHURCH PUTS ON THEIR PRESENTATION THERE AT THE BLOSS HOUSE THAT IT'S AMAZING.
THEY HAD A LIVE NATIVITY SCENE WITH A WITH A REAL MOM AND DAD WITH A BABY THERE THAT WAS TRULY UNIQUE, AND I WISH I COULD HAVE SPENT A LITTLE MORE TIME THERE, BUT WITH THAT, LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MEETING AT THE HISTORIC COURTHOUSE ACROSS THE STREET, AND THANK YOU, CHAIR. THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS.
THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
WELL, I DIDN'T ATTEND THE ATWATER PARADE, BUT I PARTICIPATED IN IT.
I GOT TO SEE IT, I GUESS IS THE WAY TO PUT IT.
SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL ALWAYS INVITES ME TO RIDE WITH THEM, AND THAT I WAS WITH PASTOR MILLER AT THE BLOSS HOUSE WITH A FEW ANIMALS, AND AND I'LL TELL YOU, IT WAS IT WAS REALLY BUSY. I GOT TO SEE PROBABLY HALF OR MAYBE A THIRD OR PROBABLY HALF OF THE FLOATS AS THEY CAME DOWN KIND OF [INAUDIBLE].
THEY WERE A BLOCK OVER, BUT IT WAS JUST AMAZING, AND SOME THAT REALLY IMPRESSED ME.
WELL, DO I HAVE TIME FOR A QUICK STORY? SURE. ALL THE TIME YOU NEED, SIR.
[CHUCKLING] AT LEAST I'M NOT STANDING BETWEEN YOU AND LUNCH TODAY.
ANYWAYS, SO WE WERE DOING AN ATP PROJECT IN DELHI AND WE'RE PUTTING IN SOME NEW SIDEWALKS AND CURB AND GUTTER, AND SOMEBODY HAD WALKED TWO HORSES, RIGHT? WELL, TWO PEOPLE WALKED TWO HORSES DOWN THE SIDEWALK AND LEFT A ROAD, APPLES ON THE SIDEWALK, AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN FINISHED THE PROJECT YET, AND IT'S BRAND NEW CONCRETE, AND IT WAS JUST DISHEARTENING THAT HERE WE ARE DOING SOMETHING TO HELP A COMMUNITY, AND THEN THAT'S THE WAY THAT PROJECT GOT TREATED, AND SO ANYWAYS, AND SO I PUT ON FACEBOOK THIS IS REAL.
I TOOK A PICTURE AND, AND PUT IT ON FACEBOOK, AND WITHIN PROBABLY AN HOUR SOMEBODY SENT ME A PICTURE SAYING, HEY, WE PICKED IT UP, AND WHICH IT JUST MEANT TO PEOPLE IN THAT COMMUNITY WEREN'T REALLY FEELING IT, BUT THE REST WERE AND SO GOOD ON THEM.
SO ANYWAY, SO THERE'S ABOUT THERE MUST HAVE BEEN 40 OR 50 HORSES IN THE ATWATER PARADE, AND SO AFTER THE PARADE IS OVER, THEY'RE DOWN NEAR FIRST WHERE I AM, AND THEY GO BY AND THEY GO BY, AND SOME WENT THAT WAY, AND THEN SOME CAME BACK AND, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEAR THIS FAMILIAR SOUND OF A SHOVEL SCRAPING ASPHALT PICKING UP POOP, AND THOSE OF YOU WHO SHOWED AT THE FAIR OR HAD A DAIRY, YOU KNOW WHAT THAT SOUND IS, AND AND I LOOKED OVER AND SO THEY'VE BEEN OUT OF THE PARADE FOR 15, 20 MINUTES, BUT YET THEIR CREW WAS STILL GOING BEHIND THEM, KEEPING THE CITY OF ATWATER CLEAN AND I JUST THOUGHT THAT WAS THAT WAS PRETTY COOL AND NOBODY WOULD HAVE KNOWN.
I SATURDAY NIGHT WAS IN THE HALLMARK CHRISTMAS PARADE, DROPPED OFF ANIMALS IN ATWATER AND TWO YOUNG LADIES, SAVANNAH AND BAILEY, WHO HAD COME LAST YEAR, AND THEN ON FRIDAY NIGHT TO HELP ME, WERE THERE AND TOOK CARE OF THE ANIMALS, AND SO MY WIFE AND I RAN TO HILMAR, AND WE'RE IN THAT PARADE, AND AND IT'S JUST AMAZING.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR COMING TO WINTON FOR THE FOR THE PARK.
GROUNDBREAKING, ALTHOUGH THE GROUND WAS BROKE, MADE IT EASY TO SHOVEL, AND YEAH, I STOPPED BY THERE SATURDAY JUST TO CHECK ON THE PROGRESS, AND ON A SATURDAY I WAS THERE ABOUT 11:00, AND THERE WAS A GRADER AND A PADDLE WHEEL SCRAPER AND A SKIP LOADER AND A FEW OTHER GUYS ALL WORKING.
I MEAN, THEY'VE GOT A JUNE 30TH DEADLINE AND THEY SEEM LIKE THEY'RE PRETTY INTENT ON MAKING IT.
[01:20:07]
DONE, AND THEN FOR ALLOWING US TO HIGHLIGHT IT TO THE COMMUNITY, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS CAUGHT THIS OR NOT, BUT I REMEMBER THE QUESTION I ASKED TO THE TO THE KIDS AND THE GIRL ANSWERED IT AS, AS 48 AND I TOOK IT RIGHT, BECAUSE IT WAS CLOSE ENOUGH, BUT THE NUMBER WAS 47.I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY DID THE MATH, BUT ANYWAYS, AND SO SHE'S A NICE YOUNG LADY, AND SO THEREFORE SHE GOT TO TOSS A SHOVEL OF DIRT AS WELL, AND THEN, AND THEN FINALLY I JUST, I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO PASTOR MILLER ONE, FOR DOING A WONDERFUL EVENT IN OUR COMMUNITY TWO, FOR COMING HERE, DOING AN INVOCATION AND THREE FOR STICKING AROUND, AND USUALLY THE PASTORS OR THE THE PEOPLE THAT DO INVOCATION HERE FOR A LITTLE BIT AND THEN THEY TAKE OFF.
SO GLAD YOU STUCK AROUND AND HOPEFULLY YOU LEARNED SOMETHING ABOUT CIVICS.
SO ANYWAYS, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU.
COUNSEL HANSEN ANYTHING? NO. CEO MENDEZ? NOTHING, THANK YOU, SIR.
THE WINTON PARK GROUNDBREAKING YOU KNOW GREAT JOB LLOYD GREAT PRESENTATION.
A LOT OF SCHOOL KIDS OUT THERE.
YOU COULD TELL THAT THERE'S DEFINITELY, THE JUNIOR GIANTS FOLKS.
THEY'RE VERY COMMITTED TO SEEING THAT PARK GETS DONE BY JUNE SO THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO PLAY ON IT NEXT YEAR, AND JUST I MEAN THE AMOUNT OF I CAN'T THE STORY SO WE'RE SITTING THERE AND THEY GOT THIS BIG OLD TRACTOR.
THEY GOT A WAS IT A BLADE UP THERE AND A WATER TRUCK, AND THEY GOT THIS MOUND OF DIRT AND I'M WATCHING THIS DANG GOPHER, AND HE'S JUST DIGGING AWAY AND JUST KICKING UP DIRT, AND I WAS LIKE, IT TOOK MY ATTENTION AWAY FROM WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, AND I WAS WATCHING HIM WHERE HE DUG IN.
ANYWAYS, THAT WAS THAT WAS AN INTERESTING STORY FOR ME, BUT IT'S A GREAT PROJECT FOR WINTON.
OTHERWISE I WAS GOING TO LITERALLY HAVE TO GOOGLE IT BECAUSE I'VE NEVER BEEN OUT THERE A PRETTY BIG PARK, AND I THINK THAT THERE'S IN LISTENING TO WHAT IS GOING TO BE DONE OUT THERE, IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY GREAT FOR THAT COMMUNITY.
I THINK THEY DESERVE IT, AND I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES THAT CAME OVER.
I KNOW SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA WAS OUT OF TOWN, BUT WE I DON'T THINK I MENTIONED IT LAST MEETING, BUT WE WENT TO A LITTLE SENATOR CABALLERO FOUND SOME MONEY IN THE STATE BUDGET TO HELP WITH THE PARK AND SANTA NELLA AGAIN, ANOTHER AS A COMMUNITY THAT DOES NOT HAVE A PARK AND SO THERE'S A STORY THAT'S COMING OUT IN THE LOCAL.
WE ACTUALLY WHEN WE CALLED THE COMPANY THAT OWNED THE GROUND, THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THEY OWNED IT, AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE THAT, AND THIS GIVES US THE NEXT STEP, AND I TOLD SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA THAT'S THE AREA THAT HE REPRESENTS.
NOW THAT SANTA NELLA WAS SOME OF MY FIRST CONSTITUENTS WHEN I FIRST RAN, AND I WILL STAND RIGHT ALONGSIDE HIM AND DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FOLKS IN SANTA NELLA GET A PARK, THE LOS BANOS CHRISTMAS PARADE, DOWNTOWN CHRISTMAS PARADE, JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
WE COME OVER THERE BY NEW DEAL AND THEN COME UP MAIN STREET AND THERE'S CROWD ALL THE WAY DOWN, BUT MAN, WHEN YOU TURN ON MAIN STREET AND THEY ARE SIX AND SEVEN PEOPLE DEEP, YOU GOT PEOPLE WITH THEIR CHAIRS THAT ARE SITTING ON THE CORNER.
IT'S JUST A REALLY COOL EXPERIENCE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT MY PREDECESSOR STARTED, AND I'VE CONTINUED WITH THAT.
THE COUNTY FIRE TRUCK WAS IN THE PARADE, AND SANTA LOST HIS RIDE AT SOME POINT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS THERE, AND SO THEY ASKED THE COUNTY FIRE TRUCK TO IF THEY WOULD CARRY MR. AND MRS. CLAUS, AND THEY WERE LIKE THE LAST ONES IN THE PARADE, AND THOSE GUYS, I MEAN, YOU SHOULD SEE THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL AS THEY PLACE THE LIGHTS ON THIS FIRE TRUCK.
THERE WAS A LIGHT THAT'S A LITTLE BIT SIDEWAYS.
THERE'S A COUPLE EXTRA PIECES OF TAPE TO MAKE SURE THAT THING WAS DIALED IN, AND THAT'S TYPICALLY WHAT YOU GET FROM YOUR FIREMEN, THAT ATTENTION TO DETAIL, BUT A GREAT REPRESENTATION FOR MERCED COUNTY FIRE TO BE CARRYING MR. AND MRS. CLAUS AT THE END OF THE PARADE, BUT JUST THEY DID A REALLY GREAT JOB WITH IT.
I THINK THEY ENDED UP WITH LIKE 70 ENTRANTS INTO THE PARADE.
SO QUITE YEAH, AND WHERE I PARKED AT THERE I WAS AT THE FRONT OF THE PARADE.
SO I GOT TO SIT THERE AND MINGLE AND WATCH.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR PIO TEAM, MIKE, CAESAR AND LIONEL AS WE HAVE THESE GROUNDBREAKING RIBBON CUTTING CHECK PRESENTATION. THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO THEM BEING OUT THERE AHEAD OF TIME, SETTING UP THE AUDIO, THE VISUAL, FLYING A DRONE AROUND.
BECAUSE AGAIN, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE'RE DOING A LOT BETTER JOB AT THAT I'VE ALWAYS SAID IS SOMETIMES AS A COUNTY, WE DON'T DO A REALLY GREAT JOB OF TELLING OUR STORY AS YOU SIT AND WATCH THESE MEETINGS, YOU GET SOME FOLKS THAT COME UP AND AREN'T ALWAYS HAPPY WITH DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE, AND WE GET THAT RIGHT.
[01:25:07]
WE'RE ABLE TO HELP SECURE THESE GRANTS AND MAKE LIFE CHANGING IMPROVEMENTS FOR ANY ONE OF OUR DISTRICTS, AND I'M PROUD OF THIS TEAM UP HERE IN THE FACT THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER WHOSE DISTRICT IT IS, IF WE CAN BE THERE, WE'RE GOING TO BE THERE TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO COME BY WHEN WE GET THESE PROJECTS DONE. SO TO MIKE, CAESAR AND LIONEL, THEY'RE KIND OF YOU DON'T REALLY SEE THEM, BUT THEY'RE OUT THERE TAKING THE PICTURES, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO TELL OUR STORY.SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL YOU HAD A FINAL COMMENT? YEAH. I JUST WANTED TO CLEAR UP SOMETHING I KNOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WHEN WE'RE POSTING ABOUT THESE PARKS, THEY'RE SAYING THAT WE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING A LITTLE BETTER WITH THAT MONEY, BUT THAT MONEY THAT'S GOING INTO THOSE PARKS IS DIRECT GRANT FUNDING FOR PARKS, AND THAT'S ALL THAT, AND IT'S SPECIFIC TO THE PARK AND TO THE PLAN THAT WE PRESENTED WITHIN THE GRANT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE CLEAR THAT UP, BECAUSE THAT MONEY ISN'T COMING OUT OF OUR BUDGET.
THAT IS COMING FROM THE FROM THE GRANT, THE GRANTEES.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
SO THAT CONCLUDES THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING FOR DECEMBER 5TH, 2023.
[POSSIBLE DIRECTION FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
AT THE COURTHOUSE MUSEUM.MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SAY THAT THEY WANT US TO HAVE NIGHT MEETINGS.
THEY ARE POSTED ON OUR AGENDAS.
WE TRY TO DO PRESS RELEASES TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO KNOW WE DON'T.
WE'RE NOT HIDING IT. THESE ARE PUBLIC MEETINGS WE ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO ATTEND.
SO JUST LET EVERYBODY KNOW OUR NEXT MEETING WON'T BE HERE IN THE BOARD CHAMBERS.
ALL RIGHT. MEETING ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.