Jan 09, 2024 Board Meeting

[00:00:01]

ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

[CALL TO ORDER]

THE DEFENDANTS AND OTHER PARTICULARS SHALL BE DISCLOSED ONCE THE ACTION IS FORMALLY COMMENCED.

IN ADDITION, STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION REGARDING ALL OTHER CLOSED SESSION ITEMS. WE'LL NOW START WITH THE INVOCATION LED BY MISS JENNIFER PACHECO FROM OUR LADY OF MIRACLES CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN GUSTINE, AND THEN SUPERVISOR PAREIRA WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

LORD, AS WE STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY, WE HUMBLY INVOKE YOUR PRESENCE AS OUR COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CONVENES IN SERVICE TO YOUR PEOPLE.

IN THIS NEW YEAR, WE WANT TO FIRST START BY THANKING YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO.

WE THANK YOU FOR WAKING US UP THIS MORNING TO DO THE WORK YOU HAVE LAID BEFORE US.

LORD BLESS THIS MEETING AND ALL THOSE PRESENT.

GRANT OUR LEADERS THE FORESIGHT TO NAVIGATE CHALLENGES, THE RESILIENCE TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES, AND THE HUMILITY TO SEEK YOUR GUIDANCE IN HELPING THEM MAKE DECISIONS TO PROMOTE THE WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY.

EXTEND OUR PRAYERS NOT ONLY TO THE BOARD, BUT ALSO TO THOSE WHO SERVE IN OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN, AND ALL DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS.

BLESS THEM WITH UNWAVERING STRENGTH, COURAGE, AND A DEEP SENSE OF DUTY.

WE PRAY FOR EDUCATORS, GRANTING THEM THE WISDOM TO NURTURE YOUNG MINDS AND INSPIRE A LOVE FOR LEARNING.

MAY THEIR EFFORTS CONTRIBUTE TO THE INTELLECTUAL AND MORAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEXT GENERATION.

WE ALSO LIFT UP IN PRAYER OUR RELIGIOUS LEADERS SEEKING YOUR GUIDANCE FOR THEM AS THEY PROVIDE SPIRITUAL SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

FATHER, BE WITH ALL THOSE WHO DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO ANY KIND OF PUBLIC SERVICE.

MAY THEIR EFFORTS CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE WELL-BEING AND PROSPERITY OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND MAY YOUR LIGHT SHINE UPON US ALL.

WE ASK ALL THESE THINGS THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD.

AMEN, AMEN.

ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

ALL RIGHT. MOVING RIGHT ALONG TO NON AGENDA ITEM.

PUBLIC COMMENT.

IT'S NOW TIME FOR PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST WITHIN THE BOARD'S JURISDICTION, EXCLUDING ITEMS ON THE BOARD'S AGENDA.

[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK]

ALL RIGHT. A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS, UH.

OPEN. AND AGAIN THIS IS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS. HOW ARE YOU, SIR? YEAH, YOUR MIC IS ON, AND AS SOON AS YOU'RE READY, I'LL START THE TIMER.

ALL RIGHT. WELL GOOD MORNING, CHAIR, SUPERVISORS, CEO COUNCIL.

I'M GLENN GORMAN.

I AM A REPRESENTATIVE OF MERCED SUNRISE ROTARY TODAY.

AND I WANTED TO FIRST OF ALL, READ A ANNOUNCEMENT LETTER FROM OUR CLUB PRESIDENT.

UH, REGINA. CHIEF, ON BEHALF OF THE MERCED SUNRISE ROTARY.

IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE THE WALL THAT HEALS A THREE QUARTER SCALE REPLICA OF THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL, ALONG WITH A MOBILE EDUCATION CENTER, IS COMING TO MERCED ON MARCH 26TH THROUGH MARCH 31ST, 2024, AND WILL BE OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY AND FREE TO THE PUBLIC.

THE WALL THAT HEALS HONORS MORE THAN 3 MILLION AMERICANS WHO SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES AND IN THE VIETNAM WAR, AND IT BEARS THE NAMES OF 58,281 MEN AND WOMEN WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN VIETNAM.

MORE SPECIFIC DETAILS WILL BE FORTHCOMING OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, BUT PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS SO YOU CAN EXPERIENCE THE HEALING POWER OF THIS TRAVELING MEMORIAL.

YOURS AND SERVICE.

REGINA TURF SUNRISE ROTARY PRESIDENT, 2023 2024.

AND ALSO LIEUTENANT COLONEL, AIR FORCE, RETIRED.

SO IN KEEPING WITH A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICE WORK THAT WE DO IN MERCED SUNRISE ROTARY, WE SPONSOR AND HOST IN COLLABORATION WITH MERCED COLLEGE, THE FIELD OF HONOR.

AND THIS IS ANOTHER COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT THAT WE WANT TO BRING TO THE COMMUNITY, WELCOME THE PUBLIC, WELCOME OUR VETERANS, AND WELCOME THEIR FAMILIES TO HAVE A CHANCE TO HEAL IF THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE NATIONAL MONUMENT IN DC, THEY'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT HERE IN MERCED.

UM, UNFORTUNATELY, I CAN'T, UM, SPECIFY THE EXACT SITE LOCATION BECAUSE THAT IS STILL BEING NEGOTIATED, BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY SAY WITH CONFIDENCE THAT THE WALL WILL

[00:05:02]

SO PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS.

UM, THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME.

IT'LL BE A FREE EVENT. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF MERCED, SUNRISE ROTARY AND OUR VETERANS IN THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

AND I'LL LEAVE A. SUPERVISORS RICK WENDLING, MERCED. LET ME TOUCH ON THE TRAVELING WALL.

UM, I'M A VIETNAM ERA VET.

I FIRST CAME ACROSS THAT IN RENO MANY YEARS AGO.

AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, AS A STUDENT OF HISTORY OF THAT AREA, I COULD NOT WALK THE WALL 200 OR 58,258 LOST SOULS ON A LOSING CAUSE.

THAT DIDN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN.

THE OTHER POINT THIS MORNING ON SOMETHING MORE, UH, APPEALING.

HOPEFULLY, AS I HAVE COME TO LIGHT THE FIRE UNDER SUPERVISORS, IF THE ROAD AREA DOWN NEAR GOLDEN VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL AND WHATEVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ARE DOWN IN THAT AREA, WE NEED SIDEWALKS.

AND, UM, I'M GOING TO HELP YOU LIVE UP TO YOUR RESPONSIBILITY, IF THAT IS YOURS IN ANY OF THE AREA DOWN THERE TO PUT SIDEWALKS IN, WE NEED THAT AND WE'LL BE TALKING MORE ABOUT IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT, SIR.

GOOD MORNING. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, CHRIS SAN SANTOS, HERE REPRESENTING THE OFFICE OF CONGRESSMAN JOHN DUARTE.

WITH A VERY BRIEF UPDATE THIS MORNING.

WE'RE JUST MARKING THE START OF OUR LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN WASHINGTON, DC.

AND WE WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE, UM, CHAIRMAN SILVEIRA AND HIS LEADERSHIP THE PAST YEAR.

AND IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE NEW CHAIR OF THE BOARD IN 2024.

AND WE ALSO WANT TO WISH ALL AMERICANS A VERY SAFE HOLIDAY WEEKEND AS THEY PARTICIPATE IN SERVICE PROJECTS AND EVENTS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR THIS WEEKEND.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

GOOD MORNING, CHAIR BOARD.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU.

MY NAME IS JUAN MARTINEZ.

I'M THE MANAGER FOR THE LANGUAGE CARE PROGRAM UNDER THE UNITED WAY OF MERCED COUNTY.

AND TODAY, I JUST WANTED TO GO OVER SOME OF THE NUMBERS THAT OUR INTERPRETERS PROVIDED FOR THE COUNTY FOR DIGNITY HEALTH THIS LAST YEAR, ALL FACE TO FACE INTERPRETING SOME, UM, UH, OVER THE PHONE, INTERPRETING AS WELL.

BUT FOR THE EMERGENCY ROOM ALONE, WE PROVIDED OVER 2900 HOURS OF INTERPRETING TIME FOR THE MERCED MAIN HOSPITAL, UH, 1226 HOURS FOR THE MERCY PAVILION, THE OUT THE SURGERY CENTER THERE.

UH, 1158 HOURS FOR THE CANCER CENTER.

ANOTHER 1800 HOURS OF INTERPRETING TIME FOR THE DOMINICAN CAMPUS, INCLUDING THE CARDIAC CENTER AND THE PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTS THAT ARE BEING TAKING PLACE THERE. UH, UH, 40 HOURS FAMILY CARE CLINIC, WHICH IS THEIR MAIN RURAL CLINIC, UH, 294 HOURS.

THE GENERAL MEDICINE CLINIC, WHICH IS THE SPECIALIST CLINIC, ANOTHER 407 HOURS, UH, FOR THE TELEMETRY, UH, ON THE FOURTH FLOOR THERE AT THE HOSPITAL, 2013 HOURS.

AND FOR ALL OTHER, UM, AREAS, ANOTHER 448 HOURS UNDER DIGNITY.

UH, WE ALSO PICKED UP THE CONTRACT FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS FOR THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE FOR HEALTH AND FOR THE ALLIANCE, WE PROVIDED ANOTHER 700 HOURS OF FACE TO FACE INTERPRETATION FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF JUST UNDER 11,000 HOURS OF INTERPRETING TIME FOR THE COMMUNITY.

SO IT'S AN HONOR TO MANAGE THE PROGRAM.

I'M COMING UP ON TEN YEARS NOW MANAGING THE PROGRAM.

AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS.

I'LL LEAVE A COPY FOR EACH ONE OF YOU.

UM, HERE IN THE BOX.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING. BOARD.

UM, I'VE BEEN A LITTLE SICK, SO I DON'T HAVE MY ELABORATE SPEECH READY, BUT I'LL TRY TO GO FOR IT.

UM, I DON'T THINK I WANT TO BEGIN BY WISHING ALL THE DEPUTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND MEMBERS, OUR DSA MEMBERS AND ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT WATCHING A HAPPY LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY, WHICH IS TODAY.

UM, IT'S IRONIC BEING AT A BOARD MEETING THAT FALLS ON LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY WHEN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE STAFF LEADERSHIP IN MERCED COUNTY ARE, THROUGH OUR EYES, THE PEOPLE THE DEPUTY SHERIFF'S ASSOCIATION FEELS IS THE LEAST APPRECIATIVE OF THE WORK WE DO, AT LEAST ON PAPER.

[00:10:07]

UM, THEY'RE PERSONAL LETTERS FROM ALL OF OUR MEMBERS EXPLAINING WHY SPECIFICALLY THEY'RE LEAVING AND WHY THEY'RE ABANDONING THIS COUNTY AND LOSING HOPE AND GOING AND APPLYING TO OTHER AGENCIES ELSEWHERE.

I JUST WANT TO SAY TODAY THAT THE DEPUTY SHERIFF'S ASSOCIATION IS NOT UNREASONABLE.

WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR A BLANK CHECK.

WE'VE BEEN VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO STOP THE BLEEDING, TO INCREASE RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT.

GOING BACK IN SOME FORM TO THE OLD FORMULA OF COVERING 100% OF THE EMPLOYEES PREMIUMS AND SPLITTING 5050 WITH OUR DEPENDENTS IS THE KEY TO STOP THE BLEEDING. AND WE'VE EXPRESSED THAT TO MANY OF YOU.

UM, I KNOW YOU SIT HERE AND YOU YOU TELL EVERYBODY THAT THE COUNTY'S SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY ON UPDATED RADIO SYSTEMS AND A NEW JAIL AND A NEW SHERIFF'S OFFICE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, AND I'M SURE YOU ARE.

IT'S EXPENSIVE. ALTHOUGH THE ISSUE OF THIS ISSUE ISN'T FIXED, THERE'S GOING TO BE NOBODY TO ANSWER THAT UPDATED RADIO.

THERE'S GOING TO BE NOBODY TO SHOW UP FOR THEIR SHIFT DEPUTY WISE, THAT THAT NEW ADMINISTRATION BUILDING.

AND IT WOULD HAVE JUST BEEN ANOTHER EXAMPLE IN THE END OF WASTEFUL COUNTY SPENDING, BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO RETAIN OR RECRUIT THE EMPLOYEES TO FILL THOSE BUILDINGS.

IT'S TIME YOU BEGIN TO PRIORITIZE THE EMPLOYEES OVER THE DEPARTMENT HEADS.

THERE'S A SMALL AMOUNT OF DEPARTMENT HEADS, BUT THERE'S A LARGE EMPLOYEE BASE OF FRONT LINE WORKERS, AND THEY'RE ALL OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS, AND THEY ALL VOTE, AND THEY'RE ALL GOING TO REMEMBER EVERYTHING THAT'S DONE DURING NEGOTIATIONS OVER THE YEARS WHEN ELECTION DAY COMES.

SO I DON'T WANT THE DEPUTY SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION BE CLASSIFIED AS UNREASONABLE, BECAUSE ALL WE'RE DOING IS TRYING TO KEEP THE PERSONNEL THAT WE HAVE WHO'S EXPERIENCED TO BEST SERVE THE PEOPLE OF MERCED COUNTY.

WE CAN'T DO THAT WITH THE WAY THAT THE CURRENT INSURANCE SYSTEM IS SET UP.

YOU CANNOT RETAIN PEOPLE WITH EXPERIENCE AND YOU CANNOT RECRUIT PEOPLE WITH EXPERIENCE.

ALL WE'RE LOOKING IS TO STOP THE BLEEDING, TO BETTER SERVE THE PEOPLE OF MERCED COUNTY.

AND WE'RE ASKING YOUR HELP TO DO THAT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

GOOD MORNING. BOARD. MY NAME IS GERALD PHELPS, PRESIDENT OF ACP LOCAL 2703.

I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE CONCERNS OF COUNTY EMPLOYEES, SPECIFICALLY AS WE ENTER NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE COUNTY IN THE COMING MONTHS, THE NEW INSURANCE PREMIUMS HAVE GONE INTO EFFECT AND ALTHOUGH PARTIALLY TEMPORARY HELP HAS BEEN OFFERED, WE MUST ALL BE READY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE WITH THE COUNTY INSURANCE SYSTEM, WHILE ALSO REALIZING THAT WE WILL NOT ACCEPT THAT THOSE CHANGES COME AT THE COST OF REAL SALARY INCREASES WORKERS DESERVE.

WE HAVE BEEN HEARING FOR A DECADE THAT THE UNCERTAINTY UNCERTAINTY OF THE ECONOMY IS THE REASON THE BOARD IS UNWILLING TO ADDRESS THE WAGES WITHIN THIS COUNTY.

A GREAT STATEMENT BY JOHN F KENNEDY IS A RISING TIDE LIFTS ALL BOATS, AND OVER THE LAST YEAR WE HAVE SEEN RECORD GROWTH IN MERCED COUNTY, NOT TO MENTION THE LARGEST BUDGET EVER PASSED BY THIS BOARD.

BUT THE WORKERS OR THE BOATS OF THIS COUNTY REFUSE TO BE LEFT BEHIND ANY FURTHER.

WE WILL NOTE WE WILL NO LONGER CONTINUE TO ALLOW THE BOARD TO RISE TO TIDES OF ONLY THE YACHTS.

WE KNOW WE NOW MAKE LESS IN 2024 THAN WE DID IN OUR ON OUR LAST PAYCHECK IN DECEMBER 2023.

YET OUR WORKLOADS HAS HAS NOT GONE DOWN.

I HAVE CHOSEN TO GO WITHOUT HEAT THIS WINTER AND LOSE LUXURIES TO TRY TO COMBAT THE RISING COST OF LIVING IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, WHILE ALSO WORKING FOR MERCED COUNTY.

WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST WORKERS CUT OFF NEXT? CABLE? WATER? GAS? SEWAGE? MAYBE THEY SHOULD GIVE UP CHILDCARE, BUT THIS COUNTY DOESN'T OFFER WORK FROM HOME, AND IT CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE ANY MORE WORKFORCE.

TO THOSE THAT HAVE TO STAY HOME TO CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

COUNTY AND MERCED WORKERS ARE QUICKLY BECOMING THE WORKING POOR OF MERCED COUNTY.

THE MINIMUM WAGE IS CONTINUING TO CREEP UP CLOSER TO MEET THE SALARIES YOU OFFER FULL TIME EMPLOYEES, AND YET YOU WILL ONCE AGAIN COME TO US WITH AN INSULTING PERCENTAGE INCREASE, HOPING WE WILL BITE AT YOUR SCRAPS AND LOSE OUR HOMES.

THE IDEA THAT THE COUNTY WORKERS WILL BE HOMELESS BECAUSE THIS BOARD HAS YET TO STEP UP, SHOULD KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT.

I APPRECIATE MR. SILVEIRA CLOSING THE LAST MEETING WITH A WARNING ABOUT HOW HE WOULD LOVE TO GIVE MEANINGFUL WAGES INCREASES, BUT THE COUNTY WOULD BE STRUGGLING NEXT YEAR, AND HE WOULD HATE JUST TO HAVE TO TAKE THEM BACK.

IT'S FUNNY THAT YOU ARE ALL SO GOOD AT LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE TO SEE ALL THE BAD COMING OUR WAY, BUT YOU'RE SO HORRIBLE AT LOOKING INTO THE BUDGET TO FIND THE COUNTY WORKERS, THE RAISES, WE THAT WILL HELP US SURVIVE THROUGH IT.

THE VOTERS PUT YOU IN THESE SEATS TO BE FORTUNATE FORTUNE TELLERS OR BOARD MEMBERS.

WHY IS IT THAT YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE HOW BAD THE FUTURE WILL BE OR BE BE IF OUR PAY GOES UP? YET SOMEHOW YOU SEE A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR THE COUNTY, WITH YOUR PAY CONTINUING TO STAY THE SAME AND RISING.

[00:15:02]

IT DIDN'T COME FROM FLOODS OR A PANDEMIC, NOR A DROUGHT.

IT IS MAN MADE, FIVE MEN TO BE EXACT, THAT HAVE ALLOWED MERCER COUNTY TO BECOME ONE OF THE LOWEST PAID COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, THAT IS, HEMORRHAGING SKILLED WORKERS TO SURROUNDING COUNTIES WITH NO PLAN TO FIX IT.

IT'S A NEW YEAR, IT'S TIME FOR NEW IDEAS, NOT THE SAME SAD EXCUSES WE HAVE BEEN HEARING.

UNTIL THEN, OUR DEMONSTRATIONS ON FRIDAYS WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN, AND WE WILL INVITE ALL COUNTY WORKERS TO JOIN US BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, OUR VOICES HEARD IS THE ONLY THING WE CAN ACTUALLY AFFORD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

HERE REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE AND THE ANIMALS OF BEECHWOOD.

ON BEHALF OF BEECHWOOD, WE ARE REQUESTING TO HELP US RESTORE THE IMAGE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS KNOWN AS BEECHWOOD, WHICH HAS NONE. AND WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR MUCH.

WE'RE ASKING FOR VERY LITTLE.

IF YOU CAN PLEASE PUT UP SIGNS OUT THERE WHICH SAYS NO DUMPING OR VIOLATORS WILL BE PROSECUTED.

AND IT'S ALL AROUND BEECHWOOD THAT WE NEED THAT.

AND AS OF HIGHWAY 59, AH SANTA FE AND OLIVE AVENUE WILL GIVE HIM TIME, SINCE IT'S COLD, WE'LL GIVE HIM A LITTLE TIME.

WE'VE GOT FENTANYL CITY WITH SQUATTERVILLE DEVELOPING.

AND THEN OUR SECOND, MY SECOND ISSUE HERE IS THAT 16 ACRES OF LAND THAT SITS BEHIND OUR PROPERTY, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEVELOPED.

BUT NOW I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S THE COUNTY OR THE DEVELOPER THAT'S ASKING FOR TWO MORE YEARS OF EXTENSION, WHICH IS FINE.

THE TWO YEARS EXTENSION IS FINE.

BUT WHAT IS THE DEVELOPER GOING TO HELP US WITH? IS HE GOING TO KEEP THAT UNDER CONTROL AROUND THE EDGES? PUT UP SIGNS THAT NO DUMPING, WHICH IS A DUMPING GROUND FOR ALL OF BEACH, ALL OF MERCED AT THE MOMENT, AND WHO'S SUFFERING? WE THE PEOPLE OF ELM AVENUE, DAN WARD ROAD, FIR AVENUE.

WE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE THE RODENTS.

WE GROW ORGANIC VEGETABLES AND THEN IT GETS DESTROYED.

OUR FRUIT OF OUR LABOR GETS DESTROYED EVERY YEAR.

IT'S NOT A PROBLEM FOR HIM TO GET THAT TWO YEARS EXTENSION.

BUT WHAT'S IN IT FOR US, THE PEOPLE? IS HE GOING TO MAINTAIN THAT OR IS HE GOING TO LEAVE IT LIKE THAT WHERE WE SPEND MONEY AND HE DOESN'T.

MONEY'S COMING OUT OF OUR POCKET TO KEEP THE RODENTS AWAY, COCKROACHES AWAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT, SIR.

GOOD MORNING. HAPPY NEW YEAR.

UM THE APPOINTMENTS TODAY.

YOU'VE ALREADY APPOINTED RODRIGO TO LAFCO MR. ESPINOSA AND INVOLVES REAL ESTATE.

EVEN THOUGH YOU KNEW THAT MULTIPLE GRAND JURY INVESTIGATIONS CALLED INTO QUESTION RODRIGO'S AVERSION TO TRANSPARENCY, INCLUDING GETTING CAUGHT PURCHASING PROPERTIES FOR HIMSELF WITHIN THE REAL ESTATE AND REDEVELOPMENT ZONE WHILE HE WAS THE DIRECTOR OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, WITHOUT INPUTTING THOSE REAL ESTATE PURCHASES INTO THE MEETING MINUTES, AS REQUIRED BY LAW, PRESSURING THE PREVIOUS CHIEF OF POLICE TO TOW MORE VEHICLES OF UNDOCUMENTED DRIVERS, WHILE HE WAS ALSO MAYOR OF LIVINGSTON AND OWNED THE TOW COMPANY, AND RECENTLY INTIMIDATING THAT HE HAD THE POWER TO REVEAL NUDE PHOTOS OF ME IF I DIDN'T STOP QUESTIONING ABOUT HIS INVOLVEMENT IN THE RECENT TOWING SCANDAL IN LIVINGSTON, WHICH ALSO RESULTED IN AN FBI INVESTIGATION.

SHAME ON YOU.

SHAME ON YOU FOR ALL MAKING HIM THE POSTER BOY.

OKAY, THE WOMEN VOTERS AND TAXPAYERS OF THIS COMMUNITY WILL BE ANSWERING TO THIS INDECENT DECISION OF THIS BOARD.

AND I ALSO THINK THAT IT'S THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW IF MR. ESPINOSA IS RELATED TO ANYONE ON THE MAC BY EITHER MARRIAGE OR BLOOD IN ANY WAY, AND IF THEY ARE RELATED TO EACH OTHER.

THE COMMITTEE IS LOOKING FOR TRANSPARENCY, AND THEY ARE STILL UPSET THAT THEY DIDN'T RECEIVE AN EVACUATION NOTICE PRIOR TO THE WATER RUSHING INTO THEIR HOMES DURING THE

[00:20:04]

IT IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE, IT HAS BEEN SAID BECAUSE YOU HAVE FAMILY AND CONTRACTORS, GENERAL CONTRACTORS, THAT YOU ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN.

AND THAT'S ALSO BEEN SAID THAT THAT'S WHY YOU'RE ATTEMPTING TO STACK THE MAC WITH RELATIVES.

SO THAT YOU CAN CENTER THE PUBLIC AND PLANADA THE WAY THAT YOU'VE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP PEOPLE IN LIVINGSTON FROM TALKING AND LEARNING ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN LIVINGSTON, IN THE CORRUPTION.

THERE ARE A FEW, UM, ALSO ON THE AGENDA, I, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO PUT VETERAN GROUPS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER.

IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED AS AN AUXILIARY MEMBER.

SO PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO REACH OUT TO ME AND CALL ME IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT I CAN HELP ORGANIZE OR SUPPORT THE VETERANS WITH.

THAT IS ONE QUESTION THAT I HAD, AND I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH AN EMAIL IN REGARDS TO THE FUNDS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO GO TO LIVINGSTON.

IT WAS ABOUT BALLPARK, ABOUT $87,000.

UM, I WAS QUESTIONED.

THOSE QUESTIONS HAD BEEN ASKED OF RODRIGO.

WHEN HE DIDN'T, HE REFUSED TO SPEAK TO ME ON MY COUNCIL MEETINGS.

REGARDING THE MAC APPOINTMENT.

I'LL GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF SECONDS TO FINISH UP YOUR FINAL THOUGHT.

GREAT INVOLVED IN GETTING APPOINTED TO LIVINGSTON.

THE LAST CITY CLERK THAT RODRIGO HELPED REFER TO.

LIVINGSTON HAS NOT SHOWED UP TO SEVERAL MEETINGS, SO I WOULD TREAD CAREFULLY WITH THIS APPOINTMENT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

ALL RIGHT. NOT SEEING ANYONE ELSE, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS. ALL RIGHT, NEXT ITEM.

NOMINATION OF BOARD CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR FOR THE YEAR 2024.

[PRESENTATIONS]

MR. MENDEZ. YES.

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

UH, AS THIS BOARD IS WELL AWARE, UH, TRADITIONALLY AT YOUR FIRST MEETING OF THE YEAR, UH, YOU SELECT YOUR CHAIR AND YOUR VICE CHAIR FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR.

UM, IN PRIOR YEARS, THIS HAS BEEN DONE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

UH, YOU'VE TAKEN NOMINATIONS INDIVIDUALLY BY POSITION, OR YOU'VE TAKEN NOMINATIONS AS A SLATE, UH, FOR BOTH OFFICES.

UH, DURING THIS PROCESS, A BOARD MEMBER CAN EITHER NOMINATE THEMSELVES OR ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER.

UM, WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE BOARD TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.

UH, IF THERE'S NO QUESTIONS, HAPPY TO OPEN UP THE NOMINATIONS FOR CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR MR. MENDEZ? I'M GONNA GO TO DISCUSSION MODE.

ALL RIGHT. PLEASURE TO THE BOARD.

MR. CHAIR, I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD SOME COMMENTS BEFORE, UM, SUBMITTING.

UH, THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PRACTICE OF THIS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

UM, IT'S A ROTATION.

UM, YOU HONORABLY SERVE THIS PAST YEAR IN DISTRICT FIVE.

I THINK THE WEST SIDE SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF YOUR REPRESENTATION HERE TODAY.

ALTHOUGH YOU TO GET YOUR TIMING DOWN.

IT DID TAKE YOU A COUPLE MEETINGS, BUT YOU SURVIVED.

WELL. UH, NEXT SHOULD BE DISTRICT ONE.

IF WE CONTINUE WITH OUR, UM WITH THE TRADITION HERE AT THIS BOARD.

AND WITH THAT I WILL STOP MY COMMENTS.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SO WE ARE SEEKING A NOMINATION FOR THE CHAIR POSITION.

SO I'M LOOKING TO THE BOARD TO NOMINATE A MEMBER OF THE BOARD.

SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. STICKING WITH TRADITION, I WILL NOMINATE DISTRICT NUMBER ONE.

UH RODRIGO ESPINOSA TO BE OUR CHAIR.

AND DISTRICT NUMBER TWO TO BE OUR VICE CHAIR.

MR. PEDROZO. SO THE THE CLERK DOES RECOGNIZE SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL MAKING TWO NOMINATIONS AS A SLATE FOR BOTH POSITIONS.

UH, SUPERVISOR RODRIGO ESPINOZA FOR CHAIR.

SUPERVISOR JOSH PEDROZO FOR VICE CHAIR.

UNLESS THERE'S ANY ADDITIONAL NOMINATIONS.

UM, I'LL SECOND IT.

I'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS.

AND THERE'S BEEN A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR.

EXCUSE ME, CHAIRMAN SILVERA.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THE NOMINATION, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

[00:25:03]

I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA FOR THE POSITION OF BEING NOMINATED AND APPOINTED TO THE CHAIR AND SUPERVISOR, JOSH PEDROZO, FOR THE VICE CHAIR. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK, UH, CHAIRMAN SILVEIRA FOR HIS TIME, UH, IN THE POSITION THIS PRIOR YEAR.

UH, IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGING YEAR, FOR SURE.

UH, BUT I'VE APPRECIATED THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.

UH, NOT ONLY OBVIOUSLY FOCUSING ON THE CHALLENGES AND HOW BEST TO NAVIGATE, UH, COOPERATIVELY THROUGH THAT, UH, BUT ALSO MANY OF THE OPPORTUNITIES AND, UH, THE SUCCESSES THAT TOOK PLACE OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.

SO, MR. CHAIR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.

I'M GOING TO TURN IT BACK TO YOU FOR YOUR, UH, OUTGOING REMARKS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MENDEZ. SO, AS I'M GOING TO HAVE THIS NIGHT, I GOT A NICE SOME NICE PREPARED REMARKS HERE.

SO I WANT TO JUST KIND OF HIGHLIGHT.

SO AS WE TAKE ON A NEW YEAR OF OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO IDENTIFY SOME OF WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED IN MERCED COUNTY IN 2023.

I'LL START WITH FLOODING.

UM, WE WHILE WE SAW SUCCESS IN MANY AREAS LAST YEAR, WE ALSO HAD OUR SHARE OF CHALLENGES AND OBSTACLES IN 2023.

STARTED OUT WITH A BIG ONE.

A SERIES OF ATMOSPHERIC RIVERS DELIVERED SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL AND FLOODING TO MANY REGIONS, INCLUDING MERCED COUNTY.

THE MERCED COUNTY EOC WAS ACTIVATED IN ADVANCE OF THE STORMS, AND SIGNIFICANT EFFORTS WERE MADE TO GET OUR COMMUNITIES AS PREPARED AS POSSIBLE.

THIS INCLUDED SANDBAG PLACEMENT, CLEARING OUT STORM DRAINS, AND MONITORING AND FORTIFYING OUR FLOOD CONTROL INFRASTRUCTURE.

DESPITE THE ROBUST PREPAREDNESS EFFORTS, SEVERAL AREAS WITHIN MERCED COUNTY WERE AFFECTED BY FLOOD WATERS, INCLUDING THE CITY OF MERCED, THE COMMUNITY OF MCSWAIN, AND THE COMMUNITY OF PLANADA.

EMERGENCY PERSONNEL WERE QUICK TO ISSUE EVACUATION WARNINGS AND ORDERS.

HIGH WATER VEHICLES AND VESSELS WERE USED TO RESCUE THOSE STRANDED IN FLOOD WATERS.

MULTIPLE SHELTER SITES WERE ALSO ESTABLISHED AND DISASTER RECOVERY SERVICES WERE MADE AVAILABLE.

MOVING FORWARD, MERCED COUNTY IS STILL WORKING TO HELP IMPACTED RESIDENTS RECOVER WHILE WORKING TO FINE TUNE OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE METHODS AND FLOOD CONTROL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR FUTURE EVENTS.

THIS INCLUDES DEVELOPING A PROGRAM TO DISPERSE $20 MILLION IN STATE FUNDING DEDICATED TOWARD AIDING THOSE IMPACTED BY THE FLOODS IN THE PLANADA AREA. DESPITE THE AFOREMENTIONED CHALLENGES, AS AN ORGANIZATION, WE REACHED A NUMBER OF MAJOR MILESTONES THIS YEAR WITH OUR PARKS, LIBRARIES, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS.

ONE THAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS THE DALE HILL HALL AND DOS PALOS LIBRARY.

IN JULY, WE BROKE GROUND ON A MAJOR PROJECT AT THE O'BANNON PARK IN DOS PALOS INVOLVING A $3 MILLION STATE FUNDED RENOVATION OF THE DALE HILL HALL COMMUNITY CENTER.

THANKS TO OUR SENATOR ANNA CABALLERO.

THE PROJECT ALSO INCLUDED THE RELOCATION OF THE DOS PALOS LIBRARY BRANCH TO THE SITE, THANKS TO A SEPARATE GRANT SECURED BY MERCED COUNTY.

MORE RECENTLY, WE LEARNED THAT WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN SECURING A $2.9 MILLION STATE GRANT TO RENOVATE THE O'BANNON PARK ITSELF.

AND THAT WAS A CALIFORNIA, UH, CLEAN PARKS GRANT FROM CALTRANS.

THE WINTON COMMUNITY PARK IS ALSO INCLUDED IN THE MIDST OF A COMPLETE OVERHAUL, THANKS TO A $3.7 MILLION STATE GRANT THAT WILL PROVIDE NEW BALL FIELDS, LIGHTING, A PLAYGROUND, PICNIC SHELTERS, AND MUCH MORE.

THIS PROJECT IS SLATED TO BE COMPLETED IN 2024.

JUST RECENTLY, WE WERE AWARDED A $310,000 STATE GRANT, UH STATE DIRECT BUDGET ALLOCATION FROM SENATOR CABALLERO TO HELP WITH THE PARK IN SANTANELLA.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST GRANTS IN MERCED COUNTY HISTORY WAS A NEARLY $50 MILLION CASTLE GRANT.

OUR GRANT AWARDS IN 2023 WEREN'T LIMITED TO JUST PARKS AND THE COMMUNITY CENTERS.

IN JULY, WE RECEIVED, UM, THIS $50 MILLION GRANT TO BUILD OUT AN INLAND PORT AT CASTLE COMMERCE CENTER, LEVERAGING ITS UNIQUE CAPACITY TO MOVE FREIGHT WORLDWIDE. THIS FUNDING WILL FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF 70 ACRES AT CASTLE TO SUPPORT PRE-SHIPMENT PROCESSING AND INTERMODAL CROSS-DOCKING FOR CENTRAL VALLEY AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS.

IT REALLY IS A GAME CHANGER FOR OUR AGRICULTURAL PROCESSORS IN MERCED COUNTY TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THEIR PRODUCTS INSTEAD OF HALFWAY ACROSS THE STATE INTO OAKLAND OR TO LA, THEY'RE ABLE TO MOVE THOSE PRODUCTS RIGHT HERE TO CASTLE, PUT THEM ON A TRAIN AND JAIL PROJECTS.

AS ALWAYS, PUBLIC SAFETY CONTINUES TO BE A FOCUS FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

IN SEPTEMBER, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD JOINED THE SHERIFF AND HIS TEAM FOR A GROUNDBREAKING OF THE JOHN LATORRACA CORRECTIONAL CENTER AND REMODEL AND EXPANSION, AS WELL AS CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW 256 BED MAXIMUM SECURITY FACILITY.

BOTH PROJECTS AMOUNT OVER 149 MILLION, WITH 40 MILLION COMING FROM A STATE GRANT.

[00:30:05]

ADDITIONALLY, THE BOARD APPROVED CONTINUING PLANNING EFFORTS FOR THE RELOCATION OF THE SHERIFF'S ADMIN BUILDING TO CASTLE COMMERCE CENTER, A PROJECT THAT'S ANTICIPATED TO COST 28 MILLION.

OUR BUDGET. IN SEPTEMBER, THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 2024 BUDGET AND AN AMOUNT OF TOTALING $1,165,000,000 THE SPENDING PLAN CONTINUES TO PLACE A PRIORITY ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND INVESTMENTS IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND PARKS.

ALSO, IN ORDER TO HELP SAFEGUARD THE COUNTY AGAINST ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTIES, WE INCREASED OUR RESERVES BY 3 MILLION, BRINGING THE TOTAL TO 45.1 MILLION.

IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT OUT OF OUR TOTAL BUDGET, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS DISCRETION OVER LESS THAN $200 MILLION.

THE REMAINING 900 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS REPRESENTS THE OTHER REVENUES THAT COME FROM OTHER SOURCES, SUCH AS STATE AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS, THAT ARE DEDICATED TO PROGRAMS SUPPORTING STATEWIDE OR NATIONAL PRIORITIES.

I'D LIKE TO NOTE THAT THE ECONOMIC INDICATORS ARE SHOWING A SHIFT IN THE ECONOMY, AND HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO REDUCE REVENUES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, THE STATE, WHICH LATER TODAY WILL GET AN INSIGHT AS THE GOVERNOR RELEASES HIS JANUARY BUDGET, IS ALREADY SHOWING A DEFICIT OF $68 BILLION, WHICH COULD HAMPER MANY OF OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.

EXERCISING CAUTIONARY BUDGET PRACTICES WILL BE ESSENTIAL THIS YEAR.

AS A BOARD, WE ARE COMMITTED TO KEEPING MERCED COUNTY MOVING FORWARD DESPITE LOOMING FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS.

SO IT'S A VERY SMALL SNIPPET INTO WHAT WE DID AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE.

UM, IT WAS AN INTERESTING YEAR.

YOU GET, YOU KNOW, MY COLLEAGUES, UM, I'D LIKE TO SAY, HAD THE WISDOM TO ALLOW ME TO REPRESENT THEM AS BOARD CHAIR.

YOU GET SWORN IN AS BOARD CHAIR, YOU TAKE OVER THE POSITION, AND A FEW SHORT DAYS LATER, WE'RE AT THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER.

UM, AND JUST GOING TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY COMMEND ALL THE FOLKS THAT WERE PART OF THAT EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER, ADAM AMARAL, WHO'S OUR HEAD OF THE COUNTY, OES.

I GOT TO SEE THE GROWTH AS THESE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTERS, THEY DO TRAININGS, BUT THERE'S NOTHING LIKE REAL TIME REAL LIFE TRAINING, UM, TO HELP YOU GET BETTER AT WHAT YOU DO. AND WE WERE UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE TO ACTIVATE THAT EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER MORE THAN ONCE IN THIS PAST YEAR.

AND AS, AS A COUNTY SUPERVISOR AND MY COLLEAGUES GOT TO SEE IT AS WELL.

WE WERE THERE. WE WERE VISITING IN REAL TIME, SEEING WHAT WAS GOING ON AND TO WATCH THE GROWTH FROM WHEN WE FIRST OPENED IT.

AND EVERYBODY, YOU HAVE NEW PLAYERS, NEW PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED, EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDING THEIR ROLES AND GETTING BETTER AT THEIR ROLES.

BY THE TIME WE ENDED UP OPENING IT A SECOND TIME, JUST THE GROWTH AND EVERYBODY KNOWING WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

WE HAD A VERY WELL OILED MACHINE.

SO TO ALL OF YOU, THERE'S TOO MANY TO NAME, AND IT'S NOT JUST OUR COUNTY PARTNERS, BUT IT'S OUR STATE PARTNERS THAT WERE ALSO INVOLVED.

AND I BELIEVE EVEN FEMA, SOME OF OUR NATIONAL PARTNERS WERE INVOLVED IN IT.

UM, I WANT THE RESIDENTS TO BE ASSURED THAT THAT WE HAVE GREAT FOLKS THAT ARE BEHIND THE SCENES, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO TRY TO PROVIDE FOR THE HEALTH AND WELFARE AND SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS.

SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD INTO THESE UNCERTAIN ECONOMIC TIMES, THE ONE THING THAT I'M COMMITTED TO IS, IS IT'S NOT IT'S NOT A FUN TIME.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAST FEW YEARS WITH THIS UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT HAS FLOWN INTO COUNTIES FROM FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES, UM, AND THAT MONEY IS ALL KIND OF DRYING UP.

AND BUT IT'S WE'RE STILL COMMITTED TO THE CHALLENGE TO, YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO SAY THAT MERCED COUNTY IS HEALTHY.

WE'RE NOT WEALTHY.

UM, THAT'S THAT'S NOT AN EXCUSE.

THAT'S TO ME, THAT'S JUST REALITY.

AND AS WE GO INTO THESE UNCERTAIN ECONOMIC TIMES, IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE ON HOW ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PAY OUR WORKFORCE.

WHAT WOULD THEY WHAT THEY WHAT THEY DESERVE AND STILL TRYING TO MANAGE A BUDGET? AGAIN, AS I SAID AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING IN 2023, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT AA1 BILLION $165 MILLION BUDGET, WHICH WAS MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT AGO HERE IN PUBLIC COMMENT OF THAT, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, 126 MILLION OF THAT WAS DISCRETIONARY.

AND THEN THERE'S SOME FUND BALANCE THAT CARRIES OVER THAT, THAT WE CAN PUT BACK INTO CERTAIN PLACES.

IF THERE'S NOT A LOT, YOU CAN ONLY SLICE THE PIE SO MANY TIMES, BUT I AT LEAST MY COMMITMENT, AND I THINK IT'S THE COMMITMENT OF THIS BOARD THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS POSSIBLE TO KEEP MERCED COUNTY MOVING FORWARD.

SO WITH THAT, I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE THE CHAIR THIS YEAR.

AND IT IS A VERY YOU THINK IT'S IT'S, YOU KNOW, AS AS CHAIRMAN, YOU GET TO RUN THE MEETING.

IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT SITTING RIGHT HERE VERSUS IT IS SITTING IN ONE OF THESE OTHER SEATS.

I GOT THIS LITTLE COMPUTER HERE.

[00:35:01]

YOU'RE TRYING TO MONITOR.

YOU'RE TRYING TO RESET TIMERS, MAKING SURE THAT EVERY EVERYBODY THAT WANTS TO COME UP AND SPEAK HAS THEIR THREE MINUTES.

UM, AND IT DID. IT TAKES A FEW MINUTES, A FEW MEETINGS TO KIND OF GET A ROUTINE DOWN.

AND THEN WE LOST THE SCREEN OVER THERE.

AND I USED TO LOOK OVER THERE, AND NOW YOU GOT TO TRAIN YOURSELF TO LOOK OVER HERE.

UM, THESE ARE JUST KIND OF SOME OF THE INSIDER BASEBALL STUFF.

OF THAT THAT GOES ON BACK HERE.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING BACK TO MY DISTRICT FIVE SEAT.

UM, OR WHERE I GET TO MONITOR PUSHING ONE BUTTON AND THAT'S THE BUTTON TO MAKE A MOTION OR TO SECOND OR TO TALK.

IT'S NOT A WHOLE SCREEN FULL OF BUTTONS.

UH, BUT I ENJOYED IT.

UM, I ENJOYED, YOU KNOW, AS THE CHAIRMAN, YOU'RE INVOLVED IN A LOT MORE MEETINGS.

UM, YOU GET TO SPEND A LOT MORE TIME WITH STAFF, UM, AS WE DO AGENDA REVIEWS, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT COME ALONG WITH IT.

UM, I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THE EXPERIENCE.

I THINK IT PROBABLY HELPS ME TO BECOME A BETTER COUNTY SUPERVISOR.

UM, AND THEN LAST AND CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, ALL OF OUR BOARD CLERKS, UM, THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT GO ON BEHIND THE SCENES.

AND I'LL JUST SHARE THIS WITH YOU.

THIS IS THE SCRIPT THAT TAMARA PUTS TOGETHER THAT KEEPS A PERSON ON TASK.

UM, IN ORDER TO HELP THESE MEETINGS RUN EFFICIENTLY.

UM, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I AM PROUD OF THAT WE DO HERE.

WE RUN EFFICIENT MEETINGS.

THE PUBLIC HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THESE AGENDAS AND DIVE INTO THE DETAILS ON THEM.

UM, AND UM, STAFF DOES A GREAT JOB OF REALLY BRIEFING THE BOARD.

AND SO MAYBE FOR SOME FOLKS, THEY THINK THAT WE'RE JUST UP HERE JUST MAKING VOTES AND SECONDS AND MOVING THROUGH THIS MEETING REALLY QUICKLY.

THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES ON THE BEHIND THE SCENES IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, AND THE PUBLIC HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON ANY ONE OF THESE ITEMS, AND WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

SO WITH THAT, THANK YOU.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A TEN MINUTE RECESS IN ORDER TO GET EVERYBODY'S COMPUTERS SWITCHED BACK AROUND.

THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE'RE BACK. UM, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS BEFORE I WE START WITH THE PRESENTATION.

UM, I JUST WANT TO THANK FIRST MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND SUPPORT OF ME FOR CHAIR.

AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN FOR, UH, SUPERVISOR PEDROZO ON THEIR VICE CHAIR.

UM, THERE WERE SOME COMMENTS MADE ABOUT ME.

UM, YOU KNOW, JUST RECENTLY, UM, I'VE GONE THROUGH A LOT IN 21 YEARS.

I WAS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FOR EIGHT YEARS, MAYOR FOR, UH, SIX YEARS.

AND BACK IN 06 TO 08, I WAS, UH, THERE WERE SOME MADE UP, UH, GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION.

AND OF COURSE, THERE WAS A LOT OF ISSUES AND SOME ISSUES, UH, THAT CAME ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WERE JUST, UH, SET NOW.

AND THAT WAS IN 2008.

AND I WAS EXONERATED, AND I'VE BEEN ATTACKED FOR A LOT OF YEARS IN THE NEWSPAPERS.

AND I'M STILL HERE.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S ISSUES, SUPPOSEDLY, THAT I HAVE FAMILY IN PLANADA.

I DON'T HAVE ANY FAMILY IN PLANADA.

I DON'T APPOINT, UH, FAMILY MEMBERS TO ANY MAX IN ANY IN ANY OF MY MAX, WHICH IS PLANADA AND LE GRAND.

I DON'T HAVE ANY FAMILY MEMBERS IN, UH, IN LE GRAND AT ALL.

WE'RE GOING TO APPOINT, UH, ONE MEMBER FOR PLANADA AND, UH, AND ONE FOR, UH, LE GRAND TONIGHT, AND THEY'RE NOT RELATED.

WELL, IF THE BOARD APPROVES THE AGENDA, LIKE I SAID, I'M STILL HERE.

IT'S BEEN A LOT OF YEARS, A LOT OF ISSUES.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THINGS COME UP THAT, YOU KNOW, I SAID THIS AND I SAID THAT, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT? UM, LIKE I SAID, THERE'S THERE'S ELECTIONS EVERY YEAR.

THERE'S CONSEQUENCES EVERY YEAR.

WE AS ELECTEDS HAVE TO DEAL WITH A LOT OF STUFF, A LOT OF ACCUSATIONS ALL THE TIME.

AND, UH, YOU KNOW, BUT THE RESIDENTS ALREADY KNOW ME.

THEY KNOW ME ALL AROUND THE COUNTY.

THEY KNOW WHAT KIND OF PERSON I AM.

I'M HERE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF ALL MERCED COUNTY, NOT JUST MY DISTRICT.

I ANSWER TO.

YOU KNOW, I TRY TO GET BACK TO AS MANY AS YOU AS I CAN, AND I TRY TO WORK WITH MY FELLOW BOARDS AND OUR STAFF.

OUR COUNTY IS GREAT TO DEAL WITH.

OUR STAFF IS IS AWESOME, YOU KNOW, BUT LIKE I SAID, WE'RE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER UNTIL I STILL HAVE ANOTHER YEAR.

AND UH, LIKE I SAID, IF I GET REELECTED, THAT'S UP TO THE THE VOTERS AND YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO VOTE AS WELL.

SO, UM, BUT I ALSO, AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR, UH, FOR THEIR SUPPORT.

AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A, UH, UM, A CERTIFICATE OR, UH, OF APPRECIATION FOR OUR, UH, OUTGOING CHAIR. TAKE IT UP.

OKAY. YEAH.

WELL TO A PERSON THAT GIVES HIS HIS MIND UP.

[00:40:02]

LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, HE'S BEEN GREAT TO WORK WITH ALL THIS YEAR AS VICE CHAIR.

UH, HE I THINK HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB, AND I CAN I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES WILL, UH, WILL AGREE THAT HE HE DESERVES THIS SPECIAL PLAQUE THAT WAS, UH, UM, I'M GOING TO READ IT, UM, TO SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, IN APPRECIATION OF YOUR LEADERSHIP, DEDICATION AND SERVICE AS CHAIR OF MERCER COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

UH, ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE ALL THIS YEAR, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS NEW YEAR IN 2024.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR.

ALL RIGHT. UH, THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN ESPINOSA AND SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, UH, LIKE MENTIONED EARLIER, UH, JUST APPRECIATED YOUR LEADERSHIP THIS LAST YEAR.

YOU'RE RIGHT. A YEAR AGO, WE WERE HERE IN THE MIDST OR IN THE THE HEAT AND, UH, OF AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.

UH, YOUR LEADERSHIP WAS GREAT ALL YEAR LONG.

UH, YOU CHALLENGED YOUR STAFF WITH QUESTIONS, UH, BEFORE MEETINGS.

DURING MEETINGS, UH, YOU NAVIGATED SOME VERY TOUGH ISSUES AS, UH, DURING YOUR CHAIRSHIP.

SO, ON BEHALF OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEAD LEADERSHIP TEAM, WE WANTED TO PRESENT YOU A SMALL TOKEN OF APPRECIATION.

UH, OBVIOUSLY DOESN'T PROBABLY DO IT JUSTICE FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU PUT IN.

AND BELIEVE ME, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN MY OFFICE TALKING ABOUT ISSUES AS THEY WERE EMERGING OR CELEBRATING SUCCESSES AS THEY WERE HAPPENING, BUT CERTAINLY THIS IS JUST A SMALL TOKEN OF APPRECIATION FOR ALL YOUR GOOD WORK.

LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU AND OBVIOUSLY OUR NEW CHAIR AND THE REST OF THE BOARD IN 2024.

SO ON BEHALF OF YOUR STAFF, YOUR LEADERSHIP TEAM, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THIS IS FOR YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU. YEP.

YOU'RE ON THE OPEN LINE NOW. YES, PLEASE.

THE MICROPHONE.

PERFECT. LET ME TAKE IT OUT OF THE PACKAGE.

IF YOU WANT TO CAN GRAB THE BALLOT BOX.

PUT IT DOWN NOW.

SO, UH, THANK YOU.

UH, ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND STAFF.

AND THIS IS NOT.

THEY'RE NOT MY INITIALS, BUT THEY'RE INITIALS THAT I LIVE BY.

AND IT'S GSD BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, THAT'S WHAT THE VOTERS SEND US HERE TO DO IS JUST TO GET STUFF DONE.

THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT ALL THE BUREAUCRACY.

THEY DON'T. THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT A LOT OF THOSE THINGS.

THEY JUST KNOW AS THEIR AS THEIR LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS, THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO CALL US WHEN THEY HAVE A CHALLENGE, AND THEY JUST WANT US TO BE ABLE TO GET STUFF DONE IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE IT.

IT'S IN A LOT OF PLACES IN MY OFFICE.

I KNOW THE STAFF KNOWS, AND I THINK THAT MY COLLEAGUES ALL ARE PART OF TEAM GSD.

WE JUST WE'RE HERE TO JUST GET STUFF DONE.

SO FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS ALL VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. UM, WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR PRESENTATION OF OUTGOING.

OH, SORRY. UM.

OR WE CAN HAVE THAT PRESENTATION FIRST, RIGHT? NO, THAT WAS IT.

THAT WAS THE PRESENTATION. OH, THAT WAS IT.

YEAH. I CAN MOVE ON TO CONSENT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT, I ACTUALLY.

[CONSENT CALENDAR]

PLEASE NOTE ITEMS ONE THROUGH SIX, 16, AND 17 REQUIRE A FOUR FIFTH VOTE.

WE HAVE CONSENT. CALENDAR.

COLOR. ALL RIGHT.

AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 24.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ANY ISSUES? IF NOT, WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE'LL BRING BACK TO THE BOARD OR ENTERTAIN A ANY MOTIONS.

OH, WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR LLOYD PAREIRA AND A SECOND BY COUNCILOR SILVEIRA.

AND WE HAVE A COMMENT BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEMS, UM, FIVE AND SIX.

AND SO FOR ME, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN MY NOW WORKING ON MY SIXTH YEAR OF BEING HERE THAT I'VE SEEN AN ITEM THAT COMES LIKE THIS IS IN IT'S JUST TO READ IT TO YOU. IT'S I'LL SKIP SOME OF THE PART, BUT IT'S TO CORRECT AN APPROPRIATION REDUCTION MADE IN THE FISCAL YEAR.

AND AFTER TALKING WITH STAFF, IT'S AN ERROR NOT AN ERROR.

IT'S JUST A CORRECTION, AND THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT HAPPEN WHERE THINGS GOT DOUBLE BUDGETED.

AND THEN THEN SUBSEQUENTLY THEY BOTH GOT UNBUDGETED.

AND SO, UM, I EXPRESS MY CONCERNS OVER THAT.

[00:45:01]

AND, UM, THEY MAKE SENSE TO ME WHY WE'RE DOING THEM.

IT REALLY IS A PROCESS.

IT'S JUST PART OF THE PROCESS.

UM, BUT I ENCOURAGE STAFF TO AGAIN, FOR MYSELF, AND I THINK SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES SHARE, UH, SEND ME THE SAME CONCERNS IS, IS WANTING TO KNOW WHAT CAN WE PUT IN PLACE SO THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN? UM, IT IS IT IS AGAIN, SIMPLE, JUST TIMING WISE, WHEN BUDGETS HAVE TO BE PUT TOGETHER.

THERE'S DEADLINES. DEADLINES ARE IMPORTANT FOR A REASON.

UM, AND SO WHATEVER HELP I CAN OFFER INTO MAKING SURE THAT THINGS LIKE THIS DON'T HAPPEN AGAIN, WE ARE A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION.

AND, UM, I KNOW THAT WE CAN DO A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

WE'RE ALWAYS STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE HERE.

SO I AM GOING TO SUPPORT THESE TWO ITEMS. BUT I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.

THANK YOU. ANY I DON'T SEE ANY MORE REQUESTS TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.

OKAY. GO AHEAD AND RECORD.

WE ARE UNANIMOUS.

ALL RIGHT, ONE MORE ONE TO.

NEXT IS BOARD ACTION PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS 25 THROUGH 27.

[BOARD ACTION]

OH THAT'S RIGHT. THANK YOU.

ON ITEM 25 TO 27, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE'LL COME BACK FOR THE VOTE.

I THINK WE HAVE A COMMENT BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I JUST WANT TO BRING UP THIS IS JUST MORE OF A HOUSEKEEPING ON THESE ITEMS, 26 AND 27 DIDN'T HAVE THE AMOUNTS ON THE AGENDA, AND I KNOW I'VE MADE THIS REQUEST BEFORE.

UM, YOU HAVE TO KIND OF DO A DIVE TO, TO FIND OUT WHAT THE AMOUNTS ARE AND IF JUST WANT TO BRING THAT TO THE ATTENTION.

UH, GOING FORWARD, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THIS BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THE PUBLIC DOESN'T ACT, DOESN'T DO THE DEEP DIVE INTO THE AGENDA.

AND IT'S NICE TO HAVE THOSE BUDGET IMPACTS ON THE FOREFRONT.

SO THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

AND I DON'T SEE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR LLOYD PAREIRA AND A SECOND BY UH SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE.

ALL AYES HAVE IT.

ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES.

AND IT..

ITEMS 28 THROUGH 31.

PLEASE NOTE ITEMS 28, 29 AND 31 REQUIRE A FOURTH FIFTH VOTE.

OKAY, AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR BHRS ITEMS 28 TO 31 TO THE PUBLIC.

I DON'T SEE ANY COMMENT.

SO WE'LL COME BACK AND, UH, FURTHER COMMENTS.

IF NOT, WE'LL COVER THE VOTE.

RECORD THE VOTE.

SORRY. ALL AYES HAVE IT.

NEXT WE HAVE A HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY.

ITEMS 32 THROUGH 34.

ALL RIGHT, AT THIS TIME.

WE'LL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS 32-34.

ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? NOT. WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

AND, UH IS THERE ANY.

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SCOTT SILVEIRA.

SECOND BY JOSH PEDROZO.

WE HAVE A VOTE.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT, RECORD THE VOTE.

ALL AYES HAVE IT. NEXT WE HAVE ELECTIONS.

ITEM 35.

ITEM 35, AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ELECTIONS ITEMS 35.

NO PUBLIC COMMENTS.

OKAY. WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

AND WE'LL BRING BACK TO THE BOARD FOR ANY COMMENTS.

NO, I DON'T SEE ANY COMMENTS.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR DARON MCDANIEL.

SECOND BY JOSH PEDROZO.

CALL FOR THE VOTE. LLOYD.

OH, SORRY. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, WE'LL CALL THE VOTE, PLEASE.

ALL AYES HAVE IT. ALL RIGHT, NEXT WE HAVE THE SHERIFF.

[00:50:08]

WE'LL OPEN UP TO THE PUBLIC FOR COMMENT ON ITEM 36.

NO PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'LL CLOSE IT.

ANY. NO COMMENTS.

WELCOME, SUPERVISOR.

NO. NO COMMENT. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

SCOTT. ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT. ALL. ALL AYES HAVE IT.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO, UH ITEM 37.

WORKFORCE INVESTMENT, OPEN UP TO THE PUBLIC.

ITEM 37.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE'LL CLOSE IT. ANY BOARD COMMENTS? NO BOARD COMMENTS. ALL RIGHT, WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

RECORD THE VOTE, PLEASE.

ALL AYES HAVE IT. OKAY.

NEXT WE HAVE OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICE.

ITEMS 38 AND 39.

THESE ITEMS WILL BE TAKEN SEPARATELY STARTING WITH ITEM NUMBER 38.

OKAY. WE HAVE [INAUDIBLE] MENDEZ.

YES, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO MARK HENDRICKSON, OUR ASSISTANT COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER, AND ERIC SERRATO, OUR WORKFORCE INVESTMENT DIRECTOR, I DID WANT TO MAKE SOME OPENING REMARKS TO THIS ITEM, ITEM 38.

UH, SYMBOLIC THAT WE ARE HERE TODAY TO PRESENT A PLAN FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR THE $20 MILLION IN STATE FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO ASSIST THE TOWN OF PLANADA, ONE OF OUR COMMUNITIES THAT WAS IMPACTED SEVERELY, UH, EARLY LAST YEAR, UH, A YEAR AGO, AS MENTIONED, UH, EARLIER BY THE BOARD.

UH, WE WERE AT THE EOC READYING OURSELVES FOR WHAT WOULD COME AS A RESULT OF THE ATMOSPHERIC RIVER EVENTS THAT IMPACTED MERCED COUNTY AND THE REGION.

UH, A YEAR LATER, WE STAND TOGETHER STRONGER, MORE RESILIENT AS AN ORGANIZATION AND AS A COMMUNITY.

UH, THE PLAN IS A PRODUCT OF EXEMPLARY WORK AND A COLLABORATION AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, BUT ALSO A RESULT OF COMMUNITY, UH, PARTNERS COMING TOGETHER TO INFORM DECISION MAKERS ON OUR LOCAL NEEDS.

UM, LASTLY, IT'S BEEN PREPARED, UH, BY OUR STAFF AFTER SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

SO IT IS COMPREHENSIVE.

IT IS STERILE, BUT IT HAS FLEXIBILITY BUILT IN SO THAT WE CAN PIVOT AS NEEDED ONCE WE BEGIN IMPLEMENTATION.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE EFFORT TO BRING THIS FORWARD FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

ONE OF MY DIRECTIVES TO STAFF IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE THE TIME TO DO IT RIGHT.

UH, BUT LET'S BUILD IN A LITTLE BIT OF FLEXIBILITY.

SO I THINK THIS IS A PRODUCT OF THAT GOOD WORK.

I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO MR. HENDRICKSON, MR. SERRATO, FOR THE DETAILS ON THE PLAN THAT'S, UH, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION THIS MORNING.

THANK YOU. GO AHEAD, SIR.

GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AGAIN. MARK HENDRICKSON, ASSISTANT COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER.

IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE THAT YOUR TEAM TODAY PRESENTS THE PLANADA FLOOD RELIEF PROGRAM, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO HELP THE COMMUNITY OF PLANADA CONTINUE ITS RECOVERY EFFORTS FROM THE FLOODS OF ONE YEAR AGO.

THIS PLAN AS THE CEO'S MENTIONED, HAS BEEN DEVELOPED IN CONCERT WITH THE COMMUNITY AND IN KEEPING WITH THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE LEGISLATION THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE.

NOW, AGAIN, WHILE NO PLAN IS EVER PERFECT, YOUR STAFF HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY TO DEVELOP THE MOST PERFECT PLAN IT CAN.

UNDERSTANDING THERE ARE MANY COMPETING INTERESTS IN THE COMMUNITY AND FINITE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TODAY.

ONE YEAR LATER FROM THE FLOODS, WE WOULD CERTAINLY BE REMISS IF WE DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE COMMUNITY OF PLANADA FOR ITS RESILIENCE, FOR ITS PATIENCE, AND FOR ITS HELP IN SHAPING THE PLAN THAT WE ARE SEEKING BOARD APPROVAL OF TODAY.

THE $20 MILLION PROGRAM WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE OUTSTANDING EFFORTS MADE BY OUR STATE LEGISLATORS, SENATOR ANNA CABALLERO AND ASSEMBLYWOMAN ESMERALDA SORIA, TO SECURE THESE RESOURCES IN THE STATE BUDGET PROCESS.

SO TO EACH OF THEM, WE OWE A GREAT AMOUNT OF GRATITUDE.

IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO HELPED BUILD THE REQUEST.

THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, MERCED COMMUNITY LABOR CENTER, VALLEY ONWARD, AND THE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL FOR JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

[00:55:01]

WOULD CERTAINLY ALSO LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK ALICIA RODRIGUEZ AND OLIVIA GOMEZ FOR THEIR MANY COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS, AND WE SINCERELY HOPE THAT THEY EACH KNOW HOW MUCH THEY ARE APPRECIATED.

AND AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF THE CEO, I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO THANK EACH OF OUR DEPARTMENTS AND OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THEIR TEAMS FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING WORK HELPING THE COMMUNITY RECOVER AND FOR BUILDING THIS PROGRAM.

AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, NO PROGRAM IS PERFECT.

AND WHILE $20 MILLION SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY, AND IT IS, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 843 HOUSEHOLDS IN PLANADA WHO HAVE SIMILAR YET VERY DIFFERENT NEEDS.

THIS REQUIRED YOUR TEAM TO BE STRATEGIC AND THOUGHTFUL IN OUR APPROACH, SO THAT THESE RESOURCES CAN IMPACT THE GREATEST NUMBER OF FAMILIES AND PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. OUR PROGRAM HAS TWO PRIMARY GOALS.

ONE, THAT WE ARE DEMONSTRATING THAT WE ARE PRIORITIZING HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF OUR RESIDENTS.

AND TWO, TO BE SIMPLE, WE'VE DEVELOPED A PROGRAM TO BE AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE FOR THE FOR THE PLANADA COMMUNITY.

EXCUSE ME. TO ACCESS.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HAS BEEN A MAJOR FOCAL POINT FOR THE COUNTY TEAM OVER THESE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, AND PERSONALLY HAVING BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE, I BELIEVE THAT OUR EFFORT REPRESENTS THE GREATEST OUTREACH IN THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY.

WE HAVE LISTENED AND INCORPORATED COMMUNITY INPUT TO OUR PLAN DEVELOPMENT, AND THEN WE LISTENED AGAIN AND PIVOTED WHEN NEEDED.

THERE ARE MANY TO THANK IN THIS REGARD AS OUR TEAMS FROM HRSA, PUBLIC HEALTH, PUBLIC WORKS, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WORKFORCE INVESTMENT, THE AG COMMISSIONER, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, OHS, FIRE AND COUNTY COUNSEL'S OFFICE.

WE ALL CAME TOGETHER DURING THIS TIME TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM PLAN THAT AIMS TO HELP THE MOST IN NEED.

I WOULD ESPECIALLY LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR DIRECTOR OF WORKFORCE INVESTMENT, ERIC SERRATO, FOR HIS PERSONAL TOUCH ON THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, DEVELOPING A MODEL THAT WE CAN USE PROSPECTIVELY.

AT THIS POINT, I'D LIKE TO ASK ERIC TO COME UP AND WALK YOU THROUGH THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS AND OUR MANY TOUCHPOINTS WITH THE COMMUNITY OVER THESE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS. THANK YOU.

UH. GOOD EVENING.

UH, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, UH, CEO MENDEZ.

UH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LASTED SEVERAL WEEKS, AND IN ITS TOTALITY, COLLECTIVELY, UH, REACHED MORE THAN 200 UNIQUE PARTICIPANTS OVER A COURSE OF SEVERAL MEETINGS.

UH, THIS EFFORT WAS DIVIDED INTO FOUR MAIN CATEGORIES.

THE FIRST WAS A SERIES OF THREE IDENTICAL WORKSHOPS.

UH, YOU SAW A PHOTOGRAPH OF IT, UH, OF ONE OF THOSE WORKSHOPS JUST NOW.

UH, TWO OF THOSE WERE HELD.

THEY WERE HELD IN THE PLANADA COMMUNITY.

AND THE THE GOAL OF THAT WORK WAS REALLY TO HEAR FROM RESIDENTS ABOUT HOW THEY WOULD LIKE THESE FUNDS TO BE DISTRIBUTED, AND NOT JUST HOW THEY WOULD LIKE THE ALLOCATIONS TO BE MADE, BUT THE PROCESS OF APPLYING OVERALL.

UH, WE THEN HAD A SESSION WHERE WE INVITED THOSE RESIDENTS BACK TO GET THEIR REACTIONS ON SOME KEY DECISION POINTS.

AND THE REASON YOU DO THAT WORK IS NOT TO JUST HEAR WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR, BUT TO REALLY GET A GUT CHECK FROM THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF THE PLAN DIRECTION.

AND WE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR THAT THERE WAS SOME POOR SUPPORT FOR FOR SOME OF THE KEY ITEMS, BUT ALSO HEARD VERY PASSIONATELY ABOUT, UM, SOME MISALIGNMENT THAT SOME OF THE COMMUNITY, UM, FELT THERE WAS IN THE ORIGINAL PLAN.

WE THEN WENT BACK AND WE PRESENTED DRAFTS AND FINAL DRAFTS OF THAT PLAN AND HEARD EVEN MORE INPUT, AND THEN FOLLOWED UP WITH DISCUSSIONS WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS, WITH EXPERTS, SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, BUSINESS OWNERS, TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THE DECISIONS THAT WE WERE MAKING.

I THINK ONE THING THAT I AM INCREDIBLY PROUD OF IS HOW THIS INFORMATION WAS HANDLED.

IT WAS REPEATEDLY SHARED WITH A SUBCOMMITTEE OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WAS PRESENTED TO DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THE CEO HIMSELF, WHERE IT WAS THOUGHTFULLY CONSIDERED.

WE WENT THROUGH EVERY ONE OF THOSE DATA POINTS.

IN TOTALITY, THERE WERE MORE THAN 7000 PIECES OF RECORDED INPUT IN VARIOUS CATEGORIES, AND EACH ONE OF THOSE WAS CONSIDERED.

AND I STAND AS TESTAMENT TO THE FACT THAT THAT INFORMATION REALLY INFORMED THE DECISIONS ON SOME OF THOSE ORIGINAL KEY POINTS.

UH, I ALSO WANT TO ADD MY THANKS TO THANKS TO THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT THAT MADE THIS POSSIBLE.

I WANT TO THANK, UH, THE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO HAVING THEIR STAFF OUT THERE, WHETHER IT WAS ON A SATURDAY OR IN THE EVENINGS, WALKING STREETS AND TALKING TO RESIDENTS AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF MY OWN TEAM.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ERIC. YOU AGAIN. ERIC.

UH, I THINK EXEMPLIFIED, UH, ALL THAT WE HOPE THAT THE DEPARTMENT HEAD IS WHEN IT CAME TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, THE WORK THAT WAS DONE WAS JUST SIMPLY EXTRAORDINARY.

[01:00:03]

NOW, KEEPING THIS IN MIND, AND ALSO TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE INPUT THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE COMMUNITY, YOUR STAFF BUILT A PROGRAM BUDGET FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF THIS $20 MILLION IN THIS REGARD BY BUCKET AREA, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE RESOURCES ARE DEDICATED TO HOME REPAIR AND DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

AGAIN, IN KEEPING WITH THE UNDERLYING STATE LEGISLATION AND THE COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS.

YOU WILL ALSO NOTICE ON THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE THAT IN ADDITION, OF COURSE, TO HOME REPAIR AND DIRECT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, BUSINESS SUPPORT, THERE IS MONEY SET ASIDE FOR BUSINESSES AS WELL FOR THOSE THAT WERE IMPACTED BY THE FLOOD EVENTS.

TO BREAK THIS DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT FURTHER, OUR GREATEST OBJECTIVE IS, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, IS TO PROTECT THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY AND THIS IS MOST CERTAINLY RELATED TO THEIR HOMES.

OUR HOME REPAIR PROGRAM WILL BE BASED ON PRIORITY LEVELS, AND FUNDS MAY ONLY BE USED TO AID IN THE REPAIR, REMEDIATION OR RECONSTRUCTION OF STRUCTURES DAMAGED BY FLOODING.

WE WILL BE LEVERAGING RELATIONSHIPS WITH NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THIS PROGRAM AS IT RELATES TO ANOTHER MAJOR COMPONENT OF OUR PROGRAM IS DIRECT ASSISTANCE, SPECIFICALLY HOUSING AND PERSONAL PROPERTY REIMBURSEMENT.

EVERY HOUSEHOLD'S NEEDS ARE VERY UNIQUE, AND CONSIDERING THE LIMITED RESOURCES AVAILABLE, A $15,000 MAXIMUM GRANT ALLOWANCE IS IN PLACE, WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH OTHER COUNTY PROGRAMS THE COUNTY ALREADY ADMINISTERS AND WILL HELP US STRETCH THESE RESOURCES AS FAR AND WIDE AS POSSIBLE.

MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS HAD THEIR VEHICLES DAMAGED OR DESTROYED RESULTING FROM LAST YEAR'S FLOODS.

OUR PROGRAM PROVIDES RELIEF IN THIS AREA AS WELL, PROVIDED THAT THE VEHICLES WERE REGISTERED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES AT THE TIME.

THE VALUE WILL BE BASED UPON THE KELLEY BLUE BOOK AND THERE IS A TWO VEHICLE MAXIMUM PER HOUSEHOLD.

ALSO, IN THE AREA OF LOST WAGES.

OUR PLAN CONTEMPLATES THIS AS WELL, AND THIS WILL BE CALCULATED AT $300 PER WEEK FOR UP TO SIX WEEKS.

AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, BUSINESSES ALSO SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AND LOSS.

WE LISTENED TO A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES THROUGH OUR OUTREACH PROCESS AND HAVE 500,000 SET ASIDE TO SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR RECOVERY EFFORTS.

THE REMAINING RESOURCES WILL BE PROGRAMED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, FOR ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM AND FOR CONTINGENCY TO ADDRESS UNANTICIPATED ISSUES.

SPEAKING OF WHICH, OUR PLAN WILL ALSO INCLUDE AN APPEALS PROCESS AND THE CONTINGENCY RESOURCES MAY BE USED TO ADDRESS ISSUES THAT ARISE FROM IT.

SPECIFICALLY, THERE IS $3 MILLION SET ASIDE RELATED TO INFRASTRUCTURE.

THIS PROGRAM PROPOSES TO FUND A STUDY TO HELP US SECURE FUTURE FUNDS TO CAPTURE OR DIVERT FLOOD WATERS.

IT PROPOSES TO PURCHASE NEW GENERATORS AND SUPPORT THE PLANADA COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT WASTEWATER SYSTEM, AND PROPOSES TO FUND FURTHER DEBRIS AND VEGETATION REMOVAL WITHIN MILES CREEK.

AT THIS POINT, I'M GOING TO ASK MR. SERRATO TO COME BACK UP AND WALK YOU THROUGH THE NEXT SERIES OF SLIDES RELATED TO KEY APPLICATION DATES.

THANK YOU. UH, WE'LL CLOSE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND KEY DATES.

WE'VE IDENTIFIED THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, WHERE WE WILL GO DOOR TO DOOR TO INFORM RESIDENTS AND HELP THEM PREPARE FOR THE APPLICATION PROCESS.

OUR COMMITMENT IS TO REACH EVERY SINGLE HOME THAT LIES IN THE IMPACTED AREA.

UM, BE ABLE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH, AND WALK RESIDENTS THROUGH POTENTIAL SCENARIOS SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE APPLICATION PROCESS WILL BE LIKE. UM, AS WELL AS HOW TO BEST PREPARE.

UH, ONE THING TO NOTE IS WE'VE ALREADY GOT A WEBSITE UP, WHICH IS PLANADA 20 M 20000000.COM.

UH, THAT WILL BE THE REPOSITORY FOR ALL INFORMATION, SORT OF DRAFT APPLICATIONS.

UM, ANYTHING THAT A RESIDENT NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT THE PROCESS.

AND THAT WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH.

UH, AND WE'VE ALSO, UM, PROCURED A COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT TO HELP US WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF FLIERS AND SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER TOOLS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WORD GETS OUT. THESE APPLICATIONS WILL OPEN ON MARCH 11TH.

UM, IT'S A STAFF ASSISTED PROCESS, WHICH MEANS THAT AN INDIVIDUAL WILL COME IN AND THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, COMPLETE THIS APPLICATION ON THEIR OWN.

UH, A MEMBER OF COUNTY STAFF WILL WALK THEM THROUGH ALL COMPONENTS OF THAT APPLICATION.

THAT SUPPORT WILL BE PROVIDED IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH.

IT WILL BE PROVIDED SIX DAYS PER WEEK, INCLUDING EVENINGS AND SATURDAYS, AS LATE AS SEVEN IN THE EVENINGS AND ON EVERY SATURDAY DURING DURING THAT PERIOD.

AN IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE IS THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO REMOVE AS MUCH FRICTION AS POSSIBLE, IN KEEPING WITH ONE OF THE ORIGINAL GOALS OF THE PROGRAM.

[01:05:08]

UH, EVERY PIECE OF MATERIAL WILL BE AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, AND THAT SAME, SAME TEAM OF STAFF MEMBERS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR FOLLOW UP ASSISTANCE.

AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THAT RESIDENT OR THAT BUSINESS OWNER OR THAT COMMUNITY PARTNER UNTIL THAT APPLICATION IS COMPLETED.

APPLICATIONS WILL CLOSE AFTER A SIX WEEK PERIOD.

THIS IS ONE PARTICULAR NOTE THAT WAS INFORMED BY COMMUNITY INPUT.

UH, SIX WEEKS WAS DECIDED BY THE COMMUNITY, WHICH WAS TO BE THE SUBSTANTIAL ENOUGH OF A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF TIME TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE IS ABLE TO COMPLETE THEIR APPLICATIONS.

UH, THOSE APPLICATIONS ARE GOING TO BE PROCESSED IN REAL TIME.

SO AS SOON AS THAT APPLICATION IS TURNED IN, IT WILL BEGIN ITS PROCESS OF BEING REVIEWED AND APPROVED.

HOWEVER, PAYMENT PROCESSING WILL BE HELD UNTIL THE TAIL END OF THAT PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT BUDGET, UM, CAN BE ALLOCATED AS NECESSARY AND REVIEWED, AND THEN INDIVIDUALS WILL BEGIN TO RECEIVE THEIR CHECKS BEGINNING IN MID-APRIL.

THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF SUPPORT, AND SO A RESIDENT MIGHT EXPECT OR A BUSINESS OWNER MIGHT EXPECT TO RECEIVE DIFFERENT CHECKS FROM EACH OF THE RESPECTIVE CATEGORIES. UH, BUT THEY'LL BEGIN TO RECEIVE THAT FUNDING BY THE END OF END OF APRIL.

THANK YOU. SO, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, IN CLOSING, YOUR STAFF HAS PROUDLY DEVELOPED THIS PLAN AND RECOMMENDS APPROVAL PER THE BOARD AGENDA ITEM FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY.

AGAIN, THIS PLAN WAS DEVELOPED WITH OPEN MINDS AND I BELIEVE WITH OPEN HEARTS.

AND WE BELIEVE THAT THIS PRESENT, THIS AS PRESENTED, HAS THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THE GREATEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN NEED POSSIBLE.

THAT SAID, AS THE CEO MENTIONED IN HIS COMMENTS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR OUR PROGRESS AND WE WILL.

WE WILL BE PREPARED TO PIVOT IF NECESSARY.

NOW, EACH OF OUR DEPARTMENTS WHO WILL BE ADMINISTERING COMPONENTS OF THE PLAN, AS DISCUSSED TODAY, ARE PREPARED TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS, AS IS THE CEO AND MYSELF.

AND WITH THAT SAID, MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GREAT PRESENTATION AND INFORMATION.

UM, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. THANK YOU.

UM, I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION, AND I'LL SAVE MY COMMENTS FOR AFTER.

UM, ON THE LOST WAGES PART.

HOW WAS THAT? HOW DO YOU PROVE THAT? THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

SO THE LOST WAGES WAS ACTUALLY BORN OUT OF RESEARCH AND REPORT THAT UC MERCED, UM PUBLISHED EARLIER.

WELL IN 2023.

UM AND THE RECIPIENT OF THESE FUNDS, I'LL FIRST SAY WILL BE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE NOT ABLE TO OR DID NOT APPLY FOR A TRADITIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, THE WAY THAT WE TYPICALLY VERIFY WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE WAS, UM, LOST WAGES BECAUSE OF THE STORMS WOULD BE TO LOOK AT HISTORICAL DATA. SO IF IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR THEY WERE EMPLOYED FOR, YOU KNOW, THE TOTALITY OF THE SEASON, AND THEN JUST BEFORE THE STORMS, THEY WERE PREPARING FOR THAT EMPLOYMENT OR WERE EMPLOYED, WE CAN REASONABLY POINT TO THAT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT DISRUPTION WAS DUE TO THE STORMS. UH, WE CAN ALSO HAVE EMPLOYER VERIFICATION, UH, WHENEVER THAT IS POSSIBLE.

UM, AND THERE ARE OTHER FORMS. WE ALSO CAN LOOK AT A PERSON'S, UM, TAX HISTORY, IF THAT'S IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS AVAILABLE TO US.

BUT THE IDEA WITH THESE FUNDS IS THAT IT IS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT ELIGIBLE OR WERE NOT ABLE, OR DID NOT APPLY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE IN THE WAKE OF THAT.

THANK YOU. AND WE HAVE.

UH SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. UM, WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO TO STAFF FOR DOING SUCH A GOOD JOB.

AND BUT AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, UH, THANK YOU TO THE TO THE RESIDENTS OF PLANADA FOR, UH, ENGAGING IN THE PROCESS AND HELPING DEVELOP SUCH, UH, WHAT I THINK IS REALLY AN AMAZING PROGRAM.

UH, I, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU WHEN YOU, YOU KNOW, I'VE, I'VE KIND OF DEALT WITH THE FLOOD ONCE, MANY YEARS AGO.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT, IT'S HARD TO BE PATIENT, ESPECIALLY IF, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED FUNDING AND THE FUNDING IS COMING.

AND I JUST I JUST FEEL LIKE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD PUBLIC COMMENT HERE AND, AND, YOU KNOW, AND THEN I THINK SOME OF THOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS CHANGE THE DIRECTION.

AND ANYWAYS, I JUST I JUST HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT DIRECTLY INVOLVED.

[01:10:02]

AND AND SO I WASN'T DIRECTLY INVOLVED.

BUT JUST WATCHING THIS PROCESS EVOLVE.

SO YOU KNOW, THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY INVOLVED.

I JUST IT'S JUST AMAZING TO ME REALLY.

UM, AND I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

ONE IS YOU TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ADJUSTING ON THE FLY AND FLEXIBILITY.

UM, SO IF IF ONE OF THE POTS OF MONEY GETS OVERSUBSCRIBED AND ANOTHER IS UNDERSUBSCRIBED, THEN AT SOME POINT IN TIME, WILL YOU MAKE A DECISION TO ALLOW THE MONEY TO MOVE FROM THIS POT TO THAT POT TO HELP MAKE FOLKS WHOLE? OR. YEAH. GO AHEAD.

I'LL GIVE YOU MY MY BEST SHOT.

QUICK, QUICK ANSWERS. YES, SIR.

NOW, WE ACTUALLY ANTICIPATE DEVELOPING ALMOST LIKE A BAROMETER AS AS WE SEE APPLICATIONS COME IN.

TO YOUR POINT, IF SOMETHING IS, IS IS WE'RE SEEING A GREATER DEMAND.

YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THIS ITEM DOES CONTEMPLATE GIVING THE CEO SOME AUTHORITY TO TO MOVE SOME, SOME RESOURCES AROUND TO MEET THAT DEMAND.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE CONTEMPLATED.

AGAIN, AS YOU WELL KNOW, THIS IS A STARTING POINT AND THIS IS BASED UPON INPUT THAT WE'VE RECEIVED.

BUT AS AS IT UNFOLDS IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS AHEAD, UM, YOUR STAFF IS CERTAINLY PREPARED TO PIVOT IF NEED BE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

YES. MR..

UM, CHAIR.

THANK YOU. UH, SUPERVISOR.

UH, JUST JUST TO ADD, UH, WE DO ALSO OR WE ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO PROVIDE QUARTERLY REPORTS OR PERIODIC REPORTS, I GUESS, TO THE STATE.

UH, WE'D BE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH THE BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY.

REALLY? UH, THAT DOCUMENT, THAT REPORT WILL CONTAIN ANY MODIFICATIONS THAT ARE DONE, ANY PROGRESS THAT'S MADE.

UM, SO WE CAN CERTAINLY SHARE THAT INFORMATION AS WELL.

UH, THERE'S A SERIES OF REPORTS, I THINK, IN SIX MONTH INCREMENTS.

AND SO THE FIRST ONE IS ACTUALLY DUE AT THE END OF THIS MONTH, UH, YOU KNOW, SO WE'LL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE, UH, KIND OF AN UPDATE ON, ON WHERE WE'RE AT AND THEN GOING FORWARD EVERY SIX MONTHS. SO WE CAN CERTAINLY ALIGN THOSE REPORTS WITH, UH, CHANGES TO THE PROGRAM AS, AS WE GET MORE INTO THE IMPLEMENTATION.

SO THANK YOU. GOOD QUESTION.

OKAY, NO FURTHER COMMENTS.

OKAY. WELL, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, UM, UH, ERIC AND MARK AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THE HSA TEAM.

IVANA, YOUR DEPARTMENT DID A GREAT JOB OUT THERE.

I KNOW THEY YOU HAD A LOT OF RESIDENTS THAT WERE STILL, YOU KNOW, UM, IN MUCH NEEDED OF INFORMATION.

I THINK YOU GUYS GAVE THEM A LOT OF INFORMATION AND, UH, WHAT THE PROCESS IS GOING TO BE ABOUT AND, YOU KNOW, JUST, UH, INFORMING THEM OF, OF I KNOW EVERYBODY WANTS, YOU KNOW, THE FUNDS ASAP.

BUT, UH, LIKE I SAID, IT'S COMING.

IT'S A WHOLE YEAR.

UH, BUT, UM, AND THEN I KNOW $20 MILLION IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE EVERYBODY'S PROBLEMS. IT'S NOT GOING TO HELP EVERYBODY ELSE, YOU KNOW? SO, YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY, BUT, UM, SO HOPEFULLY SOON WILL WILL START DISPERSING THOSE FUNDS.

BUT I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO APPLY.

I KNOW SOME RESIDENTS HAVE EXPRESSED THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THEY DON'T WANT TO APPLY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T WANT TO.

IT'S TO THEM IT'S LIKE, WELL, BUT THEY NEED THE SUPPORT.

AND THERE'S SOME, UH, SOME HOMES ARE STILL HAVE ISSUES, UH, HEALTH ISSUES THAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN FIXED.

AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN TOLD.

BUT HOPEFULLY, LIKE I SAID, THIS WILL RESOLVE SOME OF THE ONCE THEY GET THE FUNDS, THEY CAN, UH, HELP THAT.

SO AND THEN SUPERVISOR PEDROZO HAVE ONE MORE COMMENT.

WERE YOU FIRST THERE? NO, NO, I JUST WANTED TO, UM.

AND I WAS GOING TO, UM, WAIT UNTIL AFTERWARDS, BUT I'LL SAY IT NOW.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE STAFF.

I THINK THAT THEY WORKED REALLY HARD IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

YOU KNOW, THEY WERE GIVEN THIS POCKET OR THIS, UM, SOME MONEY AND THEY SAID, OKAY, NOW FIGURE OUT SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT AND DO IT QUICKLY.

AND I THINK HAVING EVERYBODY COME TOGETHER TO TO WORK ON THIS, AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

AND IT REALLY WENT TO SHOW THE PEOPLE IN PLANADA THAT, HEY, THIS IS FOR YOU.

THIS IS WHAT WE WANT.

WE WANT TO MAKE A PROGRAM THAT'S GOING TO BEST HELP YOU AND WORK FOR YOU.

UM, AND IT'S YOU NEVER WANT TO HAVE TO, TO COME UP WITH THESE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS ON THE FLY, BECAUSE YOU NEVER EXPECT TO EXPERIENCE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

AND I THINK OUR STAFF TOOK IT.

I THINK THEY DID A REALLY GOOD JOB AND REALLY EDUCATING AND GOING OUT AND TALKING TO PEOPLE AND ENCOURAGING.

I'M VERY HAPPY WITH THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING TO START AND THEY'RE GOING TO REALLY HELP PEOPLE FILL OUT THE APPLICATION THAT IT'S BOTH IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, AND IT'S NOT PROHIBITIVE TO ANYBODY.

AND EVERYBODY IS GOING TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY LOOK AT THIS.

AND YES, LIKE, UM, CHAIR ESPINOSA SAID, YOU KNOW, IT'S NEVER ENOUGH AND IT'S NEVER QUICK ENOUGH, BUT IT'S SOMETHING AND IT SHOWS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE AFFECTED BY IT.

THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE AFFECTED BY IT, JUST NOT AS MUCH AS THE PEOPLE IN THE IN THE COMMUNITY OF PLANADA.

AND SO I'M VERY HAPPY AND PROUD OF WHAT OUR TEAM HAS DONE.

AND THEN I'M ALSO REALLY PROUD OF THE, UM, THE PEOPLE IN PLANADA FOR STEPPING UP AND BEING HEARD AND SHOWING UP.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE COMMUNITY EVENTS AND THOSE COMMUNITY MEETINGS, IT CAN BE HIT AND MISS ON WHO'S GOING TO SHOW UP AND IF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SHOW

[01:15:04]

AND SO THAT'S REALLY IMPRESSIVE.

SO THANK YOU. WE HAVE COMMENTS FOR SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

YEAH. THANK YOU. I WAS HAVING TROUBLE THERE WITH MY BUTTON.

IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS TURNING ON AND TURNING OFF AT THE, UH, IT MUST BE BEING ON THIS SIDE OF THE DAIS THAT I'M NOT USED TO.

UM, YEAH, A BIG THANK YOU TO STAFF.

I MEAN, WHEN WE HEARD THAT WE WERE GOING TO GET THE $20 MILLION AND WHO WAS GOING TO DISPERSE IT, HOW WE WERE GOING TO DO IT, IT WAS VERY UNKNOWN.

AND WE WERE LOOKING FOR THE DIRECTION OF OUR ELECTEDS AT THE STATE WHO MADE THIS REQUEST.

AND THEY KIND OF JUST PUSH IT OVER TO US SAYING, NO, YOU GUYS NEED TO FIGURE IT OUT.

AND I THOUGHT STAFF DID A GREAT JOB.

AND AGAIN, OLIVIA GOMEZ, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UH, ALICIA RODRIGUEZ, BOTH OF YOU GUYS, ANYTIME THERE'S A PROBLEM OVER IN PLANADA, YOU GUYS STEP UP AND YOU'RE THERE, IT'S KIND OF REMINISCENT.

REMINISCE OF COVID.

UM, YOU TWO WERE RIGHT THERE IN THE FOREFRONT.

UM, MY PHONE GETS PINGED A LOT.

AND I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS.

AND STANDING UP AND LEADING YOUR COMMUNITY INTO THIS.

AND I KNOW THAT OUR STAFF COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

YOU, MR. CHAIR, AS AS BEING THE FORMER CHAIR.

I GOT TO BE A PART OF SOME OF THESE MEETINGS AND AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, I WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW FOR EVERY ONE OF THOSE COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAT THE COUNTY HOSTED, THERE WAS PROBABLY I THINK I'M SAFE IN SAYING AT LEAST FIVE MEETINGS THAT WERE HELD RIGHT BACK HERE IN 310.

THERE'S A CAST OF CHARACTERS RIGHT HERE IN THE FRONT OF THE ROOM WHO ON A PRETTY REGULAR BASIS, YOU WOULD SEE THEM ALL WALK DOWN THE HALL AND REALLY TRYING TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM THAT HAS NEVER BEEN DEVELOPED BEFORE.

UM, WE KNEW WELL IN ADVANCE, YOU KNOW, THE REQUEST WAS MADE AGAIN TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THE NGOS, THE NONPROFITS OUT THERE.

YOUR VOICES WERE HEARD BY BY SENATOR CABALLERO AND ASSEMBLYWOMAN SORIA, WHO THEN IN SHORT ORDER SAID, HEY, YOU GUYS GOT TO GET US SOMETHING TO ASK FOR.

AND THE THE GROUPS ALL CAME TOGETHER.

AND I'M GOING TO SAY IT SOMETIMES THOSE GROUPS DON'T ALWAYS SEE EYE TO EYE ON EVERYTHING.

BUT IN THIS SITUATION, THEY ALL CAME TOGETHER IN RELATIVELY SHORT ORDER AND PUT A NUMBER TOGETHER SO THAT THE SENATOR AND THE ASSEMBLYWOMAN COULD GO TO THE ADMINISTRATION IN SACRAMENTO AND MAKE THE ASK.

SO THEN WE KNEW IT WAS COMING.

BUT IN TYPICAL KIND OF STATE FASHION, WE KNEW IT WAS COMING, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY YET, WHICH GAVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO THEN DEVELOP A PROGRAM THAT'S NEVER BEEN DEVELOPED BEFORE, TAKE THE COMMUNITY INPUT.

AND I THINK IT WAS ALREADY STATED THAT IT'S NOT PERFECT, AND I'M SURE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE PEOPLE THAT THAT WALK AWAY FROM THIS THAT AREN'T AS HAPPY AS SOME OTHER PEOPLE.

BUT KNOWING THAT THERE'S A LIMITED AMOUNT OF RESOURCES, WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO GET THEM INTO THE HANDS.

THIS IS THIS WAS THIS WHOLE THING WAS KIND OF DESIGNED TO BE THAT EXTRA SAFETY NET.

IF YOU DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR FEMA, IF, YOU KNOW, IF FEMA DIDN'T COVER EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE THEN ELIGIBLE FOR THIS, THIS KIND OF THIS STATE FUNDING.

AND I THINK THAT'S NOT LOST ON ANYBODY THAT PUT THE PROGRAM TOGETHER.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHY I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IS BECAUSE OF SO MUCH OF THAT COMMUNITY INPUT AND THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

YOU HEARD HIM SAY DURING THAT APPLICATION PROCESS, WE WILL HAVE STAFF THERE.

SO SO I SEE QUITE A FEW PLANADA COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE ROOM.

MY ASK OF YOU IS, IS YOU KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS BETTER THAN I DO.

SO THOSE FOLKS THAT MIGHT BE HESITANT BECAUSE WE'RE THE GOVERNMENT AND WE'RE HERE TO HELP AND THINK AND ARE NERVOUS ABOUT IT, HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS TRULY ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO HELP YOU.

NOBODY ASKED FOR THIS.

NOBODY WANTED THIS. IT HAPPENED.

NOW WE'RE IN A POSITION TO WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO HELP.

AND SO I WOULD ASK YOU, COMMUNITY LEADERS OUT THERE, THE TRUSTED RESOURCES, THE TRUSTED MESSENGER, SHARE WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS, SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS THAT THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY.

AND THE STAFF THAT'S OUT THERE IS IS REALLY WANTS TO HELP YOU THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

THAT'S WHY THEY MADE IT AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE.

IT'S ONE APPLICATION.

WE ARE TRYING TO BE AS FLEXIBLE AS POSSIBLE, UNDERSTANDING THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE DO HAS TO WITHSTAND STATE LEVEL AUDITS.

UNDERSTANDING ALL THAT, BUT DOESN'T MATTER.

THE ANSWER IS NO UNTIL YOU ASK THE QUESTION.

AND SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU FOLKS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO APPLY.

DO YOU GET EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR? I DON'T KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW THAT YET.

BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, I'VE ASKED QUESTIONS ALONG THE WAY AND I'VE HEARD THINGS.

WELL, IF YOU HAVE TO HAVE A GOVERNMENT ISSUED ID, WELL, WHAT IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T? WHAT IF THEY LOST IT? WHAT IF THEY HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO GET ANOTHER ONE? ARE THERE WAYS THAT WE CAN BE FLEXIBLE TO TRY TO WORK AROUND THAT? AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE A LOT OF WHAT WE DO.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THIS, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO FIND EVERY WAY TO TELL YOU YES.

BEFORE MAYBE SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO TELL YOU NO.

SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO TALK TO YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.

AGAIN, NOT A PERFECT PLAN, BUT IT'S TRYING TO GET YOU CAN SEE LIKE FOR GOVERNMENT FROM THE TIME THAT WE ACTUALLY GOT THE MONEY AND HOPEFULLY WE'RE GOING TO BE DISTRIBUTING

[01:20:02]

IT'S I GET IT, I GET IT TO THE FOLKS THAT ONE YEAR AGO IS WHEN THIS ALL HAPPENED.

IT'S NEVER FAST ENOUGH, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO GET IT OUT THERE AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.

IT DOES US. LISTEN, THIS IS THE ONE THING I THINK WE'RE ALL I CAN SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUES.

NOT ONE OF US UP HERE WANT TO SEND ANY OF THAT 20 MILLION BACK TO SACRAMENTO.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET IT INTO THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT.

SO THIS IS WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE.

OUR TEAM, OUR STAFF.

THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THE PROGRAM TOGETHER.

NOW, ONE MORE ASK OF OUR OF OUR GREAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS OUT THERE IS HELP US MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING IT OUT TO THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT.

AND DON'T PUT US IN A POSITION TO HAVE TO TRY TO SEND SOME OF IT BACK.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WELL, I JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE AND I KNOW, UM, SOME COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE HERE.

OLIVIA AND ALICIA, UH, THEY HELPED A LOT, TOO, BUT ONE, ONE, UH, COMMITTEE LEADER THAT'S NOT HERE IS FABIO ROSALES.

SHE DID A LOT GREAT. SHE SUPPORTED ME AS WELL THERE.

UM, IN, UH, HELPING THE RESIDENTS.

AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF A FEW MEMBERS ARE HERE TOO, AS WELL.

BUT ONE, UH, OTHER RESIDENT OF PLANADA THAT WOULD REALLY, REALLY, UH, THAT, UH, UH, NIGHT OF THE FLOOD, UH, WAS OUT THERE HARD WORKING, CLEANING THE GUTTERS AND UNCLOGGING THE DRAINS.

IS VINCENT. VINCENT, IF YOU CAN, PLEASE STAND UP.

THIS IS ONE OF THE HARDEST WORKING GENTLEMEN, UH, OUT THERE.

HE WAS OUT THERE LAST NIGHT.

I THINK THE FLOODS WERE HALF TO HIS WAIST, AND HE HAD BOOTS, BUT I THINK THE, YOU KNOW, THE WATER WAS UP HIGH.

HE WAS OUT THERE. HE DIDN'T CARE.

HE WAS UNCLOGGING THE DRAINS.

I THINK HE DID A LOT OF WORK FOR THE COMMUNITY.

SO, VINCENT, UH, ON MY BEHALF AND AND LIKE I SAID, AND MY COLLEAGUES, I THINK, YOU KNOW, A THEY DON'T THEY DON'T I DON'T THINK THEY KNOW YOU, BUT, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP. AND NOT JUST THAT NIGHT, BUT YOU WERE CONSTANTLY FOR THE NEXT THREE MONTHS, YOU WERE OUT THERE HELPING US, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, PASS OUT ALL THE, ALL THOSE GOODS THAT, THAT WE GOT FROM THE, FROM THE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU. I DO THIS BECAUSE I LOVE PLANADA.

THANK YOU VINCENT.

APPRECIATE IT. I HAVE NO FURTHER COMMENTS.

I WILL OPEN UP, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER 38.

ANY RESIDENTS COMMENTS? SHE IS THE ONE.

MY NAME IS ANASTACIO ROSALES AND I'M A PLANADA RESIDENT.

I WAS DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE FLOOD THAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 9TH, 2023.

AND I UNFORTUNATELY, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY HAPPY NEW YEAR, BUT I'M NOT ABLE TO BECAUSE OF THE EFFECTS FROM THE FLOOD.

[INAUDIBLE] FIRSTLY, GOOD MORNING AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORKSHOPS THAT THE COUNTY HELD IN THE LAST MONTHS OF 2023, AND I AM PRESENT TODAY BECAUSE I HAVE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I WANT TO COMMUNICATE ABOUT THE DRAFT THAT THEY ARE GOING TO APPROVE TODAY.

[INAUDIBLE] I'M GOING TO READ A AND PRESENT YOU WITH A LYRIC AND TO WRITE.

I ALSO HAVE COPIES TO LEAVE TO YOU FOR YOU TODAY.

OKAY? RECOMMENDATIONS ARE FROM ME AND THE RESIDENTS WHO SIGNED THE LETTER.

OKAY.

FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO MENTION THE, UM, TIMELINE REGARDING THE DRAFT APPLICATION STARTING MARCH 11TH AND ENDING APRIL 20TH.

UM, I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE BIT DELAYED, AND I LIKE TO START THOSE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, PREFERABLY TODAY.

SPANISH] AND IF YOU WOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO LEAVE YOUR PHONE NUMBER AND EMAIL SO THAT WE CAN EXCHANGE INFORMATION AND GET UPDATES AS TO WHAT IS GOING ON.

[01:25:17]

SPECIFICALLY, RESIDENTS WANT TO KNOW WHEN APPLICATIONS ARE IN PROCESS, WHEN THEY ARE UNDER REVIEW AND WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO BE APPROVED FOR FUNDING.

I ALSO WANT TO GO OVER OTHER AREAS OF CHANGE.

WE WANT TO ADD THAT AREAS OF CHANGE.

CURRENTLY THE DRAFT SAYS THAT FOR EACH FAMILY MEMBER, A MAXIMUM OF $15,000 PER HOUSEHOLD WILL BE ONLY GIVEN.

WE WANT TO PROPOSE THAT THIS AMOUNT BE INCREASED TO A MAXIMUM OF 25,000 PER HOUSEHOLD, AND IF THERE ARE FUNDS RUNNING OUT IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA, IF FUNDS CAN BE MOVED FROM THAT AREA, FROM OTHER AREAS TO THAT AREA TO COMPENSATE.

TO ADDRESS THIS CHANGE, WE PROPOSE THAT YOU TRANSFER FUNDS THAT YOU HAVE ALLOCATED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AS A COST AS A COMMUNITY.

WE ALSO WANT TO KNOW HOW THE FUNDS FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, UM, SECTIONS WILL BE SPENT.

AND UM, SPECIFICALLY, WE WANT A DETAILED LIST WITH ALL ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS THAT CAN BE ACCESSED PUBLICLY.

THIS WILL HELP WITH TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

AND THE REASON WE WANT THE CHANGE FROM THE 15,000 PER HOUSEHOLD TO 25,000 PER HOUSEHOLD IS BECAUSE THERE'S MANY DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT ARE STILL TAKING PLACE THAT STILL NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, THAT HAVEN'T BEEN.

AGAIN I WOULD LIKE TO I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOU ASK THAT YOU PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I'M GOING TO LEAVE HERE IN THIS LETTER, AND ALSO PAY ATTENTION TO THE LIST OF NAMES OF OTHER RESIDENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY OF PLANADA.

LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, UNFORTUNATELY, I'M NOT ABLE TO SAY HAPPY NEW YEAR THIS MORNING BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES, THE ISSUES AT HAND.

MUCHAS GRACIAS TENGAN BUEN DIA.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND HAVE A GOOD DAY.

THANK YOU. FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

OH. COME ON. GO AHEAD.

OKAY. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ALISHA RIVERA AND I WORK FOR LEADERSHIP COUNCIL.

THIS MORNING I'M GOING TO BE READING COMMENTS BY TWO PLANADA RESIDENTS THAT WERE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE FLOOD.

SO I READ MY NAME IS SAUL CALDERON.

TO ME, THE PLAN NEEDS TO MAINLY PRIORITIZE DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO COST AND DAMAGES RESIDENTS HAD TO ENDURE.

SPECIFICALLY, I FEEL THAT FUNDS SHOULD REALLY FOCUS ON AIDING HOME REPAIRS, PERSONAL LOSSES, DEBTS AND COST PER HOUSEHOLD.

I A SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATION THAT I HAVE IS THE CURRENT ALLOTMENT AND MAXIMUM OF 15,000 PER HOUSEHOLD FOR PERSONAL PROPERTIES IS INSUFFICIENT.

I FIND THIS ALLOCATION UNFAIR SINCE BUSINESSES GET AN ALLOCATION OF $100,000 PER BUSINESS, WE NEED A HIGHER MAXIMUM THAN $15,000 AND FUNDS CAN BE TRANSFERRED FROM INFRASTRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.

I ALSO WORRY THAT THERE'S NO CAP FOR HOW MANY PROPERTIES AND LANDLORD CAN APPLY FOR AND FUNDINGS FOR.

[01:30:05]

LASTLY, APPLICATION TIMELINE PROPOSED WOULD ONLY DELAY PROCESS EVEN MORE.

THE APPLICATION WINDOW SHOULD BE SOONER THAN MARCH.

THE COUNTY SHOULD WORK TO MAKE THIS SOONER AND APPLICATIONS WINDOW SHOULD ONLY BE FOUR WEEKS.

THE SECOND COMMENT IS BY RESIDENT ESMERALDA.

I COULDN'T ATTEND THE MEETING TODAY BUT I DO WANT TO RAISE THESE POINTS.

FIRSTLY, I WANT TO PROPOSE THAT THE APPLICATION TIMELINE STARTING IN MARCH IS NOT ENOUGH.

IT IS A LONG TIME TO WAIT.

I WANT TO PROPOSE THAT THE COUNTY BEGIN APPLICATIONS BY THE END OF JANUARY, OR AS SOON AS THE COUNTY CAN.

I AM A TENANT AND SO MUCH DELAY OF THIS PLAN AFFECTS ME DIRECTLY.

THE LANDLORD CANNOT COVER THE DAMAGES WITHOUT THE FUNDS TO CONTINUE REPAIRS.

THAT'S WHY I WANT THIS PLAN TO ENSURE DIRECT ASSISTANCE WITH PERSONAL BELONGINGS AND HOME REPAIRS.

THE PLAN SHOULD SUPPORT THESE SECTIONS MORE THAN ANY OTHER SECTIONS.

MY BATHROOM IS STILL IN POOR CONDITION AND THE REPAIRS CANNOT BE MOVED FORWARD WITH THE ASSISTANCE MY HOME STILL NEEDS ON FUNDS AS I AM ATTENDING.

IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT THAT THE PLAN ADDRESSES SOLUTIONS TO SUPPORT TENANTS.

THEY MUST ENSURE THAT LANDLORDS DO NOT INCREASE RENT AFTER REPAIRS AND LASTLY ORDERING PERSONAL THINGS LIKE MY WASHING MACHINE.

SO DIRECT ASSISTANCE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

GO AHEAD. GOOD MORNING, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

MEYERS WITH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL.

UM, SO I FIRST WANT TO OPEN UP BY JUST SAYING THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN TO ALL THE STAFF THAT COLLABORATED FOR THE WORKSHOPS AND FOR PUTTING THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TOGETHER.

I DO THINK THAT OUT OF THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, SOME GOOD FEEDBACK WAS BROUGHT FORTH AND REFLECTED ONTO THE DRAFT PLAN.

UM, YOU KNOW, SOME POINTS THAT RESIDENTS DID APPRECIATE IN THE DRAFT PLAN WAS COUNTY ACKNOWLEDGING TENANT RIGHTS, APPLICATION AND ASSISTANCE, BEING INVOLVED AND WORKING VERIFICATION AROUND RESIDENTS ACCESSIBILITY AS WELL AS THE APPEALS PROCESS.

THERE ARE JUST SOME POINTS THAT I KIND OF WANT TO SUMMARIZE, UM, SOME OF WHICH, UM, RESIDENTS MENTIONED TODAY.

UM, AND I KNOW I'VE MENTIONED SOME OF THESE THROUGH EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS TO VARIOUS STAFF.

UM, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, RESIDENTS FEEL THAT THE PLAN SHOULD PRIORITIZE DIRECT AID, WITH MOST ALLOCATIONS GOING TOWARDS HOME REPAIRS, PERSONAL LOSSES, STEPS AND CORES. UM, AS YOU ALL HEARD TODAY, THE 15,000 ALLOTMENT CAP PER HOUSEHOLD ISN'T SUFFICIENT, AND THEY WOULD WANT TO SEE THAT, UM, INCREASED THE TIMELINE IS ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING A LOT OF MARCH NOT BEING SUFFICIENT.

UM, FOLKS, JUNE WOULD IDEALLY WANT TO PUSH THAT TIMELINE EARLIER.

UM, THEY, LIKE FOLKS, DO WANT TO CONTINUE PROVIDING INPUT AND DO SUSPECT THAT INPUT WILL ARISE THROUGH THE PROCESS, BUT THEY ALSO WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THEY DON'T THINK ANY ADDITIONAL WORKSHOPS ARE NEEDED TO GET THAT INPUT.

THEY JUST DON'T WANT TO PUSH THE TIMELINE EVEN MORE BY HAVING ADDITIONAL WORKSHOPS.

UM, INFRASTRUCTURE IS ANOTHER COMPONENT WHERE RESIDENTS DO AGREE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AND FLOOD PREPAREDNESS ARE IMPORTANT, BUT THEY THEY REALLY WANT TO SEE THE 20 MILLION FOCUS ON DIRECT AID.

AND SO TRYING TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY OF WHAT OTHER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.

UM, AND THEN OVERALL, JUST GRATEFUL FOR THE COLLABORATION, EXCITED TO SEE THIS MOVE ALONG FORWARD AND CONTINUE AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUED, UH, CONVERSATIONS ON THIS EFFORT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

HELLO, I'M ALICIA RODRIGUEZ.

UM, I WAS GOING TO SAY GOOD MORNING, BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING INTO THE AFTERNOON AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

UM, TODAY, IT HAS BEEN A YEAR SINCE PLANADA WENT THROUGH THAT FLOOD THAT CHANGED THE QUALITY OF LIVING FOR THE PLANADA RESIDENTS.

WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THE GOD SAVED LIVES AND NO ONE WAS CRITICALLY INJURED.

THANKS TO GOD FOR THAT.

I REMEMBER THAT DAY VERY WELL BECAUSE I WAS ACTUALLY IN MY BED.

I HAD JUST BEEN RELEASED FROM THE MODESTO HOSPITAL AND I GOT CALLS FROM RESIDENTS ALREADY CONCERNED ABOUT THE THE SAND AND THE BAGS.

THEY WILL NOT UM, HAPPENING LE GRAND AND PLANADA.

I GOT IN MY CAR AND I DROVE AROUND, DODGING THE WATERS THAT WERE CREEPING ALREADY THROUGH THE THROUGH THE CANALS AT ABOUT 3:00 TO 5:00, GOING DOOR TO, YOU KNOW, GOING TO LE GRAND AND PLANADA TRYING TO GET THE SAND.

ONE HAD SAND, ONE DIDN'T HAVE SAND, ONE HAD BAGS, THE OTHER ONE DIDN'T HAVE BAGS TO THE GROUND LOCATIONS.

AND CALLING ESPINOSA FOR HELP AT 3:00.

TODAY IS ALSO BEEN ONE MONTH SINCE MY MOM PASSED AWAY.

SHE PASSED AWAY LAST MONTH ON THE NINTH, BUT I'M HERE FOR PLANADA RESIDENTS AND I'VE BEEN WITH PLANADA RESIDENTS SINCE THE DAY THIS HAPPENED, AND I TOLD THEM I WASN'T GOING TO

[01:35:07]

AND I WANT TO THANK SENATOR ANA GABRIELA FOR BEING THERE AND PLANADA JANUARY THROUGH APRIL TO SENATOR ANA AND HER STAFF WENT TO HOMES, LISTENING TO RESIDENTS, HEARING THEIR CRIES AND WHAT NEEDED WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE.

AND SHE DELIVERED. AND SO DID THIS ASSEMBLY MEMBER AND STAFF.

I WANT TO SHARE TODAY SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID AS A SUBCOMMITTEE, THAT WE BROUGHT THE CRITICAL THINKING AND COLLABORATION IN THE WORKSHOPS TO GATHER MORE DATA, SPECIFICS FROM THE RESIDENTS THAT WAS DONE WITH THE DATA FROM AN ONWARD.

WE WERE ALSO THE COUNTY, UM, AS A TEAM.

WE WERE A SUBCOMMITTEE, AND THE COUNTY AND STAFF WITH THE COUNTY AND STAFF AND THE ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT EACH OTHER'S VIEWPOINTS TO WORK TOGETHER.

SOME HAD TO STEP BACK OR TAKE A BREAK SOMETIMES, BUT WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK, COLLABORATE WITH RESIDENTS AND ACHIEVE THE GAPS THAT WERE OUT THERE THAT WERE BEING BROUGHT UP BY THE DATA.

I WOULD SUGGEST TO HAVE AN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, AN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FOR THE $20 MILLION, THAT WE SHOULD HAVE ONE IN PLACE TO ENSURE THE TAXPAYERS THAT 20 MILLION FROM THE GOVERNMENT IS SPENT EFFICIENTLY, OFFICIALLY, AND TRANSPARENCY.

I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SEE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE PROPERTY VALUES AND HOMES, ACCORDING TO RESEARCH AND AVERAGE HOME PLANADA IS MARKET $175,000 AND CAN GO UP TO $250,000.

MOSTLY YOU DON'T KNOW UNDER UNDER KNOW WHAT THE INSURANCE DOES, BUT THEY ACTUALLY ASK YOU TO DO YOUR PERSONAL BELONGINGS UP TO 50%.

IT CAN BE A VALUE ANYWHERE FROM 20 TO 50.

DEPENDS HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO PAY FOR YOUR INSURANCE MONTHLY.

THIS IS ALSO FOR RENTAL.

THIS BUDGET IS GIVING 15.

I THOUGHT IT WAS 20,000.

I JUST HEARD IT WAS 15,000 FOR EACH HOUSEHOLD.

IS THIS REASONABLE WITH ANY OF US BE ABLE TO REPLACE OUR HOME IN 2024 PRICES TODAY AND SOME OF THESE HOMES WERE DESTROYED.

I WALKED IN THESE HOMES.

I WAS THE ONE THAT ACTUALLY WAS THE BRIDGE.

OKAY, I'LL GIVE YOU A FEW MORE SECONDS.

GO AHEAD. SORRY.

GO AHEAD. BUT I WANTED TO SAY THAT, UM, THE OTHERS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF AREAS THAT I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FLEXIBILITY IN THIS FUNDING, LIKE WE SAID, AND WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT IT MORE CLEARLY, YOU KNOW, CLEARLY AND USE OUR HEARTS.

UM, I DO WANT TO SAY THAT ONE THING, THOUGH, BEFORE I GET TURNED OFF, I HOPE WE LEARN TO EXPAND OUR KNOWLEDGE IN HUMAN CULTURES AND HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT BINDS US TOGETHER AND WHAT DIFFERENCES US FROM ONE ANOTHER.

WE CAN DO WHAT IS RIGHT IF WE ARE WILLING TO PUT UP WITH THE TIME THAT GOD GIVES US HERE ON EARTH.

THANK YOU. THANK.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

I WOULD START PREPARED TO COME AND SAY ANYTHING.

TODAY I WAS JUST COMING TO HEAR THE APPROVAL OF THIS PLAN FOR THE COMMUNITY OF PLANADA.

BUT I FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT TO COME UP TODAY.

UM, I WOULD SAY EXACTLY AT THIS TIME.

I MADE THE DRIVE A YEAR AGO AND SAW ALL THE WATER IN CUNNINGHAM ROAD COMING TO PLANADA, AND I SAID, WE HAVE TWO HOURS BEFORE WE START FLOODING.

AND SURE ENOUGH, THAT'S WHEN IT STARTED SPILLING OVER.

BUT I'M ALSO VERY THANKFUL TO BE HERE AFTER THREE YEARS WORKING WITH A LOT OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS HERE.

STARTED WITH COVID WITH BECKY.

SHE'S HERE.

UM, DOCTOR SANDOVAL, I GAINED A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE IN THE DIFFERENT AREAS AND DIFFERENT AREAS OF GOVERNANCE, WHICH GAVE ME, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT MORE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT TO DO IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, YOU KNOW, AND HAD ALREADY BUILT THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH MANY OF YOU AND MANY OF THE STAFF. UM, WHICH ALLOWED ME TO CONTINUE WORKING DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY WITH A LOT OF THEM DURING THIS TIME.

AND I'M JUST VERY GRATEFUL THAT IN THIS SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME WE HERE A YEAR.

BUT IN REALITY, IN A YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH A LOT.

AND TO SIT HERE AND TO SAY PLANADA HAS $20 MILLION WITHIN A YEAR, IT'S A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT BECAUSE WE COULD TURN AROUND AND SAY MANY COMMUNITIES THAT WERE AFFECTED THE SAME WAY NEVER RECEIVED FUNDING LIKE WE DID.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT SUPPORT.

I KNOW THERE WAS TIMES THAT I WAS VERY FRUSTRATED AND MAYBE HUNG UP ON SOME PEOPLE, BUT IT WAS THOSE MOMENTS OF FRUSTRATION AND STRESS OF JUST TRYING TO DO THE BEST FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT WERE SEVERELY AFFECTED.

AND I ACKNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF THEM ARE STILL STRUGGLING.

THEY'RE NEVER GOING TO GO BACK TO WHAT THE COMMUNITY OF PLANADA IS NEVER GOING TO GO BACK TO WHAT IT WAS.

BUT OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A NEW BEGINNING FOR ALL OF US.

[01:40:01]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING. YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T I WASN'T PLANNING ON TALKING OR ANYTHING.

I GO, I'VE BEEN GOING TO ALL THESE MEETINGS AND PLANADA LISTENING TO EVERYTHING.

I'VE ALWAYS STAYED QUIET, NEVER REALLY VOICED MY OPINIONS OR NOTHING.

BUT ONE THING I'M CONCERNED ABOUT WITH THIS PLAN IS THESE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.

HOW ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO GIVE THEM A TIMELINE? OR BECAUSE MY PARENTS HOME, I WISH I HAD A I TOOK A PICTURE THIS MORNING SO YOU GUYS COULD SEE WHAT IT STILL LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE THEY GOT THEY GOT LINKED UP WITH A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WAS SUPPOSED TO HELP THEM.

MY DAD, MY DAD'S BEEN WELL, HE WOULD ACTUALLY CALL THIS PERSON TO TRY TO GET INFORMATION, FOLLOW UP OR WHATEVER.

THIS PERSON GOT MAD AT MY DAD AND TOLD HIM NOT TO CALL HER NO MORE.

SO THIS IS COMING FROM A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, WHICH IS WHAT YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO GET US TO LINK UP WITH TO HELP THE RESIDENTS OF PLANADA FIX OUR HOUSES.

SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT DON'T HAPPEN? YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, I WISH I HAD A PICTURE OR EVEN KNOWS WHAT OUR HOUSE LOOKS LIKE.

ALICIA. PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY, THEY DRIVE DOWN BRODERICK, THEY'LL SEE WHAT OUR HOUSE, WHAT MY PARENTS HOUSE LOOKS LIKE IT.

IT'S. I MEAN, MY PARENTS CAN'T LIVE THERE, AND WE'RE WAITING FOR THIS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION TO COME HELP OR GIVE US AN UPDATE, BUT WE HAVEN'T HEARD NOTHING SINCE SEPTEMBER, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER TIME FRAME.

THAT'S WHEN THEY TOLD MY DAD, DON'T CALL US NO MORE AND WHENEVER WE GET AN UPDATE, WE'LL CALL YOU.

SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE SURE THESE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ACTUALLY DO THIS IN A TIMELY MANNER, NOT SAY, OH, IT'S GOING TO BE FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, OR WE COULD HELP YOU.

YOU KNOW, THERE HAS TO BE A WAY TO GET THESE, UH, WELL, HOLD THESE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ACCOUNTABLE AS FAR AS A TIMELINE.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU SAYING YOU CAN HELP THESE PEOPLE? WELL, LET'S TRY TO GET THIS DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, NOT FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, BECAUSE FIVE YEARS IS A LONG TIME.

IT'S BEEN LIKE I SAY, IT'S BEEN ONE YEAR THAT THIS HAPPENED.

AND OUR HOUSE, MY PARENTS HOME, IT'S PRETTY MUCH JUST BONES.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS. HONESTLY.

IT'S BONES.

YOU KNOW, WE TRY TO GET HELP FROM, UH, SOMEONE THAT WAS BUILDING.

WE PAID THE GUY $30,000.

THEY WENT AND STOPPED THEM.

SO WE LOST $30,000 BECAUSE THAT GUY DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE MY PARENTS OUR MONEY BACK.

SO WE'RE OUT OF MONEY.

WE GOT NOTHING.

I JUST THINK, UH, IF YOU'RE GOING TO USE NON PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, WE GOT TO.

YOU GUYS NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO ACTUALLY HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

YEAH. THANK YOU. THE COUNTY IS GOING TO BE TAKING THE APPLICATIONS.

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? NO, NO FURTHER COMMENTS.

OR THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE CEO.

ITEM 38 IS NOW CLOSED AND WE HAVE A COMMENT BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

YEAH. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I AM IN FULL SUPPORT OF THIS PROGRAM.

$20 MILLION GOING TO PLANADA IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

AND I AGREE WITH OLIVIA THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GET $20 MILLION HERE WITHIN A YEAR.

IS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

UM, BY THE GOOD WORK OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES AT THE STATE LEVEL.

BUT I WANT TO PLANADA RESIDENTS TO REALIZE YOU GUYS ARE GETTING $20 MILLION, UM, DISTRICT THREE WHO HAD A BREAK AND BEAR CREEK HAD FLOWING WATER THROUGH THEIR HOUSES FOR FIVE DAYS.

AND NOT UNTIL WE WERE ABLE TO BREAK OFF.

IT WAS A BREAK IN TO TWO PLACES, AND I HAVE FOLKS WHO ARE IN THEIR 80S WHO ARE STILL NOT IN THEIR HOMES TO THIS DAY, AND THEY DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY MONEY.

SO I JUST WANT TO IN REPRESENTING OF DISTRICT THREE, IT BEHOOVED ME NOT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THAT, BUT PLEASE REALIZE $20 MILLION IS GREAT HELP FOR YOU FOLKS.

BUT JUST REMEMBER, THERE'S FOLKS IN DISTRICT THREE WHO DIDN'T RECEIVE ANYTHING.

THANK YOU, MISTER CHAIR.

THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO SAY WHAT WE HAVE SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

ONE MORE COMMENT. YEAH.

UM, I KIND OF WANT TO ECHO WHAT SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL SAID.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT $20 MILLION IN A YEAR IS A LOT OF MONEY.

AND I THINK THAT THE PLAN THAT IS PUT IN PLACE IS A GOOD PLAN.

BUT JUST LIKE IN SUPERVISOR MCDANIELS.

DISTRICT THREE, DISTRICT TWO.

UM, THERE WAS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF FLOODING AS WELL.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE THEY DIDN'T GET ANY MONEY.

AND I'M STILL GETTING CALLS FROM THEM ABOUT IT AS WELL.

AND SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET THIS MONEY FROM THE STATE AND WORKING WITH THE STATE PARTNERS TO BE ABLE TO GET THIS MONEY, BUT JUST KNOW THAT THERE WAS OTHER AREAS OF MERCED COUNTY THAT WERE FLOODED AND RESIDENTS STILL ARE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IT, STILL CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF THE CREEK MAINTENANCE.

[01:45:06]

THE MONEY FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS THERE SO THAT IT CAN MITIGATE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT HAPPENED TO WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO SEE SOME OF THAT STUFF HAPPEN AGAIN.

SO BECAUSE THIS IS ALL ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T DO THAT.

AND SO IT'S LIKE THE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUPS, IT'S THE DIFFERENT, UM, WATERWAYS THAT WERE BROKEN IN THAT AREA BECAUSE THAT ALL FLOWS SOMEPLACE.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE MAINTAIN THAT AND KEEP THAT IN THERE.

BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, THIS PLAN IS IS FLEXIBLE, LIKE THEY SAID MULTIPLE TIMES, THAT IT ALLOWS FOR US TO PIVOT WHEN NEEDED AND IT ALLOWS FOR US TO CONTINUE THIS, THIS DIRECTION THAT WE'RE ON RIGHT NOW.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COMMENTS.

WELL, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, UM, YOU KNOW, NONPROFITS SOMETIMES, UH, THEY'VE BEEN COLLABORATING WITH THE COUNTY ON HOW TO DISPERSE THESE FUNDS AND WORKING TOGETHER WITH HSA AND EVERYBODY, ALL OUR STAFF.

BUT IF THEY HAVE SEPARATE PROGRAMS GOING ON AS NONPROFITS, UH, THEY WE HAVE NO CONTROL OF HOW WHAT IF THEY HAVE FUNDS AND THEY'RE DISPERSING OUT TO THE PUBLIC? WE HAVE NO CONTROL OF THE COUNTY, HAS NO CONTROL OVER THAT.

THEY'RE WORKING ON THAT. AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY THEY'VE HAD SOME RESIDENTS AND SOME RESIDENTS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO BEEN ABLE TO GET SOME STUFF FROM THE FROM THOSE ORGANIZATIONS. BUT THE COUNTY AGAIN, HAS NO CONTROL OVER THAT.

OKAY. SO UM, ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL, WE'LL TAKE IT'S 38 AND 39, RIGHT? NO, JUST JUST 38.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL HAVE, UH, WE'LL CALL FOR A MOTION ON ITEM 38.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR JOSH PEDROZO AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

UH, WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

RECORD THE VOTE. ALL EYES HAVE IT.

ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE HAVE ITEM SECOND ITEM NUMBER 39.

I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT TO, UH, UM, 39.

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? NO. WE'LL CLOSE, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT, AND THEN WE'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

THE SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

OKAY? OKAY.

ALL EYES HAVE IT.

NEXT WE HAVE BOARD APPOINTMENTS.

ITEM 40 THROUGH 45.

PLEASE NOTE ON ITEM 40, THE RECOMMENDED ACTION IS MODIFIED TO READ.

REAPPOINTMENT MATTHEW LEO TO CONTINUE TO SERVE AS DISTRICT FOUR REPRESENTATIVE ON THE MAY DAY FAIR BOARD, ALSO KNOWN AS THE SPRING FAIR BOARD, WITH A TERM EXPIRING JULY 1ST, 2026. OKAY, ANDERSON, OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BOARD APPOINTMENTS, ITEMS 40 TO 45.

ANY COMMENTS? NO COMMENTS WERE CLOSE.

AND THEN WE'LL CALL FOR A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND THE SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

CALL FOR A VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE, PLEASE.

ALL EYES HAVE IT. ALL RIGHT.

NEXT WE HAVE A BOARD OF INFORMATION.

POSSIBLE ACTION. AT THIS TIME, OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR INFORMATION ITEM 46.

[BOARD INFORMATION & POSSIBLE ACTION]

WE HAVE A COMMENT BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC FIRST AND THEN WE'LL GO TO SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO I DON'T TYPICALLY LIKE TO MAKE MOTIONS ON THESE ITEMS, BUT THIS ONE HERE IN PARTICULAR, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS IS, UM, AS WE, AS THIS BOARD DEDICATED $10 MILLION OF OUR ARPA MONEY TO DOING ROADS.

THIS IS KIND OF THAT THE FINAL POINT OF THAT, I MEAN, THE WORK STILL HAS TO BE DONE, BUT THIS IS THEY PUT IT OUT AS A FOR BID AS A GROUP PROJECT.

AND WHEN I SAY GROUP PROJECT, ALL THE ROADS THAT THAT WE HAD DETERMINED THAT WE WERE GOING TO TRY TO GET DONE WITH SOME OF OUR ARPA MONEY.

UM, AND THIS IS KIND OF THE CULMINATION OF THAT AND LOOKS LIKE TIGER CONSTRUCTION IS THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDER ON THAT.

AND SO I LOOK FORWARD INTO THIS UPCOMING YEAR, UM, AND SEEING SOME MORE ROADS GET PAVED IN AND AROUND ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS.

THANK YOU.

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS?

[01:50:01]

CALL FOR THE VOTE.

I MEAN, UH, MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE.

YOU ALWAYS HAVE IT.

LAST IS BOARD REPORTS.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL START WITH SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

THANK YOU.

UM, CHAIRMAN UH, ESPINOSA.

AND CONGRATULATIONS.

UM, I WOULD FIRST WANTED TO START BY SAYING HAPPY NEW YEAR.

HOPEFULLY, EVERYBODY HAD A, UM, A GREAT HOLIDAY SEASON.

UM, UH, OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, I KNOW THAT'S BEEN REALLY BUSY, BUT I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE DRUG COURT GRADUATION.

UM, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TOUR THE MERCED COLLEGE AG, UH, INNOVATION BUILDING.

UM, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS SOMETHING THAT I WANTED TO DO.

AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF GOOD STUFF GOING ON OUT THERE, AND THEY'RE EXPANDING SIGNIFICANTLY.

AND SO MYSELF AND, UM, UH, DIRECTOR RUNYAN WENT OUT AND DID A QUICK TOUR TO SEE WHAT THEY WERE DOING.

IT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

UM, I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO HMONG NEW YEAR.

UM, ALWAYS ONE OF MY FAVORITE, UM, EVENTS OF THE YEAR.

UM, TO GO AND SEE AND CELEBRATE THE CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN MERCED COUNTY, I ALSO WANT TO SAY, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

UM, UH, A HAPPY UPCOMING BIRTHDAY TO SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

UM, I'M NOT GOING TO SING, BUT THEY KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT THAT.

UM, ALSO, I WANTED TO SAY, UM, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T GET TO SAY THIS EARLIER, BUT AS, UH, WORKING WITH, UH, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AS CHAIRMAN WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE. HE, HE'S VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT, UM, MERCED COUNTY AND ESPECIALLY DISTRICT FIVE, BUT ALL OF MERCED COUNTY.

AND SO I KNOW THAT WORKING WITH, YOU KNOW, THIS GROUP OF GENTLEMEN UP HERE HAS BEEN VERY, UM, I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE TO SERVE, UM, WITH DARON AS CHAIR, LLOYD AS CHAIR, SCOTTY AS CHAIR.

NOW, RODRIGO.

AND I THINK THAT EVERYBODY UP HERE HAS THE, UM, BEST INTENTIONS FOR MERCED COUNTY, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATED, UH, SCOTTY, YOUR LEADERSHIP OVER THIS LAST YEAR.

UM, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT IT WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, GETTING THAT FIRST CALL ABOUT THE FLOODS AND GOING OUT THERE.

SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THAT ON.

AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR DEDICATION AND WORK.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

UM, AGAIN, SCOTT.

GOOD JOB THIS TIME.

I KNOW I DID A LITTLE RIFF JUST TO GET YOU, UH, GET THE TIMING DOWN.

WE SEE RODRIGO GOING THROUGH IT RIGHT NOW.

IT'S A IT'S DEFINITELY A PROCESS.

AND I THOUGHT YOU GOT TO TALK A LOT AS THE CHAIRMAN, BUT I REMINDED MY COLLEAGUE TO MY RIGHT THAT, OH MY GOODNESS, WE FORGOT HOW MUCH HE COULD TALK WHENEVER HE'S NOT THE CHAIRMAN. SO NO, APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP.

YOU ARE ALL OVER THE COUNTY AND UH, BELIEVE ME, IT WAS RECOGNIZED.

AND YOU NEVER FORGET TO INVITE ME OVER TO THE WEST SIDE ON ANY OF THOSE EVENTS.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT AS WELL, BECAUSE WE DO LOOK AT THIS FROM THESE SEATS.

WE LOOK AT THE COUNTY IN FULL AND WE MAKE OUR DECISIONS THAT ALTHOUGH, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW DISTRICT THREE IS USUALLY REPRESENTED A LITTLE BETTER THAN EVERYBODY ELSE. AS WE CAN LOOK AROUND THE ROOM HERE OF ALL THE DISTRICT THREE FOLKS WHO WHO ARE HERE, UH, BUT WITH THAT, UM, HAPPY NEW YEAR.

UH, GOALS ARE SET.

READY TO GET A NEW YEAR GOING AND, UH, SALTS OVER THE SHOULDER AND LET'S MOVE FORWARD.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

UM. WELL, UH. THANK YOU.

UH SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

UH, MY COLLEAGUES HAVE KIND OF HAVE SAID IT, AND I THINK SAID IT PRETTY WELL.

YOU KNOW, YOUR PASSION FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE IS, UH, IS AWESOME.

AND, UH, I, UM, KIND OF ACTUALLY LOOK FORWARD TO CARRYING ON SOME OF THE STUFF THAT WAS STARTED, YOU KNOW, OVER THIS NEXT YEAR AS WELL.

AND, UH, I, I GUESS, UH, I'LL SAY, YOU KNOW, THE THIS LAST YEAR WAS A TOUGH YEAR, AND I AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S JUST BECAUSE OF, UM, YOU KNOW, THE FLOODING KIND OF STARTED OFF AS A TOUGH YEAR AND IT, YOU KNOW, OR IF IT WAS COMING OUT OF COVID AND THAT LEFT US BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL.

UM, I JUST KNOW THAT, UH, THAT THIS LAST YEAR, I'M GLAD THAT 2023 IS BEHIND ME.

AND, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO NOT REFERENCING IT TOO MUCH ANYMORE.

AND I WOULD IMAGINE SOME OTHER PEOPLE FEEL THE SAME WAY.

UM, I JUST LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING BACK TO IT.

UM, YOU KNOW, AT MY LAST FEW COMMUNITY MEETINGS, I'VE KIND OF FOUND MYSELF APOLOGIZING TO THE COMMUNITIES BECAUSE BECAUSE WE WERE SO BUSY IN CERTAIN AREAS, OTHER THINGS GOT LEFT OUT. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I KIND OF DESCRIBE IT AS, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE IN MY EIGHT YEARS HERE.

WELL, SEVEN YEARS, UM, WORKING ON MY EIGHTH YEAR, UH, THAT THAT WE, WE WERE MOVING FORWARD AND THEN, MAN, WE JUST IT SEEMS LIKE WE'VE STRUGGLED THIS LAST YEAR AND AND IT'S

[01:55:09]

IT'S NOT FOR. IT'S JUST THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF OTHER THINGS TO DO.

AND AND SO ANYWAYS, I'M JUST EXCITED ABOUT 2024 AND AND I KNOW THE GENTLEMAN SAID EARLIER HE COULDN'T SAY, UH, HAPPY NEW YEAR AND I DON'T KNOW HIS SITUATION AND I WON'T, I GUESS, UM, UH, I WON'T GUESS AT IT, BUT YOU KNOW, I'LL, I'LL SAY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO MY COLLEAGUES, OUR STAFF, UH, THE CITIZENS OF MERCED COUNTY.

AND I JUST LOOK FORWARD TO A GREAT YEAR.

YOU GOT A LOT OF ON YOUR SHOULDERS.

AND SO, UH, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO GET TO IT AND AND GET SOME STUFF DONE.

AND, UH, ANYWAYS, UM, I AND THEN I WOULD, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TO SAY THAT, UM.

IT. UH, IT'S KIND OF A NEW DAY, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO A NEW YEAR.

THANKS. THANK YOU.

SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I WON'T BE KEEPING MY COMMENTS BRIEF.

I GOT A LOT I WANT TO SAY.

I'VE BEEN PINNED UP IN THAT MIDDLE CHAIR FOR A WHOLE YEAR NOW.

I GOT TO KIND OF LET IT OUT, NO.

YEAH. IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, I DO WANT TO TELL STAFF THANK YOU AND LET YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU.

I KNOW THAT SOMETIMES I AM A VERY PASSIONATE PERSON.

I THE THINGS THAT I BELIEVE IN, I'M NOT GOING TO I'M NOT AFRAID TO SHARE MY OPINIONS ON THEM.

AND YOU KNOW, WHEN I SAY ALL THE TIME, IF THEY'D ONLY LISTEN TO THE WORLD, ACCORDING TO SCOTT, WE'D EVEN BE ABLE TO GET MORE STUFF DONE.

AND UNDERSTANDING THAT IN GOVERNMENT THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN.

AND THERE'S TIMES THAT I PROBABLY SHOWED SOME OF MY FRUSTRATIONS.

UM, BUT IT COMES FROM A PLACE OF PASSION.

IT COMES FROM A PLACE OF JUST WANTING TO DO THE GOOD WORK FOR THE PEOPLE OF MERCED COUNTY.

UM, I APPRECIATE ALL THE KIND WORDS BY MY COLLEAGUES.

UM, IT WAS IT WAS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE.

IT REALLY WAS. AND I DID TRY TO DO MY BEST TO REPRESENT AS THE CHAIR.

YOU'RE YOU'RE ASKED TO REPRESENT THE COUNTY IN A LOT OF PLACES THAT JUST AS THE DISTRICT FIVE SUPERVISOR, YOU WOULDN'T NORMALLY BECAUSE YOU'RE THE CHAIR, YOU'RE GOING TO BE THERE.

YOU KNOW, I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO PRESIDE OVER THE CHECK PRESENTATION FOR THE $50 MILLION THAT WAS IN, IN, IN DISTRICT THREE.

AND SO IT KIND OF GETS YOU INTO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTY AND UNDERSTANDING WHERE THE PASSION COMES FROM, FROM MY COLLEAGUES AND ON ALL OF THEIR ISSUES.

BUT WE TRULY DO TRY TO MAKE DECISIONS UP HERE THAT ARE ARE WHAT'S BEST FOR ALL, OR AT LEAST THE MAJORITY OF MERCED COUNTY RESIDENTS.

AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY.

YOU COULD SEE JUST IN, IN THE PREVIOUS, UM, UH, PRESENTATION ABOUT THE PLANADA FLOOD RELIEF.

IT'S NOT PERFECT, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE DO MAKE THE BEST OUT OF OUT OF WHAT? WHAT WAS WAS GIVEN TO US, UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE ARE OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTY THAT WERE AFFECTED BY FLOODS THAT DIDN'T GET ANYTHING.

UM, I WANT TO THANK THE COLLEAGUES FROM, UH, MONTEREY COUNTY WHO WENT THROUGH A SIMILAR EVENT, WHO GOT $20 MILLION, THANK STAFF FOR WORKING WITH THEM AND TRYING TO NOT REINVENT THIS WHEEL ALL BY OURSELVES, AND AT LEAST HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM AND TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, I THINK SET A MODEL MOVING FORWARD IS, AS YOU LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, DISASTERS TEND TO BE THEY COME AND THEY GO.

BUT I THINK AS YOU LOOK AT GETTING DIRECT BUDGET ALLOCATIONS TO HELP OUT WITH THESE UNIQUE SITUATIONS, WE'VE KIND OF SET THE GROUNDWORK ON HOW YOU DO IT, THE TYPE OF ENGAGEMENT THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. AND SO VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE THIS YEAR.

AND AGAIN, IT'S THE COMMITMENT TO CONTINUING THAT GOOD WORK.

AND WE'RE GOING TO I BELIEVE AND I HOPE I'M WRONG, BUT I FEEL LIKE WE ARE GOING TO FACE SOME FINANCIAL CHALLENGES, UM, MOVING FORWARD.

BUT WE'RE COMMITTED TO TO THE GOOD FIGHT AND TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE, MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS POSSIBLE.

AND THEN THE LAST THING THAT I'LL LEAVE WITH IS I DON'T THINK OR ENOUGH, BUT I WANT TO THANK MY WIFE BECAUSE SHE'S THE ONE THAT PUTS UP WITH ALL THE CRAZINESS THAT IS ME.

AND I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT MY WIFE IS.

SHE'S NOT AS POLITICAL AS I AM.

AND BELIEVE ME, YOU COME AFTER THE YOU COME FROM THESE MEETINGS WHERE WE'RE HAVING ALL THESE DISCUSSIONS AND I GET TO GO HOME AND I GET TO VENT TO HER ABOUT THIS AND THAT AND THIS AND THAT, AND AND SHE SITS THERE AND SHE SHE LISTENS TO ME AND SHE MOSTLY ALWAYS AGREES WITH ME.

BUT I APPRECIATE THAT.

UM, MY WIFE HAS AN OPINION, AND WHEN SHE'S READY TO SHARE HIM, SHE DEFINITELY DOES.

UM, BUT SHE DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF POLITICAL OPINIONS ABOUT THE WORK THAT I DO.

SHE KNOWS ALL OF YOU GUYS.

PROBABLY NOT MY FACE, BUT BY NAME.

UH, BECAUSE I GO HOME AND I TALK ABOUT THE GOOD WORK THAT WE'RE DOING HERE.

AND SO, UM, AS SHE CAME OFF OF A COUPLE YEARS OF NOT SO GREAT YEARS, UM, BUT DOING REALLY WELL AND, AND IS MY PARTNER BY MY SIDE.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK HER FOR SUPPORTING ME AND ALLOWING ME TO DO THE GOOD WORK.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

THANK YOU. I KNOW WE GOT CEO MENDES.

YES. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. JUST, UH, VERY BRIEFLY, I DID ALSO WANT TO JUST AGAIN CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR, UH, OBVIOUSLY, APPOINTMENT TO THE CHAIR SHIP AND SUPERVISOR PEDROZO FOR FOR THE VICE CHAIR. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU, UH, HERE IN THIS 20, 24 YEAR.

UM, A YEAR AGO, I THINK I SAT HERE, UH, AFTER, I THINK, THROWING AN ALL NIGHTER WITH A FEW OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE STILL IN THE ROOM HERE AND SOME THAT ARE MAYBE LISTENING BECAUSE WE WERE CALLED TO DUTY, RIGHT, AS PUBLIC SERVANTS.

AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, I THINK WE ARE STRONGER AS AN ORGANIZATION.

[02:00:05]

UH, THERE'S SO MUCH THAT WE'VE LEARNED OVER THE COURSE OF THE 2023 YEAR.

BUT YOU'RE CORRECT, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

LET'S PUT THAT BEHIND US.

UH, LOOK FORWARD TO 2024 WITH GREAT OPTIMISM.

I KNOW WE ONBOARDED SEVERAL DEPARTMENT HEADS IN 2023.

I EXPECT THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO DO GOOD WORK IN 2024, AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT CHALLENGE, WHETHER IT'S FISCAL OR SOMETHING ELSE.

UH, ALSO TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITIES AND PICKING UP MAYBE SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT WERE, UH, PUT ON HOLD BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, OF PRIORITIES FOR THE ORGANIZATION, FOR THE BOARD. UM, YOU KNOW, WE'LL CONTINUE THAT.

WE'LL CONTINUE THAT WORK AS QUICKLY AS HERE THIS WEEK.

I KNOW, UH, THE GOVERNOR IS IN THE PROCESS OF SHARING HIS BUDGET PLAN.

UH, AT THIS JUNCTURE, UH, WE WILL BE MONITORING THAT INFORMATION, OBVIOUSLY, AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE TO US.

UH, FIRST TIME IN SOME TIME THAT OBVIOUSLY THE STATE'S DEALING WITH THE, UH, BUDGET DEFICIT POSITION.

AND THEY TOO ONBOARDED A LOT OF, UH, ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT ARE THIS IS NEW FOR THEM.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK WITH OUR LOCAL OFFICIALS, OFFICIALS AND OTHERS.

UH, BUT CERTAINLY FOR ME, UH, ENTERING MY THIRD YEAR AS YOUR CEO, I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING UNDER TWO GREAT CHAIRS TO MY LEFT, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

OBVIOUSLY, NOW I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA IN A GREATER WAY, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH OUR DEPARTMENT HEAD TEAM, UH, AS WE GO FORWARD.

THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT WE STILL NEED TO GET ACCOMPLISHED.

UH, SOME OF IT WAS HIGHLIGHTED TODAY BY SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT CAME BEFORE THE BOARD.

UH, BUT THERE'LL BE OTHERS AND, UH, JUST, YOU KNOW, REALLY JUST FEEL REALLY OPTIMISTIC AND CONFIDENT ABOUT WHAT OUR FUTURE IS GOING TO BRING, REGARDLESS OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE MAY FACE AS AN ORGANIZATION AND AS A COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE, AND WE'LL CONTINUE THE GOOD WORK.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

COUNTY COUNCIL. ANY COMMENTS? YEAH. JUST BRIEFLY, JUST ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK, UH SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA FOR A GOOD YEAR.

UM, CHALLENGED STAFF AND HOPEFULLY WE MET MOST OF THOSE CHALLENGES.

UM, AND CONGRATULATIONS.

UH SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA.

AND SUPERVISOR PEDROZO ON, UH, BECOMING CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.

THANK YOU, SIR. WELL, JUST, UH, ALSO WANT TO THANK SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA FOR A GREAT JOB.

AND CONGRATULATIONS TO, UH, UH, JOSH PEDROZO FOR VICE CHAIR AS WELL.

UM, I HAVE COMMENTS ON ROADS.

I WANT TO THANK, UH, PUBLIC WORKS FOR DOING A GREAT JOB.

UH, WE WERE ABLE TO GET SOME, UH, ROADS FIXED AROUND LIVINGSTON AND OTHER AREAS IN THE COUNTY.

UM, I KNOW THAT EVEN THOUGH WE GOT SOME ROADS DONE, UM, NOT EVERYBODY'S HAPPY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, I DON'T KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO FINISH WE'RE GOING TO FINISH ROADS.

THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY EVERY YEAR TO FIX ROADS.

AND SO WE'RE CONSTANTLY YOU KNOW, THAT'S PROBABLY THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE THAT WE GET CALLS ON IS, IS THE ROADS ALL AROUND THE COUNTY.

UM, SO WE'LL KEEP WORKING ON THAT.

AND PLEASE, UH, CALL US AND REMIND US ANY POTHOLES I KNOW, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW, IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, OUR EARS ARE RINGING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S HARD TO, UH, TO FILL IN POTHOLES WHEN IT'S RAINING WITH FULL OF WATER.

SO, UM, HOPEFULLY ONE DAY WE'LL START A HOT, UH, YOU KNOW, HOT PAVING ON THOSE AREAS INSTEAD OF JUST BEING COLD.

UH, COLD PATCH HOT PATCHES IS A LOT BETTER AND LAST LONGER.

UM, I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I ATTENDED THE HMONG NEW YEAR CELEBRATION IN DECEMBER, AND IT WAS A GREAT, UH, EXPERIENCE EVERY YEAR.

AND ALSO, UM, UH, YESTERDAY WE HAD A, UH, A WALKING TOUR WITH SUPERVISOR, UH, PEDROSO AND CO MENDEZ AND, UH, UH, STEVE, UH, MAXINE AND, UH, UM, NATHAN BRAY.

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING, UH, THE WALKING TOUR WITH THE RESIDENTS IN SOUTH MERCED.

SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT THEY'RE SEEKING IS, UM, STREETLIGHTS ON WEST CONE AND AVENUE AND HARRISON SIDEWALKS AND CONE REPAVING OF ROADS, TRAFFIC LIGHTS ON GIRARD AVENUE, WHICH IS PROBABLY COMING, UH, DEVELOPMENT OF PARK IN SOUTH MERCED, STORMWATER DRAINAGE ON SOUTH P STREET AND JOYCE AVENUE, SPEED REDUCERS ON CONE. AND, UH, THIS EARLIER, THIS GENTLEMAN WAS TALKING ABOUT SIDEWALKS ON, UH, ON CHILDS.

YOU KNOW, THAT LEADS ALL THE WAY TO, UM, UH, TO, UH, GOLD VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL.

SO, UM, YEAH, LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE A LONG LIST OF PROJECTS FOR THIS.

IN A YEAR AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE MY BEST.

AND I WILL THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO.

SO WITH THAT, WE'LL ADJOURN THE MEETING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.