[00:00:03]
THANK YOU. AND GOOD MORNING.[CALL TO ORDER]
AND WELCOME BACK TO THE FEBRUARY 6, 2024 MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION REGARDING ALL CLOSED SESSION ITEMS. WE WILL NOW START WITH THE INVOCATION LED BY STACEY COOLEY.
AND THEN SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA WILL LEAD THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
THANK YOU. PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS AND YOUR HEARTS WITH ME TODAY.
DEAR GRACIOUS HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACE AND MERCY.
LORD, WE ASK THAT IF THERE'S ANYTHING KEEPING US FROM YOUR PRESENCE, THAT YOU WOULD FORGIVE US, SO THAT WE MAY COME BOLDLY TO YOUR THRONE OF GRACE TO RECEIVE MERCY, AS YOUR WORD DECLARES. WE INVITE YOUR PRESENCE INTO THIS MEETING AND ASK THAT YOU WOULD TOUCH OUR SUPERVISORS, COUNTY COUNCIL, CEO MENDEZ, AND ALL THOSE PARTICIPATING IN THIS MEETING.
I LIFT UP OUR COMMUNITY TO YOU TODAY AND ASK THAT YOU PROVIDE FOR ALL OF ITS NEEDS.
MAY WE ALWAYS BE GOOD STEWARDS OF WHAT YOU HAVE ENTRUSTED TO US.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS AND DEDICATE THIS DAY AND THIS MEETING TO YOU.
IN JESUS PRECIOUS AND HOLY NAME WE PRAY.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP, SORRY, NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[ PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK]
IT'S NOW TIME FOR PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST WITHIN THE BOARD'S JURISDICTION.AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT AGAIN FOR THIS NON-AGENDA ITEMS ONLY.
GO AHEAD. OKAY. GOOD MORNING, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
SORRY, IHSS CAREGIVERS GIVE VITAL SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY, ALLOWING OUR NEIGHBORS AND LOVED ONES TO LIVE FULL LIVES IN THE COMFORT OF THEIR OWN HOMES, RATHER THAN IN INSTITUTIONAL CARE.
HOWEVER, DESPITE THEIR CRUCIAL ROLE, IHSS PROVIDERS IN MERCED COUNTY BARELY MAKE MINIMUM WAGE AND ABSOLUTELY NO BENEFITS.
WITHOUT A FAIR CONTRACT WITH, THE CONSEQUENCES ARE DIRE.
THIS NEGLECT LEADS TO INCREASED RELIANCE ON EMERGENCY ROOMS AND COSTLY INSTITUTIONAL CARE, DEPRIVING INDIVIDUALS OF THEIR FREEDOM AND DIGNITY. IT IS THE BOARD'S LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS OUR COMMUNITY'S NEEDS, WHICH INCLUDES PROVIDING FAIR COMPENSATION AND ESSENTIAL BENEFITS FOR IHSS PROVIDERS.
ACCORDING TO THE MOST RECENT DATA, THERE ARE 151,080 HOURS OF AUTHORIZED IHSS HOURS THAT GO UNFILLED IN MERCED COUNTY.
THIS DISCREPANCY, AMOUNTING TO ABOUT 4 TO 5% OF THE TOTAL IHSS AUTHORIZED POPULATION RECEIVING NO CARE, IS DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO LOW PAY AND THE LACK OF BENEFITS.
IT IS TIME FOR MERCED COUNTY TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COMMUNITY THEY ARE PAID TO SERVE.
[00:05:10]
THE SOLUTION IS CLEAR GIVE IHSS CARE PROVIDERS THE RESPECT AND COMPENSATION THEY DESERVE.IN CONCLUSION, I URGE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO PRIORITIZE THE WELFARE OF THE IHSS PROVIDERS BY OFFERING FAIR COMPENSATION AND ESSENTIAL BENEFITS.
OUR COMMUNITY'S WELL-BEING DEPENDS ON IT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
MY NAME IS GERALD PHELPS. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF ASM LOCAL 2703.
I AM HERE TODAY TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF UDW IHSS CAREGIVERS.
THE MEMBERS OF UDW IHS PROVIDE A VITAL SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF MERCED COUNTY.
THEY ALLOW RESIDENTS TO REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES WHILE PROVIDING SERVICES THAT KEEP THEM OUT OF EMERGENCY ROOMS, NURSING HOMES AND COSTLY INSTITUTIONS, GIVING THEM FREEDOM TO LIVE FULL LIVES WHILE BEING PROVIDED LIFE SAVING CARE AT HOME, SAVING THE COUNTY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
ASK ME COUNTY WORKERS UNDERSTAND UDW RETENTION ISSUES.
WE UNDERSTAND UDW LOW WAGES AND WE AND UDW'S ISSUES WITH THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE.
BUT AT WHAT POINT DOES THIS BOARD START TO UNDERSTAND THESE ISSUES? 240, THAT'S THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS IN MERCED COUNTY THAT GO WITHOUT IN-HOME CARE, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR THE SERVICES.
THAT'S 4 TO 5% OF THE TOTAL AUTHORIZED POPULATION JUST GOING WITHOUT CARE IN THIS COUNTY, BECAUSE THE BOARD NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY TO OFFER COMPETITIVE WAGES TO KEEP WORKERS HERE AND ENCOURAGE WORKERS FROM OUTSIDE MERCED COUNTY TO APPLY.
IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG TO REALIZE THAT MERCED COUNTY IS NOT MEETING ITS OBLIGATIONS TO PROVIDE THE WORKERS IN THIS VITAL POSITION, UDW IS ASKING TO BE SHOWN THE SAME DIGNITY BY THIS BOARD THAT THEY SHOW THEIR PATIENTS, AND FOR YOU TO PROVIDE LIVABLE WAGES, BENEFITS TO THEIR MEMBERS, AND ASK ME, LOCAL 2703 STANDS WITH UDW AND IHSS WORKERS.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS WILL KELLY.
I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NORTH VALLEY LABOR FEDERATION.
WE'RE A COALITION OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF UNION MEMBERS IN THE NORTH SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY.
I'M HERE SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF IHSS WORKERS.
IHSS WORKERS PERFORM A DIFFICULT AND VITAL WORK TO PROVIDE DIGNITY FOR PEOPLE WITH LONG OR SHORT TERM PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILITIES. THEY HAVE COME TO THE COUNTY WITH A REASONABLE PROPOSAL FOR MODEST WAGE INCREASES, FAR BELOW WHAT THEY DESERVE FOR THE WORK THEY DO, KNOWING THAT FOR EVERY DOLLAR THE COUNTY SPENDS ON THOSE WAGE INCREASES, $0.84 COMES FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THAT'S MONEY THAT WOULDN'T HAVE COME TO THIS COUNTY OTHERWISE.
REIMBURSING THE COUNTY AND GOING DIRECTLY INTO THE POCKETS OF MANY OF OUR LOWEST INCOME FAMILIES, MANY OF WHOM ARE FACING A CRISIS OF AN INJURED LOVED ONE UNABLE TO WORK, OR SOMEONE UNABLE TO WORK TO CARE FOR A LOVED ONE.
FAMILIES WHO WOULD BE AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS OR LEANING ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.
INSTEAD OF, NEGOTIATING IN GOOD FAITH AND TRYING TO FIND A COMPROMISE, THE COUNTY'S POSITION SINCE THE BEGINNING OF NEGOTIATIONS HAS BEEN, WE WILL GIVE YOU NOTHING. WE WILL PUT NOTHING ON THE TABLE.
WE WILL PUT NO MONEY ON THE TABLE.
WE'LL OFFER YOU NOTHING UNTIL I THINK ABOUT A MONTH AGO, WHEN THERE WAS A NOTHING ON WAGES BUT A PITTANCE ON SOMETHING ELSE, I THINK, AS NOT JUST AS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NORTH VALLEY LABOR FEDERATION, BUT AS A MERCED COUNTY RESIDENT, IT'S EMBARRASSING THAT THE COUNTY'S POSITION HAS BEEN EXTREME AND IDEOLOGICAL AND UNYIELDING, WHEREAS THE UNION HAS BEEN WILLING TO NEGOTIATE FROM DAY ONE AND FIND A COMPROMISE.
TO SAY, WE WE OFFER YOU NOTHING IS UNACCEPTABLE.
AND LET'S FACE IT, WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR IS BUDGET DUST.
IT'S WELL WITHIN THE COUNTY'S, ABILITY TO FIND A COMPROMISE AND AND RESOLVE THIS.
[00:10:02]
GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN ESPINOSA AND THE BOARD, KRISTEN SANTOS HERE AGAIN REPRESENTING THE OFFICE OF CONGRESSMAN JOHN DUARTE.IT'S FENTANYL. FENTANYL KILLED 112,000 AMERICANS IN 2023.
CONGRESSMAN DUARTE HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE ON FRIDAY WITH SHERIFFS, DISTRICT ATTORNEYS AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM SAN JOAQUIN, STANISLAUS, MERCED, MADERA AND FRESNO COUNTIES TO ANNOUNCE HIS INTRODUCTION OF THE HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREA PROGRAM, OR BETTER KNOWN AS HIDTA REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2024.
JUST THIS PAST SUMMER, MERCED COUNTY CHP OFFICERS MADE A $10.5 MILLION NARCOTICS BUST, WHICH INCLUDED 735,000 FENTANYL PILLS, ENOUGH TO KILL EVERY MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD IN MERCED COUNTY ALONE.
THE HIDTA REAUTHORIZATION ACT WOULD REAUTHORIZE THE HIDTA PROGRAM AT $302 MILLION ANNUALLY THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2030, WHICH IS A $22 MILLION ANNUAL INCREASE. IT WOULD CREATE A NEW GRANT PROGRAM WITHIN THE HIDTA PROGRAM THAT INDIVIDUAL HIDTA, SUCH AS THE CENTRAL VALLEY HIDTA, CAN APPLY FOR TO ENHANCE FENTANYL SEIZURE AND INTERDICTION ACTIVITIES.
IT WOULD REQUIRE BETTER COORDINATION BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES TO CRACK DOWN ON INTERNATIONAL DRUG CARTELS, AND IT WOULD DIRECT THE US ATTORNEY GENERAL TO ASSIGN NO LESS THAN 16 ASSISTANT UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS TO THE INDIVIDUAL HIDTAS, AT HIDTAS REQUEST, TO PRIORITIZE THE INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TRAFFICKING FENTANYL TO ENSURE THAT THESE CRIMINALS ARE PROSECUTED TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW.
AT THAT PRESS CONFERENCE, WE ALSO HEARD FROM KRISTY HOFFMAN AND KRISTY AIYU, MOTHERS WHO LOST THEIR SONS TO FENTANYL POISONING? THESE AREN'T JUST STATISTICS.
THESE ARE PEOPLE, PEOPLE WHO HAD DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS.
IT'S PERSONAL FOR THE CONGRESSMAN'S FAMILY.
I'D LIKE TO CONCLUDE MY REPORT TODAY BY INVITING EVERYONE AGAIN TO OUR MERCED TOWN HALL.
IT'S GOING TO BE ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH AT 6 P.M.
WE'D LOVE EVERYONE TO JOIN US, AND WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, HONORABLE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
KAREN ADAMS, YOUR TREASURER, TAX COLLECTOR.
CHANGE IS OFTEN DIFFICULT, BUT IT DOES PROVIDE GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
SO THE MOST RECENT CHANGE WITH MY OFFICE WAS MOVING TO A LOCK BOX IN WHITTIER, CALIFORNIA.
AND THE GOOD PART IS WE WERE ABLE TO REDUCE OVER 100,000 TAX PAYMENTS AND COMMUNICATIONS IN A PROCESS OF THREE WEEKS LESS.
IT ALSO PROVIDED ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO RELIEVE THE FULL TIME STAFF MEMBER, WHO SAT IN A ROOM FOR ALMOST TWO MONTHS, TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER TAXPAYERS QUESTIONS, TELLER WORK AND OTHER UNMET NEEDS OF THE DEPARTMENT DURING OUR TAX SEASON.
SO WHILE THERE WERE SOME HEADACHES WITH THE PROCESS, AND I KNOW MANY OF YOU REACHED OUT TO ME BECAUSE OF CONSTITUENT CONCERNS, WE DO LOOK FORWARD TO THE IMPROVEMENTS WITH OUR LOCK BOX VENDOR.
I HOPE TO REPORT OUR SECOND INSTALLMENT FOR OUR SECURED PROPERTY TAX, YIELDING EVEN MORE IMPROVEMENTS FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND A BITTERSWEET, COMMUNICATION TO YOU TODAY. I'VE HAD THE GREAT PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH MY ASSISTANT TREASURER TAX COLLECTOR, A LITTLE SHORT OF A DECADE.
AND SO MISS KAREN HELMS IS HAS BEEN RECRUITED BY STANISLAUS COUNTY, AND FRIDAY IS HER LAST DAY.
SO WHILE IT'S, A SAD NOTE FOR OUR DEPARTMENT TO LOSE THE ASSISTANT TREASURER TAX COLLECTOR, IT'S A HAPPY NOTE FOR HER UPCOMING ADVENTURE AT STANISLAUS COUNTY. AND STANISLAUS IS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE THEM JOIN HER TEAM.
SO JUST A MOMENT OF APPRECIATION FOR MISS KAREN HELMS AND ALL HER YEARS OF SERVICE AT MERCED COUNTY.
MY NAME IS SHERILYN RAWLS AND I WISH TO TALK AGAIN ABOUT THE PROBLEM.
[00:15:05]
I SPOKE LAST TIME AFTER VERN WARNKE WAS HERE, AND VERN WARNKE IS NEEDING MORE MONEY.HE COMES ON THE RADIO, HE SAYS HE'S NEEDING MORE MONEY.
HE SAYS HE'S NEEDING MORE MONEY.
LAST YEAR I SPOKE OF ONE EVENT THAT HAPPENED LAST TIME.
I'M SPEAKING OF APRIL 5TH THIS TIME.
MY PROPERTY WAS TAKEN FROM HERE IN MERCED.
I WENT TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
I WENT TO THE MARSHAL SERVICE.
THEY SAID GO BACK TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
I WENT BACK TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
THEY SAID NO, THEY COULDN'T HELP ME.
THEY SAY, GO BACK TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND DEMAND TO TALK TO A SUPERVISOR.
I GO BACK, I DEMAND TO TALK TO A SUPERVISOR.
NOTHING. A LOT OF US PUT IN REQUESTS FOR THAT.
WE HAVE NEVER HEARD FROM THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT.
THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT HAS REFUSED TO ENGAGE ABOUT THIS THEFT.
THE VALUE OF THE THEFT WAS AT LEAST $50,000.
SOMEPLACE BETWEEN 50 AND 70 GONE.
WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN ON THAT DAY OR MAYBE EARLY THE NEXT DAY.
WE HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT ANY OF THAT.
ONE OF THE SUPERVISORS TOLD ME THAT THE SHERIFF SAID THAT, PROPERTY COULD BE REMOVED FROM AGRICULTURAL LAND WITH SIMPLY A LETTER.
SO I WENT TO THE LAW LIBRARY TO INVESTIGATE THIS.
THERE IS NOTHING DIFFERENT ABOUT EVICTION IN THE COUNTY THAN IN THE CITY.
NOBODY IN THE LAW LIBRARY, I SPENT DAYS IN THE LAW LIBRARY.
NOTHING COULD BE FOUND TO JUSTIFY WHAT HAPPENED THERE.
MAYBE THAT EXPLAINS IT, I DON'T KNOW, BUT MY PROPERTY IS GONE.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MARTA ECHEVARRIA, LONG TIME MERCED COUNTY EMPLOYEE AND AFSCME MEMBER.
STILL WAITING FOR WAGE INCREASES OR HELP WITH OUR HIGH PREMIUM HEALTH CARE COSTS THAT ARE LEAVING A LOT OF US STRUGGLING TO DEAL WITH WITH, EVERYDAY LIVES.
SO IT SEEMS LIKE ALL OF OUR PLEAS ARE ARE FALLING ON DEAF EARS BECAUSE NOTHING SEEMS TO BE DONE.
SO I'M HERE TO AGAIN, LET YOU KNOW WE ARE OPEN TO COMMUNICATION.
TALK TO US, LET US KNOW IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP EACH OTHER OUT.
BUT IT CAN'T KEEP GOING LIKE THIS.
WE ARE WORKING WITH A VERY SMALL CREW NOW AT OUR AGENCY.
PHONE CALLS ARE NOT BEING RETURNED.
THINGS ARE JUST NOT HAPPENING THE WAY THEY NEED TO BE.
OUR AGENCY IS VERY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT WE SERVE THE COMMUNITY VERY WELL.
BUT AT THIS TIME, WE ARE FALLING SHORT BECAUSE WE ARE VERY SHORT STAFFED.
IS THAT MY THREE MINUTES? NO. OKAY. WE ARE.
THAT WAS QUICK. WE'RE VERY SHORT STAFFED AND IT IS THE SAME THING.
AND THAT IS BECAUSE WE ARE SO SHORT STAFFED.
WE'VE LOST SO MANY MEMBERS SINCE THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE.
SO MANY COUNTY EMPLOYEES THAT SINCE THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, FOR REASONS UNKNOWN.
BUT WE JUST FOUND OUT SOMEBODY IS JUST LEAVING TO STANISLAUS COUNTY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD MORNING,
[00:20:04]
2019 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVED AN ITEM UPDATING THE COUNTY'S MISSION VISION VALUES TO BETTER REFLECT WHO WE ARE AS AN ORGANIZATION AND DEFINE WHAT WE WANT FOR THE FUTURE.THAT INCLUDES YOUR MISSION, YOUR VISION, AND YOUR VALUES.
HEARING EVERYBODY THAT'S COME BEFORE YOU RIGHT NOW DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, I'VE HEARD VERY IMPORTANT TERMS THAT NEEDS TO BE HEARD.
OBVIOUSLY, SOMEONE SAID IT'S FALLING ON DEAF EARS.
AND I ALSO HEARD CHANGE IS DIFFICULT.
YOU HAVE PEOPLE COMING BEFORE YOU FIGHTING FOR CRISISES.
CRISISES. FENTANYL, LOW WAGES.
TRYING TO PROVIDE BETTER FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
AND EVERYBODY IS A COUNTY COMMUNITY.
I'M NOT HERE TO COME AND SCOLD YOU, BUT THAT'S WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE.
BUT CHANGE IS WHAT OUR PEOPLE WANT.
NOW, I'M NOT COMING HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU AS MARIA SOTO, CITY OF LIVINGSTON COUNCIL MEMBER, NOT HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU AS A CANDIDATE FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
NOW, THAT DOESN'T AFFECT ALL OF YOU.
SOME OF YOU OPERATE IN DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT THE ONE THING THAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU IS THAT THE REASON I COME BEFORE MANY BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, PEOPLE IN GENERAL IS BECAUSE I WANT CHANGE.
I'VE DONE IT IN SUCH A WAY THAT SOMETIMES PEOPLE SAY, OH, YOU WEAR IT ON YOUR ON YOUR SLEEVE.
I DON'T GET EMOTIONAL ABOUT SOME THINGS, BUT WE ALSO HEARD THAT IT GETS A PERSONAL TWIST ON WHAT WE WANT TO SEE HAPPEN BECAUSE WE WANT BETTER.
AND FOR ONE, WHAT WE'RE SEEING, YOU KNOW, I WEAR IT, I WEAR LABELS AND I WEAR BRACELETS, FIRST RESPONDERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, MILITARY.
I GOT I BROUGHT THEM WITH ME IN FACT.
THAT'S YOUR TIME. I'LL GIVE YOU 10S TO FINISH UP.
LEAGUE OF CITIES, MERCED COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION, STUDENT COUNCIL.
OKAY. LAST WEEK, BOARD OF SUPERVISOR CHAIR SAID TO THE PEOPLE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT. BULLYING IS WHAT WE GET ELECTED FOR.
THANK YOU. PEOPLE COMING TO BE ON THE STUDENT COUNCILS.
THAT'S WHAT.. MY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW WE WON'T TOLERATE BULLYING.
AND PERSONAL ATTACKS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING GENTLEMEN. GO AHEAD SIR.
AND I'M A RETIRED FIREFIGHTER, AND THE THINGS THAT I SEE FROM THIS COUNTY BOARD IS UPSETTING.
THERE'S NO PLANNING FOR GROWTH.
YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE STARVING.
ACCORDING TO TRANSPARENCY.COM, YOU GUYS MAKE BETWEEN 98,000 AND $175,000 ANNUALLY. START PLANNING.
START LOOKING FORWARD AND BUILDING THIS COUNTY.
YOU HAVE A PERFECT PLACE IN CASTLE.
IT HAS SAT AND DONE VERY LITTLE.
IT DOES US NO GOOD IN THIS COUNTY WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE LEAVING.
PLEASE KEEP IT HERE, RODRIGO, PLEASE BUILD A SHERIFF'S OFFICE THAT IS SHOULDN'T WAIT FOR TWO YEARS.
THAT'S A PLANNING PROCESS AND A BOND PROCESS, AND WE ALL KNOW THE GAME.
[00:25:04]
IT SHOULD BE DONE.MCSWAIN. MR. MCDANIEL WE NEED ROADS AND WE NEED IT CLEANED UP.
IT'S NOT HOW A BOARD SHOULD OPERATE.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? LAST CALL. THANK YOU.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED FOR AN AGENDA NON AGENDA ITEMS. NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO CONSENT CALENDAR.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
CONSENT AGENDA.CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH SIX AND EIGHT THROUGH 15.
PLEASE NOTE ITEMS ONE THROUGH THREE REQUIRE A 4/5 VOTE.
THE ADDRESS ON ITEM NUMBER TWO SHOULD READ 403 F STREET IN LOS BANOS.
ANY COMMENTS? THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED.
I'LL ENTERTAIN ANY MOTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEREZ AND THE SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
GO AHEAD AND RECORD THE VOTE, PLEASE.
OKAY. I WILL NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.
SINCE I AM LISTED AS AN APPOINT IN LIEU OF ELECTION IN EXHIBIT D, I'M GOING TO RECUSE MYSELF AND TURN THE MEETING OVER TO VICE CHAIR PEDROZA FOR THIS ITEM. I'LL GO GET YOU.
OKAY, AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.
ANYBODY WISH TO MAKE A COMMENT? OKAY. WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD.
AND FOR THIS ONE WE'RE GOING TO WE WILL BE TAKING A VOTE FOR ITEM NUMBER SEVEN MANUALLY.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED, MR. CHAIR.
I'LL SECOND. MOVED BY SILVERA.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO BOARD ACTION ITEMS BEGINNING ON PUBLIC HEALTH.
[BOARD ACTION]
ITEM 16.AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER 16.
ANY COMMENTS? I SEE NO COMMENT.
SO IT WAS PUBLIC HEALTH PERIOD WILL BE, CLOSED.
AND THEN I WILL CALL FOR THE QUESTION, OR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
NO. ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES.
NEXT, WE HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES.
I WILL AT THIS TIME OPEN UP A COMMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER BHR 17 AND 18.
THE COMMENT PERIOD IS FOR BHR ITEMS 1718 IS NOW CLOSED.
SO I'LL CALL FOR THE QUESTION A MOTION.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
ALL EYES HAVE IT PASSES FIVE ZERO.
NEXT WE HAVE A HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY.
AT THIS TIME, WE'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR HSA ITEMS NUMBER 19 AND 20.
[00:30:05]
NO PUBLIC COMMENTS.WE'LL CLOSE HSA ITEMS NUMBER 19 AND 20, AND WE'LL CALL FOR A MOTION OR PUBLIC COMMENTS BY THE BOARD.
ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
NEXT WE HAVE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THIS TIME I WILL OPEN A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, FOR A CED ITEM NUMBER 21.
WE'LL CLOSE ITEM NUMBER 21, AND WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE OR COMMENTS BY THE BOARD.
I SEE NO COMMENTS. SO A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
NEXT WE HAVE A DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
AT THIS TIME, WE'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY ITEM 22.
ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? I SEE NO PUBLIC COMMENT SO FAR, NUMBER 22 IS NOW CLOSED.
SO WE'LL CALL FOR THE COMMENTS BY THE BOARD OR MOTIONS.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
PLEASE NOTE, ITEM 25 REQUIRES A 4/5 VOTE.
OKAY. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR FIRE ITEMS 23 TO 25.
SO COMING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR FIRE ITEMS 23 TO 25 IS NOW CLOSED AND WE'LL CALL FOR A MOTION IF THERE'S NO COMMENTS BY THE BOARD. STEPS IN AND OUT.
PUSHED IT TWICE. SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND THE SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO.
ITEM 26, WHICH REQUIRES A 4/5 VOTE.
OKAY. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR A SHARE OF ITEM NUMBER 26.
ANY COMMENTS? I SEE NO COMMENTS. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR SHERIFF ITEM NUMBER 26 IS CLOSED AND WE'LL CALL FOR, MOTIONS OR COMMENTS BY THE BOARD.
I SEE NO COMMENTS. SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEREZ AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
CALL FOR THE VOTE. OKAY, CALL FOR THE VOTE, PLEASE.
RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO.
AND NEXT WE HAVE TREASURE TAX COLLECTOR ITEMS 27 AND 28.
GOOD MORNING AGAIN BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, BEFORE YOU TODAY IS THE QUARTERLY INVESTMENT REPORT.
THE MARKET VALUATION IS 2.1 BILLION.
REAL QUICK, I JUST WANTED TO ALSO PROVIDE A QUICK STATEMENT ABOUT THE FEDERAL OPEN MARKET COMMITTEE, THE FED STATEMENT ON JANUARY 31ST, WHICH, OF COURSE, WE STAY VERY ATTENTIVE TO ALL OF THOSE RECENT INDICATORS.
AND OF COURSE, THEY SUGGEST ECONOMIC ACTIVITY HAS BEEN EXPANDING AT A SOLID PACE.
JOB GAINS HAVE BEEN MODERATE SINCE EARLY LAST YEAR, BUT CERTAINLY REMAINED STRONG.
AND OF COURSE, THE UNEMPLOYMENT REMAINS LOW.
INFLATION HAS EASED OVER THE PAST YEAR BUT DOES REMAIN ELEVATED IN SOME SECTORS, AND I WILL EMAIL SOME INFORMATION PROVIDING SOME SLIDES ON THAT FOR SPECIFIC MARKET SECTORS.
THE FED SEEKS TO ACHIEVE MAXIMUM EMPLOYMENT AND INFLATION AT A RATE OF 2% OVER THE LONG RUN.
[00:35:01]
THE COMMITTEE ALSO REMAINS HIGHLY ATTENTIVE TO THE INFLATION RISK, WITH THE HOPE THAT THE CURRENT SOFT LANDING WILL CONTINUE.THE TARGET RANGE FOR THE FEDS IS STILL AT 5.25% TO 5.5, AND THE FED DOES NOT EXPECT IT TO BE APPROPRIATE TO REDUCE THE TARGET RATE UNTIL WE'VE GAINED GREATER CONFIDENCE IN THAT INFLATION IS MOVING SUSTAINABLY TOWARDS THE 2% AND IS STRONGLY COMMITTED TO RETURNING INFLATION TO ITS 2% OBJECTIVE.
SO THEY'RE STAYING VERY STRONG IN THAT 2%.
LAST YEAR, THERE WAS A LITTLE UPPAGE ON THAT AFTER THE FED'S RECENT STATEMENT.
MOST ANALYSTS HAVE ALSO MOVED FROM THEIR, COMMITMENT THAT THE FIRST RATE DECREASE WILL BEGIN IN JUNE INSTEAD OF MARCH.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT IS PUSHING OUT THAT ANTICIPATION FOR THE RATE DECREASES.
IN ADDITION, THE TREASURY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE YIELD CURVE, WHICH OF COURSE IS STILL INVERTED, AND TO SECURE DURATION INVESTMENTS IN THE PORTFOLIO WHEN CASH PROJECTIONS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.
SO I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY COMMENTS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AT THIS TIME, WE'LL CLOSE, PUBLIC COMMENTS ON 2728 AND WE'LL COVER COMMENTS BY THE BOARD.
I SEE NO COMMENTS OH, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
YEAH. JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PERCENTAGE, THE 3% RETURN THAT WE'RE GETTING NOW AND JUST TRYING TO COMPARE THAT TO PREVIOUS YEARS, I CAN REMEMBER SOME OF MY FIRST YEARS BEING ON TREASURY OVERSIGHT, WHERE WOULD THE RETURNS THAT WE WOULD GET WOULD BE $13 MILLION FOR THE WHOLE YEAR.
WE JUST CAME OFF OF A QUARTER WHERE WE WERE OVER THAT.
YEAH. SO I WROTE THE NUMBER DOWN.
THAT WAS FOR THE QUARTER, CORRECT KAREN? HOLD ON. I'M LOOKING HERE.
IT'S 30. IT'S 30 MILLION IS YEAR TO DATE.
AND WE'RE ONLY SIX MONTHS INTO THE FISCAL YEAR WHEN WE HAD FOR THE WHOLE YEAR WE WERE GETTING 13.
SO THE HIGHER INTEREST RATES IS IS OBVIOUSLY HELPING US EASE SOME OF THOSE BURDENS.
I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.
THANK YOU. I SEE NO OTHER COMMENTS BY THE BOARD.
SO I SEE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEREZ.
SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
THIS WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR COUNTY COUNCIL ITEMS 29 AND 30.
I SEE NO COMMENT. SO PUBLIC COMMENT FOR COUNTY COUNCIL ITEMS 29 AND 30 IS NOW CLOSED.
SO ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD OR ANY MOTIONS? OKAY AS SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, FIRST AS SUPERVISOR PEDROZO, SECOND.
NEXT WE HAVE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE.
GOOD MORNING. GIVE ME A SECOND.
AM I ON? YEAH. GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
MIKE NORTH, MANAGEMENT ANALYST.
THE ITEM BEFORE YOU TODAY IS YOUR PROPOSED 2024 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, WHICH ESTABLISHES A LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THE COUNTY TO SUPPORT OR OPPOSE AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVELS. ADDITIONS TO THIS YEAR'S AGENDA FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION INCLUDE SUPPORT FOR AREAS SUCH AS SIDEWALK FUNDING, PROP 47 REVISIONS, ACCESS TO LOW COST MEDICATIONS, CARE COURT FUNDING, AND SUPPORT FOR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY THROUGH GOOD FAITH PRA REQUESTS.
THERE'S ALSO A MINOR CLEANUP LANGUAGE THROUGHOUT THAT DOCUMENT.
I'LL ALSO MENTION THERE'S A TEAR SHEET ON THE BACK OF THAT DOCUMENT THAT HAS SOME OF OUR PRIORITY PROJECTS, AND I THINK THERE MAY BE A SUGGESTED AMENDMENT TO THAT DOCUMENT AS WELL. SO FOR NOW, I'LL BE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO THE CHAIR.
THANK YOU. I THINK WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
[00:40:05]
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.I, TO MY COLLEAGUES, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH, SENATOR ALVARADO GIL'S OFFICE, AND SHE'S INTERESTED OR POTENTIALLY INTERESTED IN CARRYING, A BUDGET ITEM THAT WOULD, ALLOCATE SOME MONEY TO THE DELHI COMMUNITY HALL.
AND SO I JUST WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT ON TO OUR LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM.
OKAY. I'LL MAKE THAT IN A FORM OF A MOTION.
IF NOBODY ELSE IS MAKING A COMMENT OR YOU GOT TO GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST.
PUBLIC COMMENT. YEAH. ALL RIGHT.
AT THIS TIME, MANAGEMENT, WE'LL OPEN UP A PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NUMBER 31 AND 32.
ANY COMMENTS? I SEE NO COMMENT.
WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER, COMMENTFOR SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
YEAH. SO QUICK QUESTION WITH THE YOUR AMENDMENT, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
IS THAT JUST FOR DELHI OR IS THAT COMMUNITY HALLS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY? YEAH. WELL, IT WAS JUST WELL, I HAVEN'T MADE AN AMENDMENT.
SO IT WAS JUST AN ADDITION OF THE PROJECTS ON THE TEAR SHEET TO ADD THE DELHI COMMUNITY.
ALL RIGHT. SO WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM.
THE MOTION INCLUDES THE AMENDMENT OKAY.
THE MOTION DOES INCLUDE THE AMENDMENT.
SO WE HAVE A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AS AMENDED.
ALL FIVE AS I HAVE IT, AS AMENDED, PASSES.
NEXT WE HAVE BOARD OF APPOINTMENTS.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE ADMINISTRATIVE CORRECTIONS TO ATTACHMENT B OF ITEM 33.
TO CORRECT THE POSITION, TYPE TO ALTERNATE FOR THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS.
SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA ON THE COUNTY OVERSIGHT BOARD OF THE COUNTY OF MERCED.
THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BOARD APPOINTMENTS ITEMS 33 OR 36.
ANY COMMENTS? THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO APPROACH YOU.
LAST MONTH I CAME TO YOU IN REGARDS TO BOARD APPOINTMENTS AND I ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER WHO YOU POINT TO VARIOUS COMMISSIONS, BOARDS, AGENCIES TO REPRESENT US.
I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT LAST WEEK ON WEDNESDAY, AND AS I ALLUDED TO EARLIER, THAT WE DO HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE RUNNING FOR STUDENT COUNCILS.
THEY WANT LEADERSHIP POSITIONS WITHIN THEIR SCHOOLS AND THEIR COUNTY SCHOOLS.
AND WHAT I HEARD FROM THE CURRENT CHAIR WAS THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS SIGN UP FOR THIS.
LOOK TO YOUR FUTURE LEADERS ON HOW YOU WANT OUR LEADERSHIP TO STAND UP.
WE WANT OUR COUNCIL CHAMBERS SAFE.
WE WANT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE SAFE.
AND THAT INCLUDES COMMENTS SUCH AS NAKED PHOTOS, WHICH GOT BROUGHT TO ME IN LIVINGSTON AND AT MY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AS A FORM OF BLACKMAIL, MAYBE FROM YOUR CURRENT CHAIR, SO THAT PERHAPS WE DON'T TAKE A STAND AND TELL OUR PEOPLE THAT WE NEED TO DO BETTER.
WE WON'T TOLERATE BULLIES IN OUR LEADERSHIP.
SO MOVING FORWARD, AS YOU SELECT YOUR LEADERS TO SIT ON VARIOUS BOARDS, MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT IN 2019 YOU HAVE A MISSION.
AND I'M HERE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE THAT I REPRESENT THE YOUTH, THE VETERANS, THE WOMEN, ALL PEOPLE THAT YOU REPRESENT, FOR EVERY TIME THAT YOU THINK IT'S OKAY TO COME INTO CIVIC AREAS
[00:45:07]
AND TELL THEM THAT IT'S OKAY BECAUSE WE SIGNED UP FOR THIS, WE DIDN'T.NOBODY WANTS TO TOLERATE BULLYING, BLACKMAIL, MANIPULATION.
I SEE FIRSTHAND THAT THE LIBRARY AND LOS BANOS IS A SAFE SPACE FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT PROVIDES FREE ACCESS TO COMPUTERS, WI-FI, LOCAL NEWS AND INFORMATION, AS WELL AS MANY ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH THAT PROMOTE READING AS WELL AS CREATIVE EXPRESSION THROUGH ART.
AS THE PURPOSE OF THE LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMISSION IS FOR CITIZENS TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD FOR THE ONGOING NEEDS OF THE LIBRARIES, I SEEK A SEAT TO ADVOCATE FOR THE CONTINUED HIGH STANDARDS OF THE LIBRARY BUILDINGS, SAFE CONDITIONS FOR THE STAFF AND LIBRARY PATRONS, AND THE CONTINUATION OF HIGH QUALITY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS THAT ARE PROVIDED THROUGH THE MANY COMMUNITY LIBRARIES THROUGHOUT MERCED COUNTY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? SUPERVISOR OKAY, WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO WE'LL GO TO SUPERVISOR COMMENTS.
GO AHEAD. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MISS HOWARD, THANK YOU FOR, REPRESENTING DISTRICT FIVE.
I APPRECIATE IT, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU, I STILL HAVE TWO VACANT SPOTS ON THERE.
SO IF YOU, FIND SOMEBODY LIKE YOURSELF THAT SHARES THAT PASSION, PLEASE SEND THEM MY WAY.
I'D LOVE TO GET THOSE POSITIONS FILLED.
THANK YOU. WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO ACCEPT TO THE BOARD AND ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR MOTIONS.
SO WE ARE MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
SO ONE MORE COMMENT BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
I JUST LIKE TO THANK MISS HOWARD FOR COMING.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU MAKING THE TRIP, ESPECIALLY COMING OVER FROM LOS BANOS TODAY.
SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND, CALL FOR THE VOTE.
NEXT WE HAVE BOARD INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ITEMS.
[BOARD INFORMATION & POSSIBLE ACTION]
ITEMS 37 AND 38.THIS TIME I WILL OPEN A PUBLIC COMMENT FOR INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 3738.
ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? I SEE NO COMMENTS. SO WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT 3738 AND WE'LL CALL FOR THE MOTION OR COMMENTS BY THE BOARD.
ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION]
OKAY. ALL RIGHT.WE'LL START WITH SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
HOW ABOUT A DISCUSSION? DISCUSSION. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. JUST A COUPLE THINGS.
IN THE TREASURE TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE.
AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A VERY HELPFUL TO ME WHENEVER I'VE HAD ISSUES.
SO I WISH YOU NOTHING BUT LUCK ON THAT.
ALSO WANTED TO SHARE THAT LAST WEEK I ATTENDED.
REALLY, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR NOT ONLY TO ENGAGE AND INTERACT WITH OTHER COUNTY SUPERVISORS, BUT SOME OF OUR COUNTY PARTNERS, FOLKS THAT DO BUSINESS WITH COUNTIES. AND, AFTER EVERY ONE OF THOSE MEETINGS, I ALWAYS TRY TO LEAVE THERE WITH ANOTHER LITTLE NUGGET OF SOMEBODY THAT AND GET A MORE IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION ON WHAT THEY
[00:50:01]
DO TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR COUNTIES.AND WHEN WE LOOK AT CHALLENGING BUDGET TIMES AHEAD, ANY WAY THAT WE CAN FIND TO BECOME MORE EFFICIENT, YOU KNOW, AND DO OUR JOBS A LITTLE BIT BETTER, THAT SAVES ON RESOURCES SO THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO TRY TO HELP TAKE CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
SO I'M THANKFUL THAT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO THERE.
WELL, I CAN'T SIT THERE AND REPRESENT THAT.
AND IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER, WE WILL.
AND I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
KAREN, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO MERCED COUNTY.
SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA HIT IT RIGHT ON THE HEAD.
YOU KNOW, YOU WERE ALWAYS AWESOME AT YOUR JOB, AND WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU.
SO I'D LIKE TO REPORT OUT THAT I SPONSORED THE MERCED BOOSTERS THIS PAST WEEK, AND, WE HELD, THE BOOSTERS MEETING OUT AT THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CENTER AT CASTLE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING.
THE BOOSTERS IS SUPPOSED TO BE COUNTYWIDE, OR GREATER.
MERCED, BOOSTERS AND SO BUT EVERYTHING GENERALLY IS IN MERCED, SO IT'S KIND OF NICE.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CEO, MY COLLEAGUE SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND PEDROSO FOR ATTENDING.
I THEY'RE BOTH BOOSTER MEMBERS, BUT I APPRECIATED THEM HAVING THEM OUT THERE.
AND I'VE ALREADY TOLD HER TWICE, BUT AND I CAN'T MAKE HER BLUSH, BUT I'M TRYING.
ANYWAYS, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN GETTING SOME CALLS LATELY ON GROUNDWATER, FROM NON-IRRIGATED LANDS AND PEOPLE.
SO I JUST WANT TO SHARE PUBLICLY THAT THAT, BECAUSE OF SYGMA THAT WAS PASSED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR IN 2014, WE'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE OUR GROUNDWATER BECOME SUSTAINABLE.
AND SO EVERYBODY IN THE BASIN HAS TO CHIP IN.
BUT, ANYWAYS, IT'S JUST A NECESSARY EVIL.
AND, SO I DON'T KNOW IF MY COLLEAGUES ARE GETTING CALLS OR NOT, BUT, ANYWAYS, OR IF IT'S JUST BECAUSE WE'RE DOING 218 RIGHT NOW, IT'S, PREVALENT IN A COUPLE OF THE BASINS I REPRESENT, BUT WE'RE WORKING HARD AT THAT.
SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE A QUICK COMMENT.
AND I WOULD JUST HOPE THAT IN THE FUTURE, WHEN ISSUES COME UP, THAT OUR DEPARTMENTS ARE WORKING WITH THE CEO'S OFFICE SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO FIND OUT INFORMATION FROM SOCIAL MEDIA OR FROM CONSTITUENTS, BECAUSE IT WAS REALLY FRUSTRATING TO GET INFORMATION THAT WAY.
AND STONE RIDGE, AWARD A GOOD CITIZENSHIP TO ONE OF THEIR STUDENTS, AND THEN THEY WRITE A 500 WORD ESSAY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP FOR COLLEGE.
AND THIS YEAR YOU HAD FROM BUHACH COLONY, EVAN LARA, ATWATER, WAS MACY LEE JONES.
EL CAPITAN WAS DAHLIA ABARCA HERNANDEZ, GOLDEN VALLEY WAS JOSE ARMANDO MARTINEZ LIVINGSTON, NATALIE AGUIRRE, MERCED HIGH SCHOOL, PAIGE CASILLAS, IN STONERIDGE WAS LEAH MOONEYHAM.
THE COOL THING ABOUT THAT EVENT IS THAT ALL OF THE STUDENTS, WHEN THEY COME, THEY START TALKING ABOUT THE STUFF THAT THEY DO IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND AT THEIR SCHOOL, AND WHAT MAKES THEM THE RECIPIENT OF THE, GOOD CITIZENSHIP AWARD.
SO IT'S A REALLY COOL OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR AND SEE THOSE KIDS.
[00:55:03]
AND THEN ALSO, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO HISTORICAL SOCIETY ON SUNDAY.AND THEN THE MERCED LAO EVENT, THEY HAD A THANK YOU DINNER FOR THE, FOR THEIR NEW YEAR'S CELEBRATION, WHICH WAS, REALLY, REALLY FUN TO GO TO AND SEE EVERYBODY THERE.
AND THEN ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN THE MEETING, IN HONOR OF FUHRMAN ROCKY ROCHESTER.
ROCKE WAS CARLICE, WHO WAS OUR CHIEF PROBATION HEAD.
IT WAS HER FATHER IN LAW WHO DIED PRETTY QUICKLY, AROUND THE HOLIDAYS.
AND IT WAS REALLY TOUGH FOR THE FAMILY.
AND THEY JUST HAD HIS SERVICE, SO I WANTED TO MAKE MENTION OF THAT.
THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
AGAIN, KAREN HELMS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE IN MERCED COUNTY.
AND THAT DOESN'T GO FORGOTTEN.
THANK YOU. AND LAST WEEK, I ATTENDED THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY POLICY COUNCIL, WHICH IS, FROM BAKERSFIELD TO SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY, OUR BAKERSFIELD, KERN COUNTY TO SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
ONE THING THAT WE LIKE TO STOUT ABOUT THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY IS, AS A COUNTRY, BY OURSELVES, WE WOULD BE RANKED NUMBER FIVE IN THE WORLD IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND MANUFACTURING.
AND SO IT'S A BIG VOICE WHENEVER WE WHEN WE ARRIVE AS A GROUP AND, LOBBY FOR OUR THINGS.
I'D LIKE TO THANK STEVE MAXEY PERSONALLY.
WE HAVE A NEW COMPANY OR NEW PROJECT COMING INTO MERCED COUNTY.
THEY WERE GOING TO MEET WITH ME.
SO I BRING THE GUY WHO KNOWS MOST OF THOSE ANSWERS, AND I APPRECIATE YOU FOR SITTING IN ON THAT.
AND AGAIN, LET ME THANK MARK HENDRICKSON, STEVE MAXEY AND MARK MIMS. WE HAD A REALLY GOOD MEETING WITH TEASDALE, ONE OF OUR LOCAL EMPLOYERS.
THEY'RE TRYING TO NAVIGATE THROUGH, SOME OF THE STUFF THE STATE HAS PUT BEFORE THEM AND, BROUGHT ALL THREE OF THEM TO THE TABLE ALONG WITH, THE CITY OF ATWATER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HELPING THEM.
AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO KEEP THEM HERE.
AND THEN AN UPDATE WE HAD CASTLE COMMITTEE MEETING LAST WEEK, AND RAIL UTILIZATION IS UP.
PATRIOT RAIL IS NOW MOVING FORWARD WITH THEIR ADDITION TO THEIR PRIVATE AND FOR PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE OUT THERE, AND TRC IS AT CAPACITY AND IS WANTING TO EXPAND, AS WELL AS AN UPDATE ON THE $50 MILLION GRANT THAT THE STATE HAS ISSUED US, AND WORKING WITH THEM TO DO THAT.
WITH THAT CHAIR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW GO TO CEO.
YES. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. JUST A COUPLE COMMENTS THIS MORNING.
I DID WANT TO COMPLIMENT OUR COUNTY TEAM.
OBVIOUSLY OVER THE WEEKEND WE HAD SOME WET WEATHER AND WINDS AND POWER OUTAGES.
PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THE COUNTY TEAM WAS HAVING CONVERSATIONS EARLY.
JUST OPENING UP THE CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY THE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS WERE RESPONDING APPROPRIATELY TO MITIGATE THE, EVERYTHING THAT WAS HAPPENING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO COMMUNICATING WITH STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL, OTHER LOCAL PARTNERS.
SO COMPLIMENT TO OUR, EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS, PUBLIC WORKS, SOCIAL, SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENTS THAT KIND OF CAME TOGETHER, IN PREPARATION FOR THE WORST AND ADDRESSED ISSUES AS THEY UNFOLDED OVER THE WEEKEND AND WE CONTINUE TO HAVE CONSTANT COMMUNICATION, LEARNING FROM OBVIOUSLY THE LESSONS WE LEARNED LAST YEAR.
I KNOW HER AND KAREN, ADAMS ARE AN AMAZING TEAM.
[01:00:03]
IT'S A BIG EFFORT. YOU ALL KNOW THIS, BRINGING TOGETHER OUR FEDERAL AND STATE LOBBYISTS, BRINGING TOGETHER OUR COUNTY DEPARTMENTS.AND THEN IT CULMINATES HERE WITH THE ITEM THAT'S BEFORE YOU FOR CONSIDERATION.
AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES.
THANK YOU. THIS SETS, OBVIOUSLY, THE PLATFORM FOR THE BOARD FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR.
NOW, BEING HERE A COUPLE OF YEARS, MERCED COUNTY DOES THAT VERY WELL.
AND SO THE PLATFORM PROVIDES THAT TOOL.
COUNCIL. COUNCIL, NO COMMENTS.
SO TODAY WE APPROVED THE, THE, 2024 BOARD ASSIGNMENTS AND COMMITTEES.
I'M ALSO ON THE GSA FOR THE CHOWCHILLA, GSP ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
I'M ON THE TURLOCK WEST GSA COMMITTEE.
I'M ALSO ON THE POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, COMMITTEE AS WELL.
AND, I ALSO ON THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY RAIL JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT.
I'M THE PRIMARY ON THAT ONE. AND ALSO THE TOBACCO SECURITIZATION COMMITTEE, ON THE UNDERGROUND UTILITY DISTRICT REVIEW COMMITTEE AND ALSO ON THE LAFCO AGENCY FORMATION COMMISSION UNTIL MAY 3RD OF 2027.
SO I'M GLAD, YOU KNOW, ON ALL THE COMMITTEES ON THAT.
AND ALSO, I JUST WANT TO, EXPRESS, COMMENTS REGARDING, I WENT TO THE CENTINELA, PARENT LEADERSHIP TRAINING INSTITUTE, LAST WEEK, I GOT INVITED BY THAT COMMUNITY GROUP TO, GO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW YOU USE, SOCIAL MEDIA AND FOR MY CAMPAIGN AND ALSO FOR MY, FOR MY JOB. SO THEY WANT TO, LEARN HOW TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA.
ALSO, I WAS GLAD TO, GIVE THE LEADERS CAMPESINOS.
IT'S A FARMWORKER WOMEN'S GROUP IN, I ATTENDED IN, LAST SATURDAY IN, PLANADA.
AND SO I WENT AND GAVE A LITTLE SPEECH THERE TOO, AS WELL.
SO I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR INVITING ME AS WELL AS ALONG WITH SUPERVISOR PEDROZO ATTENDED THAT.
IT'S NOT EASY TO BE AN ELECTED 20, UH MY 22ND YEARS.
AND OVER THE 22ND YEARS, I'VE BEEN ATTACKED A LOT, YOU KNOW, BUT WE GOT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO AS ELECTEDS ARE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD AND WE CAN'T BE CRYING, CRYING, BULLYING EVERY TIME THAT SOMEBODY ATTACKS US.
YOU KNOW, I'VE TAKEN A LOT OF STUFF IN 20, ALMOST 22 YEARS GOING IN 22 YEARS.
AND, YOU KNOW, HEY, RESIDENTS ARE UPSET ABOUT ISSUES.
THEY'RE GOING TO COME IN AND YELL AT US.
AND LIKE I SAID, WE UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO VOTE ON, SALARIES AND MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.
BUT WE CAN'T BE CRYING ABOUT SOMEBODY YELLING AT US FROM THE PUBLIC.
SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY FEELINGS ON THAT.
SO WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO, THIS CONCLUDES THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS REGULAR MEETING AGENDA.
AND NOW WE'RE STARTING TO THE CHOWCHILLA GSA AGENDA.
PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST WITHIN THE BOARD'S JURISDICTION, INCLUDING ITEMS ON THE BOARD'S AGENDA, LIMITED TESTIMONY LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON AND 30 MINUTES TOTAL.
[01:05:04]
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE CHOWCHILLA GSA AGENDA IS NOW CLOSED.THERE'S ONE ACTION ITEM ON THIS AGENDA AND WE WILL BE TAKING THE VOTE MANUALLY.
ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? MOVE TO APPROVE? SO I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEREZ.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO.
TESTIMONY LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON AND 30 MINUTES TOTAL.
ALL RIGHT. WE WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT AND, DELTA-MENDOTA, AGENDA ITEM.
NO PUBLIC COMMENTS. CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO, ANY MOTIONS BY THE BOARD? A MOTION TO APPROVE.
SECOND. MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
ANY OPPOSED? FIVE. FIVE PASSES.
[POSSIBLE DIRECTION FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH, 2024 AT 10 A.M..SO WITH THAT, WE'LL CONCLUDE OUR MEETING.
AND THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.