ALL RIGHT, WE'RE ALL HERE. [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. IN CLOSED SESSION THIS MORNING, WE HAD A CLOSED SESSION MEETING AS BOTH OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND ACTING AS THE IN HOMES SERVICES PUBLIC AUTHORITY GOVERNING BOARD. 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. WE CAN PLEASE STAND. 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. THAT YOU WOULD GIVE US ALL WISDOM AND GRACE TO DO OUR PART AND TO HONOR YOU IN ALL OF OUR THOUGHTS, DEEDS, AND ACTIONS. I LIFT UP OUR COMMUNITY TO YOU TODAY AND ASK THAT YOU PROVIDE FOR ALL OF ITS NEEDS. LORD, WE BRING OUR FIGURATIVE LOAVES AND FISHES TO YOU AND ASK THAT YOU WOULD BLESS AND MULTIPLY THEM, JUST AS YOU HAVE DONE SO MANY TIMES BEFORE. MAY YOU USE OUR HANDS AND OUR VOICES TO CARE FOR THOSE YOU HAVE ENTRUSTED TO US, AND TO WORK HARD TO HONOR YOU WITH EACH OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU PROVIDE. IN THE TIMES WHEN OUR FAITH MAY FALTER, I ASK THAT YOU REASSURE US WITH YOUR FAVOR, ANOINTING, DISCERNMENT, LOVE AND HOPE TO MEET EACH TASK ASSIGNED TO US. PLEASE PROTECT AND SHIELD US FROM ANY HARM THAT WOULD COME OUR WAY, AND HELP US TO BE PROACTIVE WHENEVER POSSIBLE TO PREVENT WHAT WE CAN. MAY WE ALWAYS BE GOOD STEWARDS OF WHAT YOU HAVE ENTRUSTED TO US. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS YOU PROVIDE AND HELP US TO TRUST YOU, FOR THOSE THAT AREN'T QUITE WITHIN REACH YET. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS AND DEDICATE THIS DAY AND THIS MEETING TO YOU. IN JESUS PRECIOUS AND HOLY NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. READY. SALUTE. 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. EXCLUDING ITEMS ON THE BOARD'S AGENDA, TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON AND 30 MINUTES TOTAL. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT AGAIN FOR THIS NON-AGENDA ITEMS ONLY. GO AHEAD PLEASE. SORRY. GO AHEAD. OKAY. GOOD MORNING, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. MY NAME IS ALLISON KALICE STEREACEAE, AND I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AS A UNION ALLY AND ADVOCATE FOR THE IN-HOME HEALTH CARE SUPPORT WORKERS. 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. THIS IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE. WITHOUT A FAIR CONTRACT WITH, THE CONSEQUENCES ARE DIRE. THERE AREN'T ENOUGH IHSS PROVIDERS TO MEET THE DEMAND, LEAVING SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WITHOUT THE NECESSARY CARE. 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. IHSS PROVIDERS NEED A WAGE INCREASE AND NOW TO ENSURE THE WELL-BEING FOR BOTH CAREGIVERS AND RECIPIENTS THAT THEY 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. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. 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. THESE IMPORTANT WORKERS ARE BEING PAID CLOSE TO MINIMUM WAGE AND RECEIVING NO BENEFITS WHILE THEY WORK LONG, BACKBREAKING HOURS. HEARING THEIR STORIES, TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH THEM PERSONALLY, I HAVE REALIZED THEIR FIGHT IS OUR FIGHT. 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. I RESEARCHED THE SEVEN COUNTIES MYSELF THAT MERCED COUNTY OFTEN SURVEYS TO SEE WHAT WE WHAT WAS BEING OFFERED TO IHS WORKERS AROUND US. 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. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. 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. THIS CAN BE A LIFELINE. THIS IS MONEY THAT COMES INTO OUR COUNTY MAJORITY, NOT OUT OF OUR POCKET, AND GOES WHERE IT IS ABSOLUTELY MOST NEEDED. 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. SO I ASK YOU TO REEVALUATE WHAT IS KEEPING YOU FROM NEGOTIATING IN GOOD FAITH AND MAKING A REASONABLE OFFER THAT CAN BE ACCEPTABLE TO BOTH PARTIES. I HOPE YOU'LL RECONSIDER. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. [00:10:02] GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN ESPINOSA AND THE BOARD, KRISTEN SANTOS HERE AGAIN REPRESENTING THE OFFICE OF CONGRESSMAN JOHN DUARTE. IT WAS A PLEASURE TO JOIN SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND THE MERCED COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY IN THIS CHAMBER ON SUNDAY FOR THEIR ANNUAL MEETING AND AWARDS CEREMONY. THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH FOR AMERICANS AGED 18 TO 45, YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN IN THE PRIME OF THEIR LIVES IS NO LONGER CAR ACCIDENTS OR SUICIDE. 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. BORDER PATROL SEIZED 26,700 POUNDS OF FENTANYL ALONG THE SOUTHERN BORDER IN 2023, A 480% INCREASE FROM 2020. 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. FENTANYL CAN TAKE A HOMELESS MAN ON THE STREET, AND FENTANYL CAN TAKE A DECORATED ARMY COMBAT VETERAN FROM A WONDERFUL FAMILY WHO FOUGHT FOR HIS COUNTRY WITH HONOR. FOR FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS CHAMBER, THE BATTLE TO SAVE OUR LOVED ONES FROM THE PLAGUE OF ADDICTION IS PERSONAL. IT'S PERSONAL FOR MY FAMILY. IT'S PERSONAL FOR THE CONGRESSMAN'S FAMILY. AND THE CONGRESSMAN ALREADY HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR THIS BILL, AND HE WILL SEE THIS BATTLE THROUGH. 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. AT MERCED LAW FAMILY COMMUNITY, INC., 1748 MILES COURT, SUITE D, AS IN DELTA, MERCED CALIFORNIA 95348. 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. JUST A BRIEF STATEMENT. 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. AND SO STAY TUNED. 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. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 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 COMES HERE. HE SAYS HE'S NEEDING MORE MONEY. MONEY IS NOT THE PROBLEM. HIS PROBLEM IS DEMOGRAPHICS. NOW I CONTINUE. 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. IT WAS STOLEN. I COULDN'T FIND IT. 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. I GO BACK TO THE MARSHALS. 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 WHO DID IT. 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. NOW, THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON THAT PROPERTY HAVE SEVERAL RELATIVES THAT WORK IN THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT. MAYBE THAT EXPLAINS IT, I DON'T KNOW, BUT MY PROPERTY IS GONE. AND THESE TWO INCIDENTS ARE NOT THE ONLY INCIDENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED, BUT THEY'RE ALL THAT I'M ABLE TO TALK ABOUT RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MARTA ECHEVARRIA, LONG TIME MERCED COUNTY EMPLOYEE AND AFSCME MEMBER. I'M HERE AGAIN ON BEHALF OF MY ALL OF MY COWORKERS IN MERCED COUNTY, NOT JUST THE ONES THAT I WORK WITH, BUT ALL WORKERS THAT ARE WORKING FOR YOU. 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. THERE'S NO COMMUNICATION REGARDING WHAT THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OR WHAT THE COUNTY IS GOING TO BE DOING TO HELP US WORKERS. 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. DOING BUSINESS AS USUAL. 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. WE'VE GOT PEOPLE CALLING WONDERING WHY WE'RE NOT RETURNING CALLS, WHY WE'RE NOT PROCESSING THINGS AS QUICKLY AS WE SHOULD BE. 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. CONGRATULATIONS TO HER. BUT, YOU KNOW, MERCED COUNTY, WE'RE GOING TO TURN INTO A GHOST TOWN, IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING TO HELP EVERYBODY OUT IN THE LONG RUN. SO, TALK TO US, TALK TO US. LET US KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO TO ALSO HELP YOU GUYS COME UP WITH A REASONABLE SOMETHING REASONABLE TO HELP US ALL OUT. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. 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. THERE HAS TO BE CHANGE. AND I ALSO HEARD CHANGE IS DIFFICULT. BUT REFUSING TO ENGAGE. THAT'S WHAT I HEARD AS WELL. 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. SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE. MOST DEFINITELY. 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. I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU FOR ALL PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME BEFORE THIS BOARD AND ASKED IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS, MANY DIFFERENT TIMES, FOR YOU TO CARE. 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 ADVOCATE FOR IT. I'VE DONE IT ALL MY LIFE. 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. SO I AM COMING TO YOU PERSONALLY BECAUSE MANY THINGS THAT I HAVE HEARD AND MANY THINGS THAT I'VE EXPERIENCED HAVE BEEN PERSONAL. 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. SO ONE OF THE THINGS. SORRY. GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD. OKAY. I HAVE A BUNCH OF THEM. 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. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE IT. 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. GOOD MORNING GENTLEMEN. AND I'M A RETIRED FIREFIGHTER, AND THE THINGS THAT I SEE FROM THIS COUNTY BOARD IS UPSETTING. IT'S TERRIBLE. THERE'S NO GROWTH. THERE'S NO PLANNING FOR GROWTH. THERE'S NO JOB MARKET HERE. IT'S ONE INDUSTRY. WE NEED MULTIPLE INDUSTRIES. YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE STARVING. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. 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. I'M TIRED OF LOOKING AT IT. I'M TIRED OF THIS. THIS IS NOT FAIR. IT'S NOT HOW A BOARD SHOULD OPERATE. THANK YOU. 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. THIS ADDRESS WILL ALSO BE CORRECTED ON THE JANUARY 9TH, 2024 MINUTES ATTACHED TO ITEM NUMBER 12, AND THAT ITEM NUMBER SEVEN WILL BE TAKEN SEPARATELY. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH SIX AND EIGHT THROUGH 15. 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. CALL FOR THE VOTE. GO AHEAD AND RECORD THE VOTE, PLEASE. OKAY. OKAY. FIVE ZERO. PASSES. ITEM NUMBER SEVEN. 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. ANY COMMENTS FROM 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. SECOND BY MCDANIEL. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED SAY NAY. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU VICE CHAIR. 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. I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES. ITEM 17 AND 18. I WILL AT THIS TIME OPEN UP A COMMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER BHR 17 AND 18. NO PUBLIC COMMENTS. 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. CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE. ALL EYES HAVE IT PASSES FIVE ZERO. NEXT WE HAVE A HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY. ITEMS 19, THEN 20. 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. WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE, PLEASE. MOTION PASSES FIVE UNANIMOUS. NEXT WE HAVE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. ITEM 21. THIS TIME I WILL OPEN A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, FOR A CED ITEM NUMBER 21. NO PUBLIC COMMENT. 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. AND WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. OKAY. FIVE ZERO, UNANIMOUS. NEXT WE HAVE A DISTRICT ATTORNEY. ITEM 22. 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. WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTES. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO. NEXT WE HAVE FIRE. ITEMS 23 THROUGH 25. 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. I SEE NOBODY COMMENTING. 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. AND WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. OH. I'M SORRY. ALL RIGHT. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO. NEXT WE HAVE THE SHERIFF. 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. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON TREASURER-TAX COLLECTOR ITEMS 2728 TAX, TREASURER-TAX COLLECTOR. REAL QUICK. I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. SORRY. GO AHEAD. GOOD MORNING AGAIN BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, BEFORE YOU TODAY IS THE QUARTERLY INVESTMENT REPORT. JUST REAL QUICK MENTION. THE MARKET VALUATION IS 2.1 BILLION. WE HAD TOTAL EARNINGS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR TO DATE, WHICH IS, OF COURSE, A HALF YEAR OF OVER $30 MILLION AT A 3.09% INTEREST RATE. 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. THE MARKET NOW VIEWS THE LIKELIHOOD OF MOVING FROM FIVE RATE DECREASES TO ONLY THREE RATE DECREASES IN 2024. 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. AND LIKE I SAID I DO HAVE SOME INTERESTING SLIDES ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE INFLATION AND THE SOFT LANDING THAT WE HOPE CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN ITS COURSE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NO OTHER COMMENTS. 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. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. 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. WE'RE ALREADY AT 39 MILLION. THAT WAS FOR THE QUARTER, CORRECT KAREN? HOLD ON. I'M LOOKING HERE. IT'S 30. IT'S 30 MILLION IS YEAR TO DATE. 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'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. SO I SEE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEREZ. SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE, PLEASE. MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO. NEXT WE HAVE COUNTY COUNCIL. ITEMS 29 AND 30. 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. SO WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO. NEXT WE HAVE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE. ITEMS 31 AND 32. AT THIS TIME, MANAGEMENT ANALYST PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER MIKE NORTH WILL BE PROVIDING COMMENTS REGARDING ITEM NUMBER 31, THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. MIKE. YEAH. GOOD MORNING. GIVE ME A SECOND. GO AHEAD. SORRY. 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 WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE PLATFORM PROVIDES THE BOARD CHAIR AND CEO THE AUTHORITY TO AUTHOR LETTERS OF SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION AS NEEDED. 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. SORRY. GO AHEAD. OR ADDITIONS. YEAH. SO IT WAS JUST AN ADDITION OF THE PROJECTS ON THE TEAR SHEET TO ADD THE DELHI COMMUNITY. OKAY. GOT IT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM. IS THERE A SECOND SECOND. THE MOTION INCLUDES THE AMENDMENT OKAY. THE MOTION DOES INCLUDE THE AMENDMENT. SO WE HAVE A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AS AMENDED. AND SO WE'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. ALL FIVE AS I HAVE IT, AS AMENDED, PASSES. NEXT WE HAVE BOARD OF APPOINTMENTS. ITEMS 33 THROUGH 36. 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. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL ON THE LOCAL AGENCY FORMATION COMMISSION AND SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA ON THE SOLID WASTE INDEPENDENT HEARING PANEL. 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. WE SIGN UP TO GET BULLIED. IS THAT TRUE? IT'S NOT TRUE. LOOK TO YOUR FUTURE LEADERS ON HOW YOU WANT OUR LEADERSHIP TO STAND UP. WE WANT OUR COUNCIL CHAMBERS SAFE. WE WANT OUR SCHOOLS SAFE. WE WANT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE SAFE. WE WANT OUR WOMEN 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. THAT'S WHO YOU REPRESENT. YOU REPRESENT THE PEOPLE. 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. SO THANK YOU. AS YOU MOVE FORWARD AND SELECTING PEOPLE TO REPRESENT US ON VARIOUS BOARDS, COMMISSION TO DO WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. MORE COMMENTS. SORRY. GIVE ME A SECOND. GO AHEAD. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS LAURA HOWARD AND I LIVE IN LOS BANOS, AS I AM A NEW APPLICANT TO THE LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMISSION. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AND EXPLAIN WHY I WOULD LIKE TO SERVE ON THE LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMISSION. I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE FRIENDS OF THE LOS BANOS LIBRARY SINCE 2019, AND BEEN A VOLUNTEER WITH THE READ AND SUCCEED PROGRAM SINCE LATER THAT SAME YEAR. 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. ALL RIGHT. 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. SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. SO ONE MORE COMMENT BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. YEAH. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I JUST LIKE TO THANK MISS HOWARD FOR COMING. WE DO MAKE THESE APPOINTMENTS PERIODICALLY, AND IT'S NICE TO SEE FOLKS WHO WANT TO SHOW UP AND PRESENT TO US, FOR THEIR APPOINTMENT. AND I APPRECIATE YOU MAKING THE TRIP, ESPECIALLY COMING OVER FROM LOS BANOS TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND, CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE, PLEASE. MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO. 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. SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO. NEXT IS BOARD REPORTS. [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. KAREN HELMS, YOU KNOW, I WISH YOU NOTHING BUT THE BEST OF LUCK IN YOUR NEW POSITION IN STANISLAUS COUNTY. SAD TO LOSE YOU. YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN A GREAT PERSON TO WORK WITH, IS VERY, VERY SUPER KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT WHAT YOU GUYS DO DOWN THERE. 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. IT'S OUR I'M ON THE STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES AND IT WAS OUR, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP FORUM. 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. AND I DO WANT TO THANK THE CEO, MENDEZ, FOR AS WE WHEN WE BRING THESE FOLKS BACK, YOU KNOW, WE MAKE THE CONTACT WITH THEM. WELL, I CAN'T SIT THERE AND REPRESENT THAT. I KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT EVERY DEPARTMENT AND EVERY DETAIL OF IT, BUT ALWAYS BEING WILLING TO SIT DOWN AND LISTEN TO THOSE FOLKS. 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. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. KAREN, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO MERCED COUNTY. SORRY TO SEE YOU GO. 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. THANK 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. LAST YEAR WE GOT THEM OUT TO LAKE YOSEMITE AND, KIND OF EXPOSED THEM TO SOME OF WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE. I'D LIKE TO THANK, ERIC SERRATO FOR GIVING THEM AN UPDATE ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND HOW THEY MIGHT INTERACT. 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 THEN I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK DAHLIA ACOSTA IN OUR OFFICE FOR HELPING TO COORDINATE THE MEETING. AND SHE DID A GREAT JOB. 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. AND EVEN THOUGH THE NON-IRRIGATED HAVE TO PAY A SMALL FEE, IN SOME CASES, 5% OF WHAT THE IRRIGATED LANDS PAY, THESE FOLKS STILL DON'T WANT TO PAY THAT. 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. AND, THAT IS ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE A QUICK COMMENT. LAST WEEK, AN ISSUE WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION BY A CONSTITUENT WHO FOUND OUT ABOUT IT THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA. WHEN I CALLED THE CEO'S OFFICE ABOUT IT, THEY DIDN'T KNOW, AND IT TOOK A COUPLE OF DAYS TO FIGURE IT OUT. 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. A COUPLE OTHER QUICK THINGS. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION GOOD CITIZENSHIP AWARDS ON SATURDAY. IT'S WHERE THE SCHOOLS, THE HIGH SCHOOLS IN MERCED COUNTY, OR I'M SORRY, IN MERCED AREA, MERCED UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT. 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. AND WHEN THEY START TALKING, IT MAKES YOU THINK THAT YOU'RE NOT DOING ENOUGH BECAUSE YOU'RE INVOLVED IN SO MUCH OF JUST THE DIFFERENT CLUBS, THE DIFFERENT LEADERSHIP STUFF. 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. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AGAIN, KAREN HELMS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE IN MERCED COUNTY. I KNOW YOU MADE THE BIG MOVE OUT OF MARIPOSA COUNTY AND RELOCATED HERE IN MERCED COUNTY BECAUSE YOUR COMMITMENT TO SERVING MERCED COUNTY, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. AND THAT DOESN'T GO FORGOTTEN. SO WE KNOW YOUR COMMITMENT. 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. I WAS ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THIS COMMITTEE, WHICH, ACTUALLY DOES A LOT OF LOBBYING BOTH IN SACRAMENTO AND WASHINGTON, DC. 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 HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS. 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. THAT WAS VERY, VERY GOOD. 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. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. AND THEN AN UPDATE WE HAD CASTLE COMMITTEE MEETING LAST WEEK, AND RAIL UTILIZATION IS UP. CARS ARE NOW ROUTINELY STACKED EVERY DAY AS WE'VE OPENED UP SHIPPING OPPORTUNITIES FOR AG AND MANUFACTURING WORLDWIDE. 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. AND SO REALLY CONFIDENT IN OUR ABILITIES TO COME TOGETHER QUICKLY, SHARE INFORMATION AND MAKE SURE THAT COMMUNICATION IS GETTING OUT TO EVERYBODY, INCLUDING OUR RESIDENTS. ALSO WANTED TO EXTEND OUR APPRECIATION TO KAREN HELMS, FOR YOUR WORK FOR THE ORGANIZATION, FOR THE COMMUNITY. SHE'S BEEN A JOY TO WORK ALONGSIDE FOR AT LEAST THE TWO ALMOST, YOU KNOW, OVER TWO YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE. I KNOW HER AND KAREN, ADAMS ARE AN AMAZING TEAM. WISH YOU THE VERY BEST. IF THERE IS ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP WITH YOUR ONBOARDING THERE IN STAN COUNTY, I KNOW A COUPLE PEOPLE, SO FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT. HAPPY TO HELP OUT THERE. AND THEN ALSO WANTED TO COMPLIMENT MIKE NORTH, FOR HIS, YOU KNOW, PRESENTATION, PACKAGING THE ALLEGED PLATFORM FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION EARLIER TODAY. [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. MIKE AND THE REST OF THE TEAM AND COUNTY DEPARTMENTS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THOSE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS. THANK YOU. THIS SETS, OBVIOUSLY, THE PLATFORM FOR THE BOARD FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR. I KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A COUPLE BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE ALREADY START THAT ADVOCACY, ALONG WITH OUR STAFF AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, THE COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES TO ADVOCATE FOR MERCED COUNTY. IT'S IT'S UTILIZING THAT DOCUMENT, THAT TOOL TO DO THAT AND DO IT SUCCESSFULLY FROM MY, YOU KNOW, OBSERVATION. NOW, BEING HERE A COUPLE OF YEARS, MERCED COUNTY DOES THAT VERY WELL. AND SO THE PLATFORM PROVIDES THAT TOOL. AND THAT'S IT, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. COUNCIL, NO COMMENTS. OKAY. I'LL GO TO MY COMMENTS. SO TODAY WE APPROVED THE, THE, 2024 BOARD ASSIGNMENTS AND COMMITTEES. SO I JUST WANT TO MENTION, SOME OF THE COMMITTEES I'M IN, I'M AT THE, IN THE AT LARGE STANDING COMMITTEE. I'M A PRIMARY ON THAT ONE. 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 WANT TO THANK THE BOARD. AND, SO I THINK EVERYBODY THAT, WE'RE STAYING WITH THE SAME, PRACTICALLY THE SAME POSITIONS WE HAD LAST YEAR. 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. AND SO JUST A, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LOW INCOME COMMUNITY IN CENTINELA THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN CALLING ME TO SUPPORT THEM. SO I'M A WHATEVER THEY CAN DO TO SUPPORT IS MORE MOSTLY THEY UNDERSTAND AND TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES ON CIVIC ISSUES. 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 I GAVE THEM SOME AWARDS. AND SO I WENT AND GAVE A LITTLE SPEECH THERE TOO, AS WELL. AND LAST NIGHT I ATTENDED THE LAO FAMILY AND HMONG, YOU KNOW, APPRECIATION NIGHT IN, HERE IN MERCED COUNTY. SO I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR INVITING ME AS WELL AS ALONG WITH SUPERVISOR PEDROZO ATTENDED THAT. AND, YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT TO FINALLY I WANT TO SAY IS THAT AS AN ELECTED, YOU KNOW, THE 14 YEARS OF LIVINGSTON SEVEN, I'M ON MY EIGHTH YEAR HERE. 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. SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE CRYING, IF YOU'RE ELECTED, IF YOU'RE CRYING ABOUT BEING BULLIED, THEN YOU SHOULDN'T BE IN THIS POSITION. YOU KNOW, I'VE TAKEN A LOT OF STUFF IN 20, ALMOST 22 YEARS GOING IN 22 YEARS. SO, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, IF YOU CAN BE CRYING, BULLYING AND BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE TO VOTE ON DIFFERENT ISSUES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY OR WHATEVER POSITION WE'RE IN. 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. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL NOW CONVENE AS A BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, AS A COUNTY OF MERCED GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY AND CHOWCHILLA. 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. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT RELATED TO THE COUNTY OF MERCED GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY, CHOWCHILLA AGENDA AND JURISDICTION. ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? [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. SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO. ALL RIGHT. THIS CONCLUDES THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AS A COUNTY OF MERCED GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY CHOWCHILLA. WE WILL NOW CONVENE AS A BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AS THE [INAUDIBLE] GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY DELTA-MENDOTA. IT IS NOW TIME FOR PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST WITHIN THE BOARD'S JURISDICTION, INCLUDING ITEMS ON THE BOARD'S AGENDA. 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. SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? FIVE. FIVE PASSES. SO, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING FOR FEBRUARY 6TH 2024 ARE NOW ADJOURNED AND THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING WILL BE HELD ON [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.