Feb 27, 2024 Board Meeting

GOOD MORNING.

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:03]

GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME BACK TO THE FEBRUARY 27TH, 2024 MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

THIS MORNING WE HAD CLOSED SESSION.

SO [INAUDIBLE] CLOSED SESSION WAS CONTINUE TO AFTER THE REGULAR MEETING.

WE WILL NOW START WITH INVOCATION LED BY STACY COOLEY.

AND THEN SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA WILL LEAD US IN PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE.

PLEASE STAND. GOOD MORNING.

PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS AND YOUR HEARTS WITH ME THIS MORNING.

DEAR GRACIOUS HEAVENLY FATHER, WE INVITE YOU INTO THIS MEETING TODAY AND ASK THAT YOUR PEACE BE EVIDENT IN THIS ROOM.

I ASK FOR PROTECTION AND PROVISION, AND FOR HEARTS AND MINDS THAT ARE OPEN AND WILLING TO WORK TOGETHER.

LORD, YOU TELL US IN FIRST THESSALONIANS TO REJOICE ALWAYS.

PRAY WITHOUT CEASING, GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, FOR THIS IS GOD'S WILL FOR YOU IN CHRIST JESUS.

THIS MEANS NO MATTER WHAT WE ARE FACING, NO MATTER WHAT WE'RE FEELING, NO MATTER WHAT OUR NEEDS MAY BE, WE ARE TO PRAY.

IN FIRST CORINTHIANS 1:10 IT READS, I APPEAL TO YOU, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THAT ALL OF YOU AGREE WITH ONE ANOTHER IN WHAT YOU SAY, AND THAT THERE BE NO DIVISIONS AMONG YOU, BUT THAT YOU BE PERFECTLY UNITED IN MIND AND THOUGHT.

IN ACTS 4:32 IT READS, ALL THE BELIEVERS WERE ONE IN HEART AND MIND.

NO ONE CLAIMED THAT ANY OF THEIR POSSESSIONS WAS THEIR OWN, BUT THEY SHARED EVERYTHING THEY HAD.

PHILIPPIANS 2:3 SAYS, DO NOTHING OUT OF SELFISH AMBITION OR VAIN CONCEIT.

RATHER, IN HUMILITY, VALUE OTHERS ABOVE YOURSELVES.

EPHESIANS 4:2-3 SAYS, ASKS TO BE, ASKS US TO BE COMPLETELY HUMBLE AND GENTLE.

BE PATIENT, BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE, AND TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO KEEP THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT THROUGH THE BOND OF PEACE.

ONE FINAL VERSE IN FIRST CORINTHIANS 12 TALKS ABOUT US BEING ONE BODY JUST AS A BODY, THOUGH ONE HAS MANY PARTS, BUT ALL ITS MANY PARTS FORM ONE BODY, SO IT IS WITH CHRIST. IT IS A GREAT REMINDER THAT WE NEED EACH OTHER, AND THAT WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN PART TO PLAY IN THE BIGGER PICTURE, TO OPERATE WELL AND TO PERFORM AT OUR BEST.

WE NEED EACH OTHER TO DO THEIR PART.

WITH THAT IN MIND, FATHER, I ASK THAT YOU WOULD UNIFY OUR COUNTY, THAT WE WOULD ALL DO OUR PART TO WORK TOGETHER, TO MOVE IN THE SAME DIRECTION, HELP US NOT ONLY TO CONSIDER OUR BEST INTERESTS OR ONLY OUR NEEDS, BUT TO SEEK OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP EACH OTHER TO REACH OUR COMMON GOALS.

MAY WE BE A PEOPLE WHO DESIRES TO HONOR YOU AND TO WORK TOGETHER TO HAVE ALL OUR NEEDS MET.

I PRAY BLESSINGS OVER OUR COUNTY LEADERSHIP, FROM THE SUPERVISORS TO COUNTY COUNCIL TO CEO MENDEZ, ALL OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS AND EACH OF OUR COUNTY STAFF.

MAY YOU GIVE GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT WHERE NEEDED, AND I ASK THAT YOU PROVIDE CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO OUR MOST COMPLEX CHALLENGES.

PLEASE TOUCH EACH AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATING IN TODAY'S MEETING.

I ASK THAT YOU GRANT THEM WISDOM AND GRACE TO FULFILL THEIR ROLE.

WE GIVE THIS MEETING TO YOU AND ASK THAT YOU GUIDE AND DIRECT OUR COUNTY TEAM.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THESE THINGS AND FOR BEING SUCH A FAITHFUL FATHER.

IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY.

AMEN. READY.

SALUTE! OKAY NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO NON-AGENDA.

[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST WITHIN THE BOARD'S JURISDICTION EXCLUDING ITEMS ON THE BOARD'S AGENDA (TESTIMONY LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON AND THIRTY MINUTES TOTAL). ]

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.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, SIR.

GO AHEAD. GOOD MORNING.

YEAH. BURKE CRANE.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS BRIEFING IS TO LET YOU KNOW THAT AS OWNERS, STAKEHOLDERS AND PRODUCERS, WE'RE WITHOUT PROPER SUPPORT FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

I'LL BE GIVING BRIEFINGS THROUGHOUT THE NEXT 6 TO 8 MEETINGS.

HERE AT THE BOARD MEETING ON FARM AND RANCH SAFETY, COVERING LE GRAND, LOS BANOS, MERCED, MERCED RIVER, AUGUSTINE, TURNER ISLAND AND THE ATHLONE AREAS, REPEATED CALLS TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR THEFTS, ROBBERIES, BREAK INS AND NOW, DURING BROAD DAYLIGHT, STEALING COPPER WIRE AND CUTTING FENCES AND GOING INTO THE NEXT FIELDS.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR SHERIFF.

AS YOU KNOW, HE WAS SWORN INTO OFFICE DECEMBER OF 2014, GOING ON TEN YEARS IN THE SADDLE AS SHERIFF, 40 YEARS IN THE DEPARTMENT.

HE DID WHAT NO OTHER SHERIFF HAS DONE.

HE'S DELIVERING ON HIS CAMPAIGN PROMISES.

AND WE OWE IT TO HIM TO GIVE.

GIVE HIM THE SUPPORT HE NEEDS.

WE ALSO HAVE SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED.

WE HAD ANOTHER ELECTION.

WE NOW HAVE A DA THAT IS PROSECUTING AS INTERESTED IN AG CRIMES, AND SHE'S DELIVERING ON HER CAMPAIGN PROMISE.

[00:05:10]

AND EVERY ONE OF US HERE, INCLUDING YOURSELVES, HAVE BEEN PRECEDED BY PEOPLE THAT HAVE SAID THAT.

AND THAT HAS HAPPENED.

REMEMBER THE SHERIFF THAT SAID WE'RE GOING TO DO MORE WITH LESS? ANYONE REMEMBER, NO ONE REMEMBERS THAT.

WELL, THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT FOR US.

WE NOW HAVE A COUNTY THAT STAFFS RESTRICTING SHERIFF'S FUNDS THAT THE SHERIFF CAN'T USE, AND EVEN A BOARD MEMBER THAT DID NOT VOTE TO FUND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

SO AS THIS DEFUNDING THE POLICE THE SHERIFF'S NOT HAPPY BECAUSE WE'RE NOT HAPPY.

AND UNTIL WE'RE HAPPY, THE SHERIFF WON'T BE HAPPY.

EACH ONE OF YOU DIDN'T GET ON THE DAIS BY YOURSELF.

YOU HAD HELP, AND WE DIDN'T GET WHERE WE ARE WITHOUT HELP.

WE'RE KIND OF LIKE THE TURTLE ON THE FENCE POST.

HE GOT THERE WITH SOME HELP.

SO WE HOPE IN THE FUTURE MONTHS YOU CAN HEAR OUR VOICES AND VOTE FOR PROPER LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FUNDING THIS COUNTY.

YOU CAMPAIGN TO DO SO ON YOUR BEHALF, AND YOU CAMPAIGNED TO MAKE THE VOTE.

WE'RE ASKING FOR YOU TO VOTE.

AND IN UPCOMING TESTIMONIES, YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT A FAMILY WHO IS CONFRONTED AT GUNPOINT NOT ONLY ONCE, BUT TWICE BY TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE, TWO DIFFERENT GUNS AND TWO DIFFERENT INCIDENCES IN THE MERCED RIVER AREA.

AND YOU ALSO HEAR ABOUT STOLEN VEHICLES THAT WERE STOLEN IN MERCED, CHASED OUT INTO THE RURAL AREAS, JUMPED FENCES, CANALS AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GOOD MORNING, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

MY NAME IS AGGIE FREEMAN.

I'M PRESIDENT ELECT OF MERCED SUNRISE ROTARY.

I'M HERE TODAY WITH GLENN GALLMAN, THE WALL THAT HEALS COMMITTEE CHAIR AND ASSISTANT GOVERNOR OF ROTARY DISTRICT 52.

20 DARRELL TURF, WHO'S KNOWN TO MANY OF YOU ON BEHALF OF THE MERCED, SUNRISE ROTARY AND ROTARY DISTRICT 5220, I'D LIKE TO ANNOUNCE A COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT THAT WE'RE BRINGING TO MERCED COUNTY ON MARCH 28TH TO THE 31ST.

THAT'S EASTER WEEKEND.

THE WALL THAT HEALS ROTARIANS ARE PEOPLE OF ACTION WHO EXCHANGE IDEAS AND LEAD IN SERVICE ABOVE SELF TO CREATE HOPE IN THE WORLD.

BY BRINGING THE WALL TO OUR COMMUNITY, WE SEEK TO HONOR AND TO REMEMBER THE 5281 MEN AND WOMEN ON THE MEMORIAL AND OFFER OUR VETERANS, THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR FRIENDS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR HEALING.

WE HAVE PRESENTING SPONSORS, THE GALLO FAMILY, MIKE AND LORI GALLO, AND LINDA AND KENNY JELACIC, THE PETER J.

GALLO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION, AND WE'RE HOSTED BY MERCED COLLEGE, WHERE WE'VE BEEN DOING THE FIELD OF HONOR FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

AFTER THIS ONE, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO [INAUDIBLE] OKAY.

CHAIR, CEO, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

A FEW WEEKS AGO, I PROMISED AN UPDATE WHEN WE FIRST ANNOUNCED THAT THE WALL THAT HEALS PROJECT IS COMING TO OUR COMMUNITY AND WANTED TO DELIVER ON THAT PROMISE AS AGGIE HAD KIND OF SET THE STAGE.

WE DO HAVE SOME UPDATES.

MERCED COLLEGE HAS GRACIOUSLY AGREED TO HOST THE WALL THAT HEALS THREE QUARTER SCALE REPLICA OF THE NATIONAL MONUMENT IN DC.

END TO END. WHEN IT'S FULLY ASSEMBLED, IT'LL BE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A FOOTBALL FIELD.

SO WE'LL BE USING THE FRONT LAWN WHERE THE FIELD OF HONOR RESTS.

WE'LL BE USING THE SAME FIELD.

ACCOMPANYING THE WALL IS A MOBILE EDUCATION CENTER.

IT'S A 53 FOOT TRAILER THAT HAS POP UP SIDES WHICH CONTAINS MUSEUM LIKE EXHIBITS DESCRIBING THE VIETNAM WAR, THE IMPACTS ARTIFACTS LEFT IN DC AT THE NATIONAL MONUMENT, AS WELL AS SOME LOCAL STORIES OF LOCAL HEROES WHOSE NAMES ARE ENSHRINED ON THE WALL. SO THAT IS COMING TO OUR COMMUNITY.

STARTING THE 26TH IS WHEN WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY 26TH OF MARCH, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WELCOME THE WALL TO OUR COMMUNITY, STARTING WITH WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO CALL A MOVING PARADE WE HAVE ASSEMBLED CLOSE TO RIGHT NOW, ABOUT 100 MOTORCYCLISTS THAT ARE WILLING TO ESCORT THE WALL AS IT COMES INTO OUR COMMUNITY, STARTING IN ATWATER, MOVING TO WINTON AND THEN COMING UP VETERANS BOULEVARD TO THE COLLEGE IN MERCED.

I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT ROUTE BECAUSE THAT'S STILL BEING REVIEWED BY A NATIONAL TRUCKING COMPANY.

BUT THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE OVERVIEW OF THE ESCORT.

[00:10:03]

WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE THE WALL DURING NATIONAL VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DAY.

SO WE'LL BE HAVING A CEREMONY SPECIFIC TO RECOGNIZING THOSE VETERANS AND SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS.

AND IN THAT EVENING, WE'LL ALSO BE HAVING A CANDLELIGHT CEREMONY TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE SOLEMN REMEMBRANCE AND A READING OF THE NAMES OF THE FALLEN THAT ARE FROM MERCED COUNTY. THAT'S THE 29TH OF MARCH.

AND THEN WE WILL BE CLOSING THE WALL WITH A CLOSING CEREMONY ON EASTER SUNDAY, MARCH 31ST AND THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK ALL OF OUR SPONSORS, ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS AND THEN CLOSE THE WEEKS OF ACTIVITY, THE WEEK LONG ACTIVITY WITH A SMALL CEREMONY.

AND THEN THE WALL WILL BE CLOSED STARTING AT 2 P.M..

WANTED TO ITERATE THAT THIS IS A FREE EVENT TO THE COMMUNITY, AND WHEN THE WALL IS FULLY ASSEMBLED, IT WILL BE OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY TO THE ENTIRE PUBLIC.

WE ARE THE NORTHERNMOST STOP IN CALIFORNIA THAT THE WALL WILL BE VISITING, SO WE HAVE INVITED EVERYONE FROM THE CENTRAL VALLEY, FROM BAKERSFIELD UP TO THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA OREGON BORDER, AS WELL AS INCLUDING THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA.

SO WE'RE ENCOURAGING EVERYONE TO SPREAD THE WORD.

MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON MERCED SUNRISE ROTARY'S WEBSITE OR THE WALLTHATHEALSMERCED.COM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I'LL LEAVE SOME INFORMATION IN THE BASKET.

THANK YOU. OVER HERE ON THE RIGHT I WAS [INAUDIBLE] OKAY. [INAUDIBLE].

[SINGING].

GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF MERCED COUNTY.

MY NAME IS LUANA TURETSKY AND IT IS MY HONOR TO COME BEFORE YOU AS A NEWLY MEMBER, NEWLY INDUCED MEMBER OF MERCED HAVING LIVED HERE FOR JUST UNDER THREE YEARS, IT HAS BEEN MY PRIVILEGE AND MY JOY TO HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH THIS CITY.

HER OPPORTUNITIES AND ESPECIALLY HER PEOPLE.

I AM BLESSED TO SERVE AS THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND YOUTH PROGRAMS AT PLAYHOUSE MERCED, AND AM THE CO-CREATOR OF WE ARE MERCED, A VIBRANT SHOWCASE FEATURING MUSIC AND DANCES PERFORMED BY CULTURAL HERITAGE KEEPERS HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

IN 2021, IN RESPONSE TO THE EFFORTS OF THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC ON THE ARTS COMMUNITIES, THE CALIFORNIA ARTS COUNCIL ALLOCATED $60 MILLION TO CREATE THE CALIFORNIA CREATIVE CORE, A PILOT PROGRAM CREATED TO DIRECT THESE FUNDS OVER THE FOLLOWING TWO YEARS TO 14 ADMINISTERING ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE.

THE UNITED WAY OF MERCED COUNTY EMBRACED THE OPPORTUNITY AND WAS CHOSEN TO REPRESENT THE CENTRAL VALLEY AND REDIRECT A PORTION OF THE STATE'S FUNDS TO THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN NEED. RECOGNIZING THE DEPTH OF NEED, THE CALIFORNIA CENTRAL VALLEY, THE UNITED WAY OF MERCED COUNTY PARTNERED WITH THE MERCED ARTS COUNCIL AND THE ARTS COUNCIL OF STANISLAUS AND TUOLUMNE COUNTIES.

THEY CREATED THE HEARTLAND GRANT, OR THE HEARTLAND CREATIVE CORE.

WE ARE MERCED IS A FREE COMMUNITY EVENT GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY THE CALIFORNIA CREATIVE CORE HEARTLAND GRANT, THE UNITED WAY OF MERCED COUNTY, THE CALIFORNIA ARTS COUNCIL, AND THE MERCED COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL.

WE WERE PRIVILEGED TO BE CHOSEN OF ONE OF 17 RECIPIENTS TO THIS AMAZING GRANT, AND WE WERE AWARDED THE SECOND HIGHEST AMOUNT.

SORRY IF I GET A LITTLE EMOTIONAL, IT'S A BIG DEAL.

WE ARE SO EXCITED AND ASK YOUR HELP IN PROMOTING AND ENCOURAGING OUR COMMUNITY TO COME.

THIS SPECTACULAR EVENT HONORS THE RICH TAPESTRY OF ORAL HISTORIES, TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS WOVEN TOGETHER BY THE JOURNEY OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE THAT BROUGHT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE PEOPLE TO MERCED.

FROM MESMERIZING PERFORMANCES ROOTED IN THE TRADITIONS OF MEXICO, LAOS, CAMBODIA, INDIA, IRAN, TURKEY, PORTUGAL, TAHITI, NEW ZEALAND AND MESOAMERICA TO CAPTIVATING DISPLAYS OF LOCAL AMERICAN CULTURE, WE ARE MERCED PROMISES TO BE AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE FOR ALL.

THE PERFORMANCE IS FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY APRIL 6TH, 7:30 P.M.

AT THE HISTORIC [INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[INAUDIBLE] I

[00:15:02]

50 YEAR ANNIVERSARY COMING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.

WE WANT TO WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO COME.

THE THEATER IS OPEN MERCED FREE.

WE COME TO UNITE WE COME.

THE FEATHERS WILL WE PASS OUT TO EVERY PERSON THAT ATTENDS? IF I WOULD ASK YOU TO HOLD THE FEATHER IN THE AIR AND SAY THANK YOU, HEAVEN, THANK YOU, HEAVEN POINT DOWN SAY THANK YOU EARTH.

THANK YOU, EARTH. WAVE AND SAY THANK YOU, WIND.

THANK YOU WIND. GIVE A CIRCLE.

KISS, BIG OLE HEART AND SAY, WITH ALL MY LOVE.

WE WILL TRY TO TAKE CARE OF MERCED WE ARE MERCED SAY WE ARE MERCED.

WE ARE MERCED.

THANK YOU. GO AHEAD. HELLO EVERYBODY.

I'M AUNTY BECKY WITH [INAUDIBLE] I JUST WANTED TO MENTION BRIEFLY TWO EVENTS THAT WE HAVE IN MERCED.

MERCED DANCE TEACHERS COOPERATIVE DOES THE.

[INAUDIBLE]. EVERY YEAR.

IT'S FIVE MAJOR DANCE STUDIOS HERE IN MERCED.

THE SHOW IS THIS WEEKEND, ON SATURDAY.

IF ANYBODY WANTS TO COME OUT TO THE COLLEGE, THERE'S A POSTER I'LL LEAVE FOR YOU.

ALSO, I'LL LEAVE YOU A BUNCH OF POSTERS FOR KIKI ARENA TAHITI FIT.

SO FAR WE'VE SOLD OUT FIVE HOTELS HERE IN MERCED.

WE HAVE PROBABLY ABOUT 2000 PEOPLE GOING TO BE IN MERCED GOLDEN VALLEY GYM.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A LARGER VENUE.

THAT'S THE LARGEST VENUE WE HAVE IN MERCED.

SO I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO LOOK AT THAT.

I COULD FILL A 4000 SEAT VENUE ONCE A YEAR, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THAT.

SO ANYWAY, WE WOULD LIKE TO GREET YOU AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.

COME ON BY [INAUDIBLE].

IT'S MARCH 22ND, 23RD, 24TH.

THIS IS OUR 43RD YEAR AND WE'VE NEVER HAD ANY HELP.

WE DID IT ALL OURSELVES.

SO WE HOPE THAT YOU'LL POP BY AND COME AND SEE US.

AND I WANT TO SAY THAT [INAUDIBLE], WE ARE ALL IN SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ARE HERE BECAUSE WE LOVE OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ARE NOT HERE FOR MONEY.

WE ARE HERE REALLY TO PRESENT OUR CULTURES.

SO [INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN ESPINOZA AND THE BOARD, CHRIS [INAUDIBLE] SANTOS HERE REPRESENTING THE OFFICE OF CONGRESSMAN JOHN DUARTE.

I WAS ALSO ONCE [INAUDIBLE] IN WEST SIDE STORY, BUT I THINK THAT WAS A FAR MORE CAPTIVATING.

THE CONGRESSMAN WAS HONORED TO MEET WITH CHANCELLOR MUNOZ AT UC MERCED AND JOIN THE LOS BANOS FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR ANNUAL PANCAKE BREAKFAST OVER THE PAST WEEK.

CONGRESSMAN DUARTE ALSO RECENTLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH GOLDEN VALLEY HEALTH CENTERS, WHICH FIRST OPENED ITS DOORS HERE IN MERCED COUNTY TO DISCUSS HOW TO INCREASE HEALTH CARE ACCESSIBILITY IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY.

DURING THAT MEETING, THE CONGRESSMAN WAS SURPRISED, IMMENSELY GRATEFUL, AND HUMBLED TO RECEIVE THE DISTINGUISHED COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER ADVOCATE AWARD FOR 2024.

CONGRESSMAN DUARTE IS PROUD TO HAVE VOTED FOR THE BIPARTISAN, LOWER COST, MORE TRANSPARENCY ACT, WHICH PASSED WITH A BIPARTISAN MAJORITY OUT OF THE HOUSE.

THE 13TH DISTRICT IS HOME TO SIX FEDERALLY FUNDED FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER ORGANIZATIONS THAT OPERATE 66 DIFFERENT DELIVERY SITES, SERVING NEARLY 459,000 PATIENTS, ONE IN EVERY 12 AMERICANS AND ONE IN EVERY FIVE RURAL RESIDENTS, GETS HER PRIMARY CARE AT A COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER.

THE LOWER COST MORE TRANSPARENCY ACT AUTHORIZES MORE THAN $48 MILLION MULTIYEAR FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THESE VITAL PRIMARY CARE CENTERS TO KEEP VALLEY PATIENTS OUT OF CROWDED EMERGENCY ROOMS. THE ACT ALSO REQUIRES ALL HOSPITALS, CLINICAL LABORATORIES, IMAGING SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND AMBULATORY SURGICAL CENTERS THAT PARTICIPATE IN MEDICARE TO ANNUALLY PUBLISH THEIR PRICES AND FEES, INCLUDING THEIR DISCOUNTED CASH PRICE, AND NEGOTIATED CHARGES.

BY REQUIRING NEARLY EVERY CORNER OF OUR HEALTH SYSTEM TO PUBLICLY DISCLOSE THEIR PRICES.

THE LOWER COST MORE TRANSPARENCY ACT EMPOWERS VALLEY PATIENTS AND CREATES INCENTIVES TO LOWER PRICES ACROSS THE BOARD.

THE ACT ALSO ADDRESSES THE SKYROCKETING COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

FOR YEARS, PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS HAVE CHARGED PAYERS LIKE MEDICAID MORE THAN THEY PAY THE PHARMACY FOR A MEDICATION AND KEPT THE SPREAD OR DIFFERENCE AS PROFIT.

THE LOWER COST MORE TRANSPARENCY ACT FINALLY BANS ABUSIVE SPREAD PRICING BY PBMS THAT PARTICIPATE IN MEDICAID.

THE ACT ALSO REQUIRES MEDICARE PART B TO PAY THE SAME AMOUNT FOR PHYSICIAN ADMINISTERED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, WHETHER PROVIDED IN AN OFF CAMPUS HOSPITAL, OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENT OR IN AN INDEPENDENT PHYSICIAN'S OFFICE, SAVING MEDICARE AND ULTIMATELY, MERCED COUNTY TAXPAYERS NEARLY $4 BILLION OVER THE COURSE OF TEN YEARS FROM CO-SPONSORING RURAL HOSPITAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ACT TO JOINING THE CONGRESSIONAL BIPARTISAN RURAL HEALTH CAUCUS, CONGRESSMAN DUARTE WILL CONTINUE TO BE A FIERCE ADVOCATE FOR THE PRIORITIES OF MERCED COUNTY PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.

NICOLA? [INAUDIBLE] FOR YOU, BUT HI.

[00:20:03]

IT'S NICE TO SEE EVERYONE HERE THIS MORNING.

I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO BRING TO MERCED FOR QUITE A WHILE.

AND SO ON JULY 6TH, MERCED IS GOING TO HAVE ITS MERCED SUMMER OF JAZZ FESTIVAL.

I GOT CONFIRMATION THIS MORNING OF OUR LINEUP.

IT IS ANGIE STONE, WILL DOWNING, ERIC BENNETT AND ROLLS ROYCE.

AND SO IT WILL BE JULY 6TH HERE IN MERCED.

WE'RE EXPECTING PROBABLY CLOSE TO 5000 PEOPLE.

I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

YOU KNOW ME, I ALWAYS LOOK AT HOW WE CAN BUILD THIS COMMUNITY.

AND SO DURING THE NUT FESTIVAL, THE NUT FESTIVAL HAS BECOME VERY SUCCESSFUL.

LAST YEAR WE HAD OVER 7000 PEOPLE ATTEND THE FESTIVAL.

THIS YEAR WE'RE EXPECTING OVER 12,000 PEOPLE.

BUT HERE WITH THE JAZZ FESTIVAL PUTS US ON A DIFFERENT LEVEL.

AND SO I'M ASKING SUPPORT FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR THIS.

I HAVE TO RAISE $63,000.

THE FIRST 20,000 IS COMING OUT OF MY OWN POCKET, SO I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP.

BUT ALSO, THIS IS GOING TO BRING A DIFFERENT CULTURE TO MERCED, AND IT'S GOING TO BRING SO MUCH MONEY TO MERCED THAT IS NEEDED AND FILLING OUR HOTELS AND OUR RESTAURANTS AND THINGS.

SO I'M HOPING TO MAKE MERCED THE COACHELLA OF THE CENTRAL VALLEY.

AND SO A LOT OF THE ACTS AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHEN THEY DID COACHELLA, NOBODY THOUGHT COACHELLA WOULD BE WHAT IT IS TODAY.

IT WAS JUST A PLACE IN THE DESERT.

AND SO I'M LOOKING AT THESE THINGS THAT COULD REALLY ADVANCE OUR COMMUNITY, BRING UP THE INCOME LEVEL, BRING BUSINESSES HERE THAT WILL REALLY HIRE ONE AND 200 PEOPLE AT A TIME, STARTING OFF AT $40 AN HOUR FOR OUR PEOPLE.

AND SO BRINGING MUSIC BRINGS CULTURE.

THIS IS THE ARTS.

AND SO THESE PEOPLE HAVE NEVER BEEN TO THE CENTRAL VALLEY.

THEY'VE NEVER BEEN TO FRESNO, MODESTO, STOCKTON.

THE ONLY PLACE YOU SAW THEM IS OAKLAND, SACRAMENTO OR LOS ANGELES.

SO THIS IS A BIG THING FOR MERCED.

AND I'M GLAD THAT WE FINALLY GOT THIS.

SO I'M ASKING PLEASE HELP US OUT WITH THIS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO DO THIS.

THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING, SUPERVISORS.

I MOVED HERE IN 1974, AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER SPOKEN BEFORE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

SO I AM HERE TO SUPPORT OUR SHERIFF VERN WARNKE AND HIS DEPARTMENT.

I HEARD HIM SPEAK, AND I READ SOME THINGS LAST WEEK THAT CONCERNED ME.

WE NEED OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

WE NEED MORE SHERIFF AND PROTECTION.

MORE NOW MORE THAN EVER.

AND IT CONCERNS ME THAT YOU, AS SUPERVISORS, APPROVED A BUDGET.

AND YET THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE CEO'S OFFICE WHO ARE CHOOSING WHERE THAT MONEY IS GOING TO GO AND HOW IT'S GOING TO BE SPENT.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WORKS.

I HAVEN'T LOOKED INTO ALL OF THAT, BUT I KNOW THAT YOU WERE VOTED IN AND THE CEO'S WERE HIRED.

SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

IF THEY ARE HOLDING BACK FUNDS THAT NEED TO GO TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.THANK YOU.

SURE. WELL GOOD MORNING.

BOARD. MY NAME IS BEN CRANE.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE.

LET ME EXPLAIN TO YOU WHAT HAPPENED.

A COUPLE MONTHS AGO I WAS HOME FOR LUNCH, WAITING FOR MY WIFE HOMELESS, WALKS IN THE DOOR INTO MY LIVING ROOM AND CALL THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, DEALING WITH A DOMESTIC AND PLANADA DEALING WITH ANOTHER IN WINTON.

I AM ON THE BORDERLINE.

I KNOW THERE'S SOME SUPERVISORS HERE THAT LISTEN AND CARE ABOUT THE CONSTITUENTS, AND I KNOW THERE'S SOME THAT DON'T.

I'M HERE BECAUSE I'M FRUSTRATED THAT WE CANNOT GET SUPPORT FROM OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE WHEN WE NEED IT.

SEPARATE INCIDENT WAS OUT AT THE RANCH IN DISTRICT 4.

HAD A CAR GO BUZZING PAST MY SHOP ABOUT 90 MILE AN HOUR.

SO WHAT DO WE DO? WE CHASE THEM.

CHASED THEM ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE RANCH.

THEY BLEW THROUGH A COUPLE FENCES.

AND AT THAT TIME QUITE FRANKLY, I WAS PISSED OFF.

SO WE'RE GOING TO CATCH THEM, GET A HOLD OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

THEY'RE DEALING WITH THE SHOOTING IN WINTON.

GUYS IN LOS BANOS.

THEY'RE TOO FAR OUT.

[00:25:01]

CHP SAYS WHAT? CALL YOUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO.

I WANT TO STRESS THAT TO YOU GUYS.

CALL THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO.

SO WE HAVE PURSUIT.

FINALLY DISPATCH SAYS, WELL, QUIT CHASING THEM BECAUSE YOU MIGHT GET SHOT.

WELL, THAT'S NOT AN OPTION.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP CHASING THEM.

SO AFTER A COUPLE MORE FENCES GO DOWN AND THIS IS, OH, 11:30 IN THE AFTERNOON OR IN THE MORNING HE JUMPED A DITCH.

WELL, I DON'T HAVE THE.

WELL, I WON'T SAY IT. I DON'T HAVE THE NERVE TO JUMP A DITCH IN MY PICKUP.

SO WE KIND OF STOOD DOWN.

SHERIFF'S OFFICE CAME ABOUT 20 MINUTES AGO.

YEP. THAT CAR WAS REPORTEDLY STOLEN IN THE CITY LIMITS.

SO NOW THE TRASH OF THE CITY IS COMING OUT TO THE COUNTY.

THAT'S AN ISSUE.

AND WITH SEVEN DEPUTIES ON THE BEAT, THAT MAKES IT REALLY HARD TO NOT ONLY SATISFY THE TOWN OF PLANADA, THE TOWN OF LE GRAND, WINTON.

WE CAN'T KEEP DOING THE WAY THEY'RE DOING.

AND THE PREVIOUS PRESENTER SAID YOU KNOW, THE CEO IS HIRED BY YOU.

AND FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THE CEO IS NOT RELEASING FUNDS.

THAT'S AN ISSUE.

SO THANK YOU, GUYS.

I URGE YOU GUYS TO CONSIDER GIVING THE SHERIFF WHAT HE NEEDS.

HE NEEDS HELP.

WE NEED HELP.

AND I KNOW A LOT OF YOU GUYS DO AS WELL.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

MY NAME IS REBECCA TUCKER, DISTRICT 4 SINCE JUNE OF 2023.

MY FAMILY HAS BEEN, EXCUSE ME, DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE STAFFING SHORTAGE IN THE MERCED COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, I WROTE A LENGTHY LETTER DETAILING MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND CONCERNS TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IN DECEMBER THAT WENT UNANSWERED FOR TWO AND A HALF MONTHS.

I HAVE THE ORIGINAL COPY.

I'LL LEAVE IT IN THE BASKET.

THE VERY SHORT STORY IS THAT DUE TO STAFFING SHORTAGES AND THE ONE DETECTIVE IN CHARGE OF CELL PHONE EXTRACTION, HE ALSO HAS OTHER DUTIES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. BEING ON AN EXTENDED FAMILY LEAVE, OUR FELONY FORGERY CASE FROM JUNE OF 2023 HAS TURNED INTO MORE THAN JUST AN INITIAL CRIME AGAINST MY HUSBAND AND ME.

SINCE THE JUNE INCIDENT, WE HAVE BEEN GRANTED A CIVIL RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST THIS INDIVIDUAL.

HE WAS ALLEGEDLY DETAINED FOR DRIVING UNDER THE COMBINED INFLUENCE OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL IN ANOTHER COUNTY.

AN APD WAS PUT OUT BY ANOTHER COUNTY AGENCY, A LARGE COUNTY.

EXCUSE ME? DUE TO THE ERRATIC BEHAVIOR ON SITE BY THIS INDIVIDUAL, AN ARREST WAS MADE IN MERCED COUNTY FOR FELONY EXTORTION.

IN NOVEMBER OF 2023, AN ADDITIONAL THREE YEAR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESTRAINING ORDER WAS GRANTED TO MY OWN SISTER AND MOST RECENTLY, ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER.

AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAS NOT EVEN BEEN ABLE TO GET TO THIS YET.

HAS REPORTED A CREDIT CARD FRAUDULENTLY OPENED IN HIS NAME.

WE LIVE WAITING FOR THE OTHER SHOE TO DROP.

I CANNOT HELP BUT THINK THAT IF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN FULLY STAFFED WHEN THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED ON MY PROPERTY IN LAST JUNE, THAT OUR CASE MAY HAVE MADE IT TO THE DA'S OFFICE SOONER AND POTENTIALLY WE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE ONLY VICTIMS. AND PLEASE BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY I WISH THAT I WAS THE ONLY VICTIM OF THIS MAN BECAUSE I AM MUCH STRONGER THAN THE OTHER PEOPLE IN OUR FAMILY THAT HE HAS COMMITTED CRIMES AGAINST.

FOR THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS WE HAVE LIVED IN LIMBO, WONDERING IF AND WHEN CHARGES WILL BE WILL COME ABOUT THE STATE OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, AND WE ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL DANGERS TO OUR FAMILY.

AS A UNIT OF A GROSSLY UNDERSTAFFED DEPARTMENT, I HAVE THE MEANS TO PROTECT MY PROPERTY.

OTHER PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY DO NOT.

THEY DO NOT HAVE THAT.

I AM ASKING THAT YOU, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE COUNTY CEO WILL STOP THE IMMEDIATE BLEEDING AND RELEASE FUNDS TO AND THEN WORK TOGETHER WITH SHERIFF WARNKE TO PUT THE SAFETY OF THOSE WHO HAVE VOTED YOU INTO OFFICE AT THE FOREFRONT OF YOUR AGENDA.

I HAVE LOST FAITH IN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

PLEASE, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT AND HUMILITY, CHANGE MY HELLO. MY NAME IS JASON TUCKER.

I WANTED TO COME ALSO SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TO FIND CREATIVE SOLUTIONS.

WHAT I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO FOR A WHILE IS AN ARGUMENT OR A DISPUTE OVER NOT HAVING ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY

[00:30:09]

AND IT'S GETTING DOWN TO HOW MUCH WE CAN AFFORD AND HOW MUCH THEY'RE WILLING TO ACCEPT FOR PAY.

AND I WANT TO CHALLENGE THE SUPERVISORS TO GET CREATIVE AND THINK OF OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THE PROBLEM.

NUMBER ONE, I DO BELIEVE THEY NEED A HIGHER PAY RATE.

I DO BELIEVE WE NEED TO DO ALL THAT WE CAN WITHIN OUR BUDGET TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM BY GIVING A PAY RAISE TO THE OFFICERS SO THAT WE CAN BE COMPETITIVE IN OTHER AREAS.

BUT THE PROBLEM IS BIGGER IF WE JUST RAISE OUR RATES, OUR PAY RATES, OTHER COUNTIES ARE GOING TO RAISE THEIR PAY RATES.

THAT'S WHAT I'VE HEARD. IT'S BEEN THIS PROBLEM OF WE PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE, THEY PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE.

WE MAY NOT HAVE THE DEEP POCKETS THAT OTHER COUNTIES HAVE.

SO IT'S A BIDDING WAR THAT WILL JUST CONTINUE TO RISE.

SO THINKING CREATIVELY AND OUTSIDE OF THE BOX IS WHERE I WANT TO CHALLENGE THE BOARD TO GO.

AN IDEA THAT I WANT TO BRING, JUST AN IDEA IS GETTING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND BRINGING LEADERS OF DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES TOGETHER INTO A MEETING TO THINK, HOW CAN WE SHOW APPRECIATION FOR THE OFFICERS IN A COMPENSATION PACKAGE BY USING THE RESOURCES WE HAVE? AND THE IDEA IS CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP IN MERCED COUNTY, RETAINING OFFICERS AND GIVING THEM A LIVELIHOOD THAT SPEAKS FOR YEARS TO COME BY BEING HOMEOWNERS.

SO I WOULD SAY I WOULD GO TO A DEVELOPER IN MERCED COUNTY THAT OWNS A LARGE DEVELOPMENT OF HOMES.

AND I WOULD SAY, HEY, WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO BE A PART OF A GROUP THAT CAN OFFER HOME PRICES AT A DISCOUNTED RATE FOR FIRST RESPONDERS OR LAW ENFORCEMENT? THEN I WOULD GO TO A LENDER AND I WOULD SAY, WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO DISCOUNT YOUR LENDING RATE IN MERCED COUNTY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OR FIRST RESPONDERS? I WOULD GO TO EVERY AREA THAT I COULD, WHETHER IT'S MEDICAL CLINICS IN MERCED.

I WOULD GO TO DENTIST IN MERCED.

I WOULD THINK OF WAYS THAT I COULD PUT A PACKAGE TOGETHER.

THAT MAYBE IS A WAY OF SHARING RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE IN MERCED COUNTY THAT CAN ALSO BE BENEFICIAL TO THE OFFICERS.

I WAS REMINDED OF THIS JUST SITTING HERE THIS MORNING, OR LISTENING TO THE PRAYER THAT WAS SHARED AT THE BEGINNING, AND THE VERSES THAT SPOKE OF SHARING RESOURCES AND BEING HUMBLE AND BEING OF UNITY.

AND SO THE COMMUNITY CAN BE INVOLVED IN WAYS TO BE CREATIVE AS WELL.

AND I KNOW THIS IS REALLY OUTSIDE OF THE BOX.

AND YOUR ATTORNEYS ARE GOING TO TELL YOU THERE'S LIABILITY IN THAT.

THERE'S CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS, BUT THAT'S LEADERMOVING BEYOND LEGAL AND LIABILITY TO SOLVE AND ADDRESS PROBLEMS. THAT'S LEADERSHIP.

SO I CHALLENGE YOU, ENCOURAGE YOU.

AND I'D BE WILLING TO EVEN HOST A MEETING LIKE THAT.

WE CAN RUN A RESTAURANT.

I COULD PROBABLY GET SOMEBODY TO DONATE THE RESTAURANT IN THE LUNCH TO HAVE THE NEGOTIATION OR TALK.

SO I FEEL LIKE WE COULD COME TOGETHER IN A POWERFUL WAY THAT SHOWS PEOPLE THAT WE APPRECIATE THEM MORE THAN JUST A PAY RAISE.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU SIR.

ARE YOU WILLING TO COME TO THAT MEETING? GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS JOANNE PRESNELL.

I'VE LIVED IN MERCED COUNTY ALMOST ALL OF MY LIFE, AND I'M IN DISTRICT 4.

LLOYD. AND I SERVED ON THE MERCED RIVER SCHOOL BOARD TOGETHER FOR SOME YEARS, AND I'M A RETIRED COUNTY EMPLOYEE.

I UNDERSTAND BUDGETS, I UNDERSTAND HOW THEY WORK.

I KNOW THAT THE BOARD HAS THE AUTHORITY TO MOVE LINE ITEMS WITHIN BUDGETS.

AS IT WAS SAID PREVIOUSLY, WE VOTED FOR OUR SUPERVISORS AND OUR EXPECTATION IS THAT THEY WILL PROVIDE PUBLIC SAFETY FOR US.

THAT'S DESPERATELY NEEDED.

SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS WORK WITH SHERIFF WARNKE.

LISTEN TO WHAT HE HAS TO SAY.

YOU CAN MOVE MONEY AROUND.

I KNOW THAT YOU CAN.

I UNDERSTAND HOW RACES WORK, I UNDERSTAND UNIONS, I GET THAT, BUT WE HAVE A DESPERATE NEED HERE.

WE CAN'T GO ON IN THIS COUNTY WITHOUT PROTECTION.

AND SO I'M PLEADING WITH YOU THIS MORNING TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT AND TO WORK WITH SHERIFF WARNKE AND PROVIDE THE BENEFITS AND WAGES THAT OUR DEPUTIES NEED IN ORDER TO KEEP THEM HERE.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND SO I'M JUST PLEADING WITH YOU TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

GO AHEAD, MA'AM.

[00:35:02]

MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] GOOD MORNING TO YOU.

I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY FOR 50 YEARS.

I'M HERE TO ECHO YOU AND YOU AND YOU ON VERN WARNKE.

AND, PLEASE, WE NEED THE SAFETY IN OUR AREA.

WHEN BEN WAS TALKING ABOUT BEING OUT THERE, I WAS HEARING THE SHOTS IN WINTON.

SO WE NEED ALL THE FUNDING.

WE NEED TO KEEP PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTY.

MY SON IS A FIRST RESPONDER.

I MYSELF HAVE WORKED FOR THE ARTS COUNCIL AND AND HAVE PROVIDED FOR THE UNITED WAY.

MY PARENTS HAVE WORKED FOR MENTAL HEALTH.

IF YOU CAN SPEAK CLOSE TO THE MIC, PLEASE, MA'AM.

OH, SURE. OKAY, YOU WANT ME TO GET LOUDER.

OKAY. PROPER LAW ENFORCEMENT.

GIVE VERN EVERYTHING HE NEEDS.

THE CEO SHOULD NOT BE MAKING THE DECISIONS.

IT SHOULD BE YOU AND YOU AND YOU AND YOU AND YOU AND YOU AND ONE OF YOU I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR, ONE OF YOU I'M NOT.

EVERYBODY HERE HAS A VOICE.

WE'RE HERE FOR GREAT CONCERN.

SUPPORT THE SHERIFF.

I HAVE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.

AND I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT PRIOR TO THE PRISONERS REMOVAL AND RELEASE FROM JAIL OR PRISON, THEY KNOW MERCED.

I WAS COMING BACK FROM A TRIP IN DC.

I GOT ON THE TRAIN.

THERE WERE PRISONERS.

THEY KNEW MERCED THEY COME TO MERCED.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? WE HAVE TO STAND FOR SAFETY.

WE HAVE TO STAND FOR SOMETHING.

DON'T FALL FOR THE CEO.

STAND UP FOR YOURSELF.

I HAD ANOTHER EXPERIENCE.

I HAD TO TELL MY SON AT THAT TIME.

YOU SEE ALL THOSE PRISONERS GETTING OFF AT CORCORAN? THOSE ARE PRISONERS.

DON'T HAVE EYE CONTACT.

TROUBLE? I HAD ANOTHER INCIDENT OVER IN PACIFIC GROVE.

THE PRISONERS WERE IN HOTELS.

WE'RE TRYING TO HELP WITH MENTAL HEALTH.

I HAVE LOTS OF GREAT CONCERNS.

I THINK THIS IS REALLY GREAT AND I'M ALL FOR THE FIRE.

THANK YOU. FIREMAN. THANK YOU.

IF YOU CAN SPEAK TO MIC, PLEASE.

THANK YOU. FIREMAN.

THANK YOU SHERIFFS, THE POLICE OFFICERS I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS ON HERE.

DO WE KNOW THE NAMES OF THE 3-2 INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL LOSE THEIR JOB IF THIS MEASURE IS NOT PASSED? IF THIS MEASURE IS PASSED, I WOULD LIKE TO PUT MY NAME IN THE HAT FOR BEING ON THE MANDATORY COMMITTEE, BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED FURTHER OVERSIGHT.

IT MAKES REALLY GREAT SCRATCH PAPER.

I GOT TO SAY THIS, AND THIS IS REALLY GREAT SCRATCH PAPER.

I DON'T KNOW, HAVE ANY OF YOU READ IT? I WOULD URGE YOU ALL VOTE NO, VOTE NO.

WE DON'T HAVE. WE'RE BROKE AS A STATE.

WE DO NOT NEED TO SPEND $63 BILLION.

WHAT PORTION COMES TO MERCED? DO WE KNOW? I DON'T KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.

I ALSO WOULD HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT IHSS.

I WORK FOR IHSS.

I SEE I HAVE ONE I DID NOT GET PAID.

I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT AGAIN.

THERE'S OTHER ISSUES, BUT IN RESPECT FOR EVERYONE HERE, THANK YOU AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT.

LIKE I'M ECHOING ALL THESE PEOPLE.

VERN NEEDS YOUR HELP.

WE NEED YOUR HELP.

SO THANK YOU FOR TRYING TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT.

THANK YOU MA'AM. WE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE AT 30 MINUTES, BUT WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW, ARE YOU TWO IN THE BACK GOING TO SPEAK? NO. OKAY YEAH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO CUT IT.

YEAH, JUST THE LAST FOUR SPEAKERS.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS ELLIE CROW AND I'M A RETIRED VETERAN.

I CAME HERE TO REMIND THIS COMMUNITY WHO PRIDES ITSELF ON SUPPORTING VETERANS OF THE DECISION, THESE THIS BOARD MADE LAST YEAR THAT RESULTED IN THE CLOSING OF A VERY IMPORTANT VETERANS ORGANIZATION.

IT EXISTED THROUGH MANY WARS AMERICA HAD BEEN PART OF AND SUPPORTED THIS COMMUNITY.

THIS ORGANIZATION SPECIALTY WAS TO HELP WAR VETERANS, AS IT WAS ONLY WAR VETERANS WHO COULD BE MEMBERS.

IT WAS DESIGNED FOR THOSE OF US WHO NEEDED A PLACE TO GO HOME TO A PLACE WHERE WE FELT UNDERSTOOD AND MADE CONNECTIONS WITH THOSE OF US WHO WALKED THIS PATH.

UNKNOWN TO MANY, THIS BOARD, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA, WHO OPENED THE DOOR FOR US TO TRY TO HELP US ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CLOSING DOWN OF THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS POST 43, 27 AND MERCED.

THIS BOARD CLOSED DOWN AN ORGANIZATION THAT TOOK PRIDE IN CARING FOR THEIR BROTHERS AND SISTER VETERANS AND MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF RETURNING SERVICE MEMBERS, PLACING AN EMPHASIS ON THOSE WHO SERVED IN WAR.

WHY? BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE HAD THEIR COMMUNITY WORK WENT UNNOTICED, AND THEY SERVED VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES QUIETLY AND WITH DISTINCTION, ENSURING THAT THE

[00:40:10]

THEY OFFERED CONTINUED SUPPORT TO THOSE WAR VETERANS WHO SUFFERED IN SILENCE FOR MOST OF THEIR LIVES, BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTOOD THOSE WHO WALKED IN THOSE SHOES.

AS PTSD WAS NOT A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION IN WARS PAST, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN ORGANIZATIONS THOSE WHO SERVE ONE DAY AND ARE CALLED VETERANS AND THOSE WHO SERVE IN THE BATTLEFIELD.

IT IS A DIFFERENT LIFE THAT UNLESS YOU'VE WALKED THAT ROAD, YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW.

ALL VETERANS DESERVE RESPECT, AND ALL VETERANS SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO HOME TO A PLACE THAT UNDERSTOOD THEM.

UNFORTUNATELY, WAR VETS DID NOT MATTER TO THIS BOARD AS WE GO TO VOTE IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, I ASK THIS COMMUNITY TO REMEMBER THE CHOICES.

THESE MEN, NONE WHO HAVE SERVED IN WAR, DID TO A COMMUNITY OF VETERANS WHO CAME HERE ASKING FOR HELP.

THEY COULD HAVE MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE FOR US VETERANS AND THE VFW, BUT THEY CHOSE TO IGNORE AND DISMISS THIS WOUNDED GROUP OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO PUT THEIR LIFE ON THE LINE BY ANSWERING A CALL, ONLY TO BE LET DOWN BY THEIR COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES.

PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THIS SMALL PIECE OF MERCED HISTORY THAT IMPACTED A COMMUNITY OF WAR VETERANS PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE.

WHEN YOU GO TO VOTE, THEY ARE A REFLECTION OF WHAT WE STAND FOR AS A COMMUNITY.

THEY REPRESENT MERCED.

THEY REPRESENT YOU.

DO YOU WANT THEM TO REPRESENT YOU? THANK YOU.

HELLO, MY NAME IS PATRICK [INAUDIBLE].

I LIVE IN ATWATER.

I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY DAUGHTER MAGGIE.

SHE STRUGGLES WITH SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS STRUGGLING WITH A BROKEN MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM.

IT AFFECTS PUBLIC SAFETY THROUGHOUT MERCED COUNTY FOR EVERY CITIZEN WHO LIVES IN IT.

IT AFFECTS OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO ARE ASKED TO RESPOND IN THIS CRISIS, WHO SHOULD NOT BE BURDENED WITH MAKING DECISIONS FOR THE MENTALLY ILL.

MY DAUGHTER HAD A PSYCHOTIC BREAK.

SHE ENDED HER WALK IN BATHTUB FOR FOUR DAYS, FILLED IT WITH COLD WATER, URINATING AND VOMITING IN THE WATER WHILE SPEAKING OUT IN A DISORDERED MANNER.

WE CONTACTED A MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE TEAM AND THE POLICE BEFORE AND AFTER THIS EVENT OCCURRED.

WE WERE TOLD THAT SINCE MAGGIE WAS NOT SUICIDAL, IT WAS NOT HARMING HERSELF OR THREATENING HARM TO OTHERS.

THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.

WE AGAIN CALLED 911 THE FOLLOWING MORNING AND ASKED FOR AN AMBULANCE.

MAGGIE'S PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CONDITION WORSENED.

THEY CAME AND THANKFULLY WERE ABLE TO TAKE MAGGIE TO THE HOSPITAL.

I AM GRATEFUL TO THE EMT AND FIREMEN WHO CAME TO HELP MAGGIE GET HER OUT OF THE TUB, ONTO A STRETCHER, AND THEN TO THE HOSPITAL.

THE EMT WAS SHOCKED TO SEE MAGGIE AND HER PHYSICAL AND MENTAL STATE.

SHE HAD NOT EATEN OR DRANK WATER FOR FIVE DAYS.

I'M NOT ASKING FOR SYMPATHY.

I'M SPEAKING TO YOU BECAUSE MAJOR REFORMS ARE NEEDED IN MERCED COUNTY FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO STRUGGLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH.

FAMILIES WHO STRUGGLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH NEED BETTER GUIDANCE IN WHAT THEY CAN DO TO HELP LOVED ONES.

IN CONCLUSION, MERCED COUNTY NEEDS GROUP HOMES FOR THE MENTALLY ILL WHO GET LOST THROUGH THE CRACKS OF THIS FLAWED SYSTEM.

THIS WAY, THEY CAN HAVE SHELTER AND RECEIVE HELP AND GUIDANCE FROM PROFESSIONALS AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE.

WE NEED BETTER TRAINING AND RESOURCES FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO FEEL HELPLESS IN DEALING WITH THIS STRUGGLE.

WE NEED BETTER RESOURCES FOR OUR OVERBURDENED E.R., WHO'S UNDERSTAFFED PERSONNEL HAVE TO DEAL WITH MENTAL HEALTH DECISIONS ON A DAILY BASIS. I REALIZE THESE IDEAS COME WITH A PRICE TAG.

HOW DO WE PAY FOR IT? I ANSWER THIS WITH A SIMPLE QUESTION.

AREN'T WE PAYING NOW? IN BOTH HUMAN AND DOLLAR COSTS, MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS TO BE MORE PROACTIVE AND LESS REACTIVE.

THANK YOU. AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY DISTRICT THREE SUPERVISOR, DARON FOR RESPONDING TO MY EMAILS.

I GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU. OUR BOARD POLICY IS USUALLY 30 MINUTES, BUT WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW TWO MORE.

OKAY. THAT'S IT.

WE'VE GONE PAST 30 MINUTES ALREADY.

CHAIRMAN. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, STAFF MEMBERS, FELLOW RESIDENTS.

[00:45:05]

I WANT TO THANK MR. PEDROZO AND MR. ESPINOZA FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS TO SPEAK, TO COMMUNICATE AND KEEP THAT COMMUNICATION OPEN, REGARDLESS OF DEMOGRAPHIC CONSIDERATIONS.

I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE ARE ABLE TO COME TO A CONCLUSION AND SOLVE PROBLEMS BY NOT JUST STICKING WITH AN ECHO CHAMBER, AS I CALL IT.

SO I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

SECOND THING I WANT TO LEAD INTO IS COMMUNICATION.

I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE COMMUNICATION FROM SHERIFF WARNKE.

I DON'T KNOW SHERIFF WARNKE VERY MUCH PERSONALLY.

FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND OF HIM, HE'S NOT A MAN FOR DRAMA OR DRAMATIZATION.

HIS COMMUNICATION, LETTING US KNOW ABOUT THE DIRE SITUATION THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TELLS ME THAT THE SITUATION IS MUCH WORSE THAN HE'S COMMUNICATING.

AND IT'S GOING TO COMPOUND AS WE LOSE MORE DEPUTIES.

AS WE LOSE MORE DEPUTIES, THE WORKLOAD IS GOING TO BE WHAT CONCENTRATED ON A FEW INDIVIDUALS, AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE GOING TO FEEL MORE FRUSTRATED.

THEIR SAFETY IS GOING TO BE MORE ON THE LINE, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A JUST A MASS EXODUS OF PERSONNEL.

NOW, WHEN WE LOSE A DEPUTY, WE DON'T JUST LOSE THAT PERSON, WE LOSE ALL THE KNOWLEDGE INSIGHT THAT THEY HAVE ON THE GANG UNITS, THEIR MODUS OPERANDI, SAFE HOUSES THE ASSOCIATES, ETC..

SO AGAIN, WE'RE NOT JUST LOSING A POSITION, WE'RE LOSING ALL THAT RESIDENT OR FIELD KNOWLEDGE, IF YOU WILL.

AND THAT'S GOING TO COMPOUND PUBLIC SAFETY.

IT'S ALSO AFFECTING WHAT OUR FARMERS A LOT OF FARMERS ARE SMALL ORGANIZATIONS.

THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE THE EQUIPMENT THE, THEIR STOCK.

IT REALLY IS A HUGE IMPACT ON THAT.

AND WHERE DOES THAT COME FROM? THEY HAVE TO RAISE PRICES.

AND WHO DOES THAT AFFECT AFFECTS THE OUR POOR WHICH ARE AFFECTED THE MOST IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO AGAIN I'VE BEEN IN YOUR SITUATION AND AND YOU CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

YOU CAN MAKE IT STOP. IT'S CALLED UNILATERAL.

IT'S CALLED LEADERSHIP.

WE TOOK THAT POSITION IN LOS BANOS.

WE DIDN'T NEGOTIATE BACK AND FORTH.

WE TOOK UNILATERAL ACTION.

WE STOPPED THE BLEEDING BECAUSE GUESS WHAT? ECONOMIC ECONOM IS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE AND LINKED TO TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

WE HAVE HIGHER CRIME RATES.

GUESS WHAT? PEOPLE ARE LESS LIKELY TO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY.

MORE LIKELY TO LEAVE OUR COMMUNITY IF THEY'RE GETTING BREAK INS AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANYBODY TO RESPOND TO.

SO PLEASE TAKE A LEADERSHIP ROLE, MAKE THIS HAPPEN, MAKE THIS STOP.

FUND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[INAUDIBLE]. GOOD MORNING.

BOARD DENNIS BRAZIL [INAUDIBLE].

I'M HERE TODAY TO ECHO SOME OF THE SENTIMENTS OF THE CONSTITUENTS THAT ARE HERE AND THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE BEEN TALKING TO OUT IN THE FIELD.

YOU GUYS ALL KNOW ME.

I'M A CANDIDATE FOR DISTRICT FOUR SUPERVISOR.

THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

TEN YEARS AGO, I SUPPORTED VERN IN HIS ELECTION.

AND, YOU KNOW, I WENT TO SOME MEETINGS THAT HE HAD VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD GENTLEMAN, TO THE POINT.

TAKES CARE OF BUSINESS.

HERE WE ARE TEN YEARS LATER.

HE'S IN THE SAME POSITION FOR THE SAME ISSUES THAT HE BROUGHT UP TEN YEARS AGO.

I KNOW THE BUDGET'S TIGHT, BUT TEN YEARS, WE HAVE 2000 MILES TO COVER IN OUR COUNTY.

ONE DEPUTY COVERS FROM LOS BANOS TO DOS PALOS TO GUSTINE.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE THEY'RE AT.

WHEN THAT CALL COMES IN, THEY'RE NOWHERE NEAR WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.

THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

IT DOESN'T TAKE TEN YEARS TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

THE SECOND THING I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IS OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

I DON'T FEEL THAT THEY'VE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.

I'VE BEEN TALKING TO THEM. I'VE BEEN WATCHING THE MEETINGS AND SEEING WHAT'S GOING ON.

I'M JUST BAFFLED HOW WE GOT TO THIS POINT.

FIVE OF YOU ON THIS BOARD.

YOU'RE ALL WORKING FOR THE SAME GOALS.

YOU KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN IN ELECTED POSITIONS FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS.

OUR JOB AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IS TO REPRESENT THE CONSTITUENTS, PERIOD, AND TO BASE OUR DECISION ON FACTUAL INFORMATION.

I'M NOT SURE THAT'S BEING DONE.

NO OFFENSE, MISTER CEO, BUT IF THE CEO IS CALLING THE SHOTS ON WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, THAT'S 100% WRONG.

THAT'S A BOARD DECISION.

THAT'S WHAT THE BOARD IS FOR.

THE BOARD ANSWER TO THE PEOPLE.

THE CEO ANSWERS TO THE BOARD.

NO OTHER WAY.

THE LAST THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT, I'M GOING TO LEAVE THIS PICTURE FOR YOU.

MEASURE V, THE AUDIENCE CAN SEE THIS TOO.

PRETTY SIMPLE MESSAGE, RIGHT? FIX OUR ROADS.

YES. ON V, I SUPPORTED THIS.

I WAS IN MY THIRD TERM AND MY LAST YEAR AS MAYOR.

WHAT ARE THE MAJORITY OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT YOU GUYS GET? FIX OUR ROADS RIGHT.

THIS WAS GENERATED BY THE VOTERS TO GENERATE $15 MILLION ANNUALLY, $450 MILLION OVER A

[00:50:08]

THIS IS THE ROAD THAT'S FIXED IN GUSTINE JUST IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

IF THE AUDIENCE WANTS TO SEE IT, IT'S ABOUT A 100FT BY 15FT.

TOOK EIGHT YEARS TO GET THIS.

PRETTY UNACCEPTABLE. I'LL LEAVE THAT HERE FOR YOU GUYS.

THIS MEASURE WAS VOTED TO FIX OUR ROADS.

GUSTINE HAS YET TO FILL A POTHOLE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THIS THANK YOU.

YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND SPEAK, MA'AM? YES. OKAY.

YOU TOO, SIR. LAST THREE.

OKAY. HELLO, GENTLEMEN.

I'M MARLENE TERRY GUSTINE, DISTRICT 1.

AND I'M SPEAKING IN REGARD TO OUR ROADS.

THE THREE ROADS I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS WHERE I RESIDE.

IT CONSISTS OF MARSHALL, NEWSOME AND HEWLETT, AND THE ROADS ARE A TWO MILE U OFF OF HIGHWAY 33.

THERE ARE 22 RESIDENTIAL HOMES, TWO DAIRIES, ONE CHICKEN RANCH WORKERS, SUPPLIERS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT USE THESE ROADS.

THE CONCERNS OF THE RESIDENTS AND OTHERS WHO HAVE SIGNED A PETITION, WHICH I AM GOING TO PUT THE PETITION, AND SEVERAL PICTURES OF THE ROAD CONDITIONS THAT THE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED THE PETITION THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ROADS NOT BEING PROPERLY MAINTAINED.

SOME OF US ARE THIRD AND FOURTH GENERATIONS ON THESE ROADS AFTER MANY YEARS OF NEGLECT.

THE ROADS CANNOT BE REPAIRED WITH JUST COLD PATCH.

IN SOME AREAS THE ROAD IS SO NARROW TWO CARS CAN'T PASS.

THE ROAD IS SO DAMAGED THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE ENTIRELY COVERED.

WHERE MARSHALL GOES INTO NEWSOME, THERE IS NO PAVEMENT, JUST DIRT AND MUD.

WHEN THE ROADS HAVE POTHOLES FILLED, IT'S AS IF THERE ARE SIX POTHOLES AND FOUR ARE PATCHED.

THE COLD PATCH ISN'T SMOOTH OR PACKED, AND THE ROAD IS LEFT FOR CARS TO FLATTEN THE FIELD HOLES.

THE ROAD JUST STAYS LUMPY AND BUMPY.

SOMETIMES THEY SHOULDN'T EVEN BOTHER.

IT'S A WASTE OF TAXPAYERS MONEY.

DOESN'T THE ROAD DEPARTMENT, THE SUPERVISORS CHECK THE ROADS BEFORE AND AFTER REPAIRS? A LOT CAN BE SEEN BY GETTING OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE AND WALKING AND INSPECTING THE ROAD.

THEY'RE PUTTING A BAND-AID ON SOMETHING THAT NEEDS THE ENTIRE ROAD REPAIRED.

SOME OF US HAVE LIVED HERE FOR OVER 60 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER SEEN THE ROAD IN SUCH DISREPAIR.

THERE IS SOMETHING HAPPENING NOW THAT NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE.

WHENEVER THERE'S AN ACCIDENT ON HIGHWAY 33 BETWEEN MARSHALL AND NEWSOME, BETWEEN MARSHALL AND HULIN, THE ROAD IS DETOURED ONTO THOSE THREE ROADS.

THERE'S CARS, TRUCKS AND SEMIS USING THAT ROAD, AND IT CAN BE FOR OVER FOUR HOURS.

WE VOTED FOR MEASURE B, HOPING THAT IT WOULD HELP OUR ROAD SITUATION TO NO AVAIL.

WE ALL HEAR THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY.

IS THERE EVER GOING TO BE ENOUGH MONEY? WHERE IS OUR TAX MONEY GOING? SO MANY PEOPLE ARE BENEFITING FROM MERCED COUNTY AND NOT PAYING TAXES.

I HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR ME TO GET WELFARE, AND THEN GET MY ROAD FIXED, AND PEOPLE ON THESE ROADS HAVE BEEN PAYING TAXES FOR SO SAD. I HOPE THAT SOMEONE IS LISTENING TO US AND WILL DO THE RIGHT THING AND REPAIR A TWO MILE ROAD.

UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, I DON'T FEEL WE ARE ASKING FOR TOO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING, MARIA SOTO.

I KNOW I'VE COME BEFORE THIS BOARD AND PREVIOUS MEETINGS.

I ENJOY COMING.

IN FACT, I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS MORNING WITH THE DIVERSE CULTURAL ACTIVITIES THAT TOOK PLACE THIS MORNING.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL FEELING TO HAVE WHEN YOU HAVE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WANTING TO EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS.

THIS ROOM IS LESS THAN I WANT TO SAY, 80 PEOPLE HERE THIS MORNING AND COMMON THEMES AROUND IT, YOU KNOW, FIX OUR ROADS, AG THEFT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT,

[00:55:07]

LIKE I SAID, THIS ROOM IS VERY SMALL.

THEY DON'T THEY MAY NOT HAVE THE TIME TO COME AT 9:10 A.M., TAKING THE DAY OFF FROM WORK TO PLEAD WITH YOU.

AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THEY HAVE TO ACTUALLY PLEAD WITH YOU.

I'VE BEEN CALLING PEOPLE WITHIN DISTRICT 1 TO GET SOME INFORMATION ON SOME CONCERNS THAT THEY MAY HAVE.

SOME OF THEM DON'T EVEN KNOW DISTRICT 1 WHO REPRESENTS THEM.

THAT WOULD BE RODRIGO. SO FOR ME TO ASK, WELL, WHAT HAVE THEY DONE FOR YOU? I DON'T KNOW, DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

ARE YOU TRULY DOING THE JOB THAT YOU NEED TO REACH OUT TO THE PEOPLE THAT VOTE FOR YOU, SPENDING THE TAX DOLLARS IN WAYS THAT THEY VOTE AS WELL? I CAME BEFORE THIS BOARD IN AUGUST, I BELIEVE, AND ASKED ABOUT THE FOLLOW UP ON THE VFW FUNDS THAT WERE PROMISED BY OUR DISTRICT ONE SUPERVISOR THAT COMES THAT HAS MISSED MAYBE 80% OF THE MEETINGS WHERE WE HAVE A PLACE ON THE AGENDA FOR A CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, AND HE HAS NOT COME FORWARD WITH A REPORT.

I DON'T SPEAK TO HIM DIRECTLY BECAUSE HE HAS NOT GIVEN ME THAT OPPORTUNITY, AND HE SAYS THAT HE WILL NOT SPEAK WITH ME DIRECTLY.

SO I'M ADDRESSING THE BOARD IN THIS WAY.

$325,000 WAS TO BE ALLOCATED TO THE VFW THERE IN LIVINGSTON, SO I'D LIKE AN UPDATE ON THAT.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO ASK ON BEHALF OF THE VETERANS THAT WAS SPEAKING EARLIER ABOUT THE VFW IS CLOSED.

I KNOW SECTION OF THAT BELONGED TO THE AMERICAN LEGION.

WE SHARED THAT BUILDING.

SO WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS? I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME MINUTES IN REGARDS TO THAT.

MANY PEOPLE AGAIN, TAX SHARING AGREEMENT THAT YOU HAVE WITH THE CITY OF LIVINGSTON, EIGHT YEARS, THAT DISTRICT 1 CHAIRMAN HAS BEEN THERE.

I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME ACTION ON THAT.

LIVINGSTON DESERVES ALL OUR CITIES DESERVE PUBLIC SAFETY AND FIRST RESPONDERS THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTY AGAIN ALSO IS ADDRESSED.

WAS SAFE CENTERS FREE [INAUDIBLE]. SO AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT THIS BOARD TAKE ACTIONS WHERE WE KEEP EVERYONE SAFE THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTIES AND LISTEN TO YOUR PEOPLE THEY HAVE TO COME HERE TO TALK TO YOU.

NOBODY'S REACHING OUT TO THEM, IS FROM WHAT I HEAR.

THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY. [INAUDIBLE]. NO, MA'AM, THANK YOU.[INAUDIBLE].

MARCH 12TH.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS. NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 24.

[CONSENT CALENDAR]

PLEASE NOTE ITEM 4, 7 THROUGH 10 AND 12 AND ALSO 14 REQUIRE A FOUR FIFTH VOTE.

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

OKAY, I SEE NO COMMENT.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 1 TO 24 IS NOW CLOSED.

ALL RIGHT. SO WE'LL MOVE FOR A MOTION.

I HAVE A MOTION FROM SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR? FIVE ZERO.

NOW MOVE ON TO BOARD ACTION.

WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO BOARD ACTION WITH THE BEGINNING OF THE PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS 25 THROUGH 28.

[BOARD ACTION ]

AT THIS TIME, WE'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS 25, 26 AND 28.

ANY COMMENTS? OKAY [INAUDIBLE] YEAH.

GO AHEAD. SO I JUST WANTED TO ON ON HERE.

NUMBER 26 IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MERCED AMERICAN LEGION.

CONTRACT AND AGREEMENT.

[01:00:01]

BUT I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE FROM THE AMERICAN LEGION.

I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THEM ONCE A MONTH AND REALLY GO OVER SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT THEY'VE HAD.

AND IT'S A REALLY IT'S A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, REALLY CARE ABOUT THE BUILDING AND REALLY CARE ABOUT DOWNTOWN MERCED.

AND SO I WANTED TO AND I SEE SOME OF THEM HERE TODAY, AND I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU.

AND ALSO THANK YOU FOR THE STAFF FOR REALLY WORKING HARD TO COME UP WITH AN AGREEMENT.

SO THANK YOU GUYS. OKAY.

ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN LEGION, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE BOARD FOR APPROVING THE OUR NEW CONTRACT.

NOT APPROVED YET.

OH, NO. BUT YOU CAN STILL MAKE YOUR COMMENTS.

SORRY. OKAY, WELL, YOU CAN FINISH UP.

GO AHEAD. COME UP TO THE MIC, PLEASE.

OKAY, ANY.

GO AHEAD. SIR.

JEAN HAMEL, AMERICAN LEGION POST 83.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISORS, FOR CONSIDERING THE AGREEMENT TODAY.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT ALL THE HOOPLA IS.

I MEAN, BASICALLY THE AGREEMENT IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO PAY THE BILLS, WE'RE GOING TO MAINTAIN THE BUILDING.

IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE SAYING NO OTHER VETERANS CAN COME IN.

YOU HAVE TO BE A MEMBER. NO.

IT'S ALL OPEN TO ALL VETERANS.

95% OF THE AMERICAN LEGION MEMBERS ARE WAR VETERANS.

WE JUST INCLUDE ALL VETERANS THERE.

AND SO WHETHER YOU'RE A MEMBER OR NOT DOESN'T MATTER.

AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE SIGNED UP THE VFW COMMANDER, ADAM CONNER JUST THE OTHER DAY.

AND HE IS HAPPY TO BE AN AMERICAN LEGION MEMBER AS WELL.

WE WILL BE OUT AT THE HALL, THE WALL THAT HEALS.

AND WE'RE HOPING THAT WE'LL SEE YOU OUT THERE AS WELL.

THANK YOU.

ANY FURTHER COMMENT FROM THE PUBLIC? OKAY. I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

OKAY. GO AHEAD AND WE'LL BRING IT TO THE BOARD.

SO GO AHEAD. THANK YOU.

I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT ON ITEM 28.

I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF GIVE AN UPDATE ON THAT IS I'M THANKFUL TO STAFF THAT THIS PROJECT IS MOVING FORWARD.

THIS IS WAS DEEMED AN EMERGENCY.

WE HAD A VEHICLE THAT BASICALLY DECIDED THAT THERE WASN'T THE THE STOP SIGN WAS A SUGGESTION INTO THE FRONT OF THE FAIRGROUNDS AND DROVE THEIR VEHICLE INTO THE MAIN ENTRANCE INTO THE FAIRGROUNDS.

AND SO BECAUSE IT WAS DONE ON AN EMERGENCY AND WE DO HAVE A FAIR THAT'S COMING UP HERE AT THE END OF APRIL, BEGINNING OF MAY STAFF MOVED TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY SO THAT IT DIDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE FORMAL BIDDING PROCESS, WHICH WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE PROJECT TO NOT BE DONE BY FAIR TIME.

I'M THANKFUL TO THE CONTRACTOR ACTUALLY STARTED WORK EARLY BECAUSE THEY FOUND SOME TIME IN THEIR SCHEDULE, AND THE PROGRESS IS COMING ALONG NICELY AND SHOULD BE WRAPPED UP HERE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK STAFF FOR THAT AND SHOW MY CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THIS EMERGENCY ITEM.

ANY OTHER BOARD COMMENTS? RAISE YOUR HAND. ALL RIGHT.

JUST A COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER 26 ON THE VFW HALL.

I DO ENCOURAGE ALL THE MEMBERS TO PLEASE WORK WITH THE REST OF THE MEMBERSHIP AND IN ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT, LIKE I SAID, IT'S LIKE I SAID, YOU'RE ALL VETERANS, RIGHT? AND, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO SUPPORT ALL THE VETERANS.

SO I JUST ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION AND TO GET ALONG.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN TOUGH.

I KNOW IT'S TOUGH.

I'M GOING TO SUPPORT IT. SO TO ENCOURAGE, YOU KNOW COMMUNICATION AND SUPPORT FOR EACH OTHER.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

ALL IN FAVOR? RIGHT. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO.

THANK YOU.

OKAY. NEXT WE HAVE A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES ITEMS. ITEMS 29 THROUGH 33.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ITEMS 29 TO 33.

NO PUBLIC COMMENT.

ALL RIGHT. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEMS 29-33 IS NOW CLOSED.

SO WE'LL GO FOR COMMENTS BY THE BOARD OR MOTIONS.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORDED VOTE, PLEASE.

MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO.

NEXT WE HAVE A HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY.

ITEMS 34 AND 35.

AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR HSA ITEMS 34 AND 35.

ANY COMMENT FROM THE PUBLIC? ALL RIGHT. WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS 34 AND 35.

AND SO WE'LL GO FOR A MOTION.

[01:05:02]

SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, A SECOND.

SO WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

RECORD VOTE PLEASE.

MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO.

NEXT WE HAVE FIRE.

ITEMS 36 THROUGH 38, AND THIS TIME OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR FIRE ITEMS 36 TO 38.

MORNING. CHAIR. GOOD MORNING.

BOARD CEO AND COUNTY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS MARK PIMENTEL. I'M THE ASSISTANT CHIEF FOR CAL FIRE MERCED COUNTY FIRE.

I JUST WANT TO TAKE A QUICK SECOND TO JUST TO IDENTIFY ON ITEM NUMBER 38.

WE IDENTIFY UNDER CHIEF [INAUDIBLE] LEADERSHIP.

AND AS MYSELF, WE HAVE ALSO ADDED IN JOSH RANDALL, HE IS A NEW BATTALION CHIEF IN THIS AREA AND IS EXCITED TO HAVE HIM HERE.

I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN FAMILIAR WITH CHIEF PADILLA AND HIS THAT ROLE BEFORE, AND NOW HE'S MOVED ON TO DO SOME FIELD ASSIGNMENTS.

SO HE'LL BE WORKING OUT THERE, STILL HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO HELP US THROUGH SOME OF OUR TIMES.

BUT WE JUST WANT TO TAKE A SECOND TO INTRODUCE YOU TO JOSH RANDALL AGAIN.

HE'S A NATIVE FROM HERE.

HE HAD MOVE ON FOR A FEW YEARS AND WORKED TO SOME OTHER AREAS WITHIN CAL FIRE, BUT HAS RECENTLY COME BACK TO US, AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO THE THINGS HE'S GOING TO BRING TO US.

SO I JUST WANT TO TAKE THAT SECOND TO LET YOU KNOW JOSH IS IN THE CROWD AND SITTING THERE SO YOU'LL SEE HIS FACE MORE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

BUT JUST WANTED TO TAKE THAT SECOND.

THANK YOU.

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? NOW WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS 30.

OKAY. 36-38 AND SO WE HAVE A COMMENTS FROM SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

WELL, ANYTIME.

I GET TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO JOSH, I'M GOING TO TAKE IT.

SO I'VE KNOWN JOSH FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.

AND I WAS REALLY HAPPY THAT HE WAS APPOINTED TO THIS POSITION.

I KNOW HE REALLY CARES ABOUT MERCED AND MERCED COUNTY, AND FOR THAT, I THINK IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE PEOPLE FROM WITHIN.

SO CONGRATULATIONS.

OKAY. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? ALRIGHT I WILL CALL FOR A MOTION.

MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE, PLEASE.

MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO.

NEXT WE HAVE PROVISION ITEM 39.

THIS TIME WE OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR PROVISION ITEMS 39.

I SEE NO COMMENT.

SO PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED FOR ITEM 39.

SO ANY COMMENT FROM THE BOARD OR MOTIONS? MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO SECOND SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE.

RECORD THE VOTE.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

MOTION PASSES 4 TO 1 WITH ONE NO VOTE.

NEXT WE HAVE A SPRING FAIR.

ITEM NUMBER 40? AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR SPRING FAIR.

ITEM NUMBER 40.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER 40.

MOTION. QUESTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I JUST AGAIN WANT TO COMMENT AND THANK THE TREASURY AND THE AUDITOR COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE.

THIS IS AN ITEM THAT WE DO EVERY YEAR.

THIS IS SO AS YOU KNOW, SPRING FAIR IS COMING UP.

AND THEN WE HAVE OUR LIVESTOCK AUCTION.

AND THE COUNTY GIVES US THAT KIND OF THAT BRIDGE LOAN THAT GOES FROM WHEN WE SELL THE ANIMALS.

AND THEN WE ACTUALLY ISSUE CHECKS TO THE EXHIBITORS VERSUS, YOU KNOW, WE RECEIVE A LOT OF THE MONEY THE DAY OF THE SALE, BUT THEY SEND BILLS OUT AND THAT COMES BACK IN.

AND I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A NOTE, IT'S NOT A NO INTEREST LOAN.

IT JUST IT CAPTURES THAT THE RATE THAT THE TREASURY GETS FOR ITS AVERAGE DAILY INTEREST THAT STARTS IN MARCH OF 2024 IS THE LAST QUARTER, AND THAT WE ACTUALLY DON'T START PAYING INTEREST ON THAT LOAN UNTIL THEY THEY ISSUE THE LOAN TO THE COUNTY.

BUT I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR KIND OF BEING AHEAD OF THE GAME IN LIGHT OF ALL OF OUR WELL, OUR BIG LOSS AT SPRING FAIR THIS YEAR IS DOING AS MUCH OF THE FRONT END WORK AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WHEN IT COMES FAIR TIME, NOTHING IS FORGOTTEN.

OKAY, FURTHER COMMENTS BY THE BOARD, NO, WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO, SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

SO WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO.

NEXT WE HAVE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE ITEMS 41 THROUGH 43.

[01:10:06]

GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN, SUPERVISORS, CEO MENDEZ AND COUNCIL HANSON.

I'M MICHELLE ROWE, DEPUTY DIRECTOR WITH MERCED COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY.

TODAY, WE HAVE BROUGHT BEFORE YOU FOR CONSIDERATION A CONTRACT WITH THE UNITED WAY.

THIS CONTRACT IS TO SUPPORT THE COUNTY WITH THE PLANADA 20 MILLION DISASTER SERVICES RECOVERY EFFORTS.

UNITED WAY WILL ACT AS THE FINANCIAL AGENT FOR THE COUNTY, REMOVING ANY BARRIERS FOR THE RESIDENTS WHO APPLY FOR DISASTER SERVICES.

UNITED WAY WILL DIRECTLY PROCESS CLAIM APPROVED CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT TO THE RESIDENTS.

THE BUDGET OF 5,327,500 INCLUDES FUNDS DIRECTLY TO THE PUBLIC IN THE AMOUNT OF 4 MILLION FOR DIRECT ASSISTANCE, 500,000 FOR BUSINESS ASSISTANCE AND 600,000 FOR LOST WAGES IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND AN ADMINISTRATIVE FEE NOT TO EXCEED 227,500 WILL BE APPLIED.

UNITED WAY WILL BE GETTING PROCESSING PAYMENTS AFTER THE CLOSE OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS IS EXPECTED TO START NO LATER THAN APRIL 22ND IF APPROVED.

THANK YOU. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ABRAHAM 41.

NO COMMENT. OKAY.

WE ALSO HAVE A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR STEVE MAXI COMMENTING ON ITEMS 42, 43.

MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, STEVE MAXI, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE COUNTY.

IN FRONT OF YOU. ITEMS 42 AND 43 ARE TWO CONTRACTS, ONE WITH SELF-HELP ENTERPRISES AND ONE WITH HABITAT.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.

THOSE PROJECTS OR THOSE CONTRACTS ARE BOTH FOR PARTNERSHIP IN REVIEWING, PROCESSING AND ACTUALLY COMPLETING HOUSING REPAIR APPLICATIONS AS PART OF THE COUNTY'S PLANADA 20 MILLION DISASTER RECOVERY PROGRAM.

THESE TWO ORGANIZATIONS HAVE A HISTORY OF BEING ACTIVE IN PLANADA AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, ESPECIALLY AS A PART OF THE DISASTER DISASTER RECOVERY EFFORTS OUT THERE IN PLANADA SINCE JANUARY OF LAST YEAR.

THESE CONTRACTS ARE FUNDAMENTALLY THE SAME.

BOTH ORGANIZATIONS WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING APPLICATION REVIEW, SOME INSPECTION AND VERIFICATION OF DAMAGE AND WORK COMPLETED.

COORDINATION OF CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES THAT WOULD NEED TO TAKE PLACE TO ACTUALLY COMPLETE REPAIRS THAT ARE NECESSARY, AND THEN REGULAR REPORTING OF THOSE ACTIVITIES.

I SAY FUNDAMENTALLY THE SAME BECAUSE THERE IS ONE KEY DIFFERENCE.

SELF-HELP ENTERPRISES WOULD ACT AS THE I'LL SAY, THE FISCAL AGENT FOR DISBURSEMENT OF WHAT WE'RE CALLING OVER THE COUNTER APPLICATIONS OR APPLICATIONS FOR NEW WORK THAT WOULD BE LESS THAN $5,000 TOTAL WITHOUT PERMITS.

SO JUST ABLE TO PUT A LOT OF THOSE TYPES OF APPLICATION APPROVALS THROUGH SELF-HELP IN THAT INSTANCE.

BOTH OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE EXPERIENCED WITH AND THEIR POSITION TO LINK PROPERTY OWNERS AND TENANTS WITH OTHER POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES THAT THEY MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR.

THESE ARE PROGRAMS THAT THE COUNTY MAY BE PART OF OR PARTICIPATING IN OR SPONSORING, OR OTHER PROGRAMS THAT SELF-HELP OR HABITAT MAY BE MORE AWARE OF.

AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT SOME OF THOSE SOURCES MAY INCLUDE POTENTIAL TENANT PROTECTIONS, WHICH WAS RAISED AS AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION BY THE COMMUNITY IN A LOT OF OUR OUTREACH THAT WE DID WITH THE COMMUNITY OF PLANADA.

I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, AS INCLUDED IN THE APPLICATION TO BE PAID DIRECTLY TO THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE ALIGNED WITH THE ALLOCATIONS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY THE BOARD.

AND WITH THAT, STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.

AND ALSO, BOTH OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE THEIR STAFF PRESENT HERE TODAY IN CASE THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU.

STEVE. SO AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ALL ITEMS 41 THROUGH 43.

OKAY. GOOD MORNING, BOARD MEMBERS, SARA RAMIREZ WITH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL.

WE ARE GLAD TO SEE THE COUNTY'S PROGRESS ON THE FLOOD RECOVERY EFFORTS AS PLANS FOR THE 2023 WINTER STORMS, FLOOD RELIEF DIRECT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS CONTINUES TO MOVE ALONG.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING WORKING ALONGSIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH THESE EFFORTS AS THE COUNTY WORKS THROUGH CONTRACT APPOINTMENTS, WE WANTED TO SHARE SOME COMMUNITY CONCERNS WE HAVE HEARD AND EXPECT TO COME UP DURING THESE EFFORTS.

AS RESIDENTS APPLY FOR FUNDS, WE EXPECT HOUSEHOLDS WILL HAVE QUESTIONS AND WOULD WANT TO REMAIN IN CONTACT WITH APPROPRIATE COUNTY STAFF.

WE SUGGEST APPOINTING A POINT OF CONTACT FROM THE COUNTY THAT COULD ASSIST RESIDENTS IN NAVIGATING THE PROGRAM, OR ANY CONCERNS THAT MAY EMERGE.

THIS WOULD BE SEPARATE FROM THE SERVICE PHONE LINE THAT CURRENTLY APPEARS ON THE WEBSITE, AS SOME QUESTIONS WOULD NEED MORE DIRECT ASSISTANCE, WHICH WE FEEL A DESIGNATED DEPARTMENT HEAD WOULD BE BETTER EQUIPPED TO SUPPORT WITH.

[01:15:01]

COMMUNITY RESIDENTS HAVE EMPHASIZED THAT THERE ARE SOME LANDLORDS WHICH OWN MULTIPLE PROPERTIES.

FOR THESE CASES, RESIDENTS HAVE EXPRESSED THE NEED FOR ACTIONS AND PROTECTIONS TO ENSURE THAT THE AMOUNT AWARDED PER PROPERTY IS APPROPRIATELY HANDLED BY THE LANDLORD.

THEREFORE, CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS SUCH AS SELF-HELP AND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SHOULD OUTLINE DESIGNATED FUNDS FOR EACH UNIT AS NECESSARY, SINCE DAMAGES FROM FLOODING VARIES PROPERTY BY PROPERTY.

FURTHERMORE, THE ALLOCATION PROCESS SHOULD ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY THAT LANDLORDS WHO ARE APPLYING THE FUNDS WILL THOROUGHLY CONDUCT REPAIRS THEY ARE APPLYING FOR.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? 41 TO 43.

WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? SO WE HAVE A MOTION.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

RIGHT. WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO.

NEXT WE HAVE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ITEM 44.

AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BOTH ITEMS 44.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? I SEE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS.

SO IT'S NOW CLOSED.

SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 44.

THIS IS A BOARD MEMBERS DISTRICT PROJECT FUNDS WILL BE UTILIZED IN.

AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE FAIRGROUNDS.

THERE IS A A VETERANS WALL MEMORIAL.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, JUST OVER THE YEARS, IT'S KIND OF IT'S SEEN BETTER DAYS.

AND SO THIS IS A PROJECT THAT I STARTED WITH THE FORMER FAIR MANAGER AT THE END OF LAST YEAR IS TO, YOU KNOW, GET A BID ON WHAT IT WOULD COST TO HAVE THE MONUMENT COMPANY COME IN AND BE ABLE TO REFRESH ALL THOSE STONES AND REFRESH THE WALL THERE AND CLEAN IT UP.

WE DO HAVE A HARD WATER OUT IN LOS BANOS.

AND SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE SUPPORT FROM MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS ITEM.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. WAS THERE A COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? NO. AFTER RESEARCHING.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

THEN WE'LL CALL FOR A MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 2044.

SO WE HAVE A SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA FIRST AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE [INAUDIBLE] PLEASE.

MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO.

NEXT WE HAVE BOARD APPOINTMENTS.

ITEM 45.

AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BOARD APPOINTMENTS.

ITEM NUMBER 45.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? I DON'T SEE NO COMMENTS.

OKAY. VOLUNTEER.

OKAY. SO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS CLOSED? NO, WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO BOARD COMMENTS.

OR A MOTION? SUPERVISOR PEDROZO, A FIRST.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO.

BEFORE I GO BOARD REPORTS, I'M GOING TO STATE A COMMENT BY THE BOARD.

[Additional Item]

THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF TO ADDRESS THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION CHALLENGES FACING HIS DEPARTMENT.

WE HAVE PROVIDED WAGE INCREASES AND GREATER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HEALTH CARE CAPS, BOTH OF WHICH ARE ACCEPTED IN RECENT MONTHS BY THREE OF THE FIVE SHERIFF LABOR GROUPS AND HAVE MADE INVESTMENTS SUPPORTING THE SHERIFF'S INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

WE ARE AIMING TO CLOSE THE COMPENSATION GAP BETWEEN THIS AGENCY AND OTHERS IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY, AND OUR STAFF HAVE ALREADY RETURNED TO THE BARGAINING TABLE WITH THE LAST TWO SHERIFF LABOR GROUPS, DEPUTY SHERIFFS AND DISPATCHERS CORNERS.

WE SINCERELY HOPE THAT THE SHERIFF WILL WORK WITH US IN PARTNERSHIP TO RETAIN EXISTING STAFF AND BRING NEW PUBLIC SAFETY PROFESSIONALS TO MERCED COUNTY.

AS A PUBLIC AGENCY, WE ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PROCESS WHEN NEGOTIATING WAGES AND BENEFITS AND ARE CONFIDENT THAT BY WORKING TOGETHER, WE WILL REACH RESOLUTION.

SO THAT WAS ON BEHALF OF ALL THE BOARD.

NOW TO WE WILL MOVE TO BOARD REPORTS STARTING WITH SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION ]

[01:20:01]

ONE THING I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT COMING UP STARTING IN APRIL.

WELL, I GUESS IN MARCH, IT ACTUALLY STARTS WITH THE DISTRICT TWO TOWN HALL, BUT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ON APRIL THE 3RD, WE'LL BE HAVING THE DISTRICT FIVE TOWN HALL IN LAS [INAUDIBLE] THERE'LL BE MORE INFORMATION COMING OUT ON THAT.

AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYBODY, BUT ESPECIALLY MY CONSTITUENTS OUT IN DISTRICT FIVE TO ATTEND THAT TOWN HALL MEETING.

THERE WILL BE DEPARTMENT HEADS THERE, AS WELL AS MYSELF AND THE CEO, TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER ANY KIND OF QUESTIONS.

YOU KNOW, AS A SUPERVISOR, I WILL TELL YOU, I FEEL LIKE MY JOB IS TO KNOW AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT A LOT OF STUFF, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF TALENTED PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR US, AND THEY'RE CHOSEN LINE OF PROFESSIONS THAT CAN GET INTO TO THE GRANULAR LEVEL WITH QUESTIONS, WITH ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS THAT I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU SPECIFICS ON.

AND SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO COME OUT AND BE ABLE TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS AND IN MOST CASES, GET A REAL TIME ANSWER RIGHT BACK.

AND NOT HAVING TO GO THROUGH THE PHONE TREE AND WHATNOT.

NOT GUARANTEEING THAT EVERY QUESTION IS GOING TO HAVE A DEFINITE ANSWER AT THAT POINT.

BUT I FEEL LIKE OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS DO A REALLY GOOD JOB OF BEING ABLE TO DO THAT.

AND WITH THAT, MR. CHAIR, I HAVE NO FURTHER COMMENTS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YEAH.

I TOO WOULD LIKE TO INVITE MY CONSTITUENTS TO A TOWN HALL ON APRIL 4TH.

AND, YOU KNOW, THERE WILL HAVE ALREADY BEEN THREE TOWN HALLS.

SO THE DISTRICT FOUR TOWN HALL WILL BE IN WINTON.

THAT IS NEAR SOME OF THE OTHER COMMUNITIES.

AND SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE IT TO THOSE OTHERS, YOU'RE CERTAINLY WELCOME TO DISTRICT FOUR.

AND YOU KNOW THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND HAVE DISCUSSIONS AND GET QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

WE HAVE MAX IN MY DISTRICT, WE HAVE FOUR OF THOSE.

WE HAVE MEETINGS EVERY MONTH WHERE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND PLANNING AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS THERE AS WELL.

SO YOU GET AN OPPORTUNITY FAIRLY REGULARLY.

BUT ANYWAYS, WE'RE TRYING TO HIGHLIGHT THE TOWN HALLS AND OPEN UP AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND COMMUNICATE WITH US.

YOU KNOW, AND IF YOU CAN'T MAKE THE TOWN HALL AND YOU'D LIKE TO TALK TO ME YOU KNOW, I MY PERSONAL CELL PHONE NUMBER IS ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE, AND SO YOU'RE DEFINITELY WELCOME TO CHECK IN ANYTIME.

AND I ALSO WANT TO I GUESS MAYBE GIVE AN APOLOGY.

THERE WAS A PUBLIC COMMENT EARLIER ABOUT SOMEONE WHO DROPPED A LETTER OFF TO US, AND I DIDN'T RESPOND UNTIL JUST RECENTLY AND SO WISHED I'D HAD DONE THAT SOONER.

BUT THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE AND SHARING YOUR CONCERNS.

YOU KNOW, AND I'LL SAY, YOU KNOW, I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT IT UNTIL THIS PAST WEEK, BUT, YOU KNOW, I LIVE IN THE COUNTRY, I LIVE 12 MILES FROM TOWN AND I HAVE A FARM AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE SHERIFF'S BEEN OUT TO MY FARM TO HELP US IN THE PAST.

AND SO I RELY ON THE SAME PUBLIC SAFETY THAT YOU ALL RELY ON.

AND SO I HAVE A VESTED INTEREST NOT ONLY FOR YOU, BUT FOR MYSELF AS WELL, TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE AND LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.

SO THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.

SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA HAS ONE MORE COMMENT.

YEAH, JUST THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I WAS GETTING CONFUSED ON WHEN OUR LAST MEETING WAS AND I THOUGHT THAT I REPORTED OUT.

I DO WANT TO REPORT OUT THAT ON THE WHAT WAS THE END OF THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY THE 7TH THAT WEEK MYSELF AND MY COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT THREE, WE'RE WE WENT TO THE NACO, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE, AND TOOK ADVANTAGE OF OUR TIME WHILE WE WERE IN DC TO BE ABLE TO GO AND ADVOCATE TO OUR US SENATORS, OUR CONGRESSMAN'S OFFICE, AS WELL AS I THINK WHAT WE HAD SOME REALLY PRODUCTIVE MEETINGS WITH FEMA. AND IN THOSE FEMA MEETINGS, IT'S REALLY IS HIGHLIGHTING THE FACT TO FEMA THAT THEIR THE WAY THAT THEY REIMBURSE AND AT THE RATE THAT THEY REIMBURSE, NOT NECESSARILY THE RATE HOW LONG IT TAKES THEM TO REIMBURSE US.

A LOT OF THOSE COSTS ARE BORNE BY THE LOCAL TAXPAYERS.

RIGHT. WE WHEN YOU'RE IN AN EMERGENCY, YOU SPEND MONEY WITH THE HOPE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET THAT MONEY BACK FROM FEMA.

AND FEMA IS PROMISED THE MONEY.

BUT THE CHALLENGES ARE IS, YOU KNOW, I WAS MADE AWARE THAT WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR REIMBURSEMENTS FROM THE 2017 FLOODS AND THAT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT JUST FISCAL CHALLENGES AND HAVING THAT'S USUALLY GENERAL FUND DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN EXPENDED THAT WE'RE WAITING TO GET REIMBURSED ON.

SO I FEEL LIKE WE DID HAVE SOME REALLY PRODUCTIVE MEETINGS WITH FEMA AND WITH OUR US SENATORS OFFICES WANTING JUST BASICALLY A LIST OF THOSE SO THAT THEY CAN GO ADVOCATE ON OUR BEHALF FROM FEMA AND THEN AND THE OTHER ONE THAT WE WAS THE VISITED WAS THE US CORPS OF ARMY, US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, WHICH IS A CHALLENGING BUREAUCRACY ALL ON ITS OWN.

BUT REALLY, WE'RE ABLE TO SHARE SOME OF OUR FRUSTRATIONS WITH THE BLACK RASCAL CREEK PROJECT AND THEM CONSTANTLY MOVING GOALPOSTS ON US AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING THE DILIGENT WORK OUT HERE AND THINKING, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF SOMEBODY'S INTERPRETATION OF A RULE, IT CHANGES FROM, IS IT A DAM OR IS IT NOT A DAM?

[01:25:10]

BUT I FEEL LIKE WE'VE MADE PROGRESS AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN.

THEY HAVE A 90 DAY REVIEW PERIOD WHERE MY ASK WAS TO TRY TO TRIM IT DOWN TO 45 DAYS SO THAT WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE WEATHER CYCLES OUT HERE TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY GET THE WORK DONE. THAT WOULD HOPEFULLY PREVENT SOME OF OUR FLOODING IN THE FUTURE.

SO I JUST WANTED TO REPORT THAT OUT.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU.

SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. THANK YOU.

YEAH. MY TOWN HALL IS MARCH 28TH.

I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO TO COME UP AND SPEAK.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND LIKE WHAT SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SAID, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE TIMES WHEN WE HEAR FROM YOU.

WE GO TO THE DEPARTMENT, HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OR IN QUESTION.

AND SO THIS ALLOWS YOU TO ACTUALLY KIND OF GET TO KNOW THEM AND WHO WE'RE GOING TO GO TALK TO AFTER YOU ASK THE QUESTION.

BUT IT'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO GO DIRECTLY AND TALK TO THEM, WHICH I THINK IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY.

LAST WEEK WITH SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, WE HAD A HILLCREST COMMUNITY MEETING AT THE COUNTRY CLUB.

TO DISCUSS SOME OF THE ISSUES IN THE HILLCREST NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND THEN TWO FRIDAYS AGO, WE WERE IN LOS BANOS FOR BOARD PRIORITY SESSION THAT I THOUGHT WENT.

REALLY? I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD A GOOD MEETING TO REALLY KIND OF SET OUR GOALS AND PRIORITIES FOR THE COUNTY AND PROVIDE DIRECTION TO STAFF MOVING FORWARD.

SO WITH THAT'S ALL I GOT.

SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO.

I WANT TO THANK MARK MIMS AND STEVE MAXEY.

WE HAVE A LOCAL COMPANY IN ATWATER WHO IS STRUGGLING TO DO BUSINESS HERE IN CALIFORNIA, AND IT'S A LOT LESS EXPENSIVE FOR THEM TO PICK UP AND MOVE, BUT AND RELOCATE IN ANOTHER STATE BECAUSE OF THE TROUBLES WE HAVE HERE IN CALIFORNIA.

BUT THEY'VE STEPPED UP.

MARK HENDRICKSON WAS PART OF THE FIRST MEETING WE HAD WITH THEM, AND WE HAD A FOLLOW UP MEETING, AND I THINK IT WAS VERY FRUITFUL.

IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE FEELING BETTER ABOUT CALIFORNIA.

WE LIKE TO EXPRESS THAT MERCED COUNTY IS THE OTHER CALIFORNIA.

WE'RE NOT LIKE THE COASTALS AND EVERYBODY ELSE THAT WE ARE MOVING AT THE SPEED OF COMMERCE.

AND WE DO WANT TO DO BUSINESS HERE IN THE COUNTY.

BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I SHOUT OUT AND SAID, THANK YOU FOR THAT, BECAUSE IT WAS A VERY FRUITFUL FOLLOW UP FOR SURE.

I TOO ATTENDED THE BOARD WORKSHOP IN LOS BANOS LAST WEEK.

I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY GOOD.

IT IT HAD ALL OF US TALKING ABOUT OUR BY BOARD PRIORITIES AND PUBLIC SAFETY BEING NUMBER ONE, 100% LAST WEEK WHEN WE HAD THIS BOARD DISCUSSION AND ALL ALTHOUGH IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE IN SILOS IN DIFFERENT DISTRICTS, ONCE YOU ATTENDED THAT MEETING, YOU CAN SEE THAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE VERY SIMILAR.

WE'RE ALL IN THE SAME TRACK HERE.

WE WANT TO GET THIS DONE.

AND WE ARE THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX.

WE ARE DOING ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND BY THE WAY, THROUGH OUR CRC, WE DO OFFER DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE TO EMPLOYEES IN MERCED COUNTY.

SO THAT IS OUTSIDE OF THE BOX.

AND WE USE THAT FOR RECRUITING PURPOSES.

APRIL 2ND WILL BE MY TOWN HALL AT THE ATWATER VETERANS HALL BUILDING.

I INVITE EVERYBODY OUT THERE.

AND I TOO DID ATTEND NACO NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES CONFERENCE, WHICH IS KIND OF THE SIDEBAR BECAUSE SCOTT AND I SPENT TWO DAYS ON THE HILL WAKING UP EARLY IN THE MORNING UNTIL LATE AT NIGHT AND GOING BACK WHERE WE DIDN'T HAVE ONE GOOD DISCUSSION WITH THE CONGRESSMAN.

WE DECIDED TO GO BACK AND HAVE ANOTHER DISCUSSION WITH THEM TO FINISH IT OFF.

EVERYTHING THAT HE SAID WAS EXACTLY RIGHT.

WE DID HAVE A REALLY GOOD MEETING WITH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AG COMMITTEES, THE FARM BILL, AND WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE IN IT AND WHAT THEY WERE PRESENTING WITH US.

PLUS, WE ALWAYS LIKE TO EXPLAIN THAT I KNOW FOLKS DON'T LIKE TO HEAR THIS, BUT WE'RE TWITTERVILLE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE REST OF THE RURAL COUNTIES IN THE UNITED STATES, WE'RE HUGE. BUT WE ARE A RURAL COUNTY.

AND WE CONTINUE TO STRESS THAT IN WASHINGTON, DC, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, AS MERCED COUNTY, THE WAY IT SITS, WE COMPETE WITH LA COUNTY.

LA COUNTY IS AS BIG AS SEVEN STATES.

WELL, ACTUALLY ONE DISTRICT THEIR SUPERVISORS AS POPULATED AS SEVEN STATES.

SO WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO COMPETE WITH THEM FOR MONEY, THEY HAVE THE VOTES.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE WE LOSE OUT ALL THE TIME.

AND WE'RE TRYING TO SAY THERE NEEDS TO BE A CUT OUT FOR MID LEVEL COUNTIES BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO COMPETE WITH, SAY, PERRY COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

THAT PROBABLY HAS 5000 PEOPLE IN THE WHOLE COUNTY.

MERCED COUNTY HAS 5000.

AND THAT'S NOT COMPATIBLE.

THAT'S WHY WE'VE DECIDED TWITTERVILLE IS WHERE WE SHOULD BE.

AND WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH WASHINGTON DC.

[01:30:02]

I MEAN, I THINK I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR THAT SINCE I'VE BEEN IN THIS SEAT AS A FORMER CONGRESS AIDE TRYING TO HELP FOLKS OUT.

WE'VE SEEN IT. WE IDENTIFIED IT THERE.

AND WE CONTINUE THAT LANGUAGE AND HOPEFULLY IT'LL GET RESOLVED HERE AT SOME TIME.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS.

THANK YOU. COUNTY COUNCIL.

NO REPORT. COUNT CEO.

YES. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, JUST ONE ONE COMMENT HAS TO DO WITH THE BOARD WORKSHOP THAT WAS HELD RECENTLY.

STAFF DID APPRECIATE BRINGING YOU ALL TOGETHER FOR A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT YOUR PRIORITIES ARE AS A COLLECTIVE.

ALTHOUGH NO DECISIONS WERE MADE AT THAT MEETING, WE DID RECEIVE A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION THAT WILL BE WORKING AND PRESENTING TO OUR DEPARTMENT HEAD TEAM HERE THIS WEEK, ACTUALLY JUST KIND OF A SUMMARY, BUT THE PLAN IS TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE ANOTHER SESSION LATER IN THE YEAR BEFORE ANYTHING COMES BEFORE YOU FOR FORMAL ADOPTION.

BUT FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, WE ALSO FELT IT WAS A VERY GOOD SESSION.

APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S PARTICIPATION ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON IN BEAUTIFUL LOS BANOS.

CERTAINLY. FOR US, THERE WAS A LOT OF VALUE.

SO THAT'S IT, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

AND MY COMMENTS. JUST I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THE WORKSHOP THAT WE HAD IN LOS BANOS, THE BOARD WORKSHOP, WE ONLY HAD ONE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SHOW UP.

SO LIKE I SAID, THIS WAS A PUBLIC MEETING INVITING EVERYBODY TO COME IN.

AND WE ONLY HAVE ONE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SHOW UP.

I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT WE HAD ESTABLISHED A NEW MUNICIPAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

I HAVE TWO OTHER ONES.

ONE IN LE GRAND.

A SECOND ONE IN PLANADA.

AND THIS WILL BE MY THIRD ONE.

SO WE MEET ONCE A MONTH WITH COMMUNITY RESIDENTS SO THAT WE HAVE A COMMITTEE.

AND SO WE ONLY I ONLY HAVE TWO RESIDENTS THREE RESIDENTS, WHICH IS A A QUORUM, BUT I'M LOOKING FOR MORE APPLICATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY OF SANTANELLA. SO EVERY COMMUNITY MATTERS.

AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR FIRST MEETING IN MARCH.

RIGHT. OKAY.

AND I'LL PUT THAT IN THE PUBLIC.

I ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS MY FEELING REGARDING THE SHERIFF.

LIKE I SAID EVER SINCE I WAS MAYOR OF LIVINGSTON AND YOU KNOW, RAN FOR THE BOARD, AND I GOT ELECTED OVER HERE.

I REACHED OUT TO THE SHERIFF OF WHAT ISSUES HE NEEDED, I SAID, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL TIMES, I KNOW HE WAS BUSY, BUT HE NEVER GOT BACK TO ME.

AND. BUT SINCE THEN, I'VE BEEN SUPPORTING PUBLIC SAFETY.

YOU KNOW, UNTIL THIS LAST ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, I DIDN'T SUPPORT THAT, BECAUSE NOT THAT I DON'T SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY IS BECAUSE WHEN THAT BOARD DECISION WAS MADE I EXPRESSED THAT WE SEE ALL THE CONCERNS WITH ALL THE EMPLOYEES IN THE COUNTY, ALL THE LABOR UNIONS THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

THAT'S THE REASON WHY I DIDN'T VOTE FOR IT, BECAUSE I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE YOU KNOW, OUR DEBT IS GETTING HIGH.

SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FINANCIALLY CAPABLE OF PAYING OUR EMPLOYEES.

SO THAT'S THE REASON I DIDN'T VOTE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING.

BUT NOT THAT I DON'T SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY.

OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE TRYING TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE UNIONS AND SALARY INCREASES AND HEALTHCARE.

SO THAT'S BEEN MY PRIORITY.

YOU KNOW,[INAUDIBLE] MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PAY OUR EMPLOYEES BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO, INTO MORE DEBT, JUST LIKE ON YOUR HOME.

RIGHT. SO AND ALSO, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO VOTE BY MARCH 5TH WHOEVER YOU DECIDE TO VOTE.

THAT'S FINE. LIKE I SAY, ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO VOTE.

AND SO WITH THAT, I'LL, JUST MENTION THAT WE'RE GOING TO MOVE BACK TO CLOSED SESSION AND WILL REPORT OUT AT A CLOSED SESSION AT THEN.

[CLOSED SESSION]

ALL RIGHT. LET ME KNOW WHEN WE'RE READY.

ANGIE. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE BACK OUT OF CLOSED SESSION.

AND JUST TO REPORT OUR CLOSED SESSION.

STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION, AND WITH THAT, WE'LL ADJOURN THIS MEETING.

THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.