Nov 26, 2024 Board Meeting

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.

[00:00:03]

YOUR CLOSED SESSION THIS MORNING IS EXISTING LITIGATION G VERSUS COUNTY OF MERCED SUPERIOR COURT CASE NUMBER

[CLOSED SESSION]

TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.

OKAY. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE CLOSED SESSION ITEMS ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON.

CLOSED SESSION. ALL RIGHT.

NO ONE'S COMING FORWARD. SO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR CLOSED SESSION ITEM IS NOW CLOSED.

WE WILL NOW ADJOURN INTO CLOSED SESSION.

ALL RIGHT.

YEAH. SO, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.

GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE NOVEMBER 26TH, 2024 MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

THIS MORNING WE HAD A CLOSED SESSION MEETING AND STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION.

WE WILL NOW START WITH THE INVOCATION LED BY BRUCE METCALFE FROM THE MERCED RESCUE MISSION.

AND THEN SUPERVISOR PAREIRA WILL LEAD THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

IF WE CAN PLEASE STAND FOR THE INVOCATION.

WILL YOU JOIN ME IN PRAYER? ALMIGHTY GOD, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR SOVEREIGNTY.

WE THANK YOU FOR THE LEADERSHIP THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED HERE IN MERCED COUNTY, AND WE ASK YOUR BLESSINGS AS THEY DISCERN AND MAKE GOOD DECISIONS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE.

AND WE JUST ASK YOUR BLESSING ON ALL OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTY.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING.

AND WE ASK ALL THIS IN YOUR NAME.

AMEN. AMEN. AMEN.

READY? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[INAUDIBLE]. NON AGENDA ITEM.

[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK]

TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON AND 30 MINUTES TOTAL.

AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT AGAIN.

THIS IS FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS. ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK PLEASE COME FORWARD.

GO AHEAD MA'AM. GOOD MORNING CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY BOARD OF MERCED.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

I'M AGGIE FREEMAN CLUB, PRESIDENT OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF MERCED SUNRISE AND ROTARY DISTRICT 5220.

HERE TODAY, TO EXTEND OUR GRATITUDE FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE MERCED FIELD OF HONOR.

THIS, OUR 12TH YEAR, MARKS EXTRAORDINARY MILESTONES.

THE 2020 FORMER SAID FIELD OF HONOR WAS RECOGNIZED AS A REGIONAL SITE BY THE NATIONAL VETERANS DAY COMMITTEE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS DENNIS MCDONOUGH.

THIS PRESTIGIOUS ACKNOWLEDGMENT IS A REFLECTION OF THE HEART AND SOUL AND SPIRIT OF MERCED COUNTY, A COMMUNITY WHO LOVES ITS VETERANS AND STANDS UNITED IN HONORING THOSE WHO SELFLESSLY SERVE OUR NATION.

THIS YEAR'S EVENT FEATURED OVER 2000 FLAGS, EACH REPRESENTING STORIES OF SACRIFICE, COURAGE AND PATRIOTISM.

IT IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF OVER 300 COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS AND THE GENEROSITY OF MORE THAN 75 SPONSORS.

WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR HOST MERCED COLLEGE AND OUR PRESENTING SPONSORS, GALLO FARMS AND THE PETER J.

GALLO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION.

THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS ENSURE THAT THIS TRIBUTE IS NOT JUST SEEN, BUT DEEPLY FELT AND REMAINS FREE TO THE PUBLIC.

FIRST BROUGHT TO US BY ROTARY, PAST DISTRICT GOVERNOR BOB HOBBS, WITH AN INITIAL GRANT FROM THE MERCED ELKS FIELD OF HONOR, HAS GROWN INTO A TESTAMENT OF THE STRENGTH AND COMPASSION THAT DEFINES MERCED COUNTY.

WE REMEMBER THAT EVERY FLAG REPRESENTS A STORY, A LEGACY, A COMMITMENT TO HONOR OUR VETERANS, ACTIVE DUTY AND FIRST RESPONDERS.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISORS, AS TOGETHER WE CREATE A LEGACY OF HOPE, REMEMBRANCE, AND UNITY FOR THE COUNTY OF MERCED THAT WILL RESONATE AND RESONATE WITH OUR COMMUNITY FAR BEYOND VETERANS DAY.

IMAGINE WE CREATE HOPE IN THE WORLD WITH THE MAGIC OF ROTARY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THIS IS OPEN.

PUBLIC. CORRECT? CORRECT. OKAY.

I WANTED TO PLAY A QUICK SOUND BITE.

[00:05:16]

AND. SO MY NAME IS GILBERT ARIAS, AND I'VE LIVED IN MERCED FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS.

WE LIVE OFF OF EAST OLIVE BETWEEN MCKEE AND THE ROUNDABOUT.

AND SINCE THE I CALL IT THE RACETRACK, BUT THE CONNECTION THAT THEY PUT TOGETHER THE TRAFFIC IN OUR AREA HAS JUST GOTTEN RIDICULOUS.

AND THE NOISE? THIS IS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT WE EXPERIENCED.

SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

IT IS NONSTOP.

THE SPEEDING IS EVERY DAY.

WE HEAR PEOPLE HAULING TRAILERS THAT RATTLE LIKE CRAZY.

SEMIS GO BY AND IT CAUSES OUR HOUSE TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE.

THE OTHER DAY, MY WIFE WAS SITTING OUTSIDE WITH THE GRANDKIDS AND SHE SAYS, I CAN'T STAND THIS TRAFFIC NOISE.

AND SO IT'S GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN'T STAND TO EVEN BE IN OUR BACKYARD, BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC NOISE AND THE SPEEDING IS RIDICULOUS AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT.

NOW, I KNOW THERE'S AN EIR AND THERE'S A CALIFORNIA MUTCD WHICH DOES ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, BECAUSE THIS ISSUE OR THIS PROBLEM WITH SPEEDING AND NOISE AND EVERYTHING ELSE WAS EXPECTED TO HAPPEN.

BUT WE HAVE HAD NO RESOLUTION WHATSOEVER DEALING WITH THE NOISE AND THE TRAFFIC, SO I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO EXPERIENCE THIS ON A DAILY BASIS, BUT ME AND MY NEIGHBORS DO NOT, AND IT'S JUST OUT OF CONTROL.

WE NEED HELP AND SO FAR WE HAVE HAD NO HELP IN DEALING WITH THE NOISE IN THE TRAFFIC.

OLIVE AVENUE IS FILLED WITH POTHOLES THAT GET PATCHED WITHIN A DAY OR TWO.

THE PATCHWORK IS NO LONGER THERE.

WE NEED THAT SECTION OF OLIVE AVENUE.

EXCUSE ME TO BE REPAVED BECAUSE IT JUST IS NOT.

IT'S A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY TO KEEP PATCHING THAT.

OLIVE AVENUE AND IT'S EVEN IT'S A SHORT DISTANCE.

IT'S NOT EVEN THE WHOLE LENGTH OF OLIVE AVENUE THAT SHOULD BE REPAVED.

SO I'M PLEADING WITH THE BOARD AND SUPERVISOR PEDROSO TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP US OUT IN OUR AREA BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE LIVE.

I'M NOT PLANNING ON MOVING.

MY NEIGHBORS AREN'T PLANNING ON MOVING, BUT WE JUST CANNOT.

WE CANNOT EXPECT TO BE HERE.

WELL, THANK YOU SIR.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN TALK TO NATHAN BRAY OR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.

MAYBE YOU CAN SHARE YOUR INFORMATION AND CONCERNS AND THEN SOMEBODY CAN GET BACK TO YOU.

OKAY. THANK YOU, SIR.

GOOD MORNING, KAREN ADAMS MERCED COUNTY TREASURER TAX COLLECTOR I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T REMIND TAXPAYERS THAT THE BILLS WERE SENT INTO SEPTEMBER. FIRST INSTALLMENT WAS DUE NOVEMBER 1ST AND WILL BE LATE IF NOT PAID BY DECEMBER 10TH.

SO I ALSO WANT TO REMIND A FEW SHAMELESS PLUGS.

WE DO HAVE OUR NEW BILLS THAT ARE OUT.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

IF YOU'RE NOT A E-BILL USER.

IT'S REALLY NICE. COMES UP ON YOUR PHONE THE BEAUTIFUL TAX BILL THAT WE HAVE PRODUCED.

ALSO MERCED COUNTY LIBRARY, PLEASE BE A FRIEND OF OUR LIBRARY.

THAT'S PART OF OUR TAX INSERTS WHERE THE MERCED COUNTY MONEY GOES.

SO, AS YOU KNOW, SADLY ENOUGH, WE ONLY KEEP $0.16 ON THE DOLLAR.

BUT THIS IS PART OF OUR INSERT TOO.

THAT EXPLAINS ABOUT YOUR TAX DOLLARS.

SO AS I'VE DONE IN THE PAST I'LL LEAVE THESE UP HERE.

I KNOW BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAVE HANDED THEM OUT TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS AT THEIR MACS AND OTHER THINGS.

WE HAVE PLENTY MORE IN MY OFFICE FROM RETURN MAIL, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

PLEASE DON'T BE LATE.

POSTMARK OR IN OFFICE BY DECEMBER 10TH.

THANKS. HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO.

THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY. I SEE NO ONE ELSE.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS. BEFORE I MOVE ON, I JUST WANT TO STATE FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION THE NEXT TWO BOARD MEETINGS, DECEMBER 10TH AND DECEMBER 17TH.

THE NEXT ONE WILL BE AT THE MERCED COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES AUDITORIUM, 301 EAST 13TH STREET, MERCED.

[00:10:04]

WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING A REMODELING AT THE, YOU KNOW, AND THE AC REMODELING AND THE COUNTY BUILDING.

AND THEN IN JANUARY, THE MEETINGS WILL BE BACK IN THE COUNTY AS WELL.

SO JUST INFORMATION.

AT THIS TIME WE WILL MOVE ON TO PRESENTATIONS.

[PRESENTATIONS]

AND WE WILL BEGIN BY INVITING COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS DR.

STEVE TIETJEN TO THE PODIUM TO PROVIDE US WITH THE ANNUAL WILLIAMS REPORT FOR 2024-2025.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY STAFF.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO HOST YOU HERE AT OUR DOWNTOWN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER.

YOU PROBABLY RECALL THIS WAS A UNIQUE BUILDING FOR MANY YEARS, AND WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE IT AND REMODEL IT A LITTLE BIT.

SO THIS DOWNTOWN CENTER HAS BECOME REALLY THE FOCUS FOR WHERE WE PROVIDE TRAINING FOR TEACHERS.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT AS I MAKE THIS REPORT.

YOU KNOW, I WAS MET WITH A COUPLE SUPERVISORS HERE BEFORE WE STARTED THE MEETING TODAY.

AND THEY ASKED, STEVE, WHERE IS YOUR POWERPOINT PRESENTATION? WE THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO GET TO PRESENT LIKE 40 PAGES.

THE PACKET IS SO THICK, AND THOSE OF YOU WHO'VE ATTENDED THIS MEETING BEFORE ANNUALLY KNOW THAT I TRY TO KEEP IT AS SHORT AND SWEET AS POSSIBLE.

SO THE WILLIAMS REPORT REALLY IS A STATE MANDATE FOR COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS.

WE START THE SCHOOL YEAR BY VISITING ALL SCHOOLS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE ADEQUATE TEXTBOOKS FOR THEIR STUDENTS, THAT THEY HAVE TEACHERS AND CLASSROOMS THAT ARE CREDENTIALED AND THAT THEIR FACILITIES ARE UP TO THE STANDARD THAT WE WOULD EXPECT TO SERVE OUR CHILDREN EFFECTIVELY.

AND SO THAT PROCESS TAKES ABOUT TWO MONTHS.

WE HAVE 18 SCHOOLS HERE IN MERCED COUNTY THAT WE VISIT, AND THEN WE MAKE THE REPORTS TO THE SCHOOL BOARDS THEMSELVES.

AND THEN FINALLY WE COME HERE TO REPORT TO YOU.

THIS YEAR, AS I MENTIONED, 18 SCHOOLS WERE VISITED.

THERE'S A NEW TEAM FROM MCO.

WE HAD SOME RETIREMENTS AND FOLKS MOVE ON.

SO WE HAD A NEW GROUP OF FOLKS GO THROUGH THE FACILITIES INSPECTION TOOL THIS YEAR.

THEY WERE A LITTLE TOUGHER THAN THEY'VE BEEN IN THE PAST, BUT EVEN THOUGH THAT'S THE CASE, EVERYONE CAME THROUGH WITH AT LEAST AN 85% RATING OR BETTER IN THEIR SCHOOL SITES.

WE'RE STICKLERS FOR FACILITIES.

THE ISSUE THAT PROBABLY I'M ASKED ABOUT MOST OFTEN IS THE CREDENTIALING ISSUE AROUND TEACHERS, BECAUSE ONE OF THE CATEGORIES THAT WE ARE CHARGED WITH IN VISITING SCHOOLS FOR IS THE INEFFECTIVE TEACHER CATEGORY.

THIS MAY COME AS A SURPRISE TO SOME OF YOU.

PROBABLY NOT TO A LOT OF YOU.

THERE'S A LABOR SHORTAGE EVEN IN THE EDUCATION PROFESSION.

EVERY YEAR WE HAVE ABOUT 12 BETWEEN 12 AND 18,000 TEACHERS RETIRE ACROSS THE STATE.

THE CSU SYSTEM ONLY PRODUCES ABOUT 6000, SO ONLY ABOUT HALF OF THE NUMBER OF TEACHERS THAT ARE NEEDED.

AND SO THE TEACHER CREDENTIALING PROCESS HAS EVOLVED OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS SINCE I STARTED IN MY CHOSEN PROFESSION HERE WHEN I WAS YOUNG, YOU HAD TO ENTER THE PROFESSION WITH A FULL CREDENTIAL.

TODAY, MANY FOLKS COME INTO THE PROFESSION WITH JUST A BA, AND THEY PURSUE THEIR CREDENTIAL WHILE THEY'RE TEACHING THEIR FIRST TWO YEARS IN SCHOOL. AND THOSE TEACHERS, UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OF THE NEW SYSTEM, ARE LABELED INEFFECTIVE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A CREDENTIAL.

I FIND IT A LITTLE OFFENSIVE THAT THEY CALL THESE YOUNG TEACHERS THAT ARE WORKING HARD ON THEIR CREDENTIALS AND ALSO BEING SUPPORTED BY MENTORS IN THEIR SCHOOL AND THEIR DISTRICTS, AND EFFECTIVE.

BUT THAT IS WHAT THE LOBBYISTS IN SACRAMENTO FOCUSED ON AS THEY WORKED TO REFINE AND RENEW THE WILLIAMS ACT LEGISLATION.

THAT, BY THE WAY, CAME ABOUT IN 2004 BECAUSE MANY SCHOOLS WERE NOT PAYING ATTENTION.

THE NUMBER OF TEXTBOOKS THAT WERE AVAILABLE TO KIDS OR KEEPING THEIR FACILITIES MAINTAINED, THE CREDENTIALING THING WAS THROWN IN THERE.

IT WASN'T REALLY AN ISSUE AT THE TIME, BECAUSE IN 2004, THERE WERE STILL MOST.

MOST TEACHERS CAME THROUGH THE CSU SYSTEM AND CAME INTO THE CLASSROOM FULLY CREDENTIALED.

SO THIS CREDENTIALING ISSUE HAS EVOLVED OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, AND NOW IS SOMETHING OF A CHALLENGE FOR DISTRICTS TO FULLY EMPLOY TEACHERS IN ALL CLASSROOMS AS FULLY CREDENTIALED.

SO THAT'S MY SHORT REPORT.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE ABOUT THE WILLIAMS REPORT.

WHAT WE DO OR.

HOW WE HELP IN OUR OWN SYSTEM TO FILL THAT GAP WITH NEW TEACHERS THAT ARE FULLY CREDENTIALED, BECAUSE WE DO THAT NOW HERE AT MCO.

WE ARE THE CREDENTIALING AGENCY FOR MOST TEACHERS IN MERCED COUNTY.

[00:15:01]

ANY COMMENTS BY THE BOARD? GO AHEAD SIR. DOCTOR.

THANK YOU. I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE TREND THAT SO-CALLED INEFFECTIVE NUMBER IS LOOKS LIKE YOU WERE STABLE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND NOW IT'S GROWING.

DO YOU DO YOU THINK THAT TREND IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW WITH THE LABOR SHORTAGE? YOU KNOW, RETIREMENTS HAVE JUMPED SINCE COVID.

WE WERE LOOKING AT PRIOR TO COVID, ABOUT 12,000 TEACHERS A YEAR RETIRING ACROSS THE STATE.

NOW IT'S CLOSER TO 18,000.

SO YES, I EXPECT THAT FOR THE NEXT 5 TO 10 YEARS, WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS CHALLENGE OF NOT HAVING FULLY CREDENTIALED TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM.

THAT THAT MEANS THEY HAVEN'T FINISHED A CREDENTIAL PROGRAM.

THEY ALL HAVE A BA, AND THEY HAVE CONTENT KNOWLEDGE AND THEY ARE GETTING SUPPORT.

SO, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? NO. ANY COMMENTS BY THE PUBLIC? I SEE NONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HAVE A GREAT DAY.

AND DECEMBER 16TH IS YOUR NEXT MEETING HERE.

JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW YOUR STAFF IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE ON THEIR TOES, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE CASA FOSTER YOUTH CHRISTMAS PARTY THE NIGHT BEFORE, SO I DON'T KNOW WHO SCHEDULED THAT, BUT GOOD LUCK.

DECEMBER 17TH.

17TH. OKAY.

HAVE A GREAT THANKSGIVING.

THANKS. ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER SEAN RYAN WILL BE PROVIDING US WITH THE ANNUAL CROP REPORT.

GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, COUNTY COUNSEL HANSEN AND CEO MENDEZ.

SO, SHAWN RUNYON, AG COMMISSIONER, SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

IT IS ONCE AGAIN MY PLEASURE TODAY TO PRESENT THE ANNUAL CROP REPORT TO YOU AROUND THIS FITTING HOLIDAY SEASON OF THANKSGIVING.

SO AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN AGRICULTURE DAILY, I AM ALWAYS IN AWE OF THE PEOPLE AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO TO BRING FOOD TO OUR TABLE.

AND I'M ESPECIALLY THANKFUL FOR THAT HERE IN MERCED, IN ONE OF THE MOST FERTILE REGIONS OF THE WORLD.

SO I HOPE THAT DURING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, WE ALL REFLECT ON THE DIFFICULTIES AND STRUGGLES IT TAKES TO BRING THIS FOOD TO OUR PLATES AND ARE GRATEFUL THAT OUR AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY IS STILL ABLE TO PRODUCE THE ABUNDANT AND SAFE FOOD SUPPLY THAT HELPS FEED OUR COUNTY, STATE, COUNTRY, AND THE REST OF THE WORLD.

SO I WANT TO START OUT WITH A FEW THANK YOUS.

EVERY YEAR WE GET GREAT COOPERATION FROM OUR GROWERS, PROCESSORS, INDUSTRY GROUPS AND OTHER AGENCIES.

SO I WANT TO GIVE THEM A HUGE THANK YOU FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE AND COOPERATION IN THE PRODUCTION OF THIS REPORT.

THIS ASSISTANCE AND COOPERATION IS COMPLETELY VOLUNTARY AND PROVIDES DATA THAT IS USED BY A WIDE RANGE OF FARMERS, BUSINESSES, TRADERS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, ECONOMISTS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS REGARDING PLANTING AND HARVESTING, MARKET STRATEGIES AND POLICY PLANNING.

SO ALSO FOR OUR ENTIRE STAFF.

THIS IS A YEAR LONG ENDEAVOR, AND IT'S THE CULMINATION OF A YEAR'S WORTH OF WORK GATHERING, REFINING, AND PACKAGING THE DATA UP INTO THE FINAL REPORT.

SO I'D LIKE TO THANK THEM ALL WITH A SPECIAL THANKS TO JACOB ROMINE, MILFORD, ESAU, AND DEREK HUNGER FOR THEIR HARD WORK ON THIS.

THIS REPORT IS NOW AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE.

I PROVIDED A QR CODE ON THE SCREEN THERE.

THIS PAGE ALSO CONTAINS LINKS TO OTHER PROGRAMS, SO I ENCOURAGE ALL TO EXPLORE THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT OUR DEPARTMENT.

SO, DRUMROLL.

SO FOR 2023, THE GROSS RETURNS FOR AG PRODUCTION IN MERCED COUNTY WAS AN IMPRESSIVE $4.22 BILLION.

AND IMPRESSIVE AS IT WAS, HOWEVER, THIS DOES REPRESENT A 13% DECREASE IN OVERALL PRODUCTION.

THE DECREASE WAS NOT A TOTAL SURPRISE DUE TO VERY HIGH RETURNS IN 2022 FOR MILK PRODUCTION, WHICH TYPICALLY CONSTITUTES ABOUT A THIRD OF OUR YEARLY OVERALL PRODUCTION FOR THE COUNTY.

SO IT IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THESE ARE GROSS RETURNS, NOT PROFITS, AND DO NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE COSTS OF PRODUCTION, MARKETING OR TRANSPORTATION INCURRED BY THE PRODUCERS. GROWERS CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH LABOR COSTS AND EXPENSES, REGULATORY RESTRICTIONS, PEST AND DISEASE PRESSURES, INFLATION AND LOGISTIC ISSUES.

SO GETTING TO THE 2023 HIGHLIGHTS.

DESPITE A 28% DECREASE, MILK CONTINUED TO DOMINATE AS OUR NUMBER ONE COMMODITY IN 2023, WITH PRICES SOMEWHAT NORMALIZING FROM THE HIGH RETURNS IN 2022. SO ALMONDS REMAINED RELATIVELY STABLE IN THE NUMBER TWO SPOT, WITH A SLIGHT DECREASE IN PRICES AND YIELDS FROM 2022 ONLY SLIPPING BY 8%.

AND PART OF THIS WAS DUE TO SOME POOR POLLINATION THAT WE HAD THAT YEAR.

SO WITH THE DECREASE IN BOTH NUMBERS AND PRICES, POULTRY PRODUCTION VALUES DROPPED BY 17% TO THE FIFTH SPOT, OPENING THE DOOR FOR SWEET POTATOES AND CATTLE TO MOVE UP

[00:20:09]

SO SWEET POTATOES REBOUNDED IN 2023 WITH BOTH PRICE AND YIELD INCREASES FOR A 30% 38% INCREASE IN CATTLE PRICES HAD A MODEST 14% INCREASE, PUSHING THESE TWO COMMODITIES UP TO THE NUMBER THREE AND FOUR SPOTS, AND TOMATOES WON THE TRIFECTA.

INCREASE OF YIELD, ACREAGE AND PRICE FOR A 5,757% GAIN OVER THE 2022 RETURNS.

SO EVERY YEAR, OUR CROP REPORT INCLUDES A HISTORICAL LOOK BACK AT THE OVERALL RETURNS AND TRENDS OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS.

THE 2022 CROP REPORT YEAR WAS AN ALL TIME HIGH, PRIMARILY DUE TO THE HUGE RETURNS FROM MILK, BUT WE SEEM TO BE FOLLOWING A 6 OR 7 YEAR CYCLE OF HAVING BANNER YEARS DRIVEN BY THOSE MILK PRICES.

AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE GRAPH ON THE RIGHT, LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY PRODUCTION CONTINUES TO GAIN MORE OF A SHARE OF AN OVERALL COUNTY PRODUCTION OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS. AND THAT'S POULTRY PRODUCTS ACTUALLY.

SO LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY PRODUCTS.

SO, GETTING TO THE RANKINGS, I KNOW SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA PARTICULARLY LIKES THIS PARTICULAR STATISTIC. SO IN 2023, CALIFORNIA CONTINUED TO LEAD THE NATION WITH $59.4 BILLION IN RETURNS, WITH IOWA COMING IN A NOT SO CLOSE SECOND AT 40.8 BILLION. SO MERCED CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THE TOP PRODUCING COUNTIES IN CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY, SLOTTING IN AS A COUNTY JUST BEHIND MONTEREY AT NUMBER FIVE IN THE STATE AND IN THE NATION SO RANKED AS A STATE.

HOWEVER, ALL BY ITSELF, MERCED COUNTY WOULD RANK AS NUMBER 33, BEHIND THE STATE OF MONTANA AND ABOVE LOUISIANA.

SO IN ADDITION TO REPORTING ON THE OVERALL PRODUCTION VALUES OF CROPS AND COMMODITIES IN MERCED COUNTY, OUR CROP REPORT PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS WHICH HELP PROMOTE AND PROTECT AGRICULTURE, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND THE PEOPLE OF MERCED COUNTY.

DURING THE LAST YEAR'S PRESENTATION OF THE REPORT, I HIGHLIGHTED HOW OUR PEST EXCLUSION AND PEST DETECTION PROGRAMS PROTECT AGRICULTURE FROM PESTS AND DISEASES AND HOW OUR WEIGHTS AND MEASURES PROGRAMS PROTECT CONSUMERS.

THIS YEAR, I WANTED TO FOCUS BRIEFLY ON HOW OUR PESTICIDE USE ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM HELPS PROTECT THE PUBLIC AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

SO OUR BECAUSE CALIFORNIA HAS SUCH A DIVERSE RANGE OF CLIMATES, WE CAN GROW A REMARKABLE NUMBER OF COMMODITIES AND WE LEAD THE NATION IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION. CALIFORNIA ALSO HAS A UNIQUE SYSTEM OF PESTICIDE REGULATION ENFORCEMENT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, LED BY THE 55 AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONERS, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THEIR STAFFS IN EACH COUNTY.

BECAUSE OF A WIDE RANGE OF CLIMATES AND CONDITIONS AND THE VASTNESS OF OUR AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY, CALIFORNIA'S AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONERS ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE UNIQUENESS OF THE CROPS, CLIMATES, AND CONDITIONS THAT EXIST IN EACH OF THESE COUNTIES, WITH MANY, LIKE MERCED, PRODUCING MORE AGRICULTURAL THAN ENTIRE STATES.

THIS FAMILIARITY WITH BOTH THE COUNTY AND THE LOCAL AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY ALLOWS US TO BETTER ADMINISTER THE REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS, SUCH AS THOSE DUTIES LISTED ON THE SLIDE. CALIFORNIA'S PESTICIDE REGULATORY PROGRAM IS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE STATE OF THE ART SYSTEM ANYWHERE THAT HELPS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE SAFEST FOOD SUPPLY IN THE COUNTRY.

IT ALSO ENSURES ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND THE SAFETY OF EMPLOYEES WORKING IN THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.

SO A FEW WORDS ABOUT OUR COVER PHOTOGRAPH THIS YEAR.

SO WE WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE MERCED COUNTY'S GREATEST RESOURCE, ITS PEOPLE.

THE COVER PHOTO WAS TAKEN BY ONE OF MERCED COUNTY'S HOMEGROWN PRODUCTS, CADEN PRICOLO, WHO JUST SO HAPPENED TO WIN FIRST PLACE IN THE CALIFORNIA FARM BUREAU'S STATEWIDE PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST IN 2023.

SO, GROWING UP IN LOS BANOS, CADEN DEVELOPED AN APPRECIATION FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE, INSPIRING HER TO PURSUE IT AS A CAREER.

SHE IS CURRENTLY ATTENDING OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY, MAJORING IN PLANT AND SOIL SCIENCE WITH A MINOR IN ANIMAL SCIENCE.

CADEN'S PHOTOGRAPHY HIGHLIGHTS THE BEAUTY AND DIVERSITY OF MERCED COUNTY'S AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY, AND ILLUSTRATES THE HARD WORK BY THE MANY GROWERS, PRODUCERS AND EMPLOYEES THAT GOES INTO BRINGING FOOD TO OUR PLATES.

THE 2022 USDA CENSUS OF AG INDICATED THE AVERAGE AGE OF FARMERS INCREASED FROM 2017 CENSUS BY 0.6 YEARS, SO IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE CADEN WILL BE CONTINUING TO BE INVOLVED IN AGRICULTURE HERE IN MERCED.

SO THANK YOU. CADEN, FOR ALLOWING US TO SHOWCASE YOUR WORK THROUGHOUT OUR REPORT AND HELPING US DISPLAY THE BEAUTY AND STORY OF AGRICULTURE.

SO WITH THAT, THAT BRINGS ME TO THE CONCLUSION OF THE PRESENTATION.

AGAIN, JUST WANTED TO GIVE ANOTHER THANKS TO THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS, TO THE REPORT'S PRODUCTION AND TO ALL THOSE WHO WORK IN AGRICULTURE.

[00:25:01]

AND ON THE FINAL SLIDE, I INCLUDED THE QR CODE LINK AGAIN TO OUR CROP STATISTICS PAGE.

AND WITH THAT, I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS YOU MAY HAVE.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? NO ONE.

SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. THANK YOU.

WELL, ANYWAYS, THANK YOU FOR COMPILING THIS REPORT.

I KNOW IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY, BUT REALLY HIGHLIGHTS AGRICULTURE AND MERCED COUNTY AND I THINK YOU DO A GREAT JOB WITH THAT.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.

SO THANKS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

YEAH. SHAWN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS PRESENTATION.

AS YOU STATED, WE DO USE THESE NUMBERS ALL THE TIME.

AT THE STATE LEVEL, WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO IMPROVE OUR ESSENCE OF MERCED COUNTY IN THIS PARTICULAR SPACE, AS WELL AS NACO AND MY -- OH, THANK YOU.

I KNOW MY COLLEAGUE HERE IS THE CHAIRMAN OF AG AT NACO.

AND PEOPLE, AS SOON AS SOMEBODY FROM CALIFORNIA BECOMES THE CHAIRMAN, THEY ASK, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN SOMEBODY FROM CALIFORNIA BE THAT? AND THEN WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH AND IT'S BECAUSE OF ALL THE STUFF YOU COMPILE IN HERE THAT WE USE FOR OUR DATA.

I KNOW WE HAVE A BIG FIGHT GOING ON RIGHT NOW WITH CSAC AS WELL.

IN FACT, WE'LL REPORT ON THAT AS WE COME OUT.

BUT WE'VE DONE A, WE'VE REALLY MADE A BIG EFFORT TO SEPARATE AG TO BE ITS OWN COMMUNITY COMMITTEE BY ITSELF, BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THE WHOLE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WANTS TO FORGET ABOUT AG AND AG PRODUCTION.

AND YET THAT'S STILL AT OUR HEART AND SOUL AS WE AS WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE AT THE STATE LEVEL.

AND I AND BECAUSE OF THIS DATA, WE'RE ABLE TO PROVE OUR ESSENCE.

AND WE'VE GOT THE REST OF THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY TO STAND WITH US.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE'VE CONVINCED OTHER COUNTIES AS WELL TO STAND WITH US.

SO THANK YOU FOR THIS.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

YEAH, I JUST WANT TO ECHO WHAT EVERYBODY SAID.

THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.

THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE REPORTS THAT WE GET EVERY YEAR BECAUSE IT REALLY HIGHLIGHTS AND SHOWCASES THE AGRICULTURE, THE DEPENDANCE ON AGRICULTURE HERE IN MERCED COUNTY, AND WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO US IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY.

AND IT IS NO JOKE.

WHEN I WAS MY NAME GOT PUT UP FOR THE CHAIR OF IT.

THE HEAD OF NACO ASKED, DO YOU HAVE AG IN MERCED COUNTY? AND I WAS LIKE, YEAH, JUST A LITTLE BIT.

SO BUT SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL IS CORRECT THAT WE USE THESE NUMBERS QUITE A BIT BECAUSE PEOPLE JUST DON'T KNOW.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

THANK YOU. YEAH, SEAN THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE THE REPORT.

AND YOU KNOW I JUST WANT TO WE HAVE OUR FRIENDS FROM LEADERSHIP COUNCIL THAT COME TO A LOT OF OUR MEETINGS.

AND THIS IS WHAT I ALWAYS POINT TO IS, IS, YOU KNOW, IS DAIRIES ARE EXPANDING IN A WAY THAT ARE MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY NOW THAN THEY'VE EVER BEEN BEFORE, AND TRYING TO DO ALL THE RIGHT THINGS IN THIS ULTRA OVERREGULATED CALIFORNIA THAT WE LIVE IN.

AND, AND THEN WE I LIKE TO POINT OUT TO THEM THAT MILK IS OUR NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY, AND I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO MY DAYS AS A DAIRYMAN.

AS A LITTLE DAIRYMAN.

IT'S YOU SEE THAT NUMBER THAT COMES IN THERE.

THEY SPEND ALL OF THAT.

THERE'S USUALLY NOT A LOT LEFT OVER AT THE END.

AND SO THOSE THAT MONEY THAT'S COMING IN, THEY DIRECTLY PUT BACK INTO THE ECONOMY AND TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY.

AND THEN THE LAST THING I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HOW THEY MAKE QR CODES, BUT I WOULD RATHER PREFER TO SEE LIKE A COW ON THERE INSTEAD OF A DINOSAUR.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU COULD MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

THANK YOU. I'LL TRY TO WORK ON THAT FOR NEXT YEAR.

SO I WAS THINKING OF PEACH UP THERE.

SO I KNOW WE DO OUR PART TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECONOMY IN IN THIS COUNTY AS A FAMILY AND WITH MY NEIGHBORS IN DELHI.

SO I KNOW THAT LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO THANK YOU.

AND LIKE I SAID, WE'LL SUPPORT THE AG INDUSTRY AND MERCED COUNTY AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

SO APPRECIATE IT. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? NO, NONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.

NEXT, WE I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE TO THE PODIUM BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES ASSISTANT DIRECTOR ALEXANDER PIERCE, TO PROVIDE US INFORMATION REGARDING THE COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE, RECOVERY AND EMPOWERMENT ACT.

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD.

BOARD MEMBERS CEO, MENDEZ COUNTY COUNSEL HANSON.

I'M KIMIKO VANG, DIRECTOR OF THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

THE TEAM IS PLEASED TO PRESENT AN OVERVIEW OF THE COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE, RECOVERY, AND EMPOWERMENT ACT, KNOWN AS CARE ACT.

SENATE BILL 1338 ESTABLISHED THE CARE ACT, WHICH IS BEING IMPLEMENTED IN TWO PHASES.

EIGHT COUNTIES LAUNCHED THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CARE ACT IN OCTOBER OF 2023 AS PART OF COHORT ONE.

[00:30:04]

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCESS AND OUR LOCAL IMPLEMENTATION EFFORTS.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE OUR PARTNERS, INCLUDING OUR SUPERIOR COURT, SHERIFF'S OFFICE, PUBLIC DEFENDER, DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, COUNTY COUNSEL, HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY, PROBATION, CENTRAL CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE FOR HEALTH, NAMI AND CEO'S OFFICE FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING COLLABORATIVE EFFORT OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF IN PLANNING FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CARE ACT IN MERCED COUNTY.

IN ADDITION, AT THE DECEMBER 5TH, 2023 BOARD MEETING, THIS BOARD ADOPTED A RESOLUTION TO DEFER IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CHANGES MADE TO WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE SECTION 5008 BY SENATE BILL 43 UNTIL JANUARY 1ST, 2026.

THIS BOARD, REQUESTED BY US TO RETURN A YEAR LATER TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON SB 43 IMPLEMENTATION, AND FOR THAT REASON, WE'LL ALSO BE PROVIDING THIS UPDATE IN TODAY'S PRESENTATION.

AND AT THIS TIME, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR ALEXANDRA PIERCE AND COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT DIRECTOR DELILAH GARZA.

GAZA. WE WILL GO OVER THE PRESENTATION.

OKAY.

GOOD MORNING.

THE CARE ACT CREATES A VOLUNTARY PATHWAY FOR THOSE THAT ARE OVER THE AGE OF 18, HAVE A DIAGNOSIS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA SPECTRUM DISORDER, AND NOT CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN TREATMENT TO RECEIVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AS WELL AS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

THANK YOU. THE ELIGIBILITY FOR CARE IS VERY NARROW IN THAT INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR CARE MUST BE 18 YEARS OF OLDER, NOT CLINICALLY STABILIZED IN TREATMENT, AS WELL AS HAVE THE DIAGNOSIS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA SPECTRUM AND EITHER UNLIKELY TO SURVIVE SAFELY IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEIR CONDITION IS DETERIORATING, OR THEY ARE IN NEED IN SERVICES AND ARE AT RISK OF GRAVE DISABILITY.

IN ADDITION, CARE HAS TO BE THE MOST THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE OPTION AS WELL AS THE INDIVIDUAL MOST LIKELY BENEFIT FROM THE PROGRAM WHO IS NOT ELIGIBLE. SO THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT ON THE SCHIZOPHRENIA SPECTRUM ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE CARE PROCESS, AS WELL AS THOSE RESULTING OR HAVE A PSYCHOSIS RESULTING FROM TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, AUTISM, DEMENTIA, OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS.

PRIMARILY, HOWEVER, THOSE CAN BE CO-OCCURRING WITH THE SCHIZOPHRENIA SPECTRUM DIAGNOSIS AS WELL, THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY STABILIZED AND VOLUNTARY TREATMENT, AND THOSE THAT ARE NOT AT RISK OF GRAVE DISABILITY ARE NOT CURRENTLY ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM.

IN TERMS OF PETITIONING FOR THE PROGRAM.

A PETITIONER IS SOMEONE WHO PETITIONS ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL SO THE INDIVIDUAL WHO WILL BE RECEIVING THE SERVICES.

SO TO BE A PETITIONER, YOU MUST BE OVER THE AGE OF 18 AND FALL INTO ONE OF THE CATEGORIES LISTED.

AND THOSE ARE A FAMILY MEMBER, A FIRST RESPONDER, A PROVIDER CLINICIAN, A PUBLIC GUARDIAN, A COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND THE RESPONDENT CAN ALSO PETITION ON THEIR OWN BEHALF.

I WANTED TO PROVIDE A LITTLE INFORMATION ABOUT WHO THE PARTIES ARE THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS.

AND SO TO BEGIN WITH, THE PETITIONER IS THE PERSON WHO IS GOING TO FILE THE PETITION ON BEHALF OF THE OTHER INDIVIDUAL WHO WILL BE THE RECIPIENT OF THE CARE SERVICES.

THE RESPONDENT IS THE INDIVIDUAL WHO WILL BE THE RECIPIENT OF THE CARE SERVICES.

THE JUDGE WILL DETERMINE PRIMA FACIE OR INITIAL ELIGIBILITY AND HAVE OVERSIGHT OVER THE COURT.

THE CARE COURT PROCESS AS THE CLIENT JOURNEYS THROUGH THE PROCESS.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENGAGING THE CLIENT, PROVIDING SUPPORTS AND SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, AND THE PUBLIC DEFENDER WILL BE ASSISTING THE CLIENT AND REPRESENTING THEM IN ALL MATTERS AS THEY JOURNEY THROUGH THE PROCESS.

A COUNTY COUNSEL WILL BE REPRESENTING OUR DEPARTMENT THROUGH THE COURT PROCESS, AND THE CLIENT CAN ALSO ELECT TO HAVE A VOLUNTEER SUPPORTER WHO WILL PROVIDE AUTONOMY AND ENSURE THAT THEIR VOICE IS BEING HEARD THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.

SO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROCESS IN ITSELF.

THE PROCESS BEGINS WITH CARE 100, WHICH IS A PETITION THAT IS SUBMITTED TO THE COURT.

THE CARE 100 WILL CONTAIN ALL OF THE ELEMENTS OF ELIGIBILITY, AND SO THE PETITIONER HAS THE OPTION OF PROVIDING ALL OF THE EVIDENCE IN THE CARE 100, OR ALSO ADDING IN THE CARE 101, WHICH WILL PROVIDE THE DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA TO THE COURT.

ONCE THE COURT REVIEWS THE PETITION AND ENSURES THAT THERE IS SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE, THEN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WILL BE ORDERED TO ENGAGE THE CLIENT AND PROVIDE A REPORT TO THE COURT

[00:35:02]

SO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE JOURNEY THROUGH THE COURT, THE CARE ACT PROCESS.

THERE ARE TWO PATHWAYS.

THE FIRST IS THE CARE AGREEMENT.

AND THE CARE AGREEMENT IS WHEN THE CLIENT ELECTS TO ENGAGE.

AND SO THE PETITION IS THE FIRST STEP IN THE PROCESS.

THE PETITIONER WILL SUBMIT THE PETITION, IT WILL BE REVIEWED BY THE COURT, AND THE COURT WILL DETERMINE PRIMA FACIE.

AND THEN WE'LL ORDER OUR DEPARTMENT TO ENGAGE.

WE WILL SUPPLY THE COURT WITH A REPORT WITHIN 30 DAYS.

AND AT THAT POINT, WE WILL LET THE COURT KNOW WHETHER THE CLIENT HAS ELECTED TO ENGAGE IN SERVICES, IF THE CLIENT HAS AND WILL BE ORDERED INTO A CARE AGREEMENT, A PLANNING PROCESS.

AT THAT POINT, ALL PARTIES WILL COME TO THE TABLE AND WE WILL LOOK AT ALL THE SERVICES THAT WILL HELP THIS CLIENT BE SUCCESSFUL IN ACHIEVING STABILITY AND RECOVERY.

AND WE WILL BE DOING A 60 DAY PROGRESS HEARINGS WHERE WE WILL ALL PRESENT TO THE COURT AND PROVIDE OUR PROGRESS.

MAKE SURE THAT THE CURRENT PLAN IS WORKING FOR THE CLIENT AND OF COURSE, MAKE ANY AMENDMENTS IF NEEDED.

AT THE END OF THE JOURNEY, WE WILL LOOK AT THE PROGRESS THE CLIENT HAS MADE, AND AT THAT POINT THE CLIENT HAS THREE OPTIONS.

THEY CAN BE REAPPOINTED BY THE COURT THEY CAN ELECT TO REAPPOINT OR THEY CAN GRADUATE FROM THE PROCESS, MEANING THAT THEY HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ALL OF THE ELEMENTS OF THE CARE AGREEMENT.

THE SECOND PATHWAY IS THE CARE PLAN.

INITIALLY, THIS PROCESS IS THE SAME AS THE CARE AGREEMENT.

ONLY WITHIN THIS PROCESS, THE CLIENT HAS ELECTED TO NOT ENGAGE.

AT THAT POINT, WE WILL PROVIDE THAT REPORT TO THE COURT, AND WE WILL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION AS TO WHETHER THE CLIENT WOULD LIKELY BENEFIT FROM THE PROGRAM.

THE COURT WILL ORDER US TO COMPLETE A CLINICAL EVALUATION, AS WELL AS ORDER US INTO A CARE PLAN.

MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE AT THAT POINT IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE CARE AGREEMENT, AND THAT WE WILL ALL COME TO THE TABLE AND LOOK AT ALL THE RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTS THAT THE CLIENT IS ELIGIBLE FOR AND IS LIKELY TO BENEFIT FROM.

WE WILL CREATE A PLAN AND WE WILL PRESENT THAT PLAN TO THE COURT.

THE COURT HAS THE OPTION OF AMENDING OR APPROVING THAT ORDER, AND THEN WE WILL ENGAGE THE CLIENT IN COMPLETING ALL OF THOSE SERVICES, WHILE PROVIDING 60 DAY STATUS REPORTS TO THE COURT. AT THE END OF THE JOURNEY, AGAIN, THE CLIENT HAS THE OPTION OF REAPPOINTING THEMSELVES, BEING REAPPOINTED BY THE COURT, OR GRADUATING FROM THE PROGRAM.

I WANT TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT IS CONTAINED IN A CARE AGREEMENT OR A CARE PLAN.

SO SOME OF THE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS INCLUDE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, INCLUDING SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES, MEDICALLY NECESSARY STABILIZATION MEDICATIONS.

WHILE THESE MAY BE ORDERED, THERE IS NO RECOURSE TO THE CLIENT IF THEY OPT TO NOT RECEIVE THE MEDICAL THE MEDICATIONS.

WE ALSO WILL BE OFFERING HOUSING AND SUPPORTS WHICH THESE CLIENTS WITH THESE CLIENTS RECEIVING PRIORITY AT OUR 1213 V STREET COMPLEX.

AND WE WILL ALSO BE OFFERING FUNDED SOCIAL SERVICES, WHICH INCLUDE CALFRESH, MEDI-CAL, SOCIAL SECURITY AND ALSO OTHER SERVICES SUCH AS ASSISTING WITH THE CALIFORNIA ID OR ANY SERVICES THAT ARE NEEDED.

THE IDEA IS TO PROVIDE WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND ENSURE THAT THE CLIENT IS HELPED BY OUR TEAM, WHICH IS GOING TO CONSIST OF A MENTAL HEALTH WORKER, A MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN AND A PEER SUPPORT SERVICES WORKER TO ENSURE THAT THAT CLIENT RECEIVES WRAPAROUND SERVICES AS THEY JOURNEY THROUGH THE CARE ACT PROCESS.

AND NOW ALEXANDRA WILL BE PROVIDING A LITTLE INFORMATION ABOUT THE.

IMPLEMENTATION EFFORTS.

GOOD MORNING.

WHEN CARE ACT WAS IMPLEMENTED, THE STATE REALLY HAD A FOCUS ON PROVIDING SUPPORT EARLY AND OFTEN, AS WELL AS HOLDING ALL THOSE INVOLVED WITH LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND DATA COLLECTION.

ONE OF. SORRY.

I'M TALLER. SORRY ABOUT THAT.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS UNIQUE TO THE CARE ACT PROGRAM AND SERVICES IS THAT IT IS AVAILABLE TO ALL RESIDENTS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR INSURANCE. SO TYPICALLY, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDES SPECIFIC SUPPORT TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE MEDI-CAL OR ARE UNINSURED.

BUT FOR THIS PROGRAM, ANY INDIVIDUALS, REGARDLESS OF INSURANCE, ARE ELIGIBLE, AND IT IS REQUIRED THAT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORK WITH COMMERCIAL INSURANCE PLANS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT TREATMENT FOR ELIGIBLE PARTIES.

IN ADDITION, IT PROVIDES A HOUSING COMPONENT SO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A HOUSING COMPONENT WITHIN THEIR CARE PLAN OR AGREEMENT ARE PROVIDED. PRIORITY PLACEMENT WITHIN THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BRIDGE HOUSING PROGRAM.

THAT HOUSING PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY IN PLACE HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.

WE HAVE 41 UNITS AT THE 1213 V STREET PROJECT, AND THAT HOUSING PROGRAM GOES THROUGH JUNE 30TH OF 2027.

[00:40:07]

IT'S REALLY MEANT TO BE THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE MEANS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS WITH TREATMENT AND SUPPORT.

IN ADDITION, AS I SAID, THERE'S A COMPONENT REGARDING ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES.

AND SO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES, AS WELL AS OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES CAN BE FINED BY THE COURT UP TO $1,000 PER DAY UP TO $25,000 TOTAL PER VIOLATION IF FOUND NOT TO BE PROVIDING THE SERVICES OR ATTEMPTS TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT ARE WITHIN THE CARE PLAN OR AGREEMENT.

THOSE FUNDS COLLECTED BY THE FINES ARE INTENDED TO BE INFUSED BACK INTO PROVISION OF SERVICES FOR THE CARE ACT POPULATION, AND SO IN ORDER TO ACCESS THOSE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES AND OR ANOTHER LOCAL ENTITY MUST PROVIDE A PLAN TO THE STATE IN ORDER TO ACCESS THOSE SERVICES BACK AND INFUSE THEM INTO THE COMMUNITY.

IN ADDITION, THERE'S A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL DATA COLLECTION AND OUTCOME REPORTING PLAN, REALLY, TO GET AT THE FOCUS OF THE INTENTION TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND REDUCE HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DISPARITIES, REDUCE HOMELESSNESS, REDUCE RECIDIVISM RATES, AS WELL AS REDUCTION IN CONSERVATORSHIPS AND HOSPITALIZATION.

AS DIRECTOR VANG MENTIONED, WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN IMPLEMENTATION FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND A HALF AND HAVE A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT COUNTY WIDE CROSS SECTOR IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS WORK GROUPS WHO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AND CREATE OUR CARE ACT PROGRAM.

WE'VE PARTICIPATED IN STATEWIDE CARE ACT, WORK GROUPS, TRAININGS AND CONVENINGS.

WE'VE RECEIVED MONTHLY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FROM OUR STATE CARE ACT LIAISON.

WE HAVE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH MERCED SUPERIOR COURT TO COME UP WITH A COMBINED WORKFLOW BETWEEN THE COURT PROCESS AND THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORT PROCESS, IN ORDER TO MAKE IT AS SEAMLESS AS POSSIBLE.

WE HAVE ALSO CONDUCTED CARE MOCK CASE REVIEWS IN ORDER TO PREPARE FOR OUR DECEMBER 1ST LAUNCH.

IN ADDITION, WE HAVE PROVIDED A NUMBER OF TRAININGS, EDUCATIONS, AND PRESENTATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AND THAT WORK WILL CONTINUE. I'D LIKE TO HAVE EVERYBODY BE ABLE TO CONNECT ON OUR BILLS WEBSITE, ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE, AT MERCED COUNTY OF MERCED.

COM FORWARD SLASH 4097.

FORWARD SLASH. CARE.

DASH ACT. DASH COMING SOON.

OR YOU COULD JUST GO TO THE COUNTY WEBSITE.

CLICK ON BROWSE AND THEN CLICK ON CARE ACT.

THAT MIGHT BE EASIER.

IN ADDITION, ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES, WE HAVE BEEN DOING A PRETTY ROBUST SOCIAL MEDIA OUTREACH RELATED TO INFORMATION ON CARE ACT.

WHO MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE? AND ALSO LINKS TO THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE THROUGH THE SELF-HELP CENTER AT THE SUPERIOR COURT.

THE SUPERIOR COURT ALSO HAS HELD SEVERAL WORKSHOPS, BOTH HERE IN MERCED AS WELL AS IN LOS BANOS AND ONLINE, IN ORDER TO COVER THE PETITIONING PROCESS AND SHARE WITH INDIVIDUALS HOW TO GO ABOUT ACCESSING THOSE RESOURCES IF THEY NEED SUPPORT.

WE HAVE SEVERAL PRESENTATIONS WITH NAMI THAT WILL BE SCHEDULED IN SPANISH AND THEN ALSO WITH MERCED LAO FAMILY THAT WILL BE SCHEDULED IN HMONG.

AND SO PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA IN ORDER TO GET THAT INFORMATION.

IN ADDITION, IN ORDER TO PREPARE FOR THIS, WE HAVE HIRED FOUR ADDITIONAL STAFF.

THE TEAM INCLUDES A MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN, A MENTAL HEALTH WORKER, A PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST, AND AN ANALYST TO HELP US GATHER AND REPORT ALL OF THE REQUIRED DATA INFORMATION.

WE'VE DEVELOPED NEW FORMS, BROCHURES AND MATERIALS, AND ACCESS TO COLLECT ALL OF THAT DATA AND OF COURSE, JOB CODES IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO PULL DOWN THE FUNDING THAT'S ASSOCIATED.

WE'VE ALSO DEVELOPED BAKER'S CARE ACT HOTLINE, SO TO SPEAK.

WARM LINE. IF INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE QUESTIONS, THAT PHONE NUMBER IS 209-381-6820.

AND NOW DELILAH WILL SHARE ABOUT THE LANTERMAN-PETRIS-SHORT ACT AND HOW IT CONNECTS WITH CARE ACT AND SB 43.

THE LPS ACT, OR THE LANTERMAN-PETRIS-SHORT ACT, WAS SIGNED INTO LAW IN 1967 AND TOOK EFFECT IN 1972.

WE'RE PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION BECAUSE THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BE A LIKELY OUTCOME OF THE CARE PROCESS, AND THAT A CLIENT CAN BE REFERRED FOR AN EVALUATION.

[00:45:10]

IT PROVIDES US A WAY TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES.

THE LPS ACT DOES AUTHORIZE TEMPORARY HOLDS AS WHICH INCLUDE THE 5150, THE 5250, THE 5260, AND THE 5270.

SO ESSENTIALLY THE THREE DAY, THE 14 DAY, AN ADDITIONAL 14 DAY AND A 30 DAY HOLD.

REFERRALS FOR CONSERVATORSHIP ARE GENERALLY RECEIVED FROM INPATIENT FACILITIES AS WELL AS THE CRIMINAL COURT, AND THERE ARE CURRENTLY THREE TYPES OF LPS CONSERVATORSHIPS.

THERE IS A TEMPORARY CONSERVATORSHIP WHICH CAN LAST ANYWHERE FROM 30 DAYS TO SIX MONTHS.

THERE IS A LPS FULL CONSERVATORSHIP THAT LASTS ONE YEAR, SO EVERY YEAR A CLIENT IS REEVALUATED TO MAKE SURE THEY STILL MEET THE CRITERIA.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE MURPHYS CONSERVATORSHIP, WHICH ESSENTIALLY IS AN EXTENSION OF THE LPS ACT.

FOR THOSE THAT HAVE A VIOLENT, COMMITTED A VIOLENT OFFENSE, AND THAT IS MADE FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC.

SO OUR CURRENT DEFINITION OF GRAVE DISABILITY IS THOSE THAT ARE UNABLE TO MEET THEIR NEEDS OF FOOD, CLOTHING, SHELTER AS A RESULT OF A MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER.

WITH SB 43 THAT WILL BE EXPANDED.

AND SO SENATOR EGGMAN HAS AMENDED THAT DEFINITION AS OF JANUARY 1ST.

CURRENTLY, THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO AND THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO HAVE IMPLEMENTED SB 43, WITH THREE OTHER COUNTIES COMING ONLINE JANUARY 1ST.

ALL OTHER COUNTIES HAVE ELECTED TO DEFER AND WILL BE IMPLEMENTING JANUARY 1ST OF 2026 WITH SENATOR EGGMAN'S DEFINITION.

LPS HAS EXPANDED THAT DEFINITION, AND SO IT NOW READS AS A CONDITION AT THE RESULT OF A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER, OR CO-OCCURRING DISORDER.

A PERSON IS UNABLE TO MEET THEIR NEEDS OF FOOD, CLOTHING, SHELTER, MEDICAL CARE, OR PERSONAL SAFETY.

THIS DEFINITION WILL APPLY TO ALL OF THE HOLDS, WHICH INCLUDE THE 5150.

52, 50, 52, 70, AS WELL AS LPS CONSERVATORSHIPS.

SO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S CHANGING AND WHAT IS NOT CHANGING WITHIN THE PROCESS.

WHAT IS CHANGING IS THE DEFINITION.

SO THE CRITERIA WILL EXPAND THOSE THAT MAY QUALIFY FOR THE PROGRAM.

WHAT IS NOT CHANGING IS THE PROCESS.

AND SO ESSENTIALLY THE REFERRAL, THE PETITION AND THE LEGAL PROCESS, BEING THAT CONSERVATORSHIP IS ALWAYS THE OPTION OF LAST RESORT.

AND SO WE WILL STILL HAVE TO EXPLORE ALL OTHER ALTERNATIVES PRIOR TO PETITIONING FOR A CONSERVATORSHIP.

AND I WILL HAND IT TO ALEX AS SHE PROVIDES ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON OUR IMPLEMENTATION EFFORTS.

SO, AS DIRECTOR VANG NOTED IN HER INTRODUCTION, THIS BOARD ALLOWED US TO DELAY OUR IMPLEMENTATION OF SB 43.

AND I'M GOING TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY THAT DELAY WAS NECESSARY.

THE SIGNIFICANT SYSTEMS CHANGE THAT SB 43 REQUIRES THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE, EVEN A YEAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL PROPOSED IMPLEMENTATION WAS TO OCCUR.

THESE SYSTEM CHANGES ARE AT ALL LEVELS AT OUR CLIENT LEVEL, PROVIDER LEVEL, AND AT SYSTEM CHALLENGE LEVELS.

SOME OF THE ISSUES RELATED AT THE CLIENT LEVEL ARE THAT MANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE COMPLEX NEEDS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER ISSUES AND SIGNIFICANT MEDICAL NEEDS, AND BEING ABLE TO FIND APPROPRIATE TREATMENT FACILITIES IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT EACH ONE OF THOSE NEEDS IS MET, DOES NOT CURRENTLY EXIST.

IN ADDITION, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT DEFICIT IN THE AVAILABILITY OF TREATMENT BEDS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA.

AND SO IT'S NOT JUST AN ISSUE HERE WITHIN MERCED COUNTY, BUT REALLY ONE THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH COLLABORATIVELY WITH OTHER COUNTIES AS WELL AS OUR ASSOCIATIONS IN ORDER TO DEVELOP ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, AS THIS REQUIRES PRETTY SIGNIFICANT COORDINATION.

WE HAVE STARTED A COUNTYWIDE COMMITTEE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE SYSTEM CHALLENGES HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.

IT WILL REQUIRE US TO PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT LEVEL OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING REGARDING THE NEW DEFINITION, AS WELL AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESOURCES AND DATA COLLECTION.

SO SOME OF OUR IMPLEMENTATION EFFORTS INCLUDE OUR COUNTY WIDE CROSS-SECTOR IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE.

WE HAVE PARTICIPATED ON AND WILL CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE ON STATEWIDE IMPLEMENTATION WORK GROUPS.

SOME OF THE WORK THAT'S ALREADY DONE IS BEING ABLE TO DEVELOP CLEAR DEFINITIONS AND EXAMPLES FOR THOSE EXPANDED TERMS WITHIN GRAVELY DISABLED, SO THAT

[00:50:08]

WE'RE ALSO ANALYZING THE POTENTIAL FISCAL IMPACT.

ONE OF THE SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL FISCAL IMPACTS IS UNDER THE PLACEMENT OF CONSERVED INDIVIDUALS.

CURRENTLY, THOSE PLACEMENTS ARE NOT FUNDED.

IT'S NOT A MEDI-CAL FUNDED OPTION.

AND SO ALL OF THAT COMES FROM LOCAL REALIGNMENT DOLLARS.

WITH THE EXPANSION OF GRAVE DISABILITY, ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUALS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE AND THE COST FOR PLACEMENT WOULD THEN GO UP.

IN ADDITION, THE STATE HAS RECENTLY PASSED ASSOCIATED LEGISLATION IN ORDER TO EXPAND TREATMENT AND PLACEMENT OPTIONS, BUT FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IS NEEDED. SOME THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING HERE WITHIN THE COUNTY IS COMPLETING A TREATMENT BED GAP ANALYSIS AND THEN DETERMINING RECOMMENDATIONS AND REACHING OUT ON NEXT STEPS TO BRIDGE SOME OF THOSE GAPS.

EXPLORING PARTNERSHIPS IN ORDER TO INCREASE THOSE TREATMENT RESOURCES, INCLUDING WORKING WITH OTHER COUNTIES, IDENTIFYING AND ADVOCATING FOR SUSTAINABLE FUNDING FOR THOSE PLACEMENT TREATMENT RESOURCES, AND THEN ALSO REQUESTING IN THE FUTURE ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL POSITIONS WITHIN OUR BORDERS WORKFORCE AS THIS WILL IMPACT OUR CRISIS STABILIZATION SERVICES, OUR PUBLIC GUARDIAN, PUBLIC CONSERVATOR AND OUR SUBSTANCE USE DIVISION.

THEN WE'LL ALSO COORDINATE WITH ALL OF OUR PARTNERS IN ORDER TO TRAIN PROVIDERS, HOSPITALS, LAW ENFORCEMENT MS CRISIS PROVIDERS ON THE IMPACT AS WELL AS THE ADDITIONAL EXPANSION, AND THEN PROVIDE INFORMATION TO OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.

THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION, BUT WE ARE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? OKAY. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. LADIES.

THANK YOU. AS I'VE SEEN THIS PRESENTATION A FEW TIMES NOW IT JUST YOU CAN SEE THE AMOUNT OF IT'S.

AND YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD THIS BEFORE, BUT MAYBE SOME OF THE AUDIENCE HAVEN'T.

THIS IS ANOTHER SITUATION WHERE IN SACRAMENTO THEY COME UP WITH A PLAN, AND THEN THEY THROW IT DOWN ON US.

AND WE'RE EXPECTED TO IMPLEMENT THIS PLAN.

AND YOU COULD JUST BY LISTENING TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT KUMIKO THANKED THAT ARE PART OF THIS PROCESS AND HOW THIS THIS PROGRAM, THE CARE, THE COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AND RECOVERY EMPOWERMENT ACT, IT TOUCHES ALL LEVELS OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND IT'S AND WITH REALLY I'M FRUSTRATED WITH THE CARE PIECE BECAUSE I THINK IT WAS JUST KIND OF LIKE A BAIT AND SWITCH.

IT WAS SOMETHING WHERE THEY THEY WANTED TO LOOK LIKE THEY DID SOMETHING, BUT IT REALLY HAS NO TEETH TO IT.

AND IT'S FRUSTRATING BECAUSE I KNOW THE AMOUNT OF WORK, ENERGY AND EFFORT THAT WE'VE PUT INTO THIS.

AND I'LL BE CURIOUS AS WE IMPLEMENT THIS TO HAVE A REPORT IN A YEAR FROM NOW TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE WE ACTUALLY BEEN ABLE TO HELP, AND THEN, MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOW MUCH HAVE WE EXPENDED IN CAPITAL RESOURCES TO GET THAT RIGHT? AND IT'S ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNMENT IS SO INEFFICIENT AT WHAT WE DO.

MY GUESS IS, IS WE'RE GOING TO SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT HOW MANY PEOPLE WE ACTUALLY HELPED, AND WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE PRETTY DISAPPOINTED.

I HOPE I'M WRONG.

I HOPE THAT IT WORKS AS.

AS ALL THE VERY, VERY SMART PEOPLE IN SACRAMENTO INTENDED IT TO WORK, BUT I'M NOT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT IT, BUT I DON'T WANT THAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE OVER THE LAST YEAR, TO REFINE AND FIGURE OUT A WAY HOW WE'RE GOING TO IMPLEMENT THIS STATE PLAN.

SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE.

THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? IF NOT, I WILL OPEN UP TO THE PUBLIC ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.

I DON'T SEE NO ONE COMING FORWARD.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.

NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO CONSENT CALENDAR.

[CONSENT CALENDAR]

ITEMS ONE THROUGH 22.

PLEASE NOTE ITEMS FOUR AND 13 REQUIRE A FOUR-FIFTHS VOTE.

OKAY, AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 22.

ANY COMMENTS? I SEE NO ONE COMING FORWARD.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR CONSENT ITEMS IS 1-22 IS NOW CLOSED AND I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE.

SECOND. MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

SECOND. SECOND.

SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO.

[BOARD ACTION]

PLEASE NOTE ITEMS 24 AND 25 REQUIRE A FOUR-FIFTHS VOTE.

OKAY. I'D LIKE TO COMMENT ON ITEM 24.

[00:55:05]

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAD AN OLD EXISTING FIRE STATION IN SOUTH DOS PALOS THAT USED TO BE STATION 77, AND THEN IT WENT DOWN TO AN ALL VOLUNTEER STATION, AND EVENTUALLY BACK WHEN YOU WERE ABLE TO DO TRAINING BURNS, THEY ACTUALLY USED THE FIRE STATION AS A TRAINING BURN.

BUT WHAT WAS LEFT THERE IS A CINDER BLOCK BUILDING THAT THAT BASICALLY HOLDS THE FIRE TRUCK THAT HELD THE FIRE TRUCK.

ANYHOW, IT'S REALLY THERE'S NOT A LOT OF USE FOR IT FOR MERCED COUNTY.

WE HAVE BEEN MAINTAINING IT.

I KNOW WE'VE HAD SOME HOMELESS ISSUES OUT THERE, AND IN CHATTING WITH OUR FRIENDS AT THE SOUTH DOS PALOS COUNTY WATER DISTRICT, IT'S IN A UNIQUE LOCATION FOR THEM THAT IF THEY'RE ABLE, THEY PUT ANOTHER WATER TOWER OUT THERE IN SOUTH DOS PALOS TO HELP WITH THE PRESSURE THAT IS DELIVERED OUT THERE.

IT MAKES GOOD SENSE FOR THEM.

AND SO I'M EXCITED THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE SOMETHING THAT REALLY HAS KIND OF BEEN A BURDEN FOR US, AND THAT WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN IT AND MAKE SURE THAT VAGRANTS ARE NOT MOVING IN THERE, THAT NOW WILL TURN THAT OWNERSHIP OVER TO SOUTH DOS PALOS COUNTY WATER DISTRICT, WHICH ARE ALL CONSTITUENTS OF DISTRICT FIVE AND MEMBERS OF MERCED COUNTY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS 23 THROUGH 25.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR DPW ITEMS 23 TO 25 IS NOW CLOSED.

ANY MOTIONS? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION. SECOND.

SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

MOTION. SECOND. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO.

NOW WE HAVE PUBLIC HEALTH.

ITEM 26.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS 26.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE COMMENT.

PERIOD FOR HEALTH. ITEM 26 IS NOW CLOSED.

MOTION TO APPROVE FOR A SECOND.

FIRST BY SECOND SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

NOW WE HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES ITEMS 27 THROUGH 29.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ITEM 29 HAS BEEN PULLED.

OKAY. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS 27 AND 28.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? OKAY.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR VRS ITEMS 2728 IS NOW CLOSED.

SECOND MOTION SUPERVISOR PEREZ.

SECOND SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

NOW WE HAVE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY ITEMS 30 THROUGH 32.

AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR AGENDA ITEMS 30 THROUGH 32.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? I SEE NO ONE COMING FORWARD.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED.

SO ANY MOTIONS? A MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND.

MOTIONS FIRST IS SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

SECOND. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

NOW WE HAVE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

ITEM 33.

THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER 33.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEM 33 IS NOW CLOSED.

MOTIONS. MCDANIEL.

MOVE TO APPROVE.

SECOND. MOTION.

FIRST BY MCDANIEL.

SECOND, SILVEIRA. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

NOW WE HAVE FIRE ITEMS 34 AND 35.

THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR FIRE ITEMS NUMBER 34 AND 35.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR FIRE ITEMS 34 AND 35 IS NOW CLOSED.

MOTIONS. MOTION TO APPROVE.

SECOND. WE HAVE A FIRST BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

SECOND. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

NOW WE HAVE THE SHERIFF.

ITEM 36.

THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR SHERIFF.

ITEM NUMBER 36. ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? THE PUBLIC COMMENT HERE FOR SHERIFF ITEM 36 IS NOW CLOSED.

MOTIONS. MCDANIEL MOVED TO APPROVE.

HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

SECOND. PEDROSO SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

NEXT WE HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.

ITEM 37.

AND NOW, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR OUR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.

ITEM NUMBER 37.

[01:00:02]

MOTIONS. MCDANIEL.

MOTION. PAREIRA.

FIRST AND SECOND BY MCDANIEL.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

WELL. NOW WE HAVE TREASURER TAX COLLECTOR.

ITEM 38.

THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE PODIUM TO THE PODIUM.

OUR TREASURER, TAX COLLECTOR KAREN ADAMS, WHO WILL BE PROVIDING US INFORMATION REGARDING THE TREASURY INVESTMENT REPORT.

HELLO AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TODAY.

GOOD MORNING.

OF COURSE. HONORABLE CHAIRMAN ESPINOSA, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND CEO MENDEZ.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A GLIMPSE INTO THE TREASURER TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE IN 2001 AS THE ASSISTANT TREASURER TAX COLLECTOR RUNNING FOR MY CURRENT ELECTED POSITION, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS FOR TWO SERVICE CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTY.

I KICKED OFF MY GLIMPSE INTO THE TREASURE TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE WITH.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT WE DO A LOT MORE THAN JUST DEPLETE YOUR PERSONAL WEALTH THROUGH PROPERTY TAXATION.

EACH YEAR, AS THE ASSISTANT TREASURER TAX COLLECTOR, I MANAGE A $500 MILLION FIXED INCOME INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO FOR THE COUNTY, THE SCHOOLS, THE COLLEGE AND SPECIAL DISTRICTS.

TAXPAYERS' COMMENTS COULD BE SUMMARIZED AS WOW, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

WOW, I DIDN'T REALIZE YOUR TREASURER'S ROLE BECAUSE I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO MY TAXES AFTER YOU COLLECT IT AND THEN FINALLY COMMENTS SIMILAR TO WHAT I NOW KNOW WHAT A FIXED INCOME INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO IS.

SO FAST FORWARD 23 YEARS, THE PORTFOLIO HAS GROWN FROM 500 MILLION TO OVER $2 BILLION.

SO YES, WE DO A LOT MORE THAN MERELY DEPLETE YOUR PERSONAL WEALTH EACH YEAR THROUGH TAXATION.

OOPS. LET'S SEE. CAN I DO THIS? THERE WE GO.

ALL RIGHT, SO THE TREASURE TAX COLLECTOR.

ORG CHART. OF COURSE, THERE'S ME, THE ASSISTANT TREASURER.

TAX COLLECTOR. REGRETFULLY, THAT POSITION IS STILL VACANT.

I'M GOING TO START WITH THE FAR RIGHT BOX, WHICH IS THE TAX COLLECTION OR TAX COLLECTOR BOX.

WE DO SEND $100,000, 100,000 ANNUAL TAX BILLS AND COLLECT OVER $400 MILLION IN TAXES ALONE.

IN ADDITION TO THE TAX COLLECTION DIVISION, WE ARE MANDATED BY LAW TO AUCTION TAX DEFAULTED PROPERTIES, WHICH WE DON'T LIKE TO DO, AND RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSET SEIZURES LIKE THE SEIZED AIRPLANES WE SEIZED LAST YEAR FOR DEFAULTED UNSECURED TAXES.

JUST A QUICK FYI, MY TAX TEAM DID JUST COMPLETE OUR DUE DILIGENCE AUDIT.

IT WAS A SURPRISE AUDIT AT OUR WHITTIER LOCK BOX.

AND WE HAVE JUST A FEW MINOR FINDINGS, BUT IT'S RUNNING SMOOTH AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT RUN SMOOTHER.

THE FAR LEFT BOX IS THE TREASURY, WHICH IS TRULY THE COUNTY BANK FOR THE POOR PARTICIPANTS.

AND AGAIN, THE POOR PARTICIPANTS.

POOR PARTICIPANTS ARE THE COUNTY, THE SCHOOLS, THE COLLEGE AND SPECIAL DISTRICTS.

THE TREASURY LAST YEAR COLLECTED $4.7 BILLION IN ALL DEPOSITS.

AND BY LAW, I AM THE RECEIVING AGENT FOR THE COUNTY AND THE SCHOOLS AND THE AUDITORS, THE DISBURSEMENT AGENT.

THE MIDDLE BOX IS WHAT IS REALLY NOT KNOWN BY MANY.

AND OF COURSE, WHAT HAPPENS IS ONCE WE DO COLLECT THE TAXES AND ALL THE OTHER RECEIPTS, WE DO SOMETHING WITH THE MONEY UNTIL IT IS NEEDED AND NEED IT TO BE SPENT. AS THE TREASURER, I AM THE FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO INVESTMENT OFFICER AND BOUND BY THE PRUDENT INVESTOR PRINCIPLES TO ENSURE SAFETY, LIQUIDITY FOR POOL PARTICIPANTS, AND YIELD ON ALL ASSETS HELD IN THE POOL.

MERCED PORTFOLIO IS OVER 2 BILLION, AND SOME COUNTIES HAVE DEEMED IT NECESSARY TO OUTSOURCE THE INVESTMENT OFFICER FUNCTION.

LIKE MADEIRA, SAN MATEO AND OTHERS, WE HAVE ALWAYS COMPLETED THIS INVESTMENT TASK IN-HOUSE TO OUTSOURCE INVESTMENTS AT A COMPETITIVE 6 TO 9 BASIS POINTS FOR OUR $2 BILLION INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO WOULD COST THE POOL AN ESTIMATED 1.2 TO $1.8 MILLION ANNUALLY.

EVEN WITH THE OUTSOURCED INVESTMENT MANAGER, THE TREASURY WOULD STILL HAVE TO COMPLETE THE DURATION FORECASTING AND OTHER CUSTODIAL REPORTING AND RECONCILIATION FUNCTIONS. ALL BUDGET COSTS FOR BOTH THE TREASURY AND INVESTMENT DIVISIONS ARE 100% FUNDED, WITH NO NET COUNTY COST, AND THEREFORE REQUIRE NO

[01:05:03]

JUST THIS MORNING, REAL EARLY, THE MARKETS WERE ACTIVE AT PRE-THANKSGIVING STUFFING EVENT, WHICH HAPPENS OFTEN, AND THIS MORNING THE MARKET IS VERY ACTIVE AND I PURCHASED A FEDERAL.

SHAWN, YOU LIKE THIS A FEDERAL FARM CREDIT BANK SECURITY 20 MILLION.

IT'S A TWO YEAR ONE YEAR AT A 445 NEXT.

ALL RIGHT. SO I'M JUST GOING TO YOU HAVE TWO REPORTS TO APPROVE, BUT I'M GOING TO JUST MERELY GO THROUGH FOUR SLIDES REAL QUICKLY.

RESPECTFULLY. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.

AND YOU'VE HAD SOME WONDERFUL PRESENTATIONS BEFORE ME.

THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30TH, 2024.

AND YOU'LL SEE AT THE TOP THE BOOK VALUE OF THE ASSETS HELD AT $2.196 BILLION.

I'LL JUST NOTE THE THIRD COLUMN DOWN.

ASSETS MATURING WITHIN 90 DAYS IS OVER A HALF $1 BILLION.

THAT WAS ADDED BECAUSE OUR BONDS THAT LISA OF COURSE OVERSEAS THE DEBT SERVICE AND WE WORK DIRECTLY WITH THEM.

STANDARD AND POOR'S OFTEN GOES TO OUR WEB PAGE AND LOOKS AT OUR QUARTERLY INVESTMENT REPORT TO DETERMINE THE LIQUIDITY OF THE PORTFOLIO TO MEET THE POOL PARTICIPANT'S LIQUIDITY NEEDS. AND WE ADDED THAT LINE ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO.

AND S&P AND FITCH BOTH THANKED US VERY MUCH FOR HAVING THAT ON OUR REVIEW PAGE INSTEAD OF THEM DIGGING THROUGH A MASSIVE REPORT.

THE TOTAL EARNINGS FOR THE QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30TH WAS ALMOST $19 MILLION, AND THE TOTAL EARNINGS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR LAST YEAR WAS OVER 66 MILLION.

YOU'LL SEE THE JUNE RETURNS AT 3.65.

AND OF COURSE, THE RATE OF RETURN FOR THE YEAR TO DATE AT 3.23.

YOU SEE THAT THOSE RATES DO INCREASE.

AND OF COURSE, THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE FEDERAL FUND POLICY.

WE HAD OVER 11 YEARS OF ZERO INTEREST RATE ENVIRONMENT.

AND THEN IN 2022, THE FEDS MOVED THAT OVERNIGHT RATE OF FIVE BASIS POINTS TO ABOUT A 4.13 AND THEN TO 2023, THAT RATE WENT FROM LIKE A 4.16 TO A 5.6.

SO WE DO KNOW THAT THE FEDS HAVE HAD TWO CUTS RECENTLY, BUT I'LL TALK LATER ABOUT THE LIKELIHOOD OF POSSIBLY NO MORE CUTS IN THE LAST MEETING OF THE 24, WHICH WOULD BE DECEMBER 18TH.

THE NEXT SLIDE IS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

AND AGAIN, OUR BOOK VALUE IS OVER 2 BILLION, 2 BILLION, 65 MILLION.

AND THE EARNINGS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE YEAR WAS $19 MILLION.

RATE OF RETURN FOR SEPTEMBER.

3.78. AND A RATE OF RETURN FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 3.71.

AND YOU SEE THAT RATE JUST MOVING UPWARDS AND WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE UPWARDS EVEN WITH THE FED POLICY CUTS, BECAUSE WE HAVE A WEIGHTED AVERAGE MATURITY OVER 90 DAYS.

THE NEXT SLIDE JUST BASICALLY ILLUSTRATES THE PERMISSIBLE INVESTMENT TYPES THAT WE'RE ALLOWED TO PURCHASE FOR THE FIXED INCOME INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO.

FIXED INCOME INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS DO NOT ALLOW EQUITY PRODUCTS WHICH ARE YOUR STOCKS.

SO THESE ARE BONDS.

THESE ARE US TREASURY NOTES SUPRANATIONALS WHICH ARE OUR IBIRD WORLD BANK.

THEY FUND THE CLEAN WATER PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

SO THOSE ARE WARM AND FUZZY KIND OF BONDS THAT I LOVE TO BUY.

AND THEN OF COURSE, IT GOES DOWN THE LIST.

MEDIUM TERM NOTES ARE YOUR GOOGLE AND APPLE AND YOUR MICROSOFT THAT ARE MORE PERMISSIBLE.

EVEN JOHN DEERE HAS A RATING THAT IS PERMISSIBLE IN THE PORTFOLIO.

SO WE'RE ALWAYS SEEKING A OR BETTER, WHICH IS OF COURSE A COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENT WITH THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE 53.601.

SO AGAIN, OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND MINE IS THE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PRUDENT INVESTOR.

AND WE WANT TO DIVERSIFY THE PORTFOLIO.

EXCUSE ME. WHY? WHILE MAKING SURE THAT WE REDUCE ANY RISK AS FAR AS DURATION OR CREDIT RISK.

THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS THE POOR PARTICIPANT BREAKDOWN.

YOU'LL SEE THAT THE FIRST TWO BOXES ARE THE COUNTIES AND ONLY THE OPERATING FUNDS.

THE SECOND BOX AT 10% ARE DISCRETIONARY INVESTMENT EARNINGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES.

AND OF COURSE, THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MY OFFICE.

AND THE BUDGET OFFICE FORESEES HOW THOSE DOLLARS WOULD BE SPENT.

SO YOU'LL SEE THAT THE COUNTY TRUST AT 29, THE COUNTY OPERATING AT TEN, THE COLLEGES AT 3%, A LITTLE OVER $50 MILLION.

THE SCHOOLS ARE THE BIG THE BIG GROUP IN THE POOL, ONE POINT OVER $1 BILLION, 1.8 MILLION AT 53% OF THE POOL.

AND THEN OUR SPECIAL DISTRICTS AT 5% OR 94 MILLION.

THE NEXT SLIDE ILLUSTRATES JUST THE QUARTERLY EARNINGS.

[01:10:04]

WHEN I FIRST STARTED YEARS AGO, I TOOK A WHOLE BUNCH OF IBBOTSON DATA AND I SAID, WHAT IS THE OVERNIGHT RATE? BECAUSE WHEN I STARTED THE OVERNIGHT RATE BEFORE THE ASIAN FLU IN 92 WAS A 7.5%.

SO, YOU'D GO IN THE MARKET AND BUY PAPER FOR A DAY AND IT WAS 7.5.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING WHEN WE SAW THOSE RATES DROP.

WHAT IS THE AVERAGE RATE? AND SURPRISING ENOUGH, WHEN I LOOKED AT THE AVERAGE RATE FROM 1929, ALL THAT DATA, IT WAS 3 TO 3.5%.

AND JUST RECENTLY, OF COURSE, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S ALWAYS A NEW NORM.

YOU CAN'T GO HISTORICALLY.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAN CHANGE THAT NEW NORM THAT'S ACCEPTABLE.

BUT I JUST READ A FED POLICY REPORT THAT SAID THEY'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, THE A RATE OF ABOUT 3 TO 3.5%.

SO THAT IS THE TARGET.

THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE.

THAT, OF COURSE, WOULD BRING DOWN THE 30 YEAR SLIGHTLY.

MAYBE 6% WOULD BE THE AVERAGE NORM.

BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE JUST REFLECTIVE OF THE EARNINGS FOR THE QUARTERS, THE PERCENT.

THAT'S A COUNTY. AGAIN, THAT PERCENT INCLUDES SOME NON-DISCRETIONARY DOLLARS FOR ALL OF THE TRUSTS THAT ARE HELD.

AND BASICALLY YOU CAN SEE HOW THE EARNINGS HAVE INCREASED.

SO UNLESS THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS I'LL JUST GO TO THE LAST PAGE.

WE OFTEN HEAR ABOUT THE FEDS, YOU KNOW, FEDERAL RESERVE, THE FEDERAL OPEN MARKET COMMITTEE.

ALL THE SAME, THERE ARE TWO PRONGED MANDATE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT AT 5% AND INFLATION AT TWO.

SO WE'RE THERE OKAY.

WE ALSO WANT OR THEY WANT A 2 TO 3% GDP, PERSONAL CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE AND CPI OUT OF ABOUT 2%.

AND ALL THOSE STARS HAVE BEEN ALIGNING.

AND SO THEY LOOK AT THE MISERY INDEX AT THE BOTTOM LEFT.

AND IT'S AT AN ALL TIME LOW BECAUSE THEY WANT THAT TO BE FROM 6 TO 7%.

WE'RE ABOUT A SIX AND A HALF, SO WE'RE NOT AS MISERABLE AS WE WOULD THINK, ACCORDING TO THE INDEX.

THERE ARE CRITICS THAT SAY THE MISERY INDEX IS REALLY TOO SIMPLISTIC AND DOESN'T ACCOUNT FOR WAGE GROWTH OR INCOME INEQUALITY, AND I AGREE.

BUT ALL OF THE INDICES THAT ARE LOOKED AT BY THE FED GOVERNORS AND ALL POLICYMAKERS REALLY HAVE SOME MIXED OPINIONS ABOUT THEIR VALUE.

IF IT'S EXCLUDING FUEL AND CPI HAS A HEAVIER TILT ON HOUSING, THEY ALL HAVE A MEANING.

BUT WHAT IS THAT MEANING? IT IS A GAUGE. SO WHAT DO I KNOW? I DON'T KNOW, I JUST KNOW WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.

OF SPECIAL NOTE, WHEN INFLATION DOES GO DOWN, IT MEANS THAT THE RATE AT WHICH PRICES INCREASE IS SLOWING DOWN.

IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT PRICES ARE GOING DOWN.

SO WE ALL WANT THAT.

OF COURSE, FOOD INFLATION WAS A HUGE SPIKE IN AGRICULTURAL AND LIVESTOCK PRICING AND A LARGE WAGE INCREASE FOR GROCERY WORKERS DURING AND AFTER COVID.

SO THAT HAD A LITTLE BIT OF PRESSURE ON THE FOOD PRICING.

THE YIELD CURVE AT THE VERY BOTTOM RIGHT, YOU'LL SEE TWO YIELD CURVES, THE ONE FROM SEPTEMBER I COPIED IN AND THE ONE FROM NOVEMBER.

AND YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE'S A FLATTENING.

SO WE'VE ALL HEARD THE INVERTED YIELD CURVE.

THE INVERTED YIELD CURVE MEANS SHORT TERM PRICES ARE PAYING MORE THAN LONG TERM.

SO YOU'RE SEEING THAT 30 YEAR COME UP.

AND ACTUALLY IT'S NOT COMING UP AS MUCH AS THE SHORT END PUSHING DOWN.

SO A YIELD CURVE.

A FLAT YIELD CURVE IS DEFINITELY BETTER THAN AN INVERTED YIELD CURVE.

AND OF COURSE WE WOULD LIKE A NORMAL YIELD CURVE WHICH WOULD MEAN THE SHORT END IS LOWER THAN THE LONG END.

AND WE'LL SEE WHEN WE GET THERE.

AND USUALLY IT STAYS THERE FOR A MOMENT.

YOU KNOW, DON'T BLINK.

IT MIGHT MOVE. SO BASICALLY TODAY'S THREE MONTH.

I JUST LOOKED AT IT.

UPDATED AT NINE.

09:00 BEFORE I CAME OVER HERE.

THE THREE MONTH IS AT A 451, THE FIVE YEAR IS AT 422, AND THE 30 YEAR IS AT A 449.

SO THE 30 YEAR IS PAYING THREE BASIS POINTS LESS THAN THE THREE MONTH TODAY.

AND BASICALLY THAT'S HOW IT HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS.

YOU KNOW, A SLIGHT INVERSION.

THERE ARE MIXED OPINIONS.

IF THE FEDS WILL CUT ON DECEMBER 18TH MORE THAN LIKELY NOT, ESPECIALLY AFTER GOVERNOR POWELL'S STATEMENT, THE ECONOMY IS NOT SENDING ANY SIGNALS THAT WE NEED TO BE IN A HURRY TO LOWER RATES.

THE STRENGTH WE ARE SEEING IN THE ECONOMY GIVES US THE ABILITY TO APPROACH OUR DECISIONS CAREFULLY.

HIS COMMENTS WERE WIDELY SEEN AS POTENTIALLY FEWER CUTS IN 2025.

SO INITIALLY THE ECONOMISTS AND THE FORECASTERS ARE SAYING 2025 WILL HAVE FOUR INTEREST RATE CUTS.

NOW THEY'RE SAYING YEAH TWO.

TWO. BUT AGAIN WE'LL JUST WE'LL BE THERE WHEN IT HAPPENS.

RIGHT. JUST A FEW OTHER FACTS.

[01:15:03]

AND ABOUT TEN, 12 YEARS AGO, NEWSWEEK HAD A BIG ARTICLE.

THE US HAS BEEN THE MOST POWERFUL ECONOMIC FORCE IN THE LAST 20 YEARS.

WHO'S THE NEXT BIG, YOU KNOW, ECONOMIC LEADER IN THE WORLD? AND THEY THOUGHT INDIA OR CHINA? WELL, INDIA FELL OUT OF THAT GAME REAL FAST AND CHINA HAS NOT APPROACHED US.

AND SO WHAT'S REALLY A POWERFUL MESSAGE IS THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WORLD BASKET, THE ENTIRE WORLD BASKET OF GDP, THE UNITED STATES IS A QUARTER OF IT, 25% IS THE UNITED STATES.

SO WE ARE THE ECONOMIC LEADER IN THE WORLD.

IT IS OUR HOPE TO STAY IN THAT POSITION.

AND YOU KNOW, BEING A GLOBAL MARKET AND HAVING A RECIPIENT OF DIRECT INVESTMENT HAS HELPED THE PRICE OF WHAT THE US EXPORTS HAS RISEN MORE THAN THE PRICE OF WHAT IT IMPORTS.

SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? YES, WE HAVE A TRADE DEFICIT.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THE TRADE DEFICIT.

WHAT WE EXPORT BRINGS HIGHER PRICES THAN WHAT WE'RE IMPORTING.

WE'RE EXPORTING GOODS AND WE'RE IMPORTING ALL THOSE LITTLE CHINESE LITTLE TOYS FOR $0.20.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A POWERFUL NOTION WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT THE TRADE DEFICIT.

KNOW THAT WE'RE EXPORTING AT LARGER DOLLARS.

WE CONTINUE TO INNOVATE AS SEEN IN BIG STOCKS.

AND OF COURSE, THE AI INNOVATION.

WHAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING LAST MONTH.

AND POOR SCOTT HAS TO HEAR ME DO A LOT OF RHETORIC WHEN I GO THROUGH THE REPORT.

SO I'VE BEEN KIND TO YOU GUYS TODAY, BUT I THOUGHT WAS WHAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING, THEY NAMED THE FOUR COUNTRIES THAT ARE THE MOST INNOVATIVE COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD.

SO I'M THINKING US, RIGHT? I MEAN, NUMBER ONE.

RIGHT. SWEDEN, SWITZERLAND.

THE US AND BRITAIN.

SO INTERESTING.

BUT WE DO HAVE A REINVIGORATED, INNOVATIVE SPIRIT IN THE US.

AND THAT HAS BEEN SEEN WITH THE RECENT STARTUPS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE AI AND TECHNOLOGY.

SO FUN FACT HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND WHAT ARE YOUR PRICES FOR THANKSGIVING? PRICES PAID FOR UNCOOKED PRODUCE, INCLUDING TURKEY, WERE 3.9% CHEAPER THIS OCTOBER THAN LAST OCTOBER.

IT DOESN'T INCLUDE CHICKEN, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.

BUT POTATO PRICES FELL 1.5% FROM LAST YEAR AND ARE NOW 4.8% LOWER THAN 2022.

SO, IF YOU HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO WANT MASHED POTATOES AND ALL GOTTEN ALL ROTTEN, IT'S EASIER TO DO.

YOU CAN HIT THAT IN YOUR BUDGET, BUT THOSE ARE JUST SOME INTERESTING FACTS THAT CAME IN ON SOME OF THESE FINANCIAL NEWS SOURCES THAT I GET THIS MORNING, AND I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE. I JUST ALSO WANT TO FIRST OF ALL, OF COURSE, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR APPROVING THE 2025 INVESTMENT POLICY.

AND OF COURSE, THIS IS YOU KNOW, WHAT WE DO.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE CONCENTRATING ON THE SAFETY, THE PRUDENT PRINCIPLE, AGAIN, THE COLLATERALIZATION AND THE PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS.

AND THEN IN CONCLUSION, I WOULD JUST SAY OUR NEXT MEETING, WE WOULD WELCOME ANYONE WHO WANTS TO ATTEND.

IT IS THE TREASURY INVESTMENT COMMITTEE MEETING THAT WILL BE HELD JANUARY 28TH, 2025, AND IT WILL BE FOR THE QUARTER ENDING DECEMBER 31ST.

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

I'M GRATEFUL. AND EVERYONE PLEASE ENJOY THOSE TURKEY.

AND DON'T FORGET TO PAY YOUR TAXES.

ALL RIGHT. SO ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, KIM, FOR THAT GOOD REPORT.

THANK YOU. ANY COMMENTS? I JUST I APPRECIATE YOU GIVING THOSE FACTS THAT TURKEY IS CHEAPER THIS YEAR THAN IT WAS LAST YEAR.

AND POTATOES ARE CHEAPER, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO LOOK AT 2021.

HOW MUCH. YEAH HOW MUCH THEY WENT UP THE YEAR BEFORE.

SO JUST LIKE YOU SAID, WHEN INFLATION JUST MEANS THE PRICES AREN'T GOING UP AS FAST WHEN INFLATION DECREASES BUT PRICES AREN'T NECESSARILY GOING DOWN.

AGREE. SO IT'S STILL A LOT OF MONEY TO BUY A TURKEY.

YEAH. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT I DON'T SEE NO SUPERVISORS' COMMENTS.

LET'S OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE TREASURER TAX COLLECTOR, ITEM NUMBER 38.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

AT THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR TREASURER TAX COLLECTOR, ITEM 38 IS NOW CLOSED.

THANK YOU, KAREN. THANK YOU.

SO ANY MOTIONS TO APPROVE? SECOND. SECOND. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

FIRST AND SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY NOS.

NO. MOTION PASSES.

NEXT, WE HAVE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ITEMS 39 THROUGH 42.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ITEMS 39 THROUGH 42.

[01:20:08]

OR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS COMMENTS? IS FOR ITEMS 3942 IS NOW CLOSED.

ANY I WAS ACTUALLY I HAVE.

OH, GO AHEAD.

SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. I MEAN MCDANIEL.

YEAH. THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER 42.

THE ATWATER VETERAN'S ORGANIZATION HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB WITH THE VETERANS BUILDING THERE IN THE CITY OF ATWATER.

I WOULD ASK ANYBODY TO COME AND SEE IT.

THIS LAST PROJECT WAS REDOING THE LANDSCAPE OUT IN THE FRONT, AND THE FRONT NOW LOOKS AS NICE AS THE INSIDE.

AND SO IT'S ACTUALLY MORE TO COME.

SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THE GOOD WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING.

I KNOW WE HAD A LITTLE ROUGH SPOT THERE.

WHENEVER THEY'RE THE VFW CHAPTER WAS PULLED.

BUT THESE GUYS, THE LOCAL VETERANS AND ATWATER ALL STEPPED UP, FORMED THEIR OWN ORGANIZATION, HAVE TAKEN IT TO ALL NEW LEVELS.

SO I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ONE.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

YES. THANK YOU. I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT NUMBER 41, WHICH IS UTILIZING $15,000 OF DISTRICT TWO'S PROJECT FUNDS.

THIS IS FOR GRAFFITI ABATEMENT SERVICES WITH THE COMPANY THAT I HEARD ABOUT FROM SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

THEY'VE ALREADY DONE SOME WORK ON CAMPUS PARKWAY, WHICH LOOKS THEY'RE REALLY QUICK AND VERY EFFICIENT.

SO I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.

OKAY. WAS THAT A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA? FIRST. RIGHT. FIRST AND SECOND MCDANIEL WAS THERE A SECOND.

SECOND OKAY.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO.

NOW WE HAVE BOARD APPOINTMENTS.

ITEMS 43 THROUGH 45.

AT THIS TIME, WE'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BOARD APPOINTMENT ITEMS 43 TO 45.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? I SEE NONE SO PUBLIC COME HERE FOR PROPONENTS OF 43 TO 45.

IS NOW CLOSED. I HAVE A COMMENT ON 44 AND 45.

I HAD TWO MEMBERS OF THE ONE IS THE PLANADA MAC.

THAT GENTLEMAN DID NOT ATTEND THE LAST 4 OR 5 MEETINGS.

AND SO I'VE BEEN ASKED BY THE MAC TO REAPPOINT SOMEBODY ELSE.

AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THIS PERSON ON THERE TO REPLACE A MEMBER ON THE PLANADA MAC.

AND ALSO AS THE SAME THING FOR THE COMMITTEE OF SANTANELLA THE REMOVAL OF ONE PERSON THAT HASN'T ATTENDED.

I DON'T THINK IT ATTENDED ANY OF THE MEETINGS THE LAST SIX MONTHS.

SO IT WAS I WAS AT THE SAME THING TO APPOINT SOMEBODY ELSE AND THAT'S WHAT'S ON THE BOARD APPOINTMENTS.

SO I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.

GO AHEAD. NO, I ACTUALLY I WANT TO COMMEND YOU ON YOU KNOW, AS WE'VE, MAX USED TO BE, I DON'T HAVE ANY IN MY DISTRICT BUT THERE SOME OF THESE MAX WOULD HAVE WHAT, SEVEN AND NINE MEMBERS.

AND THEN IT GETS CHALLENGING TO GET FOLKS TO SHOW UP TO MEETINGS.

SO THEN THEY CAN'T HAVE MEETINGS, THEY DON'T HAVE QUORUMS. SO WE'VE REDUCED THOSE IN A LOT OF CASES DOWN TO FIVE MEMBERS.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN WE'RE APPOINTING PEOPLE TO THESE POSITIONS THAT THEY ACTUALLY SHOW UP.

BECAUSE NOW WITH THE FIVE PERSON BOARD, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED AT LEAST THREE PEOPLE TO SHOW UP TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A CONDUCT BUSINESS.

AND SO IF PEOPLE AREN'T MAKING THOSE REQUIREMENTS AND MISSING FOUR, THREE, FOUR MEETINGS IN A ROW, IT'S MAYBE TIME TO REMOVE THOSE FOLKS AND PUT PEOPLE ON THAT ACTUALLY WANT TO PUT IN THE TIME FOR THESE VOLUNTEER POSITIONS.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. YEAH.

AND TO ADD TO THAT, SEVERAL OF THE MAX.

I WAS ASKED TO REDUCE IT FROM 7 TO 5.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE SAME WORDS BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT MEETING IN A QUORUM.

AND SO IT'S A LOT EASIER.

SOMETIMES YOU GO TO THE MAX AND, YOU KNOW, ONLY 1 OR 2 PEOPLE WILL SHOW UP.

SO IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET THAT STUFF DONE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE COUNTY HAS PRESENTATIONS AND THAT THEY CAN'T MOVE FORWARD WITH THEIR APPROVAL OF THOSE ITEMS. SO, WITH THAT, ANY MOTIONS MOVE TO APPROVE FOR A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEREZ.

SECOND. SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

NEXT, WE HAVE THREE SCHEDULED ITEMS.

[SCHEDULED ITEMS]

TREASURE TAX COLLECTOR.

PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER PROPOSED ORDINANCE ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 5.56 OF THE MERCED COUNTY CODE ENTITLED TREASURE TAX COLLECTOR FEE SCHEDULE.

OKAY. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THE TREASURE TAX COLLECTOR FEE SCHEDULE.

A PUBLIC HEARING? YEAH.

SO I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 1123 FOR A PUBLIC COMMENT.

I SEE NO PUBLIC COMMENT.

SO WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND WE'LL MOVE FURTHER COMMENTS.

CHANCELLOR, A MOTION TO APPROVE.

[01:25:04]

IS THERE A SECOND? PAREIRA SECOND.

PAREIRA SECOND.

OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

NEXT, WE HAVE COMMUNITY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER EXTENSION APPLICATION NUMBER EXT 24-006 TO MAJOR SUBDIVISION NUMBER MAS 04-014. KNOWN AS LAKEVIEW PROPERTIES IN THE SNELLING RURAL CENTER.

OUR COMMENTS FROM PODIUM STEVE MAXEY.

YES, SIR. GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, STEVE MAXEY, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE COUNTY.

I WANTED TO ASK MIKE IF HE COULD PULL UP MY ORG CHART BEFORE I GET STARTED WITH MY PRESENTATION.

I'M JUST KIDDING. I'M JUST KIDDING.

NO. THIS IS JUST REVIEW.

THIS IS EXTENSION NUMBER 24-0062, MAJOR SUBDIVISION.

04014 FOR LAKEVIEW PROPERTIES.

THE APPLICANTS HERE ARE PATRICIA BARNES AND AVITUS TER-POGOSIAN.

THE APPLICANTS ARE REQUESTING A 12 MONTH EXTENSION TO THE LIFE OF THE EXISTING TENTATIVE MAP FOR THIS PROJECT.

REALLY? TO ALLOW FOR MORE TIME FOR TRANSFER OF THE PROPERTY THAT'S ALREADY UNDERWAY.

AND SOME OUTSTANDING ACTIONS THAT RELATE TO OBTAINING A NEW CANON WILL SERVE LETTER FROM THE SNELLING COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT.

PROPERTY ITSELF IS LOCATED AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF EAST MERCED FALLS ROAD AND NORTH LAGRANGE ROAD IN THE SNELLING AREA, AND THE MAP ITSELF EXISTS TO DIVIDE A 5058 ACRE PROPERTY INTO 35 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOTS.

A NINE ACRE PASSIVE RECREATION AREA AND AN EIGHT ACRE REMAINDER PARCEL PROJECT SITE ITSELF IS DESIGNATED VERY LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AND GENERAL COMMERCIAL IN THE COUNTY'S GENERAL PLAN, AND IS ZONED R-1 OR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL AND C-2 OR GENERAL COMMERCIAL.

AND SO THIS ACTION AND THE RELATED MAP CAN BE FOUND CONSISTENT WITH THESE USES.

THIS DISCRETIONARY EXTENSION, IF APPROVED, WOULD LEAVE FOUR MORE YEARS REMAINING OF DISCRETIONARY EXTENSIONS ON THE MAP, MEANING IT COULD BE EXTENDED FOUR MORE TIMES EACH FOR A PERIOD OF YEAR OR MULTIPLE YEARS IF THE BOARD SO CHOSE.

THE REASON THIS IS IN FRONT OF THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL, THIS WOULD NORMALLY BE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION, IS BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL SUBDIVISION MAP WAS APPROVED AT THE BOARD LEVEL.

THIS EXTENSION WAS CONSIDERED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION AT ITS OCTOBER 23RD, 2024 PUBLIC HEARING, WHERE THE COMMISSION DID RECOMMEND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVE THIS ACTION. AND SO THERE ARE THREE ACTIONS IN FRONT OF THE BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION TODAY.

FIRST IS TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM.

AND THEN DETERMINE THAT NO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 15162 OF THE CEQA GUIDELINES BASED ON THE ATTACHED CEQA GUIDELINES AND TO THE STAFF REPORT, AND THE FINDINGS AND FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS THAT ARE ATTACHED TO THAT STAFF REPORT.

AND THEN THIRD, TO APPROVE EXTENSION APPLICATION NUMBER 24-006, BASED ON THE FINDINGS IN THE STAFF REPORT AND IN FRONT OF THE BOARD TODAY.

WITH THAT, I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

OKAY. SO I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ACCEPT THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

ANY COMMENTS? I SEE NONE. SO, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 11:27.

ANY COMMENTS BY THE BOARD OR MOTIONS? MOTION TO APPROVE.

I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

TO MENTION THE ENVIRONMENTAL.

SCOTT, CAN YOU MENTION AN ENVIRONMENTAL? MICROPHONE OUT HERE. RECOMMENDED ACTION IS FIND THAT THERE'S NO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS ARE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 15.162. THE SUBSEQUENT EIR IS A NEGATIVE DECLARATION OF THE CEQA GUIDELINES BASED ON THE FINDINGS INCLUDED IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF REPORT DATED OCTOBER 23RD, 2024, AND ALSO APPROVE THE EXTENSION APPLICATION NUMBER XT 24-006 TO MAJOR SUBDIVISION NUMBER MAS-0401 FOR LAKEVIEW PROPERTIES.

BASED ON THE FINDINGS INCLUDED IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF REPORT DATED OCTOBER 23RD, 2024.

I'LL SECOND. OKAY, SO FIRST BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

SECOND SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

NOW WE HAVE A COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE APPROVING DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT NUMBER DA 23-003 FOR MAJOR SUBDIVISION NUMBER MAS 06-008, KNOWN AS WYNN RANCH IN THE WINTON AREA.

GO AHEAD. GOOD MORNING ONCE AGAIN.

THIS IS DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT NUMBER DA 23-002 FOR MAJOR SUBDIVISION MAS 06-008.

THIS DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WOULD CREATE VESTED RIGHTS AND PROJECT APPROVALS, ADDRESS IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT AND THE ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS IN

[01:30:09]

THIS MAJOR SUBDIVISION NUMBER, MA 0006-008, WAS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS BACK ON JUNE 26TH OF 2007. IT SUBDIVIDES 35 ACRES INTO 142 RESIDENTIAL LOTS AND A ONE ACRE COMMERCIAL PARCEL AND A STORM DRAINAGE LOT.

PROJECT SITE ITSELF IS LOCATED EAST OF THE INTERSECTION OF WINTON WAY AND MANOR AVENUE IN WINTON AND THE ACTION WOULD NOT MODIFY THAT APPROVED MAP ANY OF THE UNDERLYING LAND USE OR ZONING, OR GENERATE ANY NEW ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS.

THIS MAJOR SUBDIVISION HAS BEEN EXTENDED BY THE BOARD IN THE PAST, JUST LIKE THE PREVIOUS ITEM, BUT MOST RECENTLY, THE WINTON WATER AND SANITARY DISTRICT HAS HAD SOME ISSUES WITH REALLY WATER SUPPLY AND PLANNING FOR WATER SUPPLY IMPROVEMENTS, EVEN GOING SO FAR AS TO ESTABLISH A MORATORIUM ON NEW WATER SERVICE CONNECTIONS. SO IN THIS INSTANCE, THAT JEOPARDIZES THE ABILITY OF THIS SUBDIVISION TO BE BUILT OUT WITHOUT FURTHER EXTENSIONS, WITH NO FURTHER DISCRETIONARY EXTENSIONS REMAINING, THIS DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IS REALLY THE BEST MECHANISM TO ALLOW THE SUBDIVISION TO CONTINUE TO PERSIST AND THEN CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE DISTRICT TO ADDRESS THE WATER SUPPLY ISSUES ARE REALLY TO WAIT FOR THE DISTRICT TO ADDRESS THEIR WATER SUPPLY ISSUES.

PLANNING COMMISSION HEARD THIS ITEM BACK ON ITS REGULAR MEETING OF NOVEMBER 6TH, WHERE IT VOTED TO RECOMMEND BOARD OF BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVAL OF THE ITEM. SO HERE AGAIN WE HAVE THREE ITEMS FOR THE BOARD'S CONSIDERATION.

ONE IS TO HOLD THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM.

DETERMINE THAT NO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 15162 AND THEN ADOPT THE ORDINANCE IN THIS CASE ADOPTING THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT NUMBER DA 23-002.

I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

NOW, WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? GOOD MORNING, NORMAN ISLANDERS FAGUNDES DAIRY 1978 BUSINESS PARKWAY.

AND HERE TODAY IS TONY FAGUNDES AS WELL.

SO STEVE GAVE A GREAT EXPLANATION.

BUT IT NOT BE FOR THE WATER SUPPLY SITUATION.

WE'D ACTUALLY BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

WE WERE HAD A BUILDER AND PRETTY FAR DOWN THE LINE, AND MY BOSSES WEREN'T THAT HAPPY WITH ME WHEN THEY FOUND OUT WE COULDN'T GET WATER.

SO AT ANY RATE, THANKS TO THE STAFF, THANKS TO YOU FOLKS FOR BEING PATIENT.

IT'S A GREAT INFILL PROJECT.

THE WATER DISTRICT LIKES THE PROJECT.

IT'S JUST AN ISSUE WITH THAT. SO WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, SIR. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? OKAY. I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 11:32 AND WE'LL MOVE FROM MOTIONS, CHAIR.

I WOULD MAKE THE MOTION TO DETERMINE NO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 15162, SUBSEQUENT EIRS AND NEGATIVE DECLARATIONS OF THE SECRET GUIDELINES. BASED ON THE FINDINGS INCLUDED IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF REPORT DATED NOVEMBER 6TH, 2024, AND ADOPT THE ORDINANCE TO ADOPT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT NUMBER DA 23-002.

BASED ON THE FINDINGS INCLUDED IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF REPORT DATED NOVEMBER 6TH, 2024.

ALL RIGHT. I HAVE A MOTION TO SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

A SECOND. I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION.

SECOND. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO.

ONE ABSTENTION. OH.

ONE ABSTENTION. I'M SORRY.

4 TO 1 WITH A 4-0-1 ABSTENTION.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

AND NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO BOARD REPORTS, GSA AGENDA FOR THE BOARD REPORTS.

[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION]

DELTA MENDOTA.

THERE IS ONE ITEM ON THIS AGENDA CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM NUMBER ONE, AS SUBMITTED BY COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AT THIS TIME, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BOTH NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND THE AGENDA ITEM.

AS A REMINDER OF THE NON-AGENDA, PUBLIC COMMENT MUST BE REGARDING ITEMS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AS THE COUNTY OF MERCED.

GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY AND DELTA MENDOTA.

TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED.

ANY MOTIONS OR COMMENTS BY THE BOARD? CHAIR SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE BOARD.

CHAIR TO SIGN THE AMENDED AND REINSTATED COST SHARING AGREEMENT AMONG THE DELTA MENDOTA GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCIES ON BEHALF OF THE MERCED COUNTY DELTA MENDOTA GSA.

OKAY. MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

SECOND. SUPERVISOR.

I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION.

[01:35:01]

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

I WILL NOW ADJOURN THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY MERCED GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY, DELTA MENDOTA.

AND RECONVENE AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO BOARD REPORTS.

THIS TIME WE WILL HAVE BOARD REPORTS STATING STARTING SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

THANK YOU.

SINCE THE LAST MEETING, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE VETERANS DAY PARADE.

AND I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT STAYED OUT IN THE CROWD.

BEING THAT THE WEATHER WAS BAD.

I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE OPENING AND CLOSING CEREMONIES OF THE FIELD OF HONOR BUT ALSO GET TO TAKE MY SON'S EIGHTH GRADE CLASS TO THE FIELD OF HONOR.

AND THE.

I CAN'T EXPRESS ENOUGH HOW LUCKY WE ARE FOR THE MERCED SUNRISE ROTARY TO PUT THAT ON FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO CELEBRATE AND HONOR OUR VETERANS.

I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPRESSIVE.

I ALSO ATTENDED LAST WEEK WITH MY COLLEAGUES, THE CSAC, CALIFORNIA STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES ANNUAL MEETING.

AND WITH THAT, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO WISH EVERYBODY A HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I TOO DID WITH MY COLLEAGUES ATTEND THE CSAC CONFERENCE LAST WEEK.

LIKE I STATED DURING THE PRESENTATION I SAY ONE AS A BOARD AND OUR MEMBERSHIP IN THERE, WE'VE REALLY BEEN FIGHTING. IT'S ALMOST BEEN FOR FOUR YEARS THE SEPARATE AG FROM NATURAL RESOURCES IN A COMMITTEE.

IT SEEMS TO GET VERY COMBINED, AND WE CAN'T HAVE GOOD, FRUITFUL CONVERSATIONS REGARDING AG AND WATER ON ITS OWN WHEN WE HAVE A BUNCH OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE FOLKS IN THERE WITH US.

THEY WON'T LISTEN, BUT THEY TRY TO HOG UP ALL THE TIME.

BUT AT THIS TIME I DO HAVE TO GIVE SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA FOR HIS MEMBERSHIP ON THE BOARD AND TAKING IT TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AS WELL AS THE BOARD COMMITTEES TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

WHEN I WAS THE VICE CHAIR OF AG, WE REALLY STRUGGLED WITH IT.

WE WE ACTUALLY WERE VERY AG FOCUSED AND TOOK A LOT OF BACKLASH ON IT, BUT WE COULD FILL A ROOM AT THESE CONFERENCES WITH EVERYBODY THERE WITH CONTROVERSIAL CONVERSATIONS THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY HAVE IN THESE COMMITTEES.

AND SINCE I WAS REMOVED FROM THAT COMMITTEE, IT HAS GONE BACK TO THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD FOR THESE LAST TWO YEARS.

SO HOPEFULLY WE'VE GOT SOME TRACTION THIS YEAR MOVING FORWARD IN THE NEXT YEAR, BECAUSE AGRICULTURE NEEDS A VOICE IN CALIFORNIA BECAUSE CURRENTLY, WE DON'T HAVE ONE AND WE'RE REALLY FIGHTING TO KEEP THAT GOING.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

YEAH. I TOO ATTENDED CSAC AND THE VETERANS DAY PARADE HERE IN MERCED.

I COULD SAY THAT HAD THE TIMING BEEN A LITTLE BIT BETTER, WE WOULD PROBABLY MOST OF US WOULD HAVE MADE IT THROUGH THE PARADE BEFORE THE HURRICANE, DUST STORM, RAINSTORM THAT CAME IN. BUT I, TOO, WAS IMPRESSED WITH WELL, FIRST OFF, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR FRIENDS AT CAL FIRE THAT PROVIDED US THE TRANSPORTATION DURING THE PARADE, AND I KNEW THAT THEY HAD SOME WET AND DIRTY RIGS THAT THEY HAD TO CLEAN UP AFTER WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT.

SO THANK YOU TO THEM. BUT THANK YOU TO THE FOLKS THAT ALONG MAIN STREET HERE, ANYWHERE THAT THERE WAS AN AWNING OR A COVER, THERE WAS PLENTY OF PEOPLE THAT STILL STAYED OUT THERE. SO KUDOS TO THEM TO HONOR OUR VETERANS THAT WAY.

SO, I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

I WAS I WANT TO THANK ALL MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR SUPPORT.

SO IN THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, WE'RE PART OF THE SUBURBAN CAUCUS, AND THERE'S THREE GROUPINGS WITHIN THE SUBURBAN CAUCUS.

AND DUE TO JUST KIND OF A ONCE IN A GENERATIONAL TIMING WISE, WE WERE ABLE TO AT OUR LEDGE CONFERENCE, CHANGE THE MAKEUP OF OUR GROUPS ON THERE AND, AND MADE REALLY ONE A VALLEY CENTRIC GROUP.

SO ALL OF THE SUBURBAN VALLEY COUNTIES ARE IN THIS GROUP NOW.

AND THEN IMPERIAL HAD TO GO SOMEWHERE.

SO THEY ALIGN WITH US AS IN THE CENTER, BUT THEY'RE ALL THE WAY AT THE BOTTOM ANYHOW.

I WAS ABLE TO SECURE THE A PERMANENT SPOT NOT PERMANENT, BUT A VOTING MEMBER ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

WHEREAS IN YEARS PAST I'VE BEEN THE ALTERNATE, AND I WOULD ONLY BE ABLE TO VOTE IF ONE OF THE CURRENT SITTING MEMBERS WASN'T THERE.

SO I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR REALLY, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE RUNNING LIKE A MINI ELECTION.

YOU'RE HAVING TO THERE'S NO YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE TALKING WITH ALL THE SUPERVISORS IN THE SUBURBAN CAUCUS TO BE ABLE TO GET THE SUPPORT, TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT OUR GROUP.

AND SO AS WE DISCUSSED OUR WATER, IT'S AG AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE AND THEY'RE DOING GOOD WORK.

I DON'T WANT TO TAKE THAT AWAY.

BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN THE THERE'S A BIG CHALLENGE IN THIS STATE RIGHT NOW WITH INSURANCE FOR FOLKS THAT LIVE IN WILDFIRE PRONE AREAS, AND IT JUST IT SUCKS UP SO MUCH OXYGEN OUT OF THE ROOM THAT THESE AG ISSUES KIND OF THEY'RE STILL OUT THERE, BUT THEY DON'T GET THE ATTENTION THAT I THINK THAT LIKE OUR VALLEY DELEGATES, WHO, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS SAW EARLIER OUR AG REPORT AND HOW IMPORTANT WE A ROLE WE PLAY NOT ONLY IN, IN THIS STATE, BUT IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN THIS WORLD.

[01:40:09]

AND SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE HOW THAT WORKS OUT.

WE HAVE A MEETING COMING UP HERE IN A COUPLE MONTHS, WHERE I'LL CONTINUE THAT EFFORT TO TRY TO HAVE AG AND WATER BE ITS OWN SEPARATE LANE FROM NATURAL RESOURCES.

SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT OPPORTUNITY.

AND I FEEL LIKE THE WINDS OF CHANGE ARE COMING.

THAT'S WHAT I FEEL LIKE IN, IN THE STATE AND IN AND IN OUR COUNTY.

AND SO I'M EXCITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES.

AND I WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY A HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

AND WE'LL TALK SOON.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

YEAH. IT WAS I ATTENDED THE CSAC CONFERENCE LAST WEEK, AND IT WAS REALLY FRUSTRATING TO COME FROM AN AREA WHERE WATER AND ENERGY IS SO IMPORTANT TO US AND IT REALLY DIDN'T MAKE THE AGENDA.

WE TALKED ABOUT ALL NATURAL RESOURCE ISSUES AND LIKE SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SAID, VERY IMPORTANT, BUT DON'T AFFECT US AS MUCH.

AND, YOU KNOW, I AS I TALKED TO PEOPLE, RIGHT.

THEY'RE LIKE, WELL, AIG'S NOT THAT IMPORTANT.

RIGHT. AND YOU KNOW, FOR MERCED COUNTY, IF AG WERE TO GO AWAY, WE'D PROBABLY HAVE MAYBE FIVE DEPARTMENTS OF OUR 17 SURVIVE.

RIGHT. IT WOULD BE.

IT WOULD BE OFFICER OR SHERIFF FIRE.

WE WOULD HAVE PROBABLY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND HRSA AND YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT HRSA REALLY DOES, BUT THAT'S OUR THAT'S OUR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE DEPARTMENT.

THAT'D BE ALL WE'D REALLY HAVE LEFT.

AND SO IT'S KIND OF SAD THAT THAT OTHERS IN THE STATE DON'T FEEL LIKE WE DO.

AND WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA REPRESENTING THE VALLEY ON, ON THE EXECUTIVE BOARD BECAUSE HE GETS IT.

AND NOT ONLY THAT, FOR SOME REASON HE CAN TALK TO THE FOLKS THAT DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT AG OR CARE ABOUT THE VALLEY AND GET THEM TO LISTEN.

SO I THINK THAT'S A COMBINATION THAT WE'RE REAL FORTUNATE TO HAVE REPRESENT US TO THE VEGANS.

YEAH. AND ANYWAYS THAT'S THE PEOPLE THAT DON'T EAT EGGS.

BUT ANYWAYS I TOO ATTENDED A VETERANS DAY PARADE.

IT WAS IN GUSTINE.

AND I THINK IT WAS UNFORTUNATE THAT THE TIMING OF THE COUNTY'S PARADE HERE IN MERCED WAS AT THE SAME TIME.

SO HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR WE WON'T START AT 11:00 EITHER START EARLIER OR LATER AS WE HAVE IN YEARS PAST.

SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT NO DISRESPECT TO OUR VETERANS HERE IN MERCED.

I DIDN'T ATTEND, BUT I WAS ATTENDING A VETERANS PARADE IN MY DISTRICT.

AND SO ANYWAYS, WITH THAT, I'M DONE.

THANKS. THANK YOU.

FORREST COUNTY COUNCIL.

NOTHING. OKAY.

RAUL MENDEZ. MISTER CHAIR, JUST VERY BRIEFLY.

I ALSO WANTED TO EXTEND KIND OF JUST WISH EVERYBODY A NICE THANKSGIVING DURING THE UPCOMING HOLIDAY.

OBVIOUSLY, THIS WEEK I THINK WE AS AN ORGANIZATION HAVE A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR STEADY LEADERSHIP AMONGST THIS BOARD, A GREAT STAFF, AS EVIDENCED BY SOME OF THE PRESENTATIONS THAT WERE MADE TODAY, THIS MORNING, VERY INFORMATIVE, VERY THOROUGH.

AND THEN YOU LOOK IN THE AUDIENCE AND YOU ALSO SEE OUR PARTNERS.

SO WE DON'T DO THIS ALONE.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF WISH EVERYBODY A NICE THANKSGIVING.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

AND FOR ME I ALSO ATTENDED THE ANNUAL CSA CONFERENCE.

AND I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE SCOTT SILVERA FOR BEING APPOINTED TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AGAIN.

SO CONGRATULATIONS, SIR.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I RECEIVED A DEPARTING GIFT FROM THE LATINO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS COMMITTEE, CAUCUS FROM DEPARTING THAT COMMITTEE AND AS WELL AS SUPERVISOR AND ALSO I RECEIVED ANOTHER ONE FROM THE SAN JOAQUIN JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY, WHICH HAVE BEEN THERE FROM 2014 TO THE PRESENT.

SO, THAT WAS A VERY NICE BILL, AND THAT'S A VERY NICE GIFT.

AND ALSO, I WANT TO THANK THE RESIDENTS OF LIVINGSTON AND DISTRICT FOUR OF MCO.

THE ELECTION IS NOT OVER.

SO I WANT TO I DON'T WANT TO SAY LIKE I SAID, IT'S OVER.

SO I'LL JUST WAIT FOR THE FINAL RESULTS, WHICH HOPEFULLY WILL BE THIS WEEK.

I KNOW EVERYBODY'S WAITING AND THERE'S MANY A FEW OTHER RACES THAT ARE STILL PENDING, SO WE'LL SEE ABOUT THAT.

SO HOPEFULLY BY DECEMBER 10TH IT WILL BE SETTLED.

SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY A HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

AND WITH THAT, THIS CONCLUDES THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING OF NOVEMBER 26TH.

OUR NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD OF SUPERVISOR MEETINGS WILL BE HELD AT 6 P.M.

ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10TH.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD AT THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES AUDITORIUM, LOCATED AT 301 EAST 13TH STREET HERE IN MERCED.

SO, THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD DAY.

YES.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.