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[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:07]

GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY, FIRST OF ALL FOR BEING HERE.

WE HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST FROM OUR SISTER CITY OF XINHUA, CHINA, RIGHT? IN INNER MONGOLIA, RIGHT? SO IT'S A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE, AND OF COURSE, WITH THE PUBLIC, WE HAVE A FULL HOUSE.

SO LET ME JUST GO AHEAD AND START IT.

GOOD MORNING, AND WELCOME TO THE DECEMBER 17TH, 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 STACY COOLEY, AND THEN SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA WILL LEAD THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

IF YOU CAN, PLEASE STAND.

GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR THE HONOR OF SHARING THE INVOCATION.

SINCE THIS IS OUR LAST BOARD MEETING OF THE YEAR AND A SPECIAL TIME OF THE YEAR, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL INDULGE ME IN SHARING JUST A BRIEF LITTLE STORY.

THIS COMES FROM THE BIBLE IN LUKE CHAPTER TWO, VERSES ONE THROUGH 20.

IN THOSE DAYS, CAESAR AUGUSTUS ISSUED A DECREE THAT A CENSUS SHOULD BE TAKEN OF THE ENTIRE ROMAN WORLD, AND EVERYONE WENT TO THEIR OWN TOWN TO REGISTER.

SO JOSEPH WENT UP FROM THE TOWN OF NAZARETH IN GALILEE TO JUDEA, TO BETHLEHEM, THE TOWN OF DAVID, BECAUSE HE WAS BECAUSE HE BELONGED TO THE HOUSE AND LINE OF DAVID.

HE WENT THERE TO REGISTER WITH MARY, WHO WAS PLEDGED TO BE MARRIED TO HIM, AND WAS EXPECTING A CHILD.

WHILE THEY WERE THERE.

THE TIME CAME FOR THE BABY TO BE BORN, AND SHE GAVE BIRTH TO HER FIRST BORN SON.

SHE WRAPPED HIM IN CLOTHS AND PLACED HIM IN A MANGER BECAUSE THERE WAS NO GUEST ROOM AVAILABLE FOR THEM, AND THERE WERE SHEPHERDS LIVING OUT IN THE FIELDS NEARBY, KEEPING WATCH OVER THEIR FLOCKS AT NIGHT, AND AN ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED TO THEM, AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD SHONE AROUND THEM, AND THEY WERE TERRIFIED, BUT THE ANGEL SAID TO THEM, DO NOT BE AFRAID.

I BRING YOU GOOD NEWS THAT WILL CAUSE GREAT JOY FOR ALL PEOPLE.

TODAY IN THE TOWN OF DAVID, A SAVIOR HAS BEEN BORN TO YOU.

HE IS THE MESSIAH, THE LORD.

THIS WILL BE A SIGN TO YOU.

YOU WILL FIND A BABY WRAPPED IN CLOTHS AND LYING IN A MANGER.

SUDDENLY A GREAT COMPANY OF THE HEAVENLY HOST APPEARED TO THE ANGEL, PRAISING GOD AND SAYING, GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST HEAVEN, AND ON EARTH PEACE TO THOSE ON WHOM HIS FAVOR RESTS. WHEN THE ANGELS HAD LEFT THEM AND GONE INTO HEAVEN, THE SHEPHERDS SAID TO ONE ANOTHER, LET'S GO TO BETHLEHEM AND SEE THIS THING THAT HAS HAPPENED WHICH THE LORD HATH TOLD US ABOUT.

SO THEY HURRIED OFF, AND FOUND MARY AND JOSEPH, AND THE BABY WHO WAS LYING IN THE MANGER.

WHEN THEY HAD SEEN HIM, THEY SPREAD THE WORD CONCERNING WHAT HAD BEEN TOLD THEM ABOUT THIS CHILD, AND ALL WHO HEARD IT WERE AMAZED AT WHAT THE SHEPHERDS SAID TO THEM BUT MARY TREASURED UP ALL THESE THINGS AND PONDERED THEM IN HER HEART.

THE SHEPHERDS RETURNED, GLORIFYING AND PRAISING GOD FOR ALL THE THINGS THEY HAD HEARD AND SEEN, WHICH WERE JUST AS THEY HAD BEEN TOLD, BUT MARY TREASURED THESE THINGS AND PONDERED THEM IN HER HEART.

LET'S PRAY. FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT THIS SEASON REPRESENTS AND ASK FOR YOU TO HELP US TO KEEP IT IN THE FOREFRONT OF OUR MINDS AND THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF ALL THAT WE WISH TO ACHIEVE AND TO EXPERIENCE THIS CHRISTMAS AND IN THE NEW YEAR, I PRAY THAT YOU REMIND US TO TAKE JUST A MOMENT TO REALIZE JUST HOW BEAUTIFUL IT TRULY IS.

WITHOUT JESUS, WE WOULDN'T KNOW YOUR GRACE.

WITHOUT JUDAS BETRAYING HIM, WE WOULDN'T KNOW YOUR MERCY.

WITHOUT YOUR LOVE AND GUIDANCE, WE WOULD BE TRULY LOST IN THIS LIFE.

WE INVITE YOUR PRESENCE AND YOUR PEACE INTO THIS MEETING.

TODAY, I ASK THAT YOU TOUCH EACH AND EVERY PERSON AT THE SOUND OF MY VOICE AND GRANT THEM REST, FAVOR, AND GRACE THAT THEY MIGHT FULFILL ALL THAT YOU'VE CALLED THEM TO.

I ASK FOR A SPECIAL BLESSING TO REST ON THOSE WHO ARE CALLED TO SERVE YOU AS LEADERS IN OUR COUNTY.

FOR EVERY SUPERVISOR, OUR CEO, COUNTY COUNSEL, DEPARTMENT HEADS, STAFF MEMBERS, AND ALL THOSE THAT WE SERVE, PLEASE PROVIDE FOR EVERY NEED KNOWN AND UNKNOWN TO US.

I ASK FOR PROTECTION AND FOR GRACE FOR EVERY SINGLE DAY REMAINING IN THIS YEAR, AND AS WE CLOSE OUT OUR YEAR OF SERVICE HERE AT THE COUNTY, I ASK FOR A SPECIAL BLESSING OVER CHAIRMAN ESPINOSA AS HE COMPLETES HIS FINAL MEETING AS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR THIS TERM.

WE ASK THAT YOU ANOINT HIM FOR ALL THE GOOD WORKS THAT YOU HAVE FOR HIM IN THE FUTURE, AND PRAY THAT YOU REWARD HIM FOR ALL HIS HARD WORK AS ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE BLESS HE AND HIS FAMILY AS THEY STEP INTO THEIR NEW ROLES, AND WE ASK THAT YOU CARRY OUT YOUR PLAN FOR HIS LIFE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS AND WE ASK THAT YOU CARRY US THROUGH THE END OF THIS YEAR WITH GRACE, FAVOR AND BLESSINGS IN JESUS PRECIOUS AND HOLY NAME.

AMEN.

SALUTE THE FLAG OF THE GREATEST COUNTRY ON EARTH.

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. THANK YOU, STACY, FOR THOSE BEAUTIFUL WORDS.

APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

[00:05:04]

NON-AGENDA ITEM, PUBLIC COMMENT.

YEAH. WELL, BEFORE PUBLIC COMMENT, I'M GOING TO SAY A FEW WORDS, OKAY? SO FIRST OF ALL IT'S A PLEASURE TO HAVE THE SISTER CITY.

I'M GOING TO SAY MY COMMENTS AND THEN YOU CAN OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN YOU GUYS CAN MAKE SOME COMMENTS.

OKAY, BUT IT'S A PLEASURE TO HAVE THE SISTER CITY FOR MERCED COUNTY HERE PRESENT.

APPRECIATE IT. I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO REFLECT ON PROGRESS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS WE'VE MADE TOGETHER OVER THE PAST YEAR.

IT'S BEEN A YEAR OF GROWTH, COLLABORATION, AND DEDICATION TO MAKING MERCED COUNTY A BETTER PLACE FOR EVERYONE WHO LIVES HERE.

SANTA NELLA. POWER RESTORATION.

I'D LIKE TO START OFF THESE COMMENTS WITH A BRIGHT SPOT PERTAINING TO THE SANTA NELLA MOBILE HOME COMPLEX, WHOSE RESIDENTS SUFFERED THROUGH A CATASTROPHIC FIRE IN JULY, KNOCKING OUT POWER IN SEVERAL HOMES FOR MONTHS AT 115 DEGREES.

WEATHER THAT WE HAD AT THAT TIME.

IT WAS PRETTY PRETTY BAD FOR FOR THE RESIDENTS.

WE'RE PROUD TO SAY THAT AS THIS MONTH POWER HAS BEEN FULLY RESTORED TO THESE RESIDENTS, THIS WORK HAS ACCOMPLISHED WAS ACCOMPLISHED AS A RESULT OF COLLABORATION AMONG SEVERAL AGENCIES, BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, INCLUDING UNITED WAY, MORNING STAR, PG&E, AND DEPARTMENTS HERE AT MERCED COUNTY.

WE COULD WE WOULD ESPECIALLY LIKE TO THANK UNITED WAY, WHICH HELPED RAISE FUNDS AND LED THE EFFORTS TO RESTORE POWER, AND MORNING STAR WHICH PROVIDED HOTEL ROOMS TO IMPACTED RESIDENTS, AS WELL AS TEMPORARY GENERATOR TO ENERGIZE RESIDENTS UNTIL POWER WAS RESTORED.

ALTHOUGH THIS WAS A PRIVATE PROPERTY ISSUE, THANKS TO COMMUNITY SUPPORT, THIS WORK WAS PERFORMED AT NO EXPENSE TO THE RESIDENTS.

MILESTONES. AS AN ORGANIZATION, WE REACHED A NUMBER OF MAJOR MILESTONES THIS YEAR WITH OUR PARKS AND COMMUNITY BUILDINGS.

THE COURTHOUSE MUSEUM RENOVATION.

JUST LAST WEEK, WE HELD A KICKOFF CEREMONY FOR THE RENOVATION OF THE MERCED COUNTY COURTHOUSE MUSEUM.

THIS PROJECT WAS RESTORED.

THE EXTERIOR WILL RESTORE THE EXTERIOR OF THE HISTORIC BUILDING THAT HAS SLOWLY DETERIORATED OVER THE YEARS.

THIS WORK WILL MAINTAIN THE BUILDING'S STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY AND LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY, WITH FUTURE PHASES PLANNED TO REPAIR PORTIONS OF THE INTERIOR.

THE WINTER COMMUNITY PARK.

IN AUGUST, COUNTY OFFICIALS AND LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS HELD A RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY FOR THE NEWLY RENOVATED WINTER COMMUNITY PARK.

THE 3.7 MILLION PROJECT ADDED A NEW WALKING PATH AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE PARK, RESTORED THE SOCCER FIELD AND ADDED LIGHTING.

A RENOVATED THE BASEBALL FIELD AND DUGOUTS ARE LIGHTED.

THE BASKETBALL COURT ADDED A NEW PLAYGROUND AND PICNIC SHELTERS AND MUCH, MUCH MORE.

FRANKLIN-BEACHWOOD PARK ONE MONTH LATER, IN SEPTEMBER, WE HELD A GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR FRANKLIN-BEACHWOOD PARK, LOCATED NEAR THE CORNER OF RANCHERO LANE AND LOBO PARK.

THIS PARK WILL PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH A NEW GREEN SPACE COMPLETE WITH LIGHTS, A WALKING PATH, PICNIC SHELTERS AND TABLES AND PLAYGROUND, OPEN GRASS AREAS, TREES AND MUCH MORE.

FUTURE PHASES WILL INCLUDE SPORTS FIELDS AND COMMUNITY CENTER.

LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT IN THAT COMMUNITY AS WELL.

THE HALL AND LIBRARY IN DOS PALOS EXCITING WORK IS CONTINUING TO DOS PALOS AT O'BANION PARK.

LAST YEAR, MERCED COUNTY BROKE GROUND ON A PROJECT TO RENOVATE ON SITE DEL HALE HALL COMMUNITY CENTER AND RELOCATE THE DOS PALOS BRANCH OF THE MERCED COUNTY LIBRARY NEXT DOOR TO THE HALL.

SIMULTANEOUSLY TO THESE PROJECTS.

AMENITIES AT THE PARK ITSELF ARE ALSO BEING RENOVATED AND IMPROVED WITH FUTURE UPGRADES IN THE PLANNING PHASE.

THE HALL AND LIBRARY ARE ESTIMATED TO BE COMPLETED IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR, WITH THE PARK RENOVATIONS TO FOLLOW.

CASTLE AIR FEST AND FAMILY FUN DAY.

THERE ARE SEVERAL FAMILY ORIENTED EVENTS PUT ON THE MERCED COUNTY, AND THIS YEAR WE WERE EXCITED TO INTRODUCE ANOTHER.

IN OCTOBER, WE HOSTED THE INAUGURAL CASTLE AIR FEST AND FAMILY FUN DAY, WHICH DREW THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM NEAR AND FAR TO WATCH AERIAL FLYBYS.

STATIC DISPLAYS OF VINTAGE AIRCRAFTS AND VINTAGE AUTOMOBILES, LIVE MUSIC, FOOD AND SEVERAL FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES.

THIS FREE EVENT GENERATED LOTS OF EXCITEMENT AND WE'RE PROUD TO REPORT THAT IT WILL RETURN NEXT YEAR.

A BIG THANK YOU TO THE COMMITTEE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM FOR THEIR SPEARHEADING THIS.

CASTLE COMMERCE CENTER AND PATRIOTIC RAIL.

LOTS OF EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS CONTINUE TO TAKE PLACE AT CASTLE COMMERCE CENTER.

IN OCTOBER, PATRIOT RAIL JOINS FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS FOR A GRAND OPENING CEREMONY OF ITS NEW LOADING DOCK.

[00:10:02]

THIS EVENT WAS WAS A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN THE GROWTH OF EXPANSION OF THE 70 ACRE CASTLE RAIL DISTRICT THAT PROMISES TO MEET FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION NEEDS FOR THE GREATER CENTRAL VALLEY REGION AND BEYOND.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE THE PROGRESS.

THE PLANADA $20 MILLION PROJECT FOLLOWING THE DEVASTATING FLOODS THAT INUNDATED PLANADA IN 2023.

IN MY DISTRICT, THE STATE ALLOCATED $20 MILLION FOR FLOOD RECOVERY EFFORTS AND DIRECT COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE, FOLLOWING MULTIPLE COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS AND COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.

MERCED COUNTY DEVELOPED THE PLANADA 20 MILLION PROGRAM, ALLOWING FLOOD IMPACTED RESIDENTS TO ACCESS FUNDS FOR HOME REPAIRS, DIRECT ASSISTANCE, BUSINESS ASSISTANCE, LOST WAGES AND MORE.

ADDITIONAL FUNDS WERE SET ASIDE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.

THIS PROGRAM IS ONGOING AND WILL BE CLOSED OUT BY DECEMBER 31ST OF NEXT YEAR.

STAFF WILL PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE ON THIS PROGRAM IN EARLY 2025.

FIRE SERVICES AS WE NAVIGATE STATE MANDATES TO ADD STAFFING TO OUR FIRE STATIONS, WE RECENTLY ENTERED A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITIES OF MERCED AND LIVINGSTON TO ENHANCE STAFFING WHILE STAVING OFF POTENTIAL FIRE STATION CLOSURES OR CONSOLIDATIONS.

WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THE CITY OF DOS PALOS TO POSTPONE A FIRE STATION CONSOLIDATION AS THEY DEVELOP A BALLOT INITIATIVE TO INCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY FUNDING.

THESE PARTNERSHIPS DEMONSTRATE A COMMITMENT TO ENHANCING FIRE SERVICES DESPITE HAVING TO NAVIGATE ONGOING FINANCIAL PRESSURES.

ALL DADS MATTER.

FINALLY, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE TRULY IMPACTFUL PROGRAM THAT CONTINUES TO MAKE A MONUMENTAL DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THAT ALL DADS MATTER PROGRAM THIS YEAR, IT RECEIVED WELL-DESERVED RECOGNITION FROM ASSEMBLYWOMAN ESMERALDA SORIA AT THE STATE CAPITOL FOR ITS OUTSTANDING WORK IN SUPPORTING FATHERS AND FAMILIES.

THE PROGRAM HAS BECOME A BEACON OF HOPE AND SUPPORT FOR SO MANY.

PROVIDING RESOURCES, MENTORSHIP AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR FATHERS TO THE BEST THEY CAN THAT THEY CAN BE FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

TO SEE THE PROGRAM RECOGNIZED AT THE STATE LEVEL IS IS A TESTAMENT TO THE HARD WORK, DEDICATION, AND THE LOVE THAT THE TEAM BEHIND ALL DADS MATTER PUTS INTO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. I'M ALMOST DONE.

I ALSO IT'S NOT IN HERE, BUT I WANT TO ALSO THANK OUR PUBLIC WORKS AND MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING THE RENOVATION OF THE, THE LIVINGSTON VETERANS HALL, WHICH WAS FOR MANY YEARS THE RESIDENTS OF LIVINGSTON AS WELL, WHERE WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WAITING FOR THE FUNDS, AND FINALLY THIS YEAR THE LIVINGSTON VETERANS HALL, WHICH IS LIVINGSTON AND VETERANS HALL COMBINED.

THEY ALL MEET THERE, AND SO I'D LIKE TO SAY ALSO THANK YOU TO OUR VETERANS FOR ALL THEIR SERVICE, PAST SERVICES AND FOR ALL THOSE IN SERVICE RIGHT NOW.

SO THIS IS A VERY SMALL SNIPPET OF SOME OF OUR EFFORTS OVER THE PAST YEAR.

I BELIEVE I CAN SPEAK FOR MY COLLEAGUES IN SAYING WE'RE PROUD OF WHAT'S BEEN ACCOMPLISHED, BUT THERE'S STILL WORK TO BE DONE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE PROGRESS NEXT YEAR.

THAT'S ALL. ALL RIGHT.

SO NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT.

OKAY. GIVE ME A SECOND.

WELL, ON BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AS CHAIR, BUT NOT JUST AS CHAIR, BUT FOR YOUR TIME AS A MERCED COUNTY SUPERVISOR. YOU REALLY BEEN A PRIME EXAMPLE OF LEADERSHIP IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

YOU REALLY STOOD UP FOR YOUR DISTRICT DURING SOME PRETTY CRITICAL TIMES, AND I KNOW THAT I TAKE A LESSON.

I LEARNED LESSONS FROM YOU AND HOW TO TREAT PEOPLE AND HOW TO TREAT, YOU KNOW, YOUR DISTRICT AND HOW TO GET THINGS DONE.

SO ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, WE WANTED TO GIVE YOU THIS GIFT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

YOU WANT TO TAKE A PHOTO? OKAY. ALSO, JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE YOU SOME GIFTS, A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION FROM YOUR DEPARTMENT HEAD LEADERSHIP TEAM.

SO IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA, OUR CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, HE HAS SHARED A LOT OF ADVICE ABOUT HOW TO LIVE A HEALTHIER LIFE, AND IT STARTS WITH DIETING.

SO WE TOOK SOME SOME OF THOSE DOTS THAT WE RECEIVED OVER THE YEARS AND THOUGHT THAT THIS GIFT WOULD BE VERY APPROPRIATE.

[00:15:02]

SO THIS IS ON BEHALF OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEAD LEADERSHIP TEAM.

JUST A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU HAVE A LONG TENURE WITH THE ORGANIZATION.

YOU AND I HAVE HAD HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WHEN WE WORE DIFFERENT HATS WORKING FOR CITY.

SO I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE ON THE BOARD.

ONE OF THE FEW INDIVIDUALS THAT I KNEW BEFORE COMING HERE TO MERCED COUNTY, ALONG WITH SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL BUT IT'S BEEN GREAT. THIS PAST YEAR HASN'T BEEN ALWAYS EASY, BUT I THINK YOUR LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN STEADY, AND WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, WORKING ON OUR SUCCESSES AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED THIS PAST YEAR WHERE WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE GOOD WORK DONE OR IN THE TRENCHES, SOME OF THE CHALLENGES DEFINITELY APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR APPROACH YOUR ADVICE, YOUR COUNSEL AND THE WAY YOU INTERACT WITH THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

I THINK AS STAFF, WE APPRECIATE THAT, AND SO JUST AGAIN, A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION.

ALSO, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT YOU ARE THE ONLY LA DODGER FAN ON THE BOARD.

SO ANOTHER TOKEN OF APPRECIATION.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE DODGERS WON THE WORLD SERIES THIS LAST YEAR.

SO COMMEMORATIVE WATCH CELEBRATING THE DODGERS SEASON.

THANK YOU SIR. APPRECIATE YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. HEY LET ME TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU.

WELL THANK YOU EVERYONE.

THANK YOU. MY COLLEAGUES AND CEO AND FORREST HAS BEEN GREAT.

I KNOW I HAVEN'T HAD FORREST THERE FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS, BUT I KNOW 4 OR 5 YEARS NOW.

IT'S BEEN GREAT WORKING WITH WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND YOU KNOW, FOREST AND OUR CEO.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT, AND ONE THING I HAVE TO SAY IS, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, OUR STAFF IS HAS BEEN SO WONDERFUL, ALL OUR EMPLOYEES, AND I WAS TELLING ANGIE, AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BEST THINGS COMING INTO INTO THE OFFICE IS WORKING WITH OUR CLERKS, AND THEY MAKE OUR LIVES A LOT EASIER.

YOU KNOW THEY'RE ALWAYS THERE, BRINGING US, REMINDING US OF EVENTS AND OTHER THINGS.

[00:20:06]

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.

[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK]

NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO ANOTHER AGENDA ITEM, PUBLIC ITEM.

IT IS 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.

OKAY. ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK? MR. ROSALES? GOOD MORNING AGAIN.

WELL, LAST TIME WAS EVENING.

SO THIS TIME IT'S MORNING, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU, AND I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO PROBABLY SAY, HERE IT COMES AGAIN, BUT HERE I AM AGAIN.

JUST TO REMIND YOU, FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE LAST TIME I COULDN'T MAKE THE COMMENT, BUT THIS TIME I HOPE I'LL BE VERY QUICK FOR MR. MCDANIEL, AS HE MENTIONED LAST TIME, THAT THERE'S A LOT OF SERVICES UP THERE, AND WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF SERVICES, PROGRAMS AND EVERYTHING, AND IT'S NOT THAT WE REJECT THEM, SIR.

NO, WE DON'T REJECT THEM, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S FOR OUR BENEFIT.

THE THING IS, OR THE PROBLEM IS THAT A LOT OF THE TIMES AND MOST OF THE TIMES, WE DON'T QUALIFY.

OKAY. WHY? FIRST OF ALL, AS I MENTIONED LAST TIME, AND I HAVE MENTIONED IT SO MANY TIMES, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE LOST WAGES? SEE, I DON'T QUALIFY.

WHY? AND I'M STILL EXPECTING THAT.

I HOPE THAT MAYBE LIKE JUST THIS GENTLEMAN, MR. ESPINOSA RECEIVED SOME GIFTS.

HOPEFULLY, MAYBE BY FRIDAY OR MAYBE MONDAY, I CAN OPEN UP AN ENVELOPE WITH SOMETHING THERE, AT LEAST TO BUY ME A POT OF POZOLE, MENUDO, OR MAYBE SOME TAMALES. HOW'S THAT? BUT ANYWAY, THIS IS NOT TO LAUGH AT, BUT ANYWAY, YOU KNOW ANOTHER THING THAT, ACCORDING TO WHAT YOU GUYS HAD SAID ABOUT ACCOMPLISHING ALL THESE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING ALL OVER MERCED COUNTY.

YES, IT'S GOOD, BUT I THINK YOU GUYS WERE FORGETTING SOMETHING ABOUT PLANADA.

THEY SAID YOU GUYS SAYING THAT IT'S BEEN ACCOMPLISHED THINGS ALSO.

NO, IT'S NOT ONLY THE DIRECT ASSISTANCE, THAT'S ABOUT THE ONLY THING AND NOT ALL OF US HAD IT, OKAY? WE DIDN'T RECEIVE IT.

ALL OF US. JUST A FEW PEOPLE, AND YOU GUYS KNOW WELL THAT IT'S NOT DONE YET, AND I HEARD THAT UNTIL NEXT YEAR, MAYBE DECEMBER 25TH, BUT WHO KNOWS? ONE LAST THING.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PASSING AWAY, GENTLEMEN, AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT? WHAT THEY ARE NEED.

THEY NEED IT.

SEE? THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WHAT HAPPENED? NOW SEE? THEY GONE.

SO THAT'S ONE THING THAT YOU PEOPLE PLEASE HAVE THIS IN YOUR MINDS THAT WE STILL NEED SOME OF THESE FUNDS THAT WERE GIVEN 20 MILLION FOR PLANADA FLOOD.

OKAY, AND I'M STILL EXPECTING, LIKE, A LOT OF OTHERS, AND THIS IS I'M SPEAKING OUT FOR ALL THE PLANADA RESIDENTS, OKAY? NOT JUST FOR MYSELF, BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT GOT THE HELP THAT WE NEEDED.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU SIR. YEAH, OKAY.

OKAY. I HAVE TO PULL AWAY MY ACE WATCH.

OKAY, BUT MR. CHAIR, HONORABLE SUPERVISORS.

MY NAME IS KANSEN CHU, AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE SISTER CITY OF HULUN IN INNER MONGOLIA, AND ALSO THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN ENTREPRENEUR ASSOCIATION TO BRING SOME 400 PLUS TOYS, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO SHARE OUR LOVE AND OUR FRIENDSHIP WITH ALL OF YOU AND TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WISH YOU ALL A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR, AND MR. CHAIR, YOUR BEST OF LUCK TO YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVOR.

AT THIS POINT, I'LL ASK THE CHAIRPERSON, BEN-HUR, AND THE TOYMAKER TO COME OVER HERE AND PRESENT THE OUR TOKEN OF APPRECIATION TO MR. CHAIR ESPINOSA.

THANK YOU.

THE REST OF THE BOARD MEMBER, TOO.

IT'S JUST A PRESENTATION OR A GIFT FOR FOR MYSELF AND MY COLLEAGUES.

[00:25:03]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS GENTLEMAN IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE ENTREPRENEUR ASSOCIATION, RIGHT, IN FREMONT? IN FREMONT, THE BAY AREA.

YEAH, AND THE OWNER MR. HENRY. YES. YEAH.

HENRY. WHAT'S YOUR LAST NAME? LEE.

HENRY LEE.

A BUSINESS THAT HAS FOUR STORES IN THE BAY AREA SELLING TOYS ALL OVER THE BAY AREA AND VERY SUCCESSFUL.

SO ON BEHALF ALSO TOGETHER WITH THE SISTER CITY, THEY WOULD LIKE TO DONATE ALL THESE TOYS TO OUR COUNTY AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME OVER AND THEY'RE GOING TO PRESENT IT TO YOU ALSO TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR I KNOW THEY HAVE A THEY'RE RAISING TOYS AS WELL FOR OUR KIDS.

SO THAT'LL BE REALLY APPRECIATED.

DOES THE REST OF THE BOARD WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE? OKAY. YOU HAVE TO COME IN.

HEY, MIKE CAN TAKE IT RIGHT THERE.

WELL, I WANT TO PASS IT ON.

I WANT TO PASS THE MIC OVER TO OUR VICE CHAIR.

JOSH, YOU KNOW I'M NOT GOING TO BE HERE, SO NEXT YEAR.

THAT WAY, HE CAN WORK WITH OUR SISTER CITY AND THE MEMBERS TO CONTINUE THE SISTER CITY WITH OUR INNER MONGOLIA.

SISTER CITY. MISTER CHAIR.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR THIS GENEROUS DONATION, AND I'M SURE THE KIDS WILL REALLY APPRECIATE THIS, AND IT'S REALLY GOING TO HELP THEM HAVE A GOOD CHRISTMAS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUED RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR SISTER CITY.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS.

THANK YOU, AND WELCOME AGAIN TO MERCED COUNTY, OKAY.

THANK YOU.

MERRY CHRISTMAS. THANK YOU.

I KNOW I FELT VERY SAFE BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE A MASTER IN KUNG FU RIGHT HERE, SO, HEY, BESIDES THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT'S BODYGUARD.

A BODYGUARD? THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SIR. YES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

YES. THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. IT'S NICE MEETING YOU.

NEXT PUBLIC SPEAKER.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE. I KNOW THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT.

ALL RIGHT, WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

NOW WE'LL DO A PRESENTATION.

[PRESENTATIONS]

NUMBER ONE. AT THIS TIME WE WILL HAVE OUR SERVICE AWARDS PRESENTATION AND WE WILL HAVE A FOLLOWING.

WE WILL HAVE A 15 MINUTE BREAK AND THEN COME BACK TO THE REGULAR AGENDA.

SO PRESENTATION NUMBER ONE.

WE HAVE FIVE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE WILL BE RECOGNIZING THIS MORNING.

WE ASK THAT THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT IN WHICH EACH INDIVIDUAL IS FROM JOIN US UP FRONT WHEN WE CALL THE INDIVIDUAL'S NAME.

ONCE THE INDIVIDUAL IS RECOGNIZED, THEIR FRIENDS AND OR FAMILY WHO ARE HERE TO SEE THEM BEING RECOGNIZED ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME UP FOR A PHOTO OP AND STATED THE FOLLOWING.

AS STATED, FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATION OF THE SERVICE, WE WILL TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO CALL UP TIFFANY VARGAS.

ALL RIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS.

TIFFANY IS RECEIVING HER 15 YEAR SERVICE PIN.

TIFFANY WORKS IN OUR LIBRARY AS A LIBRARY ASSISTANT TO WHERE SHE HELPS PATRONS WITH NEWSPAPER ARTICLE REQUESTS, OBITUARY REQUESTS, MICROFILM OPERATIONS, AS WELL AS LOCAL HISTORY AND YEARBOOK INQUIRIES.

TIFFANY IS A HARD WORKER AND IS DEDICATED TO OUR COMMUNITY.

SHE IS TRULY AN ASSET AND HER KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE OF OUR LIBRARY RESOURCES IS INVALUABLE.

THANK YOU FOR 15 YEARS, TIFFANY.

I'LL TURN IT OVER.

GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.

I'M SO HAPPY TO BE UP HERE TALKING ABOUT TIFFANY BECAUSE TRULY SHE IS AN ASSET TO THE LIBRARY BUT ALSO TO THE COMMUNITY.

SHE PROVIDES SO MUCH INSIGHT INTO WHAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE PAST YEARS, AND I KNOW WITH THE CARE THAT SHE GIVES HER OWN SON, IT'S A REFLECTION OF WHAT PEOPLE REQUIRE

[00:30:02]

FROM THE LIBRARY ITSELF.

SO WE RESPOND TO WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS.

TIFFANY WORKS BEHIND THE SCENES TO GET THOSE REQUESTS OUT TO YOU ALL, BUT SHE ALSO WORKS ONE ON ONE WITH PEOPLE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS WITHIN OUR CALIFORNIA COLLECTION, WHICH IS A SPECIAL COLLECTION THAT SHE REALLY IS THE HEART AND SOUL OF.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, TIFFANY.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR MANY YEARS TO COME.

THANK YOU, EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT.

THANK YOU.

NEXT. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL UP RASHANNA JOHNSON.

RASHANNA IS RECEIVING HER 30 YEAR SERVICE PIN.

RASHANNA IS A PROGRAM MANAGER AT THE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY.

RASHANNA HAS A STRONG WORK ETHIC AND HAS BEEN A KEY PART OF THE GROWTH OF FAMILY SERVICES.

SOME SPECIAL PROJECTS THAT RASHANNA HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN INCLUDE THE HOUSING SUPPORT PROGRAM, DOMESTIC ABUSE SUPPORT PROGRAM, AND JOB SERVICES IMPLEMENTATION.

RASHANNA IS KNOWN FOR HER PASSION OF THE WORK THAT SHE DOES AND THE COMMITMENT TO HSA'S MISSION, WHICH IS TO IMPROVE THE WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH SERVICE AND PARTNERSHIPS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FOR 30 YEARS RASHANNA, AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THERE IS SO MUCH I CAN SAY ABOUT RASHANNA.

I'VE WORKED WITH THE COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY GOING ON FIVE YEARS, BUT WITH THE COUNTY FOR ALMOST 11, AND I CAN TELL YOU, WHEN I WALKED INTO HSA, I KNOW HER FROM A DIFFERENT SIDE OF THE COMMUNITY AND WHEN YOU SEE WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET.

I ALWAYS TELL HER WHEN YOU STARTED, WHEN YOU WAS 12, I WANT TO LOOK JUST THIS FANTASTIC IN 30 YEARS IN SERVICE WITH THE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY, BECAUSE IT'S A HARD JOB, AND I WANT TO SAY SHE DOES IT WITH INTEGRITY, COMMITMENT.

SHE'S A TEAM PLAYER AND SHE IS FUNNY AS WELL.

WE HAVE OUR SOCIAL GATHERINGS AND SHE'S THE ONE THAT EVERYBODY SEES AS THE LEADER IN THE ORGANIZATION WITHIN HER TEAM.

SO IT'S ALSO EXEMPLIFIES IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO WHAT SHE DOES IN THE OFFICE, SHE ALSO DISPLAYS IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS ON 30 YEARS, AND I'M NOT GOING TO SAY 30 MORE MAYBE TEN.

SHE'S LIKE DON'T DON'T MAKE THAT PROMISE, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, CONGRATULATIONS.

WELL DESERVED.

I FIRST WANT TO GIVE HONOR AND PRAISE TO MY LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, WHO IS THE HEAD OF MY LIFE AND I THANK YOU FOR SUPERVISOR PEDROZO FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

MY DIRECTOR YVONNIA, CECILIA, WHO IS AN EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP AND I APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO.

ALL OF MY TEAM THAT ARE HERE, MY PEERS, MY FELLOW PROGRAM MANAGERS, MY ANALYST AND MY FAMILY, I TRULY I COULDN'T DO THIS WITHOUT YOU. ALL THE SUPPORT THAT YOU PROVIDE.

I AM JUST SO HONORED TO HAVE YOU HERE, AND I WANT TO ALSO MY PARENTS, WHO ARE NOT HERE WITH ME, BUT INSTILLED THE WORK ETHIC. IF YOU KNEW MY FATHER, YOU WOULD YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT.

I HOPE I'M DOING HIM JUSTICE, AND I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL AND HONORED TO BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND BE OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.

[00:36:49]

SO JUST REALLY QUICKLY, WE HAD OUR TEAM OF SUPERVISORS, OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM SIGNED THIS FOR RASHANNA.

JUST A LITTLE CARD AND A TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION FOR YOU, FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR US.

NOW WE SHARE. ARE THERE ANY MORE PRESENTATIONS? BECAUSE THAT WAS QUITE AN HONOR.

AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO CALL UP CHARLENE JONES.

CHARLENE RESIDES IN THE HEART OF MERCED COUNTY AND DISTRICT THREE.

CHARLENE IS RECEIVING HER 20 YEAR SERVICE PIN.

CHARLENE IS A SECRETARY TO CONFIDENTIAL AT HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY.

CHARLENE HAS WORKED EXTENSIVELY WITH HSA'S OPERATION HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE FOR THE PAST 17 YEARS, AND WON THE HANDS OF HEROES AWARD FOR HER WORK ON THE TOY DRIVE IN 2014.

WOW. CHARLENE MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS SHE COMES INTO CONTACT WITH.

HER COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY DOES NOT STOP WHEN THE WORK DAY IS OVER IN HER PERSONAL TIME.

CHARLENE VOLUNTEERS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND TAKES PRIDE AND FINDS HAPPINESS IN HELPING OTHERS.

SOME PERSONAL NOTES ABOUT CHARLENE IS THAT SHE HAS EIGHT GRANDCHILDREN.

WOW. I HAVE ONE ON THE WAY.

LOVES LONG MOTORCYCLE RIDES TO LAKE TAHOE AND RENO AND LOVES TO WATCH HISTORY CHANNEL.

THANK YOU CJ FOR FOR 20 YEARS.

THANK YOU.

SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL STOLE MY THUNDER, BUT NO, JUST JUST JOKING.

CJ IS REALLY A BRIGHT SUNSHINE.

WHEN YOU SEE CJ, SHE'S ALWAYS IN SOMETHING BRIGHT WHICH REPRESENT HER PERSONALITY.

SHE'S A SERVANT AS IT RELATES TO 17 YEARS OF MAKING SURE OUR KIDS HAVE GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS.

OUR FOSTER KIDS, AND THAT'S A MAJOR COMMITMENT.

WHEN I FIRST CAME OVER TO THE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY, SHE'S LIKE, I NEED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE TOY GIVEAWAY, AND WE PLANNED AND WE WORKED WITH HER DEPUTY, JAMIE, TO KIND OF COME UP WITH A GAME PLAN AND HOW TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS HAVE A HAPPY AND A PROSPEROUS CHRISTMAS, BUT NOT ONLY THAT SHE'S A SERVANT IN HER COMMUNITY.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY DISPLAYED THROUGHOUT OUR ORGANIZATION, THROUGH OUR PEP SQUAD AND ALL THE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES THAT KEEP US GROUNDED TOGETHER AS AN ORGANIZATION.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR 20 YEARS AND I'M ASKING FOR 20 MORE.

SO WE THANK YOU, AND WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO LET THE SUN SHINE WITHIN YOU, AND EVEN THROUGH SOME HARD TIMES, SHE STILL REPRESENTED HERSELF WITH INTEGRITY, HUMILITY, EVEN THOUGH TO SOME AND WITH A SMILE, AND I AM GRATEFUL.

IT GIVES ME MOTIVATION TO KNOW WHEN WE CAN GO THROUGH SOMETHING REALLY TRAUMATIC, THAT WE STILL CAN COME WITH THE ATTITUDE OF SERVITUDE.

SO THANK YOU FOR 20 YEARS AND 20 MORE YEARS.

[00:40:03]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH, I APPRECIATE IT.

I WANT TO THANK MY FAMILY FOR BEING HERE.

MY COWORKERS I'VE BEEN HERE OVER 20 YEARS AND WON'T BE ANOTHER 20 YEARS, BUT IT'LL BE A FEW MORE, AND I'LL STILL GIVE THE BEST THAT I HAVE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NEXT, I'D LIKE TO CALL UP MARIE PICKNIEY.

OH, THERE SHE IS.

WE'VE DONE THIS A FEW TIMES NOW.

YEAH, I KNOW.

I'D LIKE TO SAY THE WEST SIDE, BUT WE ARE THE HEART OF MERCED COUNTY.

MARIE IS ALSO RECEIVING HER 20 YEAR SERVICE PIN.

MARIE IS A PROGRAM MANAGER AT FIRST FIVE.

PREVIOUS TO THAT, MARY WORKED AT THE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY FROM 2004 TO 2013, BEFORE SHE MADE HER WAY TO PUBLIC HEALTH IN 2013. MARIA HAS HER BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN NATIONAL AND NUTRITIONAL SCIENCE FROM PURDUE GLOBAL AND MASTERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH FROM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY.

WERE YOU ALL THE WAY OVER THERE IN PURDUE IN INDIANA? NO NO, IT WAS ONLINE.

MARIE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR NUTRITIONAL EDUCATION UNDER THE SNAP-ED GRANT FUNDED PROGRAM, AS WELL AS BEING IN THE ROLE OF HEALTH EDUCATION SPECIALISTS AND LATER A SUPERVISING HEALTH EDUCATOR WORKING IN AND OR OVERSEEING GRANT FUNDED PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDED USDA, TOBACCO, CDC, AND CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT FOR EQUITY.

TODAY, YOU WILL FIND MARIE AT FIRST FIVE, WHERE SHE OVERSEES EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS. WHEN ASKED IF SHE LIKES HER JOB, MARY RESPONDS, GIVING BACK TO THE PROGRAM THAT HELPED ME WHEN I WAS ON AID.

THANK YOU, MARIE, FOR 20 YEARS AND I CONSIDER YOU A GOOD FRIEND, TOO.

MARIE, ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH ORGANIZATION, I'D JUST LIKE TO TAKE A QUICK MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU FOR 20 PLUS YEARS OF SERVICE TO THIS COUNTY.

I'VE HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE OF WORKING WITH MARIE OVER THAT ENTIRE PERIOD OF TIME.

FIRST, WHEN YOU JOINED THE HSA ORGANIZATION HAVE HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE OF WORKING WITH YOU IN DIFFERENT CAPACITIES.

I THINK OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR IS HERE AS WELL.

SO ON BEHALF OF OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AND THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION CERTAINLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU FOR NOT ONLY YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS COMMUNITY AND TO THIS COUNTY, BUT MOST NOTABLY YOUR COMMITMENT TO CHILDREN IN GENERAL.

ONE THING I WOULD SAY THAT REALLY IF NOTHING ELSE IMPRESSED ME, WAS THAT THE MOST RECENT CHILDREN'S SUMMIT YOU GLOWED WHEN YOU WERE ON STAGE TALKING ABOUT YOUR COMMITMENT TO KIDS IN THIS COMMUNITY? SO AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 20 YEARS AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE A FEW MORE YEARS WITH YOU.

AGAIN, IT'S BEEN MY GOOD FORTUNE TO WORK WITH YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS, MARK.

WELL, I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH MARIE FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

I JOINED WITH HER AT THE FIRST FIVE TEAMS, SO I'VE HEARD ALL OF HER HSA STORIES AND ALL THE PEOPLE SHE KNOWS IT'S ALWAYS AN INTERESTING TIME TO DISCUSS DIFFERENT COUNTY POLITICS OVER TIME.

I WOULD POINT OUT THAT MARIE IS A TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN, BOTH HER OWN AND FOR THE KIDS OF MERCED COUNTY.

SHE IS THE FIRST ONE THAT WILL CHASE SOMEBODY DOWN.

SHE SEES A BABY AT THE GROCERY STORE.

SHE SEES A BABY AT WALMART.

SHE GRABS ONE OF THESE FLYERS OUT OF HER PURSE AND SHE RUNS OVER.

HAS YOUR CHILD SIGNED UP FOR THE IMAGINATION LIBRARY AND SO SHE COMES RUNNING AT YOU.

KNOW THAT IT'S THE SIGN YOU UP.

IT'S NOT TO TACKLE YOU OR ANYTHING.

MARIA IS ALSO THE FIRST PERSON THAT WILL SPEAK UP TO SUPPORT OTHER PEOPLE'S GREAT IDEAS OR CHALLENGE IDEAS THAT SHE THINKS COULD USE IMPROVING.

WE HAVE HAD AN ONGOING, LONG DISCUSSION ABOUT THE NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF SNOW CONES AND WHETHER THEY'RE APPROPRIATE FOR KIDS AND IF THEY'RE GREAT AND HEALTHY.

SO I APPRECIATE MARIE HOLDING ME ACCOUNTABLE FOR MY WEAK AREAS, AND THEN MARIA IS JUST A GREAT MEMBER OF A TEAM.

SHE ALWAYS COMES IN WITH ENERGY.

SHE'S ALWAYS WILLING TO SPEAK UP AT A STAFF MEETING, OR SHE NOTICES THINGS WHEN A STAFF MEMBER IS DOWN OR NEED SOME SUPPORT POINTS THEM OUT.

HELPS ME SEE THOSE THINGS.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE MARIE.

I KNOW YOU'VE ALREADY WARNED ME.

I DON'T GET YOU FOR 20 MORE YEARS AND YOU'VE WARNED ME IT'S LESS THAN TEN, BUT MAYBE FIVE.

SO LOOKING FORWARD TO AS MANY AS YOU'LL STICK AROUND FOR.

[00:45:01]

CONGRATULATIONS ON 20 YEARS.

SO I DIDN'T WRITE ANYTHING DOWN.

I WAS JUST GOING TO KIND OF GO WITH HOW I FEEL.

THERE ARE A LOT OF FRIENDS THAT ARE MY FAMILY HERE FROM HSA AND PUBLIC HEALTH.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT BEING A COUNTY EMPLOYEE GETTING HIRED BY THE COUNTY COMPLETELY CHANGED THE TRAJECTORY.

THE TRAJECTORY OF MY LIFE.

AS SOMEBODY WHO. YES, AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT I HAVE HAD STRUGGLES AND I HAVE UTILIZED THE SERVICES THAT I NOW WORK IN.

I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT BECAUSE IT GIVES ME A PERSPECTIVE WITH OUR COMMUNITY THAT OTHERS MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE, AND SO FOR ME, THE GREATEST GIFT THAT I CAN GIVE TO OTHERS IS TO ALSO POSITIVELY IMPACT THE TRAJECTORY OF THEIR LIVES, AND SO FOR THAT, I AM VERY APPRECIATIVE TO EVERYBODY THAT I HAVE WORKED WITH.

I HAVE SO MANY FRIENDS IN THE ROOM, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE AND I LOVE SEEING YOU ALL, EVEN THOUGH IT'S HERE AT A BOSS MEETING, BUT I JUST APPRECIATE EVERYBODY WHO'S MADE A POSITIVE INFLUENCE IN MY LIFE.

I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU FOR PROVIDING ME WITH THIS HONOR, AND I'M TRYING NOT TO CRY.

I'M TRYING TO WAIT TILL I GET IN THE CAR, BUT I JUST THERE'S SO MUCH LOVE IN HERE AND SO MUCH APPRECIATION FROM ME TO YOU.

THANK YOU.

WOULD YOU JOIN ME, PLEASE? OH, THERE HE IS. YEARS RECEIVING HIS 25 YEAR SERVICE PIN TODAY.

THAT'S THE RECORD FOR TODAY, AND WE'RE WE'RE THANKFUL THAT YOU'VE BEEN WITH MERCED COUNTY THAT MANY YEARS.

YIA IS A MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN AT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES, AND YIA HAS HIS MASTER'S IN SOCIAL WORK, AND AS A CLINICIAN, WORKS WITH SEVERELY MENTALLY ILL ADULTS.

FOR THE PAST 25 YEARS, YIA HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK IN SEVERAL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING LONG LIST, AS YOU MIGHT SURMISE.

HE HAS WORKED IN THE ACCESS PROGRAM, ADULT INTAKE, CALWORKS DUAL DIAGNOSIS PROGRAM, MENTAL HEALTH COURT, CRISIS STABILIZATION UNIT, THE WELLNESS CENTER, AND YOUTH INTAKE.

YIA IS ALSO WORKING ON A PROJECT TO PROVIDE AN ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION SUPPORT GROUP FOR MEN.

YIA DEMONSTRATES PROFESSIONALISM, COMMITMENT TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY, AND EXPERTISE IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.

HE HAS GREATLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUCCESS OF BHRS AND THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE.

YIA IS A TRUE INSPIRATION WITH HIS POSITIVE ATTITUDE, ABILITY TO ADAPT AND THRIVE, HIS RESILIENCE AND THE PASSION HE SHOWS FOR THE WORK THAT HE DOES.

THANK YOU FOR 25 YEARS, YIA.

NOW AT 25 YEARS, THERE'S A RUBY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PIN.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S REAL, BUT IT SURE LOOKS WONDERFUL AND YOU HAVE DEFINITELY EARNED IT.

YOU KNOW, IN THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORLD, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE WORKING WITH FOLKS THAT DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE BRIGHTEST OUTLOOK ON THEIR DAY AND SO FOR SOMEONE TO SERVE IN THAT CAPACITY FOR 25 YEARS, THAT'S TRULY, I GUESS, TELLING OF WHAT AN AMAZING PERSON YOU ARE.

I DON'T KNOW YOU PERSONALLY, I WISHED I DID, BUT JUST JUST FROM YOUR PEDIGREE, YOU'RE YOU SEEM LIKE A GREAT PERSON AND A GREAT INDIVIDUAL, AND IT'S MY PLEASURE TO HONOR YOU FOR 25 YEARS.

YEAH. THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING. IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO HONOR YOU, YIA.

FOR 25 YEARS, YIA HAS NOT ONLY DEMONSTRATED PROFESSIONALISM, COMMITMENT TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY AND EXPERTISE IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, BUT HE'S ALSO GREATLY CONTRIBUTED TO OUR SUCCESS AT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES AND ALSO TO MERCED COUNTY.

YOUR CONSISTENCY AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE HAVE BEEN AN INSPIRATION TO ALL OF US, AND YOUR ABILITY TO ADAPT AND THRIVE THROUGH ALL OF THE MANY CHANGES AT BHRS OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS, IS REALLY A TESTAMENT TO YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS COMMUNITY AND TO YOUR WORK.

WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SOMEONE LIKE YOU TO BE A PART OF OUR TEAM, AND YOUR IMPACT GOES BEYOND

[00:50:09]

EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO AT BHRS.

IT'S FELT IN THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT YOU'VE BUILT OVER THE YEARS, THE KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU SHARE WITH ALL OF US, AND THE EXCELLENCE IN WHICH YOU DO YOUR WORK EVERY DAY. ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE BHRS TEAM, I EXTEND MY HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS FOR THIS INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE YEARS OF SUCCESS TOGETHER, AND THANK YOU FOR 25 YEARS OF SERVICE TO MERCED COUNTY AND BHRS.

CONGRATULATIONS. OKAY.

I'M HERE. I DON'T HAVE MUCH TO SAY, BUT A FEW WORDS, AND I WILL KEEP IT SHORT.

I WANT TO THANK MERCED COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH NOW, BHRS, FOR EMPLOYING ME AS A CLINICIAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT, AND I CAME ON BOARD WITH THE DEPARTMENT IN 1999, RIGHT AFTER THE MSW PROGRAM AT CAL STATE STANISLAUS, AND IN MY 25 YEARS OF WORKING FOR THE DEPARTMENT, I'VE BEEN THROUGH NINE PROGRAM MANAGERS, SEVEN DIRECTORS, AND THEY'RE ALL WONDERFUL PEOPLE TO WORK WITH.

I START WITH, GWYDIR READER, AS A PROGRAM MANAGER AND VICTOR MONTOYA AS THE DIRECTOR.

THE EXCELLENT PEOPLE.

IN MY 25 YEARS OF WORKING, I LIKE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.

I LIKE TO WORK WITH THE CLIENTS, THE STAFF AND THE DEPARTMENT.

THAT'S WHY I'M WITH THE DEPARTMENT FOR 25 YEARS, AND I PLAN TO PUT IN 25, 30 YEARS WITH THE DEPARTMENT.

SO THAT MEANS FIVE MORE YEARS TO GO 2029.

SO I WILL STILL BE WORKING FOR THE DEPARTMENT IN MERCED.

I WILL RETIRE IN MERCED AND I WILL ENJOY MY RETIREMENT MERCED IN 2029.

[CHUCKLING] THANK YOU. WOULD THE MEMBERS OF THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TEAM THAT ARE HERE AND DID YOU HAVE FAMILY HERE? YES.

OKAY. COME ON UP, PLEASE.

PRETTY PLEASE.

YEAH, SURE, AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST MAKE A COMMENT AS WE'RE COMING UP.

YOU KNOW, THESE ARE YOUR PINS FOR WORKING FOR MERCED COUNTY.

THIS COULD EASILY BE AN AWARD CEREMONY TO LISTEN TO THE STORIES, AND THE IMPACT THAT THESE PEOPLE HAVE MADE IS TRULY SPECIAL.

WELL, THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE SERVICEMEN'S, YOU KNOW, THE RECIPIENTS AT THIS TIME, WE WILL TAKE A 15 MINUTE BREAK FOR THOSE BEING RECOGNIZED AND THE INDIVIDUALS HERE TO SUPPORT THEM.

WE INVITE YOU TO A RECEPTION AREA, WHICH IS THROUGH THE DOOR HERE ON MY RIGHT.

SO WE'LL TAKE A 15 MINUTE BREAK.

THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU.

OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO GET STARTED.

THIS MEETING IS NOW BACK IN SESSION, AND AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE TO THE PODIUM.

STEVE MAXEY, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

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

HERE WITH ME, I HAVE DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, AMANDA DURAN.

WE'RE HERE TO GIVE YOU JUST A QUICK PRESENTATION AND OVERVIEW OF SOME ONGOING ISSUES AND ENFORCEMENT AND SOME OTHER UPCOMING PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH THAT ARE FOCUSED ON MOBILE FOOD VENDING AND FOOD VENDING IN PARTICULAR.

WE WANT TO TALK THROUGH WHAT WHAT CHALLENGES WE'RE STILL SEEING ON THE UNPERMITTED FOOD VENDING FRONT.

WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE ENFORCEMENT SIDE, BOTH WITHIN THE UNINCORPORATED COUNTY AND WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE CITIES THAT I HAVE TO SAY, HAVE BEEN EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT PARTNERS IN THE ENFORCEMENT SIDE OF THINGS AND THEN TALK THROUGH AN UPCOMING AWARD OF EXCELLENCE PROGRAM.

WE DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE VENDORS, THOSE RESTAURANTS THAT ARE THAT ARE DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY AND FIGURE OUT A WAY TO ENCOURAGE THAT GOING FORWARD.

SO AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK MS. DURAN FOR ALL THE WORK THAT SHE AND HER TEAM HAVE PUT INTO THIS EFFORT.

I WANT TO THANK THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND OUR PARTNERS THERE, BOTH WITHIN THE CODE ENFORCEMENT TEAM AND THROUGH JUST REGULAR DEPUTIES THAT ARE OUT DAY TO DAY, AND WE'RE ALSO WORKING OVERTIME ON THIS ENFORCEMENT.

[00:55:05]

SO EXCELLENT PARTNERS THERE ON THAT SIDE OF THINGS, AND SO WITH THAT, I'LL HAND IT OVER TO MS. DURAN. THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIR, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

I'M A MANAGER AND THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, AND JUST LIKE STEVE SAID, WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING OVER UNPERMITTED FOOD VENDING, OUR ENFORCEMENT AND OUR AWARD OF EXCELLENCE THAT WE PLAN ON ROLLING OUT HERE PRETTY SOON.

SO UNPERMITTED FOOD VENDING.

OUR MISSION IS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC.

WE WANT THEM TO BE DILIGENT AND BE CAUTIOUS OF WHERE THEY PURCHASE FOOD.

WE WANT TO EMPOWER THE PUBLIC TO ASK VENDORS IF THEY HAVE PERMITS, SUPPORT AND RESPOND TO REPORTS OF UNPERMITTED FOOD VENDING, AND UTILIZE OUR ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS TO HELP EDUCATE AND MAINTAIN FAIR BUSINESS PRACTICES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE GET MANY FOODBORNE ILLNESS REPORTS THAT GET REPORTED TO OUR OFFICE, AND TYPICALLY THEY COME IN THE FORM OF, HEY, ME AND MY WIFE WENT OUT TO THIS FOOD VENDOR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FRIDAY NIGHT.

BOTH OF US GOT REALLY SICK.

WE KNOW THEY WEREN'T PERMITTED.

WHAT CAN YOU GUYS DO? A LOT OF THE REPORTS COME BACK.

STAPH AUREUS INTOXICATION, WHICH IS DUE TO IMPROPER REFRIGERATION.

BOTULISM DUE TO FOOD STORED UNDER INADEQUATE CONDITIONS.

SALMONELLA DUE TO NOT WASHING HANDS, AND TRICHINELLOSIS CAUSED BY EATING UNDERCOOKED MEATS THAT ARE INFECTED WITH TRICHINELLA ROUNDWORMS. I WANT TO JUST POINT OUT SOME QUICK WAYS TO SPOT UNPERMITTED FOOD VENDORS.

HERE'S TYPICALLY WHAT YOU'LL SEE A SET UP.

THEY'LL BE OPERATING IN THE DIRT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OR IN A PARKING LOT.

NO PERMITS IN SIGHT.

NO HANDWASHING STATIONS, NO PROPERLY WAY TO STORE FOOD.

SO THEY'LL HAVE RAW MEATS OUT THERE, NO REFRIGERATOR, NO ENCLOSURES.

WHICH MEANS THE NETS ARE NOT AROUND THE POP UPS TO PREVENT FLIES OR OTHER VERMIN FROM COMING IN AND GETTING ONTO FOOD.

SO I JUST HAVE A DISCLAIMER SLIDE.

THE NEXT SLIDE CONTAINS SOME IMAGES OF CONFISCATED FOOD AND UNCLEAN FACILITIES.

SO YOUR FOOD MIGHT LOOK FINE.

WHEN YOU GO OUT INTO THE STREET, YOU GET A TACO, IT'S COOKED.

IT HAS, YOU KNOW, ALL THE TOPPINGS ON TOP OF IT, BUT THIS IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING BEHIND THE CLOSED DOORS WITH EFFORTS WITH OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAD CALLED US OUT TO A COMMISSARY, IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON, BUT IT ENDED UP BEING A COMMISSARY AND THIS IS WHAT WE FOUND.

IT WAS A MAKESHIFT GARAGE AND A COUPLE SHEDS, AND INSIDE THE SHEDS WE FOUND BAGS OF ROTTING FOOD.

WE FOUND CONTAINERS OF MEAT JUST STORED OUTSIDE IN THE IN SHEDS THAT HAD DIRT FLOORS, BOXES OF IMPROPERLY STORED FOOD YOU COULD SEE IN THAT PICTURE. IT'S JUST THERE WAS FOOD STORED INSIDE SOMEONE'S BEDROOM.

YOU SEE THE VERTICAL ROTISSERIES STORED IN TRASH BAGS WITHOUT PROPER REFRIGERATION.

WE TEMPT A LOT OF THESE VERTICAL ROTISSERIES, AND THEY TEMPT AROUND 60°F, WHICH IS A DANGEROUS RANGE TO STORE MEAT.

THE PICTURE MORE TO THE LEFT.

IT WAS 100 DEGREE DAY, AND THAT MEAT WAS JUST SITTING OUTSIDE.

THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE IT OUT THE NEXT NIGHT, AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE DID WRITE DOWN LICENSE PLATES OF VEHICLES THAT WERE OUT THERE, AND WE DID CATCH PEOPLE OUT THAT NIGHT THAT WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SAME SETUP.

SO SOME OF THE ENFORCEMENT THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GO OUT MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER HOURS A MONTH.

WE'VE BEEN GOING ALONGSIDE OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT TEAMS, SHERIFF'S CODE ENFORCEMENT, CITY OF LOS BANOS, CITY OF MERCED, CODE ENFORCEMENT.

THEY'VE BEEN A GREAT HELP WITH THIS.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR ENVIRONMENTAL TASK FORCE TEAM, WITH THE DA'S OFFICE AND DISCUSSING, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING.

EACH NIGHT WHEN WE DO GO OUT, WE USUALLY END UP CONFISCATING BETWEEN 200 AND 300 POUNDS OF IMPROPERLY STORED AND UNSAFE FOOD.

WE HAVE IMPOUNDED EQUIPMENT ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHILE DOING SWEEPS, AND RIGHT HERE YOU CAN SEE ONE OF THE SWEEPS WE DID, IT HAS IT'S A TRAILER FULL OF JUST EQUIPMENT THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, FULL OF FOOD THAT THEY WERE GOING TO THAT THEY TOOK OUT FROM THE NIGHT BEFORE.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OUT THE NEXT DAY COOKING EQUIPMENT.

WE IMPOUNDED IT.

WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT.

SO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THE UNPERMITTED FOOD VENDOR.

THEY'LL RECEIVE A NOTICE OF VIOLATION, WHICH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING PENALTIES.

IT'S 118 OR 177 AN HOUR FOR STAFF.

TIME SPENT.

THE 118 IS USUALLY DURING OUR 8 TO 5 AND 177 IS AFTER HOURS.

THEY ALSO GET A PENALTY OF THREE TIMES THE COST OF A PERMIT FEE, AND FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR OUR PERMIT FEE FOR MOBILE FOOD FACILITY IS $776.

SO THEY GET A TOTAL $2,328 FOR A PENALTY.

ON TOP OF THAT STAFF TIME SPENT.

THEY DO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME INTO THE OFFICE AND SPEAK WITH US AND GET EDUCATED ON HOW TO PROPERLY GET PERMITTED.

[01:00:07]

A LOT OF TIMES THAT KIND OF JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN, AND THEN WE SEE THEM OUT AGAIN.

HERE'S A MAP OF TYPICAL LOCATIONS THAT WE'RE FINDING UNPERMITTED FOOD VENDING.

IF YOU WANT TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE A LOOK AND SEE YOUR TYPICAL LOCATIONS, AND I JUST WANT TO NOTE IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY IN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH TO ENSURE THE PUBLIC IS GETTING SAFE FOODS. WHEN YOU GO OUT TO A PERMITTED FOOD FACILITY OR ORDER FOOD FROM PERMITTED VENDOR, YOU KNOW THAT THEY HAVE BEEN INSPECTED BY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND THE PUBLIC HAS ACCESS TO THESE REPORTS ONLINE.

THE UNPERMITTED FOOD VENDORS ARE NOT JUST MOM AND POPS TRYING TO START UP.

IT'S A BIGGER OPERATION GOING ON AND IT'S DANGEROUS TO PUBLIC HEALTH, AND SO NEXT I WANT TO ROLL INTO OUR AWARD OF EXCELLENCE PROGRAM. THIS IS AN AWARD INTENDED TO RECOGNIZE THOSE FOOD FACILITIES THAT ROUTINELY MEET AND EXCEED STANDARDS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE COUNTY'S INTENT HERE IS TO REWARD THOSE FACILITIES THAT ARE TAKING THE TIME AND EFFORT TO DO THINGS THE RIGHT WAY.

THESE ARE THE GUIDELINES THAT WE WILL BE FOLLOWING TO PRESENT THE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE.

SO THE FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN FOUND TO HAVE MAJOR REPEAT VIOLATIONS DO NOT HAVE ANY CONFIRMED CRITICAL FOOD RELATED COMPLAINTS, HAVE THREE OR FEWER MINOR VIOLATIONS, HAVE BEEN OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND CURRENTLY OPERATING FOR THREE YEARS OR LONGER, HAS MAINTAINED A REQUIRED HEALTH PERMIT TO OPERATE.

AWARDS WILL BE MAILED OUT AFTER THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF THE DATA, USUALLY AROUND SEPTEMBER.

SO WHAT IS A CRITICAL OR MAJOR VIOLATION? IMPROPER HANDWASHING, CONTAMINATED FOOD, SURFACING SEWAGE.

WHAT'S A MINOR VIOLATION? MINOR LEAKS UNDER THE SINK.

CRACKED OR BROKEN TILES.

DEBRIS ACCUMULATION AROUND EQUIPMENT.

WHEN IS THE ESTABLISHMENT NOTIFIED? THE ANNUAL CUT OFF DATE IS JUNE 30TH.

EACH RECIPIENT WILL RECEIVE AN EMAIL OR WRITTEN NOTIFICATION OF QUALIFICATIONS.

HERE'S A MOCK UP OF WHAT OUR AWARD MIGHT LOOK LIKE, AND THEN I JUST PUT CONTACT INFORMATION.

IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, HERE'S A FEW WAYS TO GET AHOLD OF OUR OFFICE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN.

JUST A COUPLE.

JUST A COUPLE CLOSING REMARKS HERE.

AGAIN, WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT TODAY.

WE LAST SPOKE TO THE BOARD ABOUT THIS ABOUT A YEAR AGO, MAYBE A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO.

SINCE THEN, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON ENFORCEMENT.

THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE.

WE REALLY WANTED TO FOCUS TODAY ON ESPECIALLY POINTING OUT THOSE LOCATIONS AND HOW PEOPLE CAN IDENTIFY, FRANKLY, WHAT ARE BAD ACTORS IN THIS FIELD.

RIGHT. FOLKS THAT ARE VENDING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, WHERE, AGAIN, WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO NOTICE THAT, HEY, THEY'RE OPERATING ON A DIRT PARKING LOT.

THEY DON'T HAVE A NET AROUND.

THEIR POP UP CANOPY.

THOSE ARE THE EASY TELLS, RIGHT? WE WANT PEOPLE TO, AGAIN, BE AWARE OF THAT.

TAKE NOTE OF THE LOCATIONS THAT WE PUT ON THE MAP EARLIER.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S AVAILABLE ONLINE THROUGH THE BOARD AGENDA TODAY, OR WILL BE AVAILABLE ON ONLINE LATER TODAY.

SO FOLKS CAN LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, IF THEY'RE SEEING A MOBILE VENDOR OPERATING IN ONE OF THOSE LOCATIONS, MAYBE IT'S A LITTLE SUSPECT, GO ASK FOR THEIR PERMIT OR SEE IF THEY'RE DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, AGAIN, WE WANT TO AWARD THOSE THOSE FOLKS OR RECOGNIZE THOSE FACILITIES THAT ARE DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY.

THOSE ARE THE FAIR BUSINESS PRACTICES.

THOSE ARE PEOPLE THAT WANT THE BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY AND WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY STAYS SAFE.

SO AGAIN, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY WILL THE ACTUAL FINAL AWARD AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE BE SHARED WIDELY ACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA PUT OUT THROUGH ALL THE COUNTY'S CHANNELS AS TO WHAT PEOPLE CAN LOOK FOR WHEN THEY WANT TO LOOK FOR A RECIPIENT OR A FOOD FACILITY THAT'S RECEIVED THE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE.

WE'LL ALSO PUBLISH A LIST FOR THOSE GOOD ACTORS.

WE'D ENCOURAGE OUR LOCAL MEDIA TO PICK UP THAT LIST AND HELP PUBLISH THAT LIST FOR THE GOOD ACTORS.

MEDIA DOES A GOOD JOB OF HIGHLIGHTING THE FOLKS THAT MAYBE HAVE ROUTINE VIOLATIONS OR HAVE FAILING GRADES ON ON INSPECTIONS, BUT WE DO WANT TO SPEND SOME TIME SUPPORTING THOSE FACILITIES THAT DO THINGS THE RIGHT WAY.

SO WITH THAT, WE'RE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

OTHERWISE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

STEVE, SO DO YOU ENVISION, LIKE THIS AWARD OF EXCELLENCE? LIKE, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THEIR HEALTH PERMITS SOMEWHERE LOCATED.

DO YOU ENVISION THEM, LIKE PUTTING THIS UP THERE, THAT CERTIFICATE UP THERE AS WELL? THAT'S WHAT WE'D ENCOURAGE.

YEAH. I MEAN, WE WANT THAT TO BE AVAILABLE AND VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.

SO IF I WALK INTO A FACILITY AND I SEE THAT YOU'VE GOT THE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE, I KNOW YOU'RE ONE OF THE GOOD ACTORS, AND I KNOW THAT YOU'VE YOU'VE WORKED HARD TO AGAIN MEET OR EXCEED THOSE STANDARDS THAT THE COUNTY SET.

OKAY, AND THEN THE OTHER I GUESS JUST A COMMENT IS, IS I THESE LOCATIONS THAT ARE IN LOS BANOS, I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE YOU'VE HAD SOME RECENT ACTIVITY WHERE YOU'VE GONE

[01:05:04]

OUT AND ENFORCED AGAINST THEM, AND THEN IT'S LITERALLY THE VERY NEXT NIGHT AND THEY'RE RIGHT BACK THERE AGAIN, AND SO I DON'T I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DO ABOUT THAT, BUT THEY'RE VERY DOES ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU EXPLAINED.

IT'S A POP UP TENT.

NO, NO, NO NETTING AROUND IT.

THEY GOT THE SKEWER THERE AND LITERALLY, YOU GUYS ARE OUT THERE ONE DAY AND THEN THEY'RE BACK THE NEXT DAY.

YEAH, THE OPERATORS OF THE ILLEGAL FACILITIES, THEY THEY KNOW WHEN 5:00 ROLLS AROUND, THERE'S FEWER STAFF ON DUTY USUALLY, AND SO WE'RE WORKING WITH A LOT OF OUR CITY PARTNERS WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, POLICE CHIEFS AND THEN THEIR LOCAL CODE ENFORCEMENT WITHIN THE CITIES.

WE'VE GOT A GOOD APPROACH IN THE COMING YEAR ONCE THE WEATHER TURNS A LITTLE NICER AS TO HOW OVER TIME AND HOW EVENING ENFORCEMENT IS GOING TO GET HANDLED, BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THAT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE.

I'LL SAY ONE THING THAT MR. N CAME UP WITH WHERE IT HAS HELPED.

WE'VE BEGUN CONFISCATING THAT EQUIPMENT, AND THAT'S A PRETTY STEEP PENALTY.

THERE'S NOT ONLY THE FACT THAT NOW THEY'RE OUT OF EQUIPMENT, THERE'S IMPOUNDMENT FEES THAT OR IMPOUND FEES THAT NEED TO GET PAID TO GET THAT EQUIPMENT BACK, AND JUST RECENTLY WE HAD IMPOUNDED EQUIPMENT THAT WASN'T PICKED UP AFTER A SET AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THE OPERATOR WAS INFORMED OF, AND WE DESTROYED THAT EQUIPMENT.

SO IT'S ONE LESS VENDOR OPERATING ILLEGALLY ON THE STREET, AND SPEAKING FROM THE COUNTY CODE ENFORCEMENT SIDE, MAYBE ON BEHALF OF THE SHERIFF, WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM CONFISCATING EQUIPMENT.

WE'VE GOT THE RESOURCES.

WE'VE GOT THE ABILITY.

WE WILL TAKE EQUIPMENT.

WE'LL TAKE YOUR FOOD, AND THEN YOU'VE STILL GOT THE PENALTIES TO PAY ON TOP OF IT, AND THEN, AND THEN I GUESS WHAT MY LAST COMMENT IS, IS I SEE THESE PEOPLE, I SEE PEOPLE THAT STOP AT THESE VENDORS AND ULTIMATELY THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T EVEN SAY BE EDUCATED.

YOU SHOULD JUST KNOW.

I MEAN, I WOULDN'T I WOULDN'T STOP AT A PLACE LIKE THAT MYSELF, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DO, AND AS LONG AS PEOPLE KEEP STOPPING, THEY'RE MAKING MONEY.

THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP POPPING UP.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WE GET THERE, BUT THAT'S THE THAT'S THE FRUSTRATING PART IS FOLKS ARE JUST NOT AFRAID, AND THEN YOU SEE THE COMMENT YOU WROTE ON THERE WHERE MY SPOUSE AND I ATE AT THIS PLACE AND WE BOTH GOT SICK.

I WOULD DEFINITELY NOT MAKE ME WANT TO GO BACK THERE, BUT MAYBE FOR OTHER PEOPLE THEY JUST SAY, WELL, WE'LL TRY IT AT LEAST TWICE, YOU KNOW? I DON'T KNOW. IT'S ENLIGHTENING.

I WANT TO POINT TO THE OTHER SLIDE THAT WE SAID, YOU KNOW, THAT YOUR FOOD MIGHT LOOK FINE WHEN IT'S OUT THERE AND IT LOOKS NICE AND IN THE CONTAINER IT GETS SERVED TO YOU.

IT SMELLS GOOD. LOOKS GOOD.

WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE BACKSIDE WHERE IT GETS PREPPED AND IT'S SITTING OUT, AND I MEAN THAT WAS 105 DEGREE DAY WHERE IT'S SITTING OUT IN AN UNCONDITIONED SPACE.

THAT'S ARE YOU GOING TO EAT FOOD? IF YOU KEPT IT TEMPERATURE KEPT IT WARM OUTSIDE.

RIGHT. THANK YOU.

SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

YEAH. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

STEVE, AMANDA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS.

I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK YOU'RE DOING ON THIS.

I THINK THERE'S DEFINITELY MORE WE CAN DO.

I KNOW I GET MOST OF MY PHONE CALLS ABOUT POTHOLES.

I THINK MY NUMBER TWO CALL IS ABOUT ILLEGAL VENDORS BEING OUT THERE.

COMING FROM A BUSINESS WHO USED TO, YOU KNOW, DO THE CONCERTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

I KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO BE A FOOD VENDOR, AND A LOT OF THESE FOLKS WHO ARE REGISTERED FOOD VENDORS ARE FRIENDS OF MINE, AND I GET THE CALLS COMPLAINING ABOUT IT, AND I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING, TOO, IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK IN THIS AS WELL IS WE'RE TYING IN OTHER ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES GOING ON WITH, I THINK YOUR LAST BUST, WHICH WAS IN MY DISTRICT, WHICH WAS VERY APPRECIATIVE, IS I DON'T EVEN THINK FOOD WAS JUST THE THEY JUST PUT IT OUT TO LOOK LIKE FOOD.

THEY ARE ACTUALLY RUNNING A WHOLE 'NOTHER BUSINESS WITHIN THAT, AND IT'S INTERESTING THOUGH.

IT'S 6 P.M., YOU SEE THESE FLATBED TRAILERS COME ROLLING IN TO THE CITIES.

THEY HAVE ALL THESE FOOD STUFF ON THEM.

THEY DROP THEM OFF AT EVERY CORNER AND THEN THEY TAKE OFF, AND EVEN THE FOLKS WHO ARE EMPLOYED BY THESE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A PROPER PLACE TO WASH THEIR HANDS. THEY DON'T HAVE A PROPER PLACE TO USE THE RESTROOM, AND A LOT OF TIMES YOU SEE THESE MOTHERS WITH YOUNG CHILDREN OUT THERE? AND SO I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW HOW THEY'RE ABLE TO CARE FOR THIS, AND I KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM IN A LOT OF OTHER COUNTIES AT RCRC WE HAD A LONG DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEN EVEN READING ARTICLES FROM LAS VEGAS, THEY'RE COMPLAINING THAT IT'S VENDORS COMING IN FROM CALIFORNIA DOING THE SAME THING, COMING IN WITH FLATBED TRAILERS AND DROPPING OFF FOOD VENDORS, AND SO IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM.

I APPRECIATE THE EFFORT THAT WE'RE GOING TO.

I DEFINITELY THINK WE NEED TO AND I LIKE THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS, LIKE I SAY, AT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ALL THE TIME WITH ERIC, HE'S HEARD ME SAY IT.

MERCED COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE OUR LEVEL OF ENTREPRENEURIAL BUSINESSES BEING STARTED AND I KEEP COMPLAINING, SAYING, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF ENTREPRENEURS OUT THERE.

IT'S HOW DO WE GET THEM ON THE RIGHT PAGE TO BE A LEGITIMATE BUSINESS, TO GET THE CREDIT FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING, BUT THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'RE DOING ON THIS, AND

[01:10:02]

I APPRECIATE IT.

WHAT YOU'RE DOING OUT THERE.

THANKS. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

YEAH. I JUST WANT TO ECHO WHAT WAS SAID ALREADY.

I THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, I GET CALLS ABOUT THIS QUITE A BIT FROM OUR CITY PARTNERS, AND I THINK THAT WORKING WITH THE CITIES IN ORDER TO REALLY KIND OF GO THROUGH AND HAMMER SOME OF THESE PEOPLE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE CALLS THAT I GET ARE FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE UPSET THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE FOLLOWING THE RULES, AND YET THEY CAN'T COMPETE BECAUSE THEIR PRICES ARE HIGHER, AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY, YOU KNOW, THEY ALL RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO MAKE MONEY, BUT THEY HAVE TO GO ABOUT IT THE RIGHT WAY AND DO IT THE RIGHT WAY, AND THIS IS REALLY A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.

IT'S ALSO A NUISANCE, AND IT'S ALSO, YOU KNOW, I BROUGHT UP A LOT LAST WEEK THE QUALITY OF LIFE.

YOU DON'T WANT TO DRIVE AROUND MERCED IN THE CITY OF MERCED OR IN THE COUNTY OF MERCED AND JUST SEE A BUNCH OF JUST LITTLE POP UP BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOOD FOR ANYBODY, AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, THE EFFORTS THAT ARE GOING ON INVOLVED WITH THIS AND I REALLY ENCOURAGE AND LOOK FORWARD TO, YOU KNOW, US HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THOSE THOSE GOOD PEOPLE. RIGHT, AND I THINK THAT I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THAT YOU WANT YOU'RE TRYING TO GO OUT AND PUNISH THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING IT WRONG, BUT YOU'RE EDUCATING THEM, AND IF THEY CHOOSE NOT TO FOLLOW THE RULES, THEN, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE TO WE HAVE TO BRING THE HAMMER DOWN, AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING AND JUST ENCOURAGE YOU AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AS WELL ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS TO CONTINUE THE WORK.

SO THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

WELL, YEAH, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR FOR THE EFFORT TO GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS, HAVE A LOT OF RURAL AREA AND YOU KNOW, THE COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE IS IT'S A GROWING PROBLEM.

NOW YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE OR I'M STARTING TO SEE TABLES AND CHAIRS AT THESE ILLEGAL SITES.

RIGHT. IT'S JUST GOING TO CONTINUE, AND YOU KNOW, I THINK OVERALL YOU KNOW GOVERNMENT WE CREATE A LOT OF RULES, RIGHT? IT'S SOMETIMES NECESSARY, SOMETIMES UNNECESSARY, BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO REQUIRE A SET OF PEOPLE TO FOLLOW RULES, THEN EVERYBODY HAS TO FOLLOW THE RULES, AND AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HEALTH AND PUBLIC HEALTH, I REALLY, YOU KNOW, BELIEVE THIS IS AN AREA THAT WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

QUESTION ON THE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE.

DO YOU PLAN TO DO LIKE A YEAR STICKER OR A SMALL SOMETHING THAT THEY COULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GOT FIVE YEARS IN A ROW THAT TAKES UP A LOT OF SPACE WITH A BIG CERTIFICATE, BUT JUST A LITTLE SOMETHING.

THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN INCORPORATE INTO THE DESIGN.

YEAH. WE DO WANT TO BE SURE TO VARY THE DESIGN YEAR OVER YEAR SO PEOPLE CAN TELL, LIKE, HEY, THIS IS, THIS PERSON IS OR THIS FACILITY IS KEEPING UP.

YOU KNOW, THEY'VE BEEN ROLLING ON A THREE YEAR BASIS, BUT YEAH, WE CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY TO YEAH, YOU COULD JUST FOLLOW THE COLOR OF THE YEAR STICKER FOR YOUR LICENSE PLATE.

YEAH, THERE YOU GO. YEAH.

SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

MR. CHAIR, JUST ONE FINAL COMMENT.

YEAH, AS, YOU KNOW, AT THE COUNTY BUILDING, WE SEE THESE THESE FOOD VENDORS ON A REGULAR BASIS THAT ARE COMING AND DOING THE RIGHT THING.

THEY'RE COMING AND THEY'RE GETTING THEIR INSPECTIONS DONE, AND I MEAN, IT'S PRETTY MUCH YEAR ROUND THAT YOU SEE THEM OUT THERE, AND SO AGAIN, LET'S REWARD THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THE RIGHT THINGS AND THE ONES THAT ARE NOT.

IT'S AT SOME POINT I THINK YOU GIVE THEM A REALLY SHORT LEASH IN THE SENSE OF WE TRIED TO EDUCATE YOU, AND THEN IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO FOLLOW THAT EDUCATION, THEN YOU CONFISCATE THEIR STUFF AND YOU TAKE IT AWAY AND I WOULD IMAGINE WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT STAINLESS STEEL EQUIPMENT, IF THEY'RE USING THAT, THAT STUFF GETS VERY PRICEY, AND YOU KNOW, AND SO THE, I GUESS THE PUNISHMENT HAS TO FIT THE CRIME, AND IF WE'RE JUST ISSUING MINOR CITATIONS, IT'S NOT GOING TO CORRECT THE BAD BEHAVIOR, AND I THINK THAT SO IF IT'S CONFISCATING THE EQUIPMENT AND THE FOOD WITH THE COST OF FOOD, THAT'S NOT CHEAP TO DO EITHER, THAT WE CONTINUE DOWN THAT PATH.

I THINK WE'RE ON THE RIGHT PATH. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE PRESENTATION TODAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

20 1011.

WE WERE DOING FARMERS MARKETS 60 FARMERS MARKETS A WEEK, AND PART OF THAT PROCESS, YOU KNOW, I WAS MANAGING, BUT ALSO I WAS SELLING OUT MARKETS ALL OVER THE BAY AREA, SACRAMENTO AND YOU KNOW, JUST THROUGHOUT THE STATE, AND PART OF THAT WAS HAVING THAT SANITARY STATION, YOU KNOW, WITH BLEACH AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC, AS WE WERE DOING A LOT OF DOWNTOWNS.

SO I'VE BEEN THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND ALSO YOU KNOW, A LOT OF VENDORS THAT SELL YOU KNOW, COOKED MEAT, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, YOU HAVE THAT SCREENING.

RIGHT, AND BUT BUT TO THAT, HAVE YOU APPROVED ANY, ANY ANY VENDORS OUT HERE IN THE COUNTY WHERE THERE'S DUST THAT THEY HAVE SCREENING AND ALL THAT STUFF? I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY THAT HAVE BEEN PERMITTED YET.

SO I DON'T KNOW THAT I COULD SPEAK TO IF THERE WAS ANY ONE PARTICULAR VENDOR.

THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS, THOUGH, THAT WE THAT ARE MADE VERY CLEAR TO ANY OPERATOR WHAT IS WHAT'S THE BARE MINIMUM THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE IN TERMS OF SCREENING, HANDWASHING.

[01:15:02]

DO THEY NEED A THREE COMPARTMENT SINK? DO THEY NEED A CERTAIN TEMPERATURE OF WATER? ALL OF THAT STUFF IS PRESCRIBED TO ANY OPERATOR.

SO ANYBODY THAT IS OPERATING LEGALLY AND HAS A PERMIT ALSO HAS TO FOLLOW ALL OF THOSE CRITERIA AS WELL, AND THEY'LL, THEY'LL BE REVIEWED DURING THEIR INSPECTIONS ON A REGULAR BASIS. YEAH, I KNOW FOOD AND VEGETABLES ARE A LOT EASIER, BUT COOKED MEAT, THAT'S WHERE YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW MORE BE MORE STRICT IN SANITARY CONDITIONS.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU.

SO I THINK WITH THAT I'M GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO THE PUBLIC FOR ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE.

MY NAME IS AGGIE FREEMAN.

I'M A RETIRED REGISTERED NURSE AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH, AND I SERVED IN THE MILITARY AS A NATIONAL EDUCATOR PATIENT EDUCATION.

I BELIEVE THE SECRET TO THIS PROBLEM IS START COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND START ROLLING IT OUT TO OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR COLLEGES AND GET THE WORD OUT THROUGH THROUGH THE MEDIA THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS AS A HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? NO. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 16.

[CONSENT CALENDAR]

ITEMS ONE THROUGH 16.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ITEMS ONE, TWO AND SIX REQUIRE A FOUR-FIFTHS VOTE.

OKAY. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 16.

ANY COMMENTS? I SEE NO ONE COMING FORWARD SO PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 16. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD OR MOTIONS? PEDROZO, MOTION TO APPROVE.

MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

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

GO AHEAD SIR. YEAH, THERE IS ONE I DID WANT TO RECOGNIZE.

ITEM 15. MICROPHONE.

OH, I THOUGHT I TURNED IT ON.

THERE WE GO.

GOT IT. I DID WANT TO RECOGNIZE ITEM 15.

IT IS CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION TO BE PRESENTED TODAY TO MIKE ANDERSON, SENIOR WHO CURRENTLY WORKS FOR SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY, WAS A COLLEAGUE OF MINE AND CONGRESSMAN JEFF DENHAM'S OFFICE AND A BIG ADVOCATE FOR VETERANS.

LET ME FIND I DID WANT TO READ A PORTION OF A FLOOR SPEECH THAT WAS IN HONOR OF HIS SON, MICHAEL ANDERSON JR., IN WHICH HIS RECOGNITION FOR THIS WAS READ ON THE FLOOR THIS YEAR IN HONOR OF MICHAEL ANDERSON JR.

THEY WILL BE NAMING A POST OFFICE IN MODESTO AFTER HIM, BUT HERE'S A SMALL CAPTION.

IN SEPTEMBER 2004, CORPORAL ANDERSON DEPLOYED TO IRAQ TO PARTICIPATE IN OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, WHERE HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE THIRD BATTALION, FIFTH MARINE REGIMENT, FIRST MARINE DIVISION OF THE FIRST MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE.

THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY COMMUNITY HAS RALLIED AROUND MIKE AND RAISED MONEY TO ENSURE THAT HE HAD THE BEST EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE, INCLUDING THREE DIFFERENT SETS OF PROTECTIVE GOGGLES. 11 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS ON DECEMBER 14TH OF 2004, CORPORAL ANDERSON WAS LEADING THE MARINES AND IRAQI SOLDIERS IN AN URBAN CLEANING OPERATION OF THE INSURGENT OF OCCUPIED BUILDINGS IN THE CITY OF FALLUJAH DURING THE BATTLE OF FALLUJAH.

HE WAS THE FIRST IN TO A STRONGHOLD WHEN HE WAS TRAGICALLY KILLED IN ACTION.

HE WAS 21 YEARS OLD.

CORPORAL ANDERSON HAD BEEN SCHEDULED TO LEAVE IRAQ JUST A FEW MONTHS LATER, AND RETURNED TO HIS FAMILY, WHERE HE HAD ALREADY PLANNED A JOYOUS FAMILY REUNION AND VACATION.

CORPORAL ANDERSON SHOWED TREMENDOUS BRAVERY AND INCREDIBLE COURAGE THROUGHOUT HIS SERVICE AND ESPECIALLY THAT DAY, HIS LAST DAY IN FALLUJAH.

IT IS REFLECTED IN HIS MILITARY DECLARATION, INCLUDING TWO PURPLE HEARTS, THE MARINE CORPS ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL WITH A V ATTACHED TO IT FOR VALOR, AS WELL AS COMBAT ACTION RIBBONS.

WHAT STANDS OUT MOST IN THE MEMORIES OF HIS OF HIS COMRADES IN ARMS, WITH HIS SELF-SACRIFICE AND CONCERN FOR THE MARINES IN HIS SQUAD.

HIS FATHER, MIKE ANDERSON, REMEMBERS HE WAS MORE WORRIED ABOUT TELLING ME ABOUT ONE OF THE GUYS IN HIS UNIT FIRST, BEFORE TELLING ME ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM.

HE FELT THAT SINCE HE WAS THE SQUAD LEADER, HE HAD TO TAKE CARE OF HIS TEAM FIRST.

[01:20:02]

JAMES MICHENER'S HAUNTING QUESTION.

ECHOES OF SUCH EXPLOITS, WHERE DO WE GET SUCH MEN? WE GET THEM FROM SMALL TOWNS LIKE MODESTO, HERE IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY, FROM LOVING FAMILIES LIKE THE ANDERSONS, DECENT YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WITH PROMISING FUTURES WHO WERE WILLING TO LEAVE THE SAFETY AND COMFORT OF HEALTH AND HOME WHEN THEIR COMMUNITY NEEDS THEM, AND TO STEP INTO HARM'S WAY TO PROTECT THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR NEIGHBORS, THEIR COUNTRYMEN, AND, ABOVE ALL, THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM.

I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION.

IT'S MICHAEL ANDERSON JR.

IS A LOT OF THE REASON I SERVE ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO THIS DAY, AND I JUST WANT TO DO THAT IN HONOR OF HIM.

MIKE WAS GOING TO BE HERE TODAY.

HIS FATHER, AND HE WAS GOING TO ACTUALLY WE WERE GOING TO PRESENT THE CERTIFICATE TO HIM, BUT HE WAS NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT TODAY.

HE TEXTED ME THIS MORNING, IN FACT, AS I WAS READING IT, HE WAS HE TEXTED ME THAT HE WAS WATCHING IT ONLINE.

SO WITH MY HONOR AND PLEASURE, I'M GLAD WE WERE ABLE TO DO THIS.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR.

OKAY. WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO BOARD ACTION, BEGINNING WITH PUBLIC WORKS ITEM 17 AND 18.

[BOARD ACTION]

PLEASE NOTE ITEM 18 REQUIRES A 4/5 VOTE.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS 17 AND 18.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? OKAY. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR DPW ITEMS 17 AND 18 IS NOW CLOSED, SO CALL FOR QUESTIONS OR MOTIONS.

MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

NEXT, WE HAVE PUBLIC HEALTH ITEMS 19 THROUGH 22.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ITEM 22 REQUIRES A 4/5 VOTE.

AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS 19 THROUGH 22.

PUBLIC COMMENTS.

OKAY. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR HEALTH ITEMS 19 THROUGH 22 IS NOW CLOSED.

CALLS FOR QUESTIONS OR MOTIONS? MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

IS A SECOND. SECOND.

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

NOW WE HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES.

ITEM 23.

PLEASE NOTE, A FOUR-FIFTHS VOTE IS REQUIRED AT THIS TIME.

I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER 23.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEM 23 IS NOW CLOSED.

MOTIONS FOR A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

SECOND SUPERVISOR PEDROZO SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

NOW WE HAVE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY ITEM 24.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM 24.

I DON'T SEE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS.

SO THE COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED FOR ITEM 24.

SO I'LL CALL FOR COMMENTS OR MOTIONS.

MOTION SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, PAREIRA SECOND.

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

NEXT, WE HAVE CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES.

ITEM 25.

DIRECTOR WILSON WILL COME UP AND SPEAK.

GOOD MORNING, BOARD, CHAIRMAN ESPINOSA, COUNTY COUNSEL HANSEN, CEO MENDEZ.

GOOD MORNING. I'LL BE BRIEF, BUT THE REASON WE'RE HERE ON THIS ITEM IS THE ACTUALLY THE DECOUPLING OF THE CHILD SUPPORT AGENCY IN MERCED AND IN MARIPOSA, WHERE WE'VE HAD A RELATIONSHIP WHERE THE DIRECTOR OF THE CHILD SUPPORT AGENCY IN MERCED HAS RUN THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROGRAMMATIC ASPECTS OF MARIPOSA CHILD SUPPORT AGENCY SINCE THEY HAD RETIREMENT OF THEIR DIRECTOR AND THEIR COUNTY COUNSEL.

I'M SORRY, THEIR CHILD SUPPORT CHIEF ATTORNEY BACK IN 2015.

SO SINCE MAY 1ST OF 2016, GRATIS, BASED ON THIS BOARD'S PERMISSION, WE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SUPPORT IN MERCED HAVE BEEN RUNNING THE CHILD SUPPORT AGENCY IN MARIPOSA USING THE DIRECTOR, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR PROGRAM MANAGER, AT TIMES PROVIDING ALL OF THEIR TRAINING, HANDLING ALL OF THEIR PHONE CALLS AND ALSO OUR LEGAL COUNSEL HANDLING ALL THEIR COURT APPEARANCES UP IN MERCED A COUPLE OF TIMES PER MONTH.

HELPING OUT A SISTER COUNTY IN TIMES OF NEED.

WELL, THAT WAS ORIGINALLY JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS MOU IN DOING THIS SORT OF REGIONALIZATION AND IT'S GONE ON ACTUALLY FOR ALMOST NINE YEARS.

HOWEVER, ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE STATE WAS LOOKING AT THE REGIONALIZATION RELATIONSHIP.

[01:25:05]

IT'S NOT CONSIDERING IT A TRUE REGIONALIZATION BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR EMPLOYEES UP THERE.

IT'S JUST ADMINISTRATIVELY RUN BY MERCED COUNTY EMPLOYEES LIKE MYSELF AND OUR CHIEF ATTORNEY, AND SO WITH THAT RELATIONSHIP, IT LOOKED LIKE WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE, AND I WAS ABLE TO FIND A PARTNER IN MADERA COUNTY WHO IS ACTUALLY A MUCH BETTER SUITED AGENCY IN TERMS OF CASELOAD SIZE. THE COUNTY'S TOUCH, AND THERE IS A CONGLOMERATE OF OUR OF CUSTOMERS OF MADERA COUNTY CHILD SUPPORT AS WELL AS MARIPOSA COUNTY CHILD SUPPORT.

WHERE THEY RUN THEIR PROGRAMS SIMILARLY, KIND OF ON A CASE MANAGEMENT CRADLE TO GRAVE BASIS.

EVERYONE SORT OF KNOWS EVERYTHING.

IT'S DIFFERENT THAN THE WAY WE RUN OUR CASES HERE.

SO OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WERE ACTUALLY VERY DIFFERENT.

I IN MY 20 MONTHS HERE WORKING FOR THIS COUNTY HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING ON STRATEGIC PLANNING, BEING CONSIDERED A DEPARTMENT, HEAD UP THERE AND RUNNING THE PROGRAM AND MEETING SOME REALLY GREAT PEOPLE, AND I'M PLEASED TO REPORT THAT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS MARIPOSA COUNTY IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST COUNTIES COLLECTING CHILD SUPPORT EVERY MONTH 70% OF WHAT'S OWED GETS COLLECTED.

SO MERCED THROUGH THE GRACE OF YOU AND THE AND PREVIOUS CEO AND PREVIOUS PEOPLE THAT CAME BEFORE ME HAVE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB FOR THAT SISTER COUNTY GRATIS.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GIVING A LOT HERE TODAY.

WE HAVE GIVEN A LOT, AND NOW THAT WHAT'S HAPPENED IS MADEIRA IS GOING TO TAKE OVER THAT RELATIONSHIP.

OUR RELATIONSHIP WOULD HAVE ENDED APRIL 30TH, 2025.

WHAT'S HAPPENED IS LAST WEEK, ON TUESDAY, THE MADEIRA COUNTY BOARD APPROVED TAKING THAT RELATIONSHIP OVER ON JANUARY 1ST, AND THIS MORNING, MARIPOSA'S BOARD APPROVED THAT AS WELL, AND TODAY, WE'RE ASKING YOU TO PROVE THIS ITEM TO OUR LATEST CONTRACT WAS GOING TO RUN OUT AT THE END OF APRIL. WE'LL ACTUALLY HAVE THAT HAPPEN DECEMBER 31ST, AND SO I WOULD SUBMIT IT TO YOU ON THAT ONE LAST PIECE.

IT TURNS OUT WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN TAKING THEIR CALLS UNDER A SEPARATE CUSTOMER CALLS EVERY DAY UNDER A SEPARATE AGREEMENT THAT GOES BACK 15 YEARS TO 2009, AND UNDER THE NEW MOU WITH MARIPOSA BETWEEN MARIPOSA AND MADERA, THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE THOSE CALLS AND THEY'LL PROBABLY START TAKING THEM AROUND JANUARY 1ST.

RIGHT, BUT I WILL BE BACK NEXT MONTH TO JUST DO THE FORMAL 60-DAY ASKING FOR PERMISSION TO DO THE FORMAL 60 DAY TERMINATION OF THAT PLAN OF COOPERATION FROM 2009, WHICH WE FOUND LAST WEEK.

SO BUT I'LL SUBMIT ON THE ENDING OF THE MOU EARLY TODAY TO YOU AT THIS TIME.

THANK YOU. ANY MORE COMMENTS? NO. OKAY.

AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES ITEM 25.

ANY COMMENTS? I SEE NO ONE HERE.

OKAY. OKAY.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

FIRST MOTION AND SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

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

NOW WE HAVE ELECTIONS.

ITEM 26.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ELECTIONS ITEM NUMBER 26.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? OKAY. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

FOR ELECTIONS. ITEMS 26 IS NOW CLOSED.

SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL MOTIONS AND SECOND, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

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

NEXT, WE HAVE DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

ITEM 27.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR DA ITEM NUMBER 27.

PUBLIC COMMENTS. OKAY.

I SEE NO ONE COMING FORWARD.

SO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR DA ITEM 27 IS NOW CLOSED.

IS THERE A SECOND? OKAY.

MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SECOND SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

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

NOW WE HAVE FIRE.

ITEM 28.

OKAY. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER 28.

PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. ONE PUBLIC COMMENT.

PERIOD FOR ITEM NUMBER 28 IS NOW CLOSED.

COMMENTS OR MOTIONS? COMMENTS. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

YEAH, I'LL GO AHEAD AND MOTION THIS, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY I WANT TO THANK FIRE FOR TAKING A STANCE ON THIS.

THIS REALLY AFFECTS MY COMMUNITY.

I SAW IT EARLIER ON PUBLIC WORKS AS WELL.

I WAS A LITTLE EMOTIONAL. I WASN'T ABLE TO COMMENT ON IT, BUT I APPRECIATE US MOVING FORWARD ON THIS.

I THINK I KIND OF SET PEOPLE BACK ON THEIR HEELS WHEN I FIRST GOT THE CALL ON IT AND I SAID, WELL, THIS IS GOING TO BE A STATE OF EMERGENCY BECAUSE WE HAVE QUINLEY BRIDGE OUT AS WELL. THIS BECOMES A GOODS MOVEMENT FOR OUR FARMERS TRYING TO GET THEIR THEIR GOODS TO MARKET, AND SO I APPRECIATE US

[01:30:06]

ACTING FAST ON THIS, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY SUPPORTING THIS MOTION.

THANKS. YEAH, I AGREE WITH QUINLEY BRIDGE WHEN IT WAS IN MY DISTRICT, WAS OUT FOR A LONG TIME, SO.

ALRIGHT, SO FOR OUR SECOND MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL FIRST AND SECOND PAREIRA.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

NOW WE HAVE HUMAN SERVICES RESOURCES, HUMAN RESOURCES ITEMS 29 AND 30.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR HR ITEMS 29 AND 30.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR HR ITEMS 29 AND 30 IS NOW CLOSED.

COMMENTS OR MOTIONS.

SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA MOTION.

SUPERVISOR PEDROZO SECOND.

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

NOW WE HAVE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE ITEMS 31 AND 32.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ITEM 32 REQUIRES A 4/5 VOTE.

ITEM 31 IS TO CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENT OF MARK MIMS AS THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AT THE ANNUAL SALARY OF $167,980 AND APPROVE A LEVEL BENEFITS EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 30TH, 2024.

OKAY, CEO RAUL WILL MAKE SOME COMMENTS.

YES. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, PLEASED TO BRING THIS RECOMMENDATION BEFORE YOU FOR CONFIRMATION.

AS MENTIONED, THE APPOINTMENT OF MARK MIMMS TO SERVE AS OUR NEXT DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AS THE BOARD IS AWARE, OUR CURRENT DIRECTOR STEVE MAXEY, WILL BE LEAVING US AT THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR ON DECEMBER 27TH.

SO THIS WOULD ALLOW FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH NEW LEADERSHIP.

SMOOTHLY. WE'VE ALREADY BEGUN MEETING WITH MR. MAXEY. MR. MIMMS WAS PART OF A RECRUITMENT PROCESS THAT TOOK PLACE.

TOP CANDIDATE AS WELL.

REALLY PLEASED TO SEE SUCCESSION PLANNING PLANNING HAPPEN.

HE'S HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK UNDER TWO DIRECTORS, SO WE FULLY EXPECT HIM TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING ON DECEMBER 30TH.

PENDING YOUR APPROVAL THIS MORNING, I KNOW HE'S PREPARED TO MAKE SOME REMARKS, SO I'LL KEEP MY SHORT MIND SHORT FOR TODAY, BUT CERTAINLY HE'S BEEN A LOYAL MEMBER OF OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM THERE AT CED FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS.

REALLY EXCITED ABOUT TAKING ON THIS NEW LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY.

THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME OBVIOUSLY RESTRUCTURING THAT HAPPENS UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, BUT SUPER, SUPER HAPPY THAT MARK'S WILLING TO KIND OF TAKE THE POSITION HEAD ON.

SO THAT'S IT.

MR. CHAIR, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

THANK YOU. ANY COMMENTS BY MARK MIMMS? NO THANK YOU.

SHOULD WAIT TILL AFTER THE VOTE.

YEAH. YOU WANT TO WAIT TILL.

OKAY. WELL, LET'S. YEAH, WE HAVE A COMMENT ON ITEM 32, MR. CHAIR. OKAY. AT THIS TIME, LET ME OPEN IT UP FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM 31 AND 32.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS, QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM? NO. OKAY.

QUESTIONS? JUST A COMMENT ON ITEM 32.

I WANT TO THANK THE BUDGET STAFF.

THIS ITEM IS BASICALLY WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT ARPA MONEY AND SOME OF THAT MONEY THAT CAME DOWN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT HAS SPECIFIC DATES AS TO WHEN FUNDS CAN BE ALLOCATED AND WHEN THEY HAVE TO BE SPENT BY.

THE TEAM HAS LOOKED INTO MAYBE SOME AREAS THAT POTENTIALLY WOULD GO OUT FURTHER THAN SOME OF THOSE DATES AND THEN ARE JUST KIND OF REALLOCATING MONEY.

IT LOOKS LIKE A BIG NUMBER, 2.49 $1 MILLION, BUT IT'S KIND OF IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE SHELL GAME.

WE'RE TAKING IT AND PUTTING IT INTO OUR HVAC REMODEL PROJECT AT THE COUNTY BUILDING WHERE WE KNOW THAT IT'S ALLOCATED, WE KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO BE SPENT, AND THEN THAT FREES UP THOSE DOLLARS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE AND PUT THEM IN PLACES THAT MAYBE FOR BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL DELAYS OR WHATEVER THE CASE.

SO WE'RE KIND OF MOVING THE MONEY AROUND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT SENDING ANY OF THAT MONEY BACK TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR THEIR HARD WORK ON THAT.

OKAY. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR MOTIONS? SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. YEAH, I JUST WANT TO ECHO AND THANK STAFF FOR DOING SOME CREATIVE BUDGETING AND GETTING TO THIS POINT, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY, AND I APPRECIATE IT, BUT IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION FOR 31 AND 32. SILVEIRA SECOND.

OKAY. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

SECOND SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

CONGRATULATIONS, DIRECTOR MIMMS, OFFICIALLY.

IT WAS CLOSE. GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

THANK YOU FOR THE CONFIDENCE IN ME TO BECOME THE NEXT DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

[01:35:05]

THANK YOU. CEO MENDEZ, ASSISTANT CEO'S HENDRICKSON AND BARRERA FOR THIS HONOR.

I ALSO WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT THANK MY FAMILY, WHO HAS ALWAYS SUPPORTED ME AND CHEERED ME ON, AND ALSO MY PREDECESSOR, STEVE MAXEY FOR HIS SUPPORT.

IT IS A HUGE HONOR TO BE NAMED THE NEXT DIRECTOR OF CDD.

THIS DEPARTMENT IS FULL OF WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO TRULY ARE PROFESSIONALS IN THEIR FIELD AND WHO LOVE TO SERVE THE PUBLIC.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF THE TEAM AND MANAGEMENT WITHIN CED AND DEPARTMENT HEADS AND STAFF THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY IN THIS NEW CAPACITY.

I FEEL VERY LUCKY TO HAVE THE STAFF WE HAVE IN CED.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MUCH APPRECIATED, AND ALSO, MANY THANKS TO STEVE MAXEY FOR HIS TIME HERE.

THANK YOU, SIR.

ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE HAVE WE HAVE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ITEMS 33 AND 34.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ITEMS 33 AND 34.

OKAY. I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 33 AND 34.

SILVEIRA MOTION TO APPROVE.

MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

SECOND SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

ALL IN FAVOR? BEFORE YOU TAKE THAT MOTION FOR ITEM 33, JUST WANT TO CONFIRM RECOMMENDATION NUMBER TWO, WHICH INCLUDES CONSIDERING CARRYING FORWARD ANY UNSPENT FUNDS FOR THIS REQUEST THE GRAFFITI ABATEMENT.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS PART OF THE MOTION.

OKAY. IT WAS IN THERE.

YES. THE SECOND IS FINE WITH THAT.

OKAY. OKAY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL SECOND SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA WITH AMENDMENTS.

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

NOW WE HAVE BOARD APPOINTMENTS.

ITEMS 35 AND 36.

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

ITEM 35 AND 36.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT ON BOARD APPOINTMENTS 35 AND 36.

CALLS FOR MOTIONS OR QUESTIONS? COMMENT BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

YEAH. SO BEING YOUR REPRESENTATIVE ON THE ALLIANCE BOARD, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY NEEDED FROM US WAS A REPRESENTATIVE FROM SOMEBODY FROM OUR PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND UNTIL WE HAVE A DIRECTOR, I REQUESTED THAT ASSISTANT CEO HENDRICKSON, WHO'S THE ACTING DIRECTOR OVER THERE, BE PLACED ON THIS BOARD SO THAT HE CAN CONTINUE THE WORK WITH THE ALLIANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THE WORK THAT IS NECESSARY. SO I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.

THANK YOU. YEAH.

MORE COMMENTS. NO.

OKAY. MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZA.

IS THERE A SECOND? SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SECOND.

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

BOARD REPORTS AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE BOARD REPORTS STARTING WITH SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION]

THANK YOU. I ALREADY MADE MY COMMENTS TO YOU, BUT I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN ON YOUR SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN TO BE ON THE MERCED COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION BOARD.

I KNOW THEY'RE GETTING SOMEBODY THAT'S VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY.

SO CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME WITH THE COUNTY.

I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK STEVE MAXEY FOR HIS TIME HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.

I KNOW HE'S AND WISH HIM BEST OF LUCK IN HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS, BUT THEN ALSO CONGRATULATE MARK MIMS ON BEING THE DIRECTOR, BEING APPOINTED TO THE DIRECTOR.

I ALSO WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE MERCED CITY COUNCIL FOR THEIR EFFORTS AND BEING WILLING TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY IN DOING THE STOP GAP, FIRE, AUTO AID.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD DEAL FOR ALL PARTIES INVOLVED, AND IT SHOWS THAT COLLABORATION BETWEEN TWO GOVERNMENTS CAN REALLY IT WORKS AND IT CAN HAPPEN FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR CONSTITUENTS. I ALSO WANTED TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE EVENTS OF THE YEAR.

IT'S THE HMONG NEW YEAR THAT STARTS ON FRIDAY AND GOES THROUGH THIS WEEKEND, AND THEN ALSO IN THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS, I ALWAYS DO THIS WHEN MY CHILDREN ARE DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS, BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE TICKETS YET, ELF JUNIOR, MY SON IS BUDDY THE ELF IN THE SHOW THIS WEEKEND AT MERCED HIGH.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU GET TICKETS, BUT I'M SURE YOU CAN FIND THEM ONLINE THROUGH THE ACCESSIBLE ARTS, AND THEN I JUST WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY BEING THAT THIS IS THE LAST MEETING OF THE YEAR, A MERRY CHRISTMAS.

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR STAFF.

THIS HAS BEEN A VERY GOOD YEAR.

IT'S BEEN UP AND DOWN AT TIMES, BUT I THINK THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PREVAIL, AS THE CHAIR SAID EARLIER.

SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY AND WISH EVERYBODY A MERRY CHRISTMAS, A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON, AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT YEAR.

[01:40:06]

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I WANT TO AM I ON? YEAH. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE HERE.

I THINK IT'S 22 YEARS.

IF WE COUNT THIS, THIS PAST YEAR THAT YOU'VE BEEN IN SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC.

NOT ONLY WITH THE LIVINGSTON CITY COUNCIL AND AS THE MAYOR OF LIVINGSTON, AND HERE YOU HAVE SERVED HONORABLY, AND I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR WORK.

I APPRECIATE ALL THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD.

WE MIGHT NOT HAVE AGREED ON EVERYTHING, BUT WE ALWAYS KEPT A REALLY GOOD PROFESSIONAL WORKING RELATIONSHIP, AND WE WAS ABLE TO ADD EACH OTHER'S PERSPECTIVE TO CERTAIN THINGS, AND I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.

YOUR LEADERSHIP AS YOUR LAST CHAIRMANSHIP WAS DURING COVID AND I THOUGHT YOU DID THAT VERY GOOD.

I FELT BAD THAT YOU HAD TO BE THE CHAIRMAN DURING THAT TIME, BUT YOU STOOD STRONG AND YOU STUCK TO THE VALUES, AND YOU HELD EVERYBODY ACCOUNTABLE, AND YOU HELD AND YOU KEPT KEPT AN EVEN KEEL THE WHOLE TIME, AND I APPRECIATED THAT.

THANK YOU. ALSO, I'D LIKE TO THANK STEVE MAXEY FOR HIS SERVICE.

STEVE, SLIP OUT OF HERE? YES HE DID. FOR THAT, AND MARK MIMMS, CONGRATULATIONS.

LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.

SORRY, CASTLE'S IN MY DISTRICT.

YOU'LL GET A LOT OF PHONE CALLS, PROBABLY MORE NOW, BUT NO, I APPRECIATE THAT.

I'D LIKE TO WISH EVERYBODY A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS.

HOLD YOUR FAMILIES TIGHT.

THIS IS THE BEST TIME TO BE AROUND YOUR FAMILY, AND I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN IN HONOR OF MICHAEL ANDERSON JR.

WHO 20 YEARS AGO, DECEMBER 14TH.

THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE TO OUR NATION.

SO THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS.

THANK YOU, SIR. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

YEAH. YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN TOLD A FEW TIMES.

I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVING WITH ME AS BEING A COLLEAGUE.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE AS A BOARD, AND I THINK THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY KIND OF WELL KNOWN AROUND THE STATE NOW AS A BOARD THAT MAYBE DOESN'T ALWAYS AGREE ON ALL THE ISSUES, BUT GENUINELY, NOT ONLY ARE WE COLLEAGUES, BUT I CONSIDER ALL OF THESE GENTLEMEN UP HERE TO BE FRIENDS, AND WHEN WE GO TO OUR STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, OUR RCRC AS A GROUP, WE SHOW UP, WE BREAK BREAD TOGETHER, WE GO TO THE SESSIONS TOGETHER, AND I DON'T KNOW ANY OTHER WAY BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY THAT IT'S BEEN HERE FOR QUITE A WHILE ON OUR BOARD, AND JUST TO LET FOLKS KNOW THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT IS IN OTHER PLACES.

OTHER PLACES, THERE'S BOARD MEMBERS THAT GENERALLY DON'T LIKE EACH OTHER AND DON'T TALK TO EACH OTHER, AND IT'S VERY APPARENT WE'RE VERY BLESSED THAT WAY.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF MERCED COUNTY, AND I WISH YOU WELL IN YOUR COMMITMENT AND YOUR AND YOUR DEDICATED SERVICE INTO YOUR NEXT VENTURE WITH MCOE. TO SUPERVISOR ELECT PACHECO, WHO'S BEEN HERE.

YOU'VE GOT TO EXPERIENCE WITH US.

WHEN WE WERE AT CSAC THAT THIS GROUP, YOU KNOW, WE WORK HARD TOGETHER.

WE ENJOY EACH OTHER'S COMPANY, AND SO WE WELCOME YOU ABOARD ON THAT.

TO STEVE MAXEY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO US, AND I THINK THAT YOU HAVE BRIGHT THINGS IN YOUR FUTURE, AND MARK MIMMS, WELCOME TO THE, YOU'VE BEEN ON THE TEAM, BUT WELCOME TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF THE TEAM, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTINUING THAT KIND OF WE'RE GOING TO FIND EVERY WAY TO TELL PEOPLE YES BEFORE WE HAVE TO TELL THEM NO.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I WANT TO DO GIVE A CONGRATULATIONS TO MIKE VAN LÖBEN SELS, WHO WAS JUST RECENTLY PROMOTED TO THE SOUTHERN REGION CHIEF OF CAL FIRE.

SO HIS AREA GOT QUITE A LOT LARGER.

HE STRETCHES FROM HIS CURRENT, WHERE HE IS THE UNIT CHIEF FOR THE MARIPOSA MERCED, MADERA UNIT.

NOW HE REPRESENTS EVERYTHING TO THE TO THE MEXICO BORDER.

AS FAR AS CAL FIRE, HE'S THE SOUTHERN REGION CHIEF.

I THINK THAT WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE.

I DON'T KNOW, AT LEAST IN MY YEARS OF BEING AROUND CAL FIRE THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY EVER HAD A A REGION CHIEF THAT ACTUALLY LIVES IN MY DISTRICT IN MERCED COUNTY.

SO, YOU KNOW, MIKE WAS PLANNING ON RETIRING HERE JUST IN A FEW DAYS, AND THIS POSITION HE APPLIED FOR AND WAS SUCCESSFUL IN AND SO WE GET THAT STILL, EVEN THOUGH HE'S THE REGION CHIEF, HE'S STILL A LOS BANOS BOY, A MERCED COUNTY BOY GUY, MAN NOW, THAT'S HOW LONG AGO HE STARTED HIS CAREER AT 18 YEARS OLD WITH CAL FIRE.

SO WE'RE LUCKY, AND I WANT TO WISH HIM A CONGRATULATIONS.

I KNOW THAT, CHIEF.

TRINIDAD IS THE NUMBER TWO IN MMU, AND HE'S IN THAT POSITION NOW UNTIL THEY DO ALL THEIR STUFF OVER AT CAL FIRE.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO HIM.

WE DO HAVE ONE MEMBER OF OUR STAFF WHO'S NOT HERE TODAY.

I JUST WANT TO SEND ALL MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS TO THAT PERSON AND WISH THEM NOTHING BUT THE BEST.

THE REMODEL.

I'M SO THANKFUL THAT WE ARE AT THE VERY END OF OUR REMODEL.

I CAN TELL YOU I'VE ENJOYED MY TIME SHARING OFFICE SPACE WITH MY COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT THREE OVER IN COUNTY COUNSEL'S OFFICE, AND FORREST, YOUR TEAM OVER THERE HAS BEEN

[01:45:07]

GREAT TO US. I'M THE GUY THAT WALKS BY AND RINGS THE BELL WHEN I DON'T SEE SOMEBODY THERE.

JUST TO KEEP THEM ON THEIR TOES.

WE DID GET A DOOR FIXED OVER THERE.

SO, YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD TO HAVE OFFERED THOSE SERVICES FOR YOU.

FOR US? TWO DOORS.

FORREST ACTUALLY FOUND SOME LITHIUM GREASE OR SOMETHING TO PUT ON THAT DOOR TO COUNTY COUNCIL BECAUSE THAT THING SQUEAKED SO LOUD BUT WE WERE, YOU KNOW, WE PROBLEM SOLVE THIS AND WE GOT THROUGH IT, BUT I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING OUR TEAM BACK IN OUR OFFICE.

IT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER BY SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA, OUR BOARD CLERK'S THE HR FOLKS HAVE BEEN GREAT TO US AS WE'VE BEEN OVER ON KIND OF THAT SIDE OF THE BUILDING.

I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR FOR LETTING US KIND OF BE DISRUPTIVE.

I KNOW, AT LEAST FOR ME, BE DISRUPTIVE INTO THEIR NORMAL DAILY OPERATIONS OF MYSELF AND SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND EVERYBODY ELSE, AND SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA WAS OVER THERE COMING IN BACK AND FORTH. SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR HOSTING US FOR A WHILE, BUT I CAN'T WAIT TO HAVE MY TEAM BACK.

I MISS YOU GUYS.

THEY'VE BEEN DOWN OVER HERE DOWNTOWN AND IT'S JUST I DON'T LIKE IT, AND I'M HAPPY THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET BACK TO OUR, OUR NORMAL WAYS OF OF BEING ABLE TO WALK DOWN THE HALL AND FIND THE PEOPLE THAT YOU NEED TO TALK TO.

NOW I WANT TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF DISAPPOINTMENT THAT I HAVE.

YOU KNOW, IT COMES WITH A LOT OF HARD WORK, AND WHEN WE WENT AFTER THESE GRANTS TO BE ABLE TO DO A REMODEL, A ONCE IN A GENERATION REMODEL OF THE DALE HILL HALL, AN ADDITION OF MERCED COUNTY'S NEWEST LIBRARY TO THE DOS PALOS AREA, AND I DO HAVE FRUSTRATIONS WITH OUR CONTRACTORS.

THOUGH THERE'S THINGS THAT HAPPEN THAT ARE THEY'RE NOT WITHIN OUR CONTROL, RIGHT? WE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH PG&E AND SOME PLANS THAT GOT CHANGED AND WE HAVE CONTRACTORS THAT MAKE COMMITMENTS TO US, AND THE ONE THING THAT WE DO IS WE PAY.

GOOD. OKAY, AND WHEN YOU GET A GOVERNMENT JOB, WE PAY VERY WELL, AND BECAUSE OF SOME DELAYS, CONTRACTORS MOVE SUBCONTRACTORS OFF OF THE JOB, AND THEN NOW THAT WE'RE READY TO GO, THOSE SUBCONTRACTORS ARE NOT NOT READY TO COME BACK TO US, AND THAT FRUSTRATES ME.

IT FRUSTRATES ME TO NO END BECAUSE I GET THE CALLS FROM MY BOSSES IN DOS PALOS WHO ARE WONDERING WHY WE HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL NEW BUILDING THAT GOT ADDED AND EVERYTHING IS JUST AT A STANDSTILL, AND AGAIN, THERE'S THINGS THAT HAPPEN ALONG THE WAY THAT WERE KIND OF UNFORESEEN.

WE HAD TO ADD SOME BATHROOMS. THOSE HAVE SINCE BEEN CHANGED TO A LOCATION THAT DOESN'T PREVENT CONTRACTORS FROM DOING THEIR WORK, BUT YET THIS IS WHAT GIVES GOVERNMENT A BAD NAME.

WHEN PEOPLE DRIVE BY THERE ON A DAILY BASIS AND THEY SEE THAT THIS PROJECT IS JUST SITTING THERE, AND SO I HAVE FRUSTRATIONS WITH THAT, AND WHAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS IS, IS WE ENTER INTO CONTRACTS WITH PEOPLE THAT WE PAY VERY GENEROUSLY TO BE IN THAT WE HOLD THEM TO THE STANDARD, YOU KNOW, WE APPRECIATE THEM AND WE PAY THEM GOOD MONEY.

WE WANT THEM TO HOLD US IN THAT SAME STANDARD AND APPRECIATE US AND GET THE WORK DONE THAT THEY PROMISED TO GET DONE AND SO I HAVE FRUSTRATIONS WITH THAT, AND I'M LIKE AN ELEPHANT.

I DON'T FORGET. I'M GOING TO STORE THAT WAY IN THE OLD MEMORY BANK.

SO IT JUST IT IS FRUSTRATING BECAUSE WE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HAVING PARTNERS IN THE DOS PALOS LIONS CLUB, WHO THEY RENT THAT FACILITY OUT, THEY TAKE CARE OF IT AS A COUNTY, WE COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY TO HAVE PEOPLE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.

THAT'S THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THEM, AND NOW THAT THIS BUILDING IS JUST SITTING THERE AND THEY CAN'T USE IT ALL, THEIR ABILITY TO GENERATE REVENUE THAT PAYS THE POWER BILL THAT KEEPS KEEPS THE FACILITY GOING.

WHEN YOU HAVE THESE FACILITIES, IF YOU DON'T USE THEM, YOU LOSE THEM.

RIGHT, AND SO THESE FOLKS ARE KIND OF JUST SITTING OUT THERE STRANDED UNTIL WE CAN GET OUR ACT IN GEAR AND GET THIS PROJECT FINISHED.

SO I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT MESSAGE OUT THERE AND HOPEFULLY THE RIGHT PEOPLE GET TO HEAR IT.

I SAID ABOUT THE REMODEL.

YEAH. SO THERE'S THAT, AND THEN THE LAST THING I WANT TO LEAVE EVERYBODY WITH IS, IS MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

OH YESTERDAY MYSELF AND SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL WERE INVITED TO GO SPEAK AT THE REPUBLICAN WOMEN'S LUNCHEON.

TYPICALLY LASTS ABOUT AN HOUR, BUT WE WERE SO MESMERIZING THAT WE WENT FOR LIKE AN HOUR AND 45 MINUTES, AND WE PROBABLY COULD HAVE WENT FOR ANOTHER HOUR WITH THEM, BUT IT WAS REALLY A JOYOUS OCCASION, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO GET BACK THERE AND VISITING WITH THOSE FOLKS AGAIN.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

WELL, FIRST, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO SERVE WITH YOU FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.

WE CAME IN TOGETHER AND WE, YOU KNOW, HAD A LOT OF GROWING PAINS AND LEARNING AND, AND ANYWAYS, THAT WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, IT WAS GOOD TO GO THROUGH THAT WITH YOU, AND I WISH YOU WELL IN YOUR NEXT ENDEAVOR.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING US USE THIS BUILDING TODAY, AND ANYWAYS, SO THANK YOU AGAIN.

I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME MARK MIMS TO THE TEAM IN A NEW CAPACITY.

IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU.

YOU KNOW, IT'S AMAZING WHEN YOU SAID SIX AND A HALF YEARS THAT, YOU KNOW, IT JUST TIME HAS FLOWN BY, AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR IDEAS AND YOU KNOW, YOUR CREATIVENESS FOR FOR

[01:50:05]

THE NEXT YEARS, AND HOPEFULLY SOMEDAY ONE OF US GETS TO GIVE YOU A 20 YEAR OR 25 YEAR PIN.

SO ANYWAY, STEVE MAXEY, THANK YOU.

I KNOW YOU'VE LEFT THE BUILDING AND BUT ANYWAYS, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN YOUR NEW CAPACITY AND SO APPRECIATE ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU DID FOR FOR MY DISTRICT AND FOR THE CONSTITUENTS OF MERCED COUNTY.

YOU'RE ALWAYS A PHONE CALL AWAY AND GOT TO THE BOTTOM OF ANYTHING THAT I HAD A QUESTION OF, AND I I WANT TO THANK RAUL AND FORREST FOR THIS PAST YEAR.

YOU KNOW, I WAS AS WE WERE KIND OF TALKING AND, AND SUPERVISOR ESPINOSA WAS TALKING ABOUT THE YEAR AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY WE STARTED OUT AS KIND OF A ROUGH YEAR, IN MY OPINION, AND WITH A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS, IT SEEMED LIKE THERE WAS A LOT GOING ON, BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, I FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT THIS NEXT YEAR.

WE HAVE GREAT LEADERSHIP IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES, AND SO I'M JUST KIND OF EXCITED.

I CAN'T WAIT FOR JANUARY 1ST TO GET HERE SO WE CAN CALL IT OUR NEW YEAR, AND, YOU KNOW, START OFF ON A HIGH NOTE AND JUST GO UP FROM THERE.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I WANT TO WISH EVERYONE A MERRY CHRISTMAS.

IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU ALL THIS YEAR, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU DO FOR ME AND MY CONSTITUENTS, AND THEY APPRECIATE IT TOO, EVEN THOUGH I GET CALLS, YOU KNOW, WITH FRUSTRATIONS, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S EITHER NOT REALLY THE COUNTY'S ISSUE OR WE GET IT RESOLVED AND GET IT WORKING REALLY QUICK, AND THAT'S ALL I CAN ASK, AND THAT'S ALL THEY CAN ASK.

SO THANK YOU ALL I APPRECIATE IT AND THAT'S IT.

MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU SIR.

COUNTY COUNSEL. IS THIS THING ON? YEAH. MR. CHAIR, I JUST WANT TO ADD MY CONGRATULATIONS.

IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU, STARTING WITH YOUR CHAIRMANSHIP DURING COVID OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND THANK YOU, AND I PROMISE MY DIET STARTS RIGHT AFTER LUNCH TODAY.

SO THANK YOU.

COUNTY CEO.

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

I DO WANT TO EXTEND MY APPRECIATION TO THIS BOARD.

IT'S BEEN AN EXCITING BUT AT TIMES CHALLENGING YEAR, AND I DO APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT, THE ADVICE, THE COUNSEL TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, OBVIOUSLY, WHO'S GOING TO BE WRAPPING UP HIS LAST BOARD MEETING.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO MERCED COUNTY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING ONE OF THE FIVE INDIVIDUALS THAT BROUGHT ME HERE TO MERCED COUNTY AS THE CEO, AND THEN THANK YOU FOR JUST BEING VERY CORDIAL AND RESPECTFUL TOWARDS SUPERVISOR ELECT PACHECO.

I THINK SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SAID IT WELL.

THE CULTURE THAT EXISTS AMONGST THIS BOARD IS IS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER ELECTED BODIES THAT I KNOW ARE OUT THERE THAT I'VE WORKED FOR, AND IT STARTS HERE WITH, WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP AND JUST, YOU KNOW, SHOWING, DEMONSTRATING BY EXAMPLE.

I KNOW THAT NOT ALWAYS A TRANSITION FROM ONE ELECTED OFFICIAL TO THE OTHER IS EASY TO YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WORK THROUGH AS STAFF, BUT YOU BOTH HAVE BEEN AMAZING OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT BOTH OF YOU AS INDIVIDUALS, AND I APPRECIATE THAT AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH SUPERVISOR ELECT PACHECO AS HE TAKES THIS ROLE HERE ON THE BOARD AND TO THE STAFF.

I MEAN, I LOOK IN THE AUDIENCE, I SEE THE STAFF.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION.

SUPERVISOR PAREIRA SAID IT.

WELL, 2025 IS GOING TO BE A GOOD YEAR.

THERE'S OPTIMISM THERE, AND I THINK IT YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE GOOD STAFF HERE, LEADING DEPARTMENTS INDIVIDUALS THAT OBVIOUSLY YOU WORK WITH AT YOUR DEPARTMENTS AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL, AND I'M REALLY CONFIDENT THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH ANYTHING THAT THE FUTURE MAY BRING ANY ANYTHING POSITIVE.

OBVIOUSLY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITIES AND ANYTHING THAT MAY BE CHALLENGING, I THINK THIS ORGANIZATION IS PREPARED FOR THAT.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

THANK YOU EVERYONE.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I'M EXCITED TO MOVE ON.

RIGHT. OH, REALLY? YEAH. OH, YEAH.

JOSH? SORRY. GO AHEAD.

YEAH. I JUST I FORGOT TO MENTION A BIG THANK YOU ALSO TO STAFF FOR THE PLANNING AND ORGANIZING OF THE COURTHOUSE RENOVATION GROUNDBREAKING THAT TOOK PLACE THIS WEEK. I ALSO REALLY WANT TO THANK OR YEAH, LAST WEEK THANK STAFF.

ESPECIALLY OUR MULTIMEDIA STAFF WHO PUT TOGETHER AN AMAZING PRESENTATION AND THEN VIDEO TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE WORK.

SO THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

THANK YOU. OH, AND THEN YESTERDAY MYSELF, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND CEO MENDEZ, ASSISTANT CEO, HENDRICKSON AND COUNTY COUNCIL.

HANSEN ATTENDED THE SHERIFF'S SWEARING IN AND PROMOTIONAL CEREMONY YESTERDAY.

[01:55:02]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

WELL, I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERY BOARD MEMBER OVER HERE FOR YOUR TIME.

YOU KNOW, WE LEARNED, LIKE I SAID, WE DIDN'T AGREE ON EVERYTHING AS WELL, BUT I THINK THAT THIS COUNTY YOU KNOW, IS BETTER, I THINK THAN WHEN I CAME HERE AND WE LIKE I LIKE TO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO MAKE IT BETTER.

YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THE RESIDENTS YOU KNOW, HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEW SOMETIMES, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO DO OUR BEST WITH WHAT WE HAVE, WITH WHAT THE FUNDS THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SENDS HERE, BUT WE STRIVE TO DO OUR BEST OPENLY AND TRANSPARENT WITH EVERY CONSTITUENT OF OURS IN EVERY DISTRICT, AND SO I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, THANK THE RESIDENTS OF MERCED COUNTY FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR THE EIGHT YEARS THAT I SERVED ON THIS BOARD AND THE CONTINUED YOU KNOW, SUPPORT OF BEING ELECTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL IN LIVINGSTON AND THE COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT MAKES ME PROUD AND THAT I'VE DONE A, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, RESPECTFUL JOB WITH, WITH THE RESIDENTS AND THE REPRESENTATIVE EMPLOYEES OF THE COUNTY, AND NOW, HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, I'LL BE DOING MY BEST OVER THERE AS WELL.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO MARK MIMMS ON HIS APPOINTMENT.

STEVE MAXEY, I KNOW HE LEFT TOO, AS WELL, AND I'M GOING TO PASS THE BATON ALONG TO SUPERVISOR ELECT JIM PACHECO, YOU KNOW, GIVE YOU MY BEST.

LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, MY COLLEAGUES ARE GREAT, AND WE HAVE A GOOD CEO AND COUNTY COUNSEL TO KEEP US OUT OF TROUBLE.

SO YOU KNOW, WISH YOU THE BEST AND IN THE FUTURE.

SO, LIKE I SAID, NEVER BE AFRAID OF THE FUTURE, RIGHT? WE GOTTA MOVE ON. ALSO TOMORROW WOULD HAVE BEEN MY LAST BOARD MEETING AS AN THE MCAG.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK THAT BOARD AS WELL, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND EVERYBODY THAT SITS ON THAT BOARD TOO, BUT I'LL BE THERE TO THANK EVERYBODY AS WELL.

SO YESTERDAY I ATTENDED THE APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING INSTITUTE TO GIVE OUT CERTIFICATES TO THE GRADUATES IN LOS BANOS LAST NIGHT.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM AS WELL, AND THANK YOU.

I WANT TO WISH EVERYONE A MERRY CHRISTMAS.

THANK THE EMPLOYEES OF MERCER COUNTY FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT, AND YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST VERY GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE GOOD EMPLOYEES IN MERCER COUNTY AND OUR STAFF HERE, THAT'S HERE TOO, AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AGAIN TO EVERYONE.

SO SO THAT CONCLUDES MY LAST BOARD MEETING AS A SUPERVISOR THIS DECEMBER 17TH, 2024 THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING WILL BE HELD AT 10 A.M.

ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 14TH, 2025.

BACK IN THE BOARD OF BOARD CHAMBERS AT THE COUNTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING.

SO THANK YOU EVERYONE AND HAVE A GOOD DAY.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.