GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE MARCH 25TH, 2025 MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:07]
YOUR FIRST CLOSED SESSION TODAY IS EXISTING LITIGATION.[CLOSED SESSION]
NUMBER ONE, OFILI VERSUS COUNTY OF MERCED ET AL.MERCED SUPERIOR COURT CASE NUMBER 19CV-02840.
NUMBER TWO IS NEIL VERSUS COUNTY OF MERCED ET AL.
MERCED SUPERIOR COURT CASE NUMBER 25CV-00857.
AND YOUR LAST CLOSED SESSION IS PUBLIC EMPLOYEE RECRUITMENT COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER.
THE PUBLIC WILL BE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON ANY MATTER TO BE CONSIDERED IN CLOSED SESSION, PRIOR TO THE BOARD ADJOURNING INTO CLOSED SESSION.
TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE CLOSED SESSION ITEMS. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE CLOSED SESSION ITEMS IS NOW CLOSED.
WE WILL NOW ADJOURN INTO CLOSED SESSION.
GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE MARCH 25TH, 2025 MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
[10:00 A.M. REGULAR MEETING]
THIS MORNING, WE HAD A CLOSED SESSION MEETING AND STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION.WE WILL NOW START WITH THE INVOCATION LED BY ELDER CALEB MEDOFFIN FROM THE BARN CHURCH IN THE HILLCREST AREA, AND THEN SUPERVISOR PAREIRA WILL LEAD THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
THANK YOU. WOULD YOU PLEASE PRAY WITH ME? LORD GOD, WE COME HUMBLY BEFORE YOU TODAY. WE GLORIFY YOU AS THE ULTIMATE CREATOR AND GUARANTOR OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND LIBERTY, THE GIVER AND SUSTAINER OF LIFE. YOUR WAYS ARE ABOVE OURS, AND THEY ARE GOOD AND PERFECT.
WE RECOGNIZE THE BROKENNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND INSIDE EACH OF US.
LORD, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD HEAL THIS LAND, STARTING WITH THE HEARTS OF EACH AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL.
LET THIS FLOW INTO OUR FAMILIES, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR SCHOOLS, OUR CITIES AND TOWNS.
OUR COMMUNITY WILL BE HEALTHIEST WHEN IT RECOGNIZES THE VALUE OF FAITH IN YOU AND THAT YOUR WAYS ARE NOT PUNITIVE, BUT THAT THEY GUIDE US TO GOODNESS, RESTORATION, AND ABUNDANT LIFE.
WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD GIVE EACH OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS THE WISDOM AND GRACE TO MAKE DECISIONS WHICH REFLECT THOSE VALUES THAT FLOW FROM YOU VALUES LIKE LOVE, TRUTH, JUSTICE, FREEDOM, STEWARDSHIP, MERCY, AND FORGIVENESS.
WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM DISCERNMENT TO MAKE RULES WHICH BENEFIT THE CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT COUNTY OF MERCED, TO ALLOW THEM TO FLOURISH AND GROW IN A SAFE AND THRIVING COMMUNITY.
WE THANK YOU FOR THESE OFFICIALS AND THEIR SERVICE TO THEIR COMMUNITY.
IN JESUS NAME. AMEN. AMEN. READY? OKAY. BEFORE I
[Additional Item]
OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT, I HAVE A STATEMENT THAT I'D LIKE TO READ.I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS A RECENT ARTICLE IN THE COUNTY TIMES REGARDING THE PRIVATIZATION OF OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM, A TOPIC I PERSONALLY DISAGREE WITH. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THAT AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, OUR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO BE EFFECTIVE, RESPONSIBLE, AND EFFICIENT STEWARDS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
IF THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN OPEN DISCOURSE AND DEBATE, I'M MORE THAN WILLING TO ENGAGE WITH ANYONE, WHETHER IT'S IN MY OFFICE, IN THESE CHAMBERS, OR IN PUBLIC.
PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSION IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE WE SERVE THE NEEDS OF OUR CONSTITUENTS.
THAT BEING SAID, I WILL NOT ENGAGE WITH THE VITRIOLIC COMMENTS OFTEN SEEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
MY COLLEAGUES AND I TAKE OUR ROLES SERIOUSLY.
TO BE CLEAR, THE COUNTY'S LIBRARIES ARE NOT CLOSING OR BEING PRIVATIZED.
CLOSING OR CHANGING THE SERVICES THAT LIBRARIES PROVIDE HAS NEVER BEEN PART OF THIS CONVERSATION.
OUR GOAL IS TO NOT REDUCE LIBRARY ACCESS OR SERVICES, BUT TO IMPROVE THEM.
[00:05:10]
SERVICES FOR OUR RESIDENTS. UNFORTUNATELY, AFTER MAKING A CALL ABOUT LIBRARY SERVICES, IT LED TO THE MOBILIZATION OF FORCES OPERATING OUTSIDE THE SPHERE OF REALITY.AND IN AN ATTEMPT TO BE TRANSPARENT, IT IS MY BELIEF THAT IF CHANGES ARE TO AFFECT THE DEPARTMENT, THOSE INVOLVED SHOULD BE INFORMED FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT FOCUSED ON COLLABORATION OR RESOLUTION.
THEY ARE FOCUSED ON CONTROL AND ADVANCING THEIR OWN INTERESTS INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON THE POSITIVE.
THE DISCUSSION WAS PRELIMINARY. PRELIMINARY. PRELIMINARY AT BEST PERIOD.
END OF STORY. I DO WANT TO SAY THIS. IT WAS NEVER MY INTENTION TO PUT MY COLLEAGUES IN A DIFFICULT POSITION, AND FOR THAT I SINCERELY APOLOGIZE. IN HINDSIGHT, I SHOULD HAVE INFORMED THE VICE CHAIRMAN OF MY INTENTIONS, AND I DID NOT, AND I TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT.
HOWEVER, IT WAS NEVER MY INTENT TO GO BEHIND ANYONE'S BACK, AND I DEEPLY RESPECT MY COLLEAGUES AND THE STAFF WHO WORK TIRELESSLY TO SERVE MERCED COUNTY. WHILE WE MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE ON EVERY PROCESS OR DECISION, I AM CONFIDENT WE ALL SHARE THE SAME ULTIMATE GOAL TO SERVE THE BEST INTERESTS OF MERCED COUNTY. IT'S OKAY TO DISAGREE, BUT WE MUST DO SO RESPECTFULLY, UNDERSTANDING THAT EACH OF US BRINGS VALUABLE PERSPECTIVES TO THE TABLE.
I MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES, BUT I APPRECIATE THEIR WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL DISCUSSIONS BECAUSE IN THE END, WE ALL STRIVE FOR THE SAME OUTCOME, THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COUNTY.
[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK]
WITHIN THE BOARD'S JURISDICTION. TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON AND 30 MINUTES TOTAL.AND IN RESPECT OF EVERYBODY'S TIME, WE APPRECIATE THE INTEREST IN THE LIBRARY, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE TO SPEAK ON OTHER ISSUES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO. COULD I GET A SHOW OF HANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE ON THE LIBRARY TOPIC? THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE, WHO ARE HERE ON THE SAME TOPIC, CHOOSE A SPOKESPERSON OR A FEW TO MAKE COMMENTS TO THE BOARD SO THAT WE WILL, AND WE WILL NOTE THE SUPPORT FROM ALL THOSE WHO RAISED THEIR HAND.
IF MULTIPLE SPEAKERS ARE REPEATING THE SAME COMMENT, I WILL ASK IF THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WISHING TO SPEAK ON OTHER MATTERS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE BOARD, IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE BOARD MAY NOT LAWFULLY TAKE ACTION ON ANY ON AN ITEM, NOT ON THE AGENDA. AGAIN, WE HAVE 30 MINUTES OF PUBLIC COMMENT.
OKAY. LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES A PIECE. AND WE'LL START NOW.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN PEDROSO. SUPERVISORS. KENDRA, CAN YOU.
I'M SUPPOSED TO PUT THIS DOWN. IT'S NOT WORKING.
BUT I AM NOT REPRESENTING ANY SPECIFIC ORGANIZATION TODAY.
RATHER, I AM REPRESENTING OR EXPRESSING MY OWN THOUGHTS AFTER SEVERAL DAYS BEING CONCERNED REGARDING POSSIBLE ACTIONS THAT MAY THAT HAVE BEEN OR MAY BE CONSIDERED RELATED TO THE MERCED COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM.
I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST, ON BEHALF OF MAJOR STAKEHOLDERS WITH A VESTED INTEREST IN THE LIBRARY SYSTEM, THAT IF AND WHEN OR WHEN THE LIBRARY, THE BOARD, OR THE STAFF MAY CONSIDER MAY CONSIDER TAKING ACTIONS RELATED TO PRIVATIZATION OR ANY OTHER ACTIONS THAT WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE LIBRARIES, BUDGET, OR SERVICES THAT YOU PUBLICLY PARTNER WITH THESE LIBRARY STAKEHOLDERS IN A PROCESS THAT INCLUDES THESE STAKEHOLDERS IN THE DISCUSSION AND EVALUATION OF SUCH CONSIDERATIONS WELL IN ADVANCE OF BOARD ACTION.
THESE STAKEHOLDERS WOULD INCLUDE, OF COURSE, THE LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION AS WELL AS THE LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMISSION, WHOSE MEMBERS YOU SELECT FROM YOUR DISTRICTS TO ADVISE YOU ON LIBRARY MATTERS, AS WELL AS INCLUDING THE FRIENDS OF THE MERCED COUNTY LIBRARY AND ALL OF THE FRIENDS GROUPS THROUGHOUT MERCED COUNTY THAT SUPPORT THEIR LAND, THEIR LIBRARY, EXCUSE ME LIBRARY BRANCHES.
WE ARE VERY MUCH IN TOUCH WITH COMMUNITY NEEDS AND VALUES RELATED TO THE LIBRARY.
THIS MAY. THIS NEED NOT BE US AGAINST YOU OR YOU AGAINST US.
[00:10:03]
WE WANT TO WORK WITH YOU FOR THE LIBRARY SYSTEM MERCED COUNTY RESIDENTS NEED AND DESERVE.THERE'S A REASON WHY THE COMMUNITY SO GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED THE FRIENDS FUNDRAISING EFFORT, RESULTING IN ALMOST $100,000 DONATED TO FUND THE TEEN CENTER AND TEEN SERVICES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.
I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO ASK I'M GOING TO ASK THAT WE NOT CLAP AFTER THE SPEAKERS.
PLEASE. I WOULD PLEASE RESPECT THE SPACE. SO WE HAVE TWO LINES.
SO, WE'LL DO GO HERE AND THEN WE'LL SWITCH BACK AND FORTH.
OKAY. GOOD MORNING BOARD CEO MENDEZ AND STAFF.
AND TODAY I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT AN EVENT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PUT ON LAST WEEK.
I HOPE YOU ALL REMEMBER THE SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR.
WHETHER YOU PERSONALLY PARTICIPATED AND WALKED THROUGH THE AISLES OF BOOKS, OR WHETHER YOU SENT YOUR KIDS WITH MONEY TO PURCHASE WHAT THEY WANTED THAT DAY, IT'S A REALLY, REALLY AMAZING EXPERIENCE FOR ENGAGING CHILDREN IN LITERACY, BUT IT'S NOT EXCITING FOR EVERY STUDENT AND MANY STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY DON'T HAVE THE MEANS FOR ATTENDING AND ENJOYING THE BOOK FAIR.
MY STUDENTS AT MERCED HIGH SCHOOL RECOGNIZED THIS NEED, AND SO A FEW MONTHS BACK, WE MET WITH CHARLES WRIGHT ELEMENTARY, AND WE DESIGNED A PROGRAM WHERE FIVE STUDENTS FROM EVERY CLASS, AS NOTED BY THEIR TEACHERS, AS MORE DESERVING STUDENTS, ARE NECESSARY, STUDENTS FOR THIS WOULD GET $25 VOUCHERS.
WE WERE ABLE TO DO THIS LAST MONDAY WITH CHARLES WRIGHT ELEMENTARY, AND MY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS CAME AND SUPPORTED AND HELPED EVERY SINGLE STUDENT WALK AROUND AND CHOOSE BOOKS. AND TO SAY BOOKS ARE LIFE CHANGING IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT.
WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO INCREASE THIS CAPACITY MOVING FORWARD, AND WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH MERCED COUNTY MOVING FORWARD TO EXPAND THE REACH OF THIS PROGRAM, AS THIS PILOT PROGRAM WAS A MASSIVE SUCCESS.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIR PEDROSO, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, CEO MENDOZA AND STAFF.
I'M AGGIE FREEMAN, CLUB PRESIDENT OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF MERCED SUNRISE.
AND I WANT TO THANK THE INCREDIBLE CITIZENS OF THE MERCED COUNTY.
ON BEHALF OF MERCED SUNRISE, I EXTEND MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO EVERYONE WHO MADE THE 36TH ANNUAL ROTARY FUNDRAISER SHRIMP FEED FUNDRAISER SUCH AN INCREDIBLE SUCCESS TO THE 645 STUDENTS OF THE COUNTY OF OUR CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY OF MERCED WHO JOINED US.
YOUR PRESENCE, YOUR GENEROSITY AND UNWAVERING SUPPORT EMBODY THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY SERVICE.
TOGETHER, WE ARE INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF MERCED.
I'M PROUD TO SHARE THAT 100% OF THE FUNDS RAISED GO DIRECTLY TO SUPPORTING YOUTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS, INCLUDING THE KIDS DISCOVERY MUSEUM. MERCED HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING 100.
MERCED HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL AND CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS. SCOUTS USA GIRL SCOUTS, ROTARY YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARDS.
MERCED HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS AND THE ROTARY SPEECH CONTEST.
YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS MAKE THESE PROGRAMS POSSIBLE, SHAPING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS, SCHOLARS, AND CHANGE MAKERS. ROTARY IS BUILT ON THE BELIEF THAT THROUGH SERVICE WE CREATE LASTING IMPACT.
BUT WE DON'T DO IT ALONE. IT IS THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR LEADERS LIKE YOU, OUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS THAT WE CREATE HOPE IN THE WORLD.
TOGETHER WE IMAGINE, WE CREATE, WE INSPIRE, AND WITH THE MAGIC OF ROTARY AND THE POWER OF COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THANK YOU FOR STANDING WITH US AND THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN SERVICE ABOVE SELF, AND FOR HELPING US BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE IN MERCED COUNTY.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS LIZA ESPINOSA.
I'M A HOMEOWNER IN PLANADA, CALIFORNIA. I MY HOME WAS AFFECTED BY THE FLOOD.
AND IT HAS. WE STILL TO THIS DAY, HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET OUR HOME TAKEN CARE OF.
[00:15:04]
IT HAS AFFECTED MY HEALTH. AS YOU CAN SEE ON MY FACE, I CONSTANTLY AM CLEANING MOLD THAT GROWS.TO KEEP MY FAMILY PROTECTED. AND I HAVE A COPY HERE OF ONE OF THE EMAILS.
JUST ONE OF THE EMAILS THAT I HAVE REACHED OUT TO MERCED COUNTY MULTIPLE PEOPLE CATHOLIC CHARITIES, SELF-HELP HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. AND I STILL HAVE NOT HAD ANY RESPONSE BACK, ONLY EVERY ONE POINTING FINGERS AT EACH OTHER AND NO ONE TAKING RESPONSIBILITY OR FOLLOWING UP.
ALL I'M ASKING IS FOR HELP FOR ME AND OTHER HOMEOWNERS IN PLANADA TO HELP US GET OUR HOMES FIXED.
I KNOW THAT IT TAKES TIME TO REBUILD, BUT HOW LONG DO WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THIS TO HELP US IN THIS COMMUNITY? SO, I'M REACHING OUT TODAY.
JUST SO THAT I CAN SEE IF SOMEBODY CAN HEAR ME BECAUSE OF MULTIPLE CALLS AND EMAILS SEEM TO JUST PUSH ME ASIDE AND TELL ME SOMEONE'S GOING TO REACH OUT, AND NOBODY EVER REACHES OUT. JANUARY 27TH WAS THE LAST TIME THAT I REACHED OUT TO SOMEONE, AND AS OF TODAY, I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED A PHONE CALL, ONLY A RESPONSE TELLING ME THAT SOMEONE IS GOING TO CALL YOU.
SOMEONE'S GOING TO SEND YOU A LETTER, SOMEONE WILL REACH OUT TO YOU, BUT NOBODY EVER DOES.
AND IT'S BEEN ON GOING ON LIKE THIS FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
SO I'M HERE TODAY FINALLY JUST ASKING FOR HELP.
IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT I CAN DO ON MY PART TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THE COUNTY, WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, ANYBODY? I'M WILLING TO DO THAT. JUST PLEASE TELL ME WHAT I NEED TO DO.
THANK YOU. AND HERE'S A COPY OF ONE OF THE JUST ONE OF THE EMAILS.
AND IF YOU NEED MORE COPIES OF THE OTHER EMAILS AND THE NAMES OF THE PEOPLE, I CAN GIVE THAT TO YOU, TOO. OKAY, I'M GOING TO. BEFORE I GO TO YOU I'M GOING TO ASK MARK MIMS TO TALK WITH YOU.
RIGHT WHEN YOU AFTER MR. PACHECO SPEAKS AND THEN CONNECT.
MARK IS RIGHT IN THE BACK RIGHT THERE. SO, THANK YOU.
GO AHEAD. SUPERVISOR. YES. I'D JUST LIKE TO KNOW I HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE EMAILS OR ANYTHING, BUT I WILL NOW THAT I HAVE THE INFORMATION. AND I'LL WORK WITH MR. MIMS AND YOURSELF TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET THE PROCESS STARTED, AND LET YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH EVERYTHING. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY.
I APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN AND GETTING US THE INFORMATION. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIR PEDROSO. SUPERVISORS RAUL, MARK AND TEAM HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.
NATHAN ALONSO, YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS REPRESENTATIVE FOR PG AND E CALLING OR COMING THIS MORNING TO GIVE YOU A QUICK UPDATE ON THE DELL HILL PROJECT IN DOS PALOS. WE WERE ABLE TO COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION ON A GAS CONSTRUCTION ON THE PROJECT LATE LAST WEEK, EARLY THIS WEEK. NOW WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR SOME METER SETS.
ONCE THAT'S COMPLETED, WE WILL HAVE COMPLETED THE WORK ON OUR END.
ON ANOTHER NOTE, I'D LOVE TO COME BEFORE THE BOARD LATER ON THIS SPRING OR EARLY SUMMER TO GIVE YOU A GENERAL PRESENTATION ON WORK WE'RE DOING IN MERCED COUNTY RATES AND SOME OF THE OTHER EMERGING ISSUES ON OUR FRONT, BOTH ON THE LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY FRONT.
AGAIN WE APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATIVE AND GOOD RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE BOARD, WITH YOUR TEAM, AND WITH THE COUNTY OF MERCED. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR GOOD WORK.
GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. SO I'M ALICIA RODRIGUEZ, AND MOST OF YOU KNOW, I'M FROM PLANADA.
I'M GOING TO I'M HERE FOR THE SAME NOT THE SAME THING THAT SHE SPOKE ABOUT.
BUT I DO WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU KNOW, THAT I'M VERY CLOSE TO THE RESIDENTS OF PLANADA.
THEY'RE LIKE MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS. AND I WAS THERE THE DAY OF THE FLOOD, AND I HAVEN'T LEFT THEM. BUT LET ME LET YOU KNOW THAT A LOT OF FAMILIES ARE GOING THROUGH SOME DIFFICULT TIMES. WE'RE BURYING FAMILIES, AND THEY'RE SAYING TO ME, THE REASON WHY MY DAD DIED OR MY MOM DIED BECAUSE OF THE STRESS FROM NOT GETTING THE FUNDS. SO THERE IS BUT I'M GOING TO ADDRESS SOMETHING ELSE JUST SO I DIDN'T HAVE THEM ALL COME TODAY, BECAUSE I KNEW THE LIBRARY WAS GOING TO BE A BIG SUBJECT.
I'M GOING TO BASICALLY, I KNOW THAT I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU COPIES ALSO.
AND BASICALLY WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON WITH THE 20 MILLION, I'VE BEEN HAVING TO ASK REPORTS FOR THE MONEY AND WHERE IS IT SPENT AND WHERE IS IT GOING? I WOULD ALSO ADD THAT THEY'RE NOT GIVING UPDATES TO THE PLANADA COMMUNITY PAGES ON FACEBOOK,
[00:20:01]
THAT THEY PROMISE THE RESIDENTS THAT THEY WOULD ACTUALLY LET THEM KNOW OF THE UPDATES.I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT I HAVE TO KEEP BEGGING FOR THE REPORTS.
I DO MEET WITH THEM MONTHLY WITH THE GROUP, BUT I HAVE TO ASK REPORTS AND WHERE'S THE FUNDS GOING? LIKE I SAID, I'M GOING TO ADD EVERYTHING TO THIS.
THERE IS ACTUALLY AS OF THERE'S AND I ACTUALLY HAVE LIKE.
EXACTLY. WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? I LEFT MY NOTES OVER THERE.
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DO THIS ON MY OWN. OKAY.
THEY'RE NOT MATCHING AT ALL. YOU GUYS, I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS GROUP AND SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT, BUT THE NUMBERS ARE NOT MATCHING. HSA DID A GREAT JOB WHEN IT CAME TO PERSONAL PROPERTY, BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT $15 MILLION IS NOT ACCOUNTABLE.
A LOT OF SOMERSET COUNTY RESIDENTS IN PLANADA GOT 20 MILLION.
AT THIS POINT. THERE'S ONLY SHOWS A TRACE OF 5 MILLION BEEN GIVEN OUT TO THE RESIDENTS.
WE NEED TRANSPARENCY. WHERE'S THE OTHER $15 MILLION? WE HAVE $8 MILLION IS SUPPOSED TO BE GOING TO THE RESIDENTS TO FIX THEIR HOMES.
THERE'S MANY RESIDENTS HAVE SAID THEY HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN AN ASSESSMENT BY ANYBODY. AND IT'S BEEN ALREADY ALMOST, YOU KNOW, SINCE THEY WENT OUT THERE IN THE FIELD. I THINK IT WAS IN AUGUST. THERE IS A LOT OF PROBLEMS THAT ARE HAPPENING WITH THE $20 MILLION, AND WE NEED TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT, BECAUSE I WAS PART OF THAT GROUP AND I WAS HOPING TO HELP GET PART OF THAT MONEY.
WE ALL NEED TO BE COUNTED BECAUSE ALL OF US SAT ON THAT TABLE.
AND I KNOW, MISTER SILVEIRA, YOU SAT THERE WITH US TRYING TO HELP US GET THAT MONEY, AND I APPRECIATE IT. JOHN PEDROZO, YOU HELPED US TO HELP, YOU KNOW, TO GET THAT MR. MENDEZ. WE ALL HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY. AND PACHECO, YOU BARELY CAME ON.
SO THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. WE NEED TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS.
THIS IS STATE MONEY AND WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IF IT DOESN'T GET SPENT.
AND WE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO THOSE OF THAT MONEY AND FUNDS.
WHEN I FIRST CAME, I ASKED FOR US TO HAVE AN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
IT WAS DENIED. THIS IS WHY I WANTED ONE, SO WE COULD KEEP AN EYE ON IT.
THANK YOU. MR. MENDEZ. YES. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I DID WANT TO JUST KIND OF RESPOND TO THAT BRIEFLY.
WE ARE PLANNING A STATUS UPDATE AT OUR NEXT AT YOUR NEXT BOARD MEETING ON APRIL 8TH.
THERE IS A REPORT THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT TO THE STATE.
THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
SO GOOD MORNING, BOARD MEMBERS, CEO STAFF. MY NAME IS EDGAR MARTINEZ WITH TREEHOUSE TUTORING.
I'M NOT ORIGINALLY FROM MERCED. I GREW UP IN L.A.
IN A SOCIOECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED AREA. MY PARENTS WORKED HARD, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH.
I ALSO BECAME THE MOST EDUCATED PERSON IN MY FAMILY AT A VERY YOUNG AGE.
THE LIBRARY WAS A SANCTUARY FOR ME. I REMEMBER MANY TIMES WHEN I COULD COMPLETE.
THE LIBRARY IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART, AS IT LITERALLY GOT ME THROUGH SCHOOL AS A CHILD AND RELIEVED SO MUCH STRESS OFF OF MY PARENTS SHOULDERS WHEN THINGS WERE ALREADY DIFFICULT. NOW THAT I REMEMBER SAID, I SEE MANY STUDENTS I WORK WITH IN SIMILAR POSITIONS TO THE ONE I GREW UP IN.
LOSING ANY OF THESE WOULD BE A MASSIVE LOSS TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I APPRECIATE THE COUNTY'S RECENT STATEMENT THAT NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN SOLIDIFIED ON PRIVATIZATION, AND I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT TIME TO SUPPORT OR TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR A FREE, OPEN AND PUBLIC LIBRARY THAT IS ABLE TO CATER TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
GOOD MORNING, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND MR. HANSON, MR.
[00:25:03]
MENDEZ. IT'S SUCH A JOY TO BE HERE. I'M SAD THAT THE TONE OF THIS MEETING WAS NEGATIVE TO START, BECAUSE I'M SUSAN WALSH. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS.ISN'T THAT WHAT WE WANT AS A COUNTY AND AS A SOCIETY? AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT JUST BECAUSE WE DISAGREE WITH YOU DOESN'T MEAN WE DISLIKE YOU AND DOESN'T MEAN THAT OUR VOICES ARE A NEGATIVE. LET ME EXPLAIN. THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND OUR AGENDA.
I HAVE BEEN HERE IN THE LAST TEN YEARS. I'VE BEEN HERE FOUR TIMES TO PROTEST POTENTIAL CUTS TO THE LIBRARY AND DEFEND THE LIBRARY. THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AT THE NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL SUPPORT PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEMS AS BASIC COMMUNITY SERVICES.
THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS HAS CONDUCTED TWO MAJOR COMPREHENSIVE STUDIES OF THE MERCED COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM IN THE LAST THREE DECADES AND TWO UPDATES. AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU, THE LIBRARY IS IN WORSE SHAPE TODAY THAN WHEN WE DID THAT FIRST STUDY DECADES AGO.
WE HAVE DOCUMENTS OF THAT. WHEN WE WERE ALERTED TO THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT PRIVATIZING THE LIBRARY, ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT WAS MADE AND SHARED IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT BECAUSE IT DOES NOT REFLECT OUR REALITY AS BUSINESS OWNERS, AS EDUCATORS OR AS HOUSEHOLD OWNERS.
AND THIS STATEMENT WAS OUR GOAL IS TO EXPLORE WAYS TO ENHANCE LIBRARY SERVICES WHILE IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL COST SAVINGS OF $600,000 ANNUALLY. I DO NOT KNOW A HOUSEHOLD, A GOVERNMENT AGENCY OR A BUSINESS THAT COULD LOSE THAT KIND OF MONEY AND ENHANCE SERVICES. WE'RE HERE, WE'RE CONCERNED.
AND UNTIL WE HEAR OFFICIALLY FROM THE COUNTY THAT THIS IS OVER, IT'S NOT OVER.
THANK YOU. AGAIN, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CLAPPING.
WE'RE, THIS ISN'T A CONCERT. HELLO, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS JAZZ DIACHAINE. SHANE, I WANT TO START OFF BY RECOGNIZING THAT WE ARE ON NATIVE LAND.
WE ARE ON THE ANCESTRAL LANDS OF THE YOKUTS AND THE MIWOKS.
AND I AM TODAY USING THIS TIME TO COME AS A LOCAL ARTIST AND ALSO A COMMUNITY MEMBER.
MY CONCERNS, YES, ARE WITH THE LIBRARY STAYING PUBLIC.
THANK YOU. AND SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IS HERE SAYING WE DO APPRECIATE THE LIBRARY, BUT THE IMPORTANCE I WAS JUST STATED EARLIER BEFORE ME WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP THE LIBRARIES PUBLIC, WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO LET ME BACK UP TO HAVE THAT STAY PUBLIC, BECAUSE IT HOLDS OUR DEMOCRACY ON HOW WE BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY TO PUBLIC SPACES, NOT PRIVATE SPACES, NOT PLACES THAT YOU CAN PRETTY MUCH CONTRACT OUTSIDE CORPORATIONS.
WE DON'T WANT THAT. MY DAUGHTER WAS I'M SORRY.
THERE SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING WITH THE MIC, SO I'M JUST GOING TO PAUSE. I'M PAUSED MY YOUR TIME. OKAY.
SEE IF THEY CAN GET IT FIXED. MAYBE HAVE THEM LOWER THEM SO THAT IT'S UNDERNEATH.
DO YOU WANT TO CAN YOU LOWER THE PODIUM OR LOWER THE MIC? IT'S TOO CLOSE TO THE MICROPHONE. THAT'S OKAY.
YEAH. YOU'RE. YEAH, YOU'RE TOO CLOSE. HE SAID YOU'RE TOO CLOSE TO THE MICROPHONE.
YEAH. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. BETTER. YES. ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO.
SO OUR DAUGHTER WAS PART OF THE 1000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDER, AND SOME OF YOU WERE THERE.
YOU WERE THERE DURING THE CEREMONY. AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THESE SPACES BUILD COMMUNITY.
THEY'RE ALSO A PLACE WHERE WE DON'T SEE THE FACT THAT THERE'S SOCIOECONOMICAL SEPARATIONS.
WE NEED PUBLIC PROGRAMING, WE NEED STAFF TO BE ON FULL TIME.
AND IT'S NOT JUST OUR HERE IN THE CITY, BUT ALL THE SMALL LIBRARIES.
[00:30:08]
I'M DOING THIS AS JUST A LOCAL ARTIST, AND I'M USING A PUBLIC SPACE WHICH IS OPEN TO OUR COMMUNITY TO USE IF YOU DO NEED A ROOM TO MEET, TO ORGANIZE, TO MAKE EVENTS. IT IS FREE. IT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.ALL AGES ARE WELCOME, AND I HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.
THANK YOU. WHEN IS IT? OH, I HAVE EMAILED IT TO YOU.
SO IT IS GOING TO BE MONDAY, MARCH 31ST AT 2:30 TO 5:30 AND IT WILL BE AT THE GRACIE ROOM.
I HAVE EMAILED IT TO YOU AND I HOPE THAT YOU CAN ALSO SHARE THAT IF YOU CANNOT MAKE IT, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT BECAUSE WE AS YOUR COMMUNITY, WE WANT TO MEET YOU. WE WANT TO TALK TO YOU AND YOU'RE MY REPRESENTATIVE, JOSH, I HOPE YOU MAKE IT.
THANK YOU. OH. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR, BOARD AND STAFF AND EVERYONE. MY NAME IS GENE OKUI. I'M REPRESENTING THE VALLEY LAND ALLIANCE, AND WE'VE BEEN A 501C3 FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS NOW.
WE DID THESE MAPS. THIS IS THE THIRD PRINTING AND WE GOT ADD DONATIONS IN THE BACK.
IT WAS OUR AG ART NATURE. SO, THESE DONATIONS, $200 EACH, PAID FOR 12,000 COPIES OF THIS MAP, WHICH WE HANDED OUT FREE ALL OVER CALIFORNIA AND BEYOND.
SO WE'VE INTRODUCED A LOT OF PEOPLE TO OUR COUNTY.
AND MR. MARK HENDRICKSON, WHEN HE WAS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, HE ACTUALLY CALLED ME IN.
AND MAXWELL NORTON, WHO HAD BEEN WORKING WITH US IN A GROUP SAYING, WE'D LIKE TO USE THIS MAP BECAUSE CHINA SAYS, WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN QUALITY OF LIFE IN MERCED COUNTY FOR A REASON, FOR US TO COME HERE.
SO, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THESE. THESE ARE SOME I HAVE LEFT OVER.
WE I FIRST PRINTED THESE WITH WORKING WITH SOMEONE WHO DOES SOME WORK ON ILLUSTRATING CHILDREN'S BOOKS IN FRESNO, AND HE WORKS WITH THE, MRS. CHAFFEE, THE CHAFFEE ZOO.
HE ILLUSTRATES LOTS OF HER BOOKS. AND WE GOT A MAP AND WE MADE IT UP FROM THERE FROM SCRATCH.
SO, THIS IS 36, MAYBE 40,000 COPIES WE MADE OUT FREE.
SO I'D LIKE TO SHARE THOSE WITH YOU. I STILL HAVE ABOUT 800 LEFT.
MAXWELL NORTON ALSO WORKED WITH OUR GROUP. WE HAD A COMMITTEE FOR THREE YEARS TRYING TO THINK OF WAYS THAT ARE POSITIVE, AND WE HAVE AN AUDIO TOUR, AND IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE AUDIO TOUR, YOU CAN GET ON VALLEYLANDALLIANCE.ORG OR YOU CAN DRIVE ON 140.
THIS IS FOR 140. IT WAS HELP FUNDED BY THE CALIFORNIA WOMEN FOR AG.
WE PUT SIGNS, CROP SIGNS. I ACTUALLY STOPPED WHEN SOMEBODY WAS LOOKING TO SIGN AND I SAID, OH, WHERE ARE YOU FROM? HE SAYS, I'M FROM FRANCE, PARIS, FRANCE.
AND HE STOPPED TO LOOK AT THE SIGN TO SEE WHAT THIS CROP WAS.
IT WAS PISTACHIOS. SO IT'S AN AUDIO TOUR. IT'S A FOUR TRACK.
WE'RE UPDATING THAT. WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO GET INTERNS THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OR A NONPROFIT. WE ALSO MADE THESE CARDS, POSTCARDS. THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE CALIFORNIA, AND WE HAVE MERCED COUNTY GROWS OVER 100 DIFFERENT CROPS IN THE HEART OF THE WORLD'S FOOD BASKET OF CENTRAL VALLEY. SO, IT'S JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE FEEL ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO DO.
BEEN WORKING WITH NORTH VALLEY THRIVE. THEY HAVE THEIR STRATEGIC PLAN AND WHAT TO DO, HOW, YOU KNOW, STRATEGIC PLAN ON HOW WE CAN PROVIDE MORE YOU KNOW, ENERGY AND INCOME FOR THE COUNTY.
THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL DO YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE A ELECTRONIC COPY OF THAT MAP THAT WE COULD SHARE? IT SHOULD BE ON VALLEY LAND ALLIANCE.ORG. WE'VE HAD FOR 20 YEARS.
WE'VE HAD NEWSLETTERS PRINTED. WE'VE WE HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES ON THERE.
WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SPRAWL, OUR ORGANIZATION.
WE BELIEVE THAT A TOWN SHOULD A CITY SHOULD BE A CITY AND WE SHOULD BUILD INTERNALLY.
AND SO WE'RE WORKING STRONGLY WITH STRONG TOWNS.
VERY GOOD. YEAH. YOU CAN GET A LOT ON VALLEYLANDALLIANCE.ORG.
YOU GOT IT. THANK YOU. HELLO, I'M CAROLYN VERA, A LONGTIME SUPPORTER OF THE LIBRARY, AND FOR YEARS I PARTICIPATED IN THE STORY TIME AT THE LIBRARY ON SATURDAY MORNINGS, BOTH READING AND CREATING ART PROJECTS FOR THE STUDENTS, BOTH THROUGH AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN AND FROM CALIFORNIA RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION. I AM CONVINCED THAT OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM NEEDS TO REMAIN PUBLIC AND FREE.
WE HAVE A DIVERSE POPULATION THAT REALLY NEEDS THOSE SERVICES.
[00:35:08]
PROVIDES OTHER THAN JUST PROVIDING BOOKS. DINA TRAINA DISCOVERED AN EXCELLENT ARTICLE PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION KEEPING PUBLIC LIBRARIES PUBLIC, AND I URGE ALL OF THE SUPERVISORS AND THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS TO READ THIS 16 PAGE ARTICLE, BECAUSE IT REALLY DETAILS THE PROBLEMS WITH PRIVATIZING LIBRARIES, THINGS THAT YOU REALLY DON'T WOULD NOT THINK OF.YOU THINK THAT YOU COULD SAVE MONEY AND STILL PROVIDE THE SERVICES NECESSARY, BUT THEY GO INTO A LOT OF DETAIL THAT WOULD NOT EVEN, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU WOULD NOT THINK ABOUT POSSIBLE LAWSUITS YOU KNOW, LOSS OF CONTROL OVER LIBRARY MATERIALS, THE MONEY THAT THE COUNTY WOULD PROVIDE TO A PRIVATE COMPANY THAT THEN WOULD BE SENT OUT OF THE AREA AND WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE TO BE SPENT WITHIN THE COUNTY. SO, THERE ARE SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS.
SO WE'RE GLAD THAT EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE SUPERVISORS IN THINKING THAT THEY MIGHT SAVE MONEY, IF YOU READ THAT AND IT IS AVAILABLE ON LINE, IF YOU LOOK UP KEEPING PUBLIC LIBRARIES PUBLIC AND SCROLL DOWN, YOU WILL FIND THAT 16 PAGE ARTICLE, WHICH IS REALLY EXCELLENT AND WILL GIVE YOU A LOT TO THINK ABOUT, THAT WE REALLY NEED TO KEEP OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM FREE.
THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE IF WE DID NOT HAVE A STRONG FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM.
THE PROFESSORS AT BOTH UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AND AT MERCED COLLEGE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF LOSING SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT THE LIBRARIES CURRENTLY PROVIDE IF WE WERE TO PRIVATIZE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. AGAIN, WE HAVE ABOUT FIVE MINUTES LEFT OF PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO THAT'S ABOUT TWO SPEAKERS. GOOD MORNING SUPERVISORS.
I AM PAMELA MERRITT BENNETT. THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME.
YOU'VE TOLD US THAT THERE WILL BE NO CHARGE, NO CHANGES IN LIBRARY SERVICES.
SO PLEASE FORGIVE ME IF MY REMARKS ARE OFF TARGET NOW, BUT I ASK YOU TO REMEMBER THEM IF THEY BECOME RELEVANT MOVING FORWARD. I'VE LEARNED THAT THE COUNTY SUPERVISORS HAVE ON THEIR RADAR A FUTURE FOR COUNTY LIBRARIES THAT DIFFERS FROM THE WAY THEY ARE RUN AND FUNDED NOW.
I'M NOT SURE OF THE SPECIFICS, BUT I AM SURE OF ONE THING.
THE FUTURE OF OTHER COUNTY FUNDED AGENCIES WILL BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED, BECAUSE THOSE SAME THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN WILL NEED TO RELY ON WHAT I CALL DESPERATION SERVICES AT SOME POINT. IF REMOVED, THE MONEY THAT THE COUNTY NOW SPENDS ON LIBRARY SERVICES WILL BE SPENT MANY TIMES OVER ON DESPERATION AND RELATED SERVICES SUCH AS LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE.
I CAN TELL YOU THOSE STORIES ARE TRUE, INNUMERABLE, AND HAPPENING EVERY DAY.
THEY DON'T HAVE A VOICE AT THIS POINT. THEY ARE OUR MOST DEFENSELESS CITIZENS.
YOU ARE IN A POSITION OF LEADERSHIP AND CHARGED WITH PROTECTING COUNTY CITIZENS.
[00:40:02]
FREE LIBRARIES SUPPORTED BY THE COUNTY ARE ONE SUREFIRE WAY TO PROTECT SOME AT RISK CHILDREN NOW PREVENT THEM FROM BECOMING CONCERNS FOR THE POLICE AS THEY GROW OLDER AND PUT THEM ON A PATH TO A COLLEGE DEGREE AND PRODUCTIVE WORK BY THE TIME THEY BECOME ADULTS. I WAS ONE OF THOSE CHILDREN WHO WAS SAVED BY ACCESS TO FREE BOOKS, A SAFE SPACE, AND ADULTS WHO CARED ABOUT BRIGHT LITTLE KIDS WHO NEEDED AND LOVED TO ESCAPE IN BOOKS.THE IDEA OF SUPPORTING ANYTHING OTHER THAN FREE COUNTY LIBRARIES SHOULD NOT BE.
THANK YOU. TWO MINUTES. WE HAVE TWO MINUTES LEFT.
AGAIN, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CLAPPING. REALLY? LET THEM HAVE THEIR FULL THREE MINUTES.
RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS DARIUS DANDRUFF.
I'LL TRY TO KEEP THIS BRIEF TO RESPECT YOUR TIME.
I UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULT POSITION THAT THE COUNCIL IS UNDER IN REGARDING THE FUNDING OF PUBLIC SERVICES, WITH THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE COUNTRY EXPERIENCING AN ACUTE BUDGET CRISIS.
IN LIGHT OF RECENT CLARIFICATIONS, I AM RELIEVED TO HEAR THAT INVESTMENT IN THE LIBRARY IS A PRIORITY, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT MULLING THE PRIVATIZATION OF THE MOST UNIVERSALLY BELOVED MUNICIPAL SERVICE IS NOT A WINNING SOLUTION.
THE LIBRARY IS ONE OF OUR GREATEST UNIVERSAL PUBLIC GOODS.
IT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO BETTER THEMSELVES TO LEARN WHEN THEY HAVE NO ACCESS TO COMPUTERS OR PHONES, AND IT ALLOWS PEOPLE A PLACE TO EXIST WITHOUT PAYING ACCESS TO INFORMATION WITH NO STRINGS ATTACHED.
TO GIVE THIS AWAY WOULD BE TO CREATE AN EFFECTIVE MONOPOLY WITH FAR REACHING REPERCUSSIONS.
THE LIBRARY IS A LIFELINE FOR DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, AND TO DIVEST FROM THAT LIFELINE, LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS FROM THE FORMER HISTORIC LIBRARY BUILDING BURNING DOWN WOULD BE A GRAVE ERROR.
I HAVE SEEN THE MASTER PLAN FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
MERCED ALONE IS HOPING TO PRACTICALLY DOUBLE IN SIZE NORTHWARD.
THOSE WHO WILL BE MOVING HERE IN THE NEAR FUTURE DESERVE TO HAVE THOSE VALUABLE RESOURCES, AND I HOPE TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO EXPAND ITS REACH IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND INDEED, IT IS THE CORE RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE WHAT IS NECESSARY TO HAVE EQUITY OF OPPORTUNITY. SO NOW IS THE TIME TO TRUST IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE HOPE TO BUILD.
NOW IS THE TIME TO PULL TOGETHER, TO TRY TO FIND SOLUTIONS.
OUR UNIVERSITY IS AN R1 INSTITUTION NOW AND BUILDING A MEDICAL EDUCATION BUILDING.
THE COUNTY IS POISED TO GROW SIGNIFICANTLY AND THIS CRISIS WILL END.
BUT PRIVATIZATION WOULD BE A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO A TEMPORARY PROBLEM.
THANK YOU. OKAY. OKAY. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
I WASN'T HERE. ALL.RIGHT. GO AHEAD. CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 17.
PLEASE NOTE ITEMS ONE, TEN, 11 REQUIRE A 4/5 VOTE.
OKAY. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 17.
OKAY. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 17 IS NOW CLOSED.
I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSES. OKAY. AT THIS TIME, KRISTEN SULLIVAN, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH, WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING ITEM NUMBER FOUR, THE PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK.
KRISTEN. GOOD MORNING. BOARD CEO, MENDEZ COUNTY COUNCIL.
HANSEN, THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME BACK HERE TO TALK ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK.
SO PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK IS APRIL 4TH THROUGH 11TH.
[00:45:04]
LIVES THROUGH PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVES SUCH AS, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LIMITED TO INCREASED PRENATAL HEALTH CARE MEASURES AND MATERNAL HEALTH TO INCREASE THE HEALTH OF MOMS AND BABIES. CONTROL OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASE THROUGH IMMUNIZATIONS, CAR SEAT SAFETY AND FOR CAR SEATS AND SEAT BELTS, AS WELL AS TO CHRONIC HEALTH PROGRAMS SUCH AS DIABETES PREVENTION AND TOBACCO CESSATION.BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE OUR AMAZING PUBLIC HEALTH STAFF HERE AT THE COUNTY WHO WORK EVERY DAY TO ENSURE AND HELP IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF EVERY COMMUNITY MEMBER IN MERCED COUNTY.
AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS PROCLAMATION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, KRISTEN. SORRY. THANK YOU, DOCTOR SULLIVAN.
NEXT, WE HAVE FELICIA GRAY, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ADULT AND AGING SERVICES AT HSA, WHO WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, THE PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH.
GOOD MORNING. CHAIR, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CEO, COUNTY COUNSEL HANSEN.
TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM EIGHT FOR THE HONOR OF CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH IN APRIL.
IT'S A TIME FOR REFLECTION, AWARENESS, AND ACTION.
WHILE WE CELEBRATE THE JOY AND INNOCENCE OF CHILDHOOD, WE MUST ALSO CONFRONT THE HARSH REALITY THAT FAR TOO MANY CHILDREN SUFFER FROM ABUSE AND NEGLECT. EVERY YEAR, CHILDREN FACE UNIMAGINABLE HARDSHIPS PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL HARM.
CHILD WELFARE AND OUR COMMUNITY STAND UP FOR THESE VULNERABLE VOICES AND WORK TOWARDS EVERY CHILD FEELING SAFE, LOVED AND VALUED. AS WE OBSERVE THIS IMPORTANT MONTH, LET US REMEMBER THAT PREVENTION BEGINS WITH AWARENESS.
WE ALL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY, PARENTS, TEACHERS, NEIGHBORS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS BY EDUCATING OURSELVES AND OTHERS ABOUT THE SIGNS OF ABUSE, WE CAN CREATE A CULTURE OF VIGILANCE AND COMPASSION.
WE MUST ENCOURAGE OPEN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT CONSTITUTES HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, BOUNDARIES, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF SPEAKING UP WHEN SOMETHING DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT.
IN APRIL, LET'S ALSO CELEBRATE THE INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATIONS AND STAFF DEDICATED TO PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN, THEIR TIRELESS EFFORTS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT, RESOURCES, AND HEALING TO THOSE AFFECTED BY ABUSE AND NEGLECT ARE INVALUABLE.
WE HONOR THEIR WORK AND RECOGNIZE THAT PREVENTION REQUIRES OUR COMMITMENT AND ACTION.
WHETHER IT'S VOLUNTEERING, DONATING, OR SIMPLY BEING A CARING PRESENT IN A CHILD'S LIFE.
EVERY ACTION COUNTS. TOGETHER, WE CAN CREATE A WORLD WHERE EVERY CHILD KNOWS THEY ARE SAFE, CHERISHED AND EMPOWERED TO REPORT SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT.
OR FOR QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL OUR HOTLINE AT (209) 385-3104.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
THANK YOU, MISS GRAY. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO BOARD ACTION BEGINNING WITH PUBLIC HEALTH.
[BOARD ACTION]
ITEM 18. AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH ITEM NUMBER 18.THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR PUBLIC HEALTH ITEM 18 IS NOW CLOSED.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, CALL FOR THE VOTE.
PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. THE MOTION PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY, ITEM 19.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR HSA ITEM 19.
OKAY. I WILL THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR HSR ITEM 19 IS NOW CLOSED.
PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ITEMS 21 AND 22.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS 20 AND 21.
OKAY. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEMS 20 AND 21 IS NOW CLOSED.
PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE CALL. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
[00:50:08]
MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE FIRE.ITEM 22. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR FIRE, ITEM 22.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR FIRE ITEM 22 IS NOW CLOSED.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE SPRING FAIR.
ITEM 23. OKAY. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN. I THINK WE HAVE THE DIRECTOR TO PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION.
CINNAMON. GOOD MORNING. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER APPROVING THIS.
THIS IS OUR ANNUAL LOAN FOR OUR JUNIOR LIVESTOCK AUCTION FOR THE SPRING FAIR.
I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO SHARE. I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME QUESTIONS THIS YEAR WITH THE AVIAN FLU AFFECTING OUR FAIR AND NOT HAVING DAIRY COWS THAT ARE FAIR AND NOT HAVING POULTRY. BUT OUR NUMBERS ARE STILL UP. RIGHT NOW FOR 2025, WE HAVE 613 ANIMALS.
SO THE BEST OF THE BEST WILL SELL AT OUR AUCTION.
SO WE HAVE OVER 756 ANIMALS READY TO SELL THIS YEAR AT THE FAIR.
AND I INVITE ALL OF YOU TO COME AND SEE US AT THE FAIR.
IT'S APRIL 30TH TO MAY 4TH. MY SHAMELESS PLUG.
ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR SPRING FAIR, ITEM NUMBER 23.
OKAY. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR SPRING. OH.
YOU KNOW LIVINGSTON, CALIFORNIA. THESE FAIRS ARE GREAT.
IT BRINGS PEOPLE IN AND IT'S JUST WONDERFUL. I HELP WITH THE FARM BUREAU ON OUR BOOTH DOWN THERE, AND IT'S A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL THING. AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH AG AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT.
WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ACTUALLY TOUCH UPON CINNAMON'S COMMENTS.
IN MY OPINION. IT WAS DONE BY A STATE VET. THAT NEEDS TO PROBABLY LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT DAIRY, BUT THAT'S JUST MY OWN PERSONAL OPINION. I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH ALL DAIRYMEN AROUND, KIND OF LIKE THEY CALL IT LIKE COVID FOR COWS.
IT'S ALREADY WENT THROUGH THE HERDS. THEY'RE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT IT.
BUT IN ORDER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A DAIRY SHOW, WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE A SEPARATE SHOW.
THEY DIDN'T WANT THEM THERE AT THE SAME TIME AS THEY WANTED ANY OTHER BOVINE THERE.
SO, IT'S UNFORTUNATE A LOT OF THE DAIRY KIDS, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE REOCCURRING PROJECTS.
YES. YOU DO HAVE THE REPLACEMENT HEIFERS THAT SELL, BUT THESE ARE BREEDING ANIMALS THAT THEY GROW, TAKE CARE OF, GET TO SHOW THEM AT THE FAIR, TAKE THEM HOME, COME BACK NEXT YEAR.
AND IT'S A YEARLING. SO IT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE FOR THEM THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SHOW. BUT THE SAD PART ABOUT IT IS, IS WITH COVID, A LOT OF THESE KIDS REMEMBER WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE THE FAIR. SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE OUR NUMBERS INCREASE IN SOME OF THE OTHER SPECIES IS BECAUSE I COMMEND CINNAMON AND THE FAIR BOARD ON WHEN ENTRIES WERE DUE.
SO, YOU'RE ENTERING YOUR REPLACEMENT HEIFERS AT YOUR OWN RISK.
AND THEN I HEARD ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES MENTION OR COMMENT ABOUT WHAT DAY IS COUNTY DAY AT SPRING FAIR, AND THAT'LL BE ON THURSDAY. THURSDAY WILL BE COUNTY DAY.
I KNOW THAT THE FAIR BOARD AND THE FAIR MANAGER REALLY ENJOY TAKING THAT KIND OF DAY AFTER OPENING CEREMONIES AND LUNCH AND INVITING ALL, ALL OF YOU FOLKS HERE, COUNTY FOLKS, TO COME OVER AND ENJOY THE SPRING FAIR.
THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR
[00:55:04]
PAREIRA. PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE.AND THE MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE HUMAN RESOURCES AND IT.
ITEM 24. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR HUMAN RESOURCES.
HUMAN RESOURCES, ITEM NUMBER 24. OKAY. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR HR ITEM 24 IS NOW CLOSED.
PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
THE MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE ITEMS 25 THROUGH 27.
YES. GOOD MORNING. CHAIR. SUPERVISORS, CO MENDEZ AND COUNTY COUNSEL, JOHN NISHIYAMA, I'M THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, AN ASSISTANT CIO FOR THE COUNTY OF MERCED, THE BROADBAND EQUITY ACCESS AND DEPLOYMENT PROGRAM, ALSO KNOWN AS BEAD, ESTABLISHED BY THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT, PROVIDES ESSENTIAL FUNDING TO EXPAND HIGH SPEED BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. CALIFORNIA'S 1.8 BILLION ALLOCATION PRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITY TO ENHANCE BROADBAND ACCESS IN OUR REGION HERE IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY.
AS SUCH, THE COUNTIES OF FRESNO, KINGS, MADERA, MERCED AND TULARE ARE JOINING FORCES TO APPLY FOR BEAD FUNDINGS AS A REGION, WHICH STRENGTHENS OUR CHANCES FOR SECURING FUNDING.
A JOINT APPLICATION MAXIMIZES RESOURCES, STREAMLINES PERMITTING, AND IMPROVES EFFICIENCIES FOR INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS ISPS THAT OPERATE ACROSS COUNTY LINES. THE COLLABORATION WILL BE LED BY FRESNO COUNTY, AND AN MOU MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WILL BE FORMALIZED TO ESTABLISH EACH MEMBER'S ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITY. THE BEAD APPLICATION PROCESS IS COMPETITIVE AND FUNDING IS AWARDED BASED ON FACTORS LIKE MATCHING FUNDS FROM ISPS AND REGIONAL COLLABORATION. THE VISION IS TO ESTABLISH A REGIONAL TO ESTABLISH REGIONAL PROJECTS TO HELP EXTEND BROADBAND TO MORE AREAS, ENSURING NO COMMUNITY IS LEFT BEHIND. IF APPROVED, THE ACTION ITEMS BEFORE THE BOARD THIS MORNING WOULD ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE COUNTY AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY TO APPLY FOR BEAD FUNDING AS A PART OF THE REGIONAL EFFORT.
DESIGNATE THE CEO OR DESIGNEE TO HANDLE THE APPLICATION AND MOU EXECUTION AND SUPPORT.
IN CLOSING, I WANT TO THANK TONE CONSULTING GROUP, TCG, DALIA ACOSTA AND MARK COWART, WHO HAVE ALL BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR BROADBAND INITIATIVES.
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING THE ITEM THIS MORNING, WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES, REPRESENTATIVES FROM TONE CONSULTING TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU JOHN, I DID WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE JULIE AND ALEX TONE WHO ARE HERE.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CEO ITEMS 25 THROUGH 27.
SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YEAH, I JUST THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT.
SO, YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE PART OF THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY REGIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, THIS IS WHERE THE EIGHT VALLEY COUNTIES, WE'VE KIND OF WE'VE AGREED THAT WE HAVE A LOT MORE THINGS IN COMMON THAN NOT IN COMMON.
AND AS A GROUP, WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING ON TRYING TO BEEF UP THAT GROUP AND TAKE MORE OF A ACTUALLY A SEAT AT THE TABLE VERSUS BEING ON THE MENU APPROACH, I CALL IT. AND THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COMES OF IT AS A REGION, SOME OF THE MOST WHATEVER THE METRIC IS THAT THEY USE ON BROADBAND ACCESS, THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY CHECKS THE BOXES FOR SOME OF THE WORST PLACES IN CALIFORNIA.
AND IF WE TRY TO GO IT AT A LOAN, APPROACH EACH COUNTY DOING IT ON THEIR OWN.
WE'RE SOMEWHAT SUCCESSFUL. BUT THIS IS WHAT CAME OUT OF ONE OF OUR MEETING.
WE'RE COMING TO THE TABLE IN A BETTER POSITION.
SO, I WANT TO THANK TONE CONSULTING BECAUSE THEY'RE ONE OF THE LEADERS ON THIS FRESNO COUNTY.
AND IT WAS DISCUSSED. AND NOW WE'RE TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE ENTERING INTO AN MOU.
SO, I'M VERY HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. YEAH. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I WANT TO THANK TONE CONSULTING AS WELL.
THEY'VE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN THIS FROM THE BEGINNING.
[01:00:06]
AND HER AND TEDDY AND EVERYBODY ELSE AT AT&T WERE VERY INTERESTED.THEY'VE BEEN ON THE SAME PAGE AS WE ARE THIS WHOLE TIME, AND IT'S JUST REALLY NICE TO HAVE TONE CONSULTING IN A POSITION TO BE ABLE TO HELP US OUT, AS WELL AS THE OTHER COUNTIES HERE IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY, BECAUSE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, SACRAMENTO LOOKS TO FLY FLYOVER AREA.
THEY DON'T LIKE TO CONSIDER US. WE CHECK ALL THE BOXES THAT THEY SAY THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT.
BUT YET IN REVIEWING OUR STUFF, THEY CONTINUE TO MOVE ON AND DON'T ACCEPT US.
WE KIND OF TAKE THAT AS A BADGE OF HONOR BECAUSE WE'RE NOT REALLY CALIFORNIA.
WE'RE THE OTHER CALIFORNIA, AND WE'RE PROUD OF THAT.
AND BUT NO, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
MOTION PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE BOARD APPOINTMENTS, ITEMS 28 AND 29.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BOARD APPOINTMENT ITEMS 28 AND 29.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BOARD APPOINTMENT ITEMS 28 AND 29 IS NOW CLOSED.
PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
MOTION PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE BOARD INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ITEMS 30 AND 31.
[BOARD INFORMATION & POSSIBLE ACTION]
AT THIS TIME, MARK HENDRICKSON, ASSISTANT COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER, WILL PROVIDE COMMENTS REGARDING ITEM NUMBER 31.GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, CEO AND COUNCIL.
AGAIN, MARK HENDRICKSON, ASSISTANT COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER. JUST VERY BRIEFLY, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 31 ON YOUR AGENDA TODAY PERTAINING TO YOUR FIRST STRATEGIC PLAN PROGRESS REPORT. EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE BOARD APPROVED ITS 2025 THROUGH 2028 STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH FOCUSED ON FIVE KEY AREAS OF STRATEGIC THOUGHT.
CUSTOMER SERVICE, FISCAL DISCIPLINE, QUALITY OF LIFE, REVENUE ENHANCEMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
TODAY, WE ARE PLEASED TO PROVIDE YOU WITH YOUR FIRST QUARTERLY UPDATE, AND WE WILL BE RETURNING TO YOU WITH FUTURE PROGRESS REPORTS NEXT, SLATED FOR JUNE 17TH AT YOUR PROPOSED BUDGET, THEN SEPTEMBER 23RD AT YOUR FINAL BUDGET, AND THEN AGAIN ON DECEMBER 16TH TO CLOSE OUT THE YEAR. THIS PROGRESS REPORT BY DEPARTMENT PROVIDES THE STATUS OF EACH TACTIC.
THE IMMEDIATE NEXT STEPS AND THE ANTICIPATED COMPLETION DATE OF EACH ITEM.
THE FORMAT IS, AS YOU PROBABLY WILL WELL NOTICE, IS MODELED AFTER OTHERS THAT WE WORK WITH, NOTABLY RCRC'S STRATEGIC PLAN. SO, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK OUR DEPARTMENTS WHO PROVIDED THEIR UPDATES, AS IS OUR COLLECTIVE INTENTION TO PROVIDE THE BOARD AND THE PUBLIC WITH INFORMATION ABOUT PROGRESS BEING MADE.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK MANAGEMENT ANALYST DALIA ACOSTA FOR HER WORK COMPILING THIS INFORMATION, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO PROVIDING THE BOARD WITH ADDITIONAL UPDATES IN THE FUTURE AS EACH ITEM BECOMES MORE ROBUST IN PROGRESS.
SO SHOULD THE BOARD HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I'LL BE PLEASED TO ADDRESS THEM. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE AT THIS TIME, MR. CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU, MR. HENDRICKSON. DID I AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS 30 AND 31.
OKAY. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR INFO. ITEMS 30 AND 31 IS NOW CLOSED.
BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
CAN WE REDO THAT OR CAN WE REDO THAT, PLEASE? BECAUSE I DIDN'T HEAR YOU SAY RECORD THE VOTE.
OKAY. OKAY. SO SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. YEAH. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I WAS JUST WONDERING IF MAYBE THE ITEM BEFORE 31, MAYBE THE CERTIFICATION.
MAYBE IT WASN'T CERTIFIED BY THE NORMAL PERSON WITH THE PERSON AND HOW IT HAPPENED.
MAYBE WE SHOULD GET A STATEMENT ON THIS. REAGAN, DON'T STAY BACK THERE.
YOU GOT TO COME UP HERE, TOO. RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, CO MENDEZ, COUNTY COUNSEL HANSEN.
[01:05:03]
ITEM 30 IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES, THE CERTIFICATION OF THE SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION, DOS PALOS. THIS PAST FEW WEEKS DOS PALOS VOTERS VOTED AND APPROVED MEASURE S, FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES, SPECIAL TAX. I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE DEPARTMENT THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT FOR ADMINISTERING THIS ELECTION.WE'VE GOT THREE UNDER OUR BELTS HERE NOW IN ABOUT A YEAR.
AND I WAS REALLY PARTICULARLY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT FOR THIS ELECTION, DUE TO SOME ABSENCES BY MYSELF DURING THE CANVASS PERIOD, THE ASSISTANT REGISTRAR OF VOTERS, REAGAN MURPHY, WAS ABLE TO CERTIFY THE ELECTION.
SO, SHE CARRIED THE ACTIVITIES FOR THIS ELECTION FROM BEGINNING TO END AND WAS ABLE TO CERTIFY IT.
AND I THANK HER AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE STAFF FOR DOING THAT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. THANK YOU.
AND HE CAME BACK AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU DID SUCH A GREAT JOB. YOU'RE GOING TO STILL CERTIFY THE ELECTION. SO, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ON THAT. AND JUST TO HIGHLIGHT, YOU KNOW, SUCH A SMALLER ELECTION IN DOS PALOS, I THINK I CALLED MEL THE DAY AFTER I SAID, HEY MEL, HOW MANY MORE VOTES ARE LEFT TO BE COUNTED? AND HE'S LIKE, OH, THERE'S LIKE 19 HERE AND THERE'S 20 THERE.
AND HE'S LIKE, I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT IN SAYING THAT THERE'S LESS THAN 60 VOTES TO BE COUNTED.
AND I SAID, DON'T YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE HAD THAT IN THE GENERAL ELECTION WHERE YOU COULD JUST OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD SITE, HOW MANY ARE LEFT TO BE COUNTED? BUT ALL IN ALL, IT'S GOOD FOR THE FOLKS IN DOS PALOS THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO PASS THIS MEASURE OVER THERE.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I THINK IT GAVE THE STAFF THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO AN ELECTION WITH, YOU KNOW, NOT BEING SO CRAZY WITH BEING A GENERAL ELECTION.
SO, I THINK IT WAS VALUABLE TRAINING THAT WENT ON THERE. SO GOOD WORK TO YOU AND ALL YOUR TEAMS. YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID WITH THIS ELECTION, DOS PALOS FOR THE FIRST TIME WAS DEPLOYED THE MOBILE SERVICES TRAILER THAT YOU ALL HAD HAD AUTHORIZED US TO PROCURE LAST YEAR.
WORKING WITH THE WITH FOLKS IN DOS PALOS, IT BECAME CLEAR PRETTY EARLY ON IN THE PLANNING FOR THIS ELECTION THAT THE NORMAL SITE OF THE VOTE CENTER OUT IN DOS PALOS WAS GOING TO BE BOOKED WITH SOME OTHER FUNDRAISERS DURING THE COURSE OF THE ELECTION.
AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE THE TRAILER OUT THERE, SET IT UP AS A VOTE CENTER.
AND IT WAS A GREAT TO YOUR POINT, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA WAS A GREAT TRAINING OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STAFF TO KIND OF GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS AND GET THESE REPS UNDER OUR BELT, AND WE FORESEE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS WITH THIS MOBILE SERVICES TRAILER, NOT JUST DURING ELECTIONS, BUT WITH PASSPORT SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. WE'VE SEEN A HUGE UPTICK IN OUR DEPARTMENT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS WITH PASSPORT SERVICES, AS WELL AS VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVES AND OTHER, YOU KNOW, OTHER OTHER SERVICES, BEING ABLE TO GET THOSE SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS RATHER THAN JUST ALWAYS FORCING THEM TO COME TO TO US.
IN FACT, OUR NEXT PLAN IS, IS TO BE DEPLOYING THAT THAT MOBILE SERVICES TRAILER OUT TO LOS BANOS TO ASSIST IN CANDIDATE FILING FOR FOR CANDIDATES OUT THERE. AND AGAIN, JUST A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO, YOU KNOW, AVOID HAVING TO HAVE FOLKS DRIVE ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE EAST SIDE HERE FOR ALL THE SERVICES. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. THANK YOU, MISTER CHAIR.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISTER CHAIR. YOU KNOW, I YOU DID A GREAT JOB, AND I WAS I JUST COULDN'T HELP BUT NOTICE THAT THE TIME FROM CLOSE OF THE ELECTION TO CERTIFICATION. I MEAN, THAT'S AWESOME.
YOU KNOW, AND REAGAN, YOU KNOW, THAT MIGHT BE IF YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A RAISE, YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT HIT HIM UP BECAUSE YOU BEAT HIS RECORD HANDILY.
NO, JUST JOKING. AND BUT ANYWAYS. YEAH. GREAT JOB.
THANKS. OKAY. YEAH. SO WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD.
WHO MADE WHO MADE THE MOTION? I THINK IT WAS.
OH. SO, WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
[01:10:04]
MOTION PASSES. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL NOW RECESS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING AND CONVENE AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AS THE COUNTY OF MERCED DELTA-MENDOTA GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY.AS A REMINDER, THE NON AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT MUST BE REGARDING ITEMS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AS THE COUNTY OF MERCED DELTA-MENDOTA GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY. TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.
SO GO AHEAD AND OPEN OKAY. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BOTH NON AGENDA AND AGENDA ITEMS IS NOW CLOSED.
AT THIS TIME WE WILL CONSIDER ACTION ITEM ONE AS SUBMITTED BY COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? COMMENTS.
NO. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? SAY NAY. MOTION CARRIES. WE WILL NOW ADJOURN THE MEETING AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL HAVE BOARD REPORTS STARTING WITH SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION]
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE, THAT LAST ITEM AS THE DELTA-MENDOTA GSA, I DON'T WANT TO GO WITHOUT THANKING LACY AND MARK ON A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO THIS.IT WAS JUST SET LEVELS THAT ALL OF THE WHOLE GSA HAS, THE WHOLE REGION OVER THERE HAS, HAS ADOPTED. AND THERE WAS A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE IN THAT WHITE AREA THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE LAND IN THE EXCHANGE CONTRACTORS OR ONE OF THE OTHER DISTRICTS.
THIS LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, I ATTENDED THE CALIFORNIA WOMEN FOR AG LUNCHEON.
I WANT TO THANK MARILYN SILVA. SHE INVITES ME TO SIT AT HER TABLE EVERY YEAR.
IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO THAT, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO.
THEY. THE SALADS ARE AMAZING. THEY SET THIS DEAL UP, AND A LOT OF THE WOMEN FOR AG BRING SALADS, AND THERE IS A PLETHORA OF SALADS AND YOU THINK, OH, I'M GOING TO HAVE SALAD FOR LUNCH AND I'M NOT GOING TO GET THAT FULL.
BUT ALWAYS A GOOD MIDDAY BREAK AND GO GET TO HANG OUT WITH THE FUN PEOPLE.
THEY ENJOY THEIR DECORATING THEIR TABLES AND HAVING A GOOD TIME.
AND, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. JUST WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE COMMENTS.
YOU KNOW, I DO AGREE WITH SOME OF WHAT WAS SAID EARLIER, AS FAR AS IT IS ABOUT DEMOCRACY AND IT IS ABOUT PEOPLE GETTING TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS, BUT I JUST WANT TO PUT IT OUT THERE FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IS AS A COUNTY SUPERVISOR, AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS A FIDUCIARY DUTY TO THE TAXPAYERS OF THE COUNTY AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, OF MY DISTRICT.
YOU KNOW, ANYTIME THAT ANYBODY COMES TO US AND SAYS THAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO OFFER A SERVICE MORE EFFICIENTLY, PROVIDE BETTER SERVICE AT A CHEAPER COST. I'M INTERESTED IN AT LEAST HAVING A CONVERSATION.
WE GO TO THESE CONFERENCES, AND YOU HAVE A WHOLE ROOM FULL OF VENDORS THAT GIVE YOU THE ELEVATOR PITCH, RIGHT? AND PART OF THE ELEVATOR PITCH IS TO KIND OF PIQUE YOUR ATTENTION.
AND I DON'T CARE WHETHER IT WOULD BE LIBRARY, I DON'T CARE WHETHER IT WOULD BE THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. I DON'T CARE WHETHER IT BE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. I DON'T CARE WHAT DEPARTMENT IT IS.
I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH ERIC SERRATO EARLIER TODAY.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DID IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, WHERE SOMEBODY FROM THE OUTSIDE WAS ABLE TO COME IN AND PROVIDE THE SERVICE MORE EFFICIENT, BETTER SERVICE AT A CHEAPER COST. WHERE WE WERE AT IN THIS PROCESS WAS EXPLORING THIS IDEA TO SEE THAT IF IT WAS EVEN, IT WAS IT EVEN WORTH GOING DOWN THIS ROAD? THAT'S WHERE WE WERE AT IN THE PROCESS. I'VE TALKED TO FOLKS THAT HAVE DIFFERING VIEWS ON THIS.
I WILL TELL YOU, I WANTED TO AT LEAST UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS GOING ON BEFORE, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT BRINGING SOMEBODY ELSE IN, THIS CHANGES PEOPLE'S LIVES.
IT CHANGES THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THE LIBRARY.
AND SO IF THIS IS A NOTHING BURGER, WHICH I THINK THIS IS A NOTHING BURGER, NOW AFTER HAVING DONE SOME RESEARCH, WHY GO GET THESE FOLKS ALL UPSET AND WORKED UP OVER NOTHING, RIGHT.
THAT'S THE FRUSTRATION IN IT. AND SO WE DON'T TAKE ANY OF THESE DECISIONS LIGHTLY.
[01:15:05]
BUT I WILL TELL YOU AS I GOT MANY LETTERS, I WILL TELL YOU GUYS YOU ALL KNOW FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY IS A VERY WELL ORGANIZED GROUP.I APPRECIATE THEM. I APPRECIATE ALL THEIR PASSION FOR IT.
WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR HOMEWORK. IT'S TRUST, BUT VERIFY IT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HEARD, FOLKS GET UP HERE AND SAY ARE ALL THINGS THAT THROUGH TRUST BUT VERIFY, YOU FIND OUT, RIGHT? YOU JUST DON'T TAKE SOMEBODY AT THEIR WORD FOR IT.
AND QUITE HONESTLY, AS THESE FOLKS REACHED OUT TO ME, AND ESPECIALLY ONES FROM MY DISTRICT.
I WOULD DO IT AGAIN. I WOULD IF THERE'S IF SOMEBODY PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY THAT IS GOING TO PROVIDE BETTER, MORE EFFICIENT, MORE ECONOMICALLY CHEAPER, IF YOU WILL, SERVICES.
I AM ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION. I HAVE A FIDUCIARY DUTY TO THE TAXPAYERS TO DO THAT.
YOU GUYS ALL SAW THIS ROOM WAS COMPLETELY PACKED AS SOON AS WE GOT DONE WITH PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO, IT'S JUST ONE OF MANY THINGS THAT WE DO. BUT I JUST WANTED TO PUT MY STANCE ON THIS WHERE I'M AT OUT THERE ON THE RECORD, ANYBODY THAT I'VE TALKED TO, I'VE TOLD THEM THE SAME THING.
AND IT WAS EXPLORATORY AND I WOULD DO IT 100%.
I WOULD DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. AND SO THAT'S MY COMMENTS, MR. CHAIR, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
IT'S KIND OF AN EVENT I ENJOY GOING TO AND I DON'T KNOW, IN THE IN THE OLD WORLD, I GUESS IT MOSTLY WAS MEN THAT ADVOCATED FOR AGRICULTURE. AND IN 19, I THINK IT WAS 1977 A GROUP OF PEOPLE, I BELIEVE ALL ARE NOW DECEASED.
AND WHAT I FOUND INTERESTING IS THAT OVER THE YEARS, THE INTEGRATION OF I GUESS MAYBE, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS A KID GROWING UP, MY DAD DID THE DAIRY AND MY MOM DID THE BOOKS, AND THAT WAS KIND OF THEIR ARRANGEMENT.
AND I THINK THAT WAS A LOT OF AG BUSINESSES. AND ANYWAYS, AND NOW YOU HAVE BOTH, YOU KNOW, THE MEN AND THE WOMEN RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.
AND, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S BECAUSE AG IS SO TOUGH THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU TRY TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE TO ADVOCATE FOR YOUR INDUSTRY OR IF IT'S A DIFFERENT DYNAMIC, BUT IT'S JUST REALLY INTERESTING TO HAVE THAT LUNCHEON KIND OF GO IN THE BEGINNING OF A SUPPORTIVE SERVICES ROLE TO NOW A COMPLETELY ADVOCACY ROLE AND JUST A PHENOMENAL REPRESENTATION OF MERCED COUNTY'S AGRICULTURE.
AND I WANT TO ALSO MAKE MAYBE A COMMENT ABOUT THE INFORMATION THAT I'VE RECEIVED FROM WHICH I BELIEVE ALL BUT MAYBE NOT ALL OF THE FRIENDS OF THE MERCED COUNTY LIBRARY.
AND SO, I DON'T KNOW WHO SPUN UP THE INFORMATION.
THE AND I GUESS ONE I'LL SHARE IS THE PRIVATIZATION OF THE LIBRARIES.
MERCED COUNTY HAS HUNDREDS OF CONTRACTS WITH PRIVATE COMPANIES THAT DO SERVICES FOR MERCED COUNTY.
AND SO IT'S NOT OUT OF THE NORM FOR STAFF TO LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES AND IF WE HAVE THOSE CONTRACTS, I'LL PICK ON ONE OR POINT OUT ONE, NOT PICK ON ONE, SORRY KUMIKO.
BUT AS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, WE CONTRACT WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT COMPANIES THAT PROVIDE SERVICES.
AND THE ACCESS IS ENHANCED. WE COULDN'T DO ALL OF WHAT THEY DO AT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AT THE BUILDING RIGHT. AND SO ANYWAYS, I DON'T KNOW WHEN A COMPANY APPROACHED STAFF ABOUT TAKING A LOOK AT IT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THAT MAKES SENSE TO ME. WE THAT'S KIND OF A NORMAL ROUTE OF BUSINESS.
BUT ANYWAYS, BACK TO MY ORIGINAL POINT IS THAT THE EMAILS JUST, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I HAD PEOPLE DEMAND THAT WE REINSTATE THE SERVICES WE CUT, RIGHT? SO IT JUST I DON'T KNOW WHERE WHERE IT GOT OFF, BUT I'LL JUST SAY THAT I READ AND AS MANY OF THEM AS I COULD.
[01:20:03]
AND ANYWAYS I JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT. AND THEN I WANT TO JUST SHARE SOME GOOD NEWS THAT'S HAPPENED IN MY LIFE.MY WIFE, BABETTE AND I HAD OUR FIRST GRANDCHILD BORN THIS PAST WEDNESDAY.
HIS NAME IS JACKSON LLOYD PAREIRA. AND HE'S A CUTE LITTLE GUY.
AND LUCKILY FOR HIM, HE DOESN'T LOOK MUCH LIKE ME.
BUT ANYWAYS, HE'S GOT BEAUTIFUL PARENTS AND HE RESEMBLES THEM.
SO ANYWAYS, JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU ALL.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS, SUPERVISOR PACHECO.
I MET WITH SEVERAL BUSINESS OWNERS DOWN THERE. I THINK SOMETIMES PEOPLE FORGET THAT SANTA NELLA IS A COMMUNITY, AND THERE IS BUSINESS OWNERS DOWN THERE THAT CARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, SO IT'S NICE TO MEET WITH THEM AND EXCHANGE INFORMATION AND GET SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS.
I ALSO ATTENDED THE CALIFORNIA WOMEN FOR AGRICULTURE LUNCHEON AND PRETTY MUCH ALL BEEN SAID, GREAT SALADS, GREAT PROGRAM AND GOOD SPEAKER AND I'M GLAD I GOT TO BE GOT TO BE THERE.
AND THEN I'D LIKE TO CLOSE THE ADJOURN THE MEETING TODAY IN MEMORY OF AL BARDINI.
HE WAS AN AIR FORCE VETERAN, A 73 YEAR MEMBER OF THE MERCED ELKS LODGE, LONG TIME MEMBER OF THE BREAKFAST LIONS, AND A LIFETIME MEMBER OF THE ITLAO LODGE. HE ALSO SERVED AS MERCED COUNTY DISTRICT ONE SUPERVISOR FROM 1981 TO 1987.
I DIDN'T KNOW MR. BARDINI PERSONALLY. ONLY BY REPUTATION AND THAT OF A HARD WORKING, FUN LOVING, COMMUNITY ORIENTED, ORIENTED FAMILY MAN. AND I THINK THE COMMUNITY OF MERCED WILL MISS HIM.
SO I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN THE MEETING IN HIS HONOR. THANK YOU.
SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I WOULD TOUCH ON SOME OF THE LIBRARY STUFF AS WELL.
I THINK MAYBE WHEN I LOOKED AT IT, I NEVER SAW A WRITTEN PROPOSAL, BUT IT WAS A VERBAL PROPOSAL THAT WAS PITCHED TO ME, AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE OUR ACCOUNTING STAFF SAW WHAT WAS PITCHED BECAUSE I WANTED TO SEE ACTUAL NUMBERS FIRST.
AND I'LL BE HONEST, I WAS A LITTLE SELFISH WHEN I SAW AND I'M THE ONE WHO WROTE THAT.
THEY COMMENTED HERE, THE 600,000. THAT'S WHAT I WAS TOLD, 5 TO $600,000 SAVINGS PER YEAR.
AND I'LL SAY I WAS A LITTLE SELFISH ABOUT IT, BECAUSE MY CONSTITUENCY IN ATWATER HAS ALWAYS ADVOCATED ON BEHALF OF EXTENDING THE HOURS IN ATWATER, BECAUSE THEY WANT THEIR KIDS TO BE ABLE TO GO DO THEIR HOMEWORK AFTER SCHOOL OR EVEN IN THE EVENING.
AND SO, A LITTLE SELFISHLY, I SAW THIS IS IF WE CAN SAVE MONEY.
THIS IS A WAY, AND I EVEN PUT IT IN MY EMAIL, EXTENDING SERVICES AND HOURS.
AND SO SELFISHLY, THAT'S WHAT I JUST PUT WHAT I THOUGHT WAS HAPPENING.
LIKE I SAID, WE DO GIVE IT TO STAFF TRUST BUT VERIFY.
WE WANT THEM TO SAY COMPARE IT TO ACTUAL NUMBERS BEFORE IT WAS EVER EVEN A DISCUSSION BEYOND.
AND JUST LIKE MY COLLEAGUE SAID, IF IT'S A NOTHING BURGER, IT'S A NOTHING BURGER.
WE GET PITCHED ALL THE TIME ON SAVINGS THAT WE THROW TO STAFF TO LOOK AT, AND IF THE MONEY'S THERE, THEN WE TEND TO HAVE A DISCUSSION FROM THAT POINT ON.
BUT IF IT'S NOT THERE, IT'S NOT EVEN WORTH A DISCUSSION.
BUT WE HAVE ALWAYS WE'RE BUILDING LIBRARIES. WE'RE NOT CLOSING LIBRARIES.
WE'RE GETTING READY TO TRY TO EXTEND SERVICES IN WINTON AS WELL.
AND IT SEEMED LIKE THE LONGER IT WAS OUT THERE, THE WORSE THE INFORMATION GOT.
AND READING SOME OF THESE EMAILS, IT'S LIKE IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE OF WHAT SOME OF THE PEOPLE WILL SAY.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE MY PHONE NUMBER IS OUT THERE FOR ANYBODY TO CALL.
IN FACT, I'VE CALLED SOME PEOPLE, THEY NEVER CALLED ME BACK.
AND THE CALLS THAT I DID MAKE AND HAVE A CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATION WITH THEM, THEY HEARD ME.
AND BUT LIKE I SAID, ONCE I HAD THE CONVERSATION WITH FOLKS, THEY AGREED WITH ME.
THEY THEY THEY AGREED AND SAID, WELL, YEAH, WE HAVE TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.
SO THE FACT THAT THEY WERE SAYING THAT THERE WAS A BROWN ACT VIOLATION, THERE WAS THESE I MEAN, IT WAS COMPLETELY FALSE. AND IT'S WE'RE OPEN FOR THE DISCUSSION.
CALL ME ANYTIME AND HAVE THE DISCUSSION. WE'RE OPEN FOR THAT.
THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS HAVE A DISCUSSION.
BUT YET WE BECOME KEYBOARD WARRIORS IN THIS TIME.
AND WHEN THERE'S NO FACE AND THERE'S NO BACK TO BACK CONVERSATION.
[01:25:02]
THEY GET VERY BOLD IN WHAT THEY WANT TO SAY TO US, AND I WOULD APPRECIATE MORE OF A BACK AND FORTH CONVERSATION.CALL ME UP. MY CELLPHONE NUMBER IS OUT THERE EVERYWHERE.
IN FACT, WHEN YOU CALL MY OFFICE PHONE, IT GOES TO MY CELL PHONE.
THEY'RE A LITTLE CAUGHT OFF GUARD, BUT I'M THERE FOR THE DISCUSSION AT ALL TIMES.
WE DID MEET WITH LUKE BRYAN'S PRODUCTION STAFF MAY 15TH.
IT'S TRUE. HE'S COMING. AND IT WAS A VERY GOOD DISCUSSION YESTERDAY.
MAN. SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. YOU GUYS HAD A LOT OF GUYS THERE. I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. ONE THING I HAD TO SIDEBAR DISCUSSION WITH A COUPLE OF THE PRODUCTION GUYS, AND THEY SAID, THERE'S ONE COMPLAINT AFTER THEY HAVE THESE CONCERTS IN AN AREA, AND THAT COMPLAINT IS THAT ALL THE LOCAL STORES RUN OUT OF CHIPS, BEER, SODA, AND QUICK FOODS BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S SHOPPING IN OUR AREA. THAT'S WHAT WE WANT. THAT'S WHY WE BRING THESE HERE FOR FOLKS TO SPEND MONEY IN OUR COUNTY.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
YEAH. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MR. BARDINI LIVED IN SUPERVISOR PACHECO'S DISTRICT, AND, YOU KNOW, AND SO, OUT OF RESPECT, WE DID WHAT WE DID, BUT I JUST WANT TO SHARE.
SO I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH THE BARDINI BOYS, AND I REMEMBER I'LL JUST TELL A QUICK STORY MR. BALDINI, WHEN HE WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE CAME, YOU KNOW, TO MY DAD AND I'D NEVER REALLY PAID ATTENTION TO A CAMPAIGN BEFORE.
AND SO ANYWAYS, MY DAD TOOK HIM AROUND AND INTRODUCED HIM TO THE NEIGHBORS BECAUSE AT THAT TIME YOU KNOW, YOU REACHED OUTSIDE YOUR DISTRICT A LITTLE MORE THAN YOU DO TODAY.
BUT ANYWAYS, HIS BOYS RICK, RANDY, GREG AND GARY, AND GARY WAS A YEAR YOUNGER THAN ME, AND HE HAD AN OLD DATSUN CAR, AND HE PAINTED ON IT WITH STENCIL VOTE FOR MY DAD.
AND THAT WENT ALL OVER TOWN AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.
AND, YOU KNOW, AND IT JUST WAS, I THINK, WHEN ELECTIONS WERE A LOT MORE FUN THAN THEY ARE TODAY.
AND ANYWAYS, GREAT FAMILY AND UNFORTUNATELY PASSED AWAY.
BUT HE DID LIVE A GREAT LONG LIFE. AND THANK YOU FOR CLOSING THE MEETING IN HIS MEMORY.
THANK YOU. COUNCIL HANSON. MR. MENDEZ. OKAY I ALREADY READ MY STATEMENT, BUT I DO WANT TO REITERATE AND SAY I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT THIS FALSE NARRATIVE THAT IS BEING WAS BEING CREATED WAS TO MEET PEOPLE'S AGENDAS, AND THAT WAS JUST NOT THAT WASN'T ACCURATE. AND I THINK THAT WE'RE ALL AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS BROUGHT UP, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A GOOD DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND A GOOD FOR PEOPLE TO COME.
BUT AGAIN, LIKE MY COLLEAGUE SAID, ONCE THAT PROCESS WAS DONE WITH THEIR OWN SPECIFIC ITEM, THIS ROOM IS EMPTY NOW. AND SO WE'RE NOT EMPTY.
WE STILL HAVE SOME PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT A MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE HERE FOR THAT ONE ITEM WERE ONLY HERE FOR THAT ONE ITEM, AND DON'T REALLY NECESSARILY TAKE ANY CONSIDERATION INTO THE OTHER BUSINESS THAT THE MERCED COUNTY HAS TO DO.
AND WE DID A LOT OF GOOD THINGS TODAY. I MEAN WITH IN REGARDS TO THE BROADBAND AND SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE IF WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT ONE ASPECT, WE GOT TO LOOK AT THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE, AND I THINK THAT THAT GETS LOST IN SOME, IN SOME TYPE, SOMETIMES WITH THE NARRATIVE THAT IS FALSE AND THAT AGENDAS ARE PASSED AROUND OR THOUGHT THAT WE'RE DOING SOMETHING WHEN WE'RE NOT. WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE COUNTY OF MERCED THAT'S OUR JOB AND WE TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY.
AND SO, WHEN THERE'S FALSENESS THAT'S BEING OUT THERE OR RUMORS THAT ARE BEING PROMULGATED THAT HAVE NOT HAD ANY DISCUSSIONS OTHER THAN VERY PRELIMINARY, THAT'S THE THAT'S THE PROBLEM. I ALSO ATTENDED THE CWA LUNCH WHICH THAT'S IT IS ALWAYS A GOOD TIME. I REALLY APPRECIATED SECRETARY ROSS FOR BEING THERE.
[01:30:05]
AND I WANT TO THANK LACEY AND MARK FOR REALLY HELPING CLEAR THE AIR ON THAT TYPE OF STUFF, BECAUSE I THINK I TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO WATER.WATER IS LIKE CALCULUS TO ME, AND I'M ALGEBRA AT BEST.
AND SO, LACEY IS ABLE TO REALLY BOIL IT DOWN, NO PUN INTENDED.
BOIL IT DOWN TO THE BASICS AND TO LET US KNOW.
SO, THANK YOU FOR THAT. I ALSO WANT TO ADJOURN THE MEETING FOR DORIS TOSTEE.
DORIS, WE CALLED HER GRANDMA DORIS. SHE WAS OUR NEIGHBOR GROWING UP.
SHE USED TO BABYSIT US. HER DAUGHTERS BABYSAT US.
SHE PASSED AWAY. SHE WAS A REALTOR FOR MANY YEARS HERE IN MERCED.
SHE MOVED TO JAMESTOWN, INDIANA WHEN HER IN 2007.
BUT SHE WAS SHE WE WHERE I GREW UP OUT IN THE COUNTRY, IT WAS MY GRANDFATHER, MY UNCLE, US, AND THEN THE TOASTIES. AND IT WAS THEY WERE ON THE CORNER.
SO IT WAS LIKE FAMILY. SO I JUST WANTED TO ADJOURN FOR DORIS TOSTEE.
AND WITH THAT. OH, TONIGHT MY TOWN HALL IS FROM 6 TO 8:00 AT THE MONDO BUILDING.
I'M GOING TO HAVE THE DEPARTMENT HEADS. REALLY? IT'S A TIME FOR YOU GUYS, FOR THE COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO INTERACT WITH THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, BECAUSE IN ALL REALITY, WHEN YOU ASK ME A QUESTION, I HAVE TO GO TO A DEPARTMENT HEAD TO GET THE ANSWER.
AND SO, WITH YOU JUST HAVING WITH PEOPLE, HAVING THE ACCESS TO THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE IT'LL BE A REALLY GOOD, GOOD EVENT. SO IT'S TONIGHT FROM 6 TO 8 AT THE MONDO BUILDING DOWNTOWN.
ALL RIGHT. MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.