[00:00:01] ALL RIGHT GOOD MORNING, AND WELCOME TO THE JUNE 10TH, 2025 MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. YOUR CLOSED SESSIONS THIS MORNING ARE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE RECRUITMENT APPOINTMENT, COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER, [CLOSED SESSION] MEET AND CONFER AGENCY NEGOTIATOR MARCI BARRERA, EXISTING LITIGATION, REESE VERSUS COUNTY OF MERCED, MERCED SUPERIOR COURT CASE NUMBER 25 CV 00989 AND SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE TO LITIGATION ONE CASE. 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. OKAY. 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 AND WE WILL NOW ADJOURN INTO CLOSED SESSION. OKAY. GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME BACK TO THE JUNE 10TH, 2025 MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. [10:00 A.M. REGULAR MEETING] THIS MORNING WE HAD CLOSE A CLOSED SESSION MEETING AND STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION. WE WILL NOW START WITH THE INVOCATION LED BY SHRUTI DESHPANDE, AND THEN I WILL LEAD THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. GO AHEAD. SO? IT'S ON. I START, RIGHT? YEAH. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS MARUTI DESHPANDE. I WORK FOR THE MERCER COUNTY LIBRARY. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'M DOING THE INVOCATION. AND I'M REALLY THANKFUL TO JOSH PEDROZA FOR INVITING ME FOR THIS. OUR PRAYERS ARE MOSTLY IN SANSKRIT BECAUSE I FOLLOW HINDUISM, BUT I'M GOING TO EXPLAIN IT IN SANSKRIT FOR TWO LINES. SO THE FIRST PRAYER IS VAKRATUNDA MAHAKALA. PRABHA KURUMI. CAN YOU SPEAK? COME A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE MIC. OKAY. THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? OKAY. SO THE FIRST PRAYER IS [SANSKRIT] SO THIS PRAYER IS. THIS TIME IS DEDICATED TO LORD GANESHA. IS RECITED TO INVOKE HIS BLESSINGS FOR REMOVING OBSTACLES AND ENSURING ALL THE SUCCESS. THIS PRAYER ACKNOWLEDGES GANESHA'S POWER AND BRILLIANCE WHILE SEEKING HIS GRACE TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES. SO I THOUGHT THIS IS THE FIRST ONE TO START. THE SECOND ONE IS [SANSKRIT] WHICH MEANS YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO WORK BUT NOT EXPECTING THE FRUITS OUT OF IT. LET THE FOCUS BE NOT ON THE FRUITS AND NEVER BE INACTIVE. THE VERSE ENCOURAGES A DETACHED APPROACH TO WORK. YOU SHOULD PERFORM YOUR DUTIES WITH DILIGENCE AND SINCERITY, BUT WITHOUT BEING OVERLY ATTACHED TO WHETHER YOU ACHIEVE SUCCESS OR NOT. YOU SHOULD NOT LET THE POTENTIAL FOR SUCCESS OR FAILURE DICTATE YOUR ACTIONS, BUT RATHER FOCUS ON THE ACTION ITSELF. AND MY THIRD AND THE LAST ONE IS [SANSKRIT] WHICH MEANS MAY ALL BE HAPPY, MAY ALL BE FREE FROM ILLNESS. MAY ALL SEE WHAT AUSPICIOUS IS. MAY NO ONE SUFFER. EVERYONE SHOULD BE HAPPY IN THIS WORLD. ALL THE PEACE, PEACE, PEACE IN THIS WORLD. AND THAT'S HOW I'M GOING TO END MY PRAYER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR AGAIN GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU. PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. 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. OKAY. NON AGENDA ITEM. PUBLIC COMMENT. IT'S TIME FOR PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST WITHIN THE BOARD'S JURISDICTION. [PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK] EXCLUDING ITEMS ON THE BOARD'S AGENDA. TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON AND 30 MINUTES TOTAL. OKAY. AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT AGAIN. THIS IS FOR NON AGENDA ITEM ITEMS ONLY. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS WILLIAM PRUITT. I'M HERE TODAY TO ADDRESS THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS REGARDING YOUR RECENT DECISION TO CLOSE FIRE STATION 75 AT THE DOS PALOS Y AND ASKED THE THREE BOARD MEMBERS WHO VOTED TO CLOSE THE STATION TO RECONSIDER THEIR DECISION AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING. I'M A RESIDENT, A BUSINESS OWNER, EMPLOYER, PROPERTY OWNER, PROPERTY TAXPAYER, AND SALES TAXPAYER IN THE DOS PALOS AREA. [00:05:06] STATION 75 AT THE DOS PALOS Y PROVIDES ESSENTIAL FIRE AND MEDICAL RELATED SERVICES TO AN AREA THAT ENCOMPASSES RESIDENCES, BUSINESSES, AND OVER 80,000 ACRES OF FARMLAND. I'M DESCRIBING THE AREA WEST OF THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER, EAST OF LOS BANOS. NORTH OF DOS PALOS. SOUTH OF SANDY MUSH ROAD. STATION 75. LOCATION NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 33 AND HIGHWAY 152, ALLOWS THE CREW MEMBERS TO SERVE OUR AREA WELL AND TO BE THE FIRST RESPONDERS WHEN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION OCCURS. I URGE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO REVIEW A MAP OF THE DOS PALOS AREA, PAYING ATTENTION TO NEIGHBORING FIRE STATION LOCATIONS AND LIMITED ROAD CROSSINGS AT THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER AND EAST SIDE BYPASS AREAS. AN ISLAND IS A GOOD DESCRIPTION FOR OUR AREA FROM AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE PERSPECTIVE. NEIGHBORING STATIONS 76 AND DOWNTOWN DOS PALOS AND STATION 71, IN DOWNTOWN LOS BANOS, BOTH HAVE TO TRAVEL THROUGH TOWN AND NAVIGATE TRAFFIC BEFORE THEY ARE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THE DOS PALOS Y AREA. STATION 83, IN EL NIDO HAS TO CHOOSE THE HIGHWAY 152 ROUTE OR SANDY MUSH ROUTE TO GET TO OUR AREA, BECAUSE WASHINGTON ROAD THAT USED TO LINK EL NIDO TO THE FARMLAND NORTH OF HIGHWAY 152 HAS BEEN CLOSED BY THE MERCED COUNTY ROAD DEPARTMENT. I HAVE ESTIMATED THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TIME TO INCREASE TO MORE THAN 30 MINUTES FOR FIRST RESPONDERS TO ARRIVE TO PORTIONS OF OUR AREA THAT HAS THAT STATION 75 HAS HISTORICALLY SERVED. IF THE STATION IS CLOSED, WORKERS IN THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY OPERATE HEAVY EQUIPMENT AND ARE CONSTANTLY NEAR HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SUCH AS CHEMICALS, FERTILIZERS AND FUEL. IT'S ESSENTIAL TO HAVE RELIABLE AND QUICK EMERGENCY RESPONSE SERVICES WHEN AN ACCIDENT OCCURS IN OUR AREA. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL DAILY FROM OUTSIDE AREAS SUCH AS LOS BANOS, DOS PALOS, FIREBALL MERCED TO WORK AT THE FARMS AND BUSINESSES NEAR THE DOS PALOS AREA. THERE'S ALSO A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL FROM LOS BANOS TO MERCED AREA DAILY, DRIVING THROUGH DISTRICT FIVE TO WORK IN DISTRICTS ONE, TWO, THREE AND FOUR. THEY UTILIZE HENRY MILLER ROAD, TURNER ISLAND ROAD THAT LEADS TO SANDY MUSH ROAD OR HIGHWAY 152. ALL THESE ROADS ARE COVERED BY STATION 75. OUR AREA MAY BE RURAL, BUT IT IS NOT INSIGNIFICANT. SOME OF THE MOST ADVANCED AND PROACTIVE AGRICULTURAL FARMS AND BUSINESSES IN THE UNITED STATES ARE LOCATED NEAR DOUGAN. SIR, YOUR TIME IS UP. CHAIR, HONORABLE SUPERVISORS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. MY NAME IS AGGIE FREEMAN, AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS THE 2024 2025 PRESIDENT OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF MERCED. SUNRISE ROTARY INTERNATIONAL IS A GLOBAL ORGANIZATION, BUT HERE IN MERCED COUNTY, OUR FOCUS IS LOCAL ON SERVICE, ON IMPACT, AND ON LIFTING UP OUR NEIGHBORS THROUGH HANDS ON, HEARTFELT COMMUNITY PROJECTS. THIS MORNING, I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT PLANNING IS ALREADY UNDERWAY FOR OUR 2025 MERCED FIELD OF HONOR AT MERCED COLLEGE, ONE OF OUR MOST MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS, AS WELL AS THE RICH MILLER BACK TO SCHOOL CLOTHES FOR KIDS. THESE EVENTS HONOR THE LEGACY OF EVERYONE IN MERCED AND HELP EACH CHILD WHO DESERVES TO WALK INTO SCHOOL FEELING CONFIDENT AND CARED FOR. ON ONE SATURDAY MORNING IN EARLY AUGUST, BEFORE THE FIRST SCHOOL BELL RINGS, 100 LOCAL CHILDREN WILL SHOP WITH A $100 GIFT CARD FOR THEIR BRAND NEW SCHOOL CLOTHING, PAIRED ONE ON ONE WITH A CARING ROTARIAN OR COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER. THIS YEAR, WE'RE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE OUR PARTNER PARTNERSHIP WITH TARGET MERCED, OUR GENEROUS CO-SPONSOR WHO OPENS THEIR DOORS AND HEARTS TO MAKE THIS EXPERIENCE UNFORGETTABLE. THE CHILDREN PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROJECT ARE NOMINATED BY THREE COMMUNITY PARTNERS CASA OF MERCED COUNTY, SERVING YOUTH AND FOSTER CARE. THE VILLAGE OF HOPE FOR FAMILIES, PART OF THE MERCED COUNTY RESCUE MISSION. AND LOVE, INC., A NONPROFIT NETWORK HELPING FAMILIES IN CRISIS. THIS IS AN INVESTMENT IN CONFIDENCE. IT'S AN ACT OF DIGNITY, AND IT'S A MESSAGE TO EACH CHILD THAT THEIR COMMUNITY CARES AND BELIEVES IN THEM. MY TERM AS CLUB PRESIDENT CONCLUDES ON JULY 1ST, 2025, AS WE BEGIN A NEW ROTARY YEAR AND PASS THE TORCH TO NEW LEADERSHIP. BUT THE MISSION CONTINUES, AND IT THRIVES BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT OF PARTNERS LIKE YOU. ON BEHALF OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF MERCED SUNRISE, I WANT TO THANK THIS BOARD FOR YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT, [00:10:01] RECOGNITION AND ENCOURAGEMENT. TOGETHER, WE ARE NOT JUST MEETING NEEDS. WE ARE CREATING HOPE, BUILDING CONFIDENCE AND SHOWING WHAT IT MEANS TO UNITE FOR GOOD. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR MERCED COUNTY. THANK YOU. GOOD. GOOD MORNING CHAIRMAN AND SUPERVISORS. MY NAME IS VANESSA BARBARIS AND I'M HERE THIS MORNING REPRESENTING W.M. WINTON DISPOSAL. WE ARE YOUR COLLECTION HAULER FOR WASTE RECYCLING AND ORGANICS FOR THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE COUNTY. THIS MORNING I'M HERE JUST TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A QUICK UPDATE ON OUR IMPLEMENTATION OF SB 1383, WHICH IS THE UNFUNDED STATE MANDATE THAT REQUIRES ORGANICS COLLECTION IN THE COUNTY. AS YOU KNOW, OUR AMENDED COLLECTION CONTRACT INCLUDES WEEKLY RECYCLING AND ORGANICS COLLECTION FOR BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS IN THE MANDATORY SERVICE AREAS. AND STARTING NEXT WEEK ON MONDAY, WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN DELIVERING THE BLUE AND GREEN RECYCLING AND ORGANICS CARTS WITHIN THE MANDATORY SERVICE AREAS. THE DELIVERIES WILL TAKE ABOUT TWO WEEKS AND THEN SERVICE WILL BEGIN ON JULY 1ST. SO TO HELP PREPARE FOR THE TRANSITION, WE DEVELOPED A SUPERVISOR RESOURCE GUIDE FOR YOU. I BROUGHT COPIES HERE TODAY FOR EACH OF YOU. IT'S DESIGNED TO GIVE YOU A QUICK REFERENCE SO THAT YOU KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. COMMON QUESTIONS THAT WILL COME FROM CUSTOMERS AND WHO TO CONTACT IF THERE'S ANY ESCALATED CONCERNS THAT YOU RECEIVE. OUR GOAL IS TO SUPPORT YOU BY PROVIDING THE INFORMATION AND THE TOOLS AHEAD OF THE CALLS, SO THAT YOU FEEL CONFIDENT AND PREPARED WHEN YOU START RECEIVING THEM. I'M ALSO HERE BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR NEW RECYCLING EDUCATION REPRESENTATIVE JAVIER. HE IS BASED IN OUR ATWATER OFFICE THAT IS HERE IN MERCED COUNTY, AND HE'LL BE PROVIDING EDUCATION AND OUTREACH SUPPORT WITHIN THE COUNTY. ALREADY HE'S HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND BEEN OUT IN THE COMMUNITY WORKING WITHIN HIS FIRST MONTH, SO I'LL LET HIM INTRODUCE HIMSELF. HELLO. MY NAME IS JAVIER SANCHEZ. I'M THE NEW RECYCLING EDUCATION REPRESENTATIVE. I JUST RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM MERCED COLLEGE, AND I SEE A LOT OF FAMILIAR FACES. I'VE MET MOST OF YOU AT DESTINOS RESTAURANT MY PREVIOUS JOB, SO IT'S NICE TO BE HERE AND SEE YOU GUYS HERE WHERE YOU GUYS WORK. SO THIS PAST WEEKEND. YEAH, WE WERE AT THE MERCED COUNTY FAIR AND WE GOT TO SPEAK TO ABOUT LIKE 800 PEOPLE. AND IT WAS NICE TO GET LIVE FEEDBACK, POSITIVE FEEDBACK IN REAL TIME. AND YEAH, IT'S VERY EXCITING FOR ME TO BE HERE. AND I'M EXCITED TO BE WORKING WITH YOU GUYS. AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE MYSELF. THANK YOU. YOU MUST HAVE HAD SOME GOOD HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS TOO. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MISSY PRUITT. I'M A BUSINESS OWNER AND A RESIDENT OF THE DOS PALOS Y AREA. MYSELF AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR AREA HAVE WORKED ON GETTING A PETITION SIGNED TO KEEP THE DOS PALOS FIRE STATION OPEN. WE HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM NEARLY EVERY BUSINESS AND FARM IN THE DOS PALOS AREA, ALONG WITH SEVERAL RESIDENTS AND EMPLOYEES. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TO REVIEW THE PETITION AND RECONSIDER KEEPING THE STATION AT THE DOS PALOS Y OPEN. I'M ALSO GOING TO FINISH WHAT MY HUSBAND WAS TRYING TO SAY A COUPLE MINUTES AGO. 80 80,000 ACRES OF FERTILE FARMLAND COVERED BY STATION 75. THINK OF THE PROPERTY TAXES GENERATED THAT SUPPORT MERCED COUNTY FROM 80,000 ACRES OF FARMLAND, WITH THE SUPPORTING STRUCTURES AND PERSONAL PROPERTY ON THAT LAND. WHAT ABOUT THE SALES TAX REVENUE GENERATED FOR MERCED COUNTY WHEN THE FARMS AND BUSINESSES IN THE AREA PURCHASE NEW EQUIPMENT, PARTS, CHEMICALS AND FUEL? THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER. ALSO, AS A PRIORITY, A PORTION OF THE TAXES GENERATED BY THE DOS PALOS Y AREA SHOULD BE USED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR OUR RURAL COMMUNITY. IN CLOSING, I ASK THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO PLEASE CONSIDER THE EMERGENCY SERVICES STATION 75 PROVIDES TO THE RURAL FARMS, RESIDENCES, BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE TRAVELING TO, FROM, AND THROUGH OUR AREA. I WANT TO ALSO REMIND THE MERCED COUNTY SUPERVISORS OF THEIR MISSION STATEMENT TO PROVIDE QUALITY PUBLIC SERVICES THAT ENHANCE AND PROTECT OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY. KEEPING FIRE STATION 75 AT THE DOS PALOS Y. ALIGNS WELL WITH YOUR MISSION STATEMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND I'LL PLACE BOTH OF THESE THINGS IN THE BASKET FOR YOU TO REVIEW. GOOD MORNING, SUPERVISOR PACHECO. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, SUPERVISOR PEDROZO, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. MY NAME IS HOLLY CRIVELLI AND I AM HERE TODAY AS A CONCERNED RESIDENT OF DOS PALOS AND MORE SPECIFICALLY, AS SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS FIRSTHAND THE OFFICIAL AND CRITICAL ROLE THAT FIRE STATION 75 PLAYS IN OUR COMMUNITY NORTH OF 152. [00:15:01] STATION 75 IS NOT JUST A BUILDING, IT IS A LIFELINE. EVERY MINUTE MATTERS IN AN EMERGENCY, WHETHER IT'S A FIRE, A MEDICAL CRISIS OR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. OUR FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, ESPECIALLY ON THE NORTH SIDE OF 152, DEPEND ON THE RAPID RESPONSE TIMES THAT STATION 75 ENSURES. CLOSING THE STATION WOULD INCREASE RESPONSE TIMES DRAMATICALLY, ESPECIALLY IN OUR RURAL AND UNDERSERVED AREAS. THIS IS NOT JUST INCONVENIENT, IT'S DANGEROUS. THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS. IT'S ABOUT THE BACKBONE OF MERCED COUNTY OUR AGRICULTURE, SOMETHING WE HOLD NEAR AND DEAR TO US. AS MY HUSBAND IS A THIRD GENERATION FARMER AND MY SONS WORK ON THIS RANCH MOST DAYS. STATION 75 SERVES VAST STRETCHES OF FARMLAND AND SUPPORTS THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORK THOSE FIELDS EVERY DAY, INCLUDING MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO MANY ARE BEHIND ME. OUR FARM WORKERS AND LABORERS ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR ECONOMY AND OUR FOOD SUPPLY. THEY OFTEN WORK IN REMOTE AREAS UNDER EXTREME CONDITIONS, AND WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG, WHETHER IT'S A HEAT RELATED ILLNESS, AN EQUIPMENT ACCIDENT, OR A FIELD FIRE, THEY NEED EMERGENCY SERVICES CLOSE BY. DELAYS IN FIRE OR MEDICAL RESPONSE IN THESE AREAS CAN HAVE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES, NOT JUST FOR INDIVIDUALS, BUT FOR ENTIRE FARM OPERATIONS AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT DEPEND ON THEM. A FIELD FIRE CAN SPREAD IN MINUTES. A WORKER INJURED FAR FROM TOWN DOESN'T HAVE TIME TO WAIT 15, 20 OR EVEN 30 EXTRA MINUTES. STATION 75 IS NOT JUST A FIRE STATION. IT'S A CRITICAL SAFETY HUB FOR OUR ENTIRE REGION. LOCATED ALONG THE HIGHWAY 152 CORRIDOR AND IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO HIGHWAY 59. IT SITS IN A HIGH TRAFFIC, HIGH RISK AREA THAT SEES THOUSANDS OF COMMUTERS, TRUCKERS, FARM WORKERS, FAMILIES AND MYSELF AS I WORK IN MERCED PASS THROUGH EVERY SINGLE DAY. THESE HIGHWAYS ARE LIFELINES FOR OUR AGRICULTURE ECONOMY AND VITAL ROUTES FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS, BUT THEY ARE ALSO FREQUENT SITES OF SERIOUS ACCIDENTS WHEN COLLISIONS HAPPEN AND THEY DO. STATION 75 IS OFTEN THE FIRST AND FASTEST RESPONDER. CLOSING IT WILL MEAN NO LONGER WILL MEAN LONGER WAIT TIMES FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL HELP AND FIRE SUPPRESSION, WHEN EVERY SECOND TRULY MATTERS. OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE ALREADY DOING MORE WITH LESS. COVERING, MORE CALLS WITH LIMITED RESOURCES, OFTEN PUTTING THEIR OWN SAFETY ON THE LINE. CLOSING STATION 75 WOULD ONLY INCREASE THE BURDEN, LEADING TO BURNOUT, SLOWER RESPONSE TIMES, AND POTENTIALLY TRAGIC OUTCOMES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED. IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT EL NIDO STATION COULD BE AN ADDITIONAL RESOURCE FOR US, BUT WITH THE WASHINGTON BRIDGE OUT FOR OVER TWO YEARS NOW, THE RESPONSE TIME OF EL NIDO TO OUR AREA IS AT LEAST 25 MINUTES. I URGE YOU, PLEASE DON'T LET THIS ESSENTIAL STATION GO DARK. INVEST IN OUR SAFETY. STAND WITH THE FAMILIES, THE FARM WORKERS, THE COMMUTERS, AND THE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS WHO DEPEND ON STATION 75. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. HI. GOOD MORNING. BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, CITY STAFF AND ATTENDEES. MY NAME IS CLAUDIO BAUTISTA. I AM NOT ONLY A DOS PALOS RESIDENT, I'M A COUNCIL MEMBER AND A COMMUTER WHO DRIVES 152 DAILY. I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT I'M NOT ADVOCATING SOLELY FOR THE FIRE SERVICE WITHIN MY CITY, THE CITY OF DOS PALOS, BUT ALSO SOUTH DOS PALOS AND MIDWAY. DURING THE MAY 27TH MEETING, SUPERVISORS PACHECO, PEDROZA, AND MCDANIEL VOTED TO KEEP THE DOS PALOS FIRE STATION 76 OPEN, CONSOLIDATING 75 TO 76. THE MOTION TO KEEP THE FIRE STATION 76 OPEN PASSED BECAUSE AND I JUST WANT TO REPEAT WHAT HAPPENED. THE DOS PALOS STATION 76, HAS TWICE AS MANY RESPONSES THAN THE Y. THE Y ALSO. THEIR RESPONSES WERE SECONDARY RESPONSES, NOT FIRST RESPONSES. MANY OF THEM WERE. THE DOS PALOS CITY FIRE STATION 76 IS CENTRALIZED AND IN CLOSE VICINITY TO OVER 6000 RESIDENTS, WHEREAS THE 75 AT THE Y ALSO HAS RESIDENTS, BUT THEY'RE NOT AS MANY. THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF DOS PALOS HAVE STEPPED UP PAST THEIR INCREASE IN SALES TAX THAT WILL HELP FUND THE FIRE STATIONS IN OUR CITY. LET'S KEEP THAT IN MIND, AS THERE ARE LESS THAN 6000 RESIDENTS LIVING WITHIN THE CITY OF DOS PALOS. AND AS IT SAYS, WE'RE NOT THE SIZE OF LIVINGSTON, SO WE SHOULDN'T BE COMPARED TO THEM BECAUSE FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS WILL BE AT RISK OF NOT HAPPENING IN THE CITY OF DOS PALOS. THOSE ARE AT RISK BECAUSE THEY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO ACQUIRE FIRE INSURANCE. DEVELOPER IMPACT FEES WITH FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CITY OF DOS PALOS WILL ALSO HOPEFULLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE FUND. ALSO, ALL RESIDENTS WITHIN THE CITY OF DOS PALOS, MIDWAY AND SOUTH DOS PALOS WILL BE FORCED TO PAY HIGHER INSURANCE RATES. SO LET'S CONSIDER THE 6000 HAVING TO PAY MORE. I'VE ALREADY RECEIVED AN OVER $200 INCREASE THIS YEAR. I CAN ONLY SEE THAT GROWING MORE BECAUSE THE FIRE STATION WOULD BE FURTHER THAN FOUR MILES. I ALSO HEARD THAT THE SCHOOLS WITHIN OUR CITY MAY ALSO BE AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR FIRE INSURANCE. NOW, DON'T HOLD ME TO IT. BUT I HEARD THAT, SO I WANT THAT TO BE CLEAR. ALTHOUGH SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND PAREIRA VOTED NO AT THE LAST MEETING, I HOPE THAT THE FACTS PROVIDED TO YOU TODAY WILL HELP PROVIDE A CLEARER VIEW OF REALITY. I ALSO HOPE THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY BROWN ACT VIOLATIONS IN DISCUSSIONS AMONGST EACH OTHER OUTSIDE OF THE PUBLIC. BECAUSE AB 1234, THE ETHICS TRAINING THAT YOU HAVE ALL COMPLETED WHEN TAKING OFFICE IN EVERY TWO YEARS THEREAFTER. PERCEPTION IS VERY IMPORTANT. NOW, WHETHER WE'RE OUR PERCEPTION IS RIGHT OR WRONG, IT'S WHAT WE SEE. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE JUDGING ON IS WHAT WE SEE. [00:20:01] AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, FOR IT TO BE CLEAR, THIS DONATION THAT WAS MENTIONED PLEASE BE CLEAR. AND I'M SURPRISED THAT THAT ALSO CAME AT THE 11TH HOUR. AND WE DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT THAT BEFORE. SO OBVIOUSLY WE COULDN'T, AS A PUBLIC HAVE CONSIDERED THAT AT LAST, THE LAST MEETING. IN CLOSING, REGARDING NEXT WEEK'S DECISION THAT YOU HAVE AT HAND, YOU KNOW, SAYING I DON'T WANT EITHER FIRE STATION TO CLOSE AND LEAVING YOUR PEERS TO MAKE THE DECISION FOR YOU. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA THAT JUST DOESN'T WORK. A NO VOTE WILL NOT SAVE US. YOU NEED TO MAKE A DECISION. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. OH, MY NAME IS DIANA WESTMORELAND. I'M A. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YEAH, I AM A DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE FOR SENATOR ANNA CABALLERO. AND I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE UPDATE ON HER PACKAGE OF BILLS THAT PASSED THROUGH THE SENATE AND ARE NOW AT THE IN THE CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY, SB 72, MODERNIZING CALIFORNIA'S WATER SUPPLY, PLANNING FOR DROUGHT PROOF RESILIENT FUTURE SB 52 ZERO EXPANDING ACCESS TO CARE FOR PREGNANT MOTHERS AND THEIR BABIES THROUGH MIDWIFERY TRAINING AND MATERNAL HEALTH CARE. SB 509 PROTECTING DIASPORA COMMUNITIES FROM TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION BY PROVIDING POLICE OFFICERS WITH SPECIALIZED TRAINING. SB 419 MAKES CLEAN ENERGY FUEL MORE ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE. SB 624 OUTREACH TO HELP FOSTER YOUTH ACCESS THE CALIFORNIA EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY, SB 769 ACCELERATES FUNDS FOR CRITICAL PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. AND SB808 FAST TRACKS LEGAL REVIEWS TO GET HOUSING BUILT FASTER. THE FULL PACKAGE SPANS CRITICAL POLICY AREAS INCLUDING CLEAN ENERGY, HEALTHCARE, HOUSING, WORKFORCE PROTECTIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THE SENATOR IS WORKING TO OFFER PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE NOW. THEY CREATE CLEAN ENERGY JOBS, SECURE OUR WATER SUPPLY, AND IMPROVE MATERNAL HEALTH CARE. THIS PACKAGE PUTS PEOPLE FIRST. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR TO DISCUSS FURTHER, PLEASE GIVE US A CALL AT OUR OFFICE (209) 726-5495. WE ARE LOCATED AND OPEN EVEN DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF BOB HART SQUARE ABOVE 510 BISTRO, AND I HAVE GOING TO LEAVE A PACK OF COPIES OF THE ACTUAL PRESS RELEASE FOR YOU ALL. THANK YOU. HAVE A GREAT DAY. I'M GOING TO. GOOD MORNING BOARD. MY NAME IS LISA ARIAS. I AM A RESIDENT OF SANTA RITA PARK/DOS PALOS Y. I'M A RETIRED POLICE OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF DOS PALOS, AND I PERSONALLY KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF ENGINE 75. I'VE CALLED MANY TIMES FOR MY PARENTS WHO WERE ELDERLY AND MANY TIMES FOR MY NEIGHBOR. FIRE IS THE FIRST ONE TO RESPOND. I'VE RESPONDED NUMEROUS TIMES TO COUNTY CALLS BECAUSE THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAS EXTENDED PERSONALLY WAITING WITH ENGINE 75, WAITING FOR A RESPONSE TIME FROM THE AMBULANCE IS ALWAYS EXTENDED BECAUSE THEY'RE EITHER ON THE WAY TO MERCED, THEY'RE ON THE WAY TO LOS BANOS. AND I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO PREPARE ANYTHING. I'M UP HERE STRICTLY FROM THE HEART THAT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT I. I WAS INJURED IN THE LINE OF DUTY, HAVING TO WAIT FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. THEY WERE UNABLE TO RESPOND TO ME BECAUSE IT WAS SHIFT CHANGE. EVEN BEING IN THE CITY, IT'S WORSE IN THE COUNTY. I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO RECONSIDER CLOSING ENGINE 75. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN PEDROSO. SUPERVISORS, MR. HANSON, MR. HENDRICKSON. MY NAME IS BRIANNE VANDENBERG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MERCED COUNTY FARM BUREAU. I REPRESENT MEMBERS THAT ARE LOCATED BOTH IN THE CITY AND THE Y. AND WHILE YOU HAVE KNOWN ME IN MY CURRENT CAPACITY FOR THE LAST TEN AND A HALF YEARS, YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT I AM A RESIDENT OF DOS PALOS. [00:25:01] FOR THIS REASON, I FEEL I AM PERFECTLY PLACED TO UNDERSTAND AND BE A GREAT CANDIDATE FOR WHAT YOU GUYS ARE GOING THROUGH IN THIS DECISION. I'M NOT HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR ONE CLOSURE OVER THE OTHER, BUT RATHER STRESS OUR ORGANIZATION'S BELIEF THAT EMERGENCY SERVICES ARE CRITICAL. THE CLOSURE OF FIRE STATIONS. ONLINE REPORTING OF CRIMINAL ACTS AND INCREASED DIFFICULTY OF AMBULANCE SERVICES HAVE CONTINUED TO CAUSE FRUSTRATIONS. WE ASK THAT BOTH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY COME BACK TO THE TABLE TO DISCUSS FURTHER OPTIONS, AS CLOSING ANY FIRE STATION IS UNACCEPTABLE. THESE ALIGN WITH THE SAME COMMENTS THAT WE HAD A YEAR AGO. WE ALSO FEEL THAT OUR MEMBERS WITHIN THE WYE AREA WERE NOT GIVEN THE PROPER TIME TO COME BEFORE THIS BODY TO EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CONVERSATION MAY SOON THEN TURN TO A SALES TAX MEASURE, AND WHILE WE STRONGLY CAUTION YOU AGAINST THAT, AND I THINK YOU ALL KNOW WHY. RIGHT. OUR DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN FOR THAT CONVERSATION. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. OKAY. DO YOU HAVE ANY? GOOD MORNING, BOARD MEMBERS? I'M RANDY MILES. I LIVE IN DOS PALOS, BUT I BELONG TO THE DOS PALOS SERVICE CLUB AND DO A LOT OF THINGS FOR THE Y AND THAT. AND I'M UP HERE TO JUST SAY THAT WE NEED BOTH PLACES OF THE FIRE STATIONS OPEN. DOS PALOS AND THE Y. ALSO BECAUSE OF 152 ON THE ACCIDENTS LAST YEAR, I HEARD THAT THEY DID BETWEEN 800 AND 900 ACCIDENTS OUT OF THE Y STATION AND JUST GO ALONG 152 AT NIGHTTIME AND YOU CAN SEE THE DEATHS THAT THEY'VE HAD AND THE BAD ACCIDENTS THAT THEY'VE HAD ON 152 PLUS YOU HAVE THE RIVER OUT THERE WITH THE FIRES. YOU HAVE THE DOS PALOS CO-OP, WHICH DURING COTTON SEASON, WE NEED A FIRE ENGINE CLOSE BY WHICH THE Y IS THE CLOSEST ONE. ALSO, I'VE SEEN THAT ENGINE AND THE WATER TENDER, WHICH THE AREA GOES ALL THE WAY UP TO I-5 AND EAST AVENUE. I'VE SEEN IT UP THERE FIGHTING FIRES AND MEDICAL ACCIDENTS UP THERE ON 152 ON THAT. SO I WOULD LIKE YOU TO COME BACK AND KEEP BOTH PLACES OF THE DOS PALOS AND THE Y OPEN BECAUSE OF THE EMERGENCY AND THE FIRE AND WHAT WE NEED IN DOS PALOS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS KATIE REID, MAYOR OF DOS PALOS. I WOULD LIKE TO PUT ON RECORD THAT THE CONSOLIDATION OF FIRE STATION 75 AND 76 IS NOT AN US VERSUS THEM SITUATION. HAD WE KNOWN THAT THE STATION AT THE Y WAS NOT ON THE TABLE TO BE CLOSED. WE COULD HAVE COME BACK WITH DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS. HOWEVER, IN THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS, THE CITY OF DOS PALOS TOOK ON THE TASK OF FINDING SOLUTIONS TO AVOID CONSOLIDATING STATION 75 AND 76 AT THE Y. ALL OF THE STATEMENTS SAID TODAY ARE TRUE. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE PROVIDE SERVICES TO EVERYONE, INCLUDING SOUTH DOS PALOS, MIDWAY, DOS PALOS AND THE DOS PALOS Y. HOWEVER, IF THE COUNTY IS SET ON CLOSING THE STATION OR CONSOLIDATING, WE WOULD ADVOCATE TO HAVE THE STATION IN THE CITY LIMITS. WE NEEDED TO FIND SOLUTIONS. UNDER ADVISEMENT, WE CREATED FUNDING SOURCES THROUGH A TAX MEASURE. WE RAISED IMPACT FEES AND WERE TOLD TO RALLY OUR TROOPS TO KEEP THE FIRE STATION IN THE CITY LIMITS. NO ONE EVER WANTS TO REDUCE SERVICES. HOWEVER, IF MERCED COUNTY HAS DEEMED THIS NECESSARY. A CENTRALLY LOCATED STATION WOULD SERVICE ALL THE AREAS OF DOS PALOS. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS TAKEN THIS UNDER ADVISEMENT AND CONSIDERATION, AND WOULD HOPE THAT IF IT IS TRUE THAT IT IS BUDGETED TO KEEP BOTH STATIONS OPEN, THEY WOULD REMAIN OPEN FOR ONE YEAR. HOWEVER, IF IT IS NOT THE CASE, THEN WE WOULD ADVOCATE TO KEEP IT CENTRALLY LOCATED IN THE CITY OF DOS PALOS. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. I'M DARYL FONSECA, AND I COMMEND THE CITY OF DOS PALOS OFFICIALS FOR FINDING SOME EXTRA FUNDING FOR [00:30:05] THEIR FIRE STATION TO KEEP IT OPEN. THAT DOESN'T CHANGE THE COMMITMENT TO KEEP THE DOS PALOS Y FIRE STATION OPEN, AND IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T CHANGE THE NEED TO KEEP THE DOS PALOS Y FIRE STATION OPEN. I SERVED AS CITY MANAGER IN THIS COUNTY FOR 32 YEARS IN THE CITY OF DOS PALOS. DURING THAT TIME, I LEARNED THAT YOU HAVE MANY RESPONSIBILITIES. YOU ALSO HAVE VERY LIMITED RESOURCES. HOWEVER, PUBLIC SAFETY IS BY FAR THE MOST IMPORTANT AND HIGHEST PRIORITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT. MY FAMILY HAS LIVED AND WORKED IN THE DOS PALOS Y AREA FOR 105 YEARS AT THE SAME LOCATION. MY RESIDENCE, ONE AND A HALF MILES FROM THE DOS PALOS Y FIRE STATION, WAS RAVAGED BY FIRE SEVERAL YEARS AGO. THE STRUCTURE WAS SAVED BY DOS PALOS Y FIREFIGHTERS. THEY DO A LOT MORE THAN JUST FIGHT FIRES. WE KEEP HEARING DOS PALOS, YOU KNOW, MAKING ONE, ONE SELECTION OVER ANOTHER. BUT WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THERE ARE REALLY TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT AREAS. THE FIRE STATION COVERS HIGHWAY 152. THE LONGEST ROAD IN MERCED COUNTY WHERE AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT, THOUSANDS OF TRAVELERS ARE ON THAT HIGHWAY. ONE TRAFFIC COLLISION RESPONSE BY THE DOS PALOS FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT SAVES ONE LIFE WOULD MAKE THIS INVESTMENT WORTHWHILE. NOW, THOSE TRAVELERS AND MY BUSINESS AND FARMING FRIENDS BEHIND ME WHO LIVE AND WORK IN THE DOS PALOS Y AREA PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE OF TAXES. THEY ALSO BUY AND A LOT OF GOODS AND SERVICES IN YOUR COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE STORES AND BUSINESSES THAT OTHER COMMUNITIES DO. THEY SHOP IN EVERY ONE OF YOUR CITIES, INCLUDING LIVINGSTON AND ATWATER, AND BEYOND THAT, THEY PAY THEIR TAXES AND BUY A LOT OF FARM EQUIPMENT. THOSE TRACTORS AND FARM EQUIPMENT, THOSE SALES MAKE ENABLE, THEY ENABLE SALES TAX INITIATIVES TO OCCUR IN OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT PROVIDE A LOT OF THE OTHER SERVICES YOU HAVE. FINALLY I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS. PLEASE BE A PUBLIC SERVANT, NOT A POLITICIAN. LET'S GIVE THE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO HAVE THIS ISSUE REDISCUSSED, AND HAVE A CHANCE TO HAVE THIS ENTIRE ISSUE SETTLED IN A MANNER THAT MAY BE MORE BECOMING TO EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. YOU HAVE TIME FOR 1 OR 2 MORE SPEAKERS. WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE SPEAKER. OKAY. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS KEVIN HALE. I'M NOT ONLY A DOS PALOS RESIDENT, BUT I DO MY SHOPPING. EVERYTHING IN YOUR TOWN. AS A RETIRED FIREFIGHTER FROM DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION. THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE VOLUME OF CALLS. THIS IS ABOUT RESPONSE. EVERY ONE OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE CHILDREN, AUNTS AND UNCLES WE NEED TO RESPOND TO, TO SAVE THEIR LIVES. AND THAT INVOLVES ALL OF YOU TO THE PEOPLE THAT TRAVEL. MY THING IS, DO NOT CLOSE THE FIRE STATION. THAT IS YOUR ONLY LIFELINE TO SAVING SOMEBODY'S LIFE. THANK YOU. THREE MINUTES. ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO COMMENT? OKAY. SEEING NONE, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS AT THIS TIME. INTERIM CEO MARK HENDRICKSON IS GOING TO INTRODUCE OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. GOOD MORNING. IT'S JUST STATED I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS BRIEF OPPORTUNITY TO WELCOME MR. PETE DELANEY TO THE MERCED COUNTY TEAM. MR. DELANEY WAS RECENTLY SELECTED TO SERVE AS OUR DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER, FOLLOWING A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE RECRUITMENT. HE JOINS OUR TEAM AFTER SERVING FOR SEVERAL YEARS AT A COLLEGE IN ILLINOIS, WHERE HE WAS THE CHIEF SECURITY OFFICER AND DEPUTY CIO OF THAT INSTITUTION. I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ENTIRE ADMIN SERVICES AND IT TEAM FOR THEIR HARD WORK DURING THEIR TRANSITION OF LEADERSHIP. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK OF ASSISTANT DIRECTOR NISHIYAMA AND THE ENTIRE TEAM FOR THEIR WORK. SO MAYBE, MR. DELANEY, IF YOU WOULD STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED, WE CERTAINLY WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME YOU TO THE MERCED COUNTY TEAM. AND PERHAPS IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAYBE MAKE A FEW COMMENTS AT THE PODIUM, I'M SURE THIS BOARD WOULD CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT. [00:35:12] GOOD MORNING SUPERVISORS, ADMINISTRATORS. JUST WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE. I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO MY TIME. SERVICE WAKES ME UP IN THE MORNING AND SERVICE PUTS ME TO SLEEP AT NIGHT. SO THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE TO DO. I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING THE DEPARTMENTS THAT SERVICE OUR GREAT COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU EVERYONE. WELL, WELCOME TO THE TEAM. WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO THE PODIUM. [PRESENTATION] CRAIG FERGUSON, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF RURAL COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES OF CALIFORNIA, WHO WILL BE PRESENTING THE RCRC STRATEGIC PLAN. WELL. GOOD MORNING. YOU CAN RAISE THE PODIUM. THERE'S A BUTTON THAT'LL RAISE IT UP. RIGHT. GET OUT OF HERE. RIGHT. RIGHT HERE, I SEE IT. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. WELL GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THIS IS FIRST OF ALL, THE SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA NOT GET THE MEMO. I LIKE IT. SO, YEAH, I'M HERE TO JUST, WE DO THIS EVERY YEAR, AS YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, ONE OF YOU ARE ON OR TWO OF YOU ARE ON THE BOARD OF RCRC, AND RCRC LIKES TO GO TO ALL 40 MEMBERS OF THE. OF THE TEAM EVERY YEAR. JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE STRATEGIC UPDATE, LET YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING. THIS WON'T TAKE BUT 15 MINUTES SO WE CAN GET THROUGH IT PRETTY QUICKLY. AGAIN, I'M CRAIG FERGUSON. I'VE ACTUALLY WORKED AT RCRC FOR OVER 18 YEARS NOW, AND IT'S FLOWN BY. WHICH ONE AM I CLICKING HERE? OH, THERE YOU GO. SO RCRC HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 72 AND HAS SEVERAL AFFILIATES, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE BOTTOM THERE. AND RCRC'S MAIN OBJECTIVE AND GOALS IS GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE. AND THEN THE AFFILIATE ENTITIES, WHICH I'LL COVER VERY BRIEFLY ON THE BOTTOM, YOU'VE GOT GOLDEN STATE FINANCE AUTHORITY NATIONAL HOMEBUYERS FUND. THE RURAL COUNTIES, ENVIRONMENTAL JPA, RAI, WHICH IS THE RURAL ADVANCEMENT INSTITUTE, GOLDEN STATE CONNECT AUTHORITY, AND GOLDEN STATE NATURAL RESOURCES. SO I'M NOT SURE WHY I'VE EVEN GOT THE PAPER OUT, BECAUSE I GOT IT UP HERE. SO YOU CAN SEE THE VISION IS YOU KNOW, TO BE THE PREMIER ADVOCATE AND INNOVATIVE SERVICE PROVIDER FOR RURAL COUNTIES IN CALIFORNIA. AND I THINK THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT IS THAT THE RURAL COUNTIES HISTORICALLY HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE SUPPORT THAT THE RURAL COUNTIES HAVE. AND WE DO HAVE A VERY FRIENDLY RELATIONSHIP WITH CSAC, WHICH YOU BELONG TO. BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY DO HAVE MORE OF A FOCUS ON THE URBAN COUNTIES, WHICH IS WHY RCRC WAS FORMED IN 1972 TO FOCUS ON THE RURAL COUNTIES. I THINK THEY STARTED WITH AS A MATTER OF NINE COUNTIES, AND OVER THE YEARS IT'S GROWN. I THINK THE COMPANY ITSELF HAS JUST BECOME VERY EFFICIENT, AND THE ADVOCACY AND THE LOBBYING HAS GROWN IN A TREMENDOUS WAY THAT AT THIS POINT WE'RE UP TO 40 MEMBERS, BUT WE'RE SAYING NO TO MORE MEMBERS BECAUSE IT'S JUST YOU'VE GOT CSAC AND THE MEMBERS THAT ARE THE COUNTIES THAT ARE WANTING TO BECOME MEMBERS NOW ARE EXCEEDING THE POPULATION LEVELS OF WHERE WE WANT TO FOCUS ON IN RURAL COUNTIES, MOST OF THEM I KNOW THERE'S SOME THAT WE WOULD APPRECIATE. I'M LOOKING AT SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I'VE AGREED WITH YOU ON SOME OF THEM. BUT THERE'S A POINT WHERE OUR LEADERSHIP IS JUST, YOU KNOW, LET'S JUST HOLD OFF FOR A BIT. YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE FOCUS OUR BROADBAND, HOUSING, HEALTH SERVICES, INSURANCE RURAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH, INNOVATIVE APPROACHES, LOCAL CONTROL AND EVEN HEALTHY COMMUNITIES. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE FIRE AND THE RISK AND THE FIRE STATION HERE. [00:40:02] WE DO HAVE A BIG FOCUS ON FOREST RESILIENCY AND WILDFIRE, AND I'LL TOUCH ON THAT A LITTLE BIT. RESOURCE MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE AND EVEN TRIBAL COLLABORATION. AND THEN JUST THE INTERNAL SIDE OF RCRC, FISCAL HEALTH TECHNOLOGY, HUMAN RESOURCES AND MEMBER ENGAGEMENT AND EVEN, FOR THAT MATTER, COMMUNICATION. AND WHAT WE DO WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN. ONCE A YEAR WE COME TO OUR BOARD AND WE ASK THEM TO GET IN A ROOM FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF AND COME UP WITH, WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING FOR? AND THEY WRITE STICKY NOTES AND THEY GET PUT IN DIFFERENT AREAS AROUND THE ROOM UNDER DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. AND THEN WE KIND OF UPDATE THE STRATEGIC PLAN. AND THIS IS KIND OF WHERE WE ARE FOR YOU KNOW, THIS NEXT YEAR AND A HALF STATE POLICY AREAS, AS I MENTIONED, FOREST HEALTH, WILDFIRE, WATER, DROUGHT, BROADBAND HOUSING, ENERGY, HEALTH, ACCESS. EVEN WORKING WITH THE CPUC, WHICH WE'RE DOING A LOT OF WORK WITH RIGHT NOW ON A BROADBAND PROGRAM THAT I'LL TOUCH ON A LITTLE BIT, AND EVEN TO THE WILLIAMSON MAC, WHICH YOU GUYS ARE A LOT MORE FAMILIAR THAN I AM WITH FEDERAL POLICIES. WE DO HAVE FEDERAL LOBBYISTS THAT THAT SUPPORT OUR LOCAL INITIATIVES. AND THAT STEMS FROM, AGAIN, FOREST WILDFIRE, WATER, DROUGHT, WILDFIRE, WILDLIFE. AND THEN JUST KEY TOPICS RECRUITMENT, RETENTION OF EMPLOYEES EVEN JAIL MEDICAL SERVICES. IT'S JUST A VERY BROAD ASPECT OF WHERE RCRC AND ITS AFFILIATES WORK AND FOCUS ON TWO OF THE AFFILIATES. AND I'LL SHOUT OUT TO SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, WHO'S ACTUALLY CHAIR OF BOTH OF THESE ENTITIES. GOLDEN STATE FINANCE AUTHORITY HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 93, AND WAS FORMED BY RCRC, AND THE IDEA WAS TO PROVIDE HOME OWNERSHIP TO CALIFORNIANS AND IN THE FORM OF LOW INTEREST RATES. DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, ONE OF THE BIGGEST HURDLES OF THE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME HOME BUYERS ARE ENTERING HOMES, ESPECIALLY IN CALIFORNIA, IS THE ACTUAL DOWN PAYMENT. AND GOLDEN STATE FINANCE AUTHORITY IS A JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY. IT'S MADE UP OF THE 40 MEMBERS OF RCRC, THE SAME BOARD, BUT THEN IT'S ALSO GOT ANOTHER 18 MEMBERS THAT ARE ASSOCIATE MEMBERS THAT DON'T ACTUALLY VOTE, BUT IT RUNS THE IT'S THE ENTIRE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, BECAUSE THERE'S PROBABLY 350 CITIES THAT ARE ALSO MEMBERS OF GOLDEN STATE FINANCE AUTHORITY. AND OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE PUT OVER 87,000 FAMILIES IN HOMES AND PROVIDED OVER 17 BILLION IN FINANCING, 17 BILLION IN MORTGAGE FINANCING. AND OVER WHAT DOES IT SAY BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM? OVER 14 MILLION IN DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE. NATIONAL HOMEBUYERS FUND DOES SIMILAR BUT FOCUSES ON THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. WORKS IN CALIFORNIA, BUT ALSO GOES AROUND AND DOES A VERY SIMILAR JOB OFFERING DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY AND HAS HELPED OVER 50,000 FAMILIES. IT STARTED IN 2002 AS OPPOSED TO SO 2002. GOLDEN STATE FINANCE AUTHORITY AND RCRC PUT NATIONAL HOMEBUYERS FUND TOGETHER AND TO FOCUS ON THE SAME THING AS REALLY PROVIDING HOMEOWNERSHIP, WHICH IS NOT JUST CALIFORNIA, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A HURDLE FOR YOUR TEACHERS AND YOUR FIREFIGHTERS. AND, YOU KNOW, THE YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE GOOD JOBS, GOOD CREDIT. YOU JUST DON'T HAVE THAT DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE. YOU DON'T HAVE THAT $20,000 TO PUT DOWN. AND IF YOU DO, YOU'D RATHER KEEP IT TO BUY FURNITURE AND TV AND WHAT HAVE YOU. WE PROVIDE THAT AS A AS A GOVERNMENT ENTITY. WE CAN DO THAT. OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES LIKE YOUR BANK AND YOUR REALTOR ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT. YOUR MOM CAN, BUT A LOT OF MOMS DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. BUT THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE AS A NICHE. AND YOU CAN STOP ME AT ANY TIME WITH ANY QUESTIONS. ANOTHER INITIATIVE WE'RE WORKING ON. WELL, ACTUALLY ANOTHER PROGRAM, PART OF GOLDEN STATE FINANCE AUTHORITY, WHICH OUR CURRENT CEO, PAT BLACKLOCK, CAME AND HE WAS CAO OF YOLO COUNTY, AND HE'S NOW PRESIDENT, CO OF CRC. BUT HE HAD THIS INITIATIVE HE WANTED TO START TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE MEMBER COUNTIES OF RCRC TO HAVE A PROGRAM THAT THEY CAN REACH OUT TO THEIR COUNTY EMPLOYEES. AND SO WE'RE USING OUR OWN FUNDS TO PROVIDE THE SECOND MORTGAGE, 0% FINANCING FOR OUR COUNTIES TO OUR MEMBER COUNTIES TO RETAIN OR RECRUIT EMPLOYEES INTO THE COUNTY. AND YOU CAN SEE MY GLASSES ARE WORKING. MERCED HAS ALREADY PUT FIVE COUNTIES IN HOMES. TULARE AND SHASTA. WELL, TULARE IS KICKING YOUR BUTTS. SHASTA'S UP THERE, BUT, YOU KNOW IT'S. THE PROGRAM'S GOING TO BE AROUND. [00:45:02] WE THE BOARD, THE RCRC BOARD APPROVED $3 MILLION OF GSFA FUNDS. GSFA BOARD, I SHOULD SAY APPROVED $3 MILLION. WE'RE JUST A LITTLE OVER 2 MILLION OF DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE. BUT IT IS A VERY POPULAR PRODUCT. SO ONCE WE GET TO AROUND 2.5, 2.7, WE'LL GO BACK TO THE BOARD AND SAY, DO YOU WANT TO KEEP THIS GOING ON? AND WE'LL LET THE BOARD DECIDE IF WE WANT TO KEEP THIS GOING ON. IT IS GSFA FUNDS. IT'S 0% FINANCING, IT'S SECOND MORTGAGES. IT RETAINS OR RECRUITS EMPLOYEES TO YOUR COUNTIES. SO IT HAS BEEN A PRETTY POPULAR INTERNAL PROGRAM. GOLDEN STATE CONNECTS AUTHORITY. WE STARTED THIS SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AND THE IDEA HERE WAS IT WAS REALLY RIGHT IN THE BEGINNING BEFORE COVID AND THEN COVID HIT. AND WE, YOU KNOW, SAW THE ISSUES THAT RURAL CALIFORNIA HAS. I DON'T THINK IT WAS TOO MUCH OF MERCED. BUT IN A LOT OF THE MORE RURAL COUNTIES THE KIDS DIDN'T HAVE SCHOOL. THEY COULDN'T ACCESS INTERNET AT ALL. AND WE STARTED WORKING WITH AN ENTITY OUT OF UTAH CALLED UTOPIA FIBER. THEY'RE A VERY SIMILAR ENTITY TO WHAT GOLDEN STATE CONNECTS AUTHORITY IS NOW, WHICH IS ALSO A JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY IN UTAH. IT'S MORE OF AN INTERLOCAL, BUT IT'S MADE UP OF CITIES AND COUNTIES, AND THEY'RE THE LARGEST, CURRENTLY THE LARGEST MUNICIPALITY OWNED, FIBER OPERATED BROADBAND SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY. AND THEY'VE GOT OVER 60,000 SUBSCRIBERS. AND WHAT THEY PRODUCED WAS AN OPEN ACCESS PROGRAM. SO THEY OWN AND OPERATE THE INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT THEY DON'T PROVIDE THE INTERNET SERVICE AND ANYONE CAN JOIN. YOU CAN GET AT&T, YOU CAN GET VERIZON, YOU CAN GET MONKEYBRAINS. IF YOU GUYS WANT TO PARTICIPATE, YOU JOIN AND YOU PROVIDE THE ACTUAL INTERNET SERVICE. AS CONSUMERS, YOU GET TO CHOOSE. THEY'VE GOT 15 PROVIDERS RIGHT NOW. YOU GET TO CHOOSE. IF YOU DON'T LIKE AT&T IN AN HOUR, YOU CAN HAVE VERIZON. AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING RIGHT NOW. AND YOU CAN SEE WE'RE WORKING WITH THE CPUC. WE'VE GOT THE BUDGET KIND OF SCREWED US A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE WE WERE LOOKING AT 700 MILLION FOR WHAT WE CALL A LOAN LOSS RESERVE, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO USE THAT 700 MILLION TO GO AND SELL BONDS TO PRIVATE INVESTORS TO BUILD THIS INFRASTRUCTURE. AND THE LOAN LOSS RESERVE WOULD COVER IT AS AN INSURANCE. SO IF ANYTHING FELL SHORT ON THE REVENUES FROM THESE FROM GENERATING UP OPERATING AND GENERATING THE BROADBAND THAT MONEY WOULD COVER IT, WHICH AS AN INVESTOR, YOU'RE GOING TO JUMP IN BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE BACKED. WE DID END UP GETTING 50 MILLION. WE'RE LOOKING AT SEVEN COUNTIES OR SIX COUNTIES. ONE CITY, YOU CAN SEE THE COUNTIES UP ON THE SCREEN. AND WE'VE ALSO WORKED WITH WHAT WE CALL THE FFA FUNDING. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE GOT 185 MILLION ALREADY GRANTED TO US IN ORDER TO FILL THE GAP OF THE COST OF BUILDING WHAT WE CAN DO IN BONDS AND THEN THE LOAN LOSS RESERVE ACCOUNTS. AND SO AND ALL OF THIS WORK HAS BEEN GOING ON WITH THE CPUC, AND THEY'RE VERY EXCITED AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED. AND WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE BREAKING GROUND THIS YEAR. AND WE'RE GOING TO BE OPERATING, YOU KNOW, FIBER, WHICH IS GIGA ONE GIGABIT SPEED, WHICH YOU KNOW, I LIVE IN SACRAMENTO. I'M SIX MILES EAST OF DOWNTOWN. I GOT ONE CHOICE, I GOT COMCAST. I'M NOT UPSET WITH THEM. THEY OFFER GOOD SERVICE. BUT I GOT ONE CHOICE. WE'RE GOING TO BE OFFERING HOPEFULLY 15 CHOICES TO THESE. AND THIS IS THE START OF IT. AND ONCE WE BREAK GROUND WITH THESE GUYS CPUC IS GOING TO PROBABLY APPLAUD. AND LET'S GO TO TOWN IN THE REST OF THE COUNTIES THAT NEED IT. I KNOW IT'S PROBABLY BORING TO YOU GUYS BECAUSE MOST PROBABLY DOESN'T NEED THIS. YOU'RE SLIGHTLY AHEAD OF THE REST OF YOUR COLLEAGUES AT RCRC. AND SO YOU CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, MADERA, TULARE, INYO AND THEN HUMBOLDT AND TRINITY. YOU GUYS HAVE A THING GOING ON. BUT LOOK AT THE ORANGE. THERE'S A LOT OF NEED OUT THERE FOR BROADBAND. A LOT OF NEED. AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. AND MY COLLEAGUE BARBARA HAYES AT RCRC HAS JUST DONE AN ABSOLUTELY TREMENDOUS JOB AND IT'S BEEN YEARS IN THE MAKING, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE SAME PEOPLE AT UTOPIA FIBER, THE SAME UNDERWRITING BANKING, THE BOND COUNCILS. THE WHOLE TEAM IS NOW WORKING WITH US. WE'VE PARTNERED WITH UTOPIA FIBER. THEY'RE GOING TO RUN THIS THING FOR US WHICH IS BECAUSE WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH BROADBAND. SO UTOPIA HAS BEEN DOING FOR YEARS. THEY'RE GOING TO RUN THIS FOR AH GSCA AND RCRC. AND THEN THE NEXT ONE. I SAID I'D BE 15 MINUTES. I'M ALREADY OVER GOLDEN STATE NATURAL RESOURCES. SO THIS IS THE SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WE GOT INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE US FOREST SERVICE WHO HAVE GIVEN US ACCESS TO FOREST LAND, WHICH MAJORITY OF CALIFORNIA FOREST IS OWNED BY THE US FOREST. AND THE IDEA IS NOT TO CUT TREES, NOT TO CUT MERCHANDISABLE TREES DOWN, IS TO GO IN AND JUST BRING OUT THAT DEAD WOOD [00:50:08] AND USE IT FOR SOMETHING THAT SUSTAINS AND PROVIDES A REVENUE TO KEEP US GOING IN AND JUST PULLING OUT THAT DEADWOOD, BECAUSE EVEN THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, THEY LOOK AT CALIFORNIA AND SAY, JUST, YEAH, YOU SEE THE FIRES, BUT YOU'RE DOING NOTHING ABOUT YOUR FOREST. GET THAT STUFF OUT OF THE FOREST, AND YOU'LL PROBABLY NOT HAVE THAT MUCH OF DEVASTATING FIRES. AND THAT'S BEEN THIS GOAL FOR A, FOR A WHILE. GOING INTO IT, THE IDEA IS TO PULL THAT OUT. WE'VE GOT LAND IN TUOLUMNE COUNTY AND IN LASSEN COUNTY, AND THE IDEA IS TO BUILD FACILITIES IN ORDER TO CREATE WOOD CHIPS WITH THIS DEAD FUEL THAT WE PULL OUT. AND ONCE THE WOOD CHIPS ARE BUILT THERE'S A LOT IN EUROPE AND ASIA AND WHAT HAVE YOU THAT WANT TO THEY'VE GOTTEN OUT OF NUCLEAR. THEY WANT TO GET AWAY FROM COAL AND THEY WANT TO USE PELLETS AS THEIR FUEL. AND SO THAT'S THE IDEA. WE DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING TO END UP. WE'RE IN A A LEGAL REVIEW RIGHT NOW, AN ENVIRONMENTAL LEGAL REVIEW. IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO GO ON FOR ANOTHER YEAR OR SO. AND SO WE'RE RIGHT THERE AND WE'VE, YOU KNOW, CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW, YOU PUT ONE FOOT IN THE FOREST AND THIS IS WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. AND SO WE'RE HOPING TO TO MAKE SOME GROUND. AND IN THE END I SAY THIS IF WE CAN JUST GET THE WOOD OUT IN THE END I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY DO WITH IT, BUT JUST DO SOMETHING WITH IT. AND IF IT ENDS UP BEING PELLETS OR NOW THERE'S TALK ABOUT JUST CHIPS OR KEEPING IT INTERNAL IN CALIFORNIA, BUT WE JUST NEED TO GET THROUGH THIS ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND WE'LL BE OFF TO THE RACES WITH THAT BECAUSE THAT'S GIVEN US WE'LL HAVE THE CEQA DONE, AND WE'VE GOT THE AGREEMENT WITH THE US NATIONAL FOREST. AND THAT'S TWO VERY GOOD CARS ON OUR POCKETS TO LET US DECIDE ON THE BEST WAY TO YOU KNOW, FACILITATE, YOU KNOW, HOW WE GET OUT AND WHAT WE DO WITH IT. THERE'S JUST AN EXAMPLE. WE'RE WORKING WITH THE MODOC NATIONAL FOREST RIGHT NOW, AND IT'S LIKE ONE PILE. I THINK THERE'S A MILLION OF THOSE PILES RIGHT NOW BECAUSE NO ONE REALLY KNOWS WHAT TO DO WITH IT. IT'S JUST IT'S JUST EVERYWHERE. AND THAT'S WHERE THE IDEA OF PRODUCING A PRODUCT THAT THE WORLD WANTS AND THEN GENERATING REVENUE TO KEEP US GETTING IN THERE AND TAKING IT OUT. BUT RIGHT NOW THERE'S A LOT OF LAND IN CALIFORNIA THAT HAS THAT, BECAUSE NO ONE REALLY KNOWS WHAT TO DO WITH THE WOOD RIGHT NOW. THIS IS THE ESG. THIS WOULD BE BORING FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU GUYS DON'T PARTICIPATE. BUT IT'S 26 OF THE CRC COUNTIES. THEY ADVOCATE TO THE FEDERAL LEVEL. IT'S A FOCUS ON SOLID WASTE MATTRESSES, WHAT HAVE YOU. IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME. IT'S ALSO A JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY. IT'S GROWN ACTUALLY, IN THE LAST, YOU KNOW, TWO YEARS HAS GONE FROM, I THINK, 18 TO 26 COUNTIES. SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GUYS ARE INTERESTED JUST TO BECOME A MEMBER OF IT, IT IS A PRETTY GOOD JPA TO FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENTAL WASTE, SOLID WASTE, WHAT HAVE YOU. RAI HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE. IT USED TO BE CALLED RURAL ALLIANCE INC. AND THEN IT WENT DORMANT FOR A BIT AND NOW IT'S COME BACK. WE'VE CHANGED THE NAME RURAL ADVANCEMENT INSTITUTE, AND THE IDEA HERE IS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION TO RURAL CALIFORNIA, NOT TO RURAL CALIFORNIA, ON RURAL CALIFORNIA, FOR THE URBAN LEGISLATORS AND SENATORS AND CONGRESS AND WHAT HAVE YOU. AND WE'VE DONE TWO TOURS ALREADY. THE FIRST ONE WAS NEXT DOOR YOSEMITE. AND I THINK WE JUST DID ONE IN, YEAH, IN WHERE DID WE JUST DO? AH MONTEREY. YEAH, WE JUST DID ONE IN MONTEREY. SO WE BRING IN THE URBAN LEGISLATORS IN AND WE'RE LOOKING SHOWING THEM WHAT RURAL CALIFORNIA IS ABOUT AND GIVING THEM A GOOD TOUR AND EXCITING TOUR AND, YOU KNOW, BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO RURAL CALIFORNIA, TOO. IT'S NOT JUST SAN DIEGO AND SAN FRANCISCO AND LOS ANGELES. THERE'S SOME REALLY COOL AREAS IN RURAL CALIFORNIA, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF HELP NEEDED, FROM HOUSING TO WORKFORCE HOUSING TO, YOU KNOW, SCHOOLS TO EVEN WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT BEFOREHAND WITH BROADBAND. GIVE US A LITTLE FOCUS. GIVE US A LITTLE HELP, YOU KNOW, IN THOSE AREAS. AND PG&E GAVE $50,000 TO HELP START THIS ONE UP, AND THEN I'M NOT GOING TO REMEMBER THE NAME OF IT, BUT IT'S A NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBE OUT OF TEHAMA COUNTY. THEY PUT 50,000 BUCKS IN JUST TO HELP GET THIS STARTED AND HELP PAY FOR THE TOURS AND WHAT HAVE YOU, SO WE CAN SUPPORT. AND WE'RE TALKING TO A LOT OF OUR MORTGAGE LENDERS EVEN BECAUSE ON THE GOLDEN STATE FINANCE AUTHORITY SIDE AND NATIONAL HOMEBUYERS FUND, [00:55:01] WE WORK WITH PROBABLY 200 MORTGAGE LENDERS. SO WE'RE REACHING OUT TO THEM. JUST, HEY, HELP US OUT. IT HELPS YOU. IT HELPS US. AND SO HOPEFULLY WE SEE THAT GROW. AND THAT BRINGS ME TO MY 15 MINUTES. SO ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. CRAIG, THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING THAT. I ALWAYS BRAG ABOUT OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING THAT WE DO AT RCRC. IT'S NICE TO HAVE A RURAL VOICE IN SACRAMENTO AND WASHINGTON, D.C. OUR RCRC DOES PROVIDE THAT AS A CHAIR IN 2020, WHICH IS THE WORST YEAR EVER TO BE A CHAIRMAN OF ANY KIND OF BOARD. WE WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING INTO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND TRYING TO TELL HIM RURAL COUNTY ISN'T THE SAME AS THE URBAN COUNTIES, THAT WHENEVER WE LIVE IN RURAL COUNTIES, WE ACTUALLY MADE A DECISION TO BE AWAY FROM PEOPLE ANYWAY, BECAUSE THERE'S TOO MANY PEOPLE IN THOSE URBAN AREAS. AND ALSO GSFA, I, WE LOOK AT THIS AND NATIONAL HOMEBUYERS FUND. I AM THE CHAIRMAN OF BOTH OF THOSE BOARDS. AFTER STEPPING DOWN FROM CHAIRMAN OF RCRC AND BECOMING CHAIRMAN OF THESE TWO BOARDS I APPRECIATED WHENEVER WE WERE LOOKING AT HOW DO WE DO RECRUITMENT? BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF FOLKS WHEN WE'RE RECRUITING FOR EMPLOYEES TO WORK IN RURAL COUNTIES, IT DOESN'T THAT WE DON'T HAVE AN INCENTIVE TO GET THEM THERE. EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE BY THE BEACH, BY THE PALM TREES, AND BY THE SAND. AND SO THIS GIVES THEM AN INCENTIVE THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY HELP EMPLOYEES GET A DOWN PAYMENT. AND ONCE WE GET AN EMPLOYEE TO BUY A HOME, THEY PLANT THEIR ROOTS HERE AND HAVE KIDS, AND WE HAVE THEM HERE. AND THEN RAI IS PROBABLY THE BEST THING THAT I'VE EVER BEEN A PART OF IN TOURS. AND WE ACTUALLY STARTED THAT LAST TOUR. MARIPOSA. WE WERE IN MERCED COUNTY FIRST, AND WE'RE SHOWING FOLKS WHAT'S UP. I CAN TELL YOU, WHEN I WORKED FOR THE STATE SENATE AND WORKED FOR JEFF DUNHAM WHEN HE WAS A STATE SENATOR, AND I HAVE A RURAL LEGISLATOR OUT OF LA, COME OFF THE FLOOR OF A COMMITTEE MEETING AND SAYS SHE IS SO EXTREMELY UPSET WITH THESE FARMERS THAT SHE'S GOING TO GO AND SHE'S GOING TO START BUYING CANNED VEGETABLES TO SHOW THEM. SHE WALKS OFF AND YOU'RE JUST LOOKING AND SHRUGGING YOUR SHOULDERS GOING, THEY ABSOLUTELY DON'T KNOW. IN FACT, OUR LAST TOUR, WE HAD A URBAN LEGISLATOR WHO ACTUALLY GREW UP IN TUOLUMNE COUNTY WHO HAD COMPLETELY LOST ANY SENSE. AND WE YOU COULD SEE HER THE WHOLE TIME HAVING A HA MOMENTS LIKE WE EXPLAINED HER OUR STRUGGLES, THESE BLANKET POLICIES THAT THEY DO THAT NEWSOM LIKES TO PUT ON THE REST OF US. THAT STRAP HOLDS RURAL COUNTIES. YEAH, IT MAY IT MIGHT WORK IN URBAN COUNTIES, BUT IT DOESN'T WORK IN RURAL COUNTIES. BUT APPRECIATE IT. VERY STRONG SUPPORTER IN ALL OF IT. I GOT TO SAY, EVEN GOLDEN STATE NATURAL RESOURCES, YOU EXPLAINED IT. BUT THE THING IS, NOBODY WAS DOING ANYTHING TO TRY TO MANAGE FORESTS, TO STOP THE FOREST FIRES. AND THIS WAS THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL OPPORTUNITY TO GO INTO THE FOREST. LIKE I SAID, THE FEDS COMPLETELY EMBRACED WHAT WE HAD. GETTING A 20 YEAR STEWARDSHIP AGREEMENT WITH THE NATIONAL FOREST SERVICE IS ALMOST UNHEARD OF. BUT YET WE'RE ABLE TO DO IT. IT'S ALL THE LIBERAL ENVIRONMENTALISTS ARE TRYING TO STOP US FROM TAKING THAT LUMBER OUT OF THE FOREST. THEY THINK WE WANT TO CLEARCUT. NO, WE JUST WANT TO MANAGE IT. THOSE OWLS THAT THEY ALWAYS TALK ABOUT CAN'T EVEN SEE THE MICE ON THE FLOOR BECAUSE IT'S SO OVERGROWN. AND WE GO IN THERE AND WE TAKE CARE OF THAT AND MANAGE THOSE FORESTS FOR THEM. BUT, CRAIG, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP FOR ALL THESE YEARS AT RCRC. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING TO THAT PRESENTING THAT PLAN FOR TO US. APPRECIATE IT. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. [CONSENT CALENDAR] ITEMS ONE THROUGH 30. PLEASE NOTE ITEMS FOUR AND 13 REQUIRE A FOUR-FIFTHS VOTE. OKAY. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 30. YES, SIR. YES. YEAH. I'M EXCITED. RCRC PREMIER ADVOCATE AND INNOVATIVE SERVICE PROVIDER FOR RURAL COUNTIES IN CALIFORNIA. WHOLE ROOM OF US, RIGHT?YEAH. HERE'S MY NUMBER. HERE'S MY. WHERE'D YOU GO? YOU HAVE TO TALK TO US. YEAH. HERE'S MY EMAIL. HERE'S MY NUMBER. WE'D LOVE TO TALK TO YOU, CRAIG. [01:00:02] THANK YOU. WHERE'D YOU GO? IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY. I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 30 IS NOW CLOSED AND BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO. PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL LAMAR HENDERSON, JUNIOR, FAMILY SERVICES SUPERVISOR WITH HSA, WHO WILL BE PROVIDING INFORMATION ON ITEM 14, ALL DADS MATTER MONTH. LAMAR. YOU GUYS LOOK SHARP. GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN PEDROSO. SUPERVISORS AND ESTEEMED COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY. MY NAME IS LAMAR HENDERSON AND I STAND HERE NOT ONLY AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ALL DADS MATTER FATHERHOOD PROGRAM, BUT AS SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES DEEPLY IN THE POWER AND PROMISE OF FATHERHOOD. TODAY MARKS A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE 20 YEARS OF INCEPTION OF THE ALL DADS MATTER INITIATIVE IN OUR COUNTY. THAT'S TWO DECADES OF SHOWING UP, REACHING OUT AND REDEFINING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A FATHER IN OUR COMMUNITIES. WHEN THIS PROGRAM BEGAN, IT WAS ROOTED. AT ALL. OKAY. WHEN THIS PROGRAM BEGAN, IT WAS ROOTED IN A SIMPLE YET POWERFUL BELIEF THAT EVERY FATHER MATTERS AND EVERY CHILD DESERVES AN ENGAGED, PRESENT AND SUPPORTED DAD. OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS, ALL DADS MATTER HAS SERVED THOUSANDS OF FATHERS, FROM YOUNG MEN PREPARING TO BE PREPARING FOR THEIR FIRST CHILD, TO GRANDFATHERS STEPPING INTO THE FATHER FIGURE ROLLS. TO FATHERS REUNITING WITH THEIR CHILDREN AFTER INCARCERATION. THROUGH PARENTING CLASSES, MENTORSHIP, JOB READINESS SUPPORT, AND EMOTIONAL GUIDANCE. WE'VE HELPED MEN NOT ONLY GROW AS INDIVIDUALS, BUT RISE AS PILLARS IN THEIR FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS. BUT BEYOND THE NUMBERS, THE TRUE IMPACT OF THE DADS MATTER FATHERHOOD PROGRAM IS FOUND IN THE LEGACY THAT HAS HELPED TO BUILD. LEGACY IS MORE THAN WHAT YOU LEAVE BEHIND. IT'S WHAT YOU LEAVE EACH DAY. IT'S WHAT YOU LIVE EACH DAY IN THE LIVES OF YOUR CHILDREN. IT'S THE BEDTIME STORIES TOLD BY FATHERS WHO ONCE DOUBTED THAT THEY WERE ENOUGH. IT'S THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATIONS ATTENDED BY DADS WHO ONCE FEARED THEY'D MISS EVERY MILESTONE. IT'S THE GENERATIONAL CYCLES BROKEN BECAUSE ONE ONE MAN FOUND THE STRENGTH TO STEP UP AND STAY. FATHERHOOD, AS WE KNOW AS WE NOW UNDERSTAND IT, IS NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL EXPERIENCE. IT'S COMPLEX, DEEPLY PERSONAL, AND AT TIMES INCREDIBLY VULNERABLE. YET IT IS ALSO ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL FORCES OF CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY WE KNOW. ALL THAT MATTER HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY TO REMOVE THE STIGMA AROUND MEN ASKING FOR HELP, TO AFFIRM THAT STRENGTH INCLUDES COMPASSION, AND TO REMIND EVERY DAD THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE TO DO IT ALONE. WE KNOW THAT WHEN FATHERS ARE SUPPORTED, CHILDREN THRIVE. FAMILIES STABILIZE. COMMUNITIES GROW. AND WE'VE SEEN IT AGAIN AND AGAIN FOR 20 YEARS. SO TODAY I ASK YOU NOT ONLY TO CELEBRATE WITH US, BUT TO CONTINUE INVESTING IN THIS LEGACY. LET'S KEEP CREATING A COUNTY WHERE EVERY FATHER IS SEEN, SUPPORTED, AND EMPOWERED TO SUCCEED NOT JUST FOR HIS SAKE, BUT FOR THE SAKE OF THE GENERATIONS TO FOLLOW. BECAUSE IN THE END, THE LEGACY OF FATHERHOOD IS NOT WRITTEN IN GRAND GESTURES. IT'S WRITTEN IN THE QUIET MOMENTS, THE HARD CHOICES AND THE LOVE THAT NEVER GIVES UP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF ALL DADS MATTER. HERE'S TO 20 YEARS BEHIND US AND TO THE FUTURE WE'RE BUILDING. ONE FATHER AT A TIME. ON SATURDAY, JUNE 14TH, WE'LL BE HAVING OUR 17TH ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF FATHERHOOD EVENT AT APPLEGATE PARK FROM 10 A.M. TO 2 P.M. IT'S AN AMAZING DAY TO CELEBRATE, ENCOURAGE, AND PROMOTE THE IMPORTANCE OF HEALTHY FATHERHOOD TO OUR CHILDREN, OUR FAMILIES, OUR COMMUNITIES, AND HUMANITY. AND WE INVITE YOU ALL TO COME OUT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GO OVER TO DARON. [01:05:03] AND THEN I HAVE A PROCLAMATION THAT I'LL READ TO YOU. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. LAMAR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO ALL DADS MATTER. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH SOCIETY TODAY IS BECAUSE THE FATHERS AREN'T INVOLVED. I'M NOT BLAMING FATHERS, BUT I'M. WHAT I'M DOING IS ACKNOWLEDGING YOU, GIVING FATHERS THE CONFIDENCE TO STEP UP AND LEAD THEIR FAMILIES. WE ALL KNOW SOCIETY WOULD BE BETTER IF THE FATHERS WOULD TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE AND HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO DO IT. AND I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THIS. THE WORK YOU'RE DOING FOR IT. MY SON IS AN EXPECTING FATHER IN AUGUST, WE'RE GOING TO GET HIM AT BOOT CAMP AND I'M ALMOST TEETERING, DOES GRANDFATHER NEED TO DO IT WITH THEM? JUST TO HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO GO TO GO WITH THEM, BUT APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING. YOU'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE. AND MERCED COUNTY IS BETTER BECAUSE OF IT. THANK YOU. AND I ECHO THAT. YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T GO THROUGH THE PROGRAM, BUT I WAS INVITED TO SPEAK TO SOME OF THE NEW DADS, AND RIGHT AFTER MY SON WAS BORN, AND IT'S A IT'S A PRETTY EYE OPENING EXPERIENCE BECAUSE THERE'S NO PLAYBOOK. I MEAN, THERE'S NO THERE'S NO GUIDEBOOK ON HOW TO DO THIS. SO I THINK YOU PROVIDE YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS IS VERY IS INVALUABLE TO MERCED COUNTY. I'M GOING TO READ A PROCLAMATION AND THEN WE'LL COME DOWN AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU. WHEREAS A FATHER PLAYS A UNIQUE AND VITAL ROLE IN THE LIVES OF HIS CHILDREN, AS MENTOR, PROTECTOR, PROVIDER AND NURTURING CAREGIVER, AND FUNDAMENTALLY INFLUENCES THEIR DEVELOPMENT THROUGH UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, CONSISTENT GUIDANCE, AND LEADING BY EXAMPLE. AND WHEREAS RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD IS ESSENTIAL TO A HEALTHY, THRIVING SOCIETY, AND WE RECOGNIZE THE MANY FATHERS WHO SERVE AS HEROES AND ROLE MODELS TO THEIR CHILDREN. WHEREAS MERCED COUNTY CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING FATHERS AND FAMILIES THROUGH THE ALL DADS MATTER PROGRAM, NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS A MODEL FOR FATHERHOOD PROGRAMING IN RURAL COMMUNITIES. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF MERCED DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 2025 TO BE ALL DADS MATTER MONTH AND CALLS UPON ALL CITIZENS TO RECOGNIZE AND SUPPORT THE CRITICAL ROLE FATHERS PLAY IN THE LIVES OF THEIR CHILDREN. THROUGH OUR CONTINUED EFFORTS, WE CAN STRENGTHEN FAMILIES, UPLIFT COMMUNITIES, AND PAVE THE WAY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. SO IF I COULD REALLY QUICK, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT. BUT I STAND HERE AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF AN AMAZING TEAM OF COMMITTED AND DEDICATED HELPING PROFESSIONALS FROM OUR CLINICIAN, MR. RICH BROWN, WHO'S HERE WITH US TODAY TO OUR PROGRAM MANAGER, MR. REYNA ESPINOZA, OUR LEADERSHIP ON YVONNE BROWN, BUT ALSO ALL THE TEAMS OF THE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY FROM OUR VCS TEAM WHO'S HERE TODAY TELLING THE STORY TO OUR FISCAL PEOPLE WHO APPROVED THE POS, TO OUR TO OUR MAINTENANCE FOLKS WHO SHOW UP AND HELP US MAKE THIS STUFF HAPPEN. THIS IS TRULY A COUNTY EFFORT AND A COUNTY ACHIEVEMENT. AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW, I WAS AT A CONFERENCE IN LOS ANGELES, A NATIONAL FATHERHOOD CONFERENCE IN APRIL, AND I HAD SOMEONE FROM MAINE COME UP TO ME AND SAYS, YOU'RE WITH THE ALL DADS MATTER FATHERHOOD PROGRAM, RIGHT? LIKE, YES, WELL, HOW DO YOU GUYS DO THAT? YOU KNOW, SO THIS PROGRAM, THIS EFFORT IN THIS COUNTY IS RECOGNIZED NATIONWIDE FOR THE WORK THAT WE DO. AND WHAT MAKES US SO UNIQUE IS THAT IT'S ALL OF US THAT ARE COMMITTED TO IT, FROM OUR BOARD TO OUR WORKERS, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY TO OUR COMMUNITY. [01:10:38] NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL UP JENNIFER SUMMERS, PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR AT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MERCED COUNTY, AND JASON LAWLER, DIRECTOR OF COMPLIANCE, SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT AND SUPERVISOR PACHECO WILL PRESENT CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION FOR THEIR VOLUNTEER WORK PROVIDED DURING THE JULY 2024 SANTA NELLA MOBILE HOME PARK FIRE. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. I ALSO SEE ANDY TAYLOR BACK THERE. YOU WANT TO COME UP? OKAY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. ON JULY 6TH, 2024, A FIRE DESTROYED SEVERAL MOBILE HOMES IN SANTA NELLA MOBILE HOME COMMUNITY TRAILER PARK. IN ADDITION TO THE HOMES THAT WERE DESTROYED, THE FIRE ALSO DAMAGED ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT, LEAVING SEVERAL HOMES WITHOUT POWER FOR MONTHS. MANY INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS STEPPED UP TO ASSIST THE INDIVIDUALS DISPLACED AND AFFECTED BY THE FIRE. A COUNTY TEAM THAT INCLUDED THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE. COUNTY COUNCIL. HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY. COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. PUBLIC HEALTH. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY. PUBLIC WORKS AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. THEY WORKED IN COLLABORATION WITH VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS TO ENSURE THAT THE NEEDS OF THOSE AFFECTED WERE IDENTIFIED AND RESOLVED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. AMONG THOSE WHO DEDICATED, WHO'S DEDICATED ARE, AMONG THOSE WHO DEDICATED EFFORTS INCLUDED ANDY TAYLOR WITH TAYLOR BACKHOE SERVICE, SAN JOAQUIN AIR DISTRICT, COMCAST, ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH, COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MERCED COUNTY, LORI MEYERS CHANCE, DOCTOR CHARLIE CANO, DOCTOR TIMOTHY JOHNSON, AND DOCTOR VIC AND PRIYA LAKIREDDY. SO I DO I WANT TO THANK THESE INDIVIDUALS FOR HELPING GET THESE, THE RESIDENTS BACK IN THEIR HOMES AND ALL YOUR EFFORTS WHICH YOU'VE DONE. THANK YOU. AND I'LL PRESENT YOU WITH SOME CERTIFICATES. AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THESE INDIVIDUALS AND ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS FOR ALL THEY'VE DONE TO HELP SANTA NELLA GET BACK TO NORMAL. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. OH, I DON'T NEED TO SAY ANYTHING. DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A QUICK PICTURE, THOUGH. [01:15:25] ONE MINUTE. WE'RE HAVING A LITTLE DIFFICULTY. COULD YOU TELL PEOPLE WHAT'S GOING ON? SO I'M WAITING FOR. SO RIGHT NOW, WE ARE CURRENTLY THERE'S COUNTY WIDE INTERNET OUTAGE FOR THE COUNTY ORGANIZATION. AND SO WE'RE CURRENTLY NOT STREAMING. I'M NOT SURE. COUNCIL. COUNCIL HANSON. MR. CHAIR. THE BROWN ACT DOESN'T REQUIRE US TO BROADCAST, BUT WE MAY WANT TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK TO INVESTIGATE THE LENGTH OF THE OUTAGE OR AN ETA. BECAUSE IT DOES SAY ON OUR AGENDA THAT WE BROADCAST THE MEETING. MR. HENDRICKSON. YEAH, JUST VERY, VERY BRIEFLY. JUST TALK TO STAFF. THERE IS NO CURRENT ETA. IT IS CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED. THEY ARE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THE ISSUES, BUT AT THIS POINT IT IS AN ENTIRE COUNTY WIDE ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUE. SO AT THIS POINT, MR. CHAIRMAN, WE DO NOT HAVE AN ETA FOR RESOLUTION. WE CAN MOVE ON. SO IF WE CAN MOVE ON, CAN WE MOVE ON? OKAY. SO WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON NOW TO BOARD. [BOARD ACTION] WE'LL MOVE ON TO BOARD ACTION BEGINNING WITH PUBLIC WORKS. ITEMS 31 THROUGH 33. OKAY. AT THIS TIME, NATHAN BRAY, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING ITEM 33. GOOD MORNING. BOARD CHAIR AND SUPERVISORS. NATHAN BRAY, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR AND ROAD COMMISSIONER. ITEM BEFORE YOU CONTAINS MULTIPLE ACTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COUNTY'S CSAS OR COMMUNITY SERVICE AREAS. THE FIRST ACTION IS TO ACCEPT AN ENGINEER'S REPORT DETAILING THE COST OF MAINTENANCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SUBDIVISION, TITLED QUAIL HOLLOW. THE SECOND ACTION INCLUDES INTRODUCES AN ORDINANCE TO SET RESPECTIVE CSA RATES FOR THE 25-26 FISCAL YEAR. AND THE LAST ACTION SETS POSSIBLE ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE TO THE JUNE 17TH BOARD MEETING. IN GENERAL, THIS ITEM COMES TO THE BOARD EVERY YEAR TO ESTABLISH THE CSA RATES FOR EACH ZONE. THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF ZONES THAT HAVE AN INDEX THAT ALLOWS THE RATES TO INCREASE BASED UPON THE INDEX, WITHOUT HAVING TO GO THROUGH A PROP 218 PROCESS. GENERALLY, THE REMAINING ZONES REMAIN UNAFFECTED. SORRY, THE EXISTING RATES REMAIN UNAFFECTED AND THEY ARE ESTABLISHED AT THE PRIOR YEAR AMOUNTS. THIS YEAR, THIS ITEM ALSO INCLUDES SOME CLEANUP TO THE ORDINANCE, INCLUDING ZONES THAT HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN FORMED BUT NOT ADDED TO THE COUNTY'S ORDINANCE. NAME CHANGES TO REFLECT CONSISTENCY BETWEEN THE ORDINANCE AND THE FORMATION DOCUMENTS. AND LASTLY, REINSTATEMENT OF PREVIOUSLY APPROVED RATES FOR TWO SEPARATE ZONES. THE REVENUE THAT THE CSAS GENERATE ARE USED TO MAINTAIN THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS IDENTIFIED IN THE CSA FORMATION DOCUMENT. TO THE EXTENT FUNDING ALLOWS AND GENERALLY CONSISTS OF LANDSCAPING, STORM DRAIN AND LIGHTING MAINTENANCE. SO WITH THAT, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. OKAY. ARE THERE ANY? AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS 31 THROUGH 33. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR PUBLIC WORKS, ITEMS 31 THROUGH 33 IS NOW CLOSED AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR BRAY? SEEING NONE, CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. TO APPROVE. ARE WE, DO WE NEED TO DO A VOICE VOTE OR HOW? YES. OKAY. SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING I. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NO. MOTION PASSES. NEXT WE HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES. ITEMS 34 THROUGH 37. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BHRS ITEMS 34 THROUGH 37. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEMS 34 THROUGH 37 IS NOW CLOSED. IS THERE? I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION? I'M SO MOVED. SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION PASSES. BY THE WAY, WE ARE BEING BROADCAST, JUST NOT ON FACEBOOK. [01:20:04] SO IT IS STREAMING, JUST NOT ON THE FACEBOOK CHANNEL. OKAY. NEXT WE HAVE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY. ITEMS 38 THROUGH 42. OKAY. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL UP TO THE PODIUM, FELISA GRAY, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY, WHO WILL START OFF THE PRESENTATION REGARDING ITEM 42, THE MERCED COUNTY LOCAL AGING AND DISABILITY FRIENDLY ACTION PLAN. MISS GRAY. I'M MUCH SHORTER, SO I HAD TO. WELL, GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. ALMOST LUNCH TIME. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US COME UP HERE. WE ARE GOING TO BE PRESENTING ON MERCED COUNTY'S LOCAL AREA AGING AND DISABILITY FRIENDLY ACTION PLAN. LET'S SEE IF SHE CAN. JUST A MOMENT. OKAY. AS YOU KNOW, I AM VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE SERVICES THAT OUR COMMUNITY PROVIDES. AND FOR OUR AGE AND DISABILITY FRIENDLY COMMUNITY POPULATION. THERE'S OVER 65,000 MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE OVER THE AGE OF 60 OR LIVING WITH A DISABILITY. THAT IS OVER 23% OF OUR POPULATION. IN SHORT, IN FIVE SHORT YEARS. SO 2030, WHICH DOESN'T SEEM THAT LONG FAR AWAY, BUT THERE WILL BE OVER 25%, ALMOST 26% OF INDIVIDUALS REACHING 72,000. FOLKS, THIS DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFT DOES CALL THE NEED FOR SERVICES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, SO THAT PERSONS OVER THE AGE OF 60 AND LIVING WITH A DISABILITY ARE ABLE TO INTERACT AND HAVE SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY SO THAT IT CAN IMPACT THEIR POSITIVE WELLBEING AND INCREASE OUR COMMUNITY LIVABILITY IN GENERAL. A LITTLE BIT OF THE BACKGROUND CALIFORNIA IS ALSO PREPARING FOR THIS CHANGE IN THE POPULATION THEY IMPLEMENTED IN 2021, THE CALIFORNIA MASTER PLAN FOR AGING. THIS WAS CALIFORNIA'S GOAL TO MAKE CALIFORNIA READY FOR THE SURGE AND GROWTH OF THE POPULATION OF THOSE THAT ARE 60 AND OVER AND ALSO WRAPPING IN THE DEVELOPMENTAL AND DISABILITY NEEDS FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN CALIFORNIA WE WERE ABLE TO APPLY FOR THE LOCAL AREA DISABILITY ACTION PLAN GRANT AND WERE GRANTED IN JANUARY. AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR PEAR STREET CONSULTING GROUP, SO THAT WAY WE COULD GET OUR PLAN KICKED OFF VERY WELL FOR OUR OWN LOCAL AREA PLAN. THIS IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN OUR AREA AGENCY ON AGING, WHICH IS OUR TRIPLE A FOUR YEAR PLAN. THIS PLAN, THE ADAP IS MUCH MORE COMPREHENSIVE. IT'S MORE WIDE VIEW. AND OUR CONSULTANT, MIKE KING, WILL GO INTO MORE DETAIL OF WHO WAS ALL PART OF THE THE GROUP THAT WORKED WITH US. BUT WE INCLUDED DEPARTMENTS FROM THE COUNTY, SUCH AS OUR PLANNING TEAM, BECAUSE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAD BROUGHT UP IS HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, AND THOSE ARE MUCH BROADER GOALS FOR COMMUNITY THEN JUST LOOKING AT IT FROM A LENS OF OUR AREA AGENCY ON AGING. SO WE DID DEVELOP LOTS OF RELATIONSHIPS AND PARTNERSHIPS. AND OVER THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS, WE'VE CONDUCTED TEN COMMUNITY FOCUS GROUPS ACROSS THE MAJOR GEOGRAPHIC CENTERS OF THE COUNTY. HEARING FROM OVER 315 COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SHAPE OUR PLAN. OUR PROJECT LEAD, MIKE KING, WILL SHARE A HIGH LEVEL SYNOPSIS OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE INTEND TO WORK ON AND CELEBRATE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. IN 2029, WE WILL START THE REQUIRED CYCLE OF REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNITY NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THE WORK OF SUPPORTING OLDER ADULTS AND INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH A DISABILITY TO LIVE AUTONOMOUSLY, THRIVE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE FUTURE OF MERCED COUNTY. SO I WILL PASS IT TO MIKE KING AT THIS MOMENT. THANK YOU. FELICIA. THANK YOU, CHAIR AND FELLOW SUPERVISORS, FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. AS FELICIA SAID, MY NAME IS MIKE KING WITH PARIS STREET CONSULTING, AND IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO WORK WITH LISA AND THE TEAM AT THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING, ON DEVELOPING THIS PLAN OVER THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS. SO THE LOCAL AGING AND DISABILITY FRIENDLY ACTION PLAN IS A FIVE YEAR STRATEGY DOCUMENT, A LIVING DOCUMENT FOR INTENTIONALLY AND SYSTEMATICALLY [01:25:03] MAKING COMMUNITIES AROUND MERCED COUNTY MORE LIVABLE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR OLDER ADULTS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND THEIR CAREGIVERS. THE PLAN FULFILLS MERCED COUNTY'S REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERSHIP AND AARP'S NETWORK OF AGE FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES, WHICH IS A NATIONAL NETWORK, AS WELL AS ITS GRANT FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF AGING. STRATEGICALLY, THE PLAN ALIGNS WITH THE CALIFORNIA MASTER PLAN FOR AGING FIVE BOLD GOALS, AS WELL AS AARP'S EIGHT DOMAINS OF LIVABILITY, SO THAT MERCED COUNTY IS POSITIONED TO RECEIVE FUNDING AS WELL AS COLLABORATE WITH STATE AND NATIONAL INITIATIVES GOING FORWARD. WE ARE PROUD, VERY PROUD THAT THE PLAN IS COMMUNITY DRIVEN AND RESPONSIVE TO WHAT WE HEARD AS PRIORITIES FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS AROUND THE COUNTY. WHILE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE TRANSPORTATION ARE CORE PRIORITIES FOR YOUR COMMUNITIES, THIS PLAN ALSO FOCUSES ON STRENGTHENING THE EXISTING AGE AND DISABILITY SERVICES SYSTEM IN MERCED COUNTY BY ADDRESSING ANOTHER CORE PRIORITY, WHICH IS COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION. THROUGH OUR ENGAGEMENT, WE LEARNED THAT TOO MANY OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES SIMPLY DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THE EXISTING SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THEM. AND SO THAT'S A MAIN FOCUS OF THE PLAN THAT WE'RE PUTTING FORWARD TO YOU TODAY. I'M GOING TO WALK THROUGH EACH OF THE 14 RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COMPRISE OUR ACTION PLAN FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AND TRY TO DO SO IN A SUCCINCT MANNER. FIRST, WE PROPOSE TO CREATE A COMMUNITY OUTREACH, ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS PLAN AGAIN TO ADDRESS WHAT I JUST MENTIONED AS A HUGE NEED FOR INCREASED COMMUNICATION AND AWARENESS, AS WELL AS AN ANNUAL CALENDAR FOR THIS AGE AND DISABILITY FRIENDLY MERCED COUNTY INITIATIVE. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT OLDER ADULTS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR CAREGIVERS HAVE ACCESS TO CRITICAL SERVICES AND THAT MEANS RECEIVING INFORMATION ABOUT PROGRAMS, SERVICES, NEWS, EVENTS AND SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS, WHETHER THAT'S IN PERSON, ONLINE OR IN PRINT. AND WE CERTAINLY HEARD FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACROSS THE COUNTY THAT IT'S ALL OF THE ABOVE, RIGHT? EVERYBODY GETS THEIR INFORMATION DIFFERENTLY. AND IF WE'RE GOING TO REACH ALL OF THESE POPULATIONS, WE NEED TO HAVE A MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH. SO THIS FIRST RECOMMENDATION IS A FOUNDATIONAL GOAL FOR THE INITIATIVE. NEXT WE NEED TO LEVERAGE VOLUNTEERS, NEIGHBORS, AND FAMILY TO IMPLEMENT A COMMUNITY CAREGIVING AND VOLUNTEER NETWORK THAT WOULD ASSIST OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. THIS IS A PROVEN METHOD THAT OTHER COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE ADOPTED TO EASE THE HOUSING COST BURDEN ON OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, BY HELPING THEM STAY IN THEIR HOMES AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. VOLUNTEERS WOULD OFFER NON-CLINICAL SUPPORT TO RESIDENTS IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE WITH DAILY TASKS SUCH AS MEAL PREP AND DELIVERY, HOME AND YARD MAINTENANCE, RIDES TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS AND GROCERY SHOPPING, AS WELL AS SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS GRASSROOTS VOLUNTEER NETWORK. WE ALSO PROPOSE WORKING WITH EXISTING TRANSPORTATION PROVIDERS TO EXPAND THE REACH OF MULTILINGUAL VOLUNTEER DRIVER PROGRAMS TO CONNECT RESIDENTS TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES. SO ALL OF THE WORK THAT IS DESCRIBED IN THIS PLAN DOESN'T AMOUNT TO A HECK OF A LOT IF FOLKS CAN'T ACCESS THOSE OPPORTUNITIES IN TRANSPORTATION IN A GEOGRAPHICALLY DISPERSED COUNTY SUCH AS YOURS IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE TO ADDRESS THAT. SO GIVEN THAT GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION, HAVING ACCESS SPECIFICALLY TO AFFORDABLE DOOR TO DOOR TRANSPORTATION IS CRITICAL TO MAINTAINING ONE'S PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH AS WE AGE. NEXT, WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORTING THE EXPANSION AND AVAILABILITY OF SUBSIDIZED HOME REPAIRS AND ACCESSIBILITY MODIFICATIONS FOR OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ACROSS THE COUNTY. THIS IS ANOTHER EFFECTIVE STRATEGY FOR EASING HOUSING COST BURDEN AND FOR HELPING RESIDENTS STAY IN THEIR EXISTING HOMES. NEXT, TO ADDRESS THE WIDESPREAD AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHORTAGE, WE PROPOSE PARTNERING WITH LOCAL JURISDICTIONS TO DEVELOP STRATEGIES FOR SITING AND INCENTIVIZING THE DEVELOPMENT OF AGE AND DISABILITY FRIENDLY HOUSING UNITS. WE KNOW THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE, BUT IF WE WANT TO RETAIN ADULTS IN THEIR 60S, 70S, 80S AND UP, WE REALLY NEED TO DO MORE TO PROVIDE UNITS THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE TO THIS POPULATION. WE HEARD FROM A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, FAMILY WHO HAVE MOVED AWAY AS THEY'VE AGED AND HAD MORE ACCESSIBILITY CHALLENGES THAT WERE NOT PROVIDED FOR WITH THE CURRENT HOUSING STOCK. TO ADDRESS SOCIAL ISOLATION AND LONELINESS, WE WILL COLLABORATE WITH THE SIX INCORPORATED CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTY ON PROVIDING NEW AND EXPANDED SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AND GATHERING [01:30:06] SPACES. AS SOME OF YOU MAY BE AWARE, IN 2023, THE US SURGEON GENERAL ANNOUNCED THAT SOCIAL CONNECTION, WHICH IS DEFINED AS THE STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND QUALITY OF OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS, IS A CRITICAL AND UNDER-APPRECIATED CONTRIBUTOR TO INDIVIDUAL AND POPULATION HEALTH, COMMUNITY SAFETY, RESILIENCE AND PROSPERITY. A LACK OF SOCIAL CONNECTION POSES A SIGNIFICANT RISK FOR INDIVIDUAL HEALTH AND LONGEVITY. OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT CAPTURED A VARIETY OF INTERESTS FOR SOCIAL CONNECTION, FROM DANCING, MUSIC AND FITNESS PROGRAMS TO CONGREGATE MEALS AND ARTS AND CRAFTS. WE WANT TO DO ALL OF THE ABOVE, AND WE WANT TO WORK WITH COMMUNITIES TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO SO. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE COUNTY RECOGNIZE THE PROFOUND HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF PROVIDING THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS, AND TO SUPPORT LOCAL JURISDICTIONS IN COORDINATING, HOSTING, AND AFFORDING PROGRAM DELIVERY. AND FINALLY, ON THIS SLIDE, ALSO ADDRESSING TRANSPORTATION, WE PROPOSE COORDINATING WITH TRANSPORTATION, ACTIVE MOBILITY AND WAYFINDING ORGANIZATIONS AND DECISION MAKING BODIES TO ADVOCATE FOR AND IMPLEMENT MORE ACCESSIBILITY SOLUTIONS. THAT IS ONE THING WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF IN OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMUNITY. THERE'S STILL A WIDE GAP FOR MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WHETHER IT'S THE PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM OR OTHER TRANSPORTATION METHODS OR INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE REALLY NEED TO BE TAKING ON THAT LENS OF WHAT DOES A PERSON WITH DISABILITIES GO THROUGH TO BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE OUR COMMUNITIES? SO WE WANT TO PROVIDE THAT ADVOCACY THROUGH DEEPER COORDINATION WITH THE BUS AND TRANSIT JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY FOR MERCED COUNTY, AS WELL AS PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION COMPANIES. THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS, NUMBER EIGHT THROUGH 14 ARE SORT OF NEEDS THAT WERE PROPOSED AND THAT TOOK PRIORITY AMONG THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAD WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT GO BEYOND THE CORE FOCUS AREAS OF COMMUNICATIONS, TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING. FIRST, WE PROPOSE LAUNCHING AN AGE AND DISABILITY INCLUSIVE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO GARNER COMMITMENTS AND TO PROMOTE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND OLDER ADULTS IN LEADERSHIP ROLES AND IN DECISION MAKING OPPORTUNITIES. AND THIS WOULD BE PART OF PRIORITIZING A CULTURE SHIFT TOWARD GREATER RESPECT AND RECOGNITION. RECOGNITION OF OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. WE ALSO RECOMMEND COLLABORATING WITH THE MERCED LAO FAMILY COMMUNITY, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION IN THE MERCED AREA, TO LAUNCH A SENIOR COMMUNITY GARDEN FOR LOCAL HMONG, MIAN AND LAOTIAN COMMUNITY MEMBERS. SOUTHEAST ASIAN ELDERS COMMUNICATED TO US THE IMPORTANCE FOR THEM IN RETURNING TO THE LAND, TO HONORING THEIR FAMILY ANCESTORS, AND TO FINDING A DEEPER SPIRITUAL CONNECTION WITH THEIR CULTURE, BOTH PAST AND PRESENT. WE ALSO PROPOSE COLLABORATING WITH CENTRAL CALIFORNIA LEGAL SERVICES. A CURRENT CONTRACTOR OF THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING, AS WELL AS FUNERAL AND BURIAL INSURANCE COMPANIES AND LOCAL ATTORNEYS TO PILOT MORE AFFORDABLE FUNERAL AND END OF LIFE PLANNING SERVICES, ESPECIALLY IN OUR MORE RURAL AND UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES. DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND WISHES. END OF LIFE PLANNING CAN BE QUITE COMPLICATED AND COSTLY, BUT WE BELIEVE THAT ALL OLDER ADULTS IN MERCED COUNTY SHOULD BE AFFORDED THE DIGNITY OF ASSISTANCE NAVIGATING THESE IMPORTANT CHOICES AND PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE OF THEIR FAMILIES. NEXT, WE PROPOSE PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITIES WHOSE RESIDENTS HAVE EXPRESSED A NEED FOR ESSENTIAL PEDESTRIAN SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE SO THAT INCLUDES SIDEWALKS, STOPLIGHTS, CROSSWALKS TO CREATE SAFER WALKING AND BIKING SPACES FOR OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. THIS RECOMMENDATION IS ABOUT PROTECTING INDIVIDUALS WITH FROM CONTACT WITH MOTOR VEHICLES IN PARTICULAR, AS WELL AS ABOUT CREATING SPACES THAT INVITE ACTIVE MOBILITY AND PHYSICAL HEALTH. NEXT, TO ADDRESS THE DIGITAL DIVIDE, WHICH I THINK WE'RE ALL VERY AWARE OF AS TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION JUST ROCKETS FORWARD. WE WILL PILOT A DIGITAL LITERACY PROGRAM IN COLLABORATION WITH MERCED COLLEGE, LOCAL LIBRARIES AND OTHER VENUES AND PROVIDERS TO HELP OLDER RESIDENTS, IN PARTICULAR, SAFELY NAVIGATE ONLINE RESOURCES AND USE TECHNOLOGY MORE IN THEIR DAILY LIVES. WE WANT TO FIND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO CLOSE THIS DIVIDE SO THAT THESE POPULATIONS CAN STAY CONNECTED, CONTINUE TO ACCESS INFORMATION AND SERVICES, WHICH CONNECTS BACK TO OUR COMMUNICATIONS GOAL, AND TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR ONGOING LEARNING AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT. WE ALSO HEARD THE NEED TO COLLABORATE WITH RURAL AND UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES TO DEVELOP STRATEGIES FOR LOCATING AND RECEIVING HIGH QUALITY CRITICAL SERVICES SUCH AS AMBULANCE, [01:35:02] FIRE, POLICE GROCERY STORES, EVEN, AND FOOD ACCESS AND MEDICAL AND PHARMACY SERVICES. THIS CONNECTS TO WHAT I HEARD A LOT EARLIER IN TERMS OF THE COMMENTS FROM DOS PALOS Y. COMMUNITIES ON THE BORDER OF MERCED COUNTY AND NEIGHBORING COUNTIES ARE OFTEN IN A PRECARIOUS POSITION AS IT RELATES TO THESE CRITICAL RESOURCES. THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING IS COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH INTERESTED COMMUNITIES ON ASSESSING AMBULANCE RESPONSE TIMES AND COST, FIRE AND POLICE RESPONSE TIMES, AND ENFORCEMENT OF DANGEROUS CONDITIONS AND ACCESS TO BASIC HEALTH NEEDS FOR ISOLATED HOUSEHOLDS. WE, AS FELISA MENTIONED, WE KNOW THAT SOME OF THESE ISSUES HOUSING AND THIS ONE AS WELL, GO BEYOND THE AREA ON AGING, AND WE WANT TO SUPPORT WHERE WE CAN SO THAT THOSE OLDER ADULT HOUSEHOLDS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HAVE THE ESPECIALLY THE CRITICAL MEDICAL SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED. AND FINALLY, WE PROPOSE PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITIES WHOSE RESIDENTS HAVE EXPRESSED A NEED FOR MORE LIGHTING FIXTURES IN AREAS WITH HIGH PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC TO CREATE SAFER WALKING AND BIKING SPACES FOR OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. THIS RECOMMENDATION IS AT THE INTERSECTION OF PUBLIC SAFETY, ACTIVE MOBILITY, PLACEMAKING AND PHYSICAL HEALTH. ALL RIGHT. I KNOW THAT'S A LOT TO TAKE IN. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THIS PLAN. THERE'S A LOT MORE DETAIL ABOUT EACH OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE NEEDS SPECIFICALLY THAT WE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS THROUGH OUR PLANNING PROCESS IN THE ACTION PLAN ITSELF, WHICH WE HOPE YOU WILL READ IN ITS ENTIRETY. AND I HOPE OUR COMMENTS TODAY WERE A USEFUL SUMMARY. AND WE WELCOME YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS AT THIS TIME. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN. I DO HAVE MY PROGRAM MANAGER HERE FROM OUR AREA AGENCY ON AGING, WENDY CAMPBELL AND MYSELF AND OF COURSE MIKE KING. WE WE CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE. WE DID GO TO VARIOUS POCKETS OF THE COMMUNITY. WHEN WE WOULD HEAR THAT THERE WAS AND MIKE WAS WONDERFUL ABOUT IT, THAT THERE WAS NOT A FOCUS GROUP THAT WAS HELD IN THE GROUP, SUCH AS IN SNELLING. WE DROVE ALL THE WAY OUT TO SNELLING. HE HELD A GROUP THERE. HE ADDED EXTRA GROUPS IN GUSTINE. WHEN FOLKS SAID THEY MISSED IT, THEY WANTED ANOTHER ONE. WE ADDED ANOTHER ONE, SO WE REALLY TRIED. WE WERE ON THE WEST SIDE, SO WE REALLY TRIED TO GET ALL THE INPUT THAT WE COULD, AND SOME OF THE FEEDBACK THAT THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WERE SAYING REALLY MADE YOU APPRECIATE WHY THIS DISCUSSION IS SO IMPORTANT. ONE OF THE ONES THAT STICKS OUT TO ME IS A DISCUSSION OF A GENTLEMAN WHO'S WHEELCHAIR BOUND, AND HE ONLY HAS THE BUS AS HIS MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION, AND HE TALKS ABOUT HOW HE WANTS TO ENJOY COMMUNITY EVENTS IN THE EVENING. HE WANTS TO GO TO THE MAC, HE WANTS TO SEE ALL THOSE THINGS, AND HE CAN'T BECAUSE HE IS STUCK AT HOME. ONCE THE BUS, THE BUS SHUTS DOWN BECAUSE THERE'S NOT MUCH MOBILE TRANSPORTATION FOR WHEELCHAIR BOUND INDIVIDUALS THAT'S, YOU KNOW, PRIVATE OR THAT YOU CAN PURCHASE. SO THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY RESONATED WITH ME. THERE WAS MANY DIFFERENT COMMENTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, I KNOW, MR. PACHECO. YOU WERE ABLE TO JOIN US FOR THE ONE THAT WAS HELD IN PLANADA. SO IT WAS VERY EYE OPENING TO HEAR SOME OF THE COMMENTS. SO AGAIN, I HEED BACK TO YOU GUYS FOR ANY QUESTIONS. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. WELL, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO STUDY OUR COMMUNITY AND COME UP WITH THESE RECOMMENDATIONS. ONE IS YOU KNOW, MCAG HAVE YOU BEEN TO MCAG OR DISCUSSED WITH THEM ABOUT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH SILENT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. JUST MAKING SURE FOR ANYBODY ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE, I GUESS IF THERE'S UNMET TRANSIT NEEDS MERCED COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS ADDRESSES THOSE SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. ASSESSING THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE TODAY. THE NUMBER WASN'T ALARMING, BUT KIND OF SURPRISING. DO WE SEE WHAT THE NUMBER LIKE? FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, AND SOME OF THE STUFF AND THE RESEARCH I'VE DONE THAT THE NUMBERS OF FOLKS IN THIS AGE GROUP ARE GOING TO EXPAND SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS. I DIDN'T SEE THAT IN THE PRESENTATION, BUT THESE ARE DEFINITELY NEEDS THAT ARE GOING TO EXPAND. ME BEING ONE OF THE OLDER ONES AS WELL, I CAN SEE. I USED TO ALWAYS POKE FUN WHEN, YOU KNOW, SUPERVISOR O'BANION WAS HERE. AND I'D ALWAYS SAY, THIS IS WHY YOU'RE SO FAVORABLE TO THIS, BECAUSE YOU'RE ALREADY THERE. BUT IF YOU COULD JUST TOUCH ON IT, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO LOOK AT PROBABLY IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS IN EXPANSION? YEAH. SO WE DID HIGHLIGHT A FEW NUMBERS AT THE VERY BEGINNING. AND I THINK TO YOUR POINT THE ESTIMATED GROWTH IN MERCED COUNTY AMONG ADULTS AGED 60 AND OVER IS NOT GOING TO BE AS LARGE [01:40:03] PERCENTAGE WISE AS IT WILL BE IN OTHER COUNTIES AROUND CALIFORNIA, BUT IT'S STILL A SIGNIFICANT JUMP. SO RIGHT NOW THERE ARE ROUGHLY 65,000 ADULTS AGED OVER 60, OR PEOPLE OF ANY AGE LIVING WITH A DISABILITY. SO JUST WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, THAT'S GOING TO JUMP 7000, WHICH I KNOW DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A LOT, BUT AS A PERCENTAGE, RIGHT? THAT'S QUITE A LOT MORE THAN WHAT YOU'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST FEW DECADES. AND THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE. AND REALLY, I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT DATE, BUT I WOULD SAY WITHIN THE NEXT 20 YEARS YOUR NUMBER OF OLDER ADULTS OVER THE AGE OF 60 IS GOING TO OUTPACE OUTNUMBER THE NUMBER OF YOUTH UNDER THE AGE OF 18. WOW. JUST TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF HOW THAT IS FUNDAMENTALLY GOING TO CHANGE THE WAY THAT WE THINK ABOUT WORK, THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT RETIREMENT, THE WAY WE TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER. RIGHT. THIS IS ALL IN SERVICE OF WE NEED TO START PREPARING OURSELVES. AND EVERYBODY'S LIVING LONGER AS WELL. SO. YES. RIGHT, I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. YEAH. BUT YEAH. GREAT POINT. THANK YOU. OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE FROM THE BOARD? YOU KNOW, I GOT TO SAY BECAUSE I'M ON THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING COMMITTEE. IRONIC THAT I'M THE YOUNGEST ONE UP HERE THAT SERVES ON THAT COMMITTEE. I THINK IT'S REALLY COOL TO SEE THE ENGAGEMENT. AND I THINK YOUR TEAM DOES AN AMAZING JOB. AND THE ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT MERCED COUNTY AND THE PARTICIPATION ON THAT COMMITTEE IS REALLY IMPRESSIVE. I MEAN, YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE SHOWING UP THEY REALLY NEVER MISS A MEETING. BUT THEY'RE THERE ALL THE TIME BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS. AND THEN THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, LIKE I SAID, THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND THEN THE TRIPS THAT THEY GO ON ARE LIKE, SOUNDS SO MUCH FUN, AND I'M JUST NOT THAT AGE TO BE ABLE TO GO ON THEM. BUT I JUST WANTED TO COMMEND YOU GUYS FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND FOR HIGHLIGHTING THIS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. SO AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS 38 THROUGH 42, OKAY. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR HSA ITEMS 38 THROUGH 42 IS NOW CLOSED. I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION. SUPERVISOR. THERE'S A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. IS THERE A SECOND? PAREIRA SECOND. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA SECONDS. THE MOTION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAY NO. MOTION PASSES. NEXT WE HAVE PROBATION. ITEM 43. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR PROBATION. ITEM 43. OKAY. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR PROBATION. ITEM 43 IS NOW CLOSED. WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR A MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAY NAY. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. NEXT WE HAVE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ITEMS 44 THROUGH 46. AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS 44 THROUGH 46. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEMS 44 THROUGH 46 IS NOW CLOSED. BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. MOTION SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? NAY. THE MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. NEXT WE HAVE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ITEMS 47 AND 48. AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ITEMS 47 AND 48. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ITEMS 47 AND 48 IS NOW CLOSED. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. MOTION CARRIES. NEXT WE HAVE ELECTIONS. ITEMS 49 AND 50. AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ELECTION. ELECTIONS. ITEMS 49 AND 50. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ELECTIONS. ITEMS 49 AND 50 IS NOW CLOSED. BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR A SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY CARRIES. NEXT WE HAVE HUMAN RESOURCES. ITEM 51. AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR HR ITEM 51. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR HR ITEM 51 IS NOW CLOSED. BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. PAREIRA MOVE TO APPROVE. [01:45:02] WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. NEXT WE HAVE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, ITEM 52. PLEASE NOTE A 4/5 VOTE IS REQUIRED AT THIS TIME. I'LL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BOARD ITEM 52. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BOARD ITEM 52 IS NOW CLOSED. WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YEAH, THIS IS MY ITEM. FOR THE USE OF DISTRICT FIVE DISTRICT PROJECT FUNDS. THIS IS AN AMOUNT OF 15,500. THIS IS FOR THE SPRING FAIR. AS OUR NUMBERS HAVE GROWN WITH LIVESTOCK EXHIBITORS, THEY'VE. AND WE'VE CHANGED KIND OF. THE PINS USED TO HAVE THE OLD WOODEN PINS, AND THOSE ARE GONE NOW. AND SO EVERY YEAR WE HAVE TO GO AND BORROW PANELS FROM A DIFFERENT FAIR, WHETHER IT BE MERCED FAIR OR MADERA FAIR. AND THANKS TO ONE OF OUR VERY GRACIOUS BOARD MEMBERS, MARK WOODS, WHO HAS THE ABILITY AND HAS A TRUCK THAT HE CAN SEND OVER THERE TO PICK THEM UP, AND THEN WE HAVE TO BRING THEM TO THE FAIR, SET THEM UP, TEAR THEM DOWN, SEND THEM BACK BECAUSE THEY NEED THEM AT THEIR FAIR. THIS WITH THIS INVESTMENT, SPRING FAIR WILL BE COMPLETELY SELF-RELIANT. IT WON'T HAVE TO RELY ON ANY OTHER FAIR FOR ITS PANELS. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE A YES VOTE ON THIS ITEM FROM MY COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THAT IS A MOTION. SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. THE MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. NEXT WE HAVE BOARD APPOINTMENTS. ITEMS 53 AND 54. AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BOARD APPOINTMENTS. ITEMS 53 AND 54. OKAY. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BOARD APPOINTMENTS. ITEMS 53 AND 54 IS CLOSED. WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD CHAIR. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAME SIGN OR. I'M SORRY. NAY. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. OKAY. NEXT, WE HAVE A SCHEDULED ITEM AS SUBMITTED BY COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. [SCHEDULED ITEMS] PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER GENERAL VACATION OF D STREET BETWEEN JET LIFT, DRIVE AND SPACECRAFT DRIVE AT THE CASTLE COMMERCE CENTER. AT THIS TIME, MARK MIMS, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ITEM. GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MY NAME IS MARK MIMS, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THE ITEM BEFORE YOU IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE VACATION OF D STREET BETWEEN JET LIFT DRIVE AND SPACECRAFT DRIVE AT CASTLE. THE REQUEST WAS MADE BY NOLAN LANE PROPERTIES, THE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY MADE UP OF MR. AND MRS. MATT MIGLIACCIO, WHO PURCHASED THE PROPERTY TO THE EAST OF D STREET FROM THE COUNTY IN 2024 FOR THE NEW HOME OF M-MIG CONSTRUCTION. RECENTLY, MATT MIGLIAZZA PURCHASED THE SITE TO THE WEST OF D STREET, PREVIOUSLY OWNED AND OCCUPIED BY JDL GLASS. WITH THE VACATION OF THE STREET, THE OWNER FOR THE PROPERTY WILL FENCE THE ENTIRE AREA OFF, CREATING GREATER SAFETY FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES. THE STREET IS NOT NEEDED FOR THE CIRCULATION OF TRAFFIC THROUGHOUT CASTLE AT THIS TIME. STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE BOARD TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS. ONE. OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ACCEPT PUBLIC TESTIMONY TWO. CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING THREE. FIND THE PROPOSED VACATION EXEMPT FROM CEQA AND FOUR. ADOPT THE RESOLUTION TO VACATE D STREET AT CASTLE. THANK YOU AND PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. I WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND AT THIS TIME I WILL ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THIS ITEM. TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON. OKAY SEEING NONE. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED. I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR DISCUSSION. OKAY. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I WOULD MOTION TO FIND THE PROPOSED VACATION EXEMPT FROM CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT CEQA GUIDELINES, SECTION 15304. FOR THE REASONS STATED IN THE ATTACHED RESOLUTION. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? SAY NAY. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. MR. CHAIR, IF I COULD, I'LL GO AHEAD AND MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION TO VACATE D STREET BETWEEN JET LIFT DRIVE AND SPACECRAFT DRIVE. AT THE CASTLE COMMERCE CENTER. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. [01:50:01] AYE. ANY OPPOSED, SAY NAY. MOTION CARRIES. OKAY. AT THIS TIME WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK. MERCED DELTA-MENDOTA GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY. AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS AS WELL AS THE TWO ACTION ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. 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 AND TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BOTH NON AGENDA AND AGENDA ITEMS IS NOW CLOSED. NOW WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO BOARD ACTIONS SUBMITTED BY COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. ITEMS ONE AND TWO. FOR PUBLIC? NO, BECAUSE WE INCLUDE ITEMS ON THESE PROPOSALS. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AGAIN, MARK MIMS, OUR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THE ITEM BEFORE YOU CONSIDERS AN AMENDMENT, AMENDED AND RESTATED MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE MERCED COUNTY DELTA-MENDOTA, GSA AND THE GRASSLAND WATER DISTRICT GSA. THE ORIGINAL MOU WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2018 TO FACILITATE THE COORDINATION BETWEEN GRASSLANDS, WATER DISTRICT AND A PORTION OF THE MERCED COUNTY DELTA-MENDOTA GSA FOR THE COMPLIANCE AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT ACT. IN 2023, THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES DETERMINED ALL THE GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY PLANS IN THE DELTA MENDOTA WERE INADEQUATE AND TRANSFERRED THE BASIN TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE WATER RESOURCE OF THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD FOR STATE INTERVENTION. THE 23 GSAS IN THE DELTA MENDOTA SUBBASIN QUICKLY PIVOTED, DRAFTING A SINGLE GSP ADDRESSING THE INADEQUACIES IN ORDER TO EXIT THE STATE INTERVENTION PROCESS IN 2024. SINGLE GSP DEVELOPED IN THE DELTA MENDOTA SUBBASIN. NECESSITY NECESSITATED THIS UPDATE TO THE MOU WITH GRASSLANDS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS AMENDMENT IS TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A SINGLE GSP IN THE DELTA MENDOTA SUBBASIN, AND TO UPDATE THE COST SHARE, WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY AT 28.5% FOR MERCED COUNTY AND PROPORTIONALLY BASED ON ACREAGE. THE NEW. THE NEW SINGLE GSP IN THE DELTA MENDOTA SUBBASIN IS INCURRING SIGNIFICANT COSTS FOR GSP DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTING PUMPING REDUCTION PLANS, COORDINATION COMMITTEE FACILITATION AND SUPPORT AND LEGAL COSTS WITH THE NEW HIGHER GSP AND COORDINATION COSTS. GRASSLANDS REQUESTED TO UPDATE THE COST SHARE FORMULA IN THE AMENDED MOU. THE NEW FORMULA IS BASED ON PUMPING RATHER THAN ACRES, WHICH WAS DATA NOT AVAILABLE DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ORIGINAL MOU. MERCED COUNTIES NEW COST SHARE IS 50% OF COORDINATED COSTS AND THE AREA SPECIFIC ANNUAL REPORT COSTS. WHILE THE PERCENTAGE HAS INCREASED, MERCED COUNTY WILL NO LONGER BE SHARING ANY PORTION OF THE GRASSLANDS ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, WHICH WAS A PART OF THE ORIGINAL MOU. THE NEW COST SHARE MORE ADEQUATELY REFLECTS THE USAGE OF GROUNDWATER BETWEEN THESE PARTIES, WHICH IS THE BASIS OF THE OF SIGMA. COSTS PRESENTED FOR APPROVAL INCLUDE THE SINGLE GSP DEVELOPMENT COSTS OF 261,000 AND FISCAL YEAR 25-26 COORDINATED COSTS OF 137,000. THANK YOU AND STEPH AND I ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. OKAY. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD OR DO I HAVE A MOTION? YEAH. MR. CHAIR, A MOTION TO APPROVE FOR A SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? SAY NAY. MOTION CARRIES. WE WILL NOW ADJOURN THE MEETING AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, AS THE COUNTY OF MERCED DELTA-MENDOTA GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY. WE WILL NOW CONVENE AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AS THE MERCED COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS AS WELL AS THE ONE ACTION ITEM ON THIS AGENDA. AS A REMINDER, THE NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT MUST BE REGARDING ITEMS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AS THE MERCED COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BOTH NON AGENDA AND THE AGENDA ITEM IS NOW CLOSED. [01:55:03] WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO BOARD ACTION, WHICH IS TO DISCUSS UTILIZATION OF THE MERCED COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. AND AT THIS TIME, I WILL TURN THE MIC OVER TO MARK HENDRICKSON, INTERIM COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER. MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, JUST VERY BRIEFLY, THE PURPOSE OF THIS ITEM IS, OF COURSE, TO GAIN THE BOARD'S INPUT AND FOR STAFF TO COLLECT ANY QUESTIONS OR REQUESTS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION IN PREPARATION FOR WHAT WOULD BE FUTURE BOARD DIALOG REGARDING THE MERCED COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, SHOULD THIS BOARD HAVE INTEREST IN DOING SO? NOW, RECENTLY, ALONG WITH THE CHAIRMAN AND THE VICE CHAIRMAN, WE MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT ON THIS VERY TOPIC AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY MET WITH CONGRESSMAN GRAY IN MID IN THE CITY OF MERCED TO DISCUSS UTILIZATION OF OR POTENTIAL UTILIZATION OF THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT TO PROVIDE SOME BRIEF GENERAL BACKGROUND. THIS DISTRICT WAS AUTHORIZED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE IN 1982 TO ADDRESS ONE OF OUR REGION'S MOST PERSISTENT AND PRESSING CHALLENGES FLOOD CONTROL AND WATER MANAGEMENT. SPECIFICALLY, THIS DISTRICT WAS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE RECURRING THREAT OF FLOODING AND TO PROTECT PRIVATE PROPERTY, AGRICULTURE, AND INFRASTRUCTURE. AND THAT SAID, TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, THIS FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT HAS NOT BEEN LEVERAGED TO DATE. STAFF HAS UNDERTAKEN AN INITIAL REVIEW OF THIS ENABLING LEGISLATION, AND I CERTAINLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE BOTH RINA GONZALEZ AND COUNTY COUNSEL FOR THEIR WORK TO ACTUALLY COLLECT SOME INITIAL INFORMATION. AND THEN WE CAN OFFER THE FOLLOWING SIX INSIGHTS. THIS BOARD PER AGAIN, THE AUTHORIZING LEGISLATION DOES SERVE AS THE EX OFFICIO OFFICERS OF THE DISTRICT AND MAY APPOINT AND DELEGATE POWERS TO A COMMISSION IF YOU WERE TO SO, CHOOSE. TWO THE DISTRICT IS A SEPARATE ENTITY FROM THE COUNTY. IT CAN SUE, IT CAN BE SUED, IT CAN LEASE, PURCHASE AND BOND ON ITS OWN. THREE. THE DISTRICT MAY CREATE FLOOD ZONES. NOW, THESE FLOOD ZONES THAT INCLUDE A CITY MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE CITY FOR ITS CONSIDERATION. FOR PROJECTS WITHIN ZONES MAY REQUIRE AN ELECTION FOR APPROVAL. FIVE. THE DISTRICT MAY LEVY ASSESSMENTS ON REAL PROPERTY, MAY BE SUBJECT TO PROPOSITION 218 WITHIN ZONES, TO GENERATE THE NECESSARY REVENUE TO ENHANCE FLOOD PROTECTION. AND THEN LASTLY SIX. THE DISTRICT MAY REIMBURSE THE COUNTY FOR ADMINISTRATION AND OTHER SERVICES. NOW, AT THIS POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO THE CHAIR AND THE VICE CHAIR FOR THEIR THOUGHTS AND THEN AGAIN GAIN THE BOARD'S PERSPECTIVE AND GUIDANCE AS TO WHETHER THERE IS INTEREST IN FURTHER EXPLORING. MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT'S ALL I HAVE AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU, SIR. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO FIRST? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, AND I APPRECIATE MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM TO US. I WAS UNAWARE THAT IN 1982. I THINK I WAS A JUNIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL AT THE TIME THAT THIS WAS ESTABLISHED, AND WE KNOW THAT WE DO GO THROUGH A FLOODING PROCESS EVERY, I T'S ACTUALLY BECOME A LOT MORE FREQUENT LATELY. OUR CANALS AND OUR STREAMS HERE ARE VERY IMPACTED. I AM DEFINITELY INTERESTED IN EXPLORING THIS FURTHER BECAUSE I THINK OUR CHAIR LIKES TO SAY WE NEED TO DO THIS INSTEAD OF WAITING TO WIN A TRAINING AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. LET'S DO IT WHEN IT'S NOT RAINING AND FIGURE IT OUT SO WE'RE READY WHEN IT IS RAINING. AND DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE NEED TO EXPLORE. I KNOW THAT THE ENGINEERING REPORT THAT WE HAVE IS FROM 1984, I THINK. SO I'M SURE THAT THAT'S CHANGED, BUT DEFINITELY INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT HOW WE MOVE FORWARD ON THIS AND WHETHER IT'S APPOINTING A COMMISSION, WHETHER IT'S IDENTIFYING SOME OF THESE FLOOD DISTRICTS, AND MAYBE THERE'S A COMMISSION FOR EACH DISTRICT, BECAUSE, I'LL BE HONEST, THE FOLKS WHO FARM THOSE AREAS ARE THE FOLKS WHO KNOW THE WATER AND WHICH WAY IT FLOWS. KNOW IT BETTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE. PROBABLY BETTER THAN THE ENGINEERS AS WELL. AND IF WE HAVE THOSE FOLKS AND WE RELY ON THEM TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS IN THOSE AREAS, I THINK THAT WOULD BE. A LOT MORE ADVANTAGEOUS FOR THE COUNTY. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THAT'S MY INPUT. THANK YOU. YEAH. NO, I YOU KNOW, IF YOU WERE A JUNIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL IN 1982, I WASN'T BORN YET. SO I DO THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD THESE. WHEN I FIRST GOT ON TO THE MERCED CITY COUNCIL IN 2009, WE WERE DEALING WITH FLOOD MITIGATION BACK THEN. IT'S DEVASTATING TO SEE IT HAPPEN. AND THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND AGAIN. IT JUST SEEMS MORE FREQUENT. AND I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN BEING PROGRESSIVE WHEN IT COMES TO LOOKING AT STUFF LIKE THIS AND KNOWING THAT THIS WAS PUT UP IN 1982 AND HASN'T BEEN ACTED ON. I DO WANT TO THANK MID. I KNOW THAT MID IS THEY WERE THE ONES THAT KIND OF POINTED THIS OUT TO US AND THEY'RE VERY MUCH BEHIND IT. THEY, THEY WANTED TO BE HERE TODAY, BUT THEY HAVE THEIR BOARD MEETING RIGHT NOW SO THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO SEND A REPRESENTATIVE. BUT IN MY CONVERSATIONS IN ALL OF OUR MEETINGS WITH THEM, THEY'VE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF IT. AND SO I APPRECIATE THAT AS WELL AS THE CITY I WOULD BE. [02:00:02] I WOULD MY ONLY QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK YOU BROUGHT IT UP IS THE FUNDING SOURCE AND HOW WE WOULD GO ABOUT COLLECTING THE FUNDS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PAY FOR THIS. I DO THINK HAVING THE SPECIFIC FLOOD WAS IT REGIONS THAT YOU SAID I THINK IS IMPORTANT ZONES. THANK YOU. THE IMPORTANT FLOOD ZONES TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHO'S GOING TO PAY WHAT. BECAUSE WE ALWAYS WE KNOW THAT SOME AREAS FLOOD MORE SO THAN OTHERS. I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, EACH PART OF THIS DISTRICT OR EACH PART OF MERCED COUNTY HAS SOME TYPE OF, OF CONCERN IN REGARDS TO FLOODING. AND SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW WE'RE GOING TO ALLOCATE AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO PLAN FOR THAT. AND AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS, YOU KNOW, AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, YOU PLAN FOR THIS WHEN IT'S WET, NOT WHEN OR PLAN FOR THIS WHEN IT'S DRY, NOT WHEN IT'S WET. AND I THINK THAT BY PLANNING, WHEN IT'S DOING IT NOW, IS IT GOING TO BE BETTER FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED? AND I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, COME UP WITH THE, THE ZONES, THE HOW WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT AND THEN MOVE ON FROM THERE. SO IS ANYBODY ELSE? SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. QUICK QUESTION, I GUESS, AND FOR FURTHER IF IT COMES BACK FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION. SO IT'S THE MERCER COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND DOES IT ENCOMPASS THE WHOLE COUNTY? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE HAVE SOME LITTLE KIND OF SPIN OFFS OF MAYBE SOME I DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE CALLED FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICTS, BUT YOU HAVE DIFFERENT AREAS THAT KIND OF MANAGE KIND OF FLOODING. SO I'D BE CURIOUS TO SEE IT. OR I'D LIKE TO KNOW THAT ANSWER. DOES IT ENCOMPASS THE WHOLE COUNTY? SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA THROUGH THE CHAIR IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT, YES, IT WOULD ENCOMPASS THE ENTIRE COUNTY OF MERCED. AND I DO AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT THREE THAT IF YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW WATER FLOWS ACROSS THE LAND, GO TALK TO THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING THE LAND. THEY'LL TELL YOU BETTER THAN ANY ENGINEER THAT YOU CAN GO PAY PILES OF MONEY TO. AND I WILL. I'M A BETTING MAN, AND I WOULD BET ON THEIR SCIENCE WAY MORE THAN ANY OTHER ENGINEER'S SCIENCE. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YOU KNOW OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE LOWER SAN JOAQUIN LEVEE DISTRICT IN MERCED COUNTY YOU KNOW, AND IT ENCOMPASSES OTHER COUNTIES. BUT LET'S NOT REINVENT THE WHEEL. LET'S TAKE A LOOK. AND THEN AND I AGREE. RIGHT. THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, FARMERS KNOW THE FLOW OF THE WATER BETTER THAN ANYBODY. HOWEVER YOU KNOW, HOUSES GET FLOODED AS WELL. AND SO YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO WE NEED TO INCORPORATE THE YOU KNOW, THE URBAN AREAS IN OUR COUNTY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE INCLUDE EVERYBODY. AND THEN IT SEEMS LIKE, YOU KNOW, A PROP 218 YOU COME UP WITH A FUNDING STRUCTURE AND MOVE FORWARD. AND ANYWAYS, SO I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA TO, TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT AS WELL. AND YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES. THANKS, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. THANK YOU. IT'S NOT. NOTHING'S THERE. HERE. THERE WE GO. YEAH, I KNOW WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS. I DON'T WANT TO LOOK BACK. I WANT TO LOOK FORWARD. AND I THINK WE NEED TO RESOLVE THIS. AND ONE THING I DON'T WANT TO DO IS I AM VERY MUCH ABOUT LOCAL CONTROL, AND I DON'T WANT THE STATE TO COME IN AND TRY TO TELL US HOW TO DO THIS. AND SO I THINK BY GAVELING IN WITH THIS COMMITTEE AND STARTING TO SET UP THE STRUCTURE WHERE WE'RE NOT HAVING TO BE UNDER THE BURDEN OF THE STATE, TRYING TO TELL US HOW TO DO THIS, AND WE CAN LET OUR FOLKS MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. OKAY. SO I THINK THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME DIRECTION GIVEN. IS THERE? I'M GOING TO REOPEN PUBLIC COMMENT. SO IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. AT THIS POINT. BRIANNE VANDENBERG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT MERCED COUNTY FARM BUREAU. JUST A FEW THINGS FROM THE LOWER LEVEE DISTRICT, NOT SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THEM, BUT JUST ASKING AS FARM BUREAU IF SINCE THAT SOUNDS LIKE IT WOULD OVERLAP, TO PLEASE DISCUSS THAT WITH THEM. AND THEN HAPPY TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND BRING FARMERS TO THE TABLE AS NECESSARY. [02:05:03] SO THANK YOU. YEAH, I THINK THAT ANYTHING THAT WE DO WHEN IT COMES TO THIS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY WITH THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE. ESPECIALLY OUR, OUR FARM BUREAU FOLKS ARE GOING TO BE HAVE TO BE VERY MUCH AWARE AND A PART OF THE DISCUSSION. SO WE'LL BRING IT BACK. I THINK DIRECTION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO FROM THE BOARD. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? SO MR. HENDRICKSON. MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, JUST TO QUICKLY RECAP, AND I THINK STAFF WILL BE POSITIONED TO BRING THIS BACK ON LIKELY THE 8TH OF JULY, WHICH WILL AFFORD OUR PARTNERS FROM BOTH MID AND THE CITY AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS AS WELL TO ENGAGE. WE DO HAVE OBVIOUSLY SOME HOMEWORK TO DO JUST TO KIND OF QUICKLY RECAP. OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO, YOU KNOW, FOR SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, WE WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT YOU KNOW, POTENTIAL GOVERNANCE MODELS, WHETHER IT'S A COMMISSION, JUST AS ONE EXAMPLE, YOU MENTIONED IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES AND HOW THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY WORK, ALONG WITH GETTING SOME FURTHER INFORMATION ESSENTIALLY ABOUT FLOOD ZONES AND WHO COULD BE POTENTIALLY PAYING FOR WHAT. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA OBVIOUSLY TALKED A GREAT DEAL ABOUT ENGAGING STAKEHOLDERS. OBVIOUSLY, MR. PAREIRA TALKED ALSO ABOUT INCORPORATING OUR URBAN COUNTERPARTS INTO THE EQUATION AS WELL, AND OBVIOUSLY HAVING A ROBUST CONVERSATION ABOUT FUNDING STRATEGY AND OBVIOUSLY WITH MISS VANDENBERG'S COMMENTS JUST A MOMENT AGO AGAIN, JUST TO ENSURE THAT WE ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS SO STAFF WOULD BE POSITIONED TO BRING THIS BACK FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OR FURTHER DISCUSSION ON SEVEN EIGHT. OKAY. BEING THAT THERE IS NO ACTION NEEDED OR TAKEN, BUT STAFF HAS BEEN PROVIDED DIRECTION WE WILL NOW ADJOURN THE MEETING AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, AS THE MERCED COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, AND RECONVENE AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL HAVE BOARD REPORTS STARTING WITH SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. [REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION] THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. NOT A WHOLE LOT TO REPORT. I JUST WANT TO THANK THE FOLKS FROM THE DOS PALOS Y AREA FOR COMING AND VOICING THEIR CONCERNS. I KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. I APPRECIATE YOU GETTING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. I DO WANT TO APOLOGIZE. I DID GET A LITTLE BIT HEATED AT THE LAST MEETING. AND I JUST SO YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW, I'M NOT A SAINT. I DO SWEAR SOMETIMES. AND I TYPICALLY DON'T SWEAR AT BOARD MEETINGS. BUT I WAS A LITTLE BIT HEATED, AND IT KIND OF SLIPPED OUT. AND SO I DO APOLOGIZE FOR ANY OF THOSE THAT WERE OFFENDED BY THAT. THAT WAS NEVER MY INTENTION. BUT YOU KNOW, IT WAS IT WAS KIND OF A COMMENT WAS MADE. WELL, IT SEEMS LIKE MAYBE YOU WERE POUTING BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T GET YOUR WAY, AND MAYBE THAT CAME ACROSS, AND I, I DON'T THINK THAT I WAS POUTING. I THINK THAT I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT MY DISTRICT. I MENTIONED UP HERE ALL THE TIME THAT I HAVE 58,000 BOSSES THAT I REPRESENT, AND I TAKE MY JOB VERY SERIOUSLY, AND I WAS JUST A LITTLE BIT TAKEN BACK AND HOW THINGS KIND OF WENT DOWN. AND SO I DID LET MY FRUSTRATIONS GET THE BETTER OF ME. I WILL TELL YOU, IN ALL MY YEARS OF BEING ON THE BOARD, I'VE NEVER ACTUALLY WENT BACK AND WATCHED A BOARD MEETING BECAUSE I FIGURED, WHY DO I NEED TO GO WATCH IT? I WAS HERE BUT I DID GO BACK AND WATCH THAT MEETING AND HAVING HAD A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO KIND OF COOL OFF A LITTLE BIT, I DID. THERE WAS A LOT OF THINGS THAT I WISH I COULD HAVE DID A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO CRY OVER SPILLED MILK. I'M HOPING THAT THAT MY CONSTITUENTS FROM THE DOS PALOS WIRE, AS WELL AS MY CONSTITUENTS THAT WERE HERE FROM DOS PALOS, THAT WE CAN HAVE A PROPER DISCUSSION AND EVERYBODY CAN GET THEIR VOICES HEARD ON THIS ISSUE. AND I THINK THAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. I THINK IT'S THE FAIR THING TO DO. AND, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TASKED WITH DOING THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS IN PUBLIC. AND I'M ALL ABOUT TRANSPARENCY. AND TO THE COMMENT EARLIER THAT TALKED ABOUT SOME KIND OF DONATION AND BROWN ACT VIOLATION, I REALLY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT. BUT SHE KNOWS HOW TO GET AHOLD OF ME IF SHE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THAT ANY FURTHER. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SO THIS PAST TUESDAY, I ATTENDED THE RIBBON CUTTING OF THE WELL, IT'S THE HIGHWAY 140 HIGHWAY 33 ROUNDABOUT IN GUSTINE. AND SOMETHING THAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT ROUNDABOUTS IS EVERYBODY HATES THEM BEFORE THEY'RE DONE, AND THEN MOST PEOPLE LIKE THEM AFTER THEY'RE DONE. AND GUSTINE WAS NO DIFFERENT. THERE'S BEEN SOME PEOPLE TURNING LEFT AGAINST TRAFFIC BECAUSE THE ARROW, AS YOU'RE COMING IN, KIND OF SUGGESTS THAT IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DOT MEANS AND THAT DOT ASSUMES COMMON SENSE AND SO. WELL, HOPEFULLY NOBODY IN HERE WENT LEFT BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO BE OFFENSIVE. BUT ANYWAYS, THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF THAT, FORTUNATELY NO ACCIDENTS. BUT JUST THANKFUL FOR THE GUSTINE CITY COUNCIL LEADERSHIP IN THAT PROJECT. YOU KNOW, TRAVELING THROUGH THERE ON HOLIDAYS, THAT'S JUST A MESS. AND, AND I HAVEN'T BEEN THERE ON A HOLIDAY SINCE, BUT I HEARD THAT THE TRAFFIC OVER MEMORIAL DAY WAS A LOT BETTER. [02:10:05] SO KUDOS TO THE CITY OF AUGUSTINE. I WANT TO THANK THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR GIVING ME A TOUR OF OUR WELLNESS CENTER. AND THAT'S A CENTER WHERE FOLKS ARE PARTICIPATE IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMING CAN COME IN AND KIND OF HAVE, THEY DO CLASSES THERE AS WELL, BUT ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO FOLKS HELPING THEM GET THROUGH A CRISIS, I GUESS IS THE IMPORTANT THING. AND ANYWAY, SO I APPRECIATE THAT. ATTENDED THE MERCED FAIR THIS PAST WEEKEND. NORMALLY I'M THERE QUITE A BIT. THIS YEAR MY SCHEDULE DIDN'T ALLOW FOR THAT, BUT I WENT ON AUCTION DAY OF COURSE AND SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY. AND I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED TO SEE SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AUCTIONING OFF A FLIGHT OF ANIMALS. AND I'M ASSUMING YOU STAYED ALL DAY AND DID MULTIPLE FLIGHTS. AND THANK YOU FOR THAT. I HOPE YOU ENJOYED YOUR TIME UP THERE AND GOT TO MEET SOME NEW BIDDERS. AND MAYBE YOU CAN GET THEM TO COME TO LOS BANOS NEXT YEAR, IS WHAT YOU WERE THINKING, I DON'T KNOW. AND THEN FINALLY CHIEF BORELLI THE CITY OF GUSTINE'S FIRE CHIEF RETIRED. I ATTENDED HIS RETIREMENT DINNER ON SATURDAY NIGHT. AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I WISH THEY WOULD HAVE RECORDED IT BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO SHOW FOLKS THAT JUST THE ADMIRATION THAT THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY HAD FOR HIM AND, AND HIS IMPACT ON THEIR LIVES, HE WAS THE CHIEF FOR 18 YEARS, WAS ON THE IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR 40 YEARS. AND EVEN OUR UNIT CHIEF CHRIS TRINIDAD, SPOKE AND TALKED ABOUT THE IMPACT HE HAD HAD ON HIM. AND IT WAS JUST A NEAT DEAL. AND SO CONGRATULATIONS TO RETIRED CHIEF BORELLI. AND I WISH RICH MARTIN HIS REPLACEMENT WELL. KIND OF A, I WOULD SAY A BIT OF A SIMILAR PERSONALITY. AND SO HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE AN EASY TRANSITION THERE. AND I JUST YEAH, IT JUST IT WAS JUST A TOUCHING A RETIREMENT PARTY. THE BEST ONE I'VE EVER BEEN TO IN MY LIFE. AND SO THANK YOU. MISTER CHAIR, THAT'S IT. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR PACHECO. OH. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. FIRST, I WANTED TO TELL YOU I MAY 31ST, I ATTENDED THE MERCED LAO FAMILY LEADERSHIP APPRECIATION CEREMONY. GREAT CEREMONY WHERE WE RECOGNIZED ALL OF THE PAST MEMBERS OF PRESIDENTS OF THE MERCED LAO FAMILY. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT AND FOR WHAT THEY DO FOR THE COMMUNITY. I JUST WANTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT PLANADA THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE AN UPDATE ON OUR $20 MILLION COMMUNITY PROJECT. SO THAT'S GOING TO BE ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18TH FROM 5 TO 7:30 AT THE. CESAR CHAVEZ SCHOOL. SO IF ANYONE WANTS TO COME GET THE UPDATE ON THE 20 MILLION, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT. I WANTED TO WELCOME MR. DELANEY TO THE MERCED COUNTY FAMILY. WELCOME. AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. I ALSO ATTENDED THE MERCED COUNTY FAIR. I WENT GREAT THAT WEEK. I WAS THERE MOST OF THE WEEK, AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK TERESA FOR ALL HER YEARS OF SERVICE. SHE'S RETIRING THIS YEAR, BUT SHE DID A GREAT JOB WITH THE FAIR. I ALSO WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO REACHED OUT TO ME BY PHONE AND BY EMAIL, AND EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE TODAY REGARDING THE DOS PALOS Y ISSUE, I HAVE HEARD YOUR CONCERNS, AND IN RETROSPECT, I REGRET THAT I DID NOT GIVE THE CITIZENS OF DOS PALOS Y THE CHANCE TO COME UP AND ADDRESS ME BEFORE TAKING THIS ACTION. THESE ARE VERY DIFFICULT DECISIONS, AND ONE I DO NOT TAKE LIGHTLY AND AGONIZE OVER. BUT JUST IN SAYING THAT I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF RECONSIDERING THIS ITEM, MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE'S VOICES ARE HEARD ON THIS, AND MAKE SURE WE GET ALL THE INFORMATION WE NEED TO MAKE A VERY INFORMED DECISION. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. CHAIR. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I MET WITH THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE. I GUESS THE COUNCIL HERE IN THE COUNTY THEY UPDATED THEIR WANTING TO DO SOME WORK WITH THE COUNTY, AND WE GAVE THEM SOME IDEAS AND APPRECIATED WHAT THEY DID. THEY'RE GETTING REALLY GOOD AT PRESENTING TO US. I WAS VERY IMPRESSED. ALSO ATTENDED THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARD CEREMONY AT THE ELKS. LET ME GO THROUGH HERE. WE'VE DONE A LOT. AND THEN I'D LIKE TO WELCOME MR. DELANEY AS WELL. AND THEN I JUST WANT TO SAY OUR MOBILE OFFICE DISTRICT HOURS THAT I HAVE EVERY MONTH, WHICH IS THE FOURTH THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH FROM 130 TO 330, HAVE BEEN MOVED FROM THE ATWATER CHAMBERS TO NOW IT'S AT ATWATER COMMUNITY CENTER. [02:15:02] WE DID IT LAST YEAR. AND OUR LAST ONE WAS VERY WELL ATTENDED, AS WELL AS HAVING A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE, REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE ASSEMBLY MEMBERS OFFICE, AS WELL AS THE SENATE OFFICE IN OUR AREA. SO PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING. YOU COME TO THIS MOBILE DISTRICT OFFICE, WE CAN ANSWER ALMOST ANY QUESTION OR PUT YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THAT THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY MISTER CHAIR AND MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, TODAY I AM FORMALLY REQUESTING THAT WE BRING BACK THE ITEM REGARDING CANCELLATION OF FIRE STATIONS IN THE DOS PALOS AREA FOR RECONSIDERATION. SINCE OUR SINCE OUR INITIAL VOTE, NEW INFORMATION AND COMMUNITY FEEDBACK HAVE COME TO LIGHT. QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN RAISED ABOUT RESPONSE COVERAGE, SURFACE EQUITY, AND LONG TERM OPERATIONAL COSTS. I BELIEVE IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE WE ARE MAKING THE MOST INFORMED, COMMUNITY CENTERED DECISION AS POSSIBLE. THIS ISN'T ABOUT REVERSING COURSE, IT'S ABOUT TAKING A SECOND LOOK WITH THE BENEFIT OR BETTER DATA AND STRONGER COMMUNITY INPUT. I ASK THAT THE STAFF PLACE THIS ITEM ON THE UPCOMING AGENDA SO WE CAN EVALUATE ALL OPTIONS OPENLY, TRANSPARENTLY. PUBLIC SAFETY IS TOO IMPORTANT TO GET THIS ONE WRONG. FOR CLARIFICATION, IS THAT A, IS THAT A MOTION TO RECONSIDER ITEM? THAT IS A MOTION. 53 FROM THE MAY 27TH BOARD MEETING? YES, SIR. THAT IS A MOTION. I'LL SECOND THAT. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. MOTION CARRIES AND IT WILL BE ON THE AGENDA FOR RECONSIDERATION. WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL HANSON. I THINK, MR. HENDRICKSON. MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AGAIN. NOW, GOOD AFTERNOON. JUST TO DISCUSS THAT YOUR MOST RECENT ACTION. STAFF WILL PREPARE A BOARD AGENDA ITEM FOR YOUR BOARD TO WEIGH ALL OF ITS OPTIONS ON JUNE 17TH. THE BOARD, OF COURSE, WILL PROVIDE ITS GUIDANCE, WHICH WILL INFORM THE CAL FIRE CONTRACT ACCORDINGLY. STAFF ANTICIPATES PREPARING THAT CONTRACT CONSISTENT WITH WHATEVER GUIDANCE THIS BOARD PROVIDES AT WHAT WOULD BE YOUR JULY 8TH MEETING, MAKING THAT CONTRACT RETROACTIVE TO JULY 1ST. SO THAT WOULD BE THE GAME PLAN, SIR. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE AT THIS TIME. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. I DON'T HAVE MUCH TO REPORT ON. BUT I GOT TO PARTICIPATE IN SOMETHING THAT WAS REALLY KIND OF COOL. AS PART OF MY, AS PART OF MY RESPONSIBILITY IS AS THE REP FOR THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES REP. FOR THE COUNTY. I WAS ALSO CHOSEN LAST YEAR AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS STEERING, POLICY STEERING COMMITTEE. AND DOING THAT AT OUR AT OUR LEGISLATIVE DISCUSSION IN WASHINGTON, DC. WE MET WITH THE FEDERATION OF CANADIAN MUNICIPALITIES AND LAST WEEK THEY HAD THEIR OR TWO WEEKS AGO, I'M SORRY, THEY HAD THEIR ANNUAL CONFERENCE, AND THEY ASKED IF I WOULD BE COME AND SPEAK ON A PANEL ABOUT RURAL AFFAIRS IN THE UNITED STATES AND HOW THEY COMPARE TO RURAL AFFAIRS IN CANADA. AND I GOT TO TELL YOU, ONE THING THAT STRUCK ME OVERWHELMINGLY WAS EVEN THOUGH YOU KNOW, OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS ARE VERY SPLIT IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS. A LOT OF THE SAME RURAL ISSUES THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH ARE THE SAME THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH. AND THE OVER ARCHING KIND OF THEME WAS JUST GET OUT OF OUR WAY. LIKE, JUST LET THE COUNTY MAKE THE DECISIONS BASED ON WHAT THEY FEEL ARE THE BEST BECAUSE THEY'RE WE'RE THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND. WE SEE THE PEOPLE MORE SO THAN, YOU KNOW, THAN OUR FEDERAL AND STATE PARTNERS. AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING. I WAS, YOU KNOW, RIGHT BEFORE I WENT ON THE STAGE, IT WAS A LITTLE CONCERNING THE LEVEL OF RHETORIC ABOUT THE UNITED STATES AND THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION. AND SO I WAS LIKE, I TURNED TO THE GUY SITTING NEXT TO ME AND I'M LIKE, AM I GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF HERE? LIKE I HAVE A FLIGHT TO CATCH? SO BUT LUCKILY I MADE IT AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I WANT TO ADDRESS SOMETHING REALLY QUICK. YOU KNOW, I DO REGRET THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE MORE OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, BUT I KIND OF WANT TO REMIND, YOU KNOW, WE ALL HAVE 58,000 BOSSES. OKAY? SO WE ALL HAVE DISTRICTS THAT WE ALL COVER. AND I WOULD SAY THAT WE'RE ALL VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT OUR DISTRICTS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK OUT FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY. AND I THINK THAT SOMETIMES THAT GETS LOST. I'M ALWAYS GOING TO FIGHT FOR MY DISTRICT, DISTRICT TWO, BUT I'M ALSO GOING TO FIGHT TO WHAT'S BEST FOR MERCED COUNTY OVERALL. AND I THINK THAT THAT SOMETIMES WE FORGET THAT. BUT WITH NOTHING ELSE. THE NEXT THIS CONCLUDES THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING FOR JUNE 10TH, [POSSIBLE DIRECTION FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS] 2025, AND THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING WILL BE HELD AT 10 A.M. NEXT WEEK ON TUESDAY, JUNE 17TH, 2025. AND IT WILL INCLUDE PROPOSED BUDGET. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.