[00:00:05]
GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE JULY 8TH, 2025 MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
[CALL TO ORDER]
YOUR CLOSED SESSIONS THIS MORNING ARE MEET AND CONFER AGENCY NEGOTIATOR MARCI BARRERA AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT AND CONTRACT UNREPRESENTED EMPLOYEE COUNTY EXECUTIVE[CLOSED SESSION]
OFFICER. THE PUBLIC WILL BE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON ANY MATTER TO BE CONSIDERED IN CLOSED SESSION, PRIOR TO THE BOARD ADJOURNING INTO THE CLOSED SESSION.TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE CLOSED SESSION ITEMS. OKAY. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE CLOSED SESSION ITEMS IS NOW CLOSED.
WE WILL NOW ADJOURN INTO CLOSED SESSION. GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE JULY 8TH, 2020 MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. THIS MORNING WE HAD A CLOSED SESSION MEETING AND STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION.
WE WILL NOW START WITH THE INVOCATION LED BY PASTOR JOHN MOTTS OF NEW LIFE COMMUNITY CHURCH IN ATWATER, AND THEN SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL WILL LEAD THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
BUT I'VE LEARNED OVER THE COURSE OF TIME THAT THERE'S A BUTTON.
SEE HOW THAT WORKS? OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE.
LET'S PRAY. FATHER, AS WE AS A PEOPLE GATHER HERE STILL WITH THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF OUR 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION REVERBERATING IN OUR MINDS AND IN OUR MEMORIES.
WE ARE YET AGAIN THANKFUL FOR THE NATION THAT WE LIVE IN.
FOR THE 249 YEARS THAT WE HAVE CELEBRATED THIS PAST WEEKEND.
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CALL THIS HOME, TO BEAR THE MARK OF CITIZENS OF THIS FINE COUNTRY, GOD AND TO CONTINUE TO LOOK FORWARD AND PRAY, THANKFULLY FOR EVEN THE BETTERMENT OF THE COUNTRY WE LIVE IN.
THIS PLACE THAT WE CALL HOME. A PLACE WHERE WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF CARING FOR ONE ANOTHER.
OF LOVING ONE ANOTHER. OF SERVING ONE ANOTHER.
FATHER, WE ARE MINDFUL OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR COUNTRY.
IN TIMES OF CRISIS, WE PRAY FOR THOSE THROUGHOUT CENTRAL TEXAS TODAY.
THOSE WHO ARE HURTING FROM THE LOSS THAT THEY HAVE SUFFERED, BUT ALSO FOR THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO COME TOGETHER, TO CONTINUE TO PULL TOGETHER, TO CREATE THIS BOND OF COMMUNITY, EVEN IN THE TIMES OF CRISIS IN WHICH THEY FACE.
SO, FATHER, WE PRAY FOR THAT SAME BOND. EVEN WITHOUT THAT, THAT AWFUL CRISIS BEFORE US, THAT YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO DRAW US IN THE BONDS OF CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER. IN THE MIDST OF TRAGEDIES SUCH AS THESE OR THOSE THAT WE SUFFER WITHIN OUR OWN SELVES, GOD, WE THANK YOU THAT EVEN IN THE MIDST OF INSECURITY, YOU ARE OUR SECURITY.
AND SO, LORD, WE LOOK TO YOU. GOD, I ASK THAT YOU WOULD HELP US AND ESPECIALLY THIS BOARD TODAY, AS THEY SEEK OUT YOUR WISDOM, THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO PURSUE THE BEST FOR THE WHOLE OF OUR COMMUNITY RATHER THAN SIMPLY TAKING THE PATH OF EASE. GOD, I PRAY THAT THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO PUT OTHERS BEFORE THEMSELVES AND THAT WE TOO WOULD FOLLOW IN KIND OF LOOKING TO PUT OTHERS BEFORE OURSELVES TO CREATE THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU DESIGNED US FOR AND DESIGNED THIS COMMUNITY TO BECOME. FATHER, I PRAY FOR EACH OF OUR SUPERVISORS TODAY, GOD, THAT YOU WOULD MEET THEM IN THEIR OWN NEED FOR WISDOM, IN THEIR PERSONAL LIVES, IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL LIVES, AND IN THEIR ROLE AS LEADERS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
I PRAY FOR SUPERVISOR PACHECO. I LIFT UP SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.
THANKFULLY, GOD, I LIFT UP MY FRIEND SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
I PRAY FOR SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, AND SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
FOR ALL THE CONSTITUENTS THAT THEY REPRESENT, AND FOR ALL THOSE WHO SERVE WITHIN THIS COUNTY, NOT JUST IN THE BOARD, BUT THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTY IN THE WAY OF SERVICE.
FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE GATHERED HERE IN THIS ROOM, BUT FOR ALL THOSE OUT CURRENTLY SERVING IN THE VARIOUS CAPACITIES MAKING US TRULY WHO WE ARE. GOD, I THANK YOU FOR THE CARE WE HAVE FOR ONE ANOTHER, AND WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO GUIDE AND BLESS THIS COUNTY. IN JESUS NAME, AMEN. AMEN. READY? BEGIN.
[00:05:12]
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK]
JURISDICTION, 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 PUBLIC COMMENT.
AGAIN, THIS IS FOR NON AGENDA ITEMS. YOU DID A GOOD JOB.
THIS IS GREAT. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR AND HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND STAFF.
MY NAME IS AGGIE FREEMAN. I SERVE AS THE IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF MERCED SUNRISE, THE YOUNGEST ROTARY CLUB IN MERCED. AND I'M HERE THIS MORNING TO SHARE A STORY OF SERVICE, DIGNITY AND HOPE. WE'VE BEGUN OUR PLANNING FOR 2025 BACK TO SCHOOL CLOTHES FOR KIDS COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE IN AUGUST AT TARGET MERCED.
THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF LOCAL SPONSORS AND RESIDENTS, WE WILL HOST 75 SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN BETWEEN FIRST GRADE AND HIGH SCHOOL WITH BRAND NEW BACK TO SCHOOL CLOTHES TO HELP THEM START THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR WITH CONFIDENCE AND PRIDE.
THESE STUDENTS ARE NOMINATED BY OUR THREE EXTRAORDINARY COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
CASA OF MERCED COUNTY, MERCED MISSIONS VILLAGE OF HOPE FOR FAMILIES, AND LOVE, INC..
EACH OF THESE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WORK CLOSELY WITH FAMILIES NAVIGATING SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES.
THEY HELP US IDENTIFY THE CHILDREN WHO NEED THIS SUPPORT MOST.
EVERY NOMINATED STUDENT WILL BE PAIRED PERSONALLY WITH A ROTARIAN OR COMMUNITY SERVICE SHOPPER AT TARGET MERCED, WHERE THEY WILL SELECT UP TO $150 OF NEW SCHOOL CLOTHES, INCLUDING JEANS, SHIRTS, SHOES AND A WARM JACKET.
THERE ARE NO RETURNS AND NO EXCHANGES BECAUSE WHEN THESE CHILDREN WALK OUT OF THE STORE, THEY WILL OWN SOMETHING NEW, CHOSEN BY THEM WITH CARE AND DIGNITY. BUT THIS EFFORT IS MUCH MORE THAN ABOUT SCHOOL CLOTHES.
IT'S ABOUT CONFIDENCE ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
IT'S ABOUT TELLING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE YOU'RE SEEN, YOU MATTER AND YOU'RE NOT ALONE.
AND THIS PROJECT REFLECTS THAT MISSION IN ACTION.
BECAUSE WHEN WE LIFT UP A CHILD, WE LIFT UP A FAMILY AND ULTIMATELY THE FUTURE OF MERCED COUNTY.
TOGETHER, WE BUILD A STRONGER, MORE COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY, ONE CHILD AT A TIME.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, AGGIE. OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED FOR NON AGENDA ITEMS. WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. ITEMS 1 THROUGH 15, PLEASE NOTE A 4/5 VOTE IS REQUIRED ON ITEM FOUR.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
OKAY. AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 15.THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 15 IS NOW CLOSED.
A CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY CARRIES.
OKAY, AT THIS TIME, JEFFREY WITTHUN, DIRECTOR OF CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES, WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE COMMENTS AND A SHORT VIDEO REGARDING ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, THE PROCLAMATION. AND THEN I'LL READ THE PROCLAMATION AFTERWARDS, DECLARING AUGUST 25TH, 2025 AS CHILD SUPPORT AWARENESS MONTH.
AND SPEAKING OF AWARENESS, I SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS A LONG TIME AGO, BUT THE LADY STANDING TO MY RIGHT IS MY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, KATRINA HOLMES. SHE'S BEEN IN THAT CAPACITY FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW.
[00:10:01]
EARLIER, THERE WAS SOME SCHEDULING PROBLEMS AND I COULDN'T GET HER HERE. BUT SHE'S HERE NOW, SO JUST TRYING TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT SHE EXISTS.SHE'S FANTASTIC. SHE SHARES MY VISION AND YOUR VISION FOR WHAT CHILD SUPPORT SHOULD BE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND IS A GREAT PART OF OF OUR SUCCESS. AND SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU SAW HER HERE TODAY.
CHILD SUPPORT AWARENESS MONTH IS DECLARED ACROSS THE NATION IN VENUES LIKE THESE AT THE STATE, COUNTY AND NATIONAL LEVEL EVERY AUGUST BY THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
SOME THINGS I JUST WANT TO UPDATE YOU IN TERMS OF HOW THE PROGRAM IS DOING NATIONALLY, STATEWIDE, AND HERE IN MERCED COUNTY. IN FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 23, $29.6 BILLION IN CHILD SUPPORT WAS COLLECTED AND DISTRIBUTED NATIONWIDE. IN 2024, $2.5 BILLION OF THAT WAS COLLECTED BY LOCAL CHILD SUPPORT AGENCIES IN CALIFORNIA, WITH OVER 89% OF THAT BEING PASSED DIRECTLY THROUGH TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO NEEDED THE MOST.
IN 2023, 12.7 MILLION CHILDREN WERE SERVED BY THE CHILD SUPPORT PROGRAM NATIONWIDE, WHICH IS A STAGGERING ONE OUT OF EVERY FIVE CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES. 1.2 MILLION OF THOSE CHILDREN WERE SERVED IN CALIFORNIA, WHICH IS ONE OUT OF EVERY EIGHT CHILDREN IN THIS STATE.
NATIONALLY, THE CHILD SUPPORT PROGRAM LIFTS 1.4 MILLION FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY EACH YEAR AND REDUCES NATIONAL CHILD POVERTY RATES BY OVER 7%. CHILD SUPPORT REPRESENTS BETWEEN 41% AND 65% OF THE HOUSEHOLD INCOME FOR FAMILIES BELOW THE POVERTY LINE. AND IN FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 2024 THAT ENDED LAST SEPTEMBER 30TH, MERCED COUNTY, OUR CHILD SUPPORT PROGRAM COLLECTED AND DISTRIBUTED NEARLY $29.8 MILLION TO THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY, OVER 87% OF WHICH WAS SENT TO THOSE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN OUR CASELOAD OF 13,683 CASES AT THE TIME.
WE ARE CURRENTLY ON PACE THIS YEAR, GOOD NEWS, TO EXCEED $30 MILLION IN CHILD SUPPORT BEING COLLECTED, AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF WHICH WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO FAMILIES THIS FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.
CURRENTLY, MERCED COUNTY SERVES ALMOST 1 IN 5 CHILDREN WITHIN OUR COUNTY.
THROUGH JUNE OF 2025, APPROXIMATELY 92% OF OUR OPEN CHILD SUPPORT CASES HAVE HAD A CHILD SUPPORT ORDER ESTABLISHED, AND THROUGH JUNE OF THIS YEAR, OUR CHILD SUPPORT PROGRAM HAS COLLECTED OVER 64% OF THE TOTAL CHILD SUPPORT DUE EACH AND EVERY MONTH FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND THE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO NEED AND RELY ON OUR PROGRAM AND THAT MONEY THE MOST.
SOME QUICK ADDITIONAL MERCED COUNTY DCS HIGHLIGHTS.
THIS PROGRAM IS 100% COST NEUTRAL TO THE COUNTY, BEING FUNDED BY A FEDERALLY MANDATED PROGRAM, AND 100% FUNDED STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDS. IT SERVES BASICALLY FOR FREE.
SO MANY OF MERCED COUNTY´S CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO NEED OUR PROGRAM THE MOST, BRINGING IN AND DISTRIBUTING, AS I SAID, THIS YEAR, PROBABLY APPROXIMATELY $30 MILLION IN CHILD SUPPORT COLLECTIONS AND THE VAST MAJORITY WHICH ARE DISTRIBUTED TO LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES, THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD DEAL, I WOULD SAY, FOR MERCED COUNTY AND THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THAT WE SERVED.
WHY I'M HERE TODAY ALSO IS TO TALK ABOUT CHILD SUPPORT AWARENESS MONTH.
THIS YEAR WILL BE OUR SIXTH ANNUAL KIDS CONNECT EVENT.
IT WILL BE HELD AT FROM 10 A.M. TO 1 P.M. ON SATURDAY, JULY THE 19TH AT MARGARET SHEEHY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT 1240 WEST 6TH STREET IN MERCED. THE EVENT IS FREE TO THE COMMUNITY. CHILDREN AND ADULTS ARE WELCOME, GUARDIANS OF CHILDREN.
ANYONE IS WELCOME. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, YOU'RE ALSO ALL INVITED TO ATTEND, IF YOU'D LIKE.
LAST YEAR'S EVENT IN LIVINGSTON PRODUCED HUNDREDS OF PARENTS, GUARDIANS AND CHILDREN AT OUR EVENT, WHERE WE GAVE AWAY NEARLY 400 BACKPACKS FILLED WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN FROM PRE-K THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO BE JOINED AGAIN BY APPROXIMATELY 30 OTHER PARTNER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND NONPROFITS WHO WILL CONTINUE OUR BACKPACK AND SCHOOL SUPPLY GIVEAWAY AS WE DO EVERY YEAR. THE FOOD BANK WILL PROVIDE BOXES OF DONATED NONPERISHABLE FOODS AND DONATED BOOKS AND CLOTHING.
[00:17:01]
BUT KATRINA AND I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU ALL IF YOU'RE ABLE TO ATTEND, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.OKAY. AT THIS TIME, LET ME READ THIS PROCLAMATION.
PROCLAMATION FOR CHILD SUPPORT AWARENESS MONTH, AUGUST 2025.
WHEREAS MERCED COUNTY CHILD SUPPORT PROGRAM IS STRONGLY COMMITTED TO PROMOTING THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF ALL CHILDREN BY ESTABLISHING PATERNITY AND SHARING, PARENTS PAY CHILD SUPPORT ON A REGULAR AND TIMELY BASIS, AND ENCOURAGING ALL PARENTS TO HAVE A LOVING AND SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR CHILDREN. AND WHEREAS MERCED COUNTY CHILD SUPPORT PROGRAM PROVIDES AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR PARENTS TO BE A POSITIVE FORCE IN THE LIVES OF THEIR CHILDREN.
IN 2024, MERCED COUNTY HAD A CASELOAD OF 13,600 CHILD SUPPORT CASES AND SERVED OVER 14,700 CHILDREN.
AND WHEREAS, INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ISSUE THROUGH EDUCATION AND OUTREACH WILL REINFORCE THE NEED FOR ALL PARENTS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FINANCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL SUPPORT OF THEIR CHILDREN.
AND I HAVE TO SAY, MY MOM WORKED AT CHILD SUPPORT FOR 30 YEARS, SO I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THE WORK IS.
SO THANK YOU GUYS. I THINK SHE HIRED YOU.
NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO THE PODIUM DEPUTY CHIEF DAFFRON, WHO WILL PROVIDE COMMENTS REGARDING ITEM 10, THE PROCLAMATION DECLARING JULY 20TH THROUGH 26, 2025 AS PRETRIAL, PROBATION AND PAROLE SUPERVISION WEEK.
AND THEN I WILL PRESENT A PROCLAMATION. GOOD MORNING, BOARD, CHAIR PEDROZO, SUPERVISORS, COUNTY COUNCIL HANSEN, INTERIM CEO HENDRICKSON.
[00:20:06]
I'LL HAVE TO STEP UP MY GAME NEXT YEAR AND COME WITH A VIDEO.THAT WAS A GREAT VIDEO, BY THE WAY. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT.
AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, MY NAME IS JOEL DAFFRON.
I AM THE DEPUTY CHIEF PROBATION OFFICER WITH YOUR PROBATION DEPARTMENT.
PRETRIAL, PROBATION AND PAROLE SERVICES WEEK IS AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION HELD DURING THE THIRD FULL CALENDAR WEEK OF JULY TO RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE THE WORK OF PROBATION, PAROLE, AND COMMUNITY CORRECTION PROFESSIONALS.
PROBATION IS A UNIQUE AND VITAL COMPONENT OF THE COURT, PUBLIC SAFETY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONTINUUM, CONNECTING THE CRITICAL INTERSECTION OF COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES, OPPORTUNITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AS AN ALTERNATIVE AND OR FOLLOW UP TO INCARCERATION. PROBATION PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE IN REDUCING RECIDIVISM, PROMOTING SUCCESSFUL REENTRY, SUPPORTING REHABILITATION, AND ENHANCING COMMUNITY SAFETY.
GROUNDED IN EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES AND INFORMED AND RESPONSIVE SERVICE DELIVERY, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE BROAD RANGE OF ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES, PROBATION DEPARTMENTS ARE ESSENTIAL TO FOSTERING POSITIVE CHANGE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES AND FOR THOSE WE SERVE.
PROBATION PROFESSIONALS PLAY AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM.
THROUGH TRANSFORMATIVE AND COURT ORDERED REHABILITATIVE PROGRAMING, PROBATION HOLDS INDIVIDUALS ACCOUNTABLE WHILE ALSO HELPING THEM TRANSITION PERMANENTLY OUT OF THE SYSTEM AND ONTO A HEALTHIER AND SAFER LIFE PATH.
THEIR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO REHABILITATION, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND JUSTICE IS TRULY INSPIRING.
AGAIN, PRETRIAL, PROBATION AND PAROLE SERVICES WEEK WILL TAKE PLACE FROM JULY 20TH THROUGH THE 26TH.
THANK YOU, CHIEF, CHAIR PEDROZO AND SUPERVISORS FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEDICATION AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF PROBATION STAFF WHO PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE REHABILITATION OF JUSTICE INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS.
AND LASTLY, THANK YOU FOR SIGNING THE PROCLAMATION.
ALL RIGHT, SO PROCLAMATION OF PRETRIAL, PROBATION AND PAROLE SUPERVISION WEEK.
AND WHEREAS COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS PROFESSIONALS PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY WITH CARE AND CONCERN, THEY ARE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS WHO PROVIDE SUPERVISION, PROGRAM SERVICES AND TREATMENT RESOURCES TO HELP INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS THAT DRIVE CRIME.
AND WHEREAS COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS PROFESSIONALS HAVE MADE THE COMMITMENT TO BE POSITIVE CHANGE AGENTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES BY DEVOTING THEIR TIME, ENERGY, RESOURCES, DETERMINATION AND COMPETENCIES TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, WE, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, HEREBY PROCLAIMS JULY 20TH THROUGH JULY 26TH, 2025, AS PRETRIAL, PROBATION AND PAROLE SUPERVISION WEEK.
WE ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS PROFESSIONALS IN THEIR CRUCIAL ROLES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS TOWARD SAFER COMMUNITIES, AS WAS EVIDENCED THIS MORNING AT THE COFFEE CART, WHICH I STILL THINK THE RISE OF HIGHER GROUNDS IS ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN MERCED COUNTY. SO WITH THAT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND ASK THE BOARD TO COME BACK UP AND JOIN ME FOR PROCLAMATION.
[BOARD ACTION]
OKAY, WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO BOARD ACTION, BEGINNING WITH PUBLIC WORKS.[00:25:02]
ITEM 16 THROUGH 19. PLEASE NOTE THAT ITEM 17 THROUGH 19 REQUIRE A 4/5 VOTE.OKAY, AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS 16 THROUGH 19.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS 16 THROUGH 19 IS NOW CLOSED.
BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO, PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES.
ITEMS 20 THROUGH 22. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BHRS ITEMS 20 THROUGH 22.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BHRS ITEMS 20 THROUGH 22 IS NOW CLOSED.
BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO. CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY CARRIES.
NEXT WE HAVE CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES. ITEM 23.
AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES ITEM 23.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES.
ITEM 23 IS NOW CLOSED. BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD.
I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES.
OKAY, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR FIRE ITEMS 24 AND 25 IS NOW CLOSED.
PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. NEXT WE HAVE SHERIFF.
ITEM 26. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR SHERIFF ITEM 26.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR SHERIFF ITEM 26 IS NOW CLOSED.
GOOD MORNING. I DON'T REALLY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH IT.
MARIE GREEN, AND OTHER HOSPITALIZATIONS OF INMATES WHERE WE HAVE PARTICULARLY LONG TERM CARE BEYOND THE INITIAL EIGHT HOURS. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT UNIT TWO HAS AN AGREEMENT WITH THE BOARD THAT ANYTHING BEYOND THAT, THEY'LL REQUIRE TWO STAFF MEMBERS TO BE ON THESE INDIVIDUALS.
SO, LAST WEEK, WE HAD FIVE INDIVIDUALS AT THE HOSPITAL THAT REQUIRED TEN STAFF MEMBERS.
SO THESE SUPPLEMENTS HAD TO MITIGATE MANDATED OVERTIME.
YEAH, AND I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT, I JUST.
WHEN YOU SEE THAT NUMBER, JUST SOME EXPLANATION.
PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. OKAY. NEXT WE HAVE TREASURER TAX COLLECTOR.
ITEM 27. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR TREASURER TAX COLLECTOR ITEM 27.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR TREASURER TAX COLLECTOR ITEM 27 IS NOW CLOSED.
I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO. CALL FOR THE VOTE. OH. I'M SORRY.
OH, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. SORRY. YEAH, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I DO HAVE JUST A QUICK QUESTION. I WANT INFORMATION AS A REMINDER TO FOLKS.
IS THERE ANYBODY HERE FROM THE TREASURER TAX COLLECTOR´S OFFICE.
OKAY. WELL, THAT WILL BE VOTING NO ON THIS ITEM BECAUSE I FEEL THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IF YOU HAVE AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA THAT ANY TIME A QUESTION COULD BE ANSWERED SOMEBODY SHOULD BE HERE. OKAY.
[00:30:05]
CLOSE TO. I MEAN, IT'S OVER $350,000 IN LATE TAX COLLECTIONS.AND SOME OF THEM MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE TO ME IN THAT THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WOULD BE FOR, BUT YOU HAVE SOME OF THEM ON HERE THAT ARE AS LOW AS LIKE MAYBE LIKE 20 SOMETHING DOLLARS.
BUT IF YOU LOOK THROUGH THIS LIST, THERE ARE SOME RATHER LARGE ONES.
A LOT OF THE BIG ONES TEND TO BE AROUND SOME AVIATION STUFF.
SO I JUST WANTED TO GET INFORMATION IS AS TO.
I KNOW THAT THESE ARE BEING TAKEN OFF OF THE ACTIVE ROLL, BUT WHAT ARE WE DOING TO STILL KIND OF, THESE TAXES ARE STILL OWED. AND SO WHAT ARE WE DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT FORGETTING THEM ONCE WE TAKE THEM OFF OF THE ROLL? SUPERVISOR PAREIRA? OH I'M SORRY. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
MOTION PASSES 4 TO 1. NEXT, WE HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.
ITEM 28. AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ITEM 28.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ITEM 28 IS NOW CLOSED.
BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. THE MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES.
NEXT, WE HAVE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. OH, I'M SORRY, IT'S NOT ON MY. NEXT, WE HAVE AUDITOR. ITEM 29. OKAY, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR AUDITOR ITEM 29.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR AUDITOR 29 IS NOW CLOSED.
BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. CALL FOR THE VOTE. OH, I'M SORRY.
SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. LITTLE COMMENTS TODAY. I JUST, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO THESE AUDIT REPORTS, AND I DON'T WANT TO LET IT GO UNNOTICED THE WORK THAT THE AUDITOR COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE DOES, THESE REPORTS, WE HAVE VERY CLEAN REPORTS EVERY YEAR.
SO I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE LISA CARDELLA-PRESTO AND JANEY CABRAL AND THE REST OF THE STAFF THAT MAKE THESE SEEM SO JUST CEREMONIAL THAT WE'RE JUST PASSING THEM. BUT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO THEM, SO THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. NOW FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE.
MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. NEXT WE HAVE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
ITEM 30. TO CONSIDER APPOINTMENT OF MR. MARK J.
HENDRICKSON AS COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER EFFECTIVE JULY 8TH, 2025, AND APPROVE THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WITH MR. HENDRICKSON WITH AN ANNUAL SALARY OF $283,549.76, INCLUDING EXECUTIVE A-LEVEL BENEFITS.
OKAY. AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ITEM 30.
HELLO. IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I SPOKE TO THIS BOARD, BUT I'M BACK ON THIS ISSUE TO ADDRESS WHAT I CONSIDER JUST ANOTHER FISCAL HYPOCRISY. YOU HAVE AGENDA ITEM 24-109 FROM AUGUST 6TH OF LAST YEAR 2024.
EXTENDED CEO MENDEZ'S CONTRACT THROUGH JANUARY 10TH OF 2026 NEXT YEAR WITH A BASE SALARY OF $264,999. TODAY'S ITEM APPROVED CEO HENDRICKSON TO BE COMPENSATED $283,549, BASE SALARY.
IT'S $18,549 RAISE, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY 7% ROUNDED UP.
[00:35:03]
I BELIEVE IT'S IMPERATIVE FOR THIS BOARD TO TAKE THIS TIME PUBLICLY TO EXPLAIN TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS WHAT CEO HENDRICKSON BRINGS TO THE TABLE THAT CEO MENDEZ DIDN'T, TO WARRANT THE 7% SALARY INCREASE. THESE ARE THE TYPES OF STORIES THAT I BELIEVE IN MERCED COUNTY TIMES, AND THE SUN STAR SHOULD BE RUNNING INSTEAD OF THE PUFF PIECES THAT SUPPORT UNDISCIPLINED FISCAL DECISIONS.HOWEVER, YOU HAVE ZERO HESITATION TO GIVE RAISES TO MANAGEMENT LEVEL POSITIONS, EVEN THOSE THAT MAKE FOUR TIMES THE MEDIAN MERCED COUNTY ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME. IT TOOK PUBLIC OUTCRY AND PRESSURE FOR YOU TO AGREE NOT TO CLOSE THE LIFESAVING FIRE STATIONS IN DOS PALOS AND OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTY DUE TO FUNDING SHORTAGES, BUT WE CAN FIND MONEY FOR THINGS LIKE THIS.
YOU SPEND LIKE A YEAR IN CONGRESS, THEN YOU TELL THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND CONSTITUENTS, SORRY, THERE'S NO MONEY FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND NEEDS.
IT MIGHT BE ONLY $18,000, BUT IN A COUNTY, THAT'S A POVERTY RATE OF 20%.
THANK YOU. OKAY. AT THIS. WE GOT ONE MORE. SORRY.
GOOD MORNING. ADAM REED FROM ATWATER. I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE.
ARE WE GOOD? OKAY. YEAH. SORRY. ADAM REED FROM ATWATER.
I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE MARK HENDRICKSON ON BECOMING THE NEW CEO OF THE COUNTY.
I'VE KNOWN MARK FOR A LONG TIME. ME AND MY FAMILY HAVE KNOWN HIM FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
MY WIFE AND SON AREN'T HERE TODAY. BUT THEY WANTED ME TO EXTEND THEIR CONGRATULATIONS TO HIM, TOO. MARK IS A LONG TIME EMPLOYEE OF THE COUNTY, AND I'VE WORKED WITH HIM FOR A LONG TIME AND HAD MUCH SUCCESS WITH HIM IN MY ENDEAVORS AND THINGS THAT I HAVE WORKED WITH HIM ON.
AND I THINK THAT HE IS GOING TO DEFINITELY BE A BENEFIT TO THE COUNTY.
HE'S BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME, AND HE'S MOVED HIS WAY UP THROUGH THE RANKS WITH SUCCESS.
AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO CONGRATULATE YOU, MARK.
THANK YOU. WELL, NOT YET. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
YEAH. I JUST WANTED TO TELL ANDREW. THANKS FOR COMING AND VISIT US.
WE HAVEN'T SEEN HIM IN A WHILE, BUT I CAN ANSWER HIS QUESTION.
PRETTY SIMPLE. OKAY. SO WE DID GIVE RAISES TO OUR EMPLOYEES, AND WE STILL ARE IN ACTIVE NEGOTIATION WITH A FEW OF OUR LABOR GROUPS, BUT THAT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE OLD SALARY AND THE NEW SALARY IS THE RAISE PHRASE THAT QUITE A FEW OF OUR EMPLOYEES ALREADY THAT HAVE SIGNED DEALS STARTED HERE IN JULY. SO THAT'S THE REASON FOR THE INCREASE, SO A SIMPLE PHONE CALL, WE COULD HAVE ANSWERED THAT, BUT I'M GLAD YOU ASKED IT IN PUBLIC SO THE PUBLIC CAN HEAR AND UNDERSTAND IT. THANK YOU. OKAY, ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ITEM 30 IS NOW CLOSED.
AT THIS POINT I'M GOING TO ASK MR. HENDRICKSON TO STEP OUTSIDE, PLEASE.
OKAY. NOW, WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO.
MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. OH, YEAH, AND I TRIED TO SECOND.
CAN I REVERSE THAT? I SAW THAT, YEAH. IT'S. GOOD? KEEP GOING. OKAY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. YEAH.
ALL RIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS, MR. HENDRICKSON. THANK YOU SIR.
NEXT, WE HAVE BOARD APPOINTMENTS. OH. YEAH. ITEMS 31 THROUGH 33.
[00:40:04]
AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BOARD APPOINTMENT ITEMS 31 THROUGH 33.PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BOARD APPOINTMENTS ITEMS 31 THROUGH 33 IS NOW CLOSED.
WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.
MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. OKAY. AT THIS TIME.
I PROMISE I'M GOING TO ASK MR. HENDRICKSON TO SPEAK, BUT HE'S ALREADY TOLD ME HE'S GOT A LONG SPEECH, SO I DON'T WANT TO LAST TOO, TOO LONG. SO WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR BOARD REPORTS, AND THEN WE'LL GO WITH MR.
[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION]
HENDRICKSON. SUPERVISOR PACHECO, THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU, CHAIR. FIRST I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO CEO HENDRICKSON.MY FIRST EMAIL TO SAY THAT. YEAH. ON HIS APPOINTMENT.
AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE NEXT COMING YEARS.
I WANT TO THANK THE AUGUSTINE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR LETTING US RIDE ON ONE OF THEIR APPARATUS THERE.
SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE, CHAIR. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
THANK YOU, MISTER CHAIR. CONGRATULATIONS, MARK.
THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING. YOU AND I GREW UP AS DADS TOGETHER.
I SEE ONE OF YOUR SONS OUT HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.
SPENT A LOT OF SIDELINES ON FOOTBALL GAMES AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'VE PUT IN. YOU'VE DEFINITELY EARNED THIS POSITION.
IT WAS A ROBUST. I APPRECIATED THE CHAIR AND KEEPING THE WHOLE BOARD ACTIVELY THROUGH THE RECRUITING PROCESS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. YOU ROSE TO THE TOP. AND I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT, SO CONGRATULATIONS.
I JUST WANT TO THANK MY CONSTITUENCY AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE.
A LOT OF OUR EMPLOYEES. FOR SUPPORTING MY FAMILY THROUGH A DIFFICULT PROCESS AND EVERYTHING.
ALL YOUR PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED. IT WAS MUCH APPRECIATED.
FOR THIS TIME, IF I DIDN'T GET BACK TO YOU RIGHT AWAY, I APOLOGIZE.
BUT THINGS ARE GOOD NOW. ALL GLORY BE TO GOD.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MARK, CONGRATULATIONS. LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SHORT SPEECH HERE IN A MINUTE.
WE'VE HAD A LITTLE BREAK HERE, SO, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, SHE USED TO BE A CONGRESSWOMAN.
KATIE PORTER. SHE'S RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR NOW.
THERE WAS AN EVENT OUT IN LOS BANOS HOSTED BY BULLS FARMING.
AND I GOT TO MEET KATIE PORTER AND HAD SOME GREAT CONVERSATIONS WITH HER.
AND I DID REMIND HER THAT THERE ARE 58 COUNTIES IN CALIFORNIA.
AND IF YOU'VE BEEN TO ONE COUNTY, YOU'VE BEEN TO ONE COUNTY. SO THE ONE SIZE FITS ALL KIND OF APPROACH THAT SACRAMENTO TAKES TO GOVERNING COUNTY GOVERNMENTS DOESN'T WORK. AND YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CHAT WITH THE LOCALS BEFORE YOU IMPLEMENT THINGS AND UNDERSTAND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO WORK AND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO AFFECT EACH COUNTY.
SO THAT WAS AN INTERESTING DINNER I HAD THERE.
GOT TO TOUR YESTERDAY THE MASS ENERGY METHANE DIGESTER OUT HERE AT THE VANDER WOUDE DAIRY.
REALLY, REALLY INTERESTING PROCESS AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING THERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING A GOOD JOB AT IT, THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE GROUPS OF THE WORLD, THEY'RE TRYING TO TAKE IT AWAY. AND IT'S JUST VERY FRUSTRATING.
YOU KNOW, DAIRIES TODAY IS OUR NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY IN THIS COUNTY.
AND, WHEN WE PROVE THAT WE CAN STILL DO THAT AND STILL MILK COWS AND FEED FAMILIES AND FEED THE WORLD AND KEEP FAMILIES EMPLOYED AND ALL THOSE THINGS THAT COME ALONG WITH IT. THERE'S ALWAYS PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE TRYING TO EAT AWAY AT IT.
[00:45:01]
AND THEN, TYPICALLY THAT'S THE, YOU KNOW, THE FOLKS THAT DON'T LIKE TO EAT MEAT. AND THAT'S NOT ME. I LIKE TO EAT MEAT. SO ANYWAYS ALSO, DOCTOR, I'M GOING TO. I DON'T WANT TO PRONOUNCE IT WRONG.I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HER AS SHE'S IN A BIGGER REGION NOW, BUT VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE AREA, VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT EACH PROGRAM. THINGS THAT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT SO I CAN SEE US REALLY WORKING WELL TOGETHER IN THE COMING MONTHS AND YEARS.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
WELL, CEO HENDRICKSON, CONGRATULATIONS. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU THE LAST EIGHT YEARS AND LOOK FORWARD TO, I DON'T KNOW, THE NEXT DATE. SO ANYWAYS I ALSO WAS IN THE AUGUSTINE 4TH OF JULY PARADE.
MY COLLEAGUE, IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING. AFTER THE PARADE, WE WENT TO THE PARK AND, AND I INTRODUCED THEM TO PEOPLE AND YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF FUNNY. IT'S PEOPLE I KNOW AND AND SUPPORTERS AND SHOOT, HALF OF THEM LIVE IN HIS DISTRICT.
AUGUSTINE AND SANTANELLA KNOW THAT THEY'VE GOT A COUPLE OF ADVOCATES WORKING ON THEIR BEHALF.
JEFF [INAUDIBLE] DROVE OUR FIRE TRUCK. IT SEEMED LIKE A LOT OLDER FIRE TRUCK.
BUT I GUESS IT WAS FROM THE EARLY 1960S, I GUESS, LIKE LATE 40S, EARLY 50S.
SO ANYWAYS, IT WAS KIND OF FUN TO HAVE A LITTLE NOSTALGIA AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE PARADE AND THE FOLKS IN AUGUSTINE JUST REALLY SHOW UP WITH THEIR RED, WHITE AND BLUE, AND IT WAS AN HONOR TO CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE DAY WITH THEM.
AND I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT. AND THAT'S IT. ALL RIGHT.
MR. HANSEN? I'D JUST LIKE TO ALSO CONGRATULATE CEO HENDRICKSON.
THANKS, BYE. OKAY. NOT YET. I'M GOING TO LET MARK HAVE THE LAST WORD.
SO LAST WEEK, I TESTIFIED AT THE SENATE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE IN REGARDS TO AB 1441, THE BILL THAT IS FORCING US TO CREATE AN INDEPENDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR REDISTRICTING, WHICH IS, LIKE TO MY COLLEAGUE SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SAID, IT'S A ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH THAT CALIFORNIA, THE STATE, IN THEIR INFINITE WISDOM, THINKS THAT WE ALL SHOULD BE THE SAME, BUT YET THEY CAN'T PASS A BILL LIKE THIS THROUGHOUT ALL 58 COUNTIES AND SO IT'S FRUSTRATING.
LAST WEEK I ALSO MET WITH WLI TO DISCUSS MOVING FORWARD WITH THE YOUTH COUNCIL.
I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH MCOE.
I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES DID AS WELL, ABOUT THE CHILDCARE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
I TOO WAS ABLE TO RIDE IN THE ATWATER FIRE DEPARTMENT, OR THE 4TH OF JULY PARADE WITH THE ATWATER FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND MY COLLEAGUE SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL DID AS WELL.
SHE'S A THIRD YEAR FROM UC DAVIS STUDYING. WELL, COME ON UP AND INTRODUCE HERSELF.
HELLO, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE]. I'M A THIRD YEAR AT UC DAVIS.
I'M CURRENTLY STUDYING POLITICAL SCIENCE, PUBLIC SERVICE, AND CHICANO STUDIES.
I'M REALLY HAPPY TO BE HERE FOR THE SUMMER AND BE INTERNING WITH PACHECO AND PEDROZO.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. AND WITH THAT, I GOT YOU ON A TIMER.
I'M JUST KIDDING. MR. HENDRICKSON, I DO WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS.
I'VE KNOWN YOU 20 PLUS YEARS. 20 YEARS? SO MUCH SO THAT WHEN I WAS LOOKING BACK IN MY MASTER'S THESIS THAT I WROTE ABOUT CASTLE DEVELOPMENT, THAT I HAD INTERVIEWED YOU FOR MY PAPER.
SO I WISH YOU NOTHING BUT THE BEST OF LUCK. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU MOVING FORWARD.
AND WITH THAT, MR. HENDRICKSON. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I'VE GOT A SCRIPT PREPARED. BUT I'M GOING TO ACTUALLY MAYBE SPEAK A BIT FROM THE HEART TODAY.
AND I WOULD NEED TO ACTUALLY BEGIN WITH SAYING THIS IS ACTUALLY NOT ABOUT ME.
[00:50:01]
OBJECTIVES. THAT'S THE GOAL. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT START TODAY, THOUGH, WITH A SIMPLE THANK YOU TO THIS BOARD FOR THE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE THAT IS BEING PLACED IN ME. SO TO CHAIRMAN PEDROZO, VICE CHAIRMAN MCDANIEL, SUPERVISORS PACHECO, PEREIRA AND SILVEIRA.SIMPLY SAY THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR THE OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU ARE EXTENDING TO ME.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.
AND THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION, THE PRIVILEGE OF MY LIFE.
I'VE BEEN HERE, A PART OF THIS COUNTY ORGANIZATION FOR A LONG TIME. THIS IS WHERE I WAS RAISED.
MERCED COUNTY IS HOME. THIS IS WHERE I WENT TO SCHOOL.
AND THIS IS WHERE I RAISED MY OWN SONS. THIS IS MY HOME, AND THIS IS WHERE I AM NOW, VERY BLESSED TO LEAD THIS ORGANIZATION. AN ORGANIZATION OF ABOUT 2475 PEOPLE WHO ARE DEDICATED EVERY SINGLE DAY TO DELIVERING VITAL SERVICES THAT MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY DEPEND UPON. BUT LET'S TAKE ACTUALLY A STEP BACK, AND I'D LIKE TO MAYBE REFLECT FOR A MOMENT.
TODAY WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE IF IT WEREN'T FOR SO MANY PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY WHO INVESTED TIME AND EFFORT IN ME TO GROW BOTH ME PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY. AND WHILE I CERTAINLY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MENTION EVERY SINGLE PERSON BY NAME, THEY ARE CERTAINLY IN MY HEART. AND I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO CAPTURE EVERY SINGLE PERSON.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW WHO HELPED PAVE MY PATH.
OVER THE LAST 19 YEARS I'VE WORKED FOR EIGHT DIFFERENT BOARD COMPOSITIONS, AND YOU KNOW, WHEN I THINK BACK OVER TIME, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE JERRY O'BANIONS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE THE KATHLEEN CROOKS, THE MIKE NELSONS, YOU KNOW, ETC. PEOPLE THAT I JUST THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THE EXPERIENCE WITH.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IF I REALLY THINK ABOUT THINGS AND THERE'S ACTUALLY A GENTLEMAN HERE TODAY THAT ABOUT 19 YEARS AGO WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN MY JOINING THIS COUNTY. AND THAT'S FORMER SUPERVISOR JOHN PEDROZO.
THE MANY CONVERSATIONS ALONG THE WAY WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF UPS AND DOWNS TOGETHER, AND I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOU, SIR, FOR YOUR BEING HERE, TO KIND OF CELEBRATE THE OCCASION.
SO, JOHN. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, I'VE ALSO WORKED FOR FOUR OUTSTANDING COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.
THESE ARE PEOPLE FOR WHOM I JUST HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT, BEGINNING FIRST WITH ¨DEE¨ TATUM, THEN TO LARRY COMBS, THEN TO JIM BROWN, AND THEN MY IMMEDIATE PREDECESSOR, RAUL MENDEZ.
YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO TO MAYBE HIGHLIGHT MR. TATUM FOR JUST A SECOND.
YOU KNOW, HE PERSONALLY INVESTED IN ME IN PERHAPS WAYS THAT I COULD HAVE NEVER ANTICIPATED.
I CAN RECALL SO MANY CONVERSATIONS ALONG THE WAY.
HE'S A GREAT STORYTELLER, AND HE WILL CERTAINLY TELL YOU HOW IT IS.
AND HE'S GOT A KEEN MILITARY MIND. THAT'S GOING TO BE A MINDSET THAT I BRING TO THIS ORGANIZATION AS WELL, AS HE WAS BOTH TOUGH AND DEMANDING, BUT YET HE WAS KIND AND WARM HEARTED.
YOU KNOW, MY APPOINTMENT TODAY IS HIS SUCCESS, AND I VERY MUCH VALUE THAT A LOT.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK MY IMMEDIATE PREDECESSOR, RAUL MENDEZ.
AND THAT EXPERIENCE UNQUESTIONABLY POSITIONED ME WELL TO NOW LEAD YOUR ORGANIZATION.
SO AGAIN, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THOSE FOLKS FOR BEING SUCH A BIG PART OF MY PATH.
I WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY. I CAN GUARANTEE YOU, HAD I NOT INTERNED FOR A STATE SENATOR 35 YEARS AGO.
I REMEMBER COMING HOME FROM A SPEECH THAT HE WAS GIVING THAT I WROTE IN BAKERSFIELD, DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY 99 TOWARDS MERCED, AND HE TOLD ME AT THE TIME, HE'S NOW SINCE PASSED, THAT THE HARDER YOU WORK IN LIFE, THE LUCKIER YOU GET.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU FOR JOINING THIS TEAM.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK MY FAMILY.
AND, YOU KNOW, MY CAREER NOW SPANS 33 YEARS, FIRST BEGINNING WITH THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, AN EXPERIENCE THAT WILL FOREVER BE THANKFUL FOR.
[00:55:03]
AND I FOLLOWED IN MY DAD'S FOOTSTEPS. HE WAS A 25 YEAR AIR FORCE VETERAN.AND ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF MY CAREER, TO BE HONEST.
AND LOOKING BACK, AS I WAS STATIONED AT CASTLE AT THE SAME TIME AS MY DAD PRIOR TO HIS RETIREMENT.
THAT'S A BLESSING. AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I HAVE VALUED MORE AND MORE AS I'VE GOTTEN OLDER, AND I APPRECIATE THAT A LOT, AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPERIENCE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, MY PARENTS, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO GROW AND DEVELOP INTO A PROFESSIONAL AND THIS IS MAYBE FOR A LOT OF OUR YOUNGER TEAM MEMBERS HERE WITHIN THIS ORGANIZATION, YOU KNOW, IT'S A TEAM EFFORT. MY MOM AND MY DAD WERE INSTRUMENTAL AND WITH BOTH OF MY BOYS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY WERE YOUNG. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
SO AGAIN, TO MY MOM AND MY DAD, SIMPLY SAY THANK YOU.
MY APPOINTMENT TODAY IS THEIR SUCCESS. TO EACH OF MY BOYS, [INAUDIBLE] AND JOSHUA, I CAN'T BEGIN TO EXPRESS THE PRIDE I HAVE FOR ALL THAT YOU ARE ACCOMPLISHING.
THERE ARE PLENTY OF TIMES WHEN MY JOB HAS TAKEN ME AWAY FROM MY KIDS, AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING. AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS APPOINTMENT TODAY IS A RESULT OF A LOT OF WHAT YOU HAVE HAD TO ENDURE OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
I´D ALSO LIKE TO THANK MY WIFE, ANNE MARIE. YOU KNOW, I THINK ANY LEADER.
AND I THINK THIS BOARD WOULD WELL RECOGNIZE AND CERTAINLY WOULD AGREE, YOU KNOW, IT'S, YOU KNOW, LEADERSHIP CAN BE A LONELY PLACE, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THOSE IN THE BACKGROUND TO PROVIDE THAT COMFORT AND CARE DURING THE MOST CHALLENGING TIMES.
SHE'S A SELFLESS PERSON WHO IS AMONGST THE MOST CARING AND COMPASSIONATE PEOPLE THAT I KNOW.
AND I AM BETTER BECAUSE OF HER, AND I VERY MUCH AM GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
I THINK I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE FOR A MOMENT THAT I AM MORE PASSIONATE TODAY ABOUT THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE AS A COUNTY THAN EVER BEFORE. WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS IN THIS COUNTY OF SERVING PEOPLE.
THAT'S WHO WE ARE. AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO. AND I AM VERY, VERY MINDFUL THAT WE ARE HERE BECAUSE THE TAXPAYER HAS ENTRUSTED US WITH THEIR RESOURCES FROM WHICH TO DO SPECIAL THINGS TO BENEFIT THIS COMMUNITY.
SO MY GOAL FOR OUR TEAM IS GOING TO BE QUITE SIMPLE.
WE WILL BE THE HIGHEST PERFORMING COUNTY IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
PERIOD. THAT'S THE GOAL. WE ARE GOING TO INNOVATE AND WE ARE GOING TO OPTIMIZE.
AND WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE MINDFUL OF WHY WE'RE HERE.
AND WE WILL DRIVE UP CUSTOMER SERVICE. THAT'S OUR APPROACH.
THAT'S WHAT WE WILL DO. WE WILL HAVE THAT ATTITUDE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
WE ARE GOING TO DO THE RIGHT THING WHEN NO ONE IS LOOKING.
IT'S A MEASURE OF CHARACTER. WE WILL TRANSFORM HOW PEOPLE VIEW THE COUNTY AND WHAT WE DO.
YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY THAT THEY REALLY RESPECTED IN THE CEO RANKS UP AND DOWN THE STATE.
AND I GOT A QUICK NAME, AND I ENDED UP MAKING A PHONE CALL AND SPENT ABOUT AN HOUR WITH THAT GENTLEMAN OVER THE PHONE, AND LEARNED A LOT FROM HIM IN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.
IT'S PRETTY INTERESTING. THE CEO COMMUNITY IS VERY SUPPORTIVE.
THAT'S TRUE. BUT HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE, HIS PRIMARY MISSION IS, WHAT CAN WE DO TO TRANSFORM THE WAY PEOPLE THINK ABOUT COUNTY GOVERNMENT? BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, LET'S ALL BE VERY MINDFUL THAT, YOU KNOW, THE PERCEPTION OF GOVERNMENT IN GENERAL IS NOT GOOD.
SO WE ARE GOING TO DO IT BETTER AND WE ARE GOING TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO BECOME MORE EFFICIENT AND MORE EFFECTIVE.
AND WE ARE GOING TO RAISE THE BAR OF EXPECTATIONS.
AND REST ASSURED, WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE COMPLACENT IN OUR EFFORTS.
[01:00:01]
WE ARE GOING TO BE ACTING BOLDLY AND WITH VISION, AGAIN TO EFFECTUATE THE BOARD'S GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.THIS BOARD, JUST AS AN ASIDE, AND I'VE KNOWN EACH OF THESE GENTLEMEN FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
THESE ARE FOLKS THAT WAKE UP EVERY SINGLE DAY WITH THE INTENTION OF DOING RIGHT BY THEIR DISTRICTS, THE PEOPLE IN THEIR DISTRICTS, BUT FOR THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE.
SO OUR TEAM IS GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON THAT. WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP THIS BOARD ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY EFFECTUALS? TRUTH BE TOLD, I BELIEVE THAT WE AS STAFF AND JUST PEOPLE IN GENERAL, HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THE LIVES OF PEOPLE EVERY SINGLE DAY, IF WE SO CHOOSE. SO YOU MIGHT CHALLENGE TO THE TEAM, TO OUR MORE THAN 2000 PLUS EMPLOYEES, IS THIS. SEEK OUT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND ACT.
ASK YOURSELF THE QUESTION, IF NOT ME, THEN WHO? REALLY WANT US TO THINK A LOT ABOUT THAT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
STEP UP. DO THE RIGHT THING WHEN NO ONE'S LOOKING.
AND BE ACTION ORIENTED. YOU KNOW, OVER THE YEARS I HAVE BEEN INSPIRED AGAIN AND AGAIN BY OUR TEAM.
SO WHETHER IT'S BHRS WHO IS IN THE BUSINESS OF PROVIDING SERVICES TO THOSE EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES OR DRUG OR ALCOHOL DEPENDENCY ISSUES, OR WHETHER IT'S HSA WHO'S IN THE BUSINESS OF HELPING THE MOST DISENFRANCHISED AND DISENGAGED, PERHAPS, AND DISADVANTAGED. WE'VE GOT PEOPLE LIKE ELISE LUDWIG OR RUBY [INAUDIBLE] OR LAMAR HENDERSON.
THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT I JUST TRULY BELIEVE REPRESENT THE VERY BEST OF THIS COUNTY.
WE'D LIKE TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS.
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN THERE. I KNOW FIRSTHAND THAT THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU FACE, AND I'M SPEAKING BOTH TO OUR ELECTED DEPARTMENT HEADS AS WELL AS OUR APPOINTED DEPARTMENT HEADS.
WE ARE GOING TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO MOVE THAT BALL FORWARD AGAIN.
WE ARE GOING TO INNOVATE AND WE ARE GOING TO ADVANCE THE BALL.
I DO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AS WELL TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE.
I AM INCREDIBLY BLESSED TO WORK WITH SOME OF THE MOST TALENTED PEOPLE WITHIN THIS COUNTY.
AND I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ASSISTANT CEO, MARCI BARRERA, FOR HER HARD WORK AND HER DEDICATION AND FOR HER MANY YEARS OF SERVICE TO THIS COUNTY. SHE AND I JOINED THIS COUNTY AT ROUGHLY THE SAME TIME, AND I AM VERY PROUD OF ALL THAT SHE HAS ACCOMPLISHED OVER THE COURSE OF HER CAREER.
BUT I'D ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AS WELL OUR DEPUTY CEOS, BOTH VANESSA ANDERSON AND SUMMER MONIZ, AS AS WELL AS OUR TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS AT EVERY LEVEL.
THROUGHOUT OUR ORGANIZATION, I FEEL VERY LUCKY TO WORK WITH YOU, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
I DO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE TODAY AS WELL.
I HAD A CHANCE TO, IN MANY WAYS, WATCH NICOLE GROW UP.
VERY PROUD OF HER FOR ALL THAT SHE'S ACCOMPLISHING, MADAM DA.
THAT'S WHO I AM. I AM THROUGH AND THROUGH MERCED COUNTY.
SO IN CLOSING AGAIN, I'LL JUST START WHERE I FINISH, OR I'LL FINISH WHERE I STARTED, RATHER.
I AM PRIVILEGED TO BE YOUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER.
I AM PRIVILEGED TO LEAD THIS TEAM. WE HAVE A LOT OF HARD WORK AHEAD.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT POTENTIALLY LEAN FINANCIAL TIMES, DIFFICULT DECISIONS TO BE MADE.
SO, MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I SINCERELY THANK YOU.
I AM VERY BLESSED. I FEEL THAT WITH GREAT PASSION TODAY.
AND SO TO THE ENTIRE BOARD, TO THE COUNTY, FAMILY, TO MY FRIENDS.
AND THOSE WHO HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH WHO WERE HERE AS WELL.
I SIMPLY SAY THAT I AM HUMBLED AND HONORED TO LEAD THIS ORGANIZATION, MR. CHAIR. IT WAS A LITTLE LONGER THAN YOU WERE PROBABLY HOPING.
BUT I THINK YOU TOOK THE CAKE. I DO HAVE ONE OTHER THING.
AND THEN I WANT TO GIVE IT TO SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
[01:05:07]
I WOULD LIKE US TO REASSESS OR RELOOK AT THE ORDINANCE THAT WE HAVE ON OUR BOOKS, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THE FINES ARE ENOUGH, AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE MORE CREATIVE ON HOW WE CAN CLEAN SOME OF THAT STUFF UP.I'M SORRY TO END ON THAT NOTE, BUT I DO ALSO HAVE TO TURN IT OVER TO SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I JUST WANTED TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING IN MEMORY OF RICHARD MIGUEL GUTIERREZ, A LONG TIME FOOTBALL COACH IN THE WINTON ATWATER, MERCED AREA.
HE WAS A GOOD LEADER WITH, NOT ONLY HIS BOYS, BUT A LOT OF OUR FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND HIS PASSING, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HONORED HIM TODAY AND ADJOURNING IN HIS HONOR.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MR. HENDRICKSON? ACTUALLY, I'VE ALREADY SCREWED UP THE FIRST TIME.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR AUDITOR COMPTROLLER WHO'S IN THE FAR BACK LEFT.
SHE IS ALSO AN ELECTED OFFICIAL AND SOMEBODY FOR WHOM I HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT.
I DIDN'T SEE HER BACK THERE A SECOND AGO. BUT, YOU KNOW, I'VE KNOWN LISA FOR A LONG, LONG TIME AND JUST VERY MUCH APPRECIATE AND VALUE THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH YOUR OFFICE.
ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT. THIS CONCLUDES THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING FOR JULY 8TH, 2025.
THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING WILL BE HELD AT 10 A.M.
[POSSIBLE DIRECTION FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
ON TUESDAY, JULY 22ND, 2025.* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.