[00:00:01] >> JULY 22ND 2025, [CALL TO ORDER] MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. [CLOSED SESSION] >> YOUR CLOSED SESSION FOR THIS MORNING IS THE FOLLOWING. IT IS THE INTENTION OF THE BOARD TO MEET IN CLOSE SESSION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54,957.6, CONCERNING A MEET AND CONFER WITH AGENCY NEGOTIATOR MARCI BARRERA, AND ALSO CONCERNING EXISTING LITIGATION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9 D11 CASE, THE ESTATE OF EDWARD RAMOS III ALL VERSUS COUNTY OF MERCED OR FEDERAL CASE NUMBER 125-CV-00056-JLT-SKO. 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 3 MINUTES PER PERSON. >> AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE CLOSED SESSION ITEMS. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE CLOSED SESSION ITEMS IS NOW CLOSED, AND WE WILL NOW ADJOURN INTO CLOSED SESSION. WELCOME BACK TO THE JULY 22ND 2025, 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 ALFRED PEREZ FROM VALLEY CHRISTIAN CHURCH AND ATWATER, AND THEN SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL WILL LEAD THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> THANK YOU BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. >> HOLD ON A SECOND. PROBABLY ITS ON. >> IT'S ON NOW. THANK YOU, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR THIS INVITATION. MY PRAYER THAT GOD INSPIRE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU THIS MORNING WITH HIS DIVINE WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, AND INSPIRATION. LET US PRAY. FATHER, I DO THANK YOU, LORD GOD. WE INVITE YOUR HOLY PRESENCE, LORD INTO THIS PLACE. FATHER, YOU ARE THE ONE WHO POSSESSES ALL WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, AND TRUTH AND FATHER, I PRAY YOUR INSPIRATION THIS MORNING. I PRAY, FATHER, THAT YOU WOULD INSPIRE THE IDEAS, DEAR GOD, THAT WILL HELP TO BRING PROSPERITY THAT WILL HELP FATHER TO BRING DEAR JESUS, LORD, MOTIVATION, DEAR FATHER, TO THE CITIZENS OF MERCED COUNTY, LORD, TO MOVE FORWARD, FATHER, IN THE DIRECTION THAT YOU WOULD HAVE THEM TO GO. WE PRAY DEAR FATHER FOR THEIR FAMILIES. WE PRAY FOR YOUR DIVINE PROTECTION, A HEDGE OF PROTECTION, GOD, AROUND THEIR FAMILIES. WE PRAY FATHER THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM DEAR JESUS, NOT JUST INSIGHT, BUT FORESIGHT OF THINGS TO COME, LIKE THE EYES OF AN EAGLE FATHER, SEEING CLEARLY, WITH CLARITY, FATHER, THAT WHICH IS BEFORE THEM, AND THAT WHICH IS LORD IN FRONT OF THEM. FATHER, WE PRAY THAT YOU, OH, GOD, ONCE AGAIN, WOULD IMPART YOUR WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, AND TRUTH, AND MAY THE NAME OF JESUS BE GLORIFIED IN THEIR EFFORTS. WE THANK YOU IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN. >> READY? BEGIN. >> >> IT IS NOW [PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK] TIME FOR PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST WITHIN THE BOARD'S JURISDICTION, EXCLUDING ITEMS ON THE BOARD'S AGENDA. TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON AND 30 MINUTES TOTAL. >> AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT. AGAIN, THIS IS FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS ONLY. GO AHEAD, DON. >> GOOD MORNING. SUPERVISORS AND AUDIENCE. I'M HERE. I'M A MEMBER OF THE FRIENDS OF THE MERCED COUNTY LIBRARY, AND I'M HERE TO SHARE GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE LIBRARY. THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM, WHICH IS ONE OF MANY PROGRAMS RUN OUT OF THE LIBRARY, AND IT'S RUN THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY IS DOING GREAT THIS SUMMER. WE'VE HAD 1,739 PEOPLE SIGN UP FOR THE PROGRAM. WE'VE HAD SOME REALLY GREAT SESSIONS. ONE OF THE REALLY POPULAR THINGS FOR THE CHILDREN IS A REPTILE GUY WHO COMES INTO THE LIBRARIES AROUND THE COUNTY, AND THOSE SHOWS ARE ALWAYS PACKED, STANDING ROOM ONLY. IT'S A GREAT EVENT. IT REALLY GETS PEOPLE EXCITED. BUT MY MAIN MESSAGE IS PEOPLE ARE USING THE LIBRARY AS A GREAT ATMOSPHERE IN THE LIBRARY, AND OUR PROGRAMS ARE REACHING AND SERVING THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY. IF ANYBODY'S INTERESTED, YOU CAN STILL SIGN UP FOR THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM. ADULTS CAN SIGN UP AS WELL. THE WEB PAGE, YOU SEE UP HERE IN THE MERCED COUNTY LIBRARY WEB PAGE. IF YOU GO TO THE BEANSTOCK APPLICATION, YOU CAN SIGN UP. IF YOU'VE ALREADY READ A BUNCH OF BOOKS THIS SUMMER, YOU CAN ENTER YOUR BOOKS AFTER THE FACT AND BE PART OF THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM. I'M GOING TO LEAVE SOME FLY HANDOUTS HERE FOR YOU. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. I KNOW MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER DID THAT. [00:05:03] THERE WAS A SCAVENGER HUNT OR SOMETHING YESTERDAY, SO THANK YOU. >> THAT'S DONALD BERKLEY. >> SORRY, I DIDN'T SAY MY NAME. >> DON BARKLEY. >> DONALD BERKLEY. >> WE ALL KNOW YOU DON. >> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR. HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS COUNTY STAFF AND CITIZENS OF MERCED COUNTY. MY NAME IS AGGIE FREEMAN. I'M ASSISTANT GOVERNOR OF ROTARY DISTRICT 5220 AREA 8, AND THE PROUD CHAIR OF MERCED SUNRISE ROTARY 2025 CLOS KIDS COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT. I'M HONORED TO BE HERE THIS MORNING TO SHARE A STORY ABOUT HOW WE, ROTARIANS UNITE FOR GOOD RIGHT HERE IN MERCED COUNTY. THIS AUGUST MARKS OUR 16TH ANNUAL CLOSE FOR KIDS EVENT, THE INSPIRATION OF SUNRISE ROTARY CLUB PAST PRESIDENT RICH MILLER, A JOYFUL, HIGH IMPACT COLLABORATION WITH CASA OF MERCED COUNTY AND MERCED MISSIONS VILLAGE OF HOPE FOR FAMILIES. ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE IN PROUD PARTNERSHIP WITH MERCED TARGET. THANKS TO THE COMPASSION AND COMMITMENT OF MERCED SUNRISE ROTARY AND THE GREATER MERCED COUNTY COMMUNITY, 75 SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN NOMINATED TO PARTICIPATE. EACH CHILD WILL RECEIVE A PERSONAL SHOPPING EXPERIENCE, PAIRED ONE ON ONE WITH A ROTARIAN SHOPPER OR COMMUNITY MEMBER, AND WE INVITE YOU, COUNCIL, TO JOIN US AUGUST 23TH AT 8:00 A.M AT MERCED TARGET, IF YOU'RE AVAILABLE. WE TAKE A RED SHOPPING CART AND ASSIST THEM IN SELECTING BRAND NEW SCHOOL CLOTHING THAT WILL HELP THEM BEGIN THIS SCHOOL YEAR WITH PRIDE, CONFIDENCE, AND HOPE. ROTARY INTERNATIONAL HAS SEVEN AREAS OF SERVICE, WHICH GUIDE CLUBS, ACTIVITIES, AND INITIATIVES. THIS COMMUNITY SERVICE EVENT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY A ROTARY DISTRICT, DESIGNATED FUNDS GRANT, AND WITH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MERCED COUNTY COMMUNITY THROUGH OUR 2025 SHRIMP FEED FUND RAISER, WHICH WE HELD IN MARCH AT THE MERCED COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO THE MANY DONORS, SPONSORS, AND YOU, OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS, WHO CONTINUE TO SHOW UP YEAR AFTER YEAR, QUIETLY, HUMBLY, AND WHOLEHEARTEDLY TO HELP OUR CHILDREN WHO NEED TO FEEL SEEN, VALUED AND SUPPORTED. TODAY, WE EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO THE COUNTY OF MERCED AND TO ITS CITIZENS FOR YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT, YOUR LEADERSHIP, CHAIR, AND COUNCIL, AND YOUR BELIEF IN OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS THAT LIFT US UP. THIS RIGHT HERE IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN WE UNITE FOR GOOD, NOT JUST IN WORDS, BUT IN ACTION, AND I AM DEEPLY GRATEFUL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING. RUDY ABARA RUDY'S TACOS. YOU ASK YOURSELF WHY VENDORS SET UP ILLEGALLY? WHY DON'T THEY COME IN AND GET A PERMIT? COULD IT BE BECAUSE YOU HAVE COUNTY SUPERVISORS LIKE DARREN MCDANIELS TRYING TO INTIMIDATE OR SLANDER THEIR NAME? ON JUNE 23RD, COUNTY SUPERVISOR DARREN MCDANIEL SHOWED UP TO MY FOOD TRUCK, PARKED AT GARDEN TRACTOR, WAVING HIS COUNTY BUSINESS CARD, TRYING TO INTIMIDATE MY EMPLOYEE, THEN WENT INTO GARTEN TRACTOR YELLING AT EMPLOYEES. WHY ARE YOU LETTING HIM SET UP HERE? TELLING THEM, WHY ARE YOU USING HIS BUSINESS? DO YOU KNOW HE'S CAUSING PROBLEMS AT THE CITY OF ATWATER COUNCIL MEETINGS? I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY WOULD HE DO THIS? I DON'T EVEN KNOW HIM. I'VE NEVER TALKED TO HIM. HE'S NEVER BOOKED A CATERING THROUGH ME. OR IS IT BECAUSE I'M A HISPANIC SMALL BUSINESS OWNER? IF THIS WAS BILLY BOB'S AMERICAN BARBECUE, WOULD IT THEN NOT BE A PROBLEM, OR WOULD HE THEN SUPPORT AND NOT INTIMIDATE OR THROW SLANDER AT THEIR BUSINESS? I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY ME GOING TO AN ATWATER CITY COUNCIL MEETING, EXPOSING COUNCIL MEMBER, BRIAN RAYMOND FOR NOT LIVING IN HIS DISTRICT OR DUMPING SEWAGE WASTE ILLEGALLY FROM HIS RV THAT HE'S LIVING IN OR NOT GOING TO A COUNCIL MEETING BECAUSE HE WAS AT THE BAR. INSTEAD, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT MR. MCDANIELS? IS IT BECAUSE THEY'RE BUDDIES? NOW THEIR PLAN IS TO RUIN MY BUSINESS? WE'LL GUESS WHAT YOU DID. BECAUSE OF MR. MCDANIELS ACTIONS, I HAD TO CLOSE DOWN MY BUSINESS AT GARTEN TRACTOR, WHICH AFFECTS MY LIVELIHOOD. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WHILE MY CONTRACT WITH MERCED COUNTY I HAD BEEN WORKING ON FOR OVER EIGHT MONTHS TO PARK ON EM STREET AND 23RD WAS DENIED A MONTH AGO. I'M STARTING TO PUT THE PUZZLE PIECES TOGETHER. I GUESS WHEN YOU EXPOSE ONE MEMBER OF A COUNCIL, HIS BUDDY WILL FIND A WAY TO SCREW YOU OVER. MR. MCDANIELS, THE NEXT TIME YOU PLAN TO HAND OUT THIS CARD, DO WITH PRIDE AND RESPECT, [00:10:02] INSTEAD OF INTIMIDATION AND FEAR. >> MY NAME IS CHERYLY AND ROLLS, AND I HAVE SPOKEN A FEW TIMES. ALWAYS ON THE SAME MATTER, DO NOT FUND THE COUNTY AGENCIES THAT USE OUR TAX DOLLARS TO BEAT US UP. THIS IS A PICTURE OF THE GUY THAT BROKE IN AND I'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT IT. BROKE INTO ONE OF MY HOUSES. I CALLED THE SHERIFF. THE SHERIFF CAME OUT, AND LET THE GUY STAY. AFTER A MONTH, THIS GUY WAS UNABLE TO GET THE POWER ON. HE HAD ALREADY GIVEN PG AND E2 RENTAL AGREEMENTS THAT DID NOT COME FROM ME. BUT HE WAS FORCED TO COME TO ME TO GET A RENTAL AGREEMENT THAT PG AND E COULD BELIEVE IN. HE HAD TO DO A FEW THINGS IN ORDER TO GET THE RENTAL AGREEMENT. THIS IS A COPY OF THE RENTAL AGREEMENT, AND IT JUSTIFIES EVERYTHING ON THIS SHEET. HE'S STILL THERE. THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT IS STILL PROTECTING HIM THERE. WE HAVE BEEN TO COURT SIX TIMES IN EVICTION, SIX. THE LAST TIME WAS A PROFESSIONAL EVICTION SERVICE WAS UNABLE TO GET HIM OUT. HE IS STILL THERE. THIS IS A COPY OF THE QUESTIONS I SUBMITTED TO THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT. THEY HAVE ANSWERED NONE OF THEM. THEY HAVE ANSWERED NONE OF THE SUBPOENAS, NONE OF ANYTHING. THIS IS MY BUSINESS. RIGHT NOW, THIS IS A PRINTOUT OF WHAT HE OWES IN UNPAID RENT. NO RENT HAS BEEN PAID. NOW, MY RENTAL AGREEMENT, I DID WANT HIM TO HAVE A RENTAL AGREEMENT. IT IDENTIFIES LATE CHARGE. IT IDENTIFIES INTEREST. THIS IS A COPY OF WHERE THEY ARE RIGHT NOW. I SAY THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT IS DUPLICATE, $122,075. THIS IS NOT EVEN INCLUDING JULY. THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MARK MIMMS, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE TAMRA SPADE, OUR NEW DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO YOU ALL. SHE BRINGS OVER 10 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE SPANNING BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS, MOSTLY RECENTLY LEADING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS FOR THE CITY OF SUSANVILLE. BEFORE THAT, THE CITY OF SERIES. TAMRA HAS A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF LEADING SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVES THAT DRIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, FOSTER COMMUNITY GROWTH THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS, AND PROMOTE TOURISM. TAMRA ALSO HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN ORGANIZING AND LEADING COMMUNITY EVENTS TO INCLUDE HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVALS, INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS AND MORE. TAMRA HAS GRADUATED FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA AND HAS RECEIVED THE ACCREDITED CALIFORNIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPER OR A CERTIFICATION THROUGH CALED. SHE IS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF CALED AND HAS ALSO SERVED ON THE BOARD OF TEAM CALIFORNIA, CALIFORNIA'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION. WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE TAMRA PART OF THE CED TEAM AND THE COUNTY TEAM AND TO FOCUS AND GROW OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND CONTINUE THE GROWTH OF CASTLE COMMERCE CENTER. THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN AND SUPERVISORS. THANK YOU, MARK FOR THAT GREAT INTRODUCTION. I'M TRULY EXCITED TO BE WORKING WITH THE MERCED COUNTY COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM. I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE EFFORTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE OUT AT CASTLE WHILE EXPANDING ON THE WEST SIDE OF OUR COUNTY. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING STARTED AND HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING. THANK YOU AGAIN, AND VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE. >> WELL, WELCOME. THANK YOU. [00:15:08] THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED FOR NON AGENDA ITEMS. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. [CONSENT CALENDAR] ITEMS ONE THROUGH 13, PLEASE NOTE THAT AS INDICATED ON THE AGENDA, ITEM 4 WAS PULLED AND ITEMS ONE THROUGH THREE REQUIRE A 4/5 VOTE. >> AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 13. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 13 IS NOW CLOSED. I WILL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. WE'VE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, SECONDED BY DARREN MCDANIEL. CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES. AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO READ A A LITTLE PARAGRAPH HONORING THE NATIONAL HEALTH CENTERS WEEK. IN CONNECTION WITH AND THEN ASK GOLDEN VALLEY HEALTH CENTERS REPRESENTATIVES TO COME UP. IN CONNECTION WITH NATIONAL HEALTH CENTERS WEEK, WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE GOLDEN VALLEY HEALTH CENTERS. GOLDEN VALLEY HEALTH CENTERS WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1972 AND OPERATES 62 CLINICS ACROSS THE CENTRAL VALLEY. GOLDEN VALLEY HEALTH CENTERS PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN PROMOTING COMMUNITY HEALTH, ADVANCING EQUITY, AND REACHING UNDER SERVED POPULATIONS, IN AN EFFORT TO CONTINUALLY EVOLVE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY BY INTEGRATING SERVICES BEYOND PRIMARY CARE. GOLDEN VALLEY HEALTH CENTERS IS ACTIVELY EXPANDING ITS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TEAM, WORKING TO DOUBLE ITS CAPACITY THIS YEAR TO MEET THE GROWING MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF THE CENTRAL VALLEY. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO THE HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF OUR RESIDENTS HERE IN MERCED COUNTY IF YOU'VE COME UP, PLEASE. >> COME ON UP. I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING. >> HI. > MAKE SOME COMMENTS. >> CYNTHIA MCAFEE. I'M ONE OF THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR MERCED COUNTY CLINIC. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE IN FRONT OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND ACCEPT. >> THANK YOU. >> MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] BIOS. I'M THE GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS MANAGER FOR GOLDEN VALLEY HEALTH CENTERS AND I'D LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR RECOGNIZING NATIONAL HEALTH CENTER WEEK AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE WORK THAT GOLDEN VALLEY HEALTH CENTERS DOES. EVERY AUGUST, NATIONAL HEALTH CENTER WEEK GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THE VITAL ROLE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS PLAY IN PROVIDING CARE TO OUR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. 80% OF OUR PATIENTS ARE MEDICARE RECIPIENTS AND WE ARE PROUD TO BE A TRUSTED HEALTHCARE PROVIDER FOR SO MANY INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN OUR REGION. WE ALSO JUST RENOVATED OUR ATWATER ADMINISTRATION SITE, WHICH WILL HOUSE 200 OF MY COLLEAGUES. WE WILL BE SHOWING THIS SITE AT OUR PARTNER APPRECIATION DAY. AND WE'D LIKE TO FORMALLY INVITE EVERYBODY TO JOIN. IT'LL BE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6, AT 5:30. OUR ATWATER ADMINISTRATION SITE IS LOCATED NEAR THE CASTLE AIR MUSEUM. AND THANK YOU GUYS,. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>THANK YOU. GO AHEAD AND GIVE THOSE TO YOU. DAREN COME UP, TAKE A PICTURE. [OVERLAPPING] [BOARD ACTION] [00:20:03] WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO BOARD ACTION, BEGINNING WITH PUBLIC WORKS. >> ITEMS 14 THROUGH 19. PLEASE NOTE, ITEM 15 REQUIRES A FOUR-FIFTHS VOTE. >> AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS 14 THROUGH 19. COME ON UP. I THINK A THREE MINUTES. >> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR PEDROSO, AND SUPERVISORS, MY NAME IS VANESSA BARBARA, AND I'M HERE THIS MORNING FROM WM WINTON DISPOSAL. WE'RE HERE TALKING ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 19, BY THE WAY. OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, WM MERCED COUNTY HAVE WORKED SIDE BY SIDE TO CRAFT AN AGREEMENT THAT WOULD BRING THE COUNTY INTO COMPLIANCE WITH SB1383. THESE STATE MANDATES ARE COMPLEX AND COSTLY, REQUIRING NEW EQUIPMENT, EXPANDED SERVICES AND A DEEPER LEVEL OF PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH THAN HAS EVER BEEN NEEDED BEFORE. TO SUPPORT THESE INVESTMENTS, WM INITIALLY PROPOSED, THREE YEARS AGO, A 10-YEAR AGREEMENT TO ALLOW THE FULL DEPRECIATION OF NEW TRUCKS AND STATE-APPROVED COLOUR-COMPLIANT CARTS THAT WERE NEEDED FOR THE MANDATE. IN NEGOTIATIONS, THE COUNTY REQUESTED THAT WE RETAIN THE EXISTING EVERGREEN LANGUAGE, WHICH STATES THAT THE CONTRACTS CONTINUE UNTIL TERMINATED WITH FIVE YEARS NOTICE. WE AGREED IN GOOD FAITH, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WERE ENTERING A LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP TO MANAGE THIS ROLLOUT TOGETHER. THAT CONTRACT WENT INTO EFFECT JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO. NOW, NOT EVEN 30 DAYS LATER, THE COUNTY IS CONSIDERING ISSUING TERMINATIONS FOR THOSE CONTRACTS. THIS ISN'T ABOUT TRUCKS AND CARTS ONLY. IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE. RIGHT NOW, WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH COUNTY STAFF TO HELP RESIDENTS, MANY ON FIXED INCOMES, UNDERSTAND WHY THESE NEW PROGRAMS ARE HAPPENING, WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE, AND HOW WE CAN HELP. WE'VE SPENT HOURS WITH YOUR STAFF, RESPONDING TO CONCERNS FOR MOBILE HOME COMMUNITIES AND OTHER LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, ANSWERING CALLS, PROCESSING WAIVER REQUESTS, HELPING TO IDENTIFY WHERE RELIEF CAN BE PROVIDED. THESE RESIDENTS ARE ALREADY FEELING THE PRESSURE OF STATE MANDATES, AND WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO HELP EASE THAT BURDEN TOGETHER WITH COUNTY STAFF. WE ARE NOT HERE TO AVOID COMPETITION. WE'RE ASKING FOR CONSISTENCY. IF THE COUNTY HAD PLANNED TO ISSUE A TERMINATION NOTICE SO SOON, IT'S UNCLEAR WHY THE EVERGREEN CLAUSE WAS EMPHASIZED DURING OUR CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS. WM HAS ALREADY INVESTED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO THIS PARTNERSHIP. IF A TERMINATION NOTICE IS ISSUED NOW, WE WILL STILL BE CARRYING 40% OF THAT INVESTMENT. COSTS THAT WERE MEANT TO BE RECOVERED OVER A 10-YEAR PERIOD. ACCELERATING THAT DEPRECIATION TO A FIVE-YEAR TIMELINE COULD CREATE ADDITIONAL COST PRESSURES, WHICH MAY RESULT IN HIGHER RATES FOR RESIDENTS IN THE YEARS AHEAD. FOR THIS REASON, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT IF THE BOARD CHOOSES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE TERMINATION, THE NOTICE BE FUTURE DATED NO SOONER THAN JULY 2030. THIS WOULD GIVE THE COUNTY FLEXIBILITY TO ACT TODAY WHILE HONORING THE INTENT OF WHAT WAS NEGOTIATED. IT WOULD ALLOW WM TO RESPONSIBLY RECOVER OUR INVESTMENT, AND IT WOULD GIVE OUR PARTNERSHIP THE TIME AND STABILITY NEEDED TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY THE RIGHT WAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND WE HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER OUR REQUEST. >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, SUPERVISORS. MY NAME IS SAVANNAH DILTON, AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF JILTON SOLID WASTE. I WANT TO EXPRESS OUR DEEP DISAPPOINTMENT REGARDING THE PROPOSAL TO TERMINATE ALL EXISTING SOLID WASTE AGREEMENTS. NOT LONG AGO, WE COMPLETED A THOROUGH RENEGOTIATION PROCESS, WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT TO ENSURE THAT OUR RATES AND SERVICES REMAIN FAIR AND COMPETITIVE. WE ENTERED THAT PROCESS IN GOOD FAITH, MAKING KEY BUSINESS DECISIONS BASED ON THE MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING THAT THESE CONTRACTS WOULD PROVIDE LONG-TERM STABILITY FOR BOTH THE COUNTY AND ITS HAULIERS. AS PART OF THAT COMMITMENT, JILTON, ALONG WITH OTHER HAULIERS, MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN NEW EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL. WE PURCHASED NEW CARTS FOR CUSTOMERS THAT WERE AMORTIZED OVER A 10-YEAR PERIOD, [00:25:03] AND WE ALSO HIRED AND TRAINED STAFF TO SUPPORT THE LONG-TERM NEEDS OF THE SYSTEM. WITH ONLY A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT TERM, WE WILL BE UNABLE TO RECOVER THOSE COSTS. WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT, SHOULD THE COUNTY CHOOSE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE TERMINATION, THE TERMINATION LETTER BE DATED TO COINCIDE WITH THE END OF THE CURRENT FIVE-YEAR TERM. THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO HONOR A TENURE AMORTIZATION AND UPHOLD THE FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL INTEGRITY OF OUR AGREEMENTS. WE URGE YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE DECADES OF DEDICATED SERVICE, OVER 40 YEARS, JILTON HAS SERVED. I'M NOT SURE ABOUT WASTE MANAGEMENT IN MID VALLEY. INVESTMENT AND RESPONSIBLE PLANNING THAT THESE CONTRACTS REPRESENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. >> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS 14 THROUGH 19 IS NOW CLOSED, AND I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I'M ASKING, CAN WE CONSIDER ITEM 19 SEPARATELY? THAT'S MY REQUEST. >> YEAH. >> THANK YOU. >> WE'LL TAKE ITEMS 14 THROUGH 18. WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? >> HE'S FIXING IT. >> OH, HE'S GOT IT. OH, I'M SORRY. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I HAVE A REQUEST ON ITEM 14. I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL AND GRADUATED WITH LAURI LACOVA, WHOSE FAMILY IS THE REASON WHY LACOVA ROAD WAS NAMED LACOVA ROAD. IF THE ROAD SIGNS AREN'T GOING TO BE REUSED, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY CAN REUSE THEM AND MAKE THEM A DIFFERENT STREET NAME AND USE THEM SOMEWHERE ELSE. BUT IF THAT'S NOT THE CASE, THEN I WOULD LIKE THE ROAD SIGNS TO BE ABLE TO GIVE TO LAURI LACOVA. IT'S ACTUALLY LORI LIPPINCOTT NOW. EITHER I OR SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SHE LIVES IN HIS DISTRICT NOW, IF THAT COULD BE DONE. >> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR AND BOARD, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. IF THE SIGNS CAN'T BE REUSED, WHAT WE WOULD END UP DOING IS RECYCLING THEM OR THROWING THEM AWAY, SO I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY WE COULDN'T MAKE THAT HAPPEN. I'M NOT SURE OF THE QUALITY OR THE INTEGRITY OF THE EXISTING SIGNS OUT THERE, BUT I'LL HAVE MY STAFF TAKE A LOOK. >> THANK YOU. LLOYD, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE? >> OH, I'M SORRY. SO WE CAN TAKE ITEMS 14 THROUGH 18. WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? >> OH, I MOVE TO APPROVE. >> SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. IT'S NOW ITEM NUMBER 19. COMMENTS. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. >> YES. OBVIOUSLY, THIS ITEM WAS ON OUR AGENDA. THEN THERE WAS SOME NEW INFORMATION THAT WAS BROUGHT UP TODAY THAT MAYBE I WASN'T QUITE AWARE OF, AND I WOULD ASK THAT WE RESPECTFULLY POSTPONE THIS ITEM TO A DATE CERTAIN, BUT MAYBE I DON'T KNOW NECESSARILY AT THE NEXT MEETING, BUT IF WE COULD POSTPONE THIS ITEM TO THE SECOND MEETING IN AUGUST IS TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME FOR ME TO DO SOME RESEARCH. I'M NOT READY TO MAKE A DECISION ON IT RIGHT NOW AFTER HEARING SOME INFORMATION THAT I MAYBE I MISUNDERSTOOD A LITTLE BIT. IF THAT'S OKAY WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND IF SO, I WOULD MAKE THAT THE MOTION. >> SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. >> THANK YOU. I'M IN THE SAME POSITION THAT WAS MORE INFORMATION. I WANT TO BE FAIR HERE. IF THIS WAS AMORTIZED OVER 10 YEARS, WE REALLY NEED TO CONSIDER THAT HERE. IF WE COULD HAVE MORE INFORMATION, I WOULD SECOND HIS MOTION. >> OKAY. THE MOTION IS TO HOLD OFF,. >> POSTPONED TO THE SECOND MEETING IN AUGUST 10. >> SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. SINCE WASTE MANAGEMENT IS IN THE AUDIENCE, I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY, [00:30:01] AND THEN I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES. BUT ON THE ROLLOUT OF THE AB 1383, QUITE A FEW MISTAKES WERE MADE, AND I'M NOT SURE WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM. I KNOW I'M IN THE PREDETERMINED WAIVER ZONE, AND AS WE SPOKE, ONE OF YOUR EMPLOYEES TRIED TO DELIVER THE CANS TO ME, WHICH IS FINE. I WAS HOME AND WE GOT IT SQUARED AWAY. HOWEVER, HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE DID THAT AFFECT? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR COMPANY HASN'T DELIVERED AND ISN'T CHARGING PEOPLE WHO AUTOMATICALLY LIVE IN A WAIVER ZONE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO BACK AND VERIFY THOSE ADDRESSES, AND ESPECIALLY ON THE BILLING PART IF THAT'S POSSIBLE. >> IS IT OKAY FOR ME TO ANSWER? >> YEAH, THE BOARD MEMBER HAS A QUESTION. >> YEAH, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, THAT MORNING, YOU DID CALL ME DIRECTLY AS THE DELIVERY DRIVER WAS THERE. I WILL SAY THAT THAT PHONE CALL HELPED US REALLY PREVENT, WHAT WAS GOING TO IMPACT, I THINK IT WAS ABOUT 80 RICK'S, ROUGHLY 65, 70 CUSTOMERS THAT WERE INCORRECTLY PLACED ONTO THE DELIVERY LIST THAT WERE IN THE NON-MANDATORY AREA. BUT BECAUSE I GOT THAT CALL FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, CALLED JULIE. WE GOT OUR DATA PEOPLE ON THE PHONE, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO PULL EVERYONE OFF OF THAT LIST AND GO BACK AND REMOVE THE ONES THAT HAD BEEN DELIVERED BEFORE YOU THAT SAME DAY. AGAIN, WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE COMMUNICATION. THIS IS HOW WE MAKE A ROLLOUT GO AS SMOOTHLY AS POSSIBLE, THERE'S NEVER GOING TO BE A ROLLOUT THAT GOES PERFECTLY. IT'S HOW WE RESPOND TO THE HICCUPS WHEN THEY COME UP THAT REALLY MAKE THE BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE LASTING IMPRESSION. >> YEAH. >> THANK YOU. >> THEN, ARE YOU SURE THAT THERE'S NO OTHER FOLKS THAT RECEIVE CANS ARE BEING CHARGED THAT WE'RE IN THE AUTOMATIC WAIVER MA'AM? >> EVERYTHING THAT WE WERE AWARE OF, EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION HAS BEEN CORRECTED. JUST YESTERDAY, DALIA SENT ME ONE THAT WE'RE STILL TRYING TO DOUBLE-CHECK ON. BUT AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING A LARGE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA AND GIS MAPS. THERE'S A LOT THAT ARE ON THE CUSP OF DIFFERENT ZONES. AS YOU KNOW, ONE-OFFS COME UP, WE'RE CORRECTING THEM. BUT IN TERMS OF EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION HAS BEEN CORRECTED. >> MY CONCERN IS THAT FOLKS THAT AREN'T SAVVY ENOUGH TO KNOW WHETHER THEY'RE IN A ZONE OR NOT ARE JUST GOING TO PAY THE BILL BECAUSE THEY RECEIVE A BILL. I WOULD ASK THAT YOUR COMPANY WOULD BE MORE PROACTIVE THAN THAT IN WAITING FOR A RESPONSE, BUT TO GO BACK AND CHECK YOUR ADDRESS. I'M ASSUMING YOU HAVE A SPREADSHEET THAT HAS YOUR ADDRESSES, AND SO YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DESIGN TO MAKE SURE NOBODY IS BEING BILLED. THAT AUTOMATICALLY HAD A WAIVER, WHETHER THEY REALIZE IT OR NOT. I HAVE A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS THAT ARE OLDER, AND THEY MAY JUST TAKE IT. I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN IF WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT TO THEM. >> ABSOLUTELY. AND SO AS YOU'RE, ASKING FOR THIS, I'M ALREADY, THINKING WE HAVE ESTABLISHED A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTY'S GIS DEPARTMENT. WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL GO THROUGH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND LOOP IN THE COUNTY'S GIS TO HELP US DO JUST A DOUBLE CHECK OF ALL OF THE ACCOUNTS TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE ANY THAT ARE SLIPPING THROUGH THE CRACKS. >> THEN I WOULD IMAGINE IT'S BEEN CORRECTED BY NOW, BUT JUST IN CASE, WHEN MY CONSTITUENTS CALLED WASTE MANAGEMENT AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE, THEY GOT DIRECTED. I BELIEVE ONE LADY TOLD ME TO CHICAGO AND WAS TOLD THAT THE COUNTY DID THIS. I THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE LEARNED ABOUT SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS AGO THAT THIS IS, THAT THE STATE DID THIS. I'M ASSUMING THAT'S CORRECTED, BUT JUST TO BE SURE. >> YES. WE'VE DONE CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING EXTENSIVELY. THIS CALL STARTED COMING IN PRETTY QUICK. YEAH, WE HAVE OUR TEAM FULLY TRAINED. >> GREAT. THANK YOU. >> WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. I WANT TO SAY, I AGREE THAT WE SHOULD POSTPONE THIS TO GET SOME MORE INFORMATION. BUT I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ALSO THE FACT THAT THIS ISN'T ANYTHING TO SAY THAT WE'RE NOT RECEIVING A GOOD SERVICE. THIS JUST CONTRACT HAS NOT BEEN OUT SINCE 1997. I THINK THAT WE OWE IT TO OUR CONSTITUENTS TO REALLY LOOK AT WHAT SERVICE IS BEST BEING PROVIDED [00:35:01] AND ALLOW FOR EVERYBODY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE GETTING IT. BUT I DO THINK THAT WE SHOULD WAIT AND GET AS MUCH MORE INFORMATION AS WE CAN BEFORE WE MAKE A FINAL DECISION. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. CALL FOR THE VOTE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> IT'S UP THERE. >> IT'S UP. [BACKGROUND] >> GOT YOU. THE MOTION PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES. >> ITEMS 20 AND 21. >> OKAY. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BHRS ITEM 20 AND 21. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BHRS ITEMS 20 AND 21 IS NOW CLOSED. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, IS THAT NEW OR OLD? >> THAT WAS OLD. >> I THINK IT WAS CLOSED. >> WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE PUBLIC HEALTH. >> ITEM 22. >> AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR HEALTH, ITEM 22. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR HEALTH, ITEM 22 IS NOW CLOSED. BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. SORRY. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I SEE DR. SULLIVAN IN THE HOUSE AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. >> SECOND. [LAUGHTER] WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. WE'VE GOT A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE. THE MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE FIRE. >> ITEMS 23-25. >> AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR FIRE, ITEMS 23-25. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR FIRE, ITEMS 23-25 IS NOW CLOSED. BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE SHERIFF. >> ITEMS 26 AND 27. >> AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR SHERIFF, ITEMS 26 AND 27. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR SHERIFF, ITEMS 26 AND 27 IS NOW CLOSED. WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE HUMAN RESOURCES. >> ITEM 28. >> AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR HR, ITEM 28. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR HR, ITEM 28 IS NOW CLOSED AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO. CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE. >> ITEMS 29 AND 30. >> AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR EXECUTIVE OFFICE, ITEMS 29 AND 30. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR EXECUTIVE OFFICE, ITEMS 29 AND 30 IS NOW CLOSED. WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ON ITEM 29. I WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF DOS PALOS AND THE COUNTY STAFF, FIRE CHIEF, EVERYBODY FOR WORKING ON THAT MOU. THE CITY PASSED THAT AT THEIR LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND NOW IT'S BEFORE US AND SO WE APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. >> OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE BOARD APPOINTMENTS. >> ITEMS 31 AND 32. >> AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BOARD APPOINTMENTS ITEMS 31 AND 32. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BOARD APPOINTMENT, ITEMS 31 AND 32 IS NOW CLOSED. WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. [00:40:02] WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE BOARD INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION. [BOARD INFORMATION & POSSIBLE ACTION] >> ITEM 33. >> AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BOARD INFO ITEM 33. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BOARD INFO, ITEM 33 IS NOW CLOSED. BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE TWO SCHEDULED ITEMS. [SCHEDULED ITEMS] WE WILL START WITH THE ITEMS SUBMITTED BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY. >> NEXT IS A PUBLIC HEARING FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY TO REVIEW AND APPROVE THE ANNUAL MILITARY USE REPORT FOR 2024 AND TO REVIEW AND RENEW ORDINANCE NUMBER 2035 ENTITLED, AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING A MILITARY EQUIPMENT USE POLICY. >> AT THIS TIME, CHIEF INVESTIGATOR, ANNA HAZEL WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ITEM. >> THANK YOU FOR THE INTRODUCTION. I CAN TAKE THAT OFF OF MY PREPARED STATEMENT. GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN PEDROZO, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, COUNSEL HANSON, CEO HENDRICKSON. IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN TO PRESENT OUR ANNUAL MILITARY EQUIPMENT INVENTORY AND USE POLICY. IN 2021, GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM SIGNED INTO LAW ASSEMBLY BILL 481, RELATING TO THE USE OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. THE LAW REQUIRES AGENCIES TO SUBMIT TO THE GOVERNING BODY AN ANNUAL MILITARY EQUIPMENT REPORT FOR EACH TYPE OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT APPROVED BY THE GOVERNING BODY WITHIN ONE YEAR OF APPROVAL AND ANNUALLY THEREAFTER FOR AS LONG AS THE MILITARY EQUIPMENT IS AVAILABLE FOR USE. IN COMPLIANCE WITH AB 481, THE MILITARY USE POLICY, MERCED COUNTY DISTRICT'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE POSTED OUR ANNUAL MILITARY USE REPORT ON JUNE 20TH, 2025 AND MADE PUBLIC NOTICE TO THE MERCED COUNTY TIMES ON JULY 10TH, 2025. WE ALSO POSTED THAT NOTICE TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS' WEBPAGE. THE MERCED COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS ASKING THE BOARD TO RENEW ITS ORDINANCE NUMBER 2035 ENTITLED, AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING A MILITARY EQUIPMENT USE POLICY, ADOPTED FIRST ON OCTOBER 24TH, 2023 AND RENEWED LAST YEAR OCTOBER 8TH, 2024 AND TO APPROVE THE SUBMITTED DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S ANNUAL MILITARY USE REPORT FOR 2024 AND 2025. TO PROMOTE SOME EFFICIENCY IN THIS PROCESS, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS ALIGNED OUR REPORTING WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, SO YOU WILL SEE IN OUR REPORT IT IS ABBREVIATED. IT ONLY COVERS NINE MONTHS OF THIS LAST YEAR, BUT WE WILL GOING FORWARD BE ALIGNED WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TO MAKE THAT ANNUAL REPORT. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE. >> ANY QUESTIONS? 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. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED. DISCUSSION QUESTION MOTION. >> A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ANNUAL MILITARY USE REPORT [INAUDIBLE] >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED SAY NAY. >> MOTION CARRIES. NEXT, WE WILL HEAR THE ITEMS SUBMITTED BY THE SHERIFF AND AT THIS TIME UNDER SHERIFF GIBSON, WE'LL PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ITEM. >> NEXT, WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FROM THE SHERIFF TO REVIEW AND APPROVE THE ANNUAL MILITARY EQUIPMENT USE REPORT FOR 2024 AND TO REVIEW AND RENEW ORDINANCE NUMBER 2017 ENTITLED, AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING A MILITARY EQUIPMENT USE POLICY. >> GOOD MORNING, BOARD. UNDER SHERIFF COREY GIBSON, IT'S GOING TO BE THE SAME THING BUT SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT. AS REQUIRED UNDER ASSEMBLY BILL 481 WHICH IS GOVERNMENT CODE 7070-7075 REQUIRING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY SUBMIT TO THE GOVERNING BODY AN ANNUAL MILITARY EQUIPMENT REPORT FOR EACH TYPE OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT APPROVED BY THE GOVERNING BODY WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE APPROVAL AND ANNUALLY THEREAFTER FOR AS LONG AS THE MILITARY EQUIPMENT IS AVAILABLE FOR USE. IN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS LAW, THE MERCED COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS POSTED OUR ANNUAL REPORT AND OUR POLICY ON OUR WEBSITE, APRIL 23RD, 2025 AND PUBLISHED A NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING IN THE MERCED COUNTY TIMES ON JULY 10TH, 2025 AS WELL AS POSTED SAID NOTICE TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WEBPAGE. [00:45:02] THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ASKED THAT YOU APPROVE OUR ANNUAL MILITARY USE REPORT AND RENEW OUR ORDINANCE 2017 ORDINANCE ADOPTING MILITARY EQUIPMENT USE POLICY. I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND I APOLOGIZE THAT WE HAVE TO DO THIS ANNUALLY. >> SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. >> YEAH. SHERIFF GIBSON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE REPORT. THANK YOU, CHAIR FOR GIVING THIS OPPORTUNITY. HOW MUCH TIME DOES IT TAKE YOU TO DO THIS? >> IT TAKES STAFF QUITE A FEW HOURS TO PUT IT TOGETHER AND ANNUALLY UPDATE IT NOT ONLY FOR THIS, BUT FOR UPDATING OUR WEBSITE AND STAYING UP TO COMPLIANCE WITH STATE REPORTING AS WELL AS FEDERAL REPORTING THROUGH THE DIFFERENT VARIOUS MILITARY AND FEDERAL AGENCIES. >> I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE FEDERAL AGENCIES BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES WHO DONATED THE EQUIPMENT. BUT THE FACT THAT THE STATE IT'S ANOTHER UNFUNDED MANDATE THAT COSTS THE COUNTY MONEY, WE HAVE TO ADVERTISE IN A NEWSPAPER. IT COSTS BOTH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THE DA'S TIME AND EFFORTS. >> YEARS AGO, WE PROBABLY HAD PROBABLY 150 PIECES OF FEDERAL EQUIPMENT THAT WAS ON LOAN TO US. WE'RE DOWN TO ABOUT SIX. THOSE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT ARE FAIRLY LARGE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT LIKE THE HUEY HELICOPTER OR SOME OF THE HUMVEES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT WE USE FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE. A MAJORITY OF THE THINGS THAT ARE MENTIONED ON HERE ARE MUNITIONS, LESS THAN LETHAL. ALL THOSE HAVE BEEN PURCHASED WITH EITHER SOME TYPE OF FUND THROUGH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, BUT THEY'RE OWNED BY THE COUNTY AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, NOT BY FEDERAL AGENCIES. WE'RE DOWN TO LITERALLY SIX ITEMS THAT WE ANNUALLY REPORT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THE PROCESS TO ACQUIRE EQUIPMENT THROUGH THE MILITARY REQUIRES US TO ASK PERMISSION TO SUBMIT TO EVEN APPLY TO GET THIS EQUIPMENT. IT'S SUCH A BURDEN TO DO SO UNLESS IT'S A REALLY BIG PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THE STEPS BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE STAFF HOURS TO DEDICATE TO TRY TO GET THAT TYPE OF EQUIPMENT. >> THANK YOU. THAT'S THE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE. THE STATES MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTINUE WITH ITEMS THAT COULD BE VERY USEFUL HERE TO THIS COUNTY AND THEN YET THE STAFF TIME AND THE REPORTING, IT'S ANOTHER UNFUNDED MANDATE. WE'VE HAD A BUNCH OF THEM THAT WE'VE HAD TO COMPLY WITH ON THIS AS WELL SO THANK YOU. >> SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. HOW DOES A 44-FOOT ALUMINUM TRAILER COUNT AS A MILITARY VEHICLE? WHO MAKES THAT? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THE STATE MAKES THE DETERMINATION ON THAT OR DO WE JUST ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION AND PUT EVERYTHING ON THERE? >> YEAH. IT REALLY BREAKS DOWN INTO; LIKE A COMMAND POST FALLS UNDER MILITARY USE. OBVIOUSLY WE'VE PURCHASED A NEW COMMAND POST. WE'RE PURCHASING ANOTHER TRACTOR TO TOW THE NEW COMMAND POST AND SO ALL OF THAT WILL HAVE TO BE ADDED. AS WE ADD PIECES OF EQUIPMENT THAT POTENTIALLY COULD FALL UNDER, IF IT'S IN QUESTION, IT'LL FALL ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION AND WE'LL COME BACK AND WE'LL PUT IT TO THE USE. BUT LIKE YOU SAID, YOU SEE ALL THE LESS LETHAL MUNITIONS THAT ARE ON HERE THAT WE ANNUALLY TRAIN WITH, WE HAVE TO SUBMIT JUST SO WE HAVE PERMISSION EVEN TO PURCHASE IT. >> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, SIR. >> [INAUDIBLE] COMMENTS AND OPEN MOTION. >> I HAVE TO OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. 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. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED. WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. >> [INAUDIBLE]. >> WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED SAY, NAY. MOTION CARRIES. WE WILL NOW RECESS AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND [Additional Item] 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 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 AND 30 MINUTES TOTAL. PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITY FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATION FOR ITEM NUMBER 1. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS IS NOW CLOSED. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO BOARD ACTION ITEM 1 WHICH IS TO RECEIVE AND DISCUSS A PRESENTATION REGARDING INFORMATION, FUNDING, AND UTILIZATION OF THE MERCED COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND PROVIDE ASSOCIATED GUIDANCE. AT THIS TIME, I WILL TURN THE MIC OVER TO COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER MARK HENDRICKSON FOR COMMENT. >> MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AGAIN, GOOD MORNING. THIS PRESENTATION IS FOLLOW UP TO THE INITIAL BOARD DISCUSSION WHICH TOOK PLACE ON JUNE 10TH AND IS SIMPLY DESIGNED TO PROVIDE THIS BOARD WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE RELATED TO [00:50:02] THE MERCED COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT WHICH AS YOU MAY RECALL FROM THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1982 BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE. LACY MCBRIDE, OUR WATER RESOURCES MANAGER IS GOING TO LEAD THE PRESENTATION ALONG WITH RINA GONZALEZ FROM COUNTY COUNSEL'S OFFICE AND MR. BRAY FROM PUBLIC WORKS AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE PRESENTATION OF COURSE. UPON YOUR RECEIVING PUBLIC COMMENT, THERE ARE SEVERAL POINTS THAT STAFF IS GOING TO SEEK YOUR INITIAL GUIDANCE ON. SO AT THIS POINT MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO TURN OVER TO MS. MCBRIDE TO LAUNCH INTO THE PRESENTATION. >> GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, LACY MCBRIDE WATER RESOURCES MANAGER. WE'RE GOING TO WALK THROUGH SEVERAL SLIDES. >> LACY, CAN YOU MOVE THE MIC DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT, PLEASE? PERFECT. THANK YOU. >> WE'RE GOING TO WALK THROUGH SEVERAL SLIDES TODAY ON THE MERCED COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. WE'LL GIVE A QUICK REFRESH ON THE HISTORY AND THE PURPOSE OF THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. WALK THROUGH SEVERAL MAPS LOOKING AT THE JURISDICTION OF THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. NATHAN BRAY WILL TALK ABOUT PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES, AND THEN RINA GONZALEZ WILL SHARE INFORMATION ON GOVERNANCE AND FUNDING. WE'LL WRAP UP WITH SOME THOUGHTS ON KEY DECISION POINTS IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD IF THAT'S THE DESIRE OF THE BOARD. SO THE MERCED COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT WAS CREATED BY THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE IN 1982. FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICTS ARE CREATED EXCLUSIVELY BY THE LEGISLATURE. THERE IS NO MECHANISM FOR A FLOODED CONTROL DISTRICT TO BE FORMED LOCALLY, THOUGH OTHER DISTRICTS, SPECIAL DISTRICTS WITH FLOOD RELATED ACTIVITIES MAY BE FORMED LOCALLY. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT IS TO CONTROL THE FLOOD AND STORM WATERS, AND FOR THE PROTECTION OF WATER COURSES, WATERSHEDS, HARBORS, PUBLIC HIGHWAYS, LIFE, AND PROPERTY FROM DAMAGE AND DESTRUCTION OF FLOOD AND STORM WATERS. AS PART OF THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, YOU MAY ESTABLISH FLOOD CONTROL ZONES AND INSTITUTE PROJECTS FOR THE SPECIFIC BENEFIT OF THESE ZONES, AND THEY WOULD ALSO BE FUNDED BY THE ZONES. THE JURISDICTION OF THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT IS COUNTYWIDE, AND NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO WALK THROUGH SEVERAL MAPS, LOOKING AT THE STREAMS IN MERCED COUNTY AND FOCUSING ON AREAS THAT MIGHT BENEFIT FROM A FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND THE LIMITED RESOURCES AVAILABLE. SO THIS IS A MAP SHOWING ALL OF THE WATERWAYS AND MAJOR STREAMS IN MERCED COUNTY. YOU CAN SEE THE THREE RIVERS, THE MERCED RIVER, THE SAN JOAQUIN, AND THE CHOWCHILLA. ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER, YOU SEE ALL THE EAST SIDE STREAMS, INCLUDING DRY CREEK AND MUSTANG CREEK, WHICH ARE NORTH OF THE RIVER. AND THEN ON THE WEST SIDE, YOU SEE THE LAS BANOS CREEK, GARZAS, ROMERO, AND QUINTO. GARZAS AND ROMERO CONVERGE INTO LAS BANOS CREEK IN THE WETLANDS. WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER. THE COMMUNITIES OF LOS BANOS AND DOS PALOS ARE BOTH CONSIDERED NON FLOOD PRONE, ACCORDING TO THE 2008 FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY. AND THE WEST SIDE STREAMS DO FLOOD FARM GROUND, AND THEY SOMETIMES THREATEN HOMES, AND THEY FLOOD INTO THE WETLANDS, AND YOU SEE THE WETLANDS HIGHLIGHTED HERE IN GREEN ON THE MAP. WE HAVE NOTED ON THIS MAP THAT IT'S A LOWER RISK FLOOD AREA, BUT THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THESE AREAS DON'T FLOOD. THEY JUST DON'T FLOOD THE LARGE COMMUNITIES THAT YOU SEE IN OTHER PLACES OF THE COUNTY. IN THE PAST, MERCED COUNTY HAS DONE SOME VEGETATION REMOVAL FROM LAS BANOS CREEK, PERHAPS ABOUT THREE TIMES IN THE PAST 25 YEARS TO HELP HANDLE FLOOD FLOWS ON THAT CREEK. ALSO, ON THIS MAP, YOU SEE THE LOWER SAN JOAQUIN LEVEE DISTRICT. THIS IS A FLOOD CONTROL ENTITY FOR THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER AND THE BYPASS. LAND OWNERS WITHIN THE SERVICE AREA OF THE LEVEE DISTRICT ALREADY PAY FEES INTO THE LEVEE DISTRICT FOR FLOOD CONTROL PURPOSES. AND SO BECAUSE THESE PROPERTIES ARE ALREADY WITHIN A FLOOD AGENCY AND THEY PAY RELATED FEES, WHEN CONSIDERING ZONES, YOU MAY NOT WANT TO INCLUDE THEM AS YOU MIGHT BE DOUBLE CHARGING THEM FOR FLOOD CONTROL FEES. THIS IS THE MERCED STREAMS GROUP MAP. THE STREAMS GROUP PROJECTS ARE THE RESERVOIRS, YOU SEE HERE ON THE MAP. THESE PROJECTS WERE SUPPORTED BY A COLLABORATION OF MERCED COUNTY, THE CITY OF MERCED AND MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT. THESE RESERVOIRS WERE BUILT IN THE 1940S AND '50S BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR FLOOD PROTECTION. AND AS A PART OF BUILDING THESE PROJECTS, THE STREAMS GROUP PROVIDED ASSURANCES TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO MAINTAIN THE STREAMS ON THE MAP TO THE CHANNEL CAPACITIES ALSO LISTED ON THE MAP. ONE THING TO NOTE, EVEN IF THERE IS NOT A FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, THE ASSURANCES TO MAINTAIN THESE STREAM REACHES STILL REMAINS. WHEN YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT GOVERNANCE, [00:55:01] YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER HOW THIS HISTORIC COLLABORATION WILL FIT IN WITH THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AS I DON'T BELIEVE THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT IS INTENDED TO BE AN EXCLUSIVE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS EFFORT. NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THE EAST SIDE OF THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER, AND THIS MAP SHOWS WHERE THE COUNTY HAS SEEN FLOODS IN THE PAST AND THE FEMA FLOOD HAZARD ZONE. THE BLUE ZONE IS THE HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD ZONE. PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN THE FLOOD ZONE MAY BE REQUIRED BY THEIR MORTGAGE LENDER TO HOLD FLOOD INSURANCE, AND THEY MAY BE SEEING HIGHER COSTS DUE TO BEING LOCATED IN THE FLOOD ZONE. WHILE WE DON'T HAVE GOOD INUNDATION MAPS OF HISTORIC FLOODS, WE DID NOTE ON THIS MAP SOME OF THE MORE MEMORABLE PAST FLOODS, NOT AN EXCLUSIVE LIST, BUT IT'S SHOWING PLACES THAT HAVE FLOODED AND MAY BE AT RISK FOR FLOODING IN THE FUTURE. WHEN YOU CONSIDER FLOOD ZONES AND AREAS THAT WILL BENEFIT AND PAY FOR FLOOD RISK REDUCTION PROJECTS. ALSO NOTE THAT MANY OF THESE COMMUNITIES ARE DISADVANTAGED OR SEVERELY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES AS NOTED ON THE MAP. SO THIS MAP ISN'T INTENDED TO SHOW FORMAL PRIORITIZATION, BUT IT DOES REFLECT WHERE FLOOD CONTROL PROTECTION MAY HAVE THE MOST IMPACT AND AREAS THAT MAY BE CONSIDERED A HIGHER PRIORITY TO ADDRESS WITH THE LIMITED RESOURCES THAT YOU HAVE. AND NEXT, I'LL HAND IT OVER TO NATHAN BRAY. >> THANK YOU, LACY. GOOD MORNING. IT'LL GO UP IN JUST A LITTLE BIT. GOOD MORNING, BOARD CHAIR AND SUPERVISORS. THE NEXT SLIDE JUST FURTHER ILLUSTRATES MAYBE HOW WE WOULD CALCULATE FLOOD RISK THAT LACY WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT. SO THERE'S THREE MAIN COMPONENTS THAT THE COUNTY OR AN AGENCY WOULD TYPICALLY USE. ONE WOULD BE EXPOSURE, AND THAT TOP PORTION OF THE VN DIAGRAM IS YOUR POPULATION DENSITY. HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU HAVE LIVING WITHIN A CERTAIN AREA THAT WOULD BE IMPACTED BY A FLOOD. NEXT IN THE RED IS WHAT YOU'D CALL YOUR VULNERABILITY OR YOUR POVERTY RATE. WHAT CENSUS TRACK ARE YOU IN? ARE YOU IN A DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY? ARE YOU ABLE TO MITIGATE RISKS ON YOUR OWN OR NOT? AND THEN LAST AND IN THE BLUE IS WHAT'S KNOWN AS YOUR HAZARD. AND THIS CAN BE THOUGHT OF AS IF IT WERE TO FLOOD, HOW DEEP WOULD THE WATER BE IN YOUR SPECIFIC AREA? IF YOU HAD 100 YEAR STORM EVENT, WOULD IT BE SIX INCHES, WOULD IT BE SIX FEET? SO ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT ANALYSES ARE LAID TOGETHER TO DETERMINE A QUANTITATIVE FLOOD RISK DAMAGE THAT WOULD BE USED TO HELP INSTITUTE PROJECTS IN ZONES. NEXT. THERE WE GO, WOULD BE, HOW WOULD A FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT RESPOND TO IN TERMS OF MAINTENANCE AND PROJECTS? A FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT WOULD TYPICALLY PROVIDE ONGOING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT VEGETATION MANAGEMENT WITHIN THE CHANNEL. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SEDATATION REMOVAL THROUGH DREDGING. IT CAN ALSO DO LARGER PROJECTS TO POTENTIALLY INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF CHANNELS. YOU COULD RAISE THE BANKS, YOU COULD WIDEN THE CHANNELS. YOU COULD CONSTRUCT FLOOD DETENTION FACILITIES, MUCH LIKE WE ARE DOING WITH THE BLACK RASCAL FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT. THESE ARE JUST DIFFERENT TYPES OF ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS THAT A FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT COULD ENGAGE IN AND GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, WHICH RENA WILL SPEAK ON A LITTLE BIT LATER TO HELP IDENTIFY WHAT PROJECTS AND WHAT FUNDING AMOUNTS WOULD BE ASSESSED TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO ENGAGE IN THOSE PROJECTS. I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THE ESTIMATED AMOUNT, ANNUAL AMOUNT, JUST FOR VEGETATION MANAGEMENT ALONE, JUST FOR THE STREAMS LISTED IN THE MERCED STREAMS GROUP IS ESTIMATED ABOUT $3.5 MILLION A YEAR, JUST VEGETATION MANAGEMENT ALONE. SO I THINK WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO RENA. >> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR PEDROSO, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, CEO, HENDRICKSON, AND COUNTY COUNCIL, HANSON. I'M GOING TO GO OVER GOVERNANCE OPTIONS FOR THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND THEN PROVIDE A SUMMARY OF FUNDING OPTIONS, A SUMMARY OF HOW BENEFIT ASSESSMENTS APPLY TO THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND THE REQUIRED BALLOT PROCESS FOR AN ASSESSMENT. [01:00:01] FOR GOVERNANCE OPTIONS, AS YOU KNOW, PURSUANT TO THE MERCED COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT ACT, THE BOARD OF SUPER EMPOWERED TO ACT AS EX OFFICIO, THE BOARD FOR THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. THE BOARD MAY APPOINT A COMMISSION OF NOT MORE THAN SEVEN MEMBERS TO SERVE THE DISTRICT, OR THEY CAN ALSO ELECT TO DO COMMISSIONS BY ZONES. THE BOARD CAN DELEGATE ANY OR ALL OF ITS POWERS TO THE COMMISSION. I HAVE NOTED ALSO THAT THE BOARD CANNOT DELEGATE THE POWER TO CREATE OR MODIFY A ZONE OR REPLACE ITS MEMBERS. I HAVE LISTED SOME OTHER GOVERNANCE EXAMPLES FROM OTHER FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICTS THAT HAVE DIFFERENT MODELS. I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THE CONTRA COSTA AND TO LARRY COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICTS ARE THE MOST SIMILAR TO MERCED COUNTY, WHERE THERE IS A COMMISSION THAT IS APPOINTED BY THE BOARD AND THE BOARD MAY DELEGATE ITS POWERS TO THE COMMISSION. OTHER FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICTS ARE ALSO LISTED WITH ADVISORY COMMISSIONS AND GOVERNING BOARDS. I WILL NOW TURN TO FUNDING OPTIONS. THE DISTRICT HAS THE POWER TO ISSUE BONDS AND ALSO IMPOSE TAXES OR BENEFIT ASSESSMENTS. ASSESSMENTS CAN BE MADE UPON PROPERTIES IN THE DISTRICT. THEY CAN BE SOUGHT FROM ALL PROPERTIES IN THE DISTRICT TO PAY GENERAL EXPENSES AND ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS OF THE DISTRICT. THEY CAN ALSO BE SOUGHT FOR ZONES CREATED. THE BENEFIT ASSESSMENT AMOUNT IS BASED ON THE ACTUAL FLOOD PROTECTION BENEFIT PROPERTY OWNERS RECEIVE FROM THE PROJECTS, INCLUDED IN THE ENGINEER'S REPORT AND THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE STORMWATER SYSTEM. THE BENEFIT ASSESSMENT AMOUNT IS BASED ON BOTH STORMWATER AND FLOOD PROTECTION BENEFIT RECEIVED FROM EACH PROPERTY, AND EACH PROPERTY WILL PAY A DIFFERENT AMOUNT. THAT AMOUNT IS BASED OFF OF THE RUNOFF EACH PROPERTY CONTRIBUTES TO THE SYSTEM. AN INDIVIDUAL PROPERTIES ASSESSMENT AMOUNT IS ESTIMATED FROM SEVERAL FACTORS AND WEIGHTED BY BENEFIT. THESE FACTORS INCLUDE PARCEL SIZE, TYPE OF LAND USE AND LOCATION WITHIN OR OUTSIDE OF A MAPPED FLOODPLAIN. A PROPERTY OWNER'S EXACT PROPOSED ASSESSMENT AMOUNT MUST BE INCLUDED ON THEIR NOTICE AND BALLOT FOR A BENEFIT ASSESSMENT. THE BENEFIT ASSESSMENT MAY INCREASE EVERY YEAR PROPORTIONAL TO THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX. OTHER FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICTS EXAMPLES WERE ALSO RESEARCHED, AND I'M JUST GOING TO GO OVER THOSE PRETTY BRIEFLY. ALAMEDA COUNTY HAD A RECENT BALLOT VOTE FOR A PROPOSED INCREASE IN A BENEFIT ASSESSMENT. THAT ASSESSMENT DID NOT GET APPROVED. AT THIS TIME, ALAMEDA COUNTY HAS AN EXISTING ASSESSMENT FOR THREE ZONES THAT REQUIRE A $25 ANNUAL PAYMENT BY PROPERTY OWNERS IN THOSE ZONES. THIS AMOUNT HAS NOT INCREASED IN 30 YEARS, AND IT WILL NOT INCREASE NOW BECAUSE THEIR BALLOT FAILED. MARIN COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT FUNDING IS FROM ADVORM TAXES AND ASSESSMENTS AND GRANT FUNDING. NAPA COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICTS FUNDING IS LARGELY FROM A HALF CENT TAX THAT WAS APPROVED IN 1998, CREATING A NAPA FLOOD PROTECTION AND WATERSHED IMPROVEMENT EXPENDITURE PLAN, ALONG WITH A FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND A TECHNICAL ADVISORY PANEL. THIS TAX REQUIRED A BALLOT VOTE, AND THAT WAS A TWO THIRDS VOTE. NAPA ALSO RECEIVED FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING. I WILL NOW PROVIDE A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE BALLOT PROCESS FOR A BENEFIT ASSESSMENT. PLEASE NOTE, THIS PROCESS IS NOT THE SAME AS THE COUNTY'S RECENT PROCESS FOR WATER SEWER OR GARBAGE RATES. FOR A BENEFIT ASSESSMENT UNDER PROPOSITION 218, THE COUNTY IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A NOTICE AND BALLOT MAILED TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS. THE NOTICE MUST BE 45 DAYS PRIOR TO THE DATE OF A REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARING. A PUBLIC HEARING NEEDS TO BE HELD, AND DURING THAT HEARING, BALLOTS ARE TABULATED. BALLOTS CAN BE MAILED IN, AND THEY CAN ALSO BE DELIVERED TO THE DAY OF THE HEARING. THE VOTES WILL BE WEIGHTED BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF EACH PROPERTY BENEFIT ASSESSMENT. [01:05:08] SO AGAIN, A WEIGHTED VOTE, MEANING THE LARGER THE PARCEL, LIKELY, YOU WILL GET A LARGER AMOUNT OF VOTING RIGHTS. THE NUMBER OF TOTAL WEIGHTED VOTES CAST IS DETERMINATIVE FOR A BENEFIT ASSESSMENT. AS A RESULT, IF 50% OR MORE OF THE WEIGHTED VOTES SUBMITTED, OPPOSE AN ASSESSMENT, THEN IT CANNOT BE IMPLEMENTED OR IMPOSED ON PROPERTY OWNERS. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO REPEAT ANY OF THAT PROCESS? I'M HAPPY TO. I DO NOT. THIS IS THE END OF MY SLIDE, BUT I'LL BE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS, OF COURSE. NOW I'M GOING TO TURN IT BACK TO LACY. >> GREAT. AS YOU CONSIDER THE NEXT STEPS FOR THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, WE HAVE SOME KEY DECISIONS THAT YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER. THE FIRST BEING AROUND GOVERNANCE. IS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OR AN APPOINTED COMMISSION GOING TO BE THE GOVERNING BODY FOR THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, AND WHERE OR HOW DO THE HISTORIC COLLABORATIONS FIT INTO GOVERNANCE? NEXT WOULD BE, IS THERE ANY INTEREST IN INITIATING THE NECESSARY ENGINEERING THROUGH AN RFP PROCESS FOR STARTING TO IDENTIFY THE FLOOD CONTROL ZONES, PRIORITIES, PROJECTS, AND COSTS? THEN, FINALLY, IS THERE AN INTEREST IN STARTING TO ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS AND PROPERTY OWNERS IN THIS EFFORT, AS THEY WILL PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN SUPPORTING PROJECTS AND FUNDING THOSE PROJECTS? THAT WRAPS UP THE SLIDES THAT WE HAVE, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. >> I'M GOING TO OPEN THIS UP FOR QUESTIONS, AND THEN WE'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT, AND THEN WE'LL BRING IT BACK FOR DECISIONS. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. RENA, HOPEFULLY, NEEDS MORE STEPS TODAY. YOU COMMENTED ON PROPERTY OWNERS BEING CHARGED OR ASSESSED, ACCORDING TO HOW MUCH WATER RUNS OFF THEIR PROPERTY? >> RIGHT. >> IS THAT WHAT YOU MEANT? IF SOMEBODY'S UP IN THE FOOTHILLS OUTSIDE OF MERCED AND THEY OWN 1,000 ACRES, THEN THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RAINWATER THAT HITS THEIR PROPERTY AND COMES DOWNSTREAM? >> HONESTLY, ALL OF THIS IS VETTED THROUGH AN ENGINEER'S REPORT. THE AMOUNT WILL BE DETERMINED IN A STUDY DONE BY AN ENGINEER. THAT'S MY SHORT LEGAL ANSWER TO YOUR COMPLICATED WATER QUESTION. >> I THINK I'VE NEVER THOUGHT OF WATER LEAVING YOUR PROPERTY, AND THEN WHATEVER IT DOES AFTER. IF YOU'RE PUMPING WATER AND YOU'RE IRRIGATING AND YOUR DRAIN WATER GETS AWAY FROM YOU, I CAN SEE RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY THERE, BUT FOR RAINWATER, THAT JUST SEEMS INTERESTING. I KNOW IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, YOU HAVE TO CAPTURE YOUR RAINWATER ON YOUR PROPERTY. THE REASON FOR THAT IS SO IT PERCHES DOWN AND KEEPS SALTWATER INTRUSION AT BAY, BUT ANYWAY, JUST AN INTERESTING THOUGHT THERE. >> AGAIN, TO GO OVER THE FACTORS THAT ARE LISTED IN THE MATERIALS. PARCEL SIZE. LARGER PROPERTIES TYPICALLY PAY MORE THAN SMALLER PROPERTIES, AND THAT'S JUST A GENERAL OVERVIEW. TYPE OF LAND USE. LAND USE IS USED TO ESTIMATE THE AMOUNT OF STORMWATER EXPECTED TO RUN OFF FROM THE LAND. PROPERTIES WITH MORE IMPERVIOUS SURFACE, SUCH AS PARKING LOTS, INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES, AND SO FORTH, WILL PAY MORE THAN AGRICULTURAL OR OPEN SPACE PROPERTIES. THIS IS BECAUSE MORE STORMWATER RUNS OFF THE IMPERVIOUS SURFACE INTO CREEKS. THEN, RELATING TO WHETHER YOU'RE ON A MAP FLOODPLAIN, PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN A MAP FLOODPLAIN WILL PAY MORE THAN THOSE THAT ARE NOT IN A FLOODPLAIN BECAUSE THEY WILL RECEIVE A GREATER BENEFIT FROM THE FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS. >> MAYBE I'M GETTING INTO THE WEEDS. NEVER MIND. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE BITES AT THIS APPLE. I GUESS I'LL JUST PUT IT OUT THERE, BUT IF YOU HAVE SLOPED LAND, AND I'M THINKING OF RANGE LAND, [01:10:01] THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT PERCOLATES INTO THE GROUND OFF OF RAIN IS GREATER THAN IF YOU HAVE SEMI-BARE LAND. IF YOU THINK OF AN ALMOND ORCHARD THAT SPRAYS THE WEEDS AND DOESN'T HAVE VEGETATION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROWS, THAT INCREASES THE RUNOFF FROM THAT PROPERTY. BOTH OF THOSE ARE AG USES, BUT ONE GENERATES MORE RUNOFF THAN THE OTHER. >> I THINK IT'S ALL GOING TO BE LARGELY DEPENDENT ON HOW IT'S EVALUATED BY THE ENGINEER. >> I GET YOU. THANK YOU. >> SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, I CAN SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, TOO. THE RUNOFF RATES THAT WOULD BE CALCULATED, THERE'S A STANDARD FORMULA, AND THOSE NUANCES OF HOW A PROPERTY IS DEVELOPED THEY'RE TYPICALLY REFERRED TO AS C VALUES. IN THE EQUATION, C STANDS FOR THE RUNOFF COEFFICIENT. LIKE YOU SAID, EACH PROPERTY WOULD BE TAKEN A LOOK AT TO DETERMINE ITS RUNOFF COEFFICIENT, WHICH WOULD HELP IDENTIFY WHAT THE RUNOFF AMOUNT IS FROM A CERTAIN STORM. >> WE'RE GOING TO CREATE GROUNDWATER RECHARGE SPONTANEOUSLY HERE. I ASSUMED THAT THE PERSON WHO WAS AT RISK OF GETTING FLOODED WOULD BE THE PERSON WHO WOULD PAY THE PROP 218 FEE TO ELIMINATE THE FLOODING. I NEVER THOUGHT THAT NATURAL RAINWATER WOULD BE A CAUSE FOR DEDON TO PAY AS WELL. >> SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. I AGREE WITH YOU. I NEVER THOUGHT OF THAT EITHER. I GUESS WE'LL BE ENCOURAGING LOCK DAMS FOR FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO SET UP LITTLE DAMS ON THEIR PROPERTY TO AVOID THE RUNOFF. THAT'S WHAT THEY USED TO DO IN THE OLD DAYS, THAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO TEAR DOWN ON OUR NATIONAL FOREST NOW, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING, NAPA COUNTY IS CURRENTLY GETTING FEDERAL FUNDING FROM THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND FEMA, AS WELL AS FLOOD CONTROL SUBSIDY FUNDS. IS THAT AVAILABLE TO MERCED COUNTY AT THIS POINT? >> SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, I'M NOT AWARE OF THE SUBVENTION FUNDS FOR THE FLOOD CONTROL. I KNOW MERCED COUNTY DOES RECEIVE VERY LIMITED FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDS. MOST OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE'RE CONDUCTING ARE ONGOING MAINTENANCE AS IDENTIFIED IN THE O&M MANUALS OF THE MERCED STREAMS GROUP. WE DO HAVE A PARTNER WITH NHRS, THE NATURAL RESOURCES, TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR A BLACK RASCAL FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT, BUT IT'S REALLY LIMITED TOWARDS PROJECT-SPECIFIC RATHER THAN ONGOING MAINTENANCE. >> MAKING STEPS TOWARDS CREATING THE RESPONSIBILITY, DOES THAT OPEN UP MORE FUNDING COMING TOWARDS US TO DO THIS? I APPRECIATE THE MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION FOR A FULL DISCUSSION. I KNOW WE MOVED THE MEETING TO THIS DATE. IS THERE ANYBODY HERE FROM MID THAT WAS GOING TO SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF OR BE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION? BECAUSE I KNOW WE MOVED IT TO THIS DATE BECAUSE THIS DATE THEY WERE AVAILABLE. I JUST DON'T SEE ANYBODY FROM MID HERE TO SPEAK ON IT. >> TO ANSWER YOUR FIRST QUESTION, I'M NOT AWARE IF IT CREATES A HIGHER PRIORITY FOR US TO GRAB SOME MORE FEDERAL OR STATE FUNDS. >> BECAUSE IF THERE'S ONGOING, NO, WE'RE NOT GROWING A WHOLE LOT OF WINE GRAPES HERE. I KNOW THE FOLKS IN SACRAMENTO, ESPECIALLY OUR GOVERNOR, LIKE TO DRINK WINE, BUT I THINK HE EATS ALMONDS AND PISTACHIOS AND PROBABLY SOME TOMATOES AS WELL. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THERE IS ONGOING FUNDING FOR MERCED COUNTY FOR THIS, BUT THIS IS A HEAVY WEIGHT FOR MERCED COUNTY TO CARRY BY ITSELF. I JUST WISH OUR PARTNERS FROM THE CITY OF MERCED AND MID WERE HERE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS DISCUSSION BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES WHO BROUGHT IT FORWARD. I APPRECIATE OUR PREVIOUS MEETING WITH THEM, BUT IT'S GONE CRICKET SINCE THEN, AND I'D APPRECIATE FOR THEIR DISCUSSIONS ON THIS BEFORE WE GET TOO FAR INTO THE WEEDS ON THIS, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT, BUT I APPRECIATE ALL THE INFORMATION NOW, BUT THOSE TWO, WHEN FUNDING AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL PERK UP, BECAUSE I'M PRETTY GOOD AT SNIFFING THAT OUT AND FINDING WAYS TO GET IT, I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF THERE'S A PATH FORWARD BECAUSE NAPA IS GETTING IT. I DON'T KNOW WHY MERCED COUNTY IS NOT GETTING IT. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. >> SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I KNOW WE'VE NOT OPENED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT YET, BUT AS YOU SEE THE KEY DECISION POINTS UP, I JUST WANT TO SHARE MY INITIAL THOUGHTS ON THEM. NUMBER 1 IS, [01:15:01] I THINK THAT, AT LEAST FOR ME, AND I'D BE CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT MY COLLEAGUES SEE, IF WE DO GO DOWN THIS ROAD, SETTING UP A COMMISSION THAT THE BOARD HAS APPOINTEES ON, I THINK IS PROBABLY THE BETTER WAY TO GO. I'M NOT A WATER EXPERT, BUT I KNOW A LOT OF SMART PEOPLE IN WATER, AND I WOULD RATHER SEE ONE OF THEM THERE THAN ME BEING THERE. THIS IS WHAT THE SCARY PART IS, THE SECOND ONE IS INITIATING ENGINEERING TO IDENTIFY. THAT IS GOING TO BE COST-PROHIBITIVE. IT IS GOING TO BE SUPER EXPENSIVE. IF WE JUST HIRE AN ENGINEER TO ENGINEER A BUILDING, IT'S A CRAZY COST. IMAGINE HAVING TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHOSE WATER COEFFICIENTS ARE. THAT'S YOUR LANGUAGE, NATHAN. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT COST WOULD BE. IT SEEMS LIKE, TO ME, REALLY STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT SHOULD BE AHEAD OF THAT BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, AND THE WAY THAT THIS FALLS IN THE 218 PROCESS IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM IT, IS IF YOU'RE JUST RAISING YOUR UTILITY RATES. UTILITY RATES, YOU SEND IT OUT, AND IF YOU DON'T GET A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE THAT OPPOSE IT, THEN IT PASSES. IN THIS SITUATION, YOU NEED TO HAVE ONE OF THE ONES THAT SHOW UP THAT GETS COUNTED. IT'S NOT JUST THAT WE HAVE 1,000 PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO VOTE, AND IF FEWER THAN 500 SEND IN OPPOSITION LETTERS, IT AUTOMATICALLY PASSES. THIS IS IF ONLY 100 SEND THEM IN, AND 51 OF THEM SAY WE OPPOSE IT, THEN IT'S DEAD. I THINK THAT, AS WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THIS, STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT NEEDS TO BE A HIGHER PRIORITY BECAUSE I'M NOT WILLING TO PUT COUNTY TAXPAYER RESOURCES AT RISK SPENDING, AND WHAT MY ESTIMATION, AND I HAVE NO IDEA I'M GUESSING HERE, BUT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS DOING ENGINEERING REPORTS TO THEN FIND OUT THAT THE PUBLIC THAT IT'S GOING TO BENEFIT HAS NO INTEREST IN DOING IT. I JUST CAN'T SEE MYSELF DOING THAT. THEN THE OTHER PIECE IS I UNDERSTAND THAT, IN MY OPINION, IF YOU WERE TO COME UP WITH SOME GENERIC WEIGHTED VOTE TYPE OF DEAL, BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE 100 ACRES VERSUS JUST HAVING A PARCEL, IT'S VERY DIFFERENT, BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO GET DOWN TO THE NITTY GRITTY THAT SAYS THAT, NATHAN, YOUR PIECE OF PROPERTY, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY $13.47 A MONTH AND SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, YOUR PIECE OF PROPERTY, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY $27.30 A MONTH, JUST THE BACK END WORK TO HAVE ALL THOSE PARCELS INDIVIDUALLY CALCULATED OUT, IT'S A NON-STARTER. WE'RE NOT DOING IT. IT'S TOO MUCH MONEY IN ENGINEERING REPORTS, STAFF TIME, ALL THAT STUFF. I WOULD LOVE US TO CONSIDER. IT'S BEEN DONE BEFORE BECAUSE UP IN, I WAS IN ALAMEDA, THEY HAVE JUST A FLAT RATE, WHICH IS A PER-PARCEL ASSESSMENT. I THINK THAT'S THE EASIEST WAY TO DO IT. YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME GENERIC PARAMETERS THAT YOU PUT AROUND IT THAT SAY, IF YOU MEET THIS CRITERIA, YOU'RE GOING TO BE $10 A PARCEL. IF YOU MEET THESE CRITERIA, IT'S GOING TO GO TO 15 OR 20. I THINK KEEPING IT THAT MUCH MORE SIMPLER, PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND THE NUMBER, YOU CAN EQUATE IT BETTER, AND I THINK YOU GET A BETTER BUY-IN. BECAUSE IF YOU COME TO ME AND YOU SAY, IT'S ONLY GOING TO COST YOU $10.14 A YEAR TO DO THIS, I'M LIKE, $10.14 FOR FLOOD PROTECTION, I'M GOOD WITH THAT, BUT IF YOU COME TO ME AND YOU TELL ME IT'S $10,000, I'M GOING TO PROBABLY GO TELL YOU, I'M NOT DOING THAT. I'M TRYING TO LOOK AT IT FROM THE STAKEHOLDERS' PERSPECTIVE, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LAWS ALLOW US TO DO, BUT I'D LIKE US TO AT LEAST START CONSIDERING SOME OF THAT BEFORE WE GO DOWN THIS ROAD FURTHER. BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT THE TAXPAYERS OF MERCED COUNTY ARE SPENDING $3.5 MILLION A YEAR TO JUST DO MAINTENANCE ON THIS STUFF, AND IT'S AN UNSUSTAINABLE PATH. WHEN IT BECOMES UNSUSTAINABLE, IT MEANS WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO IT. IT DOESN'T GET DONE. YOU HAVE A FLOOD EVENT LIKE WE HAD A FEW YEARS AGO, AND THAT $3.5 MILLION DOESN'T LOOK SO EXPENSIVE, VERSUS THE COST DAMAGE IS OF DAMAGE WHEN A FLOOD COMES IN. WE'RE REALLY IN A TOUGH SPOT, AND I APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE AT LEAST ENGAGING IT AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT SOME POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS. I DO WANT TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUE'S COMMENTS, THAT I UNDERSTAND HOW THIS DEAL WAS SET UP, AS IT TOOK STATE LEGISLATURE ACTION. I THINK COSTA WAS THE STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER AT THE TIME WHEN IT HAPPENED, BUT THIS ALSO AFFECTS OUR PARTNERS, AND IT IS A LITTLE DISHEARTENING TO ME TO NOT SEE OUR PARTNERS HERE AND AT LEAST PROVIDE COMMENT, WHICH WE HAVEN'T OPENED THAT YET, SO MAYBE THEY'LL SURPRISE ME, BUT I THINK THAT WE CAN GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE LEAD ON THIS BECAUSE IT WAS DESIGNATED TO US BY THE STATE, BUT ULTIMATELY, IF WE DON'T HAVE WILLING PARTNERS, [01:20:02] I DON'T SEE HOW WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. IF THEY DON'T TAKE ANYTHING ELSE FROM THIS CONVERSATION, HERE'S YOUR INVITATION TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION. OTHERWISE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. >> SUPERVISOR PACHECO. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. MY COLLEAGUE TOUCHED A LITTLE BIT. AS FAR AS RESIDENTIAL AND DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, WE ALREADY HAVE ONE THAT HAS ALREADY SUFFERED. HOW IS THAT MITIGATED? ARE THEY THE SAME STAKEHOLDERS AS EVERYBODY ELSE? >> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I THINK IT DEPENDS ON HOW THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND ZONES ARE ESTABLISHED. THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO IDENTIFY ANY NUMBER OF ZONES THAT THE BOARD WOULD LIKE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE A ZONE FOR EACH COMMUNITY, YOU COULD DO THAT. I WOULD ESTIMATE THAT THE NUMBER OF ZONES THAT INCREASE, YOUR COST WILL INCREASE AS WELL, SO IT DEPENDS ON HOW IT'S SET UP. WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT FLOOD CONTROL RISK, ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, THAT FACTOR IS IN THERE. WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT ASSIGNING RISKS AND PROJECTS, IT'LL COME INTO PLAY THAT WAY, BUT ULTIMATELY, IT DEPENDS ON HOW MANY ZONES AND HOW THE ZONES ARE ESTABLISHED. >> THANK YOU. >> SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WHEN YOU DO A 218, WHATEVER YOUR COST IS, IT HAS TO BE TO YOUR BENEFIT. EACH AREA, LIKE THE RISK OF FLOOD, WILL BE ONE FACTOR, AND THEN THE SECOND ONE WOULD BE THE VALUE OF YOUR PROPERTY. IF YOU HAVE A MILLION-DOLLAR PROPERTY, YOUR ASSESSMENT IS GOING TO BE HIGHER THAN IF YOU HAVE A $200,000 PROPERTY. TO SOME DEGREE, THAT WILL HELP THE DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES BECAUSE, GENERALLY, THEIR PROPERTY VALUES ARE WORTH LESS, SO THE FACTOR TIMES THEIR PROPERTY VALUE WOULD MEAN THAT THEY WOULD PAY LESS. ANYWAYS, THE OTHER POINT IS THAT THE ENGINEERING REPORT IS REALLY NOT AS EXPENSIVE AS YOU WOULD THINK, AND I'M GOING TO ASK LACY. WE'VE DONE SOME ENGINEERING REPORTS FOR THE GSA. I KNOW THAT'S NOT APPLES AND APPLES, BUT COULD YOU JUST SHARE THE COST OF SOME OF THE GSA ENGINEERING? OR DO YOU THINK IT'S NOT APPLES AND ORANGES CLOSE ENOUGH TO SAY? >> I WOULD SAY THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT IS GOING TO BE VERY MUCH MORE TECHNICAL THAN WHAT THE GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY HAS DONE FOR THEIR FEE STUDIES OR ENGINEERING REPORTS. IN THE PAST, THE GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCIES HAVE PAID BETWEEN, I WOULD SAY,40,000-70,000 THAN FOR AN ENGINEERING REPORT FOR PROP 218, BUT AGAIN, IT DID NOT INCLUDE THE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAVE TO INCLUDE. >> BUT IT MAY NOT BE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. IT MAY BE A MILLION. >> SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. NATHAN, IF I COULD ADDRESS THIS ONE TO YOU. WE'RE ALREADY SPENDING THE MONEY DOING VEGETATION MANAGEMENT, AND YOU'RE SAYING RIGHT AROUND THREE MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR. >> THREE-AND-A-HALF. >> THREE-AND-A-HALF MILLION A YEAR. CAN WE GET IN FRONT OF THE FLOODING PROGRAM IF WE STAY ON TOP OF OUR VEGETATION MANAGEMENT? >> ULTIMATELY, IT DEPENDS ON THE RAIN EVENT THAT WE HAVE. IF WE HAVE A RAIN EVENT THAT IS ABOVE WHAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT ORIGINALLY WAS DESIGNED FOR, IN MY ESTIMATION, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TWO MORE WATER THAN THE CHANNELS CAN SUPPORT, THAN THEY WERE EVER DESIGNED TO SUPPORT. THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE SOME LEVEL OF. >> WHICH IS USUALLY WHAT THEY CONSIDER A 100-YEAR FLOOD OR? >> THAT'S THE TYPICAL DESIGN STANDARD NOWADAYS. I'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE YET WHAT THE DESIGN STANDARD WAS WHEN THE PROJECTS WITH THE RESERVOIRS AND THE STREAMS WERE DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE, IF IT'S 100 YEAR, IF IT'S A 75-YEAR. IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE AMOUNT OF WATER RECEIVED AND THE INTENSITY OF THE STORM. I CAN'T SAY WITHOUT CERTAINTY, IF WE DO THIS, THEN THIS WILL HAPPEN. >> I THINK WHAT I'M GETTING TO IS WITHOUT HAVING TO DO A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY, A COMPREHENSIVE ALL THIS OTHER STUFF, IF WE JUST STAY AHEAD OF THE MAINTENANCE. I'M NOT SAYING THAT. LET'S DO IT WITH OUR PARTNERS, AND LET'S ALL FIGURE THIS OUT AND PUT THE MONEY IN TO BE ABLE TO BE SUSTAINABLE. [01:25:02] WE KNOW WE NEED SOME DREDGING AS WELL. WE HAVE THE CONGRESSMAN'S STAFF PERSON HERE. I HOPE HE'S TAKEN NOTES. BUT WE DEFINITELY NEED THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS INVOLVED IN THIS FOR DREDGING TO KEEP THOSE WATERWAYS SUFFICIENT, BECAUSE LOOK AT ALL THE SEDIMENT WE HAVE THERE NOW. WE KNOW THAT WAS PART OF IT THIS LAST TIME, AND WE HAD SOME FOLKS IN WASHINGTON, DC, WHO WANT TO HELP US WITH THE DREDGING AS WELL TO HELP US OUT BECAUSE THE CAPACITY OF OUR STREAMS AREN'T AS MUCH AS WHAT THEY USED TO BE BECAUSE OF THAT SEDIMENT. WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS THERE A WAY WE CAN FORM A PARTNERSHIP TO GET IN FRONT OF THIS AND JUST STAY AHEAD OF THE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT AND THE DREDGING? COULD THAT SOLVE A LOT OF OUR PROBLEMS? >> WELL, I THINK THERE'S AN EXISTING PARTNERSHIP RIGHT NOW, THE MERCED STREAMS GROUP, WHICH IS THE GROUP THAT HAS IDENTIFIED THE ASSURANCES AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES. THE COUNTY RIGHT NOW IN LACK OF THE OTHER MEMBER AGENCIES PERFORMING WORK. WE'VE STEPPED UP, AND WE ARE, I GUESS, ACTING AS A LEAD AGENCY, BECAUSE THERE'S THIS VOID OF OUR PARTNERS. CAN WE STAY AHEAD? I DON'T KNOW, BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS WE CAN COMPLETE THE WORK THAT'S IDENTIFIED IN THE OPERATION MAINTENANCE MANUALS THAT WERE ESTABLISHED WHEN THE PROJECTS WERE DONE. THAT'S WHAT THE RESPONSIBILITY IS TO THE MERCED STREAMS GROUP. IF WE WANTED TO DO A FURTHER EVALUATION, WHAT WOULD WE NEED TO DO TO MITIGATE CERTAIN THINGS? THAT'S PROBABLY ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO RIGHT NOW. >> BECAUSE I SEE, BEAR CREEK IT'S FULL RIGHT NOW, RUNNING WATER. IS THAT NATURAL? >> TO MY UNDERSTANDING, NO, I BELIEVE A LOT OF THE CHANNELS ARE USED FOR IRRIGATION PURPOSES. >> THAT'S THANK YOU. >> SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. >> THANK YOU. >> MISS CHAIR. THE OTHER PIECE I FORGOT TO MENTION EARLIER IS. JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT STUDYING THESE AREAS, TYPICALLY, THE HIGHER YOU UP, YOU'RE NOT IN A FLOOD ZONE. THE FOCUS WOULD BE IN THE FLOOD ZONE. IT TENDS TO BE WHERE, WHEN YOU GET LOWER DOWN FROM THE FOOTHILLS, CORRECT? >> THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. YES. >> I THINK, IF I'M SITTING UP BY ONE OF THESE RESERVOIRS AND I HAVE PROPERTY UP THERE, I REALLY DON'T HAVE A RISK OF FLOODING. IT JUST RUNS DOWNHILL. IT'S REALLY MORE FOR THE FLAT LAND AREAS IS THE AREA THAT THESE WOULD BE FOCUSED IN. >> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY WOULD RECEIVE THE GREATEST BENEFIT FROM A FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT. >> YEAH. PERFECT. THANK YOU. >> I WILL NOW OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THIS ITEM. TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO 3 MINUTES PER PERSON. >> GOOD MORNING. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW ME ALREADY, OLIVIA GOMEZ FROM PLANAVA. I WASN'T REALLY PLANNING TO TALK, BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO SHARE OUR KNOWLEDGE TOGETHER AND SEE I COULD ONLY SPEAK FOR PLANAVA. IN HEARING YOUR QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE EVERYBODY AROUND THE TABLE BECAUSE EVEN GOING AROUND TO FARMERS AND SEEING THEIR LAND, ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS OR ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE IS WITH SOME OF THE MID CANALS CRACKED AND GOING INTO THE CREEK. IN THE SUMMER, THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY WATER IN THE CREEK. THERE IS WATER IN THE CREEK. IT CONTINUES WITH THE VEGETATION. BECAUSE THAT IS AN EXPENSIVE PART, HOW DO WE FIX THAT CANAL THAT IS CRACKED AND IT IS BILLING WATER INTO THE CREEK? I THINK THAT WOULD ALLEVIATE SOME EXPENSES, AT LEAST IN THE PLANATA AREA. ANOTHER RESOURCE THAT IS IMPORTANT. THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY OUT THERE IN THE STATE AND FEDERAL. I KNOW DWR HAS STARTED WORKING. THEY SAW THAT THE COUNTY DIDN'T APPLY FOR FUNDING FOR PLANADA. THEY WENT AND APPLIED, AND THEY HAVE. BECAUSE ENGINEERING IS EXPENSIVE. THEY GOT THIS GRANT TO DO SOME OF THE ENGINEERING AND PLANNING FOR THAT AREA. I KNOW WE HAVE $20,000,000. HOW COULD WE EVEN BRING THOSE MONIES TOGETHER? IF WE HAVE TO DO A FLOOD ENGINEERING PLAN, [01:30:01] HOW DO WE PUT IT IN THERE ALREADY TO COVER THIS AREA OR OTHER AREAS, AND CONTINUE? I KNOW I SIT FOR SELF HELP ENTERPRISE FOR THEIR BOARD. I KNOW THEY'RE ONE OF THE BIGGEST ONE OF MAIN AGENCIES GETTING FUNDING FROM THE STATE TO HELP SMALL COMMUNITIES, SMALL COUNTIES LIKE MERCED, TO BRING MONIES IN AND ALSO HELP WITH THE PLANNING, AND THEY COULD HELP WITH PROP 218. THEY KNOW THEY JUST HELPED US IN PLANADA TO DO A PROP 218 PROJECT. SOMETIMES WE HAVE OUR HANDS TIED BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, FOR US, FOR PLANADA, BECAUSE WE'RE THE FIRST COMMUNITY COMING DOWN, WE'RE THE ONES RECEIVING THE MAJORITY OF THE WATER. BUT THEN ALSO, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO ON A TOUR, AND WE LOST ONE OF THE BIGGEST WATERSHEDS THAT WE HAD, WHICH IS OUR NATURAL RESOURCE UP IN THE MOUNTAIN. BECAUSE ONE DISASTER LEADS TO ANOTHER DISASTER. THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THOSE FOREST FIRES, THE WATER IS NOT STAYING UP IN THE SHED. EVERYTHING JUST RUNS DOWN. EVEN WITH THE SNOW, THE SNOW PACK, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MAIN WATERSHEDS UP IT'S NOT KEEPING THE WATER THERE, SO IT'S COMING DOWN. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT 100 YEAR PLUS, IT'S GOING TO BE ALMOST EVERY OTHER YEAR PLUS UNTIL THAT IS RESTORED. I KNOW CVS IS ALSO WORKING TO RESTORE THAT. >> YOUR TIME IS UP. I'M SORRY. THANK YOU. >> MORNING BOARD, KARTHUR [INAUDIBLE] FROM CONGRESSMAN ADAM GRAY'S OFFICE. AS YOU STATELY POINTED OUT, YES, WE'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO PARTNER, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTING THE VALUE FROM FLOODS. JUST LAST FRIDAY, WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE $93,000,000 FOR DOS PALOS FOR SOME OF THEIR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS. THIS WAS A BIG WIN FOR US, AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE THE MOMENTUM GOING FORWARD. WE WANT TO BE SUPPORTING. COMMUNITIES IN OUR DISTRICT, WHEN IT COMES TO THESE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. I MEAN, IT'S THE ONLY THING THE CONGRESSMAN TALKS ABOUT IS INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE THIS AND BUILDING STUFF LIKE THIS. WE WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT. WHETHER IT'S FOLLOWING UP LATER ON OR CHATTING WITH YOU ALL INDIVIDUALLY, WE WANT TO KNOW HOW WE CAN HELP AND WHAT WE CAN DO. I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO BE PARTNERS IN THIS, AND WANT TO EXTEND THAT INFTATION TO FOLLOWING UP WITH YOU ALL. YOU KNOW WHERE TO FIND US. ALWAYS HAPPY TO BE THERE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, BOARD. MY NAME IS MATT BEEMAN. SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE THE COMMENT THAT MID SUPPORTS A PUBLIC PROCESS THAT ALLOWS THE PUBLIC TO DETERMINE IF THEY WANT TO AND THE EXTENT THAT THEY WANT TO FUND FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. THANK YOU. >> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED, AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR DISCUSSION. BACK TO THE BOARD. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I GUESS MY THOUGHTS ON NEXT STEPS OR KEY POINTS WOULD BE THAT WE MAYBE OPEN UP AND HAVE A TOWN HALL TO GET THE COMMUNITIES INPUT INTO THIS EARLY ON, I THINK. SUPERVISOR SEA'S COUNSEL WAS WISE, AND INVOLVE THE STAKEHOLDERS AND INVITE THE FOLKS FROM THE STREAMS GROUP AND THEN CITIZENS THAT ARE AFFECTED. I THINK, TOWN HALLS, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE EXACT VENUE, OR IF WE HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING, ANOTHER ONE, OR IF WE JUST GO OUT AND MEET IN COMMUNITIES AND INVITE THEM. I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY. I WOULD SAY WE ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY TO FIND OUT THE INTEREST. THEN I THINK, LOOKING AT OTHER FUNDING SOURCES, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE. BUT ANYWAYS, I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD UNTIL IN WHICH TIME WE REALIZE THAT ISN'T THE DIRECTION WE WANT TO GO. BUT, WE'VE HAD SO MANY FLOODS THAT I THINK THIS 1982 ASSEMBLY BILL IS THERE, [01:35:07] AND IF WE CAN UTILIZE IT, SAVE PEOPLE FROM FLOODING. I KNOW NOBODY WANTS TO PAY MORE TAXES. IT MAY NOT GO ANYWHERE, BUT WE SHOULD AT LEAST FIGURE IT OUT THAT WAY. >> THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I AGREE WITH THAT. WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING. WE KNOW BECAUSE, FOLKS IT'S FLOODING. MY DISTRICT WAS FLOODED REALLY BADLY THIS PAST YEAR. THERE WAS NO MEDIA RECOGNITION OR ANYTHING, BUT I HAD FOLKS WITH RUNNING WATER THROUGH THEIR HOUSES FOR SEVEN DAYS. CONTINUOUSLY RUNNING BECAUSE OF THE CONFLUENCE WHERE THE BREAK WAS WITH BEAR CREEK AND BLACK RASCAL CREEK. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WATER. IN FACT, SOME OF THOSE FOLKS SOLD THEIR HOMES AND GOT OUT OF THE AREA. THEY WEREN'T IN A FLOOD DISTRICT, SO YOU GOT TO THINK ABOUT THAT. I LIKE THE TOWN HALL. I LIKE THE FULL DISCUSSIONS BECAUSE WE NEED STAKEHOLDERS HERE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. THEY KNOW MORE ABOUT THE WATER AND THE FLOWS OF WATER IN THEIR AREA THAN ANYBODY DOES, MORE THAN AN ENGINEER REALLY DOES. I THINK MAYBE TAKING STEPS TO FORMALIZE THE STREAMS GROUP. WOULD BE A WAY TO JUMP INTO IT. WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS, I'M TRYING TO SAVE TAXPAYER DOLLARS WITHOUT THIS FORMALIZATION PROCESS OF ALL THESE OTHER THINGS, THE ENGINEERING, BECAUSE I THINK IT CAN BE SOLVED, GETTING AHEAD OF IT ON THE MANAGEMENT OF IT, GETTING THE PERMITS TO DO THE DREDGING AND TO STAY DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING AND DO SOME REINFORCEMENT OF WHERE THE WEAKNESSES ARE THAT WE IDENTIFIED FROM OUR OTHER FLOODING. I THINK THIS IS A WAY TO DO IT. I KNOW WE HAVE THE MR WAMP. I DO SAID ON THAT ON THAT BOARD AS WELL. THAT INCLUDES LIVINGSTON, CITY LIVINGSTON, CITY OF ATWATER. ANOTHER THING IS WE ONLY MEET ENOUGH TIMES TO BASICALLY GO AFTER GRANTS, AND THEN HOW THE DISTRIBUTES THOSE GRANTS. BUT I THINK THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN WADE INTO THE WATER ON THIS WITHOUT SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY. IF WE GET TO A PLACE TO WHERE IT'S IDENTIFIED WHERE THERE IS FUNDING AT THE STATE, LET'S TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT AT THAT POINT. BUT I THINK FORMALIZING KIND OF WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW, AND STAYING IN FRONT OF IT. I THINK IT WOULD HELP OUT A LOT, BECAUSE I CAN TALK TO ALL THE FOLKS ALONG BLACK RASCAL AND BEAR CREEK, AND THEY KNOW WHERE THE POINTS ARE. THEY KNOW WHERE THE VEGETATION OVERGROWTH IS. THEY IDENTIFY WHERE THE BRAKES ARE GOING TO BE BEFORE ANY OF US DO. THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING. I ALREADY HAVE FOLKS WHO HAVE PROPERTY ALONG THESE STREAMS, WHO ARE JUST ASKING, THEY WANT TO GO CLEAR THE VEGETATION THEMSELVES. THEY SEE IT. THEY KNOW WHERE THE WEAKNESSES ARE. IT'S HOW DO WE FORMALIZE A PROCESS TO ALLOW THEM TO GO IN AND DO IT. WHEN I WORKED FOR CONGRESSMAN JEFF DENHAM, WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT FOR PEREZ FARMING IN THE CROWS LANDING AREA. PEREZ FARMING WAS ABLE TO MANAGE IT. WE HAD THE FOLKS COME IN AND IDENTIFY THE ELDERBERRY BUSHES. THAT WAS THE ENDANGERED AREA, ELDEBER BEETLE. I'VE NEVER SEEN ONE, BUT IT'S IDENTIFIED, AND WE HAD THE FOLKS COME IN AND IDENTIFY THE BUSHES THAT THEY COULDN'T TOUCH, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO CLEAR OUT EVERYTHING ELSE. A LOT OF THEIR PROBLEMS WERE ABLE TO DO IT, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE STREAM BETTER THAN ANYBODY. THEY'RE THERE EVERY DAY, MOVING THAT WATER. THANK YOU, MISS CHAIR. >> I AGREE WITH A LOT OF WHAT'S BEEN SAID. THE FRUSTRATING THING, THOUGH, AND I'M GLAD THAT SOMEBODY FROM MID IS HERE. BUT, I AGREE THAT WE SHOULD FORMALIZE THIS STREAM'S GROUP. IT'S BEEN REALLY FRUSTRATING BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE THIS STREAMS GROUP THAT ISN'T FORMALIZED, YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT. THAT'S A FRUSTRATING THING. I THINK THAT, AND I AGREE WITH THE SUPERVISOR, SUVRA. IN THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO GO AND START THIS PROCESS, BUT WE DON'T ACTIVELY ENGAGE PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH THIS. NOT EVERYBODY'S GOING TO BE INVOLVED, AND WE KNOW THAT. IT'S REALLY HARD TO GET 100% PARTICIPATION IN ANYTHING. BUT GETTING THE WORD OUT THERE, BECAUSE A LOT OF THE THING WITH 13 83, I KNOW WE DID A LOT OF OUTREACH, BUT PEOPLE WERE STILL, WE NEVER KNEW THAT YOU WERE GOING TO RAISE OUR RATES, AND IT'S WELL. NO, WE DID EVERYTHING THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO. WE HAD MULTIPLE MEETINGS ON WHAT WAS HAPPENING. WE DON'T WANT TO GET INTO A POSITION NOW TO WHERE IT'S GOING TO GO TO A VOTE, WHERE IT'S GOING TO FAIL AFTER WE PUT ALL THIS WORK IN. I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF THE COST INVOLVED WITH THIS. WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES THAT ARE COMING UP, AND PAYING ENGINEERING STUDIES. I DON'T KNOW WHAT AN ENGINEERING REPORT IS, [01:40:02] BUT I THINK THIS IS WAY MORE TECHNICAL THAN I THINK THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR THE TERM COEFFICIENT AND ALL THAT STUFF TODAY. I WASN'T EXPECTING THAT. BUT I THINK HAVING BUY-IN, 'CAUSE I DON'T THINK WE CAN DO THIS BY OURSELVES. I REALLY JUST THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE THE BUY-IN FROM MID IN THE CITY OF MERCED, BECAUSE MY DISTRICT FLOODED AS WELL. IT'S A DEVASTATING THING, BUT TO MY COLLEAGUES POINT, ALSO, IT'S HARD TO GET IN AND CLEAN CREEKS WHEN YOU HAVE IRRIGATION WATER RUNNING THROUGH IT ALL THE TIME. IF YOU CAN'T GET IN AND CLEAN THE CREEKS, THEN YOU HAVE THAT OVER VEGETATION, AND THEN YOU HAVE A SHORTER WINDOW OF TIME. THEN WE'RE LEFT TO FOOT THE BILL WHEN IT'S WATER BEING TRANSPORTED FOR IRRIGATION PURPOSES. >> EXACTLY. I JUST THINK THAT WE NEED TO REALLY REACH OUT TO NUMBER ONE, REACH OUT TO OUR PARTNERS. I DO THINK WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING BECAUSE IT'S EITHER YOU PAY NOW OR PAY HIGHER LATER AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. THE ONE THING THAT'S CONCERNING TO ME IS IF YOU LOOK AT THE DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES IN MERCED COUNTY, THERE'S A LOT OF AND SO WHETHER PLANETARY GRAND, THERE'S PARTS OF MERCED, IT'S ALL OVER THIS PLACE AND SO IT'S REALLY HARD AND HOW DO YOU FIND THAT BALANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S A FAIR PRICE FOR NOT JUST THE PEOPLE THAT CAN AFFORD IT, BUT THE PEOPLE THAT CAN'T AFFORD IT ALSO. THERE'S GOT TO BE A BALANCE IN THERE SOMEWHERE. I THINK A LOT OF WHAT HAS BEEN SAID HAS BEEN SPOT ON, AND I THINK THAT HAVE YOU DO YOU HAVE DIRECTION? I'M SORRY, CEO HENDRICKSON. >> MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I THINK WE DO HAVE CLEAR CONSENSUS SO IF I CAN MAYBE JUST RECAP HERE JUST VERY VERY QUICKLY, AND KUDOS TO THIS BOARD FOR ACTUALLY LEVERAGING LEADERSHIP TO ACTUALLY FACILITATE THIS CONVERSATION, AGAIN, WHICH DATES BACK TO 1982. I'M PROUD THAT IT WAS THIS BOARD THAT'S FACILITATING THAT CONVERSATION. HANDFUL OF QUICK THOUGHTS. ONE, I THINK IT IS CLEAR DIRECTION TO STAFF THAT WE WILL BEGIN TO ADVANCE A COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT EFFORT, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THAT IN MULTIPLE CORNERS OF THE COUNTY TO ENSURE THAT ALL CORNERS ARE REPRESENTED AS A PART OF THAT. OBVIOUSLY, WE WOULD RETURN TO THE BOARD ASSOCIATED WITH THAT FEEDBACK THAT WE LEARN. TO, I DID HEAR TODAY THAT THERE IS INTEREST IN FORMALIZING THE MERCED STREAMS GROUP. THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL BE TAKING A LOOK AT AS WELL, NOT TO MENTION, ALSO LOOKING AT OTHER POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE TO US. THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT OBVIOUSLY WILL TAKE SOME TIME CONDUCTING THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. CERTAINLY WILL TAKE SOME TIME, BUT YOUR STAFF IS POISED TO DO EXACTLY JUST THAT. WE'LL BE PLEASED TO BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR YOUR DELIBERATION AT A LATER DATE. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YOU MADE THE COMMENT OF ENGAGING EVERYBODY IN ALL THE CORNERS OF THE COUNTY. I WOULD THINK THAT WE WOULD WANT TO ENGAGE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE FLOOD ZONES. I GUESS WE HAVE THE LOWER SAN JOAQUIN LEVEE DISTRICT. THAT PART OF OUR COUNTY IS COVERED BY THEM SO WE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO HAVE A OUTREACH IN LOS BANOS, BUT ANYWAY, THAT MAKES SENSE? >> MR. HENDERSON? >> YES, SIR. IT DOES MAKE SENSE. FIGURATIVE, WE CERTAINLY WILL ENGAGE OBVIOUSLY OUR COMMUNITY AND NOT TRY TO DUPLICATE EFFORTS, BUT CERTAINLY LEARN FROM SOME OF THOSE BEST PRACTICES TO INCLUDE THE LOWER LEVEL DISTRICT. >> 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. SORRY. I'M A LITTLE UNPREPARED THERE. JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS, SINCE TAMRA, I WANT TO WELCOME YOU ABOARD. I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING DISCUSSIONS WITH YOU AS WE TRY TO ADVANCE SOME ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTY. [01:45:03] LOOKING FORWARD TO THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND SEEING SOME GOOD WORK COME FROM THAT. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, REALLY, I'M ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR THE STATE ASSOCIATION ACCOUNTING AND WE RECENTLY MET. WE HAVE A BUILDING ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND PROGRESS IS MOVING FORWARD ON THE REMODEL OF THEIR DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO LOCATION. SOME INTERESTING STUFF GOING ON THERE. I WANT TO JUST THANK AGAIN, THE CITY OF DOS PALOS AND THEIR STAFF THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS WITH FIRE STATION STUFF AND THE MOU AND ALSO MEETING ON SOME POTENTIAL ANNEXATION STUFF AND SO BEEN VERY, VERY RECEPTIVE AND THANK OUR STAFF HERE FOR ALSO WORKING WITH THAT. OTHER THAN THAT, I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO REPORT. THANK YOU, SIR. >> SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I ATTENDED THE CENTRAL VALLEY MANUFACTURERS COUNCILS OF OPEN HOUSE AND GOVERNMENT ENGAGEMENT RECEPTION LAST WEEK, AND WOULD LIKE TO THANK MARON PITT FOR INVITING ME. IT'S AMAZING WHEN YOU SIT AND YOU THINK ABOUT JUST HERE IN MERCED COUNTY, THE COMPANIES THAT WE HAVE, LARGEST SINGLE SITE CHEESE PLANT IN THE WORLD, THE LARGEST POULTRY PROCESSING PLANT. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S IN THE WORLD, BUT IN THE AREA, AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE WINERIES. ANYWAYS, IT WAS JUST GOOD TO SIT DOWN WITH THEM AND LISTEN TO WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH AND HOW WE CAN HELP. I'D LIKE TO THANK HER FOR THAT INVITATION. I FINALLY DID MY MOSS ENERGY TOUR OUT AT VANDAWADA DAY AND SO I'D LIKE TO THANK MARK MIMMS AND HIS TEAM FOR PUTTING THAT TOGETHER. I'VE BEEN ON DIGESTERS. I SAW MY FIRST DAIRY DIGESTER IN 1972, I WAS 10-YEARS-OLD AND BOY, WHAT A DIFFERENCE AND WHAT A CHANGE. THANK YOU FOR THAT. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME TAMRA TO THE TEAM. TAMRA, I'LL GIVE YOU A HEADS UP. THE REGIONAL WASTE AUTHORITY, AT LEAST THE MERCED LANDFILL HAS EXCESS LANDFILL GAS THAT WE'D LIKE TO DO A PROJECT WITH. JUST WANT TO GET THAT ON YOUR RADAR AS COMPANIES ARE LOOKING FOR SITE SELECTION. IF THEY HAVE A NEED FOR ELECTRICITY AND HEAT, THAT'S POTENTIALLY A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND A CHANCE FOR THEM TO CUT THEIR POWER BILLS POTENTIALLY IN HALF. LET YOU KNOW THAT. I'D LIKE TO THANK SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND THE LAS BANALES FARE MANAGER, CINNAMON HOWE FOR INVITING ME. I WAS IN THERE MEETING FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, AND THEN WE HAD A RECEPTION AND DINNER AFTERWARDS. IT WAS NEAT TO SEE THE ENTHUSIASM FOR OUR COUNTY FAIR. JUST ON MY OWN, WENT OUT TO K TIRO IS OUR NEW FBO OUT AT CASTLE AND SO I WAS OUT THERE. I TOOK AN OPPORTUNITY JUST TO WALK IN AND MEET THE STAFF, AND JOSH WAS THERE AND JUST TO FEEL THEIR EXCITEMENT FOR WHAT THEY WANT TO DO IN MERCED COUNTY WAS JUST REALLY KIND OF NEAT TO SEE. THANK YOU TO MARK MIMMS AND HIS TEAM FOR HELPING PUT THAT TOGETHER. THE EAST TURLOCK GSA, JUST A SUNSHINE TO MY COLLEAGUES, I SERVE ON THE BOARD AS A MERCED COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE. IT SEEMS LIKE FPPC CODE 1090 MAY CONFLICT ME OUT, AND I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SERVE ON THAT BOARD IN THE FUTURE. I HAVEN'T GOTTEN WORD FROM THE GSA'S ATTORNEY, BUT EXPECT TO KNOW. JUST IF ANY OF YOU ARE INTERESTED, MAY BECOME AVAILABLE. THEN I WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN TODAY'S MEETING IN HONOR OF KIN HEN, A LONGTIME VETERANS ADVOCATE HERE IN MERCED COUNTY WHO PASSED AWAY. >> SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. >> YEAH. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I'M GLAD THAT YOU BROUGHT UP I HAD FORGOT TO MENTION. I WANT TO THANK SUPERVISORS PACHECO AND PAREIRA FOR COMING OUT TO SPRING FAIR. SPRING FAIR, IN AND AROUND THE WEEK OF THE FAIR, IT'S A BUSY TIME, NOT ONLY FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS, BUT ALSO THEIR SPOUSES THAT PUT UP WITH EVERYBODY THAT'S ON THE FAIR BOARD IN THE CRAZINESS THAT IS THE WEEK OF THE FAIR. TYPICALLY BETWEEN MAYDAY FAIR AND MERCED FAIR, WE'LL BUY RABBITS AT THE SALE, AND THEN WE END UP WITH A BUNCH OF RABBITS, AND THEN SO WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THEM? WELL, THEN YOU BARBECUE THEM AND YOU MAKE RABBIT STEW OUT OF THEM. IT STARTED THIS DINNER AT THEIR JULY MEETING AFTER THE MEETINGS OVER WITH. THEY INVITE THEIR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS, AND WE SENT THE INVITATION OUT TO THE BOARD AND TO STAFF AND THE CEO'S OFFICE TO COME OUT AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS MAKING THE DRIVE OUT THERE. I KNOW I GOT COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS THAT THEY WERE VERY HAPPY TO SEE YOU GUYS OUT THERE AND SO THANK YOU BOTH FOR THAT. APPRECIATE IT. [01:50:05] >> SUPERVISOR PACHECO. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. WELL, I WANT TO WELCOME TAM ALSO TO THE TEAM. I'M SURE WE'LL BE GETTING KNOW EACH OTHER. THERE'S LOTS OF PROJECTS OUT THERE THAT WE NEED TO GET STARTED ON. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND I WERE PALS LAST WEEK. I ALSO TOOK THE DIGESTER TOUR WITH HIM AND WITH THE SPRING FAIR, BOTH GREAT EVENTS, AND APPRECIATE EVERYBODY THAT PUT IT ON AND EVERYBODY JUST OUT THERE. ON SATURDAY, I HAD THE GREAT PRIVILEGE OF GOING TO THE KID CONNECT EVENT IN MERCED, PUT ON BY THE CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES. I WENT WITH MY GRANDDAUGHTER, OLIVIA. WE HAD A GREAT TIME. SHE GOT TO SPIN THE WHEEL A LOT, WON LOTS OF COOL LITTLE PRIZES AND GOT A BACKPACK AND SOME FREE COTTON CANDY. I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE DIRECTOR JEFF WITTON AND HIS TEAM. THAT WAS A GREAT EVENT, AND, YEAH, IT WAS GREAT WE'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR. THE ONLY THING I HAVE IS I WANT TO WISH MY MOM A HAPPY 81ST BIRTHDAY TODAY, SO I TOLD HER I'D MENTIONED HER TODAY, SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM AND I'LL SEE YOU LATER. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. >> ALL RIGHT. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. TAMRA, WELCOME ABOARD, AND IT WAS GOOD TO SEE YOU AT THE GRAND OPENING AT COPPER WINGS, A NEW COFFEE SHOP IN DOWNTOWN ATWATER. VERY NICELY DONE. BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO CARRIE MAY ON THAT. IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT. I COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE THERE. IT TOOK FOREVER TO GET A CUP OF COFFEE, BUT NOT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE GOOD SERVICE. THEY ACTUALLY HAVE REALLY GOOD SERVICE, THERE WAS JUST SO MANY PEOPLE THERE. I ALSO WAS ABLE TO ATTEND ALL DAD'S MATTER BOOT CAMP. MY SON AND HIS WIFE, MONTANA ARE EXPECTING A BABY AUGUST 8TH, AND MY SON WAS VERY DEDICATED AND WANTED TO ATTEND IT. WELL, I FIGURED IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR ME TO GO THROUGH THE BOOT CAMP AS WELL AS A GRANDFATHER, I WANTED TO RE LEARN AND I TELL YOU WHAT, IT'S AMAZING. WE HAD THE BENEFIT, WE HAD SAM RINGLE AND LAMAR HENDERSON THERE, BOTH AND IT WAS INCREDIBLE, ACTUALLY. THE QUESTIONS, THE INFORMATION THAT THEY GAVE US. I WISH I COULD HAVE DONE IT BEFORE I HAD MY KIDS, QUITE FRANKLY. THE INFORMATION, THE DISCUSSIONS YOU HAVE TO HAVE WITH YOUR PARTNER BEFORE YOU EVER EVEN GO TO THE HOSPITAL. DECISIONS THAT HAVE TO BE MADE IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. THOSE ARE ALL WELL PLANNED OUT. IT'S AMAZING. STUFF YOU DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT, HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS AHEAD OF TIME. BUT I RECOMMEND THAT FOR EVERYBODY. IT REALLY EMPOWERS OUR FATHERS TO STEP UP AND BE DADS WITH CONFIDENCE. ALSO, I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE FIRMAN PEREZ, THE PEREZ FAMILY. REMEMBER TEQUILA CAFE IN WINTON, VERY HISTORICAL LANDMARK. HE JUST GOT HIS NONPROFIT LICENSE FOR RISING EMPOWERMENT SPORTS MINISTRIES, SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN IN HIS HEART, HE'S BEEN WORKING ON FOR A WHILE, SO I WANT TO CONGRATULATE FIRMAN ON THAT. A BIG CONGRATULATION TO CASTLE AIR MUSEUM, AND I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THE INVITE TO GO OUT TO CASTLE, THEIR HARRIER JET THAT ARRIVED ON FRIDAY. I DON'T KNOW IF FOLKS SAW MY POSTS ON FACEBOOK. I'M GEEKY ABOUT JETS AND IT WAS THE LAST MILITARY FLIGHT AND MISSION WHEN HE FLEW IN, AND HE ACTUALLY DID QUITE A GOOD JOB OF DEMONSTRATING WHAT A HARRIER JET CAN DO AND WE GOT TO BE RIGHT THERE. MARK, GOOD JOB OUT THERE. MARK MIMMS, THANK YOU FOR THAT, BUT IT WAS IMPRESSIVE. EVERY TIME I SEE THE HARRIER JET IT'S CRAZY. ANYWAY, WITH THAT, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. >> REALLY QUICK. LAST WEEK, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF REPRESENTING MERCED COUNTY AT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE. AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, I WAS SERVED AS THE AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS CHAIR FOR THE STEERING POLICY COMMITTEE AND I WAS REAPPOINTED TO DO THAT AGAIN THIS YEAR, SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY COOL BECAUSE YOU GET TO INTERACT WITH COUNTY LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. I TOO WENT TO THE KIDS CONNECT EVENT. I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED TO SEE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE OUT THERE. I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY COOL, ESPECIALLY AT THE LOCATION THAT IT WAS AT. YOU DON'T REALLY THINK OF IT BEING AT SHEHI SCHOOL BECAUSE SHEHI IS SO FAR REMOVED FROM THE CENTER PART OF THE COMMUNITY. BUT USUALLY EVENTS LIKE THAT ARE AT APPLEGATE. THIS OUTSIDE THE BOX THINKING WAS REALLY COOL, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THEN LAST NIGHT, I DON'T KNOW IF I'D SAY PLEASURE OR WHAT, BUT I WENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING IN ORDER TO SHOW MY APPRECIATION FOR OUR COLLABORATION WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THEY DID A SIX MONTH UPDATE ON THE REPORT THAT IT'S GOING WELL IN OUR OPINION, [01:55:09] AND IN SOME OPINION ON THE COUNCIL, IT'S GOING WELL, SOME NOT SO MUCH. BUT THAT'S OKAY. I WANT TO THANK CHIEF PIMENTEL FOR BEING THERE ALSO LAST NIGHT. THEN I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADJOURN THE MEETING FOR JIM WEAVER. MANY OF YOU KNOW JIM. JIM WAS A LONG TIME KIWANI'S PERSON, ROD PERSON, VETERAN. THANK YOU. HE WAS VERY, VERY, VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN STARTING THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB IN MERCED COUNTY. HE WAS THERE ALL THE TIME. WHERE THEY NEEDED A PROJECT, HE WAS JUST THERE TO DO IT. HE WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT YOU COULDN'T SAY NO TO, EVEN IF YOU WERE BUSY OR WHATEVER. HE WOULDN'T GUILT YOU OR ANYTHING, BUT HE WAS JUST SUCH A NICE MAN THAT YOU COULDN'T SAY NO BECAUSE HE ALWAYS WOULD JUST DO EVERYTHING FOR THE COMMUNITY. IT'S FUNNY HE JUST SHOWED UP TO MY OFFICE ONE DAY, AND I'M LIKE, WAIT, I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG. I DON'T KNOW WHY. BUT NO, JIM WAS A VERY GOOD MAN, AND HE'S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE MISSED. WITH THAT, THIS CONCLUDES THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING FOR JULY 22ND, 2025. THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED [POSSIBLE DIRECTION FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS] BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING WILL BE HELD AT 10:00 AM ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 12TH, 2025. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.