Oct 07, 2025 Board Meeting

[00:00:01]

>> [BACKGROUND] GOOD MORNING, AND WELCOME TO THE OCTOBER 7TH,

[CALL TO ORDER]

>> YOUR CLOSED SESSION FOR THIS MORNING IS THE FOLLOWING.

[ CLOSED SESSION]

THE PUBLIC WILL BE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON ANY MATTER TO BE CONSIDERED IN CLOSED SESSION PRIOR TO THE BOARD ADJOURNING INTO THE CLOSED SESSION.

TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.

>> AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE CLOSED SESSION ITEMS. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE CLOSED SESSION ITEMS IS NOW CLOSED.

WE WILL NOW ADJOURN INTO CLOSED SESSION.

GOOD MORNING, AND WELCOME

[10:00 A.M. REGULAR MEETING]

THIS MORNING, WE HAD A CLOSED SESSION MEETING, AND STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION.

WE WILL NOW START WITH THE INVOCATION LED BY PASTOR BOB ALLEN FROM LIFE'S PLACE CHURCH IN MERCED, AND THEN SUPERVISOR PACHECO WILL LEAD THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

>> [BACKGROUND] MORNING. HEAVENLY FATHER WE COME TO YOU TODAY IN GRATITUDE FOR THE GIFT OF COMMUNITY AND THE HIGH CALLING THAT WE CARRY TO SERVE.

WE THANK YOU FOR THE LEADERS GATHERED IN THIS ROOM FOR THE WILLINGNESS TO SHOULDER THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT GUIDE THE PEOPLE AND SHAPE THE FUTURE OF OUR BELOVED COUNTY.

THE BIBLE SAYS, IN LUKE CHAPTER 12:48, FROM EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN GIVEN MUCH, MUCH WILL BE DEMANDED AND FROM THE ONE WHO HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH MUCH, MUCH MORE WILL BE ASKED.

YOU ALSO TELL US IN HEBREWS 13:17 THAT WE WILL GIVE AN ACCOUNT AS LEADERS.

GOD, THEREFORE, I ASK THAT YOU WILL GRANT TO THIS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND ALL THOSE GATHERED TODAY THAT WILL BE IN A DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY, GIVE THEM WISDOM, I PRAY, ABOVE POLITICS AND PERSONAL INTERESTS, GIVE THEM CLEAR EYES TO SEE WHAT IS JUST, COURAGEOUS HEARTS, TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND PATIENT SPIRITS TO HEAR ONE ANOTHER WITH RESPECT, CIVILITY AND MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING.

AS DECISIONS ARE MADE TODAY, MAY OUR SUPERVISORS ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO LEAD THE WAY, MAY COMPASSION, TEMPER, EVERY JUDGMENT AND TRUTH BE HONORED ABOVE CONVENIENCE.

LET THIS MEETING BE MARKED BY UNITY OF PURPOSE AND A SINCERE DESIRE TO DO GOOD FOR ALL WHO CALL THIS CENTRAL VALLEY COUNTY, THEIR BELOVED HOME.

WE ASK YOUR BLESSINGS UPON EVERY PERSON HERE, THOSE WHO SERVE, THOSE WHO SUPPORT, AND THOSE THEY REPRESENT.

MAY YOUR PEACE REST UPON THIS PLACE IN YOUR GUIDANCE, DIRECT EVERY STEP IN THE MATCHLESS NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, AMEN.

>> READY SALUTE.

>>

>> PUBLIC COMMENT.

NO. I'M GOING TO DO THAT AFTER.

>> IT IS NOW TIME FOR PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK

[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK]

TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON AND 30 MINUTES TOTAL.

>> AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT.

AGAIN, THIS IS FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS ONLY.

PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOU ARE HERE TO SPEAK IN REGARD TO THE PROTEST HEARING, THERE WILL BE A SEPARATE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AT THAT TIME.

THAT ITEM IS HEARD. THIS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS ONLY.

>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR PEDROZO, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, CEO HENDRICKSON, STAFF, AND CITIZENS OF MERCED COUNTY.

MY NAME IS AGGIE FREEMAN, AND I SERVE AS ASSISTANT GOVERNOR FOR ROTARY DISTRICT 5220, REPRESENTING THE ROTARY CLUB OF MERCED SUNRISE AND NEIGHBORING CENTRAL ROTARY CLUBS.

[00:05:05]

WHAT IS THE WALL THAT HEALS? IN NOVEMBER 1996, IN VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL FUND INTRODUCED THE WALL THAT HEALS, A MOBILE VERSION OF THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON, DC.

THIS REMARKABLE THREE-QUARTER SCALE REPLICA WAS CREATED TO BRING THE MEMORIAL'S POWERFUL MESSAGE OF HEALING, REMEMBRANCE, AND CONNECTION TO COMMUNITIES ACROSS AMERICA.

SINCE ITS FIRST TOUR, IT HAS VISITED HUNDREDS OF TOWNS AND CITIES ALLOWING MILLIONS OF VISITORS TO EXPERIENCE THE LEGACY OF THOSE WHOSE NAMES ARE ETCHED ON ITS BLACK GRANITE PANELS.

THIS FALL, THIS WEEK, FROM OCTOBER 9TH THROUGH THE 12TH, THE WALL THAT HEALS WILL BE ON DISPLAY IN CLOVIS AT DAVID MCDONALD PARK 101 NORTH TEMPRANCE AVENUE.

THE EXHIBIT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 24 HOURS A DAY, OFFERING VETERANS, FAMILIES, STUDENTS, AND CITIZENS FROM ACROSS THE VALLEY A CHANCE TO REFLECT TO VISIT AND PAY TRIBUTE.

CHAIR PEDROZO, YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT THE WALL THAT HEALS WAS HOSTED RIGHT HERE IN MERCED COUNTY AT MERCED COLLEGE IN MARCH OF 2024, THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF MERCED SUNRISE, AND THE EXTRAORDINARY SUPPORT OF OUR PRESENTING SPONSOR, COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND RESIDENTS.

HUNDREDS CAME, INCLUDING SCHOOL GROUPS, VETERANS, FAMILIES, AND FIRST RESPONDERS, EACH FINDING A DEEPLY PERSONAL CONNECTION TO THE EXPERIENCE.

THIS EXHIBIT IS MORE THAN A MEMORIAL.

IT'S A CLASSROOM, A PLACE OF REFLECTION, AND A BRIDGE ACROSS GENERATIONS.

ALONGSIDE THE WALL ITSELF, THE MOBILE EDUCATION CENTER HELPS VISITORS UNDERSTAND THE VIETNAM WARS IMPACT NOT ONLY ON THOSE WHO SERVED, BUT ON THE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES WHO CARRIED THEIR STORIES HOME.

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED TO BRING THIS POWERFUL EXPERIENCE TO LIFE.

SO IF YOU OR YOUR ORGANIZATION WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE, PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE AND REGISTER TO VOLUNTEER.

CHAIR PEDROZO AND BOARD ON BEHALF OF ROTARY DISTRICT 5220 AND THE ROTARY CLUB OF MERCED SUNRISE, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR VETERANS AND OUR COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AND THE MAGIC THAT KEEPS MERCED COUNTY STRONG AS WE UNITE FOR GOOD. THANK YOU.

>> MORNING. MY NAME IS MELVIN RODRIGUEZ.

I LIVED IN MERCED COUNTY FOR 35 YEARS.

I GOT A FEW THINGS I'D LIKE TO SAY.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE LIBRARY HERE.

IT'S THE BEST LIBRARY I'VE EVER BEEN TO. THE STAFF IS GREAT.

BUT THEY HAD TO PUT UP WITH HOMELESS PEOPLE MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE, DAY OUT TO GET A RAISE OR I LET HAVE RECOGNITION.

WOMEN SAY THEY GO DOWN TO THE BATHROOM IN THE LIBRARY TO CHANGE YOUR KID OR GO TO THE BATHROOM, TAKE THE KIDS TO CHANGING TABLE.

THEY GOT TO PUT UP WITH HOMELESS WOMEN TAKING A BATH IN THERE.

I KNOW WE SPEND THREE MILLION DOLLARS ON REMODELING THE MUSEUM, WHICH LOOKS GOOD. I'VE WATCHED IT.

I WENT INSIDE, THE TOUR. LOOKS GOOD.

BUT IF WE SPEND THREE MILLION, WHY CAN'T WE PUT A COUPLE OF DRINKING FOUNTAINS IN THE PARK WHERE IT TAKES SOME PRESSURE OFF THE LIBRARY IN THE SUMMERTIME, THE HOMELESS GOING THERE.

I'M NOT TALKING AGAINST THE HOMELESS.

I'M JUST SAYING THEY GO IN THERE IN WINTERTIME, SAME THING, THE LIBRARIANS ARE GREAT.

I MEAN, I THINK THEY OUGHT TO GET A RAISED, AT LEAST A LET OF RECOGNITION.

I'D LIKE TO ASK SOMEBODY TO GO TO THE LIBRARY AND LISTEN TO SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE.

THEY'RE PROFESSIONAL. THEY'RE GREAT.

BUT WE SPENT THREE MILLION ON THIS MUSEUM.

WE NEED A JAIL IN MERCED, WHY CAN'T WE PUT SOMEBODY TOWARDS THE JAIL? I'M HARD OF HEARING, SIR.

[00:10:04]

>> WE CAN'T RESPOND BACK. THIS IS JUST FIRST.

>> I APOLOGIZE. I'M HARD OF HEARING.

>> WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO RESPOND BACK.

WE'RE HERE TO JUST TAKE COMMENT, AND THEN SOMEBODY WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.

>> I KNOW THREE MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY.

WE NEED A JAIL.

>> SOME DRINKING FOUNTAINS OUT IN THE PARK THERE FOR THE HOMELESS DON'T HAVE TO GO TO THE LIBRARY SO MUCH.

GIVE THEM A BREAK. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, SIR.

WELL, I GUESS THIS IS MY CUE TO DO MY THING.

HI, MORNING, SUPERVISORS AND MERCED COUNTY.

MY NAME'S CARTH PAD, HERE ON BEHALF OF CONGRESSMAN ADAM GRAY.

AND THROUGH EVERYTHING GOING ON IN DC RIGHT NOW, WE'RE STILL HARD AT WORK AND DOING OUR BEST TO GET SOME BILLS PASSED ALONG.

THAT WOULD MAKE THINGS A LITTLE BIT BETTER FOR FOLKS AT HOME.

THAT'S ACTUALLY WHY I'M HERE IS TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND HELP IN HELPING US GET A PRETTY GOOD BILL THROUGH.

THIS SUMMER, CONGRESSMAN ADAM GRAY INTRODUCED THE PROTECTING HEALTHCARE AND LOWERING COSTS ACT TO PROTECT ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE FOR VALLEY FAMILIES.

THE BILL IS A RESPONSE TO HR 1 AND WOULD REVERSE ALL OF THE HEALTH CARE CUTS THAT WERE PASSED IN THE BUDGET BILL.

WOULD EXTEND THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, ENHANCED PREMIUM TAX CREDITS.

WITH FOUR MILLION CALIFORNIANS SET TO LOSE THEIR HEALTH CARE COVERAGE AND ANOTHER 1.7 MILLION SET TO SEE PREMIUM INCREASES OF 66%.

THIS IS A CRITICAL PIECE OF LEGISLATURE THAT WOULD HELP KEEP CARE WITHIN REACH FOR FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER ENDORSING THE BILL, WHICH WE HAVE SENT TO THE COUNTY.

ATTACH, YOU'LL ALSO FIND A ONE PAGE, A DRAFT LETTER OF SUPPORT, AN EDITORIAL THAT WAS PUBLISHED IN THE FRESNO B ON THE LEGISLATURE AND THE LOOMING HEALTHCARE CRISIS.

WE HOPE YOU'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND CONSIDER SUPPORTING US IN PASSING THIS BILL.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

ANYBODY ELSE? AT THIS TIME, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED. OH, I'M SORRY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> MR. PEDROZO. BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING TO OUR FELLOW RESIDENTS.

MY NAME IS AFUCO YAMAS, AND I WANT TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME DECISIONS HERE WITH THE MILES OF SHORT HISTORY, SPECIFICALLY IN RELATION TO PUBLIC SERVICE.

AS YOU KNOW, OUR MUNICIPALITIES, WHETHER IT BE CITY, COUNTY, STATE, OR OTHERWISE, THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY IS PUBLIC SAFETY.

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS HAD A NARROW OR VERY FOCUSED INTEREST IN REDUCING THE CAPACITY OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.

I'M GOING TO REFER YOU TO THE VERY PUBLIC INTERACTIONS, LET'S CALL IT, BETWEEN YOURSELVES AND OUR SHERIFF.

SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RESOLVED REALLY QUICKLY.

IT SHOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN THE SHERIFF COMING UP HERE AND CALLING YOU OUT ON IT.

THEN WE HAVE THE ISSUE OF THE FIRE RESPONSE AND FIRE STATIONS CLOSING AND THAT DEBACLE THAT TOOK LONGER THAN INITIATIVE WHICH REDUCED THE CAPACITY OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO OUR COUNTY AND OUR RESIDENTS.

NOW WE HAVE THE ISSUE WITH, BRING THIS UP.

WITH THE ISSUE WITH OUR BRIGS.

NOW, THEY'VE BEEN AROUND.

YES. MAYBE THEY'RE NOT LOCAL ANYMORE, BUT THEY HAVE INTERTWINED THEMSELVES WITH OUR PUBLIC WITH OUR OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS, THEY WORK WELL AND SEAMLESSLY WITH THEM.

THEY UNDERSTAND OUR COUNTY, OUR ISSUES, AND THEY ALSO UNDERSTAND REACH.

>> WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING WHERE YOU CAN ADDRESS THAT.

>> WELL, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING FOR EVERY ISSUE, AND I'M DRESSING IT NOW.

>> WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING SPECIFICALLY FOR WHAT YOU'RE DISCUSSING, AND SO THIS IS FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS ONLY.

THE SHERIFF AND THE FIRE ISSUE THAT YOU BROUGHT UP IS FAIR GAME.

THE AMBULANCE CONTRACT IS NOT AT THIS TIME.

>> FINE. I UNDERSTAND. I APOLOGIZE.

THAT'S THE END OF MY STATEMENTS.

THANK YOU.

[00:15:08]

>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED FOR NON AGENDA ITEMS. I'M GOING TO GO OVER A COUPLE OF HOUSEKEEPING ISSUES BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE, AND I JUST WANT TO CLEAR SOME STUFF UP.

IF YOU NEED INTERPRETATION, FIRST, BEFORE THAT, HOW MANY IN THIS ROOM WISH TO SPEAK TODAY ON THE HEARING? IF YOU NEED INTERPRETATION ASSISTANCE, WE HAVE RITA WHO PROVIDES SPANISH INTERPRETATION, AND JAMES, WHO PROVIDES MONG INTERPRETATION WHERE ARE THEY AT? THEY ARE HERE.

THANK YOU. WHEN YOU COME UP TO SPEAK, PLEASE LET THEM KNOW IF YOU'LL NEED ASSISTANCE.

ALSO, THERE IS AN OVERFLOW ROOM AVAILABLE IF THE CHAMBER REACHES OUT SAFE CAPACITY FOR FIRE SAFETY REASONS.

I WOULD I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT THOSE WHO ARE ABLE AND WILLING MOVE TO THE OVERFLOW ROOM TO ALLOW SPACE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO SPEAK.

REMINDERS. THIS IS NOT A DISCUSSION.

WE CANNOT SAY ANYTHING, WE CAN'T RESPOND.

THIS IS YOU PROVIDING COMMENT.

THE BOARD CANNOT RESPOND TO OR COMMENT ON QUESTIONS OR STATEMENTS DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.

PLEASE DIRECT YOUR COMMENTS TO THE BOARD, NOT THE AUDIENCE.

PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CLAPPING, CALLING OUT OR OTHER DISRUPTIONS.

THIS IS STILL A BUSINESS MEETING.

RESPECT THE MEETING SPACE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, RESPECT THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SPEAKING.

PLEASE DO NOT SPEAK OVER OTHERS. TAM?

>> A COUPLE OTHER THINGS WE WANTED TO GO OVER IS THAT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE NOTE THAT IF YOU ARE PARKED IN THE TWO HOUR PARKING, THAT WILL NOT BE ENFORCED TODAY, SO YOU WOULD NOT HAVE TO MOVE YOUR VEHICLE AFTER 2 HOURS.

THE OVERFLOW AREA IS IN THE BASEMENT CONFERENCE CENTER IN THE LIVINGSTON AND LOS BANOS ROOMS, AND THERE ARE SIGNS DIRECTING YOU DOWN THERE.

WE DO ASK THAT YOU PLEASE REMEMBER TO SILENCE YOUR PHONES.

IF YOU DO NEED TO STEP OUT TO USE THE RESTROOMS, THEY ARE OUT THE DOORS TO THE CHAMBERS ACROSS FROM THE ELEVATORS.

THEN IF FOR SOME REASON, IN THE EVENT OF EMERGENCY, WE ASK THAT YOU EXIT THROUGH THE CHAMBER DOORS, AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO TURN TO THE RIGHT AND THERE'S A STAIRWELL.

YOU WOULD EXIT THE BUILDING, AND THEN YOU WOULD GO TOWARDS THE MN 21ST STREET BACK OF THE PARKING LOT.

>> AT THIS TIME, WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR SCHEDULED ITEM,

[SCHEDULED ITEMS]

>> PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROTEST OF REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS NUMBER 7619, EXCLUSIVE AMBULANCE SERVICES PROVIDER FOR THE MERCED COUNTY EXCLUSIVE OPERATING AREA SUBMITTED BY SIERRA MEDICAL SERVICES ALLIANCE SEMSA'S RIGGS.

>> THE HEARING WILL PROCEED AS FOLLOWS.

SEMSA/RIGGS WILL BE ALLOTTED UP TO 12 MINUTES FOR AN OPENING PRESENTATION, AND THE COUNTY WILL BE ALLOTED UP TO 12 MINUTES FOR ITS RESPONSE.

FOLLOWING BOTH PRESENTATIONS, THE PARTIES WILL EACH HAVE UP TO 3 MINUTES FOR REBUTTAL.

THE CLOCKS ARE RIGHT OVER THERE.

THE 12 MINUTES, AND THEN THE 3 MINUTES ARE UP.

I WILL THEN OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT.

FOLLOWING THE CLOSE OF PUBLIC COMMENT, THE BOARD WILL DELIBERATE ON THE MATTER IN PUBLIC SESSION.

AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO THE PODIUM, MICHAEL SWENSON, OPERATION MANAGER OF SEMSA/RIGGS AND WHEN MR. SWENSON BEGINS SPEAKING, THE 12 MINUTE TIMER WILL BEGIN.

>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> MIKE, YOU CAN RAISE THAT?

>> THERE WE GO. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

>> YES.

>> GOOD MORNING, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.

I'M HERE TO DISCUSS THE REALITY OF WHERE EMS IS AT IN MERCED COUNTY TODAY.

THE CHALLENGES WE'VE OVERCOME, THE INVESTMENTS WE'VE MADE, AND WHY CONTINUING WITH US IS THE BEST PATH FOR MERCED COUNTY AND ITS RESIDENTS.

RIGGS IS NOT ARGUING IT'S ENTITLED TO THE CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY.

WHAT RIGGS AND EVERY OTHER PROPOSER WANTS IS A FAIR AND UNBIASED COMPETITIVE PROCESS.

IT'S CLEAR THIS DID NOT HAPPEN HERE.

RIGGS TIMELY FILED THE PROTEST TO THE COUNTY'S RECOMMENDATION FOR THE AWARD.

THE PROTESTS SET OUT IN GREAT DETAIL RIGGS LEGAL ARGUMENTS TO THE PROCESS.

THE COUNTY'S DENIAL OF THE PROTESTS IGNORED MOST OF WHAT WE BROUGHT TO YOU AND THOSE ARGUMENTS REGARDING THE TRANSPARENCY SCORING AND ITS BIAS.

WE BELIEVE THAT THE RFP PROCESS HAS FAILED FROM THE BEGINNING.

[00:20:04]

THEY WOULD CHOOSE WHICH REVIEWERS WOULD SCORE AND ULTIMATELY DECIDE ON THE HIGHEST BIDDER.

HOWEVER, THE LEAD PARTNER FROM FITCH, THOMASON ASSOCIATES, WHO WAS UP HERE LAST MONTH ON SEPTEMBER 9TH, EXPLAINING YOU THE PROCESS OF HOW HE ASSESSED MERCED COUNTY DID A POLL WITH 214 RESIDENTS, DECIDED WHO THE BIDDERS OR THE PROCTORS WOULD BE WHEN REVIEWING THE SCORE.

FAILED TO DISCLOSE THAT HE WAS HE USED TO BE THE OPERATIONS MANAGER FOR AMR. ON PINNACLE EMS WEBSITE TO THIS DAY, HIS BIO IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT HIS BIO IS ON FITCH AND ASSOCIATES, STATING THAT PRIOR TO WORKING FOR THE FIRM, HE WAS AN OPERATIONS MANAGER.

FOR AMERICAN MEDICAL RESPONSE, THE LARGEST AMBULANCE PROVIDER IN NORTH AMERICA WORD FOR WORD.

AS THIS IS ONE OF THE POTENTIAL BIDDERS IN THE RFP PROCESS, THIS AT THE VERY LEAST SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCLOSED TO THE PUBLIC.

THE THREE REVIEWERS HAD TO SIGN DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS, STATING THAT THEY HAD NO CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, THAT THEY WORKED FOR ANY OF THE COMPANIES INVOLVED.

HOWEVER, HE DID NOT.

THIS IS A DIRECT CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

HOW CAN YOU ALLOW AN OPERATIONS MANAGER TO BE THE PERSON REVIEWING THE COUNTY, COLLECTING SURVEYS TO DISCREDIT RIGGS AMBULANCE AND CHOOSING WHO WILL BE ON THE PANEL WHEN IT COMES TIME TO SELECT THE NEXT AMBULANCE PROVIDER FROM MERCED COUNTY.

I'M AN OPERATIONS MANAGER FOR RIGGS AMBULANCE.

I DON'T BELIEVE IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO DO THE SAME THING.

THE OTHER TWO PROVIDERS WHO PUT IN FOR THE RFP ALSO HAD THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING DISQUALIFIED.

ONE DID NOT SEND A LETTER OF COMMITMENT ON TIME, AND THE OTHER MADE A CHANGE TO ITS LOADED AMBULANCE RATE, AND THE COUNTY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY PUBLIC RECORDS ABOUT HOW THIS CHANGE WAS MADE.

THEY WERE BOTH DONE OUTSIDE OF THE REQUIRED TIME FRAME.

WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW RIGGS HAS HELD TO CERTAIN STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS.

HOWEVER, THE OTHER BIDDERS WERE NOT.

ALL OF THIS LEADS TO WHY LOCAL EMS AGENCY FELT IT WAS NECESSARY FOR MERCED TO GO OUT TO AN RFP PROCESS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE REASONS THAT WERE STATED LAST MONTH BY THE LOCAL EMS AGENCY DURING THIS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING.

THEY POINTED TO EXTENDED RESPONSE TIMES AND COMPLIANCE.

DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS, WE'VE HAD MANY CHALLENGES POST COVID, JUST AS MANY AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE HOSPITAL, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND MANY OTHER PARTNERS HERE IN MERCED FACED.

WE WERE GIVEN EXEMPTIONS IN PARTS OF 2020 AND 2021 TO COMPLIANCE BY THE LEMZA, THE LOCAL EMS AGENCY, DUE TO COVID.

HOWEVER, LAST MONTH, DURING THE SEPTEMBER 9TH, INTRODUCTION AS TO WHY THEY CHOSE TO GO OUT TO RFP, THEY SAID, DURING THESE 20 MONTHS, RIGGS WAS ONLY COMPLIANT FOR TWO.

THAT'S NOT AN ACCURATE STATEMENT.

IF THIS WAS PART OF MAKING THE DECISION TO BRING IN ANOTHER PROVIDER OR TO GO OUT FOR RFP, WE BELIEVE THAT DECISION WAS MADE WITHOUT THE BIG PICTURE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON AFTER COVID.

WE DID NOT JUST STAND BY WHEN WE WERE IN A STAFFING CRISIS.

WE REACHED OUT AND WORKED WITH MCC.

BOARD MEMBER SILVA IS THE CHAIR OF THAT MERCED COLLEGE PARAMEDIC PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE MOST CRUCIAL THING HERE, AND LOCAL EMS AGENCY TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

WE MADE ENORMOUS FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS.

AT FIRST, WE HIRED TRAVEL PARAMEDICS, WHICH WAS NOT OPTIMAL.

VERY EXPENSIVE, BUT IT GOT PEOPLE HERE IMMEDIATELY.

SOME OF THEM WERE FROM OUTSIDE OF CALIFORNIA.

THE COUNTY SPENT NO MONEY ON THAT.

WE DO NOT TAKE ANY TAX DOLLARS.

THE EMS ENHANCEMENT FUNDS WERE NOT USED.

THAT WAS STRICTLY A BURDEN ON RIGGS FOR COSTS.

WE SPENT $140,000 IN SIGN ON BONUSES.

WE DID JUST WHAT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT DID.

WE PUT $20,000 FOR PARAMEDICS TO COME IN AND WORK.

WE GOT A FEW FOLKS TO COME IN THERE, BUT IT'S DIFFICULT TO RECRUIT HERE IN MERCED.

THIS WAS ALL SHARED DURING EMCC, TO MAKE SURE ALL OUR COUNTY PARTNERS, THE HOSPITAL, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, CAL FIRE, EVERYBODY WAS IN THE LOOP ON WHAT WAS GOING ON.

THAT BROUGHT IN A FEW PEOPLE.

BUT THE MAIN SOLUTION WAS SENDING REMTS FROM MERCED TO MERCED COLLEGE AND SURROUNDING PARAMEDIC PROGRAMS. WE SENT OVER 20 PARAMEDICS TO SCHOOL HERE, FRESNO, AND IN LAMOUR, PAYING OVER $100,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS THAT THESE STUDENTS DO NOT HAVE TO PAY BACK.

I WANT TO TAKE AWAY THAT FINANCIAL BURDEN SO THEY CAN GO TO SCHOOL SO THEY CAN COME TO PARAMEDICS AND STAY HERE IN MERCED.

WE'RE NEVER IN THIS STAFFING CRISIS EVER AGAIN.

WE ALSO WORKED WITH MERCED COLLEGE TO HELP SET UP THEIR INTERNSHIP.

WHEN YOU'RE IN PARAMEDIC SCHOOL, YOU NEED TO DO AN INTERNSHIP,

[00:25:02]

SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT WERE NOT RIGGS EMPLOYEES ONCE DOING THEIR INTERNSHIP WITH US REALIZED THEY WANTED TO WORK FOR RIGGS AMBULANCE, AND WE HIRED THEM IMMEDIATELY.

WE WANTED TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

STAFFING ISSUE WAS THE PROBLEM.

THESE INVESTMENTS WORKED.

TODAY, WE HAVE OVER 50 PARAMEDICS ON STAFF.

THIS IS NEARLY DOUBLE THE AMOUNT FROM STAFFING LOWS, AND MOST ARE FROM SCHOLARSHIPS.

WE HAVE A CONTINUED CYCLE OF GRADUATES THAT WILL PREVENT US FROM EVER BEING A STAFFING CRISIS AGAIN.

EVERY SIX MONTHS, I HAVE GRADUATES.

I'LL HAVE TOO MANY PARAMEDICS BEFORE I EVER ALLOW IT TO BE NOT ENOUGH AMBULANCES GO INTO CALLS.

WHEN INTERVIEWING REMTS TODAY, WE ASK THEM WHAT'S YOUR FIVE YEAR PLAN? THEY SAY, I WANT TO BE A PARAMEDIC FOR RIGGS AMBULANCE.

WE TELL THEM WE'LL SCHOLARSHIP YOU.

WE'LL PAY FOR YOU TO GO TO SCHOOL. IT'S THAT CYCLE.

THEY MAY GO WORK AT A FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY MAY GO INTO NURSING, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO START WITH US.

AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THESE EFFORTS, WE'VE MADE COMPLIANCE SINCE MARCH.

I WATCH IT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

I THINK IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

I HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS LIVING HERE IN MERCED, AND HITTING THAT COMPLIANCE WAS THE MAIN GOAL.

AS SOON AS WE CROSSED THAT THRESHOLD IN MARCH, WE STAYED IN COMPLIANCE SINCE THEN.

THE LAST TWO QUARTERS, WE'VE BEEN ABOVE 90.

SOME MONTHS WERE ABOVE 92%.

IN THE NEW RFP, THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL 2 MINUTES ADDED TO THE RESPONSE TIME.

THOSE 2 MINUTES CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.

WE ARE MEETING THE CURRENT TIME FRAME, AND WE WILL DO SO REGARDLESS OF THE EXTENDED TIME ALLOWED UNDER THE NEXT CONTRACT.

WE KNOW HOW TO GET TO CALLS QUICKLY, WHERE, WHEN AND HOW TO STAFF APPROPRIATELY TO PROVIDE THE BEST SERVICE TO MERCED COUNTY.

THE RFP PROCESS THREATENS TO DISRUPT A SYSTEM THAT IS NOW WORKING.

WE FIX THE STAFFING, STABILIZE COMPLIANCE, BUILT A FUTURE PIPELINE OF PARAMEDICS.

NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO UNDO THIS PROGRESS.

INSTEAD, LET'S CONTINUE ON A PROVEN PATH FORWARD FOR THE GERTA MERCED COUNTY RESIDENTS.

WE WORK WITH ALL OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND MAKE INVESTMENTS IN OUR COUNTY.

TAX DOLLARS WILL LEAVE MERCED IF THIS GOES THROUGH.

WHEN PRIVATE EQUITY DOES NOT HIT ITS PROFIT, STAFFING LEVELS CAN CHANGE.

IF REIMBURSEMENT IS LOW, OTHER PROVIDERS MAY CHOOSE TO LEAVE RATHER THAN INVEST TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

RIGGS DOES NOT HAVE TO RESPOND TO SHAREHOLDERS OR CORPORATE OVERSIGHT.

BUCK STOPS HERE IN MERCED.

OUR BILLING OFFICE IS HERE IN THIS TOWN.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, THEY'RE JUST A PHONE CALL AWAY.

PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WILL BE THE ONES WHO ANSWER THE PHONE AND TALK TO YOU AND CAN EXPLAIN TO YOU YOUR BILLING AND IF YOU NEED HELP TO PAY YOUR BILL, AND WE NEED TO REDUCE THE COST, OTHER COMPANIES AREN'T GOING TO DO THAT.

THEIR BILLING IS OFFSHORE.

YOU'RE GOING TO GET AN AUTOMATED RESPONSE.

I FIND IT CONCERNING THAT THE OPERATIONS MANAGER FOR ONE OF THE BIDDERS DECIDED TO BENEFIT HIS PREVIOUS EMPLOYER WHEN COMPOSING CONTENTS OF THE RFP, TURNING A BLIND EYE TO PAST COMPLAINTS AND STRUGGLES THAT OTHER BIDDERS HAVE HAD.

WHEN TIME GETS TOUGH, THEY'VE CHOSEN TO WALK AWAY FROM CERTAIN COUNTIES.

THAT'S HAPPENED OVER AND OVER.

WHAT'S TO SAY THAT WON'T HAPPEN HERE? OUR COMMUNITY CAN'T AFFORD TO LET THAT HAPPEN.

RIGGS WOULD NOT EXIST IF YOU GO WITH ANOTHER PROVIDER.

WE'RE NOT SPREAD OUT ALL OVER THE PLACE, WORK IN OTHER PLACES. RIGGS IS GONE.

AND THE BINDERS IN FRONT OF YOU, YOU WILL SEE THERE ARE LETTERS OF SUPPORT AND SIGNATURES FROM OVER 1,700 PEOPLE IN MERCED COUNTY.

THEIR VOTERS AND THEIR RESIDENTS HERE.

A HUGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMPARED TO THE 214 PEOPLE THAT FITCH AND ASSOCIATES SURVEYED TO TRY AND GET A LAY OF THE LAND.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION WITH THIS IMPORTANT MATTER.

>> WE WILL NOW HEAR FROM COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES, BEGINNING WITH PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR KRISTIN SULLIVAN.

DR. KRISTIN SULLIVAN, WHEN DOCTOR SULLIVAN BEGINS SPEAKING, THE 12 MINUTE TIMER WILL BEGIN.

>> GOOD MORNING, BOARD, THE CEO HENDRICKSON, AND COUNTY COUNSEL HANSON.

MY NAME IS DR. KRISTIN SULLIVAN, AND I AM HERE WITH DEPUTY COUNTY COUNSEL JOE GERA AND ASSISTANT CEO DAVID MARONI.

TODAY, WE ARE HERE TO PROVIDE THE COUNTY'S RESPONSE TO THE PROTEST OF RFP 7619 FILED BY SEMSA/RIGGS.

OUR PRESENTATION HAS FOUR OBJECTIVES.

FIRST, WE WILL ESTABLISH THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR THIS HEARING.

THEN WE WILL ADDRESS THE MISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN BY SEMSA, INCLUDING CIRCULATION OF MISLEADING FLYERS, SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, AND ELICITING CALLS TO SUPERVISORS.

NEXT, WE WILL DETAIL THE INTEGRITY OF THE RFP PROCESS,

[00:30:01]

WE WILL THEN CONCLUDE BY RESPONDING DIRECTLY TO THE SPECIFIC PROTEST ARGUMENTS PRESENTED BY SEMSA, AND WE'LL RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DENY THE PROTEST.

>> COLVIN. LET'S START WITH THE LEGAL STANDARD THAT GOVERNS THE BOARD'S REVIEW TODAY.

PUBLIC CONTRACTING LAW AND OUR OWN RFP REQUIRE A FAIR SELECTION PROCESS, NOT NECESSARILY A PERFECT ONE.

THE LAW RECOGNIZES THAT MINOR TECHNICAL IMPERFECTIONS CAN OCCUR.

FOR THIS REASON, PUBLIC AGENCIES ARE PERMITTED TO WAIVE WHAT ARE KNOWN AS INCONSEQUENTIAL IRREGULARITIES.

MINOR ISSUES THAT DO NOT AFFECT FAIR COMPETITION OR PROVIDE AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE TO ANY PROPOSER.

THIS VERY PRINCIPLE IS WRITTEN DIRECTLY INTO THE RFP THAT ALL PROPOSERS, INCLUDING SEMSA AGREED TO FOLLOW.

THIS BRINGS US TO THE CENTRAL TASK FOR TODAY'S HEARING.

THE BOARD IS NOT BEING ASKED TO SEARCH FOR MINER IMPERFECTIONS OR TO SUBSTITUTE ITS JUDGMENT FOR THAT OF THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE.

YOUR DETERMINATION SHOULD FOCUS ON A SINGLE POINT.

WERE THERE ANY MATERIAL DEFECTS IN THE RFP SELECTION PROCESS THAT WERE SO SUBSTANTIAL THAT WOULD REQUIRE YOU TO INVALIDATE THE RESULT.

IN OTHER WORDS, WAS THE PROCESS FAIR.

WITH THAT LEGAL STANDARD IN MIND, I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO ASSISTANT CEO DAVID MARONI, WHO WILL EXPLAIN THE SPECIFIC RULES FOR THIS PROTEST AS DEFINED IN THE RFP.

>> THE SPECIFIC RULES FOR THIS HEARING ARE SET FORTH IN THE RFP DOCUMENT THAT ALL PROPOSERS AGREED TO.

THERE ARE TWO CRITICAL RULES HERE.

FIRST, WHILE A PROPOSER CAN CHALLENGE THE COUNTY'S PROCESS, THEY ARE EXPLICITLY FORBIDDEN FROM PROTESTING SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY DISAGREE WITH THE JUDGMENT OF THE EXPERT PANEL.

SECOND, THE RFP MAKES CLEAR THAT THIS BOARD MAY DISALLOW A PROTEST THAT IS SUBMITTED WITHOUT ADEQUATE FACTUAL BASIS OR MERIT.

YOUR ROLE TODAY IS TO DETERMINE IF THE COUNTY FAILED TO FOLLOW ITS OWN PROCESS, NOT TO RE-SCORE THE PROPOSALS OR SUBSTITUTE YOUR JUDGMENT FOR THAT OF THE EXPERT PANEL.

BEFORE WE DISCUSS THE INTEGRITY OF THE COUNTY'S PROCESS, WE MUST ADDRESS THE PROTESTERS ACTIONS.

THE RFP'S CONE OF SILENCE PROVISIONS, IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT LOBBYING AND ENSURE A FAIR PROCESS WHERE ALL ARGUMENTS ARE MADE IN PUBLIC.

SEMSA VIOLATED THE SPIRIT OF THIS RULE BY CONDUCTING A WIDESPREAD PUBLIC CAMPAIGN WITH FLIERS, SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, AND PHONE CALLS CONTAINING MISINFORMATION BEFORE THIS HEARING WAS EVEN AGENDIZED.

THESE ACTIONS HAVE CAUSED UNNECESSARY CONFUSION AND FEAR IN THE COMMUNITY.

I'LL NOW HAND IT OVER TO. DR. SULLIVAN TO DISCUSS THE CONTENT OF THIS MISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN.

>> THANK YOU, DAVID. I WILL BE CORRECTING MISINFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN CIRCULATING IN THE COMMUNITY.

FIRST, TO BE CLEAR, THE COUNTY NO LONGER CONTRACTS WITH RIGGS AMBULANCE.

OUR CONTRACT IS WITH SEMSA, AN OUT OF STATE COMPANY BASED IN RENO, NEVADA.

SEMSA IS NOT A LOCAL COMPANY.

SEMSA BOUGHT OUT RIGGS AMBULANCE YEARS AGO.

SECONDLY, THE COUNTY WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE EMS SERVICE.

THERE WILL NOT BE A DISRUPTION IN SERVICE.

THE COUNTY IS SIMPLY RECOMMENDING A DIFFERENT CONTRACTOR TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES, BECAUSE A DIFFERENT COMPANY SUBMITTED A HIGHER QUALITY BID.

THIRD, JOBS WILL REMAIN LOCAL.

IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO HAVE AN AMBULANCE RESPOND AND MEET RESPONSE TIMES IF THE AMBULANCE IS NOT LOCAL.

LASTLY, AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE COUNTY WENT OUT TO BID DIRECTLY IN RESPONSE TO SEMSA POOR PERFORMANCE, SUSTAINED FOR MULTIPLE YEARS, WHICH WILL BE DETAILED IN THE NEXT SLIDE.

I, AS A MERCED COUNTY RESIDENT, PERSONALLY RECEIVED SEVERAL MAILERS FROM SEMSA, CLAIMING THAT A SWITCH AND AMBULANCE PROVIDERS WOULD RESULT IN SLOWER RESPONSE TIMES OR WORSE SERVICE.

I'M HERE TO SHARE WITH THE BOARD AND MY FELLOW RESIDENTS THAT THE DEPARTMENT CHOSE TO GO OUT TO BID BECAUSE SEMSA HAS SUCH POOR RESPONSE TIMES THAT THEY WERE PUTTING RESIDENTS LIVES AT RISK.

WHEN I SAY A CALL WAS LATE, I DO NOT MEAN SECONDS LATE.

THE AVERAGE LATE CALL WAS ABOUT FIVE MINUTES LATE, WHICH IS MEANINGFUL IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.

SEMSA DID NOT MEET RESPONSE TIME COMPLIANCE 54 OUT OF 60 MONTHS OF THIS CONTRACT.

AT THEIR WORST, AMBULANCES WERE ONLY ON TIME, 60% OF THE TIME.

THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE CALLS IN WHICH AN AMBULANCE NEVER CAME, WHICH ALSO OCCURRED.

BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT STAFF WELL, SEMSA SUBSIDIZE THE SYSTEM WITH THE WRONG LEVEL OF CARE, SENDING AMTS INSTEAD OF PARAMEDICS TO CALLS LIKE CARDIAC ARREST AND TRAUMA.

THIS MEANS THAT THE RIGHT RESOURCES WERE NOT GETTING TO PEOPLE WHEN THEY NEEDED IT.

[00:35:02]

RATHER THAN AT THAT TIME, CHOOSE TO STAFF UP APPROPRIATELY, SEMSA RELIED ON MUTUAL AID REQUESTS FROM SURROUNDING COMPANIES OR COUNTIES, SO MUCH SO THAT COUNTIES TO BOTH THE NORTH AND SOUTH OF US DISCONTINUED MUTUAL AID TO MERCED COUNTY, EXCEPT IN THE MOST EXTREME CASES.

SEMSA STILL REFUSED TO ADDRESS THEIR STAFFING ISSUES APPROPRIATELY UNTIL THE DEPARTMENT DEMANDED THAT THEY CONTRACT WITH TRAVEL PARAMEDICS UNTIL THEY HAD APPROPRIATE STAFFING LEVELS.

THIS FINALLY RESULTED IN BETTER RESPONSE TIMES.

HOWEVER, SEMSA WAS STILL NOT MEETING THE RESPONSE TO COMPLIANCE STANDARD PER THE CONTRACT.

DUE TO THIS CONTINUAL LACK OF REGARD FOR CONTRACT OBLIGATIONS, THE DEPARTMENT AND THE COUNTY HAD AN OBLIGATION TO ASSESS IF OTHER VENDORS COULD PROVIDE ENHANCED SERVICES.

DESPITE THEIR FAILURES, THE COUNTY WANTED TO ENSURE THAT SEMSA HAD A FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR THE NEW RFP.

TO ENSURE THIS, THE COUNTY HIRED A THIRD PARTY COMPANY, FITCH AND ASSOCIATES TO RUN THE RFP PROCESS.

THE RFP REVIEW PANEL WAS THREE EXPERTS FROM OUTSIDE THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ENSURE THEY HAD NO CONNECTION TO THE THREE BIDDERS.

THE PANEL HAD A COMBINED 70 PLUS YEARS OF INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE AND INCLUDED AN EMS MEDICAL DIRECTOR, AN AMBULANCE COMPANY CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, AND A DISTRICT FIRE CHIEF FOR A FIRE AGENCY THAT ALSO PROVIDES EMS SERVICES, ALL LEADERS IN THE INDUSTRY.

EVALUATORS WERE SCREENED FOR CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND DID NOT KNOW EACH OTHER UNTIL THE DAY BEFORE THE PROPOSAL EVALUATIONS.

EVALUATORS WERE NOT INFORMED OF WHY THE COUNTY WENT TO BID.

SEMSA PERFORMANCE OR ANY BREACH OF CONTRACT, OTHER THAN WHAT SEMSA DISCLOSED IN THEIR RESPONSE TO THE RFP.

IRONICALLY, AS SEMSA IS DEMANDING RIGID ADHERENCE TO THE RULES FOR OTHERS, THEY THEMSELVES FAILED TO DISCLOSE SIX OF SEVEN LETTERS OF BREACH OF CONTRACT AS REQUIRED BY THE RFP, AND SO THE EVALUATORS DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THIS CRUCIAL INFORMATION WHEN MAKING THE AWARD DECISION.

IN ADDITION, ALL CALIFORNIA RFPS FOR EMS EXCLUSIVE OPERATING AREAS ARE REQUIRED TO BE APPROVED BY CALIFORNIA STATE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AGENCY, WHOSE PROCEDURES, SOME OF WHICH ARE ON THE SLIDE ARE THE MOST STRINGENT IN THE COUNTRY.

RFP MET THESE REQUIREMENTS AND WAS APPROVED BY CA EMSA BEFORE RELEASE.

FICHEN ASSOCIATES PROVIDED A COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW OF THE RFP PROCESS AT THE SEPTEMBER 9TH BOARD MEETING, BUT I'LL GIVE A BRIEF RECAP HERE.

EVALUATORS RECEIVED ALL PROPOSALS IN FULL AND SCORED THEM INDEPENDENTLY.

SCORING IS BASED ON FACTS, DATA, AND LOGICAL INFERENCE.

AFTER ORAL PRESENTATIONS, EVALUATORS COULD ADJUST SCORES UP OR DOWN ONLY BY ONE LEVEL.

THE CONSULTANT VERBALLY CONFIRMED WITH EACH EVALUATOR THEIR FINAL NUMERIC SCORES AND RANKINGS FOR EACH PROPOSAL.

AT THE CONCLUSION OF SCORING, THE CONSULTANTS SUMMARIZED THE RESULTS SECTION, AND THE HIGHEST SCORING PROPOSAL WAS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

IMPORTANTLY, NONE OF THE EVALUATORS RANK SEMSA AS THE HIGHEST SCORING PROPOSER, AND SEMSA IS THE ONLY ONE OF THE THREE BIDDERS PROTESTING THE FAIRNESS OF THE RFP PROCESS.

>> SO THE RESPONSE TO THE PROTESTS, AND THEY HAVE THREE GROUNDS THAT THEY HAVE CITED.

THE FIRST CLAIM IS THAT THE PROCESS LACKED TRANSPARENCY.

THIS IS INCORRECT.

THE COUNTY LAWFULLY AND TEMPORARILY POSTPONED THE RELEASE OF PROPOSALS WHILE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WERE GOING ON TO PROTECT THE COUNTY'S BARGAINING POSITION.

THIS IS A STANDARD PRACTICE THAT SERVES THE PUBLIC'S INTEREST.

ONCE NEGOTIATIONS ARE CONCLUDED, ALL PROPOSALS AND SCORES WERE RELEASED.

SEMSA WAS AFFORDED ALL THE PROCESS IT WAS DUE.

THIS CLAIM IS WITHOUT MERIT.

THE PROCESS WAS BOTH LAWFUL AND TRANSPARENT.

PROTEST GROUND NUMBER 2, FLAWED SCORING.

SEMSA PRIMARY ARGUMENT IS THAT THE PANEL SCORED THE PROPOSALS INCORRECTLY, AS THE RFP MAKES CLEAR, THIS IS NOT A GROUND FOR PROTEST.

IT'S A DIRECT CHALLENGE TO THE EXPERT JUDGMENT OF THE EVALUATORS.

THEY ARE ASKING YOU TO SUBSTITUTE YOUR JUDGMENT FOR THAT OF A PANEL OF INDEPENDENT OUT OF STATE EXPERTS.

THIS CLAIM IS INVALID UNDER THE RFP'S OWN RULES.

FINALLY, GROUND 3, PRICING ANOMALY.

SEMSA POINTS TO A CLEAR TYPO AND AMRS PRICING SHEET.

THIS ARGUMENT MISREPRESENTS THE PROCESS.

THE FINANCIAL REVIEW WAS A PRELIMINARY PASS FAIL CHECK FOR VIABILITY, WHICH ALL THREE PROPOSERS PASSED.

IT WAS NOT SCORED.

THE FINAL RANKING WAS BASED SOLELY ON THE QUALITY AND OPERATIONAL SCORES.

FURTHERMORE, THE RFP IS CLEAR THAT ALL RATES ARE SUBJECT TO NEGOTIATION AND FINAL APPROVAL BY YOUR BOARD.

[00:40:01]

AGAIN, THIS CLAIM IS WITHOUT MERIT.

>> SO IN CONCLUSION, WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE THE COUNTY HAD AN OBLIGATION TO THE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS OF MERCED COUNTY THAT THEY RECEIVE THE BEST, FASTEST AND HIGHEST QUALITY AMBULANCE SERVICES IN AN EMERGENCY.

WHEN THEY NEED IT THE MOST, THE CORE RESPONSIBILITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS TO ENSURE THE PUBLIC'S HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND I TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY SERIOUSLY.

THE DECISION TO GO OUT TO BID WAS NECESSARY AND A RESPONSIBLE ONE, DRIVEN BY YEARS OF DOCUMENTED PERFORMANCE FAILURES.

THE SUBSEQUENT PROCUREMENT PROCESS WAS FAIR, OBJECTIVE, AND CONDUCTED WITH THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF INTEGRITY.

THE PROTEST BEFORE YOU TODAY LACKS MERIT AND IS BASED ON GROUNDS THAT THE RFP EXPLICITLY FORBIDS.

THE PROCESS WORKED AS INTENDED, IDENTIFYING THE PROVIDER BEST EQUIPPED TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF MERCED COUNTY, AND THAT PROVIDER IS NOT SEMSA.

FOR THESE REASONS, STAFF RECOMMENDS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SHOULD DENY THE PROTESTS SUBMITTED BY SEMSA RIGGS. THANK YOU.

>> AT THIS TIME, SEMSA RIGGS HAS THREE MINUTES TO PROVIDE A REBUTTAL, AND THE THREE MINUTE TIME WILL START WHEN YOU START SPEAKING.

>> RIGGS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE COMMUNITY'S RESPONSE TO THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF RESOURCES IN THE COUNTY.

THE COUNTY SAYS THERE'S NO LEGAL OR FACTUAL BASIS.

WE BELIEVE THAT'S FALSE.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT OUR PROTESTS.

LOOK AT PAGES 7-10.

THE COUNTY COMPLETELY IGNORES THE LEGAL ARGUMENT THAT ITS FAILURE TO PROVIDE BACKUP TO ITS SCORE, MEANS ITS PROCESS WAS ARBITRARY.

LOOK AT PAGES 11-17.

WE ARE NOT JUST QUESTIONING THE JUDGMENT OF THE EVALUATORS.

WE WENT POINT BY POINT AND SHOWED HOW EVALUATORS FAILED TO FOLLOW THE RFP SCORING PROCESS.

IT WAS VERY CLEAR WHAT A FULL SCORE WOULD BE, A SUBSTANDARD SCORE WOULD BE.

TRANSPARENCY. AS A PROTEST MAKES CLEAR, WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR THE SUBSTITUTION OF ITS JUDGMENT.

WE ASK YOU TO SEE HOW THEY WERE MAKING OBJECTIVE ERRORS.

THE COUNTY HAS WITHHELD INFORMATION AND ASKED US TO TAKE ITS WORD FOR IT.

WHEN THIS PRESENTATION STATES HOW THE COUNTY STAFF WAS INCREDIBLY BIASED.

WHEN WE RESPOND TO BLS AMBULANCES, BY THE WAY, THAT WAS A STANDARD PRACTICE.

WE WERE SENDING BLS RESPONSE WHEN ALS WAS EXTENDED.

WE STILL WERE SENDING A PARAMEDIC FOLLOWING THE CONTRACT.

THAT WAS PERFECTLY OKAY UP UNTIL OCTOBER OF 2022, WHEN WERE ADVISED WE COULD NO LONGER DO THAT.

WE SENT A BLS RESOURCE WITH THE ABILITY TO TRANSPORT, MUCH LIKE ALL FIRE DEPARTMENTS SEND A BLS RESOURCE.

WE HAD THE ABILITY TO GET YOU TO THE HOSPITAL.

WE WERE DOING WHAT WAS BEST FOR THE PATIENT.

AN ALS UNIT WAS ALWAYS IN ROUTE.

THEY MAY HAVE BEEN EXTENDED.

WE WERE IN A SEVERE STAFFING CRISIS.

WE REACHED OUT. WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO TAKE TIME TO FIX, AND WE FIXED IT, BUT THIS INFORMATION WAS NOT A SURPRISE TO ANYBODY.

>> DR. SULLIVAN, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM AND PROVIDE A REBUTTAL, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

TIME WILL START WHEN YOU START.

>> SEMSA CLAIMS AN UNJUST BIDDING PROCESS, BUT NOTHING PRESENTED TODAY HAS REPRESENTED ANY MATERIAL DEFECT IN THE RFP PROCESS.

MOST OF WHAT HAS BEEN STATED IS NOT GERMANE TO THIS PROTEST PROCESS.

SEMSA CLAIMS CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE THE CONTRACTOR FROM FITCH AND ASSOCIATES WORKED AT AMR FOR 10 YEARS AGO.

CONSULTANTS TO BE EFFECTIVE IN THEIR FIELD TYPICALLY HAVE REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE.

IN FACT, THIS IS SO COMMON, IT WAS ANTICIPATED IN THE RFP, WHICH CLEARLY STATES, PROPOSERS STIPULATE THAT FITCH'S PRIOR CURRENT AND FUTURE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COUNTY, OTHER CITIES, COUNTIES, AND ANOTHER AMBULANCE ORGANIZATION, DO NOT REPRESENT A CONFLICT, CAUSE OF PROTEST, OR LEGAL CHALLENGE OF THIS PROCUREMENT PROCESS.

IN OTHER WORDS, BY SUBMITTING A BID FOR THIS RFP, SEMSA AGREED THAT ANY PREVIOUS CONNECTIONS OF FITCH AND ASSOCIATES WAS NOT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

THE FACT THAT THEY ARE RESORTING TO CLAIMING THAT NOW REFLECTS ON HOW WEAK THEIR ARGUMENTS ARE.

SIMILARLY, THEY CLAIM THAT BOTH OTHER BIDDERS RECEIVED PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT.

AS EXTENSIVELY OUTLINED, AMR CORRECTED THEIR PRICING SHEET TYPO DURING NEGOTIATION,

[00:45:03]

FOC CAME IN THIRD IN THE BIDDING PROCESS AND DID NOT PROTEST THIS RFP.

NOTHING HAVING TO DO WITH FOC HAS ANY RELEVANCE TO TODAY'S PROCEEDINGS.

THE COUNTY DID NOT SHARE SEMSA POOR PERFORMANCE WITH EVALUATORS.

THERE WAS NO BIAS AGAINST SEMSA.

SEMSA CLAIMS TO BE A LOCAL COMPANY, BUT THEIR OWN WEBSITE STATES THAT THEY ARE A NEVADA BASED COMPANY.

SEMSA HAS MANAGED TO MAINTAIN LOCAL JOBS FROM RENO.

AMR WEST HEADQUARTERS IN SENESLS COUNTY IS FAR MORE LOCAL THAN THAT.

SEMSA THEMSELVES ADMIT THAT THEIR RESPONSE TIME PROBLEMS WERE DUE TO STAFFING ISSUES, BUT DID NOT ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES UNTIL FORCED TO BY THE DEPARTMENT.

SEMSA HAS RESORTED TO A COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN FULL OF SCARE TACTICS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO VALID BASIS FOR PROTESTING THIS RFP PROCESS.

THE PLACE TO INVEST THIS ENERGY WAS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR BID AND PRESENTATION.

TODAY'S PROCEEDINGS IS NOT TO OVERRULE THE JUDGMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT EVALUATION PANEL, BUT TO DETERMINE IF THAT JUDGMENT WAS RENDERED FAIRLY, AND IT WAS.

THERE IS ONE PLACE WE DO AGREE, HOWEVER, AND THAT IS IN THE PRESS RELEASE YESTERDAY WHEN SEMSA SAID EVERY SECOND COUNTS.

WE COULDN'T AGREE MORE.

BUT SEMSA'S LONG HISTORY OF FAILURE TO MEET RESPONSE TIMES SHOWS THAT THIS IS SIMPLY LIP SERVICE ON THEIR PART.

MERCED COUNTY DESERVES BETTER. THANK YOU.

>> I'M GOING TO TAKE THE PULSE AGAIN AFTER HEARING THAT.

CAN I GET A RAISE OF HANDS OF WHO STILL WANTS TO SPEAK?

>> AT THIS TIME, I WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND AT THIS TIME, I WILL ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THIS ITEM.

FOR CLARIFICATION, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS FOR THE PROTEST OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS NUMBER 7619, EXCLUSIVE AMBULANCE SERVICES PROVIDED FOR THE MERCED COUNTY EXCLUSIVE OPERATING AREA SUBMITTED BY SIMSA RIGGS.

IN AN EFFORT TO ALLOW EVERYONE.

WE'RE GOING TO LIMIT THE TESTIMONY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO LIMIT THE TESTIMONY WE'RE GOING TO KEEP IT AT THE THREE MINUTES.

SINCE SPEAKERS HAVE LINED UP, WE NEED SPEAKERS ON THE TO LINE UP ON THE SIDES OVER HERE, PLEASE, ON THE WALL, ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ROOM.

I WILL ALTERNATE SIDES WHEN CALLING SPEAKERS.

WE CAN HAVE SPEAKERS OVER HERE AND SPEAKERS OVER THERE.

BUT IF THEY'RE ALL OVER THERE, THAT WORKS TOO AND THEN WE'LL ALTERNATE.

THE FIRST SPEAKER CAN GO AHEAD AND COME ON UP.

>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.

MY NAME IS MARIBEL HERNANDEZ.

>> CAN YOU LOWER THE MICROPHONE? THERE SHOULD BE A BUTTON THERE.

THE PEOPLE COMING UP, THERE'S A BUTTON OVER THERE TO MOVE IT UP AND DOWN JUST SO YOU KNOW.

LET ME RESET YOUR TIME GO AHEAD.

>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.

MY NAME IS MARIBEL HERNANDEZ.

I'VE SERVED MERCED COUNTY FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS AS AN EMT, A PARAMEDIC, A FIELD TRAINING OFFICER, TACTICAL MEDIC AND FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE CLINICAL MANAGER AT RIGGS AMBULANCE.

I SPEAK TO YOU, NOT JUST AS A PARAMEDIC WHO HAS WORKED ON THE STREETS OF MERCED COUNTY, BUT ON BEHALF OF THE DISPATCHERS, BILLING STAFF, MECHANICS AND OTHER DEDICATED TEAM MEMBERS WHO RARELY GET THE SPOTLIGHT.

THEY'VE SUPPORTED US IN THE FIELD FOR DECADES, AND UNDER THIS CONTRACT, MANY OF THEM STAND TO LOSE THEIR JOBS.

I BELIEVE IT'S MY DUTY TO SPEAK FOR THEM TODAY.

I KNOW THE COUNTY HAS ONLY ISSUED AN INTENT TO AWARD AT THIS POINT.

I'M ASKING YOU TO PAUSE BEFORE FINALIZING THE AWARD AND ALLOW A REBID TO MAKE SURE WE FULLY CONSIDER THE IMPACT ON OUR LOCAL WORKFORCE AND ECONOMY.

THE NEW POTENTIAL PROVIDER HAS SAID IN THEIR OWN PUBLIC STATEMENT THAT THEY WILL OFFER JOBS TO ALL ELIGIBLE INCUMBENT FIELD EMPLOYEES.

I AND ALL AROUND US, WE APPRECIATE THAT THE NEW POTENTIAL PROVIDER HAS COMMITTED TO RETAINING OUR EMTS AND PARAMEDICS, WHICH MATTERS DEEPLY SO THANK YOU.

BUT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND WHILE DISPATCHERS ARE MENTIONED AS ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES, THEY WOULD HAVE TO TRAVEL ABOUT AN HOUR OUT OF THE COUNTY FOR WORK.

FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND BILLING FOR THE NEW PROVIDER IS HANDLED OFFSHORES OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES.

THAT MEANS THOSE BILLING POSITIONS WITH WHICH HAVE BEEN LONG HELD BY MERCED COUNTY RESIDENTS WOULD NOT ONLY LEAVE THE COUNTY, BUT WILL NO LONGER CONTRIBUTE TO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AT ALL.

I WANT TO BE SURE THEY ARE NOT LEFT BEHIND IN THE TRANSITION.

MANY OF THESE EMPLOYEES HAVE WORKED IN MERCED COUNTY FOR 10, 20, 30, EVEN 40 YEARS.

IF THIS CONTRACT PROCEEDS AT THIS STANCE, THOSE JOBS WILL BE LOST IN MERCED COUNTY.

THE FAMILIES WHO RELY ON THESE JOBS WILL POTENTIALLY LOSE THEM.

ALSO, EVERY ONE OF THOSE JOBS REPRESENTS A PAYCHECK THAT

[00:50:01]

WHEN THOSE JOBS LEAVE, THE SPENDING LEAVES WITH THEM.

THIS IS NOT JUST THE WORKFORCE ISSUE, IT'S A COMMUNITY ISSUE.

WE RESPECT THE COMPETITIVE PROCESS, BUT WE BELIEVE THE BOARD SHOULD PAUSE, RECONSIDER, AND AUTHORIZE A REBID.

A REBID WILL ENSURE FAIRNESS, TRANSPARENCY, AND A FULL EVALUATION, NOT JUST OF OPERATIONS AND CLINICAL STANDARDS, BUT OF THE IMPACT ON JOBS, LOCAL BUSINESSES AND LONG TERM SERVICE STABILITY.

THE PROMISE TO HIRE ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES IS TOO NARROW.

IT DOES NOT PROTECT THE HUNDREDS OF JOBS THAT WILL OTHERWISE LEAVE THIS COUNTY AND WE ASK YOU TO TAKE A SECOND LOOK BEFORE DECADES OF EXPERTISE, LOCAL JOBS AND THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO BRING TO MERCED COUNTY OUR LOSS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.

>> GOOD MORNING, HAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

MY NAME IS CASEY WILSON, FIRE CHIEF FOR THE CITY MORSE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA HAS A VERY RIGID AND DETAILED PROCESS WHEN IT COMES TO EXCLUSIVE AMBULANCE OPERATING AREAS.

WHILE THE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT HASN'T BEEN DIRECTLY INVOLVED WITH THIS PROCESS, WE'VE FOLLOWED IT VERY CLOSELY.

FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, IT'S BEEN A FAIR AND EQUITABLE PROCESS.

AS FIRE CHIEF, I'M FOCUSED ON ENSURING THAT OUR COMMUNITY RECEIVES THE LEVEL OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE IT BOTH EXPECTS AND DESERVES.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH A PROVIDER THAT IS WILLING TO PARTNER WITH US IN THAT MISSION.

STRONG COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE AMBULANCE PROVIDER AND THE FIRE SERVICE IS ESSENTIAL TO DELIVERING THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOMES FOR THE PEOPLE WE SERVE.

AT THE SAME TIME, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND RESPECT THE 77 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE THAT RIGGS AMBULANCE HAS PROVIDED TO MERCED COUNTY.

OUR FRUSTRATION HAS NEVER BEEN WITH THE EMPLOYEES OF RIGGS.

THEY'VE SERVED THIS COMMUNITY WITH PROFESSIONALISM AND HEART.

BUT WITH THE ABSENCE OF LEADERSHIP WHEN IT MATTERED MOST.

FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT ABSENCE OF THEIR LEADERSHIP IN THIS ROOM TODAY.

IT PAINS ME TO SEE THE STRESS AND UNCERTAINTY THAT SO MANY OF THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE EXPERIENCING, MANY OF WHOM ARE NOT JUST PROFESSIONAL COLLEAGUES, BUT ALSO FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

I'M GRATEFUL THAT AMR HAS EXPRESSED A COMMITMENT TO BRINGING OVER AS MANY OF THOSE EMPLOYEES AS POSSIBLE, HELPING TO PRESERVE THE EXPERIENCE, SKILLS AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT HAVE LONG BENEFITED OUR COMMUNITY.

AS FIRE CHIEF, I'M FACED WITH CHALLENGING DECISIONS EVERY DAY.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE MUST ALWAYS MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS FOR THE RIGHT REASONS, AND THAT MEANS PUTTING PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST.

I BELIEVE THIS DECISION TO DENY THE APPEAL ALIGNS WITH THAT PRINCIPLE, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN MOVING THIS PROCESS FORWARD. THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING, GUYS. MY NAME IS MEGAN, AND I'M A PROUD PARAMEDIC SUPERVISOR, FIELD TRAINING OFFICER AND PRECEPTOR FOR AMBULANCE.

I'M ALSO A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF MERCED COUNTY BORN AND RAISED HERE.

I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING ALONGSIDE SOME OF THE MOST DEDICATED EMTS, PARAMEDICS, DISPATCHERS, AND SUPPORT STAFF IN THE FIELD.

I STARTED AT RIGGS AS AN SST, AND I HAVE QUITE LITERALLY GROWN UP HERE IN THIS AMAZING COMPANY, WHERE I'M NOT JUST A NUMBER, BUT INSTEAD A PART OF A FAMILY.

RIGGS ISN'T JUST A NAME IN EMERGENCY SERVICES, WE'RE A LONG STANDING NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION WITH DEEP ROOTS IN MERCED COUNTY.

FOR 77 YEARS, WE'VE PROUDLY SERVED THIS COMMUNITY RESPONDING RAPIDLY TO EMERGENCIES, DELIVERING COMPASSIONATE CARE AND UPHOLDING THE HIGHEST STANDARDS IN SAFETY AND CLINICAL EXCELLENCE.

OUR STRENGTH LIES NOT JUST IN WHAT WE DO, BUT IN HOW WE DO IT WITH INTEGRITY, EMPATHY AND GENUINE CONNECTION TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE.

BECAUSE WE ARE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY, NOT JUST EMPLOYED HERE.

IN CONTRAST, I'VE BOTH WITNESSED AND RECEIVED TROUBLING FEEDBACK FROM PATIENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS REGARDING THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY AMR AND THEIR CONCERNS INCLUDE UNFAMILIARITY WITH LOCAL GEOGRAPHY OFTEN LEADING TO DELAYS AND MISCOMMUNICATION AND MISS ROUTING TO 911 CALLS, WHERE LIKE, EVERYBODY HAS MENTIONED SECONDS MATTER.

PERCEIVED FOCUS ON PROFIT OVER PATIENT CARE, WHICH DEEPLY UNDERMINES THE PUBLIC'S TRUST AND AN OUTSOURCING OF JOBS THAT ARE CRITICAL TO OUR LOCAL WORKFORCE AND ECONOMY.

AS A RESIDENT OF MERCED COUNTY, AND A PARAMEDIC SUPERVISOR AND FTO I SEE FIRSTHAND THE DIFFERENCE A LOCALLY BASED COMMUNITY FOCUSED EMS PROVIDER MAKES.

RIGGS IS NOT A CORPORATE ENTITY HERE TO EXTRACT VALUE.

WE ARE THIS COMMUNITY, WE ARE DEEPLY INVESTED IN OUR PATIENTS, OUR OUTCOMES, OUR FAMILY SUPPORT.

WE ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS, YOUR FAMILY, WE LIVE HERE.

THIS IS OUR PEOPLE, THIS IS OUR COMMUNITY, THIS IS WHAT SETS US APART.

WE ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT MERCED COUNTY.

IF THIS CORPORATE TAKEOVER IS ALLOWED TO HAPPEN, NOT ONLY WILL MANY LOYAL HARD WORKING EMPLOYEES BE LAID OFF OR REPLACED BY OUTSOURCED LABOR.

BUT MERCED COUNTY ALSO STANDS TO LOSE EVEN MORE OF ITS DEDICATED PARAMEDICS, EMTS, AND DISPATCHERS, PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE UNWILLING TO WORK FOR A CORPORATION THAT PRIORITIZES PROFIT OVER PATIENTS.

THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SPENT THEIR CAREER SERVING THIS COMMUNITY WITH PRIDE, AND THEY SHOULD NOT BE FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THEIR PRINCIPLES AND THEIR LIVELIHOOD.

[00:55:01]

PATIENT SAFETY, DIGNITY AND COMMUNITY ACCOUNTABILITY MUST TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER CORPORATE CONVENIENCE OR PROFIT.

SIMPLY PUT OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES BETTER, AND RIGGS'S AMBULANCE DEALERT BETTER.

WE ARE A SMALL COMMUNITY BASED PROVIDER IF THIS BIASED CORPORATE TRANSITION GOES THROUGH, I WILL NOT JUST HURT THE WORKERS OF RIGGS, BUT THE VERY HEART OF EMERGENCY SERVICES OUR COUNTY DEPENDS ON.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO HEAR MY VOICE AND THE VOICES OF COUNTLESS OTHERS WHO ARE SIMPLY ASKING FOR CARE RESPECT AND A COMMITMENT TO DOING WHAT'S RIGHT FOR MERCED COUNTY.

>> MORNING, COUNTY SUPERVISORS, COUNTY STAFF.

I'M HERE FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO INFORM THEM MORE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON, AS WELL AS PEOPLE WHO PROBABLY DON'T KNOW WITH SOME GENERAL PROS AND CONS, SOME THE RRP REQUIREMENTS, A DETAILED COMPARISON, UNKNOWN RISK AND RECOMMENDATIONS.

ANYWAYS, SO GENERAL PROS AND CONS OF HIRING A NEW PROVIDER.

POTENTIALLY IMPROVED RESPONSE TIMES.

FRESH INVESTMENT IN AMBULANCES AND TECHNOLOGY, STRONGER ACCOUNTABILITY AND PERFORMANCE OVERSIGHT.

NEW PROVIDER COULD IMPROVE STAFFING AND TRAINING, POSSIBLE COST EFFICIENCIES FROM COMPETITION.

LOCAL WORKFORCE MAY BE RETAINED UNDER ARS PLAN.

RISKS, RISK OF SERVICE DISRUPTION DURING TRANSITION, POTENTIAL JOB LOSSES OR BENEFITS CHANGES FROM EXISTING EMTS, RISK OF HIGHER OPERATIONAL OR CONTRACT COSTS, COVERAGE GAPS IN RURAL AREAS, PUBLIC SKEPTICISM AND LEGAL DISPUTES OVER BIDDING PROCESSES.

THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE RFP WERE THE EXCLUSIVE OPERATING AREA.

THE DESCRIPTION WAS SINGLE PROVIDER COVERS MOST OF MERCED COUNTY.

THE CONTRACT TERM WAS FIVE YEARS WITH POSSIBLE FIVE YEAR EXTENSION.

LEVEL OF SERVICE MUST PROVIDE ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT.

RESPONSE TIME STANDARDS, HIGH DENSITY AREAS UNDER 11 MINUTES WITH 90% COMPLIANCE, AND WITH LOW DENSITY UNDER 20 MINUTES.

OVERSIGHT, MONTHLY REPORTS BI MONTHLY COMPLIANCE MEETINGS.

THE CLINICAL QUALITY PRIMARY VALUATION FACTOR.

INCUMBENT EMPLOYEE CONSIDERATION, NEW PROVIDER ENCOURAGED TO HIRE EXISTING EMS STAFF.

A DETAILED COMPARISON BETWEEN RIGGS, SEMSA VERSUS AMR. RESPONSE TIME COMPLIANCE, HISTORICALLY MISSED TARGETS, BUT HAVE RECENT IMPROVEMENTS.

AMR PROMISES STRONG COMPLIANCE, BUT NO LOCAL RECORD YET.

RURAL COVERAGE, KNOWN GEOGRAPHY STILL STRUGGLES WITH LONG DISTANCES.

AMR MUST MEET SAME STANDARDS RURAL PLAN NOT FULLY PUBLIC.

LOCAL WORKFORCE WITH SEMSA, ESTABLISHED PRESENCE, TRAIN LOCAL EMTS.

AMR, PLANS TO HIRE INCUMBENTS, MAY IMPORT ADDITIONAL STAFF.

FLEET AND EQUIPMENT, SEMSA, AGING FLEET, MODEST UPGRADES.

AMR PROMISES NEW AMBULANCES AND ADVANCED EQUIPMENT, TECHNOLOGY.

LIMITED FOR SEMSA, LIMITED INNOVATION INITIATIVES FOR AMR EMPHASIZES DATA SYSTEMS, NURSE NAVIGATION, MODERN DISPATCH TECH.

THE FINANCIAL MODEL, SEMSA, NON PROFIT, LIMITED REINVESTMENT CAPACITY, AMR, CORPORATE SCALE, GREATER CAPITAL, BUT PROFIT DRIVEN.

THE COMMUNITY TRUST, SEMSA, MIXED REPUTATION DUE TO DELAYS.

I COULD SAY THAT AS PART OF LOS BANOS, I HEAR A LOT OF MIXED COMMENTS.

THEN FOR AMR, PUBLICLY POSITIVE MESSAGING, TRUST TO BE BUILT LOCALLY, KEY ONES AND RISKS, ACTUALLY ENFORCEABILITY OF RESPONSE TIME PENALTIES OR INCENTIVES, RULE COVERAGE, AND STATION PLACEMENT DETAILS STAFFING PLAN.

>> SIR, I'M GOING TO LET YOU FINISH THAT THOUGHT, AND THEN YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU.

>> I PROUDLY SERVED THIS COMMUNITY AS AN EMT WITH RIGGS AMBULANCE FOR THE PAST 18.5 YEARS.

IN THAT TIME, I'VE ALSO TAKEN THE ROLE OF FIELD TRAINING OFFICER AND HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF RUNNING THE EXPLORERS PROGRAM, HELPING GUIDE OUR FUTURE RESPONDERS.

RIGGS HAS ALWAYS BEEN MORE THAN JUST A WORKPLACE. IT'S A FAMILY.

IT'S A CULTURE BUILT OF TRUST, COMPASSION, AND A DEEP COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE WE SERVE.

THIS IS MY COMMUNITY, MY FAMILY LIVES HERE, AND SO DOES YOURS.

I KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT THAT THEY ARE SAFE THE HEADS CO WORKERS AND MANAGEMENT TEAM.

I'VE WORKED FOR OTHER COMPANIES INCLUDING AMR, AND I COULD TELL YOU FIRSTHAND THE DIFFERENCE IS NIGHT AND DAY.

I SELL CULTURES THAT LACK THE HEART AND INTEGRITY OF THE JOB DEMANDS.

PATIA CARE OFTEN FELL SECONDARY HOLDOVERS WERE EXCESSIVE AND COMPASSION FOR PATIENTS WAS HARD TO FIND.

THEIR VALUES DIDN'T ALIGN WITH MINE, AND IT'S CERTAINLY NOT WHAT THIS COMMUNITY DESERVES.

RIGGS, ON THE OTHER HAND, HAS DECADES OF EXPERIENCE SERVING THIS REGION.

WE'VE GROWN WITH IT, WE'VE ADAPTED TO THE RISING POPULATION,

[01:00:01]

THROUGH IT ALL, WE'VE STAYED ROOTED IN OUR MISSION TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL CARE WITH GENUINE COMPASSION.

HERE TODAY NOT JUST AS AN EMT, BUT AS A NEIGHBOR, A PARENT, AND A PROUD ADVOCATE FOR RIGGS.

I ASK YOU THAT YOU SUPPORT A COMPANY THAT HAS CONSISTENTLY PUT THIS COMMUNITY FIRST BECAUSE WHEN YOU CHOOSE RIGGS, YOU'RE CHOOSING SAFETY, EXPERIENCE AND A TEAM FAMILY.

THIS ISN'T ABOUT POLITICS, IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES.

IT'S ABOUT SHOWING YOU THE REALITY BEHIND 911 CALLS AND FLASHING LIGHTS.

IF YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT CHANGES OUR EMS SYSTEM NEEDS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, START BY SEEING A FIRSTHAND, REACH OUT TO YOUR LOCAL EMTS, PARAMEDICS, DISPATCHERS, AND ER STAFF.

ASK WHAT SLOWS US DOWN, WHAT WE WISH WE HAD, AND WHAT WE SEE IS RECURRING ISSUES INSTEAD OF REPLACING RIGGS, WHO HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO OVERCOMING CHALLENGES THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

I EXTEND A PERSONAL CHALLENGE TO EACH OF YOU.

COME RIGHT ALONG WITH ME, SPEND A SHIFT SEEING WHAT WE FACE DAILY, WHAT WE CARRY, WHAT WE WITNESS, THE CHALLENGES WE ENCOUNTER, AND HOW WE SERVE.

ASK QUESTIONS, WE'VE GOT ANSWERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> HI, GOOD MORNING, SUPERVISORS, CEO ANDERSON, AND THE STAFF.

MY NAME IS PAUL TUALA, I'M THE FIRE CHIEF FOR THE CITY OF LOS BANOS.

I'VE BEEN THE FIRE CHIEF FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, AND I DO WANT TO SAY I AM IN SUPPORT OF THE AMR CONTRACT.

SINCE MY ARRIVAL IN LOS BANOS, I HAVE SEEN EXTREME DELAYS, SOME ISSUES WITH TRANSPORT, DECISIONS THAT WE HAD TO MAKE DUE TO THE LACK OF AN AMBULANCE.

I WON'T GET ANY REAL DETAILS OTHER THAN WE'VE HAD SOME EXTREME DELAYS.

WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE LEFT OUT IN THE WEST.

I DO FEEL FOR THE EMPLOYEES, I HOPE AMR WILL FOLLOW THROUGH.

THOSE FIELD CREWS DO AN EXCELLENT JOB, AND I DO APPRECIATE WHAT THEY DO, BUT THEY'RE BEING PUT IN A POSITION WHEN THEY ARRIVE ON SCENE LATE, AND THEY'RE HAVING TO DEAL WITH UPSET FAMILY MEMBERS, UPSET PATIENTS.

I DO HOPE THAT THE COUNTY WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CONTRACT WITH AMR. THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS STEPHANIE, AND I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF MERCED COUNTY.

YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT RIGGS IS A LOCAL COMPANY THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDING MEDICAL SERVICE TO MERCED COUNTY FOR NEARLY 80 YEARS.

YOU'RE ALSO AWARE THAT THEY'RE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.

BUT WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT AMR? IF YOU GO TO THEIR WEBSITE, YOU'LL DISCOVER THAT THEY'RE NUMBER ONE, NOT LOCAL.

DESPITE CLAIMS THAT RIGGS IS NOT LOCAL, RIGGS IS LOCAL.

THEY'VE BEEN HERE FOR 80 YEARS.

THEY'RE OWNED BY A GLOBAL CORPORATION, AND IT'S A FOR PROFIT CORPORATION, SO THE COUNTY CLAIMS THAT THE BID WAS NOT THE ISSUE HERE, BUT SUPERVISORS PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A GLOBAL COMPANY WITH A FINANCIAL CAPABILITY TO UNDERBID THEIR ACTUAL COSTS IN ORDER TO GET INTO A NEW MARKET, AND MAKE NO MISTAKE.

MERCED COUNTY IS JUST A MARKET TO AMR. DO YOU THINK THEIR SHAREHOLDERS WILL TOLERATE A LOSS? AS A FOR PROFIT CORPORATION, THEY'RE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO TURN A PROFIT.

ASK YOURSELF, WHAT WILL THEY DO TO MAKE UP FOR IT LATER? WILL THEY KEEP INCREASING THEIR PRICES? WILL THEY COMPROMISE ON MEDICAL PROTOCOLS? I CAN TELL YOU WHAT THEY DID IN GRANT COUNTY, WASHINGTON, CITING RISING COSTS AND LOW REIMBURSEMENTS FROM INSURERS LIKE MEDICAID, AMR CEASED OPERATIONS BEFORE THEIR CONTRACT WAS UP? GRANT COUNTY WAS NOT THE ONLY PLACE THAT THEY DID THAT.

THEY ALSO DID THAT IN PIERCE COUNTY, WASHINGTON, AND THEY'VE HAD PROBLEMS IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO, OKLAHOMA CITY, TO NAME JUST A FEW.

MERCED COUNTY RANKES 47 OUT OF 58 COUNTIES IN THE STATE IN TERMS OF HOUSEHOLD INCOME.

WITH APPROXIMATELY 51% OF COUNTY RESIDENTS ON MEDICAL, CALIFORNIA'S VERSION OF MEDICAID.

DO YOU THINK AMR WILL FARE ANY BETTER HERE? BY THE TIME WE FIND OUT, RIGGS WILL BE LONG GONE.

[01:05:02]

YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR KILLING A LOCAL INSTITUTION.

BY THE TIME AMR FINDS OUT THAT MERCED COUNTY DOESN'T PROVIDE THE PROFIT MARGINS THEY WANT.

RIGGS WILL BE LONG GONE, AND COUNTY RESIDENTS WILL BE LEFT BLEEDING OUT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD [INAUDIBLE].

>> MA'AM, YOUR TIME IS DONE.

>> IS NOT PROFITABLE.

>> I WANT TO SUPERVISE THE CEO.

MY NAME IS ADAM PEREZ.

FIRST OFF, I JUST WANT TO SAY FOR SOMETHING THAT'S NOT BIASED, I FELT THAT COUNTY STAFF'S PRESENTATION WAS A LITTLE AGGRESSIVE, TARGETED, AND VERY PERSONAL ON THEIR BEHALF.

I COULD SEE THE ANGER IN THEIR FACE AND HEY, FOR NOT BEING BIASED, I'M NOT SURE IF THAT SHOULD BE THERE.

ANYWAY, I'LL CONTINUE. LIKE I SAID, GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME'S ADAM PEREZ.

I'M FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET TO SEE THE FUN SIDE OF VMS. I OVERSEE THE COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC OUTREACH FOR RIGGS, AND I'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW.

IN MY ROLE, I ALSO GET TO SEE THE DIVERSITY AND THE UNIQUENESS THAT MERCED COUNTY HAS TO OFFER.

I NOT ONLY SEE IT IN ITS PEOPLE, BUT IT'S ALSO IN ITS HISTORY.

I LOOK AT DOWNTOWN MERCED AND BUILDINGS LIKE THE COURTHOUSE MUSEUM, LCAP HOTEL, THE TIOGA, AND I CAN'T HELP BUT REALIZE THE IMMENSE PRIDE THAT WE TAKE IN OUR LEGACIES.

I THINK ALL OF THE INVESTMENT GOING ON IN CASTLE AIR FORCE BASE, AND I REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS LIKE WHEN I WAS JUST A KID.

A LOT OF US DO.

I START TO WONDER, WHAT WOULD MERCED COUNTY BE LIKE IF WE HAD TAKEN A DIFFERENT ROUTE.

WHAT IF WE TORE DOWN LCAP AND PUT UP A NEW MARRIOTT INSTEAD, RIGHT? WOULD IT STILL BE THE RICH MERCED THAT WE KNOW TODAY? MERCED COUNTY IS KNOWN FOR INVESTING IN ITS HISTORY AND ITS CULTURE, BUT SOMEHOW IT'S BEEN LOST WITH THE EMS SYSTEM.

FOR SOME REASON TODAY, IT FEELS LIKE THE EMS SERVICE PROVIDER THAT HAS BEEN HERE OVER 77 YEARS IS JUST EXPENDABLE, AND I'M HERE TO REMIND YOU IT'S NOT.

IF YOU GUYS RECALL, DURING COVID, I KNOW WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS PLENTY TODAY, BUT RIGGS WAS CONFRONTED WITH DECISIONS TO BE MADE DURING THAT PANDEMIC.

THEY COULD ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES AND LOSE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WHILE CONTINUING TO SERVE MERCED COUNTY OR JUST WALK AWAY LIKE OTHER COMPANIES HAVE.

RIGGS CHOSE TO STAY.

WHILE YOU CONSIDER BRINGING IN A COMPANY WITH A REPUTATION OF WALKING AWAY FROM MULTIPLE COUNTIES WHEN THE PROFITS AREN'T GOOD ENOUGH AND TRYING TO RAISE THEIR RATES BY 38% IN SOME AREAS.

RIGGS IS FINALLY GETTING OUT OF THAT HOLE THAT THEY DUG THEMSELVES INTO WHILE SERVING THE COMMUNITY IN AS TOUGH AS TIMES.

WE WERE IN A HOLE BECAUSE WE STAYED TO SUPPORT THIS COMMUNITY.

KEEP IN MIND, WE WEREN'T THE ONLY ONES THAT SUFFERED DURING THAT TIME, SO DID THE COUNTY.

RIGGS IS NOT FOR PROFIT, AS YOU GUYS KNOW, SO THE MONEY THAT WE LOST, MERCED COUNTY LOST AS WELL.

WE REINVEST OUR PROFITS INTO THE COMPANY AND INTO OUR COMMUNITY, SO WE DON'T JUST POCKET THAT MONEY AND WALK AWAY TO OUR HOME IN COLORADO OR TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.

ANYWAY, APPRECIATE YOUR GUYS' TIME.

WE'D LIKE TO SHARE ONE LAST THING.

I FEEL THAT THE INFORMATION THAT WAS SHARED IN THE LAST MEETING WAS A TERRIBLE TACTIC, AND I'M TRULY DISAPPOINTED THAT NO ONE STOOD UP AND SAID, 214 PEOPLE IS NOT ENOUGH TO DETERMINE THE VALUE OF A COMPANY.

>> YOUR TIME IS UP, SORRY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS ABRINA PONTE.

I'VE BEEN A DISPATCHER WITH RIGGS FOR OVER FOUR YEARS.

I'M ALSO VERY ACTIVE IN HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS AND OTHER SPORT TEAMS IN THE COMMUNITY.

RIGGS IS ALWAYS THE FIRST PERSON TO SUPPORT MY TEAMS AND THE TEAMS THAT I COACH THERE.

THEY ARE THE FIRST PERSON TO GIVE A SPONSORSHIP.

THEY'RE THE FIRST PERSON I'M NEVER TOLD NO.

THEY ARE VERY ACTIVE IN THE HIGH SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, EVERYTHING, THEY SUPPORT EVERYBODY ALL THE SPORTS.

WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR YEARS. RIGGS HAS BEEN HERE FOR YEARS.

I SAW FIRSTHAND THE STRUGGLES THAT WE WENT THROUGH, BUT LIKE THE PEOPLE WHO SPOKE BEFORE ME, WE STUCK AROUND, WE STAYED, AND WE HAVE MADE DRASTIC IMPROVEMENTS.

OUR LEADERSHIP HAS CHANGED.

WE HAVE ALL GROWN TOGETHER AND FOUGHT WITH EACH OTHER, AND WE HAVE MADE I MEAN, YOU COULD SEE THE IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR COMPLIANCE.

WE TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME, EVERYBODY'S GOAL IS TO GET BETTER, AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE, AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE OVERLOOKING THAT IT WAS BAD FOR A LOT OF COMPANIES DURING COVID.

IT WASN'T JUST RIGS THAT WAS SUFFERING.

THERE WAS HOSPITALS SUFFERING, LOTS OF THINGS,

[01:10:02]

JUST BEATING DOWN ON RIGGS.

EVERYTHING'S HERE, THE EDUCATION CENTERS HERE, THE DISPATCH CENTERS HERE, BILLING OFFICES HERE, ALL OF THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE FOR US.

THE FIELD MAY STAY HERE, BUT A LOT OF THINGS, A LOT OF PEOPLE, A LOT OF EMPLOYEES THAT ARE NOW MY FAMILY WILL SEE A LOT OF CHANGES, AND SO I ASK THAT YOU RECONSIDER AND THE PROTEST.

>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS KEN FITZGERALD.

I'M A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF HILMAR, AND I'VE LIVED THERE FOR MOST OF MY LIFE.

I WOULD NOT HAVE COME DOWN HERE TO COMMENT TODAY, EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT MY MAILBOX GOT FILLED WITH LEAFLETS.

ONE OF THE COMMENTS ON THE LEAFLETS, ONE OF THE THINGS SAID TO SPUR FEAR AND ACTION TO PROTECT RIGGS, SAID 30 MINUTES FOR AN AMBULANCE.

MY DAD IS HAVING A HEART ATTACK.

THIS GUY DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ME, BUT THIS WAS THE EXPERIENCE THAT I'VE ALREADY HAD.

MY WIFE'S UNCLE WAS AT A FOOTBALL GAME AT HILMO HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLAPSED, WENT IN AND OUT OF CONSCIOUSNESS FOR MORE THAN A HALF AN HOUR WAITING FOR AN AMBULANCE.

I WAS AT THE GROCERY STORE, WHEN I GOT THE CALL FROM MY WIFE, WHO HAD GOT THE CALL FROM HER BOSS, WHO HAD GOT THE CALL FROM SOMEONE ELSE, WHO WAS AT THE FOOTBALL GAME? I BEAT THE AMBULANCE TO THE FOOTBALL GAME.

I BEAT THE AMBULANCE FROM THE FOOTBALL GAME TO EMANUEL HOSPITAL IN TURLOCK.

I'M NOT TRYING TO SUBMIT A BID SAYING THAT I CAN DRIVE FASTER THAN OUR AMBULANCE.

BUT I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT EMBARRASSING AND DISAPPOINTING WHEN THE SAME EXPERIENCE THAT HAPPENS TO US IN HILMAR IS USED ON A FLYER TO SAY, IF NOT RIGS, THIS IS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

FEW WEEKS LATER, ANOTHER CARDIAC EMERGENCY CALL WENT IN FOR A STAFF MEMBER AT ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS.

INITIALLY, WITH MY UNCLE'S EXPERIENCE, I THOUGHT, MAYBE FRIDAY EVENING IS TOUGH.

MAYBE THEY'RE OVERWHELMED WITH OTHER CALLS.

MAYBE A RUN UP TOMATO ALLEY BETWEEN LOS BANOS AND HILMAR, IN AUGUST MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN THE BEST SOLUTION.

BUT THE CARDIAC EMERGENCY CALL FOR OUR STAFF MEMBER IN THE MIDDLE OF A DAY.

A HALF AN HOUR, SO I HEAR PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT SECONDS AND TWO MINUTES AND FIVE MINUTES AND HOW THOSE TIMES ARE REALLY THE MEASURING POINT HERE.

I THINK WHAT A LUXURY? WHAT A LUXURY TO WAIT AN EXTRA TWO MINUTES OR A FEW EXTRA SECONDS.

I'D LIKE TO JUST NOT WAIT A HALF AN HOUR. THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING. I WASN'T GOING TO TALK HENCE MY OUTFIT.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I'M NOT JUST COMING AS A NURSE, BUT I'M ALSO COMING AS A RESIDENT OF THIS COUNTY.

RIGGS ACTUALLY SAVED MY MOM'S LIFE.

I WAS WORKING AT MEMORIAL AT THAT TIME, AND MY MOM CALLED AND SAID THAT SHE COULDN'T BREATHE, SO I ENDED UP CALLING 911, CALLING FROM THE HOSPITAL.

I HAD TO EXPLAIN, YES, I'M CALLING FROM A MEMORIAL.

YES, I'M CALLING FROM SANTOS COUNTY.

BUT MY MOM LIVES IN ATWATER, AND SHE LIVES IN THE SENIOR COMMUNITY, AND I THINK SHE'S HAVING A HEART ATTACK, AND I NEED SOMEONE TO GO THERE BECAUSE BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE IT.

THEY SAVED MY MOM'S LIFE.

MY MOM WOULD NOT BE HERE IF IT WASN'T FOR RIGGS.

I'M GOING TO UNDERSTAND PEOPLE THAT LIVE OUT OF TOWN, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT.

MY MOM WOULD NOT BE HERE.

FOR THEIR SWIFT ACTION, ALONG WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

MY MOM HAD TWO HEART BLOCKS, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GET HER TO THE HOSPITAL, TO THE CATHROOM, AND PLACED TWO STANDS.

ALSO, MY UNCLE WAS COULDN'T BREATHE.

MY UNCLE LIVES WITH MY MOM ALSO, THIS IS A DIFFERENT TIME, AND MY UNCLE IS DISABLED.

HE HAS THE MINE CAPACITY OF A 16-YEAR-OLD.

I GOT THERE, THE AMBULANCE WAS THERE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS THERE, AND THEY WERE SO COMPASSIONATE AND THEY KNEW THAT HE WAS SCARED.

JUST THE COMPASSION AND THEM KNOWING HOW TO HAVE EMPATHY.

THIS PERSON HERE IS DISABLED, AND I NEED TO THIS ISN'T JUST A REGULAR PERSON,

[01:15:02]

THEY SAVED HIS LIFE.

A LOT OF THE WORKING ON THE FLOOR AT THE HOSPITAL THEY BRING US PATIENTS THAT ARE ABOUT TO DELIVER A BABY.

BUT THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO. IT'S THEIR COMMUNITY.

THEY KNOW THE ROUTES TO GO TO GET THAT PATIENT FASTER TO THE HOSPITAL, SO I JUST I JUST WANTED TO COME UP AND MENTION THAT TO YOU GUYS THAT RIGGS HAS WORKED WITH US FOR MANY YEARS BEFORE I WAS EVEN BORN, AND WE HAVE A RAPPORT WITH THEM.

YES, WE COULD GET ANOTHER AMBULANCE COMPANY, BUT YOU CAN'T GET THE BOND.

>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED.

I WILL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR DISCUSSIONS, QUESTIONS, AND A MOTION.

ANYBODY FROM THE BOARD WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SUPERVISOR PEREIRA.

>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO SEPARATE SOMETHING FOR THE AUDIENCE.

THERE'S TWO THINGS HAPPENING TODAY.

ONE IS AN APPEAL FOR THE RFP PROCESS, AND THE OTHER IS AN AWARDING OF THE AMBULANCE CONTRACT FOR MERCED COUNTY, AND SO I DON'T WANT TO DISCOUNT THE EMOTION THAT FOLKS HAD WHEN THEY WERE HERE MAKING PUBLIC COMMENT.

BUT A LOT OF THAT IS NOT ABOUT THE RFP PROCESS.

IT'S ABOUT THE AWARDING ABOUT THE CHANGE IN AMBULANCE COMPANIES.

SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT IT WAS RIGGS INABILITY TO MEET COMPLIANCE THAT STARTED THE RFP PROCESS, AND THEN AFTER THE BIDS WERE PROPOSED, IT WASN'T A LOW BID HIGH BID.

PEOPLE DON'T BID ON THE PRICE OF AMBULANCE HERE.

THEY BID ON THE AMOUNT OF SERVICE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PROVIDE, AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S THINKING, I GUESS, CORRECTLY THAT THESE ARE TWO DIFFERENT AND SEPARATE ITEMS. FROM THE PROCESS STANDPOINT, DID THE COUNTY DO A FAIR AND EQUITABLE PROCESS OR NOT? IS THE APPEAL QUESTION THAT I'M BEING ASKED TODAY, AND SO THAT'S THE ITEM THAT WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF.

THEN LATER IN OUR MEETING, THERE WILL BE A DECISION ON, DO WE CHANGE AMBULANCE PROVIDERS OR NOT? I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS A TOUGH PROCESS FOR EVERYBODY, AND SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT.

I THINK I'M READY TO VOTE, I GUESS, AT THAT POINT, BUT I'LL LET MY COLLEAGUES SPEAK BEFORE A MOTIONS MADE.

>> SUPERVISOR SILVERA.

>> MR. CHAIR I CAN'T AGREE MORE WITH WHAT MY COLLEAGUE JUST SAID THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TWO DISTINCT PROCESSES.

THE ONE THAT'S BEFORE US NOW IS A PROTEST TO THE BIDDING PROCESS, AND I DON'T WANT TO MAKE IT AS FLIPPANT AS IT IS, BUT IT IS WHAT IS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION BY COUNSEL THAT RFP PROCESS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A FAIR PROCESS.

IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE A PERFECT PROCESS.

I FEEL LIKE THE PROCESS WAS FAIR I THINK EVERYBODY CAN HAVE INTERPRETATIONS TO WHETHER YOU THINK THAT OR NOT, BUT ULTIMATELY, WE'RE TASKED WITH MAKING THAT DECISION HERE TODAY.

FOR ME, I DON'T THINK THAT ANYTHING WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT WOULD MAKE ME BELIEVE THAT OUR PROCESS WASN'T FAIR.

IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER COMMENTS BY MY COLLEAGUES, I'M READY TO MAKE A MOTION NOW.

I'LL JUST LOOK ACROSS THE DIALS TO SEE IF ANYBODY HAS ANY OTHER COMMENTS.

MR. CHAIR, I'D GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE MOTION. I'M SORRY GO AHEAD.

>> I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, NOT NECESSARILY ABOUT THE PROCESS, BUT SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED IN THE PRESENTATION.

JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, I KNOW THAT BECAUSE THE PROCESS WAS BROUGHT AND WAS

[01:20:03]

WE KNOW THAT THE LAST 60 MONTHS WERE.

DO WE HAVE ANY INFORMATION OR ANY DATA BACKING UP THE PREVIOUS CONTRACT THAT WE HAD OF COMPLIANCE?

>> IN TERMS OF THE ONE THAT ENDED IN 2020?

>> YES.

>> YES.

>> RIGGS HAD SIGNIFICANT HISTORY OF NON-COMPLIANCE IN THAT FIVE YEAR PERIOD AS WELL, WHICH IS WHY THE DEPARTMENT CHOSE TO GO OUT TO BID AFTER THAT FIVE YEAR PERIOD AS WELL.

SIMILARLY TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW, THEY DID IMPROVE PERFORMANCE TOWARDS THE END OF THAT CONTRACT AS THEY WERE SUBMITTING THEIR BID FOR THE NEXT CONTRACT.

THEN, OF COURSE, THAT RESPONSE TIME COMPLIANCE WAS NOT SUSTAINED.

>> THE ARGUMENT OF THE COMPLIANCE ISSUE BASED ON COVID REALLY DOESN'T DOESN'T HOLD UP.

BECAUSE THEIR COMPLIANCE ISSUES HAPPENED BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HAPPENED. IS THAT WHAT I'M SAYING.

>> THERE WERE COMPLIANCE ISSUES BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND THEN WE DID NOT ASSESS ANY FINES OR PENALTIES DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC.

THEN SURROUNDING COMPANIES WERE ABLE TO RETURN TO COMPLIANCE FAR MORE QUICKLY THAN SEMSA WAS.

>> THANK YOU SO I THINK WE SUPERVISOR SILVERA.

>> AGAIN, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR SO BACK TO MY MOTION.

LET ME GET SAYING IT CORRECTLY.

MY MOTION WOULD BE TO DENY THE PROTESTS SUBMITTED BY SEMSA RIGGS.

>> IS THERE A SECOND?

>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR I DO HAVE A QUESTION ON THEY HAD MENTIONED THE FINCH CONFLICT.

I KNOW YOU DRESSED IT A LITTLE BIT CAN YOU ADDRESS IT A LITTLE FURTHER ON THAT?

>> SURE SO THERE ARE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF ENTITIES THAT CAN PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE NEEDED IN TERMS OF WORKING WITH THE CALIFORNIA STATE REGULATING BODY AND CRAFTING AN RFP.

WE ACTUALLY HELD A COMPETITIVE PROCESS FOR THAT ENTITY FIRST, FINCH WAS THE WINNING ENTITY.

AMR IS A LARGE COMPANY, AS MENTIONED, A GLOBAL COMPANY THAT HAS MANY SUBCOMPANIES.

OUR CONSULTANT WORKED FOR A SEPARATE SUBCOMPANY OF AMR. BUT AGAIN, BECAUSE IT'S SO COMMON TO HAVE INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE IN CONTRACTING, THAT WAS ACTUALLY PUT INTO THE RFP, BECAUSE THE CONSULTING COMPANY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE CONSULTING.

IF ANYBODY THAT THEY HAD EVER WORKED WITH OR FOR MADE THEM INELIGIBLE TO CONTINUE CONSULTING.

>> THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PEREIRA.

>> AT THAT TIME, DID ANY OF THE COMPANIES THAT WERE APPLYING FOR THE RFP THAT PLANNED TO APPLY FOR THE RFP RAISE CONCERNS AT THAT TIME?

>> NO AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, THOMAS DID NOT SCORE THE PRESENTATIONS OR THE EVALUATIONS.

HE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE SELECTION OF THE PITTER THAT WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD TO YOU TODAY.

>> THEN I'LL SECOND THE MOTION.

WE HAVE SUPERVISOR PACHECO.

>> JUST A QUICK COMMENT.

>>SORRY.

>> JUST QUICK COMMENT THIS IS A TOUGH BUT I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE THAT CAME AND SPOKE TO US TODAY.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THE INFORMATION, BUT I THINK WE HAVE IT. THANK YOU.

>> I DO WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR BECAUSE AND I KNOW WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND, I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE HERE IN JUST A SECOND.

BUT THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP.

I DIDN'T HEAR WHERE I THINK THAT THE PROCESS WAS FAIR, NOT PERFECT I DO BELIEVE THAT.

THE ONE THING THAT I DO NOT BELIEVE WAS FAIR OR PERFECT WAS THE MISINFORMATION THAT WAS GIVEN TO THE RESIDENTS OF MERCED COUNTY.

I THINK THAT BY TELLING MERCED COUNTY PEOPLE THAT THEY WOULD BE WITHOUT AMBULANCE SERVICE, THAT YOU WERE GETTING RID OF A LOCAL COMPANY, WHICH IS NOT TRUE WAS FALSE.

IT CONFUSED A LOT OF PEOPLE AND WE TOOK A LOT OF PHONE CALLS, AND THAT'S OUR JOB.

I UNDERSTAND THAT ANYBODY THAT WOULD BE WILLING TO LISTEN WHEN WE EXPLAINED THE PROCESS TO THEM THEY TOOK IT ON.

I ALSO RIGGS YES IS AN INSTITUTION IN NAME ONLY AND HASN'T BEEN WITH THE RIGGS FAMILY FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

THEN JUST FINALLY, THERE WAS ANOTHER THING THAT WAS MENTIONED THAT AMR IS JUST A MARKET FOR THEM, BUT WE'RE ALSO JUST A MARKET FOR SEMSA.

THERE'S A CLARIFYING ASPECT THERE,

[01:25:01]

>> LET'S CLARIFY THE MOTION TO DISCUSSED.

>> GO AHEAD. SUPERVISOR BRIAN.

>> THANK YOU. I GUESS THAT THERE IS ONE LINGERING QUESTION.

AS I LOOK AT THESE MAILERS THAT CAME TO MY HOUSE, IT DOESN'T SAY WHO SENT THEM.

I DON'T KNOW WHO, SOMEBODY COULD HAVE PULLED THESE PICTURES OFF THE INTERNET, I GUESS.

I GUESS I'D LIKE TO ASK THE SEMSA FOLKS IF YOU KNOW WHO MAILED THESE ITEMS TO THE RESIDENTS OF MERCED COUNTY.

PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE IF YOU WOULD.

>> I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE A COMMENT ON WHO SENT THAT.

WE DID NOT SEND THOSE.

TO YOUR POINT WE WERE IN COMPLIANCE IN THE OLD CONTRACT, WHICH IS WHY WE WON THAT BID IN 2019 THAT'S NOT ACCURATE.

FINCH MAY NOT HAVE THE SCORE, BUT HE CHOSE THE PEOPLE WHO MADE THE SCORE, AND HE WORKED FOR AMR. THOSE ARE THE FACTS OF THAT.

>> YOU'RE SAYING YOU DON'T KNOW WHO SENT THESE?

>> NOT SEND THESE. NO. RIGG'S AMBULANCE DID NOT SEND THOSE FLIERS.

>> CAN WE CLARIFY THE MOTION, PLEASE?

>> THE MOTION IS TO DENY THE PROTEST SUBMITTED BY SEMSA RIGGS.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVERA TO DENY THE PROTEST SUBMITTED BY SEMSA RIGGS AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEREIRA.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

>> AYE.

>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. MOTION PASSES.

AT THIS TIME, WE WILL TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK.

WE ARE NOW BACK IN SESSION.

AT THIS TIME, WE WILL CONSIDER THE CONSENT CALENDAR.

[CONSENT CALENDAR]

>> CONSENT AGENDA CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 25.

PLEASE NOTE ITEMS FOUR THROUGH TEN AND 18 REQUIRE A FOUR VOTE.

>> AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 25.

WE'RE STILL RUNNING A MEETING. THANK YOU.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CONSENT ITEMS ONE THROUGH 25.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR CONSENT CENTER ITEMS ONE THROUGH 25 IS NOW CLOSED.

PLEASE CONTINUE CONVERSATIONS OUTSIDE, PLEASE.

THAT BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD.

I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVERA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES.

WE WILL NOW HAVE A PRESENTATION OF TWO PROCLAMATIONS FROM ITEMS 13 AND 15 ON THE AGENDA.

WE WILL BEGIN WITH RED RIBBON WEEK.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS CAUSE PREMATURE WHEREAS SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS CAUSE PREMATURE DEATH AND DISABILITY AMONG THOSE LIVING IN OUR CITIES AND COMMUNITIES, AND OUR RESIDENTS, BOTH YOUTH AND ADULTS, OUR MOST PRECIOUS COMMUNITY RESOURCE, AND WHEREAS ACCESSIBLE TREATMENT PROGRAMS MUST BE IN PLACE TO HELP PEOPLE INTO RECOVERY AND TREATMENT, AND WHEREAS THE 2025 RED RIBBON CAMPAIGN WILL BEGIN WITH CELEBRATIONS IN EVERY COMMUNITY IN AMERICA DURING RED RIBBON WEEK.

OCTOBER 23 THROUGH OCTOBER 31, 2025.

USING THE 2025 RED RIBBON CAMPAIGN, YOU HAVE TO BE VERY SLOW WHEN YOU SAY THAT.

THEME, LIFE IS A PUZZLE, SOLVED DRUG FREE, AS A REMINDER THAT EVERYDAY CITIZENS MAKE SIGNIFICANT DAILY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THEIR COMMUNITIES BY BEING THE BEST THEY CAN BE BECAUSE THEY LIVE DRUG FREE.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, WE THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 23 THROUGH OCTOBER 31, 2025 AS RED RIBBON WEEK IN MERCED COUNTY AND ENCOURAGE ALL COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND CITIZENS OF MERCED COUNTY TO PARTICIPATE IN SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER PREVENTION AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES DURING THIS WEEK AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, MAKING A VISIBLE STATEMENT THAT WE ARE FIRMLY COMMITTED TO HEALTHY, DRUG FREE, AND ALCOHOL USE FREE COUNTY.

CAN I GET CAROLYN WALTERS, PROGRAM MANAGER AND AMY BONES PREVENTION SPECIALIST FROM BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES TO COME UP?

[01:30:07]

>> GOOD MORNING. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, CEO HENDERSON AND COUNTY COUNCIL HANSON.

MY NAME IS CAROLYN WALTERS, AND I SERVE AS PROGRAM MANAGER OVER OUR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER PREVENTION TEAM AT BHRS.

I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST START BY PROVIDING A VERY BRIEF HISTORY OF HOW RED RIBBON CAME ABOUT.

IN 1985 AS A TRIBUTE TO DEA AGENT ERIK KIKI CAMARENA, WHO WAS MURDERED IN MEXICO BY INVESTIGATING DRUG TRAFFICKING.

SHORTLY THEREAFTER, INSPIRED BY HIS SACRIFICE, COMMUNITIES AND PARENTS BEGAN WEARING A RED RIBBON TO SYMBOLIZE THE COMMITMENT TO A DRUG FREE AMERICA.

RED RIBBON HAS BECOME THE LONGEST RUNNING DRUG AWARENESS PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES.

TODAY, THE EIGHT DAY CELEBRATION IS AN ANNUAL CATALYST TO SHOW INTOLERANCE FOR DRUGS IN OUR SCHOOLS, WORKPLACES, AND COMMUNITIES.

EACH YEAR ON OCTOBER 23, THROUGH THE 31ST, MORE THAN 80 MILLION YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS SHOW THEIR COMMITMENT TO A HEALTHY DRUG FREE LIFESTYLE BY WEARING OR DISPLAYING THE RED RIBBON.

OUR BRS PREVENTION TEAM IS SMALL BUT MIGHTY.

EVERY YEAR, THE PREVENTION TEAM DOES ACTIVITIES AND IT CREATES EVENTS AND SO FORTH FOR THE COMMUNITIES AND THE YOUNG CHILDREN OF MERCED COUNTY.

WE WORK WITH SEVERAL SCHOOLS IN PROMOTING RED RIBBON IN OUR DRUG AWARENESS PRESENTATIONS.

WE ALSO TIE RED RIBBONS AROUND THE TREES IN MERCED COUNTY TO SYMBOLIZE OUR CONTINUED EFFORT TO SUPPORT A DRUG FREE LIFESTYLE.

PROCLAIMING OCTOBER 23 THROUGH THE 31ST AS A RED RIBBON DEMONSTRATES OUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND COMMITMENT TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION AND TO ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES FROM THROUGHOUT THE STATE TO PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES AND CEREMONIES SUPPORTING A DRUG FREE LIFESTYLE.

IN CLOSING, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF RED RIBBON THROUGH THIS PROCLAMATION.

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> COME ON UP HERE.

>> I BROKE MY FOOT [LAUGHTER].

>> ON BEHALF OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU THE PROCLAMATION AND SAY CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION.

>> THANK YOU.

>> [APPLAUSE] MERCED COUNTY RESIDENTS RIGHTS MONTH 2025.

WHEREAS THERE ARE 7760 INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN MERCED COUNTY NURSING HOMES, AND 451 INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES IN MERCED COUNTY, AND WHEREAS THE FEDERAL NURSING HOME REFORM ACT OF 1987 GUARANTEES RESIDENTS THEIR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS IN ORDER TO PROMOTE AND MAINTAIN THEIR DIGNITY AND AUTONOMY, AND WHEREAS WE WISH TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE THESE CITIZENS TO RECOGNIZE THEIR RICH INDIVIDUALITY AND REAFFIRM THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE AND PARTICIPATE POLITICALLY, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO HAVE A SAY IN THEIR CARE.

WHEREAS INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WILL BE CELEBRATING RESIDENTS RIGHTS MONTH WITH THE THEME, STAND WITH ME, HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT FOR RESIDENTS WHO STAND UP AND ADVOCATE FOR THEIR RIGHTS, AS WELL AS THE VALUE OF ENCOURAGING THE COMMUNITY TO JOIN RESIDENTS AND SHARING THEIR VOICES.

NOW, THEREFORE, WE, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF MERCED, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 2025 AS RESIDENTS RIGHTS MONTH, AND ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN US IN THESE IMPORTANT OBSERVANCES.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE FELIZA GRAY, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FROM HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY COME TO THE PODIUM TO PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ITEM.

>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU, CHAIR, JOSH PEDROSO, AND CEO MARK HENDRICKSON.

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR HIGHLIGHTING THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

TODAY, I HAVE WITH ME ONE OF OUR VALUABLE EMPLOYEES THAT ADVOCATES OFFERS HOPE AND INTERVENTION FOR THOSE THAT ARE LIVING IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.

IF I CAN HAVE ANITA ROBLES, PLEASE COME UP.

[01:35:09]

>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, CEO MARK HENDRICKSON AND THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

MY NAME IS ANITA ROBLES, AND I'M A SENIOR SERVICE PROGRAM WORKER FOR THE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM.

ON BEHALF OF OUR MERCED COUNTY LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT IN PROCLAIMING OCTOBER AS RESIDENTS RIGHTS MONTH IN OUR COMMUNITY.

OUR TEAM OF OMBUDSMAN STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS HAS WORKED ON MORE THAN 01,400 OMBUDSMAN LED ACTIVITIES TO DATE, WHICH INCLUDE PROVIDING INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE TO BOTH INDIVIDUALS AND FACILITY STAFF, MONTHLY UNANNOUNCED VISITS TO FACILITIES.

PARTICIPATION IN RESIDENT COUNCIL MEETINGS, COMMUNITY EDUCATION, WITNESSING ADVANCED HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVES, AND RECEIVING NOTICES OF TRANSFERS AND DISCHARGES.

WE HAVE INVESTIGATED AND RESOLVED 77 CASES OF ABUSE SINCE JANUARY.

THIS YEAR'S THEME IS STAND WITH ME.

IT SHEDS LIGHT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT FOR RESIDENTS WHO STAND UP AND ADVOCATE FOR THEIR RIGHTS, AS WELL AS THE VALUE OF ENCOURAGING OUR COMMUNITY TO JOIN RESIDENTS IN SHARING THEIR VOICES.

HAVING RESIDENTS RIGHTS IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES IS CRUCIAL FOR MAINTAINING RESIDENTS DIGNITY, AUTONOMY, AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE.

ADDITIONALLY, THESE RIGHTS ENSURE THAT RESIDENTS ARE TREATED WITH RESPECT, HAVE A VOICE IN THEIR CARE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, ARE PROTECTED FROM ABUSE AND NEGLECT.

THEY HELP EMPOWER RESIDENTS TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AND PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES THAT ARE MEANINGFUL TO THEM.

IT IS OUR LOCAL OMBUDSMAN PROGRAMS' MISSION TO HELP STRENGTHEN OUR RESIDENTS' VOICES AND EMPOWER THEM WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS WHILE LIVING IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.

PLEASE JOIN US IN OUR MISSION TO CREATE AWARENESS, CELEBRATE, AND RECOGNIZE EACH RESIDENT IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

I GET TO SERVE ON THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING.

EVEN THOUGH I DON'T DEAL WITH THE RESIDENTS AND THE ASSISTED FACILITIES, I DEAL WITH THE OTHER SENIORS OR PEOPLE OF ADVANCED AGE.

IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE COMMITTEES THAT I'M ON, BECAUSE I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT WHAT'S GOES ON IN THOSE PLACES AND WITH JUST PEOPLE, AND THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT THAT THEY HAVE IS VERY IMPRESSIVE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE]

>> MR. CHAIR, IF I MIGHT JUST ASK A QUESTION WHILE YOU'RE COMING BACK.

FELIZA, I WANT TO TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE.

ONE THAT TO THANK YOU AND HONOR YOU FOR DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB.

SECONDLY, IS TO RAISE AWARENESS.

DO WE KNOW WHO'S IN THESE RETIREMENT HOMES? DO THEY HAVE TO REPORT TO THE COUNTY OR NO?

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. WE DO, ACTUALLY, HAVE LIST OF RESIDENTS.

WE MAINTAIN, I WANT TO SAY, 22 RESIDENTIAL AND 10 SKILLED NURSING FACILITY.

THEY'RE AWARE OF THEM. THEY GO IN EVERY MONTH.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE ALSO COLLABORATED WITH WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ON THE COMMUNITY CARE EXPANSION FUNDING THAT'S COME FROM CDA, SO WE CAN EXPAND THE NUMBER OF BEDS.

AS YOU MAY KNOW, THERE ARE A SHORTAGE OF LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AND SPECIFICALLY MERCED COUNTY AS WELL.

WE DO GET LISTS.

WE ARE ABLE TO VERIFY WHO'S IN THE HOMES.

>> THEN, IS IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO CREATE AN INFORMATION LITTLE SOMETHING THAT MAYBE WE COULD PUT ON A MAGNET, AND GIVE ONE TO EACH PERSON THAT TELLS THEM WHO THEY CAN CALL IF THEY HAVE A CONCERN?

[01:40:02]

MAYBE PUT THAT ON THERE.

A LOT OF TIMES I WOULD THINK THAT IT'S LIKE PEOPLE DON'T FEEL IT'S A 911 CALL, SO I'M NOT GOING TO SAY NOTHING, BUT I WANT TO TRY TO EMPOWER THEM AND THINK WE SHOULD TRY TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT. IS THAT POSSIBLE?

>> IT DEFINITELY IS.

THAT'S PART OF OUR LAW DAP INITIATIVE THAT WE DID WITH OUR AAA.

GETTING ALL OF THOSE SUPPORT SERVICES AND OUTREACH OUT IN THE COMMUNITY IS GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT.

WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT FOR SURE.

>> A PLACE WHERE THE INDIVIDUAL OR THEIR FAMILY KNOWS WHERE TO GO.

BECAUSE THEY COULD EVEN PUT IT ON OUR WEBSITE, AND IT WOULD GET TO THE RIGHT DEPARTMENT.

>> I'LL WORK WITH MIKE NORTH ON GETTING IT ON THE GUYS' WEBSITE AS WELL.

>> SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU.

>> THANKS, MR. CHAIR.

>> WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO BOARD ACTION,

[BOARD ACTION]

>> ITEM 26.

>> AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR DPW ITEM 26.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR DPW ITEM 26 IS NOW CLOSED.

WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD.

I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVERA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE, RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION UNANIMOUSLY CARRIES.

NEXT, WE HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES.

>> ITEMS 27-29.

PLEASE NOTE IN REGARD TO ITEM 28, CALMHSA BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION A CLERICAL ERROR ON PAGE 6 OF THE AGREEMENT.

THE DATE RANGE FOR THE MHP AND SUDS PLAN, DATA FEED SHOWN ON TABLE 2 ITEMS 3 AND 4, SHOULD READ JANUARY 2024 THROUGH MAY OF 2026, INSTEAD OF THROUGH MAY OF 2025.

UPON APPROVAL OF STAFF WILL HAVE THE CHAIR SIGN THE CORRECTED VERSION OF THE CONTRACT.

>> AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BHRS, ITEMS 27-29.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BHRS ITEM 27-29 IS NOW CLOSED.

BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEREIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES.

NEXT, WE HAVE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY.

AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR HSA ITEMS 30 AND 31.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR HSA ITEMS 30 AND 31 IS NOW CLOSED. PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE.

>> MOTION.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVERA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEREIRA.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES.

NEXT, WE HAVE HEALTH.

>> ITEM 32.

>> AT THIS TIME, PUBLIC HEALTH DR. KRISTIN SULLIVAN WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ITEM.

>> GOOD MORNING, AGAIN, BOARD.

I'M EXCITED TO PRESENT THIS ITEM TO YOU AS YOU JUST DETERMINED WE HAVE RUN A FAIR RFP PROCESS, AND THE HIGHEST SUCCESSFUL BIDDER OF THAT PROCESS IS AMR WEST.

I WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY HERE.

WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF INFORMATION AROUND A VARIETY OF THINGS AROUND THE MMS SERVICE, BUT I WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY HERE FOR ME TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM AMR WEST ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY ARE PLANNING TO BRING TO MERCED COUNTY, IF THEY ARE AWARDED THIS CONTRACT.

AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO INVITE DANIEL INIGUEZ UP FROM AMR TO JUST SAY A FEW WORDS, AND THEN I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONTRACT ITSELF.

>> GOOD MORNING, BOARDS. THE SUPERVISORS, MY NAME IS DANIEL INIGUEZ, AND I AM THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR WITH AMERICAN MEDICAL RESPONSE.

I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT I'LL BE LEADING THE TEAM FOR AMR IN MERCED COUNTY.

WE ARE TRULY HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING THE NEEDS OF MERCED COUNTY AND PROVIDING EXEMPLARY EMERGENCY SERVICES AS OUTLINED IN OUR PROPOSAL.

[01:45:04]

I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ASSURE THE BOARD AND CURRENT SEMSA EMPLOYEES THAT IT IS OUR INTENTION TO OFFER JOBS TO ALL ELIGIBLE INCUMBENT FIELD EMPLOYEES OF SEMSA.

IN ADDITION, WE'RE EXCITED TO BRING SEVERAL INNOVATION AND INDUSTRY-LEADING SERVICES TO THE COUNTY TO INCLUDE NURSE NAVIGATION, WHICH IS OUR UNIQUE AND SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES BETTER AND MORE APPROPRIATE CARE FOR LOWER QD PATIENTS OUTSIDE OF THE EMS SYSTEM, NEW GEAR, INCLUDING A NEW FLEET OF AMBULANCE, LIGHT PAC 35 MONITORS, AND OTHER ESSENTIAL GEAR.

OUR STATE OF THE ART MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ALLOWING FOR COMPLETE TRANSPARENCY OF IMPORTANT CLINICAL CARE DELIVERY INFORMATION, AND WE ARE READY TO PROVIDE UNMATCHED SURGE CAPABILITY AND DISASTER RESOURCE RESPONSE FROM OUR OPERATION OF NEIGHBORING COUNTIES WITH STATEWIDE AND NATIONAL SUPPORT.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO BEING A STRONG PARTNER IN THE COUNTY WITH ALL OTHER AGENCIES THAT MAKE UP OUR HEALTHCARE AND PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM.

AGAIN, WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF MERCED COUNTY AND ALL ITS RESIDENTS.

I'M SURE YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR ME, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OF THOSE.

>> WELL, WE'RE IN DISCUSSION.

DO YOU WANT TO PUT A BACK INTO REQUEST AND THEN THAT WHAT YOU HAVE? SUPERVISOR PEREIRA.

>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. A LARGE PORTION OF MY DISTRICT IS IN THE OUTLYING AREA.

I'VE GOTTEN SOME CALLS FROM FOLKS THAT LIVE OUT ACTUALLY GUSTIN, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S IN THE WESTSIDE AMBULANCE DISTRICT.

BUT HILMAR, DELI CAN YOU JUST TALK ABOUT WHAT YOUR PLAN IS TO SERVE, AND I WOULD IMAGINE PLANAD AND LE GRAND ARE THINKING THE SAME THING, BUT HOW YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SERVE THE OUTLYING AREAS OF THE COUNTY GOING FORWARD?

>> WHEN WE GO INTO PUTTING TOGETHER THESE BIDS, WE USE A PRETTY ADVANCED SYSTEM CALLING OPAP DATA, WHERE WE GET THE DISPATCH INFORMATION FOR YEARS AND YEARS OF PAST DATA, AND WE FORMULATE A POSTING PLAN, WORKING WITH ACTUALLY WHAT IS CURRENTLY WORKING RIGHT, WORKING WITH THE CURRENT POSTING PLAN, AND WHERE CAN WE BUILD THAT? WHERE DO WE FEEL WE CAN IMPROVE IN THOSE AREAS? IN THIS BID AND THINGS THAT WE PUT IN HERE, DIRECTLY TRYING TO ALSO ENGAGE THE WORKFORCE AND PROVIDE THEM BETTER OPTIONS.

I KNOW 24-HOUR STATIONS WAS IMPORTANT TO THE WORK GROUP, AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT IN OUR LAST BID, WE DIDN'T PUT THAT WE PUT IN THIS.

AREAS LIKE DOS PALOS AND LOS BANOS WILL HAVE 24-HOUR STATIONS.

THE MIXTURE OF THE REST OF THE SYSTEM WILL BE 12-HOUR UNITS THAT ARE FLOATING AMONGST THE SYSTEM BASED OFF OF SYSTEM POST.

OBVIOUSLY, WE CAN TAILOR THAT AS WE LEARN THE COMMUNITY, AS WE WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, THAT WE'LL GROW AND FIGURE OUT WHERE OUR UNITS NEED TO BE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. DANIEL, THANKS FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

I KNOW IT COMES UP IN THE ATWATER CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS A LOT.

A LOT OF MY CONSTITUENCY IS IN THE CITY OF ATWATER, AND I LIVE THERE AS WELL.

THERE ARE ALWAYS A CONCERN.

WILL THERE BE AN AMBULANCE STATIONED IN ATWATER? I KNOW THE QUESTION COMES UP ALL THE TIME, BUT I'D LIKE TO REASSURE THE FOLKS IN ATWATER.

>> WE WOULD HAVE TO SEE WHAT WE DEPLOY.

IF IT'S NOT A 24-HOUR STATION, IT'D BE A SUBSTATION THAT UNITS DEPLOY OUT OF THERE.

WE WOULD HAVE TO SEE WHAT THAT RESPONSE TIME IS AND WHAT THAT SYSTEM NEEDS TO BUILD A SYSTEM THERE.

IF IT'S NEEDED, RIGHT, IF IT'S BETTER SERVED WITH A 24-HOUR STATION OR A SUBSTATION COMPARED TO ROTATING 12-HOUR UNITS WHERE WE'RE ROTATING POSTS IN AND OUT THAT ARE A LITTLE MORE EFFICIENT, THEN THAT'S SOMETHING OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE RESPONSE TIME STANDARD.

>>THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

>> SUPERVISOR PACHECO.

>> WHAT DO YOU HAVE A PLAN TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY, THE YOUTH, AND MAYBE RECRUIT LOCAL TALENT FROM HERE?

>> FOR SURE. YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE DO REALLY, REALLY WELL.

WE'RE PLANNING ON BRINGING ON A COMMUNITY OUTREACH PERSON.

WE ARE KIND OF ALREADY INTEGRATED INTO THE COUNTY.

WE DO CERTAIN EVENTS.

AGAIN, TRYING TO BE RESPECTFUL, WE AREN'T THE CURRENT PROVIDER OF THE COUNTY.

BUT WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS THROUGH THE COLLEGE AND THEIR PARAMEDIC PROGRAM THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.

[01:50:01]

WE DO THINGS FROM IN STANISAS, LIKE EVERY 15 MINUTES, STOP TO BLEED, HANDS ONLY CPR.

WE'RE A REALLY BIG PARTNER IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AS WE LEARN YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS, OBVIOUSLY, LIKE WAS TALKED ABOUT TODAY, WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY.

WE NEED TO GROW OUR EMTS AND PARAMEDICS FROM THE GROUND UP AND RETAIN THEM HERE.

WE'RE A BIG PROPONENT OF THAT, AND AND PUTTING A COMMITMENT INTO OUR EMPLOYEES TO BUILD THEM HERE AND WANT TO MAKE THEM STAY HERE.

WE'VE DONE THAT IN MY NEIGHBORING STANISAS COUNTY VERY WELL.

WE'VE BEEN FULLY STAFFED THERE FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS.

WE HAVE A REALLY HAPPY WORKFORCE THERE, AND I HAVE NOTHING BUT CONFIDENCE THAT WE CAN DO THAT HERE.

I KNOW THE WORKFORCE IS A BIG THING, AND I'M REALLY SORRY THAT THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH UNKNOWNS AND STRESS, AND I TOTALLY GET IT, AND I APPRECIATE IT.

FOR US, MY COMMITMENT TO THE CURRENT WORKFORCE IS TO PARTNER WITH THEM AND TO TRY TO MAKE THIS TRANSITION SUCCESSFUL.

WE OBVIOUSLY NEED THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL, AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT.

WE WANT TO GIVE THEM A GOOD HOME, WE WANT TO COLLABORATE.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE MEETING WITH ALL OF THEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT EMTS EMPLOYEES, BUT THERE RBSTS, THERE'RE FLEET MECHANICS, THERE'S DISPATCHERS, THERE ARE ALL THAT STUFF.

WE NEED TO SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

WE'RE HOPING TO BRING ON AS MANY PEOPLE AS WANT TO BE A PART OF OUR TEAM THAT ARE WILLING TO DO SO.

THAT'S INCLUDING SOME OF THE LEADERSHIP STAFF THERE.

WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A WEALTH OF TALENT IN THIS AREA THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE COMPANY THEY WORKED THERE FOR.

BUT THEM AS INDIVIDUAL AND WHAT THEY'VE COMMITTED TO THIS AREA AND THE PASSION THAT WE'VE HEARD TODAY, I GET THAT.

WE WOULD BE FOOLS NOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT TALENT, TO JUST LET IT LEAVE THE COUNTY, AND THAT'S NOT OUR INTENTION.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE WORKFORCE AND MAKING THIS A GOOD MATCH IS I REALLY HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT WE CAN DO THAT.

>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR HEALTH ITEM 32.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR HEALTH ITEM 32 IS NOW CLOSED? SUPERVISOR SILVERA.

>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. A COUPLE OF THINGS I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS WE HAVE THE PROTEST HEARING BEFORE THIS, AND NOW WE'RE ACTUALLY VOTING ON THE CONTRACT.

I WILL TELL YOU, AS I AM THE CHAIR OF THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE COMMITTEE.

MY COLLEAGUES HAVE BLESSED ME WITH THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING IN LEADERSHIP ON THAT COMMITTEE.

NOT THAT I'M ANY MORE FAMILIAR, BUT I'M PRETTY FAMILIAR WITH THE EMS SYSTEM, HOW IT WORKS, AND HOW WE GOT HERE.

I WILL TELL YOU, I CANNOT GO WITHOUT SAYING, I DON'T KNOW WHO SENT ALL THE FLYERS.

BUT I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR SEVEN YEARS NOW, AND I'VE NEVER RECEIVED MORE CALLS ON AN ISSUE THAN I HAVE ON THIS ISSUE AND IT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.

WHERE MY FRUSTRATION LIES IS, LISTEN, I WILL RECOGNIZE THAT THEIR CAMPAIGN WAS VERY EFFECTIVE.

IT WAS VERY EFFECTIVE IN SCARING PEOPLE.

WITH THE FLYERS THAT CAME OUT.

THE INFORMATION THAT WAS GIVEN WASN'T 100% TRUTHFUL.

WITH NO CONTEXT, WHEN YOU GET A FLYER THAT SAYS, WHAT? THIRTY MINUTES, AND MY DAD'S HAVING A HEART ATTACK, I JUST WANT YOU GUYS TO UNDERSTAND WHOEVER SENT THOSE FLYERS, WHAT THAT DID TO MY CONSTITUENTS WAS TYPICALLY MY SENIORS ARE CALLING ME AND YOU COULD HEAR THE FEAR IN THEIR VOICE THAT THEY LEGITIMATELY LOST SLEEP THAT NIGHT, WORRIED BECAUSE I HAD ONE LADY WHO CALLED ME WHO SAID THAT SHE'S USED THE AMBULANCE SERVICE FOUR TIMES IN THE LAST FOUR MONTHS BECAUSE HER HUSBAND IS HAVING SOME HEALTH CHALLENGES.

LEGITIMATELY SCARED THAT THEY WEREN'T GOING TO HAVE AN AMBULANCE THERE.

THOSE FLYERS THAT CAME OUT WERE VERY MISLEADING, VERY DISINGENUOUS.

FOR AN INDUSTRY THAT IS TASKED WITH BEING CALLED UPON WHEN PEOPLE IN THEIR MOST NEED TO SEND THAT OUT, IS JUST REALLY DISHEARTENING TO ME.

I WANTED THAT TO BE SAID.

WE'VE GOTTEN HERE OVER A LONG PROCESS.

IT'S BEEN YEARS.

I'VE BEEN ON THE EMCC NOW FOR GOING ON SEVEN YEARS.

I WAS PART OF, AS A VOLUNTEER FIREMAN, I WAS PART OF THE ORIGINAL WHAT THEY CALLED THE M4C, WHICH WAS THE ORIGINAL COMPLIANCE COMMITTEE WHEN MERCED COUNTY WENT TO AN EXCLUSIVE OPERATING AREA.

I WILL SAY THAT THERE HAS BEEN CHALLENGES AND IN SEMSA RIGGS DEFENSE.

[01:55:01]

YOU GO FROM HAVING YOUR NORMAL PROTOCOLS TO NOW, I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE WHAT YOU HAD TO DO TO DECONTAMINATE AN AMBULANCE AFTER EVERY TIME YOU HAULED A PATIENT, AND WE SAW THAT.

I THINK AS A LIMSA, WHAT WE SAID IS, NO, WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER.

THAT IS WHY WE WAIVED THE CEO, THE COMPANY AT THE TIME WAS NANCY TOY, AND I REMEMBER GETTING A CALL FROM HER SAYING WASN'T THAT, WASN'T EXPECTED BECAUSE WE REALIZED IT.

WHERE MY CHALLENGE IN LIES IS IS THAT AS WE GOT OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, OTHER AGENCIES, NUMBERS OF EMPLOYEES STARTED TO GO UP.

WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM? I'M JUST GOING TO SAY IT IS THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

THE EMTS AND THE PARAMEDICS THAT DELIVER THE ACTUAL SERVICE ON THE GROUND.

I CAN TELL YOU IN MY YEARS, I'VE NEVER GOT A COMPLAINT ABOUT THEM.

ALWAYS BEEN PROFESSIONAL, COURTEOUS, VERY THOUGHTFUL OF THEIR PATIENTS.

THE MANAGEMENT, IT WASN'T UNTIL WE SENT THEM A LETTER SAYING, YOU WILL HIRE TRAVELING PARAMEDICS IS WHEN THEY DID IT AND THAT'S THE FRUSTRATING PART FOR ME.

I SAT IN THESE MEETINGS, AND EVERY TIME WE WENT INTO ONE OF THESE MEETINGS, IT FELT LIKE IT WAS ALWAYS SOMEBODY ELSE'S FAULT.

AT SOME POINT, IF SOMEBODY WOULD JUST CAME IN THERE AND SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? MAKING 60% OF OUR CALLS ON TIME IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

WE DON'T LIKE THIS. I NEVER HEARD THAT.

WHAT I ALWAYS HEARD WAS IT'S SOMEBODY ELSE'S FAULT.

IT'S ANOTHER FLAW IN THE SYSTEM.

I MADE COMMENTS TO LEADERSHIP.

LET ME HELP YOU. WE TALK ABOUT MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT RATES, IT'S THE PAYER MIX.

WHEN YOU HAVE SUCH A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF YOUR POPULATION THAT IS ON MEDICARE OR MEDICAID, WHATEVER YOU THE FEDERAL VERSION, THE STATE VERSION, THE REIMBURSEMENT RATES ARE GARBAGE.

LET ME HELP AS A SUPERVISOR LEVEL TO ADVOCATE AT THE STATE.

I WANT TO BE A PARTNER IN INCREASING THOSE REIMBURSEMENT RATES BECAUSE WE STILL NEED YOU TO BE IN BUSINESS.

IT'S BEEN YEARS THAT HAVE LED UP TO THIS.

I'LL GIVE THIS AS AN EXAMPLE IS THE CURRENT CONTRACT WAS A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT.

WE DID ASK THEM BECAUSE OF THE RFP PROCESS IS SO STRANUIN AT THE STATE, WE COULDN'T GET IT TURNED AROUND FAST ENOUGH, AND WE DID ASK SEMSA RIGGS AND THANKFUL THAT THEY ENTERED INTO ANOTHER SIX MONTH EXTENSION ON THAT CONTRACT TO ALLOW US TIME TO GO THROUGH THIS RFP PROCESS.

BUT I WANT FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY WERE AWARDED A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT.

IF EVERYTHING WAS GREAT IN HUNKY DORY, WE WOULD HAVE GIVEN THEM A FIVE YEAR EXTENSION ON THE CONTRACT.

THAT WE HAD THAT WITHIN OUR RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

TWO YEARS AGO, WE NOTIFIED THEM THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE GOING OUT TO BID AGAIN.

THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN INDICATION THAT THINGS AREN'T GOING AS WELL AS MAYBE THEY THINK THEY'RE GOING.

THE OTHER PART THAT IS FRUSTRATING, I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THESE FLIERS.

I'VE BEEN AROUND CAMPAIGNS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO FILE FOR 60S LIKE WE DO ON CAMPAIGN FINANCES AND WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM AND HOW IT'S SPENT.

BUT BUT MY ESTIMATION, THEY'RE CLOSER TO $200,000 AND THEY ARE $100,000 THAT THEY SPENT ON SENDING OUT FLYERS, DOING ROBO CALLS TO REALLY SCARE PEOPLE AND THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR ME.

THIS IS AN APOLOGY TO MY CONSTITUENT, MY BOSSES, IS THAT I WAS SO OVERWHELMED WITH CALLS.

IF YOU CALL ME AND YOU CALL MY DIRECT EXTENSION, IT RINGS THREE TIMES IN MY OFFICE, AND THEN AFTER THAT, IT RINGS TO MY CELL PHONE.

SO MANY CALLS, I HAD A LADY WHO CALLED ME YESTERDAY.

I'VE KNOWN HER MY WHOLE LIFE.

I GREW UP IN LAS VEGAS. I'VE KNOWN MISSES THAT IN MY WHOLE LIFE.

THIS ISSUE SCARED HER TO THE POINT THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HER 80 SOMETHING YEARS ON THIS EARTH, THAT SHE DECIDED THAT SHE NEEDED TO CALL AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, CALL A POLITICIAN, IS WHAT SHE SAID AND VOICE HER CONCERNS.

IT REALLY IS FRUSTRATING.

THIS IS THE COMMITMENT THAT I GAVE TO EVERY PERSON THAT I TALKED TO WHO SAID, LOOK, WE DON'T TAKE THESE DECISIONS LIGHTLY.

I'M GOING TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MYSELF, AND I THINK I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUES WHEN I SAY THIS.

WE WOULD NEVER MAKE A DECISION THAT WAS GOING TO JEOPARDIZE OUR CITIZENS.

WE ARE WE'RE MAKING A DECISION BASED UPON INFORMATION THAT SAYS, I DON'T WANT TO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS BROKEN IN GOVERNMENT, AND SPECIFICALLY IN OUR COUNTY THAT WE CAN WORK ON EVERY DAY FIXING.

I AM NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF TRYING TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS THAT DON'T EXIST.

THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT EXISTS.

I'VE HAD CALLS, AND I DON'T WANT TO CALL OUT THE CHIEF, BUT I'M GOING TO, I'VE BEEN ON THE PHONE WITH THESE CHIEFS WHO ARE FRUSTRATED WITH THE DELIVERY OF SERVICE.

IT ISN'T BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING BOOTS ON THE GROUND AREN'T DOING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.

THEY'RE NOT BEING GIVEN THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEEDED TO DO THEIR JOB SUCCESSFULLY.

THEY WERE UNDERSTAFFING THE SYSTEM.

THAT IS AND WHY IS THAT? THERE'S PEOPLE OUT THERE A LOT SMARTER THAN ME THAT CAN PROBABLY GET TO THE ROOT OF THAT AND WHY.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS IS THAT WHEN NEIGHBORING AGENCIES CALL AND SAY,

[02:00:04]

MUTUAL AID IS WHEN GOD FORBID, YOU GET A MASS CASUALTY INCIDENT, 20 CAR PILE UP ON ANY EITHER INTERSTATE FIVE OR HIGHWAY 99, AND YOU STRIP YOUR RESOURCES AND ALL YOUR AMBULANCES ARE THERE.

THE AGREEMENT, THE MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT IS, HEY, WE NEED SOME HELP.

YOU GOT IT BECAUSE LIFE STILL HAPPENS, EMERGENCY CALLS STILL HAPPEN.

IN RETURN, IF THEY HAVE THAT PROBLEM, WE SEND THEM RESOURCES.

THAT'S A RED FLAG FOR ME WHEN A NEIGHBORING AGENCY IS SAYING, HEY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HONOR MUTUAL AID.

THAT TELLS ME THAT WE'RE NOT STAFFING OUR SYSTEM PROPERLY.

NOW, HAD THE FOLKS THAT SPENT $200,000 ON SENDING AND LISTEN, WHOEVER SPENT THE MONEY, IF THEY WANT TO COME CORRECT ME AND TELL ME WHAT THE EXACT DOLLAR AMOUNT IS, I WILL CORRECT MYSELF, BUT I'M GOING OFF AT JUST ESTIMATIONS.

WHERE WAS THAT LEVEL OF COMMITMENT AND PASSION TO PROVIDING THE SERVICE TO OUR RESIDENTS ALL ALONG? I DON'T SEE IT.

IT'S NOT AN EASY CHOICE, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE CHANGE JUST FOR THE SAKE OF MAKING CHANGE.

I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

I HAVE A DUTY TO MY 58,000 BOSSES TO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE BEST SERVICE POSSIBLE.

ON THIS DAY, WITH THIS INFORMATION THAT I HAVE, I AM IN SUPPORT OF AWARDING THE CONTRACT TO AMR. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

>> SUPERVISOR PRAYER.

>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I HAVE BEEN HOLDING BACK A LITTLE BIT OF FRUSTRATION FOR THOSE YOU THAT HAVE ATTENDED OUR MEETINGS.

I'M AN EMOTIONAL GUY, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAVE OBUDSMANS HERE, YOU KNOW, IT TUGS UP MY HEART BECAUSE HERE FOLKS THAT ARE DEDICATING THEIR TIME AND ENERGY TO HELP OTHERS.

OVER THE YEARS, THAT'S HAPPENED AND I GET A LITTLE EMOTIONAL AND SOMETIMES CHOKED UP.

BUT I'M SITTING HERE WITH ANGER AND DISGUST AND I DON'T KNOW.

MR. SWENSON, YOU TOLD ME YOU HAVE NO IDEA OF WHO SENT THESE, AND I'LL TAKE YOU AT YOUR WORD.

BUT SOMEBODY SENT THESE AND I'M GOING TO STAY ON AND TRY TO FIND OUT WHO DID THAT.

WHAT I ALSO FIND DISGUSTING IS THAT SEMSA DID NOT PUT OUT THAT, HEY, THAT'S MISLEADING INFORMATION.

WE DON'T AGREE WITH THAT.

WE DON'T THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

I HAVE GOTTEN SOMEWHERE AROUND 150 CALLS, MOST OF THEM ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO ARE SCARED.

ONCE I TALKED TO THEM AND SHARED WITH THEM WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE TRUE AND THIS TO NOT BE TRUE, THEY WERE ABLE TO CALM DOWN.

I REALLY, I MEAN, I HOPE IT WASN'T YOU.

IF I FIND OUT THAT IT WAS, I'LL BE TALKING FROM UP HERE AGAIN.

BUT WHOEVER DID THIS, YOU ARE A DISGUSTING HUMAN BEING AND I AM SORRY THAT OUR FOLKS IN MY DISTRICT AND THE REST OF THE COUNTY HAD TO ENDURE THIS.

I GOT CALLS FROM 90-YEAR-OLD LADIES WHO WERE WORRIED.

THEIR HUSBANDS HAD PASSED AWAY, THEY LIVE ALONE, AND THEY'RE WORRIED THAT WHEN THEY MAKE A CALL, THEY NEED AN AMBULANCE, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET A RESPONSE.

WELL, I'M HERE TO TELL THOSE FOLKS TODAY THAT I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE CORRECTING THE PAST UNRESPONSIVENESS AND OUT OF COMPLIANCE IN OUR AMBULANCE SYSTEM, AND THAT I WILL DEDICATE MY TIME TO MAKING SURE THAT GOING FORWARD, AMR HOLDS UP TO THEIR END OF THE DEAL, AND THAT THE CITIZENS OF MERCED COUNTY ARE WELL TAKEN CARE OF. THANK YOU.

>> SUPERVISOR PACHECO.

>> THANK YOU, HER. I'M JUST ECHOING AGAIN WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HERE.

I ALSO WANT TO I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY GAVE ME A CALL AND GAVE ME AN EMAIL.

I KNOW IT'S MY JOB, AND I APOLOGIZE ALSO BECAUSE I WAS NOT ABLE TO ANSWER A LOT OF CALLS AND A LOT OF E MAILS.

THAT'S WHAT ANYBODY KNOW FOR ME, I WOULD NEVER MAKE A DECISION.

THEY WOULD SAVE MONEY TO PUT OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES IN DANGER.

THAT'S MY JOB BEFORE THIS THAT WITH PUBLIC SAFETY TO GO OUT THERE AND HELP PEOPLE.

I WOULD NEVER MAKE THAT DECISION LIGHTLY.

I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN OUR RP PROCESS.

I THINK IT WAS FAIR. I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE RIGGS EMPLOYEES OUT THERE.

AGAIN, I WAS ON THE STREETS, AND I WORKED WITH A LOT OF YOU AND PRIOR RIGGS EMPLOYEES.

YES, THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, THOSE PEOPLE THEY HAVE IN THEIR HEART.

THEY JUST WANT TO HELP PEOPLE.

I APPLAUD THAT, AND I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE I KNOW YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE GOOD INTENTIONS.

AGAIN, I HAVE FAMILY, FRIENDS, CONSTITUENTS, THEY'RE PART OF THIS COUNTY, AND I ONLY WANT THE BEST FOR THEM.

I THINK WE'RE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION. THANK YOU.

>> SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I THINK MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID MOST OF IT.

A LOT OF OUR JOB IS TALKING TO THE PUBLIC AND INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE.

BUT WHEN THESE FLYERS CAME OUT, IT CONSUMED ALL MY TIME.

I MEAN, LITERALLY FROM THE TIME THAT I GOT UP IN THE MORNING, SITTING HERE IN MY OFFICE.

I THINK THERE WAS A COMMENT MADE BY A STAFF MEMBER WALKING UP AND DOWN OUR HALL.

[02:05:04]

WE HAD A LOT OF OTHER WORK THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO.

WE TAKE THIS DECISION SERIOUSLY, I HAVE HEARD FROM THE FIREMEN AS WELL.

THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN VERY HARD.

IT DEFINITELY TUGS ON OUR HEART HAVING A FAMILY MEMBER NEEDING THE SERVICES AS WELL.

MINE WASN'T SO SUCCESSFUL WITH MY MOTHER.

IT'S VERY HARD GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

BUT I JUST HAVE TO SAY, I THINK MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID IT WELL.

>> THE SENIORS WERE SCARED. THEY READ THE FLYERS.

MOST OF MY CALLS, 90% OF THEM WERE YOU GUYS ARE CUTTING AMBULANCE SERVICES.

I KNOW THAT WASN'T THE INTENTION OF THE FLYERS.

IT WAS AN EDUCATIONAL PROCESS, BUT UNDERSTAND THESE SENIORS THOUGHT WE WERE CUTTING SERVICES.

THEY CALLED US SCARED ON THAT, AND WE'RE EXPLAINING TO THEM, AND THEN WHEN WE REASSURE THEM THAT WE'RE NOT, NOW THEY'RE EMBARRASSED BECAUSE THEY READ THE FLYER WRONG.

WHOEVER CONDUCTED THIS CAMPAIGN, YOU CAN SAY IT WAS SUCCESSFUL TO GET THE WORD OUT THERE, BUT I SAY IT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL FOR SCARING OUR COMMUNITY, AND I DON'T APPRECIATE THAT AT ALL.

THEY WERE SCARED. EVERY CALL THAT I HAD, SCARED PEOPLE WHO I KNEW, JUST LIKE SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SAID, PEOPLE I'VE KNOWN ALL MY LIFE CALLING ME ASKING ME WHAT'S GOING ON.

WE FIELDED THOSE CALLS FROM BEFORE WE EVEN HAD THE ITEM OUT ON THE AGENDA.

WE'RE GOING TO STAFF GOING, WHAT'S GOING ON? WHAT IS ALL THIS STUFF? THEY'RE ALREADY TRYING TO DETERMINE OUR DECISIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING BEFORE WE EVER EVEN HAD KNOWLEDGE OF IT.

WITH THAT, MR. CHAIR, I CONCLUDE MY COMMENTS.

>> I SAID MY PIECE EARLIER, BUT I AM GOING TO REITERATE BECAUSE I THINK MY COMMENTS.

I DO I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON EVERY SINGLE PART OF THIS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY IRRITATES ME, AND I'VE BEEN IN ELECTIVE OFFICE FOR A LONG TIME, IS THE MISTREATMENT OF PEOPLE ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SENIOR CITIZENS.

TO SCARE SENIOR CITIZENS, TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM BY USING THEM TO SAVE YOUR COMPANY IS SHAMEFUL.

I WISH I COULD EXPRESS TO YOU THE AMOUNT OF CALLS THAT WE RECEIVED, WITH OLDER FOLKS ON THE PHONE GENUINELY AFRAID FOR THEIR LIVES, GENUINELY.

TO HAVE TO TALK THEM DOWN BY SAYING, HEY, AND THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR YOU IF YOU GET RID OF THE AMBULANCE SERVICE BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING FOR THE LOWEST BIDDER.

THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

WE WENT WITH THE ORGANIZATION THAT WE BELIEVE COULD PROVIDE THE BEST SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC.

THAT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY.

WE DON'T SIT UP HERE AND SCARE PEOPLE, WE WOULD NEVER DO THAT.

OUR JOB IS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC WELL BEING OF OUR CITIZENS. THAT'S OUR JOB.

IF WE CAN'T DO THAT, THEN WE SHOULDN'T BE UP HERE.

I THINK WHAT WE ARE DOING IS WE ARE DOING THAT TODAY.

WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE TELLING PEOPLE, HEY.

BECAUSE WE DID GET A LOT OF CALLS THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED, BECAUSE I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE CONTINUED TO BE MENTIONED, BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE AND THE STUFF THAT WAS COMING AT US, IT WAS NONSTOP.

ALL TIMES I GOT AN EMAIL THIS MORNING AT 1:00, WE'RE GETTING EMAILS AT 3:00, IT'S JUST INSANE BECAUSE WHATEVER CAMPAIGN IT WAS, IT WAS SUCCESSFUL IN SCARING THESE PEOPLE.

I CAN ASSURE YOU, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD NEVER DO, AND I THINK MY COLLEAGUE SAID IT, NONE OF US TAKES OUR JOBS FOR GRANTED OR TAKE IT LIGHTLY.

WE TAKE THESE JOBS VERY SERIOUSLY, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR PUBLIC.

WE WOULD NEVER DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD JEOPARDIZE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR CONSTITUENTS.

TO PUT INFORMATION OUT THAT WAS KNOWINGLY FALSE IS COMPLETELY WRONG, AND SO WITH THAT, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A MOTION.

WE'LL BRING IT BACK. OH, WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEREIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES.

NEXT, WE HAVE DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

[02:10:04]

>> ITEM 33.

>> AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR DA ITEM 33.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR DA ITEM 33 IS NOW CLOSED, WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD.

I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEREIRA, SUPERVISOR PACHECO.

>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. BECAUSE MY WIFE'S NAME IS ON THE APPLICATION OF THIS GRANT, I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN FROM THE VOTE.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEREIRA.

WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES FOUR TO ONE WITH SUPERVISOR PACHECO ABSTAINING.

NEXT, WE HAVE FIRE.

>> ITEM 34.

>> AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR FIRE ITEM 34.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR FIRE ITEM FOUR IS NOW CLOSED.

BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD.

IF A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEREIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO, CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES.

NEXT, WE HAVE SHERIFF.

>> ITEMS 35 AND 36.

>> AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR SHERIFF ITEMS 35 AND 36.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR 35 AND 36 IS NOW CLOSED.

I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO, SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEREIRA, CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES.

NEXT, WE HAVE COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

>> ITEMS 37-42.

>> AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CED ITEMS 37-42.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR CED ITEMS 37-42 IS NOW CLOSED. WE HAVE ONE SORRY.

>> MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS THOMAS ROCK.

I'M A FIELD REPRESENTATIVE WITH THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CARPENTERS UNION.

WE REPRESENT APPROXIMATELY 35,000 CARPENTERS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, 01,200 GENERAL CONTRACTORS, AND A COUPLE THOUSAND SUBCONTRACTORS.

WE ARE HERE TODAY IN OPPOSITION OF SELF HELP ENTERPRISES RECEIVING THE $6.2 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDING.

SELF HELP ENTERPRISES HAS A HISTORY OF HIRING GENERAL CONTRACTORS AND SUBCONTRACTORS WHO DO NOT PAY THE CARPENTER AREA STANDARD WAGES AND BENEFITS ON ALL PROJECTS ALL THE TIME.

FAILURE TO REQUIRE GENERAL CONTRACTORS AND ALL THEIR SUBCONTRACTORS TO PAY THE AREA STANDARD WAGES AND BENEFITS ON ALL JOBS ALL THE TIME SUBSIDIZES THE CONTRACTORS ON THOSE PROJECTS.

SELF HEALTH ENTERPRISES IS FINANCING THE DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON WAGES AND BENEFITS.

AT THE NORTH CAL CARPENTERS UNION, IT IS OUR DESIRE TO PROTECT THE WAGES, BENEFITS, WORKING CONDITIONS, AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL CONSTRUCTION WORKERS WHO DEPEND ON THIS FOR A LIVELIHOOD IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

AGAIN, WE ARE IN OPPOSITION TO SELF HELP RECEIVING ANY MORE FUNDS, AND WE ASK THAT YOU VOTE NO.

IF ANYONE FROM THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION AT A LATER DATE, WE WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO MEET WITH ANY OR ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU.

>> SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

>> YEAH. IN REGARDS TO THE LAST COMMENT, DO WE HAVE CED HERE IN THE AUDIENCE? YEAH, IF YOU COULD COMMENT ON THAT, THIS IS THE FIRST I'VE HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THIS, IS THIS AN OPEN BID PROCESS OR HOW DOES THIS WORK?

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

THE COUNTY RECEIVED THIS GRANT AND HAS PARTNERED WITH SELF HELP.

SELF HELP IN THE PROCESS HAS ALREADY DONE THIS, SAME HAS TAKEN OVER THE GRANT FOR SANTA SAS, AND SO WE HAVE FOLLOWED THE SAME ROUTE.

WE ARE ALREADY IN A PARTNERSHIP TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS GRANT WITH SELF HELP, SO THIS WOULD JUST TAKE AWAY STAFF'S TIME ON THIS AND HAVE SELF HELP OVERSEE THE GRANT FOR THE COUNTY.

>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT, BUT DEFINITELY WE WANT TO HAVE FURTHER CONVERSATIONS.

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION.

>> YES. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT TO THE ATTENTION BECAUSE I WASN'T AWARE, BUT I APPRECIATE IT,

[02:15:01]

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR CED, ITEMS 37-42 IS NOW CLOSED.

BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD.

I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEREIRA, SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES.

NEXT, WE HAVE BOARD APPOINTMENTS.

>> NO.

>> NO.

>> ITEM 33 OR 40.

>> COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE. SORRY, JOHN.

>> ITEM 43 TO CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENT OF JOHN CECCOLI AS THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY AT THE ANNUAL SALARY OF $179,982.40 AND APPROVE A LEVEL BENEFITS EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 6, 2025.

>> AT THIS TIME, I WILL TURN THE MIC OVER TO COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER MARK HENDRICKSON TO PROVIDE COMMENTS.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

IT IS TRULY MY PRIVILEGE TODAY TO INTRODUCE TO YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION THE CONFIRMATION OF MY APPOINTMENT OF MR. JOHN CECCOLI, AS MERCED COUNTY'S NEXT HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY DIRECTOR.

JOHN BRINGS WITH HIM A STRONG TRACK RECORD OF LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION TO SERVING VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, AND HE HAS DEMONSTRATED A DEEP COMMITMENT TO COLLABORATION TO ACCOUNTABILITY AND INNOVATION THROUGHOUT HIS ENTIRE CAREER.

AS YOU KNOW, THE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS EVERY SINGLE DAY.

FROM PROVIDING VITAL SAFETY NET SERVICES TO SUPPORTING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO HELPING INDIVIDUALS ACHIEVE GREATER INDEPENDENCE.

HSA STANDS AT THE HEART OF OUR MISSION TO BUILD A STRONGER, HEALTHIER COMMUNITY.

JOHN HAS BOTH THE VISION AND THE PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE TO GUIDE THIS IMPORTANT WORK MOVING FORWARD.

I AM CONFIDENT THAT UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, HSA WILL CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN ITS PARTNERSHIPS, DELIVER HIGH QUALITY SERVICES, AND UPHOLD THE VALUES OF COMPASSION, INTEGRITY, AND RESPONSIVENESS THAT OUR RESIDENTS DESERVE.

WITH THAT, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I RESPECTFULLY PRESENT TO YOU, MR. JOHN CECCOLI FOR YOUR CONFIRMATION AS THE NEXT DIRECTOR OF THE MERCED COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY.

>> HOLD ON.

>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

>> AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CEO ITEM 43.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR CEO ITEM 43 IS NOW CLOSED.

DO I HAVE A MOTION? I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEREIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE.

OH, I'M SORRY. SUPERVISOR PEREIRA.

>> YEAH. COULD I ASK MR. CECCOLI QUESTION BEFORE I VOTE, NOT AFTER?

>> YEAH. COME ON.

>> JUST A QUICK QUESTION BECAUSE TO ME, THIS IS SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT IS IN THE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE KIDS AND DO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY OF PROTECTING THEM AND THAT SYSTEM?

>> YEAH.

>> THANK YOU. YOU WANT TO ELABORATE TO ME ON ANY ON THAT?

>> THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT MISSION AMONGST THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT HSA HAS.

WE HAVE A DEPUTY DIRECTOR IN PLACE ON OCTOBER 20.

WE HAVE VERY, VERY SKILLED ADMINISTRATORS AND A TEAM THERE THAT IS DOING THAT WORK RIGHT NOW.

WHAT I HOPE TO DO IS BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THEM BOTH PERSONALLY, PROFESSIONALLY, BE ABLE TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE VACANCIES THAT WE HAVE, FILL THOSE VACANCIES QUICKLY, AND MAKE SURE THE WORK THEY DO, WHICH IS VITAL TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF CHILDREN IN THIS COMMUNITY IS ROBUSTLY SUPPORTED BY THIS ENTIRE AGENCY, NOT JUST THAT DEPARTMENT.

>> YEAH. I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR THE 8.5 YEARS, I GUESS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, AND I KNEW THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION, BUT I WANT OUR COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT AS WELL.

YOU MAY TOUCH ON THAT AND IF YOU ARE FORTUNATE TO GET CONFIRMED IN YOUR TALK, BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO MERCED COUNTY.

>> MR. CHAIR.

>> YEAH, JOHN, I'M GOING TO SHARE WHAT I SHARED WITH FOLKS WE MET EARLIER IN CLOSED SESSION, AND THIS IS A SUCCESS STORY THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SHARE HERE IN MERCED COUNTY, AND IT'S THAT JOHN IS LOCALLY HOMEGROWN TALENT THAT GREW FROM WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION, AND I'M VERY EXCITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

I THINK ULTIMATELY OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE GOING TO BE EXCITED

[02:20:03]

I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO DO WELL, BUT I WISH YOU ALL THE LUCK IN THE WORLD, AND ALSO MY COMMITMENT THAT ANYTIME YOU NEED SUPPORT, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU.

>> SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I WAS GOING TO SAVE IT TILL AFTER THE VOTE, BUT LEADING INTO IT, WE'LL GO AHEAD.

JOHN I WANT TO SAY SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, APPRECIATED ALL YOUR HARD WORK, STARTING OUT AS THE VETERAN SERVICE OFFICER, YOU RECOGNIZED VETERANS HOMELESSNESS, AND I THINK YOU BROUGHT IT TO A POINT WHERE THE ONLY VETERANS THAT WERE ON THE STREET DURING YOUR TENURE, WERE THE ONES WHO DECIDED TO STAY ON THE STREET BECAUSE YOU FOUND THE VOUCHERS, AND YOU FOUND A WAY TO MAKE THEM FIND A HOME.

JUST THROUGH THAT PROCESS, WHENEVER WE CREATED THE POSITION WITHIN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, YOU WERE REALLY GOOD AT GETTING VETERANS OFF THE STREET, BUT YOU REALLY DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HOMELESS, AND FROM THAT TIME, YOU BECAME AN EXPERT.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE HOW QUICK YOU GRAVITATED TOWARDS THE CAUSE AND BECAME THE EXPERT IN THAT POSITION.

IT IS WITHOUT A DOUBT, GREAT TO SEE YOU IN THIS POSITION NOW, AND I THINK, LIKE I SAID EARLIER TODAY, BEING SWORN TO WEAR THE CLOTH OF THIS NATION, YOU'RE MISSION DRIVEN, YOU ARE FOCUSED, AND I SEE YOU DOING THE SAME THING FROM MERCED COUNTY, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP IN CONTINUING TO DO THIS HERE.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PACHECO.

>> THANK YOU, HAIR. JUST IN THE SHORT TIME I'VE BEEN HERE, I'VE ONLY SEEN GOOD THINGS, SO CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST OF LUCK THE FUTURE OF THE COUNTY. THANK YOU.

>> SINCE EVERYBODY'S MADE THEIR COMMENTS, I HAVEN'T VOTED YET BECAUSE I'M STILL ON THE FENCE. I'M JUST KIDDING.

>> JOHN, I TOLD YOU BACK THERE, I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR WHAT YOU DO.

FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR THE HOMELESS, WHAT YOU DID FOR VETERANS, OR WHAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO, I THINK IS VERY IMPRESSIVE.

I KNOW THAT YOU MADE A COMMENT EARLIER THAT YOU HAVE A LOT TO LEARN.

BUT THE THING THAT I THINK IS REALLY IMPRESSIVE IS THE FACT THAT YOU RECOGNIZE THAT YOU DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING, BUT YOU'RE WILLING TO TRY TO PUT YOUR HAND ON EVERYTHING, BUT REALLY TO LEAD AN ORGANIZATION.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS OUR BIGGEST DEPARTMENT, AND I THINK THAT THEY'RE GETTING A PERSON WITH A LOT OF INTEGRITY.

I THINK THAT WE HAD MULTIPLE CANDIDATES, AND EVERYBODY WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE.

I THINK THAT TO COME THROUGH ON TOP IS SOMETHING THAT YOU SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF.

I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO FOR THE DEPARTMENT.

LIKE SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SAID, I'M ALWAYS IMPRESSED WHEN WE GROW FROM WITHIN.

I THINK IT'S A TESTAMENT TO WHAT WE HAVE HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.

WITH THAT, I WANT TO SAY, CONGRATULATIONS.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES.

CONGRATULATIONS, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

>> WELL, THANK YOU AND GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN PEDROSO, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, CEO HENDRICKSON, COUNTY COUNCIL HANSEN, AND MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THE FIRST QUESTION IS ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND ENSURING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THAT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY THIS POSITION HOLDS.

I'VE COME IN WITH MY EYES WIDE OPEN TO THAT RESPONSIBILITY, AND I APPRECIATE THE CONFIDENCE THAT THIS UNANIMOUS VOTE MEANS, THE OFFER OF THE APPOINTMENT FROM THE CEO'S OFFICE, THE OFFER FOR HELP FROM COUNTY COUNCIL, AND THEN THE TEAM THAT IS MAYBE PHYSICALLY BEHIND ME, BUT I KNOW RIGHT NEXT TO ME AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO ENSURE WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE, AND THAT THEY'RE MET.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE ME MEETING THEM ALONE.

IT'S GOING TO BE WITH THAT TEAM.

I DID PREPARE SOME REMARKS TODAY, BUT IT'S TRULY AN HONOR JUST TO STAND HERE AS THE NEWLY APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF THE HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY.

AS STATED, IT'S THE LARGEST DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTY.

WE SEEM TO GET INVOLVED IN PRACTICALLY EVERYTHING. WE DO.

WE SERVE A MAJORITY OF THIS COUNTY, SO IT'S EASY FOR US TO MAKE THAT CONNECTION.

THE RESPONSIBILITIES ARE SIGNIFICANT AND HUMBLING.

I WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR BEING CHOSEN.

AM GOING IN WITH MY EYES WIDE OPEN AND ENTHUSIASTIC FOR IT.

THE BOARDS LAID OUT A VISION, THE CEOS LAID OUT A VISION, THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE THE PREMIER SERVICE PROVIDER IN CALIFORNIA.

[02:25:02]

I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A LOT FOR ME TO LEARN, AND I'M EXCITED TO LEARN IT BECAUSE I BELIEVE I CAN BE A VALUE ADDED, OR I NEVER WOULD HAVE ATTEMPTED TO BECOME THE DIRECTOR OF THE HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY.

THANK YOU FOR THE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE YOU'VE PLACED IN ME.

TO LEAD THIS INCREDIBLE AGENCY IN PURSUIT OF THAT VISION TO BE THE BEST IN CALIFORNIA, TO BE THE BEST IN THE NATION.

THE INGREDIENTS ARE ALL THERE.

WE'RE ALREADY RECOGNIZED.

WE HAVE ALL DAD'S MATTER PROGRAM NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED.

STEPHANIE COHEN, SOCIAL WORKER, RECOGNIZED FOR THE ENTIRE WEST COAST FOR THE WORK SHE'S DONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MERCED POLICE DEPARTMENT.

OUR MISSION AT THE HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY IS CLEAR AND DEEPLY MEANINGFUL TO IMPROVE THE WELL BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH SERVICE AND PARTNERSHIP.

THAT MISSION GUIDES EVERYTHING WE DO, EVERY ACTION.

THAT MISSION IS WHERE WE'RE LOOKING TO ACHIEVE.

WE SUPPORT FAMILIES IN CRISIS.

WE CONNECT INDIVIDUALS WITH EMPLOYMENT AND HEALTH CARE.

WE RESPOND TO SENIORS AND CHILDREN AND HELP THEM FIND STABILITY AND SAFETY.

AT ITS CORE, OUR WORK IS ABOUT PEOPLE, HELPING PEOPLE WITH INTEGRITY, EMPATHY, AND COMMITMENT.

OUR AGENCY MISSION ALIGNS PERFECTLY WITH THE BROADER COUNTY MISSION TO PROVIDE QUALITY PUBLIC SERVICES THAT ENHANCE AND PROTECT OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY.

TOGETHER, THESE MISSIONS REFLECT NOT JUST WHAT WE DO, BUT WHO WE ARE AS PUBLIC SERVANTS AS WE STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE.

AS I STEP INTO THIS RULE, I'M GUIDED BY THE THREE COUNTY CORE VALUES THAT WILL SHAPE OUR WORK GOING FORWARD.

INTEGRITY, INNOVATION, AND INCLUSION.

WITH INTEGRITY, WILL LEAD WITH TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND COMPASSION, ENSURING EVERY DECISION HONORS THE TRUST PLACED IN US BY THE COMMUNITY WE DESERVE.

THROUGH INNOVATION, WE WILL EXPLORE CREATIVE WAYS TO DELIVER SERVICES, USING TECHNOLOGY, DATA, COLLABORATION, TO MAKE OUR PROGRAMS MORE EFFICIENT AND RESPONSIVE TO REAL NEEDS.

THROUGH INCLUSION, WE WILL ENSURE EVERY RESIDENT FEELS SEEN, RESPECTED, AND SUPPORTED, EMBRACING THE DIVERSITY OF MERCED COUNTY OF ONE OF OUR GREATEST STRENGTHS.

WHAT WE DO KNOW IS WE CANNOT ACHIEVE THESE GOALS WITHOUT MEANINGFUL PARTNERSHIPS, NOT ONLY WITH OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS, BUT ALSO WITH THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THEMSELVES.

TOGETHER, WE CAN EACH DO OUR PART TO CREATE A STRONG AND THRIVING COMMUNITY.

WHILE THE PEOPLE WE SERVE MAY BE REFERRED TO AS OUR CLIENTS OR CUSTOMERS OR CONSUMERS, ABOVE ALL, THERE ARE PARTNERS IN A SHARED JOURNEY TOWARDS SELF SUFFICIENCY AND LIVING A THRIVING LIFE.

THAT'S THE GOAL. WE WANT TO HAVE PARTNERSHIPS, BROAD PARTNERSHIPS, AND WE WANT TO HELP PEOPLE ACHIEVE SELF SUFFICIENCY AND A THRIVING LIFE.

NONE OF THIS WORK WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE DEDICATION OF THE HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY TEAM.

I'M OUT THE GATE.

THAT QUESTION CAN'T BE ANSWERED WITHOUT THE TEAM SUPPORT, WHAT THEY'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.

NOTHING I'M LAYING OUT AS A VISION AS ANYTHING NEW.

IT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE FOR DECADES AT THE HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY, BUT I HOPE TO BE A VALUE ADDED, AND I EXPECT TO BE.

EVERY DAY THEY BRING COMPASSION, PROFESSIONALISM, AND HEART TO THEIR WORK.

THEY'RE OFTEN THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT FOR THOSE FACING THEIR MOST CHALLENGING MOMENTS, AND THEY RESPOND WITH PATIENCE AND CARE.

I'M HONORED TO LEAD SUCH A CAPABLE AND COMPASSIONATE TEAM, AND I'M COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING THEM AS WE CONTINUE THIS VITAL MISSION.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY WIFE AND FAMILY FOR THEIR UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF MY DECISION TO DEDICATE MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE TO PUBLIC SERVICE.

THEY KNOW THE COST OF LATE NIGHT PHONE CALLS AND MISS CELEBRATIONS.

THEY WERE IN THE SAME HOUSE WITH ME WHEN THE LEVEES BROKE, AND DESPITE HAVING FAMILY MEMBERS IN THIS COUNTY AND COMMUNITY THAT COULD HAVE BEEN IMPACTED, IT WAS TIME TO GO.

IT WAS TIME TO FULFILL OUR MISSION AS DISASTER SERVICE WORKERS.

I EVEN HALF JOKINGLY.

OUR FAMILY MOTTO IS CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY AND HAVE FUN.

IT IS A PERVASIVE COMMITMENT IN MY SOUL TO DO THAT.

WE CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY AND HAVE FUN WHEN WE GO OUT.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING WHEN WE'RE GOING TO THE FAIR OR TO AN ALL DAD'S MATTER EVENT, OR TO REALLY ANYTHING WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

IT REFLECTS THE DECISION, BUT ALSO THE VALUES THAT GUIDE ME TO CONTINUE SERVING MERCED COUNTY IN THIS CAPACITY.

TO THIS BOARD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ONGOING LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO STRENGTHENING THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET IN MERCED COUNTY.

IT'S VITAL. WE'VE SEEN IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER.

THAT NEED FOR US TO HELP PEOPLE.

YOUR SUPPORT ENABLES US TO SERVE FAMILIES, SAFEGUARD CHILDREN AND SENIORS AND PROMOTE THE WELL BEING OF OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

IT'S JUST INTERESTING THE CONVERSATION TODAY AROUND SENIORS.

WHAT A FOCAL POINT FOR YOU ALL, BUT ALSO FOR US.

WE HAVE A ROLE IN HELPING YOU DO THAT.

[02:30:02]

TOGETHER, GUIDED BY OUR SHARED MISSION AS PUBLIC SERVANTS.

THAT'S WHAT WE'VE ALL CHOSEN TO DO.

THE VALUES OF INTEGRITY, INNOVATION, AND INCLUSION, I BELIEVE WE CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD A STRONGER, HEALTHIER AND BETTER CONNECTED MERCED COUNTY.

THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING ALONGSIDE EACH OF YOU AS WE MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER. APPRECIATE IT.

>> CONGRATULATIONS, AND THANK YOU, JOHN.

ALL RIGHT. NEXT, WE HAVE BOARD APPOINTMENTS.

>> ITEMS 44 AND 45.

>> AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BOARD APPOINTMENT ITEMS 44 AND 45.

OKAY. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BOARD APPOINTMENT ITEMS 44 AND 45 IS NOW CLOSED.

I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO.

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 46.

>> AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR INFO ITEM 46.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, GLORIA SANDOVAL.

I HAVE AN INTEREST IN THIS INMATE WELFARE FUND BECAUSE I SEE THAT THERE'S INTEREST EARNED.

THERE'S SALE OF CONCESSIONS, WHICH MEANS THAT IT COME FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE IN JAIL, IN OUR JAIL, WITH A TOTAL IN THIS FISCAL YEAR OF $505,000 AND PLUS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE.

I HAVE A QUESTION BECAUSE I HEAR SCUTTLE BUTT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THERE'S BEEN OVERDOSES IN OUR JAIL.

THERE'S BEEN ATTACKS, ASSAULTS IN OUR JAIL.

THERE'S BEEN I BELIEVE NEGLECTING OF OUR HUMAN BEINGS THAT HAVE MADE MISTAKES, THAT HAVE COMMITTED SOME CRIME.

AND I REALLY WOULD LIKE MORE EXPLANATION OF WHAT THIS IS.

THE OTHER THING THAT I'VE REALLY HEARD A LOT ABOUT IS THE COST OF MAKING PHONE CALLS.

TO ME, AS A HUMAN BEING, IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE CONTACT OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS WHILE YOU ARE SEPARATED FROM THEM.

YET THERE'S A COST TO BE BORNE BY WHOEVER IS INSIDE.

ALSO, THAT ANOTHER THING THAT REALLY, I MIGHT BE STRETCHING IT, BUT I HAPPEN TO KNOW A FEW PEOPLE WHOSE COURT DATES GET POSTPONED AND POSTPONED AND DO NOT HAVE MONEY FOR BAIL.

THIS IS ALL RELATED.

I WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ON THIS BECAUSE I THINK THE COMMUNITY HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. THANK YOU.

>> OKAY. PUBLIC COMMENT IS NOW CLOSED.

I'M GOING TO BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD.

MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEREIRA, CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES.

OKAY. NOW WE'RE GOING TO... NO. CLOSE THAT.

[Additional Item]

WE'RE GOING TO ADJOURN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING AND THEN OPEN UP THE CHOWCHILLA GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY.

WE WILL NOW RECESS THE BOARD I'M SORRY, RECESS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING AND CONVENE AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AS THE COUNTY OF MERCED CHOWCHILLA GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY.

AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR NON AGENDA ITEMS, AS WELL AS THE ONE ACTION ITEM ON THIS AGENDA.

AS A REMINDER, THE NON AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT MUST BE REGARDING ITEMS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, AS THE COUNTY OF MERCED CHOWCHILLA GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY.

TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO 3 MINUTES PER PERSON.

OKAY. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BOTH NON AGENDA AND THE AGENDA ITEM IS NOW CLOSED, AND WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO BOARD ACTION AS SUBMITTED BY COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

[02:35:03]

>> ITEM 1.

>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD OR DO I HAVE SUPERVISOR FAIR?

>> I'M READY TO MAKE A MOTION, BUT JUST A QUICK COMMENT.

I WANT TO THANK LACY.

THIS IS A GRANT SUPPORTING SOME WORK THAT THE CALIFORNIA PARTNERSHIP WILL BE DOING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES AND THROUGH THE FRESNO STATE WATER INSTITUTE.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY THAT ALL EIGHT OF THE VALLEY COUNTIES GET TO BENEFIT BY THE WORK THAT THIS WATER WORKING GROUP DOES.

I'M A MEMBER AND CHAIR OF THE WATER WORKING GROUP FOR THE PARTNERSHIP FOR THE SOUND WORKING VALLEY.

MY MOTION IS TO APPROVE ITEM 1.

>> OKAY, I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND IS SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

>> AYE.

>> AYE. ANY OPPOSED, SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES.

SPECIAL MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.

WE WILL NOW CONVENE AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AS THE COUNTY OF MERCED DELTA MENDOTA GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY.

AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR NON AGENDA ITEMS, AS WELL AS THE TWO ACTION ITEMS ON THIS AGENDA.

AS A REMINDER, THE NON AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT MUST BE REGARDING ITEMS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AS THE COUNTY OF MERCED DELTA MENDOTA GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY.

TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO 3 MINUTES PER PERSON.

OKAY. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BOTH NON AGENDA AND THE AGENDA ITEM IS NOW CLOSED.

WE WILL NOW MOVE ONTO BOARD ACTION AS SUBMITTED BY COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

>> ITEMS 1 AND 2.

>> SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AGAIN, I'LL JUST HIGHLIGHT ON THESE TWO ITEMS. THESE ARE JUST CLEAN UP ITEMS AS THESE GSAS, GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCIES ARE DEVELOPING, AND WE'RE GETTING BETTER WITH BETTER DATA.

WE'RE SHARING THE COSTS IN A MORE UNIFORM WAY BECAUSE WE ARE JUST ONE PART OF ALL OF THESE GSPS.

MY MOTION WOULD BE TO APPROVE CED ITEMS 1 AND 2.

>> OKAY. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

>> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED, SAY, NEY? MOTION CARRIES.

SPECIAL MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.

OKAY, WE WILL NOW RECONVENE AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS,

[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION]

>> HOLD ON.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I JUST HAVE ONE THING REAL QUICK.

I ATTENDED THE PLANADA 20 MILL MEETING IN PLANADA LAST WEEK.

I JUST WANTED TO THANK ALL THE DEPARTMENTS THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THAT, INCLUDING OUR CEO.

NOT ONLY IS THE PROJECT MOVING ALONG MORE QUICKLY.

WE'RE GETTING NOT ONLY OUR RESIDENTS OF PLANADA, BUT THE COMMUNITY MADE WHOLE AGAIN.

I'D SAY, WE HAD ABOUT 25 PEOPLE, AND YOU THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE NOT A FAILURE.

BUT I THINK THAT RESONATES THE FACT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE BEING SATISFIED WITH WHAT'S GOING ON.

THERE WAS PEOPLE THERE THAT HAD THE INFORMATION, BUT THERE WAS A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE THERE THAT HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS. I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF, NOT ONLY FOR PUTTING IT ON, BUT FOR MAKING SURE THAT THIS IS MOVING FORWARD. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SHARE, THANK YOU.

>> SUPERVISOR.

>> MCDANIEL.

>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. FIRST OF ALL, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE HARBOR FREIGHT TOOL SCHOOLS PRIZE FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE, THE 2025 PRIZE WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT WITH SHELBY FISHMAN OF ATWATER HIGH SCHOOL.

IT WAS WELL ATTENDED.

I THINK ATWATER HIGH SCHOOL AND HARBOR FREIGHT TOOLS DID A FANTASTIC JOB.

SHE DID NOT KNOW IT WAS A SURPRISE.

SHE FIGURED SOMETHING WAS UP THE MORNING OF BECAUSE THEY SHUT OFF ALL HER EMAILS, IN THE MORNING, SHE USUALLY GETS THE EMAILS.

SHE FIGURED THERE WAS SOMETHING GOING ON AT THAT TIME, BUT IT WAS VERY EXCITING.

ALSO, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOUNDATION HAD NAMED THEIR TEACHER AWARD RECIPIENT, TEACHER OF THE YEAR, WHICH IS JEFF RIVERO, RIGHT HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.

HE IS EDUCATOR, YOSEMITE HIGH SCHOOL IN MERCED, AND THIS YEAR, CEEF, EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNER WITH A FOCUS ON HANDS ON ACTION ORIENTED LEARNING.

IF ANYBODY KNOWS JEFF, YOU KNOW HE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT IT.

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT JEFF.

HE LIKES TO INCLUDE ME IN EVERYTHING.

WE HAVE A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS, AND THIS GUY HAS WHOLE LOT MORE IDEAS OF WHAT HE WANTS TO DO EDUCATIONALLY, BUT HIS KIDS ARE VERY INVOLVED.

THEY'RE TRAVELING ALL OVER THE PLACE TO ACCEPT AWARDS.

AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO SAY A BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO JEFF RIVERO.

AS HIS FATHER ACTUALLY SAT IN MY SEAT ABOUT THREE SUPERVISORS AGO, AND HE SERVED THIS COUNTY WELL, AS WELL AS JEFF BEING A CITY COUNCILMAN IN THE CITY OF ATWATER FOR A WHILE.

[02:40:01]

WITH THAT, I JUST HAD TO SAY WE RECEIVED, I KNOW I SAID THIS EARLIER, A WHOLE LOT OF PHONE CALLS.

I THINK THE DOMINATION OF MY TIME, SINCE THE LAST BOARD MEETING WAS ANSWERING QUESTIONS TO MOSTLY SENIORS, AND THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED TO THEM, IT LITERALLY SCARED THEM.

I GOT TO TELL YOU, MY CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS, THE ENTIRE TIME.

MY BRAKES WAS TO USE THE RESTROOM, QUITE FRANKLY, BUT THESE FOLKS WHO READ THE FLYERS THAT CAME IN THE MAIL.

I READ THE FLYER MYSELF, BUT THEIR FOCUS WAS FRIGHT.

THEY WERE SCARED. THEY DIDN'T READ THE ENTIRE FLYER.

THEY JUST READ THE POINTS THAT DROVE HOME A MESSAGE.

I SAY, IT DOMINATED MOST OF MY TIME THIS PAST WEEK WITH THAT CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS.

>> SUPERVISOR PACHECO.

>> I JUST WANT TO ADD ONE MORE THING ON OUR RED RIBBON PRESENTATION.

I SPENT A LOT OF MY CAREER IN NARCOTIC ENFORCEMENT.

I'M A LIFETIME MEMBER OF THE CALIFORNIA NARCOTIC OFFICERS' ASSOCIATION, SO I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE RED RIBBON WEEK.

IT'S ALWAYS DURING OCTOBER, WHICH IS MY BIRTHDAY MONTH, BUT I'M EXCITED TO SEE THE RED RIBBONS.

I'M EXCITED TO SUPPORT THAT PROGRAM, SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYODY TO WEAR YOUR RED RIBBONS AND BE DRUG FREE.

>> SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE, I WANT TO WELCOME DAVID MARIONI BACK.

YOU'VE BEEN HERE A MONTH ALREADY, BUT YOU'VE OFFICIALLY BEEN HERE A WEEK AND A DAY, I THINK IT IS NOW.

DAVID MARIONI OUR ASSISTANT CEO IS BACK WITH THE COUNTY.

AGAIN, JOHN, CONGRATULATIONS.

LOOKING FORWARD TO THE GOOD WORK WE'RE GOING TO DO TOGETHER.

ALSO, LAST WEEK WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY REGIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA COUNTIES.

I CALL IT THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY SOUPS.

IT'S WHERE WE GET TOGETHER AS A REGION.

I WANT TO THANK PAUL YODER FROM OUR STATE LOBBYING FIRM.

HE ACTUALLY HAS THE LUXURY NOW OF HAVING ALL EIGHT OF THE VALLEY COUNTIES WORK WITH HIM, AND SO HIS ORGANIZATION IS THE ONE WHO SPEARHEADS THAT.

IT ROTATES AROUND FROM COUNTY TO COUNTY.

IT'S MY HOPE AND PRAYER AS EIGHT VALLEY COUNTIES.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT ONE OF US BY OURSELF AND OUR REPRESENTATION AT THE STATE LEVEL, WHEN WE'RE GOING AT IT ALONE, IT'S HARD.

BUT WHEN THE EIGHT VALLEY COUNTIES CAN COME TOGETHER, THE DELEGATION THAT IS BIPARTISAN.

IF WE CAN ALL GET TOGETHER ON ISSUES, WE HAVE A LOT BETTER CHANCE OF SUCCESS IN PUSHING THOSE ISSUES FORWARD.

WE HAVE HISTORICALLY, IN MY OPINION, BEEN MORE REACTIVE.

WE WAIT TILL THERE'S AN ISSUE, AND THEN WE COME TOGETHER AND SEND SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION LETTERS.

MY GOAL IS IS THROUGH THESE CONFERENCES, AND NOW WE HAVE MEETINGS EVERY OTHER MONTH IS THAT WE CAN START PLAYING A LITTLE BIT OF OFFENSE.

YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THIS HERE BEFORE, THERE'S 58 COUNTIES IN CALIFORNIA.

IF YOU'VE BEEN TO ONE COUNTY, YOU'VE BEEN TO ONE COUNTY.

BUT THE VALLEY COUNTIES HAVE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE SHARE IN COMMON.

WHEN WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND CONVINCE OUR STATE LEGISLATORS TO HOPEFULLY RUN LEGISLATION THAT BENEFITS THE VALLEY.

THAT'S THE GOAL IN THE PLAN WITH IT SO ALWAYS A GOOD VALUE IN BEING A PART OF THAT.

THEN THE LAST THING, I DON'T WANT ANYBODY, ANYONE IN MY CONSTITUENTS TO THINK THAT YES, I'M GOING TO CALL IT OVERWHELMED A LITTLE BIT WITH ALL THE CALLS WE GOT, BUT I'M GLAD THAT WE GOT THOSE CALLS.

I THANKED EVERY PERSON THAT I WAS ABLE TO TALK TO FOR REACHING OUT TO ME AND AT LEAST BEING ABLE TO PUT GOOD INFORMATION OUT THERE AND ALLOW THEM TO MAKE THAT DECISION FOR THEMSELVES.

I ENCOURAGE THOSE CALLS.

YOU ALL KNOW WHAT MY EXTENSION IS NOW, AND YOU ALL KNOW THAT IF YOU CALL IT, IT WAS INTERESTING, THERE WAS SOME MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO TALK TO ME.

THEY JUST WANTED TO LEAVE A MESSAGE.

BUT WHEN THEY CALLED ME ON SATURDAY AT THREE O'CLOCK, THEY WERE EXPECTING IT WAS GOING TO JUST LEAVE A MESSAGE ON MY OFFICE LINE, AND WHEN I PICKED UP THE PHONE, I DID HAVE A FEW OF THEM WHO SCARED THEM AND THEY JUST HUNG UP ON ME.

BUT I ENCOURAGE THOSE CALLS.

THAT IS WHAT WE SIGNED UP FOR.

YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD ME SAY, I HAVE MY 58,000 BOSSES.

I REPRESENT THEM.

I'M JUST A PHONE CALL AWAY.

AGAIN, I WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO THE ONES THAT LITERALLY BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ENOUGH HOURS IN THE DAY, I WASN'T ABLE TO GET BACK TO ALL OF THEM.

WE WERE FIELDING CALLS ON THE REGULAR FOR TWO WEEKS.

BASICALLY IT WAS THAT THURSDAY, I COULD TELL WHEN THE FIRST FLYER HIT PEOPLE'S EMAILS OR EXCUSE ME, MAILBOXES, BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE CALLS STARTED, AND I WILL TELL YOU JUST BEFORE THE MEETING START, THERE WAS A CALL, THE MEETING HAD ALREADY STARTED AND I WASN'T ABLE TO TAKE.

AGAIN, I'M NOT SHYING AWAY FROM MY RESPONSIBILITY.

I ENCOURAGE THOSE CALLS, BUT JUST LETTING FOLKS KNOW, REALLY, FOR ME, IS THAT I PHYSICALLY JUST COULDN'T GET BACK TO ALL OF THEM. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

[02:45:02]

>> SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. FIRST, THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO JOHN CHECKLEY.

I FEEL LIKE AN OLDER BROTHER UP HERE.

I'D SAY DAD, BUT, I DON'T WANT TO BE THAT OLD.

BUT ANYWAY, JUST WATCHING YOU GROW FROM WHEN YOU FIRST CAME TO THE COUNTY TO TODAY IS A PHENOMENAL FEAT AND YOUR DEDICATION TO YOUR PERSONAL GROWTH, AND THEN TO THE CITIZENS IN THE COUNTY MERCED IS COMMENDABLE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT YOU DO NEXT.

I KNOW THAT YOU'LL DO IT WITH HUMILITY, AND YOUR TALENTS FAR EXCEED, I GUESS YOUR OPINION OF YOURSELF.

ANYWAY, I'M JUST HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO VOTE FOR YOU TODAY AND SEE WHAT COMES.

DAVID MARIONI, THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING MERCED COUNTY AGAIN.

YOU'RE OUR TALENTED INDIVIDUAL AND YOU FIT WHAT WE NEEDED.

THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK. APPRECIATE IT.

RED RIBBON WEEK.

I DON'T KNOW WHEN RED RIBBON ACTUALLY CAME ABOUT, I DON'T THINK I WAS ALIVE BEFORE IT HAPPENED, BUT I KNOW I WAS.

BUT ANYWAYS, THANK YOU TO OUR HSA TEAM, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY TEAM, EVERYBODY, FOR BRINGING THAT UP.

I'LL NEVER FORGET A NIGHT WHERE MY 17-YEAR-OLD SON WANTED TO GO TO A PARTY.

WIFE AND I SAID, NO, AND HE GOT MAD.

HE'S A TEENAGER HAD HIS OWN PICKUP THAT HE HAD BOUGHT.

HE TOOK OFF, LEFT OUR HOUSE, WENT OUT ONTO THE RANCH, AND HE WAS GONE, FROM NINE O'CLOCK TILL PROBABLY MIDNIGHT.

WE DIDN'T KNOW IF HE'D WENT OUT THE BACK DRIVEWAY, AND WENT TO THE PARTY.

BUT ABOUT SIX MONTHS LATER, HE THANKED US FOR NOT LETTING HIM GO.

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE PARTIES WHERE ONE OF HIS FRIENDS TRIED DRUGS FOR THE FIRST TIME AND SPENT ABOUT THE NEXT FIVE YEARS GOING THE WRONG DIRECTION.

RED RIBBON IS IMPORTANT, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT.

ALSO, GREEN RIBBON, AS MENTAL HEALTH IS NEAR AND DEAR.

A LOT OF TIMES THE GREEN RIBBON LEADS TO THE RED RIBBON.

I DON'T WANT TO LOSE SIGHT OF THAT, AND SO THANK YOU TO OUR BEHAVIOR HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR DOING WHAT THEY DO.

ON A GOOD NOTE, THIS WEEKEND IS A SNELLING HOMECOMING SUNDAY FROM 10:00 TILL 4:00.

THERE'LL BE FUN AND GAMES FOR THE KIDS.

THERE'LL BE BINGO WITH PRIZES, AND THERE'S ALSO A CAR SHOW.

I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE CAR CLUB, MERCED VALVE BURNERS, MAYBE.

BUT BECKY AND BOB ANDERSON ARE THE CHAIRS OF THIS EVENT.

WHAT THAT CAR SHOW DOES IS BRINGS A LOT MORE PEOPLE TO BUY LUNCH AND HELP SNELLING HAVE THEIR HOMECOMING.

WE GOT A TOWN OF 300 PEOPLE.

IT GETS TO BE DIFFICULT SOMETIMES. IT'S A NEAT TRADITION.

THANK YOU TO JUAN BRAVO AND THE REST OF THE TEAM FROM PUBLIC WORKS, THERE'S A LAWN OUT THERE THAT GETS IRRIGATED BY FLOOD IRRIGATION AND OVER THE YEARS, IT'S GROWN.

THE DITCH WATER CAN'T GET ALL THE WAY ACROSS IT, AND SO THEY TOOK THE TIME AND ENERGY TO GET THE WHOLE LAWN GREEN, AND IT'LL LOOK BEAUTIFUL FOR PICTURES AND FOR THE PEOPLE TO BE ON THIS WEEKEND.

THE NICE THING ABOUT THAT, WE WON'T RUIN ANY SPRINKLERS.

ANYWAYS, THAT'S THIS SUNDAY.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU.

>> SORRY, CEO HENDRICKSON.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. JUST TWO QUICK POINTS.

AGAIN WANT TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY ON BEHALF OF ASSISTANT CEOS.

BOTH MARCI BERERA AND DAVID MARIONI.

JOHN, CONGRATULATIONS.

VERY WELL DESERVED, AND VERY EXCITED FOR BOTH YOU AND ANGELA, AS YOU TAKE THIS NEXT STEP IN YOUR LEADERSHIP OF THAT ORGANIZATION.

WELL DONE, CONGRATULATIONS.

WE ARE INCREDIBLY EXCITED.

IN THE TWO, I'D JUST LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO AGAIN, WELCOME BACK DAVID TO THE TEAM.

I FEEL VERY BLESSED TO SAY THE LEAST AS I BUILT OUT OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM TO BRING BACK TALENT TO THIS ORGANIZATION.

I WILL JUST SHARE OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT A WEEK I FELT PRETTY BAD THE FIRST SEVERAL DAYS.

I KEPT TELLING HIM, MY GOODNESS, WE LOADED YOU UP PRETTY GOOD EARLY. DAVID, WELCOME BACK.

BOTH MARCI AND I ARE INCREDIBLY EXCITED TO HAVE YOU RETURN TO MERCED COUNTY. CONGRATULATIONS.

>> AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS, JOHN.

WELCOME BACK, DAVID. A COUPLE OF QUICK THINGS.

I WANT TO ECHO WHAT MY COLLEAGUE, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SAID.

I DIDN'T WANT TO SOUND AS IF WE WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT GETTING THE CALLS, BECAUSE IT REALLY IS PART OF OUR JOB, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I APPRECIATE.

I LIKE GETTING SOPPED. I LIKE WHEN PEOPLE CALL.

I LIKE WHEN THEY ASK QUESTIONS.

IT WAS MORE ABOUT THE THE NEGATIVITY OF THE INFORMATION AND JUST THE CONTINUOUS.

BUT I'M GLAD THAT THEY FELT COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO CALL BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

[02:50:03]

A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE WERE ACCUSING US OF NOT BEING TRUTHFUL WITH THEM.

I SAID, EVERYTHING IS PUBLIC.

WHAT WE DO IS ALL PUBLIC INFORMATION.

ONCE THE AGENDA WAS POSTED, I SAID, YOU CAN GO LOOK AT THE AGENDA, YOU CAN GO WATCH THE MEETING FROM SEPTEMBER 9TH, WHICH I WANT TO COMMENT ON BECAUSE I THINK THAT IN DOING THE FIRST MEETING IN SEPTEMBER, I THINK IT REALLY PREPARED US FOR WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

I WANT TO THANK STAFF.

STAFF WAS VERY WELL PREPARED, ESPECIALLY DR. SULVAN, DAVID JOEL, EVERYBODY COMING UP HERE, OUR CEOS, FOR COMING UP, PRESENTING THE FACTS, AND BEING SPOT ON.

I GOT A TEXT SAID, IT WAS FROM A MUTUAL FRIEND SAYING KRISTEN WAS READY, AND I SAID, IS THERE EVER ANY DOUBT? I WAS GUARANTEED.

THANK YOU, GUYS. IT WAS REALLY GOOD.

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO GO TO THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY SOUPS CONFERENCE.

I WENT LAST WEEK. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE EXCELLENCE AND EDUCATION AWARDS FOR MCOE WHERE THEY HIGHLIGHT THE TEACHER AND CLASSIFIED PERSON OF THE YEAR.

SATURDAY WAS A PHENOMENAL DAY.

IT WAS THE RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY AT THE COURTHOUSE MUSEUM.

I'M INCREDIBLY HAPPY OF THAT PROJECT.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT RIGHT WHEN I GOT ON HERE, WE STARTED WORKING ON AND LINDSEY I'LL TELL YOU, STEFANI I'LL TELL YOU, I WAS ASKING THEM CONSTANTLY ABOUT THE PROJECT, AND I'M VERY HAPPY, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL THOSE WHO MADE THAT POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY SARAH LEMON, ALL THE PUBLIC WORKS PEOPLE, THE CONTRACTOR, COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

I CAN'T WAIT TILL WE PUT THE GREEN LIGHT HIGHLIGHTING VETERANS ON THERE BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO REALLY BE A BEACON.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BOUNCE OFF THAT WHITE LIKE CRAZY.

ON SUNDAY, THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE FOR HEALTH HAD A HEALTH FAIR AT THEIR OFFICE AND THE PARKING LOT THERE WAS VERY WELL ATTENDED.

THEN FINALLY, I DIDN'T DO THIS AT THE LAST MEETING, BUT I WANTED TO DO IT TODAY BEFORE I FORGOT.

FATHER JOHN FLETCH PASSED AWAY IN SEPTEMBER 11TH.

FATHER JOHN WAS ONE OF MY PASTORS HERE AT ST. PATRICK'S IN MERCED SINCE [INAUDIBLE] BEEN A PRE SINCE 1991.

MOST OF US KNOW HIS FAMILY, WHO FLUETSCH & BUSBY INSURANCE.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIM AND ADJOURN IN HIS MEMORY.

WITH THAT, OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING WILL BE OCTOBER 21ST.

[POSSIBLE DIRECTION FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]