[00:00:03] >> GOOD MORNING. AND WELCOME TO THE NOVEMBER 4TH, [CALL TO ORDER] 2025, MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. >> YOUR CLOSED SESSION THIS MORNING IS THE FOLLOWING. [CLOSED SESSION] IT IS THE INTENTION OF THE BOARD TO MEET IN CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957.6 CONCERNING A MEET AND CONFER WITH THE AGENCY NEGOTIATOR, MERCY BARRERA, ALSO REGARDING EXISTING LITIGATION FOR THE FOLLOWING CASES: TONY BORBA ET AL VERSUS COUNTY OF MERCED ET AL, SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF MERCED, CASE NUMBER 23CV-04368 MARIA PEREZ RAMIREZ ET AL VERSUS COUNTY OF MERCED, ET AL SUPERIOR COURT, COUNTY OF MERCED, CASE NUMBER 24, CV-00234, COURTNEY GLENN ET AL VERSUS COUNTY OF MERCED ET AL, SUPERIOR COURT, COUNTY OF MERCED, CASE NUMBER 24CV-01073 AND COUNTY OF MERCED VERSUS CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE, ALSO SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF MERCED, CASE NUMBER 24CV-00355, AND FINALLY, REGARDING SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE TO LITIGATION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54,956.9D2 FOR CASES. 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. >> THANK YOU. 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. WELCOME BACK TO THE NOVEMBER 4TH, [10:00 A.M. REGULAR MEETING] 2025, MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. THIS MORNING, WE HAD A CLOSED SESSION MEETING AND STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION. WE WILL NOW START WITH THE INVOCATION LED BY REVEREND ROBERT MORRIS, FOUNDING SENIOR PASTOR OF VALLEY HARVEST CHURCH, AND MERCED, AND THEN I WILL LEAD THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> THANK YOU. A RETIRED COUNTY EMPLOYEE, ALSO. I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER THE INVOCATION THIS MORNING. I'D LIKE TO GO TO OUR INVOCATION, SCRIPTURE, PASSAGE, FOUND IN THE BOOK OF MICAH, CHAPTER 6, VERSE 8. HE HAS SHOWN YOU, OLD MAN, WHAT IS GOOD AND WHAT DOES THE LORD REQUIRE OF YOU BUT TO DO JUSTLY, TO LOVE, MERCY, AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD. GRACIOUS HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY, FOR THIS BOARD MEETING, YOUR PRESENCE, AND YOUR ANOINTING. I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD GUIDE THE ELECTED PUBLIC SERVANTS, GIVE UNTO THEM WISDOM. GIVE UNTO THEM COMPASSION AS THEY DISCUSS AND DECIDE THE VARIOUS ISSUES THAT WOULD COME BEFORE THEM, AND WE PRAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN MERCED COUNTY. WE PRAY ALL OF THIS IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, AMEN. >> PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE. >> >> IT IS NOW [PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK] TIME FOR PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST WITHIN THE BOARD'S JURISDICTION, EXCLUDING ITEMS ON THE BOARD'S AGENDA. TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON AND 30 MINUTES TOTAL. >> AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS IS FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS ONLY. GO AHEAD. THAT'S FINE. >> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS MIKE ACHLED, AND I SPEAK TODAY AS A LONGTIME MERCED COUNTY RESIDENT, A FORMER MEMBER OF THE BHRS ADVISORY BOARD, AND THE FOUNDER OF THE REBUILDING LIVES INITIATIVE. I WANT TO BEGIN ON A NOTE OF RESPECT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND BEHAVIOR HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES CARRY ENORMOUS RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS COUNTY, AND I KNOW MANY OF YOU CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE PEOPLE YOU SERVE. I'VE SPENT YEARS VOLUNTEERING, ADVOCATING, AND BUILDING PROGRAMS TO MAKE THAT WORK STRONGER. [00:05:01] MY GOAL TODAY IS NOT CONFRONTATION, IT'S REPAIR AND COOPERATION. THAT SAID, I NEED TO BE CANDID. WHEN COUNTY COUNCIL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP STAY SILENT IN THE FACE OF LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE PRUDENCE. IT LOOKS LIKE AVOIDANCE. I'M NOT HERE TO SUE YOU. I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO FIX WHAT'S BROKEN AND TO FIX IT IN THE OPEN. WHEN I SERVED ON THE BHRS ADVISORY BOARD, WE WERE OFTEN EXPECTED TO RUBBER-STAMP PROPOSALS RATHER THAN EVALUATE THEM. WE TRUSTED THE PROCESS, BUT WE WERE DISCOURAGED FROM ASKING HARD QUESTIONS. I RAISED SPECIFIC CONCERNS ABOUT GRANTS AWARDED TO ORGANIZATIONS BASED OUTSIDE MERCED COUNTY, WHILE LOCAL TEAMS, MINE INCLUDED, WERE DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE. THOSE CONCERNS WERE DISMISSED WITHOUT DIALOGUE. THAT PATTERN CONTINUES TODAY, DECISIONS MADE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, FUNDING DIRECTLY TO VISIBILITY CAMPAIGNS RATHER THAN SUSTAINABLE SERVICES, AND UNDERPAID FRONTLINE WORKER CYCLING IN AND OUT. IT'S A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM THAT WASTES RESOURCES AND UNDERMINES TRUST IN BOTH PUBLIC HEALTH AND HRS. HERE'S WHAT I'M ASKING FOR. A WRITTEN EXPLANATION OF HOW PHRS AND PUBLIC HEALTH DETERMINE GEOGRAPHIC ELIGIBILITY AND ADVISORY REVIEW OF COMMUNITY GRANTS. A MEETING WITHIN 21 DAYS BETWEEN COUNTY COUNCIL OF BHRS LEADERSHIP, PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERSHIP, AND MYSELF TO DISCUSS A TRANSPARENT, INCLUSIVE PROCESS FOR LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS, A PUBLIC COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY, PUBLIC SCORING CRITERIA, CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURES, AND AN APPEAL PATH FOR COMMUNITY BASED FUNDING DECISIONS. I AM ALSO INTRODUCING THE REBUILDING LIVES INITIATIVE, A LOCALLY DEVELOPED PILOT NOW UNDER FISCAL SPONSORSHIP WITH PRIVATE PARTNERS READY TO EXPAND IT COUNTY-WIDE. IT HAS ALREADY DEMONSTRATED SUCCESS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NEIGHBORING YOSEMITE COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT. I'M ASKING THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND BHRS ENGAGE WITH ME AS A PARTNER, NOT AS AN OUTSIDER. MERCED COUNTY CAN MODEL WHAT ACCOUNTABLE EVIDENCE-BASED LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE. PULL THE TEETH BACK, COUNCIL. THIS ISN'T ABOUT THREAT, IT'S ABOUT INTEGRITY. LET'S FIX IT TOGETHER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF MERCED COUNTY. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. KENA BURGOONEA HERE FOR THE FRIENDS OF THE MERCED COUNTY LIBRARY TO SHARE HAPPY NEWS ABOUT RECENT LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS THAT THE FRIENDS ACTIVELY SUPPORT, AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO SHARE SOME SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES. FIRST, THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM. THIS SUMMER, CHILDREN, TEENS, AND ADULTS FROM EVERY BRANCH AND THE BOOKMOBILE PARTICIPATED IN READING BOOKS AND ATTENDING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES. BETWEEN THE LEVEL-UP AT THE MERCED COUNTY LIBRARY READING CHALLENGE AND MORE THAN 1050 EVENTS AND PROGRAMS, WE HAD OVER 13,600 RESIDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED. MORE IMPORTANTLY, 25,345 BOOKS WERE READ, AND 2,246 NEW LIBRARY CARDS ISSUED JUST DURING THE SUMMER READING PERIOD OF JUNE 1ST TO AUGUST 31ST. MORE HAPPY NEWS, THE 1,000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM. THIS LIBRARY PROGRAM, FUNDED BY THE FERENS, ENCOURAGES FAMILIES TO START TO ENHANCE THEIR CHILDREN'S BRAIN POWER BY READING THEM 1,000 BOOKS BEFORE THEY ENTER KINDERGARTEN. THIS PROGRAM THAT HELPS FAMILIES DOCUMENT THEIR PROGRESS TOWARDS 1,000 BOOKS, CELEBRATES MILESTONES THEY REACH ALONG THE WAY, AND HOSTS A GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR EACH OF THE GRADUATES. PRETTY EXCITING THEN THAT ON AUGUST THE 6TH, OVER 80 PEOPLE GATHERED TO HONOR 23 PROGRAM GRADUATES, REPRESENTING FIVE BRANCHES OF THE MERCED COUNTY LIBRARY ATWATER, DEL HIGH, CASTINE, LAS PANOS, AND MERCED. WE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A BIG SHOUT-OUT TO BOARD CHAIR JOSH PEDROSO AND COUNTY LIBRARIAN AMY TAYLOR, AS WELL AS TO GRAY AND SORIA REPRESENTATIVES WHO HANDED OUT CERTIFICATES, DIPLOMAS, AND A NEW BOOK FOR EACH GRADUATE. IT WAS A WONDERFUL EVENT AND GOES A LONG WAY TOWARD IMPROVING LITERACY IN MERCED COUNTY. LAST, AT LEAST FOR TODAY, THE THIRD-GRADE LIBRARY CARD PROGRAM. COOPERATING WITH THE LIBRARY STAFF AND MERCED CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE FRIENDS OF THE MERCED COUNTY LIBRARY HELD OUR FIFTH ANNUAL LIBRARY CARD DRIVE FOR ALL MERCED CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT THIRD GRADERS. THIS YEAR, THE FRIENDS PAID ALL FINES AND FEES THAT HAD PREVENTED SOME STUDENTS FROM RECEIVING NEW LIBRARY CARDS IN THE PAST. THIS YEAR, PAUL, 631 THIRD GRADERS RECEIVED NEW LIBRARY CARDS. [00:10:05] THESE SUCCESSES, AND BELIEVE ME, THERE ARE MORE. ILLUSTRATE HOW EACH YEAR THE MERCED COUNTY LIBRARY HELPS IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF MERCED COUNTY RESIDENTS. PLEASE ASK THE LIBRARY STAFF FOR EVEN MORE POSITIVE INFORMATION ABOUT SUMMER PARTICIPATION. WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT NONE OF OUR ACTIVITIES WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE UNFAILING COOPERATION, SUPPORT, AND ENCOURAGEMENT FROM OUR AMAZING LIBRARY STAFF, AND THE SAME GOES TO EACH OF YOU FOR THAT SUPPORT. THANK YOU AGAIN. THERE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT [INAUDIBLE]. >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, BOARD MEMBERS, CEO HENDRICKSON, AND COUNTY STAFF. MY NAME IS MARCO ARIANO WITH TREE HOUSE TUTORING, WE'RE AN EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT SERVES STUDENTS ALL AROUND MERCED COUNTY AND THIS TIME OF YEAR IS VERY BUSY FOR US, BECAUSE, AS I'M SURE MANY OF YOU KNOW, IT'S COLLEGE APPLICATION SEASON. THIS TIME IS VERY STRESSFUL FOR MANY LOCAL MERCED STUDENTS. SOME STUDENTS KNOW WHERE THEY WANT TO GO, BUT DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET THERE. OTHER STUDENTS ARE SO OVERWHELMED, THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START, AND OTHERS YET HAVE A GOOD GRASP ON WHAT THEY NEED TO DO, BUT JUST NEED A HELPING HAND TO GET ACROSS THE FINISH LINE. THAT'S WHERE WE COME IN. WE'VE MET WITH STUDENTS, ANALYZED THEIR PAIN POINTS, AND I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT THIS WILL BE OUR THIRD YEAR OFFERING OUR COLLEGE APPLICATION NAVIGATION WORKSHOPS. THESE WORKSHOPS ARE DESIGNED FOR FAMILIES AND STUDENTS TO COME IN AND GET ALL THEIR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COLLEGE PROCESS ANSWERED. THERE ARE A BREADTH OF RESOURCES FOR COLLEGE-GOING IN MERCED, BUT ONE THING THAT WE OFFER SPECIFICALLY THAT OTHERS DON'T IS WE OFFER HOLISTIC ESSAY SUPPORT FOR ALL STUDENTS COMPLETELY FREE. MANY STUDENTS ARE VERY, VERY STRESSED ABOUT THE UCPIQS AND OTHER SCHOLARSHIP ESSAYS, AND WE GIVE FREE ASSISTANCE FOR ALL OF THOSE AT THESE WORKSHOPS. THIS YEAR, WE WANTED TO SCALE UP. OUR FIRST TWO YEARS WERE MASSIVE SUCCESSES, HELPING DOZENS OF STUDENTS GO TO GREAT SCHOOLS ALL THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA AND BACK EAST, AND THIS YEAR, WE ARE PARTNERING WITH CI FOR CI AND MUHSD TO BE ABLE TO OFFER ON-SITE AT THE HIGH SCHOOLS TO INCREASE STUDENT ACCESSIBILITY AND EQUITY. OUR FIRST SESSION IS GOING TO BE NOVEMBER 15TH FROM 12:00 PM TO 5:00 PM AT ATWATER HIGH SCHOOL IN THE LIBRARY, AND OUR SECOND IS GOING TO BE NOVEMBER 22ND, 12:00 PM TO 5:00 PM AT MERCED HIGH SCHOOL IN THE LIBRARY. IN ADDITION, WE'LL HAVE JC STAFF ON SITE FOR ANY QUESTIONS AT ALL ABOUT THE TWO-YEAR TO FOUR-YEAR PIPELINE, OR FOR ANY STUDENTS WHO REALIZE THAT THE FOUR-YEAR PROGRAM MIGHT NOT BE FOR THEM AND WANT INFORMATION ABOUT TRADE SCHOOLS AND CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE FOUR-YEAR SYSTEM IS NOT FOR EVERY STUDENT, BUT WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY SINGLE STUDENT IS EQUIPPED FOR LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. FINALLY, EVERY STUDENT WHO ATTENDS AND PARTICIPATES WILL BE ENTERED INTO A RAFFLE TO WIN COLLEGE APPLICATION FEE STIPENDS AND COLLEGE GEAR TO THE SCHOOL THEIR CHOICE, WHICH WILL GIVE THEM IN THE SPRING WHEN THEY MAKE THEIR COLLEGE DECISIONS. WE WOULD LOVE YOUR ASSISTANCE IN GETTING THIS INFORMATION OUT TO THE COMMUNITY. IT IS COMPLETELY FREE, AND WE WANT TO HELP AS MANY STUDENTS AS POSSIBLE. I HAVE SOME FLIERS HERE, AND FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME IF YOU WANT THE DIGITAL ONE TO PUSH OUT THROUGH YOUR COMMUNICATION CHANNELS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS SUE IMANIVOG, AND THIS IS CHRIS BONOSI. WE LOOK AT THE FOUNDING FAMILIES THAT HAVE A NONPROFIT CALLED VOLTER LAW FOUNDATION, OR VLF FOR SHORT. WE LOVE TO SHOWCASE OUR CULTURE AND THE ARTS, AND HERITAGE WITH THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY. SOME OF THE EVENTS WE DO ARE LOU NEW YEAR C CELEBRATION IN DOWNTOWN MERCED. WE DO THE CULTURE CAMP AT THE MAC ONCE A WEEK IN THE SUMMERTIME. AND THE MAIN ONE THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT TODAY IS OUR LOU BOAT RACING FESTIVAL, WHICH JUST HAPPENED IN SEPTEMBER. IT ALL CAME ABOUT ABOUT 2.5 YEARS AGO. OUR GROUP JUST HAD AN IDEA SAYING, HEY, WHY DON'T WE DO A BOAT RACING FESTIVAL AT THE LAKE. I RAN INTO BOARD CHAIR JOSH PEDROSO, AND I WAS LIKE, HEY, I HAVE AN IDEA. WHY DON'T WE DO SOMETHING? I ASKED FOR A MEETING, AND WE HAD A MEETING WITH ALL PARTIES. MR. PEDROSO WAS THERE. MR. HENDRICKSON WAS THERE. WE HAD PARKS AND REX THERE, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. WE HAD A WHOLE TEAM OF PEOPLE FROM THE COUNTY THAT WANTED TO SEE THIS COME FORTH AND BE SUCCESSFUL. WE MET EVERY TWO MONTHS. THEN WHEN IT CAME CLOSER TO THE EVENT, WE MET EVERY MONTH. THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE DID THIS EVENT AT THE LAKE, WE HAD CLOSE TO 4,000 ATTENDEES AT THE LAKE. THE SECOND YEAR THAT WE DID THIS EVENT, WHICH WAS THIS PAST SEPTEMBER, WE HAD CLOSE TO 6,000 PEOPLE AT THE EVENT, PROBABLY THE LARGEST EVENT THAT'S EVER BEEN HELD AT THE LAKE. FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE HOTELS ARE BOOKED, AIRBNB'S ARE BOOKED, GROCERY STORES, THE REVENUE INCREASE. IT WAS JUST AN AMAZING EVENT, AND THERE WAS NO ISSUES OR NO PROBLEMS. [00:15:03] MY THING IS WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN THOUGH WE ARE A SMALL TOWN OF MERCED, THIS LOU BOAT RACING FESTIVAL IS SIGNIFICANT THROUGHOUT THE NATION AND GLOBALLY. MERCED HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS HAVING ONE OF THE BIGGEST EVENTS HERE IN MERCED, AND I WANT TO SEE IT CONTINUE. I WANT TO SEE US CONTINUE THIS, AND I WANT TO DO IT WITH OUR MERCED COUNTY STAFF. THIS IS WHAT I AM PLEADING, AND I WANT THIS TO HAPPEN. WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING MIGHT BE SMALL AND MERCED, WE DON'T THINK IT'S BIG, IT'S HUGE. PEOPLE CAME IN FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES JUST TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT. I JUST WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK YOU ALL AND THE COUNTY FOR THE SUPPORT THAT YOU GUYS HAVE GIVEN US AND OUR FOUNDATION. I WOULD LOVE TO PARTNER UP AGAIN WITH MANY THINGS IN THE FUTURE. THIS IS JUST MY OPPORTUNITY TO SAY. THANK YOU, AND WE DO APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU GUYS DO FOR US. >> THANK YOU. JUST REAL QUICK. THAT'S A MESSAGE THAT IF SUE EVER SAYS, HEY, I HAVE A GREAT IDEA RUN THE OTHER WAY. JUST KIDDING. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS DARYL SURF. I'M WITH THE MERCED SUNRISE ROTARY, AND WE ARE PLANNING AND PREPARING FOR A 13TH ANNUAL MERCED FIELD OF HONOR. WE'RE LUCKY ENOUGH AND BLESSED ENOUGH TO HAVE THE CO-SPONSOR WITH THE MERCED COMMUNITY COLLEGE. I'M SURE YOU'VE BEEN OUT THERE IN THE PAST. SOME OF YOU HAVE ACTUALLY SPOKEN AT OUR OPENING OR CLOSING CEREMONIES IN THE PAST. WE APPRECIATE THAT. IT'LL BEGIN THIS FRIDAY. WE'LL BE SETTING UP. SATURDAY IS PUBLIC CHANCE TO COME OUT AND BRING THEIR FLAGS BACK. THE CLUB HAS ABOUT 1,100 FLAGS, AND WE'RE TRYING TO FLY OVER 2000 FLAGS, WHICH MEANS WE NEED THE COMMUNITY TO BRING BACK 01,000 OF THEIR FLAGS THAT THEY'RE STORING AT THEIR HOUSE. THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN AMAZING AT RESPONDING. LAST NIGHT, I SPOKE AT ANOTHER MEETING, AND WE WERE JUST AT 550. WE JUST WENT OVER 650 SO 100 FLAGS BETWEEN NOT EVEN A 24 HOUR PERIOD. RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITY OUT THERE, NOT OUT THERE ON THE INTERNET, PEOPLE PURCHASING AND REFLYING THEIR FLAGS. THEN SUNDAY, WE HAVE OUR IN ADDITION TO OUR OPENING CEREMONY FOR THE FIELD OF HONOR, WHICH WILL BE AT TWO O'CLOCK. IT'S A GREAT EVENT. WE'LL HAVE THE MERCED MARCH 100 OUT THERE. THEY'LL PLAY SOME MUSIC. WE HAVE THE MERCED CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS, WHATEVER THEY CALL IT, THE HOLIDAY CHOIR WITH JENNY SAMUELSON. THEY'LL BE OUT THERE SINGING. BUT THAT MORNING, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, A FEW YEARS AGO, WE TOOK ON THE RUN FOR THE FALLEN. IN ADDITION TO EVERYTHING WE DO FOR THE FIELD OF HONOR, WE ALSO HAVE THE RUN FOR THE FALLEN. THAT CEREMONY BEGINS AT 8:45. THE RUN BEGINS AT 9:00. WE CURRENTLY HAVE TEN LOCAL MEMBERS WHO ARE RECOGNIZED, WHO ARE HONORED THROUGHOUT THAT RUN FOR THE FALLEN. IT IS EITHER A 5K OR 10K RUN, AND IT IS FREE TO ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO PARTICIPATE, RUN, WALK, OR WHATEVER. >> THEN THE NEXT EVENT THAT WE'LL HAVE IS FOLLOWING THURSDAY, WHICH IS THE 13TH. WE HAVE A FLAG RETIREMENT CEREMONY. THE SCOUTS COME OUT. THEY DO AN AMAZING JOB. IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN A FLAG RETIREMENT CEREMONY, IT'S A VERY HISTORICAL ABOUT THE COUNTRY, AS WELL AS THE FLAG, AND THEY DO A REALLY GOOD JOB. THEY HAVE FOUR DIFFERENT CEREMONIES, IF YOU WILL, WITHIN THAT PROBABLY HALF AN HOUR SEGMENT THAT THEY DO, STARTS AT 6:00 P.M. THEN WE HAVE THE CLOSING CEREMONY THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY, WHICH IS THE 15TH, AGAIN, AT 2:00, AND THEN THE FLAGS START GOING HOME. I DO WANT TO ALSO MENTION THAT WE HAVE THE SAME PRESENTING SPONSORS. AS YOU DRIVE ALONG YOSEMITE AVENUE, YOU SEE A LOT OF OUR SPONSORS. THE COMMUNITY HAS REALLY STEPPED UP TO SUPPORT THIS EVENT, AND THE JOSEPH GALLO FARMS AND THE PETER J GALLO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION, HAVE ONCE AGAIN, STEPPED UP TO BE OUR PRESENTING SPONSORS. FINALLY, WE DO HAVE THE WEBSITE MERCEDFIELDOFFHONOR.ORG. IF YOU GO ON THERE, YOU CAN GET TO THE MERCED SUNRISE PAGE, AND THERE'S A CHANCE TO APPLY FOR GRANTS THROUGH OUR CLUB SPECIFICALLY FOR EITHER ACTIVITIES VETERANS OR FIRST RESPONDERS. WE DO HAVE MONEY AVAILABLE. ALL THE MONEY THAT'S RAISED WILL GO BACK INTO [INAUDIBLE]. I'LL LEAVE SOME SCHEDULES OF EVENTS HERE FOR YOU GUYS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> SUPERVISOR DANIEL HAS A QUESTION, I THINK, FOR YOU? >> DARRYL, I JUST HAVE A REAL QUICK QUESTION. YOU ARE ASKING FOR MORE FLAGS TO COME IN WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED BEFORE. IS THERE ROOM FOR NEW FLAGS AND IS THERE A PROCESS FOR MORE FOLKS TO GET FLAGS IN HONOR OF VETERANS THAT THEY KNOW? >> ABSOLUTELY. AGAIN, THE MERCEDFIELDOFFHONOR.ORG, YOU CAN GO ON THERE, YOU CAN EITHER PURCHASE A NEW FLAG. THOSE ARE $35. LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE ABOUT 01,000 MAYBE A LITTLE BIT LESS NOW BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PURCHASED, BUT WE HAVE ABOUT 1,000 FLAGS THAT WE'RE SELLING BUT THE REST OF THEM ARE ALREADY IN THE COMMUNITY. THEY PURCHASED SOME OVER THE PREVIOUS YEARS. THEY HAVE TO BE COLONIAL FLAG, SO THEY CAN'T JUST BE ANY US FLAG, BUT ANYWAY, THEN ONCE THEY DO THAT, THEY PAY $10 TO REFLY IT. SO, YES, THERE IS STILL THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BUY A NEW FLAG [00:20:03] FOR A LOVED OWNER OR FAMILY MEMBERS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> GOOD MORNING. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER BEEN HERE. I GOT A QUESTION. OVER 20 YEARS AGO, I FILLED OUT PAPERWORK, GAVE THE PEOPLE THE MONEY OVER HERE, WHICH CHANGED. I'VE GOT MY SON AND MY WIFE BURIED ON MY PROPERTY. I WANT TO KNOW WHY I STILL PAY TAXES. OVER IN CALIFORNIA, THEY GET THE SAME PAPERWORK. THEY GET TO BURY THEIR PEOPLE ON THE PROPERTY. >> WE CAN'T ANSWER FROM HERE, BUT SOMEBODY WILL REACH OUT AND GET YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION AND BE ABLE TO [OVERLAPPING]. >> EVERYBODY IN THIS WHOLE BUILDING UP HERE AND NOBODY KNOWS NOTHING 20 YEARS AGO. I DON'T EVEN KNOW ANYBODY THAT'S THERE ANYMORE. I USED TO KNOW MOST ALL THE SHERIFFS, EVERYBODY THAT WORKED HERE IN THE CITY BECAUSE I HAD BUSINESS. IT'S JUST I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THE PAPERWORK AND MY MONEY THAT I FILLED OUT. >> SIR, I'M I'M GOING TO GUIDE YOU TO DAYA IN THE BACK. ON YOUR WAY OUT, LEAVE HER WITH YOUR INFORMATION, AND WE'LL GET SOMEBODY WORKING ON IT. >> WHEN WILL I EXPECT TO HEAR FROM YOU? TWO, THREE YEARS FROM NOW, SIR, I'M STILL PAYING TAXES? >> NO, WE'LL GET ON IT, SIR. >> WELL, HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND. >> GOOD MORNING, BOARD, CEO, COUNTY COUNSEL. MY NAME IS NICOLE SILVERA. I'M THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY HERE IN MERCED COUNTY. I KNOW THAT THE BOARD HAS MADE EXPANDING VICTIM SERVICES A PRIORITY IN THIS LAST YEAR, SO I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING UPCOMING. THIS NEXT WEEK AT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH AT 6:00 P.M WE WILL BE HOSTING A GUIDE TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THIS SEMINAR IS GEARED TOWARDS VICTIMS SO THEY CAN UNDERSTAND THEIR RIGHTS GOING THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS. WE'LL BE EXPLAINING EVERYTHING THAT APPLIES TO THEM FROM ARREST ALL THE WAY THROUGH A JURY TRIAL SO THAT THEY CAN KNOW THAT THEIR VOICE MATTERS TOO AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HELP THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS. I'M GOING TO LEAVE SOME FLYERS HERE FOR YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR SPREADING THE WORD. >> THANK YOU. GO AHEAD. >> GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN PEDROSO, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, CEO HENDRICKSON, COUNSEL, STAFF, AND CITIZENS OF MERCED COUNTY. MY NAME IS AGGIE FREEMAN. I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING AS ASSISTANT GOVERNOR FOR ROTARY DISTRICT 5220, REPRESENTING 50 NEIGHBORHOOD CLUBS IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY AND OVER 1,400 ROTARIANS. I'M HERE TODAY WITH A MESSAGE THAT LIES AT THE VERY HEART OF ROTARY'S MISSION. ROTARIANS ARE PEOPLE OF ACTION. WITH THE TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF FEDERAL SNAP BENEFITS DURING THE US GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, FAMILIES WHO RELY ON THOSE BENEFITS TO FEED THEIR CHILDREN ARE STRUGGLING, AND LOCAL FOOD BANKS ARE WORKING TIRELESSLY TO FILL THE GAP. ACROSS MERCED COUNTY, FROM PLANADA TO LOS BANOS, FROM ATWATER TO SOUTH MERCED, OUR LOCAL FOOD BANKS SERVE RECORD NUMBERS OF FAMILIES. NEIGHBORS, WE KNOW, WORKING PARENTS, VETERANS, AND SENIORS ARE FACING FOOD INSECURITY AND ARE TURNING TO OUR COMMUNITY FOOD BANKS FOR HELP. UNDER THIS YEAR'S ROTARY THEME, UNITE FOR GOOD, WE ARE CALLING ON EVERY ROTARIAN AND EVERY CITIZEN OF MERCED COUNTY TO DONATE IN KIND OR IN CASH TO OUR LOCAL FOOD BANKS OR DONATE AT THEIR LOCAL FIRST RESPONDER STATIONS, WHETHER IT'S ONE CAN OF SOUP, ONE BAG OF RICE, CASE OF BOTTLED WATER, OR A MONETARY DONATION, EVERY CONTRIBUTION COUNTS. WE ENCOURAGE OUR RESIDENTS TO DROP OFF FOOD DONATIONS AT THE LOCAL FIRE STATIONS, POLICE DEPARTMENTS, AND COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT SERVE AS COLLECTION POINTS. ROTARY STANDS READY TO PARTNER WITH MERCED COUNTY, OUR NON-PROFITS, AND OUR PUBLIC SAFETY TEAMS. TOGETHER WE WILL TRANSFORM COMPASSION INTO ACTION. TOGETHER WE WILL UNITE FOR GOOD. ON BEHALF OF THE ROTARIANS OF ROTARY DISTRICT 5220, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP, YOUR PARTNERSHIP, AND YOUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. LET'S KEEP BUILDING IN MERCED COUNTY WHERE COMPASSION, KINDNESS, SERVICE, AND GENEROSITY ARE ACTIONS, NOT WORDS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY DIRECTOR, [PRESENTATION] [00:25:03] JOHN CHECKLEY, TO THE PODIUM TO PROVIDE US WITH AN UPDATE ON CALFRESH. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR PETROZO. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISOR, JOHN CHECKLEY, DIRECTOR OF THE MERCED COUNTY HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY, AS STATED WITH AN UPDATE ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND THE IMPACTS TO THAT PROGRAM LOCALLY KNOWN HERE IN CALIFORNIA AS CALFRESH DUE TO THE ONGOING GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. SNAP FOR CALFRESH DISRUPTION, REALLY, OCTOBER 20TH WAS WHEN THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES STARTED RELEASING GUIDANCE ON WHAT THE SHUTDOWN AND THAT IMPACT ON NOVEMBER BENEFITS. PART OF THAT GUIDANCE WAS EFFECTIVE ON OCTOBER 23RD, THERE WOULD BE A DELAY, AND THEN EVERY DAY THEREAFTER, A SUBSEQUENT DELAY TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF CALFRESH BENEFITS. HSA OBVIOUSLY IMMEDIATELY STARTED PLANNING FOR THAT. THAT INCLUDED HAVING A POLICY GROUP MEETING THE WEEK OF THE 20TH, DISCUSSING WHETHER WE NEEDED A BROADER RESPONSE, WHAT OUR LOCAL RESPONSE WAS GOING TO BE THE RESOURCES WE HAD ON HAND AS NOT ONLY A COUNTY, BUT A COMMUNITY TO SOMEWHAT MITIGATE WHAT WE KNEW WOULD BE AN IMPACT TO QUITE A FEW RESIDENTS. ON OCTOBER 27TH, THAT RESULTED THROUGH POLICY MEETINGS IN THE DEPARTMENT OPERATION CENTER IN COORDINATION WITH OUR OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES ACTUALLY ACTIVATING TO RESPOND TO THIS DISRUPTION. HERE'S A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES DID AND THE INFORMATION THAT WAS BEING PUT OUT. THERE WOULD BE NO EMERGENCY DECLARED THROUGH THE STATE. THERE WOULD BE NO FEMA REIMBURSEMENT ANTICIPATED, AND THE ACTUAL BENEFIT IS A FEDERAL BENEFIT THROUGH AN ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM, SO THERE'D BE NO REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY BACK FILLING OR ANY CONVERSATIONS AROUND WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF FUNDING HERE, A LITTLE OVER $11 MILLION MONTHLY WITHIN MERCED COUNTY ALONE. ON OCTOBER 23RD, AND THERE'S STILL A LOT OF INFORMATION FORTHCOMING HERE, THERE WERE TWO FEDERAL JUDGES WHO RELEASED DECISIONS IN REGARDS TO THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AND THE CALFRESH BENEFIT ITSELF. WE'RE STILL WAITING ON INFORMATION ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. LITERALLY, IT'S COMING IN DAILY, WE DON'T WANT TO PUT ANY INFORMATION OBVIOUSLY, UNTIL THAT INFORMATION IS 100% CERTAIN. WE DON'T WANT THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE ANY UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS. THAT GUIDANCE IS GOING TO COME FROM THE FEDERAL AND STATE PARTNERS. LOCALLY, WE'RE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT THE INFORMATION WE PUT OUT AND WHEN WE DO PUT IT OUT. SOME INFORMATION THAT WE'RE ALREADY SEEING ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR OTHER NETWORKS ARE THE ADDITIONAL IMPACTS ON SAFETY NETWORKS. WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE AT THIS POINT THAT IT IS JUST THE CALFRESH BENEFIT THAT'S BEEN DISRUPTED. WE'RE VERY MINDFUL THAT AS THIS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN EXTENDS, OTHER SAFETY NET PROGRAMS SUCH AS COWWORKS OR IN HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, OUR FOSTER CARE AGE TO ADOPTION ON LONGER TIMELINES COULD BE IMPACTED. THOSE FOUR PROGRAMS SPECIFICALLY, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY WILL HAVE FUNDING THROUGH AT LEAST DECEMBER. AGAIN, WE'RE TRYING TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT WHAT THAT INFORMATION LOOKS LIKE, BUT AT THIS POINT, THEY ARE STILL FUNDED FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER. WHAT ARE THE DEMOGRAPHICS? FOR CALFRESH, APPROXIMATELY 32,000 HOUSEHOLDS IN MERCED COUNTY RECEIVE SOME TYPE OF SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PAYMENT. THOSE HOUSEHOLDS ARE COMPOSITION OF OVER 67,000 INDIVIDUALS. THEN FURTHER BREAKING THAT NUMBER DOWN, 26,000 OF THOSE RECIPIENTS ARE CHILDREN 0-18, AND 9,500 ARE RECIPIENTS AGED 60 AND OVER. A BROAD COMMUNITY IMPACT. LITERALLY EVERY COMMUNITY WITHIN OUR COUNTY HAS SOMEBODY RECEIVING CALFRESH BENEFITS, THAT'S AS HIGH AS IN THE CITY OF MERCEDES 31,000, AND THEN GRADUALLY GOES DOWN FROM THERE. I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT AS WELL TO POINT OUT THAT MANY OF THE FAMILIES WHO ARE RECEIVING THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION AND CALFRESH BENEFIT HERE IN CALIFORNIA ARE WORKING FAMILIES. ACCORDING TO THE US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, ONE THIRD OF TOTAL SNAP RECIPIENT HOUSEHOLDS, AND THAT'S ENCOMPASSING THE WHOLE COUNTRY. THIS IS A NATIONWIDE DISRUPTION, HAVE EARNED INCOME. IN CALIFORNIA, APPROXIMATELY TWO IN FIVE HOUSEHOLDS HAVE AN EMPLOYED MEMBER, AND IN MERCED COUNTY, OVER 19,000 CALFRESH HOUSEHOLDS HAVE INCOME. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. [00:30:01] THAT'S APPROXIMATELY 60%. WHAT WE DON'T HAVE IS DETAILED ON WHAT THAT INCOME IS. IT COULD BE RETIREMENT INCOME. IT COULD BE A WIDOW'S PENSION FOR A VETERAN, BUT 60% HAVE SOME TYPE OF INCOME, INCLUDING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE. WE'RE UNABLE TO BREAK THAT DOWN, BUT WE WANTED TO SHOW A LITTLE BROADER CONTEXT ON THE DEMOGRAPHICS HERE IN MERCED COUNTY. THERE'S AN ECONOMIC IMPACT HERE. $11.7 MILLION IN MONTHLY BENEFITS, AVERAGING ABOUT $316 PER HOUSEHOLD, ENTIRELY FUNDED THROUGH FEDERAL DOLLARS IN THIS ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM. THEN SOME ECONOMIC, FOR EVERY DOLLAR SPENT, THERE'S A RETURN ON THAT OF APPROXIMATELY $1.54 TO $1.79, AND THEN NEARLY 300 VENDORS IN MERCED COUNTY ACCEPT SNAP BENEFITS. ALL THE PREVIOUS SLIDES WERE THE FACTS OF WHAT'S GOING ON. THE IMPORTANT THING FOR US AS A DEPARTMENT WAS, HOW DID WE RESPOND TO THIS? WE KNEW THERE WAS GOING TO BE A DISRUPTION. WE KNEW IT PROBABLY EXCEEDED THE SCALE OF US AS A DEPARTMENT TO REALLY RESPOND TO IN WHAT WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE MANNER. WHAT DO WE DO? WE LOOKED OUT FOR COLLABORATIONS. WE MET OBVIOUSLY WITH OUR POLICY TEAM HERE, WHICH INCLUDED EVERY DEPARTMENT HEAD. EVEN THE REGISTRAR OF VOTERS AT, ONE POINT, REACHED OUT TO ME, AND HE'S, JOHN, IF WE CAN HELP, DESPITE TODAY BE AN ELECTION DAY, IF I CAN HELP YOU, IF MY DEPARTMENT CAN HELP YOU WITH AN OUTREACH TRAILER, WHATEVER IT IS, EVERY DEPARTMENT HERE HAD SOME TYPE OF RESOURCE AS WE LOOKED AT THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO PROVIDE. WE REACHED OUT TO OUR LOCAL FOOD BANK AND LEARNED SOME THINGS. THROUGH THEIR FOOD PANTRIES, WHICH THEY HAVE DOZENS OF FOOD PANTRIES SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, THEY WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGH THEIR FOOD DONATION PROGRAMS TO RESPOND TO A CALFRESH DISRUPTION, AND AT LEAST HELP TO MITIGATE THOSE IMPACTS. THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT CREATED A WEBSITE IN ORDER TO DIRECT PEOPLE THROUGH A QR CODE THAT WAS ALSO CREATED TO GET UP TO DATE INFORMATION. A MEDIA CAMPAIGN, BOTH RADIO, COMMUNITY CONVERSATION, A SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN, EVERY BOARD OF SUPERVISOR ON THIS STAGE ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTED SOME TIME TO GO OUT AND RECORD AN INFORMATIONAL AND RESOURCES THAT WERE AVAILABLE IN OUR RESPONSE TO THIS. THE BUS, TRANSPORTATION, NOT SOMETHING TYPICALLY ASSOCIATED NECESSARILY WITH CALFRESH BENEFITS. THE BUS, LITERALLY FROM THE MORNING OF ASKING THEM, HEY, TRANSPORTATION MAY BE AN ISSUE, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO? BY THE AFTERNOON, WE HAD A COMMITMENT FROM THE BUS, AT LEAST THROUGH NOVEMBER 13, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE GOING BACK TO THEIR BOARD TO SEE IF THEY CAN EXTEND THAT THROUGH ALL OF NOVEMBER. THE BUS IS OFFERING FREE RIDES NOW, JUST TO HELP OFFSET THE ECONOMIC AND DISRUPTION OF THIS. AGAIN, JUST PAINTING A PICTURE OF A COMMUNITYWIDE RESPONSE TO A COMMUNITYWIDE CHALLENGE, AND JUST BEING GRATEFUL FOR THOSE RESOURCES AND THE COLLABORATION. LITERALLY THIS SATURDAY, THE FOOD BANK OPENED ITS DOORS TO A FOOD DRIVE WHERE FOLKS COULD COME AND DONATE. MULTIPLE, AS STATED EARLIER, MULTIPLE COUNTY FIRE STATIONS HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO BECOME DROP OFF SITES, AND WE'VE LOCATED BEEN THERE TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE MEALS OR FOOD TO INDIVIDUALS IN THIS COMMUNITY. AGAIN, COMMUNITYWIDE RESPONSE TO A COMMUNITYWIDE ISSUE. FOR THE DEPARTMENT, WE BEGAN CREATING A PLAN FOR INCREASED LOBBY TRAFFIC. APPROXIMATELY 3,000 HOUSEHOLDS OVER THE FIRST 10 DAYS OF OF THE MONTH, TYPICALLY WOULD RECEIVE A CALFRESH ALLOCATION. KNOWING THAT, WE WEREN'T QUITE SURE WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE IN OUR LOBBY, SO WE CREATED AN OVERFLOW PLAN. WE WORKED WITH OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO HAVE INDIVIDUALS AVAILABLE TO HELP, HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE. WE'VE CREATED FLYERS WITH UP TO DATE INFORMATION THAT HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED. WE LITERALLY ENGAGED WITH 103 GROCERY VENDORS IN MERCED COUNTY, TO PROVIDE THESE FLYERS, AS WELL AS INFORMATION TO HELP NOT ONLY THEM, BUT FOLKS WHO MAY BE GOING THERE TO USE THEIR BENEFIT. WE REALLY LOOKED AT EVERY IMPACT THAT WE COULD. WE HAVE AN OPERATIONAL AREA CALL WEEKLY WITH OUR CITY PARTNERS WHO ARE ALSO WILL BE INFORMED AT LEAST IN LOS BANOS. TOMORROW WE'LL BE PROVIDING A PRESENTATION TO THEM, BECAUSE IT IMPACTS NOT ONLY OUR CONSTITUENTS, BUT THEIR CONSTITUENTS AS WELL, AND THEIR WILLINGNESS TO HELP US OUT IN THIS ENDEAVOR. AGAIN, THIS SLIDE WAS PROBABLY THE MOST FUN TO PUT TOGETHER. THIS IS RIGHT IN ALIGNMENT WITH [00:35:02] THE MERCED COUNTY HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY MISSION TO IMPROVE THE WELL BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH SERVICE AND PARTNERSHIP. IN THIS CASE, WE REALLY HAD TO LEAN INTO THE PARTNERSHIP, AND THERE'S WILLING PARTNERS IN THIS ROOM TODAY. I WANT TO THANK THEM. INCLUDES, ADAM AMARA WITH OUR OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES. IT'S AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE FOR US TO REALLY HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEM. ADAM, HOW DO WE, AS A DEPARTMENT REALLY RESPOND TO THIS, AND WHAT RESOURCES ARE YOU ABLE TO HELP US COORDINATE WITH THE STATE? OUR FOOD BANK. WE'VE GOT JOAN BRIDGET HERE FROM OUR FOOD BANK, WHO HAD BEEN JUST AN AMAZING PARTNER, AND THEN LASTLY, THE UNITED WAY THROUGH THEIR 211, AND THEN ALL FOOD DISTRIBUTION PANTRIES THROUGHOUT MERCED COUNTY. I REALLY WANT TO POINT THAT OUT AND THANK THEM AS A DEPARTMENT AND AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER MYSELF. THIS WAS REFERRED TOO EARLIER. >> THROUGH OUR POLICY GROUP MEETING AND OUR OPERATIONAL AREA, DECIDED IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE FOOD BINS LOCATED THROUGHOUT OUR JURISDICTIONS WHERE COMMUNITY MEMBERS COULD DROP OFF FOOD ITEMS TO GO TO THE FOOD BANK AND THEN GET DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE PANTRY. I BELIEVE THERE'S 18 LOCATIONS HERE, PRIMARILY AT FIRE STATIONS, AND EVEN THE CIVIC CENTER HERE IN THE CITY OF MERCED, YOU CAN FIND A LIST OF THESE ON OUR WEBSITE, THAT'S WWW.COUNTYOFMERCED.COM FORWARD\FOOD RESOURCES. THERE YOU'LL FIND INFORMATION ON HOW YOU CAN DONATE TO THIS EFFORT, AS WELL AS THESE FOOD BIN LOCATIONS. WE HAVEN'T GONE LIVE YET WITH A PERIMETER APP THAT WILL ALSO HAVE INFORMATION FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON WHERE THE CLOSEST FOOD PANTRY MAY BE. AS SPOKEN ABOUT, THIS IS THE QR CODE THAT WILL TAKE YOU DIRECTLY TO THAT SITE, AND THEN 2.1.1, 2.1.1, IT'S AN INFORMATIONAL LINE THAT NOT ONLY HAS INFORMATION ON WHERE FOOD MAY BE LOCATED, BUT IT CAN ALSO PROVIDE YOU HELP WITH RENTAL, UTILITY ASSISTANCE, A WIDE RANGE OF COMMUNITY SERVICES. WE SAW DURING COVID 2 IS PEOPLE GET VERY CREATIVE ON HOW THEY'RE GOING TO MEET THEIR FOOD NEEDS. MAYBE THEY'RE PUTTING THAT ON A CREDIT CARD RIGHT NOW, IF THERE'S ANY WAY TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT IN THE LONG TERM, AND 2.1.1 COULD PROVIDE THAT RESOURCE. WE REALLY WANT THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND. THAT'S A RESOURCE FOR THEM TO CALL BEFORE MAYBE PUTTING RENT OR FOOD ON A CREDIT CARD. MAYBE CALL THEM AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT YOUR NEEDS ARE, AND SEE HOW THEY CAN CONNECT YOU TO A COMMUNITY RESOURCE. LASTLY, WITH THE CONCLUSIONS AND LASTLY FOR THIS SLIDE, BUT NOT FOR THIS RESPONSE, THIS RESPONSE IS ONGOING. WE DON'T KNOW A TIMELINE, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT THE DISRUPTION IS GOING TO LAST INTO THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. I WOULD ANTICIPATE, AT LEAST THROUGH NOVEMBER, AS THE FEDERAL AND STATE PARTNERS COME TO AN UNDERSTANDING ON WHAT THIS IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE, EVEN WHEN THE GOVERNMENT SHUTS DOWN, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THIS. EVEN IF THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN ENDS TOMORROW, THE DISTRIBUTION OF CAL FRET BENEFITS IS GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT TIME IS. WHEN WE KNOW FOR SURE, WE WILL BE PUTTING IT OUT THROUGH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES. BUT UNTIL THAT TIME, THIS REALLY HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED FOR COMMUNITY RESPONSES TO DISRUPTION. THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT THE FOOD BANK AND OUR ABILITY TO LEVERAGE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE FOOD PANTRIES IS REALLY THE GAME CHANGER HERE AS FAR AS HOW DO WE MITIGATE THE IMPACTS? THEY CAN'T BE COMPLETELY MITIGATED, BUT THROUGH THOSE PARTNERSHIPS, WE CAN SOMEWHAT ALLEVIATE THE NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY. WITH THAT, CHAIR PEDROSO, TURN IT OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. BEFORE I COME TO THE BOARD WITH QUESTIONS, I SEE JOE IN THE AUDIENCE, THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FOR MERCED COUNTY FOOD BANK. IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME UP AND SAY SOME COMMENTS, PLEASE. >> THANK YOU, BORDER SURVIVORS, FOR HAVING ME. JOE HIPES, MERCED COUNTY FOOD BANK. GIVE ME ONE SECOND. I WISH I WASN'T HERE TO TALK. I WISH IT WAS SOMEBODY WHO USES THE SERVICES OF THE FOOD BANK OR A FOOD PANTRY. ME AS A HUMAN BEING, THE WAY THAT I AM. A LOT OF TIMES IF I'M STRUGGLING, IF I'M DOING THE BEST THAT I CAN, I DON'T TELL MY FRIENDS. I DON'T TELL MY NEIGHBORS. I DON'T TELL ANYBODY. I KEEP IT TO MYSELF. NO, BECAUSE MY FRIENDS WON'T HELP ME, BUT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BURDEN THEM, I DON'T WANT TO LET ON THAT I'M HAVING ISSUES. I'M HAVING STRUGGLES. THEN WHEN I DO THAT, I GET SICK. I HAVE OTHER MEDICAL ISSUES. [00:40:02] I HAVE THINGS LIKE THAT. THAT IS ME, AND I WOULD IMAGINE THAT'S PROBABLY A LOT OF US IN THIS ROOM. THAT'S PROBABLY A LOT OF US IN THIS COUNTY. THAT'S WHAT WE SEE. THAT'S WHY IT'S HARD TO GET SOMEONE HERE WHO GOES TO A FOOD BANK OR GOES TO A FOOD PANTRY BECAUSE THEY NEED HELP. I SEE IT EVERY DAY. I SEE IT ONLINE. I SEE IT IN COMMENTS. I SEE IT WHERE THERE IS A LOT OF NEGATIVITY WHEN IT SURROUNDS EBT AND SNAP, AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT GO TO FOOD PANTRIES. THERE IS A STIGMA AROUND HUNGER THAT PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SYSTEM, PEOPLE AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE. IT'S NOT. I'VE BEEN AT THE FOOD BANK NOW FOR ALMOST EIGHT YEARS. AND I CAN HONESTLY TELL YOU THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT DO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SYSTEM OR PEOPLE THAT CAN GIVE, LIKE, A NEGATIVE CONNOTATION TO FOOD INSECURITY, TO HUNGER. THAT PERCENTAGE IS SO SMALL. IT IS ABSOLUTELY DWARFED BY THOSE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, THOSE FAMILIES, THOSE KIDS, THOSE SENIORS THAT NEED HELP. THEY WORK. THEY LIVE ON FIXED INCOMES. SOME OF THEM JUST GO TO SCHOOL, AND THEY HAVE HIT A STRING OF BAD LUCK. NOW, IN THIS MOMENT, AT THIS TIME, THEY NEED OUR HELP. THEY NEED OUR COMMUNITY TO STEP UP AND TO HELP TO DONATE TO HELP PUT FOOD ON SOMEBODY'S TABLE. IF YOU DON'T SEE HUNGER, IF YOU'RE NOT PERSONALLY AFFECTED BY HUNGER, YOU DON'T SEE IT. THE REASON WHY IS THE REASON IS ME BECAUSE WE DON'T TALK ABOUT WHEN WE HAVE TROUBLE. WE DON'T TALK ABOUT. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO COME TO OUR SUPERVISORS AND OUR LEADERS AND TELL YOU THAT THEY'RE NOT EATING. THEY'RE GOING TO TELL THE FOOD BANK, AND THEY'RE GOING TO TELL THE FOOD PANTRIES. WHICH IS WHY WE ARE SEEING AN INFLUX OF INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED HELP. OUR CALLS, OUR PHONES HAVE NOT STOPPED RINGING. PEOPLE ARE SCARED. PEOPLE ARE WORRIED THAT THEY CAN'T FEED THEIR FAMILIES. WE AT THE FOOD BANK AND OUR PARTNERS AT OUR FOOD PANTRIES WE'RE MOBILIZING. WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO HELP. WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO GET MORE FOOD ON THE SHELVES FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS. I AM UP HERE AGAIN, AND I AM ASKING EVERYBODY, IF YOU'RE WATCHING, IF YOU'RE IN THE ROOM, HELP, DONATE. WE ARE VERY THANKFUL. I AM INCREDIBLY AMAZED AND TOUCHED BY WHAT THE COUNTY HAS BEEN DOING, AND JOHN AND HIS TEAM ABOUT MOBILIZING AND DOING GOOD AND HELPING THE INDIVIDUALS. YES, WE'VE GOT ALL THE LOCATIONS THAT YOU CAN BRING IN A DIFFERENT COMMUNITY IN THE COUNTY. GO AND DONATE. BRING FOOD, GET SOMETHING FROM YOUR PANTRY. IF YOU'VE GOT THE TIME OR THE FUNDING, GO TO THE GROCERY STORE, BUY GROCERIES FOR SOMEBODY IN NEED. IT'S RIGHT THERE. YOU CAN GO TO ANY OF THOSE PLACES, AND WE HAVE PUT BINS. IF WE FILL THOSE BINS UP, I WILL CALL OUR TEAM AT THE FOOD BANK. WE'LL GO PICK THEM UP, AND WE'LL BRING YOU ANOTHER BIN. DONATE FOOD. THIS WEEKEND, WE ARE DOING ANOTHER FOOD DROP-OFF. IT'S GOING TO BE AT THE FOOD BANK FROM 10-2. IT'S LIKE A DRIVE-THROUGH DROP-OFF. YOU JUST COME IN. WE'LL HAVE VOLUNTEERS THERE, AND YOU CAN DROP OFF WHATEVER FOOD YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO. I WILL CHALLENGE EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM. ANYBODY WHO'S WATCHING EVERYBODY SHOW UP, 10-2 AT THE FOOD BANK, AND BRING SOME FOOD FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR. BECAUSE THERE IS A CRISIS, WHEN THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN, IT REALLY DOES TURN INTO OUR COMMUNITY HELPING, OR NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS. I'VE SEEN IT. AT THE FOOD BANK, WAS ABC NEWS 30 CAME AND INTERVIEWED US TODAY. HE REMEMBERED WHO I WAS. I WAS LIKE, JOE, YOU'VE BEEN DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR THROUGH COVID AND FLOODING, AND SHUTDOWN. I WAS LIKE, YES. THE ONE THING I HAVE SEEN EACH OF THOSE TIMES IS THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT AND KINDNESS THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS PROVIDED TO THOSE IN NEED, AND THEY STILL NEED IT. THEN I ALSO INVITE ANY ORGANIZATION OR FOUNDATION, OR BUSINESS. IF YOU'VE GOT EXTRA FINANCES, DONATE TO THE FOOD BANK. ONE OF OUR SUPERPOWERS IS OUR ABILITY TO PURCHASE FOOD AT A MUCH LOWER RATE. WE CAN PURCHASE PER POUND, LIKE ANYWHERE WITH OTHER FOOD BANKS OR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, ANYWHERE FROM NINE TO ABOUT $0.25 PER POUND. THAT'S WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THE MONEY THAT'S DONATED, AND WE CAN TAKE THAT, AND THEN WE CAN BUY FOOD THAT WE KNOW WILL HELP INDIVIDUALS, PEANUT BUTTER, CANNED PROTEINS, CANNED VEGETABLES, ANYTHING LIKE THAT. [00:45:06] I HAVE TALKED TO KIDS THIS WEEK. I HAVE TALKED TO SENIORS. I'VE TALKED TO FAMILIES. THEY ARE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN DOING THUS FAR. THEY ARE THEY'RE HOPEFUL. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. >> THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. HEY, JOE, I JUST HAD A REAL QUICK QUESTION. WE'RE DOING THE FOOD DRIVES. PEOPLE ARE DROPPING OFF FOOD. IS IT MORE ADVANTAGEOUS FOR US TO DONATE MONEY TO FOOD BANK JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE ABLE TO BUY IT AT A MUCH CHEAPER PRICE? ARE THE SUPPLIES OF FOOD AVAILABLE TO YOU TO PURCHASE? >> YES. WE WILL SAY DONATE FOOD RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THAT WILL HELP THIS IMMEDIATE NEED. BUT THEN THE WAY THAT WE'RE WORKED, THEN WE'RE ABLE TO BASICALLY BUY AND WE CAN GET BOXES AND OTHER FOOD IN WITHIN, LIKE, A WEEK, TWO WEEKS, THAT THING. AND. WE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE WE'RE HEADING INTO THE HOLIDAYS. YES, WE CAN DEFINITELY DO THAT WITH ANY FUNDING. >> BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE BECAUSE IF WE GO OUT AND WIPE OUT THE SHELVES OURSELVES, THEN WE'RE TAKING FOOD AWAY FROM EVERYBODY ELSE. BUT IF YOU HAVE A PURCHASING POWER TO DO IT AT A MUCH CHEAPER RATE, IT SOUNDS LIKE MONEY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TO GET TO YOU, BUT FOR THE SHORT TERM, WE NEED TO DONATE FOOD. >> WE'RE HOPING THAT THESE FOOD DRIVES AROUND THE COUNTY AND THAT THE FOOD BANK, THAT WILL HELP THE IMMEDIATE NEED. BUT THEN LONG TERM GOING INTO THE NEXT TWO MONTHS, HOWEVER LONG THIS LASTS, BUT THEN ALSO GOING INTO THE HOLIDAYS. THEN THE FUNDING THAT COMES IN WILL THEN HELP SUPPLEMENT THAT. ALSO, THE FUNDING THAT GOES IN ALLOWS US TO WORK WITH OUR PANTRIES A LITTLE BIT MORE WITH A LOT OF WIGGLE ROOM AND AIDING LIKE THE STRESS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE FEELING WITH THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE SEEING OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. >> VERY GOOD. AND I KNOW WE'VE HAD A LITTLE PROBLEM WITH THE COORDINATION. HOW'S THAT GOING RIGHT NOW? GETTING THE FOOD FROM THE STORES, HOW'S THAT? IS THAT? >> THE DONATIONS ARE STARTING TO COME IN, AND WE ARE ACTIVELY REMAINING IN COMMUNICATION WITH THEM TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR THEM. I THINK PEOPLE ARE STILL JUST NOT SURE WHAT'S HAPPENING. >> YOU GOT IT. WELL, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'RE DOING. >> THANK YOU. >> MR. CHAIR, I DO HAVE SOME MORE FOR JOHN CHECKLEY. HEY, JOHN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. STEPPING UP, AND CAN TELL YOUR MILITARY BACKGROUND HAS COME INTO GREAT USE IN DOING THIS, GETTING OUT THERE AS SOON AS YOU DID. THERE'S ALL KINDS OF CONFLICTING NEWS GOING ON RIGHT NOW. I KNOW SOME OF MY SOURCES THAT I'VE CONTACTED REGARDING THIS, RIGHT OUT OF DC SAID, IS THERE A PARTIAL SNAP FUNDING COMING FORWARD? BECAUSE JUST WITHIN THE TWO HOURS BEFORE MY PHONE CALL THIS MORNING, I HAVE BEFORE WE WENT IN THE CLOSED SESSION. IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE WORK. BUT THEY'RE WONDERING WHAT THE LEGALITIES OF IT IS THROUGH THE CONSTITUTION. DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THAT? >> THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY SPECIAL INFORMATION, AND WE'RE BEING REALLY CAUTIOUS ABOUT WHAT WE ARE RECEIVING BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING SIMILAR INFORMATION, BUT NOTHING IN CONCRETE. I CAN GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. DEPENDING ON THE WAY THEY DECIDE TO DISTRIBUTE, IT COULD IMPACT THE TIMELINE FROM 1-3 WEEKS. WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO IS PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION THAT'S NOT 100% ACCURATE. I THINK THAT WHAT YOU'RE POINTING OUT TOO IS WHY WE DID MOBILIZE THE DEPARTMENT OPERATION CENTER IS TO MAKE SURE WE HAD THE INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND TO GET VET AND THEN RELEASE THIS INFORMATION WHEN THIS FIRST STARTED, AND I'M SO REMISS, FIRST OF ALL, NOT RECOGNIZING MY TEAM. WHO THEY ALL HAVE JOBS AS DEPUTY DIRECTORS OR PROGRAM MANAGERS AND HAVE STEPPED UP TO FILL THIS ROLE AS NOW DEPARTMENT OPERATION CENTER CHIEFS. BUT, YES, WE DISCUSSED THAT THIS MORNING, THE SAME TYPES OF INFORMATION YOU'RE SEEING, MORE THAN LIKELY, A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE SEEING, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING DEFINITIVE ON WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK. >> THEN I HAD ANOTHER QUESTION, AND IT MIGHT BE FOR JOE AS WELL. SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF FOLKS WHO ARE DOING FOOD DISTRIBUTION FROM CHURCHES TO THE SCHOOLS? IS THAT A COORDINATED EFFORT? BECAUSE I KNOW I TALKED TO OUR SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS FOR THE MERCED UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT, AS WELL AS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HERE IN MERCED, FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND JUNIOR HIGHS. IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY HAVE A PROGRAM THAT THEY'RE DISTRIBUTING FOOD ON SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS TO STUDENTS, AS LONG AS YOU SHOW STUDENT ID. IS THAT A COORDINATED EFFORT WITH YOU GUYS, OR IS THAT SOMETHING THEY'RE DOING ON THEIR OWN? >> I CAN START AND MAYBE PASS IT TO JOE IF HE'S GOT OTHER INFORMATION. WE DID TALK TO STEVE TEGAN, THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, THROUGH MERCED COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION. WE ACTUALLY HAD HE ASSIGN SOMEBODY TO COMMUNICATE WITH US AS A DEPARTMENT OPERATION CENTER TO CONSOLIDATE THAT INFORMATION AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. ANECDOTALLY, ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES TODAY [00:50:02] SAID THEIR DAUGHTER CAME HOME FROM SCHOOL ON FRIDAY AND ON SATURDAY, SAID, HEY, THEY GAVE ME A BAG OF LUNCH WHEN I LEFT, AND IT HAD A HAM SANDWICH IN IT. LIKE, IT'S GREAT. SOME OF THESE ORGANIC THINGS, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ORGANIC, THE FAITH-BASED. ORGANIZATIONS, OR RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS, THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. WE'RE HOPING TO BETTER COORDINATE WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS OF THIS AFTERNOON WITH SOME OF THOSE SITES AND WHAT THOSE EFFORTS ARE. THEN, AGAIN, PUSH THAT VETTED INFORMATION OUT THROUGH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND OUR WEBSITE HERE THAT'S BEEN CREATED. ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION? >> I KNOW THERE WAS A LITTLE CONFUSION, AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW IF THESE WERE ALL COORDINATED EFFORTS. >> THEY'RE DOING THOSE TO HELP THE STUDENTS. IT'S NOT NECESSARILY WITH COORDINATED WITH THE FOOD BANK, BUT WE ARE COORDINATED WITH THEM FOR BASICALLY EXTRA PRODUCT THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE GOING THROUGH, AND THEY'RE DONATING BASICALLY HUNDREDS OF POUNDS OF FOOD TO THE FOOD BANK OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS AS WELL. >> IT WOULD BE GOOD IF WE COULD GET THE INFORMATION OUT. I WAS THINKING AS A COORDINATE, BECAUSE THE OPENING OF THE OFFICE EMERGENCY SERVICE WAS INGENIOUS. WE DID THAT DURING COVID, AND IT'S VERY WELL ALIGNED EVERYBODY'S GOALS, AND WE'RE ABLE TO CREATE ONE SYSTEM. I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS STEPPING UP LIKE THAT, TOO, AND MAYBE SOME OF THE COORDINATED EFFORT, BECAUSE I JUST KNOW THERE'S SOME CONFUSION OUT THERE. >> WE ARE IN CONTACT WITH THEM ABOUT THE FOODS THAT THE KIDS MIGHT WANT, BUT THEY ARE HEADLINING BASICALLY SPEARHEADING WHEN IT COMES TO KIDS AND HUNGER RIGHT NOW, BUT THEN ALSO DONATING THE FOOD TO THE OTHER INDIVIDUALS, BUT THEN ALSO TRICKLES DOWN TO THE KIDS THROUGH THE OTHER PANTRY PARTNERS AS WELL. >> I KNOW THE HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS REQUIRING A STUDENT ID, AND IF THEY ASKED THEM IF THEY HAD A FAMILY AT HOME, IF THERE ARE MORE KIDS IN THE FAMILY THAT THEY WERE ACTUALLY GIVING THEM MORE FOOD TO MOVE ON. >> THAT I KNOW THEY'RE TRYING TO SOURCE A LITTLE BIT MORE FOOD. >> RIGHT ON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. >> ADDITIONALLY, LIKE, UC MERCED, IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF AN INSTITUTION THAT STUDENTS AT UC MERCED WHO WOULD NORMALLY RECEIVE CALFRESH, IF THEY BRING THEIR EBT CARD, SHOW A ZERO BALANCE WAS PROVIDING $100 GIFT CARD. A LOT OF, AGAIN, COMMUNITY RESPONSE BASED ON THE POPULATIONS THAT ARE SERVING. I DO WANT TO POINT OUT, AS WELL, FIRST OF ALL, HOW LUCKY TO HAVE SOMEONE LIKE JOE AS A PART. BRINGS PASSION, BUT ALSO SKILL, ORGANIZATION, AND LOGISTICS. JUST AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE. THE PASSION THAT YOU SAW HERE IS WHAT MAKES HIM GOOD AT HIS RESPONSIBILITIES, AND JUST GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE SIDE BY SIDE WITH HIM, HELPING OUT IN THIS TIME. THANK YOU, JOE, AND APPRECIATE IT SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. >> SUPERVISOR PRAYER. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. REALLY, EVERYTHING WAS COVERED, EXCEPT FOR TWO THINGS. ONE IS JUST DOING MATH. IF 23 OCTOBER WAS THE DROP-DEAD FOR FUNDING TO HIT EBT CARDS OR SNAP CARDS, OR CALFRESH CARDS ON NOVEMBER 1ST, WE'RE AT A MINIMUM OF EIGHT DAYS, A MINIMUM. IT COULD BE LONGER, LIKE YOU SAY, WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE. BUT ANYWAY, SO TO SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL'S QUESTION AND JOE, AND YOUR COMMENTS IS FOOD'S IMPORTANT, BUT MONEY'S IMPORTANT AS WELL. IF YOU DONATED MONEY TODAY, THEN THE FOOD BANK COULD HAVE MONEY AVAILABLE IN EIGHT DAYS DOWN THE ROAD. ANYWAYS. THEN THE REAL QUESTION THAT I GUESS I WOULD LIKE THE ANSWER TO IS BULK OPPORTUNITIES. IF YOU GO AND YOU BUY A BOX OF RICE, I DON'T KNOW, YOU'RE PAYING THREE, FOUR BUCKS, SOMETIMES SEVEN OR EIGHT BUCKS. BUT IF YOU BUY A BAG OF RICE YOU CAN GET IT A LOT CHEAPER PER POUND. ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO DONATE SACKS OF RICE, SACKS OF BEANS? >>HOW DOES THAT LOOK? WHAT SHOULD THEY DO? >> YES, I MEAN, WE HANDLE IN BULK WITH PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING. WE DO GET LARGE SACKS OF RICE OR LARGE BAGS OF RICE AND THEN BEANS. WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO AT THE FOOD BANK THEN IS WE TAKE THOSE LARGE BAGS, AND IF YOU'VE BEEN THERE YOU'VE SEEN THEM. WE TAKE THOSE, AND WE PUT THOSE IN SMALLER BAGS. THEN THE SMALLER BAGS THEN GO OUT TO THE PANTRY PARTNERS AND THOSE SITES, AND THEY JUST GET BASICALLY HOWEVER MUCH HOW MANY BAGS THEY WANT BASED OFF OF THE LARGE DONATIONS. >> OKAY, SO YOU TAKE A 50 POUND SACK OR SOMETHING. >> WE WILL TAKE ANYTHING IN BULK AND THEN WE CAN DISTRIBUTE THAT BASICALLY BETWEEN WHAT THE PANTRY PARTNERS THEN, WHAT THEY WANT AND WHAT THEY NEED FOR THE PANTRIES THAT THEY SERVE. >> YEAH. WHO KNEW THE FOOD BANK REACHING OUT TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND HOW THAT CONVERSATION AND RELATIONSHIP WOULD LESS THAN A FEW MONTHS LATER BE NEEDED AND COME TO FRUITION. >> WE WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU ON THE BOARD THAT YOU HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS, AND NOW SO THAT IF YOU RUN INTO INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED TO HELP, WE WANT TO BE THERE TO HELP YOU KNOW WHAT TO TELL THE PEOPLE IN YOUR DISTRICTS AS WELL. [00:55:05] >> THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. FIRST OFF, JOE, I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU, YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR COMMENTS EARLIER THAT A LOT OF THESE FOLKS ARE AFRAID OR NOT WILLING TO COME AND SHARE THEIR STORY. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THEIR STORY ON BEHALF OF THEM. I CAN TELL YOU JUST LOCALLY ALREADY REACH OUT FROM A FEW FRIENDS WHO MAYBE HE HAS A FRIEND WHO MIGHT BE STRUGGLING AND DOING THOSE LITTLE ORGANIC THINGS AND HELPING FOLKS OUT. THAT LEADS ME TO MY NEXT COMMENT IS JUST THIS COMMUNITY, OUR COMMUNITIES ARE NOTORIOUS AND GREAT FOR WHEN IN A TIME OF NEED, THEY FIND A WAY TO STEP UP. IT HAPPENS TIME AND TIME AGAIN. YOU PICK THE ISSUE, WHETHER IT'S COVID, WHETHER IT'S FLOODING, NOW, THIS. IT'S REALLY ALWAYS TRULY AMAZING HOW OUR COMMUNITIES WILL STEP UP IN A TIME OF NEED. WE'RE VERY BLESSED IN THAT WAY. A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS THAT I WANTED TO, MR. CHECKLEY I APPRECIATE YOUR APPROACH. WE'RE ALL HEARING A LOT OF THIS AND A LOT OF THAT, AND DEPENDING ON WHICH NEWS STATION YOU WATCH IS ONCE THE ELECTIONS ARE OVER TODAY, IT'S GOING TO COME BACK AND IT COULD BE ANOTHER 30 DAYS. IT'S ALL OVER THE PLACE. I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPROACH OF, WE'RE NOT GOING TO PUT BAD INFORMATION OUT THERE. WE'RE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE SOLID GOOD INFORMATION, AND THEN WE'LL BE WILLING TO SHARE IT WITH PEOPLE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO BECOME MORE OF THE PROBLEM BY CREATING CHAOS AND HAVING PEOPLE THINK ONE THING BECAUSE THEY SAW IT, ON AN OFFICIAL COUNTY WEBSITE OR WHATEVER IT IS. I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPROACH ON THAT. THEN THE OTHER THING THAT I WILL ASK YOU IS, IT'S A REALLY TECHNICAL THING, BUT CAN YOU MAYBE EXPLAIN TO FOLKS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WE OPEN, WHAT WE HAVE AS AN EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER AND THEN A DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS CENTER. I THINK IT'S HELPFUL FOR ALL OF US, BUT I THINK IT'S HELPFUL FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE OF THAT. >> I DON'T WANT TO DEFER TO OUR OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES MANAGER, BUT I HOPE HE'S STILL BEHIND ME. HE MAY BE A BETTER INDIVIDUAL TO ASK THAT QUESTION, BECAUSE IT'S AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION ON HOW WE'VE RESPONDED TO IT, SO MR. AMAR, WOULD YOU CARE TO SPEAK TO THAT? SOFTBALL. >> GOOD MORNING, BOARD. CHAIR AND CEO HENDRICKSON AND COUNTY COUNCIL. YEAH, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS CENTERS AND THE OES AND THE EOC. LOOKING AT THIS EVENT AND WE ACTIVATE OUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN AND FOLLOW THOSE PLANS AND PROCESSES. THIS IS REALLY A SOCIAL SERVICE TYPE OF EVENT, NOT REALLY AN EMERGENCY OR DISASTER. WHAT OES DOES IS WE MAKE THOSE DETERMINATIONS FOLLOWING OUR PLANS AND PROCEDURES. TO DETERMINE WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO RESPOND TO THIS. SINCE THIS IS REALLY FOCUSED ON WHAT HSA DOES DAILY, AND NOW YOU BRING THIS DISRUPTION PIECE INTO IT. IT WAS BETTER THROUGH THE POLICY GROUP AND ACTIVATING THE POLICY GROUP TO MAKE THAT DECISION OF ACTIVATING DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS CENTER. THAT IS REALLY FOCUSED AND MISSION FOCUSED AND THE SUPPORT TO THIS TYPE OF EVENT. WITH THAT BEING SAID, THERE'S ALWAYS AN OPPORTUNITY WHETHER YOU HAVE CASCADING IMPACTS, THINGS CHANGE THROUGH ADVANCED PLANNING, FOLLOWING OUR PLANS. WE CAN MAKE THOSE DETERMINATIONS LATER IF THERE WOULD EVER BE A WARRANTED OF AN ACTIVATION. A LOT DIFFERENT THAN A FLOODING EVENT OR A DISASTER OR EMERGENCY WITH THOSE CHRONIC IMPACTS THAT ARE JUST CONSISTENTLY HAPPENING TO WHERE YOU NEED TO BRING A LOT OF DIFFERENT AGENCIES IN TO SUPPORT A MISSION. THIS IS REALLY SOCIAL SERVICES DRIVEN MISSION, AND HAVING THE DOC IS THE APPROPRIATE ACTIVATION FOR THIS AT THIS TIME. >> PERFECT. THANK YOU. THAT HIGHLIGHTED WHAT I WANTED FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND IS THINKING OF IT, I'M GOING TO USE FOOTBALL TERMS. I DON'T MEAN TO SAY YOUR DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS CENTER IS LIKE THE JV BUT WE ALREADY HAVE THE VARSITY READY TO GO. IT'S SITTING THERE THAT IF THE SITUATION CHANGES PRETTY QUICKLY, WE'RE ABLE TO RAMP THAT UP, AND NOW IT'S FULL SCALE EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTERS THAT ARE RUNNING 24 HOURS A DAY DEALING WITH WHATEVER THE ISSUE IS. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT LEADS ME TO JUST MY FINAL COMMENT IS, I JUST WANT TO THANK OUR TEAM AND ALL OF OUR PARTNERS. I KNOW THAT OUR CEO WAS AT HIS CASE CONFERENCE. IT'S THE CAOS AND CEOS CONFERENCE AT SANTA ROSA, WHEREVER IT WAS. WE'RE AS THIS IS ALL STARTING TO UNFOLD, GETTING UPDATES OF WHAT THE PLAN WAS TO START BRINGING THE PEOPLE INTO THE ROOM THAT NEED TO BE IN THE ROOM, WHICH IS A LOT OF YOUR TEAM, A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS. I GUESS THE MESSAGE IS IS TO LET FOLKS UNDERSTAND THAT HERE AT THE COUNTY, [01:00:03] WE DID NOT CREATE THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS NATIONAL POLITICS AT ITS BEST GOING ON. BUT YET HERE AGAIN AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, WE'RE STUCK DEALING WITH THE IMPACTS OF WHAT THEY DO IN WASHINGTON, DC. I JUST WANT TO THANK OUR TEAM FOR BEING HERE, BEING AT THE READY, AND IT'S NOT WILLY-NILLY. THERE'S A LOT OF THOUGHT THAT GOES INTO THIS. WE SAY IT SO FLIPPANTLY, "YEAH, AND WE'RE STANDING UP A WEBSITE, AND WE'RE CREATING AN APP, AND WE'RE DOING THIS." BUT THAT'S THE TALENT THAT WE HAVE ON OUR TEAM THAT WHEN WE GET PUT INTO THESE SITUATIONS, THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING IT TO BE A GOOD SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR THE FOLKS THAT QUITE HONESTLY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE IN MOST NEED. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, JOHN AND YOUR TEAM. I'M THANKFUL, VERY THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE YOU AT THE HELM OF THIS ORGANIZATION AND BRINGING ALL THESE TALENTED PEOPLE TOGETHER TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT WILL BE USEFUL TO ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS IN. THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> SUPERVISOR PACHECO. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. WELL, MY COLLEAGUE PRETTY MUCH COVERED EVERYTHING, BUT I TOO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY'S PART IN THIS AND JUST WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S GETTING THE HELP THEY NEED. JUST A QUICK QUESTION OF FOR YOU, JOHN OR FOR JOE. IF THE DONATION CENTERS, IF YOU DONATE FOOD, DOES THAT STAY IN THAT COMMUNITY? LIKE IF I DONATE IN PLANADA DOES IT GO TO PLANADAS, OR DOES IT GO TO THE FOOD BANK AND THEN BACK OUT TO PEOPLE? >> ONLY ALL THE BINS WILL COME BACK INTO THE FOOD BANK, AND WE'LL BE ON THE SHELVES FOR THOSE THAT ARE THEN BASICALLY WOULD COME IN AND GET THE FOOD FROM THE FOOD BANK. ANY PANTRY SITES OR ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THAT THAT WOULD COME IN TO THE FOOD BANK REGULARLY, WHICH IS EVERYWHERE IN THE COUNTY, THEN THEY WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO ALL FOOD THAT WOULD BASICALLY BE COMING INTO THE FOOD BANK. >> OKAY. WE'RE MAKING IT COMMUTE FOR PEOPLE IN THAT COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO DONATE, WHICH I APPRECIATE. >> YEAH. WELL, WE KNOW THAT THE NEED IS A HUGE AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS, SO WE JUST WANT TO HAVE AS MUCH FOOD IN OUR ORGANIZATION AS POSSIBLE FOR EVERYBODY. >> OKAY. THANKS, AND THANKS AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING. >> SUPERVISOR PEREIRA. >> YEAH, THANK YOU, CHAIR. YOU KNOW SUPERVISOR PACHECO BROUGHT UP A GOOD QUESTION. I BELIEVE THAT AT LEAST IN MY COMMUNITIES IN MY DISTRICT, THERE'S THE LOCAL FOOD DISTRIBUTORS, AND THEY GET DIRECT DONATIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY AND THEN THEY ALSO COME TO THE FOOD BANK AND HAVE ACCESS TO THAT FOOD. IF YOU GET SOMEBODY THAT SAYS, "HEY, I WANT TO GIVE IT, BUT I WANT TO GIVE IT LOCAL, THEN MAYBE THEY COULD GO TO THEIR LOCAL PANTRY." >> YES, AND AND I DO WANT TO SAY IF YOU DO HAVE A LOCAL PANTRY NEAR YOU OR WHEREVER, BUT YOU COULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DONATE TO THOSE PANTRIES AS WELL. HAVING AS MUCH FOOD ON ALL THESE SHELVES BENEFITS THE PEOPLE THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE. WE DO HAVE ACCESS ON OUR WEBSITE. YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE PANTRIES ARE, WHERE PANTRIES ARE NEAR WHERE YOU MAY LIVE OR IN YOUR DISTRICTS, AND WE CAN SHARE THEM IF YOU'RE NOT SURE AGAIN. BUT THEN YOU ENCOURAGE THEN THOSE PANTRIES, PEOPLE TO DONATE TO THOSE SPECIFICALLY. >> THANK YOU. >> OKAY. THEN THE LAST COMMENT WOULD BE THAT, I THINK SOME PEOPLE REALIZE THAT THE COURT RULING ALLOWING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO USE THE $5 BILLION IS ONLY A 2.5 WEEK FIX AT BEST. THE CASH DONATIONS ONGOING ARE GOING TO BE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THAT ALLOWS THE FOOD BANK AND THE TEAM TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT 2.5 WEEK FROM WHENEVER THAT DATE IS TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT PEOPLE AGAIN. THE NEED ISN'T JUST TODAY, IT'S A MONTH LONG SYSTEM. EVEN IF THE GOVERNMENT WERE TO OPEN TOMORROW, IT STILL TAKES TIME FOR ALL THAT TO HAPPEN AND GET TO THE FOLKS THAT NEED TO FEED THEIR KIDS. >> IF I MAY, EVEN IN THE BEST OF TIMES, THE FOOD BANK IS PROVIDING FOOD TO 42,000 ON JUST A NORMAL MONTH. YES, TO YOUR POINT, I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE AN ONGOING MET OUTSIDE THIS DISRUPTION, MUCH MORE ENHANCED RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT, AND THEN I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS I'D LIKE TO SAY. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THE PRESENTATION. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE PRESENTATION IS NOW CLOSED. I TOO HAVE SOME COMMENTS ON THIS AND I REMEMBER WHEN THIS HAPPENED, I THINK IT WAS OCTOBER 22ND, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY. I WAS READING ALL THIS STUFF, AND I CALLED JOHN CHECKLEY AND I SAID, "HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON?" HE TOLD ME THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE, AND FROM THAT TIME, I THINK IT WAS 63,000, THEN IT WENT UP TO 67,000 BECAUSE PEOPLE GETTING ON THE DROPPING OFF AND WHATNOT. THEN I CALLED JOE AND SAID, "HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON?" THEN I TALKED TO MARK, AND IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE HOW QUICK EVERYBODY WAS ABLE TO COME TOGETHER. [01:05:02] ONE OF THE THINGS, AND I CAN'T SAY THIS ENOUGH ABOUT THE WORK THAT EVERYBODY HAS DONE FROM THE COUNTY TEAM, THE CITIES IN THE COUNTY TO THE FOOD BANK, TO JUST THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL COMING TOGETHER. THE ONE THING IN IT WAS MENTIONED WITH COVID, WITH THE FLOODING, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT HAPPENED JUST RIGHT AWAY. WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THAT. WELL, WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER THE SHUTDOWN, WE DON'T. THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE CONTROL OF, BUT I THINK THIS HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW BY ACTIVATING, REALLY GETTING INVOLVED. I THINK SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SAID IT BEST THAT WE COME TOGETHER. WE REALLY DO COME TOGETHER IN TIMES OF CRISIS. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S GREAT ABOUT MERCED COUNTY. BUT I THINK THAT THIS JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT THE NUMBERS. I KNOW THIS IS AN IMMEDIATE NEED, AND IMMEDIATE CONCERN, BUT THIS IS AN ONGOING THING. LIKE JOE SAID WE TEND TO THINK THAT, ESPECIALLY UP HERE, IF THINGS ARE GOING WELL, WE DON'T REALLY THINK THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM. BECAUSE WE THINK THAT THE PROFESSIONALS IN THEIR FIELD ARE HANDLING IT THE WAY THAT THEY'VE ALWAYS DONE, THE WAY THEY ALWAYS DO. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS, AND THEN THEY ASK FOR HELP, AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO. BUT AGAIN, THIS IS JUST AN IMMEDIATE THING NOW, BUT IT'S AN ONGOING THING EVERY DAY. 67,000 PEOPLE OF MERCED COUNTY, I MEAN, THAT'S A LOT. I THINK THAT AS A FORMER TEACHER, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, AND I'LL BE HONEST, THERE ARE SOME STUDENTS THAT JUST RUBBED YOU THE WRONG WAY, BUT THEY WERE ALWAYS AT SCHOOL. THE REASON WAS THEY GOT TWO FREE MEALS A DAY. SOMETHING WAS GOING ON AT HOME, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GET TWO FREE MEALS AT SCHOOL EVERY SINGLE DAY. IT WAS THEIR SAFE SPOT. IT HIGHLIGHTS THE FACT THAT THERE IS A DEFINITE NEED IN OUR COUNTY. I THINK THAT ONCE THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IS OVER, WHEN THINGS GO BACK TO NORMAL, WHATEVER THAT NEW NORMAL IS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DON'T FORGET THAT THIS ISN'T GOING TO GO AWAY TOMORROW. THIS IS GOING TO BE AROUND FOR AS LONG AS WE HAVE THIS ISSUE WITH FOOD INSECURITY OR PEOPLE HUNGRY. THERE'S A REASON WHY WE HAVE THE FOOD BANKS AND FOOD PANTRIES. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE NOT LOSE SIGHT ON THE FACT THAT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE STRUGGLING THAT NEED HELP THAT ARE SOMETIMES EMBARRASSED TO SAY IT, BUT IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT NEED THE HELP ARE PUT IN THE RIGHT POSITION TO DO SO. AGAIN, I CAN'T SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH TO OUR TEAM FROM THE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE FROM THE FOOD BANK AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE TO ORGANIZE. I THINK THAT I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AGAIN THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE ONCE THIS IS DONE, BECAUSE WITH THE HOLIDAYS COMING UP, WITH EVERYTHING'S HAPPENING, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS TIME OF CRISIS, BUT NOT JUST IN THIS TIME OF CRISIS. THIS IS AN ONGOING THING. WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE ON. THANK YOU. OKAY. WE WILL [CONSENT CALENDAR] NOW MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. >> CONSENT AGENDA CALENDAR, ITEMS 1 THROUGH 16. PLEASE NOTE. ITEMS 2 THROUGH 6 AND 9 REQUIRE A 4/5 VOTE. >> OKAY. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 16. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 16 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. THE MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. ALL RIGHT, WE WILL NOW HAVE A PRESENTATION OF A PROCLAMATION OF EXCELLENCE OR RECOGNIZING SPECTRA. I'M GOING TO READ IT, AND THEN I'LL ASK YOU GUYS TO COME UP AND PROVIDE SOME COMMENTS AND TAKE A PICTURE. THIS IS AN EXCELLENCE IN CONTRACTOR PERFORMANCE, PEOPLE PURPOSE PRESENCE. WHEREAS THE COUNTY OF MERCED SOUGHT BIDS TO RESTORE THE HISTORIC COURTHOUSE MUSEUM THROUGH A COMPETITIVE, LOWEST BIDDER PROCESS. SPECTRA, CONTRACTING SPECTRA WAS THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE BIDDER, AND SPECTRA HAS DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL SKILL, DEDICATION, AND PROFESSIONALISM AND THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE COURTHOUSE MUSEUM PROJECT FOR THE BENEFIT OF MERCED COUNTY RESIDENTS. SPECTRA'S TIMELINESS WAS PARAMOUNT AND ACHIEVED THROUGH SUFFICIENT STAFFING, HARD WORK AND COMMITMENT TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT NEARLY SIX MONTHS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. THE COMPLETION OF THIS PROJECT HAS ENHANCED THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE BUILDING AND PRESERVED ITS HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE. ENSURING THIS HISTORIC LANDMARK CONTINUES TO SHOWCASE MERCED COUNTY'S HISTORY FOR YEARS TO COME. SPECTRA HAS GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND TO FOSTER COLLABORATION, [01:10:02] MAINTAIN SAFETY, AND UPHOLD THE VALUES OF INTEGRITY AND EXCELLENCE THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF THE PROJECT. THE COURTHOUSE MUSEUM RESTORATION PROJECT STANDS AS A TESTAMENT TO SPECTRA'S COMMITMENT TO QUALITY CRAFTSMANSHIP, ADHERENCE TO TIMELINES, AND IF INNOVATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING, ENSURING THE PROJECT WAS COMPLETED TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, WE, THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE SPECTRA HISTORIC CONSTRUCTION FOR EXCELLENCE AND PERFORMANCE ON THE COURTHOUSE MUSEUM RESTORATION PROJECT. THIS PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZES THE SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THEIR DETAILED FOCUSED AND TIMELY EXECUTION OF THE COURTHOUSE MUSEUM RESTORATION PROJECT. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THIS PROCLAMATION OF EXCELLENCE BE PRESENTED TO SPECTRA HISTORIC CONSTRUCTION AS A TOKEN OF OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION FOR THEIR INVALUABLE WORK ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF MERCED COUNTY. >> FROM MY PERSPECTIVE I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET UP ON THE SCAFFOLDING AND REALLY SEE THE WORK THAT WENT INTO IT AND THE DETAIL THAT WENT INTO IT, AND THE FACT THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO DO THIS QUICKLY OR FASTER THAN WHAT THEY HAD INITIALLY SET OUT. UNDER BUDGET, UNDER TIME IS VERY IMPRESSIVE, AND IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO AND DID FOR US. I WANT TO SAY THAT I MEAN, THE ATTENTION TO THE DETAIL ALONE WAS SOMETHING ELSE. I DON'T WANT TO GET ON SCAFFOLDING ANYTIME SOON BECAUSE YOU GUYS MAKE REALLY LOOK LIKE PROFESSIONALS CLIMBING AROUND THAT THING, BUT THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. SUPERVISOR SOVERA. >> I DO YOUR COMMENTS, MR. CHAIR, AND JUST WANT TO SAY, I'VE BEEN AROUND THE BOARD FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, AND I DON'T EVER RECALL US EVER GIVING A CONTRACTOR A PROCLAMATION FOR BEING EXCELLENT. I GOT TO TELL YOU, I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT. THIS VERY RARELY HAPPENS WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE ON WELL, FINISHED EARLY, UNDER BUDGET. THAT VERY RARELY HAPPENS. I THINK THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT WE WOULD MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THIS MORE OFTEN. WHEN WE GET TO PARTNER WITH A VENDOR, AND FROM MY EXPERIENCE, HAVING GONE TOWARD THE BUILDING AND DOING ALL THAT STUFF, FIRST CLASS OPERATION, PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE. GOSH, IMAGINE THIS. I SAW THEM AT WORK, LIKE, ALMOST ALL THE TIME. THEY DIDN'T TAKE, WEDNESDAYS AND THURSDAYS OFF. KUDOS TO THEM. IT'S NOT VERY OFTEN THAT WE GET TO RECOGNIZE SOMEBODY FOR DOING WHAT WE ASKED THEM TO DO, BUT EVEN GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND. I'M EXCITED FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THIS PROCLAMATION OUT. >> SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. >> THANK YOU, MR. C HAIR. NORMALLY, WE DON'T DO THIS, BUT THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL WAS AMAZING UP THERE. I MEAN, TO THE TOENAILS OF THE STATUE AT THE VERY TOP WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE. LIKE YOU SAID, FOLKS WERE DOING IT WORKING AT ALL TIMES. THIS WAS IMPRESSIVE. I CAN REMEMBER WHEN HUB WALSH WAS ACTUALLY HERE, WHO WAS TRYING TO GET SOME FOOTHOLD TO GET THAT DONE, AND WHEN JOSH GOT HERE, YOU WERE ABLE TO PUSH IT FORWARD. YOU DID A REALLY GOOD JOB ON THAT. JOSH, GOOD JOB ON THIS. YOU REALLY CARRIED IT THROUGH. I THINK CONGRESSMAN COSTA WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN THIS AS WELL. BUT, I CAN REMEMBER WHEN HUB WAS TRYING TO PUSH THIS AND WE WERE ALL ON BOARD, BUT IT WAS JUST HARD TO GET EVERYTHING GOING. BUT WHEN YOU GOT INTO OFFICE, YOU REALLY PUSHED IT FORWARD AND THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS. I REALLY LIKE THE GREEN LIGHT UP THERE FOR THE VETERANS NOW. THANKS. >> GUYS WANT TO COME UP. YOU MENTION THE GUYS NAME? THANK YOU, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. MY NAME IS NATHAN BRAY, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS. ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT, I THINK IT WAS SAID EARLIER. WE DON'T OFTEN GET TO ACKNOWLEDGE SUCCESSES. WE'RE OFTEN TALKING ABOUT CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES AND WAYS AROUND CERTAIN THINGS, BUT THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ACKNOWLEDGE JUST A GREAT JOB DONE. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY. WE HAVE SPECTRA HERE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? >> WE ARE JUST HONORED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU GUYS. IT WAS A PLEASURE. IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE DONE FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS NOW, AND IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SEE THESE BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS GET RENEWED AND BRING A NEW LIGHT TO THE CITY, AND IT WAS A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH THE ENTIRE TEAM. HOPEFULLY IN THE FUTURE, WE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY IF THE NEED ARISES THAT WE COULD HELP YOU FURTHER IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER PROJECTS WHERE WE'RE VERY HONORED, SO THANK YOU. [01:15:02] >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> YEAH. ANSWER. OKAY. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR SPECTRA. FROM MULTIPLE BIDS AND CONTRACTS I'VE BEEN THROUGH SO FAR, WORKING AT THE COUNTY. THEY WERE DEFINITELY ONE OF THE EASIEST TO WORK WITH, AND I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT. THEY WERE VERY COMMUNICATIVE AND THEY WERE VERY DETAIL-ORIENTED, NOT JUST IN THEIR WORK, BUT IN EVERYTHING, THEIR BILLING. THEY TRACKED QUANTITIES OF THE PROJECT AS THEY WENT DOWN EACH ROW, AND WERE VERY FORTHCOMING ON WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND WE'RE VERY COMMUNICATED. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT. [APPLAUSE] >> STILL HERE. I'LL GET THAT ON YOUR WAY. >> WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO BOARD ACTION, [BOARD ACTION] BEGINNING WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES. >> ITEM 17 THROUGH 19. >> AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BHRS ITEMS 17 THROUGH 19. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BHRS ITEM 17 THROUGH 19 IS NOW CLOSED. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEREIRA, SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SOVERA. CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES WITH SUPERVISOR PACHECO, VOTING NO. COULD WE RESET THAT? >> JUST ONE MOMENT. >> I APOLOGIZE. THAT WAS MISTAKE. I MEANT TO VOTE YES. MY FINGER SLIPPED. [LAUGHTER] >> LIKELY STORY [LAUGHTER]. THEY ALL HAVE TO. CAN WE. >> LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO THE MOTIONS AGAIN, PASE. >> SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEREIRA. SECOND AVI SUPERVISOR SEA. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, PLEASE MAKE SURE SUPERVISOR PACHECO HITS THE RIGHT BUTTON. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION AN UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY. >> ITEM 20. >> AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR HSA ITEM 20. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR HSA ITEM 20 IS NOW CLOSED. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SOVERA, SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO, CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. NEXT WE HAVE FIRE. >> ITEMS 21 THROUGH 24. >> AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR FIRE ITEMS 21 THROUGH 24. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR FIRE ITEMS 21 THROUGH 24 IS NOW CLOSED. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVERA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEREIRA. CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. >> ITEM 25. >> AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE IITEM 25. PUBLIC COMMENT. PERIOD FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, ITEM 25 IS NOW CLOSED. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SOVERA. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I CAUGHT THIS. I DIDN'T CATCH IT EARLIER, BUT I CAUGHT IT THIS MORNING. WHEN WE COME UP WITH THE LIST AND WE HAVE THE YEAR, THE MAKE, THE MODEL, IT'S ALWAYS HELPFUL IF IT SAYS A FORD IF IT TELLS YOU WHAT A FORD F150, A FORD F350 OR 250 OR WHATEVER IS I KNOW IN PREVIOUS ONES, THAT'S BEEN ON THERE. IT WASN'T ON THIS ONE. THAT'S ALWAYS HELPFUL FOR ME THAT WE PUT THAT ON THERE. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. >> SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I DO HAVE A QUESTION. SO WHEN WE PUT THESE OUT FOR SURPLUS, [01:20:03] IS IT AT THIS TIME THAT SOME OF THE NON-PROFITS, BECAUSE I KNOW THE CASTLE AIR MUSEUM WAS INTERESTED IN SOME OF THESE VEHICLES BECAUSE OF THEIR HISTORICAL VALUE TO THEM? I JUST WANT TO KNOW, IS THERE A PROCESS IN PLACE ONCE THEY'RE IDENTIFIED AS SURPLUS FOR THESE FOLKS TO REQUEST OR SEE WHAT WE CAN GO THROUGH? I WOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU A HEADS UP. THIS IS I GOT YOU. >> THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO RESEARCH THAT INTERNALLY JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT DOCUMENTED PROCESS. THIS IS SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFYING THEM AS SURPLUS. >> CORRECT. THAT'S WHY I WAS SAYING. THE PROCESS WOULD BEGIN THEN AT THIS POINT. RIGHT ON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR SOVERA. >> I KNOW THAT I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT ONE I DON'T KNOW A COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO. I BELIEVE IT WAS, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS IS A QUESTION YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER, BUT I KNOW HISTORICALLY IN THE PAST, ONE OF ONE OF MY CEMETERY DISTRICTS HAS BEEN INTERESTED IN A VEHICLE, AND, I KNOW SPRING FAIR HAS BEEN INTERESTED IN A VEHICLE, AND THAT ONE'S TYPICALLY A LITTLE BIT EASIER BECAUSE THAT'S AN ANOTHER COUNTY ENTITY. I DEFINITELY, AS YOU DO YOUR RESEARCH, I WANT CLARIFICATION ON WHAT THAT PROCESS WOULD BE. OUR CEMETERY DISTRICTS, SOME OF US KNOW A LOT BETTER THAN OTHERS. THEY STRUGGLE AT TIMES, AND WHEN WE END UP WITH A VEHICLE ON OURS THAT COULD FIT AT THE CEMETERY DISTRICTS, THESE VEHICLES AREN'T TRAVELING UP AND DOWN THE ROAD A LOT. THEY'RE USING THEM AS JUST UTILITY VEHICLES AROUND THE CEMETERIES. IF THERE'S A WHATEVER THAT PROCESS IS, I'D LIKE THAT PROCESS LINED OUT FOR US SO THAT WE CAN LET THOSE ORGANIZATIONS KNOW WHAT THEY NEED TO GO THROUGH. BEFORE IT SEEMED THAT IT WAS AS EASY AS WE JUST MADE A COMMENT AND THEN WE MADE IT HAPPEN, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S NECESSARY HOW IT IS NAIL. AS LONG AS WE CAN STREAMLINE THAT PROCESS SO THAT I'M AWARE OF IT. >> WE'LL CERTAINLY LOOK INTO THAT. THERE IS ELEMENTS WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT CODE THAT RESTRICT WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE DONATIONS. IN PARTICULAR, 501C3 AND OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTY AND I DIDN'T COMMIT ALL OF THE REST OF THEM TO MEMORY, BUT YES. BUT OTHER SPECIAL DISTRICTS AND OTHER LIKE THE CITY ARE NOT AMONG THOSE, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY WORK WITH COUNTY COUNCIL TO FIGURE OUT MECHANISMS OR IF THAT'S AT ALL POSSIBLE. >> PERFECT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEREIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO, CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE. >> ITEMS 26 AND 27. >> AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CEO ITEMS 26 AND 27. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR CEO ITEMS 26 AND 27 IS NOW CLOSED. >> SUPERVISOR SOVERA. >> I WILL HOLD MY COMMENTS TILL AFTER THE VOTE, SIR. >> SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL? WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEREIRA. PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. >> SUPERVISOR SOVERA. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. ON ITEM 26, WE VOTED TO OUR AGREEMENT WITH ONE OF OUR LAST LABOR GROUPS BARGAINING UNIT 30, WHICH IS THE MERCED COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT SERGEANTS. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW THINGS ON THAT. IT'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN A LONG PROCESS, MAYBE LONGER THAN SOME OF US WOULD HAVE LIKED, BUT ULTIMATELY WE GOT THERE AND I'M REALLY HAY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET DEALS WITH ALL OF OUR LABOR GROUPS, AND I WALK AWAY FROM THEM, AND YEAH, DO SOMETIMES YOU FEEL A LITTLE BIT MAYBE A LITTLE BATTERED A LITTLE BIT BRUISED UP A LITTLE BIT, YEAH, PROBABLY. BUT I JUST WANT THE FOLKS OUT THERE TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THAT, ULTIMATELY, AS A BOARD, WE'RE IN CHARGE OF WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD ME SAY THIS, OUR $1.5 BILLION BUDGET THIS YEAR, AND OF THAT, THERE'S ABOUT $200 MILLION OF IT THAT'S ACTUALLY DISCRETIONARY OVER THAT THIS BOARD GETS TO DECIDE HOW YOU SPEND IT. [01:25:04] I TRULY AM AND LIKE TO THINK THAT I AM AND WOULD HOPE THAT MY RECORD SHOWS THAT I AM I AM A PUBLIC SAFETY PERSON. I'VE NEVER BEEN IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, BUT HAVE A BACKGROUND IN THE FIRE SERVICE WITH 20 YEARS AS A VOLUNTEER FIREMAN. I DO PUT PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST AND FOREMOST, BECAUSE I THINK AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, THE NUMBER ONE JOB THAT WE ARE TASKED WITH IS THE HEALTH WELFARE AND SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS. WE END UP WITH A DEAL WITH OUR LAST LABOR GROUP HERE, AND IT'S A DEAL THAT I FEEL LIKE THAT WE CAN AFFORD MOVING FORWARD, AND I'VE SAID THIS AND I'VE SAID IT PUBLICLY, AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN IS I GET IT IF THERE WAS MORE MONEY. I KNOW THAT WE DO ACTUALLY HAVE A MONEY TREE IN THE BUDGET OFFICE. IT'S ACTUALLY CALLED THE MONEY TREE, BUT ACTUALLY THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON, GREG STILL WORKING ON TRYING TO HAVE IT MAKE ACTUAL LIKE $100 BILLS, BUT IT JUST MAKES LEAVES. BUT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THAT TREE. AS LONG AS WE HAVE THE RESOURCES, I'VE ALWAYS SAID THAT OUR JOB IS TO TRY TO BE ABLE TO GET THOSE RESOURCES TO OUR MOST IMPORTANT ASSET, REALLY. FIRST, IT'S OUR CONSTITUENTS, THE PEOPLE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF, AND THEN SECONDLY, IT IS OUR FOLKS THAT WORK FOR THE COUNTY OF MERC THAT PROVIDE ALL THESE SERVICES. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'VE MADE A DEAL WITH OUR SERGEANTS, THAT WE KNOW THAT WE CAN AFFORD OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. IT GETS A LITTLE TUMULTUOUS AT TIMES, BUT NO ONE UNDERSTAND THAT WE DON'T TAKE ANY OF THIS STUFF NOT SERIOUSLY. WE TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY AND TRY TO COME UP WITH LABOR DEALS WITH OUR GROUPS THAT WE KNOW THAT WE CAN AFFORD ON A GO FORWARD BASIS. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. >> SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I SAID IT FROM DAY 1. SUPPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT ISN'T A POLITICAL DECISION. IT'S A COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY. TODAY'S VOTE TO RAISE THE SERGEANTS CONTINUE THAT COMMITMENT. SINCE I WAS ELECTED IN 2015, I SUPPORTED A TOTAL OF 59% IN PAY INCREASES FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF MERCED COUNTY DESERVE SAFE STREETS AND SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS. WE'VE DONE THIS WHILE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THE BOTTOM LINE, PROVING THAT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY CAN GO HAND IN HAND. LET'S BE CLEAR. WE HAVE TO HAVE A STRONG PUBLIC SAFETY TO CREATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. BUSINESSES INVEST AND FAMILIES PUT DOWN ROUTES WHERE THEY FEEL SAFE. WHEN WE SUPPORT THOSE WHO PROTECT US, WE'RE INVESTING IN MERCED COUNTY'S FUTURE. >> THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PEREIRA. >> ONE, I'M THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE REACHED AGREEMENTS WITH ALL OF OUR LABOR UNIONS. I HOPE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE FOLKS ARE HAPPY. BUT REALLY, MY COMMENT IS A THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES. I KNOW NIGHT MEETINGS AREN'T EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE AND WE'VE HAD BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE ADVOCATING FOR HAVING ONE EVERY MONTH, AND THAT'S NOT WHERE I WANT TO GO. BUT ANYWAY, JUST, AND I GOT TWO THINGS CONFUSED. SORRY. I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR LETTING US HAVE OUR DECEMBER BOARD MEETING IN THE COURTHOUSE MUSEUM AS A HISTORY BUFF AND REALLY LIVING NEXT TO THE ORIGINAL MERCED COUNTY COURTHOUSE. I JUST FIND THAT BUILDING JUST I DON'T KNOW, SPECIAL. AT CHRISTMAS TIME, AND SO, JUST REALLY GLAD THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THAT TRADITION THAT STARTED SOME YEARS AGO. ANYWAYS, THAT'S IT. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> WE DIDN'T. DID WE VOTE ON THAT? WE DID. >> YES, SIR. >> SUPERVISOR PACHECO. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. YES, AND HAVING THE BACKGROUND IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, I DO WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR LETTING ME HAVE MY INPUT IN OUR NEGOTIATIONS. I THINK THEY ALL TOOK IT TO HEART AND HELPED COME TO THIS DECISION. SO THANK YOU. AND I'M GLAD THAT WE ARE ABLE TO GET A DEAL WITH EVERYBODY. AND YES, WE ALL WANT TO SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY. SO THANK YOU. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR NEGOTIATING TEAM. I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY, BUT I ALSO THANK YOU TO ALL THE LABOR GROUPS THAT CAME TO AN AGREEMENT. I KNOW IT TOOK A LOT, LIKE SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SAID, IT PROBABLY TOOK LONGER THAN WE HAD WANTED TO. BUT I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY WE ARE VERY COMMITTED TO TAKING CARE OF, LIKE SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SAID, I WANT TO ECHO THAT, OUR CONSTITUENTS FIRST, BUT THEN IT'S THE PEOPLE IN THIS BUILDING AND THEN THE PEOPLE REALLY WHO ARE PROTECTING US. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO I THINK ALL OF US UP HERE. AND SO WITH THAT, AGAIN, BIG THANK YOU TO THEM FOR WORKING WITH US AND OUR NEGOTIATING TEAM FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET SOMETHING DONE. [01:30:01] AND THEN ALSO, I WANT TO ECHO, AGAIN, WHAT SUPERVISOR PEREIRA SAID. LAST YEAR, NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE MEETING AT THE COURTHOUSE WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'VE DID IT SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD AND YOU MISS IT. SO I'M GLAD WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT AGAIN. I LIKE THE HISTORY BEHIND IT, I THINK IT'S A REALLY COOL THING TO DO. NEXT, WE HAVE BOARD APPOINTMENTS. >> ITEM 28. >> AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BOARD APPOINTMENTS, ITEM 28. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BOARD APPOINTMENTS, ITEM 28 IS NOW CLOSE. SORRY. >> I WAS WONDERING WHAT YOU'RE WAITING FOR. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEREIRA. SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE BOARD REPORTS STARTING WITH SUPERVISOR PACHECO. [REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION] >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS. ON OCTOBER 29, I CHAIRED THE MERCED COUNTY OPERATIONAL AREA DISASTER COUNCIL MEETING WITH OUR CITY, COUNTY, OES, AND CAL FIRE PARTNERS. THIS COUNCIL IS TO ENSURE THAT MERCED COUNTY IS READY IN CASE OR WHEN A DISASTER STRIKES US HERE. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK ADAM AMARA FOR HELPING COORDINATE THAT, SO WE'RE MOVING FORWARD IN A GOOD WAY. ON THE 30TH, I ATTENDED THE CITY COUNTY DINNER WHERE WE HAD A PRESENTATION ON OUR CARE COURT FROM BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT. I JUST WANT TO THANK THEM FOR A VERY INFORMATIVE PRESENTATION ON A GREAT COUNTY PROGRAM. IF ANYBODY WANTS ANY MORE INFORMATION, IT'S ON THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WEBSITE, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. ON THE FIRST SATURDAY, I ATTENDED THE MERCED COUNTY 4-H DINNER. SO I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE 4-H ON A WONDERFUL AND WELL ATTENDED EVENT. SO IT WAS A GREAT TIME. SO THANK YOU TO THEM. AND JUST FINALLY, ON VETERANS DAY, NOVEMBER 11TH, OUR MERCED ELKS LODGE IS GOING TO HOST A VETERANS LUNCH. THIS IS ONE OF THE ONLY TIMES THAT OUR ELKS LODGE IS OVER THE PUBLIC. ANY VETERAN AND A GUEST CAN COME AND HAVE A FREE LUNCH AT THE HALL. SO PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD. IF YOU WANT TO HAVE THEM COME DOWN AND HAVE LUNCH, TO GO WILL BE AVAILABLE TOO. WE WANT TO CELEBRATE OUR VETERANS. THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT OUR MERCED ELKS LODGE DOES. SO WITH THAT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I WANT TO THANK MARK HENDRICKSON AND ATWATER, CITY MAYOR, AS WELL AS THEIR CITY MANAGER. I KNOW WITH SOME LEADERSHIP CHANGES IN BOTH AREAS, WE'VE HAD A HARD TIME COORDINATING OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH THEM, BUT I JUST THINK THE LAST MEETING WENT REALLY WELL. THERE WAS A LOT OF ITEMS THAT WE NEEDED TO COVER, AND I THINK WE'RE ABLE TO WORK ON ALL OF THEM, AND IT'S LOOK LIKE COLLABORATIVE. IT'S GOING TO WORK OUT REALLY WELL. I'D LIKE TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, FOR INVITING ME OUT TO THE VETERANS PARADE IN LOS BANOS. THE FOLKS IN LOS BANOS REALLY STEP UP FOR THAT PARADE, AND IT'S JUST A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR VETERANS, AND IT'S PROVEN OUT THERE ON THE WEST SIDE. AND I THINK THAT HIS PREDECESSOR USED TO INVITE ME OUT THERE AS WELL, AND I ALWAYS MAKE SURE I ATTEND, LIKE THE WEST SIDE. AND I'D LIKE TO JUST SAY MY MOBILE DISTRICT OFFICE HOURS THEN IN THE CITY OF ATWATER, WHICH IS THE FOURTH THURSDAY, NOT THE LAST THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH. THAT'S THE FOURTH THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH FROM 3:00-5:00. THE CITY MANAGER HAS SUGGESTED US MOVING IT TO A LITTLE LATER TIME. I THINK THERE WAS A LITTLE DISRUPTION IN SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO LIKE TO COME OUT AND VISIT WITH US. WE DO HAVE SOMEBODY FROM THE CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE, AS WELL AS SOMEBODY FROM THE ASSEMBLY AND THE SENATE TO HAVE ANY CONCERNS. AND USUALLY, WE CAN ADDRESS ANYTHING THAT'S BROUGHT TO US, BUT I JUST WANT TO LET THE FOLKS KNOW THAT BECAUSE OF THANKSGIVING AND BECAUSE OF CHRISTMAS FALLING ON THOSE SAME WEEKS, WE WILL NOT HAVE THEM THESE TWO WEEKS, BUT WE WILL RESUME THE SCHEDULE ON JANUARY. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. >> SUPERVISOR PEREIRA. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. >> THERE'S ONE MORE THING TOO, AND I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE FROM THE WEST SIDE AS WELL. I DID DRAFT A LETTER TO OUR GOVERNOR REGARDING THE HEALTHY RIVERS AND LANDSCAPES PROPOSAL BY THE MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT, AND HOW IMPACTFUL THAT IS GOING TO BE TO OUR COUNTY. AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE COLLEAGUES UP HERE. WE'RE GOING TO SIGN A LETTER TO SUBMIT INTO THE RECORD. BUT WE DO HAVE A RESPONSE FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. [01:35:01] WE WILL BE MEETING WITH THEM ON FRIDAY OF THIS WEEK, AND WE HAVE A STRONG STANCE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OVER THERE. I COULD READ, MERCED COUNTY STANDS READY TO WORK WITH YOUR OFFICE, MR. GOVERNOR, BUT WE CANNOT AND WILL NOT STAND AS A STATE POLICY DISMANTLES THE FOUNDATION OF OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND THE FUTURE OF OUR RESIDENTS. WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOUR OFFICE CONTACT OURS AND SCHEDULE A MEETING. THEY SCHEDULED A ZOOM MEETING, AND WE'VE ACCEPTED, BUT STILL DEMANDING WE WANT TO GO FACE TO FACE, KNEE TO KNEE, AND WE'RE STILL WORKING IT OUT AND HOPEFULLY IT'LL BE THIS FRIDAY. SO THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, FOR LETTING ME CONTINUE. >> SUPERVISOR PEREIRA. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I SERVE ON THE MERCED SUB BASE AND GSA, AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR BOARD. WE HAVE WHAT'S CALLED A MULTI REPURPOSING PROGRAM FOR LAND. THERE IS ABOUT $1 MILLION THAT'S AVAILABLE TO DO LAND REPURPOSING. AND ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE'RE HAVING IS TO GET SMALL LOCAL FARMERS TO PARTICIPATE OR TO ENGAGE. AND SO IF YOU KNOW ANYBODY THAT HAS, 10, 20, 30, 40 ACRES OF LAND, THE ALLOTMENT OF WATER IS GOING TO MAKE IT TOUGH FOR SOME OF THOSE TO FARM. THEY COULD COME IN AND DO SOME RECHARGE BASINS AND HELP THE COMMUNITY AND THEMSELVES. AND SO IF YOU KNOW ANYBODY INTERESTED, PLEASE ASK THEM TO CALL LACY AT OUR OFFICE OR MYSELF. I TOO ATTENDED THE CITY COUNTY DINNER, AND WOULD LIKE TO THANK BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FOR SUN SHINING A PROGRAM THAT IS VERY EFFECTIVE HERE IN MERCED COUNTY. AND THEN CONGRATULATE THEM. IT'S NOT ONLY SUCCESSFUL HERE, BUT IT'S SUCCESSFUL STATEWIDE. AND SO THEY DO A GREAT JOB. THE GUSTINE VETERANS DAY PARADE IS ON THE 11TH AT 11:00, AND SO I'D LIKE TO INVITE ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME OUT TO THAT PARADE. IT'S A SHORT, SIMPLE WALKING PARADE, BUT THE VETERANS REALLY APPRECIATE IT. I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE MELANIE KARIA. SHE WAS NAMED INTERIM CITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF GUSTINE, AND SHE'LL DO A GREAT JOB. SHE'S WORKED FOR THEM FOR A LOT OF YEARS AND HOPEFULLY, THIS TIME SHE'LL APPLY FOR THE PERMANENT POSITION. SHE'S BEEN INTERIM BEFORE, BUT NOT INTERESTED IN THE PERMANENT POSITION. AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO THANK SENATOR CABALLERO, SHE HAD MADE A FACEBOOK POST ABOUT THE COST OF UTILITIES, AND SO I OPINED ON THERE MY THOUGHTS AND INVITED HER TO GIVE ME A CALL AND HAVE A CONVERSATION, AND A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, HER STAFF REACHED OUT AND WE SPOKE LAST FRIDAY. AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I TOLD HER ANYTHING THAT SHE DIDN'T KNOW, BUT I WAS ABLE TO SHARE HOW IT AFFECTS PEOPLE, AND THAT THE SYSTEM THAT THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION USES TO RAISE OUR UTILITY RATES IS FLAWED. AND SHE SHARED WITH ME AND I DIDN'T KNOW THIS, BUT SHE HAD TRIED TO FIX SOME OF THOSE IN THE PAST AND WASN'T ABLE TO GET LEGISLATION PASSED. BUT I KNOW HER TERM AS STATE SENATOR IS COMING TO AN END, BUT I DON'T THINK HER INFLUENCE ON CALIFORNIA POLITICS IS GOING TO END. I SHARED THAT WITH HER AND SHE CHUCKLED. SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT, BUT I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS AWESOME FOR HER TO REACH OUT AND WANT TO KNOW MORE OF WHAT I WAS THINKING AND THEN TO SHARE WHAT SHE HAD BEEN DOING. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. >> SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I GOT A LOT OF THINGS TO SHARE. THIS HAS BEEN A CRAZY BUSY COUPLE OF WEEKS. I TOO, WITH MY COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT 3, WE ATTENDED THE LOS BANOS VETERANS PARADE THIS LAST SATURDAY. I WANT TO THANK THE VFW AND THE AMERICAN LEGION AND LOS BANOS FOR ALWAYS PUTTING ON A GREAT PARADE. ONE OF THE COOL THINGS IS A LOT OF THE SCHOOLS LOCALLY PARTICIPATE, WHATEVER THE THEME FOR THE YEAR IS AND BUILD SOME PRETTY COOL FLOATS. THEY GET PRETTY TECHNICAL ON THEM WHERE THEY'VE GOT SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE BACK OF THEM, SO I THINK IT'S ALWAYS A HIGHLIGHT FOR THOSE KIDS TO GET INVOLVED AND IT SHOWS THEM HOW WE SHOULD ALWAYS APPRECIATE OUR VETERANS ON VETERANS DAY. AND THEN JUST TO REMIND EVERYBODY, WE'LL BE AT THE MERCED VETERANS PARADE AT 1:00 P.M. ON NOVEMBER THE 11TH AT BOB HART SQUARE. I'LL BE THERE. CITY COUNTY DINNER ALSO ATTENDED THAT. I JUST WANT TO THANK NOT ONLY BHRS FOR THEIR PRESENTATION, BUT THANK STAFF. IT WAS MERCED COUNTY'S TIME TO HOST THE EVENT, AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO PLANNING THOSE. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. MYSELF, WITH MY COLLEAGUE, WE'RE ON THE YARTS BOARD, THE YOSEMITE AREA REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. A WEEK AGO, YESTERDAY, WE WERE IN YOSEMITE FOR OUR FALL PLANNING CONFERENCE, AND REALLY HAD SOME TOUGH CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME, YARTS IS A FIVE COUNTY JPA THAT INVOLVES TUOLUMNE, [01:40:01] MONO, MERCED, MARIPOSA, MADERA, AND WE ALSO HAVE THE CITY OF FRENSO ON THERE. AND AS THINGS GET MORE AND MORE EXPENSIVE TO DO, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME REAL CONVERSATIONS COMING DOWN THE ROAD ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE MOVING FORWARD, AND I THINK THOSE CONVERSATIONS NEEDED TO BE HAD WITH OUR SISTER COUNTIES IN THERE SO THAT WE CAN START TO WRAP OUR HEAD AROUND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE MERCED COUNTY HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SUPPORTER OF YARTS AND WANT TO CONTINUE TO SEE THAT MOVING FORWARD. THE MERCED COUNTY 4-H DINNER, ALWAYS A GOOD EVENT. I'VE BEEN GOING TO THAT EVENT SINCE I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER HOW LONG I'VE BEEN GOING TO THAT EVENT, AND THAT'S THEIR BIG FUNDRAISER EVERY YEAR. AND SO I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THAT. I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, I WANT TO THANK DOCTOR KRISTIN SULLIVAN AND TIM WILLIAMS, AS ONE OF OUR PREVIOUS MEETINGS HERE. I THINK IT WAS THE LAST ONE, MAYBE THE ONE BEFORE THAT. AS WE AWARDED A NEW RFP FOR AMBULANCE SERVICE WITH AMR, THEY HAD A STAKEHOLDERS MEETING, AND I GOT INVITED TO JUST GO AND SIT, AND I GOT TO TELL YOU, I WAS REALLY PLEASED AS YOU HAD FOLKS FROM ACROSS THE SPECTRUM, YOU HAD LAW ENFORCEMENT FOLKS IN THERE, YOU HAD HOSPITAL FOLKS, YOU HAD FIRE DEPARTMENT FOLKS IN THERE, ANYBODY THAT REALLY TOUCHES EMS, THE AMBULANCE SERVICE, AND THEY HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS AS YOU WOULD, AND I WILL TELL YOU, AS I WAS SITTING THERE NEXT TO DOCTOR SINGH, AND HE REACHES OVER, WHICH IF YOU DON'T KNOW, DOCTOR SINGH IS ALL FOUR AEDS, AND ONE AEDS EVERYWHERE. THOSE ARE AUTOMATIC EARLY DEFIBRILLATORS. THAT'S HIS NUMBER 1 ISSUE. ANYWAYS, THAT WAS A COMPLETE SIDE NOTE. BUT WHEN HE TURNED AROUND AND HE SAID TO ME, EVERY QUESTION THAT THEY ANSWERED, THEY HAD A LEGITIMATE ANSWER TO, AND SO IT JUST REINFORCES FOR ME THAT I THINK THAT WE MADE THE RIGHT DECISION BY GOING TO AMR. TODAY IS ELECTION DAY. SO IF YOU HAVEN'T, IT'S CALIFORNIA, YOU COULD HAVE BEEN VOTED FOR A MONTH ALREADY. BUT IF YOU HAVEN'T VOTED, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET THAT IN TODAY. WE'LL SEE HOW THAT WORKS OUT. HOPEFULLY, IT'S A FAVORABLE OUTCOME. THE LAST THING I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS THERE'S LITTLE THINGS THAT HAPPEN THAT CAUSES ME CONCERN, AND IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE ECONOMY. AND ONE OF THOSE THINGS HAS HAPPENED, AND I NOTICED IT A LOT HERE. AS YOU GUYS ALL KNOW, YOUR TAX BILL IS LATE AFTER DECEMBER 10, BUT IT SAYS IT'S DUE BY, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS YESTERDAY, TODAY, WHATEVER IT IS. SO WE SEE A LOT MORE PEOPLE COMING IN AND PAYING AT LEAST THEIR FIRST HALF OF THEIR TAX BILL, IF NOT ALL OF IT. WHAT I HAVE NOTICED IS I'M GETTING A LOT OF PHONE CALLS ABOUT FOLKS ON THEIR TAX BILLS, AND YOU SAY, WELL, DOES THAT HAPPEN? IT HAPPENS ON OCCASION, BUT WHAT I'M SEEING IS PEOPLE ARE REALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO ALL OF THE DETAILS OF THEIR TAX BILLS. HOW MUCH GOES OUT FOR THE COLLEGE BOND, HOW MUCH GOES OUT FOR MOSQUITO ABATEMENT, HOW MUCH GOES OUT TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT? WHAT ARE THE BREAKDOWNS AS FAR AS HOW MUCH YOUR LAND VALUE IS, HOW MUCH YOUR STRUCTURAL VALUE IS? AND WHY THAT CAUSES ME CONCERN IS BECAUSE I JUST FEEL WHEN THE ECONOMY IS GOING BETTER, PEOPLE GET THEIR TAX BILL AND THEY PAY IT, AND THEY PROBABLY DON'T SCRUTINIZE IT. NOW, I KNOW SOME FARMERS OUT THERE THAT HAVE MULTIPLE PIECES OF PROPERTY WHO LOOK AT EVERY ONE OF THEM. BUT I'M GETTING FOLKS THAT JUST ARE LOOKING AT JUST FOR THEIR HOUSEHOLD, THEIR PROPERTY TAX BILL, AND THEY'RE STARTING TO SCRUTINIZE AND LOOK AT THOSE THINGS. AND THAT JUST TELLS ME IS MAYBE IT'S A LITTLE FOREWARNING THAT THINGS ARE GETTING A LITTLE BIT TIGHT OUT THERE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE WATCHING THEIR DOLLARS AND CENTS A LOT MORE THAN MAYBE THEY WOULD HAVE. AND SO JUST WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE REALLY FOR STAFF AND EVERYBODY TO START THINKING ABOUT THAT. I DO THINK THAT THINGS ARE GOING TO GET A LITTLE TIGHT FOR A WHILE, AND WE REALLY NEED TO TIGHTEN OUR BELT UP AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE BASIC SERVICES THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND THAT'S FOR THE HEALTH WELFARE AND SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS. AND THE LAST THING, SUPERVISOR PACHECO, HE'S THE EXALTED RULER FOR THE MERCED ELKS. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE IN CASE YOU GUYS DIDN'T KNOW THAT. HE'S THE GRAND POOBAH, THE TOP DOG OVER THERE RIGHT NOW. SO THANK YOU, SIR. >> MR. ANDERSON. >> I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS. I ATTENDED THE CALAFCO CONFERENCE FOR THE FIRST TIME. THIS IS MY FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF LAFCO, AND I REALLY LEARNED A LOT. LAST WEEK, I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I WAS ASKED TO SPEAK AT THE MERCED MULTICULTURAL ARTS CENTER. THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO THE CALIFORNIA ARTS COMMISSION TO TURN THE DOWNTOWN INTO AN ARTS AND CULTURE DISTRICT. CURRENTLY, THERE'S ONLY 14 OF THEM IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AND WE WOULD BE ONE OF THE OTHER ONES. WE'D BE THE ONLY ONE IN THE VALLEY, WHICH WOULD BE REALLY COOL. I WANT TO ALSO CONGRATULATE FATHER HARVEY FROM LIVINGSTON, WHO RECENTLY RETIRED. [01:45:01] HE'S BEEN A PRIEST FOR A LONG TIME. I TRIED TO GET HIM TO DO THAT INVOCATION TODAY, BUT HIS RESPONSE TO ME WAS, I'M RETIRED AS OF THAT DAY. SO HE'S NOT HERE. SO THANK YOU TO ROBERT MORRIS FOR DOING THAT. AGAIN, I ATTENDED THE CITY COUNTY DINNER, THE 4-H DINNER. ALSO MAKE SURE THEY THINK THE GREEN LIGHT, IT STARTS TONIGHT. IT WAS ON LAST NIGHT ALSO. AND THEN AGAIN, PLEASE COME OUT TO THE PARADE, OPENING CEREMONY IS AT 1:00, PARADE WILL START AT 2:00 AT BOB HART SQUARE. BUT THEN ALSO, THE FIELD OF HONOR THING JUMPS UP YOU FORGET ABOUT IT UNTIL IT ACTUALLY HAPPENS. THAT'S ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS TO DRIVE BY AND TO BE A PART OF. IT'S REALLY AN INTERESTING THING TO SEE, SO HOPEFULLY YOU CAN MAKE IT OUT TO THE OPENING AND CLOSING CEREMONIES, AND THEN ALSO THE RUN FOR THE FALLING ON SUNDAY. WITH THAT, I WILL ADJOURN THE MEETING TO THE NEXT REGULAR SCHEDULED BOARD OF [POSSIBLE DIRECTION FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS] SUPERVISORY MEETING WILL BE HELD AT 10:00 A.M ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2025. ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.