Dec 09, 2025 Board Meeting

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:02]

GOOD EVENING OR AFTERNOON, AND WELCOME TO THE DECEMBER 9TH, 2025 MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

YOUR CLOSED SESSION FOR THIS EVENING IS THE FOLLOWING.

IT IS THE INTENTION OF THE BOARD TO MEET IN CLOSED SESSION CONCERNING A CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR NATHAN BRAY, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, ROAD COMMISSIONER, PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54 956.8 REGARDING PROPERTY 4263 NORTH GURR ROAD IN ATWATER APN 005-080-006 WITH AGENCY NEGOTIATOR NATHAN BRAY FOR NEGOTIATING PARTIES LONDON PROPERTIES LIMITED REGARDING UNDER NEGOTIATION TO REQUEST AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY AND VALUE.

ADDITIONALLY, A CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR MARK MIMMS , DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, REGARDING PROPERTY BUILDINGS 315, 317, 318, 362, 1340, 1356, FUEL TANK YARD, APPROXIMATELY 1.31 ACRES, AND AIRPORT RAMP PARKING LOCATED AT THE CASTLE COMMERCE CENTER IN ATWATER WITH, OF COURSE, THE AGENCY NEGOTIATOR, MARK MIMMS, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR NEGOTIATING PARTIES.

XING KONG AVIATION SERVICES LLC, UNDER NEGOTIATION TO REQUEST AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE LEASE PRICE AND TERMS. THE PUBLIC WILL BE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON ANY MATTER TO BE CONSIDERED IN CLOSED SESSION PRIOR TO THE BOARD ADJOURNING INTO CLOSED SESSION.

TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.

OKAY, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE CLOSED SESSION ITEMS IS NOW PUBLIC IS OPEN.

WHAT'S OPEN? THE PUBLIC COMMENT? PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE CLOSED SESSION ITEMS IS NOW CLOSED.

[CLOSED SESSION]

[6:00 P.M. REGULAR MEETING]

EXCUSE ME. THIS EVENING WE HAD A CLOSED SESSION MEETING AND STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION.

WE WILL NOW START WITH THE INVOCATION LED BY PASTOR RICHARD MILLER OF VICTORY BAPTIST CHURCH, AND THEN SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL WILL LEAD THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

OPPORTUNITY. TURN ANYTHING ON. IS THAT GOOD? OKAY.

AND BEFORE WE PRAY IN LUKE CHAPTER NUMBER TWO, I'M REMINDED OF THE WORDS OF THE ANGEL AND THE HOST THAT ACCOMPANIED THE ANGEL ON THE NIGHT THAT JESUS WAS BORN. HE SAID TO THE SHEPHERDS, GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE, GOODWILL TOWARD MEN. AND IN THESE WORDS WE FIND A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS, THAT WHEN GOD IS GLORIFIED, THERE IS PEACE ON EARTH. AND THEN WE SEE GOODWILL THAT'S GIVEN TOWARDS MEN, TOWARDS OUR FELLOW MAN.

LET'S GO TO THE LORD IN PRAYER AND ASK HIS BLESSING ON THIS MEETING.

FATHER, WE COME TO YOU THIS EVENING, AND WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US.

AS WE'RE TOLD IN THE BOOK OF PSALMS, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO ENTER INTO YOUR PRESENCE WITH THANKSGIVING. AND FATHER, WE ARE TRULY GRATEFUL PEOPLE. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THIS NATION AND THE FREEDOMS THAT WE HAVE HERE.

FATHER, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SERVING AROUND THE WORLD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THESE LIBERTIES.

WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THOSE WHO REPRESENT US. WE THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO SERVE US HERE LOCALLY.

FATHER, WE ASK NOW FOR YOUR PROTECTION UPON EACH OF THEM, UPON THEIR FAMILIES.

FATHER, WE PRAY FOR THOSE THAT ARE HURTING AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.

FATHER, THOUGH WE KNOW THIS IS A WONDERFUL TIME IN WHICH WE CAN CELEBRATE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS, THERE ARE THOSE THAT ARE BATTLING, SOME WITH LOSS, SOME WITH DEPRESSION.

FATHER, WE JUST ASK THAT YOU COMFORT AND STRENGTHEN.

FATHER, WE PRAY THAT YOU'D BE HONORED AND GLORIFIED IN ALL THAT'S SAID AND DONE HERE. GIVE WISDOM AND DIRECTION.

WE ASK IN JESUS NAME. AMEN.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK]

2.2. OKAY. AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT AGAIN.

THIS IS FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS ONLY. NO.

I GOT THREE MINUTES, SO I BETTER HURRY. I TALKED TO THE CEO A NUMBER OF TIMES, AND I'VE BEEN I TALKED TO SUPERVISOR TODAY, AND IT WAS HARD FOR ME TO GET TO SEE A SUPERVISOR ANYWAY.

[00:05:07]

I WORK FOR STANISLAUS COUNTY. I RETIRED FROM THERE.

I WORKED FOR THE BURBANK FIRE DEPARTMENT AND I TRANSFERRED OVER TO THE COUNTY.

I RETIRED FROM STANISLAUS COUNTY. MY CONCERNS ARE THE MUSEUM, YOU KNOW, THEY SPEND $3 MILLION ON THAT. AND I WATCHED HIM. I WALK EVERY DAY.

I WALK FIVE DAYS A WEEK, AND I WATCH HIM WORK ON THAT, THIS STRUCTURE.

I'M SORRY, YOU SAID SOMETHING? SOMEBODY COUGHED IN THE BACKGROUND.

AH. THE MUSEUM COST US THE STATE $3 MILLION. AND IT'S STRUCTURAL DAMAGE.

THERE'S NO MILLION DOLLAR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE ON THERE.

I WALKED THROUGH THAT PLACE SO MANY TIMES. AND THE PAINT JOB FOR $2 MILLION IS NOT THERE.

SOMEBODY GOT DEEP POCKETS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN BY THAT.

BUT ANYWAY, THE WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS THAT THE LIBRARY, THE STAFF, IS PERFECT.

THEY'RE REALLY GOOD. AND THEY TREAT THE HOMELESS WITH A SMILE EVERY TIME.

BUT MOTHERS THAT GO THERE HAVE TO CHANGE THEIR BABIES DOWNSTAIRS.

AND THEY SAY THEY DON'T COME TO THE LIBRARY UNTIL THEY CLEAN IT UP.

THIS WOMEN SAY THEY LOVE COMING TO THE LIBRARY, BUT THEY GO DOWNSTAIRS TO CHANGE THE BABY.

IT'S A MESS DOWN THERE. SO I WAS PROPOSING THE TWO DRINKING FOUNTAINS OUTSIDE BY THE MUSEUM, AND THEY'LL TAKE SOME OF THE PRESSURE OFF THE LIBRARY.

I MEAN, THE LIBRARY GETS 10 TO 1 MORE PEOPLE THAN THE MUSEUM.

THEY'RE THERE 6 OR 7 DAYS A WEEK, AND THEY GOT TO PUT UP WITH THE HOMELESS CONSTANTLY, AND THEY ALWAYS HAVE A SMILE ON THEIR FACE.

AND THE PROPOSAL I MADE SIX WEEKS AGO WAS TO GET DRINKING FOUNTAINS PUT UP IN THE PARK.

AND I TALKED TO THE CEO. HE SAID, WE HAVE TO GET SECURITY, WE HAVE TO PAY FOR SECURITY.

I SAID, I'LL GET I'LL GET TWO MEN. I'LL PAY FOR IT MYSELF.

I GOT A SON THAT'S 50 SOMETHING YEARS OLD. HE WAS IN PRISON FOR 18 YEARS.

HE AIN'T FREE NOBODY. AND I GOT ANOTHER GUY, SHAUN.

HE'S A COLLEGE BOY. AND HE SAID HE'LL DO IT FOR FREE, BUT I'LL PAY HIM.

I'LL PAY HIM FOR THAT. I'LL BUY RADIOS FOR HIM.

I MEAN, THIS DRINKING FOUNTAIN IS IMPORTANT. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU STAND ON IT.

THE CEO TOLD ME THERE WAS 500 PEOPLE AT THE GRAND OPENING.

I DIDN'T SEE NO 500 PEOPLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT, SIR.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. YOUR TIME IS UP.

THANK YOU. MR. HENDERSON. I'D LIKE TO START BEFORE I, I HAVE AN INVITATION FOR YOU TO THE WINTER SOLSTICE.

OUR HOUSELESS MEMORIAL, 2025. I'D FIRST LIKE TO SHARE A POEM THAT WE USUALLY START OUR MEETINGS WITH.

THAT I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU. IT'S CALLED IN LAK'ECH.

IT SAYS TÚ ERES MI OTRO YO. YOU ARE MY OTHER ME.

SI TE HAGO DAÑO A TI. IF I DO HARM TO YOU. I DO HARM TO.

EXCUSE ME. IF I DO HARM TO YOU. ME HAGO DAÑO A MÍ MISMO.

I DO HARM TO MYSELF. SI TE AMO Y RESPETO. IF I LOVE AND RESPECT YOU.

ME AMO Y RESPETO YO. I LOVE AND RESPECT MYSELF.

SO THIS POEM I LIKE. BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE GOLDEN RULE, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'VE KNOWN.

AND FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS, I BELIEVE I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH HELPING TO ORGANIZE THE WINTER SOLSTICE, WHICH THIS YEAR WILL BE HELD ON A SUNDAY ON DECEMBER 21ST, 11 TO 1 P.M.

AT MCNAMARA PARK. AND THESE ARE A COUPLE OF FLYERS THAT I WILL LEAVE FOR YOU WHO ARE ABLE TO JOIN US.

WE'RE ASKING FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF DONATIONS.

WARM CLOTHING, ANY KIND OF, YOU KNOW GIVEAWAYS THAT CAN BE GIVEN THERE.

WE APPRECIATE THAT. WE HAVE QUITE A FEW SPONSORS, INCLUDING GOLDEN VALLEY HEALTH CENTERS.

WE HAVE GREATER NEW HOPE CHURCH AND POTTER'S MINISTRIES.

[00:10:01]

THIS YEAR, WE'RE GLAD TO ADD THE PARKS AND RECREATION SERVICES OF MERCED CITY AND CENTRAL VALLEY PRIDE.

SO THE LEAD GROUP HERE IS THE CALIFORNIA CENTRAL VALLEY JOURNEY FOR JUSTICE.

I HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE. IT WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO SEE YOU AND I.

JUST ONE LAST THING. I JUST WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, THROW OUT A A LITTLE BIT OF A CHALLENGE TO YOU, IF ANYTHING, IF WE CAN END AND PREVENT HOMELESSNESS WHILE YOU'RE IN OFFICE, THAT WOULD BE A WONDERFUL LEGACY.

I KNOW THAT'S QUITE A BIG CHALLENGE, BUT I AM WILLING TO HELP IN ANY WAY WE CAN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SIR. SIR. SIR, CAN YOU RAISE THE MICROPHONE? THERE'S A LITTLE BUTTON ON THE SIDE THERE THAT'LL RAISE THE PODIUM.

YOUR RIGHT HIP.

OKAY. I'D LIKE TO SAY GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE. MY NAME IS FREDDY BOYKIN. I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT IN MERCED COUNTY FOR OVER 50 YEARS.

I'M EX-MILITARY. I'M A DISABLED VETERAN, AND I RETIRED.

I'VE WORKED MANY JOBS HERE IN MERCED COUNTY. MY LAST TWO JOBS WAS I WAS A GENERAL CONTRACTOR WITH FOUR SUBCONTRACTORS LICENSES.

I'M PART OF THE LOCAL AND MODESTO, THE LOCAL ELECTRICAL UNION THERE WITH GOOD STANDARDS, AND ALSO PART OF THE CONTRACTORS LABOR UNION IN THE BAY AREA.

I'M IN GOOD STANDING. I ALSO QUALIFY FOR THE SHEET METAL UNION.

ALSO QUALIFY PROFESSIONAL WELDER. I ALSO QUALIFY FOR HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING.

I WORKED THIS AREA FOR OVER 50 YEARS. I HAD MULTIPLE SKILLS AND MULTIPLE TALENTS.

I CAME INTO CALIFORNIA TO SERVE MY COUNTRY, WHICH I'M GLAD I DID, BUT I WAS LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO RAISE MY FAMILY BECAUSE I'M A COUNTRY BOY AT HEART AND I FOUND MERCED AND I LOVED IT TO DEATH. I LOVE THE WEATHER.

GOOD TO SEE MARK. I LOVE THE WEATHER AND I JUST WE DECIDED TO KEEP MY FAMILY HERE.

I'VE DONATED MY ENTIRE FAMILY TO THE SURVIVAL OF MERCED COUNTY.

75% OF MY FAMILY ARE TEACHERS. I'VE GOT A COUPLE THAT GOT MASTER'S DEGREES.

THEY TRIED TO GET ME TO GO INTO TEACHING, BUT I WASN'T INTO THAT. I'M MORE INTO MY HANDS ON STUFF.

MY OCCUPATION. I'VE HAD MANY. THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR'S LICENSE, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT I HAD AND MAKES THE MOST INCOME.

BUT I ALSO DID THE MOST WORK WITH THAT LICENSE.

I HAD FOUR SUBCONTRACTORS LICENSES. I ALSO WAS A REGISTERED NURSE BY TRADE.

I GAVE 15 YEARS OF MY LIFE TO WORK IN THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM HERE.

WHAT HAPPENS IS I WAS FORCED TO RETIRE IN 2013 BY MERCED COUNTY, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

ALSO THE COURT SYSTEM AND ALSO SACRAMENTO AND THE EDD THEY HAD ME TRAINING FELONS TRYING TO GIVE HIM AN OPPORTUNITY TO REINTEGRATE INTO THE SOCIETY.

AND WHAT I DID IS THEY THEY FIND ME. BUT I PAID OUT ALMOST $300,000 ON A $12,000 FRAUD CHARGE.

OKAY, THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO IS I SPENT 18 MONTHS TRAINING STUDENTS THAT THE COUNTY GAVE ME UNDER THE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD.

THEY NEVER PAID ME FOR THE GRANT THAT THEY WAS PROVIDED.

I TRAINED THOSE STUDENTS. AFTER FOUR MONTHS, WE NEVER RECEIVED A CHECK.

I TRAINED THOSE STUDENTS FOR 18 MONTHS ON MY OWN DIME.

AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THEY'RE ALL SUCCESSFUL AT THIS TIME, I THINK I LOST ONE THAT GOT KILLED BY GANG VIOLENCE.

I'M NOT HERE TO GIVE YOU A LOT OF PROBLEMS BECAUSE I LOVE MERCED COUNTY.

AS I'VE SAID, I'VE DONATED MY LIFE AND MY FAMILY TO THIS COUNTY.

I COULD HAVE MOVED ANY TIME. I CAN WORK ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

MY MY PROBLEM IS I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH PAYING MY UTILITY BILL.

I INSTALLED A 45 $48,000 SOLAR SYSTEM INTO MY HOME WHEN I BUILT MY HOME.

MY HOME IS 4800FT², AND IT'S GOT THREE LEVELS TO IT.

I WAS ONE OF THE FIRST CONTRACTORS TO BRING SOLAR INTO THIS COUNTY, AND I DID EXTENSIVE WORK.

I THINK MY LARGEST JOB WAS A HALF $1 MILLION JOB.

I NEVER ADVERTISED IN MY LIFE. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN WORKING BY WORD OF MOUTH.

WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN IS THAT THE PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE IS MY PROPERTY TAXES ARE TOO HIGH.

THIS YEAR IS THE FIRST TIME MY WIFE ASKED ME FOR MONEY TO PAY MY PROPERTY TAXES.

MY WIFE HANDLES THE BILLS FOR THE HOUSE. SHE HANDLES ALL THE BILLS.

SHE DOESN'T DO ANYTHING IN THE BUSINESS WHATSOEVER.

LAST YEAR, SHE ASKED ME FOR $500 TO HELP PAY HER BALANCE ON THE PROPERTY TAX.

THIS YEAR, SHE ASKED ME FOR $800. SIR, YOUR YOUR TIME IS UP.

YES, SIR. THANK YOU.

SALVADOR SANDOVAL, A SEMI-RETIRED PHYSICIAN IN MERCED COUNTY, AND I'M HAVING THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENTS

[00:15:03]

AND THEN, FOR EXAMPLE, GOES TO EL NIDO AND STEVENSON.

ALSO ONE ISSUE THAT'S COME UP, I THINK, PARTICULARLY WITH THIS COLD WEATHER, IS THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE COMING IN TO GET DESIGNATED FOR RECUPERATIVE MEDICAL CARE DESIGNATION SO THEY CAN STAY IN THE SHELTER.

AND I THINK THAT'S A PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST PEOPLE WITH MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT HAVE DIFFICULTY WITH THE INCLEMENT WEATHER.

IT'S ALSO HEALTHY PEOPLE. I WORKED AT GOLDEN VALLEY HEALTH CENTERS BACK WHEN GOVERNOR WILSON OPENED UP THE NATIONAL GUARD ARMORIES, FOR EXAMPLE. AND THIS WAS BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN DEATHS OF PEOPLE THAT WERE OUT IN, IN, IN, IN, IN, IN THE STREETS CONTINUUM OF CARE RESCUE MISSION AND THE DART PROGRAM, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE DOING VERY GOOD WORK. BUT THE THING IS, THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH BEDS FOR PEOPLE TO, TO ACCESS. AND I'M ASKING THAT THE COUNTY CONSIDER A TEMPORARY SHELTER OR DESIGNATION FOR, FOR HOUSING ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT LOS BAÑOS IS DOING RIGHT NOW WITH CHRISTINE MCCAMMOND.

THEY HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM IN MODESTO TOO.

THERE WAS A TEMPORARY SHELTER AND IT ONLY CLOSED BECAUSE A PERMANENT FACILITY WAS BUILT.

THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE BECOMING PUTTING IN DANGER OF BECOMING HOMELESS, TOO.

AND I THINK IT'S AN ISSUE THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT BY ALL HANDS ON DECK.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I WISH YOU A VERY NICE CHRISTMAS.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ANNETTE BROWN, AND I LIVE OUT ON ROSE AVENUE, PARALLEL TO 140 WAY OUT IN THE BOONIES.

AND YOU KNOW, INTERESTING. THE GENTLEMAN WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT TAXES ARE, OF COURSE, WE ALL PAY LOTS OF TAXES, EQUIPMENT, LAND, HOME. WE EVEN GOT TAXED FOR GRAVEL IN OUR DRIVEWAY RECENTLY, WHICH I WAS KIND OF SURPRISED, BUT WE STILL DID. AND I'M FINE WITH PAYING TAXES BECAUSE I WANT A FIRE TRUCK TO SHOW UP WHEN I MAKE A CALL OR A POLICEMAN.

BUT I ALSO WANT TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE ON ROADS THAT ARE SAFE AND WHERE I LIVE ON ROSE AVENUE, BETWEEN CRESSEY AND ROBIN, THE ROADS ARE SO HORRENDOUS.

THERE ARE PLACES WHERE IT'S SAFER TO DRIVE LITERALLY YOUR ENTIRE VEHICLE OFF OF THE ROAD, ON THE DIRT, RATHER THAN ON THE BROKEN ROADS. THERE ARE PLACES WHERE THE ROAD HAS BROKEN AWAY FROM THE EDGE AND THE DIRT IS NOT LEVEL.

THERE'S A DROP OFF SO DANGEROUS THAT IF YOU SOMEONE WHO DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS THERE, IF THEY HIT THAT AT NIGHT, DEFINITELY COULD PROBABLY EVEN FLIP A CAR BECAUSE IT'S IT'S DEEP AND IT'S COMING WAY INTO THE ROAD BETWEEN LINCOLN AND ROBIN THE ROAD. IT'S HARDLY EVEN A ROAD. IT'S LIKE PATCHES OF ASPHALT.

AND SO, I MEAN, WHEN THE SULTANA WAS NOT REDONE, I WAS CALLING THE COUNTY FREQUENTLY BECAUSE THAT BECAME A THOROUGHFARE FROM 140 TO 99 AND LOTS OF DIESELS. THERE ARE NOT DIESEL TRUCKS ON THAT ROAD.

THERE'S NOT THE SAME KIND OF DANGER THAT THERE WAS WITH SULTANA.

BUT STILL, ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE OUT THERE ARE PAYING TAXES AND LOTS OF TAXES, AND I FEEL LIKE IT'S ONLY FAIR FOR US TO HAVE SOME ROADS THAT ARE SAFE AND THAT AREN'T RUINING OUR CARS, BECAUSE THEY ARE SUCH BAD CONDITION THAT YOU'RE JUST BOUNCING DOWN THE ROAD.

SO I'M ASKING FOR THE COUNTY TO PUT ROSE AVENUE ON THE LIST.

I KNOW THERE'S A LIST. I LEARNED THAT WHEN I WAS MAKING THE CALLS BEFORE, BUT I WISH THAT AND IT'S NOT ONLY ROADS.

ALL OF THOSE ROADS PARALLEL. COMING IN TOWARD 99 FROM 140.

IF WE COULD, I DON'T KNOW, BE BECOME A PRIORITY AT SOME LEVEL.

I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND I'M SURE ALL OF THE FOLKS WHO LIVE OUT THERE WOULD AS WELL.

AND THAT'S MY REQUEST. THANK YOU.

[00:20:04]

[PRESENTATION]

GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN PEDROSO SUPERVISOR, CEO, HENDRICKSON COUNCIL HANSEN.

GUESTS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. MY NAME IS MEL LEVY.

I'M THE MERCED COUNTY REGISTRAR OF VOTERS. AS YOU KNOW, EVERY ELECTION THE MERCED COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT MAILS BALLOTS TO EACH REGISTERED VOTER ALONG WITH AN I VOTED STICKER. FEEDBACK WE RECEIVED FROM VOTERS INDICATES THAT THEY ENJOY BEING ABLE TO DISPLAY THEIR PARTICIPATION IN ELECTIONS.

STICKERS ARE PROBABLY THE THE MOST TALKED ABOUT PART OF ANY ELECTION.

THE STICKERS WE HAVE USED IN THE PAST HAVE BEEN STANDARD ONES THAT YOU COULD FIND IN JURISDICTIONS ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.

THIS YEAR, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, THE MERCED COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT HELD A CONTEST TO DESIGN THE I VOTED STICKERS THAT WILL BE MAILED TO OUR VOTERS.

IN AN EFFORT TO INVOLVE STUDENTS IN OUR ELECTIONS PROCESS AND BEGIN TO INTRODUCE THEM TO OUR DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT.

MERCED COUNTY ELECTIONS INVITED ALL MERCED COUNTY STUDENTS IN THE FIRST THROUGH FIFTH GRADE TO TAKE PART IN THE FIRST EVER I VOTED EARLY STICKER DESIGN CONTEST.

THE CONTEST WAS HELD FROM SEPTEMBER 2ND TO OCTOBER 17TH, 2025.

I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF SUBMISSIONS FROM SCHOOL KIDS ACROSS THE COUNTY.

IN MANY CASES, TEACHERS WOULD BRING IN SUBMISSIONS FOR THEIR ENTIRE CLASS.

THE STICKER DESIGNS WERE REVIEWED BY MY DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT THEY MET THE QUALIFICATIONS.

WE EVEN HAD A SPECIAL GUEST REVIEW THEM. WHEN THE CALIFORNIA SECRETARY OF STATE, SHIRLEY WEBER, VISITED OUR TEAM. SHE IS AN EDUCATOR HERSELF, AND SHE WAS GREATLY IMPRESSED BY THE CREATIVITY OF MERCED COUNTY'S CHILDREN, AS WELL AS EXCITED TO SEE THE YOUNGER GENERATION STARTING TO LEARN ABOUT ELECTIONS.

IN MID-NOVEMBER, I CONVENED THE DECISION PANEL TO CHOOSE OUR CONTEST WINNERS.

IN KEEPING WITH OUR THEME OF EDUCATING THE STUDENTS OF MERCED COUNTY ABOUT ELECTIONS, I WAS HONORED TO HAVE AMY TAYLOR, THE MERCED COUNTY LIBRARIAN, AND DOCTOR SUSAN WALSH, THE PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF MERCED COUNTY.

JOIN ME AND REAGAN MCGUIRE, THE ASSISTANT REGISTRAR OF VOTERS, TO DETERMINE OUR WINNING DESIGNS FROM AMONG THE HUNDREDS OF SUBMISSIONS.

ONE STUDENT FROM EACH OF THE SUPERVISORIAL DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTY WAS CHOSEN.

DURING NEXT YEAR'S ELECTIONS IN 2026. VOTERS WILL RECEIVE THE STICKER THAT WAS DESIGNED BY THE WINNING STUDENT FROM THE DISTRICT THAT THEY LIVE IN.

IN ADDITION, THE POSTERS THAT YOU SEE HERE NEXT TO ME WILL BE DISPLAYED AT THE VOTE CENTER NEAREST TO THE WINNING STUDENT'S SCHOOL.

OH, THERE WE GO. HERE ARE THE WINNING DESIGNS FOR THE MERCED COUNTY ELECTIONS 2025.

I VOTED EARLY STICKER CONTEST FROM DISTRICT ONE.

ESMERALDA, A STUDENT IN MRS. RUSSELL'S CLASS AT CAMPUS PARK ELEMENTARY.

FROM DISTRICT TWO, AVIKA A STUDENT IN MISS AVILA'S CLASS AT LUTHER BURBANK ELEMENTARY.

FROM DISTRICT THREE, GENESIS, A STUDENT IN MRS. SARGE'S CLASS AT FRANKLIN ELEMENTARY. FROM DISTRICT FOUR.

AMAN, A STUDENT IN MISS FISKE'S CLASS AT WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY.

THERE YOU GO. AND FROM DISTRICT FIVE. DANICA, A STUDENT IN MRS. SILVA'S CLASS AT OUR LADY OF FATIMA SCHOOL. ALL OF THESE DESIGNS, THOUGH VERY DIFFERENT FROM ONE ANOTHER, SHOWCASE THE CREATIVITY AND PATRIOTISM THAT SERVES THESE STUDENTS WELL.

THEY WILL ALL OFFER A UNIQUE AND MEANINGFUL DISPLAY OF PARTICIPATION FOR OUR VOTERS IN NEXT YEAR'S ELECTIONS.

IN ADDITION TO HAVING THE VOTERS IN THEIR DISTRICTS RECEIVE THESE STICKERS DURING ELECTIONS NEXT YEAR, THE STUDENTS RECEIVED A BAG OF PRIZES FROM THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT AND WILL TONIGHT RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT.

I WANT TO THANK THEM AS WELL AS THEIR PARENTS. MANY OF THEM ARE HERE TONIGHT. TEACHERS, SOME OF WHOM ARE, WELL, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS WHO ARE ALSO HERE FOR TAKING PART IN THIS CONTEST.

THANK YOU ALSO TO THE HUNDREDS OF OTHER STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WHO PARTICIPATED.

A SPECIAL THANKS TO CAMILLE FAGUNDES AT THE MERCED COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION FOR HER ASSISTANCE IN NOTIFYING SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

THANK YOU ALSO TO AMY TAYLOR AND DOCTOR SUSAN WALSH FOR YOUR HELP IN DETERMINING OUR WINNING DESIGNS.

AND LASTLY, I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE THIS CONTEST.

SO I HAVE SOME CERTIFICATES HERE. I THINK IT'D BE APPROPRIATE TO CALL THE STUDENTS UP AND GET SOME PHOTOS WITH WITH YOU ALL IF YOU'RE OPEN TO IT.

[00:25:28]

THERE YOU GO.

CONGRATULATIONS. GREAT. OKAY. YEAH. SO SOME OF THE TEACHERS AND PARENTS ARE HERE AS WELL. WE CAN COME UP FOR THE PICTURE. SURE. IS YOUR FAMILY HERE? YOU WANT TO HAVE THEM COME UP? YEAH. IF YOU WANT TO BRING THE POSTER.

YOUR MOM AND YOUR BROTHER. RIGHT? I'M NOT SURE IF HER TEACHER'S HERE.

ALL RIGHT. COME ON UP.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD JOB. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, YOU TWO. FROM DISTRICT TWO, AVIKA.

[APPLAUSE]. HERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT. DO YOU WANT TO BRING THE DESIGN UP, CHRISTINA? AND THEN DO YOU WANT TO INVITE YOUR FAMILY UP AS WELL? AND YOUR BROTHER.

OKAY. PERFECT. THANK YOU. OKAY. OH, DAD. OH, SORRY.

EXCELLENT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANKS SO MUCH.

IF YOU WANT TO GET THE POSTER BACK. OKAY. FROM DISTRICT THREE.

DO WE HAVE GENESIS. [APPLAUSE] YEAH. YOU GUYS COME UP AS WELL.

ALL RIGHT. HERE YOU GO. YEAH. YOU GUYS COME UP AS WELL.

WHICH ONE DO YOU WANT TO HOLD? HOLD THIS. YOU HOLD THAT.

THERE YOU GO. GET UP. RIGHT NEXT TO ME. PERFECT.

ALL RIGHT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SIR.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OH, DON'T FORGET YOUR CERTIFICATE.

THERE YOU GO. SHE LIKES THE POSTER. SHE KEEPS IT.

NO, NO, NO, WE'LL KEEP THAT. YEAH, RIGHT. OKAY.

I SHOULD GET HER ONE. FROM DISTRICT FOUR. WE HAVE EAMON [APPLAUSE].

THERE YOU GO. CONGRATULATIONS. AND WHERE'S. OH, THERE YOU GO.

ERIC. THANK YOU. EVERYBODY. BROTHER. OH, YEAH.

OH, YEAH. YEAH, YEAH. YOU WANT TO. COME ON, COME ON, COME ON, COME ON.

SHE SAID NO. DARN IT, I LEFT OUT. IS THAT EVERYBODY? NOPE. ONE MORE, ONE MORE. ONE OF US.

AWESOME. LOOK RIGHT HERE. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. HERE YOU ARE. OH, I'M GONNA TAKE A PICTURE.

OH, JEEZ. THANK YOU. AWESOME. GOOD JOB. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THE GROUPS ARE JUST GOING TO GET BIGGER FROM HERE.

AND IF I MIGHT JUST SAY ONE THING. YES. AND ONCE A PATRIOT.

ALWAYS A PATRIOT. THAT'S MY ALMA MATER. VERY GOOD.

AND FROM DISTRICT FIVE, DANICA [APPLAUSE]. THERE YOU GO.

[00:30:02]

OH, WE'LL GET ONE HERE REAL QUICK. OKAY, NOW GET IN THERE. I'LL HOLD IT. OH, YEAH.

OKAY, PERFECT. NOW WE'RE GOING TO GET EVERYBODY UP HERE.

GRANDMAS, TEACHERS, BROTHER.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE WINNERS AND THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN THAT.

YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO STAY FOR THE MEETING.

BUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO NOT BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT AN EARLY BEDTIME, NOW IS A GOOD TIME FOR YOU TO EXIT IF YOU'D LIKE TO.

IT'S A SCHOOL NIGHT. GOOD MOVE.

YEAH. NO.

YEAH.

OKAY. NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE OUR AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONER, SEAN RUNYON, TO THE PODIUM TO PROVIDE US WITH THE ANNUAL CROP REPORT.

WELL, IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH TO FOLLOW THAT ONE, BUT I'M GOING TO TRY.

SO GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, COUNTY COUNCIL.

HANSEN CL HENDRICKSON. SEAN RUNYON AG COMMISSIONER, SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE TO BE HERE FOR THE SECOND TIME THIS YEAR TO TALK ONCE MORE ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AGRICULTURE HAS IN OUR COUNTY.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, BACK IN AUGUST, I PRESENTED THE FIRST EVER TITLED ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS OF MERCED COUNTY AGRICULTURE, WHICH HIGHLIGHTED THE 9.93 BILLION IMPACT OF AG ON OUR COUNTY.

TONIGHT, I'M HAPPY TO BE BACK TO PRESENT OUR ANNUAL REPORT ON AGRICULTURE FOR 2024.

SO WITH THAT, LET'S GET RIGHT INTO IT AND UNVEIL THE NUMBER EVERYWHERE EVERYONE IS MOST INTERESTED IN.

SO FOR THE 2024 YEAR, TOTAL GROSS RETURNS FOR MERCED COUNTY, COMMODITIES WAS $4,048,715,000.

THIS REPRESENTS A 4% DECREASE FROM 2023 RETURNS.

I ALWAYS WANT TO EMPHASIZE THESE NUMBERS IN OUR REPORTS, OUR GROSS RETURNS, AND DO NOT ACCOUNT FOR PRODUCTION, MARKETING AND TRANSPORTATION COSTS. THEY DO NOT REFLECT INCOME GAINS, LOSSES OR PROFITS.

SO I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK ALL THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THIS REPORT, INCLUDING THE GROWERS, RANCHERS AND INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES WHO VOLUNTARILY PROVIDE THEIR INFORMATION FOR OUR REPORT.

ALSO, SPECIAL THANKS GOES OUT TO OUR CROP REPORT TEAM WHO UNDERTAKE THIS MASSIVE EFFORT EVERY YEAR TO BRING THIS REPORT TO THE MANY THAT UTILIZE THIS DATA.

SO NOW THAT WE HAVE REVEALED THE BIG NUMBER, A FEW BRIEF COMMENTS ON SOME OF THE TOP CROPS.

SO DAIRY CONTINUES TO BE NUMBER ONE COMMODITY, BUT SLIGHTLY DECREASING IN 2024 BY 3% FROM 2023 VALUES.

SOME OF THIS OVERALL DECREASE CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE EFFECTS OF HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA ON PRODUCTION IN THE LATER PART OF THE YEAR.

SO ALMONDS REBOUNDED STRONGLY FOR THE 20 FROM THE 2023 YEAR AND HAD A 22% INCREASE, WITH BOTH PRODUCTION AND PRICES RISING TO KEEP ALMONDS IN THE NUMBER TWO SPOT. SO CATTLE AND CALVES MOVED UP ONE POSITION TO CLAIM THE THIRD SPOT AS PRICES DRAMATICALLY INCREASED BY 27%,

[00:35:01]

SWEET POTATO PRODUCTION VALUES DECREASED BY 12% AND WERE PRIMARILY DRIVEN BY A 19% DECREASE IN PRODUCTION DUE TO HEAT STRESS DURING THE 2024 GROWING SEASON.

NOTABLY, TOMATOES HAD A SIGNIFICANT 36% DECREASE IN PRODUCTION VALUE FROM THE 2023 VALUES, PRIMARILY DUE TO DECREASES IN HARVESTED ACRES AND PRICES.

EVERY YEAR, A CROP REPORT INCLUDES GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PREVIOUS 30 YEARS, AS WELL AS A COMPARATIVE BREAKDOWNS OF THE CROP GROUPINGS AND MERCED COUNTY.

WE HAVE INCLUDED THESE FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS SO READERS CAN EASILY AND CONSISTENTLY DIGEST THIS DATA.

LOOKING AT THIS DATA OVER THE YEARS, IT SEEMS WE WERE ON A 7 TO 8 YEAR CYCLE WHERE WE HAVE RECORD BREAKING YEARS, PRIMARILY DRIVEN BY OUR NUMBER ONE COMMODITY MILK.

OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS, WE SEEM TO BE TRENDING A BIT FLATTER SINCE 2014 COMPARED TO PREVIOUS DECADES.

SO THE REPORT ALSO OFFERS A COMPARATIVE PERCENTAGE BREAKDOWN OF THE COUNTY'S TOTAL VALUE BY COMMODITY GROUPINGS.

THESE GROUPINGS INCLUDE LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY PRODUCTS, LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY PRODUCTION, FRUIT AND NUT CROPS, VEGETABLE CROPS AND FIELD CROPS.

THE MAKEUP AND PERCENTAGES OF THESE GROUPS HAS STAYED FAIRLY CONSISTENT WITH THE VEGETABLE GROUP INCREASING SLIGHTLY OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS, SO YOU CAN FIND OTHER GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATIONS OF CROP DATA, AS WELL AS MANY INDIVIDUAL COMMODITY STATISTICS FOR SPECIFIC CROPS IN THIS YEAR'S REPORT.

SO TWO OF THE MOST POPULAR QUESTIONS WE WE RECEIVE CONCERNING OUR ANNUAL REPORT ARE HOW DO WE COMPARE TO OTHER COUNTIES AND HOW DO WE COMPARE NATIONWIDE.

SO CALIFORNIA'S INCREDIBLE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY BROKE THE 60 BILLION MARK IN 2024, WITH IOWA COMING IN A NOT EVEN CLOSE SECOND IN RANKINGS WITH 38 BILLION. LOOKING COMPARATIVELY AT THE TOP TEN COUNTIES IN CALIFORNIA, WE RANK NUMBER FIVE AND HAVE CONSISTENTLY RANKED NUMBER FIVE FOR MANY YEARS.

WHILE IN 2023 WE CAME VERY CLOSE TO TAKING THE NUMBER FOUR SPOT FOR MONTERREY, MONTERREY REBOUNDED WITH A 14.7% INCREASE IN 2024 AND REMAIN EMBEDDED IN THAT NUMBER FOUR SPOT. THE TOP THREE COUNTIES REMAIN IN THE, IN THEIR OWN UPPER TIER AND SWAP PLACES FROM YEAR TO YEAR WITH FRESNO.

ONCE MORE RECLAIMING THE TOP SPOT IN 2024. THE TOP NINE COUNTIES IN CALIFORNIA ARE THE TOP NINE COUNTIES IN PRODUCTION VALUES IN THE NATION, AND ARE A TESTAMENT TO CALIFORNIA'S IMPORTANCE AS A PRODUCER OF FOOD FOR THE NATION AND THE WORLD.

SO COMPARING THESE CALIFORNIA COUNTIES TO OTHER ENTIRE STATES, ALL WOULD RANK HIGHER THAN MANY OF THE STATES, WITH MERCED FALLING BETWEEN NEW MEXICO AND SOUTH CAROLINA AT NUMBER 35 THIS YEAR.

OUR REPORT OFFERS OTHER INSIGHTS INTO MERCED COUNTY'S AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.

DATA FROM OUR PEST EXCLUSION PROGRAM ALWAYS GARNERS A LOT OF INTEREST FROM THE PUBLIC.

OUR EXPORT DATA CAPTURES REGULATED COMMODITIES CERTIFIED BY OUR DEPARTMENT FOR EXPORT TO DIFFERENT COUNTRIES ALL OVER THE WORLD.

IN 2024, 8138 CERTIFIED EXPORTS RESULTED IN 172,000 TONNES OF 24 UNIQUE REGULATED COMMODITIES SHIPPED TO 87 COUNTRIES WORLDWIDE. THIS ANNUAL REPORT ALSO GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUMMARIZE THE WORK WE DO IN MANY OF THE PROGRAMS, FROM BOTH OF OUR DIVISIONS. MANY PEOPLE ARE STILL UNAWARE OF OUR WEIGHTS AND MEASURES DIVISION, WHICH ENSURES CONSUMER PROTECTION BY CHECKING THE ACCURACY OF MEASURING DEVICES SUCH AS GASOLINE PUMPS, SUPERMARKET SCALES AND LIVESTOCK SCALES. ON THE AG SIDE OF OUR DEPARTMENT, OUR PEST DETECTION PROGRAM PROTECTS OUR AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY BY PLACING TRAPS FOR THE MANY DIFFERENT PESTS THAT ARE DETRIMENTAL TO THE ABUNDANCE OF CROPS WE GROW ON MERCED, CALIFORNIA. EARLY DETECTION OF THESE PESTS SAVES MONEY AND ALLOWS ERADICATION BEFORE THEY BECOME ESTABLISHED.

DATA AND MORE INFORMATION ON THESE PROGRAMS AND ALL OUR PROGRAMS ARE SUMMARIZED IN OUR 2024 REPORT ON AGRICULTURE.

SO WRAPPING UP THIS REPORT, I'VE PROVIDED A QR CODE, ONE THAT SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SUGGESTED, AND WE'RE GOING TO STICK WITH THAT. MAYBE NEXT YEAR WE MIGHT TRY SOME SWEET POTATOES, BUT THAT LINK ALSO LINKS TO THE ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS OF MERCED COUNTY AGRICULTURE REPORT. SO THE CODE IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE PRESENTATION HANDOUTS THAT WERE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ON THE TABLES OUTSIDE.

I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO CHECK OUT THE REST OF OUR THE REST OF THE PAGES ON OUR WEBSITE FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR MANY PROGRAMS, OR EVEN ACCESS CROP REPORTS AS FAR BACK AS 1939.

SO I WANT TO END BY THANKING THE MANY FANTASTIC AND RESILIENT PEOPLE IN AGRICULTURE WHO WORK SO HARD TO PRODUCE OUR FOOD AND HELP SUPPORT OUR ECONOMY HERE IN MERCED, AND ALSO THANK THE BOARD FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF AGRICULTURE AND OUR DEPARTMENT.

SO THANK YOU. I'M AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.

AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE PRESENTATION ITEMS AND THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS SPECIFICALLY?

[00:40:07]

SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YEAH, I JUST AGAIN I MEAN, IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING.

SHAUN THANK YOU FOR FOR PRESENTING WHAT WE KIND OF KNOW.

I MEAN, IT IS OUR NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY IN THIS COUNTY IS AG AND MORE SPECIFICALLY IT IS DAIRY.

AND I THINK THAT THE THE CENTER OF OUR QR CODE SHOULD GO TO THE TOP PRODUCING COMMODITY.

UNTIL MILK GETS TAKEN OUT AS THE TOP SPOT, IT STAYS AS A COW.

THE ONLY THING I KNOW IT HAS TO BE IN BLACK AND WHITE, BUT I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF WE COULD WORK A BROWN COW INTO MAYBE THE PRESENTATION NEXT YEAR TO REPRESENT THOSE FOLKS THAT THAT ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE JERSEY BREED.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. BEGGARS CAN'T BE CHOOSY.

SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. THANK YOU. I JUST YEAH. I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING TOGETHER SUCH A NICE REPORT THAT HIGHLIGHTS MERCED COUNTY'S AG.

YOU KNOW, WE OFTENTIMES GET PEOPLE COME HERE AND KIND OF POUND ON AGRICULTURE AND YOU KNOW, I JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S NICE TO HAVE THIS TO SHOW PEOPLE.

AND JUST THIS LAST WEEK, WE WERE IN SAN JOSE AT CSAC AND, YOU KNOW, COME UP MANY TIMES WHERE WE RANK IN AG AND WHERE WE WOULD BE IN THE WORLD, AND, YOU KNOW, IT JUST IT'S KIND OF, I DON'T KNOW, I THINK THE FARMERS IN MERCED COUNTY DO AN AWESOME JOB.

AND AND WE SHOULD HIGHLIGHT THAT EVERY CHANCE WE GET.

SO APPRECIATE YOU COMING HERE AND DOING THAT.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. YEAH. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. SHAUN. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, FOR TURNING ON MY MICROPHONE. THANK YOU, SEAN, FOR THIS.

LIKE I THINK JUST LIKE MY COLLEAGUE SAID, THIS GIVES US BRAGGING RIGHTS WHEN WE WHEN WE WHEN WE GO TO CSAC OR OUR CRC.

I'LL BE IN SACRAMENTO TOMORROW FOR CRC. AND I WAS JUST SHARING WITH THE FOLKS LIKE MONTEREY, AND I WILL BE TOTALLY JABBING EACH OTHER OVER THIS BECAUSE WE DON'T LIKE MONTEREY TO BE IN FRONT OF US.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON HERE.

THIS THIS DRIVES OUR ECONOMY. I KNOW SOME FOLKS WILL MAKE CRACKS AT US SAYING THAT WE ACT LIKE THIS IS A COW TOWN, BUT I MEAN, THIS IS A COW TOWN. I MEAN, DAIRY IS STILL NUMBER ONE BY FAR, AND WE STILL PROVIDE FOOD FOR THE REST OF THE NATION.

SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS REPORT. SUPERVISOR PACHECO.

THANK YOU. CHAIR. YEAH. THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT.

I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO GO HOME AND WATER MY ALMONDS SO WE CAN HAVE AN ALMOND ON THE NEXT TIME.

SO. BUT THANK YOU. VERY GOOD REPORT. YEAH. SHAWN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS.

AND THANK YOUR TEAM FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. YOU KNOW, EVERY YEAR, THIS IS PROBABLY MY FAVORITE REPORT THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO BECAUSE IT JUST SHOWS HOW IMPORTANT AGRICULTURE IS TO MERCED COUNTY.

YOU KNOW, AND IT'S FUNNY, WHEN I WAS APPOINTED TO THE POSITION, I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE TO AS THE POLICY CHAIR FOR THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES AG AND RURAL POLICY STEERING COMMITTEE, ONE OF THE PEOPLE CAME UP TO ME AND SAID, DOES AG REALLY EXIST IN MERCED COUNTY? LIKE, DO YOU GUYS ACT BECAUSE THEY THINK CALIFORNIA, THERE'S NO WAY. AND I'M LIKE, YEAH, WE KIND OF YOU'RE EATING TODAY BECAUSE OF US.

SO NO, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU. AND I REALLY, AS SOMEONE THAT GREW UP ON A DAIRY AND I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF IT.

AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, LIKE I SAID, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERY YEAR JUST BECAUSE IT REEMPHASIZES THE FACT THAT THIS REALLY IS OUR OUR RELIANCE ON AGRICULTURE IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. OKAY.

[CONSENT CALENDAR]

PLEASE NOTE OR I'M SORRY ONE THROUGH 11. PLEASE NOTE ITEMS TWO AND THREE REQUIRE A 4/5 VOTE.

OKAY. AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 11.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 11 IS NOW CLOSED.

BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR.

PACHECO CALLED FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO BOARD ACTION, BEGINNING WITH PUBLIC WORKS.

[BOARD ACTION]

AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR DPW ITEM 12.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR DPW ITEM 12 IS NOW CLOSED.

WILL THE BOARD ONE SECOND? OH, IT'S ALREADY DONE.

IT'S FINE. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. THANK YOU. I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE.

JUST REALLY QUICK. TO SAY THANK TO. THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING THIS AND I THANK NATHAN.

[00:45:03]

THERE WAS THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE TWO ENTITIES.

FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, THIS IS MCKEE ROAD.

AND SO MCKEE IS FINALLY GOING TO GET PAVED, I THINK, SINCE I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE WHETHER IT WAS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER OR NOW A SUPERVISOR, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP TO ME CONSTANTLY WHEN I WAS A TEACHER.

STUDENTS WOULD SAY, YOU NEED TO FIX MCKEE AS A AS A PARENT NOW OF STUDENTS AT PUBLIC SCHOOL, YOU NEED TO FIX MCKEE. I HEAR IT ALL THE TIME.

AND NOW, FINALLY, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY, WE'RE DOING IT. SO I WANT TO THANK THE CITY, THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING THIS AND THANK THE STAFF FOR FOR GETTING THIS DONE. SO THANK YOU.

OKAY. NEXT WE HAVE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY ITEM 13 WHICH REQUIRES A 4/5 VOTE.

AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR HSA ITEM 13.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR HSA ITEM 13 IS NOW CLOSED.

DO I HAVE A MOTION? I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES.

NEXT WE HAVE PUBLIC HEALTH ITEMS 14 AND 15. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS 14 AND 15, PUBLIC COMMENT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. FOR HEALTH ITEMS 14 AND 15 IS NOW CLOSED.

MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY.

UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. NEXT WE HAVE FIRE. ITEM SEVEN, 16 AND 17.

AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM 16 AND 17.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR FIRE. ITEMS 16 AND 17 IS NOW CLOSED.

BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. WE HAVE A MOTION.

MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO.

CALL FOR THE VOTE. MOTION. RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES.

NEXT WE HAVE PROBATION. ITEM 18. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR PROBATION.

ITEM 18. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR PROBATION.

ITEM 18 IS NOW CLOSED. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA CALL FOR THE VOTE.

PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES.

NEXT, WE HAVE LIBRARY ITEM 19. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR LIBRARY ITEM 19. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR LIBRARY ITEM 19 IS NOW CLOSED.

DO I HAVE I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES.

NEXT WE HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. ITEM 20.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.

ITEM 20. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE ITEM.

SERVICES. ITEM 20 IS NOW CLOSED. HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA CALL FOR THE VOTE.

OH, A PUBLIC COMMENT. OH, SORRY. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YEAH. I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS IS A REALLY KIND OF A BIG DEAL AND JUST I WANT FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND OUR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, BUT BUT NOT MORE IMPORTANTLY, BUT SUPER IMPORTANTLY IS, IS JEAN BARRERA AND THE WORK THAT HE DOES ON THIS STUFF.

I KNOW, I MEAN, LISTEN, JEAN, I'M GONNA CALL YOU OUT.

I CALL HIM GIS JEAN FOR A REASON, OKAY? BECAUSE HE KNOWS THIS STUFF.

AND IF YOU EVER NEED A MAP THAT HAS 14 DIFFERENT THINGS IN 14 LITTLE BUTTONS, THAT YOU CAN TURN ON THIS SECTION AND TURN OFF THAT SECTION.

CALL THEM, GIVE THEM A FEW MINUTES. HE'LL SEND YOU A DRAFT VERSION OF IT.

AND I THINK WE TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED THAT WE HAVE THAT KIND OF TALENT ON OUR TEAM.

IT'S REALLY, REALLY HELPFUL. I KNOW WHEN WE'RE HAVING OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT DISCUSSIONS, AND I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH REVENUE IS GENERATED FROM EACH DISTRICT, AND, AND, AND HE HAS THE ABILITY TO LOOK AT THIS STUFF WITH THE HELP OF COMPUTERS AND GIVE US THE INFORMATION.

THIS INFORMATION INFORMATION USED TO BE HOUSED AT MCCAGG, BUT NOW IT'S COMING TO THE COUNTY.

[00:50:03]

SO THANK YOU. AND I'M GLADLY MADE THIS MOTION.

I'M GOING TO VOTE YES ON IT. ALL RIGHT. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION UNANIMOUSLY, UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. NEXT WE HAVE RETIREMENT.

ITEM 21. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR RETIREMENT.

ITEM 21, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR RETIREMENT.

ITEM 21 IS NOW CLOSED. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES.

NEXT WE HAVE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE ITEM 22.

AT THIS TIME, COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER MARK HENDRICKSON, WILL PROVIDE COMMENTS REGARDING ITEM 22.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. AGAIN, GOOD EVENING. I'M PLEASED TO TO PRESENT TO THE BOARD FOR ITS CONSIDERATION TONIGHT A REVISION TO THE RISK MANAGEMENT POLICY. THIS UPDATE REFLECTS THE BOARD'S LEADERSHIP AND ONGOING COMMITMENT TO STRENGTHENING ACCOUNTABILITY AND ENHANCING OUR ABILITY TO IDENTIFY, ASSESS AND MITIGATE RISK ACROSS ALL COUNTY OPERATIONS.

THIS REVISION INCLUDES THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A RISK MANAGEMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE, WHICH WILL BE TASKED WITH THE REVIEW OF HIGH EXPOSURE INCIDENTS, TO EVALUATE UNDERLYING CAUSES, AND TO DEVELOP MITIGATION STRATEGIES TO PREVENT OR REDUCE FUTURE CLAIMS AND LAWSUITS AGAINST THE COUNTY.

IT'S GOING TO BE IN THIS PROCESS THAT YOUR STAFF WILL BE CONDUCTING ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS, WILL DEVELOP DEPARTMENTAL ACTION PLANS, WILL ENSURE APPROPRIATE FOLLOW UP AND MONITORING.

ULTIMATELY, THIS IS DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN THE COUNTY'S ABILITY TO PROACTIVELY ADDRESS EMERGING RISKS, IMPROVE OPERATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF FUTURE LOSSES.

IN SHORT, BY DEVELOPING APPROPRIATE MITIGATION STRATEGIES AND DEMONSTRATING ACCOUNTABILITY, WE CAN IMPROVE OUR INTERNAL PRACTICES AND IN THE PROCESS, PROTECT THE TAXPAYER'S RESOURCES.

NOW, SHOULD THESE MITIGATION STRATEGIES NOT BE SUFFICIENTLY IMPLEMENTED BY THE RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMENT AND THE COUNTY IS REQUIRED TO PAY COMPENSATION OR DAMAGES FROM RESULTING CLAIMS OR LAWSUITS, THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR SUCH PAYMENTS UP TO THE COUNTY'S SELF-INSURED RETENTION VALUE, MAY BE APPROPRIATED FROM THE ADOPTED BUDGET OF THE DEPARTMENT, WITH OVERSIGHT OF THE UNDERLYING CAUSE.

NOW, THIS REVISION IS LARGELY MODELED AFTER A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM IMPLEMENTED BY RIVERSIDE COUNTY, WHO HAS SEEN A DRAMATIC REDUCTION IN BOTH CLAIMS AND LAWSUITS.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE RIVERSIDE COUNTY CEO JEFF VAN WAGENEN FOR BEING INCREDIBLY HELPFUL TO ME AND MY TEAM IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS ITEM.

I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK EACH OF OUR ASSISTANT CEOS, BOTH DAVID MARION AND MARCI BARRERA, OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM, COUNTY COUNSEL HANSON, CHIEF DEPUTY COUNTY COUNSEL JENNY ANDERSON AND OUR RISK MANAGER, SARAH MARSH, FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING WORK ON THIS ITEM.

WITH THAT, MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YEAH. CEO HENDRICKSON I, I BROUGHT THIS THIS IS YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GOING TO WHETHER IT'S THE STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES OR IT'S OUR CRC AND THESE ARE THE LITTLE NUGGETS THAT YOU LEARN BY GOING TO THESE CONFERENCES AND INTERACTING.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I WAS AT A REGIONAL MEETING IN VENTURA COUNTY.

AND THIS CAME UP AS A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION. AND TO PUT IT MORE PLAINLY, I THINK WHAT IT DOES IS, IS IT KIND OF HOLDS PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE. ONE OF OUR BIGGEST LIABILITIES IS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DON'T THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT THEY OWE YOU SUE THE COUNTY.

WELL, WHEN YOU'RE SUING THE COUNTY, YOU'RE SUING THE TAXPAYERS. THE MONEY COMES FROM THE TAXPAYERS. AND WE LIVE IN A CLIMATE NOW WHERE YOU HAVE THESE NUCLEAR SETTLEMENTS, YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE A LOT SMARTER THAN ME OR ANY OF US UP HERE THAT EVALUATE CASE BY CASE, WHAT IS THE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH IT. IF YOU WENT TO TRIAL, WHAT IS THE POTENTIAL THAT YOU COULD BE ON THE HOOK FOR? THEY USED TO BE PRETTY GOOD AT THEIR JOB. TODAY, THAT DOESN'T WORK.

THESE SETTLEMENTS, NUCLEAR SETTLEMENTS, THEY COME IN, YOU KNOW, AN EXAMPLE OF ONE THAT I HEARD OF RECENTLY.

IT'S A LITTLE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT HAS, LIKE A $20 MILLION BUDGET, AND THEY HAD A SUIT AGAINST THEM AND WERE AWARDED DAMAGES TO THE TUNE OF $15 MILLION.

THEY GO INSOLVENT. RIGHT? SO THIS IS A WAY OF TRYING TO CORRAL SOME OF THAT BACK IN BECAUSE ACCIDENTS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN.

BUT WHEN THEY BECOME REPEATED THINGS THAT WE CAN AVOID, WHAT THIS DOES IS IT SAYS YOU HAVE TO PUT A RISK MITIGATION STRATEGY IN PLACE.

AND IF YOU DON'T DO THAT. SO THIS IS REALLY DIRECTED TO DEPARTMENT HEADS OUT THERE.

YOU DON'T DO THAT. YOU'RE GOING TO BE ON THE HOOK FOR THAT.

THAT $500,000 THAT COMES RIGHT OFF THE TOP BEFORE OUR INSURANCE KICKS IN, WHICH WE'RE SELF-INSURED, WHICH ALL THEY DO IS JUST AMORTIZE IT OUT AND WE PAY IT OVER A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.

IF DONE PROPERLY DOWN IN THE COUNTY WHERE IT CAME FROM, IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY, THEY'VE SEEN DOUBLE DIGIT REDUCTIONS IN THEIR CLAIMS AGAINST THEIR

[00:55:01]

AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, DIRECTOR HENDRICKSON, FOR DIRECTOR, NOT DIRECTOR ANY MORE. CEO HENDRICKSON FOR PUSHING THIS THROUGH.

I KNOW AT TIMES IT MIGHT MAKE PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT WE'VE GOT TO BE BETTER AT WHAT WE DO.

AND I THINK THIS IS A STEP IN THAT DIRECTION. THANK YOU.

OKAY. AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CEO.

CEO ITEM 22. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR CEO ITEM 22 IS NOW CLOSED.

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

CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES.

NEXT WE HAVE BOARD APPOINTMENTS. ITEM 23. AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BOARD APPOINTMENT.

ITEM 23. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BOARD APPOINTMENT ITEM 23 IS NOW CLOSED.

I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES.

NEXT WE HAVE BOARD INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.

[BOARD INFORMATION & POSSIBLE ACTION]

ITEM 24. GOOD EVENING ONCE AGAIN.

YOUR HONOR. GOOD EVENING ONCE AGAIN. CHAIRMAN. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, CEO HENDRICKSON AND COUNCIL HANSON.

I AM PLEASED TO PRESENT TO YOU TONIGHT THE CERTIFIED RESULTS FROM THE COUNTY MERCED FOR THE NOVEMBER 4TH, 2025 STATEWIDE SPECIAL ELECTION. THIS ELECTION WAS CALLED BY THE LEGISLATURE ON AUGUST 21ST, 2025. THUS, WHILE THE COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT TYPICALLY HAS BETWEEN 6 AND 8 MONTHS TO PLAN FOR A MAJOR ELECTION, THE TEAM EXECUTED THIS IN ONLY TWO MONTHS. THE ELECTION SAW NEARLY 58,000 BALLOTS CAST IN THE COUNTY OF MERCED, WHICH IS THE THIRD MOST IN THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY, FOLLOWING ONLY THE 2020 AND 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.

I'M GRATEFUL TO THE MERCED COUNTY ELECTIONS TEAM, OUR PARTNERS AND OUR POLL WORKERS FOR THE GREAT WORK THEY DID DURING THIS ELECTION.

MORE THAN 150 PEOPLE WORKED THIS ELECTION HERE IN MERCED COUNTY, AND THE LONG DAYS AND WEEKS THEY PULLED RESULTED IN A FREE, FAIR, SECURE, ACCURATE AND TRANSPARENT PROCESS.

I CERTIFIED THE ELECTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW ON DECEMBER 2ND, 2025.

AS YOU KNOW, THE STATE REIMBURSED US FOR THIS ELECTION, SENDING NEARLY $1.4 MILLION TO THE COUNTY TO OFFSET THE COST OF ADMINISTERING IT.

IN THE IN IN THE COMING MONTHS IN FEBRUARY, ACTUALLY, MY TEAM AND I WILL SUBMIT OUR ELECTION COSTS TO THE CALIFORNIA SECRETARY OF STATE SO THAT WORKING WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, ANY ADJUSTMENTS CAN BE MADE TO THAT REIMBURSEMENT WHILE WE'RE STILL FINALIZING OUR EXPENSES. THE SPOT CHECKS THAT WE'VE CONDUCTED THUS FAR INDICATE THAT OUR INITIAL ESTIMATE OF $1.4 MILLION WAS EXTREMELY ACCURATE, SO I DON'T EXPECT ANY MAJOR ADJUSTMENTS TO THAT NUMBER.

THE ELECTIONS TEAM IS NOW PREPARING FOR THE JUNE 2ND, 2026 PRIMARY ELECTION.

IN FACT, CANDIDATE SIGNATURE GATHERING PERIOD STARTS FOR THAT ELECTION NEXT WEEK.

SO IT NEVER IT NEVER QUITE SLOWS DOWN. BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE TEAM IS READY AND EXCITED TO GET INTO THE NEXT PIECE.

PENDING YOUR QUESTIONS, THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.

OKAY. THE PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD. I DO WANT TO SAY ONE THING.

YOU KNOW, THIS WAS THE REASON WHY IT WAS REIMBURSED.

BECAUSE IT WAS THE WORK OF CSAC AND CRC, AND THOSE ARE TWO OF THE ASSOCIATIONS THAT WERE A PART OF.

AND WHEN THEY FIRST ROLLED THIS PROP 50 OUT, THEY IT WAS SOMETHING THAT OUR TWO EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS FOR BOTH OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS SAID, THIS ISN'T GOING TO WORK, AND WE WILL GO AGAINST EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO UNLESS THERE IS MONEY.

AND THEY SAID, WELL, REIMBURSE. THEY SAID THEY SAID, NO, THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. AND SO IT WAS THE COLLECTIVE GROUP OF THE 58 COUNTIES WITH CSAC AND THEN 34 IN OUR 40, 40 IN CRC. COMING TOGETHER AS ONE TO REALLY FIGHT FOR THE RIGHTS, YOU KNOW, FOR THE COUNTIES. SO I'M, I'M VERY PROUD OF, OF THAT.

OKAY. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THANK YOU.

MEL. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR INFO. ITEM 24 IS NOW CLOSED.

BRING IT BACK. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.

CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE RECORD THE VOTE. OH, I GOT IT.

MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL HAVE BOARD REPORTS, STARTING WITH SUPERVISOR PACHECO.

[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION]

[01:00:02]

ON DECEMBER 19TH, I ATTENDED THE CENTINELA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEETING AT MISSION TESORO TO UPDATE THEM ON THINGS GOING ON WITH THE COUNTY.

AND I ENJOY MEETING WITH SOME OF THE MEMBERS OVER IN SANTANELLA, MY OTHER SIDE OF MY DISTRICT.

AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE WELL INFORMED. I ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE LAST WEEK.

IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO NETWORK WITH MY FELLOW SUPERVISORS AND DISCUSS ISSUES THAT ARE AFFECTING NOT ONLY MERCED COUNTY, BUT ALL THE OTHER COUNTIES UP AND DOWN THE STATE. I PARTICIPATED IN THE MERCED CHRISTMAS PARADE WITH SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND PEDROSO AND CEO HENDRICKSON.

GREAT EVENT. THERE WERE OVER 100 ENTRIES IN THE PARADE LONG PARADE.

IT WAS NICE TO SEE ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS BRAVED THE COLD WEATHER THAT DAY TO ATTEND THE PARADE.

VERY SUCCESSFUL. THIS MORNING I ATTENDED THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB SOCIAL BREAKFAST MEETING WITH CEO MAY MUA AND TALK ABOUT THE GREAT THINGS THAT BOYS AND BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB IS DOING HERE IN MERCED. AND THEY HAVE SOME GREAT PLANS FOR THE FUTURE, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A CONTINUED COLLABORATION WITH THEM FOR THE BETTERMENT OF MERCED COUNTY AND ITS YOUTH. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

THANK YOU SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I'D LIKE TO REPORT OUT THAT I DID ATTEND THE CARLOS VIERA FOUNDATION DINNER THREE WEEKS AGO.

I WAS A LITTLE. IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE'VE HAD A MEETING HERE.

ALSO DURING THAT WEEK, WE MET WITH THE CEO, AND I MET WITH THE CITY OF ATWATER CITY MANAGER AND MAYOR.

IT'S A MONTHLY MEETING THAT WE HAVE COORDINATING OUR EFFORTS, AND IT'S BEEN VERY FRUITFUL. AND I APPRECIATE THE COMMUNICATION BOTH FROM OUR CEO AND THE CITY MANAGER. THANK YOU FOR THAT. I ATTENDED THE MERCED LAO FAMILY COMMUNITY ANNUAL THANKSGIVING LUNCHEON.

I APPRECIATE THEM REACHING OUT TO US ALL THE TIME TO BREAK BREAD WITH THEM AND AND ENJOY, ENJOY THOSE PRESENTATIONS.

I ALSO, WELL, ATWATER CHRISTMAS PARADE HAPPENED ON FRIDAY NIGHT.

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL NIGHT PARADE. IT WAS VERY COLD THAT NIGHT AS WELL.

AND I WANT A BIG THANK YOU TO THE 4TH OF JULY FESTIVAL COMMITTEE.

THEY TOOK OVER THE THE PARADE THIS YEAR, AND IT THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

IT WENT VERY WELL. ALSO, THE MERCED CHRISTMAS PARADE, WHICH WAS THE NEXT DAY ON SATURDAY DURING THE DAY.

BUT I GOTTA TELL YOU, IT WAS COLDER ON SATURDAY THAN IT WAS ON FRIDAY NIGHT IN THE DARK.

ALSO ATTENDED THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND APPRECIATE IT.

HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF AN EFFECTIVE BOARD.

I JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE BRAG ABOUT THAT A LOT HERE AT MERCED COUNTY ABOUT HOW THIS BOARD WORKS SO WELL TOGETHER.

BUT THEY ASKED ME TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF HOW OUR BOARD PARTICIPATES AND HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER WITHOUT ARGUING AND ALWAYS BEING ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER AND NOT HOLD ANY GRUDGES.

THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN THE REST OF THE STATE, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU BEING ABLE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MERCED COUNTY, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE AND HOW WELL WE WORK TOGETHER.

ALSO I WANT TO THANK PASTOR RICH MILLER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SHOWING UP.

IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A LATE CALL, BUT YOU COME THROUGH AND ALWAYS YOU SAY THE RIGHT PRAYER.

I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR. PAREIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YEAH, IT'S BEEN A BUSY THREE WEEKS.

I HAD TO ATTENDED THE CARLOS VIERA FOUNDATION DINNER, AND IT SO FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW CARLOS VIERA HAS A FOUNDATION THAT RAISES MONEY FOR AUTISM AWARENESS.

THEY HAVE A BOXING ASSOCIATION THAT IS DESIGNED TO HELP KEEP KIDS OFF OF THE STREETS AND OFF OF DRUGS.

AND THEY JUST DO A GREAT JOB. AND AND SO IT WAS AN HONOR TO BE THERE.

I ALSO ATTENDED THE LAO FAMILY THANKSGIVING LUNCHEON, AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S THEY'RE ALWAYS SO WELCOMING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE TIMES THAT I CAN'T MAKE IT, I FEEL BAD.

SO, ANYWAYS GOOD FOR THEM. ATTENDED CSAC AS WELL.

I DIDN'T HAVE A SPEAKING ROLE, BUT I WILL SUPPORT DARON, I GUESS.

AND ATTENDED THE HILMAR AND GUSTINE CHRISTMAS PARADES BOTH WONDERFUL EVENTS AND TWO FINE COMMUNITIES.

AND BOTH WENT OFF WITHOUT A HITCH. I GOT A JUDGE IN GUSTINE, AND THERE WAS THREE OTHER LADIES THAT WERE JUDGING, AND THEY WERE ALL FRIENDS. SO I JUST NODDED MY HEAD AND BUT I FELT LIKE THE WINNERS WON.

AND I MET WITH ANTHONY WILLIAMS TODAY FROM THE HIGH SPEED RAIL BOARD.

IT WAS KIND OF GOOD. I THINK BOTH SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND SUPERVISOR PEDROZO HAVE KIND OF SPOKEN THEIR MINDS ABOUT HIGH SPEED RAIL AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN MERCED.

AND, AND IT WAS JUST NICE TO HAVE THEM COME DOWN AND LISTEN.

RIGHT. IF NOTHING ELSE, AND KIND OF SHARE WHERE THEY'RE AT AS WELL.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ADAM AMARAL. HE HELD A MEET AND GREET IN WINTON AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES.

[01:05:06]

HOWEVER, THOSE THAT SHOWED UP YOU KNOW, GOT GOOD INFORMATION, AND I THINK WE'LL SHARE THAT IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND THAT IS IT. THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AGAIN, A BUSY THREE WEEKS, BUT IF I CAN INDULGE THE AUDIENCE, IF YOU'RE A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC, IF YOU'RE NOT STAFF, COULD YOU JUST RAISE YOUR HAND? I COUNT ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR. FIVE, SIX. LOOKS LIKE SIX OF THEM.

AND THE REASON I HIGHLIGHT THAT IS, IS WE'VE DONE THIS EXERCISE OF NIGHT MEETINGS AND NOT HAVING NIGHT MEETINGS, AND WE AND WE HOPE WE TYPICALLY YOU'RE HOPING BECAUSE ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT WE GET IS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR MEETINGS AT 10:00 ON A TUESDAY AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN'T MAKE IT.

AND I'VE, I'VE KIND OF OF THE OPINION THAT IF IT'S TRULY SOMETHING YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND YOUR WAY TO THE MEETING. AND WE HOST THESE NIGHT MEETINGS.

AND I DON'T WANT TO MAKE EVERYTHING ABOUT COST. BUT, YOU KNOW, I GET IT WHEN YOU'RE IN MANAGEMENT, YOU HAVE MANAGEMENT TIME OFF AS THESE PEOPLE ARE SALARIED EMPLOYEES AND THEY GET SPECIFIC TIME JUST FOR THAT.

BUT THERE'S OTHER FOLKS THAT ARE IN AND AROUND HERE THAT ARE THAT ARE HERE ON OVERTIME.

RIGHT. THAT BECAUSE OF WE'RE HAVING THESE NIGHT MEETINGS AND WE IT'S IT'S A COST.

IT'S A COST TO THE TAXPAYERS TO HAVE THEM. AND WE HAVE TYPICALLY WHEN WE'VE DONE A NIGHT MEETING, WE'VE ALWAYS BROUGHT LIKE A A LEADING ATTRACTION.

RIGHT. YOU BRING THE YOU BRING THE YOUNGSTERS THAT MADE THOSE BEAUTIFUL POSTERS.

AND I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO DANICA AGAIN ON THAT FROM DISTRICT FIVE.

IT IT FILLS THE ROOM. BUT AS SOON AS THAT PART OF THE MEETING IS OVER, THEY'RE ALL GONE AND IT'S A SCHOOL NIGHT FOR THEM.

I TOTALLY GET THAT. SO IT QUESTIONS AND I'VE ASKED THE QUESTION IS, IS JUST FIND OUT WHAT THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT IS.

RIGHT. WE'RE RUNNING POWER RIGHT NOW THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN RUNNING RIGHT. THE LIGHTS WOULD HAVE BEEN ON AT 10:00 ON A TUESDAY. THEY'RE RUNNING ADDITIONALLY HEATING, AIR CONDITIONING, SECURITY THAT'S HERE. EXTRA STAFF.

I'M ALWAYS CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT THAT COST IS.

AND AND REALLY, IS IT WORTH IT BECAUSE WE DON'T GET MUCH MORE OF A TURNOUT THAN WHAT WE WOULD HAVE HAD IF WE WERE JUST HERE ON A REGULAR TUESDAY? SO THERE'S THAT. I DID TO ATTEND THE CSAC MEETING.

I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, THANK THE SUBURBAN ARTS.

EXCUSE ME, ASKS ALL RURAL COUNTIES CSAC IS BROKEN UP BY THREE CAUCUSES.

YOU HAVE THE URBAN CAUCUS, THE SUBURBAN CAUCUS.

EVEN THOUGH WE'RE RURAL, WE FIT IN THE SUBURBAN CAUCUS.

WE'RE KIND OF LIKE THE GLUE THAT HOLDS EVERYTHING TOGETHER BECAUSE WE HAVE URBAN PARTS OF THE COUNTY, AND WE HAVE WE HAVE RURAL PARTS OF THE COUNTY, SO WE UNDERSTAND EVERYBODY AND WE'RE USUALLY KIND OF THE PEACEMAKERS OF THE GROUP.

BUT ALL MY COLLEAGUES IN THE SUBURBAN CAUCUS REELECTED ME TO ANOTHER THREE YEAR TERM ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF CSAC.

SO I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT. AND I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES BECAUSE IT IS A ONE COUNTY, ONE VOTE TYPE OF SITUATION. BUT I HAVE FOUR REALLY GREAT CHEERLEADERS THAT ARE TALKING WITH OTHER COLLEAGUES UP AND DOWN THE STATE THAT ARE IN OUR CAUCUS THAT ARE HELPING ME GET TO THAT. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR THAT.

I HAVE A LIST HERE. I DID ATTEND THE LOS BANOS CHRISTMAS PARADE AGAIN.

BEEN GOING TO THAT PARADE FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS NOW.

BIGGEST TURNOUT I'VE EVER SEEN, NOT ONLY IN ENTRIES, BUT THE PEOPLE OUT THERE.

AND BELIEVE ME, IT WAS FREEZING COLD OUT THERE.

AND IT WAS. IT COULD HAVE ALWAYS HELPFUL IF YOU START THE PARADE ON TIME, WHEN YOU START A LITTLE BIT LATE, IT MAKES IT RUN A LITTLE BIT LONGER. BUT OTHER THAN THAT, A REALLY GREAT TIME. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THE COMMUNITY COME OUT AND SUPPORT. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, JUST MEL. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM AGAIN ON THE ELECTIONS.

PIECE. IT WAS IT WAS THROWN TOGETHER. AND JUST TO ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE TO WHAT MY COLLEAGUE SAID ON THAT IS, IS WHEN THE GOVERNOR FIRST CAME OUT WITH THIS, AGREE WITH IT, DON'T AGREE WITH IT.

HE BASICALLY SAID, OH, COUNTIES, COUNTIES CAN HANDLE IT.

THE FOLKS FROM CSAC, CRC AND UCC, WHICH IS URBAN CAUCUS URBAN CALIFORNIA CITIES, I THINK IT'S CALLED ALL OF THEM GOT TOGETHER AND BASICALLY TOLD THE GOVERNOR, GOVERNOR, THIS WE WILL GO SCORCHED EARTH.

YOU'RE NOT BECAUSE SOME OF THE BIGGER COUNTIES THAT ALREADY HAVE AN ELECTION, IT'S NOT AS CHALLENGING FOR THEM, BUT SOME OF THE SMALLER RURAL COUNTIES TO TO FRONT THAT MONEY, THAT MEANS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE MONEY TO PAY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND THINGS.

SO IT WENT FROM THAT ON A MONDAY TO ON A TUESDAY IT WAS, WELL, WE WILL REIMBURSE THEM FOR THEIR COSTS TO BY WEDNESDAY IT WAS WE WILL WE WILL FRONT LOAD YOU THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THIS OVER $250 MILLION ELECTION THAT WE COULD HAVE USED TO REALLY.

DOCTOR SANDOVAL MENTIONED ABOUT HOMELESS ISSUES AND THINGS THAT WE COULD BE DOING. THAT $250 MILLION WOULD HAVE GONE A LONG WAY, BUT WE CHOSE TO SPEND IT ON AN ELECTION. SO, MEL, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR WHOLE TEAM PUTTING THIS DEAL TOGETHER IN REALLY RECORD TIME AND GETTING IT OUT.

SO THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU. MR. HANSEN. MR. HENDRICKSON.

OKAY. I WILL BE BRIEF. ON. I HAD THE I WENT TO THE ON NOVEMBER 20TH, WENT

[01:10:03]

AND THEY, THEY HEARD IT LOUD AND CLEAR. AND I THINK WE'RE STARTING TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE MOVEMENT, WHICH I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT. I ALSO ATTENDED THE CSAC ANNUAL MEETING.

WHERE I WAS ASKED TO SPEAK ABOUT TWO ON ONE WHICH IS THE SERVICE YOU CALL IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO GO, AND THEY REALLY PROVIDE GOOD INFORMATION AND IT'S RUN THROUGH UNITED WAY, BUT THEY DO A REALLY GOOD JOB OF DIRECTING OR HELPING PEOPLE NAVIGATE BUREAUCRACY FROM CSAC. I ATTENDED THE NACO FALL BOARD MEETING AS THE I'M THE CSAC REP ON THE NACO BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

AND SO THAT'S ALWAYS A GOOD TIME TO NETWORK WITH THE NATIONAL FOLKS.

I ALSO DID THE CHRISTMAS PARADE HERE IN MERCED.

I WENT TO THE GENERAL VANG PAO CEREMONY LAST NIGHT.

WE ALSO HAD OUR COFFEE WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND THE MAYOR AND CEO, HENDRICKSON.

AND THEN FINALLY, BEFORE WE LEFT FOR THE THANKSGIVING BREAK, THE FARM BUREAU WAS DOING SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS REALLY COOL TOUR.

THEY'RE INVITING EACH OF US SUPERVISORS TO A MEETING JUST WITH REPRESENTING OUR DISTRICTS ONLY.

AND SO I THINK, SUPERVISOR PACHECO, YOURS IS COMING UP OR HAS ALREADY HAPPENED ON THURSDAY.

TOMORROW AT 11 HERE. THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER THAT.

YEAH. SO TOMORROW AT 11 A.M. AT THE DOS PALOS Y SERVICE CLUB, MYSELF AND FOLKS FROM THE FARM BUREAU WILL BE GETTING TOGETHER JUST TO DISCUSS ISSUES THAT PERTAIN TO DISTRICT FIVE AND ANYTHING ELSE. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT REMINDER.

MINE, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, WAS SPARSELY ATTENDED.

BEING THAT I HAVE VERY SMALL AGRICULTURAL AREAS WITHIN MY DISTRICT OF DISTRICT TWO, BUT STILL THERE WAS A GOOD AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THERE WHO REALLY WANTED TO DISCUSS KIND OF, YOU KNOW, CLEANING OF CREEKS AND WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THAT.

WATER WAS A BIG ISSUE. AND I WANT TO THANK REALLY I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ONE THING THAT HAPPENED AT CSAC.

WE WE HAVE THESE DIFFERENT COMMITTEES. AND ONE OF THE COMMITTEES WAS THE AG COMMITTEE.

AND WE'VE BEEN KIND OF ON THE AG COMMITTEE FOR A WHILE TO TALK REALLY ABOUT AG ISSUES AS OPPOSED TO SOME OF THE OTHER NATURAL RESOURCE STUFF, BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO US. AND MY COLLEAGUES REALLY KEPT THE DISCUSSION GOING ON WATER WHEN IT GOT A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH SOME OF THE PEOPLE. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA IS NOT AFRAID TO KIND OF PUSH THE BALL A LITTLE BIT AND TO CONTINUE TO ASK THE QUESTIONS.

AND I THINK HE DID A REALLY GOOD JOB, AND SO DID SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND ASKING QUESTIONS SO THAT MERCED COUNTY IS REPRESENTED VERY WELL AT THESE.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT MERCED COUNTY AND WHAT WE DO.

SO HAVING SAID THAT, THIS WILL CONCLUDE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING FOR DECEMBER 9TH, 2025. THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING WILL BE HELD AT 10 A.M.

ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16TH, 2025. NOT HERE, BUT AT THE COURTHOUSE MUSEUM LOCATED AT WEST 21ST AND N STREETS IN MERCED.

HAVE A GOOD EVENING.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.