[00:00:03] GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE JANUARY 6TH, 2026 MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. [CALL TO ORDER] YOUR CLOSED SESSION THIS MORNING IS THE FOLLOWING. [CLOSED SESSION] IT IS THE INTENTION OF THE BOARD TO BE IN A CLOSED SESSION CONCERNING EXISTING LITIGATION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9(D)(1):1 CASE DONOR NETWORK WEST, INCORPORATED VERSUS SUPERIOR COURT OF MERCED COUNTY, ET AL. APPELLATE CASE NUMBER F090900 AND REGARDING GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957, PUBLIC EMPLOYEE SIX MONTH PERFORMANCE EVALUATION TITLE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER. THE PUBLIC WILL BE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON ANY MATTER TO BE CONSIDERED IN CLOSED SESSION PRIOR TO THE BOARD ADJOURNING INTO CLOSED SESSION. TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON. OKAY. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE CLOSED SESSION ITEM. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE CLOSED SESSION ITEM IS NOW CLOSED. WE WILL NOW ADJOURN INTO CLOSED SESSION. GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME BACK TO THE JANUARY 6TH, [10:00 A.M. REGULAR MEETING] 2026 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 REGAN PAREIRA. AND THEN SUPERVISOR PAREIRA WILL LEAD THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. YEAH. IF YOU WOULD PLEASE REMOVE YOUR CAPS. BOW YOUR HEAD. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS NEW DAY AND THE RESPONSIBILITY ENTRUSTED TO THOSE WHO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF MERCED COUNTY. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THIS COMMUNITY, ITS RESIDENTS, ITS WORKFORCE, ITS LAND AND THE MANY LIVES AFFECTED BY THE DECISIONS MADE HERE TODAY. WE ASK FOR YOUR GUIDANCE AS THE BOARD AND COUNTY STAFF CARRY OUT THEIR DUTIES TODAY. GRANT THEM WISDOM, SOUND JUDGMENT AND CLARITY OF THOUGHT. MAY THEIR DISCUSSIONS BE CONDUCTED WITH RESPECT, PATIENCE, AND SINCERE COMMITMENT TO FAIRNESS AND THE COMMON GOOD. YOUR WORD REMINDS US THAT WISDOM BEGINS WITH HUMILITY. HELP THOSE IN LEADERSHIP TO ACT WITH INTEGRITY, TO LISTEN CAREFULLY, AND TO STEWARD THEIR AUTHORITY RESPONSIBILITY. MAY THEIR DECISIONS PROMOTE PEACE, STABILITY, AND THE WELL BEING OF ALL WHO CALL THIS COUNTRY HOME. WE ASK FOR YOUR PRESENCE IN THIS CHAMBER TODAY AND YOUR BLESSING OVER THE WORK AHEAD. WE OFFER THIS PRAYER IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. AMEN. READY? 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. IT IS NOW TIME FOR PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST WITHIN THE BOARD'S JURISDICTION, [PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK] EXCLUDING ITEMS ON THE BOARD'S AGENDA, TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON AND 30 MINUTES TOTAL. OKAY. AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT. AGAIN THIS IS FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS ONLY. GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY NEW YEAR CHAIR, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY STAFF. MY NAME IS AGGIE FREEMAN. I'M HONORED TO SPEAK TODAY AS THE CHAIR OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF MERCED SUNRISE CHRISTMAS CLOTHES FOR KIDS PROJECT ON DECEMBER 6TH, 2025, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PROBATION AND TARGET MERCED. THIS PROGRAM IS A POWERFUL EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN ROTARIANS AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THEIR COMMUNITY TRULY UNITE FOR GOOD, BRINGING TOGETHER COUNTY AGENCIES, LOCAL BUSINESSES AND DEDICATED COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TO INVEST IN OUR MOST VULNERABLE YOUTH. IN ROTARY PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MERCED COUNTY PROBATION DEPARTMENT, 40 YOUNG PEOPLE WERE NOMINATED, 38 ATTENDED, AND EACH YOUTH WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THEIR PROBATION OFFICERS, ROTARIANS AND OTHER COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS WHO SERVED AS SHOPPING PARTNERS, WALKING SIDE BY SIDE THROUGH THE STORE TO ENSURE EVERY PARTICIPANT RECEIVED $100 WORTH OF BRAND NEW CLOTHING. WHILE THE CLOTHING IS IMPORTANT, THE DEEPER IMPACT IS RELATIONAL. WHAT INSPIRES US MOST IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AT RISK YOUTH EXPERIENCE ADVOCACY. THEY SEE ADULTS WHO SHOW UP FOR THEM, WHO LISTEN, WHO ENCOURAGE, AND WHO WALK ALONGSIDE THEM. IN THESE MOMENTS TRUST IS BUILT. DIGNITY RESTORED, AND HOPE INSPIRED. THAT IS WHERE PREVENTION TRULY BEGINS. THAT IS WHERE POSITIVE CHANGE TAKES ROOT. THIS PROGRAM WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE STRONG, SUSTAINED COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. WE'D LIKE TO THANK DIRECTOR CHRIS HENN AND HIS TEAM. WE'RE GREATLY VERY GRATEFUL. DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO DAVID MONTERO, THE STORE DIRECTOR AND HIS TEAM WHO SUPPORTS US AT TARGET MERCED. [00:05:01] SINCE 2009, TARGET HAS DEMONSTRATED A LONG STANDING AND GENUINE ROTARY PARTNERSHIP, PARTNERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO MERCED COUNTY'S YOUTH. WE ALSO HONOR PAST ROTARY CLUB PRESIDENT RICH MILLER, WHO INTRODUCED THIS VISION AND THIS PROJECT DURING HIS 2009 PRESIDENCY. MORE THAN 15 YEARS LATER, HIS IDEA CONTINUES THE LEGACY OF COMPASSION, OPPORTUNITY AND SHARED COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY. ON BEHALF OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF MERCED SUNRISE, DIRECTOR CHRIS HENN AND TARGET MERCED, DAVID MONTERO AND OUR VOLUNTEERS, WE'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF COUNTY PROGRAMS THAT TRULY UNITE US FOR GOOD. WHEN WE INVEST IN RELATIONSHIPS, WHEN WE BELIEVE IN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, WE CHANGE LIVES AND THAT IS SOMETHING WORTH CELEBRATING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP TO MERCED COUNTY. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, BOARD MEMBERS, CEO HENDRICKSON, COUNTY COUNSEL HANSEN. I'M KIMIKO VANG, DIRECTOR OF MERCER COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT THIS MORNING TO RECOGNIZE AND ANNOUNCE THE SIGNIFICANT FUNDING, AWARDS AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT ARE MOVING FORWARD THE MERCY VILLAGE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROJECT. A MAJOR INVESTMENT IN ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THROUGH THE CITY OF MERCED, MORE THAN $28 MILLION IN STATE FUNDING HAS BEEN AWARDED THROUGH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTS. HOMEKEY+ PROGRAM TO SUPPORT THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF MERCY VILLAGE, INCLUDING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR VETERAN HOUSING UNITS. THE PROJECT IS BEING DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UPHOLDING AND SELF-HELP ENTERPRISES, WITH THE CITY CURRENTLY FINALIZING AGREEMENTS WITH THE STATE. AT THE COUNTY LEVEL THESE BOARDS ACTIONS THROUGH THE NO PLACE LIKE HOME PROGRAM WERE ESSENTIAL TO POSITIONING THE PROJECT FOR SUCCESS. SINCE 2019, THIS BOARD HAS APPROVED KEY STEPS THAT ALLOWED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES TO MOVE THIS PROJECT FORWARD, INCLUDING AUTHORIZING $631,401 IN NONCOMPETITIVE, NO PLACE LIKE HOME FUNDS THAT WERE LEVERAGED TO PURSUE COMPETITIVE FUNDING. BECAUSE OF THIS BOARD'S DIRECTION AND SPONSORSHIP THE PROJECT WAS AWARDED $10,626,309 IN COMPETITIVE NO PLACE LIKE HOME PERMANENT LOAN FUNDING FROM THE STATE. MOST RECENTLY, ON MAY 6TH, 2024, THIS BOARD APPROVED THE COUNTY'S COSIGNING OF THAT PERMANENT LOAN, A CRITICAL MILESTONE THAT HELPED SECURE THE FINANCING NECESSARY TO ADVANCE THE PROJECT TOWARD CONSTRUCTION. MERCY VILLAGE WILL BE A 66 UNIT PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN MERCED SERVING INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS, INCLUDING PERSONS WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS AND VETERANS. BHRS WILL SERVE AS THE LEAD SERVICE PROVIDER DELIVERING ONSITE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES WHILE UPHOLDING WILL MANAGE THE PROPERTY. TAKEN TOGETHER, THESE FUNDING AWARDS REFLECT YEARS OF DELIBERATE, DELIBERATE BOARD ACTION, PARTNERSHIP AND COMMITMENT WITH THE CITY OF MERCED AND UPHOLDING. MERCY VILLAGE STANDS AS A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF HOW THIS BOARD'S LEADERSHIP AND STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY TRANSLATE INTO REAL, LASTING SOLUTIONS FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DOCTOR VANG. CHAIRMAN PEDROZO, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. IN THE BROADER STRATEGIC LANDSCAPE, THIS THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO JOIN 117 UNITS THAT ARE ALREADY IN OPERATION, SERVING THE SAME POPULATION. THERE ARE ADDITIONAL PROJECTS SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, INCLUDING THE CITY OF LOS BANOS THAT WILL ADD ANOTHER 253 UNITS. SO TAKEN TOGETHER, WE'LL HAVE OVER 400 UNITS OF HOUSING SPECIFICALLY FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS TO SUPPORT THEM ON THAT TRANSITION TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY. AGAIN, I WANTED TO PIGGYBACK OFF DOCTOR VANG'S COMMENTS TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS BOARD'S POLICY DIRECTION. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE CONTINUUM OF CARE. BROAD PARTNERSHIPS. THESE THINGS DO NOT HAPPEN ALONE. SO YOU'VE GOT THE MANAGED CARE PLAN, THE PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY, COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE SUPPORT YOU'VE PROVIDED TO THIS COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE WE COULD FURTHER THIS GOAL OF PROVIDING HOUSING TO EVERYONE WHO NEEDS IT AND THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO TRANSITION INTO SELF-SUFFICIENCY IS REALLY YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT THIS WHOLE COMMUNITY SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR. SO APPRECIATE IT. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. YEAH, I KNOW I DON'T NORMALLY MAKE COMMENT ON PUBLIC COMMENT. [00:10:10] HOWEVER, AT THE END OF THIS BOARD, WHEN WE GIVE OUR BOARD REPORTS MOST OF YOU WON'T BE HERE. SO I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE YOU KNOW DIRECTOR VANG AND DIRECTOR CHECKLEY BEING YOU KNOW, EIGHT YEARS AGO, I GOT INVOLVED WITH THE HOMELESSNESS PROCESS IN MERCED COUNTY, AND REALLY, JOHN, YOU HAVE BEEN THE IMPETUS FOR A BUNCH OF WHAT'S HAPPENED, AND, AND I BRAG WHEN WE GO AROUND THE STATE ONLY BECAUSE I KNOW JOHN'S NOT INTERESTED IN LEAVING MERCED COUNTY. BUT HE JUST DOES A PHENOMENAL JOB. I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY AND I ALWAYS DO THE MATH. YOU KNOW, WHEN WHENEVER I'M WATCHING A HOMELESS TV REPORT AND THEY'LL SAY HOW MUCH MONEY AND HOW MANY BEDS, AND GENERALLY THAT NUMBER IS BETWEEN $400,000 AND $1,000,000 PER BED. AND IF YOU DO THE MATH ON THIS ONE, IT'S $151,000. SO NOT ONLY DOES JOHN DO A GREAT JOB IN KUMIKO AND ALL THE REST OF THE TEAM, THE THE COC REALLY PERKING ON HIGH, BUT ALSO EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT WITH THE MONEY. SO JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. CHAIRMAN PEDROZO, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DEAR FRIEND MARK AND TEAM HERE IN MERCED COUNTY. NATHAN ALONZO, YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS REP FOR PG&E. WITH SOME GOOD NEWS. ON DECEMBER 30TH, WE PUT OUT A PRESS RELEASE STATING THAT FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN TWO YEARS, WE ARE LOWERING ELECTRIC AND GAS RATES FOR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS. GOING FORWARD, RESIDENTS CAN ANTICIPATE BETWEEN A THREE AND 5% DECREASE IN THEIR DUAL COMMODITY BILL. DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A LOT, BUT AS WE'VE DISCUSSED BEFORE WE'RE CHIPPING AWAY AT IT BIT BY BIT, DOING OUR BEST TO TIGHTEN BELT IN HOUSE, BUT ALSO FIND WAYS TO WORK WITH LEGISLATORS AND REGULATORS TO HELP BRING RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER BILLS DOWN. SO I'LL BE COMING BACK BEFORE THE BOARD, HOPEFULLY ON AN AGENDA ITEM LATER ON THIS YEAR TO GIVE SOME MORE DETAILS ON WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE SOME OF OUR POLICY PRIORITIES THIS YEAR AND HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO BRING SOME ADDITIONAL SAVINGS TO YOUR RESIDENTS AND OUR CUSTOMERS. SO THANK YOU. AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BOARD ON THEIR LEADERSHIP AND REORGANIZATION THIS YEAR. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. BOARD, CEO HENDRICKSON, COUNTY COUNSEL HANSEN. OH, THAT'S TOO HIGH. MY NAME IS KRISTYNN SULLIVAN. I AM THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES FOR THE COUNTY, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON OUR EMS TRANSITION THAT TOOK PLACE THIS LAST WEEK AT 12:00 NOON ON NEW YEAR'S EVE, AMR SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITIONED INTO OUR COUNTY, INTO OUR COUNTY AS OUR SOLE EMS PROVIDER. TYPICALLY, THESE TRANSITIONS TAKE 6 TO 12 MONTHS TO PREPARE. AMR DID SO IN LESS THAN THREE. DISPATCHED. OUR DISPATCH SYSTEMS WERE ALSO TRANSITIONED AT NOON, AND ZERO CALLS WERE DROPPED DURING THAT THAT TRANSITION PERIOD, ALL OTHER RESPONDING AGENCIES, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, OUR FIRE DISPATCH HAD SIGNIFICANT PRE WORK TOGETHER WITH AMR TO ENSURE THAT THIS RESULT. AND IT WAS ONE OF THE SMOOTHEST TRANSITIONS THAT AMR DISPATCHER WHO HAS OVERSEEN SEVERAL OF THESE HAS EVER SEEN ALMOST IMMEDIATELY UPON TRANSITION, AMR RECEIVED INCREDIBLY HIGH CALL VOLUME THAT IS CONTINUING TO THIS DAY, ELEVATED FROM WHAT WE TYPICALLY SEE AT THIS TIME OF YEAR. BUT DESPITE THAT, IN LEARNING, AND AS THEY WERE LEARNING THE RESPONSE PATTERNS FIRSTHAND, WE SAW THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE MADE CHANGES TO THEIR POSTING PLAN TO BETTER ENSURE RAPID RESPONSE TO RESIDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTY. IN ADDITION TO THAT, 95% OF THE SEMSA STAFF DID TRANSITION TO AMR FOR SOME OF OUR CREWS AT NOON. THEY SIMPLY CHANGED UNIFORMS AND CHANGED AMBULANCES, AND WE'RE RIGHT BACK IN SERVICE. I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE GRATITUDE TO ALL OF OUR FIRST RESPONDER AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL PARTNERS, FIRE, LAW ENFORCEMENT, OUR HOSPITALS, AS WELL AS TO THE EMS PROVIDER SEMSA FOR THEIR COLLABORATION DURING THIS TRANSITION PROCESS. BECAUSE OF THE RESPONSIVENESS OF THESE PARTNERS AND THE EFFORTS TOGETHER WITH OUR NEW PARTNER AMR, THIS TRANSITION HAS BEEN A SUCCESS, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES GET THE RESPONSE TIMES AND THE SERVICES THAT THEY DESERVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MORNING BOARD COUNTY MERCED. MY NAME IS KARTHIK PRASAD HERE ON BEHALF OF CONGRESSMAN ADAM GRAY. [00:15:02] AND AS THE NEW YEAR KICKS OFF AND THE HOUSE GOES INTO SESSION LATER TODAY, THE CONGRESSMAN IS ACTUALLY ON A FLIGHT OVER THERE RIGHT NOW. SO I HOPE HIS FLIGHT IS IS PRETTY PLEASANT. OUR BIGGEST, BIGGEST LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY, ASIDE FROM LOWERING GROCERY AND UTILITY COSTS, IS LOWERING HEALTH CARE COSTS FOR VALLEY FAMILIES. AS THE YEAR BEGINS, A LOT OF FOLKS ARE GOING TO BE SEEING A LOT OF PRICE INCREASES, AND WE WANT TO LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW. AND IF ANY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD KNOW OF ANYONE WHO'S BEEN IMPACTED BY RISING COSTS ANYWHERE ACROSS THE BOARD, ESPECIALLY IN HEALTH CARE, SEND THEM OUR WAY. WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, AND WE WANT TO KNOW HOW WE CAN HELP. JUST DOWN THE STREET. 602 WEST 20TH STREET, AND THEY CAN REACH US AT (209) 226-6880. SO SEND THEM OUR WAY. WE'LL FIGURE OUT HOW TO HELP THEM OUT. AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. I KNOW IT SHOULD COME DOWN. OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. SO FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. I'M MERCEDES RODRIGUEZ, AND I'M FROM THE BEACHWOOD FRANKLIN UNINCORPORATED AREA OF MERCER COUNTY. I'M ALSO WITH THE BEACHWOOD FRANKLIN COMMITTEE FOR IMPROVEMENT. AND I'D LIKE TO LIKE TO SAY THANK SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. BECAUSE HE'S MADE A COUPLE OF OUR DREAMS COME TRUE HERE, OR WE'RE GETTING THERE. SO WE NOW HAVE THE MERCED COUNTY BEACHWOOD FRANKLIN PARK, WHICH IS ALMOST COMPLETED, WHICH IS REALLY, REALLY COOL. AND ALSO, I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR HELPING US MAKE FOR HELPING HIM MAKE THAT POSSIBLE AND BRINGING IT TO US. OUR OTHER THANKS IS TO ALL OF YOU AND ALL THE COUNTY OFFICES, ALL THE THE PEOPLE THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE TO GIVE US A PART OF THAT PARK TO. CONSTRUCT THE 20,000 SQUARE FOOT SKATE PARK, WHICH WE NOW HAVE THE LAND. WE HAVE THE PLAN, AND NOW WE'RE IN THE THIRD STEP OF, RAISING THE $1.5 MILLION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION. AND OUR FIRST GOAL IS $250,000 BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THAT WILL BE MATCHED. SO WE'RE STARTING THAT AND THAT FOR YOU. AND BASICALLY, I JUST THANK YOU ALL AND THANK EVERYONE ELSE FOR ALL THE EFFORT THAT THEY PUT IN TO BRINGING THIS. AND AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO EVENTUALLY HAVING OUR PARK OUT THERE. AND THANK YOU. HI. MY NAME IS RENE DIAZ. I'M A RESIDENT OF BEACHWOOD AREA. MCDANIEL HAS GOTTEN THE HELP US GET OUR PARKING AS FAR AS YOU GUYS VOTED. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I GREW UP THERE. I GREW UP WITH. YOU KNOW, I GREW UP WITH LYNDON COWDEN AND THE COWDEN FAMILY, AND AND, YOU KNOW, WE GREW UP TOGETHER, RODE HORSES, STUFF LIKE THAT. YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST JUST CHILDISH STUFF. AND, YOU KNOW, THE THING IS THAT WE HAVE THE PARK AND WE HAVE THESE KIDS, WE HAVE THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT, YOU KNOW, WORKERS THAT DRIVE THEM OUT OF TOWN, STUFF LIKE THAT. THE ONLY THING I JUST WANTED TO SAY IS THAT I'M REALLY THANKFUL OF THE PARK, BUT WE NEED TO GET OUR PEOPLE THAT ARE FROM MERCED SOME OF THE EMPLOYMENT THAT THAT'S WORKING THERE, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING, IS THAT IF WE CAN CONSIDER SOME SKILLS WISE, EVEN JUST HIRE A COUPLE, YOU KNOW, A FEW, YOU KNOW, THERE'S OTHER OTHER BIDS THAT COME IN. I UNDERSTAND IT'S JUST A BID, BUT IF YOU GUYS CAN CONSIDER JUST HAVING SOME LOCAL YOUTH LEARNING THE TRADE, YOU KNOW, AND CARRYING ON THE, THE TRADESMEN, YOU KNOW, AS WELL. SO BECAUSE JUST TO LET YOU KNOW. THANK YOU. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED FOR NON AGENDA ITEMS. AT THIS TIME I WILL TURN THE MEETING OVER TO MARK HENDRICKSON AS THE CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO FACILITATE THE NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF THE 2026 BOARD [PRESENTATIONS] CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR. GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. [00:20:04] AGAIN, AS THE CLERK OF THE BOARD, IT IS A SINCERE PRIVILEGE TO CONDUCT THE SELECTION OF THE CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN FOR THIS COMING YEAR. NOW, THE BOARD MAY SOLICIT NOMINATIONS IN ONE OF TWO WAYS, EITHER AS A SLATE FOR BOTH POSITIONS OR INDIVIDUALLY. NOW, DURING THIS PROCESS, BOARD MEMBERS MAY EITHER NOMINATE THEMSELVES OR ANY OTHER MEMBER OF THE BOARD. SO AT THIS POINT, TO BE BRIEF, I WILL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR NOMINATIONS FOR CHAIRMAN OR VICE CHAIRMAN, SHOULD THE BOARD BE INTERESTED IN DOING IT AS A SLATE? SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. IT IS MY HONOR TO NOMINATE DISTRICT 3 SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL FOR CHAIR AND DISTRICT 4 SUPERVISOR PAREIRA FOR VICE CHAIR. SECOND. OKAY THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR PEDROZO FOR THE MOTION OR THE NOMINATION IN THE SECOND. ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS FROM THE FLOOR? OKAY. HEARING NONE, I'M GOING TO CLOSE NOMINATIONS AT THIS TIME AND BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD ON THE. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION AND NOMINATION FOR SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL TO SERVE AS THE CHAIRMAN AND SUPERVISOR PAREIRA TO SERVE AS THE VICE CHAIRMAN. PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. ARE THERE ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. CONGRATULATIONS CHAIRMAN MCDANIEL, VICE CHAIRMAN PAREIRA. AT THIS POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO THANK SUPERVISOR PEDROZO FOR HIS LEADERSHIP, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CHAIRMAN WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOME OUTGOING COMMENTS REFLECTING UPON THIS PAST YEAR. THANK YOU. AND CONGRATULATIONS SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. YOU WERE THE CHAIRMAN WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED, AND I REALLY APPRECIATED WORKING WITH YOU. AND I LEARNED A LOT, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE THIS THIS YEAR. MOVING FORWARD, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO REFLECT ON THE PROGRESS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS WE'VE MADE OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A LOT OF THIS, I'M GOING TO SAY WE BECAUSE I DON'T DO ANY OF THIS STUFF WITHOUT THE THE OTHER FOUR OF US UP HERE AND OUR STAFF. AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AS WE LOOK BACK. I'M PROUD OF THE PROGRESS MERCED COUNTY HAS MADE BY STAYING FOCUSED ON RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNERSHIP AND LONG TERM IMPACT. I'M JUST GOING TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE THINGS. THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT RESPONSE. ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING ISSUES WE ADDRESS EACH YEAR IS HOMELESSNESS. IN APRIL, MERCED COUNTY COORDINATED WITH THE CITY OF MERCED, CHP, CALTRANS, AND NONPROFIT PARTNERS TO CONDUCT A CLEANUP OF A MAJOR ENCAMPMENT NEAR HIGHWAY 99 IN EAST CHILDS AVENUE, WHERE MORE THAN 50 INDIVIDUALS WERE LIVING. ALL INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED ADVANCE NOTICE OR OFFERED SERVICES, AND WERE CONNECTED WITH CASEWORKERS WELL BEFORE THE CLEANUP OCCURRED. SEVERAL ACCEPTED AVAILABLE SHELTER PLACEMENTS AND OUTREACH EFFORTS CONTINUE TODAY. THIS ACTION WAS NECESSARY TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY FOR BOTH THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY AND THOSE LIVING IN THE ENCAMPMENT. WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO COORDINATED LONG TERM STRATEGIES THAT ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS WITH BOTH COMPASSION AND ACCOUNTABILITY. AS WE HEARD EARLIER FROM DOCTOR VANG AND DIRECTOR CHECKLEY, WE ARE CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE AND WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS NOT ONLY TO ADDRESS IMMEDIATE CONCERNS, BUT TO DEVELOP LASTING SOLUTIONS THAT ENSURE ADEQUATE HOUSING OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE SO THIS ISSUE CAN BE ADDRESSED, CAN BE ADDRESSED HUMANELY AND EFFECTIVELY. SOMETHING THAT I'M VERY PROUD THAT WE ARE DOING. HIGH SPEED RAIL ACCOUNTABILITY THIS YEAR ALSO BROUGHT, EXCUSE ME, MAJOR DECISION POINTS THAT WILL IMPACT THE FUTURE OF MERCED COUNTY. WHEN THE CALIFORNIA HIGH SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY PROPOSED A PLAN THAT COULD LEAVE MERCED OUT OF THE INITIAL OPERATING SEGMENT, LOCAL LEADERS SPOKE OUT. STATE LAW IS CLEAR. THE FIRST OPERATING SEGMENT MUST RUN FROM BAKERSFIELD TO MERCED. WE WILL CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE HIGH SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND THE LEGISLATURE TO REAFFIRM THE IMPORTANCE OF ADHERING TO THE ORIGINAL PLAN AND HONORING THE COMMITMENTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE. MERCED COUNTY WILL NOT BE LEFT BEHIND. AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE MADE STRIDES IN COMMUNICATION AND APPRECIATE THE AUTHORITY'S EFFORTS TO ENGAGE WITH LOCAL LEADERS AND LISTEN TO OUR CONCERNS. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT WITH RENEWED FOCUS, THE AUTHORITY WILL RECOGNIZE THAT MERCED COUNTY HAS BEEN A SUPPORTIVE PARTNER SINCE THE INCEPTION OF HIGH SPEED RAIL, AND I REMAIN HOPEFUL THEY WILL FULFILL THEIR COMMITMENTS AS FUTURE DEVELOPMENT MOVES FORWARD. AS IT RELATES TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, I THINK DOCTOR SULLIVAN REALLY HIT IT OUT OF THE PARK WITH HER TEAM AND THE REST OF THE COUNTY STAFF AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY PROFESSIONALS. THIS YEAR ALSO MARKED AN IMPORTANT TRANSITION IN OUR EMS OPERATIONS, THE MERCED COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THIS BOARD AND IN COORDINATION WITH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNERS, TRANSITION TRANSITIONED EMS OPERATIONS FROM SIERRA EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ALLIANCE, SEMSA TO AMERICAN. AMERICAN MEDICAL RESPONSE, OR AMR. THE TRANSITION WAS SMOOTH AND COLLABORATIVE, ENSURING THERE WAS NO DISRUPTION IN EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE OR PATIENT CARE. LOOKING AHEAD, THE BOARD ADOPTED A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIC PLAN TO GUIDE THE COUNTY'S WORK. THIS PLAN REFLECTS OUR SHARED VALUES, STRONG CUSTOMER SERVICE, FISCAL DISCIPLINE, IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE, REVENUE ENHANCEMENT AND ENHANCED INFRASTRUCTURE INCLUDING ROADS, FACILITIES, CYBERSECURITY, GIS AND GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY. IT WAS. IT WILL SERVE AS A ROADMAP FOR DELIVERING RESULTS AND MEETING THE EVOLVING NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITIES. [00:25:06] WE ALSO CELEBRATED MEANINGFUL INVESTMENTS IN OUR PUBLIC SPACES. WE PROUDLY COMMEMORATED 150 YEARS SINCE THE DEDICATION OF THE MERCED COUNTY COURTHOUSE, A TIMELESS LANDMARK THAT CONTINUES TO STAND AS A TESTAMENT TO OUR COUNTY'S ENDURING SPIRIT. THE COMPLETION OF EXTERIOR PRESERVATION WORK AT THE MERCED COUNTY COURTHOUSE MUSEUM PROTECTS ONE OF CALIFORNIA'S OLDEST AND MOST ICONIC BUILDINGS. ACROSS THE COUNTY WE MARKED MAJOR MILESTONES WITH THE OPENING OF SHATTUCK COMMUNITY HALL, THE JERRY O'BANION LIBRARY, AND DEL HALE HALL, AND BROKE GROUND ON IMPROVEMENTS AT O'BANION PARK IN DOS PALOS. THESE PROJECTS STRENGTHENED COMMUNITY CONNECTION AND QUALITY OF LIFE. FINALLY, THIS YEAR BROUGHT OPPORTUNITIES TO COME TOGETHER AND CELEBRATE EVENTS LIKE THE LUKE BRYAN CONCERT AT CASTLE BENEFITING LOCAL FFA STUDENTS. THE 2ND ANNUAL CASTLE AIR FEST AND THE 2025 LAO BOAT RACING FESTIVAL AT LAKE YOSEMITE, WHICH WE GOT SECOND PLACE IN. HIGHLIGHTED OUR COMMUNITY PRIDE AND SHOWCASED ONE OF MERCED COUNTY'S GREATEST STRENGTHS OUR CULTURAL DIVERSITY. THIS REPRESENTS ONLY A SMALL SNAPSHOT OF THE WORK, THAT OF THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED THIS PAST YEAR. NONE OF IT HAPPENS WITHOUT THE DEDICATION OF COUNTY EMPLOYEES, STRONG PARTNERSHIPS AND ENGAGED RESIDENTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TRUST AND COLLABORATION. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT IN MAKING 2025 A MILESTONE YEAR FOR MERCED COUNTY. WHAT PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND. PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE AND REALLY THE COUNTRY KNOW WHO WE ARE BECAUSE OF WHO WE REPRESENT. AND WHENEVER I TALK ABOUT THE WORK WE DO IN MERCED COUNTY, IT'S BECAUSE OF THE VISION OF ALL OF US FROM LISTENING TO THE PUBLIC WE REPRESENT. WHILE WE MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE. TRUST ME, WE RESPECT ONE ANOTHER AND UNDERSTAND THAT OUR DIFFERENCES ARE NOT PERSONAL. YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY IT WAS MENTIONED THIS MORNING THAT IT'S VERY RARE FOR A BOARD OF FIVE PEOPLE TO GET AS LONG AS AS WE DO. I MEAN, AND THE DIFFERENT EVENTS AND STUFF, YOU CAN SEE BOARD MEMBERS, ACTUALLY, IF THEY SEE SOMEBODY FROM THEIR COUNTY, THEY'LL TURN AROUND AND WALK IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION INSTEAD OF GOING UP TO THEM. AND PEOPLE SEE US, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT BALLGAME. THEY REFLECT WHAT EACH OF US BELIEVES IS BEST FOR THE PEOPLE WE SERVE AND FOR MERCED COUNTY AS A, AS A WHOLE. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE THE BEST BOARD IN THE STATE. WE WORK TOGETHER, WE RESPECT EACH OTHER AND RECOGNIZE THAT OUR JOB IS TO ENSURE POLICY IS MADE TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE PEOPLE OF MERCED COUNTY. I HAVE APPRECIATED SERVING AS CHAIR THIS YEAR AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS IMPORTANT WORK TOGETHER IN THE YEAR AHEAD. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. WE'LL DO THE WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU DON'T GET MY SEAT YET. BUT ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, WE DO LIKE TO PROVIDE A GIFT WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP. WE APPRECIATED YOUR LEADERSHIP THIS YEAR. THERE WERE SOME TOUGH, TRYING TIMES WHERE WE DIDN'T ALL AGREE ON EVERYTHING. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE STILL WERE ABLE TO MOVE ON AND NOT HOLD GRUDGES. AND THAT'S MUCH APPRECIATED. AND JUST LIKE YOU SAID IN YOUR REMARKS, IT'S NOT REFLECTED IN THE REST OF THE COUNTY OR NATION THAT BOARDS ARE ABLE TO DO THAT. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP THIS AND BEING ABLE TO DO THAT. NOT THAT YOU WERE EVER JUST THE ONE VOTE OUT ALL THE TIME, BUT JUST KIDDING. BUT ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU THIS GIFT AND OUR APPRECIATION OF YOUR LEADERSHIP AS OUR CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. SIR [LAUGHTER] ON, ON BEHALF OF OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM AND EACH OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR TENACITY OVER THIS PAST YEAR. BEING CHAIR IS NOT IS NOT AN EASY TASK. AND WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP ACCORDINGLY. THIS IS A SMALL TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION, WHICH WE HOPE YOU WILL FIND VERY REFLECTIVE OF SOMETHING THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO YOU OVER THE COURSE OF THIS PAST YEAR. SO MR. CHAIRMAN THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK CLOSELY WITH YOU. AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS CHAIR THIS PAST YEAR. THANK YOU GO TO A MINUTE BREAK [00:30:05] TIME WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE A TEN MINUTE BREAK SO WE CAN HAVE THE COMPUTER SWITCHED OVER FOR THE NEW SEATS. OKAY THANK YOU. PLEASE, EVERYBODY, GIVE ME SOME GRACE BEFORE I GET MY TIMING DOWN AS BEING THE CHAIRMAN, AS IT'S ALWAYS A LITTLE WONKY AT FIRST, BUT WE'LL GO AHEAD AND START THE MEETING UP AGAIN. [CONSENT CALENDAR] AND RIGHT NOW, WE'RE AT CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 12. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 12. CONSENT AGENDA CALENDAR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 12. PLEASE NOTE ITEM 1 HAS BEEN PULLED AND ITEMS 2 THROUGH 5 REQUIRE A 4/5 VOTE. SEEING NOBODY, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND I WILL. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION HERE AT THE DAIS? SEEING NONE. WHAT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? IF NOT, WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. DID [LAUGHTER] I SAY I DON'T THINK THE LAST TIME WE DIDN'T HAVE VOTING. SO MOVING RIGHT ALONG. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO BOARD ACTION ITEMS, BEGINNING WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES. [BOARD ACTION] ITEMS 13 THROUGH 16. AT THIS TIME, DIRECTOR KUMIKO VANG WILL PROVIDE COMMENTS REGARDING ITEM NUMBER 16. OKAY. GOOD MORNING CHAIRMAN MCDANIEL, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, CEO HENDRICKSON COUNTY COUNSEL HANSEN. I AM ALEXANDRA PIERCE, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES. ITEM 16, BEFORE YOU REQUEST YOUR APPROVAL AND AUTHORIZATION FOR THE BOARD CHAIR TO SIGN A NO COST STANDARD AGREEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES THROUGH THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE ENTITY ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN POTENTIAL, ALSO KNOWN AS AHP. FOR THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH MOBILE CRISIS AND NON-CRISIS SERVICES GRANT AWARDS. AGREEING TO THE CONDITIONS PROVIDED TO RETAIN THE USE OF EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES PURCHASE UTILIZING THE GRANT FUNDING. I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT THE GRANT AMENDMENT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION THIS MORNING LISTS THE CONTRACT MANAGER AS FORMER SUPERVISOR RODRIGO ESPINOZA, AS HE WAS THE LAST BOARD CHAIR TO EXECUTE THIS AGREEMENT AND LIST SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AS THE CURRENT SIGNATORY AS HE WAS THE BOARD CHAIR WHEN THIS UPDATED AGREEMENT WAS DRAFTED. GRANT REQUIREMENTS MANDATE THAT THIS ITEM MUST BE EXECUTED BY THE END OF JANUARY, IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLES PURCHASED THROUGH THIS GRANT. BHR STAFF ATTEMPTED TO WORK WITH AHP AND THE STATE TO MAKE THE NECESSARY SIGNATORY ADJUSTMENTS BEFORE BRINGING THIS ITEM BEFORE THE BOARD. UNFORTUNATELY, PER THE STATE'S REQUIREMENTS, THE SIGNATORY LINE COULD NOT BE LEFT BLANK AND MUST INCLUDE A NAME. NOW THAT THIS YEAR'S BOARD CHAIR HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY DESIGNATED, WE WILL PROMPTLY NOTIFY AHP AND REQUEST THE SIGNATORY NAME BE UPDATED TO REFLECT SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. ONCE PROVIDED TO AHP, WE ANTICIPATE THAT THEY'LL RETURN THE UPDATED AGREEMENT BY THE END OF THE WEEK, IN WHICH WILL PROVIDE IT BACK TO THE BOARD. I AM AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU ALEX. IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ALEX ON THIS ITEM? ALL RIGHT AT THIS TIME. I'LL OPEN UP. THANK YOU ALEX. I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ITEMS. RECOVERY SERVICES. THIS WILL BE FOR 13 THROUGH 16. SEEING NONE, I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS. IS THERE FURTHER COMMENTS OR. ARE YOU JUST GETTING READY TO VOTE? OKAY. SO WE'LL GO AHEAD. AND I DO HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS BEFORE WE VOTE ON THIS ITEM? IF NOT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES. I HAVE TO ADMIT, THIS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT WITH THE VOTING PROCESS. [00:35:03] NEXT WE HAVE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY. ITEM 17 THROUGH 19. AT THIS TIME, I'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY ITEMS 13 THROUGH 19. 17 IT BACK TO THE DAIS. IS THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM OR QUESTIONS? IF NOT, I ALREADY HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT WE HAVE OH, IT'S ALL ON THE SAME PAGE YOU GOT IT ITEM 20. AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 20. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR HEALTH ITEM 20 IS NOW CLOSED. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION HERE AT THE DAIS? IF NOT, I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND SUPERVISOR PEDROZO SECONDED THE MOTION. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. IS THERE A FURTHER DISCUSSION TO DAIS BEFORE WE? [LAUGHTER]. RIGHT OH. SHOULD BE PEDROZO. NOT ACCEPTED [LAUGHTER]. YOU CAN GO BACK. LET'S GIVE IT UP. YOU WANT TO GO? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT WE HAVE SHERIFF. ITEM 21. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT ON SHERIFF ITEM NUMBER 21. SEEING NONE, I'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THAT NOW. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION HERE AT THE DAIS ON THIS ITEM? IF NOT, I'LL CALL FOR A MOTION. OH, THERE'S A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE WE CALL FOR THE VOTE? IF NOT, LET'S. I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT WE HAVE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. ITEM 22. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. ITEM NUMBER 22. SEEING NONE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD. THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ITEM 22 IS NOW CLOSED. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION HERE AT THE DAIS BEFORE I CALL FOR A MOTION? LOOKS LIKE WE DON'T. SO I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. I'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT WE HAVE BOARD INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION. [BOARD INFORMATION & POSSIBLE ACTION] ITEMS 23 AND 24. AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THESE ITEMS. SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AT THE DAIS ON THIS? IF NOT, I'LL CALL FOR A MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. AND AT THIS TIME, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP THE GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY. [Additional Item] WE WILL NOW RECESS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING AND CONVENE AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF MERCED, CHOWCHILLA GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AND AGENCY. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR NON AGENDA ITEMS AS WELL AS ONE ACTION ITEM ON THIS AGENDA. [00:40:04] AS A REMINDER, THE NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT MUST BE REGARDING ITEMS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF MERCED, CHOWCHILLA GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY. TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON. SEEING NONE, I'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE. NOW WE HAVE BOARD ACTION. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO THE BOARD ACTION AS SUBMITTED BY COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. ITEM ONE. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD HAS ON THIS MOTION? IF NOT. THIS IS A VOICE VOTE. OKAY. SO IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? IF NOT, WHAT IS THE PLEASURE BOARD? I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ANY AGAINST SAME SIGN. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE CHOWCHILLA GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY. AND WE'LL COME BACK TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. [REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION] AT THIS TIME WE WILL RECONVENE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND FINISH THE BOARD REPORT, STARTING WITH SUPERVISOR PACHECO. I'M WISHING EVERYBODY THAT HAD A GREAT HOLIDAY AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR. SINCE OUR LAST BOARD MEETING, I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND SEVERAL COMMUNITY HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS AND PARADES AND. THANK OUR COMMUNITIES FOR INVITING ME TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE ACTIVITIES. I WANT TO THANK WE JUST HAD A RECENT STORM HERE. I JUST WANT TO THANK ADAM AMARAL AND NATHAN BRAY FOR THEIR COMMITMENT LEADERSHIP TO OUR COMMUNITIES, MAKE SURE THEY STAY SAFE COMMUNICATE WITH US. AND THEY WERE ON TOP OF THE RAINSTORM, MAKING SURE THAT THE WATER DIDN'T GO WHERE IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO GO. SO THANK YOU FOR FOR DOING THAT. AND THEN JUST LASTLY, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE MARK HENDRICKSON ON SIX MONTHS OF CEO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GUIDANCE, HARD WORK AND ENTHUSIASM AND LOOKING FORWARD TO A GOOD 2026 IN ADDITION. SO THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. YEAH I WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY I HOPE EVERYBODY HAD A HAPPY AND SAFE NEW YEAR. AND A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON. I, TOO, WANT TO CONGRATULATE MR. HENDRICKSON ON A SUCCESSFUL SIX MONTHS AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT SIX MONTHS. AND I ALSO WANTED TO REALLY THANK AND I KNOW I ALREADY DID, BUT THANK DOCTOR VANG AND MR. CHECKLEY, AS WELL AS DOCTOR SULLIVAN FOR THEIR WITH WITH THE HOMELESSNESS ISSUES AND WITH THE EMS THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO WERE ABLE TO HELP OUT WITH I TOO ATTENDED THE HMONG NEW YEAR CELEBRATION. IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE EVENTS OF THE YEAR BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, IT REALLY HIGHLIGHTS THE CULTURAL DIVERSITY THAT WE HAVE HERE. AND THEN LET'S SEE. ALSO, I WANTED TO SO THIS INFORMATION CAME OUT LATE LAST WEEK, BUT I WANTED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING FOR VIOLETTE WALKER. VIOLETTE WAS A A SENIOR AT EL CAPITAN HIGH SCHOOL WHO TRAGICALLY PASSED IN A IN AN ACCIDENT LAST WEEK. SO HER HER PARENTS. I KNOW HER PARENTS. HER DAD IS A FIREFIGHTER HERE IN MERCED, AND HER MOM IS A TEACHER THAT I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH. AND SO I KNOW IT'S A TOUGH TIME FOR THAT FAMILY, AND I JUST WANTED TO HONOR HER. WITH BY IN BY ADJOURNING THE MEETING FOR HER. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YEAH. I HOPE EVERYBODY HAD A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR. IT'S KIND OF THE THEME FOR NEW YEAR'S SEEMED TO BE THAT IT WAS CALM. AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BECAUSE ALL MY FRIENDS ARE OLDER OR [LAUGHTER] OR WHAT, BUT I CAN REMEMBER WHEN I WAS IN MY EARLY 20S AND AND WHOOPING IT UP. SO, ANYWAYS GLAD THE NEW YEAR'S WAS SAFE. I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE CEO HENDRICKSON ON ON A GREAT FIRST SIX MONTHS. AND, LIKE MY COLLEAGUES LOOK FORWARD TO TO THE NEXT I DON'T KNOW, 20 YEARS OR SOMETHING, I DON'T KNOW, BUT ANYWAYS, I JUST APPRECIATE YOU. I'D LIKE TO THANK DOCTOR SULLIVAN AND HER TEAM FOR JUST A WONDERFUL TRANSITION ON THIS, ON THE ON THE AMBULANCE. YOU KNOW WHEN WHEN BEFORE BEFORE WE MADE THE FINAL CONTRACT VOTE, I GUESS. [00:45:04] AND WITH ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WAS FLYING OUT I REALLY DIDN'T THINK IT COULD BE DONE AND BE DONE SO SMOOTHLY. AND SO YOU KNOW, SEMSA I THINK CAME TO THE TABLE YOU KNOW, PROFESSIONALLY AND AMR AND THEIR TEAM YOU KNOW, I THINK HELPED FACILITATE THAT. AND SO ANYWAYS, I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THAT THIS WAS A BIG DEAL. I HAPPENED TO BE MAKING A DELIVERY AT THE HOSPITAL. NOT A BABY, BUT A PACKAGE [LAUGHTER]. AND AT ABOUT 1:00 ON NEW YEAR'S EVE AND JUST SAW ALL THE AMR AMBULANCES THERE AND, YOU KNOW, AND IT JUST WAS LIKE, WOW. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT, YOU KNOW, 12:00 PASSED AND HERE WE ARE. WE'RE FULLY FUNCTIONAL AND, AND SO I JUST GOT TO TAKE TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THAT. I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK ANTHONY WILLIAMS FROM THE HIGH SPEED RAIL BOARD FOR COMING DOWN AND MEETING WITH ME AND AND LISTENING TO YOU KNOW, OUR OUR CHAIR PEDROZO WHEN HE WENT TO SACRAMENTO AND SPOKE AND ABOUT THE DISCONNECT AND REALLY MADE AN HONEST EFFORT TO ENGAGE. AND SO I APPRECIATED THAT. AND THEN YESTERDAY SOME OF THE HIGH SPEED RAIL STAFF ACTUALLY WERE HERE IN THE BUILDING AS WELL, KIND OF REAFFIRMING. AND THE PUBLIC WILL GET A CHANCE ON THE 13TH TO HEAR FROM THEM. AND AND SO I JUST THINK THAT THAT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS. AND THEN I'D LIKE TO THANK THE LAO FAMILY FOR INVITING ME TO THE, THEIR NEW YEAR'S CELEBRATION. IT IS AMAZING. THERE WAS HAD TO BE NO LESS THAN 150 PEOPLE IN TRADITIONAL WEAR, I GUESS, I DON'T KNOW, NOT THEY WEREN'T COSTUMES, RIGHT. THEY LOOKED BEAUTIFUL, LIKE COSTUMES, BUT IT'S TRADITIONAL WEAR AND AND I ASKED SOME OF THE AND MOST OF THEM WERE YOUNG LADIES AND ASKED A FEW OF THEM FROM DIFFERENT GROUPS HOW LONG THEY PREPARED. AND, AND IT WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF HOURS, 2 TO 3 HOURS. ONE GROUP WOKE UP IN STOCKTON. THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE FROM. AND AND THEY HAD I MEAN, THEIR FACES WERE PAINTED JUST SO DELICATELY AND WONDERFULLY AND, AND SO A LOT OF EFFORT WENT INTO TO THAT CEREMONY. SO I APPRECIATED BEING INVITED. I'D LIKE TO THANK SUPERVISOR PEDROZO FOR THIS LAST YEAR. YOU DID A GREAT JOB AND REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP. AND WHEN IT CAME TIME TO FIGHT, YOU FOUGHT FOR US. AND I APPRECIATE THAT THAT EXTREMELY WELL. AND LET'S SEE, I THINK THAT'S IT ON MY LIST. AND THEN, DARON, CONGRATULATIONS. LOOK FORWARD TO A GREAT YEAR. YOU KNOW I YOU PROVIDED GREAT LEADERSHIP IN THE PAST AND EXPECT NO LESS THAN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YEAH. FIRST OFF, CONGRATULATIONS TO SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL AND PAREIRA IN BEING APPOINTED INTO LEADERSHIP ROLES. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH BOTH OF YOU THIS YEAR. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYBODY. I TOO ATTENDED THE HMONG NEW YEAR CELEBRATION, AND IT IS IT'S A ONE OF A KIND EVENT. AND THEY'RE VERY GRACIOUS HOSTS. ALWAYS ENJOY AND GOT TO SNEAK OUT AND GO TRY SOME OF THE TRADITIONAL FOOD. AND I WILL TELL YOU, IT WAS QUITE EXCELLENT. AND THE WEATHER WAS ACTUALLY HELD OUT PERFECTLY FOR THEM ON THAT DAY. AND THE SUN ACTUALLY CAME OUT A LITTLE BIT. SO A COUPLE THINGS. BUSY HOLIDAY SEASON, BUT SINCE OUR LAST BOARD MEETING I MET WITH A GROUP I WANT TO THANK NICK JENSEN IT'S TRACE COMUNIDADES UNIDAS. UNIDAS. I HOPE I SAID THAT RIGHT. SO THEY'RE A GROUP THAT REPRESENTS FOLKS IN SOUTH DOS PALOS MIDWAY AND DOS PALOS Y AREA. SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FOLKS AT THE JERRY O'BANION LIBRARY AS WE HAD A MEETING SCHEDULED AT THE COFFEE SALOON, NOT REALIZING THAT IT CLOSED A HALF HOUR AFTER WE STARTED OUR MEETING. AND SO WE HAD TO PIVOT QUICKLY, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GO UTILIZE ONE OF THE ROOMS AT THE LIBRARY THERE. AND THEY WERE GRACIOUS HOSTS, ALLOWING US TO MEET AND JUST TALKED ABOUT COMMUNITY ISSUES, ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON OUT THERE. ONE THING THAT KIND OF CAME OF IT, AND I ALREADY MENTIONED TO THE CITY MANAGER IN DOS PALOS IS, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES AND SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BRING UP AT MCAG AS WELL IS, YOU KNOW CROSSING HIGHWAY IS OBVIOUSLY NOT SOMETHING THAT WE GET TO DO ALL ON OUR OWN. THAT OBVIOUSLY TAKES SOME WORK WITH CALTRANS, BUT ESPECIALLY OUT IN THAT MIDWAY AREA. YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE SCHOOLS, THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, THE HIGH SCHOOLS THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ARE ALL ON THE EAST SIDE OF 33, AND YOU HAVE THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE ON THE WEST SIDE OF 33. AND WE KIND OF CAME UP WITH AN IDEA OF OF, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST IT'S KIND OF JUST BRAINSTORMING. IT'S KIND OF A WALKING PATH, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT GOES FROM SOUTH DOS PALOS THROUGH MIDWAY. AND WHERE DOES WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? AND THAT OBVIOUSLY TAKES WORK WITH THE CITY OF DOS PALOS, AS THEY AT SOME POINT ARE GOING TO UPDATE THEIR GENERAL PLAN AND KIND OF SETTING WHAT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, BRAINSTORMING, LOOKING AT A MAP AND WHERE DOES IT MAKE THE MOST SENSE. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY WORKING WITH CALTRANS, I THINK A HAWK TYPE SYSTEM WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THOSE [00:50:06] FOLKS THAT ARE THAT ARE CROSSING A STATE HIGHWAY. SO LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING MORE DISCUSSIONS ON THAT AND ASK THAT GROUP TO, YOU KNOW, HELP US, YOU KNOW, AS AS WE DO GO OUT AND APPLY FOR GRANTS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO IS WE REALLY HAVE TO SHOW THE COMMUNITY INPUT, RIGHT? DOCUMENT COMMUNITY INPUT INTO THIS. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ASKED THEM TO HELP US WITH IS YOU'RE A TRUSTED MESSENGER, FOLKS, OR YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY MEETING ALREADY WHEN WE WHEN WE PUT A CALL OUT FOR THESE COMMUNITY EVENTS TO, TO GET COMMUNITY FEEDBACK, A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE DO IT YOU KNOW, WE HAVE VERY, VERY LITTLE TURNOUT. AND SO WE NEED TO. WHEN YOU'RE APPLYING FOR GRANTS, THESE GRANTS ARE COMPETITIVE UP AND DOWN THE STATE. AS YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN FULLY CHECK THAT BOX AND GET THE COMMUNITY'S INPUT. AND THEY'VE AGREED TO THAT. AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM THROUGHOUT THIS NEXT YEAR. DOCTOR SULLIVAN, TIM WILLIAMS OUR EMS ADMINISTRATOR, YOU KNOW, THE AMR TRANSITION. I GOT A I GOT A NOTE ON EARLY IN THE MORNING, AND THEN I KIND OF FORGOT THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE AT NOON. AND THEN I WAS SCROLLING THROUGH FACEBOOK AS I WAS WAITING FOR MY WIFE SOMEWHERE, AND I SAW THE VIDEO KIND OF TALKING ABOUT IT AND REACHED OUT TO TIM. AND THAT WAS RIGHT AFTER THE TRANSITION HAD HAPPENED. AND SO IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE AMR TEAM. I ATTENDED ONE OF THEIR STAKEHOLDER BRIEFINGS, IF YOU WILL, THE AMOUNT OF ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND REDUNDANCY THAT IF EVERYTHING THEY PUT IN PLACE FOR SOME REASON DIDN'T WORK, THERE WAS IN SOME CASES THREE BACKUP SYSTEMS SO THAT THE END USERS OUR RESIDENTS WOULD NEVER FEEL. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO THAT IS A $1 FINE. [LAUGHTER]. SO BUT THERE THE THE AMOUNT OF TIME AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS WHOLE PROCESS OF, BECAUSE OF THE STATE ARE GETTING OUR RFP APPROVED, TOOK LONGER THAN WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO. AND REALLY WORKING WITH THEM AND TALKING TO INDUSTRY FOLKS TO SAY, HEY, WHAT IS THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF TIME, AS YOU GUYS HEARD, IS THIS STUFF THAT USUALLY TAKES SIX MONTHS TO EVEN A YEAR TO SET UP. THEY WERE ABLE TO DO IT. AND SO I DON'T THINK THAT ANY OF OUR RESIDENTS EVEN KNEW THE DIFFERENCE OTHER THAN IN MOST CASES, 95% OF THE SAME FOLKS THAT WORKED FOR SEMSA RIGGS WORK FOR AMR NOW. YOU KNOW, THEY CHANGED THEIR UNIFORM. THEY ARRIVED IN A DIFFERENT AMBULANCE THAT SAID AMR ON IT. BUT THE SERVICE WAS STILL PROVIDED. AND SO I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE. AND I CAN'T THANK DOCTOR SULLIVAN AND TIM WILLIAMS ENOUGH, BECAUSE THEY WERE THE ONES THAT WERE EVERYDAY IN THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE FOLKS, THE TRANSITION TEAM FROM AMR, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT GREAT RELATIONSHIP CONTINUING. MARK, THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN CLOSED SESSION IN YOUR SIX MONTH PERFORMANCE EVALUATION THIS MORNING, AND WE WERE IN THERE FOR A WHILE, AND I THINK SOME OF THE OTHER FOLKS IN DOWN THE HALL WERE A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS. AND I WALKED OUT AND I SAID HE DIDN'T GET HIS WALKING PAPERS, [LAUGHTER] SO HE'S STILL GOING TO BE HERE FOR A WHILE. SO BUT BUT A GREAT JOB. AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND, AND REALLY KIND OF TRYING TO CHANGE THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF HOW WE DO BUSINESS IN MERCED COUNTY. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO NOT ONLY THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, BUT BUT THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. AND WITH THAT, MR. CHAIR, I HAVE NOTHING ELSE. THANK YOU. OKAY THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO YOU HAD MORE? YEAH, I JUST HAD ONE MORE THING THAT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT. ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17TH, RIGHT AFTER THE DAY AFTER OUR LAST BOARD MEETING OF THE YEAR, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT TO THE JUVENILE JUSTICE CENTER FOR A GRADUATION, SOMETHING THAT I REALLY LIKE TO DO. BUT THIS WAS DIFFERENT THAN A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. ONE OF THE YOUTH IN THERE ACTUALLY GRADUATED FROM FRESNO CITY COLLEGE, WHICH I THINK WAS REALLY A COOL THING. IT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT'S EVER HAPPENED HERE IN MERCED COUNTY. AND I WAS TALKING TO ONE OF THE PROGRAM DIRECTORS AND ON WHAT HIS PLAN IS, AND I WAS TALKING TO THE STUDENT AFTERWARDS, AND HE, YOU KNOW, WHEN HE GETS OUT AND EVERYTHING, HE WANTS TO GO TO I BELIEVE BERKELEY OR DAVIS OR SOMEPLACE TO FINISH UP HIS DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY. AND I JUST THOUGHT THAT IT WAS REALLY COOL TO TO TALK TO HIM. AND HE RECOGNIZED, YOU KNOW, HE'S IN THERE FOR A REASON, BUT HE'S PAYING HIS DEBT, BUT HE'S ALSO MAKING HIS TIME WORTH IT BY GOING TO SCHOOL. SO I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY COOL TO TO BE A PART OF. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YOU GOT IT. THANK YOU, COUNTY COUNSEL HANSEN, DO YOU NOT HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR OR ANYTHING? HAPPY NEW YEAR. CONGRATULATIONS. [LAUGHTER]. CEO HENDRICKSON. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, JUST VERY, VERY BRIEFLY, I WANT TO AGAIN TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO AGAIN THANK SUPERVISOR PEDROZO FOR HIS YEAR AS CHAIR. CERTAINLY WANT TO CONGRATULATE BOTH YOU AND SUPERVISOR PAREIRA FOR BEING SELECTED AS BOTH CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR THIS YEAR. AND I CERTAINLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR TEAM. YOU KNOW, TODAY, YOU KNOW, A BIG PART OF 2026 IS, IS WHAT CAN WE DO TO TO BETTER TELL OUR STORY. [00:55:03] AND TODAY WE HAD DIRECTORS CHECKLEY AND VANG AND SULLIVAN TALK ABOUT SOME SIGNIFICANTLY IMPORTANT THINGS THAT THIS COUNTY HAS BEEN WORKING ON THAT WE NEED TO TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN. CERTAINLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR PIERCE AS WELL. A BIG PART OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS BE TRANSPARENT AND OPEN, AND SO REALLY APPRECIATE THE EFFORT OF EACH OF OUR TEAM AND CERTAINLY WANT TO WISH OUR ORGANIZATION, EACH OF YOU IN THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, JUST A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR AHEAD. WELL, THANK YOU, MARK. I'D LIKE TO THANK MERCEDES FOR WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY UP HERE TODAY. THAT PARK IS SOMETHING THAT THE BEACHWOOD FRANKLIN COMMUNITY HAS BEEN WORKING ON FOR A LONG TIME. AND EVERY TIME THE COUNTY WOULD GO OUT AND SHOP FOR THAT AREA, IT SEEMS LIKE ALL THE PRICES WOULD RISE. AND ACTUALLY, WE HAD A PERFECT STORM ON A SOCCER GROUP. WHO WAS GOING TO PURCHASE THAT PROPERTY. THEIR FUNDING FELL THROUGH. THE COUNTY WAS ABLE TO COME IN AND HELP OUT AND PURCHASE THAT LAND AT THAT TIME, WHICH WE ALREADY HAD MONEY SET ASIDE FOR THE WORK WE WERE GOING TO DO OUT THERE. AND THEN WE HAVE GRANTS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED THROUGH THE STATE AS WELL AS AN ALLOCATION FROM ASSEMBLY MEMBER SORIA. THAT'S MOVED FORWARD. IT'S A LITTLE FRUSTRATING. WE ARE READY TO OPEN UP THE PARK. AND I WISH NATHAN ALONSO WAS STILL HERE BECAUSE PG&E HAS HELD UP THE PROCESS. WE ARE ALL READY TO OPEN THAT PARK UP OUT THERE AND DO THE RIBBON CUTTING AND GET THE WALKING PATHS GOING. AND WE'RE JUST BEING HELD UP. WE NEED THE LIGHTS WORKING AND WE NEED TO GET EVERYTHING IN PLACE. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR THAT MERCEDES, AND WE CAN WE'RE GOING TO BE OUT THERE AND DO IT. WE ACTUALLY HAVE FUNDING THAT WE MOVED OVER. WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO RESTROOMS OUT THERE AS WELL. SO BESIDES THE SKATE PARK, WHICH WE'RE RAISING MONEY FOR, AS WELL AS WE'RE GOING OUT FOR GRANTS FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER THAT WE WANT TO PLACE OUT THERE. BUT THANK YOU, MERCEDES, FOR STEPPING UP AND SAYING THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON TOGETHER FOR A LONG TIME. AND I CAN TELL BY YOUR EMOTION THAT'S IT'S GREAT TO PUSH THAT FORWARD. WE GOT A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN IN MERCED COUNTY, AND THIS YEAR WE HAVE FUNDING IN PLACE. IT'S JUST BEING HELD UP BY FEDERAL REGULATIONS. AND LET'S HOPE WE CAN PUSH THESE FORWARD FROM A FLOOD PROJECT FOR THE BLACK RASCAL CREEK, WHICH IS FULLY FUNDED. WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO GIVE US THE OKAY, TO MOVE THE DIRT AND GET THAT IN PLACE, AS WELL AS THE ATWATER-MERCED EXPRESSWAY, WHICH WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THAT PROCESS AS WELL. FUNDING IS IN PLACE. WE JUST NEED TO GET THROUGH THE PROCESS. AND. NATHAN. SORRY. NO PRESSURE WHATSOEVER FOR DPW ON THESE PROJECTS. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S NOT OUR FAULT. IT'S FEDERAL REGULATIONS THAT'S HOLDING US UP AND HOLDING US UP ON THE OTHER THINGS. BUT WE CONTINUE TO PUSH AND GET THIS OVER. I WAS ALSO ABLE TO ATTEND THE HMONG NEW YEAR. APPRECIATE THAT. THAT IS ALWAYS A GOOD TIME AND EVERYBODY'S VERY FESTIVE OUT THERE. AND LIKE YOU SAID, YEAH, THE THE DECORATIONS, THE THE COSTUMES AND STUFF THAT THEY'RE WEARING, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT FEELING AND IT'S GREAT. MARK, CONGRATULATIONS ON SIX MONTHS. I'M NOT AFRAID TO SAY YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB AND I APPRECIATE IT. YOU PUT A TEAM TOGETHER THAT WE ARE MOVING AT THE SPEED OF COMMERCE, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED, WE ALWAYS ACHIEVED TO TO MAKE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THE SPEED OF COMMERCE. SO I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING DOING THERE. THE AMR TRANSITION. I GOTTA SAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT TRANSITION. BEING AS SMOOTH AS IT WAS, THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOME HICCUPS, BUT WE WERE WORKING THROUGH IT. AND I APPRECIATE DOCTOR SULLIVAN FOR ACTUALLY COMING INTO MY OFFICE AND TALKING TO ONE OF MY CONSTITUENTS THROUGH THE PROCESS. BUT I DID HAVE SOME OTHER CONSTITUENTS WHO ACTUALLY SAID THEY WERE SURPRISED AT HOW FAST IT WAS. AND ANOTHER THING, I AM HAPPY IN THE WAY THEY ARE PLACING THE AMBULANCES, BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S A BIG CONCERN IN MY DISTRICT AND THE CITY OF ATWATER IN PARTICULAR. THEY HAVE ALWAYS HAD AT LEAST ONE AMBULANCE IN THAT COMMUNITY. AND I GOT TO SAY, WATCHING THE MODELING, WE ACTUALLY HAVE TWO IN THE CITY OF ATWATER. AND THAT IS ACTUALLY SO AMR HEARD ME WHEN I MADE A MADE THAT REQUEST ON THE DAIS. THEY UPPED ME ONE AND GOT ANOTHER ONE IN THERE. BUT IT'S ALWAYS A MOVING PROCESS. THE DATA AND THE TECHNOLOGY THAT AMR IS USING IS UNBELIEVABLE. IT'S ALWAYS A MOVING TARGET AND THEY'RE ALWAYS PLACING PEOPLE IN AN ADVANTAGEOUS POSITION. SO THANK YOU, DOCTOR SULLIVAN, FOR THAT, FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN. CONGRATULATIONS. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO APPRECIATED YOUR LEADERSHIP THIS PAST YEAR WAS THERE WERE SOME CHALLENGING TIMES AND YOU HANDLED IT. WE NEEDED TO GO TO SACRAMENTO. YOU WENT TO SACRAMENTO. YOU REPRESENTED THIS BOARD WELL AND APPRECIATED YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THAT. THANK YOU. I DO APPRECIATE THE HIGH SPEED RAIL COMMUNICATION. IT HAS OPENED IT UP. AND WHAT'S AMAZING IS A LOT OF THE PEOPLE IN THE PLACES THEY WERE, WE ACTUALLY IN SEPARATE LIVES HAD HAD WORKED TOGETHER ON OTHER PROJECTS. [01:00:02] SO SEEING THOSE PEOPLE IN PLACE AND MOVING FORWARD, I FEEL CONFIDENT IN OUR COMMUNICATIONS BECAUSE I DO HAVE THEIR CELL PHONE NUMBERS. I DO KNOW THESE GUYS, AND SO WE CAN GET ANSWERS A LOT QUICKER THAN WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE. BUT I TELL YOU WHAT, THERE IS A REAL EFFORT TO TO COMMUNICATE WITH US THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND APPRECIATED THESE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS OF HOW, HOW MUCH THEY'VE AND I THINK SUPERVISOR PEDROZO A LOT OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF YOU SHOWING UP TO SACRAMENTO AND SPEAKING ON OUR BEHALF AND BEING UPSET WITH THAT, SO I APPRECIATE THAT AS WELL. AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO OFFER IT UP. THERE'S ALL KINDS OF OPPORTUNITIES I'D LIKE FOR SERVICE CLUBS TO REACH OUT TO ME. I WANT TO SHOW FOLKS WHAT'S GOING ON AT CASTLE. THERE'S A LOT GOING ON AT CASTLE. AND AGAIN, WE'RE TRYING TO TELL OUR STORY BETTER. WE'RE GOING TO GET BETTER AT IT. BUT SERVICE CLUBS, PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME. WE'LL GIVE YOU A TOUR AND WE'LL SHOW YOU EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING OUT. ACTUALLY, ANYBODY REACH OUT TO ME PERSONALLY? SHOOT UP AN EMAIL AND I'LL RESPOND TO IT, AND WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN SCHEDULE TO SHOW YOU WHAT'S GOING OUT THERE. TO DO A TOUR OUT OF CASTLE, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT GOING ON, AND I AM PROUD TO SHOW YOU. AND WE'D LIKE TO DO THAT. SO THIS CONCLUDES THE BOARD. CHAIR, I FORGOT TO MENTION THIS WEEK WE WERE OFFICIALLY NOTIFIED SPRING FAIR WAS OFFICIALLY NOTIFIED THAT EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, THE STATEWIDE BAN ON POULTRY AND DAIRY CATTLE EXHIBITIONS AT FAIRS AND SHOWS IS HEREBY LIFTED. AND SO I KNOW THAT DOESN'T AFFECT EVERYBODY, BUT THE FOLKS THAT SHOW DAIRY OR POULTRY AT FAIRS. POULTRY WAS OUTRIGHT BANNED LAST YEAR. DAIRIES. THEY CAME UP WITH A SOLUTION THAT THEY COULDN'T BE AROUND ANYBODY ELSE. THE H1. I DON'T WANT TO GET IT WRONG. H1N1, THE BIRD FLU THAT WAS GOING AROUND. THEY'VE TRACKED IT. THEY FEEL LIKE THAT IT'S NO LONGER A THREAT. AND SO FOR THOSE FOLKS THAT HAVE QUESTIONS WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SHOW DAIRY OR REPLACEMENT HEIFER, AND I KNOW IT DOESN'T ONLY AFFECT SPRING FAIR, BUT IT ALSO AFFECTS THE MERCED FAIR. THAT BAN HAS OFFICIALLY BEEN LIFTED SO YOU CAN BE SAFE AND BE ABLE TO SHOW YOUR ANIMALS AT THE FAIR THIS YEAR. THANK YOU. YEAH, THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT. I KNOW THERE WAS SOME LITTLE CONFUSION ON SOCIAL MEDIA OF WHY THEY DID THAT, SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT AS WELL. WELL, THIS CONCLUDES THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING FOR JANUARY 6TH, 2026. THE NEXT REGULAR SCHEDULED BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING WILL BE HELD AT 10:00 A.M. ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 13TH, 2026. THIS CONCLUDES THE MEETING. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.