Jan 13, 2026 Board Meeting

WELL, HE RAN OUT OF CENTERS OF SNOW. GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE JANUARY 13TH, 2026 MEETING OF THE MERCER COUNTY BOARD

[10:00 A.M. REGULAR MEETING]

[00:00:10]

AGAIN, I EMPHASIZE ATWATER COMMUNITY CHURCH AND THEN THE LANCERS FORAGE CLUB WILL LEAD WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

SO PLEASE STAND.

PATIENTLY FOR THE LORD. AND HE INCLINED AND HEARD MY CRY.

HE DREW ME UP FROM THE PIT OF DESTRUCTION, OUT OF THE MIRY BOG.

AND SET MY FEET UPON A ROCK. MAKING MY STEPS SECURE, HE PUT A NEW SONG IN MY MOUTH, A SONG OF PRAISE TO OUR GOD.

MANY WILL SEE AND FEAR AND PUT THEIR TRUST IN THE LORD.

LET'S PRAY. FATHER GOD, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH THAT YOU DRAW US UP, LORD, THAT YOU DRAW US OUT OF PLACES OF DESTRUCTION, PLACES OF MESSINESS. YOU DRAW US INTO YOUR TRUTH.

GOD, WE JUST PRAY THAT WE WOULD SEEK YOUR WISDOM TOGETHER AS WE MAKE DECISIONS AS A COMMUNITY.

GOD, THAT WE WOULD SEEK YOUR TRUTH. THAT WE'D SEEK TO GENERATE LOVE AS YOU HAVE GIVEN IT TO US, AND THAT WE WOULD BE A COMMUNITY THAT'S UNITED AROUND TRUTH AND GRACE AND LOVE AND MERCY.

THANK YOU FOR OUR TOWN. THANK YOU FOR OUR CITY.

THANK YOU FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU THAT WE GET TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON GOOD.

WE PRAY THAT YOU'D BE GLORIFIED IN ALL OF THIS. IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY.

AMEN. THANK YOU.

PLEASE REMOVE ALL HEAD COVERINGS. READY? SALUTE.

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.

OKAY, AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT AGAIN.

[ PUBLIC COMMENT]

GOOD MORNING. MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS PALOMA DAY, AND I AM HONORED TO SERVE AS THE CORRESPONDING SECRETARY FOR LANCERS FOR H.

RIGHT HERE IN MERCED COUNTY. WHEN MOST PEOPLE HEAR FOUR-H, THEY IMMEDIATELY THINK OF BARNS AND LIVESTOCK.

WHILE WE ARE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF OUR AGRICULTURAL ROOTS, FOUR-H IS SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

IT IS THE LARGEST YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION IN THE NATION.

THE FOUR H'S STAND FOR HEAD, HEART, HANDS AND HEALTH.

THE FOUR VALUES MEMBERS WORK TO DEVELOP TO IMPROVE THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THEIR WORLD.

THE HISTORY OF FOUR-H DATES BACK TO THE LATE 1800S.

IT BEGAN AS A WAY TO INTRODUCE NEW AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY TO COMMUNITIES BY TEACHING YOUTH, WHO ARE OFTEN MORE OPEN TO IDEAS THAN THEIR PARENTS.

BY 1914, THE SMITH-LEVER ACT FORMALIZED FOUR-H NATIONWIDE.

OUR PURPOSE HAS REMAINED CONSTANT FOR OVER A CENTURY TO PROVIDE HANDS ON OR EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING.

WE FOLLOW THE MOTTO TO MAKE THE BEST BETTER. OUR GOAL IS TO EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO LEAD FOR A LIFETIME.

FOCUSING ON THREE MAIN PILLARS. CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

HEALTHY LIVING AND STEM AND AGRICULTURE IN THE LANCERS FOUR-H CLUB.

WE BRING THESE GOALS TO LIFE THROUGH DIVERSE PROJECTS.

WHILE MANY OF OUR MEMBERS EXCEL IN LIVESTOCK PROJECTS, RAISING SHEEP, SWINE, BEEF AND RABBITS FOR THE MERCED COUNTY FAIR, WE OFFER A WIDE ARRAY OF OTHER YOUTH DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING PUBLIC SPEAKING AND LEADERSHIP.

MEMBERS LEARN TO FIND THEIR VOICE AND SPEAK AT MEETINGS LIKE I AM DOING TODAY.

FIBER ARTS AND SEWING. FOCUSING ON PATIENCE, PRECISION AND CREATIVITY.

FOODS AND NUTRITION. TEACHING US HOW TO FUEL OUR BODIES WHILE MASTERING CULINARY SKILLS.

AN OUTDOOR ADVENTURE BUILDING TEAMWORK THROUGH NATURE AND EXPLORATION.

BUT FOUR-H ISN'T JUST ABOUT PERSONAL GROWTH, IT'S ABOUT THE HANDS IN OUR PLEDGE.

THE LANCERS ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO MERCED COUNTY.

WE PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL FOOD DRIVES TO SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORS.

WE ENGAGE IN BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS AT OUR LOCAL PARKS AND FAIRGROUNDS, AND DURING THE HOLIDAYS, WE OFTEN COORDINATE GIFT DRIVES FOR CHILDREN IN NEED, ENSURING THAT OUR HEART IS ALWAYS DIRECTED TOWARD OUR COMMUNITY.

IN FOUR-H, WE DON'T JUST GROW CROPS OR ANIMALS, WE GROW LEADERS, CITIZENS AND FRIENDS.

[00:05:02]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. AND REMEMBER THE FUTURE IS BLOOMING IN FOUR-H.

THANK YOU. GOT A WHOLE BUNCH OF CALENDAR TO SHARE WITH ALL OF YOU. KEN ON ZIA. WILL THE HMONG CENTER AND YOU HAVE A CHALLENGE NOW? YES. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU. HAPPY NEW YEAR.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION, YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE HMONG COMMUNITY FOR THE LAST YEAR. AND WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE A STRONG 2026 THIS YEAR.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN AMERICAN DAY AGAIN WITH THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU PASSED A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

WE WANT TO HONOR THAT AND CONTINUE TO DO THIS AS A LEGACY FOR OUR COMMUNITY HERE.

MERCED WE'RE GOING TO DO A BOB SQUARE PARK, AND IT'S GOING TO BE MAY 9TH, AND HOPEFULLY ALL OF YOU WILL COME OUT AND JOIN US.

BUT FOR THAT, I WANT YOU TO DO TWO OF MY STAFF.

THEY'RE HERE. I WANT THEM TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THEY DO AS PART OF THEIR THE ROLES AT THE CENTER.

SO AGAIN, BEFORE YOU GO, PLEASE TAKE A CALENDAR WITH YOU.

SO, YEAH, I JUST WANT TO SAY TO YOU, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENT THAT YOU PRESENTED US AT THE LAST ONE, AND YOU SEE IT HANGING IN THE HALLWAY THERE COMING INTO THE BOARD.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. COUNTY SUPERVISORS, STAFF AND GUESTS. MY NAME IS ESTHER VANG.

I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN MERCED, HERE AFTER MY FAMILY RESETTLED IN THE UNITED STATES.

CURRENTLY AN UNDERGRADUATE AT UC MERCED WITH A BACHELOR'S IN MANAGEMENT BUSINESS ECONOMICS.

BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY MY MINOR IN PUBLIC HEALTH THAT GUIDED ME TO THE WORK THAT I'M A PART OF TODAY.

I SERVE AS THE YOUTH PROGRAM COORDINATOR AT LU HMONG CENTER.

I HELP MENTOR THE HMONG YOUTH TO BECOME CONFIDENT LEADERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, TO HELP CREATE A MERCED THAT IS MADE FOR YOUTH BY YOUTH. BECAUSE MERCED IS OUR HOME AND FOR MANY OF US, LIKE MYSELF, MERCED IS OUR FIRST HOME.

MY HOPE IS THAT THROUGH THESE LEADERSHIP SKILLS, THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WILL GAIN OR WILL STRENGTHEN THEIR MENTAL WELL-BEING, ENRICH, ENRICH THEIR DAILY LIVES, AND CREATE A LASTING POSITIVE IMPACT ACROSS OUR COUNTY.

I'M PROUD TO SHARE THAT WE ESTABLISH. WE JUST ESTABLISHED OUR FIRST HMONG YOUTH COUNCIL CONSISTING OF EIGHT PROMISING YOUNG LEADERS.

WE ARE DEEPLY INVESTED IN THEIR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE THEM TO EACH ONE OF YOU IN THE FUTURE.

MANY OF OUR YOUTH ARE ALSO HELPING. TO LEAD OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST SIGNIFICANT EVENT.

HMONG AMERICAN DAY ON MAY 9TH, WHICH WE ARE CELEBRATING THE HMONG CULTURE BECAUSE AS.

AS MANY GENERATIONS GROW, MANY OF US ARE LOSING OUR CONNECTION TO OUR HERITAGE.

SOME CHILDREN NO LONGER SPEAK HMONG. SOME EVEN FEEL SHAME ABOUT THEIR IDENTITY.

THERE'S NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF, OF WHO YOU ARE AND WHERE YOU CAME FROM.

THIS DAY IS ABOUT ENSURING OUR CULTURE IS CELEBRATED, VALUED AND SHARED BY BOTH HMONG AND NON-HMONG ALIKE.

IT WOULD BE AN HONOR TO HAVE EACH OF YOU JOIN US TO CELEBRATE ON MAY 9TH.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR HMONG COMMUNITY, AND FOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT YOU HAVE MADE TO MERCED COUNTY.

I LOOK FORWARD TO FUTURE COLLABORATIONS AND I'D PASS IT ON TO MY COLLEAGUE.

OKAY. GOOD MORNING. SUPERVISOR STAFF AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

MY NAME IS NATALIE VANG. I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN MERCED.

I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING LU HMONG CENTER. I RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, STANISLAUS, WHERE I EARNED MY BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY WITH A MINOR IN SOCIOLOGY.

I CURRENTLY WORK AS A PROGRAM ASSISTANT AT LU HMONG CENTER, WHERE I ASSIST PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS FOR OUR HMONG YOUTH.

COUNCIL. I'M HERE TODAY FOR OUR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT, TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AND SHARE THE WORK THAT WE DO AS HMONG CENTER.

MY ROLE FOCUSES ON SUPPORTING THE YOUTH BY BUILDING THEIR SELF-ESTEEM, DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND PROVIDING RESOURCES THAT HELP THEM SUCCEED IN THEIR COUNCIL ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

THESE EFFORTS HELP EMPOWER YOUTH TO BECOME CONFIDENT LEADERS AND ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO MERCED COUNTY.

TODAY, I WANT TO HELP BRING GREATER AWARENESS TO THE HMONG CULTURE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

I BELIEVE THAT REPRESENTATION AND CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING ARE IMPORTANT IN CREATING INCLUSIVE SPACES FOR ALL RESIDENTS HERE IN MERCED.

LIKEWISE, WE WILL BE HOSTING HMONG AMERICAN DAY ON MAY 9TH, 2026.

[00:10:04]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR LISTENING. AS WE ALSO SAID, WE DO HAVE FREE CALENDARS AVAILABLE TO SHARE AND PLEASE FEEL FREE TO TAKE ONE OR AS MANY AS YOU WANT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. MY NAME IS JULIAN VILLAFANA.

I'M WITH THE OFFICE OF ASSEMBLYWOMAN ESMERALDA SORIA.

YOU KNOW, THE NEW YEAR IS HERE. 2025 HAS PASSED US.

AND SO I WANTED TO GIVE A LEGISLATIVE UPDATE ON SOME OF THE ISSUES AND THE THINGS THAT WE WE ACCOMPLISHED LAST YEAR IN 2025.

SO SOME OF THE BUDGET WINS THAT WE HAD $2.75 MILLION FOR IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY.

WE ALSO HAD THE $5 MILLION FOR FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE IN MILES CREEK THAT'S AT PLANADA AND BEAR CREEK TO IMPROVE FLOOD PROTECTION, MAINTAIN AND REPAIR LEVEES, CANALS AND WATERWAYS.

WE ALSO HAD INTRODUCED LEGISLATIVE WINS, WHICH WERE ACTUALLY SIGNED INTO LAW AB 36, WHICH HELPS SMALLER RURAL CITIES AND COUNTIES QUALIFY FOR STATE HOUSING FUNDING FOR STREAMLINING THE PROCESS OF DESIGNATING CERTAIN JURISDICTIONS AS HOUSING, WHICH IS GOING TO BE HUGE FOR FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ALSO DUE TO THE THE TERRIBLE INCIDENT IN LOS BANOS THE ASSEMBLYWOMAN TACKLED SOME KIND OF A TERRIBLE INCIDENT. SO WE INTRODUCED AB 848, WHICH THE PENALTY INCREASED FOR SEXUAL BATTERY IN HOSPITALS.

THAT CREATES AN AGGRAVATING AGGRAVATING FACTOR IN THE SENTENCING OF FELONY SEXUAL BATTERY FOR CASES WHERE THE OFFENDER WAS EMPLOYED BY A HOSPITAL AND THE VICTIM WAS SEEKING CARE FROM THE OFFENDER OF THE HOSPITAL. ALSO KIND OF PIGGYBACKING ON THAT IS AB 849, WHICH REQUIRES HEALTH FACILITIES TO NOTIFY PATIENTS THAT A MEDICAL CHAPERON WILL BE PROVIDED IF REQUESTED BEFORE CONDUCTING AN ULTRASOUND, WHICH IS HUGE.

A LOT OF THAT WAS USED BEFORE BUT WASN'T OFFERED IN MANY HOSPITALS.

SO IT'S A GREAT, GREAT WIN FOR, FOR THE CONSTITUENTS OF, OF WELL, CALIFORNIA BASICALLY.

SO ALSO ANOTHER BIG WIN FOR US WAS THIS LAST YEAR, WE, WE WERE ABLE TO GET BACK $377,000 BACK TO THE CONSTITUENTS OF AB 27. THAT INCLUDES UNEMPLOYMENT PAID FAMILY LEAVE STATE DISABILITY.

IT'S A LITTLE BITTERSWEET BECAUSE THAT KIND OF COINCIDES WITH UNEMPLOYMENT.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S BUT WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE 300, OVER $377,000.

I ALSO WANT TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE ASSEMBLYWOMAN IS MAKING A CALL FOR ART.

LAST YEAR, WE DID IT BY QUARTER. THIS YEAR, WE'RE DOING ONE LARGE CALL FOR ART FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS OF MERCED COUNTY.

BASICALLY ALL THE RESIDENTS OF AD 27. HEART OF THE VALLEY.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT YOUR ARTWORK, YOU CAN VISIT THE THE ASSEMBLY WOMEN'S WEBSITE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SIR.

GOOD MORNING. BOARD. GOOD MORNING. BOARD CEO, COUNTY COUNCIL.

I'M HERE. I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SHARE WITH YOUR BOARD THE PROGRESS ON THE INNOVATIVE OPIOID GRANT PROGRAM THAT YOUR BOARD APPROVED IN NOVEMBER.

SO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, OUR SHERIFF AND PROBATION PARTNERS, AS WELL AS THE CEO'S OFFICE.

MERCED COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH IS REALLY PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE LAUNCH OF THE THE MERCER COUNTY INNOVATIVE OPIOID GRANT PROGRAM, WHICH IS A 500,000 GRANT PROGRAM THAT WILL BE LAUNCHING ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 15TH.

AND THERE WILL BE MORE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE.

COUNTY. THE COUNTY OF MERCED. COM SLASH HEALTH AS WELL AS ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA.

AND WE'LL BE ALSO SENDING THIS OUT TO YOUR BOARD TO DISTRIBUTE.

BUT THIS THIS FUNDING PROGRAM IS FOR INNOVATIVE WAYS TO PREVENT AND TREAT OPIOID DISORDERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO I'LL LEAVE THIS FLIER HERE FOR YOU AS WELL, AND WE'LL DISTRIBUTE IT ELECTRONICALLY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS? IF NOT, THIS PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS. WE HAVE SOME PRESENTATIONS AT THIS TIME. I HAVE AN UPDATE REGARDING THE UNPERMITTED FOOD VENDING.

[PRESENTATIONS]

GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. PRIOR TO MR. MIMS AND HIS TEAM PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON OUR ILLEGAL FOOD VENDOR ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS, I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS BOARD FOR ITS LEADERSHIP IN THIS REGARD.

[00:15:05]

NOT TO MENTION THAT THEY HAVE AN UNFAIR BUSINESS ADVANTAGE OVER THOSE LEGAL RESTAURANTS AND MOBILE FOOD FACILITIES WHO PLAY BY THE RULES.

NOW, AS YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR SHORTLY, THANKS TO YOUR LEADERSHIP AND TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND TO THE GOOD WORK OF OUR TEAM, WE ARE CONDUCTING MORE SWEEPS, WHICH EQUATE TO UNHEALTHY AND UNSAFE FOOD PRODUCTS BEING CONFISCATED AND SIGNIFICANT FINES BEING LEVIED AGAINST THOSE WHO ARE CONDUCTING THESE ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES. AND WHILE THERE IS ALSO AN UNDERSTANDABLE DESIRE TO IMPOSE EVEN GREATER PENALTIES, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE ARE ALREADY IMPOSING THE HIGHEST FINANCIAL PENALTIES POSSIBLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW. NOW, THAT SAID, OUR TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO AGGRESSIVELY COMBAT THIS ISSUE IN KEEPING WITH THE BOARD'S EXPECTATIONS.

ON BEHALF OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS. SO AT THIS POINT, I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO MR. MIMS AND HIS TEAM FOR TO BEGIN TO TO BEGIN THE PRESENTATION AGAIN. MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF BOARD.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MARK MIMS DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

TODAY'S PRESENTATION ON UNPERMITTED UNPERMITTED FOOD VENDING IS A FOLLOW UP FROM OUR PRESENTATION IN OCTOBER AND IS A RESULT OF OUR DIRECTION TO FOCUS ON STRENGTHENING PENALTIES AND INCREASING OUR EFFORTS TO END UNPERMITTED FOOD VENDING.

WHILE OUR TEAM HAS CONTINUED TO WORK HARD TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY AND COMBAT THIS ACTIVITY.

WE HAVE HAD LOCAL PARTNERS STEP UP TO ASSIST US IN THE ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND OUR THANKS TO OUR CITY PARTNERS, WHO HAVE WORKED WITH US TO INCREASE EFFORTS IN THEIR JURISDICTIONS AND TO SAY THANK YOU TO PUBLIC HEALTH, COUNTY COUNSEL'S OFFICE AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE AND GUIDANCE IN ADVANCING THE COUNTY EFFORTS.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THIS BOARD AND THE CEO'S OFFICE FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND DIRECTION.

LASTLY, THANK YOU TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WHO HAVE PARTNERED WITH US WITH OUR TEAM DURING ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS AND PROVIDED TRAINING TO ENSURE OUR TEAM IS SUPPORTED AND SAFE DURING ALL OPERATIONS AND WHILE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

AS PRESENTED. SORRY. AS PRESENTED TO THIS BOARD IN OCTOBER, OUR DEPARTMENT'S GOAL IS TO CONDUCT 40 OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT THE 2526 FISCAL YEAR, WHICH IS AN INCREASE FROM THE EXISTING 26 IN THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR.

TO DATE, WE HAVE CONDUCTED 13 SWEEPS WITH WEATHER AND OUTSIDE CIRCUMSTANCES RESULTING IN CANCELLATION OF PLANNED OPERATIONS THAT WERE SCHEDULED.

HOWEVER, WITH THIS SPRING ON THE HORIZON, WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL STILL REACH OUR GOAL OF 40 OPERATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR AND WE WILL ENSURE THAT HAPPENS AT FINAL BUDGET. THE BOARD APPROVED TWO NEW ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH POSITIONS WHOSE SOLE FOCUS WILL BE ON ENFORCEMENT.

WE ARE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT THOSE POSITIONS HAVE BEEN FILLED WITH OUR NEW ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH TECHNICIAN STARTING YESTERDAY AND THE AND THE SPECIALIST POSITION, WHICH WAS FILLED BY A CURRENT EMPLOYEE. WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THESE TWO AND ARE CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL EXCEED EXPECTATIONS AND ASSIST US WITH THE ENFORCEMENT GOALS.

IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WE HAVE LED DISCUSSIONS REGARDING INCREASED INCREASES TO PENALTIES AND ENFORCEMENT AND OUTREACH EFFORTS IN COOPERATION WITH COUNTY. COUNTY AND CITY PARTNERS.

THESE MEETINGS HAVE BEEN FRUITFUL THANKS TO THE SUPPORT OF PUBLIC FROM PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC HEALTH, PUBLIC WORKS, AND OTHER PARTNERS IN THESE EFFORTS.

COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONTINUE. CONTINUES TO COMBAT UNPERMITTED FOOD VENDING AS DIRECTED BY THIS BOARD, BY ENFORCING PENALTIES, BUT ALSO ENFORCING PENALTIES DUE TO LACK OF BUSINESS LICENSE AND LAND USE PERMITS.

I WOULD LIKE TO NOW TURN IT OVER TO AMANDA DURAN, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, WHO WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE OF OUR RECENT EFFORTS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I ADDED A LOT MORE PHOTOS FOR YOU GUYS FOR THIS PRESENTATION. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS PHOTO RIGHT HERE IS OUR STORAGE UNIT AND THAT IS SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE HAVE IMPOUNDED OVER THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS. SO JUST TO GO BACK TO TOUCH ON SOME OF THE FINES SOME FURTHER RESEARCH WAS CONDUCTED BY OUR COUNTY COUNCIL, AND WE ARE CURRENTLY IMPOSING THE HIGHEST PENALTY POSSIBLE.

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE ALLOWS THREE TIMES THE COST OF THE PERMIT.

THAT IS WHAT WE'RE IMPOSING EVERY SINGLE TIME WITH OUR UNPERMITTED FOOD VENDORS.

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE 1149395 ALLOWS FOR PENALTIES UP TO $1,000 ON A CRIMINAL LEVEL, AND OUR TEAM IS CURRENTLY EXPLORING THOSE OPTIONS AS WELL. WE DO HAVE A WORKING GROUP WITH MULTIPLE COUNTIES AND SEEING WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING AS FAR AS ENFORCEMENT, TO SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT SOMEONE IS COMING UP WITH THAT YOU KNOW, WE COULD ALSO FIGURE OUT IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WORKS FOR US.

[00:20:06]

RANCID, PUTRID. PRETTY GROSS. HERE'S A LITTLE CUTOUT OF PART OF OUR VIOLATION LETTERS.

AND THIS IS HOW WE CALCULATE THOSE PENALTIES.

THE OPERATION CLASS IS GOING TO BE DEPENDENT ON WHAT TYPE OF VENDOR THEY ARE.

SO IF YOU SEE LIKE A SMALLER CART WHAT WE TYPICALLY SEE OUT IN THE FIELD IS THE, THE LARGER CARTS WITH THE VERTICAL ROTISSERIES.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE THE BOTTOM PENALTY. THE MMF FOOD PREP UNIT $794 FOR A PERMIT IF THEY'RE OPERATING CORRECTLY.

TRIPLE FEE $2,382. AND SO TO THE LEFT, THAT'S HOW WE CALCULATE IT.

IF YOU HAVE FIVE STAFF, IT TAKES US AN HOUR OF WE GO OUT, WE TALK, EDUCATE IMPOUND FOOD EQUIPMENT.

SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT FIVE STAFF TIMES 177. WE ADD THE ADDITIONAL 118 FOR REPORT WRITING AND ANY IN OFFICE WORK THAT MIGHT COME WITH THIS ENFORCEMENT.

ADD THAT TRIPLE FEE SO THAT PARTICULAR VENDOR WILL GET AN INVOICE AROUND 3385.

STATS FROM THE LAST TIME I SPOKE TO PRESENT. WE HAVE SENT OUT OVER 52,000 IN TOTAL COLLECTIBLE FINES.

I PUT A FEW STATS UP ON THE PRESENTATION. I WON'T SIT THERE AND JUST READ THEM OFF TO YOU ONE BY ONE.

BUT YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE BIG NUMBERS. WE'VE COLLECTED OVER 380 POUNDS OF CONTAMINATED MEAT 18 VERTICAL ROTISSERIES THOSE AND THOSE ARE ABOUT 100 POUNDS OF MEAT EACH, WHICH IS ALSO CONTAMINATED RAW NOT NOT FIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION ALONG WITH EQUIPMENT.

WE'VE TAKEN THINGS LIKE CANOPIES, GENERATORS, PREP TABLES PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING JUST TO STOP THEM FROM OPERATING FOR THAT NIGHT.

YOU CAN SEE SOME MORE PHOTOS. I MADE SURE I CIRCLED THAT MAGGOT THAT WE FOUND THAT WAS INSIDE A CONTAINER THAT WAS FULL OF CHEESE.

TORTILLAS, PINEAPPLES. AND MAGGOTS. SO WE HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

WE WERE ABLE TO GET INTO THE LAST TWO MERCADOS BEFORE THEIR SEASON ENDED.

WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH BUSINESS OWNERS AND PRESENTING AT COMMUNITY CLUBS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.

SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT SEE IF YOU COME AND SEE US AT AN EVENT, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO SPOT UNPERMITTED FOOD VENDING.

WE HAVE PHOTOS KIND OF IN FRAMES OF WHAT WE SEE OUT IN PICTURES, LIKE YOU'LL SEE IN THE PRESENTATION TODAY.

WE ALSO HAVE EDUCATION ON HOW TO GET PERMITTED, HOW TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.

EVEN IF YOU WANT TO START AS A, A SMALLER BUSINESS LIKE COTTAGE FOOD OR TEMPORARY FOOD EVENTS.

AND SO WE HAVE A LOT OF THAT DIFFERENT TYPE OF EDUCATION.

PLUS WE ALWAYS HAVE OUR EDUCATED STAFF OUT THERE WHO HAVE THESE ONE ON ONE CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE WHO COME UP AND AND SPEAK WITH US.

ANOTHER THING I'VE, I'VE REALLY ENJOYED, WE'VE HAD BUSINESS OWNERS COME INTO THE OFFICE AND KIND OF JUST ASK US, WHAT DO YOU GUYS DO? WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING? AND I SAY, COME ON, LET'S COME TO MY OFFICE. AND I AND I TALK TO THEM AND I'VE SHOWED THEM, YOU KNOW, OUR EFFORTS AND AND THEY'RE THEY I THINK THEY'RE REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF THE EFFORTS WE'VE TAKEN SO FAR.

A LOT OF TIMES WHEN THEY LEAVE THEY LEAVE HAPPY.

THEY, THEY TAKE THE POSTCARDS THAT WE HAVE AND TAKE IT BACK TO THEIR BUSINESSES.

SO THEN THEY CAN SET IT UP AT THEIR BUSINESSES AND PASS AND EDUCATE THEIR CUSTOMERS.

AS THEY COME IN AND MAYBE ASK QUESTIONS. SO HERE'S SOME MORE PHOTOS OF OUR STORAGE UNIT WITH MORE IMPOUNDED EQUIPMENT.

OUR, OUR NEW ENFORCEMENT UNIT, WHICH, LIKE MARK SAID PRETTY MUCH STARTED YESTERDAY.

SO THEY'RE THEY'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSING ON A LOT OF TRAINING RIGHT NOW.

A LOT OF THESE ARE ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT TYPE TRAINING AND LEARNING AND UNDERSTANDING THAT DYNAMIC, WHICH IS A REALLY SHIFT FROM THE TYPICAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST.

RIGHT. SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING A CONFERENCE WHICH HAS AN ENFORCEMENT TRACK, BASIC INSPECTOR ACADEMY CALIFORNIA HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INVESTIGATORS ASSOCIATION, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING THEY'VE JUST SIGNED UP FOR INTRO TO ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT.

THEY WILL BE FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON UNPERMITTED FOOD VENDING, BUT THEY WILL ALSO BE HELPING WITH SURFACING SEWAGE COMPLAINTS, HAZARDOUS WASTE, WHICH ARE TIED INTO A LOT OF OUR CANNABIS GROWERS.

AND SO OUR NEXT STEPS, YOU CAN SEE HERE'S ANOTHER PHOTO FROM THIS PAST WEEKEND.

GRAYISH, DISCOLORED. THEY SAID FOUL SMELLING RANCID.

[00:25:05]

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT SIX, SIX PLUS SWEEPS A MONTH, WHICH IS EASILY OBTAINABLE.

WE DID A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT IN OCTOBER WHEN THE WEATHER WAS BETTER.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE ONGOING DIALOG WITH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNERS, DA'S OFFICE TO LOOK INTO VEHICLE CONFISCATION.

WE ARE GOING TO PUSH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN, CONTINUE MONITORING OF OUR UNPERMITTED VENDORS SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS.

WE HAVE FOUND A LOT OF THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS ON TIKTOK AND INSTAGRAM AND CONTINUE TO MONITOR THEM AND WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED AND WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES AS WELL, BECAUSE WE'RE FINDING THAT WE ARE HAVING A LOT OF THE SAME VENDORS.

AND SO WE ARE DOING A LOT OF INFORMATION SHARING.

WE JUST SCHEDULED ANOTHER MEETING WITH EACH OTHER TODAY TO TO WORK AND CONTINUE SHARING INFORMATION WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO HELP SHARE AND EDUCATE THE DANGERS OF UNPERMITTED FOOD VENDING AND WORKING WITH OUR PROPERTY OWNERS TO SIGN LETTERS OF AUTHORITY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHICH IS GREAT. WE HAD THE PROPERTY OVER ON 16TH AND O STREET, WHICH IS WHERE BANKAMERICA IS LOCATED.

THAT PROPERTY OWNER SIGNED AN AUTHORIZATION LETTER FOR THE CITY OF MERCED LAW.

PD. AND SO THEY'RE ABLE TO CALL IT IN WHENEVER SOMEONE'S ON THEIR PROPERTY AND HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT REMOVE THEM OFF THE PROPERTY.

AND I THREW UP THE. THAT'S THE QR CODE FOR SHERIFF'S LINK.

PROPERTY OWNERS CAN CAN SIGN UP ONLINE. AND THEN IF THEY HAVE UNPERMITTED FOOD VENDORS OR ANYONE ON THEIR PROPERTY, I SUPPOSE COULD CALL IT IN AND SAY, HEY, I'VE SIGNED THE LETTER.

CAN YOU REMOVE THEM FROM MY PROPERTY? SO THAT'S ONE WAY THE PUBLIC COULD HELP WITH THIS.

HERE'S SOME MORE PHOTOS. THIS IS ALSO FROM THIS PAST WEEKEND.

SO YOU COULD SEE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THERE'S REALLY NO CARE WHEN PACKING THE ICE CHEST.

ONE. THEY HAVEN'T BEEN USING ICE. THEY JUST ASSUME IT'S COLD OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES.

RIGHT? RIGHT. YOU GOT RAW MEAT, FRESH CUT PRODUCE, CHEESE.

YOU COULD SEE A LITTLE BIT OF THE JUICE SPILLED OVER.

YOU COULD SEE THE THE MEAT THAT ARE IN THESE STEAMED TRAYS.

TYPICALLY THEY DON'T GET REFRIGERATED. WHATEVER. THEY DON'T COOK THE NIGHT BEFORE THEY TAKE IT HOME. I'VE SEEN IT. THEY BRING IT BACK OUT THE NEXT NIGHT, AND YOU CAN SEE THE, THE CONDITION IT'S IN PAST USABLE LIFE, UNFIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION.

AND THEY TRY TO JUST REHEAT IT IN THE STEAM TABLE SO IT NEVER REALLY REACHES TEMP.

YOU CAN SEE THE THE MEAT TO THE RIGHT, GRAYISH, PROBABLY PAST USABLE LIFE AS WELL.

AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO DO A REMINDER TO OUR PUBLIC HOW TO SPOT UNPERMITTED FOOD VENDORS, WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR WHEN YOU'RE OUT IN THE FIELD.

I THINK ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS I ALWAYS ASK SOMEBODY WHEN THEY'VE EATEN AT ONE OF THESE PLACES WAS, DID YOU SEE A HAND WASHING STATION? TYPICALLY, THE ANSWER IS NO.

THAT'S PROBABLY THE EASIEST THING FOR THE PUBLIC TO SPOT.

NO PERMIT OPERATING ROADSIDE PARKING LOTS NO REFRIGERATOR.

AND THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, TRANSPORTING THIS FOOD IN THE BACK OF THE VAN, WHICH IS ALSO NOT REFRIGERATED.

THE QR CODES UP THERE ALSO FOR LINK TO OUR WEBSITE, HOW TO GET PERMITTED AND OUR COMPLAINT FORM.

AND THEN WE'LL JUST END IT WITH ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT PRESENTATION. I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS.

AND SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE PRESENTATION AND THANKS FOR YOUR EFFORTS.

I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY, BUT TO ME, IT'S IT'S IMPORTANT.

THE QUESTION IS, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE FINES. SO HOW DO YOU LIKE.

I'M ASSUMING THAT SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE AT THE SITES ARE EMPLOYEES AND AND NOT NECESSARILY THE VENDOR.

SO HOW DO YOU WHAT HAPPENS THAT THAT CONVERSATION GOES? WE WE APPROACH THE VENDOR. HEY WE'RE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.

ARE YOU THE OWNER OF THIS STAND? A LOT OF TIMES, IT'S NO DO.

WHO'S THE OWNER? THEY DON'T KNOW. WELL, WHAT ABOUT THE VAN YOU GUYS DROVE TODAY? IS THE OWNER OF THE VAN, THE OWNER OF THE STAND? AND THEN AT THAT POINT, THEY'LL SAY, YEAH WE'RE ABLE TO RUN OWNERSHIP ON THE LICENSE PLATES, AND WE'LL. WE'LL WRITE IT DOWN AND WE'LL SAY, IS THIS THE OWNER? THIS IS THEIR PHONE NUMBER. THIS IS THEIR ADDRESS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHO'S GOING TO GET THE INVOICE. AND AND THEY'LL TELL US.

YEAH. AND SO THAT'S TYPICALLY HOW WE GET, GET OWNERSHIP INFORMATION.

EVERY NOW AND THEN WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS THE OWNER ON THE SITE.

AND WE GET THEY SHOW US THEIR ID OR SOMETHING AND WE WRITE DOWN THEIR INFORMATION.

OKAY. AND THEN I WANT TO JUST SHARE THAT. I APPRECIATE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU GO OUT AND YOU OFFER WITH HELP.

YOU KNOW, THAT THAT'S OUR IMPETUS, RIGHT? IF THEY WANT TO BE IN BUSINESS, THAT'S GREAT.

YOU KNOW, JUST DO IT RIGHT IS ALL WE'RE ASKING.

AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND AND THEN YOU KNOW IF THEY'RE NOT AND YOU GOT TO ENFORCE ON THEM.

[00:30:05]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. THANK YOU, MISTER CHAIR.

AMANDA OF THE 52,000 PLUS IN FINES. HOW MUCH OF THAT HAS ACTUALLY BEEN COLLECTED? WE HAD TWO VENDORS COME IN YESTERDAY AND PAY ON MY ENFORCEMENT UNIT'S FIRST DAY.

OKAY. OKAY. WHICH WHICH WASN'T THAT. IT WASN'T.

SO WHAT ARE THE WHAT ARE THE REPERCUSSIONS OF NOT PAYING? WE LANDFILLED THEIR ITEMS SO THEY THEY DON'T GET THEIR ITEMS BACK.

OKAY. SO THAT IS KIND OF THE STICK IN THE CARROT, IF YOU WILL. IS IS IF THEIR EQUIPMENT IS SEIZED.

WE HOLD ON TO THAT. IF THEY COME AND PAY THEIR FINES, THEY CAN GET THEIR EQUIPMENT BACK. YEAH. AND SO I SAW IN THE WAREHOUSE A PICTURE OF QUITE A BIT OF EQUIPMENT THERE. HOW OFTEN IS THAT HAPPENING THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY GETTING IT BACK. SO I MEAN, I GUESS BE IF THEY PAID THEY WOULD GET IT BACK.

SO THE TWO BUSINESS BUSINESSES WHO PAID YESTERDAY THEY'LL WE'LL GET THEIR EQUIPMENT BACK TO THEM TODAY.

THAT'S REALLY THE FIRST TWO IN THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF.

OKAY. TWO YEARS. AND THEN AGAIN, I KNOW THAT WE'RE WE'RE TRYING TO STEP UP THE ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS ALL THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

I KNOW OUT ON THE WEST SIDE, IT JUST SEEMS THAT WE GO.

THEY DISAPPEAR FOR A DAY OR TWO, AND THEN THE NEXT NIGHT THEY'RE BACK OUT THERE.

AND AGAIN, IT'S REALLY, YOU KNOW, WE HAD THE THE LADY WHO CAME TO THE BOARD MEETING A FEW MONTHS AGO WHO, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THE STRUGGLE IS REAL FOR THEM.

AND WHEN THEY ASK THE QUESTION, WHY AM I GOING TO PAY AND GET ALL MY STUFF DONE CORRECTLY WHEN ALL THESE OTHER PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE WHO AREN'T DOING IT CORRECTLY AND REALLY, YOU KNOW, COMPETING AGAINST THEM ONE ON ONE. SO I THINK THAT IT'S THE AGAIN, LIKE SUPERVISOR PAREIRA SAID, APPRECIATE THE EDUCATION PIECE. THE OPPORTUNITY IS THERE IF THEY WANT HELP.

AND YOU GUYS ARE, AND WE'RE GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND, I THINK. AND MAYBE IT'S WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING, GOING OUT TO COMMUNITY EVENTS AND ALLOWING PEOPLE TO ASK QUESTIONS, GET INFORMATION IF YOU WANT TO DO IT CORRECTLY.

HERE'S HOW YOU DO IT. IF YOU'RE NOT, THEN WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO FIND, AND I APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE STILL HAVING CHATS WITH THE DA'S OFFICE AND FIGURING OUT, BECAUSE IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S ENOUGH JUST CONFISCATING THE EQUIPMENT.

AND MAYBE IT NEEDS TO BE THAT NEXT STEP THAT IF YOU CONFISCATE, YOU IMPOUND THE VEHICLES TO TO KEEP THEM FROM DOING IT BECAUSE IT'S IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE UNFORTUNATE AND GOD FORBID THAT IT HAPPENS.

BUT FOODBORNE ILLNESSES ARE A REAL THING. AND YOU EAT AT THESE, THESE, THESE ILLEGAL FOOD VENDORS, THEY'RE NOT DOING STUFF CORRECTLY. SOMEBODY PASSES AWAY.

IT'S GOING TO BE IT'S I HOPE I HOPE IT DOESN'T COME TO THAT.

SO CONTINUE THE GOOD WORK AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I JUST BEFORE I GET TO THE OTHER TWO BOARD, I JUST WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON ONE OF HIS QUESTIONS WHEN THEY GET THEIR EQUIPMENT BACK.

SO ARE THEY COACHED IN THE PROPER WAY AT THIS POINT TO BE OF STANDARD TO GET THE PERMIT, OR ARE THEY JUST BACK IN BUSINESS? NO, THEY THEY ARE COACHED. WE HAVE A COPY OF THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE TO PROVE OWNERSHIP AS WELL.

SO WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, CORRECT IDENTIFICATION.

THEY DO SIGN A FORM THAT BASICALLY JUST I'M I WON'T DO THIS AGAIN.

AND YOU KNOW, BUT THIS IS OUR THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME FOR THESE ONES COMING BACK.

SO WE'LL KIND OF SEE WHAT WHAT HAPPENS. THEY HAVE BEEN COACHED I KNOW THE TWO WHO CAME IN.

THEY WERE MORE SOMEONE JUST CAME TO CALIFORNIA FROM WASHINGTON, AND THE OTHER PERSON WAS WORKING OUT OF ANOTHER SITE THAT'S PERMITTED WITH OUR FACILITY, AND THE OWNER ALLOWED THEM TO OPERATE IN THE PARKING LOT.

SO THERE WAS A LOT OF EDUCATION THAT CAME WITH THESE, THESE TWO WHO CAME IN.

AND SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT THEY'LL WANT TO DO IT RIGHT, BECAUSE THEY DID ASK FOR MORE INFORMATION.

HOW VERY GOOD. AND THAT'S OUR INTENT. SO YEAH.

YEAH. AND ONE THING TO FOLLOW UP ON SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, WE ARE WORKING WITH THE CEO'S OFFICE AND THE SHERIFF'S ON COLLECTION AGENCIES AND COLLECTION PROGRAMS THAT CAN GO AFTER THE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT PAY THEIR FINES.

SO WE ARE LOOKING AT OTHER EXPLORING OTHER OPTIONS.

THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAS A PROGRAM THAT THEY SPEAK EXTREMELY HIGHLY OF THAT WE ARE EVALUATING NOW.

WE'RE WORKING WITH THE ASSISTANT CEO, MARION, ON THAT TO FIGURE OUT OTHER OPTIONS THAT WE CAN START GOING AFTER.

BECAUSE HISTORICALLY, PEOPLE DO NOT PAY THAT WE ARE TRYING TO SEE HOW CAN WE STILL GO AND COLLECT THOSE FINES? VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PACHECO, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. JUST ANOTHER QUESTION. SO I KNOW THESE ARE, LIKE THE ONES THAT PREPARE FOOD OUT ON THE STREET.

NOW, IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY THAT'S IN FRONT OF A GROCERY OR SELLING PREPARED FOOD LIKE OUT OF AN ICE CHEST.

FIRST OF ALL, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT FALLS UNDER THE JURISDICTION, AND IF SO, DO YOU FOLLOW UP TO WHERE THEY ARE MAKING THAT OR.

YEAH. SO AND AND WE HAVE GONE OUT TO LIKE THE PARKING LOTS WHERE THEY'RE SELLING DIFFERENT FOOD ITEMS.

[00:35:05]

WE'LL GIVE THEM HANDOUTS, BUSINESS CARDS COME INTO THE OFFICE.

BUT YEAH, THAT DOES I MEAN, IS THAT IS THAT LIKE A FINEABLE OFFENSE? JUST IF YOU HAVE AN ICE CHEST FULL OF TOMATOES THAT YOU'RE NOT MAKING THERE, BUT YOU'RE MAKING IT HOME AND YOU'RE TRYING TO SELL THEM THERE, THAT'S THAT FALLS UNDER THIS. YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING.

YEAH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SO WHEN YOU GET THE INFORMATION FROM THE PEOPLE LIKE, THROUGH THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE OR THROUGH THEIR VEHICLE, AND THEN YOU COME UP WITH THEIR FINE OR WHATEVER, DO YOU JUST SEND IT OUT, OR SO YOU MAIL THEM THE FINE, THEIR TICKET. WHATEVER. IS THERE ANY FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THAT? THERE IS. IF WE HAVE A PHONE NUMBER, WE'RE ABLE TO CALL THEM.

SOMETIMES WE DON'T HAVE THAT TYPE OF INFORMATION, BUT THEY DO.

THEY'RE JUST LIKE, IF SOMEONE DOESN'T PAY THEIR PERMIT FEE, WE DO HAVE THE 25%, 75%, 100% INCREASE IN FINES.

SO THEY WILL CONTINUE TO GET AN INVOICE EACH MONTH UNTIL EVENTUALLY IT WOULD GO TO COLLECTIONS WITH THOSE ADDED PENALTIES.

AND THEN I SAW ON HERE IT SAYS HOW PENALTIES ARE CALCULATED.

AND I'M SORRY, YOU MIGHT HAVE MENTIONED THIS BUT IT SAYS THERE OPERATIONS CLASS.

SO THEY HAVE TO GET EDUCATED ON THIS AND THEY PAY THAT FEE AS WELL.

THE CLASSIFICATION IS GOING TO DEPEND ON THE TYPE OF FOOD CART.

SO SOMETHING OVER ON 16TH AND MLK, THERE'S MORE OF A CART STYLE.

THEY'RE NOT PREPARING FOOD. THEY, THEY'RE THEY HAVE THE FOOD THERE, BUT THEY WOULD BE PREPARING THEIR FOOD IN A COMMISSARY AND THEN BRINGING THEIR FOOD THERE TO SERVE. SO THEY MIGHT NOT BE THE FOOD, THEY MIGHT BE MORE AN ADVANCED OR INTERMEDIATE CART.

SO THOSE ARE JUST THEIR DIFFERENT CART LEVELS.

LIKE A FRUIT CART WOULD NOT FALL UNDER THE LARGER MMF.

THE MMF IS LIKE YOUR FOOD TRUCKS WHERE THEY COULD DO FULL PREP.

THEY COULD STORE STUFF IN THE REFRIGERATOR, BRING IT OUT, CUT IT UP.

SO THOSE ARE JUST THE DIFFERENT OPERATIONS. AND FOR THE EDUCATION ASPECT OF IT, I MEAN, YOU JUST THEY COME IN AND YOU SAY, OKAY, DON'T DO THIS AGAIN. AND HERE'S WHY. OR I MEAN, HOW HOW DO YOU PROVE THAT THEY'RE GETTING THE LIKE, LIKE, IS THERE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THEY HAVE TO SPEND OR IS THERE JUST A LIKE, OKAY, WELL DON'T DO IT. SO SLAP ON THE WRIST TYPE THING.

NO. YESTERDAY WE SPENT ABOUT AN HOUR EACH WITH BOTH PEOPLE WHO CAME INTO THE OFFICE.

THE ONE COUPLE THEY HAD CAME IN ON FRIDAY AND THEN AGAIN ON MONDAY.

AND THEN WE'LL BE SEEING THEM AGAIN TODAY. SO THERE'S A LOT OF SIT DOWN, A LOT OF COMMUNICATION.

WHAT'S YOUR GOALS? WHAT DO YOU WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SELL? AND SO THEN WE COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT CLASSIFICATION YOU FALL ON. WELL, WHAT KIND OF EQUIPMENT DO YOU HAVE? WELL YOU CAN'T YOU CAN'T COOK THIS WITH THIS TYPE OF EQUIPMENT. THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN COOK. AND SO THERE IS A LOT OF EDUCATION IN WHEN THEY COME IN.

YEAH. NO I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS DOING THIS BECAUSE LIKE MY COLLEAGUE SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SAID AND MENTIONED THE FOOD BORNE ILLNESS THING IS SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY CONCERNING TO ME. AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A REALLY A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE.

AND SO IT'S NOT ABOUT PLAYING GOTCHA. AND I THINK SUPERVISOR PAREIRA SAID IT ALSO IT'S LIKE WE'RE PROVIDING YOU THE HELP, THE EDUCATION, BUT WE CAN'T BE ALLOWING JUST THIS KIND OF LAWLESSNESS, IF YOU WILL, BECAUSE THEN YOU'RE COMPETING AGAINST OTHER LIKE LEGITIMATE BUSINESSES AND EVEN THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE DOING LIKE THE MERCADOS AND THEY HAVE THEIR FOOD TENTS AND CARTS AND STUFF.

THEY'RE DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY. AND SO IT'S MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY. AND I THINK THAT, AGAIN, IT'S NOT A GOTCHA THING. IT'S A HEY, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING THE PLAYING FIELD FAIR, RIGHT? AND SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. BUT AGAIN, WE'RE STARTING TO SEE MORE AND MORE AND MORE OF IT POP UP.

AND IT'S IT'S REALLY IT'S IT'S TROUBLING BECAUSE IT'S ULTIMATELY, I MEAN, ESPECIALLY LIKE IT'S WHAT IS THAT? SANTA FE AND 16TH. I REALLY I HOPE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN, BUT IT'S LIKE A PARTY THERE EVERY NIGHT, AND SOMEBODY'S GOING TO, I THINK, GOING TO GET HURT BECAUSE THAT'S A VERY TRAVEL, HEAVILY TRAVELED ROAD.

SO IT'S IT'S SOMETHING THAT I APPRECIATE THE EFFORT, AND I, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING.

AND KEEP IT UP, PLEASE. BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO TO FOCUS ON.

YEAH. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR, FOR THAT. AND I'D LIKE TO FOLLOW UP A LITTLE BIT WITH THAT 16 AND 59.

IT SEEMS I'VE HAD CONSTITUENTS TELL ME THAT THERE'S LIKE A PERMANENT GREASE SPOT THERE.

AND I KNOW THAT IS CALTRANS PROPERTY. IS IT HARDER TO WORK WITH STATE PROPERTIES OR HOW'S THAT WORK? BECAUSE, I MEAN, WITH A PERMANENT GREASE SPOT THERE.

I MEAN, THAT'S CONCERNING AS WELL. THAT COULD FALL UNDER HAZARDOUS WASTE OR SPILL.

I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT MAPS WHERE THE GREASE IS AT.

IT'S ACTUALLY CITY OF MERCED PROPERTY. OKAY. YEAH.

BECAUSE THAT THAT LOCATION, IT ONLY SHOULDERS IN TO CALTRANS, AND THEN IT TURNS INTO CITY OF MERCED LOCATION.

[00:40:01]

I MEAN, THAT, YOU KNOW. ANYWAY, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD.

SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA HAD SOMETHING ELSE. I THANK YOU, MISTER CHAIR.

YEAH, I JUST, I GUESS, AMANDA, IT'S. THE SYSTEM IS WORKING IN THE WAY THAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DESIGNED.

AND LISTENING TO IT SOUNDS LIKE THE FOLKS THAT MAYBE YOU VISITED WITH YESTERDAY OR THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS JUST DIDN'T KNOW.

THEY'RE GOING TO PAY A LITTLE PENALTY BUT WANT TO CORRECT THEMSELVES.

THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT. RIGHT. BECAUSE THEY YOU MENTIONED THEY CAME FROM WASHINGTON.

MAYBE THEY HAVE DIFFERENT RULES THERE, BUT IT'S THE ONES THAT ARE CONCERNING ARE THE ONES THAT ARE DOING AND WHAT I ALSO THINK THEY HAVE ALL KINDS OF OTHER ILLICIT ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOING ON AT THESE. I DON'T I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN GET ALL YOUR EQUIPMENT CONFISCATED AND CAN BE BACK OUT THERE THE NEXT DAY IF YOU'RE SELLING, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY'RE SELLING AT THAT DEAL.

I THINK THAT THERE'S OTHER ILLICIT ACTIVITIES, AND THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON. AND HOW DO WE, FOR LACK OF BETTER WORDS, MAKE THEM FEEL THE PAIN? AND IT GOES BACK TO THE CONFISCATION OF THE VEHICLES.

YOU KNOW, YOU CONFISCATE 2500, $3,500 WORTH OF EQUIPMENT.

THAT DOESN'T HURT SO BAD. YOU CONFISCATE THE VAN THAT HAULS IT THERE, THAT'S GOT A LITTLE BIT BIGGER OF A PRICE TAG, AND IT'S GOING TO MAKE THEM THEM PAY ATTENTION. AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE I THINK AS WE INCREASE OUR ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS, ALL THAT'S GOING TO DO IS JUST PUSH THEM TO THE NEXT COUNTY WHERE MAYBE THEY DON'T THEY HAVEN'T CAUGHT UP YET ON THE ENFORCEMENT, BUT THAT'S FINE.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT. AND SO ANY WAY THAT I CAN BE SUPPORTIVE IN THAT, I WANT US TO CONTINUE TO GO DOWN THAT PATH.

I DON'T I DON'T ANYBODY THAT'S TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING.

I'M ALL FOR IT. BUT YOU GOT TO DO IT THE PROPER WAY.

IT'S REALLY THE STORES IS THE BRICK AND MORTAR STORES ARE REALLY THE ONES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT JUST PAYING THE OR EXCUSE ME FOR THE PERMITS TO GET CERTIFIED BY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.

THEY GOT THEY GOT OVERHEAD, THEY GOT ELECTRICITY, THEY GOT EMPLOYEES AND AND AND THAT THEY'RE AND THEY'RE GOING TO GO OUT OF BUSINESS.

AND THAT'S THE UNFORTUNATE PART. SO AGAIN KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

SUPERVISOR SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. YEAH. SO SUPERVISOR PACHECO BROUGHT UP A GOOD POINT ABOUT THE PEOPLE SELLING TAMALES, OR NOW I'VE EVEN SEEN WHERE THEY HAVE THE BIG POT AND THEY'RE SELLING SOME SORT OF SOUP OR STEW OR OUT OF IT.

IF THOSE FOLKS HAVE, LIKE, A COTTAGE KITCHEN PERMIT, THEN CAN THEY GO OUT AND SELL LIKE THAT OR WHAT? WHAT? OR IS SOMEBODY WITH AN ICE CHEST SELLING FOOD.

ALWAYS ILLEGAL. YOU KNOW, OR THE POT SELLING FOOD.

SO FOR COTTAGE FOOD, THERE'S LIMITED ITEMS THAT THEY COULD SELL.

NONDAIRY SHELF STABLE TYPE ITEMS. THEY DO STILL HAVE TO HAVE THEIR PERMIT SHOWING.

SO A LOT OF TIMES YOU MIGHT SEE SOMEONE WHO MAKES COOKIES OR JAMS ONLINE, BUT ON THEIR INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT OR FACEBOOK ACCOUNT, THEY SHOULD BE THEIR PERMIT SHOULD BE LISTED.

AND I KNOW I'VE SEEN IT AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY IN DIFFERENT GROUPS, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE SELLING SOURDOUGH AND AND AT THE END OF THEIR POST, I'M PERMITTED. AND HERE'S MY, MY PERMIT NUMBER.

SO THEY, THEY, THEY SHOULD BE PERMITTED. AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S IT'S A LIMITED THINGS THAT COULD BE SO SUPER TOMALES IS GOING TO MOSTLY ALWAYS BE UNPERMITTED. YEAH, YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND AS AND AS THE PUBLIC IS, THEY ARE ALLOWED TO ASK, ARE YOU PERMITTED? AND A PERMITTED FACILITY IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO SAY YES AND SHOW THEIR PERMIT.

IF SOMEONE'S NOT PERMITTED, YOU KNOW, I ENCOURAGE PUBLIC NOT TO GET INTO ARGUMENT, BUT YOU COULD ASK.

OKAY, THANKS. RIGHT ON. AND I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS HERE AND WE'LL FINISH UP WITH MARK HENDRICKSON ON THIS.

HOW ARE THE CITY PARTNERSHIPS? I WAS AT THE ATWATER CITY COUNCIL MEETING LAST NIGHT, AND COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHESTER HAD EXPRESSED IN HER PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THE END THAT THE CITY OF ATWATER REALLY HAS A PROBLEM IN ONE. SO IS THERE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, I KNOW, EXTENDS INTO THE CITIES AS WELL, BUT WHAT KIND OF PARTNERSHIP DO WE HAVE? AND THEN I'LL TAKE IT ONE STEP FURTHER, AND THIS IS PROBABLY OUT OF YOUR PURVIEW.

IT MIGHT FALL INTO THE DA OR SOMEBODY ELSE. I DON'T THINK THESE FOLKS ARE COLLECTING TAXES WHEN YOU'RE BUYING YOUR TAMALE.

AND WHAT WE UNDERSTAND IS WE HAVE MEASURE V, WE HAVE THESE OTHER THINGS THAT FIX OUR ROADS, AND WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THE POTHOLES.

AND WHENEVER WE HAVE BUSINESS CIRCUMVENTING THE TAX PROCESS, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO COLLECT THOSE TAXES TO ACTUALLY INVEST REINVEST INTO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROCESS IS ON THAT, BUT THE CITY PARTNERSHIPS WILL STICK WITH THAT ONE FIRST.

SO WE DO HAVE A REALLY GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR SHERIFF SET TEAM AND THEIR CODE ENFORCEMENT TEAM.

ANYTIME I CALL AND SAY, HEY, CAN WE GO OUT ON THESE DAYS? THEY'RE THERE. THEY SEND SOMEBODY, IF NOT A FEW FEW BODIES, WHICH IS GREAT.

THEY ALSO HELP US WITH EVEN HANDS ON LIFTING STUFF.

AND SO THEY'RE GREAT. CITY OF MERCED. WE'VE GONE OUT FOR SWEEPS FOR THE FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY.

[00:45:07]

OKAY. WE'RE STILL WE HAVE A CONTACT. I, I KNOW THERE'S A SMALLER TEAM ALSO.

AND SO USUALLY BEFORE WE GO INTO CITIES, I'LL ASK, LIKE, DO YOU MIND? WE'RE GOING WITH THE SHERIFF'S THIS NIGHT. IF YOU SEE US OUT, YOU KNOW, JUST MAKING SURE WE'RE NOT CROSSING INTO THEIR, YOU KNOW, JURISDICTION. YEAH. I DID TALK TO GUSTIN PD.

I WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO MEET UP WITH THEM ON THE NEXT ONE.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY WHICH DAY, BUT I ALMOST DID.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE MEETING UP WITH THEM AND LOS BANOS POLICE DEPARTMENT'S GREAT.

THEY REACH OUT TO US AND THEY'LL SAY, HEY, CAN WE CAN WE SCHEDULE A TIME AND OR VICE VERSA? AND SO WE DO HAVE WE DO HAVE PRETTY GOOD COMMUNICATION WITH MOST OF OUR, OUR PARTNERS.

I DO WANT TO MENTION BECAUSE YOU TALKED ABOUT, LIKE, THE MONEY AND HOW MUCH THEY MAKE, AND I DO HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S KIND OF BEEN AN INFORMANT, A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC. THEY HAVE CAME TO ME WITH CORRECT INFORMATION A FEW TIMES AND AND CORRECT INFORMATION EVERY SINGLE TIME THEY TALK TO ME WHO THEY THINK IS IN CHARGE. DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, DIFFERENT ITEMS. IN THE LAST TIME I RAN INTO THIS PERSON AT THE MERCADO AND TOLD ME THAT THIS LARGER SCALE OPERATION, WHO'S THE MULTI-COUNTY OPERATION, IS MAKING AROUND $150,000 A NIGHT.

SO THAT'S WHY WE ARE WORKING WITH DA'S OFFICE, WORKING MULTI-COUNTY JURISDICTION.

BECAUSE IF THEY'RE MAKING $150,000 A NIGHT AND WE'RE IMPOUNDING THEIR EQUIPMENT, AND THAT'S WHY THEY TELL US WE'RE GOING TO JUST COME BACK BIGGER TOMORROW.

WELL, YEAH, IF YOU'RE MAKING THAT MUCH MONEY AND I AM IN FULL AGREEANCE WITH IMPOUNDING VEHICLES WOULD MAKE IT HURT A LITTLE BIT MORE.

I KNOW MONTEREY COUNTY HAS BEEN REALLY SUCCESSFUL WITH IMPOUNDING VEHICLES.

RIGHT. AND I KNOW THE CONVERSATIONS IN FRESNO COUNTY WHEN SHERIFF MIMS WAS IN CHARGE, A LOT OF THEIR CONVERSATION WAS THE ENDANGERMENT AS WELL OF THE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE WORKING FOR THESE. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR APPROACH IS ON THAT.

AND I KNOW SPEAKING WITH SHERIFF WARNKE AS WELL, HE'S AWARE OF IT.

AND AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR PROCESS IS WHEN WE APPROACH THESE FOOD VENDORS.

OR IS THERE A CERTAIN KIND OF A QUESTION BECAUSE WE KNOW THE ENDANGERMENT IS IS REAL FOR SOME OF THESE FOLKS? I KNOW I'VE I'VE HEARD OUR SHERIFF'S TEAM, WHEN THEY'RE WITH US, ASK LIKE, IF ARE YOU GUYS SAFE? DO YOU GUYS NEED ANYTHING? AND SO I KNOW THAT QUESTION HAS BEEN ASKED.

VERY GOOD. I JUST HAD A COUPLE MORE THINGS ON THE CITY PARTNERS.

WE THROUGH THE CEO'S OFFICE, HAVE LED A FEW MEETINGS THAT HAVE INCLUDED AND HAVE INVITED ALL CITY PARTNERS, CITY MANAGERS AND PD TO THOSE MEETINGS. MAJORITY HAVE, IF NOT ALL HAVE ATTENDED THOSE.

I KNOW WHEN ATWATER COULD NOT ATTEND THAT. WE HAVE HAD A ONE ON ONE MEETING WITH THEM, WITH THE CITY MANAGER, THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND SOME OF HIS TEAM. SO WE ARE WORKING WITH THEM IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO MAKE SURE THAT NOW SOME OF THE CITY PD DON'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE ON THIS.

AND SO OUR SHERIFF'S TEAM HAVE GONE OUT TO HELP TRAIN THEM AS WELL, OF WHAT WITH THEIR EXPERIENCE, ESPECIALLY CODE ENFORCEMENT. WHAT THEIR EXPERIENCES HAVE BEEN.

HOW WHAT THEY SEE IS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL. AND SO THEY ARE DOING A GREAT JOB.

THEY DID THAT WITH THE CITY OF MERCED RECENTLY AND HELP TRAINING OUR CITY PARTNERS SO WE CAN ALL COMBAT THIS AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.

SO IF A CONSTITUENT CALLS A COUNCIL MEMBER, SO THE COUNCIL MEMBER CALLED THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, OR SHOULD THEY CONTACT THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENT, CALL US IF IT'S IF THEY'RE WANTING TO IF IT'S A SPECIFIC LOCATION, THEY'RE WANTING US. OKAY. AND WHAT IS THE NUMBER 209381 1100 381 1100. IT'S THE NUMBER THAT'S UP ON THE SCREEN AS WELL.

OH VERY GOOD, VERY GOOD. BECAUSE WE GET THOSE QUESTIONS A LOT AS SUPERVISOR AS WELL.

AND AND I KNOW THEY WERE THEIR CONCERNS THEY WERE SHARING WITH THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENT LAST NIGHT.

SO IT WAS A IT WAS A VERY GOOD CONVERSATION. AND THE TAXES WE WILL THAT'S ANOTHER.

I KNOW THAT'S NOT IN YOUR WHEELHOUSE WHATSOEVER. WELL, MAYBE COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUT THAT WILL BE SOMETHING WE WILL BRING TO THE INNER INNER DEPARTMENT MEETING THAT WE HAVE THAT OFFICE HOLDS WITH ALL THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

WE WILL HAVE THAT DISCUSSION. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'RE DOING.

AND I APPRECIATE THE APPRECIATE THE APPROACH TO EDUCATE FIRST AND THEN ACTION LATER IF THEY'RE NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES.

MARK HENDRICKSON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE THIS OUT? SURE. MR. CHAIRMAN, AGAIN, THANK YOU.

JUST TO QUICKLY KIND OF RECAP, AND I'M HEARING VERY LOUD AND CLEAR THAT THIS BOARD WANTS TO CONTINUE TO HAVE AN AGGRESSIVE POSTURE TO COMBAT THIS ISSUE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

[00:50:04]

THAT'S JUST THAT'S WHERE YOU THAT'S WHERE THE COMMUNITY CAN HELP US.

AND SO I THINK AMANDA HAS DONE A NICE JOB TODAY OF ACTUALLY OUTLINING SOME OF THE STEPS THAT WHERE PEOPLE CAN IDENTIFY A LEGAL FOOD VENDING FACILITY VERSUS A NON NON-COMPLIANT ONE. SO THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD REALLY ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITY TO TO SCRUTINIZE WHERE WHERE THEY ARE BUYING THEIR, THEIR FOOD. ANOTHER THING I WOULD ALSO MENTION, BECAUSE I THINK THAT CHAIRMAN MCDANIEL JUST JUST HIGHLIGHTED THIS, I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A PRIORITY OF SUPERVISOR PAREIRA IN THE PAST, AS WELL AS IT RELATES TO YOU KNOW, TRYING TO TO ENSURE PEOPLE ARE NOT ONLY PLAYING THE RULES, PLAYING BY THE RULES WITH US, BUT ALSO PAYING THEIR, THEIR TAXES. YOU KNOW, CALIFORNIA LAW DOES REQUIRE A SELLER'S PERMIT FOR VENDORS SELLING TANGIBLE GOODS, AND THAT IS, AGAIN, SUBJECT TO A TAX. AND THEN THOSE VENDORS REMIT DIRECTLY BACK TO THE STATE, AND THEN THEY REMIT TO THE CITIES AND COUNTIES.

SO AGAIN, AS IT RELATES TO EXCUSE ME. SO AGAIN, AS IT RELATES TO THIS ISSUE, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE A LOOK AT. WHAT GOES BEYOND THE BUSINESS.

YOU HAVE TO REGISTER WITH THE BOE AS WELL TO BE ABLE TO COLLECT TAXES.

OKAY. WELL THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME WE'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THIS PRESENTATION.

IF NOT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THIS PORTION OF IT.

NOW WE'LL MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH NINE.

[CONSENT CALENDAR]

THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. THIS IS ITEMS ONE THROUGH NINE.

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE COMMENT PERIOD. I'LL CALL FOR A MOTION.

I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO.

LOOKS LIKE THE RIGHT SIDE WON ON THIS ONE. I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES.

NOW MOVE ON TO THE BOARD. ACTION ITEMS BEGINNING WITH PUBLIC WORKS.

[BOARD ACTION]

WE WILL BEGIN WITH ITEM 12. AND AT THIS TIME WE WILL HAVE A PRESENTATION ON ITEM 12.

REGARDING THE CALIFORNIA HIGH SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY. I WILL TURN IT OVER TO PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. NATHAN BRAY AND PETER WHITBY, CHIEF OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS FOR THE CALIFORNIA HIGH SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY.

AND I APPRECIATE YOU COMING TO MERCED. GOOD MORNING.

BOARD CHAIR AND SUPERVISORS NATHAN BRAY, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND ROAD COMMISSIONER FOR MERCED COUNTY.

I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT PETER WHITBY WITH THE HIGH SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY HERE TO GIVE A PRESENTATION ON THE HIGH SPEED RAIL DISCUSSIONS LATELY.

SO THANK YOU, PETER. THANK YOU, PETER, FOR BEING HERE.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THIS HAS BEEN, I GUESS, THE LAST FOUR WEEKS.

I'LL LOOK AT MY PREDECESSOR AND THE CHAIRMANSHIP THE LAST 4 TO 6 WEEKS.

OUR COMMUNICATION WITH YOU FOLKS HAS BEEN VERY GOOD.

I THINK THERE WAS A ANNOUNCEMENT THAT CAME THAT KIND OF STARTLED EVERYBODY HERE IN MERCED.

BUT YOU GUYS WERE VERY QUICK TO MAKE SURE YOU SAT DOWN AND AND AT LEAST COMMUNICATED WITH US.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. YOUR EFFORTS HAVE BEEN DEFINITELY FELT HERE BY THIS BOARD, AND I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION. I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT AND HOPE TO CONTINUE THAT DIALOG THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS AND CONTINUING FORWARD A PRODUCTIVE PARTNERSHIP. YOU CAN LIFT THAT UP. NO. TO YOUR RIGHT, THERE'S A LITTLE BUTTON.

NO TO YOUR RIGHT THERE. THAT WAY YOU CAN TALK INTO THE MICROPHONE A LITTLE BETTER.

ALL RIGHT. CAN YOU HEAR ME? ALL RIGHT. CAN YOU GUYS HEAR HIM? OKAY. YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU, CHAIR MCDANIEL, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND STAFF, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.

MY NAME IS PETER WHITBY. I'M THE CHIEF OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS FOR THE CALIFORNIA HIGH SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY.

AND ON BEHALF OF THE AUTHORITY OF AIR, MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND ENGAGEMENT.

OVER THE PAST MONTHS, IN PARTICULAR, SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND CEO HENDRICKSON, WHO HAVE ENGAGED WITH THE AUTHORITY LEADERSHIP FOR SOME MONTHS NOW.

AND I VERY MUCH ENJOYED THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH EACH ONE OF YOU TO DISCUSS TODAY'S TOPIC.

OVER THE PAST WEEK, THE TOPIC OF OUR CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN ABOUT HOW MERCED IS BEST SERVED AS THE HIGH SPEED RAIL SYSTEM ADVANCES NORTH.

[00:55:06]

SORRY. OKAY. SORRY. SORRY WHAT? THERE WE GO. THERE WE GO.

SORRY. WHAT DIFFERENT OPTIONS IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY MEAN FOR MERCED? BOTH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY. NOW, EVERYTHING WE'RE DISCUSSING TODAY FLOWS FROM A VERY BASIC QUESTION, WHICH IS HOW DO WE DELIVER HIGH SPEED RAIL SYSTEM THAT WORKS AND IS FINANCIALLY VIABLE AND ACTUALLY REACHES COMMUNITIES LIKE MERCED? NOW, UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP, THE AUTHORITY IS FOCUSED ON BUILDING A SYSTEM THAT CAN ACTUALLY BE DELIVERED, AND IT DELIVERS REAL VALUE FOR THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THE COMMUNITIES IT WILL SERVE.

FINANCIAL DISCIPLINE AND A CORRECTION IN THE SEQUENCE OF INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY HAVE BEEN TOP OF MIND FOR THE AUTHORITY.

WE AIM TO BE RESPONSIBLE STEWARDS OF THE PUBLIC DOLLAR AND THE GREATEST RETURN ON INVESTMENT WILL BE TO CONNECT POPULATION CENTERS.

THIS WILL STABILIZE THE SYSTEM'S FINANCES GOING FORWARD AND ALSO BRING REAL BENEFITS TO COMMUNITIES LIKE MERCED.

LOOKING AHEAD, THE PROGRAM IS POISED FOR REAL MOMENTUM.

TODAY, WE'RE MOVING FROM CIVIL WORKS INTO RAIL DELIVERY.

OUR SOUTHERN RAILHEAD, LOCATED NEAR WASCO, IS READY FOR OPERATIONS, AND THIS IS THE YARD WHERE WE WILL SOON BE TAKING DELIVERY OF MATERIALS LIKE RAIL TIES, BALLAST, OVERHEAD CATENARY SYSTEM, POLES, CABLES, ALL OF THE MATERIALS WE NEED TO BEGIN BUILDING TRACKS AS SOON AS WE BRING OUR TRACK AND SYSTEMS CONTRACTOR ON BOARD. THIS SUMMER, WE'VE LAUNCHED A PROCUREMENT TO BRING ON BOARD A PRIVATE DELIVERY PARTNER TO EXAMINE AREAS OF THE PROGRAM THAT WILL INVEST THEIR OWN PRIVATE CAPITAL AND KICK OFF A TRUE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP FOR INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY.

WE'VE KICKED OFF A SIMILAR PROCESS TO GATHER FEEDBACK FROM PRIVATE INDUSTRY ON THE POWER GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION NEEDS FOR THE SYSTEM.

ISSUING AN RFI FOR CLEAN POWER. JUST LAST WEEK, WITH A SIMILAR P3 PROCUREMENT EXPECTED THIS YEAR, AND WE AIM TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY FINISHED WITH 119 MILES OF CIVIL WORK STRETCHING FROM KERN TO MADERA COUNTY BY THE END OF THE YEAR AND EXPECT TO BE LAYING THE NATION'S FIRST TRUE HIGH SPEED RAIL TRACK BEFORE THE YEAR IS OUT.

THESE MILESTONES ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY MOVE US FROM BUILDING STRUCTURES TO DELIVERING TRANSPORTATION, AND THAT'S THE CONTEXT FOR THE STATION DISCUSSION WE'VE BEEN HAVING WITH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AND HERE TODAY AS WELL.

OH, SORRY. NOW, PRIOR ITERATIONS OF PLANNING AND MERCED ENVISIONED A DOWNTOWN INTERMODAL STATION INTEGRATED WITH ALTAMONT CORRIDOR EXPRESS AND AMTRAK SERVICE. NOW, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED OVER THE PAST MONTHS WITH SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND CEO HENDRICKSON AND OTHERS, A DOWNTOWN STATION BRINGS REAL CHALLENGES, NOT JUST FOR THE HIGH SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY IN TERMS OF COST AND SCHEDULE, PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF THE FEDERAL FUNDS BEING REVOKED BY THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.

BUT ALSO, FERMOR SAID ITSELF, PARTICULARLY THE LENGTH AND INTENSITY OF DISRUPTION TO BUSINESSES, RESIDENTS AND TRAFFIC OVER MANY YEARS. THE DOWNTOWN STATION WOULD ENTAIL THE ACQUISITION AND RELOCATION OF THE MACOMBS YOUTH CENTER, LEASED BY THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF MERCED COUNTY, THE MERCED SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTER.

BUSINESSES SUCH AS IN-N-OUT BURGER, PAYSON ADMIRES EL BARRIO MARKET AND SEVERAL OTHERS.

THE AUTHORITY ANTICIPATES SEVERAL YEARS OF DISRUPTION TO THE DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY AS A RESULT.

FURTHERMORE, THE DOWNTOWN STATION RELIES ON MULTIPLE EXTERNAL SYSTEMS DELIVERING ON SIMILAR TIMELINES, WHICH INTRODUCES UNCERTAINTY OUTSIDE THE CITY, COUNTY, OR AUTHORITY'S CONTROL.

AND WHAT THESE CHALLENGES HAVE LED TO, IN MY OPINION, IS A VERY PRODUCTIVE AND COOPERATIVE DISCUSSION WITH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY ABOUT WHAT AN ALTERNATIVE STATION SITE MIGHT LOOK LIKE, ONE THAT ENSURES MERCED IS SERVED ON TIME WITHIN CURRENT BUDGET.

THE AREA WE'VE IDENTIFIED IS FEWER THAN FOUR MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE DOWNTOWN LOCATION, AND GENERALLY IN THE VICINITY WEST OF 99 AND SOUTH OF MISSION, WHICH CIRCLED THERE ON THE MAP. THE PRIMARY ADVANTAGE HERE IS CERTAINTY IT PROVIDES A CLEAR, FUNDABLE PATH TO BRINGING MERCED HIGH SPEED RAIL SERVICE.

IT AVOIDS YEARS OF DOWNTOWN CONSTRUCTION WHILE ALIGNING WITH AREAS THAT THE CITY AND THE COUNTY HAVE ALREADY IDENTIFIED FOR FUTURE GROWTH.

AND IMPORTANTLY, IT CREATES FLEXIBILITY FOR HOW MERCED CHOOSES TO CONNECT LOCALLY, REGIONALLY AND OVER TIME.

THE OPTION CREATES FLEXIBILITY. IT DOESN'T FORCE MERCED INTO A ONE SIZE FITS ALL ACCESS MODEL.

THE SOUTHERN LOCATION ALLOWS PURPOSE BUILT ACCESS RATHER THAN RETROFITTING CONNECTIONS INTO CONSTRAINED DOWNTOWN STREETS.

[01:00:07]

DIRECT UC MERCED CONNECTIONS. PARK AND RIDE EXPRESS BUS, LIGHT RAIL, STREETCAR, OR FUTURE MOBILITY OPTIONS.

IT DOESN'T LOCK THE CITY OR THE COUNTY INTO A SINGLE LOCATION SOLUTION TODAY.

LOCAL AGENCIES WILL RETAIN CONTROL OVER HOW LAST MILE CONNECTIONS EVOLVE OVER TIME.

I THINK ONE POINT IT ALSO POSITIONS UC MERCED AS A TRUE SHARED REGIONAL ASSET, UC SAID IS THE FASTEST GROWING UC CAMPUS, AND THIS OPTION PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY FOR PRACTICAL, HIGH QUALITY CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY AND THE RAIL SYSTEM VIA CAMPUS PARKWAY.

THIS OFFERS AN ATTRACTIVE OPTION TO SUPPORT STUDENTS FACULTY WORKFORCE ACCESS AND STRENGTHENS MERCED ROLE AS A UNIVERSITY CENTERED REGIONAL HUB.

SO ZOOMING OUT HERE FOR A MOMENT, YOU KNOW, EARLIER I TALKED ABOUT THE AUTHORITY'S FOCUS ON STABILIZING THE SYSTEM'S FINANCES.

AND THAT THE GREATEST RETURN ON CALIFORNIA'S INVESTMENT.

YOUR INVESTMENT IN MY INVESTMENT, ALL OF US HERE TOGETHER, IS THAT WE WILL CONNECT THE POPULATION CENTERS.

AND IN MY VIEW, VERY, VERY FEW PLACES STAND TO GAIN AS MUCH AS MERCED FROM THE HIGH SPEED RAIL SYSTEM.

BUT IT HAS TO BE A SYSTEM THAT CONNECTS THAT SUCCEEDS IN CONNECTING CALIFORNIA'S CENTRAL VALLEY TO THE POPULATION CENTERS.

AND IN DOING SO, THE ECONOMIC ENGINES OF THE STATE.

SO WHEN THE AUTHORITY TALKS ABOUT THE SEQUENCE OF INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY, WE DO IT WITH THE GOAL IN MIND TO CREATE THE FLEXIBILITY NECESSARY TO BUILD FASTER, SMARTER AND MORE ECONOMICALLY TO CONNECT THE POPULATION CENTERS WHERE RIDERSHIP AND RESULTING REVENUE WILL ACTUALLY SUSTAIN THE SYSTEM GOING FORWARD AND ENSURE STABILITY TOWARDS THE FULL SYSTEM BUILD OUT BETWEEN SAN FRANCISCO AND LOS ANGELES, AND CONNECTING THE COMMUNITIES IN BETWEEN. THIS IS THE FUTURE WHERE MERCED IS LESS THAN ONE HOUR FROM SILICON VALLEY, AND THIS WILL FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE ACCESS TO JOBS RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY.

IT WILL MEAN HIGHER WAGES THAT ARE SPENT LOCALLY, A STRONGER UC MERCED PIPELINES AND REAL COMMUTER CHOICE.

FASTER CONNECTIONS INTO POPULATION CENTERS STRENGTHEN THE SYSTEM OVERALL, AND THAT STABILITY DIRECTLY BENEFITS MERCED.

AND THAT'S THE CLOSE OF MY PRESENTATION. BUT, YOU KNOW, I'LL JUST NOTE THAT THIS CONVERSATION IS ABOUT DELIVERING RAIL TO MERCED IN A WAY THAT IS CERTAIN. IT'S TIMELY, AND IT'S ALIGNED WITH HOW THE CITY AND THE COUNTY WANT TO GROW.

SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS LAYING OUT THE TRADEOFFS CLEARLY.

WE'RE LISTENING TO LOCAL PRIORITIES, AND WE'RE UNDERSTANDING WHAT BEST SERVES MERCED.

AND FROM THE AUTHORITY'S PERSPECTIVE, NO DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE HERE TODAY UNTIL WE HEAR BACK FROM YOU.

WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS WHETHER THE COUNTY WANTS A SEAT AT THE TABLE AS WE EXPLORE THIS SOUTHERN STATION CONCEPT.

AND I APPRECIATE SEEING EACH OF YOU AGAIN HERE TODAY.

AND YOUR INPUT HELPS SHAPE HOW THIS MOVE FORWARD.

AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE ANY PATH REFLECTS MERCED PRIORITIES.

SO I'M HAPPY TO DO MY BEST TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS PRODUCTIVE DIALOG WE'VE ESTABLISHED OVER THE PAST MONTHS.

THANK YOU. I'LL BRING IT BACK HERE TO THE DAIS.

SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. THANK YOU. PETER, I APPRECIATE THE YOU KNOW, I WAS VERY CRITICAL OF YOUR COMMUNICATION AND THE AUTHORITY'S COMMUNICATION WITH US AS A BOARD AND AND THE COUNTY IN GENERAL.

AND I'VE BEEN VERY SURPRISED AND VERY PLEASANTLY SURPRISED WITH.

I MEAN, THAT CHANGED QUICKLY. THERE'S BEEN MULTIPLE TIMES NOW WHERE YOU'VE COME DOWN.

EXCUSE ME WITH YOUR TEAM, BY MEETING WITH EACH ONE OF US, THAT SHOWS YOUR DEDICATION AND SUPPORT TO MERCED.

AND I THINK ESSENTIALLY WHAT IS BEING ASKED OF US TODAY.

AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT WE AS A BOARD DO, IT'S THIS IS I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING FROM THE AGENDA ITEM, THE BY THERE'S A SENTENCE IN THERE THAT SAYS IN RECENT DISCUSSIONS WITH HSR STAFF, WHILE THERE IS NO PROPOSAL TO ELIMINATE THE STATION IN MERCED, THERE IS CONCEPTUAL INTEREST IN MODIFYING THE LOCATION.

SO WE'RE BEING ASKED TO SEE TO JUST SUPPORT THE CONTINUED DISCUSSION.

AND AS HAVING A SEAT AT THE TABLE, SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNTY OF MERCED.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE AS A AS A COUNTY, HAVE A LOT TO GAIN OUT OF THIS.

BUT I THINK THAT IF WE'RE DOING THIS IN A WAY TO WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY SITTING AT THE TABLE HAVING THESE ACTUAL CONVERSATIONS.

THEY'VE ALREADY PROVEN TO US THAT ONCE WE GIVE THEM, LIKE THE COMMUNICATION WAS CHANGED.

THIS IS SOMETHING TO WHERE WE NOW HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE OR CONTINUE TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

[01:05:02]

AS HIGH SPEED RAIL EFFORTS HAVE EVOLVED OVER TIME, THE CALIFORNIA HIGH SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY HAS PROVIDED SEVERAL REVISIONS TO POTENTIAL ROUTE OPTIONS AND BUSINESS PLANS. THE MAIN THING HERE IS, AND I THINK THAT WE'VE TALKED WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM ABOUT THIS IS AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION. IMPACT MITIGATION IS COMPARED TO THE IMPERATIVE IMPERATIVE TO THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AS THE STATE CONTINUES TO MOVE THIS PROJECT FORWARD. SOMETHING THAT OUR SUPPORT BY US BEING AT THE TABLE CAN CONTINUE TO REMIND THEM OF, WHICH I THINK IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. ALSO. REGIONAL PASSENGER RAIL.

RAIL CONTINUES TO BE A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TRANSPORTATION METHOD AS OPTIONS ARE EXPLORED TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY, INCREASE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, REDUCE ROADWAY CONGESTION, AND IMPROVE THE OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE.

MERCED COUNTY SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO EXPAND PASSENGER RAIL.

THIS IS THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THAT SUPPORT BY SAYING THAT WE SUPPORT THE CONCEPTUAL DISCUSSION OF THE POTENTIAL RELOCATION ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE ON WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

AND WHEN IT COMES TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO IT'S NOT WE'RE NOT REALLY TAKING ACTION, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THROUGH THE CHAIR FOR OR THE CEO TO PROVIDE A LETTER OF SUPPORT TO THE AUTHORITY JUST TO SHOW THAT WE ARE INTERESTED IN CONTINUING THIS CONCEPTUAL DISCUSSION, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. AS YOU WELL STATED, WE WANT TO BE AT THE TABLE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO BE ON THE MENU.

IT'S NOT GOOD TO BE ON THE MENU BECAUSE YOU CAN ANYWAY.

SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. PETER.

THANK YOU AGAIN. TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUES COMMENTS, COMMUNICATION HAS I'VE TALKED TO FOLKS FROM HIGH SPEED RAIL MORE IN THE LAST 45 DAYS THAN I HAVE IN THE LAST SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS. SO THANK YOU FOR FOR THE COMMUNICATION.

AS A PERSON WHO HAS NEVER REALLY BEEN A BIG FAN OF HIGH SPEED RAIL FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, I DIDN'T VOTE FOR FOR PROPOSITION ONE A I FELT LIKE THE ALIGNMENT TO ME WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER JUST TO PUT IT DOWN THE INTERSTATE FIVE, BUT UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WAS A WAY TO REALLY KIND OF BRING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PROBABLY GET SOME VOTES OR WHATEVER, BUT IT ULTIMATELY BRINGS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN A PLACE IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY WHERE ALL WE DO IS FEED THE WORLD THAT HISTORICALLY HAS BEEN OVERLOOKED.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, AS A COUNTY SUPERVISOR, I KNOW IT'S BEST FOR MY COUNTY.

IT MIGHT NOT BE SOMETHING THAT I LOVE. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE ALIGNMENT, THAT IT'S THE NEXT PHASE TO GO OVER THE HILL.

IT GOES THROUGH A LOT OF FARMLAND. A LOT OF MY CONSTITUENTS ARE GOING TO BE VERY HEAVILY IMPACTED, AND THOSE DISCUSSIONS ARE STILL YET TO HAVE YET TO COME.

BIGGEST CONCERN AND I SHARED IT WITH YOU BEFORE WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THAT DOWNTOWN STATION IN CALIFORNIA, WHERE IT'S IT'S WELL KNOWN THAT THEY DON'T LIKE TO DO EXPANSION PROJECTS ANYWHERE BUT IN THE METROPOLITAN AREAS ON ROADWAYS.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST REASONS WHY WE SUPPORTED IT OR SUPPORTED IT, WHY OUR BOARD SUPPORTED IT, WAS IS THIS WAS A PATH TO FINISHING THE 99 THROUGH MERCED, WHICH IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE PART BECAUSE IT'S THE ELEVATED PIECE, RIGHT? AND AND SO I TOO AM I'M IN FAVOR OF CONTINUING DISCUSSIONS BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THE BUSINESS SIDE OF ME SAYS IT'S NOT AFFORDABLE TO PUT IT IN DOWNTOWN MERCED. RIGHT.

IT IT'S GOING TO BE SUPER EXPENSIVE. IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME.

THERE'S A LOT OF CHALLENGES WITH IT. YOU MOVE IT SOUTH ABOUT THREE, THREE AND A HALF MILES.

WHATEVER IT IS, A LOT OF THOSE BARRIERS GO AWAY, WHICH MEANS YOU CAN DELIVER IT FASTER, WHICH MEANS IT'S GOING TO BE CHEAPER AND IT'S OBTAINABLE. SO I AM IN SUPPORT OF SENDING A LETTER.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT I'M STILL A FAN OF HIGH SPEED RAIL.

IT JUST MEANS THAT HIGH SPEED RAIL IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE COMING, AND WE NEED TO GET THE BENEFITS OF IT.

THAT'S WHAT THE VOTERS VOTED ON. IT WAS THERE'S A STATION IN MERCED, AND MY KIND OF MY THOUGHTS ON IT ARE, IS, IS IF WE SAY WE NO, NO, WE DON'T WANT TO ENTERTAIN THIS DISCUSSION, GUESS WHAT? MERCED IS NOT EVEN GOING TO GET A STATION. THAT'S WHAT I WORRIES ME.

RIGHT? AND THOSE DECISIONS ARE NOT GOING TO BE MADE BY THIS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. THEY'RE GOING TO BE MADE BY FOLKS IN SACRAMENTO. AND SO AGAIN, BACK TO WE WANT TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE ON IT, BUT I WANT TO JUST CONTINUE TO ASK YOU FOLKS AT HSR TO BE ADVOCATES RIGHT ALONGSIDE OF US AS NOW, THIS LITTLE JEWEL THAT WAS GOING TO COME DOWNTOWN MERCED WAS GOING TO HELP US FINISH THE 99 IS GOING TO MOVE SOUTH THREE AND A HALF MILES, THAT YOU STILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE ALONGSIDE OF US, THAT WE STILL NEED TO FINISH THE 99, THAT THAT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. SO AGAIN SUPPORTIVE OF SENDING A LETTER OF SUPPORT TO ENTER INTO DISCUSSIONS AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, BUT STILL KEEPING IN THE BACK OF OUR MINDS THAT WE STILL GOT TO FINISH THE 99.

AND I KNOW THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY UNDER YOUR JURISDICTION, BUT I KNOW, YOU KNOW, FOLKS IN SACRAMENTO JUST AS WELL AS I DO. AND YOU CAN REITERATE THAT

[01:10:05]

AND HAPPY TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO ADVANCE THOSE EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY AS WELL.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PACHECO, THIS IS IN YOUR DISTRICT THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT.

THANK YOU. CHAIR. YEAH. I MEAN, MY COLLEAGUES HAVE PRETTY MUCH SAID SAID IT ALL, BUT I DO THINK COMMUNICATION IS KEY AND IT IS WORTH FURTHER AT LEAST CONVERSATION.

SO I'M SUPPORTIVE OF WRITING A LETTER TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE HSR JUST KEEP COMMUNICATING WITH US.

THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING. WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, IT'S GOING TO BE MY DISTRICT. SO I WANT I NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON SO I CAN WE CAN LET US KNOW WHAT THE PROGRESS IS. BUT BUT I'M IN SUPPORT OF OF HAVING A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

THANKS. NO THANK YOU. AND I'D ADD SOME COMMENTS.

DEFINITELY WANT TO KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING.

I WILL SAY THAT I DID VOTE FOR PROP ONE A WHEN IT WAS FIRST PROPOSED, BUT IT WAS $29 BILLION.

A THIRD OF IT WAS GOING TO BE PRIVATE INVESTED INVESTMENT, THIRD OF IT WAS GOING TO BE FEDERAL INVESTMENT, AND A THIRD OF IT WAS GOING TO BE STATE INVESTMENT.

IT'S NO SECRET. MY FORMER BOSS WAS THE HOUSE CHAIR FOR RAIL AND INFRASTRUCTURE, AND HE WAS HIGHLIGHTING A LOT OF ISSUES THAT WE WERE HAVING WITH HIGH SPEED RAIL. AND I SHARE THOSE AS WELL. WHAT I WANT TO ENCOURAGE.

AND I WISH WE WOULD HAVE DONE THIS. THIS IS WAY BEFORE YOU AND EVERYBODY ELSE.

THERE'S EXISTING CORRIDORS. WE DON'T NEED TO MESS WITH OUR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE DON'T NEED TO MESS WITH OUR AGRICULTURAL LAND.

IF YOU UTILIZE EXISTING CORRIDORS, WE CAN MAKE THIS WORK.

LET'S LOOK AT. WE KEEP BRINGING UP HIGH SPEED RAIL IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

WELL, A LOT OF THAT IS RAISED RAIL. IT'S ABOVE.

THERE'S STILL FARMING BELOW IT. THEY'RE STILL ABLE TO TO TO MOVE BELOW IT.

INFRASTRUCTURE IS STILL WATER STILL FLOWING. AND SO I JUST WANT TO KEEP THAT IN CONSIDERATION.

I DEFINITELY I DEFINITELY BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO BE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION.

ECONOMICS IS A BIG PART OF IT. I KNOW. AND JUST OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD, WHAT IS THE COST SAVINGS IN RELOCATING TO THIS THAN TO WHERE WE ARE PREVIOUSLY LOOKING AT IN MERCED? IT'S OVER $1 BILLION IN SAVINGS. THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO FINISH THE 99.

SO IT WORKS OUT IS I BRING IT BACK. IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? JOSH, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO ADD? BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THIS. JOSH HAS BEEN OUR OUR RAIL PERSON ON ON THE BOARD.

HE NOT ONLY WAS A CITY COUNCILMAN, HE WAS VERY INVOLVED IN THIS.

AND HIS FATHER ALSO WAS VERY INVOLVED IN THIS.

YEAH. NO. OKAY. NO, I JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT ALL AS MUCH OF A FAN AS AS RAIL AND STUFF AS I AM, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS TAKING THIS AND SAYING THAT YOU THAT YOU'RE GOING TO, THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO SUBMIT A LETTER OF SUPPORT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S LIKE SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SAID, I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR MERCED COUNTY BECAUSE FOR THE LONGEST TIME, YOU KNOW, FOR FOR A LONG TIME, NOT JUST MERCED COUNTY, BUT THIS IS REALLY A REGIONAL PROJECT, RIGHT? AND SO IT'S GOING TO CONNECT TO DIFFERENT REGIONS. AND I THINK THAT FOR A LONG TIME THE EIGHT VALLEY COUNTIES ARE FLYOVERS, RIGHT. AND SO THIS REALLY ALLOWS FOR US TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE TO BRING A TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECT HERE TO MERCED COUNTY THAT'S GOING TO CONNECT A LOT OF OTHER PARTS OF THE OF THE STATE. AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE JUST CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS, BECAUSE WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO IS, YOU KNOW, WE SAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEND A LETTER OF SUPPORT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE CONCEPTUAL DISCUSSIONS BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T DO ANYBODY ANY GOOD.

THIS JUST ALLOWS FOR US TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

AND I WANT TO A LOT OF THIS STUFF IS GOING TO GET I MEAN, SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET, YOU KNOW, GO OUT IN THE WASH. RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ASK THESE QUESTIONS.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS. THE ONLY THING THAT WE'RE DECIDING ON IS WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO SUPPORT THE CONCEPTUAL MOVE RELOCATION OF THIS. AND I THINK THAT ALLOWS FOR US TO REALLY HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE, TO TO MY BOARD FOR OR TO THE BOARD FOR DOING THAT.

THANK YOU TO THE HIGH SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY FOR YOU KNOW, COMING OUT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF YOU KNOW, THE I'M GLAD MY COLLEAGUE MENTIONED IT BECAUSE I THINK THAT BY YOU GUYS, BY HIM SAYING, YOU KNOW, IT'S HE'S TALKING MORE ABOUT HIGH SPEED RAIL IN THE LAST FOUR WEEKS. THAT'S THAT'S SOMETHING. AND SO I THINK THAT SHOWS COMMITMENT. I THINK WE SHOW COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE THESE CONCEPTUAL DISCUSSIONS. I THINK IT'S IT'S IMPORTANT. SO THANK YOU.

[01:15:02]

I APPRECIATE THIS. AND I JUST HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION.

SO SAY WE SAY WE DON'T LIKE IT. WE DON'T WANT TO BE PART OF THE DISCUSSION.

WHAT ARE THE STEPS OF HIGH SPEED RAIL ON THAT POINT IN TERMS OF THE SOUTHERN STATION? YES OR NO? THE NORTHERN. THE MERCED STATION. SAY THE CITY'S LIKE THEY DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

THE COUNTY DOESN'T LIKE WHAT YOU'RE DOING. WHAT DOES HIGH SPEED RAIL DO THEN? WELL, CURRENTLY WE ARE STATUTORILY REQUIRED TO BUILD THE DOWNTOWN.

I THINK AS YOU SAW IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL PROJECT UPDATE REPORT, WE PRESENTED SEVERAL OPTIONS FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO CONSIDER TALKING ABOUT THE SEQUENCE OF INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY ABSENT, YOU KNOW, SOME SORT OF CONSENSUS ON HOW WE DO BRING HIGH SPEED RAIL TO MERCED.

I FEEL THAT WE WOULD CONTINUE TO PRESENT THAT OPTIONALITY TO THE LEGISLATURE.

OKAY. SO BASICALLY YOU WOULD MOVE FORWARD AND NOT TAKE OUR INPUT.

I'M JUST SAYING I JUST WANT TO SAY BECAUSE THAT'S WHY I WANT TO BE AT THE TABLE TO AT LEAST HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS.

IF IT'S REFUSED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION, YOU GUYS ARE MOVING FORWARD NO MATTER WHAT. PERFECT.

THAT'S I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC AND THE CONSTITUENCY UNDERSTANDS UNDERSTANDS THAT.

SO THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO BE AT THE TABLE. I DON'T WANT TO BE ON THE MENU. WELL, VERY GOOD AT THIS TIME.

PETER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT PRESENTATION. VERY, VERY WELL DONE.

WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS NOW OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

I KNOW THERE'S FOLKS HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS. YES.

PLEASE STEP FORWARD. BREE, DO YOU WANT TO GO FIRST OR ROBERT, DO YOU WANT TO GO FIRST? LADIES FIRST. BREE, YOU KNOW WHERE THE THING IS? TO MOVE THE MICROPHONE DOWN? WHAT ARE YOU SAYING? I THE MICROPHONE IS A LITTLE HIGH. I SAID THE MICROPHONE IS HIGH.

GOOD MORNING. BREE AND VANDENBERG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MERCED COUNTY FARM BUREAU.

I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT WITH THIS CHANGE. IF THIS WERE TO GO FORWARD, WE'D LIKE TO WORK WITH THE HSRA IN UNDERSTANDING WHO THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT. BECAUSE WE DO HAVE NOW GROWERS IN THAT AREA THAT WERE NOT IMPACTED BEFORE THAT WILL NOW BE IMPACTED BY THIS.

AND I'M SURE THEY WILL BE THRILLED WITH THAT.

SO THANK YOU FOR THIS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE CONVERSATIONS.

THANK YOU. BREE.

CHAIRPERSON. SUPERVISORS, MY NAME IS ROBERT DELANO WITH BILKO.

CONTRACTORS. THIS AREA YOU KNOW, BEFORE THAT I WANT TO SAY THAT I'VE BEEN ATTENDING SEVERAL OF THE HIGH SPEED RAIL MEETINGS IN SACRAMENTO TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF OUR, OUR CITY AND COUNTY.

AND I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

AND I ALSO BELIEVE I SAW COUNCILMAN SHANE SMITH, BOTH OF YOU WENT TO THE MEETINGS AS WELL AND REPRESENTED US VERY, VERY WELL AS AS A COUNTY AND THE CITY OF MERCED COMBINED.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY HOW IMPRESSED I WAS WITH US, WITH YOUR PRESENCE THERE AND THE WORDS THAT YOU GAVE US SOME CONTEXT FOR ME ON THIS, THIS POTENTIAL REALIGNMENT MYSELF BETWEEN MY GROUP'S LAND HOLDINGS AND LANDHOLDERS IN THE AREA THAT I REPRESENT, WE HAVE A CUMULATIVE AMOUNT OF ANNEXATION APPLICATIONS EITHER ALREADY SUBMITTED OR PENDING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF ABOUT 500 ACRES IMMEDIATELY BORDERING THIS PROPOSED AREA THAT HIGH SPEED RAIL IS LOOKING TO MOVE TO.

I'M STILL UNDECIDED ON EXACTLY WHAT THIS WOULD MEAN AND HOW IT'S GOING TO GO DOWN.

I CAME AND SPOKE AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING WITH WHERE HIGH SPEED RAIL PRESENTED LAST NIGHT.

AND KIND OF MY ULTIMATE CULMINATION. THERE WAS THE DEVIL'S IN THE DETAILS, RIGHT.

IF IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS CONCESSION. YES, IT IT FREES UP SOME ISSUES FOR DOWNTOWN, BUT IT ALSO DETRACTS SOME PROS.

THERE'S PROS AND CONS TO TO BOTH SITES. IF IT BECOMES A MATTER OF BEING RESEQUENCED.

I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT HAVING A STATION NOW AS PART OF THE INITIAL OPERATING LEG IS WHAT'S BEST FOR MERCED CITY, COUNTY AND ALL OF OUR SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

SO THAT'S THAT'S MY PERSONAL BELIEF. I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I TOLD THE CITY COUNCIL.

EVERYBODY UP HERE, YOU'RE ALL VERY SHARP ON THIS TOPIC.

I KNOW YOU'RE BEING ADVISED BY STAFF. MANY OF YOU HAVE UP TO A DECADE AND A HALF OF EXPERIENCE TALKING ABOUT THIS.

AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU'RE AT THE TABLE AND HEAR IT.

ONE ADDITIONAL THING. IF YOU WATCHED THE MEETING IN CITY OF MERCED LAST NIGHT IT WAS A VERY,

[01:20:06]

I DON'T KNOW THAT WHETHER OR NOT HIGH SPEED RAIL CAME OUT OF THAT MEETING FEELING GOOD OR NOT, I DID. I THINK THE DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE WASN'T A FORMAL MOTION TO I GUESS I WOULD SAY SUPPORT THE RELOCATION SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS. IT SOUNDED LIKE THE OVERALL TONE AND TENOR FROM EACH OF THE MEMBERS WAS THAT THEY COULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS IF THE RIGHT CONDITIONS WERE MET AS PART OF THE RELOCATION. SO I HOPE HIGH SPEED RAIL HEARD THAT SAME THING AS WELL.

THANK YOU. NO THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT WE DON'T WANT TO GET OUT IN FRONT OF THE CITY OF MERCED. THIS WAS A PROJECT WITHIN THEIR CITY LIMITS.

AND I JUST WANT TO CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION, THOUGH.

AND WE ARE PARTNERS WITH THE CITY ON THIS, SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT THAT THAT THAT'S OUT THERE.

MARK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HELP CLOSE THIS OUT? MR..

MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. JUST A JUST A QUICK RECAP TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M HEARING THAT THE BOARD VERY CLEARLY.

I THINK WHAT I'VE HEARD IS THAT THERE IS THAT THERE IS YOU KNOW, GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE CONCEPT OF A RELOCATION AND HAVING US BE PARTICIPATORY IN THAT DIALOG WITH THE HIGH SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY. AND SO WITH THAT I, I'M HEARING THAT ACCURATELY.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT THERE'S GENERAL SUPPORT FOR US TO ACTUALLY HAVE THAT CONVERSATION TO COLLABORATE WITH WHILE AT THE SAME TIME WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR CITY PARTNERS. AND I WOULD SAY IT'S DEFINITELY A SUPPORT OF THE CONVERSATION, NOT IN REFERENCE OF BECAUSE WE WANT TO KEEP MAKE SURE THE OPTIONS ARE STILL THERE DURING OUR CONVERSATION. SO SUPPORTIVE OF THE IF I'M AGAIN, I WANT TO MAKE SURE AND I WANT TO MAYBE LEAN ON SUPERVISOR PEDROZO A LITTLE BIT AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. THAT'S WHY I'M DOING THIS IS OBVIOUSLY THE THE AUTHORITY HAS SOME INTEREST IN EXPLORING A RELOCATION FROM WHAT IS CURRENTLY IN THE CITY OF MERCED AND DOWNTOWN MERCED TO A SITE IN UNINCORPORATED MERCED COUNTY, OF WHICH THE MERCED COUNTY FOLKS WOULD BE AT THAT POINT, THE LAND USE AUTHORITY. BUT OBVIOUSLY AT THIS, IF I'M HEARING THIS ACCURATELY OBVIOUSLY THERE'S THERE'S SUPPORT FOR US TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE AUTHORITY THAT WOULD MOST LIKELY BE INCLUDED IN THEIR BUSINESS PLAN, WHICH IS GOING TO BE SUBMITTED IN FEBRUARY. AND SO, AGAIN, IT'S IN THAT REGARD THAT YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES, MR. CHAIRMAN, WOULD BE HAVING A SEAT AT THE AT THE TABLE AS REFERENCED SEVERAL TIMES TODAY.

DO I HAVE THAT ACCURATELY? WELL SAID SIR. WAY TO WAY TO PIVOT.

VERY GOOD. THANK YOU SIR. NOW IS THIS THIS ISN'T A VOTE.

THIS IS JUST A RECOMMENDATION AND A DIRECTION.

DIRECTION? THAT IS CORRECT, SIR. THIS IS JUST PROVIDING YOUR TEAM WITH SOME GENERAL GUIDANCE.

AND AS MENTIONED A COUPLE TIMES, OBVIOUSLY, THIS HAS ALSO BEEN INCLUDED IN YOUR LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS.

SO TO KEEP THAT IN PERSPECTIVE SO TO THE EXTENT THAT LETTERS OF SUPPORT IN THIS REGARD TO AGAIN HAVE THAT SEAT AT THE TABLE.

YOUR LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM AUTHORIZES BOTH THE CHAIR AND OR THE CEO, IF NEED BE, TO TO EXECUTE.

THERE'S ONLY ONE THING I'M DISAPPOINTED IN. AND DIANA DIDN'T WEAR HER FINISH THE 99 PEN THAT THAT I'VE GIVEN HER.

SO VERY GOOD. NEXT WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE ITEM 11.

PLEASE NOTE, ITEM 11 IS TO INTRODUCE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 9.16 ENTITLED DUMPING AND LOITERING OF THE MERCED COUNTY CODE AND WAIVE.

FURTHER READING. OKAY. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL HAVE A PRESENTATION ON ITEM 11 REGARDING AN AMENDMENT TO ORDINANCE RELATING TO ILLEGAL DUMPING IN THE COUNTY.

I WILL TURN THIS OVER TO PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR NATHAN BRAY.

YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. AND GOOD MORNING, BOARD CHAIR AND SUPERVISORS.

MY NAME IS NATHAN BRAY, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND ROAD COMMISSIONER FOR MERCED COUNTY.

THE PURPOSE OF THE ITEM BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING IS TO PROPOSE SOME CHANGES TO MERCED COUNTY CODE CHAPTER 9.16 WHILE PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON ILLEGAL DUMPING, I'LL CLARIFY WHAT CONSTITUTES ILLEGAL DUMPING.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE STRATEGIES THE COUNTY IS EMPLOYING TO PREVENT, RESPOND, AND ENFORCE ILLEGAL DUMPING? AND FINALLY, IDENTIFY SOME CHANGES TO THE MERCED COUNTY CODE TO STRENGTHEN PREVENTION AND ENFORCEMENT.

SO WHAT IS ILLEGAL DUMPING? MOST PEOPLE KNOW IT WHEN THEY SEE IT, BUT ILLEGAL DUMPING INCLUDES ANY FORM OF TANGIBLE MATTER, WHETHER SOLID OR SEMI-SOLID, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ALL FORMS OF RUBBISH, JUNK, RECYCLABLE MATERIALS, GREEN WASTE, SOLID WASTE, CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS, MATTRESSES, BEDDING, APPLIANCES, ELECTRONIC WASTE, HAZARDOUS WASTE AND ALL PACKAGING, WRAPPERS AND CARDBOARD THAT ARE DISPOSED OF IN NON-APPROVED RECEPTACLES OR ANY LOCATION OTHER

[01:25:04]

AND ALSO A RESOURCE MANAGEMENT FACILITY IS JUST A FANCY WAY OF SAYING THE 59 AND BILLY WRIGHT LANDFILL AND ANY OTHER LANDFILL OR TRANSFER STATION THAT HAS GONE THROUGH THE NECESSARY PERMITS. BEFORE WE GET INTO THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS PROPOSED FOR CHAPTER 9.16 OF THE MERCED COUNTY CODE, I WANTED TO TOUCH ON THE ACTIVITIES AND STRATEGIES CURRENTLY IN PLACE TO ADDRESS ILLEGAL DUMPING.

FIRST, THE EXISTING COUNTY CODE CONTAINS PROVISIONS THAT ALLOW ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS TO OCCUR IF TWO PIECES OF IDENTIFYING MAIL ARE FOUND WITHIN THE ILLEGAL DUMP. SECOND, MCCAGG, WHO OWNS AND OPERATES THE LANDFILL, HAS PARTNERED WITH THE COUNTY TO OFFSET THE TIPPING FEES FOR CLEANING UP ILLEGAL DUMPS. SO FAR THIS FISCAL YEAR, THE COUNTY HAS TAKEN 170 TONS OF ILLEGAL DUMPING MATERIAL AND THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH MCCAIG, HAS OFFSET $12,100.

THAT COST REPRESENTS ONLY THE TIPPING FEE, OR THE FEE THAT WOULD BE DUE TO THE LANDFILL, AND DOES NOT REPRESENT THE STAFF OR EQUIPMENT COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH CLEANING UP THE ILLEGAL DUMPS. THIRD, THE COUNTY OFFERS 13 COMMUNITY CLEANUPS HELD THROUGHOUT MERCED COUNTY IN THE UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES. THERE IS A MINIMAL FEE FOR EACH VEHICLE, AND FOLKS ARE ABLE TO ATTEND ANY COMMUNITY CLEANUP.

FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU LIVE IN WINTON YOU CAN ATTEND THE CLEANUP IN DELHI IF THAT WORKS FOR YOUR SCHEDULE.

WE DON'T CHECK AND VERIFY THAT YOU'RE WITHIN THAT COMMUNITY. THE SCHEDULE OF CLEANUPS CAN BE FOUND ON THE COUNTY'S WEBSITE UNDER THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT SECTION.

THE NEXT CLEANUP IS SCHEDULED FOR THIS SATURDAY IN STEVENSON FROM 830 TO 130.

AND FOURTH. THE BOARD APPROVED NEW FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS, IN PART DUE TO SB 1383, BUT WE INCLUDED PROVISIONS THAT EACH HAULER SHALL OFFER BULKY ITEM PICKUPS FOR EACH CUSTOMER.

THERE ARE TWO TWO OF THOSE PICKUPS THAT EACH CUSTOMER CAN CALL THEIR HAULERS.

AND THE HAULERS WILL COME TO THEIR HOUSE WHERE THEIR TRASH IS PICKED UP THEREBY ELIMINATING THE NEED FOR FOLKS TO MOVE THOSE BULKY ITEMS. AND THEN LASTLY THE COUNTY USES SEECLICKFIX AS A TWO WAY COMMUNICATION TOOL FOR ILLEGAL DUMPING, AMONG OTHER ISSUES. FOLKS CAN REPORT ILLEGAL DUMPING, WHICH ALLOWS PUBLIC WORKS STAFF TO BECOME AWARE OF THE ISSUES AND RESPOND ACCORDINGLY.

WE CAN'T ADDRESS WHAT WE DON'T KNOW, SO PLEASE REPORT ALL ISSUES INTO SEECLICKFIX.

THE CURRENT PENALTY STRUCTURE IN MERCED COUNTY CODE CHAPTER 9.16 FOR ILLEGAL DUMPING IS $500 PER VIOLATION.

THIS AMOUNT SEEMED WAY TOO LOW THAT IT DOES NOT SERVE AS A DETERRENT.

SO I REACHED OUT TO SOME OF MY COUNTERPARTS THROUGH CEC OR THE COUNTY ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA, AND FOUND THAT OTHER AGENCIES EXPERIENCING SIMILAR ISSUES AS MERCED COUNTY RECENTLY REVISED THEIR PENALTY STRUCTURE, WANTING TO INCORPORATE BEST PRACTICES. DPW AND COUNTY COUNSEL WORKED ON REVISING CHAPTER 9.16.

THE PROPOSED REVISIONS PROVIDE GENERAL LANGUAGE CLEANUP AND REMOVES OUTDATED REFERENCES AND AMBIGUITY.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT INCREASES ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS BY SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASING THE PENALTIES AND CREATES A PATHWAY FOR VEHICLES USED IN ILLEGAL DUMPING TO BE IMPOUNDED. THE PENALTY STRUCTURE IDENTIFIED IN THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT IS $2,500 FOR THE FIRST VIOLATION, 5000 FOR THE SECOND, AND $10,000 FOR THE THIRD VIOLATION.

THE ORDINANCE ALSO INCLUDES LANGUAGE THAT ALLOWS THE COUNTY TO SEEK RESTITUTION FOR CLEANING UP THE DUMPING AS WELL.

I SHOULD NOTE THAT THE PENALTIES ARE STRUCTURED IN SUCH A MANNER TO ACT AS A DETERRENT, RATHER THAN A REVENUE REVENUE GENERATING VENTURE.

HOWEVER, YOUR COUNTY STAFF IS PREPARED TO ENFORCE ON FOLKS THAT ARE IN VIOLATION OF THIS CHAPTER.

AND TO CONCLUDE, THE RECOMMENDATION FOR ACTIONS THIS MORNING ARE ONE INTRODUCE AN ORDINANCE TITLED AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 9.16 IN TITLED DUMPING AND LITTERING OF THE MERCED COUNTY CODE AND WAIVE FUTURE READING AND TWO SET POSSIBLE ADOPTION OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE ON FEBRUARY 3RD, 2026 AT 10 A.M..

SO THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS, AND I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. AND AS A FOOTNOTE,

[01:30:04]

THANK YOU. NATHAN. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS BY BOARD MEMBERS? I'LL GO AHEAD AND I'LL JUST START. AND I APPRECIATE THE THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD STARTING THE VOUCHER PROGRAM WITH MY WITH THE, THE FUNDS THAT WE ARE ALLOTTED FOR EACH DISTRICT.

SO ANYTHING THAT'S BEING DUMPED, IF SOMEBODY WOULD REACH OUT TO ME WITHIN DISTRICT THREE, WE CAN GET A VOUCHER PROGRAM WHERE YOU CAN GO AND DUMP.

AND I JUST WANT TO TOUCH AND I KNOW I BEAT THIS LIKE A DEAD HORSE, BUT WHEN YOU JUST GO ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOU GO TO MARKETPLACE ON FACEBOOK OR, OR YOU LOOK AT THE ADVERTISING FOR PEOPLE TO PICK UP AND HAUL THEY CAN DO IT FOR LESS THAN THE AMOUNT TO DUMP IT IN THE LANDFILL.

AND SO I THINK IF WE GO AFTER GO AFTER THAT, LIKE WHAT BUSINESS LICENSES ARE, WHO ARE OUR HAULERS? AND I KNOW YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT IS THERE A STICKER PROGRAM OR WE CAN PUT A STICKER ON THE TRAILER OR ON A VEHICLE THAT'S HAULING THAT CAN BE IDENTIFIABLE FROM THE ROAD, FROM EITHER CHP OR FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TO KNOW IF THEY ARE LEGALLY HAULING THAT SHOWS THEY'RE PERMITTED TO HAUL.

AND I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT, AND WE'RE THINKING MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO BRING TO MCCAGG FOR FURTHER DISCUSSIONS.

MAYBE SINCE THEY'RE MANAGING THE LANDFILL, THEN MAYBE THAT CAN BE IDENTIFIABLE TRAIT, BUT I WANT TO BE ABLE TO TIE IT IN WITH A POLICY FROM THE COUNTY THAT GIVES THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT OR CHP TEETH TO BE ABLE TO PULL SOMEBODY OVER WITHOUT THAT TAG ON THEIR TRAILER TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT TRASH.

BECAUSE I TELL YOU, I'VE FOLLOWED, I'VE SEEN LARGE FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS HAULING TRASH, AND I FOLLOWED THEM AND THEY GO DOWN A ONE WAY ROAD AND I GO IN THERE JUST TO BE EYES ON THEM. AND I'VE ACTUALLY CALLED THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THEY'VE RESPONDED TO AND THE GUY SAID HE WAS LOST.

HE MADE A WRONG TURN, BUT WE AVOIDED HIM DUMPING IN THAT ON THAT ROAD.

BUT DID WE AVOID HIM FROM DUMPING SOMEWHERE ELSE? PROBABLY NOT. HE JUST WENT TO THE NEXT MILE MARKER AND PROBABLY WENT DOWN ANOTHER ROAD AND DUMPED THAT TRASH, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO PREVENT IT THEN. AND ANOTHER ONE ON MY PROPERTY, I ACTUALLY PULLED IN AND I BLOCKED THE GUY IN AND DIDN'T LET HIM LEAVE.

HE SAYING HE HAD PERMISSION AND ALL THIS AND THEN TRIED TO CLAIM DUMB ABOUT IT, BUT I CALLED THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

THEY ABLE TO RESPOND AND THE GUY NEVER DID DUMP AND HE MOVED ON.

BUT DID HE TAKE IT TO THE DUMP? HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO, BUT BUT WE DON'T KNOW.

BUT I THINK IF THERE'S IDENTIFIABLE PROCESS BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE IF YOU LOOK I MEAN THOSE ARE LARGE FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER DUMPS OUT THERE, AND THAT'S SOMEBODY WHO IS BEING PAID TO TAKE IT TO THE DUMP, WHO DOESN'T FOLLOW THROUGH WITH WHAT HE'S SUPPOSED TO DO.

SO I THINK BUSINESS LICENSING TAG TRAILERS, I THINK THERE'S THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN DO IT.

AND I KNOW THAT BRINGS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS WELL.

TRACKING THE BUSINESS LICENSE, CONTACTING THE PEOPLE ONLINE WHO'S ADVERTISING.

BUT I THINK THERE'S DEFINITELY A BIGGER EFFORT WE CAN DO.

AND THEN NUMBER TWO, I KNOW I'M BUT YOU GUYS WERE SLOW AT THE, AT THE, THE THING HERE AND THEN I LIKE THE GAME CAMERAS BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE PLACES THESE GUYS ARE DUMPING IN THE SAME PLACE ALL THE TIME IS, IS THERE A WAY THAT WE KIND OF IDENTIFIABLE OR.

I KNOW WE HAVE SOME SOME GROWERS HERE, SOME FARMERS HERE WHO ARE HAVING THAT PROBLEM.

CAN THEY PUT UP GAME CAMERAS AND IS THAT CAMERA ENOUGH TO IF WE IDENTIFY A LICENSE PLATE OR FACIAL AND SEE THEM DUMPING ON THEIR PROPERTY, CAN THEY SET UP A GAME CAMERA TO CATCH THESE FOLKS? BECAUSE A LOT OF LIKE I SAID, A LOT OF TIMES IT'S IN THE SAME PLACE ALL THE TIME.

THEY'RE NOT REAL CREATIVE AND GOING TO DIFFERENT PLACES.

SO THAT'S A WHOLE LOT THERE. SORRY. THAT'S OKAY.

JUST SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN ACTIVELY AND I CAN SAY PROBABLY JOSH AND I BEING THE CLOSEST TO THE CITIES.

I MEAN, I KNOW IT GOES ALL OVER THE PLACE, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT COMES RIGHT OUT OF THE CITIES AND DUMPED.

IT'S NOT OUR COUNTRY FOLK DUMPING. SO ANYWAY, SORRY, I WAS GOING TO SAY JUST TO RESPOND TO THOSE COMMENTS.

WE ARE THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS DO INCLUDE SURVEILLANCE TO BE USED AS PROOF THAT DUMPING HAS OCCURRED AND SOMEONE WOULD BE IN VIOLATION. THE CAVEAT IS IT SHALL BE DONE UNDERNEATH A LAWFUL SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM.

AND SO WE'LL BE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY SORRY, THE COUNTY SHERIFF, ON IDENTIFYING WHAT THAT IS.

AND, AND YOU KNOW, WE KNOW WE FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT THE FLOCK SYSTEM CAMERAS, THE KIND OF LIKE A TRAIL GAME CAMERA.

RIGHT? BUT DESIGNED FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF ACQUIRING SOME OF THOSE, AND THEN WE'LL BE DEPLOYING THOSE OUT, AND THEN WE'LL BE COORDINATING ON YOU KNOW, CAN WE USE PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL VIDEO AS PROOF, AS EVIDENCE?

[01:35:02]

ANYWAY. SUPERVISOR. PAREIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

WELL NATHAN, I WANT TO JUST SAY THAT I APPRECIATE ALL THE EFFORT THAT THE TEAM HAS YOU KNOW, PUT INTO THIS ISSUE YOU KNOW, DISTRICT FOUR, IT'S A BIG ISSUE.

I CAN NAME OFF, YOU KNOW, THERE'S PROBABLY FIVE ROADS THAT I DRIVE OUT OF MY DISTRICT THAT I KNOW EVERY TIME I DRIVE DOWN THEM.

IF IT'S BEEN MORE THAN 24 HOURS, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE AN ILLEGAL DUMP ON IT. AND, AND, YOU KNOW, THANKS FOR USING MY PICTURES. A COUPLE OF THEM HERE IN IN YOUR PROGRAM.

AND I'M GLAD YOU DIDN'T GIVE ME CREDIT. THAT'S FINE.

BUT ANYWAYS BUT BUT MORE SERIOUSLY IS YOU KNOW, JUST, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, HOW CONFIDENT THAT YOU FEEL. OR DO YOU BELIEVE THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING WILL ALLOW US TO ACTUALLY FIND SOMEBODY AND AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN IN HABITS? I, I BELIEVE THAT THE ORDINANCE THAT IS PRESENTED ALONG WITH THE FLOCK SYSTEM AND SURVEILLANCE TOOLS, THAT IF SOMEONE IS FOUND DUMPING THAT WE WILL HAVE THE TOOLS AND MECHANISMS TO FIND THEM APPROPRIATELY.

I HOPE THAT THE INCREASED PENALTIES WILL KEEP A MAJORITY OF THE FOLKS FROM DUMPING IN THE FIRST PLACE BECAUSE A $500 PENALTY VERSUS A $2,500 PENALTY. THAT'S A THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE, RIGHT? AND SO I HOPE THAT IT DOES ACT AS A DETERRENT.

AND IF IT DOESN'T AND IF WE CATCH THEM, I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO FIND THEM APPROPRIATELY.

ULTIMATELY THIS COMES DOWN TO HUMAN BEHAVIOR, RIGHT? IF SOMEONE'S WILLING TO TAKE THEIR TRASH OR TAKE SOMEONE ELSE'S TRASH AND DUMP IT ON SOMEONE ELSE'S PROPERTY OR IN THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I DON'T KNOW. I, I PERSONALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT HELPS SOMEONE GET TO THAT PLACE TO WHERE THEY FEEL THAT.

THAT'S OKAY. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WOULD HELP PREVENT THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE WILLING TO ENGAGE IN THAT BEHAVIOR, BUT MAYBE AFTER A PENALTY OR 2 TO 1 PERSON OR ANOTHER PERSON, WE'RE ABLE TO ADVERTISE THAT, YES, WE DID INCREASE OUR FEES. AND YES, WE ARE ACTIVELY FINDING PEOPLE.

HOPEFULLY THAT HELPS CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOR. RIGHT.

USUALLY FOLKS CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOR BASED UPON WHEN IT HITS THEIR POCKETBOOK.

YEAH. YEAH. AND IT'S IT'S REALLY, YOU KNOW, DIFFICULT TO CATCH THEM IN PERSON IN THE ACT.

RIGHT. MY WIFE AND I WERE GOING TO DINNER. OH, THAT WAS PROBABLY THE MIDDLE OF DECEMBER.

AND SO WE WERE DRIVING DOWN TURLOCK ROAD AND THERE WAS A GUY WITH A RED PICKUP MUDFLAPS A FORD RANGER.

GOT HIS LICENSE PLATE. HE WAS LITERALLY STANDING IN THE BACK OF HIS PICKUP GETTING READY TO THROW THE FIRST BAG OUT.

RIGHT. AND SO I PULLED UP AND SAID, HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? YOU KNOW, AND AND HE ACTED, YOU KNOW, JUST IGNORED ME, RIGHT? SO THEN HE STARTED DRIVING AND HE DROVE SLOW, HOPING I WOULD PROBABLY PASS HIM.

BUT I'M ON 911 WITH THE SHERIFF'S DISPATCH, AND I TRACKED THEM AS FAR AS I COULD.

YOU KNOW, AND OF COURSE, DEPUTY HOPEFULLY WAS GOING TO CATCH UP TO HIM, BUT HE ACTUALLY HADN'T THROWN THE TRASH OUT.

SO HOPEFULLY WE JUST SCARED HIM ENOUGH TO TO CHANGE THE BEHAVIOR.

YOU KNOW, THE, YOU KNOW, THE TRAIL CAMS OR THE OR THE SPY CAMS. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I GUESS YOU KNOW, I DON'T LIKE BIG BROTHER ANYMORE THAN THE NEXT GUY.

HOWEVER, IF IT'S ON PUBLIC PROPERTY AND AND AND IT'S A SPACE HOPEFULLY.

WALNUT FISHER AND AND TURLOCK ROAD OR SOME OF THE ONES ON THE LIST OF YOUR SITES.

YOU KNOW, AND AND DARREN, I YOU KNOW, I MEAN, YOU MADE A COMMENT AND I JUST WANT TO. YEAH. AND I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, BUT I WANT TO ENHANCE IT THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU AND JOSH ARE NEAR THE CITIES AND IT COMES OUT OF THE CITIES, BUT IT ALSO COMES OUT OF THE TOWNS, RIGHT? I YOU KNOW, I HAD A GUY TELL ME THAT HE KNOWS IF IT'S ON WALNUT BETWEEN WINTON AND LIVINGSTON, IF IT'S ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT WAS TRASH THAT CAME OUT OF WINTON BECAUSE THEY DRIVE OUT, THEY DUMP IT AND THEY TAKE OFF. IF IT'S ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE ROAD, IT'S FROM LIVINGSTON.

AND, YOU KNOW, THEY DRIVE OUT, THEY PULL OVER, THEY DUMP IT AND THEY DRIVE OFF.

SO ANYWAYS BUT IT'S IT'S RURAL, YOU KNOW. AND THEN AND THEN THIS ORDINANCE ONLY APPLIES TO PUBLIC PROPERTY OR CAN IT APPLY TO PRIVATE PROPERTY THAT SOMEBODY DUMPS ON AS WELL? IT DOES. IT APPLIES TO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROPERTY AND OUR STREAMS AND CREEK WAYS AS WELL.

YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. SUPERVISOR PACHECO.

THANK YOU. CHAIR. YEAH. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS.

I MEAN, NOT ONLY DO I HAVE CONSTITUENTS THAT HAVE BEEN THE VICTIM OF ILLEGAL, BUT I MYSELF HAS HAS HAD THAT.

AND IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING. AND USUALLY I'LL GO PICK IT UP MYSELF.

BUT I DO THINK THIS IS A GOOD FIRST STEP. YOU GOT TO MAKE IT HURT.

AND I THINK AGAIN, WITH LIKE WITH SUPERVISOR PAREIRA SAYS, WE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT.

YOU KNOW, AS SOON AS THE FIRST 2 OR 3 ARE CAUGHT, WE GOT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW THESE PEOPLE HAD TO PAY THIS FINE OR THEY GOT THIS CAR

[01:40:04]

BUT I DO APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK ON THAT AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN BE JUST AS SUCCESSFUL.

WE HAVE BEEN WITH OUR ILLEGAL VENDORS AND START TAKING CARE OF THAT PROBLEM HERE IN MERCED.

SO THANKS. YOU GOT IT. I KNOW THE FIRST TIME WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THAT, I SUBMITTED THE PICTURES THAT SAID THE PEOPLE PICKING UP WILL MAKE THE ONES WE CATCH PICK UP THE TRASH, AND IN DOING SO, THEY HAVE TO WEAR THESE BRIGHT FLUORESCENT JUMPSUITS THAT SAYS, I AM PICKING UP THE TRASH BECAUSE I GOT CAUGHT DUMPING TRASH ON THE BACK SO EVERYBODY COULD SEE.

TRYING TO SHAME THEM. BUT ANYWAY. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SO I JUST HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION.

SO I KNOW THAT SUPERVISOR OR CHAIRMAN MCDANIEL MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, GOING AFTER SOME OF THESE ILLEGAL COMPANIES, THE COMPANIES THAT ARE GOING AROUND AND PICKING THIS STUFF UP. SO ARE WE ONLY FINDING THE THE PERSON DUMPING AND NOT THE PERSON THAT PAID THEM? WE WOULD FIND IF SO, IF CAUGHT, WE WOULD FIND THE PERSON DUMPING IF WE DO NOT HAVE SURVEILLANCE OR WE'RE NOT ABLE TO CATCH THE PERSON DUMPING, BUT WE HAVE MAIL THAT IDENTIFIES AND WE CAN TIE IT BACK TO THE OWNER, THEN WE WOULD GO AFTER THE OWNER AT THAT POINT.

OKAY. I DON'T, YOU KNOW, WE CAN HAVE A FURTHER DISCUSSION TO IF WE KEEP GETTING THE SAME PERSON THAT'S HIRING DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

MAYBE THAT'S A SEPARATE DISCUSSION THAT WE BRING BACK UPON THE BOARD. BUT RIGHT NOW, IT THE THE PATHWAYS ARE OPEN FOR EITHER.

JUST DEPENDS ON WHO WE CATCH. OKAY. NO, I THINK THIS IS THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR.

FOR. I THINK WE ALL HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR FOR A WHILE AND TO GET IT RIGHT, IT'S TAKING SOME TIME.

AND I APPRECIATE APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE I SAW I KNOW IN SANTA CRUZ, IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY DID WITH THE HIGHER FINES AND STUFF.

AND I THINK WHEREAS IT'LL DETER IT A LITTLE BIT.

BUT LIKE, LIKE BOTH OF MY COLLEAGUES SAID, YOU HAVE TO REALLY PUT IT OUT THERE AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY GOT CAUGHT.

AND THEN YOU KNOW, THE OTHER THING TOO, IS I THINK IT'S REALLY AND THIS IS HASN'T BEEN DISCUSSED IN QUITE SOME TIME.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE ADOPT A ROAD PROGRAM THAT WE DID LAST YEAR AND THERE'S I THINK THERE'S ONLY ONE, BUT IT'S IT'S GOTTEN TO BE PRETTY TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S LIKE YOU DRIVE DOWN AND IT'S THERE'S NOT MUCH ON CAMPUS PARKWAY BECAUSE THEY TAKE CARE.

THEY REALLY TAKE CARE OF IT, THEIR NAMES ON IT.

AND I THINK THAT IT'S IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE TAKING OWNERSHIP OF THEIR OF THEIR COMMUNITY.

AND I'M NOT SAYING THEY SHOULD JUST GO DUMP WHEREVER. I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT AT ALL. I THINK THIS IS A TERRIBLE THING, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE DOING IT IN, IN ORCHARDS OR THEY'RE DOING IT JUST, YOU KNOW, ON CANAL BANKS, I THINK IT'S IT'S IT'S REALLY BAD AND IT'S, IT'S HONESTLY, IT'S IT'S IT'S SHAMEFUL. LIKE, PEOPLE HAVE NO SENSE OF PRIDE IF THEY'RE JUST GOING TO THROW THEIR GARBAGE ANYWHERE IN MERCED COUNTY. THERE'S A REASON WHY WE HAVE LANDFILLS.

THERE'S A REASON WHY WE HAVE. I KNOW IN THE CITY OF MERCED, THE CITY HAS THE BULKY ITEM DROP OFF.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I UTILIZE QUITE A BIT BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT THERE.

IT'S FREE. IT'S PART OF THE CITY, BILL. AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.

BUT AGAIN, I AGREE WITH WHAT IT'S IT'S COMING FROM THE CITIES, BUT IT'S ALSO COMING FROM THE TOWNS.

I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S EVERYWHERE. AND THEY'RE DOING IT BECAUSE MERCED COUNTY IS VERY BIG.

AND SO THEY CAN FIND THEY THINK THEY CAN FIND THESE SPOTS.

AND I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S IT'S BAD. BUT I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS THAT WE'RE PUTTING ON TO THIS.

AND I THINK THAT THE ONLY WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO REALLY HAMMER THEM IS WITH THOSE TYPES OF CAMERAS AND STUFF.

AND I THINK, IT'S AMAZING WHAT WE COULD DO WITH WITH SOME OF THAT TECHNOLOGY THAT'S OUT THERE.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YEAH. I MEAN, I JUST THINK OF SANTA FE GRADE IN LOS BANOS AND IT IS IT'S IT'S TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S DANGEROUS BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING, YOU KNOW, DOWN THIS GRAVEL ROAD AND THEY'RE JUST DUMPING IT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.

AND INSTEAD OF DUMPING IT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THEY'RE LITERALLY DUMPING IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. NOW SOMEBODY COMING THROUGH THERE AT NIGHT OR WHATEVER, AND THEY HIT IT. AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S ONE THING IF YOU CAN FIND TWO PIECES OF IDENTIFYING INFORMATION WITHIN LIKE BAGGAGE, GARBAGE. I CAN'T EVEN TALK BAGS OF GARBAGE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES IS APPLIANCES AND COUCHES AND, AND, YOU KNOW, AND THOSE ARE THE BIG ITEMS AND, AND ALL THIS STUFF HAS SERIAL NUMBERS ON IT, RIGHT? AND IT'S LIKE, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW AS PART OF THE ENFORCEMENT PIECE OF IT.

CAN WE SCAN A SERIAL NUMBER AND DOES IT DOES IT REGISTER BACK TO SOMEONE? I DON'T KNOW THAT I KNOW. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU BUY A NEW PIECE OF FURNITURE OR A NEW WASHER OR DRYER, YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. AND IT'LL, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO GIVE THEM THE SERIAL NUMBER ON THAT, ON THAT APPLIANCE OR WHATEVER IT IS, BECAUSE I AGREE, I HATE THAT IT HAS TO BE THIS WAY.

BUT OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN SEE THAT. I MEAN, I WAS A BIG PART OF WHEN THEY WERE DUMPING IN ORCHARDS TO GET US TO WHERE THE WHOLE WHEN WE CHANGED THE ORDINANCE TO LOOK FOR THE TWO PIECES OF IDENTIFYING INFORMATION AND WE SET THE FINES AND IT'S ONLY GOTTEN WORSE, RIGHT?

[01:45:02]

I'D BE CURIOUS TO KNOW, SINCE WE CHANGED THE ORDINANCE TO FIND TWO PIECES OF IDENTIFYING INFORMATION, HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE WE ACTUALLY PROSECUTED? HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE ACTUALLY GOTTEN A FINE? AND IT'S SO IT'S WE CAN KEEP RAISING IT'S IT'S A BITTERSWEET FOR ME, RIGHT? I THINK THAT WE NEED TO DO IT. BUT I'M ALSO THINKING, HERE WE ARE, WE'RE GOING TO PASS ANOTHER ORDINANCE THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO ENFORCE. AND THAT IS NOT JUST ON DPW. IT'S COUNTYWIDE. AND, YOU KNOW, SHERIFF'S RESOURCES ARE STRETCHED THIN.

AND IS THAT THE MOST BEST AND WISE USE OF THEIR TIME? WELL, WE PROBABLY WANT TO OUT CHASING THE BAD GUYS, BUT AT SOME POINT WE GOT TO AS A BOARD IF WE'RE TRULY SERIOUS ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S BECOME A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE. RIGHT? YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR PROPERTY, TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR HOMES, KEEP THEIR GRASS MOWED, KEEP THEIR PLACES NICE, AND THEN IT TAKES SOME JACK WAGON TO COME BY AND DUMP A BUNCH OF GARBAGE OUT THERE.

RIGHT. AND SO IT BECOMES A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE.

AND SO AS A BOARD TO ME, WE ALSO GOT TO BE WILLING TO SAY, ARE WE WILLING TO PUT SOME RESOURCES BEHIND THE ENFORCEMENT PIECE? RIGHT. THIS ISN'T IT ISN'T SOMETHING THAT WE'RE SETTING BECAUSE WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO MAKE ALL KINDS OF MONEY. WE'RE TRYING TO RAISE REVENUE BY BY FINDING PEOPLE.

BULL. BUT UNTIL WE ACTUALLY PUT SOME MONEY TOWARD THE ENFORCEMENT PIECE, WE'RE GOING TO BE BACK HERE IN A FEW YEARS, AND WE'RE GOING TO RAISE THE FINE TO 5000, 10,000, 15,000 WITH LITTLE TO NO RESULTS.

RIGHT. I DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING AND LOOKING INTO THIS, BUT WE GOT TO WE ACTUALLY GOT TO CATCH SOME PEOPLE, I THINK THE GAME CAMERAS.

I MEAN, LOOK AT SOUTH DOS PALOS AT THE PARK THERE.

WE CAN SEND THE GUYS OUT THERE AND CLEAN IT UP AND LET THE WEEKEND HAPPEN.

AND IF IT WAS ANYTHING DECENT, YOU COULD GO FURNISH A WHOLE HOUSE WITH WHAT THEY DUMP OUT THERE.

RIGHT. AND SO THAT'S A PERFECT LOCATION FOR FOR ONE OF THOSE CAMERAS.

RIGHT. IS AND THE TECHNOLOGY NOW THE CAMERAS ARE SO MUCH BETTER.

I MEAN, THESE CAMERAS, YOU COULD YOU COULD TELL HOW MANY TEETH A LION OR NOT OR A GOSH, WHAT ARE THEY ANYWAY? BOBCAT OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT THESE GUYS SEE ON THEIR CAMERAS? I MEAN, THAT'S HOW HOW MUCH BETTER THE TECHNOLOGY HAS GOT.

WE GOT TO BE ABLE TO SEE A LICENSE PLATE AND WE GOT TO ACTUALLY PROSECUTE SOMEBODY. I KNOW IT'S NOT A SEXY CRIME.

IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT TAKING A MURDERER OFF THE STREET OR WHATEVER, BUT ASK THE PEOPLE THAT GET THE STUFF DUMPED IN THEIR ORCHARDS, GET DUMPED IN THEIR YARDS, GET DUMPED ON THEIR PROPERTY, HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT IT.

AND SO THAT'S MY MY REQUEST TO THE BOARD. I KNOW THAT WE'RE DECIDING ON ON CHANGING THE FEE STRUCTURE TODAY, BUT ALSO IS, IS ARE WE GOING TO ALLOCATE SOME RESOURCES TO HELP WITH THE ENFORCEMENT PIECE.

YOU KNOW, THESE GUYS THESE DETECTIVES ARE REALLY GREAT.

THEY YOU KNOW, WHEN AUTO THEFTS GO UP, WE PUT THE TASK FORCE TOGETHER.

BAM. AND THEY CAN REALLY HIT AREAS HARD AND REDUCE THAT FROM HAPPENING.

WELL, WHY CAN'T WE DO THAT WITH ILLEGAL DUMPING? WE KNOW WHERE THE AREAS ARE. NATHAN, YOU KNOW BETTER THAN ANYBODY.

JUST GO LOOK AT YOUR PICTURES. GO LOOK AT SEECLICKFIX.

WHERE IS THE SANTA FE GRADE WOULD BE A PERFECT ONE WHERE YOU SET SOMETHING UP OUT THERE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO CALL A STING OPERATION OR WHATEVER, AND WE NEED TO ACTUALLY CATCH SOME PEOPLE, FIND OUT WHO THE BAD ACTORS ARE.

AND THEN AGAIN HIGHLIGHT IT. I DON'T WANT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO GET THEIR FEELINGS HURT.

BUT ULTIMATELY YOU'RE BREAKING THE LAW AND YOU'RE MAKING OUR COMMUNITY LOOK LIKE CRAP.

AND AT SOME. AND EVERYBODY'S GETTING FRUSTRATED WITH IT, RIGHT? IT'S LIKE, WHAT'S YOUR CHIEF COMPLAINT AS A COUNTY SUPERVISOR OTHER THAN SUPERVISOR PEDROZO, WHO HAS A LOT OF MERCED IN HIS DISTRICT, IS POTHOLES AND ILLEGAL DUMPING? I GET CALLS ON THOSE ON THE REGULAR. IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, ASK DAVE BRETT.

RIGHT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHO I CALL HIS DAVE AND SAY DAVE.

HEY, THEY GOT THERE'S A BIG SOMETHING HERE. AND THEN THE OTHER PIECE TOO IS THEY'RE GETTING SMART ENOUGH THAT THEY DON'T DUMP IT IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.

THEY JUST DUMP IT IN THE DRIVEWAY. SO NOW IT'S NOT IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY. IT'S ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. SO WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HELP TO GIVE THOSE FOLKS SOME SOME ATTENTION TOO. SO AGAIN, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. I THINK IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I JUST DON'T THINK IT GOES FAR ENOUGH. AND WE NEED TO SERIOUSLY COMMIT.

ARE WE GOING TO ALLOCATE SOME RESOURCES TO THE ENFORCEMENT PIECE JUST LIKE WE'RE GOING OUT AND WE ARE HITTING THE ILLEGAL FOOD VENDORS, RIGHT. WE'RE SETTING UP. WE'RE GOING TO GO OUT 40 TIMES A YEAR OR WHATEVER. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED TO GO THAT, BUT WE KNOW WHERE THE BAD AREAS ARE. LET'S LET'S WORK WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, WHETHER IT'S CODE ENFORCEMENT, SHERIFF'S DPW, AND LET'S FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY FIND SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING IT. BECAUSE WHAT WE'VE SET IN PLACE SO FAR HASN'T WORKED.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA I'M STILL STUCK ON THE TERM JACK WAGON.

IT'S NOT A NICE PERSON. OKAY. CEO HENDRICKSON.

MR. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. MAYBE JUST A LITTLE ADDITIONAL COMMENT OR TWO.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THIS IN THIS COUNTY WHO CLEARLY DO IT. RIGHT. WE HAVE ONE IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY, MISS KNIGHT, WHO WHO RUNS A BUSINESS AND GETS THINGS TO

[01:50:02]

ONE THING I THINK WE CAN DO, AND I DO WANT TO.

CHAIRMAN MCDANIEL MADE A REALLY GOOD POINT EARLIER ABOUT SURVEILLING THOSE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

NOW, I DO KNOW THAT DIRECTOR MIMS HAS WORKED, HAS BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH WITH DIRECTOR BRAY ON DOING THAT.

AND PERHAPS AS A PART OF THIS, SHOULD THE BOARD BE SO INCLINED TO, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, WITH THIS ORDINANCE, AS WE IDENTIFY THOSE FOLKS, WE COULD CERTAINLY LEVERAGE SOCIAL MEDIA TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL PENALTIES TO COME, SHOULD THEY BE DOING THIS? SO THAT'S JUST THAT'S ONE THOUGHT. JUST AS A AS AN ADDITIONAL STEP THAT WE CAN UNDERTAKE.

SO, MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT'S ALL I GOT. PERFECT. THANK YOU.

AT THIS TIME, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.

I SAW FOLKS WHO CAME HERE TO SPEAK ON IT.

GOOD MORNING, BOARD CHAIRMAN MCDANIEL. AND GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS LOUIS BANDONI. I THINK MOST OF YOU KNOW ME, BUT AND I'VE BEEN A FARMER IN MERCED COUNTY MY ENTIRE LIFE.

BORN IN 53. STILL LIVING IN THE HOUSE I WAS BORN IN.

BUT I DON'T THINK YOU GUYS REALIZE HOW BAD THIS PROBLEM IS.

I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH IT MY ENTIRE LIFE. MY WHOLE FARMING CAREER.

IT'S. WE HAVE VARIOUS LOCATIONS, AND EVERY WEEK SOMEWHERE THIS MORNING, I EVEN HAVE PICTURES IN MY CELL PHONE. I CAN SHOW YOU SO MANY DUMB PICTURES OF ILLEGAL DUMPS AND WHAT THEY DO SINCE WE HAVE ORCHARDS, THEY WE'RE A PRIME, A REALLY PRIME AREA TO GET DUMPED ON BECAUSE THEY LIKE DRIVING INTO THE ORCHARD.

THEY'RE HIDDEN. THEY USUALLY DRIVE IN AN AREA WHERE THERE'S NO HOMES AND THEY JUST DUMP.

AND I GOT SO FRUSTRATED WITH THIS BECAUSE I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH WITH IT FOR DECADES, AND IT'S ONLY GETTING WORSE EVERY TIME I CALL THE SHERIFF OR CALL COUNTY OFFICIALS TO COME OUT.

IT JUST NEVER WORKS. NOTHING. THERE'S NO TEETH INTO THE LAW.

AND I GOT SO FRUSTRATED A FEW MONTHS AGO WITH.

I CALLED BREE. BECAUSE I WAS ON THE FARM BUREAU BOARD FOREVER, AND AND I WANTED TO MEET WITH SOMEBODY.

SO WE MET WITH CHRIS ROCK ON THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, AND WE DISCUSSED IT ALL, AND HE GAVE ME SOME GOOD INSIGHTS, BUT THERE'S NO SOLUTION. THERE'S STILL NO SOLUTION.

WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THIS NEW ORDINANCE, I SAID, WELL, THIS MAY BE THE SOLUTION, BUT THE PROBLEM IS AND THIS IS THE PROBLEM IS PEOPLE AREN'T GETTING FINED. AND I'VE ASKED MULTIPLE TIMES, I GO, GIVE ME A LET ME KNOW WHO'S BEING FINED ON ON DOING THIS, ON OUR ON OUR PROPERTY. YOU DON'T KNOW HOW FRUSTRATING IT IS TO GET A GUNK ON YOUR PROPERTY.

SOMETIMES YOU GET A LIQUID SUBSTANCE. YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT IS, AND YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT MESS.

YOU KNOW, AND WE'RE WE'RE PRODUCING FOOD. AND SO WE HAVE THIS MESS ON OUR PROPERTY, AND I DON'T EVEN WANT TO GET INTO THAT.

BUT, I MEAN, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH CONSTANTLY AND IT'S AN ABSOLUTE DISASTER.

AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW BAD THIS PROBLEM IS BECAUSE IT HASN'T JUST STARTED.

IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR DECADES. SO YES, IT CAMERAS ARE FINE.

THERE'S ALWAYS AN EXCUSE FOR WHY YOU CAN'T CATCH THESE PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN YOU CAN HAVE A CAMERA. THEY'LL SAY, WELL, THAT'S NOT ME, OR IT'S TOO DARK OR THIS OR THAT, OR YOU FIND LETTERS. WELL, THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH, BECAUSE IF YOU FIND A LETTER OR TWO IN THE DEAL, WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY'LL GO TO THE PERSON WHO WHO THAT LETTER CAME FROM.

AND THE PERSON WILL SAY, I'VE DEALT WITH THIS.

THEY'LL SAY, WELL, I TOLD THEM TO GO DUMP IT TO THE DUMP, AND THEY DUMPED IT ON OUR PROPERTY.

SO IT'S NOT MY FAULT. DO YOU SEE THERE'S SO MANY LOOPHOLES IN THIS? BUT UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY FIND SOMEBODY, I MEAN, A SERIOUS A $2,500 FINE IS A SERIOUS FINE.

IT WILL NOT TAKE LONG FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT IF PEOPLE START GETTING FINED, IT WILL STOP.

I GUARANTEE IT WILL STOP BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO BE FINED $2,500 OR 5000 OR SOMETHING.

BUT THE PROBLEM IS THEY GOT TO GET FINED. YES.

AND THAT'S NOT HAPPENING. I'D LIKE TO KNOW ANYBODY WHO'S BEEN.

YOUR TIME IS UP. BUT YEAH, SO. BUT NO, I APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT.

I KNOW, AND YOU CAN CALL ME AND TALK TO ME ABOUT IT.

AND AND I WILL SAY SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD.

WE'RE ON YOUR SIDE AND. YEAH. YEAH. AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE WANTING TO TRY TO SOLVE THIS AS WELL.

BUT NO, THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD AND AND THANK YOU.

[01:55:01]

GOOD MORNING OR GOOD AFTERNOON AT THIS POINT.

BRIANNE VANDENBERG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MERCED COUNTY FARM BUREAU. I HAVEN'T HAD MUCH TIME TO REACH OUT TO OUR MEMBERSHIP TO OR AG COMMUNITY TO ASK THEM THEIR OPINIONS. AND WE'LL BE DOING THAT BEFORE YOUR FEBRUARY 3RD MEETING.

HOWEVER, I CAN SAY THOSE THAT I HAVE REACHED OUT TO THUS FAR SAYS, SAY THAT THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I WOULD ECHO SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA COMMENTS, SO THANK YOU FOR THOSE.

IT DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH. WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT GO FARTHER IN THE WAYS THAT HE MENTIONED.

BUT AS WE MENTIONED AND AS SUPERVISOR MENTIONED, THAT WE DO WANT TO SEE PEOPLE FIND ENSURE THAT'S HAPPENING BECAUSE THAT CAN BE IF YOU IF YOU JUST PUT THIS OUT THERE WITHOUT TAKING THOSE ACTIONS, THEN WHAT DOES IT SOLVE? I DO WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR BRAY FOR EXTENDING THIS ALSO INTO PRIVATE PROPERTY, AS WELL FOR THE FINES, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WILL BE HELPFUL TO SEE. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS CONTINUED CONVERSATION AND ADOPTION ON FEBRUARY 3RD.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. BOARD. JUST TO ECHO WHAT WE'VE BEEN SAYING, PRETTY MUCH THAT IT'S A IT'S A I USED TO BE ONE OF THOSE THAT IN MY EARLY ENTREPRENEUR DAYS, WHO HAD BOUGHT A DUMB TRAILER AND WANTED TO DO THIS FACEBOOK THING AND THROW PEOPLE'S TRASH AWAY.

AND I REALIZED THAT THE LOS BANOS LANDFILL AND BILLY RIGHT FIELD IS ACTUALLY PRETTY CHEAP.

ANOTHER ISSUE I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE MISSING IS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS WHO LEAVE FROM THE WEST SIDE OF MERCED COUNTY TO THE BAY AREA, AND THEY TAKE THEIR DUMP TRAILER OR WHATEVER IT IS.

THEY DO THEIR WORK OVER THERE AND THEY COME BACK WITH THAT TRASH. BECAUSE IF YOU TRY TO DUMP IN MORGAN HILL, FROM WHAT I LEARNED FROM MY EXPERIENCE, ONE FULL SIX BY 12 TRAILER ENTIRE WEIGHT WAS AROUND 10,000 POUNDS.

I PAID AROUND $500 FOR THAT. I LOST WHATEVER PROFIT I THOUGHT I MADE, INSTEAD OF JUST GOING BACK TO LOS BANOS AND PAYING $50 FOR WHAT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN.

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD BRING THEIR TRASH BACK IN FROM THE BAY AREA AND DUMP IT OVER HERE, IS WHAT I'M SAYING. ANOTHER THING IS SOUTH OF OLD ROAD.

IF YOU'RE FISHING, YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF TRUCKS COME IN AND WANT TO DUMP.

AND WHERE THE OLD GOLF COURSE USED TO WHAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE BUILT.

AND ALSO, IF YOU GO DOWN A LITTLE MORE, THE DELTA, YOU'LL SEE A HOUSE THAT'S ABANDONED, THAT'S FILLED WITH TRASH AS WELL AS SOUTH PALOS.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW HOW IT IS OUT THERE. IT'S IT LOOKS LIKE A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY OUT THERE WITH ALL THE STREETS FILLED WITH A BUNCH OF TRASH.

AGAIN, TACO, YOU COULD FILL A FURNITURE HOUSE WITH ALL THE EVERYTHING YOU FIND OVER THERE.

BUT, YEAH, THAT'S ANOTHER THOUGHT I WANTED TO BRING UP IS THAT A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS WHO GO TO THE BAY AREA. DO COME BACK WITH A LOT OF TRASH WHERE THEY DUMP IT.

I DON'T KNOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

AFTERNOON. I'M SURE. CAN YOU RESET THE TIME ON THE CLOCK, PLEASE? YES. YOU HAVE THE FULL THREE MINUTES, SIR. AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.

I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MYSELF FIRST. MY NAME IS PAUL, A LIFETIME RESIDENT OF MERCED COUNTY, UC MERCED ALUM AND COUNCILMEMBER IN THE CITY OF LIVINGSTON.

WAS LISTENING TO THIS ITEM ON THE DRIVE OVER HERE.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT THERE IS A STRONGER ENFORCEMENT COMING ON THIS.

AND ONE THING I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IN THE CITY OF LIVINGSTON, WE DO HAVE BULKY ITEM PICKUP THROUGH THE CONTRACT WITH GILTON THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO. UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVEN'T DONE A GOOD ENOUGH JOB EDUCATING THEM ON THAT.

AND WE STILL GET A LOT OF DUMPS RIGHT OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS AND SO ON OUR SIDE.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE WILL BE MORE WORK DONE ON THE EDUCATION PIECE TO AVOID THOSE DUMPS RIGHT OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS.

I HAVE SOMETHING PLANNED FOR THAT IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND HOLD ME TO THAT.

IF YOU DON'T SEE SOMETHING ON SOCIAL MEDIA, IF IT DOESN'T COME.

ONE MORE THING I'D LIKE TO ADD. THERE WAS MENTIONED IN YOUR CONVERSATION ABOUT SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN CONSIDERING THE USE OF SURVEILLANCE.

I BELIEVE THESE ARE THE LICENSE PLATE READERS.

I KNOW WE USE THEM IN THE CITY OF LIVINGSTON.

THEY'RE USED ALL OVER THE STATE AND ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

AND THE REASON WHY I SAY THAT, SIMILAR TO SUPERVISOR PAREIRA COMMENTS ABOUT BIG BROTHER.

I THINK WE'VE GONE TOO FAR WHEN IT COMES TO SURVEILLANCE IN THE COUNTRY.

WHETHER THAT'S AT A PUBLIC, INSTITUTIONAL LEVEL OR AT A PRIVATE LEVEL.

AND WE'VE BECOME VERY COMFORTABLE RECORDING, KEEPING THE CAMERAS ON, WAITING TO CATCH SOMEBODY.

NOW, I KNOW THIS IS A VERY SPECIFIC NICHE AREA THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS AT THE FARMS.

[02:00:03]

IT IS STORED WITH THE COMPANY AS WELL. AND I CAN POINT YOU TO SOME INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM WHERE WE'VE SEEN EXTREME CASES OF ABUSE OF FOOTAGE, NOT JUST BY THE COMPANY, BUT BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS.

SO DEFINITELY CONSIDER THAT WHEN THINKING ABOUT PUTTING THESE CAMERAS IN PLACE, I WOULD BE FAR MORE IN FAVOR IF IT WOULD WORK TO USING THOSE SAME RESOURCES TO SUBSIDIZE CAMERAS FOR PRIVATE OWNERS AT THE HOT SPOTS THAT YOU KNOW WHERE THINGS ARE BEING DUMPED.

I KNOW WE GOT TO GET TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN IDENTIFY VEHICLES AND POTENTIALLY INDIVIDUALS TO HAVE PROPER ENFORCEMENT.

BUT I WOULD BE MUCH MORE IN FAVOR OF, IN PRIVATE CAMERAS CATCHING FOLKS RATHER THAN CAMERAS AT A PUBLIC, INSTITUTIONAL LEVEL. SO SOMETHING TO CONSIDER ON YOUR END.

AND AGAIN, WE'LL BE WORKING TO PROVIDE A MORE EDUCATION TO OUR RESIDENTS SO THAT THEY'RE AWARE THEY'RE ALREADY PAYING FOR A BULKY ITEM PICKUP.

AND TO AVOID THESE DUMPS RIGHT OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS.

THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME? IF NOT, I WILL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS AND SUPERVISOR PAREIRA YOU HAD COMMENTS? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SO I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS A FOREST QUESTION OR A NATHAN QUESTION OR OR OR WHO OR IT MAY BE COME BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING.

BUT IN, IN THE ORDINANCE UNDER 9.16.030 ITEM A SAYS, YOU KNOW, IS AND I WON'T READ IT, BUT IT SAYS THE FAILURE TO PROVIDE OR ARRANGE LAWFUL COLLECTION, PROCESSING OR DISPOSAL WHICH A PERSON OWNS, OCCUPIES OR CONTROLS THE I MEAN, I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS, IS THE WAY THE ORDINANCE READS IS THAT THE PERSON OWNS THE TRASH NO MATTER WHO'S HAULING IT, UNTIL IT GETS DUMPED.

RIGHT AT A, AT A, AT A, AN AUTHORIZED SITE. AND SO IS THAT HOW EVERYBODY READS THIS? THAT IF IF I, IF WE FIND SOMEBODY WHO'S GOT ITEMS AND IT'S IDENTIFIABLE TO A PERSON, THAT PERSON CAN'T SAY, WELL, HEY, I PAID SOMEBODY TO TAKE IT. IT'S NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY, IS IT? THEY'RE STILL THEIR RESPONSIBILITY UNTIL IT'S PROCESSED.

LONG QUESTION, BUT NEED AN ANSWER. YES. THANK YOU, MISTER CHAIR.

SUPERVISOR. PAREIRA. THAT IS CORRECT. THAT IS THE WAY IT IT READS.

IF YOU FAIL TO ARRANGE FOR THE LAWFUL COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL, THIS APPLIES TO YOU.

OR I'LL DEFER TO NATHAN IF HE WANTS TO ADD TO THAT.

SO IF IT'S AN UNAUTHORIZED HAULER HAULING THE TRASH IS STILL THE RESPONSIBLE, THE PERSON WHO HIRED THE UNLAWFUL.

IT COULD BE EITHER, DEPENDING ON WHETHER THE HAULER GETS CAUGHT OR NOT.

OKAY. RIGHT. THAT IS CORRECT. PUSH IT. GO AHEAD.

YEAH. SORRY. I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS ON. THAT IS CORRECT.

AND PARAGRAPH A ALSO IDENTIFIES THAT BASICALLY YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED AS A PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER TO NOT HAVE A TRASH SERVICE AND DISPOSE OF YOUR TRASH.

ALSO, YOU CAN'T USE YOUR OWN PROPERTY AS A DUMP.

THAT'S WHAT THAT SECTION SPEAKS TO AS WELL. IN ADDITION TO BOTH.

OKAY. YEAH. AND AND THE REASON WHY I WANTED THAT, YOU KNOW, SUNSHINE IN PUBLIC.

BECAUSE MR. BANDONI, YOU KNOW, IS, IS, YOU KNOW, LIKE MYSELF, I'M A PROPERTY OWNER.

I THINK I UNDERSTAND AS WELL AS YOU UNDERSTAND, AND I THINK SEVERAL SUPERVISORS AND AND BECAUSE I HAVE A BIGGER DISTRICT THAN YOUR, YOU KNOW, OUR FARMS, I SEND IN A LOT TO SEECLICKFIX.

AND THE COUNTY STAFF DOES A GREAT JOB OF CLEANING THOSE UP.

BUT ANYWAYS, I JUST WANTED YOU TO TO KNOW THAT IT IS WRITTEN IN THERE THAT YOU OWN YOUR TRASH UNTIL IT'S PROCESSED SOMEWHERE LEGALLY, REGARDLESS OF WHO'S HAULING IT, WHERE IT GOES, WHAT YOU'VE DONE. SO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE JUST NEED TO BE ON NOTICE.

IF THEY KNOW WHOEVER THEY'RE THEY'RE HIRING TO HAUL THEIR STUFF AWAY, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE A SUSPICION IT'S ILLEGAL.

WELL, THEY MAY GET THE FINE. SO THANK YOU. WELL, DEFINITELY, IF THE FEES ARE LESS THAN WHAT IT COSTS TO DUMP IT AT THE DUMP, THAT THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME SUSPICION THERE. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA MR. CHAIR. AND JUST TO ADD TO THAT, I MEAN, I KNOW A YOUNG MAN IN LOS BANOS THAT HE BASICALLY DOES LIKE TRASH PICKUP FOR LIKE FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND WHATNOT.

AND I KNOW WHAT HE CHARGES. HE CHARGES BASED UPON WHAT HE'S PICKING UP, BUT HE HAS A LARGER SIZE TRAILER, SO HE MIGHT GO CHARGE SOMEONE 40 OR 50 BUCKS TO PICK UP THE 2 OR 3 THINGS THEY HAVE.

AND THEN HE CHARGES THE NEXT PERSON 20 OR 30 BUCKS TO PICK UP WHAT THEY HAVE, AND THEN HE WAITS TILL HE HAS A LOAD.

AND SO I KNOW HE'S OBVIOUSLY MAKING A COUPLE BUCKS DOING IT FOR HIS TIME, ENERGY AND EFFORT.

BUT BUT YEAH, IF YOU HAVE ONES THAT ARE I DON'T THINK HE'S BROADCASTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR WHATEVER, BUT IF SOMEBODY'S BROADCASTING THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'LL HAUL YOUR TRASH AWAY FOR $25, AND WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A MINIMUM AMOUNT AT THE

[02:05:04]

NO, NO, I DO AGREE WITH THAT AS WELL. BUT I THINK IF WE CAN START FINDING THE PEOPLE, THAT CREATES A RESOURCE TO TO PUT TOWARDS IT. OKAY. IS THIS GOING TO BE A ARE YOU PULLING IT? IT'S A VOICE VOTE. VOTE LINKS. OKAY. OH, IS IT JUST 11? SO I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO.

IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? IF NOT, I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. SO WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE ON FEBRUARY 3RD TO COMPLETE THIS PROCESS.

OKAY. ITEM TEN. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM TEN.

I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM TEN. SEEING NOBODY WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM TEN.

I'LL CALL IS THERE. I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE.

WE ALREADY HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? IF NOT, LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION PASSES. NEXT WE HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES.

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

WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? IF. IF NOT, WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION PASSES. NEXT WE HAVE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY ITEM 14 AT THIS TIME.

I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 14. SEEING NONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS OR THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM HERE.

IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION PASSES. NEXT WE HAVE PUBLIC HEALTH. THIS TIME.

ITEM 15. AT THIS TIME, I'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEM 15.

SEEING NONE, I WILL CLOSE THIS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? IF NOT, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

SECONDED ADVISED BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO. LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.

LET'S RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES. NEXT WE HAVE SHERIFF ITEM 16 AND 17.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ITEM 17 REQUIRES A 4/5 VOTE.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR SHERIFF ITEM 16 AND 17.

SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS AS A FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THESE ITEMS. IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AT THIS TIME. LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.

LET'S RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT WE HAVE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

ITEM 18. PLEASE NOTE THIS ITEM REQUIRES A 4/5 VOTE.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ITEM NUMBER 18.

SURE. HELLO. ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS MEETING. AND THEN MY NAME IS ERIC.

I'M THE OWNER OF SIERRA ACADEMY. I'VE BEEN RUNNING THE BUSINESS SINCE 2017, SO IT WASN'T EASY.

[02:10:06]

BUT THE GOOD NEWS FOR NOW IS, LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WITH A LEGAL CASE WITH PREVIOUS OWNER DANIEL FOR UNTIL.

UNTIL NOW. YEAH. AFTER, LIKE, YOU KNOW, $3 MILLION.

ALMOST LIKE DUMPING THE LEGAL FEES RIGHT NOW.

WE WE CAN HAVE A VERY POSITIVE CONCLUSION COMING OUT OF IT.

SO FOR THE TIME BEING, HERE IS RUNNING THIS BUSINESS IS NOT QUITE EASY TO UNDERSTAND.

FOR THE PREVIOUS YEARS. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES, EITHER CAUSED BY THE, YOU KNOW, BIG ENVIRONMENTAL LIKE BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING THE STUDENTS FROM FOREIGN.

BUT I WOULD WANT TO SEE IS LIKE, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT THE BOARD, WITHOUT THE COUNTY SUPPORT, WE WOULDN'T BE HERE. AND THEN I REALLY APPRECIATE FOR THE PAST, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORTIVE FOR HELPING US TO STAY.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, TRY TO PUT OUR PASSION INTO THE AVIATION TRAINING AND THEN MAKE THE AVIATION STAY AT THE CASTLE AIRPORT.

AND NOW WE JUST, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE CAN RENEW THE LEASE WITH THE COUNTY AND THEN CONTINUE OUR BUSINESS VENTURE HERE.

AND THEN WE ARE GETTING MORE STUDENTS FROM INDIA AND HOPEFULLY WE HAVE MORE GOOD THINGS COMING.

SO I WILL BE IN CHARGE AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING GOES SMOOTHLY.

AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE SUPPORT AND UNDERSTANDING.

I HOPE YOU KNOW WE WILL CONTINUE STAYING THERE AND THEN MAKE THE AIRPORT THRIVE.

THANK YOU. WELL THANK YOU, ERIC, THANK YOU FOR COMING BEFORE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND EXPRESSING THAT. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE. WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.

SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. ERIC, I WANT TO JUST THANK YOU FOR FOR COMING AND MAKING A PUBLIC COMMENT.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN SOME PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT KIND OF MADE DISPARAGING COMMENTS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET RID OF YOU, AND AND OBVIOUSLY WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE'RE HOPING THAT YOU HAVE A THRIVING BUSINESS AT CASTLE.

AND AND SO I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, I GUESS SO THAT THE PUBLIC KNOWS THAT WE'VE TRIED TO WORK WITH YOU AND YOU'VE WORKED WITH US, AND THAT'S BEEN HEALTHY. AND SO, ANYWAYS, I WISH YOU WELL IN YOUR FUTURE BUSINESS ENDEAVORS.

AND THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, DOING BUSINESS HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.

THANKS. VERY GOOD. ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? IF NOT, WE WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S RECORD THE VOTE.

THANK YOU. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT WE HAVE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT.

ITEM 19. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR WORKFORCE INVESTMENT.

ITEM 19. SEEING NONE, I'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THIS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION HERE AT THE DAIS? IF NOT, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION PASSES. NEXT WE HAVE BOARD APPOINTMENTS, ITEMS 20 AND 21.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING BOARD APPOINTMENTS ON 20 AND 21.

SEEING NONE, I'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THIS COMMENT PERIOD.

BRING IT BACK TO THE DIOCESE. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION HERE AT THE DAIS? SEEING NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

OH. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. OKAY. NEXT WE'LL HAVE OUR SCHEDULED ITEM. WILL WE MOVE ONTO OUR SCHEDULED ITEM, A PUBLIC HEARING AS SUBMITTED BY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION

[SCHEDULED ITEM]

GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN, BOARD CHAIR AND SUPERVISORS.

MY NAME IS NATHAN BRAY PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR AND ROAD COMMISSIONER FOR MERCED COUNTY.

[02:15:02]

THIS PROJECT IS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF AN UNDERUTILIZED SITE AND THEREFORE SUBJECT TO DEVELOPMENT CONDITIONS.

THE PROJECT OWNERS HAVE AGREED TO THE CONDITIONS AND HAVE REQUESTED TO ANNEX INTO CSA ZONE 100.

THE RECOMMENDED ACTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ITEM ARE AS FOLLOWS.

OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENTS.

CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND FINALLY, AFTER CONSIDERATION OF ALL COMMENTS, ADOPT THE RESOLUTION ANNEXING AA 24 007 SPR 24 003 INTO THE HILMER IRWIN LIGHTING MAINTENANCE ZONE OF BENEFIT NUMBER 100, IN COUNTY SERVICE AREA NUMBER ONE.

THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. VERY GOOD.

I DON'T SEE ANY REQUESTS FOR QUESTIONS. SO AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.

I WILL ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THIS ITEM.

TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.

OKAY. WE'LL GO AHEAD. AND THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED.

AND I WILL LOOK, THIS IS A VOICE VOTE, SO I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. YES, CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE ADOPT RESOLUTION ANNEXING AA 24007 SLASH.

THAT'S A FORWARD SLASH, BY THE WAY. SPR 24 003 INTO THE HILMAR IRWIN LIGHTING MAINTENANCE ZONE A A BENEFIT NUMBER 100, IN THE COUNTY SERVICE AREA. NUMBER ONE. SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? IF NOT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? SAY NO. NAY. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

AYES HAVE IT. AT THIS TIME WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO BOARD REPORTS, STARTING WITH SUPERVISOR PACHECO.

[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION]

I DON'T THINK I HAVE. I ATTENDED YESTERDAY THE GRAND OPENING TO A NEW THAI RESTAURANT IN NORTH MERCED.

THE HUA KONG TO I THINK THIS IS GOOD. IT PROVIDES US NOT ONLY A NEW BUSINESS IN TOWN, BUT SOMETHING A DIFFERENT CHOICE THAT WE HAVE.

ANOTHER TESTAMENT TO OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY. I SPOKE WITH THE OWNERS, AND THEY ARE LOCAL HERE, AND I WISH THEM THE BEST OF LUCK. SUCCESS WITH THEIR NEW RESTAURANT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. YES.

LAST WEEK, I ATTENDED THE EL CAPITAN STADIUM RIBBON CUTTING.

AND I THINK IT'S REALLY COOL THAT ALL OF THE NOW ALL I BELIEVE ALL THE HIGH SCHOOLS NOW HAVE THEIR OWN STADIUMS. SOMETHING THAT THEY'VE WANTED FOR A LONG TIME.

SO IT ADDS BENEFIT TO OUR COMMUNITIES HERE IN MERCED IN THE CITY OF MERCED.

I ALSO MET WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER SORIA, ALONG WITH THE ALLIANCE STAFF, THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE STAFF ABOUT THE HEALTHCARE NEEDS IN THE COUNTY AND WHAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER. FRIDAY WAS SENATOR CABALLEROS, RURAL PROSPERITY ROUNDTABLE WE MERCED COUNTY'S OWN.

ERIC SERRATO WAS A PANELIST. HE DID REALLY WELL REPRESENTING MERCED COUNTY.

I ALSO WENT TO THE RIBBON CUTTING FOR SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN IN THE WORKS.

I'M REALLY PROUD OF FOR THAT'S BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS, AND THAT'S THE BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF MERCED COUNTY.

IT'S THE FIRST ONE HERE IN MERCED COUNTY. AND I THINK THAT THEY IT'S GOING TO BE IT'S GOING TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL.

THEY'VE PARTNERED WITH THE HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND I THINK THAT IT'S IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE, AGAIN, SUCCESSFUL. AND THEN ALSO ATTENDED THE RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE HUA KONG.

THE OWNERS OF THAT PLACE ARE ALSO THE OWNERS OF ANOTHER THAI RESTAURANT HERE IN TOWN.

SO THEY'RE THEY'RE TAKING OVER TAKING OVER THE THE NAME OR THE BUSINESS.

[02:20:01]

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR. SUPERVISOR.

PAREIRA OR SILVEIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I KNOW WE JUST MET LAST WEEK, SO A COUPLE THINGS YESTERDAY.

WE HAD OUR WEST SIDE PROJECTS FOR REGIONAL PROJECTS FOR MEASURE V, AND SO HAPPY TO REPORT OUT THAT OUR GROUP WENT WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS ON, ON PROJECTS COMING IN FROM FURTHER YEARS OUT AND REALLY REITERATING THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO DELIVER PROJECTS.

WE'RE TEN YEARS INTO MEASURE V AND YOU KNOW, IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS, WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING THE VOTERS TO RE-UP MEASURE V.

AND I THINK THAT IF WE WANT TO HAVE A SERIOUS CHANCE OF THAT SUCCEEDING AGAIN, WE GOT TO ACTUALLY SHOW VOTERS THAT WE DID EXACTLY WHAT WE SAID WE WERE GOING TO DO AND DELIVER PROJECTS. SO HAPPY ABOUT THAT. ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT I WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR HENDRICKSON NOT DIRECTOR.

HE'S THE CEO NOW CEO HENDRICKSON AND STAFF THAT ARE INVOLVED IN YOU GET THE QUESTIONS A LOT ABOUT PEOPLE SAYING, HEY, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO KEEP OUR KEEP OUR BUSINESS LOCAL.

WE NEED TO USE LOCAL CONTRACTORS, LOCAL BUSINESS PEOPLE.

WELL, BECAUSE WE'RE GOVERNMENT AND WE MAKE EVERYTHING A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT.

YOU KIND OF HAVE TO REALLY SIGN UP AND TO BE ABLE TO DO BUSINESS WITH GOVERNMENT ENTITIES.

AND SO WITH THAT I'LL HIGHLIGHT BOTH OF THEM, BUT ESPECIALLY THE ONE ON THE WEST SIDE IN LOS BANOS ON JANUARY 29TH, 2026, FROM 6 P.M. TO 8 P.M. AT THE FAIRGROUNDS IN THE GERMINO BUILDING.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING A SEMINAR THAT BASICALLY SAYS IT'S HOW DO WE DO BUSINESS WITH THE COUNTY? SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANY KIND OF LOCAL CONTRACTORS LOCAL, YOU KNOW, PLUMBERS, ELECTRICIANS AND ALL OF THEM THAT POTENTIALLY WANT TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE COUNTY. HERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY THAT STAFF HAS PUT TOGETHER THAT IS GOING TO HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU HOW, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, WHAT YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO BUSINESS WITH COUNTY.

AND THEN AS A FOLLOW UP THAT ON THE EAST SIDE IN MERCED ON FEBRUARY 10TH, 2026, AGAIN 6 TO 8 P.M..

IT'LL BE RIGHT HERE AT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, RIGHT HERE IN THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CHAMBERS.

SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. AND SO I'M GOING TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES AND I'LL SHARE THAT OUT ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA TOO, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY.

FOLKS SAY THEY WANT TO DO BUSINESS WITH COUNTY. WELL, NOW HERE'S YOUR OPPORTUNITY. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SHOW UP AND THEY WILL GIVE YOU THE TOOLS THAT YOU NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL. AND WITH THAT, I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO REPORT.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

YOU HAD SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO ADD? YES, I WE HAD OUR EASTSIDE REGIONAL PROJECT MEETING WITH MCCAGUE ALSO, AND OUR PARTNERS IN ATWATER AND THE CITY OF MERCED.

I KNOW SUPERVISOR PACHECO WAS THERE. AND LIVINGSTON AND LIVINGSTON.

YES. THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME. AND YOU WERE THERE.

SO YEAH, IT WAS INTERESTING, INTERESTING MEETING, BUT IT WAS GOOD TO TO HASH SOME OF THAT STUFF OUT.

BEFORE WE GO TO THE FULL BOARD. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU.

SUPERVISOR JACOB, DID YOU WANT TO YOU ATTENDED THAT MEETING AS WELL? SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. I'M SORRY, MR. CHAIR. I DID HAVE IT WRITTEN DOWN, BUT I LOST IT HERE FOR A SECOND.

BUT I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING, ASKED THAT WE STAFF TO LOOK INTO HOSTING SOME TOWN HALLS AS WE NOW HAVE ROLLED OUT.

AND SO FAR, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE DON'T HEAR ANYTHING, THAT'S USUALLY A GOOD THING WITH AMR. SO AGAIN, THAT THANKS TO THE WORK OF AMR AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH STAFF, ESPECIALLY OUR DIRECTOR AND OUR EMS COORDINATOR, TIM WILLIAMS, HAVEN'T HEARD ANY ISSUES THERE, BUT HERE IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO, PROBABLY IN FEBRUARY SOMETIME.

THE COUNTY IS WORKING ON SCHEDULING SOME TOWN HALLS SO THAT I KNOW THAT THERE'S STILL SOME FOLKS OUT THERE THAT MAYBE HAD CONCERNS WITH A SWITCH OVER TO AMR. AND SO WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME ASK QUESTIONS. AND SO STAFF IS WORKING WITH AMR FOLKS NOW TO SET UP SOME TOWN HALLS.

AND I BELIEVE THERE'S GOING TO BE THREE OF THEM. THERE'LL BE ONE OUT ON THE WEST SIDE IN LOS BANOS. AND THEN I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHERE THE ONES ON THE EAST SIDE WILL BE, BUT MORE NEWS TO FOLLOW ON THOSE. AND AS SOON AS I KNOW SOMETHING, AND I'M SURE THE COUNTY WILL DO A PRESS RELEASE ON THAT, NOTIFYING FOLKS OF THAT. THANK YOU, MISTER CHAIR. THANK YOU, COUNTY COUNSEL HANSON CEO HENDRICKSON.

YOU'VE HAD THE MICROPHONE TODAY. YOU SURE YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? OKAY.

THANK YOU. I DID WELL, I KIND OF COME IN BACK TO YOU GUYS FOR THE GRAND OPENING AT HUAGONG.

WHAT GREAT PEOPLE. AND IT WAS VERY BUSY IN THERE FOR THE FOR THE GRAND OPENING.

IT WAS VERY GOOD. ALSO ATTENDED THE EL CAPITAN STADIUM RIBBON CUTTING.

IT'S NICE TO SEE EL CAPITAN NOW HAS HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE FOR THEIR SOCCER AND FOOTBALL.

AND IT WAS NICE BEING AT THE RURAL PROSPERITY ROUND TABLE.

IT ACTUALLY GAVE ME A CHANCE AS WELL TO AND I THOUGHT ERIC DID A REALLY GOOD JOB, BUT WE WERE TRYING TO.

AND ERIC WAS THE ONLY ONE TALKING ABOUT, EVEN IF WE HAVE ALL THE MONEY WE WANTED FOR HEALTHCARE.

[02:25:06]

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT GOLDEN STATE FINANCE AUTHORITY I'M THE CHAIRMAN OF THAT, THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING ON SOMETHING WORKING WITH OUR HOSPITAL DISTRICTS AND OUR PROVIDERS HERE WITHIN RURAL CALIFORNIA IS GETTING THEM DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE TO GET THEM HOMES WITHIN THESE RURAL COMMUNITIES.

OUR. WE FEEL LIKE IT'D BE ADVANTAGEOUS IF WE GET THESE NEW KIDS RIGHT OUT OF SCHOOL, GET THEM IN THEIR HOME IN RURAL CALIFORNIA, THEY'RE GOING TO FIND A SPOUSE. THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE KIDS TIE THEM UP FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS WHERE THEY PLANT THEIR ROOTS AND AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL NOT WANT TO LEAVE RURAL CALIFORNIA ONCE THEY'VE PLANTED THEIR ROOTS HERE.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING I'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR JUST A LITTLE BIT OVER A YEAR WITH GOLDEN STATE FINANCE AUTHORITY, AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE READY TO ROLL THAT OUT A LITTLE BETTER HERE IN A COUPLE MONTHS, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SHARING THAT WITH EVERYBODY. AND THERE'S SOMETHING SOMETHING ELSE THAT I LIKE TO TALK ABOUT USUALLY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. EVERY TIME WE, WE CONVENE AND WE'RE TOGETHER IN SOCIAL AREAS, WE ALWAYS LIKE TO SING HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES AND THAT SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

BUT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU TODAY THAT TODAY IS SCOTT SILVERA'S BIRTHDAY.

AND SO I'M NOT GOING TO BECAUSE OF THE PROFESSIONALISM OF THE BOARD, WE'RE NOT GOING TO SING YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SCOTT.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME WE GET TO DO IT FOR HIM BECAUSE HE'S ALWAYS GETTING EVERYBODY TO SAY IT TO JOSH.

SO EVERYBODY PLEASE WISH GOD A HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

IT IS HIS BIRTHDAY TODAY. AND WITH THAT, I WILL CONCLUDE THIS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.