[10:00 A.M. REGULAR MEETING] [00:00:03] GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE FEBRUARY 3, 2026 MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. WE WILL NOW START WITH THE INVOCATION LED BY PASTOR STEVE HAMMOND FROM BETHEL COMMUNITY CHURCH OF LOS BANOS AND SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. JOIN TOGETHER. PRECIOUS HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR SOVEREIGNTY AS THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS. YOUR WORD DECLARES THAT IT IS YOU WHO RAISES UP GOVERNMENTS, AND IT IS YOU WHO PUTS THEM DOWN. SO WE GATHER WITH GRATITUDE THIS MORNING FOR THE PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE PLACED IN THE LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN OUR COUNTY. WE ASK THAT YOU GRANT THEM DIVINE WISDOM TO NAVIGATE THROUGH DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES, THROUGH LEAN BUDGETS, THROUGH VOLATILE CRISES. HELP THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE TIMES AND TO KNOW WHAT TO DO. WE ASK YOUR ABUNDANT BLESSINGS UPON THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES. WE SPEAK HEALTH AND CLARITY AND FAVOR UPON THEM. USE THESE LEADERS TO GUIDE OUR COUNTY FORWARD INTO A SEASON OF PROSPERITY, UNITY, STRENGTH, AND THE COURAGE TO STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT FOR EVERYONE. WE ASK YOUR BLESSING UPON MERCED COUNTY AND ITS RESIDENTS. HELP US TO SEEK YOUR FACE AND LIVE BY YOUR WORD IN ALL THESE THINGS WE GIVE YOU THANKS IN JESUS NAME. AMEN. AND 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. THANK YOU, PASTOR HAMMOND. AND SCOTT FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT. AGAIN, THIS IS FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS. [PUBLIC COMMENT] IT'S NOW TIME FOR PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST WITHIN THE BOARD'S JURISDICTION, EXCLUDING ITEMS ON THE BOARD'S AGENDA. TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON AND 30 MINUTES TOTAL. GO AHEAD. GOOD MORNING BOARD. MY NAME IS AGGIE FREEMAN. I SERVE MERCED COUNTY AS AREA GOVERNOR FOR ROTARY DISTRICT 5220, REPRESENTING 50 CLUBS IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY AND ABOUT 1400 ROTARIANS. WE ARE NEIGHBORS FIRST, VOLUNTEERS ALWAYS, AND COMMITTED TO STRENGTHENING MERCED THROUGH SERVICE, LEADERSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP. AS ARE YOU, ROTARY IS COMMITTED TO OUR YOUTH, OUR VETERANS AND OUR COMMUNITY. AND I'M HERE TO ANNOUNCE THAT ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH, THE MERCED ROTARY CLUB WILL HOST AREA EIGHT YOUTH SPEECH CONTEST AT THE MERCED ELKS LODGE 1240 FROM 11:30 A.M. UNTIL 1 P.M.. STUDENTS FROM HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS OUR REGION WILL STEP FORWARD TO SHARE THEIR IDEAS, THEIR COURAGE AND THEIR VISION. THE TOPIC THIS YEAR IS UNITE FOR GOOD. THE STUDENTS ARE NOT JUST SHARING, NOT JUST LEARNING TO SPEAK. THEY ARE LEARNING TO LEAD. FINALISTS WILL THEN ADVANCE TO THE DISTRICT AREA DISTRICT SPEECH CONTEST ON SATURDAY, MARCH 21ST AT THE MULTICULTURAL ARTS CENTER FROM 10 A.M. UNTIL NOON. STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER THE CENTRAL VALLEY WILL BE BRINGING THEIR THOUGHTS AND REMINDING US THAT THE FUTURE OF CENTRAL VALLEY AND MERCED COUNTY IS BRIGHT, CAPABLE, AND COMPASSIONATE. AND FINALLY, ROTARY AREA EIGHT, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF MERCED POLICE DEPARTMENT, IS PLANNING A SPRING FUND IN NEED TO RUN WITH YOU AND YOUR DOG AT LAKE YOSEMITE PARK. THIS EVENT WILL BRING FAMILIES, OFFICERS, AND NEIGHBORS TOGETHER TO BUILD TRUST AND CONNECTION BECAUSE SAFER CITIES ARE BUILT THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS AS MUCH AS RESOURCES. ROTARY STANDS READY TO SERVE OUR COUNTY, SUPPORTING OUR YOUTH, OUR VETERANS, SUPPORTING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES IN MERCED COUNTY TO THRIVE. WE THANK YOU, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR SERVICE, AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY. TOGETHER, WE UNITE FOR GOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. [00:05:05] I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE A PROGRAM THAT IS OPENING DOORS FOR OUR CHILDREN IS AT RISK OF DISAPPEARING. MY NAME IS PEDRO LARA, AND I'M HERE TO BRING AWARENESS TO AND ASK FOR SUPPORT FOR THE MERCED SCHOLARS DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM OFFERED THROUGH MERCED COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION. THIS PROGRAM HAS IT IS AT RISK OF CLOSING AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR DUE TO LOW ENROLLMENT, LARGELY BECAUSE MANY FAMILIES IN MERCED COUNTY JUST ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS PROGRAM. THE MERCED SCHOLARS DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM IS OPEN TO ANY STUDENT IN MERCED COUNTY, AND CURRENTLY SERVES STUDENTS FROM TK THROUGH FOURTH GRADE WITH A 50, 50 ENGLISH AND SPANISH INSTRUCTIONAL MODEL, EXPANDING TO FIFTH GRADE NEXT YEAR. THIS IS A FREE PUBLIC PROGRAM THAT OFFERS FREE BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM. IN MANY US SCHOOLS, FOREIGN LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION STARTS LATE, OFTEN IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND IS TREATED AS AN ELECTIVE RATHER THAN A CORE SKILL. IN CONTRAST, COUNTRIES LIKE BELGIUM, SWITZERLAND, AND CHINA INTRODUCE MULTIPLE LANGUAGES EARLY BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE LANGUAGE AS A TOOL FOR COMMUNICATION, OPPORTUNITY, AND ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS. AN EXPERIENCED EYEWITNESS FIRSTHAND WAS MY SISTER. DURING COVID TEACHING STUDENTS FROM CHINA A SECOND LANGUAGE DURING COVID AS YOUNG AS THREE YEARS OF AGE. CHINA DIDN'T BECOME AN EMERGING GLOBAL POWER FOR JUST ONE REASON, BUT TEACHING STUDENTS A SECOND LANGUAGE HELPED THEM CONNECT WITH THE WORLD AND COMPETE ECONOMICALLY. MERCED COUNTY CAN BENEFIT IN THE SAME WAY BY SUPPORTING THIS DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM AS A DIVERSE AND GROWING COMMUNITY, BILINGUAL EDUCATION PREPARES OUR STUDENTS FOR CAREERS IN HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, AGRICULTURE, AND PUBLIC SERVICE WHILE ALSO STRENGTHENING COMMUNICATION WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. A LANGUAGE SUCH AS SPANISH IS SPOKEN IN OVER 20 COUNTRIES WORLDWIDE. LEARNING A SECOND LANGUAGE GIVES STUDENTS ACCESS TO MORE PEOPLE, MORE MARKETS AND MORE OPPORTUNITIES. LANGUAGE SKILLS STRENGTHEN OUR WORKFORCE AND HELP OUR COUNTRY AND COUNTY STAY COMPETITIVE. THIS PROGRAM IS NOT JUST FOR STUDENTS OF MEXICAN DESCENT. WE HAVE STUDENTS FROM MANY BACKGROUNDS AFRICAN AMERICAN, ASIAN, AND OTHERS WHO ARE LEARNING AND SPEAKING SPANISH TOGETHER. A MEANINGFUL MOMENT FOR ME CAME A FEW WEEKS AGO DURING MY EIGHT YEAR OLD SON'S ANNUAL DOCTOR'S VISIT. WHILE SITTING IN THE WAITING ROOM, MY SON READ A SIGN THAT SAID I WAS INCREDIBLY PROUD SEEING HIM READ AND UNDERSTAND SPANISH IN REAL WORLD SETTING CONFIRMED THE REAL IMPACT OF THIS PROGRAM. SHORTLY AFTER THAT MOMENT, WE RECEIVED THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE PROGRAM WAS BEING CLOSED. I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN ANY WAY SO THAT OUR CHILDREN CAN CONTINUE TO BENEFIT FROM AN EDUCATION THAT PREPARES THEM FOR THE FUTURE. WE DO HAVE A FACEBOOK PAGE IF YOU COULD PLEASE LIKE AND SHARE IT'S HELP SAVE DLA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MARK MIMMS, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I'M HERE TO PROVIDE THE BOARD AN UPDATE ON THE COUNTY'S COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY, OR THE CEDS. THE CEDS IS A BLUEPRINT THAT DEFINES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES FOR THE COUNTY AND EACH INCORPORATED CITY. THIS DOCUMENT IS A REQUIREMENT OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION, AND ITS ACCEPTANCE ALLOWS THE COUNTY AND CITIES TO APPLY FOR FUNDING TO PROGRESS VARIOUS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. I AM HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT AS OF LAST WEEK, THE COUNTY CEDS DOCUMENT WAS ACCEPTED BY THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION. I WOULD LIKE TO I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A THANK YOU TO THE COUNTY STAFF, THE SUPERVISORS, CITIES AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE AND COLLABORATION DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CEDS. CHABIN CONCEPTS WAS THE CONSULTANT ON THIS PROJECT AND PROVIDED GUIDANCE AND OVERSIGHT DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE STRATEGY. THANK YOU TO THE MERCED COUNTY WORKFORCE BOARD, WHO ADOPTED THE CEDS PRIOR TO THE SUBMISSION TO THE EDA. AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK STAFF, SPECIFICALLY ANA MUNIZ LAGUNA AND TAMRA SPADE, WHO LED THIS EFFORT, COORDINATED AND ATTENDED MANY MEETINGS WITH CITY AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND PROVIDED CRUCIAL SUPPORT TO ENSURE THE COUNTY RECEIVED APPROVAL OF THIS STRATEGY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND COMMUNITY. MY NAME IS JOANNA. I AM A PARENT OF A CHILD AT MERCED DUAL LANGUAGE ACADEMY, ADMINISTERED BY MERCED COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION. I AM HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THE RECENT DECISION TO CLOSE MERCED'S ONLY FULL TK THROUGH FOURTH GRADE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM. WHAT BEGAN AS A NORMAL TUESDAY MORNING QUICKLY BECAME A DAY FILLED WITH EMOTION, FRUSTRATION AND UNCERTAINTY WHEN FAMILIES RECEIVED A PARENT SQUARE MESSAGE SENT EXCLUSIVELY IN ENGLISH ANNOUNCING THE DECISION TO CLOSE OUR SCHOOL AT THE END OF THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR. BUDGET CONSTRAINTS AND FINANCIAL DEFICIT WERE CITED AS REASONS. [00:10:01] DECISIONS OF THIS MAGNITUDE REQUIRE TRANSPARENCY, LANGUAGE ACCESS, AND MEANINGFUL PARENT ENGAGEMENT, NONE WHICH OCCURRED HERE. WHEN I ENROLLED MY CHILD TO THIS SCHOOL TWO YEARS AGO THIS SCHOOL DID NOT HAVE A LIBRARY, NOR A PLAYGROUND, AN AUDITORIUM, OR EVEN A FULL CAFETERIA. STILL, I CHOSE THIS SCHOOL OVER OTHERS BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THE LIFELONG VALUE OF BILINGUALISM AND BILITERACY. I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF A CHILD NOT HAVING TO CHOOSE BETWEEN WHO THEY ARE AT HOME AND WHO THEY ARE AT SCHOOL. HAVING TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THEIR CULTURE AND THEIR ACADEMICS. THIS SCHOOL IS FAR MORE THAN A LINE IN A BUDGET SHEET OR A BALANCED ITEM. IT IS A LONG TERM INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY, OUR STUDENTS, AND OUR FAMILIES. IN A DIVERSE AND CULTURALLY RICH COMMUNITY LIKE OURS THIS IS NOT A LUXURY, BUT A NECESSITY. CLOSING THIS SCHOOL SENDS THE TROUBLING MESSAGE THAT WHEN BUDGETS GET TIGHT CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE, FORWARD THINKING PROGRAMS ARE THE FIRST TO GO. PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATORS HAVE CITED $1 MILLION DEFICIT AND LOW ENROLLMENT AS THE JUSTIFICATION. HOWEVER, NUMEROUS FAMILIES HAVE REPORTED BEING TURNED AWAY AFTER ATTEMPTING TO ENROLL AND BEING TOLD THE SCHOOL WAS ALREADY AT CAPACITY. OTHERS NEVER RECEIVED ANY SORT OF FOLLOW UP AFTER SUBMITTING THEIR ENROLLMENT FORMS. LOW ENROLLMENT CANNOT BE USED AS A JUSTIFICATION WHEN ACCESS HAS BEEN RESTRICTED AND OUTREACH WAS INSUFFICIENT. AS A RESPONSE, PARENTS HAVE CREATED AN INTEREST TO ENROLL FORM. IN ONLY THREE DAYS. OVER 70 NEW FAMILIES HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN JOINING OUR SCHOOL FAMILY. A FINANCIAL DEFICIT, WHILE VERY SERIOUS, SHOULD NOT AUTOMATICALLY LEAD TO THE CLOSURE OF A PROGRAM OR ELIMINATION. DEFICITS CAN BE ADDRESSED THROUGH RECONSTRUCTION, ENROLLMENT GROWTH, GRANTS, STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, COLLABORATION. IN ADDITION, LET'S ALSO CONSIDER THE HIDDEN COST OF CLOSURE. THOSE THAT NEVER APPEAR ON SPREADSHEETS. THOSE THAT ARE RARELY SEEN. MERCED'S ONLY DUAL LANGUAGE SCHOOL REPRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY, INCLUSION, AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IT IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR. I URGE ALL OF YOU TO STAND WITH THE FAMILIES. AND TO ADVOCATE FOR OKAY. IF YOU COULD JUST. YOUR TIME IS UP. YEAH. MAKE YOUR POINT. YEAH. THANK YOU. ONCE THIS DOOR CLOSES OUR COMMUNITY LOSES FAR MORE THAN A MILLION. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JASMINE DELROSARIO. I AM ALSO A PARENT OF A STUDENT AT MCOE DUAL LANGUAGE ACADEMY. AND I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY TO ASK FOR YOUR HELP IN PREVENTING THE CLOSURE OF THIS SCHOOL. IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO AFFECT OUR STUDENTS, OUR STAFF AND OUR COMMUNITY DEEPLY. AND AS MENTIONED BY OTHER PARENTS, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF THE BLUE. IT WAS WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE, PULLED TO US VIA EMAIL. AND THE STUDENTS THRIVE AT THIS LANGUAGE ACADEMY. MANY STUDENTS HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED FROM DIFFERENT SCHOOLS INTO THIS ACADEMY, AND THEIR PARENTS HAVE TESTIFIED HOW RESILIENT THEY HAVE BECOME, HOW MUCH THEY CAN READ, HOW MUCH THEY CAN UNDERSTAND, HOW CAPABLE THEY HAVE BEEN AT THIS ACADEMY. AND WE IMPLORE YOU TO PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP US WITH THE CLOSURE OF THIS ACADEMY. WE HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING AT BOARD MEETINGS AND TALKING TO SUPERINTENDENT, AND WE JUST SIMPLY ASK FOR YOUR HELP AND LOOKING INTO HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT US. WE ASK FOR A PROBATIONARY PERIOD TO POSSIBLY HAVE THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL YEAR AS THE PROBATIONARY PERIOD FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SHOW THAT THIS IS AN INVESTMENT FOR NOT ONLY FOR THE KIDS THAT ARE THERE NOW, BUT THE KIDS THAT WANT TO CONTINUE BEING ENROLLED. EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF A SECOND LANGUAGE. I MEAN, WE HAVE TRANSLATORS IN HOSPITALS, IN THE COURT, EVERYWHERE. IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS COMPLETELY DEPENDENT ON FOR MANY ASPECTS, AND WE JUST ASK FOR YOUR HELP, PLEASE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. PHILIP FADOR, [00:15:05] 2650 SOUTH BERT CRANE ROAD. AND I'VE GOT SOME PICTURES IN FRONT OF YOU OF THE BRIDGE ON BEAR CREEK AND BERT CRANE ROAD. AND OVER THE YEARS, WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS OUT THERE WITH SEDIMENT FLOWING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE CREEK. AND THE FLOODING ON MY PROPERTY IS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE. RIGHT NOW, THE FIRST PICTURE YOU'LL SEE, LIKE WITH THE REFRIGERATORS AND STUFF AND EVERYTHING BACK UP, THEY'VE COME OUT AND THEY'VE CLEANED THAT SOMEWHAT. AND THEN YOU GET TO THE NEXT PICTURES. AFTER THEY LEFT, THEY SAID THAT'S ALL THEY COULD DO. THE BRIDGE IS ALREADY IN BAD SHAPE. THEY HAVE IT DOWN TO ONE LANE. AND SO WITH THE EQUIPMENT THEY HAVE, THEY CAN'T GET DOWN TO FINISH CLEANING IT. SO THEY SAID THERE'S NOTHING ELSE THEY CAN DO. WELL ABOUT A WEEK PASS AND I CALL IN THERE AND I SAY, HEY ARE YOU GOING TO COME OUT AND FINISH IT? AND THEY SAY, WELL, NO, THAT'S ALL WE CAN DO. IT'S ALL OUR EQUIPMENT. I SAID, WELL, OKAY, THEN YOU GOT TO GET SOMEBODY THAT HAS EQUIPMENT TO COME IN THERE AND DO IT. AND THEY SAY, WELL, WE HAVE TO GET GO THROUGH THE STATE AND STUFF. AND I'M GOING, WELL, I UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE I KNOW YOUR HANDS ARE TIED, BUT SOMETHING'S GOT TO BE DONE. AND THEY SAY THEY CAN'T DO ANY MORE THEMSELVES UNTIL THEY CAN GET THE BRIDGE FIXED. WELL, WE NEED TO GET SOMEBODY OUT THERE TO CLEAN IT. AND NATHAN HAS TALKED TO ME JUST NOW ON THE COUNTY. HE SAID HE'S GOING TO GET SOMEBODY FROM THE STATE, AND THAT'S WHAT I NEED. I'VE BEEN TOLD FOR THE LAST 5 OR 6 YEARS THAT SOMEBODY FROM THE STATE WILL COME DOWN AND MEET WITH ME. I MEAN, I GO IN EVERY YEAR, EVERY YEAR THEY SAY THE SAME THING. SOMEBODY FROM THE STATE AND THEY'VE CONTACTED ME BEFORE, BUT THEY'VE NEVER COME DOWN. SO ANYWAY, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUST VERY, VERY BRIEFLY, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, FOR THE COMMENTERS TODAY WHO WANTED TO EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS, OBVIOUSLY, WITH THE DUAL IMMERSION PROGRAM, REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND I THINK OUR BOARD UNQUESTIONABLY DOES. I'LL DO A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE, I'M GOING TO REACH OUT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE MERCED COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION, WHICH IS A COMPLETELY SEPARATE AND DISTINCT ORGANIZATION THAN OBVIOUSLY, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. SO JUST MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS NO JURISDICTION WHATSOEVER ON DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE BY THE MERCED COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION, BUT I WILL BE HAPPY TO, IF NOTHING ELSE, REACH OUT TO DOCTOR TIETJEN. AND SEE KIND OF WHAT THEIR PLAN IS ON YOUR BEHALF. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. HENDRICKSON. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO CONSENT CALENDAR. ITEMS 1 THROUGH 17. [CONSENT CALENDAR] PLEASE NOTE THAT ITEM 1 THROUGH FOUR AND NINE THROUGH 12 REQUIRE A 4/5 VOTE. AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 17. SEEING NONE, THE COMMENT PERIOD OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 17 IS NOW CLOSED. IS. I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS? IF NOT, I CAN I SEE THAT I DO HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO. LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO BOARD ACTION ITEMS BEGINNING WITH PUBLIC WORKS. [BOARD ACTION] NUMBER 18. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 18. SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE IT AND BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS, AS ARE FURTHER COMMENTS ON THIS OR DISCUSSIONS. SEEING NONE. I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT WE HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES. ITEM 19. PLEASE NOTE ON THIS ITEM, THE BOARD CHAIR SIGNATURE PAGE WILL BE CORRECTED TO REFLECT THE CURRENT BOARD CHAIRS NAME ON THE CONTRACT. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BHRS ITEM 19. SEEING NONE, I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? IF NOT, ALL RIGHT, WE ALREADY HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT WE HAVE HEALTH. [00:20:04] ITEM NUMBERS 20 AND 21. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR HEALTH ITEMS 20 AND 21. SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. BRING IT BACK TO THE DIOCESE THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THESE ITEMS. IF NOT, I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT WE HAVE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY, ITEM NUMBER 22. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 22. SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THIS, AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DIOCESE OF THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM. IF NOT, I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO. LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT WE HAVE DISTRICT ATTORNEY. ITEM 23. PLEASE NOTE THIS ITEM REQUIRES A 4/5 VOTE. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT. WELL, ACTUALLY, BEFORE WE OPEN UP THE COMMENT, MAYBE OUR DA WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT. THANK YOU BOARD CHAIR. GOOD MORNING. BOARD MEMBERS, CEO COUNTY COUNCIL. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO ME AND ASKED ME TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS ABOUT THIS ITEM AND WHAT IT ENTAILS. THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS RESPECTFULLY SEEKING TO IMPLEMENT A FACILITY DOG PROGRAM IN OUR OFFICE. A FACILITY DOG IS THE OFFICIAL TITLE OF THE PROGRAM, BUT THE DOG WE ARE SEEKING TO OBTAIN FOR THE DA'S OFFICE IS MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS A COMFORT DOG IN THE VICTIM WITNESS ASSISTANCE WORLD. THE PURPOSE OF A COMFORT DOG IS TO PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPORT TO CRIME VICTIMS, IN PARTICULAR CHILDREN. CHILD VICTIMS OF CRIME FACE UNIMAGINABLE TRAUMA FROM PHYSICAL, SEXUAL OR EMOTIONAL ABUSE THAT CAN LAST YEARS BEFORE IT'S EVEN REPORTED. THE VICTIM WITNESS UNIT OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE STRIVES TO SUPPORT THESE VULNERABLE VICTIMS AND A COMFORT DOG IS AN EXTENSION OF THAT CARE AND SUPPORT. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT COMFORT DOGS PROVIDE MANY BENEFITS TO CHILDREN VICTIMS, SUCH AS REDUCING TRAUMA AND ANXIETY, ENHANCING COMMUNICATION, IMPROVING THE INTIMIDATING CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS, AND PROMOTING HEALING AND TRUST. IT IS IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT ACQUIRING THIS FACILITY DOG IS IN LINE WITH THE BOARD'S PRIORITY OF ENHANCING VICTIM SERVICES IN THE COUNTY. WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, PROBATION AND THE CEO'S OFFICE TO MIRROR FACILITY DOG PROGRAMS ALREADY IN PLACE IN MERCED COUNTY. WHILE WE HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS PROGRAM FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS, WE RECENTLY FOUND OUT IN DECEMBER THAT A DOG BECAME AVAILABLE TO US TO BE PLACED IN OUR OFFICE. HIS NAME IS PARKER. HE IS A THREE YEAR OLD GOLDEN RETRIEVER THAT COMES FULLY TRAINED FROM A REPUTABLE AGENCY. SO I DO WANT TO THANK STAFF OF THESE AGENCIES, THE CEO, AS WELL AS MY OFFICE FOR EXPEDITING THIS PROGRAM AND GETTING IT PLACED ON CALENDAR. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. THANKS, SUPERVISOR PEDROZO FOR BRINGING THAT FORWARD. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. YEAH, I DIDN'T THE ONLY REASON I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING, AND THE REASON I WANTED TO BRING THIS FORWARD IS BECAUSE I REALLY DO THINK THAT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DOES A LOT FOR VICTIMS AND VICTIM AWARENESS AND STUFF. AND I THINK I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU AND LET YOU KIND OF HIGHLIGHT THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. SUPERVISOR PACHECO. YEAH, I JUST WANT TO ECHO THAT TOO. I COMMEND THE DA'S OFFICE FOR BEING VERY FORWARD THINKING. THIS IS A VERY INNOVATIVE PROGRAM, AND THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR NOT ONLY BEING TOUGH ON CRIMINALS, BUT FOR TAKING CARE OF OUR VICTIMS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. AT THIS TIME, NOW I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY ITEM NUMBER 23. WITH NO COMMENTS, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THAT AND WE'LL MOVE IT BACK TO THE DAIS. IS THERE A FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? IF NOT, I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA WITH A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT WE HAVE FIRE. ITEM 24. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR FIRE. ITEM NUMBER 24. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEM FOUR IS NOW CLOSED. [00:25:08] BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT WE HAVE AUDITOR CONTROLLER. ITEM 25. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR AUDITOR CONTROLLER, ITEM NUMBER 25. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS OVER FOR THIS ITEM. SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION OR ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM. IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. OH, HERE WE GO. CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YEAH. I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT. I MEAN, THIS IS A COMPREHENSIVE AUDIT REPORT THAT THE AUDITOR CONTROLLER'S OFFICE DOES EVERY YEAR. ALONG WITH HER STAFF, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO IT. AS ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES CAME INTO MY OFFICE THE OTHER DAY, I ACTUALLY PROMISE YOU, I DON'T READ EVERY PAGE OF THIS REPORT, BUT I DO GO READ THE IMPORTANT PAGES AND, AND AGAIN, CLEAN FINANCIAL REPORTS. AND THIS IS JUST REALLY IS IT HIGHLIGHTS ITS TRANSPARENCY. IT'S THAT WE ARE BEING FISCAL STEWARDS OF THE TAXPAYER MONEY. AND SO I WANT TO THANK THE AUDITOR CONTROLLER AND HER OFFICE FOR THE GOOD WORK THAT THEY DO ON PRODUCING THESE REPORTS THAT THAT WE WE RECEIVE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AND MULTIPLE ONES OF THEM THEY'VE THEY'VE DONE A GOOD JOB OVER THE YEARS OF REALLY KIND OF CLEANING THEM UP. THEY USED TO BE MASSIVE BIG BOOKS, AND IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE'S LESS INFORMATION IN THEM NOW, BUT JUST IN A DIFFERENT FORMAT THAT BECAUSE WE'RE GOOD FISCAL STEWARDS, IT SAVES THE TAXPAYER MONEY AND PUTTING IT IN THIS FORM. SO I JUST AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR. WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT, WE HAVE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE. ITEMS 26 AND 27. AT THIS TIME, COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER MARK HENDRICKSON WILL PROVIDE COMMENTS REGARDING ITEM NUMBER 27. MR. HENDRICKSON. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN AGAIN GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, JUST VERY BRIEFLY, IN REGARDS TO ITEM 27 COUNTIES HAVE AN OBLIGATION UNDER WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE SECTION 17,000 TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE FOR RESIDENTS WHO ARE MEDICALLY INDIGENT AND LACK OTHER COVERAGE OPTIONS. AS FEDERAL AND STATE POLICY CHANGES ARE TAKING SHAPE POST H.R. ONE, THEY MAY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF UNINSURED RESIDENTS IN MERCED COUNTY, PLACING AN EVEN GREATER FINANCIAL BURDEN ON COUNTIES LIKE OURS. IN THIS REGARD, IT'S INCUMBENT UPON THE COUNTY TO EXPLORE POTENTIAL COST EFFECTIVE, SUSTAINABLE APPROACHES TO MEET OUR STATUTORY OBLIGATIONS TO SERVE THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. FOR THE BOARD'S CONSIDERATION, TODAY IS A NON-BINDING LETTER OF INTEREST TO THE COUNTY MEDICAL SERVICES PROGRAM, CMSP, WHICH IS THE FIRST STEP IN EXPLORING THIS OPTION. CMSP IS A JPA THAT SERVES 35 RURAL AND SMALL COUNTIES, OFFERING COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES AND A MANAGED APPROACH TO INDIGENT HEALTH CARE. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS BOARD ON THIS ISSUE, AND RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS NONBINDING LETTER TO FACILITATE DISCUSSIONS WITH CMSP STAFF ON PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS, FISCAL CONSIDERATIONS, AND IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINES. SO AGAIN, MR. CHAIRMAN, STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THIS NONBINDING LETTER. THANK YOU SIR. AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR EXECUTIVE OFFICE ITEM NUMBER 26 AND 27. SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS. IS THERE FURTHER COMMENTS OR DISCUSSIONS ON THIS ITEM? I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE SOME COMMENTS. THIS IS A GROUP THAT WE'VE BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH FOR ALMOST TEN YEARS NOW SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THIS PROGRAM, I KNOW THE COUNTY HAS BEEN WEIGHING OUT THE BENEFITS OF THIS AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM, BECAUSE THERE WERE A COUPLE OF TIMES WE THOUGHT WE MIGHT HAVE TO DIVE INTO THEIR SERVICES, BUT I APPRECIATE THAT WE STILL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION GOING AND APPRECIATE WHAT THEY DO OUT THERE FOR THE RURAL CALIFORNIA. OKAY, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA HAS MOTIONED, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT WE HAVE BOARD APPOINTMENTS. ITEM 28. AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT ON BOARD APPOINTMENTS. ITEM 28. SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THAT. [00:30:01] AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT WE HAVE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. AT THIS TIME, DIRECTOR JOHN CHECKLEY WILL PROVIDE COMMENTS REGARDING ITEM NUMBER 29. GOOD MORNING, AND THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN MCDANIEL, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. IT'S A GREAT HONOR FOR ME TODAY TO PRIOR TO YOU VOTING ON THE CONFIRMATION OF OUR NEXT COUNTY VETERAN SERVICE OFFICER TO INTRODUCE MR. BEN HERNANDEZ, I WOULD LIKE TO START BY THANKING JEREMIAH GREGGAINS FOR STANDING IN THIS ROLE FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS AND ENSURING THERE WAS CONTINUITY OF LEADERSHIP AT THAT OFFICE, AS WELL AS SUPPORT FOR OUR VETERAN COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, OVER 50% OF OUR VETERAN COMMUNITY IS OVER AGE 60. MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE SEEN, HEARD AND SERVED IS A PRIORITY OF OURS WHICH LEADS INTO MY SECOND THANK YOU. AND THAT'S THANKING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR THE FOCUS AND SUPPORT YOU ALL HAVE PROVIDED, NOT ONLY TO THIS OFFICE, BUT THEN SECONDARILY TO THAT TO THE COMMUNITY OF VETERANS HERE THROUGH THE VETERANS DAY PARADE, MAKING SURE WE'RE ABLE TO GET OUT TO LOS BANOS AND SERVE VETERANS THERE. I DO WANT TO THANK YOU AS WELL. THIS WAS A HIGHLY, HIGHLY COMPETITIVE RECRUITMENT. WE'RE IN A, YOU KNOW, A VERY ADVANTAGEOUS POSITION IN A LOT OF WAYS, BUT IT MAKES FOR DIFFICULT DECISIONS. AND MR. HERNANDEZ MADE THAT DECISION A LITTLE EASIER BY CONNECTING HIS OVER 30 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP IN BOTH THE MILITARY AND PRIVATE SECTOR TO SERVICE, SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. AND THAT WAS MODELED FOR HIM BY HIS FATHER. AND THEY SAY CLOSING STATEMENTS MAY NOT BE AS IMPORTANT AS HOW YOU ANSWER THE OTHER QUESTIONS. THAT'S HOW THIS GENTLEMAN CLOSED HIS INTERVIEW. I HAVE A PASSION, A DESIRE, A HISTORY. I'VE SEEN IT. I WANT TO GIVE BACK. AND THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND FOR THIS POSITION. YOU HAVE TO SEE THOSE VETERANS IN OUR COMMUNITY. YOU HAVE TO TRANSLATE THAT LEADERSHIP THAT YOU'VE EXHIBITED FOR DECADES INTO SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY WHEN YOU WORK FOR MERCED COUNTY. I DO WANT TO THANK MR. HERNANDEZ FOR MAKING THAT DECISION, WHICH IS DIFFICULT WHEN YOU HAVE SO MANY QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS A LITTLE BIT EASIER BY REALLY HIGHLIGHTING THAT AND THAT COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY. WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MR. BEN HERNANDEZ. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR AND THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. I'M EXTREMELY EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY THAT I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT FOR MANY YEARS AS I WATCHED MY FATHER NAVIGATE THROUGH THE VA SYSTEM. MY FATHER WAS A KOREAN WAR VETERAN. I ALSO HAD MANY UNCLES THAT WERE VIETNAM VETERANS, AND I REMEMBER OVER TIME WHEN I WOULD COME HOME FROM THE MILITARY, MY FATHER'S FIRST MISSION FOR ME WAS TO GO WITH HIM AND MEET OUR VETERANS AND MEET OUR COUNTY TEAMS THAT WERE OUT THERE SUPPORTING OUR VETERANS. I MYSELF ALSO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK THROUGH A COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE WHEN MY TIME FROM THE MILITARY WAS DONE AS WELL. A QUICK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF. I'M FROM THE CENTRAL VALLEY OF CALIFORNIA, BORN AND RAISED AND PROUD TO BE PART OF IT FROM THIS PART OF THE WORLD. AND I'VE DEMONSTRATED THAT THROUGHOUT MY TIME IN THE MILITARY. I JOINED THE MILITARY AT THE YOUNG AGE OF 17. I WAS IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS FOR A PERIOD OF 30 YEARS ON ACTIVE DUTY MY ENTIRE CAREER, THE VERY FIRST HALF OF MY CAREER, I IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AS A MILITARY POLICEMAN, WHERE I LED TEAMS OF MILITARY POLICEMEN AND LEARNED VARIOUS THINGS. I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE AND TRAIN OUR PUBLIC MEN AND WOMEN AS BEING A MARINE DRILL INSTRUCTOR, WHERE I TRAINED MILITARY RECRUITS TO BECOME MILITARY MEMBERS OF OUR MARINE CORPS. ALSO, I TRAINED MARINE OFFICERS THAT LED OUR TEAMS AS A DRILL INSTRUCTOR IN QUANTICO, VIRGINIA, AS A MARINE OFFICER INSTRUCTOR, AS A DRILL INSTRUCTOR THERE AS WELL. AND THEN I HAD VARIOUS OTHER LEADERSHIP POSITIONS THROUGHOUT MY TIME IN THE MARINE CORPS. LIKE ANYTHING YOU SPEND OVER 15 YEARS IN, I STAYED IN FOR 30. AFTER MY FIRST 15 YEARS IN THE MILITARY, I GOT PUT INTO LEADERSHIP POSITIONS WHERE I GOT TO LEAD TEAMS AND ADVISE GENERALS AND COLONELS, AND I SENT IT TO THE RANK OF A SERGEANT MAJOR, WHICH IS THE ENLISTED RANK THAT YOU CAN HAVE IN THE MILITARY. AND I LEARNED QUITE A BIT. I'M ALSO A COMBAT VETERAN OF THE IRAQ WAR, WHERE I WAS THERE FOR THE INVASION AND SUBSEQUENT COMBAT TOURS. SO WITH THOSE STANDINGS IN MY EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP OUTSIDE OF THE MILITARY, I THINK, AND I'M WILLING AND I WOULD LIKE TO COME IN AND LEAD OUR VSO TEAM TO BECOME ONE [00:35:01] OF THE PREMIER TEAMS WITHIN THE COUNTY AND WITHIN IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND ACROSS THE NATION. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO IT. I'M EXCITED TO DO IT. AND I BELIEVE THAT I WILL BRING TO YOU WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR AND HAVE AN IMPACT IN EVERY ONE OF YOUR DISTRICTS AND ALSO OUR COUNTY AND EVEN OUTSIDE OF OUR COUNTY. I THINK OUR TEAM WILL BE ABLE TO INFLUENCE OTHER COUNTIES ON HOW WE ARE GOING TO DO OUR VSO. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF OUR MERCED COUNTY PROGRAM TO ASSIST OUR VETERANS. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UNLESS THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME. MR. HERNANDEZ, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. AND NOW, THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECOMMIT TO CONTINUED SERVICE. ONE THING YOU DIDN'T TOUCH ON IS MAYBE SOME WHITE HOUSE ASSIGNMENTS. YES, SIR. MY TIME IN THE MILITARY, I ALSO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE AND LEAD TEAMS FOR THE SECURITY FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR A PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS, WHERE I TRAVELED WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, WITH MY TEAM OF MILITARY MEMBERS AT THE WHITE HOUSE, AT CAMP DAVID, AT THE PENTAGON, AND ACROSS OUR NATION IN SUPPORT OF SECURITY. WE EVEN LANDED HERE AT CASTLE AIR FORCE BASE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND PROVIDED SECURITY TO THIS COMMITTEE WHEN THE PRESIDENT VISITED THIS AREA AS WELL, WAS AN EXTREME HONOR FOR ME TO HAVE BEING A MEMBER OF THIS VALLEY AND WHERE WE ARE AT. SO IT WAS EXCITING. YES. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT. THAT'S KIND OF IMPORTANT BEING A LEADERSHIP OF THAT TEAM. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. BEN YES THANK YOU. AND AFTER A SUCCESSFUL APPOINTMENT HERE, I JUST WANT TO EXTEND AN OFFER. I'D DEFINITELY LOVE TO GET YOU OUT TO MEET MY FOLKS OVER ON THE WEST SIDE. WE HAVE A VERY ACTIVE VFW AND AMERICAN LEGION WHO ARE DOING SOME REALLY GREAT THINGS OUT THERE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MIKE HUGHES AND NOW TOM HIGBY. DEFINITELY WANT TO GET A SIT DOWN WITH YOU THERE. AND THEN ALSO MY AMERICAN LEGION AND DOS PALOS NOT AS BIG, BUT STILL PRETTY ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY. AND SO GET THAT THAT FACE TO FACE MEETING WITH THOSE FOLKS. THEY ARE FIERCE ADVOCATES FOR VETERANS, AND THEY'RE DOING A LOT OF GREAT THINGS OUT THERE, AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE ON WITH THAT. SO THANK YOU AND WELCOME ABOARD AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING ALL OF YOUR YOUR TEAMS ACROSS ALL THE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS AS WELL. AND I DO HAVE A PLAN TO GO OUT VERY SOON. I'M GOING TO BE GOING TO SOME TRAINING NEXT WEEK, AND ONCE THAT TRAINING IS COMPLETE, MY INTENTION IS TO GET OUT AND MEET AS MANY PEOPLE AS I CAN. AND I'VE MET SOME ALREADY. THANK YOU. CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. WE'LL WELCOME IF THE VOTE GOES WELL SOUNDING PRETTY GOOD SO FAR, BUT ANYWAYS, JUST WANT TO OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU AND I TO GO OUT. GUSTINE AND WINTON ARE TWO OF MY REALLY ACTIVE VFW. AND THEN DELHI IS A SPOT WHERE I THINK SOME OUTREACH WOULD BE GOOD. AND SO WE HAVE WHAT'S CALLED A MAC MEETING. THAT WELL, THE NEXT ONE WILL BE IN MARCH, SO HOPEFULLY BY THEN YOU AND I HAVE CONNECTED, AND MAYBE YOU CAN GO OUT THERE WITH ME AND AND DO A LITTLE BIT OF OUTREACH IN THE COMMUNITY. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO. ALL RIGHT. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW YOU BETTER AND WORK WITH YOU. CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. YES. THANK YOU. MR. CHAIR, I DO WANT TO JUST ECHO WHAT MY COLLEAGUE SAID AND GET YOU OUT TO OUR AMERICAN LEGION AND SPEAK WITH OUR VETERANS OVER THERE. VERY ACTIVE. AND I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE INCREDIBLY BUSY OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, JUST KIND OF GETTING THE LAY OF THE LAND. BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR COMMITTING TO MERCED COUNTY. AND I'M PRETTY SURE I DON'T WANT TO GET AHEAD OF MYSELF, BUT I WILL SAY CONGRATULATIONS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR PACHECO YEAH. JUST WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU SIR, I APPRECIATE IT. YEAH. I THINK THE VOTE WILL GO IN YOUR FAVOR WITHOUT PREDISPOSING ANY VOTES, BUT JUST WANT TO. I APPRECIATE YOU WANTING TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR A WHILE AND APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE. I KNEW YOUR FATHER APPRECIATED ALL HIS VETERANS WORK THAT HE DID. IT WAS ALL VOLUNTARY IN STANISLAUS COUNTY, AND HE DID A LOT. AND JUST THE FACT THAT YOU WANT TO HONOR YOUR FATHER AND DO THE SAME, THIS IS IT'S INCREDIBLE. AND MAYBE YOUR SONS WILL WANT TO STEP IN THE ROLE AS THEY'VE ALREADY DONE IN YOUR SHOES. SO APPRECIATE THIS. [INAUDIBLE] MY SON AND I MY SON IS A MARINE AS WELL. WE HAD. RIGHT. IN YOUR COUNTY PARADE FOR OUR VETERANS. IT WAS AWESOME. IT WAS A LOT BETTER THAN THE ONES WE'D BEEN TO. AND WE HAD A GREAT TIME. NO PRESSURE. [LAUGHTER] WELL, VERY GOOD AT THIS TIME. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR. NICE STADIUM. AND AT THIS TIME WE'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER 29. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ITEM 29 IS NOW CLOSED. WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS. I THINK WE'VE ALREADY PROVIDED COMMENTS. I SEE NO OTHER COMMENTS, SO I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. [00:40:02] LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S RECORD THE VOTE. UNANIMOUS. CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] YES, WE CAN CLAP. NEXT WE HAVE BOARD INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ITEMS 30 THROUGH 33. [BOARD INFORMATION & POSSIBLE ACTION] AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BOARD ITEMS 30 AND 33. 32. 33 OKAY. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS. FURTHER DISCUSSIONS OR COMMENTS? IF NOT, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. LAST IS BOARD REPORTS. [REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION] AT THIS TIME, I WILL LOOK OVER TO MY LEFT. WE'LL START WITH DISTRICT FIVE. OUR DISTINGUISHED SUPERVISOR FROM THE WEST SIDE. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. DISCUSSION. THERE IT IS. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YEAH, A FEW THINGS SINCE IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE'VE MET THAT I. YOU KNOW, I ATTENDED THE CITY COUNTY DINNER IN LOS BANOS. THEY HAD THE LOS BANOS AG DEPARTMENT COOK THE MEAL IT WAS A GREAT MEAL, GREAT PRESENTATION ON AI AND WHAT CAN BE DONE THERE. SO I WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF LOS BANOS FOR HOSTING THAT. AND ALONG THOSE LINES, I WANT TO REPORT OUT THAT MYSELF AND CEO HENDRICKSON ARE GETTING ON THE TRAIN OF MEETING WITH OUR LOCAL JURISDICTIONS. SO WE HAD A REALLY GREAT MEETING WITH THE MAYOR, MAYOR AMABILE, AND CITY MANAGER IN LOS BANOS AND JUST REALLY JUST OPPORTUNITIES TO DISCUSS THINGS THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON, THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, AND REALLY HAVING CONVERSATIONS AHEAD OF TIME SO THAT YOU DON'T FIND OUT AFTERWARDS. SO THANK YOU FOR REVIVING THOSE. I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE, SUPERVISOR PACHECO, AS WE ARE ON THE WE'RE ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND HAD SOME MEETINGS WITH THE FOLKS IN THE CITY OF LIVINGSTON I THOUGHT WAS VERY FAVORABLE MEETING. AND ULTIMATELY THERE WILL BE SOME THINGS COMING DOWN THE PIPE HERE THAT YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO VOTE ON AND WE HAVE TO VOTE ON, AND HOPEFULLY THAT WORKS OUT FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS. I ATTENDED THE SWEARING IN OF THE RCRC NEW CHAIR. SO I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO MY COLLEAGUE FROM MARIPOSA COUNTY, MILES MENETREY, WHO IS NOW THE CHAIR OF RCRC FOR THIS UPCOMING YEAR. AND AS PART OF THAT, I WAS THERE FOR MY CSAC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING. SO I WANT TO TAKE JUST TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF THERE. YOU KNOW, HR ONE IS GOING TO HAVE REAL IMPACTS TO THE COUNTY OF MERCED. AND WHERE THESE IMPACTS COME IS BEFORE OBAMACARE CAME INTO PLACE, YOU HEARD CEO HENDRICKSON MENTIONED EARLIER THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH WE SIGNED A LETTER OF INTENT WITH CMSP. AND WHAT IS SO WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN? SO BEFORE OBAMACARE CAME INTO PLACE, THE COUNTY WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR INDIGENT CARE, AND WE HAD FUNDING THAT CAME ALONG WITH THAT, THAT HELPED US. WHEN OBAMACARE CAME INTO PLACE, THAT THE STATE TOOK THAT FUNDING AWAY. IT IS NOW WHEREVER. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY KEEP IT, BUT THEY DON'T GIVE IT TO US. BUT BECAUSE OF OBAMACARE, YOU DIDN'T HAVE ALL THOSE FOLKS THAT YOU WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR IN INDIGENT CARE. WITH H.R. ONE, WE ARE NOW GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE FOLKS. AND YET THE FUNDING HASN'T COME BACK. AND AND TO THE TUNE OF AND IT'S NOT AN EXACT NUMBER. AND I KNOW ALL OF OUR LOCAL DEPARTMENTS, OUR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES, EVERYBODY UP AND DOWN THE STATE HAS BEEN REALLY TRYING TO QUANTIFY WHAT THAT NUMBER LOOKS LIKE. A ROUGH ESTIMATE IS TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $5 BILLION PER YEAR STATEWIDE, THAT OF FUNDING THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED, THAT WE DON'T HAVE. SO THERE ARE GOING TO BE REAL IMPACTS. AND ONE OF THE ONES, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT AGENCY, YOU ASK WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT FAMILY. WHAT IS THE THE BIGGEST PRIORITY ONE OF THE ONES THAT I THINK THAT THAT WE REALLY NEED TO THINK ABOUT HERE, THAT IS THE FACT THAT WITH NOW NEW RULES AROUND ELIGIBILITY, YOU HAVE TO REPORT IT'S EVERY SIX MONTHS YOU HAVE YOU'RE REQUIRED TO TO REAFFIRM YOUR ELIGIBILITY. AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE FOLKS THAT QUALIFY AND ARE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDI-CAL IF THEY'RE NOT ON THERE AND IT'S TYPICALLY OUR YOUNG ONES, OUR YOUNG, HEALTHY ONES THAT ARE LIKE, OH, [00:45:04] I DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT IT. I'M NOT GOING TO GET SICK UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS, UNTIL THEY DO GET SICK OR THEY GET IN AN ACCIDENT. IF THEY'RE ELIGIBLE TO BE ON MEDI-CAL AND THEY'RE NOT, THAT'S GOING TO FALL ON THE COUNTY FOR INDIGENT CARE. IT'S A REAL THING THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER. IF YOU JUST DO THE SIMPLE MATH, IF IT'S $5 BILLION A YEAR AND I HAVEN'T ACTUALLY DIVIDED IT OUT, BUT DIVIDE IT BY THE AMOUNT OF RESIDENTS, MULTIPLY THAT BY THE ROUGHLY 300,000 RESIDENTS WE HAVE IN MERCED COUNTY. THAT'S WHAT OUR COST SHARE IS GOING TO BE THAT WE DON'T QUITE HAVE THE RESOURCES FOR. SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS BEING TALKED ABOUT, THAT THE STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES IS WORKING ACTIVELY WITH THE GOVERNOR, THE GOVERNOR'S ADMINISTRATION ON A LEAN FISCAL YEAR, A TIGHT FISCAL YEAR AT THE STATE. IT'S GOING TO BE AN ONGOING CHALLENGE. AND I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT FOR FOLKS, AS WE ALREADY NOW OUR BUDGET FOLKS, OUR DEPARTMENT LAND ARE ALL STARTING TO THINK ABOUT THIS BUDGET THAT'S COMING UP HERE FOR THE NEXT FOR THE 26-27 FISCAL YEAR. COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS ON FEBRUARY 26TH, WE WILL HAVE ONE MORE OPPORTUNITY TO BE TOGETHER BEFORE THIS HAPPENS, BUT I JUST WANT TO PUT IT OUT THERE. AND I KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING A FEW OF THEM AT LEAST THREE OF THEM IN THE COUNTY WHERE WE'RE HAVING A MEET AND GREET WITH AMR. FEBRUARY 26TH AT 6 P.M. AT THE GERMINO BUILDING AT THE LOS BANOS FAIRGROUNDS. THIS MEET AND GREET, I'LL LET MY COLLEAGUES SPEAK TO THE ONES IN, IN AND AROUND THEIR AREAS. BUT YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LOT OF MISINFORMATION THAT CAME OUT BEFORE WE SIGNED THIS CONTRACT WITH AMR. I'M HAPPY TO SAY WE REPORTED OUT AT THE LAST MEETING ON DECEMBER 31ST AT NOON. WE HAD A VERY SMOOTH TRANSITION OVER TO AMR. AND SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MAYBE SOME OF THOSE FOLKS THAT MAYBE STILL HAVE SOME CONCERNS TO COME OUT AND MEET THE FOLKS FROM AMR, SEE THE NEW EQUIPMENT THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING OUR CONSTITUENCY, OUR RESIDENCES FOR EMERGENCY CALLS. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYBODY TO ATTEND. FEBRUARY 26TH MEET AND GREET AMR AT THE LOS BANOS FAIRGROUNDS BUILDING AT 6 P.M.. AND THEN THE LAST THING I HAVE, MR. CHAIR, IS, IS IT'S A LITTLE BIT EARLY, BUT I DID TELL HIM I WOULD SHARE THIS WITH FOLKS. SO ON APRIL 1ST, 2026, FROM 9 A.M. TO 12 P.M. AT THE O'BANION BUILDING AT THE LOS BANOS FAIRGROUNDS. THERE'S IT'S A COLLABORATIVE OF FOLKS THAT PUT TOGETHER A WEST SIDE HIRING AND RESOURCE EVENT. THEY GET A LOT OF VENDORS OUT THERE AND AND IT BASICALLY IT SAYS COME AND OBTAIN OBTAINED INFORMATION FROM LOCAL EMPLOYERS AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES. BRING YOUR COVER LETTER AND RESUME. COME DRESSED TO IMPRESS AND READY TO NETWORK. THERE ARE PEOPLE. THE FOLKS THAT THEY BRING IN THE ROOM ON THIS DEAL ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE READY TO HIRE PEOPLE THAT DAY. AND THERE'S ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT EMPLOYMENT. YOU'LL SEE SOME OF OUR COUNTY FOLKS, SOME OF OUR COUNTY DEPARTMENTS OUT THERE. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO JUST MARK THAT DOWN ON YOUR CALENDAR. APRIL 1ST, 2026, 9 A.M. TO 12 P.M. AND I WILL AGAIN, I'LL REITERATE THAT AND BRING IT UP AT FUTURE MEETINGS. BUT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE IF YOU CAN DO THE THREE UPS AND I'LL LET YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT THOSE ARE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THIS PAST WEEK, I HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE TO MEET WITH NICOLINA HERNANDEZ FROM TOYOTA. SHE IS THEIR GLOBAL GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS DIRECTOR. ALSO TOM KNOX FROM VALLEY CAN MOST OF YOU HAVE HEARD, YOU KNOW, THE EVENT AT THE FAIRGROUNDS WHERE YOU CAN COME IN AND GET YOUR VEHICLE SMOGGED OR GET A VOUCHER TO FIX IT. AND THEN FROM MERCED COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS AND THEN GRACIELLA. AND I DIDN'T CATCH HER LAST NAME, BUT SHE'S WITH SACRAMENTO ADVOCATES, WHICH IS A LOBBY FOR TOYOTA. AND I'VE BEEN KIND OF ADVOCATING FOR AND WORKING TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF HYDROGEN FUEL CELL CARS, NOT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CAR, BUT AT LEAST THE NETWORK OF FUELING HERE IN CALIFORNIA AND THE VALLEY, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE ALL CAN KIND OF AGREE THAT THE GRID ISN'T GOING TO HANDLE EVERY CAR BEING ELECTRIC. AND SO I BELIEVE THAT PROBABLY A MORE VIABLE ALTERNATIVE IS HYDROGEN FUEL. AND ANYWAYS, JUST KIND OF CAME TOGETHER. MERCED COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS IS GOING TO GET A HYDROGEN FUEL CELL BUS TO BE ABLE TO USE. AND WE'RE LOOKING AT BRINGING AN ITEM TO THE NEXT BOARD MEETING TO GET A BECAUSE THERE'S NO FUELING HERE IN MERCED. BUT TO GET A PORTABLE TRAILER THAT CAN GO TO STOCKTON, GET A GET A LOAD OF FUEL AND COME BACK. AND THAT WAS REALLY ENTICING TO TOYOTA BECAUSE THEY HAVE JUST PURCHASED FIRST ENERGY, WHICH IS THE HYDROGEN SERVICE STATION OUT IN COALINGA, AND THEY'RE GOING TO INVEST HEAVILY. AND SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET SOME TRACTION HERE IN THE VALLEY. AND SO JUST KIND OF WANTED TO SHARE THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY THOUGHTS OR IDEAS OF HOW TO ADVOCATE IN SACRAMENTO TO GET MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED I'D APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT. GROUNDWATER, SO IT'S KIND OF COMING TO FRUITION WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE GROUNDWATER ALLOCATIONS HERE IN [00:50:08] MERCED COUNTY, BOTH IN THE MERCED SUBBASIN AND IN THE EAST TURLOCK, SUB-BASIN. AND THEN THERE'S ALREADY ALLOCATION. WELL, SOME OF THE LAND ALREADY HAS AN ALLOCATION. BUT GROUNDWATER RECHARGE IS ONE OF OUR OUR POSSIBILITIES OF WORKING OUR WAY OUT OF THE ISSUE. AND SO THERE'S SOME FUNDING AVAILABLE AT BOTH THE EAST TURLOCK SUBBASIN AND THE MERCED SUBBASIN TO PILOT PROJECTS OR EVEN TO HELP AND LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S IT LOOK LIKE? HOW CAN YOU GET A PROJECT DONE ON YOUR FARM? SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THE WORD OUT. AMR I OFTEN GO OUT TO MERCY HOSPITAL TO DROP OFF WELL, A COFFEE OR LUNCH TO MY DAUGHTER. AND SO AS THE TRANSITION WAS HAPPENING, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO KIND OF WATCH IT AT THE EMERGENCY, YOU KNOW, REAL TIME, AT LEAST FROM THE OUTSIDE. AND ANYWAYS, IT'S JUST BEEN A GOOD, A GOOD FEELING TO SEE THE TRANSITION HAPPEN, SO WELL, AND THEN THE QUALITY OF THE CARE THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING. I HAD MY UPDATE WITH DOCTOR SULLIVAN THIS PAST WEEKEND, AND WE HAD GIVEN AMR SIX MONTHS TO BE ABLE TO GET UP TO SPEED AND KIND OF BE UNDER A REPORT CARD THAT THEIR CONTRACT ALLOWS, AND THEY ARE ALREADY MEETING THEIR GOALS. AND SO YOU KNOW, JUST REAL APPRECIATIVE OF THAT. AND I THINK THE BOARD MADE A GOOD DECISION. AND HOPEFULLY THE COMMUNITY SEES THAT. AND HOPEFULLY YOU NEVER NEED THE AMBULANCE. BUT IF YOU DO HOPEFULLY IT'S A GOOD EXPERIENCE. I KNOW NOBODY'S PERFECT. AND SO THERE WILL ALWAYS BE ONE OFFS, BUT I THINK BY AND LARGE THE SYSTEM IS ALREADY BETTER. I WAS IN HILMAR LAST NIGHT AT THEIR CHAMBER MEETING AND ALREADY HEARD COMMENTS ABOUT HOW, BECAUSE HILMAR WAS ONE OF THE AREAS THAT WAS LESSER SERVED AND ALREADY THEY'RE, SEEING QUICKER RESPONSE TIMES AND THEY'RE VERY HAPPY. SO THANK YOU TO DOCTOR SULLIVAN AND TIM WILLIAMS FOR FOR ALL THE EFFORT IN THAT. SURE APPRECIATE THAT. THERE'S GOING TO BE A MEETING IN HILMAR AT THE. IT'S THE DAN RAMOS CENTER THE HILMAR COMMUNITY HALL ON MARCH 3RD. AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR AMR THE COUNTY AND THE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AND DISCUSS WHAT'S HAPPENED. AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO HIDDEN SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT. AND SO IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY. I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE THREE OF THEM IN THE COUNTY. AND SO YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE AN INTEREST, MAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO ONE. THIS PAST SUNDAY, I ATTENDED THE MERCED COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY ANNUAL MEETING. AND WE THANKED JOYCE MATTOS FOR DOING A GREAT YEAR AS THEIR PAST PRESIDENT AND THEN WELCOME JOHN CARLO AS THIS NEXT YEAR'S PRESIDENT.AND IT WAS REALLY NICE TO HEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT APPRECIATING THE COUNTY RESTORING THE OUTSIDE OF THE MUSEUM. AND YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE OUTSIDE IN GOOD SHAPE, EVENTUALLY THE INSIDE WILL BE IN BAD SHAPE. SO ANYWAYS, IT WAS JUST NICE. AND THEY GAVE US EACH A BOOK 150 YEARS 150 STORIES TO THANK US FOR PRESSING OUR ATTENTION TO PROTECTING THE HISTORY OF MERCED COUNTY. AND THAT IS IT, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. THANK YOU. I'VE QUITE A LOT. I ATTENDED THE MLK MARCH ON MARTIN LUTHER KING. I THOUGHT THAT WAS THAT'S ALWAYS A GOOD ONE TO HIGHLIGHT THE, YOU KNOW, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE GETTING TOGETHER FOR MLK AND HONORING HIS LEGACY. THERE WAS A LOT OF HIGH SPEED RAIL OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS THAT WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH MYSELF AND SACRAMENTO WITH THE HIGH SPEED RAIL CEO, MR. CHOUDRI THE SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, THE SENATE SENATOR CABALLERO MULTIPLE TIMES TO DISCUSS KIND OF OUR CONCERNS AND WHERE WE'RE HEADED. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION AND CONFUSION ALONG WITH WHAT'S GOING ON. BUT WHAT WE'RE DOING IS THIS IS ALLOWING US A SEAT AT THE TABLE, A GREATER SEAT AT THE TABLE FOR THIS. AND I KNOW IT WAS SAID AD NAUSEAM WHEN WE DID THAT, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO, TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW IS THAT THE HIGH SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY AT THEIR MEETING WAS REALLY PROUD OF THE WAY THAT, YOU KNOW, MERCED COUNTY HAD KIND OF STEPPED UP AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE FACT THAT THEY'RE COMMUNICATING BETTER WITH US AND THAT WE'RE REACHING OUT AND WE'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, NOT GOING TO BE IGNORED, IF YOU WILL, BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SEE IS REALLY IMPORTANT. LET'S SEE. HAD THE CALCOG MEETING LAST WEEK, ALLIANCE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE FOR HEALTH MEETING. THE GOLDEN VALLEY HALL OF FAME DINNER WAS A GOOD EVENT ALWAYS. NOT JUST BECAUSE I'M IN IT, BUT BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF FUN TO GO TO. [00:55:02] AND THEN I, TOO, WENT TO THE RCRC INSTALLATION DINNER AND WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL THOSE WHO OR INSTALLATION EVENT ALL THOSE RCRC, OFFICERS. AND I REALLY THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD THAT SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA BROUGHT UP WHAT HE DID BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT IN HAVING HIS VOICE AT CSAC REALLY MAKES IT, YOU KNOW, WHEN HE'S ABLE TO TELL US WHAT'S GOING ON. BECAUSE IT'S ONE THING TO HEAR ABOUT IT AS YOU READ IT. BUT KNOWING THAT HE'S AT THE TABLE, IT'S REALLY HELPFUL FOR FOR ALL OF US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON AND THE IMPORTANCE OF IT. ALSO STARTING TOMORROW OR I'M SORRY, TOMORROW, STARTING AT 9:30 IS THE GOLD RUNNER THRUWAY BUS ROUTE RIBBON CUTTING. THIS BUS IS FROM MERCED TO SAN JOSE. IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR QUITE SOME TIME. IT'S REALLY GOING TO OPEN UP THAT AREA TO THE OR HERE TO CONNECT TO THE BAY AREA, WHICH I THINK IS GOING TO BE REALLY GOOD. AND THEN I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO I DO THIS EVERY TIME MY SON IS IN A SHOW. THEY'RE DOING HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL AT GOLDEN VALLEY AND IT'S ONE OF THE AT GOLDEN VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL IS ONE OF THE 21 SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT WAS GIVEN THE RIGHTS TO DO A DISNEY SHOW FOR FREE, WHICH IS KIND OF A BIG DEAL BECAUSE THE RIGHTS ARE REALLY EXPENSIVE. SO THAT STARTS TOMORROW AND THEN THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AT SEVEN, AND THEN THIS SATURDAY AT FIVE, AND THEN ALSO NEXT WEEK AS WELL. AND THEN FINALLY I WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN THE MEETING FOR MARCHEN OSOWSKI. MARTIN WAS A FRIEND OF MINE AND A CLASSMATE OF MINE FROM THE SECOND GRADE THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL. AND HE TRAGICALLY PASSED AWAY IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. MY AGE. I'VE KNOWN HIM MY ENTIRE LIFE. A REALLY NICE MAN. VERY SMART. HIS FATHER WAS A PHYSICIAN HERE IN MERCED AND RETIRED, BUT I JUST WANTED TO TO ADJOURN FOR HIM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SUPERVISOR. IF YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU MET WITH THE SENATE TRANSPORTATION. WHY DON'T YOU TALK ABOUT THE CORRELATION BETWEEN THAT AND HSR? BECAUSE I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ACTUALLY HAVE THE FINAL SAY ON WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THAT. SO THE. OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SO THE SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING THE LEGISLATION. THE LEGISLATION THAT NEEDS TO BE OR THAT THE AUTHORITY WANTS TO CHANGE. SO THEY WANT TO CHANGE SENATE BILL 198, WHICH MAKES IT TO WHERE MERCED HAS A STATION IN DOWNTOWN MERCED. WELL, THIS LEGISLATION HAS TO COME FROM THE LEGISLATURE OF THEMSELVES. IT CAN'T JUST COME FROM THE AUTHORITY. THEY HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY THAT'S GOING TO PUSH THE LEGISLATION THROUGH THE SENATE FOR THE GOVERNOR TO EVENTUALLY SIGN. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE HAVING SOME ISSUES WITH IS COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE SENATE, THE SENATORS OR THE LEGISLATURE IN GENERAL, THE HIGH SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, AND GETTING ALL THOSE THREE TOGETHER TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT TYPES OR WHAT TYPE OF LEGISLATION NEEDS TO BE CHANGED IN ORDER TO GET THIS DONE. IT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO KIND OF FIGURE OUT. IT'S LIKE WHO'S ON FIRST TYPE OF THING. THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. AND SO ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE SENATE TRANSPORTATION CONSULTANT WAS TELLING US WAS THAT THEY HAVE A BLANK SLATE, IF YOU WILL. AND SO AND MY RESEARCH AND WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING IS GOING THROUGH AND READING SB 198 AND FIGURING OUT WHAT CHANGES NEED TO HAPPEN AND THE CHANGE THAT THEY WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN IS THEY WANT TO MOVE THE STATION FROM DOWNTOWN MERCED BECAUSE IN THE CURRENT LEGISLATION, IT SAYS IT HAS TO BE IN DOWNTOWN MERCED. AND THEN ALSO THEY WANT TO CHANGE SOME OF THE FUNDING MECHANISMS TO WHERE IF THEY SPEND MORE THAN $500 MILLION THEY CAN'T SPEND MORE THAN $500 MILLION OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OR OUTSIDE OF MERCED. AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT TO CHANGE IN ORDER TO MOVE THE STATION TO WHERE THE AUTHORITY WANTS TO MOVE IT TO. SO THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE. AND THEN THERE'S A COUPLE OTHER THINGS, BUT THEY'RE STILL WORKING VERY MUCH WITH A BLANK SLATE. AND THEY HAVE TO GET A SENATOR TO RUN THE BILL. THEY HAVE TO GET THE GOVERNOR TO SIGN THE BILL. AND SO WHAT, WE'RE PRETTY MUCH ABLE TO DO RIGHT NOW IS WORK WITH SENATE TRANSPORTATION, THE SENATORS ON THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE TO REALLY KIND OF PUT IN THE REGION'S REQUESTS ON SOME CONCESSIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE IN ORDER FOR THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN BRINGING A TRAIN HERE. IT IS GOOD NEWS, THOUGH, THAT SENATOR CABALLERO IS NOW ON THE AUTHORITY. SHE'S AN EX OFFICIO ON THE AUTHORITY BOARD. THAT'S REALLY GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL FOR US BECAUSE, AS WE KNOW, SENATOR CABALLERO REPRESENTS THIS AREA VERY ADMIRABLY IN THE SENATE. AND MEETING WITH HER QUITE A BIT IS, IS SHE'S AWARE OF OUR CONCERNS AND WHAT'S GOING ON. AND SHE'S A REALLY BIG ADVOCATE FOR US UP THERE. AND I THINK THAT THE SENATOR IN CHARGE OF THE COMMITTEE, THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, SENATOR CORTESE FROM SAN JOSE, IS ALSO IN FAVOR OF A CENTRAL VALLEY STATION AND HAVING SOMETHING IN MERCED OR MERCED COUNTY. AND SO I THINK THAT THAT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO PRESS OUR OUR SENATORS ON THAT COMMITTEE SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE REALLY INVOLVED WITH THIS. AND I THINK IT'S A VERY TOUGH PROJECT I KNOW TO SUPPORT AT TIMES WITH MY COLLEAGUES, [01:00:07] BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY BENEFICIAL BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT CAN COME OUT OF THAT LEGISLATION OR ANY LEGISLATION AS IT RELATES TO RAIL. AND SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M SPENDING A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT ON BECAUSE I RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF FOR MERCED COUNTY. SO APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THAT. THAT'S WHY I WANTED YOU TO HIGHLIGHT. EXACTLY BECAUSE YOU GOT DOWN IN THE WEEDS AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK. THANK YOU. YEAH. SUPERVISOR PACHECO. THANK YOU, CHAIR. ON THE 19TH, I ALSO ATTENDED THE MLK MARCH. IT'S GREAT TO CELEBRATE DOCTOR KING'S LEGACY WITH THE MERCED COUNTY COMMUNITY. I ALSO ATTENDED THE RCDC LEADERSHIP RECEPTION. I WAS ABLE TO CONNECT WITH SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES FROM OTHER RURAL COUNTIES. VERY BENEFICIAL. I JUST WANT TO ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE SUPERVISOR MENETREY FOR BEING OUR LEADER. ON THE 22ND, I ATTENDED THE CITY COUNTY DINNER. AGAIN, GREAT MEAL, GREAT PRESENTATION ON AI. IT'S COMING. SO IT'S GREAT TO GET OUR INFORMATION ON IT. ON THE 27TH, I ATTENDED THE PLANADA 20 MILLION MEETING WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO UPDATE RESIDENTS ON THE PROGRESS OF OUR PROGRAM. EARLIER IN THE MONTH, WE ALSO TOURED SOME OF THE HOMES THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN RESTORED. SO I WANT TO THANK OUR STAFF FOR NOT ONLY PUTTING THESE EVENTS TOGETHER, BUT FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK IN HELPING OUR PLANADA RESIDENTS. AGAIN, LIKE SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SAID, WE MET WITH LIVINGSTON. WE'RE HOPING FOR A POSITIVE OUTCOME FOR NOT ONLY LIVINGSTON, FOR THE COUNTY OF MERCED. ON THE FIRST SUNDAY I ATTENDED THE MERCED COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETING. VERY NICE EVENT. THEY SWORE IN THEIR NEW OFFICERS AND RECOGNIZED SOME OF THEIR UNIQUE HARD WORKING MEMBERS. SO I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THE INVITATION FOR THAT. AND THEN YESTERDAY I ATTENDED THE COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY, THEIR ANNUAL EMPTY BOWL FUNDRAISER. KIND OF NEAT. YOU GET A FREE BOWL AND THEY GIVE YOU SOUP AND WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE DELICIOUS SOUP AND FOR ALL THEY DO FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE CHAIR. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. YOU HAD SOMETHING ELSE? YEAH. THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY WAS. I ATTENDED THAT AS WELL. I CAN'T REMEMBER I SAID THAT, BUT IT WAS AT THE WOMEN'S CLUBHOUSE. AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW, THAT WAS DONATED BY THE ORGANIZATION TO THE MERCED COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. SO THEY NOW HAVE THAT BUILDING, WHICH IS REALLY AND THEY'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK INSIDE, AND THEY'RE WORKING ON THE OUTSIDE OF IT, TOO. SO IT'S THEY HAVE THEIR OWN LITTLE COMPLEX, IF YOU WILL. SUPERVISOR I THINK YOU SPOKE MORE THAN SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA TODAY. [LAUGHTER] COUNTY COUNSEL HANSEN? CEO HENDRICKSON. NOTHING. WELL THANK YOU. YEAH. I DID ATTEND THE MARTIN LUTHER KING EVENT ON THE 19TH. ALSO ON THE 21ST, I ATTENDED THE RCRC LEADERSHIP. WE ACTUALLY HAD RCRC MEETING. IT STARTED AT 8 A.M. THAT MORNING AND WENT ALL THE WAY UP TILL THE RECEPTION. A LOT OF REALLY GOOD INFORMATION. ALSO DID THE PLANADA HOME TOUR, AND I DID THAT WITH SUPERVISOR PACHECO TO SEE WHERE THE INVESTMENT DID THAT MERCED COUNTY THAT OUR OUR STATE FOLKS HAD PUT OUT THERE FOR THOSE FOLKS. AND IT WAS VERY, VERY EYE OPENING. A LOT OF FOLKS ARE BETTER OFF TODAY THAN WHAT THEY WERE EVEN BEFORE THE FLOOD, AND THAT DOESN'T COMPENSATE FOR THE ANXIETY AND WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH THEN. BUT IT WAS GOOD TO SEE THAT. ALSO I TOURED [INAUDIBLE] ACTUALLY, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA MYSELF GOT TO DO THE NEW FIXED BUSINESS OPERATION OUT AT CASTLE AND SAW THE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PLANS THAT THEY HAVE MOVING FORWARD. IT WAS QUITE IMPRESSIVE. AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT YEAH, YEAH, THE PLANS THEY HAVE MOVING FORWARD, IT'S PRETTY INCREDIBLE THE WORK THEY'RE DOING WORKING NOT ONLY WITH WHAT WE HAVE HERE AND BRINGING PEOPLE HERE, BUT ALSO WORKING WITH THE FOLKS AT THE SUPER BOWL, THE FOLKS WITH FIFA FOR THE THE WORLD CUP. IT'S PRETTY INCREDIBLE, THEIR REACH AND WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO. ALSO WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THE ATWATER MOBILE DISTRICT OFFICE HOURS ARE FOR THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH. WE MOVED THEM FROM 3 TO 5. AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY. IT'S TO TO MEET WITH YOUR SUPERVISOR IN THE CITY OF ATWATER. THEY'RE THEY'RE WELL ATTENDED AND APPRECIATE WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT. ALSO FEBRUARY 10TH AT THE CASTLE VETERANS ORGANIZATION IN ATWATER. WE WILL DO OUR PRESENTATION WITH AMR AND GO OVER AND INTRODUCE THEM TO THE COMMUNITY THERE. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. AND I'M HAPPY THAT OUR VETERANS WANT TO OFFER THAT UP AND HAVE THEM THERE. AND ALSO, I'D LIKE TO BE THE FIRST TO CONGRATULATE AND WELCOME OUR VETERAN SERVICE OFFICER, BEN HERNANDEZ. WITH THAT. THAT CONCLUDES OUR MEETING. THANK YOU. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.