GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE MAY 12, 2026 MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. [10:00 A.M. – REGULAR MEETING] [00:00:07] WE WILL NOW START WITH AN INVOCATION LED BY PASTOR JOHN MOTZ FROM THE NEW LIFE COMMUNITY CHURCH. AND THEN I WILL LEAD THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. LET US PRAY. FATHER GOD, THIS IS THE DAY THAT YOU HAVE MADE. YOU'VE MADE IT THAT WE MIGHT REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT. SO WE BEGIN THIS DAY WITH A THANKFUL HEART RECOGNITION OF YOUR GOODNESS HERE IN THE MIDST OF OUR LIVES, IN THE MIDST OF OUR CHALLENGES, IN THE MIDST OF OUR CELEBRATIONS. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY THAT YOU HAVE MADE FOR US. GOD, WE OFFER TO YOU THOSE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE. WE ASK FOR YOUR HELP IN THE MIDST OF THE CHALLENGES THAT CONFRONT US. FATHER, OVER OUR COUNTY. WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY NOT ONLY TO LIVE HERE, TO CALL THIS HOME, TO CARE FOR AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER, BUT ALSO TO OWN UP AND CARRY THE RESPONSIBILITY YOU'VE GIVEN TO EACH OF US TO BE GOOD CITIZENS WITHIN THE MIDST OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WE LIVE. FATHER, I PRAY FOR OUR SUPERVISORS TODAY IN PARTICULAR, AS THEY GATHER THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO BEAR THAT THAT MANTLE OF LEADERSHIP WELL, TODAY AND EVERY DAY. I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO GUIDE THEIR HEART, CONTINUE TO ENABLE THEM TO WALK WITH INTEGRITY, TO BE ABLE TO MOVE WITH A COMPASSION TO CARE FOR, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE VULNERABLE WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES WE LIVE. FATHER, I PRAY THAT YOU GUIDE THEM WITH WISDOM BE THEIR STRENGTH GOD AND EVEN INTO THEIR PERSONAL LIVES, THEIR FAMILY LIVES. LORD, I WANT TO LIFT UP EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM TO YOU TODAY, PRAYING SPECIFICALLY FOR SUPERVISOR PACHECO AND THE CHALLENGES HE FACES. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND THAT WHICH CONFRONTS HIM. GOD, I LIFT UP SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND THANK YOU GOD FOR HIM, BUT ALSO PRAY FOR YOUR STRENGTH TO BE HIS. FATHER, I PRAY FOR SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. AND SUPERVISOR PEDROZO GOD, THAT YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO GUIDE THE STEPS OF EACH ONE OF THESE LEADERS IN THE POSITION OF AUTHORITY THAT YOU HAVE GRANTED THEM. FATHER, FOR THE STAFF AND THOSE THAT WORK HERE TO CONTINUE TO HELP THIS BECOME AN EFFICIENT PLACE, BUT ALSO A CARING PLACE WHERE THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE ARE DEALT WITH. FATHER, FOR THE COMMUNITY AROUND US AS WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT, PRAY FOR AND LIFT UP THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO GUIDE AND SERVE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES. GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THAT PRIVILEGE. WE PRAY FOR THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE LIVE THAT WE CALL HOME. ALL ACROSS OUR COUNTY. I WANT TO PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE OF LOS BANOS AS WELL AS LE GRAND. PRAY FOR THOSE IN EL NIDO OR EVEN UP IN SNELLING. FATHER FOR THE RESIDENTS OF STEVENSON AND LIVINGSTON AND ATWATER, MERCED AND ALL THE OTHER COMMUNITIES REPRESENTED HERE TODAY, VARIOUS CHALLENGES, VARIOUS DIFFERENCES. BUT GOD ALL. WE LIFT THEM ALL TO YOU. SO FATHER, WE WE COME TODAY AGAIN SEEKING AFTER YOUR BEST FOR THIS PLACE THAT WE GET THE PRIVILEGE OF CALLING HOME, PRAYING FOR YOUR COVERING JUST GUARDING OUR HEARTS WATCHING AND GUIDING OUR STEPS. IN JESUS NAME, AMEN. AMEN. PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. READY? BEGIN. 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, LET'S GET THIS STRAIGHT. IT'S NOW TIME FOR PUBLIC [PUBLIC COMMENT] OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST WITHIN THE BOARD'S JURISDICTION, EXCLUDING ITEMS ON THE BOARD'S AGENDA. TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON AND 30 MINUTES TOTAL. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT. AGAIN, THIS IS FOR NON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING HONORABLE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS KAREN ADAMS YOUR TREASURER TAX COLLECTOR. BUT I'M HERE TODAY FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE KIWANIS CLUB OF GREATER MERCED. I AM THE PRESIDENT AND VERY HONORED THIS YEAR. THAT APRIL 18TH WE HAD THE OFFICIAL RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY AND JOSH SUPERVISOR PEDROZO REPRESENTED YOU AND ALSO IS THE CHAIRMAN [00:05:05] OF FIRST FIVE MERCED COUNTY. WITHOUT THE CITY OF MERCED AND THE COUNTY SUPPORT, WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BRING OUR KITTY LAND EXPRESS TRAIN BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE LOVE. SO AFTER ALMOST 70 YEARS OF OPERATION, WE'RE PROUD TO BE OPEN AGAIN WITH A LOT OF NEW ENHANCEMENTS AND GREAT FUN AND AFFORDABILITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY. PART OF THAT AFFORDABILITY COMES FROM YOU AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. YOU HAVE A WELL CHILD SUPPORT DEPARTMENT, ALONG WITH FIRST FIVE OF MERCED COUNTY IS HOSTING PARENTS APPRECIATION DAY, WHICH IS A FREE DAY. SO WE WELCOME SPONSORS TO PAY THE SPONSOR FEE AND OFFER A FREE DAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO I'M LEAVING THESE FLIERS THAT, OF COURSE, ARE ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND WE'RE SUPPORTING IT, PROMOTING IT ALONG WITH YOU. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, AND THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN THE KIWANIS CLUB OF GREATER MERCED AND OUR KIDDY LAND PROJECT. THANK YOU KAREN. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, BOARD CEO AND STAFF. MY NAME IS MARCUS ARELLANO, AND TODAY I'M HERE WITH TREEHOUSE TUTORING AND LEARNING CENTER, NOW FORMERLY TREEHOUSE TUTORING AND COMMUNITY CENTER. NOW THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN OUR 501 C3 NONPROFIT STATUS. AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU THAT THIS HAS BEEN A VERY BUSY FEW MONTHS FOR US. WE JUST WRAPPED UP OUR FIRST INSTALLMENT OF OUR AI LITERACY WORKSHOPS IN COOPERATION WITH HANDS ON CENTRAL CALIFORNIA, OUR LOFT FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAM WITH MERCED SUNRISE ROTARY IS IN FULL SWING, AND JUST THIS LAST WEEKEND, WE HELPED CO-ORGANIZE THE MERCED HMONG AMERICAN DAY CELEBRATION DOWNTOWN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HLUB HMONG CENTER, BUT WE HAVE A LOT MORE TO DO. THIS FRIDAY, MAY 15TH, WE ARE HOSTING OUR FIRST EVER FUNDRAISER IN COOPERATION WITH THE MERCED MULTICULTURAL ARTS CENTER. AND TREEHOUSE TUTORING ALWAYS LIKES TO GO A LITTLE BIT OUT OF THE BOX, SO INSTEAD OF A DINNER OR A GALA, WE WROTE A PLAY. THIS IS THE TREEHOUSE TUTORING CABARET, AND IT IS CENTRALIZED AROUND A SINGULAR IDEA. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? THIS IS A QUESTION THAT MANY OF OUR STUDENTS GRAPPLE WITH. AND AS WE'VE REALIZED, MANY OF THE LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY NEVER STOP ASKING THEMSELVES THAT QUESTION. WE WOULD LOVE FOR THE MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD TO BE ABLE TO JOIN US ON THAT EVENING. AND SO WE FORMALLY INVITE EACH OF YOU. THAT WILL BE THIS FRIDAY, MAY 15TH AT THE MULTICULTURAL ARTS CENTER AT 7:30 P.M. AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ESPECIALLY THANK SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AND CEO HENDRICKSON FOR SITTING DOWN WITH US TO GRAPPLE WITH THAT QUESTION PERSONALLY. AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THEIR ANSWERS, PLEASE SHOW UP FOR THE SHOW. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO FOR THE FAMILIES AND STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. I HAVE SOME FLIERS HERE THAT I'LL LEAVE IN THE BASKET. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU. AND IF IT'S ANY ADDED BONUS, MY SON IS ACTUALLY IN THE PLAY AS WELL, SO. AND HE'S PRETTY GOOD. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS AMELIA THEOTA AND I AM WITH THE ALL MOMS MATTER PROGRAM AT THE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY. WE ARE EXCITED TO INVITE THE BOARD AND OUR COMMUNITY TO GIVING MOM HER FLOWERS. TAKING PLACE THIS SATURDAY, MAY 16TH FROM 10:00 AM TO 2:00 PM AT APPLEGATE PARK. GIVING MOM HER FLOWERS IS A SPECIAL COMMUNITY CELEBRATION HONORING MOTHERS, GRANDMOTHERS, CAREGIVERS, MENTORS, AND THE MANY WOMEN WHO NURTURE AND STRENGTHEN OUR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY EVERY DAY. THE EVENT WILL FEATURE MUSIC, FAMILY ACTIVITIES, RAFFLE PRIZES, COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND OVER 30 COMMUNITY PARTNERS BOOTHS OFFERING INFORMATION AND SERVICES AVAILABLE TO LOCAL FAMILIES. KIDDY LAND WILL ALSO BE OPEN AND FREE FOR CHILDREN TO ENJOY. WE INVITE EVERYONE TO COME OUT AND ENJOY A DAY OF CELEBRATION AND CONNECTION, AND HELP US RECOGNIZE THE INCREDIBLE WOMEN WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. ADMISSION IS FREE AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE. I WILL LEAVE SOME FLIERS HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE THIS MORNING TO APPROACH ALL OF YOU. I'M PAULA HEUPEL AND I AM REPRESENTING EL NIDO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT AS THE SUPERINTENDENT. BUT I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF MERCED COUNTY. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR A COUPLE OF POINTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP AND FOR THE STRONG FOCUS IN YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN THAT PLACES IMPROVEMENT IN THE HEALTH WELFARE OF OUR COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY IN OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES AND UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF OUR COUNTY THAT CAN BE OFTEN OVERLOOKED. [00:10:08] YOUR COMMITMENT IS MAKING A VISIBLE DIFFERENCE. THE WORK BEING DONE IN THE EL NIDO AREA, THE PROJECTED PLANS THERE. WE'LL TALK I'LL TALK ABOUT IN A MOMENT, BUT I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, AFTER SERVING IN MERCED CITY FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND WORKING WITH THE BEACHWOOD FRANKLIN COMMUNITY THROUGH THE SCHOOLS AND THE PROGRESS THERE IS IT'S, COMMENDABLE. AND, IT'S ABOUT THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF OUR FAMILIES, WHICH DIRECTLY RELATES TO THE HEALTH AND WELFARE AND THE SUCCESS OF OUR CHILDREN. ALSO RECENTLY I JOINED THE EL NIDO SPIRIT CLUB AT AT THE PLANADA COMMUNITY DAY PARADE AND TO SEE THE RECOVERY EFFORTS. THE JOINT PROJECTS THAT WENT THERE ALSO DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTES TO THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY. A THRIVING COMMUNITY. THESE IMPROVEMENTS NOT ONLY STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES TODAY, BUT ALSO HELP CREATE A LONG TERM EFFECT FOR OUR FAMILIES. NOW TO THE EL NIDO PROJECT. ON BEHALF OF THE EL NIDO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT, I WANT TO FORMALLY PUT ON RECORD THAT WE WILL DO ANYTHING WE NEED TO TO ACCOMMODATE THE UPCOMING ROADWAY ACCESS WAY PROJECT THAT IS DUE TO BEGIN THIS SUMMER. THIS COMMUNITY HAS HAS NEEDED THIS FOR A LONG TIME. IT IS GOING TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY, THE WELFARE AND THE ACCESS TO EDUCATION FOR OUR FAMILIES. THESE PROJECTS MAY SEEM LIKE ROADS, SIDEWALKS, DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS, BUT THEY REALLY REPRESENT DIGNITY, SAFETY, ACCESS AND QUALITY OF LIFE. THEY SHOW THAT RURAL RESIDENTS TO RURAL RESIDENTS, THAT THEY MATTER. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING RENEE. GOOD MORNING. GENTLEMEN, SUPERVISORS. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF BEACHWOOD FRANKLIN COMMITTEE. I'M THE IMPROVEMENT. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE DISTRICT. I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS RIGHT NOW. JUST BEAR WITH ME. BUT ANYWAYS, SO HERE'S THE THING THAT I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT. IT'S BEEN, I'VE BEEN IN THIS FOR 15 YEARS SINCE 2011 AND, THE PARK WAS A GOAL THAT THANKS TO YOU GUYS THAT YOU GUYS HEARD OUR CRY AND AND IT'S REALLY A GOOD THING THAT YOU GUYS DID. AND IT'S GOING TO HELP GENERATIONS ALONG THE WAY. BUT THE THING IS, IS THAT WE WANT, THERE'S A THING FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER. AND I DON'T THINK THE COMMUNITY CENTER HAS PLANS YET. CORRECT. WE DON'T HAVE PLANS FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER IN BEACHWOOD. CORRECT? NO. WE DO. THERE'S PLANS ALREADY. ALREADY. THERE'S. WELL, WE CAN'T DO A BACK AND FORTH HERE. THIS IS YOU'RE JUST ADDRESSING US. BUT YEAH, THERE IS A CONCEPT. WE HAVE A. YEAH. CONCEPTION. I THINK YOU KNOW THE PARK IS IS GREAT. BUT THE THING IS THAT THE PARK IS SHOVEL READY FOR THE SKATE PARK. AND WE HAVE A WORLD CLASS BUILDER GRINDLINE TO BUILD THE PARK AND THE PRICE TAG IS 1.5 MILLION. AND WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT IF WE PUT THE COMMUNITY CENTER IN FRONT OF THAT WHICH WE WANT, THE COMMUNITY CENTER. WE WANT THAT, YOU KNOW, BUT IF WE PUT THAT IN FRONT OF THAT PARK, IT MIGHT TAKE THREE MORE YEARS FOR THE PARK, IS WHAT I'M SAYING. THE SKATE PARK AND THIS IS WHAT THE FIGHT WAS FOR IN THE BEGINNING, BECAUSE I WAS THERE, I, WE I CALLED SKATEMASTER TATE GERRY HURTADO IN 2013. IN 2014, WE HAD SKATE FOR THE YOUTH AND IT WAS AN EPIC EVENT AND THIS IS WHAT WE HAD. I KNOW WHEN THINGS HAPPEN, BUT WE. WE WANT THE SKATE PARK AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT NOW. I MEAN, IT'S IT'S IF IT'S SHOVEL READY TO GO, WHAT'S THE THAT'S MY QUESTION. WHAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH THE, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE WE GOING TO WAIT FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER, THEN THE SKATE PARK OR IS IT GOING TO BE YOU KNOW, THAT'S MY QUESTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. EXCUSE ME. GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN. SUPERVISORS. MY NAME IS TOM DINWOODIE, SOMETIMES KNOWN AS TOMATOTOM@YAHOO.COM. I LIVE AT 2749 HERROD AVENUE IN MCSWAIN. I AM A TRAINED UC MASTER GARDENER HERE IN MERCED COUNTY. AND I REPRESENT MY FELLOW 50 SOME MASTER GARDENERS IN THE COUNTY. [00:15:04] WE STRIVE TO PRESENT RESEARCH BASED KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION ABOUT HOME HORTICULTURE, PEST MANAGEMENT, AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE SUSTAINABLE PLANTING. WE DO THIS BY PARTICIPATING IN A BUNCH OF POP UPS WE CALL ONE DAY POP UPS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. I RECENTLY PARTICIPATED WITH THE REGIONAL WASTE MANAGEMENT FOLKS ON EARTH DAY AND THEN IN AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT. BELIEVE ME, ENTIRELY DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT. WE DID THE SAME THING OUT AT UC MERCED. THERE'S QUITE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LANDSCAPE, YOU MIGHT SAY, BETWEEN THE TWO. WE ALSO RECENTLY PARTICIPATED IN THE SPRING FAIR LOS BANOS SPRING FAIR, A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THE PUBLIC AND ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR GARDENING NEEDS. WE'LL BE AT THE MERCED COUNTY FAIR WITH A DEMONSTRATION GARDEN AND AN EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION BOOTH. WHAT WE DO BEST IS PUT ON PUBLIC WORKSHOPS. WE DO THESE ONCE A MONTH AT THE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION CLASSROOM, OUT ON WARDROBE OUT NEAR MERCED INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND GET GOOD CROWDS OUT THAT HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT GARDENING. TOPICS RANGE ANYWHERE FROM SOIL TO LAVENDER TO SPRING AND FALL, SPRING AND FALL GARDENING. WE DO THIS BEST. AND WE'RE FORTUNATE THAT RECENTLY WE'VE PAIRED WITH THE MAIN BRANCH OF THE MERCED PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND WE'LL BE OFFERING WORKSHOPS ALSO AT THE LIBRARY. THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT WE OUR WORKSHOPS NOW WITH COOPERATIVE EXTENSION ON SATURDAY. AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE THINGS TO DO ON SATURDAYS. SO FORTUNATELY, THE LIBRARY HAS OFFERED US THE OPPORTUNITY ON THE THIRD TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH FOR THE REST OF THIS YEAR, BETWEEN 5 AND 7 IN THE GRACIE ROOM OF PUTTING ON WORKSHOPS AT THE LIBRARY. IT ATTRACTS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT AUDIENCE, EASIER FOR SOME PEOPLE TO GET TO. AND THE HOURS ARE CERTAINLY DIFFERENT THAN A SATURDAY WORKSHOP. SO WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE LIBRARY, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM HERE IN MERCED COUNTY AND TOGETHER WITH THE LIBRARY, WE HOPE TO TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO GROW THEIR OWN FOOD AND BE A LITTLE BIT MORE SELF-SUFFICIENT. WE APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. HAVE A FLIER ABOUT OUR UPCOMING WORKSHOP THERE. IT'S ON SEED STARTING 101, AND WE'LL BE DOING THINGS LIKE CALIFORNIA NATIVES NEXT MONTH AND OTHER TOPICS LIKE THAT THAT ARE OF INTEREST TO THE PUBLIC. THANK YOU TOM. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, SUPERVISORS, CHAIR AND COUNTY STAFF. MY NAME IS VANESSA BARBERIS AND I'M HERE THIS MORNING FROM WASTE MANAGEMENT. I JUST WANTED TO COME THIS MORNING AND GIVE YOU GUYS A QUICK UPDATE AND ANNOUNCE THAT WE ARE, AS PLANNED, STARTING A NEW RESIDENTIAL BULKY COLLECTION PROGRAM ON JULY 1ST. SO THIS HAS BEEN A YEAR IN THE MAKING. WE HAVE DONE OUR PREPARATIONS AND RECEIVED A NEW TRUCK THAT WILL BE ABLE TO COLLECT THOSE MATERIALS. SO WHAT THE BULKY PROGRAM IS, IS ITEMS THAT DON'T FIT IN THE TRASH CAN LIKE FURNITURE, MATTRESSES. RESIDENTS CAN COME IN OR CALL IN TWICE A YEAR TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THE APPOINTMENTS WILL BE ON THEIR SERVICE DAY, AND THEY JUST PLACE THE MATERIALS OUT BY 6 A.M. AND IT WILL BE A SEPARATE COLLECTION TRUCK THAT COMES TO PICK IT UP. SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE THIS PROGRAM STARTING IN THE COUNTY. WE'RE WORKING RIGHT NOW WITH COUNTY STAFF TO PREPARE OUTREACH MATERIALS, FLIERS, AND OTHER INFORMATION THAT WILL GO OUT TO RESIDENTS. SO WE'LL MAKE SURE TO SEND THOSE THROUGH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE SO YOU ALL GET A COPY OF IT. OKAY. VERY GOOD. SO IS THAT TRUCK GOING TO BE RUNNING EVERY TIME, OR DO THEY HAVE THE CONSTITUENCY HAVE TO REACH OUT AHEAD OF TIME TO MAKE YOU AWARE? YEAH. THEY THEY CALL AHEAD OF TIME TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT ON THEIR SERVICE DAY. AND THEY CAN DO THAT UP TO TWO TIMES PER YEAR. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE REQUESTING THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. YES. OKAY. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE? SEEING NONE. THE PUBLIC PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED FOR NON AGENDA ITEMS. AT THIS TIME WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM UC MERCED REGARDING THE UNIVERSITY PROFESSIONAL AND CONTINUING EDUCATION ASSOCIATION ENGAGEMENT AWARD. [PRESENTATIONS] [00:20:04] I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR KRISTYNN SULLIVAN TO PROVIDE OPENING COMMENTS. GOOD MORNING BOARD CEO HENDRICKSON AND CITY COUNSEL HANSEN. IT IS MY HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY TO PROVIDE YOU WITH AN UPDATE ON THE COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER PROGRAM THAT THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, IN COLLABORATION WITH UC MERCED SPACE PROGRAM, HAS BROUGHT TO YOUR BOARD PROBABLY TWO YEARS AGO NOW. SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR PARTNERS FOR UC MERCED, FOR THE UC MERCED PACE PROGRAM, ANNETTE ROBERTS AND MICHAEL PIERICK. THANK YOU, DOCTOR SULLIVAN. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU. SUPERVISORS COUNCIL AND CEO HENDRICKSON AND STAFF, MICHAEL PIERICK WITH UC MERCED PACE. AS DOCTOR SULLIVAN MENTIONED, WE'RE HERE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO PRESENTED TO YOU A NEW PARTNERSHIP THAT WOULD HELP BUILD AND STRENGTHEN A SUSTAINABLE PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS. IT HAS EXPANDED IS ONLINE. IT'S AVAILABLE, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SLIDE TO RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA. BUT WE HAVE HAD A PRIMARY FOCUS IN MERCED COUNTY, MARIPOSA COUNTY, AND OUR IMMEDIATE REGION THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH PUBLIC HEALTH. AND IN PART THANKS TO A COLLABORATION WITH THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE FOR HEALTH AND SOME WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FUNDING. WE'RE ABLE TO. WE'RE EXCITED TO SHARE THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO TRAIN OVER 354 CHWS WITH THE PRIMARY AUDIENCE IMMEDIATELY HERE IN MERCED COUNTY. YOU CAN SEE A KIND OF AN ART GRAPHIC THERE OF OUR FIRST GRADUATING COHORT LAST SUMMER. THIS IS JUST WITHIN THOSE TWO YEARS. AND EVEN MORE EXCITING, WE HAVE A 91% COMPLETION RATE. SO OF THOSE STUDENTS OR THOSE LEARNERS, THESE ARE ADULT LEARNERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, INCUMBENT HEALTH CARE WORKERS, WHO ARE FOCUSED ON EXPANDING THE REACH AND ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND HIGH QUALITY HEALTH CARE THROUGHOUT OUR REGION AND HELPING INDIVIDUALS NAVIGATE THOSE DIFFERENT PATHWAYS OR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE. I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO ANNETTE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE AWARD WE'VE RECEIVED. THANK YOU MICHAEL. GOOD MORNING. I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE BECAUSE IT'S NOT EVERY DAY THAT YOU GET TO PRESENT AN AWARD THAT'S IN HONOR OF A STRONG PARTNERSHIP LIKE THIS ONE. I WANTED TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE UPCEA ORGANIZATION WHO HAS GIVEN US THIS AWARD. IT'S THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR PROFESSIONAL AND CONTINUING EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, OR DIVISIONS LIKE OURS AT UC MERCED PACE, AND UPCEA HAS OVER 500 MEMBER INSTITUTIONS IN THE IN THE NATION AND IN CANADA. AND ONLY ONE ENGAGEMENT AWARD IS GIVEN ANNUALLY, SO WE ARE THE RECIPIENT THIS YEAR. THE UPCEA AWARD RECOGNIZES A KNOWLEDGE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN AN INSTITUTION AND AN EXTERNAL CONSTITUENT THAT ESTABLISHES MEASURABLE AND SUSTAINABLE SHARED IMPACT IN AREAS SUCH AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, WORKFORCE TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING. AND SO, DOCTOR SULLIVAN, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT YOU WITH THE UPCEA ENGAGEMENT AWARD FOR YOU TODAY. AND WE WANTED TO JUST BRING THIS FORWARD BECAUSE WHILE THIS IS DEFINITELY A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN UC MERCED AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THIS IS ALSO BECAUSE OF A REALLY STRONG COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP ACROSS OUR CLINIC AND HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, AS WELL AS SUPPORT AND BUY IN FROM YOUR BOARD. AND AGAIN, IT'S A NATIONAL HONOR. SO WE'RE REALLY JUST HAPPY TO BRING THIS BACK TO MERCED COUNTY. [APPLAUSE] ACTUALLY, CAN WE CAN YOU JOIN US BACK UP HERE? WE'D LIKE TO DO A FULL GROUP PHOTO WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. THANK YOU. YOU'RE SO SMART. I WAS GETTING THE INDICATIONS FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHERS. [00:25:31] OKAY, AT THIS TIME, WE'LL OPEN UP COMMENT REGARDING THE PRESENTATION. SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE COMMENT PERIOD AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO PRESENTATION NUMBER TWO. AT THIS TIME I HAVE A PRESENTATION UPDATE FROM HR ONE, ALSO KNOWN AS THE BIG, ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT AND THE COUNTY MERCED SERVICES PROGRAM. I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO CEO HENDRICKSON TO PROVIDE OPENING COMMENTS. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, AGAIN. GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. REALLY, BEFORE TODAY'S PRESENTATION, I'D JUST LIKE TO ACTUALLY THANK EACH OF OUR DIRECTORS FROM PUBLIC HEALTH, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND THE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY, FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND THEIR COLLABORATION AND HELPING US BETTER UNDERSTAND THE POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS AND CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH H.R. ONE. THESE DEPARTMENTS ARE ON THE FRONT LINES OF SERVING SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY. AS WE KNOW, CHANGES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL CAN HAVE SIGNIFICANT LOCAL IMPLICATIONS, ESPECIALLY FOR COUNTIES THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DELIVERING CRITICAL SAFETY NET SERVICES. TODAY'S PRESENTATION IS REALLY INTENDED TO PROVIDE THE BOARD AND THE PUBLIC WITH AN OVERVIEW OF THE POTENTIAL OPERATIONAL, FISCAL AND SERVICE DELIVERY IMPACTS TIED TO H.R. ONE, AS WELL AS THE CHALLENGES OUR DEPARTMENTS MAY FACE IN MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS. TO BE SIMPLE, TO BE. TO BE CLEAR, OUR INTENTION TODAY IS SIMPLE. WE ARE SIMPLY AIMING TO OPENLY AND TRANSPARENTLY PROVIDE YOU AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS WITH INFORMATION THAT CONTINUES TO EVOLVE, BUT HAS MAJOR IMPLICATIONS UP AND DOWN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. THIS DISCUSSION IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE DECISIONS MADE IN SACRAMENTO OR IN WASHINGTON, D.C. DIRECTLY AFFECT FAMILIES HERE AT HOME, INCLUDING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, HOUSING SUPPORT, CHILD WELFARE PROGRAMS AND OTHER ESSENTIAL RESOURCES THAT MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY RELY UPON. SO AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR TEAM TO BEGIN THEIR PRESENTATION. AGAIN. JUST SAY THANKS TO THEM FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP IN HELPING NAVIGATE THESE TRICKY TIMES. MR. CECCOLI. CHAIR MCDANIEL. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. JOHN CECCOLI, THE DIRECTOR OF THE HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY. I'M GOING TO START OUT THE PRESENTATIONS. THERE WILL ACTUALLY BE. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THERE'S GOING TO BE A BRIEF PRESENTATION FROM THE THREE OF US THAT ARE OUR MOST IMPACTED DIRECTLY THAT INCLUDES MYSELF AND DOCTOR VANG, AS WELL AS DOCTOR SULLIVAN WITH PUBLIC HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THE REASON PRIMARILY THAT WE'RE UP HERE PRESENTING ON THIS, AND I THINK YOU'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB. CEO HENDRICKSON. YOU KNOW, IN OUR DEPARTMENT HEAD MEETINGS SPECIFICALLY, THIS IS GOING TO HAVE A COUNTYWIDE IMPACT MOST DIRECTLY TO OUR THREE DEPARTMENTS AS WE ARE RECIPIENTS OF STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING. PRIMARILY, MOST OF OUR PROGRAMS ARE SUB VENTED THROUGH STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDS. WE RELY ON THOSE ALLOCATIONS. H.R. ONE IS, IS CHANGING. SOME OF THE ELIGIBILITY RULES AND ALLOCATION FORMULAS AS WELL AS ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. SO POTENTIALLY OUTSIDE OF OUR DEPARTMENTS. AS COSTS RISE, OBVIOUSLY THERE CAN BE IMPACTS TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS AS WELL. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE, ALTHOUGH WE'RE THE SPOKESPEOPLE HERE TODAY REPRESENTING OUR DEPARTMENTS, WE ARE VERY MINDFUL OF THE BROADER IMPACT H.R. ONE IS GOING TO HAVE. SO FROM THE HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY PERSPECTIVE, AS THE LARGEST DEPARTMENT IN MERCED COUNTY WITH OVER 700 STAFF PRIMARILY GROUPED OUT DEPENDING ON WHICH SERVICES THEY DELIVER. WE HAVE SIX DIFFERENT BRANCHES WITH THOSE 700 EMPLOYEES THAT SERVE OVER 150,000 PEOPLE IN MERCED COUNTY. LITERALLY MORE THAN HALF OF THE COUNTY RESIDENTS COME THROUGH THE HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY DOORS. FOR SOME SERVICES, SUCH AS ELIGIBILITY. TODAY WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON CALFRESH WHICH IS THE FEDERAL SNAP PROGRAM, AS WELL AS MEDI-CAL, WHICH IS THE FEDERAL MEDICARE PROGRAM, BECAUSE THEY'RE BOTH DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THIS. BUT THE REALITY IS IT'S AN INTERCONNECTED DEPARTMENT. SO WHEN OUR CHILD WELFARE YOU KNOW, SERVICES DEPUTY DIRECTOR IS SPEAKING ABOUT THE IMPACT TO HER AGENCY WHEN THOSE SOCIAL SAFETY NETS ARE THREATENED IN [00:30:10] ANY WAY, THE LIKELIHOOD OF POSSIBLY MORE CHILD WELFARE SERVICE ENGAGEMENT, MORE ADULTS AND AGING SERVICES, HOUSING AND HOMELESS SERVICES BEING IMPACTED. WE'RE MINDFUL OF THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF THESE SERVICES TOGETHER. TYPICALLY, I CAN TELL YOU A STORY AFTER STORY OF THAT INTERCONNECTEDNESS. WHEN A FAMILY MEMBER MAY COME IN FOR SOMETHING LIKE CALFRESH, BUT IS REFERRED TO OTHER BRANCHES WITHIN OR OTHER DEPARTMENTS WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION AS WELL AS WE JUST SAW FROM THE UC MERCED, THE COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT REALLY SUPPORT THIS NETWORK TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO OUR HOUSEHOLDS. SO WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT CALFRESH FIRST 60,000 INDIVIDUAL RECIPIENTS ON A TYPICAL MONTH. WE JUST HAD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, WHICH WE SAW WITH THE DISRUPTION COULD DO $11 MILLION IN IN MONTHLY BENEFITS THAT BENEFIT CLOSE TO 300 GROCERY STORES AND RECIPIENTS OF THE CALFRESH SNAP ELIGIBILITY FUNDING THAT IS PROVIDED TO OUR COMMUNITY. THE CHANGES ARE COMING. YOU KNOW, THERE ARE ALREADY SOME THAT ARE IMPACTING, SUCH AS THE NONCITIZEN ELIGIBILITY CHANGES. THIS TYPICALLY IMPACTS FOLKS LIKE ASYLEES, PAROLEES AND REFUGEES ACROSS THE STATE THEY'RE PROJECTING ABOUT 74,000 INDIVIDUALS IN MERCED COUNTY OBVIOUSLY A MUCH SMALLER IMPACT, BUT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT POTENTIALLY HUNDREDS OF RECIPIENTS. CALFRESH ADMINISTRATIVE COST SHIFT. THIS IS ACTUALLY A REALLY BIG IMPACT TO OUR DEPARTMENT. IT'S ABOUT 1.3, $1.4 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE MATCH FROM THE COUNTY. WE ARE ABLE TO PAY THIS MATCH TOWARDS OUR BASED ON OUR CURRENT ALLOCATION, WE BUDGET RELATIVELY CONSERVATIVELY, BUT IT STILL HAS A BIG IMPACT AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE LEEWAY THAT WE HAVE IN ADMINISTERING THIS PROGRAM. THIRDLY, THE ABLE BODIED ADULTS WITHOUT DEPENDENTS, THE ABAWD WORK RULE EXEMPTION HAS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT IMPACT. AND WE'LL GO OVER THE NUMBERS OF THAT 60,000 PLUS BENEFICIARIES IS ACTUALLY 63,122 AS OF MAY 8TH. WHO ARE GOING TO BE EXEMPT OR NOT EXEMPT FROM THESE RULES. CURRENTLY, WE HAVE ABOUT 9,740 INDIVIDUALS THAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE ABLE BODIED ADULTS WITHOUT DEPENDENT WORK RULES. AND THEN POTENTIALLY THE MOST SIGNIFICANT IS A PAYMENT ERROR RATE. SO THERE NOW WILL BE A PENALTY BASED ON PAYMENT ERROR RATE THAT HAS BEEN WAIVED IN THE PAST. OUR CURRENT PAYMENT ERROR RATE IS 0%. THAT IS BASED ON A VERY SMALL SAMPLE SIZE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL PULL RANDOMLY FROM OUR CASELOAD MONTHLY. TWO CASES RIGHT SO THERE'S REALLY HIGH LIKELIHOOD IF AN ERROR IS DISCOVERED THAT THAT COULD GO TO 0 TO 06, 7, 10% RELATIVELY QUICKLY. IN THE PAST, WE PULLED THE LAST FIVE YEARS OR SO IN 2023 AND 2024, WE'RE ACTUALLY OVER 6%. WE'RE AT 7.13%. THAT PAYMENT ERROR RATE ALONE WOULD WOULD PROMPT UP TO A 6 OR $7 MILLION PENALTY. THAT FUNDING, UNLIKE THE INCREASED ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDING, THERE IS NOT A CLEAR PATHWAY TO ACTUALLY PAY THAT FUNDING. SO WE ARE FOCUSED ON MITIGATING THAT THROUGH TRAINING. WE ACTUALLY MOVED OUR TRAINING SECTION OUT OF OUR ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM INTO OUR FAMILY SERVICE REP TO REMOVE ONE LAYER OF BUREAUCRACY. THEY CAN BE MUCH MORE RESPONSIVE IF THEY'RE HOUSED IN THAT BRANCH. THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS WE'VE ALSO SEEN OUR RETENTION. AND I THINK THAT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE 23 AND 24 RATES BACK IN 2022 OUR RETENTION RATE FOR FAMILY SERVICE REPS, WHICH IS A VERY COMPLICATED JOB. IT TAKES ABOUT A YEAR TO BECOME A REALLY COMPETENT. FAMILY SERVICE REP WAS AROUND 25%. WE HAD 42 NEW NEW STAFF MEMBERS WHO WERE HIRED ACTUALLY LEAVE THE DEPARTMENT THIS YEAR, WE'RE AT 85%. SO WE'VE REALLY BEEN FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE PRIMARILY JUST THROUGH ENGAGEMENT CONVERSATIONS, ASKING PEOPLE, HOW'S YOUR EXPERIENCE REALLY EMPHASIZING THE SUPPORT THAT OUR UNREPRESENTED MANAGEMENT IS GOING TO PAY TO THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE COMING IN? AGAIN, VERY COMPLICATED PROCESS HERE, BUT WHAT WE'RE HOPING IS WE CAN SOMEWHAT MITIGATE THE PAYMENT ERROR RATE THREAT BY INCREASING OUR TRAINING, PUTTING IT CLOSER TO THE FAMILY SERVICE BRANCH SO THAT THEY CAN BE MORE RESPONSIVE, FOCUSED ON RETAINING STAFF, TRAINING STAFF. AND THEN LASTLY, INCREASING OUR QUALITY ASSURANCE CHECKS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CATCHING TRENDS EARLY IN ORDER TO AGAIN MITIGATE THOSE, MAINTAIN OUR PAYMENT ERROR RATE BELOW THE 6% THRESHOLD AND THEREFORE AVOID THAT PENALTY. SO EXEMPTIONS, YOU HEARD ME SAY THERE'S. JOHN IF WE COULD HOLD ON. [00:35:03] CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YOU SAID 7.13% PAYMENT ERROR RATE WOULD EQUAL HOW MUCH IN THE DOLLAR AMOUNT? WE'RE ESTIMATING 6 TO $7 MILLION DOLLARS. OKAY THANK YOU. SO THE DOLLAR AMOUNT IS GOING TO BE BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF BENEFITS THAT WE ISSUE. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. MR. CHAIR. JOHN, DO YOU IS THERE ANY INDICATION OF HOW OFTEN THE I GUESS IT'S THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION OR IS IT WILL THEY BE CHECKING. IS IT IS IT ON A REGULAR. IS IT JUST RANDOM. THEY CHECK MONTHLY. MONTHLY. PULL THAT SMALL SAMPLE SIZE MONTHLY AND THEN THEY'LL PUBLISH IT IN MAY. SO THIS MONTH WE'LL FIND OUT OUR PAYMENT ERROR RATE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR. AND SO IT'S THEY PULL IT IN MAY AND THEN WHATEVER IT IS FOR THAT MONTH. SO DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, THEY'RE PULLING THAT 2K SAMPLE SIZE TO CHECK FOR ERRORS. AND THEN THEY'LL PUT THOSE ALL TOGETHER AND ISSUE WHAT OUR PAYMENT ERROR RATE WILL BE. DO WE KNOW WHAT THAT IS ONCE THEY PULL IT, OR IS IT KIND OF A WAIT AND SEE GAME? IT'S THE FEDS. SO WE'RE STILL WAITING AND SEEING. BUT RIGHT NOW WHAT I'M BEING TOLD IS WE'RE AT 0%. BUT I'M, YOU KNOW, I'M CAUTIOUS ABOUT THOSE NUMBERS. AND THAT'S WHY I REFERENCE THE BACK. WE ALL KNOW THERE'S HUMANS INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS. 0% IS NOT A REALISTIC NUMBER, ALTHOUGH THE TEAM WORKS HARD. YEAH. BUT WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL LATER THIS MONTH. THANK YOU. SO YOU'RE NOT QUITE HIGH FIVING EVERYBODY RIGHT NOW. WE'RE NOT QUITE HIGH FIVING ANYBODY AT THIS POINT THERE'S A LOT I THINK THE THEME ON THIS TOO. AND WHEN WE GET TO THE MY LAST SLIDE IS REALLY THE UNCERTAINTY. OKAY. IN SOME OF THE RULES AND REGS THAT ARE THAT ARE COMING OUT AND BEING IMPLEMENTED. AND THEN I WILL POINT OUT WE ARE AND WE ARE EXEMPT RIGHT NOW THROUGH OCTOBER FOR ABLE BODIED ADULTS WITHOUT DEPENDENTS NOT ALIGNED WITH THE PAYMENT ERROR RATE, BUT THERE ARE SOME BENEFITS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW AS FAR AS BEING LATE IMPLEMENTERS OF THE ABLE BODIED ADULTS WITHOUT DEPENDENTS. BUT NO, THERE ARE NOT HIGH FIVES IN THE OFFICE, JUST A LOT OF HARD WORK AND DEDICATION. RIGHT ON. THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS UP HERE SO. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN. AGAIN, AS REFERENCED, THERE'S A LOT OF EXEMPTIONS. WE ARE, PER YOUR DIRECTION, CEO HENDRICKSON. WE ARE NOT COUNTING ON EXEMPTIONS. WE'RE COUNTING ON TRAINING SUPPORT, MAKING SURE THAT OUR FOLKS HAVE WHAT THEY DO, WHAT THEY NEED, AS DOCTOR SULLIVAN SAID, TO BLUNT THE IMPACTS. I THINK WHAT YOU'LL SEE A LOT HERE IS STRATEGIES TO BLUNT THE IMPACTS. THE REALITY IS THIS POLICY CHANGE IS DESIGNED TO GET PEOPLE OFF SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS. AND WE WILL SEE THAT. I DON'T WANT TO PAINT ANY, YOU KNOW, FALSE EXPECTATION OTHER THAN THERE WILL BE SOME REPERCUSSIONS ON STRICTER ELIGIBILITY RULES AND WORK REQUIREMENTS. SO IN TOTAL, ABOUT 9,740 NONEXEMPT THIS WILL IMPACT US STARTING IN NOVEMBER. IF YOU ARE NOT DEEMED, IF YOU'RE NOT MEETING THE WORK REQUIREMENT, WHICH IS THE BIG ONE, YOU WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR CALFRESH FOR THREE MONTHS IN A 36 MONTH TIME FRAME. MEDI-CAL IS THE ONE THAT'S REALLY GOTTEN A LOT OF ATTENTION, I THINK FOR VERY GOOD REASON. RIGHT? MEDICAL COSTS ARE ALREADY EXTREME. THEY LEAD TO YOU KNOW, OTHER UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF NOT HAVING SUCH AS A PRIMARY CARE CHECKUP ACCESS TO SPECIALTY CARE. SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF FOCUS ON THAT, AS WELL AS WHAT DOCTOR SULLIVAN WILL DISCUSS IN MUCH MORE DETAIL ABOUT YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE INDIGENT CARE POSSIBILITIES HERE, NOT ONLY IN MERCED COUNTY BUT ACROSS THE STATE. SO AGAIN, SIMILAR RESTRICTIONS AS FAR AS CERTAIN QUALIFIED NON-CITIZENS SUCH AS REFUGEES, ASYLEES, TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS, HUMANITARIAN PAROLEES WHO PREVIOUSLY WOULD HAVE BEEN ELIGIBLE, BUT EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST WILL NOT. AGAIN, WE SEE A WORK REQUIREMENT FOR NONEXEMPT HOUSEHOLDS 80 HOURS A WEEK OR 80 HOURS A MONTH. EXCUSE ME. NOT ONLY WORK, BUT THERE'S ALSO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SOME OTHER THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO TO BE EXEMPT FROM THIS. AND WE'LL LOOK AT THAT AT THE LAST SLIDE. SIGNIFICANTLY FOR US IS SIX MONTH RENEWALS. IT WAS REASSURING. I WAS HAVING CONVERSATIONS TODAY WITH ONE OF OUR PROGRAM MANAGERS WHO SAID, JOHN, THIS IS NOTHING NEW. WE'VE DONE SIX MONTH RENEWALS BEFORE BECAUSE WE WILL GET THIS DONE. WE WILL GET IT DONE. THERE'S A HIGH DEGREE OF CONFIDENCE THAT'S GOING TO START JANUARY 1ST. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO THESE NEW RULES WILL GO INTO EFFECT FOR NEW APPLICANTS OVER THE COURSE OF 12 MONTHS DURING REDETERMINATION OR SIX MONTHS FOR THE SIX MONTH RENEWALS IS WHEN WE'LL SEE AND START APPLYING THE WORK REQUIREMENTS IN THESE NEW WORK REQUIREMENTS. IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AS A FLOOD. IT'S GOING TO BE MUCH MORE OF A TSUNAMI THAT THROUGH JANUARY INTO JULY, WE'LL HAVE A MUCH BETTER SENSE OF WHERE WE'RE AT IN THIS. AGAIN, WE'LL TALK ABOUT EXEMPTIONS HERE. BUT WE'RE NOT COUNTING ON THOSE TO SEE US THROUGH THIS. AND THEN RETROACTIVE MEDI-CAL PAYMENTS ARE THREE MONTH TIME FRAMES WHERE THEY CAN LOOK BACK. [00:40:05] NOW IT WILL BE ONE MONTH. WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME FOCUSING ON KEEPING FOLKS ELIGIBLE. THAT'S IMPORTANT ALSO BEING NIMBLE WHEN SOMEONE'S NOT ELIGIBLE AND PRESENTING AT A HOSPITAL OR A FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER, HOW CAN WE, AND WE HAVE SOME STRATEGIES THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN DETAIL TO GET THEM BACK ON AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. AND THEN LASTLY COST SHARING FOR ADULTS. SO THERE WILL BE A CO-PAYMENT REQUIRED NOW, WHICH AGAIN COULD DISCOURAGE SOME FOLKS FROM SEEKING MEDICAL CARE IF THEY HAVE TO PAY UP TO $35 IF THEY'RE OVER 100% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. SO A LOT OF THESE THINGS, YOU KNOW, ARE DESIGNED MAYBE NOT DESIGNED, BUT THEY WILL RESULT IN PEOPLE NOT SEEKING CARE IF THERE'S A COST SHARE FOR THEM AS WELL. SOME EXEMPT SERVICES FOR THE COST SHARE INCLUDE PRIMARY CARE, PRENATAL CARE, EMERGENCY AND MENTAL HEALTH AND SUD SERVICES. SO SOME OF THE REALLY POSSIBLY EXPENSIVE MEDICAL CARE YOU WOULD RECEIVE ARE EXEMPT FROM THE PREMIUM PAYMENT AS WELL. I DO WANT TO POINT OUT, SO WE FOCUSED A LOT ON HR ONE FOR GOOD REASON. WE'RE ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY TALKING ABOUT HR ONE HERE. CALIFORNIA AS WELL HAS PULLED BACK SOME OF THE COVERAGE. SO FOR A WHILE, FULL SCOPE MEDI-CAL WAS BEING OFFERED TO EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS STARTING IN JANUARY. THAT BENEFIT WAS NO LONGER FOR A NEW APPLICANT ELIGIBLE, BUT FOR THOSE WHO ARE REDETERMINING AS WELL, IF THEY WERE NOT MAINTAINING ELIGIBILITY ON MEDI-CAL, THEY WOULD LOSE THEIR MEDICAL COVERAGE. AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING, WE WE HAVE VERY GOOD DATA FROM THE MANAGED CARE PLAN, A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN INDIVIDUALS WITH UNSATISFACTORY IMMIGRATION STATUS, NOT APPLYING FOR MEDI-CAL OR REAPPLYING. THERE'S A VERY REAL CONCERN THAT SOME OF THIS DATA COULD BE SHARED WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN, IN SOME KIND OF INVOLVEMENT WITH IMMIGRATION, CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT, THAT, YOU KNOW, FAR BE IT FROM US TO SAY THAT WILL OR WILL NOT HAPPEN. WE WANT TO MAINTAIN PEOPLE'S ELIGIBILITY, BUT WE WANT TO FOLLOW THAT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF STRADDLE A FINE LINE BETWEEN WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FROM THE ELIGIBILITY SIDE AND INDIVIDUALS DETERMINATIONS THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO REAPPLY FOR MEDI-CAL. SO WE'RE SEEING A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ALREADY JUST BASED ON THAT STATE CHANGE. THE MEDI-CAL NUMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN SHARED WITH US. THERE WERE ABOUT 150,000 BENEFICIARIES, AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 142,000 RIGHT NOW. SO AGAIN, A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN MERCED COUNTY RESIDENTS ON MEDI-CAL. AGAIN, A LOT OF EXEMPTIONS. CURRENTLY, 140,000 FOLKS WHO ARE RECEIVING MEDI-CAL. WE ANTICIPATE ABOUT 33,000 WILL BE SUBJECT TO SIX MONTH RENEWALS. OUT OF THAT, 140,000 BENEFICIARIES AND ABOUT 40,000 WILL NEED TO COMPLY WITH WORK PARTICIPATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS. THERE WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE IN THERE THAT ARE ALREADY MEETING THOSE WORK REQUIREMENTS, BUT THERE WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE AS WELL WHO WILL NOT BE. SO THE ROAD AHEAD FOR NOT ONLY THE HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY OR THE DEPARTMENTS HERE, BUT REALLY THE COUNTY. WE'VE BEEN DILIGENTLY AND I DO WANT TO GIVE DOCTOR SULLIVAN A LOT, A LOT OF CREDIT FOR BRINGING FOLKS TOGETHER. CEO HENDRICKSON AND BROUGHT A LOT OF THE FQHCS TOGETHER, A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE IMPACTED. THERE WAS A LOT OF LIKE, WHAT'S THE COUNTY GOING TO DO? AND SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU SAW WITH THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN? OUR STRATEGY INVOLVES MOBILIZING, EMPOWERING, EDUCATING ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS. SO IN A SIX MONTH RENEWAL PERIOD, THE HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY HAD 60 DAYS, WOULD SEND OUT A PACKET IF YOU WEREN'T EX PARTE, WHICH IS A PROCESS WHERE THEY CAN DETERMINE VIA ELECTRONIC THAT YOU'RE STILL ELIGIBLE. WE WOULD SEND OUT A PACKET 30 DAYS IF WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED THAT PACKET, WE WOULD SEND OUT ANOTHER LETTER SAYING, HEY AND AT ZERO DAY WE WOULD SEND OUT A LETTER DISCONTINUING SOMEBODY. WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO DO. AND THEN YOU WOULD HAVE THREE MONTHS. SO REALLY YOU GOT A FIVE MONTH PERIOD HERE TO REDETERMINE AND MAINTAIN YOUR MEDI-CAL. WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO DO IS MAXIMIZE THE TOUCH POINTS FOR THE HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY. THERE MAY NOT BE MANY TOUCH POINTS, BUT IF SOMEONE'S SHOWING AT A FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER, WE WOULD WANT THEM TO THEN START HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS. SO IN FURTHERANCE OF THAT, WE'VE HAD 3 OR 4 PRESENTATIONS WITH ALLIANCE. CENTRAL CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE FOR HEALTH, THE ADMINISTRATOR OF MEDI-CAL. WE TRAINED OVER 150 COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS ON THINGS LIKE BENEFITSCAL, WHERE YOU CAN EMPOWER A COMMUNITY MEMBER OR A COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION TO GO INTO BENEFITS CAL, [00:45:05] START THAT PROCESS, SUBMIT DOCUMENTATION, SUBMIT VERIFICATIONS, GET THE BALL ROLLING. SO YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO COME INTO THE HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY. WE'VE, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS WITH THE UNITED WAY AND 211, REALLY MAXIMIZING IT FROM THAT MEETING WE HAD WITH CEO HENDRICKSON AND SOME OF THE FQHCS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS, THERE WERE A LOT OF ASKS OF LIKE, HEY, IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE STAFF MEMBER THERE. WE DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY TO HAVE SOMEONE AT AN FQHC RANDOMLY WAITING. IF WE CAN UTILIZE 211, WHICH IS ALREADY ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS, WHICH WE JUST LEARNED ABOUT TRUSTED MESSENGERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS WHO ARE INTERACTING WITH MEDI-CAL BENEFICIARIES, A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS. DO WE BELIEVE WE CAN MAXIMIZE THOSE TOUCH POINTS TO MAINTAIN ELIGIBILITY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE? THERE'S REASON FOR OPTIMISM. SEEING CSAC ASKS FOR ABOUT $1.9 BILLION. I THINK IT WAS 373 MILLION FOR ELIGIBILITY TEAMS TO HELP PEOPLE MAINTAIN FUNDING FOR HOSPITALS. WHAT WAS MOST ENCOURAGING ABOUT THAT AND SOMETHING I HAVEN'T SEEN IN MY, BRIEF TIME HERE WAS THE CALIFORNIA WELFARE DIRECTOR ASSOCIATION CAME TOGETHER WITH CSAC AND CSAC BROUGHT A BUNCH OF ADVOCACY GROUPS TOGETHER TO HAVE ONE ASK TO THE STATE WITH EVERYONE BEHIND THAT ASK. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE UNTIL THE GOVERNOR'S MAY REVISE, UNTIL THE ACTUAL BUDGET IS ADOPTED, OR AT LEAST APPROVED IN JUNE. AND THEN HONESTLY, WE WON'T KNOW FROM THE HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY UNTIL PROBABLY DECEMBER OR SO WHEN ALLOCATION LETTERS START REALLY COMING IN. SO WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE MORE CLARITY. AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO. KRISTYNN WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR OUR LOCAL IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING, BUT I HAVE WALKED OUT OF THOSE MEETINGS MORE OPTIMISTIC IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS THAN I FELT IN ANY MEETING IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE COMING ALONGSIDE THE HEALTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL IS ANOTHER FORUM WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LEVERAGING EXISTING RESOURCES AND PLATFORMS TO BRING EVERYONE TOGETHER. IN JUNE, WE'LL HAVE THREE PRESENTATIONS, TRAINING AT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES JUST TO TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS. AND STARTING IN JULY, WE'RE GOING TO DO A SIX MONTH TRAINING SERIES THAT WILL HOLD MONTHLY TO BRING, AGAIN, OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS. EVERYONE'S VERY INTERESTED IN THE PROCESS. THINGS LIKE AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATIONS ACCESS TO BENEFITSCAL TO REALLY MOBILIZE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY FOR THIS CHALLENGE. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY, MY COLLEAGUES WILL TALK ABOUT SOME OTHER INITIATIVES WE'RE TAKING AS WELL. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, CEO HENDRICKSON COUNTY COUNSEL HANSEN. I'M KIMIKO VANG, DIRECTOR OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE YOU AND THE PUBLIC WITH A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE IMPACT OF H.R. ONE ON BHRS PROGRAMS AND THOSE WE SERVE. SO, AS YOU KNOW, BHR IS PRIMARILY SERVES MEDI-CAL ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS WHO SUFFER FROM SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. OUR MAIN FUNDING SOURCES ARE MEDICAID, KNOWN AS MEDI-CAL. HERE IN CALIFORNIA, STATE REALIGNMENT AND ALSO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES ACT FUNDS. WITHOUT THIS FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDS, OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS WOULD BE AT RISK OF HARM AND EVEN POTENTIAL DEATH. AS DIRECTOR JOHN CECCOLI MENTIONED, STARTING ON JANUARY 1ST, 2027, WORK REQUIREMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED FOR INDIVIDUALS AGES 19 THROUGH 64 WITHOUT DEPENDENTS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID. THERE ARE EXEMPTIONS TO THE WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL DISABILITY OR THOSE DEEMED TO BE MEDICALLY FRAIL. THOSE INDIVIDUALS WOULD INCLUDE INDIVIDUALS WITH A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER OR A DISABLING MENTAL DISORDER, OR A PHYSICAL, INTELLECTUAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY THAT SIGNIFICANTLY IMPAIRS THEIR ABILITY TO PERFORM ONE OR MORE ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING. THESE INDIVIDUALS ALSO INCLUDE THOSE WHO RECEIVE CARE AT AN INPATIENT FACILITY. SO BASED ON THIS DEFINITION, INDIVIDUALS THAT WE SERVE AT BHRS WOULD FALL WITHIN THIS EXEMPTION. AT THIS TIME, THE CENTER FOR MEDICARE OR MEDICAID SERVICES CMS HAS NOT YET RELEASED GUIDANCE ON HOW STATES SHOULD OPERATIONALIZE OR VERIFY THESE EXEMPTIONS. HOWEVER, WHILE WAITING UPON GUIDANCE, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES, [00:50:01] OR DHCS HAS BEEN WORKING ON ESTABLISHING A STREAMLINED PROCESS USING BACK END VERIFICATION SYSTEMS AND EXPERT REVIEW TO VERIFY EXEMPTIONS FOR BHRS CLIENTS. ONCE THIS PROCESS IS IN PLACE, BHRS CLIENTS WILL NOT NEED TO MEET WORK REQUIREMENTS AND THEREFORE WE SHOULD SEE MINIMAL NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS. HOWEVER, WE MAY SEE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THREE GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS. THE FIRST GROUP INCLUDES INDIVIDUALS WHO CURRENTLY ARE MEDI-CAL ELIGIBLE THROUGH THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AND WHO MAY LOSE MEDI-CAL COVERAGE DUE TO THE NEW WORK REQUIREMENTS. THE SECOND GROUP INCLUDES INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY LOSE MEDI-CAL COVERAGE DUE TO THE NEW SIX MONTH MEDI-CAL ELIGIBILITY REDETERMINATION. THE THIRD GROUP INCLUDES INDIVIDUALS WHO FALL WITHIN THE QUALIFIED NON-CITIZEN CATEGORY AND WILL HAVE THEIR FULL SCOPE MEDI-CAL TRANSITION TO RESTRICTED SCOPE. BHRS SERVICES ARE NOT COVERED UNDER MEDI-CAL RESTRICTED SCOPE. INDIVIDUALS IN ALL THREE GROUPS WHO NO LONGER HAVE MEDI-CAL COVERAGE WILL UNFORTUNATELY NO LONGER HAVE ACCESS TO BHRS PROGRAMS. THIS COULD HAVE TREMENDOUS IMPACT TO THEIR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, AS THEY NO LONGER WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS TREATMENT FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. EVEN WITHOUT MEDI-CAL COVERAGE, THESE INDIVIDUALS WILL STILL HAVE ACCESS TO CRISIS SERVICES, HOWEVER, WITHOUT MEDI-CAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR SERVICES BHRS AND THE COUNTY WILL INCUR ADDITIONAL COSTS. WITH STRICTER MEDI-CAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, BHRS ESTIMATES THAT ABOUT 3 MILLION INDIVIDUALS IN CALIFORNIA WILL LOSE MEDI-CAL COVERAGE OVER TEN YEARS. FOR MERCED COUNTY, SPECIFICALLY, OUR MANAGED CARE PLAN, THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE FOR HEALTH ESTIMATES THAT ABOUT 27%, OR ABOUT 40,000 INDIVIDUALS, WILL LOSE MEDI-CAL COVERAGE OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS. BY THE END OF 2028 THE FOLLOWING IS THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS NEEDING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES IN MERCED COUNTY WHO COULD LOSE MEDI-CAL COVERAGE. 980 INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED BY THE WORK REQUIREMENTS. BETWEEN 88 TO 150 INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED BY THE SIX MONTHS REDETERMINATION. 210 INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED BY THE CHANGE TO RESTRICTED MEDI-CAL SCOPE. IN TOTAL, BETWEEN 1,278 TO 1,340 INDIVIDUALS IN NEED OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES COULD BE IMPACTED BY H.R. ONE. NOW, IF ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WERE TO SEEK SERVICES AT BHRS AS UNINSURED INDIVIDUALS, WE COULD POTENTIALLY SEE AN IMPACT OF BETWEEN 8.1 TO $12 MILLION IN UNCOVERED COSTS BY THE END OF 2028. NOW, I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT GIVEN THE STIGMA OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND ALSO CONCERNS AROUND IMMIGRATION STATUS, WE DON'T ANTICIPATE SEEING THAT NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS COMING TO OUR DOORS, UNFORTUNATELY. SO THAT SCENARIO IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY. WHAT IS PROBABLY MORE LIKELY IS THAT WE MAY SEE ABOUT 30 NEWLY UNINSURED INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL SEEK BHRS SERVICES. THIS WOULD AMOUNT TO ABOUT $140,000 IN UNCOVERED COSTS BY THE END OF 2028. WHAT'S ALSO MORE LIKELY IS A FISCAL IMPACT IN OUR CRISIS SERVICES, WHERE WE ESTIMATE ABOUT $3 MILLION IN UNCOVERED COSTS DUE TO AN INCREASING NUMBER OF UNINSURED INDIVIDUALS. I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT SHOULD WE SEE A DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CLIENTS THAT WE'RE SERVING AT BHRS DUE TO H.R. ONE, THIS WOULD NOT HAVE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON OUR MEDI-CAL REVENUE. WE CURRENTLY HAVE A HIGH CASELOAD, AND EVEN WITH A DECREASE IN CASELOAD, OUR CLINICAL STAFF WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE BILLING MEDI-CAL AT A HIGH RATE. IN THIS SCENARIO, WE DO NOT ANTICIPATE A SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT. TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF H.R. ONE. WE HAVE AN HSA STAFF WHO IS STATIONED AT OUR MAIN BHRS CAMPUS AND WHO IS THERE TO HELP INDIVIDUALS WITH COMPLETING NECESSARY DOCUMENTS TO RETAIN THEIR MEDI-CAL COVERAGE. BHRS IS ALSO PARTNERING WITH HSA, PUBLIC HEALTH AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO EDUCATE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THE IMPACT OF H.R. ONE AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO KEEP THE MEDI-CAL COVERAGE. [00:55:03] WITH THE POTENTIAL FISCAL IMPACT OF H.R. ONE, BHRS IMPLEMENTED EFFORTS TO STRATEGICALLY MAXIMIZE REVENUE AND THIS INCLUDES FREEING UP SOME MHSA AND BHSA FUNDING TO ABSORB POTENTIAL NEGATIVE FISCAL IMPACT BY SHIFTING CURRENT POSITIONS TO MEDI-CAL BILLING, LEVERAGING FISCAL OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN STATE INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE CONNECT FOR NEW SOURCES OF REVENUE. MAXIMIZING MEDI-CAL ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES, BILLING FOR ADDITIONAL REVENUE, AND APPLYING FOR NEW GRANT OPPORTUNITIES. IN SUMMARY, WHILE HR ONE COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BHRS REMAINS COMMITTED TO SERVING INDIVIDUALS WITH THE HIGHEST BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS. I WILL NOW PASS IT ON TO DOCTOR KRISTYNN SULLIVAN FROM PUBLIC HEALTH. GOOD MORNING AGAIN. I'M GOING TO START WITH JUST A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE IMPACT OF LOSS OF COVERAGE TO OUR RESIDENTS AND THEN ALSO OUR COMMUNITY AT LARGE. RESIDENTS WHO LOSE COVERAGE ARE TYPICALLY NOT AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE LOST COVERAGE UNTIL THEY TRY TO ACCESS SERVICES. SO PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTIVELY CHOOSING TO GO OFF THEIR SERVICES DUE TO SOME OF THE PIECES THAT DOCTOR THAT DIRECTOR CECCOLI MENTIONED EARLIER, SUCH AS CONCERNS ABOUT IMMIGRATION STATUS DATA BEING SHARED WOULD PERHAPS CHOOSE TO DISENROLL AND THEREFORE WOULD THEN STOP SEEKING CARE. SO WE WOULD SEE SIGNIFICANT DELAYS IN CARE FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE. HEALTH CARE IS UNIVERSALLY PROVIDED IN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SITUATIONS. THAT IS THROUGH A STANDING LAW THAT IS NOT IMPACTED BY H.R. ONE. SO ALL RESIDENTS WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE SERVICES IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM. THAT IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE PLACE THAT A PERSON CAN RECEIVE SERVICES. AND SO WHEN WHEN PEOPLE DELAY CARE AT MORE EARLIER STAGES, PRIMARY CARE, CHEAPER STAGES, THEY TEND TO SHOW UP SICKER AT THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND INCUR SIGNIFICANT COSTS AT THAT POINT. AGAIN, PEOPLE ARE OFTEN NOT AWARE THAT THEY HAVE LOST THEIR COVERAGE UNTIL THEY GO TO THEIR NORMAL PROVIDER OF CARE AND FIND OUT AT THAT TIME THAT THEY ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THOSE SERVICES. I ALSO JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPACT TO OUR COUNTY. MERCED COUNTY AND THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY REGION IS ONE OF THE MOST UNDERSERVED HEALTH CARE REGIONS IN THE STATE. THE RATIO OF PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS TO PATIENTS IN THE VALLEY IS ALMOST TWICE AS HIGH AS THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE. ACCESS TO SPECIALISTS CAN TAKE MONTHS, REGARDLESS OF INSURANCE TYPE. MERCED COUNTY HAS THE WORST RATIO OF PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS TO RESIDENTS WITHIN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY. SO IN AN UNDERSERVED REGION, WE ARE THE MOST UNDERSERVED. MERCED COUNTIES PAYER MIX IS NOT WELL BALANCED. SO A PAYER MIX IS ESSENTIALLY HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE RECEIVING HEALTH CARE COVERAGE THROUGH A PUBLIC INSURANCE LIKE MEDICAID OR MEDI-CAL IN CALIFORNIA, OR MEDICARE VERSUS PRIVATE INSURANCE, SUCH AS THROUGH A EMPLOYER OR THROUGH COVERED CALIFORNIA. TYPICALLY, HOW BECAUSE THE REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR PUBLIC INSURANCE ARE LOWER HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS BALANCE THEIR BUDGETS BY CHARGING HIGHER RATES TO THEIR PRIVATE PAY CUSTOMERS. TYPICALLY, A HEALTHY HEALTH CARE FACILITY WANTS TO SEE AROUND A 50/50 PAYER MIX OR LOWER RIGHT LOWER IN TERMS OF PUBLIC PAY. MERCED COUNTY PAYER MIX IS NOT WELL BALANCED. NEARLY THREE OUT OF FOUR OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE ON SOME FORM OF PUBLIC INSURANCE, EITHER MEDI-CAL OR MEDICARE, MEANING THAT PRIVATE PAYERS IN OUR COMMUNITY ALSO PAYS HIGHER RATES FOR THE SAME CARE THAT THEY WOULD RECEIVE IN OTHER REGIONS. DESPITE THIS, BECAUSE OF OUR UNIQUE SITUATION IN MERCED COUNTY, THE PROFIT MARGINS FOR MANY OF OUR HEALTH CARE CLINICS AND PARTNERS REMAIN THIN, AND THE PROVIDERS ARE NOT COMPENSATED AT THE SAME LEVEL AS OTHER HEALTHCARE REGIONS. THIS MEANS THAT PROVIDERS ARE SERVING MORE PATIENTS FOR LESS MONEY, WHICH, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, IS A HARD SELL. SO WE DO HISTORICALLY STRUGGLE TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN PROVIDERS TO THIS REGION. THIS ENTIRE LANDSCAPE CREATES AN UNSTABLE HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM THAT IS LESS RESISTANT TO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES, SUCH AS THOSE PROPOSED IN H.R. ONE. THE LIKELY IMPACT IS A DECREASE IN AVAILABLE SERVICE AND AN INCREASE IN COSTS FOR ALL RESIDENTS, REGARDLESS OF INSURANCE TYPES. WHEN PEOPLE LOSE THEIR COVERAGE, THOUGH, THE PUBLIC PAYER RATES ARE LOWER THAN PRIVATE, [01:00:04] THEY ARE STILL NOT ZERO. AND SO THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF REVENUE FOR OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, THIS WILL IMPACT OUR EXISTING SAFETY NET. FOR EXAMPLE, MUCH OF OUR CARE IS DELIVERED THROUGH THIS COMMUNITY, THROUGH FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS OR HEALTH CENTER LOOK ALIKES. THEY ARE CURRENTLY REIMBURSED FOR VISITS FROM MEDI-CAL CLIENTS, AND THIS MAKES UP THE MAJORITY OF THEIR PATIENTS. WHEN PEOPLE LOSE INSURANCE, THEY STILL GO TO THEIR CLINICS SOMETIMES, AND FQHCS ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE CARE FOR EVERYBODY WHO WALKS IN THEIR DOOR, REGARDLESS OF INSURANCE STATUS. BUT THEY MAY THEN PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES ON A SLIDING SCALE FEE. THAT FEE WOULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN WHAT MEDI-CAL REIMBURSEMENT WOULD BE. THINK SOMETHING LIKE $30 INSTEAD OF $200. SO MANY OF OUR LOCAL CLINICS ARE PROJECTING A SIGNIFICANT REVENUE LOSS. OKAY, SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE COUNTY? SO THE COUNTY, EVERY COUNTY IN CALIFORNIA HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO PROTECT THE LIFE AND LIMB OF THE INDIGENT POOR WITH NO OTHER COVERAGE. SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? EVERY COUNTY IN CALIFORNIA HAS AN OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE MEDICAL SERVICES THAT PREVENT DEATH AND SIGNIFICANT DISABILITY FOR ANY OF THEIR RESIDENTS THEIR LEGAL RESIDENTS WHO ARE INDIGENT POOR. WHICH DOES NOT HAVE A CLEAR DEFINITION. REALLY IMPORTANTLY, THERE HAVE BEEN COUNTIES WHO HAVE BEEN SUED FOR DENYING COVERAGE TO PEOPLE BASED ON THE DEFINITION OF THIS INDIGENT POOR NOT BEING GENEROUS ENOUGH. SUCCESSFULLY SUED AS WELL. SO PREVIOUSLY TO THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT EXPANSION, MERCED COUNTY RAN THEIR OUR OWN INDIGENT HEALTH PROGRAM. IT WAS A SMALL PROGRAM. IT WAS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MERCY MEDICAL CENTER MERCED'S RURAL HEALTH CLINIC, WHICH IS LOCATED DOWN BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT. SO THE HEALTH CLINIC RAN THE MEDICAL SERVICES AND HELPED THE PEOPLE WHO ACCESS CARE THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, CONNECT TO SPECIALISTS OUTSIDE OF WHAT THEY COULD PROVIDE AT THE RURAL HEALTH CLINIC. THAT PROGRAM WAS QUITE SMALL. IT REQUIRED A SPECIFIC DIAGNOSIS, AND THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL WAS AT 100% SO LOWER THAN MEDI-CAL. EVEN STILL, IT CONSISTENTLY RAN IN A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT. AND AT THIS TIME, WE DID RECEIVE FUNDING TO RUN THAT PROGRAM. SO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT RECEIVES HEALTH REALIGNMENT. AT THAT TIME, ONE OF THE PRIMARY CAUSE PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCES FOR THE INDIGENT HEALTH CARE PROGRAM WAS HEALTH REALIGNMENT. WHEN THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT CAME OUT, ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE ELIGIBLE FOR OUR PROGRAM BECAME ELIGIBLE FOR MEDI-CAL. MEDI-CAL IS A SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER PROGRAM. SO EVERYBODY WENT TO MEDI-CAL AND OUR PROGRAM SUNSETTED AND FULLY SUNSETTED THE STAFF POSITIONS DO NOT EVEN EXIST ON OUR BOOKS ANYMORE. SO WITH THAT DIVERSION AND THE INCREASED COVERAGES THAT CAME THROUGH MEDI-CAL, WE DO NOT HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO RUN THIS PROGRAM ANY FURTHER AT THIS TIME. WITH HR ONE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED, MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS MAY LOSE COVERAGE, AND THEN THEY WOULD COME BACK TO BE THE COUNTY RESPONSIBILITY FOR HEALTH CARE. SO THE COUNTY HAS SEVERAL OPTIONS FOR FULFILLING OUR INDIGENT CARE RESPONSIBILITIES. FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE IN SOME OF WHAT'S COMING, IS MEDI-CAL IS A BETTER PROGRAM THAN ANY OTHER PROGRAM THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT TODAY OR IN THE NEAR FUTURE. CONTINUED COVERAGE WITH MEDI-CAL IS EVERY RESIDENT'S BEST OPTION. IT'S BETTER FOR OUR RESIDENTS, IT'S BETTER FOR OUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, AND IT IS BETTER FOR THE COUNTY. SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE'RE REALLY FOCUSING A LOT OF RESOURCES ON KEEPING PEOPLE ENROLLED IN MEDI-CAL. THERE WILL STILL BE SOME PEOPLE WHO FALL OFF MEDI-CAL DUE TO THE CHANGES IN ELIGIBILITY AND THEN WILL BECOME THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COUNTY. FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THERE ARE ESSENTIALLY TWO PROGRAMS THAT WE COULD LOOK AT. THE FIRST IS CALIFORNIA MEDICAL SERVICES PROGRAM, AND THE SECOND IS THE REESTABLISHMENT OF A COUNTY PROGRAM. AND I'LL TALK ABOUT BOTH OF THESE. OKAY. SO FOUR KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE BOARD FOR MEDI-CAL IS THAT WE MAY QUALIFY FOR A WORK REQUIREMENT WAIVER FOR OUR JURISDICTION WITH AN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE ABOVE 8%. OUR COUNTY ANNUAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS ABOVE 8%. SO IF THIS IS LOOKED AT ANNUALLY AND IT IS LOOKED AT THE JURISDICTION LEVEL OF A COUNTY, WE MAY GET A COUNTY WIDE EXEMPTION TO THIS [01:05:07] WORK REQUIREMENT, WHICH WOULD BE THE MAIN WAY PEOPLE WOULD FALL OFF MEDI-CAL. BUT AS DIRECTOR CECCOLI MENTIONED, WE ARE NOT WANTING TO RELY ON WAIVERS. OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS USUALLY AROUND 8.5%, BUT IT VARIES WIDELY THROUGH THE YEAR. SO IF IT WERE TO BE LOOKED AT ON A MONTHLY BASIS, FOR EXAMPLE, THEN THIS WOULD WE WOULD HAVE PEOPLE WHO WOULD FALL OFF DURING CERTAIN MONTHS OF THE YEAR. IN ADDITION, EIGHT AND A HALF AND 8% IS REALLY ONLY A THOUSAND PEOPLE. SO THAT'S JUST VERY IT CAN FLUCTUATE WILDLY IN TERMS OF WHETHER OR NOT WE WOULD QUALIFY FOR THIS WAIVER. SO AGAIN, WE'RE REALLY FOCUSING A LOT OF OUR OUTREACH OF OUR EFFORTS ON TO INCREASE OUTREACH IN EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN COVERAGE ACROSS THE COMMUNITY, BOTH IN TERMS OF COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND WITH OUR COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION AND OUR CLINIC PARTNERS. ANOTHER KEY POINT THAT DIRECTOR CECCOLI MENTIONED IS THAT THE RETRO PERIOD, THE RETROACTIVE PERIOD FOR MEDI-CAL HAS GONE FROM 90 DAYS TO 30 DAYS. SO CURRENTLY, IF SOMEONE WALKS INTO THE TO THE HOSPITAL WITH A HEART ATTACK OR SOME SIGNIFICANT CONCERN. AND THEY'RE NOT ON MEDI-CAL, BUT THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDI-CAL IF THEY APPLY ANY TIME WITHIN THE WITHIN 90 DAYS, THAT HOSPITAL VISIT IS COVERED. NOW IT'S GOING TO BE SHORTENED TO 30 DAYS, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE A MUCH SHORTER RUNWAY TO MOVE THAT PAPERWORK THROUGH TO GET THAT COVERAGE FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL. SO MOVING FORWARD TO OUR OTHER OPTIONS, CMSP. CMSP IS CURRENTLY SERVING 33, 33 OR 34 OTHER SMALL RURAL COUNTIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. IT HAS BEEN A PROGRAM SINCE THE EARLY 90S. IT HAS STRONG INFRASTRUCTURE. IT HAS LARGELY STOPPED PROVIDING COVERAGE SINCE THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT EXPANSION FOR THE SAME REASONS THAT OUR PROGRAM WENT DOWN. BUT THEY HAVE THEY'VE MAINTAINED THAT INFRASTRUCTURE AND THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO SCALE MORE EASILY. THEY HAVE BETTER COVERAGE FOR RESIDENTS, AND THEY WOULD. ANOTHER KEY THING WOULD BE THAT THERE WOULD BE CONSISTENT COVERAGE ACROSS ALL THE CMSP COUNTIES. SO IF PEOPLE ARE MOVING, THEIR COVERAGE MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY CHANGE. IT DOES ALSO DIFFUSE A RISK POOL ACROSS 35 PLUS COUNTIES, BUT ONLY AFTER WE'VE BEEN IN THE PROGRAM FOR TWO YEARS. LONG TERM, WE DON'T KNOW IF THE MEDI-CAL CHANGES THAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING ARE REVERSED WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN FOR US BEING MEMBERS OF CMSP. AND REALLY IMPORTANTLY, WE STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY COST ESTIMATES FROM WHAT CMSP WOULD COST THE COUNTY. FOR A COUNTY RUN PROGRAM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WOULD HAVE MORE CONTROL OVER BOTH ELIGIBILITY AND SERVICE DELIVERY. THOSE DECISIONS WOULD COME TO YOUR BOARD AND BE AT THE SOLE DISCRETION OF YOUR BOARD. WE COULD MORE EASILY SHUT DOWN THAT PROGRAM AGAIN IF IT'S NO LONGER NECESSARY IN THE FUTURE. AND POTENTIALLY WE WOULD THEN POSSIBLY BE ABLE TO KEEP MORE HEALTH REALIGNMENT IN THE FUTURE. RIGHT NOW, ALL OF OUR, A LOT OF OUR HEALTH REALIGNMENT THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY RUNNING THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN REDIRECTED TO THE STATE TO GO TO OTHER PROGRAMS. AND THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THOSE DOLLARS WILL COME BACK TO HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TO REINSTATE THIS PROGRAM. SO THIS HAS NOW BECOME AN UNFUNDED MANDATE. BUT THE PROGRAM DID HAVE SIGNIFICANT LIMITATIONS. SERVICES WERE LIMITED. COSTS ARE ALSO UNKNOWN BECAUSE OF A LOT OF THE UNCERTAINTY THAT WE HAVE, AND THE FACT THAT WE DO NOT HAVE THE SAME CONTRACTS, THAT WE HAVE, THE SAME STAFFING THAT WE HAVE, OR AND MEDICAL COSTS HAVE INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE LAST 12 YEARS. SO LOOKING AHEAD. WE'VE ALL MENTIONED THIS, BUT JUST AGAIN, TO PUT A PIN IN IT, WE HAVE THERE ARE REAL CONCERNS ACROSS THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BLOCK ABOUT FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY AND FISCAL CHANGES. THERE WE ANTICIPATE INCREASED MATCHES FOR COUNTY MATCHES, INCREASE UNFUNDED MANDATES. WE ANTICIPATE INCREASED WORKFORCE CAPACITY AND OPERATIONAL REALIGNMENT NEEDS BASED ON SOME OF THIS NEW ADMINISTRATIVE WORK. WHAT YOUR BOARD CAN EXPECT OVER THIS NEXT PERIOD IS ONGOING UPDATES AS POLICY AND FUNDING INVOLVES DEPARTMENT DRIVEN ADAPTATION WITH COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOINT ADVOCACY SUCH AS THE CSAC, ASK STRATEGIC BUDGET PLANNING TO MANAGE FUTURE IMPACT. AND THEN WE WILL BE, AS SOON AS WE GET NUMBERS FROM CMSP, WE WILL BE PROVIDING THE BOARD WITH A FISCAL ANALYSIS OF CMSP VERSUS A COUNTY RUN PROGRAM. BUT WE ARE ALSO ENGAGING IN QUITE A BIT OF PRE-WORK, AGAIN, REALLY TRYING TO ACTIVATE OUR PARTNERSHIPS TO KEEP PEOPLE ENROLLED IN MEDI-CAL, BECAUSE AGAIN, THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE OPTION THAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN. SO OUR COMMUNITY CALL TO ACTION IS TO OUR COMMUNITY IS TO STAY COVERED, KEEP UP YOUR PAPERWORK, KEEP UP WITH YOUR ADDRESS CHANGES TO STAY ON MEDI-CAL, AND THEN HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS AND YOUR FAMILY ALSO STAY ON MEDI-CAL. [01:10:08] AND WITH THAT, WE'LL GO TO QUESTIONS. FIRST OF ALL I'M GOING TO, CHAIR RECOGNIZES CEO HENDRICKSON. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, JUST REALLY QUICKLY TO KIND OF RECAP, JUST A HANDFUL OF QUICK POINTS. ONE, I WANT TO, FIRST OF ALL, SAY THANK YOU TO EACH OF OUR PRESENTERS TODAY. THIS IS INCREDIBLY COMPLEX AND CERTAINLY A POINT THAT I'D LIKE TO MAKE FOR BOTH YOU AND THE AUDIENCE. THIS IS NOT UNIQUE TO MERCED COUNTY. EVERY CALIFORNIA COUNTY IS CURRENTLY CONCERNED WITH THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO THEIR RESPECTIVE GENERAL FUNDS AS IT RELATES TO ESSENTIALLY HOW IN THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS IS HOW DO COUNTIES FUND THESE REQUIREMENTS WHEN THERE'S NOT THE CORRESPONDING FUNDING THAT COMES WITH IT? AND SO I WANT TO CERTAINLY USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA FOR HIS WORK WITH CSAC AND THE CSAC EXECUTIVE TEAM AS IT RELATES TO THE LEGISLATION THAT OUR DIRECTORS SPOKE OF TODAY, WHICH IS REALLY DESIGNED TO ESSENTIALLY BACKFILL COUNTIES FOR THE WORK THAT THEY UNDERTAKE. NOW, I MENTION THAT BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF PUT THINGS INTO MAYBE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE FOR THIS BOARD AS WE THINK ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE AS WE HEAD INTO OUR BUDGET SEASON HERE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS. YOU KNOW, THIS BOARD OVERSEES A $1.1 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET, PLUS 80% OF WHICH IS SPOKEN FOR. 80% IS RESTRICTED. LET'S BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THIS. RESTRICTED TO HSA TO BHRS AND TO PUBLIC HEALTH PRIMARILY. SO WHY DO I MENTION THAT? I MENTION THAT BECAUSE 20% IS ACTUALLY WHAT THIS BOARD ACTUALLY HAS DISCRETION OVER 214.9 MILLION OF YOUR $1.1 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET. SO AGAIN, WHY DO I MENTION THAT? BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO REQUIRE COUNTIES UP AND DOWN THE STATE TO START THINKING ABOUT HOW THEY PRIORITIZE THEIR SPENDING. AND IT COULD VERY WELL REQUIRE BOARDS TO MAKE CHOICES THAT THEY HAVE HISTORICALLY NOT BEEN ASKED TO MAKE. IN OUR CASE, TO PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE OF THAT 20%, THAT YOU ACTUALLY HAVE DISCRETION OVER ABOUT 78.7%, ROUGHLY GIVE OR TAKE, IS TYPICALLY DEDICATED TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY FUNCTIONS. THAT'S A BIG NUMBER. THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN A PRIORITY OF THIS BOARD. NOW THAT IS, YOU KNOW, COUNTIES UP AND DOWN THE STATE ARE TAKING A LOOK AT THAT NUMBER, YOU KNOW, AS WE SPEAK, TRYING TO IDENTIFY HOW TO ESSENTIALLY ABSORB SOME OF THESE COSTS THAT ARE ACTUALLY BEING DRIVEN BY DECISION MAKERS ESSENTIALLY IN SACRAMENTO. SO I MENTIONED THAT AS WE HEAD INTO PROPOSED BUDGET IN JUNE, I THINK IT'S JUNE 16TH, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. YOU KNOW, YOU ARE GOING TO LIKELY SEE A VERY CONSERVATIVE BUDGET BEING VERY MINDFUL OF THE CHALLENGES COMING OUR WAY. CERTAINLY IN THAT REGARD, WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO ADVISE OUR DEPARTMENTS TO BE RESPONSIBLE WITH THEIR PLANNING. AND BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO LIKELY REQUIRE SOME CHANGES AHEAD. SO, MR. CHAIRMAN, AGAIN, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. AND AGAIN, REALLY THANK THE PRESENTERS TODAY WHO I THINK DID A NICE JOB OF, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO ARTICULATE INCREDIBLY COMPLEX INFORMATION. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. DOCTOR SULLIVAN JUST CAME TO ME WHEN YOU WERE TALKING, AND YOU GO BACK ON THE SLIDE AND YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT PROBABLY MEDI-CAL IS THE BEST PLAN TO IMPLEMENT THIS TYPE OF COVERAGE. RIGHT. AND I KNOW WE TALK ABOUT WE'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH CMSP, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT DOES A COUNTY RUN PROGRAM. HAS ANYBODY EVER HAD A CONVERSATION. AND MAYBE IT'S NOT LEGAL OR POSSIBLE TO WHERE A COUNTY WOULD CONTRACT WITH MEDI-CAL TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE. SO INSTEAD OF PAYING, I MEAN, JUST YOU'RE GOING BY ECONOMIES OF SCALE, RIGHT? MEDI-CAL IS SO MUCH LARGER, HAS SUCH A BROADER NETWORK, IF YOU WILL, VERSUS A CMSP. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT PRECLUDES US FROM EVEN HAVING THAT CONVERSATION? NO, THERE IS NOT. THERE'S NOTHING THAT PRECLUDES US FROM HAVING THAT CONVERSATION. SOME COUNTIES ARE TALKING TO THEIR MANAGED CARE PLANS DIRECTLY ABOUT THIS. IT'S TYPICALLY COUNTIES THAT HAVE THAT THE COUNTY ALSO RUNS THE MANAGED CARE PLAN, WHICH OBVIOUSLY MAKES IT EASIER. BUT WE HAVE ONE OF OUR SISTER ALLIANCE COUNTIES HAS REACHED OUT TO THE ALLIANCE AROUND THIS, AND I'VE ASKED TO JOIN THAT CONVERSATION. ALSO, IT IS ALWAYS POSSIBLE FOR THE STATE TO HAVE A STATE MEDI-CAL PROGRAM THAT WOULD COVER THESE INDIVIDUALS SO NO FEDERAL DOLLARS CAN GO TO, FOR EXAMPLE OUR, THE PROGRAM THAT CURRENTLY COVERS OUR UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS. SO THAT IS A STATE MEDI-CAL PROGRAM. THAT'S A SIMILAR MODEL COULD BE LEVERAGED HERE AS WELL. I THINK IT WOULD MAYBE BE HELPFUL TO AT LEAST BE ENGAGED IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS, BECAUSE IT JUST SEEMS BANG FOR YOUR BUCK, RIGHT? THAT IT MIGHT BE WORTH TRYING TO CONTRACT WITH THEM. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE THINKING OF IT. AND THEN I WANT TO JUST HIGHLIGHT ON THE CSAC, ASK IF YOU WILL, AND THEN A COMMENT AT THE END. IT WAS VERY WONKY IN THE BEGINNING. IT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS EVER REALLY BEEN DONE BEFORE. [01:15:01] WHEN WE'RE ASKING CSAC AS KIND OF THE PARENT COMPANY, IF YOU WILL, AND THEN YOU HAVE ALL OF OUR COUNTY PARTNERS, WHETHER IT'S THE WELFARE DIRECTORS, THERE'S A WHOLE HOST OF THEM. AND IT'S JUST EVERYBODY KIND OF HOLD OFF. AND I THINK THE THOUGHT PROCESS BEHIND IT WAS, IS IF A SMALLER ORGANIZATION COMES WITH AN ASK, THEN THE LEGISLATURE FEELS REALLY GOOD ABOUT, HEY, WE TOOK CARE OF THEM, AND THEN EVERYBODY ELSE GETS LEFT BEHIND. AND I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF IT WAS NEW AND IT WASN'T THE WAY THAT WE DID IT. BUT ULTIMATELY, I'M HAPPY THAT EVERYBODY KIND OF STAYED THE COURSE. AND YOU HAD CSAC MAKE THAT ASK ON BEHALF OF ALL OF OUR AGENCIES AND REALLY FOCUSING ON AND MAKING SURE THAT THE LEGISLATURE UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS IS NOT A COUNTY PROBLEM. THIS IS A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT THAT WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. I MEAN, AT THE STATE LEVEL. AND THEY NEED TO LOOK AT IT AS A STRUCTURAL ISSUE AND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO ADDRESS IT. AND THEN THE COMMENT AT THE END IS, I READ AN ARTICLE, I BELIEVE IT WAS YESTERDAY. IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THIS MORNING WHERE SPEAKER RIVAS REALLY CAME OUT STRONGLY IN KIND OF WHAT I KNOW THEY HAVEN'T OFFICIALLY RELEASED ANYTHING BUT KIND OF THE BUDGET PRIORITIES FOR THE ASSEMBLY ANYWAYS, AS EVERYBODY'S AWAITING THE GOVERNOR'S MAY REVISE, IS A LINE IN THE SAND IS THESE SOCIAL SAFETY NET SERVICES. SO I KNOW THAT THAT'S NOTHING TO TAKE HOME. AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT TAKING THAT TO THE BANK YET. BUT THAT'S REALLY POSITIVE THAT IF THE SPEAKER IS SAYING LIKE, THIS IS KIND OF OUR LINE IN THE SAND, I THINK THAT AS WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE SPEAKER CURRENTLY USED TO BE A COUNTY SUPERVISOR, SO UNDERSTANDS THOSE CHALLENGES. THANK YOU. CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW TO ASK THIS. I GUESS I'LL JUST FUMBLE THROUGH IT AND THEN YOU CAN HELP ME OUT FROM THERE. HOW'S THAT? SO THE COUNTY'S OBLIGATION, RIGHT TO THE INDIGENT HEALTH CARE IS NOT TO PROVIDE NECESSARILY HEALTH INSURANCE, BUT TO COVER THE CATASTROPHIC PORTION OF HEALTH CARE. AND SO HOW DO WE I MEAN, LIKE CMSP OR, OR THE COUNTY RUN PROGRAM, HOW WOULD WE MANAGE WHAT GETS PAID FOR AND WHAT DOESN'T? IF SOMEBODY GOES TO THE ER AND THEY HAVE AN EAR INFECTION AND THEY COULD HAVE GONE TO AN URGENT CARE OR A FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE CLINIC. HOW IS THAT MANAGED OR HAVE WE GOTTEN THAT FAR? KIND OF. SO THE OBLIGATION IS TO PAY FOR SERVICES THAT PREVENT LOSS OF LIFE OR LIMB. AND SO IT ISN'T ONLY CATASTROPHIC CARE. SO THERE ARE SOME PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE, FOR EXAMPLE, EMERGENCY ONLY MEDI-CAL. AND THAT IS TRULY EMERGENCY ROOM INPATIENT HOSPITALIZATION AND THAT'S IT. THE INDIGENT HEALTH CARE RESPONSIBILITIES ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE BROAD THAN THAT. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF I COME IN AND I HAVE UNCONTROLLED DIABETES, THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE AN EMERGENCY ROOM VISIT TO START. BUT THEN ONCE I'M IN OUR PROGRAM, MY OBLIGATION, THE OBLIGATIONS TO COVER MY CARE ARE ALSO MY FOLLOW UP CARE WITH MY PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN, MY IMPACTED KIDNEYS. SO I HAVE TO GO TO A NEPHROLOGIST. AND THAT'S WHERE THE COSTS REALLY START TO BLOOM, BECAUSE THOSE SPECIALTY CARE COSTS FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE ALSO COVERED UNDER THIS MANDATE. OUR COUNTY PROGRAM HAD A NURSE WHO DID UTILIZATION MANAGEMENT, WHICH WAS ASSESSING WHETHER OR NOT, SO PRIMARY CARE ALL WENT THROUGH THE RURAL HEALTH CLINIC. SO THEY WOULD GO TO THE HEALTH CLINIC. AND THEN THAT DOCTOR WOULD ASSESS WHAT SITUATIONS THEY WOULD NEED. AND THEN FOR OTHER COVERAGE INTO THAT SPECIALTY LINE CARE. AND THEN IN TERMS OF WHAT WE WOULD COVER IN TERMS OF AN EMERGENCY ROOM VISIT, THAT WAS ALL ASSESSED BY UTILIZATION MANAGEMENT STAFF. AND THAT'S HOW INSURANCE COMPANIES DO IT AS WELL. BUT YOU'RE RIGHT THAT IT'S NOT AN INSURANCE PROGRAM IN THE SENSE OF A TRUE INSURANCE PROGRAM THAT ENCOURAGES PREVENTATIVE CARE AND SENDS YOU NOTICES ABOUT GETTING YOUR FLU SHOT AND DOING ALL THESE, YOU KNOW, LIKE REALLY FOCUSES ON THE UPSTREAM PREVENTION TO PREVENT THOSE COSTS BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS PROGRAM ARE ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAD THAT DIAGNOSIS. CMSP IS ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO A TRUE INSURANCE PLAN BECAUSE THEY'LL COVER ANYBODY, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE THAT DIAGNOSIS AS OF NOW. RIGHT. THAT COULD CHANGE DEPENDING ON MAY REVISE AND A LOT OF OTHER FUNDING ISSUES. AND THEY COVER A LITTLE BIT MORE BROAD OF A SWATH OF SERVICES. SO THEY COVER PREVENTION AND PHARMACY AND SOME EMERGENCY DENTAL AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO IT OPERATES A LITTLE BIT MORE LIKE AN INSURANCE PLAN OF WANTING TO HAVE A GOOD MIX OF HEALTHY PEOPLE AND SICKER PEOPLE SO THAT THE COSTS ARE KIND OF SHARED ACROSS THAT POOL. OKAY. AND THEN THE REQUIREMENTS. AND I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE THIS IS A JOHN QUESTION, BUT THE REQUIREMENTS FOR WORK ENGAGEMENT OR COMMUNITY SERVICE ENGAGEMENT IS GOING TO KICK A LOT OF PEOPLE OFF. [01:20:03] WHAT ARE THE OTHER, WHAT ARE THE OTHER REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO KICK PEOPLE OFF OF MEDI-CAL AND HOW IS THAT GOING TO AFFECT US? SO, POTENTIALLY YES. RIGHT. THAT IF YOU'RE NOT ELIGIBLE BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT MEETING THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS, YOU WOULDN'T BE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDI-CAL. SOME OF THE OTHER ONES THAT WE LOOKED AT WERE LIKE THE ASYLEE PAROLEE REQUIREMENTS AS WELL. WHAT IS THAT? SO SOMEONE WHO'S HERE, SAY LIKE AN AFGHAN REFUGEE WOULD NO LONGER BE ELIGIBLE, BUT PRIOR WOULD HAVE BEEN ELIGIBLE. SO THAT WAS THE ACROSS THE STATE, I THINK IT WAS 70,000 OR SO. ASYLEE PAROLEE. BASICALLY THEY'RE BEING CONSIDERED NON UNQUALIFIED NON-CITIZEN. RIGHT? SO YOU'RE HERE, YOU'RE NOT AN AMERICAN CITIZEN. YOU'RE HERE ON AN ASYLEE CLAIM OR WHATEVER WHERE YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THAT COVERAGE. I THOUGHT IN ONE OF THE SLIDES THAT SAID THEY'RE EXEMPT. DID I MISS THAT THAT SOMEBODY HERE. NO THEY'RE NOT EXEMPT. THEY'RE NO LONGER EXEMPT. IS THAT. YES THAT WAS ONE OF THE NEW REQUIREMENTS. SO HERE'S A LIST OF EXEMPTIONS. SO RESTRICTED. THERE WE GO. SO RESTRICTING FEDERAL FUNDING FOR CERTAIN QUALIFIED NON-CITIZENS. SO PRIOR THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE THE ASYLEE PAROLEE THOSE FOLKS THAT WERE. YEAH. CERTAINLY ELIGIBLE THAT WILL BE EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST. OKAY. WHAT ARE THE OTHER FACTORS THAT ARE GOING TO KICK PEOPLE OFF? I THINK THE WORK IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST ONE. ABSOLUTELY. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 40,000 OR SO FOLKS IN MERCED COUNTY THAT ARE GOING TO BE REQUIRED FOR THAT. SOME OF THE OTHERS LIKE THE COST SHARING FOR ADULTS. THE SENSE IS THAT INDIVIDUALS WILL CHOOSE NOT TO DO THAT AND THEN WILL NOT HAVE THEIR MEDI-CAL FOR NOT PAYING. YOU KNOW, THEIR COST SHARE OR ANY OF THOSE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE JUST LIKE IF YOU'RE AT THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL, ARE YOU REALLY GOING TO BE PAYING A PREMIUM OR ONE OF THOSE THINGS? YEAH. AND THAT'S IT. I MEAN, THOSE ARE THE ONLY THINGS THAT KICK PEOPLE. WORK REQUIREMENT IS THE BIG ONE. AND, SO WHAT IS THE WORK REQUIREMENT? MAYBE 80 HOURS A MONTH, 80 HOURS A MONTH. SO IF YOU WORK 80 HOURS A MONTH OR MORE, YOU CAN QUALIFY FOR MEDI-CAL. YES. AND, THE INCOME THAT YOU RECEIVE FOR THAT WORK DOESN'T DOESN'T KICK YOU OFF BECAUSE YOU'RE MAKING TOO MUCH MONEY, RIGHT BECAUSE. YOU STILL HAVE TO MAINTAIN THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL 100 TO 138%. YEAH. OKAY. THERE'S EXEMPTIONS FOR CHILDREN. AND ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT ELIGIBILITY AND ONE OF THE OUTREACH IS LIKE DON'T DETERMINE IT ON YOUR OWN. BRING THEM TO US WHERE WE'RE GOING THROUGH THAT YEAR LONG PIPELINE. RIGHT. OKAY. AND THEN. YEAH. AND THEN, AND THEN ONE, ONE LAST ITEM OR QUESTION. YOU KNOW, WHEN BASICALLY WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS INAUGURATED, RIGHT. THERE WAS A BUNCH OF FEAR THAT ICE WAS GOING TO DEPORT EVERYBODY THAT WAS HERE ILLEGALLY. AND YOU KNOW, HERE IN MERCED COUNTY, YOU KNOW, I HAD PEOPLE CALL ME SAYING, HEY, ICE WAS JUST SPOTTED AT A GAS STATION IN LIVINGSTON AND THEY'RE HERE. AND THEN PEOPLE WERE GETTING SCARED. AND I WAS AT THE IT'S A PARENT GROUP IN DELHI, ABOUT A HUNDRED PEOPLE. I WOULD SAY MOST OF THEM ARE UNDOCUMENTED. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THEY ASKED THAT'S THE QUESTION THEY ASKED ME, YOU KNOW, IS LIKE, WE'RE NOT WANTING TO SEND OUR KIDS TO SCHOOL. WE'RE NOT GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE UNLESS WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, JUST AND SO, AND YOUR EXPERIENCES. HAS ICE BEEN OPERATING IN MERCED COUNTY AND DEPORTING PEOPLE ON A REGULAR BASIS, OR IS THAT KIND OF AN UNFOUNDED FEAR? AND THE REASON WHY I ASK THAT QUESTION IS THAT, YOU KNOW, IF SOMEBODY GETS OFF OF MEDI-CAL BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID THAT'S GOING TO TELL ICE THAT THEY'RE HERE AND THEY'RE GOING TO GET DEPORTED, THEN THEN WE'RE ON THE HOOK. THE OTHER TAXPAYERS ARE ON THE HOOK FOR PAYING FOR THEIR MEDICAL CARE. SO, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE KIND OF DISPEL THAT FEAR, I GUESS, IF IT ISN'T WARRANTED? I HONESTLY CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION. I THINK THE SHERIFF WOULD PROBABLY I KNOW I'VE BEEN IN MEETINGS WHERE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT, ESPECIALLY THE STATE LAW, WHICH FORBIDS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO COORDINATE WITH ICE. RIGHT. THERE'S A NEW LAW, A CALIFORNIA STATE LAW THAT'S SOMEWHAT AT ODDS WITH THAT. I COULD ONLY SPEAK FOR MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S AT A THRESHOLD AS FAR AS BEING A SOUND STATEMENT ON ICE'S INVOLVEMENT IN THIS COMMUNITY. OKAY. I HOPE THAT MAKES SENSE. I'M NOT TRYING TO DODGE A QUESTION. YEAH, NO. IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER, YOU DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER. THAT'S FAIR ENOUGH. I APPRECIATE IT. YES, SIR. YEAH. I WOULD JUST ADD AS WELL WHERE WE ARE, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MAY PULL. RIGHT. SO WE'RE VERY CAUTIOUS IN THAT REGARD AS FAR AS WHEN IT COMES TO, YOU KNOW, ENCOURAGING FOLKS THAT MAY HAVE UNSATISFACTORY IMMIGRATION STATUS TO NECESSARILY [01:25:10] THAT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO INDIVIDUAL DECISION AND CONFIDENCE IN THAT. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? YEAH. THIS BIG PUSH TO LIKE MAINTAIN, MAINTAIN, MAINTAIN AT LEAST SPEAKING FROM MY DEPARTMENT, I WANT US TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS IN WHAT THAT OUTREACH AND CONVERSATION LOOKS LIKE. AND THEN I ALSO BELIEVE JUST ANECDOTALLY, THROUGH THE, YOU KNOW, CONVERSATIONS, HEARING THAT THE STATE MAY TRY TO GET AROUND THAT. AND DOCTOR SULLIVAN TALKED ABOUT THIS BY GETTING THE UNSATISFACTORY IMMIGRATION STATUS FOLKS ON THEIR OWN PROGRAM SO THAT THERE IS NO CO-MINGLING AND MAYBE LESS AUTHORITY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO AUDIT, FOR EXAMPLE, AND SAY, HEY, WE WANT THIS PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION. SO IT'S JUST A, IT'S WE'RE DEFINITELY HEARING THAT PEOPLE ARE AFRAID. I KNOW THAT WITH FULL CONFIDENCE AS FAR AS ICE'S INVOLVEMENT, I CAN'T SPEAK TO IT. OKAY. WELL, OKAY. AND THEN SO AND SO. SO THE DOCUMENTATION STATUS IS NOT ONE OF THE CRITERIA THAT'S GOING TO REMOVE PEOPLE FROM MEDI-CAL. WELL, SO. AND WELL, I MEAN, SO THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO ASK. WHAT ARE THE REASONS. AND YOU DIDN'T MENTION THAT ONE. SO THAT'S THE STATE WAS COVERING FULL SCOPE MEDI-CAL FOR UNSATISFACTORY IMMIGRATION STATUS. THEY HAVE TO MAINTAIN THAT ELIGIBILITY BY APPLYING. WE'RE SEEING FOLKS THAT ARE CURRENTLY ELIGIBLE NOT APPLYING BECAUSE OF THE NEW STATE RULE. BECAUSE THEIR ASSUMPTION IS FEARFUL OF [INAUDIBLE] THAT INFORMATION. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? SO ON JANUARY 1ST, STATE HAD A PROGRAM TO COVER EVERYONE. RIGHT. EXPANDED IT TO COVER EVERYONE. THAT PROGRAM GOT REALLY EXPENSIVE. AND LAST YEAR IN THE BUDGET, THEY STARTED TO RESTRICT THAT. AND THAT BEGAN ON JANUARY 1ST OF THIS YEAR. AND WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS OF UNSATISFACTORY IMMIGRATION STATUS BENEFICIARIES NO LONGER REAPPLYING TO MAINTAIN THEIR MEDI-CAL. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANKS. YES, SIR. SUPERVISOR ARE YOU? YEAH. I'M DONE. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. MR. CHAIR. JOHN, ON THAT 40,000 NUMBER THAT YOU MENTIONED, DO WE HAVE DATA THAT SHOWS IT'S NOT A GUARANTEED 40,000. IS THERE SOME PEOPLE THAT MAY BE MEETING THE WORK REQUIREMENT WHO JUST NEVER SUBMITTED IT BEFORE? DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THAT IS GOING TO BE? SO UNLIKE THE ABLE BODIED ADULTS WITH DEPENDENTS, WHERE THE STATE LAST WEEK SENT OUT, LIKE, HEY, WE'VE LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS BASED ON THE RULES AND REGS, WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR THE FEDERAL RULES AND REGS. GOTCHA. DUE JUNE 1ST. AND THEN WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DIG DOWN A LITTLE MORE. OKAY. AND THEN THIS IS MY FINAL COMMENT ON IT IS, IS IT IS SO WONKY AND HOW THIS WAS ROLLED OUT WHERE INSTEAD OF JUST LIKE IT, DON'T LIKE IT SAYING ON THIS DAY, ALL THIS GOES INTO EFFECT. IF YOU GO BACK A FEW SLIDES THERE WHERE IT SAYS, YOU KNOW, ONE PART OF IT STARTS OCTOBER 1, 2026. ANOTHER ONE GOES INTO EFFECT JANUARY 1, 2027. AND THEN THERE'S A PART OF IT THAT GOES INTO EFFECT IN OCTOBER 1ST OF 2028. AND I KNOW THAT AT THE STATE LEVEL, THE NUMBERS THAT THEY'RE USING ARE WORST CASE SCENARIO, MIDDLE CASE SCENARIO, POSSIBLE SCENARIO. AND SO YOU END UP WITH THIS NUMBER THAT GOES FROM ANYWHERE FROM LIKE 6 BILLION TO 9.5 BILLION. AND SO IT'S REALLY HARD FOR US TO WRAP AROUND. AND WHY I SAY ALL THAT IS, IS JUST WANTING THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW YET. YOU JUST HEARD DIRECTOR CECCOLI MENTION THAT THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE GUIDANCE COMING OUT FROM THE STATE IN A LITTLE LESS THAN A MONTH FROM NOW THAT NONE OF US HAS SEEN. AND QUITE HONESTLY, I DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THEY THAT THEY'VE WRITTEN IT YET. SO THIS IS JUST A MOVING TARGET, IF YOU WILL. AND WE'RE DOING OUR BEST. AND I WANT TO THANK OUR STAFF AND TEAM AND COMMEND THEM FOR REALLY DIVING IN. I WILL TELL YOU, IF YOU WANT TO TAKE LIKE, YOU KNOW, A GLASS HALF FULL APPROACH AND SAY THERE'S A SILVER LINING IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS. I DON'T I CAN'T RECALL A TIME IN MY YEARS OF BEING HERE WHERE COUNTIES HAVE BEEN HAVING MORE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS IN AND AROUND THEM, OTHER COUNTIES, WHEN YOU GET INTO THE COUNTY FAMILY, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER LANE THAT YOU'RE IN, TALKING TO YOUR COLLEAGUES IN OTHER COUNTIES, REALLY EVERYBODY'S TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS? AND SO THAT IS THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN NOT ONLY OUR COUNTY STAFF, WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE, BUT IN ENGAGING OTHER COUNTIES ON FIGURING OUT WHAT ARE YOU DOING? HOW IS THIS WORKING? I THINK IT'S, WE'RE, IT'S A REALLY STAY TUNED AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. BECAUSE ULTIMATELY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SOMETHING CAN COME UP AND THEY COULD CHANGE THINGS ON IT. THEN WE GET TO SEE WHAT IS THE STATE GOING TO ACTUALLY BRING TO THE TABLE WHEN IT COMES TO FULFILLING THESE RESPONSIBILITIES? [01:30:03] AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND HANG IN THERE AS, THIS IS AN EVER CHANGING APPROACH, I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE ARE REALLY DIVING IN AND FIGURING OUT TO LEVERAGE OURSELVES AND PUT OURSELVES IN THE BEST SITUATION POSSIBLE TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THIS. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU. AND SCOTT, I'D JUST LIKE TO RECOGNIZE YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR CALIFORNIA STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES AND TAKING THIS AND RUNNING WITH IT. YOU'VE KEPT US UP TO DATE THE WHOLE TIME AND SEEING WHAT'S GOING ON. AND I THINK I NEED TO PASS IT OFF TO SUPERVISOR PEDROZO AS WELL FOR THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES RECOGNIZING IT FIRST AND BRINGING IT FORWARD. IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S NOT AS BAD AS IT WAS. MAYBE IT'S HOW IT'S GOING TO IMPACT SOME OF THESE OTHER STATES, BUT YOU DEFINITELY SOUNDED THE RED LIGHT AND APPRECIATED YOU BRINGING THIS. CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR PACHECO. THANK YOU CHAIR. JUST A QUICK QUESTION FOR DOCTOR SULLIVAN ON OUR LAST THE LAST SLIDE THERE ABOUT THE MEDI-CAL CMSP AND COUNTY RUN. OF THOSE PROGRAMS IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T GET THE CARE THEY THINK THEY DESERVE OR SOMETHING HAPPENS AND THEY DECIDE WE WANT, THEY WANT TO SUE OR SOME RETRIBUTION, WHO HOLDS THE LIABILITY IN EACH ONE OF THESE? DOES THE COUNTY HAVE THE LIABILITY OR DO THESE OTHER PROGRAMS HAVE THE LIABILITY? THE COUNTY HOLDS LIABILITY FOR THE COUNTY RUN PROGRAM. CMSP, THE CONTRACT FOR CMSP DOES STATE THAT THIS DOES NOT ABSOLVE THE COUNTY OF OUR INDIGENT HEALTH CARE RESPONSIBILITIES BUT BECAUSE OF THE STRUCTURE OF CMSP THERE. FROM WHAT I MY UNDERSTANDING, THE LAWSUITS HAVE BEEN TOWARDS COUNTY SPECIFIC PROGRAMS. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. COULD I JUST SAY ALSO ONE REALLY QUICK THING? ANOTHER THING THAT WE THINK WILL CAUSE PEOPLE TO FALL OFF, NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ELIGIBLE, BUT JUST BECAUSE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN IS THE SIX MONTH REDETERMINATION STATUS. THE PAPERWORK IS VERY CONFUSING. IT'S A 45 PAGE PACKET. I SAT DOWN WITH THREE OF MY STAFF TO GO THROUGH IT. WE CAME UP WITH OVER THREE PAGES WORTH OF QUESTIONS. THEN I WENT AND MET WITH JOHN'S STAFF WHO ARE INCREDIBLE. THEY'RE DOING REALLY, REALLY INCREDIBLE WORK. AND THE MORAL OF THAT STORY IS THAT IT IS PURPOSEFULLY DIFFICULT. AND THAT IS AN INTENTIONAL THING, I THINK, TO HAVE PEOPLE ALSO FALL OFF. OKAY. CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. YEAH. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. MY MY THING IS MAINLY THIS. AND I THINK SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SAID IT, YOU KNOW, THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE WHOLE THING IS REALLY CONFUSING. AND THAT SEEMS TO BE LIKE, WHAT'S DRIVING ALL OF THIS IS THE UNCERTAINTY AND THE REALITY OF THE COST. AND THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION IS ALMOST 60% OF OUR POPULATION IS ON SOME TYPE OF SOCIAL WELFARE SYSTEM OR PROGRAM. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REALLY KIND OF LOOK AT THE FUNDS MOVING AHEAD AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THESE PEOPLE, BECAUSE WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THESE PEOPLE. AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU MENTIONED THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES ASPECT OF THIS, BECAUSE IN MY MEETINGS WITH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, THIS ISN'T JUST SIGNIFICANT TO CALIFORNIA. I MEAN, THERE'S STATES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, COUNTIES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT ARE KIND OF FREAKING OUT ABOUT THIS AS WELL. AND SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR PARTNERS, WHETHER IT'S IN CALIFORNIA OR WHETHER IT'S OUTSIDE OF CALIFORNIA. I THINK IT'S VERY HELPFUL. SO AND THANK YOU, STAFF, FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. NO, THANK YOU. AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THE CEO FOR RECOGNIZING WHAT'S DISCRETIONARY AND WHAT'S NOT DISCRETIONARY WITHIN OUR BUDGET, AND HOW THE DISCRETIONARY END OF THE BUDGET WILL BE IMPACTED HEAVILY AS WE MOVE FORWARD. BECAUSE A LOT OF FOLKS LIKE TO SAY OUT THERE, WELL, WITH A $1.14 BILLION BUDGET, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIX OUR ROADS. AND WE CAN'T MOVE THOSE MONIES AROUND. THEY'RE IMPACTING OR ACTUALLY GOING FORTH FOR EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY AND, APPRECIATE THAT WORK. AND WITH THAT, I WILL GO AHEAD AT THIS TIME AND OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THE PRESENTATION. OKAY. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE PRESENTATION IS NOW CLOSED. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. [CONSENT CALENDAR] [01:35:01] CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 21. PLEASE NOTE ITEM TWO REQUIRES A FOUR FIFTH VOTE. OKAY, AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE CONSENT ITEMS 1 THROUGH 21. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR MCDANIEL. GOOD MORNING. BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, CEO HENDRICKSON AND COUNTY COUNSEL HANSEN. I'M FELIZA GRAY, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ADULT AND AGING SERVICES, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO HIGHLIGHT BOARD AGENDA ITEM SIX, THE PROCLAMATION FOR MERCED COUNTY TO DESIGNATE MAY AS OLDER AMERICANS MONTH. FOR NEARLY 60 YEARS, THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION FOR COMMUNITY LIVING HONORS OUR SENIOR COMMUNITY EVERY MAY. THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL THEME IS CHAMPION YOUR HEALTH, FOCUSING ON PREVENTION, WELLNESS, AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AS CORNERSTONES OF HEALTHY AGING. OUR AREA AGENCY ON AGING PROMOTES HOW OLDER ADULTS CAN AGE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND LIVE INDEPENDENTLY FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. WITH PARTNERSHIPS, WE OFFER MANY SUPPORTS TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH CONGREGATE OR HOME DELIVERED MEALS, FALLS PREVENTION, HEALTH INSURANCE ADVOCACY, AND HEALTH EDUCATION. THIS PAST WEEK, WE HOSTED OUR OLDER AMERICANS RECOGNITION EVENT WITH OVER 200 PARTICIPANTS, HONORING THE INVALUABLE ROLE THAT OUR ELDERS PLAY IN SHAPING OUR SOCIETY AND NURTURING THE BONDS THAT CONNECT US ALL. OLDER ADULTS ARE NOT JUST THE KEEPERS OF OUR HISTORY, THEY ARE THE STORYTELLERS, THE WISDOM BEARERS, AND THE PIONEERS WHO HAVE PAVED THE WAY FOR PROGRESS. THEIR EXPERIENCES REMIND US OF OUR ROOTS, ENRICH OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE PAST, AND GUIDE US AS WE MOVE TOWARDS A BRIGHTER FUTURE. THEY EXEMPLIFY RESILIENCE, PERSEVERANCE, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF UNITY ACROSS GENERATIONS. THIS MONTH IS AN EXCELLENT REMINDER OF THE IMPORTANCE OF OLDER ADULTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND HOW AGING SERVICES ARE CRITICAL TO ASSISTING THEIR WELL-BEING, AND LONGEVITY. AGAIN, I THANK THIS BOARD FOR HIGHLIGHTING OLDER AMERICANS MONTH. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW OUR AREA AGENCY CAN HELP, PLEASE CALL US AT (209) 385-7550 OR STOP BY AT OUR 851 WEST 23RD STREET ADDRESS, WHICH IS ON THE CORNER OF P AND 23RD IN MERCED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT PROCLAMATION. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 21 IS NOW CLOSED. WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ANY OF THE ITEMS? IF NOT, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO. WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION. OH, WAIT. HOLD ON. OKAY. CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE OLDER AMERICAN AT THE DAIS. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. SO JUST HOW OLD DOES AN OLDER AMERICAN HAVE TO BE TO BE OLDER? I'M WONDERING. I'M GETTING KIND OF CLOSE, AND I MIGHT. NO, I THINK YOU KNOW. RIGHT. PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THAT, RIGHT? THE ACL RECOGNIZES THE AGE 60 AND OVER AS AN OLDER AMERICAN. OH, WE HAVE SEVERAL UP HERE. THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER] CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. YEAH. AND THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BOARD ON THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING, I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT I AM THE YOUNGEST PERSON ON THE BOARD WHO HAS THAT DISTINCTION OF SERVING ON THAT. AND IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST ONE OF MY MOST FUN ONES TO GO TO BECAUSE THE PEOPLE ARE VERY ENGAGED. AND I THINK IT'S YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY THE GOLDEN AGERS OUT OF LOS BANOS, IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE ALWAYS GOING SOMEPLACE. AND I'VE TRIED TO HOP ON THEIR TRIPS AND THEY WON'T LET ME BECAUSE I DON'T REACH THAT AGE LIMIT. BUT THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. WELL, THANK YOU. AND I DO REMEMBER THE TIME WHEN SUPERVISOR O'BANION WAS HERE, AND WE ALWAYS ACKNOWLEDGED HIM AS BEING PART OF THAT GROUP. EACH TIME WE TALKED ABOUT THIS. OKAY, I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. LET'S RECORD THE VOTE. OKAY. MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, WE NOW HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR A PROCLAMATION OF PUBLIC WORKS WEEK. [Additional Item] AND IF I. NOT ONE HEAD BOBBING. THAT WAS GOOD. YOU GUYS PAID ATTENTION THE WHOLE TIME. IF I COULD ASK. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE EVERYBODY COME UP. THE WHOLE TEAM AND THE WHOLE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IF WE COULD GO DOWN FOR THIS PRESENTATION. OH. YOU WANT TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS FIRST? I CAN, YES. OKAY, LET'S DO THAT AND THEN WE'LL JOIN THEM DOWN THERE. [01:40:03] ALL RIGHT. PERFECT. WELL, I PREPARED 100 PAGES OR SO TO READ, BUT BASED ON THE LENGTH I'M GOING TO SHORTEN IT. MAKE IT REAL QUICK. GOOD MORNING, BOARD AND CHAIR OF SUPERVISORS, ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANT WORK PERFORMED EVERY DAY BY YOUR PUBLIC WORKS STAFF. I'M TRULY GRATEFUL FOR THE DEDICATION, PROFESSIONALISM AND CARE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES BRING TO THE JOB EACH DAY. THERE IS NEVER A SHORTAGE OF WORK TO BE DONE, BUT OUR CREWS CONSISTENTLY SHOW UP READY TO WORK, COMPLETE THE TASK AT HAND, AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT CHALLENGE WITH PRIDE AND COMMITMENT TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. WHETHER OUR TEAM IS REPAIRING ROADWAYS, MAINTAINING PARKS SO THEY REMAIN CLEAN AND ENJOYABLE FOR OUR RESIDENTS OR ENSURING OUR BUILDINGS ARE OPERATING SO OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS CAN CARRY OUT THEIR MISSIONS. OUR PUBLIC STAFF REMAINS DEDICATED TO PUBLIC SERVICE. PUBLIC WORKS OFTEN OPERATES BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT THE WORK PERFORMED BY OUR EMPLOYEES HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY EVERY DAY. SO WITH THAT, I AM TO ALL MY PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES. I AM VERY THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. THIS RECOGNITION IS WELL DESERVED AND I'M HONORED TO WORK ALONGSIDE SUCH A DEDICATED TEAM. [APPLAUSE] WITH ALL OF YOU HERE, I'M A LITTLE SCARED OF WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE. WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMETHING HAPPENS? THE BOTTOM OF THE PROCLAMATION FOR YOU GUYS. I APPRECIATE, AND I KNOW THIS BOARD APPRECIATES ALL THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO. WE KNOW THAT THIS IS MOSTLY A COMPLAINT BASED DEPARTMENT, AND YOU DON'T GET A WHOLE LOT OF PRAISE. AND ANYTIME I GET THE PRAISE, I TRY TO SHARE IT WITH YOU. MOST PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THE CONSTITUENCY WHENEVER THEY MAKE REMARKS ABOUT ROADS AND WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE COUNTY, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU FOLKS, I KNOW HOW HARD YOU WORK, AND I KNOW HOW MUCH YOU APPRECIATE THE JOB THAT YOU DO. SO ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, THANK YOU. AND WITH THIS PROCLAMATION. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DO HEREBY DESIGNATE THE WEEK OF MAY 17TH THROUGH 23RD, 2026 AS A NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK IN MERCED COUNTY AND CALL UPON ALL RESIDENTS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CRITICAL ROLE OF PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS AND TO RECOGNIZE THEIR ONGOING CONTRIBUTIONS TO STRENGTHEN SAFETY AND RESILIENCE OF OUR COMMUNITIES. AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] DO YOU WANT TO COME UP HERE FOR THE PRESENTATION? ALL RIGHT. DO YOU WANT US TO TAKE A KNEE? YOU'RE TALLER THAN BOTH OF US. [01:45:33] OKAY. WE'LL WAIT. JIMMY. [BOARD ACTION] WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO BOARD ACTION ITEMS BEGINNING WITH PUBLIC WORKS. ITEMS 22 THROUGH 25. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE'S THREE ITEMS ON THERE. PUBLIC WORKS ITEM NUMBER 22, 23, AND 25. THIS IS MEASURE V PROJECT FUNDING, MOVING OVER TO WORK ON THE SANTA FE DRIVE REHABILITATION PROJECT AND THEN ALSO APPROVE AUTHORIZE CHAIR TO EXECUTE AGREEMENT WITH HDR ENGINEERING REGARDING THE INLAND PORT PROJECT OUT AT CASTLE AS WELL AS ITEM NUMBER 25 IS ACTUALLY JUST ANOTHER MOVEMENT TO HELP OUT THE ATWATER MERCED EXPRESSWAY. SO I'D ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE YES ON THESE ITEMS. THESE ARE BIG, BIG FOR MY DISTRICT, BUT I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY BIG FOR THE NOT ONLY FOR THE CITY OF ATWATER, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY. PUBLIC COMMENT. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS 22 THROUGH 25. SEEING NONE. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS 22 THROUGH 25 IS NOW CLOSED. WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THESE ITEMS? IF NOT, I DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT, WE HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES. ITEM 26. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES. ITEM NUMBER 26. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES NUMBER 26 IS NOW CLOSED. WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS OR FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM. IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT, WE HAVE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY. ITEMS 27 THROUGH 31. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY ITEMS 27 THROUGH 31. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY ITEMS 27 THROUGH 31 IS NOW CLOSED. WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THESE ITEMS? IF NOT, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT, WE HAVE HEALTH. ITEM 32. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR HEALTH ITEM NUMBER 32. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR HEALTH ITEM NUMBER 32 IS NOW CLOSED. WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS AS A FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM. IF NOT, WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES. NEXT WE HAVE SHERIFF. ITEMS 33 AND 34. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR SHERIFF ITEMS 33 AND 34. [01:50:06] THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR SHERIFF ITEMS NUMBER 33 AND 34 IS NOW CLOSED. WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS. IS THERE ARE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS ON THESE ITEMS. IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT, WE HAVE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. ITEMS 35 THROUGH 37. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ECONOMIC OR COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ITEMS 35 THROUGH 37. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ITEMS 35 THROUGH 37 IS NOW CLOSED. WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM OR YEAH ON THESE ITEMS? SEEING NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT, WE HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. ITEM 38. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. ITEM NUMBER 38. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ITEM 38 IS NOW CLOSED. WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS. IS THERE A FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? IF NOT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO. LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT, WE HAVE BOARD APPOINTMENTS. ITEMS 39 AND 40. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BOARD APPOINTMENTS. ITEMS 39 AND 40. GOOD MORNING. IT IS STILL MORNING BY FIVE MINUTES. SO GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ERIN HAM AND I WANT TO THANK SUPERVISORS PAREIRA AND MCDANIEL FOR THE INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY AND NOMINATION TO SERVE ON THE PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY. AS A LOCAL PROPERTY MANAGER AND INVESTOR, I UNDERSTAND THE RESPONSIBILITY AND MAGNITUDE OF THE AUTHORITY AND SEE SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO DO SOME BETTER THINGS. SO I WOULD REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ON THE BOARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD OF THE BOARD APPOINTMENTS ITEMS 39 AND 40 IS NOW CLOSED. WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION. IF NOT, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO. LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES. CONGRATULATIONS, ERIN. NOW IT'S TIME THAT WE HAVE OUR BOARD REPORTS AND I WILL BE [REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION] STARTING WITH SUPERVISOR PACHECO. I THINK I GOT IT. DOES IT WORK? THANK YOU CHAIR. COUPLE THINGS. IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE WERE HERE ON APRIL 22ND, I ATTENDED THE HILTON GARDENS GRAND OPENING FOR THE HOTEL. GREAT FACILITY OUT THERE. IT'S NICE TO SEE NEW BUSINESS IN MERCED AND NICE FOR THE AREA OUT THERE AT MISSION GARDENS. SO THEY NOT ONLY HAVE THE HOTEL, BUT THEY HAVE A RESTAURANT TO GO OVER THERE. SO I WOULD RECOMMEND EVERYBODY GO AND GIVE THAT A TRY. ON APRIL 23RD, I ATTENDED THE VICTIM RIGHTS CEREMONY HOSTED BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY. THEY DO A GOOD JOB REMEMBERING VICTIMS OF CRIME IN MERCED. AND THEY PUT ON A GREAT PROGRAM. ON THE 24TH I ATTENDED THE BURCHELL BRIDGE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY. GREAT EVENT. AND I WANT TO THANK OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT FOR GETTING THAT PROJECT DONE. THE OLD BRIDGE WAS OVER 100 YEARS OLD, AND SO WE'RE READY FOR A NEW BRIDGE ON THE 30TH. [01:55:02] I ATTENDED COUNTY DAY AT THE SPRING FAIR. GREAT EVENT OVER THERE. IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO SEE THE SPRING FAIR. AND I WAS ALSO ATTENDED THE LIVESTOCK AUCTION ON SATURDAY WHERE I WAS ABLE TO SUPPORT A COUPLE OF 4H AND FFA MEMBERS. ALWAYS A GREAT EVENT FOR FAMILIES. I ATTENDED THE WESTERN INTERSTATE REGION CONFERENCE. ALSO WAS ABLE TO CONNECT WITH SOME OF MY FELLOW ELECTED OFFICIALS AND JUST GO OVER ISSUES FACING THE COUNTIES. AS WE SEE, THE H.R. ONE IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE ALL DEALING WITH. THIS SATURDAY WAS PLANADA COMMUNITY DAY AND PARADE. ANOTHER GREAT EVENT. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS FOR PUTTING A GOOD PARADE AND EVENT AND ALSO OUR PUBLIC WORKS FOR HELPING US PUT THAT TOGETHER TOO. THEY PUT A NEW STRUCTURE UP AND YEAH, THEY JUST TRY TO MAKE IT EASIER EVERY YEAR. AND THAT'S ALL THAT I HAVE. THANK YOU CHAIR. THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YEAH. A LOT OF THE SAME EVENTS, THE HILTON GRAND HILTON GARDEN GRAND OPENING WAS A GOOD EVENT. THAT'S A PROJECT THAT'S BEEN MANY YEARS IN THE MAKING, SO I'M GLAD THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF. THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY VICTIMS RIGHTS EVENT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB GALA IT'S THEIR ANNUAL FUNDRAISER. IT WAS SOLD OUT. IT WAS, WAS REALLY COOL TO SEE THE OLD TIMERS LUNCH TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE SENIOR CITIZENS AND I THINK IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT AND I WANT TO COMMEND MY COLLEAGUE AND HIS TEAM FOR PUTTING THAT TOGETHER. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA DOES A GOOD JOB OF GETTING THE SENIORS OUT THERE. I TOO WENT TO THE SPRING FAIR. I WAS ABLE TO TAKE PART IN SENIOR INTERVIEWS. AND IT WAS KIND OF FUNNY. I WAS COMPLIMENTED ON SPENDING TIME WITH THE SENIORS AND GOING OVER THERE, BUT WHAT THEY DIDN'T REALIZE IS THAT MY WIFE IS THE ONE THAT ORGANIZES IT. SO I REALLY DON'T HAVE A CHOICE. SO, BUT IT STILL IS A GOOD TIME TO GO TALK TO THE SENIORS AND HELP THEM AND LISTEN TO THEIR STORY. THE MCOE LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT, IT WAS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, WHICH I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. IT'S STARTING TO GET A LOT OF ATTENTION HERE IN MERCED AND ACROSS THE STATE BECAUSE OF THE LACK THEREOF AND THE FUNDING SOURCES AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH IT. ON SATURDAY, I ATTENDED THE FOSTER FORWARD PROJECT EVENT. AND THEN I ALSO ATTENDED THE FIRST FIVE WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD, THE KIDDY LAND RIBBON CUTTING, AS MENTIONED EARLIER BY MISS ADAMS. AND THE COOL THING IS IT'S NOT JUST LIKE THE REFURBISHMENT OF KIDDY LAND AND IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD IF YOU GO OUT THERE AND I RECOMMEND EVERYBODY DO SO. THEY HAVE THESE GATES LEADING INTO KIDDY LAND THAT THEY JUST REDID. IT'S LIKE WALKING INTO JURASSIC PARK. I MEAN, THESE THINGS ARE HUGE. AND SO IT'S WITHOUT THE SCARE. SO BUT IT'S A REALLY COOL THING. AND THEN AGAIN, I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY. I ALSO ATTENDED THE WESTERN INTERSTATE REGENTS CONFERENCE. THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON WATER RESILIENCY. AND THEN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION AND LOOKING AT DIFFERENT WAYS TO LIKE EVACUATIONS AND THAT TYPE OF STUFF. AND I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING TO BE A PART OF THAT GROUP WITH MY COLLEAGUES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND THEN AS MENTIONED, I'D LIKE TO INVITE EVERYONE TO THE LAO NEW YEAR EVENT THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE THIS SATURDAY DOWNTOWN AT BOB HART SQUARE, STARTING AT 11:00. AND THEN ALSO FRIDAY, THE AS MENTIONED, THE TREEHOUSE CABARET THAT MY SON IS GOING TO BE PERFORMING IN. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YEAH, IT'S BEEN A BUSY IT'S BEEN A BUSY TIME FOR ALL OF US. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND HER VICTIMS RIGHTS DEPARTMENT FOR HAVING A CEREMONY AT OUR COURTHOUSE PARK. YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF A SOMBER EVENT, RIGHT? BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE VICTIMS OF CRIMES AND BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO'VE LOST FAMILY MEMBERS. AND SO I SURE APPRECIATE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND HER, STAFF DOING THAT. I ATTENDED THE UC MERCED CAPE. IT'S THEIR POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT HAD A GRADUATION CEREMONY. WELL, AN AWARD CEREMONY, I GUESS IT'S MORE OF A SOCIAL EVENT. AND THEY PROVIDED SOME AWARDS TO OUTSTANDING SENIORS AND SOME OF THE AWARDEES FOR OUTSTANDING PROJECTS IN THEIR DEPARTMENTS. AND IT WAS JUST REALLY KIND OF NEAT. I REALLY HAD CONVERSATION WITH FOUR POLI SCI GRADUATES. AND, YOU KNOW, TWO OF THEM WANT TO BE ATTORNEYS AT SOME POINT. AND IT WAS JUST, I WOULD SAY THREE OF THE FOUR REALLY HAD A VERY INTERESTING OUTLOOK. AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU MEET YOUNG PEOPLE WITH GREAT OUTLOOKS, IT KIND OF MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT BECOMING AN OLDER AMERICAN. AND, SO ANYWAYS, THIS WAS AN ENJOYABLE EVENING AND THEIR STAFF DOES A GREAT JOB IN HONORING THEIR STUDENTS. [02:00:08] I PARTICIPATED IN THE WINTON SPRING FESTIVAL PARADE, WHICH WAS BROUGHT BACK THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME, I BELIEVE SINCE PRE COVID. AND THERE WAS ABOUT 25 ENTRIES. AND, THE ROAD WAS LINED PRETTY GOOD. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO KELLY THOMAS AND HER CREW FOR DOING SUCH A NEAT EVENT. I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE CINNAMON HOWELL FOR PUTTING ON A GREAT LOS BANOS FAIR. I WAS GONE THAT DURING THE WEEK, BUT WAS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LIVESTOCK AUCTION ON SATURDAY. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA IS ONE OF THE AUCTIONEERS AND I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD HIM AUCTIONEER BUT IT'S REALLY A TREAT. YOU KNOW, HE KIND OF MADE FUN OF ME ONE TIME. I WAS POINTING AT SOMETHING ON THE ROOF AND HE SAID, ARE YOU BIDDING THERE? YOU KNOW, AND KIND OF YOU GO LIKE, OH MY GOD. BUT ANYWAY, SO WE'RE ABLE TO GET AN ANIMAL PURCHASED AND SUPPORT THE YOUTH THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES AS WELL. I ATTENDED THE WIR THE NACO WESTERN REGION CONFERENCE. AND YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU GO TO THOSE AND YOU DON'T KNOW REALLY EXACTLY WHAT TO EXPECT, BUT ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS WAS MEETING A WATER ATTORNEY THAT WORKS AGAINST EPA, I GUESS, IS THE WAY TO SAY IT. AND COME TO FIND OUT, IT'S A NATIONWIDE FIRM. AND THAT SAME FIRM ALSO PROVIDES THE ATTORNEYS FOR OUR LOCAL LAFCO. BUT ANYWAYS, IT WAS GOOD TO HEAR HER PERSPECTIVE AND KIND OF GIVES YOU HOPE THAT THAT COMMON SENSE CAN STILL PREVAIL WHEN EPA IS INVOLVED. THE OLD TIMERS LUNCHEON. YOU KNOW, I HOPEFULLY SOME OF YOU SAW THE PICTURES IN THE ARTICLE IN THE COUNTY TIMES. FOR ME, I'M KIND OF AN OLD SOUL AND SO HONORING OLDER PEOPLE. AND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE 85 YEARS OR OLDER TO BE HONORED. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES THEIR GRANDKIDS DIDN'T EVEN KNOW SOME OF THE STUFF ABOUT THEIR GRANDPARENTS. AND SO JUST KIND OF NEAT TO SEE THEM HAVE ANOTHER GLORY DAY. AND THERE WAS ONE LADY WHO'S AT THE GOLDEN EYE REST HOME. AND OF COURSE, SHE COULDN'T MAKE IT TO THE LUNCHEON. AND SO I OFFERED TO GO BY AND GIVE HER HER CERTIFICATES AND A PIECE OF CAKE ON MY WAY HOME. AND I ENDED UP SPENDING ABOUT 20 MINUTES WITH HER AND ANYWAY JUST A NEAT LADY WITH A GREAT HISTORY IN MERCED COUNTY AND JUST COULDN'T BE THERE TO PARTICIPATE. SO I SURE ENJOYED THAT. CONGRATULATIONS. SUPERVISOR PACHECO ON WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S CONGRATULATIONS. HE USED TO LIVE ON A DEAD END ROAD, AND NOW IT'S A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE. SO I GUESS IT'S A BITTERSWEET BRIDGE OPENING. OUR PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL IS TOMORROW AT 9:00 HERE ON THE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF OUR BUILDING. SO I'D LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY FOR HONORING THOSE THAT THAT HAVE PASSED IN THE LINE OF DUTY. YOU KNOW, KAREN ADAMS MISSED SOMETHING. SHE'S NOT IN THE ROOM STILL, BUT SHE MISSED SOMETHING EARLIER THAT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT. I SERVE ON THE AIR DISTRICT BOARD, AND KIDDY LAND GOT SOME FUNDING FOR THE ELECTRIC TRAIN THAT WILL BE GOING AROUND THE TRACK THERE. SO YOU KNOW, I JUST LIKE TO TEASE HER A BIT AND. OH, AND THEN A WEEK BEFORE LAST, I WENT TO WASHINGTON DC WITH [INAUDIBLE] DISTRICT TO LOBBY. THERE'S A COUPLE OF OF PLANS THAT WE HAVE TO SUBMIT THROUGH CARB CALIFORNIA RESOURCE BOARD. AND THERE STILL SEEMS TO BE A CONFLICT BETWEEN EPA AND CARB AND THE RESIDENTS OF THE CENTRAL VALLEY HERE COULD EASILY BE CAUGHT UP IF OUR PLANS AREN'T APPROVED BY THE END OF JUNE WE LOSE THE ABILITY FOR FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION FUNDING, AND SO IT'S REALLY A BIG DEAL. I MEAN, IT'S MILLIONS AND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THE LINE. AND SO ANYWAYS, I THINK WE MADE GOOD PROGRESS. AND THE, ALL INDICATIONS ARE THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON APPROVING OUR PLANS. AND SO YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE ANY CONTACTS. DARON ANY CONTACTS, EPA YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF FUNNY. ONE OF THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS WE MET WITH WAS USDA AND THE RESOURCE CONSERVATION DISTRICT AND THEY'RE READY TO GO TO BAT AGAINST EPA. I MEAN, THEY, THEY WANT EPA HAS NOT FULFILLED THEIR OBLIGATIONS TO A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY. AND, THEY REALLY AND WE'RE LIKE, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WE THINK WE HAVE THEM TO APPROVE OUR PLAN. DON'T GO AFTER THEM YET. BUT JUST KIND OF INTERESTING TO SEE THE DYNAMICS, I GUESS, BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENTS. AND WITH THAT I'LL YIELD BACK MY TIME. THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. I'LL TAKE IT. THANK YOU. SO A LOT OF THE ITEMS HAVE BEEN MENTIONED. I WANT TO THANK THE DA AND HER OFFICE FOR. FOR THEY ALWAYS DO A REALLY GREAT JOB OF HONORING THE VICTIMS IN A VERY SOMBER BUT NEEDED CEREMONY TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT. IT'S NOT JUST THE ACTUAL VICTIM. IT'S ALSO THE FAMILY AND THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO PICK UP THE PIECES. [02:05:03] SO THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS PUTTING ON A VERY TASTEFUL EVENT. NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER WAS IN LOS BANOS, AND THAT TYPICALLY ALWAYS FALLS DURING THE WEEK OF MAY DAY. BUT THIS YEAR IT ACTUALLY FELL AFTERWARDS. AND SO THEN I WAS STUCK WITH, DO I GO TO THE ONE AT NOON IN LOS BANOS OR THE ONE AT NOON IN DOS PALOS? AND I CHOSE TO GO TO THE ONE IN LOS BANOS. I WANT TO THANK STEVE, PASTOR STEVE HAMMOND, WHO YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN HERE, WHO COMES SOMETIMES AND DOES THE OPENING PRAYER FOR US, ALWAYS DOES A GREAT JOB. AND I WANT TO COMMEND THE CITY OF LOS BANOS. THEY'RE ONE OF THE ONLY JURISDICTIONS THAT ALLOWS FOR THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER TO BE DONE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS. AND SO IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A TRADITION THERE, AND THEY CONTINUE TO DO IT. AND IT'S PASTORS FROM ALL DIFFERENT CHURCHES ALL GET TO COME UP AND SAY A LITTLE PIECE. AND SO IT WAS REALLY, REALLY JUST A REALLY NICE EVENT. SO I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THAT. I ATTENDED THE OLDER AMERICANS EVENT, DIFFERENT FROM THE EVENT THAT SUPERVISOR PAREIRA HAD MENTIONED EARLIER. I KNOW THAT FELIZA WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT, BUT SHE HAD A NICE VIDEO THERE. SO MYSELF AND SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL ATTENDED THAT EVENT AND THEY KIND OF EACH ONE OF THE SENIOR GROUPS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTY KIND OF, THEY HONOR SOMEBODY FROM WITHIN THEIR ORGANIZATION. AND SUPERVISOR PEDROZO MENTIONED EARLIER THE GOLDEN AGERS IN LOS BANOS, IT IS THE SINGLE LARGEST SENIOR GROUP IN MERCED COUNTY. AND THEY ARE BIG AND GETTING BIGGER AND THEY DO REALLY GREAT TRIPS. SO ALWAYS A GOOD TIME AND JUST A REALLY GOOD GROUP OF FOLKS THERE. I WANT YESTERDAY AS NORMAL WE MET MYSELF AND CEO HENDRICKSON MET WITH THE MAYOR OF LOS BANOS AND THE CITY MANAGER, SOMETHING THAT I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT WE'RE DOING. IT JUST IT'S JUST REALLY JUST A SIT DOWN CONVERSATION. HEY, WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON? HEY, WHAT ARE WE WORKING ON SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO HEAD OFF THINGS BEFORE THEY BECOME A BIG ISSUE? AND LASTLY, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SPRING FAIR. I WANT TO THANK ALL MY COLLEAGUES AND ALL THE STAFF MEMBERS THAT MADE IT OUT FOR COUNTY DAY. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS REINSTITUTED A COUPLE YEARS AGO. IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, ALL THE STAFF DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT TOUCHED, SPRING FAIR OR WHATNOT, COME OUT, ENJOY THE FAIR, PUT ON A LITTLE LUNCH FOR YOU, GET TO GO WALK AROUND AND GO CHECK OUT THE STUFF OVER THERE. WANT TO SAY A BIG THANK YOU TO VALLEY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. IT ALMOST IT WAS YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET THE LAWYERS INVOLVED, YOU HAD TO MAKE SURE TO GET LANGUAGE ALL WORKED OUT. WE HAD BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS CINNAMON HOWELL OUR FAIR MANAGER HAD BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH VALLEY CHILDREN'S AND THEY WANTED TO DO A SPONSORSHIP. WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT DONE JUST IN TIME FOR THIS FAIR, AND WHAT THAT ALLOWED FOR US TO DO IS KIDS 12 AND UNDER WERE FREE THE WHOLE WEEK OF THE FAIR. PREVIOUS TO THAT, FIVE AND UNDER WERE FREE. AND THEN ON KIDS DAY YOU KNOW, 12 AND UNDER WERE FREE ON FRIDAY. THIS TIME IT WAS THE WHOLE WEEK OF THE FAIR. AND WE REALLY SAW, YOU KNOW, I HAD A BOOTH THERE THIS YEAR AND JUST MAN, WEDNESDAY WAS JUST A REALLY GREAT DAY. SENIORS AND VETERANS ARE FREE. JUST A STEADY STREAM OF PEOPLE. I JOKE WITH PEOPLE AND SAY, UNLESS YOU'VE EXPERIENCED ALL FOUR SEASONS IN THE SAME WEEK YOU HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED A TRUE MAYDAY. THIS WASN'T A TRUE MAYDAY BECAUSE WE HAD SOME REALLY GREAT WEATHER THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WEEK. AGAIN, THANK MY COLLEAGUES THAT CAME OUT AND PARTICIPATED IN THE LIVESTOCK AUCTION BETWEEN ALL THREE SALES, WHICH IS OUR THURSDAY SALES OR REPLACEMENT HEIFER SALE. FRIDAY WAS OUR RABBITS AND CHICKENS SALE. AND THEN SATURDAY, THE REST OF THE ANIMALS HOGS, GOATS, LAMBS AND STEERS ALL TOGETHER WELL OVER $1.3 MILLION WERE RAISED THAT GOES BACK INTO THESE KIDS AND THESE YOUTH. AND SO ALWAYS A GREAT, IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO BE A PART OF IT AND SEE THAT COMMUNITY STEP UP. EDP RENEWABLES, WHO'S DOING A SOLAR PROJECT OUT ON THE WEST SIDE. YOU KNOW, THEY CAME TO ME SOME YEARS BACK AS WHEN THEY FIRST CAME INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND WERE HAVING INITIAL CONVERSATIONS. THEY CAME TO ME AND SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY AND I AND WHERE CAN YOU GIVE US SOME IDEAS? AND I SAID, HEY, COME OUT TO SPRING FAIR IS ALWAYS AN OPPORTUNITY THERE. AND THEY DID THAT. AND YES, THEIR PROJECT HAS BEEN APPROVED, BUT THEY'RE STILL GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. THEY SHOWED UP THERE AND IT WAS REALLY GOOD. AND THEN I WANT TO CLEAR UP A RUMOR THAT YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE SAW IS I WAS ASKED TO DO A TV SPOT ON CHANNEL 24 TALKING ABOUT THE FAIR. AND I WANT TO PREFACE THIS BY SAYING THAT THE REPORTER WAS VERY, VERY EXCITED THAT ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE THE SELENA TRIBUTE CONCERT. RIGHT. AND I, YOU KNOW, THEY JUST GIVE YOU THE MICROPHONE AND YOU KEEP TALKING. RIGHT. AND SO IT COMES UP AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE VALLEY CHILDREN'S THING AND THE LIVESTOCK. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WHAT ELSE IS THERE'S ENTERTAINMENT FOR EVERYBODY. AND I MADE A COMMENT MEANING LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT THE MID-STATE FAIR IN SAN LUIS OBISPO. WE CAN'T BRING IN THE BIG NAME, RIGHT? LIKE WE BRING IN THE, YOU KNOW, SELENA UNAUTHORIZED OR THE JOURNEY UNAUTHORIZED. WELL, AND I, SO I MADE THE COMMENT THAT, YEAH, WE CAN'T GET SELENA. WE CAN ONLY GET, YOU KNOW, THE SELENA KNOCKOFF, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT I'M. WELL, LET ME JUST TELL YOU, MY PHONE STARTED BLOWING UP FROM TEXT MESSAGES FROM FAMILY MEMBERS AND WHATNOT, AND TO REMIND ME THAT SELENA IS NOT ALIVE AND I KNEW THAT, BUT I WANT TO I WAS JUST TRYING TO ILLUSTRATE THE POINT THERE. BUT I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT I WASN'T LYING. WE COULDN'T GET HER. [02:10:03] [LAUGHTER] SO I JUST WANTED TO CLEAR THAT RUMOR. AND THEN THE LAST THING I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH IS, IS ELECTION TIME IS UPON US. BALLOTS WERE MAILED OUT MAY THE 4TH. LITERALLY PEOPLE HAVE DIED FOR US TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU GET YOUR BALLOTS FILLED OUT AND GET THEM IN WITH AN ALL MAIL IN BALLOT SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE. NOW YOU GET THAT, YOU SEND IT BACK IN. AND SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO VOTE. ELECTION DAY IS JUNE 2ND. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU, COUNTY COUNSEL. NO. CEO HENDRICKSON. NOTHING. OKAY. I ATTENDED THE GRAND OPENING OF THE NEW HILTON GARDEN IN MERCED. I KNOW BY THE TIME IT GETS TO ME, IT KIND OF GETS OLD, DOESN'T IT? ALSO, THE MERCED COUNTY'S OFFICE FOR ANNUAL VICTIMS RIGHTS CEREMONY. ALSO THE BURCHELL BRIDGE. EVEN THOUGH IT TRIED TO TAKE ME OUT TO MARIPOSA COUNTY. I STILL ARRIVED THERE FOR THE RIBBON CUTTING. I ALSO HELD MY ATWATER MOBILE DISTRICT HOURS TO MEET DIRECTLY WITH RESIDENTS AND DISCUSS LOCAL CONCERNS. THERE IN ATWATER. REGIONALLY, I PARTICIPATE IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY POLICY COUNCIL. WE ACTUALLY I'M THE CHAIRMAN OF THE POLICY COUNCIL, AND WE HAD THEM ALL HERE IN MERCED FOR TWO DAYS. SO GREAT DISCUSSIONS. I WANT TO THANK THE CEO FOR COMING IN FOR A LITTLE WHILE. ERICK SERRATO FROM WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ACTUALLY CAME IN FOR A LITTLE WHILE, AND I THINK EVERYBODY WAS REALLY IMPRESSED IN THE DISCUSSIONS WE HAVE AND HOW WE CAN ALL COME TOGETHER AS A VALLEY AND COME TO AGREEMENT ON A LOT OF ITEMS. OF COURSE, THERE'S SOME THAT WE DON'T BRING UP BECAUSE WATER IS ONE OF THEM, AND WE CAN'T ALL GET ON THE SAME AGREEMENT ON THAT. BUT AND AS THEY WERE ALL HERE WHEN WE HAD OUR CLOSING COMMENTS, I ENCOURAGE THEM TO FILL UP THEIR TANKS ON THEIR WAY OUT TO HELP WITH OUR TRANSPORTATION NEEDS. SO WE NEED THE REVENUES HERE. I ALSO ATTENDED THE CASA KING'S AND HARMONY HOPE EVENT SUPPORTING OUR FOSTER YOUTH AND CHILD ADVOCACY EFFORTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. I ALSO ATTENDED MERCED COUNTY OLD TIMERS LUNCHEON, RECOGNIZING THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ALSO HAD THE PRIVILEGE. AND I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE LLOYD PAREIRA FOR BRINGING ME UP. MY FORMER COLLEGE BASKETBALL COACH WAS THERE OR WASN'T THERE, BUT HIS WIFE WAS THERE TO RECEIVE IT. AND HER AND I HAD A REALLY GOOD DISCUSSION CATCHING UP ON OLD TIMES. SO I APPRECIATED YOU BRINGING THAT UP. THAT WAS DON REED WHO WAS RECOGNIZED. ADDITIONAL EVENTS INCLUDE A COUNTY DAY AT THE SPRING FAIR. I DO PARTICIPATE IN THE SAG SGMA AD HOC COMMITTEE WITH RCRC REGARDING GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY. ALSO ATTENDED THE MICHAEL ANDERSON JUNIOR POST OFFICE DEDICATION HONORING A FALLEN HERO OF SERVICE. AND IF YOU GUYS ATTEND A LOT OF MEETINGS, YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO TALK ABOUT MICHAEL ANDERSON JR. AND WE LOST HIM IN THE BATTLE OF FALLUJAH. IT WAS ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT HIS FATHER AND I WORKED ON IN CONGRESSMAN JEFF DENHAM'S OFFICE. AS YOU KNOW, THOSE IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO GET ANYTHING DONE, BUT WE'RE GLAD THAT CONGRESSMAN MCCLINTOCK ACTUALLY PICKED IT UP. AND IT TOOK HIM FIVE YEARS FROM THE TIME THAT HE PICKED IT UP TO GET IT LEGISLATED IN WASHINGTON, D.C.. SO THE POST OFFICE IS NOW NAMED AFTER MICHAEL ANDERSON JR. VERY WELL DESERVED. I ALSO ATTENDED THE OLD TIMERS RECOGNITION LUNCHEON CELEBRATING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF SENIORS. THANK YOU. GREAT VIDEO, BY THE WAY. I TAKE PRIDE IN BEING ABLE TO DO THE OPENING PRAYER. SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THAT. LASTLY I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AT THE KIWANIS CASTLE AT CASTLE AND PROVIDE UPDATES ON COUNTY PROJECTS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS, AND ONGOING EFFORTS THROUGH DISTRICT THREE FOR MERCED COUNTY. OH, AND THEN I'LL RECOGNIZE SCOTT SILVEIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. JUST QUICKLY, CINNAMON, JUST TEXTED ME, OUR FAIR MANAGER. IT WAS OVER 11,000 KIDS THAT CAME INTO THE FAIR FREE. SO THAT'S JUST A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH VALLEY CHILDREN'S AND REALLY PROUD TO BE A PART OF IT. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YOU GOT IT. VERY GOOD. AND WITH THAT, [POSSIBLE DIRECTION FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS] THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING WILL BE HELD AT 10 A.M. ON TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2026. THIS CONCLUDES THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING FOR MAY 12, 2026. MEETING IS ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.