May 19, 2026 Board Meeting

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:05]

GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE MAY 19TH, 2026 MEETING FOR THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

[CLOSED SESSION]

THE PROPERTY IS THE BUILDING 1324, LOCATED AT THE CASTLE COMMERCE CENTER IN ATWATER, WITH AGENCY NEGOTIATOR MARK MIMMS, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

NEGOTIATING PARTIES. THE SHEPHERD'S TREE, INC.

UNDER NEGOTIATION, IS TO REQUEST AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY AND VALUE.

THE PUBLIC WILL BE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON ANY MATTER TO BE CONSIDERED IN CLOSED SESSION, PRIOR TO THE BOARD ADJOURNING INTO CLOSED SESSION.

TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CLOSED SESSION ITEMS. PLEASE FORM A SINGLE FILE LINE TO THE RIGHT.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR CLOSED SESSION ITEMS IS NOW CLOSED.

WE WILL MOVE INTO CLOSED SESSION. GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME BACK TO THE MAY 19TH, 2026 MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF

[10:00 A.M. REGULAR MEETING]

WE WILL NOW START WITH THE INVOCATION LED BY STACY COOLEY.

AND THEN I WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

PLEASE BOW YOUR HEARTS AND HEADS WITH ME TODAY.

DEAR GRACIOUS HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOODNESS AND MERCY.

THERE'S TRULY NONE LIKE YOU. NEXT, WE INVITE YOU INTO THIS MEETING AND ASK FOR YOUR PROTECTION, PEACE, AND GUIDANCE. I PRAY OVER OUR BOARD MEMBERS, COUNSEL HANSEN, CEO HENDRICKSON, ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS, STAFF AND OUR CONSTITUENTS. HELP US TO LISTEN TO YOUR VOICE, TO DEPEND ON YOUR WISDOM AND DIRECTION, AND TO ALLOW YOU AND YOUR SOVEREIGNTY TO FULFILL YOUR PLAN FOR OUR LIVES.

EACH OF US IS A PART OF THE BODY AND HOLDS A SPECIAL PURPOSE.

I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD HELP US TO WALK WHERE YOU'VE CALLED US DESPITE ANY FEAR, HESITATION, OR UNCERTAINTY. FORGIVE US WHEN WE'VE FALTERED OR ALLOWED FEAR TO CREEP IN.

GIVE US THE BOLDNESS TO SPEAK THE TRUTH AND TO BE CORRECTED IF NECESSARY.

MAY WE ALWAYS WALK HUMBLY WITH YOU. WE DEDICATE THIS MEETING TO YOU AND ASK FOR YOUR BLESSING OVER EACH AND EVERY DECISION TO BE MADE HERE TODAY.

I PRAY THAT EACH ONE WOULD BE LED BY YOUR SPIRIT AND CONSIDERED WISELY.

THANK YOU FOR KEEPING A WATCHFUL EYE OVER OUR LEADERS. I ASK THAT YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO REWARD THEM FOR THEIR FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP OF WHAT HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED TO THEM.

THE WEIGHT OF THE DECISIONS IS NOT ALWAYS EASY.

SO IN THE MOMENTS WHEN IT BECOMES HEAVY, I ASK THAT YOU GRANT THEM AN EXTRA MEASURE OF GRACE TO GET TO THE FINISH LINE.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HEARING US AND FOR YOUR GOODNESS. PLEASE GRANT US THE STRENGTH AND STAMINA FOR TODAY'S TASKS.

IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

IT IS NOW TIME FOR PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST WITHIN THE BOARD'S JURISDICTION,

[PUBLIC COMMENT]

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

AGAIN, THIS IS FOR NON AGENDA ITEMS. HI. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

IT'S MY FIRST TIME DOING THIS. DO I START ALREADY? YES. GO AHEAD. OKAY. MY NAME IS ERVIN MENDOZA.

I AM ONE OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS HERE AT SIENA STUDIO.

AND I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THIS WEEK LONG FESTIVAL THAT WE'RE STARTING, ACTUALLY, THIS WEEK.

IT'S CALLED MERCED ART FESTIVAL. IT'S STARTING FROM MAY 18TH, WHICH WAS YESTERDAY, AND IT'S LEADING UP ALL THE WAY TO MAY 24TH.

SO THE MERCED ART FESTIVAL, PRETTY MUCH TO SUM IT UP, IS A WEEK LONG ART FESTIVAL IN DOWNTOWN WHERE FIVE MURALS ARE BEING PAINTED LIVE ALL WEEK, LEADING INTO A FULL DAY OF ACTIVITY WITH THE PHOTO EXHIBITION, MURAL PHOTOWALK, A DOWNTOWN TAKE OVER WITH ARTISTS AND VENDORS AND LIVE MUSIC AT BOB HART SQUARE. IT'S ALL ABOUT BRINGING ART INTO THE OPEN AND GIVING THE COMMUNITY SOMETHING TO EXPERIENCE TOGETHER.

[00:05:01]

THAT'S ON 1730 CANAL STREET. THE NEXT ONE IS SCHAEFER BUILDING ON 1726 ELM STREET.

AND WE ALSO HAVE TWO MURALS BEING DONE ON BELLA LUNA, 350 WEST MAIN STREET AND SENSORY LAB, 847 WEST MAIN STREET MERCED, CALIFORNIA. THE REASON WHY WE PICKED THESE LOCATIONS IN MIND IS BECAUSE SOME OF THESE ALLEYWAYS, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WALK THERE AT NIGHTTIME, IT'S NOT THE PRETTIEST PLACE TO BE AT.

SO WE WANT TO CREATE VISIBILITY. AND WE ALSO WANT TO CREATE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE FEEL A LITTLE SAFER WALKING THROUGH THERE.

OTHER THAN THE MURALS THAT WE'RE DOING HERE IN DOWNTOWN, WE'RE ALSO DOING A PHOTO EXHIBITION AT THE MAC CENTER THAT'S HAPPENING FRIDAY AND SATURDAY FROM 6 TO 9 P.M. IT'S CALLED CIEN FOTOS. AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT CIEN MEANS, IT TRANSLATES TO A 100.

WE'RE HAVING 100 PHOTOGRAPHERS FROM ALL OVER THE CENTRAL VALLEY.

WE HAVE SOME FROM FRESNO, MADERA, PATERSON. WHERE ELSE? WE ALSO HAVE SOME PEOPLE COMING FROM ACTUALLY OAKLAND WHO ARE PARTICIPATING.

AND WE REALLY WANT TO INVOLVE ALL THE MEDIUMS OF ART.

WE BELIEVE THAT MERCED IS A CITY ON THE RISE, AND WE THINK THAT MERCED HAS A LOT TO OFFER.

AND I THINK WE'VE ALL KNOWN THAT, YOU KNOW? BUT I THINK IT'S TIME THAT EVERYBODY ELSE DOES, TOO. OUR BIG DAY IS MAY 23RD. SO ON SATURDAY FROM 5 TO 9 P.M.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PRETTY MUCH SOMETHING CALLED A DOWNTOWN TAKEOVER.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE A ART HOP, BUT WE'RE CALLING IT ART FLOP.

AND WE HAVE 30 PLUS BUSINESSES PARTICIPATING.

AND IN TOTAL, I THINK WE HAVE OVER 150 ARTISTS WHO ARE GOING TO BE PARTICIPATING FOR THE NIGHT.

EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING ON SATURDAY IS FREE.

IT'S FREE TO THE PUBLIC. YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING.

AND WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO UTILIZE THE NEW POP ART SQUARE THAT, YOU KNOW, RECENTLY GOT DONE.

BUT ASIDE FROM EVERYTHING, WE JUST WANTED TO INVITE YOU PERSONALLY AND, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. I WATCHED YOUR PRESENTATION LAST NIGHT ON THE MERCED CITY COUNCIL.

YOU'RE GOING TO BE BUSY. YEAH. THE MURALS ALREADY STARTED.

WE HAVE TWO THAT ARE UP RIGHT NOW. IF YOU LOOK AT SENSORY LAB AND BELLA LUNA.

SO IF YOU GUYS ARE WALKING THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, CHECK OUT THE LOCATIONS AND YOU'LL SEE THEM LIVE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING. THERE IT IS. HI, MERCED COUNTY SUPERVISORS.

MY NAME IS JASON ALVIAR, CALIFORNIA AMERICAN WATER'S NORTHERN DIVISION EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LEAD.

YOU CAN REACH ME AT JASON.ALVIAR@AMWATER.COM OR VIA PHONE AT (916) 291-1195.

I'M HERE TODAY TO PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN, OR ERP.

WE WELCOME ONGOING COORDINATION WITH CITY AND COUNCIL STAFF.

OR CITY AND COUNTY STAFF. AND IT WOULD LIKE. OOPS, SORRY.

AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR A DEEPER DISCUSSION ABOUT ANY COMPONENT OF THE PLAN, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CONTACT ME. THE ERP OUTLINES HOW WE PROTECT, OPERATE, AND RESTORE SERVICE IN OUR WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS DURING AN EMERGENCY.

IT COVERS CRITICAL SYSTEM COMPONENTS, REPORTING AND NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES, SECURITY PROTOCOLS, RESPONSE ACTIONS, AND THE USE OF OUR STANDARDIZED EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WITHIN THE INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FRAMEWORK.

THE PRIORITIES OF THE ERP ARE TO FIRST PROTECT HUMAN LIFE, FOLLOWED BY PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT, PROPERTY AND MAINTENANCE OF ESSENTIAL WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEM OPERATIONS.

WHILE WE HOPE THESE PLANS ARE RARELY NEEDED, OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO BE FULLY PREPARED IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.

THIS PLAN ENSURES WE CAN RESPOND EFFECTIVELY AND MAINTAIN OR RESTORE SERVICE, INCLUDING PROVIDING BACKUP WATER SUPPLIES WHEN NECESSARY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR ALLOWING ME TO PRESENT THIS OVERVIEW.

WE VALUE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND CALIFORNIA AMERICAN WATER REMAINS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THE SAFETY AND RESILIENCE OF OUR WATER SYSTEMS. WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOU TODAY AND ARE HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOUR TEAM FOR MORE DETAILS.

JUST FOR LIKE A QUICK STATS, WE COVER AROUND 1200 CONNECTIONS IN THE FRANKLIN BEACHWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD BETWEEN MERCED AND ATWATER. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. COULD YOU LEAVE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION IN THE BASKET THERE, PLEASE? ABSOLUTELY. ARE YOU NEW TO THE POSITION? BECAUSE I HAVEN'T MET YOU YET. NO. YES. I'M STILL VERY NEW.

NICOLE, WHO USED TO BE HERE IS NOW A BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PERSON, AND I JUST BACKFILLED HER ROLE.

[00:10:03]

ALL RIGHT. WELL GOOD MORNING, CHAIR, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, CEO, COUNTY STAFF.

MY NAME IS GLEN GALLMAN AND ONE OF THE MANY HATS THAT I WEAR.

TODAY I'M COMING TO YOU AS A MILITARY RETIREE AND RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 2.

TODAY, I'D LIKE TO DRAW ATTENTION TO TWO SIGNIFICANT OBSERVANCES DURING THIS MONTH.

FIRST, MEMORIAL DAY. OBSERVED THIS YEAR ON NEXT MONDAY, MAY 25TH.

IT'S A SOLEMN TIME TO MOURN, REFLECT UPON, AND HONOR THE AMERICAN SERVICE MEMBERS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES TO DEFEND OUR COUNTRY.

FOR MANY VETERANS AND FAMILIES, HOWEVER, MEMORIAL DAY ALSO CARRIES ANOTHER BURDEN.

THE REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE WE HAVE LOST AFTER THE BATTLE ENDED.

TO THE INVISIBLE WOUNDS OF WAR SUCH AS PTSD, DEPRESSION, AND SUICIDE.

THAT REFLECTION CONNECTS DIRECTLY TO THE SECOND OBSERVANCE.

MAY IS NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH.

THIS YEAR'S THEME, MORE GOOD DAYS AHEAD TOGETHER, REMINDS US THAT HOPE, HEALING AND PREVENTION ARE STRENGTHENED THROUGH COMMUNITY.

WITH THAT SPIRIT IN MIND, I WANT TO RAISE AWARENESS OF A GROWING GRASSROOTS COALITION OF FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL PARTNERS WORKING TO REDUCE MILITARY AND VETERAN SUICIDE IN MERCED COUNTY.

THE REALITY IS SIMPLE. THE VA CANNOT DO THIS WORK ALONE.

REDUCING MILITARY AND VETERAN SUICIDE REQUIRES A WHOLE OF COMMUNITY APPROACH.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS, INCLUDING THE VA, CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT, THE MERCED COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE, SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY VETERANS AND WEST CARE HAVE BEGUN COLLABORATING TO IMPROVE COORDINATION, EXPAND ACCESS, AND DELIVER TIMELY, EFFECTIVE SUPPORT TO OUR MILITARY AND VETERAN COMMUNITY.

ADDITIONALLY, I'M ALSO GRATEFUL FOR THE ONGOING DIALOG WITH THE DIRECTORS OF MERCED COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES AS WE EXPLORE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO BETTER SERVE OUR VETERANS, PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF THE ANTICIPATED IMPACTS OF PROPOSITION 1 ON LOCAL SERVICES AND FUNDING.

COALITIONS MATTER BECAUSE THEY UNITE DIVERSE PARTNERS AROUND ONE SHARED PURPOSE.

IN THIS CASE, SAVING AND IMPROVING LIVES. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, BOARD, CEO, STAFF. MY NAME IS AGGIE FREEMAN. I'M THE IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT OF MERCED SUNRISE ROTARY, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT A MEMORIAL DAY FLAG FUNDRAISER THAT WE ARE A COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MERCED SCOUTS, CUB SCOUTS AND BOY SCOUTS USA. SCOUTS FROM PACT 96 AND TROOP 88 WILL PLACE A SEVEN FOOT TALL FLAG AND SPOTLIGHT IN YOUR FRONT YARD FOR FIVE DAYS OVER THE MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING, IT'S A $25 DONATION, AND 100% OF THE FUNDS RAISED FROM THIS EVENT GO TOWARDS SCOUTING ACTIVITIES IN THE COUNTY AND CAMPING.

SO TO PARTICIPATE, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL SCOUT TO SIGN UP OR YOU CAN REACH US THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIR, BOARD. MY NAME IS BRIAN RAYMOND.

I'M HERE FROM THE OFFICE OF SENATOR MARIE ALVARADO-GIL, JUST TO GIVE YOU A QUICK UPDATE ON WHAT SHE'S BEEN WORKING ON.

FIRST WE HAVE SB 1234, WHICH IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY BEFORE CUSTODY ACT.

SB 1234 ENSURES THAT WHEN COURTS REQUIRE DRUG TESTING PRIOR TO CHILD REUNIFICATION, THAT FENTANYL WILL BE INCLUDED WITH THE TESTING PANEL BECAUSE CURRENTLY IT'S NOT.

THIS MEASURE IS DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN SAFEGUARDS FOR CHILDREN AND SUPPORT SAFE REUNIFICATION DECISIONS IN RESPONSE TO THE GROWING FENTANYL CRISIS.

THIS HAS PASSED OUT OF. THE SENATE IS CURRENTLY AWAITING A POLICY COMMITTEE IN THE ASSEMBLY.

NEXT, UNFORTUNATELY, SB 1334, WHICH SUPERVISOR PAREIRA WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING SENATOR WITH, DID NOT GET APPROVED FOR THE APPROPRIATIONS AND EFFECTIVELY DIED.

BUT, SUPERVISOR, THE SENATOR IS VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR HELP IN THAT.

YOU GUYS ALL KNOW ME PRETTY WELL, BUT I JUST WANT TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AGAIN.

BRIAN RAYMOND. YOU GUYS ALL KNOW HOW TO CONTACT ME. ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP OUT? WELL, AT LEAST SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. JUST LET ME KNOW.

GIVE ME A CALL. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU.

OKAY. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS.

[00:15:05]

[CONSENT CALENDAR]

AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN COMMENT PERIOD FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 16.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 16 IS NOW CLOSED.

WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THESE ITEMS? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES.

AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO PRESENT A PROCLAMATION AND A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION TO AMERICAN MEDICAL RESPONSE.

[Additional Item]

WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US UP HERE. RIGHT NOW, WE DO HAVE A CERTIFICATE AND A PROCLAMATION.

I DON'T READ THE PROCLAMATION. I JUST GO TO THE END.

SO BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED THAT MERCED COUNTY EXTENDS ITS SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR THE LEADERSHIP PARAMEDICS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS, DISPATCHERS, AND THE SUPPORT STAFF AT AMR FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND PROFESSIONALISM TO THE SERVICE OUR COMMUNITY.

THIS IS ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

AND I GOT TO TELL YOU, I WAS IN ANOTHER LOCATION.

I THINK I SHARED THIS WITH MY COLLEAGUES ALL THE TIME, AND I THINK I'VE SHARED IT WITH YOU. I WAS WITH A GENTLEMAN IN A PLACE WHERE WE WERE SHARING A CONVERSATION. AND HE, I MEAN, PROCLAIMED TO ME THAT AMR SAVED HIS LIFE AND HE COULD NOT GET OFF THE. I MEAN, IT WAS OUR DISCUSSION OF HIM TELLING ME EXACTLY YOUR PLACEMENT OF VEHICLES, YOUR RESPONSE TIMES, THAT HE WOULD NOT BE ALIVE TODAY.

AND I THINK YOU WERE THERE WITH ME. AND HE WAS VERY CLEAR IN TELLING ME THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF YOU GUYS THAT HIS LIFE IS WAS SAVED.

SO ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? I KNOW YOU ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY. PLEASE.

JUST THANK YOU. AS EVERYONE KNOWS, I THINK WE TALK ABOUT, THIS IS EMS WEEK, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE BOARD NOT JUST FOR THE PROCLAMATION, BUT ON THIS WEEK WHERE IT'S A WEEK WHERE WE WANT TO CELEBRATE OUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS OUT IN THE FIELD AND ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE, NOT JUST SINCE WE'VE TAKEN OVER, BUT ALL THE YEARS TO MERCED COUNTY THAT THEY'VE BEEN HERE AND COME A PART OF OUR TEAM.

SO THIS IS A TWO WAY RELATIONSHIP AND WE'RE IN THIS HONEYMOON PHASE, BUT FAR BEYOND THAT, IT'S OUR COMMITMENT TO THIS COMMUNITY THAT IT'S GOING TO LAST FAR BEYOND THE HONEYMOON PHASE, AND THAT WE HAVE A COMMITMENT FOR A LONG RELATIONSHIP OF GOOD CARE IN THIS COUNTY.

AND WE'RE GOING TO STAY COMMITTED TO THIS COUNTY AND ALL OF OUR PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE WARM, WELCOMING THAT WE'VE HAD, AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP GETTING BETTER FOR YOU EVERY DAY.

WELL, THANK YOU. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, I'D LIKE TO PRESENT THESE PROCLAMATIONS FOR YOU.

[00:20:01]

HEY, PAUL. [APPLAUSE].

HAPPY BIRTHDAY A DAY LATE. WE WOULD HAVE SCHEDULED OUR MEETING YESTERDAY IF WE COULD HAVE.

BUT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DO IT. ON BEHALF OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

I KNOW ME, PERSONALLY, HAVE APPRECIATED YOU MENTORING, SOMETIMES SCOLDING, MOSTLY EDUCATING, BUT REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. AND I'M GOING TO PASS THE MIC AROUND BECAUSE I'M SURE EVERYBODY HAS A LITTLE SOMETHING THEY'D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT YOU. YES, YOU'RE ALWAYS THERE WITH A SMILING FACE. AND YEAH, I MEAN, THAT'S THE KIND OF THINGS THAT WE LIKE BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU DON'T GET THE SMILING FACES. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO. AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

THANK YOU. YEAH. WELL, MR. LORENZI, I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.

NOT JUST AS PART OF BEING AN ELECTED OFFICE, BUT AS A FAMILY.

YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN THERE. YOU'VE ALWAYS, LIKE DARON SAID, YOU'VE PROVIDED SUPPORT.

YOU'VE PROVIDED WISDOM. YOU'VE PROVIDED GUIDANCE.

YOU'VE PROVIDED KICK IN THE BUTT. BUT IT'S ALL BEEN TAKEN AND MEANT WITH LOVE, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY. ALRIGHT. WELL, WHAT JOSH SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE BEEN KIND TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND, YOU KNOW, OVER THE YEARS YOU'VE HAD MERCED'S BEST INTERESTS AT HEART AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE MY COLLEAGUES, YOU KNOW, WHEN I DECIDED TO RUN FOR OFFICE, YOU CAME ALONGSIDE ME AND KIND OF SHARED, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU SAW. AND THAT HELPED ME BE, I THINK, A BETTER ELECTED.

AND SO I APPRECIATE THAT. AND THEN I LOVE BREAKING BREAD WITH YOU AT THE FESTA.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. EXACTLY WHAT MY COLLEAGUE SAID.

AND THEN I'LL ADD THE OTHER PIECE IS NOT ONLY IN MERCED, BUT YOU CAN FIND HIM AT MANY OF THE FUN EVENTS ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE COUNTY TOO.

HE ALWAYS HAS A GREAT REPRESENTATION OVER THERE.

AND AGAIN, JUST YOUR GUIDANCE, VERY EASY TO TALK TO.

I DON'T THINK YOU'VE EVER MET A STRANGER AND IT'S VERY MUCH APPRECIATED IS, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU REALLY WELL BEFORE I GOT ELECTED, BUT I FELT LIKE AFTER WE MET, WE'VE BEEN LIFELONG FRIENDS, SO THANK YOU.

AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SIR. AND YOU'RE A WONDERFUL AUCTIONEER.

YEAH. THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE MENTION BECAUSE I KNOW HOW MUCH MR. LORENZI LOVES OUR LADY OF MERCY SCHOOL. OUR LADY OF MERCY SCHOOL IS TURNING 100 YEARS OLD NEXT YEAR.

AND SO YOU'RE FIVE YEARS YOUNGER THAN THAT SCHOOL.

SO THAT'S REALLY COOL. SO THANK YOU. SO ON BEHALF OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, WE WANT TO WISH YOU A HAPPY BIRTHDAY, 95 YEARS.

AND WE HAVE THE CERTIFICATE IN THAT HONOR. THANK.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY TO THE BOARD, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS SPECIAL HONOR.

AND EACH ONE OF YOU ARE LIKE A SON TO ME. AND I MEAN THAT SINCERELY, INCLUDING MARK HENDERSON, WHO I THINK IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT EVER HAPPENED TO MERCED THAT YOU APPOINTED HIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

AND AS OF WEDNESDAY THE 27TH, THE BOOSTER CLUB WILL BE AT OUR LADY OF MERCY, THE OLD SCHOOL DEDICATION AND AS NEIGHBORS TO THE COUNTY OF MERCED, WE ARE GOING TO BE OPENING UP A NEW PLAZA AND IT'S CALLED AJEM PLAZA. SO YOU'RE ALL INVITED TO BE THE GUEST OF THE BOOSTER CLUB AND THE LORENZI FAMILY FOR A LITTLE BIT OF AN ITALIAN DINNER AND THE KICKOFF TO THE NEW AJEM PROPERTIES ON 26TH AND M STREET.

MANGIA MANGIA. MANGIA MANGIA. OKAY. THANK YOU.

LET'S GET A GET A PICTURE. ALL RIGHT.

THERE WE GO. THANKS, LLOYD. YEAH. YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANKS.

[BOARD ACTION]

[00:25:38]

THERE WE GO. OKAY. GOOD MORNING, BOARD, CHAIR AND SUPERVISORS.

NATHAN BRAY, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND ROAD COMMISSIONER. AND I COULD SAY DITTO TO EVERYTHING THAT VANESSA JUST SAID, BUT I'LL ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT MORE. THE ITEM BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING IS TO SET THE RESPECTIVE CSA RATES FOR THE 26-27 FISCAL YEAR.

THIS IS AN ANNUAL PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT CSA RATES ARE ACCURATE FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR.

THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF CSAS THAT CONTAIN LANGUAGE IN THE FORMATION DOCUMENTS THAT ALLOW FOR A RATE ADJUSTMENT THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE CPI WITHOUT A PROP 218 PROCESS.

THE CEPI, OVER THE PAST YEAR IS A 2.7% INCREASE.

THE NINE IDENTIFIED CSAS ARE PROPOSED TO INCREASE CONSISTENT WITH THE CPI, AND THE REMAINING ZONES ARE PROPOSED TO HAVE THEIR CURRENT RATES UNMODIFIED. SINCE THIS ACTION IS AN AMENDMENT TO AN ORDINANCE THAT REQUIRES A SECOND MEETING, IF APPROVED THIS MORNING, THE ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE IS SCHEDULED FOR THE JUNE 2ND MEETING.

THAT CONCLUDES MY REMARKS. AND IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM. THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR NATHAN AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE, YOU GOT OFF EASY, NATHAN. VERY GOOD.

SO AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS 17 THROUGH 20.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR PUBLIC WORKS ITEM 17 THROUGH 20 IS NOW CLOSED.

WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS. IS THERE A FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS? YES. MR. PACHECO, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES YOU. I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER 19 AS IT PERTAINS TO THE SANTA NELLA PARK.

IT'S MY GOAL TO GET A PARK IN SANTA NELLA, AND I BELIEVE THIS WILL GET US ONE STEP CLOSER.

I JUST WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK AND MAKE SURE THIS PROJECT MOVES FORWARD.

AND I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE YES ON IT.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR. NO OTHER COMMENTS. WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO.

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION PASSES. CONGRATULATIONS, MR. PACHECO. NEXT, WE HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES.

ITEM 21. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES ITEM NUMBER 21.

AT THIS TIME, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE COMMENT PERIOD FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RECOVERY SERVICE ITEM 21.

WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DIOCESE FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

OH, WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

THEY MUST HAVE FIXED THOSE BUTTONS TO BE A LITTLE QUICKER NOW.

I'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION PASSES. NEXT WE HAVE HEALTH. ITEMS 22 THROUGH 26.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR HEALTH ITEMS 22 THROUGH 26.

SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THESE ITEMS. WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION.

AT THIS TIME, 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. NEXT, WE HAVE PROBATION. ITEM 27.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR PROBATION ITEM NUMBER 27.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR PROBATION ITEM 27 IS NOW CLOSED.

[00:30:02]

OH, WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION PASSES. NEXT WE HAVE LIBRARY. ITEM 28.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR LIBRARY ITEM NUMBER 28.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR LIBRARY ITEM 28 IS NOW CLOSED.

WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION. SEEING NONE, I WILL CALL FOR A MOTION.

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

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE.

ITEMS 29 AND 30. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE ITEMS 29 AND 30.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE ITEMS 29 AND 30 IS NOW CLOSED.

WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION.

IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR A MOTION.

THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO.

LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. ITEMS 31 AND 32.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ITEMS 31 AND 32.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ITEMS 31 AND 32 IS NOW CLOSED.

WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS. IS THERE A FURTHER DISCUSSION? THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR PACHECO.

THANK YOU, CHAIR. AGAIN, THESE TWO LOCATIONS ARE IN EL NIDO AND LA GRANDE ARE USED A LOT BY THE COMMUNITY FOR VARIOUS EVENTS.

AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY LOOK THEIR BEST.

SO I AGAIN ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE YES ON THIS.

THANK YOU. OH, I WANT TO. SORRY. I WANT TO THANK STAFF TOO FOR PUTTING THESE THINGS TOGETHER AND HELPING ME OUT WITH THAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT FORWARD.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE TO SHARE? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN, MR. PACHECO.

MOTION PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE BOARD APPOINTMENTS.

ITEM 33. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BOARD APPOINTMENTS ITEM NUMBER 33.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BOARD APPOINTMENTS ITEM 33 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, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO.

LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES.

NEXT, WE HAVE BOARD INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.

[BOARD INFORMATION & POSSIBLE ACTION]

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BOARD INFO. ITEM NUMBER 34 IS NOW CLOSED.

WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? IF NOT, I WILL CALL FOR A MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES.

AT THIS TIME, BY CHAIR PREROGATIVE, WE WILL NOW HEAR BOARD REPORTS.

[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION]

WE'LL START WITH SUPERVISOR PACHECO.

THANK YOU, CHAIR. SPEAKING OF LE GRAND AND OUR NEW PROJECT, THIS WEEKEND IS THE LE GRAND COMMUNITY DAY,

[00:35:02]

SO COME OUT AND ENJOY THE PARADE. ENJOY OUR PARK IN LE GRAND.

THANK YOU. OH, I ALSO WANT TO JUST REMIND EVERYBODY I KNOW WE HAD A LITTLE PRESENTATION JUST TO OBSERVE MEMORIAL DAY AND JUST TAKE TIME TO REMEMBER AND HONOR THOSE MEN AND WOMEN WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR OUR NATION THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.

THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE, CHAIR. THANK YOU.

SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. THANK YOU. LAST WEEK ON WEDNESDAY, I ATTENDED THE PEACE OFFICER MEMORIAL OUT HERE OUT FRONT.

IT'S ALWAYS A MOVING TRIBUTE TO THOSE OFFICERS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE LINE OF SERVICE.

I ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE SENIOR INTERVIEWS AT EL CAPITAN HIGH SCHOOL.

ALSO ON THURSDAY NIGHT, THEY HAD THE SECOND ANNUAL STATE OF HUNGER AT THE MERCED COUNTY FOOD BANK.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT AND TO GO AND SEE THE WORK THEY'RE DOING.

ALSO, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARD.

AND THEN I ALWAYS LIKE TO. AND I MADE MENTION OF THIS AT OUR LAST MEETING, BUT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT MERCED COUNTY. AND I SAY THIS ALL THE TIME, IS OUR CULTURAL DIVERSITY.

AND ON SATURDAY, THEY HAD THE LAO NEW YEAR CELEBRATION, WHICH WAS REALLY IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

IT WAS VERY WELL ATTENDED BY EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT WAS THE NEW BOB HART SQUARE, BUT IT WAS EVEN CROSSED THE STREET INTO CANAL.

SO THERE WAS A. AND THE PARKING LOT. AND IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

I ALSO WANTED TO CONGRATULATE THE TREEHOUSE TUTORING FOR THEIR EVENT ON FRIDAY NIGHT.

THE CABARET THAT WAS MENTIONED WAS REALLY WELL DONE AND WAS A GREAT EVENT.

AND THEN ALSO ON SUNDAY WHICH WAS REALLY COOL TO SEE.

IT WAS THE FIRST EVER GOLDEN VALLEY STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL.

SO THE STUDENTS FROM ALL THE ARTS DEPARTMENT IN THE MERCED UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT ARE ABLE TO SUBMIT A SHORT FILM BETWEEN 90S TO FIVE MINUTES. AND IT WAS REALLY GOOD. MY SON HAD ONE IN THERE, AND IT'S REALLY SURREAL WHEN.

IT WAS AT THE MERCED THEATER, WHEN YOUR SON DOES A 90S OR A THREE MINUTE FILM AND IT'S ON THE BIG SCREEN, HIS NAME AND EVERYTHING HE DID TO PERFORM OR TO WORK ON, HE DIDN'T PERFORM IN IT.

HE WROTE IT, DIRECTED, FILMED IT, ALL THAT OTHER STUFF.

AND THEN ALSO CONGRATULATIONS TO MY DAUGHTER'S EIGHT AND UNDER SOFTBALL TEAM WON THEIR SECOND TOURNAMENT ON SUNDAY ON THE WEST SIDE AGAINST LOS BANOS.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT AND CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.

SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I WANT TO THANK OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR HOSTING THE PEACE OFFICER MEMORIAL CEREMONY LAST WEEK HERE.

A VERY SOMBER EVENT. BUT YOU KNOW, KNOWING SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE PASSED THAT ARE ON OUR WALL KIND OF MAKES IT PERSONAL.

AND I THINK IT HONORS THE FAMILIES. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND THEN I ALSO ATTENDED THE MERCED COUNTY OFFICER OF THE YEAR CEREMONY AT THE ELKS LODGE.

AND IT WAS JUST KIND OF NEAT. YOU KNOW, THE DISPATCHERS, I WENT TO THEIRS HERE A MONTH AND A HALF AGO, AND NOT MANY OF THEM WANTED TO SPEAK, YOU KNOW, AND YOU THINK THAT DISPATCHERS ARE USED TO, YOU KNOW, FACING A SCREEN AND GETTING STUFF DONE.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THE OFFICERS WHO ARE OUT A LITTLE MORE PUBLIC WERE A LITTLE MORE CHATTY.

AND IT WAS KIND OF NEAT TO HEAR THE STORIES AND KIND OF HEAR THEIR GRATITUDE FOR THE FOLKS THAT HAVE MENTORED THEM IN THEIR CAREERS.

AND IT WAS JUST A SPECIAL EVENING. SO ANYWAYS.

AND THEN I ALSO JUST WANT TO KIND OF, I GUESS, ALERT THE COMMUNITY NOT OF SOMETHING DANGEROUS, BUT OF A GOOD THING HAPPENING. MCOE IS WORKING ON A KIND OF A PROJECT WITH OTHERS IN THE COUNTY TO KIND OF HELP EDUCATE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO DO CHILD CARE. AND SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE OUT THERE AND YOU'RE LISTENING AND, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T LIKE GOING OFF TO WORK AND YOU THINK YOU MIGHT WANT TO TAKE CARE OF, YOU KNOW, OTHERS CHILDREN'S IN YOUR HOME AND PROVIDE A HOME CHILD CARE OR GET, YOU KNOW, BECOME A WORKER IN THE CHILD CARE INDUSTRY, REACH OUT TO MCOE AND THERE'S SOME PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR EDUCATION.

THERE'S SOME INTERNSHIPS AND OTHER THINGS AVAILABLE.

AND I KNOW SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES HERE THAT HAVE HAD CHILDREN IN THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, FINDING GOOD QUALITY CHILD CARE IS DIFFICULT IN MERCED.

THERE'S A SHORTAGE. AND SO JUST WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO ANYBODY OUT THERE LOOKING FOR A CAREER CHANGE.

UNLESS YOU WORK FOR MERCED COUNTY. STAY HERE.

WE LOVE YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR.

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

A LOT OF THE SAME THINGS THAT MY COLLEAGUES ATTENDED, THE PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL.

I WANT TO THANK THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR PUTTING THAT ON. AND ASSEMBLY MEMBER ALANIZ FOR BEING THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER.

[00:40:05]

AND I THINK YOU CAN PLAN THESE THINGS WELL, WELL IN ADVANCE.

AND THEN SOMETIMES A LITTLE TECHNOLOGY BUGS GET IN THE WAY.

BUT WE HAD AN DEPUTY WHO SANG AT THE EVENT AND I WILL TELL YOU, HE LOST HIS BACKGROUND MUSIC BUT DID AN AMAZING JOB DOING IT A CAPPELLA.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO HIM ON A JOB WELL DONE.

I TOO ATTENDED THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF THE YEAR CEREMONY AT THE ELKS.

AGAIN, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ALWAYS DOES A GREAT JOB OF COOKING THAT. AND THEY HAD PLENTY OF PEACH COBBLER LEFT AT THE END.

SO EVERYBODY WAS ABLE TO GET SOME. AND I WOULD SAY AT OUR TABLE, THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A FEW OF US THAT GOT MORE THAN ONE.

SO WITH THAT, WE DID HAVE A CANDIDATE FORUM THAT THE FARM BUREAU PUT ON LAST WEEK, ATTENDED THAT.

AND THEN JUST AS A KIND OF A REMINDER, YOU KNOW, AS FOLKS PUT A LOT OF STUFF OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THEY BRAG ABOUT THE COUPLE MEETINGS THAT THEY GO TO, AS A COUNTY SUPERVISOR, IT'S NOT A JOB WHERE YOU JUST GO TO TWO MEETINGS A MONTH.

AND I'M SURE THAT ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES CAN ATTEST TO, WOULDN'T THAT BE GREAT? ONLY GOING TO TWO MEETINGS A MONTH. SOMETIMES SIX, SEVEN MEETINGS IN A DAY IS THE NORMAL FOR US.

SO JUST KIND OF WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE. I KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME FOLKS THAT BRAG ABOUT GOING TO 1 OR 2 MEETINGS AND STAYING, SHOWING UP LATE AND LEAVING BEFORE IT'S DONE.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT LUXURY TO DO THAT. BECAUSE WE'RE HERE TO DO THE GOOD WORK FOR THE PEOPLE.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

COUNTY COUNSEL. CEO. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. ACTUALLY, JUST TWO QUICK THINGS, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. YOU KNOW, ONE YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY LAST WEEK WITH REGARD TO THE MAY REVISE, THIS BOARD HAS HEARD MULTIPLE PRESENTATIONS NOW WITH REGARD TO THE IMPACTS OF HR ONE.

CERTAINLY AS IT RELATES TO SOME OF OUR SOCIAL OUR SOCIAL SAFETY NET PROGRAMS. OBVIOUSLY, THE MAY REVISE WAS NOT A GOOD THING FOR CALIFORNIA COUNTIES.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO JUST QUICKLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE AND OUR TEAM IS DOING.

THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL PATHS FORWARD.

BUT AGAIN, AS THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS CONTINUES TO UNFOLD, PROBABLY IMPORTANT FOR THIS BOARD AND FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY TO ADVOCATE FOR THE PROTECTION OF CALIFORNIA COUNTIES. AGAIN, NOT A SITUATION UNIQUE TO MERCED COUNTY BY ANY STRETCH.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS DOES HAVE A POTENTIAL SERIES OF IMPACTS THAT COULD BE OF CONSEQUENCE TO THOSE THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.

AGAIN, WE'VE GOT ROUGHLY 59% OF OUR COMMUNITY ON SOME FORM OF SOCIAL SERVICES.

SO THIS IS GOING TO PLACE AN ADDITIONAL STRAIN ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

SO ONE THAT WILL KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON. TWO, I WANT TO TAKE JUST A MOMENT.

SORRY, I DON'T UNDERSTAND. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HALF THE TIME EITHER. YOU SAID IT.

I DID NOT SAY ALEXA. I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT.

TWO, WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO DO A QUICK ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

THIS BOARD HAS LONG BEEN FOCUSED ON PUBLIC SAFETY, LONG BEEN FOCUSED ON EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.

AND EARLIER TODAY, THIS BOARD TOOK ACTION TO PROCLAIM THE 17TH THROUGH THE 23RD OF MAY AS EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WEEK.

SO I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE DOCTOR SULLIVAN, ACKNOWLEDGE TIM WILLIAMS FOR THEIR WORK IN THAT REGARD, BUT THEN ALSO SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AS IN HIS ROLE AS THE EMCC CHAIR.

AND SO, AGAIN, TO ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE OUT THERE ON THE FRONT LINES TRYING TO PROTECT THE WELL-BEING, HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF OUR COMMUNITY. I CERTAINLY WANT TO, ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, ACKNOWLEDGE THE GOOD WORK THAT'S UNDERWAY. MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I ATTENDED THE MERCED COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF THE YEAR AS WELL AND ATTENDED THE PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL.

BUT TODAY I WANTED TO TOUCH ON TODAY'S MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WILL ADJOURN IN HONOR AND MEMORY OF TWO RESPECTED COMMUNITY LEADERS WHOSE LIVES AND SERVICE LEFT A LASTING IMPACT ON MERCED COUNTY.

RETIRED ATWATER POLICE CHIEF JOHN REESE CHRISTENSEN AND RETIRED MERCED COLLEGE BASKETBALL COACH, DON REED. CHIEF CHRISTENSEN DEDICATED HIS CAREER TO PUBLIC SERVICE, LEADERSHIP AND THE SAFETY OF ATWATER COMMUNITY.

HIS COMMITMENT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, MENTORSHIP, AND COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS EARNED THE RESPECT OF COLLEAGUES, RESIDENTS, AND GENERATIONS OF OFFICERS WHO SERVED ALONGSIDE HIM.

HIS LEADERSHIP HELPED SHAPE THE ATWATER POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND HIS LEGACY OF INTEGRITY AND SERVICE WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN, ESPECIALLY HIS INVOLVEMENT AFTER RETIREMENT AND THE PATRIOT CHALLENGE. HE AND HIS WIFE TOOK THAT ON.

AND THEN TO COACH DON REED. DEVOTED DECADES OF MENTORING YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH ATHLETICS AND EDUCATION AT MERCED COLLEGE.

BEYOND WINS AND CHAMPIONSHIPS, COACH REED MADE A PROFOUND IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS STUDENT ATHLETES TEACHING DISCIPLINE, TEAMWORK AND PRESERVATION, AND CHARACTER. HIS INFLUENCE EXTENDED FAR BEYOND THE BASKETBALL COURT AND INTO THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH HE CARED DEEPLY ABOUT.

[00:45:08]

I MOVED FROM A COMMUNITY, AND I CAN SAY THIS, I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT BEING A GYM RAT.

GROWING UP IN A BASKETBALL GYM, AND WHEN I MOVED HERE TO MERCED, ONE THING WE HAD IN ILLINOIS, THE BASKETBALL GYMS WERE NEVER LOCKED. WE ALWAYS HAD AN OPEN GYM SOMEWHERE WHERE WE COULD PLAY.

WHEN I MOVED HERE, I LIVED HERE FOR 1 OR 2 DAYS.

I GRABBED MY BASKETBALL AND I WAS SHAKING GYM DOORS WHEN I HEARD BASKETBALLS BOUNCING IN THERE.

I WENT TO MERCED HIGH NORTH CAMPUS. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN JULY 29TH, 1981, SHOOK THE.

I HEARD THE BALLS BOUNCING, SHOOK THE DOORS, AND FINALLY SOMEBODY CAME OUT.

IT WAS COACH REED, OPENED THE DOOR AND HE SAYS, HOW CAN I HELP YOU? I HAD A BASKETBALL IN MY HAND. AND HE GOES, I SAID, WELL, I HEAR BASKETBALLS BOUNCING IN THERE.

I WANT TO GO PLAY BASKETBALL. AND HE GOES, WELL, WHERE ARE YOU FROM? I SAID, I'M FROM ILLINOIS. HE SAID, COME ON IN.

AND FROM THAT DAY ON A TRUE MENTOR, A TRUE FAN, HIS FAMILY WAS VERY GOOD TO ME.

AND UP UNTIL THE DAY THAT HE PASSED, IT WAS VERY SAD.

BUT IT WAS GREAT BEING MENTORED BY HIM, PLAYING FOR HIM AND JUST BEING A GYM RAT AND HANGING OUT EVERY DAY AND BEING ABLE TO TALK TO THAT MAN AND HIS WISDOM. BUT ON BEHALF OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, WE EXTEND OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO THEIR FAMILIES, FRIENDS, FORMER COLLEAGUES, STUDENTS, PLAYERS, TEAMMATES, AND ALL WHO TOUCHED THEIR LIVES.

SO TODAY, WHEN WE ADJOURN THE MEETING, WE'LL ADJOURN IN THEIR HONOR.

AT THIS TIME, WE ARE GOING TO RECESS TODAY'S BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING UNTIL 3 P.M.

WHERE WE WILL RECONVENE FOR TWO SCHEDULED ITEMS. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, AND WELCOME BACK TO THE MAY 19TH, 2026 MEETING OF THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

THIS IS A CONTINUATION FROM THIS MORNING'S MEETING.

WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO SCHEDULED ITEMS. THE FIRST IS A PUBLIC HEARING AS SUBMITTED BY COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

[3:00 PM - SCHEDULED ITEMS]

AT THIS TIME, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ITEM.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

MY NAME IS MARK MIMMS, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THE BOARD'S CONSIDERATION TODAY ARE IN REGARD TO THE MERCED COUNTY 2024 TO 2032 HOUSING ELEMENT. THE COUNTY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A COMPLIANT HOUSING ELEMENT, WHICH IS A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF CURRENT AND FUTURE HOUSING NEEDS, AS WELL AS PROGRAMS FOR MEETING THOSE NEEDS.

THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF THE HOUSING ELEMENT IS NOT FOR THE COUNTY TO BUILD HOMES, BUT TO ENSURE DECENT, SAFE, SANITARY AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE RESIDENTS OF UNINCORPORATED AREAS WITH THE ADDED GOAL OF FACILITATING DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

AN APPROVED HOUSING ELEMENT MAKES CITIES AND COUNTIES ELIGIBLE FOR A VARIETY OF PUBLIC FINANCING, INCLUDING FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PARKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING FOR CONSIDERATION IS THE ADOPTION OF ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT ZCTA26-002 TO AMEND THE MERCED COUNTY ZONING CODE AND INTRODUCE CHAPTER 18.50, PROVIDING A BY RIGHT APPROVALS AS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW TO THE MERCED COUNTY ZONING CODE.

APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM WOULD ALLOW FOR FASTER APPROVAL TIMES AND LESS COSTLY DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

THIS BY RIGHT ORDINANCE IS A REQUIREMENT BY THE STATE AS PART OF THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS OF THE HOUSING ELEMENT.

THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING ITEM FOR CONSIDERATION INVOLVES THE FOLLOWING.

ADOPTION OF THE ADDENDA, MERCED COUNTY MIXED USE REZONE PROJECT AND MERCED COUNTY HOUSING ELEMENT OF ZONE PROJECT AND MERCED COUNTY HOUSING ELEMENT PROJECT UPDATE TO THE 2030 MERCED COUNTY GENERAL PLAN FINAL PROGRAM ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT.

ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION REGARDING APPROVAL OF GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NUMBER GPA26003 AND ZONE CHANGE NUMBER ZC26005 TO REZONE CERTAIN NOTICE PROPERTIES TO MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL.

AND FINALLY ADOPTION OF THE 2024 TO 2032 MERCED COUNTY HOUSING ELEMENT.

DURING THE FIFTH CYCLE OF THE HOUSING ELEMENT, THE COUNTY PROCESSED A REZONE PROJECT THAT PROPOSED THE CHANGING OF MANY RESIDENTIAL AND

[00:50:02]

EVEN THOUGH THE COUNTY HAS MADE NUMEROUS STRIDES TO KEEP THE COUNTY'S HOUSING ELEMENT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATE RULES, REGULATIONS AND POLICIES, THEY UNFORTUNATELY, WERE NOT ENOUGH.

WHILE THE COUNTY CONTINUES TO WORK WITH VARIOUS FOR PROFIT AND NONPROFIT DEVELOPERS, THE COUNTY WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN MEETING ITS PREVIOUS REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT, OR RENA, OBLIGATIONS AS SET FORTH BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

MORE RECENTLY, THE COUNTY IDENTIFIED ADDITIONAL SITES TO BE REZONED TO HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AS PART OF ITS SIX CYCLE TO MEET ITS RENA OBLIGATIONS, WHICH WILL BE DISCUSSED AS PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARING TODAY. THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT HAS REQUIRED THAT THE COUNTY COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING TO BE CONSIDERED IN COMPLIANCE. ONE, TO COMPLETE THE PREVIOUS MIXED ZONE.

MIXED USE, EXCUSE ME. AND UPZONE PROJECT THAT WAS APPROVED IN 2024 AND CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTING THE PROPOSED SECTION 18.50 TO THE COUNTY ZONING CODE, WHICH WOULD THEN BE INCLUDED IN THE SIX CYCLE HOUSING ELEMENT AND CONSIDERED FOR ADOPTION.

WITH THE CONSIDERATION OF SECTION 18.50, IT ALLOWS BY RIGHT APPROVALS FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL QUALIFYING SITES IDENTIFIED WITHIN THE SIX CYCLE HOUSING ELEMENT. TO MOVE ON TO CEQA FINDINGS, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT IS NECESSARY IN ORDER FOR COUNTY ZONING CODE TO BE CONSISTENT WITH STATE LEGISLATION. THERE WILL BE NO PHYSICAL CHANGE TO THE ENVIRONMENT AS A RESULT OF THE ADOPTION OF THE PROPOSED ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT.

THE PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENT DOES NOT RELATE TO ANY PHYSICAL PHYSICAL PROJECT.

THE TEXT AMENDMENT IS EXEMPT FROM CEQA, PURSUANT TO THE COMMON SENSE EXEMPTION AND APPLICABLE SECTIONS 15061 B 3 OF THE CEQA GUIDELINES.

PROJECT FINDINGS. THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE GENERAL PLAN.

IT DOES NOT CHANGE ANY ALLOWED OR DISALLOWED LAND USE OR DENSITY STANDARDS.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT DOES NOT CONFLICT WITH ANY GENERAL PLAN POLICIES OR PROGRAMS. THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT WOULD NOT BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE PUBLIC INTEREST, HEALTH, SAFETY, CONVENIENCE OR WELFARE OF THE COUNTY.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS AND IS COMPLIANT WITH CURRENT STATE HOUSING LAWS.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT IS INTERNALLY CONSISTENT WITH THE OTHER APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE ZONING CODE.

IN CONCLUSION, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT HAS BEEN REVIEWED BY ECCD AND IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE HOUSING LAWS.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT IS REQUIRED TO ENSURE THE 2024 TO 2032 HOUSING.

EXCUSE ME. MERCED COUNTY HOUSING ELEMENT CAN BE CONSIDERED FOR COMPLIANCE.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT DOES NOT CONFLICT WITH THE MERCED COUNTY GENERAL PLAN.

AND LASTLY, ADOPTING SECTION 18.50 IS ONE OF THE COMPONENTS REQUIRED BY HCD TO BE INCLUDED WITHIN THE COUNTY'S SIX CYCLE HOUSING ELEMENT TO BE CONSIDERED FOR COMPLIANCE WITH CALIFORNIA STATE GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS 65583.2 H AND 65583.2 I AND 65584.09. AT THIS TIME, STAFF REQUIRES THE BOARD TO TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS.

ONE, OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT.

AND TWO, CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. THREE, DETERMINE THE PROPOSED ZONING CODE TEXT AMENDMENT NUMBER ZCTA260-022 IS EXEMPT FROM ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PURSUANT TO SECTION 15061 B 3.

THE COMMON SENSE EXEMPTION OF THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT CEQA GUIDELINES.

AND FOUR, ADOPT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE APPROVING ZONING CODE TEXT AMENDMENT NUMBER ZCTA26-002 AMENDING PORTIONS OF TITLE 18, THE ZONING OF THE MERCED COUNTY ZONING CODE. THANK YOU.

THIS CONCLUDES MY REPORT. WE'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU. WELL, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO. I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING TO ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THIS ITEM.

TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.

I WILL OPEN IT UP NOW. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED. I WILL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS ON THIS ITEM? IF NOT, WE WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SO MOTION TO ITEM NUMBER THREE DETERMINE THAT THE PROPOSED ZONING CODE TEXT AMENDMENT NUMBER ZCTA26-00 TO EXEMPT FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PURSUANT TO THE COMMON SENSE EXEMPTION OF THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT GUIDELINES AND TO ADOPT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE

[00:55:02]

YOU WANT THEM SEPARATE? YEAH, LET'S DO THAT. I TAKE BACK THE SECOND PART OF THAT AND IT'S ONLY THE FIRST PART.

THE FIRST PART OF THE CEQA IS ON THE MOTION. THE COMMON SENSE EXEMPTION OF CEQA.

YES, IS MY MOTION. OKAY. I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR AND A SECOND.

IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? IF NOT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED, SIGNIFY BY SAYING NAY. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

MR. CHAIR, IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER COMMENTS, I MOTION TO ADOPT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE APPROVING THE ZONING CODE TEXT AMENDMENT NUMBER ZCTA26-002 AMENDING PORTIONS OF TITLE 18 ZONING OF THE MERCED COUNTY CODE.

I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

THE FIRST MOTION WAS SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GOT THAT CORRECT. SO I HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED, SIGNIFY BY SAYING NAY. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS OUR SECOND PUBLIC HEARING AS SUBMITTED BY COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE 2024 TO 2032 MERCED COUNTY HOUSING ELEMENT.

ADOPTION OF THE ADDENDA MERCED COUNTY MIXED USE REZONE PROJECT AND MERCED COUNTY HOUSING ELEMENT UPZONE PROJECT AND MERCED COUNTY HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE PROJECT TO THE 2030 MERCED COUNTY GENERAL PLAN FINAL PROGRAM, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT AND ADOPTION OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE APPROVING GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NUMBER GPA26-003 AND ZONE CHANGE NUMBER ZC26-005.

THE PROPERTY IS PROPOSED FOR REZONING TO MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL R4 ARE AS FOLLOWS.

ASSESSOR PARCEL NUMBER 009-110-022-000, 011-030-003-000, 011-110-003-000, 015-100-035-000, 015-100-027-000, 015-100-026-000, 318-050-004-000, 318-150-015-000, 318-050-005-000, 318-010-009-000, 318-101-008-000, 037-250-001-000, 037-250-015-000, 053-144-009-000, 053-144-008-000, 037-170-042-000, 037-080-030-000, 037-080-038, 037-020-003-000. PLEASE NOTE PARCEL NUMBER 318-150015-000 HAS BEEN REMOVED AFTER FURTHER REVIEW.

STACEY, THAT WAS VERY GOOD. WENT THROUGH EVERY ONE OF THEM.

VERY GOOD. YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW? OKAY. CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. JUST BECAUSE ALL OF THEM HAD FOUR SETS OF NUMBERS, THE SECOND TO LAST ONE, 037-080-038 DOESN'T HAVE THE - 000 ON THERE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS CORRECT.

OR WAS THAT JUST AN OVERSIGHT? NO, NO, SHE READ IT.

SHE READ IT CORRECTLY. BUT ALL THE OTHER ONES HAD A SERIES OF FOUR SETS OF DIGITS.

THAT ONE ONLY HAD A SERIES OF THREE SETS OF DIGITS.

NO, IT'S THE SECOND ONE OR THE SECOND? THE SECOND TO LAST ONE.

03. YEAH. IT SHOULD HAVE -000 AT THE END. YES.

THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING. IS THAT CORRECT? IT SHOULD HAVE 000 AT THE END OF IT? YES. THAT SHOULD HAVE HAD 000. OKAY. WELL, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE CORRECT THAT.

THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ITEM.

[01:00:06]

MARK MIMMS, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THE NEXT PUBLIC HEARING IS TO CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF THE 2024 TO 2032 HOUSING ELEMENT AND THE ADOPTION OF THE PROPOSED REZONINGS. ONE IMPORTANT ITEM TO NOTE IS THAT ONE PARCEL IN THE LE GRAND AREA WAS REMOVED AFTER FURTHER EVALUATION.

STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY ON THE HOUSING ELEMENT SINCE 2023, WITH MULTIPLE ADDITIONS TO GET US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

TODAY, THE DRAFT BEFORE YOU HAS BEEN DEEMED SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLIANT BY HCD.

IF THE BOARD MOVES TO ADOPT THE HOUSING ELEMENT, THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE FOR HCD TO REVIEW THE FINAL DRAFT AND CONFIRM IT IS THE SAME DRAFT THAT HAS BEEN REVIEWED, AND THEN HCD WILL CERTIFY THE DRAFT BY JUNE 30TH, 2026.

I WOULD LIKE TO NOW TURN IT OVER TO NINA BALUCHI WITH RINCON CONSULTANTS, WHO WILL PRESENT ON THE HOUSING ELEMENT.

LET ME GET MY SCREEN SHARED. SO, MARK HAS ALREADY SORT OF INTRODUCED THE HOUSING ELEMENT, SO I'LL JUST KIND OF QUICKLY SAY A FEW THINGS THAT ARE UNIQUE ABOUT IT AND THEN GO INTO THE SUMMARY OF THE DOCUMENT ITSELF.

SO, THE HOUSING ELEMENT IS AN ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN, BUT IT IS UNIQUE AMONG GENERAL PLAN ELEMENTS, AS IT IS REQUIRED TO BE UPDATED EVERY EIGHT YEARS, COVERING AN EIGHT YEAR PLANNING PERIOD REFERRED TO AS A CYCLE.

THIS IS THE SIXTH CYCLE. THIS HOUSING ELEMENT IN THIS CYCLE WAS DONE PARTIALLY AS A COORDINATED EFFORT WITH THE OTHER CITIES IN MERCED COUNTY TO DO A SHARED REGIONAL ANALYSIS. EACH CITY AND THE COUNTY THEN DEVELOPED THEIR OWN LOCAL HOUSING ELEMENTS, WHICH IS WHAT IS BEING CONSIDERED FOR ADOPTION HERE TODAY.

THE LOCAL APPENDIX PLUS THE REGIONAL ANALYSIS.

ANOTHER THING THAT MAKES THE HOUSING ELEMENT UNIQUE IS THE UNIQUE ROLE OF THE STATE IN DEVELOPING AND APPROVING IT.

SO, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, OR HCD, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REVIEWING EVERY DRAFT OF THE HOUSING ELEMENT.

THEY PRODUCE A FINDINGS LETTER FOR EACH DRAFT.

ONCE THERE ARE NO MORE FINDINGS, THEY PRODUCE A FINDING OF SUBSTANTIAL COMPLIANCE.

SO, SAYING THAT THE DRAFT MEETS ALL STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS.

HCD THEN CERTIFIES THE FINAL ADOPTED HOUSING ELEMENT AS COMPLIANT.

CERTIFICATION IS REALLY IMPORTANT, AS STATE FUNDING PROGRAMS DEPEND ON JURISDICTIONS HAVING A COMPLIANT HOUSING ELEMENT. AND NON-COMPLIANT JURISDICTIONS CAN BE SUBJECT TO STATE LAWS THAT LIMIT THEIR HOUSING AUTHORITY.

I'M SORRY, HOUSING AUTHORITY. LAND USE AUTHORITY. SO, MARK SORT OF HINTED AT THIS PROJECT, IT KICKED OFF AROUND 2023. THE COUNTY AND THE CITIES DID JOINT PUBLIC OUTREACH AT THAT TIME COUNTYWIDE.

SURVEY, PROJECT WEBSITE, FOCUS GROUPS, STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS AND WORKSHOPS IN EACH JURISDICTION.

THE COUNTY ALSO PRESENTED THE PROJECT AND THE SITE INVENTORY TO THE MAC COMMITTEES, THE MUNICIPAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES.

WE SUBMITTED THE FIRST DRAFT HOUSING ELEMENT TO HCD IN FALL 2024.

AND SINCE THEN, THE COUNTY REVISED IT THREE TIMES, PUTTING IT OUT FOR PUBLIC REVIEW EACH TIME.

THE HOUSING ELEMENT IS ESSENTIALLY THE COUNTY'S PLAN FOR MEETING THE HOUSING NEEDS OF EXISTING AND FUTURE RESIDENTS.

THAT QUANTIFIED NEED, NUMBER OF UNITS, IS DETERMINED THROUGH A PROCESS CALLED THE REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS ALLOCATION, OR RHNA. THAT PROCESS BEGINS WITH THE STATE ASSIGNING THE REGION A SHARE OF THE STATEWIDE HOUSING NEED BY INCOME LEVEL.

MCAG THEN DISTRIBUTED THE REGION'S SHARE TO EACH JURISDICTION, USING THIS METHODOLOGY AND CONSIDERING THESE FACTORS.

EXISTING HOUSING AND POPULATION, EQUITY, ACCESS TO JOBS AND TRANSIT, AND CONSTRAINTS LIKE FLOOD OR FIRE HAZARD ZONES.

EXCUSE ME. IN THIS CYCLE, THE COUNTY HAS TO PLAN FOR 4250 TOTAL UNITS AT THESE INCOME LEVELS.

AND WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THOSE INCOME LEVELS, HOW THEY'RE DEFINED AND DETERMINED.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, AS MARK SAID, THE COUNTY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR BUILDING THIS NUMBER OF UNITS.

[01:05:01]

THAT MEANS ENSURING THERE'S ENOUGH LAND IN THE COUNTY TO BUILD THAT MANY UNITS, AS DEMONSTRATED BY A SITE INVENTORY, AND THERE IS PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON ENSURING THERE'S ENOUGH SITES SUITABLE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THE HOUSING ELEMENT CONSISTS OF A FEW AREAS OF REQUIRED ANALYSIS THAT INFORM BOTH THE SITE INVENTORY AND A HOUSING PLAN.

THE HOUSING PLAN IS THE SET OF GOALS, POLICIES AND ACTIONS THAT ADDRESS THE FINDINGS OF THE ANALYSIS.

PROGRAMS ARE A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE HOUSING ELEMENT, DEMONSTRATING THE COUNTY'S COMMITMENT TO IMPLEMENTING THIS PLAN.

THERE ARE SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS, GEOGRAPHIC TARGETING, TIMELINES AND METRICS AND PROGRAMS ARE GIVEN PARTICULAR SCRUTINY BY THE STATE.

SO IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE HOUSING ELEMENT.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION INFORMED ALL ASPECTS OF THE HOUSING ELEMENT THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.

AS I SAID, THERE WERE REGIONAL EFFORTS TO COMBINE PUBLIC OUTREACH EFFORTS.

COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS, STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS, A PROJECT WEBSITE, A SURVEY AND FOCUS GROUPS.

THE COUNTY ALSO, AS I SAID, PRESENTED THE PROJECT TO MUNICIPAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES AND HELD FOCUS GROUPS AND INTERVIEWS WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS, SUCH AS LEADERSHIP COUNCIL DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF EACH REVISED DRAFT.

PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT WAS ALSO A PART OF EACH REVISED DRAFT.

AND THE COUNTY RECEIVED AND RESPONDED TO PUBLIC COMMENTS ON EACH VERSION.

SO, I WILL GIVE A LITTLE SUMMARY OF THE HOUSING ELEMENT NOW, THE KEY HOUSING ISSUES AND SOME OF THE KEY PROGRAMS. THROUGH THE ANALYSIS AND PUBLIC INPUT, WE IDENTIFIED THE FOLLOWING KEY ISSUES.

THE COUNTY'S MEDIAN INCOME IS LOWER THAN THE STATE.

IT'S ABOUT 59,000 VERSUS ABOUT 84,000 STATEWIDE, WHICH LIMITS WHAT RESIDENTS CAN AFFORD.

MOST HOUSING OPTIONS IN THE UNINCORPORATED COUNTY ARE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND MOBILE HOMES, WHICH MEANS THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF MULTIFAMILY OPTIONS AND SPECIAL NEEDS HOUSING, WHICH IS HOUSING FOR SPECIAL POPULATION GROUPS LIKE SENIORS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, THAT TYPE OF HOUSING.

THE COUNTY HAS HIGHER OVERCROWDING RATES AND LARGER HOUSEHOLDS THAN THE STATE DOES ON AVERAGE, ESPECIALLY AMONG RENTERS. OVERCROWDING MEANS THERE'S MORE THAN ONE PERSON PER ROOM IN ANY GIVEN HOUSING UNIT, AND IT CAN INDICATE AN UNMET HOUSING DEMAND EITHER JUST FOR MORE HOUSING OR FOR LARGER UNITS.

CONSTRAINTS TO DEVELOPMENT INCLUDE A LACK OF LAND ZONE FOR MULTIFAMILY HOUSING, INFRASTRUCTURE GAPS AND THE COST OF DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCING.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WERE DESIGNED TO ADDRESS HOUSING NEEDS.

FIRST, THERE'S A PROGRAM TO FACILITATE BUILDING ADUS.

ADUS CAN PROVIDE AFFORDABLE UNITS IN EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS AND BE A SOURCE OF INCOME FOR HOMEOWNERS.

THEY CAN ALSO, IN SOME SITUATIONS, ALLEVIATE OVERCROWDING.

WHERE THERE WERE REGULATORY BARRIERS IDENTIFIED TO BUILDING SPECIAL NEEDS HOUSING, THERE ARE TWO CODE UPDATE PROGRAMS TO HELP REMOVE THOSE. THERE IS A PROGRAM FOCUSED ON EXPANDING SERVICES AND HOUSING FOR LOWER INCOME AND SPECIAL NEEDS HOUSEHOLDS, AND A FARMWORKER HOUSING PROGRAM WITH STRATEGIES TO EASE PERMITTING, FIND FUNDING, CREATE INCENTIVES, AND DO OUTREACH TO GROWERS AND FARMWORKERS. THE HOUSING PLAN ALSO ADDRESSES CONSTRAINTS THROUGH THE PROGRAMS LISTED HERE.

THERE'S THE REQUIRED PROGRAM TO REZONE SITES.

THAT REZONING IS BEING CONSIDERED TODAY. WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE MORE WHEN WE GET TO THE SITE INVENTORY.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO CHANGE LOCAL REGULATIONS TO MAKE IT EASIER TO NAVIGATE THE PERMITTING PROCESS AND REDUCE FEES WHERE FEASIBLE.

REGARDING INFRASTRUCTURE, THERE ARE COUNTY WIDE PROGRAMS TO ENSURE WATER AVAILABILITY AND WATER TREATMENT CAPACITY, WASTEWATER TREATMENT CAPACITY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AT A COUNTY LEVEL, AND THERE ARE ALSO PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC GAPS IN SERVICE IN COMMUNITIES WHERE THOSE SPECIFIC GAPS WERE IDENTIFIED. ANOTHER AREA OF REQUIRED ANALYSIS AND A NEW REQUIREMENT IN THIS CYCLE, IS AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING, OR AFFH.

AFFH USES HCD APPROVED DATA SETS AND LOCAL KNOWLEDGE TO ANALYZE PATTERNS OF INTEGRATION, SEGREGATION, DISPARITIES BETWEEN COMMUNITIES OR WITHIN COMMUNITIES OR BETWEEN POPULATION GROUPS.

PART OF AFFH IS ALSO ANALYZING THE SITE INVENTORY AND WHETHER IT FURTHERS FAIR HOUSING GOALS.

[01:10:07]

SOME EXAMPLES OF THOSE ARE LOCAL ZONING REGULATIONS, HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS, INFRASTRUCTURE, HOUSING MARKET. THE COUNTY ALSO DEVELOPED MEANINGFUL ACTIONS TO ADDRESS FINDINGS.

THESE ARE PROGRAMS IN THE HOUSING PLAN SPECIFICALLY TO ADDRESS AFFH ISSUES.

A LOT OF THE AFFH ANALYSIS IS MAP BASED. SO, THIS IS ONE OF THE MAPS THAT KIND OF BRINGS A LOT OF DATA SETS TOGETHER.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY MAP PRODUCED BY THE STATE TAX CREDIT AGENCY AND HCD.

IT MAPS RESOURCE AREAS WHICH ARE DETERMINED BY THINGS LIKE ACCESS TO JOBS, SCHOOLS, EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES, AMENITIES LIKE TRANSIT, WALKABILITY. IT ALSO CONSIDERS THINGS LIKE POLLUTION EXPOSURE.

HIGH RESOURCE AREAS ARE THOSE WITH BETTER ACCESS AND LESS POLLUTION EXPOSURE.

LOW RESOURCE AREAS ARE THE OPPOSITE. THE HIGHEST RESOURCE AREA IS IN THE NORTHEAST OF THE COUNTY AND AROUND THE CITY OF MERCED AND ATWATER.

MOST OF THE COUNTY'S DESIGNATED URBAN COMMUNITIES ARE IN MODERATE OR LOW RESOURCE AREAS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HILMAR, WHICH IS IN A HIGH RESOURCE AREA. I MENTIONED THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

THAT'S KIND OF WHAT RESULTS FROM THE AFFH ANALYSIS.

AND SOME OF THOSE ARE LISTED HERE, FOLLOWED BY PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS THEM.

AS HAS COME UP A COUPLE TIMES, AFFORDABLE AND MULTIFAMILY HOUSING OPTIONS ARE LIMITED.

SO, THERE ARE PROGRAMS TO FACILITATE NEW HOUSING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AT ALL INCOME LEVELS.

AND ALTHOUGH THE QUANTITATIVE DATA DID NOT SHOW A HIGH RISK OF DISPLACEMENT, RESIDENTS DID EXPRESS CONCERNS ABOUT DISPLACEMENT, SO THERE ARE SOME PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THAT. PRESERVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, FACILITATING BUILDING NEW HOUSING WHERE IT'S NEEDED, EXPLORING TENANT PROTECTION PROGRAMS AND PROVIDING HOUSING AND SERVICES FOR THE LOWEST INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.

THE ANALYSIS SHOWED THAT THE CAPACITY OF FAIR HOUSING AGENCIES TO SERVE RESIDENTS IS LIMITED.

LANGUAGE CAN BE A BARRIER TO PEOPLE ACCESSING THOSE SERVICES, AND OLDER HOUSING STOCK WAS IDENTIFIED AS AN ISSUE.

SO THE REHABILITATION PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO PRESERVE OLDER HOUSING, BOTH RENTAL HOUSING AND OWNER OCCUPIED.

THERE ARE ALSO PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS DISPARITIES AND ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES, WHICH IS A BROAD CATEGORY.

AND SO THERE'S A WIDE RANGE OF PROGRAMS HERE TO ADDRESS THAT.

IT GENERALLY MEANS PROVIDING HOUSING OPTIONS IN HIGHER RESOURCE COMMUNITIES AND ENSURING INFRASTRUCTURE IS SUFFICIENT TO BUILD HOUSING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

IT ALSO MEANS IMPROVING CONDITIONS IN LOW RESOURCE COMMUNITIES, SO INCREASING TRANSIT SERVICE TO THE EXTENT FEASIBLE, BUILDING ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER TYPES OF INFRASTRUCTURE, AND PRIORITIZING INFRASTRUCTURE IN NEIGHBORHOODS OR COMMUNITIES WHERE IT'S LACKING.

SO, I'LL SUMMARIZE THE SITE INVENTORY, THE METHODOLOGY FOR DEVELOPING IT.

WE'LL GO COMMUNITY BY COMMUNITY. REMINDER THAT THE SITE INVENTORY IS THAT DEMONSTRATION OF THE CAPACITY TO BUILD ENOUGH UNITS TO MEET THE COUNTY'S RHNA OBLIGATIONS. IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT SITES ARE GUARANTEED TO DEVELOP.

IT IS JUST A DEMONSTRATION OF CAPACITY. THE AFFH'S COMPONENT OF THE SITE INVENTORY IS TO DETERMINE NOT JUST THAT THERE IS ENOUGH CAPACITY, BUT WHETHER THE PLAN FOR ACCOMMODATING THE COUNTY'S RHNA OBLIGATION IMPROVES ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY.

THIS IS THE METHODOLOGY USED TO DEVELOP THE SITE INVENTORY.

I'LL GO THROUGH IT. IT'S A LITTLE BIT DENSE, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS CLEAR WHAT STEPS WERE TAKEN.

THE BIG PICTURE IS THAT SITES HAVE TO MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA TO BE INCLUDED IN THE INVENTORY.

AND THE INVENTORY HAS TO FURTHER AFFH'S GOALS.

SO, THE INVENTORY STARTS WITH LOOKING AT WHETHER THE COUNTY HAS ANY CREDITS.

THOSE ARE PLANNED AND APPROVED PROJECTS AND ADUS ANTICIPATED TO BE BUILT DURING THE PLANNING PERIOD.

THOSE COME RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF THE COUNTY'S RHNA OBLIGATION.

THEN WE LOOKED AT ALL AVAILABLE LAND. SO THAT IS LAND THAT IS RESIDENTIALLY ZONED, THAT COULD REASONABLY BE ASSUMED TO DEVELOP.

IT'S VACANT OR IT HAS A LOW INTENSITY USE. WE APPLIED HCD'S CRITERIA FOR SITES SUITABLE FOR AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENT.

THAT INCLUDES SIZE. THEY CAN'T BE TOO BIG, THEY CAN'T BE TOO SMALL.

[01:15:02]

IT'S 20 UNITS AN ACRE. SO IN THE COUNTY, THAT'S R4 ZONING.

AND THEN WE HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW SITES ARE DISTRIBUTED GEOGRAPHICALLY AND BETWEEN RESOURCE AREAS.

THE SITE INVENTORY CANNOT CREATE AN OVERCONCENTRATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN ANY ONE AREA OR IN LOW RESOURCE AREAS, WHICH TIES DIRECTLY TO THE COUNTY'S AFFH'S OBLIGATIONS.

THE SITES IDENTIFIED THROUGH THAT STEP ARE CALLED OPPORTUNITY SITES, SO THEY'RE ALREADY ZONED FOR HOUSING.

INCLUDING THEM IN THE INVENTORY DID NOT CHANGE THEIR USE.

TO DETERMINE WHETHER THOSE SITES ALLOWED THE COUNTY TO MEET ITS RHNA OBLIGATIONS, WE HAVE TO DETERMINE THE REALISTIC DEVELOPMENT CAPACITY OF EACH SITE.

SO WE DID AN ANALYSIS THAT LOOKED AT LOCAL AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRENDS AND ESTABLISHED THAT WE COULD ASSUME 70% OF MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE ZONING OR DENSITY FOR RESIDENTIAL SITES. USING THOSE ASSUMPTIONS, THE OPPORTUNITY SITES DID NOT GET THE COUNTY TO ITS FULL RHNA OBLIGATION.

SO THAT MEANS THAT REZONE SITES HAD TO BE IDENTIFIED.

AND THE SAME METHODOLOGY WAS APPLIED TO IDENTIFY REZONE SITES.

THAT SAME CRITERIA FROM HCD AND THE SAME AFFH'S ANALYSIS.

THIS METHODOLOGY FOLLOWS HCD'S REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDELINES.

AND REMINDER THAT INCLUDING A SITE IN THE INVENTORY OR REZONING, DOESN'T GUARANTEE HOUSING WILL DEVELOP AS ASSUMED.

IT JUST ALLOWS OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.

AND THAT'S THE STANDARD THAT THE COUNTY HAS TO MEET.

SO, I KNOW THAT I'VE USED THE TERM LOWER INCOME UNITS OR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AND WE ARE SHARING THIS SLIDE, WHICH WAS SHARED BY EDEN HOUSING AT THE COUNTY'S RECENT HOUSING SUMMIT, TO ILLUSTRATE WHAT THAT ACTUALLY MEANS. I MENTIONED INCOME LEVELS, STATE INCOME, STATE HOUSING PROGRAMS, AND THE RHNA USE THIS INCOME CATEGORIZATION LOW, VERY LOW, EXTREMELY LOW INCOME.

AND THAT'S DETERMINED BY A PERCENTAGE OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.

SO LOWER INCOME, AS I'VE BEEN USING IT, IS 80% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.

IT ALSO VARIES BY HOUSEHOLD SIZE. SO A LARGER HOUSEHOLD SIZE HAD A SLIGHTLY HIGHER INCOME LEVEL.

BUT THIS SLIDE ILLUSTRATES THE TYPICAL. OOPS, SORRY.

THE TYPICAL OCCUPATIONS THAT CAN REASONABLY BE CONSIDERED LOWER INCOME.

COULD BE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, RESTAURANT WORKERS, TEACHING ASSISTANT, RETIREES.

AND THIS IS JUST TO ILLUSTRATE THAT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR LOWER INCOME UNITS, AS WE'RE USING THEM TODAY, CAN SERVE A WIDE CROSS-SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY AND ARE JUST PEOPLE WHO ARE PRICED OUT OF MARKET RATE OPTIONS.

SO I'LL SUMMARIZE THE SITE INVENTORY BY COMMUNITY.

I'M GOING TO GIVE THE TOTAL CAPACITY NUMBER THAT, AGAIN, IS BASED ON THOSE ASSUMPTIONS THAT WE ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE METHODOLOGY ON A COUPLE SLIDES AGO. SO AGAIN, IT'S JUST AN ASSUMPTION, BUT THAT'S HOW WE GOT TO THESE NUMBERS.

SO, DELHI HAS TEN SITES, SIX OPPORTUNITY, FOUR REZONE THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE 703 UNITS.

ALL COMMUNITIES ARE ASSUMED TO ACCOMMODATE A MIX OF INCOME LEVELS.

DELHI IS DESIGNATED UNDER THAT STATE OPPORTUNITY MAPPING PROGRAM AS A LOW AND MODERATE RESOURCE AREA.

FRANKLIN BEACHWOOD HAS THREE OPPORTUNITY SITES WITH A CAPACITY OF 63 UNITS, AND FRANKLIN BEACHWOOD IS A MIX OF LOW AND HIGH RESOURCE AREAS.

HILMAR HAS 16 SITES, 13 OPPORTUNITY SITES AND THREE REZONE SITES AND CAN ACCOMMODATE 888 UNITS.

HILMAR IS ONE OF THE FEW HIGH RESOURCE AREAS AND PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE SITE INVENTORY MEETING AFFH'S GOALS.

LE GRAND HAS SIX OPPORTUNITY SITES AND FOUR REZONE SITES AND CAN ACCOMMODATE 479 UNITS.

LE GRAND IS DESIGNATED BY THE STATE AS A LOW RESOURCE AREA.

PLANADA HAS 18 OPPORTUNITY SITES, 8 REZONE SITES WITH A CAPACITY OF 1017 UNITS AND IS DESIGNATED A LOW RESOURCE AREA.

SANTA NELLA HAS FOUR OPPORTUNITY SITES. NO RE-ZONES, WITH A CAPACITY OF 801 UNITS IS A MODERATE RESOURCE AREA.

FINALLY, WINTON HAS THREE OPPORTUNITY SITES WITH A CAPACITY OF 271 UNITS AND IS A MODERATE RESOURCE AREA.

[01:20:05]

THE TOTAL SITE CAPACITY IS 4304 UNITS. THERE'S A SURPLUS OF 54 UNITS.

THESE ASSUMPTIONS FOR CAPACITY ARE BASED ON DENSITY CALCULATIONS.

SO IT WILL NEVER BE EXACTLY THAT 4250 THAT THE COUNTY IS OBLIGATED TO PLAN FOR.

BUT THE COUNTY JUST AIMS TO GET AS CLOSE AS IT CAN TO THOSE OBLIGATIONS.

THE COUNTY'S INVENTORY DEMONSTRATES ADEQUATE CAPACITY TO MEET RHNA.

THE COUNTY IS MEETING ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER STATE LAW TO PROVIDE HOUSING AND ADVANCE AFFH'S GOALS.

THE INVENTORY ALLOWS MORE MULTIFAMILY OPTIONS AND HIGHER RESOURCE COMMUNITIES.

IT ALSO PROVIDES AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHERE IT'S NEEDED.

IT DOES NOT CONCENTRATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN ANY ONE AREA OR LOW RESOURCE AREAS.

MARK MENTIONED IN THE INTRODUCTION THE TWO ADDENDA THAT WERE PREPARED FOR THIS PROJECT.

I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT ONE WAS FOR THE ZONING AND LAND USE CHANGES.

ONE WAS FOR THE HOUSING ELEMENT AS A POLICY DOCUMENT.

NEITHER ADDENDA FOUND ANY NEW SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS.

AND I THINK BOTH MARK AND I HAVE MENTIONED THIS CONCEPT OF SUBSTANTIAL COMPLIANCE.

AND THIS DRAFT, AS PRESENTED TODAY, HAS BEEN DETERMINED BY HCD TO MEET ALL STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS.

THIS LETTER IS THEIR FINDING OF SUBSTANTIAL COMPLIANCE.

SO THAT MEANS THE ANALYSIS IS COMPLETE. PROGRAMS FULLY RESPOND TO FINDINGS.

AND ALL PUBLIC COMMENTS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED. AND THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT MILESTONE IN THIS PROCESS, MEANS THE COUNTY CAN PROCEED TO ADOPTION IF THIS DRAFT IS ADOPTED.

HCD, AS MARK SAID, WOULD JUST ENSURE IT MATCHES THE DRAFT THEY FOUND SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLIANT AND THEY WOULD GRANT COUNTY CERTIFICATION.

THE COUNTY WOULD THEN BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSING ELEMENT LAW.

THAT'S ALL FOR MY PRESENTATION. I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MARK FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS AND, OF COURSE, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. BEFORE WE GET TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS WAS A HEAVY LIFT THAT TOOK MANY PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS TO GET US TO THIS POINT. I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST THANK HCD FOR MEETING AND WORKING TOGETHER WITH US TO GET OUR HOUSING ELEMENT TO COMPLIANCE.

THANK YOU TO THE COUNTY CEO OFFICE AND OUR COUNTY COUNCIL FOR ALL THEIR HELP AND GUIDANCE, AND TO THE BOARD FOR THEIR DIRECTION. THANK YOU TO NINA AND RINCON CONSULTANTS FOR THEIR WORK SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE ELEMENT, AND A BIG THANK YOU TO THE PLANNING TEAM, ESPECIALLY MARC HAMILTON AND ERWIN ORDONEZ, WHO WORKED COUNTLESS HOURS, ESPECIALLY THESE LAST TWO MONTHS, TO GET US TO THIS POINT.

TRULY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU AND ALL YOUR WORK.

AT THIS TIME, STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE BOARD TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS.

ONE, OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENTS.

TWO, CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. THREE, ADOPT THE AGENDA.

MERCED COUNTY MIXED USE REZONE PROJECT AND MERCED COUNTY HOUSING ELEMENT OF ZONE PROJECT AND MERCED COUNTY HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE PROJECT TO THE 2030 MERCED COUNTY GENERAL PLAN FINAL PROGRAM. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT STATE CLEARINGHOUSE SCH2011041067.

PURSUANT TO SECTION 15164 ADDENDUM TO THE EIR OF THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT, CEQA, GUIDELINES AND DETERMINE THAT NO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 15162, SUBSEQUENT EIRS AND NEGATIVE DECLARATIONS IN SECTION 15061 B 3 COMMON SENSE EXEMPTION OF THE CEQA GUIDELINES.

FOUR, ADOPT A RESOLUTION REGARDING APPROVAL OF GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NUMBER GPA26-003 AND ZONE CHANGE NUMBER ZC26-005 TO REZONE CERTAIN NOTICED PROPERTIES TO MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL R4.

FIVE, ADOPT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE APPROVING GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NUMBER GPA26-003 AND ZONE CHANGE NUMBER ZC26-006. EXCUSE ME. 005. TO REZONE CERTAIN NOTICED PROPERTIES TO MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL R4.

SIX, ADOPT THE 2024 THROUGH 2032 MERCED COUNTY HOUSING ELEMENT.

AND FINALLY, NUMBER SEVEN, AUTHORIZE THE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, CED DIRECTOR OR DESIGNEE TO FILE ALL NECESSARY MATERIALS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, HCD FOR HCD TO FIND THAT THE HOUSING ELEMENT IS IN CONFORMANCE OF OR WITH STATE HOUSING ELEMENT LAW, AND FURTHER DIRECT AND AUTHORIZE THE CED DIRECTOR TO MAKE ALL NONSUBSTANTIVE CHANGES OR AMENDMENTS REQUESTED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO ACHIEVE CERTIFICATION OR FOR

[01:25:04]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THIS ITEM.

TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.

GOOD AFTERNOON, SUPERVISORS, COUNTY COUNCIL AND STAFF.

FIRSTLY, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A TECHNICAL CORRECTION.

PER THE MAY 13TH, 2026 HCD LETTER TO THE COUNTY, ALTHOUGH THE COUNTY'S DRAFT MEET STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS, THE HOUSING ELEMENT CANNOT BE FOUND IN SUBSTANTIAL COMPLIANCE UNTIL THE PLAN IS ACTUALLY ADOPTED.

REZONES ARE COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW, WHICH IS AFTER THIS MEETING, AND THE HCD APPROVES BOTH.

ESSENTIALLY, THIS PLAN MEETS THE BARE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS AT THE MOMENT AND HAS THE GREEN LIGHT TO MOVE FORWARD PER HCD, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE DRAFT PROCESS CAN END HERE, AND DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE DRAFT CAN'T BE FURTHER IMPROVED BEYOND MEETING MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS. AND SO MOVING ON. WHILE IT IS COMPLETELY UNDERSTANDABLE THAT THE COUNTY WISHES TO GAIN COMPLIANCE ON THE HOUSING ELEMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID A POTENTIAL LAWSUIT FROM THE STATE, WE URGE THE COUNTY TO FIRST INCORPORATE SOME STRONG, COMMUNITY IDENTIFIED PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS SIGNIFICANT ISSUES RAISED BY RESIDENTS IN SOUTH MERCED AND PLANADA, SOME OF WHICH WERE COMMUNICATED TO A COUPLE OF SUPERVISORS ALREADY.

AND SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WANTED TO ADD.

LEADERSHIP COUNCIL AND RESIDENTS WE WORKED ALONGSIDE, DID ATTEND A COUPLE OF MEETINGS WITH COUNTY STAFF AND CONSULTANTS, AND WE DID SUBMIT MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF COMMENTS THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.

HOWEVER, MANY OF THE STRONG PROGRAMS THAT RESIDENTS FOUND TO BE MOST CRITICAL WERE UNFORTUNATELY NOT INCLUDED IN THE PLAN.

AND SO THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS THAT I WILL BE READING ALOUD, AS WELL AS THE POLICIES, WILL SIGNIFICANTLY ADDRESS ACKNOWLEDGED GAPS IN RESOURCES AND ADDRESS PLANNING CONCERNS THAT A LOT OF RESIDENTS HAVE.

WE URGE THE COUNTY TO AMEND PROGRAM 13 TO INVEST FUNDING TO HELP THE PLANADA COMMUNITY SERVICE DISTRICT TO GROW THEIR CAPACITY AND FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESIDENTIAL HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AMEND PROGRAM TEND TO EXTEND THE INVITATION TO RESIDENTS FOR THE WORKING GROUP.

THE COUNTY PROVIDES UPDATES TO AND TO SOLICIT INPUT FROM RESIDENTS OR EVEN IF IT'S NOT WORKING WITH THAT WORKING GROUP, CREATING A RESIDENT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE THAT DOES SOLICIT INPUT FROM RESIDENTS ON A MORE FREQUENT BASIS, RATHER THAN JUST QUARTERLY. AMEND DISPLACEMENT PROTECTIONS UNDER PROGRAM 14 TO ESTABLISH A FIRST RIGHT OF RETURN POLICY, RATHER THAN JUST COMMITTING TO A FEASIBILITY STUDY.

AND STRENGTHENING PROGRAM 16 TO IDENTIFY FUNDING FOR COORDINATION WITH LOCAL LEGAL AID SERVICE PROVIDERS, WITH THE GOAL TO ASSIST EVICTION PROTECTION TO ALL PERSONS, REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS.

BECAUSE AT THE MOMENT, THE FUNDING THAT THEY RECEIVE DOES NOT ALLOW THAT.

AND AMEND A PROGRAM 8 TO DEVELOP AN INCLUSIONARY ZONING PROGRAM AND PROGRAM 11 TO ESTABLISH A RENT STABILIZATION ORDINANCE, AS WELL AS AMENDING PROGRAM 6 TO INCLUDE A POLICY THAT LIMITS DAIRY EXPANSIONS NEAR EXISTING RESIDENTIAL AREAS AND AMENDING PROGRAM 14 TO ESTABLISH A MINIMUM 1000 FOOT BUFFER ZONE BETWEEN FUTURE AND EXISTING NOXIOUS, POLLUTING LAND USES.

WITHOUT THESE MODIFICATIONS, THE COUNTY MISSES THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THESE CRITICAL NEEDS AND GAPS IN SERVICES THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ASKING THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS FOR FOR YEARS. THIS EIGHT YEAR HOUSING PLAN IS NOT A PROMISE THAT THESE PROGRAMS WILL BE ESTABLISHED OVERNIGHT, BUT RATHER THAT THEY WILL COME INTO FRUITION BY 2032.

AND SO WE URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THESE.

I THINK THAT WAS PERFECT TIMING. THANK YOU. IF YOU WANT THOSE THREE WORDS THAT YOU SAID AT THE END, YEAH, IT WAS ONE MORE SENTENCE. WE URGE YOU TO PLEASE RECONSIDER THESE COMMENTS.

VOTE TO HOLD OFF ON ADOPTION FOR THE PLAN TODAY AND DIRECT STAFF TO RELEASE ONE FINAL DRAFT WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SEVEN DAY REVIEW PERIOD BEFORE EXPEDITING THE REVIEW FROM HCD AS IT HAS DONE BEFORE. THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? IF NOT, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD OF THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED.

WE DO HAVE FIVE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS UP THERE.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE EACH ONE OF THESE INDIVIDUALLY.

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. EARLIER, WE HAD THE PLANNING COMMISSION TAKE THIS ITEM.

WHAT WAS THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THEM? SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, CHAIR,

[01:30:03]

THANK YOU. CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. SURE. SO I'LL MOVE THAT. I GUESS WE NEED THE THIRD BULLET, RIGHT? IS FIRST ADOPT THE ADDENDUM, MERCED COUNTY MIXED USE REZONE PROJECT AND MERCED COUNTY HOUSING ELEMENT UP ZONE PROJECT, AND ALL THE AFOREMENTIONED SECTIONS. I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

ARE WE GOOD WITH THE MOTION? WE'RE WAITING FOR COUNTY COUNCIL TO.

SURE. SO, CEQA, THE GUIDELINES AND DETERMINE THAT NO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THE SECTION I REFERRED TO EARLIER, WHICH IS A SUBSEQUENT EIRS AND NEGATIVE DECLARATIONS.

AND THE OTHER SECTION THAT I REFERENCED THAT SAYS COMMON SENSE EXEMPTION OF THE CEQA GUIDELINES.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA HAS THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR. SECOND.

I HAVE A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED, SAY NAY. MOTION PASSES. LET ME DO THE NEXT ONE. YOU'VE TAKEN THE FLOOR ON THIS, SO.

YEAH. ADOPT A RESOLUTION REGARDING APPROVAL OF GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT GPA26-003 AND ZONE CHANGE NUMBER ZC26-005 TO REZONE CERTAIN NOTICED PROPERTIES TO MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL.

VERY GOOD. I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

SECOND. I HAVE A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED, SIGNIFY BY SAYING NAY. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE ADOPT PROPOSED ORDINANCE WHICH APPROVES OUR GENERAL PLAN NUMBER GPA26-003, AND THE ZONE CHANGE NUMBER ZC26-005 TO REZONE CERTAIN NOTICE PROPERTIES TO MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL. THANK YOU. I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED, SAY NAY. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MOVE TO ADOPT THE 2024-2032 MERCED HOUSING ELEMENT.

I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE.

ANY OPPOSED, SAY NAY. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

I'LL MOVE TO AUTHORIZE THE CED DIRECTOR OR DESIGNEE TO FILE ALL NECESSARY MATERIALS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR HCD TO FIND THAT THE HOUSING ELEMENT IN ITS CONFORMANCE WITH STATE.

IS IN CONFORMANCE WITH STATE HOUSING ELEMENT LAW AND FURTHER DIRECT AND AUTHORIZE THE CED DIRECTOR TO MAKE ALL NONSUBSTANTIVE CHANGES OR AMENDMENTS REQUESTED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO ACHIEVE CERTIFICATION OR FOR CONSISTENCY PURPOSES.

THANK YOU. I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

I HAVE A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED, SAY NAY. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

CEO HENDRICKSON, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU. MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. AGAIN, GOOD AFTERNOON.

I WOULD LIKE TO MAYBE TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY JUST VERY QUICKLY TO CLOSE TODAY BY RECOGNIZING THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK, COLLABORATION AND PERSISTENCE THAT WENT INTO THIS HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE.

THIS, AS MR. MIMMS MENTIONED, WAS TRULY A HEAVY LIFT REQUIRING COORDINATION ACROSS MULTIPLE AGENCIES, STAKEHOLDERS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT PARTNERS TO ENSURE THAT MERCED COUNTY REMAINED POSITIONED FOR RESPONSIBLE GROWTH WHILE PROTECTING THE INTERESTS OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS BOARD, AS YOUR THOUGHTFUL PLANNING HAS HELPED SHAPE AND GUIDE THIS EFFORT FROM BEGINNING TO END.

[01:35:08]

WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE COUNTY'S TEAM, WHOSE DEDICATION AND PROFESSIONALISM MADE THIS POSSIBLE.

ASSISTANT CEO DAVID MIRRIONE, COUNTY COUNCIL HANSON AND HIS TEAM, DIRECTOR MIMMS AND HIS TEAM, ALONG WITH ALL OF HIS STAFF AND CONSULTANTS WHO CONTRIBUTED BEHIND THE SCENES OVER MANY MONTHS.

THEIR WORK REFLECTS A STRONG COMMITMENT TO BALANCING STATE REQUIREMENTS WITH THE NEEDS AND PRIORITIES OF MERCED COUNTY RESIDENTS.

THIS ITEM TODAY REPRESENTED MORE THAN JUST COMPLIANCE WITH STATE MANDATES.

IT REFLECTED THOUGHTFUL PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE CONTINUED COLLABORATION NECESSARY TO ADDRESS CALIFORNIA'S HOUSING CHALLENGES LOCALLY.

AGAIN, TO THE BOARD AND TO ALL OF THOSE INVOLVED, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP TODAY.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU. THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING WILL BE HELD AT 10 A.M.

[POSSIBLE DIRECTION FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]

MEETING IS ADJOURNED. GOOD JOB.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.