Aug 11, 2026 Board Meeting

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:03]

GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE AUGUST 11, 2026 MEETING FOR THE MERCED COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

[CLOSED SESSION]

25 CV-06224, AVILA VS COUNTY OF MERCED, ET AL., FEDERAL COURT CASE NO. 126 CV-02280, KES EPG. SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE TO LITIGATION ONE CASE. REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR. PROPERTY IS BUILDING 1324 LOCATED AT CASTLE COMMERCE CENTER. AGENCY NEGOTIATOR MARK MIMMS, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. NEGOTIATING PARTIES TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH CENTER UNDER NEGOTIATION TO REQUEST AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY VALUE AND VALUE.

ANOTHER REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR ITEM PROPERTY IS 0.75 ACRES AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF JETLIFT DRIVE AND STRATOFORTRESS DRIVE AT CASTLE COMMERCE CENTER. AGENCY NEGOTIATOR MARK MIMMS, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. NEGOTIATING PARTIES SHEPHERD'S TREE, INC.

UNDER NEGOTIATION 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 THE CLOSED SESSION.

TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO 3 MINUTES PER PERSON AND 30 MINUTES TOTAL.

FOR THOSE ATTENDING IN PERSON, PLEASE STEP UP TO THE PODIUM FOR OUR REMOTE ATTENDEES.

PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE ON ZOOM OR PRESS STAR9 IF YOU ARE CALLING BY PHONE. TO BETTER FACILITATE THE MEETING AND ENSURE FAIRNESS, WE WILL START WITH FIVE SPEAKERS IN PERSON FOLLOWED BY FIVE REMOTE SPEAKERS UNTIL THE TIME HAS EXPIRED.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CLOSED SESSION ITEMS. I WILL CHECK TO SEE IF WE HAVE ANYBODY ONLINE.

MR. CHAIR, THERE ARE NO REMOTE SPEAKERS LOGGED IN.

OKAY. THE PUBLIC PERIOD FOR CLOSED SESSION ITEMS IS NOW CLOSED. WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO CLOSED SESSION. GOOD

[10:00 A.M. REGULAR MEETING]

OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THIS TIME THAT HAS BEEN SET APART IN THIS MEETING FOR PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS TO BE ABLE TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE AND TO PETITION THEE AT THIS TIME OF YEAR. FATHER, OUR MINDS ARE DRAWN TOWARDS OUR CHILDREN AND THE CHILDREN OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THIS NEW SCHOOL YEAR THAT IS IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY INVOLVED. WE ARE MINDFUL OF THE EDUCATORS AND THE ADMINISTRATORS AND ALL OF THOSE WHO SUPPORT THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS. WE ASK FOR THY BLESSING TO BE WITH ALL INVOLVED WITH THEM.

HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS OF THIS COUNTY. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES OF THIS COUNTY. WE RECOGNIZE, FATHER, THAT EACH, ALTHOUGH MAY BE FACING STRUGGLES AND TRIALS OF THEIR OWN, COME TO WORK EVERY DAY AND WORK TO PRESERVE AND IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THE RESIDENTS OF THIS COUNTY. FATHER, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THIS BOARD COLLECTIVELY AND FOR EACH OF THE SUPERVISORS INDIVIDUALLY. WE PRAY FOR THEM TODAY. BLESS THEM WITH WISDOM AND WITH UNDERSTANDING. BLESS THEM THAT AS THEY MAKE DECISIONS THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO DO SO FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL ASSOCIATED WITH THIS COUNTY. FATHER, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO ATTEND THIS MEETING TODAY, BOTH IN PERSON AND VIRTUALLY.

WE ASK FOR A BLESSING TO BE ON ALL OF US. PLEASE BLESS US THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO FIND AND BUILD UPON COMMON GROUND AND THAT WE CAN ALL BE PEACEMAKERS IN ALL THAT WE DO. WE ASK THEE, FATHER, FOR THY SPIRIT TO BE WITH US HERE IN THIS MEETING AND ALWAYS.

AND WE SAY THESE THINGS IN THE NAME OF THY SON, JESUS CHRIST. AMEN.

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.

[PUBLIC COMMENT]

[00:05:02]

TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THIS BOARD. 3 MINUTES PER PERSON AND 30 MINUTES TOTAL FOR THOSE ATTENDING IN PERSON, PLEASE STEP UP TO THE PODIUM FOR OUR REMOTE ATTENDEES.

PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE ON ZOOM OR PRESS STAR9 IF YOU ARE CALLING BY PHONE. TO BETTER FACILITATE THE MEETING AND ENSURE FAIRNESS, WE WILL START WITH FIVE SPEAKERS IN PERSON FOLLOWED BY FIVE REMOTE SPEAKERS UNTIL THE TIME HAS EXPIRED.

HMONG AND SPANISH TRANSLATORS ARE AVAILABLE IF NEEDED.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT.

AGAIN, THIS IS NON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY. IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO REGISTER OR RAISE YOUR HAND IN TIME TO SPEAK DURING THE REGULAR AGENDA, I WILL CHECK BACK AT THE END OF THE MEETING TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY REMOTE PARTICIPANTS STILL READY TO COMMENT. GOOD MORNING CHAIR MEMBERS AND BOARD SUPERVISORS, COUNTY LEADERS, STAFF AND MEMBERS OF. NOT AS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, EVEN THOUGH I DO PROUDLY WORK FOR THEM. I'M COMING TO YOU AS AN EASTERN STAR MEMBER. WE'RE AFFILIATED WITH THE MASONS. I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION ON WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE TODAY.

ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3RD, PLEASE WRITE OUT ON YOUR CALENDARS. HOLD THIS.

DAY AVAILABLE 8AM IN THE MORNING, OUR COMMUNITY WILL COME TOGETHER AT CASTLE AIR MUSEUM, CASTLE BASE IN ATWATER FOR A PAWS ON PATROL 5K2K WALK RUN HONORING OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT K9 HEROES AND THE HANDLERS WHO SERVE ALONGSIDE THEM. THESE REMARKABLE K9 TEAMS DO MUCH MORE THAN MOST OF US EVER SEE. THEY HELP LOCATE MISSING PEOPLE. THEY DETECT DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES, ASSIST OFFICERS IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS, PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES AND SOMETIMES PUT THEMSELVES INTO WAY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS AND BEYOND. EVERY K9 IS A DEDICATED HANDLER WHO TRAINS, WORKS AND BUILDS AN EXTRAORDINARY BOND WITH THE DOG. PAWS ON PATROL IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR THEM. THIS EVENT WILL BENEFIT BRADY'S K9 FUND FOUNDATION. THROUGH THE CALIFORNIA EASTERN STAR YOSEMITE CHAPTER OF MERCED. WE ARE HELPING TO SUPPORT THE WORKING DOGS WHO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

ONE OF OUR MOST MEANINGFUL PARTS OF THIS SPECIAL PRESENTATION RECOGNIZING K9 DEPARTMENTS FROM BOTH MERCED AND MARIPOSA COUNTIES AT CASTLE AIR BASE.

BUT THIS EVENT IS ALSO TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER. YOU DO HAVE. YOU DO HAVE TO BE A.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A COMPETITIVE RUNNER.

YOU CAN RUN, YOU CAN WALK, YOU CAN CUT CORNERS, YOU CAN CUT ACROSS THE LAWN.

BRING YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR KIDS. CHEER.

CHEER ON PEOPLE THAT ARE ENTERED IN TO THE EVENT AS A COMPETITOR.

ALSO THE. THE WE'RE ALSO RAISING MONEY FOR BALLISTIC VEST FOR OUR K9S. IF I'VE LEFT THAT OUT, SORRY. AND I WOULD ESPECIALLY LIKE TO INVITE EACH MEMBER OF THE BOARD TO JOIN US. YOU GUYS ENTER, COME OUT AND ENJOY. ENJOY. THE WEATHER SHOULD BE NICE.

IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD SAY TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT FAMILIES AND ALL THE FIVE AND ALL THE MERCED COUNTY AND MARIPOSAS SUPERVISOR. COUNTY SUPERVISORS WERE REPRESENTING US AT CASTLE AIR BASE THAT MORNING.

THIS IS ALSO A FIRST EVENT IN OUR SPECIAL OCTOBER CELEBRATION OF K9 HEROES.

SECOND PAWS ON PATROL EVENT WILL BE OCTOBER 17TH. GIVING OUR COMMUNITY ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW SUPPORT.

REGISTRATION FOR OCTOBER 3RD EVENT IS AVAILABLE ON RUNSIGNUP.COM SO MARK YOUR CALENDAR. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3RD, 8AM CASTLE AIR BASE.

THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING CHAIR, SUPERVISORS, CEO AND COUNTY STAFF AND MERCED COUNTY COMMUNITY. MY NAME IS AGGIE FREEMAN. I'M A ROTARY COMMUNITY LEADER HERE TODAY REPRESENTING THE MERCED POLICE K9 ASSOCIATION. HONORED TO SHARE AN INVITATION TO AN EVENT THAT CELEBRATES SERVICE, COURAGE, LOYALTY. PAWS ON PATROL. THIS OCTOBER, K9S ARE WORKING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. THEY TRAIN FOR THEIR JOBS. THEY REPORT FOR DUTY. THEY RIDE IN PATROL VEHICLES WITH THEIR HANDLERS. THEY RESPOND TO CALLS. AND WHEN DANGER COMES, K9S RUN TOWARD IT. ENTERING SITUATIONS

[00:10:01]

K9 SEARCH FOR MISSING PEOPLE.

THEY TRACK DANGEROUS SUSPECTS.

THEY LOCATE CRITICAL EVIDENCE.

K9 SERVE AND PROTECT AND CARE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. K9S AND THEIR HANDLERS ARE VALUED MEMBERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TEAMS. THAT IS WHY I'M ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL TO SUPPORT THIS OCTOBER TWO ORGANIZATIONS COMING TOGETHER TO SUPPORT PAWS ON PATROL. TWO EVENTS, ONE COMMUNITY, ONE MISSION. FIRST, AS SANDRA SAID, PAWS ON PATROL OCTOBER 3RD IN ATWATER WILL FUND THE NEED TO PROVIDE PROTECTIVE VESTS PROTECTION FOR K9S THAT PROTECT US.

FOLLOWED ON OCTOBER 17, PAWS ON PATROL IN MERCED TO SUPPORT HEALTH CARE AFTER RETIREMENT. FORMER SAID POLICE K9S BECAUSE EVENTUALLY EVERY K9 WORKS A FINAL SHIFT, NO HANDLER SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION TO RECEIVE HEALTH CARE FOR THEIR RETIRED ANIMAL OR TO PUT IT DOWN. THE CALLS FOR SERVICE STOP, THE PATROL VEHICLE LEAVES WITHOUT THEM. AND WHEN THE BADGE OF SERVICE RETIRES, OFTEN THE EFFECTS OF YEARS OF DEMANDING LAW ENFORCEMENT DOES NOT RETIRE WITH THEM. SO WE INVITE YOU, OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY OF MERCED TO JOIN US OCTOBER 3RD AND 17TH TO SUPPORT OUR K9S WHO HAVE SPENT THEIR LIVES PROTECTING AND CARING FOR US.

RUN WITH US, WALK WITH US, DONATE WITH US. HELP US SEND OUR K9S AND THEIR HANDLERS A VERY CLEAR MESSAGE FROM OUR COMMUNITY IN MERCEDES. WE HONOR YOUR SERVICE. WE HONOR YOUR LOYALTY.

WE HONOR YOUR SACRIFICES. TWO EVENTS, ONE COMMUNITY, ONE MISSION. K9S AND THEIR HANDLERS PUT THEMSELVES IN HARM'S WAY FOR OUR MERCED COMMUNITY. K9S PROTECT AND CARE FOR US. NOW IT'S OUR TURN.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

HELLO EVERYBODY. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THIS PUBLIC COMMENT.

SOME OF YOU KNOW ME AS THE UC MERCED ONE OF THE FOUNDING FACULTY, MAYA TOCKMAN. BUT HERE TODAY I AM AS THE FOUNDER AND THE ETERNAL, WELL AS FAR AS NOW DIRECTOR OF THE KIDS DISCOVERY STATION.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW KIDS DISCOVERY STATION IS A CHILDREN'S MUSEUM. IT'S THE FIRST AND ONLY CHILDREN'S MUSEUM IN MERCED. AND WE ARE NOW CELEBRATING FIVE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM. NOW JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, WE'VE HAD ABOUT 150,000 VISITS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS. AS YOU KNOW FORMER SAID, THESE ARE BIG NUMBERS. WE ARE PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PARENTS TO COME IN ANYTIME, NO MATTER WHETHER IT'S 120 DEGREES OUTSIDE OR IT'S 0 DEGREES OUTSIDE. LUCKILY THE SECOND ONE DOESN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN IN MERCED, BUT THE FIRST ONE DOES. THEY CAN COME FIVE DAYS. WE'RE OPEN SIX DAYS A WEEK. ON THE SIXTH DAY WE'RE ACTUALLY OPEN LATE.

WE'RE ONLY NOT OPEN ONE DAY A WEEK AND PARENTS CAN COME AT ANY TIME WITH THEIR KIDS AND PLAY AND EXPLORE AND DISCOVER TOGETHER. IN ADDITION, WE HAVE A WHOLE SLEW OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, QUITE EXTENSIVE. JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, OUR SUMMER CAMPS FILLED WITHIN 26 MINUTES AND WE HAD 100 SPOTS PER WEEK. SO WHEN WE OPENED THE REGISTRATION 26 MINUTES ALL THE FIRST 300 SPOTS WERE GONE. SO IT'S QUITE EXTENSIVE. AND ON 25TH OF SEPTEMBER, WE'LL BE CELEBRATING THE 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OPENING OF KIDS DISCOVERY STATION. SO I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE ALL OF YOU.

THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THE SUPPORT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN MERCED FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS, FOR OUR BUSINESSES, LOCAL BUSINESSES. AND NOW WE ACTUALLY, WITH THE HELP OF FIRST FIVE MERCED COUNTIES, WE HAVE COLLECTED A LOT OF DATA IN TERMS OF WHERE THE VISITORS COME FROM. AND THEY COME FROM ACROSS THE COUNTY, PRETTY MUCH EVERY ZIP CODE YOU NAME. THE VISITORS COME TO KIDS DISCOVERY STATION AND PARTICIPATE IN OUR PROGRAMMING. WE USED TO HAVE A FANTASTIC COLLABORATION WITH MERCED COUNTY ON BRINGING IN COMMUNITY FOR FREE ONCE EVERY MONTH ON THE LAST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH. THIS USED TO BRING BETWEEN 150 TO 500 PEOPLE PER DAY.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE FUNDING RAN OUT AND WE'RE HOPING THAT WE'RE GOING TO RESTART AT SOME POINT THIS COLLABORATION WITH MERCED COUNTY. AND WE GET CALLS EVERY DAY. ARE YOU BRINGING BACK DISCOVERY DAYS? ARE YOU BRINGING BACK DISCOVERY DAYS? SO I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THIS COLLABORATION IN THE FUTURE. BUT FOR NOW I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE ALL OF YOU TO CELEBRATE IT. THIS IS OUR SPECIAL DINNER AND FUNDRAISER.

THERE'S GOING TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OF MERCEDES NETWORK. AND I WOULD SAY THAT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE EVENTS WHICH BRING

[00:15:01]

EVERYBODY COMES AND SUPPORTS THE CAUSE THAT WE ALL BELIEVE IN. AND I WAS FOLLOWING.

REALLY CUTE.

THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JOCELYN MARQUEZ, HOME CARE PROVIDER HERE IN MERCED COUNTY.

AS WELL AS A VERY GRATEFUL UDW MEMBER.

IN MY TIME AS A CARE PROVIDER, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH A VARIETY OF CONDITIONS, DISABILITIES AND DISEASES TEMPORARILY ON CALL AND ON AN ONGOING BASIS UNTIL THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND PERMANENT PROVIDERS TO HELP BEST MEET THEIR NEEDS.

THIS OPPORTUNITY HAS GIVEN ME UNIQUE INSIGHT THAT I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY. I CAME INTO THIS LINE OF WORK BECAUSE I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING MEANINGFUL FOR MY COMMUNITY BEFORE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL FOR NURSING. AND I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE YOUR CURRENT IHSS CONTRACT OFFER IS UNFORTUNATELY UNACCEPTABLE. MY EXPERIENCE AND THE DAILY REALITY OF THOUSANDS OF CARE WORKERS MAKES IT CLEAR THAT THIS OFFER IS NOT ENOUGH.

AND I'M KINDLY CALLING ON THIS BOARD TO RECONSIDER YOUR PROPOSAL AND BRING FORWARD A CONTRACT THAT INCLUDES A MEANINGFUL WAGE AND REAL BENEFITS. ANYTHING LESS CONTINUES TO UNDERVALUE THE ESSENTIAL LABOR YOU RELY ON TO CARE FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF ASSISTING PEOPLE LIVING WITH THE NATURAL PROGRESSION OF AGING, AS WE ALL WILL IF WE'RE LUCKY ENOUGH, AND RECIPIENTS WITH PARKINSON'S, DEMENTIA, FIBROMYALGIA AND A QUADRIPLEGIC RECIPIENT WHO REQUIRED AROUND THE CLOCK CARE. MY CURRENT RECIPIENT, WHO I WORK WITH ON A MORE CONSISTENT BASIS AS A SENIOR IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO LIVES WITH HER DAUGHTER ALONE. MY RECIPIENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A VERY INDEPENDENT WOMAN WHO IS USED TO BEING SELF SUFFICIENT AND SELF RELIANT AND NOW I CAN RELATE AND I HOPE YOU TOO.

IN SOME WAYS. WHEN I MET HER LAST YEAR, SHE HAD JUST EXPERIENCED A FALL THAT LED TO A SERIOUS HEAD INJURY. HER DAUGHTER BROUGHT ON MYSELF AND ANOTHER CAREGIVER TO HELP HER BECAUSE MY RECIPIENT DIDN'T REALIZE THAT SHE HAD LOST A LOT OF HER ABILITIES, LEAVING HER AT RISK OF ANOTHER POTENTIALLY LETHAL FALL. AND UNFORTUNATELY, SENIORS OVER THE AGE OF 85 WHO EXPERIENCE SERIOUS FALLS WITH HEAD INJURIES ARE MORE LIKELY TO FALL AGAIN AND END UP HOSPITALIZED, COSTING TAXPAYERS A LOT OF MONEY IF THEY'RE LUCKY AND DON'T PASS AWAY FROM THEIR INJURIES. THAT BEING SAID, HER DAUGHTER KNEW THAT IT WAS IMPERATIVE TO HAVE ANOTHER PROVIDER.

THANKS TO THE IHSS PROGRAM, ANOTHER PROVIDER AND MYSELF WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT FOR THEM. HOWEVER, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SHARE WITH YOU THAT THE ALLOCATED HOURS FALL SEVERELY SHORT, AS DOES THE PAY FOR THE LABOR AND RISKS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THIS LINE OF WORK. I INVITE YOU TO IMAGINE THE NATURE OF SUCH INTIMATE CARE AND MY RECIPIENT'S DISCOMFORT PAIRED ALONG WITH AN INABILITY TO ARTICULATE HOW SHE WAS FEELING.

OUR JOB HASN'T JUST BEEN PHYSICAL CARE. IT HAS ALSO BEEN IMPERATIVE TO BUILD TRUST AND RAPPORT THROUGH ONGOING REASSURANCE THAT HELPING PEOPLE IS SOMETHING COMMON AND THAT IT'S OKAY TO RECEIVE HELP AND TO ASK FOR IT. I SEE THE CLOCK'S TIME COMING CLOSE. I'M GOING TO SKIP AHEAD ANYHOW THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS AND ALTHOUGH MY RECIPIENT HAS GOTTEN A LOT BETTER AND I'M ABLE TO TAKE HER OUT TO PARTICIPATE IN ENRICHING EXPERIENCES LIKE GOING TO THE PARK AND GOING TO YOSEMITE, MAYBE A TRIP TO SAN JOSE TO SEE HER FAMILY. THESE ARE ALL EXPENSES THAT COME OUT OF MY POCKET. I'M LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO COME FROM A FAMILY THAT HAS MORE RESOURCES AND I CAN POUR FROM A FULLER CUP THAN MOST.

HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT THE CASE FOR THE MAJORITY OF OUR PROVIDERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO I ONCE AGAIN ASK YOU TO.

THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING CHAIR BOARD BOARD MEMBERS, MY NAME IS KELLY TURNER. AS YOU KNOW, I AM AN ADVOCATE IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT I'M NOT HERE IN THIS CAPACITY. TODAY I AM AN IHSS WORKER, A UDW MEMBER. AND IF YOU RECALL, YEARS AGO, THERE WAS AN ORGANIZATION BUILDING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES THAT WAS HERE IN MERCED AND THAT WAS CENTERED AROUND ALL THE ZIP CODES IN THE COUNTY OF MERCED. ALL OF THE ZIP CODES IN THE COUNTY OF MERCED HAVE UDW MEMBERS.

ALL OF THE UDW MEMBERS ARE CURRENTLY UNDERPAID. THIS IS EXTREMELY HARD WORK. I PERSONALLY TAKE CARE OF MY MOTHER IN LOVE WHO LIVES WITH US. SO I'M ON THE CLOCK ABOUT 24 HOURS A DAY, ABOUT SIX DAYS A WEEK, TWO O' CLOCK IN THE MORNING.

IF SHE HAS TO GO TO THE BATHROOM, GUESS WHO HAS TO GET UP? AND I AM UNDERPAID.

AND I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON THAT IS UNDERPAID THAT FITS IN THAT CRITERIA. IT IS HEART WORK. IT IS HARD WORK. IT IS BEYOND STRESSFUL. THERE ARE TIMES WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE LOSING YOUR MIND.

WE HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CONTRACT SINCE DECEMBER OF 2022. IT IS 26. IF YOUR YOUR CONTRACTS, YOU DON'T HAVE CONTRACTS.

BUT IF YOU WERE IN THAT POSITION, YOU WOULD BE A LITTLE ON EDGE

[00:20:01]

ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE MAKING BELOW WHAT'S REQUIRED FOR MERCED COUNTY RESIDENTS. WE ARE $7 BELOW WHAT IT IS RECOMMENDED FOR MERCED COUNTY TO MAKE AS AN HOURLY LEVEL LIVING WAGE. I AM LUCKY TO HAVE RESOURCES THAT AFFORD ME TO STAY HOME. THAT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE RESOURCES THAT CANNOT STAY HOME TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR LOVED ONES. AND I KNOW FOR SURE IF I COULDN'T STAY HOME AND WE HAD TO PLACE MY MOM IN LOVE IN A SKILLED NURSING FACILITY, THAT WOULD BE A DEATH SENTENCE FOR HER. AND I KNOW THAT DUE TO OTHER HOSPITALIZATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WHERE HER MIND GOES.

SO.

AND BY US BEING THE HOME CARE PROVIDERS, WE SAVE THE COUNTY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. WE'RE ABOUT ONE FOURTH OF THE YEARLY COST OPPOSED TO HOUSING THEM IN A SKILLED NURSING FACILITY.

SO I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE US, TO VALUE US, TO RESPECT US AS WE CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE THAT ARE SICK, ELDER DISABLED AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN THAT REQUIRES THEM TO HAVE HAVE HOME CARE SERVICES. SO PLEASE, WHEN IT'S TIME TO SIT DOWN AND RENEGOTIATE, THINK ABOUT THAT. I'M SURE ALL OF YOU HAVE SOME SORT OF PERSONAL SECRETARIES OR THAT HELP YOU WITH YOUR SCHEDULE AND KEEP THINGS GOING. WELL, THAT'S ME FOR MY MOM IN LOVE. I HELP KEEP HER DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS, I KEEP HER MEDS FILLED, I MAKE SURE SHE HAS TOILET PAPER, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

YOU WOULD BE LOST WITHOUT A SECRETARY TO HELP YOU. THE SAME WITH OUR ELDERS AND OUR DECISIONS, DISABLED AND SO FORTH THAT WE TAKE CARE OF. THEY ARE LOST WITHOUT US TAKING CARE OF THEM. SO PLEASE REMEMBER THE ZIP CODE. HELP HAPPENS HERE AND HELP HAPPENS WITH YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. YEAH. SO THAT, THAT WAS OUR FIFTH SPEAKER. SO WE'LL CHECK TO SEE WHERE WE ARE ONLINE.

MR. CHAIR, WE HAVE NO REMOTE CALLERS IN THE QUEUE.

OKAY, THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE HERE. ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS TODAY? IS EVERYBODY WANTING TO SPEAK? THANK YOU.

THIS IS MY DAUGHTER. HER NAME IS LETICIA. LETICIA IS 42 YEARS OLD. SHE HAS SEVERAL ISSUES WITH HER GOING ON WITH HEALTH THAT ACTUALLY WE HAVE TO TRAVEL OUT TO PALO ALTO.

WE HAVE TO GO TO STANFORD.

WE HAVE TO GO FOR A DAY, BE THERE FOR SEVERAL HOURS, MAYBE COME HOME THE NEXT DAY.

I'M USUALLY GOING ALL OVER THE PLACE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH HER.

SO THAT INCOME HAS TO COVER ME, HAS TO COVER MY HOTEL, MY GAS, MY FOOD. AND SOMETIMES I'M WISHING THAT HER DOCTORS ARE NOT TELLING ME, HEY, YOU HAVE TO COME AND DO THIS BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET THIS DONE.

SO IT'S ALL ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE IN A GOOD PLACE. SO SHE COULD BE IN A GOOD PLACE.

OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. THE PUBLIC PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED FOR NON AGENDA ITEMS. AT THIS

[PRESENTATION]

GOOD MORNING. I'M HERE TO SPEAK TODAY ABOUT OUR.

FOR OUR ANNUAL PRESENTATION ON THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC HEALTH. FUTURE OF PUBLIC HEALTH DOLLARS ARE THE ONE SOURCE OF FLEXIBLE FUNDING THAT THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT GETS.

THIS ALLOWS US TO RESPOND MORE RAPIDLY TO ANY PUBLIC NEED THAT WE HAVE THAT'S NOT TIED TO CATEGORICAL FUNDING. ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS FUNDING STREAM IS TO REPORT TO THE BOARD ANNUALLY ON THE LEADING CAUSES OF MORTALITY, MORBIDITY AND HEALTH DISPARITIES. AND THIS IS THE FIRST SUCH OF THESE PRESENTATIONS. SO I'M GOING TO START HERE JUST TO SET THE STAGE WITH THE TOP 10 LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH IN MERCED COUNTY IN 2025. THESE ARE SO FROM FIRST TO LAST,

[00:25:01]

SO THIS MIGHT BE LIKE ASTHMA OR COPD, HYPERTENSION AND HYPERTENSIVE KIDNEY DISEASE, STROKE, SELF HARM AND SUICIDE AND PNEUMONIA AND INFLUENZA. AND I START WITH THIS BECAUSE THIS REALLY FRAMES THE WORK THAT MY DEPARTMENT AND OUR STAFF DO. WE TAKE THIS DATA AND WE LOOK AT IT IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THEN SEE HOW WE CAN HELP ACROSS THE COMMUNITY TO, TO IMPACT SOME OF THESE LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH. SO ONE OF THE BIG CHANGES IN THE LAST FEW YEARS IS THAT CANCER HAS ACTUALLY SURPASSED HEART DISEASE AS OUR LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH.

FOR AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN WORKING FOR THE COUNTY SINCE 2015, HEART DISEASE HAS BEEN OUR LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH.

WE'RE NOW SEEING THAT THAT HAS CHANGED TO CANCER. THIS IS STILL FAIRLY NEW, SO THE WHY OF THAT IS NOT FULLY KNOWN. BUT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN NATIONWIDE IS THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN YOUNGER CANCER DIAGNOSES AND THAT SEEMS TO BE TRENDING IN THE SAME DIRECTION FOR MERCED COUNTY. THE OTHER BIG DIFFERENCE HERE THAT I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT FOR YOU ALL IS THAT WE'VE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND OTHER DEMENTIA.

IN SOME WAYS, THIS IS A REFLECTION OF OUR AGING POPULATION, BUT IN OTHERS, IT'S ALSO A REFLECTION OF NATIONWIDE TRENDS THAT HAS SEEN SIMILAR PATTERNS OF DATA.

IN SOME GOOD NEWS, WE HAVE SEEN THE DEATH RATE FOR BOTH HEART DISEASE AND ACCIDENTS OR CAR CRASHES IN PARTICULAR DECREASE. SO LOOKING AT OUR LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH, DIGGING INTO CANCER, WE ARE SEEING INCREASES IN ALL TYPES OF CANCER IN MERCED COUNTY, INCLUDING, INCLUDING LUNG, GASTROINTESTINAL, BREAST CANCER, PROSTATE CANCER, PANCREATIC AND PANCREATIC CANCER. THE ONE STANDOUT FOR THIS THAT HAS NOT SEEN AN INCREASE IS CERVICAL CANCER.

THIS ALSO REFLECTS NATIONWIDE DATA AND AS A RESULT OF THE FIRST GENERATION OF PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE THE HPV VACCINE ARE NO LONGER BEING DIAGNOSED WITH CERVICAL CANCER IN THEIR 20S AND 30S. AND SO WE'RE SEEING, SEEING THAT THAT DEATH RATE HAS LEVELED OUT.

AND THERE'S ACTUALLY SOME DISCUSSION OF POTENTIALLY BEING ABLE TO ERADICATE CERVICAL CANCER LINKED TO HPV DUE TO THE SUCCESS OF THAT CAMPAIGN. SO AFTER EACH DATA POINT, I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THE COUNTY, WHAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS DOING TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES. SO WHAT ARE WE DOING TO ADDRESS CANCER? CANCER? A LOT OF OUR WORK IS AROUND PREVENTION AND EQUIPPING OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE APPROPRIATE TOOLS TO TAKE TO MAKE HEALTHY DECISIONS AND SO THAT WE CAN PREVENT THE CANCER FROM HAPPENING IN THE FIRST PLACE. JUST SOME EXAMPLES OF THIS ARE TOBACCO PROGRAMS. THE TOBACCO PREVENTION AND CONTROL PROGRAM WORKS TO REDUCE TOBACCO AND NICOTINE USE THROUGH COMMUNITY EDUCATION, PREVENTION POLICY AND QUITTING SUPPORT. THE PROGRAM ADDRESSES TOBACCO RELATED HEALTH DISPARITIES BY FOCUSING ON POPULATIONS MOST IMPACTED BY TOBACCO USE AND PROMOTING HEALTHIER TOBACCO FREE ENVIRONMENTS. IN ADDITION, THE TOBACCO ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM WORKS TO REDUCE YOUTH ACCESS TO TOBACCO AND NICOTINE PRODUCTS THROUGH RETAILER EDUCATION, COMPLIANCE, MONITORING AND ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.

THESE EFFORTS HELP PROTECT YOUTH FROM TOBACCO RELATED HARMS AND EARLY USES OF TOBACCO AND NICOTINE PRODUCTS, AS WELL AS SUPPORT STORE OWNERS TO COMPLY WITH TOBACCO LAWS.

WE KNOW THAT TOBACCO USE IS ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF PREVENTABLE EARLY MORTALITY AND DISEASE. AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT WHEN PEOPLE BEGIN USING TOBACCO PRODUCTS AT A YOUNG AGE, THAT TENDS TO LAST MUCH LONGER INTO THEIR LIFE. SO WE REALLY FOCUS ON PREVENTION OF TOBACCO USE IN YOUTH. I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF HPV VACCINES. OUR PUBLIC HEALTH CLINIC AND COMMUNICABLE DISEASE PROGRAMS PROVIDE CLINICAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES, FOCUS ON PREVENTION, DETECTION AND CONTROL OF COMMUNICABLE AND VACCINE PREVENTABLE DISEASES, INCLUDING CERVICAL CANCER, AND OUR STAFF PROVIDE EASY ACCESS TO TESTING, TREATMENT AND HEALTH EDUCATION TO PREVENT DISEASE TRANSMISSION. ANOTHER SET OF PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE IN THIS BUCKET ARE OUR OBESITY AND CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION PROGRAMS. AS YOU ALL KNOW, OUR NUTRITION EDUCATION FUNDING WAS CUT LAST YEAR. HOWEVER, THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC HEALTH DOLLARS HAVE ALLOWED US TO MAINTAIN SOME NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAMMING AND ALSO TO TAILOR IT SPECIFICALLY TO OUR COUNTY. AND SO OUR EAT, MOVE AND THRIVE PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED DIRECTLY

[00:30:02]

BUT WE ARE SEEING INCREASES IN OUR DEATHS RELATED TO BOTH OVERDOSE AND SUICIDE IN MERCED COUNTY. SO AGAIN, TURNING OVER INTO SOME OF THE SOLUTIONS FOR THIS. AS PART OF A RECENT FUNDING FROM BOTH THROUGH OPIOID SETTLEMENT DOLLARS AND FROM THE STATE AND BHSA DOLLARS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR COLLEAGUES AT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, WE HAVE LAUNCHED A SUICIDE, OVERDOSE AND SUBSTANCES COALITION THAT'S AIMED AT LOOKING AT ALL THREE OF THESE FACTORS AND REALLY TARGETING THOSE DEATHS OF DESPAIR. SO THIS COALITION BRINGS TOGETHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO ADDRESS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES THROUGH PREVENTION, AWARENESS, EDUCATION AND COORDINATED COMMUNITY ACTION. THE COALITION WORKS TO REDUCE STIGMA, INCREASE AWARENESS OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES RESOURCES AND STRENGTHEN CONNECTIONS TO SUPPORT SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY SUICIDE, SUBSTANCE USE AND OVERDOSE. WE ALSO HAVE A RESOURCE, AGAIN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR COLLEAGUES AT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, CALLED CREDIBLE MIND, WHICH IS AN ONLINE RESOURCE THAT MAINTAINS A DIGITAL MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS PLATFORM WITH THOUSANDS OF MATERIALS THAT OUR COMMUNITY CAN ACCESS DIRECTLY. OKAY, SO ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES. SO DESPITE DECREASING ACCIDENTS REMAIN THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AMONGST PEOPLE UNDER 45 IN MERCED COUNTY. SO THIS IS LARGELY VEHICULAR ACCIDENTS, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE GRAPH.

HOWEVER, WE HAVE SEEN A DECREASE IN VEHICULAR ACCIDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN OFFSET BY AN INCREASE IN OVERDOSES.

THESE NUMBERS ARE QUITE SMALL, SO THE TRENDS LOOK DRAMATIC.

BUT REALLY THEY'RE FAIRLY STABLE OVER TIME. AND ALL OF THESE STILL REMAIN A CRUCIAL POINT OF INTERVENTION FOR OUR YOUNGEST RESIDENTS. SO WHAT WE'RE DOING ABOUT THIS, WE HAVE A LONG STANDING CAR SEAT PROGRAM ON BOTH THE EAST SIDE AND WEST SIDES OF THE COUNTY WHICH HELPS PROVIDE CAR SEAT SAFETY AND ACCESS TO LOW COST CAR SEATS FOR OUR ELIGIBLE FAMILIES. WE HAVE CERTIFIED STAFF WHO ENSURE THAT THE CAR SEATS ARE INSTALLED APPROPRIATELY. AND WE GIVE PROPER INSTALLATION AND USE OF CAR SEATS TO REDUCE THE RISK OF INJURY AND DEATH IN VEHICULAR ACCIDENTS. WE ALSO ARE CURRENTLY APPLYING IN THE PROCESS UNDER REVIEW FOR TWO SPECIFIC TRAFFIC SAFETY GRANTS, ONE FOCUSED ON PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE SAFETY AND ONE FOCUSED ON SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL. OKAY, SO USUALLY WHEN I COME AND PRESENT DATA, IT'S ALL VERY DEPRESSING. SO I AM THRILLED TO HAVE A HAPPY NOTE TO SHARE WITH YOU AND THAT IS THAT MERCED COUNTY IS LIVING LONGER.

OUR MORTALITY RATES HAVE DECREASED OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS AND OUR AVERAGE AGE OF DEATH HAVE INCREASED. ONE OTHER THING THAT WE ARE KEEPING TABS ON ARE OUR HOSPITALIZATION. WE ALWAYS LOOK FOR DIFFERENT PATTERNS TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING HAPPENING IN OUR HOSPITALIZATION RATES THAT SHOULD BE CAUSE FOR ALARM. IN GENERAL, WE MIRROR STATE AND NATIONAL TRENDS AND OUR LEADING CAUSES OF HOSPITALIZATION ARE RELATED TO PREGNANCY RELATED CONDITIONS. HOWEVER, ONE THING THAT WE DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS THAT WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN SEPSIS HOSPITALIZATIONS.

THIS IS AGAIN A NATIONWIDE INCREASE, BUT WE ARE SIGNIFICANTLY ABOVE THE STATE. SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE KEEPING OUR EYES ON. LASTLY, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME HEALTH DISPARITIES.

ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE LOOK AT DIFFERENCES IN OUR COMMUNITY AND HEALTH OUTCOMES IS GEOGRAPHICALLY. SO THIS IS, THIS IS A GRAPH OR A MAP OF OUR LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH BY COUNTY DISTRICT. MOSTLY THEY'RE FAIRLY CONSISTENT WITH DISTRICT 1. I'M SORRY, WITH DISTRICT 2 HAVING A LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH OF HEART DISEASE OVER CANCER.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF OTHER SMALL DIFFERENCES, BUT REALLY WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS FAIRLY CONSISTENT PATTERNS

[00:35:01]

WE ALSO DO SEE A GENDER DISPARITY. MALES DIE ON AVERAGE EIGHT YEARS YOUNGER THAN FEMALES IN MERCED COUNTY.

THAT'S NOT REALLY THAT DIFFERENT FROM NATIONAL TRENDS.

BUT AGAIN, WE DO ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE, ESPECIALLY WITHIN SOME OF OUR DEATHS OF DESPAIR, THAT WE'RE TAILORING THOSE PROGRAMS TO MALES IN OUR COUNTY. AND THEN MALES ACCOUNTED FOR 55 OF THE DEATHS IN MERCED COUNTY IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS. SO KEY TAKEAWAYS. MORTALITY RATES ARE OVERALL DECREASING, BUT CERTAIN CAUSES OF MORTALITY, SUCH AS CANCER AND OVERDOSE ARE INCREASING.

THE MERCED COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH IS PARTNERING WITH OTHER AGENCIES TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE COUNTY. AND SEPSIS IS AN INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR HOSPITALS AND HEALTHCARE.

AND LASTLY, MERCED COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH IS.

IS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF ALL RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY, INCLUDING THOSE WHO ARE UNDERSERVED. THAT IS IT.

THANK YOU, KRISTEN. IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IT'S IN DISCUSSION.

OKAY. CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. DR.

SULLIVAN. THANK YOU. I KNOW THIS IS KIND OF YOUR WHEELHOUSE, THIS DATA, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

YOU KNOW, AS WE, AS A BOARD, WE, YOU KNOW, WE PROGRAM RESOURCES TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. AND IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO HAVE THE DATA TO BACK IT UP TO SHOW IS THE GOOD WORK THAT YOUR. YOUR DEPARTMENT IS DOING. ARE WE MAKING A DIFFERENCE? SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. I KNOW THAT THERE'S. YOU WENT THROUGH IT RELATIVELY QUICKLY, BUT THAT'S A LOT OF DATA THAT YOU PUT OUT THERE FOR US. AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT LOST ON ME. AND I ALWAYS APPRECIATE DATA DRIVEN DECISIONS, SO THANK YOU.

COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT THEIR HARD WORK.

WELL, YOU GUYS LEARNED FROM ONE OF THE BEST. WHEN I FIRST MET DR. SULLIVAN, SHE WAS DOING THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING NOW. SO YOU GUYS GOT A GREAT TEACHER AND MENTOR.

THANK YOU.

CHAIR RECOGNIZES MR. PACHECO.

CHAIR.

YEAH.

GREAT PRESENTATION. THAT WAS GREAT. A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION.

JUST A.

WHAT'S THE REASON FOR THE SEPSIS INCREASE? ISN'T IT SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING OR.

IT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S NECESSARILY ANYTHING RELATED TO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE HEALTHCARE FACILITIES IN THIS COUNTY. I THINK IT'S MORE RELATED TO THE HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY AND THE DELAYS IN ACCESSING PREVENTATIVE HEALTH CARE THAT WE SEE. SO WHEN PEOPLE GO TO THE HOSPITAL, THEY ARE SICKER AND THEN HARDER TO MANAGE TO A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME. AND SEPSIS IS A REFLECTION OF THAT.

THANK YOU.

YEAH, THANK YOU. I READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT THAT. THE SEPSIS IS UP BECAUSE PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO THE DOCTOR AS OFTEN AS THEY SHOULD OR THEY DELAY GETTING THERE IN TIME. CHAIR RECOGNIZES MR. PEDROZO.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

YEAH, NO, I JUST WANTED TO ECHO WHAT MY COLLEAGUE, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SAID, AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK.

AND THIS IS REALLY GOOD INFORMATION. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS. AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT DOES, BUT HOW ACTIVE ARE YOU OR ARE MUCH A PART OF KIND OF HELPING TO RECRUIT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS TO. BECAUSE I KNOW WE. AS A.

AS A HEALTH DESERT, IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO GET SPECIALISTS HERE. AND JUST A GENERAL. A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN IN GENERAL.

YEAH, IT IS. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT. AND THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE THREE PRIORITY AREAS FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH

[00:40:01]

ON THE DEPARTMENT SIDE, DR.

SANTANA WORKS REALLY CLOSELY WITH QUITE A FEW MED SCHOOL PROGRAMS. SO WE HAVE RESIDENTS COME THROUGH OUR DEPARTMENT ON A CLINICAL ROTATION TO SEE WHAT PUBLIC HEALTH LOOKS LIKE AND TO EXPOSE THEM TO THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE ACTUALLY HAD SOME RESIDENTS STAY WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH THAT COMMUNITY HEALTH COMPONENT OF THE PROGRAM. HE ALSO HAS BEEN WORKING WITH UC MERCED AS THEY DEVELOP THEIR MEDICAL SCHOOL SCHOOL TO TRY TO GET MED STUDENTS IN, EVEN AT THE BACHELOR'S LEVEL, SO THAT WE CAN CREATE SOME ROOTS HERE AS THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THEIR SCHOOLING WITH THE HOPES THAT THEY WILL COME BACK.

GREAT.

AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK.

THIS IS AWESOME.

THANK YOU.

CHAIR RECOGNIZES MR. PAREIRA.

WELL, SO I WANT TO SAY WHAT HE SAID ABOUT YOU AND YOUR STAFF.

I TOTALLY AGREE. MY QUESTION IS SEPSIS. WHAT? JUST SO THE PUBLIC GETS A GREATER AWARENESS, WHAT ARE KIND OF THE EARLY SIGNS OF SEPSIS OR HOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE BE LOOKING FOR AND GETTING TO THE HOSPITAL EARLIER RATHER THAN LATER? YEAH. I'LL USE MYSELF AS AN EXAMPLE. I HAD SEPSIS LAST YEAR. SO I HAD A. JUST A INTESTINAL. I HAD GONE TO MEXICO, CAME BACK, HAD WHAT I THOUGHT WAS JUST LIKE A STOMACH BUG, BUT VERY QUICKLY. SOME OF THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS TO LOOK FOR ARE HIGH FEVER THAT DOESN'T RESOLVE WITH MEDICATION, INABILITY TO KEEP DOWN LIQUIDS. AND THAT'S FOR A STOMACH BUG.

RIGHT. ANY INFECTION CAN TURN INTO SEPSIS. SEPSIS JUST MEANS YOU HAVE AN INFECTION THAT'S IN YOUR BLOODSTREAM THAT'S IMPACTING MORE THAN ONE SO SYSTEM IN YOUR BODY. SO REALLY THE KEY IS IF. AND I'M AWFUL AT THIS, IS IF YOU START TO GET SICK, GO TO THE DOCTOR. GO TO THE DOCTOR QUICKLY SO THAT YOU CAN GET TREATED APPROPRIATELY.

AND THEN ARE URGENT CARES GENERALLY PREPARED TO HANDLE THOSE PATIENTS? I MEAN, AS FAR AS A DIAGNOSIS GOES.

SO NOT FOR SEPSIS. NO.

HOWEVER, ACTUALLY ACCESS TO URGENT CARE, TELEHEALTH OPPORTUNITIES, PRIMARY CARE, ALL OF THOSE WOULD BE A RESOURCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT PREVENTATIVE, TREAT THE INFECTION QUICKLY BEFORE IT HAS THE CHANCE TO GET TO SEPSIS.

OKAY, AND SO THE. AND IS THE TEMPERATURE ELEVATED? TEMPERATURE. IS THAT LIKE ALWAYS OR.

NO, EVERYBODY PRESENTS DIFFERENTLY. SO IT'S JUST ONE OF A SLEW OF POTENTIAL SYMPTOMS THAT SOMEONE COULD LOOK FOR.

BUT REALLY, IF YOU'RE NOT SEEING RESOLUTION OF A LINGERING ILLNESS, ALSO PNEUMONIA CAN TURN TO SEPSIS. SO LOTS OF THINGS CAN TURN TO SEPSIS.

THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAY IS THAT WE REALLY WANT PEOPLE TO BE THINKING IN TERMS OF EARLY INTERVENTION AND THEN PREVENTION WHEN IT COMES TO.

TO INTERACTING WITH YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

OKAY, KRISTEN, THANK YOU.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THE PRESENTATION. ARE THERE ANY REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENTS? MR. CHAIR, THERE ARE NO REMOTE SPEAKERS IN THE QUEUE.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE PRESENTATION IS NOW CLOSED.

[CONSENT CALENDAR]

CONSENT CALENDAR, ITEMS 1 THROUGH 21. PLEASE NOTE THAT ITEMS 1 THROUGH 3 AND 9 REQUIRE A FORFIS VOTE. PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.

FOR THOSE ATTENDING IN PERSON, PLEASE STEP UP TO THE PODIUM.

FOR OUR REMOTE ATTENDEES, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE ON ZOOM OR PRESS STAR9 IF YOU ARE CALLING BY PHONE. TO BETTER FACILITATE THE MEETING AND ENSURE FAIRNESS, WE WILL START WITH FIVE SPEAKERS IN PERSON FOLLOWED BY FIVE REMOTE SPEAKERS UNTIL THE TIME HAS EXPIRED.

OKAY, AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 21. SEEING NONE, I WILL CHECK FOR MR. CHAIR.

THERE ARE NO REMOTE SPEAKERS IN THE QUEUE.

GOT IT. THANK YOU. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

[00:45:02]

OKAY, BEFORE WE MOVE. OH, MY.

BLANK. BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE A 10 MINUTE BREAK. WE'LL DO A FIVE MINUTE BREAK. OKAY. IT LOOKS LIKE WE'VE RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR WITH A SECOND. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? CHAIR RECOGNIZES MR. PEDROZA.

YES, I. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT ITEM NUMBER 11, WHICH IS THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE BOARD CHAIR TO SIGN THE PROPERTY TAX SHARING AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF MERCED. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR QUITE SOME TIME. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE DID THE INITIAL ONE, I WAS ON THE CITY COUNCIL. AND NOW HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON IT AGAIN AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD IS SOMETHING THAT IS INCREDIBLY SPECIAL TO ME. I ALSO WANT TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY OF MERCED FOR WORKING TOGETHER WITH US ON THIS THIS PAST THEIR CITY COUNCIL MEETING LAST MONDAY IN A SEVEN TO NOTHING VOTE. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE WITH ME ON THIS ONE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? IF NOT, WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

RECORD THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES. NOW WE

[BOARD ACTION]

BOARD ACTION ITEMS. PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.

FOR THOSE ATTENDING IN PERSON, PLEASE STEP UP TO THE PODIUM FOR OUR REMOTE ATTENDEES, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE ON ZOOM OR PRESS STAR9 IF YOU ARE CALLING BY PHONE. TO BETTER FACILITATE THE MEETING AND ENSURE FAIRNESS, WE WILL START WITH FIVE SPEAKERS IN PERSON, FOLLOWED BY FIVE REMOTE SPEAKERS UNTIL THE TIME HAS EXPIRED.

THANK YOU. WE NOW BEGIN WITH PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS 22 THROUGH 29.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ITEM 24 HAS BEEN PULLED. WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE HAS BEEN RECEIVED REGARDING THE ITEM THAT IS AVAILABLE IN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OFFICE FOR VIEWING. ITEMS 27 THROUGH 29 REQUIRE A FORFIS VOTE.

MR. SAVILLAR, YOU ARE IN THE QUEUE, BUT DO YOU WANT TO DO THIS BEFORE PUBLIC COMMENT OR AFTER? OKAY. AT THIS TIME. OH, AT THIS TIME, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, NATHAN BRAY, WILL PROVIDE A PRESENTATION ON ITEM NUMBER 23.

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING. BOARD CHAIR AND SUPERVISORS, NATHAN BRAY, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND ROW COMMISSIONER, HERE TO TALK ABOUT ALL THINGS BLACK RASCAL FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT. SO WE HAVE AN ITEM, ITEM NUMBER 23 THAT CONTAINS MULTIPLE ACTIONS AS WELL AS GIVING THE BOARD AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS AND THE PROGRESS OF OUR PROJECT. SO BEFORE WE GET STARTED STARTED.

THE SPECIFIC ACTIONS THAT THE BOARD HAS REQUESTED TO TAKE TODAY ARE ONE, AN AMENDMENT TO JACOBS ENGINEERING GROUP CONTRACT FOR ENGINEERING DESIGN SERVICES, SUPPORT WITH PERMITTING AGENCIES AND SUPPORT WITH GRANT FUNDING.

SPECIFICALLY THAT AMENDMENT INCREASES THE TERM TO DECEMBER 31, 2029, AS WELL AS ADDS A TOTAL INCREASE OF $901,930.

SECOND ITEM IS TO ADOPT PLANS AND SPECS FOR THIS PROJECT. AND THE THIRD ITEM IS TO AUTHORIZE THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR TO ADVERTISE THE PROJECT, CONDUCT A PUBLIC BID OPENING AND AWARD AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT. SO WITH ME HERE TODAY IS ROB TOLL FROM JACOBS ENGINEERING. ROB TOLL HAS BEEN OUR PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT WITH JACOBS ENGINEERING, SHEPHERDING THIS PROJECT THROUGH DESIGN PERMITTING, JUMPING THROUGH ALL THE DIFFERENT HURDLES THAT ALL THE REGULATORY AGENCIES IDENTIFIED

[00:50:01]

SO WITH THAT I'LL TURN IT OVER TO ROB TULL.

GOOD MORNING CHAIRMAN MCDANIEL AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I AM ROB TULL WITH JACOBS ENGINEERING AND IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE THIS MORNING WITH GOOD NEWS. I'VE MADE A NUMBER OF PRESENTATIONS OVER THE YEARS. I'VE BEEN WITH THE PROJECT SINCE 2015, ASSISTING THE COUNTY WITH GRANT FUNDING AND ENGINEERING. AND NOW WE ARE READY TO GO TO CONSTRUCTION HERE. SO THIS IS A MOMENT TO CELEBRATE.

BUT I DID WANT TO PROVIDE JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT AND THEN A STATUS UPDATE FOR ANYBODY WHO'S NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE PROJECT. AND THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE FLOOD CONTROL FOR THE CITY OF MERCED, FRANKLIN, BEACHWOOD AND RURAL AREAS OF MERCED COUNTY.

IT CAME ON THE FOLLOWING FLOODING IN 1997 AND 2006. AND SO THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING AND SO WE'RE REALLY PLEASED TO BE HERE TODAY. IT WILL CONSTRUCT A DETENTION BRACING AT THE HEAD OF THE BLACK RASCAL CREEK DIVERSION CHANNEL.

IT'LL CONTAIN FLOWS FOR THE 200 YEAR EVENT WHICH IS REQUIRED BY STATE SB5. AND ALSO IT'S A MULTI BENEFIT PROJECT.

IT'LL IMPROVE WATER QUALITY, REDUCE SEDIMENTATION AND ALSO THERE'S A HABITAT RESTORATION COMPONENT OF THE PROJECT. THE BLACK RASCAL WATERSHED IS QUITE LARGE. IT'S THE LAST UNCONTROLLED WATERSHED HERE IN THE COUNTY. THERE WERE MANY PLANS HISTORICALLY TO DO BUILD DIFFERENT FACILITIES, BUT NOTHING WAS EVER BUILT. SO THE RED TRIANGLE THERE INDICATES THE PROJECT SITE AT THE HEAD OF THE DIVERSION CHANNEL THERE.

AND JUST YOU CAN SEE IT'S A VERY LARGE WATERSHED. AND SO WE WHEN AN EVENT HITS THAT WATERSHED, IT CAN OVERWHELM THE CURRENT FACILITIES AND CAUSE FLOODING IN THE ORIGINAL CREEK CHANNEL INTO THE CITY OF MERCED. THE PROJECT AS SHOWN ON THE MAP IS IN THE CORNER OF EAST YOSEMITE AND ARBOLEDA DRIVE. IT'S ABOUT A 300 ACRE PROJECT SITE THAT THE COUNTY HAS PURCHASED.

AND THAT WAS A MAJOR AGAIN STEP IN THE PROCESS MOVING FORWARD.

AND IT'LL STORE OVER ABOUT 02,500 ACRE FEET OF WATER DURING THAT 200 YEAR EVENT.

AND IT WILL INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION OF EMBANKMENTS ALONG THE FAIRFIELD CANAL AND YOSEMITE AVENUE. AND IT WILL HAVE AN UNGATED SPILLWAY AND AN AUXILIARY SPILLWAY. AND IT WILL CONTROL FLOWS INTO THE BLACK RASCAL CHANNEL TO LESS THAN 3000 CFS WHICH IS THE DESIGN CAPACITY FOR THE EXISTING CHANNEL. AS PART OF THIS, WE WILL BE REALIGNING A SECTION OF THE EXISTING CREEK TO MAKE IT MORE HYDRAULICALLY EFFICIENT GOING FORWARD. AND ALSO WE WILL BE PROVIDING SLOPE PROTECTION TO PREVENT SCOUR. AND AGAIN, AS NOTED, THERE ARE MULTI BENEFIT PROJECTS. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME AQUATIC AND RIPARIAN HABITAT IN THE NORTHERN SECTION OF THE PROJECT SITE. THIS IS A CLOSER VIEW OF THE PROJECT SITE AND THE IMPROVEMENTS. THE EMBANKMENTS ARE SHOWN IN RED ALONG THE FAIRFIELD CANAL THERE AND ALONG YOSEMITE AVENUE.

THE UPPER NORTH BASIN AS WE CALL IT, WHICH IS INDICATED IN THE GREEN IS SOME RESTORATION OF THE TRIBUTARY CHANNELS THAT WERE THERE HISTORICALLY THAT WILL BE RESTORED AND HABITAT. AND YOU CAN SEE THE SPILLWAYS THERE LOCATED NEAR THE HEAD OF THE BLACK RUSTIC DIVERSION CHANNEL.

IN TERMS OF THE TWO YEAR DESIGN EVENT, THIS IS A VERY EXTREME EVENT.

THE 1997 AND 2006 EVENTS WERE RATED AT SOMETHING AROUND 100 YEAR EVENT. BECAUSE THE POPULATION POPULATION OF THE CITY OF MERCED IS GREATER THAN 10,000. IT DOES REQUIRE THIS 200 YEAR EVENT.

AND SO WHAT THIS FIGURE SHOWS IS THE CONTAINMENT OF THAT 200 YEAR EVENT FLOW ON THE PROJECT SITE. AND NO SPILLAGE OVER INTO THE OLD CHANNEL THAT WOULD LEAD INTO THE CITY OF MERCED. THIS DOES SHOW FLOWS COMING IN FROM THE EAST SIDE IN THE LOWER RIGHT CORNER THERE. AND THOSE ARE NOT FROM BLACK RASCAL, THOSE ARE OR OTHER TRIBUTARY FLOWS. SO THE PROJECT SITE IS CONTAINING THE ENTIRE 200 YEAR EVENT. AND THERE IS SOME INUNDATION AS SHOWN IN THE PASTURE LANDS TO THE NORTH OF THE SITE THERE. AND THE COUNTY IS WORKING ON EASEMENTS WITH THOSE LANDOWNERS FOR A SLIGHT INCREASE IN INUNDATION FOR THOSE AREAS. THE ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITTING FOR THE PROJECT IS COMPLETE.

ANOTHER HUGE MILESTONE FOR US MOVING FORWARD IN TERMS OF ALL THE NEGOTIATIONS THAT HAVE GONE ON WITH THE STATE AGENCIES, THE REGIONAL WATER CONTROL BOARD AND THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND

[00:55:01]

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HERE IN ANOTHER COUPLE SLIDES AS WELL AS THERE WAS A COMPLEX PROCESS WORKING WITH THE COUNTY TO PURCHASE REQUIRED COMPENSATORY MITIGATION. ONE OF THE LESSONS LEARNED HERE IS YOU CAN HAVE A MULTI BENEFIT PROJECT BUT THAT DOES NOT GIVE YOU A FREE PASS IN TERMS OF YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL RESTRICTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS.

AND SO COMPENSATORY MITIGATION WAS SIZABLE. HIT THE WRONG BUTTON.

SORRY.

OKAY, HERE'S JUST A LITTLE HISTORY ON THE PROJECT. THE COUNTY CONDUCTED THE INITIAL FEASIBILITY STUDY IN 2009. WE COMPLETED THE CEQA WORK AND THE FINAL ER IN 2017 AND INITIATED PROJECT DESIGN IN 2019 AND FUNDING FROM NRCS THAT INCLUDED FUNDING FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.

THAT AGREEMENT WAS ACTUALLY SIGNED IN 2017 ALSO AND THAT INCLUDED $10 MILLION TOWARD DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECT AT THAT TIME IN 2020. THE FRANKLIN BEECHWOOD FEASIBILITY STUDY THEN MADE THE COUNTY ELIGIBLE FOR DWR SMALL COMMUNITIES FUNDING WHICH IS ANOTHER LARGE PORTION OF THE FUNDING THAT WILL BE GOING TOWARDS CONSTRUCTION AND HELP PAID FOR PERMITTING AND OTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROJECT.

THE LARGE PIECE THAT HAS WE'VE WORKED THROUGH WAS ENGAGING THE CORPS IN 2022 AND WORKING THROUGH PROCESS WITH THEM WHERE THEY INITIALLY DESIGNATED THE PROJECT AS A DAM VERSUS TREATING IT AS A DETENTION BASIN WHICH WILL STORE THE 200 YEAR EVENT FOR ABOUT TWO DAYS AND DRAIN. THEY REQUIRED THE DESIGN TO ESSENTIALLY ASSUME IT WAS FULL AND THAT REQUIRED A LOT OF ADDITIONAL ENGINEERING AND WORK IN TERMS OF TREATING IT AS A DAM. IT INITIATED A WHOLE RISK OF ASSESSMENT PROCESS THAT WAS REQUIRED FOR THEIR GUIDELINES. WE WORKED THROUGH THAT ENTIRE PROCESS AND FINALLY GOT A NOTICE OF COMPLETE SUBMITTAL IN APRIL OF 2026 AND THE LETTER OF PERMISSION IN 2020 MAY WHICH THEN ALLOWED THE FLOOD BOARD TO ISSUE THE ENCROACHMENT PERMIT THAT ALLOWS US TO ACTUALLY GO TO CONSTRUCTION. JUST A BRIEF SUMMARY ON THE ENGINEERS CONSTRUCTION COST ESTIMATE.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ESCALATION OF COSTS AS YOU KNOW, OVER TIME AND WITH THE PROJECT BEING DELAYED THAT HAS IMPACTED THE COST ESTIMATE. THE ONE THING I WOULD POINT OUT HERE IS ITEM SEVEN, THE SEEPAGE BARRIER WALL AT ABOUT FIVE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS. THAT IS A REQUIREMENT DIRECTLY DUE TO THE CORPS TREATING THIS AS A DAM AND THEREFORE HAVING TO CONSTRUCT THAT TO PROVIDE PREVENT SEEPAGE THAT WOULD HAPPEN OVER A LONG TERM, WHICH WE WOULD NOT SEE OVER A TWO DAY DETENTION BASIN EVENT.

BUT THE REST OF IT IS FAIRLY REASONABLE.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE OTHER LARGE ITEM IS THE EMBANKMENTS AND OTHER WORK AND THAT IS ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING FROM NRCS AND OTHERS IN TERMS OF THE CONSTRUCTION. SO WE HAVE A TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS NOW THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE OF A LITTLE OVER $23 MILLION.

IN TERMS OF CONSTRUCTION GRANT FUNDING, WE CAN SEE WE HAVE TWO DWR GRANTS. ONE IS THROUGH THE SMALL COMMUNITIES PROGRAM THAT I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY. IT'S NOT QUITE $7 MILLION WITH A 36% COST SHARE. AND THEN A SECOND GRANT THROUGH THE FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR A LITTLE UNDER $6 MILLION WITH A 15% COST SHARE. SO THE TOTAL OF THOSE TWO GRANTS GOES A LONG WAY. AND THEN THE LOCAL FUNDING TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE WOULD BE A LITTLE OVER $10 MILLION. BUT AS NOTED ON THE SLIDE THERE, WE HAVE A REQUEST INTO NRCS CURRENTLY THAT WAS RECENTLY SUBMITTED FOR A LITTLE OVER $10 MILLION AS A FOLLOW UP TO THE WATERSHED AGREEMENT THAT WAS APPROVED IN 2024 AND THAT WAS WOULD THEN MAKE UP THIS DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF THE CONSTRUCTION FUNDING.

WE FEEL WE'RE VERY POSITIVE ABOUT THAT. YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE NRCS SINCE 2017.

THEY'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE ENTIRE PROJECT. THEY SIGNED OFF ON THE COVID SHEET FOR THE DESIGN DRAWINGS AND THEY HAVE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH US THROUGH THE PROCESS.

ALSO THE FUNDING INITIALLY IN 2017 WAS THROUGH A NATIONAL COMPETITION PETITION FOR FUNDING UNDER ONE

[01:00:01]

SO WE'RE VERY HOPEFUL THAT THIS NOW IS A SHOVEL READY PROJECT READY TO GO, THAT NRCS WILL GIVE US A REAL POSITIVE REVIEW ON THIS AND A TIMELY RESPONSE IN TERMS OF POTENTIAL FUNDING WHEN IT MAY BE AVAILABLE. FEDERAL AGENCIES ARE KIND OF UP IN THE AIR THESE DAYS IN TERMS OF THEIR FUNDING ABILITY. SO THERE'S NO GUARANTEES. BUT WE ARE VERY POSITIVE THAT WE'RE WELL POSITIONED FOR THIS AND THAT ULTIMATELY THIS WILL COME THROUGH FOR THE COUNTY. MOVING ON TO NEXT STEPS IN THE SCHEDULE GOING FORWARD.

THE BID READY DESIGN IS COMPLETE AND WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE APPROVAL AND ADVERTISE BID DOCUMENT DOCUMENTS THIS MONTH AND THEN HAVE THE EASEMENTS SIGNED HERE IN SEPTEMBER GOING FORWARD AND THEN AWARD A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT, OCTOBER GROUNDBREAKING IN NOVEMBER AND THEN HOPEFULLY START CONSTRUCTION IN NOVEMBER. WE ARE WEATHER DEPENDENT AND WE ARE SPECIAL SPECIES DEPENDENT ALSO IN TERMS OF OUR CONSTRUCTION WINDOW LOOKING AT COMPLETION OF CONSTRUCTION IN OCTOBER OF 2029. SO THE PROJECT, DEPENDING ON WHEN IT STARTS, WILL HAVE TO BE ALLOCATED TO WORK AROUND THOSE WINDOWS AND THINGS. BUT THIS IS A VERY EXCITING MOMENT. I'M VERY PLEASED TO BE HERE WITH SOME GOOD NEWS AND I'VE ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOUR STAFF THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS AND VERY GLAD TO SEE THIS COMING TO COMPLETION GOING TO CONSTRUCTION.

YOU AND ME BOTH, WE'VE BEEN ON THIS THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME. SECOND DAY I WALKED INTO OFFICE, JIM BROWN WALKED DOWN AND ASKED ME BECAUSE NRCS AND ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS WERE UNDER MY PURVIEW AT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND WE ACTUALLY REALIGNED AND WENT AT THIS A WHOLE DIFFERENT WAY.

IT WAS WORKING ON THIS PROJECT 18 YEARS PRIOR TO ME GETTING INTO OFFICE AND SAT AT THE CORPS OFFICE MANY TIMES WITH A MY COLLEAGUES HERE AS WELL, DEFENDING THIS AND TRYING TO GET THIS OVER THE LINE AND DEFENDING IT THAT IT'S NOT A DAM. AND WHO COULD BELIEVE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE THIS A DAM OVER OUR STATE GOVERNMENT? YOU THINK THEY'RE A WHOLE LOT MORE HARDER TO CONVINCE, BUT THAT ONE WAS A HARD ONE.

AND WHAT THREE DIFFERENT PRESIDENTS AND THE ADMINISTRATIONS. AND EVERY TIME WE GET TO A POINT WHERE WE THOUGHT WE COULD MOVE FORWARD, SOMEBODY ELSE HAD QUIT AND WE'D HAVE TO RETRAIN THE NEXT PERSON WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THE EVENT AND THEY START COMPLETELY OVER.

AND I GOT TO SAY IT WAS PROBABLY OUR LAST EVENT SITTING IN THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS. AND WE CALLED IT OUT AND THANKFULLY WE HAD AN APPOINTEE FROM THIS CURRENT ADMINISTRATION IN THE MEETING WITH US WHO ASKED THEM TO PULL IT UP AND THEY FOUND THE DOCUMENT. THEY SAID THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETED THREE YEARS AGO. AND FROM THAT POINT ON IT WAS FAST FORWARDED TO GET DONE. AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE, APPRECIATE THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE EIGHT YEARS AGO ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE. BUT I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE ON IT. AND THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO PUTTING THE SHOVELS IN THE GROUND TO DO THIS.

IN FACT, BEFORE THE ARMY CORPS GOT IN THE WAY, WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO BE DONE WITH IT, WHAT, FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO. AND THEN THEY GOT IN THE WAY. HALF THE COST AT HALF THE COST.

EXACTLY. SO NO, THANK YOU FOR.

IT WAS INTERESTING THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY OF DAMS DECIDED THE PROJECT WASN'T EVEN UNDER THEIR JURISDICTION.

RIGHT, EXACTLY.

TO GO FROM ONE EXTREME TO THE OTHER.

SO THE NRCS, WE'RE LOOKING FOR THIS AWARD. DO YOU KNOW WHENEVER THEY'RE LOOKING TO DO THE AWARD OR THEY ARE ON THE LIST AND THEY ARE. YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING THROUGH THE QUEUE. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF STAFF CHANGES AT RCS.

OKAY.

STATE ENGINEER. WE WORKED WITH THE OLDER STATE ENGINEER FOR 10 YEARS OR SO. SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO SCHEDULE HERE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. AS SOON AS THEY ASSIGN A NEW STATE ENGINEER IS TO GO IN AND VISIT AND UPDATE THEM ON THE PROJECT. RIGHT NOW THERE'S AN INTERIM STATE ENGINEER THAT LUCKILY SIGNED OFF ON THE DESIGN DOCUMENTS.

SO THAT WAS. I WAS AFRAID THEY MIGHT SEND US BACK TO THE DRAWING.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT OFFLINE. YEAH, WE CAN DEFINITELY GET TOGETHER AND MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

ALL YOUR EFFORTS AND ALONG WITH OUR TECHNICAL SUPPORT ON THE SIDE, I THINK IT'S A WIN.

WIN 100%. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE ON IT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, ROB. AND JUST BEFORE WE CLOSE OUT, I JUST WANT TO REMIND THE BOARD OF THE ACTIONS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY SOUGHT THIS MORNING. THE FIRST ONE IS TO ENTER INTO THAT AMENDMENT TO JACOBS ENGINEERING GROUP DESIGN SERVICES AGREEMENT. THE SECOND IS TO ADOPT PLANS INSPECTION FOR THE PROJECT. AND THIRD IS TO AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR TO ADVERTISE CONNECT THE BID OPENING AND BOARD AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT. SO WITH THAT, ROB MYSELF WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD.

YOU GOT IT. CHAIR RECOGNIZES MR. SILVEIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

NATHAN. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS

[01:05:01]

HOW MUCH WAS THAT? BALLPARK? BALLPARK PROBABLY $4 MILLION.

YEAH, THAT'S A BUNCH OF.

YEAH, YEAH. SO THE 23 MILLION, IT DOESN'T EVEN COVER WHAT THIS DEAL IS GOING TO COST US. SO HERE'S WHAT I GOT. I GOT AN IDEA. SINCE WE CREATED.

OH NO, I WROTE IT DOWN.

SINCE WE CREATED ENHANCED AQUATIC HABITAT. CAN WE SEE SELL THOSE CREDITS TO SOME OTHER PERSON THAT NEEDS TO DO MITIGATION? I DON'T BELIEVE SO.

WE CREATED THEM. THEY WEREN'T THERE BEFORE, RIGHT? WELL, WE'RE. THE WAY THAT IT'S DESCRIBED IS WE ARE RECREATING THE HISTORIC HABITAT THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY THERE.

AND IF WE DIDN'T DO THAT, IT WOULDN'T BE THERE. SO I THINK THAT THOSE SHOULD GO ON THE OPEN MARKET AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SOME OTHER PROJECT THAT NEEDS TO DO MITIGATION. WE COULD TRY TO MAKE SOME OF THAT 4 MILLION BACK.

I HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR.

YEAH, I THINK THAT THAT'S WORTH. COUNTY COUNCIL. I THINK THAT'S WORTH EXPLORING, I THINK. OKAY, THANK YOU.

BUT THANK YOU. AND I. YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO PRESUME HOW OLD YOU ARE, BUT I BET YOU WHEN YOU STARTED THIS PROJECT, YOU FIGURED THAT, YOU KNOW, NO BRAINER, I'M GOING TO GET THIS DEAL DONE BEFORE I RETIRE. BUT MAN, AS LONG AS THIS THING HAS TAKEN.

IT IS, IT IS, HAS BEEN REALLY. YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT GETS PEOPLE FRUSTRATED WITH GOVERNMENT? IT'S THIS EXACT THING. THINK ABOUT IT, 2009, 20 YEARS LATER, NOT TO MENTION HOW MANY YEARS THEY'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS BEFORE. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, ALL THESE CRAZY REGULATIONS CALLING THIS THING A DAM, WHERE I COULD GO TAKE A GROUP OF SIXTH GRADERS OUT THERE AND JUST KIND OF EXPLAIN IT TO THEM AND NONE OF THEM WILL AGREE THAT THAT'S A DAM. IT'S ONLY FOR THE RAINY SEASON, RIGHT? A DAM IS SAN LUIS RESERVOIR. THERE'S WATER IN THERE ALL THE TIME. THIS IS ONLY DURING THE RATING SEASON.

BUT WHO ULTIMATELY PAYS? THE TAXPAYERS PAY BY THEIR CRAZY IDEAS, WHETHER IT BE IN SACRAMENTO OR IN WASHINGTON D.C. AND IT'S.

I'M HAPPY, I'M HAPPY FOR OUR COMMUNITIES THAT WE'RE GETTING TO THIS POINT TO PREVENT A 200 YEAR FLOOD IF AND WHEN IT POSSIBLY COULD HAPPEN. BUT IT IS REALLY FRUSTRATING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PROBABLY ON THE UPSIDE OF $30 MILLION INTO THIS PROJECT. AND THEN THEY WONDER WHY WE CAN'T GET ANYTHING BUILT IN THIS STATE.

WELL, THE FRUSTRATING PART ABOUT IT WAS WE ALREADY PUT SHOVELS IN THE GROUND AND THEY MOVED THE GOALPOST ON US. WE WERE READY TO MOVE. CHAIR RECOGNIZES MR. PAREIRA.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF TECHNICAL QUESTIONS AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS, YOU KNOW, I SHOULD HAVE ASKED THEM AHEAD OF TIME, BUT WHEN THIS THING, IF IT WERE FULL, HOW MANY ACRE FEET OF WATER DOES IT HOLD BACK? OKAY, DO YOU WANT TO COME TO THE MIC? SO I JUST THINK THE COMMUNITY MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING THAT NUMBER.

SO IT'S ABOUT A 300 ACRE SITE AND IT WOULD, UNDER THAT 200 YEAR EVENT, IT WOULD HOLD ABOUT 2,500 ACRE FEET.

OKAY, AND THEN WHAT? I GUESS FROM THE, FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE, OF THE OUTLAY. WHAT'S THE HEIGHT OF THE BANK? IT VARIES, BUT ABOUT 12FT.

ABOUT 12FT.

SO. OKAY, ALL RIGHT.

AND THEN. YEAH, I'M GLAD WE'RE HERE TOO. I WAS IN ONE OF THE ARMY CORPS ENGINEER MEETINGS WHEN. WHAT WAS HER NAME? DARN IT, I CAN'T REMEMBER.

BUT SHE, YOU KNOW, SHE WAS NEW TO BEING IN CHARGE. AND WHEN, WHEN IT GOT PULLED UP AND SHE WENT, OH MY, LET'S GET THIS DONE.

AND IT DIDN'T LET UP.

THAT WAS A YEAH, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. HE WAS ASKING FOR HER HOME PHONE NUMBER AND ADDRESS BECAUSE HE WAS GOING TO STAY ON IT.

BUT ANYWAYS, GLAD YOU GOT IT DONE . THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. CHAIR RECOGNIZES MR. PEDROZO.

THANK YOU. THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT I WAS QUICKLY BRIEFED ON WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A PROJECT FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY WORKING WITH OUR FEDERAL AND STATE PARTNERS, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS, WITH CONGRESSMAN OR THEN CONGRESSMAN COSTA GIVING US THE INITIAL $10 MILLION, THEN ARPA MONEY, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THE DWR. BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT ONE OF OUR SENATORS IS VERY MUCH AWARE OF THIS PROJECT, AND I RECEIVED A CALL YESTERDAY SAYING THEY WANTED, YOU KNOW, GET SOME MORE INFORMATION TO ADVANCE THIS, AND HOPEFULLY IT COULD WORK.

BUT I REALLY WANT TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK SUPERVISOR OR CHAIRMAN MCDANIEL. THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S IN MY DISTRICT, HE TOOK AT IT LIKE A. LIKE A BULLDOG. AND SINCE HE GOT ON, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT, AND IT'S ONLY GOING TO HELP THE COMMUNITY. AND I AGREE WITH WHAT MY COLLEAGUE, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA SAID, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THE FRUSTRATING THING ABOUT THIS WAS EVERY TIME WE WERE READY TO GO, THE GOALPOST JUST KEPT MOVING.

AND IT'S LIKE, THAT'S WHY IT'S TAKEN SO LONG.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED? BUT REALLY, YOU KNOW, SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL OR CHAIRMAN MCDANIEL REALLY KEPT THIS PROJECT AFLOAT. NO PUN INTENDED, BUT THANK YOU.

[01:10:04]

I'M DONE WITH THIS ITEM, BUT THERE'S STILL A COUPLE MORE ITEMS I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT REALLY QUICKLY. FIRST OFF, ON ITEM NUMBER 26, I WANT TO THANK OUR PUBLIC WORKS STAFF FOR. THERE'S A PROJECT, YOU KNOW, AS WE BONDED OUT FOR MEASURE V, WE CAME UP WITH A SERIES OF ROADS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. ONE OF THOSE ROADS BEING PIONEER ROAD, MY DISTRICT. AND IT'S A SITUATION WHERE THERE WAS MAYBE A HALF MILE SECTION OF PIONEER THAT'S IN THE CITY LIMITS, AND THEN WE HAVE THE REST OF IT ALL THE WAY OUT TO VOLTA ROAD UNDER. UNDER DIRECTOR BRAY'S LEADERSHIP REACHED OUT TO THE CITY OF LAS MANAS AND SAID, HEY, YOU GUYS HAVE THIS SECTION HERE.

IF WE JUST PUT IT IN WITH OURS, IT'S GOING TO SAVE THEM MONEY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL THE MOBILIZATION COSTS, EVERYTHING THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR A WHILE NOW, AND I APPRECIATE THAT OUR PUBLIC WORKS FOLKS ARE TALKING WITH OUR LOCAL JURISDICTION PUBLIC WORKS FOLKS. AND IF THERE'S AREAS THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND SAVE THE TAXPAYERS MONEY, DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER THEY'RE CITY RESIDENTS OR COUNTY RESIDENTS. BECAUSE IF YOU LIVE IN A CITY, YOU'RE STILL A MEMBER OF THE COUNTY. AND I WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF LAS VENUS FOR JUMPING ON BOARD. I KNOW THAT WE ARE DOING THIS KIND OF, WE'RE ENTERING INTO AN MOU.

IT'S GOING TO BE ON THEIR AGENDA. BUT THE ROAD'S ALREADY BEEN REPAVED, BUT IT IS NOT LETTING THE BUREAUCRACY GET IN THE WAY OF ACTUALLY DOING THE GOOD WORK. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. IT'S VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. I KNOW THAT THE RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT 5 WOULD HAVE. NORMALLY A LOT OF THEM WOULD HAVE TAKEN, THEY WOULD HAVE GOT OFF ON VOLTA 152 AND CAME DOWN PIONEER. BUT THE ROAD WAS IN SUCH BAD SHAPE THAT THEY DIDN'T USE IT AND THAT NOW HAS CHANGED. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND THEN LASTLY ITEM NUMBER 23 AGAIN, IT'S NOT A HUGE ONE AS A COMPARISON TO THE BLACK RASCAL CREEK PROJECT, BUT CYPRESS AVENUE AND REYNOLDS AVENUE OR CYPRESS ROAD, REYNOLDS AVENUE IN DAS PALACE, A FOUR WAY STOP, THERE'S TREES THERE, PEOPLE SPEED IN THERE. AND I KNOW THAT THE NEIGHBORS THAT HAD PUT IN THAT REQUEST ARE GOING TO BE VERY THANKFUL THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PUT THAT UP. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR GOOD WORK ON THAT AND I'D ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO, TO VOTE YES ON ALL THOSE ITEMS. THANK YOU. CHAIR RECOGNIZES MR. PAREIRA.

ALL RIGHT, DON'T LEAVE. SO ANYWAYS, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ITEM 27 THAT THE OLD COMMUNITY HALL BUILDING AND SNELLING HAS, YOU KNOW, BEEN A WORRY OF MINE, HAVE FALLEN OVER AND WE'VE GOT IT TO A POINT WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE AVAILABLE FOR AUCTION AND BID. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. SAN LUIS PUMP IS ON SITE IN SNELLING, WORKING ON THE HYDRANTS RIGHT NOW. AND SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU THE STATE OF THE ART NEWS AND THEN. AND THANK YOU RIGHT FOR GETTING THAT DONE. YOU KNOW, IT KIND OF HUNG OUT THERE FOR A LITTLE BIT, BUT ONCE WE GOT ON IT, YOU KNOW, LAST WEEK TO THIS WEEK, THEY'RE OUT THERE DOING THE WORK AND THE PEOPLE IN SNELLING ARE ALREADY MESSAGING ME SAYING THANK YOU, SO APPRECIATE THAT. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU STARTED ON THIS BLACK RASCAL PROJECT, IT WAS A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS. WELL NOW IT'S ABOUT $350 FOR YOUR THOUGHTS. AND IT'S NO LONGER SHOVEL READY, IT'S PADDLE WHEEL SCRAPER READY. SO JUST LET YOU KNOW THE UPDATES.

THAT'S IT.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. NO OTHER SPEAKERS IN THE QUEUE, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD.

AT THIS TIME. WE'LL OPEN A PUBLIC COMMENT FOR PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS 22, 23, 25 AND 29.

SEEING NONE HERE. I'LL CHECK TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING FROM THE REMOTE.

MR. CHAIR, THERE ARE NO REMOTE SPEAKERS IN THE QUEUE.

OKAY, THANK YOU. WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS 22, 23 AND 25 AND 29 IS NOW CLOSED. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO. LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE.

MOTION PASSES. NEXT WE HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES ITEMS 30 THROUGH 35.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES ITEMS 30 THROUGH 35. SEEING NONE. LET ME CHECK FOR THE REMOTE.

MR. CHAIR, THERE ARE NO REMOTE SPEAKERS LOGGED IN.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RECOVERY SERVICES ITEM 30 THROUGH 35 IS NOW CLOSED.

BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.

THERE'S A FURTHER DISCUSSION.

NOBODY IN THE QUEUE. I DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION PASSES. NEXT WE HAVE HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

[01:15:02]

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEM SERVICES AGENCY ITEM NUMBER 36. SEEING NOBODY. I'LL CHECK FOR ANY REMOTE COMMENTS.

MR. CHAIR, THERE ARE NO REMOTE SPEAKERS IN THE QUEUE.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY ITEM 36 IS NOW CLOSED. WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. SO MOVE SECOND.

WE'RE ADJUSTING THIS PROGRAM.

LET'S GO.

CAN YOU PRESS IT OVER THERE? OH, WE'RE BLANK AGAIN.

WE'LL HAVE TO DO A MANUAL VOTE THEN.

OKAY, SO I HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? IF NOT, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. AYES HAVE IT. MOTION PASSES.

NEXT WE HAVE HEALTH ITEMS 37 AND 38.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR HEALTH ITEMS 37 AND 38.

SEEING NONE. WE'LL CHECK FOR REMOTE.

MR. CHAIR, THERE'S NO REMOTE SPEAKERS IN THE QUEUE.

OKAY. PUBLIC PERIOD FOR HEALTH ITEMS 3738 IS NOW CLOSED. WE'LL BRING IT UP. THE DICE IT FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION.

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. MOVE TO APPROVE. I HAVE A FIRST BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PEDROZO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, SIGNIFY BY SAYING NAY, THE AYES HAVE IT. MOTION PASSES. CAN WE DO A LITTLE MIC CHECK? IS EVERYBODY'S MICS WORKING? CAN'T TURN IT ON. ARE YOUR GUYS' ON NOTHING? HOW ARE YOUR SCREENS? CAN WE JUST DO THE DA'S? I HAVE NO MATCHES.

I CAN TURN ON THAT MIC.

YEAH, THIS IS WORKING. OKAY.

NEXT WE HAVE DISTRICT ATTORNEY. DISTRICT ATTORNEY NICOLE SILVERO WILL NOW PROVIDE US WITH COMMENTS.

ITEM 30.

GOOD MORNING, CHAIR, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, CEO, HENDRICKSON COUNTY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME A FEW MOMENTS TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.

ESSENTIALLY TODAY THE DA'S OFFICE IS ACTUALLY ASKING FOR SUPPORT IN BRINGING A FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER TO MERCED COUNTY. A FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER SEEKS TO COORDINATE SERVICES AND AGENCIES FOR VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF CRIMES RELATED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE PAST 15 YEARS OF DATA IN THE CRIMES REFERRED TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND FOCUS ON CRIMES INVOLVING DIRECT HUMAN VICTIMS, OVER 40% OF THOSE INVOLVE CRIMES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT. THIS CAN RANGE FROM EVERYTHING TO SPOUSAL ABUSE, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, CHILD ABUSE AND OTHER FORMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS DATA, WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO DO MORE TO SERVE THESE VICTIMS. IN MERCED COUNTY. IF SOMEONE IS VICTIMIZED FOR ONE OF THESE TYPES OF CRIMES AT THIS TIME, THEY HAVE TO GO TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT PLACES TO RECEIVE SERVICES. THEY MAY HAVE TO GO TO THE COURTHOUSE TO GET A CIVIL RESTRAINING ORDER, GO TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE A REPORT, COME TO MY OFFICE TO GET SUPPORT FROM VICTIM SERVICES, GO TO VALLEY CRISIS CENTER TO GET FURTHER SUPPORT FOR HOUSING SERVICES AND SAFETY PLANNING. A FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER WILL CREATE ONE FACILITY WITH ROOM FOR ALL OF THESE SERVICES TO COME TOGETHER SO THAT THE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS ONLY HAVE TO GO TO ONE PLACE. AND ALL OF THOSE SERVICES WILL BE CENTRALIZED TO SERVE THEM. TODAY WE ARE ASKING FOR THE BOARD'S SUPPORT IN BRINGING A FACILITY TO MERCED COUNTY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. SO YOU HAVE TO RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK BECAUSE WE HAVE NO.

YES, MR. PACHECO.

I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THE DA'S OFFICE TO ESTABLISH A FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER. THIS IS OF POP BUDDING VICTIMS AND FAMILIES FIRST. A FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER WILL PROVIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT, PROSECUTORS, VICTIM ADVOCATES, COUNSELORS AND OTHER CRITICAL SERVICES TOGETHER IN ONE LOCATION, MAKING IT EASIER FOR THE VICTIMS TO GET THE HELP AND SUPPORT THEY NEED. I APPLAUD THE DA'S OFFICE FOR HER LEADERSHIP IN MOVING THIS IMPORTANT PROJECT FORWARD.

AND I'M COMMITTED TO BEING A STRONG PARTNER IN THIS EFFORT. AND THE GOAL BEING TO PROVIDE A SAFE PLACE, A COORDINATED RESPONSE AND A PATH FORWARD HEALING FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT. MOST.

SO I WANT TO THANK THE DA FOR HER EFFORTS THERE.

AND I ENCOURAGE MY BOARD MEMBERS

[01:20:01]

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

CHECK.

CHECK.

WELL, MADAM DISTRICT ATTORNEY, I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS IN THIS.

IN THIS PROJECT. YOU KNOW, WHEN I CAME ONTO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, DIDN'T REALLY REALIZE THAT THERE WAS A VICTIMS OF CRIME CEREMONY. AND THROUGH THAT, BECAME AWARE OF REALLY THE PLIGHT OF THE VICTIMS. AND, YOU KNOW, AND WHETHER IT'S A MOM WITH CHILD OR A DAD WITH A CHILD OR A CHILD, YOU KNOW, HAVING THAT ALL IN ONE SPOT IS JUST REALLY AN AMAZING.

WILL BE AN AMAZING FEAT. AND SO I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR THAT. AND I HOPE THE CITIZENS OF MERCED COUNTY ARE AWARE OF THIS. I, YOU KNOW, IF YOU. I DON'T KNOW, HAVE YOU BEEN ON THE COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS? BUT ANYWAYS, IT'D BE NICE TO.

YEAH, IT'D BE NICE TO LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW AS WELL THAT IT'S COMING. AND. AND I THINK PEOPLE CAN BE REAL APPRECIATIVE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS AND YOUR TEAM'S EFFORTS. I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST YOU BY YOURSELF, BUT YOUR TEAM, SO APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. CHAIR RECOGNIZES MR. SILVEIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MADAM D.A. THANK YOU.

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR PASSION ON THIS ITEM.

I KNOW THAT THIS IS THE FRONT END STAGES OF IT, AND I KNOW THAT WE STILL GOT A LOT MORE WORK TO DO, BUT I KNOW THAT. I FEEL LIKE OUR BOARD IS VERY COMMITTED TO SEEING IT, THAT YOU CAN HAVE SUCCESS IN THIS. RIGHT. AND ULTIMATELY YOUR SUCCESS IN THIS MEANS SUCCESS FOR OUR RESIDENTS OUT THERE.

SO GREAT THING TO SUPPORT AND PROUD TO BE VOTING YES ON THIS ITEM. THANK YOU.

OKAY. WITH THAT, AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN A PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S ITEM NUMBER 39. I'LL CHECK FOR REMOTE COMMENT.

MR. CHAIR, THERE'S NO REMOTE SPEAKERS IN THE QUEUE.

OKAY. AT THE PUBLIC PERIOD FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY, ITEM NUMBER 39 IS NOW CLOSED.

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION SECOND.

SO SUPERVISOR PACHECO FIRST AND SUPERVISOR PAREIRA SECOND OF THE MOTION. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE WE CALL FOR THE VOTE? IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. ANY OPPOSED, SIGNIFY BY SAYING NAY. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT WE HAVE PROBATION ITEM 40.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER 40. SEEING NONE IN THE ROOM. I'LL CHECK FOR REMOTE.

MR. CHAIR, THERE'S NO REMOTE SPEAKERS IN THE QUEUE.

DO WE HAVE ANY REMOTE PARTICIPATION? NO REMOTE PARTICIPATION. OKAY. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR PROBATION.

PROBATION. ITEM NUMBER 40 IS NOW CLOSED. MOTION TO APPROVE. I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. SECOND WITH A SECOND. DID YOU GET THOSE? OKAY BY PEDROZO? YES.

ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? SIGNIFY BY SAYING NAY. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT WE HAVE SHERIFF ITEM 41.

AT THIS TIME, I OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR SHERIFF. ITEM NUMBER 40. ITEM NUMBER 41. SEE? NOBODY. I'LL CHECK. REMOTE.

MR. CHAIR. NO REMOTE SPEAKERS IN THE QUEUE.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR SHERIFF. ITEM NUMBER 41 IS NOW CLOSED. BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION. IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND.

SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR PACHECO. ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. ANY OPPOSED? SIGNIFY BY SAYING NAY. AYES HAVE IT. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT, WE HAVE ELECTIONS.

ITEM 42.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ELECTIONS. ITEM NUMBER 42.

WE'LL CHECK FOR REMOTE COMMENTS.

MR. CHAIR, THERE'S NO REMOTE SPEAKER ON THE QUEUE.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ELECTIONS. ITEM NUMBER 42 IS NOW CLOSED. WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION. I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. SECOND IT.

SECOND BY PACHECO. FIRST BY SILVEIRA. ALL IN FAVOR? SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. ANY OPPOSED? SIGNIFY BY NAY. AYES HAVE IT. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT WE HAVE AUDITOR ITEMS 43 AND 44.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR AUDITOR ITEMS 43 AND 44.

CHECK REMOTE.

MR. CHAIR. NO REMOTE SPEAKERS IN THE QUEUE.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR AUDITOR ITEMS 43 AND 44 IS NOW CLOSED.

I JUST WANT TO COMMENT.

[01:25:02]

I JUST WANT TO THANK THE AUDITOR AND HER STAFF. STAFF. I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES IN THESE AUDIES. THERE'S CURRENTLY ONE ACCOUNTANT THAT PERFORMS INTERNAL AUDITS WITHIN HER OFFICE. IT'S A LOT OF WORK, AND IT'S NOT LOST ON ME AS WE SEE THESE AUDIT REPORTS. SO JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. CHAIR RECOGNIZES MR. PEDROZO.

THANK YOU. I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR THE AUDITOR. AND I KNOW THAT I SPOKE WITH MR. HENDRICKSON ABOUT THIS MORNING.

I GOT THE ANSWERS. I JUST WANTED TO PUT IT OUT THERE BECAUSE IT'S. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS, IT SAYS, YOU KNOW, THE SPECIAL DISTRICTS, AND IT HAS THE IMPACTED SPECIAL DISTRICTS, AND THESE ARE THE ONLY. THE SPECIAL DISTRICTS THAT WE HAVE THAT WE CONTROL.

RIGHT.

OKAY.

WELL, WE DON'T CONTROL THEM.

YEAH.

GOOD MORNING, CHAIR, BOARD, CEO, COUNTY COUNCIL, LISA CARDELLO. PRESTO.

YOUR AUDITOR, COMPTROLLER SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

THESE ARE THE DISTRICTS THAT INVEST THEIR MONEY WITH THE TREASURY, AND THEREFORE WE PAY THEIR BILLS.

FOR THEM. THEY SEND THEM TO OUR OFFICE AND WE DISPERSE THE CHECKS AND WE ALSO DO THEIR PAYROLL. WE DO VARIOUS OTHER ACCOUNTING TASKS FOR THE THEM AS WELL AS SOME REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

AND SO IT'S BECAUSE THE REPORT SAYS HISTORICALLY THE COUNTY HAS NOT CHARGED, BUT NOW WE'RE GOING TO START CHARGING FOR THAT.

RIGHT, THAT.

CORRECT.

AND THEN ALSO IT SAYS THAT IF CHARGES ASSESSED OR COLLECTED IN FULL, THESE FEES WOULD COVER APPROXIMATELY 25% OF THE ESTIMATED COSTS. SO THE OTHER 75% IS LIKE FREE LABOR.

WELL, IT'S.

SO OUR COST INVOLVED. YES.

ARE HIGHER THAN WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY GOING TO PROPOSE TO BE CHARGED. YOU KNOW, IT'S A DELICATE BALANCE. IT'S THESE, THESE DISTRICTS PROVIDE SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE VALUABLE AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE VERY SHORT STAFFED OR EVEN STAFFED ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS. SO WE'RE JUST CAREFULLY MONITORING ABOUT HOW MUCH WE, WE CAN PUT OFF TO THE DISTRICTS WITH REGARDS TO OUR CHARGES FOR OUR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.

I THINK THAT'S FAIR. I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, AS IT GETS, AS WE CONTINUE, I UNDERSTAND THE FACT THAT WE DON'T WANT TO JUST DO 100% RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE OF THOSE ISSUES OR THOSE CONCERNS, BUT IT'S KIND OF FRUSTRATING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING ALL THIS FOR THESE IMPORTANT DISTRICTS OR SPECIAL DISTRICTS, BUT WE'RE JUST NOW REALIZING THAT WE'RE PAYING FOR IT NOW. WE'RE GOING TO CHARGE THEM 25% IF WE COLLECT ALL THE FEES. AND SO THAT'S KIND OF FRUSTRATING TO KNOW.

BUT THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OKAY, THERE WE GO. THEY'RE DOING A GOOD JOB BACK THERE FIGURING OUT WHICH MICROPHONE NEEDS TO BE ON. IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. AND A SECOND. PACHECO IS THE SECOND.

SILVERO IS THE FIRST. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. ANY OPPOSED SIGNIFY BY SAYING NAY. AYES HAVE IT. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT, WE HAVE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE AT THIS TIME. OH, YOU CAN MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

ITEMS 45 AND 46 TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF US HERE AT THIS TIME. CEO HENDRICKSON WILL PROVIDE OPENING COMMENTS AND TURN IT OVER TO ASSISTANT CEO DAVID MARIONE WHO WILL PROVIDE A PRESENTATION ON ITEMS 45 AND 46.

GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY ARE TWO ITEMS THAT ADDRESS CONNECT CONNECTED ASPECTS OF THE COUNTY'S LONG TERM HEALTH CARE STRATEGY, NOTABLY THE COST AND STRUCTURE OF OUR EMPLOYEE AND RETIREE HEALTH PLANS AND THE RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST ESTABLISHED TO ACTUALLY FUND OUR LONG TERM RETIREE HEALTH CARE OBLIGATIONS. THE BOARD ASKED THAT STAFF BRING THESE CONSIDERATIONS TO YOU IN A FOUR TO SIX MONTH TIME FRAME A FEW MONTHS AGO AND I'M PROUD TO REPORT THAT OBVIOUSLY OUR TEAM HAS DELIVERED IN A MATTER OF WEEKS. BUILDING ON THE FINDINGS OF YOUR SUCCESSFUL JUNE 2 BALDWIN STUDY. THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE INTENDED TO CONTAIN HEALTH CARE COSTS WHILE ALSO PROVIDING GREATER BENEFIT CHOICES AND FLEXIBILITY FOR BOTH OUR EMPLOYEES AND OUR RETIREES. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE TODAY THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DOES NOT ESTABLISH INSURANCE PREMIUM RATES. THOSE RATES ARE ACTUALLY DETERMINED THROUGH PRISM HEALTH. THE BOARD'S ROLE, HOWEVER, IS TO APPROVE THE FUNDING NECESSARY TO BE PROVIDE THESE BENEFITS AND TO ESTABLISH POLICIES THAT BALANCE COMPETITIVE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE WITH RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP OF PUBLIC RESOURCES. THE 2027

[01:30:03]

HISTORICALLY, ACTIVE EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES SHARED A BLENDED PREMIUM STRUCTURE, MEANING THAT ACTIVE EMPLOYEES EFFECTIVELY SUBSIDIZE A PORTION OF RETIREE HEALTH CARE COSTS.

BEGINNING IN 2027, ACTIVE EMPLOYEE PREMIUMS WILL BE BASED SOLELY ON THE COST OF ACTIVE EMPLOYEE COVERAGE.

THE RETIREE SUBSIDY WILL INSTEAD BE FUNDED DIRECTLY FROM THE COUNTY'S OPEB TRUST, THE RESOURCE THAT WAS SPECIFICALLY ESTABLISHED FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE.

RETIREES WILL NOW HAVE ADDITIONAL PLAN CHOICES PROVIDING GREATER FLEXIBILITY BASED UPON THEIR INDIVIDUAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS AND FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

THE SECOND ITEM TODAY ESTABLISHES THE POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR MANAGING THE TRUST. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2008, THIS BOARD HAS ACTUALLY DEMONSTRATED STRONG FISCAL DISCIPLINE BY SETTING ASIDE RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THESE LONG TERM OBLIGATIONS. AS A RESULT, THE TRUST HAS A HEALTHY ACTUARIAL FUNDED RATIO OF 82.5% AS OF JUNE 30, 2025. THE PROPOSED POLICY BUILDS ON THAT PROGRESS BY ESTABLISHING GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTIONS FOR SPENDING, PRESERVATION OF PRINCIPAL GOVERNANCE AND ANNUAL REPORTING. OUR LONG TERM OBJECTIVE IS TO MANAGE THE TRUST MUCH LIKE AN ENDOWMENT, USING INVESTMENT EARNINGS TO REIMBURSE ELIGIBLE RETIREE HEALTH CARE EXPENSES WHILE PRESERVING PRINCIPAL AND MAINTAINING OR IMPROVING THE FUNDED RATIO. TAKEN TOGETHER, THESE ITEMS REPRESENT A COORDINATED AND RESPONSIBLE RESPONSIBLE APPROACH TO MANAGING HEALTHCARE COSTS WHILE PROTECTING THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO MEET THE COUNTY'S OBLIGATIONS INTO THE FUTURE.

NOW, WITH THAT INTRODUCTION, I WOULD BE REMISS AND I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE BOARD FOR ITS LEADERSHIP OF THIS VERY ITEM AND THE EXCEPTIONAL WORK OF OUR TEAM WHO HAS PUT IN COUNTLESS HOURS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS TO BRING THIS TO YOU FOR YOUR POLICY CONSIDERATION TODAY.

AND WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO ASSISTANT CEO DAVID MARIONE.

THANK YOU AND GOOD MORNING CHAIRMAN MCDANIEL, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, COUNTY COUNCIL HANSON AND CEO HENDRICKSON. SO WE'LL START WITH AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT TODAY. SO WE'LL START WITH A TIMELINE. WE'LL GO INTO THE BALDWIN STUDY FINDINGS, THE KEY TAKEAWAYS AND THE ACTUARIAL INSIGHTS REGARDING THE PLAN SUSTAINABILITY. OUR 2027 HEALTH PLAN OFFERINGS AND RATES ARE OPEB, WHICH IS OTHER POST EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS TRUST.

THINK OF OTHER THAN OUR RETIREMENT.

SO THAT IS YOUR HEALTH CARE, THE RETIREE HEALTH AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FORMAL GUIDELINES FOR TRUST MANAGEMENT AND FIDUCIARY OVERSIGHT. THE AD HOC EMPLOYEE HEALTHCARE BENEFITS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. WE'LL TOUCH ON THAT FOR A MOMENT.

THAT IS WHAT YOUR BOARD APPROVED JUST THE LAST MEETING AND THEN OUR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES FOR THE 2027 PLAN YEAR. AND THEN WE'LL CLOSE WITH RECOMMENDED ACTIONS. SO BACK IN AUGUST OF 2025, THE BOARD AUTHORIZED THE CEO TO RELEASE AN RFP FOR A CONSULTANT TO PROVIDE FOR COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE EVALUATION AND ANALYSIS. THE BOARD RECOGNIZED SOMETHING NEEDED TO CHANGE AND WORKED VERY STRONGLY TO PUT THIS OUT AND GET A GREAT QUALIFIED APPLICANT. THAT ENDED UP BEING THE BALDWIN GROUP. THAT HAPPENED. YOUR BOARD APPROVED THAT CONTRACT IN NOVEMBER OF 2025. WE CAME BACK IN JUNE AT THE FIRST BOARD MEETING OF JUNE AND BALDWIN PRESENTED THEIR FINDINGS AND ALSO WE HAD THE CREATION OF A HEALTH CARE COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE EXPANDED RESPONSE RETIREE AND HEALTH OPTION, THE HEALTH PLAN OPTIONS WITH THE DIRECTION TO COME BACK IN FOUR TO SIX MONTHS. AS THE CEO MENTIONED, WE'VE ALREADY BEEN BACK A FEW TIMES WITH SOME OF THE ACTIONS THAT WERE RECOMMENDED AND PLAN ON MORE OF THAT TO COME AS WE'LL GET TO SOON. SO IN JULY WE DID BRING AN UPDATE ON THE RATES AS WELL AS THE, THE USAGE OF OPEB DOLLARS. WE DID HAVE THAT COME FORWARD AND THE BOARD APPROVED THAT, I'M SORRY, ON THE 14TH OF JULY TO USE THOSE DOLLARS FOR THE, FOR THE 2526 FISCAL YEAR. SO WE ACTUALLY WERE IN A PERIOD WHERE WE COULD APPLY THAT RETROACTIVELY TO HELP OFFSET SOME OF THOSE COSTS FOR THE MITIGATION EFFORTS OVERALL THAT WERE PROVIDED TO THE EMPLOYEES IN THE 2026 PLAN YEAR YEAR.

AND THEN AUGUST 3RD, OUR BARGAINING UNITS APPROVED SIDE LETTERS TO ESSENTIALLY UNBLEND THE PREMIUM. SO AS CEO HENDRICKSON MENTIONED, FOR 2027 THAT WOULD BE GOING FORWARD WITH AN UNBLENDED RATE THAT ACTUALLY REQUIRES BARGAINING. AND SO THROUGH THE GREAT WORK OF OUR HR TEAM, WE'RE ACTUALLY ABLE TO WORK WITH ALL

[01:35:01]

AND THEN YOUR BOARD HAD NEGOTIATED 3% CAP INCREASES FOR THE, FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR. SO THAT TAKES PLACE AS WELL. SO FOR THE BALDWIN STUDY, BASICALLY THE SEVEN KEY HIGHLIGHTS THAT WE SEE THROUGHOUT THE STUDY ARE THE HEALTH CARE COST INFLATION, JUST THE EXPENDITURES OVERALL CONSISTENTLY OUTPACING GENERAL INFLATION INDICES. AND THAT'S NOT JUST US, THAT'S NATIONWIDE. AND WE'RE SEEING THAT TREND EVERYWHERE.

ALONG WITH THE PHARMACEUTICAL COST SURGE, I THINK YOU'LL REMEMBER, 89% INCREASE IN OUR SPEND IN OUR PRESCRIPTION DRUG SPEND OVER JUST THREE YEARS. AND THE BALDWIN GROUP DID HIGHLIGHT THE HIGH UTILIZATION OF SPECIALTY MEDICATIONS LIKE GLP1S. THERE'S A RECOMMENDATION TO EXPAND OUR NETWORK AND LOOK AT PROVIDING KAISER AS AN OPTION FOR THOSE ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES.

UTILIZATION MANAGEMENT. SO IMPLEMENT OUR PROGRAMS. WE HAVE MANY PROGRAMS OUT THERE THAT ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE FASTER SERVICE, BETTER SERVICE, BUT ULTIMATELY SAVE DOLLARS FOR NOT ONLY THE EMPLOYEES BUT THE COUNTY AS WELL. YOU THINK OF THE RX AND GO PROGRAM THAT WE TOUCHED ON. THAT'S FOR YOUR MORE MAINTENANCE MEDICATION WHERE YOU KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE IT EACH MONTH INSTEAD OF HAVING THAT SENT TO A LOCAL PHARMACY, A CVS WHATNOT, WHERE YOU HAVE THAT MONTHLY COPAY AND YOU HAVE TO GO DOWN AND YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY GO STAND IN LINE AND PICK IT UP WITH RX AND GO, THEY'RE GOING TO DELIVER THAT, NO COPAY IN 90 DAY SUPPLIES. AND THE BEAUTY OF THAT ALSO IS ON THE BACK END, YOU KNOW, WE OFTEN ARE FOCUSED ON AS EMPLOYEES THE COPAY. HOW DOES THAT SAVE ME ON THIS SIDE? RIGHT.

WELL ALSO IT ALSO SAVES ON THE COST OVERALL. IF YOU THINK OF A LOCAL BRICK AND MORTAR STAND UP PHARMACY, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE OVERHEAD COSTS, ARE GOING TO HAVE RENT, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, WHEREAS WHEN THEY'RE SHIPPING IT TO YOU, THOSE COSTS ARE NATURALLY GOING TO BE LOWER. SO THE COST TO OUR PLAN IS LOWER, THE COST TO THE EMPLOYEE IS LOWER. BUT WE FOUND THAT MANY EMPLOYEES AREN'T AWARE OF THOSE TYPES OF SERVICES. AND SO WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE EFFORTS WE'RE GOING TO MAKE TO TRY TO ENHANCE THOSE TO PROVIDE A BETTER SERVICE FOR THE EMPLOYEES AND ULTIMATELY DRIVE THE COST DOWN SOME WHICH THEN ULTIMATELY IN A FEW YEARS HELPS WITH THE COST OF THE PLAN WHICH WE THEN, YOU KNOW, ARE IN FRONT OF YOU TWO YEARS FROM NOW TALKING ABOUT THE COST OF THE PLAN.

RIGHT. SO OVERALL THE SHORT TERM HELPING THE EMPLOYEES ON THE CO PAY SIDE AS WELL AS IN THE LONG TERM HELPING ON THE, ON THE OVERALL COST OF THE PLAN. WELLNESS ENGAGEMENT DRIVE HIGHER PARTICIPATION INTO OUR EMPLOYER SPONSORED WELLNESS CLINIC. WE RIGHT NOW HAVE A WELLNESS CLINIC OUT AT OUR SITE, OUR HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY SITE OUT ON WARDROBE. LIKE TO GET MORE FOLKS USING THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME IDEAS AND THINGS WE'LL BE EXPLORING FOR THROUGH THE AD HOC COMMITTEE AS WELL CONTRIBUTION REFORM. SO THE UNBLENDING FUNDING OF PREMIUMS, THAT METHODOLOGY FOR OUR ACTIVE EMPLOYEES AND OUR RETIREES AND THEN OVERALL THE LAST RECOMMENDATION, THE FUNDING OPTIMIZATION. SO AS CEO HENDRICKSON MENTIONED IN HIS OPENING REMARKS, WITH THAT OPEB TRUST LOOKING AT THAT, YOU KNOW, NOW IS THE TIME THAT DISCIPLINE HAS BEEN THERE OVER 18 YEARS AND IT'S IN A POSITION TO DO WHAT IT WAS INTENDED TO DO AND THAT IS TO HELP SUPPORT THESE COSTS.

SO BALANCING COST AND CARE. SO FOR OUR MEDICAL STRATEGY OVERALL, WE DID RECEIVE NOTICE FROM PRISM AND THIS IS REALLY CONSISTENT WITH THE INDUSTRY THAT THEY LOOKED AT GLP1 MEDICATIONS FOR, PRIMARILY FOR WEIGHT LOSS TYPE ACTIVITIES AND ARE NO LONGER GOING TO BE COVERING THEM.

AGAIN, THAT IS A PRISM OVERALL DECISION. THAT IS NOT A DECISION OF THIS BOARD. AND THAT WOULD BE LIMITED TO FOLKS WITH A DIAGNOSIS OF TYPE 1, TYPE 2 DIABETES. THOSE DIAGNOSES AND HAD THAT NOT OCCURRED, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT A 15.8% INCREASE RATHER THAN A 10.6% INCREASE. SO JUST NOT COVERING THOSE PARTICULAR MEDICATIONS FOR THOSE SPECIFIC USES ACTUALLY BROUGHT THAT, THAT RATE INCREASE DOWN CONSIDERABLY. I'LL MENTION

[01:40:02]

AND MEDI CAL OVERALL, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER HEALTH PLANS, ALSO FOLLOWED SUIT WITH NOT COVERING THE GLP1S FOR THOSE ACTIVITIES AS WELL BECAUSE OF JUST THE SKYROCKETING COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE. WE'RE MAINTAINING OUR CURRENT PRICING FOR DENTAL AND VISION PLANS AND THEN OUR MITIGATION EFFORTS. WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE INCREASED COUNTY CAPS WHICH WERE NEGOTIATED AND THEN CARRYING OVER THOSE MITIGATED COSTS FROM 2026. SO AS WE TRANSITION TO SEGMENTED FUNDING, WE'RE MOVING AWAY FROM THE BLENDED PREMIUMS TO A MODEL IN WHICH ACTIVE EMPLOYEE PREMIUMS REFLECT WORKFORCE COST AND RETIREE SUBSIDIES ARE FUNDED THROUGH THE TRUST. SO FOR YEARS, YOU KNOW, THOSE, THOSE COSTS WERE BLENDED. AND THAT AS THE BALDWIN STUDY SHOWED, IS A COMMON PRACTICE. I THINK THEY POINTED OUT THAT PERS, IT'S A BLENDED RATE ALL THE WAY AROUND. AND SO YOU KNOW, WHAT THAT DOES IS IT HELPS OFFSET THOSE COSTS FOR ON THE RETIREE SIDE. AND I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT ALL RETIREES THAT QUALIFY FOR THAT PAID IN AS A BLENDED ACTIVE MEMBER WHEN THEY WORKED FOR THE COUNTY AS WELL.

RIGHT. SO WHAT WE'RE ALSO DOING THROUGH THIS ACTIVITY AND THROUGH THIS, THIS METHODOLOGY IS WE'RE ENHANCING THE TRANSPARENCY. GOING THIS ROUTE REALLY PROVIDES A CLEAR VISIBILITY INTO THE ACTUAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ACTIVES VERSUS RETIREE BENEFIT GROUPS AND IT ENSURES AN EQUITABLE COST ALLOCATION. AND WE'RE ALIGNING WITH SPECIFIC BENEFICIARY GROUPS RATHER THAN RELYING ON JUST THE BROAD ACROSS THE BOARD POOLING. SO FOR THE ACTIVE EMPLOYEES FOR THIS YEAR, WE HAVE THE THREE STANDARD PLANS THAT WE HAVE HAD THIS CURRENT YEAR, BUT WE'RE ALSO ADDING A NEW KAISER PLAN THAT IT WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE 2027 PLAN YEAR FOR THOSE THAT ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THAT. AND THAT'S THE LIVE WORK RULE OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE 50 MILE RADIUS. AND SO OF THAT CURRENTLY WE HAVE ABOUT 230 ACTIVE EMPLOYEES THAT COULD QUALIFY FOR THAT. NOW GRANTED, YOU COULD HIRE 10 MORE PEOPLE NEXT WEEK, THEN THREE OF THEM QUALIFY. RIGHT.

DEPENDS ON WHERE THEY'RE LIVING. OR YOU COULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, MEMBERS LEAVE THE COUNTY OR NO LONGER OR RETIRE AND HAVE DIFFERENT OPTIONS. RIGHT. SO WE ALWAYS TAKE THAT AS A SNAPSHOT IN TIME. AND THEN AN OPEN ENROLLMENT, STRICTLY FOCUSING THIS YEAR ON THE MEDICAL PLAN CHANGES.

THAT'S BECAUSE WITH THE MEDICAL AND DENTAL STAYING THE SAME AND NO INCREASES, THERE'S REALLY NOTHING TO FOCUS ON. THOSE PLANS WILL JUST CONTINUE ON THE RETIREE BENEFIT SIDE.

SO NEW PLAN OPTIONS. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOOKED AT IS THE RETIREES HAD ONE OPTION AND THAT'S THE ANTHEM 500 PLAN.

THAT IS PROBABLY THE, IT IS THE RICHEST PLAN WITH THE HIGHEST EMPLOYEE SHARE OR RETIREE SHARE. AND SO AS FOLKS RETIRE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO, IF THEY WANTED THAT HEALTH CARE PLAN, THAT WOULD BE THEIR CHOICE, THE ONLY CHOICE. AND SO WHAT WE DID IS WE LOOKED AT BRINGING THOSE OTHER TWO OPTIONS, WHICH IS THE 1500 AND THE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE PLAN THAT ALREADY EXISTS, EXIST FOR OUR ACTIVE EMPLOYEES AND THEN ALSO ADDING THAT KAISER PLAN AS WELL. AND SO WHEN YOU DO THAT, WHAT THAT DOES IS THAT'S GOING TO PROVIDE RETIREES WITH THE OPTION OF PURCHASING A LESS EXPENSIVE PLAN WHICH ULTIMATELY WOULD SAVE THEM MONEY. AND THROUGH THE MITIGATION EFFORTS THAT WE'RE ALSO PARTAKING IN, OVERALL SAVES THE COUNTY AS WELL. YOU KNOW, YOU MAY HAVE SOMEONE THAT IS, IS RETIRING AND THEY DON'T NEED THAT LEVEL OF HEALTHCARE COVERAGE TODAY BECAUSE PERHAPS THEIR SPOUSE IS ALREADY RECEIVING HEALTHCARE BENEFITS, THAT TYPE OF THING. WELL, NOW THEY CAN EVERY YEAR AS PART OF OPEN ENROLLMENT MAKE A DECISION OF WHAT PLAN THEY'D LIKE TO LOOK AT. THEN WE HAVE THE UNBLENDED RATE. SO NATURALLY WHEN YOU UNBLEND, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A SAVINGS ON THE ACTIVE SIDE.

BUT THAT NATURALLY IS GOING TO BUMP UP A RETIREE SIDE, BUT THAT'S WHERE WE GET INTO THE MITIGATION EFFORTS.

AND SO WHAT THIS DOES OVERALL IS IT GIVES US THE OPERATIONAL FLEXIBILITY BY ENHANCING OUR ABILITY TO DESIGN COMPETITIVE HEALTH PLANS WHILE WE'RE PROVIDING CLEAR VISIBILITY INTO OUR COSTS. AND THEN DUE TO THE TRUST, THE AMOUNT PREVIOUSLY SUBSIDIZED BY THE ACTIVES WILL NOW BE OFFSET

[01:45:02]

AND IT'S DESIGNED TO ALLOW FOR LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES TO PRE FUND THEIR OPEB, THEIR OPEB LIABILITIES. AND IT'S RESTRICTED IN A WAY THAT ONCE YOU PUT A DOLLAR INTO THAT TRUST, ALL YOU CAN USE IT FOR IS, IS THESE ACTIVITIES, PAYING THESE EXPENSES AND THEN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE TRUST ITSELF. AND SO YOU HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF A DOLLAR IN, ONCE THAT DOLLAR GOES IN, THAT'S ALL YOU CAN USE IT FOR.

I CAN'T SAY, WELL THEN I'M GOING TO PULL FROM THAT AND YOU KNOW, BUY SOMETHING ELSE WITH IT. IT CAN ONLY GO TOWARDS THAT. AND SO THROUGH REGULAR CONTRIBUTIONS OUR FUNDED RATIO IS AT 82.5%. AND ULTIMATELY WHAT THAT MEANS IS THEY LOOK AT YOUR TOTAL LIABILITY OVERALL AND SAY WHAT PERCENTAGE ARE YOU FUNDED AT? RIGHT? AND THAT'S NOT FOR 82% OF THE YEAR.

THAT'S AN ACTUARIAL PROJECTION ALL THE WAY OUT. AND SO EVERY YEAR THAT IS A PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH AND IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY AND WILL BE COMPLETED SOON WHERE THEY EVALUATE YOUR CURRENT BALANCE AND THEN LOOK AT YOUR STAFF THAT YOU HAVE ON BOARD BOARD, THEY LOOK AT CURRENT RETIREES AND THEN THEY DO WHAT ACTUARIALS DO. THEY FIGURE OUT HOW LONG THEY THINK FOLKS ARE GOING TO LIVE, HOW LONG THEY THINK THEY'RE GOING TO WORK FOR THE COUNTY, HOW MANY THEY THINK WILL QUALIFY AND THEN THEY PROVIDE US WITH THAT RATE. THAT IS A GASB REQUIREMENT THAT WE PRODUCE THAT AND ALSO PRODUCE IT IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS THAT OUR AUDITOR CONTROLLER PRODUCES.

SO OUR LENDERS TAKE, FOR INSTANCE, MEASUREMENTS THAT WE JUST BONDED THOSE BOND, THE PURCHASERS OF THOSE BONDS ARE ABLE TO SEE THAT WE HAVE OUR LIABILITIES COVERED. AND THAT'S NOT JUST SOME HIDDEN LIABILITY THAT DOESN'T SHOW UP ON THE COUNTY'S BALANCE SHEET.

SO FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT, WHAT ALSO HAPPENS IS THE AUTHORITY TO ADOPT AND AMEND THE PROPOSED POLICY, APPROVE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE TRUST, APPROVE ANNUAL TRUST SPENDING, AND AUTHORIZE THE USE OF ANY TRUST PRINCIPLES. SO THAT SECOND ITEM THAT CEO HENDRICKSON MENTIONED WAS THE ACTUAL POLICY OF HOW WE BASICALLY FUND AND USE THE DOLLARS OF THE TRUST. WE'VE BEEN IN A UNIQUE POSITION WHERE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN NO EXPENDITURES, THERE HAS NOT BEEN A POLICY ON THAT TO EXIST. RIGHT. THAT WE HAVE A TRUST BOARD THAT OVERSEES THE INVESTMENTS.

HOWEVER, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE ARE USING IT WHEN YOUR BOARD TOOK ACTION JUST A FEW MEETINGS AGO. SO AND THEN ON THE PROGRAM PLANNING SIDE OF THINGS, THE TRUST HEALTH EVALUATION WILL EVALUATE IT ANNUALLY TO HELP GUIDE OUR HEALTHCARE OFFERINGS AS WELL AS OUR RECOMMENDATIONS AT BUDGET TIME FOR HOW TO BEST USE THOSE DOLLARS. SO THIS IS A STRATEGIC SHIFT. WE DID SHIFT THROUGH THE FINDINGS OF THE BALDWIN STUDY, COMING BACK TO YOU IN JULY AND SAYING WE'D LIKE TO USE THOSE OPEB DOLLARS TO OFFSET THOSE COSTS THAT WE USED FOR THE 2526 FISCAL YEAR. AND SO THAT WORK HAS BEEN DONE AND THAT HAS BEEN UPDATED IN BUDGET AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE DRAWN THOSE DOLLARS DOWN. THAT DOES LEAD TO, TO AN IMPROVED COST ALLOCATION AND AGAIN ENHANCED TRANSPARENCY. SO AS FOR THE POLICY THAT'S BEFORE YOU TODAY, ESSENTIALLY RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE CLEAR ROLES THAT WILL BE DEFINED THROUGH THE POLICY. YOU AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THEN YOU HAVE THE TRUST BOARD THAT OVERSEES THE OPEB TRUST INVESTMENT SIDE. SO THE, THERE'S A BOARD, A SMALL BOARD THAT OVERSEES THE INVESTMENTS ALONG WITH OUR CONSULTANTS THAT MANAGE THE TRUST AND THEY MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE INVESTMENTS. AND THEN MYSELF AS THE ASSISTANT CEO OVER THE BUDGET UNIT, I SERVE

[01:50:01]

IT ALSO PROVIDES SPENDING DISCIPLINE. SO THE LOGIC OF HOW WE SPEND IS STRICTLY TIED TO THE ACTUARIAL FUNDED RATIO TIERS TO ENSURE LONG TERM PRESERVATION OF PRINCIPLE. THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS GET AWAY FROM BEING ABLE TO ULTIMATELY TREAT THE TRUST AS THAT ENDOWMENT. RIGHT. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT AT THE LAST MEETING. USING THE TRUST AS AN ENDOWMENT AND BASICALLY PAYING THOSE BILLS OFF OF THE INTEREST EARNINGS THAT WE RECEIVE. SO WE CAN KEEP THAT FUNDED RATIO AT A HIGH LEVEL AND BE IN A POSITION TO COVER THOSE COSTS AND NOT IMPACT WHERE WE ARE AT A FUNDED LEVEL. AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE THAT. SO AS FOR THE PARTICULARS, SO WE LOOK AT THE FUNDED RATIO, RIGHT? AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GET EACH YEAR ON THE ACTUARIAL THAT WE WITH THAT, THAT WE RECEIVE. SO ANYTHING BELOW 60%, THOSE ASSETS WOULD REMAIN INVESTED, THE EARNINGS WOULD BE REINVESTED, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING OVER THESE LAST 18 YEARS.

SO IT RESTRICTS THE POLICY, DOES RESTRICT SPENDING TO EXTRAORDINARY FISCAL CIRCUMSTANCES. THAT IS SOMETHING WE WOULD HAVE TO BRING BEFORE THE BOARD AND THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE A VOTE OF YOUR BOARD BETWEEN 60 AND 80%. WE STILL WOULD HAVE A PRIMARY FOCUS REMAINING ON LONG TERM ASSET GROWTH AND THE ANNUAL SPENDING GENERALLY LIMITED TO 50% OF ANNUAL INVESTMENT EARNINGS.

SO IF WE WERE TO GO THERE, WE WOULD LOOK AT WHAT ARE WE BRINGING IN AND CAP THAT AT ABOUT HALF OF THAT. SOME YEARS WE MAKE, YOU KNOW, HAVE GREAT INVESTMENT RETURNS, THAT SHOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE.

BUT THERE'S OTHER YEARS WHERE, WHERE IT'S TIGHT. RIGHT. SO WE WANT TO BE MINDFUL AND THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO LOOK AT IT ANNUALLY AS OVERALL PART OF THE, THE BUDGET PROCESS.

THAT 80 TO 100%, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW. THE PRESERVATION OF PRINCIPAL IS THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE.

RIGHT.

IF WE'RE GOING TO LIVE OFF THE INTEREST, YOU DON'T TOUCH THE PRINCIPAL.

SO THE EARNINGS MAY REIMBURSE ELIGIBLE EXPENSES AND POTENT WITH THE POTENTIAL TO REDUCE OR SUSPEND FUTURE CONTRIBUTIONS.

SO ONE THING WE ALWAYS WANT TO LOOK AT AS WELL AS WE ARE BUILDING OUR BUDGETS OUT IS HOW WE CONTRIBUTE TO THAT AS WELL. YOU PUT DOLLARS IN, GROWS YOUR BALANCE. YOU HAVE INTEREST EARNINGS, YOU HAVE AN ENDING BALANCE. WE WANT TO BE MINDFUL AS WE MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS INTO THAT FUND THAT IF WE ARE, YOU KNOW, FUNDED AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL, ARE WE GOING TO PUT DOLLARS IN THAT WE MAY NEVER BE ABLE TO PULL OUT? BECAUSE ONCE WE PAY ALL OUR BILLS, IT'S GROWING MUCH FASTER.

RIGHT. SO WE WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT AS WELL.

TO NOT TIE UP UNDUE RESOURCES WHEN WE MAY NEED THEM SOMEWHERE ELSE. AND GREATER THAN 100% WE WOULD STILL MAINTAIN A PRUDENT FUNDING MARGIN ABOVE 100. WE WOULD THEN REIMBURSE ELIGIBLE OPEB EXPENSES, REDUCE OR SUSPEND CONTRIBUTIONS, AND THEN REDIRECT ONE TIME REVENUE TO OTHER LIABILITIES. SO THEN REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. SO COMMENCING IN THE 2728 BUDGET PROCESS AND THEN GOING FORWARD, WE WOULD PRESENT A COMPREHENSIVE OPEB TRUST REPORT TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO INCLUDE THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUST BOARD. SO YOUR TRUST BOARD NOW BRINGS AN ITEM FORWARD ANNUALLY. WE WOULD BASICALLY BUILD UPON THAT WORK.

THE TRUST BOARD REPORT CONTAINS CURRENT MARKET VALUE OF THE TRUST. THE BEGINNING AND ENDING BALANCES YOUR PERFORMANCE OVER A 1, 3, 5 AND 10 YEAR PERIODS. PERFORMANCE COMPARED WITH BENCHMARKS. YOUR CURRENT ASSET ALLOCATION AND YOUR CURRENT ASSET ALLOCATION IS THE SUBJECT OF DISCUSSION.

DISCUSSION AT YOUR TRUST BOARD MEETINGS. COMPLIANCE WITH THE INVESTMENT POLICY STATEMENT AND OVERALL MARKET OUTLOOK, RECOMMENDED INVESTMENT STRATEGY FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR AND ANY RECOMMENDED CHANGES, IF ANY, TO THE INVESTMENT POLICY STATEMENT. AND THEN THE MANAGEMENT REPORT WHICH WOULD BUILD ON THAT, WOULD INCLUDE YOUR ANNUAL PAY AS YOU GO.

YOU'LL HEAR SOMETIMES WE SAY PAY, GO, PAY AS YOU GO. OPEB EXPENDITURES, THAT IS WHAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO PAY ANNUALLY FOR THE COST OF RETIREE HEALTH, THE QUARTERLY TRUST SPENDING

[01:55:01]

SO THAT'S WHERE WE BRING THAT RATIO FORWARD OR ALONG WITH THE RATIO, OUR NET OPEB LIABILITY, THE RATIO, AND THEN OUR FIVE YEAR PROJECTION OF THE TRUST, BALANCED AND BALANCED AND FUNDED RATIOS. SO WE LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE ITEMS AND THAT'S WHAT WILL HELP INFORM US TO BRING THAT IN FRONT OF YOU FOR BUDGET CONSIDERATION ANNUALLY. AND THEN ON JULY 14, YOUR BOARD APPROVED AN AD HOC EMPLOYEE HEALTHCARE BENEFITS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. AND SO WITH THAT, THE EMPLOYEE HEALTHCARE BENEFITS PROGRAM SERVES AS A CRITICAL PILLAR FOR WORKFORCE RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT WHILE MAINTAINING MARKET COMPETITIVENESS AND LEGAL COMPLIANCE. AND SO THAT INITIAL AD HOC COMMITTEE IS MADE UP OF BOTH SUPERVISORS PACHECO AND SILVEIRA, ALONG WITH CEO HENDRICKSON, ASSISTANT CEO BARRERA AND MYSELF. AND THAT COMMITTEE'S ROLE, THE AD HOC COMMITTEE HAS BEEN TASKED WITH ASSESSING THE 2028 PLAN CHANGES AND COST STRATEGIES FOR BENEFIT PROGRAM SUSTAINABILITY.

SO REMEMBER IS THE WAY THAT IT WORKS WITH THE TIMING, WE'RE BRINGING YOU THE RATES FOR 27 NOW, RIGHT? AND PLAN DESIGN. SO THIS GROUP WILL BE ABLE TO WORK WITH US TO LOOK AT PLAN DESIGN, ANY TWEAKS AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS THROUGH THE AD HOC BACK TO THE FULL BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION. FOSTER INTERDEPARTMENTAL COLLABORATION ON EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE COMPLIANCE AND EMERGING TRENDS. AND THEN TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE SUGGESTIONS MADE THROUGH THE BALDWIN STUDY AND CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.

AND THEN STRATEGIC INITIATIVES FOR 2027. SO WE WANT TO LOOK AT ENHANCING WELLNESS SERVICES.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE DID TALK ABOUT THE ON SITE CLINIC THAT WE HAD THAT IS DESIGNED TO HELP, YOU KNOW, EMPLOYEES GET QUICK ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE. AND SO WE WANT TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, THE POSSIBILITY OF SATELLITE LOCATIONS. RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT THE HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY IN MERCED. IS THERE THE POSSIBILITY TO TAKE THINGS TO THE WEST SIDE OR CASTLE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, AND THEN ALSO THE FEASIBILITY OF ADDING DEPENDENTS THAT ARE ON THE PLAN AS WELL AS RETIREES.

RIGHT.

WE HAVE MANY LOCAL RETIREES THAT COULD PROBABLY BENEFIT FROM THIS. ULTIMATELY, WHEN THE EMPLOYEES OR THE RETIREES SAVE MONEY, IT SAVES THE PLAN OVERALL AS WELL. SO THAT'S REALLY THE INTENTION THERE IS TO TAKE A DEEP DIVE AND LOOK INTO THAT. OUR BENEFITS COMMUNICATION EXPANSION. SO REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. WE HAVE A TEAM ASSEMBLED OF SOME DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT ARE LOOKING AT THIS. THESE ARE DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT TACKLE THE COUNTY'S BIGGEST PROBLEMS. AND SO WE WANTED TO ASK THEM TO GET THEIR EXPERTISE AND GUIDANCE AND TO HELP US COME UP WITH A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNICATION STRATEGY INCORPORATING TEXT MESSAGING, EMAIL, MOBILE APPLICATIONS, ADDITIONAL CHANNELS. THEY ARE STILL WORKING ON THAT. SO THEY COULD HAVE EVEN. THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE EVEN BETTER IDEAS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BRING FORWARD THAT WE WILL EVALUATE AND BRING FORWARD TO THE AD HOC COMMITTEE. AND REALLY WHAT THAT IS, IS TO ENSURE CONSISTENT AND TIMELY INFORMATION DELIVERY ACROSS ALL EMPLOYEE POPULATIONS. AND SO YOU MAY HAVE SEEN, AND OUR EMPLOYEES, WE WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO SIGN UP FOR OUR TEXT MESSAGING, BUT EXCUSE ME, WE HAD A TEXT GO OUT YESTERDAY ABOUT A SKIN CANCER SCREENING CLINIC THAT WAS GOING ON, FILLED UP IMMEDIATELY, WHICH, YOU KNOW, IS A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE THROUGH THE HARD WORK OF OUR BENEFITS TEAM. THEY'VE ALREADY GOT ANOTHER DATE ON THE CALENDAR AND HAVE SHARED THAT OUT AS WELL. SO REALLY TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, GET AHEAD OF THOSE WELLNESS OPPORTUNITIES AND ENHANCE HOW FOLKS KNOW ABOUT THOSE. YOU KNOW, THERE'D BE NOTHING BETTER THAN IF WE WERE ABLE TO CATCH SOMETHING EARLY FROM ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES THAT COULD BE LIFE CHANGING AND BE ABLE TO CATCH IT THROUGH THIS. AND THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE, WHAT THAT DOES TOO IS IF YOU CATCH SOMETHING EARLY, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE REDUCED HEALTHCARE COSTS, WHICH ULTIMATELY, A COUPLE YEARS LATER, AS WE LEARNED THROUGH THE BALDWIN STUDY, HELPS BRING THOSE COSTS DOWN ON THE PLAN TOO. SO. AND THEN OUR ONGOING LABOR ENGAGEMENT AS WE MENTIONED. WE DID HAVE SIDE LETTERS THAT WERE ALL SIGNED

[02:00:01]

AUTHORIZE THE PREMIUM PAYMENTS TO THE THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR BENEFITS COORDINATORS CORPORATION.

AUTHORIZE AN INCREASE TO OUR HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT CONTRIBUTION FOR THE EMPLOYEE ONLY PLAN FROM 17,000 OR 1700 ANNUAL EXCUSE ME, TO 1750 AND THAT'S IN ALIGNMENT WITH IRS LIMITS.

AUTHORIZE THE BOARD CHAIR TO SIGN THE GROUP HEALTH PLAN RATE AND THAT WOULD BE THE RATE FOR THE ACTIVES AS WELL AS THE RETIREES. AND THEN AUTHORIZE THE ASSISTANT COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER OVERSEEING RISK, WHICH IS MYSELF, TO SIGN ALL OTHER PRISM RENEWALS THAT COME ALONG WITH THIS. THERE'S SLEWS OF DOCUMENTS THAT WE SIGN TO EFFECTUATE ALL OF THESE CHANGES AND WHAT THIS DOES, IT ALLOWS US TO PROCEED WITH PURCHASING OUR 2027 PLANS.

IT SETS THE MITIGATED RATES FOR RETIREES AND AS I MENTIONED, ADJUST THE HSA CONTRIBUTION.

THE SECOND ITEM, ITEM 46, THAT'S YOUR POST EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS TRUST, FUNDING, SPENDING AND GOVERNANCE POLICY.

AND WHAT WE'RE ASKING YOU TO DO TODAY IS TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THAT POLICY AS WELL AS DIRECTING THE ASSISTANT COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER ASSIGNED TO BUDGET AGAIN THAT IS ME OR DESIGNEE TO ADMINISTER THE POLICY AND INCORPORATE ITS PROVISIONS INTO THE COUNTY'S ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS. AND I'D JUST LIKE TO BEFORE I PASS IT OVER TO YOUR BOARD, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT JUST TO THANK OUR TEAM. OUR RISK MANAGER, SARAH MARSH HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK JUST OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS PUTTING ALL OF THIS TOGETHER.

WE GET OUR RATES AND THERE'S A QUICK TURNAROUND BEFORE WE CAN BE IN FRONT OF YOU. SO, SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO THAT.

OUR ASSISTANT HUMAN RESOURCE DIRECTOR SUMMER MONIZ, OUR BENEFITS ANALYST AMY GONZALEZ AND MAI YANG, OUR AUDITOR CONTROLLER LISA CARDELLA PRESTO ASSISTANT CEO MARCY BARRERA, OUR TRUST BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE SERVED FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. CEO HENDRICKSON, OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, THROUGH YOUR LEADERSHIP AND FISCAL DISCIPLINE HAS REALLY PUT US IN THE POSITION TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION ON THE MITIGATION EFFORTS AND THESE PLANS AND THEN ON BEHALF OF THE CEO, OUR EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES.

AND WITH THAT I'D LIKE TO PASS IT BACK TO THE CHAIR AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE THANK YOU, DAVID.

LET'S SEE IF THERE ARE. SOME OF YOU HAVE TO RAISE YOUR HAND BECAUSE I CANNOT. I DON'T HAVE A SPEAKER QUEUE HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS. I KNOW WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR THIS FOR A LONG TIME AND APPRECIATE ALL YOUR EFFORTS. LOOKING AROUND THE.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

DAVID? NO, THANK YOU, CEO HENDRICKSON. I KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A WHILE. IT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION, BUT I THINK IT'S SETTING US ON A PATH. I THINK ONE OF YOUR FIRST SLIDES, IT TALKED ABOUT BUILDING ON THE PAST, FROM THE PAST, WHATEVER, HOWEVER YOU WORDED IT, FANCY LIKE THAT. BUT BASICALLY THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING. WE'RE TAKING KIND OF A. I WANT TO SAY, A BRAINCHILD OF JIM BROWN, WHERE WE PAID INTO THIS. AND THE GOAL WAS ALWAYS TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE THE OPEB, THE TRUST, CAN. CAN PAY TO HELP PAY FOR THOSE RETIREES. SO I'M HAPPY THAT WE'RE FINALLY THERE, THANKFUL THAT WE SET UP THAT PLACE COMMITTEE SO THAT AS A BOARD, YOU KNOW, THIS STUFF IS VERY TECHNICAL.

AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE SOME REPRESENTATION ON THAT BOARD SO THAT WE'RE BETTER EDUCATED ON WHAT WE'RE MAKING THESE DECISIONS. AND OVERALL, I THINK THAT IT'S. IT'S A WAY OF REALLY, I HOPE OUR. THE EMPLOYEES OF MERCED COUNTY, THE RETIREES OF MERCED COUNTY, UNDERSTAND THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT WENT INTO, YOU KNOW, GIVING AN OPTION. IF YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE FIVE YEARS AGO AND MENTIONED THAT KAISER COULD BE AN OPTION HERE, I DON'T THINK YOU WOULD HAVE GOTTEN VERY MUCH ATTENTION ON THAT.

BUT I THINK THAT WE'VE LISTENED TO OUR CONSTITUENTS, OUR EMPLOYEES, AND. AND WE'RE REACTING TO THAT. AND HOPEFULLY IT PAYS OFF IN THE LONG RUN.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. KEEP TALKING.

HELLO? YEAH, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

ALL RIGHT.

SO I WANT TO KIND OF QUALIFY A COMMENT THAT THE CHAIR MADE.

AND HE WAS ACCURATE IN SAYING THAT WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR THIS INFORMATION FOR A LONG TIME, REALLY, YOU KNOW, FOR A LONG TIME.

[02:05:02]

BUT ONCE THAT HAPPENED, THIS HAS BEEN VERY QUICK. AND SO I KNOW SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL MEANT NO DISRESPECT. HE WAS ACCURATE IN THE COMMENT.

BUT I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, YOU KNOW, CEO HENDRICKSON AND, YOU KNOW, DAVID MARIONE, MARCY BARRERA AND OUR TEAM FOR, YOU KNOW, COMING BACK. AND AS THE CO MENTIONED, WE ASKED FOUR TO SIX MONTHS, AND HERE WE ARE. I DON'T KNOW, HAS IT BEEN TWO MONTHS YET? TEN WEEKS. OKAY, SO TWO AND A HALF MONTHS. SO I JUST WANT TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND LET YOU KNOW THAT I APPRECIATE IT, AND I HOPE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES UNDERSTAND. UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WHAT. WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH ON THEIR BEHALF.

AND.

AND SO, ANYWAYS, THAT. THAT WAS MY. MY ONLY COMMENT. THANK YOU.

GOOD. SUPERVISOR PEDROZO.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

YEAH, I. I KIND OF WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE WORK THAT.

THE FACT THAT WE, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY DID HEAR OUR.

AS SUPERVISOR SAID, HEARD, YOU KNOW, OUR EMPLOYEES AND REALLY THE CONSTITUENTS AND THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR US AND THE FACT THAT WE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING. AND I COMMEND, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WHO WORKED ON THIS IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS. I KNOW THAT SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, I KNOW SUPERVISOR PAREIRA HAS BEEN CONSTANTLY ASKING FOR THIS INFORMATION. AND I APPLAUD, YOU KNOW, HIM STAYING ON TOP OF THIS, BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THAT OUR EMPLOYEES SEE THIS, AND THIS STARTED, YOU KNOW, THE QUESTIONS ABOUT OPEBS STARTED, ACTUALLY. AND I AGREE WITH YOU, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, FOR COMMENDING CEO HENDRICKSON, BECAUSE HE WAS THE FIRST ONE TO. I WAS IN THE OPEB MEETING WHEN I WAS CHAIR, AND HE STARTED ASKING THE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FUNDING, AND IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT SOMEBODY HAD ASKED THE QUESTIONS AND STUFF. AND SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING.

INTERESTING TO SEE THE WAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WHY AREN'T WE DOING IT THIS WAY? OR WHY? WHAT'S THE REASON? AND SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, AND I WANT TO THANK, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY INVOLVED WITH THIS. I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, YOU KNOW, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA AND SUPERVISOR PACHECO ARE A PART OF THIS BECAUSE THEY'RE ABLE TO KIND OF. TO UNDERSTAND AND HELP US UNDERSTAND WHEN WE GET UP HERE IN PUBLIC.

BUT ALSO THANK, YOU KNOW, MR. HENDRICKSON AND MR. MARRONI AND MS. BARRERA FOR EVERYTHING THAT THEY DID AND EVERYBODY WHO KIND OF WORKED ON THIS. I KNOW IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE WORKING FOR YOU. WHAT YOU'RE SAYING DOES NOT FALL ON DEAF EARS. AND I THINK THAT THIS IS PROOF THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LOT OF WORK IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. AND I REALLY APPLAUD EVERYBODY WHO HELPED WITH THIS.

SO THANK YOU.

YES, MR. PACHECO.

I WANT TO ECHO WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID. I MEAN, HEALTHCARE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CONCERN. THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I HEARD WHEN I GOT ON THE BOARD. AND EARLIER IN THE MEETING, WE HEARD HOW GOVERNMENT CAN TAKE A LONG TIME TO GET SOMETHING DONE. SO I DO WANT TO COME IN HOW QUICK WE DID THAT TURNAROUND. THESE ARE GOOD STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

LOOKING FORWARD TO BE PROACTIVE IN THIS PROCESS AND HOPEFULLY MAKING SURE OUR HEALTH CODE IS THE BEST THAT IT CAN BE. SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, MR. HENDRICKSON AND OUR CEO HENDRICKSON.

AND THANKS TO THE BOARD FOR.

FOR WHAT THEY DO.

VERY GOOD. SO AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE ITEMS 45 AND 46.

HOLD ON.

I'LL CHECK FOR REMOTE.

MR. CHAIR, THERE'S NO REMOTE SPEAKERS IN THE QUEUE.

OKAY. WE WILL BE TAKING BOTH OF THESE ITEMS TOGETHER IN ONE MOTION. SO I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. AND A SECOND. YOU GOT THOSE? ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. ANY OPPOSITION, SIGNIFY BY SAYING NAY. AYES HAVE IT. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT, WE HAVE BOARD REPORTS OR NO, I'M SORRY.

BOARD APPOINTMENTS ITEMS 47 THROUGH 50.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BOARD APPOINTMENTS ITEMS 47 AND 50. OR THROUGH 50.

SEEING NOTHING. WE WILL CHECK FOR REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT.

MR. CHAIR, THERE'S NO REMOTE SPEAKERS IN THE QUEUE.

OKAY. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BOARD APPOINTMENT.

BOARD APPOINTMENTS ITEMS 47 THROUGH 50 IS NOW CLOSED. HOLD ON. MR. PEDROZO? YES.

[02:10:02]

REAPPOINTING GINA LEONARDO TO CONTINUE TO SERVE AS A DISTRICT 2 REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE MAY DAY FAIR BOARD. I REALLY APPLAUD HER FOR STEPPING UP AND GETTING INVOLVED WITH THIS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE GOOD PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT US ON THESE BOARDS.

AND I THINK THAT WE. WE DO A REALLY GOOD JOB AND OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO FIGURE OUT WHO WOULD BEST REPRESENT THE DISTRICT AND THEN BEST REPRESENT MERCED COUNTY FOR THESE. AND THEN I WOULD ALSO RESPECTFULLY REQUEST SUPPORT FOR APPOINTING DAN SPIELMAN TO SERVE AS A MEMBER OF THE MERCED CEMETERY DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

VERY GOOD.

MY MOTION STILL STANDS.

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

AND WE HAVE THOSE. SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

THERE'S A FIRST AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYES HAVE IT.

MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

MOVING ON TO SCHEDULED ITEMS. WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND JUST TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK.

REAL QUICK.

AND THEN WE'LL RETURN HERE AT 12:17 TO RESUME. OKAY. WELCOME

[SCHEDULED ITEMS]

WE HAVE SIX SCHEDULED ITEMS. WE WILL START WITH THE ITEMS SUBMITTED BY COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE APPROVING EXTENSION APPLICATION NUMBER EXERCISE 26001 TO EXTEND THE FIRST TERM EXTENSION OF DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT NUMBER DA 19001 FROM THREE YEARS TO SIX YEARS.

OKAY. AT THIS TIME, COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR MARK MIMMS WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ITEM.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. THIS IS. I'M MARK MIMMS, THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN EXTENSION OF THREE YEARS FOR DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT NUMBER DA 19001 WHICH WOULD MAKE THE NEW EXPIRATION DATE AUGUST 28TH OF 2029. THIS COMES AT THE REQUEST OF THE APPLICANT TEAM FOR BACKGROUND INFORMATION.

THE ORIGINAL DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WAS APPROVED BY THE BOARD IN 2020 AND ESTABLISHED DIFFERENT METRICS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT AND HOW IT WOULD PROCEED. THE PROJECT SITE IS LOCATED BETWEEN SOUTH STATE HIGHWAY 33 AND SOUTH HILL HILLDALE ROAD AND INCLUDES APPROXIMATELY 458 ACRES NORTH OF THE CALIFORNIA AQUEDUCT AND IS BISECTED BY THE BY DELTA MENDOTA IN THE SANTA NELLA AREA. THE SITE IS DESIGNATED LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AND IN THE GENERAL PLAN AND ZONED R1 5000 FOR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL WITH 5000 SQUARE FOOT MINIMUM LOTS. OVER THE COURSE OF THREE PHASES, THE THIS PROJECT WOULD DEVELOP ABOUT 4500 UNITS. STAFF DOES FEEL THAT THE APPLICANT HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS TOWARD THEIR MILESTONE SUCH AS ADOPTING A WATER SUPPLY AGREEMENT IN MAY OF 2023 AND FULLY FUNDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A WELL AND WATER LINE AS WELL AS ENTERING INTO SUBDIVISION IMPROVEMENT AGREEMENTS BASED ON THIS.

STAFF DOES FEEL THAT AN ADDITIONAL THREE YEARS WOULD GRANT THEM THE OPPORTUNITY AND TIME TO SUCCESSFULLY BEGIN THE NEXT STEPS OF COMP. OF COMPLETING THE MAINLINE EXTENSION AGREEMENT AND OBTAINING THE FINAL MAPS TO SATISFY THE CONDITIONS TO CONTINUE ADVANCING THEIR PROJECT. THE PROJECT REPRESENTATIVE IS HERE AS WELL AS STAFF TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS HERE FROM THE DAIS AT THIS POINT? IF NOT, I WILL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING AND AT THIS TIME I'LL ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING THIS ITEM. TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.

BOARD MY NAME IS JOHN PALMER.

I'M HERE WITH ANDREAS PAUL BORGES REPRESENTING THE PARKWAY DEVELOPMENT IN SANTATELLA. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COUNTY AND REALLY QUICKLY, NO PRESENTATION. I WANT TO THANK THE CEO MARK HEDRICKSON, COUNTY COUNCIL'S OFFICE MARK MIMMS AND PLANNER ANNA BROWNING WITH THEIR GUIDANCE AND EXPERTISE NAVIGATING THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND GETTING HERE TODAY.

WE FULLY, FULLY SUPPORT THE THE STAFF REPORT LOOKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT. ANDREAS AND I ARE HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GOT IT.

THANK YOU. SEEING NO MORE.

I'LL LOOK FOR THE REMOTE COMMENTS.

MR. CHAIR. THERE ARE NO REMOTE SPEAKERS IN THE QUEUE.

[02:15:02]

I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

SECOND AND A SECOND. I HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND. ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS. OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYES HAVE IT.

MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT WE'LL HEAR ITEMS SUBMITTED BY PUBLIC WORKS.

PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ANNEXING VILLA CORDOBA UNIT 4, MAJOR SUBDIVISION NUMBER 2002 INTO THE VILLA CORDOBA UNIT 02, LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE ZONE OF BENEFIT NUMBER 129 IN COUNTY SERVICE AREA NUMBER 1.

AT THIS TIME, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS NATHAN BRAY WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ITEM.

GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD CHAIR AND SUPERVISORS NATHAN BRAY, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND YOUR COUNTY'S ROW COMMISSIONER.

THE ITEM BEFORE YOU THIS THIS AFTERNOON IS PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER ANNEXATION OF NEW DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW DEVELOPMENT PROJECT INTO COUNTY SERVICE AREA ONE THROUGH LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE ZONE OF BENEFIT 129. THE PROJECT IS PHASE FOUR OF VIA CORDOBA. LOCATED GENERALLY AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF AMERICAN AVENUE AND AND VIA CORDOBA AVENUE IN HILMAR, CALIFORNIA. THIS PROJECT IS COMPRISED OF 43 RESIDENTIAL LOTS AND THE EXPANSION OF A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK ADJACENT TO THE PREVIOUSLY CONTEMPLATED PARK. THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED THIS PROJECT'S APPLICATION AND TENTATIVE MAP AT THEIR FEBRUARY 23, 2022 MEETING. THE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL INCLUDED THE REQUIREMENT TO ANNEX INTO THE APPROPRIATE COUNTY SERVICE AREAS TO MITIGATE THEIR IMPACTS TO EXISTING CITY SERVICES.

EXISTING COUNTY SERVICES.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW, THIS PUBLIC HEARING WAS APPROPRIATELY ADVERTISED IN THE MERCED COUNTY TIMES AND POSTED ON SITE. THE ACTIONS BEFORE YOU THIS AFTERNOON ARE TO ONE, OPEN PUBLIC HEARING AND ACCEPT COMMENTS. TWO, CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND IF APPROPRIATE, AFTER PUBLIC TESTIMONY.

THREE, ADOPT THE RESOLUTION ANNEXING MAJOR SUBDIVISION NUMBER 20002 INTO THE VIA CORDOBA UNIT TWO, LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE AREA ZONE OF BENEFIT NUMBER 129 IN COUNTY SERVICE AREA ONE.

WITH THAT, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU. I'LL LOOK. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YEAH. YEAH, SUPERVISOR PAREIRA? YEAH, JUST ONE. IS THERE AN ESCALATOR IN THIS? THERE IS. THERE IS NOT AN ESCALATOR IN THIS BECAUSE THEY'RE ANNEXING TO AN EXISTING CSA.

SO IN ORDER TO ADD AN ESCALATOR, ALL OF THE EXISTING FOLKS THAT ARE ALREADY IN THE CSA WOULD NEED TO GO THROUGH A PROP 218 VOTE.

OKAY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IF NOT, I WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND AT THIS TIME WE'LL ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THIS ITEM. TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON. I WILL CHECK FOR REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT.

MR. CHAIR, THERE ARE NO REMOTE SPEAKERS IN THE QUEUE.

OKAY. I WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS TIME.

BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS. ARE THERE FURTHER COMMENTS OR. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

FURTHER COMMENTS. YES, AUPERVISOR PAREIRA.

SO DOES THIS HAVE TO TO BE FOLDED INTO THE ZONE OF BENEFIT 129 SERVICE AREA 1 THAT DOES NOT HAVE AN ESCALATOR IN IT, OR DO WE HAVE A PLAN TO GO OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND LOOK AT A PROP 218 BECAUSE.

RIGHT.

I KNOW THE CHALLENGES.

YES, EXACTLY. THE IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE FOLDED INTO THE.

THE 129 ZONE. HOWEVER, ALL OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WOULD BE MAINTAINED WITHIN THIS AREA ARE ALREADY INSTALLED WITH THE 129 ZONE. AND SO THIS PROJECT IS PAYING ITS FAIR SHARE OF THE LARGER VIA CORDOBA DEVELOPMENT. SO THIS PRIMARILY FUNDS THE LANDSCAPE FOR THE ROUNDABOUTS, THE LANDSCAPE ALONG CAMDEN AVENUE NORTH OF AMERICAN, AND ALSO THE LANDSCAPING AND THE CMU WALL ALONG THE NORTHERNMOST ROAD.

SO SINCE ALL OF THOSE IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALREADY INSTALLED, IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO CREATE A NEW CSA THAT COVERS THE SAME AREA. RIGHT NOW. IT'S ANTICIPATED THAT THIS FUND WILL BE HEALTHY TO PERFORM THOSE SERVICES, AND THESE ADDITIONAL UNITS WILL PAY INTO THAT ZONE,

[02:20:02]

YEAH, I KNEW WE WERE WORKING ON THAT. SO THIS KIND OF CAME AS A SURPRISE THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE AN ESCALATOR. I UNDERSTAND WHY. YES, BUT IT'S JUST REALLY KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.

BUT WE'LL FIX THE CAN WHEN WE DO THEM. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

OKAY, VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. SECOND BY PACHECO. ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYES HAVE IT.

MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT WE HAVE A HEARING. SECOND SUBMITTED BY PUBLIC WORKS.

PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ANNEXING VILLA CORDO CORDOBA UNIT 4, MAJOR SUBDIVISION NUMBER 20002 INTO THE VILLA CORDOBA UNIT 2 PARK MAINTENANCE ZONE OF BENEFIT NUMBER 128 IN COUNTY SERVICE AREA NUMBER ONE.

GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN, BOARD CHAIR AND SUPERVISORS. THIS ITEM BEFORE YOU THIS AFTERNOON IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE ANNEXATION OF A NEW DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN THE COUNTY SERVICE AREA ONE.

THROUGH PARK MAINTENANCE ZONE OF BENEFIT 128. THE PROJECT IS PHASE FOUR, VIA CORDOBA. AND WAS LOCATED GENERALLY AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER.

CORNER OF AMERICAN AVENUE AND VIA CORDOVA AVENUE IN HILMAR, CALIFORNIA. THIS PROJECT, AGAIN, IS COMPRISED OF 43 RESIDENTIAL LOTS. AND THE EXPANSION OF A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK ADJACENT TO THE PREVIOUSLY CONTEMPLATED PARK. THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED THIS PROJECT'S APPLICATION INTENDED TO MAP AT THEIR FEBRUARY 23, 2022 MEETING. THE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL INCLUDED THE REQUIREMENTS TO ANNEX INTO APPROPRIATE COUNTY SERVICE AREAS. AND MITIGATE THEIR IMPACT TO EXISTING COUNTY SERVICES.

SO, IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW, THIS PUBLIC HEARING WAS APPROPRIATELY ADVERTISED IN THE MERCED COUNTY TIMES AND POSTED ON SITE. THE ACTIONS BEFORE YOU ARE TO ONE, OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ACCEPT COMMENTS. TWO, CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND IF APPROPRIATE, AFTER PUBLIC TESTIMONY, ADOPT THE RESOLUTION ANNEXING MAJOR SUBDIVISION 20002 INTO VIA CORDOBA, UNIT 2, PARK MAINTENANCE ZONE OF BENEFIT 12028 AND COUNTY SERVICE AREA 1. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

YOU GOT IT. THANK YOU, NATHAN. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. I WILL NOW OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THIS ITEM. TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.

IS THERE REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT? MR. CHAIR THERE IS NO REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT.

OKAY. AT THIS TIME, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

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

MR. CHAIR I'LL MOVE TO ADOPT STAFF RECOMMENDATION NUMBER THREE.

OKAY, I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. SECOND. SECOND BY PEDROZO. ALL IN FAVOR? SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYES HAVE IT. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT WE'LL HEAR A THIRD ITEM SUBMITTED BY PUBLIC WORKS.

PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ANNEXING VILLA CORDOBA, UNIT 4, MAJOR SUBDIVISION NUMBER 2002.

INTO THE HILMAR IRWIN LIGHTING MAINTENANCE ZONE OF BENEFIT NUMBER 100. IN COUNTY SERVICE AREA NUMBER ONE.

MR. BRAY, PLEASE PROCEED.

GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN, BOARD CHAIR AND SUPERVISORS. THE ITEM BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING, THIS AFTERNOON, RATHER THAN AS A PUBLIC HEARING.

TO CONSIDER ANNEXATION OF A NEW DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN THE COUNTY SERVICE AREA ONE.

THROUGH LIGHTING MAINTENANCE ZONE OF BENEFIT 100. THE PROJECT AGAIN IS PHASE FOUR OF VIA CORDOBA. AND LOCATED GENERALLY AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF AMERICAN AVENUE AND VIA CORDOBA AND HILMAR. THIS PROJECT IS COMPRISED OF 43 RESIDENTIAL LOTS AND THE EXPANSION OF A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK ADJACENT TO A PREVIOUSLY CONTEMPLATED PARK. THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED THIS PROJECT'S APPLICATION. INTENDED A MAP AT THE FEBRUARY 23RD. SORRY.

YEAH.

FEBRUARY 23RD, 2022 MEETING AND THE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL INCLUDED THAT THE REQUIREMENTS OR THE REQUIREMENT TO ANNEX INTO THE APPROPRIATE COUNTY SERVICE AREAS TO MITIGATE THEIR IMPACTS TO EXISTING COUNTY SERVICE AREAS.

AND AGAIN, IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW. THIS PUBLIC HEARING WAS APPROPRIATELY ADVERTISED IN THE MERCED COUNTY TIMES AND AND POSTED ON SITE. THE ACTIONS BEFORE YOU RT. 1. OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ACCEPT COMMENTS. 2, CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND IF APPROPRIATE, AFTER PUBLIC TESTIMONY. 3.

ADOPT THE RESOLUTION ANNEXING

[02:25:01]

INTO THE HILMAR IRWIN LIGHTING MAINTENANCE ZONE OF BENEFIT NUMBER 100 IN THE COUNTY SERVICE AREA.

WHICH GENERALLY COVERS THE HILMAR AREA. WITH THAT, IT'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

GOT IT. THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS TIME. AND I WILL ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING THIS ITEM. TESTIMONY IS LIMITED.

THREE MINUTES PER PERSON. I WILL CHECK TO SEE IF WE HAVE REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT.

MR. CHAIR, THERE ARE NO REMOTE SPEAKERS.

YOU GOT IT THIS TIME THEN.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. WE'LL BRING IT BACK BACK TO THE DAIS AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

I WOULD MOVE TO APPROVE ITEM THREE OF STAFF RECOMMENDATION.

I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR WITH A SECOND FROM PEDROZO. ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYES HAVE IT. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT WE'LL HEAR THE FOURTH AND FINAL ITEM SUBMITTED BY PUBLIC WORKS PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ANNEXING MCDONALD'S WINTON CBP 25 0247. INTO THE WINTON LIGHTING MAINTENANCE ZONE OF BENEFIT NUMBER 202 AND COUNTY SERVICE AREA NUMBER ONE.

I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A REQUEST IF WE COULD HAVE TAKEN ALL THESE ITEMS TOGETHER. BUT COUNTY COUNCIL DID JUST TELL US THAT WE COULDN'T. SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND. MR. BRAY, THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD CHAIR AND SUPERVISORS. ITEM BEFORE YOU THIS AFTERNOON IS PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER ANNEXATION OF A NEW DEVELOPMENT PROJECT INTO COUNTY SERVICE AREA ONE.

THROUGH LIGHTING MAINTENANCE ZONE BENEFIT NUMBER 202. THE PROJECT IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW MCDONALD'S FAST FOOD RESTAURANT. LOCATED GENERALLY AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF VOGUE AVENUE AND WINTON WAY IN WINTON, CALIFORNIA. THIS PROJECT WILL BUILD A 3,785 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING MCDONALD'S RESTAURANT WITH A DRIVE THROUGH AND AN ADJACENT PARKING LOT. THE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT REQUIRED THAT THE DEVELOPMENT MITIGATE THEIR EXISTING IMPACT TO EXISTING COUNTY SERVICE AREAS. SO. AND AGAIN, IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW. THE PUBLIC SAFETY HEARING WAS APPROPRIATELY ADVERTISED IN THE MERCED COUNTY TIMES AND POSTED ON SITE. THE ACTIONS BEFORE YOU ARE TO ONE. OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING AND ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENTS TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND IF APPROPRIATE, AFTER PUBLIC TESTIMONY, ADOPT THE RESOLUTION ANNEXING MCDONALD'S WHITTEN CBP 250247 INTO THE WITTEN LIGHTING MAINTENANCE ZONE OF BENEFIT NUMBER 202 IN COUNTY SERVICE AREA 1.

WITH THAT, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

YOU GOT IT. I'LL LOOK AROUND. I SEE NO QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME. WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. WE'LL CHECK FOR REMOTE COMMENT ON THE HEARING.

MR. CHAIR, THERE ARE NO REMOTE SPEAKERS.

OKAY. AT THIS TIME, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, BRING IT BACK FOR DISCUSSION.

IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION MOVE TO APPROVE STAFF RECOMMENDATION THREE.

I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR WITH A SECOND BY SILVEIRA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYES HAVE IT.

MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUS. NEXT WE HAVE THE TRUTH ACT COMMUNITY FORUM.

THE TRANSPARENT REVIEW OF UNJUST TRANSFERS AND HOLDS.

TRUTH ACT COMMUNITY FORUM IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION, INFORMATION REGARDING IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT ACCESS TO INDIVIDUALS AND TO RECEIVE AND CONSIDER PUBLIC COMMENT PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 7283 AND 7283.1.

INFORMATION. INFORMATION WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT REGARDING STATISTICS AND PROCESS RELATED TO THE TRUTH ACT. WE DO HAVE INTERPRETATION SERVICES AVAILABLE IN BOTH SPANISH AND HMONG. IF YOU NEED THESE SERVICES, PLEASE LET US KNOW OR COME TO THE PODIUM. FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATION TODAY BY THE SHERIFF, PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE TAKEN.

ALL COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES AND EACH MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE ONE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. IF YOU MAY. YOU MAY NOT YIELD THE REMAINDER OF YOUR TIME TO ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC. TODAY'S FORUM IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO PRESENT INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT.

AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO SHERIFF WARNKE.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

BEFORE I READ THIS, I WANTED TO BRING TO THE PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE ON SOMETHING COMPLETELY UNRELATED.

AND I WANTED TO THANK PERSONALLY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND CEO HENDRICKSON DURING THE FIRES AND SNELLING. YOU KNOW, MY JOB IS EMERGENCIES EVERY SINGLE DAY.

BUT THAT WEEKEND THAT WE DEALT WITH ALL THIS, I WAS VERY PROUD. LLOYD TOOK HORSES AND OTHER ANIMALS

[02:30:01]

BUT HIM BEING THERE WITH ME AND WE TOOK OUT A LOT OF THE BUREAUCRACY AND JUST HANDLED THINGS IN REAL TIME.

SO MY HAT'S OFF TO YOU GUYS. I WANTED TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND BE VERY OPEN AND PUBLIC ABOUT THE COMMITMENT LEVEL THAT WAS THERE. AND WE ALSO WE'RE GOING TO FIND A T SHIRT FOR MARK.

WE'RE GOING TO CALL HIM KNUCKLES. SO. SO ANYWAY, ALL RIGHT, I'M GETTING READY TO THIRD GRADE WAS GOOD TO ME. SO I'LL BE ABLE TO READ THIS TO Y' ALL AND WE'LL GET HER DONE. SO START TO WE GOT THIS GOING ON. THERE WE GO. MERCED COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE DOES NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY JOINT AGENCY OPERATIONS WITH IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES.

THE MERCED COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE DOES NOT SUPPLY ANY EQUIPMENT OR PERSONNEL IN SUPPORT OF IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY. THE MERCED COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE DOES NOT CONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS REGARDING A CITIZEN'S IMMIGRATION STATUS, WHETHER ON PATROL OR THE CORRECTIONS ENVIRONMENT. IMMIGRATION FORMS AND SHERIFF PROCEDURES DETAINER REQUESTS INCARCERATED PERSONS AND ATTORNEY NOTIFICATIONS INTERVIEW CONSENT FORMS CONSULAR NOTIFICATIONS 2025 IMMIGRATION STATISTICS.ONCE AN INCARCERATED PERSON IS BOOKED INTO THE JAIL, THEY ARE LIVE SCANNED FINGERPRINTED.

THE FINGERPRINTS ARE SENT TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THE FBI FOR ANALYSIS. THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY USES THE FBI SUBMISSIONS TO LOOK INTO MATCHES FOR PERSONS IN THE UNITED STATES ILLEGALLY.

IF THEY FIND A MATCH, A DETAINER REQUEST IS SENT TO THE CLASSIFICATION UNIT VIA EMAIL. THE ICE DETAINER IS SCANNED INTO THE INCARCERATED PERSON'S ELECTRONIC FILE AND A NOTIFICATION IS PLACED IN THE JAIL BOOKING. THE JAIL DOES NOT PLACE A HOLD ON THE INCARCERATED PERSON UNLESS THE DETAINER IS RELATED TO A FEDERAL WARRANT.

RELEASES EXCUSE ME? RELEASE DATES ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE TO THE PUBLIC ON THE SHERIFF'S WEBSITE. ONCE A DETAINER REQUESTS RECEIVED BY THE JAIL, THE SUPERVISOR COMPLETES AN INCARCERATED PERSON ATTORNEY NOTIFICATION FORM THAT IS SIGNED BY THE SUPERVISOR AND THE INCARCERATED PERSON. THE FORM IS FAXED TO THE MERCED COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE AND SCANNED INTO THE INCARCERATED PERSON'S ELECTRONIC FILE. THE INCARCERATED PERSON RETAINS A COPY AS WELL.

IN THE EVENT ICE AGENTS WISH TO INTERVIEW SOMEONE IN CUSTODY, THE INCARCERATED PERSON IS GIVEN A CONSENT FORM TO SIGN WITH HIS CHOICE REGARDING THE ENCOUNTER, AGREES TO THE INTERVIEW WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY PRESENT, AGREES TO AN INTERVIEW WITH AN ATTORNEY PRESENT OR DOES NOT AGREE TO AN INTERVIEW, THE ICE AGENT IS NOTIFIED OF THE INCARCERATED PERSON'S WISHES AND THE FORM IS SCANNED INTO THE INCARCERATED PERSON'S ELECTRONIC FILE. THE CORRECTIONS BUREAU HAS CONTACT NUMBERS FOR ALL FOREIGN CONSULATES AS REQUIRED BY LAW.

IN THE EVENT A FOREIGN NATIONAL IS ARRESTED AND THE CONSULATE REQUIRES MANDATORY NOTIFICATION, THE SHIFT SUPERVISOR MAKES THE PROPER NOTIFICATION. CALIFORNIA LAW REQUIRES THAT IMMIGRATION RELATED FORMS BE TRANSLATED INTO THE SPOKEN LANGUAGE OF THE INDIVIDUAL INCARCERATED PERSON.

THE MERCED COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE CORRECTIONS BUREAU HAS FORMS TRANSLATED INTO THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE IS ENGLISH, SPANISH, CHINESE, HINDI, HMONG, KOREAN, PUNJABI, VIETNAMESE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ARE PERMITTED TO NOTIFY IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES OF RELEASE DATES TO FACILITATE TRANSFERS OF INDIVIDUALS TO IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES ONLY WHEN THE INDIVIDUAL COMES WITHIN THE EXCEPTION GOVERNMENT CODES LISTED. EXCEPTIONS APPLY TO PERSONS ARRESTED AND HELD TO ANSWER FOR SERIOUS PENAL CODE SECTIONS, VIOLENT PENAL CODE SECTIONS AND STATE PRISON FELONY OR CONVICTED OF A SERIOUS OR VIOLENT OR STATE PRISON FELONY OR CONVICTED WITHIN THE PAST FIVE YEARS OF A MISDEMEANOR FOR CERTAIN ENUMERATED WOBBLER OFFENSES OR CONVICTED WITHIN 15 YEARS OF CERTAIN ENUMERATED FELONY OFFENSES. GOVERNMENT CODES NOTE SHERIFF'S OFFICE RECEIVES NUMEROUS NOTIFICATIONS OF QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.

HOWEVER, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE DOES NOT DELAY A DETAINED PERSON'S INDIVIDUALS RELEASE FOR FEDERAL IMMIGRATION PURPOSES. UNDER THE PROTECTION SB 54, AGENCIES CANNOT EXTEND A PERSON DETENTION OR TRANSFER THEM TO FEDERAL CUSTODY PAST THEIR SCHEDULED RELEASE DATE.

IMMIGRATION STATISTICS ACCESS

[02:35:02]

INCARCERATED PERSONS WHO RECEIVE IMMIGRATION DETAINER FROM ICE ARE DETERMINED BY FINGERPRINTS. ICE DETAINERS ARE RECEIVED BY THE MERCED SHERIFF'S OFFICE VIA ONE WAY EMAIL. MERCED SHERIFF'S OFFICE DOES NOT COLLECT IMMIGRATION STATUS ON ANY INDIVIDUAL OTHER THAN TRACKING ICE DETAINERS ON THE CURRENT JAIL BOOKING.

MERCED SHERIFF'S OFFICE DOES NOT TRANSFER INCARCERATED PERSON PERSONS TO ICE WITHOUT A FEDERAL WARRANT.

INCARCERATED PERSONS RELEASED FROM THE MERCED SHERIFF'S CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES ARE NOT DELAYED OR STOPPED DUE TO ICE DETAINERS.

IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS SEEN AN INCREASE OF ENFORCEMENT ACTION IN THE COMMUNITY FROM ICE BELIEVED TO BE DUE TO THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION BY THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.

THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT.

AGAIN, TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON. I WILL CHECK FOR REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT.

NO, I HAVE A QUESTION ON SLIDE NUMBER NINE, WHICH IS. IT SAYS THE CORRECTIONS BUREAU. I WONDERED IF THAT'S A STATE OR FEDERAL CORRECTIONS BUREAU.

AND.

I HAVE SLIDE 15, WHICH IS.

MENTIONS THE STATISTICS. THE FOLLOWING STATISTICS RELATE TO BOOKING CHARGES PRESENT AT THE TIME OF ARREST. DOES THAT MEAN THAT THEY'VE ALREADY GONE TO COURT OR THAT'S JUST AT BOOKING TIME? BOOKING AND THEN I GUESS JUST THERE WAS A NEW CATEGORY THAT WAS REPORTED ON AND I'M NOT SURE IF I UNDERSTAND THAT. REGARDING THE.

IT'S SLIDE NUMBER 12 REGARDING THE SENATE BILL, 54 NON QUALIFIED INCARCERATED PERSONS, AND THEN THE SB 54 QUALIFIED INCARCERATED PERSONS. I'M JUST WONDERING IF THAT SOMEONE COULD EXPLAIN THAT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. I WILL CHECK

[02:40:05]

MR. CHAIR, WE HAVE NO REMOTE SPEAKERS IN THE QUEUE.

OKAY. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED AND THE COMMITTEE FORM HAS NOW

[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION]

SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA HAD TO MAKE IT BRIEF.

IT'S BEEN A LITTLE WHILE SINCE WE'VE MET. I DO WANT TO REPORT OUT THAT I ATTENDED THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES CONFERENCE. IT'S GOOD GETTING WITH COLLEAGUES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I WILL TELL YOU, DATA CENTERS CONTINUE TO BE A HUGE ISSUE, NO MATTER HOW BIG OR LITTLE THE STATE THAT YOU COME FROM. WE ALSO HELPED ELECT OUR NEW SECOND VP FOR NACO, WHICH IS. OH, I JUST LOST HER NAME, BUT SHE'S FROM ARIZONA. SARAH BENATAR. ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT I WANT TO THANK LACEY KIRIAKOU MCBRIDE FOR HOSTING A SIGMA WATER WORKING GROUP MEETING ALONG WITH DIRECTOR MIMMS. WE HELD IT OUT IN LAS VEGAS. HAD A REALLY GREAT TURNOUT. REALLY, THESE ARE JUST INFORMATIONAL ITEMS THAT ARE COMING AS WE GET DEEPER AND DEEPER INTO SIGMA AND REALLY TRYING TO HELP EDUCATE THOSE FOLKS ON WHAT SOME OF THE NEW REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE COMING.

AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A VERY FRUITFUL MEETING. WANTED TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR PUTTING THAT TOGETHER.

THE EL NIDO FIRE STATION GROUNDBREAKING. I DON'T WANT TO STEAL SUPERVISOR PACHECO'S THUNDER, BUT I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THAT WE'RE TAKING THAT OLD FACILITY WHERE LITERALLY YOU CAN SEE THE OUTSIDE THROUGH THE WALLS FROM THE INSIDE, AND GOING TO HAVE A NICE NEW. THE NEWEST STATION FIRE STATION IN MERCED COUNTY. SO THANKS, STAFF, FOR ALL OF THAT. AND I DO WANT TO JUST GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT.

AS YOU KNOW, WE DID EXPERIENCE A FIRE UP IN SNELLING. I KNOW THAT SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, THAT BEING IN HIS DISTRICT, WHO WAS VERY INTIMATELY INVOLVED IN IT, BUT WANT TO JUST THANK THE COORDINATION BETWEEN ADAM AMARAL AND OUR OES OFFICE AT CAL FIRE AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, OUR FOLKS OVER AT HS WHO STOOD UP SHELTER. A SHELTER IN REALLY. I'LL CALL IT RECORD TIMING. IT'S KIND OF CRAZY, BUT WE'VE EXPERIENCED SOME DISASTERS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND WE'VE KIND OF GOTTEN BETTER AT WHAT WE DO. AND SO WHEN WE DO EXPERIENCE THESE NATURAL DISASTERS, I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE TEAM THAT WE HAVE AROUND US AND THE COORDINATION THAT GOES ON. AND I DO WANT TO THANK CEO HENDERSON, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT HE WAS GIVING ME, I WON'T SAY HOURLY UPDATES, BUT PRETTY CLOSE TO HOURLY UPDATES, AS TO BLOW BY BLOW, WHAT WAS GOING ON THERE. AND THEN, JUST IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING WHY THEY CALL HIM KNUCKLES, THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE TO DO. WHEN HE TOOK A RIDE IN THE HELICOPTER WITH THE SHERIFF TO OVERLOOK THE FIRE GROUNDS, HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN HOLDING ON A LITTLE TIGHT. SO. BUT WITH THAT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

THANK YOU, MR. PAREIRA.

THANK YOU, MR. MCDANIEL. SO I, TOO, ATTENDED THE NACO CONFERENCE, AND IT WAS KIND OF, I GUESS, PERFECT TIMING. THERE WAS A SESSION ON DATA CENTERS. I GOT TO MEET A LADY NAMED HEATHER COYLE WHO REPRESENTS THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF DATA CENTERS, AND SHE ANSWERED SOME OF MY QUESTIONS. ONE TRUE MISCONCEPTION IS THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT DATA CENTERS USE.

THEY DON'T USE IT. THEY JUST BORROW IT, AND AT THE END, THEY COOL IT DOWN AND CAN PUT IT BACK WHEREVER IT WAS GOING.

SO I FOUND THAT THAT WAS MY.

MY GUT FEELING OF KNOWING HOW COOLING WORKS, BUT WANTED TO HEAR THAT FROM AN EXPERT. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THEN AND THEN NOW A RESOURCE.

IF WE DO GET A DENTIST CENTER THAT WANTS TO COME TO MERCED COUNTY, I'VE GOT A PLACE TO. I CAN GO TO GET QUESTIONS ANSWERED. SO I'M THANKFUL FOR HER TIME. I ALSO ATTENDED A WILDLIFE CORRIDOR SESSION, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW, BUT WE ARE GETTING A WILDLIFE CORRIDOR IN MERCED COUNTY. I GUESS SANDY MUSHROAD FROM THE.

FROM THE EAST SIDE OR FROM THE WEST SIDE OF THE EAST SIDE WOULD KIND OF BE THE.

THE CORRIDOR.

AND SO ANYWAYS, IT WAS GOOD TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT. WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO THERE.

SENATOR CABALLERO HAS A BILL WHO SB 1108, AND THAT IS TO EXPAND THE WILDLIFE CORRIDOR THROUGH HERE. AND SO IT'S COMING. AND SO ANYWAYS, I APPRECIATED THAT. I LEFT NACO AND WENT ON TO COLUMBUS, OHIO, TOOK A TOUR OF TRC, WHICH OPERATES OUR VEHICLE TESTING

[02:45:03]

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CAN COME INTO A COMMUNITY AND REALLY PROVIDE JOBS, YOU KNOW, WITH NOT ONLY WHAT THEY DO, BUT THEN THE COMPANIES THEY CONTRACT WITH TO BUILD STUFF FOR THEM. AND SO I FEEL REAL GOOD ABOUT THAT. WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF A QUICK UPDATE ON AMR AS OUR AMBULANCE SERVICE PROVIDER. CEO HENDRICKS AND I MET WITH CITY AUGUSTINE, THE MAYOR AND THE CITY MANAGER LAST WEEK. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'D ASKED HIM TO BRING SOME DATA. AND WHAT I GUESS THE BOTTOM LINE IS, IS THAT THE PREVIOUS AMBULANCE COMPANY WAS NOT MEETING THEIR TIMES FOR RESPONSE, AND AMR IS. AND THEY'RE NOT ONLY DOING IT AT ABOVE 90%, BUT THEY'RE DOING IT ABOVE BASICALLY 96%, WHERE 90% IS THE GOAL SO FAR EXCEEDING, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO. AND SO I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE THEM AND THANK THEM FOR THE DILIGENT WORK THEY'VE DONE HERE. WE'RE GETTING A HILMAR GEAR AND LANDER STOPLIGHT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING LAST WEEK. I HAVEN'T BEEN THERE, BUT I HEARD THAT IT IS WORKING TODAY. SO I'M THANKFUL TO CALTRANS FOR DOING THAT. TALK ABOUT GOVERNMENT, IT'S A SEVEN YEAR PROJECT, YOU KNOW THAT IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, FOUR POLES AND A FEW STRIPES ON THE ROAD. AND SO IT SEEMS LIKE IT COULD HAPPEN QUICKER THAN THAT, BUT IT DIDN'T. BUT IT IS HERE TODAY AND WE'RE THANKFUL. IT'S BEFORE THE START OF THEIR SCHOOL YEAR AND THERE'S A LOT OF SCHOOL TRAFFIC ON GEAR. AND THEN THANKS TO PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR NATHAN BRAY FROM FOR HELPING FACILITATE THAT COMING ALONG. THE SHERIFF MENTIONED THE FIRES AND SNELLING.

BASICALLY THREE FIRES IN ABOUT FIVE DAYS. ONE OF THEM 1200 ACRES THAT THREATENED ABOUT 20 HOMES. AND I HAVE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT. THE SHERIFF SET UP A COMMAND CENTER THERE WHERE WE COULD ALL LOOK AT DATA AND WHAT'S GOING ON AND TALK ABOUT IN REAL TIME. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, MERCED COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT DID A PHENOMENAL JOB. ONE THING THAT CAL FIRE HAS DONE, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S FIVE, SIX, SEVEN YEARS AGO THEY WOULD LET THE GROUND CREWS TRY TO FIGHT A FIRE. IF THEY COULDN'T FIGHT IT THEN AIR RESOURCES WOULD COME IN. NOW THE AIR RESOURCES COME IN ALMOST IMMEDIATELY HAS REALLY BEEN A GAME CHANGER. AND I THINK THAT'S SOME OF THE REASONS WHY YOU DON'T SEE 100,000 ACRE FIRES BURNING IN CALIFORNIA RIGHT NOW IS BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET ON THEM QUICK. PGE PROVIDED ONE OF THE HELICOPTERS THAT, THAT'S HERE AT CASTLE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO USE ON THAT FIRE. AS THAT FIRE WAS GETTING WRAPPED UP, ANOTHER FIRE STARTED CLOSE TO MY HOUSE AND MY NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE. AND THAT HELICOPTER WAS THERE PROBABLY WITHIN 10, 15 MINUTES OF THE FIRE STARTING AND KEPT IT FROM SPREADING. HELD IT TO A FIVE ACRE FIRE WHICH, WHICH WAS GOOD NEWS I GUESS. I, YOU KNOW, THE, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CEO FOR BEING THERE. HANDS ON. HSA JOHN CHECKLEY AND HIS TEAM PROVIDED A SHELTER NOT ONLY FOR, YOU KNOW, THE POTENTIAL EVACUATION, BUT THEN ONCE THE EVACUATION ORDER WAS GIVEN, ABLE TO PROVIDE THESE PEOPLE A PLACE TO STAY OVERNIGHT. FOOD, WATER, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WAS THERE, THE FAST TEAM TO GIVE COUNSELING. THERE WAS ONE LADY THERE WHO HAD LOST HER HOME IN A PREVIOUS FIRE AND SO THEY WERE ABLE TO TALK HER DOWN AND ASSURE HER THAT SHE WAS GOING TO BE OKAY. OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES WAS ACTIVE AND ADAM AMARAL AND THEN THE SHERIFF MENTIONED ABOUT THE ANIMALS BEING EVACUATED.

FORTUNATELY IT WASN'T TOO MANY THAT NEEDED TO BE EVACUATED BUT ANIMAL CONTROL DID A REALLY GOOD JOB AT THAT. THEY SET UP A CENTER AT THE CHURCH. IT'S A METAL BUILDING AND HAD A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE COULD TAKE THEIR DOGS AND CATS AND ANYWAYS, IT JUST. THE COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER. THE COMMUNITY OF SNELLING WAS SO APPRECIATIVE OF ALL THE EFFORTS. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CARE AND YOU KNOW.

RIGHT.

GOVERNMENT, RIGHT. WE CAN ALL TALK ABOUT PARTS OF GOVERNMENT THAT WE LIKE OR DON'T LIKE, BUT WHEN, WHEN THE RUBBER HIT THE ROAD, THE, THE FOLKS WERE TAKEN CARE OF AND THAT'S MOST IMPORTANT.

SO ANYWAYS, AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE.

[02:50:01]

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

YEAH, I TOO ATTENDED THE NACO ANNUAL CONFERENCE WHERE MY TERM AS CHAIRMAN OF THE AG AND RURAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ENDED.

BUT I WAS APPOINTED AS A VICE CHAIR FOR THE COMMITTEE. SO I'M GOING TO CONTINUE ON THAT COMMITTEE AND DO SOME WORK FOR THEM. WITH THAT, I ALSO ATTENDED THE MERCED APPLEGATE ZOO GRAND REOPENING.

IT'S.

IT'S PRETTY COOL. THE NEW BEAR ENCLOSURES. THIS, LET ME SEE. I ALSO WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT SCHOOL STARTED AT OLM OUR LADY OF MERCY YESTERDAY AND IT STARTS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT TOMORROW.

SO BE COGNIZANT OF THE TRAFFIC, ESPECIALLY ON MCKEE. I KNOW THAT PEOPLE ON MCKEE, IT'S, IT'S BACKED UP RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE'RE DOING SOME WORK AGAIN, ANOTHER POSITIVE EFFORT COLLABORATING WITH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, WORKING TO GET SOMETHING FIXED THAT'S NEEDED IT FOR QUITE SOME TIME. AND SO I WANT TO THANK PUBLIC WORKS AND THE CITY OF MERCED FOR REALLY WORKING ON THAT. WE ALSO HAD OUR CITY MANAGER MONTHLY OR CITY MERCED MONTHLY MEETING LAST WEEK. WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE DRONE FALL MEMORIAL SERVICE WHO IS JUST A PILLAR OF THE COMMUNITY IN ATWATER.

AND THEN THIS SATURDAY, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE MENTION IS A FUNDRAISER FOR UNITED WAY TO WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE.

MY SON WILL BE RAPPELLING OVER THE HOTEL TIOGA. SO IF YOU WANT TO SEE A 15 YEAR OLD GET TOSSED, I MEAN, RAPPEL OFF A BUILDING, THAT'S WHERE TO GO. AND THEN I TOO ALSO, OR LET ME SAY THIS. SO ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO MENTION REALLY QUICK IS THE COUNTY OF MERCED IS DOING AN ART CONTEST.

SOMETHING THAT I THINK THAT IS REALLY COOL AND SOMETHING THAT I KIND OF THOUGHT OF WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL ART CONTEST AND HOW THEY DO IT AND KIND OF SPRUCE UP THE BUILDING.

I KNOW MS. SILVEIRA HAS SOME ART IN HER OFFICE AND I THINK OURS KIND OF NEEDS SOME. AND SO THE HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL BE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE. SEE THERE'S A BANNER ON THE HOME PAGE.

RESIDENTS CAN CLICK TO TAKE THEM DIRECTLY TO THE WEBPAGE. AND THEN MERCED COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION WILL BE SENDING STUFF TO THE SCHOOLS ONCE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, ONCE THE STUDENTS SETTLE IN, BECAUSE IT'S. RIGHT NOW NOTHING HAPPENS IN SCHOOLS FOR ABOUT THE FIRST THREE WEEKS.

SPEAKING AS A TEACHER, BECAUSE EVERY. SCHEDULES ARE CHANGING, PEOPLE ARE MOVING AND THAT TYPE OF STUFF. BUT I REALLY WANT TO THANK DALIA COSTA ON THIS.

SHE REALLY WORKED REALLY HARD ON THIS. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND THEN ALSO, I KNOW THAT AFTER, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE GOT THE GO AHEAD AND THE EVACUATIONS ARE ALL LIFTED, I TEXTED THE SHERIFF FIRE DEPARTMENT TO LET THEM KNOW HOW MUCH I APPRECIATED THEM. AND I THINK THAT THE SHERIFF'S FINAL VIDEO THAT HE MADE SAYING, HEY, EVERYBODY, GO HOME. AND STUFF, YOU KNOW, HE. THE SHERIFF IS.

THE SHERIFF'S GOT A BIG HEART.

AND I THINK THAT THAT PUT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN SNELLING AT EASE. AND SO I WANT TO THANK HIM. HSA, OES, ALL THE DEPARTMENTS, EVERYBODY WHO CAME TOGETHER.

AND I WANT TO ECHO WHAT SUPERVISOR PAREIRA SAID. YOU KNOW, IT. IT SHOWS HOW IMPORTANT WHEN PEOPLE GET TOGETHER, EVEN SNELLING, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT PEOPLE FORGET ABOUT SNELLING, BUT THE FACT THAT WE'RE WORKING AS HARD FOR THEM AS WE ARE FOR EVERYBODY ELSE. AND THANK YOU TO CEO HENDRICKSON FOR THAT AS WELL.

SO WITH THAT, HAVE A GOOD DAY, MR. PACHECO.

THANK YOU. CHAIR. IT'S BEEN A WHILE, SO I GOT A COUPLE THINGS.

ON THE 20TH, I ATTENDED THE TENAYA MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS FIELD.

ACCOMPLISHED GROUNDBREAKING.

IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT SPACE FOR YOUTH AND SOUTH MERCED. SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT. AND ON THE 30TH, I DID THE GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE NEW EL NADO FIRE STATION. AS MY COLLEAGUE STATED, THAT STATION WAS BUILT IN 1955, SO IT'S ABOUT 70 YEARS OLD OR THEREABOUTS. AND IT WAS ONLY MADE TO HOUSE ONE FIREFIGHTER. AND AS WE KNOW NOW, EVERYTHING'S 2 0. SO IT WAS KIND OF CRAMPED SPACE. BUT THIS NEW STATION WILL INCLUDE THREE ENGINE FIRE BAYS, TWO FIREFIGHTER DORMITORIES, MODERN LIVING AND TRAINING SPACES, OFFICES, FITNESS FACILITIES, AND OTHER FEATURES THAT WILL BETTER SUPPORT EMERGENCY RESPONSES IN THE EL NIDO AREA. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO EL NIDO ON THAT. THAT'S AN EXCITING NEW PROJECT. ON AUGUST 3, I ATTENDED THE GRAND OPENING OF THE GRAND GOLDEN VALLEY HEALTH CENTERS. NOT ONLY WOULD THAT BRING A NEW MODERN FACILITY TO LEGRAND, BUT ALSO MAKE HEALTHCARE BETTER ACCESSIBLE TO THAT COMMUNITY.

AND I BELIEVE THE PLANADA HEALTH CLINIC IS BEING BUILT AS WE SPEAK. SO IT'S VERY EXCITING. FOR THOSE PEOPLE IN THAT AREA OF THE COUNTY.

ON THE 7TH, I ATTENDED THE GRADUATION AND SWEARING IN OF FOUR DEPUTY SHERIFFS FROM THE STANISLAUS LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY. ONE OF THOSE GRADUATES HAVE HAPPENED TO BE MY SON, MICHAEL PACHECO, AND HE GRADUATED 37

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GLAD TO SEE THEY'RE GETTING UP TO STAFF AND IT'LL ENHANCE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY HERE IN MERCED COUNTY. AND WITH THAT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

THANK YOU.

GOT IT. THANK YOU, COUNTY COUNCIL CEO. NOTHING, SIR.

NOTHING. I DID ATTEND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES AS WELL, AND I DID FINISH OFF MY TERM AS VICE CHAIR OF THE WORKFORCE, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING SEEING HOW THEY MOVE FORWARD. IT SEEMS LIKE I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO COULD SPEAK UP IN OPPOSITION, A LOT OF THE SUPPORT THAT THE REST OF THE COUNTRY WANTED TO DO, BUT EVERYBODY WOULD PAT ME ON THE BACK AFTERWARDS. SO IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW IT MOVES FROM THERE. AND FROM THERE. WE DID GO TO TRC IN OHIO. IT WAS VERY GOOD TO SEE. I KNOW IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE FOCUSED MORE ON AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES HERE AT CAMPUS AT CASTLE, BUT THE DIRECTION THEY'RE MOVING IS INCREDIBLE. AND THOSE. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T PROBABLY REMEMBER THE JETSONS, BUT WE ARE DEFINITELY MOVING TOWARDS THE JETSONS, UNMANNED AIRCRAFT TAXI SERVICES. SO THAT'S GOING TO BE ON THE HORIZON. THAT'S REALLY GOOD. I ALSO WANTED TODAY ADJOURN IN HONOR OF A VERY CLOSE FRIEND, A MAN WHO WAS VERY RESPECTED IN THE CITY OF ATWATER, ROGER WOOD. HE LIVED IN ATWATER HIS ENTIRE LIFE, EXCEPT FOR WHEN HE WAS ON MILITARY SERVICE AND WENT TO COLLEGE. WOOD'S FRUIT COMPANY WAS HIS FAMILY'S FRUIT COMPANY. AND IN RETIREMENT, I THINK HE PROBABLY DID MORE.

HE DID A LOT WHEN HE WORKED THERE AS WELL, BUT HE DID MORE FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND I WOULD LIKE TO. YOU CAN'T SINGLE OUT ONE NONPROFIT THAT HE WAS A PART OF BECAUSE HE WAS A PART OF ALL OF THEM. AND HE'S TRULY GOING TO BE MISSED. OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO CHI CHI, HIS WIFE, AND BLESSINGS TO THEIR FAMILY. AND JUST KNOW OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH THEM.

WITH THAT, WE'LL ADJOURN.

THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.