* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [1. CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:02] GOOD MORNING EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE ED PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING. UM, THE CALL IS MEETING TO ORDER. FIRST ORDER IS, UH, PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLED PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR RELIGIOUS SANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. ROLL CALL OF COMMISSIONERS, PLEASE. COMMISSIONER JAWAD HERE. COMMISSIONER S SPICER. HERE. COMMISSIONER ARCA. HERE. VICE CHAIRMAN TATUM. HERE. CHAIRMAN RAMIREZ. HERE. MR. CHAIR, YOU HAVE A QUORUM. THANK YOU. UM, MOVING ON [4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES] TO THE APPROVAL OF THE, THE MINUTES FOR THE MEETING OF 9 23. DID YOU WANT TO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST TIME? UH, YES. SORRY. THANK YOU KURT. UM, IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE, UH, MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING, UH, PLEASE STEP FORWARD. STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND PHONE. NU AND ADDRESS PLEASE. OKAY, SCENE NOW I WILL MOVE ON. IS THAT FOR THE SAN NO, IT'S JUST APPROVAL MINUTES. SO MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND. SECOND. UH, MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? SO MOVE. OKAY, SO NOW WE MOVE ON TO THE, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION. IF THERE'S, UH, ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO SOMETHING THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS JURISDICTION OVER THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA, THIS IS THE TIME, UH, TO COME UP AND SPEAK. STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND SAYS THERE SOMETHING THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA. OKAY. SEE NONE. I WILL, UM, CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT [6. PUBLIC HEARING(S)] AND MOVE ON TO THE PUBLIC HEARING. FIRST ITEM IS, UH, NUMBER AA TWO SIX DASH 0 0 7. UM, MR CHAIR, UM, COUNTY COUNSEL ADVISED ME THAT I HAVE TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM THIS ITEM BECAUSE I OWN PROPERTY WITHIN THE 300 FEET OF IT. SO I'LL BE OUT UNTIL THE, YOU GUYS HAVE FINISHED THIS. OKAY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. OKAY, STAFF'S ALL YOURS. UM, THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. UM, MY NAME IS Z PIZA AND THE PROJECT BEFORE YOU IS ADMINISTRATIVE PERMIT NUMBER AA 26 DASH 0 0 4 FOR THE APPLICANT. CIA AGRICULTURAL INGREDIENTS, LLC. THE PROJECT IS A REQUEST TO ESTABLISH AND OPERATE A STORAGE FACILITY FOR RAW AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND AN EXISTING AGRICULTURAL STORAGE FACILITY. RAW AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS WILL BE TEMPORARILY STORED AT THE FACILITY AND SHALL TRANSPORTED TO OTHER FACILITIES FOR PROCESSING INTO FINISHED FOOD PRODUCTS. THE FACILITY WOULD OP OPERATE WITHIN EXISTING STRUCTURES, WHICH MADE UP A FORMER AGRICULTURAL STORAGE FACILITY. THESE STRUCTURES INCLUDE SIX ENCLOSED METAL BARNS, NINE FABRIC STEEL BARNS, ONE MAINTENANCE SHOP, ONE 1,500 SQUARE FOOT OFFICE BUILDING AND 1 8 80 FOOT LONG TRUCK SCALE. THE STORAGE FACILITY, ALSO KNOWN AS THE CORTES FACILITY, WOULD BE STORING THE FOLLOWING RAW AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, ONIONS, ONION, SEED BULBS, GARLIC, SWEET POTATOES, AND PARSLEY. THE RAW PRODUCT STORED WOULD BE VISUALLY MONITORED WEEKLY BY A THIRD PARTY ALONGSIDE WITH SENSIA EMPLOYEES IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE, WITH THE SITE'S PHYSICAL INVENTORY, CHECK FOR DECAY, PESTS, AND OTHER QUALITY ISSUES. NO NEW CONSTRUCTION IS BEING PROPOSED WITH THIS REQUEST AND THE SITE IS DESIGNATED AGRICULTURAL LAND USE IN THE GENERAL PLAN AND ZONED A ONE GENERAL AGRICULTURAL. THIS IS THE VICINITY OF THE PROJECT SITE OUTLINED IN RED. THE PARCEL IS APPROXIMATELY 24.73 ACRES. THE PROJECT SITE IS LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF WEST HARDING ROAD, ZERO POINT 58 MILES EAST OF SYCAMORE STREET AND 0.45 MILES WEST OF CORTEZ AVENUE IN THE TURLOCK AREA. EXISTING DEVELOPMENT ON SITE CONSISTS OF SIX ENCLOSED METAL BARNS, NINE FABRIC STEEL BARNS, A MAINTENANCE SHOP BUILDING, AND AN OFFICE BUILDING. THE PROJECT SITE HAS TWO WELLS AND AN ONSITE SEPTIC SYSTEM. THE SURROUNDING USES ARE CHARACTERIZED BY AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS AND USES SUCH AS ORCHARDS AND RURAL RESIDENTS. ANOTHER NOTABLE FEATURE IS THAT THERE IS A CANAL LOCATED NEAR THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE PROPERTY THAT IS OWNED AND MAINTAINED BY TURLOCK IRRIGATION. SOME HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THIS, UM, PROJECT SITE IS, UM, AROUND THE 1990S THE SITE WAS UTILIZED FOR ALMOND PROCESSING ON NUMBER [00:05:01] 17 2003. THE SITE WAS APPROVED WITH AN ADMINISTRATIVE PERMIT NUMBER AA ZERO THREE DASH 0 4 2 TO CHANGE THE USE FROM ALMOND PROCESSING TO ALFALFA PROCESSING AND TO ADD AND CONSTRUCT SIX ENCLOSED BUILDING. IN ADDITION, IT ALLOWED THE PRE-EXISTING BUILDINGS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY ON SITE DURING THE PROCESSING OF THIS ADMINISTRATIVE PERMIT. AN INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY WAS CONDUCTED AND THE HEARING OFFICER ALSO APPROVED THE MITIGATED DECLARATION ALONG THAT STUDY. IN ADDITION, MINOR MODIFICATION NUMBER MM 11 DASH ZERO EIGHT WAS APPROVED TO REMOVE AND LOCATE THE EXISTING LOADING DOCK ON SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2011. AND ADDITIONALLY, ADMINISTRATIVE PERMIT NUMBER AA 23 DASH ZERO 17 WAS APPROVED BY THE PLANNING DIRECTOR ON MARCH 26TH, 2000, UM, 24 TO ESTABLISH AN AGRICULTURAL IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT WAREHOUSE, FABRICATION AND SHIPPING OPERATION WITHIN AN EXISTING 18,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING. AT THIS TIME, THE PROJECT WAS FOUND TO BE CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PURSUANT TO SECTION 1 5 3 0 1 EXISTING FACILITIES OF THE C GUIDELINES. THIS IS THE SITE PLAN OF THE PROPOSED AGRICULTURAL STORAGE FACILITY. IT DISPLAYS A NORTHERN PORTION OF THE PARCEL WHERE HALF OF THE EXISTING BUILDINGS ARE LOCATED. THE EXISTING 15,682 SQUARE FOOT MAINTENANCE SHOP IS LOCATED NOR ON THE NORTHEAST OF THE PARCEL. THE SIX ENCLOSED METAL STORAGE BUILDINGS WITH A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 72,200 SQUARE FEET ARE LOCATED FROM THE NORTH TO WEST OF THE PARCEL AND THE 1,500 SQUARE FOOT OFFICE BUILDING LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARCEL. AND IN TOTAL, THE NINE FABRIC STEEL BARNS ARE ALSO PART OF THIS, UM, PART SITE, BUT IN THE BOTTOM TWO YOU COULD SEE THAT THERE ARE JUST TWO SHOWN HERE. UM, BUT EACH FABRIC STEEL BAR BARN IS APPROXIMATELY 16,416 SQUARE FEET. THE PRODUCT SITE CAN BE ACCESSED BY AN EXISTING DRIVEWAY OFF WEST HARDING ROAD. THE PRODUCT SITE IS ALSO FULLY ENCLOSED BY CHAIN LINK FENCE. THIS IS THIS OTHER PARCEL PORTION OF THE PARCEL. UM, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THESE ARE THE ROMANIAN SEVEN FABRIC STEEL BARNS, UM, WHICH IN TOTAL THERE ARE NINE AND DISPLAYED OSHA SHOWS THE TWO IRRIGATION WELLS. IN TERMS OF CONSISTENCY WITH LOCAL REGULATION, THE PROJECT SITE IS DESIGNATED AGRICULTURAL LAND USE IN THE GENERAL PLAN. THE PROJECT IS CONSISTENT WITH APPLICABLE GENERAL PLAN GOALS AND POLICIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO GOAL LU DASH TWO AND GOAL AG DASH ONE AND POLICIES LU DASH 2.1 AGRICULTURAL DESIGNATION AND POLICY LU DASH 4.3. COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL USES AND POLICY AG DASH 1.3 PROMOTING LOCAL AGRICULTURAL. THE PROJECT SITE IS ALSO ZONED A ONE GENERAL AGRICULTURE. THE PROJECT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE, WITH THE APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE ZONING CODE AND CODE, INCLUDING DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND MAY BE PERMITTED IN THE A ONE ZONE SUBJECT TO AN APPROVAL OF AN ADMIN ADMINISTRATIVE PERMIT. AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, THE PROPOSED PROJECT MAY BE PERMITTED IN AN A ONE ZONE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL OF A AN ADMINISTRATIVE PERMIT. THE PROCESSING OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE PERMIT IS COMPLETED IN ONE OF THE FOUR LEVELS. UM, THE REVIEW LEVEL IS DETERMINED BY THE PROJECT'S PROPOSAL, ITS LOCATION POTENTIAL FOR CONTROVERSY OR OPPOSITION AND POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS. THIS CURRENT APPLICATION WAS DEFER REFERRED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR DECISION AT PUBLIC HEARING BECAUSE OF CONTROVERSY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW. STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE COMMISSION FIND THE PROJECT IS CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PURSUANT TO SECTION 1 5 3 0 1 EXISTING FACILITIES OF THE SE L GUIDELINES. THE PROJECT WOULD NOT UTILIZE THE PROJECT WOULD UTILIZE EXISTING BUILDINGS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY UTILIZED HISTORICALLY FOR STORAGE AND PROCESSING AND WOULD NOT REQUIRE SUBSTANTIAL PHYSICAL CHANGES TO THE SITE. THE SITE WOULD NOT EXPAND BEYOND ITS PROPERTY'S BOUNDARY OR ORIGINAL FOOTPRINT, NOR IS IT INCREASING IN THE INTENSITY. USAGE AS A PROJECT IS ONLY BEING PERMITTED FOR STORAGE AND NO PROCESSING. THERE IS NOT GONNA BE, UM, PROCESSING ALLOWED AT THE SITE. THE PROJECT SITE IS NOT AN ENVIRONMENT, IS NOT ON ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA AND WILL NOT RESULT IN CUMULATIVELY CONSIDERABLE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS. NOTICE OF THIS NOTICE OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING WAS FIRSTLY, UM, PUBLISHED IN THE MERCED COUNTY TIMES AND MAILED TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 300 FEET OF THE PROJECT SITE AND INTERESTED PARTIES. THOSE INTERESTED PARTIES ARE PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND THIS NOTICE WAS [00:10:01] PUBLISHED ON THE SEPTEMBER 10TH TO ON SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2026 FOR THE SEPTEMBER 23RD PUBLIC HEARING. THE PROJECT ITEM DID GET TO CONTINUED ON THE SEPTEMBER 23RD PUBLIC HEARING TO NOW THE OCTOBER 14TH, 2026 PUBLIC HEARING. BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 21ST TO THE 28TH, STAFF RECEIVED ONE COMMENT VIA EMAIL AND SEVERAL PHONE CALLS. THIS COMMENT AND CALLS WERE IN REGARDS TO WHEN RE NOTICING WOULD OCCUR AND HOW THE PUBLIC COULD SPEAK IN REGARD TO THE PROJECT STAFF DID LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT RE NOTICING WOULD OCCUR AFTER THE PROJECT HAS FIRST BEEN ADDRESSED TO BE CONTINUED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION AT THE SEPTEMBER 23RD PUBLIC HEARING. THE PUBLIC WOULD ALSO ENCOURAGED TO SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENT LETTERS BEFORE THE NEXT HEARING AS WELL. STAFF ALSO INFORMED THAT THE PUBLIC DID, DOES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THE PROJECT DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE PRESENTATION. AND EACH MEMBER OF THE PROJECT OF THE PUBLIC HAS THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. ON OCTOBER 2ND, A PUBLIC COMMENT LETTER WAS RECEIVED BY STAFF AND THIS COMMENT LETTER IS INCLUDED IN THE STAFF REPORT, UM, IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROJECT AND DID STATE SOME CONCERNS REGARDING THE PROJECT. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PUBLIC COMMENT LETTER, UM, WAS RECEIVED PRIOR TO THE PUBLICATION OF THE STAFF REPORT. THAT IS WHY IT IS INCLUDED IN THE STAFF REPORT AS AN ATTACHMENT. STAFF DID RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL COMMENT LETTER VIA EMAIL AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THIS MORNING WE ALSO RECEIVED SEVERAL, UM, COMMENTS AND THESE ARE ALSO FOUND OUTSIDE IN PUBLIC, UM, IN PRINT. SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT THE LETTERS AND COMMENTS HAD WAS REGARDING THE FACILITY'S PREVIOUS PROCESSING AND MISHANDLING AND DISPOSING OF ROT PRODUCE THAT LED TO GNAT'S INFESTATION BACK IN MARCH OF 2026. THIS FACILITY WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO PROCESS ANY RAW AGRICULTURAL, UM, PRODUCTS. THE APPLICANT WILL CONSTANTLY BE MONITORING THE, THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS WEEKLY THAT ARE BEING STORED ON SITE ALONGSIDE WITH THE THIRD PARTY. THAT WILL ALSO BE, UM, CONDUCTING THAT WEEKLY MONITORING ALONGSIDE WITH THE SITE'S PHYSICAL INVENTORY CHECK FOR DECAY, PESTS, AND OTHER QUALITY ISSUES BEFORE THE PRODUCTS ARE EVEN TAKEN TO THE SITE. THEY ARE GOING TO BE INITIALLY EXAMINED AT THEIR LIVINGSTON FACILITY AND PRODUCE THEMED ACCEPTABLE FOR STORAGE AND DO NOT, UM, HAVE ANY DISPLAY OF ROTTEN OR MOISTURE WOULD BE, UM, DISPOSED OF IMMEDIATELY. AND ACCEPTABLE STORAGE OF ACCEPTABLE RAW PRODUCTS WILL BE SENT TO THE CORTES FACILITY FOR STORAGE. APPLICANT WILL ALSO BE COMPLYING TO ONE OF OUR CONDITIONS THAT WE HAVE SET FOR THE PERMIT, WHICH INCLUDE THAT THE APPLICANT COMPLY, AS I MENTIONED, IN FREQUENTLY, FREQUENTLY MONITORING RAW AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS TO PREVENT ROTTING AND PEST INFESTATION, AS WELL AS MONITORING, MONITORING ROADWAYS AND ENSURING THAT SPILLAGE IS OF PRODUCE IS NOT OCCURRING ON THE ROAD. THE APPLICANT WILL BE PROVIDING TO THE PLANNING DIVISION WITH MONTHLY RE MONTHLY REPORTS FOR A SPAN OF ONE YEAR, UM, ADDRESSING THAT THEY ARE COMPLYING WITH FOLLOWING THIS CONDITION AND FAILURE TO UPHOLD THIS CONDITION WOULD LEAD TO VIOLATIONS ON THE PARCEL AS WELL AS RECEDING OF THIS ADMINISTRATIVE PERMIT FOR ANY OPERATION. ANOTHER CONCERN WAS WHY IS THIS, UM, PERMIT NOT A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT? AS I PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, THE PROPOSED PROJECT WOULD BE CONSIDERED, UH, IN OUR DEFINITION, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, STORAGE PLANTS AND YARDS. AND THIS USE MAY BE PERMITTED IN THE A ONE ZONE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE PERMIT. ADMINISTRATIVE PERMITS CAN BE COMPLETED IN ONE OF FOUR LEVELS AND IN THIS CASE IT WAS DEEMED APPROPRIATE TO TAKE TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION OF THIS PROJECT. DUE TO THE CONTROVERSY REGARDING THE NAT INFESTATION IN MARCH OF 2026 THAT AFFECTED MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS. ANOTHER CONCERN WAS THE CEQA EXEMPTION THAT IS BEING PROPOSED IS NOT APPLICABLE AND ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW SHOULD BE REQUIRED. UM, THE PROJECT INVOLVES THE CONTINUED USAGE OF EXISTING STRUCTURES THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY UTILIZED FOR STORAGE AND PROCESSING. NO CONSTRUCTION IS BEING PROPOSED WITH THIS PROPOSAL AND THE PROJECT IS NOT EXPANDING OR INTENSIFYING ANY USAGE. THEY ARE NOT EXPANDING BE BEYOND THE EXISTING FOOTPRINT. THE FACILITY WOULD ONLY UTILIZE THE STRUCTURES THAT ARE ALREADY EXISTING AND WILL NOT BE PERMITTED FOR ANY PROCESSING AT ALL. ANOTHER CONCERN WAS REGARDING HOURS OF OPERATION, NOISE, SMELLS AND LIGHTING. WE HAVE SET A CONDITION AS PART OF THE APPROVAL OF THE APPLICANT SHALL ABIDE TO THE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS IN CHAPTER 18 POINT 40 OF THE MERCED COUNTY CODE, [00:15:01] INCLUDING THAT STANDARD TO COMPLY WITH NOISE, ODOR, OUTDOOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL DISTURBANCE, GLARE, AND WASTEWATER. THE FACILITY WILL WILL BE OPERATING FROM EIGHT 6:00 AM TO 10:00 PM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AND WE'LL INTIMATE IMPLEMENT QUIET HOURS DURING THE TIMEFRAME OF 8:00 PM TO 10:00 PM WITH OCCASIONAL OPERATION DURING THE WEEKEND, DURING PEAK MONTHS, PEAK HARVESTING MONTHS, BUT WE'LL BE LIMITED TO HOURS BY 8:00 AM TO 4:00 PM OF OPERATION. UM, THE APPLICANT WILL ALSO BE IMPLEMENTING NOISE CONTROL BY INCLUDING SIGNAGE AND ALSO ADVISING EMPLOYEES TO REFRAIN FROM, UM, UTILIZING MACHINERY THAT IS, UM, LOUD AND THIS INCLUDES FORKLIFT. UM, THERE WILL ONLY HAVE ONE FORKLIFT THAT WILL BE UTILIZED DAILY, BUT UM, IN TOTAL WE'LL HAVE TWO FORKLIFTS ON SITE, UM, BUT JUST ONE WOULD BE USED. UM, PREVIOUSLY THE SITE DID HAVE TWO LIGHTING TOWERS. UH, THOSE WILL BE REMOVED. UM, THE APPLICANT MENTIONED THEY WILL BE REMOVING THOSE LIGHTING TOWERS SO THAT THERE IS NO, UM, LIGHTING SPILLING OVER ANY NEARBY PROPERTIES. UM, MOVING FORWARD, UM, STAFF RECOMMENDS, UH, THE PLANNING, THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO DETERMINE THE PROJECT IS CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PURSUANT TO SECTION 1 5 3 0 1 EXISTING FACILITIES OF THE SQL GUIDELINES AND SECOND TO APPROVE ADMINISTRATIVE PERMIT NUMBER AA 26 DASH 0 0 4 BASED ON THE FINDINGS INCLUDED IN THE STAFF REPORT AND SUBJECT TO THE RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL. UM, THIS NOW CONCLUDES STAFF PRESENTATIONS. I AM AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS AS WELL AS OUR, UM, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND THE APPLICANT IS ALSO PRESENT AS WELL FOR ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS. UH, COMMISSIONERS. ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? OKAY. ALRIGHT. NOW WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. UM, IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE STEP FORWARD. STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU. YOU CAN RAISE. I SAW, OH, I SAW. RAISE IT RIGHT ON YOUR LEFT. OH, LOOK AT THAT. THAT'S THOUGHT OF PEOPLE MY HEIGHT. THAT'S FANTASTIC. THANK YOU. UM, JUST BEFORE I REALLY GET INTO MY COMMENTS, UM, I DO HAVE, UH, PACKAGES OF PHOTOGRAPHS FROM SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS, WHICH I ACTUALLY SAW ON MY WAY IN HERE. SO, UM, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, MADAM PLANNER, BUT, UH, WERE THESE, UH, WERE THE PHOTOS THAT I EMAILED YOU YESTERDAY, A PACKAGE OF ABOUT 20 PHOTOS, WERE THEY DISTRIBUTED TO EACH OF THE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS OR, OKAY. THANK YOU. THEN I WILL DISREGARD THESE. UM, AND I WILL INTRODUCE MYSELF. MY NAME IS TOM TURRA AND I APPRECIATE THE TIME TO COMMENT. I'M AN ATTORNEY REPRESENTING SOME OF THE LANDOWNERS THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE CHANGE IN OPERATIONS IN THIS FACILITY. UM, SO ULTIMATELY WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO IS WE'RE HERE TO ASK YOU TO CONTINUE THIS HEARING AND NOT NECESSARILY TO REJECT SENSIENT. UH, THAT'S NOT THE AGENDA HERE, AND NOT TO PROHIBIT A STORAGE FACILITY EITHER. REALLY WHAT WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS THAT YOU CONTINUE THIS HEARING SO THAT BEFORE APPROVING AN ONION STORAGE AT THIS SITE, THE COUNTY, YOU NEED TO ESTABLISH WITH CERTAINTY THAT WHATEVER CAUSED THIS NAT INFESTATION BACK IN DECEMBER THROUGH MARCH OF, UH, THIS PAST YEAR, WE NEEDED TO ESTABLISH WHAT THAT WAS WITH CERTAINTY. HOW, WHAT CAUSED IT AND WHAT'S GONNA PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN, CONSIDERING THE EVIDENCE BEFORE YOU, INCLUDING THE STAFF REPORT, THAT INFORMATION IS NOT BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING. AND WE URGE YOU TO, UH, DIRECT YOUR STAFF TO GO BACK AND INVESTIGATE WHY, SO THAT YOU CAN TAILOR CONDITIONS THAT ARE DIRECTLY TARGETED TOWARDS THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS MATTER. THE RE MY CLIENT'S REQUEST HERE IS REASONABLE, GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES. IT REFLECTS THEIR CHARACTER. THEY ARE AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS OWNERS, STAKEHOLDERS, RESIDENTS, AND THEY KNOW THAT COUNTRY LIVING COMES WITH DUST, NOISE AND INSECTS. BUT WHAT MY CLIENTS AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY EXPERIENCED DURING THAT TIMEFRAME GOES FAR BEYOND THAT. AND I THINK THE IMAGES AND THE VIDEOS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES ON THAT IN THAT REGARD. [00:20:01] AND TODAY YOU'RE GONNA HEAR MORE. YOU'RE GONNA HEAR PLENTY OF PERSONAL ACCOUNTS ABOUT THE SCALE OF THE PLAGUE THAT WAS UNLEASHED ON THIS COMMUNITY. AND YOU'RE GONNA HEAR ABOUT BUSINESSES AFFECTED. YOU'RE GONNA HEAR ABOUT CLIENTS LOST, BEEHIVES, INVADED BUSINESSES, FUMIGATED FUNDRAISERS MOVED, KIDS UNABLE TO PLAY AT THEIR HOMES IN THEIR YARDS. AND I'VE, AND AGAIN, THOSE PICTURES SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES AND I, AND I HOPE THAT YOU WERE PROVIDED WITH THE VIDEOS AS WELL. AND I, AND I ASSUME THAT IF YOU ENGAGE WITH ANY OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE GONNA FOLLOW ME, YOU'LL FIND MORE EVIDENCE TO THIS EFFECT. THIS INCIDENT DESERVES YOUR ATTENTION AND THE STAFF REPORT IN ITS CURRENT FORM, HAND WAVES THIS INCIDENT AWAY AND CALLS IT THE RESULT OF AN UNPERMITTED PROCESSING ACTIVITY THAT HAPPENED AT THE SITE. AND AGAIN, IT IS OUR CASE THAT THE MERE ATTRIBUTION OF THIS PROCESSING AS BEING THE ROOT CAUSE AND REQUEST AN EXTENSION JUST TO SPEAK ON THE, UH, ON THE OPPONENT'S BEHALF ON MY TIME HERE. THESE, THIS PROCESSING DOES NOT ITSELF. YOUR, YOUR THREE MINUTES ARE UP. SO IF ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, THEN I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA REGISTER MY OBJECTIONS IN THE RECTOR RECORD AND I'LL SAY THAT THERE ARE INSUFFICIENT FINDINGS, UH, INSUFFICIENT PROOF TO FIND UNDER CQA AND UNDER YOUR PLAN AND UNDER YOUR OWN ZONING ZONING CODE. I WOULD DIRECT YOU TO, UH, THE FINDING THAT UNDER THE ZONING CODE THAT THIS IS NOT GONNA BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND CONVENIENCE. THAT THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE TO MAKE THAT FINDING GIVEN THE EVIDENCE IN THE RECORD. AND AGAIN, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST AN EXTENSION AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK AND COMPLETE IT. OTHERWISE, I'LL LIE TO WRITTEN AN OBJECTION IN THE RECORD. THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO COME UP AND SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? HELLO, GOOD MORNING. UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MY NAME'S BRANDON SILVA. I LIVE RIGHT HERE ON THE SITE PLAN. UH, THE AMOUNT OF OF TROUBLE AND PROBLEMS THAT THIS, UH, FAILED ATTEMPT AT STORING ONIONS AT THE THIS FACILITY CAUSED ALL THESE PEOPLE HERE WAS, WAS JUST TERRIBLE. I DON'T, I CAN'T STRESS THAT ENOUGH TO YOU GUYS. THERE WAS NO ESCAPING THIS. IT WENT IN OUTSIDE IN OUR HOMES. UM, IT WAS JUST, IT WAS JUST TERRIBLE. AND I, I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THREE MINUTES CAN REALLY EXPLAIN HOW BAD IT WAS. 'CAUSE WE COULDN'T, CAN'T, CAN'T ESCAPE IT. YOU KNOW, YOU'LL ONLY WAY TO ESCAPE IS GET OUTTA TOWN. UM, I THINK IT'S GONNA HAPPEN AGAIN IF YOU GUYS DON'T PUT STRONGER, UM, CONDITIONS. THE STORING OF THIS STUFF, YOUR, UH, STEEL BUILDINGS HERE ON YOUR SITE PLAN, THESE ARE STEEL BUILDINGS. THIS IS LIKE, I THINK THAT'S ACCEPTABLE TO STORE, UH, RAW PRODUCTS IN, RIGHT? BUT THE REMAINING 147,000 SQUARE FOOT ARE FABRIC STEEL BUILDINGS. THOSE ARE JUST OPEN-ENDED SHADES. YOU CAN'T CONTROL ANY SORT OF PEST THAT COMES, COMES IN THERE. IF IT WAS A BIG GNAT PROBLEM, YOU WOULD NEED TO SEAL THOSE AND FUGATE IT TO CONTROL THAT ISSUE. IF WE ALLOW THEM TO PRO TO CONTINUE STORING LIKE THAT, WE'RE ALL GONNA END UP IN THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. UM, I CAN'T STRESS THAT MORE. 'CAUSE WE DON'T, YOU'RE GONNA BE OUR NEIGHBOR. WE WANT TO SET HIM UP FOR SUCCESS, RIGHT? UM, HE'S GONNA FAIL AGAIN IF YOU LET THEM STORE THIS WAY, OKAY? SO JUST PLEASE CONSIDER STRONGER CONDITIONS. UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? UM, MY NAME'S SCOTT SEAVERSON. UH, MY ADDRESS IS 1 5 0 2 0 SUNNY ACRES AVENUE TURLOCK. I LIVE ABOUT A MILE, A LITTLE OVER A MILE TO THE NORTHWEST OF SENTT PROPERTY. UM, MY WIFE AND I HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE AS YOU JUST HEARD, AND THOSE EXPERIENCES ARE GOING, GOING TO HEAR AT OUR OWN HOME. UM, MY FIRST CONCERN IN THE REPORT IS THE INSPECTION PROCESS. UM, BASED ON THE REPORT'S OWN ESTIMATES, OVER 650 BINS OF, OF ONIONS CAN BE DELIVERED [00:25:01] IN A WEEK. MY QUESTION TO THE STAFF IS, HOW CAN A THOROUGH WEEKLY INSPECTION TAKE PLACE? AND NOT JUST ONE, BUT MULTIPLE 16,000 SQUARE FOOT BARNS THAT HAVE BEEN FILLED WITH BINS OF ONIONS THAT ARE STACKED SIX INCHES APART. HOW CAN ANYBODY DO A THOROUGH INSPECTION ON THOSE BINS IN THE MIDDLE OF THOSE BARNS? THE PRACTICAL ANSWER IS IT CAN'T. THAT REPORT IS INCOMPLETE. MY SECOND CONCERN IS THE POTENTIAL OF THE MAGGOT IMPACTING OTHER AGRICULTURAL CROPS GROWING IN THE AREA AS STAFF OR ANYONE ELSE LOOKED INTO THE POTENTIAL OF THE MAGGOT POPULATIONS THAT WE EXPERIENCED AS A POTENTIAL PESTS IN THE OTHER CROPS THAT ARE GROWN WITHIN A MILE OF, OF THE PROPERTY, SUCH AS CITRUS STONE, FRUITS, TREE NUTS, BERRIES AND SWEET POTATOES. AND WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS ON THE COMMERCIAL BEE OPERATIONS? THE HIVES THAT ARE PLACED IN THE NEIGHBORING ALMOND ORCHARDS FOR SPRING POLARIZATION. MY WIFE AND I WERE ABLE TO GO INSIDE AND EAT OUR MEALS AND CHANGE OUR OUTDOOR FAMILY EVENTS TO OTHER LOCATIONS. BUT WHAT ABOUT OUR FARM WORKERS THAT ARE WORKING IN THE ADJACENT FIELDS? THEY TAKE THEIR SCHEDULE BREAKS AND LUNCH BREAKS OUTDOORS. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE, BASED ON MY OWN EXPERIENCES WITH ONION FLIES, WHAT THEY HAD TO ENDURE, ENDURE TO TAKE A SIMPLE BITE OF THEIR FOOD OR SIP OF THEIR FAVORITE BEVERAGE. I KNOW CONSUMING PROTEIN IS THE END THING RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT SHOULD BE SOMEBODY'S CHOICE. , I OPPOSE THE REPORT AS WRITTEN AND WANT STRONGER PROTECTIONS INCLUDED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN RAMIREZ, COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF. MY NAME IS BRIANNE VANDENBERG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MERCED COUNTY FARM BUREAU, AND I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY REGARDING ADMINISTRATIVE PERMIT NUMBER AA 2 6 0 0 4 FOR T AGRICULTURAL INGREDIENTS. AS WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DECISION INVOLVING THE FIRE STATION CLOSURES AND CONSOLIDATIONS, MERCED COUNTY FARM BUREAU HAS MEMBERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS ISSUE AND THEREFORE UNDERSTANDS THE CHALLENGES WITH AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TODAY'S DECISION. THIS ISSUE WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ORGANIZATION FRIDAY MORNING. SINCE THEN, WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS CON CONVERSATIONS WITH INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED BY THE APPLICATION BEFORE YOU. ULTIMATELY, THESE DISCUSSIONS MADE IT OBVIOUS THAT LAST YEAR'S EXPERIENCE WAS UNBEARABLE AND THAT NO ONE WANTS TO REPEAT THAT FROM OUR CONVERSATIONS. THIS WAS STRESSED FROM ALL PARTIES. WE WANNA ENSURE THAT EVERYONE IS GOOD STEWARDS, NEIGHBORLY, AND PLACING AGRICULTURE IN THE BEST LIGHT SENTIENT IS IMPORTANT TO THE FABRIC OF MERCED COUNTY AGRICULTURE. AND AT THE SAME TIME, THE RESIDENTS HAVE PLACED THEIR LIVELIHOODS IN THIS COMMUNITY. WHILE WE UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR THE PERMIT AND THE PROCEDURES SENTIENT HAS SUBMITTED, IT HAS BECOME EVIDENT THAT THE COMMUNITY'S TRUST HAS ERODED. FOLLOWING LAST YEAR'S EXPERIENCE, WE'D LIKE TO SEE BOTH SIDES COME TOGETHER TO BUILD THE TRUST BACK. YET DO NOT BELIEVE THIS WILL BE DONE SHOULD YOU APPROVE THE PERMIT TODAY. WE HOPE THAT A SMALL PAUSE WOULD ALLOW FOR ASSURANCES TO BE PUT INTO PLACE, PLACING CONCERN AND FEARS TO THE SIDELINES. AT THE SAME TIME, WE WANNA BE MINDFUL OF ANY ORDERS PLACED WITHIN THIS PERMIT. OUR BOARD IS CONCERNED WITH ANY NEW STIPULATIONS OR ORDINANCES THAT MAY RESULT FROM TODAY'S DISCUSSION. WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE MAY NOT BE A PARTY TO THE RECOMMENDED DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE APPLICANT, HOWEVER WE WANNA ENSURE OUR PLACE AT THE TABLE SHOULD ANY NEW ORDINANCE THAT WOULD IMPACT MERCED COUNTY AGRICULTURE COME FORWARD FROM THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER DAVE TEAL. I'M A REPRESENTING CORTEZ GROWERS ASSOCIATION AT 1 2 7 1 4 CORTEZ AVENUE, TURLOCK, CALIFORNIA. UM, WE'RE ABOUT A MILE NORTH OF, UH, OF THIS FACILITY. I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE FACILITY AND IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT THE, THE, [00:30:01] THE ISSUE HERE IS AN ISSUE OF TRUST. AND WHETHER OR NOT I, I WOULD, BY THE WAY, I WOULD ECHO EVERYTHING THAT BRIANNE JUST BROUGHT BEFORE YOU. UH, BUT THE TRUST THAT WAS VIOLATED, UH, DURING LAST YEAR'S, UH, EPISODE, THE PLAGUE OF BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS, UH, DIDN'T REALLY AFFECT US AS MUCH AS IT DID MY CLOSE NEIGHBORS. UH, HOWEVER, I WOULD SUGGEST YOU CONTINUE THIS THING UNTIL SOMETHING CAN, UH, OR SOME PROCESS OF VERIFICATION OF WHAT IS ON THE PERMIT IS ACTUALLY PERFORMED. UH, AND IF WE COULD FORM SOME SORT OF COMMITTEE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY THAT COULD MEET WITH AND VERIFY THAT THE THINGS ARE GOING UNTIL CONFIDENCE AND TRUST IS RESTORED, UH, THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? GOOD MORNING. UH, CHAIRMAN RAMIREZ, UH, MEMBER OF THE BOARD. MY NAME'S FELIPE AGUILAR. I'M, UH, EMPLOYEE OF SENSIENT NATURAL INGREDIENTS OR SENSIENT AGRICULTURAL INGREDIENTS. I'VE BEEN AN EMPLOYEE FOR THE COMPANY FOR 21 YEARS. UM, I CAN CERTAINLY AGREE WITH, UH, MY NEIGHBORS AND MANY OF THE FOLKS THAT HAVE, UH, SPOKEN HERE TODAY IN THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, AND THAT WE WERE ALSO NOT VERY HAPPY WITH THE OUTCOME OF OUR CROP YEAR IN 2025 THAT SPILLED OVER INTO 2026. WE, UM, WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK IN TIME, IT'S HARD TO, UH, EXPRESS OUR, UH, SINCERE, UH, UH, APOLOGIES TO OUR NEIGHBORS AND, AND TO OURSELVES. UH, WE ARE A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY. WE DON'T JUST OPERATE, UH, FACILITY, UH, IN THE COMMUNITY. WE, WE HAVE A FACILITY, UH, AND LIVINGTON THAT EMPLOYS 400 PLUS PEOPLE, UH, ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. UH, A LOT OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. AND, UH, WE, WE CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THAT OUR ACTIVITIES, UM, ALTHOUGH, UH, NOT ON PURPOSE, AFFECTED THE COMMUNITY NEGATIVELY. UH, AND WE'VE WORKED VERY HARD WITH THE COUNTY, DID NOT ONLY ADDRESS, UM, THE ISSUES IN THE MOMENT, BUT ALSO SINCE THEN TO GET TO THE POINT THAT WE'RE AT TODAY. AND I THINK THAT WE'VE, WE, WE HAVE TAKEN, AND I SAY WE AS A SENSIENT HAVE TAKEN CONSIDERABLE STRIDES TO GET TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE WILL NOT CREATE A NUISANCE, UH, ON, AT OUR, AT OUR FACILITY IN CORTEZ BY LIMITING OUR, OUR ACTIVITIES AND SEPARATING, UH, THOSE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE STORAGE AND THOSE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE PROCESSING THAT CAUSED THE ISSUE OR THAT WE FEEL CAUSED THE ISSUE OF, UM, REALLY INSECTS OR GNATS AT, AT OUR FACILITY. AND, AND THAT, THAT PART IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, UM, FOR US BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE WORD TRUST CAME UP AND THAT'S A, IT'S A VERY STRONG WORD AND IT'S VERY REAL. UH, AND THAT'S, THAT'S VERY, VERY REAL. BUT OUR INTENT HERE IS TO CONTINUE TO BE A GOOD STEWARD OF THE COMMUNITY, A GOOD STEWARD OF THE ENVIRONMENT. OUR FACILITY HAS BEEN, UH, IN PLACE, EXCUSE ME, HAS BEEN OPERATING IN PLACE SINCE THE FIFTIES. IT'S BEEN OWNED BY OUR, UM, IT'S BEEN OWNED BY OUR CURRENT OWNERSHIP SINCE 1979. UM, AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO US THAT, UH, THAT OUR TIME, UH, SINCE 1979 BE IMPECCABLE AND THAT WE CONTINUE ON THAT FRONT MOVING FORWARD. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I, ONE OF A COUPLE OF THE TERMS THAT WERE USED EARLIER WERE REASON REASONABLENESS. YOU KNOW, WE, WE CERTAINLY, UM, EXPECT THAT WE HAVE BEEN REASONABLE IN MODIFYING OUR OPERATIONS AND LIMITING HOURS OF OPERATION AND LIMITING ACTIVITIES THAT, THAT'S, UH, A VERY GOOD SIGN OF REASONABLENESS FROM, FROM OUR PART. UH, AND, AND THAT'S NOT ONLY FOR OUR NEIGHBORS, BUT TO OPERATE OUR BUSINESS EFFECTIVELY. UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DO NOT INTEND TO PERFORM ANY PROCESSING ON SITE, AND THAT'S ON PURPOSE TO ENSURE THAT WE DO NOT CONTINUE DOWN THIS PATH. UM, AND SO WE ASK THAT TODAY INSTEAD OF, UH, DELAYING OR CONTINUING. OLIVIA, IT'S, UH, YOUR TIME, MY FRIEND. OKAY. INSTEAD OF CONTINUING THAT, WE, WE ASK THAT YOU APPROVE THE PERMIT AS STATED TODAY. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER RAMIREZ AND FELLOW COMMISSIONERS OF OUR COUNTY. MY NAME IS RODNEY ARD. I RESIDE AT 1 3 8 0 7 LOMBARDI [00:35:01] AVENUE, SOUTH AND EAST OF THIS ST FACILITY, A RESIDENT IN THIS AREA FOR 34 YEARS. AND OUR FAMILY IS NOW IN THE FIFTH GENERATION OF RESIDENTS IN OUR AREA. IF YOU'VE SEEN THE PICTURES, THE VIDEOS, I, I HOPE, AND I ASSUME YOU HAVE, YOU, YOU KNOW WHY I AM HERE. YES, IT WAS THAT BAD. AND I'M HERE TO AFFIRM AND REAFFIRM WHAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM OUR RESIDENTS. THAT THIS WAS A, UH, PROBABLY ACCURATELY STATED, A BIBLICAL, UH, EVENT OF MAJOR PROPORTIONS. OUR COMMUNITY, OUR QUALITY OF LIFE ABSOLUTELY TURNED UPSIDE DOWN AND DESTROYED. ROADS LOOKED LIKE IT HAD SNOWED. I DIDN'T THINK IT SNOWED IN MERCED COUNTY, UH, BUT IT SURE LOOKED LIKE IT. ONIONS, GARLIC, SPROUTING, UH, ON PROPERTY IN ADJACENT TO, UH, UH, OUR ALMONDS. WHAT ARE THE RAMIFICATIONS? UH, WE DON'T KNOW. WE NEED STUDIES. WE NEED FURTHER INFORMATION THAT CAN ONLY COME WITH TIME, AND THE ANSWERS WILL, WILL BE PRESENT, AND WE'LL ACCEPT THOSE ANSWERS. UH, WHAT WERE THE BEE HEALTH? UH, WE'VE SEEN PICTURES OF COLONIES OF, OF INFESTATIONS, OF BEE COLONIES INFESTED WITH THESE MAGGOTS. UH, I'M SURE YOU'VE SEEN THOSE, OR IF YOU HAVEN'T, THEY'LL BE PRESENTED TO YOU. WHAT ABOUT THE MOTHER WHO'S BREASTFEEDING HER CHILD IN HER HOME? AGAIN, THERE'S NO ESCAPING. IT WASN'T SIMPLY, WE CAN GO INSIDE AND FORGET ABOUT THE BARBECUE, SO WE CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN AGAIN. THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY IS DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AND EXPECTING DIFFERENT RESULTS. SO I'M ASSUMING THAT, UH, THESE DIFFERENT RESULTS OR THESE DIFFERENT PRACTICES ARE BE PART OF THIS PERMIT APPLICATION. UH, WE'VE BEEN TOLD THIS WAS AN OUTLIER YEAR. THERE ISN'T ANYONE HERE IN AGRICULTURE AND OUR COUNTY IS RICH IN AGRICULTURE THAT HASN'T HAD MOTHER NATURE TO DEAL THEM A HARSH BLOW. UH, WE PREPARE FOR IT. WE UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING, WE KNOW HOW TO MITIGATE IT, AND WE DON'T ASSUME AND TELL PEOPLE THAT THIS IS A ONE-OFF. UH, IF YOU'VE READ ANY KIND OF REPORTS OF UPCOMING WEATHER, IT'S GONNA BE A WET YEAR. UH, SO AGAIN, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE NEED THE HELP OF OUR COUNTY. WE NEED THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. WE NEED YOU ON THIS COMMITTEE, THIS COMMISSION, TO LOOK AT THESE FACTS AS PRESENTED. WE JUST NEED MORE INFORMATION. WE FEEL THAT THE APPLICATION IS LACKING, THE STAFF REPORT'S LACKING IN INFORMATION, AND THEN INFORMATION CAN BE, UH, CAN BE STUDIED. IT CAN BE PRESENTED TO YOU. SO, UH, I'LL WRAP THIS UP BY SAYING, UH, PLEASE DON'T RUSH THIS. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR, OUR COMMUNITY OF BOCO AND CORTEZ AND DELHI. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. CHAIR RAMIREZ, COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF. THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THIS HEARING AND GIVING THE COMMUNITY AN OPPORTUNITY TO REACT TO WHAT WE EXPERIENCED LAST YEAR. I'M RANDY FEE RAINEY. I RESIDE AT 1 5 3 4 8 LOMBARDI AVENUE. UM, I FARM AND LIVE A MILE WEST OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY ON HARDING ROAD. UM, EARLY THIS YEAR AND THROUGH THE SPRING, MY HOME IS INUNDATED WITH GNATS AGAIN. I'M A MILE AWAY FROM THE OPERATION. ALL OUR MEALS AND DRINKS HAD TO BE COVERED, AND DINING OUTSIDE WAS NOT POSSIBLE. WE LATER LEARNED THAT THESE GNATS WERE AN INFESTATION OF ONION FLIES, SPAWNED FROM ROTTING ONIONS PROCESSED AT THE SENTIENT ONION STORAGE FACILITY. THE CONDITIONS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD EXPERIENCE WERE TERRIBLE BASED UPON OUR EXPERIENCE DEALING WITH THE INFESTATION. THIS YEAR, THE PLANNING COMMISSION NEEDS TO TAKE STEPS TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES AND OPERATING CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL TO PREVENT ANOTHER INFESTATION. THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM STAFF YOU'RE CONSIDERING TODAY DO NOT ADEQUATELY PROTECT THE SURROUNDING RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES. IN MARCH, AFTER A CALL TO THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, A CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICE WAS DISPATCHED TO INSPECT THE SENSIENT FACILITY. A REPORT WAS GENERATED DESCRIBING THE APPALLING CONDITIONS THAT HE OBSERVED. I DON'T THINK YOU'VE RECEIVED THAT REPORT. IT'S AN IMPORTANT FACT THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO YOU TODAY. YOU'RE CONSIDERING APPROVING AN ADMINISTRATIVE PERMIT BASED UPON LAST YEAR'S ACTIVITIES AND OUTCOMES AT THE SENTIENT HARDING ROAD FACILITY. THIS FACILITY QUAL QUALIFIES FOR NO LESS THAN AN APPLICATION OF A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT. THE CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW RECOMMENDED BY STAFF IS WRONG. AGAIN, THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS EXPERIENCED LAST YEAR SHOULD BE MORE THAN ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO REQUIRE AN ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW. ONIONS AND SKINS FELL FROM THE [00:40:01] SENTIENT DELIVERY. TRUCKS WERE EXTENSIVE. NOT ONLY WERE THE COUNTY ROADS NEARBY POLLUTED, BUT ONIONS AND SKINS FALLING OFF TRUCKS REACHED INTO SURROUNDING PRIVATE PROPERTY. AS YOU CONSIDER PERMIT CONDITIONS, BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES RECOMMEND ALL INCOMING AND OUTGOING TRUCKS SHOULD BE COVERED OR TARPED TO PREVENT SPILLAGE ONTO THE COUNTY ROADS AND PRIVATE PROPERTY. FINALLY, I WANT TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO A MATTER NOT MENTIONED IN THE STAFF REPORT BEEHIVES NEAR THE T FACILITY WERE FOUND TO BE LOADED WITH SWARMS OF ONION FLIES. DO WE KNOW WHAT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THIS IS FOR THE CROPS DEPENDENT UPON STRONG BEE ACTIVITY? THIS IS A MATTER THAT NEEDS FOR THE STUDY. BASED UPON MY TESTIMONY AND OTHERS, I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION POSTPONE PERMIT UNTIL PREVIOUS INVESTIGATION FULLY INVESTIGATED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? UH, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. UH, MY NAME IS BOB NUNES. I'M THE CEO OF SELECT HARVEST, USA. UH, WE'RE ALMOND PROCESSORS. UH, OUR ADDRESS IS 14 8 27 WEST HARDING. UH, WE'RE LESS THAN A QUARTER OF A MILE FROM THIS FACILITY. UM, WE, UH, GROW AND CONTRACT, UH, FROM MORE THAN 200 GROWERS, UH, ALMONDS IN, UH, THROUGHOUT THE, THE, THE VALLEY IN CALIFORNIA FROM CHICO TO BAKERSFIELD. AND WE ARE AN SQF FACILITY. WE EXPORT TO OVER 50 COUNTRIES, AND WE BECAME INUNDATED WITH THESE FLIES. WE HAVE HEPA FILTERS AND ARE READY TO EAT FACILITIES, AND WE HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY CHANGE THEM. WE HAD TO, UH, DO EXCESSIVE FUMIGATION TO KILL THIS INFESTATION. AND MY CONCERN IS WE, WE DO A LOT OF OIL ROASTING, DRY ROASTING, STEAM PASTEURIZATION, AND RETAIL MARKETING, UH, IN THE UNITED STATES. AND IF WE WERE TO HAVE ANY OF THESE FLIES END UP IN OUR FINAL PRODUCT, WE'RE LOOKING AT A RECALL. WE'RE LOOKING AT A POTENTIAL LOSS OF CUSTOMERS AND INSURANCE ISN'T GONNA PAY FOR ANY OF THAT. UH, WE ALSO HAD, UH, OUTSIDE, UH, BREAK AREAS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES. THEY COULD NOT GO OUTSIDE BECAUSE, UH, FOR THEIR BREAKS 'CAUSE THEY WERE INUNDATED WITH, WITH THESE PESTS. UH, I KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRUST THAT'S BEEN MENTIONED A COUPLE OF TIMES. UH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS, UH, THIS STORAGE OR PROCESSING OR WHATEVER HAPPENED, THERE WASN'T A PERMIT TO DO THAT INITIALLY. UM, SO I'M GONNA GO WITH THE WORDS OF MY FAVORITE PRESIDENT, UH, TRUST BUT VERIFY. UH, I, I, I JUST REALLY DON'T BELIEVE WE CAN TAKE THEIR WORD FOR IT. UH, WE OPERATE UNDER A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT. AND I KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF STRINGS ATTACHED. WE JUST CAME THROUGH, UH, TWO YEARS AGO WITH AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT TO EXTEND THAT USE PERMIT. UM, IT LOOKED TO ME THAT THERE WAS NO RESTRICTIONS OR OVERSIGHT AS TO WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT THIS FACILITY. UH, SO I I, BEFORE YOU MAKE A RULING, I I HOPE YOU LOOK A LITTLE DEEPER AND LOOK AT ALL OF THE CONSEQUENCES THAT, UH, UH, THIS FACILITY, UH, COULD, COULD, UH, IMPACT THE, UH, THE AREA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS JOHN PHILLIPS. I LIVE AT 1 4 5 0 5 WEST HARDING ROAD, DIRECTLY NEXT TO THE LITTLE JAGGED SPOT HERE, RIGHT ON THE CORNER. SO WE'RE, WE'RE PRETTY MUCH AT GROUND ZERO. UM, I'M JUST GONNA READ WHAT I'VE GOT HERE FOR YOU. GOOD MORNING. MY WIFE AND I HAVE LIVED NEAR BCO AND TURLOCK IN MERCED COUNTY FOR ABOUT 22 YEARS. LAST YEAR, THE NEWEST OWNERS OF THE ADJOINING 26 ACRE PROPERTY BEGAN SORTING, HARVESTED ONIONS. DURING A VERY WET, RAINY SEASON, A LARGE AMOUNT OF ROTTEN ONIONS WAS LEFT OUTSIDE IN A LOW AREA NEAR THE RETENTION [00:45:01] POND AT THE BACK OF THE PROPERTY. THE ONION WASTE WAS ALREADY WET AND BECAME EVEN WETTER. AFTER THAT, AN ENORMOUS INFESTATION OF INSECTS DE DEVELOPED. WE UNDERSTAND THEY WERE ONION FRUIT NETS. WE HEARD REPORTS OF THEM BEING SEEN SEVERAL MILES AWAY, BUT WE LIVED NEXT DOOR AND EXPERIENCED THE INFESTATION FIRSTHAND, THESE INSECTS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE FRIENDS OR FAMILY OVER AND KEPT US FROM ENJOYING OUR PATIO, POOL AND OUTDOOR AREAS. THE PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEOS WE'VE BROUGHT TODAY SHOW THE EXTENT OF THE INFESTATION AND ITS EFFECT ON OUR PROPERTY. WE BELIEVE THE WET ONION WASTE AND WATER IN AND AROUND THE LOW AREA MAY HAVE CREATED CONDITIONS FOR THE INSECTS TO BREED. WE ASKED THE COUNTY TO INVESTIGATE THIS POSSIBILITY AND TO LOOK AT SAFE WASTE TO STORE RAW PRODUCTS BROUGHT ONTO THE PROPERTY, INCLUDING OTHER CROPS THAT MAY BE HANDLED THERE IN THE FUTURE. IF THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT IS APPROVED, WE ASK FOR CLEAR RULES REQUIRING ORGANIC WASTE TO BE STORED SAFELY AND REMOVED PROMPTLY KEPT AWAY FROM LOW SPOTS AND STANDING WATER AND DOCUMENTED WITH RECORDS SHOWING HOW LONG PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN KEPT ON SITE. THE COUNTY SHOULD BE ABLE TO INSPECT THE PROPERTY, RESPOND TO COMPLAINTS, AND PAUSE DELIVERIES OR PROCESSING IF SERIOUS INFESTATION RETURNS. WE ARE NOT ASKING THE COUNTY TO DISRUPT ORDINARY FARMING. WE ARE ASKING FOR REASONABLE SAFEGUARDS. SO THESE ISSUES AND CONCERNS DO NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. WE WISH TO MAINTAIN THE GOOD NEIGHBOR PRACTICES THAT HAVE WORKED FROM THE BEGINNING. PLEASE CONSIDER OUR EXPERIENCE AND THE EVIDENCE WE HAVE PRESENTED. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. THANK YOU. I JUST WANNA ADD ONE THING, UH, FROM AN EMOTIONAL POINT OF VIEW, I ALMOST WENT CRAZY, . I MEAN, IT WAS EVERY DAY CONSTANTLY. THANK YOU. I WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? HI, MY NAME IS JOE SP AND, UH, MY FAMILY AND I FARM AND LIVE ABOUT EIGHT TENTHS OF A MILE FROM THE FACILITY. WE'RE ON 1 4 2 7 6 BRADBURY ROAD, UM, JUST TO THE SOUTH. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN AGRICULTURE ALL MY ENTIRE LIFE. UM, I UNDERSTAND THE REALITIES AND CHALLENGES OF AG OPERATIONS. I UNDERSTAND THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT ALSO COMES WITH OPERATING A BUSINESS IN A RURAL COMMUNITY. I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK, UH, TO DENY THE PERMIT AS CURRENTLY PROPOSED. PROPOSED, UH, LAST WINTER, THE IMPROPER STORAGE AND HANDLING OF RAW ONIONS AT T'S FACILITY RESULTED IN A SEVERE FLY INFESTATION. IT AFFECTED OUR FAMILY AND OTHER RESIDENTS IN THE SURROUNDING AREA. UM, THIS WAS SIMPLY NOT AN INCONVENIENCE. IT WAS A PREVENTABLE PROBLEM. UH, DISRUPTED DAILY LIFE. HAD FAMILIES, UH, WHO HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE CONDITIONS THAT IT CAUSED. UH, IN ADDITION TO THE FLY INFESTATION, ONION SKINS, OTHER DEBRIS ACCUMULATED ALONG THE ROADSIDES FOR SEVERAL MILES. UM, PARTICULAR LONG CORTEZ AND HARDING ROAD. THE VOLUME WAS SUBSTANTIAL ENOUGH TO COVER THE ROAD SHOULDERS AND ALLOW THE WIND TO CARRY THE ONION SKINS TO NEARBY FIELDS. AS A FARMER, I RECOGNIZED THE OCCASIONAL ACCIDENTAL SPILLAGE CAN HAPPEN. A REPEATED EXCESSIVE DEBRIS FROM MULTIPLE TRUCKLOADS, UM, OVER SEVERAL MONTHS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE STANDARD OF OPERATION. THE STAFF REPORT DOES NOT CLEARLY ESTABLISH HOW THIS PROBLEM WILL BE PREVENTED IN THE FUTURE, INCLUDING WHETHER TRANSPORTATION LOADS MUST BE COVERED. I'M ALSO CONCERNED THAT SENSIENT CONDUCTED THESE OPERATIONS WITHOUT FIRST OBTAINING THE REQUIRED PERMITS. A COMPANY WITH DECADES OF EXPERIENCE OF OPERATING IN CALIFORNIA SHOULD UNDERSTAND ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO COMPLY WITH APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS. THE PROPOSED PERMIT LEAVES FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS UNANSWERED. UM, HOW LONG CAN A RAW PRODUCT BE STORED? WHAT CONDITIONS MUST BE KEPT? WHAT SPECIFIC PRACTICES WILL PREVENT THE FLY INFESTATION? WHO WILL INSPECT THE FACILITY MONITOR AND COMPLIANCE? WHAT CONSEQUENCES WOULD FOLLOW IF THE CONDITIONS ARE VIOLATED? UM, THESE ARE NOT MINOR DETAILS. THEY ARE ESSENTIAL PROTECTIONS FOR NEARBY RESIDENTS, PUBLIC, UH, ROADS AND SURROUNDING FARMLAND. [00:50:02] I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE PROJECT IS CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW UNDER CA. UH, GIVEN THE PROBLEMS OF OUR COMMUNITY ALREADY HAS HAD EXPERIENCED, I BELIEVE THOSE CONCERNS DESERVE A CAREFUL CONSIDERATION BEFORE THE PERMIT MOVES FORWARD. UM, WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR SPECIAL TREATMENT, WE'RE ASKING FOR RESPONSIBLE OPERATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY. UM, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION APPROVING A PERMIT WITHOUT CLEARLY DEFINED ENFORCEABLE SAFEGUARDS, RISK LEAVING RISKS, LEAVING OUR COMMUNITY TO DEAL. THANK YOU, JOE. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS KRISTEN WOLF AND I'M YO'S WIFE, MY FAMILY AND I LIVE APPROXIMATELY 0.8 MILES SOUTH OF SENTIENT STORAGE FACILITY. I WAS RAISED IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND THIS IS WHERE WE'VE CHOSEN TO RAISE OUR THREE CHIL YOUNG CHILDREN, BUILD OUR LIVES AND ENJOY THE SIMPLE THINGS THAT MAKE LIVING IN A RURAL COMMUNITY SO SPECIAL. I WANNA SHARE WHAT LAST WINTER'S FLY INFESTATION ACTUALLY MEANT FOR OUR FAMILY. FOR MANY PEOPLE, FLIES ARE AN ANNOYANCE. WHAT WE EXPERIENCED WAS SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT. OUR HOME, WHICH SHOULD BE A PLACE OF COMFORT AND PEACE, BECAME A PLACE WHERE WE CONSTANTLY FOUGHT TO KEEP FLIES AWAY FROM OUR FOOD, OUR CHILDREN, AND OURSELVES. PREPARING AND EATING MEALS BECAME DIFFICULT BECAUSE FLIES LANDED ON OUR FOOD AND FOUND THEIR WAY INSIDE OUR HOME. EVEN TAKING OUT THE TRASH BECAME A MISERABLE TASK. WHEN WE LIFTED THE TRASH CAN OR DUMPSTER LIDS, FLIES WOULD SWARM INTO OUR FACES, MAKING AN ORDINARY HOUSEHOLD CHORE SOMETHING OUR CHILDREN COULD NO LONGER EVEN SAFELY OR COMFORTABLY DO. SO WE ENJOY SPENDING TIME OUTDOORS AS A FAMILY, BUT SITTING OUTSIDE, PLAYING WITH OUR CHILDREN OR SIMPLY ENJOYING OUR PROPERTY BECAME NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT CONSTANTLY SWATTING FLIES AWAY FROM OUR FACES, OUR FOOD, ET CETERA. AT NIGHT, FLIES BUZZING AROUND. OUR HEADS EVEN INTERFERED. WITH OUR ABILITY TO SLEEP COMFORTABLY, WE COULD NO LONGER ENJOY HOSTING FAMILY AND FRIENDS, INCLUDING DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON, BECAUSE WE KNEW FLIES WOULD OVERWHELM THE FOOD AND GATHERING AREAS. WE TRIED EVERYTHING WE REASONABLY COULD TO MANAGE THE SITUATION. WE MAINTAINED 15 TO 20 FLY TRAPS SPREAD THROUGHOUT OUR HOME, CHECKING, EMPTYING, REFILLING THEM MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY. DESPITE ANY OF OUR EFFORTS, THE FLIES KEPT COMING. SOME NEIGHBORS RESORTED TO FREQUENT CHEMICAL FOGGING INSIDE THEIR HOMES AND OUTDOORS. AS A MOTHER, I WAS NOT WILLING TO REPEATEDLY EXPOSE OUR THREE YOUNG CHILDREN, AGES EIGHT, FIVE, AND ONE TO THOSE CHEMICALS SIMPLY TO DEAL WITH A PROBLEM WE DID NOT CREATE. NO FAMILY SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE THAT CHOICE BECAUSE VENEER NEARBY BUSINESSES, STORAGE AND HANDLING PRACTICES, THE HARDEST PART WAS FEELING THAT WE HAD LOST CONTROL OVER OUR OWN HOME AND OUR FAMILY'S QUALITY OF LIFE. WE COULD DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE ON OUR PROPERTY AND STILL BE OVERWHELMED BY A PROBLEM ORIGINATING SOMEWHERE ELSE. WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PRODUCTION IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE RELY ON IT OURSELVES. BUT RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS OPERATIONS MUST ALSO RESPECT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEARBY. I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT WITHOUT CLEAR STORAGE REQUIREMENTS, EFFECTIVE MONITORING AND ENFORCEABLE SAFEGUARDS, OUR FAMILY COULD EXPERIENCE THIS ALL OVER AGAIN. PLEASE DENY THE PERMIT. AS IT IS CURRENTLY PROPOSED, OUR CHILDREN DESERVE A CLEAN, COMFORTABLE HOME. AND OUR FAMILY DESERVES TO ENJOY THE COMMUNITY WE CALL HOME WITHOUT FEARING WHAT WE EXPERIENCED. THANK YOU. THESE ARE TRAPS JUST FROM NEIGHBORS. I'M SURE SEVERAL PEOPLE HERE COULD JUST, THEY'RE SOLID AND LEAVE THEM OVER HERE. THANK GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. UH, MY NAME IS WES ASAI. I FARM CHERRIES AND ALMONDS AT 1 4 1 1 3 HARDING ROAD, IMMEDIATELY EAST OF THE STORAGE FACILITY. I'M ALSO A LICENSED PEST CONTROL ADVISOR, A CERTIFIED CROP ADVISOR, AND A RESEARCH AGRONOMIST. SO I'VE DEALT WITH INSECTS QUITE A BIT IN MY LIFE. IN ADDITION TO WHAT OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED ABOUT THE CONCERN ABOUT THE NUISANCE, I EXPERIENCED THAT AS WELL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF MY HOUSE. BUT THERE'S ANOTHER ECONOMIC CONCERN THAT I AM AWARE OF AND, AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT BEING THAT I FARM TWO CROPS THAT ARE CONTINGENT ON CROSS POLLINATION BY HONEYBEES, UH, TO PROVIDE AN ECONOMIC, UH, LIVELIHOOD FOR MY, MY RANCH. UM, THE PHOTOS THAT YOU WERE PRESENTED, [00:55:01] I BELIEVE YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, WERE TAKEN BY MYSELF OF THE HONEYBEE HIVES AND THE POLLINATION PROCESS OF ALMOND AND CHERRY BLOSSOMS. IF YOU NOTE IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS, A TYPICAL, UH, HONEYBEE HIVES SHOULD BE BOILING WITH BEES COMING OUT. AND THE PHOTOGRAPHS SHOW NO ACTIVITY. AND INSIDE THE HIVES WHERE THE LIDS ARE REMOVED, YOU'LL NOTICE THE FRAMES IN THERE, WHICH SHOULD BE COVERED WITH HONEYBEES, ARE COVERED WITH ONION FLIES. INSTEAD, THEY'RE, THEY'RE EATING THE HONEY, THEY'RE EATING THE SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD SUPPLY THAT SUPPLIES THE BEES. AND I HAPPEN TO HAVE A HONEYBEE SUIT. SO I'M ABLE TO GO IN WHICH MOST GROWERS DON'T OPEN THE HIVES AND OBSERVE THIS. AND IT CONCERNED ME BECAUSE MY CROPS ARE DEPENDENT ON POLLINATION BY HONEYBEES. AND ALMONDS ARE THE NUMBER TWO ECONOMIC CROP IN MERCED COUNTY. SO I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, AND THE AREA THAT'S AFFECTED IS LARGELY PLANTED TO ALMONDS. SO THERE'S A, A BIG POTENTIAL IMPACT ON THESE HIVES. SO I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE STUDIED FURTHER BECAUSE THE OTHER PHOTOGRAPHS YOU HAVE WHERE THERE'S CHERRY AND ALMOND BLOSSOMS, THE ONES WITH THE BEES ON IT, IS WHAT A NORMAL POLLINATION PERIOD SHOULD LOOK LIKE. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE SLIDES OR THE PICTURES THAT HAVE THE ONION GNATS ON IT, YOU NOTICE THERE'S NO HONEYBEE ACTIVITY BECAUSE THEY'RE PHYSICALLY EXCLUDED BY THE PRESENCE OF THESE FLIES. AND SO ANY CROSS POLLINATED CROP, INCLUDING ALMONDS, I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME SIGNIFICANT RESEARCH DONE ON THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THAT. 'CAUSE IT'S GONNA IMPACT NOT ONLY THE GROWERS, BUT THE ENTIRE MERCED COUNTY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? I CAN'T SPEAK AGAIN. UM, I, YOU'VE ALREADY HAD YOUR TIME. I UNDERSTAND. BUT I ALSO, UH, WOULD LIKE TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT MY, UH, I DID NOTICE DURING MY TIME THAT MY TIMER WAS STARTED WHEN I WAS ADJUSTING THE PODIUM AND WHEN I WAS ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION ON, I, I DID LET YOU GO A LITTLE BIT OVER TO, I JUST WANNA MAKE A, JUST A QUICK NOTE. AND I, I'M A CITY ATTORNEY. I'VE SAT ON, ON THAT SIDE OF THINGS SENSITIVE TO THE FACT THAT YOU WANNA HAVE A QUICK GAME HERE. BUT ULTIMATELY, THE POINT THAT I'M GONNA MAKE, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO HEAR. YOU DON'T HAVE THE EFFORT TO MAKE. WE APPRECIATE IT, BUT YOUR TIME IS UP. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK HOW? MY NAME'S BILL REEL 1 3 2 6 8 LOMBARDI. AND I'VE BEEN LIVING THERE SINCE ABOUT 1957. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT ZONING CODE AND THE PERMITS ARE UNDER THE ZONING CODES, BUT PRIMARILY I'D LIKE TO READ 18.0 2.2 O. THE INTENT IS THAT THE COUNTY PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, COMFORT, CONVENIENCE, MORALS, PEACE AND GENERAL WELFARE, PROTECT THE CHARACTER, SOCIAL DIVERSITY AND ECONOMIC VITALITY OF NEIGHBORHOODS. AND TO ENSURE THE BENEFICIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTY. I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU GUYS TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION ON ANY DECISIONS THAT YOU MIGHT MAKE. AND I WANT TO, UH, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT REASONABLENESS AND TRANSPARENCY. UM, IN YOUR, UH, AGENDA AND BACKGROUND, YOU SAY THAT, UH, THE COUNTY RECEIVED, UH, REPORTS ABOUT THIS ACTIVITY IN MARCH ABOUT THE, THE INSECTS. SO IN MARCH 31ST OF THIS YEAR, SENTIENT FILED A PAPER, IT'S IN THE AGENDA ALSO S-A-I-S-O-P, AND THEY EXPLAIN HOW DILIGENTLY THEY'RE GONNA PUT THE BINS AND INSPECT AND DO EVERYTHING JUST PERFECT. MEANWHILE, THEY'RE SORTING IT AND DUMPING GARBAGE IN A PIT ON THE BACK OF THEIR PROPERTY. SO INTEGRITY, REASONABLENESS, THERE IT IS RIGHT THERE. AND, UM, ONE OF THING JUST, UH, UH, WELL, THEY, ONE OTHER THING WAS THEY HAVE NOT BEEN FORTHCOMING ON HOW THIS HAPPENED. THE, THEIR LACK OF COMPETENCE CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN. THEY HAVE NOT COME FORWARD TO SAY, YOU KNOW, HOW IT HAPPENED. WE KNOW WE IN THIS AG COMMUNITY, PEOPLE KNOW NOT TO HARVEST, TRANSPORT OR DEAL WITH [01:00:01] PRODUCT IN THE RAIN. THEY TARP IT, THEY COVER IT, THEY WAIT, THEY DID NOT DO THIS. WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT FORTHCOMING. SO THERE'S THAT. SO, UH, ON THE OTHER, JUST A MINOR LITTLE THING WAS, UH, IN THE ANALYSIS, IN THE, UH, UH, AGENDA. IT SAYS A PROJECT DESCRIPTION. CORTEZ, UH, WOULD NOT PROCESS, UH, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS BEYOND THEIR NATURAL STATE. AND THEN IT STATES, UH, THERE WOULD BE NO BIN WASHING OCCURRING ON SITE. WELL, ATTACHMENT C IN THAT SAME AGENDA SAYS IN ANCILLARY ACTIVITIES SUCH AS AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT, STORAGE AND MAINTENANCE, AS WELL AS BIN WASHING WILL OCCUR ON THE SITE. SO JUST A LITTLE BIT OF A, YOU KNOW, WHERE, WHERE'S THE TRUTH. SO THAT'S WHERE, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS INADEQUATE WHERE WE ARE AT THIS POINT. AND WHETHER IT'S A CUP OR WHAT, I THINK THAT, UH, WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD WITH WHAT'S ON THE TABLE TODAY. SO THAT'S MY OPINION. UH, THANK YOU. HEY, WE TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK. UH, SO WE'LL RETURN IN FIVE MINUTES. I'D LIKE TO CALL MEETING BACK TO ORDER. UM, IF WE HAVE ANY MORE SPEAKERS, COULD YOU PLEASE SIGN UP IN THE FRONT SEATS THERE SO THAT, UH, YOU'RE CLOSER TO THE PODIUM AND WE KNOW HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE ARE GONNA SPEAK. PLEASE. YES. YOU'RE, YOU'RE NEXT. MY NAME'S SHELLY JANTZ AND I LIVE AT 1 1 7 5 5 CORTEZ AVENUE. UH, THEY ARE, UH, IN MY BACKYARD, THROUGH THE ORCHARD. AND, UH, WHEN THIS ALL HAPPENED, I'VE LIVED AT THIS PROPERTY 52 YEARS, MY HUSBAND AND I, AND, UM, IT WAS HORRIBLE. I KNOW EVERYBODY'S TELLING YOU TO LOOK AND, AND LOOK OVER EVERYTHING AND TAKE YOUR TIME TO DO THIS. IT WAS LIKE THE WORST THING. IT WAS LIKE PROBABLY WHEN THE PEOPLE HAD THE CROCUS OR WHATEVER COME INTO THEIR HOUSES. AND, UM, WE HAD ALL THESE BUGS COME IN. THEY WEREN'T JUST IN YOUR KITCHEN AND THEY WEREN'T YOUR EVERYDAY GNATS THAT GO ON YOUR BANANAS OR WHATEVER. SITTING OUT THE WHOLE HOUSE WAS CONSUMED WITH THESE BUGS. EVEN IN THE BATHROOM. I HAD BUGS IN MY BATHTUB. AND, YOU KNOW, THE, THE FACT THAT THEY DIDN'T GET A PERMIT TO EVEN HAVE THIS STORED THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE SHOWS YOU WHAT YOU KNOW IS GOING ON WITH THE COMPANY. AND THEN, UM, IT WAS JUST REALLY HARD TO LIVE THROUGH THIS. 'CAUSE YOU COULD, YOU HAD TO COVER YOUR DRINK, YOU HAD TO COVER YOUR FOOD. IT WASN'T JUST A REGULAR LITTLE GNAT INFESTATION. AND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU COULD IMAGINE THIS IN YOUR OWN HOMES AND HAVE THIS GO ON FOR MONTHS, I THINK MAYBE YOU NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT THEY DID TO BRING ALL THESE TO THEIR, TO THE EVERYONE'S HOMES AND WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO NOT HAVE THIS EVER HAPPEN AGAIN. AND I JUST HOPE YOU CONSIDER LOOKING AT THIS LONGER THAN JUST RIGHT TODAY. AND LOOK AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND WHAT IT'S DONE TO ALL THESE PEOPLE'S HOMES. AND YOU KNOW, I'M NOT A FARMER. I JUST, WE'VE HAD DOGS, CHICKENS, PIGS AT OUR PROPERTY. NEVER HAVE WE EVER HAD SO MANY BUGS. SO I JUST FEEL LIKE YOU GUYS NEED TO LOOK AT THIS A LITTLE BIT LONGER AND TRY TO, YOU KNOW, SEE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE THEY COME BACK IN. LIKE THEY WERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SHA. HI, I'M NANCY SAKAGUCHI AND I LIVE AT 1 3 6 5 1 NORTH AVENUE AND IT'S IN DELHI AND IT'S OVER. IT'S LIKE A MILE AND A HALF. IT'S KIND OF WAY DOWN HERE. AND I WAS STILL AFFECTED. UM, AND I WANNA TALK ABOUT TWO THINGS. ONE WAS TRUST. UM, HOW IT WAS VIOLATED BECAUSE I WENT TO THAT LEGAL BOARD, BOARD MEETING OR JUST A, NOT A FOR ME, SORRY, JUST A MEETING AT BKO. AND, UM, SENSIENT SAID THAT THEY WERE GOING TO SPRAY. AND SO I SIGNED UP FOR THAT AND, UM, I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND A TIME STAYED HOME ALL DAY. DID THEY SHOW UP? NO. AND SO, UM, THEN I CALLED SENSIENT, YOU KNOW, TO TELL HIM THE COMPANY HIRED DIDN'T SHOW UP AND TO CALL ME BACK. AND I EMAILED AND PHONE, BUT, UM, [01:05:01] I DIDN'T GET A RESPONSE BACK FROM THEM EITHER. SO I KIND OF, MY TRUST WAS BROKEN BECAUSE THERE WAS NO FOLLOW UP AT ALL. UM, THE SECOND THING IS, IS THAT, UM, AT MY HOME, UM, I HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S IMMUNE COMPROMISED AND WITH ALL THE GNATS WE HAVE TO FEED BY IV, UM, FOR THE NUTRITION, AND THEY, IF IT'S SWARMING AROUND AND HE HAS TO WALK AND WE HAVE TO FEED HIM THROUGH THE TUBE, THAT'S GONNA BE A REAL ISSUE FOR US. SO I JUST WANT YOU TO CONSIDER, UM, THE FACTS AND, UM, JUST LOOK INTO IT MORE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. LOOKS LIKE THAT IS IT. SEE NO MORE. SO WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND MOVE ON TO THE COMMERCIALS FOR ANY QUESTIONS. NO QUESTIONS. SO WE MOVE ON TO THE MOTION. MR. CHAIRMAN, IF I CAN MAKE A STATEMENT. YES. YOU KNOW, I READ THROUGH, UM, THE VOLUMES OF INFORMATION AND READ THROUGH THE LETTERS AND READ THROUGH THE, LOOKED THROUGH THE PHOTOGRAPHS OF, UH, SOME OF THE INFESTATION AND IF WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON THIS ITEM AT ALL. UM, AND THAT'S CERTAINLY YOUR PREROGATIVE. YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY THAT HAVING A REPORT AT THE END OF 30 DAYS IS CERTAINLY NOT ADEQUATE IF I WERE BATTLING THE INFESTATION. I'LL SPEAK UP. HOW'S THAT? I CAN HEAR YOU ALRIGHT. UM, 30 DAYS WOULD NOT BE AS SUFFICIENT TO HAVE A REPORT EVERY 30 DAYS. AND THEN IF I WERE GOING TO ENTERTAIN ANY MOTION, AND THAT'S CERTAINLY YOUR OPPORTUNITY THERE, MR. CHAIR. BUT IT WOULD BE MY HOPE THAT WE WOULD HAVE AT THE COMPANY'S EXPENSE ONSITE, EITHER EPIDEMIOLOGISTS, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, OBVIOUSLY CODE ENFORCEMENT, AND SOMEONE FROM THE AGS, UH, AG DEPARTMENT THAT WOULD BE ONSITE, THAT WOULD REPORT BACK TO WHOMEVER IT'S APPROPRIATE TO, AND THAT THEY COULD SHUT THE PROJECT DOWN ON ANY GIVEN DAY SHOULD THE INFESTATION BECOME APPARENT. THAT'S JUST MY COMMENT, SIR. YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE THAT AN MOTION ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHERS, BUT I MEAN, I'M JUST THROWING THAT OUT THERE FOR DISCUSSION NOW, AND THAT IF, IF I CAN CONTINUE, I HEARD, UM, OUR STAFF SAY QUIET HOURS WERE FROM 8:00 PM TO 10:00 PM I DON'T THINK YOU MEANT THAT. I THINK YOU MEANT IT WAS FROM 8:00 PM UNTIL, UM, QUIET HOURS WERE GONNA BE FROM 8:00 PM TO 10:00 PM THAT'S IT. ONLY TWO HOURS OF QUIET TIME. UM, THAT, THAT'S WHAT I, WE HAD GATHERED FROM THE APPLICANT. UM, AND EVEN IF YOU GO TO A HOTEL, THEY TELL YOU FROM SEVEN OR 9:00 PM AND SEVEN, WELL, IF I CAN CLARIFY, THAT'S DURING THEIR OPERATIONAL HOURS AFTER THAT, THEY'RE NOT OPERATING BETWEEN 10 AND THE FOLLOWING DAY. SO THAT'S A CORRECTION TO THE RECORD, IF YOU WOULD. CORRECTION. COMMISSIONER , DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? COMMENT? UH, JUST GOING BACK TO, UH, SO WE'RE CONDITIONING FOR THEM TO HAVE AN, UH, MONTHLY INSPECTIONS. IS THAT WHAT I UNDERSTOOD? MONTHLY REPORTS AS I UNDERSTOOD MONTHLY REPORTS TO THE COUNTY. BUT HOW OFTEN WERE THE INSPECTIONS SET TO BE DONE BY A THIRD PARTY? SO THE INSPECTIONS ARE SET FOR ONCE A WEEK. OKAY. UM, INITIALLY THAT WAS GOING TO BE TO LOOK AT THE ACTUAL PRODUCT ITSELF OR THE PRODUCE. UH, WE'VE ASKED THEM TO INCLUDE THE ROAD CONDITIONS AS WELL IN THAT, UH, WEEKLY INSPECTION AND TO PROVIDE US WITH, UH, PHOTOS SO THAT WE CAN KEEP AN EYE ON THAT. UH, IN ADDITION, OUR STAFF WOULD, UH, PROPOSE TO GO OUT THERE MORE OFTEN THAN, UH, WHAT WE USUALLY DO WITH, UH, WE USUALLY DO AN INITIAL INSPECTION, UH, UPON, UH, COMPLETION OF THE CONDITIONS. UH, BUT WE WOULD ALSO PROPOSE GOING OUT, UH, LATER TIME, UH, MAYBE AT THREE MONTHS AND SIX MONTHS OR SIX MONTHS IN A YEAR. UH, EITHER WAY WE FEEL IT WARRANTS, UH, ADDITIONAL INSPECTION FROM PLANNING STAFF AS WELL. UH, IS THERE SOMETHING IN PLACE TO WHERE THEY'RE GONNA HAVE, UH, TRAPS IN, IN PLACE JUST IN CASE THERE IS ANY NUTS THAT COME UP BETWEEN THE INSPECTIONS? I THINK THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE DETERMINED AS PART OF THE INSPECTIONS, BUT WE CAN, UH, CONFIRM THAT WITH THE APPLICANT IF YOU'D LIKE. YEAH, I, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO DO. [01:10:01] SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE LOOKING FOR REASSURANCE THAT THERE'S ANY REASSURANCE THAT WE CAN GIVE THESE, IT'S COMMUNITY PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THIS IS GONNA BE DONE. I THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUE HERE WAS THE PROCESSING OF, UH, THE PRODUCT THAT WAS THERE ORIGINALLY. AND, UH, THE APPLICANT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT, AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE REMOVING THE PROCESSING PORTION OF IT. UM, AGAIN, THIS THIRD PARTY INSPECTION ON A WEEKLY BASIS WAS SOMETHING THEY DID NOT DO BEFORE. AND AGAIN, THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, UH, THAT IS NECESSARY TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE PRODUCT. I KNOW THERE WAS COMMENTS ABOUT, UH, HOW THIS IS GONNA BE POSSIBLE. UH, IT'LL BE UP TO THE APPLICANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ENOUGH STAFF ON SITE ON A WEEKLY BASIS TO REVIEW ALL OF THE PRODUCT AND MAKE AN, UH, ADEQUATE DETERMINATION ON, UM, ITS ABILITY TO, UH, REMAIN ON SITE. UH, WHAT'LL HAPPEN IS IF, UH, THOSE, UH, OR THAT PRODUCT LOOKS AS THOUGH IT IS, UH, GOING BAD, UH, THEY WILL REMOVE THAT PRODUCT AND MOVE IT INTO PROCESSING. IF IT'S READY FOR PROCESSING IMMEDIATELY OR IF IT NEEDS TO BE DISPOSED OF, THEY'LL TAKE IT TO A DISPOSAL SITE IMMEDIATELY. UH, ONCE THEY DETERMINE THAT, UH, THE CONDITION OF THE ACTUAL PRODUCE IS, UH, GOOD OR BAD AT THAT POINT. UH, SO THERE'S SEVERAL FACTORS THAT THEY'RE, UH, TRYING TO INCORPORATE TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES. UM, AND WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON THAT. OF COURSE, WE'RE ASKING FOR ROAD CONDITIONS, UH, AND FOR A MONTHLY REPORT THAT IS SOMETHING THE COUNTY HAS REQUESTED SO THAT WE CAN ALSO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING ON SITE. UH, BUT IF WE NEED TO, UM, DO THAT ON A MORE REGULAR BASIS, A BIWEEKLY BASIS, A WEEKLY BASIS, THEN UH, WE CAN ASK FOR THAT REPORT TO, UH, BE DELIVERED A LITTLE BIT MORE OFTEN. WELL, I THINK EVERYONE WOULD PROBABLY LIKE IT MORE FREQUENTLY. YEAH, I WAS GONNA SUGGEST THAT, THAT RATHER THAN, UH, THE COUNTY RECEIVING THE REPORTS ON A MONTHLY BASIS THAT IT GETS SENT TO THE COUNTY RIGHT AFTER THEY DO THE WEEKLY INSPECTION. I THINK A MONTH FOR THE COUNTY TO KNOW IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WOULD BE TOO LONG, UH, TO, TO GET IT UNDER CONTROL. ALSO, KEEP IN MIND, WE'VE CONDITIONED THE REPORT TO, UM, ESSENTIALLY, UH, ESSENTIALLY BE ASSURED THAT THE PRODUCT IS IN GOOD STANDING. UH, IF IT'S NOT, IT BECOMES A VIOLATION. WE'VE ALREADY SEEN A VIOLATION AT THE SITE. UH, WE'VE ALSO INCLUDED LANGUAGE THAT THIS COULD BE RESCINDED IF IT BECOMES A, A LARGER ISSUE. AND, UH, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A BIG, UM, UH, PROBLEM THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST. WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT DOESN'T CONTINUE TO, UH, BECOME A BIGGER ISSUE. AND I THINK THE APPLICANT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT AS WELL. SO IT'S REALLY ON, UH, THE WAY THEY PROCESS EVERYTHING THAT, UH, THEY KEEP THINGS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. AND IF ANYTHING BECOMES A BIGGER ISSUE, IT CAN COME BACK HERE FOR CONSIDERATION AND YOU COULD, UH, ESSENTIALLY RESCIND THE, UH, THE APPLICATION. IT WOULD BE MY QUESTION, MR. CHAIR, HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE TO RESCIND? YES. HOPEFUL. IT'S GONNA BE MY QUESTION. SO FROM THE TIME IT'S REPORTED TO YOU UNTIL THE TIME THESE FOLKS ARE OUT THERE, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO RESCIND? AGAIN, INITIALLY IT WOULD BECOME A VIOLATION THAT WE WOULD WORK WITH THEM TO TRY TO, TO CORRECT. IF IT BECOMES A PROBLEM WHERE IT CANNOT BE CORRECTED, THAT'S WHEN WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT IT BE RESCINDED AND, UH, YOU KNOW, GO THROUGH THE APPROPRIATE PROCESS TO BRING IT BACK HERE WITH NOTIFICATION. QUANTIFY THAT FOR ME. QUANTIFY THAT. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE? I'M LISTENING TO THE WORDS, BUT I JUST NEED A NUMBER. I WOULD SAY ABOUT, UH, A FEW WEEKS FROM THE TIME THAT, UH, WE SEE A, A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM GETTING IT ADEQUATELY NOTIFIED AND, AND BRINGING IT BACK TO APPRO COMMISSION. APPROXIMATELY 30 DAYS, 40 DAYS, 50 DAYS, APPROXIMATELY 30 DAYS. SO THESE FOLKS WOULD'VE TO LIVE WITH THAT UNTIL IT CAME BACK BEFORE THIS BODY OR SOME OTHER BODY TO BE RESCINDED? WELL, IT WOULD BE THIS, IT WOULD BE THIS BODY, OF COURSE. BUT AGAIN, WE WANT TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLEAN IT UP AS A VIOLATION FIRST, WHICH, UH, ALL AG OPERATORS HAVE A OPPORTUNITY TO DO. THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO KNOW. YEAH. OKAY. IF I MAY, IF I MAY, THROUGH THE CHAIR, I THINK THERE'S ALSO, IF WE, IF THE INSPECTIONS FIND ROTTING PRODUCT, IT WILL BE RE IT'S, IT IS REQUIRED TO BE REMOVED IMMEDIATELY. THEN IF THERE IS OTHER ISSUES AND THE VIOLATIONS OCCUR, AGAIN, AS THE PERMIT IS BEING RESCINDED AND COMES TO THIS WITHIN THE 30 DAYS, THAT PRODUCT SHOULD ALREADY BE REMOVED AND THE, THE ISSUE HOPEFULLY WILL BE ALLEVIATED AT THAT TIME WHILE WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE RESEND RESCINDED PROCESS AS WELL. SO THERE IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEING DONE IN THE YES, THANK YOU. SO WE'RE NOT JUST WAITING AROUND 30 DAYS. THE PROCESS WILL BE CON MOVING FORWARD AS LONG. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? [01:15:04] WE HAVE A MOTION. I GUESS, UH, MY BIGGEST THING IS THE, THE, THE THINGS WE'VE DISCUSSED. HOW DO WE WORK THAT INTO, UH, INTO THE MOTION, RIGHT? THE, THE, THE WEEKLY REPORTS, UM, BEING SENT TO THE COUNTY AND, AND ON THE DIFFERENT STUFF THAT, UH, MY, MY COG HAS ALSO, UH, BROUGHT UP. I CAN'T, IN OTHER WORDS, IS THERE'S SOMEONE REPORTING WHAT IT IS WE WANT THE BODY OF THE REPORT AND IS IT FEASIBLE AND IS THE APPLICANT MADE TO AGREE TO IT? YEAH. SO THAT, THAT, THAT'S, I GUESS THAT'S MY BIGGEST, UH, HURDLE RIGHT NOW. AND MAYBE TIME TO ASK THE APPLICANT. YES. AND NOW YOU'RE, YOU MAY NEED TO ASK THE APPLICANT IF HE OR SHE'S WILLING TO SUBMIT OR ACCEPT THE CONDITIONS THAT WE PLACE ON THIS APPLICATION, AND THAT MAY TAKE YOU SOME TIME. YEAH. TOM, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THERE. SO THE, THE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE, UM, ADDING TO THE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL, SPEAK TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE PERMIT PORTION. THERE'S A-C-A-C-A-A OR A MOTION THAT WOULD HAPPEN FIRST IF THIS, UM, IF THE COMMISSIONERS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE STAFF, UM, REACH OUT AND, UM, AUGMENT THE PROCESS WITH, UM, WITH THE CONDITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN TALKED TO, THE, THE COMMISSIONER'S CONCERNS CAN BE STATED GENERALLY, AND STAFF CAN OPERATE OFF OF THE CONCERNS AS STATED AND WORK WITH THE APPLICANT. UM, IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COMMISSION'S REQUESTING, THEN A MOTION CAN BE MADE TO THIS MATTER, TO THE NEXT PLANNING COMMISSION, UM, TO ALLOW STAFF AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE CONCERNS AS STATED AND THE CONCERNS STATED BY THE, THE, UH, COMMISSIONERS AND HAVE THOSE CONCERNS ADDRESSED THAT WAY. THE CON THE COMMISSIONERS DON'T HAVE TO COME UP WITH THE CONDITIONS THEMSELVES. THEY HAVE STATED SOME GENERAL CONCERNS THAT I THINK ARE SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR AND DIRECTOR MIMS CAN INDICATE WHETHER OR NOT HE NEEDS SOME FURTHER CLARITY. BUT A MOTION TO CONTINUE THIS TO EITHER RED DATE CERTAIN, FOR EXAMPLE, THE NEXT PLANNING COMMISSION WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE MOTION TO GIVE STAFF THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE APPLICANT. UM, AND THEN THE PRESENTATION AT THE NEXT COULD, UH, ADDRESS THE ADDITIONAL CONCERNS AND THE ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS. IF, IF THAT'S WHAT THE COMMISSIONERS WOULD LIKE TO DO, THAT COULD BE AN APPROPRIATE MOTION. AND, AND SECOND, UM, SHOULD THAT BE THE DESIRE OF THE COMMISSION? COMMISSIONER DANA? YOU KNOW, I THINK WE, WE'VE ALL WORK IN THIS COUNTY AND WE'RE ALL VERY FAMILIAR WHAT AG BRINGS TO THE TABLE. AND I THINK WE WANT TO BALANCE BOTH SIDES OF THIS, BOTH THE BUSINESS SIDE AS WELL AS THE PERSONAL SIDE THAT WE'VE HEARD. AND I THINK IT WOULD BEHOOVE US, UM, AS COUNCIL HAS STATED, TO GIVE THE STAFF AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK TO US AND TO WORK IN, PARDON ME, TO WORK INTO SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS THAT WE'VE HAD, THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT. WHETHER IT'S WEEKLY REPORTS, WHETHER IT'S PEOPLE ON STAFF THAT WE REPORT BACK TO IN A TIMELY MANNER, TO WORK INTO WHAT SENSION REALLY MEANS SO THAT WE ALL HAVE SOME SENSE OF ASSURANCE. AND THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION, MR. CHAIR. SO WE HAVE A, A MOTION TO, UH, HAVE THIS ITEM CONTINUANCE TO THE OCTOBER 28TH MEETING, UH, TO, TO STAFF COULD LOOK INTO WORKING IN THE, UH, SUGGESTIONS THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE, UH, SUGGESTED. UH, OH, I'LL, I'LL SECOND THAT. A MOTION AND A SECOND. UM, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO REQUEST ADDITIONAL TIME FOR THE FOLLOWING, UM, PLANNING COMMISSION HEARING FOR NOVEMBER? I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT. UM, NOVEMBER 4TH. YES. NOVEMBER 4TH. DO I HAVE NO DIFFICULTY WITH THAT MS. CHANGE OF MOTION TO THE, TO POSTPONE? UH, TO DISCONTINUANCE TO THE NOVEMBER 4TH MEETING. NEW MOTION. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? I SO PASSED. WELL, WE THANK EVERYONE. OKAY. WE HAVE, UH, ONE MORE ITEM. THE, [7. COMMISSION ACTION ITEM(S)] UH, COMMISSION ACTION ITEMS, [01:20:02] THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CHAIRMAN AND A VICE CHAIRMAN FOR THE NOVEMBER 26TH TO OCTOBER 27TH YEAR. SO WE HAVE A, A CHAIRMAN THAT'S MOVING UP TO BE D WE NEED TO, UM, CLARIFY VICE CHAIR, UNLESS ANYBODY HAS ANY OBJECTIONS. AND THEN MARK WILL BE THE VICE CHAIR. SORRY. D WILL BE THE CHAIR. MARK WILL BE VICE CHAIR. GO AHEAD, MARK. OKAY. SO MIKE, UH, MARK WILL BE THE VICE CHAIR. D WILL BE THE CHAIR. YOU NEED A MOTION? YEAH. MOTION. ANY MOTION FOR THAT? SECOND? ANY, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? SO MOVED. CONGRATULATIONS, GENTLEMEN. THAT'S WHY. HALLELUJAH. THAT'S WHY YOU MOVED IT. . . THANK YOU ERIC. OKAY, SO NOW, UM, OKAY, SO THAT LOOKS LIKE THAT'S IT. SO I DID JOIN THIS MEETING. THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.