[Call to Order]
[00:00:03]
WELCOME TO THE OCTOBER TWENTY TWENTY MERCED COUNTY BOARD.IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 VIRUS, THE COUNTY IS CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS WITH SEATING FOR THE PUBLIC LIMITED TO TWENTY FIVE. WE HAVE ALSO PROVIDED SOME OVERFLOW SPACE ON THE FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS. FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO DO NOT WISH TO ATTEND IN PERSON, WE HAVE BEEN ACCEPTING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS VIA EMAIL AND VOICEMAIL FOR NON AGENDA AND AGENDA ITEMS. WE WILL NOW START WITH THE INVOCATION PROVIDED BY COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR MARK HENDRICKSON.
AND THEN I WILL DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
SO PLEASE STAND. MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, GOOD MORNING.
MUST ADMIT, I WAS NOT EXPECTING TO GIVE THIS INVOCATION THIS MORNING, BUT I CAN THINK OF NO BETTER WAY THAN TO WAKE UP AND HAVE A TEXT WAITING FOR ME, ASKING IF I'D BE WILLING AND INTERESTED IN DOING SO.
SO TO SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND THIS BOARD.
THANK YOU FOR THIS HUMBLING OPPORTUNITY.
IT MEANS PERHAPS MORE TO ME THAN YOU REALIZE.
I ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WISH MR. PAREIRA A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
WE HAVE MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR.
THANK YOU FOR TODAY'S RISING SUN, WHICH REPRESENTS A NEW DAY, A NEW DAY TO DO GOOD BY OTHERS. THANK YOU, LORD, FOR EACH AND EVERY DAILY BLESSING YOU GIVE US.
THANK YOU FOR OUR COMMUNITY, LORD AND ALL WHO CALL MERCED COUNTY HOME.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU PROVIDE US OUR HERITAGE, OUR DIVERSITY AND THE RICHNESS OF OUR RESIDENTS. LORD, MAY WE ALWAYS BE MINDFUL THAT THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE.
THOSE WHO ARE OFTEN FACED WITH THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY OF CHALLENGES.
PEOPLE WHO FACE DIFFICULT DECISIONS AND CHOICES.
CHOICES OFTEN BETWEEN PUTTING FOOD ON THEIR TABLES OR PAYING THEIR UTILITY BILLS THIS MONTH.
LORD, PLEASE ALLOW US TO REMAIN FOCUSED, ALWAYS WITH A RAZOR SHARP PRECISION ON OUR MISSION AS AN ORGANIZATION, WHICH IS TO HELP THOSE IN NEED.
PLEASE GRANT THIS BOARD THIS GOOD GROUP OF PEOPLE FOR WHOM I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING THE STRENGTH AND COURAGE TO MAKE WISE DECISIONS, DECISIONS OF CONSEQUENCE, DECISIONS OF COMPASSION, AND TO ALWAYS DO SO WITH ETHICS, INTEGRITY AND FULL HEARTS.
LORD, PLEASE BLESS THIS BOARD AND ITS STAFF FROM EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT.
AND MAY WE AS PROFESSIONAL STAFF NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF OUR ROLES.
WE ARE HERE ENTRUSTED IN SO MANY WAYS TO ASSIST PEOPLE THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY WHO IN MANY CASES HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.
AS WE DEAL WITH GLOBAL ILLNESS, MAY WE CONTINUE TO BE MINDFUL OF THOSE AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO STRUGGLE TO DEAL WITH ITS RAMIFICATIONS.
MOST CERTAINLY FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDPOINT.
INSTEAD OF LOOKING THE OTHER WAY, MAY WE ALL HERE IN THE BOARD CHAMBERS, THOSE THAT WORK, THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING, THOSE PERHAPS WATCHING LIVE ON FACEBOOK, CHALLENGE OURSELVES THIS VERY DAY AND ALWAYS TO GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THE LIFE OF SOMEONE ELSE. IT MAY BE A SIMPLE HELLO, A SMILE TO SOMEONE HOMELESS ON THE STREETS, GIVING A STRANGER DIRECTIONS OR LIFTING A CHILD UP WHEN THEY NEED IT MOST.
LORD, MAY WE RECOGNIZE THAT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE GIFTS FROM YOU.
IN CLOSING I OFFER TWO QUICK PASSAGES TODAY WHICH ARE DIRECTLY PERTINENT.
THE FIRST JAMES CHAPTER ONE VERSUS 19 AND 20 READ, MY DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, TAKE NOTE OF THIS. EVERYONE SHOULD BE QUICK TO LISTEN, SLOW TO SPEAK AND SLOW TO BECOME ANGRY BECAUSE HUMAN ANGER DOES NOT PRODUCE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT GOD DESIRES.
THE SECONDS FROM LUKE CHAPTER 11 VERSE THIRTY.
THEREFORE, IF YOUR WHOLE BODY IS FULL OF LIGHT AND NO PART OF IT DARK, IT WILL BE JUST AS FULL OF LIGHT AS WHEN A LAMP SHINES ITS LIGHT ON YOU.
LORD, PLEASE GRANT OUR BOARD THE COURAGE, WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT TO REPRESENT THE LIGHT.
AS PASTOR JEFF OF YOSEMITE CHURCH HERE IN MERCED OFTEN SAYS, REACH DOWN, REACH OUT AND REACH UP. LET'S ALL LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP SOMEONE ELSE IN NEED.
AMEN. NOW WILL YOU JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
OF ALLEGIANCE] THANK YOU, MARK.
SO WE HAD A CLOSED SESSION THIS MORNING AND STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION.
NOW WE HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THE--.
[PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK]
IT'S TIME FOR PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST WITHIN THE BOARD'S JURISDICTION, INCLUDING ITEMS ON THE BOARDS AGENDA, EXCEPT FOR THOSE ITEMS SPECIFICALLY SCHEDULED AS PUBLIC HEARINGS, TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON. THANK YOU.WOULD ANYBODY HERE WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT?
[00:05:02]
GOOD MORNING. MORNING.SUPERVISOR ESPINOZA, SUPERVISORS MR. HANSEN AND MR. BROWN.
MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MERCED COUNTY FARM BUREAU.
AND TODAY I AM ONLY USING YOUR GUYS PLATFORM TO INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF PROP 15.
COMMONLY KNOWN AS A SPLIT ROLL TAX, PROP 15 IS THE SINGLE LARGEST THREAT TO SMALL BUSINESSES APPEARING ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.
IT THREATENS TO INCREASE PROPERTY TAXES BY ELEVEN POINT FIVE BILLION, EVEN AS THE STATE STRUGGLES WITH THE IMPACTS OF COVID-19 AND RECORD UNEMPLOYMENT.
SHOULD A SMALL BUSINESS RENT THEIR STOREFRONT, THEY MOST LIKELY OPERATE ON AN AGREEMENT CALLED A TRIPLE NET LEASE, WITH A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTENANCE, COST, INSURANCE AND PROPERTY TAXES.
MANY OF THESE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS INCLUDE RESTAURANTS, BARBERSHOPS, DAYCARE CENTERS, DRY CLEANERS AND ALL THOSE THAT LEASE STOREFRONT PROPERTY.
SIMPLY PUT, THE REVENUE SOUGHT FROM PROP 15 WILL COME LARGELY FROM SMALL BUSINESSES WHO WILL EITHER RAISE COSTS ON CONSUMERS, LAY OFF EMPLOYEES OR SHUT THEIR DOORS.
FROM AN AGRICULTURAL PERSPECTIVE, PROP 15 WILL EXPOSE FARMS AND RANCHES TO STEEP PROPERTY TAX INCREASES DESPITE FALSE ASSURANCES FROM ITS PROPONENTS.
THIS WILL HAVE A DEVASTATING EFFECT ON OUR FARMERS AND RANCHERS, LEADING TO MORE JOB LOSSES AND HIGHER PRICES FOR CONSUMERS.
PROP 15 ONLY EXEMPTS AGRICULTURAL LAND FROM REASSESSMENT AND FAILING TO EXEMPT AGRICULTURAL FIXTURES AND IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING FENCES, IRRIGATION SYSTEMS, BARNS AND EVEN FRUIT AND NUT BEARING TREES.
THE CALIFORNIA ASSESSORS ASSOCIATION HAS ALSO OPPOSED THE PROPOSITION.
IN THEIR WHITE PAPER ISSUED LAST YEAR, THEY STATE THE COST TO COMPLETE THE ANNUAL ASSESSMENT RULE WOULD INCREASE BETWEEN THREE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY MILLION TO FOUR HUNDRED AND SEVENTY MILLION ANNUALLY STATEWIDE DURING THE FIRST FIVE TO 10 YEARS.
THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE COST TO UPGRADE EXISTING TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS TO ACCOMMODATE THE SPLIT ROLL ASSESSMENT. EVEN MORE TROUBLING, THE NONPARTISAN LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S OFFICE PROJECTS THAT SOME RURAL COUNTIES COULD EVEN LOSE TAX REVENUE WHILE GETTING HIT WITH HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES.
A CASH FLOW ESTIMATE ANALYSIS HAS BEEN DONE WITH TWO SCENARIOS, ONE ASSUMING TWELVE POINT FIVE BILLION IN ADDITIONAL REVENUES AND THE OTHER ASSUMING THE LOW END OF EIGHT BILLION.
ON THE HIGH LOS ANGELES COUNTY WOULD RECEIVE TWO POINT THREE BILLION.
AND ON THE LOW ONE POINT FOUR BILLION.
MONTEREY COUNTY WOULD RECEIVE FIFTY NINE MILLION TO NINETY THREE MILLION.
IN CONTRAST, NET REVENUES FOR OUR COUNTY, CITIES AND SPECIAL DISTRICTS WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY EIGHT POINT SEVEN MILLION FOR THE HIGH AND ONE POINT SIX MILLION ON THE LOW. FUNDING WILL FIRST GO TO THE ASSESSORS FOR THEIR COSTS, THEN TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND FINALLY, THE EDUCATION.
THIS PROPOSITION DOES NOT IMPACT HOMEOWNERS.
YET THE YES ON PROP 15 HAS SHOWED SIGNS OF THIS IN THE FUTURE.
IF APPROVED, THIS WILL BEGIN THE PROCESS OF ENTIRELY REWRITING PROP 13 FOR ALL.
AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATIONS ARE NOT THE ONLY GROUPS OPPOSING THE PROPOSITION.
AS THE CALIFORNIA STATE CONFERENCE OF NAACP, CALIFORNIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, CALIFORNIA BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE CALIFORNIA HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ARE ALL OPPOSED. THE FUNDING WILL NOT COME FROM LARGE CORPORATE BAY AREA OR SOCAL INTERESTS, BUT OUR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC.
LOCALLY, I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT THE MERCED BOOSTER'S, MERCED COUNTY NAACP ARE STANDING WITH MERCED COUNTY FARM BUREAU IN OPPOSING PROP 15.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND TIME TO SPEAK.
THANK YOU. WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT? PLEASE COME FORWARD. THERE WAS NO PUBLIC COMMENT RECEIVED BY VOICE MAIL.
SO I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE'LL MOVE ON.
[VETERANS DAY PARADE UPDATE]
NEXT, WE HAVE A VETERANS DAY PARADE UPDATE.GOOD MORNING, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
FIRST OFF, THANK YOU FOR LETTING US BE HERE.
I'M THE VETERAN SERVICE OFFICER.
HE IS THE MERCED-- HE REPRESENTS MERCED [INAUDIBLE].
WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE VETERANS PARADE.
THIS YEAR, LARGE GATHERINGS AREN'T POSSIBLE, BUT WE STILL WANTED TO HONOR OUR VETERANS, SO WE DECIDED TO MOVE IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
WE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF HAVING A VIRTUAL VETERANS PARADE.
SO WE BEGAN TO PLAN AND OPENED A FACEBOOK PAGE FOR THE MERCED COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE
[00:10:01]
OFFICE.THERE WE ARE GOING TO BE POSTING INFORMATION ABOUT THE VETERANS OFFICE AND HOW WE CAN HELP OUR VETERANS IN THE COMMUNITY. AND ALSO WE'RE GOING TO PROMOTE THIS EVENT ON NOVEMBER 11TH, 2020.
WE CAME UP WITH THE HASHTAG VIRTUAL VETERANS DAY.
WE BEGAN OUR PROJECT BY DOING SHORT VIDEOS OF SUPPORT FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
A LOT OF YOU WERE THERE. IT WAS A GOOD TIME.
ON ACTUAL VETERANS DAY, WE ARE WE ARE CONSTRUCTING A VIDEO.
IT'LL BEGIN WITH MYSELF DOING A SMALL INTRODUCTION HONORING OUR VETERANS, SENDING OUT A HEARTFELT MESSAGE TO ALL OF THEM.
WE HAVE THE LOCAL MERCED AMERICAN LEGION POST 83 PRESENTING THE COLORS.
AFTER THAT, WE HAVE PASTOR STEVE WRIGHT FROM ATWATER DOING THE INVOCATION.
THEN WE GOT SOME LOCAL AREA CHILDREN TO DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AT VETERANS PARK IN ATWATER. WE REACHED OUT TO MARTHA ARMIS TO DO THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AND THEN WE BEGAN TO CHOOSE OUR GRAND MARSHALS.
THIS YEAR WE HAVE STEPHANIE FISHER, ALLEN TOREZ, ROBERT HAWKINS AND DANIEL KELLY AS OUR GRAND MARSHALS. AFTER THAT, PASTOR STEVE WILL DO THE BENEDICTION.
AND I'LL CLOSE OUT THE CEREMONY WITH A MESSAGE FOR ALL THE VETERANS.
THE MERCED [INAUDIBLE] CLUB HAS GRACIOUSLY OFFERED TO FEED HOMELESS AND NEEDY VETERANS THAT DAY, EITHER AT THEIR LOCATION OR WE WILL BE DELIVERING MEALS.
AND HERE'S SOME OF THE BEHIND SCENES THAT WE THAT WE WERE DOING FOR THE VIDEO.
AS YOU CAN SEE AT THE TOP LEFT, THOSE ARE THE KIDS OUT OF VETERANS PARK.
ALL OF THEM WITH MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING.
IF YOU SEE THE BOTTOM PICTURE, THAT'S THE POST THERE.
THEY JUST GOT DONE DOING THEIR PRESENTING OF THE COLORS.
WE DID A RIGHT OUT AT CASTLE AND THE OTHER THREE ARE THREE OF THE GRAND MARSHALS THAT WILL BE PRESENTING THAT DAY.
WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING A TYPE OF A Q&A WITH THEM, JUST GETTING THEIR INSIGHT OF WHAT IT WAS TO BE A VETERAN IN THE SERVICE TO THIS COUNTRY.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S SOME AIRPLANES BEHIND THEM.
AND IT'S A VERY GOOD SCENE THAT WE DID RIGHT THERE AT CASTLE, THE AIR FORCE MUSEUM.
AND THAT'S IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. G O AHEAD. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO THANK, I THINK RALPH JUST LEFT THE ROOM, BUT I WANTED TO THANK RALPH FOR TAKING THIS ON.
THIS IS DEFINITELY A TRYING TIME AND THE FACT THAT THEY WERE CREATIVE SO WE CAN STILL HONOR OUR VETERANS. I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK RALPH FOR WHAT HE'S DONE.
AND IT WAS AN HONOR AND IT WAS ACTUALLY A LOT OF FUN DOING THAT BECAUSE I THINK RODRIGO AND I ACTUALLY DID IT IN LESS TAKES THAN SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
CAN'T RUSH PERFECTION SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL, I'M SORRY.
ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? QUESTIONS, NO COMMENT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU ALL VETERANS AND YEAH, WE HAD A LOT OF FUN MAKING THE VIDEO, SO IT WAS FUN.
THANK YOU. NOW, WE'LL MOVE ON.
NEXT IS APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH SEVEN.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
PLEASE NOTE, A 4/5 VOTE IS REQUIRED ON ITEMS ONE AND FIVE.ANY COMMENTS OR MOTIONS ON ITEM ONE THROUGH FIVE? ONE THROUGH SEVEN, I'M SORRY.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR LOR.
GO AHEAD AND VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE.
NEXT IS BOARD ACTION HEALTH ITEM EIGHT.
[BOARD ACTION]
ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, COMMENTS OR MOTIONS? MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.NO FURTHER COMMENTS. GO AHEAD AND VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE PLEASE.
MOTION CARRIES 5-0. NEXT IS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES ITEMS NINE AND 10 . COMMENTS OR MOTIONS ON NINE AND 10? MOVED BY SUPERVISOR LOR, IS THERE A SECOND?
[00:15:02]
SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.GO AHEAD AND VOTE PLEASE. RECORD THE VOTE.
NEXT IS HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY ITEMS 11 THROUGH 13, PLEASE NOTE A FOUR FIFTHS VOTE IS REQUIRED ON ITEM 13.
COMMENTS OR MOTIONS ON ITEM 11 TO 13? MOTION SUPERVISOR LOR, SECOND SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
GO AHEAD AND VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE PLEASE.
MOTION CARRIES 5-0. NEXT IS COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ITEM 14.
ITEM 14, APPLICATION FOR SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR LOW INCOME FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS . MOTIONED BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
COMMENTS ON NO.15 OR MOTIONS? MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECOND BY SUPERVISOR LOR.
GO AHEAD AND VOTE PLEASE. RECORD THE VOTE.
MOTION BY SUPERVISOR LOR, SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
WITH NO FURTHER COMMENTS, WE'LL VOTE. RECORD THE VOTE.
ITEM NUMBER 17, CONTRACT WITH CITY OF MERCED FOR ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES.
COMMENTS OR MOTION SUPERVISOR LOR, A FIRST.
SECOND BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. GO AHEAD AND VOTE PLEASE.
RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES 5-0.
ITEM 18 IS FROM ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.
ITEM 18, [INAUDIBLE] PROPERTY.
MOTION BY SUPERVISOR LOR, SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
GO AHEAD AND VOTE. SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
RECORD THE VOTE, PLEASE. MOTION CARRIES 5-0.
ITEM NUMBER 19, COMMENTS OR MOTIONS? GO AHEAD AND VOTE.
MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES 5-0.
MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
COMMENTS? MOTION SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA, SECOND SUPERVISOR PAREIRA.
RECORD THE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES 5-0 . COUNTY COUNCIL ITEM 21.
ITEM NUMBER TWENTY ONE IS AUTHORIZED CHAIRPERSON TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT WITH [INAUDIBLE] FOR LEGAL SERVICES RELATED TO THE SUPERVISORIAL REDISTRICTING.
AND A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR PAREIRA, SECOND BY SUPERVISOR LOR. GO AHEAD AND VOTE, PLEASE.
MOTION CARRIES 5-0. NEXT, WE HAVE EXECUTIVE OFFICE ITEMS TWENTY TWO AND TWENTY THREE, PLEASE NOTE A 4/5 VOTE IS REQUIRED ON ITEM TWENTY TWO AND WE'LL TAKE THOSE SEPARATELY.
[00:20:01]
MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.ITEM TWENTY TWO FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IS ESSENTIALLY CONTINUING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH APPROPRIATING ITEMS RELATED TO THE CARES ACT FUNDING.
AND IT DOES COMBINE LAST BOARD MEETINGS AND THIS BOARD'S MEETINGS ITEMS FOR YOU.
THESE DO NOT DEVIATE FROM THE PLAN THAT YOU HAD PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED THERE.
THERE HAS BEEN INTEREST IN PROVIDING AN UPDATE AS FAR AS THE OVERALL CARES ACT AS WHEN WE PREVIOUSLY WERE BEFORE YOU AND WHEN YOU CONSIDERED AND KIND OF GAVE US THE OK TO MOVE FORWARD AND SUBMIT THE PLAN TO THE STATE.
THERE WAS A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY AND A LOT OF MOVING PARTS.
I WILL SHARE WITH YOU THERE STILL HAS BEEN A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY AND MOVING PARTS, BUT IT IS A GOOD TIME TO PROVIDE YOU AN UPDATE TODAY.
I THINK WE ARE GETTING A LITTLE BIT MORE CLARITY AS OF I'LL CALL THURSDAY LAST WEEK, ALTHOUGH STILL IT GOES TO WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR FRIDAY THIS WEEK FOR A KEY DECISION FROM DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
SO JUST AS A WAY OF SHARING WITH YOU, THERE IS STILL SOME MOVING PARTS.
BUT AGAIN, IN INTEREST IN TRYING TO PROVIDE YOU AN UPDATE FOR THE OVERALL CARES ACT AND KIND OF WHAT'S HAPPENED AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL AND KIND OF THE DIRECTION WE ARE MOVING. WE THOUGHT WE'D GIVE YOU AN UPDATE TODAY.
SO I'LL TURN OVER TO MS. PIERCE TO START THE UPDATE.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN ESPINOZA.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, CEO BROWN AND COUNTY COUNCIL HANSEN.
I'M ALEXANDRA PEARCE, DEPUTY COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER, TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON MERCED COUNTY CARES ACT FUNDING PLAN.
COPIES OF THE PRESENTATION ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC IN THE ENTRY WAY.
SO AS AN OVERVIEW, MERCED COUNTY WAS ALLOCATED APPROXIMATELY TWENTY EIGHT POINT NINE MILLION DOLLARS IN CARES ACT FUNDING WITHIN CALIFORNIA'S TWENTY TWENTY ONE BUDGET.
IN ORDER TO ACCESS THAT FUNDING, AS WELL AS THE REALIGNMENT BACKFILL FUNDING AND AS REQUESTED BY THE STATE, THE COUNTY WAS REQUIRED TO SIGN AND SUBMIT A WRITTEN ATTESTATION CERTIFYING THAT WE'D ADHERE TO THE FUNDING REQUIREMENTS, INCLUDING FOLLOWING FEDERAL AND STATE HEALTH ORDERS.
THAT CERTIFICATION WAS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE ON JUNE 30TH TWENTY TWENTY, AND THOSE REQUIREMENTS INCLUDED SUBMITTING INITIAL AND PROGRESS REPORTS RELATED TO DETAILED EXPENDITURES AS WELL AS PROJECTIONS AND WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE FUNDING WAS REQUIRED TO BE EXPENDED BY DECEMBER 30TH OF THIS YEAR.
THE CERTIFICATION REQUIRED THAT ANY UNSPENT FUNDS BE RETURNED AFTER OCTOBER 30TH, 2020, UNLESS THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE GRANTED AN EXTENSION.
ON AUGUST 11 TWENTY TWENTY, THIS BOARD ADOPTED THE COUNTY CARES ACT FUNDING PLAN, WHICH IDENTIFIED THREE PRIMARY CATEGORIES FOR EXPENDITURES.
THE FIRST IS COUNTY CONTINUITY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE, AND THAT WAS AT APPROXIMATELY A LITTLE OVER EIGHTEEN POINT SIX MILLION DOLLARS.
APPROXIMATELY SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS FOR COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
AND A RESERVE CONTINGENCY OF APPROXIMATELY THREE MILLION.
SO AS AN UPDATE ON SOME OF THE STATE ACTIONS THAT HAVE HAPPENED SINCE THE LAST CARES ACT PLAN PRESENTATION, THERE CONTINUES TO BE UNCERTAINTY, AS CEO BROWN MENTIONED, INCLUDING ADJUSTMENTS AND UPDATES AT BOTH THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
AT THE STATE LEVEL, JUST PRIOR TO SUBMITTING OUR INITIAL SPENDING PLAN REPORT, THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE PROVIDED UPDATED REPORTING CRITERIA, ALONG WITH EXPENDITURE CATEGORY DEFINITIONS THAT FURTHER REFINED ALLOWABLE COSTS.
IN ADDITION, ON SEPTEMBER 4TH, A STAFF SUBMITTED OUR CYCLE ONE REPORT, WHICH INCLUDED EXPENDITURES FROM MARCH THROUGH JUNE 30TH OF THIS YEAR, AS WELL AS FOR JULY 1ST THROUGH AUGUST 30TH. IN ADDITION, THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE REQUESTED PROJECTED COSTS THROUGH JUNE 30TH OF TWENTY TWENTY ONE.
AND THAT WAS DUE TO THE CONTINUED STATE ADVOCACY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR FLEXIBILITY WITHIN UTILIZATION OF THAT FUNDING, AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL TIME TO BE ABLE TO SPEND THAT FUNDING.
AND THEN ON OCTOBER 1ST, THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE REQUESTED WE RESPOND TO A SURVEY TO DETERMINE IF AN EXTENSION COULD BE GRANTED AND THAT THAT REMAINING ALLOCATION COULD BE EXPENDED. SO FOR THAT, WE ARE DUE TO HEAR, AS CEO BROWN SAID, BY THE END OF THIS WEEK, OCTOBER TWENTY THIRD, WHETHER AN EXTENSION HAS BEEN GRANTED AND THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE DID ALSO ADJUST THE WAY THAT THEY WERE PROVIDING THE APPROPRIATION.
AT FIRST IT WAS SIX PAYMENTS WITH THREE PAYMENTS AT ONE SIXTH OF THE ALLOCATION.
[00:25:04]
BUT THEN THEY ALSO DECIDED TO JUST GIVE ONE LUMP SUM FOR THE REMAINING COMPONENT.THAT REMAINING COMPONENT WAS PROVIDED ON OCTOBER 15TH AT APPROXIMATELY FOURTEEN POINT FIVE MILLION DOLLARS.
HOWEVER, WE'RE STILL AWAITING TO HEAR WHETHER OR NOT THAT WILL BE RELEASED FOR THE COUNTY TO BE ABLE TO SPEND.
THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT BILLS THAT ARE PENDING, WHICH COULD IMPACT OUR CARES ACT ALLOCATION. THE FIRST IS THE HEROES BILL.
THIS WOULD PROVIDE TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY EIGHT BILLION IN FUNDING TO ASSIST STATE GOVERNMENTS WITH FISCAL IMPACTS RELATED TO THE CORONAVIRUS, INCLUDING SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY FIVE MILLION IN CARES ACT CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUNDS.
IN ADDITION, IT WOULD PROVIDE ADDITIONAL LOCAL FISCAL RELIEF OF ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY NINE BILLION IN FUNDING TO ASSIST LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WITH IMPACTS RELATED TO CORONAVIRUS.
IT ALSO EXPANDS THE USE TO COVER LOST, DELAYED OR DECREASED REVENUE STEMMING FROM THIS COVID PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.
IN ADDITION, THERE'S THE HEALS ACT AND THE HEALS ACT DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE BILL.
HOWEVER, THE LANGUAGE DOES ALLOW FOR FLEXIBILITY IN SPENDING OF OUR CURRENT CARES CRF FUNDS. THE LANGUAGE WOULD ALSO EXTEND THE DATE FOR ALLOWABLE NECESSARY EXPENDITURES FROM THAT DECEMBER 30TH DATE TO 90 DAYS FOLLOWING THE LAST DAY OF OUR GOVERNMENT'S FISCAL YEAR OF TWENTY TWENTY ONE, WHICH WOULD PUT US OUT TO SEPTEMBER 30TH OF TWENTY TWENTY ONE FOR EXPENDITURES. SO AN UPDATE ON OUR COUNTY CARES ACT FUNDING PLAN.
THIS BOARD HAS SINCE ADOPTING THE PLAN, APPROVED SEVERAL ACTIONS AND BUDGET TRANSFERS RELATED TO THE PLAN.
THE FIRST WAS REGARDING PHASE ONE, WHICH WAS FOR COSTS THAT WERE INCURRED IN FISCAL YEAR 19-20, OF WHICH JUST OVER NINE MILLION DOLLARS WAS APPROPRIATED FOR THE CONTINUITY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE CATEGORY AND APPROXIMATELY TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS IN COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR A TOTAL OF JUST OVER NINE POINT FOUR MILLION DOLLARS FOR FISCAL YEAR 19-20.
IN ADDITION, MOVING INTO THE PHASE TWO, THERE HAVE BEEN APPROXIMATELY FOUR POINT EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS IN CONTINUITY IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE APPROPRIATED AND FOUR POINT TWO MILLION DOLLARS IN COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR A TOTAL OF JUST OVER NINE MILLION DOLLARS APPROPRIATED.
WHEN TOTALING THESE TWO TOGETHER, SOME EIGHTEEN POINT FOUR MILLION DOLLARS OF THE ALLOCATION, LEAVING AN APPROXIMATE BALANCE OF ABOUT TEN POINT FOUR MILLION DOLLARS.
SO TO GIVE A LITTLE FURTHER BREAKDOWN OF WHAT HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN THOSE APPROPRIATIONS.
FOR PHASE TWO, HERE'S A SUMMARY OF THE PROJECTS, INCLUDING THOSE BEFORE YOU FOR CONSIDERATION TODAY IN ITEM TWENTY TWO.
THESE PROJECTS INCLUDE FIRST UNDER CONTINUITY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE, THE RETROFIT OF COUNTY FACILITIES TO PREPARE THEM FOR APPROPRIATE AND SAFE STAFF AND PUBLIC USE OF OUR FACILITIES. IN ADDITION, BEING ABLE TO INCREASE OUR TECHNOLOGY AND TELEWORK CAPACITY.
AND THOSE PROJECTS INCLUDE VIDEO CONFERENCING, REMOTE CONNECTIVITY AND EQUIPMENT TO BE ABLE TO DO SO. IN ADDITION, WE CONTINUE TO PURCHASE PPE AND SANITATION SUPPLIES FOR OUR COUNTY FACILITIES.
WE ALSO HAVE INCLUDED FUNDING FOR TESTING AND HEALTH SCREENING.
SOME OF THE PROJECTS WITHIN THAT CATEGORY, INCLUDING THE STATE TESTING SITE FACILITY RENTAL, THE STRIKE TEAM TESTING, AS WELL AS MEDICAL SUPPORT AT OUR MERCED COUNTY JAIL.
IN ADDITION, FUNDS HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED FOR EXTRA HELP TO ASSIST WITH CONTACT TRACING THROUGH PUBLIC HEALTH, AS WELL AS SUPPORT FOR OUR PUBLIC HEALTH DOC RELATED TO COVID RESPONSE ACTIONS.
AND THEN ON OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT SIDE, SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN FUNDED, INCLUDING THE READY TO OPEN SMALL BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM.
WE HAVE ALSO INCREASED FOOD DISTRIBUTION CAPACITY THROUGH THREE DIFFERENT CONTRACTS OR AGREEMENTS THAT ARE BEFORE YOU FOR CONSIDERATION TODAY.
ONE FOR THE FOOD BANK AND TWO FOR TWO DIFFERENT FOOD PANTRIES, ONE IN PLANADA LE GRAND AREA AND ONE ON THE WEST SIDE.
[00:30:02]
ALL THREE OF WHICH ASSIST WITH BEING ABLE TO INCREASE OUR STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION, PROVIDING FOOD SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.AND THEN ALSO BEING ABLE TO EXPAND OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH RELATED TO COVID-19.
THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL DIFFERENT CAMPAIGNS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, INCLUDING OUR STAY SAFE AND STAY OPEN, STAY SAFE STAY OPEN AND OUR READY TO OPEN CAMPAIGNS.
AS WELL AS ENHANCED OUTREACH TO OUR AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY AS WELL AS OUTREACH TO OUR SOUTHEAST ASIAN COMMUNITY.
IN ADDITION, WE'VE JUST RECENTLY LAUNCHED OUR DON'T WAIT VACCINATE CAMPAIGN.
AND THEN ALSO OUR STAY SAFE GET TESTED CAMPAIGN.
WE CONTINUE TO MAKE VARIOUS PSAS AND THEN ALSO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE APPROPRIATE EQUIPMENT TO BE ABLE TO PUT THAT INFORMATION OUT ACROSS MULTIPLE MEDIA PLATFORMS. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE FUNDS ASSOCIATED WITH BEING ABLE TO PREPARE OUR NAVIGATION CENTER, WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN AT THE BEGINNING OF TWENTY TWENTY ONE FOR OPENING IN A COVID SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
THIS INCLUDES BEING ABLE TO ENHANCE SOCIAL DISTANCING SANITATION EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT FACILITY READY FOR THAT.
ALSO, THERE IS WITHIN THE REALM OF BEING ABLE TO ASSIST WITH THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AS WE ASSIST WITH FINDING THEM TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, BEING ABLE TO HELP WITH OUR PUBLIC SPACES AND DO SOME CLEANUPS OF DESERTED ENCAMPMENTS AS WELL.
AND THEN FINALLY, ONE OF THE ITEMS BEFORE YOU TODAY IS THE PROPOSED READY TO OPEN COMMUNITY AND VETERANS' HALLS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
AND FOR THAT PROGRAM, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT PROPOSE 250000 TO BE ABLE TO BE ALLOCATED AND IT'S PROPOSED THAT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD WOULD ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM. THE COMMUNITY AND VETERANS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HAS BEEN DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WHO OPERATE AND RENT OUT COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND VETERANS HALLS AND HAVE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF REVENUE DUE TO COVID-19 WITH SOME FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT OF COVID-19 RELATED OPERATING EXPENSES AND OTHER ELIGIBLE EXPENSES.
IF APPROVED, EACH OF THE ORGANIZATIONS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE UP TO TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS EACH. AND WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT WE HAVE AN APPLICATION PERIOD STARTING OCTOBER TWENTY SIXTH, BUT COULD START IT AS EARLY AS THIS FRIDAY AND HAVE THAT GO THROUGH NOVEMBER 16TH TO BE ABLE TO MEET THE DEADLINES CURRENTLY OF THE DECEMBER 30TH FOR GETTING THOSE CONTRACTS IN PLACE AND THE FUNDING EXPENDED.
AT THIS TIME, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO CEO BROWN FOR A SUMMARY.
SO, MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AS YOU CAN SEE, WE CONTINUE TO RECEIVE CLARITY WITH THE DEFINITIONS THERE.
THEY'RE STILL EITHER FROM WHETHER IT'S FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY OR WHETHER IT'S AT THE STATE LEVEL THROUGH STATE CONTROLLER, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
THEY FURTHER REFINE AS FAR AS WHAT IS AN ALLOWABLE COST, WHAT IS NOT AN ALLOWABLE COST.
I DO THINK WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO WHERE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO MOVE THAT GOALPOST VERY MUCH MORE. BUT AS YOU COULD SEE, EVEN AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THERE IS STILL, YOU KNOW, QUESTIONS. NOW, WHO KNOWS AT THE END OF THE DAY WHETHER ANY OF THOSE TWO VEHICLES OR ANOTHER VEHICLE WILL ACTUALLY GET SUPPORT ENTIRELY.
SO AT THIS POINT, FROM A STAFF LEVEL, WE ARE NOT ANTICIPATING THAT THERE WILL BE FURTHER LEGISLATION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THAT WOULD EITHER, ONE, BROADEN OUR ABILITY TO USE THE DOLLARS OR TWO EXTEND THE TIME FRAMES.
AGAIN, WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO AN ELECTION AND THEY'RE NOT-- NEITHER ONE OF WHETHER IT'S [INAUDIBLE] OR OTHER VEHICLES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET BIPARTISAN SUPPORT TO MOVE FORWARD AT THIS POINT. SO SINCE THE CLOCK IS TICKING, WE ARE MOVING AND TRYING TO DEVELOP PLANS BASICALLY TO NOT ASSUMING ANY CHANGES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL FROM A LEGISLATIVE STANDPOINT . UNCERTAINTY WITH THE AMOUNT RECEIVED.
AGAIN, AS MS. PIERCE ACKNOWLEDGED ON THURSDAY, WE JUST RECEIVED THE LAST HALF.
SO FROM A CASH PERSPECTIVE, YOU DO NOW HAVE IN YOUR TREASURY AND WITH THE TREASURER AND
[00:35:10]
THE COUNTY AUDITOR, WE DO HAVE THE REMAINING HALF A FOURTEEN POINT FOUR MILLION DOLLARS, WHICH WE RECEIVED ON THURSDAY.HOWEVER, WE DON'T KNOW TILL FRIDAY WHETHER WE GET TO KEEP IT.
I WILL TELL YOU, MY INSTINCTS ARE WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO.
WE HAVE BEEN VERY INVOLVED AT THE STATE LEVEL IN ENSURING THAT THE PROCESSES THAT ARE LAID OUT IN ISSUES SUCH AS TRYING TO PENALIZE COUNTIES FOR TRYING TO COMMIT CARES ACT FUNDING OR SPEND CARES ACT FUNDING BEFORE YOU EVEN THOUGH YOU GET IT, YOU'RE NOT PENALIZED, WHICH THERE HAS BEEN THAT EFFORT, IN ALL CANDOR.
BUT WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL SO FAR IN ENSURING THAT THE STATE RECOGNIZES HOW CAN YOU ASK THE COUNTY TO GO COMMIT AND SPEND WHEN YOU HAVEN'T SAID YOU GET TO KEEP IT YET? SO I DO THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET TO BE ABLE TO RETAIN IT JUST EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT ON THE SLIDE. JUST A CAVEAT. AS YOU SAID, WE DO NOW, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE GOT IT, WE STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH A MONTHLY ATTESTATION.
HOWEVER, IT'S NOT TIED TO THE CARES ACT.
THEY HAVE SWAPPED THAT OUT TO OUR REALIGNMENT BACKFILL THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE STATE BUDGET. SO I AM STILL REQUIRED ON A MONTHLY BASIS TO ATTEST TO THE STATE THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING THE STATE HEALTH ORDER IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO RECEIVE OUR REALIGNMENT BACKFILL. SO EVEN THOUGH IF THEY DIDN'T, THEY RELEASE THE NEXUS WITH THE CARES ACT, THEY TIED IT TO ANOTHER REVENUE MECHANISM FOR US.
YOU KNOW, AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE HAVE BEEN-- WE DO FEEL LIKE WE CAN SPEND EVERY RESOURCE. WE ARE NOT CONCERNED WITH THE CURRENT DEFINITIONS.
AS WE'VE SHARED WITH YOU, THE NINETEEN TWENTY DOLLARS THAT WERE BROUGHT IN OF THE NINE POINT FOUR MILLION DOLLARS.
WITHOUT THAT, WE DO FEEL LIKE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN FURTHER ADJUSTMENTS OR REDUCTIONS THAT WE WOULD HAVE NEEDED TO RECOMMEND.
WITH THAT, WE DID NOT NEED TO.
AS YOU COULD SEE BY THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAVE COME TO YOU TODAY AND OVER THE LAST [INAUDIBLE], WE ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE A BALANCE TO WHERE WE DO TRY TO UTILIZE THE DOLLARS FOR WHAT THEY ARE INTENDED.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME PROTECT THE COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND WHERE WE ARE EXPENDING RESOURCES ON COVID. SO AS WE CONTINUE, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO MAINTAIN THAT FLEXIBILITY.
JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION, THE STATE ACTUALLY HAS BROADENED THE ABILITY TO USE CARES ACT DOLLARS TOWARDS PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO INSTEAD OF TIGHTENING, THEY'VE ACTUALLY BROADENED THE USE OF US REIMBURSING OUR OWN COST, WHICH IS A GOOD THING.
SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD, UNLESS WE HEAR FROM DIFFERENTLY FROM YOU, OUR PLAN FROM HERE FORWARD IS PROBABLY TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO IDENTIFY WAYS THAT WE CAN ASSIST THE COMMUNITY IN CERTAIN WAYS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME MAXIMIZING OUR REIMBURSEMENT TO COVER APPROPRIATE COVID EXPENSES FROM A COUNTY PERSPECTIVE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
SO AGAIN, THAT'S AN UPDATE FOR YOU, KIND OF A GUIDELINE OF WHERE AS STAFF, UNLESS WE HEAR DIFFERENTLY FROM YOU, KIND OF WHERE WE'RE LOOKING TO GO FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS AND WE'RE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I'D LIKE TO THANK ALEXANDER FOR THE PRESENTATION.
VERY GOOD. JIM BROWN, THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE.
AND NICOLE, THANK YOU FOR TRACKING EVERYTHING.
WE KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN THE ONE BEHIND THIS AND MAKING SURE IT'S ALL DONE RIGHT.
I DO HAVE-- I JUST WANT TO KNOW, IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT IN SYNC WITH EACH OTHER ON HOW WE CAN SPEND THIS? OR IS THAT STILL--? I KNOW THERE FOR A WHILE IT SEEMS LIKE THE STATE WAS BEING A LITTLE MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS.
AND I DON'T KNOW, HAVE THEY SYNCHED UP OR ARE WE STILL BATTLING WITH THE STATE ON HOW WE DO THIS? SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL.
YES, THANK YOU. AND I WOULD BE REMISS.
NICOLE HAS BEEN THE BACKBONE ON THE ACCOUNTING, THE TRACKING, THE DEFINITIONS, THE LEGAL PERSPECTIVES, AND WORKING WITH THE AUDITOR CONTROLLER AND MAKING SURE WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING CORRECTLY.
SO SHE'S PROBABLY THE BEST ONE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
PERFECT. I THINK I KNOW, BUT I'M GOING TO LET HER.
OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE WEBINARS WITH THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL TO WHERE THEY ARE ON THE SAME PAGE WITH DEFINITION'S IN PROVIDING MORE CLARITY AS FAR AS HOW WE CAN UTILIZE THE DOLLARS FOR SALARY AND BENEFITS COSTS, BECAUSE IN THE BEGINNING IT WAS VERY VAGUE AND THEY HAVE PROVIDED MUCH MORE
[00:40:03]
CLARITY. VERY GOOD.THANK YOU. AND MY SECOND QUESTION THEN IS PAYING RENT TO THE FAIRGROUNDS OF ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY EIGHT THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR OUR TESTING FACILITY.
DOES THAT MONEY, DOES THAT RENT MONEY STAY LOCAL TO THE LOCAL FAIRGROUNDS OR DOES THAT GO BACK UP TO THE STATE? AND TWO, DID THE STATE REQUIRE US TO HAVE THE TESTING THERE IN ORDER TO PAY RENT? OR DID WE HAVE AN OPTION TO HAVE THAT TESTING ELSEWHERE TO WHERE WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS? REGARDING THE QUESTION ON LOCATION, NO.
THAT WAS NOT A STATE REQUIREMENT.
IT WAS UP TO US LOCALLY TO IDENTIFY A SITE THAT MADE THE MOST SENSE.
AND THE FAIRGROUNDS DID KIND OF FROM A JUST FROM A LAYOUT AND STRUCTURE THAT MADE THE MOST SENSE. SO, NO, THAT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS OUR CHOICE IN GOING THERE.
AS FAR AS THE NEXT QUESTION RELATED TO THE DOLLARS RETAINING LOCAL, I AM GOING TO HAVE TO PUNT ON THAT ONE. I THINK THEY DO STAY LOCAL AT THE LOW BECAUSE MOST OF THE TIME THEIR RENTS AND CONCESSIONS, JUST LIKE IT WOULD BE AT THE SPRING FAIR, ARE NORMALLY STAYED AS PART OF THEIR OPERATING.
I WOULD SHARE WITH YOU I HAPPENED TO BE ON THE PHONE WITH TERESA, THE FAIR DIRECTOR, YESTERDAY, NOT SPECIFICALLY ON THIS, BUT ON ANOTHER TOPIC.
AND WE TALKED ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE IT'S BEEN HELPFUL TO EVEN THOUGH IT'S A BIG COST FOR US, IT'S BEEN HELPFUL FOR THEM FROM THEIR OPERATION TO HAVE SOME REVENUE FLOWING IN TO HELP THEM. AND SHE DIDN'T COMMENT EITHER WAY.
IT WAS JUST MORE. YES, THANK YOU.
IT'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL TYPE THING.
WELL, I'M JUST BRINGING THAT BECAUSE ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY EIGHT THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS SEEMS LIKE AN AWFUL BIG TOLL.
BUT WE'VE GOT TO REMEMBER HOW LONG THAT OPERATION HAS BEEN OUT THERE AND PROBABLY THE AMOUNT OF AREA THAT IT DOES TAKE UP AND IN THIS SITUATION, BUT I WANTED ANYBODY ELSE WHO LOOKED AT ME ONE HUNDRED FORTY EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS RENT, IT WOULD MAKE YOU AND I KNOW PROBABLY A LOT OF MY CONSTITUENTS SAID, WELL, WE COULD HAVE DONE THAT AT CASTLE OR SOMEWHERE ELSE, BUT WE CAN DO ANYTHING AT CASTLE, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT IS CASTLE.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I JUST WANTED TO IF IT STAYS LOCAL, THAT'S EVEN BETTER BECAUSE THAT'S FEDERAL CARES ACT MONEY THAT WE CAN REDISTRIBUTE WITHIN LOCALLY TO HELP OUT THE FAIRGROUNDS. SO THANK YOU, MR. BROWN, FOR THAT. THANKS, NICOLE.
THANK YOU, CHAIR. AND AGAIN, STAFF WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE WORK YOU DID.
SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT'S IN PART OF THIS EXTENSION OF OUR CARES ACT FUNDING AND TRYING TO BE FLEXIBLE.
I THINK THAT WAS THE COMMON THEME THAT WE HAD WHEN WE STARTED TO PUT THIS TOGETHER TO PROGRAM MONEY IN THE PLACES THAT WE NEED TO ALLOW OURSELVES TO BE FLEXIBLE SO THAT WHATEVER CAME UP, WE HAD THE ABILITY TO PROGRAM MONEY INTO IT.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I SAW THAT CAME UP AND IS BEING ADDRESSED BY THE FUNDS THAT WEREN'T EXPENDED THROUGH OUR ORIGINAL DOLLARS TO HELP OUT BUSINESSES WITH SOME MONEY THAT WAS LEFT OVER, WE'RE ABLE TO HELP OUT THESE COMMUNITY CENTERS AND VETERANS' HALLS.
AND SO JUST AN EXAMPLE OF WHERE THIS IS GOING TO HELP IS YOU HAVE THESE FACILITIES THAT IN SOME CASES ARE OWNED BY THE COUNTY WHO THE VETERANS GROUPS ARE BASICALLY RUNNING THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS.
WELL, THEY HAVE VERY THIN MARGINS AND BUDGETS, BUT THEY LOST THE ABILITY TO RENT THEIR FACILITIES. BUT YET THERE STILL ARE ONGOING COSTS TO KEEPING.
AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE ANYBODY THERE, BUT YOU STILL ARE GOING TO HAVE A MINIMUM WATER BILL, FOR EXAMPLE, IF THEY'RE IN THE CITY AND GARBAGE IN THOSE THINGS.
AND SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT WE'RE GOING TO REPURPOSE THIS MONEY.
AND I WANT TO THANK MR. MARRIONE AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR THERE WAS ORIGINALLY SOME MONEY THAT WAS PROGRAMED IN THE ORIGINAL THREE MILLION TO HELP WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS OF PUTTING THIS THING TOGETHER. AND AS PART OF THAT ORIGINAL INVESTMENT, I'M GOING TO CALL IT, WE'RE ABLE TO GET THIS PROGRAM UP AND RUNNING.
AND I HOPE THESE GROUPS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT'S THERE FOR.
AND THE SECOND THING IS SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL BROUGHT UP ABOUT RINGING THE FAIRGROUNDS FROM THE STATE. AND I KNOW THAT THE ONE AT THE SPRING FAIR IS NOT BEING-- IT'S ONLY TWO DAYS A WEEK, BUT OUT OF THE GRACIOUSNESS OF OUR HEART, WE'VE PROBABLY PUT THAT UP FOR FREE.
BUT IF THERE WOULD BE CARES ACT DOLLARS AVAILABLE TO A FACILITY THAT IS A COUNTY DEPARTMENT THAT LOST ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF THEIR FUNDING DUE TO COVID-19, THAT THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD CONSIDER TO HELP OUT THAT BUDGET.
AND IT'S BASICALLY WE'RE GOING TO PAY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T GENERATED ANY REVENUE. SO IT'S GOING TO COME OUT OF COUNTY DISCRETIONARY DOLLARS OR MAYBE WE CAN GET TO USE SOME OF THE CARES ACT FUNDING FOR IT.
FURTHER COMMENTS? SUPERVISOR LOR. THANK YOU.
THIS IS IN REGARDS TO OUR WEBSITE.
I DON'T SEE WHERE WE CAN LOOK UP THE REPORTS THAT WE SUBMIT TO THE STATE OR THE
[00:45:05]
INFORMATION THAT WE SUBMIT TO THE STATE.IF WE CAN MAKE THAT EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC, IT'D BE HELPFUL SO WHEN WE REFERENCE OUR WEBSITE RESIDENTS OR BUSINESS OWNERS OR WHOEVER COULD ACCESS THAT EASILY.
AND THEN IN TERMS OF THE COMMUNITY AND VETERANS HEALTH ASSISTANCE PROGRAM GUIDELINES, I'M ASSUMING THE APPLICATION PROCESS WILL BE REALLY SIMILAR TO THE BUSINESS PIECE.
CAN NON-PROFITS WHO APPLIED TO THE BUSINESS PORTION USE THE SAME APPLICATION OR WILL IT BE A COMPLETELY NEW APPLICATION? THROUGH THE CHAIR, SUPERVISOR LOR, I GUESS THE APPLICATION PROCESS WILL BE VERY SIMILAR.
IT WILL BE AN ONLINE PLATFORM.
MANY OF THE COMPONENTS IN THE APPLICATION ARE THE SAME.
AND SO IF ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS APPLIED TO THE OTHER, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO KIND OF UTILIZE THAT INFORMATION IN THE NEW APPLICATION.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENCES BECAUSE OF ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, AND SO THEY WOULD NEED TO SUBMIT A NEW APPLICATION WITH THE UPDATED INFORMATION.
UH, IN BACK TO SUPERVISOR LOR, IN RESPONSE TO THE FIRST QUESTION OR THE FIRST COMMENT RELATED TO REPORTS ON THE WEBSITE IN STATE, WE WILL LOOK AT THAT.
I WOULD JUST WANT TO CAUTION THE BOARD AND PUBLIC.
I THINK WE'VE SHARED AT A PRIOR BOARD MEETING.
BUT JUST TO CAUTION YOU IS THAT IN AUGUST, WHEN YOU APPROVED THE PROGRAM OR PLAN, THERE WAS NO STRUCTURE FROM THE STATE.
THERE WAS NO FORMAT FROM THE STATE.
AND SUBSEQUENTLY THEY DEFINED HOW TO SUBMIT THOSE REPORTS AND THE CATEGORIES AND THEN THEY CHANGED IT AGAIN.
AND SO THE REPORTS ARE DIFFERENT IN THE LAYOUT VERSUS WHAT THE WAY WE HAVE BEEN SHARING WITH YOU AS FAR AS THE FORMAT.
OK, SO WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER TWENTY TWO.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? IF NOT, A MOTION? OH, THERE WE GO.
MOTION BY SUPERVISOR LOR, SECOND BY SUPERVISOR.
OK, OK, WE WANT TO TAKE IT SEPARATELY.
THAT SHOULD DO SEPARATELY, AS WE'RE, ON 22 ALREADY.
MOTION CARRIES BY [INAUDIBLE] WE ARE ON ITEM NUMBER 23.
THIS ONE'S AUTHORIZES THE CHAIRMAN JUST TO SIGN THE CIVIL GRAND JURY LETTER OF RESPONSE PERTAINING TO MATTERS UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE BOARD AS NOTED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2019-2020.
MOTION BY SUPERVISOR LOR AND SECOND BY SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
THAT THAT ENDS. THE AGENDA AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE MERCED COUNTY, [INAUDIBLE]
[GSA Meeting]
GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY.WE'LL DO PUBLIC COMMENT, AGAIN, IT'S TIME FOR A PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST WITHIN THE BOARD'S JURISDICTION, INCLUDING ITEMS ON THE BOARD AGENDA, EXCEPT FOR THOSE ITEMS SPECIFICALLY SCHEDULED AS PUBLIC HEARINGS.
TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.
THANK YOU. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE AGENDA ON THE GROUND WATER.
NONE HERE. DO WE HAVE ANY VOICE CALL INS? NONE. OK, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 1.
MOVED BY SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL A SECOND.
[INAUDIBLE] SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, JUST AND I GET IT, BUT IT JUST SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF WORK THAT WE PUT THROUGH TO AUTHORIZE US TO SPEND FIVE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FOUR DOLLARS IN.
AND I AM COMFORTABLE AND MAYBE NOT.
AND I DON'T I DON'T KNOW WHAT BUDGET ACT AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS TELL US, BUT THE WAY THAT I READ THIS, THE TOTAL REPORT IS FIFTY EIGHT THOUSAND, WHICH MERCED COUNTY SHARES
[00:50:03]
FIVE HUNDRED TWENTY FOUR DOLLARS, WHICH I GET IT.IT'S IT'S ONE AGENDA WE'RE ALREADY HAVING THE MEETING.
BUT BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE USE OF TIME AND RESOURCES SOMEHOW SOME WAY, I THOUGHT WHEN WE DID CHANGED OUR OUR ORDINANCE TO ALLOW OUR CEO TO HAVE SOME SOME MORE SPENDING AUTHORITY AND AND MAKE SOME CHOICES.
THESE ARE THE TYPE OF THINGS THAT I WAS HOPING THAT WE WOULD KIND OF CLEAN UP THAT IT'S FIVE HUNDRED TWENTY FOUR DOLLARS.
I GET THAT TO AN INDIVIDUAL THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
BUT THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND RESOURCES THAT IT TOOK TO PUT THIS AGENDA TOGETHER TO ALL OF THE PAPERWORK, EVERYTHING THAT GOES WITH IT, IT JUST WE SPENT MORE MONEY TODAY PUTTING THIS ITEM ON HERE THAN WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO SPEND IN THIS ITEM.
THAT'S MY HUMBLE OPINION AND THAT'S MY COMMENTS.
THANK YOU. SO, YES, SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA.
I THINK YOU NEED TO GET ON THAT.
THE COMMON SENSE COMPLIANCE COMMITTEE, AND MAYBE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN RAN THROUGH THERE AND SAVED US A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY.
SO I'M LOOKING FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THAT ON THAT NEW COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE MARK HENDERSON. MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD DO NOT TAKE EXCEPTION TO THOSE COMMENTS WHATSOEVER.
I WOULD JUST SIMPLY SAY THAT OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A LITTLE NUANCED JUST BECAUSE WE ARE IN THAT ERA OF SIGMA AND AS IT RELATES TO PRIMARILY JUST RECORD KEEPING AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE FULLY OPEN AND TRANSPARENT, ESPECIALLY WITH OTHER AGENCIES, REALLY, THAT WAS REALLY THE ONLY SOLE PURPOSE AND ATTENTION TODAY.
CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND FIVE HUNDRED TWENTY FOUR DOLLARS IN THE GREATER SCHEME OF THINGS DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A GREAT DEAL.
WE AS STAFF CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOUR SAYING THAT THIS IS MORE FOR NOTHING OTHER THAN JUST TO BE HONEST, JUST RECORD KEEPING WITH THE GSA ITSELF.
AND I WOULD CONCUR WITH WHAT MR. HENDERSON SAID. I WOULD COMMENT THAT IN PREVIOUS ACTIONS THE BOARD TOOK WE PROBABLY DO HAVE THE AUTHORITY ON THIS.
I WOULD COMMENT, THOUGH, WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN WHEN IT COMES TO WATER AND GSAS AND YOUR PARTNERS, WE TRY TO BE UPFRONT WITH YOU.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS ITEM, THERE IS AN ACTION ONE TIED TO THIS.
IT'S NOT JUST ACTION TWO ACTION ONE IS BASICALLY FIFTY EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS IN PARTNERING WITH OTHER ENTITIES.
SO ACTION TWO IS PROBABLY JUST ADDED TO IT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO BE TRANSPARENT AND HONEST.
BUT THE ACTION I'M NOT SAYING THIS IS ALL HERE JUST BECAUSE OF ACTION TWO.
THERE IS ACTION ONE THERE ALSO FOR YOU.
[INAUDIBLE], I'M SORRY, I TRIED TO GET OFF THE QUEUE THERE.
SORRY, OK, I THINK WE'RE ALL TRYING TO DO SAME THING.
SO WE HAVE A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2020 A PUBLIC FORUM WILL BE
[Additional Item]
HELD IN THE WORLD'S CHAMBERS AT 1:30 PM TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT [INAUDIBLE] ACCESS TO INDIVIDUALS AND TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT.THIS FORUM WILL BE PART OF THE BOARD'S REGULAR MEETING.
AND NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO A BOARDS COMMENTS.
SUPERVISOR SILVEIRA. SO LET ME PUT IT IN DISCUSSION.
[REPORTS/BOARD DIRECTION]
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.FIRST THING, I JUST KIND OF WANT TO TOUCH BASES, I MEAN, IT IS CRAZY THE AMOUNT OF ACTION THAT'S GOING ON HERE AT THE COUNTY BUILDING, THE AMOUNT OF PHONE CALLS, TEXT MESSAGES, FACEBOOK MESSAGES THAT I'M RECEIVING BECAUSE IT'S PEOPLE ARE OUT VOTING AND WE'RE JUST THERE'S TREMENDOUS TURNOUT SO FAR AND SO EARLY FOLKS ARE COMING IN.
A COUPLE OF THINGS I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY.
I GOT A CALL THE OTHER DAY ABOUT SOMEBODY HAD HAD PASSED AWAY AND HIS SPOUSE RECEIVED HIS BALLOT AND ASKED, WHAT SHOULD THEY DO WITH IT? I REACHED OUT TO BARB [INAUDIBLE] OUR REGISTRAR OF VOTERS.
AND YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENS IS, IS AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO SEND THESE THINGS TO THE PRINT SHOP TO BE ABLE TO PRINT THE BALLOTS AND THINGS TAKE PLACE.
SO IN SEPTEMBER, THERE WAS A DEADLINE THAT THEY HAD TO BE SENT OUT TO PRINT.
SO IN THAT CASE, THE THING TO DO IS, IS JUST PUT THE BALLOT BACK IN THE RETURN ENVELOPE, SEND IT BACK, DOESN'T COST YOU A STAMP ANYMORE OR DROP IT OFF AND JUST WRITE ON THERE DECEASED. AND THEN THE REGISTRAR VOTERS STAFF, ELECTION STAFF AT SOME POINT WILL GO AND UPDATE THOSE VOTING RECORDS.
OTHERWISE, YOU DON'T FALL OFF, YOU DON'T BECOME AN INACTIVE VOTER UNLESS YOU WENT FOUR YEARS. FOUR YEARS OF NOT VOTING WILL PUT YOU AS AN INACTIVE VOTER WHERE YOU WOULDN'T RECEIVE A BALLOT. ANOTHER PERSON THAT WAS THEY RECEIVED TWO BALLOTS.
[00:55:05]
AND AGAIN, THEY MADE A CHANGE FROM WHEN THE BALLOTS WERE SENT TO THE PRINTER IN SEPTEMBER. THEY MADE A CHANGE TO THEIR VOTER REGISTRATION AFTER THAT, WHICH THEN CAUSED THEM TO RECEIVE A SECOND BALLOT.NOW IS EACH PERSON IS TRACKED BY UNIQUE VOTER ID NUMBER, AND THAT SECOND BALLOT IS THE ONE IS THEIR ACTIVE BALLOT.
THEIR FIRST BALLOT BECOMES INACTIVE.
NOW, IF THEY VOTED ON THEIR FIRST BALLOT, THAT BALLOT WOULD BE HELD UNTIL THE 17 DAYS AFTER THE ELECTION, WHICH I THINK IS A LITTLE CRAZY.
BUT 17 DAYS AFTER THE ELECTION, AS LONG AS IT WAS POSTMARKED BY ELECTION DAY, THE REGISTRAR OF VOTERS CAN STILL RECEIVE BALLOTS IN THE MAIL.
AND IF YOUR SECOND BALLOT, WHICH WAS YOUR ACTIVE BALLOT, DIDN'T SHOW UP, THEY WOULD THEN ACTIVATE YOUR FIRST BALLOT.
SO, AGAIN, THESE ARE JUST QUESTIONS FOLKS ARE CALLING ME AND ASKING ME.
AND I JUST WANT TO PUT IT OUT THERE AND I WANT TO GO ON RECORD AGAIN IS SAYING THAT ONCE YOUR BALLOT GETS TO US, I AM SUPREMELY CONFIDENT IN THE ABILITY OF OUR REGISTRAR OF VOTERS AND THE STAFF THAT ARE WORKING THERE, THE FULL TIME STAFF, THE EXTRA HELP STAFF THAT COME ON JUST FOR THE ELECTION.
THEY RUN A TIP-TOP ORGANIZATION OVER THERE AGAIN.
I SAID IT BEFORE THAT THE ONLY WAY THAT THE ELECTIONS OFFICE COULD CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF AN ELECTION WOULD BE THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE A MASS CONSPIRACY THEORY THAT STARTED ALL THE WAY FROM THE FROM BARB [INAUDIBLE] HERSELF AS THE REGISTERED VOTERS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO EVERY EXTRA HELP EMPLOYEE THAT COMES IN DURING THE ELECTION.
THEIR SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES IS AMAZING AND TOP NOTCH, AND IT'S ALL DONE UNDER CAMERAS. I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO VOTE.
I WANT TO SAY THE NUMBER WAS IN THE PRIMARY, ABOUT NINETY NINE THOUSAND REGISTERED VOTERS IN MERCED COUNTY.
AND LAST COUNT, WE'RE AT ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN THOUSAND.
SO OVER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY NOW.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GET DEFINITELY GET A GOOD REPRESENTATION OUT THERE OF WHAT WHAT THE PUBLIC THINKS. AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
WHATEVER SIDE, WHATEVER IS MOTIVATING YOU TO VOTE, I JUST TELL YOU TO GET OUT AND VOTE.
THIS IS PEOPLE THAT HAVE DIED FOR YOU TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS.
AND I'M I'M JUST ALMOST I'M READY FOR IT TO BE OVER.
IT'S GOSH, I DON'T LIVE IN [INAUDIBLE] DISTRICT OR COX'S DISTRICT, BUT I GET FRESNO NEWS IN LAS [INAUDIBLE]. AND MAN, I'D LIKE TO HAVE ABOUT A QUARTER OF WHAT THEY'RE SPENDING ON TV ADS BECAUSE IT IS LITERALLY EVERY OTHER AD ONE AND IT'S CRAZY.
AND THEN THE LAST THING THAT I HAVE, MR. CHAIRMAN, IS IF I WANT TO ADJOURN TODAY'S MEETING IN HONOR OF JAMES [INAUDIBLE] SENIOR LOCALLY, HE'S JUST KIND OF KNOWN AS SENIOR.
HE WAS A NEIGHBOR OF MINE, GOOD FAMILY, FRIENDS, BEEN IN THE DAIRY BUSINESS FARMING IN LAS [INAUDIBLE] FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
4G LEADER INVOLVED IN YOU NAME THE ORGANIZATION IN THE LAS [INAUDIBLE] AREA.
AND HIM AND HIS FAMILY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN IT.
IT IS A BEAUTIFUL WIFE, DOLORES, MULTIPLE GRANDCHILDREN, GREAT GRANDCHILDREN.
AND, SENIOR [INAUDIBLE] PASSED AWAY ON, GET MY SPOT HERE.
SORRY. OK, MY COMPUTER IS MESSING UP HERE.
HE PASSED AWAY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING THIS MEMORY IN HONOR OF HIM AND AND MY CONDOLENCES OUT TO THE [INAUDIBLE] FAMILY IN LAS [INAUDIBLE].
SUPERVISOR PAREIRA. NO COMMENT. SUPERVISOR MCDANIEL. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. A BIG THANK YOU.
WE'VE TO [INAUDIBLE] AND TO BRIAN BAINE.
WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE VERY SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS REGARDING THE PARK THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER OUT IN THE BEACHWOOD FRANKLIN AREA.
I GOT TO GIVE SOME THINGS TO SAY, [INAUDIBLE] AS WELL.
BUT WE HAD OUR LAST LIVE FACEBOOK.
WE HAD TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY SOME PARTICIPANTS, ALONG WITH THE SUPERVISOR WHO STUCK HIS HEAD IN THROUGH THE DOOR IN THE FIRST TWENTY FOUR SECONDS OF THE MEETING.
BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK THEM.
THIS IS WE SAY GOVERNMENT WORKS AT A SLOW PACE.
THIS IS ONE WHERE GOVERNMENTS ARE ACTUALLY WORKING IN A FAST PACE AND WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF IT. THE NEXT TWO MEETINGS, OCTOBER 29TH WE'LL HAVE I BELIEVE IT'S ANOTHER FACEBOOK LIVE ZOOM MEETING.
AND THEN OCTOBER 31ST IN THE MORNING, WE'LL ACTUALLY HAVE A LARGE MAP WITH TOYS THAT WE CAN PLAY WITH OUT ON MAKE IT INTERACTIVE TO SEE WHAT KIND OF PARK THAT WE WANT TO HAVE OUT THERE. SO IT'S MOVING FAST AND I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT FROM THE REST OF THE BOARD AND MOVING FORWARD IN THIS, IT WILL BE OUR FIRST PARK IN DISTRICT THREE THAT'S A COUNTY
[01:00:02]
PARK. AND IT'S MUCH APPRECIATED.THANK YOU FOR THAT. AGAIN, I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY WE NEED TO VOTE.
IT IS OUR RIGHT AND WE CONTINUE TO GIVE HONOR TO OUR VETERANS, WHICH IS VETERANS DAY IS ON THE 11TH OF NOVEMBER.
AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THOSE GUYS THAT WE STILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT RIGHT TO VOTE.
AND WE NEED TO HOLD THAT CLOSE TO OUR HEART AND CONTINUE WITH THAT.
AND FOR ALL YOU VETERANS OUT THERE, LET ME JUST SAY IT RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU. YOUR VERY DEAR, VERY DEAR THAT WE ARE UP HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF YOU.
SUPERVISOR [INAUDIBLE] SOME OF YOU ALREADY VOTED TOO.
EXCUSE ME. AND JUST AN ENCOURAGEMENT AGAIN FOR FOLKS TO VOTE.
I WANT TO THANK MY FRIEND CONNIE FOR MAKING THIS MASK.
SHE SPENT A LOT OF TIME MAKING A MASK LIKE THIS TO TO GIVE OUT AND TO MAKE AVAILABLE TO FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
MEAN I'VE SAID IT BEFORE AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.
YOUR VOTE COULD BE THE TIEBREAKER.
SO WITHOUT YOUR VOTE, WHO KNOWS, RIGHT? SO FOLKS GO OUT AND VOTE.
YOU CAN DROP YOUR BALLOT OFF AT ANY OF OUR OFFICIAL BALLOT BOXES.
AND IF YOU DON'T TRUST THAT, WALK IT IN.
WE HAVE ONE ON THE FIRST FLOOR SO FOLKS GET OUT TO VOTE.
ALL YOUR COMMENTS. AGAIN, THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
NO. OK, WELL, YEAH, I VOTED AS WELL.
AND ACTUALLY LAST FRIDAY I CAME IN AND I MEAN, I'M SORRY, MONDAY, LAST WEEK OF WHEN IT WAS COLUMBUS DAY, WE WERE CLOSED AND I WAS STANDING OUTSIDE FOR HALF AN HOUR JUST DIRECTING PEOPLE TO THE OTHER POLL DROP OFF BOX BECAUSE THE LITTLE ONE HAD WAS FULL.
JUST SO MANY PEOPLE COMING IN TO DROP OFF THE BOXES.
SO I CALLED BARBARA [INAUDIBLE] AND SHE'D COME OVER PRETTY QUICK AND THEN EMPTIED THE SMALL ONE. SO A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN REALLY SEE THE ONE ON THE END.
SO I GUESS THEY'RE USED TO COMING IN WITH A LITTLE ONE OR COMING INTO THE LOBBY TO DROP OFF THOSE BALLOTS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST AMAZED AND WATCHING THE NEWS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, EVERYBODY'S VOTING. SO IT IS YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE.
SO, YOU KNOW, GOOD FOR VOTING.
ANOTHER QUESTION I HAVE FOR COUNTY COUNCIL WAS THAT TODAY WE APPOINTED I WAS [INAUIBLE] ELECTIONS. PEOPLE THAT ARE IN SMALL DISTRICTS THAT DON'T HAVE ELECTIONS, THE COST OF ELECTION. SO THAT JUST WE APPOINTED SEVERAL.
BUT I GUESS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IS IF WE APPOINTED ONE AND THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE THREE VOTES, I GUESS THE REMAINING TWO SEATS WILL PEOPLE CAN APPLY, I GUESS, THE NUMBER OF PERSONS TO COME INTO THE ELECTION OFFICE.
RIGHT. AND SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION IF YOU WANT IT, OR THEY WILL BE APPOINTED BY THE ON BOARD IF THEY HAVE A MAJORITY.
I BELIEVE THE DIRECTION IN THE ACTION ITEM THAT YOU VOTED ON ALREADY IS TO HAVE THE CLERK OF THE BOARD POST THOSE VACANCIES FOR POTENTIAL RECRUITMENTS.
OK, I JUST I HAD A SOMEBODY ASKING ME, SO THANK YOU.
AND MY LAST COMMENT WAS THERE'S CONTINUES TO BE, I THINK, FOR A COUPLE MORE WEEKS FOR DONATIONS AT THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH WHO HAVE BEEN HELPING OUT OVER THERE.
IT'S 899 [INAUDIBLE] PARKWAY AT THURSDAYS AT NOON.
SO ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO COME IN AND GET SOME FOOD.
AND FOR ALL THOSE IN NEED, STOP BY AT 899 [INAUDIBLE] PARKWAY SO WITH THAT, I'LL ADJOURN THE MEETING. THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD DAY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.