[25:12] foreign

[39:37] everyone I thank you so much for being

[39:39] here um I will call to order this

[39:41] meeting the March 14th meeting of the

[39:43] Ventura County uh Board of Supervisors

[39:45] uh Madam clerk do you mind calling the

[39:47] roll

[39:49] supervisor girl here

[39:52] here

[39:55] supervisor Lopez here chair levere here

[39:58] and everyone could please us stand and

[39:59] join me in the Pledge of Allegiance

[40:23] all right item four is the approval of

[40:25] the minutes from our meeting of February

[40:28] 28 2023 uh any of my colleagues wish to

[40:32] pull an item or a motion to approve

[40:36] so moved I'll second

[40:41] supervisor girl yes supervisor long

[40:45] yes supervisor Parvin yes supervisor

[40:48] Lopez yes chair levere yes and then item

[40:51] five is our agenda review Dr Johnson

[40:53] thank you Mr chair good morning

[40:56] supervisors members of the public and

[40:58] all staff in attendance today the agenda

[41:00] review is as follows item 8 opening

[41:04] public comments comment letter from

[41:06] Samuel Fang and Susana Macias Robles

[41:09] have been submitted item 36 County

[41:12] Executive Office approval of a strategy

[41:15] to direct the use of 15 million dollars

[41:18] allocated for affordable housing

[41:20] construction and Loan capital a board

[41:22] letter has been submitted

[41:24] item 37 County Executive Office approval

[41:28] of an allocation of 5.5 million as home

[41:31] key 3.0 funding requests to be heard

[41:34] before 10 a.m time certain items

[41:37] item 44 supervisor guerrell and

[41:40] supervisor Parvin public hearing

[41:42] regarding adoption of an ordinance

[41:43] repealing the Ventura County campaign

[41:45] Finance reform ordinance

[41:47] 173 comment letters have been submitted

[41:50] and finally item 57 closed session

[41:54] conference with labor negotiators

[41:56] comment letter from Grace Dunleavy has

[41:59] been submitted this concludes engine to

[42:01] review Mr chair

[42:03] thank you Dr Johnson is there a motion

[42:05] to approve the agenda as revised

[42:08] the agenda has revised

[42:12] second

[42:15] supervisor girl yes

[42:18] supervisor loan yes

[42:20] supervisor Parvin yes

[42:22] supervisor Lopez yes chair levere yes

[42:33] okay and that takes us to our moment of

[42:36] inspiration and uh in March

[42:39] as we celebrate uh women's History Month

[42:42] I thought it'd be appropriate to

[42:44] recognize an organization in Ventura

[42:46] County that has been incredibly active

[42:48] engaged in the local political scene for

[42:50] many years and that is the League of

[42:53] Women Voters uh many of us who are

[42:56] elected have been through their debates

[42:57] they're usually the most professional

[42:59] and a best moderated debate something

[43:02] that I think all of us enjoy doing as we

[43:04] go through our our various campaigns and

[43:06] so I know I see uh four women from the

[43:08] league here this morning and I would

[43:10] like to invite up Susan King Roth who is

[43:14] the current vice president of the League

[43:15] of Women Voters of Ventura County

[43:18] and Miss Roth we have a certificate we'd

[43:20] like to present to you and

[43:22] um it says you know we as the Board of

[43:24] Supervisors honor and congratulate the

[43:26] League of Women Voters on its 103rd

[43:28] anniversary and commend the league for

[43:31] its steadfast commitment to strengthen

[43:33] and uphold its mission of empowering

[43:36] voters and defending democracy and so

[43:38] thank you so much for being here and I

[43:40] would love to invite you to make a few

[43:41] comments thanks so much chair Olivia

[43:46] um

[43:46] and members of the Board of Supervisors

[43:49] as he said my name is uh excuse me Susan

[43:52] King Roth is the Michael case yes okay

[43:55] sorry my voice is a bit hoarse this

[43:57] morning

[43:58] um

[43:59] I'm vice president at Kathy Morgan

[44:01] president of our league is currently

[44:04] traveling and asks that I present in her

[44:06] absence

[44:07] the League of Women Voters of Ventura

[44:10] county is deeply honored to be here

[44:12] today to present a moment of inspiration

[44:15] marches women's history month during the

[44:18] month we recognize the efforts of all

[44:20] the remarkable women who've contributed

[44:23] to this country and around the world

[44:25] often in defiance of the expectations of

[44:28] their time

[44:29] Carrie Chapman cat founder of the League

[44:31] of Women Voters is one such woman

[44:34] Carrie was born in 1859 and grew up in

[44:38] rural Iowa and became interested in

[44:40] women's rights at an early age

[44:42] she questioned why her mother did not go

[44:44] to town with her father and his farm

[44:46] hands to vote and we called her father

[44:48] saying that voting was too important a

[44:51] civic duty to be left to women

[44:54] her father also didn't want her to go to

[44:56] college believing that a girl did not

[44:58] need that much education however she did

[45:01] get a job and put herself through

[45:03] college earning a Bachelor of Science

[45:05] degree the only female in her graduating

[45:08] class

[45:09] she later became principal of high

[45:11] school and was promoted to

[45:13] superintendent of schools in Basin City

[45:15] Iowa one of the first women in the

[45:17] nation to be appointed to such a

[45:20] position

[45:22] after she married she became co-editor

[45:28] and publisher of the Mason City

[45:30] newspaper along with her husband

[45:32] unfortunately after less than two years

[45:34] her husband died so she supported

[45:36] herself by writing freelance articles

[45:39] editing newspapers giving lectures and

[45:41] becoming a paid field organizer for the

[45:44] Iowa women's suffrage association in

[45:48] 1890 she married again and had the

[45:50] economic means to devote time to

[45:52] suffrage work after moving to New York

[45:54] City she began working with Susan B

[45:57] Anthony

[45:58] who chose her to succeed her as

[46:00] president of the National American Woman

[46:03] Suffrage Association she was twice

[46:06] elected to the presidency and became

[46:08] involved in the international suffrage

[46:11] movement she met with world leaders and

[46:14] was widely quoted in newspapers across

[46:16] the country

[46:17] soon her name became familiar in

[46:19] American households the struggle for

[46:22] women's suffrage was a long and bitter

[46:24] fight requiring 72 years of effort women

[46:27] who had never had public lives were

[46:29] emboldened to speak out March in the

[46:31] streets and protest

[46:33] lessons learned about the women's

[46:35] suffrage movement deeply influenced

[46:37] later American social justice and

[46:40] advocacy movements lobbying public

[46:42] relations and Grassroots organizing

[46:45] techniques developed by the suffragists

[46:47] including their use of non-violent

[46:50] protests became a model for later civil

[46:53] rights movements

[46:54] Carrie chapmancat founded the League of

[46:56] Women Voters on February 14 1920 six

[47:01] months before the ratification of the

[47:03] 19th Amendment her vision and League

[47:06] of the league was that it should be

[47:08] nonpartisan working towards securing the

[47:11] infranchisement of women of every state

[47:13] removing legal discrimination against

[47:16] women and making democracy safe

[47:18] in fact the mission of the league today

[47:21] is empowering voters defending democracy

[47:24] and it continues to be non-partisan

[47:28] working to educate all of the electorate

[47:30] about issues and candidates and

[47:32] encouraging informed and active

[47:35] participation in government in the 1930s

[47:38] League members worked successfully for

[47:41] enactment of the Social Security Act as

[47:44] well as the Food and Drug Act after

[47:46] World War II The League carried out a

[47:48] national public support campaign at the

[47:50] request of President Franklin Roosevelt

[47:52] to establish the United Nations and to

[47:56] ensure U.S participation following the

[47:59] campaign President Harry Truman invited

[48:01] the league to serve as a consultant to

[48:03] the U.S delegation at the United Nations

[48:06] Charter conference

[48:08] one of the first organizations

[48:09] officially recognized by the yin un as

[48:13] an NGO the league still maintains

[48:16] official Observer status today

[48:18] throughout history League members laid

[48:20] grass movements for Universal voter

[48:22] registration campaign Integrity the

[48:25] right of reproductive Choice civil

[48:27] rights clean air and water safe and

[48:30] affordable housing and child care early

[48:33] in the history of the league it was

[48:34] committed to establishing child labor

[48:36] laws and equal pay for women

[48:39] more recently the League of Women Voters

[48:42] has worked to eliminate remaining

[48:44] obstacles to voter registration across

[48:46] the country it supported and advocated

[48:49] for redistricting reform to a limited

[48:52] partisan and or racial gerrymandering

[48:55] countering misinformation and

[48:57] disinformation

[48:59] protecting voting rights and educating

[49:01] voters with the intent of creating a

[49:04] stronger and more representative

[49:06] democracy the League of Women Voters of

[49:09] Ventura County provides candidate forums

[49:12] prior to its elections so that voters

[49:14] can hear directly from local candidates

[49:17] to better inform their choice when

[49:19] voting it educates voters about ballot

[49:21] measures based on factual information

[49:24] and conducts legislative interviews on

[49:27] Zoom with representatives from the state

[49:30] legislature

[49:35] League members also visit Ventura County

[49:38] high schools to explain the voting

[49:40] process and assist students with voter

[49:43] registration as well as award

[49:45] scholarships to students enrolled in

[49:47] three local colleges

[49:49] although the League of Women Voters has

[49:51] evolved over the last century it still

[49:53] continues to support the core Mission

[49:55] conceived in 1920 I would like to end

[49:58] with a quote from Carrie Chapman cat

[50:02] everybody counts in applying democracy

[50:05] and there will never be a true democracy

[50:08] until every responsible and law-abiding

[50:11] adult in it without regard to race sex

[50:14] color or Creed has his or her own

[50:18] inalienable and unpurchasable vote Voice

[50:22] in government thank you

[50:25] [Applause]

[50:32] well thank you Miss Roth for being here

[50:34] and sharing that really unique history

[50:36] that's quite appropriate for this month

[50:38] so we would love to come down and

[50:39] present this certificate to the to the

[50:43] league women and we'd love to take a

[50:44] picture

[50:56] yes

[51:02] we're gonna come up here yeah the front

[51:05] in the front here

[52:36] thank you

[52:38] foreign

[52:42] you know it still shocks me that some

[52:45] people are not registered to vote

[52:47] it just it's amazing yeah yeah so thank

[52:50] you for bringing this up today yes

[52:53] hey item seven on our agenda this

[52:56] morning is our consent calendar items uh

[52:59] 11 through 28. does anyone like to pull

[53:02] an item or ask any questions no and I'll

[53:05] move

[53:06] consent item agenda forward

[53:17] supervisor guerrill yes

[53:19] supervisor long yes

[53:21] supervisor Parvin yes supervisor Lopez

[53:24] yes chair levere yes

[53:28] which takes us to public comments and I

[53:30] know we have quite a few public speakers

[53:32] this morning so why don't we um

[53:34] start with public comment

[53:36] thank you thank you chair lever

[53:39] to members of the public who wish to

[53:41] address the board today with live public

[53:42] comment on any agenda item please visit

[53:44] ventura.org forward slash BOS comment

[53:46] for participation information and

[53:48] instructions Grant Person Public comment

[53:50] please check in with the deputy clerk at

[53:52] the entrance of the boardroom if you

[53:53] wish to make comments you must be in the

[53:55] boardroom or if you're participating

[53:56] remotely you must be connected to the

[53:58] meeting via Zoom or telephone before the

[54:00] close of the public comment period for

[54:01] that agenda item request to make live

[54:03] public comments on an agenda item will

[54:05] be accepted until the public comment

[54:07] period for each agenda item is complete

[54:09] for our remote participants please

[54:11] accept the prompt to be promoted and

[54:13] when your name is called you will need

[54:15] to inmute your mic when it's your turn

[54:16] to speak for all public comment

[54:18] participants your name will be called in

[54:20] the order the registration was received

[54:22] and our first speaker is going to be

[54:24] um Lee green who's here in person

[54:27] followed by Barbara Marcy Ortiz and

[54:30] Rachel sleet so Lee green if you could

[54:33] please proceed to the podium you will

[54:35] have three minutes

[54:41] good morning good morning

[54:43] supervisor long thank you for wearing

[54:45] red this morning uh if that's

[54:48] appropriate

[54:50] foreign

[54:57] I didn't realize I was going to be first

[54:59] and would have to set the table

[55:01] as you no doubt are aware the county

[55:05] nurses are in negotiations for a new

[55:08] contract

[55:10] they still seem to be

[55:13] far apart from an agreement on several

[55:17] issues

[55:18] the one I my name is Lee green by the

[55:21] way and um

[55:23] I'm married to a nurse who has been with

[55:25] the county for 15 years working in

[55:28] vcmc's surgery Department

[55:30] and because she is there working right

[55:32] now you're hearing my voice instead of

[55:35] hers

[55:37] so I wanted to focus on the cola

[55:41] the cost of living adjustment that helps

[55:43] retain the value

[55:45] of the pension that the nurses receive

[55:49] a typical younger middle-aged person

[55:51] doesn't think about colas my wife has a

[55:54] master's degree in business

[55:55] but even she didn't think about coal is

[55:57] when she took the job

[56:00] neither did most of the other nurses at

[56:02] County but they are thinking about it

[56:04] now and they're not happy

[56:07] by refusing to give our nurses a cola

[56:10] the county is insisting that the nurses

[56:12] not the county bear the considerable

[56:15] burden of inflation

[56:18] the county saves a lot of money and the

[56:21] nurses lose a lot of money

[56:26] the county Hospital's recruiters ask

[56:28] nurses to work for substandard

[56:31] non-competitive wages

[56:34] why would anyone do that when they could

[56:36] take a job across the street for

[56:37] significantly more money

[56:40] one big reason is that the county offers

[56:42] a pension

[56:44] but what those recruiters don't say is

[56:46] that due to inflation that pension year

[56:49] by year will gradually Melt Away

[56:52] nurses who retired in 2000 at age 60 and

[56:57] are now 83 have seen

[57:00] 74.7 percent of their pensions

[57:04] value simply disappear

[57:09] there is this is no small matter it goes

[57:12] to what sort of lives our nurses will

[57:15] have in their later years

[57:18] the nurses at vcmc work alongside techs

[57:22] and other staff whose pensions are

[57:24] protected by colas

[57:27] the nurses have no such protection what

[57:31] does this say about our County what does

[57:34] this say about us

[57:36] it's not right

[57:38] you supervisors were not the ones to

[57:41] formulate this policy Mr Green you're

[57:43] out of time well you can be the ones to

[57:45] correct it and give the nurses the

[57:47] financial security and you're out of

[57:49] time and we have 12 speakers ahead of

[57:51] you

[57:54] [Applause]

[58:01] okay our next speaker is going to be

[58:03] Barbara Marcy Ortiz followed by Rachel

[58:05] sleed and then Monica Kennedy

[58:08] good morning chair lever and supervisors

[58:11] my name is Barbara macri Ortiz and I'm

[58:14] here to support the nurses and their

[58:16] bargaining proposals

[58:17] you know over many years Ventura County

[58:19] created a really strong Health Care

[58:21] system

[58:23] for residents our nurses have always

[58:26] been the backbone of that system

[58:28] unfortunately the system is eroding

[58:31] because we no longer can recruit and

[58:33] train sufficient nurses

[58:37] to support the system why the working

[58:40] conditions and compensation for nurses

[58:43] are woefully inadequate

[58:45] so our nurses are training new nurses

[58:47] only to see them leave along with many

[58:50] senior nurses

[58:52] who have been the heart and soul of our

[58:54] system

[58:55] you know our primary problem started

[58:57] with covid and with the extreme strain

[59:00] put on the nurses who are our only real

[59:02] line of defense our nurses were the only

[59:05] ones who comforted our sick and dying in

[59:08] the hospitals his family and friends

[59:10] were locked out

[59:11] the nurses took all the risks

[59:14] they were Herald as Heroes as nurses

[59:17] died from covid and others retired

[59:19] because they couldn't handle it anymore

[59:22] the county relied on traveling nurses as

[59:25] a stop Gap

[59:28] to you know to keep keep the hospitals

[59:31] going

[59:33] during that period and but the pay of

[59:36] the traveling nurses just ballooned into

[59:38] millions and millions of dollars

[59:41] um

[59:42] now we've gotten through covid but the

[59:45] county never readjusted back we are now

[59:48] relying on traveling nurses rather than

[59:51] building back our infrastructure that

[59:53] made our system so strong

[59:55] knowledgeable and experienced nurses who

[59:58] are committed to Ventura County Health

[1:00:00] Care system and our hospitals

[1:00:03] a traveling nurse does not give you that

[1:00:06] and they are often inexperienced putting

[1:00:10] more pressure on our nurses for patient

[1:00:13] care making it harder and harder

[1:00:16] this negotiations the county must take

[1:00:19] care of our nurses so they can help the

[1:00:22] county build back our Health Care system

[1:00:24] and its infrastructure

[1:00:26] 23 million dollars has been spent this

[1:00:30] fiscal year for traveling nurses 23

[1:00:34] million dollars

[1:00:36] if we don't invest in our own nurses

[1:00:38] that figure is going to continue to grow

[1:00:40] and we will lose even more nurses the

[1:00:44] Traveler's budget must be diverted now

[1:00:46] into supporting our own Health Care

[1:00:49] system and its nurses

[1:00:52] you know we need to build back a strong

[1:00:55] Health Care system that we're very proud

[1:00:57] of but in order to do that

[1:01:00] you know we need to improve it for the

[1:01:02] for the future by supporting our nurses

[1:01:05] these are the ones that support our

[1:01:07] hospitals and these are the ones you

[1:01:09] need to support thank you very much

[1:01:14] foreign

[1:01:19] followed by Monica Kennedy and then

[1:01:22] Katie dernmost

[1:01:24] I actually have two things to speak on

[1:01:27] today hopefully I'll get through both of

[1:01:29] them but I'm going to start with

[1:01:32] I'm gonna start with the safety of our

[1:01:34] children so I have two daughters my 13

[1:01:37] year old attends Balboa my 15 year old

[1:01:39] is a freshman at Buena

[1:01:41] this school year Senate bill to 328

[1:01:44] which establishes new mandatory start

[1:01:48] times for schools went into effect

[1:01:50] this bill did not affect my 13 year old

[1:01:52] her start time remained the same but my

[1:01:56] high school daughter now starts at 8 30.

[1:01:58] my issue is not the start time but what

[1:02:02] time the bus picks my daughter and many

[1:02:04] other kids up for school

[1:02:05] my daughter Audrey wakes up at 5 30 to

[1:02:08] get ready and is picked up at 6 50 a.m

[1:02:11] she arrives to school at roughly seven

[1:02:14] o'clock Audrey along with many other

[1:02:16] kids

[1:02:17] are waiting 90 minutes and on Fridays

[1:02:20] two and a half hours for school to start

[1:02:22] Fridays is a 9 30 start time to kill

[1:02:26] time a lot of the kids are going into

[1:02:28] the Vaughn shopping center on the corner

[1:02:30] of Victorian Telegraph

[1:02:32] the same shopping center that one month

[1:02:35] ago a group of teens were attacked and a

[1:02:38] teenage girl was slashed on her back

[1:02:40] with a knife by transient

[1:02:43] sorry this is that could have been my

[1:02:46] daughter

[1:02:48] oftentimes I

[1:02:50] I stop at the same shopping center on my

[1:02:52] way home from work I see homeless

[1:02:54] wandering the parking lot and often

[1:02:56] acting erratic I was not shocked to hear

[1:03:00] a child was attacked but I was thankful

[1:03:02] she did not lose her life

[1:03:05] at this time my concern is for the

[1:03:07] safety of my daughter along with many

[1:03:09] other kids waiting for school to start a

[1:03:11] few weeks ago I attended a

[1:03:13] transportation meeting that offered no

[1:03:15] Solutions

[1:03:18] SB 328 was signed by Governor Newsom to

[1:03:21] improve student

[1:03:23] to improve students chances of success

[1:03:26] this bill works with teenagers natural

[1:03:29] sleep rhythms

[1:03:30] at this time Buena bus riders have even

[1:03:33] and Ventura have even longer days than

[1:03:36] their safeties at risk Ventura County

[1:03:38] School Ventura Unified School District

[1:03:42] is not operating in the spirit of the

[1:03:44] Law changes need to be made to protect

[1:03:47] our children and improve the chances of

[1:03:49] success

[1:03:54] so I'm reading this for another nurse

[1:03:56] who was not able to be here we're just

[1:03:59] supervisors I've been a nurse at vcmc

[1:04:01] for 18 years I currently work in the

[1:04:03] Pediatrics caring for some of the

[1:04:06] County's most vulnerable vulnerable

[1:04:07] population I'm asking at the the board

[1:04:10] listens to our concerns and agrees to a

[1:04:12] fair contract so that vcmc will be able

[1:04:15] to retain and hire experienced nurses

[1:04:17] vcmc is the only Hospital in the county

[1:04:20] with a pediatric and Intensive Care Unit

[1:04:23] unfortunately due to uncomparable wages

[1:04:27] Rachel your time is up

[1:04:30] we need picu nurses

[1:04:33] [Applause]

[1:04:40] okay our next speaker is going to be

[1:04:42] Monica Kennedy followed by Kate durnbos

[1:04:44] and then Scott durnbos

[1:04:46] good morning I am Monica Kennedy I have

[1:04:50] been in LVN in the NICU at vcmc for the

[1:04:53] past 19 years working on night shift

[1:04:56] to my family I am known as Monica mommy

[1:04:59] daughter sister and wife

[1:05:02] to Ventura County I am better known as

[1:05:07] 115580 my employee number that's all

[1:05:11] just a number

[1:05:12] we are here today to ask the county to

[1:05:15] not only listen to us but for us to be

[1:05:18] heard

[1:05:19] actions speak louder than words and we

[1:05:21] are asking to be presented with a

[1:05:23] contract that will help recruit and most

[1:05:27] importantly retain nurses and Health

[1:05:29] Care staff

[1:05:30] we are the backbone of the hospital and

[1:05:33] we are demanding dramatic change

[1:05:36] to think just not that long ago we were

[1:05:38] called Heroes where's the respect gone

[1:05:42] we have lost many nurses to other local

[1:05:45] hospitals in one month alone the NICU

[1:05:49] lost 13 seasoned nurses

[1:05:52] these were highly skilled nurses that

[1:05:54] were trained at vcmc staffed our unit

[1:05:57] for many years and left for higher pay

[1:06:00] and better working conditions

[1:06:02] why are we the current regular staff not

[1:06:05] worthy of the large budgets that are

[1:06:08] being approved for travel nurses

[1:06:10] we are the same staff who left our

[1:06:12] families and the safety of our homes

[1:06:14] while many including this board sat

[1:06:18] behind their computers safely conducting

[1:06:20] business safely conducting business not

[1:06:24] us we showed up to work are we not

[1:06:27] worthy of an increase in our pay to be

[1:06:30] competitive with surrounding hospitals

[1:06:32] an increased for cost of living safe

[1:06:36] Staffing and consistent breaks and

[1:06:38] lunches during our shifts

[1:06:40] I hope that the board can make decisions

[1:06:42] that bring positive change make

[1:06:45] decisions that you can honestly say are

[1:06:47] right and you can lay your head down at

[1:06:50] night and know these decisions you made

[1:06:52] are the ones you would want if you were

[1:06:55] in our position

[1:06:56] we too have families and after years of

[1:07:00] always staying at vcmc for the patients

[1:07:03] these poor conditions are making us

[1:07:05] think differently our patients deserve

[1:07:08] more and we deserve more

[1:07:18] [Applause]

[1:07:23] okay our next speaker is Katie dernboes

[1:07:25] followed by Scott durnbos and then Carla

[1:07:27] Molina

[1:07:29] good morning Ventura County Board of

[1:07:31] Supervisors my name is Katie dornbos and

[1:07:33] I am a member of the California Nurses

[1:07:35] Association I've been a registered nurse

[1:07:37] at vcmc for 18 years I'm a resident of

[1:07:40] District 3 in Ventura County

[1:07:42] we at CNA proudly represent Healthcare

[1:07:45] professionals throughout Ventura County

[1:07:47] we as nurses and Health Care

[1:07:48] Professionals are crucial stakeholders

[1:07:50] in the realm of Public Health and we are

[1:07:53] eager to obtain a fair and Equitable

[1:07:55] contract

[1:07:56] I believe that this includes significant

[1:07:58] wage increases to bring our members

[1:08:00] close to the wage disparity I mean to

[1:08:02] close the wage disparity with local

[1:08:05] hospitals in the county this is the way

[1:08:08] to be fiscally responsible

[1:08:10] by decreasing and eventually eliminating

[1:08:13] the need for travel nurses these travel

[1:08:15] nurses receive compensation roughly

[1:08:17] three times a staff nurse's wage in

[1:08:20] order to retain and recruit nurses with

[1:08:22] experience and retain those who we train

[1:08:24] in order to not lose them to other

[1:08:26] hospitals for higher wages for the same

[1:08:28] work we must be compensated much more

[1:08:30] than we are currently on our wage grid

[1:08:33] the highest paid nurse is still paid

[1:08:35] significantly less than State average

[1:08:37] for a nurse this needs to change it is

[1:08:39] your responsibility to help us achieve

[1:08:41] that goal continuing to fund travel

[1:08:43] nurses instead of increasing the wages

[1:08:46] of our members is irresponsible we are

[1:08:48] here because we deserve better we are

[1:08:51] also requesting Cola known as the cost

[1:08:53] of living adjustment in regards to our

[1:08:55] retirement most of the other unions in

[1:08:57] the county have Cola in their retirement

[1:08:59] why do we not deserve this I'm here

[1:09:02] today to ask you as all of the Ventura

[1:09:05] County Board of Supervisors to advocate

[1:09:06] for a fair agreement for CNA nurses and

[1:09:09] health care professional thank you thank

[1:09:12] you

[1:09:14] [Applause]

[1:09:17] I'm also here to speak on behalf to

[1:09:19] finish off what Brandi was trying to say

[1:09:22] the picu is a valuable asset to the

[1:09:25] county because it is imperative ma'am

[1:09:28] I'm really sorry but we we don't allow

[1:09:30] that as part of our protocols though

[1:09:31] okay yeah I'm sorry okay

[1:09:34] okay our next speaker is going to be

[1:09:35] Scott followed by Carla Molina and then

[1:09:37] Naomi Corpus

[1:09:42] hi my name is Scott dornboss and I'm a

[1:09:45] resident of District 3 in Ventura County

[1:09:48] I am here today on supporting my wife

[1:09:50] and all the CNA Healthcare professionals

[1:09:53] recently I was admitted to the vcmc ER

[1:09:55] on December 19th with a ruptured artery

[1:09:59] and I nearly died

[1:10:02] I had to wait six hours for blood my

[1:10:04] nurse until 11 pm was a traveling nurse

[1:10:07] and thankfully a staff nurse took over

[1:10:11] and noticed my vitals deteriorated

[1:10:14] I am I after being in the ICU tele and

[1:10:18] Med surge units I got to go home on the

[1:10:21] 23rd I was back to Santa Paula ER and

[1:10:25] was transferred by ambulance to vcmc on

[1:10:27] the 26th and was discharged again on the

[1:10:30] 29th

[1:10:31] it's because of the regular nurses and

[1:10:34] staff that I'm alive today this is why

[1:10:36] it is critical that you take Recruitment

[1:10:39] and Retention of your nurses and Health

[1:10:41] Care staff seriously

[1:10:43] our hospitals need experienced staff

[1:10:46] who are retained and compensated for the

[1:10:48] life-saving work they do I look forward

[1:10:51] to supporting my wife and her fellow

[1:10:53] colleagues in their CNA negotiations and

[1:10:55] hope you do the same because that's

[1:10:57] what's best for our families and

[1:10:58] communities

[1:11:00] thank you

[1:11:04] [Applause]

[1:11:08] speaker is going to be Carla Molina

[1:11:10] followed by Noemi Corpus and then

[1:11:12] Ignacio Gonzalez

[1:11:15] good morning my name is Carla and I've

[1:11:17] been a labor and delivery nurse at vcmc

[1:11:19] for 12 years we're in a crisis right now

[1:11:21] we have nearly 160 plus Travelers

[1:11:24] filling our Hospital some departments

[1:11:26] expering more Travelers than regular

[1:11:27] staff on any one shift this is a safety

[1:11:30] crisis a lot of these Travelers have way

[1:11:32] less experience than our seasoned nurses

[1:11:34] one unit this week had a charge nurse an

[1:11:37] orientee and the rest were Travelers

[1:11:38] this is a huge liability your seasoned

[1:11:41] nurses who have been here through thick

[1:11:42] and thin are feeling underappreciated

[1:11:44] and undervalued were burnt out we have

[1:11:47] lost countless nurses to local hospitals

[1:11:49] for significant more pay

[1:11:51] the cost of inflation over the past

[1:11:53] three years is astronomical and our pay

[1:11:55] and pension does not reflect the cost of

[1:11:57] living increase that we have been faced

[1:11:58] with minimum wage can increase at the

[1:12:00] rate it has but healthcare workers are

[1:12:02] responsible for patient lives don't get

[1:12:04] the same respect and appreciation

[1:12:06] I can tell you there are several senior

[1:12:08] nurses who have already mentioned that

[1:12:10] they are waiting on our new contract to

[1:12:12] take effect before deciding to leave to

[1:12:14] our local hospitals we need competitive

[1:12:16] wages and benefits that will entice

[1:12:18] employees to want to work here instead

[1:12:20] of only new nurses being trained and

[1:12:22] getting experience then leaving for

[1:12:24] better pay we need competitive wages in

[1:12:27] a pension with Cola to retain our nurses

[1:12:28] for our patients and and our nurses

[1:12:31] thank you thank you

[1:12:38] thank you no I'm in followed by Ignacio

[1:12:40] and then Lisa mayallianis

[1:12:44] hello everyone my name is Noe corpuz and

[1:12:47] I'm a member of California Nurses

[1:12:48] Association I've been a registered nurse

[1:12:51] at Ventura County hospital for two years

[1:12:52] but I've been a nurse for 12 years it is

[1:12:55] our belief in understanding our

[1:12:56] perspective on the ground is key to

[1:12:58] fully informed decision making by

[1:12:59] leadership

[1:13:01] it is not beneficial to hear um it's not

[1:13:04] only beneficial to hear expertise of our

[1:13:05] workers but our testimonies also provide

[1:13:07] invaluable glimpse into how decisions

[1:13:09] made at the top actually play out in

[1:13:11] reality as a break relief nurse I should

[1:13:14] be providing Chef relief to my fellow

[1:13:15] colleagues for their much needed breaks

[1:13:17] however far too often we are pulled from

[1:13:22] that work and told to take on patients

[1:13:24] as you know one break relief cannot

[1:13:26] provide break relief to every nurse

[1:13:28] working in one shift this means that

[1:13:30] nurses working 12-hour shifts or more on

[1:13:32] their feet running from patient room to

[1:13:34] patient room from one end of the

[1:13:35] building to the other end of the

[1:13:37] building are not getting a moment of uh

[1:13:40] to eat to sit down and rest and at times

[1:13:42] even to use the restroom exhaustion

[1:13:44] jeopardizes safe patient care research

[1:13:47] has shown that tired Healthcare

[1:13:48] professionals are more up to errors and

[1:13:51] missed markers that can indicate change

[1:13:53] in patients conditions it is also common

[1:13:55] sense that nurses who are work in who

[1:13:58] are working in exhaust exhausted will

[1:14:00] not want to stay but will look for other

[1:14:01] jobs where they will get the rest and

[1:14:04] meal breaks they deserve new nurses come

[1:14:06] to Ventura County Hospital to gain

[1:14:08] experience and leave once they become

[1:14:10] good nurses instead of retaining them

[1:14:12] the county continues to choose to

[1:14:13] participate in revolving door of Staff

[1:14:15] instead of investing in lift terms

[1:14:18] lift terms teams transport teams and

[1:14:21] providing enough resources so that we

[1:14:23] can best serve our community it is truly

[1:14:25] unfortunate to see these nurses and

[1:14:27] Healthcare professional walk out of our

[1:14:29] facility after we have watched them grow

[1:14:30] and become such good skilled care

[1:14:32] providers we know how to grow and keep

[1:14:35] New Generation providers who will stay

[1:14:37] at the county and advocate for highest

[1:14:39] quality of care highest quality of care

[1:14:41] that our community deserve highest

[1:14:43] quality of care that your constituents

[1:14:46] deserve thank you thank you

[1:14:49] [Applause]

[1:14:56] and then Lisa Marianas and then Christy

[1:14:58] Lewis

[1:14:59] Ignacio

[1:15:01] good morning Board of Supervisors my

[1:15:03] name is Ignacio Gonzalez I'm a

[1:15:05] registered nurse at Ventura County

[1:15:06] Medical Center uh to this morning I'm

[1:15:08] going to be speaking for Laura Lopez the

[1:15:11] GI nurse who has worked for the county

[1:15:12] for 42 years she's at work today and

[1:15:15] couldn't be here to speak for herself

[1:15:17] during the first six months of last year

[1:15:20] I lost three or four full-time trained

[1:15:23] GI nurses leaving me just to run the

[1:15:26] department with several less trained

[1:15:27] temporary all whom have since Departed

[1:15:30] the three GI nurses that left didn't

[1:15:33] retire or move out of state they went to

[1:15:34] other local hospitals sorry

[1:15:38] in clinics where they make more money

[1:15:40] work less overtime and call and have

[1:15:43] better work-life balance these other

[1:15:45] facilities are much better staff

[1:15:47] now my staff consists of me three pricey

[1:15:50] traveling nurses and I and an

[1:15:53] experienced per diem nurse and I like

[1:15:55] Duty nurse

[1:15:56] I work 45 Plus hours per week plus I'm

[1:15:59] on call two weekends per month I have no

[1:16:01] work life balance

[1:16:03] I've had a total of seven traveling

[1:16:05] nurses in my department during the last

[1:16:07] nine months I get up to speed I get them

[1:16:10] up to speed but soon they'll even go to

[1:16:12] the next contract this routine is not

[1:16:14] sustainable we need competitive wages

[1:16:16] and a pension with Cola to attract

[1:16:18] nurses and keep them and we need these

[1:16:21] improvements now thank you

[1:16:26] [Applause]

[1:16:30] okay next up is Lisa magayanas followed

[1:16:33] by Christy Lewis and then Jeremy

[1:16:34] Goldenberg

[1:16:35] good morning border supervisors my name

[1:16:37] is Lisa magayanis and I have been a

[1:16:39] resident of Ventura County for 42 years

[1:16:40] I'm deeply passionate about the quality

[1:16:42] of care that is given to our community

[1:16:44] members who pass through the doors of

[1:16:45] our two hospitals and public health

[1:16:47] agencies I currently work as an

[1:16:49] emergency room nurse at Santa Paula

[1:16:51] hospital and I'm floated between both

[1:16:52] ERS at vcmc and Santa Paula I was born

[1:16:55] at Santa Paula Hospital in 1980 and my

[1:16:57] oldest son was also born there in 2001.

[1:16:59] my father passed away at Santa Paula

[1:17:01] Hospital in the ICU in 2015. I have seen

[1:17:04] multiple family and friends receive

[1:17:05] their health care needs through our

[1:17:06] hospital system and I'm proud to say

[1:17:08] that I was lucky to have some of the

[1:17:10] best training and learning experiences

[1:17:11] of Highly qualified and experienced

[1:17:13] nurses when I joined the agency in 2016.

[1:17:16] unfortunately this is no longer the case

[1:17:18] and there's a problem with our current

[1:17:19] working conditions we've lost highly

[1:17:21] qualified and experienced as nurses from

[1:17:22] the bedside both hospitals have multiple

[1:17:25] mass exoduses that nurses have left to

[1:17:27] other hospitals will they be better

[1:17:28] compensated and have better working

[1:17:30] conditions I would like to share with

[1:17:32] you a day in the ER there's a charge

[1:17:34] nurse their role is required for traffic

[1:17:35] control they're responsible for multiple

[1:17:37] multitude of things including ambulances

[1:17:39] coming in the back door making sure the

[1:17:41] sickest patients have a bed and that all

[1:17:43] the nurses are getting their breaks

[1:17:44] among many other duties there's the

[1:17:46] triage nurse they're the nurse in the

[1:17:47] waiting room that puts their eyes on

[1:17:48] every patient that comes to the front

[1:17:49] door and prioritizes who's the sickest

[1:17:52] and needs to be seen by a provider

[1:17:53] quickly this by the way should be one of

[1:17:55] your most experienced nurses there's

[1:17:57] also the preceptor nurse the nurse who

[1:17:59] is orientating a new nurse teaching them

[1:18:00] IV medications and protocols for how we

[1:18:03] prioritize and treat different

[1:18:04] emergencies due to lack of Staff core

[1:18:06] staff and experienced staff at times one

[1:18:08] nurse must fulfill all the roles above

[1:18:09] in a single shift the stress that comes

[1:18:11] with all these responsibilities is

[1:18:13] defeating I can describe it as feeling

[1:18:15] like I've lost a Super Bowl sometimes

[1:18:16] because at the end of the day despite

[1:18:18] all that we've done to go take care of

[1:18:21] the patients and give them the best

[1:18:22] quality care that we know we can give

[1:18:24] them and that they deserve it becomes

[1:18:25] nearly impossible would you like your

[1:18:28] mother father or child to be the patient

[1:18:29] whose nurses stretched into so many

[1:18:31] places they can't dedicate their time to

[1:18:32] your family's needs why do we have a

[1:18:35] lack of stuff it's simple we're unable

[1:18:37] to hire experienced nurses because we

[1:18:39] don't offer competitive wages we train a

[1:18:40] new nurse and after six months to a year

[1:18:42] they're leaving a higher pain hospital

[1:18:43] with better conditions if we invest in

[1:18:45] our County nurses and we have

[1:18:47] competitive wages and an improved

[1:18:48] pension then maybe we would have more

[1:18:50] experienced nurses to apply to work at

[1:18:51] our hospitals and retain them and the

[1:18:53] new graduates stay for longer terms I'm

[1:18:55] here to ask you to help us to listen to

[1:18:57] us we are the ones dedicated to taking

[1:18:59] care of you and your families we are the

[1:19:01] ones who are here because we want to be

[1:19:02] here we want to serve our counterparts

[1:19:04] and the community members who are

[1:19:06] underserved that deserve the highest

[1:19:07] quality we can give them I beg you to

[1:19:10] invest in us our community deserves it

[1:19:12] and so do we thank you thank you

[1:19:17] thank you

[1:19:18] [Music]

[1:19:21] [Applause]

[1:19:24] hello my name is Kirsty Lewis I've been

[1:19:27] a nurse for 22 years

[1:19:30] 18 of those with the county

[1:19:32] I've worked at Ventura County Medical

[1:19:33] Center in Santa Paula Hospital

[1:19:35] I am an IC nurse but sometimes I work in

[1:19:37] the ER

[1:19:39] I'm here to tell you that nurses are

[1:19:41] burnt out and overworked these issues

[1:19:43] existed before the pandemic but have

[1:19:46] only gotten worse

[1:19:48] in the ICU at Santa Paula hospital where

[1:19:49] I usually work we have recently lost two

[1:19:52] of our experienced nurses due to burnout

[1:19:55] and to obtain higher pay elsewhere

[1:19:58] one nurse had 12 years of ER and ICU

[1:20:01] experience and the other had 15 years of

[1:20:03] ER and ICU experience

[1:20:05] replacing experienced nurses is

[1:20:08] impossible with the current wages we

[1:20:10] have our highest paid nurse isn't even

[1:20:12] making the average wage compared to

[1:20:14] other surrounding facilities

[1:20:17] in the ER at Santa Paula Hospital

[1:20:20] we have lost most of our ER nurses over

[1:20:23] the last couple of years due to burnout

[1:20:24] being overworked

[1:20:26] and to obtain higher pay at other

[1:20:28] hospitals

[1:20:30] some have retired early doing be due to

[1:20:33] being plain tired of being short staffed

[1:20:35] and expected to pick up the slack when

[1:20:37] other staff leave

[1:20:38] we hire new grads they stay six months a

[1:20:42] year in the leave

[1:20:44] to go to better pay and Better Staffing

[1:20:46] at other hospitals in the local area

[1:20:48] many times when I go to the ER there

[1:20:51] will be one experienced staff nurse as

[1:20:54] Lisa described and the rest will be

[1:20:56] travel nurses this is scary

[1:20:59] we should be investing the County's

[1:21:01] money and staff nurses who live here in

[1:21:03] the county and are committed to working

[1:21:05] to improve the hospital for the Long

[1:21:07] Haul

[1:21:08] we need raises and improvements to our

[1:21:10] pension to keep our nurses from leaving

[1:21:12] we need more support to prevent burnout

[1:21:14] we want to be able to provide the best

[1:21:17] possible care to our patients

[1:21:19] but we need your help to accomplish this

[1:21:24] honestly we need less lip service that

[1:21:27] we are heroes and more tangible evidence

[1:21:29] that we are valued

[1:21:32] we hope you can support our continued

[1:21:33] dedication to Quality and safe patient

[1:21:35] care

[1:21:36] by supporting our CNA negotiations to

[1:21:38] get a contract that we deserve thank you

[1:21:40] thank you

[1:21:44] [Applause]

[1:21:47] and last two speakers we're getting here

[1:21:50] from Jeremy Goldberg and then Gavin

[1:21:52] Jones is our last speaker

[1:21:57] good morning supervisors my name is

[1:21:58] Jeremy Goldberg I'm the executive

[1:22:00] director of the Central Coast labor

[1:22:01] Council we are an umbrella Union

[1:22:05] organization that has about 75

[1:22:07] Affiliates representing 70 000 members

[1:22:09] in Ventura County Santa Barbara County

[1:22:12] and San Luis Obispo counties

[1:22:14] and so knowing that like I've I've been

[1:22:18] here before right with with a union

[1:22:19] that's got an issue before a board or a

[1:22:22] city or a school district and we call up

[1:22:25] to the supervisor's office or call the

[1:22:27] the council members and we get this we

[1:22:30] get this line that like you know staff

[1:22:32] is handling it it's not a it's not at

[1:22:34] our level yet we can't weigh in I think

[1:22:37] you've heard today that like it's time

[1:22:38] to weigh in right there's a problem

[1:22:41] two weeks ago on a Monday I spent the

[1:22:44] morning uh rallying with the healthcare

[1:22:48] staff the nurses at St John's Hospital

[1:22:50] because there's a care crisis and

[1:22:53] Tuesday I spent the evening with CNA at

[1:22:56] vcmc same reason and the following

[1:23:00] morning on the Wednesday this is all in

[1:23:01] one week not coordinated not planned the

[1:23:05] Wednesday morning I spent at Los Robles

[1:23:07] Hospital in Thousand Oaks doing the same

[1:23:09] thing all right there that the care

[1:23:11] crisis isn't one hospital it's it's

[1:23:13] everywhere it's the entire industry

[1:23:16] we've got to set the bar higher

[1:23:18] the last three years social media feeds

[1:23:21] were just chock full of praising nurses

[1:23:25] and health you know all health care

[1:23:27] workers front line workers and now's

[1:23:30] time to make good on those promises you

[1:23:32] know I

[1:23:34] I I think right we we hit this we hit

[1:23:38] this like moment in the pandemic where

[1:23:40] as you know we're I think we heard a

[1:23:42] couple times already that

[1:23:44] a lot of folks were at home and our

[1:23:46] nurses

[1:23:48] they put themselves at risk they put

[1:23:50] their families at greater risk then then

[1:23:53] most of the rest of us and the best I

[1:23:56] can do is to come here and look them in

[1:23:59] the face and look you all in face and

[1:24:01] say thank you to them for everything

[1:24:02] they did

[1:24:03] I think you guys have the opportunity to

[1:24:06] do something greater which is to fix the

[1:24:09] crisis to find out what's going on in

[1:24:12] negotiations to know exactly what they

[1:24:14] are asking for what they put on the

[1:24:16] table and and make good on all the

[1:24:18] promises of the last three years because

[1:24:20] I know we've talked about it we have

[1:24:23] regular meetings the the members the

[1:24:25] workers of this County they're not going

[1:24:28] to forget what the nurses did and so I

[1:24:31] strongly encourage you to find out if

[1:24:34] you don't know everything that's going

[1:24:35] on if you don't know exactly what

[1:24:37] they're asking for and

[1:24:39] find out do the best you can to to you

[1:24:42] know make it right and do right by the

[1:24:44] nurses uh who went so far above and

[1:24:47] beyond over the course of the last three

[1:24:49] years

[1:24:50] um that they we we owe them this and a

[1:24:52] whole lot more thank you

[1:24:56] foreign

[1:24:57] [Applause]

[1:25:03] looks like our last speaker is going to

[1:25:05] be Gavin Jones I don't have any other

[1:25:06] speakers registered or in our queue

[1:25:09] thank you good morning uh Board of

[1:25:11] Supervisors my name is Gavin Jones I am

[1:25:13] a vcmc ER nurse and I've been there for

[1:25:15] about 15 years and I live in District

[1:25:17] three

[1:25:18] uh as a board of directors member

[1:25:21] they're responsible to the shareholders

[1:25:23] I will remind you you are a Board of

[1:25:25] Supervisors member and your

[1:25:26] responsibilities to the people of this

[1:25:28] community

[1:25:30] our catchment area at vcmci is

[1:25:32] approximately the size of railroad

[1:25:34] Island in roughly the same population

[1:25:37] vcmc is the trauma center for 75 percent

[1:25:40] of the county takes care of the worst of

[1:25:41] the worst traumas your trauma system is

[1:25:44] on the verge of collapse and often Just

[1:25:46] One charging or sick call away from not

[1:25:48] being able to stay open

[1:25:50] within the ER recently checked there's

[1:25:53] 44 nurses and of them over half are

[1:25:56] Travelers 23 in fact

[1:25:58] I've trained many new nurses over the

[1:26:01] years usually takes over six months of

[1:26:03] doing so at a huge cost to the community

[1:26:06] and to you only to see them leave within

[1:26:09] years this is not a good return on

[1:26:11] investment we take care of some of the

[1:26:13] sickest children in the county with our

[1:26:15] NICU picu impedes

[1:26:17] this is not a left issue this is not a

[1:26:19] right issue this is not a labor issue

[1:26:22] this is a county issue this is your

[1:26:25] issue the five or you are the only

[1:26:28] people that can solve it not your

[1:26:30] negotiator the new demographics are Grim

[1:26:33] we don't produce enough nurses to

[1:26:35] replace those that have left this is not

[1:26:38] just a county problem this is a world

[1:26:40] problem and you must find ways to retain

[1:26:43] the nurses that you have The Negotiator

[1:26:46] only cares about the costs they don't

[1:26:48] care about the consequences

[1:26:50] you are supposed to care about the

[1:26:52] consequences to your constituents the

[1:26:55] flood of sick patients keeps coming

[1:26:58] you are the only ones that can stop the

[1:27:01] nurses from washing down the stream

[1:27:04] this is your issue

[1:27:05] it's not your negotiator's issue you're

[1:27:08] the only ones that can protect the

[1:27:10] people of this County and I'll remind

[1:27:12] you this is your only responsibility

[1:27:15] thank you for your time

[1:27:19] [Applause]

[1:27:26] thank you

[1:27:27] [Applause]

[1:27:28] chair liver there are no other requests

[1:27:30] to speak thank you all right thank you

[1:27:31] madam Clerk and thank you all for being

[1:27:33] here and sharing your comments this

[1:27:34] morning

[1:27:36] uh item nine is CEO comments Dr Johnson

[1:27:42] thank you Mr chair again thank you all

[1:27:45] for being here expressing your comments

[1:27:46] we do take them to heart thank you so

[1:27:49] much

[1:27:50] uh I want to congratulate uh Sheriff

[1:27:53] freyhoff last week he had his briefing

[1:27:55] breakfast and I want to thank him for

[1:27:56] his remarks and his vision for law

[1:27:58] enforcement in keeping our County safe

[1:28:00] as we move forward I also want to thank

[1:28:03] the District Attorney's office and the

[1:28:05] Dei office and Council for planning the

[1:28:08] international women's day event that was

[1:28:10] held at the Family Justice Center last

[1:28:12] Wednesday

[1:28:13] there were cultural presentations and

[1:28:16] demonstrations

[1:28:17] and the keynote was by Graciela Casillas

[1:28:20] a heavyweight boxing champion that

[1:28:23] shared her story of grit and resilience

[1:28:25] as a worldwide heavyweight female boxer

[1:28:30] I also want to thank the Dei team and

[1:28:33] Natalie Hernandez for the women's

[1:28:35] History Month video highlighting women

[1:28:37] in the County Workforce that will be

[1:28:39] shared with all employees via email in

[1:28:42] honor of women's History Month

[1:28:45] congratulations go to Dr Thomas Duncan

[1:28:47] vcmc's director of trauma who was

[1:28:50] presented with the Eastern Association

[1:28:52] of surgical trauma president's

[1:28:54] distinguished service award for his

[1:28:56] outstanding contribution to the care of

[1:28:58] trauma patients at the local Regional

[1:29:00] and National level

[1:29:01] also to Dr David araujo vcmc's Family

[1:29:05] Medicine Residency director was chosen

[1:29:08] among the more than 750 residency

[1:29:11] directors in the nation to receive the

[1:29:13] Nikita servano's outstanding program

[1:29:15] Director award recognizing his

[1:29:18] leadership in our residency which

[1:29:20] remains one of the top four Family

[1:29:21] Medicine training programs in the nation

[1:29:25] lastly this evening I'll be attending

[1:29:27] and I'm really happy to attend the 56th

[1:29:29] annual Eagle Scout recognition dinner at

[1:29:32] the Reagan Library thank you Mr chair

[1:29:35] this concludes my comments

[1:29:37] thank you madam CEO and we'll do board

[1:29:40] comments now before we start the regular

[1:29:41] agenda so why don't we start with that

[1:29:43] supervisor guerrill thank you Mr chair

[1:29:45] uh just a few things on March 1st I had

[1:29:48] the opportunity to attend the state of

[1:29:50] the University uh by Cal Lutheran

[1:29:52] University president and I went over the

[1:29:55] Strategic plan plan for clu and the

[1:29:57] importance of the future and integration

[1:29:59] of that that uh you know very

[1:30:02] um respected and venerated academic

[1:30:05] organization and entity in our community

[1:30:08] it was very helpful on March 2nd I

[1:30:12] attended a bioscience open house and

[1:30:15] um it was a organization that was stood

[1:30:19] up to to represent the life sciences as

[1:30:22] they continue to grow in our community

[1:30:24] and employ a lot of different people but

[1:30:26] but the bioscience Alliance was formed

[1:30:30] to to promote

[1:30:32] um the life sciences particularly

[1:30:35] biotech in our community and the growth

[1:30:38] there and help them kind of incubate and

[1:30:40] and expand their impact and their job

[1:30:43] creation opportunity communities in in

[1:30:46] Ventura County so that was exciting on

[1:30:49] March 4th I had the honor of emceeing

[1:30:51] the for the troops Gala at the Ronald

[1:30:54] Reagan Library it was a opportunity to

[1:30:57] to recognize our veterans but also to

[1:31:00] raise money for great great cause and

[1:31:02] that was for the troops we care packages

[1:31:04] they send they've sent over 280 000

[1:31:08] packages to deploy men and women in

[1:31:09] uniform all over the world our our

[1:31:12] service members men and women and so

[1:31:15] that was a a great night and a good

[1:31:17] opportunity uh to to recognize our local

[1:31:19] veterans

[1:31:21] on March 8th my staff participated in

[1:31:24] the groundbreaking for Miracle League of

[1:31:26] the 805 as a groundbreaking ceremony and

[1:31:30] they are they exist to provide

[1:31:31] opportunities for what we called

[1:31:34] disabled or differently abled children

[1:31:36] who would ordinarily be excluded from

[1:31:38] playing

[1:31:38] baseball in a team environment anyway

[1:31:41] the uh the new rubberized turf field

[1:31:44] there as is able to accommodate

[1:31:46] wheelchairs and crutches and provides a

[1:31:48] amazing opportunity for some of our

[1:31:50] challenged youth in Ventura County

[1:31:53] um on um yesterday I had an opportunity

[1:31:56] to tour the Arc of Ventura County

[1:31:58] particularly the their facility in Simi

[1:32:00] Valley I did so because there are so

[1:32:03] many people from all over the county

[1:32:04] that that are that that are that are

[1:32:06] participants there

[1:32:08] um and they support so many uh great

[1:32:11] local residents I had a chance to shoot

[1:32:13] some basketball with some of the

[1:32:15] participants and get to meet them and

[1:32:17] get to meet the staff and look at the

[1:32:18] different programs and opportunities

[1:32:20] they had there and um and it was it was

[1:32:22] really heartwarming I'm maybe steal a

[1:32:25] little bit of supervisor

[1:32:27] um Longs Thunder by uh by talking up a

[1:32:31] little bit of this weekend there is a

[1:32:33] air show at Navy base Point Magoo navy

[1:32:37] base Ventura County it's free it's open

[1:32:40] to the public and it is uh hopefully

[1:32:44] rain or shine we're going to see both

[1:32:46] the the Navy's demonstration team Blue

[1:32:49] Angels and the air Air Force

[1:32:51] demonstration team Thunderbirds fly on

[1:32:55] on Saturdays certainly and that's

[1:32:58] amazing because those two demonstration

[1:33:00] air teams don't usually fly together

[1:33:03] only on some rare occasions but they'll

[1:33:05] both be here in Ventura County it's

[1:33:07] opening as I said to all residents and

[1:33:11] it's free so I'd encourage you to go I

[1:33:14] have uh finally a list of

[1:33:17] of individuals who sadly passed recently

[1:33:20] who I'd like to ask my fellow colleagues

[1:33:23] to adjourn in memory with today and

[1:33:27] um of those I want to mention in

[1:33:29] particular somebody I know personally

[1:33:30] that was George Tash George passed uh

[1:33:33] last week and left behind his wife of 48

[1:33:37] years Debra who I'm whom I know and he

[1:33:40] survived by his two children

[1:33:43] um Jennifer and Adam the Tash family is

[1:33:46] amazing they're small business owners

[1:33:48] and Somas they created a beautiful

[1:33:51] gardens called Eden Gardens where a lot

[1:33:53] of people have been married a lot of

[1:33:55] people have celebrated amazing events

[1:33:57] It's a Wonderful It's a Wonderful venue

[1:34:00] and George was just a a great person

[1:34:04] a wonderful Community leader and he'll

[1:34:08] be sorely missed so um with those with

[1:34:11] George and the remainder of the

[1:34:13] individuals I would be honored if we

[1:34:15] could adjourn in their memory today

[1:34:17] thank you Mr chair back to you thank you

[1:34:21] um supervisor long

[1:34:23] thank you very much uh super supervisor

[1:34:26] Grill I love that you're talking about

[1:34:28] things that are going great in my

[1:34:30] district and Miracle League that is a

[1:34:33] county-wide uh location I've been

[1:34:36] working with Rick Pena and Randy

[1:34:39] Churchill since 2015 before I was even a

[1:34:42] supervisor on my school board hat

[1:34:46] um but it's such a great opportunity to

[1:34:49] provide for our children all children

[1:34:51] and so I'm really excited that that is

[1:34:54] moving forward it's a big push for

[1:34:57] Ventura County we don't have that type

[1:34:58] of facility and to have it at the

[1:35:00] Freedom Park where all kids are playing

[1:35:02] softball baseball I think is really a

[1:35:05] great opportunity

[1:35:07] um congrats you did a great job at the

[1:35:09] four of the troops to be be up there

[1:35:12] thank you for your service as well so

[1:35:15] many of our members that live here in

[1:35:18] Ventura County serve here their families

[1:35:21] go to school here

[1:35:22] um it's just a great

[1:35:25] event and I just really appreciate Paula

[1:35:28] Cornell and rosemary Allison for really

[1:35:31] oh yeah for just the power to get that

[1:35:34] done to serve our troops uh Sheriff's

[1:35:38] breakfast briefing it was nice to see so

[1:35:41] many of our community members there

[1:35:43] supporting our Sheriff's Public Safety

[1:35:45] that is just key for our community I was

[1:35:50] at the California State Association our

[1:35:53] board of directors up in Sacramento last

[1:35:55] week huge discussions in regards to

[1:35:58] homelessness the services that we

[1:36:00] provide wraparound Services many of the

[1:36:04] presentations coming out from the

[1:36:05] governor's office it was very timely to

[1:36:08] be having these conversations we have

[1:36:10] some items today for homelessness

[1:36:13] and and hopefully we will make a a mark

[1:36:17] on this it's not something that we can

[1:36:19] do in a day but appreciate everyone's

[1:36:22] efforts on that the California state

[1:36:25] University Channel Islands is always

[1:36:27] doing amazing things and we had our

[1:36:30] social justice conference just last week

[1:36:33] weekend

[1:36:35] Supervisor levere was there as well as

[1:36:37] Dr Johnson and the check of five million

[1:36:41] dollars for their child care was just

[1:36:43] very timely so I wanted to say thank you

[1:36:45] to the board for supporting that we did

[1:36:48] celebrate our International women's day

[1:36:50] at our family Justice Center it was a

[1:36:54] great opportunity to talk about the

[1:36:57] differences in where our women where

[1:37:00] they started where they're ending and

[1:37:03] how they power through for their

[1:37:05] passions

[1:37:06] so it was a pleasure to be there the

[1:37:10] point Magoo Air Show I can't wait for it

[1:37:13] it's going to be an exciting time and so

[1:37:16] I want these storms to get through and

[1:37:17] be done we have our app what is it the

[1:37:21] atmospheric River that's coming through

[1:37:23] today and tomorrow just in time so it'll

[1:37:26] be done so we can have our air show I

[1:37:28] wanted to say thank you to Public Works

[1:37:30] and our Sheriff's fire for continuing to

[1:37:34] serve our community Camarillo we had a

[1:37:36] sinkhole on private property we have

[1:37:39] Lake Piru and I can't believe I can say

[1:37:42] this it might be overflowing

[1:37:45] did any we were Rock Bottom pretty much

[1:37:48] a little while ago to to actually say

[1:37:51] that we've captured that much water in

[1:37:52] Ventura County speaks volumes

[1:37:55] um so thank you for everyone who's

[1:37:56] watching this safety is crucial for our

[1:37:59] area

[1:38:00] um Piru has been hit by many storms and

[1:38:03] a lot of mud and dirt and debris so

[1:38:06] we've been really actively working on

[1:38:08] that

[1:38:09] recovery to storm to recovery to storms

[1:38:13] so it's it's really a plug-and-play that

[1:38:16] our our community is

[1:38:19] um

[1:38:21] getting from our our amazing staff so I

[1:38:24] just want to say thank you so much for

[1:38:25] that I know that there's extra

[1:38:28] assistance out there and just really

[1:38:30] appreciate the sheriffs

[1:38:32] and with that I just like to join in

[1:38:34] menu memory of those on this list and

[1:38:37] thank you for the opportunity chair all

[1:38:40] right thank you supervisor Parvin

[1:38:42] thank you

[1:38:44] well we had a lot of exciting things

[1:38:45] going on since our last meeting we

[1:38:47] sponsored a Simi Valley job fair trying

[1:38:51] to fill those jobs grow the economy

[1:38:55] um I also met with Caltrans District 7

[1:38:57] Gloria Roberts where we talked about a

[1:38:59] lot of ongoing projects but we also

[1:39:01] spoke about the suicide bridge and

[1:39:04] what's going on with that and the vctc

[1:39:06] is very familiar with that

[1:39:09] um I also met with the fire chief

[1:39:10] Gardener who is really a

[1:39:12] forward-thinking chief you know he has

[1:39:15] so many great ideas and having that

[1:39:17] meeting really helped um look at what

[1:39:19] our future will look like relative to

[1:39:21] being fire safe so I want to thank him

[1:39:23] for his time I also attended the Ventura

[1:39:27] County Cal Fire Academy graduation

[1:39:29] actually that was the very first time

[1:39:31] and I love what they do and whenever we

[1:39:34] are in trouble they're the first they're

[1:39:36] almost the first ones here

[1:39:38] of course Ventura County Fire first

[1:39:40] those are two but there was in Moore

[1:39:42] Park I remember many many fires and they

[1:39:44] were there camping out laying in our

[1:39:47] actually in our front yard sleeping in

[1:39:50] between some of these fires so I had a

[1:39:52] lot of personal contact with Cal Fire

[1:39:56] um I toured the United Water

[1:39:57] Conservation District's Freeman

[1:39:59] diversion facility I've driven by that

[1:40:02] place a million times I never drove in

[1:40:05] that place I always thought they just

[1:40:06] had two little Reservoir areas until I

[1:40:08] went in there and this is a really good

[1:40:10] time to visit there's a lot of water in

[1:40:12] there

[1:40:13] a lot of birds too so it's it's just

[1:40:16] really amazing I was really impressed um

[1:40:18] and while at the same time they're

[1:40:20] preserving you know the steelhead trout

[1:40:21] so it's just really fascinating to watch

[1:40:23] that

[1:40:24] I'm sure everybody's done that already

[1:40:26] but it was my first time and it won't be

[1:40:27] my last

[1:40:29] and it's really windy over there too

[1:40:32] um and also attended the state of the

[1:40:35] city for the Simi Valley Unified School

[1:40:36] District and their attendance is up

[1:40:38] there's a lot of places in the county

[1:40:40] where the attendance has decreased but

[1:40:43] in Simi Valley it's growing I also met

[1:40:45] with Nancy Schram the Ventura County

[1:40:47] Library director as well as Ventura

[1:40:50] County healthcare agency director and

[1:40:51] Deputy directors and met with Resource

[1:40:54] Management Agency for a general plan

[1:40:56] overview briefing this is all part of

[1:40:59] that new supervisor training

[1:41:02] and then I also got to witness some

[1:41:04] pretty inspirational speakers one of

[1:41:05] them being our Sheriff he was amazing at

[1:41:08] that breakfast

[1:41:09] he's so inspired he's really got

[1:41:12] everyone charged up so when we left that

[1:41:14] breakfast I was ready to conquer the

[1:41:16] world

[1:41:16] but I also attended Dr Condoleezza

[1:41:20] Rice's speaking engagement at the Reagan

[1:41:21] Library I found her to be incredibly

[1:41:23] inspirational as well

[1:41:26] and my first town hall meeting is coming

[1:41:28] up

[1:41:29] it'll be March 23rd at the Simi Valley

[1:41:31] Elks Lodge there'll be plenty of food

[1:41:34] and beverage so attendees will include

[1:41:38] many here from the county to speak and

[1:41:40] answer questions and lastly I'd like to

[1:41:43] adjourn the meeting in the memory of the

[1:41:45] people that I provided to the clerk of

[1:41:47] the board but I also wanted to make a

[1:41:49] comment about George Tash one thing you

[1:41:51] may not know about George Tash is he's

[1:41:53] actually an inventor too you may know

[1:41:56] that he actually invented a plunger

[1:42:00] and it's amazing and they sell them in

[1:42:02] the stores so that's one thing most

[1:42:04] people don't know about him he has so

[1:42:05] many talents but that's a pretty amazing

[1:42:08] one too

[1:42:09] so on that I am complete thank you

[1:42:12] thank you supervisor Lopez

[1:42:15] thank you chair there's definitely been

[1:42:17] a lot of really great events and

[1:42:18] activities and opportunities to engage

[1:42:21] in the community so just to share of a

[1:42:23] few uh that I think we've all been

[1:42:25] crossing paths with each other as well I

[1:42:29] attended the women in ag mixer was just

[1:42:31] nice to connect with with the really

[1:42:34] strong group of women really impressed

[1:42:37] by them really taking over our AG

[1:42:41] industry here in Ventura County and I

[1:42:43] think it's just really awesome

[1:42:46] I attended the opening ceremony for the

[1:42:50] first robotics competition that was held

[1:42:53] at the Port of wainemi and it was also

[1:42:56] supported by fathomworks at their

[1:42:59] facility on site and it was just really

[1:43:01] great to see so much energy very early

[1:43:03] on a Saturday morning and to see the

[1:43:07] competition just so Lively early on and

[1:43:12] we had a participants from all over the

[1:43:15] world there was a large team from from

[1:43:19] Holland there was a team from Mexico

[1:43:22] multiple states that were that were

[1:43:25] participating so it was just a really

[1:43:27] great event and hopefully encourages

[1:43:28] other local schools to participate in

[1:43:31] the future

[1:43:33] um

[1:43:34] these last few weeks have definitely

[1:43:35] been very focused on our youth which has

[1:43:37] been a really great for me a really a

[1:43:40] really nice nice opportunities to engage

[1:43:43] and and provide some advice and I think

[1:43:45] just some representation for different

[1:43:48] groups so I joined the Latino youth

[1:43:52] leadership group at Thousand Oaks High

[1:43:54] School to share about my experience and

[1:43:58] hopefully provide them some guidance as

[1:44:01] as they head into the future I also

[1:44:04] attended the international Women's Day

[1:44:06] celebration at the Family Justice Center

[1:44:09] and the keynote speaker was Graciela

[1:44:12] Casillas who is just a remarkable woman

[1:44:14] and she has actually also been named The

[1:44:17] Woman of the Year by Senator Monique

[1:44:19] Limon for the 19th Senate District so it

[1:44:22] was really exciting to make that

[1:44:24] connection and highlight the the

[1:44:26] significance and contributions of so

[1:44:28] many women throughout our community I

[1:44:32] also attended the Navy League Channel

[1:44:34] Islands Council Awards luncheon they

[1:44:37] recognize the CV of the year so that was

[1:44:40] really great and then this past weekend

[1:44:43] continuing on the

[1:44:45] the youth Focus I participated in the

[1:44:49] career day at Ocean View Junior High and

[1:44:52] hopefully informed some seventh graders

[1:44:55] about the work of the Board of

[1:44:57] Supervisors and and really encouraging

[1:44:59] them and and making driving the point

[1:45:01] home about voting in the future so as

[1:45:05] was mentioned today the importance of of

[1:45:07] being registered to vote and I also

[1:45:10] attended the seventh annual CSU csuci

[1:45:14] Dia De La Familia there were about 200

[1:45:16] families that attended and getting

[1:45:19] connected to our higher education system

[1:45:21] and then lastly

[1:45:25] um

[1:45:25] uh just with the the focus around

[1:45:28] there's a lot of activity in the Fifth

[1:45:30] District as was mentioned by both

[1:45:32] supervisor gorrell and long on the air

[1:45:35] show at Point Magoo happening this

[1:45:37] weekend uh and there have been some

[1:45:40] notices sent out about some road

[1:45:41] closures so anyone attending just keep

[1:45:44] an eye out for for those directions and

[1:45:46] and make sure that we're all safe out

[1:45:48] there uh the city of Port Hueneme is

[1:45:51] celebrating its 75th anniversary on

[1:45:53] March 25th there will be a parade that

[1:45:56] I'm looking forward to participate in at

[1:45:58] 10 A.M and then there will be a festival

[1:46:01] so I encourage anyone out there to come

[1:46:04] out and join in the celebration for the

[1:46:07] city and then lastly the

[1:46:11] uh we attended the the education

[1:46:13] conference where Dolores Huerta was

[1:46:17] present and we celebrated the uh the

[1:46:20] commitment and the contribution from the

[1:46:22] county towards the Early Education and

[1:46:25] Childhood Center at csuci and she had

[1:46:29] quite the presence last week here in in

[1:46:31] the county

[1:46:33] um specifically around the opening of

[1:46:35] the uh Dolores Huerta exhibit at a

[1:46:38] Smithsonian exhibit that is at the

[1:46:41] Broome library at csuci and it is going

[1:46:44] to be open and available to the

[1:46:46] community through May 7th so I

[1:46:47] definitely encourage anyone out there to

[1:46:49] also come to csuci and I have also

[1:46:53] submitted a list of people that I've

[1:46:55] request we adjourn in memory of so that

[1:46:58] concludes my comments thank you chair

[1:47:00] thank you yeah and it's been mentioned

[1:47:02] several times but uh I think most of us

[1:47:04] attended uh sheriff sheriff freyhoff's

[1:47:07] briefing last week and uh he really

[1:47:09] knocked it out of the park I think his

[1:47:11] passion for policing is really

[1:47:13] inspirational particularly his passion

[1:47:14] for a community policing and building

[1:47:16] Partnerships with the communities uh

[1:47:19] that he serves so a great job sheriff

[1:47:21] freyhoff and I also wanted to think it's

[1:47:23] been mentioned

[1:47:25] um our district attorney Eric nazarenko

[1:47:27] and our Dei office Kate English Stephen

[1:47:29] oclair for an incredible event last

[1:47:30] Wednesday at the Family Justice Center

[1:47:33] in Ventura celebrating International

[1:47:34] women's day in office my colleague

[1:47:37] supervisor Lopez and supervisor long

[1:47:38] offered a really inspirational remarks

[1:47:41] and it was a great event

[1:47:42] I want to thank the Ventura Elks and the

[1:47:45] organizing committee we had the annual

[1:47:47] Ventura St Patrick's Day Parade last

[1:47:50] Saturday despite a consistent rain it

[1:47:52] was good Irish weather and uh hundreds

[1:47:55] and hundreds of people turned out it's

[1:47:56] always a really fun day in Ventura and

[1:47:58] so thanks to all of those who made that

[1:47:59] happen

[1:48:01] um I'm gonna be two reminders of

[1:48:02] upcoming events one is this Thursday

[1:48:04] March 16th Caltrans is hosting a public

[1:48:08] meeting at the Oakview Park and Resource

[1:48:10] Center regarding proposed changes they

[1:48:13] are looking at making on Highway 33 from

[1:48:16] Casita Springs up through Ojai

[1:48:19] some some traffic calming changes and

[1:48:22] some some some active Transportation

[1:48:24] changes but if anybody wants to provide

[1:48:26] feedback it's really important that they

[1:48:28] go to this meeting it's 6 30 this

[1:48:30] Thursday March 16th at the Oakview Park

[1:48:32] and Resource Center

[1:48:33] and then a reminder that this Sunday uh

[1:48:36] we're having our annual Ronald McDonald

[1:48:38] uh walk at San Buena Ventura State Beach

[1:48:41] in Ventura at 9 00 a.m it's a walk they

[1:48:44] do to raise money for the Ronald

[1:48:45] McDonald room at Ventura County Medical

[1:48:47] Center uh that room is an incredible

[1:48:50] asset to the community to all of those

[1:48:52] receiving Care at vcmc it's actually the

[1:48:55] only Ronald McDonald room I believe in

[1:48:57] the world located at a public hospital

[1:48:59] and so it's really something that all of

[1:49:03] us as stewards of ECMC should be proud

[1:49:05] of and it's really uh great to do this

[1:49:07] walk to raise money for that room and so

[1:49:10] I will be there and I hope to see a lot

[1:49:12] of you there this Sunday 9 A.M at uh Sam

[1:49:14] Buena Ventura State Beach and then I

[1:49:16] would like to adjourn in memory of those

[1:49:18] on on the list I provided to the clerk I

[1:49:21] want to call out several of them

[1:49:22] including several uh highly decorated

[1:49:24] veterans but I want to start with Connie

[1:49:27] bear who passed away she was actually

[1:49:28] the longest serving board member of the

[1:49:30] Ventura County Medical resource

[1:49:32] foundation in 2000 15 she received the

[1:49:35] Trailblazer award for her commitment to

[1:49:37] social justice and health care for all

[1:49:40] residents Paul Waters was a highly

[1:49:43] decorated U.S Navy veteran Barbara Bean

[1:49:46] a long time teaching career highly

[1:49:49] respected teacher in the Ventura Unified

[1:49:51] School District

[1:49:52] uh Fred DeFazio who's a longtime police

[1:49:55] officer with Ventura Police Department

[1:49:57] John McCarthy who was a U.S Navy veteran

[1:50:01] World War II actually and he earned

[1:50:03] several medals and honors of Distinction

[1:50:05] with his service Dennis John Beardsley a

[1:50:08] U.S army veteran uh Lawrence Larry Diaz

[1:50:12] Another World War II U.S Navy veteran

[1:50:14] and he's one of those Fun Classic

[1:50:15] stories about he was so passionate about

[1:50:18] serving his country that he lied about

[1:50:19] his age and actually enlisted when he

[1:50:21] was only 17 years old to serve our

[1:50:23] country in World War II

[1:50:25] Ronald Edward cook who had a 40-year

[1:50:27] teaching career in the city of Oxnard a

[1:50:31] very a respected teacher and then uh

[1:50:35] Daryl Pugh who was another U.S Air Force

[1:50:38] veteran served during Vietnam but his

[1:50:42] children Zach Sarah and Shekinah are

[1:50:45] long-time interns a great great family

[1:50:48] so we're thinking about all of them with

[1:50:49] their father's passing

[1:50:51] and with that that concludes my comments

[1:50:53] so thank you everyone for your um

[1:50:56] comments today I know how busy we all

[1:50:58] are so it's always great to hear what

[1:50:59] we're all up to in our various districts

[1:51:03] and so we have a few minutes before the

[1:51:06] 10 o'clock time certain so why don't we

[1:51:07] start with item 37 I know we want to

[1:51:11] take that we have several people here to

[1:51:13] present on this item and I believe

[1:51:15] kicking it off is it Tracy are you

[1:51:19] straight okay Tracy McCauley

[1:51:25] we've been talking a lot about homeless

[1:51:27] this morning and I think this is

[1:51:28] something that's going to go a long way

[1:51:30] to helping us with that crisis

[1:51:35] yes okay

[1:51:37] good morning chair oliviera members of

[1:51:39] the board and Dr Johnson my name is

[1:51:41] Tracy McCauley with the county executive

[1:51:42] office I'm joined here today by Christy

[1:51:45] Madden also from the executive office in

[1:51:47] this gen parking series

[1:51:50] okay I don't see Jen but that's okay

[1:51:54] so in response to the covet crisis in

[1:51:56] 2020 the state of California rolled out

[1:51:57] project room key which was meant to

[1:51:59] temporarily shelter people through the

[1:52:01] the crisis and has been operating

[1:52:03] locally in our County since the

[1:52:04] beginning of the crisis serving more

[1:52:05] than 800 people

[1:52:07] shortly thereafter the state created

[1:52:09] project home key which was really meant

[1:52:11] to Quick create shelter and permanent

[1:52:13] Supportive Housing resources

[1:52:15] locally our investments into Ventura

[1:52:18] County from the home key program have

[1:52:19] exceeded 48 million dollars and they've

[1:52:22] resulted in or they will result in 158

[1:52:24] units of permanent Supportive Housing

[1:52:25] and 40 units of transition aged youth

[1:52:28] transitional housing so we've had huge

[1:52:30] success with home key in the first two

[1:52:32] rounds

[1:52:34] in anticipation of the third and the

[1:52:36] final round of home key in December

[1:52:37] County staff released a request for

[1:52:39] letters of interest to partner with us

[1:52:41] for this final round we received 13

[1:52:44] responses with six eligible projects

[1:52:46] remaining at the end of our cycle

[1:52:49] staff evaluated and scored the six

[1:52:51] projects and we had an evaluation

[1:52:53] committee meet who convened reviewed the

[1:52:55] scoring provided input and then

[1:52:57] ultimately made the recommendations for

[1:52:58] you today

[1:53:00] we're requesting Board of Supervisors

[1:53:02] approval to partner with and provide

[1:53:04] match funding from the general fund home

[1:53:06] key set aside for two projects and I'm

[1:53:09] going to talk through briefly each of

[1:53:10] these two successful projects the first

[1:53:12] involves the acquisition and renovation

[1:53:14] of La Quinta Inn in Ventura and 138

[1:53:17] excuse me 136 units of permanent

[1:53:19] Supportive Housing with two on-site

[1:53:21] resident managers units in partnership

[1:53:23] with the housing authority of the city

[1:53:24] of San Buenaventura

[1:53:27] a letter of support was provided by the

[1:53:29] city with a significant contribution

[1:53:30] recommended subject to council approval

[1:53:33] additional Investments are going to be

[1:53:35] made from the Housing Authority

[1:53:36] including a sponsor loan and 30

[1:53:37] project-based vouchers to support the

[1:53:39] ongoing operations of this effort

[1:53:42] we're requesting approval for this

[1:53:43] project today in an amount of 5.5

[1:53:45] million dollars to match the state home

[1:53:47] key funds

[1:53:49] this project is located in one of the

[1:53:51] cities in the city of Ventura with one

[1:53:52] of the highest homeless counts we also

[1:53:54] as of our last report have 85 people

[1:53:56] remaining in Project room key so this is

[1:53:58] a key part of our strategy to exit

[1:53:59] project room key

[1:54:01] with us today from the Housing Authority

[1:54:03] we have Karen flock deputy director of

[1:54:04] real estate development and Kyler

[1:54:06] Carlson project manager for the Ventura

[1:54:08] Housing Authority

[1:54:11] the second project that we're

[1:54:12] recommending today involves the

[1:54:14] acquisition and renovation of the Days

[1:54:16] Inn in Camarillo to create 62 units of

[1:54:18] permanent Supportive Housing one

[1:54:20] resident manager and 20 navigation beds

[1:54:23] the City of Camarillo was a direct

[1:54:24] responder to our request for letters of

[1:54:26] interest and they're proposing a

[1:54:28] substantial contribution as well subject

[1:54:30] to council approval

[1:54:31] we are requesting approval of County

[1:54:33] match in the amount of 3.5 million

[1:54:35] dollars to also leverage additional home

[1:54:37] key funds this project is anticipated to

[1:54:39] make a significant impact in

[1:54:41] homelessness in the City of Camarillo

[1:54:42] and surrounding areas

[1:54:44] one quick point of clarification in our

[1:54:46] staff report we mentioned the county

[1:54:47] would be the lead applicant for home key

[1:54:49] that's still under discussion we may be

[1:54:52] the lead applicant on this project or

[1:54:53] maybe a co-applicant if we are an

[1:54:56] applicant we will come back to your

[1:54:57] board with a resolution

[1:54:59] with us today on Zoom we have Carmen

[1:55:01] Nichols the assistant city manager for

[1:55:03] the city of excuse me City of Camarillo

[1:55:05] and also Alonso Ramirez a Senior

[1:55:07] Management analyst

[1:55:10] additionally today we're requesting your

[1:55:13] board find both proposed projects exempt

[1:55:15] from environmental review under sequel

[1:55:16] guidelines section 15301 which applies

[1:55:19] to the minor alterations of existing

[1:55:21] structures and Facilities

[1:55:23] we will be returning to your board in

[1:55:25] about a month to finalize partnership

[1:55:26] agreements with the City of Camarillo

[1:55:28] and their chosen housing provider

[1:55:29] Jamboree housing and we'll also like

[1:55:31] likely request approval of the

[1:55:33] resolution on during that time upon

[1:55:36] Award of home key funds we will return

[1:55:37] to your board with Grant agreements for

[1:55:40] both of these proposed Investments

[1:55:42] as I close today I really want to thank

[1:55:44] the evaluation committee who directed

[1:55:46] staff and really put a lot of thought

[1:55:47] and consideration and had the hard job

[1:55:50] of really selecting these projects and

[1:55:51] recommending them and I also just wanted

[1:55:54] to thank all of our responders those

[1:55:55] here today and those also who weren't

[1:55:56] recommended receiving 13 Lois was really

[1:55:59] a testament to the Partnerships in our

[1:56:01] community and our commitment to ending

[1:56:03] homelessness so it was really moving to

[1:56:04] receive that many excellent responses

[1:56:07] I'm here and happy to answer any

[1:56:09] questions you may have and I thank you

[1:56:10] in advance for your consideration

[1:56:13] thank you Miss McCauley any questions

[1:56:15] supervisor long

[1:56:17] um are we going to hear from the City of

[1:56:19] Camarillo or the city of Ventra is any

[1:56:23] Speakers Going to speak from them I

[1:56:25] believe they signed up for public

[1:56:26] comment they're not part of the formal

[1:56:27] presentation then I'll hold my comments

[1:56:29] thank you okay we have three speakers

[1:56:31] then why don't we do public comment okay

[1:56:33] we'll be Leon

[1:56:35] o Karen flock

[1:56:36] Alonzo Ramirez

[1:56:39] Yuna you have three minutes

[1:56:48] hey my name is Leona Rollins I am the

[1:56:51] housing services manager for the city of

[1:56:52] Ventura and I'm honored to be here today

[1:56:54] to advocacy of the city of Ventura to go

[1:56:57] ahead and show our support for this

[1:56:59] project this project with me very much

[1:57:01] to the city in a recent needs and gaps

[1:57:03] assessment that was done in

[1:57:05] consideration of our own harm or

[1:57:06] allocation plan it was indicated that

[1:57:09] affordable housing development is

[1:57:10] essential to addressing The Chronic and

[1:57:13] homelessness that we are facing at our

[1:57:15] city of Ventura

[1:57:16] this particular project will not only

[1:57:18] provide housing to those facing chronic

[1:57:20] homelessness it would also provide them

[1:57:21] with needed wraparound services to

[1:57:23] provide them with their long-term

[1:57:24] success to ensure that they did not

[1:57:26] return to home assist at a later date so

[1:57:28] I'm this morning I am urging you to go

[1:57:30] ahead and support this item in its

[1:57:31] entirety and to help those that are

[1:57:33] facing home assist in the city of

[1:57:34] Ventura thank you so much for your time

[1:57:37] thank you

[1:57:38] our next speaker

[1:57:41] that's going to be Karen flock good

[1:57:43] morning my name is Karen block I'm the

[1:57:46] deputy director for Real Estate

[1:57:48] development with the city of the housing

[1:57:51] authority of the city of San

[1:57:51] Buenaventura and thanks to staff and in

[1:57:56] anticipation thanks to all of you for

[1:57:58] your support of this La Quinta project

[1:58:01] we're really excited about this

[1:58:03] opportunity to really have an impact on

[1:58:05] addressing permanent Supportive Housing

[1:58:07] for folks who are homeless or at risk of

[1:58:10] homelessness

[1:58:11] and I will also say thanks in advance

[1:58:17] for uh the another item number 36 where

[1:58:22] you're being recommended to provide

[1:58:24] funding for the Housing Trust Fund

[1:58:27] Ventura County as well as other

[1:58:29] affordable housing developments thanks

[1:58:31] again

[1:58:32] thank you and then our next speaker is

[1:58:35] going to be Alonso Ramirez

[1:58:37] foreign

[1:58:43] supervisors my name is Alonso Ramirez

[1:58:46] I'm the Senior Management analyst for

[1:58:48] the City of Camarillo City manager's

[1:58:49] office on behalf of the city manager and

[1:58:51] the city council I would like to thank

[1:58:53] the Board of Supervisors and staff for

[1:58:55] their consideration of our letter of

[1:58:56] interest for our home key project the

[1:58:59] city is looking forward to this

[1:59:00] partnership to bring services to those

[1:59:01] who need in Camarillo we are very

[1:59:03] grateful for the hard work of staff and

[1:59:06] the evaluation committee interviewing

[1:59:07] our letter of interest as well as a

[1:59:09] funding allocated by the board the

[1:59:11] project will have a permanent support of

[1:59:14] housing component and as long as as well

[1:59:16] as Bridge housing component helping us

[1:59:19] to close the loop on the Continuum of

[1:59:21] housing in the City of Camarillo I'm

[1:59:23] here available for any questions you may

[1:59:25] have and thank you for the support

[1:59:27] I have a question for you I just thought

[1:59:29] this was a good opportunity for

[1:59:30] community members to understand

[1:59:33] um does the City of Camarillo have other

[1:59:35] homes in the city for affordable housing

[1:59:38] and so forth that they participate in

[1:59:41] yeah the city does have a couple

[1:59:44] components we're actually currently

[1:59:45] working on a Berry Street project which

[1:59:47] will bring a number of affordable

[1:59:49] housing units to the City of Camarillo

[1:59:52] they will be breaking ground pretty soon

[1:59:54] we also have a program in which the city

[1:59:58] procures homes and then resells them at

[2:00:02] an affordable housing rate and then we

[2:00:04] also have other affordable units of

[2:00:06] sprinkle all throughout the city so City

[2:00:07] Council in previous years have done has

[2:00:09] done a really good job at increasing the

[2:00:13] stock of affordable housing throughout

[2:00:15] the city we're doing now is putting in

[2:00:17] the other two steps in the Continuum of

[2:00:19] housing in the City of Camarillo by

[2:00:21] bringing Bridge housing and permanent

[2:00:22] Supportive Housing and the existing

[2:00:24] affordable housing in the City of

[2:00:26] Camarillo as well so

[2:00:27] thank you for highlighting that I think

[2:00:29] it's really important for our community

[2:00:30] members to understand this that this is

[2:00:33] just one piece of the puzzle in which

[2:00:36] the City of Camarillo has been working

[2:00:38] on for years

[2:00:40] from our past council member Charlotte

[2:00:43] Craven Mike Morgan uh kildee so many

[2:00:47] that have really the dailies have just

[2:00:50] really invested in their Community I

[2:00:52] think that this is one more step in in

[2:00:56] trying to get that affordable housing

[2:00:58] the networking of the services and

[2:01:02] wanted to just say thank you I

[2:01:04] appreciated meeting with your city

[2:01:05] council and and managers in regards to

[2:01:07] this project and very happy to see this

[2:01:11] going forward thank you Mr chair if I

[2:01:13] can before you leave sorry if when

[2:01:15] you're done supervising along that's it

[2:01:17] thank you survives Lopez thank you I

[2:01:20] didn't want to let you go away

[2:01:21] um curious if there is a current use of

[2:01:24] the days in right now that would impact

[2:01:26] any current uh

[2:01:29] uh tenants or if you want to call them

[2:01:33] that um and the reason I ask is because

[2:01:35] I recently drove by and I noticed that

[2:01:37] there were some Cal Vans

[2:01:39] um pulling up and so just curious if

[2:01:40] that's going to impact the current use

[2:01:42] yeah no that's a good question um we uh

[2:01:45] our understanding is that they see in

[2:01:47] motel does have an h2a agreement with a

[2:01:50] developer and they are housing some Farm

[2:01:52] Workers on the interim basis our

[2:01:54] understanding is that the property owner

[2:01:57] will not be renewing that agreement that

[2:01:59] agreement is set to and I believe in

[2:02:01] August and they will not be renewing the

[2:02:03] agreement

[2:02:04] um it's really up to the conversations

[2:02:06] that our developer that we've selected

[2:02:08] Jamboree housing Corporation and the

[2:02:10] property owner need to have us to how

[2:02:13] they're going to move forward with that

[2:02:14] agreement but it does and if I remember

[2:02:16] correctly on August so there will be no

[2:02:18] relocation cost after August to re-house

[2:02:21] these folks great thank you so much

[2:02:23] thank you

[2:02:26] all right thank you

[2:02:28] any other questions for either our

[2:02:30] public speakers or Miss McCauley

[2:02:33] no I just I want to say uh but I think

[2:02:36] both of these projects are going to be

[2:02:37] transformational for Ventura and

[2:02:39] Camarillo it's such a need and if the

[2:02:43] fact that we're putting housing together

[2:02:44] with services that really is kind of the

[2:02:46] magic solution as far as as we can tell

[2:02:48] in terms of best practices and so I want

[2:02:50] to thank the city councils and the city

[2:02:51] leadership in both of those cities and

[2:02:53] then obviously you Tracy and Jan and

[2:02:55] Christy for all of your work and kind of

[2:02:57] shepherding this process and I know it's

[2:02:59] a lot of work and so thank you for

[2:03:01] getting us here today to make these

[2:03:02] these levels of approval

[2:03:07] um I'll motion to prove if there's no

[2:03:08] further questions or comments

[2:03:10] and I'll second if that's appropriate

[2:03:12] right okay Madam Clerk

[2:03:15] supervisor girl yes supervisor long yes

[2:03:19] supervisor Parvin yes supervisor Lopez

[2:03:22] yes chair levere yes all right thank you

[2:03:28] we are at 10 o'clock so we can start

[2:03:31] our time certains and we have several

[2:03:33] proclamations we're going to go through

[2:03:35] now and I want to start with item 40

[2:03:38] which is a presentation proclaiming the

[2:03:41] month of March 2023 as National social

[2:03:44] worker month in Ventura County I'd like

[2:03:46] to invite our HSA director Melissa

[2:03:49] Livingston up thank you for being here

[2:03:51] this morning

[2:03:52] and why don't I I'm going to read a

[2:03:53] little from the proclamation and then I

[2:03:55] know you have some comments and a short

[2:03:56] video to share as well

[2:03:58] um but where whereas the primary mission

[2:04:01] of Social Work the profession is to

[2:04:03] enhance human well-being and help meet

[2:04:05] the basic needs of all people to provide

[2:04:07] preventative Services as well as complex

[2:04:09] case management with individuals and

[2:04:11] families who need assistance overcoming

[2:04:13] a range of barriers especially the most

[2:04:16] vulnerable uh in our society and where

[2:04:21] social workers are present throughout

[2:04:22] our society including governments

[2:04:24] schools universities social service

[2:04:26] agencies communities and the military

[2:04:28] and also health care and mental health

[2:04:31] facilities and organizations

[2:04:33] and where our social workers are the

[2:04:35] largest group of mental health care

[2:04:37] providers in the entire country and work

[2:04:39] daily to help people overcome depression

[2:04:41] anxiety substance abuse and other

[2:04:44] disorders so that they can lead more

[2:04:46] fulfilling lives

[2:04:48] and where our social workers are also

[2:04:49] guiding forces in times of Crisis

[2:04:51] helping communities recover emotionally

[2:04:53] from natural disasters such as floods

[2:04:56] earthquakes and fires now therefore be

[2:04:59] it resolved that in recognition of all

[2:05:01] social workers in our community whose

[2:05:04] shared commitment dedication and

[2:05:06] advocacy improve lives every single day

[2:05:08] the Ventura County Board of Supervisors

[2:05:10] hereby proclaims the month of March 2023

[2:05:12] as National Social Work month in Ventura

[2:05:15] County and calls upon all citizens to

[2:05:17] join us in celebration and support of

[2:05:19] this important profession

[2:05:21] so miss Livingston

[2:05:23] right it appears we have social workers

[2:05:24] in the room this morning

[2:05:25] [Music]

[2:05:27] [Applause]

[2:05:32] thank you chair levere members of the

[2:05:35] board uh Dr Johnson for the record

[2:05:37] Melissa Livingston the director of The

[2:05:38] Human Service Agency and is my honor and

[2:05:41] privilege to recognize social worker

[2:05:44] month it is very much an honorable

[2:05:46] profession and it's represented by the

[2:05:49] people behind me in this room but social

[2:05:51] worker month is a time to celebrate the

[2:05:54] social worker profession

[2:05:55] raising awareness and celebrating the

[2:05:58] important life-changing work social

[2:06:00] workers engage in Daily

[2:06:03] social workers address the needs of

[2:06:06] vulnerable children youth

[2:06:08] adults families and communities bringing

[2:06:12] attention to and advocating on social

[2:06:15] justice issues

[2:06:17] social workers are often the voice of

[2:06:20] those whose voice goes unheard

[2:06:23] and encounter barriers and challenges

[2:06:28] in Equitable access to Services supports

[2:06:31] and Wellness

[2:06:32] social workers roles are rewarding and

[2:06:35] meaningful but they are also very

[2:06:38] challenging and complex can create

[2:06:41] secondary trauma and compassion fatigue

[2:06:45] self-care balance and resiliency support

[2:06:49] the day-to-day commitment of our social

[2:06:52] workers our entire social worker

[2:06:55] Workforce today we recognize all social

[2:06:57] workers across our County family and our

[2:07:00] extended partner and community-based

[2:07:03] Social Service networks we celebrate

[2:07:05] their commitment contributions and the

[2:07:09] difference they make

[2:07:10] in people's lives social workers perform

[2:07:13] a variety of roles touching a

[2:07:16] cross-section of our communities

[2:07:18] they do Administration and management

[2:07:20] they support social policy and practice

[2:07:23] from an Ethics equity and healing

[2:07:26] Centric lens

[2:07:28] they support advocacy and Community

[2:07:30] organizing they support our aging

[2:07:33] populations so they can live

[2:07:35] independently be safe and be afforded

[2:07:38] dignity and quality of life

[2:07:40] our child welfare support strong

[2:07:42] families with supportive safe and

[2:07:45] nurturing environments

[2:07:48] we support developmentally disabled

[2:07:50] advocating for legal rights and

[2:07:52] Independence

[2:07:54] our Healthcare social workers address

[2:07:56] the social determinants of Health

[2:07:58] and factors that impact Wellness our

[2:08:01] Justice and Corrections social workers

[2:08:03] connect individuals to services and

[2:08:06] supports providing hope and healing

[2:08:09] our mental health and substance abuse

[2:08:11] and clinical social workers provide

[2:08:14] assessments intervention treatment and

[2:08:17] wellness and by the way this is the

[2:08:19] largest group represented Nationwide

[2:08:23] and I'd be remiss if I didn't recognize

[2:08:25] our own employee assistance program that

[2:08:28] is always there for our own County

[2:08:29] family and the variety of County

[2:08:31] Employee Assistance programs that are

[2:08:34] businesses have and other providers

[2:08:36] across our Network

[2:08:38] so now I would like to recognize one

[2:08:41] story it's reflective of a father's

[2:08:43] story that was recently highlighted by

[2:08:46] the Ventura County Star radio laser and

[2:08:49] 20 affiliate stations across California

[2:08:51] Nevada of a parent who was supported by

[2:08:54] our children and family services social

[2:08:56] workers

[2:08:57] his name is Orlando Gonzalez Estrada and

[2:09:01] he tells his story through a song called

[2:09:04] Orlando's song so if we can play the

[2:09:06] video

[2:09:08] [Music]

[2:09:13] you know

[2:09:17] much

[2:09:21] [Music]

[2:09:33] Evelyn Alvarez services

[2:10:01] episode

[2:10:09] [Music]

[2:10:23] foreign

[2:11:34] Familia

[2:11:57] is

[2:12:06] serlo

[2:12:22] Alton area

[2:12:33] [Music]

[2:12:39] sacrifices

[2:12:48] foreign

[2:12:53] [Music]

[2:13:18] foreign

[2:13:23] [Music]

[2:13:29] [Applause]

[2:13:43] so many other social workers in the

[2:13:45] community so we'd love to come down and

[2:13:47] present you this Proclamation and we'd

[2:13:49] love to invite all the social a lot of

[2:13:51] you so let's see if we can all get

[2:13:52] together and take a group shot

[2:13:56] thank you

[2:14:03] everything

[2:14:06] else

[2:14:28] all right everyone so you're gonna all

[2:14:30] look at me let's just group and then

[2:14:32] we'll be able to take the photos here

[2:14:34] because there's so many people does that

[2:14:37] work

[2:14:39] so pios if you could take the picture

[2:14:41] from this side

[2:14:43] Natalie

[2:14:44] yeah

[2:14:52] okay I just wanted to make sure that

[2:14:53] made sense

[2:14:55] okay so all eyes on the dice

[2:15:00] yeah they wanted

[2:15:05] to like

[2:15:09] yes

[2:15:40] thank you

[2:15:43] [Applause]

[2:16:36] all right

[2:16:38] guys

[2:16:50] okay and then item 41 is a presentation

[2:16:54] proclaiming the month of March 2023 as

[2:16:57] American Red Cross month in Ventura

[2:17:00] County and we as a county unfortunately

[2:17:02] have had to rely on the American Red

[2:17:04] Cross more than we would like over the

[2:17:06] last five years fires and mass shootings

[2:17:10] and storms and we've been through a lot

[2:17:12] in Ventura County and it's because of

[2:17:14] the support from the American Red Cross

[2:17:16] that we've been able to excuse me get

[2:17:19] through so many of these disasters and

[2:17:21] emergencies so I'm really appreciative

[2:17:23] of the Red Cross being here this morning

[2:17:24] Sabrina ashgian is a board member of the

[2:17:27] Ventura County uh I guess it's the

[2:17:30] Pacific coast region of the Ventura

[2:17:32] American Red Cross and I'd love to

[2:17:34] invite you to make a few comments and I

[2:17:36] know we all want to say our thanks and

[2:17:37] then we can read from the presentation

[2:17:38] after that that's great thank you so

[2:17:40] much for having me good morning Tara

[2:17:42] levere an honorable board members

[2:17:43] supervisors gorrell long Parvin and

[2:17:46] Lopez it's great to be here with all of

[2:17:48] you as

[2:17:51] um the supervisor said my name is

[2:17:52] Sabrine Ashton I'm proud to represent

[2:17:54] the American Red Cross Pacific Coast

[2:17:55] region as a board member and volunteer

[2:17:59] March is a very special time of year

[2:18:01] when we celebrate American Red Cross

[2:18:03] month to honor the people who make the

[2:18:05] life-saving mission of our work possible

[2:18:07] this annual tradition began in 1943 when

[2:18:11] Franklin D Roosevelt declared the first

[2:18:13] Red Cross month and every U.S president

[2:18:15] since has honored this month as we

[2:18:18] celebrate this year's Red Cross month

[2:18:19] celebration I am proud to recognize the

[2:18:22] incredible work done every day

[2:18:24] the unwavering compassion displayed by

[2:18:26] Red crossers is nothing short of amazing

[2:18:28] despite the challenges of the past

[2:18:30] couple of years of the pandemic and fire

[2:18:33] and floods we continue to be there for

[2:18:35] individuals and families who need us

[2:18:37] most a dedication that truly embodies

[2:18:40] the vital mission to deliver support

[2:18:42] when help can't wait during emergencies

[2:18:45] over this past year your red cross

[2:18:47] Pacific Coast region has held 225 blood

[2:18:50] drives we assisted nearly 100 families

[2:18:53] who experienced Home Fires we handled

[2:18:57] nearly 950 cases of service to the Armed

[2:19:00] Forces branch

[2:19:02] and our teams helped teach nearly 9 000

[2:19:05] individuals basic first aid and other

[2:19:07] life-saving skills

[2:19:09] this Red Cross month I encourage

[2:19:11] everyone to participate with us to help

[2:19:13] by taking a preparedness class giving

[2:19:15] blood donating financially or by

[2:19:20] becoming a Red Cross volunteer I can

[2:19:22] promise you that by doing any or all of

[2:19:24] those things it will promote the

[2:19:26] selfless service that make our

[2:19:28] communities a better place to be so

[2:19:30] thank you so much again for taking the

[2:19:32] time to honor our work we are so

[2:19:34] grateful for your commitment to the

[2:19:36] American Red Cross thank you thank you

[2:19:38] Sabrina I'd like to read two of the

[2:19:40] paragraphs from our Proclamation I think

[2:19:42] there are quite appropriate and it's

[2:19:44] whereas in times of Crisis people in

[2:19:46] Ventura County come together to help our

[2:19:48] neighbors in need through humanitarian

[2:19:50] efforts mobilizing the power of

[2:19:52] Volunteers in the generosity of donors

[2:19:54] thus our annual celebrations of American

[2:19:57] Red Cross month are special time to

[2:19:59] recognize and thank Our Heroes the Red

[2:20:01] Cross staff volunteers and donors who

[2:20:04] give their time and resources to provide

[2:20:06] relief hope and comfort to Residents

[2:20:09] this humanitarian spirit is part of the

[2:20:12] foundation of our community and is

[2:20:14] exemplified by American Red Cross

[2:20:16] volunteers and donors and whereas this

[2:20:19] work to prevent and alleviate human

[2:20:21] suffering is vital to strengthening our

[2:20:24] community's resilience our community

[2:20:25] depends on the American on the American

[2:20:27] Red Cross which relies on donations of

[2:20:29] time time money and blood to fulfill its

[2:20:32] humanitarian Mission today and into the

[2:20:35] future building stronger more resilient

[2:20:37] communities we dedicate this month of

[2:20:40] March to all those who continue to

[2:20:42] advance the noble Legacy of American Red

[2:20:44] Cross founder Clara Barton who lived by

[2:20:47] her words you must never think of

[2:20:48] anything except the need and how to meet

[2:20:50] it and we ask others to join this

[2:20:53] commitment to give back to our community

[2:20:54] so thank you so much for all you do all

[2:20:56] of your volunteers do and we'd love to

[2:20:58] come down and present this proclamation

[2:21:00] to you so much thank you

[2:21:14] thank you

[2:21:40] yes

[2:21:46] anyway

[2:21:55] s

[2:22:43] our next item is item 42 which is a

[2:22:47] proclamation from supervisor Lopez

[2:22:49] thank you Mr chair today I have before

[2:22:53] us the a presentation of a resolution

[2:22:55] proclaiming the month of March 2023 as

[2:22:58] National nutrition month and recognizing

[2:23:01] the partnership for a healthy Ventura

[2:23:03] County's Health Champion award

[2:23:04] recipients so I would like to introduce

[2:23:06] our Public Health director Mr Rigo

[2:23:08] Vargas

[2:23:10] thank you good morning and uh chair

[2:23:13] levere members of the board Dr Johnson

[2:23:14] uh thank you for this resolution I'll be

[2:23:17] very brief and my comments as we have a

[2:23:19] very short but uh very exciting

[2:23:21] presentation uh in uh in celebration of

[2:23:24] national nutrition month but also in

[2:23:27] recognition as was said of social

[2:23:28] workers but also of our nutritionists

[2:23:30] dietitians that work in public health

[2:23:32] that work in the hospital and work in

[2:23:34] our County also providing vital

[2:23:36] information and services to keep our

[2:23:39] families healthy I just wanted to put in

[2:23:42] context this uh this celebration

[2:23:43] rational nutrition month and also the

[2:23:45] the awards uh that uh we are very proud

[2:23:49] that you're going to help us give today

[2:23:51] the partnership for a healthy Ventura

[2:23:53] County has actually been in existence

[2:23:55] for almost 25 years of Ventura County

[2:23:57] Public Health gathered this group

[2:24:00] many of them still with uh since that

[2:24:02] time actually about 25 years ago to

[2:24:04] address chronic disease prevention in a

[2:24:06] comprehensive collaborative Manner and

[2:24:08] the group has gone undergone different

[2:24:10] name changes but it's been in existence

[2:24:13] again for almost 25 years it has

[2:24:15] representatives from our schools from

[2:24:17] the healthcare sector

[2:24:19] from the cities such as the Oxnard

[2:24:22] police department and their Community

[2:24:24] Services you'll hear more about that it

[2:24:26] also has representatives from our

[2:24:28] community organizations such as

[2:24:30] FoodShare which you'll also hear about

[2:24:32] uh shortly

[2:24:33] um and so it's just a great partnership

[2:24:35] it's it's organized currently into two

[2:24:37] committees one recognizing the

[2:24:39] outstanding work that are done by the

[2:24:42] community organizations and another

[2:24:43] committee is working to recognize and

[2:24:46] put forth best practices in schools many

[2:24:49] of our schools are doing really good

[2:24:50] work around nutrition and also promoting

[2:24:52] healthy eating active living and that's

[2:24:54] the whole mission of the partnership is

[2:24:56] is creating opportunities for healthy

[2:24:58] eating active living and uh so um

[2:25:01] without further to do I'd really like to

[2:25:03] turn it over to the chair of one of

[2:25:05] those uh committees the healthy

[2:25:07] communities committee It Is chaired by

[2:25:10] Miss Maria Martinez she's a community

[2:25:12] services coordinator with our partner in

[2:25:16] this effort the housing authority of the

[2:25:18] city of Buena Ventura and what she's

[2:25:20] going to do is is uh offer a little bit

[2:25:22] through just three or four slides for

[2:25:25] the context of this partnership and then

[2:25:27] also the awards the awards by the way uh

[2:25:30] prior to covid we're at an annual event

[2:25:32] where your board helped helped us

[2:25:34] recognize uh previous uh Health

[2:25:37] Champions that are just doing exemplary

[2:25:38] work in the area of promoting Health and

[2:25:41] Wellness in the community so so without

[2:25:43] further Ado I'd like to uh call up Maria

[2:25:45] Martinez to conclude the representation

[2:25:49] foreign

[2:25:51] good morning chair Olivier members of

[2:25:53] the board and Miss Johnson my name is

[2:25:55] Maria Martinez as Rigo mentioned I'm the

[2:25:57] chair for the healthy communities uh

[2:25:59] Committee of the partnership for healthy

[2:26:01] Ventura County as well as community

[2:26:03] services coordinator for the housing

[2:26:05] authority of the city of San

[2:26:06] Buenaventura on behalf of the many

[2:26:08] organizations that make up the

[2:26:10] partnership I thank the board for

[2:26:12] supporting the vision and mission of the

[2:26:14] partnership to promote healthy eating

[2:26:16] and active Lifestyles among residents in

[2:26:19] all communities especially your low

[2:26:21] resource communities to help reduce

[2:26:23] obesity and chronic disease including

[2:26:26] certain types of cancer heart disease

[2:26:28] and diabetes which rank among the top

[2:26:31] leading causes of death in Ventura

[2:26:33] County next slide please

[2:26:37] okay

[2:26:40] so during the month of during the month

[2:26:43] of March we hope everyone will join us

[2:26:45] in celebrating National nutrition month

[2:26:47] this is a campaign that was created over

[2:26:49] 50 years ago to bring attention

[2:26:51] to the importance of developing healthy

[2:26:53] eating and physical activity habits as

[2:26:56] National nutrition month aligns so well

[2:26:58] with the vision and mission of the

[2:27:00] partnership for a healthy Ventura County

[2:27:02] we take this opportunity each year to

[2:27:04] identify and recognize Health champions

[2:27:06] in our County individuals and

[2:27:08] organizations that go above and beyond

[2:27:10] in their work to improve the health and

[2:27:12] well-being of the people and communities

[2:27:15] they serve

[2:27:19] the health Champions Award recipients

[2:27:22] are selected for their work of

[2:27:23] excellence and achievements in serving

[2:27:25] the community in their respective areas

[2:27:28] Mrs Elvira Savala is a community liaison

[2:27:31] with the Oxnard Police Department

[2:27:32] selected for her dedication to serving

[2:27:35] the Oxnard Community for over 25 years

[2:27:40] both as Community liaison with the

[2:27:42] Oxnard police department and as

[2:27:44] Community volunteer

[2:27:46] she has empowered and connected

[2:27:47] residents with critical resources to

[2:27:49] meet their immediate needs most notably

[2:27:51] during the kova 19 pandemic much of her

[2:27:55] work was centered around connecting

[2:27:57] residents to Neighborhood food

[2:27:58] distributions and other critical food

[2:28:00] resources as well as helping increase

[2:28:03] exposure to healthily healthy locally

[2:28:06] grown produce for Children and Families

[2:28:08] by promoting and supporting Community

[2:28:10] Gardens such as a Camino Del Sol

[2:28:12] community garden she is also

[2:28:14] acknowledged for her work in promoting

[2:28:16] and fostering support for Community

[2:28:18] walking clubs in the Rose Garden Rose

[2:28:21] Park Colonia and Southwinds

[2:28:23] neighborhoods promoting safe outdoor

[2:28:25] physical activity and collaborating with

[2:28:27] multiple organizations to bring services

[2:28:29] to underserved communities we thank Mr

[2:28:32] Vira Savala for being here today

[2:28:35] FoodShare Ventura County was selected

[2:28:37] for this steadfast dedication and

[2:28:39] support to Ventura County residents in

[2:28:41] making nutritious Foods more accessible

[2:28:43] and for the Outreach efforts over the

[2:28:45] last couple of years to increase

[2:28:47] services to families in need especially

[2:28:49] in the midst of the kova 19 pandemic

[2:28:52] they served over two hundred thousand

[2:28:54] residents last year reaching more than

[2:28:56] double pre-pandemic levels as they

[2:28:59] embarked on expanding Outreach efforts

[2:29:01] by collaborating with an array of new

[2:29:03] and existing Community Partners and

[2:29:05] increasing specialized programming to

[2:29:07] vulnerable populations such as their

[2:29:10] free farmers markets the seniors senior

[2:29:13] box program kids farmer markets and

[2:29:15] tailored food backs for the unhoused

[2:29:18] members of our community we thank miss

[2:29:20] Monica white president and CEO of food

[2:29:22] chair for being here today representing

[2:29:24] the work of her team thank you

[2:29:29] thank you and so with that thank you for

[2:29:32] those introductions and really want to

[2:29:34] express my appreciation to both

[2:29:36] FoodShare Monica white and Elvira Savala

[2:29:39] who have also worked with throughout our

[2:29:40] community and she has is just a selfless

[2:29:43] woman anytime that you call her up and

[2:29:46] you ask her to you know there's this

[2:29:49] need

[2:29:50] um she there's no hesitation for her to

[2:29:53] show up and give and give and give to

[2:29:56] our community throughout Oxnard

[2:29:58] disregarding boundaries disregarding

[2:30:01] anything and and I know that there's a a

[2:30:04] large community presence who just

[2:30:08] admires you and appreciates you so much

[2:30:10] thank you for all that you have done and

[2:30:13] uh quite an honor to be able to

[2:30:15] recognize you today and and just two

[2:30:18] weeks ago as one of the promotoras who

[2:30:19] participated in the program as well and

[2:30:21] so this just goes to show how much you

[2:30:23] continue to give and give and give so

[2:30:26] thank you and so with that I we do have

[2:30:29] a resolution from the board and as was

[2:30:33] stated

[2:30:34] um this uh this year's theme is fuel for

[2:30:38] the future which reinforces the goal of

[2:30:40] eating healthy a healthy diet with

[2:30:42] plenty of fruits and vegetables that are

[2:30:44] locally grown so that support our our

[2:30:48] local Ag and whereas recognizing that

[2:30:51] everyone has a role to play in turning

[2:30:54] the tight against obesity and its

[2:30:56] disproportionate impact on racial and

[2:30:58] ethnic mind minority groups the

[2:31:00] partnership for a healthy Ventura County

[2:31:02] a collaborative Network that includes

[2:31:04] representatives from Ventura County

[2:31:06] Public Health school districts Community

[2:31:08] organizations youth organizations and

[2:31:10] others focuses on sharing resources that

[2:31:13] promote healthy habits among residents

[2:31:15] and supporting policies that Advance

[2:31:17] Community Health and there's no better

[2:31:20] people than FoodShare and Mr virasavala

[2:31:23] to recognize in this effort for all that

[2:31:25] you do to support the health of our

[2:31:27] community in Ventura County so I have a

[2:31:29] resolution two certificates and I'll

[2:31:31] invite the rest of our board to come

[2:31:33] down and take some pictures with with

[2:31:34] everyone here thank you

[2:31:37] thank you

[2:31:45] so the recipients and their supporters

[2:31:47] their organizations can come up on the

[2:31:49] front as well

[2:31:51] we have a police department team and

[2:31:54] fuchsia thank you

[2:32:01] congratulations

[2:32:21] on this side

[2:32:23] congratulations all right so you can

[2:32:25] also follow in the back here

[2:32:30] [Music]

[2:32:42] from here

[2:33:03] everybody

[2:33:08] [Applause]

[2:33:28] foreign

[2:34:07] we're going to do 43 and then 45 and

[2:34:10] then go to 44. I know there's a lot of

[2:34:11] uh people here to speak on item 44 so

[2:34:14] why do I do these two proclamations

[2:34:15] first uh beginning with item 43 which is

[2:34:18] a presentation from supervisor guerrell

[2:34:21] yeah thank you for the opportunity

[2:34:23] um before we start I want to see if some

[2:34:25] of our our folks are here from

[2:34:28] um The Arc of Ventura County Patricia

[2:34:30] Schultz Lupe Escobar if you could come

[2:34:33] down and join us yeah there you are come

[2:34:35] down and join us at the podium if you

[2:34:37] wouldn't mind Julie Duran and John

[2:34:39] grissaf

[2:34:40] if you're available come on down

[2:34:42] um this uh has already been a part part

[2:34:46] of our conversation this morning is

[2:34:48] those with developmental disabilities

[2:34:51] and there's hardly a family I know

[2:34:54] including my own that hasn't been

[2:34:55] touched

[2:34:57] um by you know the

[2:35:00] the issue that that comes from those

[2:35:03] that have developmental disabilities and

[2:35:06] and so

[2:35:08] um it's really an honor today for me on

[2:35:10] behalf of the board members we've all

[2:35:12] signed this uh Proclamation declaring

[2:35:16] March 2023 as a developmental

[2:35:19] disabilities awareness month I had an

[2:35:22] opportunity yesterday to spend some time

[2:35:24] down at the Arc of Ventura County and

[2:35:27] just the amazing things that are going

[2:35:29] on down there the wonderful people I got

[2:35:31] to meet the participants in all the

[2:35:33] different programs and just

[2:35:36] um really surrounded with support and

[2:35:39] care and love and I got to shoot some

[2:35:43] hoops I got to meet some people I got to

[2:35:45] look at all of the different activities

[2:35:47] that are going on all the time there but

[2:35:49] it was just uh it was really

[2:35:51] heartwarming it really was so it's it's

[2:35:54] our honor to to be able to do this

[2:35:55] Proclamation and I'm going to allow you

[2:35:58] to to say anything or make any remarks

[2:35:59] you'd like to about the ark or about

[2:36:01] about the amazing constituents that you

[2:36:04] support every single day but before I do

[2:36:06] before you do if I could just read a few

[2:36:09] of these whereas is on this resolution

[2:36:12] more than seven million individuals with

[2:36:14] developmental disabilities live in

[2:36:17] United States and I think there are over

[2:36:19] 14 000 here in the County of Ventura 14

[2:36:22] 000. every person regardless of ability

[2:36:24] has the value strengths infinite

[2:36:26] capacity to learn and a potential to

[2:36:29] make important contributions to the

[2:36:30] local communities and celebrating the

[2:36:33] abilities and contributions of people

[2:36:34] with intellectual and developmental

[2:36:36] disabilities can only serve to enrich

[2:36:39] our community and enhance our diversity

[2:36:42] more than 700 individuals with

[2:36:44] intellectual developmental disabilities

[2:36:46] receive educational employment and

[2:36:49] Independent Living Services every day

[2:36:51] from The Arc of Ventura County one of

[2:36:54] the most amazing organizations that we

[2:36:57] have here in our community The Arc of

[2:36:59] Ventura county is celebrating 69 years

[2:37:02] of service to individuals with

[2:37:04] intellectual and developmental

[2:37:05] disabilities and their families since

[2:37:07] 1954 and whereas developmental

[2:37:10] disabilities aware awareness month is an

[2:37:13] appropriate time to commemorate the

[2:37:15] progress of improving the lives of

[2:37:16] people with intellectual and dis and

[2:37:18] developmental disabilities and identify

[2:37:21] the improvements that remain in

[2:37:22] achieving full inclusion now they're be

[2:37:26] resolved that the Ventura County Board

[2:37:27] of Supervisors do hereby Proclaim March

[2:37:30] 2023 is developmental disabilities

[2:37:32] awareness month and urge our citizens to

[2:37:35] give full support to empowering people

[2:37:37] with intellectual and developmental

[2:37:39] disabilities to live productive lives

[2:37:41] and achieve their very fullest potential

[2:37:43] presented on this day

[2:37:46] thank you for everything you do I want

[2:37:48] to see is there any public comment on

[2:37:50] this besides our speakers but maybe

[2:37:53] we'll go first to those at the podium if

[2:37:55] you'd like to speak Lupe

[2:37:58] hi my name is Lupe Escobar I wanted to

[2:38:01] tell you guys thank you for supporting

[2:38:03] us it really means a lot to us

[2:38:10] yes thank you for having us we're very

[2:38:12] proud of Lupe she is a self-advocate and

[2:38:16] a paid employee of the Arc of Ventura

[2:38:19] County as our Advocate coordinator so

[2:38:21] I'm very proud of her accomplishments

[2:38:23] I'm sorry what's your name

[2:38:26] Patty thank you yeah thank you Patty

[2:38:29] anybody else not necessary but if you'd

[2:38:32] like to speak

[2:38:34] well I want to thank the board for this

[2:38:36] recognition

[2:38:38] uh we're very happy with the progress

[2:38:41] that our community members have made

[2:38:43] under the help of some of the staff that

[2:38:46] you see here uh it's an amazing as you

[2:38:49] mentioned thank you for your kind words

[2:38:51] as you mentioned it's an amazing

[2:38:53] organization that's been in the

[2:38:55] community for 63 years

[2:38:58] 69 I'm sorry

[2:39:00] see I'm too young to know the song there

[2:39:04] you go I say that but it is amazing the

[2:39:08] growth that the participants achieve

[2:39:12] through the guidance and organization

[2:39:14] throughout our County and it really

[2:39:18] allows these folks to integrate into the

[2:39:21] community and be part of the community

[2:39:24] in a way that's

[2:39:26] very very honoring to our to our County

[2:39:30] I want to thank you for your recognition

[2:39:32] of the progress of these folks thank you

[2:39:34] thank you

[2:39:38] um and your name is John John thank you

[2:39:40] yeah thank you John and then before we

[2:39:43] come down to take a to take a photograph

[2:39:45] I believe there's which we'd like to do

[2:39:47] with you and anyone else here to support

[2:39:49] this but I think there's one online

[2:39:51] comment

[2:39:53] thank you supervisor guerrell we have

[2:39:55] one comment from Carol Shelton who's

[2:39:56] with us today on Zoom

[2:39:59] Carol can you please accept the prompt

[2:40:01] to be promoted

[2:40:08] okay I see you've been promoted if you

[2:40:10] unmute your mic you'll have three

[2:40:12] minutes to speak

[2:40:15] hello my name is Carol Shelton I live in

[2:40:18] Thousand Oaks I wanted to thank you for

[2:40:20] proclaiming March as developmental

[2:40:23] disabilities awareness month and

[2:40:25] recognizing art Ventura County

[2:40:27] that has been dedicated to this

[2:40:29] community for the last seven decades Ark

[2:40:32] does great work in Ventura County across

[2:40:35] the state of California and across the

[2:40:37] country Arc of California sends out a

[2:40:39] Weekly Newsletter that allows families

[2:40:42] like mine to keep up to date on issues

[2:40:44] impacting us I have two boys with

[2:40:46] developmental disabilities that were

[2:40:49] born and have lived their entire lives

[2:40:51] here in Ventura County

[2:40:53] some may ask why proclamations like this

[2:40:55] are necessary

[2:40:56] and I would like to share my perspective

[2:40:58] it tells people with developmental

[2:41:01] disabilities that you see them

[2:41:03] value them and are interested in their

[2:41:06] lives and their successes

[2:41:08] the lives of people with developmental

[2:41:10] disabilities are in transition Equity

[2:41:12] accessibility and inclusion and the

[2:41:15] pandemic has shown the light on the

[2:41:17] lives of people with developmental

[2:41:18] disabilities and their families

[2:41:20] conversations have started more and more

[2:41:23] policies are considering the needs of

[2:41:25] people with developmental disabilities

[2:41:27] gone are the sheltered workshops

[2:41:29] sub-minimum wages and the use of

[2:41:31] segregated care facilities the promise

[2:41:34] of true inclusion in the community is

[2:41:36] here

[2:41:37] people with developmental disabilities

[2:41:39] have many talents and skills to share

[2:41:42] with their Community they need

[2:41:43] opportunities and access to jobs

[2:41:46] Transportation housing Health Care

[2:41:48] Emergency and Behavioral Health Care

[2:41:50] Services

[2:41:51] they need access to community

[2:41:53] opportunities services

[2:41:55] both during the day during the business

[2:41:58] day and after

[2:42:00] as items move across your desk for

[2:42:02] approval may I ask that you consider how

[2:42:04] people with developmental disabilities

[2:42:06] will be impacted supported and served

[2:42:09] people with developmental disabilities

[2:42:11] are musicians artists Baristas Advocates

[2:42:14] healthcare workers Hospitality workers

[2:42:17] volunteers and small business owners the

[2:42:19] list goes on and on

[2:42:21] their son's daughters brothers sisters

[2:42:23] uncles cousins mothers fathers and they

[2:42:26] are your neighbors and residents of the

[2:42:28] communities that you all were elected to

[2:42:30] serve I cannot wait to see how this

[2:42:32] Proclamation impacts you as you make

[2:42:34] decisions on this board every person

[2:42:36] should be valued respected and given the

[2:42:39] opportunity to reach their fullest

[2:42:41] potential here in Ventura County thank

[2:42:43] you so much for this Proclamation and

[2:42:45] thank you for your time

[2:42:48] all right thank you we'd like to come

[2:42:50] down and take a picture with you now if

[2:42:51] we could thanks

[2:42:54] thank you

[2:44:34] all right thank you for that uh

[2:44:36] Proclamation supervisor guerrell and

[2:44:38] item 45 is a presentation from

[2:44:40] supervisor Lopez

[2:44:42] thank you Mr chair uh today uh I have a

[2:44:47] proclamation resolution recognizing the

[2:44:50] 31 years of public service by our

[2:44:54] Harbormaster Mr Gary hartensteiner and

[2:44:58] uh

[2:44:59] [Applause]

[2:45:06] I almost didn't recognize them because

[2:45:08] he's in a full suit so he's ready for

[2:45:11] the transition out

[2:45:13] uh but it's so great to have you here

[2:45:15] and to have uh so many staff uh here to

[2:45:19] recognize your service

[2:45:21] um 31 years is is quite uh quite a time

[2:45:23] and you've certainly seen so much uh

[2:45:26] happening uh in the harbor and so it is

[2:45:29] an honor to recognize uh your time uh

[2:45:31] although I've I've probably been one of

[2:45:33] the

[2:45:34] supervisors to have probably the

[2:45:37] shortest time serving alongside you

[2:45:41] um it it is quite an honor and and I'm

[2:45:43] sure there's others who can share a

[2:45:45] little bit more uh in a moment but I

[2:45:48] want to mention that under uh Mr

[2:45:51] hernsteiner's leadership there was

[2:45:53] training implemented for officers to

[2:45:56] become emergency medical technicians and

[2:45:59] training efforts that were coordinated

[2:46:00] with the Ventura County Fire Department

[2:46:03] increasing the level of Medical Response

[2:46:06] and safety for the public

[2:46:09] he also LED and oversaw the junior

[2:46:12] lifeguard program which continues to

[2:46:14] serve youth in our community and

[2:46:16] collaborated with our local Boys and

[2:46:19] Girls Club to help students with limited

[2:46:22] resources to obtain scholarships to

[2:46:24] participate in the program and and so

[2:46:27] with that I know that there's a lot of

[2:46:29] history in between all of all of this

[2:46:32] that is mentioned but want to thank you

[2:46:34] for your time and and wish you all the

[2:46:37] best as as you look at your future

[2:46:40] endeavors and still remaining a Ventura

[2:46:43] County resident so not too far away

[2:46:45] and so with that I do have before we

[2:46:50] present the resolution I want to invite

[2:46:53] our Harbor director Mr Michael Tripp to

[2:46:56] share a few comments

[2:47:01] yeah

[2:47:02] good morning chair of the Year honorable

[2:47:04] board members and Dr Johnson I'm here

[2:47:06] today to honor Gary hertensteiner who as

[2:47:09] you heard served the department for 31

[2:47:11] years and during that time he worked his

[2:47:14] way up he started out as a harbor patrol

[2:47:15] officer and then became the harbor

[2:47:17] Sergeant the harbor captain and in 2014

[2:47:20] he got his current roles the Harbor

[2:47:22] Master and

[2:47:23] if you look at Channel Islands Harbor in

[2:47:26] the the beautiful safe place that it is

[2:47:28] today uh Mr hertensteiner had a lot to

[2:47:30] do with that he's shaped those two teams

[2:47:33] that he oversees our maintenance team

[2:47:34] and our Harbor Patrol team into the the

[2:47:37] fine running machines that they are

[2:47:38] today

[2:47:39] and when I think of Gary that the one

[2:47:42] thing that I really comes out is

[2:47:44] commitment he's always shown a

[2:47:45] tremendous commitment both to the harbor

[2:47:47] and to his staff and whenever we think

[2:47:50] of different events and things like that

[2:47:52] he always does think about you know what

[2:47:54] kind of impact is that going to have on

[2:47:55] the residents on my staff you know what

[2:47:58] what what's going to be the end result

[2:48:00] of you know the different plans that I

[2:48:02] come up with

[2:48:03] but

[2:48:04] the the one thing that

[2:48:07] I really wanted to say is that

[2:48:10] Gary is really pledged his life to this

[2:48:13] work and it's going to be hard replacing

[2:48:15] them so with that I just like to

[2:48:18] thank you Gary for all this years of

[2:48:19] service

[2:48:23] [Applause]

[2:48:30] can I just make a comment I would just

[2:48:33] love to thank you so much if anyone's

[2:48:36] been on the Harbor whether you're

[2:48:37] floating on a little toothpick of a

[2:48:39] paddle board or getting surpassed by a

[2:48:43] yacht I mean Public Safety has been

[2:48:46] crucial and it's a way of life and you

[2:48:48] know how you just love it and it shows

[2:48:52] with the with the nature of the harbor

[2:48:54] and the safety and commitment to all of

[2:48:57] our Parolees I've been there where

[2:48:59] someone has fallen bloody hit the deck

[2:49:03] ran into the water the trolls there as

[2:49:05] fast as possible I mean you if it if you

[2:49:09] could think it it could happen and it

[2:49:11] has at the harbor and you've been at the

[2:49:12] lead to make sure that Public Safety was

[2:49:14] number one and I just really want to

[2:49:16] appreciate your years of service and you

[2:49:19] will be truly missed on it thank you

[2:49:21] thank you

[2:49:23] it's been a great career

[2:49:26] um it's a dream job I enjoy going to

[2:49:29] work every day

[2:49:31] I do have to say that I owe so much to

[2:49:34] the Harbor Patrol and the maintenance

[2:49:36] department and the fiscal department and

[2:49:39] just that the admin they make me look

[2:49:42] good so everybody there is so important

[2:49:44] and I'm very lucky and blessed to have

[2:49:47] them

[2:49:49] thank you so much so with that we have a

[2:49:52] resolution for you and invite anyone

[2:49:54] else to join in the photo and thank you

[2:49:56] again for all that you have done and uh

[2:49:59] we'll keep seeing you around yes thank

[2:50:01] you thank you

[2:50:03] [Applause]

[2:52:55] I think a lot of people have the same

[2:52:57] idea why don't we take a quick two

[2:52:58] minute break and we'll come back and and

[2:53:00] do item 40 uh item 44. thank you

[3:03:10] all right well thank you everyone for

[3:03:12] your patience I'm gonna pivot really

[3:03:14] quickly we have over 30 uh speakers on

[3:03:16] item 44 and our Sheriff's Office been

[3:03:19] patiently waiting so why don't we take

[3:03:21] item 29 real quick Mr Persian thank you

[3:03:24] for your patience and this is an

[3:03:25] important item so we'll do it real quick

[3:03:27] thank you

[3:03:28] good morning chair levere members of the

[3:03:32] board

[3:03:33] I'm Michael prigion I'm the manager of

[3:03:35] the crime lab

[3:03:36] so I'm asking for the board you need my

[3:03:39] glasses to prove and authorize the

[3:03:41] county purchasing agent to execute a

[3:03:44] three-year County of Ventura contract

[3:03:47] number 8970.

[3:03:50] it's an agreement with Bodhi technology

[3:03:52] for a three-year term not to exceed one

[3:03:54] million dollars

[3:03:56] in February of 2022 your board ratified

[3:04:00] the acceptance of the sexual assault kit

[3:04:03] initiative known as sake

[3:04:06] as part of that Grant application

[3:04:07] obligation we identified sexual assault

[3:04:10] kits that will be tested using the

[3:04:13] latest DNA technology

[3:04:15] the crime lab doesn't have the staff to

[3:04:18] conduct these additional tests and

[3:04:19] therefore we want to contract the

[3:04:21] services out to a private Laboratory

[3:04:24] or the technology was selected in a

[3:04:26] competitive bid process

[3:04:29] I had to adjust the board letter a

[3:04:32] little bit that's in front of you

[3:04:34] the changes on the last page

[3:04:38] um they Auditor controller's Office

[3:04:41] wanted me to change

[3:04:45] it's the end of the last last next to

[3:04:48] last paragraph

[3:04:50] they wanted me to make sure that five

[3:04:52] hundred thousand dollars was allocated

[3:04:53] for fiscal year 23 250 for fiscal year

[3:04:57] 24 25 rather and 250 for fiscal year 26.

[3:05:02] they thought if we didn't specify that

[3:05:05] that we might encumber the whole million

[3:05:07] dollars right at once so that was the

[3:05:10] change that you have before you

[3:05:12] if you have any questions feel free to

[3:05:15] ask me

[3:05:17] I would just like to say thank you for

[3:05:19] that clarification it helps us with the

[3:05:21] budgeting so we know which when it hits

[3:05:23] so appreciate that

[3:05:26] and I just want to add you know we've

[3:05:28] been doing this in the past couple years

[3:05:29] with some of the funding we've gotten

[3:05:31] and you know these these these kits that

[3:05:33] we test are leading to I think it's 178

[3:05:36] arrests from some of these cases that

[3:05:38] are older and because of the work that

[3:05:39] your lab's doing and our sheriffs and

[3:05:41] our D.A we're Prosecuting some really

[3:05:43] bad people and so we've had some good

[3:05:45] success in the past few months yeah so

[3:05:47] thank you I think this is a really

[3:05:49] important item

[3:05:51] I'll move staff's recommendation I'll

[3:05:54] second

[3:06:00] supervisor girl

[3:06:02] supervisor loan yes supervisor Parvin

[3:06:05] yes supervisor Lopez yes chair levere

[3:06:08] yes thank you very much for being here

[3:06:10] thank you

[3:06:12] yeah and we'll finish with our last 10

[3:06:14] 30 a.m time cert and that is item 44 uh

[3:06:17] proposal from supervisor guerrell and

[3:06:20] supervisor Parvin uh gonna change this

[3:06:22] up a little um we're going to start with

[3:06:24] public comment this morning I know we

[3:06:26] have I believe over 30 public speakers

[3:06:28] and so we'll take public comment and

[3:06:30] then I can return it to this board for

[3:06:32] discussion

[3:06:34] so Madam clerk why don't we start with

[3:06:36] public comment

[3:06:37] thank you trailer bear so just a

[3:06:39] reminder if you wish to make a public

[3:06:40] comment on this agenda item and you have

[3:06:42] not pre-registered please check in with

[3:06:44] the deputy clerk at the front of the

[3:06:45] boardroom if you want to participate

[3:06:47] remotely please visit ventura.org

[3:06:49] forward slash BOS comment for

[3:06:51] participation information and

[3:06:53] instructions we do have about uh 30

[3:06:56] people here signed up to speak so far

[3:06:59] your name will be called in the order

[3:07:01] our registration was received and you

[3:07:03] will have two minutes please accept the

[3:07:05] prompt if you're on Zoom to be promoted

[3:07:07] and then when it's your turn to speak

[3:07:09] please unmute your mic

[3:07:12] and if you do want to speak on this item

[3:07:14] and are on zoom and have not

[3:07:15] pre-registered please press the raised

[3:07:17] hand

[3:07:18] otherwise we will start with Bert

[3:07:20] pirrello who is here in person followed

[3:07:22] by Patty quiroz and then

[3:07:25] Joy kabashi so Bert if you please

[3:07:27] proceed to the podium

[3:07:34] three minutes

[3:07:36] I'm sorry two minutes good morning my

[3:07:38] name is Bert brolham an Oxnard city

[3:07:40] council member I'm speaking as a private

[3:07:41] party today I want to apologize to the

[3:07:44] other 29 people that have signed up

[3:07:45] because I signed up just recently and

[3:07:47] have been put in front so I apologize to

[3:07:49] those I suppose you gave difference to

[3:07:51] the elected official

[3:07:53] I speak against this item

[3:07:56] for two simple reasons

[3:07:58] the limit has seemed to work very well

[3:08:01] for the County of Ventura for a period

[3:08:02] of time

[3:08:03] and increasing the amount will reduce

[3:08:06] the ability of a small party to take

[3:08:09] advantage and I will use the example of

[3:08:11] my city

[3:08:13] the outside influence of large funds of

[3:08:15] money sums of money coming from outside

[3:08:17] the state of California

[3:08:18] Have Been instrumental in measures in my

[3:08:21] city that have cost my city tremendous

[3:08:23] amounts of money in litigation

[3:08:26] time effort and ongoing statute of

[3:08:29] limitation because there was unlimited

[3:08:31] amounts of money that would be able to

[3:08:32] put in I do understand that there can be

[3:08:34] political action committees that these

[3:08:36] things can be funded but I do believe

[3:08:38] that you are making a major mistake and

[3:08:41] a compliment to the intestinal fortitude

[3:08:44] for the two new selection of elected

[3:08:47] supervisors to put this on the ballot to

[3:08:49] change things so drastically in your

[3:08:50] very first term on the on this board I

[3:08:53] give you credit for having the guts to

[3:08:54] do that but I think you're making a

[3:08:56] mistake

[3:08:57] I think you're making a serious mistake

[3:08:59] and the longer you serve on this board

[3:09:01] you might learn that but I hope that you

[3:09:02] learn it before you pursue this issue

[3:09:04] again I speak against this matter and I

[3:09:07] will use the example of what it has done

[3:09:09] to my city with respect to outside

[3:09:11] influence of money and the large volumes

[3:09:13] of money the rules were changed in my

[3:09:15] city after this happened and I hope that

[3:09:18] you continue to follow the rules that

[3:09:20] are in place good rules that helped

[3:09:23] the County of Ventura stay where it is

[3:09:25] without the scandals and stuff that have

[3:09:27] happened in other places in the city

[3:09:28] state of California thank you for the

[3:09:30] time to speak thank you Bert

[3:09:34] okay so our next speaker is going to be

[3:09:36] Patty quiros followed by joy kabashi and

[3:09:38] then Daniel Bloom plum

[3:09:40] putty and adjust your time to two

[3:09:43] minutes

[3:09:45] hello my name is parikiros and I will be

[3:09:47] reading this statement on behalf of

[3:09:48] assembly member Steve Bennett

[3:09:50] good morning chair levere Board of

[3:09:52] Supervisors and Dr Johnson

[3:09:54] as a County supervisor for 18 of my 20

[3:09:57] years I lived with the strict limits of

[3:09:59] Ventura County's campaign law

[3:10:01] as a State Assembly member I currently

[3:10:03] live with the higher state contribution

[3:10:04] limits I know Both Worlds were well and

[3:10:07] I wish the state limits were lower

[3:10:10] I assume you I assure you that overall

[3:10:12] the larger the maximum donation allowed

[3:10:14] the greater the difficulty in keeping

[3:10:16] the average Citizens Voice heard in any

[3:10:18] legislative body

[3:10:20] most citizens firmly believe that big

[3:10:22] money has undue influence in politics

[3:10:24] and they believe moving the contribution

[3:10:26] limit from 750 to 5500 will

[3:10:30] significantly increase the indirect

[3:10:31] influence of big money over Grassroots

[3:10:34] Citizens Voice

[3:10:36] you say that that is not a concern of

[3:10:38] yours and public trust can be maintained

[3:10:40] because the reasons day law blocks you

[3:10:42] from voting on an issue if an interested

[3:10:45] party has donated more than 250 in the

[3:10:47] 12 months before the vote that is a weak

[3:10:50] justification and defies logical Common

[3:10:52] Sense most citizens believe the

[3:10:54] influence of an eleven thousand dollar

[3:10:56] donation from a married couple 13 months

[3:10:58] before a vote does not suddenly

[3:11:00] disappear at the 12-month mark

[3:11:03] that is particularly particularly true

[3:11:05] if the official will be up for

[3:11:07] re-election in the coming cycle will be

[3:11:09] fundraising soon and looking for another

[3:11:10] donation you will also be repealing our

[3:11:13] local requirements that County

[3:11:14] Supervisors can only raise funds in the

[3:11:17] 12 months before the election without

[3:11:19] that restriction politicians will raise

[3:11:21] funds Non-Stop and be distracted from

[3:11:24] their primary focus of legislating

[3:11:26] fundamentally our local ordinance has

[3:11:29] many protections that go beyond state

[3:11:31] law we lose all of these protections and

[3:11:33] decrease local citizen confidence in

[3:11:36] politics with your repeal of the

[3:11:38] ordinance I respectfully and humbly ask

[3:11:41] you to please reject the recommended

[3:11:43] action thank you

[3:11:45] thank you

[3:11:49] our next speaker is going to be Joy

[3:11:50] kabashi who's here with us today on Zoom

[3:11:52] followed by Daniel Blum and then Maria

[3:11:54] Elena moreiras

[3:11:57] Joy they will animate your mic and I'm

[3:11:59] going to adjust your time to two minutes

[3:12:03] press star six

[3:12:09] good morning supervisors

[3:12:12] my name is Joy Kobayashi I am a proud

[3:12:15] 38-year resident of Ventura County and

[3:12:18] I'm here to voice my opposition to the

[3:12:21] ordinance repealing our County's

[3:12:23] campaign Finance reform

[3:12:25] the current ordinance and its 750 750

[3:12:30] contribution limit helps candidates with

[3:12:33] Grassroots support be elected these

[3:12:36] candidates often have the best interests

[3:12:38] of the general public in mind this is

[3:12:41] the very definition of good government

[3:12:44] current law also has rules that prevent

[3:12:46] abuse by large donors to influence the

[3:12:49] votes of Supervisors

[3:12:51] if it is repealed this will mean that

[3:12:53] wealthy special interests like oil

[3:12:55] companies will be able to contribute

[3:12:58] much more money to the campaigns of

[3:13:00] their chosen candidates repealing will

[3:13:02] also create loopholes that will allow

[3:13:04] for violations that will circumvent the

[3:13:06] spirit of the law

[3:13:08] this was result in supervisors who are

[3:13:11] no longer voting for what is best for

[3:13:13] the county but instead of what is best

[3:13:15] for these companies

[3:13:17] frankly the current method of financing

[3:13:20] campaigns in this country is legal

[3:13:22] bribery

[3:13:23] campaign Finance laws with small maximum

[3:13:26] contribution and contribution limits and

[3:13:28] strict regulations like our current

[3:13:30] ordinance is the bare minimum required

[3:13:33] to control this practice

[3:13:35] four of the five supervisors currently

[3:13:37] serving on the board were elected by the

[3:13:40] following by the following by following

[3:13:42] the current campaign Finance ordinance

[3:13:45] it is clearly not an undue burden upon

[3:13:48] anyone I request that it not be pampered

[3:13:51] with

[3:13:52] thank you for the opportunity to speak

[3:13:54] to speak to you this morning

[3:13:56] thank you Joy

[3:13:57] our next speaker is going to be Danielle

[3:13:59] Blum followed by Marina Elena Ramirez

[3:14:02] and Renee Ayu

[3:14:04] Danielle I'm going to adjust your time

[3:14:07] and if you

[3:14:09] push star six you should be able to

[3:14:10] speak

[3:14:15] hello

[3:14:16] uh Ventura County Board of Supervisors

[3:14:19] and Community I am a Ventura County

[3:14:22] resident and voter I'm calling to oppose

[3:14:26] the elimination of the County's campaign

[3:14:29] Finance ordinance

[3:14:30] I'm opposed to repealing our current

[3:14:33] ordinance the current ordinance is

[3:14:35] needed to continue the 750 contribution

[3:14:38] limit and maintain transparency the

[3:14:41] current ordinance is needed to decrease

[3:14:43] any incentives to attempt to influence

[3:14:46] our supervisors from monied individuals

[3:14:48] it is not accurate that this law is no

[3:14:51] longer needed based on the California

[3:14:53] state law the state law doesn't provide

[3:14:55] the same transparency the state law

[3:14:58] doesn't provide the same safeguards

[3:15:00] against incentives for influence by

[3:15:03] money please make sure to keep our

[3:15:05] current election campaigns free from

[3:15:08] money and influence please do not remove

[3:15:10] or decrease the campaign contribution

[3:15:13] ordinance for Ventura County thank you

[3:15:16] thank you Danielle our next speaker is

[3:15:19] going to be Maria Elena Ramirez followed

[3:15:20] by Renee Ayo and Josh

[3:15:23] nicoba

[3:15:29] good morning

[3:15:31] um I'm of a I am a resident of Ventura

[3:15:35] County and during the last election

[3:15:38] cycle for supervisor

[3:15:41] not the very last so 2020 before that I

[3:15:45] was at my sister's house and I was uh

[3:15:48] doing probably laundry and I was going

[3:15:50] in and out of her living room and I had

[3:15:53] CNN on because I'm a political junkie

[3:15:55] and I all of a sudden I see this ad by

[3:16:00] purchased by oil companies and it's

[3:16:03] there she was Carmen Ramirez the corrupt

[3:16:07] politician going on junkets to China and

[3:16:11] all this blah blah blah blah so she

[3:16:14] comes home and I said to my sister

[3:16:17] Carmen I said hey I didn't know you've

[3:16:20] been going on junkets

[3:16:22] what's this all about you know and of

[3:16:25] course I was joking with her my sister

[3:16:28] was beyond

[3:16:30] question

[3:16:31] a public servant of deep integrity and a

[3:16:37] record of 40 Years of Public Service

[3:16:40] before she became an advocate as a city

[3:16:45] councilwoman

[3:16:48] she said yeah Mike my constituents have

[3:16:51] have questions about that when they see

[3:16:53] it they ask me

[3:16:55] why are they lying about you

[3:16:58] she

[3:17:00] was available to the constituents and of

[3:17:03] her districts for whatever office for

[3:17:06] whatever job she did including working

[3:17:08] for the clerks people came to her openly

[3:17:12] with questions she was there walking her

[3:17:15] districts knowing her community this is

[3:17:18] how public true public servants who are

[3:17:22] committed to their communities do their

[3:17:25] job know your constituents do not take

[3:17:30] money from people who are going to own

[3:17:33] your vote because if you vote for this

[3:17:35] it's as good as putting a for sale

[3:17:38] shingle out at your door saying to

[3:17:41] whoever gives me the money you have my

[3:17:45] ear and eventually you have my vote we

[3:17:48] all know it

[3:17:50] that's what this is about this is a

[3:17:52] wrong move we don't want to become like

[3:17:56] bigger areas like LA and it's miasmic

[3:17:59] cloud of corruption because of all his

[3:18:01] money involved I'm so sorry thank you

[3:18:03] very much thank you

[3:18:06] okay our next speaker is going to be

[3:18:08] Renee Ayu followed by Josh nicoba and

[3:18:10] Anthony Angelini

[3:18:12] Renee I'm going to adjust your time to

[3:18:14] two minutes

[3:18:15] good morning uh chair levere and members

[3:18:18] of the board and Dr Johnson

[3:18:21] um what many of us do not understand

[3:18:24] including myself is why the sudden rush

[3:18:27] to repeal the entire campaign Finance

[3:18:30] reform ordinance of the county

[3:18:33] it gives the impression that the County

[3:18:36] residents understanding is not of this

[3:18:39] of the impact of this action is not

[3:18:42] relevant or unimportant

[3:18:44] this is not a simple Amendment to the

[3:18:46] County's campaign Finance Finance laws

[3:18:49] but the wholesale elimination of an of

[3:18:52] an entire County ordinance that the

[3:18:55] people of the county have come to rely

[3:18:57] upon to safeguard election transparency

[3:18:59] and fairness

[3:19:01] at the very least the people of the

[3:19:03] khani should be allowed and deserve

[3:19:06] adequate time to better understand the

[3:19:09] consequences and impact of this proposed

[3:19:11] action

[3:19:12] it is especially important to the people

[3:19:15] who live in the two minority majority

[3:19:18] districts as I'm sure supervisor Lopez

[3:19:22] and supervisor long understand how

[3:19:24] important it is to their residents the

[3:19:27] time to understand what the consequences

[3:19:29] are why shouldn't the Board of

[3:19:31] Supervisors delay its action on this

[3:19:34] proposed repeal for at least 90 days so

[3:19:37] the people of the county can have

[3:19:40] adequate time to better understand

[3:19:41] whether or not this repeal is in their

[3:19:44] best interests

[3:19:46] or the alternative is simply to put it

[3:19:48] on the ballot in November 2024 and see

[3:19:51] what your constituents and the people of

[3:19:54] the county really think

[3:19:56] this is the right thing to do

[3:19:58] it is consistent with the commitment

[3:20:00] that this board has to be transparent

[3:20:03] and fair

[3:20:04] and that's what I ask you to do either

[3:20:06] oppose reject this or do the right thing

[3:20:10] thank you Renee

[3:20:13] our next speaker is going to be Josh

[3:20:14] nicoba who is here on Zoom followed by

[3:20:18] Anthony Angelini and Elisa Salcedo

[3:20:21] Josh I'm gonna and uh change your time

[3:20:25] to two minutes and if you unmute your

[3:20:26] mic you'll have two minutes to speak

[3:20:27] okay thank you can hear me we can hear

[3:20:30] you please proceed okay good morning

[3:20:32] board members my name is Josh and I'm a

[3:20:34] student at Cal Lutheran I don't know how

[3:20:36] many of you have worked on political

[3:20:37] campaigns but it's grueling work with

[3:20:39] very little pay one of the reasons the

[3:20:41] pay is not commensurate with the work is

[3:20:43] the limitations on contributions to

[3:20:45] candidates who have staff to pay

[3:20:47] Ventura county is one of the most

[3:20:48] expensive places to live in the country

[3:20:50] with local campaign workers often

[3:20:53] putting in excessive hours in a place

[3:20:54] like this a livable wage is virtually

[3:20:57] impossible often these jobs are filled

[3:20:59] by our young people college students or

[3:21:02] recent graduates trying to get a foot in

[3:21:04] the door and afford the Bare Essentials

[3:21:06] there are factors too many here today

[3:21:08] are conveniently ignoring what this

[3:21:10] board is proposing is a fresh look at an

[3:21:12] old ordinance that fixes historical

[3:21:14] issues and provides greater opportunity

[3:21:16] for those looking to make a difference

[3:21:18] and become more publicly engaged I look

[3:21:21] forward to seeing this ordinance move to

[3:21:23] the next phase and adopted with your

[3:21:25] support thank you

[3:21:28] our next speaker is going to

[3:21:30] Angelini followed by Elisa Salcedo and

[3:21:32] Barbara macri Ortiz

[3:21:36] good morning supervisors thank you for

[3:21:38] taking my comment thank you for all you

[3:21:40] do for our County my name is Anthony I'm

[3:21:42] speaking for myself as a Westlake

[3:21:44] Village resident

[3:21:46] you know

[3:21:47] the way this issue is Being Framed by

[3:21:51] the detractors I think leaves so much

[3:21:53] critical information out of the argument

[3:21:55] I know first of all I know we know the

[3:21:57] state now has new laws and safeguards in

[3:21:59] place that didn't exist when the Ventura

[3:22:02] County's ordinance was originally passed

[3:22:04] and new rules provide guardrails for

[3:22:06] political contributions prohibit the

[3:22:08] pay-to-play component of politics that

[3:22:10] we all fear SP 1439 limits contributions

[3:22:14] to 250 for having the business uh for

[3:22:18] any businesses under consideration for

[3:22:20] contract by a state or local government

[3:22:22] it was authored by democrats it was

[3:22:24] voted for by our own Ventura County

[3:22:26] assembly member Steve Bennett the entire

[3:22:28] Ventura County legislative delegation

[3:22:30] voted for it most of the other counties

[3:22:32] in California have adopted the state's

[3:22:35] plan was spearheaded by the

[3:22:36] democrat-dominated state legislator

[3:22:39] so why are local Democrats now claiming

[3:22:43] it's good enough for everybody else but

[3:22:46] not us

[3:22:48] look

[3:22:49] uh confusing layers of Regulation have

[3:22:53] been far too prevalent in Ventura County

[3:22:56] government and we finally have an

[3:22:59] opportunity to make a change for more

[3:23:02] fair reasonable streamlined process

[3:23:04] that's not confusing

[3:23:07] and I would just ask that you support

[3:23:08] that thank you and thank you for your

[3:23:10] time thank you Anthony

[3:23:12] our next speaker is going to be Elisa

[3:23:14] Salcedo followed by Barbara McCree Ortiz

[3:23:16] and Alia Ewing

[3:23:18] Elisa is with us on Zoom

[3:23:22] hello my name is Elisa and I live in

[3:23:24] Oxnard and supervisors long District

[3:23:27] I support this item

[3:23:30] one of the main complaints we have heard

[3:23:31] when it comes to local elections is the

[3:23:34] influence that independent expenditures

[3:23:37] have in the process

[3:23:39] they don't have the same limits as

[3:23:42] candidates they cannot coordinate

[3:23:44] directly with candidates and they can

[3:23:46] engage in negative campaigns

[3:23:49] in fact in public forums and on social

[3:23:52] media Jeff Curry also opponent in the

[3:23:55] supervisors race blasted independent

[3:23:57] expenditures and the negative

[3:23:59] campaigning they resulted in this can be

[3:24:02] a problem the less money individual

[3:24:05] candidates can raise themselves the more

[3:24:07] power and influence a gift to outside

[3:24:10] groups

[3:24:11] the way to fix this is to make

[3:24:14] individual candidates responsible and

[3:24:16] accountable for their own messaging do

[3:24:19] you have an opportunity to fix this

[3:24:21] today by raising the direct contribution

[3:24:24] limits for candidates I hope that you

[3:24:28] take this into consideration and thank

[3:24:30] you for your time thank you

[3:24:33] our next speaker is going to be Barbara

[3:24:36] macri Ortiz followed by Aaliyah Ewing

[3:24:38] and Michael McDonald

[3:24:43] good morning again my name is Barbara

[3:24:46] Bakery Ortiz and I'm speaking in

[3:24:48] opposition to item 44.

[3:24:50] this local law was adopted to try to

[3:24:53] level the playing field and maintain

[3:24:55] Integrity in the Democratic process this

[3:24:58] ordinance has served our County well

[3:25:01] why would the newest members of the

[3:25:03] board want to undermine it I do not

[3:25:06] understand why supervisors Parvin and

[3:25:08] guerrill have brought this forward

[3:25:10] obviously they did not have a problem

[3:25:12] winning their election with a 750 limit

[3:25:15] because we see him sitting on the dice

[3:25:17] what is their motivation for changing

[3:25:20] the rules that have served us so well

[3:25:22] I've read the board letter and thought

[3:25:24] about the reasoning and it simply makes

[3:25:26] no sense Ventura County should be a

[3:25:29] leader not a follower it does not matter

[3:25:31] how many cities or Counties have not

[3:25:34] taken the initiative to do better than

[3:25:36] the bare minimum

[3:25:38] what is wrong with transparency

[3:25:41] transparency and standards regarding the

[3:25:43] amount of money that should be spent on

[3:25:46] political elections

[3:25:48] the unmistakable contribute conclusion

[3:25:51] is that some board members are trying to

[3:25:53] give an unfair advantage to supervisor

[3:25:55] long who will be running in 2024 for

[3:25:59] re-election uh in District three one of

[3:26:02] the two newly designated minority

[3:26:04] majority districts I note that

[3:26:08] supervisor long already played an

[3:26:10] integral part in designing the lines of

[3:26:13] her District that was approved by the

[3:26:15] supervisors

[3:26:17] if the contribution limit is increased

[3:26:20] that Advantage will be even more

[3:26:22] pronounced

[3:26:24] Maybe I'm Wrong in how I see this

[3:26:28] supervisor long you can prove me wrong

[3:26:32] I respectfully request supervisor long

[3:26:34] to recuse herself from voting on item

[3:26:37] 44. since a repeal of the ordinance

[3:26:39] would materially impact and improve her

[3:26:42] chances to be re-elected in this

[3:26:45] primarily Latino primarily low-income

[3:26:48] District thank you thank you Barbara

[3:26:51] okay it looks like we don't have Aaliyah

[3:26:54] on Zoom so we're gonna go to Michael

[3:26:55] McDonald who will be followed by Chantal

[3:26:58] margotten and Karen Stevens I'm Michael

[3:27:01] thank you reduce your time to two

[3:27:03] minutes okay go ahead

[3:27:04] thank you so much Madam clerk chair

[3:27:06] Olivier members of the Board of

[3:27:08] Supervisors and Dr Johnson I'm here

[3:27:10] today to express my strong opposition to

[3:27:13] the proposed ordinance being introduced

[3:27:14] in item 44 which seeks to repeal the

[3:27:16] Ventura County campaign Finance

[3:27:18] ordinance as a concerned citizen of

[3:27:20] district one I believe that this

[3:27:22] ordinance has been instrumental in

[3:27:23] ensuring that special interest and money

[3:27:25] do not unduly influence our elections

[3:27:27] since its Inception in 2003 with its

[3:27:30] emphasis on Grassroots campaigns and

[3:27:32] prioritizing The public's interests and

[3:27:33] concerns the ordinance has fostered a

[3:27:35] culture of transparency and fairness in

[3:27:37] our local elections don't be fooled by

[3:27:39] the recommendation that the county align

[3:27:41] with state law this is an incumbent

[3:27:43] protection plan that aims not to level

[3:27:45] the playing field or increase

[3:27:46] transparency but rather decrease his

[3:27:49] trust in our electoral process by

[3:27:51] increasing contribution limits 633

[3:27:54] percent when voters believe that

[3:27:55] elections are fair and transparent they

[3:27:57] are more likely to participate and to

[3:27:59] have confidence in their elected

[3:28:00] officials the campaign Finance ordinance

[3:28:02] is critical for leveling the playing

[3:28:04] field ensuring transparency protecting

[3:28:07] local interests and enhancing public

[3:28:08] trust in the process our current

[3:28:10] ordinance is also responsible for

[3:28:13] preventing corruption in the appearance

[3:28:15] of corruption without campaigns Finance

[3:28:17] regulations like this wealthy

[3:28:18] individuals and special interest groups

[3:28:20] can use their financial resources to

[3:28:22] influence elections and buy political

[3:28:23] favors

[3:28:25] this ordinance also levels the playing

[3:28:27] field for campaign Finance between

[3:28:30] candidates with differing levels of

[3:28:32] Financial Resources by limiting the

[3:28:33] amount of money that can be spent on a

[3:28:35] campaign candidates with fewer Financial

[3:28:36] Resources have less of a chance

[3:28:38] competing against wealthier opponents

[3:28:40] and this ordinance also protects Free

[3:28:42] Speech while campaign Finance ordinances

[3:28:44] limit the amount of money that can be

[3:28:45] spent on a campaign they do not limit

[3:28:47] the freedom of speech candidates and

[3:28:48] political committees are still able to

[3:28:50] communicate their message to voters

[3:28:51] through means including television ads

[3:28:53] mailers and social media I strongly urge

[3:28:55] you to vote no and to keep this

[3:28:57] ordinance in place to prevent the

[3:28:58] influence of corporate interests and

[3:28:59] individual donors with greater resources

[3:29:02] than the general public from swaying the

[3:29:04] outcomes of our local elections thank

[3:29:06] you for hearing me today and everyone

[3:29:07] please join me at Fair electionsvc.com

[3:29:11] thank you Michael

[3:29:13] our next speaker is going to be Chantel

[3:29:15] margotten followed by Karen Stevens and

[3:29:17] then Catherine Willett

[3:29:19] Chantal

[3:29:28] good morning happy wet Tuesday

[3:29:31] I am here briefly to speak in support of

[3:29:35] the item number 44. I as a small

[3:29:38] business owner and citizen of Ventura

[3:29:41] County would like to see us able as

[3:29:44] local citizens at a smaller level to

[3:29:45] contribute more if we're able to

[3:29:47] financially and desire to in support of

[3:29:49] whatever cause or candidate

[3:29:51] my concern with comments that I hear is

[3:29:55] that many who are opposing this are not

[3:29:57] acknowledging that there are many large

[3:30:00] donors who have special interests

[3:30:02] billionaire activist Tom Starr would be

[3:30:06] one in a short 10-year period he donated

[3:30:09] 271 million dollars and more to his

[3:30:13] desired contacts that are outweighs

[3:30:15] anything

[3:30:16] I'm quite certain anyone in the county

[3:30:18] could afford to do and we have Patagonia

[3:30:21] as well donates millions of dollars to

[3:30:24] its causes and candidates it chooses to

[3:30:26] support and I doubt seriously that those

[3:30:29] individuals are looking at a community

[3:30:32] level interest for Ventura County or

[3:30:35] another County

[3:30:37] so I would speak in support of this

[3:30:40] measure it in many ways makes it more

[3:30:43] Equitable in the amount of money that

[3:30:45] you can donate and I have worked on many

[3:30:47] local political campaigns on both sides

[3:30:49] of the aisle and I think it would be a

[3:30:52] step to clear it up and keep it

[3:30:54] transparent

[3:30:55] not do the opposite so I would encourage

[3:30:58] a serious look at this and an agreement

[3:31:01] to support it thank you

[3:31:04] thank you

[3:31:06] our next speaker is going to be Karen

[3:31:07] Stevens followed by Catherine Willett

[3:31:09] and then Debbie Mitchell

[3:31:11] hello uh thank you for the opportunity

[3:31:13] to speak my name is Karen Stevens I'm a

[3:31:16] resident of Thousand Oaks I'm here today

[3:31:19] to express my very strong opposition to

[3:31:22] the repeal of the campaign Finance

[3:31:23] reform ordinance this ordinance is

[3:31:26] essential in protecting the rights of

[3:31:28] local voters so that they have a voice

[3:31:31] and a choice in local candidates

[3:31:34] repealing this ordinance would open the

[3:31:36] floodgates for out-of-county interests

[3:31:39] and oil corporations

[3:31:43] to control our elections and ultimately

[3:31:45] our County

[3:31:48] foreign

[3:31:49] we have seen the disastrous effects of

[3:31:52] this in other areas of the nation

[3:31:55] with this ordinance in place it has

[3:31:56] guided our local candidates to focus on

[3:31:59] the needs of constituents without this

[3:32:01] ordinance candidates and local electives

[3:32:03] need only to follow the directives of

[3:32:06] wealthy corporations to ensure election

[3:32:09] to office

[3:32:11] I urge the board to protect the voices

[3:32:13] of Ventura County residents

[3:32:15] in ensuring Fair representation in

[3:32:18] government and abandon this

[3:32:20] ill-conceived resolution to repeal the

[3:32:23] campaign reform ordinance

[3:32:25] the resulting vote on whether to repeal

[3:32:27] this will inform voters of those truly

[3:32:30] intent on working for local voters

[3:32:34] please vote no thank you thank you so

[3:32:36] much for your time thank you Karen

[3:32:39] our next speaker is going to be

[3:32:40] Catherine Willis by Debbie Mitchell and

[3:32:42] then Claudia bildale Pina

[3:32:47] hi I'm Kathy Willett I'm a 25-year

[3:32:51] resident of Ventura County in District

[3:32:53] 2. I oppose the repeal of the Ventura

[3:32:56] County campaign Finance reform ordinance

[3:32:59] this ordinance has served as us well for

[3:33:02] over 20 years it encourages the

[3:33:04] electoral process to better represent

[3:33:06] individual constituents needs the repeal

[3:33:10] would conversely enable special

[3:33:12] interests with Deep Pockets to have

[3:33:14] undue influence on the electoral process

[3:33:16] while increasing Temptation for elected

[3:33:19] officials to look favorably on their

[3:33:21] more generous donors requests

[3:33:24] people of Ventura County have come out

[3:33:26] in force repeatedly to denounce oil and

[3:33:28] gas efforts to destroy our local

[3:33:31] environment I fear that repeal will

[3:33:33] drown out our voices please don't repeal

[3:33:37] the Ventura County campaign Finance

[3:33:39] reform ordinance thank you thank you

[3:33:43] our next speaker is going to be Debbie

[3:33:44] Mitchell followed by Claudia bildale

[3:33:46] Pena and Haley ehlers uh Debbie Ducey

[3:33:49] that you've been promoted on Zoom I'm

[3:33:50] going to adjust your time to two minutes

[3:33:52] and if you want to meet your mic you can

[3:33:53] speak

[3:33:55] good morning to all

[3:33:57] my name is Debbie Mitchell resident of

[3:33:59] Oxnard in Ventura County and I oppose

[3:34:02] this repeal

[3:34:04] I've been very encouraged by the

[3:34:05] positive changes resilience and

[3:34:07] solidarity I've seen recently in Ventura

[3:34:09] County government through recent crisis

[3:34:11] losses and changes until this to remove

[3:34:15] campaign limits in Ventura county is not

[3:34:17] inclusive of the population of Ventura

[3:34:19] County and is a step backwards from

[3:34:21] public trust social justice and

[3:34:23] transparency

[3:34:24] if someone wants to represent or

[3:34:26] influence the people in Ventura County

[3:34:28] they should be seen by the people in

[3:34:30] Ventura County they should be heard by

[3:34:33] the people in Ventura County and they

[3:34:36] should hear the people in Ventura County

[3:34:38] we need doers we need involvement and

[3:34:41] not invasion

[3:34:42] special interests are ought too often

[3:34:44] not in the best interest of Ventura

[3:34:47] County constituents please stop this

[3:34:49] fiscal obsfuncation and and leave

[3:34:51] campaign support to the real

[3:34:53] constituents of Ventura County and

[3:34:55] ensure that all residents organizations

[3:34:57] and businesses in Ventura County have an

[3:35:00] opportunity to participate in campaigns

[3:35:02] on a Level Playing Field and not be

[3:35:05] overrun by large campaigns funded by

[3:35:07] people who may not share our best

[3:35:08] interests or care about the residents

[3:35:10] they impact

[3:35:11] donor organizations and corporations who

[3:35:13] want to be a part of Ventura County and

[3:35:15] and contribute should consider

[3:35:18] contributing to Ventura County needs

[3:35:20] through action and donations to the many

[3:35:22] Partnerships Community efforts and

[3:35:24] organizations of that the county and

[3:35:26] cities work so hard to do with so little

[3:35:29] one in six in Ventura county is food

[3:35:31] insecure our Health Care system has

[3:35:33] overburdened our education system needs

[3:35:35] businesses to invest in training and

[3:35:37] identify needs cons I believe that

[3:35:41] eliminating the limits defies the

[3:35:43] principles of social justice at the

[3:35:45] court we need candidates for Ventura

[3:35:47] County not for special interests please

[3:35:49] encourage your donors to donate to the

[3:35:51] people candidates should be for the

[3:35:53] people not special interests please

[3:35:55] reject this

[3:35:57] thank you Debbie

[3:36:01] could I ask Debbie Mitchell as president

[3:36:04] of Oxnard what

[3:36:07] I don't see Debbie on Zoom oh resident

[3:36:10] okay I heard president and I was like

[3:36:12] okay thank you would you like her to be

[3:36:14] promoted back to zoom no it's okay thank

[3:36:16] you for the clarification okay thank you

[3:36:18] so our next speaker is going to be

[3:36:19] Claudia Bill de la Pina who is here in

[3:36:21] person today and Claudia and adjust your

[3:36:23] time to two minutes and please proceed

[3:36:25] where you don't need to repeal Ventura

[3:36:27] County's campaign ordinance you'll want

[3:36:29] to because you have the votes to raise

[3:36:31] the contributional limit to a grotesque

[3:36:34] 5500 per person and to eliminate a cap

[3:36:37] on expenditures altogether

[3:36:39] you know very well that the power of

[3:36:42] special interests pocketbooks will

[3:36:44] squash those of the average resident in

[3:36:46] the county

[3:36:47] case in point

[3:36:49] Jeff just finished running the most

[3:36:51] expensive and dishonest supervisor

[3:36:53] campaign in recent Ventura County

[3:36:54] history

[3:36:55] dwarfing even the race between Sheriff

[3:36:58] ab and Jim freihof his race knitted just

[3:37:01] over one million dollars I was outspent

[3:37:05] almost four to one I raised money from

[3:37:08] small donations from a record 900 people

[3:37:12] and only lost by a small margin and I

[3:37:14] did it while working full-time taking

[3:37:16] care of a family taking a business I

[3:37:18] didn't have the luxury of taking 10

[3:37:20] months off from work

[3:37:22] the notion that independent expenditure

[3:37:24] committees will somehow disappear with

[3:37:26] the elimination of the County's campaign

[3:37:28] Finance ordinance is absolutely

[3:37:29] ridiculous

[3:37:31] Jeff's friends supporters and donors

[3:37:33] that included an lgbtq hate group ran a

[3:37:37] character assassination against me

[3:37:39] because it was the only way Jeff could

[3:37:41] win they not only made up stories about

[3:37:44] me they also lied about my husband it

[3:37:47] was disgraceful yet Jeff never once

[3:37:51] denounced the lies these committees were

[3:37:53] telling

[3:37:54] Jeff himself made up his own publicity

[3:37:57] stunt faking an October surprise about

[3:38:00] big tobacco and now we are to think that

[3:38:03] all of these morally corrupt Shenanigans

[3:38:05] will somehow disappear

[3:38:07] while I appreciate the State's new

[3:38:09] restrictions on the amount of money

[3:38:11] someone doing business with the county

[3:38:13] can give there are ways to get around

[3:38:15] that another case in point Sean marati

[3:38:18] and owner of the board shirt wetland in

[3:38:19] Newbury Park who wants excessive density

[3:38:22] on his parcel but needs you the

[3:38:24] supervisors to lift the Watershed

[3:38:26] Protection District easement moradian

[3:38:29] fought like a pit bull to keep me off

[3:38:32] this board Claudia you're threatening to

[3:38:33] in harassing me and special interests

[3:38:37] bought the seat Claudia your time is up

[3:38:39] we have thank you and I just know that

[3:38:41] it is a frightening thought of what will

[3:38:42] happen once these floodgates are open

[3:38:44] thank you our next speaker is going to

[3:38:46] be Haley ehlers

[3:38:48] followed by Stephen Nash and then Terry

[3:38:50] lisagor

[3:38:54] hello my name is Haley ehlers resident

[3:38:56] of Ventura and director of climate first

[3:38:58] replacing oil and gas or sea frog we are

[3:39:01] a Grassroots non-profit dedicated to the

[3:39:03] transition away from fossil fuels to a

[3:39:05] carbon-free economy in Ventura County I

[3:39:08] am urging you to reject the upcoming

[3:39:10] proposal to repeal the Ventura County

[3:39:12] campaign Finance reform ordinance as a

[3:39:15] 501c3 non-profit organization we help

[3:39:17] fill gaps left by the Ventura County

[3:39:19] government strengthen our communities by

[3:39:21] providing educational and Civic

[3:39:23] engagement services that your

[3:39:24] constituents need and also follow strict

[3:39:27] regulations to stay out of partisan

[3:39:29] elections we rely on sound and

[3:39:31] responsible campaign Finance rules to

[3:39:34] ensure that special interests can't have

[3:39:35] excessive influence in our local

[3:39:37] elections and therefore the local

[3:39:39] policies that shape our everyday life

[3:39:41] and even the responsible Advanced

[3:39:44] ordinances in Ventura County don't do

[3:39:46] enough as is to protect our democracy

[3:39:48] from the influence of Deep Pockets and

[3:39:51] independent expenditure groups we cannot

[3:39:53] roll back even further just last year

[3:39:55] Big Oil spent eight million dollars the

[3:39:57] most ever spent in a political campaign

[3:39:59] in Ventura County to put a common sense

[3:40:01] regulatory Improvement on the ballot and

[3:40:03] then proceeded to lie and scare Ventura

[3:40:06] County voters leading to the defeat of

[3:40:07] policies meant to better protect our

[3:40:09] communities from Antiquated oil drilling

[3:40:11] permits

[3:40:12] just like just last month you saw the

[3:40:15] consequences made possible by this

[3:40:16] campaign two dozen Wells rubber stamped

[3:40:18] for redrilling in an environmental

[3:40:20] justice Community without environmental

[3:40:22] review impacting the air that school

[3:40:23] children and families breathe every day

[3:40:25] our democracy shouldn't be bought and

[3:40:27] paid for by the wealthy and Powerful

[3:40:29] Ventura County alongside 25 other

[3:40:31] California counties value transparency

[3:40:34] accountability and local citizen voices

[3:40:36] and priorities this is in direct

[3:40:38] conflict with the major sums of money in

[3:40:40] the fossil fuel industry spends in local

[3:40:42] state and federal elections to drown out

[3:40:44] the voices of the people and prevent

[3:40:46] meaningful outcomes for clean energy

[3:40:48] before the upcoming vote I urge you to

[3:40:50] thoughtfully listen to your constituents

[3:40:51] concerns who are clearly saying no to

[3:40:54] more money in politics thank you

[3:40:57] thank you Haley our next speaker is

[3:40:59] going to be Steven Nash followed by

[3:41:01] Terry lizigor and David growl

[3:41:04] uh Stephen please proceed

[3:41:07] thank you and good morning to the Board

[3:41:09] of Supervisors staff and all attendees

[3:41:13] this is such a transparent attempt to

[3:41:15] circumvent the public will

[3:41:18] that somebody earlier suggested that it

[3:41:21] be put up to a vote I think that is a

[3:41:23] great idea but you won't do that because

[3:41:25] uh well the majority won't do that

[3:41:27] because they're they know which way the

[3:41:29] the public the public would vote this is

[3:41:32] a transparent attempt to game the system

[3:41:35] in favor of

[3:41:36] the uh one supervisor whose election is

[3:41:39] coming up

[3:41:40] I will say that as the past chair of the

[3:41:45] city of Oxnard ethics advisory

[3:41:47] subcommittee we would have left out of

[3:41:49] the room Andy council member that came

[3:41:51] before us with with such a ridiculous uh

[3:41:54] reform so I will say to the people who

[3:41:57] to the supervisors who proposed this and

[3:41:59] the supervisors who voted for this one

[3:42:02] word and that word is shame thank you

[3:42:04] good morning

[3:42:06] thank you Stephen

[3:42:08] our next speaker is going to be Terry

[3:42:09] lizigor followed by David growl and then

[3:42:11] Manuel Marquez

[3:42:14] thank you very much for have for

[3:42:16] allowing us to speak I'm a proud 46 year

[3:42:20] resident not 46 year old 46-year

[3:42:23] resident of Ventura County and I've

[3:42:26] always been a participant in the

[3:42:28] election process ever since I could

[3:42:30] start using my voice many of the

[3:42:34] positions of the speakers have been

[3:42:37] articulated very well in opposition to

[3:42:41] this resolution resolution 44. again it

[3:42:46] seeks to repeal the Ventura County

[3:42:48] campaign Finance reform and as a

[3:42:51] concerned citizen I strongly believe

[3:42:52] that this ordinance has been a critical

[3:42:55] Safeguard against the influence of money

[3:42:58] and special interests in our local

[3:43:00] elections for those reasons and many

[3:43:03] more I ask that this be brought to a

[3:43:06] public vote I ask that all of you reject

[3:43:09] the ordinance number 44 at this time and

[3:43:13] reject rushing it through thank you

[3:43:16] thank you

[3:43:18] our next speaker is going to be David

[3:43:19] growl followed by Emmanuel Marquez and

[3:43:21] Leslie Ogden

[3:43:24] Mr girl

[3:43:27] hi

[3:43:29] good morning

[3:43:31] board members

[3:43:33] Dr svet Johnson I'm sorry

[3:43:37] um my name is David grow I'm speaking

[3:43:39] today on behalf of the Ventura County

[3:43:41] taxpayers Association

[3:43:42] part of our mission is to inform

[3:43:44] taxpayers advise public officials

[3:43:46] regarding issues of concern to taxpayers

[3:43:49] and recommend positions that will best

[3:43:51] serve the taxpayers interest we consider

[3:43:55] the proposed campaign Finance ordered

[3:43:57] ordinance to be an issue of concern for

[3:43:58] taxpayers and a step in the right

[3:44:00] direction while further leveling the

[3:44:03] playing field for contributions to

[3:44:05] campaigns from all sides of the

[3:44:07] political Spectrum

[3:44:09] the current Ventura County ordinance is

[3:44:11] an outlier in the state of California

[3:44:13] limiting individual contribution to just

[3:44:16] 750 dollars

[3:44:18] we agree that since the state of

[3:44:20] California's political reform act and

[3:44:23] its governing amendments are followed by

[3:44:26] more than a majority of the state's

[3:44:27] counties and cities

[3:44:29] there is no reason for our County to

[3:44:32] maintain a separate campaign Finance

[3:44:34] ordinance

[3:44:35] defaulting to the State's new rules with

[3:44:38] important anti-corruption safeguards in

[3:44:41] place is the right move to update an

[3:44:44] Antiquated ordinance created in a very

[3:44:47] different regulatory climate we look

[3:44:49] forward to your board moving forward on

[3:44:51] this thank you thank you

[3:44:58] Manuel Marquez followed by Leslie Ogden

[3:45:01] and then Linda Parks who's with us today

[3:45:02] on Zoom

[3:45:04] good morning my name is Manuel Marquez

[3:45:06] I'm a resident of Ventura City and

[3:45:08] Ventura County this is my first time

[3:45:10] ever in this board room I feel very

[3:45:12] honored to be able to speak to all of

[3:45:15] you thank you so much for your attention

[3:45:18] given that this is the first time I've

[3:45:20] ever come to this room I hope you

[3:45:22] understand that this issue is very very

[3:45:25] important to me

[3:45:26] and that I speak passionately against

[3:45:29] this proposal

[3:45:32] never in my life have I felt more heard

[3:45:36] as a citizen of a county than I have

[3:45:39] here in Ventura I've been a resident now

[3:45:41] for almost 43 years in my previous years

[3:45:44] were spent in Los Angeles County

[3:45:47] I value this County for The Unique

[3:45:49] opportunity it provides for its citizens

[3:45:52] to have a voice

[3:45:54] in how this County will be managed and

[3:45:58] what its future would look like

[3:46:01] a couple of the previous speakers

[3:46:03] have made illusions

[3:46:05] to aspects of this ordinance that are

[3:46:08] simply not

[3:46:10] founded in Logic for one

[3:46:15] it is naive to believe that political

[3:46:18] action committees would take a step

[3:46:20] aside and not be a part of your

[3:46:25] campaigns in the future if this limit

[3:46:27] were raised and secondly with respect to

[3:46:30] equitability how is it more Equitable to

[3:46:34] raise the donation limit by such an

[3:46:36] amount which would exclude a

[3:46:39] significantly greater percentage of the

[3:46:41] population from being able to

[3:46:43] participate in this process what would

[3:46:45] be Equitable is that every citizen in

[3:46:48] the in this County would equally be able

[3:46:50] to participate financially in supporting

[3:46:53] your campaigns so again I ask you to

[3:46:56] vote against this ordinance thank you

[3:46:59] thank you

[3:47:02] our next speaker is going to be Leslie

[3:47:03] Ogden followed by Linda Parks and then

[3:47:05] Nancy Lindholm

[3:47:13] good morning

[3:47:14] there are few people who are unaware of

[3:47:18] the effect of money and politics

[3:47:21] most see it as corrosive

[3:47:24] yet here in Ventura County for the last

[3:47:26] two decades we've followed a different

[3:47:29] path and we've made it a case that our

[3:47:33] small donors could have impact

[3:47:35] when the maximum donation possible is

[3:47:39] 750 dollars you're 75 or 250 dollar

[3:47:44] donation counts

[3:47:46] most donations in this County have been

[3:47:50] small ones and

[3:47:52] and

[3:47:53] diverse

[3:47:55] allowing many many people to feel

[3:47:57] invested in their government

[3:47:59] this will change

[3:48:01] if the proposed jump to five thousand

[3:48:04] five hundred donation is approved

[3:48:07] when any random couple can give eleven

[3:48:10] thousand dollars suddenly your 250

[3:48:13] dollar donation would seemed like a big

[3:48:15] deal at the time doesn't seem like much

[3:48:19] by changing the law you discourage the

[3:48:22] policeman the teacher the electrician

[3:48:24] from feeling that they too have a voice

[3:48:28] not only is this wrong

[3:48:30] and it's not only is this bad for

[3:48:33] democracy but it will be perceived as

[3:48:35] such

[3:48:36] suspicions will be rampant

[3:48:39] that this measure was pushed through by

[3:48:41] a board more interested in the high

[3:48:44] rollers than the nurses and firefighters

[3:48:48] and plumbers

[3:48:51] we're better than that in Ventura County

[3:48:54] I urge you to vote against it thank you

[3:48:56] thank you Leslie

[3:48:59] our next speaker is going to be Linda

[3:49:01] Parks followed by Nancy Lindholm and

[3:49:03] Todd cullard

[3:49:05] I see you on Zoom I'm going to adjust

[3:49:07] your time to two minutes and you can

[3:49:09] begin

[3:49:17] in the Parks ICU and muted and I see you

[3:49:20] and zoom can you hear us

[3:49:27] if you're calling in you can push star

[3:49:29] six to unmute your phone

[3:49:33] it can you help Linda Parks with her

[3:49:35] hand raised

[3:49:43] Linda Parks

[3:49:45] we see you on Zoom um we're not able to

[3:49:47] hear you at the moment I'm gonna go to

[3:49:49] Nancy Lindholm who's also on zoom and

[3:49:51] then I'll come back to you

[3:49:56] Nancy I'm gonna adjust your time to two

[3:49:58] minutes

[3:50:01] please proceed

[3:50:02] good morning chair and Board of

[3:50:04] Supervisors uh Nancy Lindholm CEO of the

[3:50:07] West Ventura County business Alliance

[3:50:09] which is the Chamber of Commerce serving

[3:50:12] the communities of Camarillo and Oxnard

[3:50:15] I know you have received a lot of

[3:50:18] comments opposing the proposed ordinance

[3:50:20] repealing the current campaign Finance

[3:50:22] limits

[3:50:23] most of those comments claim repeal of

[3:50:26] the limits would allow only welfare

[3:50:28] wealthy donors to impact elections and

[3:50:32] that smaller donors and the general

[3:50:34] public would lose their voice

[3:50:37] I look at this a little bit differently

[3:50:41] the current campaign limits restricting

[3:50:43] contributions of more than 750 dollars

[3:50:46] per election promote the use of

[3:50:49] independent expenditure campaigns

[3:50:52] those campaigns actually make donors

[3:50:55] less visible to the voting public

[3:50:58] I encourage the board to adopt the

[3:51:01] ordinance as a means of Greater public

[3:51:04] disclosure in our elections thank you

[3:51:08] thank you Nancy

[3:51:11] I'm going to go back to Linda Parks I

[3:51:12] see you with your Henry's um are if

[3:51:15] you're able to hear us

[3:51:24] okay I'm gonna

[3:51:27] hopefully somebody can help

[3:51:29] okay so uh Linda Parks can hear us

[3:51:31] unfortunately we can't hear you all

[3:51:34] right I don't see that you have a mic

[3:51:36] muted

[3:51:40] okay so we're going to go to the next

[3:51:42] speaker while you try to connect to

[3:51:43] another device

[3:51:44] so our next speaker is going to be Todd

[3:51:46] color followed by

[3:51:48] Arthur van Valenzuela Jr and Maria

[3:51:51] Navarro

[3:51:53] good morning supervisors I oppose the

[3:51:55] proposed repealing of the current

[3:51:57] campaign Finance ordinance I do so

[3:51:59] because the purpose of that ordinance

[3:52:01] was to promote public trust and also to

[3:52:04] minimize or avoid the appearance of

[3:52:07] corruption due to money influences I see

[3:52:10] nothing in the in the board report that

[3:52:12] you have in front of you that attempts

[3:52:14] to explain how this proposed deletion or

[3:52:17] repeal of this ordinance will achieve

[3:52:18] that objective it's patently contrary to

[3:52:21] it in fact

[3:52:22] conveniently enough the board letter

[3:52:25] does not support excuse me outline the

[3:52:27] parallels between what the County's

[3:52:29] existing ordinance does and what the

[3:52:31] state law provides for if we had that

[3:52:34] comparison contrast I think we'd see a

[3:52:36] sharp difference in what our own

[3:52:38] interests are and how they're managed by

[3:52:40] our own local ordinance versus state law

[3:52:41] the simple one that's come to play is a

[3:52:44] county limit of 750 dollars per contract

[3:52:47] contributor versus 500 and 5 500 into

[3:52:51] the state law that's not even mentioned

[3:52:53] it simply said it's redundant our code

[3:52:56] is not redundant there's too many

[3:52:58] differences between our code and state

[3:53:00] law and unfortunately the staff report

[3:53:03] didn't even take the time to outline

[3:53:04] those

[3:53:05] as to leaving it to the state to manage

[3:53:09] I think having a cop on the beat locally

[3:53:11] is just as important as having a bunch

[3:53:13] of administration up in Sacramento with

[3:53:16] the appearance of local control and I

[3:53:18] further see the disadvantages of leaving

[3:53:21] it all in the hands of the state because

[3:53:23] as we know state laws can be repealed by

[3:53:26] referendums paid for by large corporate

[3:53:28] interests

[3:53:29] so tying our case and our regulation of

[3:53:33] finances to the state law really takes

[3:53:35] it out of our hands thank you

[3:53:38] thank you Todd okay so it looks like we

[3:53:40] have reconnected with Linda Parks

[3:53:43] yes okay I'm gonna adjust your time to

[3:53:46] two minutes

[3:53:48] and please proceed

[3:53:50] good morning supervisors and staff thank

[3:53:52] you as the executive director of soar

[3:53:54] representing thousands of our members

[3:53:56] throughout Ventura County I ask that you

[3:53:58] reject supervisors guerrill and parvin's

[3:54:01] effort to eliminate Ventura County's

[3:54:03] campaign contribution ordinance

[3:54:05] local contribution limits were necessary

[3:54:08] before I was elected to the Board of

[3:54:10] Supervisors because campaigns were

[3:54:12] dominated by big money from developers

[3:54:14] and other special interests including

[3:54:17] the ninety thousand dollar check one

[3:54:19] developer gave to my opponent

[3:54:21] once I was elected supervisor Steve

[3:54:23] Bennett and Kathy long had the third

[3:54:25] vote needed to pass our campaign

[3:54:27] contribution limits which also

[3:54:30] importantly include expenditure limits

[3:54:33] and with each election we would make

[3:54:35] changes to the law to close loopholes

[3:54:37] and demanded enforcement during

[3:54:40] elections instead of waiting what could

[3:54:42] be years for the state to enforce their

[3:54:44] laws at which time the unethical

[3:54:47] candidate could already be elected

[3:54:49] the law empowers local citizens voices

[3:54:52] and elections by limiting campaign

[3:54:54] contributions to 750 dollars

[3:54:57] soars Grassroots campaign are stronger

[3:55:00] as a result of this empowerment soar has

[3:55:03] benefited from campaign limits because

[3:55:05] soar is all about empowering the voters

[3:55:08] it is not about how much money

[3:55:10] candidates pay their workers including

[3:55:13] coming to the speak at the Board of

[3:55:15] Supervisors in favor of their items

[3:55:18] our campaigns are run by volunteers our

[3:55:21] workers don't do it for the money what

[3:55:24] supervisors guerrill and Parvin propose

[3:55:26] would change the playing field by

[3:55:29] increasing the influence of well-heeled

[3:55:31] special interests most people cannot

[3:55:34] afford 5500 or 11 000 per couple

[3:55:38] on behalf is soar I respectfully request

[3:55:41] that you vote no on this threat to our

[3:55:44] democracy

[3:55:46] thank you

[3:55:50] okay I'm going to go back to the top of

[3:55:51] our list so we are going to start with

[3:55:53] Arthur Valenzuela Jr who's here in

[3:55:55] person followed by Maria Navarro and

[3:55:57] then Christy Weir

[3:56:06] um good afternoon uh good morning my uh

[3:56:09] chair levere Board of Supervisors uh my

[3:56:11] name is Arthur Valenzuela and I'm

[3:56:13] speaking to oppose the repeal of the 750

[3:56:16] contribution limits permitting

[3:56:18] contributions at 5500 will prioritize

[3:56:20] wealthy individuals and families over

[3:56:22] retired seniors blue-collared workers

[3:56:25] and young families we want electives are

[3:56:27] accountable to Working Families not the

[3:56:29] wealthiest individuals I know that

[3:56:31] campaigns are difficult and require

[3:56:33] funds but successful candidates are able

[3:56:36] to build a wide amount of support not

[3:56:38] just a handful of special interests by

[3:56:41] lifting the campaign contribution limits

[3:56:42] it could also create more County staff

[3:56:44] time to review candidate contributions

[3:56:47] that are one thousand dollars or more

[3:56:48] within 90 days of the election with form

[3:56:51] 497s please do not repeal the 700 750

[3:56:55] limit thank you

[3:56:56] thank you

[3:56:58] our next speaker is going to be it's

[3:56:59] going to be Maria Navarro Foster wear

[3:57:01] and then Sandra Bates

[3:57:04] we have Maria Navarro on Zoom

[3:57:08] all right thank you good morning I'm

[3:57:10] Maria Navarro a policy advocate for

[3:57:11] cause and I would like to express our

[3:57:13] strong opposition to the proposed

[3:57:15] resolution under item 44 which seeks to

[3:57:18] repeal the Ventura County campaign

[3:57:19] Finance ordinance the principle of free

[3:57:22] and fair elections is one of the

[3:57:23] founding principles of this country

[3:57:25] campaign financing factors in end is

[3:57:28] greatly right and although it has always

[3:57:30] been expensive to run a campaign we

[3:57:33] shouldn't actively cry to make it more

[3:57:35] expensive to run feature campaigns

[3:57:37] because if we continue to increase the

[3:57:39] price Mark more and more we will be

[3:57:41] making it impossible for legitimate

[3:57:43] Grassroots candidates to be elected what

[3:57:46] will remain the county campaign Finance

[3:57:48] Ordinance do well it will force

[3:57:49] candidates to spend less time knocking

[3:57:51] on their constituent stores

[3:57:53] and more time talking to donors and

[3:57:55] potential donors who are very who are

[3:57:58] very very small subsection of our

[3:58:00] population a subsection that is

[3:58:02] overwhelmingly wealthy and who

[3:58:04] themselves are disconnected from the

[3:58:06] issues that are facing the majority of

[3:58:07] the community

[3:58:09] and by the community I mean working

[3:58:10] class Community which does happen to be

[3:58:12] the majority of us I asked

[3:58:15] how can a representative be connected to

[3:58:17] the people if they don't talk to the

[3:58:19] people

[3:58:20] as a county we should be proud of our

[3:58:22] stringent campaign Finance ordinance

[3:58:25] to remove it or modify it thank you

[3:58:28] thank you

[3:58:29] okay our next speaker is going to be

[3:58:31] Christy Weir followed by Sandra Bates

[3:58:32] and then Julie Hensley

[3:58:35] foreign

[3:58:40] Christy Weir former mayor of the city of

[3:58:43] Ventura thank you for talking about this

[3:58:45] important topic

[3:58:48] um

[3:58:49] our local campaign ordinances are way

[3:58:53] better than the state

[3:58:55] even the new state ordinance isn't uh we

[3:58:59] have a high quality ordinance here that

[3:59:01] has worked for us and I cannot figure

[3:59:03] out why we would give up the best

[3:59:06] for sort of a mediocre one at the state

[3:59:08] level

[3:59:10] allowing big donations invites big

[3:59:13] donors to have big expectations of

[3:59:16] influence benefiting big special

[3:59:19] interests

[3:59:20] it's not what we're about

[3:59:22] this would not decrease the power of pax

[3:59:25] it would double it donors could now make

[3:59:28] big contributions to packs and also to

[3:59:33] candidates

[3:59:34] this change would benefit candidates

[3:59:37] certain candidates and special interests

[3:59:39] not Ventura County residents

[3:59:42] what average resident can give five

[3:59:45] thousand dollars

[3:59:46] but it's a small amount for someone with

[3:59:49] a big company who wants a board a

[3:59:51] supervisor's decision that benefits them

[3:59:54] representative government works better

[3:59:56] when many small donors are investing in

[3:59:58] their future

[4:00:00] just 20 to 30 large donors could get a

[4:00:03] candidate a campaign consultant and lots

[4:00:05] of mailers that's not very many donors

[4:00:08] but hundreds of small donors means more

[4:00:11] Civic engagement more broad support and

[4:00:14] more representation

[4:00:16] so please be very careful let the people

[4:00:19] vote on this if you're serious about a

[4:00:22] change

[4:00:23] your decision today

[4:00:26] could help candidates in the future with

[4:00:29] lower levels of Integrity get elected

[4:00:33] and also those candidates will not be

[4:00:36] representing the broad spectrum of the

[4:00:39] people of Ventura County we are special

[4:00:40] County we deserve a special campaign

[4:00:43] Finance ordinance not the generic State

[4:00:45] one thank you thank you Chrissy

[4:00:49] okay our next speaker is going to be

[4:00:50] Sandra Bates followed by Julie Hensley

[4:00:52] Steven causal Luis lampara and Bernardo

[4:00:54] Perez

[4:00:55] lucinder Bates

[4:00:59] I agree with all the people who do who

[4:01:04] do not want to repeal this ordinance

[4:01:07] that's protecting our County against big

[4:01:10] money interests

[4:01:12] um

[4:01:16] we want fairness in our local elections

[4:01:18] and we need to keep the ordinance in

[4:01:21] place we don't want corporate interests

[4:01:23] or individual donors that are greater

[4:01:26] resources than the average person the

[4:01:29] general public we don't want them

[4:01:31] swaying the outcomes of our elections

[4:01:35] we want Ventura County to remain a good

[4:01:39] place for people the people who live

[4:01:41] here and a fair place so people's voices

[4:01:44] can be heard and not the voices of big

[4:01:48] money which are the people behind

[4:01:51] repealing this ordinance thank you

[4:01:55] thank you

[4:01:59] okay our next speaker is Julie Hensley

[4:02:01] followed by Stephen causa Luis lampara

[4:02:03] and Bernardo Perez Julie

[4:02:07] thank you

[4:02:09] good morning

[4:02:11] I don't know if any of you have seen the

[4:02:13] movie called don't look up

[4:02:16] about the meteor

[4:02:18] imminently about to crash into the Earth

[4:02:21] and no one wanted to admit it

[4:02:25] I'm from Wisconsin I ran for the state

[4:02:28] senate

[4:02:30] I have seen what corruption does

[4:02:34] I have seen that meteor hit the ground

[4:02:39] and it blows everything up and what you

[4:02:42] are proposing today is the same it's

[4:02:47] chipping away year by year at the

[4:02:49] systems in place that cause the level of

[4:02:52] corruption that sometimes there is no

[4:02:54] coming back from

[4:02:56] no coming back

[4:02:59] and I am

[4:03:01] you can tell this is very important

[4:03:05] today that we make the right decision

[4:03:08] I had 8600 donations

[4:03:12] the average value was 31.80

[4:03:16] and you can't tell me that if you raise

[4:03:19] the the limit that people with 31

[4:03:23] dollars in their pocket think they have

[4:03:25] a voice

[4:03:26] and even now people in Lemonwood in

[4:03:29] District 2 don't feel like they have a

[4:03:30] voice

[4:03:32] we need to be out there talking to them

[4:03:34] going door to door to find out what they

[4:03:37] want that is what true representation is

[4:03:39] big money has no place in elections

[4:03:44] thank you

[4:03:47] okay so as we um near the end of our

[4:03:49] speaker list I just want to make sure

[4:03:51] that we've hurt everybody so if you're

[4:03:53] on zoom and your name was not called

[4:03:55] please press the raise hand button so we

[4:03:57] can make sure that we add you to the

[4:03:59] queue

[4:04:00] if you're in the boardroom and you want

[4:04:01] to speak on this item please see the

[4:04:03] deputy clerk at the entrance of the

[4:04:04] boardroom and we are going to hear from

[4:04:06] Stephen colzo who is here on zoom and

[4:04:09] then Louise lampara and Bernardo Perez

[4:04:14] um

[4:04:15] thank you very much this is Stephen

[4:04:16] Cosell I'm a 40-year resident of Oak

[4:04:19] Park

[4:04:20] well actually in June of this year and

[4:04:23] uh

[4:04:24] good afternoon now uh chair of the board

[4:04:27] levere members of the Board of

[4:04:29] Supervisors and Dr Johnson thanks for

[4:04:31] letting me speak I'll be brief we are

[4:04:35] paying attention in the community that's

[4:04:36] why we're speaking uh we're trying to

[4:04:39] increase engagement in the community

[4:04:41] everybody's uh points of view and get

[4:04:44] more people involved introducing

[4:04:46] additional money into County politics is

[4:04:49] then difficult to representation of all

[4:04:51] of our constituents

[4:04:52] practical effect of this will be

[4:04:54] marginalization of the viewpoints from

[4:04:56] those without Deep Pockets

[4:04:59] I.E the average County resident

[4:05:02] we urge you to

[4:05:05] vote to support continuing ordinance for

[4:05:10] 510 and not to repeal it

[4:05:14] I think it has the overwhelming support

[4:05:16] of the public as reflected by comments

[4:05:19] um this morning and early afternoon I

[4:05:21] appreciate the time to speak thank you

[4:05:23] very much

[4:05:25] thank you

[4:05:26] our next speaker is going to be Louise

[4:05:28] lampara who's here in person and then

[4:05:29] Bernardo Perez who is on Zoom

[4:05:44] good morning Louise lampera Ventura

[4:05:47] County co-lab over the weekend two

[4:05:49] former supervisors staged a messaging

[4:05:51] campaign to block the repeal of the

[4:05:52] County's campaign Finance ordinance the

[4:05:55] former supervisors claim that for 20

[4:05:57] years they have significantly decreased

[4:05:59] the influence of big money in local

[4:06:01] elections the opposite is true the

[4:06:04] County's low individual campaign

[4:06:05] donation only encourages manipulations

[4:06:08] and work a lot rounds that have allowed

[4:06:10] independent expenditures packs to become

[4:06:13] more powerful and influential here in

[4:06:15] Ventura County

[4:06:16] but not once did the former supervisors

[4:06:19] mention independent expenditures strange

[4:06:21] especially when State and County records

[4:06:24] show that IES were nearly unheard of a

[4:06:26] decade ago in local elections but in

[4:06:28] this last election IES collected and

[4:06:31] spent over half a million dollars on One

[4:06:33] race alone this happened because of the

[4:06:37] County's ordinance the 750 limit on

[4:06:40] individual campaign donations doesn't

[4:06:42] stop big money donations it drives them

[4:06:45] to the less transparent and less

[4:06:47] accountable IES and the former

[4:06:50] supervisors know this in October 2022

[4:06:53] then sitting supervisor Parks

[4:06:56] manipulated around the local ordinance

[4:06:58] contribution limit and donated nine

[4:07:01] thousand nine hundred dollars to a pack

[4:07:04] supporting one of the district two

[4:07:05] candidates nine thousand nine hundred

[4:07:08] dollars foreign excess of the 750 limit

[4:07:12] she claims must be imposed on the

[4:07:13] average voter the messaging also claims

[4:07:16] that the local ordinance creates strict

[4:07:18] accountability and stops donors from

[4:07:20] getting around the law again not true

[4:07:22] the local ordinance did not catch

[4:07:24] campaign donation irregularities

[4:07:26] committed by the same pack to which Ms

[4:07:29] Parks donated that nine thousand dollars

[4:07:31] those irregularies were caught by the

[4:07:33] states fppc recent changes to state law

[4:07:37] have created robust and effective State

[4:07:39] monitoring and enforcement and the

[4:07:41] County's ordinance is redundant contrary

[4:07:44] to the messaging campaign the County's

[4:07:46] ordinance actually perpetuates

[4:07:47] disenfranchising the voice of individual

[4:07:49] voters and strengthens Pax please vote

[4:07:52] to repeal this ordinance and if the

[4:07:55] supervisors would like I did bring 10

[4:07:56] copies of these documents and I can

[4:07:58] submit them for the record thank you

[4:08:14] thank you

[4:08:17] sorry about that okay

[4:08:20] so our last speaker of the day for this

[4:08:21] item is going to be Bernardo Perez who

[4:08:23] is with us on Zoom

[4:08:25] Bernardo thank you for your patience you

[4:08:27] have two minutes I see you're in needed

[4:08:28] please proceed thank you uh dear members

[4:08:31] of the board and uh public viewing this

[4:08:34] meeting the purpose of existing 45-10

[4:08:36] supported by the chair Kelly long in one

[4:08:39] of her early votes on the board is to

[4:08:41] promote public trust in governmental

[4:08:43] institutions and the electoral process

[4:08:45] and to eliminate the possibility of quid

[4:08:48] pro quo corruption or the appearance of

[4:08:51] quid pro quo corruption in which money

[4:08:53] is exchanged for official acts I request

[4:08:56] the board to reject the proposal by

[4:08:59] supervisor Parvin and Garrell which

[4:09:01] would repeal Ordnance 4510 in its

[4:09:04] entirety I have been an active

[4:09:06] participant in local and County public

[4:09:08] service and the electoral process since

[4:09:10] the mid 70s from that time one

[4:09:12] consistent and prevailing theme is the

[4:09:14] Public's healthy distrust of obscene

[4:09:16] amounts of campaign contributions by big

[4:09:19] money and special interest or ordinance

[4:09:21] 4510 serves the public interest in

[4:09:24] wanting and having open transparent and

[4:09:26] fair elections

[4:09:28] supervisors Parvin and Garrell would

[4:09:30] have us believe that repealing the

[4:09:32] ordinance would reduce the need for and

[4:09:34] the future occurrence of the obscene

[4:09:36] amounts of independent expenditures we

[4:09:38] saw in recent County election campaigns

[4:09:41] please do not insult The public's

[4:09:43] intelligence with this highly

[4:09:45] speculative implausible and laughable

[4:09:48] argument

[4:09:49] even with the existing ordinance the

[4:09:51] county clerk record a register of Voters

[4:09:54] reported

[4:09:55] two apparent violations of the ordinance

[4:09:58] 4510 by one of the proponents repealing

[4:10:01] of repealing the ordinance

[4:10:03] to be fair I am not aware of the outcome

[4:10:05] of these reports

[4:10:07] in closing I respectfully asked

[4:10:09] supervisor long to maintain her support

[4:10:12] for the ordinance and reject the

[4:10:14] proposal to repeal yeah I ask a board

[4:10:17] majority to join her and reject the

[4:10:19] proposal in it to reject to repeal the

[4:10:23] ordinance in its entirety excuse me

[4:10:25] we all value our quality of life here in

[4:10:28] Ventura County a special place we call

[4:10:30] home it is made special for many reasons

[4:10:32] one of which

[4:10:34] is that Ventura County has worked to

[4:10:36] maintain the efficacy and integrity and

[4:10:39] fairness of our local electoral process

[4:10:43] help keep our elections open transparent

[4:10:46] and fair thank you thank you

[4:10:51] chair levera I don't see any other

[4:10:53] requests to speak for this item thank

[4:10:54] you thank you madam clerk supervisor or

[4:10:57] girl

[4:10:58] yeah thank you first of all I want to

[4:11:00] thank all of the the public speakers who

[4:11:02] gave comments uh the feedback is helpful

[4:11:05] and particularly those that are here in

[4:11:08] person uh weathering the storm to be

[4:11:10] here with us in person I I I do

[4:11:12] appreciate it I'd like to kind of just

[4:11:15] walk through a little bit of the the

[4:11:17] thought process and how we we got to

[4:11:19] this concept

[4:11:22] um and and maybe that'll help a little

[4:11:25] bit in the understanding of it about

[4:11:28] three years ago the California State

[4:11:29] Legislature

[4:11:31] began to look at all of the Electoral

[4:11:34] systems throughout the state of

[4:11:36] California and the patchwork of

[4:11:40] different rules and laws and regulations

[4:11:43] oversight enforcement that were going on

[4:11:47] throughout all the various cities and

[4:11:49] all the various counties and what they

[4:11:51] saw is that in many of them that

[4:11:54] Patchwork was ineffective and in many

[4:11:57] ways confusing duplicative of what was

[4:11:59] going on at the state level

[4:12:02] um that some of them although

[4:12:04] well-intentioned hadn't changed in

[4:12:06] decades

[4:12:07] and ultimately some of them were

[4:12:09] unconstitutional and had become

[4:12:12] unconstitutional over the years

[4:12:15] um

[4:12:17] I think in evaluating whether to reform

[4:12:21] our current Ventura County campaign

[4:12:24] Finance ordinance or to Simply

[4:12:30] um defer to what the state had recently

[4:12:32] created was kind of the conversation

[4:12:35] that happened

[4:12:37] recently with me and my colleague and

[4:12:39] and County Council as we began to

[4:12:42] evaluate how to to fix a system that in

[4:12:45] many ways was duplicative of what was

[4:12:46] going on in Sacramento and what was

[4:12:48] inefficient

[4:12:50] um

[4:12:51] what uh what Sacramento did was they

[4:12:53] passed a law AB 571 just a few years ago

[4:12:57] just two years ago

[4:12:59] that legislation created a framework

[4:13:02] into which any County could participate

[4:13:04] and any City could participate and would

[4:13:07] create the framework of transparency

[4:13:10] accountability

[4:13:12] oversight complaint

[4:13:15] complaint receiving and ultimately

[4:13:18] enforcement through fines and other

[4:13:20] measures

[4:13:21] um

[4:13:22] today more than 33 counties more than

[4:13:25] half of the counties in the state of

[4:13:26] California are deferring to that

[4:13:28] framework that was created by the state

[4:13:29] and are participating in it very

[4:13:31] successfully

[4:13:32] and more than half of the cities in the

[4:13:34] County of Ventura are currently

[4:13:36] deferring to that state that state

[4:13:40] framework and utilizing that same

[4:13:44] what we created here in Ventura County

[4:13:46] way back in 2003 had become in many ways

[4:13:49] very duplicative of what was going on in

[4:13:51] Sacramento

[4:13:52] if you create an independent expenditure

[4:13:54] committee here locally or if you run for

[4:13:56] office here locally and you want to

[4:13:58] accept resources campaign contributions

[4:14:00] or to file locally and you have to file

[4:14:03] with a state

[4:14:05] um we have a Ventura County campaign

[4:14:07] Finance ordinance ethics commission

[4:14:10] there's also an Ethics commission at the

[4:14:13] state level the fair political practices

[4:14:14] commission that has full-time staff and

[4:14:17] enforcement capabilities and

[4:14:18] investigators and resources to

[4:14:21] to evaluate complaints and to perform

[4:14:25] enforcement including fines and other

[4:14:28] penalties

[4:14:30] um our County ordinance hadn't changed

[4:14:32] much since it was really originally

[4:14:34] implemented in 2003 and in many ways

[4:14:38] have become ineffective and outmoded and

[4:14:40] I'd like to share with you a couple of

[4:14:42] examples of why that is

[4:14:45] first Much Ado has been made about the

[4:14:49] donation limit to a candidate yes

[4:14:53] Buckley vivallejo

[4:14:56] 1979 U.S Supreme Court of the United

[4:14:58] States of America says that

[4:15:01] contributions done independently by an

[4:15:03] independent committee cannot be limited

[4:15:06] but independent but contributions to a

[4:15:09] candidate directly to a candidate

[4:15:11] handing a check from a citizen to a

[4:15:13] candidate that the government could

[4:15:16] could regulate and limit that direct

[4:15:19] contribution 1979

[4:15:22] but they also said that it had to be

[4:15:24] reasonable and it had to be

[4:15:27] narrowly tailored and it had to be least

[4:15:30] restrictive means to achieve what the

[4:15:32] government wanted to do which was a

[4:15:34] compelling governmental interest

[4:15:37] to limit what would what was possibly

[4:15:39] corruption or the perception of

[4:15:41] corruption it could undermine our

[4:15:42] democratic system

[4:15:44] yes they said that direct contributions

[4:15:47] to a candidate could be limited but

[4:15:50] could only be limited reasonably so in

[4:15:52] 2003 we adopted a 750 limit

[4:15:56] but what else Buckley Vallejo and all

[4:15:58] the Litany of cases from the Supreme

[4:16:00] Court that have happened since then

[4:16:02] require us to do is to continue to

[4:16:04] evaluate whether that limit is

[4:16:06] reasonable whether that is the least

[4:16:08] restrictive means whether that is

[4:16:10] narrowly tailored to fit the

[4:16:12] governmental interest the compelling

[4:16:16] we don't do that every cycle we don't

[4:16:19] look at the uh growth in the economy we

[4:16:21] don't look at inflation we don't look at

[4:16:22] Cost of Living we don't look at livable

[4:16:24] wages and whether 750 still makes sense

[4:16:27] to many of you I can tell who spoke you

[4:16:30] feels good it feels good to have 750

[4:16:32] dollars be the maximum contribution the

[4:16:35] challenge is

[4:16:36] that we haven't every legislative cycle

[4:16:39] every political cycle we haven't looked

[4:16:41] at raising that to meet to meet

[4:16:44] inflation or Cola or livable standards

[4:16:46] or the ability to to fund a campaign and

[4:16:48] to hire staffers and to pay for paper

[4:16:51] and lawn signs we haven't done that

[4:16:54] we've been lazy as a county so as a

[4:16:57] result that's 750 dollars which was set

[4:17:00] in 2003 I can guarantee you is currently

[4:17:03] unconstitutional and would not pass

[4:17:06] the test

[4:17:08] a compelling governmental interest test

[4:17:11] before the U.S Supreme Court

[4:17:13] so how do we change that but that's not

[4:17:15] the only problem we also have because we

[4:17:17] have our own system locally we also have

[4:17:19] our own uh infrastructure attempted

[4:17:23] infrastructure

[4:17:24] to evaluate investigate and enforce

[4:17:27] against our own campaign contribution

[4:17:29] limits and our own policies at the

[4:17:32] ordinance that is our local Ventura

[4:17:35] County campaign Finance ethics

[4:17:36] commission can any of you name the last

[4:17:38] time that that ethics commission has

[4:17:40] taken bold action against any candidates

[4:17:43] or any independent expenditures or

[4:17:44] against anybody you can't do you know

[4:17:46] why because it's ineffective it truly is

[4:17:49] it doesn't have full-time investigative

[4:17:51] staff it doesn't have the backbones to

[4:17:54] do what the fair political practices

[4:17:56] commission can do in Sacramento which is

[4:17:59] to evaluate to investigate and to

[4:18:01] enforce and to impose those penalties on

[4:18:04] elected officials and independent

[4:18:06] committees

[4:18:07] locally

[4:18:10] um

[4:18:11] the state of California also given this

[4:18:13] infrastructure that they created given

[4:18:15] this framework that they've created in

[4:18:17] ab571 they every legislative cycle every

[4:18:21] political cycle they take the time and

[4:18:23] to evaluate

[4:18:24] what what uh the right contribution

[4:18:27] limits are for campaigns given the

[4:18:30] growth in the economy given the cost of

[4:18:32] living giving given inflation giving

[4:18:34] livable wage and that we don't have that

[4:18:37] ability at the county level we don't

[4:18:39] have those experts we're not going to do

[4:18:41] that evaluation every year because we

[4:18:43] haven't done it since 2003 when the

[4:18:45] original limit was set

[4:18:47] the ability for ourselves to run our own

[4:18:50] infrastructure here that the state of

[4:18:52] California currently does already is

[4:18:54] enormously would be enormously expensive

[4:18:56] if we tried to do it if we tried to come

[4:18:59] to to comply with Buckley vivallejo and

[4:19:03] the and the requirements of

[4:19:04] constitutionality that are opposed upon

[4:19:07] governments who wish to impose upon

[4:19:10] donors and candidates and independent

[4:19:12] committees

[4:19:14] any kind of uh contribution limits which

[4:19:16] found

[4:19:18] is a First Amendment right is is

[4:19:21] political speech whether you believe in

[4:19:23] that or not that's what our Supreme

[4:19:25] Court says and that's the law of the

[4:19:27] land and that's what we as a government

[4:19:29] have to comply by

[4:19:33] I won my election under the current

[4:19:35] system this is not as this is not an

[4:19:37] effort to change things

[4:19:39] uh that would

[4:19:41] make any outcomes any different

[4:19:44] this is an effort to change things to

[4:19:46] streamline to make constitutional to re

[4:19:49] to to limit bureaucracy and redundancy

[4:19:52] that has become very confusing for

[4:19:54] voters

[4:19:56] do you know if you want to find out a

[4:19:57] contribution that was given to a county

[4:20:00] politician you have to go to one site

[4:20:02] but if you want to look at what

[4:20:04] contribution was given to a state

[4:20:06] legislator Jack Irwin or

[4:20:08] or um

[4:20:10] Henry Stern at the Senate level you have

[4:20:12] to go to a separate website State

[4:20:14] website

[4:20:16] um

[4:20:19] people don't understand

[4:20:22] that there's a difference and it's very

[4:20:23] difficult to ascertain who's giving who

[4:20:25] to what unless you can create a One-Stop

[4:20:28] shop where you can go to one set of

[4:20:31] governmental records one portal one

[4:20:34] oversight entity and find who's given

[4:20:38] what to whom and when and how much

[4:20:41] and that's what the state's ab571

[4:20:44] framework does it creates a One-Stop

[4:20:46] shop in many ways

[4:20:49] um

[4:20:51] it's been also said that 750 is is an

[4:20:54] amount that a one can run a campaign on

[4:20:56] it it it it sounds good but in the

[4:20:59] enormity and the population size of the

[4:21:02] districts that that we have to run in

[4:21:05] and county-wide for some of the other

[4:21:07] uh County of officials

[4:21:11] the the amount of donations and the and

[4:21:13] the fundraising ceiling that has been

[4:21:16] created will not allow you to run an

[4:21:20] effective campaign and get your word out

[4:21:21] and to pay a staff to help you do that a

[4:21:25] livable wage you just can't and I want

[4:21:27] to point to one example

[4:21:29] just one example of how I know that a

[4:21:33] 750 dollar contribution

[4:21:37] um is not adequate

[4:21:39] and that example is right here in this

[4:21:42] document and that is that

[4:21:45] in the primary of the last election

[4:21:47] cycle former supervisor Linda Parks gave

[4:21:49] us 750 contribution to one of the

[4:21:52] candidates in the second district

[4:21:54] and then in the general election

[4:21:57] uh supervisor Linda Parks gave another

[4:22:00] 750 contribution to that same candidate

[4:22:03] that was the maximum amount per person

[4:22:06] well in October of last year just a

[4:22:09] month before the election supervisor

[4:22:11] Linda Parks took nine thousand nine

[4:22:14] hundred dollars from her own supervisor

[4:22:15] coffers left over

[4:22:17] and funneled them into independent

[4:22:19] expenditure committee that was created

[4:22:21] in support of Claudia Bill de la Pena's

[4:22:23] election

[4:22:24] so the same person that just told us

[4:22:25] that 750 is enough for a person to give

[4:22:28] a contribution they gave over ten

[4:22:30] thousand dollars to one person through

[4:22:32] two different mechanisms

[4:22:34] that's that should be an example enough

[4:22:37] that 750 contribution per person is just

[4:22:41] not adequate

[4:22:42] to to to be able to to fund fully fund a

[4:22:46] campaign that requires you to hire staff

[4:22:48] and it requires you to to employ people

[4:22:54] a livable wage that will allow them to

[4:22:56] survive in the County of Ventura

[4:23:01] the largest donors in the campaign that

[4:23:04] I just ended

[4:23:05] uh was not Big Oil I didn't take oil

[4:23:07] money wasn't tobacco I don't take

[4:23:09] tobacco money was wasn't Developers

[4:23:12] it was labor unions it was labor unions

[4:23:15] they were the largest contributors in

[4:23:16] the election that I participated in

[4:23:19] and that's okay maybe you need to give

[4:23:21] to all kinds of different candidates

[4:23:23] but they gave over four hundred thousand

[4:23:25] dollars in my election through an

[4:23:27] independent committee and they did so

[4:23:30] because they could see the candidates

[4:23:31] could not raise and spend and

[4:23:33] communicate to a constituency what they

[4:23:35] needed to given the amount of

[4:23:39] contribution limits that are currently

[4:23:41] and unconstitutionally enforced in the

[4:23:44] County of Ventura

[4:23:46] um

[4:23:47] the point was made and it is a hundred

[4:23:50] percent accurate is that there has been

[4:23:52] a rise in dark money and independent

[4:23:55] expenditures that have go that are going

[4:23:56] on in every election cycle to achieve

[4:23:59] outcomes because candidates cannot raise

[4:24:01] the kind of resources that they need to

[4:24:03] communicate themselves so other

[4:24:05] organizations entities interest groups

[4:24:07] step up and have to fill that void it

[4:24:10] wasn't like that 10 years ago

[4:24:12] there was a rarity of independent

[4:24:13] expenditures of independent Committees

[4:24:15] of these monies that were moving around

[4:24:17] behind the scenes that wasn't the case

[4:24:19] 10 years ago

[4:24:21] that is significantly the case now and

[4:24:23] in fact the largest

[4:24:24] contributor and expenditures made in the

[4:24:27] last election cycle were done

[4:24:28] independently not by any candidates

[4:24:30] candidates

[4:24:34] so I understand that there's concern

[4:24:37] but I want you to know that what we're

[4:24:40] suggesting what I'm suggesting

[4:24:43] is that we participate in a framework

[4:24:45] that was created

[4:24:47] by A legislature and signed by a

[4:24:50] governor Gavin Newsom

[4:24:53] that will continue to work on that

[4:24:56] Foundation that that infrastructure to

[4:24:59] make sure it is the most transparent the

[4:25:02] most accountable

[4:25:03] the most visible for constituents to

[4:25:06] find to look to make complaints

[4:25:08] this is a system not created by us or by

[4:25:11] some henchmen this is the California

[4:25:12] state legislature and every single one

[4:25:15] of your legislative delegation members

[4:25:17] voted for it

[4:25:19] every single one of them because they

[4:25:21] looked down and they thought that this

[4:25:23] Patchwork of different rules and

[4:25:25] regulations

[4:25:27] an ineffective oversight mechanisms like

[4:25:29] the county ethics commission has been

[4:25:31] it's just not

[4:25:34] it's not fair it's not fair to

[4:25:36] constituents

[4:25:39] so if you think the contribution limit

[4:25:40] shouldn't be fifty five hundred dollars

[4:25:43] make that case to the California state

[4:25:45] legislature they're the ones that

[4:25:47] evaluated every two years they're the

[4:25:49] ones that are going to look at what the

[4:25:50] right contributions are

[4:25:52] and what what makes sense in this state

[4:25:55] of California

[4:25:57] but right now

[4:25:59] in my own District

[4:26:02] it overlaps with the city council race

[4:26:05] it overlapped with the city council race

[4:26:07] and that city council raised that a

[4:26:09] candidate for the fifth district

[4:26:12] um could raise four thousand nine

[4:26:14] hundred dollars because Camarillo

[4:26:16] participates in that state state program

[4:26:18] that state framework

[4:26:20] but my the district I was running in I

[4:26:22] had to communicate with 10 to 12 times

[4:26:25] more constituents over a larger

[4:26:27] geographic area

[4:26:29] could only raise 750 from that same

[4:26:31] contributor

[4:26:33] it just doesn't make sense

[4:26:35] so we have two choices we have two

[4:26:36] choices

[4:26:37] we can continue to build out a

[4:26:39] bureaucracy that's duplicative that's

[4:26:42] ineffective and that is absolutely

[4:26:45] unconstitutional

[4:26:48] or or we can

[4:26:50] or we can do what most other counties

[4:26:52] and most other cities are currently

[4:26:54] doing and that is participating in the

[4:26:56] framework created by democratically

[4:26:58] controlled legislature and a

[4:27:00] democratically controlled governor of

[4:27:01] the state of California that makes sense

[4:27:03] that's accountable that's open that's

[4:27:05] transparent and that's fair to the

[4:27:07] voters of this state

[4:27:12] um

[4:27:16] there's been there's been some hyperbole

[4:27:19] today about about things but the most

[4:27:21] important thing we can do

[4:27:23] is to move forward with something that

[4:27:25] creates transparency where people know

[4:27:27] where money is coming from so you can

[4:27:29] make decisions about which candidates

[4:27:31] you want to support

[4:27:34] and to move forward with a system that

[4:27:38] reduces duplication

[4:27:43] and creates

[4:27:45] um

[4:27:46] Clarity and consistency between what we

[4:27:49] do locally

[4:27:51] and what our legislators and the state

[4:27:52] of California are doing and so that's

[4:27:54] how we can that's how I came to this

[4:27:56] position and that's how I think that

[4:28:00] this County would be best benefited

[4:28:02] thank you

[4:28:05] supervisor apartment

[4:28:07] well that's um very tough to follow I

[4:28:10] didn't go to law school so

[4:28:12] but you know I've heard a number of

[4:28:15] people say today

[4:28:17] that you won you know we've won our

[4:28:20] elections so we won with the 750 dollar

[4:28:24] limit what you don't know is how

[4:28:27] difficult it is because most people

[4:28:29] don't contribute 750 which is fine

[4:28:32] because if you think and I'm just going

[4:28:34] to talk for myself if you think that I

[4:28:36] don't appreciate the 10 donation just as

[4:28:39] much as I appreciate the 750 donation

[4:28:42] you don't know me but I do

[4:28:45] um when the county put together their

[4:28:48] current ordinance in 2003 the state had

[4:28:51] no rules

[4:28:53] Ventura County creative rules that

[4:28:55] protected the election process by

[4:28:56] ensuring transparency and that makes

[4:28:58] sense

[4:29:00] but now the state is caught up and the

[4:29:02] programs are working and they Place

[4:29:04] limits and additional transparency on

[4:29:06] local jurisdictions I know was running

[4:29:09] for mayor

[4:29:10] I could certainly receive a lot more

[4:29:13] contributions than running for a

[4:29:16] district supervisor

[4:29:17] which doesn't make sense to me but

[4:29:20] that's the way it is

[4:29:22] the state has robust top-notch

[4:29:24] investigators that specialize in

[4:29:26] identifying abuse

[4:29:29] more counties are following the fppc

[4:29:31] rules and

[4:29:34] it's the best way to protect our

[4:29:35] taxpayers

[4:29:37] we are duplicating the state's program I

[4:29:39] know we mentioned that I know people

[4:29:40] don't care for that but we are really

[4:29:42] duplicating it we're not getting rid of

[4:29:44] rules There are rules in place we're

[4:29:47] just providing more access easy access

[4:29:51] and it's not about raising limits it

[4:29:53] really isn't it's about increasing

[4:29:56] transparency and improving enforcement

[4:29:59] through the state who has more resources

[4:30:00] than we do

[4:30:02] the state is the right enforcement arm

[4:30:06] and former supervisor Steve Bennett

[4:30:08] supported SB 1439 he voted yes on it and

[4:30:13] yet during an opinion piece over the

[4:30:15] weekend that I read he um made a comment

[4:30:18] it was easy to get around so why would

[4:30:21] you support it if it's easy to go around

[4:30:23] fix it I'm sorry I just have to say that

[4:30:26] it's about it's a this is about everyone

[4:30:29] who runs for office not just one

[4:30:31] political party not just one it's

[4:30:34] everybody

[4:30:37] and it's going to help the entire

[4:30:39] process and it's going to affect all the

[4:30:41] county offices not just this one

[4:30:43] why do we have our own system when the

[4:30:45] fppc has caught up

[4:30:47] this will help all candidates running no

[4:30:49] matter what party they represent

[4:30:53] and that's my comments

[4:30:56] thank you um

[4:30:58] supervisor Lopez

[4:31:01] thank you chair

[4:31:03] um and I want to thank everyone who has

[4:31:06] submitted letters and

[4:31:09] expressed their their opinions and

[4:31:11] comments uh today

[4:31:13] especially those who are still sitting

[4:31:15] here well after an hour of this

[4:31:19] discussion

[4:31:21] bringing a lot of points to this

[4:31:24] discussion

[4:31:26] that uh

[4:31:28] make me question why we are doing this

[4:31:32] when I have always taken pride in any

[4:31:36] place that I am

[4:31:40] a part of involved in especially as an

[4:31:44] elected official on the school board on

[4:31:47] city council to say we are doing better

[4:31:52] we are leading to be stronger to be

[4:31:55] fairer and not following others just

[4:31:59] because that's the norm

[4:32:01] and this is one of those opportunities

[4:32:03] where Ventura County can continue to

[4:32:06] lead can't continue to to represent the

[4:32:10] people when elections are about

[4:32:14] representing people

[4:32:16] they are elections

[4:32:18] for the people that we represent

[4:32:22] they are elections about the people that

[4:32:25] we represent and they are made by the

[4:32:28] people we represent the very people who

[4:32:31] live in this County

[4:32:34] with this

[4:32:36] recommendation to repeal the ordinance

[4:32:40] it is disregarding

[4:32:43] the power of people and voters

[4:32:46] to have a voice in what is happening in

[4:32:49] our community

[4:32:51] making elections attainable and

[4:32:55] accessible

[4:32:56] not about how much money a person can

[4:32:59] raise but having that voter engagement

[4:33:03] and the further we raise a limit

[4:33:07] is just continues continuing to move

[4:33:11] the bar of how much money should be

[4:33:14] raised

[4:33:15] and disconnecting from the people and

[4:33:18] engaging with people

[4:33:21] I've ran four elections as a school

[4:33:24] board member as a council member

[4:33:28] and there is no better way to engage

[4:33:32] with people than to be there in person

[4:33:36] you don't need money for that

[4:33:38] you just you need the time

[4:33:42] repealing this ordinance doesn't mean

[4:33:46] that independent expenditure committees

[4:33:48] will go away

[4:33:55] there's and I respectfully say this

[4:33:58] there's there's flaws in in the reasons

[4:34:00] that that have been presented

[4:34:03] and this is something that I I cannot

[4:34:06] cannot support

[4:34:09] if this was an issue that should be

[4:34:12] revised

[4:34:14] then it should be up to voters

[4:34:16] who are the voice in this community

[4:34:22] we are their voice on this board

[4:34:24] and as leaders in the cities that we

[4:34:27] represent

[4:34:30] this ordinance has been effective

[4:34:35] and to

[4:34:38] adopt

[4:34:40] the state limits

[4:34:42] that are applicable to our state

[4:34:48] officials who represent larger districts

[4:34:51] there is no comparison in the size of

[4:34:53] the districts that we represent

[4:34:56] each district in Ventura County has

[4:34:58] about 167 000 residents

[4:35:01] that is not comparable to a State

[4:35:04] Assembly District and especially a

[4:35:07] state-centered district that reaches a

[4:35:09] million people

[4:35:13] if this is something that should be

[4:35:14] revised then why not take it to the

[4:35:17] voters why not take it to the campaign

[4:35:21] Finance campaign Finance ethics

[4:35:23] Commission

[4:35:25] so that there is an independent revision

[4:35:27] of this of this ordinance

[4:35:29] and bring it back to the board

[4:35:37] thank you everyone for for being a part

[4:35:39] of this at the opening of this board

[4:35:42] meeting we had a presentation from the

[4:35:45] League of Women Voters

[4:35:46] who said their motto was about

[4:35:48] empowering voters defending democracy

[4:35:53] money should have no role in our

[4:35:56] democracy when we're here to represent

[4:35:58] people

[4:35:59] so I cannot support this today thank you

[4:36:03] [Applause]

[4:36:07] um you know I really want to say thank

[4:36:09] you to everyone who has either emailed

[4:36:13] stopped me on the street

[4:36:15] showed up at our our meeting today I

[4:36:18] think this is really an important

[4:36:20] discussion this isn't the first time

[4:36:21] we've had discussion on this ordinance

[4:36:25] as stated in the letter so thank you to

[4:36:28] remind everybody of how many years we've

[4:36:30] been discussing campaign finances

[4:36:33] running a campaign this is a County

[4:36:36] ordinance this doesn't affect just one

[4:36:39] office I think people need to remember

[4:36:41] that

[4:36:43] I think there's another thing is thank

[4:36:46] you for the taxpayers association of

[4:36:48] transparency

[4:36:49] having one location in which to find all

[4:36:53] the information and to be very

[4:36:56] transparent of who is making a donation

[4:36:58] where is spending coming from I think

[4:37:01] it's very helpful for our community and

[4:37:04] I I value that the amount of websites

[4:37:06] you have to jump through to find who did

[4:37:08] what where when how can be very dis

[4:37:14] ingenuous I think I've run through

[4:37:19] campaigns personally I've seen fellow

[4:37:23] colleagues run campaigns and if you're

[4:37:26] not a politician and you're just trying

[4:37:29] to serve the community I know it's very

[4:37:31] hard to do and to make sure that we're

[4:37:34] doing it in the right fashion I think is

[4:37:36] really important

[4:37:38] um I I do value what our state sets and

[4:37:42] this this topic for the county we follow

[4:37:46] many state ordinances I just want to

[4:37:49] remind people of that whether it's

[4:37:50] housing whether it's our Code Compliance

[4:37:54] I mean we do a lot of different

[4:37:56] ordinances that we follow State rules

[4:37:59] and regulations so that's not abnormal

[4:38:02] for us I just want to make sure that

[4:38:04] people are aware of that

[4:38:06] um what I what I do like is having

[4:38:08] centralized system

[4:38:10] that can really for the public for

[4:38:14] transparency to have Camp to have public

[4:38:17] records of your campaigns to do

[4:38:20] complaint investigations to enforce

[4:38:23] actions against candidates committees

[4:38:26] and contributions those are key things

[4:38:28] and I think those are very valuable

[4:38:31] um I appreciate the staff presentation a

[4:38:34] couple meetings this isn't the first

[4:38:35] time we've had a few meetings ago that

[4:38:37] show showed how cloudy what we have

[4:38:40] versus the fppc is

[4:38:44] and that concerns me I have great

[4:38:47] concern of how what we have currently

[4:38:50] set up to how people are held to the to

[4:38:54] high regards on the state level so that

[4:38:57] really you know if we're if you're

[4:38:59] telling me to come Red Line what we

[4:39:01] currently have versus what we have I

[4:39:03] mean I think the cleanest way is to

[4:39:06] follow what our fppc procedures are

[4:39:10] because that's what we're held

[4:39:11] accountable to and I and I really value

[4:39:15] that democracy and we have how many

[4:39:17] Democrats up at this state how many

[4:39:20] Republicans bipartisan we have our very

[4:39:22] own assemblyman that's voted for these

[4:39:25] type of procedures I value their

[4:39:28] experience as well

[4:39:30] um so so I think this is this is an

[4:39:33] important vote today but I think it's

[4:39:36] really for all of our residents none of

[4:39:38] us got voted in by the amount of money

[4:39:41] that was provided to us

[4:39:43] the people voted for the people they

[4:39:46] wanted to have there has been races

[4:39:49] where they lost by 19 votes four votes

[4:39:52] it's it's your community is who elects

[4:39:56] all of our elected whether it's our

[4:39:57] Sheriff where are those tax collector so

[4:40:00] to tell me that you only got voted

[4:40:02] because the amount of money you spent

[4:40:04] really disheartens me because I think

[4:40:07] that every school board member every

[4:40:09] College District every city council

[4:40:12] member that that got elected was there

[4:40:15] because they wanted to serve their

[4:40:17] community so I I it really disheartened

[4:40:20] by having people say well it was the

[4:40:22] amount of dollars that they were given I

[4:40:25] no there are so many people who would

[4:40:28] never run for an election for many

[4:40:30] reasons

[4:40:31] so I want to First say thank you to

[4:40:35] everyone who has served whether you're a

[4:40:37] city council whether you're a school

[4:40:39] board whether you're our wonderful tax

[4:40:42] collector or Sheriff their amount of

[4:40:44] things on that they do which is

[4:40:47] extraordinary we have city council

[4:40:49] members that spoke today you know so I I

[4:40:52] just have to clear the air on some of

[4:40:54] those things because I think that's

[4:40:56] really important for us not to forget

[4:40:58] what we're really talking about here

[4:41:01] so um thank you for your time

[4:41:06] well um I appreciate all of my

[4:41:08] colleagues comments and I I really

[4:41:10] appreciate all of the public feedback

[4:41:12] in my opinion when the board passed this

[4:41:15] ordinance in 2003 it it really put

[4:41:18] itself forward to put Ventura County

[4:41:20] forward as a leader in campaign Finance

[4:41:23] reform and frankly that's a position I

[4:41:25] would hate to give up

[4:41:27] um true any ordinance that's 20 years

[4:41:29] old it makes sense to take a look at to

[4:41:31] to make minor tweaks and it's happened

[4:41:33] several times already in the past 20

[4:41:35] years

[4:41:36] and you're one of the items being

[4:41:37] discussed today is the individual limit

[4:41:39] being 750 and we've seen the analysis

[4:41:42] and yes we are way behind almost every

[4:41:45] other county in the state so maybe we

[4:41:46] can have a conversation about making

[4:41:48] minor minor modifications there but I

[4:41:51] don't think blowing up the whole

[4:41:53] ordinance

[4:41:54] is the path forward to get there um we

[4:41:57] want to have that conversation I'm happy

[4:41:59] to be part of that but I think the

[4:42:01] ordinance itself Beyond just the

[4:42:03] individual limits has some really

[4:42:04] important uh safeguards in place you

[4:42:07] know increased in extensive reporting

[4:42:09] that increases transparency uh total

[4:42:12] expenditure limits which which cap you

[4:42:14] know the total amount that people the

[4:42:16] candidates can spend

[4:42:18] um you know all of those are I think are

[4:42:19] apart from some of the discussion we're

[4:42:21] having today and I would hate to give

[4:42:22] those up just to talk about individual

[4:42:25] limits and so as presented I I I can't

[4:42:29] support an entire repeal of the

[4:42:31] ordinance if there's ever a need to

[4:42:33] discuss minor minor modifications to

[4:42:35] certain parts of it I'm happy to be part

[4:42:36] of that that conversation but uh as

[4:42:39] presented today it's not something that

[4:42:41] I can support

[4:42:42] thank you Mr chair I'd move uh the the

[4:42:45] item 44. I'm I'm sorry I need to close

[4:42:50] the public here and I apologize okay go

[4:42:52] ahead I'm sorry

[4:42:56] it's closed yeah

[4:42:59] then I'd move no item 44 for

[4:43:02] um public hearing on the 28th of March

[4:43:06] I'll I'll second

[4:43:08] okay Madam Clerk

[4:43:12] I'm going to read the title of the

[4:43:13] ordinance into the record

[4:43:15] it's an ordinance of the County of

[4:43:16] Ventura repealing the Ventura County

[4:43:18] campaign Finance reform ordinance

[4:43:21] supervisor guerrell yes

[4:43:23] supervisor long yes

[4:43:26] supervisor Parvin yes

[4:43:28] supervisor Lopez no

[4:43:30] chair levere no

[4:43:34] okay thank you

[4:43:41] we have now finished our 10 10 30 time

[4:43:45] certaints

[4:43:48] yeah we would go to Dr Johnson are we

[4:43:51] ready to proceed on item 46

[4:43:53] the the UC UC Cooperative Extension

[4:44:00] it's our first to be at 11. yeah

[4:44:05] should we come back give us a moment

[4:44:10] yeah two minute break yeah why don't we

[4:44:12] oh he's here okay good

[4:44:15] James

[4:44:17] foreign

[4:44:19] thank you

[4:44:21] all right yeah so I'll call uh this is

[4:44:23] our 11 A.M time certain

[4:44:26] item 46 uh thank you for being here Mr

[4:44:30] importante and uh please go ahead

[4:44:34] I'll set a PowerPoint for this

[4:44:38] all right well uh chairman levere Board

[4:44:40] of Supervisors uh CEO Johnson I'm James

[4:44:43] and portante program management analyst

[4:44:45] with the county executive office's

[4:44:46] budget and finance division here to

[4:44:49] introduce to you Dr animique shoulder

[4:44:51] director of our University of California

[4:44:53] Cooperative Extension Ventura County

[4:44:56] so she's not one to talk at length about

[4:44:59] herself so I'm going to do that on her

[4:45:00] behalf right now and so Dr shoulder's

[4:45:03] passion for agriculture comes from her

[4:45:05] family's long line of Dairy Farmers in

[4:45:08] the Netherlands where she was inspired

[4:45:09] by her grandfather and after completing

[4:45:12] her primary secondary education she

[4:45:15] completed undergraduate studies in

[4:45:16] agronomy and developed a an appreciation

[4:45:20] for Cajun culture

[4:45:21] at the Louise University of Louisiana

[4:45:24] Lafayette

[4:45:26] she then pursued her Graduate Studies

[4:45:27] and updated her Master's in PhD degrees

[4:45:30] in Plant Pathology at Cornell University

[4:45:34] and her professional Journey began in

[4:45:36] Nigeria where for three years she worked

[4:45:38] at The International Institute of

[4:45:40] tropical agriculture focusing on

[4:45:43] agricultural development

[4:45:45] and then for 20 years she was a

[4:45:47] professor for in small fruit pathology

[4:45:49] at Michigan State University where she

[4:45:52] conducted research on diseases of grapes

[4:45:54] and Berry crops

[4:45:56] and her work has involved collaboration

[4:45:58] with a wide range of experts in the

[4:46:00] fields of Entomology Horticulture plant

[4:46:03] breathing breeding

[4:46:05] agricultural economics and extension

[4:46:07] education

[4:46:09] and in 2018 she brought her talents and

[4:46:11] expertise to our local Cooperative

[4:46:13] Extension Office as a director and we

[4:46:15] are grateful for her and her staff's

[4:46:17] research and support of our local AG

[4:46:19] industry its employees and education of

[4:46:22] Youth and adults in our region so with

[4:46:24] that please welcome Dr shoulder

[4:46:29] I'm a huge fan I just have to say thank

[4:46:32] you

[4:46:33] thank you very much and good afternoon I

[4:46:36] think it is by now

[4:46:38] chairman Olivier

[4:46:40] supervisor long Parvin Lopez and Dr

[4:46:44] Johnson and also supervisor gorrell I'm

[4:46:48] happy to be here I also want to thank

[4:46:51] James it's been a really great analyst

[4:46:55] to work with in the county

[4:46:57] and I thank you for your time to let me

[4:47:01] present our work plan for this year we

[4:47:04] did submit the work plan in writing

[4:47:06] um so there's a lot of detail in there

[4:47:08] obviously I'm not going to go through

[4:47:10] all that detail but I want to give you

[4:47:12] some of the highlights and also explain

[4:47:14] uh exactly what we do here

[4:47:18] so hopefully this will go forward yes so

[4:47:21] I want to uh obviously first say that we

[4:47:25] are part of the the arm of the

[4:47:27] University of California that's called

[4:47:28] the division of agricultural natural

[4:47:30] resources and the mission is to Surf

[4:47:33] California through creation developing

[4:47:36] an application of knowledge in

[4:47:37] agricultural natural and human resources

[4:47:41] and

[4:47:44] we are part of a network of County

[4:47:48] Extension offices in all the counties of

[4:47:50] the of the state as well as those are

[4:47:53] the red dots

[4:47:55] um and then the green stars are research

[4:47:58] and extension centers of which we also

[4:48:01] have one in Ventura County so we're

[4:48:04] really blessed to have the opportunity

[4:48:07] to have a research center locally as

[4:48:10] well and then we work closely with

[4:48:12] Specialists which are professors at UC

[4:48:16] Davis UC Berkeley and UC Riverside which

[4:48:19] are the the

[4:48:22] experiment station the the land grant

[4:48:25] colleges but we also have Specialists

[4:48:27] now located at UC Santa Barbara UC

[4:48:29] Merced and other UC campuses

[4:48:34] and we also run you may be familiar with

[4:48:36] our Statewide programs like California

[4:48:39] naturalists Master Gardener and 4-H

[4:48:42] those are the more programs that use

[4:48:45] volunteers and are present in many of

[4:48:48] the counties of the state

[4:48:51] so I'd like to share and this of course

[4:48:55] you don't need to read all this but this

[4:48:57] is our current uh organizational chart

[4:48:59] we have about 20 staff right now a bit

[4:49:03] reduced from a few years ago

[4:49:05] and I just want to explain that the blue

[4:49:08] boxes are advisors so Farm advisors that

[4:49:13] have masses or phds that work in the

[4:49:17] county do research and extension the

[4:49:20] green boxes are Community Education

[4:49:22] Specialists

[4:49:24] who work also with the community to such

[4:49:28] as coordinators of the Master Gardener

[4:49:30] program and 4-H and such the red boxes

[4:49:34] are supervisors and the yellow boxes are

[4:49:36] administrative and Farm staff as well as

[4:49:39] staff research Associates

[4:49:41] and I just want to

[4:49:44] add that the the current the red boxes

[4:49:48] indicate staff positions that are under

[4:49:51] recruitment or are being hired so on the

[4:49:55] left you have a new entomology advisor

[4:49:59] and a new Horticulture advisor that

[4:50:02] we've been waiting for we haven't had an

[4:50:04] entomologist in 14 years and we have a

[4:50:07] lot of insect problems in the county

[4:50:09] and also in Horticulture the Nursery and

[4:50:12] Greenhouse industry is in need of of

[4:50:14] advice and research so those are we were

[4:50:19] very grateful that we got funding

[4:50:21] through a state funding that was

[4:50:24] championed by Senator Laird that really

[4:50:27] allowed us to rebuild our footprint of

[4:50:29] advisors in the county really over the

[4:50:32] last 25 years the number of advices in

[4:50:35] the state was

[4:50:36] reduced by about half so each person is

[4:50:40] trying to do more but we really cannot

[4:50:43] address the issues in each County

[4:50:45] because we just don't have the human

[4:50:47] power to deal with it to the right we

[4:50:51] have a new academic coordinator who we

[4:50:53] hope to hire who would also

[4:50:56] connects our agricultural education or

[4:50:59] the institutions in the county that do

[4:51:01] act education to try and streamline

[4:51:03] online and develop career paths we have

[4:51:07] many organizations doing AG education in

[4:51:10] the county but we don't have any really

[4:51:13] coordination between them and I think we

[4:51:15] can benefit from that and then we loaded

[4:51:18] our two Community Education specialist

[4:51:20] positions that I will talk about in a

[4:51:22] little bit

[4:51:24] also we do have a cross-county advisors

[4:51:29] that are based in other counties and do

[4:51:30] have some responsibilities in Ventura

[4:51:33] County for instance Chris Greer in San

[4:51:35] Luis Obispo helps us with integrated

[4:51:37] Pest management issues

[4:51:40] is an agriculture Economist in San

[4:51:43] Bernardino County and she also can help

[4:51:46] us with some some issues and Liliana

[4:51:48] Vega is a 4-H advisor in San Luis Obispo

[4:51:52] who helps us conduct more Outreach in

[4:51:55] Hispanic communities in the county

[4:51:58] so we get a little bit of time from them

[4:52:00] it's it's looks like we have a lot of

[4:52:03] coverage but we still need more people

[4:52:06] so just to summarize some of the things

[4:52:10] that we are doing in the in the coming

[4:52:12] fiscal year so 23-24 I'm just gonna just

[4:52:17] focus on

[4:52:19] uh some of the the big issues we have a

[4:52:22] pest called the Diamondback moth in coal

[4:52:24] crops that's

[4:52:26] devastating in in cold crops and also

[4:52:30] um

[4:52:31] you know is responsible for a lot of

[4:52:33] pesticide applications and so we we're

[4:52:35] working on that to try and understand

[4:52:37] how we can reduce that pest to the right

[4:52:40] you see our advisor Matthew Shapiro our

[4:52:43] livestock and range advisor uh working

[4:52:46] on prescribed Burns and that's one of

[4:52:48] the he's developing the prescribed burn

[4:52:50] Association in the county on the bottom

[4:52:53] left you can see actually an avocado

[4:52:56] Orchard with a pollination Hedgerow so

[4:52:59] we we're really trying to look more at

[4:53:01] the ecology and increase biodiversity

[4:53:03] and especially for climate smart

[4:53:06] agriculture so that's an area we're

[4:53:08] focusing on and to the right you can see

[4:53:10] celery growing in a field we have some

[4:53:14] serious soil-borne diseases fungi that

[4:53:17] live in the soil that kill celery as

[4:53:19] well as strawberries

[4:53:21] end up having you can lose a lot of crop

[4:53:24] and in strawberries is responsible for a

[4:53:27] lot of the fumigation chemical

[4:53:29] fumigation that occurs in the county so

[4:53:31] again we have really working on those

[4:53:33] trying to evaluate resistant cultivars

[4:53:37] to you know to have non-chemical

[4:53:39] approaches

[4:53:42] um on the top left you can see a picture

[4:53:45] of a long term lemon

[4:53:49] rootstock and cyan trial where we're

[4:53:51] working with University of Riverside and

[4:53:53] other universities to try and get some

[4:53:57] higher performing lemon varieties and

[4:54:00] this takes a lot of years to do so we

[4:54:03] have Ben Faber our advisor is doing a

[4:54:05] lot of work in that

[4:54:07] to the right we have Master Gardeners at

[4:54:09] the agriculture Museum in Santa Paula

[4:54:12] they they've been there five years now

[4:54:14] said Amber garden and this year coming

[4:54:16] year we'll have a new crop of Master

[4:54:18] Gardener trainees about 35 that we're

[4:54:22] educating they go through a lot of

[4:54:24] training to be able to work in the

[4:54:26] county

[4:54:27] 4-H to the bottom left where we'll have

[4:54:31] the fair again this year and we hope

[4:54:33] next year as well so we've lost a lot of

[4:54:37] members clubs especially club members

[4:54:40] through

[4:54:41] covids but we're trying to rebuild and

[4:54:44] expand our programs as well and to the

[4:54:47] right is actually a picture of the

[4:54:48] Ventura County tree Coalition we joined

[4:54:51] the Coalition when clay Downing was

[4:54:54] still there with the county

[4:54:55] sustainability program and we hope to

[4:54:58] encourage tree planting and Tree Care in

[4:55:02] the county in collaboration with a lot

[4:55:04] of other organizations

[4:55:06] hmm

[4:55:07] excuse me so

[4:55:12] um

[4:55:13] as you know the Ventura County General

[4:55:15] plan 2020 2040 we were involved in some

[4:55:19] of the discussions with the AG

[4:55:20] commissioner we are supporting as our

[4:55:24] organization the different AG element

[4:55:27] categories such as the specialty farming

[4:55:30] education nutrient management plans

[4:55:33] water saving irrigation techniques

[4:55:36] encourage and facilitate carbon farming

[4:55:38] research on effects of climate change

[4:55:41] and subsidies for the resilient Crop

[4:55:43] Production now many of these areas were

[4:55:46] still we need to do work we need people

[4:55:49] on the ground so we're in the process of

[4:55:51] hiring starting the recruitment of some

[4:55:54] of the positions that would support

[4:55:55] these categories in the AG elements

[4:55:59] and we're very appreciative of the

[4:56:01] funding that has been allotted to us to

[4:56:03] to hire these people

[4:56:05] and so these are in in the tan color or

[4:56:09] orange that those are the positions that

[4:56:12] are in that budget that was allotted to

[4:56:15] us to support the AG elements and one of

[4:56:19] them is a climate researcher

[4:56:21] who will research climate change

[4:56:23] indicator specifically for Ventura

[4:56:26] County in collaboration with a professor

[4:56:28] at UC Merced

[4:56:30] um we hope to hire an agro-ecology super

[4:56:32] advisor who will work on regenerative

[4:56:36] agriculture biodiversity carbon

[4:56:39] sequestration and things like that we

[4:56:42] also hope to hire an agriculture

[4:56:43] engineering advisor we really do need a

[4:56:46] lot more application of agricultural

[4:56:49] technology and precision agriculture

[4:56:52] robotics

[4:56:54] to deal with labor issues as well

[4:56:57] and the two next Educators a climate

[4:57:01] resilience educator and the on-farm

[4:57:03] technology educator is a bilingual

[4:57:05] educator those were two educated

[4:57:07] positions that we were able to use the

[4:57:10] county funding as a match to get a match

[4:57:13] from UCA R for the next three years to

[4:57:17] hire these people so having this new

[4:57:19] funding from the county helped us to

[4:57:21] hire is helping us to hire these new

[4:57:24] people and we're currently in the

[4:57:26] process of recruiting the climate

[4:57:28] educator who will also work with the Cal

[4:57:32] naturalist program

[4:57:34] and the on-farm technology indicator

[4:57:36] will educator will be a bilingual

[4:57:39] educator who will really work Hands-On

[4:57:42] on farms to train the people that work

[4:57:45] there that really are doing all the work

[4:57:47] in irrigation and spray application and

[4:57:49] things like that who tend to be left out

[4:57:52] in some of our extension work because of

[4:57:54] the language barrier

[4:57:57] um and then the other positions in blue

[4:57:59] the academic coordinator and a master

[4:58:02] food preserver educator we hope to fund

[4:58:06] through the Thelma Hansen fund but also

[4:58:08] we'll be working with our new staff

[4:58:12] so there's a lot still going to happen

[4:58:14] and the university works very slowly so

[4:58:17] we are cranking slowly through the

[4:58:20] process

[4:58:22] so the other big news is that you may

[4:58:24] have heard is that we are moving the

[4:58:27] Hanson agricultural research and

[4:58:28] Extension Center to a new location

[4:58:31] will be sad to leave the Faulkner Farm

[4:58:33] it was a wonderful place a 27 Acre Farm

[4:58:36] to do research and a lot of school field

[4:58:39] trips we had farm field trips over the

[4:58:42] years a lot of research was done there

[4:58:44] but we need to increase our capacity so

[4:58:47] we're moving to the rights I don't know

[4:58:50] if this actually works oops I see

[4:58:53] upright is our current location and

[4:58:55] we're moving to Camarillo the bottom

[4:58:57] right and on a much larger farm and

[4:59:01] there's going to be a lot of the

[4:59:03] transition our actual move over the next

[4:59:05] six months is going to take a lot of our

[4:59:08] time to actually physically move and

[4:59:11] then start to develop the new site this

[4:59:14] is a bit more of a close-up of the

[4:59:17] particular

[4:59:18] Farm it's next to the Ventura youth

[4:59:21] correctional facility that is closing I

[4:59:23] understand this year

[4:59:25] as well as the California Conservation

[4:59:27] Corps and we hope to have some

[4:59:30] collaboration with them as well and it's

[4:59:32] a more central location in many ways as

[4:59:36] well as you know providing a lot more

[4:59:37] land for us to to develop

[4:59:41] we hope to develop a research facility a

[4:59:45] research and education facility over the

[4:59:47] next four to five years it will still

[4:59:50] has has to be designed but it will

[4:59:52] contain offices conference rooms

[4:59:55] Laboratories greenhouses

[4:59:58] um field facilities like a compost

[5:00:01] Training Center we hope a biological

[5:00:03] control research facility and a fire

[5:00:07] science lab

[5:00:08] so we um

[5:00:10] excuse me

[5:00:12] there's a lot of ideas that we we have

[5:00:15] there that we hope also if you have any

[5:00:18] ideas you want to us to consider we'd

[5:00:20] like to hear from you

[5:00:22] um so there's a lot going to happen in

[5:00:25] the next next year

[5:00:27] um and we really thank you for your

[5:00:30] support for the financial and moral

[5:00:32] support that we've received from the

[5:00:33] Board of Supervisors and we really look

[5:00:35] forward to working with the county on a

[5:00:38] lot of the uh the the aspects of the

[5:00:41] general plan so thank you very much

[5:00:44] well Dr shelter thank you so much for

[5:00:46] being here and for all your important

[5:00:48] work that you're doing as part of the

[5:00:49] extension uh supervisor okay so I have

[5:00:52] been so excited working with this your

[5:00:55] program since

[5:00:57] um 14 years ago I was a mom with a

[5:01:01] daughter going into kindergarten and

[5:01:02] they didn't have any garden boxes at the

[5:01:05] school and so I connected with the UC

[5:01:07] Hanson group and the Master Gardeners

[5:01:10] and a Boy Scout trip and we built 17

[5:01:14] garden boxes at the La Mariposa

[5:01:16] Elementary School and I was first

[5:01:20] provided this wonderful location for

[5:01:24] free seeds for gardeners and to educate

[5:01:28] our kids then I found out that we had

[5:01:30] free tours for our schools so I

[5:01:33] connected with the teachers and

[5:01:34] everything we got all these kids to do

[5:01:38] school trips out and the joy that the

[5:01:41] students had for finding out where a

[5:01:44] carrot came from that it wasn't in a

[5:01:46] plastic bag and I think about this and I

[5:01:49] go holy oh my gosh like we are the one

[5:01:53] of the top agriculture counties and we

[5:01:56] have our very own students that think

[5:01:58] carrots can be little perfect sizes in a

[5:02:01] plastic bag and the education that

[5:02:04] you're you do is just extraordinary just

[5:02:07] to give free tours for our students I

[5:02:11] really am excited I'm unfortunate you're

[5:02:14] moving but I'm excited because it's a

[5:02:16] more hub for all of our school districts

[5:02:19] to really get there especially when we

[5:02:21] have hard costs with bussing and so

[5:02:24] forth and then also the Master Gardeners

[5:02:27] we have programs here with the bees and

[5:02:29] with pesticides and the lemon trees and

[5:02:32] we have these ordinances in our general

[5:02:34] plans that we need assistance and

[5:02:37] educating for our community and I think

[5:02:40] that you do that very well and helping

[5:02:43] us also with water conservation how do

[5:02:45] we water how do we get healthy soils is

[5:02:49] it composting is it doing the teas

[5:02:51] there's a lot of great things that is a

[5:02:54] resource to our community that I hope we

[5:02:56] can get more people to know about what

[5:02:59] you do because it's it's very valuable

[5:03:02] and we have so many farms that I think a

[5:03:06] reward for it and it's a huge business

[5:03:08] here

[5:03:09] and so I'm very proud to have your

[5:03:12] facility in my district because I can

[5:03:15] see that I mean we just have the Healthy

[5:03:17] nutrition month it touches base from

[5:03:21] food to table what you do is extremely

[5:03:25] valuable it helps our hospital system if

[5:03:28] we have healthy people they they live

[5:03:30] longer lives you know and it's what you

[5:03:32] eat and how you do things so I just want

[5:03:35] to say thank you I really value the

[5:03:37] education to our community in so many

[5:03:41] different ways and so

[5:03:43] I'm fully supportive of your new

[5:03:46] location so far so thank you

[5:03:48] thank you supervisor along supervisor

[5:03:50] apartment yes um I think that was the

[5:03:52] most enjoyable report that I've read in

[5:03:55] the entire book as I was reading through

[5:03:59] it I didn't know any of the insects so

[5:04:01] of course I had to look them up

[5:04:03] um it was really fascinating how many

[5:04:05] horrible insect insects are impacting

[5:04:08] our County Agriculture I mean I knew of

[5:04:11] some of them but you you named a number

[5:04:13] of them that I'd never heard of but the

[5:04:15] work that you're doing is significant

[5:04:17] when it comes to reducing costs for egg

[5:04:20] um and keeping us competitive here in

[5:04:22] Ventura County and the state so I

[5:04:24] appreciate that work and um I just

[5:04:27] wanted to thank you thank you for that

[5:04:28] hey welcome thanks

[5:04:33] all motion to approve staff

[5:04:35] recommendation

[5:04:38] receiving fun yep

[5:04:41] is it receiving file can we confirm okay

[5:04:43] a second

[5:04:47] supervisor

[5:04:49] yes

[5:04:51] supervisor loan

[5:04:52] yes and reach out to my office if you

[5:04:54] need more assistance as things go along

[5:04:56] thank you thank you

[5:04:58] supervisor Parvin yes supervisor Lopez

[5:05:01] yes Jerry levere yes thank you again Dr

[5:05:04] shoulder really appreciate you being

[5:05:06] here

[5:05:07] why don't we do item 47 real quick I see

[5:05:10] Mr Abilene back there and then um we

[5:05:12] will uh break we I know we have to do

[5:05:14] some setup for apcd so we can break and

[5:05:16] we'll do a closed session item in that

[5:05:18] in that little interim period but this

[5:05:20] is item 47. it is a public hearing I'll

[5:05:22] open the public hearing take it away

[5:05:24] good afternoon chair levere members of

[5:05:27] the board CEO Johnson for the record my

[5:05:29] name is Robert Apollo with the Labor

[5:05:30] Relations Division of the county

[5:05:31] executive office

[5:05:33] I'm here before you to request that your

[5:05:35] board commence a public hearing on the

[5:05:36] adoption of agreements to the

[5:05:38] memorandums of agreement

[5:05:40] between the County of Ventura and the

[5:05:41] nine bargaining units listed in your

[5:05:43] board letter

[5:05:44] and to set a second hearing for March 28

[5:05:47] 2023

[5:05:48] previously your board approved

[5:05:50] amendments effective March 22nd 2020 two

[5:05:53] agreements with the nine unions

[5:05:54] representing County Employees allowing

[5:05:57] for a period of natural disaster to

[5:06:00] accrue in excess of 60 hours

[5:06:03] of their original applicable maximum

[5:06:06] accrual limits these amendments also

[5:06:08] provided within six months from the date

[5:06:10] of the end of the declared natural

[5:06:12] disaster such excess accrued leave

[5:06:14] amounts would be required to be drawn

[5:06:16] down by use of cash payment or leave

[5:06:19] Redemption the value of all hours in

[5:06:21] excess of the applicable maximum accrual

[5:06:23] limits would be lost if not done in that

[5:06:26] six-month period of time however at this

[5:06:28] time the amendments were approved it was

[5:06:30] unforeseen that the declared natural

[5:06:32] disaster would be in place for almost

[5:06:34] three years or that the impact of the

[5:06:36] pandemic would create the dramatic labor

[5:06:38] shortages we're now seeing

[5:06:39] as such we recommend that amending the

[5:06:43] referenced moas to allow an extension of

[5:06:45] time to December 31st 2023 for employees

[5:06:48] to continue to accrue the excess leave

[5:06:50] acros previously approved by your board

[5:06:52] and to Grant an extension of time to

[5:06:54] utilize the excess hours by additional

[5:06:57] four months also December 31st 2023.

[5:07:01] we anticipate this additional time will

[5:07:03] allow employees to request more than

[5:07:05] normal time off of work thereby

[5:07:07] preventing potential operational issues

[5:07:09] at the county agencies and this will

[5:07:12] help during the current labor shortage

[5:07:14] concludes my comments I'm available to

[5:07:16] respond to any questions you may have

[5:07:20] any questions this time no any public

[5:07:22] comments

[5:07:27] okay then I will close the Public Public

[5:07:29] hearing and return it to the board

[5:07:32] chair I'll move staff's recommendation

[5:07:34] oh second

[5:07:41] supervisor yes

[5:07:43] supervisor loan yes supervisor Parvin

[5:07:46] yes supervisor Lopez yes chair levere

[5:07:50] yes thank you Mr Ebola thank you

[5:07:52] so why don't we uh recess and get set up

[5:07:54] for apcd um Miss North do we have any

[5:07:57] announcements before going into closed

[5:07:58] session yes thank you chair we'll we

[5:08:00] will now be going into closed session on

[5:08:02] items 48 through 54 as indicated on the

[5:08:05] agenda uh just to notify everyone there

[5:08:08] will be no discussion on items 55 or 56

[5:08:11] today as it was no longer needed thank

[5:08:13] you

[5:08:14] thank you we'll see everybody after apcd

[5:57:35] okay

[5:57:37] thank you good afternoon I'd like to

[5:57:40] call to order the apcd meeting for March

[5:57:43] 14 2023

[5:57:47] Madam Clerk rocom

[5:57:59] here but remember gorrell

[5:58:02] here board member levier here board

[5:58:05] member long here board member Lopez here

[5:58:09] board member McLean LaJohn here or

[5:58:11] remember Mendes

[5:58:15] board member Parvin here

[5:58:17] board member Whitman

[5:58:20] chair zaragosa here

[5:58:25] okay so we have a quorum right yes we do

[5:58:29] okay our next item is the Pledge of

[5:58:31] Allegiance and I'd like to ask our

[5:58:33] council member Martha McQueen or John to

[5:58:36] lead us in the flag salute to our flag

[5:58:44] pledge

[5:58:47] of America and to the Republic for which

[5:58:50] it stands one nation

[5:58:53] indivisible with liberty and justice for

[5:58:56] all

[5:58:57] foreign

[5:59:01] thank you our next item is item number

[5:59:04] four that's the minutes the minutes have

[5:59:06] the air pollution control board for

[5:59:08] health for 2C the 14th of February

[5:59:13] any concerns with the minutes or we need

[5:59:15] a motion of approval Mr chair the motion

[5:59:18] by Matt lavier I'll second second by Mr

[5:59:22] Parvin roll call second Parvin

[5:59:30] board member campus proof

[5:59:33] foreign yes board member levere yes

[5:59:37] board member long yes

[5:59:39] board member Lopez yes

[5:59:41] foreign

[5:59:43] yes board member Parvin yes and chairs

[5:59:46] Zaragoza yes

[5:59:51] thank you

[5:59:53] our next item is item number five this

[5:59:55] is agenda review and if any board

[5:59:58] members have any items I'd like to add

[6:00:00] remove or continue from the air

[6:00:02] collusion Control District agenda

[6:00:05] board members

[6:00:06] I can't confirm chairs there we go so

[6:00:08] there have been no changes to the agenda

[6:00:10] okay thank you Mr zaragosa yes I need to

[6:00:14] check with County Council appears our

[6:00:16] video broadcast has been interrupted but

[6:00:18] we have audio

[6:00:21] um

[6:00:22] I don't know if we need to take a recess

[6:00:23] under the current rules to rectify the

[6:00:26] video issues

[6:00:28] okay can you go ahead and want to share

[6:00:29] that

[6:00:31] yeah let's take a break and see what the

[6:00:33] issue is and um we'll get right on top

[6:00:37] of it

[6:00:38] so we're okay

[6:00:41] let's take a quick break okay

[6:01:15] we can keep going while the clerk

[6:01:18] figures out what the issue is so the

[6:01:20] board can continue to meet okay yeah

[6:01:24] as long as all the members of the board

[6:01:26] are here in person

[6:01:28] um so so we're okay then that's right

[6:01:30] okay

[6:01:32] so then our

[6:01:34] Madam clerk we ready

[6:01:40] thank you our next item is uh the public

[6:01:42] comments do we have any public comments

[6:01:44] on this on the apcd board

[6:01:47] at this time

[6:01:48] to the members of our public wish to

[6:01:49] address the board today with live public

[6:01:51] comment on any agenda item please visit

[6:01:53] ventura.org forward slash cob forward

[6:01:57] slash apcb for participation information

[6:02:02] sorry my microphone went out for persons

[6:02:05] in Person Public comment please check in

[6:02:07] with the clerk of the board staff if

[6:02:08] you're on Zoom please press the raise

[6:02:09] hand button and chairs there goes at

[6:02:12] this time we have no members of the

[6:02:13] public requesting to speak

[6:02:15] okay thank you

[6:02:17] okay our next item then is uh item

[6:02:22] number seven board member comments

[6:02:26] okay I have a comments group that I'd

[6:02:29] like to share with you and I was talking

[6:02:30] to her our County console is uh that I

[6:02:34] will not be able to attend the March

[6:02:35] 28th apcd special meeting because uh I

[6:02:38] have a city council meeting that day and

[6:02:41] am I okay then does that count against

[6:02:43] me are there that's one what's your

[6:02:46] priorities

[6:02:48] it yeah

[6:02:50] as long as the Quorum of the board is

[6:02:52] present on that day that's all that's

[6:02:54] needed to approve the item

[6:02:57] so some Matt says I'm okay thank you so

[6:02:59] much

[6:03:00] okay thank you know the board member

[6:03:03] comments

[6:03:04] not at all okay so we next item is item

[6:03:08] eight and this is air pollution control

[6:03:10] apcd comments Mr Ali

[6:03:13] you have any comments no comments

[6:03:17] thank you

[6:03:18] then our next item is a regular agenda

[6:03:20] item this is a receiving file a status

[6:03:22] report regarding the district's

[6:03:23] application for a section 103 Grant from

[6:03:26] the U.S environmental impact agency I'm

[6:03:29] sorry I misunderstood to I thought maybe

[6:03:31] you want me to make any comment

[6:03:33] regarding other items yes I have it okay

[6:03:35] go ahead yes I apologize that's okay

[6:03:43] APC the executive officer in regard to

[6:03:46] personal personnel and vacancies we are

[6:03:49] still in the process of reviewing

[6:03:51] application and scheduling hiring

[6:03:53] interviews for the qualified applicants

[6:03:56] in regard to apcd programs all divisions

[6:03:59] are continuing working on their

[6:04:00] respective tasks

[6:04:03] and regarding our operation state has

[6:04:05] lifted the covet state of emergency as

[6:04:08] of February 28 as such starting April

[6:04:11] 3rd we are going to have one day of

[6:04:15] teleworking plus one day of flex hours

[6:04:16] as we had before providing the team with

[6:04:19] more problem-solving collaboration

[6:04:21] engagement opportunities as well as

[6:04:23] better serving our communities

[6:04:27] regarding apcd vessel speed Reduction

[6:04:30] Program we are planning to become a

[6:04:32] co-sponsor of Bill AB

[6:04:34] 953 which was introduced by Connelly and

[6:04:39] Hart which will develop a Statewide

[6:04:41] voluntary vessel speed reduction and

[6:04:44] sustainable shipping program for

[6:04:46] California coast to reduce air pollution

[6:04:49] the risk of fatal deaths vessels strikes

[6:04:52] on Rails and harmful underwater acoustic

[6:04:56] impact the bill is referred to assembly

[6:04:58] water parks and Wildfire abbreviated by

[6:05:03] wpw on March 28th

[6:05:07] I would like also to inform you that we

[6:05:10] are awarded a new standing Standalone

[6:05:12] grant for 159

[6:05:15] 242 on their cleaner act inflation

[6:05:19] reduction act funding that support

[6:05:21] activities of 103 Grand which will be

[6:05:24] used for new air monitoring equipment

[6:05:27] and activities that's all I had and I'm

[6:05:29] ready to take any question you may have

[6:05:30] thank you any questions go ahead Bob Mr

[6:05:33] Casimir will you be able to to speak in

[6:05:35] favor of that I mean when it comes to

[6:05:36] the the commission yes maybe some of us

[6:05:38] can't I mean just to show the impacts of

[6:05:40] what it's done for us locally the air

[6:05:41] quality here yes actually there was a

[6:05:44] lot of activities that has been

[6:05:46] completed by Ventura County apcd Bay

[6:05:48] Area Santa Barbara to reach out to

[6:05:51] elected officials and Bay area's effort

[6:05:54] finally got we got somebody to authorize

[6:05:58] the legislative active action that we

[6:06:01] were looking for yes we are maybe you

[6:06:04] can let us know how we can can

[6:06:05] participate if

[6:06:07] we are preparing a supporting letter for

[6:06:10] your signature

[6:06:11] thank you Mr chair if I can just ask for

[6:06:13] the bill number again

[6:06:15] 953 AB 953

[6:06:18] okay any additional comments questions

[6:06:21] I'm surely

[6:06:23] thank you no problem our next item in is

[6:06:26] item number nine this is receiving file

[6:06:28] the report regarding the district

[6:06:29] application for section 103 Grant from

[6:06:32] the U.S Environmental Protection Agency

[6:06:34] surely yes

[6:06:36] yes for the record I leave a

[6:06:38] semi-executive officer Ventura County

[6:06:39] apcd this item is just received on file

[6:06:43] this is to inform you that the district

[6:06:44] has submitted the grand application to

[6:06:46] EPA for the continued fund continued

[6:06:49] funding of the Nationwide fine

[6:06:52] particulate monitoring Network in the

[6:06:54] amount of 71 500 on March 1st 2023 for

[6:07:00] your background on December 13 1994 your

[6:07:03] board approved authorization for APCO to

[6:07:06] submit applications for EPA grants on

[6:07:09] January 11 2000 your board also approved

[6:07:13] authorization for the APCO to accept and

[6:07:16] execute Grant award offers for EPA

[6:07:19] grants as long as it doesn't exceed the

[6:07:22] prior year's award or the amount

[6:07:25] approved in the budget by more than 20

[6:07:27] percent that's all I have and I am ready

[6:07:30] to take any questions any questions

[6:07:33] um

[6:07:34] okay no none okay so if we did a motion

[6:07:38] is I know it's a receiving filed and we

[6:07:39] still need a motion

[6:07:41] a little approval to receive a file and

[6:07:44] now second look Lopez first second by

[6:07:47] long rocom

[6:07:53] thank you board member compost yes

[6:07:56] board member gorrell yes remember Lavere

[6:07:59] yes or remember long yes board member

[6:08:02] Lopez yes board member McQueen Le John

[6:08:05] yes board member Parvin yes and board

[6:08:08] member Zaragoza yes

[6:08:12] okay

[6:08:15] thank you so that motion has passed the

[6:08:19] next item's item 10 authorize uh the

[6:08:21] approval of 43 Grand funding requests

[6:08:24] for new AG air quality uh projects under

[6:08:28] the coral Moyer Memorial air quality

[6:08:31] standards uh attainment

[6:08:33] programs holding 4 million 72 108 and

[6:08:38] this requires a a six affirmative uh of

[6:08:42] boats so

[6:08:43] go ahead thank you good afternoon chair

[6:08:45] zaragosa members of the board my name is

[6:08:47] Tyler Harris I'm division manager with

[6:08:49] the district

[6:08:50] this item requests approval of 43 grants

[6:08:53] for Carl Moyer program

[6:08:55] staff received 86 total applications for

[6:08:58] projects through the incentive programs

[6:09:00] in 2022 applications requested grant

[6:09:02] funding for to replace 105 pieces of

[6:09:05] diesel agricultural equipment

[6:09:07] seven pieces of off-road diesel

[6:09:10] equipment not agricultural

[6:09:12] six diesel school buses install four

[6:09:15] electric charging infrastructure

[6:09:16] projects and repower seven commercial

[6:09:18] marine vessels

[6:09:20] total grant funding requested

[6:09:23] by applicants was 14 million four

[6:09:25] hundred forty thousand one hundred and

[6:09:27] twelve dollars today we are requesting

[6:09:29] board approval of 69 qualified

[6:09:31] agricultural off-road equipment

[6:09:32] replacement projects

[6:09:34] total Grant value of four million

[6:09:36] seventy two thousand one hundred into

[6:09:38] eight dollars with a total cost of 7

[6:09:41] million

[6:09:42] four thousand five hundred and one

[6:09:44] dollars including the applicant cost

[6:09:45] share

[6:09:46] this is the 24th year the district has

[6:09:49] administered the Carl Moyer program

[6:09:50] total Grant award for fiscal year

[6:09:52] 2021-22 was five million 960

[6:09:56] 186 dollars this is an exceptional

[6:10:00] Grant award for the the Carl Moyer

[6:10:02] program and it was due to delays in the

[6:10:04] state legislature approval of uh

[6:10:06] authorization to increase Moyer funding

[6:10:08] to air districts the year 25 Carnival

[6:10:11] program Grant

[6:10:12] to the district total award was three

[6:10:14] million one hundred and

[6:10:16] 120 475 so that's the fiscal year 2223

[6:10:20] amount and we expect it to be about that

[6:10:23] going forward from from here on okay the

[6:10:26] staff will administer the grant

[6:10:27] agreements and ensure contract

[6:10:28] requirements are met prior to making

[6:10:31] Grant payments completed projects will

[6:10:32] be monitored according to the car motor

[6:10:34] program guidelines

[6:10:35] for the life of the grant agreement and

[6:10:37] that's all I have happy to answer any

[6:10:38] questions thank you board member long

[6:10:41] yes I'm very excited about this project

[6:10:43] I think it's really great for our

[6:10:45] businesses one and schools what I'd like

[6:10:49] to ask is the timing in which the next

[6:10:51] cycle of Grants happen is there any way

[6:10:54] to

[6:10:56] um

[6:10:57] make sure like for buses that we do it

[6:10:59] before school starts or uh before they

[6:11:03] they're using their tractors for

[6:11:05] harvesting so that we we can get them

[6:11:07] the latest greatest equipment when

[6:11:09] they're using it the most so I think we

[6:11:12] can hopefully speed it up a little bit

[6:11:14] this cycle because like I said that was

[6:11:17] a

[6:11:18] double the amount of money we would

[6:11:20] normally receive and so it just there

[6:11:21] was a it took a long time to get through

[6:11:24] the inspection processes and and the

[6:11:26] application reviews

[6:11:28] um

[6:11:29] we tried to

[6:11:31] get this step approved in like November

[6:11:34] or December for a normal Grant cycle and

[6:11:37] we're obviously we're in March so it was

[6:11:39] a little bit delayed but

[6:11:42] um

[6:11:44] one of the things that that happens

[6:11:45] especially now is with the uh the the

[6:11:50] supply side issues is that you know we

[6:11:54] we're still finishing Grant projects

[6:11:56] from last year that were approved in

[6:11:58] March and you know they're just now

[6:12:00] getting the equipment available so

[6:12:03] um we'll do our best to

[6:12:05] expedite the review of the applications

[6:12:07] we we start we will open for new

[6:12:09] applications in March at the end of

[6:12:11] March so just in a few weeks and we give

[6:12:14] give the applicants until like the first

[6:12:16] week of June okay I just thought it was

[6:12:19] helpful for us to understand even though

[6:12:22] with grants you know you think they come

[6:12:24] and the money is there but there's a lag

[6:12:26] with supplies and then getting the

[6:12:28] applications and all that kind of stuff

[6:12:30] and I was just hopeful that for the next

[6:12:31] process we can line it up

[6:12:34] um accordingly so appreciate you looking

[6:12:36] into it sure thank you thank you good

[6:12:38] point board members any I'm sorry any

[6:12:40] other questions no then I I would

[6:12:43] support this staff recommendation thank

[6:12:45] you motion by uh long second second by

[6:12:48] Parvin roll call

[6:12:55] board member compost yes remember Grill

[6:12:58] yes remember Lavere yes remember long

[6:13:04] remember Lopez yes foreign

[6:13:07] yes for member Parvin yes and chairs

[6:13:10] aragosa yes

[6:13:13] okay

[6:13:17] thank you okay our next item is item 11.

[6:13:20] this is adoption of resolution

[6:13:22] reactivating one classification of apcd

[6:13:25] public information manager and amend the

[6:13:27] classification title to apcd publication

[6:13:30] information officer established one

[6:13:32] vacant position of apcd

[6:13:34] public information officer and all that

[6:13:37] um

[6:13:37] I'll leave finish arrest because sure

[6:13:39] for the record Alex semi-executive

[6:13:42] officer Ventura County APC Dean the item

[6:13:45] that I have before you is to adopt the

[6:13:46] resolution effective March 19th to react

[6:13:50] if the Pio position public information

[6:13:52] officer position as this position was

[6:13:56] deleted in 2017 and replaced with

[6:13:59] non-management classification

[6:14:02] the second request is we are requesting

[6:14:04] your board to amend the classification

[6:14:05] title of apcd public information manager

[6:14:09] to apcd public information officer

[6:14:13] this is this was based on further review

[6:14:16] of Just job responsibilities and

[6:14:18] recommendation of HR and finally the

[6:14:21] third request is we are requesting your

[6:14:22] birth to establish one vacant position

[6:14:24] classified as apct public information

[6:14:27] officer

[6:14:29] then there is another item that also we

[6:14:32] would like for your board to consider we

[6:14:34] are requesting your board to amend the

[6:14:36] salary range of the apcd office systems

[6:14:40] coordinator for classification

[6:14:44] and this is because the apcd office

[6:14:47] system coordinator which refers to as

[6:14:50] osc series of one two four

[6:14:55] series was created in 1997.

[6:14:59] which followed the same title job duties

[6:15:02] position level and salary ranges as the

[6:15:05] counties office system coordinator

[6:15:07] series

[6:15:09] staff has determined that the salary

[6:15:10] range of apcd Osco sc4 is the same as

[6:15:15] the salary of the apcd osc 3 level like

[6:15:20] it hasn't been changed so we are

[6:15:22] requesting to change it accordingly so

[6:15:24] we it's going to match the counties

[6:15:27] classification level

[6:15:30] and finally we would like to adopt we'll

[6:15:33] be we are requesting your board to adopt

[6:15:35] the proposed amendment to the apcd

[6:15:38] management resolution by first adding

[6:15:41] the Pio classification second updating

[6:15:44] section

[6:15:46] 1404-a to provide additional two days of

[6:15:50] unpaid bereavement leave of absence and

[6:15:54] amend section 1204 with an effective

[6:15:58] date of March 1st 23 and third by

[6:16:01] allowing a four months extension to

[6:16:04] utilize the additional 60 hours leave

[6:16:06] time allowed due to covid-19 to the

[6:16:11] deadline obviously extending it to

[6:16:12] December 31st 2023. to provide you with

[6:16:16] the little background on September 29

[6:16:19] 2022 California code government code was

[6:16:23] amended per

[6:16:25] ab1949 to provide employees with

[6:16:28] additional two days of bereavement leave

[6:16:31] without pay due to covet 19.

[6:16:36] I'd like to point out that the county

[6:16:37] will continue to pay for the three days

[6:16:40] bereavement leave as allowed and allow

[6:16:43] the employee to take additional two days

[6:16:45] of unpaid Improvement leave

[6:16:49] also on March 22nd 2020 your board

[6:16:53] approved an amendment to management

[6:16:54] resolution to allow employee to occur up

[6:16:58] to

[6:16:59] additional 60 hours in excess of their

[6:17:02] maximum allowable limit During the

[6:17:04] period of national declared disaster

[6:17:07] declared by the board of supervisor such

[6:17:10] as covet 19.

[6:17:12] the employees were also required to

[6:17:14] exhaust these additional hours within

[6:17:17] the six months after the end of declared

[6:17:20] natural disasters

[6:17:22] with termination of covid-19 pandemic on

[6:17:26] February 28 2023 employees maximum

[6:17:30] allowable leave return to their

[6:17:33] pre-pandemic limits and they

[6:17:36] and they have six months window to

[6:17:39] utilize these additional leave hours

[6:17:42] which gives them till August we are

[6:17:45] requesting to extend it for another four

[6:17:47] months to make the deadline to December

[6:17:50] 31st 2023. that's all I have and I'm

[6:17:54] ready to take any question you may have

[6:17:55] thank you any any questions

[6:17:59] there's you mean December 31st 2023 yes

[6:18:03] okay just confirm thank you yeah

[6:18:06] um

[6:18:07] no question just to calm down you know

[6:18:09] we've been talking about the importance

[6:18:10] of this Pio position for a while now and

[6:18:12] just I don't think the public has a full

[6:18:14] appreciation for everything that apcd

[6:18:16] does and the the contributions it makes

[6:18:18] you know bring an awareness to the Carl

[6:18:20] Moyer program to the vessel speed

[6:18:22] Reduction Program all of the things the

[6:18:23] apcd is doing to impact air quality here

[6:18:25] and I hope this position is really able

[6:18:26] to get that out and bring awareness to

[6:18:29] all of the good work being done I'm sure

[6:18:30] it will but thank you yes

[6:18:33] and I think that's a good point too

[6:18:34] because uh that Pio can convey a lot of

[6:18:37] the messages that were to the unserved

[6:18:39] community too which I think is really

[6:18:41] really important of course thank you

[6:18:44] okay board members

[6:18:48] um

[6:18:52] I just want to make the comment that I I

[6:18:55] saw you at our um the Ventura Council of

[6:18:57] government meeting you gave a

[6:18:58] presentation to us and you emphasize the

[6:19:01] importance and the need for your Pio so

[6:19:04] I just want you to know you've sold me

[6:19:06] at that meeting

[6:19:09] okay thank you so much so we have a

[6:19:11] first by board member levere second by

[6:19:13] second Clive McQueen Okay roll call

[6:19:18] thank you thank you for the presentation

[6:19:20] too

[6:19:21] board member comp o yes or member

[6:19:24] gorrell yes I remember levier yes board

[6:19:28] member long yes

[6:19:29] yes board member Lopez yes remember

[6:19:32] McQueen Le John yes board member Parvin

[6:19:35] yes and chair Zaragoza yes

[6:19:45] okay so the motion is passed our next

[6:19:49] item last item is a public hearing

[6:19:51] concerning the adoption of amendments

[6:19:52] would be effective dates of March 1 2023

[6:19:56] to 2020 225 an mou agreement between the

[6:20:00] county Ventura SEIU union and 2025

[6:20:03] memorandum between the county Ventura

[6:20:06] and Tibetan and um they should take it

[6:20:07] over from there appreciate it thank you

[6:20:10] so when I open the public hearing now um

[6:20:13] okay I'm gonna open the public again go

[6:20:15] ahead thank you good afternoon sure

[6:20:17] there goes the members of the board for

[6:20:19] the record my name is Robert abalov with

[6:20:20] the Labor Relations Division of the

[6:20:21] county executive office I'm here before

[6:20:24] you to request that your board commence

[6:20:25] of public hearing on the adoption of the

[6:20:27] amendment between uh two memorandums of

[6:20:29] agreement SEIU and vea with the district

[6:20:32] and to set a second hearing on March

[6:20:35] 28th so similar to what you just heard

[6:20:37] what we're requesting here is the

[6:20:40] additional use of 60 hours in that time

[6:20:42] frame uh moving to December excuse me

[6:20:45] December 31st 2023 and given the ability

[6:20:50] for the employees to accrue that time

[6:20:52] between now and then and then giving the

[6:20:54] employees the ability to also draw down

[6:20:57] that time by an additional four months

[6:20:59] between now and then this is due to the

[6:21:02] labor shortages that we're now seeing

[6:21:03] and it's also due to the pandemic going

[6:21:06] a lot longer than we anticipated uh

[6:21:08] three years is quite some time we're

[6:21:10] happy to be through it but we do want to

[6:21:12] give the employees the opportunity to

[6:21:14] draw down those Bank hours this

[6:21:16] concludes my comments and I'm happy to

[6:21:17] answer any questions you may have you

[6:21:19] okay any questions

[6:21:24] second by Marvin roll call

[6:21:36] and I'm going to close the public

[6:21:38] hearing

[6:21:40] and this is to set the next hearing date

[6:21:42] for uh March 28th yes March 28th yes I

[6:21:46] remember compost yes remember Garrell

[6:21:48] yes remember Lavere yes I remember long

[6:21:51] yes I remember Lopez yes remember

[6:21:53] McQueen Le John yes remember Parvin yes

[6:21:56] cheers zaragosa yes

[6:21:59] thank you thank you

[6:22:01] okay so that's the last item so uh

[6:22:04] we are any any other comments we're

[6:22:07] going to be adjourned and we have a

[6:22:08] standing committee meeting but after

[6:22:10] this and we have a

[6:22:13] civilizer Lopez

[6:22:16] supervisor Jeff and councilwoman McQueen

[6:22:20] standing committee so right after it

[6:22:22] okay thank you so we're adjourned

[7:05:02] all right welcome back everyone we are

[7:05:04] going to continue with our regular

[7:05:06] agenda uh starting with item 30 a

[7:05:09] recommendation to supervisor girl

[7:05:11] thank you Mr chair

[7:05:13] um this is really I would just describe

[7:05:15] this as kind of a cleanup measure

[7:05:17] I'm asking the board to act to help us

[7:05:20] um expand our map boundary for the

[7:05:22] municipal advisory committee that makes

[7:05:24] up the Santa Rosa Valley

[7:05:26] um there are two homes that were in

[7:05:28] accidentally left out of the Mac

[7:05:30] boundaries

[7:05:31] they were excluded but they're all but

[7:05:33] they are considered part of the Santa

[7:05:35] Rosa Valley and part of that kind of

[7:05:38] voting Precinct

[7:05:40] um there's also a an area that is also

[7:05:43] part of Santa Rosa Valley and part of

[7:05:45] this Precinct there are no homes

[7:05:46] currently built there but if there are

[7:05:48] ever any homes that are built there we

[7:05:50] want to also make sure that that's

[7:05:51] included in the Santa Rosa Valley Mac

[7:05:53] map

[7:05:54] so that those folks can participate in

[7:05:57] Mac elections if they want to be on the

[7:05:59] Mac board and that they're considered

[7:06:01] part of that community so that's what

[7:06:03] this measure is uh 30 and I would just

[7:06:05] ask my colleagues to to help us expand

[7:06:08] the map and include a couple additional

[7:06:10] homes thank you

[7:06:12] I would move this matter

[7:06:15] stop the resolution move the resolution

[7:06:17] I'll second

[7:06:21] supervisor girl yes supervisor long yes

[7:06:24] supervisor Parvin yes supervisor Lopez

[7:06:27] yes chair levere yes

[7:06:30] and item 31 is a recommendation of

[7:06:32] supervisor long thank you very much I am

[7:06:35] pleased

[7:06:42] please as many know Gordon Kimball has

[7:06:44] resigned from that spot he is just big

[7:06:48] shoes to fill and I taking this moment

[7:06:51] just to talk about how tremendous Lisa's

[7:06:56] skills that are she is a sixth

[7:06:59] generation Ventura County farmer and has

[7:07:02] been in the business with her whole life

[7:07:04] she has a degree from Cal Poly San Luis

[7:07:06] Obispo an architecture business and a

[7:07:08] master's degree in public administration

[7:07:10] she is currently oversees the production

[7:07:13] of 800 acres of Farmland in Ventura

[7:07:16] County and she's on a numerous

[7:07:18] agriculture committees around the state

[7:07:20] I'd like to really just say thank you

[7:07:23] for her continued dedication to serve

[7:07:27] our community and I'm very honored to

[7:07:30] have her want to serve on this capacity

[7:07:33] as well so I motion to approve

[7:07:36] I'll second thank you

[7:07:41] supervisor girl yes

[7:07:43] supervisor long yes supervisor Parvin

[7:07:46] yes supervisor Lopez yes chair levere

[7:07:50] item 32 is a recommendation of

[7:07:52] supervisor Parvin

[7:07:55] thank you I want to put forth the parks

[7:07:58] advisory committee Bruce Thomas I'm

[7:08:00] asking that he be appointed to the

[7:08:02] Parks advisory committee because for

[7:08:05] many reasons for one he was on the Santa

[7:08:07] Monica Mountains Conservancy Advisory

[7:08:08] board he has a long background in parks

[7:08:11] and also a Water Works District 17 I'm

[7:08:15] recommending Chris schubeck to be

[7:08:17] appointed to the Water Works District

[7:08:18] 17. Chris is a Bell Canyon resident with

[7:08:21] the ba and Ms degree in engineering

[7:08:24] he's also a lawyer

[7:08:26] and I believe he will bring unique

[7:08:28] solutions to his community water needs

[7:08:30] using his extensive engineering

[7:08:31] background and he'll be an incredible

[7:08:33] asset to the committee also for

[7:08:35] Waterworks District 17 I'd like to

[7:08:37] reappoint Gregory McHugh to Waterworks

[7:08:39] District 17. I sincerely appreciate the

[7:08:41] time and commitment Gregory has shown in

[7:08:43] working with this committee he's done an

[7:08:45] excellent job and I'm happy to recommend

[7:08:47] his appointment I greatly appreciate all

[7:08:49] of their interests in volunteering their

[7:08:52] services to our County and with that

[7:08:55] I'll put forth a more motion a second

[7:08:59] is that you supervisor grow yes

[7:09:03] supervisor Grill yes supervisor loan yes

[7:09:07] supervisor Parvin yes supervisor Lopez

[7:09:10] yes chair levere yes and then lastly

[7:09:13] item 33 a recommendation of supervisor

[7:09:16] Lopez thank you Mr chair I have a

[7:09:18] recommendation

[7:09:19] reappoint Bobby Jones to

[7:09:22] to troll policy advisory committee Mr

[7:09:24] Jones is a third generation farmer in

[7:09:27] Ventura County and provides a is a

[7:09:30] valuable addition to uh to the APAC

[7:09:32] especially as a strawberry grower so I

[7:09:36] respectfully request support to

[7:09:38] reappoint Mr Jones to this committee

[7:09:40] I'll second

[7:09:44] we activate 33 Mia

[7:09:46] on the meeting

[7:09:52] supervisor Lopez you motioned to approve

[7:09:55] and second

[7:09:57] thank you supervisor guerrell yes

[7:10:00] supervisor long yes and this is a great

[7:10:03] choice thank you very much

[7:10:06] supervisor Parvin yes supervisor Lopez

[7:10:08] yes Gerald levere yes thank you I know I

[7:10:11] was flying through those things you're

[7:10:13] keeping up that's okay

[7:10:16] at item 34 is a proposed adoption of a

[7:10:19] resolution

[7:10:20] um or and I will turn it over to Ms

[7:10:23] North for this item thank you chair

[7:10:26] four is the number resolution adopting a

[7:10:29] policy statement to strongly encourage

[7:10:31] contractors to hire locally and use a

[7:10:34] skilled and trained Workforce uh with in

[7:10:36] the meaning of the public contract court

[7:10:38] for uh orphan and idle well projects and

[7:10:41] plugging in abandonment projects to

[7:10:43] implement a settlement agreement between

[7:10:45] the county and the California Works

[7:10:47] Labor Management cooperation trust

[7:10:49] CalWORKs this resolution is being

[7:10:52] brought to you as part of a settlement

[7:10:55] agreement with regard to the general

[7:10:56] plan litigation and we the county county

[7:11:00] council's office has negotiated a

[7:11:02] settlement with CalWORKs as part of the

[7:11:05] CalWORKs offered suggestions regarding

[7:11:08] the County's Emergency Operations plan

[7:11:10] and catastrophic Wildfire action after

[7:11:13] action report that the county staff

[7:11:15] found acceptable that's also included in

[7:11:18] the settlement agreement which is

[7:11:19] attached to the board item but as part

[7:11:23] of the settlement CalWORKs has requested

[7:11:25] that your board adopt this resolutions

[7:11:27] strongly encouraging private contractors

[7:11:30] under the resolution the county would

[7:11:32] also adopt make the adopted resolution

[7:11:34] available on the County's website and

[7:11:37] provide a copy of the resolution to

[7:11:38] operators of idle wells in in the county

[7:11:40] and also to the California geologic

[7:11:43] Energy Management Cal Gem and we would

[7:11:46] request that private contractors when

[7:11:48] applying for County issued permits for

[7:11:50] covered oil well-related construction

[7:11:52] practice construction work notify the

[7:11:55] county whether or not they will be

[7:11:56] implementing these encouraged hired

[7:11:58] practices this does not require private

[7:12:01] contractors to take any specific action

[7:12:03] and also the proposed settlement does

[7:12:06] not make or involve any changes to the

[7:12:08] general plan itself so should your board

[7:12:11] adopt the attached resolution the

[7:12:13] settlement agreement between the county

[7:12:14] and Cal Works will take effect and Cal

[7:12:17] Works will dismiss their lawsuit with

[7:12:18] both parties bearing their own

[7:12:20] litigation costs and fees

[7:12:23] thank you

[7:12:27] any uh questions on this one or a motion

[7:12:29] to approve chair lever we have one

[7:12:31] public comment oh yeah I'm sorry thank

[7:12:33] you have Christina Carl that will have

[7:12:39] it promote

[7:12:49] hi Christina we can see you with your

[7:12:50] hand if we're going to have it promote

[7:12:52] you to a panelist

[7:13:03] okay so once you mute your mic you'll

[7:13:04] have three minutes to speak

[7:13:18] hi Christina if you would meet your mic

[7:13:19] you'll have three minutes to speak

[7:13:27] thank you

[7:13:28] can can you hear me Madam Clarke we can

[7:13:30] hear you please proceed

[7:13:32] thank you good afternoon chair liver and

[7:13:34] members of the board my name is

[7:13:35] Christina Carrow I'm an attorney

[7:13:37] representing California Works Labor

[7:13:39] Management cooperation trust as you know

[7:13:42] the California Works has a pending

[7:13:44] lawsuit against the county challenging

[7:13:46] the general plan 2040 policies related

[7:13:49] to Wildfire impacts and related to oil

[7:13:52] and gas production we are pleased to

[7:13:55] report that based on recent discussions

[7:13:57] with the county we have uh achieved a

[7:14:01] settlement that is presented to the

[7:14:03] board today for approval

[7:14:05] um this settlement would modify

[7:14:06] practices within the county office of

[7:14:09] emergency services to improve Wildfire

[7:14:11] emergency notification and Reporting in

[7:14:14] the county it would also result in a new

[7:14:16] county-wide resolution which encourages

[7:14:18] the hire of local contractors for oil

[7:14:21] and gas well plugging and abandonment

[7:14:24] approving the settlement will result in

[7:14:26] more robust emergency Wildfire

[7:14:28] protections for County residents it will

[7:14:31] help ensure that the closure of

[7:14:32] hazardous and abandoned oil and gas

[7:14:34] Wells is performed by a skilled local

[7:14:37] Workforce encouraging the use of a

[7:14:40] skilled and trained Workforce and local

[7:14:41] State Certified apprenticeship programs

[7:14:44] helps to ensure quality work protects

[7:14:47] against accidents and can help

[7:14:49] demonstrate emissions reductions from

[7:14:51] reduced travel

[7:14:52] approving the settlement will also

[7:14:54] resolve the California Works lawsuit and

[7:14:56] is fully supported by County staff and

[7:14:58] County Council it also does not require

[7:15:01] any amendments or changes to the general

[7:15:03] plan as staff explained so we greatly

[7:15:06] appreciate the County's willingness to

[7:15:08] engage with California works on these

[7:15:10] issues and we respectfully request that

[7:15:13] the board approve the settlement

[7:15:15] agreement and adopt the proposed

[7:15:17] resolution today

[7:15:18] thank you Christina

[7:15:22] I would just like to thank Christina and

[7:15:24] her team for their work on this as well

[7:15:25] thank you Miss Carl and any other

[7:15:30] questions or comments or action

[7:15:33] Cheryl move approval and thank you for

[7:15:36] bringing this forward and uh coming to

[7:15:38] us at all announce second

[7:15:45] supervisor girl yes supervisor loan yes

[7:15:49] supervisor Parvin yes supervisor Lopez

[7:15:52] yes Jerry levere yes

[7:15:55] takes us to item 35 which is the

[7:15:57] approval of American Rescue plan act

[7:15:59] recovery funds budget adjustment

[7:16:02] recommendations with this we have Mr

[7:16:04] kumazawa good afternoon

[7:16:12] CEO Johnson Mike kumazawa with the CEO's

[7:16:16] office budget and finance

[7:16:17] uh I'm here today to present item 35 uh

[7:16:21] which are recommendations to authorize

[7:16:23] certain accounting transactions related

[7:16:26] to the American Rescue plan act funding

[7:16:27] and state and local fiscal Recovery Fund

[7:16:30] um these recommendations before your

[7:16:31] board today are really just one of uh

[7:16:34] many steps in going back to March of

[7:16:37] 2021 when the American Rescue plan Act

[7:16:39] was passed and the multiple uh report

[7:16:42] backs and updates that we have given

[7:16:44] your board really now for almost two and

[7:16:46] a half years now

[7:16:48] and most recently the October and

[7:16:52] December actions by your board the

[7:16:55] recommendation in October in action by

[7:16:57] your board was to approve the American

[7:16:59] Rescue plan act funding plan and

[7:17:01] projects

[7:17:03] um basically how the county was going to

[7:17:04] spend 164 million dollars and then the

[7:17:07] action in December was to approve the

[7:17:09] funding strategy to use and Report arpa

[7:17:12] under that treasury category uh

[7:17:14] provision of government services uh

[7:17:17] which basically allowed the county to

[7:17:18] spend arpa directly on County costs and

[7:17:21] then the general fund Surplus on those

[7:17:24] projects uh directly

[7:17:26] and so

[7:17:28] today as I mentioned there's two

[7:17:30] recommendations related to those actions

[7:17:33] the first recommendation is the

[7:17:35] recognition of that Revenue so bringing

[7:17:38] in approximately 104 million of the 164

[7:17:42] a million dollars from the arpitrust

[7:17:45] into the general fund and then

[7:17:46] recommendation two is the the parallel

[7:17:49] action parallel action to that which is

[7:17:52] appropriating that Revenue to a majority

[7:17:55] of those projects in the funding plan

[7:17:58] um so why is this coming to your board

[7:18:00] today well well two reasons one is the

[7:18:03] county has reached a point in terms of

[7:18:05] timing both where many of the projects

[7:18:07] and the the funding plan are ready now

[7:18:09] for this this funding and so the

[7:18:11] budgetary uh actions are needed and

[7:18:14] we've also reached a significant sort of

[7:18:17] amount in terms of cost obviously 104

[7:18:19] million is a significant amount of money

[7:18:21] and so we're trying to bring this all um

[7:18:23] in in kind of one big action

[7:18:25] um for efficiency and administrative

[7:18:27] ease the second question you might have

[7:18:30] is why 104 million and not 164.

[7:18:33] um we're trying to keep the cost that

[7:18:37] we're going to use this for and report

[7:18:39] to treasury within this fiscal year even

[7:18:42] though arpa goes back to 2021 and we

[7:18:46] could technically claim costs going back

[7:18:48] to that far we don't really want to do

[7:18:50] that if we don't have to that would

[7:18:52] complicate prior year financial

[7:18:53] reporting and and necessitate some

[7:18:56] complicated adjustments that we really

[7:18:58] we don't you know want to do if we don't

[7:19:00] have to and so we're doing 104 million

[7:19:03] now we expect to come back to your board

[7:19:06] probably around the end of the fiscal

[7:19:08] year so in the few months by that point

[7:19:10] we will have accumulated enough

[7:19:12] remaining expenses to bring in the rest

[7:19:15] and appropriate the remaining funding to

[7:19:19] the projects that aren't getting

[7:19:20] appropriated today

[7:19:23] um so that's really uh the the basics of

[7:19:26] this recommendation I'm here to answer

[7:19:28] any questions that you might have

[7:19:34] appreciate this I am just looking at the

[7:19:36] exhibit one with all the wonderful

[7:19:38] projects I want to make sure we

[7:19:40] highlight all the projects where the

[7:19:42] funding is going it's one's to put them

[7:19:44] to the GLS but this is wonderful from

[7:19:47] what we've talked about with the arpa

[7:19:49] funding

[7:19:50] um one question I just had is in regards

[7:19:53] to the follow-up when when is it that

[7:19:56] we'll be getting some update on how

[7:19:58] these projects are doing no that's a

[7:20:00] great question and we had planned to

[7:20:02] have periodic report backs to your board

[7:20:04] this is one of those needed steps you

[7:20:07] know these projects need this type of

[7:20:09] action to start the next step which is

[7:20:12] to do agreements and final scoping

[7:20:14] actually a couple of the items that were

[7:20:17] before your board today the home key

[7:20:18] item is a perfect example of that

[7:20:20] there's another item I think immediately

[7:20:22] after me related to the Housing Trust

[7:20:24] Fund you'll notice that those are in

[7:20:26] this list so those Appropriations are

[7:20:28] supporting those projects by having

[7:20:30] those Appropriations there they support

[7:20:31] the next steps so what that all means

[7:20:33] supervisor is that I would imagine

[7:20:35] probably maybe in the summer I hope not

[7:20:38] by the fall but around that time I think

[7:20:40] we'll be able to come back to you with

[7:20:41] the fullest and kind of show hey these

[7:20:44] are the ones that have started these are

[7:20:46] the ones that are already in process

[7:20:47] these are the ones that have yet to

[7:20:48] start and we can kind of you know

[7:20:51] flowchart that for you so you can kind

[7:20:53] of see the whole portfolio and where

[7:20:54] they stand well

[7:20:58] wisely is

[7:21:01] bring it back because some projects

[7:21:02] didn't get done at the time they were

[7:21:06] requesting certain funds so I appreciate

[7:21:07] this so much yeah no absolutely our

[7:21:09] communities will definitely need it so

[7:21:11] thank you

[7:21:15] any other questions

[7:21:17] all right well then I'll motion to

[7:21:19] approve if you have nothing else I do

[7:21:21] have one other thing if there aren't any

[7:21:23] other questions there was one small typo

[7:21:25] related to recommendation number two for

[7:21:28] the four and a half million that was

[7:21:29] going to be appropriated to the Human

[7:21:30] Services Agency for two projects in the

[7:21:33] board letter we cite that division as

[7:21:36] 3400 it should actually be 3410 sorry to

[7:21:40] inconvenience you with some dorky budget

[7:21:42] stuff but it's important for the record

[7:21:44] do you need the motion as um amended uh

[7:21:47] yes please okay so Iowa motion approve

[7:21:50] staff recommendation as as amended thank

[7:21:53] you second

[7:21:54] so it's approval of the recommendations

[7:21:57] with the revised board yes correct thank

[7:22:00] you sure supervisor Parvin were you this

[7:22:02] second yes

[7:22:05] supervisor girl yes supervisor long yes

[7:22:08] supervisor Parvin yes supervisor Lopez

[7:22:11] yes chair levere yes thank you great

[7:22:14] thank you

[7:22:16] item 36 the approval of a strategy to

[7:22:20] direct the use of 15 million dollars

[7:22:22] allocated for affordable housing

[7:22:24] construction

[7:22:25] um Miss Madden good afternoon yes good

[7:22:27] afternoon chair levere members of the

[7:22:29] boards Dr Johnson Christy Madden with

[7:22:32] the county executive office

[7:22:34] um it is my pleasure to be here before

[7:22:36] you today to formulate some

[7:22:38] recommendations of how we allocate 15

[7:22:42] million of the funding that was just

[7:22:45] discussed as part of this funding plan

[7:22:49] the 15 million dollars for affordable

[7:22:51] housing and construction Capital was

[7:22:54] included in the funding plan

[7:22:56] following some extensive Outreach and

[7:22:58] engagement with community members

[7:23:01] non-profit organizations local

[7:23:03] developers and others as described in

[7:23:06] the staff report after the board adopted

[7:23:08] the spending plan the Community

[7:23:10] Development Division did some targeted

[7:23:12] Outreach to inform recommendations for

[7:23:15] house specifically to allocate those 15

[7:23:18] million dollars to maximize the benefit

[7:23:20] for housing production considering the

[7:23:23] feedback that was received and including

[7:23:25] responses to letters of interest

[7:23:28] regarding the last and final round of

[7:23:31] project home key as your board approved

[7:23:34] earlier this morning we're recommending

[7:23:36] that funds be distributed as follows

[7:23:39] 5.84 million dollars in match for the

[7:23:43] last and final round of project home key

[7:23:45] that will bring the total available to

[7:23:48] nine million dollars one and a half

[7:23:50] million dollars to the Ventura County

[7:23:53] Housing Trust Fund actually I think it's

[7:23:54] called the Housing Trust Fund of Ventura

[7:23:56] County they will be able to match those

[7:23:59] funds dollar for Dollar by applying to

[7:24:02] the state of California and then 7.66

[7:24:06] million dollars in funding that will be

[7:24:09] administered by our staff on a

[7:24:11] competitive basis for other Housing

[7:24:13] Development projects that we hope to

[7:24:15] bring to your board

[7:24:18] by the end of the year now in the event

[7:24:21] that any of our home key projects don't

[7:24:24] get awarded funds those funds would roll

[7:24:26] into that other pot of funding that we

[7:24:29] will distribute competitively for other

[7:24:32] Housing Development projects

[7:24:34] I'd like to thank all of our partners

[7:24:36] for their input and participation in

[7:24:39] this process and appreciate the

[7:24:41] tremendous work of our small But Mighty

[7:24:43] housing team which is Tracy McCauley who

[7:24:47] is here with us and Chelsea Russell who

[7:24:49] is on a much deserved vacation and of

[7:24:52] course Jennifer Harkey for all of her

[7:24:55] diligent work on homelessness so happy

[7:24:58] to answer any questions and appreciate

[7:25:01] your support

[7:25:06] is the county affordable housing fund is

[7:25:08] that a new fund that we're creating or

[7:25:09] is that an existing fund that we're just

[7:25:11] contributing to well it would be it

[7:25:13] would be a pot of funding that we would

[7:25:15] administer similar to the other grant

[7:25:17] funding that we already administer the

[7:25:20] plha and the home and other competitive

[7:25:22] funding we would we would distribute

[7:25:24] those funds in a similar fashion okay

[7:25:25] great

[7:25:27] be a one-time thing great no I I think I

[7:25:31] think it's a great breakdown really

[7:25:32] really effective way to allocate the

[7:25:34] money a lot of a lot of good work to be

[7:25:35] done there with that

[7:25:37] thank you those those Monies

[7:25:40] any other questions or comments sorry

[7:25:42] thank you

[7:25:49] from Linda brunch

[7:25:51] Branch Swagger sorry Linda

[7:25:54] um well it's promoting you

[7:26:00] hi Linda if you unmute your mic you'll

[7:26:02] have three minutes

[7:26:05] wonderful thank you so much

[7:26:08] uh chairman levere and Board of

[7:26:10] Supervisors and Dr Johnson I'm Linda

[7:26:12] braunschweiger I'm the CEO for the

[7:26:14] Housing Trust Fund and the housing Land

[7:26:16] Trust I was there with you this morning

[7:26:18] but decided it was better to go back and

[7:26:20] work and make sure that I could be on at

[7:26:23] this point in time I I just wanted to

[7:26:26] thank the incredible housing team at the

[7:26:28] county led by Christy Madden and Tracy

[7:26:31] McCauley their creativity and their

[7:26:35] ability to juggle multiple projects all

[7:26:38] requesting funding has been just Stellar

[7:26:41] I'm just very pleased that the Housing

[7:26:43] Trust Fund is being recognized with this

[7:26:45] investment because it truly is an

[7:26:48] investment that we will be matching

[7:26:51] um with other funding sources and expect

[7:26:53] to be matched by the state of California

[7:26:55] as well in a one-to-one match and I just

[7:26:58] wanted to point out that the reason this

[7:27:00] funding is so important is this

[7:27:02] particular source of funding for us will

[7:27:05] be for short-term lending and that will

[7:27:07] be used to get a a lot of these projects

[7:27:09] their early costs covered and get them

[7:27:12] moving quickly so that the rest of the

[7:27:15] funding can get into place and these

[7:27:17] projects will be developed as soon as

[7:27:20] possible so I just want to thank the

[7:27:21] county once again for your ongoing

[7:27:23] support of the Housing Trust Fund thank

[7:27:25] you

[7:27:26] thank you Linda

[7:27:28] Charlie lever there are another requests

[7:27:30] to speak thank you

[7:27:31] hi thank you madam Clerk okay

[7:27:35] any uh

[7:27:37] further comments or

[7:27:39] action

[7:27:41] approved second

[7:27:48] supervisor guerrill yes

[7:27:50] supervisor long yes supervisor Parvin

[7:27:53] yes supervisor Lopez yes chair lavier

[7:27:56] yes thank you miss that

[7:28:00] all right two more item 38 is the

[7:28:04] adoption of some resolutions amending

[7:28:05] salary ranges and classifications

[7:28:08] good afternoon Miss deal

[7:28:11] good afternoon chair levere members of

[7:28:13] the board and CEO Johnson I am Marjorie

[7:28:16] deal your manager of classification and

[7:28:18] compensation

[7:28:20] today I'm before you with five

[7:28:22] recommendations our first recommendation

[7:28:24] is to amend the salary range for the

[7:28:27] chief public defender investigator

[7:28:30] while this SEIU represented

[7:28:32] classifications reporting to this one

[7:28:34] received market-based adjustments this

[7:28:37] management classification did not the

[7:28:39] recommended increased mirrors the sum of

[7:28:41] market-based adjustments awarded to the

[7:28:43] SEIU classifications and will maintain

[7:28:46] an appropriate differential between the

[7:28:48] reporting levels

[7:28:50] second

[7:28:51] to establish one classification a per

[7:28:54] diem nurse extern this new class will

[7:28:58] allow us to hire employees who have

[7:28:59] completed their nurse training and are

[7:29:02] awaiting receipt of their respective

[7:29:03] nurse licensure having these employees

[7:29:06] will increase the applicant pool for

[7:29:08] future registered nurse vacancies

[7:29:11] the proposed salary is approximately 20

[7:29:13] percent less than the herdium registered

[7:29:16] nurse

[7:29:17] our third recommendation is to delete

[7:29:19] two obsolete classifications that are

[7:29:22] neither filled nor budgeted the director

[7:29:24] probation agency and the senior

[7:29:27] information system support analyst

[7:29:29] fourth we are recommending adopting an

[7:29:32] amended schedule for market-based

[7:29:34] adjustments this amendment corrects a

[7:29:36] clerical error that omitted a single

[7:29:38] classification the supervisor Public

[7:29:41] Health Services with one incumbent from

[7:29:44] receiving an appropriate total

[7:29:45] market-based adjustment of five percent

[7:29:48] the first increase of 2.5 percent will

[7:29:51] be retroactive to January 8 2023 to

[7:29:55] match the original market-based

[7:29:57] adjustment increases

[7:29:58] Fifth and lastly we are recommending

[7:30:01] that your board adopt an amended

[7:30:03] management resolution which amends

[7:30:05] section 1901-a to replace the obsolete

[7:30:09] classification of director of probation

[7:30:11] agency with the new classification of

[7:30:13] Chief probation officer

[7:30:15] to amend section 403d to add a Ventura

[7:30:20] County Health Care classification health

[7:30:22] care plan classification to the list of

[7:30:25] classifications eligible for

[7:30:27] certification pay in line with eligible

[7:30:29] HCA classifications

[7:30:33] to amend section 1404-a to comply with

[7:30:36] assembly Bill

[7:30:38] 1949 to provide two additional days of

[7:30:41] unpaid bereavement leave I believe this

[7:30:43] is covered earlier this morning with

[7:30:45] Robert abilo with the Union contracts

[7:30:47] and lastly again as was covered by

[7:30:50] Robert avilo amend section 1204 to

[7:30:54] extend the time for employees to use

[7:30:56] excess leave hours accrued during the

[7:30:58] covid-19 pandemic until December 31st

[7:31:02] 2023 as previously presented by Robert

[7:31:06] with that I'm open to any questions

[7:31:11] thank you Mr Steele any questions on

[7:31:13] this item

[7:31:15] pretty straightforward thank you concise

[7:31:18] as always

[7:31:21] I would move I'd move approval

[7:31:25] I'm happy to second

[7:31:29] supervisor guerrill yes supervisor long

[7:31:32] yes supervisor apartment yes

[7:31:35] supervisor Lopez yes chair levere yes

[7:31:38] and then our last uh regular agenda item

[7:31:42] this afternoon is item 39. and uh Miss

[7:31:46] Madden welcome back good afternoon I'm

[7:31:48] back uh we'll make this real quick

[7:31:51] um the Community Development Division in

[7:31:52] the homeless unit that assists Jennifer

[7:31:55] Harkey currently has a fixed term

[7:31:57] position of a program assistant that is

[7:31:59] slated to expire so we are asking your

[7:32:01] board to adopt a resolution to establish

[7:32:04] that position as permanent we have a lot

[7:32:07] of grant funding a lot

[7:32:11] and it requires a lot of Staff resources

[7:32:14] to manage those grants so happy to

[7:32:17] answer any questions

[7:32:21] um I didn't have a chance to read the

[7:32:22] details of this is the is the m a from

[7:32:24] the grants um underwrite the position

[7:32:26] salary back to the county

[7:32:28] does the the program assistant yes so

[7:32:31] will you use the contract Service rates

[7:32:33] that are established and adopted by the

[7:32:35] board and we use that to reimburse

[7:32:37] actual expenses time studied to each

[7:32:39] Grant great thank you

[7:32:42] I'd move the

[7:32:44] CEO recommendation I'd move thanks

[7:32:49] there's clearly a need for this position

[7:32:51] so

[7:32:53] Jennifer thanks you

[7:32:56] supervisor girl yes supervisor alone yes

[7:33:00] supervisor apartment yes supervisor

[7:33:02] Lopez yes chair Olivier yes thank you

[7:33:05] thank you thank you

[7:33:08] all right that completes uh the regular

[7:33:10] agenda we still have I believe one item

[7:33:12] in closed session any announcements uh

[7:33:15] yes supervisor will need to go back into

[7:33:16] closed session for item 57 and there

[7:33:19] will be no reportable announcements

[7:33:20] today so the board can adjourn from

[7:33:22] there we will return out of closed

[7:33:24] session and our next regularly scheduled

[7:33:26] meeting is in two weeks March 28th so we

[7:33:28] will see everybody then thank you

Board of Supervisors Meeting - March 14, 2023

Transcript