[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