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From Kern Government Television, welcome to this week's Kern County Board of Supervisors meeting.

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Originating from the Kern County Administrative Center, located at 1115 Truxton Avenue in Bakersfield, California.

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Grounded in ideas, energy and innovation, Kern County's vision is to be a driving force for the world's fifth largest economy.

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And our mission is to exceed expectations of the communities we serve, changing the way they feel about government.

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those who manage it and the services it provides today's board of supervisors

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meeting will convene momentarily board

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to reconvene madam clerk please call the

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roll Supervisor Peters here Supervisor Parley Supervisor Flores Supervisor

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couch here Supervisor Perez here okay good afternoon welcome to the Tuesday

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July 20th 2026 2 p.m. board meeting we'll begin with a report on action

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taken in closed session.

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Good afternoon.

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This morning, following the AM agenda,

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your board heard items 63 and 64 in closed session.

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There were no reportable actions taken.

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Thank you.

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Okay, well next, consider the consent agenda.

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All items listed with the CA or C above the item

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are considered to be routine and non-controversial

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by county staff.

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The CA represents the consent agenda

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for the Board of Supervisors.

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Consent items will be considered first and may be approved by one motion.

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If members of the audience wish to comment or ask questions regarding an item or items on the consent agenda,

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they may do so prior to a vote being taken.

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Members of the Board may remove any item from the consent agenda,

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and it will be considered in listed sequence with an opportunity for any member of the public

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to address the Board concerning the item before action is taken.

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the consent agenda includes items 3 through 5 on page 2. 6 through 9 on page 3. Oh, I'm sorry. I

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skipped right over that. I'm supposed to skip over that. 10 through 15 on page 4. Item 16 has been

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items twenty five through thirty two on page six

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items thirty three through forty on page seven and items forty one through forty three on page eight

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are there any members of the public that would like to speak regarding the consent agenda

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okay thank you

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with that i will bring it back to the board for motion

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motion

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the

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motion has approved all rights

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okay our first item on the agenda will be public presentations

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This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons to address the board on any matter, not on this agenda.

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But under the jurisdiction of the board, board members may respond briefly to statements made or questions posed.

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They may ask questions for clarification, make referral to staff for factual information,

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or request that staff report back to the board at a later meeting.

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The board may also take action to direct staff to place a matter of business on a future agenda.

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The speakers are limited to two minutes.

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Do we have any members of the public?

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We have one remote speaker, Marisa Rangel.

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Okay, thank you for your comments.

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Thank you. Supervisor Perez.

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Thank you. Thank you so much to the caller.

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I would really ask you if you could please call my office

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and speak to Priscilla Sanchez,

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because she has been working out in the community

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to bring all the resources out to vendors

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to comprehend what's required,

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but also streamline the process.

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We have had, you know, really big success

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in communicating with the public.

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month, how to get into compliance, stay in compliance, and we have all kinds of ways to

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help out.

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So I really appreciate your call.

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You're absolutely right on what's the solution after we deal with the problem.

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And I would please invite you to call my office, 8-6-8-3-6-9-0.

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Speak to Priscilla Sanchez, and she can bring you up to speed entirely on this issue.

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Thank you for your interest in your call.

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Thank you, Supervisor. Is that the end of our callers? Okay, thank you. That takes us to item number two, which is Board Member Announcements and Reports.

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Supervisor Parlie. Thank you, Chairman.

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I want to highlight an urgent issue affecting sheet and goat grazing operations here in Kern County who provide essential wildfire prevention services, not only within our county, but really throughout the state.

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A state law taking effect next month would increase required pay for sheep and goat herders

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to an unsustainable level, threatening to shut down these operations, eliminating a

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critical vegetation management tool.

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I also want to say Kern County is number one in shepherding, goat herding, number

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Number one in the county and also number one for meat producing

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For sheep also given our wildfire wildfire risk

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I am requesting staff return with recommendations on how our board can engage with legislators and support of a legislative fix

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That preserves these essential fire prevention resources

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Thank you supervisor probably it requires the motion. I'm having to do so

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whole heartily support you supervisor parley in second motion all right we

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have motion a second please catch your votes

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motion is approved all right okay

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supervisor couch thank you this morning at our public comment session there was a

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young man named Alejandro if you call he spoke about nonprofits in LA that

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were busing people up you're giving them bus tickets to bring them homeless

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people to Bakersfield. And I asked about the names of those nonprofits. He gave me the

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names. He also gave me a little bit more information, which is some of these nonprofits require proof

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of a family member who they will reunite with. If that's actually happening, we do the

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exact same thing as I understand it. We will send people all over the country if

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we know they're going to, a family member that has agreed to take them in. However,

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next sentence says others do not require a relative to be given a ticket so I

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just want to give this list to the clerk and see if we can't research that a

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little bit and I want to thank Alejandro for giving us the names. Thank you.

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Thank you Supervisor Capuch. Any other additional announcements or reports from

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the board?

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Okay seeing none. That'll take us to Public Works Department. We'll

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We'll be combining agenda items six through nine

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since they're functionally equivalent for process,

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so they will be heard concurrently as one hearing,

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but still treated separately for voting purposes.

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Do you wanna introduce these ads

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before we start the public hearing

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or do we just start the public hearing now?

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Chairman Peters, I would like to present

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and then we can open the public hearing after.

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Okay, perfect.

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I'll turn it over to you, Director Chaplin.

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Chairman, members of the Board,

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Before you today, we are conducting four separate public hearings to determine possible rate increases for four distinctly geographically separate CSAs that would consist of CSA 71, 71.1, 71.2, and 71.3.

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Property owners received a mailed notice at least 45 days before this public hearing.

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This process requires submission of written protests in accordance with the California Constitution.

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Public Works mailed a notice to each property owner.

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Each mailed notice included instructions

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to where a protest letter would need to be submitted,

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the deadline needed for submission,

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identification of the property within the protest letter,

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and a name and signature of the owner needed

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to indicate the property's protest

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of the proposed rate increase.

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Director Chamber, could I interrupt you for just one second?

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On my screen, I've got one showing Item 6

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and one showing the board information, I just want to make sure that the information that

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we're seeing is also being seen on the live stream by folks.

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If I may, Supervisor Peters, this is just a lead-in and then I'll, this is kind of,

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I'm sorry, this isn't on the slides, but this is kind of a lead-up of the legals,

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and then the presentation will follow.

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Okay, thank you.

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Staff verified each protest letter submission, the proposed increase fails if a majority

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50% plus one of the property in her cement protests.

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So a little background on CSA 71.

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CSA 71 was formed to provide sewer planning

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and sewer disposal to unincorporated Northwest

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region of metropolitan Bakersfield

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for over 600 residential properties

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and 55 non-residential properties.

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Within CSA 71, county portion,

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we maintain over 13 miles of active sewer mains.

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CSA 71 provides sewage to four separate zones

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of benefit that I previously listed.

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City of Bakersfield provides sewer treatment

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for CSA-71 under an agreement

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that has been in effect since the 1980s.

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Per the current agreement with the city,

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the city charges CSA-71 for the number

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of connected users based on the city's sewer rate.

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CSA-71 pays these fees on behalf

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of CSA-71 customers as pass-through costs.

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On May 27th of this year,

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the city approved a new five-year Prop 218 sewer

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rate increase.

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CSA 71 has administration engineering and operational costs due to maintaining CSA 71 within the county jurisdiction.

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This is a summary of what the city approved prior at the 527-26 meeting.

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The current rate as of last fiscal year residents in the city were paying $247.13 per year.

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City Council recently approved a five-year plan.

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Year one would increase that fee to $475,

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and then $100 a year for the next four years,

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totaling $875 in five years.

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This is just a map of CSA 71.

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As you'll notice, everything in the red boundary is CSA 71.

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But for the sake of this conversation,

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only properties south of that dash blue line,

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which are in the city portion, are considered today.

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everything north of that is in NRSD's jurisdiction.

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It's important to note on that slide too, it says we have 630 total properties, 575

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residential, 55 commercial, and we maintain county portion is 13.8 miles of sewer main

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as well as one lift station.

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The proposed ordinances for these four CSAs intend to provide a sewer rate that will

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pay the city of Bakersfield pass-through cost and CSA 71 cost of service for each

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specific CSA to avoid support by the county general fund.

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City sewer fees that are the pass-through costs

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will be the wholesale cost of sewer from the city,

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which is based on the recently approved

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city of Biggersfield sewer rate increase,

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and the charge of the CSA residents,

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which may or may not include a discount.

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If inflation costs exceed the estimated 3% annual CPI,

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then the CSA will pass through those costs

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not to exceed 5% based on the cost of service.

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I'm going to run through quickly each CSA, where we are today, if we do nothing, and what

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the staff recommendation is.

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So let's start with CSA 71.

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If we did nothing today, fiscal year 2627, the revenue would be $28,305, however the

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expenses would exceed $41,600, $35,000 of that going directly to the city of Bakersfield.

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So for a net loss of $13,296 and this would be at the current rate of $295 per year.

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Our proposal for CSA 71 is shown in the first column fiscal year 2627.

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The total cost of service would be $549 per parcel per single family parcel, 475 of which

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would go directly pass through to the city of Bakersfield and the cost for the county

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to maintain services in the unincorporated areas stands at $74 per year.

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This would run through a follow-up.

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The total will be $957, $875 of which goes directly to the city as a pass-through and the county cost would increase $2 per year to $82 in year five.

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Please note that the net impact on the general fund for all of these situations that we're proposing is $0.

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dollars. CSA 71.1. The revenue generated at the current status is $37,465 with expenses

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exceeding $74,000. $60,325 would be directly passed through to the city of Bakersfield

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for a net loss of this CSA of $36,671 annually for the first year, the current rate of

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$295. The proposal for CSA 71.1 is the first year would be the total would be $585, $475

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of which would go directly to the City of Bakersold as a pass-through. The county only

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cost would be $110 per equivalent single-family dwelling. This one is notably higher than

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some of the others because this one does maintain a sewer lift station that benefits

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that's the property owners in this area.

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And you notice that in the fifth year,

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we would be exceeding $1,000 total,

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875 of which goes directly to the city

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based on the recently approved rates,

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and 130 at a $5 per year increase for five years.

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Thanks to CSA 71.2.

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The revenue with the current rate is projected

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to be $70,210, but the expenses exceed $126,000

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with 113,000 passing through to the City of Bakersfield

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for a net loss of over $56,000 for the first year.

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Our proposal for 71.2 first year,

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the total would be $535 per single family,

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475 going directly past through to the city,

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$60 for county staff to maintain

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the portion of sewer lines

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within the unincorporated areas.

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Increasing to $955 total in year five

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875 going to the city, $80 for county maintenance.

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And finally, CSA 71.3.

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Revenues at the current rate would be just shy of $95,000

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annually for the first year. Expenses

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$174,695 with $130,000

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directly passed through to the city of Bakersfield for a net loss of $79,710

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at the current rate. Our proposal for

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seventy one point three is twenty six twenty seven fiscal year of five hundred

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seventy five dollars four hundred seventy five which goes directly to the

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city one hundred dollars per year for the county maintained services and

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escalating to a fifth year of over a thousand dollars a year with eight

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seventy five going to the city and one hundred and forty dollars for county

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maintenance. Now in doing this I read these numbers are very high and I

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I think we've seen that throughout this entire process,

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but I think it's important to show what we're passing

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through to the city versus what the county charges

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to maintain what we have in the county.

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So in doing so, I've seen that this is a very large amount

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of money, and we have given you this option,

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this staff's recommendation,

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because this is the only option that I'll present today

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where the county general fund is not asked to contribute.

237
00:18:29,140 --> 00:18:33,940
The next, this next slide is, this is an alternate that I've come up with.

238
00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:37,120
This is not staff recommendation today, but I wanted to give you some options.

239
00:18:37,700 --> 00:18:48,440
And this first option is solely to increase the county's portion to maintain the services that we provide within the county.

240
00:18:48,780 --> 00:18:52,580
This doesn't account for any increased pass-through costs to the city of Bakersfield.

241
00:18:52,580 --> 00:19:01,360
And so if you look in the column just that says first year change, those would be the changes in year 1 to each CSA.

242
00:19:01,620 --> 00:19:14,220
So CSA 71 would increase by $26.13, 71.1, 62.13, 71.2, 12.13, and 71.3, 52.13.

243
00:19:14,340 --> 00:19:15,840
At the bottom it's a good explanation.

244
00:19:16,700 --> 00:19:21,800
The current last fiscal year's pass-through cost was $247.13.

245
00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:25,400
That's what city customers pay for their service last year.

246
00:19:26,360 --> 00:19:29,240
So that's where the 13 cents at the end of every charge comes from.

247
00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:36,400
And last year all of our CSAs charged $47.87 more than the city rate.

248
00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:41,940
And that was attempting to cover our county liabilities and costs.

249
00:19:42,860 --> 00:19:45,560
Those had been held constant for some years.

250
00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:54,520
And so the numbers that you see that you see there are what we need to cover the basic costs to maintain the county infrastructure.

251
00:19:55,000 --> 00:20:00,780
This is just an alternative to that very large increase that you saw in those previous slides.

252
00:20:02,780 --> 00:20:07,040
And then finally I call this the do nothing alternative.

253
00:20:07,900 --> 00:20:15,900
Back on June 9th of this year, your board approved countywide ordinance for all CSAs.

254
00:20:15,900 --> 00:20:23,140
These four CSAs were in that list, and they were in that list at the fiscal year 2526 price.

255
00:20:23,920 --> 00:20:26,860
So if this board, if there's no action taken today,

256
00:20:27,140 --> 00:20:32,380
then we will continue to bill existing customers at last year's rate with no change.

257
00:20:33,880 --> 00:20:38,300
This concludes my presentation, and we're here to answer any questions

258
00:20:38,300 --> 00:20:40,520
or address any concerns that you may have.

259
00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:41,420
Okay.

260
00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:47,120
Thank you. Supervisor Forrest. Thank you, Chairman.

261
00:20:49,180 --> 00:20:52,200
Just quick calculation, it's not exact, but it's an estimate.

262
00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:58,660
So the first year, the four CSAs were looking at an increase of 185,000.

263
00:20:59,180 --> 00:21:06,320
But I noticed in your earlier presentation that there were future increases in the city over time.

264
00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:12,540
So do you have an estimate of what what these are going to be like in a in a five-year and a 10-year projection?

265
00:21:16,380 --> 00:21:22,200
Thank you supervisor floors to the chair. I did have it on this slide. It's the final row on there

266
00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:25,400
So that would be general fund obligation if you do nothing

267
00:21:28,530 --> 00:21:33,490
I'm sorry. This is if you were to just cover county costs if you were to not cover county costs

268
00:21:33,490 --> 00:21:36,270
It would be slightly higher, but if you were to vote for the alternative

269
00:21:37,110 --> 00:21:40,590
We would be year one one hundred and forty six thousand three hundred

270
00:21:40,610 --> 00:21:44,870
hundred dollars general fund obligation and that would escalate to approximately

271
00:21:44,870 --> 00:21:50,930
four hundred sixty five thousand a year in year five. Does that that help. Thank

272
00:21:50,930 --> 00:21:51,490
you.

273
00:21:56,350 --> 00:22:04,210
Thank you. Thank you Supervisor. So I don't understand why why this is being

274
00:22:04,210 --> 00:22:09,330
considered again and maybe we need some more clarification on that but in

275
00:22:09,330 --> 00:22:17,010
In March of this year, we had a proposed resolution to set public hearing on a proposed increase

276
00:22:17,010 --> 00:22:24,090
in ordinance within CSA 71, all these same CSAs that we're considering, and it was voted

277
00:22:24,090 --> 00:22:25,010
down by this board.

278
00:22:25,790 --> 00:22:29,330
And then it was brought back for us to consider again.

279
00:22:31,070 --> 00:22:42,390
And we, as a county, have filed a lawsuit against the city of Bakersfield over the inappropriateness of their fees.

280
00:22:46,150 --> 00:22:52,210
And I don't see the justification for bringing this back to the board for us to just have another bite at the apple.

281
00:22:52,850 --> 00:22:57,810
And I need to understand a justification for why we would now reverse course and approve these.

282
00:23:03,030 --> 00:23:10,730
Supervise Chairman Peters my understanding we brought this back because the city subsequent to the the last time when

283
00:23:10,730 --> 00:23:18,190
well let me let me back up when we first brought it it never the you did not approve a 218 so we never got to a hearing

284
00:23:18,190 --> 00:23:25,370
phase subsequent to that the city of Bakersfield imposed their fees which were higher than we which were lower than

285
00:23:25,370 --> 00:23:31,650
they anticipated. So the decision was made to bring it back to your board to see now

286
00:23:31,650 --> 00:23:36,630
that the city had imposed those fees and it's at a lower amount than we had anticipated.

287
00:23:37,030 --> 00:23:42,570
Did we want to reconsider that item? And at that point, your board did vote. I believe

288
00:23:42,570 --> 00:23:49,330
it was a 3-2 vote to go ahead and send out the 2-18 and try to recoup some of that

289
00:23:49,330 --> 00:23:49,670
money.

290
00:23:52,030 --> 00:23:57,970
That's the best explanation I can give to you on that at this time. And I'm happy

291
00:23:57,970 --> 00:24:02,410
to answer more questions or I can also refer to Claire Collins who's here with me or the

292
00:24:02,410 --> 00:24:09,850
department. However, I did also want to point out that we do need this item is on the agenda.

293
00:24:10,930 --> 00:24:17,330
Your board can certainly make a motion to not hear this item. And if that passes

294
00:24:17,330 --> 00:24:21,730
then we can not hear the item, but if we're going to go forward with the item

295
00:24:21,730 --> 00:24:25,450
we do need to open the public hearing receive public comment and count the

296
00:24:25,450 --> 00:24:30,410
protests. I understand. I just want to get some more clarification. I'm just happy

297
00:24:30,410 --> 00:24:36,610
to answer our questions. So it's a to set the public hearing and all that for

298
00:24:36,610 --> 00:24:41,030
for a rate increase. That's a simple majority vote 3 3 2 correct. Okay

299
00:24:41,030 --> 00:24:49,470
understand. So it was brought back and then three to two it was set for public

300
00:24:49,470 --> 00:24:52,970
hearing understood. And then the

301
00:24:55,110 --> 00:24:58,330
numbers that we saw these these are for the

302
00:24:58,330 --> 00:25:02,230
next I guess the impact that we were seeing to the general fund would be

303
00:25:02,230 --> 00:25:07,030
over a three, four, five year period these big numbers but that's assuming that

304
00:25:07,030 --> 00:25:10,750
nothing changes but we're in the middle of litigation with the city of

305
00:25:10,750 --> 00:25:16,950
that may impact what these rates ultimately are and I think that was the point that the board made the first time around is that

306
00:25:17,450 --> 00:25:28,890
we can hold off on this for a year and not pass along something that's patently unfair and unjustifiable, frankly, to the city of Bakersfield

307
00:25:30,030 --> 00:25:37,450
and reconsider this in a year. And I don't think that my position has changed on that any.

308
00:25:37,450 --> 00:25:43,290
So I would make a motion that we not hear these items.

309
00:25:47,340 --> 00:25:48,480
I'll second that motion.

310
00:25:50,510 --> 00:25:52,090
Okay, we have a motion and a second.

311
00:25:55,560 --> 00:25:56,300
Can I ask a question?

312
00:25:56,620 --> 00:25:57,060
Sure.

313
00:26:01,150 --> 00:26:05,830
If that motion passes, does that mean we don't even want to consider the

314
00:26:08,390 --> 00:26:11,790
alternative that Mr. Champion described?

315
00:26:12,070 --> 00:26:13,990
Or would we get a chance to consider that?

316
00:26:15,430 --> 00:26:19,050
If the motion passes, we're not hearing this at all and we're done.

317
00:26:19,230 --> 00:26:19,450
Correct.

318
00:26:19,450 --> 00:26:20,170
Correct.

319
00:26:20,170 --> 00:26:20,270
Correct.

320
00:26:23,670 --> 00:26:26,950
So I think the public deserves a little bit of an explanation for this.

321
00:26:30,170 --> 00:26:36,250
And I'm going to do my best to try to describe it as I understand it, but you all, you over

322
00:26:36,250 --> 00:26:37,890
here and you over here correctly where I go wrong.

323
00:26:39,050 --> 00:26:43,010
In order to implement, we've sent out the 218 notices.

324
00:26:45,390 --> 00:26:47,810
We didn't get adequate protests.

325
00:26:48,330 --> 00:26:50,010
In fact, we got very few, which is kind of surprising.

326
00:26:51,490 --> 00:27:00,150
The board could go ahead and implement a maximum of what was on the notice, so far so good?

327
00:27:01,430 --> 00:27:03,010
Or anything lower than that?

328
00:27:03,150 --> 00:27:07,630
Supervisor Couch, through the chair, we've not yet gotten to the point where we counted

329
00:27:07,630 --> 00:27:11,450
the protests, so we need to do that before we make that statement.

330
00:27:11,450 --> 00:27:12,930
We also haven't asked anybody to speak.

331
00:27:13,270 --> 00:27:13,670
I get that.

332
00:27:13,670 --> 00:27:14,070
Right, right.

333
00:27:14,550 --> 00:27:18,990
But I only heard in passing that we got a few protests.

334
00:27:18,990 --> 00:27:24,190
So I know you haven't counted them and all that, but I'm assuming that the number is relatively low.

335
00:27:25,310 --> 00:27:27,530
This is all theoretical at this point.

336
00:27:29,890 --> 00:27:37,150
It takes four votes to implement whatever fee we choose to adopt, if we choose to adopt one.

337
00:27:37,390 --> 00:27:37,810
Is that right?

338
00:27:39,350 --> 00:27:40,230
That is correct.

339
00:27:40,630 --> 00:27:44,930
Okay, so you had two members before that were not in favor of doing it at all.

340
00:27:46,230 --> 00:27:47,350
So the

341
00:27:49,850 --> 00:27:56,570
question, in my mind, is if there's not four votes to implement the much higher

342
00:27:56,570 --> 00:28:00,930
fee, is there four votes to implement anything lower than that?

343
00:28:01,650 --> 00:28:07,830
The motion doesn't provide us an opportunity to do that and even consider that.

344
00:28:08,130 --> 00:28:17,370
So I would like to vote no on that motion, but I would like to hear others, or how

345
00:28:17,370 --> 00:28:25,300
how they feel about that. Since I made the motion I'll say that we haven't heard anything

346
00:28:25,300 --> 00:28:33,630
up to this point about an increase to cover some different range than what we've been

347
00:28:33,630 --> 00:28:39,490
presented already up to this point. I haven't had a chance to sit down and look and understand

348
00:28:39,490 --> 00:28:46,930
the justification for this new rate increase. I haven't had a chance to get educated

349
00:28:46,930 --> 00:28:51,830
on it, and so I would have a hard time voting for something, a fee that I haven't had that

350
00:28:51,830 --> 00:28:52,510
information on.

351
00:28:52,530 --> 00:28:56,010
Maybe I don't understand it either then, because I want to make, let me, can I ask a question

352
00:28:56,010 --> 00:28:56,490
about that?

353
00:28:57,790 --> 00:28:58,190
Chairman?

354
00:28:58,630 --> 00:28:59,390
Oh, sure, I'm sorry.

355
00:28:59,650 --> 00:29:06,770
I thought, I thought the middle ground, I'll call it, or the option that provides

356
00:29:06,770 --> 00:29:11,510
for your department to recover your costs, which is much, much lower than what the

357
00:29:11,510 --> 00:29:16,150
City of Beggarsville's pass-through would be, we had discussed in the past.

358
00:29:17,430 --> 00:29:23,810
Am I incorrect about that? Or is this an entirely new subject that you're interjecting today?

359
00:29:23,910 --> 00:29:30,410
Supervisor Couch through the chair. It's in our engineer study as part of the packet that we submitted for the entire packet.

360
00:29:30,530 --> 00:29:32,510
So each item has a...

361
00:29:32,510 --> 00:29:38,010
Even back in March, I thought you had these figures available.

362
00:29:38,830 --> 00:29:45,290
Yes, we have always... It's always been my understanding that my department needed a modest increase

363
00:29:45,290 --> 00:29:50,170
in order to cover costs moving forward for just our department's functionality.

364
00:29:50,690 --> 00:29:54,650
And is this for the public's benefit as well?

365
00:29:55,290 --> 00:29:59,150
We had two, maybe three causes of action in the lawsuit.

366
00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:08,440
One of them was that the county is paying for maintenance in CSA 71 of these lines, but

367
00:30:08,440 --> 00:30:12,640
we don't receive any credit for it from the city of Bakersfield, and that's what this money

368
00:30:12,640 --> 00:30:19,580
is, right? Or am I wrong about that? You are correct. We don't receive, we have

369
00:30:19,580 --> 00:30:23,860
anything outside of the city of Bakersfield limits. That's the responsibility of public

370
00:30:23,860 --> 00:30:31,020
work from the county staff to maintain those lines and those facilities. The city doesn't

371
00:30:31,020 --> 00:30:35,980
reimburse us for any of that. Their fee is solely for facilities within the incorporated

372
00:30:35,980 --> 00:30:37,220
portion of the City Bakership.

373
00:30:37,440 --> 00:30:37,740
Okay.

374
00:30:39,360 --> 00:30:40,160
Thank you.

375
00:30:40,820 --> 00:30:49,260
So I think Supervisor Katch, if I heard your question correctly, is the motion before

376
00:30:49,260 --> 00:30:53,580
does that exclude us from entertaining future motions

377
00:30:53,580 --> 00:30:56,120
to support at least at a minimum his admin costs?

378
00:30:56,360 --> 00:30:59,000
So I don't think that the motion before us would exclude us

379
00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:02,400
from pursuing a secondary motion for that purpose.

380
00:31:03,820 --> 00:31:05,580
Back to the primary motion,

381
00:31:06,040 --> 00:31:11,540
I will not support the motion to discontinue the hearing

382
00:31:11,540 --> 00:31:14,100
based on my philosophical grounds.

383
00:31:14,560 --> 00:31:16,600
And I know that the first vote that we took,

384
00:31:16,600 --> 00:31:19,020
that we did not approve the pass-through.

385
00:31:19,260 --> 00:31:20,940
And I think that's going to be the case here,

386
00:31:21,060 --> 00:31:21,700
reading the tea leaves.

387
00:31:22,240 --> 00:31:24,780
But just for the record, my position

388
00:31:24,780 --> 00:31:28,480
is if there's a increased cost for the end user,

389
00:31:29,200 --> 00:31:30,820
this should be borne by that user

390
00:31:30,820 --> 00:31:32,360
for the fees for service.

391
00:31:32,520 --> 00:31:35,280
So if I live in a CSA for utilities, or roads,

392
00:31:35,540 --> 00:31:38,400
or lighting, or waste management,

393
00:31:39,320 --> 00:31:43,040
any increase that I get or that district gets

394
00:31:43,040 --> 00:31:45,780
is born by the citizens of that service.

395
00:31:46,580 --> 00:31:50,340
We don't saddle a general fund and make the taxpayers pay for that.

396
00:31:50,640 --> 00:31:54,920
So here we have a situation where those that should be paying or not paying

397
00:31:54,920 --> 00:31:58,880
and those that shouldn't be paying or paying, but that's the reality

398
00:31:58,880 --> 00:32:01,880
of where we're at and I'm willing to accept that to move on.

399
00:32:03,000 --> 00:32:07,140
But that just, I support, thank you for bringing this back.

400
00:32:07,280 --> 00:32:11,400
It's not easy. We're navigating, ultimately, the genesis for this

401
00:32:11,400 --> 00:32:20,120
This is a city of Bakersfield with a huge increase in fees for all our metro residents,

402
00:32:20,380 --> 00:32:25,620
the people we serve, as well as the people in the CSAs specifically, and so that's what

403
00:32:25,620 --> 00:32:26,920
gets us into this point today.

404
00:32:27,120 --> 00:32:33,200
So our board is unified on fighting those fees and capturing the costs, and I'm hopeful

405
00:32:33,720 --> 00:32:39,360
with my colleague here that we can recapture those at a future date and bring needed

406
00:32:39,360 --> 00:32:40,040
tax relief.

407
00:32:40,040 --> 00:32:44,200
So just thank you for doing the work. I know it's not easy. But at least you gave us options

408
00:32:44,200 --> 00:32:47,240
And so maybe on the on the second motion Dave

409
00:32:47,240 --> 00:32:51,660
If you want to make something where we can try at least capture the minimum cost of the admin fees

410
00:32:51,660 --> 00:32:53,180
Maybe we can do that after

411
00:32:54,760 --> 00:32:58,320
Well, as I understood the motion it would not allow us to do that

412
00:32:58,800 --> 00:33:03,060
What I well I could clarify. I think the motion was not to continue

413
00:33:03,940 --> 00:33:07,600
This pass through element for the maximum fee cost capture

414
00:33:07,600 --> 00:33:13,780
But I think that has been precluded us from a secondary motion to cover the minimum cost, but I want to

415
00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:17,420
I'll I'll I'll leave that to the maker of the motion

416
00:33:18,660 --> 00:33:21,140
I appreciate that Supervisor Florez. Thank you

417
00:33:21,860 --> 00:33:22,660
Council had

418
00:33:23,760 --> 00:33:29,580
Buzz in if you want to say yeah, I just wanted to clarify it sounds to me like what we have on the tables of motion not to

419
00:33:29,580 --> 00:33:31,160
Hear these items to remove them

420
00:33:32,200 --> 00:33:35,900
So in that case it would be a done deal. However, I had

421
00:33:35,900 --> 00:33:42,880
I requested to speak because I wanted to make sure even before you vote on that there could

422
00:33:42,880 --> 00:33:47,100
be public who wants to speak that you should hear before you take the vote. But yes, if

423
00:33:47,100 --> 00:33:55,160
you vote to remove these items, it's a done deal. And if it fails, then there could

424
00:33:55,160 --> 00:34:00,300
be a second motion after you open the public hearing receipt and do all the things you

425
00:34:00,300 --> 00:34:00,820
do at a hearing.

426
00:34:00,820 --> 00:34:07,580
So we could we could have a second motion for at least cost it's a motion to remove these from the agenda fails

427
00:34:08,520 --> 00:34:11,400
Then we would move forward with the item and hold the public hearing

428
00:34:11,400 --> 00:34:15,960
Okay, but so if his motion fails and we hold the hearing

429
00:34:16,560 --> 00:34:23,260
Do we have a chance at a secondary motion for the cost capture of the admin fees at a more basic level? Yes? Yes

430
00:34:24,680 --> 00:34:25,720
Thank you

431
00:34:29,520 --> 00:34:37,280
I would just say this is the second bite of the apple third bite that we've had and that

432
00:34:37,280 --> 00:34:41,780
doesn't happen a lot on items and this is the first time that I would say this option

433
00:34:41,780 --> 00:34:48,300
has been brought to us and as I understand this is the last day that this can be implemented

434
00:34:48,300 --> 00:34:54,760
is that correct August 10th is the last day it can be implemented so this would

435
00:34:54,760 --> 00:35:01,140
be the last board date to get that done unless you had a special board meeting before the

436
00:35:01,140 --> 00:35:07,540
August 10th. So that is correct. And just for clarification, this is the first time

437
00:35:07,540 --> 00:35:14,380
a hearing has been held on this, but there was previously an item requesting to do a

438
00:35:14,380 --> 00:35:20,440
218 hearing and that failed. Right. Failed once, succeeded once.

439
00:35:27,840 --> 00:35:44,120
So I don't think my position has changed. I think that this is something that we it's one year theoretically until you know we'll come back we'll consider it again. We're in the in the middle of litigation right now we're going to work through those issues.

440
00:35:45,860 --> 00:35:54,980
I, I stand by my amendment, but I would open it up to the public for any, any comment before we take a vote or move forward.

441
00:35:55,700 --> 00:35:57,260
We have no registered speakers.

442
00:35:57,860 --> 00:35:58,380
Okay.

443
00:36:00,460 --> 00:36:03,400
Understood. So that being said,

444
00:36:05,950 --> 00:36:07,110
no, I don't believe so.

445
00:36:07,250 --> 00:36:07,670
That's last time.

446
00:36:10,000 --> 00:36:17,760
That being said, I don't know if Supervisor Perez, after the further clarification, if

447
00:36:17,760 --> 00:36:22,560
you still are, if that's still a second for the motion, but my original motion stands.

448
00:36:22,820 --> 00:36:23,320
Yes, it is.

449
00:36:23,540 --> 00:36:24,180
Okay, thank you.

450
00:36:25,000 --> 00:36:26,080
So, please cast your votes.

451
00:36:28,230 --> 00:36:32,710
Mr. Chairman, real quick, I just want clarification one last time.

452
00:36:33,330 --> 00:36:36,930
If this motion passes, we have no other, the hearings are over.

453
00:36:37,090 --> 00:36:39,830
We cannot make any more motions on this item, any of these items.

454
00:36:41,170 --> 00:36:44,850
This is a motion to remove these items from the calendar and not hear them.

455
00:36:44,850 --> 00:36:46,550
We will no longer be able to talk about it.

456
00:36:46,550 --> 00:36:47,690
It is a dental, correct.

457
00:36:47,950 --> 00:36:52,730
And to be clear, the rates that have already been approved that were already in place last year

458
00:36:53,250 --> 00:36:56,590
will already be on the tax rolls and we will continue collecting those for another year.

459
00:36:56,650 --> 00:36:58,690
We just won't increase them this year.

460
00:36:58,910 --> 00:36:59,370
That's correct.

461
00:36:59,930 --> 00:37:04,510
So the opportunity to recoup the public works costs,

462
00:37:04,990 --> 00:37:07,450
we will not have that opportunity if the motion passes.

463
00:37:07,630 --> 00:37:09,090
Why don't you have the opportunity to talk about it?

464
00:37:09,090 --> 00:37:13,950
Not this year unless you do a special meeting and have a fourth bite at the apple.

465
00:37:15,110 --> 00:37:25,890
Would the maker of the motion be amenable to amending the motion to at least not doing the full increase, but capturing the low admin cost?

466
00:37:27,550 --> 00:37:34,190
I'm going to be honest. I do appreciate where you're coming from. I understand it, but I don't think that this is the right way to go.

467
00:37:34,190 --> 00:37:40,390
I'm not at all in favor of it. So I want to stick by my motion and then if this doesn't doesn't pass

468
00:37:40,390 --> 00:37:42,370
Then then by all means of the force

469
00:37:43,190 --> 00:37:45,970
Open back up. Thank you. Okay

470
00:37:52,240 --> 00:37:56,280
that motion fails. So I did returns to the board for additional

471
00:37:57,600 --> 00:38:00,840
Conversation sure and I'll make a motion on the staff's

472
00:38:03,100 --> 00:38:05,040
Alternative that would allow

473
00:38:06,040 --> 00:38:13,720
the fee, the rate to be increased to capture your public works costs, the maintenance costs.

474
00:38:14,620 --> 00:38:15,140
Is that adequate?

475
00:38:18,150 --> 00:38:18,490
Yes.

476
00:38:19,910 --> 00:38:25,270
May I interject? I'm sorry. I think it would be appropriate before we take a motion to open

477
00:38:25,270 --> 00:38:30,430
the hearing and go through the proper hearing process before we make a motion.

478
00:38:30,670 --> 00:38:31,330
But we just did that.

479
00:38:31,990 --> 00:38:34,370
No, I don't think we've opened the hearing yet.

480
00:38:35,050 --> 00:38:49,090
Okay, so this is the time and place for the public hearing to consider the proposed resolutions establishing service levels and boundaries and the proposed ordinances establishing the schedule of sewer service charges for fiscal year 2026, 2027 and providing for collection of the same on the tax roll.

481
00:38:49,090 --> 00:39:03,370
These items are for the following county service areas CSA 71 CSA 71.1 West Bakershield Lewis Ranch CSA 71.2 West Bakershield the board ranch and CSA 71.3 city West Bakershield.

482
00:39:05,490 --> 00:39:13,470
So I believe I turn it back over to Director Champlin or do we just go to public hearing on this at this point.

483
00:39:15,750 --> 00:39:22,050
I think you can go straight to public hearing, receive public comment, and then if there's

484
00:39:22,050 --> 00:39:24,610
no public comment, close the hearing and consider written protests.

485
00:39:25,410 --> 00:39:25,710
Okay.

486
00:39:28,110 --> 00:39:30,150
Let's go to public comment now.

487
00:39:31,330 --> 00:39:32,670
We have no registered speakers.

488
00:39:33,090 --> 00:39:33,710
Okay, thank you.

489
00:39:36,170 --> 00:39:39,430
So I will return to Director Chamble.

490
00:39:50,450 --> 00:39:53,110
It would be appropriate to count the votes at this time.

491
00:39:53,110 --> 00:39:54,110
Total

492
00:39:58,050 --> 00:40:06,050
for these four CSAs, we've received a total of three total protests over these 630 areas.

493
00:40:06,750 --> 00:40:12,150
We received two protests for CSA 71.2 and one for CSA 71.3,

494
00:40:12,410 --> 00:40:16,310
which does not constitute a formal protest for any of these CSAs.

495
00:40:23,400 --> 00:40:26,800
Now it would be appropriate for the Board to consider motions

496
00:40:26,800 --> 00:40:32,180
and move toward motions and voting on each of the four agenda items separately.

497
00:40:34,610 --> 00:40:40,850
And just to clarify, I know I had a couple of buzz-ins from County Council and

498
00:40:40,850 --> 00:40:44,670
CAO position 2. Are there any comments before we go to those?

499
00:40:47,340 --> 00:40:49,680
I do not have any further comments at this time.

500
00:40:49,820 --> 00:40:55,860
It would be appropriate to take board questions and motions at this point.

501
00:40:56,220 --> 00:40:56,480
Thank you.

502
00:40:57,360 --> 00:40:59,780
Okay, so this is the time and place for the public hearing

503
00:40:59,780 --> 00:41:03,320
and to submit written protest considering an increase in the assessment

504
00:41:03,320 --> 00:41:08,080
for the various CSA 71 areas for fiscal year 2026, 2027.

505
00:41:08,800 --> 00:41:10,680
Before I open the hearing for public comment,

506
00:41:10,900 --> 00:41:12,540
are there any comments or questions for the board?

507
00:41:13,120 --> 00:41:13,260
I'll

508
00:41:16,330 --> 00:41:18,950
now open the public hearing for the CSA 71 areas

509
00:41:18,950 --> 00:41:21,290
affected by the City of Bakersfield sewer rate increases

510
00:41:21,770 --> 00:41:23,650
and ask if there are any public comments.

511
00:41:25,250 --> 00:41:26,810
Excuse me, and if anyone in the audience

512
00:41:26,810 --> 00:41:29,090
has written protests, now would be the time

513
00:41:29,090 --> 00:41:30,490
to deliver them to the clerk or the board.

514
00:41:31,150 --> 00:41:33,370
Again, the board will individually vote on the items

515
00:41:33,370 --> 00:41:34,910
at the conclusion of this comment period,

516
00:41:34,910 --> 00:41:37,710
but now is the time for public comment on all four items.

517
00:41:38,570 --> 00:41:39,510
In public comment.

518
00:41:40,210 --> 00:41:40,630
Okay.

519
00:41:43,320 --> 00:41:47,020
Seeing no public comment, we now close the public hearing and return to staff.

520
00:41:47,540 --> 00:41:50,340
Madam Clerk, have you received any written protests that need to be considered?

521
00:41:50,820 --> 00:41:51,060
No.

522
00:41:51,960 --> 00:41:52,440
Okay.

523
00:41:52,640 --> 00:41:55,760
Mr. Champlin, would you please summarize the written protest results for County's

524
00:41:55,760 --> 00:41:57,120
service area number 71?

525
00:41:59,530 --> 00:42:03,010
There were zero protests for CSA 71.

526
00:42:03,970 --> 00:42:04,270
Okay.

527
00:42:04,270 --> 00:42:12,550
Now, I will bring it back to the board for a motion on staff's recommendation for item 6 for county service area at number 71

528
00:42:18,740 --> 00:42:21,800
There's a motion on the table. I

529
00:42:21,800 --> 00:42:23,860
believe I

530
00:42:23,860 --> 00:42:27,940
Guess we need four separate motions. So for the first CSA

531
00:42:28,820 --> 00:42:31,380
Emotion is to increase the rate to

532
00:42:33,790 --> 00:42:40,230
The cost that would provide for the recovery of the public current County Public Works cost of I think it's $74

533
00:42:43,870 --> 00:42:48,590
Supervisor Couch through the chair as the last slide second to last slide

534
00:42:48,590 --> 00:42:55,930
It actually be an increase of twenty six dollars and thirteen cents for year one and then there's a five-year schedule there with CPI

535
00:42:56,490 --> 00:42:57,290
Added in

536
00:42:57,970 --> 00:43:04,950
Okay, so the motion is to increase the rate by twenty six dollars and thirteen cents for CSA 71 second and again just for clarification

537
00:43:04,950 --> 00:43:07,650
We're already collecting rates at the same rate as last year

538
00:43:09,010 --> 00:43:12,790
Regardless they're already on the tax rolls. This is just for an increase to those rates correct

539
00:43:13,650 --> 00:43:17,130
correct week that this is in addition to the two hundred ninety five dollar

540
00:43:17,130 --> 00:43:20,510
rate and it puts it at three hundred twenty one dollars and thirteen cents

541
00:43:20,510 --> 00:43:22,050
okay i just want to be clear thank you

542
00:43:22,750 --> 00:43:25,190
we have a motion in a second please cash your votes

543
00:43:31,270 --> 00:43:32,990
the motion is posed

544
00:43:33,490 --> 00:43:34,350
three yes

545
00:43:34,350 --> 00:43:35,090
to know

546
00:43:35,710 --> 00:43:37,470
supervisor peters supervisor press

547
00:43:39,470 --> 00:43:42,850
okay mr chamberlain would you please summarize the written protest results

548
00:43:42,850 --> 00:43:45,430
for county service area number seventy one point one

549
00:43:51,800 --> 00:43:55,940
We have received zero protests for County Service Area 71.1.

550
00:43:57,600 --> 00:44:01,440
Mr. Chairman, why don't you remake your first motion all over again?

551
00:44:01,620 --> 00:44:04,940
Because we need three votes to increase, four votes to increase these, correct?

552
00:44:06,400 --> 00:44:07,900
So three votes doesn't get it done.

553
00:44:08,780 --> 00:44:12,140
So it looks like we're going to have three, it's going to be three to two all the way out.

554
00:44:12,340 --> 00:44:15,940
So reverting back to your initial motion would save us a little time.

555
00:44:17,720 --> 00:44:19,920
You guys are sure. You don't want to take the time.

556
00:44:22,100 --> 00:44:26,900
Well, I thought we needed to make the motion to give it a chance, and we did, and it failed.

557
00:44:27,240 --> 00:44:32,820
Yeah. I'd be happy to make the motion that we deny the rest of these items.

558
00:44:33,360 --> 00:44:34,680
So, second.

559
00:44:35,100 --> 00:44:36,900
Thank you. Please cast your votes.

560
00:44:43,850 --> 00:44:45,150
The motion is approved. All eyes.

561
00:44:45,930 --> 00:44:46,770
Okay. Thank you.

562
00:44:53,980 --> 00:44:54,240
All right.

563
00:44:56,230 --> 00:44:57,130
Oh, we heard you.

564
00:44:57,390 --> 00:44:57,570
Yeah.

565
00:44:58,170 --> 00:44:59,510
This secures us, Rob.

566
00:45:00,370 --> 00:45:05,770
Our next item is item number 19 under CAO's office, and that is a proposed salary for chief

567
00:45:05,770 --> 00:45:12,050
probation officer Elaine Moore at step 8, salary range 83.6, and bi-weekly auto allowance effective

568
00:45:12,050 --> 00:45:14,390
retroactive to July 25, 2026.

569
00:45:15,310 --> 00:45:20,270
Good afternoon, Mr. Chair. Last month, many of you are aware, the Kern County Superior

570
00:45:20,270 --> 00:45:25,850
Court judges selected Elaine Moore as a chief probation officer for Kern County.

571
00:45:28,790 --> 00:45:29,330
And

572
00:45:29,330 --> 00:45:33,550
As the appointing authority, your board has jurisdiction over her salary.

573
00:45:34,430 --> 00:45:38,830
Staff is recommending step eight of the salary range for the Chief Probation Officer, which

574
00:45:38,830 --> 00:45:43,710
is consistent with the step level that retiring Chief Probation Officer William Dickinson

575
00:45:43,710 --> 00:45:45,230
began at three years ago.

576
00:45:45,670 --> 00:45:49,970
When he was appointed and who you honored this morning, therefore it is recommended

577
00:45:49,970 --> 00:45:52,110
that your board approve a salary of step eight.

578
00:45:52,730 --> 00:45:57,730
At salary range 83.6 and the department head auto allowance for Elaine Moore, Chief

579
00:45:57,730 --> 00:46:05,030
probation officer effective retroactive to July 25th, 2026. Also, Ms. Moore is present

580
00:46:05,030 --> 00:46:10,170
today and with your indulgence, Mr. Chairman, she'd gladly like to introduce herself and

581
00:46:10,170 --> 00:46:10,850
say a few words.

582
00:46:12,610 --> 00:46:14,430
That'd be great. We look forward to hearing from her.

583
00:46:15,230 --> 00:46:15,850
Can I see you?

584
00:46:15,850 --> 00:46:17,010
Oh, I'm sorry. Supervisor Perez.

585
00:46:17,110 --> 00:46:22,250
Thank you. Please come on forward, Director. I also just wanted to add that while the

586
00:46:22,250 --> 00:46:27,190
official selection occurs by the judges that the board of supervisors has engaged in

587
00:46:27,190 --> 00:46:33,010
that process very extensively, usually D5 and D2. And so I want to say that Supervisor

588
00:46:33,010 --> 00:46:38,970
Parley and I did participate, we did listen to, which were an excellent panel of candidates.

589
00:46:39,210 --> 00:46:45,870
I was just floored, really, I mean it. And obviously you shine and we were so thrilled

590
00:46:45,870 --> 00:46:50,990
to select you, but that was really an incredible group of people. I'm so pleased to see the

591
00:46:50,990 --> 00:46:56,090
quality of people interested in this and within even your own department that were

592
00:46:56,090 --> 00:47:01,510
just so knowledgeable. But the Board of Supervisors did engage in that process and we, you know,

593
00:47:01,590 --> 00:47:06,050
this is a family operation, so we're just so pleased. Of course, congratulations again

594
00:47:06,050 --> 00:47:07,450
to you, Chief.

595
00:47:08,170 --> 00:47:13,450
Thank you, Supervisor Perez, through the Chair. I am Elaine Moore, your newly appointed Chief

596
00:47:13,450 --> 00:47:17,730
Probation Officer. I've worked for the department for 30 years. I started there

597
00:47:17,730 --> 00:47:23,450
when I was 18 years old as an extra help department aide, making $6.86 an hour.

598
00:47:23,450 --> 00:47:30,970
I've never had another job and I am very committed to the department and to the county and to

599
00:47:30,970 --> 00:47:35,950
providing the exceptional level of service that I know you've become accustomed to under

600
00:47:35,950 --> 00:47:38,490
Chief Dickinson and Chief Miracle before him.

601
00:47:39,150 --> 00:47:45,330
I do realize I have some big shoes to fill and I am accepting that challenge and looking

602
00:47:45,330 --> 00:47:48,930
forward to all of the great things that we're going to be able to do together and

603
00:47:48,930 --> 00:47:50,190
And I appreciate your support.

604
00:47:50,390 --> 00:47:54,430
I appreciate your participation in the interview process.

605
00:47:54,710 --> 00:48:02,490
I think that that's truly very important since I do work for you, even though I am appointed

606
00:48:02,490 --> 00:48:03,690
by the Superior Court.

607
00:48:03,870 --> 00:48:06,270
So thank you so much for your participation in the process.

608
00:48:06,730 --> 00:48:11,230
And I look forward to continuing our relationship and the good things that probation can do

609
00:48:11,230 --> 00:48:11,850
for the community.

610
00:48:12,090 --> 00:48:12,890
So thank you so much.

611
00:48:13,610 --> 00:48:14,470
Thank you, Chief.

612
00:48:14,690 --> 00:48:15,090
Congratulations.

613
00:48:15,670 --> 00:48:16,430
And I can do a good job.

614
00:48:16,770 --> 00:48:17,130
Thank you.

615
00:48:18,980 --> 00:48:24,660
Okay sure that's your brush catch chief. I just want to say welcome and give you an opportunity to weigh on in the sewer

616
00:48:24,660 --> 00:48:25,200
rate issue

617
00:48:30,200 --> 00:48:36,800
Well, I do live in the county, but not the west side and so I think I'm gonna like step away from

618
00:48:36,800 --> 00:48:40,080
That'll be my first major decision. It's a to not

619
00:48:52,180 --> 00:48:55,880
Do you have any members of the public that would like to comment on this issue?

620
00:48:57,240 --> 00:49:01,860
We have no public speakers. Okay, perfect. We'll bring it back to the board then for comment or motion.

621
00:49:02,100 --> 00:49:12,760
I'll happily make that. I told Chief Moore last week at her swearing-in ceremony that everybody is seeing her praises and everybody is so happy, which means you're just at the beginning.

622
00:49:13,920 --> 00:49:20,780
It just means it's a honeymoon. I said, you asked for it, says her, so here we are. I think you have the goods. You can take it.

623
00:49:20,780 --> 00:49:22,480
motion on staff's recommendation.

624
00:49:24,580 --> 00:49:25,220
The

625
00:49:27,910 --> 00:49:29,550
motion has approved all ayes.

626
00:49:30,590 --> 00:49:33,690
All right. Thank you. That takes us to item number 20.

627
00:49:33,790 --> 00:49:36,590
And that's proposed amendments to Kern County Ordinance Code

628
00:49:36,590 --> 00:49:40,770
adding section 2.24.010 to establish the Department of

629
00:49:40,770 --> 00:49:43,990
Elections and appointment of the registrar of voters adding

630
00:49:43,990 --> 00:49:48,310
section 2.24.020 to describe the duties of the Department

631
00:49:48,310 --> 00:49:53,070
of Elections and amending section 3.04.020

632
00:49:53,070 --> 00:49:59,030
Chapter 3.04, Title III, human research is exempting the registrar voters from the civil

633
00:49:59,030 --> 00:49:59,710
service system.

634
00:50:00,210 --> 00:50:02,470
I'll turn back over to Mr. Jason Levy.

635
00:50:02,890 --> 00:50:03,810
Thank you, Chairman Peters.

636
00:50:04,450 --> 00:50:09,670
So it's been about 10 months since Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 858, which allows

637
00:50:09,670 --> 00:50:13,050
Kern County to have separately appointed registrar voters.

638
00:50:13,730 --> 00:50:18,070
A few weeks after he signed that bill, staff provided your board and the public

639
00:50:18,070 --> 00:50:21,490
with an outline and timeline of steps that needed to occur.

640
00:50:21,490 --> 00:50:26,090
And I thought the introduction of this ordinance would be a good opportunity to update your

641
00:50:26,090 --> 00:50:27,810
board and the public on that progress.

642
00:50:28,770 --> 00:50:33,710
So for the first six months of 2026, your board approved a job description and salary

643
00:50:33,710 --> 00:50:35,170
range for registrar voters.

644
00:50:35,270 --> 00:50:37,750
It was filed and accepted by the Civil Service Commission.

645
00:50:38,570 --> 00:50:43,750
And the recruitment process for filling the registrar voters position is well underway.

646
00:50:44,790 --> 00:50:49,250
For the final six months of this year, these four steps will complete the transition

647
00:50:49,250 --> 00:50:54,970
to a stand-alone Department of Elections, adopt an ordinance establishing the Department of Elections

648
00:50:54,970 --> 00:50:59,990
and registrar of voters as a department head, amend the civil service system ordinance to

649
00:50:59,990 --> 00:51:06,890
exempt the registrar of voters position from the civil service system, select and hire a registrar

650
00:51:06,890 --> 00:51:12,070
of voters to lead the Department of Elections, and then establish a budget and evaluate staffing

651
00:51:12,070 --> 00:51:17,290
levels and the needs to create and or delete positions to effectively staff a Department

652
00:51:17,290 --> 00:51:22,810
of elections. So implementation of these first two steps begins today with the introduction

653
00:51:22,810 --> 00:51:31,050
of the proposed ordinance, and initial interviews with registrar or voters is nearing and will

654
00:51:31,050 --> 00:51:35,330
occur by mid-August with a final round of interviews occurring soon thereafter.

655
00:51:36,550 --> 00:51:41,310
So we're almost there. This is one more step with the introduction of this ordinance today.

656
00:51:42,110 --> 00:51:45,930
The recommended action is for your board to waive reading and introduce the proposed

657
00:51:45,930 --> 00:51:53,390
ordinance, adding Section 2.24.010 to establish a Department of Elections and the appointment

658
00:51:53,390 --> 00:52:00,050
of the registrar voters, adding Section 2.24.020 to describe the duties of the Department of

659
00:52:00,050 --> 00:52:09,130
Elections and amending Section 3.04.020, Chapter 3.04, Title III, Human Resources, exempting

660
00:52:09,130 --> 00:52:13,510
the registrar voters from the civil service system. Happy to answer any questions or

661
00:52:13,510 --> 00:52:15,010
provide clarification if you need it.

662
00:52:15,650 --> 00:52:16,070
Thank you, sir.

663
00:52:16,630 --> 00:52:18,090
Any questions or comments from the board?

664
00:52:20,380 --> 00:52:21,100
Supervisor Perez.

665
00:52:21,400 --> 00:52:22,560
Jason, thank you.

666
00:52:23,240 --> 00:52:24,500
You are exceptional.

667
00:52:24,940 --> 00:52:26,700
And you are consistently exceptional.

668
00:52:27,480 --> 00:52:30,380
You really, we're really lucky to have you.

669
00:52:30,660 --> 00:52:31,740
I just want to say thank you.

670
00:52:35,190 --> 00:52:35,850
Thank you, Supervisor.

671
00:52:36,050 --> 00:52:37,750
Any other questions, comments, or a motion?

672
00:52:42,140 --> 00:52:43,140
Motion on staff recommendation.

673
00:52:44,720 --> 00:52:45,880
Also, don't do it, Jason.

674
00:52:46,280 --> 00:52:46,380
Right.

675
00:52:47,800 --> 00:52:50,480
All right. We'll wait and see who's selected for these.

676
00:52:50,880 --> 00:52:54,540
All right. We have a motion to second. Please cast your votes.

677
00:52:57,380 --> 00:52:58,600
The motion has approved. All eyes.

678
00:52:59,420 --> 00:53:03,120
Okay. Thank you. That takes us to the end of our afternoon agenda.

679
00:53:03,360 --> 00:53:05,940
So with a motion.

680
00:53:06,440 --> 00:53:07,220
Motion to adjourn.

681
00:53:07,360 --> 00:53:10,640
Okay. Perfect. With that, without any further objection, we're adjourned.