[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[0:00] For 1st, 2026, we're going to call to order the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, letting the record show that Supervisors ask you a lejo and church are present. Supervisors, low pez, will be arriving soon. And Supervisor Daniels is absent today. Are there any additions or corrections for our closed session agenda this morning? No additions or corrections.
[0:24] All right, we have items number one, A through C on closed session calendar.
[0:29] Is there any public comment on the closed session calendar today?
[0:35] Seeing none, we'll close public comment and move on to public comment.
[0:41] We'll move on to will we'll recess the report for the closed session.
[0:44] Recess into closed session for these agenda items.
[0:47] We'll be back here at 10 30.
[0:48] Thank you.
[0:51] All right, welcome, everyone.
[0:52] Thank you for joining us today.
[0:55] It is September 1st, 2026, where we convening the Monterey County Board on our public agenda
[1:02] items, letting the records show that all supervisors are present with the exception of
[1:06] Kate Daniels, who will be absent today.
[1:09] I'd like to welcome and announce our Spanish interpretation services that are available.
[1:14] We have Diego Salis with us remotely.
[1:16] Diego, are you able to make announcements?
[1:19] Yes, Adam.
[1:21] I'm very good today, As a todos, my name is Diego Celes,
[1:24] and I'm going to do this in Spanish
[1:25] for today's session.
[1:27] If you are planning to do a public comment
[1:30] and need to serve in terms of
[1:32] the audience,
[1:34] and it's obviously much stronger
[1:35] to hear that.
[1:37] I'm going to do a foundation
[1:38] for the integration
[1:40] for the safety of the international community.
[1:43] Thank you.
[1:49] Thank you.
[1:50] So, right, next we'll be having the pledge of allegiance if we could have everyone placed
[1:55] in.
[2:21] All right.
[2:22] Are there any additions or corrections for our agenda this morning?
[2:25] There are for item number two and four under ceremonial resolutions.
[2:29] Both received a revised ceremonial resolution.
[2:33] For item number 16.1 under appointments, a revised warp report was received.
[2:38] And lastly, for the adjournment memory, it should be Octavia, Reiscellenus, and not Octavia
[2:42] Donna Reisselinis.
[2:45] Great. Thank you.
[2:47] For those questions.
[2:49] We're going to start with ceremony resolutions.
[2:50] We do have a couple items before we get to public comment.
[2:55] Okay.
[2:56] We'll get to public comment on that item.
[2:58] Thank you.
[2:59] Okay, so we have ceremony resolutions to begin with.
[3:02] We're going to start with items number two through.
[3:08] Seven.
[3:09] Is there any public comment on our ceremony resolutions this morning?
[3:14] Okay. We have a motion for approval from Alejo, a second from Lopez. I didn't see any public comment. All in favor.
[3:23] All right. Passes unanimously and we'll start with our presentations.
[3:36] All right. Good morning, everyone.
[3:40] It is always our honor and these chambers of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors take a moment to honor some unsung heroes in our community.
[3:49] Today, it is our honor to especially recognize National Rehabilitation Awareness Week and to honor the outstanding health professionals of Natividad Medical Centers outpatient therapy services for their exemplary service to our community.
[4:03] I think this is the first time we will be doing this type of recognition for rehabilitation awareness weekend for the outpatient therapy service.
[4:10] And then we want to call up Blair Limone and all our team to receive this and we can have
[4:15] some special guest say a few words and just a bit as well.
[4:18] So come on up, everyone rehabilitation is something many of us don't think about until we,
[4:26] a family member, or someone we love suddenly faces a debilitating medical condition.
[4:32] We often think about the emergency room or a hospital stay, but recovery doesn't end when someone
[4:37] discharged. For many patients that is when another difficult journey begins from the hospital,
[4:43] sometimes to rehabilitation facility and eventually back home where the hard work will
[4:47] rebuild their lives continues. That is where rehabilitation professionals become so important.
[4:53] They help people regain some of the most basic functions that many of us take for granted each and
[4:58] every day.
[4:59] Standin' up.
[5:00] Open up, walking, moving an arm or leg, maintaining balance, communicating or becoming independent again.
[5:06] But rehabilitation is more than just physical recovery. It is about restoring confidence, dignity, independence, and hope.
[5:14] And that work requires tremendous patience, compassion, encouragement, and understanding.
[5:20] This recognition today is particularly personal for me, because my mother and my stepfather, Hosecol Arruyas are here with us today.
[5:27] Jose has been more than 30 years of his as a dedicated classified school employee with the Gonzalez Unified School District, including many years as a bus driver.
[5:38] Over those decades, thousands of children depended on him to get safely to school, to get back home, sporting events and field trips, and he was so committed that he never even missed a day of work.
[5:49] But last October, Jose suffered a stroke.
[5:53] He was hospitalized for weeks, and when he finally was able to return home, one of the first
[5:58] things he wanted to do was to begin his therapy.
[6:01] He was determined to get stronger and regain as much independence as possible, and he found
[6:06] the perfect place to get those services and activities outpatient therapy services.
[6:10] So our family, when it's firsthand, the professionalism, the patients, the compassion and
[6:15] encouragement. This team provides at every visit. They didn't just help post
[6:20] them with this recovery. They gave them encouragement and they gave them hope.
[6:24] Jose wanted to be here personally today, along with my mother, Maria Luisucco
[6:27] Lucia, who is a retired county of Monterey, a registered nurse at the Alosal
[6:31] Health Clinic. They wanted to come and thank the dedicated employees who
[6:35] gave him so much on his journey. He still has a ways to go, but you are the
[6:41] people who give them hope. So we wanted to call up my mother and Jose to come
[6:44] say, a few words before we prevent the resolution.
[6:47] Let's give them around a plaza, everybody.
[6:51] I think the first time I'm on,
[6:52] because Pete's on an item here.
[6:57] Yes, he can bring, yep.
[7:01] Oh, wait for you.
[7:02] Patel, I was saying, I'm interested in your mama
[7:04] by the seal of Palavras.
[7:05] Oh, wait for him to come.
[7:05] You can serve things on boards.
[7:08] Good morning, everybody, that is here.
[7:10] I just want to say thank you for this team.
[7:14] I never had a family that had a stroke.
[7:17] Cole said my husband, he was very healthy like Louis said he worked.
[7:23] Actually Gonzales school paid him back about an year, a little bit over a year of sick
[7:27] leave that he never used to be sick.
[7:30] He will never go home and rest.
[7:31] He was very dedicated to the job he was doing.
[7:35] Cole said only problem was that he had high cholesterol and he was always with a normal.
[7:41] And that was his only medical problem that he had.
[7:43] He had high blood pressure.
[7:44] He didn't have no diabetes like most of us, you know, we worried about stroke because we
[7:51] have diabetes, we worry about stroke because we have high blood pressure and it was kind
[7:55] of surprising that he had this stroke because he didn't have hypertension.
[8:00] I just want to tell you about the symptoms he had so that maybe you might have a family member
[8:04] that might have this symptoms.
[8:06] I was so used to get up at six o'clock in the morning to do my his coffee and my coffee.
[8:10] You know, I was so used to having coffee from him.
[8:12] And I heard him gagging and trying to vomit in the restroom and I wonder what's wrong with him, you know.
[8:19] He was trying to vomit and he couldn't because he had nothing in his stomach and he that woke me up and I said what's wrong with you.
[8:25] He said I feel nauseated and I can't I'm feeling really weak and I said that's funny.
[8:31] You know you feeling really weak right now and I walked him back to bed and I told him you know what there's something going on with you that this is not you.
[8:39] So I laid him down in bed and said, just give me a half an hour to get dressed, you know,
[8:43] I'll go and fit my doggy because I have a little yorggy dog and let me go and take him out to
[8:46] pool because I know that going to the emergency was going to take a very long time. So give me
[8:51] enough time just laying bed and let me take the doggy and I put him back in his little home there.
[8:58] I took a set to Sonina Valley hospital and right as soon as I got to the hospital they went
[9:05] to do a lot of tests, but work, they did MRI,
[9:08] they did everything.
[9:10] Dr. Kim back and told me, you know what?
[9:12] Maria, your husband is having a stroke.
[9:15] Stroke, I said, yeah, he's having a stroke.
[9:19] And they did all kinds of tests when he came back.
[9:22] And I saw Jose, I felt so sorry for him,
[9:25] because his hand was so stiff like this.
[9:28] His leg, he couldn't move it.
[9:30] And his hand was curled like this.
[9:34] And anyway,
[9:34] It was very sad time for me, you know, but I'm sorry because I know a lot of people have family that have strokes.
[9:45] I've seen so many now, you know.
[9:47] Anyway, from there, he was in the hospital four days in the transferring moment to rehab and activities for him to cope, to get better in other words.
[9:57] And he was there four days, they did a little bit of a...
[10:00] A physical therapy, they did some occupational therapy, they even did a speech therapy, because they
[10:05] want to make sure he speech was okay. But that was only for a few days, and they had enough time
[10:11] there, not enough time point, because there has so many other patients there. Very friendly
[10:17] nurses and doctors, but there was not enough time to take care of all of them. There was so many of them.
[10:23] But anyway, when he got discharged outside, I wanted to look for a place that I could take him there,
[10:29] If I have to take him there because he I need to him to work on on exercise and the machines and everything and
[10:36] I couldn't find a place. I mean, there was some physical that came over the house, but it wasn't not but anyway
[10:42] to make things short I found this group of
[10:46] Ladies here the staff here
[10:49] Which they can say if you were later and I and now who says doing much better look he couldn't even write his name
[10:55] He couldn't write his name
[11:00] He couldn't raise his hand up. He couldn't go all the way up. He couldn't walk. He was just so stiff, you know.
[11:06] And the doctor told me, you very lucky Maria because he had almost like a paralyzed stroke.
[11:11] You know, and I couldn't understand why, but here he is.
[11:14] I just wanted to say a few words for the staff. And you guys, you might have to need a term interpreter.
[11:19] Okay, my name is José Coba Rubias, and I want to thank you for the opportunity to
[11:29] give me the feeling that they helped me a lot, and I am very professional,
[11:35] I hope you will be able to give me the feeling that they helped me a lot,
[12:14] May I ask you a question?
[12:17] May I ask you a question?
[12:18] My name is Jose Corruluas.
[12:19] I ended up in a hospital where I was very taken care of by very professional therapies
[12:25] who helped me.
[12:26] Her name was Jennifer.
[12:27] I couldn't work, but thanks to them I was able to get back raise my hands.
[12:32] Thank you to all of them.
[12:34] So this resolution just recognizes National Rehabilitation Awareness Week
[12:38] in Monterey County and will be observed September 14th through the 20th of the
[12:42] under the same building futures, the rehabilitation,
[12:46] to recognize the transformative benefits of rehabilitation
[12:48] and celebrate the achievements of individuals who have regained strength,
[12:52] the independence, and quality of life through rehabilitative care.
[12:55] So therefore on behalf of the Board of Supervisors and all residents,
[12:57] we hereby recognize this week as National Rehabilitation Week in our county
[13:01] and commence outpatient therapy services and two-edit medical center.
[13:05] It's an entire disciplinary team for their exemplary service, compassionate care,
[13:09] not sending commitment to helping patients through Dr. Monterey County and the Central Coast
[13:13] recover, regained independence, and built brighter features.
[13:16] So with that, we want to present this to you on behalf of all our community and my mama
[13:21] and my sub-dad, of course.
[13:22] Thank you very much.
[13:23] You're getting around a pleasure, everybody.
[13:29] I guess I'm the spokesperson for today.
[13:32] I'm Andrea Rosenberg, I'm the Chief Ancillary and Support Services Officer at Natividad,
[13:36] and I have the peer pleasure of overseeing the therapy departments at Natividad.
[13:42] I quickly want to introduce the people that are up here.
[13:44] It really takes an entire team to be able to do
[13:47] all the amazing work that you got to hear about.
[13:50] So we have Blair Lee Mone.
[13:51] She is our director of Therapy Services at Natividad.
[13:56] We have Jenny, who is the Occupational Therapist,
[13:59] Rotty, who is a physical therapist.
[14:02] And Jessica, who's our supervising therapist in the department.
[14:06] So we're really appreciative of this recognition today.
[14:09] It really means a lot.
[14:10] Our team does excellent work at Natividad and it's really nice that we've got a few minutes.
[14:15] Our 15 minutes of fame to be highlighted today at the Board of Supervisors.
[14:19] So thank you so much.
[14:23] Anybody else?
[14:24] All right.
[14:25] We'll take a photo.
[14:26] Yeah.
[14:27] Can I just say one word?
[14:45] Yes.
[14:46] Just that's the word.
[14:47] You know, how we got mean was that we got this group.
[14:52] It wasn't only me.
[14:53] It was a lot of people seeing outside waiting for their husband and why they're children.
[14:58] All the ones who are waiting for their
[15:00] I started talking to all of them, and I was going to get a petition because they all were telling me how great this team was.
[15:07] It wasn't only my effort or his. It was a lot of other patients who were waiting outside.
[15:12] And I wanted to get a petition so they can sign it. You know, so we all can come in.
[15:16] But you know, I realized that it's confidentiality on the patients.
[15:20] But it wasn't only us. It was a patient sitting outside waiting for the families to the thought that this group of therapists were very excellent.
[15:27] and they really enjoyed coming to the therapist with them. Thank you.
[16:34] to have our family members and chambers.
[16:36] Thanks, Louise, for bringing your mom and family.
[16:41] All right, our next resolution
[16:43] is honoring the League of Women voters
[16:45] on their 100 years of service here in Monterey County.
[16:49] And I'm going to invite some folks
[16:51] I've done this more and time of all of her.
[16:52] And then whoever else is here representing the league
[16:55] were, yes, happy to have the crew.
[16:58] All right, I'm going to, all right.
[17:01] Thank you for being here and joining us.
[17:03] have you come stand here with me.
[17:07] So there's a lot we get excited about here,
[17:09] and a lot of good work that happens
[17:10] at the board of supervisors.
[17:12] But empowering everyone to support and get involved
[17:15] in our democracy is the center of literally everything
[17:19] that we do here at the county.
[17:22] In 1920, the United States ratified the 19th Amendment
[17:25] of the Constitution, which states that the right of citizens
[17:29] of the United States to vote shall not be denied or bridged
[17:33] by the United States or by any state on account of sacks.
[17:38] And 1920 is not that long ago, my grandmother was born into a country that didn't give her
[17:45] mom or her the right to vote. And we've come a long way since then. The League of Women
[17:50] voters was founded that same year in 1920 with the goal of helping newly in franchise women
[17:55] exercised their right to vote. And the League's Monterey County chapter has been a part of
[18:01] community since 1926. Ever since they've been busy empowering voters defending democracy,
[18:09] registering voters, staffing the polls. I think you have a couple of locations that you'll
[18:13] be for for locations fully staffed by the league volunteers. You're out to being voter education
[18:18] in the community. If you've ever used vote for a one one to figure out what's actually on your
[18:24] ballot, that's thanks to the league. Their voice on local issues has influenced critical
[18:29] community decisions, making sure that voters are educated fully about the issues and not just listening
[18:35] to the soundbites that can be so influential. But you've been out there educating and providing
[18:41] additional information on critical issues like housing and water. Your work with young people
[18:46] helps build civic engagement as a value and a responsibility that lasts for a lifetime creates a
[18:52] foundation of who we are here in Monterey County. And our democracy depends on the people who show up
[18:58] do this sometimes on glamorous work year after year after year, after decade, for a century.
[19:05] The election after election, and I want to thank the League of Women Voters for the work
[19:11] that you're doing today, that the work that those have come before us have done and celebrating
[19:16] 100 years of service here in Monterey County. We've come a long way in that period of time and
[19:23] we still have a long way to go to make sure that we continue to protect the rights of all people
[19:28] in this country women and men to be able to vote in every election without barriers or other
[19:36] reasons that get in the way. So thank you so much and congratulations and I'm going to give you
[19:40] a chance to make some comments. I can't add anything actually to those very kind words and
[19:49] insightful words about the works that we do. Our mission is empowering voters and defending democracy
[19:55] And I think a current advance will show you it's an ongoing
[20:01] So, democracy needs nurturing, and it needs people who believe in it and support it. And we appreciate the people in the community who engage with us and give us the opportunity to keep our democracy working. Thank you.
[20:19] We'll take a quick picture.
[20:20] Bob, do you want to join us?
[21:17] Great, we got the parts team up here.
[21:21] And this is one of these resolutions.
[21:25] I'm really, really pleased to be about because I think
[21:29] it's really very special.
[21:30] And it's going to be to commemorate our 60th anniversary,
[21:36] not just of parts established.
[21:40] Now it's a division of public works facilities
[21:42] and parts.
[21:42] But originally it was formed as its own department, and this year is at 60th anniversary, but it's also a 60th anniversary of the first park, and that's where it looks park.
[21:55] And we, you know, moderate county was one of the counties that was rather slow when adopting parks and into into into its system.
[22:11] But it really actually was a 1944, the county moderates planning commission prepared a
[22:17] parks and recreation plan, and it was a framework for acquiring property and setting
[22:22] conversation practices and priorities and establishing public space for a regional park
[22:27] system.
[22:30] But it sat around for an entire generation, not just ignored because there was funding problems.
[22:36] And as some of you know, my father was a county supervisor in the 60s and 70s representing the North
[22:44] Army County areas as I do now.
[22:47] And when he ran for a supervisor in 1964, he saw that was lacking and he ran on a platform
[22:53] of two park system.
[22:56] And this was one of the priorities that he was very, and I think the thing he was probably
[23:00] most proud of and all the 12 years he sat on there was establishment of that.
[23:05] So those first two parts, by the way, were Royal Oaks and Toro, and then the rest of the
[23:10] part system filled in to the 60s and the 70s, so to basically what we have now. So the county found
[23:19] the money in 1966 to set up its first, its parts department, and April 1st, and then actually
[23:28] purchased a couple months later Royal Oaks Park, although the land was already previously designated,
[23:34] and the lady who sold it to the county lived in Fresno and at that time she was receiving
[23:42] offers from some strawberry growers to strip out the oak trees and put in strawberry fields but
[23:49] she really didn't want that to happen. It was being used to turkey farm at the time and I think
[23:54] well turkey's running around there. Yeah so there's still some turkeys there. Not the same type but
[24:00] some and it's she she had enough patients to wait long enough for the county to go through
[24:07] its usual deliberate process of acquiring the land and then in labor day of 1966 we're
[24:17] at a local park open and that's what we're commemorating is those two dates April and
[24:23] September.
[24:28] It's is some parks are really one of these just these I think these important
[24:31] things that all government entities really have a role in whether it's state, federal,
[24:37] or local down to city and counties because parks become something that that everybody can go
[24:44] and enjoy and it doesn't matter upon, you know, you're your wealth or, you know, usually even,
[24:52] How close you are to it? How far you are away from it as long as they're usually one within your neighborhood somewhere that should always be one
[25:00] On somebody's neighborhood, because it gives an opportunity for people to relax, to be together, for recreation.
[25:07] It's just something that improves the quality of life for everyone.
[25:13] And I'm really, really proud here on the 60th anniversary here to present this resolution to the, to honoring the Monterey County parts and Lake's division.
[25:25] and Enroylox Park. I was at that Labor Day opening September 4th. I was only age of 7,
[25:33] but I do remember it very clearly. I remember how they were playing horse shoes, and I wanted
[25:38] to play horse shoes, but they didn't have a division for age 7, but they still have some horseshoe
[25:45] pits there, and I know Brian Forrest has challenged me to a game coming up as we celebrated on
[25:51] on September 12th. So I'm really looking forward to Kim, a good
[25:55] weapon.
[25:59] So Brian, you haven't any words you'd like to say, or Randy.
[26:04] Thank you very much for your research and members of the board. The Department
[26:07] greatly appreciates this distinction of what you recognize as within. It's
[26:10] something that's granted for not only the Department, but for the public itself.
[26:14] The county has over 30,000 acres of parks and open space ranging from
[26:18] rail looks park in the north and may as a need to park down to Toro Park, Jax Peak Park, the former
[26:24] forwardward lands, San Lorenzo Park and King City, and then the beautiful recreational spaces we
[26:29] have at the lakes, Lake San Antonio, and Lake Nascimento down in the South County.
[26:35] And those are all maintained by the hardworking staff here in the parks division every single day.
[26:40] And this is a small contingent of them that is up here today because the others are all back at the
[26:50] 60 years, 60 years, staff like this have maintained the parks for our public, and it was
[26:55] especially notable not only every day, but also during 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic,
[27:03] where the parks were the only places people could go for both physical and mental well
[27:08] being and relaxation during that very trying time.
[27:12] And it was a staff here that maintained it in the 60 years as a legacy left by that
[27:17] that made those difficult decisions and that initiative back then, and I've carried it forward to this generation of the board who have used the new
[27:27] Measure called measure double lay to reinvest in our park spaces making them beautiful for the next generations to come and
[27:34] Without it like handed over to the person who leads that dedicated staff on a daily basis chief of parks prime floor as
[27:42] Thank you, Director Supervisor church and some my staff
[27:45] Without you, you know, none of this would be possible from our admins to have to our field staff to our utility specialists to our parkrangers
[27:54] It's a great team. It's a lot smaller than used to be. I'm hoping it will get larger over the years
[28:00] But we're making do and with major AA funding coming in
[28:05] We're able to do a lot of great projects. We're going for playground replacements
[28:09] we're putting in disgulf course, disgulf courses, investing in our utilities and our facilities so you're going to see a lot of great things from parks over the next few years.
[28:22] I'm very glad that in 1944, the master plan that was done by the Planning Commission, it showed all of the open space that could potentially be parks.
[28:33] These were all the properties along the coast that are now state parks that are regional parks
[28:38] I'm very very glad that we are not managing every single open space area in the county
[28:45] It would be huge, but thankfully state parks and regional parks and some other parks districts stepped in and
[28:51] And acquired those properties, but September 12th we're having our 60th anniversary celebration at Royal Oak's park
[28:59] Supervisor church and I will be putting on a show with the horses
[29:03] We are having probably 15 or more food trucks, food vendors, food and beverage vendors that you all will recognize great, you know, baked potatoes and soul food and all kinds of great desserts and seafood and barbecue.
[29:19] So please come out where I'm in a disc golf tournament that starts at nine shot guns start. We're having a closest to the pin contest. Well, of course, she was volleyball. We have pickleball courts. We have tennis courts. We have basketball courts, two new soccer goals.
[29:32] We're trying to do a baseball field for this, but it just wasn't in the cards before the 12th.
[29:38] So come out. It's great. Great time for family. It's a free event, except for the food.
[29:43] You'll have to purchase that yourself. And it kicks off. And when the park opens, it eight o'clock
[29:48] and gets down when it closes at 7. So we're looking for a good week weather and hopefully a great time.
[29:55] So, thank you so much.
[29:57] No comment on the warping.
[29:59] Just check it.
[30:01] Well, we'll have to come up with a, you know, the loser has to do this or that type of thing and make sure that that's captured on on video for posterity.
[30:14] Brian is taking the challenge. I'm a little afraid he has home court advantage. He's going to be out there practicing every day.
[30:49] hooray for our parks and what was the date of that event and everyone's welcome
[30:56] September 12 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Royal Oaks Park a big old 60th birthday and everyone
[31:07] is invited thanks
[31:12] all right moving right along this morning we have a number of appointments items number
[31:18] eight through 16.1.
[31:22] Yeah.
[31:23] Is there any public comment on our appointment this morning?
[31:28] I would just like to have a separate vote on item number eight.
[31:31] Item number eight.
[31:33] Got it.
[31:34] All right.
[31:35] Any other public comment on our appointment this morning?
[31:38] All right.
[31:39] Seeing no public comment, we'll bring it back to the board.
[31:40] We have a request for a separate.
[31:42] Do you want to comment on that?
[31:43] I just want to say no that one.
[31:44] Okay.
[31:45] I'll have it.
[31:47] I think on 16, one we have to vote separately,
[31:52] too.
[31:52] Great.
[31:53] All right.
[31:53] So we'll look at item nine through 16.
[31:55] Happy to entertain a motion.
[31:57] Motion from Alejo second from church.
[32:01] Thank you.
[32:03] All in favor?
[32:04] Aye.
[32:05] All right.
[32:06] Passes unanimously.
[32:07] Let's go back to item number eight.
[32:10] Public entertain motion.
[32:11] This is to correct the term expiration dates for recorded
[32:15] as the North County Recreation and Park District from November 30, 2029, to January 27, 2029.
[32:21] It looks like that's a correction.
[32:23] We corrected for one other person last week, so this would be the correction here, had moved
[32:29] to approve the correction.
[32:32] Okay, I'll second that.
[32:33] So we have a motion from church.
[32:34] Just second from ask you, I'm all in favor, and one abstention, so abstention from
[32:42] I hope. Great. Thank you. All right. My item passes and we'll go on to item 16.1. And is there
[32:49] a staff presentation on this? Or would we just pass it over to you, Glenn?
[32:54] I'm going to go have a shot, Nick. Yeah. Thank you, Madam Chair. There are two names that have been
[32:59] put forward for consideration for the board. One is Mr. Jordan Cobby Arrow, the other is Mr.
[33:03] Ruby Diaz. We have a corrected staff report that was sent in there was an error in the first
[33:08] when I was, I think this really a decision for the board at this point.
[33:13] It's going to point out that the APA Mr. Diaz, who didn't get a bio from him and I know there
[33:26] were some, this is a multi-district appointment, as a reason is coming up this way because
[33:36] Bill's in from District 2 to District 4 and so that's why it needs to be a vote of the board
[33:43] onto there.
[33:46] But, Mr. Dea, from what I understand, there was, well, numerous attempts to contact Mr. Dea's
[33:51] onto this one and he, we'd be to get to contact with him. So, I'm not sure what his interest is.
[33:57] So, at that, with that, I mean, he's come to really clear. We did have this open two times for
[34:04] nominees. The first time is open nobody applied and in the second time we had to, so being
[34:10] the only one that there's really been any contact with, I would be happy to nominate Jordan
[34:16] Cove Arrow for that. Great. Thank you. I was of a motion from church a second from Lopez
[34:22] to a point Jordan Cove Arrow of the two candidates. And just to clarify North County
[34:27] recreation and park district is a special district that authorizes the Board of Supervisors
[34:33] to make appointments to their board, even though they are an independent body from the county.
[34:38] So, any other discussion on this item, and I'll open up to public comment on this item.
[34:43] Seeing none, we'll bring it back to the board. We have a motion on favor.
[34:46] Aye. Aye. Passes unanimously. Thank you.
[34:50] Okay, moving on to consent items. We have item 25 through 42. I'll start by opening up the public.
[34:56] We do have comments on item 33, so we'll welcome.
[35:00] Our public comment on item 33 now.
[35:10] Good morning, Board of Supervisors. Mike weaver, protect the process.
[35:16] This POE issue deals with some pretty, pretty strong stuff, nitrate, nitrates, arsenic, fluoride, chromium, six.
[35:29] How do we measure these?
[35:32] I read, I read the health department was nice enough to send me two packages, I read all
[35:38] through it and I have some questions and concerns, who, how often, who pays, where does the
[35:46] arsenic sledge contamination go?
[35:48] As you may remember, CalTrans was dropping sledge in the landfill for a while till they were
[35:54] caught.
[35:54] So where does it go and what penalties are there out there for non-compliance?
[36:02] It's all about mitigation monitoring and coming up with mitigation measures on this which I don't find in the package.
[36:09] It's been ignored.
[36:11] We need more oversight and responsibility from the landowner whether he rents or resides there.
[36:19] and the sledge or the toxics, the filters must get deposited somewhere and they need to get a receipt and keep a record of it, checks and balances.
[36:33] You probably know, especially North County.
[36:36] I mean, I've been to the Health Department before and somebody's brought in a check and said,
[36:39] Here you go, here's my share. I share a water system with four houses and one guy doesn't pay and damn it. I'm not paying for him and
[36:48] They'll give them a check for a quarter. Well, the fourth guy never does pay because the water doesn't get turned off
[36:54] So I mean what what penalties are gonna be out there for people are dealing with toxic that aren't
[37:01] complying with with with you know basic health
[37:05] That's my concern. It needs to go back to the drawing board and work all this out. Thank you
[37:12] Thank you. I'm just gonna I give an opportunity for a staff to respond to those questions
[37:28] Good morning, Chair members of the board. Rick and Karnishon director of environmental bureau chief
[37:34] With respects to the disposal of the
[37:37] filtrade from the point of view point of entry water systems. These are systems either very small simple systems
[37:43] It could be treated as household hazardous waste.
[37:47] There are rules and regulations regarding household hazardous waste.
[37:51] It's intended to be easy.
[37:53] If there's questions on the technical aspects of our oversight
[37:57] of local small water systems,
[37:59] I do have the supervisor here with regard to that.
[38:02] But with respects to the disposal of the field trade
[38:06] from the point of use point of entry,
[38:08] it's household hazardous waste,
[38:09] which there is a complete system with regards to that.
[38:12] with regards to protection of renters. We are at the health department. We respond to a multitude
[38:19] of issues. Also, renters issues, issues with pollution, issues regarding local small water
[38:27] systems. Thank you.
[38:35] Let's see if there's any other public comment on our consent agenda today. Not singing anyone
[38:40] chambers and there are no hands raised online.
[38:42] So we're going to close public comment and bring it back to the board and we'll go to
[38:46] church.
[38:47] I just, you know, I think Mr. Weaver raises some important points out of that there and
[38:52] appreciate we're starting connection on addressing it as it is, you know, this household
[38:57] waste. The state does allow for the, for the, for the larger systems of 15
[39:10] for dealing with a whole range of hazardous waste and the county does as well.
[39:16] This particular ordinance right here is not dealing with how this is being disposed of
[39:26] because that is already covered inside a county process and the state process onto there.
[39:32] This one, this referral, which I put forth initially was because in situations, we'll just deal with a, like a, a four parcel water system.
[39:44] If you have three houses that are built on it and say it has some contamination with something into it, it is already allowed for the three existing homes to have POU POE systems and operation.
[39:56] They're an operational, they're an operational operation but
[40:00] The way the current law has been is that that that undeveloped lot, if somebody wants to build a home onto their day, then the whole system had to put in a centralized water system.
[40:11] Well, you're talking about something you could cause anywhere $15,000, and the existing homes are not to the existing people living there in that water system are not usually willing to pick up that extra cost so that their neighbor can build a home.
[40:29] and we have such a shortage of homes, a shortage of ADUs as well, that this gives the opportunity
[40:36] to build onto there so that a new home, a new dwelling, can actually have the same rights
[40:44] to water use as the ones that are existing. So that's why it's not addressing some of the issues
[40:52] Mr. Weaver raises, but they're very valid issues on safety and concerns, and I think being
[40:59] that is household waste, I think that's been addressed, but I wanted to put everything
[41:03] in context of what was exactly we're addressing there. It's not setting forth the policy
[41:08] where suddenly this is we're having POE systems, and I should spell those out as point
[41:14] of use, point of entry, which is you'd be to put them in your house or outside your
[41:19] But this is just allowing a little more fairness.
[41:23] Thank you.
[41:26] Thank you.
[41:26] Any other, I'll bring it back to the board.
[41:28] Any other items to comment or comments for consent agenda this morning?
[41:35] I did to have just a couple comments on item 33.
[41:38] Specifically, I just wanted to thank staff for hearing the feedback that was provided
[41:41] at our last, the first hearing on this.
[41:43] And thank you for adding the notification to tenants who might be
[41:48] occurs who might be living in a unit with a point of use, point of entry, support of property.
[41:54] And I just think it's important that we're really clear that all of our residents,
[41:58] regardless of their ownership status, understand how their health is being protected and
[42:02] the systems that are operating within that building to keep their water safe.
[42:07] So, thank you for calling that out explicitly, but I'm happy to support that today.
[42:12] And then I have a couple questions, I might ask for a separate vote, but on item number 32,
[42:15] which is an epic IO amendment number one on some cameras that are used by environmental
[42:22] health to deter and document illegal dumping. We've had this program in place for some time
[42:28] is actually apparently been fairly successful in helping to deter some of the illegal dumping
[42:33] that happens here in the county. But as I'm paying more attention as the communities are asking
[42:41] to pay more attention to privacy, to data, to how governance, governance around how we use cameras
[42:50] in the county. I wanted to ask about setting what the expectations are with the policies
[42:58] are around how that information is retained, access and shared. So we're asking those questions.
[43:04] I've raised those questions now for the sheriffs proposed contract and as I'm reading through and
[43:11] thinking about the different spaces that we have data that exists, and as those contracts come forward.
[43:16] I think it's important that we ask the questions around policies that dictate retention periods for data,
[43:27] who has access to that data, whether images can be shared with other county departments or law enforcement,
[43:32] and what policies we have in place that are governing that use.
[43:37] So, again, if I could just ask environmental health to speak to some of those policy questions
[43:42] around data privacy and data security, as it relates to this particular contract,
[43:50] I'll
[43:50] just say if we don't have clear policies, I think it's something that I'll want us to maybe
[43:54] take a pause on this and bring back those policies, but I'll go to the question.
[43:58] Thank you, Chair Rick and Kronosho and Director of Environmental Health Bureau.
[44:01] With regards to retention of the data that we collect from these camera system to combat,
[44:08] again illegal dumping, it is stored locally within the program.
[44:13] Maria Ferdine, the supervisor of the program, is her data or her data.
[44:19] It's the county's data stored within our program, solid waste management services within the
[44:25] Bureau of Environment and Health.
[44:26] It's subject to the retention of our record retention policy, which is three years.
[44:30] With regards to sharing, we only share the data with those involved with our case.
[44:39] It may be law enforcement.
[44:41] In the case when we first instituted the program, we asked for the public cell.
[44:46] We posted the video.
[44:48] Illegal dumping is horrible.
[44:52] And it's the most convenient thing a person can do.
[44:56] But so we asked for the public cell with that.
[44:58] with regards to
[45:00] Sharing the images again, we'll only share it with those that who can help us. We've shared it to the extent of the public.
[45:06] Again, we posted it tried to crowdsource for information to help us with getting information on who is doing this illegal dumping.
[45:16] So it's very local. It's very local to the extent of our program within the bureau.
[45:22] Subject to our records retention policy, and only we'll be shared with those involved with helping us build the case to combat illegal dumping.
[45:30] Thank you for that. And so in terms of the policies that govern that use of this data,
[45:36] do we have the records retention policy that applies to all county data? Are there other
[45:41] policies that have been developed that guide this, how this data is held and managed?
[45:51] Only our policy with regards to the enforcement of the illegal dumping.
[45:55] Okay. Great. Thank you.
[45:57] And so I guess I think you've visited answer to my questions, so as we're looking at all of these contracts, I fully support the work that's being done on the illegal dumping side of this.
[46:10] But I would like to just ask that we have the data security and privacy question reviewed in more detail by County Council and IT to make sure that we're fully.
[46:27] addressing all of the data privacy and security and governance issues around this particular
[46:33] contract. So I'd like to have this pulled for some further review and come back to us
[46:41] at a future date. So that would be my motion on this item 32.
[46:51] There is no second. So we'll
[46:52] bring it back to the board for any further discussion or action.
[47:04] So I'd ask to have item 32
[47:06] So I'm held for a separate vote on for some additional information about the policies that are governing the data so that we're clear on those policies.
[47:13] There was no second to that motion.
[47:16] So that went back to the board and there was no motion for the entire consent agenda.
[47:20] I would ask that item 32 be on a separate vote though.
[47:32] So the motion from Alejo a second from church for full consent with the exception of 32.
[47:38] So all in favor.
[47:39] All right.
[47:40] And then moving on to 32.
[47:44] I do agree I think there needs to be a policy set forth and I will be hopeful and we have
[47:52] a discussion in a few weeks on these types of cameras that probably appropriate time
[47:57] to bring up the direction that would go into it.
[48:00] That's why I'm not seconding, although I understand that I think it needs to be a discussion
[48:05] on that.
[48:12] Right, so we have a motion on item 32, from Lejo a second from Lopez, I will be
[48:20] abstaining on this, or I will be voting no on this because I do feel like given the
[48:24] public discourse on this item, I would like to know that we have policies in place before
[48:27] we move forward and I will reiterate that I do feel very, I've been fairly involved with
[48:33] how these cameras are being used, how staff is handling the state, and I feel very confident
[48:39] that it is being managed appropriately but to be consistent with the questions that I'm asking
[48:44] about other camera and data used in this county. I do think it's important that we have policies
[48:48] in place before we act on those contracts. So that's why I'll be voting no on this particular.
[48:55] If I may just kind of follow up then I'm going to support it because we do own these cameras.
[49:00] We know specifically what staff is looking at it and then they're a scope that's being used.
[49:05] I do agree there needs to be a bigger discussion, but I think on these cameras, it's ownership
[49:12] and the use is going in two different directions.
[49:15] And I agree, we've been doing this for several years now and I don't want, by the time we
[49:20] develop some policy, I don't want that to be a reason to hold this off for many, many more
[49:24] months when there is a separate way to be able to address what we're talking about here today.
[49:33] Thank you.
[49:34] three, I would ask you, voting no, all right, thank you. Okay, we're moving on to our general
[49:40] public comments. This is a time for members of the community to speak and share your thoughts
[49:46] with us about items that are not on the agenda, but are within the preview of the county
[49:51] government and to just ask for shared respect. All people are providing their testimony.
[49:57] Thank you for joining us.
[50:00] Karen Cameron, concerns, cleanest resident. I've been collecting data from spray days. Our world's first notification of toxic restricted pesticides within one mile.
[50:11] McKinnon Elementary School is surrounded by fields and it's one of the schools I've been tracking, I'd just like to share with you this week.
[50:18] They've had five A.M. and six A.M.
[50:21] chlorochron, one, three D applications,
[50:24] or notifications of them anyway.
[50:26] Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
[50:30] Every day, this week, right before school,
[50:33] five o'clock in the morning, six o'clock in the morning.
[50:36] Monday also had an evening methamel,
[50:39] Lannite applications.
[50:41] So that's what they're getting in a data point.
[50:43] These are toxic restricted pesticides
[50:45] band in about 50 countries. However, they are allowed by EPA and CDPR and signed off on by
[50:52] our commissioner.
[50:55] One 3D is a prop 65 carcinogen, but it's allowed in the egg industry. I don't
[51:01] understand. I don't have all the solutions. I stand troubled because I always believe that if you
[51:08] present a problem, you should try to bring a viable solution and I don't have them. I'm simply
[51:13] a person sounding the alarm. I did meet with Reservoir Farms briefly this week and intend
[51:20] to follow up. I also attended a Safe Egg Safe Schools meeting where we heard about the
[51:25] steamed pilot project that they're doing in Watsonville, which may be a viable alternative.
[51:31] I say may because I question the use of propane doesn't sound too organic to me, but it
[51:38] to be a viable trade-out solution for fumigation that we could at least look at in the future.
[51:45] For the immediate, I just call upon Juan Hidalgo to please live up to your mission statement
[51:51] and vision statement that you can read on the Commissioner's website where he talks about
[51:56] being a voice of Monterey County agriculture and a role model for the future and meeting the needs of
[52:04] public, I urge you to do so and do better, please.
[52:08] Thank you.
[52:19] Hi, Peter's Align.
[52:21] I listen carefully to last week's discussion about the sheriff's proposed expansion
[52:25] of flawed cameras.
[52:26] Roughly 50 speakers oppose the technology and supervisor ask you reported receiving about
[52:31] 400 comments, most in opposition.
[52:34] Those voices deserve to be heard, but our county has 430,000 residents.
[52:40] Public policy should not be determined by who organizes the most speakers, or sends
[52:44] the most emails. Your responsibility is to weigh public concerns against evidence, experience,
[52:51] and the broader public good. I share legitimate concerns about privacy, accountability,
[52:56] and misuse. But those concerns should not come from assumptions about how the technology
[53:01] is actually being used or unjustified criticism of law enforcement. Selena says use
[53:12] and their searches are tracked and audited.
[53:15] Search is must relate to legitimate investigations.
[53:18] The cameras capture license plates and vehicle characteristics, not faces.
[53:22] There is no facial recognition.
[53:25] They take still images, not continuous video.
[53:28] A flock alert is only one piece of evidence.
[53:31] It identifies a vehicle at a location.
[53:33] It does not identify the driver, and by itself does not justify an arrest.
[53:37] Salinas Police report that this technology has assisted homicide and other serious criminal
[53:43] investigations. The Department also operates under SP54 and does not use the system for immigration
[53:49] enforcement. What I would like to see is greater public transparency, regular reporting on how
[53:54] flock is used, its safeguards, violations of any and measurable results. Accountability and public
[54:00] safety are not competing values. We can insist on both. And finally, Benjamin Franklin's
[54:07] Liberty and Security Quotation is in accurately taken out of its historical context and should
[54:12] not substitute for a careful evaluation of the actual policy before you.
[54:17] Thank you.
[54:27] Madam Chair, Members of the Board, my name is Mark Delpiro.
[54:31] I'm here on behalf of the Aglantress this morning.
[54:35] This morning, you all received a press release at your respective chairs.
[54:40] Nice to see you, Nick.
[54:41] First of all, I wanted to thank Supervisor Lopez because he wrote a letter along with Congressman Penetta and as a result, the Eggman Trust is pleased, announced that the Department of War in the U.S. Army National Guard.
[55:00] Ordered us $2.5 million to train veterans as to how to be 21st century companies.
[55:08] That's about as simple as I can put it, the press release that you have in hand
[55:15] lays out a large amount of the details of what's going on. We own a number of ranches in
[55:20] feed down in South Monterey County that we've acquired over the course of the last decade.
[55:25] And that money has come from the repy program.
[55:31] It's called Read Readiness and Environmental Protection.
[55:34] Integration.
[55:36] It's a mechanism by which conservation organizations,
[55:40] like the England Trust here in Monterey County,
[55:43] work with federal government in order to secure the purchase
[55:46] and permanent ownership and preservation of lands,
[55:51] approximately military reservations. And so this pilot project will go on for the next three years.
[55:58] We have about 20 veterans or guys that are quickly transitioning out of military service that are ready to be brought on board.
[56:08] And they will be transitioning through that program.
[56:12] Some of them will be in a six months training program. Some of them will be there for up to three years.
[56:18] Supervisor Church and I have had this conversation a couple times about what's going on and we've been
[56:27] Been in contact with the county veterans affairs officer, so he's aware as well as Sam was the best for county
[56:33] If you have any questions, you're welcome to get it. Get a hold of this. Thank you very much
[56:39] Welcome back, Supervisor
[56:50] Mark, I'm just gonna have you come back to the microphone and I give in your your significance in this county
[56:55] I'm gonna allow an additional minute
[56:56] Thank you so much. I wanted to make a point of introducing you to somebody that a couple of
[57:02] you already know, Camille Poulson, who is our director of finance for the Agalent Trust, is here
[57:06] with me. This morning, she makes sure that everything in the office runs correctly in spite of
[57:12] me. And so I wanted to take the opportunity to make sure that everybody in the board who hasn't
[57:17] met her in the past has the opportunity to do that. Thanks so much for your time. Thank you.
[57:22] And thank you for your service to the county as well.
[57:25] Right, any other public comment?
[57:28] No one else in Chambers will go online.
[57:29] We have a hand raised phone number ending in 705.
[57:42] Supervisors, a Lorna Mossett here.
[57:45] You know, I'm Martin Palo Alto, and I attended
[57:47] a city council meeting where about 100 residents
[57:51] showed up about the flock and cameras.
[57:54] And I learned a lot, and there's been a lot of mistakes
[58:00] at the Flaw cameras make and the identification, and people have been working up in the middle
[58:06] of the night by literally, you know, hot teams, terrorizing them, and this identification.
[58:15] And I just think, you know, it's very important that we have some kind of, I guess, surveillance
[58:24] on the violence, but it does take away our freedom and our personal privacy, and we are
[58:36] going to have to pay one way or the other. So I think we have to make a decision, and my
[58:41] decision is, I'd rather live in a free world where I'm not, you know, surveilled all 247,
[58:49] which is what this country is coming to than in the fall camera.
[58:55] So thanks very carefully about what you're doing.
[58:58] Thank you.
[59:02] Thank you.
[59:02] Seeing no additional handphrase, we'll close public comment
[59:04] and bring it back to the board for our two scheduled items this morning.
[59:08] Three, four, handful scheduled items this morning.
[59:10] We'll start with item number 19, receiving a presentation
[59:13] and to consider approval of revisions to the county
[59:15] and hand infrastructure financing district policy.
[59:19] And we'll just do a time check.
[59:20] We have a couple items that are scheduled for 30 minutes.
[59:23] It is already 11 30, so we'll try to manage the rest of the morning.
[59:46] Morning.
[59:46] Chair Route SQ, board, Chief Assistant CAO, Chulos, Richard Vaughn, economic development manager
[59:54] for the county and presenting to you a revised in-
[1:00:00] Hence infrastructure for financing district policy.
[1:00:08] So, wanted to give you a quick background on this, just to
[1:00:11] refresh your memory. So, we have received several interested parties, cities regarding EIFDs in the past. And we actually do have one EIFD that has been approved. This was back in, I believe, 2021 between the county and the city of Gonzalez.
[1:00:31] And so with that economic development was directed to come together with the CAO Office and HCD and pull together an EIFD policy.
[1:00:46] So we worked very closely with our admin office, our budget director, housing community development and presented this to the board.
[1:00:55] This was back in October of 2023 and the board moved forward with adopting that policy
[1:01:02] Since then, we've received feedback from several city partners
[1:01:05] Regarding some of the language within the policy and so that is what we brought to you today
[1:01:16] So quick outline of R E I F D policy so
[1:01:21] The way that the county receives these these proposals is we consider proposals from city seeking financial partnership
[1:01:28] through the Joint City County EIFD. This is particularly interested in supporting projects that
[1:01:34] provide for jobs, housing balance, therefore will prioritize commercial industrial developments
[1:01:39] that promote creation of above minimum wage jobs within our region. And so some of the components
[1:01:46] of the EIFD that was previously approved is a contribution to tax increment term of the county
[1:01:53] participation in the EIFD required elements for city proposals, county analysis of the proposal from the city and then any miscellaneous provisions that we've added in.
[1:02:06] And so with that, some of the revisions that we're bringing before you today that we've heard from our city partners is a request for an elongated term of an EIFD.
[1:02:19] So we originally approved or this board originally approved a 25-year term and so we've
[1:02:26] heard from our city partners that that's a bit too short for them to be able to move
[1:02:31] forward with a large project of this nature and so they're requesting an increase from
[1:02:37] 25 to 30 years, which is not too drastic, that's it, within regards to 2A of the agreement
[1:02:46] or of the policy, moving on to 2C, and at any time if you have any questions, feel free to let me know.
[1:02:54] 2C, we are moving forward, or we are proposing the extension of a two-year commencement for a project.
[1:03:03] So we've heard from our city partners that that's a bit too quick for them, working with developers, working with all the partners to pull together a project of the size of the scope that seven years would be more amenable.
[1:03:15] So we're proposing an extension from two to seven years for the actual commencement of a project and then proposing an extension of from one year post that to a ten year span for the actual implementation of an EIFD.
[1:03:34] So if by year 10, project has not started construction,
[1:03:39] it would authorize the county to be able to
[1:03:43] and the agreement with the city partner for an EIFD.
[1:03:51] Under our required elements for city proposal section,
[1:03:54] three A, I, I, number four.
[1:03:58] This is just clarifying what affordable housing
[1:04:05] mix is essentially. So we've heard from our city partners that this language was a little too vague.
[1:04:11] And so we went in there, worked with our HCD partners with Craig and Melanie, and pulled together
[1:04:18] what the actual percentages are and language that pulls together what affordable housing
[1:04:27] specifically is in order for the county and the city to work in unison. And so within that language,
[1:04:34] we've also added a clause that the county may also consider a 20% set aside of district revenues
[1:04:40] to be limited for affordable housing users.
[1:04:47] Under the next section, county analysis of city proposal, we received feedback that this
[1:04:53] language was a bit too vague and didn't quite understand some of it.
[1:04:58] So we went back to the drawing.
[1:05:00] Board and re-work this. And so essentially what the county has come up with in conjunction with our city partners is that we've revised it to read that should the county lack any required in-house expertise to perform portions of the evaluation of the proposal we receive from our city partner.
[1:05:20] Or if the county possesses the next three expertise, but we don't have adequate staff to review.
[1:05:25] At that time, we would then engage a third party to assist with the review of a proposal for an EIFD from a city partner, and we would then require the city to cover those costs.
[1:05:43] And under the last section, our miscellaneous provisions, just tidying up affordable housing specifically and ensuring that we added in that allocation for an alternative set aside of 20% of district revenues to be limited for affordable housing uses.
[1:05:59] and refers back to the original revision that we made.
[1:06:07] And with that, do we have any questions from the board?
[1:06:11] Very minor changes.
[1:06:12] Thank you.
[1:06:13] Any questions from the board?
[1:06:15] Do you have a couple questions I'm going to ask and then we'll open up to public comment.
[1:06:19] So I appreciate the review of the policy and I just, I don't know we have an economic
[1:06:25] development committee and then did this go, has this been a review, did they have a chance
[1:06:31] to weigh in on it was only feedback that they provided.
[1:06:35] So with regards to these recent updates, this was not presented to the Economic Development
[1:06:40] Committee.
[1:06:41] Okay.
[1:06:41] This was done at the board level, so we anticipate that it would be brought back to the board
[1:06:46] for these revisions.
[1:06:47] Okay.
[1:06:47] Okay.
[1:06:48] Thank you.
[1:06:49] And then in terms of the financial impact another policy itself doesn't have a financial impact
[1:06:54] on the county, but what we're effectively talking about is sharing of county, future
[1:07:01] county property tax revenue. And so when we approve a FID where there's an argument that
[1:07:11] you will generate additional property tax revenue because it supports the additional growth
[1:07:15] that we are cities need, but at a sort of a higher cost to the county. So do we have any sense
[1:07:22] of what that, that the fiscal impact of changing the policy might be, we expect that it will generate
[1:07:28] more requests or make it easier for our cities to work with us on these requests. Is there any financial
[1:07:36] analysis that's been done or can you comment on that? So to my knowledge financial analysis would be
[1:07:44] completed on a per project basis and I defer back to Assistant Chief CAO, Chilose on that.
[1:07:56] I know you've worked on the first EIFD here in the county.
[1:07:58] Richard's right, Madam Chair, the Gonzales EIFD,
[1:08:01] when we did that, we had a financial analysis.
[1:08:04] It's really need to do them on a project by project basis
[1:08:07] because the details are going to be different for each one.
[1:08:11] Right, right.
[1:08:11] Okay, and so by having a policy just simply by having the policy
[1:08:14] doesn't mean that we're required, we still have that financial analysis
[1:08:18] on a project by project basis.
[1:08:19] Correct.
[1:08:20] Okay, great, thank you.
[1:08:21] And then there was Antique was on page or slide five where it talks about maybe not slide
[1:08:29] five.
[1:08:29] I'm not sure which slide it was, after 10 years that we proceed with a dissolution of
[1:08:38] the FID, when we say proceed to begin dissolution, is that a mandatory dissolution
[1:08:47] proceedings would be mandatory at year 10.
[1:08:53] Not that it's an optional thing to dissolve at that point.
[1:08:58] How long does the solution here at proceedings take?
[1:09:01] We've not had to perform one.
[1:09:03] We only have one EIFD currently on the books,
[1:09:07] but we would definitely want to reach out to a third party consultant.
[1:09:11] So once an EIFD is established,
[1:09:14] then it has its own separate board,
[1:09:15] It's on separate governing body so we would just keep in contact with that separate governing
[1:09:22] body to ensure that things are moving forward and if by year 10 we would then want to
[1:09:26] bring something back to the board to get your approval to then move forward with dissolution
[1:09:31] if there has been nothing that has transpired.
[1:09:34] Okay and I assume that the costs for the consultant who would help us with that would also
[1:09:39] be shared by the parties in the same way that the initial setup was shared.
[1:09:44] I believe that's how we've drafted the language in here as so that anything relating to an EIFD would be shared.
[1:09:53] Okay, great. And then I appreciate in the policy that it's requiring a service floor where the housing produced can count towards the county's reign.
[1:10:00] I think that's a really interesting way to proceed and to make sure that where we're wanting to have affordable housing built is in communities where we have infrastructure and resources and transit and schools and shopping and doctors.
[1:10:15] That makes a lot of sense to me. But there was something in it where it referenced that we could consider a revenue set aside instead of the actual affordable unit production.
[1:10:27] And I know that within our county inclusionary housing ordinance, we have a dollar amount that's set for what that buy-out would look like and it's very, very low.
[1:10:39] So I guess the question is, if, when you talk about the revenue set aside option, would that be indexed to the actual cost of building units or would it be based on the county's inclusionary housing ordinance?
[1:10:52] I would need to defer back to HDD on that one.
[1:10:56] We can definitely get you some more information on that.
[1:11:00] To my knowledge, this all of this would come before the board.
[1:11:03] So it would be negotiated.
[1:11:04] It would all be negotiated and then brought to the board for your approval.
[1:11:07] So you wouldn't be seeing that on the back end.
[1:11:10] You would see this upfront as to what that 20% set aside would be.
[1:11:13] If we were entertaining that and then you would have the option to approve or not.
[1:11:17] Okay. Got it.
[1:11:18] And I think that on that section you talked about the miscellaneous other categories, I would
[1:11:26] just want to make sure that we're prioritizing the actual production of those units that are
[1:11:35] affordable for the community as opposed to the buyout amount that doesn't actually create housing
[1:11:43] that we need and isn't sufficient to actually build that housing.
[1:11:47] that wouldn't support the reign of goal, so I think it's tied into that, but I just want
[1:11:51] to be very explicit in that expectation that I have, as proposals come forward to us, please.
[1:11:58] I just got one more question popped up since surprise your ask you was beginning that's on the
[1:12:03] aspect where the talks about share and I know and part of where it moved from may, you know,
[1:12:08] seek reimbursement to share, which is a lot more clear. When we speak of share, we're talking about
[1:12:13] 50, 50, or is it going to vary on the situations, but I'm just clarification on that.
[1:12:20] I think it would be project by project basis, so if the county has the expertise and
[1:12:25] more able to review, then there would be no additional cost that we would bear, but if we don't
[1:12:32] have expertise within the county to be able to review some portion of an EIFD proposal,
[1:12:37] we would most likely need to go out to request a third party to assist.
[1:12:41] So, each one's going to be different on the degree of sharing and it's a cost. Okay, thanks.
[1:12:49] I know Richard's probably knows what I want to ask for right now. Obviously, we decided
[1:12:54] to recommend committee yesterday and it would be good because we do have a panel of experts on that committee.
[1:13:02] To be able to at least know what EIFDs are, right?
[1:13:06] What are the origin, how do they work, how do they benefit the city, how do they benefit the county,
[1:13:10] How did it affect the goals of affordable housing and housing overall?
[1:13:15] So anyways, I would ask that even though this didn't come to that committee first,
[1:13:19] at least to bring this to an economic development to talk about it,
[1:13:22] because it's relevant because there still has to be cities wanting to come to the county
[1:13:27] to partner and not EIFD.
[1:13:31] I know city salinas has interests and perhaps there's others coming forward.
[1:13:34] So it's a timely topic.
[1:13:36] So process wise, I want to make sure that the economic development
[1:13:40] make committee, start just looking and understanding how these work.
[1:13:44] Obviously, I have these came after redevelopment agencies one away.
[1:13:52] This particular option was authored by Senator Jim Beladisanozay.
[1:13:57] I authored a different bill with the impartantial with the League of Cities.
[1:14:00] And those were called the CREA's, the community revitalization and investment authorities.
[1:14:03] For while there was interest in C-side wanting to create a CREA under my legislation.
[1:14:09] But both of them had options to use tax increment and then put percentage aside for affordable housing goals, and I think that's both of these options have that in there
[1:14:20] So these are important push redevelopment law tools to help communities just advantage areas by the areas to be able to to use tax increment for a good public use.
[1:14:32] Anyway, so I just want to say, I know there is community interest, the biggest city
[1:14:38] in the Monterey Bay is looking at this right now, so thanks for making these revisions
[1:14:42] that can make this work better and have these EIFDs realize within our county and they
[1:14:48] can benefit our partners, cities, and then of course our county as well.
[1:14:52] So that was one of my requests, moving forward.
[1:14:54] Thank you.
[1:14:57] All right, let's open it up to public comment.
[1:14:58] Is there any public comment on this item?
[1:15:01] I think no one in chambers and no hands on line will close to the comment, bring it back to the board for action.
[1:15:07] Second.
[1:15:07] We have a motion from Lopez a second from Alejo, and if we could just by nature of the discussion,
[1:15:14] have the comments that were made today considered by staff as a new forward.
[1:15:25] I think just for clarity, I heard a lot of pieces that weren't going to go into the policy.
[1:15:30] So can I just want to be clear on the direction we're giving staff at this point.
[1:15:35] What I'm comfortable with is the policy put forward because we've put a lot of work into this out of the example through Gonzales.
[1:15:42] So yeah, I just I didn't hear a lot of concurrence on different things.
[1:15:45] I don't want that to be as soon as direction.
[1:15:47] I think it's my fear.
[1:15:49] The two that stuck out to me was having the item be added to us.
[1:15:54] I could just do that as chair of the committee meeting and that as items come back that the goal would be to have the production of affordable housing over the set of side funding as that those options are considered.
[1:16:13] But you don't have to include that.
[1:16:15] Okay, so I'm good with what we're already hearing that it's going to go back to committee and we get this point.
[1:16:20] here because I could do that as a chair of the committee and that request that
[1:16:24] start to bring that to a future meeting.
[1:16:27] All in favor? All right. Passes unanimously. Thank you.
[1:16:32] All right, we'll go next to item number 20, which is a receipt of presentation on the
[1:16:35] result of the 2026 homeless point in time count. And we have Roxanne Wilson and
[1:16:40] Katrina McKenzie here to present.
[1:17:18] Okay, there you go. Good morning, honorable chair and members of the board members of a public.
[1:17:24] My name is Roxanne Wilson and I have the county's homeless services director.
[1:17:27] With me is Mrs. Katrina McKenzie, who is the executive director of the Coalition of Homeless Services
[1:17:32] Providers, which serves as the Monterey and San Benito County's Continuum of Care Lead Agency.
[1:17:39] Good morning everybody, thank you for having us.
[1:17:43] So why do we do this point in time count?
[1:17:46] We do it because as a continuum of care or COC, we are required to do so by HUD or the
[1:17:53] U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
[1:17:56] The data collected during these point in time counts helps us determine the level of federal
[1:18:02] and local funding that COC is received.
[1:18:04] and accurate counts enable better allocation of resources to meet the needs of the people experiencing homelessness.
[1:18:12] The counts provide crucial information for policy makers,
[1:18:16] to help us make informed decisions about homeless prevention and intervention strategies,
[1:18:22] accurate and up to date.
[1:18:24] Data helps us raise awareness about homelessness issues among the public, the state stakeholders, fostering support,
[1:18:31] and necessary actions for policies.
[1:18:36] So by conducting regular pit counts,
[1:18:40] COCs can track changes in homelessness over time,
[1:18:43] allowing for better trend analysis and adjustments
[1:18:46] to strategies as needed.
[1:18:50] So we conducted the sheltered point and time count
[1:18:54] on January 31st, so at midnight,
[1:18:57] service providers administered a snapshot
[1:18:59] snapshot of the housing inventory account or hick. So this counts the number of beds in
[1:19:06] unit in specific programs and the point in time sheltered count counts the people occupying
[1:19:13] those beds or units at that time. This activity is conducted every year as the unsheltered
[1:19:20] point in time count is only done every other year. Can I just recognize that there is a mistake inside
[1:19:27] of the slide. So it says the 29th was the sheltered count in the 30th was the unsheltered,
[1:19:31] so Katrina just corrected that. Thank you, Roxanne.
[1:19:40] All right. So the federal definitions
[1:19:42] of homelessness for the point in time counts is basically those that are living in supervised
[1:19:47] publicly or privately operated sheltered or designated to provide temporary living arrangements
[1:19:55] or a primary night time resident that is
[1:20:00] A public or private place not designed for human habitation.
[1:20:07] The 206 point in time count revealed that there are 273 individuals who are experiencing homelessness
[1:20:14] in Monterey County on any given night. This shows a 15% decrease from 2024 for overall homelessness
[1:20:21] and a 23% reduction in unsheltered homelessness. And again, as Katrina had mentioned,
[1:20:27] that the point in time count, it does look at those two different populations, those who are
[1:20:33] living in temporary living facilities that's funded by the public or private sector and also
[1:20:39] those who are living in places not meant for human habitation, including cars abandoned buildings,
[1:20:43] bus trains, I mean, I'm sorry, I'm repeating herpes, which he said, but tens and permitted structure
[1:20:48] sorry.
[1:20:51] This slide breaks down the point in time count by jurisdiction and shows where we've seen
[1:20:55] changes since 2024, the most significant reduction occurred in
[1:20:59] unincorporated areas of Monterey County, where the total
[1:21:02] count dropped from 443 people in 2024 to just 123 and
[1:21:07] 2,026, 72% reduction.
[1:21:11] That reduction reflects a substantial amount of targeted and
[1:21:14] intentional work in our unincorporated communities and along
[1:21:17] with major and a long major encampment areas, including
[1:21:23] Those that were serviced by the Enchantment Resolution Funding Grants that the county had received and the launch of the county's Interdepartmental Enchantment Response Team.
[1:21:32] We also saw notable decreases in several incorporated communities, c-side declined by 38% in Pacific Grove declined by 37%.
[1:21:40] So it adds unchelted count fell from 45 people to eight, although it's overall total.
[1:21:45] Now includes people staying in shelter, again, a result of the Encampment Resolution Grant
[1:21:50] that we received in partnership with the city.
[1:21:53] At the same time, the data reminds us that progress has not been uniform across every jurisdiction.
[1:21:58] Sillina continues to represent the largest concentration of homelessness in the county with
[1:22:03] 1,249 people counted this year.
[1:22:06] and monitoring Marina in King City have all experiences,
[1:22:10] increase it, have all experienced increases in their overall accounts,
[1:22:14] although there may be some explanations to those increases.
[1:22:19] For example, the former Pueblo Del Mar program in the city of Marina was non-operational
[1:22:23] when the 2024 point in time count was conducted.
[1:22:27] However, the in fall, the project reopened as hope housing,
[1:22:31] so in 2026 you will see increase in their sheltered numbers.
[1:22:34] I'm going to pause many people like reading this one.
[1:22:44] There have also have been significant decreases among all subpopulations that's mandated
[1:22:48] for the COC to count and monitor, which includes people experiencing chronic homelessness,
[1:22:54] veterans, families with minors and an incorporate and accompanied individuals under the age
[1:22:59] of 25 years old.
[1:23:01] Again, these declines could be attributed to substantial resources that has been made available
[1:23:06] to these populations over the past two years, and I'll expand on what some of those changes to the
[1:23:11] system are in a future slide.
[1:23:17] Thank you, Roxanne.
[1:23:19] So, our respondents report that homeless populations continue to age, while nearly one
[1:23:23] and three individuals now age 55 or older, which is an increase from 2024, adults between
[1:23:32] the ages of 35 and 64 remain a large, the largest group representing nearly two thirds or 65%
[1:23:40] of individual counties. Counting, men continue to comprise of the majority of the population
[1:23:48] at 70% compared to 66% in 2024. It's important to note that had revised its demographics,
[1:23:56] reporting standards in 2026. So there is, we can't really compare gender or sexual orientation
[1:24:05] data due to those changes.
[1:24:14] We see here that local homelessness increased with 89% reporting that they were residents
[1:24:20] of Monterey County when they became homeless, which is up 81% in 2024. Long-term homelessness
[1:24:30] This continues, sorry, long-term homelessness declined with individuals experiencing homelessness
[1:24:37] for one or more years decreasing from 78% to 67%.
[1:24:44] Our first time homelessness increase was substantially, with 60% reporting this is the first
[1:24:51] episode of homelessness compared to 23% in 2024.
[1:24:56] The homeless population continues to age with 30%
[1:25:00] Now, age 55 or older compared to 24 percent in 2024. So, the bottom line here is more people are becoming
[1:25:10] homeless and are local residents. Fewer people are remaining homeless for extended periods of time
[1:25:18] and more people are entering homelessness for the first time. Our population continues stage.
[1:25:26] Okay? The survey indicates here that there's encouraging progress in reducing justice system
[1:25:37] involvement among individuals experiencing homelessness. Compared to 2024, the percentage
[1:25:42] reported reporting incarceration within the past year declined from 26 percent to 19 percent.
[1:25:52] While those on probation and parole at the start of their current episode of homelessness decrease from 20% to 10% so that's a 50% reduction.
[1:26:01] But at the same time, sleeping location shifted significantly.
[1:26:05] The proportion of individuals sleeping outdoors increased from 45% to 69% while fewer reported staying in shelters, tents, motels or hotel programs.
[1:26:16] This change likely reflects a combination of reduced temporary shelter resources and increase
[1:26:25] in unchaltered homelessness, reinforcing the need for expanded outreach shelter capacity and
[1:26:32] permanent housing opportunities.
[1:26:37] Survey respondents have the opportunity to self-report health conditions that may affect
[1:26:41] their housing stability or ability to gain or maintain employment.
[1:26:45] This slide really underscores how closely homelessness and health are connected.
[1:26:51] We continue to see a very high rate of people with behavioral health or physical health
[1:26:56] conditions, including substance use disorder, depression, PTSD, physical disabilities
[1:27:02] and chronic health conditions.
[1:27:04] Most notably 65% of the respondents reported at least one disabling condition up from 52%
[1:27:10] last year or the last count.
[1:27:14] This slide shows a meaningful increase in access to government benefits in 2026, 74% of the
[1:27:21] respondents reported receiving some form of government assistance compared to 60% in 2024.
[1:27:28] The barriers for those who are not receiving assistance has also changed.
[1:27:32] In 2026, immigration related concerns were the most frequently reported reason for not receiving
[1:27:37] benefits, whereas in 2024, immigration concerns were the least frequently reported barrier.
[1:27:44] Another important finding is that 17% of the respondents were not receiving, who were
[1:27:49] not receiving government assistance, said that their benefits had been cut off.
[1:27:53] For people experiencing homelessness, maintaining benefits can be especially difficult, because
[1:27:58] so many systems depend on consistent communication.
[1:28:01] A person may not have a reliable mailing address, may lose access to an email account because of two factor authentication, or may have a phone number that changes several times throughout a year.
[1:28:17] This is an area where a system has a real opportunity to improve by building processes that recognize those realities and make it easier for people to maintain their benefits and stay connected to services.
[1:28:27] So,
[1:28:31] in conclusion, the homelessness response system which extends far beyond just the county's efforts is becoming more coordinated across systems rather than relying on individual programs to operate on their own.
[1:28:46] We are seeing strengthening strengthened partnerships across jurisdictions connecting people to housing and building more intentional pathways between homeless services healthcare education and the justice system.
[1:28:58] We have also been much more deliberate about how we approach encampments, pairing outreach and
[1:29:04] resolution efforts with realistic service and shelter options whenever possible.
[1:29:09] At the same time, projects like light fighter village, who is the veteran population,
[1:29:17] whole housing for those with a behavioral health condition, and expanded reentry coordination
[1:29:22] or increasing the number of pathways people can use to stabilize.
[1:29:26] The overall direction is toward a system that is easier to navigate, more response to individual needs and a system that meets people where they are.
[1:29:34] Although the system looks completely different than it did 10 years ago, we still have substantial gaps.
[1:29:40] We don't have enough affordable housing options.
[1:29:42] We don't have housing choice vouchers available at this time.
[1:29:47] And as mentioned several times throughout this presentation, the senior population is growing and we simply don't have the resources
[1:29:54] to handle their varying needs.
[1:29:57] But what we do have is a whole network of partners.
[1:30:00] Members from school districts, the sheriff's office, public defenders, and so much more who are doing what they can to help and that is promising.
[1:30:09] And while the 2026 point-and-time count shows meaningful progress, several federal and state policies changes could put these gains at risk.
[1:30:19] At the federal level, HUD continues to shift priorities, potentially reducing resources that.
[1:30:26] Potentially reducing resources that currently keep vulnerable households permanently house,
[1:30:33] proposed changes to protect proposed changes to perirated rents for mixed immigration status
[1:30:40] house, sorry, mixed immigration status households could also increase housing costs for
[1:30:47] affected families. In addition, HR-1 expands work requirements and benefit resortification
[1:30:54] requirements, creating additional barriers for people experiencing homelessness to maintain health
[1:30:59] care, food assistance, and other critical supports.
[1:31:03] At the state level, there's continued uncertainty around our half-finding that present a significant
[1:31:11] concern.
[1:31:12] Happers one of our most flexible resources and allows us to respond to needs and gaps, specific
[1:31:18] to our local community.
[1:31:19] There's pressures that come at a time when our pit data shows an aging population
[1:31:26] with increasingly complex health and behavioral health needs require greater coordination
[1:31:32] across housing, health care, behavioral health and aging services.
[1:31:39] The takeaway for us locally is that progress we've made is real, but it's not guaranteed.
[1:31:45] Our priority must be to protect those gains by building, sorry, building resilience, coordinated
[1:31:56] system, and could adapt to the changing federal policies, uncertain funding, and evolving
[1:32:02] community needs.
[1:32:05] As mentioned before, we still have a lot of work to do and working we are.
[1:32:09] On September 16, my office will be hosting a community engagement meeting to gain input about
[1:32:14] proposed reconfiguration of the Sheriff's Center to better serve families and to better serve people being discharged from
[1:32:19] the Tivotad hospital who are experiencing homelessness and need to save place to recover and I too plan on bringing that
[1:32:26] proposal to the board by October. The city of Salinas and the county partnered on the grant submission to serve people
[1:32:32] experiencing homelessness along the Davis Road corridor between Blanco and Buranda and we do expect to hear back
[1:32:39] the state this month on whether or not we've been funded. Of course, two home keys have opened.
[1:32:45] Those home keys opened after the point in time count was conducted and all of the folks
[1:32:50] that are moving in are housed. They are no longer considered homeless. The board has given me
[1:32:57] direction to identify a safe parking option in North County and we do hope to have a proposal to
[1:33:02] the board in the upcoming months. And of course, BHSA is ramping up Calam's transitional rent is
[1:33:08] already in effect. And I think it's really important to note that the bulk of our accomplishments
[1:33:13] are made possible because of the huge investments by the state of California and how they
[1:33:19] had invested into our county and we have so many people within this county including the board
[1:33:24] who is willing to take those steps towards a better community. The state has had a very clear vision
[1:33:31] and has made resources available to communities who align with it. Over half of the counties in
[1:33:37] California who conducted and released a point in time count this year, have saw reductions,
[1:33:42] which includes Fresno Madera, San Francisco, San Joaquin, Alameda, Ventura, Kern,
[1:33:48] Orange, and of course Monterey County.
[1:33:51] That concludes our presentation and we are available for any questions.
[1:33:54] Thank you so much.
[1:33:57] Great.
[1:33:57] Thank you.
[1:33:58] Bring it to the board for questions?
[1:34:01] First of all, Roxanne and the Katrina thank you very much for the heroic work you do.
[1:34:05] The great collaboration you both do on behalf of our county and our residents and our most vulnerable,
[1:34:11] very much appreciate and having your expertise, not only yours, but all our partners.
[1:34:16] It really makes a difference and it's helped facilitate building trust with their cities,
[1:34:23] more collaboration among the non-profits and our housing authority, as well as,
[1:34:27] the things that you just mentioned have been a result of what we learned,
[1:34:32] makes things happen, which is partnerships and collaboration, so I commend both of you,
[1:34:37] but I also know that these are very difficult times. As you're talking about, there's
[1:34:41] a lot of new restrictions on the federal funding. In fact, our next round of funding, our
[1:34:46] no full, is to type up in litigation. We already, we had our panel ranking review, projects
[1:34:52] services to be granted in August, and because of litigation against those who are there.
[1:35:00] Really restrictive conditions by that administration now. We're kind of, remember, waiting to see what the federal
[1:35:07] judge would do on the state side. Yes, the state was very proactive, but then we got to a point where one year
[1:35:14] didn't provide any funding. In fact, in last year, the governor had zero dollars for half-round seven,
[1:35:22] and it was a legislator put in 500 million dollars that hit that issue carried on to this year.
[1:35:29] We're again counties, Monterey County was one of those who advocated to restore not the 500 million but get us back to a billion dollars.
[1:35:37] We didn't get a billion but we got 900 million.
[1:35:39] But in the governor's January budget this year, ad is made revised.
[1:35:43] It was zero dollars for hap homelessness funding.
[1:35:46] It took counties and nonprofits and teams of care advocating to get us back closer to what the state was doing there for several rounds.
[1:36:00] So, I just wanted to point out, this count is critical because this is used in the formula
[1:36:08] about how federal dollars and state dollars are designated to counties, right?
[1:36:14] And it's sometimes to the big cities, to the COCs as well, a continuum of cares.
[1:36:19] And this is an issue that we've been fighting because counties like ours after doing this
[1:36:23] point in time count every two years.
[1:36:27] If you have an increase in homelessness funding,
[1:36:30] then based on the formula, you're going to get more
[1:36:32] because your pit count went up.
[1:36:34] But if you're counting like ours, where we decrease 15%,
[1:36:38] it's like we're going to get 15% less funding
[1:36:40] because our numbers dropped.
[1:36:42] And we've been trying to correct that.
[1:36:43] We brought it to the legislature's attention,
[1:36:45] just having made ground.
[1:36:47] But for us, there's good news here.
[1:36:49] But the flip side, the bad news is,
[1:36:51] We're likely going to get less money, because now this pit is used in the formula that will
[1:36:58] result in us getting less money, not rewarding us for doing what the state and the federal
[1:37:03] government wants us to do.
[1:37:06] I wanted to go, just going to two points, one, one thing that wasn't highlighted here
[1:37:11] out of the last four point and ten counts, Monterey County has had three reductions out of
[1:37:17] four.
[1:37:18] And I think that's important for the community practice.
[1:37:20] We're not just looking at it two years.
[1:37:22] That's what we're looking at how we did
[1:37:23] compared to all the previous counts.
[1:37:25] And back going to pre-COVID,
[1:37:28] we had dropped just under 15%, 14.6.
[1:37:32] During COVID, in 2022, we dropped 15.5.
[1:37:36] What we had an uptick was two years ago, 2024.
[1:37:39] That was 19% increase.
[1:37:41] And now we dropped back down 15%.
[1:37:42] So I want the community to know we've had drops,
[1:37:46] consistent drops, three out of four different counts.
[1:37:50] But this came up here during public comment, maybe two, three meetings ago, which is this chart
[1:37:55] on jurisdictions and glad we look at the unincorporated county, we look at the county overall
[1:38:00] but we also look at how the 12 cities within Monterey County are doing in this count.
[1:38:08] And so there's the number that don't tell the whole story, the new says, oh, silliness
[1:38:10] It's went up 3%, but within the 3% numbers, when they were looking at homeless
[1:38:18] this numbers, we're looking at comparing the numbers of homeless in previous years compared
[1:38:23] to this current count.
[1:38:26] And in your chart here, it breaks down the number of unsheltered and sheltered, right?
[1:38:33] So that 3% includes individuals in both categories.
[1:38:37] So, just under on sheltered from 2024 to 26, these are on sheltered people not in any type of program or service.
[1:38:48] More than likely out on the street or even in a car, the increase was 18 individuals in Salinas.
[1:38:56] That's in the city of 160,000 people on sheltered.
[1:39:00] It takes here 949, 2 years ago, now it's 967, that's 18 individuals.
[1:39:05] But we also had an increase of sheltered people in sheltered homeless.
[1:39:10] Those were people actually in a program and some kind of service.
[1:39:13] That increased from 267 to 282.
[1:39:16] So that was 15 individuals.
[1:39:19] But yet when you look at the 3% or you're looking at both, right?
[1:39:23] So I just want there's a distinction there of sheltered versus on sheltered.
[1:39:26] The sheltered are people who are considered homeless,
[1:39:29] but they are in some kind of program getting services in this count.
[1:39:33] Because if you just look at percentages, you look at
[1:39:37] San City went from two overall, the last count to four,
[1:39:42] that would technically be like a 200% increase.
[1:39:44] We have a start here because it's such a small number.
[1:39:47] It's not fair to say, so you went from two to four,
[1:39:49] you got a 200% increase.
[1:39:51] Then it's always went from one to six.
[1:39:53] And it's a start of there too, but that would be
[1:39:55] otherwise a 600% increase, right?
[1:39:57] So it's not such a small number.
[1:39:58] It's not fair to think character, right?
[1:40:00] That kind of increased for that community. But anyways, I wanted to go into that because we had some comments made
[1:40:06] here that over generalized without really looking into the details of how these numbers are divided. And
[1:40:12] what they mean. Yes, we always said, we had an overall reduction in the county. We had 18 more individuals living
[1:40:18] out in the streets or in cars and salinas. But there's much more work to do. But overall, we are making progress,
[1:40:25] But it's never enough, because our mission is to try to get everyone into services and everyone out of homelessness if possible.
[1:40:33] So anyways, I just wanted to make a little light until those numbers.
[1:40:37] Thank you.
[1:40:38] Thank you.
[1:40:43] Sure.
[1:40:44] I really don't have any questions.
[1:40:45] I just want to really, really thank you in your team for all the great work that done.
[1:40:49] We don't work together last four years and a lot of issues out in Bahron,
[1:40:55] around Salinas, a lot of places, unfortunately, and I, you know, truly pleased to see that,
[1:41:04] you know, there's this progress going forth. I know we're working on a safe parking program,
[1:41:09] which has been really difficult to do, and I'm really optimistic. Oh, it's going to happen out of
[1:41:14] this. This is one of these things that are just real challenges. Challenges are the communities,
[1:41:21] challenges with government and I know we have the right people doing it and you guys are doing
[1:41:26] a great job. We had the old village that set up an up in Watsonville and had some challenges
[1:41:33] with that. That was without side art control and that's been a big success and we can see the
[1:41:40] impact that had in the part of community right there. So I believe we're heading to right direction.
[1:41:46] I think there's a model here for a lot of the cities to follow through and assist with as we're doing here with the city of Selenus, so I'm just looking forward to the future and hopefully the numbers continue to go down.
[1:41:59] Thank you.
[1:42:01] I too only have appreciation and just want to point out as a supervisor of the little bit of a dive on the numbers that in South County this year, we also have the two new shelters open up and it's part of that.
[1:42:12] likely saw shift of folks out of unincorporated into those cities.
[1:42:18] So some of those numbers are playing into the figures that we're seeing with the opening
[1:42:20] of San Dental and I always get it wrong and I know that was the reason for the naming
[1:42:25] but Casa de Esperanza or whatever we ended up naming the one in King City.
[1:42:31] But with that acknowledgment, just to continue to appreciation, I think seeing the numbers move
[1:42:37] in the right direction is something the community's been looking for and I know anytime
[1:42:40] When you see the data, we hear folks push back and say they're unwilling to trust those numbers,
[1:42:45] but I trust them, because I've seen the work, I've seen the new locations open, I've seen
[1:42:48] people move in, and I've seen the live changed. And at the end of the day, that's the real goal.
[1:42:53] So thank you for the work that helps illuminate that.
[1:43:01] I don't have any questions, but I do just want to highlight a couple of the points that you're
[1:43:06] making on slide 16, which is the where do we go from here.
[1:43:12] I'm improving our hospitals as charges and making sure that we have folks who are both being
[1:43:18] discharged from hospital as well as from our county jail with those warm hand-offs.
[1:43:23] I know it's hard, that's like really challenging work to do, but one of the just talking
[1:43:29] to our folks at Intividad and realizing that with the ECM program in place that they've been
[1:43:35] to make some pretty significant improvements and even separate from behavioral health services act,
[1:43:41] but folks who are coming through the emergency room for serious mental illness, inputs into
[1:43:47] the mental health unit and then finding more stability for people who are experiencing that cycle,
[1:43:55] with an ultimate reduction in the number of people coming through the emergency room needing mental
[1:44:01] health, serious and immediate mental health treatment, so I'll just encourage us to think about
[1:44:05] both the hospital discharge side as well as our jail discharge side and using those
[1:44:10] UCM programs, I continue to use them as effectively as possible.
[1:44:16] And then I did, I guess the question I have is, I know I'd raise a number of issues with the
[1:44:20] behavioral health services act and the intentions of those dollars to be used to help move folks
[1:44:27] out from homelessness who are homeless population that is experiencing serious mental illness
[1:44:34] into housing. And if I can put you on the spot and just ask how that conversation as we
[1:44:39] look at implementation of VHSA, how those ongoing conversations are going.
[1:44:44] I haven't had a chance to check in with the Director of Behavioral Health or the Director of the
[1:44:48] Health Services Department, but I certainly can do so. I have, I have, I'm aware of organizations
[1:44:56] that are partnering with them, but I can certainly look into that and get back to
[1:45:00] Okay. And I think I asked the question, primarily, you know, we now have, you know, from the BHSA, being a real health service
[1:45:07] exact, this movement of money where we experienced an acute loss of funds for prevention and early intervention.
[1:45:15] But those dollars moved into housing support or individuals who are unhoused. And so I think it's really important that we're maximizing the utilization of those dollars.
[1:45:26] And as we, where we go from here, I think that's going to have to be a critical part of all conversations moving forward.
[1:45:35] And then on the fifth one, slow down the pipeline of people into homelessness, it's really disheartening to see that that average age of our on house residences increasing.
[1:45:45] And I think that there's a number of reasons for that.
[1:45:50] But when I'm looking at the sort of canaries in the coal mine and those individuals in
[1:45:55] Monterey County who are living very much pay-tech to pay-tech on the edge is when I look
[1:45:59] at our student homelessness rates and there's a new report that just came out Monterey County
[1:46:04] student homelessness rates continue to be exponentially statistically dramatically
[1:46:08] significantly higher than what you see anywhere else on the coast of California.
[1:46:15] our rates of student homelessness, you know, our students who are, it's a different level
[1:46:22] of category or level of measurement from our head point in time, homeless rates. But when
[1:46:29] you're talking about multiple families, each living in a home with one family, per bedroom,
[1:46:33] families who are living in garage, technically those kids are sheltered, but it's not, it's families
[1:46:44] incredible resilience in the way that families hold it together, but also those are folks who are
[1:46:51] one breath away from finding themselves in a motel in a car which leads me to the last point
[1:46:57] about serving individuals who are living in their vehicles. We're already seeing in Monterey County,
[1:47:02] I think Flenis Elementary School District, the last time I checked had over 100 students living
[1:47:08] in vehicles and in PUSC on the modern peninsula and C-side runs a safe parking program with
[1:47:16] 25 families who live in their vehicle.
[1:47:20] And I think those kids and K-12 students who are living in vehicles do fall into our
[1:47:28] had category of homelessness, but I think it's important to acknowledge and recognize
[1:47:34] that is not just those that we see or hear about,
[1:47:38] but there are statistically huge numbers of those kids
[1:47:42] on those families who don't have the stable housing
[1:47:45] that they need to be learning and growing safely and successfully.
[1:47:51] And so on the parking, serving individuals living in their cars,
[1:47:56] I just want to acknowledge that the county continues
[1:47:58] to have our safe parking program that there's a number
[1:48:02] of churches who participate on the Peninsla in safe parking for folks and that Monterey Peninsla
[1:48:08] unified even as a school district with the support of the city of seaside is operating
[1:48:13] as safe parking program. We really can't do that on our own as a county. We need the cities
[1:48:18] to participate. We've got some resources, we've got some models, but I just feel so strongly that
[1:48:25] having catching folks before they fall farther into homelessness and those families especially
[1:48:32] And those older individuals who, for whatever reason, need the security of a vehicle, that
[1:48:39] that's an area that I would love to see us continue to lean farther into and to ask our partners
[1:48:44] to lean farther into as well. So those are my comments. I'm also going to have to public comment.
[1:48:48] Is there anyone in chambers for public comment today? No. All right. Is there anyone on line?
[1:48:56] We have one for number ending in 4, 3, 6. We'll welcome your public comment. Thank you for joining us today.
[1:49:03] This is the phone number ending in 436.
[1:49:09] Hello.
[1:49:10] This is Ellen Lee's young calling.
[1:49:12] So I've looked at the leadership group on West White YouTube channel.
[1:49:19] And I know that supervisor Leo has been present at those meetings as has rock sound,
[1:49:25] Wilson, however, when individuals that I've mentioned,
[1:49:29] my coosted is still a shelter's homeless person after 22 years and my view that's unacceptable.
[1:49:38] Personally, I think with the extra support from Robert Revis,
[1:49:46] for listening to my concerns about my subsidies you had, my rental portion decreased
[1:49:52] which gives me more discretionary spending capacity.
[1:49:59] And I'm less important.
[1:50:00] I'm sorry that I'll lose my substitute today, which contributes to lessening my homeless anxiety.
[1:50:13] The Salinas rental registries, the stabilization initiative, was not supported by Supervisor Olaio.
[1:50:21] And it is a crucial component to combat and eliminating homelessness.
[1:50:27] He needs to be more of an authentic advocate for the homeless issue in my view.
[1:50:36] Also, there are many more people than 18 homeless people without shelter just in my immediate neighborhood.
[1:50:47] and that alone lead alone the entire county so I think those numbers are you know if you're a person like me that it takes the bus and walks around to get places and not just in your car going to your home.
[1:51:05] You will know more there are more homeless people than what your thing there are.
[1:51:13] Thank you.
[1:51:15] Thank you.
[1:51:16] All right, I'm seeing no additional hands raised.
[1:51:17] So we'll close public comment and bring it back to the board.
[1:51:22] And this is receiving the presentation today.
[1:51:25] And I didn't hear any direction in the comments
[1:51:27] that were made.
[1:51:28] Is there any direction that we'd like to offer?
[1:51:32] Sign in.
[1:51:33] Do you know that we have the annual summit coming up?
[1:51:40] Can you make an announcement about the annual summit?
[1:51:44] Yes, thank you.
[1:51:45] So, we are hosting a annual, well, it's not really annual, every other year, annual, by annual.
[1:51:53] Summit on Homelessness in April of 2027, it's going to be at the Old Stymix Center.
[1:52:01] And we are really excited to partner, continue to partner with the county of Monterey and Monterey County Office of Education to put on this summit.
[1:52:11] we are offering 12 learning sessions, we're going to incorporate some work groups training for
[1:52:19] service provider network and really informing our community on what homelessness looks like in
[1:52:26] our continuum of care, what resources are out there and training opportunities for our service
[1:52:32] provider network to continue the growth in addressing homelessness.
[1:52:38] Great, thank you.
[1:52:38] I'm in the lead warm formation about that on the Coalition website.
[1:52:42] Yes. So please do look into that and that is part of our implementation of the lead me home plan.
[1:52:47] I thought that we continue to I think try to work in alignment as a community on.
[1:52:51] So thank you again for all the work.
[1:52:53] Everyone's invited and we've had we've been sold out because there is limited space the last couple times we've done this.
[1:52:59] So please RZP early.
[1:53:01] Yes.
[1:53:01] Right. All right.
[1:53:02] With that, we'll close this item.
[1:53:03] Thank you again for the work, and we will move on to item number 21, which has known
[1:53:09] and referrals.
[1:53:10] So we'll skip that and move on to item 22.
[1:53:13] Thank you, Chair, Susan Lich, can I counsel?
[1:53:17] This is a referral from Supervisor Church requesting the Board establish a policy governing district
[1:53:25] specific appointments to county boards, commissions, and committees specifically asking that
[1:53:34] the policy state that a supervisor shall not appoint a resident of another superfizorial
[1:53:41] district to a district specific position without the prior consent of the supervisor representing
[1:53:49] the proposed appointees district of residents, and as far as what needs to happen today,
[1:54:02] the board needs to either decide to move forward and direct county council to come
[1:54:07] with such a policy or direct or another direction similar or to drop the
[1:54:18] reporal. Those are the choices. Thank you. Well, go through for Elmaker.
[1:54:23] Surprise a church. He gets pretty self explanatory on to it, so I really let's
[1:54:33] I kind of rest at that, this was questions.
[1:54:39] Yeah, I know kids not here.
[1:54:41] And I'm hoping we could get to solution that might address
[1:54:45] super-result churches, concerns, but also address
[1:54:48] the concerns I'm about to say.
[1:54:51] On appointments, it's been my practice
[1:54:54] on my 10 years on this board,
[1:54:55] till he's given, well, one to recruit,
[1:54:58] if you see my social media and out in the...
[1:55:00] Community, I'm always trying to recruit people for vacancies. And I've always, in my ten years, I
[1:55:06] always gain priority to district one residents. If they are qualified, right? You've got to, you
[1:55:12] all have to review each individual on a case by case basis. But second, I've always given an opportunity
[1:55:19] to others who are willing to serve, because my thinking has always been, well, I'd rather have, if I can't
[1:55:26] find somebody to fill the vacancy. I'd rather have somebody who's willing to serve and put in
[1:55:32] the time to be able to do so rather than just leaving it vacant. And our county historically
[1:55:39] has always struggled to fill in vacancies. And that's why the chair has now posted on the agenda
[1:55:45] what vacancies are available. But we've also done try to do different things to make it easier
[1:55:50] for people to apply and to serve on these committees,
[1:55:54] because they are volunteer.
[1:55:56] And for a while there, people had to take time off work,
[1:55:59] or travel, spend time traveling, spending money on gas,
[1:56:05] just to a 10 meeting.
[1:56:06] So it's historically been a struggle.
[1:56:09] In my district in particular,
[1:56:11] I've always historically my 10 years
[1:56:13] that I had a struggle trying to find people
[1:56:15] for certain types of committees.
[1:56:16] My historical advisor committee,
[1:56:18] I had a one vacancy, I tried to find people
[1:56:20] having been able to fill it in years when it comes to fishing and wildlife.
[1:56:25] I know fishing wildlife or you have more interests in some of the unaccorporated areas and the
[1:56:30] city of Salinas and which all my district lies in and it just historically try to
[1:56:37] fortify people but luckily I've been able to find people who are willing to serve
[1:56:41] whereas expertise were willing to put in the time and they haven't always been
[1:56:45] from my district. I've always been honest about that.
[1:56:48] Sometimes there's challenges with committees, right, and it's not the point, sometimes it's
[1:56:55] hard-keeping people there because some committees, like behavioral health, they're very
[1:56:58] long meetings.
[1:56:59] I support the church, so we're asking I have served on there.
[1:57:02] They're like sometimes two or three hour meetings and an evening after work, and they go
[1:57:05] pretty long.
[1:57:06] And sometimes they move to Greenfield, to geographic areas that make it also challenging to
[1:57:12] attend for some of the members.
[1:57:15] The Commission on the Status of Women has been a challenge.
[1:57:18] I've recruited many.
[1:57:19] I think part of more than any other Commission, I recruited the women to serve.
[1:57:24] They go on there and see another resigning, and I've even addressed it with staff with
[1:57:28] the CAO.
[1:57:29] I got something going on in some of these committees where I think we need to find ways to
[1:57:33] retain commissioners once they're appointed.
[1:57:37] Recently, in 2023, our neighboring county, Santa Cruz county, they struggle to find people
[1:57:43] fill in vacancy, they have no restrictions on by district, they in fact modify their policy
[1:57:50] to allow people who are employed in Santa Cruz County to be able to serve on the commission.
[1:57:56] So they don't have to just live there. If they work in the county, the Board of Supervisors
[1:58:00] are set three years ago, they are also eligible to serve on a commission that is vacant.
[1:58:06] And these are all challenges I'm raising but that's why I specifically pushed our county to support the modernization of the Brown Act so that these advisory committees and these commissioners could participate via zoom and that bill actually was vetoed by the governor repeatedly I think was on the third time in last year where Governor Newsom finally this was going to allow it for advisory committees and that that has been
[1:58:36] Again, change here, because now parents, seniors, working folks, they're able to be able to participate in volunteer, much more easy by being able to join the Zoom versus traveling across the county to do so.
[1:58:50] So, the last point I wanted to make the concern I have on this is because historically, our appointments have always been our sole discretion. We get a point who we want, hasn't been an issue on the board for the last 10 years.
[1:59:06] This would be the first time that we would put restrictions on one supervisor being able to
[1:59:14] not be able to appoint a willing volunteer, unless that supervisor agrees to that.
[1:59:22] And for me, I just think that's problematic because I think our supervisor,
[1:59:25] the world districts are not fiefdoms, we don't own the people and I'm hoping that we
[1:59:31] perhaps there's another way where if we have a willing person to, from one superzer just
[1:59:37] going to serve in another, not to say, you can't serve unless the supervisor there agrees,
[1:59:44] perhaps if there's a way to provide notice to the supervisor to inform the supervisor that
[1:59:50] this is happening, I think there's other ways, because I know I've recruited people and
[1:59:54] usually the cleric sends that application to the district that they live in, and so as I hope if that.
[2:00:00] I'll say to my district and there are wanting to apply to be one of my commissioners. I always try to tell them in their put that you're applying for a D1 district. That doesn't always happen.
[2:00:11] And so there's been some of my recruits that have actually been appointed to the status of commission to the status of one by supervisor church.
[2:00:20] So I've helped recruit some people that got appointed in other people's districts, but even on my effort, I try to tell them.
[2:00:28] Please indicate that you're wanting to serve in a D1 vacancy, commission vacancy.
[2:00:36] Anyways, I don't know if that addresses your concerns, but I'm sure that you're
[2:00:40] sure, but I'm trying to find ways I want to be respectful to you and to other supervisors,
[2:00:45] but I don't know if notice would be suffice or if it's just going to be a blank,
[2:00:52] straight black and white rule or on a stutter supervisor agrees then I won't be able to point that in and then that that
[2:01:00] Vacant that vacancy sits
[2:01:04] Empty for another period of time. I think currently I only have six vacancies
[2:01:09] on commissions. I try to get down to zero. I was hoping to the point where I could get zero got all of mine
[2:01:15] on field, but unfortunately, a few long-time commissioners decided to do something else
[2:01:23] recently, so another two, three vacancies open, but it's been my goal to fill every single
[2:01:28] one from my district, and if not a willing person who lives in the county who's willing to serve
[2:01:34] in those roles.
[2:01:41] Sure.
[2:01:42] Well, you know, it's obviously up.
[2:01:43] Let me see if Supervisor LePas had a comment first, and then we'll come back around.
[2:01:51] Anyway, this is a preliminary analysis report.
[2:01:54] So it's not the first meeting.
[2:01:55] It's the second time it's coming back and we're going to give direction today.
[2:01:58] Okay.
[2:02:00] So we, you know, we, we, we obviously are elected in districts.
[2:02:03] We have, we have a responsibility to our constituency.
[2:02:06] So our districts and, and it representing them.
[2:02:11] And, and that's, you know, that is, that is a priority.
[2:02:15] Nobody can speak for any of our districts as eloquently as the one the supervisor that's
[2:02:24] been elected by the people in that district and that's that's why we're districts and
[2:02:28] out at large partially in this county. Nothing in this referral limits anybody from being
[2:02:38] selected outside. I know years and years past there's been issues on appointments outside
[2:02:45] districts that have come up. When I came in office here, there were quite a few vacancies within
[2:02:53] my district for appointments. I've been really aggressive on trying to fill those with. You
[2:03:00] never had 100% full. I think this was always somebody that resigned, but we're pretty full,
[2:03:06] and filling those spots. Which is good, but there's always something to be filled. What
[2:03:11] to avoid here is a situation where a supervisor will go to my case where we make go to make
[2:03:20] an appointment and we find out that the individuals already have been appointed from another
[2:03:24] district and had no idea about it.
[2:03:31] Don't get any response on how to deal with it with that
[2:03:35] district, so if I had to go to the CIO and the clerk of the board and point out, yes, this
[2:03:41] is a person who's applied in my district, then it's potential problem here, it just really
[2:03:50] has to be resolved because
[2:03:55] it shouldn't come to any kind of conflict when we have people that
[2:04:00] are willing to serve and a super thorough district that they reside in is really where the
[2:04:05] chance.
[2:04:09] Thanks. I'm going to comment briefly. And this was a really interesting, I'll just say
[2:04:15] like I had a long conversation with my team about this referral and how it has played out in
[2:04:24] the past. And we do have district appointments and it hasn't been an issue in the past 10 years
[2:04:33] where someone has blocked a district appointment,
[2:04:36] but it has been an issue prior to that.
[2:04:39] There are situations where the board has chosen not
[2:04:42] to support a district presented appointment.
[2:04:46] It happened when I was a staffer for a supervisor per occur.
[2:04:49] And I think that that either we say that you
[2:04:52] have district appointment process.
[2:04:54] We have policies that we follow.
[2:04:55] And I think one of the questions I've been asking us to do
[2:04:57] is to look at those policies, to update those policies.
[2:04:59] Please.
[2:05:00] To have quick guidance on those policies. And this referral fits right into that bigger question of how are we making appointments.
[2:05:09] When it is a full board request for an appointment, I think it is important that we have policies that guide that so that it doesn't become a territorial or provincial type of situation.
[2:05:18] And I just want to really appreciate the reasons why supervisor church is bringing this forward.
[2:05:26] There are very specific concerns that I think are trying to be addressed and that district specific appointments should generally come from the district that they represent.
[2:05:39] And I guess the one, so I do think it's a relevant conversation to have.
[2:05:45] I generally agree that the proposed solution makes sense to me.
[2:05:52] And at the same time, I'm just trying to think through the reality of, we have district boundaries,
[2:05:59] they're imperfect, proxies for what our communities look like.
[2:06:02] Sometimes we have someone who maybe lives in one address and works in another part of the community.
[2:06:11] We've always looked at the going back to the bylaws for each one of the appointments to let that guide us and how we bring people forward.
[2:06:18] Do they qualify? Do they not qualify?
[2:06:22] So I think those were some of the questions that I bounced around as we spent, you know, dove into the actual request and the proposed solution.
[2:06:32] And I think it could make sense to say, you know, if you're going to appoint someone outside
[2:06:39] of your district, that there is a consultation that occurs with the, you know, the other
[2:06:47] district.
[2:06:48] I think that that seems like a fair request to make.
[2:06:54] And I think the other piece of it that I've raised in all of my other comments is really thinking
[2:07:01] about how we as a county are making sure that vacancies are known about by the community.
[2:07:11] And the county serves all of our cities.
[2:07:14] We don't have any uniform way by which vacancies are shared in a broad manner.
[2:07:23] We have the Matty list on the Clerk of the Board's webpage, but that's not shared broadly.
[2:07:28] So, oftentimes we'll have vacancies, they'll be an appointment, someone will hear about it in
[2:07:33] some other way, but that the bigger issue for me and all of this is that we're making
[2:07:38] sure that the community truly does understand the residents in each district understand that
[2:07:43] they have an opportunity to serve and that the wide range of individuals who might be interested,
[2:07:50] I know they're out there, I talk to them every day and I'm oftentimes referring people to city
[2:07:55] opportunities or county opportunities that they would have never known about, so I'm not providing
[2:08:02] closure action in this, but I do think it's a relevant question, and I think that the proposed
[2:08:07] solution is one that could make sense.
[2:08:12] Do you want to comment, surprise, let me say a little bit
[2:08:14] about that. I think I've heard three different opinions of your concurrence, notification,
[2:08:19] and like approval, right? So there's like three different potentials I've heard three,
[2:08:23] three opinions, three different levels.
[2:08:25] And just want to acknowledge that I understand all the above.
[2:08:28] I've never been in the middle of one of those issues myself
[2:08:32] with an individual being contested in any way.
[2:08:37] But at the same time I've had certain districts.
[2:08:40] I think I appoint more than anybody else
[2:08:42] because there's so many special districts.
[2:08:44] And all those tiny cemetery districts, water districts,
[2:08:47] memorial districts.
[2:08:49] So given that, I know in the past, like in the instance,
[2:08:52] It's a mission game.
[2:08:54] I've had an abundance of folks like nine folks apply
[2:08:56] for a few seats in Supervisor Lejos,
[2:08:58] had vacancies, so I've sent them a couple,
[2:09:00] and he's appointed some of those,
[2:09:01] so I can see the concurrence piece there.
[2:09:05] And I think it's a really interesting question
[2:09:08] and I look forward to hearing
[2:09:10] if we have any public input on this.
[2:09:12] I doubt we do, given the time we're sitting next,
[2:09:15] and I have to chambers, but I'm not out there.
[2:09:18] And just want to acknowledge with three opinions
[2:09:21] understanding that there should be some level it's a question of what level and maybe this is one we do wait for supervisor Daniels to join in on the conversation just given that as well.
[2:09:33] But given my history with it, I agree there needs to be some level it's a question of what is the appropriate level and then which bodies are we talking about as well just knowing that all those different potential places that it could be an impact.
[2:09:46] down the line and I agree with that piece because I largely often feel that I'm the bedroom community for so many others, right?
[2:09:55] I know everybody who lives in my district works in someone else's, I feel that in the morning.
[2:10:00] On the freeway at folks headed north, and I wouldn't want to block those folks who might be useful and insightful from helping others, but I do not resist into the idea of a concurrence. I guess it's where I am.
[2:10:15] But yeah, just sitting there kind of with that. A lot of different pieces, I just want to acknowledge I heard three different opinions there.
[2:10:21] I do think it probably, you know, it's an item since its board policy really needs all
[2:10:26] supervisors engaged. And I'm probably, you know, they really should come back when there's
[2:10:34] five supervisors. And that could be the direction from the board today, if I'm made to come back
[2:10:42] at a future date that we're all five supervisors over here. Yeah, it can count on, and obviously
[2:10:48] all of us all five, even if it's a district specific appointment, we all ends up being voted upon
[2:10:54] all by all five of us, that all gets agendized, even if it's a district specific. But one thing
[2:11:00] that's unique here in Salinas is that there's four supervisors and a lot of residents when we do
[2:11:05] recruitment for commissioners, they don't know what supervisor district is because they could be here
[2:11:12] and you're on this side, but then you cross into Old Town, I mean just on Main Street,
[2:11:16] then you're my district versus Wendy's you get to the rail station side
[2:11:20] then you're in Glen's district and not all these residents know where the
[2:11:25] lines are. I recently had two recent college grads. They were really great
[2:11:30] resumes. They're not in my district. I had a parks position open. They reached out
[2:11:35] to me. You wanted to serve as a parks commissioner. That was made vacant when
[2:11:39] former council, Salinas council member, Sergio Sanchez passed away. And so they're
[2:11:44] They want to serve, they provide the resume, they look very strong, qualified candidates and that's what you want.
[2:11:52] These young people born and raised here, they go get their education.
[2:11:55] They're coming back, they want to serve.
[2:11:58] I want to be able to appoint them if they're willing to do that.
[2:12:01] But I get prior to an appointment coming to being placed on an agenda.
[2:12:07] I have no problem like reach out to supervisor, church users,
[2:12:10] to raise your low-paces as a strike and form them a,
[2:12:13] given some kind of notice to the district knowing
[2:12:17] that these applicants have come to our office,
[2:12:20] asking to be appointed, asking to be D1 commissioners.
[2:12:24] I hope there's a way that that might be able to address
[2:12:26] supervisor church's concerns,
[2:12:28] because ultimately they are going to come to all of us
[2:12:30] for us to be able to vote on the actual appointment itself.
[2:12:37] I'm going to open it up to public comment.
[2:12:39] I don't see any hands raised or anyone in chambers approaching, so we will close public comment.
[2:12:44] Bring it back to the board so we don't miss that.
[2:12:46] You know, one thought that comes to mind is potentially, since it ultimately comes to the full board,
[2:12:50] is somewhere in the application to show that if it is someone being appointed from out of district
[2:12:54] that there's concurrence from the primary district.
[2:12:59] And if there isn't, the full board would then have a ability to know that that's the case in the voting
[2:13:04] And that may be as a great area and how we've been forward, but when additional thought.
[2:13:10] And the only other thing I would add, I could do it separately for all is just, I'll do it separately for just for the Board of Consider.
[2:13:17] If we want to allow people who work within our county to be able to serve on commissions, I'll be a different discussion.
[2:13:22] But certainly want to be able to provide more opportunities for people who are invested in our county, whether they live here or they work here.
[2:13:28] And perhaps that's another way to address trying to fill some of these vacancies and give more opportunities to people who have a stake within our county.
[2:13:36] And I think we do have within many of the board commissions, if you look at their bylaws, it does state that it addresses that issue specifically already.
[2:13:44] So I don't know if there's an across and overarching policy in place, but we've looked into the bylaws on specific appointments and.
[2:13:51] There's President, maybe you just expand it and I'll follow every for all, but yeah, I need to commission.
[2:13:56] Just to, you know, on the larger issue, and I don't have a question if it may be forward just on committees, special districts.
[2:14:05] And, you know, we got a new policy now when, when a special district spill over into a different sort of presural districts, is that, you know, there is a whole process is really uneven and is somewhat broken.
[2:14:18] I mean, I hear from my staff all the time,
[2:14:25] there's, I don't know, I mean, I know
[2:14:27] Supervisor Lope had mentioned all the, you know,
[2:14:29] the Special District Commission, she has,
[2:14:31] committee she has, and we're all, you know,
[2:14:33] we're all pointing to so many others and it's hard to get
[2:14:36] a, and up to date list on this.
[2:14:40] Clerk of the Board is totally overworked and
[2:14:42] and then has this kind of do on top of them.
[2:14:45] And this, you know, honestly,
[2:14:46] They're really this important role I think is we've all discussed for people to go and engage in government and
[2:14:53] the special districts actually it's a financial fiduciary with real power and a lot of you know the planning commission.
[2:15:00] It has real power, a lot of others, it's advisory, but it's a way for people to be engaged in government and give advice.
[2:15:07] So many times you make appointments, I never hear what happens with this committee.
[2:15:12] I mean, there should be reporting back on a regular basis.
[2:15:15] I'm not talking about talking about the policy here.
[2:15:19] The committees I'm trying to look at the big picture here, that it's...
[2:15:29] There's a lot of things that are broken in this process that needs to be spoofed out on one of them as this honestly is that they're really there really should be one
[2:15:36] I mean a county is big as we with 5,000 employees that we don't have one
[2:15:41] full staff person totally dedicated to
[2:15:45] who
[2:15:46] People and the public who want to be engaged and making sure that those convenience are operating properly and I believe it is currently written in
[2:15:53] to report back to us every year, and we hardly ever get in that for many of them.
[2:15:56] I mean, and that needs to be kind of pushed along.
[2:16:01] So, you know, I'd like to see a bigger, you know, besides just this here, which I think
[2:16:07] we need to have a lot of supervisors, I'd like to see this whole thing open up into a bigger
[2:16:11] issue to make this much more efficient, because it's, it really is broken.
[2:16:15] Thank you.
[2:16:16] So, I think we do have the request to have supervisors and jannels included in the discussion.
[2:16:20] And I have a board referral that's been pending for quite some time in regards to looking
[2:16:27] at our policies and processes around commission appointments.
[2:16:34] We do have a policy.
[2:16:36] One of Jane's first referrals, I'll use the new referral system.
[2:16:39] Jane Parker was to create an end-of-report requirement for all of our boards and commissions.
[2:16:44] There was a point in time years ago when financial challenges were forcing the county to
[2:16:48] look at how we provided staff support to all the boards and commissions, and so as a first step
[2:16:53] in that was asking all the boards and commissions to file an annual report with this body,
[2:16:57] with the board of supervisors, so that we knew the commissions that were effective, we knew what
[2:17:01] they were up to, and they had an opportunity to demonstrate that they were functioning as intended,
[2:17:08] so that we knew that it was appropriate to continue making those investments into the staffing
[2:17:13] support. We're not getting those annual reports, which I think would be really helpful in the
[2:17:20] We don't have committees and commissions just for the sake of having more meetings or for allowing people to sit in meetings.
[2:17:27] They really are there in most cases based on their bylaws to be advising the Board of Supervisors on issues that they have some specific tasking to do so.
[2:17:36] If we're not receiving the reports back or the updates of the advice, it is a question, a bigger question.
[2:17:42] what are we really asking residents of the community to do when they sit and volunteer their
[2:17:48] time on a committee. So I think that really is more to this and I appreciate this coming forward
[2:17:53] and I think if we could maybe have it direct staff to come back when Kate deignals this
[2:17:59] presence so we can have the broader conversation. If as part of that we could discuss this item
[2:18:05] we could also get an update on the maybe just even a copy of the inner report policy that's in place
[2:18:10] for arts and commissions.
[2:18:12] Respectfully, you're expanding what's agendized.
[2:18:17] What's agendized is only this, but I think.
[2:18:20] But what we're asking is, it could come
[2:18:22] at least two separate different items at the same time.
[2:18:27] I think you could direct CAO to come back
[2:18:30] with a larger discussion on committees.
[2:18:33] A larger discussion on committees.
[2:18:35] On a second item, okay.
[2:18:36] Yeah, given that a different item on the law or the agenda.
[2:18:39] Yeah.
[2:18:41] All right. And I think through our acting studio,
[2:18:43] Newtula, so we didn't get to chance to introduce you this morning.
[2:18:47] Everyone knows who you are, but we've talked about a lot of different parts of our boards
[2:18:51] and commissions today within the context of the Surfer All. And I think even, you know,
[2:18:56] supervisor Church's comments, we're clear that this is a broader issue around the policies
[2:19:01] that govern our commissions. So. So you want this brought back as a broader discussion, essentially.
[2:19:07] two items. In addition to the item that we're talking about to every
[2:19:12] thing. Or if it can be a single item, so we talked about it in the context of a
[2:19:17] single item, but however we bring it back, we'd like to have the broader
[2:19:19] quantized discussion.
[2:19:22] Okay, all right, cool. No for the action is either, so we
[2:19:26] will move on to our county administrative office or comments. Okay, thank you
[2:19:31] Madam Chair, just a couple of things. I wanted to give the board a very brief kind of
[2:19:34] level overview of the fire situation. Our EOC has been activated at level two for about
[2:19:41] the last week and a half and that basically means staff from seven in the morning till
[2:19:46] seven at night. It's not a 24-7 operation at this point because it's not really warranted.
[2:19:51] But we have a number of disaster service workers from many different county departments who are
[2:19:57] working at the EOC in one capacity or another.
[2:20:00] Which we really appreciate. The Department of Emergency Management is doing a really good job of coordinating the effort on this along with our law and fire partners.
[2:20:09] Both the fires, the timber fire and the plastic fire are both at about as of this morning at about 25,000 acres each.
[2:20:16] The difference there is the timber fires at about 25 percent containment. The plastic fires at about 1 percent containment.
[2:20:23] And the reason for the differences, the area of the Plasket Fire and Southern on the South
[2:20:28] Coast hasn't burned in years, and there's a lot of material there to be burned.
[2:20:33] The timber fire is burning in areas where there's been historically every five or six years
[2:20:37] of pretty significant fires, so the fuel load is different in that area.
[2:20:42] CalTrans is working to evaluate slopes to ability along the northern closure of highway one, and
[2:20:49] trees to be removed, boulders, and that sort of thing that need to be dealt with, we're
[2:20:54] hoping that by Thursday, the northern part of Highway 1 can be reopened. And we've been in
[2:20:59] very frequent contact with the District 5. The businesses affected down there in Big Sur,
[2:21:07] the residents, and had very frequent meetings with them. There was a very well-attended community
[2:21:12] meeting in Kishawa on Saturday afternoon, a couple hundred residents were there in that area just
[2:21:18] get a briefing from the Forest Service about potential issues that might come up out there in
[2:21:24] terms of the fire. And there's another meeting tomorrow night in Policolorado to bring
[2:21:29] the residents down in that area up to date. So that's kind of the quick update on the fire
[2:21:34] I'm going to share fires. And the department that we wanted to highlight today as we do every
[2:21:40] every board meeting is emergency communications, which is the 911 dispatch department. It's got
[2:21:46] A 74, FTE's 56 dispatchers within that 74, 28 agencies are serviced at through the 911 Dispatch Center.
[2:21:56] And really the volume of traffic in that department is pretty astounding, 592,000 phone calls were answered and managed last year.
[2:22:08] Of those, about 200,000 were 911 calls of which almost 90% were answered within 15 seconds,
[2:22:14] which is an improvement of performance from previous year.
[2:22:20] Training staff is always an ongoing work in progress with that department, and we're happy
[2:22:26] to announce that four dispatcher trainees completed their training program, which is about
[2:22:30] a 12-month program, and we're promoted to dispatcher twos within the department, which is
[2:22:36] great.
[2:22:36] Filling those positions is always an important function.
[2:22:41] Then the last, the Department continues to explore using emerging technology, such as AI to assist
[2:22:49] with call handling and to exploit the call traffic that is coming through the Department.
[2:22:54] So that's just a quick overview of some of the accomplishments of our very hard-working
[2:22:58] emergency communications staff that concludes our comments.
[2:23:04] Thank you.
[2:23:05] Board comments.
[2:23:10] The reservoir.
[2:23:10] Lejo comments?
[2:23:14] First of all, next Monday is Labor Day, so I want to just thank all of our 6,000 employees
[2:23:21] and thank them for their dedicated work serving the people and businesses of Monterey County.
[2:23:27] So hats off to everyone.
[2:23:29] I also wanted to just say that we had a really great re-opening of Cluster Park in Eselenus.
[2:23:35] It was a $10 million investment, $6.9 million or $6.9 million of that came from state funding,
[2:23:41] the rest, prided by the city of Salinas, and the community was very pleased, seen all the great
[2:23:48] renovations and added amenities and activities from the enhanced baseball fields to the soccer,
[2:23:54] I mean the skate park, refurbished basketball courts, and many other things that the community
[2:24:02] really asked for at their park.
[2:24:04] But that's not the first one.
[2:24:06] There was also a state investment in renovating the head
[2:24:09] bronze community center.
[2:24:11] Not too long ago, that was another $80, $10,000 project.
[2:24:14] Any salinas, the community, please,
[2:24:16] with that.
[2:24:18] And today, I'm very pleased to report that,
[2:24:21] because the legislature, they're on the last minutes
[2:24:23] of the legislative session, they approved a assembly budget bill,
[2:24:27] AB, 1, 1, 3, that had several projects throughout the county.
[2:24:33] included, as member requests, I think those one on the seaside, there's a several
[2:24:40] insolent salinas, but the biggest one for me was an allocation for a total of $2.7
[2:24:45] million for the salinas regional soccer complex. I want to just give a special shout out
[2:24:51] to Assembly Speaker Rivas and Senator John Laird for including those significant
[2:24:56] and allocations to advance the work.
[2:25:00] To add the eight new fields out at the Soccer Complex, I think the community is going to be very excited to hear this news.
[2:25:09] You know, it's breaking as we speak.
[2:25:12] Last thing I want to mention, I know Kate's not here, but we do have indie car coming this weekend to Laguna Saka.
[2:25:18] It is the Monterey Grand Prix. It's the season finale. So it's going to be televised on the news. There's tens of thousands of fans coming in at the end of this week.
[2:25:28] So I want to just say how exciting it is to have these events at our world-renowned race track
[2:25:33] at Laguna Saco raceway.
[2:25:35] Thank you very much.
[2:25:39] I did remember two brief points.
[2:25:41] One is that tomorrow morning, trust for public lands, is going to be holding a session with
[2:25:46] Seattle and RAA, our California Natural Resources Administrative folks are going to be in
[2:25:53] town tomorrow.
[2:25:54] We're going to start with a tour at AAM in Edinson Park, here in Salinas, and then the
[2:26:00] and Gonzalo's at the Janice and Dennis Kapara Community Center at 8am.
[2:26:06] So, at 10am, I just want to invite everybody out.
[2:26:09] This is an opportunity for us to truly inform the next administration on how we're going
[2:26:14] to be focusing on making sure parks are accessible to all, given the theme of the day, but
[2:26:19] just wanted everybody to know that that is on for tomorrow and invite folks to join us
[2:26:24] for that and a blank on my second one.
[2:26:31] That's how it works sometimes. I'll just go with one. Thank you madam chair.
[2:26:34] How's with age?
[2:26:37] So I'll just, I'm going to briefly, you know, go back here to the 60th anniversary of the parks.
[2:26:42] I'm going to Ben Werelox Park out there on September 12th from about nine to seven.
[2:26:47] I think is the time and there's going to be a whole range of events.
[2:26:51] I think it's going to start with a disc golf. And as I say, there's going to be some soccer.
[2:26:54] is going to be some kind of tosses, going to be a 10 or 15 food truck there, and there's
[2:27:04] apparently going to be a horseshoe match taken by Stan, which I'm feeling a little less
[2:27:10] bravado than it earlier because I realized Mr. Forest has real home court advantage because
[2:27:17] he's going to be able to practice every day there, and so keeping my fingers crossed and
[2:27:23] what's going to be the bad on that.
[2:27:27] Other things I just wanted to bring up
[2:27:28] is I've had the four years have been on the board.
[2:27:31] I've only missed one meeting.
[2:27:33] It's been when I was actually hospitalized from an accident.
[2:27:38] But there is a slight chance I'm not going to make the 15th
[2:27:41] because even the supervisors, and it's probably
[2:27:44] to know we do get call for jury duty.
[2:27:46] And while I do think it's unlikely I'll be on a jury duty.
[2:27:49] I do have to be there day before, potentially.
[2:27:53] if they're going to be seated and see what happens out of that. So we'll close with that.
[2:28:02] I did remember the other one and that is simply to say that AB 2728, which is our
[2:28:06] bill, fixing the diminimacy issue is on the governor's desk now. So hopefully in the next few days
[2:28:11] we'll get good news if that's been signed and is moved through and salt a major issue for us.
[2:28:16] It's known as Chris's law.
[2:28:21] Thank you all, I had a lot of fun this weekend out celebrating some of our youth athletic leagues.
[2:28:27] I grew up playing youth soccer and loved it and being on the field with all of them,
[2:28:32] bringing youth soccer and association as kiddos, as they kicked off their season,
[2:28:37] was like the most joy I've felt in a while, so I really appreciate being able to support and
[2:28:43] be a co-sponsor of that program this year. And then later in the afternoon, the Gill basketball,
[2:28:48] Academy celebrated its 18th anniversary with really just felt like a family barbecue because
[2:28:54] those kids who participate in that program really do become family is the story I heard over
[2:29:01] and over again. But those are just two of the many groups across the district that are welcoming
[2:29:05] kids into movement, including cheer and marching band, Uries spending many days standing in
[2:29:13] stadium now, cheering for the cheerleaders.
[2:29:17] So I didn't really realize that's what we did as parents
[2:29:18] but that's what we're doing.
[2:29:20] So really grateful for all the coaches and volunteers
[2:29:22] and families who keep the teams running in affordable
[2:29:24] for kids.
[2:29:27] Also, the Monterey Airport kicked off their new East Terminal
[2:29:32] with a Dusty Shoes tour.
[2:29:34] It's really going to be a beautiful, beautiful building
[2:29:37] when it's time to expand the number of terminals
[2:29:38] that we have, expanded long-term parking.
[2:29:41] So, the stay tuned for announcements and when you get a chance to get over to see that new
[2:29:46] East Terminal, it is, it's going to be gorgeous.
[2:29:50] Also, I wanted to, this, on Sunday, I think it was, I got to celebrate, I'll leave on,
[2:29:55] the Vietnamese parent's day, and it was a beautiful, joyful solace.
[2:30:00] All celebration with dancing, music, families,
[2:30:07] and recognizing just the value and the significance that we all have parents, who raised us and who loved us, and so being able to reflect on what your parents mean to you and all the gifts that they instilled into you.
[2:30:23] A couple upcoming things, there is an East Garrison historic arts district, master plan being
[2:30:29] developed.
[2:30:30] And so I'm putting a call out to everyone, not just those who live in East Garrison,
[2:30:34] but there is a community survey that's posted online.
[2:30:37] We've got it up on all of our socials, or can provide you with a direct link if you
[2:30:41] reach out to the office, but we do need thoughts and feedback from everyone.
[2:30:44] This is part of the redevelopment of the East Garrison historic arts district, developing
[2:30:49] that master plan will really determine what type of redevelopment continues to happen.
[2:30:53] And with those properties at the county was a deeded after the closure of Ford Ord.
[2:31:00] So please, if you can take five minutes and fill out that community survey, we would really appreciate it.
[2:31:04] Also related to East Garrison, our community services district meeting is September 9th at 6 p.m.
[2:31:09] This is where we review the annual property tax update and get announcements about the fee changes for mellow ruse.
[2:31:16] So it's a deep interest to our East Garrison residents and taxpayers and I'm really thankful to staff that we're not able to have this annual meeting.
[2:31:23] where the property tax update is presented publicly to the residents.
[2:31:28] Later this week, I'll be at the Monterey County Fair.
[2:31:31] I'm excited to table at the Senior Invertorance Resource Connect Fair on Thursday.
[2:31:36] And then there's an open studio arts tour coming up in September,
[2:31:40] 12th and 13th and 19th and 20th.
[2:31:43] So, I'm looking forward to seeing you out and about at all of those activities.
[2:31:46] We do have an adrenaline memory, but we'll do close out from Council first.
[2:31:50] No reportable action, Chair.
[2:31:53] I'm going to pass the floor to Supervisor Alayha for our adjournment
[2:31:56] in memory.
[2:31:57] Thank you.
[2:31:57] No way for a clerk to put the image up on the screens.
[2:32:01] And I believe maybe Supervisor Lopes would like to say something
[2:32:03] or just as well.
[2:32:06] All right.
[2:32:07] Your colleagues, I asked that we adjourn today's meeting
[2:32:10] in memory of Octavia, Reyes, Selenas, affectionately known
[2:32:14] throughout her family as Mama Chief.
[2:32:16] She was a beloved grandmother to my chief of staff,
[2:32:19] Linda Gonzalez and loving mother to former Monterey County
[2:32:22] CPU Riser Simone Salinas who was a primary care
[2:32:25] taker for these last several years.
[2:32:28] She sadly passed away on August 26th at the age of
[2:32:31] 95 surrounded by her family and loved ones.
[2:32:34] Octavia was born in Serritos San Luis Potosí Mejico
[2:32:37] to Andrea Corona and Julio Reyes.
[2:32:40] It was there that she met and married the love of her life
[2:32:43] Juliana Salinas.
[2:32:45] Together they immigrated to the United States in search of
[2:32:47] opportunities and a better life for their family. They first settled in West
[2:32:51] Lakotex's on the borderlands of the Rio Grande Valley and spent many years
[2:32:55] doing difficult work harvesting crops throughout the state. But in 1965 they
[2:33:00] made their way to California and eventually settled here in Selenus. Octavia
[2:33:04] story is a story of so many immigrant and former families who helped build the
[2:33:09] Selenus Valley and our country. She worked hard, sacrificed, persevered, and endured
[2:33:15] challenges so that her children and the generations who followed could have the
[2:33:19] opportunities she herself never had. And today we especially recognize her
[2:33:24] role as a grandmother and matriarch. Grandmother's Holy special place in our
[2:33:28] families. They are often the keepers of our traditions, our stories, our
[2:33:32] recipes, and our family history. They teaches where we came from and remind us of
[2:33:36] the values that hold a family together. Their lessons and love continue long
[2:33:41] after the Argonne.
[2:33:42] For Octavia's family, that person was Mama Chief.
[2:33:45] The name was given to her out of both tremendous affection
[2:33:48] and deep respect, and she was the heart
[2:33:50] of the family that now extends across multiple generations.
[2:33:54] Octavia expressed her love through the simple,
[2:33:56] but meaningful things that make the house a home.
[2:33:59] Cooking, knitting, caring for her garden and birds.
[2:34:04] Making Thamades for her family, teaching her grandchildren
[2:34:06] to crochet, and tending to her beautiful roses.
[2:34:09] those memories are now part of her legacy. Octavia is derived by her children, Celestina,
[2:34:15] Chalo, Maria, Juana, Lina, Simon, Francisco Gabriel, and Luis, as well as Numerous
[2:34:22] grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. She was preceding a death by her
[2:34:28] husband of 52 years Juliana and her sons Andres Camilo, Amitario, and Jose. From a young woman
[2:34:35] and some we've put to see to a former current Texas,
[2:34:38] to a beloved matriarch of a large family
[2:34:40] here in the Selina's Valley,
[2:34:42] Mama Chief Livedy Remarkable American immigrant story.
[2:34:45] Her greatest legacy can be seen in the generation she leaves behind,
[2:34:49] a family that is here today because of her courage,
[2:34:51] her sacrifices, her hard work, and above all her love.
[2:34:55] On behalf of the County of Monterey,
[2:34:56] I extend our deepest condolences to admire Selina's
[2:35:12] Thank you,
[2:35:18] Madam Chair. I do just want to join in sending my condolences to the family, but
[2:35:29] at the same time, we all know that she was the foundation upon which a family who is made,
[2:35:37] salinas such an incredible place to live and invested so much other time has built their legacy.
[2:35:43] That foundation that Mama Chief laid for them is truly one of those that most of us will never
[2:35:48] understand and many folks remember that when Simone retired from this board and was asked why he said
[2:35:56] It was clearly to take care of Mama Chief.
[2:35:58] That was his wife.
[2:35:59] And I can tell you that she was a fighter.
[2:36:01] Many times, in the last few years,
[2:36:03] in Simone and I would talk and say,
[2:36:05] hey, she's sick, and we kind of laugh and say,
[2:36:07] hey, this isn't it, right?
[2:36:08] She was always fighting back.
[2:36:11] And he would tell me, yeah, she was really sick.
[2:36:13] And I'd wake up in the morning,
[2:36:14] nope, she was in the garden,
[2:36:16] tending to her roses, taking care of her flowers.
[2:36:18] And I knew she was back at it.
[2:36:19] Next thing, it was at Berkeley, I was on the grill.
[2:36:21] And you could smell him, you knew she was back.
[2:36:23] And so her legacy, her life, her tending of the garden, the roses in the end, there's really the family that she left behind.
[2:36:32] These incredible people that have brought so much beauty to a community that we all love.
[2:36:36] And so as we all join them in mourning her loss, we also celebrate her legacy and everything that she has helped create here in the Selena's Valley and beyond through her story.
[2:36:47] And our hearts go out to the entire Gonzales and Salinas family today and as they continue to mourn her passing.
[2:36:54] Thank you Madam Chair.
[2:36:58] You're adjourned.