Thank you
>> Thank you.
>> Madam clerk would you read the title to Agenda item number
one and call for public comment?
>> Ma'am I have no cards submitted.
No callers.
Item one adopt and present a resolution and plaque
of appreciation honoring Clerical Operations Manager
Diana Jaramillo upon her retirement of the Sheriff's
Office with over 20 years of dedicated public service
to Solano County.
Do I have a motion?
>> So moved.
>> So ordered by a vote of 4-0.
>> Get this to work right.
Thank you all this morning for being here with us.
In the Sheriff's office, we see the deputies and the SSOs
out on the street all the time.
In most instances they are the face of the Sheriff's office.
It takes a lot behind the scenes to actually make that work.
There's a whole army of folks behind them
that make it possible for them to provide
that public safety for us and to provide that help.
Diana is one of those folks and she's
been doing this over 20 years for us.
On holidays, on weekends, in the middle of the night --
when that deputy is standing out on a levee
somewhere waiting on a warrant to come back
and we've got somebody out there and they
don't know who it is, they don't know if it's somebody who
is dangerous or not, Diana is the person
who is going to help them.
She'll make sure that warrants check is done
and that that deputy knows who and what
he or she is dealing with.
And for that we owe her -- and appreciative to her family
for being there for her and for being supportive.
To that end, the resolution from our board,
Diana Jaramillo began her career with the Department
of Health and Social Services as an office assistant
to the Public Health Division.
On August 27th of 2007 she accepted a promotion to a county
clerk in the Department of Child Support Services where she then
promoted to Child Support Specialist in 2009.
She joined the Solano County Sheriff's Office as -- in 2018.
Before promoting to accounting supervisor with the Auditor
Comptroller's Office July 11th of 2021.
Diana returned to the Sheriff's Office as a Clerical operations
manager on September 17th 2023 where she served until
retirement.
Diana last served as a clerical operations manager overseeing
civil bureau and records and warrants bureau in 24
hours, seven day a week operation,
and acted as a Sheriff's office coordinator.
Diana is known for professionalism a high standards
and willingness to learn and take new challenges
with her direct and matter of fact
approach she's provided a clear guidance,
served as a trusted mentor and remained
as a steadfast advocate, always encouraging with growth
in wanting the best of them.
Diana will retire August 4th of 2026 after 20 years and three
months of outstanding service to Solano County.
She's a highly respected and valued member
of the Sheriff's Office and will be greatly missed
by friends and coworkers.
Be it resolved that the Solano County Board of Supervisors
therefore recognizes Diana Jaramillo
for her distinguished service to the citizens of Solano County
and wishes her a happy retirement.
>> Good morning board.
Brad, your Sheriff.
I'm here to say goodbye to Diana.
It has been --
I have to tell you.
Since you came on board, we were trying to realign a lot
of our organization -- and you came in and I'm sure it
wasn't undertaking that you weren't anticipating.
But what you did is build a strong team,
a team of people that -- they are competent,
they are very much a team in all aspects of supporting each other
and getting the mission done 24/7 for all of our public
safety in the field.
For that I want to say thank you.
I know what you have in store for your next chapter.
I think that's amazing.
Maybe you'll share some of it.
I want to say thank you for everything
you've done because you have truly come up with what I've
seen, that you're surrounding yourself with,
is a positive team and I couldn't be more proud.
Thank you.
>> Thank you.
[applause]
>> Well, I wasn't prepared for this.
I want to say thank you.
This has been a great opportunity.
These years really opened my eyes.
And it's been wonderful come up with a lot of challenges,
but I love challenges.
Everybody knows that.
And I enjoy working with the people that I've been working.
I had amazing teams throughout my careers.
Right now my teams are the best.
Unfortunately they cannot be here because they are 24/7
so they have to be answering the phone calls.
But I have two friends here -- so now the staff --
thank you for the deputies --
for being here with me.
Thank you to child support.
Thank you all.
Thank you Janine.
And I'm going to brag.
I'm heading to Columbia with my hubby.
We're going to start a new journey
and we would like to see what is waiting for us.
We might be back and forth.
He is with the army.
And he remains here because he was born here.
He wants to stay here.
Yes. (laughs) I have to say thank you to the chairs,
to Lisa.
Lisa has been my great support.
She is my supervisor and you have
been a great support for me, a good mentor, good guidance.
I have to say thank you to everybody.
Unfortunately not everybody can be here.
Thank you, Lieutenant.
You're being very helpful.
Everybody over there, thank you again.
You don't know me but -- (laughs)
[applause]
>> If we can have all of her county family --
if they are here?
All of our county family come here and support her.
Child support services and health and social services
and auditor's office -- she has touched everything.
Come down here and get in this picture.
>> The goal is not to --
[inaudible conversation]
[no audio]
>> Madam clerk, if you were to read the title for agenda item
two and call for public comment please?
>> I have no callers on the line and I have no cards.
Adopt and present a resolution recognizing August 2026
as child Support Awareness Month in Solano County.
Do I have a motion?
>> So moved.
>> Second.
>> Mam?
Thank you.
So ordered.
>> You just went into your happy place.
It's okay.
>> It's hard to believe it's another year and a half now.
>> Monica -- I haven't seen you in a long time!
Every year, exactly.
Today is the resolution, as was stated already,
the Solano County Board of Supervisors
is recognizing the month of August 2026
as child Support Awareness Month in Solano County,
whereas Solano County recognizes that every child matters.
I did not put my glasses on.
Let me go through here.
And joining the 47 California Local Child support agencies --
and the nation -- is recognizing August 2026 as child Support
Awareness Month.
Thank you.
And as you can tell, it takes them to help this child.
I'm just sharing.
>> I know and I appreciate that.
So whoever wants to speak next is fine.
Mama good morning board.
Director for the Department of Child Support Services.
Before I go into Child Support Awareness Month,
I think the irony is not lost that Diana was in child support.
I met her when I worked in Siskiyou County.
She managed all of our bilingual cases pretty much child support
family is a close knit group and it's
one of those where you get to cross paths,
so that's really nice.
I wanted to say thank you for the recognition
today and the resolution.
This opportunity allows us every year
to come forward and talk about the services we offer
and bring awareness to the program.
We are not a service you have to qualify for
and I think that's a misnomer.
I wanted to take a few minutes to talk about that.
Even though there's an application
that people fill out, it's an enrollment process.
You don't have to qualify.
Your income doesn't matter.
Your jurisdiction where you live doesn't matter.
There's a local child support agency.
If you are needing services and you need help,
or you have questions, reach out because you
don't have to qualify.
Every year we talk about the same resolution and the services
we offer.
I think we are seeing in the program one of the most
misunderstandings.
There's families out there that are not receiving services
and in Solano County we pride ourselves
in meeting the families where they are at,
if they need flexible case management,
if we need to connect them with resources.
If you have questions reach out.
We have an amazing team and a lot
are working behind the scenes but we are eager to help.
One of the things I wanted to recognize
is our annual backpack drive.
Every year we do a back to school drive we partner
with Solano County Office of Education
and this year the Teacher Resource Center
donated 100 backpacks and Williams donated
220 colored pencils and our staff behind the scenes
doubled that and stepped up.
We were able to donate 220 backpacks filled
with school supplies.
We dropped them off last Friday.
Gets the office together.
This is really more of an acknowledgment
of our team behind the scenes.
Not only are they dedicated to providing service
to the families but they enjoy reaching out and touching
those families and children in the community.
When the child emancipates will still be there providing
those services.
I think that's it.
I'll turn it over to you.
>> Thank you.
Good morning.
My name is Akon Walker and I serve
as the program coordinator and educational liaison
and Solano County Office of Education
come the best office in the West.
It serves -- it serves the best county in the West.
I'm so thankful on behalf of Solano County Education,
our phenomenal -- and all of us --
we want to say thank you for your continued partnership --
to serve the most vulnerable students in our area.
The backpacks that -- literally taking those Tamara.
We're going to go to our annual Foster Youth Picnic sponsored
by Solano County Child Welfare Services --
we have 185 students enrolled that will
be that will be at that picnic.
Thank you.
Everything matters to see that child's face light up.
And hope place in our heart.
And hope they have a good start to their academic year.
And this continued partnership means
so much to our community, our students and families.
Thanks from the bottom of my heart and for the heart
of Solano County Office of Education.
Thank you.
[applause]
>> We're still going to do pictures.
Come on over here.
Anybody else who is with the group?
Come on down.
It's picture time.
Madam clerk comment please read the title
for agenda item number three and call for public comment.
>> I don't have any cards but I do have --
>> Caller with phone number -- if you wish to speak on agenda
item number three please press star three and raise your hand.
They're not raising their hand.
Adopt and present a resolution recognizing the week of August
2nd through the eighth, 2026 as National Health Center Week
in Solano County.
Do I have a motion?
So ordered by 4-0.
>> Good morning.
We are here to do a resolution of the Solano County Board
of Supervisors recognizing August 2nd through eighth 2026
as National Health Center Week in Solano County.
Whereas community health centers including federally qualified
health centers, FQHCs, and FQHC look-alikes comprise--
they look like them -- so (laughs)--
comprise the nation's largest primary care network,
providing comprehensive high quality primary care
to approximately 52 million Americans,
serving nearly one in every seven people in the United
States.
And whereas in Solano County, La clinica de La Raza,
Solano County Family Health Services community medical
centers and Communicare all provide care to community
members who are low income, uninsured or enrolled
in Medi-Cal, collectively serving nearly 59,000 Medi-Cal
members, equivalent to 12.9% of the county's total population.
And whereas locally community health centers have been
recognized with partnership Health Plan of California
for their work to screen patients in a timely manner
for various cancers -- and Whereas the Community Health
Center model continues to prove an effective means of overcoming
-- including income, insurance and improving --
and reducing the health care system costs and whereas local
health centers support patients in the community with innovative
approaches to meet them where they are by holding mobile
events, kindergarten readiness, vaccine clinics,
school based health education, case management and home
services.
Now therefore be it resolved that the Solano County Board
of Supervisors hereby recognizes August 2nd through eighth 2020
sixth as Solano County National Health Center Week,
celebrating vital partnership between America's Community
Health Center, all look alikes and communities they serve.
>> Thank you supervisor.
Good morning and I'm Doctor Cameron Kaiser,
public health officer.
The best way to keep every resident of Solano County
healthy is for them to never fall ill in the first place.
When they do come they need to get back on their feet.
For our residents who are medically
underserved for whatever reason that might be,
our community health centers represented
here both public and private are there for them.
Are the county we are proud to provide available high quality
care and our own clinics in Fairfield as well as --
and our larger center.
We do dental, primary care, pediatrics
and well-child visits, chronic disease, communicable disease
and I even see my own tuberculosis patients here
in Fairfield.
As a department we had health and social services
put prevention first because the healthiest people are
those that stay that way.
When that is no longer possible, Solano County Family Medical
Services and our community partners
gather with us today, provide that piece
so our residents can lead Fuller, richer
and meaningful lives.
In our facilities every week as community health center week
but we are proud to celebrate this week with you today.
With that I understand we have a few comments
for some folks with us.
Come on up.
>> Thank you.
>> Good morning board of Supervisors.
I'm a long time employee of -- de La Raza.
Thank you for this recognition on behalf of the 1200 staff,
almost 9000 pases seen at La Clinica every year
Pierre this year's theme for National Health Center Week
is building Innovative care where it matters.
At La Clinica a few examples are enhanced care
for the reentry population, new STI and HIV outreach
testing and treatment services and Medi-Cal enrollments done
in the community.
I want to acknowledge for close to 25 years how important are
partnership is with the support of health
services, public health, social services
furthered by Director Emory Cohen.
Also with the support of the Board of Supervisors here
in Solano County.
Our entire team within the Viejo City,
from our medical, dental, behavioral health and community
health education service commit to the continued partnership
to address the enormous challenges we are facing
in healthcare with Medi-Cal and HR1 changes,
impacting our ability to serve the most vulnerable communities
including we want to work in partnership with the no on 44
campaign that we're going to be facing here
in November in the state.
Thank you so much.
>> Good morning chair, mayor, board and city Council.
My name is Dinorah Quarry and I'm here
on behalf of Alagoas Health.
We would like to thank you for --
August 2nd through eighth as National Health Center Week.
We sincerely appreciate your support
of community health centers and the patients we serve.
Your proclamation helps raise awareness
of the essential rural health centers play
in ensuring access to quality affordable care for everyone
in our community.
Last year alone, health centers in our region provided well over
143,000 patient visits to more than 43,748 patients,
demonstrating the vital role they play in keeping
our communities healthy and connected to care.
Thank you again for recognizing National Health Center
Week for your continued partnership and support.
We look forward to continuing to work together
to improve the health and well-being of our communities.
Thank you.
[background chatter]
>> Yes, we are done.
>> It's time to take public comments.
For those of you who were here in person,
please complete a speaker card and submit it
to the clerk on my right.
The clerk will call your name.
Please come forward to the podium and be ready to speak.
For those attending the meeting virtually,
press star three to raise your hands
and alert the clerk you wish to speak under public comments.
The clerk will call out the last two digits of your phone number
to let you know it is time for you to speak.
It is 3 minutes.
Just letting you know.
Let's be kind.
did the clerk of the board, Okay.
First is Marshall.
>> I understand there's a request for a little bit longer
than three?
I can do that.
>> Thank you.
Good morning chair.
I am Dan Marshall, chief of police.
I'm here to express concerns.
Carey executive director has publicly stated the program
requires an additional $90,500 in county funding to sustain.
Those statements have appeared in multiple public posts
many of which have tagged local law enforcement agencies.
According to information provided,
the program cannot continue providing 24 hour services
without additional funding met the cost of each examination has
increased from 2300 per case to 2800, effective July 1st.
In 2025 there were 114 exams and at 2300 per exam that generated
approximately 260 $2,000.
If it were 2800 it would increase by about 6000.
Through this point in 2026, serving 50 exams
and it's trending -- by 2025.
Based on information provided regarding staffing,
a calculated paying a nurse $20 an hour for continuous on call
coverage 24 hours a day 365 days a year with total approximately
$175,200.
Even allowing for additional compensation,
for hours at $100 for each exam, the estimated annual cost
would still be lower than the total revenue
generated from the examination fees.
Using these assumptions -- would be 46000 --
for the examinations. (inaudible) which is about 4000
--
again 2800, this year would be an additional 6000.
While I recognize there are additional operational expenses
beyond wages, these numbers raise legitimate questions
about the program's overall financial picture.
It's my understanding the organization may also
receive county funding through grants or other public sources.
If that's the case I respectfully
request the board agendize this issue
and include a financial review of the program,
including all county funding, grants, examination revenue
and operating expenses.
As a nonprofit organization receiving public funds,
I believe transparency is essential to maintaining
public trust.
I also ask the board to evaluate whether a JPA working
with our local hospitals who could administer
the program more efficiently.
Currently our police dispatchers receive a monthly call
out schedule and are responsible for coordinating nurse call
outs.
There may be more sustainable model
for delivering these legally mandated services.
We are also told availability would
be reduced by eight hours a day, cutting critical times
from 2 a.m.
To 10 a.m..
24 hour coverage remains a critical service
for victims of sexual assault and is
essential to our criminal justice.
The issue impacts victims in every resident of Solano County.
I asked the board to place this on a future agenda
for considerations and all available options
to ensure these essential services remain sustainable.
Thank you for your time.
>> If you could email the data that you're talking about,
that would be great because I couldn't write fast enough.
>> I'm sorry.
>> No, you were doing everything proper.
>> I would really appreciate that.
Will definitely have a conversation
of what you're talking about.
Thank you for bringing that forward.
>> Yes.
>> Next speaker is James.
>> Good morning -- with the promotions of --
we have two new managers that have replaced in their position.
Behind me is Riley Martinson and he's our engineering manager at.
He's been with the county for nine years, promoted up
to the position and Austin Miller is our new water
and Delta manager.
He is from SAC County and we're very excited to have --
I'd like to welcome them.
>> Come up and say hi.
>> Yes, I guess we are saying something.
Been here nine years and had a great time.
Excited to keep working with you.
>> Good morning.
Austin Miller.
A little about me, originally from Oregon
where I studied agricultural sciences at Oregon State.
I've been in Sacramento County for the last ten years working
with two different organizations,
primarily their resource conservation district
as their district manager and then most recently the County
of Sacramento Department of Water Resources and worked
on a variety of -- and groundwater projects.
I'm excited to jump in here.
Thanks.
Obviously if you want some time to meet with them
and discuss the process for moving forward
it would be great.
Looking forward to great work from them and --
thank you.
>> Thank you guys.
[applause]
>> Next speaker is Jim.
>> Thank you.
I'm resident of Solano County.
There is a Chinese blessing slash curse that says, may
you live in interesting times.
I don't know more interesting times than this.
Solano County is under the microscope.
We have national attention.
We have national attention because of the proposal outside
of any planning document to build an Oakland slash
Minneapolis slash Tulsa slash Bakersfield sized city
in our county.
The current proposal -- and this is all behind the scenes,
this is all the backroom deals --
the current proposal is to waive environmental review.
For this proposal that would almost
double the population of Solano County.
Absurd.
But the question really is if you have enough money, if your
billionaires from Silicon Valley,
can you buy the California government?
That's what we're talking about.
Can you purchase the governor's office?
Can you purchase the California legislature?
It is absurd , to whatever proposals are being proposed
behind the scenes in Sacramento, and all of the public knows is
what is leaked out and what is discovered through investigative
journalism.
We don't know what proposals are being
discussed behind closed doors.
What we do know from investigative journalism,
is that there was a meeting with the governor himself on April
1st.
What we do know, from investigative journalism,
is there was a meeting last Thursday that has officials from
California forever and apparently our local legislative
representatives and potentially someone here --
these meetings are being carried out outside of the public
process.
Potentially -- what's going on?
To account to the 2008 EIR for the general plan for Fort
Collins ville -- absurd.
I've spent a couple hours rereading.
It's very general and not specific enough and the threat
there -- the credible threat I'd like to see the study of is that
this would disrupt the drinking water supply of half
of the county.
Or to waive environmental review of the whole thing.
This isn't California forever.
This is California of the past where
backroom deals are carried out by robber barons from elsewhere.
In smoke filled rooms.
Although currently they probably are smoke free and latte filled.
Might ask is when there is such a meeting,
could we have our public officials who represent
us to report out on what's been talked about
and that these major issues come with these major proposals
do not remain secret to the public.
Thank you.
>> We have three callers on the line.
Please press star six to unmute yourself and say your name
if you wish.
You have three minutes.
>> Can you hear me?
>> Yes I can.
>> Hi.
>> Caller?
You are not the caller that we called on
so we're going to place you on mute.
>> Please press star six to unmute yourself and state
your name if you wish.
>> Hello?
>> We can hear you.
We can hear you.
>> My name is Joel Berry oh.
I'm a resident of Placerville.
Last week -- there's a lot of screaming and gnashing
their teeth over the loss of the shipyard,
and I just want to reiterate some things that I said last
week.
With all the noise that was being made over that,
it's important to remember just how California forever
came to us.
We all remember the secrecy and then remember the fact
that they screen people who just simply
didn't want to do business with them, sued them into bankruptcy.
And we know from stated campaign contributions that at least some
of our board members might be falling into California
Forever's orbit.
We know a lot of local city Council members
are very up front about it that they now
work for California forever.
Let's not forget staff report for 2024
that demonstrated that California forever
is going to be a net drain on the taxpayers.
Everyone seems to forget this and just
the total amount of noise and money
that California forever produces.
If any one -- (inaudible) the latest show that California
Forever has put on that once again --.
Anyone who has spent just an hour looking at their website
going back to more than a year, would
have seen that Saronic already owns an existing boatyard
in Franklin, Louisiana.
From there they've already produced 150 foot poles and they
expect to employ 500 people and they expect to have that
facility -- they'll have the capacity to build 50 of these
large crafts a year.
They would need a huge order from the Defense Department
before they would ever be doing anything at a place --
they're not going to make that investment.
They've already spent 300 million plus
in Franklin Louisiana.
Brownsville was doing their best to compete against the existing
yard -- in Louisiana.
Solano County was never in the running.
We were only connected because of two of the investors
in California forever are also Saronic investors.
This was all a smoke screen, another play by California
forever.
Last Saturday I attended a California Forever Open house
and I was there for the entire two hours.
During that time I believe less than 40 people in total
attended.
At least three of those -- >> Okay.
I am done?
>> Yes.
Your time is up.
>> Thank you.
I know we will hear from you again, so don't worry about it.
>> Oh yeah. (laughs) caller with phone number ending in eight
four, please press star six to unmute and state your name
if you wish.
>> My name is -- and I'm very happy -- hello?
>> We can hear you.
>> Can you hear me?
Great.
This is Charlene Schmidt.
I am very happy -- it appears as though I am not represented
on that panel as I live in district four and we are short
a representative for that district.
I'm going to speak on behalf of the people in the district four,
especially those of us who live in the unincorporated part
of the county.
I did attend last week a City council meeting
and I am very concerned about the Northeast Development Plan.
And I understand that in order for that to happen,
Solano County needs to give 700 or 800 acres of county land
to the city so they can pour concrete over our farm.
Not exactly -- a half mile off of their path --
I really would like to have some transparency to what is the role
-- how does this process work?
If the city wants to annex -- this is happening --
they're talking about the truck stop at Pleasant Valley.
How does a city take county land and how does a constituent who
doesn't have any voting abilities or say in the city --
speak up for our county land?
I don't want more growth.
I want our farms to stay farms.
We need our food.
And if the county continues to give away the county land,
we are going to have concrete.
I don't know what the process is but I'm here for the first time.
My name is Charlene and I'm with integrity -- that's my ranch.
And I will be back and I will be back with the neighborhood
because we are not informed about this.
I have been here since before 2015 when they started the --
I have never been informed --
I've not been brought into a discussion panel, surveys
because I'm not in the city.
At the county, prior to annexing our land to a city,
we should have some input.
If there's not already a process to get input
from your unincorporated residents, landowners
and business owners, and food producers,
there needs to be one put in place.
I will continue to figure out how I can support district four
voice so we have somebody sitting in the chair that
can speak for us.
I'm going to step up and be here.
I appreciate any support you can give me
and telling me the right way to go.
Thank you so much.
We have a caller who is listed as anonymous.
Please press star three.
Star six to unmute yourself.
>> Hello.
>> Hello?
>> This is Gore Robinson.
I hate California forever.
Also, I hate trannies.
I hate them so much.
I also support the Vallejo police sending their --
you filthy niggers.
>> Cut them off.
>> We do not accept that language here.
That is wrong and you know better.
>> Next caller on the line, caller six six.
If you wish to speak under items from the public
please press star six to unmute yourself.
>> Hello, can you hear me?
I'm really disappointed in the last person's comments.
That was awful.
I'll proceed with my own.
So my name is Joseph and I'm a physician assistant
at Family Health Services.
Prior to starting working here in August of 2024
I was assigned to Partnership Health Plan
and specifically to Solano County Family Health
Services as a patient.
When I call to make an appointment to establish care,
I was informed there were no appointments
available at that time.
Fortunately, I was 29 and not needing serious health care.
But I can imagine that other people like myself,
new to the clinic, not able to get appointments but needing
more serious health care, ended up
going to the emergency room for refills on psychiatric meds
and blood pressure meds and medications
for high cholesterol.
These are very important things for patients
because they prevent them from having mental health crises,
heart attacks and strokes.
So probably during that time people were ending up
in the emergency room more and that was costly and inefficient.
At this time, Solano County Health Services
has an amazing group of nurse practitioners and physician
assistants taking care of patients.
I'm afraid that patients may not have the same access they have
now because of three reasons -- number one,
these people come at physician assistants and nurse
practitioners recruited over the last few years were promised
a $50,000 bonus, retention bonus over five years.
That bonus is no longer available because
of mismanagement.
I won't elaborate much more on that.
Another reason, there's an issue within the county --
Family Health services.
We don't have a lab available.
I can't check patients blood sugars or urine
testing and that creates liability
and problem for patient care.
That's very challenging for us.
Additionally, our most recent contract negotiations
were not the most favorable compared
to previous negotiations.
It's not surprising that the districts represented by Wanda
Williams and Cassandra James the Board of Supervisors
who voted favorably for the public servants who serve
our amazing patients come those districts have the most --
people who use these county services --
Medi-Cal, food stamps I'm not surprised the Board
of Supervisors voted favorably for their public servants serving
their constituents.
And that the other Board of Supervisors whose constituents
probably don't rely as much on public service.
They didn't vote in favor of those contracts recently.
I would like to request that management keep working hard
support your employees and I want to express appreciation for other --
and for colleagues.
I have no other callers on the line.
>> Ian, are there any other additions or deletions?
No additions or deletions but I'll announce a change.
We're planning to cancel the August 11th board meeting.
When we adjourn the meeting at the close today we will adjourn
to August 25th.
It's our next scheduled meeting.
Thank you thank you.
>> I apologize, August 25th.
>> So I need a
>> I need a motion to approve the agenda with the item Ian
just mentioned.
>> So ordered by a vote of 4 to 0.
>> I believe we are on consent now?
Okay.
And it's just because I'm afraid to say something
that we are moving okay, because something will happen.
So I won't say that.
>> Callers on the line.
If you wish to speak on an item on the consent calendar please
press *3 to raise your hand.
Ma'am, I have no cards for consent calendar item
and I have no callers raising their hands.
>> Board members, do you have any comments?
For consent?
It has been properly moved and seconded.
All right.
>> As ordered by a vote of 4 to 0.
>> Okay.
So I believe we are on item 15.
If the clerk of the board would read item number 15,
and I believe we get to see somebody -- yes.
I love it.
Consider allocating funding from the Solano County Housing Trust
Fund in the amounts of $400,000 for a loan to EAH housing
and $200,000 for a grant to Napa Solano habitat for humanity;
consider deferring public facility fees of $446,354
for EAH's Tabor Commons development and authorize
the County administrator to execute all documents necessary
to implement the board's direction,
subject to County Council approval.
>> Staff I guess you get to do a presentation..
Good morning chair and members of the board.
Principal management analyst.
>> I think a little bit louder for you?
It'd be helpful.
>> Louder?
Me?
>> I know, it's an anomaly (laughs).
>> Is this okay?
>> Thank you.
>> Today we are asking you to consider providing housing trust
fund assistance to two affordable housing projects
in Solano County and to defer public county facility fees
for one of those projects.
>> The first project, Tabor Commons,
is a 66 unit affordable housing development in Fairfield
consisting of one, two and three bedroom apartments.
All units will be affordable to households earning
no more than 70% of the area median income,
with 41 of those units restricted
to households earning no more than 30%
of the area median income.
For context, the current area median income for a four person
household is $124,600.
EAH requested the 400,000 currently available
in the Housing Trust Fund.
Staff recommends providing this assistance
as a loan bearing 3% simple interest with payments
deferred until year seven.
These are the same terms approved
for the previous Housing Trust Fund and loan.
EAH also requested that the county waiver defer approximately $446,354
in public facilities fees or to convert the fees to residual
receipts loan.
Because the county is not previously waived, excuse
me waived public facilities fees,
staff recommends deferral.
Together the recommended county loan and fee deferral
represent less than 2% of the project's total development
costs.
I'll give you more detail on Tabor comments shortly
and a representative from EAH housing, Bice Lockard
is here to answer any questions.
Next one is Harmony Village, which
is a ten home infill development near East Monta Vista Avenue in Vacaville.
The project will consist of semi detached,
four bedroom two bath homes containing 1554ft² each.
These are provided by Napa Solano habitat for humanity.
The homes will be sold to local families earning more than 80%
of the area income.
For context a family of four is $124,600 to.
So 80% would be 109, $110,000 a year.
Staff recommends awarding habitat the full fiscal year 26,
27 Housing Trust Fund allocation of $200,000 as a grant.
This represents slightly less than 4%
of the project's estimated development costs.
The CEO of Napa Solano Habitat for humanity is here --
if you have any questions for him as well.
>> Here's a brief summary of the Housing Trust fund.
The ordinance establishing the Trust Fund this past 2022
to create a mechanism to fund affordable housing projects
and programs.
Requirement to establish the Housing Trust Fund
is that we must have an annual contribution that
does not come from restricted federal or state funds.
When the fund was established the board agreed to transfer
the annual allocation of 200 000 for affordable housing from
the Community Investment Fund to the Housing Trust Fund to meet
district requirements.
I would like to talk about why we are not bringing forward
an RFP for these funds.
Typically we would but because the amount available is
relatively limited staff deferred issuing another RFP --
while the fund accumulated additional resources.
However, you may recall this isn't the first time
we've heard an item on the Tabor Commons Project.
It was originally heard in 2022 as a potential project to be
funded by ARPA.
The board recognized the project's affordable housing
benefits but elected not to provide ARPA funding
because a significant award in the form of final approval from
multifamily Housing program funds was still pending for the developer
and the board at that time did not or decided not to tie up
multiple millions of Arpa funds when there was no assurance that
the funds developer needed --
no issuance that the funds would be spent within the required
time frame.
Since then the developer and city have been in contact with staff
to see if any funding is available.
The developer now faces an approximately $1.8 million
gap in financing due to increased costs.
If it cannot demonstrate sufficient funding it will
likely be required to relinquish their tax credit allocation with
no dispute by the end of August. Habitat for humanity has asked
for financial support but did not request a specific funding
amount.
The county has a long standing partnership with habitat
and most recently supporting the construction
of three single family homes near Alameda Park in Fairfield.
Staff is recommending the $200,000 come with the full
amount for the 26, 27 -- the board has the discretion
to determine appropriate award not just for habitat but for EA
as well.
Public facilities fees are imposed
on residential and commercial development
to help fund county facilities needed to serve growth.
Anytime there is an increase in the number
of residents or employees within the county,
it impacts county facilities.
These include facilities supporting
health and social services, criminal justice, parks,
libraries and certain general service functions.
SB937 became effective January 1st 2025 and generally it
requires qualifying residential developments to pay applicable
development impact fees at issuance of the first certificate of occupancy
rather than building permit issuance.
The applicable fee amount is generally
based on the rate in effect when the building permit is issued.
In SB 937 it requires that that amount be frozen.
EAH requested that the county waive or defer the fees
or convert them to residual receipt loan bearing 3% simple
interest.
The county has not previously waived public facilities fees
but has approved a fee deferral for another affordable housing
project.
Staff therefore recommends deferring approximately $446,354 in fees
until issuance of the first certificate of occupancy. Staff also recommends that the agreement --
require payment no later than five years after issuance
of the building permit.
Alternatively, the board could
direct that the fees be converted to a residual receipts
loan.
Here's an updated site plan for Tabor Commons.
The piece at the top where they are adding a large playground
is new since the last time the board was
reviewing this project.
There's some green and some peach coloring.
They have also added some more amenities including a picnic
area, teen recreation area, bike storage and dedicated storage
lockers for residents.
As I mentioned before there would
be 66 affordable units and the number of units
is the same as when previously reviewed
but the affordability has changed in order
to make the project more financially viable.
The principal changes are the 20 units previously restricted
to 20% of area median income would instead
be restricted to 30% of area median income.
Some units previously restricted at 40 or 50%
would be restricted at 70%.
Having 41 units restricted to 30% of area median income
is still an amazing amount.
16 of those would still be reserved
for individuals with intellectual or developmental
disabilities.
Here's a breakdown of the developer's funding
and projected construction costs.
In the bottom right you can see the city
of Fairfield's contribution in the form of fee credits
and project based vouchers.
There's also a 55 year affordability agreement
to be recorded against this property.
This slide shows the preliminary -- excuse me.
We talked about habitat for humanity earlier.
It's a great project for this infill location
and we'll have five well-designed buildings
and provide home opportunities for ten local
lower income households who will provide
at least 500 hours of sweat equity during early construction
and will obtain an affordable loan where payments do not
exceed 30% of their monthly gross income upon completion.
It will remain affordable.
This slide shows the preliminary building elevations and layout.
Larger versions can be provided upon request.
We are recommending that you consider approval
of the $400,000 loan from the Housing Trust Fund for housing
to EAH Tabor Commons and that you consider approval of a deferral
of $446,354 approximately in public facilities fees from EAH Housing for Tabor Commons.
And that you consider approval of a $200,000 grant to Napa-Solano Habitat for Humanity
for Harmony village.
And I'm happy to answer questions you might have.
Or these organizations are here as
well if you have questions for them.
>> (inaudible) >> Do you some water?
>> Yes.
>> am if I can this mic to work.
>> It not.
My question is on the EAH funding request.
You had indicated they have a $1.8 million shortfall.
And that if they don't obtain some type of funding
before the end of August, they face potential consequences that
threaten the project itself.
Correct?
So my question is if we're going to give them 400 000,
where will they get the other 1.4 million bucks?
Are we just throwing good money out there?
What is their plan?
Where are we getting the other 1.4 million
to stop them from tanking?
Or is this 400 going to do that?
>> That's an excellent question.
If Bryce can come up please.
>> We have to come up with another 1.4 million bucks?
>> Good morning.
The additional funds --
I'm sorry.
My name is Bryce and I'm the project manager
for Tabor Commons.
With your assistance, that helps our negotiating leverage --
with the City of Fairfield who we are currently in discussion
for additional funding in the form of impact fee credits
and fee deferrals as well.
So I'm hearing it isn't a guarantee, this is just a...
it makes it easier for us with the City of Fairfield.
We are going to the City Council for approval tonight actually.
We do have an MIP allocation which is a CAL HFA
program which sets us aside for a dedicated 4% bond allocation.
So we are all but guaranteed for tax credit allocations which
makes us -- which gives us relatively strong certainty that
we will start construction within 180 days of the award
in late August.
So we are expecting to start in February of next year.
We do need additional commitment to fill this gap funding
and we respectfully request your assistance.
>> If I may before -- sorry -- so I'll go to tonight's city council meeting
because it's Fairfield -- it's time for me to show up there.
So the question I have, if we said we agree that we will give
the funding, can we make a disclaimer that is only --
you'll only get it if the city of Fairfield comes through with
tonight's affirmative?
I'm just trying to figure that one out.
Can we stipulate that?
>> From a legal matter I don't know anything of the mechanics
of the program and their funding sources.
For board action you can make a conditional grant.
>> Great.
Supervisor Williams?
>> Thank you chair.
My question, is there -- is there a deed restriction
on the property?
Right now there's affordability but for how long?
Is there a 50 year deed restriction?
>> There will be a regulatory agreement associated with
the funding sources that will tie itself to the property.
And that will be a term of 55 years.
>> That's what I want to hear.
Thank you very much.
>> Supervisor James, anything?
Will come back to you later.
Okay okay.
So if I may, with my colleagues --
I don't have an issue with as long as we have a disclaimer --
that tonight city Council meeting for Fairfield would have
to approve just based on what you talked about,
and if that doesn't go through then you are not going to grant
you the funding that we are asking for.
I'm not sure how to put that in a motion but that's the intent.
I'll be there tonight so we'll talk about it to.
I was checking with the clerk to see if there's public comments.
>> My bad.
Thank you.
>> No, I'm raring to go because I'm looking at people who
don't have to sleep.
So we do need to do public comments.
I apologize.
>> The first speaker is --
Bryce.
>> I did prepare a written statement.
A lot of what we've already discussed.
But -- but -- good morning Madam Chair members of the board.
My name is Bryce and I'm the project manager.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today.
I'm here to request the county's partnership
in helping Tabor Commons, a 67 unit affordable housing
community serving families earning between 30 and 70%
of Ami, area median income.
The includes 16 units dedicated to individuals
with intellectual and developmental disabilities,
with supportive services provided through the North Bay
Regional Center.
The project will transform a vacant site at 212 East Tabor
Avenue into an all electric family oriented community
featuring solar, playgrounds, gathering spaces and long term
affordable housing.
The project received a mixed Income Program award in May
and subsequently submitted its joint tax
exempt bond and 4% low income housing credit application.
This positions Tabor Commons as one of the strongest
affordable housing opportunities currently
advancing in Solano County.
Following the submission of our financing applications,
the project received an updated impact fee estimate
that increased double dashed by approximately 1.8 million.
Today we respectfully request the county's assistance
through a deferral of county public facility fees
and an allocation of County Housing trust funds.
While we recognize the County Housing Trust funds alone
will not close the entire gap, a county commitment
was significantly strengthened our discussion
with the City of Fairfield regarding additional fee relief.
Together these partnerships can close the remaining gap
and allow this much needed project to move forward.
Thank you for your consideration and I
am available to answer any additional questions.
>> Supervisor Williams?
>> My second question after hearing your statement,
just say Fairfield did agree this evening, right?
I'm just having it hypothetically --
how do you say that word?
Hypothetical.
I couldn't get it out.
I'm like, it's right there.
Hypothetical.
Do you have another source of funding?
If Fairfield doesn't --
I'm asking you this because not often do
you have units dedicated or set aside for individuals
with intellectual disability.
And they do struggle immensely to find housing,
to have their independence.
To me this is a very important project in my opinion.
So is there a backup plan?
>> We currently have funding from the regional center at 1.6
million that represents about $100,000 per unit
for the intellectual and developmental disabled units.
As far as a backup strategy at this time,
would you not necessarily have a backup strategy.
If there's no funding available to the project beyond what we
are requesting from the county and the city for this project --
and given our timing constraints related to the bond and tax
credit awards, there are no available options beyond what we
have >> That concludes my questions.
Thank you.
>> Anybody?
>> Any other public comments?
Yes.
>> While Miss Coley is coming up, callers,
if you wish to speak on agenda item 15,
please press star three to raise your hand.
>> Chair and Board, this is a very near and dear project to me
because I have been --
I was a child subject to public housing.
My dad was a Vietnam vet that could not
hold a job based on PTSD.
This is a very important project.
As a real estate agent, in the Bay area,
I've had direct contact with some challenges
around habitat for humanity.
I have a client in Walnut Creek that
was a recipient of one of these houses.
And she is currently still living
she had some health issues and wanted to sell her property
in Walnut Creek and unfortunately,
through exhaustive meetings with the city and with Habitat
for Humanity, they had you know great systems in place --
to get people into the houses.
But when they -- when someone needs to go ahead and transition out of these
houses, it is like the Hotel California.
Nearly impossible to get out.
They have to repay all of these credits and she is now --
she is not able to go upstairs where her bedroom is,
has to sleep in the living room because she cannot get out.
I'm asking you, to make sure that that provision --
in the city of Walnut Creek did not know what to do with this.
Habitat for humanity did not know what to do with this.
So I asked the board, please -- not only look at the provision
on how to get these folks qualified into the housing,
which is very important -- but also when they need transition
out, they need to be able to have a clear pathway and an easy
pathway.
Thank you.
>> Do we have anybody here from habitat for humanity that can
answer that?
>> We do.
CEO for Habitat for Humanity Andrew Killeen is here.
Madam Chair, supervisors -- my name is Andrew Killeen and I'm the executive
director and CEO for Solano Napa habitat for humanity.
I appreciate the question that came up
about habitat House that was sold to a partner
family in Walnut Creek.
This is the first I've heard about this case.
I'm very happy to speak about how Habitat operates in general.
And specifically how we operate here
in Solano and Napa counties.
We do record the deed restrictions on the homes.
With this particular development we have coming up
it may sound a little off topic but the process we're going
to be using here would be similar I imagine to what
happened in Walnut Creek and that was when we have as we do
in Vacaville a piece of land that we intend to develop.
We call orientation meetings where
we call folks who may be interested in applying
to attend the orientation meeting,
during the meeting we explain all the provisions
of the program, what it would take to become a partner family,
based on need, willingness to partner and ability to pay.
And one of the provisions, the willingness to partner is they
provide up to 500 hours -- to build their homes and in many
instances they receive a 0% interest 30 year loan.
It requires of course periodic payments monthly
but we also record a soft second to make those monthly payments
affordable.
We assure folks during orientation meeting
that the monthly housing payments
will be no more than 30% of their income.
And that's what accommodates an affordable loan.
The deed restriction states that if the partner family decides
to sell in a year or in 25 years,
the soft second becomes -- the affordable loan requires monthly
payments and the soft second becomes due on sale.
And that's generally --
I can only speak for my own --
I know the East Bay Silicon Valley affiliate that covers
Walnut Creek does an extremely good job of what they do,
and from my own affiliates, if the partner family went to sell,
we would pull up the deed restrictions and go through --
the first thing that we record is the first right to purchase
and the terms of that first right to purchase
are spelled out in the deed restriction.
At what price can we buy it back?
The soft second is going to become due.
Excuse me.
It would even be a cost to the homeowner
to restore the home to a sellable value as well.
So it's a partnership and in return
for receiving an affordable loan,
resulting in payments of no more than 30% of their income
to a low income family earning between 50 and 80%
of the area median income, there are requirements that
make the program sustainable.
And I would be happy to sit down and review what it
is that we do in more detail.
But really it is to East Bay Silicon Valley to address those,
in particular with you or the relative --
>> (inaudible) but you have a restriction on how much you can
sell the property for. (inaudible) that include habitat
for humanity and city itself.
It made it impossible for her to resell her home
and now she's stuck there.
No recourse, no equity.
>> I can't speak to the details but I can say the restrictions
must have been disclosed at the time of sale.
And there would be, if the affiliate doesn't exercise them
first, it's quite possible there's
a public agency that has a second right of refusal
where acquiring land.
If a home goes up for sale -- the original will require them
to sell it at an affordable price to another low income
member of the community and that is recorded because the public
agency wants to keep that land in the affordable space.
Mostly for 45 years if it was redeveloped agency land,
that's the case on this property.
It was the case on the walnut property in Fairfield.
As it turns out, we were called deed restriction that
will keep it in the space in perpetuity
and our deed restrictions assure the homeowner
that they will get all the principal payments back.
I don't know specifically --
I'm sure even in East Bay, I don't know how long ago this
alone was originated, but inevitably over the decades
sometimes change in those deed restrictions --
I think it requires a deep dive as to what
was recorded on that title.
>> I will let you guys talk -- when I say off camera,
at least we've connected you.
It seems to me just looking at it,
is that this particular woman probably at the time
had all the intentions of living there
but now she's physically unable to stay in her home.
I would think there's got to be some way, my opinion, to make
this happen so that she can live somewhere nice,
but that she can still move to a bedroom.
So that sounds --
I'll let you guys figure that one out.
That was a concern that something needs to be added,
that as a lot of us age, there's going to be an issue with some
of the folks who have brought a home, thinking --
I apologize.
Say the word again?
The life happens.
Exactly.
So that is scary to me.
I'm just saying, it's scary to me that you might have broken
a leg, you might have done whatever it is --
you could have gotten Alzheimer's, whatever it might
be, and you want to be able to stay there --
there's got to be something.
I'm just saying, so -- anyway.
>> If I may come on just one last comment --
on these ten homes we are proposing in Bacqueville,
we will recall deed restrictions that would facilitate,
if 25 years down the line the person needed to go elsewhere,
they could retrieve the equity they have in the home,
assuming the house is intact.
There would be repairs but generally speaking
and we've only had to repurchase a few homes,
there's been sizable payments made
on the part of our affiliate to acquire those homes again.
>> Okay, so the two of you will figure it out and --
and I wish you guys a lot of luck,
especially with the person that you've been working with,
so she can be safe.
I guess that's how I would look at it.
Anybody else in terms of public comment?
>> I have no other cards and the caller on the line didn't --
>> Anybody from the board?
Now I your name.
>> Just a question --
I probably wasn't paying attention --
so will Fairfield pay the remaining amount or is that what
they are approving tonight?
If we move forward with this for EAH?
>> I am Brice Lockard
>> We will move forward on the consent item.
For $800,000 in additional impact fee credit
and in addition to nearly 500 or $450,000 deferral,
and a $400,000 housing trust fund loan,
that makes the gap more manageable and potentially we
can find some cost savings and construction to meet that.
>> And with that, because it is approximately like 760 000 per
door -- so why is it that much per door for an affordable
housing project like this?
I'm looking at the total budget but I don't know how many doors
-- >> We build quality affordable housing.
It's affordable.
>> What does quality mean?
>> Quality finishes.
We're not building with shoddy materials.
We build with -- wage labor.
We deliver housing that would be acceptable for the market.
That is just priced lower because we
are assisted by subsidies.
>> Okay.
And why only 25 PVS versus -- why not increasing that?
>> That's the maximum that the city of Fairfield's housing
authority -- they've maxed out.
>> Thank you for that.
Thank you.
>> Great, thank you.
Okay
>> Before we go any further, anybody, public comment --
anybody up here on the board?
All right.
So this is how I'm looking at it.
We'll figure out how to make the motion happen.
Should the city of Fairfield vote on consent or however they
are bringing it forward tonight, for what the gentleman just
indicated that they need then I believe that we should be able
to give the money that we have listed here in recommendations.
If it doesn't happen, I definitely
will email with all of you guys tomorrow.
It didn't happen, so we now will have
to figure out how we want to do the loan that will not
be going to you.
And I just want to make sure, tabor comments,
didn't we already build part of that already off of Tabor?
What is that look familiar to me?
What does that look familiar to >> The county acquired
a piece of property off of Tabor Avenue
that we are currently using for housing.
And it was an item I wasn't allowed to vote on,
if you remember (laughs).
That was on Tabor Avenue.
That project you're referring to is the Park Rose gardens
project which was an Arpa purchase project, still
in process.
So that's part of it and the other part
as I mentioned earlier which is Tabor Commons has been talked
about for quite some time.
They've been working towards moving forward
for a number of years, including us bringing
an item to the board for consideration under Arpa years
back.
That's part of the recollection.
>> As my head goes through when I'm looking at everything
popping up from the computer, that's why it seems familiar
because we talked about it.
It just kind of looked familiar to me.
>> I did that and I'd like to make a motion that we approve
the staff recommendations stipulating that the city --
stipulating the condition that the City of Fairfield approve,
therefore their portion of the project.
>> Second.
Does that pass muster for everybody?
>>
>> It does for me.
>> For clarity, that includes the grant --
>> That's everything on the recommendation page.
>> What?
>> Question -- so should it be -- or no?
Because there's two different projects here.
>> I'm understanding the supervisor's motion that --
but with number one of those recommended actions is
conditioned upon the city taking action tonight to contribute
to the project..
I want to make sure -- >> That's a fair distinction.
>> Okay.
So now I am just -- you are going to invite us all
because we want to be there.
Okay, just checking.
>> If you wanted my approval, I want to be there -- oh my gosh.
We made it through.
Yes.
Thank you thank you Anne
And staff, for putting it all together -- thank you.
Thanks for coming and speaking.
I will see you tonight. We are starting at the normal time right?
They are not changing the time?
This is Fairfield.
You never know.
Okay.
All all right.
So to the clerk of the board, I think we are on 16
and if that's the case then I need
you to read the title please.
>> Receive the 2025 Solano County Crop and Livestock Report
from the Agricultural Commissioners sealer of Weights
and Measures.
>> Yay.
I have to tell you, I just love this.
This is so cool.
This is nice.
All right.
Thank you Matthew.
Did a great job as usual. >> (inaudible)
>> I love it.
>> The floor is yours.
>> Good morning board.
Agricultural Commissioner and Matt, deputy Commissioner.
Pleased to be here to share the 2025 crop and Livestock
report with you.
The report is our annual review and summary
of agricultural production in the county,
looking back over previous calendar year it has information
on all of the crops and livestock produced in the county
last year including data on harvested acreages, yields
and gross production values.
I'm going to start off with the presentation.
I'll take you through the top ten crops
and then we'll turn to Matt to address
some of the additional features in the report.
So we do come with some good news today.
We have calculated the total gross production value
for agriculture in the county for 2025 to be 476,209,000.
This is over a $38 million increase from 2024
that also sets a new record high value for production
in the county.
Topping the previous high of 460 million from 2023.
Almonds are the top crop for the second consecutive year
and the first time crop has gone above 100 million
in gross value.
There's over 100 commodities accounted for and the report
showcases our commodity export pesticide use --
certified farmers markets and weights and Measures programs
which Matt will help cover here momentarily.
This graph here shows how the gross value of production
in the county has trended between 2000
all the way up to 2025.
Over the past eight years we have
alternated between a year when the value has been up
and a year when it tailed off some and back up again.
We are on a high point for 2025 but generally trending upwards
through time.
So this chart shows -- values broken --
you can see the fruit and nut sector at the bottom accounts
for 37% of the total value and over the past ten years
the fruit and nut sector has averaged about 30%.
With the almond crop most notably, growing in value --
and fruit and nuts -- across the board --
fruit and nuts sector -- occupying a larger proportion
share of the overall value and then we have vegetable
proportion and 23% of the total value,
and that's spot on with the ten year average for where vegetable
production is and in relation to the other categories.
Then we have animal production which includes cattle and sheep
but of course poultry, milk and bees is typically around --
a little uptick here at 22% and -- we're up last year.
And the sector is the one portion here that has been
on a steady decline --
and then relation to the other categories
over the past 10 to 15 years.
There's been a decline in the overall value in field crops.
More so here in looking at this graph in relation
to the other sectors, the other sectors have continued to grow
and field and forage has remained flat or tailed off
but we have seen big increases in fruit and nuts, vegetables
and animal production value consistently over time.
And the nursery industry is typically around 10% and seed is
usually -- seed crops are usually around 3 to 4% --
and those sectors had a down year last year.
So we are representing a little smaller share
of the overall value.
>> A quick question.
When we talk about the field and forage,
have we had a reduction in the production area of that?
Has there been acreage taken out of production
that's been purchased for something else?
And it sits fallow now?
Or is that reduction because there's just
been a dip in the market? More so we've seen a shift
into the other commodities.
Primarily fruit and nut.
So they are moving, they are putting orchards in? Yes.
Okay.
That's what I needed to know.
>> This brings us to the top ten and here's almonds again,
number one.
108,107,000.
This is an increase of almost 30 million from the previous --
and at 108 million, this is now also the highest value crop that
we have seen in the county.
It tops the 2023 tomato crop which came in at 101 million
in that 2023 tomato crop was -- now almonds has done the same
and then some.
What we see with almonds over the past three years
is year after year or year over year for the past three,
there's been fewer and fewer new almond orchards planted.
However, the orchards that have been planted over the past 5
or 6 years -- everything's now coming into full production.
So we also saw the largest almond crop we have today
at 23,700 tons.
And first in perspective on where that puts us,
the enormity of the overall California almond industry --
that's a little less than 2% of the total harvest which is
on order last year of 1.3, 1.4 million tons.
Almond prices have also gained three years running now.
If you look back ten years, almond prices were around $4,500
a ton and they proceeded to run flat for a couple of years
and then decline and now have picked up three years back
to 45, $4,600 a ton and maybe doing a little better this year.
But UC Davis estimates in the same time frame
that almond farmers were facing a 70% increase
in their operating costs.
Here they are, growers still getting
paid where they were ten years ago.
This photo by the way is fairly representative of a good portion
of the Northeastern part of the county.
It looks like this time of year nowadays in almonds.
Cattle is in number two of -- at $48 million in 2024
to $65,369,000 at 2025.
Looking across the country at the nationwide Beef Cattle
inventory continues to hover along
at historically low levels due to either prolonged
drought in some parts of the country
and lingering effects of drought parameters high production cost
but there's still strong demand for beef.
Prices are elevated.
Ranchers continue to move more cattle to market
in favor of holding some cattle back and rebuilding
the Herd just as of yet.
We are also seeing the reemergence of invasive pests
called the New World Screwworm.
It's a pest of livestock.
The Screwworm is a fly that will lay its eggs in an open wound
on cattle or sheep or goats and mucous membranes and mammals
in general -- and then those eggs will hatch and they'll feed
in the wound and that can cause secondary infection and be fatal
if not properly addressed.
Screwworms are native to South America and the Caribbean.
It's been effectively controlled in decades
past by releasing sterile flies into the environmental,
and the female will lay eggs that won't hatch
and once she breeds she is done.
You can effectively control the population by releasing these
sterile flies and masks into the environment and that's been used
to full effect in past decades --
USDA and Mexican authorities did so to push Screwworm out
of the US and down through Mexico,
back into Central America and further south.
In recent years now it's made its way
back up through Central America through Mexico
and there's pockets of infestation in Texas.
That's all to say that this time last year
USDA closed the southern border to cattle imports
from Mexico which was further constrained and restricted
supplies and is helping keep the prices elevated.
No detections of screwworm in California as of yet.
Our State Department and Food and AG
is monitoring along the southern border.
USDA announced last week that they're
going to look into opening one of the Arizona ports
later this month.
They're rebuilding all their capacity and infrastructure
to start rearing and releasing sterile flies by the millions
and in time that should control the population.
Should be it would not have reached where it is right
now there's some things to be
>> There's something to be said for letting people have
their government jobs.
>> Processing tomatoes are in at number three at 50,266,000
and this is down around 5.5 million from the previous year.
The tomato processors come with a canneries
entered last year, generally speaking
with more or less sufficient inventories on hand.
They didn't contract for an increase in tonnage
and an increase of tomatoes and then accordingly prices dropped
from $114 a ton to $109 a ton per month similar scenario this
year, prices are down to $104 a ton and then we have some rain
at the beginning of October that slowed things down and more rain
in the middle of October that effectively ended harvest before
everything could come in, although the total harvest ended
up at 465 000 tons which is shy of the 20 year average of 470
000 tons.
Wine grapes are in at number four.
Wine market the wine despite the ongoing downturn in the wine
economy, we are proposing a slight gain of 2%
to over $31 million.
White wine grape value overall was down 7% and Reds were up 7%.
Largely because double, cabaret and Zinfandel
all showed overall gains.
A couple of the whites did two, Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc
increased as well, not to the degree that the rest did
but those five varietals just offset losses elsewhere and are
helping the overall value -- which under the circumstances is
probably saying something.
Great prices coming out of the pandemic,
picked up for a couple years and then went flat and declined.
The harvest here last year was the smallest
we've seen since 2017.
Some vineyards come more so out on Brier,
did not get picked last year due to lack of market and buyer.
If you Zoom out and look at the total statewide picture,
just two years ago, the total grape harvest was 3.6 million
tons of grapes and then two years later it had dropped --
2025 number it was 2.6 million tons.
That's a massive adjustment or downscaling
over a two year period.
I will leave you on a high note with wine grapes.
Remember that the valley was voted the number one wine
region by readers last year.
There's something special about the Valley.
And to some degree it's holding its own
in the current situation.
And wine grape value, looking back a decade at 2015,
was under $15 million and now even under the circumstances
we are double that.
Then we have nursery products in it, number five at $28,270,000.
This is a decline of $10 million from the previous year.
Largely because we had one of our biggest nurseries
go through bankruptcy last year.
I don't think that was anything specific to Solano.
They operate across multiple states.
They have restructured and organized
and so hopefully we'll continue to have a strong nursery
industry with that entity here and moving forward.
Alfalfa is number six and alfalfa prices
declined last year.
We had a little more acreage in production
which led to an overall bigger crop which
is driving the increase in value from 15.2 million to 16.6
million.
Walnuts are up 5% to 15.25 million and prices like almonds
have gained three years in a row.
It was just a few years ago that walnuts hit rock bottom --
that hit $0.40 a pound.
We have $0.90 a pound in the report this year.
That's a long ways away from highs of ten and 12 years ago
and there are $1.75 a pound.
The harvest last year was the smallest
the county has seen since 2003 as well.
Over the past few years we have seen a lot of walnuts --
they've gone through this transition --
coming out of production.
Those grounds have now gone into almonds or pistachios or field
crops.
However, we do have a number of walnut orchards
that are in a state of neglect or abandonment
and that is a problem.
It's causing increased pest pressures
for neighboring properties or farmers still growing
or actively growing almonds or walnuts.
So we have been building a fair share
number of complaints about that over the past couple of years
now.
We are trying to work through that on both sides,
ideally that those trees get pulled out
and those properties cleared.
Barring that, those property owners
need to do a base amount of pest control
to mitigate damages and impacts to their neighbors.
That's an issue that we're continuing with.
Max is doing surveillance and working on this --
to quantify where we're at.
Estimates we have 1300 acres that are
in the situation and condition.
>> My question is what mechanism do we have for enforcement
to ensure that the pest mitigation is taking place?
It's just like with a fire break, when
people don't want to mitigate for fires,
we have a mechanism for that.
What do we have for this when we have potential impacts
to other farmers in the area?
>> First and foremost we're trying to gain cooperation
and have them come in and understand the situation and get
a pesticide permit, start as I said some base level of control
to mitigate, and barring that or non-cooperation in that
direction, we issue a Warning level --
if that still doesn't move the needle and then just as of this
year Kamala passed that allows commissioners --
grants a civil penalty authority to pursue more forcefully
and issue a proposed monetary penalty.
>> Just wanted to make sure their --
to make sure we are getting -- >> We haven't gone that far yet
but we are moving in that direction.
>> I want there to be further impacts to the actual producing
AG in the county.
>> I was reading and in Fresno that the pistachio crop,
because when the rain and everything came through,
there is nothing surrounding -- whatever --
I don't like pistachios, but however they come out,
there's nothing there inside.
The shell.
I thought that was trippy.
>> We had a very warm spring, exceptionally warm that
coincided with pistachios pollination.
They're going to see a significant crop
loss further south.
>> Number eight is prunes.
They continue to be the largest tree fruit crop in the county.
We estimate 1800 acres harvested last year
at a total value of 12.3, almost 12.4 million.
Apiary pollination is in at number nine.
9.3 million.
This is consistent with valuation
and what we've seen for pollination
in the last few years.
Most of this value is attributed to almond pollination
and we see a big influx of beehives in the county
every January and February gearing up for almond bloom.
Then we have field corn at number ten
and this is corn grown for grain under animal feed
versus fresh market sweet corn.
First time field corn has been in the top ten crops since 2014.
The last two years growers pivoted a little more to corn
as a tomato acreage has dropped off.
Sunflower has dropped the past years but it's back up this year
and for lack of other more desirable profitable options.
We estimate 5700 acres of corn harvested in the county
last year.
Looking back in the early 80s, field corn was a top crop in 82
and 83.
And 83 there was 55,000 acres of field corn planted
and that's enough to cover the entire Dixon Ridge from Davis
to Dixon to Vacaville up to Winters
just corn.
Now we have 10% of that and we think it's a lot.
Times change.
That is a wrap on the top ten and I
can pause if there's more questions
or we'll shift over to Matt.
Keep going?
So in reference to the alfalfa, I did not
recognize that location.
Is that --?
This photo for alfalfa.
>> I think it's for.
Right on the border.
>> Is it outside of 505 area?
You know you can go up to the 505.
>> It's on the south side of 80 there in the vicinity of.
>> I just was like --
I think I know that location.
Thank you for your report and your hard work.
Now so Matthew, did you take pictures?
Did you take pictures Ed?
>> It's a team effort.
It's like, I'm tired of being inside and I need to get out?
Effort?
I'm just teasing. We have a lot of fun wiht it.
>> Matthew and Matthew -- >> I forgot, that's right.
You guys are the twins. Yes it was a lot of fun.
>> This was phenomenal.
I love it.
It also needs -- people need to understand that not only do we
create a lot in terms of the economy in terms of Solano
County but we feed people and that's why we need to keep
our land pristine.
And that we use it in a proper fashion.
And we don't pave over it.
My opinion.
Being a supervisor at Williams?
Oh okay okay.
Okay, are we good?
So since it was a presentation -- there's still more?
Oh no.
I apologize.
I figured since we were looking at part of the United States
in terms of the rest of the world, that we were good.
My bad.
A few more slides if we can.
We'll be quick.
Our growers exported over 640 certificates for ag products
last year and shipped to 32 countries.
Most exports are going to Japan or South Korea but others also
shipped almonds or dried fruit, and dive, nursery stock and --.
In 2025 we issued certificates to 37 local farmers
allowing them to sell and certified farmers markets
and we actively have eight markets in six out of the seven
locations in our county.
At this time.
And our agricultural protection and safety work,
we monitored over 2300 invasive insect traps and inspected over
700 000 plant shipments coming into our county and rejected 360
of those shipments that either were found to have pest
or violated quarantine for plant shipment regulations
and we've intercepted 49 invasive pests and we've issued
270 pesticide permits for farmers or other property owners
to use pesticides and we conducted over 450 pesticide use
safety inspections with farmers and agricultural landscape
maintenance and operators and pest control operators.
Yes sir?
I I want to take this opportunity because right now --
you're covering it --
I want to thank staff for this year's response.
Especially on the sharpshooter and everything
that staff has done to protect these crops.
You see how significant to our vintners
into grape production, what it means to our county.
So you guys are small but mighty.
There's not a lot of you all to go out and do that and take
on a big old chunk of land looking for these things
and getting critters out of here.
I'm appreciative of you being out there doing that.
And the effort that it takes.
I'm not the only one.
There's a lot of people appreciative
of you guys making that effort on behalf of us in the Suisun Valley.
Thank you.
So speaking of you got ahead of us.
>> Okay.
So the sharpshooter is a persistent nemesis.
This slide come this graph shows the number of adult detections
that we've had over the life of our eradication project area
in Browns Valley neighborhood.
You can see in 23, 24 and 25 we are making steady progress.
However, we have regressed and taken a small step back
this year.
We have had five detections in June and July, four of which
were clustered onto neighboring properties.
A little bit of alarm.
We still have intensified monitoring and surveillance
in this area.
We are still optimistic that we're
going to win out in the end and get
to a point of complete eradication.
However, we and just about every Northern California county now
are contending with a new sharpshooter threat in that we
had a Fresno County nursery in April and May ship 10,000
grapevines, many of which were infested with sharpshooter,
to Costco stores all over Northern California,
including Laiho, Vacaville and Fairfield.
The rest of 420 vines came in.
We were able to stop some before they made it to the sales floor.
We've accounted for 75% of the 420.
As we speak, staff are going out this week and doing door hangers
on the remaining properties despite multiple attempts --
certain folks we still -- they've been non-responsive
and we haven't been able to connect.
That's what we're working on this week
to try to track down the balance of those.
We have found sharpshooters related to these shipments.
One is here in Fairfield and one on the east side --
so we are continuing to enhance monitoring at all these
locations where we know people bought grapevines and took them
out to their communities and our colleagues throughout Northern
California counties are doing the same thing.
So enhanced surveillance through the rest of the summer
into the fall and then we will go with our colleagues
and state Department of Food and AG this fall and winter
and see where we are at at that point.
>> Is there any way to go after the folks who didn't do
their due diligence and get some monetary compensation to clean
up somebody's incompetence?
>> We are in contact with the deputy Da who was assigned
to agriculture and she is engaged with multiple other
counties.
Pending potential action.
>> Supervisor Williams?
>> Thank you.
I've been receiving some calls from the Valley
Not that they have spotted any sharpshooters,
but just concerned -- the concern,
the impact to the grapevines and how this particular species
really enjoy grapes (laughs) just as much as we do.
My question is, because I have received all the information --
I have shared it publicly in the newsletters and everything else.
And social media.
Is there anything and so is there anything more
we could do to eradicate this?
There's been a push for me to make sure
that I am staying abreast of what's going on with this.
And all the different steps we are taking to eradicate.
>> As I said, we are doing enhanced surveillance.
We have traps across the county, particularly
in areas where people bought these Costco grapevines.
We are doing additional outreach to the outstanding properties
today and in our eradication area
we are going door to door doing surveys as well.
I think we're doing everything we can at the moment.
We're kind of in a wait and see approach.
>> My second question about this particular species,
so does it go dormant in the winter and then --
once we go door to door and do what we can,
for next year is it --
I don't really know about the species.
>> We will plan to have this enhanced level of monitoring
likely for some time now.
The populations can be difficult to detect.
They overwinter as adults and they're typically not active
once temperatures cool off -- >> But it doesn't kill them?
>> We need like a super freeze --
which we haven't had in Browns Valley.
(inaudible) to a level that would be effective.
>> That's all I wanted to know.
I was just wondering.
I was wondering more.
I guess I'll have to study up.
Thank you.
>> Finally in our weights and measures work,
staff have it tested over 8000 commercial measuring devices
including electric vehicle charging stations
and they've also inspected 162 retail stores in nearly 3500
items for pricing accuracies that resulted in finding
overcharges on 2.8% of all items inspected.
Roughly three out of 100 items purchased or charged
at an amount higher than the posted price ranging from $0.10
to $100.
>> That concludes the presentation.
>> I was fine with it being over earlier if you wanted.
I guess we didn't script that.
Just thank you -- if I may, thanks to all the farmers
and ranchers who contributed information to help us build
report and staff and to Matthew for doing the design year after
year.
>> I did have a question on -- on the overcharges.
So what happens when you catch them overcharging for the --
for the charging?
What's happened?
>> Depending on the enforcement history or the compliance
history on that location, we typically start with --
and with the level of overcharge was and the impact
to the consumer -- we may start with a Warning letter or elevate
directly to the administrative civil penalty.,
they're overcharging?
What happens?
We do monitor them ongoing.
Just to make sure they're staying in compliance.
If they're habitual breakers of these rules,
is it revoked from them?
What happens?
>> We would continue to elevate the civil penalty.
If it's a chain store we would look across to other counties
to see if it's a persistent problem
across multiple jurisdictions.
District attorneys occasionally will take cases --
if there's a multi county issue going on.
This is a program we've been building over the past few years
now, we're getting up to speed with it now.
>> I'm glad you're doing something about it.
>> Public comments?
>> That's fine.
I just wanted
>> I wanted to ask you and counsel tell me if this
isn't okay, but I'd like to see a report out so the public knows
also who those offenders are who are overcharging them,
at least report to the board.
You may not have to come out and call them out
by name but at least, just like when
we have the folks who don't pay their garbage bill,
I won't mention any names, but when
we have the folks who don't pay their garbage bill,
we have no problem calling out citizens on that.
I think we should be calling out the businesses
and the citizens have a right to know who is overcharging them.
Especially if they are repeat offenders
or a big corporate change.
I think that matters.
I would like to see a report to the board on that.
>> If you maintain those as confidential,
I think generally enforcement records are public.
But maybe we can talk offline about it.
>> Maybe I will get one and maybe I won't.
>> I love it.
>> Public comment?
>> Charlene, we can see you have your hand raised so please go
ahead and press star six.
Go ahead and speak.
>> Thank you very much.
I wanted to say that I love this report.
I think it shows exactly what our county has to offer
as far as agriculture goes.
I wonder if in the future not to provide more work for Matthew, if we could kind of keep track
of what we would be losing and these numbers to Suisun's annex
that farmland, we would have a definite drop in sheep and cow,
cattle funds and with the Northeast annexation for Vacaville,
we would move a ton of fruit and nut tree in alfalfa production.
I think if we were watching those closely and could project
what would happen if you gave away or somehow I don't know how again
I need to learn about what it means to annex something
but somehow if you were to relinquish that property,
what are we going to lose?
There's a lot of money here that is part of what
represents Solano County.
Thank you for the reports.
And I'm glad to be part of those numbers.
>> Thank you. (inaudible)
Hats now from real estate agent to the president the Pleasant
Valley AG Association, I'm Gaull Culley
Today I would like to celebrate some wonderful news for Solano
County.
The newly released 2025 crop and Livestock report
tells an incredible story.
This year Solano County Agricultural
generated nearly half of $1 billion
in gross agricultural production making
it the highest agricultural production value in the county's
76 year history.
That's something every resident of Solano County
should be proud of and should know about.
The report highlights historical milestones.
Almonds became the second commodity in county history
to exceed $100 million in annual value
and our cattle industry reached record production as well.
These achievements reflect dedication, innovation
and resilience of the farmers and ranchers
who continue to feed our communities
and Steward our lands.
I want to thank the Agricultural Commissioner and the staff
for producing such an exceptional report,
for this important work they do every day to support
agriculture.
As I read the report one thing stayed with me.
While agriculture continues to set records in our county,
it is often absent from the public conversation about Solano
counties major economic drivers.
Our economic development Corporation
highlights many industries but very little or nothing
about the agricultural sector.
I believe agriculture deserves to stand alongside healthcare,
manufacturing, logistics, biotechnology and government
as one of the foundational industries that
drives our economy.
The crop report itself reminds us
that nearly half $1 billion value represents only the farm
gate value and does not include the multiplier effect, created
through food processing, transportation, equipment
finance, wineries, agritourism and many businesses
that depend on agriculture.
My hope is that we tell the full story of Solano County's
economy.
Agriculture just isn't a part of our history.
It's one of the greatest strengths.
It deserves to be recognized as much.
>> I have no other -- >> Any other comments to the board?
Are we good?
All right.
I love the fact that you made it to this side of Solano County.
I have to let you know, I do think of you
when I drive on Cordelia Road.
>> All right.
Thank you.
That was great.
Thank you.
Both mats.
We're at that portion -- are there any comments from
the board?
Anything the board wants to talk about or bring forward or tell
us what you've done or whatever it is we're doing?
Comments?
>> Thank you.
>> Just want to make sure.
>> I wanted to share that on Saturday --
I am Resharing.
On Saturday August 22nd from 10 a.m.
To 12 noon, at Anna Kyle elementary school,
I will be hosting a diaper giveaway and resource
fair in honor of national Breastfeeding Month.
We will have not only resources but right now
we have I think up to 2000 diapers to give away.
This is free and open to the public.
It will also have food as well to give away
and I want to thank food is free for their partnership with this.
It's also in partnership with the first five Solano
and Partnership Health Plan.
I want to thank them for their support
and I do believe North Bay has just joined us as well.
I also wanted to announce that Justice Wright,
she is an intern in my office.
She returns this year to work in the office.
You'll be seeing her in the hallways.
She is actually a graduate from Buckingham Collegiate Chapter
Academy.
She's an honor student.
I want to acknowledge Justice and welcome her back to the area
into my office.
We can continue to work on some things that we're working on.
I think that's all I needed to share.
>> Again thank you.
I just wanted to say to everyone who
has small children, may you have a wonderful back to school.
Thank you.
Bye bye.
>> I'm so glad I don't have to go.
Supervisor James?
>> As I get prepared -- for back to school -- but I am excited.
Two things.
Three.
Two there are two backpack giveaways
or back to school giveaways in Vallejo this Saturday.
One will be held at the GVRD Sports Gym
and it is set up like a market where
you can choose your own backpack and school supplies
and there will be shoes.
Three youth to seven youth.
It starts at 11 a.m.
And then next Saturday there will be another backpack giveaway hosted
by Fresh Prints, August 15th 11 a.m.
To 3 p.m.
At Dick Bass Park in North Vallejo.
And I want to adjourn in memory of Patricia Anne Barber,
also known as Pat.
Pat was born in Washington D.C. Two Ulas Grant Jacobs
and Lossie W Jacobs, her family later moved
to Clinton North Carolina where she attended
primary and secondary school alongside her brother
Charles Jacobs.
She went on to earn a degree in social work
from Fayetteville State College and began her professional life
as a social worker in New York before moving to California.
In California Pat earned her Master's of Art
degree and special education from Sonoma State University.
She devoted more than 30 years to serving students
in Vallejo City Unified School District including
Franklin Middle School.
Vallejo High School.
And Jesse Bethel High School.
Her love for teaching continued after retirement
when she taught life skills at Vallejo Adult School.
Pat was deeply committed to service, community
and the well-being of all children.
She was active with Meals on Wheels,
the Greater Vallejo chapter of Jack and Jill of America
incorporated, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority --
she also led the project at Saint Catherine of Siena School,
ensuring children will not have to sit in the hot sun while
eating lunch.
Beyond her service she enjoyed listening to music, gardening,
painting, traveling and spending time with her beloved grandsons.
She leaves behind a husband of 57 years, Johnny Barbara Junior
and Her daughters and three grandsons
and may her memory be pleasant.
>> Okay.
Anybody >> Hold on, here we go.
Before I gavel out, a reminder --
August 25th we do not have a board meeting.
I know everybody in the audience -- what?
I thought you said August 25th.
>> August 11th, no board meeting.
August 25th is when we'll reconvene.
>> We definitely want the August 25th.
That's fine, I even put August 25th Council so obviously I
didn't hear you properly, which is usually pretty true when it
comes to n.
Do I really have to listen to admin?
I apologize.
Here I was happy.
You just took away my happiness. (laughs)
>> I mean, you still get a day -- >> (laughs) yeah,
but not the day I wanted!
I could have had baseball tickets or something.
Anyway let me make sure I have this correct.
It is August 11th, so next week we do not meet.
And then we have to come back on the 25th,
which if you get freaking out is how many more months before
Christmas?
I'm throwing it out since it's the 25th.
So I apologize.
Sorry, those of you who got excited like me --
not happening.
Okay so okay so I was trying.
I was trying to get some free time for all of us to do stuff.
Oh meeting adjourned.
That's right.
Not to hit Mitch.
We are adjourned.
Yay.